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Ho Chi Minh City museum among worlds top 99 best tourist sites

Travel Weekly Asia has listed the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City among the top 99 best tourist attractions worldwide.













The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City



Accordingly, the museum ranked 61st in the list, making it the only Vietnamese representative to be named in the list.



The War Remnants Museum is located at 28 Vo Van Tan street in District 3. Covering an area of 7,300 m2, the museum features both indoor and outdoor exhibition areas, functioning as a place to display the devastation of the war between Vietnam and the United States from 1961 to 1975. The museum comprises of several buildings storing military equipment, as well as disturbing photographs about the traumatising consequences of Agent Orange, napalm, and phosphorus bombs.



There are also pictures of atrocities such as the My Lai massacre and a guillotine used by the Southern Government of Vietnam. In addition, three jars of deformed human features indicate the haunting effects of the war on future generations. A number of unexploded ordnances are also stored in the corner of the yard, seemingly with their charges removed.



This comes following the Star of Malaysia suggesting six impressive museums and monuments in Southeast Asia to visit, including the War Remnants Museum in Vietnam.



Among the worlds top 99 best tourist attractions, the Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest topped the list, followed by Disneyland Paris in France and the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.
Len Austin has spent the past eight years doing something for which he never planned.

A controversial situation during the 2015 Village President election in Clarendon Hills prompted Austin to put his name on the ballot as a write-in candidate. While winning in that manner isnt typical, Austin not only was victorious, he accumulated nearly two-thirds of the votes cast.

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Austin, along with likely at least most who voted for him, didnt like what played out during a campaign that had Village Board members Ed Reid and Eric Stach squaring off.

Reid decided to remove himself from the ballot after members of a political watchdog group claimed he should not be allowed to run because he was late in paying water bills to the village, something they said violated the Illinois Municipal Code. Reid said at the time that he didnt believe he ultimately would have been forced to withdraw, but decided he wanted no part of an election in which those type of politics were involved.

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Ed was the most qualified candidate and what he faced was a local, single-issue, activist group that apparently attracted other out of town activists that had no idea that they were attacking the quality of a dedicated volunteer like Ed, Austin said. This created a wave of dedicated and motivated residents to ensure Clarendon Hills would progress in good hands.

We organized and got the word out by going door-to-door, weekend after weekend, until we were all satisfied that virtually anyone voting knew the real story.

Austin said he didnt think about seeking a second four-year term until the Clarendon Hills Community Caucus started forming in 2018 for the 2019 election. A few factors led to Austin deciding to run again in 2019.

Beyond the quality of trustees that I served with was the quality of motivated village employees that answered our request for a new train station, he said. During our first term, village staff pursued funding through national, state, and local sources that would eventually lead to the plans for a full Downtown Revitalization Plan.

We now see the results of these plans and the efforts of our staff, board members, and residents that were involved in helping with funding sources and serving on our Downtown Design Review Commission. Ultimately, I sought reelection to see these plans through to completion.

Austin said he couldnt say if serving as Village President went as he expected. Its hard to say what to anticipate, as each issue that we face can be supported by a few to a multitude of residents, but can also be opposed by many, he said. The job of trustees and the Village President is to look at the issue as a village-wide issue and vote accordingly.

I have had the privilege of serving with extremely smart and solid trustees that understand their responsibilities, keep their composure under fire and vote with full comprehension of the issue and its impact on the village as a whole.

Austin said his first term was more goal setting and lots of learning. His second term was seeing plans through to completion. He said he is most proud of village staff and board members with whom he served. And he has greatly enjoyed being involved in guiding the village.

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Giving back to the town or any charitable organization that has given you and your family so much is a duty, and an honor, he said.

With additional time on his hands after leaving office, Austin said he and his wife, Suzanne, president of the Clarendon Hills Park Board, both will remain active in the community for years to come.

Suzanne and I will be empty nesters this fall, so we plan on seeing our children grow in their careers and education, he said. We plan to spend more time helping our families, concentrating on our physical fitness and continue our growth in faith at Notre Dame (Parish in Clarendon Hills).

Village Manager Kevin Barr worked closely with Austin during his tenure as Village President and said Clarendon Hills is in a better place because of his service.

President Austin has been great to work with these last eight years, Barr said. He has always been attentive and always had the general best interests of the community in mind. Because of President Austins approach, and that of the Village Board as a whole, we were able to be more effective working in a team environment.

Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
New Delhi [India], April 10 (ANI/India PR Distribution): A New Partnership between La Trobe University and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), will see TISS join two prestigious Indian Universities to advance research into smart city-related projects, as part of the Asian Smart Cities Research Innovation Network (ASCRIN). Founded by La Trobe University in 2019, ASCRIN brings together a network of Researchers, Global Industry Partners, Government Collaborators and start-ups to conduct research to solve real world problems - aiming to improve sustainability, livability and efficiency of cities and towns in the region. TISS is joining two other prestigious Indian-based academic partners in ASCRIN - the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-Kanpur), and Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani). ASCRIN conducts Impactful Research and Collaborates with Industry Partners on issues of global significance - including infrastructure and technology; economic development; mobility and transport; health and well-being; education; urban planning; governance and engagement; security and safety; culture and heritage; and energy, water and waste. La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Dewar AO, is in Delhi this week to host a major Roundtable of Industry and Government stakeholders, and Partner Universities to discuss ASCRIN. Professor Dewar said he was delighted that TISS would be partnering with La Trobe and other high-profile organisations in India to help solve global issues. "Being one of India's top institutions to study non-engineering, technology disciplines makes TISS a strong partner of choice for the ASCRIN - perfectly complementing the focus and expertise of our two other academic partners in India," Professor Dewar said. "Like La Trobe, TISS has a deep commitment to creating research impact, as well as social justice and inclusion, and we look forward to working together to make a difference to communities across the world." Mr Kunal Kumar, Joint Secretary and Mission Director (Smart Cities Mission) at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India has been a supporter of ASCRIN since its launch in 2019. "ASCRIN is an exemplary initiative that brings together top researchers, industry and government together to solve some of the most pressing challenges of urbanisation," Mr Kumar said. "The Government of India's Smart City Mission is one of the largest initiatives of its kind, aiming to transform 100 diverse cities across the country - however, we cannot do this alone. "Initiatives such as ASCRIN can bring novel solutions with the potential to impact community and industry problems in the context of rapid urbanisation," Mr Kumar said. Professor Shalini Bharat, Director and Vice-Chancellor at TISS, said TISS is committed to fostering partnerships aimed at meeting educational goals of a diverse set of students and supporting social research and extension work with potential to benefit people across the globe. "This agreement with La Trobe will create new international education opportunities, as well as bridge both our organisations' connection to global research and strengthen industry collaborations," Professor Bharat said. Last month, Professor Dewar met with Australian Education Minister, The Hon. Jason Clare MP, in New Delhi to cement strategically important partnerships with universities and research centres in India. La Trobe has a long and proud history of close ties with many of India's leading research, educational and cultural institutions - including Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre, Lady Shri Ram College, and Jindal Global Law School. Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is one of India's top social science institutions to study non-engineering, technology disciplines that include post graduate degrees in Public Health, Labour, Development, Urban and Public Policy, Cities and Governance, Social Work, Climate Change, Media Studies, and Rural Development among others. Many of their graduates are first generation learners from less wealthy communities and have been active participants in revitalising local communities post disasters. With TISS' unique study offerings combined with their students' lived experience of environmental and social issues in the region, this partnership will further contribute to La Trobe's ASCRIN goals. La Trobe's humanities and social sciences academics will now have connections to their counterpart researchers at TISS, with opportunities for collaboration with local government and industries in India and Sri Lanka. Asian Smart Cities Research Innovation Network ASCRIN, an initiative led by La Trobe, works with research focused groups, government, global industry partners and start-ups to develop solutions and evaluate implementation strategies, to improve the sustainability, livability and efficiency of Asian regions. This also includes a dedicated IIT Kanpur-La Trobe University Research Academy (ASCRIN's node in India). The Network currently has over 230 individual members, around 95 of which are involved in the joint research projects and supervision of PhD students across the institutions. There are 70 plus Joint PhD scholarships under ASCRIN and several externally funded research collaborations between the institutions, exploring issues like the socio-economic costs of road crashes in India, and how to make data driven quality management accessible to small dairy cooperatives in India. This story has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/India PR Distribution)
Sayed, who joined CM Eknath Shinde's party in November 2022, has filed the complaint with Oshiwara Police Station in Mumbai, days after her ex-PA Baburao Shinde levelled a series of allegations against her in Ahmednagar.

Among these were Sayed had taken up Pakistani citizenship, had bought properties in London and Dubai and had links with the mafia dons in Pakistan.

The Oshiwara Police have booked Shinde under various charges of the IPC and further probe is underway.

Sayed said that Shinde alleged that her real name was 'Sofia Sayed' and that she had taken up Pakistani citizenship, operated a bank account there, but had acquired a fake passport to live in India, and had threatened to eliminate her.

She also charged Shinde of hurling allegations of cheating and frauds through a charitable trust which organised mass marriages for couples, and morphing her photos with Iqbal Ibrahim Kaskar (the jailed brother of the absconder Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar).

Sayed said that she sacked Shinde after learning that he had taken unauthorised auditions of an aspiring woman actor for a Marathi film.

--IANS qn/pgh

( 233 Words)

2023-04-10-19:18:03 (IANS)
Atleast seven people died and around 30 were injured after an old tree fell on a tin shed at Paras in Akola on Sunday. Nima Arora the Collector of Akola informed that nearly 40 persons were present under the shed when an old tree fell on it. "Nearly 40 persons were present under the shed, out of which 36 were admitted in the hospital and four of them were brought dead," said Collector Arora. "Later the dead toll rose upto seven, and one person is critically injured," she added. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his deep condolences over the death of "some devotees" in the incident. The devotees had gathered for a religious ceremony at Paras in the Akola district. Taking to Twitter, Deputy CM Fadnavis said, "It is painful to report that some devotees were killed when a tree fell on a tin shed when some people had gathered for a religious ceremony at Paras in Akola district. I pay my humble respects to them." "The Collector and the Superintendent of Police immediately visited the spot and are coordinating to ensure timely treatment of the injured. We are constantly in touch with them," he added. Talking about the treatment of the injured, Fadnavis wrote, "Some of the injured have been admitted to the District General Hospital and minor injuries are being treated at Balapur." "Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased from the state government and the Chief Minister's Relief Fund," he added. Further details are awaited. (ANI)
The deceased -- both sisters, have been identified as Shantimala Chakma, 15 and Sima Chakma, 7.

An official said that the divers of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with Fire and Emergency Service personnel, after several hours of efforts, recovered the bodies at Gandacherra on Sunday.

The tribal girls, both residents of Natun Brishaketu Para village, reportedly drowned while collecting some water weeds.

The bodies were handed over to the police for post-mortem.

--IANS sc/pgh

( 111 Words)

2023-04-09-23:16:02 (IANS)
During Ramzan, people have two main meals - the 'suhoor' or 'sehri' just before dawn and the 'iftar' after sunset.

Earlier on March 18, the Bihar government granted permission to Muslim employees and officials to come to office one hour before the scheduled time and leave office one hour before the scheduled time during the month of Ramzan, said State General Administration Department.

According to Islamic beliefs, Ramzan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.

Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which involves rigorous fasting for about 30 days.

During this month, Muslims do not consume food or water from dawn to dusk. They eat Sehri (a pre-dawn meal) and break their day-long fast with 'Iftar' in the evening.

Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

The festival is celebrated by sharing a delightful dish Seviyan (Vermicelli) that comes under different varieties like 'Hath Ka Seviyan', 'Nammak Ka Seviyan', 'Chakle Ka Seviyan' and 'Laddu Seviyan'. All these variants can be used in the dish called 'Sheerkurma', which is also prepared on Eid and distributed among friends and relatives. (ANI)
Rhino Riders" motorcycle rally organised by Headquarters 101 Area of Eastern Command of Indian Army, was flagged off on Sunday by the Governor of Meghalaya, Phagu Chauhan, from Rhino Training Complex Shillong, read an official release.

According to the release, it commemorates the Diamond Jubilee of Headquarters 101 area which was raised on April 22 1963, in the wake of 1962 operations, to provide logistics support across entire Northeast region.

The Governor lauded 101 Area for its unique distinction of having taken part in active combat operations in spite of being a logistics formation.

Chauhan recalled the crowning glory of 101 area being the first amongst all Indian Forces to have entered Dacca on the morning of 16 December 1971 and played a hallmark role in the war for liberation of Bangladesh.

He complimented the formation for its stellar contribution towards infrastructure development and logistics which has aided Nation Building both during war and peace.

Congratulating the motorcycle team for embarking on the challenging and prestigious rally, he lauded the intent to reach out to youth to motivate them to join the Army as well as to meet Veterans and Veer Naris of entire North East region.

The motorcycle rally team, led by Col Pankaj Chaturvedi of HQ 101 Area, will travel through Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh will also aid civil-military fusion and celebrate the spirit of patriotism in the landmark year of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav'. (ANI)
The six-member fact-finding Committee on alleged violation of human rights in West Bengal led by former Patna High Court Chief Justice Narsimha Reddy on Monday in its interim report said that the riots during Ram Navami procession were "pre-planned, orchestrated and instigated". The fact-finding panel sought a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the violence. The fact-finding team was on a three-day tour of West Bengal to assess alleged human rights violations in the state during Ram Navami processions in Howrah and Hooghly districts. The Committee consist of former Patna High Court Chief Justice L Narsimha Reddy, former IPS Raj Pal Singh, former member of National Commission for Women advocate Charu Wali Khanna, former Joint Registrar (Law) National Human Rights Commission of India advocate OP Vyas, senior journalist Sanjeev Nayak and former consultant National Commission for Protection of Child Rights advocate Bhavna Bajaj. "The Committee is of the view that the riots which erupted on the auspicious occasion of Rain Navami on March 30, and continued in its aftermath, were pre-planned, orchestrated, and instigated. The trigger was the grossly inflammatory speech of the West Bengal Chief Minister. The Committee has come across several user-generated videos and media reports also reporting multiple videos, which confirm that the peaceful Ram Navami procession was targeted and the rioters were exhorted to stop and target the procession," the report stated. The Committee in its Report said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee just before the processions on Ram Navami, while sitting on dharna, made a call through a communal speech that any procession passing through 'muslim areas' (as spoken verbatim) will be seriously acted upon. The Committee said it appeared that communally charged mob violence broke out against people taking part in the peaceful Ram Navami processions and at the same time the state police was found completely missing in action to control rioters. The Committee sought appropriate police action in the matter by filing FIRs against the culprits behind the riots, to achieve the ends of justice for the victims. The Committee also sought that the investigation of the riots be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to ensure that the investigations are being carried out in a fair, impartial and independent manner; protection be provided to persecuted and fearful victims so that their life can return to normalcy, including withdrawal of false cases against innocent persons and deployment of Central Forces may be extended as a confidence-building measure for the victims who have lost faith in the state police. Notably, violent clashes erupted in West Bengal's Howrah during a Ram Navami procession. Several vehicles were set on fire after two groups clashed in Howrah amid Ram Navami celebrations. During the procession, the rioters vandalised public and private properties while setting 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 initiated the investigation. Last week, clashes erupted during the BJP's Shobha Yatra (procession) in Hooghly. The state government later issued prohibitory orders and also suspended internet services across the district. (ANI)
In a major crackdown against 'Waris Punjab De' chief, the Punjab Police in a joint operation arrested pro-Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh's aide Papalpreet Singh arrested from Hoshiarpur, informed sources on Monday. Papalpreet Singh was arrested in an operation conducted by Punjab Police and its counter-intelligence unit. On March 30, 'Waris Punjab De' chief and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh surfaced in a new video and said he was not "a fugitive" and would soon "appear in front of the world". In the unverified video, Amritpal Singh sought to address some comments about the video that surfaced on Wednesday. "I uploaded a video yesterday. It was addressed to people. Public thinks that maybe the video was made in police custody because I was looking here and there in that video while talking. You can see other earlier video, I don't talk too much looking at the camera," he said. Amritpal Singh said those who think that he has run away or left friends, "get that thing out of your mind". Earlier on March 18, Punjab Police launched an operation against Amritpal and his aides. According to the police, the accused identified as Amrik Singh, a resident of RS Pura, and his wife Paramjit Kour were detained for reportedly having links with Papalpreet Singh, a key aide of Amritpal Singh. The accused duo were handed over to Punjab police later, an officer of Jammu police said. Delhi Police said that the head of the pro-Khalistani outfit Waris Punjab De is suspected of having left the national capital. According to sources, Delhi Police and Punjab Police were conducting a search operation in Delhi and its borders after receiving intelligence inputs of a sighting of Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal at Delhi's ISBT bus terminal. Intelligence inputs had suggested that he may be disguised as a sadhu. Papalpreet Singh is accompanying Amritpal Singh, sources said. The Punjab Police had expressed doubts about Amritpal entering the Delhi border using any vehicle other than a bus. Following the input, Delhi Police went on alert mode and are trying to track Amritpal's movements. 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. (ANI)
A Special NIA court on Monday issued a bailable warrant of Rs10,000 against an ATS officer for repeatedly not appearing to record his statement in the Malegaon 2008 Blasts case trial. The said officer was part of the initial investigation team of the ATS and had recorded statements of several witnesses of the case. Court has ordered him to remain present in the court to record his statement on May 2. Previously in March, the Supreme Court rejected Lt Col Prasad Purohit's petition challenging the Bombay High Court order dismissing his petition seeking to discharge him in the Malegaon 2008 blast case on the grounds of lack of sanction under section 197(2) of the CrPC from the Indian Army to prosecute him in the case. The top court had noted that the challenge here is to the order of the High Court whereby it was observed that sanction is not needed under section 197(2) of the Cr.P.C. for the prosecution of the petitioner as his impugned conduct does not pertain to any of his official duties. "Having noted the basis of the impugned judgment, we see no reason to interfere with the same and accordingly, the Special Leave Petition is not entertained," the court had said. On September 29, 2008, six people were killed and over 100 others were injured after an explosive device placed on a motorcycle exploded in Maharashtra's Malegaon city in Nashik town. On October 23, 2008, the Maharashtra ATS made its first arrest in connection to the case by apprehending BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur. Later, other accused including Sameer Kulkarni, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahilkar and Sudhakar Chaturvedi were also caught. On January 20, 2009, the ATS filed a charge sheet in the case after completing its investigation. In April 2011, the central government transferred the investigation into the case to the NIA. (ANI)
As the country is witnessing a sharp surge in Covid cases, a mock drill was conducted in the district hospital in Chhattisgarh's Raipur on Monday. During the mock drill preparedness and response time was checked using a dummy patient. The dummy patient was shifted to the Covid ward, and then all medical equipment and machines were checked. District Hospital's Corona Nodal Officer Nilay Mojarkar said, "The number of patients is increasing, but most of the patients are not serious. It seems to be a mild variant, but in the coming days we will know exactly about the fatality of the variant." "We have started an ICU ward in the Covid-19 centre with 50 beds, out of which 18 are for very serious patients, and 30 beds for less serious patients. An oxygen facility will be available on all beds. 12 to 13 ventilator beds are also available, the rest of the medicines and human resources have been ensured." Said the nodal officer further. For now, most of the patients are coming with mild symptoms like cold cough and fever and no one is in critical or serious condition yet and is expected to recover soon. Chhattisgarh reported 52 Covid cases on Sunday. Following the Central government's instructions, the Health Department conducted mock drills in the major cities of the states and reviewed the arrangements of the hospitals today. According to Union Health Ministry data released on Monday, a total of 5,880 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in India in the last 24 hours, slightly increasing from Sunday's count of 5,357. The overall active cases currently stand at 35,199, as of Monday with a daily positivity rate of 6.91 per cent, it said. (ANI)
Old political habits die hard.

Pressing the flesh  the shaking of hands with potential voters  has been a constant part of politics as long as there have been elections. The act can be seen as a firm connection between candidate and voter and normally more sanitary than kissing babies. Today, however, vote-for-me pleas are also presented to the public on printed cards and flyers and the last name a voter sees may be the first name recalled in the voting booth.

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Yet voters in three elections  the Park Forest Village Board, Park Forest Elementary District 163 and Rich Township High School District 227  proved again a handshake and a piece of paper may not be enough to sway a vote.

The Rev. Randall White (Penny Shnay / Daily Southtown)

Tiffani Graham (Penny Shnay / Daily Southtown)

John Moore (Penny Shnay / Daily Southtown)

After missing two of the three candidate forums because of an illness and a celebration in his honor at the First Baptist Church where he is the new pastor, White, who gave up his seat on the District 163 Board to run for one of three open spots on the Village Board, seemed to be out of the picture. Yet when early voting began for the April 4 election, White could be seen daily in front of the polling site at Village Hall, introducing himself to voters.

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He led the field for a board seat with an unofficial vote total of 832, second only to incumbent Tiffani Graham (1,161). John Moore got 761 votes, just 27 ahead of Joshua Travis for the third board seat, according to unofficial returns from the Will and Cook county clerk offices. Votes will be official by the April 25 canvass, when any late mail-in votes and provisional ballots are counted.

Moore is the son of Barbara Moore, a well-known, longtime champion for diversity in the village. Moore said he never mentioned moms name, but at a candidate forum did note that he was on the staff of U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Matteson.

Chatting with voters may not have worked in the often dysfunctional Park Forest Elementary District 163 Board election. Kim Elmore-Perkins scorned that ploy, saying she did not like that kind of campaigning and instead relied on personal connections and voter turnout to win a seat.

After seven terms on the board, Margaret McDannel was voted off two years ago but appears to have reclaimed a seat, according to unofficial results, as did incumbent Christina Dupee. Board member Judy Hawthorne opted to meet and greet voters but finished last in a field of four, according to unofficial results.

The 163 results could spell the end to Walter Mosbys term as president of the board when it elects new officers. The board does not have a policy against nepotism but two attempts to get Mosbys wife a job with the district last year failed after loud and contentious closed-door sessions.

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 >

Park Forest voters intent on retaliating for the decision three years ago by High School District 227 to close Rich East High School must wait. Board President Andrea Bonds, one of four who voted to shut the school, led the voting but Randy Alexander who supported efforts to keep the school open trailed in his reelection bid.

With incumbent Park Forest Mayor Jon Vanderbilt dropping out of the race, Trustee Joseph Woods ran unopposed. Woods did not need to say a word or shake a hand, but he could be seen at public events chatting with voters and pressing the flesh.

Hall of Fame

On the one hand, Andy Gladstone did not fare well in last weeks election, apparent losing in his attempt to return to the Park Forest Village Board after a 28-year absence.

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On the other hand, at 3 p.m. this Sunday in Freedom Hall, Gladstone and his wife, Georgette, along with four others who contributed to the history and welfare of the village, will be inducted into the Park Forest Hall of Fame.

Joining the Gladstones will be seven-term mayor John Ostenburg, fervent environmental campaigner Gary Friedlund, retired Cook County Judge Raymond Funderburk and nationally known musician-composer Dave Rudolf.

First begun in 1989 with the induction of village developer Philip Klutznick, and later as an annual ceremony in 1994, more than 200 people who shaped village life and its history have been honored. The annual event is sponsored by the Park Forest Historical Society and is led by Jane Nicoll, the historical societys vice president/archivist and keeper of the villages historical flame.

Jerry Shnay is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.
With the increase in COVID-19 cases across the country, people have once again resorted to wearing face masks. In Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, people were seen wearing masks in public places. On Saturday, the state government made wearing masks mandatory for pregnant women and elderly people. Joel a Nursing student while talking to ANI near General Hospital said, "I have been wearing the mask for one month now, not because of the notification from the government side, but as I'm always at hospital premises and due to the rising cases. We need to be more vigilant." Sreekutty a housewife said, "It's been a few days since I started wearing the mask, I have already some wheezing issues. So I thought it's better to take precautions. I'm also planning to take the booster dose." Pradeep, a former health worker says, "I came from Mayyazhi and I'm seeing a lot of people wearing masks, and I'm also a little scared. I was unaware of the current situation but while travelling on the train also I saw people started wearing masks." Today, many of the states conducted Covid mock drills in their respective districts and cities following the centres order. On Friday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who chaired a review meeting with states, 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. Kerala logged 859 new cases in the last 24 hours, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. The total number of active cases stands at 12,433 in Kerala. A total of 5,880 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in India in the last 24 hours, slightly increasing from Sunday's count of 5,357, according to Union Health Ministry data released on Monday. The overall active cases currently stand at 35,199, as of Monday with a daily positivity rate of 6.91 per cent, it said. (ANI)
Members of bodies associated with various Left party bodies on Monday staged a protest outside the campus of the Kalakshetra Foundation, demanding a judicial investigation on allegations made by students against some faculty members. Members of the All India Democratic Women's Association, Students Federation of India and the Democratic Youth Federation of India participated in the protest and raised slogans against the management of the Institution. They alleged that the Kalakshetra management was threatening students for raising their voice in public against alleged sexual harassment in campus. In view of the protests, police was seen deployed in force outside the institution. While four faculty members of the institution have been accused of sexual harassment by its students, one professor Hari Padman, has been arrested by police. After the arrest, he was dismissed by the institution. Today's protest against the alleged apathy of the management in taking action on the student's complaints started on March 30 after many students raised their concerns on various social media platforms. Kalakshetra in its statement issued on April 4 said its governing board had formed an independent inquiry committe headed by a retired judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice K Kannan to enquire into the student's complaints. The inquiry committe also includes former Tamil Nadu DJP Letika Saran and Dr Shobha Varthaman. the statement further added that a new student and counsellor and independent advisory committe would be appointed immediately to strengthen the administration of Kalakshetra Foundation. Students, however, remain unsatisfied with this announcement and have alleged that the issues are almost systemic in the institution further allege and that discriminations based on caste, colour and other physical features are rampant. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday launched the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' in Arunachal Pradesh's Kibithoo and said "no one can encroach even pin's tip worth of our land" and that "no one has the power to cast an evil eye on us". The Home Minister said that no one can cast their "evil eye" on India in today's time as the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Indian Army are guarding the borders. "The entire country can sleep peacefully in their homes today because our ITBP jawans and Army is working day & night on our borders. Today, we can proudly say that no one has the power to cast an evil eye on us," Shah said while addressing on the occasion. Shah said that India is taking all measures to boost its security. "Today, we say with pride that gone are the days when anybody could encroach on India's land. Today, we can proudly say that no one can encroach even a tip of a pin's worth of our land because ITBP and Indian Army are present at our borders. I salute the sacrifices of all the jawans. Whosoever came to encroach the land here in 1962 had to return because of your patriotism," he added. He said that the Modi government's Look East policy has accelerated progress in the Northeast and the region now contributes to the development of the country. "Before 2014, the entire Northeast region was known as a disturbed region but in the last 9 years, because of PM Modi's 'Look East' policy, Northeast is now considered an area which contributes to the development of the country," he said. The Home Minister described Kibithu as India's first village and not last village. "Kibithoo is India's first village & not the last village. Earlier when people visited here, they used to say "I had gone to the last village of the country, but today, I'll say that I visited the first village of India," he said. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has approved the VVP with central components of Rs 4,800 crore including Rs 2,500 crore exclusively for road connectivity for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26. The VVP is a centrally sponsored scheme under which 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting the northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development. In the first phase, 662 villages have been identified for priority coverage, which includes 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh. The VVP will help in improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages and encourage them to stay in their native locations thereby reversing the outmigration from these villages and adding to the security of the border. (ANI)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has conducted searches at 14 locations in Lohardaga and Latehar districts in Jharkhand and arrested one suspect namely Sajan Kumar in its ongoing probe in the case of a conspiracy by active cadres of CPI (Maoist) to attack security forces in June 2022, the agency said on Monday. The anti-terror agency conducted these searches on Sunday at the premises of accused and suspected persons at nine locations in Lohardaga and five locations in Latehar. During the searches, the agency said, "One country-made pistol along with six live rounds, one magazine, electronic gadgets and incriminating documents pertaining to financial transactions and property were seized." One suspect namely Sajan Kumar, a resident of Chakla in Jharkhand, was arrested from one of the search locations at Lohardaga. Sajan used to work as Munshi at a brick kiln namely Raju Bricks owned by suspect Raju Kumar alias Raju Sao. Raju is allegedly involved in the collection and investment of levy money on behalf of Maoist Ravindra Ganjhu, who is still evading arrest and Sajan was fully aware of the transactions. The NIA had taken up the case of a conspiracy by active cadres of CPI (Maoist) to attack security forces in June 2022. A joint operation was launched in February last year by local Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) when cadres of CPI (Maoist) fired indiscriminately upon them at Harkatta Toli and Banglapat enroute Bahabar jungle. When security forces combed the surrounding area, a large quantity of arms, ammunition, explosives and other items were recovered leading to the registration of this case at Peshrar Police Station in Jharkhand. Before the NIA had taken up the case a charge sheet was filed against nine accused persons by Jharkhand Police on June 18 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Following the investigation leads the Agency found that the Regional Committee Member Ravindra Ganjhu along with active cadres of CPI(Maoist) had hatched a criminal conspiracy and assembled in the forest of Bulbul to attack the security forces. In pursuit of the supporters who provide shelter and act as couriers for funds and weapons, the NIA conducted on Sunday conducted searches at the premises of accused and suspected persons in the Lohardaga and Latehar districts. (ANI)
Sukesh Chandrashekhar, who is facing several cases of corruption under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and PMLA has moved an application before the Principle and District Judge of Patiala House Court seeking transfer of his case proceedings related to alleged Rs 200 extortion case to another Judge. The case is presently investigating by the Economic offence wings of Delhi police. The Additional Sessions Judge Shailender Malik is presently examining the matter. In a handwritten application, Sukesh Chandrashekhar has filed a transfer petition on the grounds of "Bias" on the part of the Trial Court Judge. Certain instances include the fact that similar reliefs are being granted to other accused but not to him and his wife, said his lawyer Anant Malik. The Principle and District Judge Dharmesh Sharma on Monday issued notice for comments of the Trial Court and listed the matter for further hearing on April 17, 2023. The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police in January this year has filed a supplementary chargesheet against Pinki Irani, co-accused in connection investigation of the Rs 200-crore extortion case involving conman Chandrasekhar. According to Delhi police Mumbai-based Pinky Irani is said to be a close aide of Chandrashekhar and introduced him to bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez. The fresh supplementary also mentioned the progress taken place through the recording of various statements including Jacqueline Fernandez, Nora Fatehi etc The chargesheet was filed before the Additional Sessions Judge Shailendra Malik. Irani was arrested by the EOW of Delhi Police in November 2022. Court earlier noted the submissions of the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police stated that we have arrested the accused to prevent the accused from causing the evidence of the offence to disappear or tampering with such evidence in any manner, to prevent the accused from making any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or to the police and to ensure the presence of accused before the court.Earlier, Delhi Police stated that the accused Pinky Irani used to portray him (Sukesh) to be a business tycoon and the accused used to be instrumental to facilitate certain Bollywood personalities to contact with main accused Sukesh Chandrasekhar. This ED case is based on an FIR filed by Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against Sukesh Chandrasekhar who is accused of cheating and extorting Aditi Singh, wife of the former promoter of Religare Enterprises Shivinder Mohan Singh, who was arrested in October 2019 in a case related to alleged misappropriation of funds at Religare Finvest Ltd. Chandrasekhar and his associates reportedly took money from Aditi after posing as government officials and promising to get bail for her husband. Chandrasekhar reportedly persuaded Aditi to transfer money by impersonating a central government official over a spoof call while he was lodged in Rohini jail and promised to manage bail for her husband. Both Chandrasekhar and his actor wife Leena Maria Paul were arrested by the Delhi Police in September last year for their alleged role in the duping case. The Delhi Police has so far arrested 13 people in connection with the case. The ED suspects that Chandrasekhar had extorted money from several people while he was in jail. At the time of the incident, Chandrashekhar was lodged in Delhi's Rohini jail and was running an extortion racket from behind the bars. In September, the ED had arrested two aides of jailed conmen against whom the Delhi Police recently invoked stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Chandrasekhar was allegedly running the cheating and extortion racket in connivance with jail officials and some associates outside. (ANI)
Highlighting the paradigm shift in the government's approach towards the Northeast, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that the Narendra Modi government has changed the image of the region in the last nine years from "disturbed region" to an area contributing to the nation's progress. The Home Minister said that the disputes and extremism in the region are at a diminishing stage and there is peace and development in the region. "Before 2014, the entire Northeast region was known as a disturbed region but in the last 9 years, because of PM Modi's 'Look East' policy, the Northeast is now considered an area which contributes to the progress of the country," Shah said while launching 'Vibrant Villages Programme' in Arunachal's Kibithoo. "Due to the laziness of the leaders in Delhi at some point, this area was disputed. There was no peace, development and connectivity. Today, the disputes are coming to an end, extremism is coming to an end. There is a new dawn of development and peace," he added. The Home Minister laid down the statistics in comparison to 2014 and said that there has been a significant reduction in violent incidents in the northeast today. "Over 8,000 extremists have surrendered in the nine years. In comparison to 2014, there is a fall of 67 per cent in violent incidents in 2022. There has been a decrease of 60 per cent in the injuries of the security forces and an 83 per cent fall in the deaths of the citizens," Shah said. "Under the 'Vibrant Village Programme', 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts along the northern border in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development," he added. Shah said that there will be no village in the border areas of the country without electricity, internet and road facilities. "Along with this, employment facilities will also be made available in every village," he said. Stating that the security of the border is the security of the nation, Shah said that the Modi government is continuously working on increasing the infrastructure on the border. Shah is on a two-day visit to the Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. (ANI)
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday said conserving big cats and their habitats can secure some of the most important natural ecosystems on Earth leading to natural climate change adaptation, water, and food security for millions of people, and provide livelihood and sustenance to forest communities. In the mega international event held at Mysuru, Karnataka, to commemorate 50 years of Project Tiger, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) for the conservation of seven big cats namely Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma. India has a long-standing experience on the tiger agenda and conservation of other big cats like lions, snow leopards, and leopards, now the translocation of the Cheetah to bring an extinct big cat back to its natural habitat. As per the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, "The alliance aims to reach out to 97 range countries covering the natural habitats of Tiger, Lion, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, and Cheetah. IBCA would further strengthen global cooperation and efforts to conserve the wild denizens, especially the big cats." Chairing the Ministerial session on the global status of big cat conservation Bhupender Yadav said, "Conserving big cats and their habitats can secure some of the most important natural ecosystems on Earth leading to natural climate change adaptation, water, and food security for millions of people, and provide livelihood and sustenance to forest communities." "The Alliance will strengthen global efforts and partnerships on big cat conservation, while evolving a platform for convergence of knowledge and best practices, supporting existing species-specific inter-governmental platforms, while also providing direct support to recovery efforts in potential range habitats," the minister added. Yadav said, "With big cats as mascots for sustainable development and livelihood security, India and the big cat range countries can usher in major efforts on environmental resilience and climate change mitigation, while paving a future where natural ecosystems continue to thrive, and gain centrality in economic and development policies in the Amrit Kaal." The Ministers of Big Cat Range countries acknowledged and appreciated the leadership of India in big cat conservation and praised the efforts of the Prime Minister, the Union Minister and senior forest officials of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The Ministers of Big Cat Range Countries made the remarks on the momentous event of the launch of the International Big Cat Alliance by PM Modi. Forest Minister of Bhutan in his eloquent speech accepted the leadership of India in guiding them. His passing remarks like may Goddess Chamundi shower her blessings on all of the forest fraternity and his words Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, aur Sabka Prayas in Hindi reverberated in the hall. The Forest Minister of Bangladesh praised India for helping in their conservation efforts to save their pride which is Sundermani and Chittagong tigers. Cambodia was enthusiastic about getting tigers from India and rehabilitating them in their Cardamom Hills and their Sripok Wildlife Sanctuary. He also spoke about the re-introduction plan prepared by them. Minister, of Wildlife, Tourism and Culture Government of Kenya, through her video message, lauded the help rendered by the Government of India and the Indian Forest Service, in formulating the protocols, and good managerial practices, in the conduct and evaluating of Census results of wild animals especially Lions in her country. Minister, Nepal, accepted the leadership of India in the field of wildlife conservation and offered all support to the alliance. Ethiopian Forest Minister without mincing words expressed his greatest satisfaction in being a part of an endeavour to save big cats all around the world. Royal Highness the Regent of Pahang was all praise for India's efforts and wanted assistance in the recovery of the tiger population in Malaysia. Besides this Ministers and heads of delegations of Suriname, Armenia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Vietnam, Thailand and Lao also expressed their appreciation for the said initiative. Bhupender Yadav acknowledging the overwhelming support promised to work on modalities to take the launch of IBCA forward and thanked everyone for their participation. (ANI)
Telangana Markazi Shia Ulema Council on Monday opposed the various petitions seeking marriage equality and submitted before the Supreme Court that the idea of legal recognition of same-sex marriages is exclusively Western and entirely unsuited to the social fabric of India. Telangana Markazi Shia Ulema Council has moved an intervening application in the Supreme Court in various petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages. Telangana Markazi Shia Ulema Council has urged the top court to allow it to be impleaded as party respondents in the matter. Telangana Markazi Shia Ulema Council is a religious and spiritual organization whose main aims and objectives include the dissemination of spiritual knowledge, establishing educational institutions and helping orphans and the destitute. Pursuant to its objective of spreading spiritual knowledge, the organization regularly organise conferences in honour of Hazrat Imam Hussain (Peace Be Upon Him), the grandson of the Prophet of Islam (Peace Be Upon Him) and organizes religious gatherings (majalis) on a regular basis. The organisation is a Muslim body belonging to the Shiite denomination, that works to disseminate the lofty values of the religion of Islam. Telangana Markazi Shia Ulema Council said that the idea of same-sex marriage is in the teeth of the injunctions of the Islamic faith. The same holds great significance in view of the fact that marriage in Indian society has deep roots in religion and therefore, religious prohibitions on same-sex marriage ought to be considered while examining the question of the legal validity of same-sex marriages. The applicants submitted that various academic works show that children raised by homosexual parents lag behind children raised by heterosexual couples in most areas of human development. Telangana Markazi Shia Ulema Council submitted that in the vast majority of countries in the Global South, same-sex couples do not have the right to marry. As the averments of the petitioners show, most of the countries which have legalised same-sex marriage belong to the Global North, the Council said. Telangana Markazi Shia Ulema Council submitted that the idea of legitimising same-sex marriages is exclusively Western and entirely unsuited to the social fabric of India. In the West/Global North, religion has largely ceased to be a source of law and plays very little role in public life. On the other hand, religion plays an instrumental role in shaping personal law, along with social norms and family ties in India and mainstream religions (including Islam) practised in India are entirely opposed to homosexuality and same-sex marriages, the council said. The council further added that the question of marriage is intertwined with religion and personal law and therefore, it is humbly submitted that critical religious perspectives on homosexual marriages may be taken into consideration in the adjudication of the present proceedings. Earlier, Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind moved an intervening application in Supreme Court in the matter pertaining to the legal recognition of same-sex marriage, saying that as per the legal regime in the country, marriage is only between a biological man and a biological woman. Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind has supported the submission of the Centre on this issue. The centre, in its affidavit filed earlier, had opposed the plea seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriage, saying that living together as partners by same-sex individuals, which is decriminalised now, is not comparable with the Indian family unit and they are clearly distinct classes which cannot be treated identically. Same-sex relationships and heterosexual relationships are clearly distinct classes which cannot be treated identically, the government said as its stand against the petition seeking legal recognition of LGBTQ marriage. It is for the legislature to judge and enforce such societal morality and public acceptance based upon Indian ethos, the centre said in its affidavit and added that Western decisions sans any basis in Indian constitutional law jurisprudence, cannot be imported in this context. In the affidavit, the centre apprised the apex court that living together as partners by same-sex individuals, which is decriminalised now, is not comparable with the Indian family unit concept of a husband, a wife and children. On March 13, the Supreme Court referred the matter relating to the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to a five-judge Constitutional Bench. Various petitions are being dealt with by Supreme Court seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriage under the Foreign Marriage Act, Special Marriage Act and other laws. One of the petitions earlier raised the absence of a legal framework which allowed members of the LGBTQ+ community to marry any person of their choice. According to the earlier petition, the couple sought to enforce the fundamental rights of LGBTQ+ individuals to marry any person of their choice and said that "the exercise of which ought to be insulated from the disdain of legislative and popular majorities." The petitioners, further, asserted their fundamental right to marry each other and prayed for appropriate directions from this Court allowing and enabling them to do so. (ANI)
A group of people belonging to 'Rajak' community called off their protest demanding to be included in SC category after Bhopal Member of Parliament (MP) Pragya Singh Thakur's assurance on Monday. They were staging the protest in a park located at Second Stop area in the state capital Bhopal from Sunday (April 9). After the agitation got over, Thakur interacted with the media persons. She said, "I told them (Rajak Community people) that they should be included in the SC category in the entire state. I have raised the issue in the Parliament as well. I consider their demands as justified. I will also talk to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan that he should also take cognizance into the matter." Reacting to the RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark about Vishwa Guru, the MP said, "When we step with the basic mantra 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' so what was, will remain the same. It means that India was a Vishwa Guru, India is a Vishwa Guru and will remain the Vishwa Guru." "India has always been giving knowledge, no one else in the world has such great sanskars (Secrament). Has any country said Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (means world is one family)? The one who takes everyone along is the Vishwa Guru; no one can destroy him," she added. Talking about the controversial remark of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on the dressing sense of women, Thakur said, "It is the scenario of the society. Vijayvargiya would have said. But definitely no one stays in favour of obscenity and indecency, as much as nudity nowadays girls and women have started to call themselves models." "There is the film industry, where this disgusting work has been done. Nowadays it is being considered as modernisation. There should be a little control on it because it is absolutely true as soon as they come out in short clothes, irrespective of whether it is men or women, everyone's vision reaches there. Be the centre of attraction with your creativity and personality, not with nudity," she added. Besides, the BJP MP also reacted to protest over not playing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat program in a few Madrasas in Uttar Pradesh. She said, "Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of the country. What he has said is for the country, he does not say it for his personal matters, so his words should be listened to." When one stays here, eats here, takes facilities here, then will someone else listen to the words of the Prime Minister? He will speak in this country. Madrasas are in India, the work that will be done in India will be done under our Prime Minister only, she added. (ANI)
In an apparent dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for giving critical speeches on foreign shores, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday said that people should leave their "political spectacles" behind while embarking on a foreign visit. Speaking during the inauguration of the Scientific Convention on World Homoeopathy Day at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital, Dhankhar said, "We must be determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood." "Have you ever noticed a foreign dignitary or foreign national on a visit to this great democracy decrying or criticising his nation? The answer is an obvious no. Why cannot we take pride in our scientists, health warriors and compliment our innovation?" Dhankhar asked. He said we must compliment our own talent and that we are doing a lot of damage by not following this. "Whenever you go outside the country, leave the political spectacles here. It is good for the country as well as for the individual," Dhankhar added. This is not the only time, the Vice President hit out at the Congress leader over his remarks in the United Kingdom. Last month, Dhankhar said, "While India is having its moments of glory G20 presidency, some parliamentarians are engaged in the thoughtless unfair denigration of our well-nurtured democratic values." "Such misplaced campaign mode to taint and tarnish our parliament and constitutional entities is too serious and exceptional to be ignored or countenanced. No political strategy or partisan stance can justify compromising of our nationalism and democratic values," Dhankhar had said. Earlier Gandhi had stoked a controversy with his "democracy under attack" remark, which he said during his speech at Cambridge University in UK. "Indian democracy is under attack and is under pressure. I am an Opposition leader in India and we are navigating that space. What is happening is that the institutional framework which is required for a democracy -- Parliament, a free press, the judiciary; these are all getting constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy," Gandhi had said. (ANI)
A Sycamore woman died Sunday following a single-vehicle crash just outside Elgin, the Kane County Sheriffs Office said.

Kimberly Roddan 56, was driving eastbound on Plank Road about 4:30 p.m. when her car went onto the shoulder, veered back onto the roadway, crossed over into the westbound lanes and then went off the north side, the report said.

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The vehicle rolled several times before coming to a stop at about the 40W200 block of Plank Road in unincorporated Plato Township.

Roddan was taken to Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin by Pingree Grove emergency medical personnel, where she was later pronounced dead, the report said.

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The investigation is ongoing and its currently unknown if drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash, the sheriffs office said.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has additional information should call the Kane County Investigations Division at 630-444-1103.
The leaders who joined BJP include State General Secretary Rajanna, Chikkaballapur district General Secretary of AAP Narasimha Reddy and many other supporters of various parties.

The party leaders expressed their confidence that all the BJP candidates will win in all the constituencies, including in the Chikkaballapur constituency.

State Health Minister K Sudhakar, State General Secretary Siddaraju and other leaders welcomed the leaders and workers who joined the party.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, the BJP emerged as the largest single party winning 104 seats, with the Congress winning 80 and the JD(S) 37 seats.

The elections for the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly will be held on May 10, and the counting of votes for the Assembly will be held on May 13. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected Qamar Ghani Usmani's plea challenging the Gujarat High Court order which refused his plea seeking statutory bail in a murder case in Gujarat's Dhandhuka. A bench of justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar rejected the appeal filed by Usmani against the Gujarat High Court order. The court said, "The appellant (Usmani) is not entitled to the benefit of statutory/default bail. Under the circumstances, the present appeals deserve to be dismissed and are accordingly dismissed." However, the court said that it will be open for the accused to pray for regular bail which may be considered in accordance with the law and on its own merits. Qamar Ghani Usmani has challenged the Gujarat High Court order dated September 23, 2022, which has dismissed his appeals and refused to release him on statutory bail (default bail) under Section 167(2) of the CrPC. Qamar Ghani Usmani was arrested on January 29, 2022. The 90 days period as providedunder Section 167 of the CrPC, therefore, was to expire on April 29, 2022. However, on April 22, 2022, the Investigating Officer prayed for an extension of time to complete the investigation which came to be granted by the Trial Court by granting an extension of 30 days period. The accused came to be informed about the extension on April 23, 2022. On May 22, 2022, the Investigating Officer again prayed for further extension, which was allowed in the presence of the accused. Qamar Ghani Usmani moved an application seeking default bail on May 10, 2022, on the ground that at the time when the first extension was granted on April 22, 2022, the same was not in his presence and therefore, the first extension was bad in law and therefore, he has right to get the default bail. Trial Court rejected his appeal. He moved High Court which also rejected his appeals. He thereafter moved the top court against the Gujarat High Court order. The top court noted that extensions granted by the trial Court are not challenged and at the time when the default bail application was made on May 10, 2022, there was already an extension and even thereafter, also there was a second extension which was in presence of the accused and thereafter, when the chargesheet has been filed within the period of extension, the accused is not entitled to be released on statutory/default bail as prayed. "Therefore, in the facts and circumstances of the case, we are in agreement with the ultimate conclusion reached by the High Court denying the statutory/default bail to the accused," the top court said. (ANI)
Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Monday said that the Health department in the union territory is on "high alert" in view of the upward trend of COVID-19 cases. "Covid-19 cases will increase in Delhi, the health department is on high alert, but preparations are complete. 98 per cent of beds are vacant," Bhardwaj told ANI. He added, "Out of four deaths in Delhi yesterday due to Corona, 3 died due to different diseases combined with Corona. I believe that Corona cases will increase in Delhi in the coming days as its densely populated." "If anyone has a cold, fever, or cough, do not go to public places, and wear a mask when you go out. People who are sick, have low immunity, at least they should not leave the house and avoid going to crowded areas," he further added. He stated, "On March 26, we did a mock drill in our hospitals. We had told the results of this to the Central Government and the Union Health Minister in Saturday's meeting. Will do a mock drill again at the behest of the central government." Hhe further stated, "Cases are increasing but the occupancy of the hospitals is only about one and a half to two per cent, 98 per cent of our beds are vacant and the government is ready for any situation." Delhi on Sunday recorded 699 fresh COVID-19 cases and four deaths. The positivity rate stood at 21.15 per cent, said the Health Bulletin on Sunday. (ANI)
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday reviewed a mock-drill for Covid 19 preparedness at RML hospital in Delhi. A mock drill was organised to review and ensure the proper arrangements for the treatment of Covid-19 patients in Madhya Pradesh as the state witnessed a continuous surge in the number of patients. Following the instructions of the Central government, the Health Department conducted mock drills in the major cities of the states and reviewed the arrangements of the hospitals today. Mock drills are being conducted today across the nation today at hospitals to evaluate Covid-19 preparedness. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Monday inspected a mock drill for emergency response for handling Covid-19 at Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital in Chennai. Meanwhile, in Haryana's Jhajjar, a Covid-19 preparedness drill is being conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). On Friday, Mansukh Mandaviya, who chaired a review meeting with states, 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. 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. 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's 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)
To create citizen-centric governance, under the State Urban Digital Mission (SUDM-UP), the Yogi Adityanath-led government will promote the revenue sources of the urban bodies with the development of Ease of Doing Business and G2G services along with making all citizen services online. It is noteworthy that the state government had already given its approval for the establishment of the State Urban Digital Mission (SUDM-UP) to provide better online facilities to the urban population. Recently, in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the proposal regarding registration under the Memorandum of Association (MOA) Rules and Societies Registration Act was approved. The Yogi government is giving priority to e-governance, reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'minimum government and maximum governance'. Post the cabinet approval, work on this is progressing at a fast pace. After getting the approval of the Cabinet, Urban Development Minister AK Sharma informed that people will get better online facilities with this. Along with depositing house tax, and water tax, the facility of obtaining birth and death certificates sitting at home will be further improved. The online municipal service system is to be developed under the reform agenda of AMRUT-2. State Urban Digital Mission, Uttar Pradesh (SUDMUP) will be implemented in the first phase in 17 Municipal Corporations of the State, Municipal Councils/ Nagar Panchayats of district headquarters. The infrastructure and manpower required for this work will be arranged from the funds received in this regard from the Government of India. Effective implementation of citizen-centric services using IT, ITES and state-of-the-art digital technologies under Ease of Living is one of the objectives of SUDM-UP. Promoting Ease of Doing Business, issuing necessary clearances within the stipulated time, development, management and operation of G-2-G services as well as increasing the revenue sources of urban bodies are also included in its objectives. No additional financial assistance of any kind will be required from the State Government to implement and operate SUDM-UP. Thus, there will be no additional financial burden on the State Government in respect of SUDM-UP. The task of getting information about new and innovative experiments done in other states and providing their benefits to the local bodies is also to be done by the mission. The essential technical services under SUDM-UP will be integrated with the services and facilities of various missions, schemes prevalent in the bodies along with the state. As a result of ensuring the use of digital technology in urban local bodies and monitoring the facilities provided through it, there is a possibility of an increase in the income of the urban bodies due to their relative income. Its objective is to ensure the development, management and operation of Ease of Living, Ease of Doing Business and other essential G-2-G services and to ensure saving money and time through digital techniques. (ANI)
Roh Tae-moon, president of the tech giant's Mobile eXperience business, made the request during his meeting with Dominican Republic Vice President Raquel Pena on Thursday, as the vice president visited the Samsung Innovation Museum in Suwon, 34 kilometers south of Seoul. as part of her official trip to South Korea.

During the meeting, Roh said that Samsung has offered a wide range of products from home appliances to mobile phones in the Latin American nation since 2016, and will continue to give customers their best experiences, reports Yonhap news agency.

He also stressed that the 2030 Expo in Busan would serve as a good chance for Samsung to introduce its advanced technologies to the world.

Samsung plans to launch a program this month meant to help young Dominicans get jobs through education and training on software, artificial intelligence and other technology themes, the report noted.

--IANS na/

( 189 Words)

2023-04-09-22:14:05 (IANS)
Pope Francis in his Easter address at the Vatican on Sunday prayed for both Russians and Ukrainians and called for a resumption of dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, reported DW News. The pontiff decried "the darkness and the gloom in which, all too often, our world finds itself enveloped." "Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia," he said. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the pontiff has mentioned Ukraine in almost all of his public speeches and has increasingly criticized Moscow. He also voiced "deep concern" over a flare-up in tensions between Israel and Palestinians. Recent violence in the Middle East "threatens the desired climate of trust and mutual respect needed to resume dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians," Francis said. Israeli-Palestinian tensions have sharply increased since Israeli police raids last week on the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, which caused outrage across the Arab world. Francis, 86, presided at a solemn Easter day Mass in a sunny St Peter's Square after unseasonal cold forced him to skip an outdoor service on Friday -- a precaution following his hospitalisation for bronchitis at the end of March. Francis was discharged from a Rome hospital after three nights at the start of this month because of a bronchial infection. It was the pope's second stay in the hospital since 2021, and he has increasingly suffered from health issues in recent years. He now uses a wheelchair because of knee pain, reported DW News. He also presided over the Vigil mass -- a 2 1/2 hour ceremony before 8,000 people -- in the Vatican Basilica on Saturday evening. At that service, he lamented the "icy winds of war" and other injustices. However, Francis did not attend the annual "Way of the Cross" prayer service on Good Friday as a precautionary measure because of the cold weather. (ANI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday (local time) reached Washington to attend the 2023 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund and other G20 meetings. She was received by Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Sitharaman is on a week-long visit to the US. The Union Finance Minister will be attending meetings with Finance Ministers and Central Bankers from across the world. The meeting is scheduled to take place today at IMF Headquarters in Washington. Sitharaman and Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das will also jointly chair the 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, FMCBG meeting on April 12. Around 350 delegates from G20 members, 13 invitee countries, and various international and regional organisations will participate in the meeting. They will engage in multilateral discussions centred around a broad spectrum of pressing global issues. During the meeting, the focus will be on issues such as addressing food and energy insecurity, managing global debt vulnerabilities, strengthening Multilateral Development Banks, mobilising finance for climate action and accelerating progress on International Tax and Financial Sector issues. The Finance Ministry said the meeting will take stock of the progress made on outcomes envisaged under India's G20 Finance Track agenda. The 2nd G20 FMCBG meeting will advance efforts towards the preparation of G20 India Finance Track deliverables for the 3rd G20 FMCBG meeting to be held at Gandhinagar in Gujarat in July this year. These meetings are expected to provide informed Finance Track contributions to the Leaders Declaration set for adoption in the New Delhi Summit in September 2023. The 2nd G20 FMCBG meeting will comprise of three sessions - global economy and international financial architecture; sustainable finance, financial sector and financial inclusion; and international taxation. "The focus of these sessions will be to deliberate on issues such as addressing food & energy insecurity, managing global debt vulnerabilities, strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), mobilising finance for climate action, advancing financial inclusion, and accelerating progress on International Tax and Financial Sector issues. The meeting will take stock of the progress made on outcomes envisaged under India's G20 Finance Track agenda," an official release earlier said. In a high-level meeting on Tuesday, the Finance Minister will meet the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to discuss issues of mutual interest. Further, a meeting of the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable will be co-chaired by India, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank on April 12, 2023, to discuss the current global debt landscape and ways to address existing challenges in debt restructuring. "On April 14, 2023, a high-level seminar on "Macro-financial implications of Crypto assets" will be held to review the macro-financial implications of Crypto Assets and discuss policies to leverage benefits and contain risks. Smt. Sitharaman will also meet the G20 Expert Group on strengthening MDBs on April 15, 2023, to discuss the need for an updated MDBs ecosystem for the 21st century towards financing sustainable development goals and transboundary challenges," the release said. (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has written to United Nations (UN) demanding an 'independent' investigation into the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif, who was killed in Kenya in October 2022, Ary News reported. Taking to his official Twitter handle, PTI leader Murad Saeed said that lawmakers, including former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, have written to the UN calling for an independent investigation into Arshad Sharif's killing. Murad Saeed tweeted, "Pakistani parliamentarians, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, wrote to the United Nations demanding an independent investigation of the murder of Arshad Sharif. We are grateful to all those parliamentarians who joined the cause #UN_for_ArshadSharif." Senior journalist and former ARY News anchor was killed in Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23 where he was living in self-exile. Kenyan police first said that Arshad Sharif was killed in a case of "mistaken identity." Earlier in April, the Supreme Court (SC) hinted at setting up a judicial commission into the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif, as per the ARY News report.According to the details, Pakistan Supreme Court has released the written verdict of the last hearing of the Arshad Sharif murder sou motu case. The written verdict mentioned that if the court is not satisfied with the probe, then a judicial commission will be established, as per the news report. Arshad Sharif's family counsel Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui raised objections to the court proceedings. Siddiqui said that the Supreme Court can monitor and investigate matters pertaining to basic rights but cannot monitor the probe of JIT. The written verdict said that the court has granted three more weeks to JIT to carry out the investigation abroad. The killing of the Pakistan-based journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya was a case of "mistaken identity" and there was no conspiracy involved to murder him, an investigative report by the Kenyan authorities said, according to Geo News. According to the report, Arshad Sharif was killed by four members of the para-military General Service Unit (GSU) in a random shootout in Kenya when the journalist was on his way to his penthouse, where he was living at that time. The Kenyan account sticks to the police version, which states that the four guards were looking for a fleeing vehicle when Khurram Ahmed, the driver of Arshad jumped the police-erected barriers and caused them to shoot at Arshad Sharif's automobile, as per the Geo News report. According to the official report, the prosecution should file charges against two of the four GSU officers because they were found to have opened fire carelessly while using excessive force. As per the Geo News report, Arshad Sharif was not subjected to torture before or after the murder, according to the official investigation. (ANI)
Dzhaparova will hold talks with Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Sanjay Verma, during which both sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations, exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine and global issues of mutual interest.

The Ukaranian Deputy Foreign Minister will also call on Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi and meet with Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri during the visit, according to the external affairs ministry.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has maintained that the Russia- Ukraine conflict can only resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and that "India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts."

He has spoken to both Ukranine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladamir Putin several times since the start of the conflict. (ANI)
The following items were taken from Glenview Police Department reports, news releases and records. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.

VIOLATION OF AN ORDER OF PROTECTION

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Saifuddin Khan, 55, of the 9400 block of North Oketo Avenue in Morton Grove was charged with violation of an order of protection March 31. He was arrested after an investigation of an incident in the700 block of Waukegan Road. He was transported to Cook County Court in Skokie for a bond hearing.

DUI

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Alexander Afanasof, 31, of the 1900 block of East Kiowa Lane in Mount Prospect was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding April 1. He was arrested after police stopped him in the 1900 block of East Lake Avenue driving more than 35 mph over the limit. He was released on bond.

Junior Espinoza, 22, of the 3700 block of North Cicero Avenue in Chicago was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report a vehicle accident and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident April 6. He was arrested after the investigation of a crash in the 900 block of Milwaukee Avenue. He was released on bond.

ASSAULT

Adriana Trevi, 43, of the 1400 block of Plymouth Place in Glenview was charged with assault April 6. She was arrested following the investigation of an incident in the 1400 block of Plymouth Place. She was released on bond.

WARRANT APPREHENSION

Johnny Benitez, 31, of the 900 block of 9th Street in Northfield was apprehended on a failure to appear warrant issued in Wheeling April 1. He was taken into custody during the investigation of an incident in the 900 block of 9th Street in Northfield. He was transported to the Wheeling Police Department.

INVALID LICENSE

Juan Castillo, 42, of the 400 block of Inland drive in Wheeling was charged with driving without a valid license and driving without a rear registration plate light April 6. He was arrested following a traffic stop in the 3100 block of Willow Road.

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ARMED ROBBERY

A woman reported a man approached her in the 1900 block of Tower Drive, demanded her purse and fled after she gave it to him April 3. The purse was later found in a parking lot in the 2900 block of West Lake Avenue. She was not injured.

THEFT

An unknown individual entered a retail business in the 2700 block of Willow Road, took items and left the store without paying March 29.

A man entered a retail business in the 1500 block of Waukegan Road, used wire cutters to remove merchandise from a display case and left the store with the items without paying April 3.

An unknown individual or individuals entered a retail business sin the 2200 block of Willow Road, took food and household items and left the store without paying April 3.
Two police personnel were killed and another was injured in an attack by unknown assailants in the Killi Spine region of the Kuchlak district in Pakistan's Balochistan on Sunday, Dawn reported citing police. The policemen belonging to the Eagle Squad were patrolling on a motorcycle when the assailants opened fire. Three police personnel were injured in the attack. They were taken to the hospital where two of them succumbed to their injuries. The police personnel who were killed were identified as constables Abdul Jabbar and Jalaat Khan, as per the Dawn report. One of the assailants was killed while another managed to escape from the site as police personnel returned fire. Quetta DIG Ghulam Azfar Maheser said that the police personnel were targeted by terrorists. Mahesar further said the police personnel returned fire and killed an attacker, as per the Dawn report. Security personnel launched a search operation in the area to find the attackers. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Meanwhile, two terrorists and a Pakistan Army soldier were killed in two separate gunfights in the South and North Waziristan districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), ARY News reported on Sunday citing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists took place on Saturday in the Razmak area of the North Waziristan district. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorist. The second encounter took place in the general area of Karama in the South Waziristan district of Pakistan. One terrorist was killed during the exchange of gunfire, and Naik Fazal Janan, a 32-year-old soldier from district Hangu in the Kohat division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was also killed, ARY News reported. (ANI)
An Islamabad court has summoned former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case on April 11, The News International reported. The Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ), Islamabad court has issued the summon on a plea seeking an immediate hearing of the Toshakhana case. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has been asked to appear before the court in person on April 11 at 8:30 am (local time), according to the summons. The summons noted that the law will take its own course in case of non-appearance, as per The News International report. In October last year, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified Imran Khan and unseated him from National Assembly in the Toshakhana case. According to the written judgement, the ECP said that Imran Khan had purchased the gifts from Toshakhana by paying Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 21.564 million. The Election Commission of Pakistan said that the Cabinet Division has revealed that the gifts bought by Imran Khan were worth PKR 107.943 million. The ECP decision reads, "The amount in his bank account was around half of the value of the state gifts. Imran Khan was bound to declare the cash and bank details in his returns but he didn't declare it," according to The News International report. Last week, the district and sessions court in Islamabad adjourned the hearing of the Toshakhana case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan till April 11, ARY News reported. As Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal started hearing, a junior lawyer representing the former premier informed the court that neither Imran Khan nor any of our senior lawyers had received summon notice in the case, according to ARY News. Afterwards, the court asked the police for a report regarding the implementation of the summons and the hearing was adjourned for a short period. As per the ARY News report, the hearings were postponed by the court until April 11 after the submission of the report. Earlier in March, a district and sessions court in Islamabad accepted Imran Khan's request for exemption from attending the hearing scheduled for March 30 in the Toshakhana case. Imran Khan's lawyers had filed a request for exemption from the hearing. Under the rules governing "Toshakhana" -a Persian word meaning "treasure house" - government officials can keep gifts if they have a low worth, while they must pay a reduced fee to the government for extravagant items, The News International reported. The Toshakhana is under a microscope ever since the emergence of the allegations that the PTI chairman bought the gifts he received as the country's prime minister at throwaway rates and sold them off in the open market for profits. (ANI)
China has started the third day of live-free drills near Taiwan in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's recent visit to the United States, Al Jazeera reported. Chinese fighter jets and warships conducted simulated strikes on Taiwan during the weekend. Beijing's actions sparked protests by Taiwan. Beijing's drills on Monday are expected to include live-fire exercises off of China's Fujian province, located only about 80km (50 miles) south of Taiwan's Matsu islands, as per Al Jazeera report. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence on Monday detected 70 Chinese military aircraft and 11 naval ships around Taiwan and its armed forces were monitoring the situation to respond to these activities. In a tweet, Taiwan's Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said, "70 PLA aircraft and 11 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities." It further said, "35 of the detected aircraft(SU-30*8, J-11*4, J-10*6, J-16*8, TB-001 UCAV, Y-9EW, Y-8 ASW, J-15*4, CH-4 UCAV, KJ-500 AEW&C) had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest and southeast ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated." China began three-day military drills around Taiwan called "Joint Sword" after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as per the Al Jazeera report. On Saturday, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), said that the PLA Eastern Theater Command launched a "combat readiness security patrol" around Taiwan and carried out "Joint Sword" exercise, which will last from April 8-10, according to the statement. Meanwhile, Taiwan lodged a protest against Chinese military drills around Taiwan, saying that the country would not yield to threats. In a statement, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence called Taiwan as their "homeland." Taking to its official Twitter handle, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said, "#Taiwan is our homeland, and no matter where we go or what we encounter, she is always charming and beautiful. Every story on this land is etched in our memories. We, #ROCArmedForces, are fighting with all our heart to defend our homeland and to protect our home together." Tensions between China and Taiwan escalated after the then US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi travelled to the island in August last year. China raised objections to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. (ANI)
Ukraine's first Deputy Foreign Minister, Emine Dzhaparova on Monday arrived at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for talks. The visuals showed Indian officials welcoming Dzhaparova as he made her way to the MEA. Emine Dzhaparova arrived in New Delhi for a four-day visit on Monday. Emine Dzhaparavo's visit to India marks the first official visit of the East European country since the beginning of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February last year. Taking to her official Twitter handle, Dzhaparavo stated, "Happy to visit -the land that gave birth to many sages,saints&gurus. Today, #India wants to be the Vishwaguru, the global teacher and arbiter. In our case, we've got a very clear picture:aggressor against innocent victim.Supporting is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru." During her visit to India, Dzhaparova will hold talks with the Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Sanjay Verma. During the meeting, both sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations and exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine and global issues of mutual interest, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in the press release. The Ukrainian first Deputy Foreign Minister will also hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. She will also call on Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi and meet with Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri, according to the press release. The MEA in the press release noted, "India shares warm and friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Ukraine." It further said, "Over the last 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations, bilateral cooperation between the two countries has made significant progress in the areas of trade, education, culture and defence. The visit will be an occasion to further mutual understanding and interests." Ever since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for resolving the issues through dialogue and diplomacy. He has spoken to both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his Russian counterpart Vladamir Putin several times since the start of the conflict. In September last year, PM Modi during a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir said, "today's era is not of war." The meeting between the two leaders was held on the sidelines of the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan. (ANI)
Supporting Ukraine is the "only right choice" for true Vishwaguru, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister, Emine Dzhaparova who arrived in India on Monday. Dzhaparova tweeted, "Happy to visit India -the land that gave birth to many sages, saints and gurus. Today, #India wants to be the Vishwaguru, the global teacher and arbiter. In our case, we've got a very clear picture: aggressor against innocent victim. Supporting Ukraine is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru." During her four-day visit, Dzhaparova will hold talks with Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Sanjay Verma, during which both sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations, exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine and global issues of mutual interest. It is pertinent to mention that this is the first official visit of the East European country since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year. The Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister will also call on Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi and meet with Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri during the visit, according to the external affairs ministry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has maintained that Russia- Ukraine conflict can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and that "India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts." He has spoken to both Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladamir Putin several times since the start of the conflict. Earlier, while holding a press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, PM Modi said, "From the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, India has clarified that this dispute can only be resolved through dialogues and diplomacy. And India is fully ready to contribute to any peace process." In September 2022, during the bilateral meeting with the Russian President on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand, PM Modi said, "Today's era isn't of war" while emphasising the need to find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. "Today's era isn't of war and I have spoken to you about it on the call. Today we'll get the opportunity to talk about how can we progress on the path of peace. India-Russia has stayed together with each other for several decades," the Prime Minister said. "We spoke on the phone several times about India-Russia bilateral relations and also on various issues. We should find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. I want to thank Russia & Ukraine for helping us to evacuate our students from Ukraine," he added. (ANI)
India dismissed as "baseless" reports in British media stating that it had halted talks for a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom over the attack on the Indian high commission in London last month, government sources said on Monday. London-based newspaper The Times in its April 10 edition citing senior British government sources reported that the Indian government has "disengaged" from trade talks and made it clear that there would be no progress "without a public condemnation of the Khalistan movement." An Indian government source has "denied" the UK publication's report and termed it as "baseless." The India-UK Free Trade Agreement talks were launched on June 17, 2022, "Indians don't want to talk about trade until they get a very public demonstration of the condemnation of Khalistan extremism in the UK," The Times quoted a British official statement saying. On March 19 this year, protesters holding Khalistan banners staged a demonstration outside the High Commission in London. One of the protestors climbed up its balcony and pulled down the Indian national flag of India. The protest was being held to denounce the recent police action in Punjab. In a video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, a protestor is seen on the balcony attempting to bring down the Indian flag. At the end of the video, another man is seen reaching the balcony and wresting the Tricolour back from the Khalistan supporter. The British High Commissioner Alex Ellis condemned the attack on the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom as "disgraceful acts" and called it totally unacceptable. New Delhi also had summoned the senior-most British diplomat UK diplomat, deputy high commissioner Christina Scott, to lodge a protest. "It is expected that the UK Government would take immediate steps to identify, arrest and prosecute each one of those involved in today's incident, and put in place stringent measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents," according to an official press release by the Minstry of External Affairs (MEA). MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had recently said that India expects to see more action, than just assurance and hoped that foreign governments will act against and prosecute those involved in the incident. "On the issues of security, whenever we feel there is an issue relating to the security of our missions abroad, high commissions and embassies, this issue is taken up. Whenever we have concerns where we feel that there will be some activities that may harm our interests, we do take it up," he said while answering a media query on the vandalism. Khalistan supporters also allegedly attacked Indian Consulate in San Francisco (SFO). Videos of supporters breaking the doors and barging into the office surfaced on social media. Though visuals of the vandalism at the San Francisco consulate have been doing the rounds of social media, the incident is yet to be confirmed by Indian officials. While the visuals confirmed that the incident happened at the consulate, the date could not be ascertained. Visuals shared online show a sizeable mob brandishing Khalistan flags and mounted on wooden poles, using them to smash glass doors and windows of the consulate building. Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, they broke through makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two Khalistani flags inside the premises. Meanwhile, the FTA, which aims to double bilateral trade between Indian and the UK by the year 2030 was expected to conclude by Diwali last year but the deal did not go through because the meeting was postponed. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had in December 2022 met with UK Secretary of State for International Trade Kemi Badenoch in New Delhi to discuss India-UK FTA negotiations. Both Ministers had reaffirmed their commitment to the negotiations which would unlock the full potential of boosting jobs, investments and exports between the two countries. India and UK concluded the eighth round of negotiations for a trade deal on March 31. The last round of India-UK dialogue over the FTA had concluded on February 10. (ANI)
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma today held a meeting with First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova and discussed bilateral engagements and cooperation going forward. Taking to his official Twitter handle, Sanjay Verma stated, "Pleasure to receive Ukrainian Deputy FM @EmineDzheppar. Perspectives shared. Discussed bilateral engagements and cooperation going forward. Wishing her a good trip. Her first as DFM, but a country she is familiar with." Ukraine's first Deputy Foreign Minister, Emine Dzhaparova on Monday arrived at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for talks after she landed in New Delhi. The visuals showed Indian officials welcoming Dzhaparova as she made her way to the Ministry of External Affairs. Speaking about her visit to India, Dzhaparova in a tweet wrote, "Happy to visit -the land that gave birth to many sages,saints&gurus. Today, #India wants to be the Vishwaguru,the global teacher and arbiter. In our case, we've got a very clear picture:aggressor against innocent victim.Supporting is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru." The Ukrainian first Deputy Foreign Minister will call on Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi and meet with Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in the press release. The MEA in the press release noted, "India shares warm and friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Ukraine." The MEA said that India and Ukraine has made significant progress in their ties in the areas of trade, education, culture and defence. The MEA in the press release said, "Over the last 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations, bilateral cooperation between the two countries has made significant progress in the areas of trade, education, culture and defence. The visit will be an occasion to further mutual understanding and interests." Ever since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for resolving the issues through dialogue and diplomacy. He has spoken to both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian counterpart Vladamir Putin several times since the beginning of the conflict. In September last year, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir. During the meeting, PM Modi said, "Today's era is not of war." The meeting between the two leaders was held on the sidelines of the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan. "Today's era isn't of war and I have spoken to you about it on the call. Today we'll get the opportunity to talk about how can we progress on the path of peace. India-Russia has stayed together with each other for several decades," PM Modi said. "We spoke on the phone several times about India-Russia bilateral relations and also on various issues. We should find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. I want to thank Russia & Ukraine for helping us to evacuate our students from Ukraine," he added. (ANI)
The United States Navy has sent a destroyer near a contested island in the South China Sea where Beijing has fortified its military installations to stake its claims on the region, CNN reported. US Navy's announcement comes amid the Chinese military drills near Taiwan which entered its third day. China launched the military drills in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to Washington and her meeting with US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy. On Monday, the US Navy's 7th Fleet in a statement said the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius sailed within 12 nautical miles, the internationally recognized limit of a nation's territorial waters of Mischief Reef in the Spratly islands known as the Nansha Islands in China. Mischief Reef, which lies in the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone is claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. However, China has asserted its claims on the island by building and placing military infrastructure on it, as per the CNN report. In a statement, the US 7th Fleet said, "On April 10, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands, consistent with international law." It further said, "At the conclusion of the operation, USS Milius exited the excessive claim area and continued operations in the South China Sea. This freedom of navigation operation ("FONOP") upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea. USS Milius demonstrated that Mischief Reef, a low-tide elevation in it its natural state, is not entitled to a territorial sea under international law." The US engaged in "normal operations" within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef, according to the statement. The US 7th Fleet said, "Under customary international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention, features like Mischief Reef that are submerged at high tide in their naturally formed state are not entitled to a territorial sea. The land reclamation efforts, installations, and structures built on Mischief Reef do not change this characterization under international law." "By engaging in normal operations within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef, the United States demonstrated that vessels can lawfully exercise high-seas freedoms in those areas," the US 7th Fleet said. As per the news report, China claims almost all of the South China Sea as part of its territorial waters, including distant islands. A spokesperson for China's People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command said the US destroyer "illegally intruded" into Chinese waters near Mischief Reef. In a statement, Chinese Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli said, "China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their nearby waters," according to CNN. US warships regularly carry out such freedom of navigation operations (FONOP) in the South China Sea, as per the news report. The sailing of the US Navy destroyer on Monday was the second in three weeks by the Milius. Earlier on March 23, the USS Milius passed near the Paracel Islands, known as the Xisha Islands in China in the South China Sea. (ANI)
The India Central Asia Foundation is all set to organise the international seminar on Tuesday to discuss contemporary and historical perspectives that are driving today's geopolitical, economic and diplomatic issues and how they impact India, according to the official release from Central Asian Perspectives on Eurasia. The three-day seminar titled "Understanding Central Asian Perspectives on Eurasia" is scheduled to take place at the India International Centre (IIC) Annexe. "Today, Central Asia is caught between two conflict zones. To its West, the Russian military intervention in Ukraine has brought about fundamental shifts; a strong European geopolitical entity and Russia under stringent sanctions. To its East, intense tension exists between China and the US over the issue of sovereignty. Naval bases are gradually emerging in the Indo-Pacific region," the statement read. "Both these developments have cast their shadow over Central Asia, as both are not only leading powers but importantly flank Central Asia. In the evolving situation, the Central Asian States are experiencing a sense of vulnerability in terms of security and the absence of economic interaction. The moot question is, how will the strengthened strategic partnership between Russia and China impact Central Asia," the statement added. According to the statement, the Central Asian States are keen to engage with countries in the southern direction in trade and transit for economic purposes. However, their landlocked status is a huge connectivity impediment/challenge. At the regional level, the issues at stake are regional cooperation, seeking solutions to migration, transboundary river issues and achieving a higher technological level. "India has deep interests; strategic, security, economic and reviving its age-old cultural heritage in its strategic neighbourhood. Hence, India has initiated a proactive policy and diplomacy in Central Asia with emphasis on secure, reliable and mutually beneficial connectivity- such as through the Chabahar port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC) connecting the Eurasian landmass and Central Asian countries with the economies of South Asia and beyond," the statement read. "It is of utmost importance to understand the evolving processes by discussing and debating these issues with experts and research scholars. Diverse views and aspects of a problem are necessary for policymakers, scholars, etc. It is from these perspectives that The India Central Asia Foundation has organised the international seminar," the statement added. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the geopolitical scenario vastly changed for the Central Asian States (CAS) and is continuing to change against the backdrop of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine. At present, CAS are not mute spectators and are subjects in their own right. In order to meet the current challenges, they are attempting to forge regional cooperation. However, mention must be made that shared common interests such as counter-terrorism, environmental degradation, the need for security and stability in Afghanistan, etc; their approaches are not uniform. National interests predominate regional concerns. India has initiated a strategy for enhancing its ties and launched proactive diplomacy. It can leverage its past history of contacts to mutual advantage. In order to play a positive role in Central Asia, it is necessary to understand Central Asian perspectives on issues like security and stability of the Central Asian region and connectivity problems among others. Besides the 5 Central Asian countries, to look at how the influence of newer players such as Turkey and Iran, are shaping the regional dynamics. Taking cognizance of Russia, and China as the dominant overarching shadows over the region and neighbourhood as a whole, what is the effect of the renewed outreach by the US? The year-long Russia-Ukraine conflict and its impact on the extended Central Asian-Caspian region, brought to the fore the legacy territorial claims/issues, and possible rebalancing of regional alliances with, and in, some of the other CIS countries like Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Another area of concern is the aftermath of opaque investments across Eurasia. Looking a little further East and South, Mongolia and Afghanistan are forgotten states with unresolved issues, in part due to the global Eurocentric focus on the Russia-Ukraine war. The Afghan crisis is a simmering global cum regional humanitarian and terror challenge, that needs continuous attention to be addressed proactively, rather than in a piecemeal or kneejerk manner. All of these countries and issues are of concern to India not only due to its geographical and regional power status but also as the 2023 chair for two major multi-lateral forums - the G20 and SCO. India, being in the hot seat, will have to lead on all fronts ranging from diplomatic, economic and geopolitical, identify challenges, look for consensus solutions, play mediator where needed, and most importantly use its goodwill and soft power, to position itself as a global bridge. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of democracy, dialogue and diversification and strategic application is very important for Ukraine, First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova said on Monday. Dzhaparova, who arrived at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) today, said, "I think that India should be pragmatic in diversifying its energy resources, diversifying military contracts, in diversifying political interaction. And we feel that there is an extraordinary time that we live in. And as my President Philip Merzelinski says, extraordinary times need extraordinary decisions. So of course, Prime Minister Modi with his 3D policy of democracy dialogue and to my knowledge its diversity. I think that this no-era of war and strategic application is really, really important." "So we hope that India and Ukraine will be even though we are distant geographically, but we will become closer physically and politically and in many other ways." Talking about Ukraine's 1500 years of history, the minister said that her country had never attacked anyone like India. She also stated that Ukraine is the victim of unprovoked and neocolonial war. "We also feel that we have this arbitrary by promoting the values justice of Peace, as your Prime Minister in Samarkand said, that it's not an era of war. I mean, we do support this purely and fully, but unfortunately, we have aggressive countries who question the existence of other countries and then the question of India's involvement as a leader in the Global South, as a G-20 presidency. I think that we hope that India would be involved and engaged in global issues and challenges, economic challenges, energy challenges, and nuclear challenges to a greater extent because the Ukrainian issue is a weakness port today from Russia," she said. Emine Dzhaparova arrived in New Delhi for a four-day visit on Monday. Emine Dzhaparavo's visit to India marks the first official visit of the East European country since the beginning of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February last year. Taking to her official Twitter handle, Dzhaparavo stated, "Happy to visit -the land that gave birth to many sages,saints&gurus. Today, #India wants to be the Vishwaguru, the global teacher and arbiter. In our case, we've got a very clear picture:aggressor against innocent victim.Supporting is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru." She also met MEA Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma today. Taking to Twitter, Verma said, "Pleasure to receive Ukrainian Deputy FM @EmineDzheppar. Perspectives shared. Discussed bilateral engagements and cooperation going forward. Wishing her a good trip. Her first as DFM, but a country she is familiar with." The Ukrainian first Deputy Foreign Minister will call on Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi and meet with Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri, according to the press release. The MEA in the press release noted, "India shares warm and friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Ukraine." It further said, "Over the last 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations, bilateral cooperation between the two countries has made significant progress in the areas of trade, education, culture and defence. The visit will be an occasion to further mutual understanding and interests." Ever since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for resolving the issues through dialogue and diplomacy. He has spoken to both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his Russian counterpart Vladamir Putin several times since the start of the conflict. (ANI)
Months after controversies erupted over books about human bodies and drag queens at the Lincolnwood Public Library, leading to wider questions about censorship, four trustee candidates who say they support current policies and oppose censorship appeared to have won their races in the April 4 election based on unofficial Cook County results.

Incumbent trustees Sheri Doniger, Georgia Talaganis and Mary Silber, along with Deborah Silver, who was running for a first term, ran under the Freedom to Read banner and were the top four vote-getters.

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Silver led the pack with 14.92 % of the vote, Doniger had 14.87% orfour fewer votes than Silver, Talaganis had 14.75 % and Silber tallied 14.1%.

Freedom to Read Lincolnwood team is grateful the voters of Lincolnwood supported our mission of transparency, inclusivity, true fiscal responsibility, and high integrity, the winning trustees wrote in a statement. We ran a highly ethical, informative campaign and are proud of the positive response of the voters. We believe libraries are the cornerstone of democracy, literacy and productivity. We look to the future to ensure all residents continue to see themselves at the Lincolnwood Public Library. "

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The other candidates were Kari Fleck Gutstein, Andrea Serban, Jacqueline Kosir and Mohamed Hafezi. Hafezi wrote, Although we are saddened by the outcome of the election, we acknowledge and honor the democratic process and the verdict of the voters.

The election for the traditionally low-profile library board drew additional attention following last falls dispute regarding a 40-page book about drag queens, which sparked a firestorm about the availability of books in the childrens section of the library.

Doniger added in an e-mail that she believes the Freedom to Read group reflected the prevailing perspective of the village population.

We won the election because our diverse Lincolnwood residents wanted to keep their freedom to read, choose, and access books, Doniger wrote. They also believed parents already have rights for their child and no one should impose their personal beliefs on other peoples children. Finally, the residents believed we will be better stewards of their tax dollars by maintaining and enhancing the quality programs for all ages and services they have come to enjoy.

Doniger predicted current policies would continue over the next four years.

The Lincolnwood Public Library will not ban, re-shelve, or hide books. Re-shelving or hiding books is considered censorship, she wrote. Our policies and procedures regarding book censorship of any kind will hold steadfast and true to the librarys purpose. The public will always be welcome to comment at our public meetings, they will always be welcome to ask questions and make requests of our staff of highly-credentialed professional librarians. Its important for everyone to understand that, just like in life outside the library, sometimes the answer to a request is yes and sometimes the answer is no. The library will always make decisions with the charter of the institution at the forefront. And we will always protect the U.S. Constitution.

Silver indicated in a separate e-mail current policies would continue.

Our master of library science-educated librarians at the Lincolnwood Library will continue to select books based on the guidelines of the American Library Association, Illinois Library Association as well as their knowledge of Lincolnwood residents, she wrote.

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Regarding the future on other topics, Doniger said plans are in place for additional programming and discussions on book procurement, collection development and financial matters.
The country has the fourth-highest crime rate. More than 76 crimes are committed in Afghanistan for every 100,000 people.

The crime has various forms, including corruption, assassinations, drug trafficking, kidnapping and money laundering.

Afghanistan in 2020 provided 85 per cent of the illicit opium consumed worldwide, the report claimed.

The report also added that since the Taliban regained control of the Country in 2021, despite their promise to eliminate the opium industry, it will be difficult since it is such a vital part of the Country's struggling economy, Khaama Press reported.

The report also said that the other form of crimes could be robbery and assault due to the high unemployment rate in the country.

Venezuela, Papua New Guinea, and South Africa lead Afghanistan as the countries with the first, second and third highest crime rates respectively.

As per Khaama Press, the total number of crimes of any kind reported divided by the total population, then multiplied by 100,000, yields the overall crime rate (because the crime rate is typically reported as X number of crimes per 100,000 people).

Many factors affect crime rates, which differ widely from country to country. For instance, a country's crime rate typically increases with high poverty and unemployment, as per Khaama Press. (ANI)
The Pakistan government has booked all major Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders including its chairman Imran Khan, as well as some civil society activists for sedition, Pakistan-based Business Recorder newspaper reported. According to Business Recorder, pronouncing criticism of a government or its subordinate organisations as sedition, the crime of betraying one's state, is inconceivable in any functioning democracy. In Pakistan, however, a colonial-era law introduced in 1860 to criminalise dissent to control the 'subjects' stayed on the statute book post-independence until this past March 30, when hearing a public interest petition Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court (LHC) issued a short order, striking down Section 124-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) that said "whosoever by words, either spoken or by signs, or otherwise, attempts to bring into hatred or contempt the federal or provincial government" would be punishable with imprisonment for life or up to three years along with fine, Business Recorder reported. The judge in his 48-page judgment had to explain why loyalty to the State has to be distinguished from loyalty to the government. Taking exception to three keywords, contempt, hatred and disaffection, used in section 124-A, he wrote: "As human beings, we are all susceptible to showing such emotions at some point or the other." The judge observed that the impugned section of the PPC demands allegiance and loyalty by all opposition parties, their members, the citizens and members of the press towards the federal or provincial governments of the day. This means any political opponent (of the government) or a citizen having loyalty to a different group will, by necessary implication, be disloyal to the federal or provincial government in power, which "is antithetical to the very concept of democracy and constitutionalism". Democratically- elected governments yet intentionally or unintentionally continue to retain this draconian provision. Justice Karim also pointed out that section 124-A in its present form went against Article 19 of the Constitution related to press freedom that, he asserted, must not be abridged on the misplaced notion that the government of the day can suppress freedom of expression at will, Business Recorder reported. Some underhand measures are employed to prevent the media from questioning the policies of the government as well as certain other quarters. The disputed section so openly seeks to suppress dissent that any challenge to the LHC's verdict can end up in embarrassment. Another colonial relic, the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, liberally used to arrest political activists for participating in protest demonstrations, also needs to be laid off. (ANI)
Days after India rejected its attempts to rename some places in Arunachal Pradesh, China has again sought to make comments about the Indian border state saying it "opposes" the visit of Home Minister Amit Shah. "China firmly opposes the Indian official's visit to Zangnan as Zangnan is China's territory and the visit violated China's territorial sovereignty and is not conducive to peace and tranquillity in the border region," China Daily, a state-affiliated daily, quoted Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin as stating at a news briefing on Monday. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Monday launched the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' in Kibithoo, a border village in Arunachal Pradesh. The Centre has approved the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' with central components of Rs 4800 crore including Rs.2500 crore exclusively for road connectivity for the financial years 2022-23 to 2025-26. The programme will help in improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages and encourage people to stay in their native locations thereby reversing the outmigration from these villages and adding to the security of the border A total of 2967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting the northern border in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and UT of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development under 'Vibrant Villages Programme' The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier this month rejected China's attempts to rename 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh. "We have seen such reports. This is not the first time China has made such an attempt. We reject this outright. Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. The United States had also strongly opposed China's attempts to advance its claim over the Indian territory of Arunachal Pradesh by renaming places. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Uganda for a 3-day diplomatic visit on Monday afternoon. On his arrival, the EAM was received by Foreign Minister General Jeje Odongo and Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Vincent Ssempijja. During his visit to Uganda, Jaishankar will have delegation-level talks with his Ugandan counterpart as both sides will look forward to enhancing bilateral ties between the two nations. Informing of the arrival, Jaishankar took to Twitter and wrote, "Arrived in Uganda this afternoon. Glad to be received by Foreign Minister General Jeje Odongo and Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Vincent Ssempijja." "Look forward to productive discussions to take forward South-South cooperation," the tweet read further. During the visit from April 10-12, he is expected to hold talks with Ugandan counterpart General Jeje Odongo and call on the leadership of the country and meet other Ministers, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official release on Sunday. During the visit, Jaishankar will inaugurate the transit campus of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Jinja. A bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India and Uganda on setting up of the first-ever campus of NFSU outside India is likely to be signed during the visit, the press release said. Jaishankar will also attend the ground-breaking ceremony of a solar-powered water supply project in Uganda. He will also address the trade and business community of Uganda and have an interaction with the Indian diaspora, according to an MEA press release. From April 13-15, Jaishankar will visit Mozambique. "This will be the first-ever visit by an External Affairs Minister of India to the Republic of Mozambique," according to the MEA release. During the visit, he will meet Mozambique's top leadership and co-chair the 5th Session of the Joint Commission Meeting with Mozambican Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo. The EAM is expected to meet several other Ministers and representatives of the Assembly of Mozambique. (ANI)
Member of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, Dawa Tsering, while reiterating the Dalai Lama's apology on his purported viral video, has said that his Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family and regrets the incident. Earlier, the Dalai Lama apologised after a purported video of him kissing a boy and asking him to "suck his tongue" triggered a social media uproar. The viral video shows the Dalai Lama kissing the boy on his lips as the latter leaned in to pay his respects. After a few moments, the Tibetan spiritual leader can be seen pointing to his mouth and sticking his tongue out. In the purported clip, Dalai Lama says, "Can you suck my tongue?" MP in-exile, Dawa Tsering while talking to ANI said, "I just heard about the incident from the people who were present that day at the Dalai Lama's temple. Meeting with the people at the end of the programme during the question-answer session one of the children from the group has asked his Holiness 'can I hug you?' and the Dalai Lama said yes you can do that. Then the child asked for a kiss and he did a kiss and then jokingly his Holiness said you can suck my tongue also so it's just part of that thing." Reading a message from the private office of The Dalai Lama, Tsering said, "A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug. His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused." "His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident," he added. Dawa Tsering further said, "So that was a part of a joke or play with a kid so we should not go more than that." An official statement was released by the office of the Dalai Lama on Monday, which stated that the Tibetan spiritual leader "wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused." The Buddhist spiritual leader's remarks follow after a video clip started circulating on social media that showed him meeting a young boy. The video has caught the attention of netizens on social media. Social media users have expressed their disappointment and outrage over the incident. (ANI)
Images of a new Air Force patch depicting a Formosan black bear punching Winnie the Pooh have gone viral in Taiwan, at a time when China conducted a three-day series of military drills across the region, Taiwan News reported. China announced on Saturday that it would conduct drills around Taiwan in response to Tsai Ing-Wen's historic meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The patch read, "We are open 24/7" at the top and "Scramble!" at the bottom. According to Taiwan News, the Ministry of National Defense on Sunday released a photo showing an Air Force pilot inspecting the fuselage of his jet with the patch on his left shoulder. The patch showcased a red-eyed Formosan black bear roaring as he holds a Taiwan flag in one paw and the other paw punching Winnie The Pooh, representing Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Soon after the pictures of the fighter jet pilots went online, the patch quickly went viral on social media in Taiwan and netizens posted links to e-commerce websites such as Ruten, where pre-orders of blue and red versions of the patches can be placed online. Moreover, a military and Foreign Affairs correspondent Ting Ting Liu of Taiwan-based TVBS News also took to her Twitter handle and wrote, "ROCAF said they allow pilots to purchase military patches close to their hearts as it helps with encouraging the pilots especially when they need to scramble to intercept PLA's daily incursions." Taiwan News reported that the fighter jets of the self-governed island carried out combat readiness missions according to their orders, demonstrating their ability and determination to defend Taiwan's airspace, while China carried out military drills. China began three-day military drills around Taiwan called "Joint Sword" after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as per the Al Jazeera report. Meanwhile, Taiwan lodged a protest against Chinese military drills around Taiwan, saying that the country would not yield to threats. In a statement, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence called Taiwan as their "homeland." Taking to its official Twitter handle, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said, "#Taiwan is our homeland, and no matter where we go or what we encounter, she is always charming and beautiful. Every story on this land is etched in our memories. We, #ROCArmedForces, are fighting with all our heart to defend our homeland and to protect our home together." Tensions between China and Taiwan escalated after the then US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi travelled to the island in August last year. China raised objections to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. (ANI)
United Sindh Goods Transport Association's office-bearers have urged the governor and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to help recover the organisation's senior vice president, Raees Qureshi, who was picked up by police in plain clothes on Thursday, Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper reported. Qureshi's whereabouts are not known since his abduction. Khalid Bandhani, Sher Mohammad Bandhani and others, along with the missing transport operator's brother Sajid Qureshi, while speaking at a press conference at the local press club, claimed that at around 1 am on April 6, policemen picked up Raees Qureshi and since then his whereabouts remained unknown. Sajid Qureshi, narrating the details, claimed that some people in civvies along with some others in police uniforms took away his brother. He said employees of Raees Qureshi were present when two of the police personnel talked to him and asked him that to accompany them. Raees walked towards a double cabin vehicle parked at some distance and he was made to board it, Sajid added, according to Dawn. He said a surf vehicle, a double cabin Revo, and two police mobiles were parked outside the office of Raees Qureshi during the episode. Sajid said he later approached several police stations but no one present there gave proper replies to his question about his brother's whereabouts. Sajid in reply to a question from the journalists, denied his brother's link with Mainpuri trade. Dawn reported that the association's office-bearers and Sajid also held a protest demonstration outside the press club against the alleged enforced disappearance of Raees Qureshi. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who is on a three-day visit to Uganda met President Yoweri K Museveni on Monday at his farm in Rwakitura and congratulated the country on assuming the chairship of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). "Privileged to call on President @KagutaMuseveni of Uganda at his farm in Rwakitura. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Appreciated his guidance on furthering our traditional and long-standing ties," tweeted Jaishankar. He also discussed cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure, energy, defense, health, digital and agricultural domains. "Discussed cooperation in trade & investment, infrastructure, energy, defense, health, digital and agricultural domains. Congratulated Uganda on assuming the chairship of the NAM and affirmed our strong coordination at multilateral forums including the United Nations," tweeted Jaishankar. Uganda was endorsed to chair the Non-Aligned Movement on behalf of Africa for the period from 2022 to 2025. The NAM chair position rotates every three years during summit conferences. The chair of the movement is assisted by both the former and incoming chairs. According to the movement, this structure represents its past, present and future. Azerbaijan chaired the NAM for the period between 2019 to 2022 having taken over from Venezuela. The Non-Aligned Movement was formed in 1961 during the end of the colonial system and the independence struggles globally and at the height of the Cold War. The NAM is composed of 120 member states from the developing world and is the largest forum for political coordination and consultation after and within the United Nations. It is a forum not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. Jaishankar arrived in Uganda for a 3-day diplomatic visit on Monday afternoon. On his arrival, the EAM was received by Foreign Minister General Jeje Odongo and Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Vincent Ssempijja. During his visit to Uganda, Jaishankar will have delegation-level talks with his Ugandan counterpart as both sides will look forward to enhancing bilateral ties between the two nations. Jaishankar took to Twitter and wrote, "Arrived in Uganda this afternoon. Glad to be received by Foreign Minister General Jeje Odongo and Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Vincent Ssempijja." "Look forward to productive discussions to take forward South-South cooperation," the tweet read further. During the visit from April 10-12, he is expected to hold talks with Ugandan counterpart General Jeje Odongo and call on the leadership of the country and meet other Ministers, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official release on Sunday. During the visit, Jaishankar will inaugurate the transit campus of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Jinja. A bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India and Uganda on setting up of the first-ever campus of NFSU outside India is likely to be signed during the visit, the press release said. Jaishankar will also attend the ground-breaking ceremony of a solar-powered water supply project in Uganda. He will also address the trade and business community of Uganda and have an interaction with the Indian diaspora, according to an MEA press release. From April 13-15, Jaishankar will visit Mozambique. "This will be the first-ever visit by an External Affairs Minister of India to the Republic of Mozambique," according to the MEA release. During the visit, he will meet Mozambique's top leadership and co-chair the 5th Session of the Joint Commission Meeting with Mozambican Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo. The EAM is expected to meet several other Ministers and representatives of the Assembly of Mozambique. (ANI)
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday while addressing the Indian diaspora community in France said that India will become the third-largest economy by 2027. "Now we are the 5th largest economy. By 2027-28, we will be the third-largest economy in the world. India is a 3.5 trillion-dollar economy today and will become a 30-35 dollar trillion economy by 2047 when we celebrate 100 years of independence," said Goyal. The Minister said that exports were USD 676 billion last year. "We had a target to reflect the sentiment of young and enthusiastic Indians. In the 75th Year of Independence, we crossed USD 750 billion in exports," he said. "We are today emerging as the go-to country, as the world's pharmacy, as the world's food bowl and as a trusted partner to other countries. Everybody is looking up to PM Modi's leadership to resolve the world's challenges today," he said. Goyal said that India deeply values the partnership with France. "I am sure, each of you recognises that this partnership will see further growth, in terms of both opportunities and friendship. To further our partnership, you all will play a crucial role," he said while addressing the Indian diaspora in Paris. "PM Narendra Modi is the most popular and loved leader in the world and is also known for having the commitment to care for India and the world. As we believe in 'One Earth, One Family, One Future', the world looks up to his leadership," he said. He also lauded the Indian diaspora, saying, "India with capabilities, capacities, competency, and confidence, is the New India what each one of you represents. As Rashtradoots, you are contributing to your Karmabhoomi and Matrabhoomi." Goyal urged the Indian diaspora to be a part of India's growth journey and promote Indian culture in France. "With your support, India will achieve strides of growth and development in the Amrit Kaal," he said. Goyal invited them to be a part of this vision and be with India on this journey, saying, "Yahi Samay Hai, Sahi Samay Hai." Goyal is in Paris for the India-France Business Summit, commemorating 25 years of India-France friendship. Piyush Goyal and Olivier Becht, France's Minister delegate of Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad will co-chair the India-France Business Summit, commemorating 25 years of India-France friendship, on Tuesday in Paris. The Summit will focus on themes including building a green future, emerging technologies, defence cooperation and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The business summit and CEO roundtable are being organized by the Embassy of India in Paris in partnership with Medef, CII, Business France and IFFCI. 400-plus participants have registered for the business summit and have shown tremendous enthusiasm. Minister Goyal is also scheduled to meet with French business leaders across various sectors and will attend a CEOs roundtable. (ANI)
Marco Chilya, the Ruvuma regional police commander, said the incident occurred at 9 p.m. local time on Sunday when the truck ferrying the traders overturned before it plunged into Njoka River as it attempted to climb a steep hill, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The traders were on their way from an auction of various goods at Ndongosi village to Namatuhi village in Songea district," Chilya told a news conference.

He said the police are investigating to establish the cause of the accident.

"Apart from ferrying the traders, the truck was overloaded with various goods which the traders had bought from the auction," he said.

--IANS int/arm

( 154 Words)

2023-04-10-22:00:04 (IANS)
Someone who purchased a Lucky Day Lotto ticket at a Morton Grove convenience store April 7 has a $1 million prize waiting for them, according to a press release from the Illinois Lottery.

The winner has not yet come forward, spokesperson Amy Shanks said, and when they do, they are likely to be anonymous.

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The store, a Family Pantry on the 9200 block of Waukegan Road, will get a $10,000 bonus  1% of the total jackpot  from the Illinois Lottery for selling a winning ticket.

The ticket was one of two winning tickets over the weekend, per the press release: another ticket purchased in Chicago April 8 scooped a jackpot worth $150,000.

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Family Pantry Manager Satish Patel told Pioneer Press he doesnt know the identity of the person who purchased the winning ticket.

We found out [on] the Illinois Lottery app after the draw was over and the results were coming, he said.

Its not the stores first time selling a winning ticket, Patel said  they sold another ticket that matched up with a $1 million jackpot a year ago and a third a few years before that.

He said the store has seen a spike in customers buying lottery tickets, hoping to replicate the luck of Fridays ticket buyer.

They say your store is a lucky store in our town, Patel said.

He doesnt yet know what the store will do with the $10,000 from the Illinois Lottery, he told Pioneer Press.

Shanks, of the Illinois Lottery, said, Theres been at least one $1 million Lucky Day Lotto jackpot winner every month this year.

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Social media makes it seem as if anything that happens anywhere happens everywhere and at the same time.

It shrinks the world, squeezes it into your neighborhood, your house, skewing our sense of locale and stressing us out over actions or events that will never impact our lives.

Except  not always.

Last week, a federal judge in Texas tossed a pebble into the legal pond that could generate a tidal wave sized ripple capable of eliminating abortion rights in Arizona and every other state.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas suspended the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone, one of two drugs taken in pill form in medication abortions.

It accounts for roughly 50% of abortions in the United States.

2 competing mifepristone rulings

Abortion-rights activists protest outside the Arizona State Senate following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, in Phoenix on June 24, 2022.

Mifepristone has been used safely in the United States for more than 20 years.

To justify his ruling, Judge Kacsmaryk (appointed by former President Donald Trump) said the drug was improperly approved and relied on an 1873 anti-pornography law called the Comstock Act, claiming that chemical abortion drugs are nonmailable.

Also in court: GOP lawmakers will defend Arizona abortion law

Not long after the Texas ruling, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice in Washington state issued a competing order blocking the FDA from pulling mifepristone from the market.

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that the Justice Department is appealing the Texas decision, saying it overturns the FDAs expert judgment, rendered over two decades ago, that mifepristone is safe and effective.The people hoping to outlaw medication abortion specifically filed their case in the Texas court.

Case could go to the Supreme Court

They wanted Judge Kacsmaryk, who has previously expressed antagonistic and dismissive opinions about reproductive freedom, same sex marriage and the LGBTQ community.

Before he was appointed, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 200 national organizations, urged the U.S. Senate not to confirm him.

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The Republican majority at the time did so, anyway.

The case now could be headed to the Supreme Court, which last year struck down Roe v. Wade.

Judge could send the nation back to 1873

In The New York Times, columnist Michelle Goldberg pointed out how some experts believe Kacsmaryks ruling, if allowed to stand, might not only end medication abortions, but all abortions.

Even though more than 60% of Americans believe abortion should be legal.

Goldberg pointed to an article being prepared for the Stanford Law Review describing what Kacsmaryks opinion preventing patients from getting mifepristone by mail could mean.

The authors say, Absent the narrowing construction applied by the federal circuit courts, the laws plain terms could effectively ban all abortion nationwide because almost every pill, instrument or other item used in an abortion clinic or by a virtual abortion provider moves through the mail or an express carrier at some point.

All because a judge youve never heard of, living a state where you dont reside, holding an opinion not shared by most Americans, decided to send the country back to 1873.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How Texas mifepristone ruling can end abortions in Arizona
Dust off your eclipse glasses: Its only a year until a total solar eclipse sweeps across North America.

On April 8, 2024, the moon will cast its shadow across a stretch of the U.S., Mexico and Canada, plunging millions of people into midday darkness.

Its been less than six years since a total solar eclipse cut across the U.S., from coast to coast. That was on Aug. 21, 2017.

If you miss next years spectacle, youll have to wait 20 years until the next one hits the U.S. But that total eclipse will only be visible in Montana and the Dakotas.

Heres what to know to get ready for the 2024 show:

Where can I see it?

Next years eclipse will slice a diagonal line across North America on April 8, which falls on a Monday.

It will start in the Pacific and first reach land over Mexico around 11:07 a.m. local time, NASA predicts. Then, itll cross over into Texas and move across parts of the Midwest and Northeast in the afternoon.

All in all, it will hit parts of 13 U.S. states: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Cities in its path include Dallas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis; Cleveland and Buffalo, New York.

Parts of Canada  including Quebec and Newfoundland  will also get a glimpse before the eclipse heads out to sea in the early evening.

A total eclipse will be visible within a 115-mile wide swath  the path of totality. Outside that path, you can still see a partial solar eclipse, where the moon takes a bite out of the sun and turns it into a crescent shape.

Total eclipses happen about every 18 months, but a lot of times they cross over remote areas where few people see them.

What happens during an eclipse?

Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking the suns light from reaching us.

Even though the moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, its also about 400 times closer to Earth, explained University of Colorado astronomer Doug Duncan. So when the orbits line up just right, the little moon can block out the whole sun. Those who are standing in the right spots will experience totality: when the moon casts its shadow over the landscape.

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In just seconds, you go from bright, bright daylight to like the middle of the night, said Dr. Debby Brown, who saw her first total eclipse in 2017 with Duncan in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

The stars are out. All of a sudden, all the animals are quiet, recalled Brown, of Arlington, Virginia.

During the 2024 eclipse, totality will stretch to around four and a half minutes  almost twice as long as in 2017.







Whats the best spot?

To catch the full eclipse experience, planning ahead is key, Duncan said. Weather could be a big factor since the eclipse is coming in the spring, when conditions are unpredictable. Thats why Duncan selected Texas for his eclipse tour next year, where there are better odds of clear skies.

Your choice also depends on what kind of experience youre looking for, said Bob Baer, whos coordinating eclipse plans at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Carbondale  in the crossroads of both the 2017 and 2024 eclipse paths  will hold a viewing event at the schools stadium again. Its a big group experience, Baer said: The last 20 minutes before totality, the stadium gets as loud as a football game.

Clouds prevent a crowd gathered in a city park near the Shadow Fest live music stage to watch the complete Solar Eclipse in Carbondale, Illinois.

But you can find eclipse events of all different flavors planned along the eclipse path: luxury cruises in Mexico, music festivals in Texas, farm camping in Arkansas, planetarium visits in upstate New York.

The goal, at the end of the day, is to get as many people outside as possible, looking up during totality, said Dan Schneiderman, who is helping the Rochester Museum and Science Center plan events. Hopefully with their close friends and loved ones.

Youll want to grab eclipse glasses to see the partial phases before and after totality, Schneiderman added. Looking at the partially covered sun without protection can cause serious eye damage.

Brown and her husband are planning to join Duncans eclipse tour in Austin. Her first eclipse experience flew by.

Im looking forward to being able to enjoy this even longer, Brown said. To be able to just lean into the moment.

What other eclipses are coming up?

The U.S. will get some eclipse action ahead of the big event in 2024. There will be an annular eclipse  when the sun isnt completely covered, but appears like a ring of fire in the sky  later this year, on Oct. 14.

The path of that eclipse will cross from Oregon down through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Later this month, there will be a rare hybrid eclipse, which switches between a total and an annular eclipse at different points along its path. But few people will see it. The April 20 eclipse is mostly over the Indian Ocean, and only crosses over a few slivers of Australia and Southeast Asia.

With a 20-year gap until the next total solar eclipse in the U.S., Duncan says it will be worth it to be in the path of totality next year. Hes witnessed 12 total eclipses so far.

Seeing a partial eclipse  even if its 90% covered  means you missed all the good stuff, he said.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
One hundred Ukrainian POWs were freed in a prisoner exchange on April 10. (Photo: The Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War / Telegram)

One hundred Ukrainian POWs have returned home from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced on April 10.

According to the headquarters, nearly half of the released POWs have sustained serious injuries, are suffering from illnesses, or have been tortured. The youngest of the freed POWs is 19 years old.

The Ukrainian prisoners of war who were freed included soldiers, navy personnel, border guards, and national guardsmen. Eighty of them are men and 20 of them are women.

According to the headquarters, the former POWs took part in battles in Kherson, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kyiv oblasts. Some of them took part in the defense of Mariupol, Bakhmut, Hostomel, Snake Island, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, amongst other important battles.

President's Office Head Andriy Yermak described the prisoner exchange as "difficult" and thanked the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War for "doing what may often seem impossible to many."

"We are committed to bringing back all of our people because we believe that people are the most valuable asset of Ukraine," Yermak said.

The POWs exchanged by Ukraine included five seriously-wounded Russian soldiers after their conditions had stabilized, according to the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Among them was the only woman in Ukrainian captivity.

Two Muslim POWs were also handed over to the Russian side to coincide with Ramadan, the Muslim holy month.

The Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War called on the Russian side to release all seriously-wounded Ukrainian prisoners who are currently being held in Russia and the occupied territories.

According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets on national television on April 10, a total of 2,015 Ukrainians have returned home from Russian captivity, including the most recent prisoner exchange.

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Time to pack your boogie boards and sunglasses.

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What makes one beach better than the next? For some, its soft sand you can happily sink your feet into, or cerulean waters flecked only by the coral or kelp visible through it. Others seek whitecapped waves that demand to be ridden by a surf or boogie board, or an underwater oasis teeming with sea life, easily accessed so long as you packed your snorkel.

All this is to say that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. But no matter the sort of beach youre after, wed wager a hefty sum that Oahu has it. The most populous island in Hawaii is home to more than 100 beaches  some right near the tropical metropolis of Honolulu, others more isolated and quiet. These are 12 of the best beaches on Oahu  catch some rays or waves for us while youre there.

Haleiwa Beach Park

Julie Thurston/Getty Images

Though Oahus North Shore is known for its massive waves, the sea at Haleiwa Beach Park is relatively calm. Bring your snorkel, be on the lookout for turtles, and when youve worked up an appetite, walk the mile to Haleiwa town for must-try eats at Giovannis Shrimp Truck, Matsumoto Shave Ice, and Konos, to name a few.

Ko Olina Beach Park

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On the west side of the island, Ko Olina is home to four lagoons (and several luxury resorts), and rock levies break the waves and ensure the waters here are calm for swimming. Its quieter in this area, especially when compared to beaches in Honolulu.

Sharks Cove

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Part of Pupukea Beach Park, this North Shore spot is incredible at low tide. Wade around the shallow basin dotted with lava rock  there are no sharks, despite the name, but youll spot plenty of other sea creatures. Pack a mask and snorkel.



Waikiki Beach

Ryan Tishken/EyeEm/Getty Images

This is Hawaiis most iconic beach, boasting brilliant turquoise waters and views of Diamond Head, a volcanic cone that stands nearly 600 feet tall. A large reef breaks the waves here, making it a great spot for floating, snorkeling, and paddleboarding. Plus, youre near all the city amenities you could need before or after a beach day. Fancy cocktail at The Royal Hawaiians Mai Tai Bar, anyone?

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Kuilima Cove

Eric Broder Van Dyke/Getty Images

This tiny cove is home to Turtle Beach and nestled just east of Turtle Bay Resort. Open to the public, the calm waters here are good for kids, and turtles and monk seals are somewhat common sightings. Head east by foot and youll soon arrive at Kaihalulu Beach, another great stretch of sand on the North Shore.

Lanikai Beach

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Regularly named the islands most beautiful beach, Lanikai is ideal for swimming and watching the sunrise. Theres not much here in terms of sea life, but folks love the view of Mokulua (a.k.a. the Mokes), a pair of oft-photographed islets just off the coast.



Kailua Beach Park

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This beach is Lanikais neighbor, but its more than two miles long and particularly suited for families, thanks to its chill and easy waters. It also has bathroom facilities (many beaches do not) and picnic tables. Grab a to-go meal from any number of Kailua town eateries, like Boots & Kimos or Paia Fish Market.



Sunset Beach

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Among Oahus many surf spots is Sunset Beach. The waves here arent too massive, so as long as you have a bit of surf experience under your belt, you should enjoy the waves. And given its name, its great for hanging out at sundown as well.

Waimea Bay

joSon/Getty Images

Winter brings waves that climb nearly 30 feet in this North Shore bay, but summer waters are calmer for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Its location also makes it great for a joint trip to Waimea Falls, accessed right behind the beach via Waimea Valley.



Makaha Beach

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Set on Oahus western coast, this beach lures visitors with its beautiful sunsets and soft, white sand. Its also loved for swimming outside the winter, when waves tend to get a bit larger and currents stronger.



Hanauma Bay

artran/Getty Images

With gorgeous turquoise waters, Hanauma Bay has long been a popular snorkeling destination, to the point that the state has instituted ticketed and timed entry. Arrive with your Leave No Trace mentality so future generations can enjoy it, too. Sea animals like this enclosed bay, so youll likely spot tropical fish and morays. In the winter, this is a whale-watching spot as well.

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A woman died in a three-car crash in Woodland, California, on Saturday.

A woman died in a three-car crash in Woodland, California, on Saturday.

A police chase ended in a fatal, three-car wreck in California over the weekend after officers pursued a 13-year-old who allegedly stole a car.

The Woodland Police Department said in a statement that an officer spotted a car being driven erratically Saturday afternoon. The officer attempted to pull over the driver, but the driver evaded police, the statement said. Police gave chase, which ended when the car they were following plowed into two other vehicles at an intersection, causing two vehicles to catch on fire, according to the statement.

A woman was killed in the crash and at least 10 people were injured, including three minors, police later told NBC News. One toddler needed to be airlifted to a hospital due to their injuries.

Police said in their statement that an investigation determined a 13-year-old boy was driving the car they were pursuing. The teen allegedly stole the car from a family member, NBC reports.

Woodland police announced early Sunday that the teen driver had been taken into custody on felony charges of vehicular manslaughter with negligence and evading causing injuries. After the teen is discharged from the hospital, he is expected to be booked into Yolo County Juvenile Hall.

Footage obtained by NBC of the aftermath of the crash shows the extent of the devastation (above). Multiple vehicles are seen mangled and ablaze, with one car resting on top of another.

Family members of the woman who died in the crash told CBS her name was Tina Vital. Vital was in the car with her two children and a grandchild at the time of the crash. Local news station KCRA reports that Vital, 43, died just hours after attending a celebration-of-life ceremony for a family member who had recently died. A makeshift memorial has been set up for Vital at the site of her death.

Manuel Fierro, who went to school with Vital, left flowers at her memorial on Easter Sunday.

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When most of us are getting together with our families today, she wont be, Fierro told KCRA. So I brought her some roses, and just kind of say my farewells to her.

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A 15-year-old girl abducted from her North Carolina home was found about 500 miles away, officials said.

The teenager was learning remotely March 29 when her parents learned of a suspicious vehicle in their neighborhood. But when the teens parents tried to get in touch with her, they couldnt find her and reached out to deputies, according to the Davidson County Sheriffs Office.

Sgt. David Blake during an April 6 news conference believes the disappearance involved significant coercion. The girl reportedly had been using social media, and an investigation pointed to two people in Ohio and a third person in Pennsylvania, officials said.

Then, about week after the teen went missing, she was found safe in Bristol, Pennsylvania, roughly 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia. She later was reunited with her family, the North Carolina sheriffs office wrote in a news release.

Now, 28-year-old Elijah Deandre Kennedy faces multiple charges in the teens disappearance. Deputies in their news release didnt share attorney information for him.

Officials also didnt reveal many details about the case during their news conference, citing an ongoing investigation. But deputies said the suspicious vehicle found near the girls Silver Valley home traveled north on Interstate 85 and was believed to have out-of-state license plates.

During an investigation that involved federal and state agencies, officials reported discovering that the girl had been on a chat platform communicating with numerous unknown individuals. The mode of communication was more than likely from a laptop that she was using to do schoolwork, as the family was very vigilant to monitor digital communication as much as possible.

Kennedy  whose last name was spelled Kenney in a Facebook post  is charged with child abduction and child restraint, both felonies. A federal indictment also is expected, the sheriffs office told McClatchy News in an email.

The case comes less than a month after deputies said a 13-year-old abducted from Texas was found in a locked outbuilding in Davidson County, North Carolina, McClatchy News reported.

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The Silver Valley area is roughly 30 miles southeast of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Teen missing from Texas found locked in building over 1,000 miles away, NC cops say

Kidnappers tied victim to chair with barbed wire, carved crosses in face, NC cops say
The Orlando Police Department said two people have died following a shooting near Poppy Park Sunday.

Police officers responded to the 5400 block of Lescot Lane for a shooting around 6:50 p.m.

According to a news release, five people were transported to nearby hospitals, and police do not know the three patients conditions.

Read: Orlando police identify 3 victims, suspect in officer-involved shooting

Investigators said this is an active case and will provide suspect information as it becomes available.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News and check for updates on this developing story.

Read: 3rd suspect involved In murder of 3 teenagers in Marion County arrested, deputies say

See a map of the location below:

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.
Justin Pearson and Justin Jones Seth Herald/Getty Images

When Tennessee state House Republicans voted last Thursday to expel two Democrats over their participation in an "disorderly" protest in the House chamber for stricter gun laws, they may have created two new political celebrities whose ouster will be short-lived. Both lawmakers, Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, said Sunday they plan to run in the special elections to fill their old seats. And there's a good chance they will be reappointed to the seats before as soon as this week.

The Nashville Metropolitan Council will likely reappoint Jones to his old Nashville-area seat during special session on Monday. And the Shelby County Commission said Sunday that they will consider reappointing Pearson to represent Memphis on Wednesday. "What happens next in the Legislature is anybody's guess," Politico reports.

"I've already heard," Pearson told NBC's Meet the Press, "that people in the state Legislature and in Nashville are actually threatening our Shelby County commissioners: Do not reappoint me or they're going to take away funding that's in the governor's budget for projects that the mayor and others have asked for."

Tennessee House Republicans said they took the very unusual step of expelling Jones and Pearson to avoid setting a precedent where lawmakers can disrupt the House with protests.

Shelby County Commission Chairman Mickell Lowery said Sunday that he understands that the Legislature wants to respond to lawmakers who "transgressed the rules," but Pearson's expulsion "was conducted in a hasty manner without consideration of other corrective action methods. I also believe that the ramifications for our great state are still yet to be seen."

Pearson, Jones, and the third Democrat in their gun safety protest, Rep. Gloria Johnson (D), suggested that Johnson's expulsion failed by one vote because she is a white woman in her 60s while Pearson and Jones are young Black men. House Speaker Cameron Sexton said Friday that they are spreading a "false narrative," accusing Johnson of "trying to put political racism in this, which there was nothing on this."

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"I think the most resounding message we're hearing from the White House, and across the world and people across this nation, is that this attack on democracy will not go on unchallenged," Jones said on Meet the Press.

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Two people were seriously hurt in a shooting in west Charlotte on Sunday night, according to paramedics.

ALSO READ: Police investigate shooting at apartments in southwest Charlotte

It happened off of Remount Road and Watson Drive around 11 p.m. MEDIC said they transported two people to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

A Channel 9 crew at the scene could see police investigating near an apartment complex. It is unclear where the shooting exactly happened.

We are asking the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department what led up to the shooting.

(WATCH BELOW: CMPD: Woman killed in east Charlotte apartment, suspect in custody)
Yavapai County Sheriff's deputies found a man and woman dead in Ashfork on Friday morning as a result of a suspected murder-suicide.

Yavapai County Sheriff's deputies found a man and woman dead in Ashfork on Friday morning as a result of a suspected murder-suicide.

Deputies reported 58-year-old Richard Proctor shot and killed his estranged wife, 44-year-old Jessica Proctor, before taking his own life. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said multiple people witnessed the shooting.

The Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident and said additional details were not immediately available.

Services for Arizonans in crisis include:

Dial 2-1-1 to reach 211 Arizona.

Solari Crisis & Human Services offers a free, statewide crisis line 24/7/365  dial 844-534-HOPE (4673). Help is also available 24/7/365 via text by texting hope to 4HOPE (4673).

Dial 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available in English and Spanish. It's free and confidential for those in distress who need prevention or crisis resources for themselves or loved ones.

La Frontera Empact Suicide Prevention Center's crisis line serves Maricopa and Pinal counties 24/7 at 480-784-1500.

Teen Lifeline 24/7 crisis line serves teens at 602-248-8336 for Maricopa County and 1-800-248-8336 statewide.

The Trevor Project Lifeline serves LGBTQ youth at 866-488-7386.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 2 killed in Yavapai County murder-suicide
The following items were taken from Northbrook Police Department reports, news release records. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.

UNLAWFUL USE OF A WEAPON

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Daniel S. Perez of Waukegan was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon March 31. Perez was the passenger in a vehicle whose driver was stopped for a traffic violation near the intersection of Skokie Boulevard. and Henrici Drive. A gun was found in the vehicle. He admitted it was his gun. He does not have a valid FOID card. He is scheduled to appear in Cook County Court April 17 in Skokie.

UNLAWFUL ACQUISITION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

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A person affiliated with a pharmacy in the 900 block of Willow Road reported receiving a prescription for hydrocodone which appeared to be fraudulent April 6. The pharmacist contacted Northbrook police. An investigation determined the prescription was fraudulent. The pharmacist will contact police if the person attempts to obtain the prescription.

DUI

Maria C. Rosendo of Highland Park was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal transportation of alcohol, driving without a valid license and improper lane usage March 31. Police stopped her near the intersection of Skokie Boulevard and Henrici Drive after the vehicle she was driving nearly struck the curb. She failed a field sobriety test. She is scheduled to appear in Cook County Court May 5 in Skokie.

Brenda J. Herrera of Northfield was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a defective headlight, failure to illuminate headlights when required, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle and illegal transportation of alcohol April 3. She was stopped in the vicinity of Waukegan Road and Main Street when police observed the headlight violation. She failed a field sobriety test. She is scheduled to appear in Cook County Court May 5 in Skokie.

WARRANT APPREHENSION

Jared A. Clapper of Northbrook was apprehended on a warrant for domestic battery April 2. Police observed him walking near the intersection of Dundee Road and Anthony Trail, was aware of the warrant and took him into custody. He is scheduled to appear in Cook County Court April 27 in Skokie.

Wesley D. Sykes, Jr., of Mount Prospect was apprehended on a warrant for failure to appear in Will County April 4. Police took him into custody after learning of the warrant while investigating a disturbance at a retail business in the 700 block of Skokie Boulevard. He was released on bond.

INVALID LICENSE

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Juan C. Casillas of Chicago was charged with driving with a suspended license and driving with a suspended registration April 4. Police stopped him in the 2700 block of Dundee Road after observing the vehicle he was driving had a suspended registration and then learned his license was suspended. He is scheduled to appear in Cook County Court May 5 in Skokie.

Kevin L. Foster of Calumet City was charged with driving with a suspended license and speeding March 31. Police stopped him in the 2900 block of Willow Road after clocking him driving 59 mph in a 40-mph zone and then learned his license was suspended. He is scheduled to appear in Cook County Court April 27 in Skokie.

SPEEDING

Edgar Rosales of Round Lake Beach was charged with misdemeanor speeding March 31. Police stopped him after clocking him driving 62 mph in a 35-mph zone in the in the 200 block of Skokie Boulevard. He is scheduled to appear in Cook County court May 5 in Skokie.
UPDATE (April 10, 2023): Two Rochester women were charged last week with several felonies, including second-degree murder, in connection with the shooting death of a Rochester man who also crashed into a tree at Congress Avenue and Pioneer Street in September.

Dominique Glenn, 35, and Shakeela Lindsey, 29, were both charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both felonies, in connection with the Sept. 9, 2022 shooting death of Lanard Davis, 42, of Rochester. According to Rochester police, Glenn is accused of shooting Davis several times at a family gathering. Lindsey is accused of helping Glenn. The two women fled to Atlanta, Georgia, shortly after the killing.

The women were arraigned last week and were remanded to the Monroe County Jail without bail, officers said.

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UPDATE (Jan. 19, 2023): Rochester police on Wednesday charged LaJason Lovett, 46, with second-degree murder in connection with the September 2022 stabbing death of Cory Dubois on Angle Street. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in City Court.

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ORIGINAL STORY (Sept. 9, 2022): Two men were killed in Rochester Thursday night, marking the city's 56th and 57th homicides of 2022.

The two men were killed in separate incidents that occurred about two hours apart in different neighborhoods on Rochester's west side, according to Rochester police.

Fatal stabbing on Angle Street

Cory Dubois, 34, of Rochester was stabbed multiple times during an altercation with another person on Angle Street, near Lyell Avenue, on Thursday evening, said Capt. Frank Umbrino of the Rochester Police Department. Dubois was taken by private vehicle to St. Mary's Medical Campus on Genesee Street around 6:30 p.m. and was pronounced dead in the entrance vestibule, Umbrino said.

Man shot, killed, crashed car in southwest Rochester

Lanard Davis, 42, of Rochester was shot at least once while behind the wheel of a car that crashed into a tree at Congress Avenue and Pioneer Street around 8:30 p.m., Umbrino said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Two others were inside the car  a woman in her 20s was in the front passenger seat and a 10-year-old was in the rear seat, Umbrino said. The woman was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries. She was not shot, but rather suffered injuries from shattered glass, officers said. The child was not physically injured.

Umbrino said it was not clear whether the car was parked or moving when someone fired into the vehicle.

2022 homicides

Rochester saw 81 homicides in 2021 when the Flower City had the fifth-highest homicide rate in the nation. The city is currently averaging a slaying every 4.4 days in 2022, a pace comparable to last year's.

Investigation underway

No charges have been filed in connection with either slaying. Anyone with information about either incident is asked to call 911, RPD's Major Crimes Unit at 585-428-7157 or CrimeStoppers at 585-423-9300.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Man stabbed, second shot to death in separate Rochester N.Y. homicides
Centralia police captured two people who admitted to committing 10 burglaries throughout the state, but two others are still on the loose.

Officers have been investigating a string of burglaries in Centralia and throughout the Puget Sound Region up to Renton, where robbers stole money from businesses cash machines and ATMS, said the Centralia Police Department in a news release on Saturday. The first burglary happened at the 600 block of Noth Tower Avenue in Centralia.

Security footage from the businesses showed that the robbers were armed with handguns during some of these burglaries. During one of the burglaries outside of Centralia, police said a business owner confronted the thieves only to have them point a gun at him.

Police got a break in the investigation when Centralia officers were able to identify two of the robbers cars along with several stolen cars. Officers believed the group would target the Centralia area again so they made a plan to capture them.

On Saturday around 1:19 a.m., Centralia officers went to the 600 Block of North Tower Avenue after a burglary alarm went off. Within minutes of arriving, police saw four people fleeing through the businesss back door and escaping in a car.

Officers wanted to prevent the group from driving away, because of the Washington state pursuit laws, so an officer did a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver to stop the groups car. All four people immediately got out of the car and ran on foot in different directions. Two people were immediately apprehended, and the other two escaped, said police.

Police arrested a 29-year-old woman from Renton and a 32-year-old man from Seattle. Both confessed to around ten burglaries. They also admitted that they had guns during some of the robberies.

The man and woman were booked into the Lewis County Jail for multiple felonies and will face charges in other counties. The two that escaped have not been found, but have been identified and will be tracked down by law enforcement, said police.

Police found two handguns and a large amount of evidence in their car.

The CPD said the investigation is ongoing and that more information will be released when available. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Centralia Police Department at 360-330-7680 or Lewis County Communications at 360-740-1105.
Two teens and a preteen were arrested for a triple homicide in Central Florida.

>> TRENDING: Assassin for El Chapos drug cartel extradited to U.S. for criminal trial

Robert LeAndrew Robinson, 17; Tahj Brewton, 16; and Christopher Del Atkins, 12, were all arrested for killing three other teens, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods stated.

Layla Silvernail, 16, was the first of three victims. On Thursday, March 30, she was found critically injured on the side of a road in the Forest Lakes Park area. She was transported to a hospital for treatment; however, she succumbed to her injuries and died, a spokesperson for the sheriffs office informed.

A 17-year-old male was the second victim. He was found the next morning also on the side of the road, suffering a gunshot wound, the spokesperson continued. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The third victim, another female teen, was discovered the following day inside the truck of Silvernails car. Her age was not released.

While Silvernail was identified by authorities, the other two were kept confidential for an unknown reason.

Investigators believed that the three victims were involved with burglaries and robberies, CNN reported. Furthermore, the suspects and victims were thought to be affiliated with criminal gangs.

Basically, in simple terms there is no honor among thieves, Woods claimed. And at some point, these three individuals turned on our three victims and murdered them.

During the investigation, detectives found a trail of evidence that led authorities to Robinson, Brewton, and Atkins, Woods said. Robinson and Atkins were subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder; however, Brewton remained at large since Friday, April 7.

The sheriffs office offered up to $10,000 for information leading to the capture of Brewton. He was considered armed and dangerous, according to the spokesperson.

The U.S. Marshals Service later located and arrested Brewton with assistance from the Lake County Sheriffs Office, the spokesperson stated on Marion County Sheriffs Office Facebook account.

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Brewton was arrested on outstanding warrants for carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault, grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing or attempt to elude a law enforcement officer, and tampering with an electronic monitoring device. It is yet unknown if he will also be charged with first-degree murder.

More charges are expected to come, according to Woods. The deadly incidents still remain under investigation.

Robert LeAndrew Robinson

Tahj Brewton
An Easter egg hunt in an Orlando, Florida, park turned deadly after a gunman shot five people, killing three.

The victims have been identified as 16-year-old Tristan Morgan, 33-year-old Patriza Deterville and 38-year-old Jamal Watson, the Orlando Police Department confirmed in a press release to TODAY.com.

The fourth shooting victim is in critical condition and the fifth suffered a non-life-threatening injury, according to police.

At approximately 6:50 p.m. on April 9, OPD officers responded to calls about a shooting at the event, which took place in Poppy Park, located in the 5400 block of Lescot Lane, according to the department's release.

The five shooting victims were transported to area hospitals, where three of the victims succumbed to their injuries.

The department confirmed that all victims are "accounted for," noting that rumors about a toddler being shot at the event have been circulating on social media and are false.

The shootings are under investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
A 16-year-old accused of trying to kidnap a third grader outside of an elementary school has been arrested, Utah school officials said.

The assault and attempted kidnapping incident happened April 6 at Whittier Elementary School in West Valley City, according to a statement on the Granite School Districts Facebook page.

The third grader was with her mother while waiting for her older sister just before 4 p.m., according to Fox 13.





The mother asked her daughter to go to the front of the building to make sure the older sibling knew they were waiting in the back of the school, the news outlet reported.

While walking toward the front of the school, a teenager grabbed the girl, according to Fox 13.

The teenager then dragged the third grader away, according to ABC4. She fought and screamed until school employees heard and approached the area, the news outlet reported.

Police released video surveillance of the incident, which led to several tips from members of the public, according to WSAZ. Law enforcement officials arrested the 16-year-old April 8, Fox 13 reported.

He is a student in the Granite School District and attends a non-traditional program, Fox 13 reported. He also lives near the elementary school, according to the news outlet.

A spokesman for the Granite School District did not respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.

The third grader was not injured, according to Fox 13.

A parent of a child at the elementary school shared screengrabs of an email from Principal Jennifer Bodell on Facebook.

I am so grateful today that the student is safe and with her family, the email says, according to the photo shared by Delsey Cox. I am so glad that one of our employees heard her screams and was able to assist her.

West Valley City is a suburb of Salt Lake City.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky.  Four people were killed and eight were injured during a shooting in Louisville's downtown area, police said Monday. The suspected shooter is also dead.

Officers responded to reports of shots fired at Old National Bank around 8:30 a.m. Monday morning, Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said at a press conference. Within three minutes of being dispatched, officers arrived on scene and encountered the suspected shooter firing shots, Humphrey said.

Officers exchanged gunshots with the suspect, who died at the scene, he said. At least two officers were shot during this exchange, Humphrey said.

"We're trying to confirm if that suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound or was killed by officers at this time," Humphrey said.

Humphrey said at least four more people were found dead inside the building and eight are being treated at a hospital, two of which are in critical condition, including a police officer.

Humphrey said law enforcement officers are trying to determine what connection the shooter had to the bank and "it appears he was a previous employee." He said the investigation is ongoing, but there is "no active danger known to public at this time."

Louisville Metro Police are on the scene of an "active police situation" that includes mass casualties on Monday, April 10, 2023, on East Main Street in downtown Louisville.

Kentucky governor says friends were killed in shooting

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said at least two of his close friends were killed and another was injured during the shooting.

"This is awful," Beshear said. "I have a very close friend who didn't make it today. And I have another close friend who didn't either and one who's at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through."

The shooting happened in a building on East Main Street that houses the Old National Bank not far from the Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park. Beshear said he knows the building and its staff well.

"And my AG campaign was out of that building," he said. "I know virtually everyone in it, that's my bank."

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Police presence will remain at Old National Bank

A large police presence is at the scene and Humphrey said officers are expected to remain at the scene "into the night." The ATF and FBI Louisville said on Twitter special agents responded to the scene to assist local law enforcement.

The incident is the 15th mass shooting this year in which four or more victims were killed, according to a USA TODAY/Associated Press/Northeastern University database. Four were public shootings, and most of the others were family-related incidents. There have been more than 140 mass shootings in which four or more victims were injured, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg thanked the city's first responders and said the community will continue to come together "to work to prevent these horrific acts of gun violence are continuing here and around the state."

Contributing: Grace Hauck, USA TODAY; 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: Louisville shooting live updates: Police confirm 4 dead, 8 injured
Mobile Air Defence Groups, Which Called Drone Hunters, At The Hostomel Airfield Near Kyiv

A member of the Ukrainian mobile air defense group checks a machine gun in the Hostomel town near Kyiv, Ukraine, April 1, 2023. Credit - Maxym MarusenkoNurPhoto/Getty Images

Several allegedly classified Pentagon files, totalling over 100 pages, were leaked on social media last week. The existence of the documents, which were found circulating on social media sites as early as Wednesday, was first reported by the New York Times and provide key details on issues ranging from battlefield vulnerabilities in Ukraine to intelligence on matters in allied countries around the world. The leak could be one of the most damaging public breaches of U.S. intelligence since thousands of classified documents were published through WikiLeaks.

Read More: The Mysteries of the Biggest Intel Leak in a Decade

Multiple offices, including the FBI and Department of Justice are working to identify the source of the leak. U.S. officials have not ruled out the possibility that pro-Russian elements were behind the leak. According to the New York Times, some of the documents were marked for U.S. eyes only, meaning that it is possible the documents were leaked by an American official.

Its important to keep in mind that not all of the information may be reliable. Pentagon officials acknowledged that the leaks are indeed legitimate Department of Defense documents, but said that some appear to have been altered. For example, a modified document overstates American estimates of Ukrainian casualties and minimizes estimates of Russian troops killed. TIME could not independently verify the authenticity of the documents.

Here are four of the biggest takeaways from the leak.

Ukraines Air Force May Soon Collapse

Ukraines air defense faces serious challenges in upcoming months, documents reveal.

One alleged Pentagon slide dated Feb. 28 claims that, if Ukraine continues at current consumption rates, it will have completely depleted its stock of Buk missiles by April 13 and of S-300 missiles by May 3.

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According to a map in another purported Pentagon presentation from the same day, by May, most of Ukraines critical national infrastructure outside Kyiv and two other areas in southwestern Ukraine will no longer have air-defense cover, with the number of unprotected critical sites jumping from six to more than 40.

The documents paint a different picture from the stance Biden took earlier that month. In a February 28th interview with ABC, President Biden rejected calls to send more fighter jets to Ukraine, saying Ukraine doesnt need F-16s now.

Buk air defense missile systems roll during a military parade in Kiev on August 24, 2016 to celebrate Independence Day, Genya SavilovAFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Holds Intelligence on Allies

Pentagon documents reveal that the U.S. has been spying on close allies, including South Korea and Israel.

One document mapped out an American assessment of scenarios that could lead Israel to provide weapons to Ukraine, in contrast to the countrys current policy. Another document detailed internal discussion among South Koreas officials about the pressure they were under from Washington to help supply weapons to Ukraine.

A senior intelligence official described the leak as a nightmare for the Five Eyesthe five nations, that share intelligence information: the U.S., Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The U.S. has Penetrated Russian Intelligence

The U.S. has a much clearer picture of Russian military operations than it does of Ukrainian planning, according to the New York Times. American intelligence has been able to obtain daily real-time warnings on the timing of Moscows strikes and even its specific targets. By exposing which Russian agencies the United States knows the most about, the leak could change this, as Russia could potentially cut off the sources of information the U.S. was able to access.

A Pro-Russian Hacking Group May Have Targeted Canadas Energy Infrastructure

Zarya, a hacking group working under the guidance of Russias Federal Security Service, may have broken into Canadas gas distribution network in February, compromising its I.P. address and damaging its infrastructure. The attackers had the capability to increase valve pressure, disable alarms and make emergency shutdowns of a gas distribution station.

The F.S.B. officers anticipated a successful operation would cause an explosion at the gas distribution station, and were monitoring Canadian news reports for indications of an explosion, the report said, noting that the hackers were not aiming to cause loss of life but economic damage.
South Bend City Clerk Dawn Jones, left, speaks during a debate against her competitors for the Democratic bid in the May 2 primary election. Jones is challenged by Jason Banicki, center, and Bianca Tirado. Republican Tina Wilson will face the winner in the fall general election.

The Tribune is partnering with the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area and the American Democracy Project of Indiana University South Bend to publish candidates' answers to questions on the issues. The League, with local help from the ADP, operates Vote411.org, a website with information about the candidates and their positions on key issues.

The Tribune has agreed to run candidate answers unedited, meaning any spelling, typographical or grammatical errors are the candidates' own. The Tribune is publishing only some of the questions from a selection of contested races. Additional questions and answers, including from candidates who have no opponent in the primary, are available at Vote411.org.

Early voting for Indiana's May 2 municipal primary election began last week. To vote early, either fill out an application for a mail ballot at https://indianavoters.in.gov/MVPHome/PrintDocuments or vote in person. In St. Joseph County, there are two early-voting locations: the County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. in South Bend; or the Mishawaka County Services Building, 219 Lincoln Way W. in Mishawaka. Voters must present a valid government-issued photo ID.

Early-voting hours at both locations are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays (except May 1, when voting closes at noon.); 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays April 22 and 29; 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 30.

Tina Wilson is the Republican nominee for South Bend city clerk.

Democrat Dawn Jones is the incumbent South Bend city clerk. She is challenged in the primary by Bianca Tirado and Jason Banicki. The winning Democrat will face Republican Tina Wilson in the fall. Wilson's responses will appear in The Tribune this fall and are on vote411.org now.

Jason Banicki

Jason Banicki is a Democratic candidate for South Bend city clerk. Photo provided/Jason Banicki

Occupation: Sales floor supervisor

Email: jasonbanickiforcityclerk@gmail.com

Campaign phone: 574-274-9303

Facebook: facebook.com/jasonbanicki2

Dawn Jones

Dawn Jones seeks re-election as South Bend city clerk.

Occupation: South Bend city clerk

Email: dawnmj.dj@gmail.com

Website: dawnjones.org

Campaign phone: 574-367-0654

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Facebook: facebook.com/djforsbcityclerk

Twitter: @djones4cityclerk

Bianca Tirado

Bianca Tirado is a Democratic candidate for South Bend city clerk.

Email: bianca@tiradoforcityclerk.com

Website: biancatirado.com

Campaign phone: 574-850-5545

Facebook: facebook.com/people/tirado-for-sb-city-clerk/100089281424482

Twitter: @bforsbcityclerk

What will be your top priority as city clerk?

Banicki: My top priority as South Bend City Clerk will be to upgrade both the hardware and software used in the office. Currently it takes the clerks office nine hours to transcribe three hours worth of council meeting minutes. With proper technology upgrades this task can be completed by artificial intelligence programs in a matter of minutes. Since generating meeting minutes for the committee and common council meetings are a large responsibility for the clerks office any efficiency gains made here will allow for the staff to be freed up to do additional work to improve transparency in local government.

Jones: I will build my staff infrastructure to accommodate the increased ordinances and resolutions processed. I will also add a technical position to improve our social media presence and internet interaction in order to increase the knowledge of our residents regarding municipal government and understanding of the importance of community engagement.

Tirado: When elected, my platform supports several long-term goals. In year one, the office will work diligently to create the structural and operational changes required to overhaul outdated initiatives and create timely processes and procedures. My top two priorities will be transparency and accessibility. For transparency: I will ensure that our residents and Common Council can access important City documents such as minutes and legislation. For Accessibility: Connecting residents to opportunities and resources that their City government provides. The City Clerks Office will address inclusive language barriers and will assist in both English to Spanish and Spanish to English translation of the Council Agenda and City records.

The clerk needs to work with office staff, consultants, project leaders and members of the public. How would you describe your communication and interpersonal skills? What specific experiences can you point to that you are a good communicator and collaborator?

Banicki: One of the reasons I have been so successful is my ability to work as part of a team and communicate clearly with all stake holders. The best example of my skills as a communicator and collaborator is a project I worked on at Lowes. We moved the location of a large portion of the product in the store including setting new racking and getting electrical work completed. I was a supervisor on this project that lasted seven weeks and had a day and night team. This required me to communicate workflow when there was little overlap, work with senior management to get the electrical contractor scheduled to complete the necessary work, discuss with corporate staff when plans did not fit our store, and work with the team on getting the work done. We finished the project ahead of schedule and under budget.

Jones: I have two degrees from IUSB, including one from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and am a professional writer. One of the criteria for receiving this renowned degree was community service. I've collaborated with several organizations, including the United Way, the South Bend Community School Corporation, the NAACP, the Urban League, Manchester College, IUSB, Stone Soup, and the United States Congress. I've collaborated with workers, star generals, national consultants, project directors, general contractors, architects, educators, superintendents, and college presidents, among others, to construct schools, develop curricula, and help build communities.

Tirado: In my five years of experience working in the City Clerks Office, I have worked closely with Mayor Mueller, President McBride and many members of the Council and is why I have their support. We have worked together to implement legislation that has kept South Bend moving forward. I am a team player, a collaborator and strong communicator. I prioritize, multitask and be a good listener working with Council members that can at times have different needs for their districts. It is crucial that our office is prepared to be a liaison and meet the needs of residents. We must also be prepared to connect residents with resources. As City Clerk, it is my priority to also train my staff to have good communication skills in order to maintain relationships with the Common Council, City Administration in order to meet the needs of our residents.

In the midst of tension between the South Bend clerk and common council, the hiring of outside consultants has drawn much attention and criticism. The incumbent facilitated the hiring of her daughter as a consultant. The council hired a consultant who now is a candidate for the office while continuing her consulting work. What factors should determine when taxpayers should pay extra for a consultant to do the work of the clerk's office?

Banicki: The primary factors used to determine if a consultant is needed should be: is the person necessary to complete the required work and does the person have skills or knowledge pertaining to the work that no one else in the clerks office does. Once a consultant is hired there should be periodic reviews to make sure they are completing the objectives of their contract and sticking to the contracted budget for the project. Any spending of taxpayer money needs to be fully transparent and so any funds being spent on a consultant should be brought before the full common council for public comment and the contract either approved or denied by a vote of the entire common council.

Jones: Chapter 2, of the Indiana Code, as city clerk I have the authority to staff my own office with what I need. The Common Council does not have the authority to staff my office. Therefore, the claim of hiring someone to do my job is false. Everything that is done in the office of the City Clerk requires my signature, a date stamp with my name, and the city seal. It would be illegal for a consultant outside of my office. The only people that can do the work in my office are those whom I deputize. We were paying a transcription service over $2,400 per month. By enlisting my daughter, I cut the rate in half. I enlisted my daughter's assistance because she is a professional writer and would be willing to work for less than the transcription service. She holds four degrees from IUSB, Manchester College, and Bethel University.

Tirado: The Clerk Clerks office functions as the administrative arm of the council. When basic administrative tasks are not completed, the Common Council has the authority to allocate funds for consultants to complete those tasks. I have the experience to make sure those basic tasks, like filing documents on time and properly posting notices are completed efficiently. As long as the duties are properly performed, it matters not who performs the duties but that they are met. As with any detailed or highly technical matter, outside consultants can be effective and a smart expense to assist with the needs of Council.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Q&A with residents seeking city clerk job on issues facing South Bend
As talent across the African continent consistently rises in numbers, its tech ecosystem is growing right along with it. From securing millions of dollars for funding initiatives such as for climate change to creating innovative technology that aims to disrupt industries, there is a movement of African founders and tech entrepreneurs who aim to build a promising future.

At the same time, there are global events taking notice of this powerful movement and bringing it to center stage including AfroTech Executive D.C. On May 11, executive leaders will join together to discuss Africas growth in the tech industry.

Ahead of AfroTech Executive D.C., Prosper Africa, the leading U.S.-Africa trade and investment initiative, has partnered with the Africa Fintech Summit.

Africas fintech sector, leaders, and pioneers will also convene in Washington, D.C. on April 12 to have conversations about solutions for changing the industry.

To register for the anticipated event, click here.

*Delegates get 25% on tickets by using the discount code AFROTECH25 at checkout.

In light of the rising tech trailblazers, AfroTech is highlighting African startups that are not only making waves but are gearing up to make a lasting impact.

Shuttlers

Back in 2021, Damilola Olokesusi, founder of Shuttlers, became one of the few women to receive major venture capital in Africa after raising $1.6 million to improve the continents mobility industry. Now, in April 2023, the Nigerian mobility company has raised $4 million in a new funding round led by Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures (VKAV) and is on its way to going live in five more cities, according to TechCrunch.

We have built an infrastructure that allows us to expand into different geographies within and outside Nigeria and supports multiple stakeholders, from partners and drivers to marshals and administrative bodies, Olokesusi told the outlet. Our main focus is to take over the bus-sharing space and be this huge startup that, you know, is very profitable.

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Rwazi

Co-founded and launched by Eric Sewankambo and Joseph Rutakangwa in 2021, Rwazi is a market intelligence startup that supports brands in sourcing critical data before entering into markets, as previously reported by AfroTech. With a network of over 50,000 consumers, the Mauritius-based startup collects data directly from users by them logging their purchases in an app. In March 2023, Rwazi raised a $4 million seed funding round for its expansion. As of this writing, Rwazis products are available in 40 African countries and in South Asia and Latin America markets.

Afriex

Afriex, based in Lagos, Nigeria, and San Francisco, CA, provides reliability for its users to send and receive money. According to Crunchbase, Afriex has raised a $11.4 million over five rounds. The funding went toward its core money transfer product and vision to launch a stablecoin.

Because we are building this network of connected financial institutions, we have built on-ramps for local Nigerian banks and on-ramps for local currency exchanges, co-founder Tope Alabi told Forbes. We are building this web3 mesh of financial institutions that could almost become something like the next Visa.

DrugStoc

Chibuzo Opara and Adham Yehia are the co-founders of DrugStoc  Africas leading health tech platform. The Nigerian tech startup was launched in response to the barriers within the continents broken pharmaceutical supply chains.

As AfroTech previously told you, not only is the startup committed to supporting those in need of pharmaceutical products but also healthcare providers.

In 2021, DrugStoc raised $4.4 million in a Series A funding round led by Africa HealthCare Master Fund. Other investors included Vested World, the German Development Bank, and others.

Vendease

Vendeases ultimate mission is to provide a solution to combat Africas food supply issue. In September 2022, the Nigerian marketplace, which helps African restaurants and hotels, raised $30 million in a Series A funding round, TechCrunch reported.

Were building technology to efficiently move food from the point of production to the point of consumption, CEO Tunde Kara told the outlet. Everything we build at Vendease  financing, logistics, warehousing, inventory management  is tailored towards ensuring that food flows efficiently from that point of production to the point of consumption.
A stockpile of documents that reportedly leaked from the Pentagon have surfaced online over the past week, appearing to give insight to NATO intelligence in the Ukraine war, leaving Western defense officials scrambling to find the source.

While some have pointed to the possibility that the Russian government or pro-Russian sources are responsible for the leak, no concrete conclusion has publicly been made. Instead, defense officials have demurred on even confirming the authenticity of the documents, which provide estimates of the casualties in the war and details on the training of Ukrainian forces.

The high-profile leak is one of the most wide-ranging breaches of defense information in the U.S. in a decade and points a spotlight on military secrets that, while occasionally are revealed in small doses, largely remain under wraps in the Pentagon and defense industry.

Here are five of the largest intelligence leaks that have rocked Washington in U.S. history.

Edward Snowdens NSA leaks

In 2013, the leaks from Edward Snowden, an intelligence community insider, revealed bombshell details about the U.S. governments actions in covertly surveilling millions of Americans.

The surveillance program came in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, with government officials seeing a need to beef up security programs and surveillance operations to scope out potential criminal and terrorist threats. The leaks from Snowden, however, revealed that the government was collecting information from regular citizens, not just potential terrorist threats.

The revelations from Snowden, a National Security Agency (NSA) contractor who later fled to Hong Kong and eventually Russia and was federally charged with the theft of government property and other offenses, also revealed U.S. programs to spy on foreign governments. The leaks showed that the American government bugged a number of European Union offices and spied on at least 38 foreign embassies.

The highly-classified documents that were leaked by Snowden, who is viewed by some as either a brave whistleblower or a government traitor, ushered in newfound angst for Americans over their digital footprint and personal data, a fight that is still playing out today.

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The Pentagon Papers

A top-secret Defense study into the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war, which grew increasingly unpopular as the conflict dragged on into the 1970s, was leaked to The New York Times in March 1971. The resulting reporting by the Times unleashed a hailstorm on the federal government, detailing the countrys decades-long involvement in Vietnam and validating many of the anti-war criticisms.

The documents, which detail U.S. policy decisions and deliberations between 1945 to 1967, were leaked to the Times by Daniel Ellsberg, a military analyst who secretly photocopied the report and gave it to reporters.

The papers were damning, including the steps by successive U.S. presidents, including Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, to covertly and overtly accentuate conflict in the region.

The leak was a major blow to the U.S. military and political structure, peeling back details that officials had worked to keep secret for years.

It also resulted in one of the most monumental fights between the federal government and the press, after the Justice Department secured a temporary injunction against the publication of the reports. At the end of June 1971, the Supreme Court allowed the Times and The Washington Post to continue publishing the reports in a 6 to 3 decision, still widely regarded as one of the most consequential cases for press freedom in U.S. history.

Iraq war logs

WikiLeaks, a media organization founded by Julian Assange, published a trove of leaked classified military documents in 2010 detailing the actions of U.S. and coalition forces in the Iraq war from 2004 to 2009. The leaks provided one of the most sobering looks into the conflict at that point.

The leaks revealed a number of disturbing dynamics in the war, including the number of civilians who had died. By 2009, the leaks revealed that 66,000 civilians, compromising more than 60 percent of the deaths in the war, had died. It also showed that hundreds of those civilians were killed by coalition forces. Thousands of those civilian deaths had yet to be reported publicly.

The documents also allege prison abuse, even after the widely reported abuse of detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in the early stages of the war. They also concluded that U.S. forces had handed over prisoners to an Iraqi group known for widespread torture tactics.

The leaks comprise nearly 400,000 reports, or logs, recorded by soldiers on the ground in the war.

The leak helped sink public support for the war, which had already been waning after the initial decision to invade the country in 2003. By the time President Obama announced plans to end U.S. military operations in Iraq in 2011, 75 percent of respondents fully approved of the decision to wind down the war, according to a Pew Research poll.

Robert Hanssens espionage career

In 1976, Robert Hanssen joined the FBI as a special agent. Throughout his 25 years in the FBI and law enforcement, he spied on the U.S. government for the Soviet Union and Russian intelligence services.

Throughout the Cold War, Hanssen acted as a spy for the Soviet Union, going undetected for years before being suspected by officials in the mid-1980s. Given his stature in the bureau, Hanssen had access to classified information, selling thousands of pieces to Soviet and Russian sources, detailing U.S. military plans, strategies in the event of nuclear war and weapons technologies. He reportedly made around $1.4 million in cash and diamonds from selling the intelligence information.

In 2000, law enforcement secured Russian information that pointed to Hanssen being the spy. Right on the verge of retirement, investigators caught Hanssen in the act of conducting a drop of classified information for Russian sources at a park in Virginia and arrested him.

Hanssen eventually pleaded guilty to 15 counts of espionage later that year; he is serving 15 consecutive life sentences without parole in a prison in Colorado.

Ukrainian war leak

The most recent leak of what is reportedly NATO documents pertaining to the war in Ukraine is one of the largest military and intelligence breaches in U.S. history.

While officials have yet to confirm the authenticity or source of the leaks, the documents do provide an interesting insight into the war in Ukraine. With the possibility that they were leaked from a Russian source, some have pointed out that some of the information may have been altered.

Nevertheless, it details U.S. and Western support of Ukraine, including the progress of arms aid. The documents also seem to reveal that the U.S. has been spying on both Russian and Ukrainian leaders to monitor the war, according to The New York Times. They also detail how the U.S. tracks Russian military movements with satellites, according to the Times.

One thing it does not reveal, though, is plans for a renewed Ukrainian counteroffensive, which has widely been rumored after Russia launched an offensive in late winter that has largely stalled.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Holding several books, including one on China's high-quality development, 51 year-old Wisan Chedi was searching for more books at a Chinese book exhibition booth at the Bangkok International Book Fair 2023.

"By reading the books, I'd like to know how China has achieved such rapid social and economic development over the past decades," Wisan said.

Fascinated by the Chinese culture and China's economic and social achievements, Wisan, a civil servant in Thailand's aviation sector, wanted to learn more about China and started to learn Chinese in 2006. He can now read Chinese books and speak basic words and phrases.

"As a major country, China pursues win-win cooperation, promoting cooperation with other countries for mutual benefits," he said, adding that China focuses on making everyone more prosperous, and Thailand can learn a lot from China, in terms of governance and economic policies.

Grabbing another book about economics of China's opening-up, Wisan said he is also interested in topics such as the Chinese modernization and the renminbi (RMB) internationalization, and is planning to visit China via the China-Laos railway.

The 11-day book fair, which ended Sunday, did not only attract Chinese book fans like Wisan, but also Thai industry players amid closer cooperation and exchanges between the two countries.

At the book fair, Thailand's publishing house Hongsamut signed a contract with China's Elephant Publishing House on introducing the latter's book series of national parks into Thailand.

The book series, written for kids, are interesting stories about China's national parks. "They are quality books for children and the stories focus on environmental protection. We believe Thai children and parents would love the books," said Ken Yu, license director with Hongsamut.

Ken, who has been working in the industry for more than 10 years, said Thai readers are interested in a wide range of China-related topics and are keen to better understand China via Chinese books.

Besides children's books, Chinese books about poverty reduction, governance as well as finance, economics and trade development are also welcomed by Thai readers as they are curious about how China was able to achieve such rapid development in such a short period of time, he said.

With cultural affinity, it's easier for Thai readers to understand Chinese novels, which are also popular in Thailand, he said.

Under a contract signed between China's Xiamen International Book Company Ltd. (XIBC) and Thailand's Mangmoom Culture Co. Ltd., one of "The Grave Robbers' Chronicles," a best-selling Chinese young-adult novel series that tells of the grave-robbing exploits of a young man from a family of tomb raiders, would be introduced into Thailand with another two novels.

Besides physical books, the XIBC is also seeking cooperation with Thai companies to promote Chinese audiobooks in the Southeast Asian country. At the book fair, the XIBC held a panel discussion about audiobooks, which attracted Thailand's publishing houses, audiobook producers, audiobook service providers and book translators.

"They are all very interested. We have reached preliminary cooperation intention with Thai partners. We hope this will help boost overseas readers' access to Chinese books, helping them read more about China and better understand China," said Wu Yunxi, XIBC's board director and vice general manager.
Five people were killed and at least eight others were injured in a shooting at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning, police said.

The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Connor Sturgeon who was an employee of Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, wounded two police officers, one critically, during the attack, Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said.

During a Monday afternoon press conference, LMPD Interim Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel confirmed that the police received a call regarding shots fired at Old National Bank at 8:38 a.m. local time. Within three minutes, officers arrived at the scene where Sturgeon shot at officers who returned fire and killed him.

The Louisville Metro Police Department identified those killed by the gunman as:

Thomas Elliot, 63

James Tutt, 64

Joshua Barrick, 40

Juliana Farmer, 57

Deanna Eckert, 57

Officials announced Eckert's death the evening of April 10. Prior to that, hospital officials had said nine people were injured, including three in critical condition.

Gwinn-Villaroel identified one of the officers injured as Nicolas Wilt. Wilt graduated from the police academy on March 31. He had brain surgery Monday and was described as in critical but stable condition afterward.

Police respond near the scene of shootings in Louisville, Ky., on April 10, 2023. (WAVE)

Authorities are investigating the shooting as a workplace violence situation, two senior officials briefed on the incident told NBC News.

It is unclear if the bank employed a security guard at the location the shooting took place, Humphrey said.

A police officer carries a roll of crime scene tape after a gunman opened fire at the Old National Bank building on April 10, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. (Luke Sharrett / Getty Images)

"The safety of Old National Bank employees and everyone we serve in our banking center locations is paramount," Old National CEO Jim Ryan said in a statement. "As we await more details, we are deploying employee assistance support and keeping everyone affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers."

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear held back tears during a press conference Monday morning as he explained that he ran his campaign for state attorney general out of the bank building.

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"This is awful," said Beshear, who knew one of those killed and two who were injured. "I know virtually everyone in it. That's my bank."

Image: Police Work The Scene Of A Shooting In Louisville, Kentucky (Luke Sharrett / Getty Images)

President Joe Biden said in a statement on Twitter that he and first lady Jill Biden were praying for the victims of Monday's shooting.

"Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence. ... Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives," he said. "When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?"

The Louisville Metro Police Department said in a tweet around 9:27 a.m. there were "multiple casualties" due to an "active aggressor" in the 300 block of East Main Street.

We are confirming reports of an active aggressor in the 300 block of East Main. Please stay out of the area. There are multiple casualties.  LMPD (@LMPD) April 10, 2023

Police had earlier urged the public to stay out of the area due to the threat. There is no longer any active danger to the public, Humphrey said.

"LMPD has confirmed a shooting situation in downtown Louisville with multiple casualties," Beshear said in a tweet at 9:42 a.m. "I am headed there now. Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville."

The Louisville FBI office said in a tweet that special agents responded to the scene of the shooting and are assisting law enforcement partners.

Monday's shooting comes just two weeks after six people, including three 9-year-old children, were killed in a shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Russian troops carried out attacks against eight Ukrainian oblasts over the past 24 hours, Ukraine's Defense Ministry media center reported on April 10.

According to local authorities, five civilians were wounded in the Russian attacks.

Russian attacks were reported in Donetsk, Kherson, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Luhansk oblasts in the east, south, and north of Ukraine.

According to the media center, Russia struck a total of 142 settlements using mortars, tanks, artillery, S-300 missiles, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), drones, and tactical aviation. Eighty-three infrastructure facilities have been hit.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks injured two civilians in Druzhkivka, one in Kurakhove, and another one in Kostiantynivka, said Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Russia hit more than 20 settlements in the region, damaging over 30 houses, an enterprise, a medical facility, and a farm building, added Kyrylenko.

Russian forces struck Kherson Oblast 78 times, using mortars, MLRS, artillery, tanks, drones, and aviation, according to Kherson Oblast Military Administration. No casualties were reported.

Later on April 10, the administration said Russian troops had attacked a hospital in the city of Kherson, damaging the building.

Russian troops hit three districts in Kharkiv Oblast, wounding a 36-year-old man, damaging more than 15 houses, and causing a fire in a forest, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration reported that Russia had carried out three air strikes and 58 artillery strikes on the region, adding that it received 31 reports about damage to citizens' households and infrastructure sites. The administration didn't provide information on casualties.

Russia also attacked the villages of Novoselivske, Makiivka, Nevske, and Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast, the regional administration said on Telegram. It didn't provide information on casualties or damage.

In Chernihiv Oblast, Russia conducted an air strike on the village of Hremiach close to the Russian-Ukrainian border on April 9, according to Ukraine's Northern Operational Command. The attacks damaged local infrastructure, but there were no casualties, the Ukrainian military wrote.

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The Russian military hit Sumy Oblast's Seredyno-Buda community 20 times overnight with mortars, according to the regional administration. Earlier on April 9, the administration reported that Russian troops had targeted two other communities in the northeastern region bordering Russia. No casualties were reported.

In Ukraine's southern Mykolaiv Oblast, Russia struck a settlement in the Kutsurub community on the Black Sea coast with MLRS on April 9, Governor Vitalii Kim said. There were no casualties or damages, he added.
The Modesto City Council will discuss Tuesday whether to pay bonuses to now-retired employees who were working for the city during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Council members voted 7-0 on March 7 to pay bonuses  also known as premium pay  of as much as $7,500 to employees who worked through the pandemic.

The bonuses cost the city $6.7 million from the $45.9 million it received in total in 2021 and 2022 from the American Rescue Plan Act, the $1.9 trillion federal effort to help families, businesses, cities, counties, schools and others weather the pandemic.

Human Resources Director Christina Alger has said the bonuses were for all employees who worked during the pandemic, were full time and still worked for the city. She confirmed that included City Manager Joe Lopez and other top city officials who met those guidelines.

City spokeswoman Diana Ruiz-Del Re confirmed Monday that the premium payments went out March 31.

When asked whether Lopez received a $7,500 payment, Ruiz-Del Re said in an email: All current employees received the hazard (premium) pay for working through the pandemic.

Lopez was appointed city manager in July 2018 and worked through the pandemic.

Several retirees and one former employee who worked for Modesto during the pandemic objected at the March 7 council meeting to being excluded from the bonuses. The council decided then to discuss at a future meeting paying bonuses to retirees but not to former employees.

The U.S. Treasury Department allows cities to provide this pay to its employees, but its guidelines state the pay should be prioritized for low- and moderate-income persons and those who by virtue of their employment, were forced to take on additional burdens and make great personal sacrifices as a result of the COVID19 pandemic.

Modestos premium payments were in addition to the other economic impact payments the federal government sent to individuals and families, a Treasury Department spokeswoman confirmed with The Bee.

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For instance, the American Rescue Plan Act provided payments in 2021 of as much as $1,400 to individuals and as much as $2,800 for married couples filing joint tax returns.

Taxpayers received the full amounts if they had an adjusted gross income of no more than $75,000 as an individual or $150,0000 as married couple filing a joint return. Payments were reduced for adjusted gross incomes above those amounts.

The federal government also authorized two payments in 2020 to individuals. The first was for as much as $1,200 and the second for as much as $600 based on the same income guidelines.

Modesto broke the $7,500 into three payments. Employees received $3,000 for working April 2020 through March 2021, an additional $3,000 for working April 2021 through March 2022, and $1,500 for working April 2022 through September 2022.

Some 851 employees would receive $7,500, 33 would receive $4,500 and 116 would receive $1,500, based on The Bees calculation of information on a city report from the March 7 council meeting.

Alger, the human resources director, told council members at the meeting that based on the same premium pay guidelines, about 89 retirees would qualify for the pay, at about a cost of about $522,000 to the city.

The premium pay comes from the $8.1 million Modesto set aside in July 2022 from its $45.9 million American Rescue Plan Act funding.

The city has spent or committed the rest of its ARPA funding on such efforts as homelessness, reducing blight, economic development and the citys own needs, such as setting aside $2 million for deferred maintenance at Fire Station No. 1.

The council meets at 5:30 p.m. in the basement chambers of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St. The meeting also will be on Zoom. The meeting ID is 869 4597 0570 and the passcode is 84326.
Floridas Division of Hotels and Restaurants routinely inspects restaurants, food trucks and other food service establishments for public health and cleanliness issues.

The reports are public information.

During the most recent inspections in Manatee County, local restaurants were cited for issues including unsafe food temperatures and lack of employee handwashing.

Here is what inspectors found:

Atria Cafe, 4120 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch

Dish machine sanitizer was not at the proper minimum strength. An inspector took a sanitizer reading of zero. Corrective action was taken.

An employee was cutting and handling peeled avocados with bare hands. A stop sale was issued and the avocado was discarded.

A slicer blade was soiled. Corrective action was taken.

The top of a pizza oven was soiled. Corrective action was taken.

A follow-up inspection was required.

Hibachi Grill Supreme Buffet, 3616 First St., Bradenton

Mussels, soft shell crab, raw shrimp, cooked shrimp, flounder, calamari, krab salad, cooked chicken, raw chicken, pork, sausage, cooked beef, raw beef, milk, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, bok choy, bean sprouts and cooked pasta were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees in a walk-in cooler. A stop sale was issued for all of the items due to temperature abuse, and they were discarded.

The business was operating with and expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.

There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.

Hood vents were soiled with grease.

Gaskets on cooling units were soiled with mold-like substance throughout the kitchen.

Food racks were soiled with dried food particles.

There was standing water on the floor throughout the kitchen and a walk-in cooler.

An exterior door had a gap at the threshold that opened to the outside.

A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit the next day.

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GTwo Pizzeria, 653 10th St. E., Palmetto

The business was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.

A manager or person in charge lacked food manager certification.

There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.

An exterior door had a gap at the threshold that opened to the outside.

A cutting board had cut marks and was no longer cleanable.

A follow-up inspection was required.

Rock Inn Restaurant, 2112 Second Ave. E., Palmetto

Raw eggs were stored over produce in a reach-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.

There was no proof of required food safety training for any employees.

There was no test kit at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing and/or wiping cloths.

There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.

No handwashing sign was posted in an employee restroom.

A follow-up inspection was required.

The Granary, 2547 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch

An employee handled dirty dishes and then failed to wash hands before handling clean dishes.

Raw animal foods (beef and fish) were not properly separated from each other in a reach-in cooler based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Corrective action was taken.

There was an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine. Corrective action was taken.

A handwash sink did not have enough water pressure to properly wash hands.

There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.

The restaurant met inspection standards.

Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe, 4000 Gulf Dr., Holmes Beach

An employee returned from the bathroom and failed to wash hands before putting on gloves. An inspector advised on proper handwashing procedures. Corrective action was taken.

After working with dirty dishes, an employee failed to change gloves/wash hands before handling clean dishes. An inspector advised on proper handwashing and glove use. Corrective action was taken.

Wiping cloth sanitizing solution that exceeded the maximum concentration allowed was stored in a location that could have resulted in the cross-contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens or single-use items. Corrective action was taken.





There were no written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to monitor potentially hazardous food items.

Walk-in cooler shelves were pitted with rust.

Utility lines were unnecessarily exposed over an ice cream serving area.

There was unsealed concrete flooring in the main kitchen area.

An employee was preparing food without a hair restraint. Corrective action was taken.

A cutting board had cut marks and was no longer cleanable.

The restaurant met inspection standards.

Skillets, 9722 S.R. 64 #120, Bradenton

Swiss cheese and provolone cheese were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.

Cooked potatoes that were supposed to be monitored using time as a public health control had no time marking, and the time they removed from temperature control could not be determined. Corrective action was taken.

An employee washed hands in a non-handwashing sink.

No test kits were at hand to measure the strength of sanitizers in use for dishwashing and/or cleaning wiping cloths.

Containers of frozen pooled eggs were thawing at room temperature. Corrective action was taken.

Containers of clean bowls were stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken.

There was an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.

The restaurant met inspection standards.

Editors Note: According to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, these reports are a snapshot of the conditions present at the time of the inspection and are public record. The agency is required to inspect every licensed restaurant at least once per year, but new and high-risk establishments tend to be inspected more frequently.

When an emergency shutdown order is given by an inspector, it must first be reviewed and approved by agency supervisors. In order for a business to reopen, an inspector will continue visiting the establishment daily until compliance is met. Some citations may include a financial penalty. Inspectors may also respond to complaints, which can be filed at www.myfloridalicense.com.

The Bradenton Heralds weekly dirty dining reports list restaurants where inspectors found issues that might concern the average diner  such as unsafe food temperatures, employee hand-washing issues or moldy drink machines  regardless of whether or not the businesses passed inspection.
Closeup view of police car LED light Douglas Sacha/ Getty Images

A 78-year-old woman is facing bank robbery charges after she allegedly pulled off a heist in Missouri, where authorities say she handed the teller a note that ended with "I didn't mean to scare you," The Associated Press reports. Authorities said this would be the woman's third time facing similar charges, as she has two past convictions for robbing banks.

Bonnie Gooch is being held on a $25,000 bond after she was charged with "one count of stealing or attempting to steal from a financial institution" after targeting a bank in Pleasant Hill, The Kansas City Star reports. She was previously convicted of "robbing a California bank in 1977 and one in the Kansas City suburb of Lee's Summit in 2020," AP adds  her probation for the second conviction ended in November 2021.

Witnesses report that Gooch, "dressed all in gray, with plastic gloves, a black N95 mask, and black sunglasses", the Star recounts, approached the teller at the counter and passed them a note that said in part, "... is a robbery I need 13,000 small bills  thank you sorry I didn't mean to scare you," per documents filed in Cass County Circuit Court. She was also captured on surveillance video banging on the counter, asking the teller to hurry, prosecutors said. "The woman allegedly advised the teller not to count the money and 'just give it to her,'" the Star adds.

Officers located the suspect less than 2 miles away in the parking lot of an animal clinic. She smelled strongly of alcohol, prosecutors alleged, and police found a large amount of cash scattered around the car's floorboard. "It's just sad," Pleasant Hill Police Chief Tommy Wright told the Star, adding that the suspect had no "diagnosed" issues. Wright also called the case "unusual," saying he'd never encountered a bank robbery suspect Gooch's age in his 30 years of police work.

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Nearly two months after an 80-year-old was found dead in North Carolina, a suspect has been arrested in Georgia, deputies say.

Bertie County deputies said they arrested Robert Tyjuan Reid on Wednesday, April 5, in Covington, Georgia. Reid is charged with first-degree forcible rape, first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree kidnapping and other related felony charges.

He is in custody in Georgia, the sheriffs office said.

Deputies said they found Lan Rawls dead just before midnight Feb. 20 in an Aulander residence. Rochelle Harrell, 62, was also at the scene and was flown to a hospital in Greenville with critical injuries.

Investigators found no motive or signs of forced entry into the home where the two women were found, according to a Facebook post from the sheriffs department.

Any motive is still unknown, Rawls daughter, Cathy Lapid told WCTI.

We now know the who, but we dont know the why, Lapid told the outlet. We might not know the why for a while, if at all.

The family was shocked by Reids arrest, Lapid told WITN.

Not in a million years could you ever imagine something like this happening in Aulander, and so part of the reaction is shock and is trying to deal with digesting and processing this person was from Georgia, not even a part of our community, she said.

Aulander is about 110 miles northeast of Raleigh.

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Before Kris's disappearing act, the newlyweds managed to get in a little time together as they looked into launching a zombie- and weapon-themed food truck

TLC

90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's Kris Foster and Jeymi Noguera barely had a moment of post-wedding bliss.

On Sunday night's episode, Kris packed her bags to head back to the U.S. just one month after she moved there for good. In Kris's mind, it wouldn't be forever  in fact, she told Jeymi it would be "two weeks" tops.

Related:90 Day's Kris and Jeymi Tie the Knot in Colorful Ceremony: 'I Want All of You Forever'

Kris said she was having trouble with her bank and needed to refill her narcolepsy medication  which was why a trip to America was necessary. Jeymi had concerns, though, particularly with the fact that Kris hadn't booked a return ticket to Colombia.

She dropped her bride at the airport with no idea of when Kris would actually return.

"I understand the situation, but I feel very sad," Jeymi told cameras. Later in the car, she told Kris she must return  or else. "You no come back, I'll sell all your clothes and your s---," Jeymi said. Though Kris laughed, Jeymi did not. "It's not funny, not to me."

TLC

Jeymi tearfully returned home without Kris  and without any security about her future with her new wife.

Related:90 Day: Jeymi's Pals Fear Another 'Disappearance' by Kris, Call Trip to America a 'Sign'

Next week's preview showed major turmoil to come, with Kris still in America and Jeymi crying that a month had passed without Kris contacting her on FaceTime.

TLC

Related:90 Day: Despite Their Sexual Chemistry, Jeymi Calls Kris a 'Psychopath' After Weapons Store Shopping Trip

Earlier in the episode when Kris was still in Colombia, the pair enjoyed happier times  and, ironically, were looking ahead to a future together  as they did a little reconnaissance into starting a business.

As Kris and Jeymi toured a few different food trucks, they fell in love with a former school bus that had been converted to include a kitchen and dining area. Kris was head-over-heels for the theme, too, which sported a zombie emerging from the top of the bus  and plenty of "weapons" inside.

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But the apocalyptic bus was a whopping $20,000 as compared to the other $10,000 options, so the couple decided to sleep on it. And Kris brought up a reasonable point  they should decide what kind of food to sell before they commit to buying a food truck.

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.

90 Day Fiance: The Other Way airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC.

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A tow truck driver for AAA was among three people killed in a roadside crash Friday, April 7, in Ohio, officials say.

Keith Skaggs, 37, was loading a AAA members vehicle onto a tow truck along Interstate 275 in Anderson Township when he was struck by another vehicle, AAA said in a statement. Skaggs was killed, as were two others, AAA said.

The Hamilton County Coroners Office identified the other two deceased victims as Richard Glaser, 66, and Janaya Glover, 22. Two others were also injured, according to AAA.

Our hearts go out to all of the families and colleagues impacted by this terrible tragedy, AAA said in a statement to McClatchy News.

The Hamilton County Sheriffs Office didnt immediately respond to McClatchy News with details about the crash.

Social media posts indicate Skaggs was engaged to Karen Helton, and their wedding was planned for this summer.

Helton told WXIX learning about the crash was a nightmare for her.

Im still waiting to wake up from this horrible nightmare, she said.

Others took the accident as a way to remind others about safe driving rules.

Slow down and move over. Save a life, JJs Towing Services said in a Facebook post. This could have been prevented. We want to come home at the end of the day. Please make it safe for us to do so.

Ive always been a huge advocate for this as I towed for AAA for sometime once and became very aware of the dangers involved, Kenneth Patrick Miller said. Countless close calls every day. Sorry to hear the loss of a great man.

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Nathan Maynard is seeking a volunteer to donate their body for an art installation

Australians browsing the The Age newspaper recently may have spotted a rather startling small advertisement.

The ad asked for a volunteer "of British descent" to donate their dead body to an art project which would "speak to sacrifice for past sins".

Nathan Maynard, the artist behind the ad, says he wants his work to prompt reflection on one of the colonial era's darkest episodes.

His planned work will form part of an arts festival in Hobart this November.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised this article contains images of people who have died.

An Aboriginal Tasmanian performance artist and playwright, Maynard says the idea came to him when he witnessed "virtue signalling" on social media, where "everyone wants to be seen as a good person" when it comes to Indigenous issues.

"In some people, you've got to go, 'what's their intent?' Is this for their benefit or is this for Aboriginal Australia's benefit?"

"With social media everyone looks great. But lost is the fact that we've still got how many of our people in custody. We still haven't got that treaty [a legal agreement with the government] in this country."

Maynard says his intention is to ask people "what would they physically do for First Nations people in this country and around the world?"

"Would they put their body on the line if they had to? Would they protest the next time an Aboriginal person is killed in custody? Will they join our protests?"

The artist says he doesn't yet know what final form his installation, to be titled "Relic Act", will take. The project will unfold in several stages, starting with an interview and selection process for prospective donors.

Maynard says he's already had some volunteers. But while his advert makes clear the chosen body will be treated with the "utmost respect", he says the act of donation is to atone for colonial "sins".

He points to the theft, mutilation and display of the bodies of Indigenous people by European museums and institutions, beginning in early colonial times and continuing for decades afterwards.

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They included William Lanne, an Aboriginal Tasmanian leader known as "King Billy", whose body was dismembered and used for scientific research after his death in 1869.

After a dispute over who owned his remains, Tasmanian doctor and businessman William Crowther allegedly broke into a morgue, decapitated Lanne's corpse and had his skull sent to the Royal College of Surgeons in England.

The bodies of William Lanne and Truganini were dismembered and sent to Europe in the name of science

Lanne's partner Truganini, an Aboriginal leader's daughter who lived an extraordinary life of survival through the brutal colonial era, suffered a similar fate.

"Truganini knew that William Lanne's head was decapitated, and she was terrified that that was going happen to her," Maynard tells the BBC.

"She pleaded with everyone and the government not to do that to her. And what did they do? They waited for two years after her death, and exhumed her body and put it on display in a museum until the 1940s."

Truganini's remains were finally returned to the Aboriginal community in 1976, but skin and hair samples were only given back in 2002, along with the remains of other unidentified Indigenous people.

The ancestral remains of more than 1,650 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been returned to Australia in the last 30 years, according Australian Institute of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) data.

But the Australian government says it is aware of information that there are some 1,500 bodies still held by collecting institutions and private holders in more than 20 countries.

Last year, the remains of 108 people who died more than 40,000 years ago were reburied after they were dug up without permission in the 1960s and 70s.

Not everyone is convinced, however, of the artistic merits of Maynard's plan.

"I view expression through art as being a core part of being human, but when the public's money is involved, I think there are fair questions that need to be asked," Hobart councillor Louise Elliot told the Spectator.

"In this case, how 'healing' is an artwork like this? I suspect it is more divisive attention-seeking than truly therapeutic and question-inducing as good art should be."

The advert placed Melbourne's The Age newspaper

But Dr Simon Longstaff from Australia's The Ethics Centre says Maynard's conscientious approach contrasts with the colonialists, who "didn't care about informed consent any more than they did about taking land".

"The mere fact of [Maynard] asking the question, and the debate it spurs, is already raising some really interesting questions," he tells the BBC.

"As a culture, we've lost the capacity to deal with genuine complexity, and to recognise that people can have different views on different topics, or different views on the same topics.

"I think the more that art engages us, the better we are as a democracy."

Maynard's project stands out in another important aspect, he says.

"There's lots of mummies in museums and other bits and pieces of people that were collected and commodified in the past," Dr Longstaff says.

"But where someone has actually, wilfully chosen to [donate their body] as a contribution towards not just art, but social progress, maybe this is the first."

Maynard says he's aware of negative reaction, but doesn't mind if people are offended. "Everyone's allowed to have opinions. I believe in what I'm doing.

"Unlike the thousands of remains of First Nations people that are displayed around the world that were cut up, dug up and sent without their permission this person is willingly donating their body."

The plan is for Relic Act to form part of Hobart's Current arts festival this November.

Festival sponsor the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) says it's embracing the work in partial atonement for its own mistreatment of Aboriginal bodies and artefacts.

In a formal apology two years ago, the museum admitted that it had "participated in practices, including the digging up and removal, the collection, and the trade of, ancestral remains of Tasmanian Aboriginal people largely in the name of racial sciences [which] have long been entirely discredited".

"While we are aware that Nathan's proposed work may be confrontational, and that some members of the community may be uncomfortable we believe it is an important part of our commitment to [our] apology and truth-telling," the museum's statement said.

"Once the final shape of the work is clear, TMAG will continue to work to ensure the work complies with all relevant legislative requirements."

Nathan Maynard says his successful applicant will "understand the history and First Nations struggles". But what else is he looking for?

"I'm not 100%, but I really, really want to collaborate with this person. I think who they are and their beliefs will really shape this. I want to know if they're genuine. I want to know that they're in it for the right reasons."
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Abortion advocates painted a bleak picture Monday of what would happen if a Texas ruling on an abortion medication was allowed to stand, suggesting all federally-approved medicationsincluding birth control and vaccinescould be under attack.

The ruling issued Friday by Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas, temporarily rescinded the Food and Drug Administrations approval for mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortion procedures. According to legal experts, it marked the first time a judge has ever overruled an FDA approval.

If this ruling is allowed to stand, abortion rights advocates warned, it has the potential to upend the entire FDA approval processnot just for abortion medications, but for any drug on the market.

Texas Judges Abortion Pill Ruling Brings Awful 19th Century Law Back to Life

Under this ruling, virtually anybody who opposes an FDA-approved drug could drag the agency into court to challenge their decision, said Center for Reproductive Rights President Nancy Northup in a press call. Those drugs could include medications like emergency contraception, birth control, or even vaccines.

The implications of this case go far beyond [abortion],added Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. If the courts allow this, it will radically change the process for approving new drugs and chill innovation.

Medication abortion, or the combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, now accounts for more than half of all abortion procedures in the United States. Mifepristone has a serious complication risk of less than 1 percent, according to a wide-ranging review of the data conducted by The New York Times.

Kacsmaryks decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of anti-abortion groups called the Alliance Defending Freedom, which claims the FDA improperly approved the drug more than 20 years ago.

Jane Henny, the FDA commissioner at the time the drug was approved, defended the approval process in a separate press call Monday, calling it comprehensive and quite thorough.

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She noted that the approval of mifepristone had been reviewed multiple times over the last 20 years, including a 2016 review by the Government Accountability Office that found there was no political intervention in that process. Further reviews by the FDA actually resulted in a loosening of restrictions around the dispensing of the drug, after further studies and years of use proved its safety and effectiveness.

Henny, too, warned of the dangerous implications of letting a judge overturn the agencys decisions.

This kind of ruling would set a very dangerous precedent for the FDAs authority in terms of other new medications that might warrant movement into the marketplace, she said. We would be entering totally uncharted territory in that regard.

The womens warnings echoed those issued by the Biden administration over the weekend. In an interview with CNN on Sunday, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said the decision could turn upside down the entire FDA approval process.

Youre talking about every kind of drug, he said. Youre talking about our vaccines. Youre talking about insulin. Youre talking about the new Alzheimers drugs that may come on.

Kacsmaryks ruling is a preliminary injunction, meaning it holds only until he hears the full case and issues a final ruling. Kacsmaryk gave until Friday for the ruling to take effect or be overturned, and the Biden administration has already filed an appeal of the ruling to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. If the Fifth Circuit does not overturn the injunction, the administration will likely appeal the case up to the Supreme Court.

A judge in Washington State issued a dueling ruling Friday in a case filed by attorneys general from 17 states and the District of Columbia. That judge, Thomas O. Rice, ordered the FDA not to limit availability of mifepristone in those jurisdictions. The Department of Justice has filed a motion to clarify in that case.

Providers were hesitant to say what they would do if the ruling were allowed to take effect Friday, noting that a lot of legal decisions could occur between now and then. But spokespeople from Planned Parenthood and from the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents a number of independent clinics, said some providers were preparing to provide medications using only misoprostol if necessary.

Regardless, said Center for Reproductive Rights attorney Jenna Ma, if mifepristone becomes inaccessible, there will be a mass shock to the provision of care in states where access to abortion remains.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Chinese porcelain wares are seen at the Adrien Dubouche National Museum in Limoges, France, Jan. 13, 2023. (Xinhua)

Myrtille Bouvret, a French ceramic designer, posted pictures of a porcelain sculpture she made recently and shared the creative inspiration with her fans on Instagram.



It has been six years since Bouvret completed her study at Jingdezhen Ceramic University (JCU) in China and started running a design studio in the southwestern French city of Limoges, widely known for its porcelain.

"It is my trips to the porcelain capitals of the two countries that continually inspire me," she said.

Jingdezhen, located in east China's Jiangxi Province, has been dedicated to the craft for over 1,800 years. In 2010, it forged a pair of sister cities with Limoges, in which porcelains produced have been sold across Europe.

Bouvret is among droves of ceramic artists and overseas students who rushed to Jingdezhen, after an international ceramic studio was jointly established by the JCU and Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Art de Limoges (ENSA Limoges) in 2011.

"I admire the craftsmen in Jingdezhen who inherit thousands of years of porcelain-making technique," she said.

Hundreds of ceramic artworks have been created by the studio. Among these, two sets of ceramic lampposts, designed and made by French and Chinese students at the end of 2018, are the most special.

Reading "Thank you Jingdezhen and loving Limoges," the two lampposts have borne witness to the cultural exchanges between the two countries. Now, one lamppost is standing on the street of Limoges while the other is on display at the exhibition hall of the studio.

Zhou Lei, one of the co-creators, would always think about how to combine the modern western creation concept with the traditional Chinese skills while studying in the two places. "I want to integrate the ancient charm of blue and white porcelain with western aesthetics, let them break with tradition and go global," he said.

As early as the 18th century, the "dual formula" of kaolin -- a soft white mineral named after the village in China -- and porcelain stone was transmitted from Jingdezhen to France, playing a key role in the development of the porcelain-making industry in France.

Exchanges on ceramics between the two countries are mutually beneficial, said Weng Yanjun, director of Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum, adding that colored enamel porcelain is a type of porcelain integrating the Western material and Chinese traditional technique.

While studying at the JCU, Bouvret once interned at Wanglong Ceramics Co.Ltd in Jingdezhen, where overseas designers are involved in the design of the products. A saucer she designed there was favored by a Michelin star chef in France and then used as a utensil for holding foie gras.

"The cooperation with craftsmen in Jingdezhen has inspired me a lot," said Norman Trapman, a French designer, who holds teleconferences with the craftsmen once a week.

At an exhibition held in Milan, Italy, earlier this year, a set of Celadon spa items including a bathtub and a hand sink, designed by Trapman, has brought the company international orders.

"The transnational exchanges and cooperation have helped us gain traction in the international market," said Yu Wanglong, general manager of the company.
A Texas judges decision to rescind the FDAs approval of the abortion pill could jeopardize access to the most popular method of terminating a pregnancy.

And many in government and inside the pharmaceutical industry fear that it could also undermine the agencys broader authority to regulate medicines, opening the door for courts to question approvals of anything from birth control pills to new treatments for debilitating diseases.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra suggested insulin, vaccines and new Alzheimers drugs could conceivably all come under scrutiny if U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks ruling is upheld.

While Kacsmaryk stayed his decision until Friday and the Biden administration has already appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the ramifications from Fridays decision for the FDA and the drug industry could be felt for decades regardless of how this case is ultimately decided.

Heres what we know:

Will the decision turn the FDA approval process upside down?

Experts disagree. Kacsmaryks ruling focused on the procedures around mifepristones approval and the FDAs delayed response to petitions from anti-abortion organizations asking the agency to reconsider. It did not directly address FDAs approval authority, said Greer Donley, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh law school.

The stay itself has no other impact on any drug other than mifepristone, she said.

The concern, she said, is that the precedent, in this case, could be used to implicate other drugs should groups choose to challenge the procedures surrounding their approval.

Jane Henney, who was FDA commissioner when mifepristone was approved, said Monday that this ruling sets a very dangerous precedent for the FDAs authority in terms of other new medications.

Clearly, we would be entering totally uncharted territory in that regard, she said during a call with reporters.

Becceras worry that other medical products are at risk was echoed by leaders in the pharmaceutical industry.

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Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla was among the dozens of pharmaceutical executives to sign a letter calling for an immediate reversal of the ruling, citing the uncertainty for the entire biopharma industry.

If courts can overturn drug approvals without regard for science or evidence, or for the complexity required to fully vet the safety and efficacy of new drugs, any medicine is at risk for the same outcome as mifepristone, the letter said.



And William Schultz, former deputy commissioner for the FDA and former general counsel for HHS, said the decision "could allow virtually anyone to challenge any FDA drug approval decision with a good chance of succeeding."

"Any FDA drug approval involves hundreds of judgments by the agency. If a court feels free just to kind of take a fresh look at each of those, there's a chance that a court will find one of those judgments is wrong, Schultz said.

HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

What happened in Washington state and how does it affect the Texas ruling?

Just after Kacsmaryks ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Rice in the Eastern District of Washington issued a conflicting order that blocks the FDA from rolling back access to the pills in the dozen blue states and Washington D.C. that brought the lawsuit. This seeming contradiction is one reason many believe the case is headed to the Supreme Court.

The Department of Justice on Monday asked the judge in Washington state to clarify the injunction while Danco, which manufactures and sells mifepristone under the name Mifeprex, and the Department of Justice have filed appeals to the conservative-leaning 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Donley noted that it is technically possible for the FDA to comply with both rulings by using its enforcement discretion to look the other way if companies distribute a drug that no longer has the agencys approval.

The only way for the FDA to comply with both orders is to allow the drug to become unapproved  but then issue a guidance document or something similar saying We are not going to enforce the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act against the manufacturers and distributors of mifepristone, so long as those manufacturers and distributors follow these carefully articulated rules, she said.

Would that work?

Andrew Pincus, a visiting lecturer at Yale Law School and an experienced Supreme Court and appellate attorney, said that may not be enough assurance for manufacturers and other potentially liable entities.

Its not clear that enforcement discretion is a route to give them the assurance they need, Pincus said.

What would happen if mifepristone is removed from the market?

Misoprostol, the second drug in the two-pill regimen used for medication abortions, will still be available for patients across the country even if mifepristone is banned. The drug isnt subject to the FDAs drug safety program like mifepristone because its used for many non-abortion purposes, including treating stomach ulcers, making it harder to challenge and ban. Although the drug is commonly used alone for abortions in other countries, it has slightly higher rates of requiring surgery to complete an abortion than using misoprostol and mifepristone together.

It would be devastating from a lot of different perspectives and there would be a lot of patients who would be left with a less-optimal regimen to manage pregnancy loss and abortion care, Jennifer Villavicencio, an OB-GYN and member of leadership at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, told reporters on Monday.

In theory, Danco  or any other drug maker  could also resubmit an application for mifepristones approval. However, it could take two to three years for a drug maker and the FDA to go through another approval process, said Kirsten Moore, the director of the Expanding Medication Abortion Access Project, on a press call.

Why are drugmakers so concerned?

The pharmaceutical industry said the Texas lawsuit could curb drug development in the U.S. and throw the regulatory framework FDA uses to approve drugs into question if the case is upheld by higher courts.

This decision has ramifications that extend well beyond this case, setting a dangerous precedent for undermining the FDA and creating regulatory uncertainty that will impede the development of important new treatments and therapies, Biotechnology Innovation Organization interim CEO Rachel King said on Saturday.

If the Supreme Court upholds Kacsmaryks decision, the industry would likely push Congress to pass legislation to cement the FDAs authority, according to John Murphy, chief policy officer and deputy general counsel of healthcare at BIO.

If that were to survive through sort of a theoretical SCOTUS challenge, you really have to look at Congress to ensure we get back to having FDA in the drivers seat here, Murphy said.



What are Democratic governors doing to support mifepristone access while the case winds its way through the courts?

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced Monday that she has requested UMass Amherst and state-contracted health care providers to stockpile mifepristone and issued an executive order confirming protections for medication abortion under existing state law.

The university purchased about 15,000 doses last week to ensure coverage for more than a year, with more doses expected to be purchased, and Healey is also allocating $1 million to help providers who are contracted with the state Department of Public Health purchase the drug.

The move comes on the heels of an announcement from Washington Gov. Jay Inslee who is having his Department of Corrections purchase a three-year supply of mifepristone. State lawmakers have introduced legislation to allow the department to sell mifepristone to licensed health providers across the state.

And in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state has secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million misoprostol pills, with 250,000 pills having already arrived in the state.



CORRECTION: The last name of Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey was misspelled in an earlier version of this story.
A string of Islamic State Khorasan province attacks in recent months has brought renewed attention to the lack of U.S. ability to run counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan since the full military withdrawal in 2021, experts said.

And the lack of "over the horizon" capabilities is contributing to the country once again becoming a breeding ground for ISIS-K and other terrorist organizations.

"Capabilities are very limited," Bill Roggio, managing editor of Long War Journal, told Fox News Digital.

Among the problems the U.S. is facing in preventing the spread of terrorism in Afghanistan is unreliable intelligence gathering, Roggio said. Just months after the final U.S. troops left Afghanistan, former commander of U.S. Central Command Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr. warned that U.S. intelligence-gathering capabilities in Afghanistan was 2% of what it was when American troops were still in the country. In the time since that ominous warning, Roggio said the situation "hasn't gotten any better."

Also limiting U.S. counterterrorism capabilities in Afghanistan is distance, with the U.S. only being able to send assets such as drones from faraway places. That gives drones very little time to hover over the battlefield before having to return.

AFGHAN TALIBAN RAID KILLS 6 MEMBERS OF ISLAMIC STATE GROUP

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Despite the limitations, the U.S. has showed the ability to strike in the country when an opportunity presents itself. Nearly a year after the final U.S. troops left Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced a drone strike in Kabul that killed al Qaeda Leader Ayman al-Zawahri.

The "over the horizon operation" was hailed as a success by the department, which boasted days later that the terrorist leader was the only casualty in the surprising strike.

"We are confident through our intelligence sources and methods  including multiple streams of intelligence  that we killed al-Zawahri and no other individuals," a senior administration official said at the time. "His death deals a significant blow to [al Qaeda] and will degrade the group's ability to operate, including against the U.S. homeland."

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Strikes in Afghanistan have been rare ever since, despite the Biden administration's 2021 promises that the U.S. could maintain over-the-horizon operations. According to Roggio, part of the reason for that is that the administration has allowed itself to be boxed in by the Taliban.

"It's not that there's a dearth of targets there," Roggio said. "It's the administration."

NO MENTION OF AFGHANISTAN IN BIDENS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS AS AFGHAN EVACUEES LEFT IN LIMBO

Roggio noted that dozens of Americans are still being held in Taliban captivity, a reality that has put the administration in a difficult position when it comes to targeting terrorists.

"They don't want to target al Qaeda, they don't want to tick off the Taliban," Roggio said. "The administration is allowing itself to be held hostage to Taliban demands."

Newly recruited personnel for Taliban security forces demonstrate their skills during their graduation ceremony on Feb. 9, 2023.

Roggio also said that if the administration were to ramp up strikes against the Taliban and al Qaeda, it would be a "tacit admission by the administration that its policy failed."

"And for all the talk of the Islamic State, there really isn't any strategic targets that we are going after that I am aware of that are based in Afghanistan," Roggio said.

His comments come amid a new wave of ISIS-K attacks in Afghanistan, including multiple attempts by the terrorist organization to assassinate top Taliban leaders.

AFGHAN OPPOSITION GROUPS OUTRAGED AT UN EMPLOYEES PHOTOGRAPHED UNDER TALIBAN FLAG

Assassinations have become a pillar of the Islamic State's insurgent strategy, both in Afghanistan and elsewhere, with such attacks serving to help boost morale among its fighters and help recruit new ones. The attacks are especially important to ISIS-K leaders in Afghanistan, who use successful attacks as a means to secure fresh funding from the group's global leaders.

As ISIS-K continues to test the new Taliban government's security capabilities in Afghanistan, concerns have grown that the group could become a threat to U.S. interests outside the country. According to a U.S. intelligence report earlier this year, ISIS-K has expressed a clear desire to attack the West.

Less than a month after that report was released, current head of U.S. Central Command Gen. Michael Kurilla warned lawmakers that it was possible ISIS-K could attack targets outside Afghanistan in a matter of months.

"They can do external operations against U.S. or Western interests abroad in under six months with little to no warning," Kurilla said.

However, Roggio cautioned that the biggest threat emanating from Afghanistan remains al Qaeda, which enjoys the safe haven of a country controlled by the Taliban.

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"In my opinion  the real threat from Afghanistan stems from the Taliban and al Qaeda and allied groups, that's the primary threat," Roggio said. "The Islamic State is a secondary threat. And the reason for that is the Taliban control the state apparatus, including all those weapons we left behind  ammunition, the bases  and they're sheltering al Qaeda."

Meanwhile, Roggio noted that ISIS-K does not have any allies in Afghanistan and is instead in constant conflict with both al Qaeda and the Taliban. Unlike al Qaeda, which essentially enjoys state sponsorship, ISIS-K is forced to operate underground.

The new reality on the ground in Afghanistan is seemingly similar to the picture prior to Sept. 11, 2001, though Roggio says the situation today may be even worse thanks to the Taliban's control of even more of the country and a lack of a unified fighting force to counter them, such as the Northern Alliance that existed before 2001.

"We put a significant emphasis on fighting the Islamic State toward the end  at the expense of fighting the Taliban and even worked with the Taliban to fight the Islamic State, and that allowed the Taliban to take power in Afghanistan," Roggio said. "Continuing to emphasize the Islamic State at the expense of that Taliban and al Qaeda alliance is missing the forest for the trees and underplaying the real threat."

President Biden, right, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

But despite the growing threat in Afghanistan, Roggio doesn't anticipate U.S. policy changing anytime soon.

"There has to be a political will to do it," Roggio said of the U.S. increasing operations in Afghanistan. "That's what this administration doesn't have."
Al Jaffee, the longtime cartoonist for Mad Magazine who created one of the satirical publications most beloved and enduring features  the back-cover Fold-In illustration  died Monday in a New York City hospital of organ failure. He was 102.

New of his death was shared today by Tom Heintjes, editor of Hogans Ally, a magazine and website that chronicles the cartoon arts. Jaffees granddaughter Fani Thomson confirmed his passing and the cause of death to the New York Times.

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Im very sad to report that the great Al Jaffee has died, Heintjes tweeted. He had celebrated his 102nd birthday just last month. An incredible legend. RIP to a giant of cartooning.

Born in Savannah, GA, Jaffee launched his comics career in the 1940s, contributing artwork for such publications as Joke Comics, Atlas Comics and Timely Comics, among others. During World War II he worked as an artist for the military.

Jaffee began what would be a lifetime association with Mad Magazine as a contributor in 1955. Although he briefly left the publication to work for the short-lived Humbug humor magazine, he returned in 1958. Through the years, he contributed the popular feature Snappy Answers To Stupid Questions.

But his most lasting contribution to the iconic Baby Boom-generation publication came in 1964 with the first Fold-In feature: A drawing that, when folded vertically, revealed an entirely different illustration, essentially creating a visual punchline complete with a new caption. The feature was inspired by the centerfolds that had been popularized by Playboy and other magazines.

In Fold This Book!, a 1997 collection of Jaffees Fold-Ins, Far Side creator Gary Larson praised the long-running feature. The dilemma was always this: Very slowly and carefully fold the back cover  without creasing the page and quickly look at the joke. Jaffees artistry before the folding was so amazing that I suspect I was not alone in not wanting to deface it in any way.

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A four-volume hardcover boxed set called The Mad Fold-In Collection: 19642010 was published by Chronicle Books in September 2011.

In a 2010 interview with the Boston Phoenix newspaper, Jaffee recalled his first Fold-In. I thought to myself  now its folded in and Ive got to have something on the left side here, and something right side here. And the only thing that popped into my head was that Elizabeth Taylor had just dumped Eddie Fisher and was carrying on with Richard Burton. So I had Elizabeth Taylor kissing Richard Burton, and a cop is holding the crowd back  and just for the fun of it I put Eddie Fisher being trampled by the crowd. What a cruel thing to do! And then, when you fold it in, shes moving on from Richard Burton and kissing the next guy in the crowd. Its so simplistic and silly and juvenile! And anyone could have done that!

Jaffees final Mad Fold-In was published in the magazines August 2020 Jaffee tribute issue, and served as his farewell upon his retirement at age 99. Drawn six years before  initially to be published at his death  the unfolded illustration depicts Mad mascot Alfred E. Newman beneath a slew of bad-news, out-of-business signs. When folded, the signs instead read, No More New Jaffee Fold-Ins, with a peaceful-looking portrait of Jaffee floating above the fray.

In all, Jaffee created more than 500 back-cover Fold-Ins, with subjects spanning zeitgeisty and hot-button topics from Beatlemania (the Fab Fours folded image depicted them as bald has-beens) to President Donald Trumps proposed health care plan.

In a 2014 video interview  see it below  Jaffee explained that he created the Fold-Ins without actually folding his original illustration, relying instead on a seemingly arduous process involving tracing paper.

Asked how long he intended to keep illustrating, he said, I feel that as long as the gray matter in my dome is moving around correctly, Im going to keep working. In 2016 he was recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-working cartoonist in comics history.

Tributes on social media quickly followed news of his death, with comedian, actor and podcaster Marc Maron calling Jaffee a profound influence and one of the greats, and Portlandia producer Dan Pasternack saying, The humor of several generations was shaped by his work.

RIP Al Jaffee. He had a profound influence on my mind when I was a kid. One of the greats. #MadMagazine  marc maron (@marcmaron) April 10, 2023

So sad to learn that the legendary Al Jaffee, a foundational member of Mad Magazines gang of idiots has passed away after recently turning 102. The humor of several generations was shaped by his work. Farewell good sir. pic.twitter.com/dlR4NNo37S  Dan Pasternack (@DanPasternack) April 10, 2023

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OTTAWA (Reuters) - Alberta's ethics commissioner is investigating whether Premier Danielle Smith interfered with the judicial process tied to the prosecution of an offence related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from the premier's office on Monday.

"The premier welcomes this investigation, is fully cooperating with the commissioner, and is confident this examination will confirm there has been no such interference," the statement said.

The premier's statement did not provide more details of the investigation. The office of Alberta's ethics commissioner did not respond to a request for comment.

The investigation adds to a series of controversies and resignations that political analysts say could undermine support for Smith's ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) in an election in Alberta, Canada's main oil-producing province, next month.

Polls show Alberta's election, scheduled to take place no later than May 29, will be a tight two-way race between the UCP and left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Rachel Notley.

The NDP has called for an independent investigation after local media reported a leaked phone call in which Smith expressed sympathy with a Calgary pastor facing pandemic-related charges and said she would ask justice department officials about his case.

Smith has acknowledged speaking with the pastor, Artur Pawlowski, saying that conversation was among hundreds she had with "Albertans about COVID-related public health orders and violations."

She denies any wrongdoing. In an earlier statement, the premier said she had her staff work with the Ministry of Justice to see if amnesty could be granted to people charged with non-violent, non-firearms COVID-related charges, and followed the ministry's advice to stop pursuing the amnesty idea.

Pawlowski is facing charges related to COVID-19 protests in Canada last year, which included a weeks-long blockade of the Coutts border crossing into the United States from southern Alberta.

Smith became UCP leader and premier last October, replacing Jason Kenney, by appealing to grassroots UCP members in the traditionally conservative province.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa, editing by Deepa Babington)
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg; House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan Getty Images

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has charged Trump with falsifying business records.

House Judiciary chair Jim Jordan is holding a field hearing in New York to try and shame Bragg.

A Bragg aide said Jordan could more effectively crack down on crime by looking at murders in Ohio.

An aide to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan would better serve the public by investigating homicides in his own backyard than road tripping to New York City for a field hearing on violent crime.

Jordan, one of the many House Republicans outraged by Bragg's indictment of embattled former President Donald Trump, has decided to take the brewing fight to Bragg's home turf by interviewing unspecified witnesses at a just-announced hearing in Manhattan on April 17.

A Bragg spokesman called the pending congressional visit a political stunt, telling Bloomberg News that murders in New York City were three times lower than the murder rate in Columbus, Ohio.

"If Chairman Jordan truly cared about public safety, he could take a short drive to Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Akron, or Toledo, in his home state, instead of using taxpayer dollars to travel hundreds of miles of his way," the Bragg aide said.

Columbus, which has a population of approximately 907,000 people, closed out 2022 with 140 murders, according to The Columbus Dispatch, or 15.4 murders per 100,000 citizens.

New York City, which has a population of roughly 8.4 million, closed out 2022 with 433 murders, the Wall Street Journal reported, for a murder rate of 5.2 murders per 100,000 citizens.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Ahmed Aboulenein

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal judge's decision last week to suspend the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of abortion pill mifepristone could severely weaken the agency if allowed to stand, health policy and legal experts said.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's ruling on Friday, which followed a March 15 hearing, was a preliminary injunction that would essentially ban sales of mifepristone while the case by anti-abortion groups before him continues in the Northern District of Texas.

The FDA approved mifepristone, part of a two-drug regimen that accounts for more than half of U.S. abortions, over 20 years ago.

Banning its sale calls into question the FDA's power to regulate all drugs nationwide, the experts said.

Some said it could also lead drugmakers to stick to treatments perceived as safe investments and shy away from those that might get caught up in politically charged legal cases.

"If that decision were to stand, it would really result in pharmaceutical manufacturers investing less and trying to focus their efforts on drugs that are viewed as a safer bet. It really is potentially a public health disaster," said Scott Lassman, a lawyer with 30 years of experience in FDA law and policy.

Lawyers, analysts, industry groups, and the government say a ruling against the FDA's approval of a drug over 20 years earlier is unprecedented and - if it stands after going through the appeals process - could ripple through drug research and development for years, with implications for public health and access to new treatments.

Any impact on the FDA will depend on details of the judge's final ruling on the merits of the challenge in the case known as Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The challenge was brought by a coalition of anti-abortion groups and doctors seeking withdrawal of the FDA's mifepristone approval before Kacsmaryk, who is himself a conservative former Christian activist.

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'BIGGER IMPLICATIONS'

Kacsmaryk ordered mifepristone pulled from the market while he considers a final ruling, but stayed the order for a week in order to give the government a chance to file an emergency appeal, which it did.

When the case is resolved, that could become a permanent ban, though it is not clear how long that might take, and any ruling is also expected to be appealed.

Should the court ban mifepristone sales based on a finding that it is not safe, a strong possibility after Kacsmaryk said in his Friday ruling that the FDA had ignored risks in approving the drug, that would effectively end the FDA's status as the ultimate arbiter on drug safety, experts said.

"That would have much bigger implications for other drugs and probably would shake up pharma's ability to rely on the FDA and feel secure when they submit something, if a court can overrule the FDA's findings on safety," said Laurie Sobel, associate director for Women's Health Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Plaintiffs are arguing that the FDA in its 2000 approval did not adequately consider the drug's safety when used by girls under age 18 to terminate a pregnancy.

Leading industry groups the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) both said the FDA is and should remain the authority on determining drug safety.

U.S Health Secretary Xavier Becerra told CNN on Sunday the court's decision on Friday was reckless and warned it would have far reaching ramifications.

'SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY'

Even if Kacsmaryk does not address safety and bans mifepristone after finding that the FDA did not follow proper procedures, that would still undermine confidence in the agency.

The possibility of its approvals being overruled would likely see the FDA become more cautious, said Susan Lee, a partner in Goodwin's Life Sciences group and FDA practice.

The increased scrutiny would make it more difficult and time-consuming to get products approved, and possibly more expensive to develop.

"There's going to be so much uncertainty about what would happen even if you were to achieve approval in the first place," said Lee. "There could be a downstream impact on pricing."

There would also be an impact on what kinds of drugs get made said Lassman, as drugmakers are confronted with a "whole other level of risk" in an already long, expensive, and risky drug development process.

A ruling against the FDA is likely to spur increased activism and lobbying from organizations opposed to other drugs or medical treatments, such as COVID-19 vaccines, contraceptives, hormones for artificial reproductive technology or gender affirming procedures, and HIV prevention drugs.

Similar challenges in front of hand-picked sympathetic judges could lead to other reversed approvals, Lassman warned.

"I think this is a precursor of where the courts are heading," he said. "It could signal that they're going to give FDA scientific decisions little or no deference in the future."

(Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Caroline Humer, Bill Berkrot and Marguerita Choy)
Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) in Andor. (Lucasfilm)

Beloved Star Wars series Andor will draw to a close with its second and final season in 2024.

Meaning that when it ends, the show will have aired across 24 episodes for just two seasons. The news, you might say, caused a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror.

However, such is its brilliance, its a dead cert that the spin-off of a spin-off (Rogue One) will go down as one of the greatest chapters in the Star Wars franchise.

A presentation celebrating Andor kicked off the Lucasfilm Showcase panel which opened this years Star Wars Celebration event in London, with creator Tony Gilroy and the cast present to celebrate the show and tease Season 2. Gilroy revealed that the series will continue shooting through to August this year, with plans to premiere the series in August 2024 following post-production, colour, and VFX work.

Read more: Star Wars boss Kathleen Kennedy: Women-led projects bring balance to the Force

Gilroys incredible writing has been a hallmark of this deeply affecting and wonderfully woven series, and everyone is now eager to see how Cassian Andors prequel story finishes in the run-up to the events of Rogue One.

Yahoo UK caught up with Gilroy and the cast during Star Wars Celebration for their insights into Season 2  and it seems fans are in for a complicated and unexpected ride.

Denise Gough plays Imperial officer Dedra in Andor. (Lucasfilm/Disney)

Dedra Meero actor Denise Gough is super excited for her character to go full-on fascist. Weve seen Meero, a lieutenant and supervisor for the Imperial Security Bureau, throw herself into torture with gusto in Season 1, so what precisely can we expect in Season 2?

Oh, just more, said Gough. In Season One, I had to lay down the Dedra that maybe people would kind of like and think, Sister, you're the woman in a man's world. And then you go, No, I'm a fascist. So now [Dedra is] just full-on fascist. Now, I don't have to pretend I'm a woman in a man's world or anything like that. I just do full Dedra.

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Read more: How the Andor finale set up S2

And what of that thing with Kyle Sollers Syril Karn? Is there a romantic spark that could ignite?

What I will say is that there's a version of all of these characters that Tony has written that could go a really obvious way, said Gough. But our show is not written by people who write obvious. So whatever happens with Syril and Dedra, it's going to be weirder than you think.

Diego Luna, Adria Arjona, Kyle Soller, Denise Gough, Genevieve O'Reilly and Andy Serkis. (Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)

Soller added, There's a huge question mark over that meeting in that little cupboard in the riot, in episode 12.

"I think they both understand that they need each other, and they need something from each other. And that they may be stronger together, in terms of they share an objective, which is Andor. And yet, this is the Star Wars universe where... nothing is easy. And everything is fractious, there's friction in every single relationship, and there's already an imbalance of power.

"That's what Tony does, writes these beautiful characters  they're so multifaceted  that are all based around an imbalance of power. That gets explored pretty deeply between Syril and Dedra.

Kyle Soller said his Andor character Syril is dangerous because of his desire to prove himself within the Empire. (Lucasfilm/Disney)

Syril is a quirky character that has become a firm favourite among fans. As with a certain high-profile Star Wars character, you might even sense some good in him  even if he does come across at times like textbook serial killer material.

He hasn't known who he is for so long. And I think in Season 2, he finally starts to feel like he knows who he is, said Soller. He individuates his own experience. Part of me wants to go back to his childhood. Part of me wants to see what he could accomplish once he just actually grows up and gets out of his own way; does some healing on himself.

Is there good in him?

Read more: Andor brings grit and politics to Star Wars

This is the question, Where does he lie? It might get answered in Season 2.

Hes got to break away from his domineering mother first, though, right?

One of the questions I wanted to know before filming Season 2 was does he move out of his mother's apartment? That question gets fully answered, said Soller. But his relationship with his mum gets explored in  I didn't even know Tony can do this  in a completely different way. And in a way that is incredibly relatable to modern life  In Season 2, Syril grows up. So that relationship with his mother needs to shift. And it does in an interesting way.

Good Omens and Morbius star Adria Arjona plays Bix Caleen in Andor. (Lucasfilm/Disney)

We know where Cassians story ultimately goes. But all of these complex characters with whom he has crossed paths on his journey are open books. In particular, given Cassians closeness to her, Bix is something of a conundrum. Shes had a heck of time in Season 1 at the hands of Dedra Meero but what fans want to know, fuelled by footage shown at Star Wars Celebration, is whether Bix and Cassian are poised to get even closer.

These are two characters that have been through so much together, that have grown up together since they were children, said Adria Arjona who plays Bix Caleen in the series. So I think there's a lot of love, and there will forever be a lot of love. But I think if there's one thing that everyone should learn from Season 1 is that Tony Gilroy's writing is incredibly complex and complicated. It won't be simple.

Read more: How costumes helped Andor stars find their characters

Of course, theres a lot of reconstruction, as Arjona calls it, for Bix to do in Season 2 following the trauma shes suffered in Season 1.

She's left at such a dark place  and psychologically she's not there, physically she's not there, said Arjona. What does she have to do? And how does she do it? I think that will be the beginning of her journey.

Genevieve O'Reilly returns to play Mon Mothma once again in Star Wars TV series Andor. (Lucasfilm/Disney)

For Mon Mothma, much of the audience will be hoping she ditches that husband of hers. Genevieve OReilly, who plays the Chandrilan politician, said, What Season 1 did was set up beautifully for each of the characters what their ideals are; what they're passionate about; how they are involved with Empire, or moving towards  or fighting for, or ekeing out  rebellion.

Read more: Rey script is 'six weeks off'

"I think with Mon Mothma, we know what she's passionate about. We know that she meets Empire not just at work but at home. So she's navigating Empire all the time. She's having to hold so many secrets... theres one scene where she says to Luthen if this is exposed to Empire I am the person with the furthest to fall.

"If it falls apart, it will cost her a lot. That's not to say that she doesn't make choices. She will make choices in Season 2 that really expose what it costs not to stand up against oppression.

Dolly Alderton, Tony Gilroy and Kathleen Kennedy onstage during the Andor studio panel. (Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)

While creator Tony Gilroy seems to be feeling the pressure to stick the landing, hes also excited for fans to see the experimental approach theyve taken with Season 2.

I think it will be really intriguing to watch how audiences [take] this Ill just cover four years and do these year-long gaps [approach], said Gilroy.

Because theres year-long gaps between the episodes and its been very exciting to work on. It was an experiment at the beginning and its an experiment that we think is working out pretty well.

"So, from a writing point of view its really exciting. And the actors like it as well.

Andor Season 2 lands on Disney+ next August.
An-225 Mriya after Russia's strike on the airfield in Gostomel, Kyiv region, April 3, 22

UPs sources in Ukraines SBU security service said that in January 2022, the National Guard of Ukraine tried to negotiate with the administration of the airfield, but Antonovs leadership didnt allow them to enter the premises without documents that would indicate the number of personnel, units, weapons, and deployment plans for air defense systems.

Read also: Former Antonov plant director faces new charges for failing to evacuate plane to Germany  SBU

The documents were handed over to Antonov on Feb. 3, but for a month the leadership didnt give permission for various reasons, and the National Guard was able to get to the airfield only a day before the invasion, which clearly didnt give enough time to establish adequate defenses. As a result, advancing Russian were able to seize the strategically important airfield and nearby settlements, and destroy An-225 Mriya.

On April 5, former general director of the Antonov state-owned enterprise, Serhiy Bychkov, was charged with criminal negligence. According to the SBU, the An-225 Mriya transport aircraft was supposed to be transported to Leipzig, Germany, but Bychkov hesitated with giving corresponding orders, which led to An-225s ultimate destruction.

Read also: An-225 Mriyas evacuation to Germany was canceled last minute, Bild reports

In early March, Bychkov, his deputy, and the head of Antonovs security were charged with obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations in protecting and defending the airport. Bychkov and the security chief were taken into custode, while the former deputy director was declared a wanted man. All of them face up to 15 years in prison.

An-225 Mriya was the worlds largest and most powerful transport aircraft, built by the Kyiv-based Antonov Design Bureau. The one-of-a-kind aircraft was destroyed by Russian forces on Feb. 27, 2022, during the battle for Hostomel.

Read also: SBU detains Russian agent collecting data on defenses of Pivdennoukrainsk nuclear plant

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Antonov has since announced plans to build another An-225, but the timeframe and funding mechanisms for the project remain unclear.

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
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) on Sunday demanded Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas be impeached over his friendship with Texas billionaire Harlan Crow, which was highlighted in a recent ProPublica expose which cited critics who believe the relationship falls afoul of ethics rules.

The ProPublica report revealed that the justice had luxurious domestic and overseas travel covered by Crow, who is a major Republican donor. Crow and his firm have not had a case before the Supreme Court since Thomas was confirmed, but the article claims that the real-estate magnate may have an interest in otherwise unrelated cases that impact the real-estate industry more broadly, though it fails to name any such cases.

The House has an obligation to investigate the relationship, the congresswoman told CNNs Dana Bash in an interview.

I believe that we should pursue the course. And if it is Republicans that decide to protect those who are breaking the law, then they are the ones who then are responsible for that decision, she said of her Republican colleagues in control of the chamber. But we should not be complicit in that.

Thomas assured in a statement Friday that he was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable.

He has always been intent to comply with disclosure guidelines, which he understands have been changed in the last month, the justice said.

Harlan and Kathy Crow are among our dearest friends, and we have been friends for over twenty-five years, Thomas added. As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them.

Crow told ProPublica he has never attempted to influence Thomass jurisprudence.

Ocasio-Cortez blasted the justices travel activity as conflict of interest and corruption.

I think, when it comes to Justice Thomas statement, when hes talking about his colleagues, and when hes talking about who advised him to break the law, I think we need to know who those people are, she said.

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Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin announced that his committee will investigate Thomass relationship with Crow.

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, Durbin said in a statement.

The House Ethics Committee released a statement last month revealing that Ocasio-Cortez likely violated ethics rules by accepting a gift in the form of the rented Tax the Rich dress she wore to the 2021 Met gala. The committee is continuing to investigate the gift and may subpoena the designed of the dress.

More from National Review
A woman has been arrested after police in Texas say she shot and killed a relative outside a funeral service they were attending.

The shooting happened around 11 a.m. Saturday, April 8, outside McDuffies Mortuary in Houston, police said in a Monday news release.

Police said family members were arguing inside the funeral home during the service, and the fight moved into the parking lot. Queen Smith Jackson, 67, is accused of pulling out a gun and shooting a family member.

The 22-year-old victim was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to police. His identity has not been publicly disclosed as of Monday afternoon.

Jackson admitted to firing the gun but said her intention was to shoot the gun in the air, police said.

She has been charged with manslaughter.

Gunfire rings out during funeral, leaving two injured in Alabama, police say

Get down, get down: Shots fired as churchgoers leave funeral, Tennessee cops say

Man fatally shoots ex-wifes new husband at her mothers funeral, Indiana family says
Veteran French filmmaker Jean-Jacques Annaud speaks at the China premiere of his new film Notre-Dame on Fire in Beijing, on April 6, 2023. [Photo/VCG]

This April marks the fourth anniversary of Notre-Dame in Paris being engulfed by the biggest blaze in its history.



Notre-Dame on Fire, now in Chinese cinemas, is a disaster epic by veteran French filmmaker Jean-Jacques Annaud, who also helmed Wolf Totem (2015), a drama film adapted from Chinese writer Jiang Rong's eponymous novel.

The film made its China premiere on April 6 in Beijing in the presence of France's Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak and the director.

Presenting a blow-by-blow recreation of the gripping events that happened on April 15, 2019 when the fire at the French medieval catholic cathedral rocked France and shocked the whole world, Annaud's new film hails the heroic people who put their lives on the line to accomplish the awe-inspiring rescue.

Annaud unveiled the filming details of the film to the audience attending the China premiere.

"It was a dangerous movie. The actors were actually very close to the extremely violent fire, 1,200-degree Fahrenheit fire. There are very few digital special effects. Almost all of what you have seen are identically reconstructed sets that I set on fire," he said.

"For most scenes, I only had one minute and 10 seconds because the studio was starved of oxygen and everyone had to run away as soon as possible," he added.

Annaud decided to make a film about the fire in April 2020. "Obviously, I immediately felt the extraordinary cinematographic merits. Beyond the disaster and the grief, of course, there is precisely the emotion and the spectacle of the fire," he explained his choice in a 2021 interview with France TV Info.

The film was released in France on March 16, 2022.

"When I saw this movie in Paris last year, it took me a few hours before I could breathe and walk normally on the street," said Malak at the film's China premiere.

The French minister announced that 2024 will be the France-China Year of Culture and Tourism and she invited Chinese tourists to travel to France for the occasion, especially to see the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, which, after almost six years of extensive renovations, is scheduled to reopen to the public in December of the same year.
Stationed at Army posts thousands of miles apart, two soldiers faced a flurry of criminal charges after they allegedly assaulted women within days of each other in early 2017.

One soldier was accused of physically assaulting his wife and firing a gun as she tried to flee their home near Fort Hood in Texas. Police later found a bullet hole in a window screen.

The other told investigators in Alaska that hed had sex with a fellow soldier who he knew was drunk and incapable of providing consent. They later found DNA evidence of his semen on her shorts.

Military prosecutors deemed the cases strong enough to pursue them in court. But the Army instead kicked the soldiers out, allowing them to return to civilian life with scant public record of the accusations against them.

The two cases are among hundreds that lay bare a long-standing but little-known practice that permits service members facing criminal charges to circumvent trial by being discharged from the military. The service members often receive negative marks on their personnel records but avoid the possibility of a federal conviction.

A federal watchdog agency in 1978 called for abolishing the practice, known as administrative separations in lieu of court-martial, arguing that it should be used only to remove service members who were unfit for the military, not to dispose of cases involving alleged criminal offenses.

A 1978 report to Congress called for the elimination of administrative discharges in lieu of court-martial. (Highlighted by ProPublica)

Nearly 50 years later, however, the practice remains. And, in the Army, it is increasingly being used for cases in which soldiers are charged with serious crimes such as sexual assault, domestic violence or child abuse, an investigation by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and Military Times found.

More than half of the 900 soldiers who were allowed to leave the countrys largest military branch in the past decade rather than go to trial were accused of violent crimes, according to an analysis of roughly 8,000 Army courts-martial cases that reached arraignment. The figure is a significant increase from about 30% in the previous decade.

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Choosing to handle such cases administratively instead of through the courts can have serious ramifications, experts told the news organizations.

Some soldiers escape potential legal consequences: Those who may have been convicted of sexual assault wont have to register as sex offenders, and those who could have been found guilty of domestic abuse will not be subject to federal restrictions prohibiting them from owning firearms.

If youre letting serious crimes go through the administrative separation route, you increase the possibility of a serial rapist, a child molester, going back into the community and doing it again because theres no public record and no dissuasion, said Joshua Kastenberg, a professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law and former Air Force judge advocate.

But such administrative separations also carry a stigma, particularly for service members charged with minor offenses, according to experts. Those who are granted permission to leave the military typically receive an other than honorable discharge. Such a designation strips service members of many veterans benefits and can look bad to employers, experts said.

Military commanders are not required to explain their reasoning when granting these discharges. But the news organizations found instances in which they have approved separations even in cases with witnesses, DNA evidence or confessions.

In the Fort Hood case, the ex-soldier was arrested for choking his girlfriend a year after the Army chose not to pursue charges against him for allegedly assaulting his wife. He later pleaded no contest to the charges involving his wife and guilty to charges related to the assault of his girlfriend. He declined an interview through a relative.

I just wish that they would have done more, Morgan Short, the second woman who accused him of assault, told ProPublica, the Tribune and Military Times.

Army officials declined to comment about individual soldiers cases.

Army Col. Christopher Kennebeck, chief of the criminal law division at the Office of Judge Advocate General, did not dispute the news organizations finding that these types of administrative separations are increasingly being used for violent crimes. He said they are intended for minor offenses or cases in which the Army is not able to meet the necessary burden of proof to win at trial. A separation from the Army is a good alternative if commanders believe wrongdoing occurred but do not have enough evidence for a conviction, he said.

You have someone who still exists in society, still has the presumption of innocence to go on with their lives, Kennebeck said. Its just that in the military, you might not be able to continue to serve.

But former Air Force chief prosecutor Col. Don Christensen said once officials read charges in court against a soldier, as happened in each case analyzed by the news organizations, the government should be ready to go to trial. Backing away from those charges signals to Christensen, now in private practice, that the Army is concerned that it cant win cases, which he said is its own problem.

You have someone take an oath saying the charges were true, so its true that this person is violent, its true this person is a sex offender. But now Im going to say that were just going to fire him and turn him back into civilian society without really addressing the issue, Christensen said.

Unheeded Calls

Soldiers charged with crimes ranging from going AWOL and smoking marijuana to rape and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon can request to leave the Army rather than go to trial.

In doing so, enlisted soldiers must acknowledge that they committed an offense that could be punishable under military law. They do not have to admit guilt to a specific crime.

After an enlisted soldiers immediate commanders weigh in with a recommendation, a senior commander overseeing the court-martial, typically a two-star general or higher, decides whether to grant the discharge in consultation with legal advisers. Officers dont have to admit guilt, and ultimately a Pentagon official decides whether to accept the request.

The practice has no exact equivalent in the civilian justice system.

One comparison, according to legal experts, is deferred adjudication, a process that lets people accused of certain crimes avoid a conviction if they successfully complete probation without any other violations.

A key difference is that with deferred adjudication, judges, not commanders, decide and can ultimately revoke the probation and continue with the original charges if the person fails to meet the agreed-upon conditions.

In the military, however, soldiers are free to return to civilian life once a discharge is granted and there are no stipulations for revoking the agreement if the soldier gets in trouble again. And unlike in the civilian justice system, where the public can typically access court records related to a case, limited information is available in the military because the soldier was never convicted.

Federal lawmakers and some military appeals judges took issue with the lack of due process and the growing use of administrative separations throughout the 1960s.

Perhaps the most significant critique of such separations came in 1978 when the federal governments General Accounting Office, now known as the Government Accountability Office, released a report that called for ending the practice.

The report said that while military branches had used such separations as an expedient way to get rid of problem people, Congress never intended for the process to apply to criminal cases.

Releasing some soldiers while trying others for the same offense resulted in unequal treatment and limited the effectiveness of military courts, which must enforce the law and also protect the rights of individual service members. They cannot accomplish these objectives if a major portion of criminal offenses are dealt with outside the judicial process, the report stated.

But the military argued that eliminating administrative separations would increase the workload of its courts.

So the practice continued.

One Accusation, Then Another

Late one March afternoon in 2017, Faustino Vallos wife walked into a police station near Fort Hood, the massive Central Texas Army post where her husband of more than two years worked as a bomb technician.

Vallo had grabbed her by the neck and held his Glock handgun to her head during an argument nine days earlier, she told Killeen police. According to records detailing her account, Vallo told her that her life was over and fired a gun as she ran from the house. When she returned, he told her he didnt mean for the gun to go off, according to her account in partially redacted military investigative files. Officers later found a bullet hole in a window screen.

A military agents investigation report details allegations Faustino Vallos wife made that the soldier pointed a loaded gun at her. (Highlighted by ProPublica)

About six months later, as the Bell County Attorneys Office was pursuing misdemeanor charges against Vallo, it received an email from an Army attorney. She asked that the case be transferred to Fort Hood, which had decided that it wanted to proceed with aggravated assault charges against the soldier, a private first class.

Another email arrived in March 2018, a year after the woman reported the alleged assault. Vallos case was scheduled to go to trial at Fort Hood at the end of the month but the commanding general had instead accepted his administrative separation request, an Army captain wrote to the county attorneys office. He would be permitted to leave the Army within a week and receive an other than honorable discharge.

He will not have been tried for the charges we brought against him, the captain wrote.

A Fort Hood spokesperson declined a request to interview an Army attorney involved in Vallos case.

After the Army discharged Vallo, the Bell County Attorneys Office decided to prosecute him as it had initially intended. That process took another year.

During that time, Vallo was arrested again for domestic assault, this time for attacking his girlfriend, Morgan Short, in Coryell County.

In early April 2019, Short had just poured herself a glass of wine when she and Vallo got into a disagreement. She said Vallo, who was also drinking, suddenly knocked the glass out of her hand and then pushed her down against the white-tiled living room floor. He put the full weight of his body on her back and began to choke her and then bite her, Short said in an interview with the news organizations.

Eventually, she said, Vallo let her go. She ran to her bedroom closet and prayed to God not to let her die. When Short tried to leave the house, she said Vallo put a gun in his mouth in front of the couples infant son and the young daughter he shared with his estranged wife.

I dont know why he didnt kill me because I really feel like he was going to, Short recalled.

Police in Copperas Cove, where the attack occurred, refused to release an incident report, but a story in the Killeen Daily Herald said officers observed several fresh injuries on Short.

On June 10, 2019, Vallo pleaded guilty in Coryell County to choking Short. He was fined and given five years deferred adjudication.

Days later, he pleaded no contest in Bell County to discharging a firearm for the incident involving his wife and received nine months deferred adjudication. He would not serve jail time if he followed certain conditions including that he have no access to firearms during that period.

Vallo, his estranged wife and the civilian defense attorney who represented him in the Bell County case declined interview requests for this story.

Bell County Attorney James E. Nichols said he wasnt sure why the case took so long after his office took it back from the Army. He said he did not know if his attorneys were aware of Vallos Coryell County plea because prosecutors generally dont get alerted that someone with a pending case has been arrested in another county.

Such information is critical and could have resulted in a harsher sentence in the Bell County case, said Miltonette Craig, an assistant professor in Sam Houston State Universitys Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. Nichols agreed more information about the case could have affected the judges decision.

Short also did not know about Vallos conviction in Bell County when he persuaded her to let him back into her life. It didnt take long before he became aggressive again, records show.

On New Years Day 2020, Vallo had chugged a bottle of vodka and threatened to beat my ass and leave me on the floor crawling, Short recalled in an interview with the news organizations. At one point, she said, he locked her in the bedroom and spit in her face.

After struggling to get an answer from 911 operators, Short said she called her family, who eventually got through to police. Officers were dispatched to the home for a violent domestic, according to a partial incident report released by law enforcement.

A partial incident report from January 2020, released by the Killeen Police Department, shows Morgan Shorts family called 911 to report her allegation that Vallo was threatening her. (Highlighted by ProPublica)

At the time of the report, Vallo was still under probation for both assaults. He wasnt arrested. Short believes it was because hed threatened her with physical violence but had not actually assaulted her.

In June, a Coryell County judge extended Vallos probation in connection with Shorts 2019 assault after he was twice arrested for drunk driving. The judge, who did not return a call for comment, required him to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings twice a week.

The drunk driving arrests were a violation of Vallos probation conditions. Craig said the judge could have revoked Vallos deferred adjudication and convicted him of the assault charge.

I Dont Remember Feeling Hope

The true number of service members across the armed forces who were allowed to separate from the military instead of facing trial for serious charges is difficult to know.

Compared with other branches, the Army released the most complete court data to the news organizations under the federal Freedom of Information Act. Even the Armys records are limited because they provide data only for cases that reach arraignment, meaning that the number of soldiers who were discharged as part of the practice is higher than what the news organizations analysis shows.

One area that provides some insight into the practice across all branches is the militarys handling of sexual assault. Congress has mandated more detailed reports on such cases as part of a larger crackdown.

According to those reports, more than 1,000 service members who were charged with sexually assaulting an adult from 2012 to 2021 were permitted to leave the military rather than face trial. Of those, 726 were in the Army.

Overall, the Army had the highest rate of service members  about 1 in 4  who left despite being charged with sexual assault, according to an analysis of the reports. The next highest branch was the Air Force, which had a rate of nearly 1 in 5.

Tony Thomas, an Army specialist, was one of the soldiers.

A female soldier accused Thomas of sexually assaulting her on March 5, 2017, after theyd spent the night celebrating her 24th birthday in Anchorage, Alaska, where both were stationed. The woman, who spoke to the news organizations, agreed to be identified by her middle name, Hope.

By the end of the night, Hope was obviously intoxicated, a friend later told investigators. Thomas and a friend helped her to her barracks room because she couldnt walk on her own. The friend then left, according to partially redacted investigative files that reference security footage from outside of the room. Thomas stayed behind.

Hope told investigators that she woke up to Thomas groping and kissing her breasts. She recalled him taking off her pants, turning her over and shoving her face into the futon. She said that she told him to stop but that he continued to sexually assault her, according to the files.

A partial incident report from January 2020, released by the Killeen Police Department, shows Morgan Shorts family called 911 to report her allegation that Vallo was threatening her. (Highlighted by ProPublica)

Once Thomas left, Hope went to the friends room and said shed slept with him and he would not stop when she told him to. I feel horrible. I kept saying no, no stop but he didnt, Hope said, according to her friends account in the investigative reports. Maybe it was her fault, Hope told her friend, because she was drunk and wearing little shorts. She then reported the assault to military authorities.

Later that day, Thomas acknowledged that he knew Hope was intoxicated and was incapable of providing consent, according to an investigators account of the interview. He said hed made a mistake and admitted to the investigator that he sexually assaulted her, records show.

This military agents investigation report details allegations made by a soldier that a fellow service member, Tony Thomas, sexually assaulted her in her barracks room in March 2017. (Highlighted by ProPublica)

Thomas declined to comment through a relative, who maintained the soldiers innocence and said the punishment he received was unjust. His family indicated they plan to challenge his discharge status.

A DNA test of the womans shorts later detected Thomas semen. An Army prosecutor determined in July 2017 that there was probable cause Thomas committed sexual assault, records show.

Despite having an attorney and meeting with an investigator on the case, Hope said she was not aware of all of the evidence collected by prosecutors.

She began to feel like no one around her offered encouragement.

I dont remember feeling hope, she said. I dont remember feeling confident that OK, this is going to go before a judge and theyre going to actually believe what happened or theyre going to take me seriously.

More than a year after she accused Thomas of assault, Hope met again with an investigator on the case. By then, she had transferred to Fort Hood to avoid seeing her alleged attacker. She and her new husband had just learned she was pregnant. I finally just kind of mulled it over and I was like: I dont want to take this to trial. I dont want to sit on trial pregnant, reliving something that I want to just go away.

Hope said the investigator laid out various options, including that Thomas could be discharged instead of going to trial. She said that path seemed best to her at the time.

I was trying to move on in my life, she said.

Kennebeck, the Armys criminal law director, said that commanders consider victim input and preference when deciding whether to take a case to court-martial or grant an administrative separation.

It is possible, however, to pursue a sexual assault case when a victim doesnt want to testify, said Liz Boyce, general counsel and director of policy and legal at the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault. In the civilian system, she said, prosecutors commonly offer plea deals in such cases. The key is ensuring the victim is consulted about that decision, she said.

But discharges in lieu of trial are not plea bargains, so there is no conviction on a persons record. The local district attorney in Anchorage could have considered pursuing charges against Thomas, under an agreement with the military, but its not clear if the Army shared information about his case.

Boyce said deciding not to pursue any possible legal punishment is dangerous, frankly.

Theyre not going to have any kind of repercussions the way a guilty verdict would have, the way a felony is going to follow you, Boyce said.

Moving Forward

After six years and a lot of therapy, Hope says she wishes shed chosen a different course.

She believes administrative separation was a Band-Aid for her case. If I could go back now and know what I know now, no, hell no, I would have taken it to court, she said.

For her part, Short wishes the Army had done more. She continues to wonder why military officials didnt take Vallo to trial when his wife accused him of assault.

Vallo always gave her different explanations for why he was discharged from the Army, Short said. There was no easy way for her to access any documentation about that decision. Its not anywhere online.

It kind of blows my mind that they just kicked him out. And then didnt proceed to press any charges, Short said. Thats insane to me. Theyre enabling people to keep acting this way.

Data Explained Source

Editors Note: ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as theyre published.

This article is co-published with The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan local newsroom that informs and engages with Texans, and with Military Times, an independent news organization reporting on issues important to the U.S. military. Sign up for newsletters from The Texas Tribune and Military Times.
Daniel Perry walks into the courtroom moments before he was convicted of murder in the July 2020 shooting death of Garrett Foster at a Black Lives Matter protest (via REUTERS)

When does self-defence end and aggression begin? Does the right to bear arms apply to everyone, or just certain kinds of people in certain kinds of situations? Is a liberal protesters life as much as a conservative Army veterans? Who controls the local justice system?

These are some of the questions being raised by the case of Daniel Perry, a US Army sergeant who was found guilty on Friday of murdering Black Lives Matter demonstrator Garrett Foster, who was also armed, during 2020 racial justice protests in Austin.

Normally, a jury verdict, like the unanimous one in Austin on Friday, would be the end of things, but conservatives are pressuring Texas governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, to give Perry, 37, an unprecedented criminal pardon.

By all indications, Mr Abbott is ready to offer him one.

The governor wrote in a statement on Saturday he would sign off on a pardon, which first needs to be recommended by a state board, as soon as it hits my desk, praising Texas for having one of the strongest Stand Your Ground laws of self-defence that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney.

The proposal has been harshly criticised by some.

Austin-based state senator Sarah Eckhardt told the Texas Tribune a pardon would be a stunning and dangerous abrogation of the rule of law that will embolden more armed confrontations and inevitable tragedies.

Travis County district attorney Jose Garza, whose office prosecuted Perry, called the pardon promise deeply troubling.

In our legal system, a jury that gets to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent  not the Governor, Mr Garza said in a statement.

I might have to kill a few people on my way to work

On 25 July, 2020, Perry was working as an Uber driver in Austin, during a summer filled with numerous racial justice protests across US cities following the murder of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis smothered to death by police officers who knelt on his neck.

Story continues

Booking photograph of Daniel Perry (Austin Police Department)

The month prior, Perry wrote on social media, I might have to kill a few people on my way to work, they are rioting outside my apartment complex.

Can you legally do so? a friend responded, according to evidence presented in court.

If they attack me or try to pull me out of my car then yes, the Army sergeant said.

On the night of 25 July, Perry, who admitted he had been texting and driving distractedly, ran a red light and drove into the thick of a crowd of Black Lives Matter demonstrators, nearly hitting Whitney Mitchell, a quadruple amputee.

Among the crowd was Mitchells husband, 28-year-old Garrett Foster, an Air Force veteran, who was openly and legally carrying an AK-47 rifle.

Witnesses say Foster, who was white, gestured with his gun for the Uber driver to move on.

According to video shown to the jury, Perry told police in a later interview, "I believe he was going to aim at me. I didnt want to give him a chance to aim at me.

Shaky video of the moment, captured by journalist Hiram Gilberto, shows the car in a crowd of people. Honking can heard. Someone nearby says, Everybody back up, then shots from Perrys .357 revolver ring out, as protesters scream and scatter.

Foster was killed.

Perry fled the scene, then reported the incident to police, saying he shot in self-defence after a weapon was pointed at him, according to the Texas Tribune.

We will show them why we say dont mess with Texas

Perrys trial lasted two weeks, and jurors deliberated for 17 hours before reaching their verdict. The man could face up to life in prison at his sentencing, which might happen as soon as next week.

At trial, Perry, who is also white, claimed he was acting in self-defence.

The Army sergeant didnt testify during the trial, but his attorneys vowed to keep fighting his case.

He is devastated, his lawyer, Doug OConnell, said in a statement after the conviction. He spoke to me about his fears that he will never get to hug his Mother again. Hes also crushed that this conviction will end his Army service; he loves being a Soldier.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, argued Perry was out looking for confrontation. In addition to the June messages raised at trial, local reporting has uncovered other statements that seem to capture the sergeant talking about aggression.

In June 2020, then-president Donald Trump tweeted that protesters, anarchists, agitators, looters or lowlifes in Oklahoma wouldnt get the same kind of sympathy theyd find in more liberal states, and Perry responded with a tweet that read send them to Texas we will show them why we say dont mess with Texas.

But the decision by the jury wasnt the end of the case.

Police at the scene of the shooting (stephenspillman@me.com Stephen Spillman)

Conservative figures quickly latched onto Perrys story, lobbying for Governor Abbott to pardon him.

Kyle Rittenhouse, who became a right-wing influencer after shooting three people during a confrontation at a 2020 racial justice protest in Wisconsin, claimed Perry did nothing wrong.

We must hold these one sided prosecutors accountable, Mr Rittenhouse said, linking to an affidavit from a detective who claimed the case suffered from witness tampering.

(A judge dismissed those claims in 2021.)

On Fox News, Tucker Carlson railed against Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, who has received money from a George Soros-backed PAC, calling the conviction a legal atrocity.

Because in Austin, Texas, the justice system is overseen by a Soros funded DA, Perry was charged with murder for defending himself, the host said. It means that in the state of Texas, if you have the wrong politics, youre not allowed to defend yourself. 

This was clearly premeditated

Others argued the exact opposite of Carlson, that Garrett Foster was legally exercising his right to defend himself, and that Perry may be able to escape punishment for violating it.

This was clearly premeditated, his brother Ryan told the Austin Statesman. He (Perry) thought a lot about it and planned on doing it. ... He wanted to kill a protester and saw somebody exercising their Second Amendment right.

Critics said a pardon could set the wrong example.

Not only is this a not particularly sympathetic defendant, but the pardon sends a terrible message, Atlanta-based attorney Andrew Flesichman wrote in an opinion piece in the The Daily Beast. Provoking a fight to kill someone is ok, the pardon will, say, if the right kind of person is killed.

Soros prosecutors are evil

The debate over Perrys case is part of a larger push in Texas to limit the power of locally-elected prosecutors.

As part of Governor Abbotts message about the pardon, he made sure to mention his intention of reining in rogue District Attorneys, and the Texas Legislature is working on laws to achieve that goal.

On Wednesday, a bill passed the state senate, which would limit the ability of prosecutors to exercise discretion and avoid pursuing certain cases. Some local officials in liberal cities have indicated a willingness to avoid prosecuting violations of Texass near-total abortion ban or often dubious allegations of election fraud.

Its part of a larger narrative on the right criticising liberals for having political donors attempt to influence the justice system.

Conservative activist Mike Davis, for example, referred in a recent tweet to prosecutors elected with PAC money tied to George Soros as evil, subversive, dangerous Marxists who are cancerous tumors in states.

Of course, mingling money and judicial power is a feature across the political spectrum beyond Soros, including the Federalist Societys deep influence in remaking the federal judiciary and Supreme Court into a bastion of hard-right conservatism, or recent allegations that billionaire and GOP Harlan Crow lavished Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with luxury vacations.

Perry, if the Texas parole board recommends a pardon, could walk free in a matter of days, but the debate around guns, self-defence, and what justice means when these things collide, isnt going anywhere.
[Source]

A man has been arrested in connection to a brazen robbery attempt that left a Filipino American photojournalist and his wife seriously injured in Sacramento, California.

The suspect, identified as Keylen Xavier Lee Farley, was arraigned last month following an investigation that led to his arrest and the subsequent filing of felony charges by Deputy District Attorney Casey Newton, according to Rappler.

Farley, who is currently detained at the Sacramento County Main Jail, was charged with three felony counts by the Sacramento District Attorney: two counts for robbery of the second degree and aggravated assault and a third count for elder abuse.

He is set to face his victims, Nicanor Arriola, the president of the Asian American Press Club of the U.S., and his wife Julienne Ochengco in a scheduled mandatory settlement of the case on Monday.

More from NextShark: Tokyo Olympic organizing committee reminds athletes 'medals are not edible!'

On Feb. 1, Farley allegedly attempted to steal Arriolas professional camera while he and his wife were strolling around the Sacramento state capitol in broad daylight.

The couple, who were visiting family just outside of Sacramento, were taking photographs when Farley approached Arriola and tried to grab the camera from his left shoulder.

Arriola, who was wearing his press badge and had two large cameras on his shoulders, was knocked to the ground when he resisted.

More from NextShark: Meet the first woman set to cross Antarctica on her own

A witness at the scene was able to capture a video of the incident, which took place at around 2:45 p.m.

In the video, which was shared with the SoJannelleTV YouTube channel, Farley can be seen dragging Arriola on the pavement and kicking him on the chest multiple times as he was on the ground.

Ochengco was also reportedly thrown to the floor as she tried to restrain the man from attacking her husband.

More from NextShark: Second black box, handwritten note found among wreckage of China flight MU5735

Throughout the incident, Arriola refused to give up his camera, later explaining the importance of the footage he had collected as part of his journalism work in an interview with host Janelle So of SoJannelleTV.

Story continues

The suspect fled in a getaway car, which was driven by another person that police have yet to identify.

The victims were taken to the University of California Davis Medical Center, where Arriola was treated for six broken ribs resulting from the incident.

More from NextShark: Asian Seniors Find Their Cars Burned to a Crisp in Oakland

Arriola also suffered multiple abrasions all over his body. He and his wife, who suffered minor injuries, were hospitalized for several days before they were allowed to recover at home. The couple has reportedly traveled back to Carson in Southern California despite not having fully recovered.

Im trying to recover, slowly. Im still in pain. But I feel a little better now, Arriola told So Jannelle TV. Its difficult trying to go to bed since I broke six ribs. Its hard to go up. When I go to the bathroom at night it takes time figuring out how I can go back to bed.

The couple has not returned to work. Ochengco reportedly has difficulty sleeping at night due to the traumatic experience.

Arriola, who had been covering the rise of anti-Asian attacks in California as a photojournalist, believes that the incident was a targeted hate crime.

I really feel its Asian hate because they picked us out of the many tourists in there and were the only Asians there, he told Rappler.

However, Neil Frank Ferrer, the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, said that there was insufficient evidence to establish a hate crime under the standard proof required in criminal cases.

Following the incident, the Asian American Press Club of the U.S. issued a statement condemning the attack.

We, the (members of the) Asian American Press Club of the U.S. condemn the wrong that had been done to one of our own AAPCUS family member, our president Nicanor Nikki Arriola and his wife. The initial premise is that the perpetrator was after his camera equipment. As we all know, Nikkis camera represents his profession, personhood and his livelihood. He did what any human being would have done. He protected his prized possession with his life. We solidly stand behind Nikki Arriola and will do all we can to give him the justice he deserves.

Arriola, who is grateful that no one died in the attack, has received comfort and support from his community.

Your presence is big enough to heal our pain, Arriola said.The physical pain will heal but the trauma from the experiencethats a difficult one.
The Station is a weekly newsletter dedicated to all things transportation. Sign up here  just click The Station  to receive the full edition of the newsletter every weekend in your inbox. Subscribe for free.

Welcome back to The Station, your central hub for all past, present and future means of moving people and packages from Point A to Point B.

Welp, in case you missed it TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 will have a whole new look this fall with one aim in mind: bringing together investors, founders and technologists who have specific industry interests  all under one roof at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. And we're putting together a sustainability track that will cover climate tech, transportation, agriculture, fashion and cities. Disrupt isn't until September, but, yup, we're already working on it!

Meanwhile, in recent (as in days old) history, the New York International Auto Show came and went. The vehicle reveals, news and crowds weren't particularly splashy. But there were some trends and reveals worth noting.

Our big takeaway? Electric vehicles, trucks, SUVs and EV charging were hallmarks of this years New York International Auto Show, and the message is clear: The auto industry is racing toward zero-emission vehicles, but it wont sacrifice the big, plush, expensive vehicles consumers love (and spend huge sums of money on) in the process.

Speaking of BIG, the 2025 all-electric Ram 1500 REV, which debuted IRL in New York, has an optional 229 kilowatt-hour battery for a targeted 500 miles of range. For those who might be unfamiliar, the size of that battery pack is absolutely bananas. For comparison, the Hummer EV pickup has a 212.7 kWh battery that weighs the same as a small sedan. Battery pack size does not necessarily translate to range. Efficiency matters!

Other highlights:

- For SUVs and EVs, subtlety is out and plundering nature is in

- Everything that stood out to us at the New York International Auto Show

- The Kia EV9's real killer app could be its software

- Jeep is adding an even cheaper plug-in hybrid to its 4xe lineup

- The 2024 Hyundai Kona will be one of the most affordable cars with over-the-air updates

Story continues

Want to reach out with a tip, comment or complaint? Email me at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com. You also can send a direct message to @kirstenkorosec.

Reminder that you can drop us a note at tips@techcrunch.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and various encrypted messaging apps.

Micromobbin'

the station scooter1a

The micromobility world's big news this week was in Paris, where residents voted on whether or not to ban shared e-scooters, and the result was a resounding: Yes, get rid of them! Sort of.

Only 7.5% of the city's eligible voting population turned up to vote, and Parisians reported seeing many older folks at the polls. It's hard to say whether the outcome of the referendum actually reflects the will of the people (especially when we consider how popular e-scooters are in the city), but that doesn't seem to matter. Dott, Lime and Tier will have to remove their scooters from the streets by September 1.

Sources familiar with the matter told TechCrunch the move was largely political. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo had initially welcomed e-scooters to the city in 2018, alongside a number of other green transportation initiatives that undoubtedly angered the city's more conservative residents and politicians.

However, it's not clear that scooters were actually doing the job of getting people out of cars. In fact, according to a number of studies I've reviewed, people were more likely to replace public transit and walking with scooters.

Will this be the end of micromobility in Paris? Sacre bleu! Of course not! Personal e-scooters are not affected by the ban, largely because one of the main issues with shared scooters was clutter. In fact, Pure Electric, a scooter retailer, expects sales in Paris to increase 200%.

In other news ...

Bird updated some of its tech solutions to become a more attractive city partner. For example, the company is expanding its integration with Google Maps across Canada and Europe. Bird has also added rider age verification and has begun testing camera-equipped e-scooters with computer vision technology to detect sidewalk riding, parking and lanes.

New York City delivery workers agree with new guidelines that ensures people are buying scooters with high-quality batteries in order to prevent fires. But they say the legislation needs to be paired with better support from the government. Los Deliveristas Unidos, a collective of food delivery workers, proposed that the city issue a mandated "safety surcharge" tax on delivery app companies that would create a fund to help workers purchase certified batteries.

Niu's KQi3 Max e-scooter is a fun, powerful ride, but .... Check out my review on why this scooter isn't the best choice for urban use.

Tenways is bringing its ultra-light urban bike to the U.S. after seeing success in Europe. The company currently offers three models. The CGO600 for $1,799 has a max speed of 16 miles per hour, a range of 43 miles and only weighs 33 lbs. Next up is the CGO600 PRO for $1,899, with a top speed of 20 mph, 53-mile range and weight of 41 lbs. Finally, the CGO800S for $1,999 weighs 51 lbs, can go up to 53 miles and has a top speed of 20 mph.

Uber is now offering Tembici bike-share services on its app in Latin America. Users will be able to book a Tembici bike directly through the Uber app starting first in Recife, Brazil, and then expanding to Brasilia, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo, before launching in other LATAM cities.

Unagi has launched its newest scooter, the Voyager, for $1,190 to buy or $69 per month to rent. The Voyager boasts 12 to 25 miles of range, a three-hour charge time, 1000W of power and a weight of 29.6 pounds. The Voyager also comes with Unagi's mobile app, which helps users calculate remaining range and customizing based on rider weight and terrain. It's also a good place to remote lock/unlock the scooter and to manage subscriptions.

Vanmoof has had a rough time of it, despite its popularity. The company has experienced funding shortages and challenges scaling, but Vanmoof is working on being EBITDA positive in 2024. How? Raising new funds and increasing the price of its e-bikes.

 Rebecca Bellan

Deal of the week

money the station

Folks, the world is a nutty place! Exhibit A: The troubled EV startup Arrival that went public in 2021 via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company agreed to merge with an entirely different SPAC called Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp. V.

Yes, that's right. The double SPAC  or reSPAC  has emerged yet again. Back in January when British automotive data exchange platform Wejo announced a double SPAC, I predicted that other companies would try this same tactic.

Bingo! What do I win?

Other deals that got my attention ...

4.screen, the Munich-based startup that developed a driver interactive platform, raised 21 million ($23.1 million) in a Series A funding round led by S4S Ventures and Continental VC. The company, co-founded in 2020 by three ex-BMW digital product specialists, has created a product that lets brands interact with drivers in real time via their car screens.

CarmaCare, a subscription service focused on car repair and maintenance, disclosed that it raised $4.5 million at the end of 2022. The startup, founded in 2021 by AutoFi founder Jonathan Palan, also announced a new CEO. Jamie Ahern, who was previously with LearnVest and former chief operating officer of Kin Insurance, was named to the top spot.

FlyBy Robotics, a drone automation and delivery company, raised $4 million in a pre-seed funding round led by MaC Venture Capital, with participation from Anthemis, Evening Fund and Weekend Fund. Other investors include AngelList co-founder Naval Ravikant, Coinbase's former CTO Balaji Srinivasan, Karen Pritzker, Gaingels, Product Hunt founder Ryan Hoover and Cliff Sirlin, who is the managing director at LaunchCapital.

Magenta Mobility, the Indian electric mobility startup, raised $22 million in a Series A1 round that is comprised of $11 million each from Morgan Stanley India Infrastructure and BP Ventures. Magenta will use the all-equity investment to boost its existing logistics and last-mile delivery fleet operations.

ReCharge Industries' deal to buy bankrupt battery maker BritishVolt and its land is at risk of falling apart.

Shuttlers, a Nigerian shared mobility company, raised $4 million in a new funding round led by Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures (VKAV), a pan-African-focused venture capital firm. Follow-on investors included VestedWorld, which led the mobility startup's $1.6 million round 18 months ago. ShEquity, CMC 21 & Alsa and EchoVC also participated.

X Shore, the Swedish maker of electric-powered boats, raised 26.5 million ($29.1 million) in a round led by the investment arm of Swedish Bank SEB.

Notable reads and other tidbits

Autonomous vehicles

Cruise filed with federal regulators a voluntary recall to update the software in 300 robotaxis after one struck the back of a city bus in San Francisco. Cruise said that it initiated the recall because in rare circumstances the software could inaccurately predict the movement of articulated vehicles.

Kodiak Robotics introduced its fifth-generation autonomous truck hardware platform, which it says increases sensor redundancy and GPU processing power. Kodiak also said it removed the roof-mounted "center pod" sensor suite and relocated the front-facing Luminar Iris lidar.

Zoox designed a whole suite of sounds for its robotaxis.

Electric vehicles, charging & batteries

BrightDrop, the electric delivery van subsidiary of General Motors, has signed on supply chain logistics company Ryder as a new customer. Ryder plans to add 4,000 BrightDrop EVs to their rental and lease fleet through 2025.

FreeWire Technologies, the EV charging and energy management solutions, has expanded and opened a European headquarters in Banbury, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

Kia unveiled its roadmap at its 2023 CEO Investor Day and said it aims to reach KRW 160 trillion ($122 billion) in gross revenue by 2030. The company said it will invest KRW 32 trillion ($24 million) into its electrification strategy, with 45% of that money dedicated to future business areas.

Ohio's job market is being reshaped by electric cars via NYT.

Redwood Materials is expanding a partnership with Volkswagen of America to collect more end-of-life batteries from consumer electronics and strip out the valuable materials so they can be used to make batteries for electric vehicles. Under the deal, bins will be set up at VW dealerships throughout the United States.

Rivian produced 9,395 vehicles at its factory in Normal, Illinois in the first quarter, lower than the previous period but still on track to hit its 50,000 production goal for the year.

Tesla tripled its workforce last year at its 2,500-acre manufacturing hub in Austin, Texas, according to the companys annual compliance report filed with county officials.

Future of flight

Volocopter opened its production facilities in Bruchsal, Germany. The company plans to build its electric air taxis there and offer commercial services starting next year.

Ride-hailing

Lyft is relaunching a service called Lyft Green that will allow riders to request an electric or hybrid vehicle for their next pickup. The service will initially only be available to business travelers in select cities when it begins April 17.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi drove for the ride-hailing and delivery app he runs and learned that drivers' complaints were valid. The internal campaign, dubbed Project Boomerang, was launched to better understand Uber's problem recruiting and keeping drivers. His experience helped shape what has become one of the biggest makeovers of the business since its inception in 2009, per WSJ.

People

Jiajia Wu was named interim CFO of Hyzon Motors. Wu previously served as the global director of cost and technical accounting and reporting at UL Solutions. Hyzon also named Pat Griffin, formerly president of Vehicle Operations, as president of its North America business.

Owen Diaz, the Black former elevator operator at Tesla's Fremont factory, has seen his payout in a racial bias lawsuit slashed from $15 million to $3.2 million.

Tesla has nominated JB Straubel, the companys former CTO who is now running his own startup Redwood Materials, as its next independent board member. Meanwhile, Tom Zhu, the executive behind Teslas rise in China, has quickly climbed through the companys corporate ladder in recent years. Zhu is now senior vice president of Teslas automotive unit, according to a regulatory filing.

Speaking of Tesla, a recent Reuters report revealed that between 2019 and 2022, groups of Tesla employees privately shared via an internal messaging system invasive videos and images recorded by customers' car cameras.
This combination of photos shows former president Donald Trump during rally at the Minden Tahoe Airport in Minden, Nevada, 8 October 2022, left, and Elon Musk in Wilmington, Delaware, 12 July 2021 (AP)

An Indian artist used artificial intelligence to create portraits of famous billionaires  from Elon Musk to Mukesh Ambani  imagining the worlds wealthiest people as poor.

Digital artist Gokul Pillai used artificial intelligence programme Midjourney to create portraits of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Mukesh Ambani as slumdog billionaires.

His portrayal of the Microsoft co-founder as a lanky old man standing bare-chested outside a shanty, wearing nothing but a grey colored loin cloth, was liked over 10,000 times.

Indian billionaire Ambani, in this alternative reality, is not dressed in his tweed suit but instead wearing an old, seemingly unwashed and oversized T-shirt and blue trousers, as he stood next to a garbage dump.

His post also featured the AI-generated image of Meta chief Zuckerberg in a dusty T-shirt and blue shorts standing in the middle of a slum, while American businessman Buffet is seen wearing a slightly dirty white T-shirt tucked into unzipped trousers.

This is epic, wrote a user.

Warren Buffet is looking rich here as well, said another.

Earlier this month, AI-generated images of Mr Zuckerberg walking the ramp in flashy Louis Vuitton clothes, flooded social media.

In March, AI enthusiast Jyo John Mulloor posted a series of images on Instagram portraying Game of Thrones characters Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, and Arya Stark in royal Indian attire.

"If George RR Martin has hired an Indian costume designer for Game of Thrones (sic)," he captioned.

An AI-generated image of Pope Francis looking stylish in a large white puffer coat also went viral on social media earlier last month, leaving viewers shocked.

Story continues

Many social media users, including model Chrissy Teigen, expressed confusion over whether or not the fashionable photograph was real.

I thought the Popes puffer jacket was real and didnt give it a second thought. No way am I surviving the future of technology, wrote Teigen.

Another AI-generated image showing Mr Trump wearing an orange prison jumpsuit went viral amid the 34 felony charges brought against him for allegedly falsifying business records related to hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the run up to the 2016 presidential elections.

Fake images have sparked concern among lawmakers and experts who fear it could spread harmful disinformation.
Atlanta-based Delta Airlines recently celebrated its most traveled customer, who has traveled millions of miles on the airline.

A customer, who the airline identified as Todd. O, has traveled 14,000,000 miles.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

He officially reached this milestone on a March 6 flight from Zurich, Switzerland to New York, which happened to be on his birthday.

He was surprised with a custom birthday cake from the flight attendants, who wished him both a happy birthday and congratulations on becoming the first Delta passenger to reach 14 million miles.

TRENDING STORIES:

When his plane landed at JFK, Delta officials were ready to celebrate there, too. He was whisked through customs by Deltas Elite Services, then brought to the Delta Sky Club where he was greeted with more birthday wishes, congratulations and appreciation.

Upon receiving the recognition, Todd said he would call the feat more of a milestone than an accomplishment.

The only thing I do is sit in a seat! he said.

Todd said he always prefers sitting in the window seat.

I love seeing the world from above, he said.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza hit back at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over the weekend, saying it is "deeply troubling" that the governor wants to pardon Sgt. Daniel Perry after he was convicted of murder for shooting and killing a Black Lives Matter protester during the violent 2020 riots.

Perry was found guilty on Friday of murdering Garrett Foster, an Air Force veteran who was carrying an AK-47 during a protest in downtown Austin in July 2020. Attorneys for Perry argued that he acted in self-defense after Foster raised the rifle at him, while prosecutors alleged that Perry instigated the shooting.

"In this case, a jury of twelve listened to testimony for nearly two weeks, upending their lives to painstakingly evaluate the evidence and arguments presented by both the State and the Defense. After hearing from civilian eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, and deliberating for over fifteen hours, they reached the unanimous decision that Daniel Perry did not kill Garrett Foster in self-defense and was guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt," Garza said in a statement on Sunday.

"In our legal system a jury that gets to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent - not the Governor."

Sgt. Daniel Perry was found guilty of murder on Friday for shooting and killing a Black Lives Matter protester in downtown Austin on July 25, 2020.

Garza's statement came after Gov. Abbott criticized the conviction, saying that he has already asked the Board of Pardons and Paroles to review Perry's case and determine whether he should be granted a pardon.

"Texas has one of the strongest Stand Your Ground laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney," Abbott said in a statement on Saturday. "I look forward to approving the Board's pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Whitney Mitchell, Foster's fiancee, told the Austin American-Statesman that she "felt some sense of justice and relief when the jury rendered its verdict."

"But the governor has immediately taken that away since he announced there are two legal systems in Texas: one for those with power, like Mr. Perry, and one for everyone else," Mitchell told the local newspaper. "I hope the governor never again claims that he stands for victims' rights."

Story continues

FAMILY OF TEXAS BLM PROTESTER KILLED BY ARMY SERGEANT SUES SHOOTER, UBER

Perry was working as an Uber driver on July 25, 2020, when he encountered a large Black Lives Matter demonstration in downtown Austin. He told police that a group of protesters encircled his vehicle and that Foster raised the AK-47, prompting him to open fire with a handgun in self-defense.

Perry drove away from the scene and called police before being released that night. One year later in July 2021, a jury indicted Perry for murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Detective David Fugitt, who has since retired after a three-decade career with Austin police, interviewed Perry on the night of the shooting and was the lead investigator on the case. After the grand jury indicted Perry for murder, Fuggit said in a sworn affidavit that Garza's office forced him to remove exculpatory evidence from his presentation to the grand jury.

"It became clear to me that the District Attorneys Office did not want to present evidence to the grand jury that would be exculpatory to Daniel Perry and/or to show that witness statements obtained by the family of Garrett Foster and/or their attorneys were inconsistent with prior interviews such witnesses gave the police and/or the video of the incident in question," Fugitt wrote in the affidavit, which was later dismissed by a judge.

Fugitt was called as a witness this week by Perry's defense team and testified that he did not arrest Perry on the night of the shooting because he thought there was a legitimate argument for self-defense.

Garrett Foster, left, was shot and killed while attending a Black Lives Matter protest with an AK-47 in downtown Austin.

He also said in court that there was no evidence Perry accelerated into the crowd, and that Foster's gunshot wounds indicate he was in a bladed tactical stance when he approached Perry's door, according to Fox 7 Austin.

GOFUNDME REMOVES PAGE SUPPORTING ARMY SERGEANT WHO SHOT AND KILLED ARMED BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTER

Prosecutors keyed in on past messages and social media posts by Perry before the shooting to demonstrate his state of mind. On May 31, 2020, two months before the shooting, Perry sent a message that said, "I might have to kill a few people on my way to work they are rioting outside my apartment complex." Other messages included, "I might go to Dallas to shoot looters," and, "I only shoot the ones in front and push the pedal to the metal," according to Fox 7 Austin.

Perry faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced. Garza said Sunday that the judge "will be able to consider and evaluate additional evidence" during the sentencing hearing.

District Attorney Jose Garza in Austin on Nov. 18, 2021.

Abbott, meanwhile, said he has "prioritized reining in rogue District Attorneys, and the Texas Legislature is working on laws to achieve that goal." Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also lashed out at Garza after the conviction.

"This week has shown us how rogue prosecutors have weaponized the judicial system," Paxton said. "They must be stopped!"

Garza, who is supported by funding from leftwing billionaire George Soros, was first elected in 2020 and faces reelection next year, has been condemned for what critics say are soft-on-crime policies.

An investigation by local news outlet KVUE in 2021 found that Garza's office had dismissed dozens of felony cases for serious crimes, including aggravated robbery and assault of a pregnant woman.

Fox News Digital's Kyle Morris and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
Authorities have identified the woman who was struck and killed by a car in Salem on Sunday night.

Officers responding to a report of a crash involving a pedestrian in the area of Jefferson Avenue and Willson Street just before 8:30 p.m. found a woman suffering from life-threatening injuries, according to the Salem Police Department.

The woman, 41-year-old Tammi Lyn Guy, later died at North Shore Medical Center.

The driver of the vehicle involved in the crash stayed on the scene. Its not clear if they will face charges.

State police detectives are assisting Salem police with an investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The bodies of a Kansas City father and son who disappeared more than three weeks ago while kayaking in Arkansas were found Easter weekend, authorities said.

The remains of Chuck Morris, 47, and his son Charley, 20, were found 24 days after the men went missing at Beaver Lake in Arkansas, The Benton County Sheriffs Office said in a news release Sunday.

Our family was informed by the Benton County Sheriffs Office that Charley Morris has been found. We have concluded the cause of his death was drowning, the family wrote in a statement Sunday on GoFundMe, before the sheriffs office also announced Chucks body had also been found.

On Saturday, authorities said, Christian Aid Ministries Search and Rescue Team based out of Tennessee helped authorities search areas of the lake that were deeper than 180 feet, helping to ultimately find the mens bodies.

A weeks-long search

Chuck and Charley disappeared just two days into their familys spring break trip, after heading out to kayak ahead of a storm.

The search began March 16 in the area of S. Lost Bridge Village of Beaver Lake. After five days of rescue operations, the search effort became a recovery operation.

The weather and other elements created a perfect storm on the lake, and in the lake, that was unsurvivable, the family said in a statement shortly after their disappearance. The community, authorities, and organizations that specialize in finding loved ones are continuing recovery efforts to bring Chuck and Charley home.

The GoFundMe was started to help Chuck Morris wife and Charleys mother Jennifer Thompson pay for search efforts, therapy and possible funeral services. As of Sunday, its raised nearly $195,000.

The surviving members of Lotus, Chucks electronic jam band, are planning a benefit concert for the Morris Family.

While we are deeply grieving, the band wrote in the days after the mens disappearance, we plan to celebrate Chuck and Charleys lives, our memories with them, and what they meant to so many people. Thank you to all who have reached out with fond words, stories, emotional and financial support.

Story continues

The Morris family moved to Kansas City from Denver in August. Their trip to Arkansas was an opportunity to reconnect as a family while Charley, a student at Ohio Wesleyan University, was on spring break.

In the days after their disappearance, Jennifer Thompson, Chucks wife and Charleys mother, described her husband as a loving father and partner, and her son as a great friend who always believed in doing whats right, even if it didnt come with a reward.

Our heart goes out the family of Chuck and Charley Morris and we are thankful today that we can help bring closure, the sheriffs office wrote in a Facebook post Sunday.

The sheriffs office had assistance from agencies and volunteers as far away as Tennessee, Illinois, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
JACKSONVILLE, Ark.  After a tornado destroyed the New Commandment Church of God in Christ (COGIC) near Little Rock, the congregation still held services on Sunday to celebrate Easter.

A deadly tornado ripped through the Little Rock area more than a week ago. The National Weather Service gave the tornado a preliminary rating of EF-3 with maximum winds of 165 mph.

"It's been a very trying time," said Eddie Miller, pastor at the New Commandment COGIC. "We have been through a lot, the members have been through a lot, the community have been through a lot, but we have banded together."

A choir sings in front of New Commandment Church of God in Christ in Jacksonville, Arkansas. April 2023.

Located in the town of Jacksonville, the New Commandment COGIC has been holding services since Palm Sunday, with folding chairs for the congregation set up by the parking lot and a choir sing on the churchs concrete steps.

SAMARITAN'S PURSE ASSISTING HOMEOWNERS AFTER VIOLENT LITTLE ROCK TORNADO

"Our church is still standing strong in the community because our church is a light to this community, and we dare not be somewhere else," Miller said.

He added that people who dont typically attend the Arkansas church even came out to be a part of the services.

The front of New Commandment Church of God in Christ in Jacksonville, Arkansas. April 2023.

For those looking to support the churchs rebuilding efforts, Miller recommended that donations be made either through the churchs CashApp account "$NewCommandment" or through the churchs Facebook page.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

"We want them to know this church is going to stand strong in the midst of this turmoil," Miller said. "We will get through that because we'll continue to serve and do the things we've been doing."
Policies needed to boost production linkage, localisation rate: insiders

Policies are needed to boost the number of domestic enterprises participating in the supply chain of multinational companies, and a boost is necessary in the localisation rate of the processing and manufacturing industry, which now remain modest, insiders said.













Illustrative photo (Source: vneconomy.vn)



According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), local industry led in attracting foreign investment last year, with a combined registered capital exceeding 14.96 billion USD and accounting for 59.5% of Vietnams total FDI. So far, 107 countries and territories have invested in the industrial sector.



Deputy head of the MoITs Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency Le Hoang Tai called processing and manufacturing a magnet to foreign investors, including multinational conglomerates like Samsung, Toyota, Honda, and LG. The sectors key units, such as telecommunications, electronics-IT, steel and cement production, and garment-textiles, are the most attractive, he noted.



However, just over 300 Vietnamese enterprises have been able to participate in the supply chains of these multinational corporations.



Vice Chairwoman and Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Supporting Industries (VASI) Truong Thi Chi Binh said connecting with multinational companies is the shortest way for Vietnamese enterprises to participate in the global supply chain, but not many of them succeed.



According to a VASI study, support activities have only successfully linked about 3.2 enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City and 2.7 in Hanoi to foreign businesses on an annual basis.



The reason behind the assessment is the small scale of Vietnamese firms, as well as low competitiveness, and shortage of financial resources. These shortcomings conspire to cause Vietnamese firms to be unable to meet requirements of giant partners. Vietnam currently houses approximately 500 companies capable of supplying foreign groups.



Binh said the key for Vietnamese supporting enterprises to develop and participate more deeply in the chain of super-manufacturers is to cut production costs.



They need better access to credit, land, production premises, and factory building procedures, she said, adding that it is also necessary to increase their size and form clusters of enterprises and ecosystems serving the production of complete assemblies.



The official also recommended promoting localisation by preferential policies on tax, labour, and research and development (R&D)./
This photo taken on April 9, 2023 shows the signing ceremony of Tesla Megafactory Shanghai project held in east China's Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]



U.S. carmaker Tesla Inc. on Sunday announced that it will build a new mega factory in Shanghai, which will be dedicated to manufacturing the company's energy-storage product Megapack.

The new plant is scheduled to break ground in the third quarter of the year and start production in the second quarter of 2024, Tesla said at the project's signing ceremony in Shanghai.

The factory will initially produce 10,000 Megapack units every year, equal to approximately 40 GWh of energy storage. The products will be sold worldwide.

Megapack is a powerful battery that provides energy storage and support, helping to stabilize the grid and prevent outages, information on Tesla's website shows.

The company's new plant will be located in the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

Zhuang Mudi, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai municipal government, said the project will help drive the development of the new energy-storage industry, as well as the green and low-carbon transformation of Shanghai.

In January 2019, Tesla broke ground on its Shanghai Gigafactory, becoming the first to benefit from a new policy allowing foreign carmakers to establish wholly owned subsidiaries in China.

It is Tesla's first Gigafactory outside the United States, and the plant delivered 710,000 vehicles in 2022, an increase of 48 percent from 2021. It has become Tesla's primary vehicle export hub, with electric cars selling well in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and other regions.

Thanks to the excellent business environment in Shanghai and the Lin-gang Special Area, the Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory has an industrial chain localization rate of more than 95 percent, said Tao Lin, vice president of Tesla.

Tesla's decision to build the new mega plant in Shanghai is a positive signal demonstrating foreign enterprises' confidence in the Chinese economy as it bounces back from COVID and presses ahead to maintain steady and quality growth.

China has reiterated its commitment to opening-up in recent weeks at different events, expressing a willingness to share the dividends of an ultra-large consumer market with the world and its consistent resolve to boost common development for all.

The country's economic performance has gotten off to a strong start this year, showing robust growth momentum and raising investors' confidence. In the first two months of 2023, foreign direct investment in the Chinese mainland, in actual use, expanded 6.1 percent year on year to 268.44 billion yuan (about 39.07 billion U.S. dollars).

A recent survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in South China also pointed to growing optimism, as over 90 percent of the participating companies consider China to be one of their most important investment destinations, while 75 percent of the surveyed companies said they plan to reinvest in China in 2023.

Since 2019, Tesla has been ramping up investment in the Lin-gang Special Area, expanding the production capacity of its Shanghai Gigafactory and building more facilities, including a supercharger manufacturing factory.

Tesla's new factory is expected to create an industrial cluster worth over 100 billion yuan, said Lu Yu, an official of the Lin-gang Special Area Administration.
Comedian Reg Varney examines a bank note as he officially opens the world's first ATM in June 1967 - Mirrorpix

Just as high street banks and cash machines are being closed across Britain to the despair of customers, one branch is literally being consigned to history - with an extraordinary heritage listing.

Historic England has added a Barclays bank in the London suburb of Enfield to its National Heritage List for England, a unique register of the country's most significant historic buildings and sites, it will be announced today.

The Grade II listing recognises that it was the first bank in the world to be fitted with an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), while also acknowledging the buildings architectural interest.

Although the branch is still trading, its customers may be concerned by a sentence on Historic Englands website about its register, which notes: The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.

As the Telegraph reported in January, Barclays have closed nearly a thousand branches since 2015. Having been a familiar sight on Britains high streets for centuries, it has shut more branches than any other bank.

Last September another report warned that more than 37,000 free-to-use machines were at risk of closure.

The bank, in Enfield, London, was built in 1897 and opened the world's first ATM 70 years later - Chris Redgrave/Historic England Archive

Heritage listing 'ironic'

Simon Fell, the Conservative MP for Barrow and Furness, and co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking, told the Telegraph: We see bank branches closing all around us, so this heritage listing is somewhat ironic. Banks certainly are part of our heritage.

Some of the most beautiful buildings in my own constituency are former banks, now transformed into wine bars and cafes. Regeneration is all well and good, but we need to maintain the link between the high street and access to finance.

He added: Not everyone can go online and deal with an AI chatbot to have their query answered, and certainly people in a rush who are concerned about their mortgages and loans should not have to wait in an endless phone queue to speak to a call centre overseas.

Story continues

Peter Dowd, Labour MP for Bootle and former shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said: Im concerned about bank closures and what banks collectively might do to protect the service on the high street. The heritage listing is recognition of that buildings significance to the community. That is the irony.

Crowds gather to catch a glimpse of the cash machine in action following its grand unveiling - Mirrorpix

The ATM at the bank was officially first opened in 1967 by the comedian Reg Varney. The machine issued a 10-note on receipt of a special paper voucher inserted by the customer.

Although the prototype device has long been removed, a commemorative plaque marks its original location at the site, which is located at 20 The Town in Enfield.

Historic England said: [This was] a major technological development in both banking practice and the general automation within modern society and is of worldwide significance.

The listing also recognises the buildings historic and architectural significance.

William Gilbee Scotts purpose-built bank won an 1896 competition held for the new branch of the London and Provincial Bank, and was once described as an exuberant Flemish Renaissance by architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner.
By Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - "Biden nominee Julie Su wants to turn the lights off" reads a billboard in West Virginia; another in Montana warns that Su, U.S. President Joe Biden's nominee for labor secretary, will turn the state into California; in Arizona, the message is, "Su's gig could be destroying your gig."

In addition to these, newspaper and digital advertisements will start appearing with more frequency in these states as her confirmation hearing date set for April 20 approaches. The White House and the administration have been touting Su's history of fighting for underpaid workers, while industry groups against her policies have begun to aggressively oppose her.

Su, a civil rights lawyer, former California labor commissioner, head of the state's sprawling labor agency and child of Chinese immigrants, needs at least 50 votes in a Senate where Democrats have a slim 51-49 majority.

Support of all Democrats and Independents is not a given, and several industry officials told Reuters they believe Su will have a tough time getting confirmed.

Industry groups are focusing their campaign on Montana, Arizona and West Virginia, as they worry Su would push nationwide policies that are similar to what she oversaw in California where she supported laws such as the one that classified some gig workers as employees, which some businesses claim impacted their ability to rely on freelancers.

White House spokesperson Emilie Simons said the administration is "currently engaged with a broad coalition of supporters on Julie's nomination, including elected officials, labor leaders, key stakeholders, and business groups."

Simons said the White House has received "outspoken support for her nomination since the announcement was made."

Rachel Tripp, a spokesperson for a coalition of lobby groups representing businesses, freelancers and franchisees - called "Stand Against Su" - which was recently formed to oppose her nomination said they are "working to have senators from across the aisle and from every region understand what's at stake here."

Story continues

Crucial senators in Montana, West Virginia and Arizona, who voted for Su to become deputy Labor Secretary in 2021, are on the fence about her confirmation for the top job. All three senators, two Democrats and one Democrat-turned-independent, are up for reelection in 2024.

Their reluctance to back a woman they previously confirmed signals Biden's push to rein in corporate power and push higher wages for workers faces stiff opposition in Congress, even with Democratic control of the chamber.

Biden's nominee to lead the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division failed last year after industry opposition and Democratic defections and his nominee for the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, who called for tougher bank regulation, withdrew in 2021.

When it comes to Su, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia is undecided, while Jon Tester of Montana is reviewing Su's record, his spokesperson said. Senator Kirsten Sinema's aide she never previews her votes.

Billboards, newspaper and digital advertisements are flooding these and other states. Industry groups have written to Biden and lawmakers asking for a review of her record.

"We're not wanting to see California's failures spread to other states, and with somebody at the helm who was the chief enforcer of such policies in California," said Karen Anderson, founder of Freelancers Against AB5, a state law Su championed that extends employee classification status to some gig workers.

The law is tied up in litigation, and it is difficult to assess its economic impact on workers or companies at this time.

Kristin Sharp, chief executive of the Flex Association, a trade group representing rideshare and delivery companies such as Uber and Lyft opposing Su's nomination, said her group's goal is to make sure "lawmakers know we need a labor secretary that embraces the opportunities that technology has unleashed for workers."

WHITE HOUSE, UNIONS PLAN DEFENSE

The Biden administration is preparing for a tough road to confirmation, the sources said. Large labor unions including the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are crafting plans to defend Su, union officials said.

The AFL-CIO will target Montana, West Virginia, Arizona and Maine, communicating support for Su to its members to get them to contact their state senators. In Maine, unions plan to target senators Angus King and Susan Collins.

King voted to confirm Su in 2021. A spokesperson for Maine's Republican Senator Susan Collins said she does not support Su's nomination. She voted no on Su's deputy secretary nomination in 2021, as did all Republicans.

"We knew from the get go that there was going to be a very aggressive campaign run by corporate special interests against her," said Steve Smith, deputy Director of Public Affairs for Political and Organizing at the AFL-CIO.

Corporations are attacking Julie because "she's such a strong advocate for workers and they know that," Smith said.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington, Additional reporting by David Morgan and Rick Cowan in Washington; Editing by Heather Timmons and Josie Kao)
The BBC has objected to being labelled as government-funded media on its main Twitter account.

The outlet reported that while its main account @BBC, which has 2.2m followers, has been given the label, other accounts that have a larger following associated with the BBCs news and sport output are not currently being described in the same way.

The British broadcaster said that it was speaking to the social media giant about the label, to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

The BBC said in a statement: The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee.

In an email response to the broadcaster, Twitter CEO Elon Musk asked: Is the Twitter label accurate?

When asked to clarify his comments in a separate email with the broadcaster, Mr Musk said: We are aiming for maximum transparency and accuracy. Linking to ownership and source of funds probably makes sense. I do think media organizations should be self-aware and not falsely claim the complete absence of bias.

All organizations have bias, some obviously much more than others. I should note that I follow BBC News on Twitter, because I think it is among the least biased.

Britons pay a 159 licence fee each year to fund the corporations output, which is set by the government but paid by individual households.

The BBC operates under the royal charter, which lays out its mission and purpose as well as its governance structure, all of which are independent of the UK government of the day.

It also receives more than 90m per year from the government to support the BBC World Service, which predominantly serves non-UK audiences.

A significant portion of the broadcasters income also comes from selling BBC Studios productions worldwide and through advertising to non-UK viewers and readers.

Twitter describes its government and state-affiliated media account labels on its help page as: Labels on state-affiliated accounts provide additional context about accounts that are controlled by certain official representatives of governments, state-affiliated media entities and individuals associated with those entities.

Story continues

Last week, Twitter had also labelled US broadcaster NPR as state affiliated media which appears on the Twitter page of outlets, including Russias RT and Chinas Xinhua News.

But NPRs label has been changed to government-funded media like the BBCs main Twitter account.

Also last week, Twitter stripped the New York Times of its verified badge after the newspaper said it would not pay for the check mark.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, told Russia's defence minister on Monday that he wanted guarantees that Moscow would defend his country if it was attacked, the state-owned BelTA news agency reported.

BelTA cited Lukashenko as making the remarks to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during a meeting in the Belarusian capital Minsk.

Lukashenko was cited as saying that he had previously discussed the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin who he said had agreed with him that such security guarantees were necessary and needed to be formalised.

"In general, it sounded at the talks (with Putin) that in the case of aggression against Belarus, the Russian Federation would protect Belarus as its own territory. These are the kind of security (guarantees) we need," Lukashenko was quoted as saying.

Belarus, which currently hosts a contingent of Russian forces, has offered assistance to Moscow during its military campaign in Ukraine which Russia calls "a special military operation."

In the war's earliest days, Minsk allowed Moscow to use its territory to launch an ultimately unsuccessful assault on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

Since late last year, a flurry of military drills and visits from high-level Russian officials have sparked speculation that Belarus may formally join a new attack on Ukraine.

Lukashenko has consistently denied such intentions, but has said that Belarus will respond to any incursions onto its territory or attempts to foment unrest.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Andrew Osborn)
Benjamin Ferencz was the last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials. (Armin Weigel/AP)

Ben Ferencz, the last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials, who tried Nazis for genocidal war crimes and was among the first outside witnesses to document the atrocities of Nazi labor and concentration camps, has died at 103.

Ferencz died Friday evening in Boynton Beach, Fla., according to St. John's University law professor John Barrett, who runs a blog about the Nuremberg trials. The death also was confirmed by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.

Today the world lost a leader in the quest for justice for victims of genocide and related crimes, the museum tweeted.

Born in Transylvania in 1920, Ferencz immigrated as a young boy with his parents to New York to escape rampant antisemitism. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Ferencz joined the U.S. Army in time to take part in the Normandy invasion during World War II.

Using his legal background, he became an investigator of Nazi war crimes against U.S. soldiers as part of a new War Crimes Section of the Judge Advocates Office.

When U.S. intelligence reports described soldiers encountering large groups of starving people in Nazi camps watched over by SS guards, Ferencz followed up with visits, first at the Ohrdruf labor camp in Germany and then at the notorious Buchenwald concentration camp.

At those camps and later others, he found bodies piled up like cordwood and helpless skeletons with diarrhea, dysentery, typhus, TB, pneumonia, and other ailments, retching in their louse ridden bunks or on the ground with only their pathetic eyes pleading for help, Ferencz wrote in an account of his life.

The Buchenwald concentration camp was a charnel house of indescribable horrors, Ferencz wrote. There is no doubt that I was indelibly traumatized by my experiences as a war crimes investigator of Nazi extermination centers. I still try not to talk or think about the details.

At one point toward the end of the war, Ferencz was sent to Adolf Hitler's mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps to search for incriminating documents but came back empty-handed.

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After the war, Ferencz was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and returned to New York to begin practicing law. But that was short-lived. Because of his experiences as a war crimes investigator, he was recruited to help prosecute Nazi war criminals at the Nuremberg trials, which had begun under the leadership of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson. Before leaving for Germany, he married his childhood sweetheart, Gertrude.

At the age of 27, with no previous trial experience, Ferencz became chief prosecutor for a 1947 case in which 22 former commanders were charged with murdering more than 1 million Jews, Romani and other enemies of the Third Reich in Eastern Europe. Rather than depending on witnesses, Ferencz mostly relied on official German documents to make his case. All the defendants were convicted, and more than a dozen were sentenced to death by hanging even though Ferencz hadn't asked for the death penalty.

At the beginning of April 1948, when the long legal judgment was read, I felt vindicated, he wrote. Our pleas to protect humanity by the rule of law had been upheld.

With the war crimes trials winding down, Ferencz went to work for a consortium of Jewish charitable groups to help Holocaust survivors regain properties, homes, businesses, artworks, Torah scrolls, and other Jewish religious items that had been confiscated by the Nazis. He also later assisted in negotiations that would lead to compensation to the Nazi victims.

In later decades, Ferencz championed the creation of an international court that could prosecute any governments leaders for war crimes. Those dreams were realized in 2002 with establishment of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, though its effectiveness has been limited by the failure of countries such as the United States to participate.

Ferencz is survived by a son and three daughters. His wife died in 2019.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Kentuckys political leaders are expressing grief and condolences to victims following the mass shooting that resulted in five deaths and nine injured in Louisville on Monday.

Gov. Andy Beshear asked people to pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville on Twitter.

During a press conference in Louisville, Beshear said that among the dead were two close friends, and that he ran his 2015 campaign for attorney general out of the building where the shooting took place.

I had a very close friend that didnt make it today... And one whos at the hospital, that I hope is going to make it through, Beshear said.

Beshear later clarified that the close friend who died was Tommy Elliot, a banker who was also a strong political ally in Louisville.

Louisville Democratic Rep. Keturah Herron decried the proliferation of gun violence and mass shooting events across the country, suggesting outrage and anger should be directed toward change.

This is happening around the country in a city daily. Today was our turn in Louisville, KY. As we hold our community tighter there must (be) outrage and anger. We live in a war zone and we shouldnt have to, Herron wrote.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear arrives at the scene of a shooting in Louisville, Ky., Monday, April 10, 2023. (Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal via AP)

Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, joined Herron in calling for change.

It is time to address common sense gun legislation. KY requires all guns confiscated in the state to be resold on the open market. Will not even discuss red flag laws in the legislature. No office of gun safety. Thoughts and prayers are not enough! It is past time for action, Berg tweeted.

Gun control was a topic of major interest in Tennessee in recent weeks after a school shooting there. GOP leadership in the state legislature expelled two Democratic lawmakers for protesting.

President Joe Biden mourned the loss of life in Louisville but also called for national lawmakers to push for gun legislation.

Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives. When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities, Biden asked in a tweet.

Story continues

Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence  Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today's shooting.



Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives.



When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?  President Biden (@POTUS) April 10, 2023

Vice President Kamala Harris echoed Biden.

We need leaders with the courage to act. We cant fall for a false choice between upholding the 2nd Amendment and saving lives. We can do both, Harris tweeted.

Former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker, who now leads the Governors Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Involvement, said that prayers were important but more needs to be done.

Im really tired of this. Prayers are important, but we know they are not a substitute for the work we must do, Booker said.

The Kentucky House Democratic Caucus issued a statement calling for legislative action on the matter.

We mourn for the victims who were senselessly killed or wounded and pray for them and their loved ones. We also want to praise the decisive action and bravery of law enforcement that undoubtedly saved lives, the group wrote. More broadly, though, we should not have to live like this  living in fear and in a time where legislative inaction regarding gun violence has become the law of the land. We must demand more.

This photo provided by Reid Cornell shows police presence near the scene of a shooting in Louisville, Ky., Monday, April 10, 2023. (Reid Cornell via AP)

Kentucky Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, responded similarly.

As we mourn and reflect on the devastating impact of todays events, we must come together as a community and society to find effective solutions in preventing the continuing scourge of gun violence. We can do more and have an obligation to do more to prevent such tragedies from happening again, Neal said.

Louisville Democratic Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong said that she was ready to work on any legislative solutions.

I am heartbroken, I am angry, I am scared, I am praying. I love my city, and I will work with anyone and everyone to pass policies to protect us from this violence, Chambers Armstrong wrote.

Republicans in the state largely avoided the topic of any kind of policy response, but Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, was an exception.

Weve got to have conversations about what government can do to protect against gun violence. Government cannot be the only solution, but it must be part of it. I dont pretend to have a solution, but Im willing to try to find one, Westerfield, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said.

Two people embrace outside of a building where a shooting took place in Louisville, Ky., Monday, April 10, 2023.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is running for the GOP gubernatorial nomination this year, said that his office was monitoring the situation and that he and his wife were praying for the injured. He also commended law enforcements response to the event.

Fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles expressed a similar sentiment.

Praying for everyone involved in the shooting in downtown Louisville this morning. Im grateful for our brave law enforcement officers and first responders who are dealing with this tragedy, Quarles wrote.

Kelly Craft, a former ambassador to the United Nations and Canada who is in the crowded GOP Republican field for governor, said she was devastated by the horrendous news.

Devastated by the horrendous news coming out of downtown Louisville this morning. Praying for the victims, their families, survivors, law enforcement, and the city of Louisville. May Gods Grace be with us today, Craft tweeted.

Kentuckys delegation in Washington also expressed grief at the tragedy.

I am heartbroken to learn of the tragedy in Louisville this morning. Please join me in praying for the families of the victims and those currently receiving medical treatment, Central Kentucky GOP U.S. Rep. Andy Barr said.

Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul both said on Twitter that they were praying for all involved.

Elaine and I are devastated by the news coming out of Louisville this morning. Thank you to LMPD and our first responders for your bravery at the scene. We send our prayers to the victims, their families, and the city of Louisville as we await more information, McConnell tweeted.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Beshear lauded the efforts of the Louisville Metro Police Department in responding to the event.

Our community will continue to stand together We will come together as a community to work to prevent these horrific acts of gun violence from continuing here and around the state, Greenberg, who survived an assassination attempt during his campaign, said.

Rep. Pam Stevenson, D-Louisville, represents the area of the shooting. Stevenson, who is also the lone Democratic nominee for attorney general this year, urged people downtown to stay inside.
Janet Wang was a junior in high school when she watched Better Luck Tomorrow, a movie about a group of high-achieving Asian American high schoolers with a penchant for theft and murder. In the darkened theater, she saw a reflection of herself  not in the criminal activities but in the nuanced portrayals of complex kids growing up in the suburbs.

It was the first time Wang saw a cast that looked like her starring in a highly stylized movie like the MTV videos and shows she loved. Plus, it was being played in theaters. The experience changed her brain chemistry.

I think it was just very revolutionary, Wang, 37, a podcaster on Asian Boss Girl said about Better Luck Tomorrow, the independent film that premiered in theaters 20 years ago, on April 11, 2003, distributed by MTV, which changed how Hollywood saw Asian Americans. The films impact can be measured by the number of millennials who credit it with inspiring and fomenting their cultural identities.

Thats irrefutable, said Parry Shen, the actor who played clean-cut, basketball-loving Ben Manibag. Asian American actors like Manny Jacinto, who was in high school when Better Luck Tomorrow came out, now greet Shen in audition rooms and industry events to say the film was a turning point in their lives.

There wasnt anything like it at the time, Shen said.

From left, Sung Kang, Jason Tobin, and Parry Shen in

Better Luck Tomorrow subverted stereotypes and pushed doors open for Asian representation in lead roles as American high school teenagers who use their academic success to cloak a drug-dealing ring and a murder-for-hire gone wrong. Critics have said it made space for Quantum Leap, starring Raymond Lee, and Everything Everywhere All at Once.

At the time, Better Luck Tomorrow was one of the few films that didnt portray Asian Americans as either quiet and hard-working model minorities or the racialized other whose foreignness was the butt of the joke. (Exhibits A and B: The antipodal shadows of The Joy Luck Club and Long Duk Dong.) Instead, it portrayed them as nuanced and complex main characters who are straight-A students who snort cocaine, cross a prostitutes boundary and steal computer equipment. It is a coming-of-age film that feels like the romantic comedies that defined the era  just darker, Wang said.

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Nancy Wang Yuen, a sociologist and expert on race and racism in Hollywood, said that in the early 2000s, Asian Americans werent seen as capable of having complexity. Better Luck Tomorrow was the first of its kind in terms of just showing Asian Americans as complex anti-heroes, Yuen said.

The mindset shift led to an infamous 2002 Sundance Film Festival showdown between the film critic Roger Ebert and an audience member who questioned why filmmaker Justin Lin would choose to portray Asian American teens as strung-out, gun-toting and (gasp) test-cheating people. Ebert stood on the theaters folding chair and defended the film. It was a permission slip for Hollywood and actors to reimagine Asian Americans in more complicated roles. Asian Americans, Ebert said, have the right to be whoever the hell they want to be, and Better Luck Tomorrow showed the world that Asian Americans could be cool.

I didnt grow up wanting to be an actor playing good Asian boys, said Jason Tobin, who played Virgil Hu, the unbridled teenager who totes a gun in the film. I grew up wanting to be Robert De Niro and wanting to represent my people by being a great actor and telling important stories.

After all, this was the ennui of Asian American youths living in the suburbs where parental and cultural expectations clashed with their lived American lives. The film is rumored to have been based on a true murder in Orange County, California. These were kids on the precipice of establishing generational wealth but who still felt anger and displacement from living in America. The complexities of those feelings are reflected on-screen in Virgils eyes, shining with excitement in a scene after he beats up high school jocks at a party. The thrill of the fight transmutes into fear, and he breaks down and cries.

The film captured the tension and the rage of real life, Yuen said. We all kind of want to succeed but then have the potential to be enraged and act out on that rage.

Critics have long pointed out that the film showed that Asian Americans can inhabit more than one space  that they can be ambitious, sexy and mysterious, like the motorcycle-riding Steve Choe character (a simmering matinee movie star in John Cho, who is the biggest acting star to have come out of the film). They can be nerds and murderers. I cant tell you how many times Ive heard someone say I knew kids just like the ones in BLT, Tobin said.

When the film was released in 2003, theatergoers showed support, Shen said. That was before YouTube and social media, so efforts to coordinate support for the film on its opening weekend still came from word of mouth and grassroots organization. Shen heard stories about college Asian American organizations that rented buses to take people to the theaters. Legend has it that Quentin Tarantino yelled at theater employees to let him into a packed screening because he wanted to support the film.

Shen popped into as many screenings as possible to thank moviegoers. In New York, he walked into a theater right before the film ended to take in the audiences reactions  it laughed and gasped in shock at the right places. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before.

It was like bananas, you know? Shen said.

Better Luck Tomorrow changed the Hollywood landscape and Asian Americas self-perception. Shen started seeing the shift slowly after the films release. Back then, there were just a handful of Asian American actors in notable roles. Now, he cant keep count.

The film left the fate of the Asian American characters open-ended, and 20 years after it premiered, the actors who played Ben and Virgil are calling for some closure.

BLT is a cult classic, and I think it deserves a sequel, Tobin said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
President Joe Bidens administration said it will not ignore a federal judges ruling that could eliminate access to a drug used in a majority of abortions in the United States  even as Democrats and even a Republican in Congress have suggested they simply brush the ruling aside.

The ruling, issued Friday night by a U.S. District Court judge in Texas, found that the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone more than two decades ago was illegal. The judge stayed the ruling for seven days, and the Department of Justice immediately appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

Almost immediately, some Democrats  including Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)  began calling on the Biden administration to effectively ignore the ruling, noting that the law clearly and specifically gives the FDA sole authority over the drug approval process to keep it free from political interference.

In an interview Sunday on CNNs State of the Union, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra seemed to indicate that the administration, which generally shies away from legal confrontations sought by progressives, would consider ignoring the ban.

Everything is on the table, Becerra said. The president said that way back when the Dobbs decision came out. Every option is on the table.

A few hours later, however, the department ruled it out.

People are rightly frustrated about this decision  but as dangerous a precedent it sets for a court to disregard FDAs expert judgment regarding a drugs safety and efficacy, it would also set a dangerous precedent for the Administration to disregard a binding decision, Kamara Jones, a spokesperson for Health and Human Services, wrote on Twitter.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra briefly left the door open for the administration to ignore last week's court ruling on mifepristone, before another HHS official ruled it out hours later.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra briefly left the door open for the administration to ignore last week's court ruling on mifepristone, before another HHS official ruled it out hours later.

Story continues

So far, the White House has not weighed in on the issue. A White House spokesperson did not respond to an email seeking comment this weekend.

The Trump-appointed judge who issued the ruling, Matthew Kacsmaryk, filled it with language often used by activists who oppose abortion rights, referring to the fetus as the unborn child and doctors as abortionists.

Not long after Kacsmaryks ruling, a different federal judge in Washington state issued an order requiring the FDA to keep mifepristone approval in 17 states and the District of Columbia. The clashing rulings are likely to send the issue quickly to the Supreme Court.

Ocasio-Cortez, also appearing on CNN on Sunday, argued that Kacsmaryks decision makes a mockery of our system, a mockery of our democracy, and a mockery of our law.

We know that the executive branch has an enforcement discretion, Ocasio-Cortez said.

GOP are losing their mind over this, but theres precedent - including their own.



Courts ordered Trump to fully restore DACA. They ignored it w/ Republican support.



GOP operate in complete contempt for the law until theyre in a position to shred Constitutional & human rights. https://t.co/kfxsdF5eKG  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 9, 2023

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), a relatively moderate Republican, said on CNN on Monday that the FDA should ignore the ruling, which she said was poorly reasoned.

This is an FDA-approved drug, Mace said. Whether you agree with its usage or not, thats not your decision. That is the FDAs decision.

David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel University who has written extensively about abortion rights, noted that Kacsmaryrks ruling does not explicitly tell the FDA to take any steps beyond ruling the drugs approval was illegal, giving the agency leeway to engage in selective enforcement.

It didnt tell the FDA it had to do anything, Cohen said. So, it is now up to the FDA to look at this order and say, What can we do and what should we do now? So its in their hands to take actions to keep mifepristone accessible to everyone.

Medication abortion is widely popular in the United States. A February survey from Data for Progress, a liberal group, found that just 33% of voters would approve of a ruling overturning the FDAs approval of mifepristone, while 59% would oppose such a ruling.

Most Republicans, faced with defending an unpopular decision, have instead tried to attack Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats for suggesting the administration ignore the ruling.

Democrats dont care about undermining the rule of law or the consequences that will come from destroying the institutions that protect the Constitution, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wrote on Twitter, without defending the content of Kacsmaryks ruling. Nothing is too extreme for Dems as they try to ram through their Left-Wing agenda.

Alanna Vagianos contributed reporting.

Related...
The Department of Justice asked a federal appeals court on Monday to order the abortion pill mifepristone to remain on the market pending further litigation, days after Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk suspended FDA approval of the drug.

The DOJ wants the short-term administrative stay issued by Kacsmaryk to be extended and it also asked for a long-term stay pending appeal. The drug, which is part of a regimen that is the most common method of procuring an abortion, is due to become unavailable in most of the country seven days after Kacsmaryks ruling.

Kacsmaryk, who sits on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, issued a nationwide preliminary injunction Friday. However, within hours, Judge Thomas Rice of the Eastern District of Washington issued a competing ruling that the FDA must maintain the drugs availability in 17 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia. The dueling orders make it likely that higher courts will consider both cases in an expedited fashion.

The Biden administration is challenging the Texas judges ruling on both standing as well as the merits.

Plaintiffs lack standing to challenge FDAs approval of a drug they neither take nor prescribe, the DOJ filing read. The court also erred by holding that plaintiffs claims are timely.

FDAs approval of mifepristone and subsequent modifications of the REMS [risk evaluation and mitigation strategy] were wholly reasonable, the filing continued, adding that mifepristone is safe and all the available evidence conclusively demonstrates that.

The administration counters the plaintiffss arguments that the FDA never had the authority to approve the two-pill chemical-abortion regimen, that it failed to properly study the safety of the regimen, and for almost two decades stonewalled the doctors who were attempting to challenge the approval of the regimen.

Kacsmaryk had sided with the plaintiffs  namely, the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, an organization of pro-life medical groups, as well as four pro-life doctors.

Story continues

The Court does not second-guess FDAs decision-making lightly. But here, FDA acquiesced on its legitimate safety concerns  in violation of its statutory duty  based on plainly unsound reasoning and studies that did not support its conclusions, he wrote.

The FDA originally approved the use of the regimen under a section of federal code known as Subpart H, which allows for expedited approval of drugs that can be used to treat serious or life-threatening illnesses or that provide a meaningful therapeutic advantage over existing treatment.

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), arguing on behalf of the plaintiffs, said the FDA had no business approving the regimen under Subpart H because pregnancy is not an illness but is rather a normal physiological state that many females experience one or more times during their childbearing years. ADF lawyers contended that the pills are more dangerous than surgical abortion and that they dont provide a meaningful therapeutic benefit over surgery.

However, the Justice Department argued that Subpart H was properly invoked, saying that the FDA found that pregnancy can be a serious medical condition in some women, and mifepristone avoided a surgical procedure for 92% of patients. The DOJ explained that in the FDAs view, avoiding a surgery is a meaningful therapeutic benefit.

In any case, the DOJ argued, plaintiffs could not challenge the FDAs 2000 approval because the statute of limitations had expired and was not reopened in 2016, when the FDA modified mifepristones approved conditions of use. For the DOJ, a serious, substantive reconsideration of mifepristone, which would restart the statute, did not occur in 2016.

The Justice Department argued that the court in Texas upended the status quo with its abrupt and sweeping nationwide order. If allowed to take effect, that order will irreparably harm patients, healthcare systems, and businesses. Additionally, the DOJ added, plaintiffs have not shown that a stay would substantially injure their interests.

Those defects foreclose plaintiffs claims, and the court flouted fundamental principles of Article III and administrative law in holding otherwise. Indeed, no precedent, from any court, endorses plaintiffs standing, timeliness, or merits theories, the filing read.

If the Justice Department does not get a stay from the Fifth Circuit, it is expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Danco, the maker of Mifeprex, the brand version of mifepristone, has filed a similar appeal against Kacsmaryks order.

In a separate filing Monday, the DOJ asked Judge Rice in Washington how the government can comply with his order preserving access to the abortion pill if Kacsmaryks order is allowed to go into effect. The administration pointed out that there is significant tension between the two rulings.

More from National Review
President Joe Biden. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Biden went further in teasing a 2024 announcement on Monday.

The president told NBC's Al Roker that he plans on running, pushing closer to a formal announcement.

Biden has continued to mull his political future as the list of GOP challengers grows.

President Joe Biden said on Monday that he plans on running in 2024, taking a step closer to announcing his 2024 reelection campaign.

"I plan on running, Al, but we're not prepared to announce it yet," Biden told NBC's Al Roker during an interview on the "Today" show.

Biden has continued to mull his political future even as the field of Republican challengers continues to grow. Then-White House chief of staff Ron Klain expected a decision to come after the holidays, a point that came and went. First Lady Jill Biden is widely viewed as key to the president's decision.

Biden herself has said that the president is "pretty much" ready to run. If Biden won a second term, he would be 82 on Inauguration Day, breaking his own mark as the oldest sitting president.

The 2024 field is growing, some on the Republican side observed candidates are waiting longer to declare than in past cycles. At the top of the list is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the only candidate who polls near former President Donald Trump's level in the GOP primary. DeSantis is not expected to announce until after Florida's legislative session ends in May.

The president has also said in the past that by delaying an announcement, he is avoiding some of the campaign-finance burdens that would be triggered.

"The reason I'm not making a judgment about formally running or not running, once I make that judgment, a whole series of regulations kick in and I have to be  I treat myself as a candidate from that moment on. I have not made that formal decision, but it's my intention  my intention to run again. And we have time to make that decision," Biden told MSNBC's Jonathan Capehart last October.

Biden and the first lady were joining Roker to discuss the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn. The veteran NBC host teased the president's future by asking how many more Easter Egg Rolls Biden expects to lead.

"At least three or four more," Biden said, laughing. "Maybe five, maybe six."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A special medical zone in southern China's island province of Hainan, which provides world-class medical tourism services to domestic and international patients, has experienced an increase in visitors, reported China Daily on Monday.

In the first two months of 2023, the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, China's first and currently only special medical zone, received more than 34,000 visitors, up over 37 percent year on year, according to the news report.

Established in 2013, the zone has set up an independent regulatory system to optimize the approval, customs clearance, use and supervision of imported medical devices and drugs, and introduced its own insurance system to fill the gap in insurance for imported medicines, the newspaper said.

"Lecheng is able to make use of medical devices and drugs licensed abroad but not yet in China, providing patients with advanced international-standard diagnosis and treatment," Yan Lukai, an official with the zone's administration, was quoted as saying.

To date, the zone has introduced some 300 urgently needed medical devices and drugs, and established relations with nearly 80 pharmaceutical device and drug manufacturers in 18 countries, the news report noted.
President Biden reacted to Monday's deadly shooting in Louisville, Kentucky by calling for Congress to take action while shining the spotlight on Republicans who have so far resisted any erosion of Americans' Second Amendment rights.

"Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence  Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today's shooting," Biden wrote on Twitter just hours after the shooting.

LOUISVILLE POLICE SAY 5 DEAD AFTER SUSPECT LINKED TO OLD NATIONAL BANK LOCATION OPENS FIRE IN KENTUCKY

"Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives. When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?" he added.

According to the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department, five people were killed  including the gunman  and eight injured following a shooting at a building that houses an Old National Bank location.

President Joe Biden holds a meeting with his science and technology advisors at the White House on April 04, 2023 in Washington, DC.

BIDEN MAKES MULTIPLE SECOND AMENDMENT CLAIMS IN WAKE OF NASHVILLE SHOOTING, BUT REALITY ISN'T SO CLEAR-CUT

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The shooting happened around 8:30 a.m. and officers that responded within minutes "encountered the suspect almost immediately, still firing gunshots," according to Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey.

Police said the gunman, who "did have a connection" to the bank location was "deceased."

The shooting comes just two weeks after another deadly shooting at a school in Nashville that killed six people, including three children. After that shooting, Biden ruled out any further executive action on gun control.

Multiple people have died after a mass shooting in Louisville, Ky., according to the Louisville Metro Police Department. Five deaths have been confirmed.

Speaking with reporters on Mar. 28, one day after the shooting, Biden said he had already "gone the full extent of my executive authority, to do on my own, anything about guns."

Fox News' Greg Norman and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (AP)  When President Joe Biden visits Ireland this week, he will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, confer with top officials on current issues and honor his Irish ancestors.

You can also count on Biden to quote an Irish poet or two, especially two late Nobel laureates  Seamus Heaney and William Butler Yeats.

I think that's a safe guess to make, says former Biden speechwriter Dan Cluchey, who worked with the president from 2018-2022. Yeats and Heaney encompass so much of the universal catalog of emotions poetry can express and they are the major wells he (Biden) goes to when he needs the perfect words to encapsulate a feeling.

Presidents have long made a point of citing a favorite writer, and for Biden that often has been Heaney, renowned for what Nobel judges in 1995 called works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth." Besides his original poems, his noted works include a bestselling translation of the Old English epic Beowulf" and his play The Cure at Troy, a verse adaptation of Sophocles' Philoctetes, with Heaney's inspirational alliteration about a time when hope and history rhyme.

Biden's affinity for Heaney dates back at least to an earlier presidential run in 2008, when he lost the nomination to Barack Obama and eventually became his running mate. In a speech early in his own campaign, Biden observed that he liked to quote Irish poets because they are the best poets." He listed Heaney as his preferred contemporary Irish bard, and referred to Heaney's words from The Cure at Troy," saying he believed they were reflected in the sentiments and hearts of the vast majority of the American people.

___

History says, dont hope On this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime The longed-for tidal wave Of justice can rise up, And hope and history rhyme.

___

I believe with every fiber of my being," Biden concluded, "we have a chance to make hope and history rhyme."

Story continues

Biden biographer Evan Osnos says that by 2008 he had already quoted The Cure at Troy so frequently his daughter Ashley would tease him. In his 2017 memoir Promise Me, Dad, Biden remembered Ashley's response when Obama choose him as the vice presidential candidate: Dad, this is hope and history. Biden answered with a joke: Oh, great. Hes hope. And Im history.

Biden has since invoked hope and history while serving as vice president, in his acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination in August 2020, in a widely seen campaign video from 2020, when presenting a National Humanities Medal last fall to Elton John, and even in last month's reception marking the Persian new year.

At the end of the Obama administration, when the president awarded Biden a Medal of Freedom, Obama joked that he was going to quote Yeats  because Seamus Heaney is taken.

Biden, not surprisingly, quoted Heaney during his own remarks, but this time drew from the poem "From the Republic of Conscience" as he praised Obama for his humility.

___

You carried your own burden and very soon your symptoms of creeping privilege disappeared.

___

Biden might have claimed Yeats as well. Osnos, whose biography Joe Biden came out in 2020, says that Biden began memorizing Yeats as a teenager working to overcome his stutter. He would stand in front of a mirror and speak lines from Yeats and Ralph Waldo Emerson, straining to avoid the contortion of his face muscles.

As vice president, Osnos says, Biden quoted Yeats' "Easter 1916" at least 20 times, especially the line, The world has changed, changed utterly."

He has quoted the line so many times that his aides can sense when hes about to do it, a bit like the birds who can sense when an earthquake is coming, Osnos told the AP in a recent email.

A previous Irish-American president, John F. Kennedy, had his own history of reciting verse. According to JFK biographer Fredrik Logevall, Kennedy was a lifelong poetry reader who memorized works ranging from poems by Robert Frost to the British writer Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Ulysses." In the summer of 1963, Kennedy became the first sitting president to visit Ireland and mentioned various Irish poets during his trip, which included an address to the country's parliament.

There are those who regard this history of past strife and exile as better forgotten, Kennedy said. But, to use the phrase of Yeats, let us not casually reduce that great past to a trouble of fools. For we need not feel the bitterness of the past to discover its meaning for the present and the future. And it is the present and the future of Ireland that today holds so much promise to my nation as well as to yours, and, indeed, to all mankind.

Heaney's The Cure at Troy premiered in 1990 and politicians were soon quoting it. Mary Robinson, in her 1991 inaugural address as Ireland's president, hoped for an era in Europe "where old wounds can be healed, a time when, in the words of Seamus Heaney, hope and history rhyme.

In November 1995, weeks after Heaney won the Nobel, Bill Clinton became the first sitting president to visit Northern Ireland and later made a stop in Dublin, part of his years-long effort to forge what became the Good Friday Agreement among Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

I could not say it better than your Nobel Prize winning poet, Seamus Heaney, has said: We are living in a moment when hope and history rhyme, Clinton said while in Dublin. In Dublin, if there is peace in Northern Ireland, it is your victory, too."

Clinton's memories of the agreement have their own internal meter. Why did peace remain in Northern Ireland when treaties elsewhere so often fail, he asked in an essay published Sunday in The Washington Post? It was, he wrote, a happy occasion of hope and history rhyming.
President Joe Biden has called on Congress to take action in the wake of the deadly shooting in Louisville, Kentucky, and slammed Republicans for their inaction on gun control.

Five people were killed, including the gunman, and nine were injured during a Monday morning shooting at a building that houses an Old National Bank branch.

Once again, our nation is in mourning after a senseless act of gun violence. Jill and I are praying for those killed and injured in the tragic shooting in Louisville, and for the survivors who will carry grief and trauma for the rest of their lives, said the president in a statement.

He added: How many more Americans must die before Republicans in Congress will act to protect our communities? Its long past time that we require safe storage of firearms. Require background checks for all gun sales. Eliminate gun manufacturers immunity from liability. We can and must do these things now.

Mr Biden stated that most Americans wanted lawmakers in the US to act on commonsense gun safety reforms.

Instead, from Florida to North Carolina to the U.S. House of Representatives, weve watched Republican officials double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe. Its unconscionable, its reckless, and too many Americans are paying with their lives, he said.

Officials say that the shooting took place at around 8.30am ET with officers responding to the scene within minutes and taking down the gunman.

Police say that the gunman did have a connection to the bank.

The shooting came two weeks after a gunman killed three children and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville.
President Biden on Monday called gun control measures long overdue, urging Republicans in Congress to act in the wake of the mass shooting in Louisville, Ky., earlier that day.

At least four people were killed and eight others hospitalized from a downtown shooting at the Old National Bank on Louisvilles Main Street earlier on Monday. Police arrived amid gunfire and exchanged shots with the suspected shooter, who died on scene, according to authorities.

Biden questioned in a statement how much more gun violence needs to occur before Republicans agree to work on gun control measures, blaming the GOP for the lack of action.

How many more Americans must die before Republicans in Congress will act to protect our communities? the president said. Its long past time that we require safe storage of firearms. Require background checks for all gun sales. Eliminate gun manufacturers immunity from liability. We can and must do these things now.

The president in his statement pointed to moves in Florida and North Carolina that he argued are dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe. The White House last week condemned Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for signing into law a bill that allows residents to carry concealed guns without a permit.

Its unconscionable, its reckless, and too many Americans are paying with their lives, Biden said on Monday.

The president thanked the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department officers in his statement and said he and the first lady are praying for the victims.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
US President Joe Biden speaks about his proposed Federal budget for the fiscal year 2024 at the Finishing Trades Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 9, 2023. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. President Joe Biden told NBC host Al Roker on April 10 that he plans to run for a second term.

I plan on running, Al, but were not prepared to announce it yet, he said.

According to NBC, there are several factors influencing Biden's decision to run, namely the lack of a challenger in the Democratic party, former President Donald Trump getting indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, and an imminent clash with Republicans over budget spending.

Before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and at the beginning of the invasion, the Biden administration was initially slow to provide military aid to Kyiv and impose harsh sanctions on Russia.

However, during Biden's time as president, the U.S. has provided more than $35.1 billion in defense aid to Ukraine. Biden also made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Feb. 20, his first as president, shortly before the one-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

"One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands," Biden said, praising the strength of Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression.

The Biden administration is also asking Congress for more than $6 billion in assistance to support the war effort in Ukraine in the 2024 fiscal year, according to a budget document published in early March.

There is no clear Republican frontrunner to challenge Biden as of yet, but the two main front runners, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump, have made troubling comments about Russia's all-out war in Ukraine.

On March 23, DeSantis claimed that his comment about the war being a "territorial dispute" had been "mischaracterized." He also later acknowledged that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was a war criminal.

Trump's future in politics remains uncertain due to his recent indictment over a "hush money" scandal but he announced his plan to seek a second non-consecutive term as president in November 2022.

Following DeSantis' comment that Putin was a war criminal, Trump said on March 29 that such comments only "increase the chance of nuclear escalation."

Regarding his time in office, Trump also said he "got along with (Putin) great" during an interview with Fox News in early March, adding that if he'd still been president Putin likely wouldn't have invaded Ukraine.

"I could have negotiated," Trump continued. "At worst, I couldve made a deal to take over something, there are certain areas that are Russian-speaking areas, frankly, but you couldve worked a deal.
(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden said he plans to run for reelection in 2024, but is not yet ready to launch his campaign.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Im planning on running, Biden said in a brief interview with NBCs Today show during the White House Easter egg roll. But were not prepared to announce it yet.

Biden, 80, has long said he intends to be the Democratic presidential nominee. His top aides for months have privately discussed building a campaign and the president has road tested his message in battleground states. But he has not made a final decision.

The wait has generated speculation about Bidens plans but its not unusual for incumbent presidents to formally announce their reelection in the spring of their third year in office.

Former President Barack Obama launched his second presidential campaign in April 2011 and his predecessor, George W. Bush, filed reelection paperwork in May 2003. The famously deliberative Biden did not enter the 2020 race until April 2019  well after other Democratic candidates were in the field.

Biden has not made several key decisions that traditionally predate a campaign launch, such as picking a city to host the Democratic National Convention. Atlanta, Chicago and New York are the three finalists.

The oldest man to be elected president, Biden has faced persistent questions about his age and stamina; he would be 86 at the end of a second term. But he has repeatedly shrugged off those doubts.

Polls show a majority of Americans, including Democrats, do not want Biden to seek a second term. But Biden faces only token opposition in the Democratic primary field and no major party figures have said they are willing to challenge him.

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President Biden on Monday said he plans on running for reelection in 2024, but hes not yet ready to make an official announcement.

Biden spoke with NBCs Al Roker for a Today show segment on the White House Easter egg roll. Roker asked the president if he had plans to host more of the events in the future, a nod to his reelection plans.

I plan on at least three or four more Easter egg rolls. Maybe five. Maybe six, what the hell? I dont know, Biden said with a smile.

Are you saying that you would be taking part in our upcoming election in 2024? Help a brother out, make some news for me, Roker said.

I plan on running, Al, but were not prepared to announce it yet, Biden responded.

Biden has for months said he intends to run for a second term, but the timeline for an official announcement has repeatedly slipped. Advisers first indicated the president may announce his plans around Februarys State of the Union address, but when that didnt happen, reports suggested Biden would announce in the spring.

The latest reports are that Biden may wait until the summer to announce, with those around him arguing there is no major rush and a delayed announcement would allow him to focus on the job of being president and promoting his agenda to the public.

Biden, who would be 82 at the start of a second term, has yet to draw a major primary challenger despite some concerns about his age. Author Marianne Williamson, who ran an unsuccessful campaign in 2020, has declared she is running for the Democratic nomination.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A mural of President Joe Biden adorns the side of a shop in Ballina, Co Mayo (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

When US television networks finally declared Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 election, the BBC broadcast a compilation of clips from Mr Bidens long political career, including his aborted presidential runs in 1987 and 2008, and his eight years as vice president during the Obama administration.

Of that pastiche of videos spanning multiple decades, one short clip set the internet ablaze: a years-old exchange with Nick Bryant, one of the British broadcasters New York-based correspondents.

When Bryant asked Mr Biden if he could offer a quick word for the BBC, Mr Biden quickly replied: The BBC? No thanks  Im Irish!

The 46th President is not the first Irishman to hold Americas highest office. Hes not even the first Irish-Catholic to do so. But in the 21st century, when the white ethnic enclaves and rivalries that once played a huge role in Americas political and civic life have largely gone dormant in favour of a far more homogenised culture, he remains intensely proud of his ancestral roots in the Republic of Ireland and has made references to his heritage a touchstone of his rhetorical style.

In his 2017 memoir, Promise Me, Dad, Mr Biden recounted an anecdote he often uses on the stump, in which he recalls his grandfather urging him to keep the faith.

In his public remarks, he often recalls his grandmothers reply, in which she counters that he should spread the faith as well. But in his book, Mr Biden noted that his grandfather also told him: Remember the best drop of blood in you is Irish.

Mr Bidens Irish roots run deep

According to Irish Family History Centre director Fiona Fitzsimmons, theres far more than a drop of Irish blood flowing through Mr Bidens veins.

She told USA Today that of Mr Bidens 16 great-grandparents, 10 of them were from Ireland. And while multiple US presidents  including Andrew Jackson, John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama  have traced at least some of their roots to the same island, the genealogist called the 46th US chief executive, whose family roots hail from County Derry and County Louth on the islands east coast, probably  the most Irish of all the presidents.

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This week, that most Irish American president is set to make his first pilgrimage to his familys homeland since assuming office in 2021, with a planned four-day visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland. He last visited Ireland in 2017, a year after he made an official visit as Vice President during the Obama administration.

US Vice President Joe Biden receives a hurl as welcome gift from Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny during a welcome ceremony at the Government Buildings in Dublin, Ireland on June 21, 2016 (AFP via Getty Images)

Hell depart the White House on Tuesday morning and will land in Belfast that evening. On Wednesday, he and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that ended decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. Hell then cross the border into Ireland for a three-day stay, including trips to the areas where his ancestors lived before emigrating to the US.

Because the Democratic Unionist Partys boycott of the power-sharing government established under the Good Friday agreement remains in effect due to the ongoing dispute over customs checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, Mr Biden will not be able to address that devolved legislature.

Instead, he will deliver remarks to mark the quarter-century anniversary of the peace accords at Ulster University.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday that the presidents speech in Belfast would mark the tremendous progress since the signing of the Belfast Good Friday agreement 25 years ago and  underscore the readiness of the United States to preserve those gains and support Northern Ireland's vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities.

Mr Kirby said the president will also address a joint session of the Irish parliament in Dublin, where he will speak about US-Irish cooperation to advance democracy, peace, security and prosperity and the shared deep history between the United States and Ireland.

Today, one in 10 Americans claim Irish ancestry and Irish Americans are proudly represented in every facet of American life. Ireland is a key economic partner of the United States and the United States and Ireland are working closely together to make the global economy more fair, he said.

He added that Ireland has also been a key partner for 21st century challenges including through providing support for Ukraine, such as vital nonlethal assistance including medical supplies, body armor, and support for Ukraine's electric grid, as well as their agriculture and welcoming nearly 80,000 Ukrainian refugees since Russia invaded last year.

Mr Bidens visit also comes just days after the Belfast Telegraph reported that the Northern Ireland police services foiled a plot by the New Irish Republican Army  a republican paramilitary group that considers itself the successor of the infamous group that disarmed after the 1998 peace accords  to set off a bomb in Derry during the presidents visit there.

Mr Kirby also said the president will attend a banquet at Dublin Castle and will make stops in County Mayo, including a visit to the North Mayo heritage and genealogical centres family history research unit, as well as a speech at St Murdochs Cathedral, where Mr Kirby noted that the presidents great-great-great grandfather sold 27,000 bricks for its constuction in 1827  a transaction that would help pay for passage for him and his family to America more than two decades later.

The President is very much looking forward to that trip ... and to celebrating the deep historic ties that our two countries and our two peoples continue to share, he said.

A president who wears Ireland on his sleeve

Mr Bidens constant touting of his Irish roots has been a constantly recurring theme in his political oratory dating back to his decades-long career as a US Senator from Delaware.

On the campaign trail and since becoming president, he often speaks of his great-great-great grandfather, Edward Blewitt, who left Ireland for the US in the 19th century during the Irish potato famine and later settled in Mr Bidens birthplace of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He also invokes his great-great grandfather, Owen Finnegan, who emigrated to the US from Ireland during the same period.

The president peppers his public remarks, both prepared and off-the-cuff, with invocations of his Irish heritage, and sometimes alludes to negative stereotypes in a humorous way.

During one question-and-answer session with reporters, he responded to a query about tensions between the White House and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin over Mr Bidens Build Back Better domestic programme by claiming that some people think hes not Irish because he didnt hold a grudge against the conservative Democrat for stalling the legislation.

At a St Paticks Day event last month alongside a fellow Irish-American, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the president quipped that his Irish heritage may be in question because he doesnt have relatives in jail and is a teetotaler.

Im the only Irishman you ever met, though, thats never had a drink, so Im OK. Im really not Irish, he said.

Biden with Enda Kenny at the Government Buildings in Dublin, Ireland on June 21, 2016 (AFP via Getty Images)

The president is also quite fond of quoting Irish poets  including a favourite, the late Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney  and has used references to his ancestry when addressing political matters and various conflicts both at home and abroad.

In January, he referenced his familys emigration from Ireland to the US during remarks alongside Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as the two leaders discussed strategies for controlling irregular migration along the US-Mexico border.

"All of you know all of us in the United States are immigrants. And mine go all the way back to the Irish famine," he said.

During a speech in Jerusalem last year, the president compared the plight of the Irish under British rule to the Palestinians.

"My family is Irish American, and we have a long history  not fundamentally unlike the Palestinian people with Great Britain and their attitude toward Irish-Catholics over the years, for 400 years, he said.

And world leaders have in turn recognised Mr Bidens affinity for his ancestral home, with one  Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar  describing him as unmistakably a son of Ireland during his traditional St Patricks Day visit to the White House last month.

"President Biden, in your life story we see reflected the story of Ireland," he said.
President Biden on Monday signed a GOP-led resolution bringing an end to the national emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House said.

The resolution passed the House despite almost 200 House Democrats voting against it after the White House said it strongly opposed the measure, though it did not threaten to veto it if the bill passed.

The bill later passed the Senate in a bipartisan 68-23 vote.

The White House had said it was already planning to wind down the national emergency and public health emergency around COVID-19 on May 11, giving states the go-ahead to begin winding down the measures enacted under the emergencies.

Experts have said the end of the emergency will have a limited impact, despite the White House warning earlier this year it would create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system.

The resolution will end a number of waivers for federal health programs Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, however many of the changes to health care regulations have become largely irrelevant as COVID-19 precautions have been relaxed.

The COVID emergency also provided the power for former President Trump and later Biden to pause student loan repayments. However, Bidens student loan forgiveness plan is now being challenged at the Supreme Court, and student loan repayments are set to begin either 60 days after the Supreme Court ruling or 60 days after June 30.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden told TODAY show co-host Al Roker on Monday that he plans to run for a second term.

I plan on running, Al, but were not prepared to announce it yet, he said.

Biden, 80, has consistently stated his plans to run for re-election. In a private conversation at the White House last year, he told the Rev. Al Sharpton that he will seek a second term, the civil rights leader told his National Action Network staff in Washington, NBC News reported.

Im going to do it again, Biden said last year as he posed for a photograph in the Roosevelt Room with Sharpton, according to an official from the National Action Network who recounted the MSNBC host's description. Im going.

Top White House advisers are preparing to make final decisions on launching his re-election campaign, several sources familiar with the discussions said. Several considerations in the decision-making process include that no major Democratic challenger has emerged; that former President Donald Trump, who is running for the GOP nomination, has been indicted and is consuming the political spotlight; and that there's a major clash coming with congressional Republicans over spending.

Despite lackluster approval ratings, Democratic power brokers have indicated that they are all in for Bidens re-election bid even before he has officially declared his intention to seek it.

Bidens remarks come as he broke with progressives on some hot-button issues ahead of the expected launch of his re-election campaign, including on crime, immigration policy and the environment. However, Democrats from across the party, from progressives and moderates to leadership and rank-and-file members  have said they plan to stick with Biden heading into 2024.

Biden is the oldest U.S. president in history. If he wins re-election, he would be 86 at the end of his second term.

The 2024 presidential race loomed large over Bidens State of the Union address in February, even though he had not yet officially announced his re-election campaign. He touted his economic accomplishments and scolded Republicans in previewing the case hes expected to make for re-election.

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In his address before a divided Congress, Biden talked back as Republicans heckled him from the floor of the House of Representatives and stressed that he wouldnt let Republicans take the economy hostage over the debt ceiling. Biden also slammed the big lie of widespread election fraud that former President Donald Trump has pushed.

The president, however, also said the two parties can find common ground in the wake of Republicans' taking control of the House, which includes addressing national security concerns related to China, promoting U.S. manufacturing and regulating powerful technology companies, he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Billy McFarland, the founder of Fyre Festival, tweeted on Sunday about a possible "Fyre Festival II." Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Billy McFarland, the creator of the failed Fyre Festival, teased a possible resurgence of the event.

In a tweet Sunday, McFarland asked Twitter users why they should be invited to "Fyre Festival II."

McFarland has been out of prison for a year after being released early from a six-year sentence.

Billy McFarland, the creator behind the failed Fyre Festival, is floating the idea of a possible follow-up.

"Fyre Festival II is finally happening," McFarland tweeted on Sunday.

He also asked Twitter users to let him know why they deserved an invite.

McFarland hasn't revealed any further details about a potential follow-up to Fyre Festival  and he didn't immediately respond to a request for additional comment ahead of publication.

But he has been active in the replies to his tweet about the follow-up festival. McFarland messaged Chris Bakke, a tech cofounder who tweeted a screenshot appearing to show the Fyre Festival creator inviting him to "Fyre Fest II." Bakke didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on whether McFarland had discussed any further details over text.

"Going to crush the island version first, but @ElonMusk Fyre 3 definitely needs to be in space," McFarland replied on Twitter.

McFarland has been out of prison for a year now

Last March, McFarland was released early from his six-year prison sentence, following his guilty plea to charges of wire fraud and a forfeiture order of $26 million after being accused of defrauding more than 100 investors in the 2017 Fyre Festival.

Back in 2017, McFarland sold over 5,000 tickets to what he claimed would be a two-weekend luxury music festival on a private beach on the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas. Along with Ja Rule, a rapper and Fyre Festival cofounder, McFarland, recruited influencers  including Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, and Hailey Bieber  to promote the event.

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Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, said he was scammed and was later dismissed from a $100-million class action lawsuit brought by attendees, according to The Guardian.

According to the BBC, tickets for the festival were on sale for up to $75,000, which were said to include luxury accommodations like eco-friendly "domes and villas."

The reality proved disastrous. The failed music festival left hundreds of attendees stranded at the venue in the Bahamas without adequate food, water, shelter, or even the musical acts that had been promised as big names like Blink-182, Pusha T, and Lil Yachty had backed out days prior to the event's start.

Photos and videos of the infamous event made the rounds on social media throughout the weekend. Stranded attendees posted photos of the disappointing meals, accommodations, and a lack of organization.

Since then, the aftermath of the event has spawned two documentaries from Netflix and Hulu, the latter of which McFarland participated in.

As detailed in Netflix's 2019 documentary, "Fyre," Bahamian locals who constructed the festival and helped cater the food said they were never compensated for their work. After the documentary was released, GoFundMe pages raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the caterers and laborers.

While McFarland agreed, as part of his plea deal, to never serve as the director of a public company again, he has spoken about his ambitions to work in the tech industry.

Shortly after his release from serving four years in prison, McFarland announced his next startup, PYRT, on the "Full Send Podcast" last November. He told the podcast hosts that PYRT would include a hotel, events, "treasure hunts," and merch.

The tweet isn't the first time McFarland has spoken about organizing another festival. On the podcast from November, McFarland also mentioned a possible PYRT fest.

"So I have to do a PYRT fest, right? It can't be tomorrow, it can't be in four months, but there's going to be PYRT fest," McFarland told the podcast hosts.

Read the original article on Business Insider
McFarland in 2017, leaving federal court following his arraignment in New York City after Fyre Festival.

After apologizing to the Bahamas ahead of a recent treasure hunting scheme, Fyre Fest mastermind Billy McFarland has some seemingly inevitable news for us all: Fyre Festival 2 is in the works.



McFarland announced the sequel to the disaster of a music festival that kinda sorta took place in 2017 in a tweet yesterdayless in the form of a teaser and more in the form of an outright confirmation. In his tweet, McFarland stated that Fyre Festival II is finally happening while asking those who read his tweet to pitch why they should be invited. Details are scant past that, with a timeline for the festival and whether or not any musical guests are interested in attaching their names to it currently unclear.

Read more

McFarland did not immediately return Gizmodos request for comment.

Fyre Festival was a music festival set to take place in The Bahamas on April 2830 and May 57, 2017. McFarland and rapper Ja Rule planned the festival, which was highly publicized by notable social media faces including Kendall Jenner and Emily Ratajkowski. The music festival, which allegedly booked 33 musical acts from Blink 182 to Lil Yachty, was expected to be a weekend of glamor, partying, and exclusive concerts for any trust fund kid willing to cough up the dough.

When the weekend of the festival arrived, it descended into chaos. Guests were taken aback by the lack of food, housing, and security (in contrast to the luxury accommodations they were promised) and many flights out of the remote part of the island were cancelled leaving people strandedand Billy McFarland was at the center of all of the fallout. Afterward, McFarland was charged with wire fraud and faced 20 years in prison.

McFarland emerged from his publicity hidey-hole late last year to apologize to the Bahamas ahead of a treasure hunt referred to as PYRT, in which McFarland announced he would be hiding 99 bottles across the globe, and each bottle will have its own set of clues and treasure that hunters can find. In response, Aviation Chester Cooper, Bahamas Minister of Tourism, said that the country will not endorse or approve any event in The Bahamas associated with [McFarland] and that he is considered to be a fugitive.

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I guess The Bahamas is out, then?

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close-up of black man with freckles on his face

If you think freckles are only synonymous with Pippy Longstocking, think again. A number of popular Black creatives such as Sade, SZA, and Rashida Jones, show off their freckles with pride. A simple Google search will yield even more examples of Black women and men sporting this attractive trait.

Youll see freckles across people of all skin tones, and how they look varies greatly. For some, the freckles are packed closely together in clusters, and for others, they are scattered.

What causes freckles? According to News One, Scientists believe that a gene called melanocortin-1-receptor (MC1R) causes them. It plays a huge role in pigmentation.

Freckles are usually passed along through genetics, and, contrary to popular belief, arent indicative of sun damage.

Understanding The Types of Freckles

There are two different classifications of freckles. The first is ephelides: These are usually flat and tan or red in color. The second group is called solar lentigines: These are more common in white and/or middle-aged persons. Alternatively, they are called age spots or sun spots.

When the sun hits the skin directly, freckles become darker and more prominent. When the suns rays arent as omnipresent, like during the winter months, freckles will typically fade, or disappear completely.

Regarding people of African descent with freckles, Dr. Justin Boey wrote, The reddish appearance of freckles in people with pale skin is often more pronounced, whereas freckles in those with darker skin tones are darker.

Freckles appear not just on the face, but the arms, neck, back, and chest.

Monitor Freckles The Way You Monitor Moles

As aesthetically pleasing as freckles are, its also a good idea to keep an eye on them.

They are almost always flat on the skin. But, as noted by Allen Taintor Dermatology, if they have jagged borders, become raised off your skin, start to grow, get sore, or have multiple colors, see your doctor.

Generally, the more melanin you have, the harder it is for you to get burned by the sun. But no matter your complexion, its a good idea to be mindful of how long you are in the sun. It may be tempting to sit on the beach in Jamaica for hours without a parasol or sunblock, but consequences could arise down the line. But, melanin does act as a natural guard against the suns harmful rays.

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The Fitzpatrick Scale Explained

In order to help them better understand how various skin tones respond to sunlight, dermatologists consult a chart called The Fitzpatrick Scale.

The scale is as follows:

Type One: Ivory skin that doesnt tan, frequently burns, and often freckles. Youll find people with this skin type in Northern Europe and the United Kingdom, especially Northern Ireland.

Type Two: Skin ranging from fair to pale. It burns often and only tans a little bit.

Type Three: Skin ranging from fair to beige. The skin sometimes burns and may tan.

Type Four: Olive skin that doesnt burn much, and is prone to tanning. Youll find people like this in central and Southern Europe. Italians living in southern regions of the country like Sicily and Sardinia, often have an olive complexion compared to those further north. There are also people in Asian countries like India and The Philippines with this complexion.

Type Five: Brown skin prone to further darken in the sun. People with this skin type are in much of the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and parts of the United States.

Type Six: Dark brown skin that almost never burns and frequently tans. Many African and Aboriginal people fall into this category.

RELATED: The Origins Of Black People With Blue Eyes
A woman raises her fist during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Queens, New York. Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images

When George Floyd was brutally murdered in the summer of 2020, a wave of activism spread throughout the country.

People protested. Anti-racism books became bestsellers. Diversity, equity and inclusion jobs increased by 55%, and the top 50 U.S. public companies pledged $49.5 billion to tackle racial justice issues.

At the same time of this racial reckoning, COVID-19 was disproportionately affecting communities of color in the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. In addition, anxiety and depression rates were rising rapidly among Black people.

As an assistant professor of practice in social work and the executive director of the nonprofit Coalition of Black Social Workers, I felt it was necessary to assess how Black social workers were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened racial tensions.

As social workers, we are trained mental health professionals who prioritize social justice.

But how do we cope when faced with the collective trauma of a global pandemic and the mental and emotional effects of racism?

A lack of empathy

My research team conducted a study to assess social workers symptoms of depression, anxiety, discrimination-related trauma and quality of life in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the systemic racism that led up to 2020.

The results showed that there was a significant increase in depression and anxiety among the 113 Black social work professionals we surveyed.

Arguably, a more surprising finding was that 85% of Black social workers were deeply disappointed in the lack of empathy shown to them from their white social work colleagues.

A Black social worker listens to a client. Silvia Jansen/Getty Images

One Black respondent discussed having a conversation with a white colleague about the racial protests and reported that the colleague was nonchalant and dismissive.

Another Black respondent recalled that their white social work supervisor did not offer any type of mental health support.

Black social workers expected compassion and empathy from their peers, but instead, their issues were met with minimization and dismissiveness. The results showed that they were disappointed and hurt by their colleagues lack of understanding.

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The limits of diversity efforts

The inauthentic behavior of some social workers to appear supportive and engaged in social justice issues  when they are not  is known as performative allyship.

In my view, this is akin to checking items off a list for the appearance of progress when the reality is far different.

Instead of Black social workers finding genuine support at their workplaces, our research found that many reported feeling disappointed and exhausted and chose to limit their workplace interactions with their white colleagues in order to protect themselves from further pain.

Where most Black social workers found the most support for their well-being and mental health is not surprising. Throughout 2020, 95% reported that family and close friends were critical to their well-being.

The limits of mere words

Since the 2020 racial reckoning, social workers have prided ourselves on working to eliminate social justice disparities.

Eliminating Racism, for instance, became an official grand challenge of social work in 2020. For its part, the National Association of Social Workers published two volumes of Undoing Racism in Social Work. In addition, the Council of Social Work Educations, anti-racism standards became a part of the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.

But as a profession, the use of terms such as anti-racism in book titles and standards alone means very little if Black social workers reported that they still feel neglected by their white colleagues.

When social work leaders are concerned more about writing statements of solidarity on social media or joining an anti-racism book club or checking another diversity box, Black social workers feel unseen, unheard and, worse, not important.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Carmen Reese Foster, University of Tennessee.

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Carmen Reese Foster is affiliated with the Coalition of Black Social Workers. I am the executive director of this non-profit.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to accompany President Joe Biden on his visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland this week before traveling to Vietnam and Japan, the State Department said on Monday.

Biden will visit the UK and Ireland from Tuesday to Friday.

Blinken will go on to Hanoi, where he will hold talks with Vietnamese officials and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the two countries' Comprehensive Partnership, the department said.

He will attend the G7 foreign ministers meeting in Karuizawa, Japan, where he and his counterparts will discuss a range of global issues, including Russias continued war against Ukraine, nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Vietnam this week in the latest bid to build relations with a growing US partner as tensions flare with China over Taiwan, the State Department said Monday.

Blinken will travel to Hanoi on his way to a Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting this weekend in the Japanese mountain resort of Karuizawa.

Blinken will "discuss our shared vision of a connected, prosperous, peaceful and resilient Indo-Pacific region," a State Department statement said.

Blinken will also participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new US embassy in Hanoi.

The United States has a growing relationship with Vietnam, including on defense, with the two countries largely reconciling despite bitter war memories.

Vietnam has longstanding tensions with China, whose own relations with the United States have deteriorated in recent years.

Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia and former ambassador to Hanoi, called the relationship one "founded on mutual respect."

"Washington and Hanoi are almost completely aligned on the kind of Indo-Pacific we want to see," Kritenbrink told reporters, "where large countries don't bully small countries."

The idea "is to take our partnership to the next level," Kritenbrink said.

He acknowledged, however, that the "picture was mixed" on human rights, a longstanding concern of Washington with the communist state, pointing to concerns about freedom of expression and freedom of religion.

China on Monday completed military drills around Taiwan in the latest show of force against the self-governing democracy after its president traveled to the United States.

Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will also meet Tuesday in Washington with their counterparts from the Philippines, which has agreed to strengthen military ties with Washington, its former colonial power.

It will be Blinken's first trip to Vietnam since becoming secretary of state, although Vice President Kamala Harris previously visited the country.

Blinken will head to Hanoi after joining President Joe Biden on a trip to Ireland including Northern Ireland.

sct-lb/dw
A 31-year-old Milwaukee woman was found shot to death inside her home last summer after multiple calls for help over the previous months.

Bobbie Lou Schoeffling repeatedly told authorities about allegations of domestic violence. Schoeffling told officers that the suspect, her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Howell, was a convicted felon still on supervision who had an open warrant for fleeing in Washington County.

But officers and probation agents did not arrest Howell until after her death. Howell recently was charged with first-degree reckless homicide in her death. He also faces charges of stalking and felony victim intimidation, as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct and battery. He did not enter a plea at his first court appearance. Before this case, he had never been charged with abusing Schoeffling.

The following timeline provides information about Schoefflings attempts to get help and Howell's past interactions with law enforcement. It was compiled from police reports, court documents, Wisconsin Department of Corrections documents and other public records, as well as family interviews.

Summer 2020

Schoeffling begins dating Howell, whom she met through Facebook.

June 12, 2020

Howell is taken into custody for a violation of probation after a woman called Department of Corrections agent Gerhard Vosswinkel and said the man had abused her daughter, leaving her bruised. When questioned by Vosswinkel, Howell denied the allegations. The victim denied he hurt her. Howell was released from his hold on June 18, 2020.

March 10, 2021

Germantown police stop Howell for driving with a suspended drivers license. He flees, leads officers on a chase and is not arrested. The Department of Corrections issues an apprehension warrant for Howell for a suspected violation of his extended supervision.

March 12, 2021

Department of Corrections agent Vosswinkel, who is monitoring Howell, receives a voicemail from a Germantown police officer about the recent traffic stop.

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July 30, 2021

Howell is charged with felony fleeing and misdemeanor obstructing in Washington County. A warrant is issued for his arrest on those criminal charges.

Oct. 9, 2021

Schoeffling calls Milwaukee police to report Howell punched her and slammed a pistol down on her sister's head. Howell left the area before police arrived. The officers, Arnisha Thomas, Kyle Kloety and Joshua Graminske, take her report. The officers do not classify this as a domestic violence incident, believing it did not meet the state definition. Officers Kloety and Graminske check two addresses for Howell and do not find him.

Oct. 20, 2021

Assistant District Attorney William Ackell does not issue charges against Howell.

Oct. 26, 2021

Vosswinkel, the state Department of Corrections agent who is monitoring Howell, receives information about a recent assault allegation against Howell.

Jan. 2, 2022

At 9:10 p.m., Butler Police Officer Kyle Knapp sees a black Mazda 3 at Kwik Trip with a broken brake light and a missing front license plate that he tries to pull over. The car drives away, turning into a Home Depot parking lot, before making a U-turn and speeding away. Knapp chases the car for three miles until calling off the pursuit in Milwaukee.

Jan. 6, 2022

Knapp sends Kwik Trip security photos to other police agencies and local media. New Berlin police use a facial recognition program. The results show the Mazda's driver matches photos of Schoeffling and the passenger matches photos of Howell.

March 15, 2022

Knapp, the Butler police officer, interviews Schoeffling about the chase that occurred in January. Schoeffling tells him she fled because her life was in jeopardy. She says her passenger had a gun and threatened to shoot her or the officer if she stopped. Knapp asks if the passenger was Howell. Schoeffling says no and provides a different name for the passenger.

April 13, 2022

Waukesha County Assistant District Attorney Andrea M. Will charges Schoeffling with a felony fleeing attempt, operating while revoked and two counts of bail jumping related to the Butler police chase. Howell faces no charges.

June 2, 2022

Schoefflings sister, Tia Schoeffling, calls 911 around 10:50 p.m. and says a man put a gun to her and she is concerned he will kill her for calling the police. Tia Schoeffling says the man is wanted by police and her sister is in danger. The call is disconnected. When an officer calls back, Tia Schoeffling says it doesnt matter because he is gone now and does not provide further information. Milwaukee Police Officers Aljaye Bicarie and Dominique Thompson check her sisters address on West Hampton Avenue. No one answers the door. They call back again and leave a voicemail.

July 11, 2022

At 9:21 p.m., a 911 caller tells police a friends boyfriend is hitting her. Officers Shaundae McIntosh and Michael Budziszewski respond and encounter Schoeffling and a friend. McIntosh's body camera captures officers asking Schoeffling the name of her ex-boyfriend and her reply: "I can't tell you guys because he really will come kill me. I've tried this before, I've tried this before and I'm sorry but like I can't ever."

The body camera also captures Schoeffling telling her friend: "He's gonna kill me." Dispatch records show the officers clear the call as "advised," meaning they did not have enough information to determine a crime was committed. The officers did not write a report.

At 10:45 p.m., Schoeffling calls 911 and says Howell is threatening to burn her house down, beat her and damage her car. Officers Gregory Carson Jr. and Shemar Moore respond and at 12:26 a.m., the officers clear the call with another "advised" label.

July 15, 2022

At 2:34 p.m., a woman calls Milwaukee police and reports that a man is beating her friend inside a car, in front of children. Less than an hour later, Schoeffling and that woman, a friend, walk into Milwaukee Police District 3, a station near the intersection of West Lisbon and North avenues, with Schoefflings two sons, ages 10 and 7. Schoeffling tells an officer at the front desk that Howell punched her, pulled her hair and took her keys. She describes him as "highly, highly dangerous" and says he has guns and goes on high-speed chases.

The officer who takes the report, Shawn Toms, asks if shes really going to follow through this time, referring to the earlier report filed in October, and says what happens next is up to her. She is given a lethality assessment and screens in as high-risk for fatal domestic violence. After Schoeffling leaves, Toms makes disparaging remarks about her, and two other unidentified officers at the front desk consider calling her probation agent.

Howell is not arrested that day. Dispatch records show officers are sent to check an address but do not find him.

July 18, 2022

Schoeffling calls 911 around midnight and says Howell, who is wanted by police, is outside her home with a gun and is throwing rocks at her window. Howell is gone when the officers arrive. Schoeffling tells Officers Ricky Lozano and Taylor Soltes she had an encounter earlier in the night with her ex-boyfriend in which he slapped her, pulled her hair and pointed a gun at her chest.

The officers give her a lethality assessment. She answers yes to every question.

At 12:57 a.m., Officers Blake Laufenberg and Charles Worthington check an address for Howell. They do not find him. At 2:21 a.m., Officers Juliana Nailen and Stephon Roby check the address again and do not find him.

July 18, 2022

Someone calls Vosswinkel, Howell's agent with the Department of Corrections, and reports Howell is armed with a gun, which is illegal with his previous felony conviction. The caller gives two locations where he might be and gives other information but the Department of Corrections blacked out the details, citing victim privacy.

In a later interview with the Journal Sentinel, Tia Schoeffling says she witnessed her sister calling Vosswinkel, telling him about the abuse and saying she feared her ex-boyfriend was going to kill her. She does not recall an exact date, but says the call occurred in summer 2022 and was one of the last times she saw her sister alive.

July 18, 2022

Prosecutor Foley Van Lieshout reviews the assault Schoeffling reported at District 3 and decides not to issue charges.

July 19, 2022

Assistant District Attorney Elaine Fehrs receives a referral from Milwaukee police about the case in which Schoeffling said Howell was outside her house with a gun and was throwing rocks at the windows.

July 20, 2022

Vosswinkel, the Department of Corrections agent tasked with monitoring Howell, receives a written statement about recent incidents with offender who has an active warrant. The agency redacted the name of the person who wrote the statement.

July 26, 2022

Schoeffling is found dead with multiple gunshot wounds inside her Hampton Avenue home. Her death is ruled a homicide.

The last domestic violence case is still awaiting a charging decision from prosecutors.

July 27, 2022

Police arrest Howell at a residence in West Allis.

March 17, 2023

Assistant District Attorney Michael Schindhelm charges Howell with first-degree reckless homicide in Schoeffling's death. Howell also faces charges of stalking, felony intimidation of a victim, misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A timeline of Bobbie Lou Schoeffling asking law enforcement for help
BOCA RATON  Retail giant Office Depot is selling a portion of its campus headquarters space in a joint $104 million deal with Pebb Enterprises and BH Group.

Pebb Enterprises, a real estate development and investment firm based in Boca Raton, has been purchasing a number of commercial real estate properties in the Boca area the past few years. Office Depot, also based in Boca Raton, purchased the 651,265-squarefoot complex at 6600 North Military Trail for $132 million in 2017. It was built in 2008, records show.

The transaction includes an agreement to lease back a significant portion of the campus to Office Depot, according to a spokesperson representing both groups.

Office Depot agreed to a long-term lease back for 285,000 square feet as part of the transaction, which closed on April 5.

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City National Bank provided acquisition financing to the joint venture. Financial details were not disclosed.

We are excited to team up with BH Group on this incredible acquisition, PEBB President and CEO Ian Weiner said. The campus can accommodate the pent-up demand for Boca Raton office space from both established and new-to-market companies.

Aventura-based BH Group and PEBB are partnering on several South Florida investments, and the companies plan to implement a substantial capital improvements program to upgrade the Office Depot campus.

Office Depot headquarters in Boca Raton

This acquisition is a true win/win for our partnership, Isaac Toledano of BH Group said. It enables a major employer to remain headquartered in Boca Raton, while unlocking the vast potential of the remaining office space and overall property.

Office Depot reported revenue of $8.49 billion for 2022, a steady downward trend from a peak of $16.1 billion reported for 2013. In 2013, the company bought retail rival OfficeMax and four years later it purchased technology firm, CompuCom.

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Office Depot then negotiated a deal to sell to larger competitor Staples, but that was ultimately rejected by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

The company is a long-time, prominent player in Palm Beach County's business scene. It's one of only two Fortune 500 companies headquartered here and is the ninth biggest revenue generator among South Florida public companies, according to the South Florida Business Journal. The retailer has employed as many as 2,000 workers at its home office and has received millions in state and local incentives to maintain its headquarters in the county.

As with many big companies, however, office space isn't needed as much because of a shift in work-from-home policy many corporations have granted workers since the COVID-19 pandemic. That, along with the fact that business supplies aren't needed as much prompted Office Depot to reposition itself as a seller of business services.

The digitization of work along with Amazon, Walmart and Target entering the business supply arena has also hurt sales.

Palm Beach Post correspondent Maddy Rubin contributed to this report.

James Coleman is a journalist at the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at jcoleman@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Pebb Enterprises, BH buy Office Depot HQ space for $104 million
FORT SMITH, Ark.  The bodies of a father and son, whose kayaks were found in an Arkansas lake in March, have been recovered from the lake nearly a month after the pair went missing, authorities reported Sunday.

Charles "Chuck" Morris V, and his son Charles "Charley" Morris IV, were on spring break when they went missing March 16 on Beaver Lake in the Ozark mountains of northwest Arkansas.

Chuck Morris, 47, was the drummer for the band Lotus based in Denver, while Charley, 20, was a student at Ohio Wesleyan University. The pair had not been seen since their disappearance on March 16 while on a family spring break trip to Beaver Lake.

24 days of search efforts

After 24 days of recovery efforts, the bodies were recovered "thanks to the technology and efforts by all personnel," the Benton County Sheriff's Office reports.

The search involved authorities from multiple states and underwater technology used at depths of more than 180 feet, the sheriff's office reported.

"Our heart goes out the family of Chuck and Charley Morris and we are thankful today that we can help bring closure," a Benton County sheriff's office post reads.

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Father-son pair went missing on family vacation

The father and son went missing after going kayaking in the Lost Bridge area of the lake east of Rogers near Lost Bridge Village.

Charley, a college sophomore from Kansas City, Missouri, went out on the lake with his fathe before a storm March 16, according to the Kansas City Star. Charley and Chuck were on the lake while Charley's mother, Jennifer Thompson, and his sister, Amelia, 12, went into town.

That afternoon, when the pair didn't come back as expected, Thompson and Amelia searched for their family members before reporting them missing to authorities.

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Remembrances from OWU, Lotus

On March 21, Ohio Wesleyan posted Charley's photo on its Instagram account, stating that the university community was "heartbroken" after authorities collected strong evidence the student and his father drowned.

He will be remembered for his love for his family and the outdoors, his talent as a runner in cross country and track, his service as a Bishop Scholar tutor in local elementary schools, his dedication to his classwork, and his participation with OWUs chamber orchestra," said Ohio Wesleyan President Rock Jones in a message to campus. "Most of all, he will be remembered at OWU as a beloved friend."

"Thank you all for the outpour of support from around the world  we feel it and love you just as much!" the band Lotus, which identifies its genre as "jam/electronica/house," posted on its Instagram Sunday. "We look forward to meeting many of the Lotus fans at the upcoming benefit concerts in Denver, Harrisburg, and New York."

"While we are deeply grieving, we plan to celebrate Chuck and Charley's lives, our memories with them, and what they meant to so many people," the band said in a previous post.

Contributing: Danae King, Columbus Dispatch; Jay Cannon, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Chuck, Charley Morris: Missing duo's bodies found in Arkansas lake
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP)  Two roadside bombs hours apart targeted police vehicles in volatile southwestern Pakistan on Monday killing at least four people and wounding 22, mostly civilian pedestrians, a government spokesperson said.

The first attack in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, killed two police officers and two civilians. Hours later, another bomb in the city went off near a police vehicle, wounding four people, police said.

In a statement, the outlawed Baluchistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the first attack. The BLA, which was designated a terrorist group by the United States in 2019, said its fighters targeted the vehicle of a police officer who was behind the arrest of members of the group.

Although such attacks are common, t he Pakistani Taliban have also stepped up assaults on troops and police across Pakistan since November, when they ended a monthslong cease-fire with the government.

Pakistan has been battling an insurgency in Baluchistan for more than a decade, with separatists in the province demanding complete autonomy or a larger share of the provinces gas and mineral resources.

Monday's attack in Quetta comes days after Pakistan said its top intelligence agency arrested Gulzar Imam, who is also known by the name Shambay, and was the militant founder and leader of another banned group, the Baluch Nationalist Army. The BNA is an umbrella group for Baluch insurgents formed after two main insurgent groups merged: The Baluch Republican Army and United Baluch Army.

In separate statements, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Baluchistan chief minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo condemned the attack. They asked authorities to provide the best possible medical care to the wounded.

The Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, have claimed previous such attacks in Baluchistan and elsewhere. The militant group is separate from, but allied with, the Afghan Taliban.

The latest attack comes a day after the TTP shot and killed two police officers in Quetta. One of the assailants was also killed when police returned fire after coming under attack in the city Sunday night.
Police in Boston have launched an investigation after a boy walking in his living room was struck by stray gunfire on Sunday night, authorities said.

Officers responding to a report of a shooting in the area of 580 Cummins Highway in Mattapan around 10 p.m. found a boy suffering from a gunshot wound to his left leg, according to the Boston Police Department.

The 12-year-olds stepmother, Altagracia Lorenzo, told Boston 25 News that the bullet entered their home through a window. She said shell never forget her stepsons screams.

Dont let me die. Dont let me die. Alta, Alta! she remembers him saying.

The child was taken to Boston Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. He is expected to be OK. The bullet hit the 7th grader in the leg.

That bullet came, and he started screaming, I thought he was joking. My leg, my leg, my leg. And he fell down over there, Altragracia showed Boston 25s Bob Ward.

Another bullet narrowly missed Altagracia and her daughter while they were cleaning in the kitchen.

Investigators observed a ballistic hole in the living room window and additional bullet damage to a vehicle parked outside.

Boston Police believe the 12-year-old victim was not likely the intended target, but instead a victim of random violence.

Bullets dont have eyes. They go almost anywhere at any time. And guns are an issue in this country, and we have to work harder to do something about that, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said this shooting has left her frustrated.

The violence cannot stand in the city of Boston. It is unacceptable that any young person would have any thought on their mind of needing to worry about this, said Mayor Wu.

Back in Mattapan, Altagracia says this violence has shattered her familys sense of safety in Boston, and shes worried about her stepson.

He said I dont want to go back. From the hospital, he said, I dont want to go back. I am scared. How I got to deal with this? I need to get out of here.

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A subsequent search of the neighborhood for possible suspects or witnesses proved unsuccessful.

There were no additional details immediately available.

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
HBO

Scottish actor Brian Cox has logged one of the most acclaimed runs on contemporary prestige TV as Logan Roy, the terrifying patriarchy of Waystar Royco on HBOs Succession, before a dramatic turn of events this weekend inarguably changed things forever.

Logan was killed off on Sunday nights episode, the third of the fourth and final season, expiring pathetically from cardiac arrest in an private airplane bathroom while his children Kendall, Shiv, Roman and Connor spiral helplessly below at Connors nautical wedding.

Audiences freaked out, but Cox himself either saw his characters death coming or is categorically unbothered as a person.

When youre playing a part that is removed in that way, yeah, it has an effect on you, Cox said, in an interview filmed by HBO that immediately followed the third episodes final credits. You feel, Hang on, this is one of the greatest pieces of work Ive ever been involved in. And suddenly its no more, but it also reflects what our existence is about, because were here for a time and then were gone.

[Armstrong] called me, and he said, Logans going to die, Cox told the New York Times in a call last week. And I thought, Oh, thats fine. I thought he would die in about Episode 7 or 8, but Episode 3, I thought  Well thats a bit early. Not that I was bothered.

Logan was coming to a rest point anyway, Cox added. He realized that his children were never going to behes got that great line when he says, I love you, but youre not serious people. And I think that is so fundamental.

The actor also commended Armstrongs decision to end the series with Season 4, before it was past its sell-by dateunlike so much other American TV. I applaud the fact that he did that, Cox said. It was courageous because everybody loves the show. Always leave the party when its at its height, not when its going down.

The reason for Logans death, Cox told Vulture, was obvious. Its about succession. You need a corpse.

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To be fair, there was one other cast member who was not surprised by the major plot twist, as revealed in the after-show featurette. When Jeremy Strong, who plays Kendall, found out Logans death would drive the episode, he deadpanned, I wasnt terribly surprised. I thought it made sense dramaturgically.

One person who didnt take things as smoothly was J. Smith-Cameron, who plays Logans right-hand woman Gerri Kellman.

I was there, and Im still in shock#SuccessionHBO  J. Smith-Cameron (@j_smithcameron) April 10, 2023

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A British surveillance plane was nearly shot down by a Russian fighter jet last year, according to information in a trove of apparent Pentagon documents leaked online in recent days.

The Washington Post reports that a leaked document refers to a near shoot-down of UK RJ, referring to a United Kingdom reconnaissance plane, that occurred on Sept. 29 of last year.

The incident was described last year by UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace as Russia accidentally releasing a missile near the British aircraft due to a technical malfunction, according to a Reuters report.

We dont consider this a deliberate escalation by the Russians, our analysis would concur it was a malfunction, Wallace reportedly said at the time.

The Washington Post now reports the near-miss was more serious than initially described, especially because of the potential implications of a hypothetical Russian strike against a NATO member.

Under Article 5 of NATOs treaty, an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against the alliance as a whole.

Russia has shown little desire to expand the war beyond Ukraines borders, however a missile that fell in Poland caused a brief scare before the U.S. and NATO concluded it was a Ukrainian defensive weapon gone awry.

The Department of Defense said Sunday that its reviewing the leaked documents to assess their validity, and that the matter has also been referred to the Department of Justice for investigation.

The documents also reveal US assessment of the war in Ukraine and information gleaned from American spying on allies such as Israel and South Korea.

Israel reacted angrily to a document suggesting that leaders of its spy agency were involved in fomenting anti-government demonstrations last month, while South Koreas presidential office said it would raise the leaks with Washington.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BROCKTON  The co-defendant in a 2020 Belmont Avenue slaying pleaded guilty Friday to charges he participated in the killing, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced.

Takari Elliot, 31, pleaded guilty to one count each of manslaughter and attempted assault and battery by discharge of a firearm in Brockton Superior Court.

Presiding judge William Sullivan sentenced Elliot to serve three to five years in state prison followed by two years of probation.

On Oct. 13, 2020, Manuel Duarte, 25, was shot and killed in Brockton and the police alleged Marvin A. Veiga Jr. and Elliot were responsible for the shooting after their investigation.

Brockton and state police detectives assigned to the Plymouth County district attorney's office investigate at the scene of a fatal shooting near 94 Belmont Ave. in Brockton, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020.

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Police responded to the area of 94 Belmont Ave. after ShotSpotter, the citys electronic gunfire detection system, alerted police to 10 gunshots about 7:35 p.m. Police also received multiple 911 calls reporting a shooting.

"Upon arrival, police located a 25-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound," the Plymouth County district attorney's office said in a written statement.

After the shooting, Elliot was apprehended and charged, but Veiga was not, the district attorney's office said.

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Veiga was still at large and wanted in connection to Duarte's death months after the fatal shooting in Brockton, and in March 2021, he was added to the State Police's Most Wanted fugitives list. At the time, State Police said he was "considered armed and dangerous" and had "extensive ties to Boston."

A month later, Veiga was shot and killed by a metro Nashville, Tennessee, police officer named Christopher Royer after Veiga "advanced on the officer brandishing a large butcher knife in each of his hands," a written statement from the district attorney's office said.

Metro Nashville police released video footage of the incident from the officer's body-worn camera.

Staff writer Namu Sampath can be reached at nsampath@enterprisenews.com. Thank you, subscribers. You make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Brockton Enterprise.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Takari Elliot pleads guilty in slaying of Brockton's Manuel Duarte
The Kennedys

The Kennedys, husband-and-wife folk-rock/ Americana duo, will be performing April 15 at the Odell Williamson Auditorium.

Listen Up Brunswick County and Brunswick Arts Council present The Kennedys, husband-and-wife, folk-rock/ Americana duo, will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15 at the Odell Williamson Auditorium, on the campus of Brunswick Community College, 150 College Road, N.E., Bolivia. Doors open at 7 p.m.

General admission, $25. Tickets available at https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/8275506/the-kennedys-supply-brunswick-community-college-odell-williamson-auditorium.

Brunswick Little Theatre

Brunswick Little Theatre announces auditions for "Drinking Habits," a fast-paced, door-slamming, mistaken-identity farce by Tom Smith. Auditions will be held 6-8 p.m. April 13-14 and 3-5 p.m. April 16 at 8068 River Road, Southport.

Auditions consist of cold readings from the script. The cast is three men, ages 20-70+, and five women, ages 20-70+.

For more information, contact Rosina Whitfield at 336-549-2476.

Kayak adventures along the Cape Fear

Leland Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources presents Kayak along the Intracoastal Waterway to Shark Tooth Island, 4-7 p.m. Friday, April 14, or Eagles Island Sunrise paddle, 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 18. The cost is $60. Program fee includes supplies. Register in person at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way, Leland or online at https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/townofleland/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=kayak%20adventure%20&viewMode=list.

Gin Fizz will be playing jazz music on April 14 at the Leland Cultural Arts Center.

Live jazz and swing

Put on your dancing shoes as you enjoy all of your favorites jazz music with Gin Fizz. The event begins at 7 p.m. Friday, April 14 at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way, Leland. The cost is $15. A swing dance lesson begins at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazz-and-swing-night-tickets-518945137877?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb.

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More: The 'Cadillac' of Brunswick: After promises of grand homes, owners left with huge losses

More: Brunswick County won't support major investment in baseball stadium. Here's why.

More: Brunswick towns grapple with tax rates after county revaluations. Here's what to know.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Dosher Memorial Hospital will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday, April 14 at the Jaycee Building at 309 N. Fodale Ave., Southport. Community members who would like to donate blood are encouraged to sign up online at https://www.redcrossblood.org/ and enter in zip code 28461 in the Find a Blood Drive search tool, then click on "Jaycee Building." All donors are welcome. Please bring a photo ID.

For more information, call 910-762-2683 or visit RedCrossBlood.org.

One-day boating course

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 10-05 (Southport/Oak Island/Shallotte) presents the boating course Boat American Class.

The one-day beginner boating course covers topics such as nomenclature, required equipment, operating legally and safely, navigating through the waterways, emergency procedures and more.

The class will be held 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 15 at the Brunswick Electric Membership Corp., 795 Ocean Highway West, Supply.

The cost is $35 per person or $30 each for two or more, payable by check or cash at the door.

To register or for more information contact Dawn Smith at CGAuxSafeBoating@ec.rr.com.

STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the areas latest Brunswick County news by signing up for the Brunswick Today newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Brunswick events this week include The Kennedys at Odell Williamson
Boston University Police say they are confident there is no threat to the public after officials received a call for an active shooter on campus early Sunday evening.

Although we are still investigating, at this time we are confident that there is no threat to our community. Officers will continue to be vigil, BU Police said in a tweet.

BU ALERT: A short time ago, BUPD received several calls for an active shooter situation at multiple locations. Although we are still investigating, at this time we are confident that there is no threat to our community. Officers will continue to be vigil https://t.co/CxKsg4N5oh  BU Police Department (@BUPolice) April 10, 2023

Students and members of the community were first alerted to the possibility of an active shooter on campus at 8 p,.m., when BU PD said they were investigating the reports at 855 Commonwealth Avenue and 233 Bay State Road.

BU ALERT: Two calls for an active shooter have been received by BU Police in the area of 855 Commonwealth Ave and 233 Bay State Road. Nothing has been discovered at this time, but there is a heavy police presence in these areas. An update will be sent out https://t.co/aYeRP2ObDK  BU Police Department (@BUPolice) April 10, 2023

Boston University alerts are viewable at this link.

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
Have we had enough yet?

Exactly two weeks after a deranged shooter killed six people in Nashville, three of them precious, innocent children, a deranged shooter killed four people in Louisville (the shooter also died), and sent eight more to the hospital.

There have been 131 mass shootings  defined as more than four people dead or injured  THIS YEAR alone, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Almost 10,000 people have died from guns since Jan. 1.

Today made 132. The archive updated its numbers as police gave their final reports.

A tsunami of thoughts and prayers from politicians will now roll down, hoping to drown us in distraction from the fact that they could stop this if they wanted to.

If we made them.

How many dead bodies ripped apart by bullets are enough? Does this have to go on until every family in America has lost someone to gun violence? Maybe that could be a high enough threshold for the insane death cult started by the National Rifle Association and upheld by so many of our elected officials.

So when will we have had enough? America, the great and good superpower, looks less and less exceptional on every front, but most of all its because any public or private space can at any minute turn into a shooting gallery. Why is that ok with so many people?

Kentuckys own politicians spent most of this past session freaking out about threats to our children from liberal grooming, whatever that means, while ignoring the single biggest threat to their lives.

Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville was one of the rare dissenters. On Monday she tweeted: It is time to address common sense gun legislation. KY requires all guns confiscated in the state to be resold on the open market. Will not even discuss red flag laws in the legislature. No office of gun safety. Thoughts and prayers are not enough! It is past time for action.

Firearms are now the leading cause of death for children. How can that even be?

A death cult

We dont yet know much about the motives of the Louisville shooting. But it doesnt matter.

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Its the guns.

Its not about anything else, not mental illness, not gender identity, not politics, not social media.

Its the guns. Right now, we have almost 400 million weapons in this country. Thats more guns than people.

Americans want more common sense gun control measures, like better background checks, but the corrupt figures at the NRA have too much power over our politicians. When two Black representatives in Tennessee took to the House floor with a bullhorn to bring attention to this fact, the GOP majority expelled them.

But once again, gerrymandered political districts do not represent the will of the people, who are sick of seeing people, children, die for nothing but a perverted misunderstanding of our founding fathers. If they could see us now, they would be horrified. How could so many people given so much be so incredibly stupid, and pig-headed not to save themselves and their children?

Maybe there is simply no number of dead bodies that are too many for some twisted sense of freedumb and entitlement that we have.

This column is what we call an evergreen, in that the same one has to be written over and over again. After Uvalde, when 19 children were slaughtered in an elementary school, I wrote: We can stop this. But it takes enough of us to overcome our torpor, our hopelessness, our inertia, our willingness to believe the lies of the NRA and their worthless ilk. We dont have to be gaslit anymore to believe a good guy with a gun is better than no guns. (Good guys with guns were on the scene at Uvalde and couldnt stop the shooter.)

I also quoted the heroic Shannon Watts, one of the founders of Moms Demand Action, a gun control group. Mass shootings are not acts of nature, like a hurricane, she pointed out. Theyre man-made acts of inaction, of cowardice, of corruption by all lawmakers who refuse to pass laws PROVEN BY DATA to stop preventable, senseless shootings like in Uvalde.

This one is closer to home. We can do something. We have to do something. Ive had enough. Have you?

Heres the site for Moms Demand Action in Ky: https://www.facebook.com/MomsDemandActionKY/.
This year has been one of severe hardship for many San Joaquin Valley farm workers.

First came the flooding. It began in January in Planada, a small community east of Merced where agricultural workers have lived for decades. Miles Creek overflowed and water flooded into neighborhoods, forcing 4,000 people to be evacuated.

Then, in March, flooding concerns developed in various communities in Tulare County as heavier flows occurred in the Tule, Kaweah and Kings rivers and the long-dry Tulare Lake began reforming. The towns of Alpaugh and Allensworth were particularly threatened, though some flooding occurred in Lindsay when a creek there overflowed its banks.

In the wake of the storms, families have witnessed their residences feet-deep in water. Property has been damaged or ruined. Units have become uninhabitable. Even documentation has been lost for those who had such important paperwork.

Many people dont have anything, is how Mari Perez-Ruiz, executive director of the Central Valley Empowerment Alliance, sums it up.

In a bit of cruel irony, landlords often tell their tenants to clean up the units themselves without providing the necessary supplies, she said.

Mother Nature has created other problems. With all of the storms, field work has been hard to come by. Perez-Ruiz said workers she has recently counseled generated earnings for just a handful of days. We have a few reporting only four days of labor for this month (March). The rents still have to be paid, the utilities have to be paid.

Now comes the specter of more flooding as snow begins to melt. Concerns are that any spell of warmer weather will send runoff rushing down rivers into Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties. The more that vineyards, orchards and fields are submerged, the less chance there will be for employment and earnings.

Government help

Gov. Newsom succeeded in getting the federal government to declare parts of California as major disaster areas; federal relief funding is now available to help people in seven counties, including Tulare.

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Newsom said that farm workers who do not qualify for federal help due to immigration status can receive assistance from the state Department of Social Services. The agency will work through local governments and nonprofits to provide disaster relief and case management.

Merced Countys outreach to 45 flooded-out Planada families involved developing short-term housing plans. Those families had been staying at the Felix Torres Migrant Center, but have since been re-housed. Mike North, a representative for Merced County, said each housing plan is unique to the individual, with some cases including temporary shelter at hotels, while others involve staying with family, returning home or finding a new residence.

Such steps are valuable in meeting immediate needs. But the specter of unhoused and unemployed farmworkers remains if work does not materialize.

Providing benefits

To deal with that possibility, state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, has introduced a bill known as the Excluded Workers Program, which would allow undocumented workers to receive unemployment benefits for two years.

As reported by Bee staff writer Laura S. Diaz, Newsom vetoed a similar proposal last year, citing the multimillion-dollar cost to update the Employment Development Departments information technology systems. Approximately 1.1 million workers in California are undocumented, and collectively they contribute $3.7 billion in state and local tax revenues, reported UC Merceds Community and Labor Center.

Our community is affected by not having access to unemployment benefits, said Armando Celestino, a Triqui interpreter with the Centro Binacional para el Desarollo Indigena Oaxaqueno (CBDIO), or the Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities. We want this to change.

Durazos bill would provide undocumented workers with $300 weekly for up to 20 weeks of unemployment.

Fresno Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula attended a recent meeting with community advocates and farm workers at Fresno City Hall to advocate for safety net benefits for all Californians. He pledged to support Durazos bill.

A rally in support of safety-net programs for undocumented workers is planned at the state Capitol in Sacramento next Thursday, April 13.

Providing unemployment help to undocumented people may seem radical to some. But keep in the mind the critical work such employees do in California. Theirs are the jobs no one else wants. California cannot function without them. One example: They kept food supplies flowing during the pandemic.

The Legislature should approve unemployment benefits for the states undocumented workers, and Newsom should sign it into law this time. Their year has been harsh enough.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that the state has secured a two-million pill stockpile of the medication abortion drug misoprostol. His announcement comes days after a Texas-based federal judge ordered a stay on another abortion medication, mifepristone.

While mifepristone is taken as part of a two-drug regimen, misoprostol can be safely used on its own, Newsoms office said.

Doctors, however, prefer the use of mifepristone and misoprostol together, according to the World Health Organization. Misoprostol alone is less effective than the combined regimen, according to a WHO handbook.

Newsom has blasted U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk for his decision to suspend approval of mifepristone, which has been available since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration first approved it in 2000.

In a Monday statement, Newsom called the decision an extremist ban and said that Californians will continue to have access to safe reproductive health treatments with the new stockpile.

We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services. Medication abortion remains legal in California, Newsom said in a Monday statement.

The drug stockpile was purchased by CalRx, the states prescription drug program, which makes the pill available to pharmacies through the website abortion.ca.gov.

In addition, Newsoms office said that the state will keep Medi-Cal providers informed about continued reimbursement for medication abortion using misoprostol. It will also remind health plans in California that state statute requires coverage of all other types of abortion and abortion-related services, including misoprostol.

Mondays announcement was applauded by California legislative leaders, Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood.

With the legal future of mifepristone uncertain, taking early action to make sure we are well-supplied with misoprostol will mean continued access to reproductive healthcare for Californians across the state, Rendon said in a statement.
L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath speaks at a news conference in response to a federal judge's recent ruling against the abortion medication mifepristone. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that California will stockpile an emergency supply of 2 million abortion pills known as misoprostol in response to a federal judge in Texas ruling against the authorization of another medication that has been used to terminate pregnancies for decades.

In response to this extremist ban on a medication abortion drug, our state has secured a stockpile of an alternative medication abortion drug to ensure that Californians continue to have access to safe reproductive health treatments," Newsom said in a statement. "We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services. Medication abortion remains legal in California.

The announcement follows U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's ruling Friday that aims to nullify the federal Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, an abortion medication that has helped millions of women to medically end their early pregnancies. The judge gave seven days for the ruling to go into effect, and the Biden administration is appealing the decision.

Newsom said the judge's ruling "ignores facts, science, and the law" in a way that puts "the health of millions of women and girls at risk."

Abortion is still legal and accessible here in California and we wont stand by as fundamental freedoms are stripped away," he said.

Newsom's announcement is the latest escalation in the feud between Republican- and Democratic-led states over abortion access since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark federal abortion rights case Roe vs. Wade in June. Over the last year, some states run by Democrats have strengthened their laws to keep abortion legal, while a number of those with Republicans in power have narrowed access to the procedure or, in some cases, completely banned it.

California is one of 21 states that recently formed the so-called Reproductive Freedom Alliance to protect and expand reproductive health care. Last year, California enacted more than a dozen new laws to protect and increase access to abortion and provide more funding for services and outreach. Voters approved a ballot measure in November to codify abortion rights in the state Constitution, ensuring that California remains a haven for those seeking an abortion.

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"I think for the national landscape, Newsom is clearly creating a contrast," said Robin Swanson, a Democratic political strategist. "I dont think its going to change the hearts and minds on the Supreme Court, but I do think it provides a sense of security for women seeking these healthcare services across the country, that there is a place for them to go while the national debate seems to simmer on."

Newsom has relished his confrontational approach over the last year, including sponsoring billboards in seven states with restrictive abortion laws, telling women there that California "will defend your right to make decisions about your own health."

Mifepristone is used in conjunction with misoprostol as a common abortion option for women in the United States, and research has shown the regime is safe and effective. The two-pill procedure can be substituted by a misoprostol-only option, though that can be less effective.

Although the two-pill procedure is preferred, Newsom's office acknowledged, the state is in the process of purchasing up to 2 million misoprostol pills as the currently available backup plan to keep abortion easily accessible in California. More than 250,000 pills have arrived in the state, according to a Newsom administration statement announcing the deal.

Washington and Massachusetts have taken recent steps to build up their own supplies of mifepristone as a way to avoid the immediate ramifications of the ruling. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said April 4 that the state had purchased a three-year supply of the drug, while Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Monday that 15,000 doses are on their way.

Julia Spiegel, Newsom's deputy legal affairs secretary, said the decision to boost California's misoprostol stock provides "immediate assurance" to those seeking abortion care in California. And unlike mifepristone, it's not in the crosshairs of current litigation.

"No matter whats happening in the courts right now, you can use misoprostol," Spiegel said.

Antiabortion advocates, who on Friday celebrated the Texas judge's decision, denounced Newsom's effort to keep abortion medication available in California.

It is appalling that Gavin Newsom is so obsessed with ending the lives of children in the womb that he is attempting to stockpile dangerous and potentially illegal drugs," California Family Council President Jonathan Keller said in a statement. "California again proves the only 'choice' they care about is abortion.

Meanwhile, a federal judge in Washington issued a separate ruling Friday that ordered the FDA not to make any changes to the availability of mifepristone, setting up a legal battle expected to reach the Supreme Court.

The competing decisions underscored the impact of the legal strategy of filing a lawsuit in a particular court in hopes that a friendly judge will hear the case. While a Trump-appointed judge issued the decision in Texas, where an antiabortion group filed its lawsuit seeking to roll back the FDA's approval of mifepristone, an Obama appointee ruled to maintain the status quo of its use in a suit brought by 18 Democratic attorneys general.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass and County Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Lindsey Horvath held a news conference Monday morning with Planned Parenthood Los Angeles leaders to affirm the county's role as a "safe haven" for abortion rights in the wake of the Texas court decision.

Both supervisors described the Texas decision as a tactic by antiabortion advocates to stoke fear and confusion around healthcare access. Mitchell called the decision "a disgrace" and said it "has no immediate impact on abortion and reproductive health services here in Los Angeles County."

"Let it be clear," Horvath said. "Anyone who comes to Los Angeles County will be safe. You will be protected. And this is what happens when we have a woman mayor and all women on the Board of Supervisors."

Less clear is what may happen with mifepristone access in the county if the Texas ruling stands, effectively halting FDA approval of the medication nationwide.

"We don't know what comes next," Planned Parenthood Los Angeles President and CEO Sue Dunlap said, adding that they would continue to ensure that women have access to medication abortions regardless of the confusion.

"Will mifepristone still be available in L.A. County in the foreseeable future? Yes. Will all the things you're afraid are going to happen potentially happen? Yes. Do I wish I could give you a definitive answer about what comes next? Yes," Dunlap said.

Should FDA approval be overturned, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department "will not cooperate with attempts to prosecute people who are seeking abortion care," Sheriff Robert Luna said in a statement read by Celinda Vazquez, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles' chief external affairs officer.

Los Angeles County law enforcement will also not prosecute decisions regarding individual reproductive care, said Joseph Iniguez, Dist. Atty. George Gascons chief of staff.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
On military bases around the country, the experiences are frustratingly similar for families living in homes that are run by private housing companies.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Unsafe living conditions like mold, bug infestations and structural problems cast a shadow over their daily lives, while leading to health concerns for these military families.

READ: Exclusive: Senators launch inquiry into health impact on military families in unsafe housing

Raven Roman was living in on-base housing at Fort Belvoir in Virginia with her three daughters and husband in 2018 when they first started experiencing housing problems.

The mattresses that we were sleeping on had ants crawling on them, said Roman. My daughters chair was swarmed with ants.

Roman said they worried about the health impact from the mold most of all.

She provided us with records from 2019 when she got testing done at the home that found the presence of water damage molds.

The health concerns for my family had become so severe that we ended up moving my family from the home that we were living in to a hotel, said Roman.

Her husband is now retired from the U.S. Army after serving in five deployments over his 20-year career, according to Roman.

Its a slap in the face to the service member that nothing is being done, said Roman. Its affecting their readiness.

We told you about other families who have also faced housing problems while living at Fort Belvoir.

A spokesperson for the Michaels Organization, which operates homes on Fort Belvoir, declined to comment about concerns raised by Roman and other military spouses we spoke with last month who all said they endured housing problems at Fort Belvoir.

Romans personal experience with unsafe living conditions on-base inspired her to become a co-founder of the nonprofit group National Military Housing Advocates, which was formed in 2019.

They volunteer their time to help other military families like them navigate the process of flagging housing problems and getting it fixed.

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This is a systemic issue, said Roman.

READ: Why is it acceptable?: Military families push for accountability for base housing problems

We caught up with members of the nonprofit who traveled to Capitol Hill to speak directly with lawmakers and their staffers about their concerns.

We have lived in three back-to-back duty stations and each house that we have lived in on base housing has had some form of mold problems, said Alacia Camechis, who is a military spouse and a veteran.

Her husband is in the Navy, and she is a Navy veteran.

Camechis said her family has experienced housing problems at homes on Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut, Fort Belvoir, and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia.

They have four children, including a son with autism, and Camechis said she worries for her kids health and safety the most.

My kids would wake up with rashes all over their body, said Camechis. It was like we were just never ever healthy living there.

Naval Submarine Base New London and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay are both run by Balfour Beatty Communities, which operates more than 43,000 on-base homes in 26 states.

In response to Camechis concerns about the Kings Bay home, a spokesperson for Balfour Beatty Communities said: We are surprised by Mrs. Camechis complaints Before the Camechis moved into their home at Kings Bay they expressed concern about the HVAC system. Based on its age, we decided to replace the entire system before the family moved in, which they did in January 2023. Since then they have placed a series of work orders, all related to routine repairs and cosmetic issues like gutter clearing, exterior pressure washing, bathroom recaulking, paint touch ups, and screen door repairs. Our maintenance team has been working diligently to complete the work We take the health and safety of our residents very seriously and would be happy to speak with the family to better understand their concerns.

Camechis, meanwhile, points out that the HVAC was replaced after her family raised maintenance concerns about it.

Correspondence with the housing company confirms the Camechis family was placed in a hotel temporarily after initially signing the lease because of the HVAC issue and other housing problems they raised.

READ: Senators ask Defense Dept. to end use of non-disclosure agreements in privatized military housing

Camechis also provided correspondence with the housing company about her Kings Bay home detailing at least 25 housing problems that were reported for fixes including deteriorating and crumbling kitchen cabinets, repairs for the HVAC, and cracks on the stairwell ceiling among other issues.

Emails show some of these needed repairs were still not completed as of April, around four months after they moved into the home.

As for the concerns at the home in New London, Balfour Beatty Communities said there was one work order related to mold, which was in an exterior storage shed.

We told you how Balfour Beatty Communities was at the center of a bipartisan Senate investigation last year led by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) that uncovered widespread housing complaints against the company.

If we keep incentivizing housing companies for poor houses, for no maintenance, for all these things, were going to keep losing military members, said Stephanie Graham, another member of the military housing advocacy group.

Grahams husband is now retired from the Navy, but they previously lived in on-base housing at Andrews Air Force Base and Fort Belvoir.

Graham told our Washington News Bureau her daughter experienced health issues after repeated problems with mold at their housing.

Nose bleeds, allergic pink eye, Graham said. We were both in the hospital with upper respiratory infections. It was really devastating.

A spokesperson for the Michaels Organization, which also runs housing at Andrews Air Force base, declined to comment.

Lauren Catoe has had similar health concerns for her three kids.

READ: Its hush money: Military family rejects housing settlement over mold, sewage requiring NDA

Catoe, whose husband is in the Army, said her family experienced moldy homes on Fort Meade and Fort Belvoir.

Its extremely scary and it breaks your heart, said Catoe. Its not something anybody should have to go through especially a military member who is fighting for our country and giving their life for our country, and we cant even give them a safe house to live in?

We reached out to the housing company for Fort Meade about these housing concerns but have not yet heard back.

The team of military spouses came to Washington D.C. armed with data they collected to show Congressional staffers a paper trail of housing problems and health concerns from a survey of military families.

The military housing advocates showed staffers photos of mold, drainage problems and maintenance reports among other findings.

Were calling out for help, said Roman. We are documenting families who are in displacement suites. Their children are sick.

Their meetings included one with staff members for Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Service members and their families have been living in substandard conditions for too long, Blumenthal told our Washington News Bureau in a statement about their concerns. Ive heard alarming accounts that housing communities at several military bases are riddled with mold, construction flaws, and plumbing issues. Meanwhile, some privatized military housing companies force tenants to sign non-disclosure agreements, leaving them with no mechanism for recourse. We have an obligation to provide members of our military with safe homes and ensure bad actors are held accountable. I will continue to work with the Department of Defense to ensure these issues are addressed.

There should never be a family that moves into a house that has life safety issues, said Catoe.

We told you how those health concerns are now part of a bipartisan investigation in Congress.

We spoke exclusively with Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) in March about the letter he sent to the Defense Department (DoD) demanding answers about potential links between health problems and these unsafe living conditions.

The letter to the DoD was co-signed by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL).

Theyre putting their lives on the line in our national defense, said Ossoff. They shouldnt have to sacrifice a safe, clean healthy home at the same time.

I want to make sure we really understand where the housing problems are and what caused them and how we can fix it, said Scott.

So far, the DoD has not yet provided a response to the letter.

The group of military housing advocates say their goal now is to get accountability and action from the DoD.

READ: Sen. Warren demands answers about military housing: I want these contractors in front of me

They said they want the DoD to pull contracts from the housing companies that wont fix these repeated issues.

Pulling the contracts with these particular companies I think will send a message that were not playing anymore, and we need to get companies in there that are willing to step up and treat our service members and our families the way they deserve to be treated, said Camechis.

We told you how we spoke one-on-one with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) who told our Washington News Bureau she wants the contracts pulled too if the problems arent fixed.

If we cant see a really steep curve in terms of fixing those problems, then I want to talk to the Department of Defense about terminating the contracts, said Warren in February.

Its a move these military families say is long overdue.

I want the DoD to stand up, put their foot down and protect their soldiers, said Catoe.

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.




Military families who say theyre fed up with inaction on widespread housing problems are taking their fight to Capitol Hill.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Eyewitness News Washington Correspondent Samantha Manning has been investigating the problem for months, uncovering unsafe living conditions at bases around the country, and practices to silence the families from talking about their experiences.

READ: Exclusive: Senators launch inquiry into health impact on military families in unsafe housing

She recently spoke to a group of military families now seeking help from Congress.

For family after family, the experiences are frustratingly similar.

We have lived in three back-to-back duty stations, military spouse and veteran Alacia Camechis said. Each house that we have lived in on-base housing has had some form of mold problems.

In addition to reports of mold, families have complained about infestations of bugs and structural problems, often leading to health concerns for the families living in the homes on-base that are run by private companies. They say its their kids they worry for the most.

READ: Why is it acceptable?: Military families push for accountability for base housing problems

The group, National Military Housing Advocates, recently took their fight to Capitol Hill and arrived armed with data they collected by surveying military families, creating a paper trail of housing problems and health concerns.

Were calling out for help, military spouse Raven Roman said. We are documenting families who are in displacement suites. Their children are sick.

Those health concerns are now part of a bipartisan investigation in Congress. Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff led the charge in a letter sent to the Department of Defense demanding answers about potential links between health problems and unsafe living conditions.

READ: Senators ask Defense Dept. to end use of non-disclosure agreements in privatized military housing

Story continues

The letter was co-signed by two Republicans from Florida, Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Rick Scott.

Theyre putting their lives on the line in our national defense, Sen. Ossoff said. They shouldnt have to sacrifice a safe, clean, healthy home at the same time.

I want to make sure we really understand where the housing problems are and what caused them and how we can fix it, Sen. Scott added.

The advocacy group says their goal now is to get accountability and action from the Defense Department. They want the DoD to pull contracts from the housing companies that wont fix the issues.

Pulling the contracts with these particular companies, I think, will send a message that were not playing anymore, Camechis said. We need to get companies in there that are willing to step up and treat our service members and our families the way they deserve to be treated.

READ: Its hush money: Military family rejects housing settlement over mold, sewage requiring NDA

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has also said she wants the contracts pulled if the problems arent fixed.

If we cant see a really steep curve in terms of fixing those problems, then I want to talk to the Department of Defense about terminating the contracts, Sen. Warren said.

Its a move the military families say is long overdue.

I want the DoD to stand up, put their foot down and protect their soldiers, one military spouse said.

READ: Sen. Warren demands answers about military housing: I want these contractors in front of me

So far, there has been no response from the Department of Defense about the Senators letter looking for answers about the potential link between health problems and the housing problems on-base.

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.




Canadas privacy watchdog has opened an investigation into OpenAI, the California-based company behind the explosive artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT.

Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne said Tuesday his office was investigating OpenAI after receiving complaints alleging "the collection, use and disclosure of personal information without consent."

FILE: The logo of the chatbot ChatGPT from the company OpenAI can be seen on a smartphone on April 3, 2023, in Berlin, Germany.

"A.I. technology and its effects on privacy is a priority for my Office," Dufresne said in a statement. "We need to keep up with  and stay ahead of  fast-moving technological advances, and that is one of my key focus areas as Commissioner."

Italys own privacy regulator made a similar move last month, banning ChatGPT over alleged privacy violations.

The Italian Data Protection Authority said it was blocking OpenAI from processing the data for Italian users, and opened an investigation into the organization. The order lasts until OpenAI respects the EUs privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

BILLIONAIRE WEIGHS IN ON WHETHER YOUNG AMERICANS SHOULD BUY HOMES

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In a video call between the watchdogs commissioners and OpenAI executives, including CEO Sam Altman, the company promised to set out measures to address these concerns  though the remedies have not been detailed.

Fox News Digital has reached out to OpenAI for comment on the opened investigation in Canada.

Generative A.I.-technology like ChatGPT is "trained" on huge pools of data, including digital books and online writing, and is able to generate text that mimics human writing styles.

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These systems have created a buzz in the tech world and beyond, but they also have stirred fears among officials, regulators and even computer scientists and tech industry leaders about possible ethical and societal risks.

FOX Business Kelsey Koberg and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Capital High Schools Hana Moll can add another accolade to her growing list of impressive accomplishments. Shes officially the first high school girl to ever reach 15 feet in the pole-vault event in the United States.

Moll hit the personal-record 15 feet on her first attempt at the 55th Arcadia (California) Invitational on Saturday. Her twin sister, Amanda, finished second at 13 feet, 3 inches.

Amanda Moll has also reached the 15-foot mark, reaching 15-1.50 in an indoor meet in January at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit in Reno. The Moll twins are the only girls athletes to achieve the feat in U.S. high school history.

Hana and Amanda Moll both eclipsed the meet record of 14 feet at the Washington WIAA 2022 state track and field meet at Mount Tahoma last spring. Amanda won the event in the Class 3A tournament with a mark of 14-6, while Hana finished runner-up at 14-0.

Hana Moll also won the 100-meter hurdles event at last years state meet and was part of Capitals title-winning 4x100 relay team, alongside Amanda, who also won the long jump event at last years state meet.

After her record-setting performance, Hana Moll is a candidate in this weeks TNT Athlete of the Week poll.
Yet another attempt is being made to protect more than 250,000 acres of Central Coast land from development forever.

Congressman Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, was set to reintroduce the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday.

The bill would set aside about 250,000 acres of land from Ventura County to San Luis Obispo County for designated wilderness areas. New areas of the Carrizo Plain National Monument and Los Padres National Forest would be forever protected from development under the act.

The bill has passed the majority-Democratic House the past few Congresses but failed in the Republican-held Senate.

This year, as the Republicans control the House and Democrats have the majority in the Senate, Carbajal said he has more optimism for the bill.

Carbajal advocated for passage of the legislation on Saturday during a visit to the Carrizo Plain National Monument, surrounded by supporters from the Los Padres ForestWatch, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Northern Chumash Tribal Council, California Wilderness Coalition, Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club, Carrizo Plain Conservancy and The Wilderness Society.

Central Coast Congressman Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, poses (center) with members of the Los Padres ForestWatch, Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club, Carrizo Plain Conservancy, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, California Wilderness Coalition and Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians at the Carrizo Plain National Monument on April 8, 2023. Mackenzie Shuman/mshuman@thetribunenews.com

Im optimistic that this Congress will approve it, but if not this Congress, Ill continue to reintroduce it until we absolutely get this piece of legislation over the finish line, he said at the event. To not continue to work on moving this legislation forward would be a real travesty. Because we need to preserve this area.

While he gave his address, visitors took photos of the wildflowers and now-full Soda Lake. Under Carbajals bill, the area would be designated as the Soda Lake Wilderness.

Additionally, Caliente Mountain, the tallest peak in San Luis Obispo County located on the southern end of the Carrizo Plain National Monument, would be protected as the Caliente Mountain Wilderness under the bill.

Visitors enjoy a full Soda Lake at the Carrizo Plain National Monument on April 8, 2023. Under the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, this area would be designated as wilderness, giving it a higher level of federal protection from development. Mackenzie Shuman/mshuman@thetribunenews.com

Also, the boundaries of the Garcia Wilderness and Santa Lucia Wilderness in the Los Padres National Forest would be expanded.

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And new scenic areas would be designated around Black Mountain in San Luis Obispo County and in the Santa Ynez Mountains in Santa Barbara County. Scenic areas have a lesser degree of federal protection than wilderness areas and do allow for some development.

The bill would also better establish the 400-mile Condor Trail that stretches from Monterey to Lake Piru near Santa Clarita.

Adding thousands of acres of designated wilderness areas in California is important to protect the immense biodiversity in the Central Coast area, Carbajal said on Saturday.

We are lucky to be able to have this majestic place in our backyard, Carbajal said of the Soda Lake area at the Carrizo Plain National Monument. And its not only special to us, but when you really consider its ecological value, its important for the world.

Vast fields of wildlowers bloom on the Carrizo Plain on April 8, 2023. Mackenzie Shuman/mshuman@thetribunenews.com

Carbajal noted that the bill has faced pushback from oil and gas companies that want to expand drilling operations in areas of the Carrizo Plain National Monument, as well as Central Coast developers eyeing areas of the Los Padres National Forest.

Bryant Baker from the Los Padres ForestWatch noted that the Carrizo Plain is home to several imperiled or endangered animal species such as the giant kangaroo rat, San Joaquin antelope squirrel and the San Joaquin kit fox. Other areas of the Los Padres National Forest are important habitat for the critically endangered California condor, he added.

Its hard to overstate just how important wilderness designations are for these habitats that these plants and wildlife rely on just to survive, Baker said at the Saturday event. With climate change, I think its really important that we be trying to protect these landscapes as much as possible. And thats exactly what this bill does.

Michael Khus-Zarate from the Northern Chumash Tribal Council added that Carbajals bill has widespread support from tribal groups on the Central Coast.

Its important ... for us, on the spiritual side, protecting our resources, protecting our sacred sites out here, protecting all the animals that play such a prominent role in all of our stories, in our culture, Khus-Zarate said.
Democratic Sen. Bob Casey on Monday announced hell seek reelection to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate for a fourth term.

Folks, Im running for re-election. Theres still more work to do to cut through the gridlock, stand up to powerful special interests, and make the lives of hardworking Pennsylvanians easier, Casey said on Twitter.

Pennsylvania is one of the most competitive states in the country, and our race will be one of the most expensive and competitive in 2024, he added in a separate post.

The incumbents decision to run again is good news for Democrats, who faced an uphill battle to get Democratic Sen. John Fetterman to replace retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey for Pennsylvanias other upper chamber seat last year. The battleground state will likely be crucial to whether Democrats keep their slim Senate majority in 2024.

Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano and former Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick are reportedly considering lodging bids for Caseys seat.

Casey revealed in January that hed been diagnosed with prostate cancer and would undergo surgery. A few weeks later, his team said hed undergone a successful surgery and that the senator would not require further treatment. Hes since returned to work in the upper chamber.

Just last month, Casey had declined to answer whether hed be running for reelection.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Mike Albiani has been around Elk Grove High Schools farm for decades as a teacher and Future Farmers of America adviser. One thing he knows come auction time: Sometimes, there are tears.

This year, the animals procession from farm project to auction floor, slaughterhouse to table  and the emotional bonds students build with them in the months leading to auction  has taken on renewed importance following the Shasta County saga of Cedar the goat.

First reported by The Sacramento Bee, a legal battle arose from the goats seizure by Shasta County law enforcement at the behest of county fair officials and its apparent eventual slaughter after its 9-year-old owner and family backed out of the animals sale. The family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, which shows the efforts officials went to to retrieve the goat. The case, the issue and the details about it have generated a range of social reaction and gone viral.

You're telling me the cops STOLE THE KID'S PET GOAT WITHOUT A WARRANT so a STATE SENATOR could KILL IT AND EAT IT AT A BARBECUE https://t.co/0dTNVt2JPh  Jenny Nicholson (@JennyENicholson) March 30, 2023

But it also has focused new attention on programs like 4-H and FFA.

A goat named Cedar was slaughtered by Shasta County fair officials over the objections of her nine-year-old owner.



The parents offered to pay the goats price, and the buyer even agreed, but fair officials wouldnt back down. https://t.co/PAYjIcpDaH  Sentient Media (@Sentient_Media) April 5, 2023

The kids in the Future Farmers of America program on the Elk Grove campus are getting ready for another fair season and Albiani is preparing them for the day their animals head to the auction block. Elk Grove High Schools FFA is one of the regions largest at 500 students. Albiani is one of seven advisers and has been at the job for more than 30 years at the school.

There are tears, but the tears are short-lived, Albiani said last week. We talk about that all through the process. It starts early at the parent meetings. As long as you reinforce that this is the purpose of the animal  if you reinforce that, and your peers give you support, its OK.

The process  raising chickens and turkeys, goats, sheep, hogs and cattle over the space of three months or longer to be sold for meat  carries the lexicon of the auction: processed; supply, end product, terminal sale.

Students spend their mornings before class and afternoons after feeding and caring for their goats, sheep and hogs, mucking stalls, sweeping pens, many learning farm life from the inside, for the first time.

But the inevitability?

Elk Grove students who talked with the Bee last week appeared clear-eyed about the assignment  and its end goal, the Sacramento County Fairs terminal sale in late May.

Colton Amhiehl, 15, is in his first year of the program, raising a lamb named Bandit for the black marking over its eyes.

Its a great experience to see them grow  and see them sell. You feed them, interact with them. The interactions really fun. Theres always something new, Colton said, sweeping out pens over the loud bleating of goats and sheep.

But the inevitability? When you buy them, thats what you expect, he continued. It is heartbreaking at times, but you know you did the best you could for him and you get a good feeling knowing that someone will buy it and put food on the table.

This week, April 15, the Elk Grove FFA students will have a group practice, running themselves and their animals through the paces in a simulated auction.

Were making sure were being very clear with our exhibitors. Were spending a lot of time with them, said Jordan Albiani, a teacher and FFA adviser at nearby Galt High School, and daughter of Elk Grove Highs Mike Albiani, visiting her fathers program on Thursday.

Our kids, they understand the end goal, but also valuing the care of their livestock, she said. Every kid is different, but making sure the messaging is the same is important.

Parental involvement, choices

That goes for parents, too, Mike Albiani said last week outside the farms goat and sheep pens. A day earlier, a mother of one student toured the pens. She said, These are really going to be meat? Albiani said. Thats the purpose. Its a market. The end result is, youre selling that as a meat animal. Its going to be part of the food supply.

There are offramps, however, to the terminal sale. Students can opt for breeding projects, raising rabbits or egg laying hens that arent headed for the meat market.

Last year two students had goats and didnt want them to be processed. One of the students parents and grandparents bought the goats for their farm: They were willing to let them be lawnmowers, Albiani said. Other times, We will help work with students in advance. If you dont want the animal to be processed, you have to pull it out of the sale.

Maddison Machado, a 17-year-old junior from Elk Grove, wears rubber boots flecked with straw and muck, standing next to the hog pens that carry her years entry and dozens of others. Thats No. 2915 dozing fitfully in the straw as a bunkmate bumps and jostles him. He sees me, he goes straight to the pen, she said. Theyre really smart.

This year is Machados second in the program, though shes a relative livestock rookie.

My family grew up around livestock. I grew up in Laguna West, she said. Its something I never thought Id do, but its taught me a lot of patience.

When the time comes for the county fair, Of course, its going to be somewhat sad  theres an emotional connection with the animal, Machado said. But I went into this knowing what was going to happen. Its a project  not to objectify the animal  but you dont minimize the treatment of the animal. You have to put in effort to make it the best it can be, to make its life have value in the time that we have it.
Cedarburg Police Chief Michael McNerney

Cedarburg Police Chief Mike McNerney is among five defendants named in a lawsuit that alleges McNerney failed to train and supervise officers who conducted what the suit says was an invalid search warrant that did not specify an address for the search.

The suit, which alleges other violations, including a violation of Fourth Amendment rights, was filed April 3 in U.S. District Court of Eastern Wisconsin by Erik Kampa, who faces three drug-related charges allegedly connected to the search.

Cedarburg police officers Dustin Koehler and Samuel Peters, who are also named in the suit, executed the search warrant on Aug. 15, 2022, against Kampa.

The city of Cedarburg and ABC Insurance, which issues a policy of liability insurance to the city, are also listed as defendants.

Three days before being arrested and charged, Koehler presented a defective search warrant to Ozaukee County Circuit Court Judge Paul V. Malloy for a search of the residence he was renting at W63 N645 Washington Ave., according to the suit.

Under the search warrant, the areas for necessary information, including the name of the suspect, location of place to be searched, the items to be searched for and what crimes those items are evidence of, were marked as "Error! Bookmark not defined."

It's unclear why Malloy signed the warrant without the information.

After the search was signed by Judge Malloy, Peters questioned the legitimacy of the warrant, according to Koehler's bodycam footage on Aug. 15.

"Did you see this thing where it says, 'Error! Bookmark not defined?'" asked Peters.

"Yeah, it's all ... all their warrants have that on it all the time," Koehler responded.

"Why?"

"I don't know, I don't know why they don't just delete them out there, but they just leave them in all the time," Koehler said.

Following the search, the state moved to dismiss the criminal charges against Kampa after learning that the evidence seized during the search warrant was impermissible because the warrant was issued improperly.

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McNerney, who first joined the department in 2000 and was later sworn in as chief in 2022, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on April 6 that he had not seen the complaint and wouldn't be able to comment on any pending litigation.

Complaint includes additional counts for civil and municipal rights violations

In the lawsuit, Kampa alleges his Fourth Amendment rights, which protect against unlawful search and seizure, were violated during the search warrant because the warrant failed to describe the person, place or things to be searched and seized.

"The law is the law. You can't just turn around and on the fly bust through the door," said attorney Nathaniel Cade, who is representing Kampa.

In connection with the allegations, the city of Cedarburg also could also be held liable if it's shown that their policy ignores warrants, or alternatively if the chief doesn't enforce the proper procedure of those search warrants, said Cade.

As a precursor to the lawsuit, Kampa filed a claim against the city, which the Cedarburg Common Council discussed in closed session March 13.

During that meeting, the city denied and disallowed the claim in full, according to city records included in the suit.

According to the complaint, Kampa is demanding compensatory and punitive damages in the amount determined by the jury, as well as costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees.

Following the filing of the complaint, the city of Cedarburg, the chief and the two officers will be served by a processor and will have 20 days to file a motion or an answer, either admitting or denying the allegations, said Cade.

Contact Alex Groth at agroth@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @grothalexandria.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Lawsuit alleges Cedarburg police conducted an illegal search
A local man is facing multiple charges after Seminole County deputies say he fired gunshots into the front door of a restaurant full of customers

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Deputies were called to the Back Porch Longwood Restaurant and Bar on Wekiva Springs Rd shortly after 11 p.m. Sunday for reports of a shooting that was still in progress.

RED: 3rd person dies in Easter shooting at Orlando park; 2 others remain injured

Responding deputies spoke to witnesses who identified 28-year-old Christopher Nordick as the shooter.

According to his arrest report, Nordick was bothering other customers in the restaurant and was told to leave.

Moments later, they say he returned and fired 10 rounds into the front door, forcing customers to hide and seek cover in the restaurant. Fortunately, no one was injured in the shooting.

Deputies quickly located Nordick walking at the intersection of Sabal Palm Drive South and Wekiva Springs Road, which they noted was less than a mile from the restaurant.

READ: Louisville police: 4 killed, 9 injured in shooting downtown; shooter dead

According to the arrest report, Nordick was in possession of a black .45 caliber Glock handgun with one round in the chamber and an empty 10-round magazine.

When interviewed by police, Nordick admitted to drinking at the restaurant and becoming upset when he was asked to leave.

Nordick told the investigators he knew there were approximately 25 customers in the restaurant at the time and admitted to returning armed with his gun, but denied shooting into the business.

Based on witness statements, surveillance video and other evidence, deputies were still able to arrest Nordick and charge him with attempted homicide, shooting into an occupied structure, carrying a concealed firearm without a license, and criminal mischief causing over $1,000 in damage.

READ: Pine Hills mass shooting suspect Keith Moses pleads not guilty in court

Nordick faced a judge in Seminole County Monday afternoon where the state asked that he be held on no bond on the grounds that hes a danger to the community based on the details of his arrest report.

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The judge agreed, holding him without bond on the attempted homicide charge. If hes to be released, hell have to wear an electronic monitoring device and would be prohibited from going anywhere near the restaurant.

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.




Map of Chad

A largely semi-desert country, Chad is rich in gold and uranium and stands to benefit from its recently-acquired status as an oil-exporting state.

Chad's post-independence history has been marked by instability and violence, stemming mostly from tension between the mainly Arab-Muslim north and the predominantly Christian and animist south.

Chad became an oil-producing nation in 2003, with the completion of a $4bn pipeline linking its oilfields to terminals on the Atlantic coast.

However, it suffers from inadequate infrastructure, and internal conflict with rebels in the north, exacerbated by a jihadist insurgency across the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin.

Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring

REPUBLIC OF CHAD: FACTS

Capital: N'Djamena

Area: 1,284,000 sq km

Population: 17.9 million

Languages: French, Arabic

Life expectancy: 51 years (men) 54 years (women)

LEADER

Transitional President: General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno

Chadian military leader, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno

General Deby took over as transitional leader in April 2021 following the death of his father President Idriss Deby in a military operation against rebels.

Deby had come to power himself in 1990 after toppling the dictator Hissene Habre. He later set up Chad's first multi-party political system, and went on to win successive elections.

Elections had been scheduled for the second half of 2022. but these have been postponed until at least October 2024.

MEDIA

Lake Chad is an important source of water for millions of people in the four countries surrounding it

Although legally there is freedom of the press, in practice this is restricted. Criticism of the government is generally permitted but reporters commonly self-censor to avoid reprisals.

Media outlets can have their own editorial line, but investigative reporting that is critical of senior government officials and their close associates is not tolerated, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

TIMELINE

The remote Ennedi mountains in the Sahara, in northeastern Chad.

Some key dates in Chad's history:

1883-93 - Sudanese adventurer Rabih al-Zubayr conquers the kingdoms of Ouadai, Baguirmi and Kanem-Bornu, situated in what is now Chad.

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1900 - France defeats al-Zubayr's army, completing its conquest in 1913. Chad becomes a colony.

1946 - Chad becomes a French overseas territory with its own territorial parliament and representation in the French National Assembly.

1960 - Chad becomes independent.

1963 - The banning of political parties triggers violent opposition in the Muslim north.

1966 - Northern revolt develops into a fully-fledged guerrilla war.

1973 - French troops help put down the northern revolt, but Frolinat continues guerrilla operations throughout the 1970s and 1980s with the help of weapons supplied by Libya.

1977 - Libya annexes the Aouzou strip, and sends in troops in 1980 to support President Goukouni Oueddei in his fight against the Army of the North, led by a former prime minister, Hissene Habre.

1981 - Libyan troops withdraw at Oueddei's request.

1982 - Habre seizes power. He is later accused of mass political killings during his rule.

1983 - The Organisation of African Unity recognises Habre's government, but Oueddei's forces continue resistance in the north with Libyan help.

1987 - The combined troops of Frolinat and the Chadian government, with French and US assistance, force Libya out of the entire northern region apart from the Aouzou strip and parts of Tibesti.

1990 - Coup leader Hissene Habre toppled by former ally Idriss Deby.

1994 - International Court of Justice rejects Libyan claims on Aouzou and rules that Chad had sovereignty over the strip.

1996 - Deby wins Chad's first multi-party presidential election.

1998 - The Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad, led by Deby's former Defence Minister, Youssouf Togoimi, begins armed rebellion against the government.

2006 - Rebels seeking to oust President Deby battle government forces outside the capital. Hundreds are killed. Chad cuts diplomatic ties with Sudan, accusing it of backing the rebels.

State of emergency imposed in eastern areas bordering Sudan's Darfur region after a spate of ethnic violence.

2007 - UN Security Council authorises a UN-EU peacekeeping force to protect civilians from violence spilling over from Darfur in neighbouring Sudan.

2009 - Eight rebel groups unite to form new rebel alliance, the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR). EU peacekeepers in eastern Chad hand over to a new, larger UN force known as Minurcat.

2010 - President Deby and Sudan's Omar al-Bashir hold talks in Khartoum, their first meeting for six years; President al-Bashir says Sudan is ready for full normalisation of ties.

Chad and Sudan agree to deploy joint force to monitor situation along their shared border. Chad-Sudan border reopens seven years after Darfur conflict forced its closure.

2012 - Chad calls on countries neighbouring northern Nigeria to set up a joint military force to tackle Boko Haram militants.

Senegal, African Union agree to set up special tribunal to try Chad's former leader Hissene Habre.

Leader of rebel group FPR, Abdel Kader Baba Ladde, surrenders.

2016 - Hissene Habre is found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison by an African Union-backed court in Senegal.

2021 - President Deby dies during military operation against rebel group.
A plan to purchase and then demolish two aging motels adjacent to Charlottes Hidden Valley neighborhood could bring more affordable housing to the area.

With a 6-3 vote, the City Council on Monday agreed to acquire Economy Inn and Budget Inn motels for $4.2 million. The properties located on Reagan Drive sit on a 4.5 acre site near Interstate 85 and Sugar Creek Road and are owned by Rising Tides LLC and Mara Enterprises LLC.

A timeline for the project, request for proposal or when the demolition will take place has not been set.

Representatives for the motels could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Mayor Vi Lyles said the purchase was a necessary step to address a lack of investment in the Hidden Valley area. She said decisions by city officials in the past led to the challenges Hidden Valley residents face today  including the motels.

This is our down payment for the things we didnt do in the 1970s, Lyles said.

Council members Ed Driggs, LaWana Mayfield and Braxton Winston cast no votes, citing costs, a need for a clearer plan and a better collaborative effort with local agencies.

I would like to see us get a better bang for our buck, Driggs said.

Mayfield said she found it difficult to pay a slumlord who created chaos in the community over $4 million in citizens tax dollars, she said.

She questioned why neighbors were not pushing for a more definitive plan. She has seen on numerous occasions investment in or near neighborhoods that do not benefit residents.

Dont let us do what we did to Brooklyn, she said.

Charlotte City Council will vote on a proposal to purchase the Economy Inn Motel on Reagan Drive at its meeting on Monday, April 10, 2023.

The Mayors Racial Equity Initiative would contribute $1 million, using funds from Foundation for the Carolinas, to assist with the costs, according to council documents. Tracy Dodson, assistant city manager, said affordable housing could be proposed for the site and was heavily requested by neighbors.

Hidden Valley neighbors were in attendance at Mondays meeting and supported the plan. The two motels have long been an eyesore for neighbors and a hotspot for crime, said Marjorie Parker, president of the Hidden Valley Community Association.

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You would not believe what we have seen as seniors as we pass this property, Parker said.

Councilwoman Dante Anderson who represents District 1, which includes Hidden Valley, said residents have long had to weather the storm of a historic lack of investment. They see firsthand what occurs when the sun goes down and the morning aftermath, she said.

We have the opportunity to act and the responsibility to act, Anderson said.

A collaborative approach

As many as 15 people live on the site, said Carol Hardison, executive director for Crisis Assistance Ministry. Nonprofits will partner on a project to connect them with housing.

Hardison said city officials contacted her after the collaborative work done by nonprofits to assist seniors displaced from Magnolia Senior Apartments. This projects goal would be to find permanent housing for the motels residents, she said.

It could also mark the beginning of a new way to attack displacement, she said. Legal Aid of North Carolina and local nonprofits Housing Collaborative and Champion House of Care will assist the residents.

To have a community coordinated collaborative response  this is a first, Hardison said.

Janette Kinard, executive director of Champion House of Care, said Economy Inn was the best location for the city to address first. Other motels and hotels in the area have more permanent residents including those with children, she said.

You dont want to see kids put on the street, Kinard said.

In February, Kinard helped start the Sugar Creek Business Association to find collaborative ways to improve the Sugar Creek Corridor. She said this move by the city is a part of the work they want to see done.

Kinard said shes hopeful that the city could restructure the building into a center for wrap around services. This could include a food pantry, health services and an after school programs.

Thats why we have been hosting health fairs, she said. Because we need those resources.

Ron Zarek, who owns the McDonalds on West Sugar Creek Road, said he was glad to see the city council moving forward with a vote. Zarek, who is president of the Sugar Creek Business Association, said the citys move is the kind of collaborative approach residents aim to do.

Were trying to make the community better for people who live here everyday, he said. We want them to be proud of their community and thats what were working with them on. 

Zarek said the city acquiring the motel is a step in the right direction.

If we can turn motels into maybe daycare centers or community service centers, I think its going to be nothing but positive for the community, he said.
The Mecklenburg Council of Elders  a nonprofit that offers therapy for kids and parents, resources for those impacted by poverty and violence, and criminal record expungement clinics  will lose its building by the end of May.

The organization has been housed at the old Plaza Road Academy on 1000 Anderson Street for the past five years as a sub-tenant to another group that had a lease with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Camille Stephens, left, helps Mekayla Rodgers, 18, fill out a workbook at The Mecklenburg Council of Elders Juvenile Diversion program in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, March 30, 2022.

The school district, email records show, decided it would not renew the lease over concerns about the way the primary tenant maintained the property.

Whenever a lease ends, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools follows a public bidding process to determine who the next tenant will be. Surplus or unused buildings can be sold or leased.

The Council of Elders offered to purchase the building, but were told it was only available for lease and the organization must complete a bid first.

The Council of Elders lost a bid in January 2022 to sign a lease for the building after CMS Board of Education voted to approve a lease for Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, which was moving out of its location within Hickory Grove Elementary School in east Charlotte.

The Council of Elders found out after the vote that their bid was not presented to the board, said Executive Director Maria Macon. Later, they were told their proposal was missing required financial information.

The council sent a letter of complaint to the district on July 28 saying they were treated unfairly and that they are unaware of Charlotte Bilingual Preschool ever submitting a formal proposal for the building. They said they would like to work out an agreement with CMS to continue utilizing the space.

Mecklenburg Council of Elders will be  (added) to the homeless population by May 31, if we dont find a place, Macon said.

A spokesperson for CMS told The Charlotte Observer the bidding process for the building was handled properly, in the same way it would be for any other building, and that the process is highly regulated by state law.

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Dispute over school building use

The process to place a public bid for leasing 1000 Anderson Street began as early as Sept. 14, 2021. The Council of Elders prepared a bound book for each school board member documenting its request, bid, community letters of recommendation and some financial information. Macon says these materials never made it to the board.

CMS says the bid from the Council of Elders was incomplete, which is why only the Charlotte Bilingual Preschool proposal was presented to the board, according to Charles Jeter executive director of government affairs, policy, and board services. Jeter said he did not know what the bid was missing or why it was incomplete.

In an email dated eight months after the vote, an attorney for CMS, Kevin Bringewatt, says the Council of Elders failed to submit the necessary financial documents for the bid. The Council of Elders provided the Observer with copies of email correspondence with CMS on the issue.

Some of these documents show financial information including grants, 501c3 status, and information on how much the group makes in donations and building rentals.

Ultimately, the organizations bid was determined to be less responsive than Charlotte Bilingual Preschool.

Charlotte Bilingual Preschool did not respond to an email or phone call from the Observer to discuss their plans for the building. Jeter says he doesnt know if the preschool has signed a lease or when the organization would move in.

The Council of Elders has been told they can stay in the building until a formal application for tenancy by Charlotte Bilingual Preschool is submitted, according to an email last month sent from an attorney working on the organizations behalf, Ismaail Qaiyim of Queen City Community Law Firm to Bringewatt.

On March 14, Bob Sorrell, a real estate agent with CMS, emailed the organization telling them they must vacate the building because the district expects to sign a lease with the preschool.

A new usage agreement between the Council of Elders and the district would allow the organization to complete one last expungement clinic at the building in April then it will have to vacate the premises by May 31.

What the community may lose

The loss of the building is devastating for the community and the organizations summer programs, Macon said.

The groups Juvenile Court Intervention Program, which the Observer has previously reported on, was scheduled to begin again in June, Macon said.

The program allows parents to drop their children off for classes until 6 p.m., and it provides meals for the students, Macon said. The intervention program helps local at-risk youth referred to them by the courts and parents by providing career training, life skills, therapy, and anger management programming.

The diversion program works with judges, social workers and the community to help the students cope with adverse experiences, Macon previously told the Observer.

In addition to their youth programs, the organization provides classes and therapy to parents, and health programs for the elderly.

Council of Elders has a database of those they provide services to and those 4,200 people are counting on them, Macon said. So are the 1,200 Mecklenburg residents they perform criminal record expungements for every year.

Every quarter, the organization performs criminal record expungements for the community and at least 300 community members show up each time, Macon said. The school on Anderson Street is the only building the group has been able to find in Charlotte that is large enough to host these clinics.

Macon asks that anyone in the Charlotte area with an unused building contact the organization.

Weve got parents that are depending on us, Macon said. Im not going to let them down.
Former American soldier and whistleblower Chelsea Manning poses during a photo call outside the Institute Of Contemporary Arts (ICA) ahead of a Q&A event on October 1, 2018 in London, England. Jack Taylor/Getty Images

Chelsea Manning opened up to NPR about the experience of transitioning while in prison.

The former Army intelligence analyst began her transition while jailed for leaking state secrets.

"Prisons just don't prioritize medical care," she said, adding the fight to get care made her dysphoria worse.

More than six years after being released from prison, Chelsea Manning is opening up about what it was like to transition behind bars.

Manning is a former US Army analyst who was convicted of espionage for her role in leaking classified military information to WikiLeaks in 2010 and sentenced to 35 years in prison. In 2013, she came out publicly as a trans woman and began her transition while incarcerated.

"Prisons just don't prioritize medical care in prison, period," Manning said in an interview with NPR. Officials "just don't care. They're there to protect the prison, and the workers, the employees  not the inmates. They're not there to advocate for an inmate."

The bureaucratic struggle to get access to gender-affirming care made Manning's diagnosed gender dysphoria and existing mental health problems worse, she told the outlet. She only began receiving care after a lawsuit, though she acknowledged her legal team and knowledge of the system was a privilege, adding: "The average person doesn't stand a chance. That's the frank truth."

As the result of her 2015 lawsuit, Manning was the first person to receive gender-affirming health care while in military prison, per the ACLU. Despite her successes, many trans inmates still are only able to access gender-affirming care if they, too, sue for the right to access hormones or other therapies.

After serving seven years in prison, Manning's sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama in 2017, though she was arrested and jailed again in March 2019 until March 2020 after she refused to testify before a grand jury related to a federal case against WikiLeaks.

During both terms in jail, Manning attempted suicide. She made a previous attempt in 2016, over what her representatives said was the government's denial of appropriate treatment for her gender dysphoria, Insider previously reported.

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Manning did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Though her experience seeking trans health care while jailed was particularly troubling to her, "there needs to be a lot more robust protections for prisoners and prisoners' access to care in general, not just in terms of trans care," Manning told NPR. "Because that will immediately benefit a larger group of people who are being harmed, while also benefiting trans people."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A new Chick-fil-A is coming to Argyle.

Records show the company plans to build a $1.2 million restaurant on FM 407 near Interstate 35W in Denton County. The new Chick-fil-A will have drive-thru and stand-alone canopies, and be about 5,600 square feet.

Construction is expected to begin in January 2024, with a completion date of late June 2024.

This Chick-fil-A will be near a new McDonalds coming to Argyle in this rapidly developing corridor. The McDonalds construction is expected to finish in July.

Meanwhile, construction is getting underway in at the Chick-fil-A in far north Fort Worth, on Western Center Boulevard near I-35W, where $1 million in renovations will expand the drive-thru. That restaurant is staying open during the work.

In June, the Chick-fil-A in Southlake will undergo a $500,000 renovation starting June 1.

Elsewhere across North Texas, Chick-fil-A has plans to build 3 new restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth and remodel four other locations.
By Laurie Chen

BEIJING (Reuters) -A Chinese court sentenced two prominent human rights lawyers on Monday to jail terms of more than a decade each, a relative and rights groups told Reuters, the latest move in a years-long crackdown on civil society by President Xi Jinping.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the sentences handed out to Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi as being "at variance with international human rights law standards" and said he would follow up with China's authorities.

Xu and Ding went on trial behind closed doors in June last year on charges of state subversion at a court in Linshu county in the northeastern province of Shandong, relatives told Reuters at the time.

Xu, 50, and Ding, 55, are prominent figures in the New Citizens Movement, which sought greater transparency into the wealth of officials and for Chinese citizens to be able to exercise their civil rights as written in the constitution.

Ding's wife Luo Shengchun, who lives in the United States and has pursued his case with U.S. State Department officials, told Reuters about the sentencing but said she had no further details.

"Their lawyers are forbidden from publishing court verdict documents and they do not dare to reveal where they were sentenced and under what charges," she said by telephone.

She will keep pressing for information, she added.

"I will not let them put Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong in jail so easily."

Xu received a jail term of 14 years and Ding was sentenced to 12 years, she added.

China's foreign ministry said it was not aware of the cases.

"China is a country governed by law, all are treated equally under the law and cases are handled in accordance with the law," spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters at a daily briefing.

The court, and the justice ministry, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The two had been held for more than three years, with Ding taken by police in December 2019 shortly after attending a gathering in southern China with about 20 other lawyers and activists.

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Then he was held incommunicado for almost six months while being routinely tortured to extract a confession, his lawyer Peng Jian told the court.

Xu, a close friend of Ding's who once wrote a searing open letter calling on Xi to step down, was detained in February 2020 after going into hiding.

Authorities have barred their lawyers from contact with foreign media, Luo added, in a practice that has become increasingly common in recent years so as to stifle publicity around rights-related cases.

Both had previously been imprisoned for their activism.

"The cruelly farcical convictions and sentences meted out to Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi show President Xi's unstinting hostility towards peaceful activism," said Yaqiu Wang, a senior China researcher at New York-based Human Rights Watch.

Their secret hearings were "riddled with procedural problems and allegations of mistreatment", the rights group added.

China has dramatically clamped down on dissent since Xi came to power in 2012. Hundreds of rights lawyers were detained and dozens jailed in a series of arrests commonly known as "709" cases, referring to a crackdown on July 9, 2015.

China rejects criticism of its human rights record, saying it is a country with rule of law and that jailed rights lawyers and activists are criminals who have broken the law.

(Reporting by Laurie Chen; Additional reporting by Emma Farge in Geneva; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Simon Cameron-Moore)
Xu Zhiyong - pictured third from left - was handed a 14-year jail term

Two prominent Chinese activists have been jailed for subversion after more than three years in detention.

The wife of lawyer Ding Jiaxi tweeted that he was handed a 12-year jail term by a court in Shandong province.

She added that the other activist, legal scholar Xu Zhiyong, was jailed for 14 years. Their closed-door trial took place in one day in June 2022.

They were separately detained in 2019 and 2020 as part of a sprawling crackdown on legal activists.

A Human Rights Watch spokesman described their convictions as "cruelly farcical" and called for their sentences to be immediately quashed.

In 2010, Mr Ding and Mr Xu co-founded the New Citizens' Movement, which campaigns for civil rights and government transparency.

The pair were first arrested in 2013 for their roles in protests calling for equal social and educational benefits for migrant workers in Beijing.

They are among the most high-profile dissidents to fall afoul of Chinese authorities.

In a submission to the Shandong court, Mr Ding's lawyer said the 56-year-old had been subjected to music being constantly blasted into his cell. He had also been made to sit upright for seven days straight following his arrest in 2019.

Mr Xu, a 51-year old former lecturer at the Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications, also alleged that he had been tortured.

He told BBC Chinese in 2020 that there is no space in China to openly discuss politics. "If party members discuss politics, they are accused of a lack of respect."

"The Chinese people are still living in a state of political oppression, economic control, and ideological enslavement," said Mr Ding in a separate statement.

"I have faced many doubts, encountered many difficulties, and suffered many setbacks. I have personally been tortured. None of this will change my steadfast philosophy."

In 2019, Huang Qi, a journalist often called the country's "first cyber-dissident", was sentenced to 12 years in jail.

The year before, democracy campaigner Qin Yongmin was handed a 13-year sentence. He had already spent a total of 22 years behind bars.

In response to past criticism about its human rights record, Beijing has said "only the 1.3 billion Chinese people have a say on China's human rights".
[Source]

China declared its preparedness to fight on Monday after wrapping up a series of military drills around Taiwan that simulated precision strikes and sealing off the self-governed island in the event it decides to take it by force.

Dubbed as Joint Sword, the combat readiness patrols sought to warn Taipei following high-profile meetings between President Tsai Ing-wen and leaders in Central America and the U.S. The Taiwanese leader ended her 10-day trip meeting U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, an event Beijing previously threatened to respond to with resolute countermeasures.

The theaters troops are ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts, Chinas military said, as per the Associated Press.

The drills kicked off on Saturday, and by Monday, four J-15 fighter jets were reported to have crossed Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ), an area the island considers as a buffer, according to CNN.

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China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, has long vowed to reunite with the island  through force if necessary.

The government split occurred after the 1949 Civil War when the Chinese Community Party won Beijing and forced the Kuomintang-led administration to evacuate to Taiwan and other surrounding territories.

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Taiwan immediately condemned the latest drills, with its Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) lodging a protest and reiterating that the island would not yield to threats.

Meanwhile, civilians of all ages expressed their desire for independence.

I am a little worried, I would be lying to you if I say that I am not, Donald Ho, a 73-year-old retired lecturer, told the Taipei Times. The problem is sovereignty. I want independence, but they [China] just regard Taiwan as a province.

Story continues

More from NextShark: China sentences 6 men for abuse, trafficking of chained mother of 8

Nathan Green, 16, a dual Australian Taiwanese national, said freedom may be the most important thing for a country.

I dont like a government that is like a prison. I dont like a government that wants to control our people. I like a government that is free, he told the Times.

The latest drills also concerned Japan, whose forces had observed fighters and helicopters taking off and landing on Chinas Shandong carrier 120 times from Friday to Sunday, as per Reuters. The carrier, three other warships and a support vessel all came within 230 kilometers (approximately 143 miles) of Miyako island, part of the Okinawa islands that house a U.S. Air Force base.

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China has again been staging military drills around Taiwan - but some experts say Beijing has dialled them down as the island will hold a presidential election in nine months, and it is in China's interest to see a victory by the opposition Kuomintang party (KMT).

No missiles have been fired near the island, the drills only lasted three days and the US politician who met President Tsai Ing-wen - House Speaker Kevin McCarthy - has not been sanctioned.

Beijing's response when ex-speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last August was harsher.

The drills have become part of China's "standard operational procedure" after Ms Pelosi's trip, says Professor Chen-shen Yen of Taiwan's National Chengchi University. "They need to make their position known, but their reactions cannot be overboard."

Timing is key.

The Chinese Communist Party defeated the KMT in a civil war that ended in 1949, forcing the latter to flee to Taiwan. But in recent decades, the former rivals have found common ground in the 1992 Consensus, a vaguely worded understanding that says there is only "One China" which includes Taiwan.

If Beijing continues its hard-line rhetoric, it risks becoming the best campaigner for the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the election, Prof Yen says.

The KMT won big in last year's local elections, but analysts say the China factor weighs much more in presidential elections.

China has adopted a carrot-and-stick strategy, says Professor Fang-yu Chen of Taiwan's Soochow University. On one hand China promises exchanges - including economic and cultural - if Taiwan agrees on the "One China" principle. At the same time it continues its military build-up.

"Beijing wants to tell the Taiwanese people that there will be a war if they vote for the DPP, but there will be peace if they vote for the KMT," he adds.

It is an uneasy balance to strike. However, China also faces internal pressure to act tough towards Taiwan, especially given that China has been stoking nationalism among its citizenry, he says.

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Ms Tsai and Mr McCarthy met in California

If China's military exercises aim to deter US and Taiwanese politicians from getting too close, it has achieved some success - Taiwan appears to have taken steps to reduce tensions around the Tsai-McCarthy meeting.

Last July, Mr McCarthy said he would like to lead a congressional delegation if he became the house speaker. The Tsai administration managed to convince him to meet in the US instead because of Taiwan's security concerns, the Financial Times reported, quoting sources.

The US also tried to downplay the meeting, pointing out that it was Ms Tsai's seventh transit since taking power. Both the US and Taiwan have described it as a stopover or transit, rather than a "visit".

"The US and Taiwan have developed a tacit understanding that they should take a low profile," says Prof Chen.

It is still a win for Taiwan, he says, as Mr McCarthy was the highest-ranking US official any Taiwan president has ever met on American soil since 1979, when the US severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

The Taiwan issue is the biggest flashpoint in the US-China relations. China sees the democratic self-governing island as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take control of it.

As the US shows greater support for Taiwan, China has accused it of hollowing out its longstanding One China policy.

Under the policy, the US recognises and has formal ties with China rather than the island of Taiwan, which China sees as a breakaway province to be unified with the mainland one day.

But this is distinct from the One China principle, whereby China insists Taiwan is an inalienable part of one China to be unified one day.

The US policy is not an endorsement of Beijing's position and indeed as part of the policy, Washington maintains a "robust unofficial" relationship with Taiwan, including continued arms sales to the island so that it can defend itself.

map

Last year President Joe Biden repeatedly said the US would intervene to help Taiwan if China attacked it, statements seemingly at odds with the US official posture of ambiguity.

As part of its recalibration of its own forces in Asia, the US will carry out its biggest-ever joint naval exercises with the Philippines starting on Tuesday.

The US has also secured access to four additional Philippine bases in the South China Sea, with three of them relatively near Taiwan.

In Taiwan itself, people have remained calm as the drills practising striking targets and "sealing off" the island have taken place - just as they did during August's military manoeuvres.

But Professor Yen is worried that the island may be lulled into a false sense of security.

Recent escalations have seen Beijing's warplanes and ships pass the median line, the unofficial dividing line between Taiwanese and Chinese territory that was respected by both sides for almost 70 years.

"China may continue the drills in the future and Taiwan won't know how to respond if it attacks one day," he says.
Taipei, Taiwan  China said Monday that it had wrapped up several days of military exercises that saw it send dozens of warplanes buzzing through Taiwan's airspace in a drill that simulated an attack on the democratically governed island just 100 miles off the Chinese mainland. The three-day exercises, using live ammunition, were practice for a complete encirclement of Taiwan by China's military.

The drills were clearly meant to demonstrate China's ability to cut the island off from the rest of the world, and they were a direct response to Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-went meeting American congressional leaders last week during a stopover in California. China had warned the U.S. and Tsai against having those meetings, and made clear they would draw a "resolute" reaction.

What to know as U.S.-China tension soars over Taiwan

But despite the war games taking place off their coastline  which for the first time included China sailing one of its two aircraft carriers, the Shandong, through Taiwanese waters  in Taipei, it was just another morning rush hour on Monday.

A Chinese Navy landing ship sails towards the zone where China said it would conduct live fire exercises, northeast of Pingtan island, the closest point in China to Taiwan, off China's southeast Fujian province, April 10, 2023. / Credit: GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty

China also flew fighter jets into airspace claimed by Taiwan, but all the drills were too far away to be seen from the island. So, to make the point that this has been a rehearsal for war, China had to release video, and an animation of Taiwanese targets on its hit list.

None of it appeared to faze the Taiwanese we met, as they took a break on Taipei's network of cycle trails. After all, said Diana Lee, the threats from China have waxed and waned for decades.



She said the Taiwanese people simply "have to live our life. We have other challenges to face."



There's no denying, however, that these are unusually tense times as two global superpowers face off over their island's fate.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said he will use force, if necessary, to bring Taiwan under Beijing's control, and the U.S. has signaled ever more explicitly that it would come to Taiwan's defense.

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Meanwhile, as President Tsai stood with senior American politicians on U.S. soil, openly asserting Taiwan's independence, to Taipei resident Jolie Pan, it felt like playing with fire. She told CBS News she worried that Tsai's words and actions could provoke China into abandoning its exercises and attacking for real.

To everyone's relief, the Chinese drills that wrapped up in the seas and skies around Taiwan on Monday were just that  practice.

While it's a good sign that all sides involved have continued to insist they don't want it, they all know there's a real potential for war over Taiwan.

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TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Chinas military sent warships and several dozen warplanes toward Taiwan in a large-scale exercise that simulated sealing off the island in an attempt at intimidation in response to the Taiwanese presidents trip to the U.S. last week.

The Chinese military earlier announced three-day combat readiness patrols named Joint Sword as a warning to Taiwan, a self-governed island which China claims as its own. The military exercises are similar to ones last August when China conducted missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan in retaliation for then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi visit to Taiwan, but are smaller and less disruptive.

Military experts say the exercises serve as both psychological warfare and an opportunity for Chinese troops to practice sealing off Taiwan by blocking sea and air traffic, an important strategic option the Chinese military might pursue in the event it uses military force to take Taiwan.

The Chinese actions follow President Tsai Ing-wens delicate mission to shore up Taiwans dwindling diplomatic alliances in Central America and boost its U.S. support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. A U.S. congressional delegation also met with Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

More: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, Kevin McCarthy meeting draws threat from China

China responded immediately to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsais U.S. trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

China wants to use any increase of diplomatic interactions between the U.S. and Taiwan as an excuse to train its military, said Kuo Yu-jen, a defense studies expert and director of the Institute for National Policy Research in Taiwan.

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the islands democratic government encourages Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Chinas ruling Communist Party says would lead to war. The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the Communist Party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

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After Pelosi visited Taiwan, China conducted missiles strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan, while also sending warships and war planes over the median line of the Taiwan Strait. It also fired missiles over the island itself which landed in Japans exclusive economic zone, in a significant escalation.

The live-fire exercises disrupted flights and shipping in one of the busiest shipping lanes for global trade. This time, shipping and maritime traffic have largely continued as normal, Kuo said.

McCarthy and Taiwan President

The exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting 200 flights by Chinese warplanes in the past three days. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the Peoples Liberation Army, said the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan as well as waves of simulated strikes at important targets on the island.

On Monday, the PLA said its Shandong aircraft carrier was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan for the first time. It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off the deck of the ship in a post on Weibo, the social media platform.

The appearance of the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean suggests that it could be used to prevent foreign militaries from coming to help Taiwan, said Han Gan-ming, a research fellow at the government-backed Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

In the future if theres a similar military maneuver, then Taiwan will have to face it alone, Han said.

Between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwans Ministry of National Defense. Among the planes that crossed the median were eight J-16 fighter jets, four J-1 fighters, eight Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes. Taiwan also tracked J-15 fighter jets, which are paired with the Shandong aircraft carrier.

Later Monday morning, Taiwans defense ministry reported another 59 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday in which eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the islands Defense Ministry. It said in a statement that it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as from its own navy vessels.

More: China flies fighter jets near Taiwan after leader's US stop, meeting with House speaker

Chinas military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent toward the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities. The military activity has increased a notch since Pelosis visit, with Chinese PLA fighter jets regularly flying over the middle boundary line. Experts say PLA navy vessels regularly navigate the waters off Taiwans northeastern coast.

Meanwhile, to the south in the South China Sea, the U.S. 7th Fleet said its missile destroyer USS Milius sailed by Mischief Reef in a freedom of navigation operation. China has built an artificial island on the sea feature to stake its claim to the disputed territory.

China said the U.S. illegally trespassed into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government, according to a statement from the Chinese militarys southern command.

Outside of the military maneuvers, Kuo said he was worried about the announcements from Fujians Maritime Safety Administration from last week, when it said it would conduct on-site inspections of cargo ships and working vessels in the Taiwan Strait as part of a patrol exercise.

First theyll target ships traveling between the Strait, then they will target any international ship, he said. Gradually this will become the de facto new status quo.

One of the U.S. representatives who attended the meeting with Tsai last week said Saturday the U.S. must take seriously the threat China poses to Taiwan. Republican Mike Gallagher, chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on China, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island governments defenses, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Taiwan president's U.S. visit spurs China military show of force
Flags of China and the European Union. [Photo/VCG]



The visits of French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to China highlight the mutual interest in reviving Sino-European relations. Only a few weeks after the Two Sessions, diplomatic engagement is accelerating, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez recently attending the Boao Annual Forum in China.



The Sino-European partnership is multifaceted and characterized by a dynamic interplay of agreements and disagreements. The more China and Europe engage with each other, the better. Against this backdrop, the joint decision to resume high-level dialogue is encouraging. President von der Leyen emphasized the importance of this resumption in her press conference. Meanwhile, the human rights dialogue continues, with the 38th session held in February.

Trade remains a critical pillar of Sino-European relations. Last year, China ranked as the EU's third-largest partner for goods exports and the largest partner for goods imports. Eurostat data reveals that European exports to China rose to 230.3 billion euros ($251 billion) in 2022 from 223.5 billion euros in 2021, while imports increased to 626 billion euros from 473.8 billion euros. Germany, France, the Netherlands and Italy were the biggest exporters and importers.

From a European perspective, discussions with the Chinese government can address the widening EU trade deficit. In 2022, this deficit reached 395.7 billion euros, up from 250.3 billion euros in 2021, 182.3 billion euros in 2020, and 165 billion euros in 2019. European companies, recognizing the massive potential of the Chinese market, are exploring new opportunities in untapped sectors. Chinese Premier Li Qiang has already signaled China's commitment to continuous opening up.

Regarding Sino-French economic relations, French exports to China slightly declined to 24.1 billion euros in 2022 from 24.4 billion euros in 2021, while imports increased to 77.7 billion euros from 63.8 billion euros. President Macron's delegation to China included representatives from major businesses, reflecting a shared desire to enhance economic collaboration in trade and investment. In one notable example, Airbus signed agreements with Chinese industry partners for new aircraft supplies and production site expansions. Airbus predicts China's air traffic to grow 5.3% annually over the next two decades, significantly outpacing the global average of 3.6%.

Beyond economics, progress is being made on environmental and climate change initiatives. In 2019, China and France signed the Beijing Call for Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change. In November 2022, the Chinese Ministry of Finance and the French Agency of Development went further and signed an agreement to support China's biodiversity with EU funds. President von der Leyen publicly acknowledged China's role in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework during her press conference.

Obviously, security should not be overlooked. France, which welcomed the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran under Chinese mediation, hopes China can leverage its influence to halt hostilities in the Ukraine crisis  a position shared by the EU. Although the Chinese and European perception of the Ukraine crisis is different and no breakthrough is expected yet, there is a common interest in supporting peace and preventing escalation. In January 2022, China and France signed a joint statement of the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states of the U.N. Security Council on preventing nuclear war. Engaging in regular dialogue will only help, and the visits of Macron and von der Leyen to China represent another step in the right direction.

George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.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.
China sent nearly a dozen warships and 70 fighter jets toward Taiwan on Monday, prompting the Taiwanese military to ready its navy and its land-based missile defenses, its government said.

The aggressive move came after two days of similar military displays Beijing sent near the island of 22 million people  actions made in retaliation for ongoing meetings between the U.S. and Taiwanese officials. Chinas Foreign Ministry has sharply criticized these meetings and has claimed the U.S. is attempting to make the islands de facto independence permanent.

On Monday, 11 warships belonging to Chinas Navy  formerly the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)  and 70 PLA aircraft were detected traveling near the self-ruled island democracy. According to flight paths, 35 of the detected aircraft had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's self-declared Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

The day before, eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, 45 of which entered the ADIZ, the island's Ministry of Defense said. The aircraft included the Chengdu J-10, Shenyang J-11 and Shenyang J-16 jet fighters.

CONFLICT WITH CHINA 'LAST RESORT' BUT CONGRESS WILL AUTHORIZE TROOPS IF AMERICANS SUPPORT IT: MCCAUL

A Taiwanese air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet is seen on final approach for landing at an air force base in Hsinchu, northern Taiwan on April 9, 2023.

On Saturday, eight warships and 42 planes were detected near the self-ruled island, 29 of which flew across the ADIZ, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Defense.

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The Taiwanese military said missile defense systems were activated and air and sea patrols were sent out to track the PLA aircraft on all three days.

"We condemn such an irrational act that has jeopardized regional security and stability," a Ministry of Defense statement said.

Three military boats from Taiwan's Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit patrol the Matsu Islands on April 9, 2023.

Military boats from Taiwan's Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit patrol the Matsu Islands on April 9, 2023.

As a warning to Taiwanese officials, Beijing announced three days of "combat readiness patrols" after President Tsai Ing-wen met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles Thursday and as a delegation of U.S. lawmakers visited Taiwan over the weekend.

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The PLA gave no indication whether the patrols might include firing missiles into the sea  which they previously did, disrupting shipping lanes and airline flights.

The patrol plans include a destroyer, missile boats, ballistic missiles and land-based anti-ship missiles as well as early warning, electronic warfare and tanker aircraft, according to a newspaper published by the Communist Party.

The McCarthy-Tsai meeting last week in California was swiftly criticized by China. Beijing responded the next day by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against American groups and individuals associated with Tsais U.S. visit.

"This is a serious warning against the collusion and provocation between the Taiwan independence separatist forces and external forces," a statement from the PLA read. The statement defended the "Joint Sword" exercises as necessary to "defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

CHINA CONDUCTS SECOND DAY OF MILITARY DRILLS AROUND TAIWAN, SIMULATES STRIKES ON THE ISLAND

A delegation of U.S. lawmakers, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, attended a luncheon in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, further exacerbating tensions. Beijing firmly claims Taiwan to be part of its territory.

Chinas navy also announced it will hold "live fire training" in Luoyuan Bay in Fujian province opposite Taiwan on five dates over the next two weeks, the local Maritime Authority announced. Ships are banned from traveling during the firing, the authority added.

Taiwan formally split with China in 1949 after the countrys civil war but the ruling Communist Party says the island falls under the sovereignty of the mainland and would be taken by force if necessary. Beijing has said contact with foreign officials encouraging Taiwans formal independence is a provocation that could lead to war.

A Taiwanese air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet lands at an air force base in Hsinchu, northern Taiwan on April 9, 2023.

"We will never leave room for Taiwan independence separatist activities in any form and will definitely take resolute measures to defeat any foreign interference," said a spokesperson for the Cabinets Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhu Fenglian, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

"Complete reunification of our country must be realized, and it can, without doubt, be realized," Zhu said Friday.

The United States officially recognizes Taiwan as a territory belonging to China  as do most countries around the world  but often deals and enacts trade agreements with the self-governing island differently than it does with mainland China.

In defiance of China, the U.S. maintains extensive informal ties with the island and Washington is required by federal law to ensure it has the means to defend itself if China attacks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Chinas military on Monday ended three consecutive days of military drills around Taiwan that included simulating precision strikes and sealing off the island in the wake of a visit between Taiwans president and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

The Chinese military said the three days of intense drills were intended as a warning to Taiwan and said forces are ready to fight at all times to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the Peoples Liberation Army, reported the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan and waves of simulated strikes at targets on the island.

Taiwan had said over the weekend that its own forces were monitoring the drills and had been tasked to respond [to] these provocative activities. Taiwans government has denounced the drills, Reuters reports.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met last week with McCarthy in Los Angeles, Calif., a meeting that has angered Beijing, which claims the self-governed island as its own territory.

Tensions between the U.S. and China are already at a high point over a number of issues, from Russias invasion of Ukraine to fallout from the pandemic.

Taiwan is one of the most sensitive issues between the U.S. and China.

China conducted similar drills last year in apparent retaliation after former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) made a trip to Taiwan.

Beijing is upset over U.S. support for Taiwan, and warned after McCarthys meeting with Tsai on U.S. soil that Washington should not walk further down a wrong and dangerous road. The U.S. has remained strategically ambiguous in its position on Taiwanese independence.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
[Source]

A Chinese student in Russia is facing deportation following his arrest last week for allegedly violating the country's controversial "gay propaganda" law.

Haoyang Xu, a 21-year-old Chinese national in Russia on a student visa, was reportedly arrested last week along with his Russian partner Gela Gogishvili, 23, both of whom are well-known vloggers on TikTok with over 740,000 followers in total.

Adel Khaydarshin, a lawyer representing the gay couple, told CNN that Xu, who was charged under Article 6.21 of Russia's Administrative Offenses Code, also known as the gay propaganda law, was placed in temporary detention for foreigners and could be facing possible deportation.

Gogishvili, who is facing the same charge, only received a 200,000 rubles (approximately $2,450) fine instead of detention. He was reportedly released hours after being taken to the police station.

More from NextShark: Asian-owned marketing firm snags elite multicultural award for their success amid the pandemic

Recalling the event toNewsweek, Gogishvili, who runsa YouTube channel with Xu where they share their experience as a gay couple living in Russia, said they were stopped by a police officer at around 1 p.m. on Wednesday in the city of Kazan while out with their friends.

The officer reportedly asked Xu for his passport and visa, which were not in his possession at the time. The officer then escorted the two to their home to retrieve the documents and later took them to the police station, where they were charged with violating the gay propaganda law.

We were very scared ... it became a living hell because the impossible happened," Gogishvili told Newsweek. The policeman told us that it's not that Haoyang didn't have his papers on him but we will be prosecuted for 'gay propaganda' and ... Haoyang could be deported.

More from NextShark: Woman accidentally crashes her car through boba shop in Washington

Gogishvili also said he has been bringing food and medication to the police station for Xu in the hopes that he receives them.

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"Police were not polite to us, but there was no serious abuse and I hope it stays that way, he said. I'm holding in tears because I don't have time to cry right now.

According to Vladimir Komov, a senior partner at DELO LGBT+, a Moscow-based LGBTQ+ group, authorities had been looking for Gogishvili, who is employed as a pharmacist, in different pharmacies in the city since March.

More from NextShark: Jewish community stands in solidarity with Philadelphia Chinatown residents protesting arena plan

Komov told Newsweek that the gay propaganda law falls under the Administrative Code but that the Kazan police treated the couple like they are dangerous criminal offenders.

He was also confused as to why the couple became a target, considering that they are very popular on social media and only share daily life content with their followers.

They do TikToks about their everyday life as a gay couple, how they do chores, how they wash the dishes, how they communicate and only share a few romantic moments such as kissing ... and some cuddling. More from NextShark: Suspect arrested in Half Moon Bay mass shootings that killed 7 How did the police informer and the Kazan police deem there was LGBT+ propaganda on their social media? These guys just posted videos in which they kiss, hug and show their favorite sleeping poses. All this was considered an inappropriate demonstration of homosexual intimacy.

A court document shared by Khaydarshin to CNN revealed Xu was arrested for posting videos showing non-traditional sexual relations with his partner.

The court document also claimed that the authorities uncovered videos on the couples YouTube channel showing the two kissing each other and allegedly touching each other on various parts of the body, including in the genital area.

According to the court, almost 1,800 of the couples subscribers on YouTube were under 18 years old.

While Xu has not yet been deported, their lawyer said he could still appeal the courts decision.

First implemented in 2013, the gay propaganda law was reinforced after receiving a unanimous vote from Russias upper house of parliament in November 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the law in December 2022. The newly strengthened law has made promoting or praising LGBTQ+ relationships online, in the media and in books illegal, as well as public expressions of non-heterosexual orientations. The new amendment extended the ban on spreading LGBTQ-related information to all ages.

The toughening of the controversial law came months after Russia dropped out of the human rights watchdog Council of Europe on March 15, 2022, less than a month after the invasion of Ukraine.

Those caught breaking the law could face a fine of up to 400,000 rubles (approximately $4,900) for individuals and 5 million rubles (approximately $61,000) for organizations.
Chrissy Teigen has responded to mom-shamers after she posted a picture of her three-month-old daughter strapped to husband John Legends chest during a recent family trip to Italy.

This week, the 37-year-old model took to Instagram to share photos of her familys getaway to Venice. In one image, Teigen was seen smiling as the musician snapped a picture of himself holding his youngest daughter, Esti Maxine, in a baby carrier strapped to his chest.

However, many critics believed the parents werent using the baby carrier correctly. The carrier  which appeared to be from the brand Artipoppe  seemed to sit too low on Legends chest for some peoples preference, like one Instagram user who wrote: Lol John is wearing Esti so low!!!

Another person asked whether the baby carrier was supposed to go like this, to which someone else replied: I can almost guarantee it should not.

Meanwhile, a since-deleted comment from one user suggested that the couple was not using the carrier right and tagged another Instagram user to give them some advice on how to wear it.

In her reply, Teigen pointed out that the right way to use the carrier is whichever way Esti feels most comfortable. Right is how she feels comfortable, the mother of three wrote back. She doesnt like to be high and tight and likes to look around and see her daddy. She is safe and happy.

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen announced the arrival of their daughter, Esti Maxine Stephens, in January 2023. In the caption of her post, the cookbook author shared the special meaning behind the familys recent trip to Italy. Venezia! John and I first came here in 2007 when we were just a couple of crazy child-free kids! she shared. Its [sic] was the dead of winter, absolutely freezing cold and john fondly remembers my single faux urban outfitters fur hat that adorned me every day and night.

She recalled: we took the water bus everywhere and ran through the alleys, making out like a couple of doofuses in lurve who never would have thought wed be back with babies of our own!

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Teigen added, well john probably knew.

The following day, the couple celebrated their first Easter as a family of three. Teigen wrote alongside photos from their Italian getaway: Happy Easter from us and our chick-a-dees!

Last January the Lip Sync Battle host shared the first photo of her youngest child on Instagram. Shes here! Esti Maxine Stephens  the house is bustling and our family could not be happier, Teigen captioned the photo, which showed her and Legends daughter Luna, six, and son Miles, four, cradling their newborn sibling. Daddy sheds nightly tears of joy seeing Luna and Miles so full of love, and I am learning you still need diapers with a C-section!?

We are in bliss. Thank you for all the love and well wishes  we feel it all!

This isnt the first time Chrissy Teigen has clapped back at mom-shamers. Last December, she sent a message to critics who complained that her pregnancy has felt longer than usual. In the caption of an Instagram post showing off her baby bump, Teigen mimicked some of the comments shes received on her page. Omg I feel like shes been pregnant foreverrrrrr, she wrote. How do you think I feel thank u.
The first of several multi-day lane closures on Interstate 90 in Issaquah, which will occur over the next two months, began Monday morning.

The Washington State Department of Transportation says crews are working on bridge and pothole repairs in westbound lanes, east of the city.

Mondays work will focus on bridges between the Preston Interchange at Southeast 82nd Street and Highlands Drive. From Monday at 10 a.m. to Wednesday at 6 p.m. the interstate will be down to one lane at this stretch.

The city of Issaquah recommends preparing extra time and staying home if possible.

This is a big deal for those traveling in the Issaquah area (this) week, said WSDOT. Please give yourself lots of extra time, be patient, and be safe near the work zones.

There will be three more similar closings this spring, according to WSDOT.

Heads up I-90 travelers - next week!



Mon. Apr 10, 10am - Wed. Apr 12, 6pm



I-90 WB btwn #Preston/#Issaquah



Reduced to ONE lane for roadway repairs#PlanAhead, use alternate routes and expect delays! This will cause significant traffic.@cityofissaquah @SnoqualmieGov pic.twitter.com/zdF1n4GeV1  WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) April 7, 2023
An equal-opportunity complaint alleging that the Air Force discriminated against its deaf and hard-of-hearing civilian employees will move forward as a class-action case, a federal appellate office ruled April 5.

The decision is a win for Air Force employees who say the service failed to provide the tools they need at work, like American Sign Language interpreters, real-time captioning equipment and videophones.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint could ultimately lead to a smoother process by which deaf and hard-of-hearing employees can obtain that help, and more accessibility features like closed captioning in training videos.

Our clients and the other Deaf civilians they represent are hard-working and incredibly capable people, and all they have asked for are the basic accommodations they need to do their jobs, Sean Betouliere, an attorney for the Disability Rights Advocates group, and class counsel Wendy Musell, said in a release Monday.

Employers with far fewer resources than the Air Force regularly provide such accommodations, but the Air Forces process for accommodating Deaf applicants and employees is profoundly broken, the release said. The EEOC correctly recognized that these systemic problems require a systemic fix, and we are looking forward to continuing to fight for that necessary change.

Sarah Weimer, a former labor and employment attorney for the Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, began the initial complaint in January 2020.

Weimer alleged that most of her requests for interpreters had been denied, unfilled, or simply gone unanswered, the ruling said. There were instances when her supervisors contacted headquarters to obtain her accommodations but did not receive responses.

On at least two occasions in the past three years, Weimer couldnt finish her required training videos because they werent captioned, the ruling said. Transcribing the videos was not sustainable, effective or efficient, it added.

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The Air Force repeatedly failed to provide me with ASL interpreters or [Communication Access Realtime Services], and I went almost a year without a working videophone, meaning that I could not even make or receive phone calls, Weimer said in the release. Two other deaf employees at my base went over five years without videophones despite repeated requests.

Those problems are persistent  across virtually all installations, said Kendra Shock, who previously served as the Air Forces top disability program manager, according to the April 5 ruling.

The EEOC allowed Weimers complaint to become a class action in October, a move the Air Force appealed to the Office of Federal Operations. The office acts as an appellate court for EEOC rulings.

Because of the latest ruling, members of the class can include any deaf people who worked for or applied to jobs in the Department of the Air Force since Jan. 1, 2018, and found it difficult to secure reasonable accommodations at work.

At least 700 employees and applicants nationwide comprise the class, according to lawyers Betouliere and Musell. That number could grow by thousands: An Air Force legal brief said it had nearly 2,600 civilian employees who identified as deaf or hard of hearing, according to the Office of Federal Operations.

Weimer alleged that the service had provided ASL interpretation just 152 times to hundreds of deaf employees since 2018.

She argued that managers within the Air Force did not budget for those accommodations, in part because the process of carving out money for those services was onerous.

The ruling said that requests often had to be elevated to the [major command] or higher headquarters, which created delays in providing accommodations.

Shock, the former disability program official, testified that she frequently attempted to raise a centralized process, according to the ruling. She said one-quarter of Air Force installations dont have a designated disability program manager.

The Air Force agreed that it lacked enough staff to run its disability program in recent years, the ruling said. Three full-time employees were in charge of processing requests for disability accommodations, plus 85 staffers who handled those duties on top of other full-time jobs, the ruling noted.

It also acknowledged that neither mandatory employee training sessions nor internal videos were consistently captioned.

The federal government ended a General Services Administration contract to provide live captioning to those who need it, a centralized option known as Federal Relay, in February 2022. Now federal agencies must seek out that help on their own.

The Air Force was aware of complications with connecting videophones and captioned telephones since 2018, and rather than addressing the complications in a unified way, they were handled on a case-by-case basis, the ruling said. In many instances, the issues were never resolved.

An Air Force spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

The class complaint will return to the EEOCs district office in Los Angeles, and an administrative judge will continue to probe the allegations. Class members may also bring their grievances to federal court.
One of the worst national security leaks in U.S. history began with classified documents on Russias war in Ukraine and other issues spreading across fringe social media sites and messaging rooms for gamers.

The leak, which is being investigated by the Justice Department and Pentagon, was first reported last week by The New York Times.

Yet the earliest documents were spreading across Discord servers for at least a little over a month, even though they are only now being investigated by the Justice Department and Pentagon.

Discord is a messaging platform popular with gamers.

Heres how the documents spread.

A Wow Mao chatroom

Photographs of dozens of pages of the documents were shared on Feb. 28 and March 2 on Discord to a server called Wow Mao, The Washington Post reported.

The Wow Mao Discord server, seemingly named after a YouTubers account, may not have been the first Discord channel where the documents spread, however.

Members of a separate Discord community told Bellingcat the images were among a larger set of photos of documents posted to a since-deleted server on Discord dating back to January, said Aric Toler, Bellingcats director of research and training.

Bellingcat was not able to independently verify claims of those earlier documents.

The jump to Minecraft

After the photos were shared to the Wow Mao server, some of them were shared on another server about the popular video game Minecraft, Toler said.

Ten documents were posted in the server about Minecraft maps, which had a larger community following than the Wow Mao server.

In response to a brief spat with another person in the Minecraft chatroom, one user replied here, have some leaked documents and attached the 10 documents about Ukraine, some of which had the Top Secret markings, according to the Bellingcat.

From the Minecraft server, a handful of posts migrated over to 4chan and Telegram  and then all hell breaks loose, Toler said.

Story continues

The images shared on a pro-Russian Telegram channel on Wednesday came after a user on 4chan posted seemingly similar but mostly different documents, according to Bellingcat.

For example, in one common image on the two posts is a map with statistics that include the cumulative number of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers killed in action.

While the image is identical, the posts show different numbers killed in action. The image shared on 4chan showed more Russian losses than Ukraine, and the image shared on Telegram showed the reverse.

Toler said the second image, with the higher Ukrainian killed in action numbers posted on Telegram, appeared to have been manipulated.

How are platforms responding to the leak?

The breach, and reported manipulation of at least one of the images, is raising concerns about how information is being circulated online.

Steven Ward, a resident privacy and security follow for R Streets Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats team, said the leaking of classified intelligence documents is concerning but we should be cautious of the leaked documents authenticity.

In the last few years, dark underground communities like 4chan and Telegram have garnered more attention, expanding their reach and making them a viable option for distributing information to a larger audience, Ward said in an email.

A Discord spokesperson said they are cooperating with law enforcement in regards to the apparent breach of classified material.

As this remains an active investigation, we cannot provide further comment at this time, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that when Discord is made aware of content that violates our policies, our Safety team investigates and takes the appropriate action, including banning users, shutting down servers, and engaging with law enforcement.

Discord is not the only platform where the information is spreading. Images are now circulating on much more mainstream social media platforms, such as Twitter.

Its not clear if Twitter has plans to try to bar the spread of the images. Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who bought the platform in the fall, seemed to sarcastically brush off the idea in a tweet last week.

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, Musk tweeted.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Photo: Various images (Shutterstock)

Elephant see, elephant do, it seems. In a new paper this week, researchers describe an Asian elephant that has learned how to peel a banana before eating it. The pachyderm, named Pang Pha, likely adopted the trick from watching humans but appears to only peel certain bananas.

Pang Pha is a female Asian elephant and resident at the Berlin Zoo. Zookeepers there alerted scientists at the Humboldt University of Berlin and elsewhere about Pang Phas peeling trick, so the researchers decided to come witness it for themselves. When they fed her fully yellow or green bananas, Pang Pha ate them wholea normal elephant behaviorand she completely eschewed eating brown bananas. But, upon being given yellow bananas with brown spots, she became a peeling machine. With her trunk, she breaks the banana, shakes out the pulp, and then discards the peel.

Read more

We discovered a very unique behavior, said Michael Brecht of the Humboldt University of Berlin in a statement released by Cell Press. What makes Pang Phas banana peeling so unique is a combination of factorsskillfulness, speed, individuality, and the putatively human originrather than a single behavioral element.



An elephants self-taught banana peeling offers glimpse of elephants broader abilities

Pang Pha appears to have picked up the behavior by observing her caretakers, who raised her by hand and would regularly feed her peeled bananas. But banana-peeling seems to be a rare skill in the elephant world, and no other elephants at the Berlin Zoo have adopted it. Pang Pha also seems to be shy about displaying her peeling: When eating bananas in a group, shell gobble most of them whole, while saving one to peel and eat on her own later. Not only can Pang Pha peel bananas, she does it faster than humans, according to the researchers.

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The teams research was published Monday in the journal Current Biology. A YouTube video showing off Pang Phas peeling prowess can be seen here.

The findings are the latest to indicate that elephants have some truly impressive cognitive abilities. Just last week, a separate team of scientists argued that elephants may be the only non-primate animal that could be considered self-domesticated, meaning theyve evolved on their own to exhibit reduced aggression and strong social bonding behaviors.

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Ndidi A. Okakpu has been trying to buy her first home for three years.

First, the pandemic got in the way, causing her to put her search on hold. Then, in 2021 and 2022, emergency expenses cut into her savings. Volatility in the housing market, including high prices and a limited supply of homes for sale, has also posed a challenge.

The supply went down really badly, and so all the wonderful spots you were looking for werent there anymore, said Okakpu, who is the director of development for a Chicago-area nonprofit. Then the few items that seemed OK were extremely expensive.

Okakpu isnt the only single woman finding it difficult to purchase a home.

After increasing for six years, the national homeownership rate for single women ages 25 to 35 declined to 24.5% in 2022, down from 28.6% in 2021, according to new data from Zillow. Homeownership among single men of the same age range increased by 2.7 percentage points to 33.1% in 2022.

Zillow attributes the gap in homeownership rates between single women and men to the lower salaries that women earn, which causes them to struggle to afford rising home prices. Record-low levels of homes for sale are also pushing up prices and making it difficult for all want-to-be buyers to afford homes.

Single women had made great strides in narrowing the homeownership gap, but the pandemic reminded us that progress is not always linear, said Skylar Olsen, chief economist at Zillow. With rising and volatile mortgage rates furthering affordability challenges, the road to affordable homeownership remains an uphill battle, and it may take creative solutions or even doubling up in a home to achieve that dream.

Jameelah Smith, real estate broker with @properties | Christies International Real Estate, said some of her clients, many of whom are single women, expect to be approved for mortgages that are larger than what they can realistically afford.

For single women, there is only one income in the household, Smith said. And depending on what that job is and what debt they have, they can only be approved for so much.

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She is currently working with five single women, all of whom have an adult child or a parent co-signing with them so that they can afford more.

Alone, they (can afford) $200,000. Once they add an older child (or parent), they are able to go up to $300,000, Smith said, who has two clients under contract and three who are still looking.

When taking out the age factor, single women own more homes than single men nationally, but women, especially women of color, face more challenges in achieving homeownership due to historically being denied financial services, decades of racist housing policies, the gender pay gap and lower returns on their real estate investments, according to data compiled and analyzed by the Urban Institute.

JaQara Booker, 39, currently owns a two-flat in the Bridgeport neighborhood on Chicagos South Side but has been looking since the latter half of last year to move herself and her 5- and 10-year-old children into a single-family home and keep the two-flat as an investment property. She previously owned a single-family home with her ex-husband in the suburb Evergreen Park and moved to the two-flat in September 2020.

She said it has been difficult to find a house that checks off all her boxes: a safe neighborhood, good schools, modernized, spacious, the right price.

The marketing professional and entrepreneur is looking for a three-bedroom home between $475,000 and $485,000, mainly in the South Side neighborhoods Bronzeville and Hyde Park neighborhoods, as she is seeing new construction there that she said she wasnt seeing back in 2020. But many of the homes are in the $700,000 range.

The challenges exist to be the same: the desired neighborhood doesnt really have anything available  the price point is too high or I would have to sacrifice  knowing I would have to put a lot of work into it, said Booker, who believes renovations would be difficult with her young children.

In 2020 and 2021, mortgage rates were at historically low levels of between 2 and 3%, causing more Black and Latino households, many headed by women, to pursue homeownership, according to U.S. census data analyzed by the Urban Institute. But in 2022, mortgage rates climbed back up, said Jung Choi, senior research associate at the Urban Institute.

Especially for women with children, because they also have greater financial expenses, it is even more difficult to save for a down payment, especially during the past couple of years with lack of housing supply, rent prices have also gone up, Choi said.

Lynnette Cheatham, 46, is one example of a single woman who has been able to buy a home. She sold her Bronzeville condo in September 2021 for around $375,000 and began renting again while she looked for a single-family home, primarily searching in the Chicago suburbs.

The accountant began looking in January 2022, spending at least 10 weekends going to dozens of open houses, sometimes in one day, to find the right one.

The frustration from this experience versus my others was getting outbid, Cheatham said, who was looking for a home to buy for the fourth time. I wasnt used to this.  It was tough.

Her advice to other single women looking to buy includes establishing a stable and high credit score, seeking down payment assistance, building emergency savings and walking away from deals that dont feel right.

It is a process, and it is not going to happen overnight, Cheatham said. Everyone has an idea of what it should be and that idea may not be reality. I have always had this thing: Every time I walked in, if I didnt have a feeling, then it wasnt the house for me.

Okakpu, who preferred not to share her exact age but falls into the age range some of the Zillow data applies to, is determined to find a place this year.

I have given myself less than a year to, hell or high water, get her done and land on something, she said.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
Law enforcers have served a collaborationist a notice of suspicion because she is the one who helped the occupiers transport 1,000 Ukrainian children to temporarily occupied Crimea.

Source: Security Service of Ukraine; legitimate Prosecutor's Office in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea; Ukrainska Pravda's source in law enforcement agencies

Details: According to the Ukrainska Pravda source, it is 38-year-old Hanna Parubina, a native of Donetsk.

The investigation has established that after the occupation of the peninsula by the Russian armed forces, the suspect registered the ATLAS Travel Agency LLC in accordance with Russian law. Later, in 2022, she signed a contract with the illegally established Vernadskyy Crimean Federal University.

Under the terms of the contract, the suspect's company provided services for the transportation of minors from the temporarily occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts to Crimea and back for two groups of 1,064 people (1,000 children and 64 accompanying persons). She has received over 15 million roubles [approximately US$185,000  ed.] for her "work" from the Russian state budget.

There are orphans and hundreds of children whose parents were illegally detained by the occupiers while trying to leave the war zone among victims.

The owner of the travel agency has been served with a notice of suspicion for collaborationism.

She is currently hiding in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine's south.

Comprehensive measures are underway to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring the criminals to justice.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
 Flash

Photo taken on Aug. 10, 2021 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

The trilateral Australia-UK-U.S. (AUKUS) cooperation on nuclear submarines is designed to serve the U.S. geopolitical agenda to introduce group politics and Cold War confrontation into the Asia-Pacific with military deterrence. It's aimed at creating a NATO replica in the Asia-Pacific, which runs counter to peace and stability in the region, the Chinese Embassy in Britain said on Friday.

Australia, the U.S. and the UK in March unveiled a project to create a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in the Indo-Pacific region. Under the AUKUS pact, Canberra is to acquire its first nuclear-powered subs, at least three, from the U.S. and the allies will also work to create a new fleet using cutting-edge tech, including UK-made Rolls-Royce reactors.

"The AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation marks the first time for nuclear weapon states to transfer naval nuclear propulsion reactors and weapons-grade highly enriched uranium to a non-nuclear weapon state," the embassy noted.

It added that the current International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards system is incapable of ensuring effective safeguards and such cooperation poses serious nuclear proliferation risks, compromises the authority of the IAEA, and deals a blow to the agency's safeguards system.

The three countries have been pressing ahead with nuclear submarine cooperation despite being widely questioned. Such cooperation will exacerbate the resurgence of Cold War mentality, trigger a new round of arms race, and further provoke regional security and military confrontation, seriously jeopardizing regional peace, stability and prosperity, it said.

"If the three countries are set on advancing the cooperation, other countries will likely follow suit, eventually leading to the collapse of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime," it said.

The Asia-Pacific is now the most dynamic and fastest-growing region in the world, which hasn't come easily, the embassy said, urging the three countries to heed the call of the international community and regional countries, discard the outdated zero-sum Cold War mentality and narrow geopolitical mindset, earnestly fulfill their international obligations and do more things that are conducive to regional peace, stability, unity and development.

"This serves the fundamental and long-term interests of regional countries as well as the three countries themselves," it said. "The UK is not a country in the region and it is unwise to overstretch itself."
The student attends Cardiff University in Wales. Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

A college student said he was given the highest grade on an essay written with the help of ChatGPT.

The student told BBC News he adapted and tweaked the content generated by the chatbot.

He said the first-class mark was the highest grade he'd received at Cardiff University in Wales.

A student at Cardiff University in Wales said he received a top grade on an essay written with the help of OpenAI's ChatGPT.

The student, who was called the pseudonym "Tom" to protect his identity, told BBC News he conducted an experiment with the AI chatbot during January's assessment period.

The student, who averages a 2.1 grade, said he submitted one 2,500-word essay written with the help of ChatGPT, and another without any help from the bot.

For the essay he wrote himself, "Tom" said received a low 2.1 grade. However, for the AI-assisted essay he was given a first  the highest grade he'd been ever awarded, per the report.

He told BBC News he did not use the chatbot to write his essay in its entirety, but adapted and tweaked the content the chatbot generated.

"I didn't copy everything word for word, but I would prompt it with questions that gave me access to information much quicker than usual," the student said.

"Tom" added he was likely to use the bot to plan future essays.

Schools and colleges have been scrambling to deal with the fallout from the viral AI chatbot since it launched in late November. Students quickly seized on the bot's ability to generate well-structured essays and several were caught trying to pass the bot's content off as their own just months after it was released.

Professors previously told Insider that although they considered using AI to write essays to be a form of plagiarism, it can be hard to prove unless a student admits doing so.

A representative for Cardiff University told Insider: "Although not specifically referenced, the improper use of AI would be covered by our existing academic integrity policy.

"We are aware of the potential impact of AI programmes, like ChatGPT, on our assessments and coursework. Maintaining academic integrity is our main priority and we actively discourage any student from academic misconduct in its many forms. Our aim is also to educate our students about the proper use of AI and its many benefits.

"As a result, we are currently reviewing our existing policies and will be issuing new University-wide guidance shortly."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de Leon meets with his supporters at the Highland Park Adult Senior Citizens Center in April 2022. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Kevin De Leon is still a pariah in the halls of power in Los Angeles, but that status may not necessarily be permanent.

His predicament came when leaked audio exposed him and other Latino councilmembers in a conversation about redistricting that contained racist and divisive remarks. He refused to resign despite deafening calls for him to step down. Now, he might have a path to re-election in 2024.

An effort to recall him recently failed to gather enough signatures, though thats not a surprise given the high bar and the fact that most recall attempts fail. Still, the recall news raises questions about his future. Did those predicting the death of De Leons political career miss something?

A Los Angeles Times poll in January showed that while 51% of voters in his district wanted him to resign, that figure was lower for Latino voters at 43%. Sixty-four percent of white voters in his district wanted him to go.

Some of his Latino constituents have told me they believe his record of good deeds outweighs the ugliness of his remarks and silences in the closed-door conversation, which included him comparing a Black child to a luxury accessory and worse comments from others.

In recent days, many Black leaders have spoken out in support of former City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was found guilty of federal corruption charges. Many noted the importance of Ridley-Thomas record of accomplishment. After the verdict, Mayor Karen Bass called it a sad day for Los Angeles, adding that she feels sad personally. The contrast to De Leons treatment is stark.

De Leon, who didnt commit a crime, hasnt had many Latino leaders defending him. Theres been condemnation from leaders of all backgrounds and hes been called a violent racist . 

De Leon complained about Black political power on the tape and aggravated the citys racial tensions by refusing to resign. Theres no doubt that in private, hes guilty of Latino grievance politics. But in a world where Latinos remain severely underrepresented in politics, does that make him racist?

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Go back and look at my record, De Leon told me in a phone conversation on Wednesday. That is my reflection of who I am. Those are my values. Those are my principles.

Good deeds dont cancel out misdeeds, as some say of Ridley-Thomas. But should De Leons deeds be weighed against his words?

De Leon prevented more deportations than perhaps any other politician, sponsoring a bill that made California a sanctuary state. For a time, he was heralded as the top warrior of the Trump resistance.

That doesnt mean he deserves to stay on the City Council. But I do wonder if the speed with which many leaders demanded his resignation says as much about bipartisan apathy toward the issues he championed as it does about his failings.

Sure, hes got a chip on his shoulder. He exhibits flashes of narcissism. Labor icon Dolores Huerta has called him a bully. But its also true that he has fought more boldly than anybody for undocumented people.

He fights for others, too. He has often endorsed or appointed Black leaders over Latinos. On the state Legislature, he co-led a bill to apologize for crimes against Chinese immigrants. He played a key role in narrowing the racial gap in retirement savings, authoring the first state retirement savings bill and inspiring others. He wrote the bill to make power companies in California carbon-free by 2045, making him an unsung hero of the clean-energy movement. Hes been recognized as a leader on womens rights, sponsoring a historic bill to require state colleges and universities to address sexual violence on campuses.

But few remember those accomplishments. And because of the leaked audio, he may have lost his ability to build multiracial coalitions.

The language he used was so hurtful, that I dont think hes the best person to lead any movement forward, Rolando Cruz, a Boyle Heights resident, told me. If he was just going to focus on Latino causes, for sure, but thats just not the society we live in anymore.

Its De Leons Achilles heel: Although his policies benefit people of all backgrounds, he views himself as an embattled leader who represents, above all, Latinos. An ad called Our Time from his failed 2018 race against Sen. Dianne Feinstein exposes this vision. It attacks Feinstein and Trump for bashing immigrants and has a scene of a single mother, a housekeeper like De Leons mom, taken away by immigration agents. This is our story, De Leon says. Its time to stand up and fight back.

Hes speaking to Latinos, with an urgency that is deeply understood by people from mixed-status families. Although all Americans benefit from undocumented peoples labor, few consider them a priority. Fairly or not, this may have limited his appeal.

The next opportunity to unseat De Leon will be in 2024. Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) announced Friday that he was challenging him.

In the meantime, some leaders say De Leon shouldnt be sidelined. Its time to heal, its time to remember that at the end of the day, we are all humans and we all make mistakes and he did not commit any criminal act, Lydia Camarillo, president of the Southwest Voter Registration Project, told me.

His critics see the failed recall as a lesson. Cruz, the Boyle Heights resident, compared De Leon to an older boxer, using craftiness to outmaneuver stronger, younger fighters. While critics yelled and cursed, De Leon helped struggling elders in the district, scoring sympathy.

Cruz believes activists should replicate the energy of the march that the Oaxacan community led in October after the scandal broke. That show of unity was powerful, he said, because it was a celebration of community, of the city, of being from the city  an opportunity to bring people together.

Indigenous leaders were among the many who demanded that De Leon resign. It may be that the most effective way to unseat him will be to rise above the grievance politics he represents and lead with goodwill.

@jeanguerre

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
More than two dozen members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) are urging the Department of Transportation to condemn the unjust and discriminatory status quo of traffic enforcement and implement reforms that will reduce racial inequities in traffic stops.

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, 27 members of the CBC, including Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Cori Bush (Mo.), Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.), expressed a grave concern for the wellbeing of Black drivers.

On our nations roads and highways, Black motorists have experienced disproportionate scrutiny and excessive force under the guise of traffic enforcement, the lawmakers said. As Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), we urge you to condemn the status quo of traffic enforcement and develop reforms to reduce racial inequities in traffic stops.

More than 20 million people are pulled over for traffic violations every year, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Despite Black people being less likely to have access to a vehicle, Black motorists are more likely to be stopped than their white counterparts.

This, the letter argued, is because officers selectively choose to enforce traffic laws against Black drivers more than white drivers.

For example, the use of racial profiling causes Black drivers to be intentionally stopped for minor traffic violations as pretexts for police to question them and search their vehicles in hopes of discovering contraband, the lawmakers wrote.

Studies have found that these stops do not consistently uncover contraband or increase public safety.

Instead, racist traffic enforcement stigmatizes Black people and undermines DOTs focus on transit equity, lawmakers said.

Driving while Black, the members added, has become akin to a crime  and can lead to both physical harm and death.

Last year, more than 175 people were killed by police after being stopped for a traffic violation. Though non-fatal injuries are more common, high-profile cases like that of Tyre Nichols, who was allegedly pulled over for reckless driving in Memphis, Tenn., and Philando Castile, who was allegedly stopped for a broken taillight near Minneapolis-St. Paul, have shined a light on how these practices can turn deadly, particularly for Black Americans.

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Historians have traced the roots of policing Black mobility and physical freedom to our nations legacy of slavery and bondage of Black bodies, the letter said. It is critical that the Department of Transportation recognizes the social context of traffic enforcement disparities and identifies solutions to redress the harms.

One solution, the CBC said, is to direct funds from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create reforms such as eliminating financial barriers to vehicle registration and upgrading traffic lights.

Meanwhile, the letter said, Virginia, Oregon and Philadelphia have made minor traffic infractions  such as a missing taillight  no longer the purview of police officers.

Traffic safety should not come at the expense of the dignity and safety of the Black community. The status quo of inequitable traffic enforcement is the product of racist policies, outdated infrastructure, and limited oversight, the letter concluded.

The Hill has reached out to Buttigiegs office.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Newly elected Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost announced that he is sponsoring a national proposal to combat gun violence.

On Monday, Frost spoke outside of Orlando City Hall laying out a plan to create an office for gun violence prevention.

Frost said his proposed office of gun violence prevention strips the politics out of the debate even if people dont like where the facts fall.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

We dont have a singular office at the federal level that works at ending gun violence every single day, Frost said. And I believe that an issue that takes 100 lives a day is a daily issue and requires a daily solution and daily work.

Frost said the nonpartisan office would coordinate with government agencies to find ways to cut down on the number of shootings.

He said it wouldnt be a so-called office of gun restrictions, but some people may not like what the facts say.

Read: 3rd person dies in Easter shooting at Orlando park; 2 others remain injured

As long as we keep packing legislation, that increases the number of guns that we have on our streets, then were going to continue to see an increase in gun violence, said 9th Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell.

Frost said this is a first step; however, activists are already calling for more.

Read: Louisville police: 4 killed, 9 injured in shooting downtown; shooter dead

I think weve been doing data collection for so long that lets be the last office that does this data collection, let the next office actually implement something thats going to make some change, said Miles Mulrain of Let Your Voice be Heard.

The proposal also has backers in the Senate, and Frost said he has talked to Republican congressmen about making this a bipartisan bill but didnt say if any are on board as of now.

Read: 6 people, including 2 children, killed in Easter weekend shootings in Orlando

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.
HIGDON, Ala.  Tiffany Dover is alive. Sitting across from Tiffany at her kitchen table, this is obvious. She breathes in and out. She gestures with her hands. She laughs generously. Dimples carve into both cheeks when she smiles, which she does a lot. Her eyes are wide and bright and terribly blue.

I didnt die that day, Tiffany tells me. But the life I knew did.

Id been following Tiffany since that day, Dec. 17, 2020. Like thousands of others, I first saw her on a livestream during the national rollout of Covid vaccines to front-line workers, where Tiffany became one of the first people in the U.S. to get a shot. I was also watching when she fainted immediately after, launching a wave of misinformation and conspiracy theories that would eventually unravel her life.

The modern anti-vaccine movement was powered by unverified stories of the dead and damaged. Tiffany wasnt the first person to be swallowed up in an anti-vaccine propaganda campaign, and she wouldnt be the last.

The unsettling thing about it  to me and the more well-meaning conspiracy theorists who took up an interest in Tiffanys case  was that she seemed to just disappear.

I called and sent emails, but Tiffany never got back to me. Her employer declined media interviews on her behalf, and she stopped posting on her own social media accounts. I made several visits to her Alabama home and to CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga. But I never spoke to her.

So all I could do was watch, as Tiffany became the worst kind of internet celebrity, as she trended on every social media platform, as fact-checkers around the world worked to dispel reports of her death, and as the theories about her evolved, spun up by a phenomenon researchers call participatory misinformation. On Instagram, users flooded posts of her children with demands that she speak. People hounded her husband on Facebook and branched out to the social media pages of extended family members, colleagues and acquaintances, urging them to come clean about what had happened to Tiffany and the cover-up afterward. They made websites. They led Facebook groups. They recorded songs. They came to her house. Everyone wanted to know what happened to Tiffany.

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Image: Tiffany Dover in her nurse scrubs at home in Higdon, Ala., in March. (Stacy Kranitz for NBC News)

I reported what I could about Tiffany and how the anti-vaccine community had used her story in a podcast last year. Her silence spoke for itself. It seemed like Tiffany had made up her mind. So I was surprised when she texted me in February. Tiffany said she was ready to talk about everything that had happened to her and offered to make a video answering any questions I had. I asked her for one better: Let me come back out to Alabama.

Tiffany reluctantly accepted. Sitting across from her, Tiffany felt like the person I had seen in hundreds of her social media posts: bubbly and warm, a doting wife and mother, a dedicated nurse. But she felt delicate, too. No wonder, given what shes been through.

I was in a dark place and I did not have it in me to do this, because I didnt know if I could trust you, Tiffany tells me as Im across from her, face to face. I dont know why I trust you now, but Im choosing to.

Tiffany Dover is alive, but shes never addressed the rumors. She never put out a statement or made a video about what she went through, and she regrets it. She thinks she should have continued to post on social media and act as if everything was normal  because it was.

That wouldve been a perfect moment for us to speak out, she says. Yes, I did pass out. This could be a side effect. You can pass out from receiving a vaccine, but thats OK because it can also save your life. So its worth it.

The silence is what flamed this.

Tiffanys drawl gives away that shes lived her whole life in the same place: the small towns dotting the borders where Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama meet. She and her husband, Dustin, fell in love when they were young teenagers and had two kids.

Tiffany went to college while she raised her babies, later graduating and taking a job at CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga. Shed started as a nurse caring for non-critical-care cardiac patients, but she found her calling on the intensive care unit and emergency teams.

In her personal life, Tiffany thought of herself as timid and sheltered. But to her own surprise, she thrived at work in the most chaotic situations  the moments where a wasted second or a single mistake could mean the difference between life and death. She felt calm in that chaos. And in 2020, after nearly 10 years at CHI Memorial, her boss announced that she was leaving and that Tiffany would be promoted to interim manager.

Before she could get comfortable in her new role, the pandemic hit. And Tiffanys unit, which had previously served cardiac patients, had a new mandate. It would be the Covid ward.

The work was grueling. Along with their regular nursing duties, patients needed to be proned, or flipped, multiple times a day just to breathe. Since visitors still werent allowed, the nurses held up iPads so families could say goodbye. The unit was always full, and their patients were always so sick.

There were times when it felt hopeless, Tiffany says. Almost like we were a palliative care unit. Death after death, after death.

December 2020 had been the deadliest month of the pandemic, and Tiffanys unit was exceptionally busy on the day that Covid vaccines came to CHI Memorial. Tiffany was elated to receive hers, more so because of what it meant: Soon everyone would have access to vaccines and the constant death would stop.

She hadnt had a minute for lunch, so when it was time to get her vaccination, Tiffany grabbed a piece of sushi from a co-worker and headed down to the staging area, where news cameras were waiting to capture the occasion.

In a video that continues to circulate the internet, Tiffany sits at one of three vaccination stations. Her dark brown hair is parted to the left, her hands are folded neatly in her lap. Someone in a white coat gives her the shot in her left arm and Tiffany claps.

Minutes later, Tiffany was asked to speak in front of the assembled cameras. Tiffany didnt know that the news stations were livestreaming the footage on Facebook, but she was happy to talk on camera. As Tiffany stood and spoke, however, a familiar wave washed over her. Her arm began to throb, she got sweaty and dizzy, and all she could do was say, Im sorry, before she fainted into the arms of two nearby doctors.

I wanted so badly to tell what this vaccine meant to me, Tiffany says now. I thought that I could just push through because it was important to me and I thought my body might respect that, but it didnt care. It did what it does.

Tiffany came to, and she was almost immediately interviewed by Chattanooga, Tennessees NBC affiliate WRCB on video. She told the reporter that she was prone to fainting, usually when she felt pain, but that she was fine. Then she went back to work.

Back in her unit, she told a co-worker what had happened.

Yeah, I know, he said. I saw it. It was live on Facebook.

Still, he convinced her she neednt worry. It was just a local news station. How bad could it be?

Image: Tiffany Dover photographed at her home in Higdon, AL on March 16, 2023. (Stacy Kranitz for NBC News)

Turns out, very. Within 24 hours, Tiffany, or as she was being referred to at the time, Tennessee nurse, was trending on every social media platform. That night, she was featured on the conspiracy theory internet show Infowars. New videos about Tiffany were being posted to YouTube every 19 minutes, according to Paola Pascual-Ferra, an associate professor of communication at Baltimores Loyola University Maryland, who was tracking the spread in real time. And Tiffany was going global: Most of the videos and posts about her were coming from outside the U.S., Pascual-Ferra said.

The posts werent just replays of Tiffanys fall. The conspiracy theories were evolving quickly with what seemed like the whole world contributing to an investigation where the conclusion had already been determined. For the thousands of people posting about Tiffany, she didnt just faint. She was dead. And a fake death certificate started making the rounds.

Meanwhile, the phone in CHI Memorials Covid unit rang off the hook. News outlets and conspiracy theorists alike, they all wanted to talk to Tiffany.

Imagine being in high-stress situations, emotions are already high, and then the phone never stops ringing? Tiffany says. Its enough to make you crazy.

Tiffany gained tens of thousands of followers on her personal Facebook and Instagram profiles, and the comments never stopped. She knew she needed to do something. So she opened up the notes app on her phone and wrote out drafts of what she might say in a video responding to the rumors.

But she never made that video. She didnt respond to the thousands of comments on her social media pages, either. Because, she said, her employer told her not to.

Tiffany says that the day after she fainted she got a call from CHI Memorials public relations department. The person on the phone said the hospital had been overwhelmed with the attention. She told Tiffany not to answer any outside calls and under no circumstances should she post to social media. She told Tiffany that the hospital would handle things from here.

In a series of interviews and emails with NBC News from 2020 until this March, CHI Memorial Hospital has repeatedly denied knowledge of any directive asking Tiffany not to speak or post. In reply to detailed emails of Tiffanys account sent to the hospital and its parent company, CommonSpirit Health, CHI Memorials director of public relations, Karen Long, replied with a statement. It read in full, We have no new information.

On Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, four days after her faint, CHI Memorial unveiled its plan. The official response was formed through a collaboration between the marketing team and hospital executives, Long said in an 2021 interview.

CHI Memorial posted a short video to its Facebook page. In it, Tiffany stands at the foot of a staircase. Shes surrounded by co-workers who are all wearing masks and holding signs with the date and messages like Nursing Leadership Supports Tiffany!

An nonexhaustive list of reasons why this video made everything worse: Neither Tiffany, nor anyone else, ever speaks. The whole crew just shifts awkwardly for 21 seconds. Theyre all wearing masks. Tiffany forgot her white coat at home, so they put her in someone elses ill-fitting vest. She had her hair curled by a colleague that morning and parted it in the middle, instead of on the side as it was in the vaccine video. The lighting in this new video was much dimmer than it had been in the room with the news cameras. So Tiffanys electric blue eyes? You could hardly see them.

Image: Tiffany Dover at home in Higdon, Ala., in March. (Stacy Kranitz for NBC News)

It wasnt a good look for us, Tiffany says. It made people suspicious, because if Im OK, why am I not just talking? Why are we standing there?

Far from being the proof of life the hospital had expected it to be, the new video was just fodder for conspiracy theorists who took it as evidence of an expanding theory. Now they were convinced that not only was Tiffany dead, but that the hospital and pharmaceutical companies had replaced her with a body double.

Incidentally, the video also created another victim. Conspiracy theorists looking to identify the fake Tiffany set their aim at Tiffanys colleague, Amber Honea. Amber and Tiffany had worked together at CHI Memorial for years. They were good friends, and besides looking quite a bit alike, they had a lot in common  so much, in fact, that one doctor jokingly called them by each others names.

Conspiracy theorists found Amber among Tiffanys friends and in her photos and decided that she must be the body double. They made videos about Amber and sent her messages.

Amber said they accused her of participating in the biggest cover-up in history. They called her a traitor to her country, to her profession and to her friend. They invoked her son. They harassed members of her extended family. They threatened to show up at her house.

It was very scary and frustrating, Amber said. Tiffany and I had lots of conversations about, what do we do? Where do we go from here? How do we approach this? Do we need a lawyer?

Amber, who left CHI Memorial in 2021, said administrators recommended that she not say anything publicly, but offered little additional help. Amber said her employer suggested she file a police report over the threats, but she never did because she felt like the threats were just a lot of talk, and she didnt have evidence of a crime.

Of the hospitals response, Amber said, It was not very supportive.

Conspiracy theories were once built almost exclusively around public figures: presidents and popes and the powerful elite. While this genre of conspiracy theory still exists, another has emerged out of the internet age: the kind that ropes in ordinary people, making them main characters in dreamed-up nefarious plots.

Rank-and-file election workers in Fulton County, Georgia, have been turned into culprits in a conspiracy to steal an election away from Donald Trump. A senseless killing in a robbery gone wrong in Washington, D.C., was spun up into an assassination, ordered by Hillary Clinton. And grieving parents from every school shooting since the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary have had their children stolen twice, first by a gunman and then by conspiracy theorists who deny the existence of their slain children.

No one has figured out the perfect way to respond to this phenomenon or how to react to a pile-on from conspiracy theorists. But Tiffany Dovers example might provide a road map  for what not to do.

For decades, the conventional internet wisdom of dont feed the trolls has dictated that its best to ignore online agitators who are hateful, cruel or trying to get a reaction. But in Tiffanys case, falling off the social map only increased public fascination with her disappearance.

Any aberration from the normal is just evidence for these conspiracy theorists, said Rachel Moran, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Washington Center for an Informed Public.

Likewise, in media and crisis communications, a related tactic known as strategic silence suggests that often the best response to rumors or conspiracy theories is to do nothing or risk amplifying the very things you hope to deflate. That, too, may be outdated.

The hospital is operating under old assumptions that their role is to control the narrative, when really, theyre not in control of these narratives at all, Moran said. PR just doesnt understand how to operate in the world of misinformation.

Tiffany did eventually post to her personal Instagram account. A few months after she fainted, she posted a carousel of photos from a family vacation in Colorado. But when she got back to work, she was formally reprimanded with a work improvement plan, which was viewed by NBC News. Among the concerns, the hospital listed appropriateness and representation of self and hospital via social media. It said her recent posts had started up the calls again and dramatically affected hospital operations. It recommended that she delete her account.

Tiffany was deflated. For the first time in her career, she said she felt like she was in trouble at work. Then her mother and grandmother both got very sick with Covid. Her mother improved, but Tiffanys grandmother died in her unit. Outside of the hospital, she was still facing daily intrusions by conspiracy theorists.

Beyond anti-vaccine activists, Tiffany got the attention of QAnon followers, who accused Tiffany of being involved with a pedophile ring. In private messages and comments on her familys social media posts, they claimed photos of pizza at her daughters birthday party and an old Halloween costume where Tiffany dressed up as the Little Caesars mascot proved her guilt. (The pizzagate conspiracy theory predated QAnon and posits that pizza is a secret code for child sexual abuse.)

In 2022, Christopher Key, an anti-vaccine activist who goes by the moniker Vaccine Police, came to Tiffanys home. She was babysitting her 3-month-old nephew at the time. Tiffany called the police, and Key later posted a video online that he made from outside her home.

It was scary, Tiffany said. I dont know what these people want from me.

In the last year, Tiffany quit her job at CHI Memorial. But the obsession with Tiffany hasnt waned. The #WheresTiffanyDover hashtag pops back up every few weeks, whenever someone dies or collapses for any reason  especially when its caught on camera. Tiffany has become the canary in the coal mine for those who falsely believe that vaccines are killing and injuring people in droves.

Tiffany hasnt watched all the content made about her. And most of what she has seen, she has brushed off as obviously untrue and unreasonable. Tiffany knows shes not dead, and she did what she could to show the world as much.

But some people on the internet have criticized Tiffany for not speaking out and have laid blame on her for the conspiracy theories that were built up around her. Tiffany feels those.

People have said Im responsible for people not getting the vaccine, Tiffany says. That was hard to process. If people are using my name and my story to say, Dont get the vaccine, how many people didnt receive it because of me? Thats hard.

Tiffany started a TikTok account with her daughter in January. She thought it would be a fun way to dip her toes back into social media.

Im wanting to connect with others. I want to be able to be myself again, she says.

Image: Tiffany Dover at home in Higdon, Ala., in March. (Stacy Kranitz for NBC News)

Shes jumped on a few trends, posted a few jokes about raising a teenager, and shared the view from her front yard of the pink open sky at sunset.

But she noticed a reticence from her daughter. Her daughter didnt want to post, because of all that we went through, Tiffany says. And I dont want that for her.

Ive always wanted to be a strong, empowered woman for her, Tiffany says. I was this woman that wanted to come and tell my story, and then I felt so beat down and discouraged that I didnt even want to do that anymore. And thats not who I am.

So two years and three months after she fainted, Tiffany would respond the way she had wanted to all along: Shed record a video telling the world she was fine and advocating for the vaccine she believed in.

Tiffany goes into the living room, pulls out her cellphone, and checks her reflection in a selfie. She wonders aloud if she should dye her blond hair back to the dark brown she wore in 2020, but shrugs it off. Tiffany checks to make sure the natural light streaming in through her windows is right, that it makes her blue eyes pop.

That way theyll know, she says.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Savannah Wilkinson and Jeff Gilbert during their Italian wedding. Fabrizio Vigano

Savannah Wilkinson and Jeff Gilbert tied the knot on September 14, 2022, in Lake Como, Italy.

They spent $14,150, which they said was affordable for a Lake Como wedding.

They rented Villa Confalonieri for three nights, had a private chef, a boat ride, and more.

Savannah Wilkinson and her husband Jeff Gilbert had their dream wedding in Lake Como, Italy, in September 2022.

Savannah Wilkinson and her husband Jeff Gilbert cruising along Lake Como. Fabrizio Vigano

The newlyweds found themselves cruising down Lake Como, Italy, an hour after their marriage ceremony, Wilkinson told Insider.

The water was glassy and the weather was perfect, Wilkinson said. Enormous green mountains, Champagne, and music provided the perfect backdrop to their Italian micro-wedding.

The newlyweds, who live in Austin, Texas, grew up in the same town in Washington State but didn't hang out, she said. Once they both moved to California in their twenties, they reconnected on social media and began dating in November 2019.

Wilkinson, a 29-year-old closing specialist, loved how kind and vulnerable Gilbert was, and it helped that he made her laugh, she said.

After two years and a month of dating, Gilbert, a 35-year-old dentist, proposed to her on her birthday, December 3, 2021.

They set the wedding date for September 14, 2022, she said.

Their Italian wedding cost $14,150, Wilkinson said. Keeping the guest list small was one of the main things that helped them stick to their budget.

Savannah Wilkinson and Jeff Gilbert after their ceremony. Fabrizio Vigano

The budget included a $2,000 dress, a $600 hour-long boat ride with Champagne, a $1,000 private chef, and a $5,850 three-night stay at Villa Confalonieri in Mandello del Lario, a small town in Lake Como.

Their choice of venue limited them to a very small guest list  they had 13 people in attendance, mostly consisting of family members and their partners.

Even though they spent a little over $14,000, it was still quite affordable compared to a wedding in the US, Wilkinson said.

Italian wedding planner Roberta Sabbatini told Insider that Lake Como is an incredibly expensive place. $9,000 is just enough to breathe the air there, Sabbatini added.

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Wilkinson always knew she didn't want a big wedding. "I don't like eyes on me, I don't like all the attention," she said.

Savannah Wilkinson walked down the aisle with her parents. Fabrizio Vigano

Wilkinson also wanted an opportunity to travel, but she didn't have a specific idea in mind as she never dreamed about her wedding being a certain way, she told Insider.

The villa could only accommodate 15 people, but she wanted a small guest list anyway. "Some people were hurt, obviously, but I think most people were just excited for us and thought it was a great idea," she added.

The 13 guests present on their big day included their parents, siblings, and their siblings' partners, she said.

She said she spent a year and three months planning her wedding, and based a lot of the decisions, such as the venue, cake, and chef, on an article she'd read.

The villa, cake, and food were inspired by an article Wilkinson read. Fabrizio Vigano

Wilkinson said she came across a 2017 Brides article about a couple's affordable elopement in Lake Como and became inspired.

She said she had often heard of Lake Como, but thought it was a ritzy, expensive place. She loved the couple in the article's wedding, particularly the villa, their photos, and their small guest list.

"In the article, they linked the villa," she told Insider. The article also linked the catering chef, floral designer, and photographer.

Despite becoming engaged nine months before her wedding date, she said she knew they were going to get married and actually booked the villa a year before the wedding.

The couple set their budget to $15,000. Savannah said she doesn't count their $2,400 flights as part of the cost of the wedding day as they also spent three weeks in Italy vacationing at the same time.

Their ceremony in the town of Mandello del Lario, Lake Como, was symbolic, as they legally married in a Texan courthouse on August 25, 2022.

They had a symbolic ceremony in Mandello del Lario, Lake Como. Fabrizio Vigano

"The process of actually legally getting married in Italy was a thing I did not want to try to do," she said.

The ceremony was held at Villa Confalonieri, which was the same hotel they were staying at. They also got a $600-a-night discount as they booked in the off-season, she told Insider.

Wilkinson wore a $2,000 strapless form-fitting dress from The Label. She originally wanted to buy a cheap dress from Etsy, she said, but fell in love with that one and didn't want to go through the hassle of buying online.

Savannah Wilkinson in her dress, holding her bouquet. Fabrizio Vigano

Originally, she said had a specific idea of what kind of dress she wanted  and it being strapless was not one of them.

"In the end, I ended up going with the one I didn't think I'd want at all," she said. She loved how classical and simple, yet beautiful the design was. "I felt really beautiful," she told Insider.

She spent $300 on a veil and add-on blouse sleeves, and $500 on alterations. She said she didn't want two dresses as that seemed excessive and too expensive.

In the end, she wore a long cathedral-length veil and strapless dress during her ceremony, and took off the veil and added the sleeves after the ceremony. "It was kind of like an outfit change," she said.

Her husband wore a custom $500 suit from Jos. A. Bank.

The start of their wedding day felt a little stressful because the weather report predicted rain and all of their activities were outside, Wilkinson told Insider.

Savannah Wilkinson had an emotional first look with her parents. Fabrizio Vigano

The boat company said they would cancel if it got too windy, she added.

She spent the early afternoon getting ready and did her hair and makeup herself. She didn't have a first look with her husband, but instead with her parents, she said.

She walked down the stairs with her parents' back turned to her, while "Going to the Chapel" was playing. They were all very emotional and cried, she said.

They then had a 30-minute-long ceremony filled with tears. They were meant to read their vows out loud to each other, but they couldn't even get through the first sentence without choking up, she said.

The newlyweds and their guests walking through the beautiful small town. Fabrizio Vigano

"It was really just everything I had hoped for, and it was just so us," she said.

After the ceremony, which cost them $600 for the officiant, they had a 50-minute photo session with Fabrizio Vigano, which cost them $2,200, Wilkinson said.

Once they were finished, the newlyweds and guests walked through the beautiful town to the docks. As they were dressed up, locals realized it was a wedding and cheered them on, she said.

Thankfully, it hadn't rained and the boat ride was still on. The vibe was perfect and it was a really fun ride, she said.

After the boat ride, they had a private catered dinner by chef Maria Antonietta Puggioni, who Wilkinson also found through the Brides article she'd read.

The newlyweds eating their wedding cake. Savannah Wilkonson.

The dinner, which was $1,000 in total, included four courses. They bought alcohol at the grocery store, which was really affordable, and then the chef whipped up Hugo spritzes for them, she added.

They had a $150 chocolate cake decorated with florals. According to a TikTok Savannah shared on January 20, which has over 130,000 views, they spent $200 on table details. This included linens, candles, menu printouts, and a runner.

She said she had a colorful bouquet with hints of purple and a boutonniere for $150 and thought it was plenty. They also used the bouquet and trimmings from the villa for table decorations.

Wilkinson's favorite part of the wedding was the end, when everything worked out and everyone was dancing  she wasn't stressed anymore, she said.

The couple on their wedding day. Fabrizio Vigano

For anyone thinking of having an Italian wedding, she said she'd recommend giving yourself plenty of time to plan.

Communication is mostly through email, and there is often a language barrier. "It took longer to plan things, and I think it took Italians a little longer to get back to me," she said.

As long as you do it a year in advance, you're probably fine, she added.

Wilkinson and Gilbert ended their wedding night on a high. "After we all ate, we all got out of our fancy clothes and changed into swimsuits and went swimming in the pool. It was really fun," she said.

Read the original article on Insider
Crayola is encouraging kids to color the world with kindness with its 3rd annual Million Crayon Giveaway.

The giveaway will be held at five Crayola Experience locations across the country, including the one at The Florida Mall in Orlando.

From today until May, kids and kids at heart can create their free, one-of-kind, 32-county crayon box with their favorite colors from more than 70 Crayola colors.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

A new addition this year is five crayons from the brands Colors of Kindness collection for kids to make their personalized crayon box even more unique: Be Sweet to Each Other, Youre So A-Peeling, Kind to the Core, Rise Above, and Spread Your Wings.

Crayola Experience Photoshoot 2013 Store

The first Crayola box of crayons sold in 1903 and 120 years later opening a box of Crayola crayons continues to unleash the imagination and provide unlimited possibilities for creative expression, just like visiting Crayola Experience, said Warren Schorr, Crayola senior vice president. Celebrating National Crayon Day and the Crayola crayons 120th birthday is the perfect time to colorfully inspire happy thoughts, encourage positive interactions, and motivate acts of kindness and compassion.

Read: Enter for your chance to win a trip to Walt Disney World

Crayola Experience Orlando also donated 1,000 Colors of Kindness crayon boxes and 1,000 attraction tickets to Embrace Families.

Embrace Families, Central Floridas lead agency for children involved in the child welfare system is responsible for the safety and well-being of over 8,600 children.

Read: Tron Lightcycle / Run opens at Disney World Tuesday. Here are 9 things to know

The caring and support of community partners, such as Crayola Experience, is invaluable as we work to make sure kids in care feel seen and remembered, said Glen Casel, president & CEO of Embrace Families. We are thrilled and grateful that through this donation the children we serve, and their caregivers, will specifically benefit from this event. Sincere thanks to Crayola Experience for coloring us with kindness.

Story continues

Read: These 8 Orlando restaurants have been added to the Michelin Guide

Registration is required to participate in the Crayola Experience Million Crayon Giveaway, to register, CLICK HERE. www.CrayolaExperience.com/Orlando

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.
A mans body was discovered in a marshland a week after his car ran out of gas in upstate New York, police said.

The man, a 35-year-old father of two, was driving with a friend on a logging trail near Cuddebackville when their car came to a halt on March 31, according to a news release from the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office.

The pair separated and the man got lost in the nearby woods, police said. His friend later reported him missing.

A large rescue effort, coordinated by the New York State Forest Rangers and assisted by organizations from three states, began, police said. A helicopter, drones, ATVs, UTVS and canine teams were all dispatched to to help find the man.

On April 7, rescuers traveled to a search grid in a marshland where the mans phone may have been, police said.

While there, they spotted a body in heavy vegetation and slashed their way through the undergrowth using chainsaws in order to reach it.

The body was confirmed to belong to the missing man, and the scene was examined by the State Police Forensic Investigation Unit.

This is a really sad time for the family, Sheriff Mike Schiff stated in the release. They waited patiently at the scene the entire time, hoping for any news. Unfortunately, it ended tragically.

The mans body was transported to a morgue for an autopsy, police said.

A representative for the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.

This is not the outcome we wanted nor expected, the mans sister wrote in a Facebook post. We want to thank everyone for the support and prayers theyve already shown us through this difficult journey.

Cuddebackville is a small town about 90 miles northwest of New York City.

Man trimming branches found dead in tree in Pennsylvania neighborhood, cops say

Fisherman spots submerged Jeep in lake  with a woman alive inside, Texas cops say

Dog attacking young girl is shot and killed by police, Minnesota cops say
INDIA-RELIGION-DALAI LAMA

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama attends a prayer at the Main Tibetan Temple in McLeod Ganj on April 5, 2023. Credit - AFPGetty Images

The Dalai Lama apologized Monday morning after a video of him kissing a child on the lips and asking him to suck his tongue went viral on social media.

The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader expressed his apologies to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused, according to a statement by his office.

His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident, it added. The statement did not reference the kiss.

The video was taken in the Indian town of Dharamsala in February, at the temple where the Dalai Lama lives. In it, you can see the young boy asking for a hug. The Dalai Lama points to his cheek, saying first here after which the Dalai Lama points to his own lips and asks for another kiss. The 87-year-old priest then says and suck my tongue in the clip, putting his forehead closer to the young boys.

The clip was immediately criticized and viewed by millions of people online who were shocked by the Dalai Lamas actions, calling it sick and pedophilic.

This is NOT playful banter & so inappropriate to use affectionately plants kiss alongside suck my tongue. Hugs are fine[,] not this, tweeted Dr. Shola Mos Shogbamimu, a British womens rights activist . Dont normalize molestation of kids  dont care how revered the Dalai Lama is Im not OK with a child sucking a grown man/woman/anyones tongue.

Sticking out your tongue is seen as a sign of respect or agreement and is a traditional Tibetan greeting, according to NPR.

Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet, according to the current Dalai Lamas online biography. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent action against Chinas occupation of Tibet. Tibetan Buddhists believe him to be a figure of peace that is a reincarnation of the 13 previous Dalai Lamas, all with a mission to help humanity.

The Dalai Lama also has complicated ties to the self-help cult NXIVM, which has a history of sexual abuse. Leader Keith Raniere was sentenced to prison after an investigation found that multiple women, including one teenage girl, was coerced into having sex with Raniere. The girls also had Ranieres initials branded on their pelvises.

In a nine-part documentary series on NXIVM, it was revealed that the Dalai Lama was invited to speak on compassionate ethics at a conference that was attended by NXIVM members in 2009, a decade before Raniere was convicted. The Dalai Lama received criticism prior to his scheduled appearance, causing him to cancel his visit, though he later attended the conference.
Drago Prvulovic/Reuters

The Dalai Lama issued a public apology Monday after video of him kissing a young boy on the lips and asking the child to suck my tongue prompted outrage online.

Over the weekend, footage circulated on social media showing the Tibetan Buddhist leader interacting with the boy, first raising his chin to kiss him before audibly making the request for the child to suck his tongue. The Dalai Lama then sticks his tongue out as other people in attendance can be heard laughing.

Dalai Lama's Escape from Tibet and the CIA's Role

A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug, the apology statement read. His Holiness wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused.

The statement continues to say that the Dalai Lama often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident.

The apology did not clarify which words he said during the interaction, and it did not disclose where or when the incident took place.

But media reports suggest the clip was actually filmed in late February at the Dalai Lamas temple in Dharamshala, India, where about 100 students attended an event after graduating from the Indian M3M Foundation.

According to the BBC, sticking out your tongue is a traditional greeting in Tibet dating back more than a thousand years to the ninth century. Longer video footage of the Dalai Lamas incident with the child appears to show the boy not actually going through with the spiritual leaders tongue-sucking request with the pair hugging afterward.

This isnt the first time the Dalai Lama has apologized for sparking uproar. In 2019, his office put out a statement saying he was deeply sorry after saying in an interview that if a woman was to succeed him, she should be more attractive.

The apology explained the Dalai Lama has a keen sense of the contradictions between the materialistic, globalized world he encounters on his travels and the complex, more esoteric ideas about reincarnation that are at the heart of Tibetan Buddhist tradition. However, it sometimes happens that off the cuff remarks, which might be amusing in one cultural context, lose their humor in translation when brought into another. He regrets any offense that may have been given, the apology read.

Story continues

The 87-year-old was enthroned as the 14th Dalai Llama in 1940 and assumed his full political duties in 1950 at the age of 15. Following the failed uprising in Tibet against Chinese occupation in 1959, he has lived in exile in India.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Afghan authorities distributed China-donated humanitarian aid to 47 needy families in the northern Jawzjan province on Saturday, provincial director for Natural Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs Mawlawi Sirajuddin Siraji said Sunday.

The aid packages including rice, tents and winter clothes were distributed by authorities in the provincial capital Shiberghan city on Saturday afternoon, the official said.

China has earlier provided foodstuff including rice and wheat to more than 800 destitute families in central Bamyan and western Nimroz provinces over the past month.

China has provided COVID-19 vaccines, winter clothes, tents, and foodstuff, which had been distributed among poor, quake-affected and flood-affected families in the war-torn and impoverished country over the past year.
The Dalai Lama's office said he "regrets the incident"

The Dalai Lama has apologised after footage showed him telling a boy to suck the Tibetan spiritual leader's tongue.

His office said he wanted to apologise to the child and his family "for the hurt his words may have caused".

The video also shows the Dalai Lama kissing the child on his lips.

"His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident," his office said.

The footage has sparked widespread criticism, with many social media users saying it was inappropriate and disturbing.

The incident appears to have taken place at the Dalai Lama's temple in Dharamshala on 28 February. He had interacted with around 120 students who had completed a skills training programme organised by the M3M Foundation, the philanthropic arm of real estate company M3M Group.

The foundation uploaded photos from the event on social media in March - in one of them, the Dalai Lama is seen hugging the boy from the viral video.

In the video which has circulated online, the boy is seen asking if he can hug the Dalai Lama. The leader motions to his cheek, saying "first here" and the boy kisses his cheek and gives him a hug.

Then, while holding the boy's hand, the Dalai Lama motions to his lips and says "I think here also", and kisses the boy on the lips.

The leader then puts his forehead to that of the boy's, before sticking out his tongue, saying "and suck my tongue". As some people laugh, the boy sticks his tongue out before withdrawing a little, as does the Dalai Lama.

There are then more hugs, as the spiritual leader speaks to the boy for a while longer, telling him to look to "good human beings who create peace and happiness".

Sticking one's tongue out can be a form of greeting in Tibet.

The Dalai Lama has been living in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959, following an uprising against Chinese rule there.

In 2019, the Dalai Lama's office apologised after the spiritual leader told the BBC in an interview that any future female Dalai Lama should be "attractive".

Story continues

BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features.

Read more India stories from the BBC:
Denmark plans to deliver CAESAR self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine next month and expects to start deliveries of Leopard 1 tanks by summer.

Source: This was reported by acting Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen at a joint briefing with Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov on Monday, 10 March, in Odessa, writes European Pravda with reference to Media Center Ukraine.

Quote: "We hope that we will deliver CAESAR artillery systems to Ukraine next month. They are currently on training grounds in Denmark," Poulsen said.

He also reminded that two months ago, Denmark signed an agreement with Germany regarding Leopard 1 tanks.

"We hope that we will start supplying tanks by summer. Looking six months ahead, it will be possible to deliver about 100 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine," Poulsen said.

He added that it will be possible to discuss the supply of Leopard 2 tanks, of which Denmark does not have many, in the future. "We will consider other possible ways of supply," said Poulsen.

He also emphasised that it is important that Ukrainian specialists have the opportunity to service and repair these weapons before they arrive in Ukraine, and this question will be worked on.

At the beginning of April, the Ministry of Defence of Denmark concluded an agreement with Norway on the joint transfer of 8,000 artillery shells to Ukraine. These munitions can be used by the Denmark-supplied CAESAR self-propelled artillery systems.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Names and Social Security numbers of current and former employees of the Elmbrook School District was exposed in a data breach last year, according to district officials.

A breach that exposed the names and Social Security numbers of current and former Elmbrook School District employees continued even after the district was aware of the problem.

The district learned its system had been compromised on Aug. 23, 2022, according to Elmbrook School Chief Strategy Officer Chris Thompson. Files were removed from Aug. 23-27, 2022, an investigation revealed.

These were professional cyber criminals. This is not something your antivirus software cleans up. I cannot comment on the efforts required to secure our network," Thompson said in a text message to a reporter asking why the breach continued even after the district was aware of the problem.

He declined to share the number of people affected by the breach.

How long it takes to stop a cyberattack depends on its nature and complexity, according to Kahled Sabha, a senior lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's School of Information Studies, whose specialty is in computer networking and cybersecurity.

"Some breaches can be stopped once they have started & some may take time. ... It may look like the attack has stopped, but then they find out later the malware hid itself from being discovered because it is a very sophisticated malware. So, it all depends on the attack," Sabha explained in an email. "Thats why forensics investigators go through many steps to make sure that the attacked system is completely clean of any malware. Several tests & monitoring have to be done on the attacked system as well as the whole network to make sure it is clean & can be reused."

The district has offered a one-year complimentary membership to a credit monitoring service to those affected.

Once it learned of the breach, the district investigated, with the help of cybersecurity professionals. The initial group of employees affected was informed in late September and October 2022, Thompson said.

Thompson said the breach also targeted other K-12 school districts across the country. He said the district was never locked out of its files nor was there a ransom request for those files.

Story continues

"We were lucky that we had an early detection program active, so we got an early notice of the attack. That allowed us, first of all, to respond to the attack, but also to engage our cybersecurity insurance, which we had, and access more resources for a cyberdefense strategy," Thompson said in a phone interview. "Over the course of a couple of weeks, that resource was helpful in responding to additional attacks and then also setting our network up for prevention going forward."

All active employees and some of their dependents, if they were on the district's insurance plan, were affected, as well as more recent former employees, Thompson said. The district informed that group of employees in late September and October 2022.

The district then worked with a third-party company to conduct a forensics investigation on all the breached files, which identified additional people whose information was compromised. Thompson said it took longer to identify the others affected by the breach due to the large number of files that had to be reviewed.

To improve the district's data security, Thompson said the district has partnered with a security service firm to provide 24/7 managed services of its network.

"If there are abnormalities, we can guarantee a quick response and augment our district staff, who obviously don't work 24/7," said Thompson.

Data breach 'a great inconvenience'

Former Elmbrook employee Luna Cieslak was among those whose information was compromised. She didn't learn of the breach until late March.

"We had to call the credit card companies. We had to call the bank to put a freeze on our credit line. So down the line, if I'm going to redo a lease on my car, there's a lot of hoops we have to go through to make that happen because they couldn't protect my information. Not only is it a great inconvenience for me or us as a family, but it makes me feel uncertain that my financial well-being is safe," Cieslak said in a phone interview.

Cieslak said she had worked in the district as a health room aide for a few years in the 2000s, primarily at Brookfield Elementary.

"That was also very surprising that I hadn't worked for the school system for so long and still my information was breached. I don't know much about breaches, but that's a big one if they breach information that goes that far back. One can only imagine how far back information has been breached even though this was a breach done last year," Cieslak said.

Thompson said the district has compared the district's procedures around personally identifiable information to state requirements and storage best practices and has implemented those practices. It has also put in place a training program to increase staff awareness about cybersecurity.

"There are many different reasons for our staff to use personally identifiable information, like for federal reporting reasons. Just the procedures around where information lives, where it's transferred to, entities that need it and what happens to it afterwards. I think it's just tightening up that workflow of information across our network and other networks too," said Thompson.

Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Names, Social Security numbers exposed in data breach at Elmbrook
David Beckham celebrated his family in a sweet Easter post full of candid images, including a cute throwback video of his oldest child, Brooklyn.

The retired soccer legend, 47, whose wife is fashion designer and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, shared an Instagram carousel on April 10 that kicked off with an adorable video of the couple's son Brooklyn, 24, when he was just a toddler.

The footage shows little Brooklyn happily munching on an enormous chocolate Easter bunny that's nearly his size as he hides alone in a closet.

Victoria Beckham, 47, can be heard speaking from behind the camera. We lost Brooklyn, and we found that he let himself into my room, got his egg out of the box and was slyly eating it," she explains as she records and walks toward her son in the closet.

"Turn him around and show us, Brooklyn. Show what the bunny looks like now, says the adoring mom.

"When Mummy came in, the bunny had lost part of his ear and his nose," she continues, laughing.

David Beckham and wife Victoria Beckham celebrated Easter with their children, Brooklyn, Cruz, Romeo, and Harper. (@davidbeckham via Instagram)

Is he nice, Brooklyn? the fashion designer asks her son, who nods in the affirmative.

David Beckham's post also included a more current family photo showing the Beckhams posing alongside Brooklyn and the couple's younger children: sons Romeo, 20, and Cruz, 18, and daughter Harper, 11.

Harper Beckham posed in a bunny hat. (@davidbeckham via Instagram)

The English athlete also shared candid shots of his kids celebrating the holiday, including an adorable shot of Harper wearing a bunny hat.

Happy Easter, I love you all, David Beckham wrote in his caption, tagging each of his family members and adding several cute chickadee emoji.

Chocolate treats are a big Easter hit in the Beckham family. (@davidbeckham via Instagram)

Brooklyn Beckham's wife, American actor Nicola Peltz Beckham, commented to say how much she adored the video of her husband eating his Easter bunny. "Favorite video of Brooklyn ever!" she gushed.

Fans responded to say how much they enjoyed seeing images of the family having fun together.

Nothing more precious than memories like this, especially when theyve grown up and flown the coop. How lovely, wrote one.

Story continues

David and Victoria Beckham also took time out from Easter to congratulate Brooklyn and Nicola on their first wedding anniversary.

"Happy one year, you two," David Beckham wrote over an image of the young husband and wife dancing in front of a sunset that he shared in his Instagram story.

Victoria Beckham shared a photo on her own Instagram page, writing, "So special to be together to celebrate your 1st wedding anniversary ... we love you."

Related:

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Delaware State Police arrested and charged two individuals with murder on Saturday, for allegedly killing a man last month.

During the early morning hours on March 19, officers with the New Castle Police Department responded to reports of a traffic accident on Old Country Road.

When officers arrived, they discovered a man inside a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. The unnamed victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

DELAWARE POLICE SAY MULTIPLE PEOPLE SHOT AT STATE'S LARGEST SHOPPING MALL

Delaware State Police took the case over once it was determined that the shooting took place within the state polices jurisdiction, and it was determined that the victim drove onto private property with a woman, later identified as Sierra Steiner, 28, of Newark, inside his vehicle.

A suspect, later identified by State Police as Charles Lowe, 44, of Newark, Delaware, then allegedly parked behind the victims vehicle and approached him.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Delaware State Police are investigating a mall shooting in Delaware on Saturday evening.

The victim, police said, attempted to drive away but was shot by one of the suspects, causing him to crash into the woods.

DELAWARE OFFICER SHOOTS 2, KILLING MAN, WOUNDING WOMAN

Police allege that Steiner then got out of the vehicle and fled the scene with Lowe.

After an investigation, State Police determined that Steiner and Lowe were the suspects in the homicide, and on April 7, warrants for their arrests were obtained.

Police (iStock)

The next day, Lowe and Steiner were spotted in Elkton, Maryland by the Hartford County SWAT and members of the Cecil County Sheriffs Office.

MARYLAND STATE TROOPER SHOT DURING TRAFFIC STOP ON EASTERN SHORE

Steiner and Lowe tried to flee the scene in the vehicle they were in, police said, but crashed in a parking lot before getting apprehended.

Once the two suspects were medically cleared from a nearby hospital, they were both transported to the State Police barracks and charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, and second-degree conspiracy.

Story continues

Lowe was also charged with illegally possessing a firearm after a violent felony conviction.

He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace and remanded to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $1,085,000 cash bond.

Steiner was also arraigned by the Justice of the Peach and remanded to the Delores J. Baylor Womens Correctional Institution on a $1,065,000 cash bond.

The investigation into the matter is ongoing and detectives encourage anyone with information regarding the case to contact Detective D. Grassi at 302-365-8441, or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Democratic governors are stockpiling abortion medications as the future of reproductive health is potentially fought out in federal court.

On Monday, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) announced the state has already acquired enough doses of mifepristone to last a year. Healey said the University of Massachusetts Amherst last week purchased 15,000 doses, which could arrive as soon as this week.

Healey said the state will also spend $1 million to reimburse health care providers to buy the drug.

Mifepristone has been used safely for more than 20 years and is the gold standard. Here in Massachusetts, we are not going to let one extremist judge in Texas turn back the clock on this proven medication and restrict access to care in our state, Healey said in a statement.

Her announcement follows a similar move last week in Washington, where Gov. Jay Inslee (D) purchased a three-year supply of the drug.

Inslee said he ordered the state Department of Corrections to purchase 30,000 doses of mifepristone, which arrived at the end of March.

Washington will not sit idly by and risk the devastating consequences of inaction, Inslee said during a press conference last week, ahead of the ruling. Washington is a pro-choice state, and no Texas judge will order us otherwise.

Additionally, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Monday announced the state was stockpiling misoprostol, the second drug taken as part of the current two-drug medication abortion regimen. Newsom said California has secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills.

More than 250,000 pills have already arrived in California, and the state has negotiated the ability to purchase up to 2 million misoprostol pills as needed, according to a statement.

In a statement, Newsom said California still believes mifepristone is central to the preferred regimen for medication abortion, but the state negotiated and purchased an emergency stockpile of misoprostol in anticipation of an adverse ruling.

Story continues

Misoprostol alone is still effective and safe as an alternative medication abortion method, but it is not as effective as using mifepristone first.

There were two competing federal rulings on Friday over the continued availability of mifepristone, one of two drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in medication abortions.

In Texas, a judge appointed by former President Trump suspended the FDAs approval of mifepristone in a ruling that overruled decades of scientific evidence. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled the agency overstepped its authority in approving mifepristone, and gave the Biden administration until this coming Friday to appeal the ruling.

Just 20 minutes later, a federal judge in Spokane, Wash., ordered the FDA not to interfere with the status quo in at least 17 states where Democrats sued the Biden administration to lift restrictions on the drug.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Good morning and welcome to Fox News morning newsletter, Fox News First. Subscribe now to get Fox News First in your email. And here's what you need to know to start your day ...

'ON THE HUNT' - Daunting warning about Democrats opening doors for 'Chinese communists.' Continue reading 

RUFF ENCOUNTER - Home Depot customer gets attacked by dog, owner flees store. Continue reading 

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DARE TO BARE - John Wick actress Halle Berry poses nude and sips wine on her balcony. Continue reading 

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SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES - State Department Inspector General finds Afghan evacuees hurled abuse at resettlement officials. Continue reading 

ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN SEGREGATION - Activists push for $1 billion in reparations in Chicago. Continue reading 

HISTORIC BAN - Washington legislature passes bill prohibiting the sale, manufacture and import of assault weapons. Continue reading 

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EVERYTHING FOR PROFIT - Detransitioner slams clinics, media for politicizing "gender-affirming care." Continue reading 



FLOCK TO THE FOREST - Special homeschool group enrollment soars as parents escape "one size fits all" public schools. Continue reading 

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CRISIS IN KENSINGTON - If "good old fashion heroin" was back, life would be better, recovering addict says. Continue reading 

DRONE STRIKE - Despite Iranian attack killing American abroad, Biden pursues nuclear deal with ayatollah's regime. Continue reading 

HIDDEN GEMS: Check out these beautiful fish filmed by scientists almost five miles below the surface of the ocean  setting new record. See video 

WATCH: Two women arrested after taunting, abusing elderly woman during live stream. See video 

WATCH: Musk praised by CEO of once-banned company for restoring free speech at Twitter. See video 

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Leopard 1 tank

We will start deliveries of Leopard tanks to Ukraine by summer, Poulsen said.

And by looking half a year ahead, I hope that it will be possible to transfer about 100 Leopard-1 tanks. This would be a significant help for the Ukrainian army in the fight for freedom.

Read also: Ukraine and Poland to jointly produce 125 mm tank shells

He added that Denmark is open for a discussion regarding the transfer of Leopard-2 tanks, as well.

There arent many Leopard-2s in Denmark, but we can discuss other ways to get them, the minister said.

Read also: Zelenskyy meets with Trump-era top diplomat Mike Pompeo and U.S. business leaders

He also noted that Ukraine could receive CAESAR artillery systems in May. Currently the Ukrainian military is studying how to operate them at Danish training grounds.

In the near future we will hear a roar of the Leopards with a Danish accent, Reznikov concluded.

Read also: Poland opens repair facility for Ukrainian tanks

On Feb. 14, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that a number of countries are working on the transfer of Leopard tanks to Ukraine. The list includes Denmark and the Netherlands, as well as Germany, Poland, Canada, Portugal, Spain, and Norway. However, some governments later reconsidered their position, ultimately deciding against supplying tanks to Ukraine.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Abortion rights adovcates gather in front of the a courthouse in Amarillo, Texas, on March 15, 2023. Moises Avila / AFP via Getty Images

The Department of Justice has asked an appeals court to block a federal judge's decision to overturn the FDA's approval of mifepristone, a medication abortion pill, and keep the drug on the market as the courts debate the issue.

In a motion filed Monday, the DOJ asked the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to issue a stay pending appeal on a district court's suspension of mifepristone on Friday. The "abrupt and sweeping nationwide order" would "irreparably harm" patients, it argued.

"If allowed to take effect, the courts order would thwart FDAs scientific judgment and severely harm women, particularly those for whom mifepristone is a medical or practical necessity," the DOJ said in its filing. "This harm would be felt throughout the country, given that mifepristone has lawful uses in every State. The order would undermine healthcare systems and the reliance interests of businesses and medical providers."

US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk issued an order halting the FDA's approval of mifepristone on Friday as a lawsuit challenging the drug's safety from an anti-abortion group makes its way through the courts.

Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, put his order on hold for seven days to give the Biden administration a chance to appeal.

Almost at the same time on Friday, US District Judge Thomas Owen Rice, an Obama appointee, issued a competing ruling barring the FDA from pulling the drug off the market in 17 states and the District of Columbia, where attorneys general have sued to maintain access.

The dueling rulings caused confusion among medical experts and providers, and it was not clear at the time what the contradictory orders meant for access to mifepristone.

But it means the Supreme Court will likely have to intervene sooner rather than later. And the DOJ is now asking the appeals court to continue allowing access to mifepristone as the lawsuits play out.

Mifepristone is one of two drugs used for medication abortion and miscarriage treatment. First approved by the FDA in 2000, mifepristone is recognized as a safe and effective drug.

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Kacsmaryk's order has been widely condemned by abortion rights advocates, as well as legal and medical experts. More than 250 pharmaceutical executives denounced the ruling in a letter on Monday, calling it an "act of judicial interference."

"The decision ignores decades of scientific evidence and legal precedent," they said. "If courts can overturn drug approvals without regard for science or evidence, or for the complexity required to fully vet the safety and efficacy of new drugs, any medicine is at risk for the same outcome as mifepristone."

Multiple lawmakers have also called on the FDA to ignore Kacsmaryk's ruling, saying the federal agency has the authority to dismiss the court's decision.

More on this
Two men are dead after police said a hostage situation unfolded at a Polk County home early Monday morning.

Police said they found two men dead inside the home in Lake Wales after responding to reports of a domestic disturbance.

Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez said the suspect and his 19-year-old stepson were both found dead in the home.

Velasquez said the suspect was inside the home with two additional teenagers who were unharmed. But police said throughout the hostage situation the man used the children as a shield.

Read: 2 dead, 3 injured after shooting in Orlando, police say

What theyve experienced today no one should ever experience, Velasquez said.

Investigators said they only heard one gun shot while they were on scene, which was when the suspect shot himself. They said they are still investigating when the suspect killed the 19 year old.

Stay tuned to Eyewitness News for updates.

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.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to make his first public appearance in South Carolina, a state where votes will be critical if he launches an expected 2024 presidential bid.

State Sen. Josh Kimbrell told The Associated Press on Sunday that he would host DeSantis for an event on April 19 in Spartanburg, in South Carolinas heavily Republican Upstate.

DeSantis first public visit to South Carolina, home of the leadoff presidential primary in the South, comes amid a brisk travel schedule during which the governor has taken his Florida Blueprint tour to Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan in recent weeks.

With an anticipated presidential bid in the offing, the travel has opened up an avenue for DeSantis to lay out some of his policy achievements in Florida, setting up possible contrasts with potential GOP rivals, including former President Donald Trump.

ALSO READ: North Carolina Senate GOP seeks even lower income tax rates

On Sunday, Kimbrell told the AP that he had been hoping to bring DeSantis to South Carolina for months now, arguing that politically savvy Republicans in the early voting state are accustomed to having multiple chances to get to know presidential candidates, in person.

DeSantis first public visit to South Carolina, home of the leadoff presidential primary in the South, comes amid a brisk travel schedule during which the governor has taken his Florida Blueprint tour to Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan in recent weeks.

With an anticipated presidential bid in the offing, the travel has opened up an avenue for DeSantis to lay out some of his policy achievements in Florida, setting up possible contrasts with potential GOP rivals, including former President Donald Trump.

On Sunday, Kimbrell told the AP that he had been hoping to bring DeSantis to South Carolina for months now, arguing that politically savvy Republicans in the early voting state are accustomed to having multiple chances to get to know presidential candidates, in person.

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RELATED: NC Republicans file several bills focused on trans students in school sports

Ive told everybody associated with his team, Youve got to get here early and often, said Kimbrell, who has already joined efforts with a political action committee urging DeSantis to get into the race. Ive tried to make it clear to them that, if you want to win, youve got to get here early. South Carolina for months has been hosting GOP candidates, including Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. There have also been trips from many of those anticipated to join the field, including former Vice President Mike Pence. Later this week, after a swing through Iowa and New Hampshire, Sen. Tim Scott returns home to South Carolina for a summit with donors, as he mulls a bid of his own.

While this would be DeSantis first public South Carolina event, he was in the state last year for a gubernatorial fundraiser. The event near Charleston was attended by some of Trumps top donors in the state.

To Kimbrell, who said he agrees with Trump on policy but not on the way he approached things personally, DeSantis is well-positioned to be a better alternative to Trump, but needs to start spending more time in South Carolina.

I believe that Ron DeSantis is as popular among my base as Trump is, Kimbrell said, of his heavily GOP district. But you cant just mail it in. Hes going to have to press the flesh, roll his sleeves up, and get really serious.

(WATCH BELOW: Now-GOP Rep. Tricia Cotham says I am going to listen to my heart when voting)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a speaking event in South Carolina this week, making his first public appearance in the state ahead of a potential 2024 presidential bid.

South Carolina is a key state in the presidential primary cycle as it is the third state to hold a primary or caucus contest after only the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire Primary. It also includes a more diverse population than the states before it.

The event will take place in Spartanburg, where State Sen. Josh Kimbrell will host DeSantis on April 19.

DeSantis' first public visit to South Carolina coincides with a tour to share his "Florida Blueprint" in other key states including Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan in recent weeks.

2024 FRICTION: FORMER TRUMP OFFICIALS JOIN PRO-DESANTIS GROUP

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis defeated Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Charlie Crist on November 8, 2022 in Tampa, Florida, to win re-election as governor.

The multi-state speaking gigs give DeSantis, who is well-liked among Republicans, a chance to lay out some of his policy achievements in Florida.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

He may also use the events to show his attentiveness to national issues beyond his own state or set up possible contrasts with other GOP candidates, including former President Donald Trump.

PRO-DESANTIS SUPER PAC TOUTS $30 MILLION FUNDRAISING HAUL

Kimbrell told the Associated Press on Sunday that he had been hoping to bring DeSantis to South Carolina for months now. He said Republicans in the early voting state are accustomed to hearing from multiple presidential candidates, in person, well before official campaigns in the state kickoff.

"Ive told everybody associated with his team, Youve got to get here early and often,'" Kimbrell, who has urged DeSantis to officially jump into the 2024 Republican primary, told AP. "Ive tried to make it clear to them that, if you want to win, youve got to get here early."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during 'The Florida Blueprint' event on Long Island, New York, United States on April 1, 2023.

"I believe that Ron DeSantis is as popular among my base as Trump is," Kimbrell added. "But you cant just mail it in. He's going to have to press the flesh, roll his sleeves up, and get really serious."

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DONALD TRUMPS CAMPAIGN URGES RON DESANTIS DONORS TO 'DEMONSTRATE' LOYALTY TO FORMER PRESIDENT

The only current GOP candidates, including Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson have already visited the state.

Former President Donald Trump looks on during a rally at the Waco Regional Airport on March 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas.

Other potential candidates are orbiting South Carolina as well.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has made a visit to the southern state and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is scheduled to attend a summit later this week with donors, as he mulls his own presidential bid.

DeSantis most recently visited South Carolina for a gubernatorial fundraiser near Charleston last year. The event was attended by top donors in the state, including those who previously backed Trump.

Kimbrell said he agrees with Trump on policy but suggested DeSantis is more agreeable "personally."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is expected to make his first public appearance in South Carolina later this month, marking another move that signals he may be moving closer to making a decision on running for president.

South Carolina state Sen. Josh Kimbrell (R) told The Associated Press that he planned to host DeSantis at an event in Spartanburg on April 19. The visit would mark the Florida governors first visit to South Carolina, the news service noted, which is a crucial state in the Republican nomination process and one of the earliest states to hold its primary.

Former President Trump has already launched his 2024 campaign, with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson also throwing their hats into the ring. Former Vice President Mike Pence, one of the most high-profile potential candidates, has also not announced whether he will run.

But early polling suggests that DeSantis is the main competitor to Trump for the GOPs nomination. While Trump is largely considered the front-runner, DeSantis is seen as a favorite of many Republicans who have been alienated from the former president in recent years.

Trump has already gone on the offensive against DeSantis, attacking the Florida governors actions in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, his comments on Medicare and Social Security and bestowed him with the nickname Ron DeSanctimonious.

While DeSantis has largely steered clear of clashes with Trump, he did step up his defense in an interview with Piers Morgan last month, blasting Trumps leadership style and poking fun at the nickname that has been given to him.

DeSantiss travel schedule has also included stops in Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania to promote his policies in Florida.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Iranian regimes recent drone attack on an American base in Syria, which resulted in the murder of a U.S. contractor , has not deterred the Biden administration from pursuing the controversial nuclear pact with Tehran that would dramatically enrich the coffers of the Islamic Republic.

The White House remains wedded to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)  the formal name for the Iran nuclear deal  that "would allow Tehran to access up to $275 billion in financial benefits during its first year in effect and $1 trillion by 2030."

Veteran Iran experts have argued that the JCPOA is no longer tenable because it is riddled with serious defects about deterring Irans malign behavior, including failing to stop Tehrans ongoing drone attacks against Americans. Irans regime was caught enriching uranium to 84% purity in February  just 6% short of weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear weapon.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with students in Tehran on Oct. 18, 2017. (Iranian Leader's Press Office / Handout / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images)

IRAN COULD PRODUCE NUCLEAR WEAPON IN MATTER OF MONTHS, SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL CLAIMS

Jason Brodsky, the policy director of the U.S.-based United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI), told Fox News Digital, "The JCPOA framework is not a viable one for the United States. Those who say diplomacy is the most sustainable way of dealing with the Iran nuclear [deal] ignore the history of the last seven-plus years, where world powers have spent more time trying to salvage it than it was ever fully implemented. This is because of a lack of bipartisan support in the United States for the JCPOA paradigm as well as Tehran's lethal non-nuclear behavior."

While the U.S. State Department claims the JCPOA is not a priority, it reportedly continues to propose ways to inch toward an agreement. Axios recently reported that the White House is discussing a temporary deal that provides Tehran with some economic sanctions relief in exchange for a freeze of elements of its alleged atomic weapons program.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

President Joe Biden, left, is welcomed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 15, 2022.

When asked about the reported interim deal proposal, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "We are in constant contact with our allies and partners, including the E3, but we're not going to detail diplomatic conversations or respond to rumors, many of which are simply false."

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E3 is an abbreviation for France, Germany and Britain.

The spokesperson added, "The JCPOA has not been on our agenda since September, when Iran turned its back on a deal that was on the table, but we are still very much open to diplomacy."

The spokesperson continued, "As the president has made clear, the United States is committed to never allowing Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. We believe diplomacy is the best way to achieve that goal, but President [Joe] Biden has also been clear that we have not removed any option from the table."

When asked about a report that diplomats from France, Germany and Britain conducted secret talks with Iran last month in Norway, the U.S. spokesperson reiterated its earlier response: "We are in constant contact with our allies and partners, including the E3, on Iran, but we're not going to detail diplomatic conversations or respond to rumors, many of which are false. For instance, there have been no meetings of the P5+1 and Iran since August."

The P5+1 is an abbreviation for the United States, France, Britain, China, Russia and Germany.

US AIR DEFENSES DOWN DURING SUSPECTED IRANIAN DRONE STRIKE IN SYRIA THAT KILLED ONE AMERICAN

The spokesperson added, "Of course, we remain greatly concerned by the expansion of Irans nuclear activities, including the operation of advanced centrifuges and accumulation of highly enriched uranium. Iran has no credible peaceful purpose to be undertaking these activities."

Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that the Biden administration "does not have a desire to solve the Iranian nuclear problem but to manage it."

Despite the clerical regimes mass human rights violations , furnishing lethal drones to Russia in its war against Ukraine, and enriching uranium to near military-grade usage, Bidens "Iran policy continues to be defined by the JCPOA," said Taleblu.

Taleblu said the Biden administrations "maximum deference" to Irans rulers over the last 18 months "paved the way to where we are." He added that the policy permitted Tehran to make "irreversible gains" with respect to its nuclear weapons program. The Iran expert also said the Biden administration "selectively enforces oil sanctions" against Tehran.

He urged that the U.S. government provide "maximum support" to the Iranian protesters opposed to the theocratic state because the U.S. "cant form an Iran policy in isolation from what is happening on the ground in Iran."

According to the State Department, the Trump administration is to blame for the current state of affairs with the Islamic Republic: "Lets also not forget that it was the previous administration's decision to unilaterally leave the JCPOA that contributed mightily to where we are today, with Iran no longer adhering to the constraints of the deal and rapidly advancing its nuclear program," the State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Israeli Brig. Gen. Yossi Kuperwasser, a senior researcher at the Israeli Defense Security Forum and expert on Iran, told Fox News Digital that the perception in the region is "America is weak and not willing to support its allies." He cited the example of Saudi Arabias rapprochement with Irans regime that bypassed the U.S. altogether  Communist China brokered the diplomatic deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

BIDEN ON BACK FOOT AS IRAN PROXIES HIT US TROOPS IN SYRIA, CAN EXPORT MORE, NOT LESS ATTACKS

Kuperwasser said the "U.S. dreams of going back to the JCPOA, which means the Iranians think they can go further and test the waters in various issues." He said the "Iranians have showed more self-confidence in their attacks on American bases in Syria and led to the death of one American." He added that Hezbollah recently attacked Israel  the Iranian regimes chief strategic partner is the U.S.-designated terrorist movement Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The U.S. government has defined Irans regime as the worlds worst international state sponsor of terrorism.

A mural of Ayatollah Khamenei is seen in Tehran, Iran.

Kuperwasser said the message being delivered to the Iranians right now is: "They can get away with more than murder." He continued, "The key is to put pressure on Iran now to stop their nuclear project. The worst thing right now is to revive JCPOA because it gives them a lot of money. They will be able to produce nuclear weapons in the future with JCPOA."

Kuperwasser bemoaned the American governments passive posture. He said the U.S. did not take any steps against Irans regime at the last session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for its enrichment of near weapons-grade uranium. IAEA spokesperson Fredrik Dahl declined to provide a comment to Fox News Digital whether progress has been made in stopping Irans enrichment.

Kuperwasser said the main problem is Irans nuclear program and its enrichment of uranium, that America needs to "look at the entirety of the problem." He said that the way to avoid a military confrontation with Irans regime is to "show credible military options."

Brodsky, the Iran expert for UANI, said, "Military options need to be on the table and Tehran needs to believe we are serious about their use if Washington hopes to effectively deter the Islamic Republic. This entails more aggressively targeting Iran's regime after its attacks on U.S. forces  not just retaliating against its proxies but also Iran's regime itself. The U.S. government should also be giving serious consideration of an updated AUMF [Authorization for Use of Military Force] focused on Iran, as that is the threat that is most significant today. Just having the AUMF against Iran on the books would be a deterrent in and of itself."

Irans mission to the U.N. did not respond to a press query.
New details are being revealed about a bank heist allegedly committed by an elderly repeat offender.

"I didnt mean to scare you," a note handed to a teller during a recent Missouri holdup read.

That note allegedly came from Bonnie Gooch, 78, who has two past bank robbery convictions.

Gooch is jailed on $25,000 bond after she was charged with one count of stealing or attempting to steal from a financial institution on April 5 in Pleasant Hill, The Kansas City Star reports. No attorney is listed for her in online court records.

MISSOURI ELDERLY WOMAN ACCUSED OF ROBBING BANK FOR THIRD TIME

Bonnie Gooch, 78, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, faces bank robbery charges after allegedly trying to take money from a financial institution, for a third time since 1977.

The incident happened around 3:20 p.m. at the Goppert Financial Bank on North Highway 7.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

While en route, officers were given a description of the suspect as well as her vehicle, and once located, they conducted a traffic stop and apprehended Gooch.

Police said Gooch was taken into custody without incident.

TWO KILLED, 3 HURT IN SHOOTING AT ORLANDO PARK EASTER EVENING: POLICE

An exterior look of Goppert Financial Bank on North Hwy 7 in Pleasant Hill, Missouri.

"Obviously it was a tense situation," Pleasant Hill Police Chief Thomas Wright told FOX 4 Kansas City. "But when the hands of an elderly woman come out of the car and that is who is driving the suspect vehicle, its a little shocking."

She reportedly smelled strongly of alcohol when officers stopped her less than two miles away from the bank, with cash scattered on the car's floorboard, prosecutors added.

Gooch also was convicted of robbing a California bank in 1977 and one in the Kansas City suburb of Lees Summit in 2020. Her probation in the second heist ended in November 2021.

When officers were en route to this Goppert Financial Bank in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, they were given bank heist suspect and vehicle details.

Court documents filed in Cass County in the latest case said the robbery note demanded "13,000 small bills," adding "thank you sorry I didnt mean to scare you." Surveillance video also captured her banging on the counter, asking the teller to hurry, Cass County prosecutors said.

"Its just sad," Wright said, adding that the suspect had no diagnosed ailments.

Fox News' Greg Wehner and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
For more than half a century, the U.S. military has fielded programs to promote a more cohesive workplace of people from different backgrounds, with the mantra that diverse backgrounds and experiences set Americas force apart and make it the best in the world.

Never have senior officials beat that drum more loudly than in recent years, as the number of American youth both qualified and interested in serving has fallen off a cliff, forcing the military services to tap into regions and demographics theyve not traditionally focused on.

But at the same time, a growing conservative movement is deriding diversity, equity and inclusion programs as overtaking national security priorities, or alienating troops who did not expect conversations about racial justice to figure into their military service and discouraging Americans from sending their children to the recruiters office.

Balance, meet buzz saw

Pentagon leaders spent a lot of time on Capitol Hill in recent weeks talking about threats to the United States  not Chinas military build-up, North Korean missile launches or Russias invasion of Ukraine. Instead, Republicans have argued that Pentagon programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion are taking over Defense Department priorities.

They arent happy that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a DoD-wide stand-down back in 2021 to discuss extremisms corrosive effect on the military, either.

Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, went multiple rounds during armed services committee hearings arguing that such educational programs amount to a couple hours of annual training for the vast majority of troops.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testify before the House Armed Services Committee on March 29. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

We are a diverse nation. Our military should look like the nation that it defends, and it does. And I truly believe that diversity makes us stronger. It brings different cultures, different ideas together. And we set a great example for the world wherever we go, Austin said March 28 during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, the day after appearing before the same committee in the Senate.

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The discussion showed a partisan divide so wide that it was as if the two sides were living in separate realities.

Republicans argued that minorities are already overrepresented in the military and demanded pledges that no service member would be promoted based on any sort of demographic information, while Democrats opined on the long-held view that diversity is necessary to readiness, and necessary to recruiting top talent.

Its a false choice to say that we have to choose between embracing and strengthening diversity, and building an effective and formidable military, said Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., during a March 23 House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Pentagons diversity efforts. As our witnesses have stated, diversity is instead essential to our effectiveness; it does not distract, it focuses.

Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, also openly voiced her exasperation with the back-and-forth.

What weve seen here today, frankly, its really embarrassing. And it is a little depressing, she said.

What is diversity, equity and inclusion aka DEI?

From the Pentagons own office of diversity, equity and inclusion website, the goal is to focus its efforts on emerging talent to ensure that we successfully attract, recruit, develop and retain a highly-skilled Total Force capable of meeting current and future mission requirements.

The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed by Congress and signed by then-President Donald Trump, requires the Pentagon to implement a five-year plan to expand DoDs diversity, equity and inclusion, from who it hires and promotes to how troops treat each other.

As we follow that plan, we allocate resources to make sure that were doing the right thing, he told lawmakers Wednesday. In terms of promotions, we promote best-qualified.

And DoD isnt asking for much, in Pentagon terms, to fund it, requesting just $115 million for diversity programs for 2023. But thats $27 million more than last year, Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., pointed out.

Does that mean that what you did last year didnt work and thats why you need $27 million more? he asked Austin March 28. And how much is it going to take if youre already failing?

The tough questioning may foreshadow a GOP-led effort to slice out any portions of the upcoming defense budget slotted for diversity programs. They have asked the Pentagon to provide dollar amounts spent on training and employing DEI professionals, possibly with an eye to defunding some of those efforts.

There is also the possibility some proposed legislation to limit or revamp diversity training could end up in the next NDAA, though without any bipartisan support, those initiatives are not likely to make it into a final version of the law.

But not only did Trump sign the 2020 NDAA continuing diversity programs  his defense secretary embraced the conversation, launching an in-house working group to make the Pentagon more inclusive after the 2020 murder of George Floyd.

New Pentagon team is going to take on racial justice in the military

I dont think what everybody appreciated  at least me, personally  is the depth of sentiment out there among our service members of color, particularly Black Americans, about how much the killing of George Floyd  and the other incidents that preceded it and succeeded it  had on them and what they were experiencing in the ranks as well, Esper said during a virtual appearance at the Aspen Security Forum in 2020.

One immediate change Esper approved was removing photographs from the packets military officials use to evaluate troops for promotion, forcing them to rely on candidates recorded accomplishments and evaluations instead of how they look.

It was one change in a long history of changes. The 2009 NDAA established the Military Leadership Diversity Commission, which issued a report with another five-year plan to implement diversity initiatives aimed at notoriously white, male military leadership.

It set 18 goals for improving diversity, but a 2022 inspector general report found DoD fulfilled only six of them in the following decade, due to a lack of implementation plan and oversight.

This is not uncommon among DoD diversity training and programs, according to Marek Posard, a military sociologist and researcher with Rand Corp.

Its very fragmented. There isnt this overlord of training, Posard told Military Times.

The current diversity program is the latest iteration of the 52-year-old Military Equal Employment Opportunity program, Posard said, first instituted in the services during a time of full-on race riots in the military.

In 1971, fist fights in the barracks at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., escalated to a building catching fire, killing a civilian first responder. The following year, another race riot broke out on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk after a Black sailor dared take a second sandwich at lunch, sparking a shouting match that devolved into a ship-wide melee.

Its incidents like that, not progressivism, which fueled early equal opportunity training courses, according to retired Lt. Gen. David Barno, who testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on March 28.

And I think a lot of people dont realize, at least in the force, why we have this to begin with  which is to ensure that we can have a productive conversation on race, gender, or sexual orientation, so we dont have things blow up Marek Prosard, military sociologist at Rand Corp.

In my first days at West Point, I got a class on race relations in a military that was fraught with racial tensions, with drug abuse, with indiscipline, said Barno, now a visiting strategic studies professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

The president of that time was Richard Nixon, and the secretary of defense was Melvin Laird, two conservative Republicans who nevertheless maintained this was an important program, he said, adding that it helped him lead troops for the rest of his career.

Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., opened te March 28 hearing proclaiming that the Biden administration is more focused on how cadets at military academies use correct pronouns rather than to learn how to lead work as a team or defend our nation, later lamenting the woke stuff without providing any concrete examples of the diversity discussion overtaking the focus on defending the country.

But when youre dealing with national security, or life-and-death missions, the negative effects of widespread social tensions are stark, Posard maintained.

And I think a lot of people dont realize, at least in the force, why we have this to begin with  which is to ensure that we can have a productive conversation on race, gender, or sexual orientation, so we dont have things blow up, Posard said.

Man hours

The conservative refrain at these recent hearings has been that the focus on diversity is actually allowing adversaries to surpass the U.S. in readiness.

But the Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston testified that at Army basic training, discussing the importance of diversity and inclusion made up a tiny sliver of time spent.

When I looked at it, there is one hour of equal opportunity training in basic training, and 92 hours of rifle marksmanship training, he said, during House Armed Services Committee testimony on March 9.

That one hour is part of DoDs mandatory training program, which includes initial training upon entering the service and then once a year thereafter, to include diversity, sexual harassment, sexual assault, civil unrest and more.

As an example, the Armys 101st Airborne Division has an annual two-hour training module that includes sections on equal opportunity, operational security, combating human trafficking, employee safety, controlled unclassified information and a host of other topics.

In short, Republican lawmakers spent more time holding hearings and questioning Pentagon senior leaders on diversity training in March than the average service member will spend fulfilling diversity training all year.

But those same lawmakers have gotten stuck on one specific estimate, from the Joint Staff, which counted millions of man hours spent on a one-time program from 2021. In response to a request from Senators in 2021, the Joint Staff estimated that every one of more than 2 million service members spent about two hours on the discussion, submitting that roughly 5.9 million man hours were expended.

War is hell. You know that better than anybody. Every recruit should know that. But in the last two years, we put them through a different kind of hell, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said during the March 28 SASC hearing, referring to the extremism stand-down, a response to reports of service member and veteran participation in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.

Every service member and DoD civilian completed some form of training addressing domestic violent extremism, particularly going over the departments rules for participating in anti-government, supremacist or otherwise political extremist groups. After taking multiple questions on that 5.9 million man hours statistic, Milley clarified to the Senate Armed Services Committee that the estimate was out of more than 2 billion man hours expended weekly across the Defense Department, factoring in service members, civilians and contractors and a 10-hour work day.

Some troops disappointed by check-the-block extremism stand-downs, others laud commanders

Is diversity lacking?

With 50 years of a required emphasis on diversity, the statistics show that the services are more integrated than ever.

Roughly 17% of the force is Black, compared to 14% of the American population; 17% are Hispanic or Latino, compared to roughly 19% in the overall U.S; and 19% are women, a number that has grown in recent decades as more military specialties have fully integrated by gender.

In fact, the military is over represented compared to society, Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., said during a House Armed Service Committee personnel hearing March 23 on the impacts of DEI, though that assertion doesnt hold across all ranks or services, according to research from the Council on Foreign Relations, published in 2020.

It shows that for Black and Hispanic troops, there are half as many officers as enlisted members, and even fewer among the highest ranks, while officers and senior officers are disproportionately white.

In terms of diversity, when you have it adequate, you have sufficient representation, Posard, the sociologist, said. But that doesnt mean that the job is done, right?

For example, across the senior-most positions at DoD, you still see a lot of firsts: the first Black defense secretary in Lloyd Austin, the first female Army secretary in Christine Wormuth, the first Black service chief in Air Force Gen. Charles CQ Brown, the first combatant commander in the Army in Gen. Laura Richardson of U.S. Southern Command, the first female senior enlisted leader in Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Joanne Bass.

While there has been progress, many troops still report feeling a racial divide. Respondents to multiple Military Times surveys have noted white supremacist and extremist language and sentiments in their workplaces.

In 2022, a Blue Star Families survey found that military culture still has some work to do when it comes to seeing everyone as green.

Off-color jokes, racial slurs, and discriminatory comments that are (erroneously) used to build a sense of camaraderie negatively affect active-duty service members, spouses, and Veteran respondents of color, the report found.

Among survey respondents, 10% of active-duty spouses of color said they had been subject to slurs or jokes at least five times since January 2020, from other members of the military community.

Stoking a divide?

Preparedness for conflict aside, Republican lawmakers said repeatedly over the course of Marchs hearings that diversity training was causing division in the ranks, spilling over into the American consciousness and affecting the already tough recruiting environment.

Do you think that has anything to do with the morale that has been killed and determined that DEI and [critical race theory] has become the priority over increased lethality and readiness of our U.S. forces? Mills, the Florida congressman and Army veteran, asked Cisneros, a Navy veteran, during the March 23 hearing.

Mills contended that he never received diversity training while serving, from 1999 to 2004.

Cisneros responded that readiness of our forces is the most important thing, adding, When I was in the military, we did have diversity training. We did have equal opportunity training, having served as an enlisted sailor and later officer from 1999 to 2004.

Conservatives have pointed to the latest Reagan National Defense Survey as evidence that the politicization of the military is contributing to the struggle to recruit, specifically the Armys 2022 shortfall of 15,000 new soldiers.

But while the Reagan survey specifically asks about confidence in the military, it doesnt ask about recruiting, nor home in on the 18-to-24-year-old demographic that DoD is looking for.

Is the military too woke to recruit?

In fact, DoD surveys done multiple times annually find that young peoples biggest reasons for not joining the military are concerns about death or injury, followed by concerns about developing post-traumatic stress.

I am offended at the implication that conducting extremist training means that our military is filled with extremists. Just as I personally am appreciative of the fact that we have [Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention] training, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., an Army combat veteran, said during the March 28 SASC hearing. And by conducting SHARP training, were not saying that every member of the military is a harasser or a perpetrator of military sexual assault.

No DoD official has ever asserted that military ranks are filled with extremists. Austin has repeated multiple times, including in recent testimony, that he believes 99.9% of troops are following regulations when it comes to domestic extremism participation.

Republicans havent made clear what their next steps are. They have power to write piecemeal legislation or include provisions in the next NDAA, but without bipartisan support  or the widespread support of other Republicans  it may not go anywhere.

We will be looking at ways to address these issues in both individual legislation and the NDAA, James Hewitt, a Waltz spokesman, told Military Times on Monday.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., a vocal DEI detractor, questions Pentagon officials during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on March 29. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, told Military Times that while he doesnt see DEI overtaking any national security priorities, he couldnt say how much the Republican rhetoric will figure into this years legislative discussions.

Certainly, there are a few members of Congress who are obsessed with this and focusing on it a lot, Smith told Military Times in an interview. But in terms of more senior leadership, and DoD, no, it is not an obsessive focus. We just have to deal with those couple of members who have decided to make a big deal out of it.

From Smiths perspective, the amount of time some Republican lawmakers have spent lamenting diversity programs may actually be contributing to any belief by the average American that the U.S. military is spending an outsize amount of time on DEI.

Youve got this narrative out there that is trashing our military  what Im still quite confident is the best fighting force in the world. And you hear some of these Republicans talking about, you know, how terrible it is and then they come back and say, this is starting to hurt recruiting, because people are worried about it, Smith said. Well, theyre worried about it because you are fanning the flames and making a lot of it up its a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Tarrant Countys sheriff training academy is tightly packed.

Taser targets sit at the end of hallways. So do makeshift offices. One of those is next to the shooting simulator, a room without sound-proofing that can only be used in the evenings and on weekends due to the noise and disturbance it creates for others in the building.

Paint in one classroom that used to be living quarters is stripped off the wall, rubbed bare from bunk beds were in the room. And the HVAC system is so out of date that its almost helpless to fixing.

The building on Circle Drive in southeast Fort Worth dates to the 1970s. It used to be a state mental health school.

It was never intended to be a police academy, said commissioner Manny Ramirez.

And members of the sheriffs office, as well as county officials, are adamant  they need a new training academy.

County commissioners unanimously agreed to spend $108,000 at their March 7 meeting for feasibility study that will be conducted by Fort Worth-based architectural firm Komatsu Inc.

Tarrant County Sheriffs Training Academy used to be home to a state mental health school. The building was built in the 1970s.

But everything the sheriffs department is looking for is less than 10 minutes down the road, at Fort Worths Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex. The city-owned training center was built with the idea that it would be a regional academy used by other law enforcement agencies.

Nearly 70 law enforcement agencies have used the building since it opened in 2015. The Tarrant County Sheriffs Office has used the firing range, according to a Fort Worth police department representative.

County officials have shied away from using the Fort Worth center, arguing that doing so would take resources from Fort Worths police department and that the countys training is more detention focused.

While the sheriffs department provides support to law enforcement agencies across Tarrant County and patrols to Haslet, Edgecliff Village and Pelican Bay, the majority of the sheriffs offices staff  967 people  work in detention. The other 474 staffers in work in operations and are in charge of patrolling the countys 202 square miles of unicorporated areas, home to 53,000 people in a county of 2.1 million, according to a Star-Telegram analysis of U.S. Census data.

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The vision for the countys law enforcement center includes meeting rooms, an indoor firearms range, an armory, quartermasters space, an emergency vehicle track course, office space, locker rooms, classrooms, storage rooms and briefing spaces.

It isnt the first time county officials have tried to create a new center for the sheriffs office  it was up for consideration for the November 2021 bond election that included a transportation package and a new DAs office, but didnt end up making the ballot, said county administrator G.K. Maenius.

Arguments for a dedicated center

When Fort Worth opened the $101.5 million Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex as a headquarters and training space for the fire and police departments, the original intention was to rent space to other departments for training.

City leaders vision for the center as a moneymaker hasnt come to fruition the way they hoped, but the city has allowed outside law enforcement agencies to use the space in exchange for Fort Worth police officer spots at other trainings the city would have to pay for otherwise.

Recruits practice at the gun range within the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex in Fort Worth on March 29.

The Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex has many of the same features Tarrant County leaders want in their own training center like a firing range and an emergency vehicle track. But county leaders have justifications for why they need their own law enforcement complex.

A spokesperson for the sheriffs office said the county needs its own center to accommodate growth. The sheriffs office has trained 5,500 officers in 2022 from both inside and outside the agency.

Ramirez, who used to lead Fort Worths police union, told the Star-Telegram that using the police training center for sheriffs office training could deplete resources from an already stretched thin police department, though a police official said the department would evaluate whether Tarrant County could use the citys center based on what was available.

One of multiple gyms at the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex in Fort Worth on March 29.

Ramirez also brought up the specific training for members of the sheriffs office, where 67% of the 1,400 employees work in detention centers.

You got to remember, probably 80%, or 70% of our workforce are jailers, not, you know, police officers that are out in the field, Ramirez said. So its very nuanced training, and the city of Fort Worth does not offer that training for the sheriffs office. So I think that weve had it backwards for decades, I think the county needs to be the leader in law enforcement that offers training to Fort Worth.

When the city opens the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex for others to use, the expectation is that the visiting agency brings its own trainers, city manager David Cooke said.

Ramirezs vision of having the countys center become a regional training hub is based in each law enforcement agency across the county running their operations differently.

We have to be regionally connected so that we can best serve our Tarrant County taxpayers because at the end of the day, if you call 911, you dont care what patch is on that shoulder, Ramirez said. You just want someone to show up. And you need to know that theyre adequately trained and that theyre adequately cross trained so that they can work together if multiple agencies show up. Thats something that a Tarrant County Law Enforcement center can provide.

Ramirez believes training for Fort Worth police officers should take priority at the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex.

The problem with sheriffs office training right now is that it takes place all over the map, Maenius said.

Maenius has a background in law enforcement. He was a police officer in San Marcos and served on the governors Texas Organized Crime Prevention Council from 1977 to 1981. Maenius said he never had a centralized location for training, and said he would have benefited from having it all in one place.

Proponents for the new center say the sheriffs department needs resources to keep the community safe.

Asked whether county officials have had conversations with the city about the possibility of using space at the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex, Maenius said he was not aware of any conversations but that it didnt mean the conversations hadnt happened.

A spokesperson for the Tarrant Countys sheriffs office did not answer questions about how many times the sheriffs office has used the Bob Bolen Complex and how many times requests to use it have been approved or denied.

The spokesperson wrote in an email that the sheriffs office has used the Bob Bolen Complex on occasion, but that its unlikely other training facilities, including Fort Worth PDs, can facilitate the year-round training needs of another large agency like TCSO.

County Judge Tim OHare did not respond to written questions from the Star-Telegram on how much county officials would be willing to spend on a new law enforcement training center, whether there was a plan for the county to profit off the center by offering space for training to other law enforcement agencies, and what the cost comparison would be to build a new center versus use space at the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex.

Instead, a representative for OHare sent a statement that addressed questions on why the law enforcement center is needed and what benefits it would provide Tarrant County residents.

As County Judge, public safety and fiscal responsibility are among my top priorities, it reads. Governments number one job is to protect our God-given rights. Number two is keeping people safe. I want to ensure our law enforcement professionals have the tools necessary to protect Tarrant County residents and their property. The Law Enforcement Training Center will help us attract the best and brightest to keep Tarrant County safe, while providing first-class training. I strongly support the feasibility study and look forward to seeing this project come to fruition.
Police shot and killed a dog after it attacked a young girl and charged toward officers, Minnesota police say.

Officers in Brooklyn Park  a Minneapolis suburb  responded to a call for a dog attack at 3:03 p.m. on Friday, April 7, the Brooklyn Park Police Department said in a news release.

The caller said the child was pinned against a fence by a pit bull and she couldnt escape, according to police.

When officers arrived, the caller was struggling to free the child from the dogs jaws, the release said. They managed to pull the two apart, but the dog then turned its attention to the officers and the caller and started to aggressively come after (them).

One of the officers opened fire and killed the dog, police said.

The girl suffered bite wounds to her head but was responsive at the scene, the release said. She was taken to a hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Police didnt say who the dog belonged to.

Brooklyn Park is roughly 11 miles northwest of downtown Minneapolis.

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The Biden administration on Monday afternoon asked an appeals court to put on hold a ruling that could rescind the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) approval of mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortions.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to pause U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks ruling from Friday, which found the FDA violated federal standards when it first approved mifepristone 23 years ago, until the administration can bring its appeal of his decision in full.

Rather than preserving the status quo, as preliminary relief is meant to do, the district court upended decades of reliance by blocking FDAs approval of mifepristone and depriving patients of access to this safe and effective treatment, based on the courts own misguided assessment of the drugs safety, DOJ wrote in court filings.

Kacsmaryks ruling gave the administration a weeklong window before it went into effect. The administration is asking the 5th Circuit to extend that pause, and to do so by Thursday at noon, to enable the government to seek relief in the Supreme Court if necessary.

The emergency motion included a searing criticism of Kacsmaryks decision, arguing that the challengers did not have standing to bring the suit and that their claims challenging the drugs safety lack merit and would be unlikely to ultimately succeed.

The district courts extraordinary and unprecedented order should be stayed pending appeal. Plaintiffs lack standing to challenge FDAs approval of a drug they neither take nor prescribe; their challenge to FDA actions dating back to 2000 is manifestly untimely; and they have provided no basis for second-guessing FDAs scientific judgment. Those defects foreclose plaintiffs claims, and the court flouted fundamental principles of Article III and administrative law in holding otherwise, the Justice Department wrote.

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Minutes after Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former President Trump, issued his ruling, however, a separate federal judge who sits in Washington state blocked the FDA from altering the status quo and rights as it relates to the availability of Mifepristone in 17 states and Washington, D.C., which filed a joint lawsuit contending the drug was too tightly regulated.

DOJ said on Friday it was reviewing that ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice, an appointee of former President Obama.

The dueling decisions increase the likelihood the dispute ultimately reaches the Supreme Court one way or another, with far-reaching implications for access to abortion nationwide as well as the authority of the entire FDA.

Updated at 3:03 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
CNN

CNN anchor Don Lemon seemingly attempted to make a quick on-air recovery on Monday when a hot mic caught him suggesting Jon Stewart gets a lot of leeway as a comedian following the ex-Daily Show hosts tense exchange with a Pentagon official.

Last week, Stewart interviewed Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks at the War Horse Symposium in Chicago. In an exchange that went viral on social media, Stewart confronted Hicks on the militarys inability to take care of all of its service members despite its bloated budget.

I cant figure out how $850 billion to a department means that the rank and file still have to be on food stamps, he told the second-ranking defense official. To me, thats fucking corruption.

While airing that portion of the interview on Mondays broadcast of CNN This Morning, as first noticed by TMZ, Lemon seemed unaware that his mic was live when he tossed out an aside about Stewart.

He gets a lot of leeway with the comedian thing, though, he said just as the audio cut out from the Stewart video package. Based on the several seconds of awkward silence that followed, it appears that Lemon believed he was speaking to his co-anchors off-air.

The veteran CNN host, who has recently had his share of on-air stumbles, then quickly tried to backpedal and frame his remarks within a larger discussion about Stewarts cultural relevance and activism on behalf of military veterans.

We were just discussing that Jon Stewart is so much more than a comedian. He is a thought leader, Lemon declared.

His colleagues Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, meanwhile, added that Stewart needs no introduction due to his advocacy for veterans rights while praising him for the tough questions he posed to Hicks.

Yeah, when I was saying comedian and television host, hes so much more than that, Lemon sheepishly doubled down. I dont even know if you need to qualify Jon Stewart as that. But good interview there.

Stewart, who now hosts The Problem on Apple TV+, probably wouldnt take much offense to Lemons remarks. Throughout his storied career, he has long brushed off his political influence and impact by protesting that he is just a comedian. There is a role for what we do, but its not one of transformation, Stewart told fellow late-night comics Desus and Mero in 2020.

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Optimism, pessimism, realism: What will new Cypriot talks bring?

Cyprus: Divided into Turkish and Greek Cypriot sectors since the Turkish invasion in the summer of 1974. Ever since, it has been a setting for tension and conflict. But now the UN sees a historic chance for a resolution when talks enter a potentially decisive round on Monday.

GALLERY

A typhoon aircraft departing for an Iraqi mission from the Royal Air Force Akrotiri station on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, 22 September 2016.

Geneva/Nicosia (dpa) - The New Year is starting with a silver lining on the horizon for Cyprus, the island-state that has been divided for more than 40 years. There are hopes that the conflict on the third-largest Mediterranean island can be resolved and that it can be reunified.On Monday, the two sides will be meeting for three days of talks at the United Nations in Geneva. New UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says: "(The talks) offer an historic opportunity for a breakthrough."Such optimism runs in the face of past diplomatic experience. Countless rounds of talks over the past nearly 43 years came up empty-handed.The last such negotiations were in Geneva in November. Diplomats in Nicosia are voicing caution."There is a long road ahead of us," one official said. It would be regarded as a success if the new Geneva talks did not "fall through" and could be continued in the months ahead.The aim is to establish a federation of two states equally sharing political power: A Greek Cypriot state in the south and a Turkish Cypriot state in the north, under the dividing lines created by the Turkish military invasion in July 1974.The main reason for optimism at the UN is that the two political leaders on Cyprus, Greek Cypriot Nikos Anastasiades, and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Mustafa Akinci, have already been negotiating for 20 months now and have moved closer together on numerous issues. For example, they appear to have largely agreed on ethnic Greeks and Turks having freedom of movement and residency in each others state.But a number of analysts and many diplomats are pessimistic. They say that the negotiations have now reached that point where the two parties must show their cards, including on the key issue of drawing up the final border between the two states.And this is where things get difficult. Akinci wants to have to resettle as few Turkish Cypriots as possible after the return of some territory to the Greek Cypriot side. Anastasiades, however, wants a deal under which as many Greek Cypriots as possible can return to those areas they or their ancestors fled from after the invasion of Turkish forces.This core issue and a number of secondary questions are to be discussed under UN auspices for three days starting on Monday. But then, on Thursday, the situation will get more complicated, when the two sides are joined by high-ranking diplomats from the guarantor powers of Turkey, Greece and Britain for a five-party conference. In addition, European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will attend as an observer.The major problem that will need resolving then is the continued insistence by Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot side that Turkey will remain a guarantor power, the role it has had ever since the state of Cyprus was founded in 1960. They also want Turkish forces to remain stationed on Cyprus.For the Greek Cypriots and Athens, the guarantor power framework is an anachronism. In the European Union - which Cyprus joined in 2004 - there is no need for guarantor powers, above all not from third countries, such as Turkey, which is not an EU member.So how do the respective communities feel? Surveys show them greatly divided, with almost 90 per cent of Turkish Cypriots favouring Turkey remaining a guarantor power. Nearly the same number of Greek Cypriots think the opposite.The current indications are that a final resolution is not to be expected in this phase of talks. The Greek and Turkish foreign ministers, respectively Nikos Kotzias and Mevlut Cavusoglu, met late Friday in New York to discuss the Cyprus issues. Afterwards, Kotzias commented: "We have not come closer together."Moreover, even if the politicians should somehow reach agreement, the Cyprus issue would not yet be resolved. The two ethnic groups will first have to be informed of any - extremely complicated - agreement and new constitution, and then vote their approval or disapproval in separate referendums.A similar plan that the UN worked out in 2004 failed when Greek Cypriots rejected it. They were not convinced that Turkey, which maintains 35,000 soldiers in the north, would carry through on the plan.
President Joe Biden was first briefed last week about the classified documents detailing plans of Ukraines spring military offensive, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday, but officials still do not know whether the leak has been contained.

We dont know. We truly dont, Kirby told reporters during the White House press briefing when asked whether there was an ongoing threat.

The documents, some which appeared to be doctored, began circulating online as early as March, and were recirculated in April on an array of social media sites including Discord, Twitter and Telegram.

The documents included material outlining Ukraines readiness, training capabilities and death tolls on the battlefield. After reviewing the documents that hit social media in April, POLITICO found that the section detailing death tolls had been altered to show a significantly higher number of Ukrainian deaths.

We know that some of [the documents] have been doctored, Kirby said on Monday, but noted that officials were still working through the validity of all the documents that we know are out there.

Its unclear who obtained the documents and who first circulated them online. On Monday, Kirby said it was also unclear whether more documents are out there.

We dont know whos behind this. We dont know what the motive is. And  we dont know what else might be out there, Kirby said. This is information that has no business in the public domain.
Don Winslow Courtesy Image

Crime novelist Don Winslow is the best-selling author of the Cartel trilogy and Savages. His new novel, City of Dreams  book two in a planned trilogy  chronicles the aftermath of a bloody war between rival New England criminal empires.

The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler (1953)

If there was ever a better private eye novel written than this one ... well, there never has been. Raymond Chandler defined the noir hero for us: "Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean." I have that quote taped to my desk. It has guided me for many a protagonist, including Danny Ryan in my current trilogy. Buy it here.

The Road Home by Jim Harrison (1998)

Perhaps the most underrated American novel, it belongs on a shelf with Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Hemingway, and Twain. It's the story of a family on the plains of western Nebraska, its relationship with Native Americans, and its struggles to come to grips with history. Complex, beautiful, and powerful. Buy it here.

The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins (1970)

Maybe the best crime novel ever written, certainly one of the most realistic. This story of a small-time New England criminal takes on the proportions of an epic tragedy. The setting is real, the characters are real, the dialogue is superb and memorable, and it's one of the rare great novels also made into a great film. Buy it here.

Middlemarch by George Eliot (1871)

I reread Eliot's classic while writing my own trilogy because I wanted to study how the greats handled large themes and multiple characters over the course of years. What Eliot does, maybe better than anyone, is to observe her characters with both keen, unyielding perception and also with compassion. Buy it here.

Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo (1993)

Another writer who belongs in the American pantheon. His writing flows like the rivers that often run through his fictional towns. Russo captures small-town life perfectly, without ever resorting to stereotypes or calling attention to his wonderful way with words. Buy it here.

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When the Sacred Ginmill Closes by Lawrence Block (1986)

Lawrence Block has been such an influence on my work. Such a stylist, such a gritty poet. And what a first line: "The windows at Morrissey's were painted black." I once sat next to Block at a book event for two hours and was too much in awe to speak to him. And I'm still in awe. Buy it here.

This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.

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WASHINGTON  Donald Trump appealed a federal judge's order Monday that former Vice President Mike Pence provide information to a grand jury investigating the former president's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung confirmed the filing to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and criticized the Justice Departments handling of the special counsel investigations against the former president.

The DOJ is continuously stepping far outside the standard norms in attempting to destroy the long accepted, long held, Constitutionally based standards of attorney-client privilege and executive privilege," Cheung said. "The Special Counsel is conducting a witch-hunt where the government has sought to violate every Constitutional norm, including the safeguards that protect a Presidents ability to confer with his Vice President on matters of the security of the United States."

Trump's appeal came after U.S. Chief District Judge James "Jeb" Boasberg ordered Pence to testify in a sealed proceeding. The appeals court set a deadline of May 25 for Trump's written arguments in the case.

Pence, who stood up to Trump's pressure, is a key witness

Former Vice President Mike Pence gives remarks at the Calvin Coolidge Foundation's conference at the Library of Congress on Feb. 16.

Pence is potentially one of the most significant witnesses in Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith's investigation of Trump's role in the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, because he was key to a strategy to reject Electoral College votes that Congress was counting.

Pence declined to appeal. He considered whether to appeal, but Boasberg's sealed decision ordering him to testify shielded him from answering some questions under the Constitution's speech-and-debate clause in his role as president of the Senate.

Trump has argued conversations with Pence and other top aides should remain confidential under executive privilege. But courts have so far ruled against him. A similar challenge continues to play out in the charges of contempt of Congress against former trade aide Peter Navarro.

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Pence won't appeal request to testify: Mike Pence will not appeal DOJ special counsel subpoena for testimony in Trump investigation

Pence was key to Trump's strategy but refused to participate on Jan. 6

Pence was key to Trump's strategy, according to witnesses who testified before the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack.

The strategy mapped out by Trump lawyer John Eastman called for Pence, in his role as president of the Senate, to reject electors from seven contested states that President Joe Biden won. Pence could then either accept alternate electors who supported Trump or send the contest to the House, where a majority of state delegations supported Trump.

Pence refused to participate. He fled the Senate chamber ahead of a mob that erected a gallows outside the Capitol and chanted, Hang Mike Pence.

Trump has denied wrongdoing in the Capitol attack and criticized the special counsel investigation as a partisan hoax.

There is neither factual nor legal basis or substance to any case against President Trump," Cheung said. "The deranged Democrats and their comrades in the mainstream media are corrupting the legal process and weaponizing the justice system in order to manipulate and influence an election in which President Trump is dominating all across the board.

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Pence testimony could undercut Trump

In this image released in the final report by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, President Donald Trump talks on the phone to Vice President Mike Pence from the Oval Office of the White House on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021.

In testimony before the House committee that investigated the attack, Pence aides described how Trump pressured and scolded his vice president.

Greg Jacob, Pences general counsel, testified that Trump called Pence the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, and the two had a heated exchange. Jacob said Pence took the call privately but returned looking steely, determined, grim.

After evacuating the Senate chamber, Pence refused to get in a Secret Service car in an underground parking garage because he worried it would carry him away from the Capitol rather than finish the Electoral College vote count that night.

Pence didnt want to take the chance the world would see the vice president of the United States fleeing the Capitol, Jacob said.

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Greg Jacob, former counsel to Vice President Mike Pence (left) and J. Michael Luttig, retired judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and informal advisor to Mike Pence before the start of the House select committee to investigate the Jan.6th attack on the Capitol on June 16, 2022.

'No precedent' for Pence to intervene

Michael Luttig, a retired federal appellate judge who was influential in conservative circles, said he offered Pence advice that there was no historical precedent for the vice president to reject Electoral College votes.

Sarah Matthews, a former deputy press secretary in the White House, said Trumps tweet at 2:24 p.m.  after he evacuated the Senate chamber  fueled the angry crowd.

I think that in that moment for him to tweet out that message about Mike Pence, it was him pouring gasoline on the fire and making it much worse, Matthews said.

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The 2024 campaign looms

J. Michael Luttig, retired judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and informal advisor to Mike Pence before testifying on June 16, 2022 before the House select committee to investigate the Jan. 6th attack on the Capitol.

The prospect of grand jury testimony comes at an awkward time for Pence as he considers a run for the presidency in 2024.

Trump and his allies still criticize Pence for refusing to follow the demand that he simply toss out electoral votes favorable to Biden and simply hand the election to the incumbent president.

At the same time, anti-Trump Republicans say Pence has exhibited too much fealty to the former president, including his attempts to avoid testimony before the grand jury.

Pence has criticized Trump for ordering him to discount electoral votes, but stopped short of saying the former president acted illegally.

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Pence: 'President Trump was wrong'

During a press dinner in March, Pence repeated his statement that "President Trump was wrong" and "I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable."

Trump slammed the Justice Department inquiry, claiming the special counsel was "stepping far outside the standard norms" in pursuing Pence's testimony.

There is no factual or legal basis or substance to any case against President Trump," a campaign spokesperson said, echoing the former president's repeated claim that the justice system was being "weaponized" against him.

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Trump doorman story: Indictment details $30,000 payment to doorman who claimed he had info on a child

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump fights to stop Mike Pence testimony about Jan 6 Capitol riot
Lori Vallow Daybell is on trial in Boise, Idaho, for her alleged role in the deaths of her 16-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan; her 7-year-old adopted son, Joshua "JJ" Vallow; and her husband's first wife, Tammy Daybell. She had pleaded not guilty.

The trial, which is expected to last up to 10 weeks, started on Monday, April 10, after a week of jury selection that saw dozens of potential jurors dismissed, many for being too familiar with details of the case or having already formed an opinion. A jury of 10 men and eight women will hear the case.

The first week of the trial has seen some emotional moments, with multiple witnesses moved to tears on the stand and JJ Vallow's grandfather openly weeping in the courtroom as he listened to testimony. Witnesses have described finding the bodies of JJ and Tylee as well as Vallow Daybell's religious beliefs.

The trial had been delayed in part because Vallow Daybell had been committed, but a judge ruled last year she was mentally competent to stand trial.

A timeline of events in the Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell case Where can you watch a livestream?

Due to a ruling by Judge Steven Boyce, who is presiding over the trial, there is no live video or audio of the trial. To see the trial, you have be there in person  and get a reservation for a seat in the courtroom or one of two overflow rooms a day ahead of time. For the first day of trial, the 60 seats available were reportedly reserved within two minutes.

You can listen to each day's testimony, which the court releases at the end of each day, on CBS News' YouTube channel.

CBS News correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti and "48 Hours" producers offer trial recaps and analysis in a weekly podcast. You can listen to "Inside the Lori Vallow Daybell Trial" on the "48 Hours" YouTube Channel.

Who are the people involved?

Lori Vallow Daybell, 49, had a daughter, Tylee Ryan, from a previous relationship when she married Charles Vallow, her fourth husband, in 2006. In 2012, the two adopted then 2-year-old Joshua, whose biological father was Vallow's nephew  the son of his sister, Kay Woodcock. Joshua, known as JJ, had autism, and by all accounts he and his sister Tylee were close.

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Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, now 54, met in 2018. The Vallows separated the following year, with Charles Vallow filing for divorce. He said in the divorce filing that his wife had threatened to murder him.

Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell / Credit: Kay Woodcock/Facebook

"She threatened me, murder me, kill me," he told police in a conversation captured on video, "48 Hours" reported.

Charles Vallow was killed in 2019, shot in an altercation with Vallow Daybell's brother, Alex Cox, in Arizona, where the Vallow family  including JJ and Tylee  and Cox were living at the time. Soon after, Vallow Daybell and her children moved to Idaho.

Later that year, Tammy Daybell, the wife of Chad Daybell and the mother of his five children, died at the Daybell's home in Idaho of what officials initially said were natural causes but later said was suspicious.

Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow married in Hawaii two weeks later, on Nov. 5, 2019.

What happened to Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow?

The last time anyone saw Tylee Ryan was in September 2019, when the family took a trip to Yellowstone National Park. JJ Vallow's biological grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, said that the last time they spoke to the 7-year-old was in August.

Kay Woodcock asked police in Rexburg, Idaho, to check on JJ in November  but Vallow Daybell told police he was in Arizona with a family friend. The friend, Melanie Gibb, told police she had not seen JJ for months.

By December, police and the FBI were searching for 16-year-old Tylee and 7-year-old JJ. The hunt continued even as police arrested Vallow Daybell in Hawaii on two felony counts related to the missing children and three other misdemeanors. She was extradited to Idaho.

The search continued into 2020, when police executed a search warrant on Daybell's property in Rexburg, Idaho. There, they found human remains, later identified as JJ and Tylee  his, duct-taped and in red pajamas, and hers, badly burned.

Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow and Lori Vallow. / Credit: Tylee Ryan/Instagram

What are Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell charged with?



Both Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell are charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the children's deaths. Vallow Daybell is also charged with grand theft, a felony, allegedly for collecting Social Security benefits on behalf of her children, including those Tylee was receiving because of her father's death.

While Daybell could face the death penalty, the judge ruled Vallow Daybell would not face capital punishment if convicted in the deaths of the children.

Vallow Daybell is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Tammy Daybell.

Both have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In a separate case in Arizona, she is charged with conspiring to murder her late husband, Charles Vallow.

Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell

What are the prosecution and defense saying?

The prosecution is arguing that Vallow Daybell wanted, as Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake said in her opening statement, "money, power and sex," and wouldn't let anything stand in her way. Blake also argued that Vallow Daybell and her husband used their religious beliefs to try to persuade those around them not to question their actions and even to justify murder.

Vallow Daybell's defense is arguing that jurors must focus on what evidence shows Vallow Daybell did, not what her husband or brother may have done. Defense attorney John Archibald told jurors that people get to choose their religious beliefs, and that Vallow Daybell was with other people in her apartment when JJ and Tylee were murdered, and in Hawaii when Tammy Daybell died.



Why isn't Chad Daybell on trial?

Both Vallow Daybell's and Daybell's lawyers asked the court to separate the cases, originally set to go to trial in January. Daybell waived his right to a speedy trial, and a judge granted the request, so his will happen at a later date. While not yet scheduled, his lawyers initially asked for it to be pushed back to the fall of 2023.

Why is Lori Vallow Daybell called the "doomsday mom" and how does religion play a part in the case?



Both Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church. Daybell owned a religious publishing company, and his own writing focused on fringe beliefs, including what he said were his own near-death experiences and the end times.

Vallow Daybell, friends said, was increasingly convinced that doomsday is around the corner. As part of that belief, she said people's bodies  including, JJ, Tylee and Charles Vallow  were possessed by evil spirits, turning them into "zombies," former friend April Raymond told "48 Hours."

"Part of her mission on Earth was to eliminate the darkness, the demonic  the evil," Raymond said.

Daybell had a religious-focused podcast, on which Vallow Daybell appeared. The two also held gatherings of people who shared their increasingly fervent beliefs: "48 Hours" reported Vallow Daybell believed she was chosen to lead the 144,000 people who would survive the end times. Her late husband told police she believed she was "a resurrected being  a god," "48 Hours" reported.

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Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Ada County Sheriff's Office

After nearly four years and a winding investigation involving doomsday prepping extremism and several suspicious deaths, Idaho mother Lori Vallow stood trial on Monday for the murders of two of her children and plotting to slay her husbands ex-wife.

Prosecutors wasted no time arguing to a jury that the 49-year-old was driven to murder because of money, power, and sex.

Thats what this case is about, Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake said in her opening statements on Monday, arguing that Vallow used those three tools and the promise of those things to get what she wanted.

In a packed Ada County Courthouse, Blake argued that Vallow and her husband, Chad Daybellwho were fueled by their doomsday-focused religious beliefsare responsible for the September 2019 disappearance and death of her two children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua JJ Vallow. Months later, prosecutors allege, the couple conspired to kill Daybells first wife, Tammy, for insurance and social security funds.

Lori wanted [Daybell] all to herself, Blake said.

Doomsday Mom Goes on Trial. Will She Turn on Her Guru Hubby?

Vallow has pleaded not guilty to several charges, including murder and conspiracy, in connection with the deaths of her children and the conspiracy to kill Daybells first wife in October 2020. If convicted, Vallow faces a maximum sentence of life in prison after Judge Steven Boyce ruled against the death penalty last month. Daybell, whose trial will be scheduled after Vallows is completed, may face the death penalty.

Seated next to one of her lawyers at the defense table and wearing a black blazer and her signature dark lipstick, Vallow did not show any noticeable emotion as prosecutors walked jurors through their case. Behind her in the gallery sat several family members, including JJs grandparents, Larry and Kay Woodcock.

Defense lawyers insisted on Monday there is no evidence to support the prosecutions case, painting Vallow as a good mother and loving wife who got sucked into religious extremism after meeting Daybell.

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She believes in life after death and that she will see her deceased family again, Vallows lawyer Jim Archibald said during opening statements on Monday.

Prosecutors beg to differ, walking jurors through the years-long saga and offering new details on the murders that spurred nationwide attention and a Netflix documentary.

This case actually starts in October of 2018, when Lori Vallow met Chad Daybell for the first time, Blake said, adding that the pair were both at a religious conference. Daybell, a former gravedigger, was the author of apocalyptic novels aimed at Mormonsand Vallow had been a long devoted fan of his work.

Blake said that during this meeting, Daybell and Vallow realized that not only did they share the same religious beliefsbut that they had been married in a past life and were meant to be together. The pair then designated themselves as the biblical figures James and Elena, and Vallow then allegedly moved any obstacle in her way to get what she want[ed] and she wanted Chad Daybell.

Kay Woodcock, the first to testify for the prosecution, told jurors on Monday that Vallow started behaving more erratically after meeting Daybellprompting her husband to think about divorce. Brandon Boudreaux, who was formerly married to Vallows niece, also testified on Monday about the moms extreme religious views.

Police first declared JJ and Tylee missing in December 2019, after several family members reported they had not seen the children in months.

Court documents state that Tylee was last seen on a Sept. 8 trip to Yellowstone National Park with Vallow and her brother, Alex Cox. Around that time, prosecutors say, Vallow had told her friends and family that Tylee had become darkand that if a person had turned dark they would become a zombie.

You will hear about a rating system of light and dark, Blake told the jury, adding that Vallow told others that with the help of Chad, she could rate people as light and dark. Pretty soon this system evolved.

Blake says that Tylees younger half-brother, JJ, was seen days later when Vallows friends visited their Idaho home.

Doomsday Couple Allegedly Murdered Threeand Justified It With Religious Beliefs

Prosecutors allege that the kids were killed around Sept. 22, 2019, and buried at Daybells Idaho farm. JJ, who was found buried in a pet cemetery, was wrapped in a garbage bag, with duct tape around his head and farms. His older sister was dismembered and buried in a fire pit nearby, Blake said. Prosecutors allege that Cox also helped in the disposal of the bodies.

You will hear it described as a mass of bone and tissue. Thats what was left of this beautiful young woman, Blake said about Tylee. The defendants daughter. Her DNA was found on a pick ax and a shovel later located on a shed on Chad's property.

The trial will also focus on the death of Daybells first wife, Tammy, who perished in her Idaho home on Oct. 19, 2019. Prosecutors allege that before her death, which was originally ruled as being the result of natural causes, Daybell increased her insurance policy.

Investigators eventually exhumed Tammys body in 2021 after learning that Daybell and Vallow had married days after her deathwhen the children were already missing. Blake on Monday revealed that Tammy died at the hands of another and died of asphyxiation.

They were dancing and celebrating their wedding in Hawaii while JJ and Tylee were cold on the ground and Tammy had just barely died, Blake said.

Prosecutors note that Vallow initially claimed that the children were living with relatives in Arizona. The pair then refused to leave Hawaii, cooperate with authorities, and explain the whereabouts of the missing children.

The missing children, the sudden death of Tammy, the quick marriage of Chad and the defendant left so many questions for those still grieving the loss of Tammy and those still wondering 24/7 about the whereabouts of the children, Blake said.

After months of investigation, Vallow was finally arrested in Hawaii in February 2020.

Vallow is also separately facing conspiracy to commit murder charges in Arizona in connection with the July 2019 death of her previous husband, Charles. Authorities say that Charles Vallow was fatally shot by Cox, who later claimed self-defense. Cox died of a blood clot on December 12, 2019.

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Tropical rainfall is in the offing for most of Florida and the Gulf Coast this week as a new weather pattern begins to unfold over the southeastern United States. AccuWeather forecasters say the pattern will continue into the coming weeks and say the first dose of rain could be heavy enough to disrupt travel and will be accompanied by hazardous winds in some areas.

"A strong area of high pressure holding in the mid-Atlantic for the first half of the week will create an east-to-west wind flow across Florida and into the Gulf Coast," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.

An excess amount of moisture will combine with a nearby storm and push across much of Florida, bringing rounds of showers and thunderstorms through Monday night. As of 9 p.m. EDT Monday, Plantation, Florida, outside of Fort Lauderdale, recorded 6.43 inches of rainfall during the day. Just south of Fort Lauderdale in Hollywood, Florida, 4.67 inches of rainfall accumulated into Monday evening. Rainfall totals were highly variable, however, with Fort Lauderdale Airport receiving 1.32 inches of rain on Monday, and Miami receiving 2.46 inches.

Any rain will be welcomed in Florida, which has faced extended dry spells since the start of 2023. Nearly two-thirds of Florida is dealing with drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

In addition to the rain, a gusty breeze is expected on the Atlantic coast of Florida. The stiff easterly breeze will create hazards for beachgoers this week.

Coastal flooding is also a concern into Wednesday morning for communities along the central coast, from Stuart to Daytona Beach, Florida. The onshore winds in these areas could lead to flooding issues, especially at times of high tide into midweek.

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This time of year, AccuWeather meteorologists are always closely monitoring any storms that move through the Gulf of Mexico. Historically, April is not a busy month in terms of tropical activity. However, given the right weather pattern and atmospheric conditions, a pre-season tropical system can occasionally form in this area.

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Last week, AccuWeather meteorologists believed that a tropical depression or subtropical storm could form in this zone during the second week of April, but that it was a long shot. The chances of a tropical or subtropical system spinning up have now further diminished.

"This week, the conditions in the northern Gulf of Mexico do not favor tropical development," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "The water is not quite warm enough, and the storm will not spend enough time over the Gulf before moving ashore."

AccuWeather released the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season forecast at the end of March. AccuWeather's team of tropical weather experts warns that Florida could be at risk for more tropical strikes this year.

As the week progresses, the area of high pressure will shift eastward to the coast of the Carolinas. As a result, it will alter the wind direction across the Gulf Coast and move the storm over Florida into the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico. This shift will also direct much of the moisture to the central Gulf Coast.

The heaviest rain from through Wednesday night is expected to center on southeast Louisiana, eastward through the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama. In this zone, widespread rainfall amounts of 0.50-1 inch, with localized reports of around 2 inches, are expected. In the areas of heaviest rain, most likely to the south of New Orleans, totals closer to 4 inches cannot be ruled out.

Any area hit with more than one or two downpours in a short period of time may also be susceptible to flash flooding.

Motorists should monitor these pockets of heavier rain, as downpours may bring reduced visibility as well as ponding on roadways. Those traveling along the Interstate 10 corridor could encounter some delays with these rounds of rain into Wednesday.

Many cities expected to receive rain this week are going through a stretch of relatively dry weather. Abnormally dry conditions have been reported in cities like Houston, Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida, since the start of meteorological spring on March 1. As a result, these areas could use a dose of rain.

New Orleans has also been experiencing a rainfall deficit in recent weeks. During March, only 2.15 inches of rain fell in the city, about 50% of the historical average for the month. Through the first 11 days of April, only 0.43 of an inch of rain has been recorded. The dry stretch has left New Orleans in a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

"As the week progresses, the moisture is expected to push back east, allowing for more of Florida to get in on the wet weather," Roys explained.

On Thursday, drenching thunderstorms are expected to shift back into parts of Alabama, Florida and Georgia, bringing much-needed rain to many areas.

A number of the storms may evolve from heavy and gusty to locally severe with the potential for damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes and/or waterspouts, especially during the afternoon and evening hours on Thursday.

Unlike many of the other storms to traverse the southeastern U.S. recently, this round of wet weather is not expected to bring widespread severe weather. Still, a few thunderstorms may produce gusty winds Wednesday or Thursday afternoon. An isolated and brief tornado could even occur, mainly along the immediate Gulf Coast.

Another front is set to sweep through the eastern half of the country Friday and into the weekend, bringing yet another opportunity for rain in the Southeast. AccuWeather meteorologists will continue to monitor the potential for severe weather as the week comes to a close.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
"Ru Paul's Drag Race All Stars" at the Empire State Building

Eureka O'Hara in NYC, on June 24, 2021. Credit - Mark PetersonRedux

I really want us to go to this bar called New Beginnings, my high school friend, Kay, said to me one day.

I was 16 years old growing up in Bristol, Tennessee in the early aughts, and truth be told, I didnt realize it was a gay bar until we were almost at the venue. I freaked out, but looking back on it now, I was very lucky. It was the first time I saw queer people just being themselves. Until then, I only ever really saw a couple of gay guys at school, or maybe one that I had worked with previously, and they were consistently bullied. And I certainly didnt want that.

After we showed our fake IDs and made our way into the bar, I sat down in the corner.

Whats wrong?, Kay asked. Nothing. I just want to check it out, I said nervously. Kay and I had previously had conversations circling around me being gaythose awkward conversations you tend to have when youre youngbut never got too deep about it. Now, here we were, in this gay bar, and I was terrified.

Suddenly, I heard a super flamboyant, loud voice coming over the speaker: Welcome to the stage the amazing Jacqueline St. Jamesand this big, beautiful woman with a high, brown ponytail, so much makeup, and big boobs walks out. As soon as she peeled the corner, she flung her giant coat, and the whole room filled with the smell of her Bob Mackie perfume. She stepped out on the stage, and as soon as the light hit her, I was just like, What is that? There was something so powerful about the confidence she had the beauty and glamour. I never felt so seen and so safe to be myself. I thought, If this person can do all of that, then Im okay being me. It was an overwhelming idea. In fact, Jacqueline later came out as trans and became my drag mother, as I began to do drag (and later, when I came out as trans myself). Drag queens, after all, have a way of sticking together.

More from TIME

Read More: A Weekend With a Memphis Drag Queen as Tennessee Tries to Restrict Her Art

Story continues

I grew up in a household with many women (my mother, my two sisters, and my grandmother), and from a very early age, I always felt different from the men in my family. I was hyper feminine but was taught to be ashamed of my femininity. I swished, sashayed, and was sassy before I even knew that thats what I was doing. Above all, I loved glamour, and always looked to my mother for inspiration. She was my saving grace. Being a single mother, she worked 12-hours days, seven days a week sometimes, at a factory job. But when it was time for her to go out, she was very glamorous. My mother had very curly, poofy 80s hair, eye liner, and did glamour shots. And because we didnt have a whole lot growing up, I loved all of that. I just loved how pretty it all washow shiny, rich, and important. The only thing I didnt understand is why everyone else didnt want to be as pretty as I wanted to be.

After seeing Jacqueline perform, I started going out and transforming into a little queer kid. I was hanging out with all the drag queens at New Beginnings and was immediately backstage. I would take queens to their gigs and help them dress. If they wanted a ride to their next job and it was an hour away, I didnt care. I needed to be as close to this as humanly possible.

When I was about 17, I expressed the interest in doing drag myself and Serena Nox, a queen from East Tennessee, offered to do my makeup and give me a little cocktail dress for my first show. I paid her $50 to do my makeup, and even though I wore a size 14-inch heel at the time, I found size 12 slingbacks and taped them with metallic silver duct tape from my feet all the way up to my thighs. It was like I had silver metallic boots on, but my heel was in the middle of my foot.

I felt gorgeous. I felt fierce, and you couldnt tell me I wasnt everything. It was almost like I had this artistic mask on and felt so brave, talking to people in a way I never knew I really could and being celebrated by everyone around me. I was obsessed; I just kept begging Serena to do it again, and after a while, she agreed to put me in her talent show.

I was so nervous. I walked out into the middle of the stage with a purse on my arm and stood in one spot and barely lip-synced. Even still, the whole crowd cheered so loudly saying, You got it, Eureka! I had never felt this way in my life. I had never felt so loved by the people around me. That was the first time I realized that I was a likable person that people actually liked me for me.

Its so important to feel seen and supported when youre young and coming to terms with yourself. I speak from personal experience: I was so insecure with who I was because I just didnt have anyone like me growing up. I always felt so traumatized by my existence because I was being taught, weekly, in church that I was going to burn in hell. The fear of thaton top of the people like my father, my uncles, my cousins, even my sister treating me like theres something wrong with mewas very scarring. As much as I was lucky to find a place to express myself that early, that trauma stuck with me. I didnt really know what it was then, but I felt I could have avoided it if there would have been more visibility or more people that I could have looked up to.

Thats why the proposed ban on public drag in Tennessee breaks my heart so much. When I first heard that Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee was signing the bill, I got so emotional that I cried. I thought back to the time when I went to my first Pride event in Roanoke, Virginia. There was outdoor dragin public, out in the light, not just in this gay bar I was sneaking to in high school every night. I was performing at it too, and it was just so celebratory. Those events and moments are so important, especially for queer youth, because where else are they going to safely and legally experience the therapy and the beauty of seeing their community thriving in all their glory.

Queer youth need to see that theyre not alone, but often, dont have anywhere to be in community with each other, or even spend time with their allies that are showing them that diversity exists. Whats even worse is that the parental decision to show the richness of queer culture is being taken away, too. Politicians like Lee are so busy demonizing and sexualizing our existence that they also instill fear in people that are actually trying to figure themselves out. Its a scare tactic that is meant to erase us, not keep us safe.

Drag is not meant to be serious. But the false accusations of harm done to children and the blatant disregard for who we are is very serious. Thats why we do dragits an expression and a statement of our existence. It serves as a constant reminder that, in spite of the old morality codes that tell us what we cant be and the hardships that we have gone through for self-determination, we can still celebrate what makes us beautiful. Thats where the power lies.

 As told to Rachel Sonis
When Briana Driskells quintuplets were 11 months old, she marked their first Easter with an at-home photoshoot.

I dont know what I was thinking, the Kentucky mom tells TODAY.com. We put each of them in a big bucket and scattered plastic eggs all around them. The whole thing took like, two hours because they were trying to climb out  and there was a lot of crying."

But the pictures came out really cute! she adds.

This year, Zoey, Dakota, Hollyn, Asher, and Gavin, who are nearly 6, celebrated the holiday with eggs hunts and lots of chocolate.

Its a different kind of chaos now, Briana, 35, says. Now, its He got the color egg I wanted! and I didnt get this candy, and she did.'"

They were tackling each other to get to those eggs, dad Jordan Driskell, 32, says. It was every man for himself.

Jordan notes that despite a little sibling rivalry, the kindergarteners are the best of friends. The boys love sharing a room and so do the girls, he says.

They always have someone to play with, Jordan says. We just love watching them enjoying life together. Its pretty special.

How does this turn into this?!  #glowup Posted by Jordan Driskell on Sunday, April 9, 2023

Briana and Jordan struggled for more than two years to conceive before welcoming their five babies in 2017.

It was the worst emotional rollercoaster Ive ever been on in my life, Briana told TODAY that year. Wed start the month out trying to be optimistic, like, This is it! Its going to happen this time, then it would come time to test and, once again, it would be negative.

Finally, after their fifth fertility treatment, the Driskells saw two pink lines.

We got a baby for each time we tried! Briana joked.

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This article was originally published on TODAY.com
A 7-year-old girl crossing Highway 101 alone at night died after being run over by several vehicles, California officials told news outlets.

The girl was hit at about 11 p.m. Friday, April 7, near the Monterey County community of Prunedale, the California Highway Patrol told KSBW.

The girl, dressed in black, walked in front of a Nissan whose driver tried to swerve but could not avoid striking her, highway patrol told the station. Several other vehicles also struck her.

Eliana Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene, KION reported. Her family told the station she had autism and had gotten out of her nearby home after her father fell asleep.

A GoFundMe established for the familys expenses said Elianas mother died six months ago.

Prunedale is a city of 19,000 people about 100 miles south of San Francisco.

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The Biden administration is asking a judge to clarify how the federal government is supposed to comply with Fridays dueling court orders on the abortion pill mifepristone, even as Justice Department lawyers move to have one of those decisions put on ice.

One ruling, from a conservative judge in Amarillo, Texas, essentially invalidated the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the drug. The other ruling, issued about 20 minutes later by a liberal judge in Spokane, Wash., directed the FDA to maintain access to it in much of the country. Mifepristone is used in more than half of all abortions nationwide and is also used to manage miscarriages.

The two rulings appear to be in significant tension, the Justice Department told the Washington-based judge, Thomas Rice, on Monday. DOJ asked Rice to clarify the governments obligations in light of the conflict.

Also on Monday, DOJ and a drug company that makes mifepristone asked a federal appeals court to freeze the ruling of the Texas-based judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk. He has put his ruling on hold until this Friday, but the government and the drug company want the appeals court to keep it on hold while they pursue their appeals.



The legal turmoil caused by the rival decisions may ultimately need to be resolved by the Supreme Court, which eliminated the constitutional right to abortion 10 months ago.

Kacsmaryk, an appointee of President Donald Trump, acted in a lawsuit filed by anti-abortion medical groups that claimed the FDA broke the law when it approved mifepristone for abortion in 2000 and recently expanded access to the drug.

Kacsmaryks ruling appears to be the first time that a court has invalidated an FDA drug approval. If the ruling takes effect, selling the drug would become a criminal offense nationwide.

The Justice Department immediately appealed Kacsmaryks ruling on Friday night, even as some prominent Democrats  and at least one Republican  called on the administration to ignore the ruling. The administration suggested that step is premature and signaled that it would work through the appeals process for now.



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It did just that on Monday, following up its notice of appeal with a 49-page emergency motion asking the conservative-leaning 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to keep the ruling on hold.

If allowed to take effect, DOJ said in its motion, Kacsmaryks ruling will irreparably harm patients, healthcare systems, and businesses.

In a similar filing, drug maker Danco, which produces the brand-name version of mifepristone, called Kacsmaryks ruling an extreme outlier and contended he bent every rule to reach it. The company also said that Rices ruling indicates that Kacsmaryks decision went too far and should be blocked.

The public is understandably confused by these two orders, issued the same day, the companys lawyers wrote. Staying the nationwide injunction that alters the status quo would avoid creating an unnecessary judicial conflict.

The 5th Circuit gave the anti-abortion groups who brought the lawsuit against the FDA until midnight Central Time on Tuesday to respond to the requests from the Justice Department and Danco to block Kacsmaryks order while the appeals are heard.

Rice, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, issued his ruling in a case brought against the FDA by blue-state attorneys general who want to further loosen the agencys restrictions on how mifepristone can be dispensed. Rice ordered the FDA to maintain current access to the drug in 17 states and the District of Columbia, the plaintiffs in the case.

Technically, the two rulings may not be incompatible. Kacsmaryks ruling is framed as a stay of the FDAs approval of mifepristone  an order that would subject Danco and others to a risk of criminal liability but does not actually direct the FDA to do anything. So, its possible that the agency could comply with both by doing nothing at all.

But the rulings have created sufficient uncertainty that the Justice Department asked Rice on Monday to fast-track the governments request for clarification about how the two rulings interact.

Officials from 17 states backing the case in Spokane told Rice in a filing Monday evening there was no need for him to clarify his order or to accelerate the proceedings. They also pointed out that DOJ's brief motion was short on suggestions about what sort of revision or clarification the judge should offer.

"This Courts order was crystal clear," the blue-state attorneys general wrote. "Defendants motion gives the Court little to consider and nothing to rule on."
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Hundreds of congregants dressed in white packed into Olive Branch Church for Easter morning service Sunday, but for many, the joyful greetings were followed by anxious chatter over the ouster of state Rep. Justin Jones after he protested gun control measures in the Tennessee House.

The church sits within Jones district, and celebrations of the holy day were intertwined with frustration for many of his former constituents, who say he was simply trying to protect them from the accessibility to guns Tennessee law allows.

It is not OK that we cant even go to church or go to school or go to get a carton of eggs without worrying about not coming home, said Angela Hilt, 53, an Olive Branch congregant who voted for Jones. We elected him to take a stand because he told us: I am going to take a stand for you. I am here to represent you. I feel like what he did was an absolute representation of what we the people expected.

For Hilt, an Army veteran, along with many others, gun control had long been a pressing issue within their community, and the Covenant School shooting, where a former student gunned down six people last month, came as another reminder of the need for commonsense legislation.

Republican legislators voted Thursday to expel Jones, along with Justin J. Pearson, over their protests on the chamber floor, arguing that they had broken the rules of the House. A vote to expel a third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, fell short.

Jones and Pearson are Black. Johnson is white.

In the March 30 demonstration, the three legislators  dubbed the Tennessee Three  had led supporters in calling for stricter gun safety measures after the Covenant School shooting.

Pastor Vincent Windrow, who shepherds Olive Branch, one of the districts largest churches, said Jones had visited the church in the past and spoken with congregants who, as Windrow was, were thrilled when he took his seat.

It is the people who voted them [Jones and Pearson] in. They were not appointed by their contemporaries. The people voted them in because of the causes that they spoke up for, he said.

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In his sermon Sunday, Windrow, in a gleaming white robe, spoke about the value and celebration of life.

Windrow said Jones understood his community and the challenges, including gun control.

A lot of mass shootings have taken place, and those are tragedies, but there are also everyday tragedies because of the lack of gun control, he said. People in this church have lost loved ones. People have lost husbands and wives, and there have been innocent bystanders who simply live in a particular part of town and because of the lack of gun control  because I believe the lack of compassion that our politicians can have sometimes towards the common man is disheartening.

Windrow said Jones was speaking on behalf of his constituents because he understands their fears and struggles.

Its just so crucial that people use their platform for the powerless, for those who have no voice, so that their concerns can be spoken to. And if you remove the person who was able to speak to their concerns, then you render those people even more powerless, he said.

Tennessee has one of the weakest gun laws in the country, and it had the 10th-highest gun death rate and the 19th-highest gun export rate, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

The state does not require background checks, gun owner licensing or waiting periods, and it has no red flag laws, among other rules for gun owners.

The state also does not require reporting of lost or stolen firearms, leaving the city with untracked weapons. From 2020 to 2021, there was a 35% increase in guns stolen from vehicles in Nashville, and more than 70% of all guns reported stolen in 2021 were taken from vehicles, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

Its like the Wild West out there, congregant Duncan Chip Motley, 65, said Sunday. Motley and his wife, Brenda, hosted a campaign event for Jones at their home last year, and he said Jones has always been fighting for gun control.

Thats who he is. Thats all he talked about. This is not a show, Motley said.

Brenda Motley, 59, said Jones was fighting for those who elected him.

Were not asking to take your guns away, because thats your right, but have common sense. Put that in place, she said. This is what the people want. The everyday hard-working person in our district wants to be secure in their homes and wants to see their children secure in their schools, and they want to feel that they are protected by the lawmakers who we choose to put in office to do those things.

When they failed to do that, when they tried to shut down someone like Justin who chose to speak up for the people, why are they even there? Not for the people.

Karlton Davidson, 48, another congregant who voted for Jones, holds a gun license and is taking training classes, said it is possible to have a positive relationship to the ability to own a gun.

Were not totally against what we see as reasonable measures. What were against is not having appropriate measures for the types of gun that you can purchase and the training that you need, he said.

Davidson said Jones was articulating his point in a well-rounded way that expressed the issue of reasonable gun laws.

He said he is unhappy. He feels his vote didn't count because the candidate he chose, Jones, won but now is no longer representing him.

"It's an embarrassment to our election process and it's unfortunate that it happened this way," he said. We are going to be negatively impacted by this.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Edel Rodriguez's striking, at times controversial, illustrations of Donald Trump have graced the covers of major publications like Time and Der Spiegel -- and with the indictment of the former president, the artist is back at it.

The Cuban American's latest illustration set for the next edition of Time will run next week in the United States, but it's already been released and shared millions of times.

It features a stark black background on which a fingerprint spirals outwards from the howling mouth of the Republican mogul.

"He's caught in a storm of his own making," Rodriguez says of Trump, speaking from his Victorian home in a bucolic corner of New Jersey.

The image is far from his most controversial: in early 2017, to criticize Trump's decree targeting immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, he published a cover with the German magazine Der Spiegel that showed the then-American president brandishing a knife and holding the bloody, decapitated head of the statue of liberty.

Anti-Trump demonstrators deployed the image at their rallies, but it triggered outrage from some politicians and opinion writers.

- Responsibility versus 'neutrality' -

The 51-year-old artist who left Cuba as a child says his images are intended to stir something in viewers in the face of dangers to democracy.

Rodriguez also does not impose the duty of "neutrality" on himself.

"I understand that you have to maintain a certain neutrality," he says, sitting among a smattering of his illustrations, including on the covers of The New Yorker and the French review America.

"But you always have to ask yourself when is the neutrality going too far, and I felt that being neutral with Trump in 2016 was not the right thing to do, because I could see what was coming."

Rodriguez has depicted Trump like a meteor about to smash Earth, or a child sitting atop a missile with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.

And like other artists, he has also depicted Trump with symbols of the Ku Klux Klan, particularly when the 45th president failed to condemn white supremacist activists who attacked anti-racism demonstrators in Charlottesville in 2017.

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Per Rodriguez, the January 6, 2021, storming of the US Capitol building by Trump supporters lent credence to the notion that danger was brewing and neutrality was moot.

"We were this close to a coup," he says.

Rodriguez's own story feeds his work: as a nine-year-old he fled Fidel Castro's Cuba with his parents.

In a comic book to be published this fall, he recounts his experience with "dictatorship" and the Mariel boat lift of 1980 in which he migrated to Florida, which saw a mass exodus of Cubans.

Rodriguez feels that Trump brought out the worst in people, creating an image of the United States that contrasted with his own experience: "I know how good the people in this country are," he says.

He says he draws inspiration from his family and Cuba but also the work of Picasso, Matisse, or Paul Klee.

In drawing Trump, he uses recurring visual codes, like orange skin, bright yellow hair, an open, yelling mouth, and a lack of eyes.

"These covers that I create don't normalize (him) and they show him as who he is," Rodriguez said.

arb/mdo/sw
Janet Protasiewicz speaks at her election night party in Milwaukee after she defeated former Justice Dan Kelly for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat. (Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

An unabashed abortion rights supporter won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court last week in a stunning 11-point victory over a conservative antiabortion judge. Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewiczs defeat of former state Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly gives the court a liberal majority for the first time in years.

As in other state elections since Roe vs. Wade was overturned last June, voters have turned out when abortion was on the ballot and made it clear they support reproductive rights. That was certainly the case in Wisconsin, where abortion is unavailable except in cases in which the pregnant persons life is in danger. The contentious race, which drew national attention and funding, is considered the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history.

But what also makes it unusual is how partisan this nonpartisan judicial race became. Its not just that Protasiewicz was backed by the Democratic Party and abortion rights groups, or that Kelly, who provided legal advice in the past to Wisconsin Right to Life, was backed by the Republican Party (which he also worked for in 2020) and antiabortion groups. It was notable because Protasiewicz intentionally made her support for abortion rights clear. I think the electorate deserves to know what a persons values are rather than hiding them, she said during the race's only election debate.

Everyone expects the Wisconsin Supreme Court to eventually rule on a lawsuit by the state challenging the legitimacy of an 1849 Wisconsin ban on abortion. One district attorney has threatened to enforce it, and abortion providers have stopped their services for the time being. The state attorney general argues that the ban is superseded by more recent laws allowing abortion.

During the debate, Protasiewicz stated that she could not say how she would vote if that case came before her and that she would base her decision solely on the law and the Constitution. But she took a swipe at her opponent, saying she knew with 100% certainty that if he were elected, he would uphold the ban. Kelly protested, saying that you dont know what Im thinking about that abortion ban.

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Of course, given the candidates histories and the groups supporting them, its probably a safe bet that Protasiewicz will vote to overturn the abortion ban  and that voters knew that when they went to the polls.

Thats not the only high-stakes issue that could come before the state's high court. Law Forward, a Madison-based law firm, is expected to file a lawsuit challenging the states voting maps, arguing that partisan gerrymandering violates the state Constitution. Wisconsin has a Democratic governor and a Republican Legislature  which, as of this recent election, has a supermajority in the state Senate.

Changing those maps could change the composition of the Legislature and lead to, among other things, state laws protecting abortion access  something the Republican-controlled state Legislature has done nothing on "despite the fact that the majority of Wisconsinites are committed to reproductive freedom," said Michelle Velasquez, the director of legal advocacy and services for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin.

It may seem unsettling for a judicial candidate to be honest about their point of view on issues that are at play in future judicial cases. However, in the recent years, we have listened to U.S. Supreme Court nominees coyly deflect any questions about whether they would respect the nearly 50-year-old Roe vs. Wade decision  or, in the case of Brett Kavanaugh, reverentially acknowledge that "it has been reaffirmed many times"  only, once confirmed, to overturn that ruling and take away an established constitutional right.

So its rather refreshing to hear a judicial candidate be honest about their take on the right to control ones body.

Ideally, voters shouldn't decide what rights people should have or  more worrisome  decide what rights people shouldn't have. The establishment of civil rights and the protection of human rights should be the work of the courts. But when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe and took away the constitutional right to abortion, it left it up to the states  and the voters of those states  to protect reproductive rights.

This is the post-Roe world in which we live. For the time being, we have to rely on voters to do the right thing and protect the rights the Supreme Court wouldn't. That's what Wisconsinites did Tuesday, and whether we live in that state or not, we should all be grateful.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The W in question. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Elon Musk painted over the W in Twitter's name on the sign outside its San Francisco headquarters.

He said Twitter's landlord told the company the sign was legally required to read as "Twitter."

"So we painted it background color. Problem solved!" Musk tweeted Sunday.

Elon Musk appears to really want the sign outside Twitter's San Francisco headquarters to say "Titter"  and he had some paintwork done to make it happen.

In a tweet on Sunday, the social-media platform's CEO posted a picture of the sign with the W painted over in white so it blends in with the background.

Musk wrote in his caption: "Our landlord at SF HQ says we're legally required to keep sign as Twitter & cannot remove 'w', so we painted it background color. Problem solved!"

Musk's scheme to change the "Twitter" sign to "Titter" appears to have been in the works for a few days, according to photos of the building uploaded to the platform by several Twitter users.

On Thursday, William LeGate, an entrepreneur and programmer, tweeted a picture of the sign with the W obscured.

"Elon Musk, in a remarkable show of maturity, has removed the W from Twitter's logo outside their San Francisco HQ," LeGate's caption said.

The building's landlord, SRI Nine Market Square LLC, did not immediately respond to a query on why the initial alteration was unacceptable and whether the painted-over signage would be allowed.

Musk has made several drastic changes to the company's San Francisco headquarters since he took over Twitter. In January, he tried to sell hundreds of items from the office to boost income for Twitter, including kitchen appliances, Twitter sculptures, furniture, and even office plants.

In December, Twitter cut janitorial services in the headquarters, which forced employees to bring their own toilet paper to the office.

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The disagreements over the Twitter sign are the latest in the long-standing feud between Musk and the building's landlord. SRI sued the Musk-owned Twitter in January. The lawsuit accused Twitter of not paying rent of roughly $3.4 million a month in December and January for the headquarters' Market Street premises.

Separately, Musk has been tinkering with Twitter's interface. Last week, Musk replaced Twitter's bird logo with the Shiba Inu  or doge  meme. Following this change, the price of dogecoin, a cryptocurrency that Musk supports, soared 20%.

Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
woman eating spaghetti in europe

Summer is quickly approaching, and with it comes long, sunny days, relaxing evenings by the pool, and much-needed vacation time. If youre in need of some me-time, nothing is more liberating than booking a trip abroad. May we suggest embarking on one of these European summer tours?

Contrary to popular belief, Black people travel everywhere, including Europe. If youve ever experienced a European summer, you know theres nothing quite like it.

Exploring Europe during the summer should be on every travelers bucket list. Enjoy the fantastic shopping, architecture, European nightlife, festivals, outdoor dining, and more.

If youre the type of traveler who hates planning and thrives on group tours, these European summer tours await you.

Whether you want to eat your way through Paris or discover the richness of Italian culture on a Tuscany adventure, these tours are suited for any travelers taste.

Paris Pastry and Chocolate Tour with City Experiences

You havent tasted a pastry until you have a pastry in Paris.

On this City Experiences tour, eat your way through Paris by visiting some of the best bakeries this world has to offer.

Take in the beautiful streets of Paris while learning the history of the macaron and enjoying croissants, crepes, chocolate, and more.

This tour includes six food tastings at six small businesses in the Quartier Montorgueil and the Marais. Youll even visit the citys oldest patisserie, dating back almost 300 years.

Photo Credit: Paul Hanaoka

Discover The Treasures of Tuscany on an Italian Adventure with Intrepid Travel

Journey from Rome to Venice on this eight-day adventure through the heart of Tuscany. Youll explore the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Piazza San Marco in Venice, and the Colosseum in Rome.

Led by an expert tour guide, youll learn about ancient monuments, stunning vineyards, vibrant cities, and delicious traditional Tuscan cuisine.

This tour is part of Intrepid Travels premium experience, which includes the best accommodations, the highest level of service, and highly rated local tour guides.

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Photo Credit: Ricardo Gomez Angel

Treasures Of The Balkans & Transylvania (Budapest) with Cosmos Travel

Enjoy a 13-day tour discovering the Balkans as you journey through Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania.

In addition to visiting major capital cities like Budapest, Belgrade, Sofia, and Bucharest, youll also get a chance to visit other towns and cities such as the ski resort town of Sinaia and Veliko Tarnovo, which was Bulgarias capital during the Middle Ages.

Photo Credit: Ervin Lukacs

Youll also get to visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Boyana Church, the Historic Centre of Sighisoara, Rila Monastery, the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, and Andrassy Avenue in Budapest. This trip is perfect for travelers who crave history and culture abroad.

Colors of Spain with Click Tours

This is the perfect trip if youve always wanted to visit Spain. This 8-day tour starts in Madrid and ends in Malaga. Prepare to take in the bustling city life and countryside living. Stops on this tour will take you through Madrid, Merida, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, and the Costa Del Sol.

In Madrid, youll tour some of the citys most iconic locations and have an opportunity to take in the stunning Gothic cathedral and view El Grecos painting at St. Tome Church.

This tour also includes visiting the archaeological site of the Roman amphitheater, a Flamenco Show, and more.

Photo Credit: Florian Wehde

Amsterdam in a Day: First Entry Rijksmuseum, Canal Boat & Local Tastes with Walks City Experiences

The fantastic thing about Europe is the ease of getting from one country to the next. If you are exploring Europe this summer, pop over to Amsterdam to explore the city in one day, thanks to Walks City Experiences.

The tour will take you to the best places in the city, such as the iconic art-filled Rijksmuseum, a cruise down the citys waterways, also known as The Venice of the North, and a chance to try delicious Dutch treats.

Youll also get a chance to walk down the streets of the historic center, learn about the Golden Age of architecture, and visit the tasting room of a distiller dating back to the 17th century!

Photo Credit: Gaurav Jain

RELATED: This Spanish City Has Been Named Europes Most Affordable
Our Ark is not a typical homeless outreach organization. Danny Burkett founded the nonprofit two years ago specifically to help street kids between ages 13 and 25 that he felt were not being served well elsewhere.

Our young people need to feel the love of home and to feel the love of caring and hope, Burkett said. So thats what I want to bring towards them.

His approach diverges from other organizations in the way he and his staff build relationships with youth. He favors creating closer, familial-like relationships that stretch the boundaries of what some others consider best practices.

He said his ultimate goal is to break the cycle of homelessness for street youth  those that live outside rather those with unstable housing  and turn them into productive citizens.

Prior to starting Our Ark, Burkett served in the Army for 16 years. He also previously served as the executive director of StandUp for Kids in Thurston County, another nonprofit that helps youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

He said his past experience informs his current methods. Its an approach that has endeared him to many, but he also admits it has led to disagreements with others.

Burkett founded Our Ark in 2021. As of February, he said the organization has provided 196 instances of peer support, more than 5,100 meals, 30 nights of shelter and 3,115 hours of mentoring support.

He said he works with four staff members and six volunteers to conduct street outreach as well as offer mentoring and peer support. They strive to connect with youth about four days a week and be on call for them when they need urgent help.

We want to be consistent to let them know that were still here, Burkett said. We didnt go nowhere. Your parents may have left, your guardians may have left, you may have aged out of foster care, but Im still here.

What Our Ark does

On a Friday last month, Burkett parked his car by an encampment near Martin Way East and Ensign Road. He brought food and supplies for homeless youth. With him was Gingey Collis, 21.

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Collis moved to Olympia from Shelton about three years ago. After being homeless for about a year, he started receiving aid from Our Ark.

Theyre more frequent and more consistent, Collis said. And they dont just give food and supplies and then leave like the other groups do.

Lilly Johnston, 17, said shes been living on the streets in Olympia for two years. She said Burkett offers help that nobody else will. In turn, she helps him extend that help to others.

Im out here with all the kids, so if (Burkett) doesnt know where somebody is, I will try to find them, Johnston said. With all the food packages that get dropped off, I make sure that they all get it.

Each year, Burkett said he spends 45 continuous days walking the streets and the camps, looking for homeless youth. He spends five of those days sleeping in a tent.

My goal is to find as many kids as possible and bring as many as I can into shelter, Burkett said.

In doing that, he said hes come across dozens of youth a day. After meeting them, he refers them to other nonprofits such as SafePlace, Northwest Resources and Community Youth Services.

On a typical day, Burkett said Our Ark connects with about 15 youth, but that number can vary. To create a deeper connection, Burkett said he and his staff do not shy away from giving hugs or saying, I love you, provided the youth consent to it first.

What I do is completely and totally different from any other organization here in Thurston County, Burkett said. When we talk to kids, we talk to them like they are our own.  Our kids, they need direction, they need advice, they need structure.

Structure may include teaching them time management skills or helping them create life goals, he said. But it also may involve discipline, as he put it.

As an example, he said youth who repeatedly disrespect him are not allowed to participate in recreational activities or events The Ark organizes until they apologize to him.

That said, misbehaving youth would not be cut off from Our Ark entirely. Burkett said he still offers them basics, such as water, food and clothing. He calls anything beyond that a privilege.

Those who do take part in recreational gatherings have gone bowling, enjoyed picnics and seen movies, among other activities, he said.

Additionally, Burkett said Our Ark orchestrates a food network of 10 volunteers who regularly prepare 15 home-cooked meals a week for the youth they serve.

Danny Burkett, founder and CEO of Our Ark, and some of the nonprofits volunteers load up a van before going on a series of outreach visits on Sunday, March 26 to contact homeless youth.

A word on best practices

Keylee Marineau, Homeless Response Program Manager for Thurston County, shared her thoughts on best practices for serving homeless youth with The Olympian.

Prior to working at Thurston County, Marineau served as the director of services for high-risk youth at Community Youth Services, a well-established South Sound child welfare agency.

She declined to comment on Our Arks practices directly, and said the county has not worked with Burkett before.

Speaking generally, Marineau said she has seen passionate people arrive to help local homeless youth but ultimately failing. As examples, she said people may work overtime, invite youth into their homes, share their personal phone numbers with them or offer gifts.

They get caught up in this rescuing kind of mode where they feel like, Nobody else can do this but me, Marineau said. If I start thinking that way, somethings wrong.

These efforts are not always nefarious, but Marineau said they can be problematic. She said that setting such a precedent may ultimately lead to disappointment if theres not enough for everyone, funding runs dry or the worker burns out.

She believes outreach workers should follow the principle of trauma-informed care, meaning they should understand how past trauma may influence a persons actions.

If I were to distill it down to one statement, it would be, Every person is an expert in their own experience and the choices that they make are right for them at that time, Marineau said.

She said workers ought to reduce the chance for harm in their interactions and work to get people into housing as a first step towards stabilization.

Specific to youth is the three-part framework of Positive Youth Development, Marineau said. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines PYD as a body of research that suggests positive influences can promote success and avoid issues.

First, Marineau said youth benefit from meaningful relationships, or genuine connections with caring adults that are consistent, rooted in trauma-informed care, and have strong professional boundaries.

Second, she said youth should meaningfully participate in their care, such as by being offered choices, as well as being compensated for their input.

The third principle is to hold high expectations for youth to find success rather than viewing them as needy. Marineau said this principle is rooted in the Pygmalion effect, where what you see is what you get.

The part about professional boundaries is the most important aspect because it could potentially be the most harmful if violated, she said. Workers in this field have tremendous power as gatekeepers to resources, she said.

If I dont stay in my lane, if I overpromise and under-deliver, if I start down the path of favoritism, whether advertently or inadvertently, Im going to cause tremendous harm to that young person and destroy my relationship, Marineau said.

Marineau said workers cannot pretend to know whats best for young people based on their own experience.

I need to respect their autonomy and their agency, Marineau said. And not come from an ageist or adultism kind of perspective, knowing whats best.

Our Ark staff

Jesska Foster, 28, provides peer support and hosts an apartment in Lacey that offers temporary housing for homeless youth. She said the work Our Ark does saves young lives.

You watch them go from like this dark gloominess to just this beautiful light, Foster said. You can just tell that theyre more confident. Thats what its about.

Jermaine Peet, 28, conducts street outreach at local camps. He said that involves building relationships, checking up on previous contacts as well as offering resources and food when they can.

Our Ark is a special one, Peet said. When we wear the purple shirts and we go out, they know thats Our Ark. Its a good program that stands out, thats really fighting for something. What we fight for is for these kids.

Peet started volunteering for Our Ark this year. Like the youth he helps, Peet said hes homeless. Rather than that being a detriment, he said his experience allows him to better connect with youth.

Our Ark volunteers make an outreach visit to some homeless youth on March 26, 2023.

Eddie Newsome, 36, started conducting outreach for Our Ark late last year. Prior to that, he had been homeless himself. Now, he works as a cook in downtown Olympia and has his own apartment.

Like Peet, his experience helps him relate to those Our Ark helps. He described Burkett as a man whos wholly devoted to a good cause.

Its a really harsh environment, Newsome said. Its not your ideal place to lay your head. (Burkett) is feet on the ground. Hes going up to kids, shaking hands, talking to them.

Being on the ground helps humanize homeless youth in a way that the average passersby may not appreciate, Newsome and Peet said.

I think people judge a lot and dont give a person the time of day, Newsome said. I think there could be more done if the community helped out.

When asked how he selects his staff, Burkett said he conducts extensive interviews and requests background checks from Washington State Patrol. He said his staff are then trained to offer peer counseling and conduct outreach.

All of our staff or volunteers, they all have lived experiences whether that be substance abuse or mental health issues which is all managed already, Burkett said. We do the best we can as far as background checks and going through training.

He said he would terminate anyone who acted inappropriately with the youth he serves.

Others weigh in

Avalon Kragness, business director at Olympia Lamplighters, started hosting food and donation events for Our Ark at their downtown location about two years ago. She called Burkett a genuine and caring person.

He truly goes the extra mile for any of his kids that he deals with, Kragness said. Hes so positive and so helpful to literally anybody that hes interacting with.

Steven Stalker became a program director at Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative, a local non-profit that helps people affected by human trafficking, in 2022. He said Burkett sometimes connects Innovations with young adults that are suspected or allegedly trafficked.

Danny (Burkett) has a great rapport with the youth and young adults he serves, Stalker said. I can see it regularly because they run up and give him a hug whenever hes out of town for a couple of weeks.

Stalker previously worked as a probation officer for the Washington State Department of Corrections. In that role, he supervised some young adults who Burkett helped.

Though some may disagree with his methods, Stalker said Burkett offers a level of persistence and consistency that others may not.

What I see Danny (Burkett) doing is developing those intangibles, Stalker said. Hes developing their self-confidence and self-worth and self-esteem. Hes taking the time to actually get to know these individuals.

Danny Burkett founded Our Ark, an emergent non-profit that helps homeless street youth.

Looking ahead

Our Ark is funded by local donations and grants. Burkett said he prefers those over government grants that often carry extra restrictions or bureaucratic requirements.

For now, Burkett said he has been blessed with enough funding to continue his work. He opened an office for Our Ark last month at 824 Fifth Ave. SE in Olympia. He envisions turning the space into a welcoming resource hub for street youth.

Looking further ahead, Burkett said he hopes to create a home for homeless youth. This home would be managed by what he called street parents, outreach workers with the parental skills to care for and guide them.

The future for Our Ark is to create safe haven that feels like home, Burkett said. Not a building, not a group home, just a home.
A concentrated effort to deter shoplifting at South Sound Center last week resulted in four arrests, a spokesman for Lacey police said Monday.

All four were men arrested at the Target store in the area, Sgt. Jeremy Knight said. They also had probable cause to arrest a woman for the same crime, but she fled the scene in a black BMW, he said.

The four men were booked into the Nisqually Jail which houses misdemeanor offenders.

Lacey police worked with store employees from the area who are hired to prevent shoplifting. In addition to Target, South Sound Center is home to Kohls, Michaels and Marshalls.

The organized effort began at 9 a.m. April 4 and within minutes Lacey police had made their first arrest, Knight said.

Knight said police will continue to hold such patrols.

Shoplifting has been a recent problem at Target, according to previous reporting by The Olympian.

In March, a 37-year-old Federal Way man was arrested on suspicion of multiple crimes when he emerged from the Lacey Target store with a shopping cart full of stolen merchandise.

A search of his vehicle also turned up store items taken from the Target in west Olympia. More than $2,000 in merchandise was recovered, according to police.
Banned books are not new, but they have gained new relevance in an escalating culture war that puts books centering racism, sexuality and gender identity at risk in public schools and libraries.

A dramatic uptick in challenged books over the past few years, an escalation of censorship tactics, and the coordinated harassment of teachers and librarians has regularly put book banning efforts in news headlines.

Would-be book banners argue that readers can still purchase books they can no longer access through public libraries, but that is only true for those with the financial resources to do so. For many, particularly children and young adults, schools and public libraries are the only means to access literature.

'A chilling effect': What happens to our culture when books are banned

Banned books in the news

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Fact check: James Patterson said white men face 'racism' in publishing. What do book sales say?

Amanda Darrow, director of youth, family and education programs at the Utah Pride Center, poses with books, including "The Bluest Eye," by Toni Morrison, that have been the subject of complaints from parents in Salt Lake City on Dec. 16, 2021.

What is a book ban?

When a book is successfully banned, that means a book has been removed from school curriculums and/or public libraries because a person or group has objected to its content.

An attempt to get a book removed is called a challenge. Most public schools and libraries have boards made up of elected officials (or people appointed by elected officials) who have the power to remove books from the schools and libraries they oversee.

Why it matters: A book ban is significant because it restricts others access to books, and the ideas contained within those books, based on another persons often ideologically or politically motivated objection.

Are book bans on the rise in the U.S.?

Yes. The American Library Association (ALA) keeps track of challenges and bans across the country, and the most recent data is alarming.

In 2022, the ALA recorded more than 1,200 challenges of more than 2,500 different books, nearly double the then-record total from 2021 and by far the most since the ALA began keeping data 20 years ago.

The actual numbers are likely much higher: Some challenges are never reported by libraries, and books preemptively pulled by librarians out of fear for their jobs are not included.

What are the most banned books?

"Gender Queer," by Maia Kobabe.

A recent analysis by PEN America found that many challenged books focus on communities of color, the history of racism in America and LGBTQ characters. In fact, one in three books restricted by school districts in the past year featured LGBTQ themes or characters.

Here are the 13 most challenged books of 2022, according to the ALA:

"Gender Queer," by Maia Kobabe

"All Boys Aren't Blue," by George M. Johnson

"The Bluest Eye," by Toni Morrison

"Flamer," by Mike Curato

"Looking for Alaska," by John Green

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower," by Stephen Chbosky

"Lawn Boy," by Jonathan Evison

"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," by Sherman Alexie

"Out of Darkness," by Ashley Hope Perez

"A Court of Mist and Fury," by Sarah J. Maas

"Crank," by Ellen Hopkins

"Me and Earl and the Dying Girl," by Jesse Andrews

"This Book Is Gay," by Juno Dawson

Many books that were historically banned ended up becoming literary classics that are still taught in modern classrooms. Accordingly to the ALA, frequently banned classics include:

What is Afrofuturism? And why should you be reading it? We explain.

Who bans books in the U.S.?

Book banning made major headlines last year when the McMinn County School Board in Tennessee voted 10-0 to remove Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic memoir Maus, about his parents experience of the holocaust, from its curriculum.

Since then, theres been a largely conservative push to remove certain titles from schools and libraries, in some cases with politicians leading the charge, including:

Glenn Youngkin: During his successful run for Virginia governor last fall, the Republican candidate ran a controversial ad featuring a mother who objected to her teenage son being assigned Toni Morrisons Beloved in English class. In April, now Governor Youngkin signed a bill requiring Virginia schools to notify parents when their children are assigned books that contain sexually explicit content.

Henry McMaster: The Republican South Carolina governor supported a school board's decision to remove "Gender Queer, calling the book obscene.

Ron DeSantis: The Republican Florida governor also criticized Gender Queer and this year signed into law a bill requiring schools to make all books and materials more transparent so parents can blow the whistle.

Whats being done to combat book banning?

Let America Read: Celebrities including Julia Roberts, Selma Blair and Andy Cohen joined forces with the CAA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Creative Artists Agency, and the Campaign for Our Shared Future for the Let America Read campaign to raise awareness on the issue of book banning. In an Instagram post highlighting frequently challenged books by Black Authors, TV mega producer Shonda Rhimes wrote, "These books are so important for a multitude of reasons. Books like these are now banned in multiple states simply because they deal with the lives of Black families in America. These stories are necessary so that kids can see themselves and to be able to embrace the differences in others. Support our childrens freedom to learn and let America read."

American Library Association: Every year, the ALA and libraries across the country celebrate Banned Books Week. This years Banned Books Week runs Oct. 1-7.

Foundation 451: A fundraiser in Florida to buy challenged books and distribute them to students spawned thousands in donations and has morphed into a nonprofit organization. The organization has distributed books at about a dozen events, setting up tables at festivals, churches and local businesses.

"I read banned books" special edition library card from the Nashville Public Library.

Nashville Public Library: This Southern library protested banned books this year with a limited edition library card with the special message: "I read banned books." The bright yellow cards are part of the library's Freedom to Read campaign celebrating the "right to read."

Margaret Atwood: Author of the frequently banned dystopian feminist novel The Handmaids Tale, promoted the auction of a specially commissioned unburnable edition of her book made of Cinefoil by unsuccessfully attempting to incinerate a prototype with a flamethrower. The stunt brought in $130,000, with proceeds going to PEN America.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Banned books: Which titles are being targeted and why
The bloodsucking lore of the chupacabra is getting the CGI treatment and rebranding itself into a cute and cuddly creature.

Netflix's "Chupa" (streaming now)  the adventure-fantasy film directed by Mexican filmmaker Jonas Cuaron, co-writer of the Oscar-winning film "Gravity" and son of "Roma" director Alfonso Cuaron  follows a shy 13-year-old Alex (Evan Whitten) who travels from Kansas City to Mexico to meet his grandfather Chava (Demian Bichir). On his grandfather's ranch, Alex meets a new furry, mythical friend and the two embark on a whirlwind adventure.

Cuaron tells USA TODAY that working on "Chupa" was not only exciting but a "very personal story for me."

Growing up in Mexico in the '90s, and being around the same age as Alex in the film, Cuaron pulled from his memory of the first time he heard of the legend of the chupacabra. "As a kid, those things were exciting," he says.

Ever heard of the chupacabra? In Netflix's "Chupa," the legend is reimagined into a family-friendly film starring Demian Bichir and Christian Slater. The adventure-fantasy will stream on Netflix April 7.

The trailer for "Chupa"  starring Bichir, Whitten and Christian Slater  shows a nervous Alex, still mourning the death of his father, being sent to Mexico by his mother amid sightings of the chupacabra dominating broadcast news. "He'll be our little secret," Chava tells Alex upon meeting the Chupa, who also warns him of "bad people out there" (scientist Richard Quinn, played by Slater) hunting the misunderstood creature to try and harness his powers.

What is Netflix's 'Chupa' based on?

The chupacabra, which translates to goat-sucker in English, was reportedly first spotted in the early '90s in Puerto Rico. As the story goes, sightings then spread across Latin America with people believing the creature attacked and drank the blood of livestock, including goats.

"There was a frightening element about it but there's also so much curiosity and excitement about something magical being around you," Cuaron says.

"It's fascinating how Latin American culture works and how easy prey we are," Bichir adds. "That creature never existed, are you kidding me? That's exactly why I think it's brilliant, that we took that crazy time of our history and converted it into a beautiful fantasy."

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'Chupa' is about 'trusting your family' and 'magic in the world'

As oral historians, grandparents use their gift of storytelling to keep traditions alive, bestow unforgettable life lessons, and retell the folklore of their times. "Growing up surrounded by two big Mexican families, I know that grandparents are truly the carriers of the family narrative," Cuaron says.

"Everything you need to know about life is right there in our parents and grandparents' experiences," Bichir added. "Alex goes through this interpersonal journey when he goes back to his roots and reconnects with his grandfather and at the same time with his late father."

"Chupa" is about the importance of "trusting your family in order to overcome grief and any other growing pains," Bichir says. It's about believing in yourself and reconnecting with your roots. "I don't see this as a Latino or Mexican film," the actor adds. "It's a universal story about how we connect to our family."

"It also shows the importance of (basking) in the magic that there is in the world," says Cuaron.

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'Chupa' will be the 'cutest thing you've ever seen'

Cuaron flips the previously horrific chupacabra folklore on its back and creates what Bichir calls a "loving little creature."

Production went through many iterations of the Chupa and based the design on real animals while also "playing with something that is fantastical, which is a creature that's kind of like a mammal but has wings and feathers  something we've never seen," says Cuaron.

"I want a chupacabra in my room, that little Chupa is the cutest thing you've ever seen," Bichir adds.

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Jonas Cuaron on how 'E.T.' inspired 'Chupa'

Jonas Cuaron took inspiration from movies like "E.T." when creating Netflix's "Chupa."

Cuaron says it was "impossible not to think about 'E.T.'" when working on "Chupa."

"As a filmmaker, you really look at the works that you admired to try to learn from them, and in this genre, there are so many references for me to grab on," Cuaron says.

Throughout filming, the director rewatched the sci-fi/adventure classic over 10 times.

Cuaron adds that "what would flatter me the most would be to meet someone 20 years from now and tell me that growing up, 'Chupa' really marked them. Because that's what movies like 'E.T.' did for my generation."

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Jonas Cuaron, Demian Bichir want to make movies their children can watch

As fathers, Cuaron and Bichir are excited to create a film their children can enjoy.

"For the last five years, I've been watching so many kids' movies and trying to see the world of cinema through their eyes," the director father of two says, adding it led him to reconnect with movies from his own childhood including "E.T.", "Gremlins" and "The Goonies."

Bichir, who has starred in films including "The Nun," "The Hateful Eight" and "The Grudge," jokes he doesn't "have many films that my daughter can watch."

For Bichir it's also important to "connect with new generations, that's always the biggest challenge as an artist. You want to make sure the new generations know your work, and that they can connect with you too."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Netflix's 'Chupa': Demian Bichir, Jonas Cuaron talk chupacabra legend
A wave of attacks against environmental defenders has left Indigenous and rural communities across Mexico and Central America reeling amid a lack of government protection and widespread impunity.

At least two dozen defenders have been murdered, disappeared and jailed across the region so far this year, according to research by the Guardian. On Wednesday, the Indigenous rights and anti-mining activist Eustacio Alcala Diaz was found dead in Michoacan, Mexico, three days after he was abducted by armed men while traveling with Catholic missionaries.

Diaz, who spearheaded a legal campaign to stop a transnational mining company  and won  was the ninth defender murdered or disappeared in Mexico so far this year.

Across the region, others have been harassed, threatened and criminally charged in retaliation for opposing land and water grabs linked to mining, dams and industrial agriculture, cementing the regions ranking as one of the worlds most perilous for environmental and land rights defenders.

While the specific context of the repression varies from country to country, experts say a toxic mix of impunity, corruption and organised crime have permitted  and even encouraged  the imposition of extractive industries such as mining, energy and plantation crops in areas where communities depend on the land and water sources to thrive.

Across the region, authorities fail to consult local people over land use and major infrastructure projects, prompting protests and opposition that imperil the safety of community leaders, said Michel Forst, the UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders.

Related: Missing Mexican environmentalists families accuse mining company

We all know too well that the majority of crimes and attacks on environmental defenders remain largely unpunished, leaving victims and their families in great distress and sending the message that certain lives are worth less than economic profit  the roots of conflict are often found in the exclusion [by governments and businesses] of potentially affected communities from decisions regarding their land and natural resources, Forst told the Guardian.

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The rise in attacks against environmentalists and land rights activists comes as the rule of law and democracy is under threat in much of the region, as political leaders double down on militarisation and neoliberal economic policies.

Constitutional rights have been partially suspended by states of emergency in El Salvador and Honduras; in Guatemala, a network of corrupt political, economic and military elites is systematically dismantling the justice system; and in Mexico the media, rights groups and independent electoral system are under sustained attack by the populist president.

Police agents ride in the back of vehicle after conducting an operation against alleged migrant smugglers near the Mexican border in Huehuetenango, Guatemala, in August 2022. Photograph: Moises Castillo/AP

After the Covid economic crisis, governments across the region are looking to extractive industries such as mining and cash crops in hopes of securing much-needed foreign investment, despite warnings about dwindling land and water resources.

The Bajo Aguan region in northern Honduras is the regions most deadly, where six men associated with an entrenched land struggle between African palm conglomerates and poor campesinos have been murdered since late December.

The violence has escalated in response to our demands for justice in the Aguan, with a coordinated campaign to kill campesinos to generate terror, said Yoni Rivas, a campesino leader who for years has been persecuted by paramilitary groups linked to palm magnates and military leaders. Its the same agroindustrial criminal structure as always, trying to create a false narrative that the violence is down to internal conflicts.

The killings have continued unabated as the government claims that it is working on a long-term solution to resolve the decades-old dispute between the palm conglomerates and campesinos. With the recent spike, more than 180 campesinos are reported to have been murdered since the Honduran coup in 2009 with over 95% of cases unsolved. Many more have fled or withdrawn from the struggle in fear of their lives, while others have been co-opted.

Two water protectors have also been killed in Bajo Aguan this year. In January, Aly Dominguez, 38, and Jairo Bonilla, 28, co-founders of the Guapinol community resistance against an iron ore mine owned by one of the countrys most powerful couples, were shot dead in broad daylight.

Rights groups are increasingly frustrated with President Xiomara Castro, the ostensibly leftist leader who replaced the post-coup 12-year narco government in January 2022, but this week extended the countrys state of emergency.

In Mexico, 2023 got off to a terrible start when the Amuzgo Indigenous rights defender Remigio de la Cruz was shot dead at his home in Guerrero on 1 January. Twelve days later, members of the Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartel ambushed and murdered Isaul Nemesio Zambrano, Miguel Estrada Reyes and Rolando Magno Zambrano, community guards in Santa Maria Ostula, a Nahua community in Michoacan that since 2009 has tried to defend their territory against criminal gangs.

Related: Salvadoran environmental defenders detained for decades-old crimes

On 15 January, in the same coastal-highland region of Michoacan, lawyer Ricardo Lagunes Gasca and Indigenous leader Antonio Diaz Valencia were abducted by armed men after attending a community meeting against mining. Both are still missing and their relatives have condemned the lack of effort by authorities: Their duty was to find them quickly and alive, and they failed, said Antoine Lagunes, brother of Ricardo.

Michoacan has become the most dangerous state for environmental and land defenders in Mexico, amid almost total impunity for the perpetrators and masterminds motivated by the natural resources  minerals, forests, rivers concentrated in Indigenous territories, said Edgar Cortez from the Mexican Institute of Human Rights and Democracy. Several of the victims were under state protective measures, due to threats linked to their activism.

The numbers are scandalous, governments must take more rigorous and consistent measures to stop the upward curve of violence  which is meant to intimidate defenders to give up and abandon their land, territory and community, said Cortez.

One glimmer of good news came last month when the Indigenous Wixarika leader Santos de la Cruz Carrillo was released after being held by unknown men with his wife and children for 40 hours in the Sierra de Durango in northern Mexico. The abduction appeared to be in retaliation for a rare Wixarika victory, as just a week earlier De la Cruz had celebrated the restitution of 11,000 hectares of ancestral lands taken illegally from his community more than five decades earlier.

I dont want to go too deep into the facts, its a very delicate and really complex issue, said De la Cruz, 43, after his release. Fortunately we are safe and alive.

In El Salvador five community leaders who played a crucial role in securing a historic mining ban in El Salvador were detained in January for alleged civil war-era crimes, in what rights groups fear is a ruse by the government to weaken opposition as it seeks to overturn the ban.

The anti-mining campaigners, who have been denied bail and access to their families and lawyers, are among 66,000 Salvadorans rounded up during the year-long state of emergency.

People rest as they attend a protest in support of five environmental activists accused of killing an alleged army informant more than 33 years ago, outside a courthouse during a hearing, in San Salvador, El Salvador, in January. Photograph: Jose Cabezas/Reuters

El Salvadors water resources are in a perilous state due to unchecked industrial pollution and construction, and several water protectors were recently charged with trespass after reporting alleged environmental permit violations at a new residential complex.

There is ample evidence that the government is seeking to reverse the 2017 mining ban, while creating conditions to increase persecution against environmental organisations, said Pedro Cabezas, the El Salvador-based coordinator of the Central American alliance on mining.

Criminalisation  perverting the justice system to silence or weaken opposition to state and corporate abuses  is increasingly deployed against environmental defenders. In neighbouring Guatemala, there has been an exponential rise in trumped-up criminal charges against community and Indigenous leaders opposing environmentally destructive projects, according to data collated by the Protection Unit for Human Rights Defenders Guatemala  known by its Spanish acronym Udefegua.

Incidents of defamation, stigmatisation, hate speech and arbitrary criminal complaints have gone up at least threefold since 2018 or so, said Jorge Santos, coordinator of Udefegua. Today in Guatemala, the principal repressive strategy has changed from physical violence and murder to killing people civilly.
Amhara forces played a crucial role in the war against Tigrayan rebels

Huge protests have taken place in Ethiopia's Amhara region for the fifth consecutive day against government moves to dissolve a paramilitary force.

Demonstrators blocked roads with rocks and burning tyres to prevent the military from travelling around.

Protesters fear that the government's decision would leave them exposed to attacks by neighbouring regions.

Ethiopia's regional states have their own special forces to protect their borders, and to fight rebels.

The government announced last week that it wants the special forces to be integrated into the federal army or police force in order to promote national unity.

The decision has faced strong opposition in Amhara, with huge protests in cities and towns across the region.

It has led a partial curfew being imposed in the historic city of Gondar, while clashes have been reported between protesters and the military in Kobe town, near the border with the neighbouring Tigray region.

On Sunday, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed vowed to press ahead with his plan even if "a price had to be paid".

In the capital Addis Ababa, the arrest of Amhara-linked journalists, commentators and community organizers has intensified in recent days.

On Sunday, Meskerem Abera became the fourth media personality to be detained in less than a week.

The Amhara special forces helped the Ethiopian army fight Tigrayan forces who launched a rebellion in 2020 against Mr Abiy's government.

The conflict ended with the signing of a peace accord last year between the federal government and Tigrayan forces.

Now tension is growing between the Amhara and federal authorities.

Some in Amhara say the federal government's decision will prevent the region from providing armed resistance to any future threat.

They also doubt that the Tigrayan forces have fully disarmed, despite the peace accord requiring them to do so.

There have been historic tensions between the Amhara and Tigrayan ethnic groups, with the two often competing for power, land and resources.

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Amharas gained control of agriculturally fertile land in Tigray in the recent war.

Both claim that the land historically belonged to them, and the dispute has not yet been resolved.
The Little Mermaid Disney

Disney's series of live-action remakes has quietly become one of Hollywood's most lucrative franchises. The studio has raked in mountains of cash over the past decade by adapting its own classic animated films, and a recent announcement revealed more modern movies are now also on the table for reimagining. Here's what we know about every Disney live-action remake currently in development:

'Peter Pan & Wendy'

After directing the 2016 Pete's Dragon remake, David Lowery is taking on another Disney classic with Peter Pan & Wendy. Alexander Molony plays Peter Pan in this version, while Ever Anderson plays Wendy, Jude Law plays Captain Hook, Jim Gaffigan plays Mr. Smee, and Yara Shahidi plays Tinker Bell. Shahidi will become the first Black woman to take on that role in a major film.

Lowery told Collider in 2021 that the film is "my favorite thing I've ever made," adding that even though he has directed R-rated movies like The Green Knight and A Ghost Story, it's "the most adult movie I've ever made" because it's about letting go of the desire to never grow up. But Lowery teased that certain aspects of the original movie would be tweaked because "there are a lot of things about the animated film that you're just going to leave to the darker side of history." Anderson also noted at D23 that in this version, "Wendy and Peter are equals."

Peter Pan & Wendy isn't receiving a theatrical release, but it will hit Disney+ on April 28.

'The Little Mermaid'

Halle Bailey brings Ariel to live-action in Disney's remake of The Little Mermaid, which looks set to be one of the biggest films of the summer. She stars alongside Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, and Javier Bardem as King Triton, while Daveed Diggs voices Sebastian, Awkwafina voices Scuttle, and Jacob Tremblay voices Flounder.

Rob Marshall directs after previously helming Disney's Mary Poppins Returns and Into the Woods, and Lin-Manuel Miranda worked with Alan Menken to write "three or four" new songs, though Miranda promised that "none of the ones you like" have been cut.

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But Bailey told Edition that some of the "themes" of the film will be updated from the original. "I'm really excited for my version of the film because we've definitely changed that perspective of just her wanting to leave the ocean for a boy," Bailey said. "It's way bigger than that. It's about herself, her purpose, her freedom, her life, and what she wants." The Little Mermaid opens on May 26.

'Snow White'

Rachel Zegler stars in the title role of Snow White, a live-action remake pairing her with Wonder Woman's Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen. Marc Webb, director of the Andrew Garfield Amazing Spider-Man movies, will helm the film, and Little Women director Greta Gerwig reportedly worked on the screenplay. Andrew Burnap stars as the male lead, an original character for the remake. Pasek and Paul, the award-winning duo behind musicals like Dear Evan Hansen and La La Land, will also write new songs.

Zegler has indicated Snow White's characterization will be updated for modern viewers, telling People, "Most of my character does not work for today's audience, I'll just say it. We did a really deep dive into fixing and making a modern woman out of Snow White." She's "a bit more independent," according to Zegler, who told Vanity Fair, "People are making these jokes about ours being the PC Snow White, where it's like, yeah, it is  because it needed that. It's an 85-year-old cartoon, and our version is a refreshing story about a young woman who has a function beyond 'Someday My Prince Will Come.'" Zegler also said in a Variety Actors on Actors conversation she never "in a million years" expected to play the character because "you don't normally see Snow Whites that are of Latin descent."

After Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage criticized the film due to Snow White's "f--king backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together," Disney said it will "avoid reinforcing stereotypes" in this version and is taking a "different approach" to the seven dwarves after "consulting with members of the dwarfism community."

Snow White is set to hit theaters on March 22, 2024.

'Mufasa: The Lion King'

This one is not technically a remake, but rather an original extension of one of Disney's prior remakes. Moonlight director Barry Jenkins is helming this follow-up to the 2019 live-action-style version of The Lion King, which has been described as both a prequel and a sequel. "It's a story told in two different timeframes," Jenkins said, flashing back from the present to show Mufasa's backstory and revealing how he "found his place in the circle of life." Think of it as the Lion King version of The Godfather Part II.

"Having the opportunity to work with Disney on expanding this magnificent tale of friendship, love and legacy while furthering my work chronicling the lives and souls of folk within the African diaspora is a dream come true," Jenkins said in 2020. He told Variety the film will explore how "kings aren't just born, they aren't just made," but they "have to become who they are." Jeff Nathanson, who wrote 2019's The Lion King, returned to write the screenplay, and Jenkins has confirmed there will be musical numbers.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre are voicing Scar and Mufasa, respectively, and Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen are returning from the 2019 version to voice Timon and Pumbaa. Mufasa: The Lion King opens on July 5, 2024, and it's the last of these projects that has an announced release date.

'Moana'

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson announced in April 2023 that a live-action remake of the 2016 film Moana is currently in the works. He'll be returning to produce the movie. "I'm honored to partner with @DisneyStudios to tell our story thru the realm of music & dance, which at the core is who we are as Polynesian people," Johnson tweeted.

Auli'i Cravalho, the original voice of Moana, is on board as a producer, though it wasn't clear if she'll reprise the role. The writer of the original film, Jared Bush, is also returning.

But the announcement took some fans off guard considering how recent Moana is, and this is the first time Disney has announced a live-action remake of any of its movies from the 2010s. This suggests remakes of films like Frozen and Tangled could also be on the table, but for now, there's only one other remake of a Disney movie from the 21st century that we know about.

'Lilo & Stitch'

That other film is 2002's Lilo & Stitch, which was already set to get a live-action remake before the Moana announcement. The project was first reported to be in the works in 2018, and there's been some movement on it recently. In 2022, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On director Dean Fleischer Camp was hired to direct, and reports said earlier this year that Zach Galifianakis and newcomer Maia Kealoha have been cast. Galifianakis is expected to play Pleakley, The Wrap reported, while Kealoha is reportedly playing Lilo.

'Hercules'

Guy Ritchie, director of Disney's 2019 remake of Aladdin, has been tasked with bringing 1997's Hercules into live-action next. The remake is being produced by Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo's production company, and they spoke with Variety about their plans to update the original for modern audiences.

"There are questions about how you translate it as a musical," Russo told Variety. "Audiences today have been trained by TikTok, right? What is their expectation of what that musical looks like and feels like? That can be a lot of fun and help us push the boundaries a little bit on how you execute a modern musical."

Compared to the other Disney live-action remakes, Hercules will be a "little bit more experimental in tone, a little bit more experimental in execution," Russo promised, adding that it won't just be a "reinterpretation of the animated film." Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings writer David Callaham was said to be working on the script in 2020, and by 2022, Variety reported that Ritchie was working on a pass on his screenplay.

'The Aristocats '

Questlove of The Roots is set to direct a remake of 1970's The Aristocats, which Variety described as a live-action and CGI hybrid. It will be Questlove's first film since he directed the Oscar-winning documentary Summer of Soul, and he's also overseeing the music, according to Deadline. Will Gluck (Peter Rabbit) and Keith Bunin (Onward) are reportedly working on the script.

A possible 'Aladdin' sequel and spinoff

A sequel to the 2019 live-action version of Aladdin was reported to be in the works in 2020, though there have been few substantial updates since then, and by 2023, star Mena Massoud tweeted that he believes it's "very unlikely at this point." Director Guy Ritchie, though, told Collider this year he'd "very much like to" make the sequel and has been "kicking some ideas around."

An Aladdin spinoff about Prince Anders, the character played by Billy Magnussen, was also reported to be in the works for Disney+ in 2019. By 2022, Magnussen confirmed to ScreenRant that this is "still moving forward."

A possible 'Jungle Book' sequel

A sequel to 2016's The Jungle Book was reported to be in the works in 2016 with director Jon Favreau returning. But it's not clear if this is still happening, especially now that Favreau is tied up with The Mandalorian and other Star Wars shows. But screenwriter Justin Marks told Slashfilm in 2017 the plan was to "go further through" Rudyard Kipling's material "but also go into some of the Disney resources from the '67 film that maybe didn't get to see the light of day in the first film."

'Tink'

This is another project that may no longer be happening, but as far back as 2015, The Hollywood Reporter said a live-action Tinker Bell movie called Tink was in the works with Reese Witherspoon set to star. With Yara Shahidi debuting as Tinker Bell in Peter Pan & Wendy, though, this is probably less likely now.

'Cruella 2'

Shortly after the 2021 debut of Cruella, the live-action film starring Emma Stone as the 101 Dalmatians villain Cruella de Vil, Deadline reported that Stone had closed a deal for a sequel. Director Craig Gillespie was expected to return alongside writer Tony McNamara.

'Robin Hood'

Blindspotting director Carlos Lopez Estrada was tapped to direct a live-action remake of Robin Hood in 2020, with Kari Granlund writing the script, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It was said to be a Disney+ original.

'Bambi'

Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Captain Marvel) and Lindsey Beer (Sierra Burgess Is a Loser) were writing a live-action remake of Bambi as of 2020, Variety said, adding that the film would use a similar visual style as the remakes of The Jungle Book and The Lion King.

'The Sword in the Stone'

28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo was in talks to helm a remake of The Sword in the Stone as of 2018, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The project has been in the works since at least 2015, when Game of Thrones producer Bryan Cogman was reported to be writing the script.

'Hunchback'

In 2019, Deadline reported that playwright David Henry Hwang was writing a live-action musical adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame simply called Hunchback. The report also said that Josh Gad was set to produce and potentially play the lead character, and Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz will write the music.

By 2023, Gad clarified on Instagram that a poster for the film that was making the rounds was fan-made and not official. But he also said "the script is one of the best I have read," adding that he hopes Disney will "let us make the live-action adaptation the original animated film deserves."

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New evidence introduced by federal prosecutors has caused the lawyer representing a former school bus driver accused of stalking a Greenland boy and his family to delay the trial again.

On March 28, Michael Chicks attorney, federal public defender Behzad Mirhashem, filed a motion to continue the trial for an additional 60 days. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland, the prosecutor in the case, agreed to the motion.

As grounds for this motion, it is stated: Defense counsel needs additional time to review the discovery with Mr. Chick, including new discovery provided by the government on March 24, 2023, the motion states. Counsel also needs additional time to advise Mr. Chick about his options in this case and help him decide whether he wishes to proceed to trial in this matter.

The trial, already rescheduled numerous times, is now on the docket to begin on June 21 at 9:30 a.m., per court filings. Slated to preside over Chicks trial is U.S. District of New Hampshire Chief Judge Landya McCafferty, who approved the motion to continue the trial.

As the case is open, no details are being released about prosecutors' new discovery, said Jessica Kuron, a spokesperson for the New Hampshire U.S. attorney.

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Mirhashem, Chick's lawyer, also declined to comment on the new evidence or his motion to delay the trial.

Ex-school bus driver Michael Chick, currently detained on charges he stalked and threatened an 8-year-old Greenland child on his bus route, has been indicted on a cyberstalking charge, according to U.S. Attorney Jane Young.

The case against Michael Chick

Chick, a resident of Eliot, Maine, previously had First Student bus routes in Greenland and Rye.

In April of last year, the parents of a Greenland child on Chicks bus route became suspicious of the driver and reported him to both the town school district and police department, according to court documents.

An affidavit filed in the case alleges Chick gave several TracFones to the child and instructed him to take inappropriate photographs of himself. The affidavit further alleges Chick placed tracking devices on the childs parents vehicles and visited the familys home at night.

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Chick is further accused of threatening the child on the bus, allegedly intimidating him with a false story of a group of criminals known as The Team who would kidnap and torture the child and hurt his family if he didnt comply with instructions to take inappropriate photographs and videos of himself.

Last August, after obtaining a search warrant and sweeping his residence, authorities arrested Chick and charged him with federal interstate stalking. Chick was later denied bail, then in September he was indicted by a federal grand jury on a cyberstalking charge.

The ex-bus drivers case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Greenland Police Department.

Homeland Security Investigations created a hotline for anyone with information about the investigation into the former bus driver, the number for which is (603) 722-1751.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: New evidence in Greenland NH bus driver stalking case delays trial
India should surpass Chinas population midway through this year, according to the latest projection from the United Nations.

Thats of course unless its happened already  or happens later in the year.

Demographers are unsure exactly when India will take the title as the most populous nation in the world because they're relying on estimates to make their best guess. The latest projection from the United Nations this week put it at midyear, though that remains an estimate.

China has had the most people in the world since at least 1950, the year United Nations population data began. Both China and India have more than 1.4 billion people, and combined they make up more than a third of the world's 8 billion people.

Actually, there is no way we can know exactly when India will surpass China," said Bruno Schoumaker, a demographer at Universite catholique de Louvain in Belgium. There is some uncertainty, not only about Indias population, but also Chinas population."

STILL, WHEN IS IT HAPPENING?

The U.N. said in a report Wednesday that India will have about 2.9 million people more than China sometime in the middle of this year  an estimated 1.4286 billion for India, 1.4257 billion for mainland China. But demographers have said the limits of population data make it impossible to calculate an exact date.

Mathematical calculations are made from data including a range of surveys, as well as birth and death records.

It's a crude approximation, a best guess, said Patrick Gerland, chief of the population estimates and projections section at the U.N. in New York.

Not long ago, India wasn't expected to become most populous until later this decade. But the timing has been sped up by a drop in China's fertility rate, with families having fewer children.

HOW IS IT CALCULATED?

Demographers at the U.N. Population Division make estimates based on projections from a wide variety of data sources to get what they believe are the most up-to-date demographic numbers. The last update to the data used for these calculations for both India and China was July 2022, said Sara Hertog, a U.N. population affairs officer in New York.

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The demographers then use a statistical technique to infer when India's population has surpassed that of China, according to Stuart Gietel-Basten, a professor at Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi.

The reality, of course, is that these estimates are just that, Gietel-Basten said. But at least they are based on a relatively solid and consistent methodology.

WHERE DO THE NUMBERS COME FROM?

The foundations of both nations' numbers are censuses, or head counts, conducted every decade.

China's last census was in 2020. Demographers used birth and death records, along with other administrative data, to calculate how the population has grown since then.

India's last census was in 2011. Its scheduled 2021 census was postponed by COVID-19. Without an actual door-to-door count for more than a decade, sample surveys have filled in the gaps to help demographers and India itself understand its population, said Alok Vajpeyi of the New Delhi-based non-government organization, Population Foundation of India.

Among the most important is the Sample Registration System, India's large-scale demographic survey that gathers data on such things as births, deaths, fertility and more.

Andrea Wojnar, the United Nations Population Fund's representative for India, said the agency is confident in the survey's numbers because it uses a very robust methodology.

WHY IS INDIA MOVING AHEAD?

China has an aging population with stagnant growth even after the government seven years ago retreated from a one-child policy, and just two years ago said couples could have three children.

India has a much younger population, a higher fertility rate and a decrease in infant mortality over the last three decades.

India has more babies born each year than in any other country, while China has joined many European countries in having more deaths each year than births, said Dudley Poston, Jr., an emeritus professor of sociology at Texas A&M University.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

There's more than bragging rights at stake over which nation is the world's most populous  there are social and economic consequences. In India, that means a growing labor force and growth that sparks economic activity. In China, that means fewer working-age adults able to support an aging population.

Once a country hits a low fertility level, it's often hard to recover population growth, even with changes in government policy to encourage more births, said Toshiko Kaneda, technical director of demographic research at the Population Reference Bureau in Washington.

Psychologically, it will be tough for China, especially given the rivalry in other areas between the two countries, Gietel-Basten said. It is a big moment in human history as the baton is passed to India."

___

Arasu reported from Bengaluru, India. Schneider reported from Orlando, Florida.

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Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at @MikeSchneiderAP

Follow Sibi Arasu on Twitter at @sibi123
The future of mifepristone, a common medication used for abortion, is on ice after federal judges issued dueling decisions Friday night involving the pills legality.

Two decades after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved the prescribing and distribution of mifepristone, a federal judge in Texas suspended the agencys approval in a case fraught with accusations of partisanship.

President Biden indicated that the ruling would set a precedent that put other FDA-approved drugs in jeopardy, indicating that such medications would not be safe from political or ideological attacks. The White House said Monday it was preparing for a long legal battle  including one landing all the way up to the Supreme Court.

As the case moves forward, heres what you need to know.

Lawsuit following familiar route for politically charged cases

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks ruling currently goes into effect this coming Friday, but the Biden administration quickly asked on Monday for an extension of that pause until its appeal can be heard.

It follows the familiar route of other recent legal challenges to politically charged policies: a friendly federal trial judge in Texas grants a motion to block the policy, and the federal government is left to seek relief from the conservative-leaning 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

As the only sitting judge in Amarrillos federal courthouse, Kacsmaryk, a former attorney at a religious freedom legal group, was guaranteed to be assigned the mifepristone case when it was filed there late last year.

A frequent home for challenges brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and other conservatives, Kacsmaryk previously issued high-profile decisions against the Biden administration that reinstated the Trump-era Remain in Mexico policy, curtailed federal protections for LGBTQ workers and ruled against a vaccine mandate.

Lawyers have long looked for the best forum to bring their cases, but some legal observers say the way Texas operates its single-judge divisions allows plaintiffs to strategize with striking precision.

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Although the administration did not raise it directly in this case, the Justice Department in other disputes has increasingly accused conservative lawyers of judge shopping so that Kacsmaryk or another friendly face is assigned their case.

Today a single federal district judge in Texas ruled that a prescription medication that has been available for more than 22 years, approved by the FDA and used safely and effectively by millions of women here and around the world, should no longer be approved in the United States, Biden said on Friday.

Dueling rulings set stage for potential Supreme Court battle

The case now heads to a randomly selected three-judge panel from the 5th Circuit, a conservative-leaning appeals court. Three-quarters of the benchs active judges were nominated by Republican presidents.

But the legal battle over mifepristone could go further up the ladder and land at the Supreme Court as soon as late this week in a procedural battle over whether to put on hold Kacsmaryks ruling until the 5th Circuit panel can decide whether to reverse his decision entirely.

Kacsmaryks ruling currently goes into effect on Friday. The Biden administration asked the 5th Circuit to decide whether to extend the pause by Thursday at noon, making clear in court filings it would ask the Supreme Court to intervene on its emergency docket if necessary.

I dont care who the nine justices are on the Supreme Court or any court of appeal, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. They should be able to discern the difference between inserting their personal judgment and using the facts and evidence to make a legal ruling.

Complicating matters further, minutes after Kacsmaryks ruling, U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice issued a dueling decision in a lawsuit brought by Democratic attorneys general in 17 states and Washington, D.C., who argued mifepristone was too tightly regulated.

Rice, an Obama appointee who sits in Washington state, blocked the FDA from altering the status quo and rights as it relates to the availability of Mifepristone in the states that sued, leaving the current access in place.

If the Texas ruling holds then the FDA is in a precarious position. It is being told by different judges to march north and south at the same time. Even more concerning is that the scientific integrity of the FDA is being compromised. The FDA must make its decisions on the basis of gold standard scientific evidence, Lawrence Gostin, professor of Global Health Law at Georgetown, told The Hill.

Partisan plaintiffs and partisan judges can only lead to bad decision making. At risk is nothing less than the nations health and safety, Gostin said.

Even if the parties avoid that initial procedural battle at the high court, the dispute could still ultimately reach the justices down the road.

Push to ignore ruling, regulators not on board

In the wake of the Texas ruling, some lawmakers have suggested that the FDA ignore the order if it ultimately goes into effect, continuing to authorize mifepristones availability.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) called on the Biden administration to keep mifepristone on the market back in February, regardless of how Kacsmaryk ruled.

President Biden and the Food and Drug Administration must ignore the nationwide injunction of Judge Kacsmaryk. Dont give in to the courtwashing. Protect the fundamental rights and wellbeing of all women in America, Wyden said.

The Food and Drug Administration should go on just as it has for the last 23 years since it first approved mifepristone. The Food and Drug Administration needs to keep this medication on the market without interruption regardless of what the ruling says.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) echoed these sentiments on Sunday following the ruling, saying there was an extraordinary amount of precedent for a federal agency to disregard a court order.

The idea of consistency in governance until there is a higher court ruling is not an unprecedented thing to happen, Ocasio-Cortez said while appearing on CNNs State of the Union.

On the same program, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) pushed back against calls for the FDA to ignore the ruling from Texas, saying House Republicans may consider defunding the agency if it does not comply.

The House Republicans have the power of the purse. And if the administration wants to not live up to this ruling, then were going to have a problem  it may come to a point where House Republicans on the appropriation side have to defund FDA programs that dont make sense, Gonzales said.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) adamantly stated on Monday: Were not defunding the FDA. Republicans care more about enacting a national abortion ban than they do about making sure everyone has safe food to eat.

Kamara Jones, acting assistant secretary for the Public Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services, indicated on Monday the federal government would not be ignoring court orders, saying it would set a dangerous precedent.

People are rightly frustrated about this decision  but as dangerous a precedent it sets for a court to disregard FDAs expert judgment regarding a drugs safety and efficacy, it would also set a dangerous precedent for the Administration to disregard a binding decision, Jones said on Twitter.

There is a process in place for appealing this decision and we will do everything we can to prevail in the courts, she added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
HBO renewed Sam Levinson's "Euphoria" for a third season in February 2022.

Heidi Bivens, the show's costume designer, said filming begins in June 2023.

Barbie Ferreira will not be returning as Kat Hernandez.

HBO's popular teen drama series "Euphoria" will be back for another installment.

The show, which is created, written, and directed by Sam Levinson, centers on a 17-year-old drug addict named Rue Bennet (played by two-time Emmy winner Zendaya).

In early February 2022, amid a bonkers and wildly memed second season, HBO announced that "Euphoria" was renewed for a third season.

Here's everything we know so far about season three.

Barbie Ferreira won't be returning as Kat Hernandez

Barbie Ferreira as Kat on season two of "Euphoria." Eddy Chen/HBO

Ferreira announced her exit from the show on her Instagram story in August 2022.

She shared a framed image of Kat, drawn by costar Hunter Schafer, and wrote: "after four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character kat, I'm having to say a very teary eyed goodbye."

She continued: "i hope many of you could see yourself in her like i did and that she brought you joy to see her journey into the character she is today. i put all my care and love into her and i hope you guys could feel it. Love you katherine hernandez."

News of Ferreira's departure came months after rumors and reports of on-set tension between Ferreira and showrunner Sam Levinson.

People speculated that Kat's minimized role was due to this reported drama.

"I've seen so many different things and a lot of it is untrue and some of it's kind of like mundane little things," Ferreira told Insider in March 2023.

"But I really think that the fans are really passionate and I do appreciate that because 'Euphoria' has really impacted so many people," she continued. "Sometimes, things take on a life of their own, and they're not rooted in the truth, but it's OK because I know it's just out of passion and out of curiosity and all that good stuff. And I signed up for it. So, I'll take it. I'll take the good and the bad."

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Barbie Ferreira on season two of "Euphoria." Eddy Chen/HBO

Then, during an appearance on the podcast "Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard," Ferreira elaborated on why she left "Euphoria."

The actor said that it was a "mutual decision" for her to exit because her character's arc ran its course.

"I don't think there was a place for her to go," Ferreira said of Kat. "I think there were places she could have gone. I just don't think it would have fit into the show. I don't know if it was going to do her justice, and I think both parties knew that I really wanted to be able to not be the fat best friend. I don't want to play that, and I think they didn't want that either."

"I just felt like, maybe it's like I overstayed my welcome a little bit?" she added. "So, for me, I actually felt good to be like, 'OK, I get to not worry about this and we both don't get too worried about this,' because it's exhausting."

Eric Dane said that his character, Cal Jacobs, will get redemption

Eric Dane as Cal Jacobs on season two, episode four of "Euphoria." HBO

In a 2022 interview with Variety, Dane said that Cal's story would continue in season three.

As a refresher, Cal was last seen getting arrested after his son Nate (Jacob Elordi) called the police on him.

"There's gonna be redemption," Dane said. "I mean, that's the trajectory he's on. I can't imagine Cal's life from solitary confinement. It's tough to work Cal into the storyline when he's behind bars.

There have been discussions of a time jump

Jacob Elordi as Nate Jacobs on season two of "Euphoria." Eddy Chen/HBO

Heidi Bivens, a stylist and costume designer for "Euphoria," spoke about her work on the series in an interview with Vogue, released on Tuesday.

"'Euphoria' is my family, and I'll do everything I can to make the third season of the show successful," she said. "I'm really excited to read the scripts. There is talk of it being approximately five years in the future, and that they're not in high school anymore. Dorothy's not in Kansas anymore."

"I mean, it might be a total trip," she continued. "Who can say? But knowing Sam's brain, it's gonna be exciting, and he will challenge all of us, because he won't want to repeat himself. It'll be something new for the audience to discover."

A time jump would also make sense considering that Zendaya, who's a producer on "Euphoria," previously told The Hollywood Reporter that she hoped the next season would show Rue's life beyond high school.

Plus, most of the stars are in their 20s, unlike their teenage characters.

"I want to see what Rue looks like in her sobriety journey, how chaotic that might look," she said. "But also with all the characters, in the sense where they're trying to figure out what to do with their lives when high school is over and what kind of people they want to be."

Whether or not season three includes a time jump remains to be seen.

But it's worth noting that the direction of the show is constantly changing, even during filming.

In a press junket interview for season two, Elordi told Insider that the scripts for those episodes were "changing pretty regularly for the longest time."

Filming will begin in Los Angeles in June, according to the show's costume designer

Zendaya as Rue on season two of "Euphoria." Eddy Chen/HBO

In an interview for an episode of the podcast called "The Run-Through with Vogue," released in April 2023, Bivens said: "It starts shooting in June, so prep in May, so very, very soon."

Filming each season takes months. So, that would mean that season three would probably drop sometime in 2024.

Read the original article on Insider
A man recently earned praise after he filmed himself confronting a fellow train passenger who was sitting in the seat hed purchased ahead of time.

The positive response to the viral footage of the man insisting he be allowed to sit in the seat hed booked came after an influencer recently earned similar applause for refusing a request to swap seats on a plane so that a family could sit together.

No Im not switching for a middle seat, book your flights earlier babes, influencer Audrey Peters captioned the equally viral video in March.

The pair are not alone in their experiences, as social media has recently become inundated with stories of travellers who have been asked to swap seats with fellow passengers wishing to sit with a friend or a family member, or simply because theyd prefer a better seat.

However, as the responses to the viral videos suggest, most travellers arent open to seat swap suggestions. And, according to travel etiquette, they dont have to be.

To find out whether theres ever a time when its appropriate or acceptable to ask to swap seats with a fellow traveller on a plane or a train, or any form of transportation where seats are pre-booked, we sought the advice of Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas.

Speaking to The Independent, Gottsman said that there is only one acceptable scenario where a traveller may ask a fellow passenger to switch seats, and that even then, it is only justifiable if the passenger has first tried other ways of remedying the situation.

According to Gottsman, the acceptable scenario refers to a parent or guardian who found there is no possible way through pre-planning that they could have been seated next to their young child, at which point of course its understandable to ask a fellow passenger to swap.

However, Gottsman noted that, even in a case involving a young child, its always best to ask a ticket agent or someone from the travel company if there is a possibility of changing or switching seats before you board the plane or train, as asking a fellow passenger puts the person you are asking in an awkward position and relies on their goodwill.

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If youre hoping to change your seat for any other reason, its typically not advisable to ask a fellow passenger if theyre open to switching, despite the numerous videos of travellers doing just that on social media.

Wanting to sit next to a friend, or preferring a window seat rather than an aisle, is not a good enough reason to ask, Gottsman said, adding: If you and your spouse are separated, it simply means you booked late or did not plan in advance to book seats together.

The requests go against travel etiquette even more when the proposed switch would take the passenger out of a seat thats preferable to the one they are being offered, according to Gottsman, who told us its really not the best form to ask a person to take a middle seat or a window seat when they have an aisle seat booked.

Travel website The Points Guy agrees, with the blog noting that, generally speaking, the unspoken rule when it comes to seat swaps is that only better or equivalent exchanges should be offered; maybe you lose an aisle seat, but gain some leg room in a bulkhead seat, or you trade your window seat next to the toilet for a middle seat at the front of the main cabin.

However, the travel experts suggest that a seat trade proposal where you are offering a comparable seat to your fellow passenger is generally viewed as acceptable, even if its for a reason such as wanting to be near your spouse or friends, or [because you] have a very tight layover.

Its always worth the ask, the website states.

While there may be times when a seat swap request is acceptable, one of the biggest travel etiquette misjudgements a traveller can make is to take a fellow passengers seat without asking, according to The Points Guy. A cardinal rule of seat swaps is that you should never take someone elses seat before they board, the blog states.

As for how requests to swap seats should be handled by travellers, both Gottsman and The Points Guy say that passengers should feel comfortable declining if they dont want to give up their seat.

It is perfectly fine to decline the request  no excuses necessary, Gottsman told us, before giving the concise example response: Sorry, Im going to stay here in this seat.

The Points Guy also notes that passengers are quite within their rights to decline any seat trading offer unless told to do so by a flight attendant.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Ted Cruz built his reputation as a conservative flamethrower after he led the government shutdown over Obamacare funding in 2013, cultivating the brand in his presidential campaign and beyond over the last decade.

Now, Cruz, R-Texas, is seeking to show some bipartisan credentials as he runs for re-election in a state that is becoming more competitive, which gave him a scare in his last race.

In a wide-ranging interview in his Capitol Hill office, Cruz highlighted his work as the top Republican on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and how he has teamed with Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., on legislation to require that consumers be informed if their refrigerators or other home appliances have recording capabilities.

Cruz touted his work with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., on a bipartisan bill to fight a potential ban on new or existing gas stoves.

And he spoke of his unlikely partnerships with two other Senate Democrats on the Commerce Committee  Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico and Raphael Warnock of Georgia  to help create new interstates that would boost trade and business in their states.

Oversight is one large bucket for the committee, Cruz said. And then the other large bucket is positive, bipartisan legislation that can move, that can pass into law, that is pro-jobs and pro-growth. And the Commerce Committee has a long history of passing legislation like that.

As Cruz sees it, his new perch as the ranking member of the Commerce Committee will be a boon for fellow Texans  and, in turn, beneficial for his re-election campaign. The panel covers many key industries that have deep footprints in Texas, he said, from space and airlines to telecom, tech and energy.

I think campaigns should be about issues and substance and results, Cruz said, sitting in his Russell Senate Building Office, where three of his bills that President Barack Obama signed into law hang on the wall. The Commerce Committee has vast jurisdiction over nearly half the U.S. economy. Having the responsibility of being the ranking member for the Commerce Committee is enormously beneficial to Texas.

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It gives me the ability to fight for 30 million Texans in a way that has real, meaningful impact," he added.

Tricky balancing act

Cruz survived a near-miss in his 2018 campaign, edging out Democratic rival Beto ORourke by a mere 2.6 points in the state, a Republican stronghold. ORourke spent his campaign belittling Cruz as all talk and no action  a senator whod spent six years slinging partisan arrows and delivering nothing for Texas.

To some Texans, it rang true. Cruz lost independent voters to O'Rourke, according to NBC News exit polls.

Cruz developed a reputation as a pugnacious partisan in his first year when he spurred a 17-day government shutdown in 2013 that many Republicans wanted to avoid and which failed to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Three years later, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., memorably quipped that someone could kill Cruz on the Senate floor and no senator would vote to convict.

Now, facing an unpredictable cycle that lands in a presidential election year, Cruz is trying to get ahead of those inevitable attacks from Democrats. But itll be a tricky balancing act to stay true to his right-wing firebrand persona while also trying to reach out to the types of swing voters who nearly sent him packing in 2018. Cruz has shown that side of himself in recent days by blasting the indictment of former President Donald Trump as the work of a left-wing Soros prosecutor who is making a mockery of the rule of law.

Sen. Ted Cruz holds the children's book

In his successful re-election campaign last year, Warnock barnstormed Georgia touting his work with Cruz to bolster the I-14 corridor in the South  often drawing gasps from his liberal crowds.

Now, its Cruzs turn to do the same.

Cruz recalled getting the bill over the finish line. Tom Carper from Delaware said, Well, if Cruz is for it and Warnock is for it, we ought to all be for it  and it passed unanimously to peals of laughter!

And last year, Cruz and Lujan successfully tucked language in a spending package that designates part of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor, from Laredo, Texas, to Raton, New Mexico, as a future interstate route  a critical step toward adding the 830-mile stretch to the U.S. Interstate Highway System. The pair have rolled out a separate bill that would name the corridor Interstate 27.

My experience with Sen. Cruz is weve always worked together, said Lujan, who for two cycles was House Democrats campaigns chief.

Lujan said that after he suffered a stroke last year, Cruz would often check in to see how he was doing. Its just a reminder, say hello to people, get to know them, Lujan said. You never know where youre gonna find partnerships.

'Ted is Ted'

But skeptical Democrats on the Commerce Committee still view Cruz as a partisan attack dog. Asked about Cruzs bipartisan work on the refrigerator and appliance privacy bill, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, literally rolled his eyes.

I just havent seen any evidence that Ted has changed, Schatz said. Theres not a single one of us that doesnt have one or two bipartisan bills. The question is: How do you behave on a daily basis? And I just havent seen a big change. Maybe Im wrong, and Id be happy to be proven wrong, but so far it seems like Ted is Ted.

David Bergstein, a spokesman for Democrats Senate campaign arm, was blunter: Cruz is one of the most vitriolic, least productive, bombastic, self-absorbed members of the U.S. Senate. The idea that hes a productive working member is laughable to the people of his state. Bergstein said the committee will look for opportunities to put Republicans on defense in states like Texas.

At times, Cruz offered a broad definition of bipartisan successes, counting the scuttling of two of President Joe Bidens nominees  for which he has claimed credit. Last month, Phil Washington, Bidens choice to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, dropped his nomination after Cruz attacked him as unqualified on aviation safety issues and Democrats couldnt muster enough support within their ranks to advance his nomination out of the Commerce Committee.

Weeks earlier, Gigi Sohn, Bidens pick for the Federal Communications Commission, withdrew her nomination after all Republicans and a handful of Democrats threatened to reject her. Cruz had pointed out that Sohn had made donations to a group that had attacked some key senators, including Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz.

At the end of the day, Republicans agreed, and several Democrats agreed with us, as well, Cruz said.

2024 will 'not be boring'

Cruzs prospects for re-election will depend in part on who his partys presidential nominee is. The Republican victory margin in Texas has shrunk from 16 points in the 2012 presidential election to 9 points in 2016 to less than 6 points in 2020. Yet Cruz, the runner-up to Trump in the 2016 nomination race, is resolute about staying agnostic in the 2024 primaries.

Asked what advice hed give Trumps rivals, Cruz chuckled. I am not in the business of giving advice, he said. To candidates running for president right now  I have every confidence we will have a wild and woolly primary. My focus is on running for re-election to the Senate in the state of Texas. And I have absolute certainty the presidential race will not be boring.

Meanwhile, multiple former Cruz staffers have gone to work for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whom many see as the main GOP alternative to Trump. Cruz said it simply speaks to the quality of his political team. We came in second in 2016, he said. We came very, very close to winning altogether. That team is tremendously talented.

Cruz and DeSantis, a former member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, were both first elected to Congress in 2012 and spent the next few years as troublemakers. Asked whether he believes DeSantis would make a good president, he grinned.

Good try, the usually loquacious Cruz said. I think the voters will make that determination.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The White House is scrambling to find a new leader for the Federal Aviation Administration, leaving the agency without a Senate-confirmed head as the U.S. ramps up for its busiest travel season since before the pandemic.

President Joe Bidens first choice for the job, Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington, withdrew in March after a monthslong opposition campaign led by Republican Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Roger Wicker of Mississippi. Now, even though the position has been open for more than a year, the White House is again casting about for a candidate who can make it through the Senate committee that oversees the agency, according to a dozen aviation industry insiders, lawmakers and Senate aides.

Its an especially fraught moment for the FAA to be without a leader who can take bold action as traffic surges to pre-2019 levels, delays spike and a worrying uptick in near-collisions on runways fuels safety concerns.

The agency has an acting administrator, but his decisions dont have the heft of someone with a Senate-granted mandate to lead  such as spearheading major changes that might be needed to avoid a catastrophe while also keeping up with new technologies such as drones and air taxis.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a helicopter pilot who leads the Senate subcommittee in charge of the FAA, said bluntly that she's been frustrated with the delay and that a candidate needs to be put up as soon as possible.



The Republican crusade against Washington created partisan rifts that could leave the post vacant for months to come. Washington, a former municipal transit official and member of Bidens transition team, didnt have any aviation experience until he took the top job at Denvers airport in 2021. Cruz and Wicker, both senior lawmakers on the Senate Commerce Committee, repeatedly hammered his nomination as a patronage hire.

But now, Cruz has embraced the person whod likely be confirmed by the Senate the fastest  Billy Nolen, the acting administrator of the FAA and a former pilot and safety expert. That may tarnish Nolens chances with Democrats, who are still angry that Cruz torpedoed Washingtons nomination.

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Shortly before Washington withdrew, Cruz publicly floated the idea that he would support Nolen for the job.

A number of Democrats have expressed privately to me that they think it is a reasonable suggestion, Cruz said in an interview last week. To be clear, I dont know Billy Nolen, its not like hes a Republican or a friend of mine. He was Joe Bidens choice to be acting administrator, he just happens to be qualified for the job.

Nolen was a long-time pilot for American Airlines before taking on safety-related roles at American and Airlines for America, a trade association representing major U.S. airlines. He then held safety-related executive roles at Qantas and WestJet before joining the FAA as associate administrator for aviation safety in early 2022. Nolen held that role for less than four months before becoming acting administrator.

Whether or not the White House wants to elevate Nolen, hes clearly acting the part, including television appearances and a high-profile decision to call a safety summit to try to get ahead of cracks in the system that may be behind the recent uptick in near misses.

"Hes [Nolen] clearly running for it. Im not sure Cruzs endorsement helps him though," said one aviation industry lobbyist who was granted anonymity to describe private conversations about the White House's stance. "What Ive heard is the White House is going to nominate someone in the next couple weeks. I dont think they are asking the Hill what they want."



The White House did not respond to requests for comment. But after Washington withdrew, the White House pledged to pick a new nominee quickly and blamed Washingtons exit on a Republican smear campaign.

Senators on the Commerce Committee last week confirmed that the White House hadn't reached out to them about a potential nominee, though Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), a major supporter of Washington's, said he would prefer someone who isnt already working at the FAA. So far, Nolen has yet to pick up any public support from Senate Democrats.

In supporting Washington, some Democrats  including Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who chairs the Commerce Committee vetting the nomination, have said they prefer someone not part of the revolving door of the aerospace industry.

In the Senate, Democratic ire is also focused on holdouts within their own party that helped tank Washingtons nomination  chiefly Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who were noncommittal ahead of a committee vote on Washingtons nomination. That vote ultimately was postponed at the last minute. Washington withdrew shortly after.

Duckworth has blamed one person for the postponed vote but declined to say who.

And Senate Democratic aides also seem frustrated with the White House, with one suggesting it failed to understand the dynamics of the committee, on which Sinema sits and where Democrats have a one-vote majority.

You cant ignore Sinema, said a Democratic aide who requested anonymity to recount private conversations. The White House didnt understand it, and his confirmation hearing showed that she wasnt on board.

They also groused that the White House didn't account for Washington's relative lack of aviation experience or the perception among Republicans that his nomination was a patronage pick.

A second aviation industry representative, granted anonymity to describe private conversations, said the White House is considering potential nominees beyond Nolen and agreed that it is wary of handing Cruz another victory.

My understanding is the only person who really wants Billy is Ted Cruz, the aviation source said. The administration really seems interested in picking someone else.

Cruz said his initial endorsement of Nolen was on a whim, after turning around to speak with his staff during a Commerce Committee hearing.

I turned back to my staff and said, What do you think about Nolen? Would it be crazy for me to suggest right now that they should withdraw Washington and nominate Nolen? Cruz said on his weekly podcast. And my guys were like No, thats fine.

Duckworth said that elevating Nolen to the top FAA job would be "relatively smooth" because he's already in a senior position, though she was not explicitly backing Nolen for the job.

"He's already inside the agency. It would be relatively smooth in terms of him stepping up in that way, but I have not talked to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle," Duckworth said. "He's one of the names that gets floated on a regular basis."

But Duckworth was referring to the potential confirmation process should Nolen garner Democratic support, which he doesnt yet have. In the runup to the vote on Washington that the Commerce Committee abruptly abandoned, most Democrats who took a public position, including Cantwell, said they supported Washington because he doesnt have any ties to the aerospace industry. Nolen, meanwhile, has more than 30 years of experience working at airlines.

Lobbyists and representatives from the aviation industry who spoke with POLITICO, many of whom work for companies or associations that did not weigh in on Washingtons nomination, said their main priority is getting someone confirmed.

Another aviation industry lobbyist agreed that wont happen any time soon, however.

Itll be months  you have the individual work that Senate Commerce will do, the lobbyist said, adding that getting someone confirmed by this summer will be nearly impossible. We realize the timeline is not great.

Valery Miftakhov, CEO of ZeroAvia, which is developing hydrogen-powered aircraft, said not having a Senate-confirmed leader means "we cannot expect to see the FAA take anything but small steps and it will be difficult to set the strategic direction."

For instance, Miftakhov said his companys attempt to create zero emission aircraft amid growing climate concerns could end up sitting on a shelf in the FAA waiting for a willing advocate.
(This April 10 story has been corrected to read NOFORN instead of NONFORN, in paragraph 6)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. national security agencies and the Justice Department are investigating the release of dozens of classified documents to assess the damage to national security and relations with allies and other countries, including Ukraine.

Here is what we know and do not know about what appears to be the gravest leak of U.S. secrets in years:

ARE THE DOCUMENTS REAL?

U.S. officials believe most of the materials are genuine. Some, however, appear to have been altered to show inflated U.S. estimates for Ukrainian battlefield casualties since Russia invaded in February 2022, as well as understated numbers for Russian forces.

It is unclear which of the documents might have been salted with misinformation and if they could be part of a Russian misinformation operation or a U.S. scheme to mislead Moscow about Kyiv's war plans.

WHAT KINDS OF DOCUMENTS ARE THEY?

The documents, which are marked "Secret" or "Top Secret," include sensitive briefing slides on how the war in Ukraine stood in February and March this year. On Monday the Pentagon said that the documents appear to be similar to the daily updates provided to its senior leaders as well as to other intelligence updates, though there appear to be some inaccuracies.

Classification markings on the materials include NOFORN, meaning they cannot be shared with foreign intelligence agencies.

The exceptions are materials also marked FVEY, or Five Eyes, referring to the spy services of the English-speaking nations of Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Materials marked that way would have been seen by thousands of people with security clearances.

But because not all of the documents are marked FVEY, U.S. officials believe whoever leaked them could be American.

Some documents are additionally marked FISA, meaning they were collected under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the law that governs the U.S. monitoring of electronic communications.

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HOW WERE THE DOCUMENTS LEAKED?

U.S. officials do not yet know how the documents found their way online.

Pictures of creased documents - suggesting that they might have been folded so they could be hidden before being removed from the top-secret spaces to which such materials are confined and photographed - were posted to social media sites.

Those platforms included Discord, an instant messaging platform popular with gamers, the online messaging board 4Chan, the encrypted Telegram global messaging app, and Twitter.

Although the documents only garnered widespread attention in the last few days, the open source investigation site Bellingcat said it had found evidence that the documents  or at least some of them  had appeared on social media as far back as March or even January.

In an article about the documents' "improbable journey," Bellingcat traced the earliest references to the leak to a now-defunct Discord server and cited three former users as saying that a large number of documents had been shared there.

WHAT DO THE DOCUMENTS SAY?

The documents cover a wide range of topics of interest to U.S. policymakers, including:

- Ukraine: Details about Ukrainian air strikes, the country's air defense vulnerabilities, and even the size of some Ukrainian military units.

- Wagner group: Descriptions of a number of outreach efforts by the Russian mercenary group, including to Turkish "contacts," Haitian government officials, and the organization's growing presence in Mali.

- Middle East: Updates related to Iran's nuclear activities as well as information about how the United Arab Emirates is in talks with Russia to help build a maintenance center for some weapons.

- China: Predictions about how China would respond to Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, along with details about British plans in the Indo-Pacific region.

- North Korea: Details about missile tests by Pyongyang and an assessment that a February parade likely oversold the ICBM threat to the United States.

- South America: Information about Brazilian officials' plan to visit Moscow in April to discuss a Ukraine mediation scheme.

- Africa: An assessment that France is likely to struggle to achieve security goals in west and central Africa.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay, Idrees Ali and Raphael Satter; Editing by Don Durfee and Rosalba O'Brien)
Alex Cochran, Deseret News

Think of it like Americas most wanted list for perpetrators of religious violence. Each year, the State Department names and shames the countries most guilty of restricting religious freedom. But rather than seeking high-profile arrests, U.S. government officials seek a safer future.

Pressure from both governmental and nongovernmental organizations is key to bringing about meaningful change.

Some 80% of the worlds population still cannot practice their faith without serious restrictions or risk. And that has consequences for us all. Time after time, weve seen how religious persecution can undercut stability and inclusive economic development, spiraling into violence and conflict, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Januarys International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C.

The latest list of countries of particular concern, released in November, captures the many forms religious violence can take  and the wide variety of faith groups it affects. Religious believers of all stripes are suffering, even as the movement to help them grows in the United States.

Related

The State Departments current countries of particular concern:

Burma: Minority religious groups, including Rohingya Muslims, are routinely the targets of discrimination and violence. The Rohingya are unable to travel freely within the country and leaders wont facilitate the return of Rohingya refugees to their homes.

China: The government closely tracks religious activity and severely punishes people of faith believed to pose a threat to the Chinese Communist Party. The Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim minority group, are subject to a particularly intense level of surveillance and interference. The Biden administration has classified Chinas treatment of the Uyghurs as genocide.

Cuba: Faith leaders have been beaten, detained and harassed as part of the Cuban Communist Partys effort to control religious activity within the country. The government denies official recognition to some faith groups and does not respond to applications for recognition submitted by others.

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Eritrea: Members of unregistered religious groups face imprisonment and harassment. Some are forced to renounce their beliefs to secure their release from detainment.

Iran: Iran is an Islamic republic, and members of minority religious groups can face imprisonment over accusations that theyve interfered with or insulted Islam. Muslim citizens are not allowed to convert or denounce their beliefs.

North Korea: People of faith experience extreme persecution, including imprisonment and torture. Human rights experts say religious exercise is nearly impossible in the country.

Nicaragua: Catholics, in particular, experience regular harassment, from interference with worship services to travel restrictions. Just this year, in February, five priests were sentenced to 10 years in prison after being accused of conspiring with pro-democracy activists.

Pakistan: The government has failed to crack down on mob violence against Christians, Hindus and members of other minority religions. Multiple people have died in recent years after being accused of blasphemy.

Russia: Jehovahs Witnesses, some evangelical Christians and others are classified as religious extremists and detained or abused as a result.

Saudi Arabia: The law does not grant a right to religious freedom. Those who dont practice Sunni Islam are vulnerable to harassment and imprisonment.

Tajikistan: The government oversees multiple aspects of religious life, regulating everything from faith-related building projects to the participation of children in church events. People of faith can face imprisonment if theyre caught associating with banned groups.

Turkmenistan: Religious groups navigate a challenging registration process in order to operate legally in the country. Even after clearing administrative hurdles, they face ongoing interference, including raids.

Policymakers can use economic sanctions, travel bans and other penalties to pressure countries of particular concern to change their ways.

The U.S. government has a number of tools at its disposal as it works to address severe religious freedom violations in these countries. Policymakers can use economic sanctions, travel bans and other penalties to pressure countries of particular concern to change their ways.

Although significant, the State Departments formal tracking and sanctioning process does not tell the whole story of whats happening around the world when it comes to religious freedom, said Sam Brownback, who served as U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom during the Trump administration. Officials often face pressure to leave certain nations off the list of countries of particular concern due to other policy priorities. And the list also sometimes fails to capture whats happening in real time.

The desk that represents a country  rarely wants it on a sanctions list. Theyll say, Look, were working with them. Youre going to make it harder to work with them, Brownback said.

The State Departments November list doesnt account for growing conflict in Azerbaijan, where Armenian Christians are struggling to access food and other resources, or Nigeria, where terrorist groups are moving in and exacerbating tensions between Christians and Muslims. These are just two of many countries that arent officially labeled countries of particular concern but are still watched closely by international religious freedom advocates, Brownback said.

In his remarks to the International Religious Freedom Summit in January, Blinken acknowledged that nongovernmental organizations play an essential role in efforts to protect people of faith around the world. He praised participants for frequently being the first to report persecution and the first to support those in desperate need.

Your courageous advocacy empowers governments like ours to press other countries for greater accountability and action, Blinken said.

Pressure from both governmental and nongovernmental organizations is key to bringing about meaningful change, Brownback said. He added that the bright spot among todays many religious freedom conflicts is how many more people are involved in bringing that pressure these days than they were in the past.

When I started doing some of this work, as someone recently reminded me, it was me and four other people in the room. Now, its a global movement that has been birthed and is learning to walk, Brownback said.
A Falls man is accused of drugging his mother before taking her to Philadelphia and fatally shooting her, according to police.

On Monday, Sean Rivera, 28, was arraigned on charges of homicide, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and drug possession with intent to deliver, as well as misdemeanors of possession of an instrument of crime, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint and recklessly endangering another person.

Falls police said Rivera killed 72-year-old Carol Clark, who was reported missing Sunday.

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What did police say happened to Carol Clark?

Rivera told authorities he purchased takeout for he and his mother sometime between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday night, according to his criminal complaint. He told police he put fentanyl in his mother's iced tea, court documents state.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is more potent than heroin.

Sometime between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Sunday, Rivera placed his mother in her wheelchair and put her into her Toyota RAV4, according to officials. Clark had limited mobility and used a wheelchair or needed help walking.

She was conscious but in a "lethargic state" because of the fentanyl, when Rivera took her, officials said.

Rivera took his mother from their home in the 500 block of Berwyn Road to a shed on a property in the 4300 block of Waln Street in Philadelphia, charging documents state. He then shot her with a handgun multiple times, police allege.

Rivera took bolt cutters and removed the lock from the shed, put his mother in the shed, then replaced the lock, according to court documents. Investigators found her body in the shed early Monday morning.

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How did the police begin investigating Carol Clarks disappearance?

Police began investigating Clarks disappearance Sunday afternoon, when Riveras brother, who lives in New York, was having a dispute over her whereabouts with Rivera.

Riveras criminal complaint states he texted his brother 911 about 7:30 a.m. Sunday. He called Rivera, who told him Clark had died, and that he has to come to Pennsylvania, court documents state.

When he arrived about 9 a.m., Rivera told his brother that she got sick and died, police said. He told her she was at a hospital in the Frankford section of Philadelphia.

Rivera's brother checked with nearby hospitals and could not find their mother. When he returned to the home, Rivera again told him she was at a hospital in Frankford, prompting his brother to check again.

When he returned to the home again, Rivera was not there, the brother called 911.

Sunday was Clark's birthday, and Riveras brother had sent her a text message the night before, but had not heard anything. Additionally, Clark had plans for Sunday. It was unlike her to not respond to a text message.

Carol Clark, 72, of Falls, was fatally shot by her son Sunday, Falls police said.

Officers search for Carol Clark of Falls

When police arrived, they searched the home, which was cluttered and had hoarder conditions . They could not do much of a search because of the condition of the home, however they did find Clarks vehicle in the driveway.

Rivera later showed up and told them his brother should be concerned about his mothers whereabouts, according to police. Investigators tried calling her, but could not reach her. Using cellphone data, police tracked her phone to the area of Forest Road and Sherwood Drive in Yardley, however they could not find her or the phone, court documents state.

On Sunday night, police sent out a press release in hopes to find her.

After the search for the phone, police spoke to Rivera again, who admitted to drugging and killing his mother, police said.

When searching the home, investigators found two handguns that belonged to Rivera, court documents state. Police said they also found a receipt for a padlock that was used on the shed.

Rivera was arraigned on the charges Monday morning and was sent to Bucks County Prison without bail.

Falls Police Chief Nelson Whitney said his department had not been called to the house for any previous domestic calls either.

Rivera's preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for April 26. He did not have an attorney listed for him Monday.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Falls man accused of drugging, killing mother in Philadelphia
The family of 22-year-old Jada Johnson, who police in Fayetteville, North Carolina, shot and killed last year, has filed a federal lawsuit against two officers and the city.

Attorneys Harry Daniels and Carnell Johnson filed the complaint on behalf of Johnsons grandparents, Richard and Maria Iwanski.

The couple claims two police officers, Sgt. Timothy Rugg and Officer Zacharius Borom, violated the young womans civil rights when they fatally shot her in front of them and Johnsons daughter, Atlanta Black Star reported.

The grieving grandmother told WTVD Johnson knew something was going to happen to her, and she worried about her daughter being taken care of after she was gone.

I know Im not going to be here much longer, and she said, Promise me youre going to take care of my baby,' Iwanski recalled.

Atlanta Black Star obtained the 36-page complaint, stating Johnson had a mental health crisis at her home on July 1, 2022.

Attorneys claim law enforcement knew the 22-year-old and were aware of her mental health issues from past visits to the residence.

They also knew about Johnsons history of domestic abuse from her ex-boyfriend, Devante Shamar Britton-Watson. However, the legal team says Rugg and Borom seemingly ignored the womans hysteria and mental illness. When officers arrived at the home, they initially had planned to arrest her for excessively making 911 calls, fearing Watson was stalking her.

Johnson said she feared her ex-boyfriend would assault her again and pleaded for the police to take her to the hospital. But, according to the suit, the officers could not take the young woman to the hospital because no ambulances were available.

Shortly after, Johnson pulled out a gun and placed the weapon to her head. Then, as Rugg and Borom drew their guns, the 22-year-old started making statements about her death. She told the police to kill her and leave her family alone, the suit reads.

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After negotiating with the woman to put the gun down, Rugg allegedly attacked Johnson and threw her to the ground. Moments later, Borom fired 17 rounds into the young woman, killing her. An autopsy report stated Johnson was shot in the head twice, once in the right forearm, three times in the shoulder area and 11 times in the torso, according to the suit, the Fayetteville Observer reported.

The attorneys and Johnsons family claim the two officers used excessive force against the young woman, leading to the wrongful death suit. Attorney Xavier T. De Janon also said the officers had multiple opportunities to de-escalate the situation since they were aware of her mental health issues.

The officers had multiple opportunities to de-escalate a mental health crisis. The officers of Fayetteville Police Department actually knew Jada already earlier that week. And instead of de-escalating a person clearly facing a mental health crisis, she was not a threat to anyone but herself, De Janon told WTVD.

There was no struggle. She didnt fight back. She didnt do anything. She just laid there, and they killed her and murdered her in front of me, Rick said of his granddaughter.

According to Atlanta Black Star, a portion of the shooting was captured on the familys Ring camera at the residence. Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons ruled the family and attorneys could review the footage but were not permitted to speak about it.

Jada Johnson was afraid for her life, said Johnson. It turns out, she had good reason to be afraid. It just wasnt from the abusive ex-boyfriend she believed was outside. It was from the police that were sworn to protect her.
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With all the hype surrounding the highly anticipated Barbie movie, it's natural for some folks to have passionate opinions about the cast members playing pivotal roles. But as Ryan Gosling receives mixed reviews for his upcoming interpretation of Ken, fans are defending his portrayal of the character via a resurfaced video going viral on TikTok.

When the trailer for the film debuted in early April, many viewers had thoughts about Ryan's approach to playing Barbie (Margot Robbie)'s famous significant other. But as people commented on whether The Notebook star aesthetically fits the look associated with the doll, one person found a way to refute the claims entirely.

When user @sunflowermix posted a throwback video of Ryan on TikTok, fans saw the young actor effortlessly perform an electric solo onstage. To drive the message home, they wrote on the 30-second clip of him dancing to Cathy Dennis' "Touch Me (All Night Long)": "'Ryan Gosling isn't fit to play Ken,' explain this then."

As the TikTok quickly reached over 8 million views on the app, people began to realize that Ryan's innate enthusiasm for dancing made him the perfect candidate to portray Ken, who has been described as "confident" and "a dreamer." What's more, once TikTok watchers realized Ryan had this contagious energy coming from within, they added to the conversation with their own agreement in the comments.

"Born with Kenergy," one person wrote. "Please, he invented Ken ," another user added. "He didn't even have to audition [for Barbie], they just saw this video lol," a different fan exclaimed.

For further context, the surprise clip from Ryan's pre-acting days actually comes with a funny backstory. As the actor disclosed on The Graham Norton Show in January 2017, he performed in a dance troupe called the Elite Dance Studio, which competed in talent shows throughout his native Canada. According to Ryan, he was invested in the performance beyond striking impressive moves.

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"I wish someone had said 'Here you have to wear this,'" he said on the show about his outfit. "But that was my idea. I thought 'I have a vision for this number and it's a purple [top] and silver hammer pants' ... I just shimmied my way to that tiny little trophy."

While it's still a while before Barbie hits theaters on July 21, fans can all agree: should Ken perform a dance number, Ryan would easily ace it.

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(Bloomberg) -- The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed records from FBI Director Christopher Wray tied to efforts to convince mainline Catholic parishes to help investigate radical extremism within their churches.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The subpoena, the committee said, stems from a document from the Richmond, Va. field office entitled Interest of Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists in Radical-Traditionalist Catholic Ideology Almost Certainly Presents New Mitigation Opportunities.

This information is outrageous and only reinforces the committees need for all FBI material responsive to our request, Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan wrote to Wray on Monday.

Within the document, Jordan said, the FBI expressed an interest in leveraging existing sources and developing new sources with the placement and access to report on suspicious activity. Those included developing sources within the local diocesan leadership, Jordan said.

Americans must be free to exercise their fundamental First Amendment rights without worrying that the FBI may have planted so-called tripwire sources or other informants in their houses of worship, Jordan wrote.

There was no immediate response from Wray, but he told senators last month that the document does not reflect FBI standards and the bureau took steps immediately to withdraw it and remove it from FBI systems.

We do not conduct investigations based on religious affiliation or practices, full stop, Wray told the Senate Intelligence Committee. We have also now ordered our inspection division to take a look at how this happened and try to figure out how we can make sure something like this doesnt happen again.

Story continues

Department of Justice spokeswoman Emma Dulaney declined to comment on the subpoena.

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Federal agencies are investigating after the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department became aware of a network disruption, which affected a limited number of its systems over the weekend.

Federal agencies are investigating a network disruption at San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department, which affected a limited number of its systems.

Sheriffs officials became aware of the incident on Saturday, according to county officials. The county says it immediately secured the network and is working with its information technology staff and third-party forensic specialists to investigate.

County officials have referred the incident to partnering law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.

It is unknown whether the incident involved a cyberattack or other threat against the sheriffs department.

The investigation into the matter is ongoing, according to sheriffs officials, who said they were unable to provide further details.

Computer network disruptions

Last year, College of the Desert in Palm Desert worked to mitigate the impacts of what administrators described as a "computer network disruption," college spokesman Nicholas Robles told News Channel 13.

College administrators said they contacted the FBI as soon as they found out something was wrong. School administrators worked to restore any staff and student email accounts, phone lines, and school servers that were not operating.

In 2020, the college's website experienced a malware attack, wiping out access to online services and email.

The FBI and DHS did not return messages.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: FBI to investigate 'network disruption' at sheriffs department
Free phone charging services found at airports, bus stops, and shopping malls may be compromised by hackers, the FBI has warned. Mike Coppola/Getty Images

The FBI warned people to avoid using free phone-charging stations found in hotels, airports, and other public places.

Hackers can insert malware or monitoring software into phones through charging ports, the agency said.

A Los Angeles deputy district attorney once warned that "a free charge could end up draining your bank account."

The FBI is warning people to steer clear of free cell phone-charging stations.

According to the agency, hackers have figured out how to gain access to cell phones plugged into the charging ports and can introduce malware or monitoring software onto cell phones and other devices.

Free phone-charging stations are often found in shopping centers, airports, and hotels. Some cities also offer free charging at public bus stops.

However, the FBI's Denver office tweeted that it's best to "carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet" rather than relying on the free chargers.

The FBI's Denver office confirmed to Insider that its tweet was a public service announcement for consumers. The agency did not confirm whether it has seen an uptick in these cases.

The FBI is not the only agency to raise alarm bells about this scheme: in 2021, the Federal Communications Commission issued a warning about "juice jacking."

"Malware installed through a dirty USB port can lock a device or export personal data and passwords directly to the perpetrator. Criminals can use that information to access online accounts or sell it to other bad actors," an FCC release from the time said.

Charging stations that have USB cords already plugged in could signal a hack, according to a report in the New York Times.

"A free charge could end up draining your bank account," Luke Sisak, a Los Angeles deputy district attorney, said in a warning first reported by the Times.

Bad actors are constantly innovating to find new ways to trick unsuspecting consumers into handing over money: last summer, Insider's Avery Hartmans was a victim of a complicated "sim-swapping" scheme that resulted in scammers charging $10,000 to her Chase credit card. Read her investigation into the plot here.

Read the original article on Business Insider
As part of its effort to identify extremists in the Catholic Church, the FBI recruited at least one undercover employee to develop sources among the clergy and church leadership, Representative Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) revealed Monday.

Jordan, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, issued a subpoena demanding FBI director Christopher Wray testify and provide more information to Congress about the federal agencys intelligence-gathering initiative targeting Catholic Americans.

This shocking information reinforces our need for all responsive documents, and the Committee is issuing a subpoena to you to compel your full cooperation, Jordan claimed in the letter.

We now know the FBI, relying on information derived from at least one undercover employee, sought to use local religious organizations as new avenues for tripwire and source development. Chilling. pic.twitter.com/X6Ksb9ryoM  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) April 10, 2023

Americans attend church to worship and congregate for their spiritual and personal betterment, the letter added. They must be free to exercise their fundamental First Amendment rights without worrying that the FBI may have planted so-called tripwire sources or other informants in their houses of worship.

The weaponization committee demanded that the FBI turn over information related to its investigation of Catholics after a former FBI agent leaked a memo entitled, Interest of Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists in Radical-Traditionalist Catholic Ideology Almost Certainly Presents New Mitigation Opportunities. The memo, issued by the bureaus Richmond field office, relied on information compiled by the biased Southern Poverty law Center about alleged extremist Catholic communities that prefer the Latin Mass and hold to conservative social teachings.

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In making this assessment, FBI Richmond relied on the key assumption that [racially or ethnically motivated extremists] will continue to find [radical-traditionalist Catholic or RTC] ideology attractive and will continue to attempt to connect with RTC adherents, both virtually via social media and in-person at places of worship, the January, 23 memo states.

Jordan wrote in the Monday letter that the FBI has not been sufficiently responsive to demands for further documents related to the investigation of Catholics, and demanded that Wray explain the lack of cooperation. The documents the FBI has turned over reveal that the bureau sought to enlist Catholic houses of worship as potential sources to monitor and report on their parishioners, according to the letter.

The memo that prompted Jordans oversight efforts was retracted after being made public, and FBI director Wray earlier condemned it during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in March.

When I first learned of the piece I was aghast, and we took steps immediately to withdraw it and remove it from FBI systems. It does not reflect FBI standards. We do not conduct investigations based on religious affiliation or practices, full stop. We have also now ordered our Inspection Division to take a look at how this happened and try to figure out how we can make sure something like this doesnt happen again, Wray said at the time.

I will note it was a product by one field office, which, of course we have scores and scores of these products. And when we found out about it, we took action. Were also taking steps to reinforce with our workforce, all of the long standing policies we have that speak to this kind of thing. Weve got refresher training for the relevant employees, etc. And we do not and will not target people for religious beliefs, and we do not and will not monitor peoples religious practices.

A virtually identical sentiment was echoed by the FBIs acting assistant director of congressional affairs, Christopher Dunham, in an agency response to an earlier inquiry by Jordan published on March 23.

The report did not meet the FBIs exacting standards and was withdrawn, Dunham said. Upon learning of the document, FBI Headquarters removed it from our internal system. The FBI also initiated a review  which is now ongoing.

Moreover, the FBI is not anti-Catholic in any way, shape, or form, and does not target people of any faith because of their religious beliefs.

Attorney generals from 20 Republican-led states have condemned the memo and demanded more information from Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland.

We already knew that President Biden was launching an attack on the First Amendment rights of Americans, as evidenced by our landmark free speech case Missouri v. Biden, but now its clear that hell weaponize unelected federal bureaucrats to go after any American who doesnt worship the right way, Andrew Bailey, the Republican attorney general of Missouri, said in a statement following the FBI revelation.

Wray is the most senior official to be subpoenaed by the new Republican House leadership.

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A view of the pickup area for ride-hailing companies and taxis east of Terminal 1 at Los Angeles International Airport. The plaza features umbrellas, bathrooms and phone-charging stations. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Federal officials are again warning travelers to avoid using public USB charging stations  often found in airports, hotels or other travel hubs  because the docks can be altered to introduce malware or tracking software onto personal devices.

The FBI recently reminded people that the safest option is to use an electrical outlet with a personal USB cord and charger, or use a portable charger.

It doesn't appear the recent warning was tied to a particular incident simply a reminder of the problem, which has become a growing concern in recent years.

Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers. Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead. pic.twitter.com/9T62SYen9T  FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) April 6, 2023

In 2019, the Los Angeles County district attorney warned about the crime that has become known as "juice jacking," telling Californians to watch out for public charging stations or USB cords. That advisory said scammers have found a ways to introduce malware that can lock someone's device or export data and passwords.

The Federal Communications Commission, which has warned about the cybertheft tactic since 2021, provides these tips to avoid being the victim of such a crime:





Bring your own charger for an electrical outlet, a car charger, and your own USB cables when traveling.

Carry a portable charger or external battery.

Consider carrying a charging-only cable, which prevents data from sending or receiving while charging, from a trusted supplier.

Using public WiFi networks and Bluetooth connections can also be vulnerable to hackers or cyber crimes, the FCC warned.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Well before a federal judge in Texas issued his ruling on the abortion drug mifepristone, abortion providers across the country said they had been preparing for what they called a "worst-case scenario."

In his April 7 decision, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas ruled in favor of Alliance Defending Freedom -- a conservative Christian legal advocacy group -- that asked him to reverse the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, an oral medication typically taken with misoprostol to end a pregnancy.

The advocacy group's lawsuit said mifepristone is unsafe and that the FDA didn't study it closely enough before approving its use. The FDA and mainstream medical doctors insist this isnt true, and that there have been no safety concerns during the 23 years the drug has been on the market.

Now, Kacsmaryk's issuing of a nationwide injunction on mifepristone -- set to take effect by Friday -- may impact as many as 64 million women of childbearing age in the U.S.

"This is something that can cause confusion. It's something that can cause fear," Dr. Gopika Krishna, a board-certified OB-GYN in New York, told ABC News of both the lawsuit and the judge's decision. "And that affects our patients and our patients' understanding of what's available to them and what options are safe."

Here are six questions answered by abortion providers and reproductive policy experts about how the judge's decision may impact women.

1. If I live in a state where abortion is legal, does the Texas abortion pill ruling impact me?

Yes, the injunction on mifepristone is nationwide, affecting even states where abortion, including medication abortion, is legal.

That means drug manufacturers will have to halt production and distribution of mifepristone for the U.S. market.

Eventually, after supply of the drug dwindles, patients will not be able to access mifepristone from any provider, whether it's via telehealth or inside a clinic.

Story continues

In states where abortion is legal, providers would only be able to offer in-clinic surgical procedures or opt to provide medication abortions using only one other medication, misoprostol. Doctors say that method is safe and mostly effective but can also cause more side effects.

2. When does the ruling go into effect?

For now, mifepristone remains accessible because Kacsmaryk gave the federal government seven days to appeal his ruling.

On the same day Kacsmaryk's decision was released, April 7, the Department of Justice and drugmaker Danco Laboratories, which produces the brand name version of the drug, appealed it to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

"Today's decision overturns the FDA's expert judgment, rendered over two decades ago, that mifepristone is safe and effective, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. "The Department will continue to defend the FDA's decision."

MORE: Majority of abortions in US now done with pills, data shows

GenBioPro, the manufacturer of generic mifepristone, responded to Kacsmaryk's ruling and said they were confident in the legality of the drug.

"Nothing in the court's order changes the decades of science and evidence regarding mifepristone's safety and efficacy. As we review the court's order, we will continue to make our product available," Evan Masingill, CEO of GenBioPro, said in a statement.

3. What is mifepristone and what role does it play in medication abortion?

A medication abortion involves the use of two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, taken orally.

It is not a surgical procedure, and the FDA says both medications are safe enough to be mailed to a patient following a telehealth or in-person visit from a certified provider.

PHOTO: Mifepristone (Mifeprex) and Misoprostol are seen at the Women's Reproductive Clinic in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, June 17, 2022. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

In most cases in a medication abortion, mifepristone is taken first to block the hormone progesterone. Then 24 to 48 hours later, a second pill, misoprostol, is taken to empty the uterus.

"Mifepristone is a medication that's been on the market for decades. It has many, many scientific articles and research that have supported it's safety, and it's something that is used quite often for abortion care but in other situations as well," said Krishna, also a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health. "Misoprostol is a medication that, again, has been used for many, many years, has lots of good evidence and data supporting its safety, and it's a medicine that we use not only in abortion care but in other aspects of OB-GYN care as well."

In addition to its use in abortion care, mifepristone is also used currently for miscarriage care, according to Krishna. It remains unclear how the judges ruling will impact miscarriage care. The plaintiff's had asked for the judge to only block the drug for purposes of abortion, but its possible availability will dry up since its primary purpose was to end a pregnancy.

The medication is also FDA-approved to treat patients with Cushing's syndrome, a disorder in which the body makes too much of the hormone cortisol, according to the National Institutes of Health. That medication, however, is manufactured and provided to patients at a different dose. The judges ruling would still allow for the availability of that drug.

Guidelines from the FDA, which first approved medication abortions in 2000, advise that abortion-inducing pills are safe to use up to 70 days, or 10 weeks, of pregnancy, though evidence shows it can be safe even later in pregnancy, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

While the FDA has continued to approve mifepristone for abortion care, individual states can still set laws about dispensing mifepristone within their state.

Last week, Wyoming became the first state to ban medication abortions separate from a ban on all abortion services.

4. Does the Texas ruling mean medication abortion is no longer available?

The Texas judge's ruling means that, for now, the FDA-approved method of medication abortion -- using both mifepristone and misoprostol -- is available. But that could change by Friday unless the higher court intervenes.

Abortion providers told ABC News though that they are prepared to offer misoprostol-only medication abortions in states where it is allowed.

"We are preparing a misoprostol-only regimen," said Dr. Ashley Jeanlus, a board-certified OBGYN in California. "The misoprostol regimen is a bit longer and it utilizes more pills to complete it, so we're just adjusting our clinic to be able to help patients that way."

More than one dozen states currently restrict access to medication abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

5. What is misoprostol?

Misoprostol is a medication that the FDA currently approves for the use of treating gastric ulcers.

However, there are several off-label uses for obstetrical and gynecological purposes including treating postpartum hemorrhaging and softening and opening the cervix for patients ready to give birth vaginally, experts told ABC News.

When it comes to its use in pregnancy, misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and dilates the cervix, which will expel an embryo.

A misoprostol-only regimen for abortion not only takes longer to complete, but can also come with more side effects, including nausea and diarrhea, Dr. Laura Laursen, an OB-GYN at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, previously told ABC News.

PHOTO: In this 2018 photo, mifepristone and misoprostol pills are provided at a Carafem clinic for medication abortions in Skokie, Ill. (Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, FILE)

Studies though show that while using misoprostol with mifepristone is more effective, using misoprostol-only is safe. One 2019 study found "misoprostol alone is effective and safe and is a reasonable option for women seeking abortion in the first trimester," while a larger review of data published in 2020 also found it safe and effective in terminating a pregnancy.

Rachel Jones, principal research scientist at the Guttmacher Institute, said in many cases, it will not be a quick fix for abortion providers to pivot to using a misoprostol-only regimen.

"It's not a regimen that has been used in clinical settings in the U.S. very often," Jones said, adding, "And anytime a medical practice is changed, it takes it a while for everything to get in place and running smoothly."

Krishna said she worries the judge's ruling means providers like herself will not be able to offer patients comprehensive reproductive care.

"As clinicians, we really want to make sure that we are offering our patients all of these options and they can make a decision based on what they feel is best for them, not a decision that they have to make because of what's limited to them by law," she said. "So there are options for medication abortion with the removal of mifepristone, but it is still something that we're really worried about because it's the medically unnecessary removal of a medication that we know is safe."

6. Could the Texas judges abortion pill ruling be overturned?

Yes, the ruling can go through an appeals process, meaning it would move to higher courts for other judges to decide.

Jones said that for abortion rights advocates, there is "not a lot of hope" for the appeals process given previous rulings by courts that would see the case.

MORE: Women's health doctors say they feel increased scrutiny amid abortion bans

Ultimately, the case could go as high as the U.S. Supreme Court, the same court that last year overturned Roe v. Wade, the constitutional right to abortion that had been the law in the U.S. for almost 50 years.

ABC News' Mary Kekatos, Anne Flaherty and Nadine El-Bawab contributed to this report.

Federal judge bans abortion pill: What the ruling means for women across the country originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
The Telegraph was granted access to speak with two prisoners of war, recently captured by the AFU as they were fighting in separatist units of the Russian military. L to R: Bohdan and Yevhen. - Paul Grover for the Telegraph

It was on February 23 last year that Yevhen was mobilised to fight in Putins special military operation.

In the weeks before, he received a letter summoning him to sign up for duty, and if he declined, Moscows penalty was cruel: imprisonment.

The 45-year-old Ukrainian was living in the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) in the eastern region of Donbas, an area under the control of Moscow-backed separatists since 2014.

Despite never handling a weapon before, he signed a document from the Russian authorities that sent him to the trenches ill-equipped and ill-prepared.

I had no choice  and I feel ashamed, Yevhen told The Telegraph.

He has since been captured by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), after spending more than a year fighting for the Russians.

The Telegraph was granted access to speak with two prisoners of war, who were recently captured by the AFU as they were fighting in separatist units of the Russian military.

Forcibly conscripted

The prisoners descriptions of how they were forcibly conscripted - rounded up, handed old Soviet weapons and ordered to shoot without proper training - matches similar accounts from across separatist-held territory in the Donbas.

Before the war, many people living under separatist rule in the DPR or neighbouring Luhansk Peoples Republic (LPR) were avowedly pro-Russian. The number has dwindled, however, amid reports that the Kremlin used separatist fighters as cannon fodder to protect units recruited from inside Russia.

Civilians in the Donbas have been warning online since last summer that local men were being subjected to mogilisation, a play on the Russian word graves.

Yevhen: I had no choice  and I feel ashamed. - Paul Grover for the Telegraph

The officers conducting research with the POWs for the AFU told The Telegraph they had spotted several trends among the prisoners from the Wagner Group to those fighting with the DPR and LPR.

They all talk about the extremely terrible treatment they receive from their commanders, they said.

They are cannon fodder, without a doubt. That is, they are not people, but simply impersonal instruments for achieving Russias goals.

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Shot for not following orders

The officer said several prisoners described themselves as disposable, having heard their superiors issue commands to colleagues where they demanded: Give us a few disposables - we need to do an assault.

According to the prisoners we speak to, they are forced to use blocking detachments, which means they cannot retreat, regardless of anything, one of the senior AFU officers added.

Otherwise, their own military personnel are shot for not following orders.

The officer added that the regular Russian army considers themselves to be Gods, and they are almost always behind everyone else, on the third line or further back, rarely engage in dirty work, do not go to the frontlines, do not dig trenches, [and] have constant rotations and vacations.

They are always well-equipped and have everything they need, he said.

Poor equipment and training

For Yevhen, the equipment he was issued was not only substandard, but he was not sufficiently trained on how to fire it.

We were not respected, he said, as he dabbed his face with a wet wipe to remove sweat and dirt.

Yevhen agreed to speak with The Telegraph in a private outdoor space in the Donbas, where he explained what happened after he was rounded up by Russian forces.

We were issued with clothes and taught theory, he said.

There were theoretical drills on the assembly and disassembly of the assault rifle. Thats it. There was no such tactical training, only theoretical. It was chaos. The Russian army is just destructive and chaotic.

Bohdan: I didn't want to fight. I had no desire, no mood." - Paul Grover for the Telegraph

Yevhen, who worked as an electrician and cared for his elderly mother before the war, criticised the behaviour of his commanders during the occupation of towns and villages in the Donetsk region.

The commanders were looting a lot, he said. They just cleared out flats because they had equipment to take it all out.

Now, Yevhen wonders whether being jailed would have been better than signing up to fight.

Ukrainian troops would have come and freed us, he said.

Thats the way it should be. Because its just the devastation that's been left behind by our army - its an absolute horror, a disaster.

I wont take a gun in my hands again

As for fighting other people born in Ukraine, he said it felt disgusting.

"I won't take a gun in my hands again, no matter what. If needed, I will go to jail.

The Telegraph also spoke to Bohdan, 38, who said he had a normal office job before he was mobilised.

Both Yevhen and Bohdan maintained that they did not engage in close combat fighting. They said they had been working as guards, providing security to occupied buildings when they were captured.

However, the AFU disputes this story, stating that the men were found with machine guns and had been fighting in the trenches when they were captured.

Bohdan claimed that on the day he was mobilised, he left for work as normal, kissing his wife and child goodbye as he headed out the door.

Having arrived at his office shortly after 9am, Russian authorities turned up, and told him and his colleagues they either had to agree to fight or be jailed.

The last time he saw his wife and child was when they came to a sorting office later that day with a number of his documents and a few clothes.

Bohdan has not seen them since.

I didn't want to fight. I had no desire, no mood, he said, lighting up a cigarette.

He has no idea what his fate will be as a prisoner of war. His only hope is for the war to end.

I wish the war would just end and all people would live, and that no civilians would die - neither civilians nor military, Bohdan said.

Just end the war.

* The prisoners names have been changed.
A Florida teacher was managing a real-life fight club in her classroom, police say. Now, she faces years behind bars.

Angel Drew Footman, of Tallahassee, was arrested Wednesday and charged with four counts of contributing to child delinquency, court records show. A Google search listed the 23-year-old as a teacher on Griffin Middle Schools website, though her name no longer appears on the site as of Monday evening.

Footman landed on polices radar when a school resource officer heard the 6th grade teacher was organizing brawls during school hours, according to court records.

School administrators learned of the alleged fight club when parents shared videos of students taking swings at each other, according to court records. The three videos captured girls at each others throats while Footman was standing nearby or sitting at her desk.

The fight club, according to court records, even had four rules: 30 seconds. No screaming, no yelling, no phones.

At least three school administrators, police say, identified Footmans voice in the recordings, where she said things like: Stop pulling hair and Break it up.

The four girls caught fighting on camera admitted to participating in the clashes and said the fights were not only pre-planned but endorsed by Footman, court records reveal.

Additionally, court records detail two of the girls telling police that Footman asked if they wanted to come back during her planning period to run it back. Footman never reported the scuffles to the school administration.

If convicted, Footman can face up to a year behind bars for each charge.
A 25-year-old bank employee opened fire at his workplace Monday in Louisville, in the US state of Kentucky, killing five people and wounding at least eight others in a livestreamed attack before police shot and killed him.

After an initial death toll of four, Louisville authorities announced in the evening that a fifth victim, a 57-year-old woman, had died of her injuries.

Police identified the gunman in the latest US mass killing as a white man named Connor Sturgeon and said he was an employee of Old National Bank, located downtown in Kentucky's largest city.

After receiving reports of gunfire in the bank at 8:38 am (1238 GMT), police were on the scene within three minutes. The suspect shot at officers, who returned fire and killed him, interim police chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel told an afternoon press conference.

"His weapon of choice was a rifle," she said without specifying if it was an assault weapon of the kind often used in the massacres that have become tragically common in the United States.

Gwinn-Villaroel confirmed that the shooter, whose age was at first reported as 23 but later updated by police to 25, had broadcast live video of the attack on Instagram.

A spokesperson for Meta, the social media app's parent company, told AFP that it was "in touch with law enforcement and quickly removed the livestream of this tragic incident this morning."

There was no immediate word on the suspect's motive, but CNN cited a law enforcement source as saying he had just been informed he was losing his job.

Gwinn-Villaroel said that three people were in critical condition, including a police officer who took a bullet to the head.

One of those victims later succumbed to her injuries, the Louisville Police Department said, adding to another woman and three men killed in the attack -- all aged between 40 and 64 years old.

One of the men killed, Tommy Elliot, 63, was a friend of the Louisville mayor and of the Democratic governor of Kentucky. The latter said he once ran a campaign out of the building where the shooting took place.

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"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career. Helped me become governor. Gave me advice on being a good dad," Andy Beshear told the news conference, visibly shaken.

"He was an incredible friend," the governor said.

This was the latest spasm in a gun crisis that has left more than 4,900 people dead of firearm-related violence already in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

President Joe Biden -- who is pushing for lawmakers in Washington to break a years-long deadlock and take action against gun violence -- voiced frustration after the latest "senseless" killings.

"Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives," Biden wrote on Twitter, adding: "When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?"

The White House later said that Biden had spoken by phone with Beshear.

- Windows 'blown out' -

The incident triggered a massive police deployment outside the Old National Bank building.

CNN reported that some people had been able to take refuge in the bank vault and lock themselves in -- contacting police from inside.

Fox affiliate WDRB cited a witness saying she heard multiple gunshots and breaking glass while in her car at an intersection near the site.

"Gunfire erupted, like, right over my head," said the woman, who gave her name only as Debbie. "When I turned, I saw that one of the windows in the bank had been blown out," she added.

The United States, a country of around 330 million people, is awash with some 400 million guns, and deadly mass shootings are a regular occurrence.

Efforts to tighten gun controls have for years run up against opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of the constitutional right to bear arms. The political paralysis endures despite widespread outrage over recurring shootings.

In the latest illustration of the deadlock, two Tennessee lawmakers were expelled from the state legislature last week after staging a floor protest calling for tougher gun control, in the wake of a deadly shooting at an elementary school in Nashville.

Monday's mass shooting in Louisville was the 146th of the year according to the Gun Violence Archive -- which defines such acts as incidents in which four or more people were shot or killed, excluding the assailant.

sw/dw/des/qan
Back in October, when Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo issued an ominous warning that young men shouldnt get the COVID vaccine because it might cause heart problems, he seemed to be acting more as a politician than a doctor.

His advice ran counter to recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The analysis he cited was not peer-reviewed, had no named authors and was missing key details in the methodology section.

Top epidemiologists and doctors blasted his conclusions, with the director of the Institute for Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins University, Daniel Salmon, telling Politico that it looked like politics driving science. And the result is you get terrible science.

Now more information has come to light. And it makes Ladapo and the state health department look even more irresponsible  and more political. According to draft versions of the state-produced analysis obtained by the Tampa Bay Times through Floridas public records law, Florida had data showing that contracting COVID-19 was actually much riskier than the vaccine  about five times riskier when it came to cardiac-related deaths.

Yet, by the time the analysis made it online for Floridians to see  it was posted by the Florida Department of Health  that critically important bit of data was missing. And it was never mentioned by Ladapo.

Sketchy medical advice

Ladapo, remember, also promoted Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as legitimate treatments for COVID  they are not  and said last year that the state is against COVID vaccines for children. (The vaccines are considered safe and effective for children.)

Three epidemiologists who reviewed the drafts told the Tampa Bay Times that leaving the information out means the recommendation is so flawed it should be rescinded. Not massaged. Not tweaked. Rescinded.

One  Matt Hitchings, an infectious-disease epidemiologist and professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida  called it a grave violation of research integrity.

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And yet how many young men and their parents relied on Ladapos guidance and made decisions that could have created far more risk for individuals than the shot?

Ladapo told the Times that his decisions are led by the raw science  not fear. But what about the other raw science, the part that said getting COVID was a lot riskier than getting the shot?

The Florida Department of Health responded to our request for more information about the data that was excluded by pointing to a Twitter thread by Ladapo. It discussed bias in disease reporting and said that most mild cases dont appear in databases. In it, he said that COVID has corrupted scientists ability to think clearly about epidemiology and added that its sad that people rush to defend a vaccine that has shown increased cardiovascular risk in multiple studies.

But that still leaves us wondering: Why not simply post all the data?

The risk is mild

As weve said before, it is true that COVID vaccines can cause heart inflammation in young men and boys, but thats a rare occurrence, and symptoms are typically temporary and mild. The protective effect of the vaccine is widely considered to outweigh the risks. Hundreds of millions of people have gotten the vaccines in this country alone.

Well never know for sure how much damage Ladapo and the state health department have done by taking this position. They hold sway over some folks  though asking your own doctor is generally the best idea when it comes to medical advice.

But we do know this: By removing critical information from the COVID risk analysis, Florida is continuing to create mistrust in the health system. Thats doing a disservice to us all  not least, Ladapo himself.
Photo: Getty Images

A devastating new story in the Washington Post details how Floridas 15-week abortion ban almost killed a woman, despite the fact that the ban nominally has exceptions in place for the health of the pregnant person. The reporting comes as the state works to finalize a ban after six weeks of pregnancy, which likely presidential contender Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is expected to sign.



In mid-December, Anya Cook was nearly 16 weeks pregnant when her water brokelong before a fetus could survive outside the womb. Cook went to an emergency room in Coral Springs, Florida, where the doctor said she was experiencing a rare complication that occurs in less than one percent of pregnancies called pre-viability premature rupture of the membranes, or PPROM. Once the amniotic sac breaks, theres a risk of infection, which can be life-threatening even in pregnancies several weeks further along than Cooks, per the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Read more

Typically, doctors would induce labor or perform an abortion, but the ER doctor said they couldnt induce her due to the states abortion ban, so they sent her home. A nurse gave her antibiotics and promised to pray for her. The next day, Cook ended up miscarrying her daughter, who shed planned to call Bunny, in the bathroom of a hair salon. Her husband Derick had to sever the umbilical cord by pulling it apart with his hands. Cook told the Post that blood splattered across the floor, and according to medical records, she lost roughly half the blood in her body over the course of the day.

Paramedics rushed her to the hospital to stabilize her and remove any remaining pregnancy tissue from her uterus. The OB/GYN on call that day told Derick that Anya could die in the operating room. I will do my very best, the doctor said. But the rest is up to God. (The doctor shared this information with Anyas consent.) She was hospitalized for six days.

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Like many health exceptions to abortion bans, Floridas did not prevent this woman from almost dying. The Florida law allows abortions after 15 weeks in order to save the pregnant womans life or avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. You can see how, in this case, Cooks life was not immediately in danger after her water broke, but just the next day, she lost life-threatening amounts of blood. A hospital spokesperson said that Cook did not necessitate an abortion in the emergency department.

Former Florida state senator Kelli Stargel (R), a co-sponsor of the 15-week ban, told the Post there was no reason to add a specific exception for PPROM. The current rules are sufficient, she said, because: The bottom line is we value life, and we would like to protect life...We dont want to give a gaping exception that anyone can claim.

The Post story details how Cooks friend, Shanae Smith-Cunningham, also had her water break early in December, but at about 19 weeks. A different Florida hospital sent her home two times as her cervix was only minimally dilated and her regular OB/GYN suggested she leave the state to get an abortion. Smith-Cunningham was scared for her life after hearing what happened to Cook. If no one induces me, Im going to die, she said to her husband. The third time she showed up, her cervix was fully dilated and she delivered the fetus hours later.

Both women are Black and their stories come shortly after the news of record maternal mortality rates in the U.S.and the death rates for Black women are shamefully nearly three times higher than white women. And for every person who dies from pregnancy, another 70 women come close to dying.

Hospitals turning people away mid-miscarriage sadly isnt a new phenomenon as Catholic hospitals have been doing that for decades, but this kind of horror has become more common since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which led to abortion being banned or mostly banned in 14 states. Florida will soon make that number 15.

Both women had been undergoing fertility treatments and they still want to try againand could soon be doing so under an even stricter law. Cook said, Getting pregnant now feels like a death sentence.

As a six-week ban hurtles forward, it appears DeSantis is happy to let his constituents die, nearly die, or suffer greatly simply for the sake of his presidential ambitions.



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One of the terrified passengers in a pickup had to grab the steering wheel after an unknown object crashed through the windshield and knocked the driver unconscious, according to Florida authorities.

It happened April 6 on southbound Interstate 95 near Hobe Sound, about 100 miles north of Miami, Martin County Fire Rescue said in a release shared around 9:30 p.m.

An unknown object  possibly a tire  struck a truck, knocking the driver unconscious. ... A passenger had to take control and pull the vehicle over, officials said in a release. The victims didnt know what hit them.

All SB lanes of I-95 at 95 mm in Hobe Sound are closed as the driver of a truck is being airlifted to the hospital.



The driver reportedly lost consciousness & crashed, suffering serious injuries. 2 passengers had non-life threatening injuries. Unknown object struck the vehicle. pic.twitter.com/kSnz0heJis  Martin County Fire Rescue (@MartinCountyFR) April 7, 2023

The interstates southbound lanes were closed for a time so the driver could be airlifted to a hospital, officials said. Two passengers were also taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

Identities and conditions of the three have not been released.

Photos show the object struck the GMC pickups windshield just above the drivers seat, then peeled the roof back to the rear compartment.

Investigators did not find the object, but mentioned one possible explanation.

There was a trailer on the northbound side of the road  just north of the scene  missing a wheel, but there was no vehicle and no witnesses to provide information, fire rescue officials said.

Florida couple terrorized and shot by mob blocking road for illegal race, cops say

Odd 100-mph police chase involved man and dog on motorcycle, Louisiana deputies say

Deputy killed when suspect rams squad car during negotiations, Louisiana sheriff says
Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Three former Twitter executives who were terminated by Elon Musk sued the company on Monday, alleging that they are owed reimbursement for more than $1 million in legal fees.

The executives are former CEO Parag Agrawal, chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde, and chief financial officer Ned Segal.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed in Delaware Chancery Court, Twitter agreed to indemnify the execs in the case of litigation or other situations where they required counsel. But after their departure, they say, the company failed to uphold those agreements. Instead, two months after the plaintiffs demanded payment in writing, Twitter offered only a cursory acknowledgement of receipt, but still refused to acknowledge its obligations.

Twitter Files Reporter Bails on Twitter After Elon Makes It Unusable

The legal bills stem from a variety of circumstances. Gadde was subpoenaed to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and she was also sued by a disgruntled Twitter user who claimed she doxed him as a white supremacist, the lawsuit said.

Agrawal and Segal also spoke with federal authorities in connection with inquiries by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice, and their lawyers have continued to work with the feds, the filing continued. Its not clear what those investigations were about, or whether the inquiries remain open.

All three executives included their indemnification agreements with Twitter in the lawsuit; Agrawals was unsigned, because he said the company hasnt responded to his requests for the original documentation.

Under Musks tenure, Twitter has aggressively worked to cut costs. It has shed roughly two-thirds of its staff, and as of February had reportedly been sued at least nine times for failing to pay bills owed to landlords, consultants and vendors.

Reached by email for comment, Twitters press office auto-replied with a poop emoji.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Fort Worth police have arrested a third suspect in the August killing of a 16-year-old in west Fort Worth.

Authorities allege that Aaron Hall was shot in the head during a robbery in the 9700 block of Legacy Drive, off White Settlement Road near West Loop 820. He died in a vehicle that parked at QuikTrip near 820, about a mile from the shooting.

Corde Smith, 20, was booked Monday on suspicion of capital murder. A grand jury in November indicted Derrick Young Jr., 20, and Destinee Oneal, 18, on capital murder in the case.

Fort Worth police have not described evidence supporting the arrests. The indictments refer to a robbery but do not elaborate on its circumstances.
On a late March morning, Ryan Catala stood in a busy conference room, chatting up anyone who stopped by his table for a moment.

All around him, others were trying to find the same thing Catala said he needed most: Dynamic, engaging teachers.

Catala, the principal at Riverside Middle School in the Fort Worth Independent School District, was one of dozens of recruiters at a job fair for recent graduates or soon-to-be graduates at the University of Texas at Arlingtons College of Education. On every side of him were recruiters from other districts across North Texas. Across the room, others from the Los Angeles Unified School District had set up a table, looking to draw from the same pool of teaching candidates as everyone else.

By mid-morning, Catala had given a letter of intent to a secondary English teacher he said would be a good fit in Fort Worth. He also had a few other promising leads, he said. Although there were several high-quality candidates at the job fair, Catala acknowledged that the district couldnt afford to be as choosy as it has in the past.

If youre certified, then Ill have you, Catala said.

In Texas and across the country, the number of graduates coming out of four-year colleges of education has been declining for years. With fewer certified teachers to go around, school districts in North Texas have had to rethink their recruiting strategies to make sure they have enough teachers to fill their classrooms.

Texas teacher shortage predates COVID-19 pandemic

Although job stresses and labor shortages associated with the pandemic exacerbated the situation, the number of graduates coming out of U.S. teacher colleges has been declining for more than a decade, research shows. In a report released last year, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education found that the number of students who graduated with bachelors degrees in education declined by 22% between the 2005-06 school year and the 2018-19 school year. At the same time, the number of students who graduated with bachelors degrees of any kind climbed by 29%, according to the report.

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In Texas, the number of graduates coming out of four-year teacher colleges has been dwindling for years, according to the Texas Education Agency. At the same time, career changers who get their teaching certificates through alternative certification programs make up a growing share of the states teacher workforce. But Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told lawmakers last year that teachers who come through those programs are more likely to leave the profession after only a few years.

Raul Pena, chief talent officer for Fort Worth ISD, said the district recently hired a team of recruiters who go to job fairs across Texas and Oklahoma to find candidates for positions in the district. Those recruiters have allowed the district to cover more ground and boost its social media presence targeting recent graduates with teaching certificates, he said.

That team has also streamlined the hiring process for principals, he said. Recruiters collect resumes from interested applicants at job fairs, then bring them back and go through them, weeding out any that have already been hired by another district before passing them along to principals, he said. Before, principals did that work themselves, Pena said, in addition to all the other responsibilities that go along with running a school.

Its like theyve been rummaging through clothes trying to find their size, he said.

Matthew Anderson was one of the job hunters at the UT Arlington hiring fair. Anderson, a native of Arlington, will graduate in May with a degree in special education  a perennial area of need for school districts across the country. That being the case, he got a lot of attention from recruiters, he said.

Thats what everybody keeps saying  Boy, do I have a job for you! he said.

Anderson said he didnt see much variation in the level of pay offered from one district to the next. But there are other intriguing perks that some districts offer, like subsidized child care and a clinic for teachers and their children. Anderson said he was surprised to hear about those benefits, but walked away feeling as though he would be willing to accept the contract that paid one or two thousand dollars less per year if it meant having subsidized child care and a clinic where he could take his son when he was sick.

Smaller Fort Worth area districts must compete with bigger neighbors

On the morning after the UT Arlington job fair, Pascal Licciardi, principal of REACH High School and TRUCE Learning Center in the Castleberry Independent School District, sat at a table at a teacher hiring event at Texas Christian University. Although it was Licciardis first time representing the district at a job fair, hed heard colleagues describe the TCU event as more anemic than in past years, he said.

As a small district sitting close to several much bigger districts, Castleberry has to work harder to sell itself to teaching candidates who may have offers from several other schools in the area, Licciardi said. When job hunters came by to talk, he told them about the support that new teachers get from the district, including a mentorship program and a training pipeline that would help them grow as educators. District leaders have also been more active on social media platforms, presenting Castleberrys story to anyone who might consider a career as a teacher there, he said.

At another table nearby, principals from the Aledo Independent School District waited to talk to candidates. Tanner Holmes, principal of Coder Elementary School, said the district has generally started its recruiting process earlier as the number of candidates coming out of universities in the area has dwindled. In years past, the hiring season began in April, he said. Now, the district generally starts that process in February or March.

Like Castleberry, Aledo ISD is a fairly small district in close proximity to much larger districts. That can sometimes create a challenge for attracting candidates, Holmes said. Although the town is only about a half hours drive from downtown Fort Worth, many potential candidates think of it as an outlying country town, he said. Many others havent heard of it at all, he said. That puts Aledo at a disadvantage behind some of its neighbors, he said  recruiters from Fort Worth ISD dont have to spend much time explaining where Fort Worth is.

The district is scheduled to hold its second-ever job fair on April 15. When the district held its own job fair for the first time last year, it gave principals an opportunity to interview candidates on site and begin pulling them through the hiring process, said Carolyn Ansley, principal of Daniel Ninth Grade Campus. Having that time to devote to interviewing and hiring is helpful for principals, she said, because it means they dont have to balance it against their day-to-day responsibilities, which generally slows the process down.

Crowley ISD gets out front with teacher contracts

Pamela Berry, chief of human capital management in the Crowley Independent School District, said the district has been more proactive about making contact with colleges of education in an effort to recruit teachers in areas it needs most. District leaders have focused especially on teacher colleges in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, she said, because the transition for students coming out of those colleges would be easier than for graduates of schools farther afield.

Berry said the district has also added a VIP period to its job fair, during which district leaders invite job candidates who have already completed their coursework and are ready to hire on the spot to meet with principals an hour before the regular job fair begins.

The district is also being more aggressive about offering contracts to candidates at other job fairs its recruiters visit, Berry said. That wasnt common before about two years ago, she said. but with fewer teaching candidates to go around, those hiring events have become more competitive, she said. At most tables, recruiters are constantly on the phone with their HR managers or superintendents to get the green light to offer a contract to a future teacher. Because so many districts are vying for the same group of teachers, recruiters know that they cant let a promising candidate walk away, or theyll most likely be gone for good.

When you leave our table, you may go four tables down and get a better offer, Berry said. So were trying to lock you in while youre standing there.
Law enforcement officers respond to a shooting near the Old National Bank building in Louisville, Kentucky. Luke Sharrett / Getty Images

A shooter opened fire at a bank Monday morning in Louisville, Kentucky, killing four people and injuring nine more.

In a press conference Monday afternoon, police identified the deceased victims as Joshua Barrick, 40, Thomas Elliott, 63, Juliana Farmer, 45, and James Tutt, 64. All four worked at Old National Bank, where the shooting took place. On Monday night, authorities announced that a fifth person, Deana Eckert, 57, had died.

Fighting back tears, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told reporters that Elliott, the bank's vice president, had been one of his closest friends.

"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad," Beshear said. "One of the people I talked to most in the world, and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend."

After the shooting, the nine injured victims, five of whom suffered gunshot wounds, were transported to the University of Louisville Hospital, three of the injured were in critical condition and required surgery. Three others have since been released from the hospital.

Two officers were wounded confronting the shooter  one with minor injuries, but the other critically, having been shot in the head. That officer, 26-year-old Nickolas Wilt, underwent brain surgery and is now in "critical but stable condition," Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said.

Wilt had just been sworn in as an officer after graduating from the police academy March 31, she added. In a tweet, the police department said he "ran towards the gunfire today to save lives."

Officer Nickolas Wilt, a new officer to the LMPD, ran towards the gunfire today to save lives. He remains in critical condition after being shot in the head. 07:46 PM - 10 Apr 2023

The suspected shooter  who police confirmed they killed at the scene  was Connor Sturgeon, 25, an employee of Old National Bank. He used a rifle for the attack and livestreamed it on social media, Gwinn-Villaroel said.

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"Let me say of this evil that took place today: We shouldn't hear the tears that were coming out from these families," she said. "And that right there sticks, because they are weeping because someone decided that they wanted to take life today."

A spokesperson for Meta told BuzzFeed News they "are in touch with law enforcement and quickly removed the livestream."

Bank employee Troy Haste told media outside the bank he had been inside the first-floor conference room when the shooter began firing. He just started shooting. He had a long assault rifle and you could hear shots just start firing, Haste said. We were in the conference room. Whoever was next to me got shot and bloods on me from it.

Police initially said five people had been killed, but later clarified that that number had included the suspect. In an earlier press conference, Beshear said two of his friends had been killed and another injured, but later said he'd received "incorrect information," having learned the second friend he'd heard was killed was actually wounded but alive.

"I'd started to mourn, and now I know he's OK," Beshear said, adding that he'd visited him in the emergency room. "While it's going to take him a while to heal, it was so good to see my friend, see him there with his wife, and know he is still with us."

Beshear told reporters he knows "virtually everyone" who works in the building. "My [attorney general] campaign was out of that building. ... That's my bank," he said, adding that he hopes everyone affected "will reach out for help when they need it."

According to his LinkedIn page , the suspect had worked at Old National since 2018, when he began as a summer associate intern. His most recent position at the company was that of syndications associate and portfolio banker.

He had previously attended the University of Alabama as an undergraduate and postgraduate student, where he studied finance, and was a board member for the Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana , a youth development group.

The suspect was born and raised in Indiana just over the river from Louisville. His father was a well-known local high school basketball coach , under whom he had played the sport while a student.

Following the shooting, several of the suspect's social media accounts were deactivated. His father also locked his Twitter account.

Mayor Craig Greenberg thanked the emergency responders and asked the public to "pray with us" for the injured victims "fighting for their lives as a result of another act of gun violence."

"Our community will continue to come together," he said. "We will find ways to love and support one another and the families and friends who have been directly impacted by these acts of gun violence, and we will come together as a community to work to prevent these horrific acts of gun violence from continuing here and around the state."

Gun violence in the US is a public health crisis, according to the American Public Health Association . It is a leading cause of premature death in the country, responsible for more than 38,000 deaths annually. As of April 10, at least 4,916 people have died from gun violence this year, and another 6,600 have died by suicide, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive . As of April 10, there have been 146 mass shootings in the US so far in 2023.

UPDATE

Apr. 10, 2023, at 21:29 PM
Let's get this out of the way at the top: you don't have to work out when you're on the road. Particularly on vacation: If the work in workout seems like more than enough reason to abandon the gym as soon as you're off the clock, that's completely reasonable and shouldn't really hurt your gains if you pick it up on the other side.

But there are lots of reasons you might want to work out away from home. For many guys who travel frequently for business, it's the only practical way to stay in good physical and mental state. And the remote-work revolution has more people than ever embracing a semi-nomadic lifea month here, a week there. In other words, we're way beyond hoping the hotel has a decent gym.

When your routine is on autopilot, it helps you to mimic it in different places, says mononymic photographer Pierre. Working out in the morning no matter where he finds himself has been grounding when that's just about the only thing he can count on. Before I give myself or my energy to anybody else," he says, I've allotted this amount of time toward betterment of my mental and physical health.

Naturally, the routine looks different when youre away from home, but fitness and wellness advisor and trainer Ariel Foxie says youll want to prioritize what he calls the trifectathe workout itself, recovery, and nutritionwhen youre on the road. (That last part can be even harder than getting the work in.)

For more, we spoke to a couple guys about how they get the work in wherever they find themselves.

Embrace the change in scenery

You may be without your favorite squat rack, but a new location can be looked at as an opportunity rather than an obstaclethe routine can shift without completely abandoning it.

Taylor Okata, the creative director of the grooming company Hawthorne, regularly travels from his home in New York to Los Angeles and Honolulu, where he grew up. At home, his second bedroom has been transformed into a gym where he works out with a Tonal home gym four or five days a week. When hes on the road, its an opportunity to move in a way that's not practical in NYC.

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I really try my best to switch up my routine and take advantage of doing other workouts, because it's also good for your body to have a variety, he says. In Hawaii, this looks like surfing and running outside, and he took up tennis when working on the Jacquemus show kept him there for two months. In L.A., he'll get a hike or hit some balls at the driving range.

Foxie says being away is a time for him to focus on recovery because there are fewer obligations. When I'm away, I actually get an extra couple hours of sleep, he says. Hotel room blackout curtains just work better, you know?

Let your luggage lead

You're naturally going to be limited by what you can fit in your suitcase. If your workout at home is road cycling, that's going to be tough to take with youat least until you upgrade to the PJ.

For some guys, travel is going to mean dedicating some real suitcase real-estate to gear. Jeff Laub, co-founder of the nationwide barbershop chain Blind Barber, does Jiu Jitsu four to five days a week while at home, so putting that on pause while hes out of town isnt an option. That means all of his gear comes with. That includes my finger tape, my gi (which is the kimono), my rashguards, a mouthguard, and a pair of slides.

Foxie emphasized the importance of appropriate training shoes for whatever activities youll be doing even though limiting it to one pair can be tough. You can get away with working out in running shoes, but you cant really run in lifting shoes, he says.

From an equipment standpoint, mini resistance bands take up virtually no space and can be used for both strength training and stretching in any settingindoors or outdoors. All you need are bands and your body. And a travel-sized massage gun feels as good after a long car or plane ride as it does after a good workout. Foxie says they make collapsible foam rollers, but a lacrosse ball will also do the trick. I need it for the bottom of my feet, but you could also get into your calves, glutes, hammies and even your quads, he says.

Hypervolt Go 2 massage gun

$199.00, Hyperprice

Book a better hotel gym

Some people chose a hotel for the bar downstairs, but it's increasingly possible to pick based on the fitness amenities (especially in big cities).

Chris Rucker, a strategy consultant and president of the streetwear brand Sp5der, strength trains at his gym with a trainer two days a week and then mixes in light cardio at his apartment buildings gym. When he travels with his wife and kids, its simply push-ups and body weight exercises, but when hes traveling on his own for work, a place to get a workout helps dictate where he stays. For example, he says, Usually when Im in L.A., I stay at the Mondrian in Hollywood because their gym has everything I needa range of dumbbells, good treadmills and bikes, and all the equipment is fairly new.

These days, the amenities go beyond just the gym. Even Hotels leave basic equipmentyoga mat, resistance bands and a foam rollerin every hotel room, while other properties are partnering with high end wellness brands. Westin Hotels recently introduced a gear lending program where they have Hyperice and Bala strengthening and recovery equipment like massage guns. New Yorks ModernHaus SoHo has a HigherDOSE infrared sauna available for guests.

Live like a local

If you've got the time, it's hard to beat going for a run or stopping into a local gym. The fitness tracking app Strava offers run route recommendations and lets you search other users routes. It makes it so much easier when you're in a new area, Foxie said. You can search routes by landmarks you want to run by or avoid and even by run length. Someone [on the app] has probably already routed it, and if not, you could route it and then it's there for other people to use after you.

Pierre tends to look for park gyms nearby his accommodations, while Foxie try to hit local gyms. (In our experience they'll often sell you a day pass, especially if you make it clear you're in from out of town.) On Google Maps, I look for boutique studios or gyms because the foot traffic is a bit lower, he says.

Ultimately, the best way to stay in shape in a new place isn't that different than finding a great plate of pasta in Milan or picking a beer in Munichwhat do the locals like?

Originally Appeared on GQ

More Great Wellness Stories From GQ
Fox News

After yet another mass shooting featuring an assault-style weapon, Fox News contributor Ted Williams told the conservative channels audience that we have to talk about guns because AR-15s are killing our babies.

Two weeks after three children and three adults were killed in a Nashville school shooting, 23-year-old Connor Sturgeon was identified as the suspect in a Monday morning massacre in Louisville. Using an AR-15-style rifle and live-streaming the attack, police say Turgeon killed four people and injured nine more after opening fire in the Old National Bank Building.

Williams, a former D.C. homicide investigator and federal special agent, pointed to some of the similarities in the Nashville and Lousiville killings. Namely, that both suspects used similar weapons and raised alarms about their potential actions.

There is information out there and its not been confirmed by me that this shooter had phoned a friend and said that he was suicidal and that he was going to shoot up a bank, Williams told Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto. If that is the truth, then I think that we need to again look at what is going on in our society. You know, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results!

He continued: Just two weeks ago, I stood in front of a camerawhen you had some kids, some babies, shot in Nashville, Tennesseewhere a person that had an AR-15! And from what we have been told here, Neil, this individual had that same kind of a weapon.

After saying that mental illness combined with these weapons makes a dangerous concoction, Williams declared that weve got to do something because hes sick and tired of standing in front of a camera to discuss these types of tragedies.

Four people left home this morning, Williams exclaimed. And four people are not coming home tonight. That is something that we need to take into consideration.

Mom Hijacks Fox News Airwaves to Call for Gun Safety: Arent You Guys Tired of Covering This?

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The Fox News analyst concluded by pushing back on the oft-repeated political talking point that it is too soon to talk about gun control or solutions immediately after a mass shooting.

And when the governor says that we shouldnt talk about certain things now, well then, I have to disagree with the government, he insisted. We have to talk about guns. AR-15 are killing our babies and our citizens in this country. And weve got to do something about it!

Williams passionate plea, however, came shortly after another Fox News guest said he hoped lawmakers dont dwell on guns and that sort of thing in the immediate aftermath of this most recent shooting.

Additionally, rather than focus on gun safety after the Nashville tragedy, much of the network quickly pushed alternative solutions such as door control, even though the shooter blasted through a locked door. Of course, after they discovered the suspect identified as transgender, they soon blamed the slaughter on a deranged and demonic ideology.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Fox News has reached a settlement with a Venezuelan businessman who sued the right-wing network for making false claims about his involvement in the 2020 presidential election.

Court documents, filed in the Southern District of New York, show that the Rupert Murdoch-owned network and businessman Majed Khalil settled the defamation lawsuit on Saturday.

The terms of the settlement have not been released.

This matter has been resolved amicably by both sides, a spokesperson for Fox News said in a statement. We have no further comment.

Mr Khalil sued Fox News and one of its former hosts Lou Dobbs over statements made about him after Donald Trump lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.

Both on air and on Twitter, Mr Dobbs and Fox News guest and conspiracy theorist Sidney Powell had falsely accused Mr Khalil of playing a key role in rigging the election against Mr Trump.

In one tweet, Mr Dobbs urged his viewers to get familiar with Mr Khalil and three other individuals as the orchestrators of what he described as a cyber Pearl Harbor.

Multiple investigations  including by Mr Trump allies  uncovered no widespread fraud in the election.

Mr Dobbs was taken off air at the network in February 2021.

The settlement with Mr Khalil comes just days before jury selection is set to begin in a separate  and historic  defamation case brought against the right-wing network.

Dominion Voting Systems has accused Fox News of pushing pro-Trump conspiracy theories about its ballot counting technology around the 2020 presidential election in a move that recklessly disregarded the truth.

Documents so far handed over as part of the lawsuit have revealed that Fox News biggest hosts and right-wing figures privately dismissed Mr Trumps claims about the election being stolen  all the while pushing the conspiracies on air to their viewers.

Fox News has denied the allegations.
Then-Fox News host Lou Dobbs. John Lamparski/Getty Images

Fox News has settled a defamation lawsuit filed by Venezuelan businessman Majed Khalil.

Khalil was accused on air of rigging the 2020 presidential election by then-Fox host Lou Dobbs.

The network faces a slew of lawsuits, with jury selection imminent in the $1.6 billion Dominion trial.

Fox News settled a lawsuit filed by Venezuelan businessman Majed Khalil, who accused the news outlet of defamation after then-Fox Business News host Lou Dobbs claimed on air that Khalil helped rig the 2020 US presidential election.

Shortly after the election, Dobbs took to Twitter to call it a "cyber Pearl harbor" and said that Khalil was a "liaison with Hezbollah" who had executed an "electoral 9-11."

The former Fox host also accused Khalil and other Venezuelans of being involved in a scheme to oust former president Donald Trump.

Khalil filed a $250 million lawsuit against Dobbs, Fox News, its parent company Fox Corporation, and Sidney Powell, a former lawyer for Donald Trump, in December 2021 in Manhattan federal court.

In the lawsuit, Khalil denied he had any affiliations with Dominion and Smartmatic, the two election technology companies Dobbs alleged he worked with. A person familiar with Khalil's employment previously told Insider he worked in the hospitality business.

In May, Khalil beefed up his legal team by adding Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez, two attorneys who successfully represented Johnny Depp in his defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard.

US District Judge Louise L. Stanton dismissed the allegations against Powell in August of 2022, ruling that she couldn't be held liable in New York because she made claims about Khalil while in a different state.

Fox News and Fox Corporation filed countersuits against Khalil in October, arguing he had genuine ties with the Venezuelan political elite, that his name was only briefly mentioned in broadcasts, and that those mentioned were protected by the First Amendment.

In a court filing Saturday, lawyers for the parties told Stanton that they had "reached a confidential agreement to resolve this matter."

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The case against Fox was "amicably" resolved, a Fox News representative said, without giving further details. An attorney representing Khalil didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

But the network still faces major legal battles related to its coverage of Trump's election loss.

Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems are soon expected to face off in a trial in Delaware court.

The election technology company, asking for $1.6 billion in damages, alleges the right-wing network defamed it by pushing conspiracy theories  including from Powell and Dobbs  falsely claiming it rigged the 2020 election results.

Dobbs' show was canceled by Fox Business Network in February 2021, shortly after he was named in election company Smartmatic's $2.7 billion suit against Fox. The London-based technology firm accused the network of broadcasting more than 100 false claims, including the assertion that Smartmatic shared its technology with rival company Dominion Voting Systems.

Revelations from filings in the Dominion lawsuit have already significantly damaged the network's reputation, showing that Fox News producers, executives, and hosts privately trashed election conspiracy theories while presenting them as credible to audiences.

The trial is set to begin on April 17, with some of Fox's most controversial personalities  Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Maria Bartiromo  expected to be called as witnesses.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Fox News reached a settlement with controversial Venezuelan entrepreneur Majed Khalil to put an end to the defamation lawsuit in which the businessman with close ties with Caracas socialist regime claimed he was falsely identified as the head of an alleged scheme to rig the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

The lawsuit, also filed against former Fox personality Lou Dobbs, had been lingering on the sidelines of the better known $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit brought against the conservative network by electronic voting companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, which were accused publicly by Donald Trump lawyers Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani of rigging the 2020 election in favor of President Joe Biden.

In the $250 million lawsuit brought by Khalil against Fox News and Dobbs, lawyers for the Venezuelan businessman said he was falsely described as the third villain in this fictional and xenophobic conspiracy hatched and promoted by Defendants while serving as a frontman for high-ranking regime official Jorge Rodriguez, who in turn was described as the architect of the Smartmatic/Dominion election scheme.

The settlement terms were not released.

The parties are pleased to jointly inform the court that they have reached a confidential agreement to resolve this matter, attorneys for Khalil and the network wrote in a filing to U.S. District Judge Louis Stanton.

As part of the coverage of the alleged conspiracy in December 2020, Dobbs, while working for Fox, interviewed Powell, who accused Rodriguez and Khalil of designing and developing the software used by Smartmatic and Dominion in such a way that people could log in through backdoor channels and manipulate the vote.

Powell and others close to former President Trump also alleged that Dominion was secretly owned by Smartmatic and rigged the presidential election and paid kickbacks to government officials to use its machines, the lawsuit states.

Often accused by opposition leaders of helping regime officials to rig elections in Venezuela, Smartmatic was founded in 1997 by businessmen Antonio Mugica, Alfredo Jose Anzola and Roger Pinate, and came under the spotlight in 2004 when it was chosen to replace the voting machines in Venezuela ahead of Hugo Chavezs 2004 reelection. The company later grew by acquiring the much larger Sequoia Voting Systems and today runs voting systems in many countries across the world.

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Smartmatic was founded in Venezuela to rig elections for former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, the plaintiff had argued during the Fox election coverage, the lawsuit claims.

According to the plaintiff, the defendants knew full well that their story of a massive election fraud orchestrated by Dominion, Smartmatic and Venezuelans was pure fiction, but did not cease their false propaganda and deliberate disinformation campaign.

Although he denies being a frontman, Khalil and his brother do have financial links to Rodriguez and have profited significantly from the socialist revolution that began in Venezuela when former President Hugo Chavez took office in 1999.

According to Venezuelan press reports, Khalil has more than 15 companies in the South American country, some of which have received government contracts worth several millions of dollars throughout the years without participating in any type of bidding process.

Khalil has also been described by the local press as a partner to the number two man in the regime, Diosdado Cabello, who has been indicted for drug trafficking in the United States, along with regime boss Nicolas Maduro.
Preferred Travel Group just relaunched its new I Prefer rewards program.

Courtesy of Preferred Hotels

If you're a frequent traveler who loves independent, luxury, and historic hotels, there's a new loyalty program for you. Preferred Travel Group has just revamped "I Prefer," its free rewards program that extends to the company's four brands: Preferred Hotels & Resorts; Beyond Green; Historic Hotels of America; and Historic Hotels Worldwide.

"Our hotels appeal to the independently minded traveler, someone who values unique hotels that keep the guest at the center of the experience and that cannot be replicated anywhere else," said Jennifer Munro, vice president of Loyalty for Preferred Travel Group, in a statement sent to Travel + Leisure. "Through the new I Prefer program, we are proud to recognize and reward these travelers and the hoteliers who welcome them."

Courtesy of Preferred Hotels

I Prefer covers stays at more than 650 hotels and resorts around the world, including Hotel Dame des Arts in Paris; Singapore's The Fullerton Hotel; Ireland's Dromoland Castle; and Chatham Bars Inn on Massachusetts' Cape Cod.

Courtesy of Preferred Hotels

The revamped program includes an all-new website and mobile app to easily peruse booking options using points; most stays earn I Prefer members five to 10 points per dollar spent. The new website and app also allow members to track their points  and therefore their progress toward elite status. At signup, I Prefer members automatically receive early check-in, late check-out, and room upgrades when available. Upon earning Explorer status, members unlock a 20 percent points bonus and a welcome amenity, and upon earning Elite status, members unlock a 50 percent points bonus and one free food and beverage offering during each upcoming stay.

Accompanying the relaunch of I Prefer, Preferred Travel Group is offering new and existing members a bonus points offer: for each reservation made via the website or app this month for stays through the end of the year, members will receive 2,500 I Prefer bonus points.

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To register for the I Prefer program, head to prefer.com.

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
Pierre Lacotte, a French choreographer who as a young man helped ballet superstar Rudolf Nureyev defect from the Soviet Union, died aged 91 on Monday, his wife said.

"Our Pierre left us at 4:00 am," said his wife, retired principal dancer Ghislaine Thesmar.

"It's very sad. He still had so many projects and was writing a book."

The artist, known in his later years for his revival of 19th-century ballet productions, passed away in a clinic in the southern French town of Seyne-sur-Mer after he suffered a cut that became septic, she said.

Born in the French capital in 1932, Lacotte became a dancer at the Paris Opera Ballet aged just 19.

From the late 1950s, he worked as an independent dancer and choreographer.

In 1961, after becoming friends with Soviet-born ballet legend Nureyev while he was on tour in Paris, Lacotte was among those who helped the dancer escape KGB agents and seek asylum at the capital's Le Bourget airport, according to his account in a BBC documentary.

His role in the famous defection was also recounted in a 2018 biopic titled "The White Crow" directed by Britain's Ralph Fiennes.

After suffering an ankle injury, Lacotte increasingly turned his attention to the archives of the Paris Opera from 1968.

He devoted the rest of his career to bringing back to life forgotten 19th-century productions on the world's greatest stages.

They included "La Sylphide", the first ballet completely on pointe when it was originally produced in 1832, and Orientalist fantasy "The Pharaoh's Daughter" from 1862 -- the latter for the Bolshoi Ballet.

The Bolshoi on Monday paid its respects to Lacotte, describing him as a "talented man with a generous soul".

Lacotte's last work in 2021 was a production of "The Red and the Black" based on the 1830 novel by French writer Stendhal. When it opened, he was 89 years old.

ram-ah/imm
(Bloomberg) -- French lawmakers are planning a visit to Taipei amid increasing tensions with China, according to Taiwans foreign minister.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Joseph Wu said in an interview Monday that Frances Senate and National Assembly have shown their backing for his Taiwan and that some lawmakers will visit very soon. Taiwans government will check with them to see what kind of additional support we would need, Wu said.

Lawmaker Alain Richard as well as four other Senators will meet Taiwans highest authorities as well as the three main political parties, in a visit that will take place the week of April 24, a press representative for the French Senate said by email Monday. Semi-conductors will be on the agenda during the visit, he added.

Another delegation of French lawmakers is heading to the island this Sunday, according to one French official who will be part of the group.

Press officers at the French National Assembly didnt immediately reply when asked to comment on the plan Monday, a public bank holiday.

Beijing said today it has ended three days of military exercises around Taiwan following a visit by the Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to the US last week. China has pledged to bring Taiwan under its control someday, by force if necessary, while Tsais Democratic Progressive Party asserts Taiwan is an independent nation.

The visit would come after French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with Les Echos and Politico published Sunday that Europe should avoid getting dragged into any potential confrontation between the US and China over Taiwan.

The worse thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the US agenda and a Chinese overreaction, Macron said.

Story continues

Macron last week visited Beijing and set out a more conciliatory line on relations with China than the US has advocated. French lawmakers also visited visited Taiwan in 2021.

The French government has been very vocal in supporting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. And they also oppose any unilateral change of status quo, Wu added. The French government has also been conducting freedom of navigation operations in this part of the world. So all these kinds of actions actually are being supported by Taiwan or appreciated by Taiwan.

The senators will also meet with members of the French community in Taipei and they will visit the international French school known as lycee, the representative added.

--With assistance from Debby Wu.

(Updates with comments from French Senate press office in third and 11th paragraphs)

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PARIS (Reuters) -French rescue workers have found a sixth body in the rubble of buildings in the southern city of Marseille that collapsed following an explosion, a spokesperson for the police said on Monday.

Authorities had said earlier that they had identified eight people missing following Sunday's explosion, which destroyed two residential buildings and caused a third to partially collapse. The cause of the blast is still unknown.

The discovery of the bodies is "gruesome, difficult and dramatic," said housing minister Olivier Klein, speaking to reporters in Marseille, adding that the government must support the victims, their families and those who have been evacuated from their homes.

The rescue operations were continuing with "care and determination" and 40 buildings near the site have been evacuated, he added.

The collapse caused a fire which has complicated rescue efforts and which was continuing to burn on Monday.

Five people were taken to hospital on Sunday with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

In 2018, about 1 km (0.62 mile) from the site of the Marseille buildings, three other structures considered unfit for habitation collapsed killing eight people.

The mayor of Marseille said a parallel could not be drawn, while the prosecutor said the buildings that collapsed on Sunday were not known to have any structural problems, and that a gas explosion is being investigated as a possible explanation.

(Reporting by Layli Foroudi; Editing by Gareth Jones, Susan Fenton and Jonathan Oatis)
For the first time, the US Federal Trade Commission has fined an organization for review hijacking. In February , the agency accused The Bountiful Company, maker of the Natures Bounty brand of vitamins, of deceiving consumers. Between 2020 and 2021, Bountiful abused a feature of Amazon to make it seem like some of its newer supplements had higher product reviews and ratings than they did in reality.

If you have ever bought something on Amazon, youve almost certainly interacted with the feature Bountiful attempted to game. Some listings include a set of icons that highlight different variations of that same product. For example, if you visit the page for Sonys popular WH-1000XM5, the feature will highlight that the headphones are available in three different colors. By design, Amazon designed this feature to be narrow. Sellers are supposed to use it to showcase that a product they offer is available in a different color, size, quantity or flavor.

Thats not what The Bountiful Company did. According to the FTC, Bountiful used the feature to give newer products a boost from older, more well-established ones with different formulations. In one internal email the agency obtained, Bountiful lamented that people did not love one of its new vitamins but noted sales spiked the second we variated the pages and they continue to grow.

On Monday, the FTC said it voted unanimously to approve a consent order that carries a $600,000 fine for Bountiful and bars the company from employing such tactics in the future. Boosting your products by hijacking another products ratings or reviews is a relatively new tactic, but is still plain old false advertising, said Samuel Levine, the director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Theres no place for fraud in Amazons store. We have proactive measures in place to prevent listing abuse and we continuously monitor our store, an Amazon spokesperson told Engadget. Our policies prohibit reviews abuse including offering incentives like gift cards to write positive reviews. We suspend, ban, and take legal action against those who violate these policies and remove inauthentic reviews.

According to Amazon, more than 99 percent of the products people view on its marketplace contain only authentic reviews. If you find what you think is a fake review, the company recommends tapping the Report button so it can investigate and take action. The spokesperson added Amazon would continue working with FTC and other enforcement agencies to combat fraudsters.
Already one of the most universally beloved foods across all ages, pizza is getting an extra twist at one of Modestos newest restaurants.

Northeast Modestos Pizza Twist offers traditional and fusion pies, combining Indian and other flavors. The restaurant had its soft opening in February in The Marketplace shopping center at the corner of Oakdale Road and Sylvan Avenue, the same complex as the citys flagship Save Mart supermarket.

Since then, the eatery has been introducing customers to its wide variety of offerings from pizza to pasta, chicken wings and other appetizers. Manager Vick Sekhon, who runs the Modesto site for his parents, said his family has been eating fusion pizza for years. It wanted to bring those flavors to the Valley, where the family has lived since 2007 after emigrating from India the year before.

Anmol Sekhon delivers a deep-dish pizza at Pizza Twist in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Pizza Twist is a fast-growing Sacramento-based franchise. Whenever we would visit our family in Sacramento, wed get the pizza. So we got tired of eating the same styles of pizza here (in Modesto), so we decided to bring a Pizza Twist here, said Ceres resident Sekhon, a Ceres High and Stanislaus State University alum.

He and his cousin Anmol Sekhon are managing the restaurant for his mother and aunt, Swaranjeet Sekhon and Jasbir Kaur and their husbands. They had hoped to open sooner, but supply issues including a seven-month wait for their pizza oven held them up.

Owners Swaranjeet Sekhon, left, and Jasbir Kaur at Pizza Twist in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, April 6, 2023.

The shop has a staff of eight, about half of whom are family members. The 1,500-square-foot space has a small dining area for about 25 and offers juice, soda and beer in bottles. They plan to add beer on tap and wine by late spring.

Sekhon and his team built the restaurant inside from scratch. Since its anchor retailer Save Mart opened in fall 2019, The Marketplace has filled slowly. The retail strip now includes La Parilla, Osaka Sushi, The Pho, a nail salon and eye care offices.

From the left, spicy lamb breadsticks, palak paneer pasta twist, samosas, vegan combination pizza and butter pizza at Pizza Twist in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, April 6, 2023.

First Stanislaus County location for pizza franchise

The Modesto Pizza Twist is the first in Stanislaus County. Founded in 2014, the company has some 70 locations across the country, from New York to Texas. It has been growing in the area, with about 30 sites in California. The next closest site is in Manteca.

Story continues

Butter (Shani) Indian fusion pizza at Pizza Twist in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, April 6, 2023.

While the company is new to the city, fusion pizza isnt a new concept to the region. Existing pizza shops that bring Indian and other flavors to their pies include Jacks Pizza Cafe in Modesto, Chicago Pizza in Modesto and Ceres, and Tandoori Pizza in Turlock.

Sekhon said what helps set Pizza Twist apart are its fresh ingredients and wide variety of specialty pizzas. The shop uses an enormous 1,700-pound mixer to make its dough for the day. It serves about 10 styles of twist pizzas with Indian flavors and another 10 styles of traditional pizzas. The pies also are seemingly infinitely customizable.

To start, decide from among meat, vegetarian, vegan (all plant-based), halal (meat prepared as required by Muslim law) and gluten-free pies. The dough is vegan to start, and comes in original hand tosses, thin, Chicago pan, cauliflower and gluten-free crusts. The working areas and tools for specialty options like vegan and halal toppings are kept separate to avoid contamination, Sekhon said.

Anmol Sekhon prepares a pizza at Pizza Twist in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Pizza Twist has eight sauces, from traditional marinara to tandoori, tikka and curry sauces. And finally, you get to pick your toppings, which include more than a dozen meats and vegetable options each. Pies come in small ($11.99 for eight slices) to large ($21.99 for 12 slices). Those with bigger appetites or lots of mouths to feed have a family option ($29.99 for 16 slices).

Even for those who dont like pizza  gasp!  the restaurant has you covered. You can choose between wings in traditional and Indian flavors (I recommend the sweet, savory, pickled flavor of the achari wings), cheesy bread in  you guessed it  traditional or Indian flavors, regular or loaded fries and Indian appetizer favorites like samoas and paneer pakora (deep-fried cheese). There are half a dozen pastas and a few salads to choose from, too.

The restaurant has been a hit with vegans and Indian-food fans alike, Sekhon said. And for those who think they dont like Indian food because its too spicy, the restaurant will tailor the spice level to your tolerance.

Jasbir Kaur prepares pasta dish at Pizza Twist in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, April 6, 2023.

In this local community, they are very new to this (kind of pizza), he said. So were excited to introduce them to this. And people are generally very excited to come and try our pizza here.

Also, if you love Indian food as I do, you know it tastes even better the second day when the spices have been able to bloom. So get ready for some next-level pizza leftovers, Modesto.

Pizza Twist in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Elsewhere around the Business Beat:

In a few weeks, Pizza Twist will have a new, healthy neighbor.

Longtime Modesto resident Silvana Robin is opening Vitality Bowls, a new superfoods cafe specializing in healthy acai and grain bowls, salads, wraps, smoothies and other offerings that use no frozen additives or sweeteners. The eatery, part of a national franchise company, will open April 21 and be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily in the Oakdale Road shopping center.

Besides its signature acai bowls (an antioxidant-rich Central and South American palm fruit berry), the cafe will have paninis, wraps and toasts.

Based in the East Bay, the chain has some 150 locations open or in development. Robin, who moved to Modesto in 1981 and raised her family here, said she picked the franchise because of its healthy options. She plans to have her children, ages 15, 19 and 26, all work with her in the cafe.

Expect specials and giveaways for opening weekend at the Modesto site. For more information call 209-332-1550 or visit vitalitybowls.com.
A West Georgia middle schooler could be facing a felony after investigators said he took a photo of another student using the toilet.

According to The Augusta Chronicle, the 14-year-old 8th grader from Glascock County held his phone under a bathroom stall and took a picture of another student going to the bathroom, and then later showed the photo to other students.

School staff were made aware of the picture and the incident and given the nature of the picture and how the picture was taken...it was turned over to us because it did violate the law of child pornography, Glascock County Sheriff Jeremy Kelley told the newspaper. Charges were filed by our school resource officer.

Students are allowed to bring cell phones to school with them, but they must be locked in their lockers as soon as they arrive on campus, the newspaper reported.

Now, the district attorney in that area is deciding whether or not to charge the student with a felony.

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The offender took an inappropriate picture of the victim without permission, Kelley told the paper. It is in the hands of the Department of Juvenile Justice and the district attorneys office at this point. There are pending charges for manufacturing child pornography. It is a felony.

The sheriff said his office has had agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation that deal with internet crimes against children come to the school to talk to students about internet safety and sending inappropriate texts and pictures.

Kelly also urged parents to talk to their students.

Parents need to sit down and have real conversations with their kids about the availability and dangers of technology, he told the paper.

The newspaper said their calls to the DAs office for comment on this story were not returned.

IN OTHER NEWS:
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) slammed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in a new interview, calling Floridas new concealed carry law clear evidence Republicans dont care about our kids.

During an interview with MSNBCs Inside With Jen Psaki in Montgomery, Alabama, Newsom told the former White House press secretary: If they did, theyd ban these damn weapons of war. They would have background checks that require some common damn sense.

While many are begging leaders to take action against gun violence, DeSantis has moved to make it even easier to carry firearms in the Sunshine State.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed fellow governor Ron DeSantis for Florida's new open carry law.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed fellow governor Ron DeSantis for Florida's new open carry law.

Days after three children and three adults were murdered at a Nashville, Tennessee, elementary school in March, DeSantis signed legislation allowing Floridians to carry concealed firearms without a permit.

The Republican, who is reportedly eyeing a 2024 run for president against Donald Trump, celebrated the law in a press release, declaring, Constitutional Carry is in the books.

Newsom warned that there would be consequences for taking an action that so many people oppose, saying DeSantis is scared to death, scared of the people, scared of the public.

The Democrat added: I think the majority of NRA members probably oppose that position.

A March survey from the University of North Florida found that 62% of Republican respondents in the state opposed the concealed carry bill strongly or somewhat. Overall, only 21% of Florida respondents indicated support for the measure.

Gov. Gavin Newsom says Republicans don't care about kids, "They don't care about our kids because if they did that would ban these damn weapons of war." pic.twitter.com/kEHO1Niw4X  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 9, 2023

Newsom told Psaki of Republicans, They claim to care about life when the No. 1 cause of death for our children is guns? Its shameful. (In 2021, the CDC reported that 19% of childhood deaths in the U.S. were due to firearms.)

Story continues

DeSantis and Newsoms feud is nothing new. The Florida man complained about Democratic strongholds embracing a woke ideology during a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, in early March.

Newsom returned the jab while visiting the New College of Floridas Sarasota campus weeks later.

Fifty years of progress, Newsom said. Fifty years on voting rights, on civil rights, LGBTQ rights, abortion rights, contraceptive rights, all of that at threat, state after state, led by your state and your governor with a zest for demonization and othering people.

Watch the full interview below. Newsoms remarks about gun violence begin at the 18-minute mark.

Related...
Sarah Snook plays nepo baby Siobhan Roy in HBO's "Succession." HBO

More than two-thirds of Gen Z have used nepotism to land a job offer, a new study found.

They survey of 2,000 workers found 42% said they'd won a role or job offer through nepotism.

Even if they disapprove of nepotism, three-quarters of Gen Z workers said they would still use it.

Gen Z workers are most likely to benefit from career nepotism  even if they disapprove of it, a new study found.

"Nepo babies," who are usually the children of celebrities working in similar industries like Hailey Bieber or Lily Collins, have been in the spotlight in recent months. TikTokers have been raising awareness of the issue, making videos "exposing" celebrities with famous parents.

However, the phenomenon is not isolated to Hollywood but alive and well in the workplace, according to new research.

According to a recent survey from recruitment company Applied that was first reported by Fortune, 68% of Gen Z workers have leveraged who they know to get a job offer.

Across all 2,000 workers polled, 42% said they had gained a job or job offer through their connections, with only about a quarter of those over 55 saying they'd found work this way.

The study points to another generational division in the workplace. Millennials, boomers, Gen Xers, and Gen Zers have been divided on their approach to work, as well as what's socially appropriate in the workplace.

Even if Gen Zers think the practice is "unfair," three-quarters said they would still use it to advance their careers, per the study. In comparison, just a third of those over 55 who think the phenomenon is "unfair" would be willing to do the same.

Almost half the Gen Z employees that have used nepotism to land a role ended up with a junior title, and a quarter were unemployed beforehand. However, some Gen Z "nepo workers" may have gained an additional leg-up from the practice, with 37% landing in "middle-management" roles and 14% achieving "senior management" positions.

The study also found a gender imbalance, with men a third more likely to benefit from nepotism than women.

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"It's unsurprising that younger workers are more likely to resort to nepotism," Khyati Sundaram, Applied's CEO, told Fortune.

"'Entry-level' roles are increasingly requiring candidates, who are likely to be new to the workforce, to have a number of years of prior relevant work experience," she said. That was causing Gen Z to devise creative solutions due to these unrealistic expectations, per Fortune.

However, the practice risks creating inequality within the workforce between those who have connections in relevant industries, and those who do not.

Sundaram told the outlet it was up to companies to "create a level playing field for all candidates and guard against the potential for nepotism to have a bigger bearing on who gets what job than demonstrable skills."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Carolyn and Andrew Clark with their son, Cameron, and daughter, Audrey Marie. Audrey is the first girl born into Clark's family in roughly 100 years.

Heres one for Audrey Marie Clarks baby book, and it's more than a roundup of news headlines on the day she was born: In this case, her birth is the headline.

In fact, baby Clark's birth has been a recent headline in a few publications globally  New York, London, and even Mumbai, India, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  since she came into the world on St. Patricks Day, and it has made the Grand Rapids, Detroit, and national TV news, too.

Why? Because Audrey is the first girl born to the Clark family in more than 130 years, breaking a streak  which appears to be a statistical anomaly  going back to 1885, according to her west Michigan family, which apparently has been keeping track.

"We had no idea the news was going to blow up the way it has," Carolyn Clark, Audrey's 36-year-old mom, told the Free Press early Monday. "We just did a segment with our local news station here, and then this past week has been a whirlwind with all the press and people contacting us for interviews."

More: Northville woman didn't realize she'd won $1 million Michigan Lottery prize for 6 weeks

More: A boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy and now a girl!

She added that they've heard from friends and family from all over the country who've seen the news and are trying to keep track of all the articles and TV and radio broadcasts  which, she said, now "seems insane" and "crazy" to them  for posterity, so Audrey, when she's older, can see that the "first three weeks of her life were newsworthy."

Global birth announcement

Clark, of Caledonia, a small village near Grand Rapids, said the media blitz started out as a "feel-good story" with the local TV station, but it snowballed into a segment on ABC, "Good Morning America" and then into reports on radio shows, websites, and newspapers worldwide.

The family's story has been reported in People, which has one of the biggest magazine audiences in America; in tabloids like the New York Post and the British Daily Mirror; and even in an English-language broadsheet in India, the Indian Express, and a Malaysian website, Newswav.

Story continues

Clark said she met her husband, Andrew, at a family resort in Muskegon years ago, and when they started dating, he let her know that his family had not had a girl in his direct line in more than 100 years. At first, she didn't quite believe him. But, she said, relatives confirmed that bit of family history.

Of course, their first child was a boy, Cameron, who is now 4.

So when little Audrey was recently born, weighing in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces, it was an especially happy surprise.

Audrey's middle name, Marie, is also Carolyn Clark's middle name  and the middle name of both of Audrey's grandmothers. Her first name came from a list of about 40 her mom had compiled. Her parents liked it, her mom said, because it felt both traditional and modern at the same time.

Carolyn Clark added: Audrey also means "strength," which a girl in a family of nothing but boys will need.

So, what are the odds?

The Clarks aren't the first west Michigan family to make headlines with the birth of a girl.

In 2000, Maggie Jayne Schwandt briefly became famous for breaking a similar streak. Kateri and Jay Schwandt had 14 boys before  finally  giving birth to a girl. The Free Press headline: "A boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy and now a girl!"

One of Maggie Jayne's brothers said the family was "blessed with the little girl" they never thought they'd have.

Statistically, according to the World Health Organization, in most countries, the gender birth ratio tends to slightly favor boys: about 105 males per 100 female births, although  in theory  the sex ratio at conception is equal. It turns out female mortality is slightly higher.

But the odds are slim that there would be no female births over several generations.

"When we decided to start growing our family, I just was like, 'I'm going to try for it,' " Carolyn Clark told Grand Rapids station WZZM-TV, noting that the male-only streak went all the way back to her husband's great, great grandfather. But, she said: "I want the girl."

And now, Clark said, she has one  along with a closet full of pink baby clothes.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: After 130-plus years, West Michigan family tree finally has a daughter
Do you play a mean pinball? Are you the next pinball wizard?

Well, a South Georgia arcade has been named one of the best places to play pinball in the world.

Pinball Palace in Brunswick recently took home the prize for first runner-up in the International Favorite Pinball Location category at the recent TWIPY Pinball Awards, according to The Brunswick News.

The award is a peoples choice award voted on by pinball enthusiasts around the world, the paper reported.

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This is a huge recognition for us and our community and should bring pinball enthusiasts from all over here to our arcade, Pinball Palace owner Kelley Daniel told The Brunswick News.

This is not the first big honor for the arcade.

In 2019 and 2022 we were awarded 2nd best pinball location in the USA by pinball fans, Pinball Palace said on its website.

Pinball Palace said it has 153 machines to play on.

It has also been named one of the top attractions in the Golden Isles, the arcade said.

IN OTHER NEWS:
German engineering machine Dachs

Kyiv received, in particular, the following items:

Read also: Germany delivers 18 Leopard 2s to Ukraine  German Defense Minister

 1 Dachs armored engineering vehicle

 8 Zetros trucks

 8 mobile antenna mast systems

 8 reconnaissance drones

 23,520 rounds of 40mm ammunition

Read also: German Leopard-2 tanks arrive in Ukraine

In its previous military aid package, Germany supplied Ukraine with 18 Leopard 2A6 battle tanks and 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles.

The German government further agreed to allocate an additional EUR 12 billion ($13 billion) of long-term military aid to Ukraine with EUR 3.2 billion worth of materiel slated for 2023.

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
For a place roughly the size of Connecticut, Northern Ireland has received plenty of presidential attention.

Bill Clinton visited three times during his presidency, George W Bush twice, and Barack Obama once.

It had long been expected that Joe Biden - a president who speaks of his Irish roots more than most - would visit Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace deal which largely ended the conflict known as the Troubles.

But the circumstances are less than ideal.

The power-sharing political institutions set up by the agreement have not been fully operating for more than a year.

The Democratic Unionist Party is vetoing the formation of a devolved government in protest against Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland.

The DUP has said it will not allow a coalition to be formed until it is satisfied there are no economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The White House has welcomed the deal between the UK and the EU, known as the Windsor Framework, which is designed to deal with unionists' concerns.

The British government is hoping Mr Biden's visit will promote the framework as the internationally recognised way forward.

Other parties have suggested the presidential itinerary would have been more comprehensive if the Northern Ireland Assembly was up and running.

President Biden had been invited to address the assembly, at Stormont on the outskirts of Belfast.

But the invitation from the Assembly Speaker, Alex Maskey, was not accepted.

So you can expect the likes of Sinn Fein - the Irish nationalist party which is now the largest in the assembly - to blame the DUP for a "missed opportunity".

However, the DUP will point to the basis of the power-sharing settlement backed by the US - that both unionists and nationalists must have confidence in the governance arrangements for Northern Ireland in order for them to work.

Some DUP politicians have been strident in criticising President Biden for his backing of the Northern Ireland protocol - the previous deal between the UK and the EU after Brexit, which created a trade border in the Irish Sea.

Story continues

It is sometimes said that the United States is the "third guarantor" of the Good Friday Agreement - after Britain and Ireland, which are the two nations charged in international law with upholding the deal.

Ancestral links are the bedrock of the bonds between the US and the island of Ireland.

Over the years nationalists have been more enthusiastic about US input than unionists, who have been suspicious of influence being exerted in Washington by lobby groups and politicians who identify as Irish-American.

If previous US diplomatic tactics are anything to go by it is unlikely that President Biden's public remarks in Northern Ireland will be accusatory towards any one party or group.

He was on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the 1990s when Bill Clinton - another Democrat - demonstrated his commitment to the peace process by becoming the first president to visit Northern Ireland while in office.

The British prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, spoke to me about Mr Clinton's approach in an interview for the BBC iPlayer film, 'Troubles and Peace'.

He said that when he called Mr Clinton, the then president "would immediately understand the politics of the situation - who to call, what to do, what to say, how to frame it".

"It meant you had the power of the United States behind you - not just in itself, but also operating with immense sophistication and subtlety," Mr Blair said.

Brid Rodgers said the Good Friday Agreement would not have been achieved without former US President Bill Clinton

Brid Rodgers was a negotiator for the Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party - whose leader, John Hume, prioritised building relations with the White House.

She said: "If it hadn't been for President Clinton in the last 24 hours before the Good Friday Agreement, I don't think we would have got it.

"He was in touch, he was phoning. He recognised unionists' difficulties, he recognised republicans' difficulties - he was able to assure them that he understood their challenges, but he was behind them."

A unionist negotiator, Lord Empey, was more circumspect about Mr Clinton's role during the final hours.

The Ulster Unionist Party peer said: "I don't think it made any difference to the minutiae or the outworkings of the agreement."

He thinks Mr Clinton's most significant contribution came over a longer period of time.

"President Clinton changed the atmosphere, so that America was no longer seen as totally supportive of Irish nationalism.

"No matter what his personal opinions may have been, he made an effort to treat us equally to others - we were no longer shut out."

Lord Empey said Mr Clinton "changed the atmosphere" by treating negotiators equally

Mr Clinton was the first president to appoint a US special envoy to Northern Ireland.

The political influence of some has been obvious - notably George Mitchell, the former Senate Majority leader who was appointed chair of the Good Friday Agreement talks by the British and Irish governments.

In more recent years, envoys have been seen as having significant roles in generating investment in Northern Ireland by US business.

The present holder of the post, Joe Kennedy III, has the official title of Special Envoy for Economic Affairs.

He will be staying on in Northern Ireland for an extended visit after Mr Biden leaves, to tour various locations in the Republic of Ireland.

It is on this leg of the trip that the president will meet his cousins the Finnegans in County Louth and the Blewitts in County Mayo.

These events may be more politically valuable to him in the US than his one engagement in Northern Ireland, given the power-sharing paralysis at Stormont.

A previous US Special Envoy, one-time Democratic presidential contender Senator Gary Hart, told me in 2013 that his country remained "disproportionately interested" in Northern Ireland.

While there is some disappointment that Mr Biden won't be staying in Northern Ireland for long, most politicians, business leaders and civic groups make the point that to have a presidential visit at all is a boon.

Year '98 branding header

Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement, scrutinising the deal's wording and hearing from some of the people who helped get it across the line.

Click here to listen on BBC Sounds.
A photo of the Pixel 6a



The Pixel 7a might not differ much from the Pixel 6a, seen here.

Itll be a while before Google reprises its flagship Pixel series. Until then, we have Pixel 7a leaks to tide us over. The latest hints from overseas include a look at the phone itself and hint as to what kind of specs might be inside it. Googles next mid-range Pixel could have more memory than its predecessor and a faster refresh rate.

This leak comes from the Vietnamese site Zing News, which claims it got its hands on a test version of the Pixel 7a meant for programmers. But our ears are perked up. In about four months, itll have been a year since the launch of the Pixel 6a. The hardware in the post looks similar to the last-gen Pixel A-series, down to the rear camera bar on the back. Its got a 6.1-inch display, with seemingly high-end materials and a few more matte touches than the last-gen version.

Read more

This particular supposed Pixel 7a was reportedly remotely locked down by Google. Zing News could only launch in Androids fast boot mode, akin to the BIOS modes on Windows machines in that itll display the devices specifications without needing to access to OS proper. This menu revealed that the Pixel 7a could be equipped with 8GB of RAM rather than the 6GB in last years release. The owner of the Pixel 7a unit, who leaked the device to Zing News, says the settings panel also showed an upgraded 90Hz refresh rate option for the display. That bump-up in memory might be to support that refresh rate, to ensure a smoother experience across the board. Indeed, one of the biggest complaints about the Pixel 6a is that even at its price point, it doesnt offer a refresh rate akin to Samsungs A-series, with some models boasting 120Hz refresh rates.

Overall, the supposed Pixel 7a specifications leaked here align with our expectations. It still has two 12-MP cameras on the back, like the Pixel 6a, though one camera is a standard lens and the other is wide-angle. Theres evidence of water resistance, which the Pixel 6a introduced with IP67 certification. But we still need details on charging capacity and battery size. The Pixel 6as 60Hz refresh rate helped it with battery life, and itll be interesting to see if the Pixel 7a can maintain that kind of longevity while pushing out more frames.

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This isnt the first Pixel 7a leak to circulate. We recently had a Pixel-like device pass through the FCC, though some folks are crossing their fingers its for a foldable instead of a mid-range device. Regardless, we should know more by Google I/O, when the company will release its next-generation mid-range device.



Update 4/10/2023 at 12:19 PM:



It looks like Google is also going blue for the next mid-tier Pixel release. Google I/O 2023 is fast approaching, and so is the chatter about what the Pixel 7a will look like. Renders of the phone recently popped up on a website called MySmartPrice via noted leaker OnLeaks, who has typically been on the mark about things like phone chassis hues. The Pixel 7a may be available in three colorways: gray, white, and a new sky blue. There may also be a new blue color of the Pixel Buds A-series to match.







Want more of Gizmodos consumer electronics picks? Check out our guides to the best phones, best laptops, best cameras, best televisions, best printers, and best tablets. And if you want to learn about the next big thing, see our guide to everything we know about the iPhone 15.



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A growing number of prominent Republicans are rallying around the idea that to solve the fentanyl crisis, America must bomb it away.

In recent weeks, Donald Trump has discussed sending special forces and using cyber warfare to target cartel leaders if hes reelected president and, per Rolling Stone, asked for battle plans to strike Mexico. Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) introduced a bill seeking authorization for the use of military force to put us at war with the cartels. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said he is open to sending U.S. troops into Mexico to target drug lords even without that nations permission. And lawmakers in both chambers have filed legislation to label some cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move supported by GOP presidential aspirants.

We need to start thinking about these groups more like ISIS than we do the mafia, Waltz, a former Green Beret, said in a short interview.

Not all Republican leaders are behind this approach. John Bolton, Trumps third national security adviser whos weighing his own presidential run, said unilateral military operations are not going to solve the problem. And House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Mike McCaul (R-Texas), for example, is still evaluating the AUMF proposal but has concerns about the immigration implications and the bilateral relationship with Mexico, per a Republican staff member on the panel.

But the eagerness of some Republicans to openly legislate or embrace the use of the military in Mexico suggests that the idea is taking firmer root inside the party. And it illustrates the ways in which frustration with immigration, drug overdose deaths and antipathy towards China are defining the GOPs larger foreign policy.

Nearly 71,000 Americans died in 2021 from synthetic-opioid overdoses  namely fentanyl  far higher than the 58,220 U.S. military personnel killed during the Vietnam War. And the Drug Enforcement Agency assessed in December that most of the fentanyl distributed by two cartels is being mass-produced at secret factories in Mexico with chemicals sourced largely from China.

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Democrats, meanwhile, are allergic to the Republican proposals. President Joe Biden doesnt want to launch an invasion and has rejected the terrorist label for cartels. His team argues that two issued executive orders already expanded law-enforcement authorities to target transnational organizations.

The administration is not considering military action in Mexico, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said. Designating these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations would not grant us any additional authorities that we dont already have. Instead, Watson said the administration hopes to work with Congress on modernizing the Customs and Border Protections technologies and making fentanyl a Schedule I drug, which would impose the strictest regulations on its production and distribution.

Gen. Mark Milley, the Joint Chiefs chair, told Defense One in an interview last month that invading Mexico was a bad idea. I wouldn't recommend anything be done without Mexicos support, he said, insisting that tackling the cartel-fueled drug trade is a law enforcement issue.

But should a Republican defeat Biden in 2024, those ideas could become policy, especially if Trump  the GOP frontrunner  reclaims the Oval Office.

As president, Trump considered placing cartels on the State Departments terrorist blacklist. He also asked about using missiles to take out drug labs and cartels in Mexico, according to former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, who wrote in his memoir that he rejected the idea at the time.



But Trump backed away from the move because of the legal complications and fears that bombing Mexico could lead to increased asylum claims at the southern border.

Now a candidate, Trump is reviving his hawkish instincts toward the drug lords. He has already vowed to deploy U.S. special forces to take on drug cartels, just as we took down ISIS and the ISIS caliphate.

In one policy video released by his campaign, Trump said that if reelected, he would "order the Department of Defense to make appropriate use of special forces, cyber warfare, and other overt and covert actions to inflict maximum damage on cartel leadership, infrastructure and operations."

And during a recent presidential rally speech in Waco, Texas, Trump compared the number of deaths from fentanyl overdoses to a kind of military attack.

People talk about the people that are pouring in, Trump said. But the drugs that are pouring into our country, killing everybody, killing so many people  theres no army that could ever do damage to us like that still.

Other 2024 candidates side with Trump. Using military force on cartels without Mexicos permission would not be the preferred option, but we would absolutely be willing to do it, entrepreneur and conservative activist Vivek Ramaswamy said in an interview. What the cartels are doing is a form of attack on the United States, he added.

Ramaswamy also said he backs an authorization for the use of military force for specific groups: If those cartels meet the test for qualifying as a domestic terrorist organization for the purpose of freezing their assets, I think that qualifies them for the U.S. president to view them as an eligible target for the use of authorized military force.

Asa Hutchinson, the former Arkansas governor and among the more moderate foreign policy voices in his party, openly supports the foreign terrorist organization label for the cartels. They meet the definition, he said weeks before announcing his entrance into the 2024 field this month.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is openly against any U.S. military involvement in his country to take on the cartels. In addition to being irresponsible, it is an offense to the people of Mexico, he said in March.

But Waltz, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, noted that Colombias government was initially resistant to the idea of U.S. military support, too, until both the Clinton and Bush administrations said they were going to send help anyway. It was only once we delivered some tough messages that they started to shift, he said, noting attitudes in Bogota changed as the situation worsened in the country.

Furthermore, Waltz contends that U.S. law enforcement is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem by the capability of the cartels. America should use military cyber weapons to disrupt cartel communications and money flow, he suggested, adding: If we need some drone support along the border, that's not something that a law enforcement agency can do, that's something the military needs to help with.



But current and former U.S. foreign policy and military officials, including Republicans, say there are glaring problems with the military proposals. If you thought Iraq was a bad situation, wait until you invade a country on our border, a House Republican congressional aide said. Our grandchildren will be dealing with this.

They cite two main concerns.

The first is that U.S. Northern Command assesses that 30 to 35 percent of Mexican territory is ungoverned, giving space for the drug cartels to roam free. Should the U.S. launch military operations in Mexico, a crush of people would find their way to U.S. ports of entry seeking asylum and their claims would be stronger by fleeing an active war zone involving U.S.-labeled terrorists.

Youve just legitimately made it harder to send thousands of people back, the House GOP staffer said.

The second issue is that while using force against drug cartels might impact the supply side of the fentanyl crisis, it doesnt address demand. And past examples of the U.S. military working with a nation to combat drug groups, like in Colombia, were successful, in part, because the host country was committed to the fight and conducted the operations.

There are other complications, such as what the terrorist label would mean for people selling drugs online or shipping them  would a FedEx delivery person be jailed?  and how to stop the sheer volume of imports to Mexico. The Mexican Navy cant intercept it all, and U.S. forces asked to assist may only catch a small fraction more of what comes into the country.

Still, Republicans see military options as a last-ditch effort to address the crisis roiling Mexico and the United States, and they will continue offering suggestions until a president agrees with them.

The worst thing we can do is continue to do nothing, Waltz said.

Meridith McGraw and Natalie Allison contributed to this report.
Frances president shocked Washington over the weekend when he argued that Europe shouldnt get sucked into a U.S. confrontation with China over Taiwan. Now the GOP is hitting back hard and the Biden administration is trying to play down the comments.

French President Emmanuel Macron questioned whether it is in our interest to accelerate [a crisis] on Taiwan for fear of a Chinese overreaction in an interview with POLITICO on Saturday. He added that the worst thing that Europe could do would be to take our cue from the U.S. agenda geared to defending Taiwan.

Chinese state media has reacted gleefully. Macrons statement signals a dead end for the U.S. strategy of luring Europe to contain China, Beijings Global Times tabloid said on Monday.

Republicans on Capitol Hill sounded equally as dire.

The Chinese Communist Party is the most significant challenge to Western society, our economic security, and our way of lifeFrance must be clear-eyed about this threat, said Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Macrons statements were embarrassing, they were disgraceful and very geopolitically naive, Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chair of the House Select Committee on China, told Fox News on Monday. The French presidents views are disheartening because the Chinese Communist Partys threat to Taiwan is a growing danger to the global balance of power, said Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The State Department argued that Macrons comments were not as divisive as they might seem. There is immense convergence between us and our European allies and partners and how we tackle [Chinas] challenge head-on, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters on Monday.

The White House took a similar tack. Well let the Elysee speak for President Macrons comments  were focused on the terrific collaboration and coordination that we have with France as an ally and a friend, said National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.



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Macrons comments reflect his belief that European countries should embrace a concept of strategic autonomy on economic and geostrategic issues distinct from U.S. foreign policy settings. But that strategy is at odds with President Joe Bidens efforts to create a common front with allies and partners  including those in the European Union  to fend off Chinas and Russias threats to what the administration calls the rules-based international order.

The uproar over Macrons statements also reflects a divide in Europe over how to approach China  an economic powerhouse that many are loath to completely desert.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who accompanied Macron for part of his visit, said she told Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping during their meeting in Beijing last week that the threat [of] the use of force to change [Taiwans] status quo is unacceptable.

The French embassy blamed the furor over Macrons remarks on overinterpretations and said that Frances position on Taiwan is unchanged. Last year, then-French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian described Taiwans security as essential to regional stability and said that France was very keen to act to prevent any conflict.

Macron was saying that if we cannot end the conflict in #Ukraine, what credibility will we have on Taiwan? We seek to engage with China for peace&stability in Ukraine. And the Taiwan issue obviously came up in his talks w/Pres Xi, the French embassys press counselor, Pascal Confavreux, said in a series of tweets on Monday.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington, D.C.  the self-governing islands de facto embassy  didnt respond to a request for comment.



Some GOP lawmakers called for a re-evaluation of the U.S.-French relationship. If France is truly committed to abandoning democratic nations in favor of a brutal communist regime, the United States must reassess its posture toward France, said Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China. He called Macron's statement a seeming betrayal of democratic Taiwan.

Others saw a double standard in Frances support for U.S. efforts to defend Ukraine while turning a blind eye to Chinas threat to Taiwan. Macron wants the U.S. to ride to Europes rescue against Russian aggression, but apparently take a vow of neutrality against Chinese aggression in the Pacific, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) tweeted on Monday.

Longer term, Macrons comments could help bolster GOP lawmakers who want an end to the Biden administrations massive outlay of cash and weaponry to support Ukraines battle against Russia. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) earlier this month called for an end to U.S. funding for what she calls a U.S. proxy war with Russia. And putative GOP presidential candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida recently dismissed the war in Ukraine as a territorial dispute not vital to U.S. national security interests, a position he walked back several days later.

If Macron speaks for all of Europe, and their position now is they're not going to pick sides between the U.S. and China over Taiwanmaybe we should basically say we're going to focus on Taiwan and the threats that China poses, and you guys handle Ukraine and Europe, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said in a tweet on Sunday.

Alex Ward contributed to this report.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) on Monday said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should ignore a Texas federal judges ruling blocking its approval of mifepristone, a pill that can be used to induce abortion in early pregnancy.

The South Carolina Republican joined several Democrats who have called for the Biden administration to ignore the judges ruling.

I agree with ignoring it at this point, Mace said on CNN Monday when asked how the Biden administration should approach the ruling. There are other lawsuits that are happening right now and other states as well over this issue.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk on Friday issued a stay that said the FDA improperly rushed the approval of mifepristone 23 years ago. The ruling would shut down the prescribing and distribution of the drug as soon as seven days after his decision.

But almost concurrently, a federal judge in Washington issued a competing ruling that blocks the FDA from altering the status quo and rights as it relates to the availability of Mifepristone in 17 states and Washington, D.C.

The issue could eventually reach the Supreme Court.

Mace joined Democrats Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) who have called for the Biden administration to ignore the Texas ruling.

President Biden can and must ignore this ruling and keep mifepristone on the market and accessible for every woman in America, Wyden said in a tweet on Friday.

The interesting thing when it comes to a ruling is that it relies on enforcement, Ocasio-Cortez told CNN on Sunday. And it is up to the Biden administration to enforce, to choose whether or not to enforce a ruling.

But Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) took a starkly different stance from Mace on Sunday, floating that House Republicans could defund the FDA if the Biden administration refuses to uphold a court ruling.

If the administration wants to not live up to this ruling, then were going to have a problem  it may come to a point where House Republicans on the appropriation side have to defund FDA programs that dont make sense, Gonzales said.

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Mace, a survivor of sexual assault, has been outspoken against anti-abortion laws and proposals that would not allow exceptions for women who have been raped and warned that the abortion issue is hurting Republicans electorally.

This is an issue that Republicans have been largely on the wrong side of, we have over the last nine months not shown compassion towards women  The state of South Carolina just a few weeks ago we had some folks in the state legislature that essentially wanted to execute women who had abortions, Mace said on CNN Monday. So, weve got some extreme views on this issue, but 90 percent of America is somewhere in the middle. And I think that that 90 percent would be okay with listening to the FDA rather than a judge who used an old law that was determined unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Mace appeared to be referring to the Texas judges reliance on the Comstock Act, an 1873 anti-vice law that aimed to bar the mailing of contraception and anything that could be used for abortion. The law has been narrowed by the courts and Congress since and has not been enforced in decades. Mace also seemingly referenced a 1983 Supreme Court ruling that said a federal regulation prohibiting mailing unsolicited advertisements for contraceptives was unconstitutional.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A federal judge in Texas may have ordered a popular abortion drug off the market -- but that decision isnt going to affect Massachusetts residents -- at least in the short term.

At a statehouse press conference Monday, Governor Maura Healey and other political leaders unveiled a plan to stockpile an approximately one-year supply of mifepristone. Those 15,000 doses were procured by the University of Massachusetts - Amherst.

Healey said healthcare providers in the state are also stocking up on mifepristone -- and her administration has allocated $1 million to help some of them do that.

Our team was thinking about this the last three weeks -- what could happen, Healey said.

What actually happened is that a group known as the Alliance Defending Freedom prevailed in its lawsuit against the FDA in an Amarillo, Texas courtroom last Friday. The Alliance charged that the FDA improperly approved mifepristone -- by putting it on a fast track. That route, the group argued, is reserved for drugs that treat serious, life-threatening illness and that offer a significant benefit over other therapies.

The Alliance said that, for one thing, the FDA improperly defined pregnancy as a serious illness.

Mifepristone was approved in 2000 -- and is now in wide use for medication abortions. In the U.S., it is coupled with the drug misoprostol to terminate pregnancies up to 10 weeks. Mifepristone works by antagonizing progesterone, a hormone vital for pregnancy. It has an excellent safety and side effect profile.

Healey said it was no accident the Alliance Defending Freedom chose to file their suit where they filed it.

Their latest crusade took them to a single federal court judge in Amarillo, Texas, handpicked by Donald Trump, who has a history of making radical decisions to restrict womens freedom, she said. When it goes into effect, it could ban mifepristone nationwide -- even in states like Massachusetts where abortion is legal -- or at least thats the concern.

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Healey stressed that nothing has changed in Massachusetts regarding the availability of abortions -- including ones that rely on mifepristone administration. In fact, she signed an executive order Monday confirming the right to an abortion is protected under state law. The order also protects prescribers, providers, and patients using mifepristone.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren also attended the press conference. She said theres an immediate fight and a long-term one.

A judge has made a politically motivated decision to override doctors, patients, and medical experts and block access to critical medications, Warren said. Today, we are saying collectively, loud and clear, not on our watch.

The long-term fight?

The only way that we will put a stop to this is at the ballot box, said Warren.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said she was sickeningly mad that, once again, abortion rights have been successfully challenged.

I am not going to talk about how clueless it is for extremists who say they care about the sanctity of family to take away the very safety and health care and protections that make it possible for so many to map out their lives, Wu said. Im not going to talk about how this is a dangerous distraction from the real work that should be happening across the country. When our young people are worried about losing their lives from mass shootings. When cities are burning from climate change and we havent gotten our act together to figure out what to do at the national level.itch to using only the second drug.

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Once again a Missouri governor has shown Kansas Citians whos boss.

Gov. Mike Parson just appointed a new member of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners without much consideration for what Kansas City residents want. But Parson can do that because the police board is under state  not local  control.

We agree with activist pastor Darron L. Edwards that the new appointee, Thomas Whittaker, executive vice president and chief legal officer for J.E. Dunn Construction, is a great human being. But Edwards raises the right issue about this new appointee, named to replace Don Wagner, who left the police board at the end of 2022: The question must be asked if he is a great fit for a board of police commissioners.

Mayor Quinton Lucas, the only police board member not appointed by a governor, whiffed on that question by not using this appointment as another opportunity to push for local control. Instead, he tweeted this: 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.

As The Stars Glenn E. Rice reported, faith leaders and civil rights activists often have criticized the police board for its handling of former Police Chief Rick Smith, who, they charged, protected officers accused of killing Black men and of using excessive force against people of color. Under Smith, many city residents complained  with good reason  that the police often seemed like an authoritative, invasive presence instead of a force for peace and justice. Activists also say that 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.

Lora McDonald, executive director of the Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity or MORE2, makes a good point about this appointment and why its so problematic: 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.

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Kansas Citians should feel grateful that people like Tom Whittaker are willing to volunteer to serve the public. But as long as local residents have no say in who makes up the police board, they should work to change this old and broken system.

The last time City Hall controlled the police board and department was in the era of political boss Tom Pendergast, and that connection led to so much corruption that, as the police departments own website describes the situation, In 1939, Missouri Attorney General Roy (McKittrick) came down hard on the corruption generated by the Pendergast Political Machine. Missouri Governor Lloyd Stark had the police department returned to state control under commissioners that he appointed. Thus was reinstated the original form of KCPD governance  a governor-appointed Board of Police Commissioners, and its the system used today. (An historical note: this new Board in 1939 appointed a new police chief, Lear B. Reed, and charged him with rooting corruption out of the force. About 50 percent of KCPD employees were fired at that time.)

So no system will automatically produce the kind of police department Kansas City deserves, but all these years later, state control feels like a dictatorial system radically out of touch with the electorate.

And yet it must comfort Gov. Parson to note that the people who live here, judging by voter turnout in local elections, dont seem to care much who runs the city. In the April 4 election, for instance, not even 14% of registered voters cast ballots. That puts zero pressure on the state to let Kansas Citians control their own police department. And yet thats exactly what should happen to avoid a police board that looks almost nothing like the population.
Grafton police are investigating after parents said an unknown man allegedly approached their 7-year-old child in the bathroom of the Costco and offered the boy candy if the boy would leave with him, according to a news release from the Grafton Police Department.

Police were dispatched to Costco, 950 Port Washington Road, around 1 p.m. Friday.

According to the child's mother, the boy told her that while he was at the sink washing his hands, he heard a man tell him that, "If you come with me, I'll give you some candy, but you'll have to keep it a secret," according to the release.

The child did not speak to the man, never saw the man and was never touched by the man, according to the police report. After the boy left the bathroom, he told his mom about the incident about 20 minutes later.

The child could not describe the man, according to the release. "Because of the time delay, and the lack of a description of the suspect, it made the on-scene investigation more complex," Grafton Police Sgt. Sean Fuerstenberg said in the release.

Costco is cooperating with police and has provided two hours of video for investigators to review, according to the release. The case remains under investigation.

Grafton Police Chief Jeff Caponera said this was the only incident reported to the police.

"We are aware of a comment on social media alleging a young girl was approached on the same day at Costco," Caponera said. "This is inaccurate; there have been no other similar reports."

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contacted Grafton police for an update on the investigation Monday morning and has yet to receive a response.

The story will be updated.

Contact Alex Groth at agroth@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @grothalexandria.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 7-year-old boy approached in Costco bathroom, Grafton police say
The mother of a 6-year-old boy who seriously wounded his teacher with a gun in January will face charges in the shooting, a local prosecutor in Virginia said Monday, April 10.

A grand jury indicted Deja Taylor on charges of felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child, Newport News Commonwealths Attorney Howard Gwynn said. The indictment comes a month after Gwynn said he would not seek charges against the student.

Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues, Gwynn said in a statement on Monday.

His office has also petitioned a circuit court to empanel a special grand jury to continue an investigation into potential security lapses that may have led to the shooting.

If the Special Grand Jury determines that additional persons are criminally responsible under the law, it can return additional indictments, Gwynn said.

A lawyer for Taylor did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday about the charges.

Virginia elementary school teacher Abigail Zwerner poses for a portrait at an undisclosed location in Virginia on March 20, 2023. (Carlos Bernate for NBC News)

A week ago, the injured teacher, Abigail Zwerner, filed a $40 million lawsuit alleging administrators at Richneck Elementary School shrugged off multiple warnings from staff and students who believed the boy had a gun and posed an imminent threat on the day of the shooting on Jan. 6.

The student shot Zwerner with a 9 mm handgun while she sat at a reading table in their first-grade classroom, according to officials.

Newport News police had praised Zwerner for managing to escort her class of about 20 students to safety even after she was seriously wounded in her left hand and chest. Police said the shooting was intentional.

The boys family said in a previous statement that the weapon was secured in the home and that they have always been committed to responsible gun ownership and keeping firearms out of the reach of children.

Story continues

The family also said the boy has an acute disability and was receiving the treatment he needs under a court-ordered temporary detention at a medical facility.

According to police, his mother legally purchased the gun he used, but they havent said how he obtained it or if it was safely secured as the family has claimed.

In the wake of the incident, an assistant principal accused of ignoring warnings resigned and the schools superintendent, George Parker III, was removed by the school board without cause.

The district has also implemented metal detectors and installed a full-time security guard at Richneck.

The safety and wellbeing of our staff and students is our most important priority, the Newport News school board said in a prior statement, adding that officials will continue to do whatever it takes to ensure a safe and secure teaching and learning environment across all our schools.

The school district did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Zwerners lawsuit also alleges the school district knew the boy had a history of violence and was required to have one of his parents with him during the school day, but on the day of the shooting, no parent was with him and he wasnt assigned a monitor.

The familys lawyer, James Ellenson, said this month that the allegations in the complaint involving the 6-year-old should be taken with a large grain of salt.

We of course continue to pray for Ms. Zwerners complete recovery, he said.

This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
WASHINGTON  Greece is buying anti-tank missiles from Israel in a 370 million (U.S. $403 million) deal, the weapons manufacturer announced Monday.

The signatories to the government-to-government agreement for the Spike missiles were Eyal Zamir, director general of Israels Defense Ministry, and Aristeidis Alexopulos, head of Greeces General Directorate for Defense Investments and Armaments, according to Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which makes the weapon.

This project joins a series of agreements between the State of Israel and the Hellenic Republic, and further emphasizes the strong partnership between our countries and our defense establishments, as well as our mutual commitment to ensuring regional stability, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement distributed by Rafael.

Rafael unveils video of counter-drone capability on Typhoon weapon

The sale follows last weeks purchase of the Israeli-made air defense system Davids Sling by Finland, which recently joined Greece as a NATO member. Israels International Defense Cooperation Directorate, which is part of the Defense Ministry, led the agreement for the export of the naval-, air- and land-based missiles.

A government-to-government defense exports agreement was signed between the Israel Ministry of Defense and the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence to acquire Rafaels Spike missiles. The agreement was led by the IMoD's SIBAT and is valued at approximately 370 million Euros. pic.twitter.com/694lWwu6Xx  Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) April 10, 2023

Spike weapons comes in several variants and include electro-optical technology for precise targeting. Rafaels website says 39 nations use the weapon, and that it has sold about 30,000 missiles, which can fire from 45 different platforms.

Story continues

Of those users, 19 are members of the EU and/or NATO.

This agreement with the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense is yet another expression of the strategic partnership between Israel and Greece. It is part of a series of agreements worth billions of shekels which we have signed in the last two years, including the recent update of the Greek Air Force Pilot Training Centers capabilities, Zamir said in the Rafael statement.

Anti-tank missiles are among the weapons proving popular in Europe since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

For its part, Greece has committed 19 million in military aid to Ukraine from Jan. 24, 2022, to February 24, 2023, according to the Kiel Institute, which tracks support to the war-torn country.
Jay Janner/USA Today Network via REUTERS

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The conservative narrative around Daniel Perry coalesced pretty early. An evil, Soros-backed prosecutor in Austin, Texas had wrongfully convicted an Army Sergeant who had done nothing more than act in reasonable self-defense when a BLM protester pointed an AK-47 at him. He should be pardoned, they argue, as the victim of liberal prosecutorial overreachespecially because police officers did not initially think that he had committed a crime.

Heres the guy who selected many of Trumps judges explaining his point of view:

Soros prosecutors are evil, subversive, dangerous Marxists.



They are cancerous tumors in states.



The GOP-dominated Texas state legislature and governor must strip this Soros prosecutor of power.



And @GregAbbott_TX must issue a pardon immediately for Daniel Perry. https://t.co/khL3Enq6IU   Mike Davis  (@mrddmia) April 8, 2023

This story has such narrative force right now because it confirms an important prior on the Right: the law is unfairly applied to them, and the courts have conspired to persecute them while allowing a pervasive crime wave to destroy Americas cities.

But this account has two minor problems:

The facts The law

The single most important fact that conservatives come back to, again and again, is that the victim, Garrett Foster, had pointed an AK-47 at Daniel Perrys head. And its not true.

Lets start with the obvious. There were many eyewitnesses in this case. And not one of them testified that Foster had pointed his weapon at Perry. Thats nothing, Perry stans rely, because these people are BLM protesters totally devoid of the simple decency and kindness that marks real Americans, and they must have all agreed to lie in court, identically, to ensure that Perry would be convicted by a panel of soft-handed Soros-loving libs.

Story continues

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Is Pushing Republicans Across the Country to the Extreme Right

But you know who else said the weapon was not pointed at Daniel Perry? Daniel Perry. See, Perry made the classic mistake of so many people who like police. He talked to police. And he told a sympathetic officer that I believe[d] he was going to aim at me. I didnt want to give him a chance to aim at me. Not only did Foster not aim a weapon at Perry, he didnt have the chance to.

And why, exactly, did this altercation happen in the first place?

As Perry told police, he was distracted because he was trying to hang out with an Uber passenger and she requested $200 for her time. He was so distracted that he ran his car into some protesters. Witnesses described the sound of squealing tires as he accelerated.

One of the people Perry almost hit was Whitney Mitchell, a quadruple amputee who was being pushed through the protest by a friend while her husband, Garrett Foster, marched. Foster, an Air Force veteran, was upset that someone had almost hurt or killed his wife. Protesters were banging on the car with their hands. And Foster told Perry to move on, gesturing at his weapon

Perry shot him five times in the center of mass, killing him. And then he called police, saying hed fired in self-defense. The cops were sympathetic! After all, these were people who were protesting them, specifically, and the news were filled with stories of lawless protesters burning cities to the ground while the police were held back by liberal city officials. Perry was not even arrested, initially, and the detective he spoke to was called as a witness for the defense.

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Perry did not testify at trial, and so the jury had to take the facts as they were given, and decide whether he was justified in shooting Foster. It did not help that Perry repeatedly posted on social media about killing protesters, that he claimed he would be acquitted on self-defense if he did so, and that, when a friend pointed out that you cant shoot someone you provoke, he pushed back.

And provocation was at the heart of the States case. The rule of law is that if the defendant provoked another to make an attack on him, so that the defendant would have a pretext for killing the other under the guise of self-defense, the defendant forfeits his right of self-defense Elizondo v. State, 487 S.W.3d 185, 196 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016).

Mark Bennett, an astonishingly good Texas criminal defense lawyer did the yeomans work of actually posting the jury instructions:

He gave them (2) and (3) on a silver platter.



This applies even if the decedent had attacked him (e.g. by pointing his gun at him) which was itself contested at best. pic.twitter.com/uVh554wmJ1  Yak Razors Bennett (@NoLongerBennett) April 8, 2023

So, even if Foster pointed a gun at Perry, Perry would not be justified in shooting him if his actions, like almost running over his wife, were reasonably calculated to provoke the attack, or if Perry came out there in the hopes of getting to kill someone that day. So when people point to Perrys social media posts, that isnt an irrelevant side show or an attempt to punish conservatives for their free speechit is legally relevant to whether he had a right to self-defense. You cant shoot the guy youre mugging and claim self-defense. And you cant, maybe deliberately, drive your car at a crowd of protesters and then immediately escalate when an armed person tells you to move on.

In other words, this is not some new-fangled rule meant to entrap law-abiding conservatives. Its a long-standing rule without which the laws of justification would swallow laws against aggravated assault and murder. It is founded upon the theory of estoppel and based upon the legal maxims that, A man may not take advantage of his own wrong to gain favorable interpretation of the law; he seeks the law in vain who offends against it.[O]ne cannot willingly and knowingly bring upon himself the very necessity which he sets up for his own defense. Elizondo v. State, 487 S.W.3d 185, 198 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016).

This is not a legally complicated case. The jury could find that Perry was not justified if they believed that Perry provoked the fight to have the excuse to kill someone, or if they believed that the force was not immediately necessary to protect Perry against Fosters attempted use of unlawful deadly force since Foster never actually pointed a weapon at Perry. If Perry argues on appeal that the evidence against him was insufficient, he will probably lose, because Texas courts routinely affirm convictions where there is much stronger evidence of self-defense.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks in Dallas, Texas, U.S., May 4, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo

For instance, Texas criminal appeals attorney Doug Gladden pointed to Braughton v. State. A dude, Dominguez, got into a drunken fight with his girlfriend in the middle of the day, as one does. The dude starts riding home on his motorcycle when he encounters the defendants father, and starts revving his engine and tailgating him for some road-ragey reason. The father calls his son and says hes scared. When they get to the front of the defendants home, the dude starts screaming and beating the father, even after the defendant says he has a gun. When the dude reaches for his satchel, the defendant shot him. This resulted in a conviction and a sentence of twenty years in jail, and the Court of Appeals said it was fine, over a dissent.

But nobody has talked about pardoning Braughton. Or any of the dozens of other much stronger self-defense cases that have been upheld on appeal. Instead, Texas conservatives have put their shoulder to the wheel for a man who seems to have accelerated his car towards a woman in a wheelchair hoping for the chance to kill someone, and when that womans husband told him to get back in his car and move on, murdered him in cold blood.

On these facts, Governor Greg Abbott has promised to issue a pardon.

Not only is this a not particularly sympathetic defendant, but the pardon sends a terrible message. Provoking a fight to kill someone is ok, the pardon will, say, if the right kind of person is killed. And other people who are unduly confident in their knowledge of Texas self-defense law will be tempted to test the limits of the governors mercy, to the detriment of the safety of the public.

To the extent that deterrence is a thing, Perrys conviction serves as a valuable deterrent. It tells people that deadly force is to be used as a last resort, not a test of manhood. And that all lives, even liberal ones, matter in the State of Texas. This pardon would be a baffling exercise of executive discretion.

I sincerely hope that Abbot is simply full of shit. That he will let the appeals process play out, get the unanimous message from the board of pardons that this is not a good candidate for pardon, and accept the decision with some grumbling. The alternative is a world where some peoples murders count, and others dontwhere some people have a right to open carry, and others dont. Thats not liberty. Its tyranny.

Lets hope cooler heads prevail.

This article was originally published in the Ordinary Times.

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Greg James on The BRIT Awards 2023 red carpet in London. (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

BBC Radio 1's Greg James is looking over his shoulder when it comes to artificial intelligence.

Currently presenting the Channel 4 reality series Rise and Fall, which sees 16 contestants divided into 'Rulers' and 'Grafters' for the chance to take home 100,000, he spoke to The Sun about the psychological ripple effect of ChatGPT's recent launch - an impressively articulate chatbot - and what it means for those working in showbiz.

"I've got to be better than an AI!" he joked.

Read more: Warner Bros to start using artificial intelligence to help with movie releases

"That's my challenge. I mean it's quite scary, how quickly things are moving but we can work with technology.

"The internet came along, Spotify came along and, you know, it was the same when I took over [The Breakfast Show]. They would always say 'we used to have 20 million listeners' but there were only five radio stations!"

The BBC Radio 1 favourite and his wife Bella Mackie. (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Audi UK)

Meanwhile, just a couple of weeks ago, the DJ revealed to Men's Health that he and wife Bella Mackie are enjoying life without the stress of raising kids.

"We're just monitoring it, but basically we're both on 'no' to kids at the moment... It's where we are at the moment. We've having a nice time," he said.

Read more: Arnold Schwarzenegger launches 7m lawsuit against Russian robot company for using his likeness

Apparently, they're relaxed in the knowledge that there's "plenty of time" for all of that in the future.

"But to be honest, all of our friends make having kids look hard," James went on to caveat.

"None of them look like they're having a nice time. We're not short of babies and kids in our families."

Watch: Radio 1's Greg James opens up about his unpopular love for Alan Partridge! - 'Not even my wife knows!'
Some middle school students are facing criminal charges for an alleged racially-motivated assault in class.

Police said the students called a female student the N-word and whipped her with a belt several times.

Parents told Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes that a teacher witnessed the assault and didnt report it.

Fernandes talked to the victims parents, who said that because the incident wasnt reported right away, the victim had to sit in class with the students she said assaulted her.

When her parents went to the school the next day, administrators said they had no idea the assault happened.

Channel 2 Action News is not identifying the family because the victim is a minor.

I dont think time heals wounds when it comes to racism, the girls father told Fernandes.

The father said the incident happened at Radloff Middle School in Gwinnett County. His teenage daughter told him that some Hispanic kids repeatedly yell racial slurs at her.

Things got so bad that the girl texted her mother on March 30, saying she didnt feel safe anymore because the same students assaulted her.

TRENDING STORIES:

She was sitting with a Hispanic child, and the other Hispanic child approached them and said, How much for your monkey? And the child responded, $450. And so the main child said alright, looked at my daughter and said, Alright, I own you now (expletive). Do my homework slave. My daughter refused and thats when the child asked the other child to remove his belt and he gave her some lashings. And thats when the teacher initially said, Alright you boys, leave her alone, the father said.

But the victim said they did it again and the teacher did nothing.

When the parents went to the school the next day, they said administrators confirmed the teacher didnt report it.

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The principal sent out a letter, calling the incident despicable. The students were suspended and are now facing criminal charges.

The father told Fernandes that he is satisfied with how administrators handled things, but they dont understand why the teacher didnt take this seriously enough to report it.

Theres no safe place. There should be several options for kids in that type of situation where they can walk out immediately, go to someone immediately, have something done immediately, the victims father said.

Fernandes contacted the district to find out if the teacher was disciplined or had to be re-trained.

She learned Monday afternoon the teacher is now under investigation.

The victims father said what made things even worse was the kids who assaulted his daughter took to social media.

IN OTHER NEWS:




Halle Berry put a troll in their place over the weekend.

Halle Berry has no time for ageism.

Over the weekend, the "Gothika" star, 56, took to social media with a sun-kissed nude photo of herself leaning on a balcony and sipping wine.

While many praised the mom-of-two for confidently baring it all, one person accused the actress of stripping down "for attention."

"Imagine being in your 50s, and still posting nudes for attention in menopause when you should be chilling with the grandkids. Aging with dignity is no longer a thing," they wrote.

Berry took no time firing back at the comment.

"Did you guys know the heart of a shrimp is located in its head?" she quote-tweeted in response to the criticism.

Did you guys know the heart of a shrimp is located in its head? https://t.co/M1Y42b9nZo  Halle Berry (@halleberry) April 10, 2023

Fans spared no time rallying behind Berry and praising her clever clap-back.

"You won the internet today with this clap back," one fan wrote, while another pointed out:

"Halle Berry is easily the most enjoyable and unproblematic celeb Twitter account. Sis is just out here bein fine as hell, enjoying life, loving her man, and shooting the shit with her fans. Imagine how miserable one has to be to find a problem with that."

"Imagine being in your 50s and still being one of the hottest women on the planet," someone else weighed in.

A fan tweeted: "Tell him, sis. Keep doing you 'cause we are here for it and happy to see you living your best life."

"I found this inspiring," another shared. "Its healthy to go outside and be natural. Keep it up. Ill be doing it when Im 80!"

Halle Berry is used to being real with her fans on social media. Earlier this year, she took to Instagram to share a hilarious video of herself face-planting at an event.

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"Sometimes you bust your ass," she wrote alongside a video clip of her falling up a set of stairs.

"My dear friend @ShillaHekmatPiano invited me to speak at her charity event celebrating a wonderful organization called @LookingBeyondLA that raises money for children with special needs  then that happened!!! I face-planted," Berry explained, adding a plant emoji and ending her note with a call for donations. "Children are worth it!"

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
Halle Berry in 2023. Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Halle Berry clapped back at a Twitter user who called out the actor for posting a nude photo.

On Saturday, Berry shared a picture of herself drinking wine in the nude to her Instagram.

The "X-Men" star didn't hold back when a Twitter user criticized her on Sunday, accusing Berry of "posting nudes for attention."

Halle Berry clapped back at a Twitter user who criticized the star's decision to post a nude photo to Instagram over the weekend.

After controversial anti-feminist social-media personality Shadaya Knight accused Berry of "posting nudes for attention in menopause," the "X-Men" star offered a hilarious non sequitur in response.

"Did you guys know the heart of a shrimp is located in its head?" Berry wrote in a quote tweet of Knight's criticism.

The replies to Berry's clap back were filled with supportive fans and followers who praised the actor for defending herself.

On Saturday, Berry shared the picture of herself drinking wine on a balcony in the nude, with the caption, "i do what i wanna do. [kiss emoji] happy saturday."

But while Berry's photo garnered numerous likes on Instagram and Twitter, Knight took issue with the "X-Men" actor's decision to pose nude.

"Imagine being in your 50s, still posting nudes for attention in menopause when you should be chilling with the grandkids. Aging with dignity is no longer a thing," Knight tweeted alongside Berry's Instagram photo.

Story continues

Berry shares photos frequently on her social-media platforms, and recently celebrated her daughter Nahla's 15th birthday with rare pics of the teen.

Read the original article on Insider
Halle Berry is being cheered on by fans after posting a nude photograph of herself drinking a glass of wine on a balcony.

The 56-year-old shared the snap on Instagram and Twitter, which shows her leaning on the railing of the balcony with a glass of wine raised to her lips, on Saturday (8 April).

She wrote in the caption: I do what I wanna do. Happy Saturday.

Berry, who starred in Moonfall last year with Patrick Wilson and John Bradley, was hailed as an inspiration to fans after she shared the photograph.

Several fans joked they had saved the tweet for their vision board to inspire them in future.

One person wrote: Putting this on my vision board for my 50s, while another commented: When I tell you I just saved this for my summer vision board.

I know thats right Halle Berry, you worked hard to be able to do whatever you want to do! one fan wrote. Be you loud and proud.

i do what i wanna do.  pic.twitter.com/hDIkyfiy53  Halle Berry (@halleberry) April 8, 2023

Another social media user added: Exactly how Im about to be on my patio all summer and on my lounge chairs.

Last week, the Catwoman star reacted to images that fans had created of her using the Barbie movie Selfie Generator.

The Selfie Generator allows users to upload photographs of people or animals to create a stylised image of themselves with the word Barbie emblazoned across their front and a customisable caption that reads: This Barbie is 

One fan posted an image featuring Berry during her 2002 Oscar speech after she became the first Black woman to win Best Actress for her role in Monsters Ball.

She retweeted the image and joked: Im logging off [cry-laugh emoji].

In a later tweet, she clarified: Its ALL love. I love my Twitter family.

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Earlier this year, the mesh floral Elie Saab dress Berry wore when she accepted her Oscar went on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

The burgundy gown, which features a high-neck mesh bodice with hand-embroidered red and green flowers, holds meaning and [will] forever be a reminder that all things are possible, the actor said in an Instagram post.

Berry presented the award for Best Actress at the 2023 Oscars to Michelle Yeoh, who became the first Asian woman to win the award. Yeoh won for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Local and federal leaders are preparing to discuss their ideas to stop gun violence with the Central Florida community.

On Monday, Mayor Buddy Dyer is set to join U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost and advocates to discuss a new bill that would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

Officials said it would be established within the U.S. Department of Justice.

The news conference to discuss the bill is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. in Orlando.

Watch: Central Florida Spotlight: Gun Control

Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates.

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.
With embattled Police Chief Freddie Blackmon accepting a $400,000 severance package to retire this month, Columbus residents are left waiting to see what happens next with the vacant position at the top of a crucial law enforcement agency.

Whats next, after an interim chief steps in, may be a nationwide search for an outsider to take the job, and not someone who already works in the Columbus Police Department.

I think there are benefits to hiring from outside, like a nationwide search, District 4 Councilor Toyia Tucker said Friday, the day after council held an hour-long private session to work out Blackmons severance deal.

When that executive session ended Thursday afternoon, council publicly voted on a resolution confirming these terms of Blackmons early retirement package, beyond the $400,000 hes to be paid:

Blackmon took paid time off starting Thursday, and officially will retire April 30.

His assistant chiefs, Debra Kennedy and Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick, will run the department as the city consults the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police on appointing an interim.

Blackmon will continue to get his city health insurance at the employee rate until he reaches retirement age.

The chief will not to pursue legal action against the city.

Mayor Skip Henderson initially offered Blackmon a $250,000 severance package on March 15. Blackmon countered that by demanding around $850,000 total on March 28 in a letter from an Atlanta law firm threatening to sue the city for racial discrimination.

The deal capped a tense few weeks between the chief and the city leaders and opened up another chapter in the citys quest for a new top cop.

Appointed with councils unanimous approval in November 2020, Blackmon is Columbus second Black police chief, and succeeded a white chief, Ricky Boren, who retired Oct. 31, 2020, after leading the agency for 16 years.

Both Blackmon and Boren spent their careers here. Boren first joined the department in 1971. Boren was born in Harris County, but graduated from Columbus Jordan High School. Blackmons a Columbus native who was hired in 1986. Each had spent decades with the department before becoming chief.

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The next chief may not have those local ties.

Chief Freddie Blackmon is greeted by supporters after presenting his Strategic Plan to City Council.

What now?

Mayor Henderson said he expects to name an interim chief within days, as the assistant chiefs run the department. Kennedy is in charge of operations, and Dent-Fitzpatrick oversees administrative functions.

The goal is to get an interim in there, like 10 minutes ago, Henderson said after Thursdays council meeting. Its just that its been a very fluid, very fast moving situation, but we are seeking guidance from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. Theyre an organization made of police chiefs and retired police chiefs.

The chiefs association, based in Duluth, says it provides these services to local governments in recruiting and selecting chiefs of police:

Onsite consulting on a police chief selection process

Establishing qualifications for applicants

Developing job announcements

Recommendations on hiring

Background investigations

Suggesting conditions of employment

Follow-up training for new chiefs

The interim chief likely will be someone currently working here, Henderson said: There are some people within the department that I know some folks are interested in considering. So were going to make sure we get it right. The interim will simply try to keep it between the ditches, until we are able to do a search and come up with a permanent replacement.

He said one particular person was in line for interim, though some councilors and police officers privately have said a Black patrol captain nearing retirement is the current favorite.

Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson presides at the Columbus Council meeting.

Well have them in place very quickly, just like in the next day or two, the mayor said. That appointment will not have to be confirmed by a council vote, he added:

Its an administrative action taken by the mayor, because it wont really be the chief, he said. It will be the interim chief.

After that, city leaders expect to form a search committee to recruit a new chief.

I think there will be a nationwide search for that, said District 6 Councilor Gary Allen, who serves also as mayor pro-tem, presiding over council meetings when the mayors absent. He had no objection to hiring someone from outside Columbus, he said.

Tucker, the District 4 representative, said that after Boren announced his retirement in 2020, council appointed a focus group to seek citizens input on finding a new chief.

During 2020, when we had the focus group, the community overwhelmingly said we needed to hire externally, outside CPD, she said. Police officers also told the group they favored someone from outside the department, she said.

Columbus City Councilor Toyia Tucker(District 4). 03/14/2023

Columbus has been successful in that effort elsewhere, she noted: The chief heading the Columbus Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Salvatore Sal Scarpa, is a Brooklyn, New York, native who came here from the North Kansas City, Missouri, fire department, replacing a local chief, Jeff Meyer, when he retired in 2020.

In November 2021, after a national search, council confirmed Herbert Walker as warden of the Muscogee County Prison. He was a resident of McDonough, Georgia, having served at the Lawrenceville Correctional Center and the Robert A. Deyton Detention Center in Lovejoy, Georgia. He also provided security services for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hes doing a fantastic job, Tucker said of Walker.

District 5 Councilor Charmaine Crabb also praised the work of the fire chief and prison warden.

I think that we can expand Columbus horizons by having a new perspective, she said of an outside hire. People who have lived in different places may have ideas that we havent seen.

She added: Our police department is a huge part of our public safety, but you have to look at the big picture.

That big picture includes economic development, and what major employers look for when deciding to relocate, she said: They want to see a strong, vibrant police department.

A tumultuous tenure

The year after council confirmed Blackmon as police chief, on Nov. 17, 2020, the city experienced an abrupt surge in gun violence, reporting a record 70 homicides in 2021.

That dropped to 45 in 2022, but Sheriff Greg Countryman and Coroner Buddy Bryan, along with some police investigators, said the decrease partly was the result of a declining gang war, between rivals known as the Zohannons and US World, that played out when many of the combatants either were killed, jailed or left town.

The police chiefs office would not acknowledge that factor, for a Ledger-Enquirer analysis in February, saying it had not linked the killings to street gangs.

Its approach to fighting gang violence was criticized in a privately funded study of department operations that councilors received in November 2022. These were among the conclusions drawn by the national consulting firm Jensen Hughes:

The department did not effectively track gang activity or share such data across divisions. It has officers in its Office of Professional Standards, which investigates officer misconduct, serving in dual roles as gang investigators and crime-intelligence gatherers. This arrangement interfered with and decreased the critical flow of intelligence information within the department, the report said.

The departments overall approach to combating gangs was inadequate, as no officer or unit had robust knowledge or expertise on all of most of the citys gang factions, leadership, members, areas of influence or criminal activities.

The criminal intelligence information provided to other divisions is of little value. Officers said they have never seen any predictive intelligence provided, but rather documents containing an assemblage of information void of any analysis or what that information could likely mean in terms of future outcomes. Some of the information was about suspects who were dead.

Jensen Hughes also found that experienced officers were leaving the department not because of low pay, a frequent complaint among officers nationwide, but because of low morale caused by poor leadership.

We were frequently told the chief has created an environment of micromanagement, and while the department has some talented commanders, they are not being effectively utilized, the report said,

It noted that some officers had left for lower paying jobs. While surveying those who remained, the analysts found that most of those interviewed stressed poor leadership impacted employee morale and was the primary reason for departures.

Alarmed by the continuing loss of police veterans, Columbus Council demanded Blackmon come up with a plan to address that, after councilors got a Feb. 14 briefing on the study, which echoed a 2021 police study compiled by the Leadership Institute at Columbus State University.

Amid the debate over Blackmons leadership, another wave of gun violence erupted.

The city had nine homicides in two weeks, Feb. 15 through Feb. 28. Nine juveniles were wounded in a shooting at a gas station on Feb. 16, making national headlines, and midtown residents were alarmed when pedestrians walking around Lakebottom Park had to dodge bullets from a drive-by shooting.

At a meeting of Lakebottom Little League parents on March 2, Assistant Chief Kennedy told the crowd that Columbus steadily was losing mid-level officers, those with around 15 years experience, and the force was down to 299 out of a budgeted 488.

On March 14, Blackmon presented a comprehensive plan for the police department, proposing increased pay and benefits, and expanding the force to 572 officers. It had only 295 employed at the time, he said.

The mayor offered him a severance package the next day.

His supporters rushed to his defense, holding a rally outside councils March 28 meeting, alleging the majority-white council was treating him unfairly because of his race.

Marvin Broadwater Sr. speaks Tuesday night, March 28, 2023, during a rally outside the City Services Center in support of Columbus Police Chief Freddie Blackmon.

City leaders were not dissuaded from seeking his ouster, leading to the severance agreed upon Thursday.

Among the councilors who could be reached for comment Friday was Glenn Davis, the District 2 representative, who said Columbus now needs to work on rebuilding its police force.

City leaders should consult the rank and file officers, from the bottom up, and question some of those who have left for other jobs, he said.

Youve got to listen to them, and see what they think about re-energizing the department, he said.
Emily Rule gave an emphatic yes when asked if she thinks Columbia, South Carolina, needs another grocery store downtown.

This parking lot is so bad, and the Publix is small, she said. I feel like Im always going to get into an accident in this parking lot.

Anyone who has ever visited the Vistas Publix location at 501 Gervais St. during peak hours has likely felt the same.

The Publix has about 30,000 square feet. The typical new Publix in South Florida can have 45,000 square feet, along with a sprawling parking lot.

What are the chances that another grocer will come to downtown Columbia to ease the business at the Vista store? City leaders say at least for now, the chances are low. Until a number of changes come, downtown workers and residents can expect to continue fighting it out in the notoriously tight Publix parking lot.

KNOW MORE: Is that really a Publix? Smaller specialty stores in Florida

Challenges

To get a new grocery store you first must have people, traffic, businesses  all the things that make an area more densely packed.

While the Florida-baked Publix feels dense enough most evenings, downtown doesnt have the people to attract another store just yet.

Weve got to emphasize growing downtown, said Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann.

Roughly 3,200 people live downtown today. There would need to be 10-12,000 residents for another grocery store to make sense, Rickenmann said.

Rickenmann has often cited the need for more density downtown to boost everything from grocery options to development interest. And growth is happening. The number of downtown residents has doubled in recent years.

Rickenmann said the city is constantly trying to sell Columbia to businesses, including grocers. There has even been talk about offering incentives to bring new grocery options to residents.

But the problem is you cant incentivize your way out of this, he said. Heres my biggest fear: If we prematurely go and invest and build a grocery store and then it closes, well never get another one.

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As it is, local grocers have already struggled to meet their sales requirements, Rickenmann said, citing the closure of two Walmart grocery stores in the city in recent years.

In 2019, a Walmart Neighborhood Market on Broad River Road announced it was closing due to low performance. Two years later, a Walmart Supercenter on Bush River Road closed, again because of low sales.

North Main, Farrow Road and South Beltline Boulevard, too, have all lost grocery stores in the past because there wasnt enough activity to sustain them, Rickenmann added.

Beyond the people problem is a logistical one. To have a grocery store, you need a bit of space. Ryan Coleman, Columbias director of economic development, estimated a new grocer would need a site between five and six acres.

You cant go and really just find that laying around these days, Coleman said.

He does have a few sites already in mind, including at BullStreet or a former Department of Transportation right-of-way off River Drive, near North Main Street. Though, those are just ideas at this point.

Opportunities

So, the short answer is no, Columbias downtown is not likely to get a new grocery store in the immediate future. But that doesnt mean the city wont keep trying to attract one.

Several thousand apartment units could come to fruition downtown in coming years. Two large student housing projects are also underway.

From a numbers perspective, you can make a compelling case that somebody needs to come down here to fill the gap, because the Publix that weve got is just not going to be able to serve everybody at the end of the day, Coleman said.

The city is now working on a grocery store study that will survey for population, traffic patterns and more, all things would-be grocers look at when deciding where to place a store.

Rickenmann already has a sense of what that survey will show: Columbia isnt there yet. But the data will give playmakers a baseline to know where theyre starting from.

In the meantime, the mayor said its important for the city to be creative and develop other avenues for food access. Theyre piloting a program in which the city would partner with grocers to offer assistance for grocery delivery for certain residents, for example.
Law enforcement officials work Monday near the Islamic Center of Southern California in Koreatown. The mosque was vandalized early Sunday. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles police are searching for a man seen on video defacing a mosque in Koreatown with "anti-Islamic hate words" on Sunday, authorities said.

Surveillance camera footage shows the suspect using a permanent marker to write on the Islamic Center of Southern California, a mosque and cultural center on Vermont Avenue, about 12:40 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Los Angeles police released this surveillance image of a man suspected of defacing the Islamic Center of Southern California. (Los Angeles Police Department)

Police released a photo of the man, who is believed to be in his 40s, around 5 feet 9 and about 180 pounds. He was wearing a black beanie, black shirt, black shorts, black pants and black shoes.

The man was last seen fleeing north on Vermont Avenue.

"This is an appalling act of vandalism targeting the center where innocent individuals gather for their daily religious observances," the Islamic Center of Southern California said in a statement, adding that the community was "deeply saddened and disturbed."

The vandalism occurred during Islam's holy month of Ramadan, which began in late March. Muslims perform daily prayers and refrain from eating or drinking from shortly before sunrise until sunset during the month in order to bring them closer to God.

At a Monday afternoon news conference at the Islamic Center, LAPD Chief Michel Moore condemned the act, which he said is being investigated as felony vandalism.

"There are individuals out there, as I said, that are trying to pull us apart," he said.

Police Chief Michel Moore, center, arrives for a news conference at the Islamic Center of Southern California on Monday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Police officers are working with neighboring businesses and homeless residents to identify the suspect, who based on limited information is believed to be an unhoused person in the area, Moore said. With Ramadan, Passover and Easter all coinciding, the LAPD has also deployed additional resources to patrol houses of worship.

Omar Ricci, spokesman for the Islamic Center, noted that an imam in New Jersey was stabbed during Sunday prayers at a mosque. He also noted an Israeli police raid on Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem last week.

"All of this has come together and it caused certainly a lot of pain for us as a community," he said.

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Hate crimes in Los Angeles County have been on the rise, surging to their highest level in nearly two decades, according to the most recent annual report by the county's Commission on Human Relations.

There were 786 victims of hate crimes in 2021, an increase of 23% since 2020 and the most since 2002, according to the report released in December. More than half of the crimes were motivated by racism.

Hate crimes motivated by religion went up by 29%, from 86 in 2020 to 111 in 2021, and made up 14% of all hate crimes. Incidents against Muslims, Jews, Christians and Scientologists all rose.

Los Angeles as a city has seen a slight decrease in reported hate crimes this year compared with the same period in 2022, Moore said Monday. The city is on pace for a 19% decrease from 2022 to 2023.

"It's a glimmer of hope, but it's also one we should recognize and use as momentum," Moore said. "We don't have to accept the status quo."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A surfer in Hawaii is in a serious condition after he was bitten by a shark in the leg on Sunday.

According to the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services (EMS) the 58-year-old man was attacked shortly before 7am near the Kewalo Basin.

The surfer has not yet been identified by the authorities.

The EMS said that paramedics responded to the incident and administered life-saving treatment to a patient who was surfing and suffered shark bite to his right leg.

Honolulu Ocean Safety will continue to patrol the waters off of Kewalo Basin and Ala Moana after this mornings shark bite. Lifeguards posted signs in the area, EMS spokesperson Shayne Enright said in an email to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

This is the fourth shark incident this year and the third in which someone suffered a bite, reported the outlet, citing an incident list kept by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR).

On March 19, two 5-foot Blacktip reef sharks bit a swimmer at Anaehoomalu on the Hawaii island, leaving lacerations to the back of their left knee and left hand.

The same night two cookie-cutter sharks, approximately 18 to 22 inches long, caused semi-circular puncture wounds to a swimmers chest and abdomen around 12 miles from Papohako Beach.

On 19 February, a person who was on his inflatable stand-up paddleboard near Kihei, Maui had a part of the board bitten off by a shark.

According to the DAR, shark bite incidents in Hawaiin waters are rare.

DAR Records show that the last shark incident that happened at Kewalo was in 2002.

An approximately 10-foot tiger shark bit a surfer on the left foot while duck-diving under the waves.

However, the DAR says that the risk of injury from shark bites remains small.
PANAMA CITY BEACH  Linda Cope says Bay County and the Beach play vital roles in helping combat wounded veterans find closure.

As founder and president of Warrior Beach Retreat Inc., Cope said the nonprofit organization is gearing up to host 11 couples this week for its biannual event that brings combat wounded veterans and their spouses or caregivers to Panama City Beach for vacation.

The group, which is not affiliated with the Wounded Warrior Project, was started by Cope more than a dozen years ago after her son, retired U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Cope, lost both his legs above the knee from an improvised explosive device in Iraq.

Warrior Beach Retreat Inc. is gearing up to host 11 couples this weekend for its biannual event that brings combat wounded veterans to Panama City Beach for vacation.

"Because of the support this community gives them, (they learn their) sacrifices were not in vain," Cope said. "(The retreats) bring closure and healing to them like this community has no idea. This is a healing place. Bay County is a place to be for healing."

Past retreat: A hero's welcome: Warrior Beach Retreat starts in Panama City Beach for wounded veterans

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According to the group's website, the retreat runs from Tuesday through Monday. Attending veterans will stay at Homewood Suites by Hilton at Panama City Beach. Their lodging, along with multiple activities and meals, are covered by the nonprofit and local businesses and restaurants.

"They've given their best for us, so we as a community should give our best for them," Cope said.

To honor the veterans and their spouses or caregivers, there also will be a parade and Wounded Warrior Salute Ceremony on Thursday. The parade will begin at 4 p.m. outside Homewood Suites. The ceremony will then be held at 7 p.m. at Rodeo's Steak Pit and Seafood Restaurant.

Cope said the parade is open to the public, while the ceremony is invitation only. She also said for the first time in the event's history, her son will be the ceremony's guest speaker.

"It is huge," she said of what it means for him to speak. "He just has never felt comfortable doing that, and as his mom, (I'm) looking forward to hearing what he's got to say. He's been through hell and back, (like) so many of these (veterans)."

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In addition to the biannual Warrior Beach Retreats, which are held each spring and fall in Panama City Beach, the group also hosts two smaller retreats throughout the year. Cope said the waitlist for the main retreat stretches until the spring of 2027.

For more information on the group, to view the parade route or make donations to help fund future retreats, visit www.warriorbeachretreat.org.

"We just really want to encourage people to line the streets on the 13th," Cope said. "Most of (the veterans) went straight from the battlefield to the hospital to home and never had a hero's welcome."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Warrior Beach Retreat bring 11 wounded veterans to Panama City Beach
Abdullah Hassan died from a single gunshot wound in Sheffield

A grieving family has paid tribute to one of a kind Abdullah Hassan as they release a treasured picture of the 25-year-old who was shot dead outside a block of flats on Easter Sunday.

The young man died shortly after officers found him critically injured at a council estate in Gleadless Valley on the outskirts of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, at around 1.30am on Sunday.

A post-mortem examination, carried out on Monday, found he died from a single gunshot wound.

Police have launched a murder investigation as his killer remains on the loose.

His devastated family said his death had caused them "very deep sadness and hurt".

In a statement issued to South Yorkshire Police they said: "He was a massive pillar in our family and it is beyond painful to lose him in such tragic circumstances.

"There is only one way to describe him. He was one of a kind, inside and out.

"As a family, we kindly ask that we are given time to grieve this loss and we hope that justice will be secured for him swiftly."

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them as they confirmed that no arrests had yet been made.

The forces Detective Chief Inspector Philip Etheridge said that stating the cause of his death would "do little to ease the concerns and worries within the community".

However, he added that officers were "working tirelessly and meticulously" to investigate the horrific death "and bring those responsible to justice".

The senior officer said that extensive inquiries had been carried out and "those living locally will have seen an increased police presence, which will continue over the coming days".

He continued: "Incidents of this nature understandably cause significant worry and concern among our communities and weve had a number of specialist resources in the area trying to piece together what happened.

"In the early stages of a murder investigation, enquiries progress at pace as we gather as much information as we can about the incident and who may be involved.

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"Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to urge anyone out there who might know something to come forward."

One local on the notorious Callow Drive estate said: Trouble had started at a barbecue being held in the communal grounds outside and then escalated.

The man, who has lived in one of the six tower blocks on the crime-ridden estate, said: I didnt see or hear anything but just woke up to find a man has been shot dead.

It was a shock but not a total surprise. Theres always trouble here, its a rough area.

Its a dreadful thing to happen particularly at Easter and I feel for the poor bloke and his family.

The man, who declined to be named, said: Its got worse over the years. Its terrible here and it was only a matter of time before there was another murder.

All the ground windows of all the blocks keep getting smashed in. The yobs round here put them in because they got nought else to do.

The windows are repaired then smashed again so now theyre all boarded up.

The resident said he had heard on the grapevine that the shooting happened during an Easter barbecue.

He said: Theres no CCTV at any of the blocks. Its disgraceful with all the trouble going on. If there were cameras up, cops may have caught the killer.

The council was supposed to be putting up cameras here last year but they ran out of money.

Once of the blocks at the back is for OAPs and there is one camera up but its a dummy.

A massive police presence has been in force since the shooting with two of the six tower blocks in the estate still cordoned off and forensic experts scouring inside the flats, outside and sifting through rows of wheelie bins for any clues.

It has not been stated if the victim lived in one of the flats or was a visitor.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  Hendrick Motorsports said Monday it won't appeal the latest penalties handed down by NASCAR on the race teams of drivers Alex Bowman and William Byron last week.

NASCAR took both the No. 48 and No. 24 cars to its R&D center following the race at Richmond and found illegal modifications in the greenhouse, or center, area of the car. NASCAR docked the teams 60 points and five playoff points apiece last Thursday. Also, interim crew chiefs in Greg Ives for the No. 48 and Brian Campe for the No. 24 were fined $75,000 and suspended for two races.

A statement released by Hendrick Motorsports said the organization will be best served using its time and resources on competing each weekend.

The area of the race cars NASCAR focused on is not related to our performance on the track, the statement said.

Hendrick Motorsports had a successful appeal of penalties it incurred following the Phoenix race last month when its four race teams were assessed penalties of 100 points and 10 playoff points. All four crew chiefs were fined $100,000 and suspended four races.

But an appeals panel rescinded the points penalties for illegally modified radiator ducts, while letting the fines and suspensions stand.

An appeal last week by Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin was upheld by a three-person panel. Hamlin had hoped to rescind his 25-point penalty and $50,000 fine for acknowledging he intentionally hit Ross Chastain while fighting for track position at the end of the Phoenix race.

In response to driver and team calls for more clarity and openness in the process, NASCAR has modified its appeals process going forward. An appeals panel or final appeal officer may no longer rescind in full any part of the penalties assessed, a NASCAR spokesman said in an email to the AP.

It can lessen the fine, the length of a suspension or reduce the points that were docked, but not fully remove any of them.

NASCAR also has the right to publish the justification for any action taken by an appeals panel or final appeals officer.

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In addition, NASCAR also plans to display illegally modified parts it has confiscated at race venues.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
A hiker and his dog were rescued from where they were stranded on a cliff thanks in part to the mans headlamp, Maryland officials said.

They were stranded on a cliff over the Shenandoah River late Sunday, April 9, Maryland State Police said in an April 10 news release.

The 27-year-old hiker had been exploring along the Loudon Heights Trail in the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park with his dog Angel, but he became lost and couldnt get back to the main trail, the release said.

Rescuers spoke with the hiker on his cell phone and also spotted light from his headlamp on the cliffs, but they couldnt get to his precarious position on steep and treacherous terrain, officials said.

Jefferson County rescuers then called Maryland State Police for help getting the hiker and his dog down from the cliffs. Pilots from the agencys Aviation Command hovered 150 feet above while a skilled rescuer technician lowered into a small and challenging opening in a heavily wooded, steep, and rocky area, officials said.

The technician made sure the hiker didnt need medical care, and rescuers lowered a rescue basket down to where they were perched on the cliff and lifted into the rescue helicopter.

Back at the helipad at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection training center near Harpers Ferry, officials made arrangements for a friend to pick up the hiker and his dog.

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A hiker who fell on a frigid Arizona mountain was rescued after becoming stranded, officials said.

After her fall on Mount Lemmon, the hiker was unable to trek back down the mountain on April 3, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in an April 5 news release.

Members from the Pima County Search and Rescue team found the woman in the evening and stayed with her overnight to minimize hypothermia, officials said.

Early the next day, Pima County Search and Rescue called CPB for assistance.

A technical rescue team has been called in due to terrain and icy conditions, Pima County Search and Rescue said in an April 4 tweet.

Officials said a helicopter crew arrived to the area shortly before 9 a.m., and a rescuer was lowered to the injured woman.

A Blackhawk from @CBPArizona conducted a challenging hoist to rescue an injured hiker on Mt Lemmon. High winds made the hoist extremely difficult. Thanks to @SARA_AZRescue for stabilizing and keeping the patient warm overnight. @PimaSheriff pic.twitter.com/2YWXdCjxER  PCSD Search and Rescue (@PCSD_SAR) April 4, 2023

High winds made the hoist extremely difficult, Pima County Search and Rescue said on Twitter.

The woman was airlifted from the area and taken to a Tucson medical center, officials said.

Mount Lemmon is about 20 miles northeast of Tucson.

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A little more than three decades ago, a pair of hikers stumbled upon skeletal remains, Nevada officials said.

Despite years of investigation, Nevada State Police said it could not identify the remains found in 1990 within an area known as Hilltop Canyon, about 13 miles east of Battle Mountain in Lander County, according to a news release.

Now, thanks to advances in DNA technology, the remains have been identified as Judy Manzaneras of Salt Lake City, Utah, who was last seen when she was 19 years old and was reported missing in 1989, police said.

In June, police said they partnered with multiple agencies to see if the woman could be identified using advanced forensic DNA testing, and the remains were later sent to Othram Inc., a forensic genealogy company.

Othrams team used forensic genetic genealogy to create a comprehensive DNA profile for the woman, police said.

Genetic genealogy uses DNA testing coupled with traditional genealogical methods to create family history profiles, according to the Library of Congress. With genealogical DNA testing, researchers can determine if and how people are biologically related.

After further investigation, the woman was identified as Manzaneras, police said. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Police ask anyone with information about the case to call them at 775-684-7412.

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Hilary Swank has officially gone from Million Dollar Baby to million-dollar mommy.

The two-time Oscar winner confirmed on Instagram Sunday that she and her husband, Philip Schneider, recently welcomed twins.

It wasnt easy. But boy (and girl!) was it worth it, Swank wrote alongside a photo of her embracing her newborns while overlooking the ocean. Happy Easter! Posting from pure Heaven.

She did not share the babies exact birthdate or their names.

The post drew a plethora of well wishes from some of Swanks famous pals, including actors Viola Davis, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Debra Messing.

All the love to you and your little (bigger) family, wrote Helena Christensen.

Added Katie Couric: So happy for you Hilary!!! What a giftor gifts.

Schneider and Swank have been married since 2018. The twins are the couples first children.

Swank, who currently stars on the ABC drama series Alaska Daily, first confirmed her pregnancy during an appearance on Good Morning America in October.

Hilary Swank (left) and Philip Schneider have been married since 2018.

Hilary Swank (left) and Philip Schneider have been married since 2018.

Im so happy to share it with you and with America right now, this is something that Ive been wanting for a long time, and my next thing is Im going to be a mom, she said at the time. Im going to be a mom  and not just of one but of two. I cant believe it.

Appearing on Extra! that month, the actor explained that having a career and not having the right relationship prompted her to hold off on becoming a mom until age 48.

You know, all the elements need to come together and be right, she said, adding that parenthood had been a personal goal since she was young. Its just nice to be here and just be pregnant.

Related...
Hilary Swank has announced that she has given birth to twins.

The P.S I Love You actor, 48, shared a post to Instagram on Monday (10 April) standing on a balcony, looking over the sea and a sunset in the distance, while she cradles the two babies in each hand.

It wasnt easy. But boy (and girl!) was it worth it, the first time mother wrote in the caption.

She also wished her followers a happy easter and added that her location was pure heaven.

The Million Dollar Baby star announced the news that she and husband Philip Schneider were expecting two new additions to the family, during an appearance on Good Morning America in October.

Im so happy to share it with you, and with America right now, this is something that Ive been wanting for a long time, and my next thing is Im going to be a mom, Swank said, to applause from the GMA hosts.

Im going to be a mom - and not just of one, but of two. I cant believe it, she added.

Elsewhere in the interview, Swank revealed that twins run in her and her husbands families, and that she feels her pregnancy is such a blessing.

Its a total miracle. Its unbelievable, she said at the time.

Swank and Schneider married in a private California ceremony in 2018, after keeping their engagement secret for two years.

According to Swank, who opened up to Vogue about the nuptials, the couple first met on a blind date.

It was a blind date set up by actor Misha Collinss wife Vicki and another close friend Jean. We met at 10am and parted ways at 11pm, Swank revealed. We clearly enjoyed our time!

They became engaged a year and a half later, with Swank admitting that she didnt know why they waited that long.

When Schneider proposed to Swank during a vacation in Colorado in 2016, the entrepreneur made sure that her dogs were nearby to watch.

We stumbled upon a beautiful sanctuary deep in the mountains, Swank told Vogue. It had a stunning waterfall that cascades down to rustic cabins built in the 1800s surrounded by beautiful pines and big skies. One evening, Philip dropped to his knee in front of the waterfall and proposed  he sweetly made sure my dogs were nearby so they could bear witness!
Hilary Swank shared a photo of herself cradling her newborn twins. (Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP)

Hilary Swank and husband Philip Schneider have welcomed twins, the actor announced Sunday.

On Instagram, the "Alaska Daily" star shared a sweet photo of herself cradling her newborns while enjoying an ocean view at sunset.

"It wasnt easy. But boy (and girl!) was it worth it," she captioned the image. "Happy Easter! ... Posting from pure Heaven."

Swank's announcement comes several months after she revealed on "Good Morning America" that she and Schneider, a social venture entrepreneur, were expecting twins. At the time, the 48-year-old Oscar winner deemed her pregnancy a "blessing" and "a total miracle."

Im so happy to share it with you and with America right now, she said on "Good Morning America." This is something that Ive been wanting for a long time. ... Its so nice to be able to talk about it and share it.

Over the weekend, several of Swank's Hollywood peers congratulated her on social media. Among the thousands who commented on her latest Instagram post were Viola Davis, Mariska Hargitay, Sharon Stone, Kate Hudson, Misha Collins, Leslie Grace, Chelsea Handler, Debra Messing and Juliette Lewis.

"congrats beautiful [strong] mama and babes," wrote Lewis, who starred opposite Swank in 2010's "Conviction."

"God bless honey This is the most extraordinary journey ever," Stone commented, "so happy for you all."

"So happy to see you turkeys soaking up the sea, the sun and the salt air!" Collins added. "Love you. Welcome to planet earth little ones. Hope you have a lovely stay here."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ALBANY, N.Y.  After a historic failure to get her first pick confirmed to the New York's highest court, Gov. Kathy Hochul nominated Rowan Wilson to the position Monday. And this time, it was met with praise from Senate Democrats.

Wilson has served as an associate judge of the seven-member Court of Appeals since 2017, and if confirmed, he would be the states first Black chief judge. To fill Wilsons position, Hochul nominated Caitlin Halligan, a former state solicitor general.

"Judge Wilson's sterling record of upholding justice and fairness makes him well-suited to lead the court at this critical time, Hochul said in a statement.

Senate Democrats rejected Hochul's initial pick for chief judge, Hector LaSalle, in a floor vote in February, saying he was too moderate and had several decisions that were anti-abortion rights or anti-labor  positions he disputed during his hourslong testimony in January.

But Democrats were on board with Wilson, who is deemed as part of the more liberal side of the court. They said it is important to pick a candidate that will defend abortion rights in the face of last year's U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the recent Texas case to ban the abortion pill mifepristone.

I am particularly excited about the prospect of Judge Wilson leading our states highest court as chief judge, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris said in a statement. He is exactly the type of person who can restore the integrity and reputation of the Court of Appeals after the damaging tenure of the previous administration."

Hochul is able to nominate both Wilson and Halligan from the same pool of candidates after lawmakers approved a law change earlier this month. Previously, each pick to the Court of Appeals required a separate list from the Commission on Judicial Nomination.

Hochul said Wilson has also agreed to recommend Joseph Zayas, an appellate court judge in New York City, as chief administrative judge to oversee the entire court system.

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The Democratic governor began her year with a rocky start when the Senate Judiciary Committee, for the first time since governors nominated chief judges in the 1970s, rejected LaSalle. After a GOP lawsuit pushed Democrats for a full floor vote, LaSalle was then voted down on the Senate floor.

Several others expressed their support for Hochuls latest picks, including Senate Judiciary Chair Brad Hoylman-Sigal. The Senate will need to soon take up confirmation hearings on both judicial nominees.

The importance of these nominees to New Yorks highest court cannot be overstated, especially given recent decisions by federal courts on issues such as abortion, gun safety, labor and the environment, Hoylman-Sigal said in a statement. I look forward to working with my colleagues to conduct fair and thorough hearings to examine the extensive records of Associate Judge Rowan and Ms. Halligan.
"We're part of Hollywood history," says Luis Reyes, a historian of Latinos in Hollywood. "We weren't acknowledged, but we were there." (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

If Hollywood buffs want to jog their memory about the exact proportions of the Mexican water tank where James Cameron shot "Titanic," Luis Reyes has the answer. If a Latina filmmaker seeks to brush up on her cinematic heritage, she can check out Reyes on TV critiquing Dolores del Rio's and J. Lo's most emblematic roles.

And if an #OscarsSoWhite activist demands to know why Charlton Heston  arguably the whitest actor in history  was cast in brownface to play a Mexican narcotics agent in "Touch of Evil," and why there remains a scandalous shortage of Latinos in leading-man roles, Reyes might reply that ... well, it's complicated.

Growing up in New York, the son of a Puerto Rican father and a Dominican mother, Reyes developed a lifelong liaison with darkened spaces. Decades later, he still can recount in granular detail the day that he saw "Planet of the Apes" at the Loews Capital on 52nd Street. He took in "Spartacus" at the DeMille on 7th Avenue at 47th. At his neighborhood theater, the Nemo (Broadway at West 110th Street), he rooted for John Wayne's Captain Jake Cutter in "The Comancheros," and he hooted at Jerry Lewis' Nutty Professor at the Loews Olympia on 107th Street.

"When you live in New York you have the whole world at your feet, especially in Manhattan," Reyes said over French dip sandwiches at Philippe one recent afternoon. He delivered these finely etched remembrances not through a haze of nostalgia, but as though he'd exited the movie house minutes before and couldn't wait to tell a friend.

Closing in on 70, Reyes knows everybody and remembers everything about the movies, knowledge that he gleaned not only through countless afternoons in cushioned seats but through his extensive one-on-one interviews with actors, directors and writers and many years spent working as a publicist, hanging out on movie sets with everyone from Anthony Quinn to Salma Hayek and Mel Gibson.

Oh, the anecdotes! Just take him to Philippe some afternoon ....

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He started writing about movies as a student at Bishop DuBois High School  you know, right there on 152nd Street?  and later for an organization called ASPIRA that assisted Puerto Rican students. ("We were all militant then. I was the head of the propaganda committee.")

He dreamed of being an actor and snagged a few bit parts.

"But I found out I wasnt that good an actor." Plus, Hollywood folks didn't think he "looked Mexican" enough. Actually, they didn't think he looked Mexican at all.

"A lot of times people thought I was Black; they didnt think I was Mexican. Because they didnt have Dominicans at that time. In California, either you were a Mexican  and Mexicans looked a certain way."

Then he took a friend's suggestion to switch to publicity, and it was Lights! Camera! Career!

"The whole process of making movies interested me more than the acting part. To be a publicist you have to be nice with people, and you have to write notes for the movie, so it's like a term paper. And you got to be on the set, and you got to see how it all came together from beginning to end, which later came in handy while writing the books."

Luis Reyes' new book, "Viva Hollywood," illustrates a century of Latino and Spanish contributions to film culture. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Authoritative, anecdote-rich and ardently written, Reyes' books chronicle the all-too-obscure tale of the multitudes of Latinos, Latin Americans and a few Iberians who've shaped Hollywood since the silent era. Regarded as essential reference texts by students, academics and industry pros, they include "Made in Mexico," "Hispanics in Hollywood" and his latest, the effusively illustrated "Viva Hollywood: The Legacy of Latin and Hispanic Artists in American Film" (Running Press/TCM).

They tell how silent screen idol Ramon Novarro  born Jose Ramon Gil Samaniego in Durango, Mexico  minted the archetype of the "Latin lover." Why two Puerto Rican performers  first Rita Moreno, then Ariana De Bose  won Oscars playing Anita in the 1960 and 2021 versions, respectively, of "West Side Story."

"We as Latinos did not work in a vacuum; we worked with everybody," Reyes said. "We're part of Hollywood history. We weren't acknowledged, but we were there."

And if you've pondered why Yalitza Aparicio won an Oscar for "Roma" but "really hasn't done that much since" (Reyes' words), or whether Tenoch Huerta's career may follow a different trajectory after his "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" breakout, Reyes can school you in the history of how the industry has gorged on fresh Latino talent while usually denying its members the second and third chances that it grants to actors, directors, writers, editors and cinematographers of lesser pigmentation.

But while Reyes, a kind and chivalrous fellow, has written eloquently and unsparingly about the discrimination that pervades Hollywood, "I didn't want to dwell on that," he said. "I wanted to dwell on the achievements." His writings celebrate what is the most "American" of all art forms precisely because it was birthed by immigrants from everywhere.

Luis Valdez, the director, playwright and screenwriter who employed Reyes as a bad guy for a few scenes in his 1994 comedy-western "The Cisco Kid," said Reyes' books provide "a tremendous service for future generations" by showing the contributions Latinos have made to the film industry and the obstacles they've encountered and surmounted.

"I think hes laid it out in a very clean way, the categories of stardom and the legacy going back to the silent days in Hollywood," Valdez said. "And hes done it without prejudicial anger, without being pissed about this or that. Hes not grinding an ax, hes laying it out so that everybody can relate and come to their own conclusions."

Producer Nancy De Los Santos-Reza, who got to know him while working together on Gregory Nava's "Mi Familia" (1995), describes Reyes not only as a respected cultural interpreter but as a sort of one-man diplomatic corps in a business where ruthless self-interest often rules.

"When you meet somebody who is trustworthy and honest and kind-hearted, you really pay attention. And that's what he is," said De Los Santos-Reza, whose next film is the romantic comedy "The Answer to My Prayer."

Luis Reyes, longtime movie publicist and historian, visits the Hollywood-focused Larry Edmunds Bookshop. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

As for Reyes' authorial output, she compares him to the late Chicago film critic Roger Ebert, who fashioned a Pulitzer Prize-winning style that was unshowily erudite and went down smooth.

"Go read Luis to understand the heart and soul of our community of artists," she said. "And go ask Luis out to dinner and just have him talk to you about the movies."

Actor Pepe Serna, who worked with Reyes half a lifetime ago on "Walk Proud," said that his friend's encyclopedic knowledge and personal relationships connect Latino film artists across generations and regions.

"He's the bridge between the old timers and now," said Serna, whose overflowing filmography ranges from Roger Corman's "The Student Nurses" to "Scarface" and Eva Longoria's "Flamin' Hot."

"He's from New York, so he's also a bridge from East Coast to West Coast."

Reyes knows better than practically anyone how Hollywood still keeps its drawbridge half-raised to Latinos trying to enter the magic kingdom. In decades past, Latinos were hired to play all kinds of roles: Native Americans, Arabs, you name it. And many of the "Latino" roles were crude, reductive and racist. Too many still are.

"There was one guy, he worked so often as a bandito that he had his own bandito costume. Because they paid you more if you brought your own costume," Reyes said. "Some people didnt mind stereotypes because it was work."

Reyes believes that "an actor is an actor and should be allowed to play any role he can believably play and that his talents allow him to, and that audiences will accept." The problem, as he sees it, is that Latinos and Latinas don't get equal opportunity to fill leading roles and other marquee technical posts on ambitious, artistic films or big-budget blockbusters.

"And it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy: 'Oh, there are no Latino leading actors.'"

Still, Reyes was heartened by this year's Oscar contestants like Ana De Armas, Guillermo del Toro and "Argentina, 1985," and for the multiple accolades accorded to "Everything Everywhere All at Once." He's looking forward to upcoming feature films with Cheech Marin and Esai Morales, among many others. He's encouraged at the way TV, streaming and other platforms are giving Latinos more shots at employment. And you can catch him April 16 at the Hollywood Legion Theater, where he'll moderate a Q&A after a special screening with Edward James Olmos and Lou Diamond Phillips of Ramon Menendez's "Stand and Deliver" (1988) as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival.

Though he's not ready to stop writing, he may ride off into the sunset someday to visit Rome and Paris, then take the train to Barcelona, Granada  .

Because I want to go to Almeria. Where they shot all the spaghetti westerns, of course.

And he wants to revisit Durango, which body-doubled for many Hollywood westerns, their gunshots and brash gringo accents ringing out across the arid Mexican plains.

"Its cowboy country, John Wayne. I always say, La tierra de Pancho Villa y de John Wayne!'"

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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.

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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.

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.
Xiplomacy: Meetings of leaders facilitate steady, long-term development of China's ties with France, EU

Xinhua) 08:04, April 10, 2023

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday held talks with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing, which was followed by a trilateral meeting Xi held with Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Xi also had a separate meeting with von der Leyen after the trilateral meeting.

Just a day later in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province in south China, Xi and Macron went for a stroll and chatted over tea in an informal meeting.

In a complex and volatile world, the face-to-face meetings of the three leaders not only promoted political trust and strengthened dialogue of China, France and the European Union (EU), but also helped enhance their joint efforts to safeguard world peace, navigate crises and achieve shared prosperity.

STABILITY A VALUED ASSET

Stability is one of the keywords in Xi's talks with Macron. During their meeting on Thursday, Xi spoke favorably of the momentum of positive and steady growth in the China-France relationship, and stressed that stability, a defining feature and valued asset of this relationship, should be cherished by both sides.

In recent years, under the strategic guidance of Xi and Macron, China-France relations have witnessed sound development thanks to fruitful strategic communication and practical cooperation. The two sides have also maintained close communication and coordination on international and regional affairs.

On the 50th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations in 2014, Xi summarized the original aspiration of the establishment of the diplomatic relations as independence, mutual understanding, foresight, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Over the years, by adhering to the original aspiration, China-France relations have set an example for the relations between China and other Western countries.

Currently, the world is undergoing profound historic transformation. Global economic recovery is still faltering, the development gap is widening, hot events keep popping up, and the global development process has suffered serious setbacks.

China and France, according to Xi, 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.

As for China-EU relations, Xi 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, Xi said.

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.

Xi's words have revived global confidence about China-Europe relations. Referring to Europe-China relations as a crucial "component of the future," Romano Prodi, former president of the European Commission, said that it is important for the two parties to resume their direct exchanges in various areas which have been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past three years.

MUTUALLY-BENEFICIAL RELATIONS

Senior executives from a number of renowned French companies including the electric giant EDF, Airbus and Alstom were on Macron's delegation list. They all cherished the hope of further tapping the huge potential of the world's largest consumer market.

"We have already seen potential opportunities in the market, which makes us even more bullish about China's economic outlook and prospect," Fabrice Megarbane, president of L'Oreal North Asia Zone and CEO of L'Oreal China, told Xinhua.

In China, Xi and Macron witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents covering agrifood, science and technology, aviation, civil nuclear energy, sustainable development, and culture, demonstrating the vitality and broad space between China and France in deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.

Although the world economy is recovering slowly, China-EU trade and investment cooperation has maintained a robust momentum. In 2022, bilateral trade reached 847.3 billion U.S. dollars, up 2.4 percent year on year.

As an epitome of China-EU cooperation, the China-Europe Railway Express service has been expanded to more than 200 European cities, ensuring the stability and smooth flow of the global supply chain. In 2022, China-Europe freight trains made 16,000 trips, carrying 1.6 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of goods.

China-Europe exchanges in various areas have resumed swiftly and comprehensively. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited China in late March. Dozens of business leaders from Europe recently attended China Development Forum 2023 and expressed their confidence in and expectations for investing and growing in China. Political consultations between Chinese and European foreign ministries are held almost every week in preparation for frequent high-level interactions between the two sides at the next stage.

The close interactions between China and Europe fully show that despite some differences, the two sides have a strong desire for communication and share extensive and profound common interests.

During the trilateral meeting with Macron and von der Leyen, Xi called on China and the EU to seek common ground while shelving differences, and learn to accommodate, appreciate, draw upon and facilitate each other's development.

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.

Macron noted that in a world full of uncertainties, 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.

"Europe-China relations are decisive for the future of the world," said Bruno Guigue, a French international affairs expert. "The common future of China and Europe is the development of mutually beneficial cooperation."

ONLY CORRECT SOLUTION TO UKRAINE CRISIS

During the meetings, Xi reaffirmed China's position on the Ukraine crisis, calling on the parties to jointly create conditions for peace talks.

At the meeting with Macron on Friday, Xi noted that the cause of the crisis is complex and a prolonged crisis serves no one's interests. He said a ceasefire as soon as possible would serve the interests of all parties concerned, and a political settlement is the only correct solution.

China will never handle the Ukraine issue out of selfish interests, but always stands for fairness and justice. All relevant parties should shoulder their responsibilities and make joint efforts to create conditions for a political settlement, Xi said.

China's efforts to promote a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis are winning more approval from European leaders.

During the meetings, von der Leyen and Macron 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.

"China advocates peace and talks. It is playing a positive role for ending the crisis," said Herve Juvin, a member of the European Parliament, adding that "China is now playing as a peacemaker."

As a European saying goes, "Those who work alone, add; those who work together, multiply." In this spirit, China is ready to work with the European side to advance exchanges and cooperation, build up trust and narrow differences, and inject certainty and positive energy to a volatile world with the stability and growth of China-Europe relations.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BUCKINGHAM, Va.  Lindsey Taylor loved running elections here.

The previous registrar had spent nearly three decades in the job, and Taylor, 37, hoped to do the same when she was hired in 2019. She loved her staff and the volunteer poll workers, and she took pride in the detail-oriented work. She implemented dozens of new laws in 2020, ran elections through the pandemic and impressed many in the rural, conservative, tight-knit community of Buckingham County.

But then the voter fraud claims started.

In January, the GOP assumed control of the Buckingham County Electoral Board that oversees her office, and local Republicans began advancing baseless voter fraud claims that baffled her. The electoral board made it clear it wanted her out of the job.

There were people saying that they had heard all these rumors  that the attorney general was going to indict me, Taylor said, days after leaving the office for the last time. Mentally, I just  I couldnt take it anymore.

Three weeks ago, frustrated and heartbroken, Taylor, along with two part-time staffers, quit. Their resignations followed a deputy registrar who left in February, citing the same conflict.

The four departures left residents without a functioning registrars office; there was no way to register to vote or certify candidate paperwork, at least temporarily.

A state elections worker arrived in town a week later to try to pick up the pieces, looking through drawers and opening the mail, as the two remaining members of the electoral board  both Republicans, because the one Democrat had also recently quit  began the difficult process of restaffing a completely barren department.

Its just sad that the big lie has come to Buckingham, said Margaret Thomas, who worked as the general registrar in Buckingham County for more than 28 years before retiring. And before it was never here.

Years after former President Donald Trump began pushing his lies about stolen elections, communities like Buckingham County are grappling with the aftershocks: What happens when election denialism drives out the people needed to keep local democracy running?

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A lot of election officials Ive talked to are asking themselves: Why am I doing this? Why am I getting paid like a civil servant to be constantly harassed? said David Becker, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research that helps support election officials. Whether its the intent or not, the effect is to drive a lot of these public servants  upon who weve relied for decades in some cases  out of the field, which will leave elections more vulnerable than theyve been before.

The Voter Registration and Elections Office in Buckingham, Va. (Matt Eich for NBC News)

In Virginia, all of the states general registrars serve four-year terms that end June 30, and the electoral boards around the state that will decide whether to keep their registrars are controlled by the party of the governor. This year, thanks to Gov. Glenn Youngkins 2021 win, Republicans assumed control of all 133 of these boards. Members are party-nominated, but they are supposed to operate as nonpartisan, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

But in the era of stolen election claims, its increasingly impossible to separate politics from election administration.

'I am putting you on notice  for treason!'

Buckingham County is rural and conservative; there are more cattle than registered voters. In 2020, 55.9% of voters cast ballots for Trump, and Republican Rep. Bob Good won the county by nearly 30 points in 2022.

Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., won Buckingham County by nearly 30 points in 2022. (Matt Eich for NBC News)

Conflict between local Republicans and the registrar began simmering around the midterm elections, and boiled over at a Jan. 4 meeting of the Buckingham County Electoral Board after the GOP assumed control.

Buckingham County Republican Committee Chairwoman Ramona Christian, who had hand-selected two new members  Sandy Banks-Bertwell and Andy Marchetti  on the three-person board, presented a long list of complaints about the previous years elections.

Her allegations included not enough Republican poll workers (a majority were unaffiliated with either party, a common practice for poll workers in the county), ballots that arrived at the registrars office after she expected them to, and a close school board race with absentee ballots she claimed suggested fraud. (Democrat Michelle Ford won that race by nine votes.) In her remarks, she name-checked Taylor multiple times, as well as other residents who had served as poll workers, and asked for an "audit" of some ballots.

Why do we have all these infractions? Why dont you know the law? said another local Republican, Theresa McManus, according to a video of part of the meeting obtained by NBC News.

I am putting you on notice  for treason! she added.

But the incidents Christian had reported were not crimes, let alone treasonous offenses; some appeared to be procedural snafus, while others were misunderstandings on behalf of the observers.

The Commonwealths attorney in Buckingham County, Kemper Beasley III, who was elected as an independent, said a resident brought him the allegations and he found no evidence of criminal election fraud.

I couldnt find anything criminal, Beasley told NBC News last week. The former registrar, in my mind, did an excellent job.

The rural and conservative community was consumed by rumors about voter fraud this year. (Matt Eich for NBC)

A water tower at Buckingham County, Va. (Matt Eich for NBC News)

The Virginia Attorney Generals office confirmed that Christian had contacted them, but they said they had not, and were not, investigating elections issues in Buckingham County.

Christian, who posed for a photo with Banks-Bertwell and election conspiracy theorist and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell at a conference in March, declined interview requests but shared a statement with NBC News in which she said she was concerned with the lack of party parity in Buckingham Countys poll workers.

The Buckingham County Office of Elections failed to comply with this requirement, which I discussed with Ms. Taylor just prior to election day, along with suggested corrective actions. All were rejected, and the election proceeded without conforming to the parity requirement, Christian said.

Virginia law says there should be parity in poll workers political affiliations and not more than a third should be unaffiliated with either party  if practicable."

Taylor said neither party had nominated poll workers at the start of the year, and the majority of her volunteers preferred to identify as unaffiliated. (Thomas, the former registrar, said nearly all her poll workers identified as unaffiliated.) The Electoral Board, which was controlled by Democrats, at the same time preferred staffing elections with their most experienced poll workers, and Taylor organized the precincts accordingly.

The rest of her complaints, Christian said, documented relatively minor incidents that didnt affect the outcome of the election but which illustrated the need for additional training for election officials and poll watchers.

My concerns did not center around allegations of voter fraud. I trust the outcome of elections in our jurisdiction, she added, even though shed specifically suggested there was fraud in a school board race, asked for an audit and told NBC News in an earlier email that shed been in contact with the attorney generals election integrity unit about her concerns.

The allegations  minor or not  quickly consumed the community.

Electoral board meetings, historically sleepy affairs drawing one or two members of the public, quickly became packed and contentious events.

After the Jan. 4 meeting, Christian got into a disagreement with Sherry Ragland, a longtime school board member and mother of a deputy registrar, Rebecca Ragland Kelly. Christian told a sheriffs deputy that evening that she was assaulted by Ragland, according to the incident report obtained by NBC News; she subsequently received a weeklong protective order against Ragland.

(Ragland said she plucked Christians shirt as she tried to leave and called the incident just another ridiculous unfounded allegation. Christian declined a request for comment on the altercation.)

After that, Sheriff W.G. Billy Kidd Jr. said he started assigning deputies to the meetings.

Maggie Snoddy, vice chair of the Buckingham County Democratic Committee, said she was livid after the allegations and began raising the alarm and mobilizing Democrats to attend the meetings.

Two weeks later, there was 60 people showing up for the meeting, she said.

Maggie Snoddy, vice chair of the Buckingham County Democratic Committee. (Matt Eich for NBC News)

Frustration and disagreements from the meetings spilled into letters to the editor at the local paper, and into texts, emails, and contentious spats on Facebook. Several residents submitted Freedom of Information Act requests in pursuit of more information about what was going on.

Buckingham Countys Board of Supervisors, which includes independents, Republicans and one Democrat, had unanimously voted to write a letter in support for Taylor in December as rumors began to swirl. In January, Christian attended their meeting and told them they were overstepping.

This is not a Democrat versus Republican issue  its not, said Thomas Jordan Miles III, the Democratic supervisor. Its a right versus wrong issue.

You need to get rid of Lindsey

Taylor said she wrote up a document responding to Christians allegations, but members of the electoral board declined to discuss it with her at the next meeting.

She told NBC News she began to hear personal rumors, like one that her mother-in-law didnt like her because her politics are so left-leaning. Taylor said she isnt a Democrat or a Republican; she has voted for candidates in both parties and believed it was important to be nonpartisan as registrar. But her family was hurt by the rumor, she said.

Rebecca Ragland Kelly, the deputy registrar in Buckingham County whose mother was served with a protective order, was the first to quit on Feb. 17.

Please understand and make it clear on why Ive decided to leave. In the past few months and especially in the last few weeks, I have seen the new electoral board members have zero respect for you, your staff, and the residents of Buckingham County, she wrote in a resignation letter addressed to Taylor, which she shared with NBC News. I feel the new board members have questioned not only my reputation, ethics, and integrity, but yours as well.

Efforts to oust Taylor began last year, according to several local Republicans who spoke with NBC News.

Rick Caldwell, a Republican who served on the Buckingham County Electoral Board through the end of last year, said leadership in the county party told him the state GOP expected electoral board members to be more involved in local Republican politics. He didnt want any additional time commitments and decided to step down at the end of the year.

Randy Biggers, a Republican from Buckingham County who had volunteered as a poll worker for many years, hoped to take his place. He started attending meetings of the county GOP last May and said he was alarmed by how Christian and McManus bashed Taylor at meetings.

In November, Biggers realized that he would get Christian's nomination only if he agreed to her agenda.

Ramona reached out to me ... and one of the things that kept coming up was, if you get on the board, in order for you to get on the board you need to get rid of Lindsey  flat out, he said. I said I want to do the right thing, but I dont want to fire Lindsey.

He withdrew his name from consideration and was not nominated.

Andrew Pullen, a school board member in a nearby county and a political operative who works to elect Republican candidates, said Christian told him in early January that she had been asking electoral board candidates if they were open to firing Taylor.

Christian said in her statement to NBC News that her questions were focused on the ability of potential board members to make hard, fact-based employment decisions" and "not on a precondition that the employment of anyone be terminated.

Pullen  who along with Miles, the Democratic supervisor, published the clip of Christian saying she was seeking electoral board members who would be open to firing Taylor  doesnt buy it.

Thomas Jordan Miles III (Matt Eich for NBC News)

If theres voter fraud in Atlanta, if you watched that stuff in Atlanta and it bothered you, go to Atlanta. If you watched the stuff in Maricopa County and it bothered you, go there, Pullen said. But taking that fight to Lindsey Taylor in Dillwyn, a county thats red, that Republicans have never suggested voter fraud in, simply because you now have the ability with a Republican governor to replace her? Its just disgusting.

Whos going to work the election?

On March 10, the Buckingham County Electoral Board called an emergency meeting, where the board announced that Marchetti had resigned his post and was being replaced by Cerwinski. (Marchetti did not respond to a request for comment.)

There, the board announced it would not renew Taylor as registrar when her four-year term ended on June 30. She could reapply for the position if she wanted to, Cerwinski said. Some of the meeting attendees jeered angrily at her, according to an audio recording of the meeting shared with NBC News.

She is a smart person, and she will pick the right option, Cerwinski said, according to an audio recording of the meeting shared with NBC News.

A week later, Taylor decided to resign. When she told her two part-time employees of her intention to leave, they opted to go as well. On March 20, her final day in the office, Taylor finished all the work she could do and packed up her desk.

Lindsey Taylor's empty office at the Voter Registration and Elections Office. (Jane Timm / NBC News)

I didnt want to have to quit  I liked the job I was doing, said Paul Garrett, a retired math teacher and one of the part-time staffers. But I did it because of supporting Lindsey.  When she felt she had to leave, I felt like I should have left.

He said many of the issues raised by local Republicans indicated they didnt understand how elections are run in the county.

Im not saying it couldnt happen somewhere, Garrett said. But theres so many safeguards that we have in place.

Buckingham County may not be the only county in the state that will have completely new staff administering its elections  and its safeguards  this year.

At least six other counties are considering not reappointing their registrars, said John Nunnally, first vice-president of the Virginia Electoral Board Association and a Republican electoral board member of Caroline County.

Carolyn Sherayko, a Democrat on the Lynchburg Electoral Board and former registrar, resigned in late March because the Republican members on the board were ousting the registrar and deputy registrar in her city.

At the annual meeting of the Virginia Electoral Board Association in late March  days after Taylor resigned  there was so much talk about reappointing or ousting sitting registrars that organizers arranged an impromptu panel discussion on the issue. Nunnally sat on the panel, and told attendees that reappointment is the norm.

Election administration is a difficult job and experienced registrars are hard to come by, Nunnally said. He added that hed spoken with the Republican electoral board members from Buckingham County, Cerwinski and Banks-Bertwell.

He said he told them: You need to have a plan. Because if you do not reappoint your registrar, that office still has to be open, and the electoral board then becomes responsible for that office being open.

Both Cerwinski and Banks-Bertwell declined interview requests, but a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Elections, Andrea Gaines, said they are assisting the members in processing paperwork such as voter registrations.

The board members now face the difficult task of restaffing an office theyve worked with for mere weeks. Cerwinski was appointed to the electoral board ahead of the March 10 meeting; Banks-Bertwell took up her position in January. The electoral boards most experienced member, Democrat Gail Braxton, recently stepped down as well.

At the most recent meeting of the Buckingham County Electoral Board in late March, Braxton said the board had completed an investigation into the issues Christian raised and found no violations of law. Several days later, she resigned from the electoral board.

Lindsey Taylor (Matt Eich for NBC News)

Larry Davis, a Democrat who served on the board through the end of last year when Youngkins election forced him out, said he declined a recent request from his party to fill Braxtons seat on the electoral board. Still, hes worried about how the election in November will go.

The next [registrar] will have zero experience. The board wont have any experience. I would say at least half of the officers of elections are going to quit, he said, referring to poll workers. Whos going to work the election?

CORRECTION (April 10, 2023, 3:47 p.m.): An earlier version of this article misstated the name of the electoral board that Carolyn Sherayko was on. Its the Lynchburg Electoral Board, a city entity, not the Lynchburg County Electoral Board.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
House Democrats are moving to protect access to abortion pills after a federal judge in Texas blocked the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) approval of mifepristone, a drug that can be used for abortions and to manage early miscarriages.

Reps. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) and Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas) reintroduced the Protecting Reproductive Freedom Act on Monday, which would reaffirm the FDAs approval authority for abortion medication over state laws. It would also protect doctors ability to provide abortion medication through telehealth.

The legislation, which uses non-binding Sense of Congress language, is unlikely, however, to move in the Republican-controlled House.

A womans right to choose is one of our countrys foundational freedoms, Ryan said in a statement. These deeply personal and private medical decisions should be made by women and their families, not by extremist judges, courts, or politicians.

My priority is protecting abortion access for women in New York and across the country. This legislation will reaffirm the FDAs approval authority and protect doctors who use telemedicine to prescribe medication abortion, he added.

The legislative push comes three days after a federal judge in Texas issued a stay that halts the prescription and distribution of mifepristone, which has been available to consumers for more than two decades. The FDA has appealed the decision.

District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by former President Trump, sided with an anti-abortion group that had argued that the FDA improperly rushed its approval process, leading to an unsafe drug regimen landing on the market. Mifepristone was first approved in 2000.

In a separate case, a U.S. district judge in the Eastern District of Washington state blocked the FDA from altering the status quo and rights as it relates to the availability of Mifepristone in 17 states and Washington, D.C., contrasting with the Texas ruling.

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The issue could reach the Supreme Court.

Fletcher  who represents Texass 7th congressional district  railed against the ruling from her home state.

Once again, Texas is at the epicenter of attacks on the health and freedom of Americans with the unprecedented district court decision which, if enforced, would be devastating to women and families across our country and to our established drug-approval system, she said in a statement.

It is critical that we do everything we can to preserve and protect the FDAs authority to approve safe and effective medication, including abortion medication, she added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- House Republican allies of former President Donald Trump plan a hearing in New York next week on what they call Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs pro-crime, anti-victim policies.

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The planned April 17 field hearing by the GOP-led Judiciary Committee is the latest move to focus on Bragg after his office brought an indictment against the former president last week.

The panel will hold the hearing at the Javits Federal Building in Lower Manhattan. No witnesses have been announced.

An advisory distributed by Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio says the hearing will focus on how Braggs policies have led to an increase in violent crime and a dangerous community for New York City residents.

A spokesman for Braggs office released a statement saying that the House GOP is coming to the safest big city in America for a political stunt.

This hearing wont engage in actual efforts to increase public safety, such as supporting national gun legislation and shutting down the iron pipeline, the statement continued, referring to weapons smuggling from states with weaker firearms laws.

Jordan and other Republicans have accused Bragg of undertaking a politically motivated prosecution of Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star before the 2016 presidential election.

Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Jordan last week subpoenaed former New York prosecutor Mark Pomerantz, who quit Braggs team last year after advocating for the prosecution of Trump.

Jordan contends that since his resignation, Pomerantz had made extensive public statements about the Trump investigation that put pressure on Bragg to act.

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The Congressional Integrity Project, a Democratic group monitoring House Republican investigations, labeled the planned hearing retaliation for the Trump indictment.

A field hearing from the Judiciary Committee in New York City is only another taxpayer-funded political stunt spearheaded by Jim Jordan and the MAGA GOP, the groups executive director, Kyle Herrig, said in a statement.

(Updates with Bragg comment, in fifth and sixth paragraphs.)

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New Jersey authorities said an arrest has been made after an imam was stabbed in front of his congregation at a local mosque on Sunday.

In a news release, the Passaic County Prosecutors Office said that authorities arrested the suspect, 32-year-old Serif Zorba, after members of the congregation managed to subdue him following the attack.

Members of the Paterson Police Department (PPD) and New Jersey State Police (NJSP) arrived at the Paterson-based mosque and located a male individual suffering from non-fatal stab wounds. The male, 65 years old, was then transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment, according to the news release.

According to CNN, the suspect allegedly stabbed victim Imam Sayed Elnakib during the first prayer of the day, with Omar Mosque spokesperson Abdul Hamdan saying that Zorba was participating in prayers before he lunged forward with a knife and stabbed Imam Sayed multiple times  at least twice.

Hamdan told CNN that there were more than 200 congregants in the mosque at the time of the stabbing; he said that he believes that the incident was isolated and told congregants that the mosque is safe and to practice their faith, it is open.

In a Facebook post, local councilman Al Abdel-Aziz wrote that he was deeply saddened to hear about the incident, adding that his heart goes out to everyone affected by this tragic event.

I am relieved to hear that Imam Sayed Elnakib is in stable condition, and wish him a full and speedy recovery, Abdel-Aziz said in a statement. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this difficult time.

As a community, it is important that we come together to support one another and denounce all forms of hate and violence, Abdel-Aziz added. I encourage everyone to reach out to each other for comfort and support, and to work towards creating a safe and welcoming environment for all who enter your mosque.

Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh (D) said in a statement that Elnakib is being treated for a punctured lung at the medical facility, adding that the imam is in better spirits than before and is still in stable condition after visiting with him, CNN reported.

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The incident comes as Muslims around the world observe the holy month of Ramadan, which runs from March 22 to April 20.

Authorities said that Zorba was charged with numerous counts such as attempted murder in the first degree, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in the third degree, and unlawful possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

Zorba is due in court on Monday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
India's case count has risen over the past couple of days

India's health ministry is conducting mock drills to check preparedness of hospitals to deal with rising Covid-19 cases.

The drills are being held on Monday and Tuesday across the country.

India's active case count is relatively low but experts are urging caution to stop further spread of the disease.

The country saw a deadly second wave in 2021 and the government came under criticism as many hospitals ran out of oxygen and critical care beds.

India recorded close to 6,000 new cases on Sunday, government data shows. The active case count was 35,000.

The surge is largely driven by XBB.1.16, which is an omicron subvariant. The WHO has said it was watching the subvariant and the spread in India.

Experts say it's not known to be lethal.

"It's been in circulation for a few months. We haven't seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but that's why we have these systems in place," Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's COVID-19 technical lead, recently said.

Many cities in India have seen a sharp rise in cases in recent weeks, but the surge has not led to an increase in hospital admissions.

Both public and private hospitals are participating in the mock drills, which are being supervised by India's health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and other state health ministers.

In an online meeting held on 7 April, Mr Mandaviya had also asked health officials to identify emergency hotspots by tracking cases related to respiratory illnesses and he also advised them to increase testing and vaccination for Covid-19.

He also stressed the need for increasing awareness about Covid-appropriate behaviour like wearing masks in public places.

Meanwhile, some states have made it mandatory to wear masks in public and are urging citizens to follow Covid-19 safety protocols.

India was on alert in December as well due to a surge in Covid-19 cases in neighbouring China, and had stepped up surveillance.

BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features.

Read more India stories from the BBC:
A trans rights protester outside the Indiana Statehouse on 22 February 2023 (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

A US court has upheld the right of public schools to force religious teachers to call transgender students by their chosen names and pronouns.

John Kluge, a former music teacher at Brownsburg High School outside Indianapolis, had sued his old employer for trampling on his freedom of belief by asking him to follow its anti-discrimination policy for trans pupils.

The school's principal initially allowed him to simply call students by their last names, but changed course after trans students said it made them feel hurt and singled out in front of their peers.

On Friday, the federal Court of Appeals ruled that carving out an exception for Mr Kluge created an "undue burden" on the school's mission to cater to all its students equally.

It said that Mr Kluge's behaviour had "resulted in students feeling disrespected, targeted, and dehumanised", causing "disruptions to the learning environment".

Brownsburg has demonstrated as a matter of law that the requested accommodation worked an undue burden on the schools educational mission by harming transgender students and negatively impacting the learning environment for transgender students, for other students in Kluges classes and in the school generally, and for faculty," the court wrote, according to the Associated Press.

Like most people, trans people typically experience stress or distress if persistently called by the wrong name in daily life, and many consider using their chosen name to be a basic component of respect.

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative Christian lobby group that has been representing Mr Kluge in court, said it would consider what to do next.

Congress passed Title VII to prevent employers from forcing workers to abandon their beliefs to keep their jobs, said ADF attorney Rory Gray.

In this case, Mr Kluge went out of his way to accommodate his students and treat them all with respect. The school district even permitted this accommodation before unlawfully punishing Mr Kluge for his religious beliefs.
Donald Trump. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Donald Trump took to Truth Social to honor his tradition of insulting political rivals on the holidays.

He wished "THOSE THAT DREAM ENDLESSLY OF DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY" a happy Easter.

He previously wished "losers" and "RINOs" a happy Father's Day, and posted angry Christmas greetings.

On Easter, former President Donald Trump continued his time-honored tradition of capitalizing on the holidays to attack his political rivals on social media.

Trump's post on Sunday wished a "HAPPY EASTER TO ALL, INCLUDING THOSE THAT DREAM ENDLESSLY OF DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF DREAMING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE."

In his all-caps post, Trump extended his greetings to: "THOSE THAT ARE SO INCOMPETENT THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT HAVING A BORDER AND POWERFUL WALL IS A GOOD THING."

Trump also took the opportunity  on a holiday honoring the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ  to make a list of everyone he hates.

"TO ALL OF THOSE WEAK & PATHETIC RINOS, RADICAL LEFT DEMOCRATS, SOCIALISTS, MARXISTS, & COMMUNISTS WHO ARE KILLING OUR NATION, REMEMBER, WE WILL BE BACK!" Trump wrote.

RINO is an acronym for "Republican-in-name-only," a term that Trump has often used to call out Republicans he deems disloyal to the party.

This is not the first time that the 2024 presidential candidate has used a joyous holiday to rage against his opponents.

On Father's Day in 2021, he sent out a statement saying: "Happy Father's Day to all, including the Radical Left, RINOs, and other Losers of the world. Hopefully, eventually, everyone will come together!"

Last Christmas, Trump also seized the chance to make a post on Truth Social, where he called the US a "horror show."

"Merry Christmas to EVERYONE, including the Radical Left Marxists that are trying to destroy our Country," Trump added in his 2022 Christmas message.

Trump's Easter greeting comes just a few days after he was arrested in New York. On Tuesday, in a Manhattan courtroom, he pleaded not guilty to 34 low-level felony charges of falsifying business records.

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The charges were filed against him by the Manhattan district attorney's office in connection with a lengthy investigation into a hush money payment made to the porn star, Stormy Daniels.

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
The James Brady Press Briefing Room. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Influencers may get a briefing room apart from the White House Press Briefing Room, per Axios.

It's part of the Biden Admin's strategy to reach young voters who may not rely on mainstream news.

The administration previously relied on influencers to get the message out about COVID-19 vaccines.

Social media influencers may be a regular sight at the White House as the Biden Administration considers giving them their own briefing room, according to a report from Axios.

The move is part of a strategy to coalesce influencers and reach a younger demographic that may not be tapped into mainstream news or follow the White House on social media, the report said.

Nearly 40% of Gen Z prefers TikTok and Instagram over Google Search, according to Google's own internal data.

"We're trying to reach young people, but also moms who use different platforms to get information and climate activists and people whose main way of getting information is digital," Jen O'Malley Dillon, White House deputy chief of staff, told Axios.

Relying on an influencer's reach could also be part of President Joe Biden's strategy to reach younger voters ahead of the 2024 campaign. Biden has yet to announce his re-election bid, but he remains the top Democratic contender.

The Biden Administration has four staffers  not part of the Biden campaign  who will connect with influencers and independent content creators, Axios reported.

The administration has previously relied on TikTokers, YouTubers, and Twitch streamers for its messaging campaigns, including its effort to get young people vaccinated.

A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The emphasis on influencers, who often rely on multiple platforms for their content, also may not be entirely in lockstep with the recent bipartisan hostility against TikTok, which has close to 150 million monthly active US users.

Last month, the White House endorsed the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology (RESTRICT) Act, which would provide the government the power to ban apps or other technology services operated by foreign governments. ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, is based in Beijing.

A specific app is not named in the bill, but the piece of legislation was a direct response to concerns that TikTok could share data with China's government.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Swift reaction to Daniel Perry being found guilty of the murder of Garrett Foster during a 2020 protest in Austin saw Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announce that he would seek to pardon him as soon as a request hits his desk.

The response from the governor, who cited the state's Stand your ground laws, came less than 24 hours after a jury in Travis County came to the unanimous verdict.

Your questions answered: Get up to date on Daniel Perry murder conviction, Abbott's talk of pardon

During the trial, Perry's attorneys said he was defending himself when he shot Foster because Foster raised his rifle at him. But prosecutors cited social media posts by Perry and said he instigated the incident by driving toward a group of marchers and argued that Foster was defending himself when he approached Perry's car.

Daniel Perry is handcuffed after being convicted of murder in the killing of Garrett Foster at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center on Friday April 7, 2023.

Here's a look back at reactions that led up to Abbott's announcement. The times listed are Central Time.

4:30 p.m. Friday - Unanimous verdict finds Daniel Perry guilty of murder

State District Judge Clifford Brown read the unanimous guilty verdict before a courtroom filled with both Perry and Foster's family members.

The information was promptly reported online, including by the Austin American-Statesman, with some on social media quickly calling for Abbott to intervene in the matter.

4:50 p.m. - Garrett Foster's father expresses condolences to Daniel Perry's family

In brief comments delivered to the press outside the court room, Garrett Foster's father said his family was happy with verdict, but noted they were sorry for Perry's family, too.

"There's no winners in this," said Stephen Foster.

7 p.m. - Tucker Carlson suggests Greg Abbott's 'position' on self-defense laws

During Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson's show, the conservative media personality made a direct request and characterization of Greg Abbott, calling the verdict a "legal atrocity."

Carlson told his viewers he invited the governor to to come on his show the following Monday, to ask if he is considering pardon. According to Carlson, the office said the governor was unavailable, and that the show should consider talking with Attorney General Ken Paxton.

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Then Carlson, who is preparing to testify in a defamation lawsuit that Fox News is facing, suggested that Greg Abbot's "position" was that there is no right of self-defense.

Apparently the State of Texas no longer recognizes the right of self-defense. @GregAbbott_TX is welcome to come on and discuss. pic.twitter.com/A7o5MvZTVy  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) April 8, 2023

8:23 p.m. - Kyle Rittenhouse supports Daniel Perry, calls on Greg Abbott

Kyle Rittenhouse, who was found not guilty in 2021 after claiming self defense after he shot three men and killed two during 2020 protests in Wisconsin, took to Twitter to say Perry was "justified in defending his own life."

At the time of the shooting involving Rittenhouse, he was just 17-years-old. Now 20-years-old, Rittenhouse would tweet much more about the case throughout the evening, including tweeting at Abbott several times.

@GovAbbott this is a unfair conviction please step in and free Daniel Perry https://t.co/BIBVnKy7rv  Kyle Rittenhouse (@ThisIsKyleR) April 8, 2023

At 12:08 a.m. Saturday, Rittenhouse shared a screen shot of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles' website, and urged his followers to call the department and ask for the release of Perry.

9 a.m. Saturday - On Fox News, Dan Patrick criticizes Travis County DA Jose Garza

During Lawrence Jones' Fox News show "Cross Country," Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick contended Foster pointed a gun at Perry through the car window, despite no witness testified to that point and and an issue that was not presented during the trial.

"If someone points a rifle at you, Lawrence, an AK-47, you have a split section to respond," Patrick said. "If anyone points any rifle, any gun at you, through your car window, you have a right to self defense."

Police at protest: Officer testifies Austin protester Garrett Foster had been warned about way he carried his rifle

Lead detective: I didn't arrest Daniel Perry because self-defense was possibility

Patrick noted disagreements between the lead detective and Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza over pieces of evidence that were brought to trial, too.

"When you have the justice system break down at the DA level and the court level ... when a country no longer believe in the justice system, that's the beginning of the end of a country," Patrick said.

2:06 p.m. - Greg Abbott announces request made for Daniel Perry's pardon

By Saturday afternoon and before a formal appeal by Perry's lawyers, Abbott announced that he was acting "swiftly" regarding Perry's pardon.

I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry. pic.twitter.com/HydwdzneMU  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 8, 2023

Editorial: Abbott's plan to pardon convicted killer reeks of politics

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Greg Abbott's pardon plan for Daniel Perry came from conservatives
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

This reporting is featured in this weeks edition of Confider, the newsletter pulling back the curtain on the media. Subscribe here and send your questions, tips, and complaints here.

Another week, another trove of juicy stories from inside ABC News President Kim Godwins reign of error, as one network source described it.

The embattled news boss has been shopping around a book about leadership, Confider has learned, just days after a bloody round of layoffs that seemed to target staffers she felt were insufficiently loyal to her, multiple sources told us.

Godwin, who joined ABC promising to clean up the culture, has told friends that writing a book is on her bucket list and that she has spoken to at least one publisher about it, according to two people familiar with the matter. One irritated ABC News executive quipped to Confider: If Kim is writing a book on leadership, itll be the size of a pamphlet.

ABC insiders who spoke with Confider laid some of the blame for the handling of last months bloodbath layoffs on Godwins right-hand man Jose Andino, who has the curiously verbose title of Vice PresidentOffice of the President and Process Management.

Like what youre reading? Subscribe to the Confider newsletter here and have The Daily Beast media teams reporting sent straight to your inbox every Monday night.

Andino is an HR exec who followed Godwin from CBS to ABC, and he is said to have been instrumental in helping her compile a list of all HR grievances against former CBS News president Susan Zirinsky, whose job Godwin was gunning for at the time.

Andino has left fellow ABC News execs astounded with a series of gaffes. For example, when it was announced Bob Iger would return to run Disney, Andino asked several colleagues why the news division would be of any concern to the iconic CEO who began his career at ABC nearly 50 years ago and rose to oversee every aspect of the companys television business, including news.

Story continues

Andino was described to Confider by multiple colleagues as a gossip girl who seems highly interested in rumor-mongering and carrying out personal vendettas. And according to two people familiar with the matter, he played a significant role in advising Godwin on who to pink-slip during the firings.

Meanwhile, Godwin has further incensed staffers with several eyebrow-raising remarks: While discussing the Dominion lawsuit against Fox News, two sources said, Godwin questioned whether ABC should cover the story because it was about another media company; and after one of the Jan. 6 congressional hearings, Godwin allegedly asked several ABC journalists to tell me what Trump did thats actually illegal?

A rep for ABC News emailed Confider: This is absolutely untrue.

Subscribe to the Confider newsletter here and have The Daily Beast media teams stellar reporting sent straight to your inbox every Monday night.

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An Israeli soldier fires a tear gas canister at Palestinian protesters during clashes following a protest against Israeli march to the nearby Israeli outpost of Eviatar, in the West Bank city of Nablus, on April 10, 2023. Thousands of Israeli settlers and dozens of politicians, including seven cabinet ministers, on Monday marched to an abandoned illegal Israeli outpost in the occupied West Bank.

The march to Eviatar, an unpermitted outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by a previous government in 2021, was taking place under heavy police and army guard.

Video footage circulated on social media showed Israeli soldiers clashing with Palestinian demonstrators who protested against the march. At least 56 Palestinians were injured by tear gas, according to a statement by the Palestinian Red Crescent. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Israeli settlers and dozens of politicians, including seven cabinet ministers, on Monday marched to an abandoned illegal Israeli outpost in the occupied West Bank.

The march to Eviatar, an unpermitted outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by a previous government in 2021, was taking place under heavy police and army guard.

Video footage circulated on social media showed Israeli soldiers clashing with Palestinian demonstrators who protested against the march. At least 56 Palestinians were injured by tear gas, according to a statement by the Palestinian Red Crescent.

Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, also a settler and leader of the extreme-right Jewish Power party, said in a speech at the march that its aim was "to say that the nation of Israel is strong" and that "we are here and will remain here."

The march took place amid mounting violence between Israelis and Palestinians, which was sparked by Israeli police raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound last week. The raids came at a sensitive time when Muslims are observing the holy month of Ramadan, while Jews were celebrating the Passover holiday. 

A Palestinian protester throws back a tear gas canister fired by Israeli soldiers during clashes following a protest against Israeli march to the nearby Israeli outpost of Eviatar, in the West Bank city of Nablus, on April 10, 2023. Thousands of Israeli settlers and dozens of politicians, including seven cabinet ministers, on Monday marched to an abandoned illegal Israeli outpost in the occupied West Bank.

The march to Eviatar, an unpermitted outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by a previous government in 2021, was taking place under heavy police and army guard.

Video footage circulated on social media showed Israeli soldiers clashing with Palestinian demonstrators who protested against the march. At least 56 Palestinians were injured by tear gas, according to a statement by the Palestinian Red Crescent. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

An Israeli soldier throws a tear gas canister at Palestinian protesters during clashes following a protest against Israeli march to the nearby Israeli outpost of Eviatar, in the West Bank city of Nablus, on April 10, 2023. Thousands of Israeli settlers and dozens of politicians, including seven cabinet ministers, on Monday marched to an abandoned illegal Israeli outpost in the occupied West Bank.

The march to Eviatar, an unpermitted outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by a previous government in 2021, was taking place under heavy police and army guard.

Video footage circulated on social media showed Israeli soldiers clashing with Palestinian demonstrators who protested against the march. At least 56 Palestinians were injured by tear gas, according to a statement by the Palestinian Red Crescent. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Photo Illustration by Erin OFlynn/The Daily Beast/Getty Images, Pinellas County Sheriff and Facebook

It was a routine civil lawsuit that criminal defense lawyer Jake Pillsbury figured he could make fairly short work of.

The complaint had been filed in 2019 by a South Florida plastic surgeon who claimed that errors by his former employers insurance biller had prompted damaging online reviewsand at least one in-person protestby an enraged cancer patient who called him a butcher.

As a result, Tomasz Kosowski, a Polish-born U.S. citizen with an impressive array of advanced degrees, claimed his reputation had been obliterated and his income dropped off by some $50,000 a month. He had since gotten a new job in Miami, working alongside physicians known as Dr. Magic Mike and Dr. Level Up, and lived in a $1.3 million waterfront home once used as a backdrop for a music video starring Patricia Krentcil, the briefly-tabloid-famous Tan Mom.

Pillsbury, who does not normally practice business law, said he got involved with the case last year, as essentially a favor, after a previous attorney had his license suspended and had to bow out. Now, Pillsbury would help bring the case in for a landing.

And its like, it could not have gone weirder, he said.

Pillsbury worked alongside attorney Steven Cozzi, who had been on the case since the beginning. Cozzi defended the medical practice while Pillsbury defended the medical biller Kosowski blamed for his woes. It should have been straightforward, but Kosowski seemed to revel in making things as difficult as possible, just because he could, according to Pillsbury. And as the case grew increasingly contentious, Pillsbury began to develop an intense dislike for Kosowski. Not because he was on the other side of the lawsuit, Pillsbury explained. Rather, Pillsbury said, We didnt like him because of how awful he was.

Ive represented some people accused of some pretty terrible things, Pillsbury told The Daily Beast in an exclusive in-depth interview. And Ive become pretty good at identifying people who are dangerous. And I was concerned about this guy pretty early on.

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Then, late last month, the unthinkable happened.

Cozzi vanished after getting up from his desk to use the restroom at his Largo law office. Four days later, Kosowski was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Surveillance video showed the 44-year-old breast reconstruction specialist sneaking into the building wearing jeans and black gloves, then leaving a couple of hours later with what appeared to be a human body wrapped in a blanket, according to Kosowskis arrest affidavit. His left index fingerprint was discovered in a breaker closet adjacent to the toilet, it says, adding that forensic technicians discovered a large quantity of blood that had been cleaned up from the bathroom floor.

In Kosowskis car, police found, among other things, a bag of masks, duct tape, brass knuckles, a taser, a ballistic vest with a substantial amount of blood on it, $280,000 in cash, and intravenous sedativesnamely, succinylcholine, a powerful paralytic. A temporary risk protection order filed by the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office said Kosowski owned upward of 200 handguns and rifles, and had thousands of rounds of ammunition on hand.

An extract from Tomasz Roman Kosowskis arrest affidavit.

Cozzi, whose body has not yet been located, had the patience of Gandhi when dealing with Kosowski, according to Pillsbury, who said he was much more of an asshole to Kosowski, a Dartmouth-educated physician who was representing himself despite not having a law degree.

I feel like I was going to be inevitably targeted by this guy, because of the way he treated us both throughout the case and how contentious it became, Pillsbury said. Its very difficult for me to wrap my brain around the fact that this happened. Im constantly retelling the story, but I can never make any sense of it.

An increasingly contentious legal battle

As 2023 got underway, Kosowskis lawsuit still hadnt been resolved. And he appeared to be getting frustrated.

Kosowski accused Cozzi and Pillsbury of slow-walking things, and tried to get Cozzi sanctioned and booted from the case, filing a motion accusing the beloved 41-year-old of having violated standards of professional conduct, calling him a liar who refused to give him the documentation he had been requesting.

Mr. Cozzis obstruction to Plaintiffs access to evidence is unlawful and one of the main reasons this trial in [sic] now in its 4th year and still fraught with unresolved discovery disputes, Kosowski wrote, asking the judge to boot Cozzi from the case given his recurrent disregard for the rules.

The two sides went back and forth, with Cozzi arguing it was Kosowski who should be punished for improperly questioning his integrity. He said in one filing that Kosowski didnt understand legal procedure, and that he was now simply filing redundant calls for information and documents he had either already gotten, didnt exist, or had no right to see.

On Jan. 26, things reached a turning point, Pillsbury said, providing the most detailed insight yet into what happened.

Steve Cozzis law office. Josh Fiallo/The Daily Beast

That day, the two sides were at a deposition at Cozzis law office that turned ugly, according to Pillsbury. Kosowski was mercilessly grilling an office worker from his old practice, spending more than three hours aggressively questioning a witness who Pillsbury said was not really central to the case.

She was just being beat up in this depositionand not in a way that made a lot of sense, Pillsbury went on. It was hard to watch, from a human perspective, because it was just unnecessary.

Pillsbury said he and Cozzi reminded Kosowski multiple times that this is not a trial, and had to frequently cut in to keep the proceeding on track.

He was just very unhappy about how much of his questioning was being objected to, Pillsbury said.

During a break in the testimony, Kosowski got up and confronted Cozzi in the restroom, according to Pillsbury. The altercation was only a verbal one, as far as anyone knows. It is unclear what was said.

Over the ensuing days and weeks, things largely didnt go Kosowskis way. A previous ruling in Kosowskis favor was set aside in February, and the case was referred to non-binding arbitration.

On March 20, a little less than two months later, a frustrated Kosowski wrote to the judge in his case, slamming the latest discovery materials he had been provided as hastily prepared tripe which fail to provide good faith answers.

The next day, Cozzi would be dead.

Steve filed a motion that upset him and I think he just decided to go scorched earth, Pillsbury told The Daily Beast. Thats just my read on it.

On March 21, immediately after he allegedly killed Cozzi, Kosowski joined a scheduled 10:30 a.m. court hearing via Zoom, from the parking lot outside Cozzis office. He and the others, including Pillsbury, waited for more than 30 minutes but Cozzi never showed, according to the arrest affidavit.As soon as the defendant disconnects from the court hearing, video captures the subject at the crime scene beginning to move again, it says, noting that Kosowski was seen on video struggling to get [a] heavy cart into the bed of [his] truck.

Cozzi was never seen leaving the building. When investigators asked his boss, Jake Blanchard, if Cozzi had any enemies, he said he gave them Kosowskis name, telling police that the plastic surgeon was the only person he could think of that didnt like Cozzi.

A beloved lawyer

Im not good at talking about my personal life, but to say were heartbroken, were befuddled, is just a classic understatement, Cozzis mom, Lois, told The Daily Beast. I think the best way to say it is, I feel like Im reading a cheap novel, that, if I ever get to close it, itll all go away.

Steve Cozzi Facebook

Cozzi worked on Broadway as a wardrobe designer before going back to school later in life for a law degree. He had a strong belief in social justice and held a birthday fundraiser each year to benefit his local legal aid organization, according to his mother.

Cozzi and his husband Michael had just gotten married in October 2021, and were deeply in love, Lois continued, recalling her joy in helping Cozzi study for the bar exam.

We would get sidetracked and go, Why was this law written this way? Why did this happen? He was just endlessly curious. Most people were glad to be his friend I know Im biased, but I think he was quite an extraordinary person.

Cara Lea Powell, a family lawyer in Tampa who knew Cozzi professionally, told The Daily Beast she simply couldnt understand what killing Cozzi might accomplish.

I know of exactly zero cases where murdering your opposing counsel has resulted in your obviating the issues at hand, she said.

Pillsbury said Cozzi was incredibly helpful in bringing him up to speed when joined the Kosowski suit, noting that Cozzi would even reach out to remind him of a deadline, for instance, because he was just a nice man.

Cozzi honestly cared about his clients, and was proud of the witness at the Jan. 26 deposition for handling herself so well under Kosowskis pressure, according to Pillsbury.

The two became friends due to their shared experience of dealing with this crazy plaintiff, Pillsbury said.

Everybody who comes into contact with him feels creeped out, he said of Kosowski. Theres something very off-putting about being around this guy.

Tomasz Roman Kosowski Pinellas County Sheriff

But that was not the person Kosowskis old medical pals knew, with three former friends telling The Daily Beast they were dumbfounded by the allegations against a man they described as a nice guy with a big heart.

Ive never even seen him cranky, let alone angry, a friend who roomed with Kosowski in medical school said. When I was despondent over my wife leaving me and my first divorce, Tom was the person who made sure I ate. Called to check on me.

Another med school pal remembered Kosowski as a happy, kind of goofy, silly, informal guy, describing the allegations as completely out of left field. And while police said Kosowski had hundreds of guns at home, the friend said Kosowski never expressed any interest in firearms at all, even though they were living in New Hampshire, where ownership rules are relatively loose.

Dr. Shaun Wason, a physician in Boston who trained as a resident with Kosowski, said, I havent spoken to Tom in many years. But I can say, this was not something anyone would have expected. And Anita Smith, a medical biller who last worked with Kosowski in 2019, said she didnt recall Kosowski having any sort of violent tendencies. She called Cozzis death Tragic. So sad.

Kosowski's home in Tarpon Springs, tucked away at the end of a quiet road lined with ritzy spreads, appeared to sit empty on a recent weekday afternoon, with no lights visible from the massive windows that overlook the Gulf of Mexico and a glistening pool in the back.

A neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Daily Beast that she rarely saw Kosowski outside, so they spoke only a few times in the five years she estimated he lived there.

Kosowski was really quiet and minded his own business at the end down there, she said. When he'd pass by in his car, she said he was seemingly always driving alone.

Kosowskis Tarpon Springs home. Josh Fiallo/The Daily Beast

Kosowski has pleaded not guilty, and his dogs are safe and with friends, his defense attorney, Bjorn Erik Brunvand told The Daily Beast.

In an email, he wrote, Beyond the not guilty plea and the presumption of innocence, there is not anything that I can add at this time.

Malpractice accusations

Kosowski may have assembled a top-notch academic pedigree, but his professional life hasnt been particularly smooth.

Nearly three years into his lawsuit against his former practice, Kosowski was sued for malpractice over a botched Brazilian Butt Lift.

In a Jan. 2021 civil complaint filed in Pinellas County Circuit Court, the patient said she was just 19 in 2019, when Kosowski DMed her out of the blue on Instagram (@Dr.TampaBay69) with a solicitation for a discounted BBL. The teen checked out Kosowskis profile and scheduled a consultation with him at the practice he sued later that year, according to the complaint.There, he told her that she was a great candidate for a BBL, it continues, noting that Kosowskiwho is not board certified, an official with the American Board of Plastic Surgery told The Daily Beasttold the young woman to provide him with pictures of celebrities she wanted her body to resemble. But while the patient shared the requested photos with Kosowski, the lawsuit claims Kosowski never discussed with [the patient] whether he could realistically and safely model her body to look like celebrities she identified.

It was a disaster, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Daily Beast, emphasizing how weird [it is] for a doctor to be soliciting a 19-year-old girl for surgery.

WOW Special with Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr.Tom Kosowski at Xiluet Plastic Surgery in Miami, FL. #TummyTuck with 4 Areas of #Lipo for only $4,800! #plasticsurgery #miami pic.twitter.com/nf9j3k3HHk  Xiluet Plastic Surgery (@XiluetS) April 5, 2022

The complaint says Kosowski over-injected the patients buttocks with fat, which led to a large, open, painful wound and infection. This caused the patient, who declined to comment and whose name The Daily Beast is withholding for her privacy, pain, numbness, and significant scarring, according to the complaint.

Kosowski explained to [the patient] that the wound was caused by a surgical tool being too deeply and aggressively inserted during the BBL procedure in the location where the wound formed, it states.

But try as he might, Kosowski was unable to fix it, according to the complaint. When Kosowski then left the practice amid his insurance-and-defamation lawsuit, he gave the young woman his cell number and said to text him in a couple of weeks. Kosowski said hed continue to treat her if things didnt get better soon, and when the patient began to experience further complications, including cellulitis, she contacted him. Kosowski, the complaint says, never responded.

Wound-care specialists at an area hospital finally got involved, and were able to reverse some of the damage. But when the patient began to consider a lawsuit and called the practice to request her medical records, the records were nowhere to be found, according to the complaint, which said Kosowski had refused to allow anyone else at the practice to photograph the results of the procedure. The case is still listed as open on the docket, but the source said it was settled out of court. They said they were not allowed to discuss the terms of the settlement.

Kosowski has never been board certified, and his eligibility for certification expired in 2019, Cassandra Kosielowski, an official with the American Board of Plastic Surgery, told The Daily Beast.

We all lose here

Today, Kosowski sits in the Pinellas County Jail, facing a potential death sentence. He has a balance at the detention center commissary of $193.53, according to booking records.

A friend of Kosowskis, reality TV producer Adam Barta, said hes praying that this somehow comes to some sort of resolution.

It doesnt seem like itll be any kind of good resolution, Barta told The Daily Beast, but well just have to wait and see.

Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD detective sergeant who now teaches at New York Citys John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said this case is not an outlier.

Nobodys immune to murder as a means to an end, no matter what class you are, no matter what job you have, he said. Is it unusual, in the amount of violence you have? Yes.

Meanwhile, Lois Cozzi continues to live out what she described as a bad dream, noting that Cozzis dad remains too traumatized to talk about the situation.

Weve all been robbed, she said. My husband and I have been robbed of our son, Stevens brother has been robbed of a brother. And Michaels been robbed of the love of his life.

Pillsbury, for his part, will now have to finish out his defense of the Kosowski civil case without Cozzi. It is uncertain where things go from here; six days after Kosowskis arrest, an arbitration hearing scheduled for April 11 was postponed indefinitely.

We all lose here, said Pillsbury. I genuinely think the world was better when Steve was in it. It hurts. It hurts a lot. And the fact that we dont know where he is, is so devastating.

with additional reporting by Josh Fiallo

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An internal complaint filed against state Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, alleges that he was engaging in a potentially inappropriate relationship with an intern. The complaint came after an incident where Slaton and the staffer met up at his Austin apartment last weekend.

The complaint, obtained by The Texas Tribune, was reported to the House General Investigating Committee by a legislative staffer. The account in the complaint was also corroborated by another source who works in the Capitol who had direct knowledge of the incident.

Slaton allegedly called the intern after 10 p.m. on March 31 inviting her to his Austin condo, the complaint said.

A source with direct knowledge of the incident told the Tribune that Slaton drank alcohol with the intern, who was under 21.

Slaton, who was in the Capitol on Monday, declined to answer questions and referred to a statement put out earlier in the day by a criminal defense attorney he has retained.

A representative for the intern said she has been advised by the House committee not to comment.

Patrick Short, the attorney for Slaton, issued a statement Monday morning saying his firm is representing Slaton over a complaint, but provided few details. We are aware of outrageous claims circulating online by second-tier media that make false claims against Representative Slaton, Short said. As a result, he has been advised to forward all inquiries in this matter  including any that may relate to a possible complaint  to his legal counsel.

Short did not identify the specific claims  or media  he was referring to, and he declined to comment further when reached by the Tribune.

The Rockwall-based lawyers website says he has over 30 years of legal experience representing clients in East and North Texas in personal injury, wrongful death, criminal defense, and select civil litigation cases.

House Speaker Dade Phelan said in a statement that his office would be looking into the matter.

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The Texas House does not tolerate misconduct or other inappropriate behaviors and takes all allegations related to these issues seriously. I expect this matter to be addressed in a swift and thorough manner under the rules governing our chamber for the 88th Legislature and all applicable standards of conduct, he said.

The Capitol has been abuzz about Slatons whereabouts after he missed one of the most important days of the session Thursday, when the House debated the budget. It was even more eyebrow-raising because the conservative rabble-rouser had proposed 27 amendments to the budget. Slaton was the only absence when the roll call was called Thursday morning.

As speculation grew about Slaton during the budget debate Thursday, the chairman of the General Investigating Committee, Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, issued a statement saying the panel does not comment on any investigations it undertakes, including statements confirming or denying the existence of any ongoing investigation.

Slaton has been married to his current wife since 2017, and filed for divorce in April 2022, according to court filings. They agreed to cease the divorce in November. He is known as one of the farthest-right members of the Texas House and a thorn in the side of his partys leadership. He was first elected in 2021, defeating a longtime Republican incumbent he criticized as too moderate.

Slaton is especially known for his stridently anti-LGBTQ views. Last year, he called for a blanket ban on minors at drag shows, saying it was necessary to protect children from perverted adults. He has also proposed giving property tax cuts to straight, married couples  but not LGBTQ couples or those who have previously been divorced  based on the number of children they have.

Earlier this year, Slaton also filed a bill that would allow for a referendum on Texas secession from the United States during the states next general election, despite most experts agreeing such a move would be illegal.

Robert Downen and Joshua Fechter contributed to this report.
Its easy to loathe much thats on the internet and and want change, but we must also remember that the internet is the most important tool for communication since the invention of the printing press.

On Feb. 21 and 22, the Supreme Court heard two cases that could have enormous implications for the future of the internet and social media. Gonzalez v. Google involves a crucial provision of federal law  Section 230 of the Communication Decency Act  which provides that internet platforms cannot be held liable for the speech thats posted there or for the decisions they make about the kind of speech that gets prohibited.

Billions of things are posted on the internet every day and these platforms already engage in extensive content moderation. From October to December 2021, Facebook says it took action against terrorism content 7.7 million times; bullying and harassment 8.2 million times; and child sexual exploitation material 19.8 million times. In the last quarter of 2020, Facebook took action on over 1.1 million pieces of content per day.

Literally billions, if not trillions, of choices are made each year by internet and social media companies about what to include or exclude on their platforms. They may not always moderate perfectly, but theyre able to do a great deal of it, and do it pretty well, because of the protection provided by the First Amendment and a federal law, section 230, that immunizes platforms from liability for their content moderation decisions.

Opinion

Gonzalez v. Google involves a lawsuit by the estate of a victim of terrorist activity that claims that Google was not entitled to immunity under Section 230 because it used algorithms to draw attention to material about terrorism. Naomi Gonzalez, an American college student studying in Paris, died in a terrorist bombing. Her family sued Google, saying its algorithms facilitated terrorism. If Gonzalezs family wins, then an internet or social media company would completely lose immunity from suit once it uses an algorithm in organizing material.

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As Justice Elena Kagan explained during oral arguments, Anytime you have content, you also have these presentational and prioritization choices that can be subject to suit.

At the oral arguments on February 21, the justices seemed rightly concerned about opening the door to such liability for internet and social media companies. Its hard to imagine how the internet could function without the use of algorithms, and opening the door to liability would create a flood of claims from anyone who alleges to have been hurt by anything on social media.

Meanwhile, another case, Twitter v. Tamneh, involves whether a social media platform can be held liable under the Anti-Terrorism Act, which provides liability for knowingly providing substantial assistance to terrorism organisms. Jordanian citizen Nawras Alassaf died in 2017 during an Islamic-state attack in Istanbul. Alassafs family sued social media companies for failing to control terrorist activity on their platforms. The issue doesnt concern Section 230, but rather whether Twitter violated the Anti-Terrorism Act by not adequately moderating content.

Of the two cases, Gonzalez v. Google is likely more important. If the court rules against Twitter in the latter case, the effect will be that internet platforms must do more to moderate content that facilitates terrorism. But if the court rules against Google, then social media companies would face liability any time they use algorithms at all. Huge platforms like Google and Twitter would survive, but in a very different form. Many other internet and social media companies could likely no longer function.

Its easy to condemn the awful speech on the internet and social media. But the question is how to deal with this awful speech without undermining what is truly the golden age for freedom of speech. The internet has democratized the ability to reach a mass audience. It used to be that in order to reach a large number of people, a person had to be rich enough to own a newspaper or get a broadcast license. Now, anyone with a smart phone or connection to the internet can do so.

The internet and social media provide instantaneous access to infinite information. My hope is that the Supreme Court will not step in to this enormously complicated landscape. As Kagan said at oral argument, the justices are not experts on the internet and social media companies.

Any ruling against Google or Twitter could have huge unintended consequences for speech. Congress can revise Section 230 if it deems appropriate, but there is no reason for the court to try to do so through these cases.

Erwin Chemerinsky is the dean and a professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law.
The Iowa Supreme Court has rejected claims of housing discrimination brought against a pair of Des Moines landlords.

The city's Civil and Human Rights Commission sued Patrick and Mary Knueven in 2019, accusing the couple of illegally charging higher rents to nonwhite tenants and discouraging them from applying to rent one of the homes they owned.

In 2021, a jury found Mary Knueven not liable for wrongdoing, and cleared Patrick Knueven of the allegation he charged higher rents, but found him liable for "steering," a term for illegally discouraging nonwhite applicants from living in particular residences or areas or encouraging them to live in other areas based on their racial or ethnic status. The court imposed a $50,000 civil penalty and ordered Patrick Knueven to repay attorney fees to the city.

Friday's decision by a unanimous Supreme Court reverses that outcome. Chief Justice Susan Christensen wrote that the district judge wrongly instructed the jury on what "steering" entails, and that considered under the correct definition, there's not enough evidence to support the charge. The court ordered the case and the civil penalty dismissed. Under the ruling, Knueven will not have to pay the citys attorney fees and instead the district court will evaluate whether the city must pay his attorney fees.

Attorney John Fatino, representing Knueven, said that "ultimately the Iowa Supreme Court correctly decided the case."

"The Courts ruling clarified the law on the point as it was previously undecided under Iowa law," he said in an email. "We look forward to completing this dispute with the Commission."

Why Des Moines accused the Knuevens of discrimination

According to court filings, the case began after a resident complained to the commission about discrimination by the Knuevens. The commission investigated with several rounds of "housing testers," prospective renters of various races and backgrounds, from 2015 to 2017.

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In several cases, the commission alleged, Patrick Knueven gave different answers to white and nonwhite testers about whether rental properties were on the market and whether he had other properties available. In one case he allegedly offered a unit to a caller who identified herself as working with a refugee resettlement program for $150 more than he did to another caller who asked about it on her own behalf.

Related: Gov. Kim Reynolds signs law to let Iowa landlords refuse Section 8 vouchers

The nonwhite testers also reported that Knueven was less courteous and more abrupt with them, seemed to avoid them and was "muttering expletives under his breath" during walk-throughs of some properties.

What is 'steering'?

The commission sued the Knuevens in 2019. When the case went to trial in 2021, the Knuevens asked the judge to instruct the jury that to prove allegations of steering, "you must find that the Defendants took some steps to show or guide the tester to an alternative property according to their [protected class]."

The judge refused, instead instructing the jurors they were to decide if Patrick Knueven "engaged in steering by discouraging the protected tester from pursuing the housing and encouraging someone not of the protected class to pursue such housing."

From 2021: Tenants, landlords sue Iowa city over new inspections ordinance they say treats renters 'like second-class citizens'

In Friday's ruling, Christensen agreed with Knueven that the district court's definition of steering was overbroad.

"Patricks disposition in his interactions with the testers may have some bearing in determining whether he engaged in steering, but he was correct in asserting that the jury also should have been instructed to find more than that for a steering violation," she wrote.

Supreme Court finds 'no evidence,' dismisses case

In reviewing the evidence presented at trial, the justices found there is "no evidence" that Knueven's treatment of prospective tenants amounted to steering.

"There was no evidence that Patrick performed some affirmative act to deny or obstruct the protected tester from receiving housing or guide the protected tester to an alternative property based on religion or national origin," Christensen wrote. "Patricks curtness in his phone call with a protected tester in comparison to his more amiable phone conversation with a control tester is inadequate to conclude that Patrick discriminated against the protected tester based on her national origin or religion."

City Manager Scott Sanders said in a statement that the city is "disappointed" by the outcome.

"While the City respects the judicial process, it is disappointed in the courts ruling overturning a jurys verdict," he said. "The city is grateful, however, that the court acknowledged that testing continues to be an essential tool in detecting possible violations of civil rights laws."

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com, 715-573-8166 or on Twitter at @DMRMorris.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Supreme Court reverses Des Moines landlord's discrimination verdict
(Bloomberg) -- Iran lashed out at the US after its rare move to disclose the deployment of a guided missile submarine in the Middle East over the weekend, amid heightened tensions and violence in the region.

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In a series of tweets on Monday that marked the Islamic Republics first official reaction to the USS Floridas presence, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani accused the US of warmongering and propagating instability and conflict in the West Asia region.

The deployment was a sign of Washingtons struggle to gloss over its decline in the world, as new regional equations are likely to shape a new order and eliminate the need for military forces from outside the region, Kanaani said, in an apparent reference to last months China-brokered deal that ended a seven-year rupture in Saudi-Iranian relations.

A Saudi delegation arrived in Tehran over the weekend to discuss reopening the kingdoms embassy following a meeting in Beijing on Thursday between the foreign ministers of both countries.

As Saudi officials met with their counterparts in Tehran, the Florida  capable of carrying as many as 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles  began transiting the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean Sea on Friday, according to the US Naval Forces Central Command, which is based in nearby Bahrain.

The nuclear-powered submarine is being deployed in support of the US Fifth Fleet, also based in Bahrain, to ensure regional maritime security and stability, said Commander Tim Hawkins, spokesman for the US Naval Forces Central Command, on Saturday.

Hawkins declined to provide further details on the mission or its timing, or to specify whether the submarine was headed to the Persian Gulf. Its extremely rare for the US military to publicize movements of its nuclear submarine fleet.

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But senior US military commanders have warned in recent weeks that Irans missile and drone capabilities as well as advances in its uranium enrichment activities now pose the gravest threat to regional security. The US military has blamed Iran-backed militias for a deadly attack on one of its facilities in northeast Syria last month.

The US submarines arrival coincided with the firing of six rockets from Syria toward the Israel-held Golan Heights, an attack that triggered an Israeli response against Syrian Army positions. Most Israeli strikes in Syria have been against Iran and its proxies, which have boosted their presence and influence in the war-ravaged country over the past decade.

Tit-for-tat violence also flared on other fronts. Israel hit sites in the Gaza Strip on Friday, which it said belonged to the Iran-allied Hamas movement, and retaliated against the firing of a barrage of rockets from southern Lebanon to the Upper Galilee in an attack claimed by the Iran-supported Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.

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New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat raised eyebrows on Saturday when he took an apparent shot at Vancouver Canucks fans following his team's 4-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

When asked what it was like playing in front of Islanders supporters at UBS Arena as the club continues its bid for a playoff spot, Horvat responded, "It's been unbelievable. Its a lot better than Vancouver. Ill tell you that for free."

Bo Horvat on #Islesnation and playing at UBS Arena  pic.twitter.com/thCi6q7OxC  Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) April 9, 2023

Less than 48 hours after the clip went viral, Horvat attempted to walk back his comments.

I didnt mean any disrespect to the fans of Vancouver, my teammates or city of Vancouver at all, Horvat told reporters on Monday. It wasnt directed at them at all. [Islanders] fans were all excited, and I was excited to be in a playoff push and it was just kind of one of those things where my emotions got the best of me, and I was just really happy to be there.

Horvat played parts of nine seasons with the Canucks and served as their captain from the 2019-20 campaign up until his trade to the Islanders at the end of January. He then signed an eight-year, $68-million extension with New York on Feb. 5.

The 28-year-old only experienced two playoff runs with Vancouver, with one coming in his rookie year in 2015 and the other during the COVID-19 bubble setting in 2020. The chance to play in a normal postseason surely has him fired up.

Im just excited to be in the position right now, to be in a playoff push, to be right there," Horvat said. "I really enjoyed my time in Vancouver. Im not trying to disrespect them at all. Im sorry if it offended anybody, but Im really happy to be in this position right now. Im really happy to be here, and I just wanted to express that.

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Bo Horvat is trying to get back on Canucks fans' good side. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The split with the Canucks wasn't easy for Horvat, as he was in negotiations with Vancouver about a contract extension before those talks eventually stalled. The ninth-overall pick in the 2013 draft said shortly after his trade to New York that he thought he was "going to be a Canuck for life."

Horvat's Islanders tenure has been a bit of a mixed bag so far, with seven goals and eight assists through 28 games. That's a far cry from the 31 goals and 54 points he scored in just 49 games with the Canucks to start the 2022-23 campaign. He appears to be heating back up at the right time, though, as he has two points in each of his past two contests.

The Islanders currently occupy the second wild-card position in the Eastern Conference with 91 points. They're in a heated battle with the Florida Panthers (91 points) and Pittsburgh Penguins (90 points), with room for only two of those teams to make the playoffs.

New York will look take a stronger grip on a postseason berth when it faces the Washington Capitals on Monday.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would leave Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in place given an escalating security crisis, reversing a decision to fire the minister that triggered protests and raised alarm abroad.

He said the two had resolved their disagreement over Gallant's public call last month for a halt to the government's bitterly divisive judicial overhaul plan, which Gallant said had become a threat to Israel's security.

Last week Netanyahu announced he would delay the dismissal.

"I've decided to put our differences behind us," Netanyahu said at a Monday press conference. He said the two had worked closely together throughout the last two weeks.

An Italian tourist was killed and five people were wounded in a car ramming in Tel Aviv on Friday hours after two Israeli sisters and their mother were killed in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank.

The attacks, after a night of cross-border strikes in Gaza and Lebanon, added to heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions following Israeli police raids in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque this week.

The tensions threatened to widen when Israel responded to a barrage of rockets by hitting targets linked to the Islamist group Hamas in Gaza and southern Lebanon, but the fighting entered a lull on Friday.

A Sunday opinion poll, from Israel's Channel 13 News, showed Netanyahu's Likud party would lose more than a third of its seats if an election were held now, and Netanyahu would fail to gain a majority with his hard-right coalition partners.

"I'm not disturbed by the poll," Netanyahu told reporters.

The prime minister said relations with the United States, which appeared strained over the government's planned judicial overhaul, remained "stronger than ever" and the two countries enjoyed security and intelligence cooperation.

Netanyahu also addressed the issue of not yet being invited to an official visit at the White House in his latest stint as prime minister.

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"There will be a visit, don't worry," Netanyahu said.

His government paused legislation on the overhaul to allow for compromise discussions with opposition parties following weeks of nationwide protests.

(Reporting by Emily Rose; editing by James Mackenzie and Howard Goller)
Russia "continues to weaponize religion" to discredit Ukraine in the international arena and uses information operations about religion to achieve its military goals, the Institute for the Study of War wrote in its latest update.

According to the April 9 update, Moscow is conducting an information operation "falsely portraying Russia as a religiously tolerant state" and accusing Ukraine of "religious intolerance towards the Moscow Patriarchate."

"The Kremlin continues to use long-standing false narratives that the Ukrainian government is oppressing religious liberties as a moral justification for its refusal to negotiate with Ukraine, likely in the hopes of turning international public opinion against Ukraine," reads the report.

Ukraine has long accused the Russian-controlled Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) of serving as the Kremlin's propaganda arm on the religious front. The conflict between the Ukrainian government and the UOC-MP intensified during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

High-level Ukrainian priest of Moscow-linked church charged for his pro-Russian statements The head priest of the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cherkasy Oblast was charged with justifying Russian aggression against Ukraine, the State Security Service (SBU) reported on April 6. Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

The ISW also wrote that Russia could use the upcoming Orthodox Easter holiday on April 16 to delay a Ukrainian counteroffensive. It may call for a ceasefire "out of respect for the Orthodox religion" despite showing no such respect for the religion in Ukraine's occupied territories.

"No combatant is obligated to accept a ceasefire on religious or any other grounds, however. Should Russia offer and Ukraine refuse a ceasefire over Orthodox Easter, the Kremlin will not thereby have demonstrated any greater devotion to the defense of Christianity or Christian values nor shown that Kyiv rejects those values. Putin will merely have demonstrated, once again, his cynicism."

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According to the ISW, since the beginning of Moscow's all-out war on Feb. 24, 2022, Russian troops or occupation authorities have committed at least 76 acts of religious persecution in Ukraine.

Moscow-installed proxies in the occupied Ukrainian territories have reportedly closed, "nationalized," or forcibly converted at least 26 places of worship to the Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church, killed or captured 29 clergymen or religious leaders as well as looted, desecrated, or intentionally destroyed 13 places of worship.

"Russian religious persecutions are likely also part of an ongoing Russian cultural genocide and ethnic cleansing campaign aimed at extirpating the idea of an independent Ukrainian nationality or Ukrainian Orthodox Church," the ISW added.
MILAN (Reuters) - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's health condition is steadily improving as he is treated in hospital for a lung infection caused by chronic leukaemia, his doctors said on Monday.

"Over the past 48 hours there has been a progressive and steady improvement in the functionality of organs being monitored," doctors Alberto Zangrillo and Fabio Ciceri said in a bulletin.

The 86-year-old billionaire media tycoon was rushed to Milan's San Raffaele hospital on Wednesday and treated in its intensive care unit, triggering speculation that his life might be in danger and drawing a stream of family and friends to his bedside.

Doctors later revealed that Berlusconi had been suffering from Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (CML) "for some time" and that he had recently developed a pulmonary infection.

"Cytoreductive, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapies are producing the expected results, allowing us to express a cautious optimism," Zangrillo and Ciceri said.

Berlusconi remains in San Raffaele's intensive care unit, they added.

(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
MILAN (Reuters) - The Italian coastguard is carrying out operations to rescue two boats carrying a total of 1,200 people, it said on Monday, after a surge in the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa over the weekend.

One of the boats, which is carrying 400 people and is in the Ionian Sea off the coast of Calabria, southern Italy, had previously been sighted in Maltese waters.

Earlier on Monday, German NGO Sea-Watch International, which had located the fishing boat with one of its planes, said one merchant ship in the area had supplied fuel and water to the boat in distress, but Maltese authorities had ordered it not to conduct a rescue.

Early on Sunday, support service Alarm Phone had said the vessel, which departed from Tobruk in Libya, was adrift and taking on water.

The Maltese authorities did not respond to several requests for comment.

The other rescue operation by Italian coastguard on Monday was to help a fishing boat carrying 800 people that was located over 120 miles southeast of Siracusa, in Sicily.

It said in a statement this operation was complicated by the number of people on board.

A spokesperson for coastguard said it would take hours to complete the two ongoing operations because of difficult conditions, including the long distance form the coast.

Before these two operations, the Italian coastguard had already rescued around 2,000 migrants since Friday, it said.

(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; editing by Barbara Lewis)
ISLAMABAD, April 10 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and nine others injured in a blast near a police vehicle on Monday afternoon in Quetta, the provincial capital of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, police and health officials said.

Local police told media that the blast hit a police vehicle which was on a routine patrol at the Meezan Chowk area of the Qandahari Bazaar of Quetta.

Rescue teams, police and security forces rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and the injured to a hospital.

Waseem Baig, the media coordinator of the health department of Balochistan, told Xinhua that four bodies and nine wounded were brought to the hospital.

Baig feared that the death toll might further rise as two of the injured were in critical condition.

According to the police, a bomb planted in a motorbike was detonated with a remote-controlled device.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. 
[Source]

K-pop girl group IVE released their debut studio album, I've IVE, led by the title track I AM, on Monday.

The new album features 11 songs in total, including the pre-release track Kitsch from last month.

The B-sides Blue Blood and NOT YOUR GIRL were notably first performed in February during IVEs The Prom Queens fan concert.

Member Ahn Yu-jin penned the lyrics for Heroine, while member Jang Won-young wrote Mine and Shine with Me. Meanwhile, rappers Gaeul and Rei are credited with verses for Kitsch, Hypnosis, NOT YOUR GIRL and Next Page. Fellow Starship labelmate Exy of girl group WJSN co-wrote the side track Lips.

More from NextShark: 'Squid Game' is officially Netflix's most-watched series launch of all time

IVE also released a music video for "I AM" on Monday.

IVEs debut studio album is a follow-up to last years single album After Like, which samples Gloria Gaynors legendary 1978 hit I Will Survive.

"I've IVE" will be the girl group's first album promoted and distributed in partnership with American label Columbia Records.

More from NextShark: YG Entertainment shuts down claims BLACKPINK moving to subsidiary label

IVE will embark on their upcoming Asia tour later this year, stopping in Taipei, Manila and Bangkok, among other cities.

More from NextShark: Margaret Cho joins cast of romantic dark comedy 'Evilou'

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

Former IZ*ONE member Lee Chae-yeon debuts as a soloist with HUSH RUSH
Jackson residents will remain without a garbage collection service after the city council failed to reach agreement Monday in a contentious meeting that ended abruptly with an announcement that Richard's Disposal Inc. is suing the city.

The special city council meeting ended eight minutes after it was convened Monday as Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba pulled from the agenda a measure for the council to reconsider awarding Richards Disposal Inc. a six-year garbage collection contract.

The meeting, that some longtime observers of the Jackson City Council said was the most contentious in decades, came as the city had endured 10 straight days without curbside garbage collection as opposing sides have continued to spar over the contract.

Lumumba asked the council to entertain an emergency discussion pertaining to his decision to pull the item, but Ward 6 councilman Aaron Banks raised a point of order, saying no such emergency discussion was included on the agenda.

This is not an effort to create any more conflict or strife, Lumumba insisted, asking the council to trust that they would want to hear his explanation. He said that the decision to pull the item was based on a recommendation of city attorneys.

City Attorney Catoria P. Martin then took to the lectern in an attempt to explain the decision.

637398463 Richard s Lawsuit Complaint by USA TODAY Network on Scribd

Richards Disposal has made the determination that they are filing suit against the City of Jackson," Martin said. "They are appealing this decision of the city council and so therefore that is the reason why I'm recommending to the administration and to the council, that we pull that item.

What decision? Ward 1 Councilman and President Ashby Foote asked rhetorically, given that the motion to award the contract to Richard's failed on April 1, making the vote technically a non-action.

During an April 1 meeting, Foote, Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks and Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley opposed the contract. Ward 2 Councilwoman Angelique Lee, Ward 4 Councilman Brian Grizzell and Ward 7 Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay supported it, while Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes abstained. The contract needed four affirmative votes to be adopted.

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Before Martin could further explain why the mayor was pulling the contract, Foote abruptly gaveled out the meeting.

OK, she has pulled Item 1, meeting is adjourned, Foote said. As he exited the chamber many in the standing-room-only crowd there to support Richards erupted in jeers and shouts.

The council meeting is over, now I will speak to the residents and members of the press, Lumumba said as council members Lee, Stokes, Grizzell and Lindsay remained to listen.

Lumumba said in light of Richards litigation, filed in Hinds County Circuit Court, Right before we came to order, he would attempt to negotiate another shorter-term emergency contract with the firm to immediately resume garbage collection.

Lumumba said in an attempt to appease council members who have filed a separate lawsuit in Hinds County Chancery Court to bypass the mayors office and negotiate a waste collection contract independently, he would include language in the emergency contract voiding his proposed emergency contract terms if and when the Chancery Court rules in favor of the council.

Lumumba said he hopes to have his proposed emergency contract ready for council action as early as Wednesday, April 12.

Alvin Richard Jr., president and CEO of Richards Disposal Inc., was among those attending Mondays meeting.

I dont understand why we have been treated the way we have been treated, Richard said, defending his employees as having proven they can do a good job. He said all Jackson employees remain on the payroll and are ready to go back to work. Asked whether his firm might consider a shorter-term emergency contract even while suing the city, Richard said, Well consider it.

The council did take one vote Monday, on a late-added agenda item to dismiss the councils lawsuit should a settlement be reached prior to the April 17 hearing. The item failed on a 4-3 vote.

A full house gathers in the Jackson City Council Chambers for a special meeting Monday on garbage collection contract.

This was thought about at great length over the weekend, Lindsay said. She expressed hope there could be some sort of settlement among us before this has to go to court.

Noting that Lumumba had reached out to all three vendors participating in last years RFP and that only Richards had agreed to honoring the terms, Lee added, We feel that the mayor has done his job.

The motion failed along similar lines to the rejection of Richards contract with Foote, Stokes, Hartley and Banks opposed. Lee, Lindsay and Grizzell voted in favor.

The council was told thus far $200,228 had been spent on attorney fees in that case and that only $400 currently remains in the budget for such fees.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has notified the city it is in violation of the statewide garbage collection law for cities and could face a fine of up to $25,000 per day, according to the mayors office which sent the following statement to the media Monday in regards to the letter:

"The City of Jackson received a letter from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality with a notice of violation in regard to trash collection in the city. In that letter, MDEQ has requested that we revise our current Solid Waste Collection Action Plan.

We knew that our plan for garbage drop-off was an imperfect solution. We also knew that it was a temporary solution. City leaders already have a meeting in place with MDEQ set for Wednesday. It is our hope the City Council will vote to resume curbside garbage pickup before that meeting.

"We know that our residents are suffering and we are working diligently to resolve this ongoing dispute, Lumumba stated.

After Mondays meeting adjourned approximately 60 members of the public remained, asking Lumumba and other city officials dozens of questions regarding their trash pickup.

The dialogue included a brief shouting match between Stokes, Lumumba and Jackson Advocate newspaper contributing editor Earnest McBride who asked why three black Democrats (Stokes, Hartley and Banks) were siding with the councils white Republican (Foote) in opposing Richards contract.

Stokes, the only councilman opposed to the contract who remained in the chamber to listen to questions, objected to the question and blamed Richards for parking their waste trucks early during the contract at Hawkins Field. He said the bad smell and water runoff from those trucks had adversely affected residents adjacent to the airport in his ward.

Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba addresses residents and media after Monday's contentious city council meeting that ended abruptly with no resolution to the city's garbage crisis and a threat of a lawsuit.

There is no way Richards would have put those trucks in a white neighborhood, Stokes said.

Richards supporters in the audience werent buying the argument, though. Lumumba said that although the trucks were moved from the airport under a Federal Aviation Administration request, the trucks were empty when parked there. He said there had been no complaint from MDEQ regarding the location of the trucks and that no harm to adjoining neighborhoods had been proven.

Another resident, Diane Nelson, complained that her private dumpster at her business was being overloaded with other peoples trash, now requiring daily pickup. She said that has increased her costs by $800 weekly. Lumumba said the city would work toward giving a credit to residents on their waste collection bills, but that it would be illegal for the city to assume the increased costs of a private dumpster. He suggested better fencing and no trespassing signs might be the best deterrent to keep people from illegally using private dumpsters.

As of late Monday, time had not yet been scheduled for an emergency council meeting Lumumba has promised to call for Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS city council considers Ricahard's contract one more time
Jamie Foxx steps out into London for the Creed III European premiere. (Photo by Joe Maher/Getty Images)

Jamie Foxx's Netflix project Back in Action has scrapped a huge stunt after a dormant bomb was discovered on location.

Billed as an action-comedy, this one also boasts Cameron Diaz, Glenn Close, Kyle Chandler and Andrew Scott in the cast - marking the Charlie's Angels star's first cinematic release since 2014's Annie remake.

A source told The Sun: "The production expected the scene to go off with a bang, but nobody could have predicted it would all be derailed by a bomb."

Read more: Jamie Foxx and the 'Soul' cast talk barrier-breaking film's healing power

The stunt in question had been pencilled in for East London's Royal Docks last month, with a 24-metre barrier erected where the explosion would go off.

During the construction of the set, though, staff encountered what they believed to be an unexploded device from World War II in the water.

Netflix's Back in Action will be the first Cameron Diaz movie since 2014. (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)

"Safety was the main priority, so after speaking with the police and relevant authorities the whole thing was cancelled," revealed the source.

"Naturally, that part of the river is never normally disturbed, so it's been left as it is."

Following the blast's cancellation, Back in Action was forced to create it infront of a green screen at Longcross Studios instead, eating up a large chunk of its budget.

Read more: Jamie Foxx on playing Black heroes in 'Project Power' and 'Spawn': 'It's so necessary'

Diaz, who originally found fame after appearing in The Mask opposite Jim Carrey, suggested she wasn't "looking to" make any more movies after welcoming daughter Raddix in 2019.

"I'm never going to say never about anything in life, I'm just not that person. So will I ever make a movie again? I'm not looking to, but will I? I don't know. I have no idea. Maybe. Never say never," she said.

Watch here: Cameron Diaz's film Back in Action has paused production after attempted theft
By Sakura Murakami

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan stressed on Monday the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait during a meeting of senior Japanese and Chinese officials after Beijing held three days of war games around the island.

The talks, focusing on concerns over disputed waters in the East China Sea, came as China was ending simulated strikes in reaction to a visit by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen to the United States, where she met House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Tokyo also urged Beijing to stop its coastguard ships entering Japanese waters, adding that it was deeply concerned about Beijing's military activity near Japan and its coordination with Russia.

"We conveyed our deep concerns over the situation in the East and South China seas, and reiterated the importance of having peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," a Japanese foreign ministry statement said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also told reporters: "The importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only important for the security of Japan, but also for the stability of the international community as a whole,"

At Monday's talks, Chinese officials criticised Japan's recent "negative moves" on the issues of the East and South China Seas, the Diaoyu (Senkaku) islands, and the Taiwan Strait, said the foreign ministry in Beijing.

Coastguard ships of both nations regularly confront each other around the islands known in Japan as the Senkaku and in China as the Diaoyu. They are controlled by Japan.

Beijing also demanded on Monday that Tokyo stop "all words and deeds" that violate China's territorial sovereignty, undermine its maritime rights and interests, and refrain from meddling in the Taiwan issue, the Chinese ministry said.

Beijing, which considers Taiwan a part of China, regards meetings between senior U.S. and Taiwanese officials as interference in its internal affairs and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.

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Japan also said it had protested against the construction of two new structures in the East China Sea discovered last year, where China has constructed more than a dozen gas explorations platforms west of an equidistant line between the two countries.

The area has no official border.

Last month, China and Japan set up a military hotline to help defuse any incidents in the waters.

(Reporting by Sakura Murakami and Beijing Newsroom; writing by Tim Kelly; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Gareth Jones)
By Kantaro Komiya and Satoshi Sugiyama

TOKYO (Reuters) -OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman said on Monday he is considering opening an office and expanding services in Japan after a meeting with Japan's prime minister.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Altman exchanged views on the technological progress and merits of AI as well as its risks including privacy and copyright infringement, chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said.

Japan will evaluate the possibility of introducing artificial intelligence-powered technology such as OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot, as it examines the benefits and risks, Matsuno added.

ChatGPT - developed by Microsoft Corp backed OpenAI - has raised privacy concerns, prompting Italy to temporarily ban the chatbot.

"We hope to ... build something great for Japanese people, make the models better for Japanese language and Japanese culture," Altman told reporters after the meeting with Kishida. His visit to Japan is the first international trip since the launch of ChatGPT.

At a separate meeting at Japan's ruling party headquarters, the chief executive expressed hope that Japan, as a geopolitical power, would play a role in adopting AI and rule-making.

Matsuno told reporters in a briefing Japan would consider government adoption of artificial intelligence technology such as OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot if privacy and cybersecurity concerns were resolved.

Following Italy's restriction of ChatGPT, which inspired other European countries to study such measures, OpenAI last week presented measures to remedy privacy breach concerns to the Italian regulator.

Japan will continue evaluating possibilities of introducing AI to reduce government workers' workload after assessing how to respond to concerns such as data breaches, Matsuno said.

Taro Kono, cabinet minister in charge of Japan's digital transformation, said on Friday he was hopeful that AI technologies would "greatly contribute" to the government's workstyle reforms, although saying it would be difficult to introduce ChatGPT at public offices soon due to problems such as machine-generated falsehoods.

Kono said he wants the Group of Seven Digital Ministers' meeting, slated for April 29-30 in Japan, to discuss AI technologies including ChatGPT and issue a "united message of G7".

(Reporting by Kantaro Komiya and Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell and Jacqueline Wong)
By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) - China ended three days of military drills around Taiwan on Monday saying they had tested integrated military capabilities under actual combat conditions, having practised precision strikes and blockading the island that Beijing views as its own.

Taiwan responded to Beijing's announcement by saying it would "never relax" its efforts to strengthen combat readiness and would closely monitor China's missile forces and movements of the Shandong aircraft carrier.

Beijing began the drills on Saturday after Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring the democratically governed island under Beijing's control. Taiwan's government strongly disputes China's claims and has denounced the drills.

The Chinese military said it had "successfully completed" the exercises and "comprehensively tested" the capabilities of multiple units under actual combat conditions.

"The troops in the theatre are ready to fight all the time and can fight at any time, resolutely crushing any form of Taiwan independence separatism and foreign interference," the Eastern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army said in a statement.

Chinese state television said earlier on Monday that aircraft, including nuclear-capable H-6 bombers armed with live missiles, and warships staged drills to "form a multi-directional island-encompassing blockade situation".

The Eastern Theatre Command said the Shandong had also taken part in combat patrols, and it showed fighters taking off from the aircraft carrier's deck.

Taiwan has tracked the Shandong since last week in the Pacific Ocean.

Taiwan's defence ministry said that as of 1000 GMT on Monday it had spotted 12 Chinese ships and 91 military aircraft around the island, including carrier-based J-15 fighters flown from the Shandong.

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JAPANESE CONCERN

The Shandong conducted air operations in waters close to Japan's Okinawan islands on Sunday, Japan's defence ministry said on Monday.

Jet fighters and helicopters took off and landed on the carrier 120 times from Friday to Sunday, with the carrier, three other warships and a support vessel coming within 230 kilometres (143 miles) of Japan's Miyako island, the defence ministry said.

Japan has been following China's military drills around Taiwan "with great interest", a top government spokesperson said on Monday.

Japan has long worried about China's military activities in the area given how close southern Japanese islands are to Taiwan.

The Japanese island of Okinawa hosts a major U.S. air force base, and last August when China staged war games to protest the visit of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei, Chinese missiles landed within Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The European Union also expressed concern on Monday, saying Taiwan's status should not be changed by force as any escalation, accident or use of force there would have huge global implications.

The U.S. said it is watching China's drills closely and its exercises undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. "Our channels of communication with China remain open and we have consistently urged restraint," a senior administration official said on Monday.

By contrast, Russia, which has declared a "no limits" partnership with China, said on Monday that Beijing had every right to respond to repeated "provocations" against it and carry out military exercises around Taiwan.

GRAPHIC: Chinese military aircraft entering Taiwan's air defence identification zone https://www.reuters.com/graphics/CHINA-TAIWAN/akveqnajovr/chart.png

'LOCK ON THE TARGET'

China's military simulated precision strikes against Taiwan in the second day of drills around the island on Sunday.

The Eastern Theatre Command on Monday released a short video on its WeChat account showing an H-6 bomber flying in what it said was the skies north of Taiwan.

"The missiles are in good condition," an unidentified voice says, as the video shows images from the cockpit.

"Start the fire control radar, lock on the target," another voice says, showing images of a missile under the aircraft's wing.

It then shows a pilot readying the fire control button for what it describes as a simulated attack, and then pressing the button, though it did not show any missiles being fired.

Taiwan's military has repeatedly said it will respond calmly to China's drills and not provoke conflict.

The defence ministry separately released pictures on Monday of mobile launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship missiles at an undisclosed location, as well as missile-armed fast attack boats at sea.

Reuters reporters at the Cape Maobitou park in Pingtung county on Taiwan's southern tip saw Hsiung Feng launchers deployed near a scenic spot on Monday, as soldiers stood guard and tourists watched and posed for pictures.

Life in Taiwan has continued normally with no signs of panic or disruption, and civilian flights operating as usual.

"Most normal people probably aren't afraid, with the main reason being that everyone thinks that China will certainly not start a war," said retiree and former soldier Tang Pao-hsiung, 78.

Taiwan's stock market brushed off the tension, with the benchmark index closing up 0.3% on Monday.

However, China's blue-chip CSI300 Index fell 0.5%, while the Shanghai Composite Index dipped 0.4% as the drills curbed investors' risk appetite.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Fabian Hamacher, Ann Wang and Ebrahim Harris in Pingtung, Taiwan, Liz Lee in Beijing, Jan Strupczewski in Brussels and Tim Kelly and Satoshi Sugiyama in Tokyo; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Jamie Freed, Gerry Doyle, Toby Chopra, Gareth Jones and Josie Kao)
(Bloomberg) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas ruling Liberal Democratic Party won several closely watched local races in nationwide elections that saw a record number of women take seats.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Among the successful LDP candidates, incumbent Naomichi Suzuki retained the governorship of the northernmost main island of Hokkaido in the Sunday elections. Kiichiro Sato was successful in the southwestern prefecture of Oita, where opposition parties have often been strong, Kyodo News reported.

The results came after Kishidas surprise visit to Ukraine in March and a reconciliation with South Korea helped stem a slide in his popularity. Speculation has been simmering that recent survey results may prompt him to call a general election after hosting the Group of Seven summit in his hometown of Hiroshima in May.

The party did suffer some losses, with the opposition Japan Innovation Party retaining the governorship of the major western prefecture of Osaka as well as winning the mayoral election in Osaka city, despite local opposition to plans for a casino. The party also won in the neighboring Nara prefecture.

A poll carried out by the Asahi newspaper April 8-9 found Kishidas support had slipped slightly to 38%, while 45% of respondents said they didnt support him.

Sundays elections saw a record 14% of seats taken by women at various levels of local government, up on 10.4% four years ago, Kyodo said. The percentages varied widely by party, with only 5.9% of those winning under the LDP banner being female, while 27% of successful candidates from the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party were women.

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By comparison, a study published by the Fawcett Society and Democracy Club earlier this month found 36% of local councilors in the UK were women.

One of the biggest pushes from Kishida in recent weeks to win over voters has been a raft of new proposals to incentivize people to have children. The prime minister has warned the aging country had only a few years to put the brakes on a demographic slide that threatens the economy.

But the poll by the Asahi showed that 61% of respondents didnt have high expectations for the governments new policies.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Finding a job that pays enough for you and your family to live off of without a long list of job requirements can be difficult. When you factor in the costs of housing, utilities, local grocery prices and other necessities, jobs that pay a low wage cannot cover basic living expenses.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology calculated the living wage by county by evaluating typical expenses to find how much an individual must make hourly to support themselves, or multiple children or dependents in a full-time job.

MIT records living wages for individuals, couples and families that vary based on the number of dependents, number of children and the number of adults who are working. The living wages have also increased compared to Januarys calculations, according to previous reporting in The Bellingham Herald:

 Whatcom Countys living wage for an individual with no dependents is $17.47 per hour, working full time.

 For a household with two adults, no children, and only one individual working, a living wage in Whatcom County is $27.62 per hour.

 For a household with two adults, no children and both adults working, the living wage is $13.81 per hour.

 For a household with two adults, one child, and only one adult working, the living wage is $34.53 per hour. If this household had two children the living wage would be $39.51 an hour.

 For a household with two adults and two children and both adults working, the living wage is $25.98 per hour. If the family had three children, both individuals would need to make $32.10 per hour.

As Washington states minimum wage is $15.74 per hour, this amount is not considered a living wage in Whatcom County unless you have multiple adults working in a household with no dependents.

The Bellingham Herald has searched the job website Indeed and local Craiglist listings to find positions with minimal requirements that are available as of Wednesday, April 5, that advertise wages at or above living wages:

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Server at Red Robin

 Bellingham.

 Full-time or part-time.

 $36.10-$44 per hour base wage with tips, benefits also available.

 Must be at least 17 years old.

House cleaner at Cascade Home Cleaning

 Bellingham.

 Full-time or part-time.

 $20-$30 per hour.

 Requirements: must be at least 18 years old, have a valid drivers license and car, be able to be on your feet all day, speak English, have U.S. work authorization and two years of professional residential home cleaning is preferred.

Mail carrier for U.S, Postal Service

 Lynden.

 Full-time or part-time.

 $19 - $33 per hour with benefits available.

 No requirements listed.

Receptionist at Kulshan Veterinary Hospital

 Lynden.

 Full-time or part-time.

 $19-$23.50 per hour with benefits.

 No requirements or experience listed.

Server at Boomers Drive-In

 Bellingham.

 Full-time.

 $25 per hour.

 Requirements: must be available on weekends.

Team member at Panda Express

 Bellingham.

 Part-time and full-time.

 $16.50-$25.20 per hour with benefits.

 Requirements: work authorization and high school diploma or equivalent.

For those looking for a job, the Port of Bellingham is also hosting its 2nd annual marine trade industry job fair and try-a-trade day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 4. Employers such as Westwind Marine, Trident Seafoods, Dakota Creek Industries, Inc. and Bellingham Technical College will be at the event. The event is at Fishermans Pavilion at 2599 S. Harbor Loop Drive in Bellingham.
Joe Biden boarded Air Force One with his sister Valerie and his son Hunter (left) for their flight to Belfast

US President Joe Biden said his priority was to "keep the peace" in Northern Ireland as he set off on Air Force One for a visit to Belfast.

He will arrive in the city tonight to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace agreement.

The 1998 deal brought an end to the Troubles - the decades-long violent conflict in Northern Ireland in which thousands of people were killed.

A huge security operation is already in place in Belfast for Mr Biden's visit.

While he has praised what politicians did to secure peace in 1998, his visit is overshadowed by the fact that Northern Ireland's power-sharing government is not functioning.

It collapsed last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - one of the biggest parties at Stormont - pulled out as part of a protest against post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.

Ahead of his arrival, Mr Biden said: "I look forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast, underscoring the US commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity."

His visit to Belfast will be the first leg of a four-day stay in Ireland, during which he will discuss his Irish roots and meet Irish relatives.

Read more about Biden's visit

Mr Biden's trip comes two weeks after MI5 said the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland had increased due to a rise in activity by dissident republicans.

During an illegal parade by dissident republicans in Londonderry on Monday petrol bombs were thrown at a police vehicle but the violence was confined to one area and ended a short time later.

On Tuesday, police found four suspected pipe bombs inside the grounds of the City Cemetery in Derry. They believe they were to be used in a planned attack on officers after Monday's parade.

The president's spokesman said Mr Biden was "more than comfortable making this trip" despite the terrorism threat.

On Monday the 80-year-old dropped another hint that he would seek re-election in 2024, saying he planned to run again but was "not prepared to announce it yet".

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The president left Washington DC on Air Force One at about 10:00 EDT (15:00 BST) and will be met by PM Rishi Sunak when he lands at Belfast International Airport later.

Police have warned of traffic delays around the airport as officers facilitate the presidential motorcade.

Mr Biden will arrive as strong winds and heavy rain are sweeping across Northern Ireland, with a weather warning having been issued by forecasters.

Hundreds of extra police officers have been drafted into Belfast ahead of Joe Biden's arrival

He is expected to stay at a Belfast city centre hotel and, while his visit to Northern Ireland is much shorter than originally expected, Downing Street has dismissed suggestions it will be a "low-key" event.

The main event will be a speech at the new Ulster University campus in Belfast.

It is understood that he will use that to underscore the willingness of the US to help to preserve what he sees as the peace and prosperity gained since the Good Friday Agreement.

The president is also expected to talk about how the US administration can support Northern Ireland's economy.

And he is expected to meet the leaders of Stormont's five main political parties at some point during his brief time in the city.

There has been a huge police presence in the centre of Belfast since Monday afternoon and that will continue all through Tuesday and into Wednesday.

On Bedford Street police officers are patrolling at barricades close to the Grand Central Hotel but pedestrians can pass through and businesses in the area are operating as usual.

Analysis box by Enda McClafferty, NI political editor

There has been some tension behind the scenes about the details of this visit.

Things have been strained between Downing Street and the White House in terms of what the president will do in Northern Ireland and the fact that he will not go to Stormont.

Rishi Sunak was keen to have his moment - this is, after all, a US presidential visit to the UK on his watch.

He will greet the president at the bottom of the steps of Air Force One tonight and there's a half-hour set aside for a one-to-one meeting on Wednesday - but not much more beyond that.

The PM will be not be at Ulster University with other politicians during the president's only public engagement in Belfast.

The fact that he will be doing other things elsewhere in Northern Ireland at the time is telling considering how important this visit is.

Michelle O'Neill, the vice-president of Sinn Fein, the largest party at Stormont, said Mr Biden's visit would be a special moment that "cements our close bonds of friendship".

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said Mr Biden's visit could have a positive effect on restoring power-sharing at Stormont, but warned American influence on Northern Ireland should be handled with care.

"There's a difference between influencing and pressurising - one tends to be positive and the other can be negative," said Mr Blair.

"One thing I learned about the unionists is if you try to pressurise them to do something they are fundamentally in disagreement with it's usually futile pressure."

Newry man John Owen Finegan - a fourth cousin of Joe Biden - is hoping to meet him this week

Former Irish ambassador to the US Daniel Mulhall said Mr Biden would have preferred to have spoken to politicians at a functioning Stormont assembly, but said the message of the president's visit to Northern Ireland was essentially that America is here to help."

While Mr Sunak will not meet any of Northern Ireland's political leaders while he is in Belfast, Downing Street said this did not mean he had given up on getting the DUP back into power-sharing.

Mr Biden will leave Belfast on Wednesday afternoon to travel to the Republic of Ireland for three days of events in counties Louth and Mayo - where he has relatives - as well as Dublin.

He regularly speaks of his Irish heritage and had promised to visit the country during his presidency.

A US genealogist who researched his lineage had estimated he is "roughly five-eighths" Irish.

Among his great-grandparents was Edward Blewitt, an engineer and brickmaker who left the west coast town of Ballina in County Mayo in 1850.

He settled in Scranton in Pennsylvania as the devastating Irish potato famine was causing widespread starvation.

President Biden's maternal great-great-grandfather Owen Finnegan departed Carlingford in County Louth in the late 1840s to travel to America.

Joe Biden will visit the locations marked on this map during his four days in Ireland

Year '98 branding header

Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which heralded the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

They look at what the agreement actually said and hear from some of the people who helped get the deal across the line.

Listen to all episodes of Year '98: The Making of the Good Friday Agreement on BBC Sounds.
This article originally appeared on Velo News

ROUBAIX, France (VN) -- John Degenkolb was almost inconsolable at the finish line of Paris-Roubaix after a heavy crash on the Carrefour de l'Arbre saw him lose touch with the group of favorites.

For the first time in years, Degenkolb was mixing it at the front of a major classic as he went toe-to-toe with Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and others. It all came to an abrupt end when he was squeezed out by Van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen before he went tumbling into a spectator.

"I've a lot of pain in my left shoulder but I think it's not easy to describe what a disappointment it is, Degenkolb said, his voice still shaking slightly as he spoke. It's been a long time that I was up there in a final like this and I think I rode a really good race and it's really disappointing to get the chance of a good result taking away like that.

Degenkolb would never regain contact with any of the other members of the lead group and finished on his own in seventh place some 2:35 behind Van der Poel, his best performance since his 2015, but perhaps it could have been more. He also injured his shoulder in the fall, though its not clear how serious it is.

His emotions at the finish were clear as he collapsed on the ground in tears. Both Van der Poel and Philipsen took a moment to try and console him, but it's not clear that he even noticed their presence.

"For sure, I was not the strongest in that group, but Roubaix is Roubaix, and anything can happen when you're in that group and so close to the final, he said.

Also read:

Heres what happened:

With just over 16km to go on the Carrefour de l'Arbre, Degenkolb was riding in second wheel in what had gone from being an 11-rider group to containing just seven. Philipsen was pulling on the front and Degenkolb swung over to the right side of the road to use the gutter.

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Van der Poel, who had been in third wheel, decided shortly after to move through the gap between Philipsen and Degenkolb, only for the former to swing to his right. Philipsen moved back out, but not before Degenkolb clipped a spectator and went tumbling along the cobbles.

"It's hard to remember, I know that I was on the right side and then suddenly, first Philipsen moved to the right, and I was already on the right in the ditch, and then also Mathieu was trying to squeeze through, and pushed me basically into the spectators on the side of the road. There was no more room for me, and I crashed. That's all I can say," he said.

John Degenkolb crashes on the Carrefour de lArbre. (Photo: Getty Images)

Pushed further on whether any blame could be apportioned to one or both of the Alpecin-Deceuninck riders, Degenkolb refused to cast any stones in their direction.

"I don't want to say something now because I haven't seen the images. It's hard to remember," he said.

While there was plenty of disappointment for Degenkolb to come to terms with, there were some better moments to remember.

In addition to one of his best performances in years, Degenkolb also got to lead the group of favorites across sector 17 from Hornaing to Wandignies, a sector that was named after him in honor of his 2015 win.

"I'm extremely disappointed with the outcome of the race but I think being in first position with such a selective group on my own pave that meant so much to me today. It was an outstanding moment that I will remember for the rest of my life," he said.

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.
TEHRAN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday that Iran and Saudi Arabia will exchange ambassadors after the reopening of their diplomatic missions, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported.

In a press conference, Nasser Kanaani said the Saudi team arrived in Iran on Saturday to lay the groundwork for the reopening of the kingdom's embassy in Tehran and consulate general in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

He added that the Iranian delegation will soon travel to Saudi Arabia for the same purpose ahead of the scheduled reopening of Iran's embassy in Riyadh and its consulate general and representative office to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah.

Following the signing of a joint statement by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Beijing on Thursday, the two countries have practically resumed official diplomatic relations, Kanaani said.

Praising China for its "goodwill and positive approach" and "constructive role" in the normalization of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Kanaani said Beijing had helped complete the diplomatic process that started in Baghdad and Muscat, and bring about a "constructive transformation" in relations between Tehran and Riyadh.

During their meeting in Beijing on Thursday, the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers agreed to lay the groundwork for the exchange of economic delegations from public and private sectors, and hold meetings between their joint economic commissions, according to Kanaani.

Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a deal in March to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions in the two countries within two months.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 in response to the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric. 
Young Thug

After almost a year since his initial arrest and myriad court appearances, Young Thug still faces significant roadblocks in his journey to freedom.

Fulton County Chief Judge Ural Glanville, who oversees the YSL RICO trial, has encountered another complication, which has led to yet another delay in the case against the rapper born Jeffrey Lamar Williams.

Despite the trials original start date in January, jury selection remains in motion with few signs of stopping anytime soon.

A series of bizarre blunders with the jury selection has severely stifled the progress of this case: A potential candidate skipped court and decided to go to the Dominican Republic, which resulted in the mild punishment of having to write a research paper; a second juror received a warning after texting a reporter about the selection process, and, most recently, another juror was sentenced to three days in jail for recording court affairs on her cell phone.

Despite everything that has repeatedly stalled this trial, Glanville has found yet another dilemma that has brought the trial to a screeching halt.

One of Young Thugs co-defendants is under the impression that he received legal counsel from former President Donald Trump.

According to a report from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jaden Myrick proposed representing himself in the pending trial. However, Glanville swiftly began to question the mental state of the 22-year-old.

In addition to Myricks questionable notions, he said he believes he has been studying law and was also in contact with President Joe Biden and Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia.

Myrick is serving a life sentence for killing Christian Broder in July 2018.

Glanville is opposed to sanctioning Myricks request for self-representation until he undergoes a mental evaluation. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported that Glanville ordered the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to conduct one within 48 hours on Tuesday.
FBI agents discovered the texts last month after searching the residences and seizing the phones of several Antioch officers amid a probe into allegations of fraud, bribery, drug distribution and civil rights breaches.

The names of 17 California-based police officers suspected of using racist epithets, jokes and memes in text conversations are now public information.

According to the East Bay Times, Contra Costa County Judge Clare Maier issued a warning before disclosing the names, saying the communications foul nature could incite further hate or racial animus.

However, she contended that the California evidence code should not be used to protect information about the texts, including the Antioch police officers identities. Maier said the inflammatory communications started in September 2019 and continued until January 2022, when FBI agents seized the officers phones and other items.

The names of 17 Antioch, California police officers are now public as part of an investigation that led to text messages they allegedly sent containing racist jokes, memes and insults. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/ABC7 News Bay Area)

Ive had my eye on Antioch for a long time, civil rights attorney Adante Pointer said Friday, according to the Times. This is proof-positive what people who have been watching Antioch already knew  that it is full of officers who do not deserve to wear the badge.

The roster of embattled officers includes Rick Hoffman, the head of the Antioch Police Association. Hoffman  who has frequently criticized Antioch mayor and police reform advocate Lamar Thorpe  is one of at least eight Antioch officers on leave because of the texts. Six other officers whose alleged criminal activity is already being looked at by the FBI  Devon Wenger, Eric Rombough, Andrea Rodriguez, Calvin Prieto, Morteza Amiri and Tim Manly, who has resigned  are also listed.

While Maier did not specify what each officer sent out, she described the messages as deeply disturbing and directed toward members of the Black and Hispanic community.

Investigators accused Rombough, Manly and fellow officers Jonathan Adams, Scott Duggar, Joshua Evans, Robert Gerber, Brock Marcotte and Thomas Smith of mentioning four alleged Oakland-based ENT gang members in texts sent over a 10-day period in March 2021, when Antioch police were eavesdropping on the suspects phones.

Story continues

Contra Costa County courts will determine whether or not the messages are sufficient grounds for dropping any charges lodged against people the officers were investigating. That includes anyone the officers mentioned explicitly in the texts and any Black or Latino person investigated or detained, since they might claim they faced discrimination because of their race.

Its no wonder why the public has lost faith in law enforcement, said Pointer, the Times reported, and why we see Black and Brown people overrepresented in the criminal justice system when the people administering it are racist.

The evidence will likely reappear in other criminal trials involving those particular police officers and the other lawmen Maier mentioned: Aaron Hughes, Brayton Milner, John Ramirez and Kyle Smith.

The FBI is investigating allegations of fraud, bribery, drug distribution and breaches of civil rights linked to using force within the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments. The agency discovered the officers texts last month after executing search warrants at the residences of several officers, arriving at the police station to confiscate phones and other personal belongings.

Michael Rains, the attorney representing Antioch police officers, said he hadnt received any text messages and is unaware of their alleged content.

Racial conflict has been simmering for years in the northern California city of about 100,000 people as gentrification in the western Bay Area uprooted San Francisco, Oakland and Richmond residents and moved them into the deep East Bay.

Antioch had a 65 percent white population in 2000. According to census data, the Black population has expanded from 10 to 20 percent during the past two decades, notes the Times, while white inhabitants account for 39 percent, and Latinos or Hispanics make up 34.5 percent of the citys residents.

According to Mayor Thorpe, Antiochs police department would absolutely face staffing challenges because of the number of officers now on leave. But if thats what theyre doing (making racist and homophobic texts), he said, I dont want them here.

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The post Judge releases names of 17 California police officers accused of sending racist texts, memes appeared first on TheGrio.
NEW YORK (AP)  A federal judge wants to know if ex-President Donald Trump plans to attend a New York trial this month resulting from a columnists claims that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.

Judge Lewis A. Kaplan issued an order Monday directing parties in the case to notify him by April 20 whether they will be present throughout the trial, scheduled to start April 25 in Manhattan federal court. And later in the day, he rejected a request that names of anonymous jurors be released to lawyers, saying Trump's latest public statements about a criminal case against him in state court show jurors might be harassed if their identities got out.

A writer, E. Jean Carroll, sued Trump in November, saying he raped her in early 1996 after a chance meeting at the Bergdorf Goodman department store. He has repeatedly and emphatically denied it in language sure to be highlighted for a jury that will decide whether the rape occurred and if Trump defamed Carroll with his comments.

The rape claims were made immediately after a temporary state law took effect allowing adult rape victims to sue their abusers, even if attacks happened decades ago.

Trump's lawyers did not respond Monday to requests for comment on Kaplan's order.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan, no relation to the judge, said Carroll intends to be present for the entire trial.

In his order, the judge asked each party to notify him in writing whether he or she intends to attend the entire trial. If not, he asked to be told what dates and times each individual will be absent.

The judge said the order was not to be construed to suggest whether either side is obliged to be present throughout the trial or what legal consequences could result from a decision not to be present the entire time.

The judge was likely interested in learning exactly when Trump might be in court because of the special security arrangements that would be required for a Secret Service-protected former president who is campaigning for a second term in office.

Story continues

Last week, Trump arrived in a motorcade for a New York state court arraignment where he pleaded not guilty to a 34-count felony indictment charging him with breaking the law in a quest to silence women who claimed extramarital affairs with him years before his successful campaign for the presidency on the Republican ticket in 2016.

Judge Kaplan cited public comments Trump made after the appearance, as he rejected a request by lawyers on both sides in the rape case to be told the names of anonymous jurors. Recently, he ruled that the jury will be anonymous, citing in part the strong likelihood that there could be harassment or worse of jurors by Trump supporters.

The likelihood of such difficulties since the Court made those findings only has increased. That is so in view of Mr. Trumps public statements," he said, citing media reports characterizing Trump's statements as attacks against the presiding judge over his criminal case.

The judge also cited "the threats reportedly then made, presumably by Mr. Trumps supporters, against that judge and members of his family." In a footnote, the judge cited media reports including a story that said the judge in the criminal case got death threats after Trump's arrest.

In October, Trump underwent a videotaped deposition in which he was questioned about Carroll's claims, which were first made publicly in a 2019 memoir by the former longtime Elle magazine columnist.

In the deposition, Trump was dismissive of Carrolls claims, saying: Physically shes not my type.

Even if Trump decides not to attend the trial, it is likely that significant portions of his deposition will be watched by the jury.

In recent weeks, the judge has denied requests by Trump's lawyers to exclude testimony from two women who made sexual abuse claims against Trump in circumstances similar to those alleged by Carroll and from two individuals who worked at the department store at the time the rape allegedly occurred.

He also has ruled that jurors can hear misogynistic remarks Trump made about women in 2005 on an Access Hollywood tape.

The Associated Press generally does not identify people who allege they have been sexually assaulted, unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done.
Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) has retaken his oath of office and been reinstated to the state House days after being expelled for joining a state capitol protest against gun violence.

On Monday afternoon, the Nashville Metropolitan Council voted to reinstate Jones, after the GOP-controlled House voted to expel him and his colleague Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis).

As Jones was sworn in on the steps of the state capitol, a crowd of supporters gathered around him and cheered.

Jones, who was the only nominee for the districts open seat, received unanimous support from the council, with all 36 members voting to reappoint him as an interim representative for the 52nd District. As the clerk read the 36 yeas, the council burst into cheers and applause.

Jones, who was the only nominee for the districts open seat, received unanimous support from the council, with all 36 members voting to reappoint him as an interim representative for the 52nd District. As the clerk read the 36 yeas, the council burst into cheers and applause.

Moments after he was reinstated, Jones joined protesters, many who showed up in support of him, and marched back to the Tennessee state capitol to take his oath.

Jones and Pearson, who are both Black, were expelled last week for participating in a demonstration calling for gun reform on the House floor after a mass shooting at the private Covenant School in Nashville left three 9-year-old children and three faculty members dead.

Their colleague, Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), also participated in the demonstration but managed to maintain her seat. Johnson is white.

Republicans said the three lawmakers knowingly and intentionally brought disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives.

Democrats across the nation voiced their support for the lawmakers, who have since become known as the Tennessee Three. Vice President Harris traveled to Tennessee last week in support of the trio, while several other leaders pointed to the racial undertones of Joness and Pearsons expulsion.

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Jones himself said his race played a key role in his removal from the state House.

I basically had a member call me an uppity Negro, Jones told MSNBCs Joy Reid after the 72-25 vote that expelled him.

Ahead of the vote to expel him, Jones vowed to return to the state capitol.

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. 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.

Pearsons seat, representing District 86, will be addressed at a special meeting of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners in Memphis on Wednesday, according to Commission Chairman Mickell Lowery.

Both Jones and Pearson, if elected, will serve on an interim basis until a special election can be held in the coming months. Both have indicated they plan to run in the special election.

Updated at 6:55 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Mr Jones was sworn in on Monday evening

Nashville city council has voted to reinstate one of two lawmakers who were expelled for leading a gun control protest last month.

The council voted unanimously to return Justin Jones to the legislature on Monday during a special session, 36-0.

Republican colleagues voted out the Nashville lawmaker along with Memphis lawmaker Justin Pearson last week.

The rare expulsion vote came just days after a school shooting in Nashville that left six dead.

The vote came as state lawmakers returned for their first floor sessions since the vote to oust Mr Jones and Mr Pearson.

Mr Jones was sworn in on the steps of the state capitol on Monday evening, surrounded by a crowd of his supporters.

"I want to welcome democracy back to the people's house," he said after returning to his old desk inside the building.

"Truth crushed to the ground will rise again," he said, adding: "No injustice attack on democracy will happen unchallenged."

A Memphis board of commissioners, meanwhile, is expected to vote on Wednesday on whether to allow Mr Pearson to reclaim his seat as a temporary representative.

Both Mr Jones and Mr Pearson had vowed to return to the statehouse and have said they will run in special elections in the coming months to permanently fill the seats.

Nashville Mayor John Cooper appeared at the council meeting on Monday, where he told the chamber that their expulsion vote was "unprecedented".

"Let's give the district their voice back. I call this body to give them their voice back now," he said.

Republicans accused three Democratic representatives - Mr Jones, Mr Pearson and Gloria Johnson - of bringing "disorder and dishonour to the House" when they joined protesters at the statehouse on 30 March, leading chants from the lectern on the House floor calling for stricter gun laws.

Story continues

Ms Johnson, who is white, survived her expulsion by one vote, leading her to accuse Republicans of racism for expelling the other two legislators, who are black.

But Republicans said the reason they did not expel Ms Johnson was because she had less of a role in the protest and did not use a megaphone to lead chants.

Mr Jones told BBC News after the vote that the Republican-controlled House of Representatives had silenced him and those who voted for him.

"We were calling for action so we can stop our young people and stop our children from being murdered and massacred," he said.

Together, Mr Jones and Mr Pearson represent about 140,000 constituents in Tennessee.

Several of their constituents expressed anger and told the BBC they felt disenfranchised by the vote to oust the two Democrats.

The Tennessee House of Representatives has only voted twice since the Civil War to expel a member - one time for a sitting lawmaker who was convicted of soliciting a bribe, and another for a majority whip who was accused of sexual misconduct.
Two messages in a bottle were recently found washed up on a Texas beach, nearly a year after they were written and sent off to sea.

Mission-Aransas Reserve researchers found the bottle during a beach survey, according to an April 4 Facebook post from the nonprofit organization that works to maintain a healthy coastline.

Inside the bottle were two handwritten letters on sheets of binder paper, photos show.

One of the authors identified herself as Madi Whalen, who said she lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She wrote the letter while vacationing in Jamaica with two of her best friends in June 2022, about a month after graduating from high school.

Today was our last full day here, she wrote. I really enjoyed it. Its nice to have no responsibilities for a while for once. Im excited to go home and see my family again though.

I wish I had some good secrets or something to share but I dont really, she continued. I wonder where our letters will end up.

The second message was written by her friend Easton.

My two best gals and I are on a holiday in Jamaica and decided to leave a message in a bottle for someone special, Easton wrote. I leave for university soon after we get back and Id like not to. Anyway, I hope someone finds this and it makes their day.

Mother Dawn Wishard-Whalen said Madi doesnt have Facebook, but she is so excited it was found!

She is an adventurer and and a nature lover and protector so it couldnt be more perfect where it was found, Wishard-Whalen said on Facebook.

Mission-Aransas Reserve said the bottle from Jamaica was one of two bottles they found during the beach survey. Most of the ink used to write the letter in the second bottle had disappeared before it was found.

We usually find that messages in a bottle that use pencil and in a dark bottle are preserved the best, the organization said. Pen fades, especially in a clear bottle.

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The Princess of Wales wore a classic blue look for the Easter Mattins Service at St Georges Chapel (Yui Mok/PA)

The Princess of Wales opted for a classic blue look for the Easter Sunday service at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle yesterday.

Kate chose a single-breasted calf-length Catherine Walker coat, which she previously wore for the Commonwealth Service in March 2022, with a matching Emmy London Natasha clutch bag in cobalt and pillbox hat by Lock and Co. featuring an oversized bow on the side.

Her drop earrings added another bolt of blue  believed to be the now sold-out 130 Stella earrings from Carousel Jewels.

Nude high-heeled pumps and red nail polish provided pops of contrast for the otherwise head-to-toe blue ensemble.

Kate and the Prince of Wales attended the service with their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, who all also wore shades of blue.

Attending the service for the first time, Prince Louis wore a suit jacket and light blue shorts, while Charlotte wore a floral short-sleeved dress with pale blue tights and patent shoes.

The King and Queen Consort also opted for similarly traditional blue hues.

Charles paired a classic blue suit with a patterned tie, while Camilla wore a coat dress by Anna Valentine, featuring swirling embroidery along the neckline, front and sleeves.

Like the Princess of Wales, she also completed her look with a blue hat, by Philip Treacy, showcasing an oversized side bow, while carrying a handled blue leather box handbag.

This was the first Easter Sunday service of Charless reign as King, with a number of senior royals in attendance.

It was likely to have been a moving day for the royal family.

The 15th century chapel is the late Queens final resting place, where she is buried alongside Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, and her parents, George VI and the Queen Mother. Princess Margarets ashes are also there.

It was also the first Easter service since her death.
Only one qualifying race remains before the 2023 Kentucky Derby, which will be run Saturday, May 6, at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

But the outlook for the 20-horse Derby field became a whole lot clearer after Saturday, which featured a trio of qualifying races that all awarded points on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale to the top-five finishers.

The Wood Memorial (Aqueduct), Blue Grass Stakes (Keeneland) and Santa Anita Derby (Santa Anita) all featured dramatic finishes as well, with each race coming down to a close finish to determine would would secure their spot in the Run for the Roses.

In two of the races, a favorite prevailed. In the other, a massive upset occurred.

Heres what you need to know about the three victorious horses from Saturday: Lord Miles in the Wood Memorial, Practical Move in the Santa Anita and Tapit Trice in the Blue Grass, and what their resumes look like ahead of likely appearances in next months Kentucky Derby.

The final qualifying points race for the Kentucky Derby is the Lexington Stakes, which will be run Saturday at Keeneland. It will award Derby qualifying points on a 20-8-6-4-2 scale.

Caesars odds: 40-1.

Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 105 (sixth on Derby leaderboard).

Performance: Lets start with the biggest shock of Saturdays races.

The Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct was won by 59-1 shot Lord Miles, who emerged victorious in a three-horse battle to the finish line. Lord Miles also survived a postrace inquiry to win by a nose over 8-5 race favorite Hit Show.

To call Lord Miles win a surprise would be an understatement: The horse had just one win in four prior races in his career, all of which came in Florida.

You dream and sometimes it doesnt happen, Lord Miles trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said postrace. We dreamed about getting this horse in the Kentucky Derby and it didnt look good for a while, but now our dreams have become reality.

None of the runners in the 12-horse field for the Wood Memorial ranked within the qualifying points cutoff for the Kentucky Derby prior to the race, but for Lord Miles to emerge as the days biggest winner was a true shock.

Story continues

Hit Show, the race favorite that was narrowly beaten by Lord Miles, is now also projected to be in the Kentucky Derby field with 60 qualifying points, which ranks 11th on the leaderboard.

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Owner: Vegso Racing Stable.

Family ties: Sired by Curlin, the legendary horse who won 11 of 16 career starts, including the Rebel Stakes, Arkansas Derby, Preakness Stakes and Breeders Cup Classic in 2007.

Caesars odds: 8-1.

Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 160 (second on leaderboard).

Performance: Originally bred by trainer Chad Brown but now in the barn of Tim Yakteen, Practical Move vaulted up the Derby points leaderboard with a dramatic win in the Santa Anita Derby.

Practical Move took the race at the line just ahead of the Japan-bred Mandarin Hero, the first Japan-owned horse to hit the board in the Santa Anita Derby.

After going off at 8-5 odds, Practical Move kept his perfect money performance intact with the win: The horse has now finished in the money in all seven career starts.

Practical Move is 2-for-2 in 2023, with wins in the Santa Anita Derby and in early March in the San Felipe Stakes at the same track.

Yakteen will head to the Derby with the Santa Anita winner for the second straight time: Last year it was Taiba, a horse that was transferred to Yakteen from Bob Bafferts barn.

Hes still an improving horse and he showed another dimension where he really dug deep and fought off the other horse, Yakteen said Saturday of Practical Move.

The first Grade 1 win for Practical Move in the Santa Anita Derby also means a return trip to the Kentucky Derby for jockey Ramon Vazquez, who has been aboard the horse for his last three races.

Vazquez finished 13th in the 2015 Kentucky Derby with Mr. Z.

Trainer: Tim Yakteen.

Owner: Leslie and Pierre Amestoy, Roger Beasley.

Family ties: Sired by Practical Joke, who ran fifth in the 2017 Kentucky Derby and second in the 2017 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

Blue Grass Stakes winner Tapit Trice, left with Luis Saez up, and the rest of the field leave the starting gate on Saturday at Keeneland.

Caesars odds: 6-1.

Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 150 (fourth on leaderboard).

Performance: Tapit Trice entered Saturdays 99th Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland as the morning-line favorite and delivered.

He outdueled Verifying down the stretch and survived a postrace objection to win by a head in a photo finish and cement himself as one of the favorites for next months Derby.

Tapit Trice now has four wins in five career starts, and is a perfect 3-for-3 in 2023.

Saturdays Grade 1 win in the Blue Grass is paired along with a come-from-behind triumph in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby last month for the gray colt.

But while it took a late charge to win in Florida, Saturdays performance at Keeneland was more indicative of a true Kentucky Derby contender.

Tapit Trice had the inside post in the Blue Grass and began making his eventual winning move on the backstretch.

He fought with a nice horse and kept going to the wire, and thats what we were hoping to see, trainer Todd Pletcher said after the Blue Grass win.

Jockey Luis Saez has been aboard Tapit Trice for his last three wins.

With Tapit Trice securing his status as a Derby heavyweight, its shaping up to be a banner year for Pletcher in terms of Derby participants.

Pletcher  who won the Derby in 2010 (Super Saver) and 2017 (Always Dreaming)  also trains Forte, the presumptive Kentucky Derby favorite, as well as Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns.

Tapit Trice will head to Churchill Downs on Sunday in preparation for the Derby. Pletchers other two likely Derby horses  Forte and Kingsbarns  will arrive at Churchill the following day.

Trainer: Todd Pletcher.

Owner: Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable.

Family ties: Sired by Tapit, who finished ninth in the 2004 Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby leaderboard

Listed with points earned and trainer:

1. Forte, 190 (Todd Pletcher).

2. Practical Move, 160 (Tim Yakteen).

3. Angel of Empire, 154 (Brad Cox).

4. Tapit Trice, 150 (Todd Pletcher).

5. Two Phils, 123 (Larry Rivelli).

6. Lord Miles 105, (Saffie Joseph Jr.).

7. Derma Sotogake, 100 (Hidetaka Otonashi).

8. Kingsbarns, 100 (Todd Pletcher).

9. Raise Cain, 64 (Ben Colebrook).

10. Rocket Can, 60 (Bill Mott).

11. Hit Show, 60 (Brad Cox).

12. Confidence Game, 57 (Keith Desormeaux).

13. Verifying, 54 (Brad Cox).

14. Sun Thunder, 54 (Kenny McPeek).

15. Wild On Ice, 50 (Joel Marr).

16. Mage, 50 (Gustavo Delgado).

17. Blazing Sevens, 46 (Chad Brown).

18. Reincarnate, 45 (Tim Yakteen).

19. Jaces Road, 45 (Brad Cox).

20. Continuar, Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby invite (Yoshito Yahagi).

21. Skinner, 45 (John Shirreffs).

22. Cyclone Mischief, 45 (Dale Romans).

23. Major Dude, 40 (Todd Pletcher).

24. Mandarin Hero, 40 (Terunobu Fujita).

25. King Russell, 40 (Ron Moquett).

Notes: UAE Derby third-place finisher Continuar has been extended an invitation to compete in the Kentucky Derby for accruing 40 points in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series. It appears unlikely that Brave Emperor will accept the European Road to the Kentucky Derby invitation.

Todd Pletcher owns a stacked Kentucky Derby deck, but watch out for the Japanese

Tapit Trice outduels Verifying to win the Blue Grass Stakes, clinch Kentucky Derby spot

Three takeaways from Saturdays Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland

Blue Grass Stakes undercard: Goodnight Olive earns another Grade 1 win at Keeneland
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks near a mass shooting in downtown Louisville. Luke Sharrett/Getty Images

Five people died after a shooter opened fire at a bank Monday in Louisville.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said that one of his close friends was among the victims.

Beshear also said he ran his campaign out of the bank and knew everyone who worked there.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear choked back tears at a news conference as he revealed that one of his close friends was a victim of the mass shooting in Louisville.

"This is awful," Beshear said to reporters Monday morning, as he got emotional. "I have a very close friend that didn't make it today."

Beshear said this morning that a second close friend had also died, but he corrected himself at another news conference Monday afternoon. He said he had been mistaken, and clarified that one of his close friends died and two of his close friends were injured inside the bank, with one in critical condition.

A 25-year-old shooter opened fire inside the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky on Monday morning, police said.

Monday morning, Louisville Metro Police said four people were killed and nine others were injured. Three of the injured, including a police officer, are in critical condition, a doctor at the hospital said at this afternoon's news conference.

By Monday evening, police confirmed the death of a fifth person, 57-year-old Deana Eckert.

Police identified the other victims as Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and James Tutt, 64.

The shooter, who police said was an employee at the bank, also died from police gunfire.

Beshear said he had run his 2014 attorney general campaign out of the bank building, and that he knows everyone who works there, adding "That's my bank."

"Our bodies and our minds are not meant to go through these types of tragedies," Beshear said, as he urged the local community to support each other in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Harrowing video shows Louisville police officers running through the streets yelling "active shooter at the bank!" and ordering people to flee their cars as gunshots rang out in the background.

Story continues

In the video, officers run through traffic, urging cars and civilians to drive away as multiple gunshots are heard.

The video of the Louisville shooting was shared across social media on Monday morning, including by WDRB News reporters.

April 10, 2023: This story has been updated to reflect that Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear lost one of his friends in the shooting, not two, as he said earlier. The story has also been updated to reflect that nine injured victims were taken to the hospital, and that a fifth person died. Previous statements from police said eight injured victims were hospitalized and four people died.

Read the original article on Insider
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear held back tears as he told reporters that two of the dead and one of the wounded in a shooting in downtown Louisville on Monday are his close friends.

A gunman opened fire at Old National Bank in Louisville on Monday morning, killing at least four people and wounding eight others, authorities said. The shooter, described as a current or former employee of the bank, also wounded two responding police officers, one of them critically, officials said. The gunman was killed not long afterward, Deputy Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey said.

Follow live coverage of the shooting in Louisville on NBCNews.com.

This is awful, Beshear said at a news conference. I have a very close friend that didnt make it tonight. And I have another close friend who did not, either, and one whos at the hospital but I hope is going to make it through.

Beshear said he hopes people will pray for those who need to undergo surgery, and he called for the public to extend its support to affected families.

Weve got to wrap our arms around these families and everybody who needs it, he said. Dont be afraid to get some help. Our bodies and our minds are not meant to go through these types of tragedies.

He also said he hopes the brave officers who stepped into the line of fire, employees of bank and other people in the building will reach out and get the help that they need.

Beshear mentioned that his campaign for attorney general was based in the same building.

There are a lot of people that are hurting today. And if we have a place to focus our energy, I hope it is to surround them with the love and the compassion that we have been so good at showing one another, he said.

Beshear concluded by commending the law enforcement officers on the ground: I want people to know that while today is a horrific act, I do believe that this is a safe community, with officers doing their very best each and every day.

Humphrey said two officers were wounded; one was rushed into surgery, and the other had a non-life-threatening injury.

Six people, including three young children, were killed in a shooting in a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, almost two weeks ago.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
VIENTIANE, April 10 (Xinhua) -- President of Vietnam Vo Van Thuong, accompanied by a high-ranking delegation, arrived in the Lao capital on Monday for a two-day state visit.

In response to the invitation from his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith, President Thuong is paying an official visit to Laos to enhance the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

The two heads of state held official talks to deepen comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, according to a press release issued by Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Thongloun appreciated that Thuong chose Laos for his first overseas visit after he was elected as Vietnam's new president on March 2.

The two sides agreed to continue the exchange of high-level visits, effectively implement the agreements reached, and uphold their close coordination and mutual support. 
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said a close friend was among those killed, with two others affected, in Monday mornings shooting at a downtown Louisville bank.

This is awful, he told reporters, his voice shaking. I have a very close friend that didnt make it today. And I have another close friend who didnt, either. And one whos at the hospital, that I hope is going to make it through.

Beshear later told reporters he had been misinformed and a friend he thought had been killed was OK.

A total of five people were killed and at least eight others wounded after a man opened fire at the Old National Bank around 8:30 a.m. The gunman, believed to be a former bank employee, died at the scene following a gunfight with responding officers, police said at a press conference.

Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during a news conference after a gunman opened fire at the Old National Bank building in Louisville on Monday, killing and wounding multiple people.

Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during a news conference after a gunman opened fire at the Old National Bank building in Louisville on Monday, killing and wounding multiple people.

Those wounded included two responding officers, one of whom underwent surgery for their injuries, which were described as critical.

When we talk about praying, I hope people will for those that we are hoping can make it through the surgeries they are going through, said Beshear, who choked up while thanking first responders for doing their best to try to save some of my friends, and many others.

Our bodies and our minds are not meant to go through these types of tragedies, and so I hope that all of the brave officers that stepped into the line of fire, that are worried about one of their fellow officers, will reach out for help when they need it, he said.

President Joe Biden also released a statement that called on Congress to pass legislation that would help curb gun violence.

Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence  Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today's shooting.



Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives.



When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?  President Biden (@POTUS) April 10, 2023

Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives, he said. When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?

Story continues

His statement follows him pleading late last month for Congress to pass a bill that would ban assault-style weapons in the wake of a shooting at a Nashville grade school that left three children and three adults dead. Lawmakers have balked at his proposal to enact universal background checks for gun sales, ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and repeal immunity from liability for gun manufacturers.

We have to do more to stop gun violence. Its ripping our communities apart, the president said from the White House.

That plea for action followed a similar appeal after a string of shootings in California earlier this year that left 18 people dead and 10 others wounded.

Beshear did not comment on gun laws in the immediate wake of Mondays violence.

In the past, following last years school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 students and two teachers dead, Beshear said any change to gun reform would be up to the Republican-controlled legislature. He said he would personally like to see more efforts to remove guns from someone that a court deems dangerous.

This story and headlines have been updated to reflect Beshears statement that he had been misinformed about the number of friends caught in the violence.

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It's time to vote, y'all.

Kentucky's primary election season is upon the commonwealth, with excused early voting beginning May 3 and voting culminating on Election Day, May 16.

Voters will narrow down their parties' options for major statewide offices at the ballot box, most notably a 12-way race to be the Republican nominee in Kentucky's governor's race.

Here's what to know about Kentucky's 2023 primary elections, including where and when to vote and what you'll see on your ballot.

What races are on the ballot in the Kentucky primary?

Kentucky voters can see a sample ballot from their county on the Secretary of States website.

Kentucky has closed primaries, so if youre a registered Republican, you will only see Republican candidates on your ballot and vice versa for Democrats.

For Democrats, your ballot will have two contested statewide races:

Governor

Commissioner of Agriculture

Republicans will have more races:

Governor

Secretary of State

Auditor

State Treasurer

Commission of Agriculture

Some places in Kentucky may have additional local races on the ballot, including a special election to replace former state Sen. Ralph Alvarado in Bath, Clark, Fayette, Menifee and Montgomery counties.

More: What news is most important to you? Tell us in this Courier Journal reader survey

What is the deadline to register to vote in Kentucky's primaries?

Kentuckians have until April 17 at 4 p.m. local time to register to vote in the 2023 primaries.

Kentucky allows people who are 17 years old but will be 18 by the general election in November to register to vote in the primaries.

You can register to vote online at sos.ky.gove, by mail or in person at your county clerk's office.

Not sure if you're registered? You can check your voter registration status through the state's board of elections website.

How can I vote in Kentuckys 2023 primary elections?

Voters have a few options to cast a ballot in the 2023 primaries:

Early in-person excused absentee voting

Early in-person no-excuse absentee voting

In-person voting on Election Day

Mail-in absentee ballots

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All registered Kentucky voters are allowed to vote during early no-excuse voting and in person on Election Day. Voters must qualify for early excused voting and mail-in ballots.

Where do I find my voting location?

It takes a few steps to figure out where to vote on Election Day.

Kentucky voters can start to find their polling place by looking up their voter registration on the state's board of elections website. Make a note of the precinct information, then click on the "Find My Polling Place" link at the bottom of the page.

This takes voters to a list of all polling places in Kentucky. Select your county from the dropdown menu and find the location where your precinct votes.

Louisville voters can also find their voting precinct on the Jefferson County Clerk's website.

Voting precincts will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time on Election Day, May 16.

When is in-person excused absentee voting in Louisville?

In-person excused absentee voting for the 2023 primary elections will be available May 3-5 and May 8-10 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All excused absentee voting in Louisville will happen at the Jefferson County Clerk Election Center at 1000 E. Liberty St.

When is no-excuse early voting in Louisville?

No-excuse early voting for the 2023 primary elections will take place May 11-13 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Voters can cast a ballot at any of the following voting centers during those times:

The Arterburn  310 Ten Pin Lane

Bowman Field  2815 Taylorsville Road

The Jeffersonian  10617 Taylorsville Road

Kentucky Center for African American Heritage  1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Sun Valley Community Center  6505 Bethany Lane

Mary Queen of Peace Gym  4005 Dixie Highway

Triple Crown Pavilion  1780 Plantside Drive

Kentucky Exposition Center: Broadbent Arena  937 Phillips Lane

Old Forester's Paristown Hall  724 Brent St.

Lyndon Elks Lodge #2052  904 Ormsby Lane

Where can I drop of my ballot in Jefferson County?

Ballots may be dropped off at the clerk's office's Election Center, 1000 E. Liberty St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until May 15, as well as during those same hours on Saturday, May 13. They can also be dropped off on May 16 at the election center from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The early voting sites listed above also will have ballot drop boxes available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 11-13.

Who qualifies for an in-person excused absentee ballot?

Military or overseas voters who are Kentucky residents and can't make it to the polls on Election Day or all days of in-person no excuse absentee/early voting, for instance if confined to a military base.

A student who temporarily is residing outside the county of their residence.

A person who temporarily resides outside the state but is still eligible to vote in this state and will be absent from their home county on Election Day and during no-excuse in-person absentee voting days.

A voter or voters spouse who has surgery scheduled those days and will be hospitalized.

A voter who is in their last trimester of pregnancy and completes a form prescribed by the state Board of Elections.

A voter who cannot appear during Election Day or no excuse in-person absentee voting due to age, disability or illness and has not been declared mentally disabled by a court.

Any person who is employed in a profession that is scheduled to work during all days and all hours in which polls are open.

Election officers tasked with administration of the election.

Who qualifies for a mail-in absentee ballot in Kentucky?

A voter may apply to cast a mail-in absentee ballot up to 14 days before an election if the person is:

A Kentucky resident in the military or their dependents residing overseas.

A student temporarily outside their home county.

A voter who is in jail and charged with a crime, but not convicted.

A voter who is changing or has changed his or her place of residence to a different state while the registration books are closed in the new state before an election of electors for president, in which case the voter shall be permitted to vote for electors for president only.

An eligible voter who temporarily resides outside the state.

Prevented from voting at the polls on Election Day and from casting an excused or no-excuse in-person absentee ballot because they will be absent from their home county during those voting periods.

A participant in the Secretary of State's crime victim address confidentiality protection program.

A voter unable to appear at the polls on Election Day or when in-person absentee voting is conducted because of age, disability, or illness, and who has not been declared mentally disabled by a court of competent jurisdiction.

When can I request a mail-in ballot?

All mail-in ballots for Kentuckys 2023 primary election must be requested by May 2.

You can request a mail-in ballot at the Kentucky Secretary of State's website.

Mail-in ballots must be received by 6 p.m. local time on Election Day in order to be counted.

Reach Olivia Krauth at okrauth@courierjournal.com and on Twitter at @oliviakrauth.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky 2023 primary elections: How to register, get absentee ballot
The governors of Kentucky and Tennessee, and one Florida senator have lost personal friends in two mass shootings over the past two weeks.

A shooter in downtown Louisville, Ky., killed at least five people in a bank building Monday morning, including friends of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, he said during a press conference.

This is awful. I have a very close friend that didn't make it today," Beshear said. And I have another close friend who didn't either, and one who's at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through."

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) also lost a friend during the shooting, he said Monday night.

"My friend Tommy Elliott was killed today in Louisville," Scott wrote in a post on Twitter. "He was my banker for many years. This news is very shocking and sad for Ann and me. He did so much in the Louisville community, and we pray for his family during this awful time."

The Louisville shooting comes just two weeks after three children and three adults were killed at a Christian elementary school in Nashville. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said that one of the adult victims, Cindy Peak, was friends with his wife, Maria.

What happened at Covenant School was a tragedy beyond comprehension. Like many of you, Ive experienced tragedy in my own life, and Ive experienced the day after that tragedy. ... Cindy was supposed to come over to have dinner with Maria last night after she filled in as a substitute teacher yesterday at Covenant, Lee said in an address the day after the shooting.

After both shootings, local police confirmed that the shooter was dead.
A trove of purported Pentagon documents have appeared online in recent days, revealing information ranging from U.S. assessments of the Russia-Ukraine war to intel on how America may be spying on adversaries and allies.

The source of the leaks is not yet clear. Reuters reported that three unnamed U.S. officials said Russia or pro-Russian elements are likely behind at least the first batch of leaks.

Heres what we do know so far about the documents:

Are the leaked documents authentic?

Its not yet clear whether all the material surfacing online is legitimate, though unnamed U.S. officials have told CNN and the New York Times that the documents appear to be real.

However, some have also noted that, even if the documents are authentic, some of the information in them may have been altered.

Estimates of Russian troop deaths in certain documents, for example, are significantly lower than those given by U.S. officials, sparking some concern that the material could have been tweaked to spread misinformation.

Ukrainian officials on Sunday said the leaks were a ordinary game by Russias secret services.

To take open briefings, add fake info or certain parts of interceptions & publish them on social networks legalizing the leak, said Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak on Twitter.

Whats in the files?

A number of documents resemble daily, non-public updates from the U.S. militarys joint staff and appear to detail U.S. and NATO aid to Ukraine, including notes on the progress of weapons aid. The documents on Russia and Ukraine dont appear to include details on the warfare or plans of an expected Ukrainian offensive.

According to the New York Times, which first reported on the leaked documents, the materials also indicate the U.S. has been spying on not just Russian but also Ukrainian leaders in an effort to monitor the wars dynamics.

Additional documents include U.S. intelligence agencies analyses, based on classified sources, about Russia and several countries, according to the Washington Post. Some materials reportedly appear to show how the U.S. tracks Russian forces with satellite imagery and where the Central Intelligence Agency has recruited some agents.

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The New York Times also reports that other materials suggest the U.S. is spying on Israel and South Korea, and include national security details on the Middle East and China.

Israel on Sunday denied allegations in the documents that leaders of its Mossad intelligence service had encouraged agency staff and Israeli citizens to participate in last months protests against the governments proposed judicial reforms.

Another document detailed internal discussions among South Korean officials about U.S. pressure for Seoul to change its policy of not supplying weapons to Ukraine, per Reuters.

What has the U.S. said?

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement on Friday the Department of Defense is actively reviewing the matter, and has made a formal referral to the Department of Justice for investigation.

The Justice Department has since opened an investigation into the leaks, according to The Wall Street Journal and other outlets.

A U.S. official told the Associated Press that even if the documents are legitimate, the intelligence value to be gleaned is likely minimal, because Russia would already know or be able to find out much of what was included. But others have expressed concerns that the breach could have serious security implications.

US officials are working to remove the materials from the social media platforms to which they were posted, according to Voice of America.

What have other countries said?

Adriy Yusov of the Ukrainian Defense Ministrys intelligence directorate sought to downplay concerns raised in the documents about Ukrainian ammunition supplies and air defense capabilities, saying it is not a secret for anyone that Ukraine asks questions about aviation, tanks, ammunition and other things.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he and his senior staff had a meeting about how to prevent leaks of the countrys defense plans.

A South Korean presidential official said South Korea planned to discuss the leak with Washington, according to the New York Times.

However, the official declined confirm any details from the leaked documents, per Reuters.

Israel has offered the strongest statement rebuking the contents of the leaked documents, responding to the claim that leaders of its spy agency helped foment anti-government protests.

The report that was published overnight in the American press is mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever, the Israeli prime ministers office posted on behalf of the Mossad.

The Mossad and its senior officials did not  and do not  encourage agency personnel to join the demonstrations against the government, political demonstrations or any political activity.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Kim Kardashian just landed a huge acting gig  but the reality TV star, entrepreneur, podcaster and influencer has already added actress to her resume.

Kardashian announced April 10 that she will star alongside Emma Roberts in the upcoming season 12 of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuks American Horror Story, according to an Instagram post.

The video is set to a creepy rendition of Rock a-bye Baby and shares the name of the upcoming season: Delicate.

Kardashians role was written specifically for her, Murphy, one of American Horror Storys co-creators, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Kim is among the biggest and brightest television stars in the world and we are thrilled to welcome her to the AHS family, Murphy told the outlet. Emma and I are excited about collaborating with this true force in the culture. Halley Feiffer has written a fun, stylish and ultimately terrifying role especially for Kim, and this season is ambitious and unlike anything we have ever done.

Although Kardashian is most known for her role on her familys reality shows  Keeping up with the Kardashians, which aired from 2007 until 2021, and The Kardashians, which premiered on Hulu in April 2022  she has had other roles in television shows and movies.

Most recently, the mom of four was the voice of Delores in PAW Patrol: The Movie, according to IMDB.

Shes this really sassy, valley girl poodle, Kardashian said of her character in a trailer for the movie. My kids love PAW Patrol. Theyre so excited.

Kardashian is currently working on the movies sequel, which is set to debut later this year, an Instagram post said.

The reality star has also made appearances in CSI: NY, How I Met Your Mother, 2 Broke Girls, Oceans 8 and Disaster Movie, her IMDB said.

People took to social media to share their thoughts on the casting announcement.

Emma Roberts and Kim Kardashian in AHS 12 this is what victory feels like, one person tweeted.

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Kim Kardashian on AHS is going to be iconic, another person said.

Other people were not thrilled with the news.

Ryan Murphy casting Kim Kardashian sucks. It genuinely sucks. Way to ruin AHS, one tweet said.

So Kim Kardashian is an actress now... American Horror Story had been in decline for some seasons now but casting her, well thats polished it off for me, another person tweeted.

The new season is set to air this summer, according to an Instagram post from Roberts and Murphy.

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Kim Kardashian Presley Ann/Getty Images for LACMA

It seems like everybody wants to work for Ryan Murphy these days, Kim Kardashian included.

The reality star has joined the cast of the next season of the horror anthology series American Horror Story. She teased the news on Instagram, and producer Ryan Murphy provided the details to The Hollywood Reporter, revealing the role was written especially for Kardashian. He also confirmed that Emma Roberts will return to the series for this latest season.

"Kim is among the biggest and brightest television stars in the world and we are thrilled to welcome her to the AHS family," Murphy said. "Emma and I are excited about collaborating with this true force in the culture. [Writer] Halley Feiffer has written a fun, stylish and ultimately terrifying role especially for Kim, and this season is ambitious and unlike anything we have ever done"

American Horror Story's 12th season will be based on the novel Delicate Condition, a thriller that "follows a woman convinced a sinister figure is going to great lengths to make sure her pregnancy never happens." It has been described as a "feminist update to Rosemary's Baby." Every season of the show generally follows an entirely different storyline, with some stars returning as new characters.

This will be by far the biggest acting role yet for Kardashian, whose prior credits include appearances in Disaster Movie and the Tyler Perry film Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, in addition to cameos as herself in various projects like Ocean's 8. But she has said she's open to acting more and potentially even landing a role in a Marvel film.

"Would I act? I would if something fun came about," Kardashian said in Interview magazine. "Maybe a Marvel movie, that would be so fun to do. I'm not actively looking, but I think things just come when they're supposed to."

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Kim Kardashian is joining "American Horror Story" Season 12. (Evan Agostini / Invision/Associated Press)

Kim Kardashian will be playing a stylish and terrifying role written specifically for her on the upcoming season of American Horror Story.

The reality TV megastar turned beauty and fashion magnate will be starring in the 12th season of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuks American Horror Story: Delicate this summer.

Kardashian made the announcement on Monday via an eerie Instagram video set to the lullaby Rock-a-Bye Baby and the sound of children playing.

Kardashian will star alongside AHS veteran Emma Roberts, who returns to the franchise after a four-year hiatus. Roberts starred in AHS installments Coven, Freak Show, Cult, Apocalypse and 1984. She also toplined Murphys Scream Queens.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Halley Feiffer will be the sole writer and showrunner for the 12th season of AHS. Feiffer has written episodes for American Crime Story, Roar, SMILF and Mozart in the Jungle.

The upcoming season will be based on Danielle Valentines thriller Delicate Condition, which hits bookstores in August. The novel follows an indie film actress as she navigates a taxing IVF journey, which constantly seems to be sabotaged. She becomes convinced theres someone sinister plotting to ensure she never gets pregnant; when she turns to the men in her life, they refuse to listen.

Murphy reportedly was so impressed by Kardashian when she hosted a 2021 episode of Saturday Night Live that he began discussing bringing her into the AHS fold last summer.

Kim is among the biggest and brightest television stars in the world and we are thrilled to welcome her to the 'AHS' family, co-creator Murphy told THR. Emma and I are excited about collaborating with this true force in the culture. Halley Feiffer has written a fun, stylish and ultimately terrifying role especially for Kim, and this season is ambitious and unlike anything we have ever done.

Kardashian starred on E!s reality mega-hit Keeping Up With the Kardashians for more than 15 years and relaunched the reality family drama with Hulus The Kardashians in 2022. This marks the first major scripted role for the reality star. Shes played herself in a variety of cameos on sitcoms including How I Met Your Mother, Last Man Standing and 30 Rock and in the 2018 film Oceans Eight.

As far as scripted gigs, her acting resume features only a handful of roles over the last 20 years. She played Elle in the 2009 drama series Beyond the Break for four episodes and appeared on one episode of CSI: NY in 2009. She also portrayed Nikki LePree on Drop Dead Diva for four episodes in 2012.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Travis County jury on Friday found Daniel Perry guilty of murder in the shooting death of Austin protester Garrett Foster after a controversial trial that involved issues of self-defense and that pitted police against prosecutors. Gov. Greg Abbott, after facing growing calls from national conservative figures to undo the conviction, posted on Twitter on Saturday that he would approve a pardon for Perry if a request was sent to him from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Perry's attorneys said he was defending himself when he shot Foster because Foster raised his rifle at him. Prosecutors said Perry instigated the incident by driving toward a group of marchers and that Foster was defending himself when he approached Perry's car.

Perry, an Army sergeant, was working as an Uber driver in Austin on the night of July 25, 2020, when he ran a red light at the intersection of Fourth Street and Congress Avenue and drove toward a Black Lives Matter march before stopping. Foster, carrying an AK-47 rifle, was among a group of protesters who approached his car. Perry unrolled his window and shot Foster five times with a .357 revolver before driving away and calling 911. Another protester shot at Perry's car three times as he drove away.

The American-Statesman has extensively covered the case and had reporters in the courtroom throughout the trial.

More: DA Garza rebukes Abbott's efforts to pardon Daniel Perry after murder conviction

Daniel Perry walks into the courtroom moments before he was convicted of the murder of Garrett Foster on Friday.

What does Texas law say about self-defense and 'stand your ground?'

State law allows a person to use deadly force if that person "honestly and reasonably" believes the force is necessary to protect himself from another's use of deadly force, said University of Texas law professor Jennifer Laurin.

Texas joins about half of the other states nationally in not requiring a person to retreat from a threat and allows them to "stand their ground," Laurin said.

The law governing use of deadly force as a self-defense has a caveat: A person may not use deadly force that emerged because of that person's "provocation."

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Laurin said the law doesn't define "provocation," but courts have described it as when a person acts in a way that is calculated to produce a deadly response and if the person is purposefully creating an opportunity to use deadly force.

More: Gov. Greg Abbott announces he will push to pardon Daniel Perry

Who was Garrett Foster and why did he have an AK-47 at a Black Lives Matter protest?

Foster, 28, had served in the U.S. Air Force but was discharged at age 19 to be a full-time caretaker for Whitney Mitchell, who later became his wife. Mitchell is a quadruple amputee who uses a wheelchair. Foster was white and Mitchell is black. Issues of racial injustice were extremely important to him and also Second Amendment rights, his relatives said. He and Mitchell were living in Austin and had participated in several protest marches in 2020 after the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis. Mitchell testified during the trial that Foster began carrying an AK-47 at marches after one of his friends had been arrested during a march.

Previously: Trial begins over death of Garrett Foster. Was it self-defense or murder?

What were Daniel Perry's social media statements about protesters?

Perry had conversations with friends on social media and on his phone that showed he was angry at protesters. He told a friend he had watched a video of a protester getting shot in Seattle after pulling someone out of a car. Perry said that since that shooting happened in Seattle the gunman would probably go to prison, but "if it was in Texas he would already be released."

Perry also had another conversation with a friend on social media saying he might be able to "kill a few people on my way to work." "They are rioting outside my apartment complex," his message said. The friend responded saying, "Can you legally do so?" Perry replied, "If they attack me or try to pull me out of my car then yes."

Perry also posted on social media that "I have been publicly declared a racist because I drove around a protest to work." "I am afraid of being attacked by people of this certain movement who happen to compare my people (Jewish people) to termites," he went on to say. In another social media post, Perry said the demands that protesters were making were going to put police officers in danger. "Just keep shooting them until they are no longer a threat," Perry said of the protesters.

Perry also told a friend on social media in May 2020 that he might go to Dallas to "shoot looters." He later texted that friend that he was at a protest in Dallas in June 2020 and was "packing heat." "I wonder if they will let me cut off the ears of people who decide to commit suicide by me," Perry said.

What did witnesses say about whether Foster raised his gun?

There was no video or photo shown during the trial that captured the exact moment of the shooting. Prosecution witnesses said Foster's gun was pointed down or that he was not holding it right before the shooting. Mitchell said Foster was standing in front of her by Perry's car on Congress Avenue near the Fourth Street intersection and was carrying his rifle in a strap with the barrel pointed down.

Jeremy Lett, Foster's roommate, testified that shortly before the shooting Foster's rifle was across his chest, and he wasn't holding the gun but was gesturing upward with his hands in an open position to indicate he wanted Perry to leave.

An expert defense witness, forensic engineer Jason Evans, said a photo taken right before the shooting showed Foster standing at an angle by Perry's car with his right arm raised as if he were holding something. The photo did not show what Foster was holding or where his left arm was positioned.

What is Perry's defense and did he testify at his trial?

Perry did not testify during his trial. He told police in a videotaped interview after the shooting that he was texting a woman when he turned toward the marchers on Congress Avenue. When he looked up, he said, he was surrounded by protestors hitting his car and banging objects on it. Perry said Foster wanted to talk to him, so he rolled down his window. Foster mumbled something at him and then raised his weapon, Perry said. "That's when I got my weapon and pulled the trigger as fast as I could, and then drove away and called 911," Perry said.

Perry told police he shot five rounds at Foster and "saw him drop" before driving away. He said he shot Foster in the center of his body because that's how he was taught to do it in the Army. He said the protesters shot at him before he drove away. "I didn't even know what they were protesting about," Perry told investigators.

Perry also told police he had never been so scared "in my entire life."

More: Judge sets Daniel Perry sentencing for Tuesday morning

Why was the trial controversial even before it started?

The lead homicide investigator, David Fugitt, accused the district attorney's office of manipulating his testimony to the grand jury. Fugitt said he had been asked to dramatically scale down his presentation of evidence in the case in which he had determined the shooting was a justifiable homicide. District Attorney Jose Garza and other prosecutors denied the accusations, saying Perry was given a fair grand jury presentation. State District Judge Cliff Brown denied a request from Perry's defense to have the case dismissed on those grounds. Fugitt, who currently works at the Texas attorney general's office, testified at the trial but notably as a witness for the defense and not for the state.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Get up to date on the Daniel Perry murder conviction, pardon talk
A special grand jury in Akron, Ohio, heard evidence this month to determine whether charges should be filed against eight officers who shot a Black man nearly four dozen times last year.

Jayland Walkers death following an attempted traffic stop and chase on June 27 touched off days of protests and renewed discussions around the treatment of Black people during routine police encounters. Seven of the eight police officers who opened fire are white, officials said.

On Monday, a Summit County jury declined to bring charges against the officers.

After some demonstrations last year resulted in property damage, businesses in the city started to board up their windows ahead of the grand jury proceedings.

Security has increased around the Summit County Courthouse and steel barricades have been put up around the building. The street-level windows of City Hall are now covered by plywood, a city spokesperson said, adding officials have engaged faith leaders, business owners and community groups to "build necessary dialogue."

"While boarded windows will certainly be the most visible signs of preparation, it is the ongoing conversations and relationship building which have undeniably been the most important preparation for whatever the grand jury decides," the spokesperson said in a statement.

An alleged traffic violation

Akron police officers tried to pull over Walker, 25, after an alleged traffic violation. They chased him when he failed to stop, according to an Akron Police Department statement.

During that pursuit, officers reported a firearm being discharged from the suspect vehicle, police said. They pursued Walkers car on an expressway for several minutes, then chased on city streets, according to the statement.

After his car slowed at one point, he got out through the passenger side door as the car rolled forward, according to authorities.

Officials said they tried to stop Walker by using stun guns and opened fire after the stun guns did not work. Body camera footage released by the department showed several officers running after Walker as they screamed commands at him to stop.

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At one point, the officers appeared to stop running. A hail of police gunfire is heard in the video. Walker was pronounced dead at the scene.

During a video update, police said that a handgun, loaded magazine and what appears to be a gold wedding ring were "in plain view" on the driver's seat of Walker's car.

The body camera footage sparked protests in the city. A Fourth of July fireworks show was canceled, and the mayor set a 9 p.m. curfew for downtown Akron after he said that some of the demonstrations resulted in violence.

A woman stands in front of troopers in riot gear as police deployed tear gas and stun grenades to clear the area around Akron City Hall and Akron Police Station during a protest over the killing of Jayland Walker, in Akron, Ohio, July 3, 2022. (Matthew Hatcher / AFP via Getty Images file)

Walker was shot 46 times, ME says

Summit County Medical Examiner Lisa Kohler said in July that Walker had 46 entrance and graze wounds. He died of blood loss from internal injuries caused by gunshot wounds. Kohler ruled his death a homicide.

Kohler said he sustained 15 gunshot wounds to his torso, 17 to his pelvis and upper legs, one to his face, eight to his arms and right hand, and five to his knees, lower right leg and right foot.

"There are 46 entrance wounds. There are 15 exit wounds, and five of the wounds that would be in with the entrances are graze wounds," Kohler said at the time, calling his injuries "devastating."

Five shots entered his back, the medical examiner said, but it could not be determined if that was when he was running away or simply moving his body.

The hail of gunfire caused injuries to Walker's heart, lungs and right iliac artery. She said she could not determine if one specific bullet killed him.

A toxicology screening found no evidence of drugs or alcohol.

The Akron chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police said last year it believed that investigators would find that the officers' actions and the number of shots were justified.

"Officers reasonably believed that Mr. Walker presented an immediate threat of serious physical harm or death and lawfully ... discharged their weapons," the statement said.

Walker was 'heartbroken' over fiancee's death

In the months before he was killed, Walker had been trying to move on from the death of his fiancee, Jaymeisha Beasley. The two started dating when they were 15 and had gotten engaged about a year before Walker's death, Beasley's mother, Shalesa Beasley, said.

She said Walker and his fiancee were inseparable and "had a great relationship." The two had just started discussing wedding plans and were in the process of buying a home together when Beasley was killed in a hit-and-run on May 28 in Warren County in southwest Ohio.

Shalesa Beasley said she was traveling to Kentucky with Beasley and her other daughter when a semitruck rear-ended their van.

Beasley, 27, who was asleep in the back and not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the van onto the highway. She died after an oncoming vehicle hit her, Shalesa Beasley said.

She said Walker was "heartbroken" and seemed to have been trying to move on with his life. Robin Elerick, Walker's cousin, said at his funeral that he was going through a "really, really hard time" in the weeks leading up to his death and recalled times when they would sit quietly "holding hands and crying with each other."

Who are the officers?

The names of the eight officers have not been released. They were placed on paid administrative leave following the shooting, but returned to duty in administrative roles in October.

Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett cited staffing shortages in announcing the decision.

Mylett said he understood that the move would be upsetting for some people. He said the officers will not be in the community on patrol and will instead provide internal support in non-uniform roles until the investigation is complete.

Attorneys for Walkers family called the move callous.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The apparent leak of a trove of highly classified US documents -- including many related to the Ukraine conflict -- has triggered a criminal investigation as well as a multi-agency effort to assess the potential fallout.

The source of the leaked documents is unknown and as of Monday the Department of Defense was still working to assess their authenticity, though it has acknowledged they appear to contain sensitive, classified material.

The data has been present online for weeks or possibly even longer, though it only gained widespread media attention earlier this month. Here is what we know so far about the breach:

- What are the documents about? -

Many relate to the war in Ukraine. One provides information about the status of the conflict as of early March, including on Russian and Ukrainian casualties, while others detail the situations on specific fronts such as the battleground city of Bakhmut.

Another provides information about Ukrainian air defenses, which have been key to countering Russian missile and drone strikes, while one shows details on international efforts to build up Kyiv's military forces.

Other documents aren't related to Ukraine. Some, for example, point to US surveillance of its allies, such as one that states leaders of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency advocated for domestic protests against a controversial Israeli judicial reform plan that would have given lawmakers substantially more control over the supreme court.

- Are they genuine? -

The Pentagon says it is working to "assess the validity of the photographed documents that are circulating on social media sites," but admitted they "appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material."

At least one document seems to have been manipulated to make it say that Ukraine had suffered higher casualties than Russia, when the apparent original version said the reverse was true.

But US officials reportedly believe that many of the documents are genuine.

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- What is US doing in response? -

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the apparent leak, while an assessment into its potential impact on national security is ongoing.

US officials have also been in touch with Washington's international allies about the issue, and relevant congressional committees have been informed.

- What impact could leak have? -

The impact of the leak could be significant, putting US intelligence sources at risk and also providing Russia with valuable information on the status of Ukrainian forces.

Documents pertaining to America's allies could also be a source of diplomatic embarrassment, detailing US surveillance of countries with which Washington has close ties.

- Where did documents appear? -

The documents were posted to various social media platforms and other sites, including Twitter, 4Chan and Discord.

But many of them are no longer available on the sites where they first appeared, and the United States is reportedly continuing to work to have them removed.

Independent investigative outlet Bellingcat has looked into where the documents first appeared, reporting that some may have been online before January 2023.

Some were posted on Discord -- a popular chat platform for video gamers -- in channels for fans of a YouTube celebrity and players of the "Minecraft" computer game, Bellingcat said.

wd/nro/mlm
LAGOS, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian police killed one gunman and rescued two kidnapped people in an operation in the northeastern state of Adamawa on Sunday, the police said Monday.

The two victims were kidnapped and taken away by unidentified gunmen from a village in the Toungo area of the state, said Suleiman Nguroje, the police spokesperson in the state, in a statement, adding that one kidnapper was neutralized when he and his gang arrived at a spot to receive ransom demands from relatives of the kidnapped victims.

"The suspected kidnappers sighted our men in the area and engaged them in a gun duel to escape arrest. One of them was neutralized while others escaped with bullet wounds," said Nguroje, noting that efforts have been intensified to get other fleeing members of the gang arrested for prosecution.

There have been a series of gunmen attacks in Nigeria in recent months, leading to deaths and kidnappings. 
MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Kremlin said on Monday that there was a general tendency to always blame Russia for everything when asked about accusations that Moscow may have been behind a leak of U.S. intelligence documents about a number of countries including Ukraine.

The U.S. national security community is grappling with fallout from the release of dozens of secret documents, including the impact on sensitive information-sharing within the government and ties with other countries, two U.S. officials have said.

The documents, the authenticity of which Reuters has not independently verified, include information about the war in Ukraine, including losses for both sides and other details.

Some national security experts and U.S. officials say they suspect that the leaker could be American, given the breadth of topics covered by the documents, but they do not rule out pro-Russian actors.

A former CIA officer has said it is highly likely that Moscow orchestrated the leak in order to sow confusion and potential divisions between Washington and its allies.

When asked about allegations that Russia may have been responsible, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters:

"I cannot comment on this in any way. You and I know that there is in fact a tendency to always blame everything on Russia. It is, in general, a disease."

Russia's Foreign Spy Service (SVR) declined comment when asked by Reuters about the U.S. leaks.

Asked about the idea that Washington had spied on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Peskov, who called the leaks "quite interesting", said that could not be ruled out.

"But the fact that the United States has been spying on various heads of state, especially in European capitals, for a long time now, has come up repeatedly, causing various scandalous situations," he said.

(Reporting by ReutersEditing by Andrew Osborn)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that China had every right to respond to what it called repeated "provocations" against it and carry out military exercises around Taiwan.

Beijing on Monday carried out the last of three days of drills around Taiwan, including practicing aerial and naval blockade manoeuvres of the island, which China views as part of its own territory, something Taiwan's government strongly disputes.

In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said everyone should respect China and its actions which were in line with international law.

"In a very short period of time, you and I have witnessed repeated actions that have been provocative toward the People's Republic of China," said Peskov.

"And, of course, China has the sovereign right to respond to these provocative actions, including conducting military manoeuvres in strict compliance with international law."

Peskov also suggested that France, whose president Emmanuel Macron visited China for talks last week, could not broker a peace in Ukraine as Paris is "both indirectly and directly involved in this conflict on the side of Ukraine. Therefore, it is still difficult to imagine any mediation efforts here."

During his visit to China, Macron called on Chinese leader Xi Jinping to "bring Russia back to its senses" over Ukraine.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Landlords Ben Halfon, right, Monica Kulkarni and Susan Spinks applaud the Los Angeles City Council voting to end the long-standing renter eviction protections due to COVID-19 during an October 2022 coucil meeting Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

The last day of March marked the end of Los Angeles Countys pandemic-era eviction protections.

Even before then, evictions had been on the rise. In the last year, eviction filings across the county have returned to pre-pandemic levels of more than 3,000 per month, according to Kyle Nelson, a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA.

For landlords, the end of the pandemic-era rules comes as a relief, said Daniel Yukelson, executive director of the Apartment Assn. of Greater Los Angeles.

"Owners are just glad to have this burden off their backs," he said. "Its been a very challenging three years  it's been very tough to collect legally owed rent."

Tenant advocates, meanwhile, say they are already hearing from increasing numbers of renters receiving eviction notices. Often people who receive these notices are unsure how, or even whether, to respond. The rules around evictions and tenant protections are complicated and can be difficult for even lawyers to understand.

Every day I receive a call or someone comes to the office to tell me, Lupita, I have received this letter. What does it say? What do I need to do?' said Lupita Gonzalez, an organizer with the advocacy group ACCE Institute.

There are still rules meant to protect tenants, some of which were adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they vary from place to place, creating a patchwork of laws that are often difficult to decipher.

We're in a new era, a post-COVID world of tenant protections, said Faizah Malik, a senior staff attorney with the pro bono law firm Public Counsel. What protections apply really depends on where you live and whether your city has enacted a rent freeze, whether your city has enacted permanent nonpayment protections, like L.A. city, unincorporated L.A., whether your city has just-cause protections. I think that's very confusing for tenants going forward.

Here we try and answer some common questions about the changing rules and about what tenants facing eviction can do. This article focuses on tenants who have fallen behind on rent. But some of the new rules adopted since the pandemic also cover rent increases, relocation assistance and other issues.

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More details on rules affecting L.A. renters can be found at the city's housing department website and at stayhousedla.org, a partnership between the county and city of Los Angeles and community and legal service providers.

What were L.A. County's eviction protections and when did they expire?

The county's eviction protections expired March 31. Under the rules, which were adopted at the start of the pandemic, tenants who were financially harmed by COVID-19 and couldnt pay rent were offered some protection against eviction. Although the rules were often referred to as an eviction moratorium, experts say they did not bar landlords from filing eviction cases. Instead, they offered tenants a defense to use in court if they were being evicted.

Those who did not go to eviction court to fight their case, or did go, but did not have or know how to properly present evidence showing the financial toll of COVID-19 were more likely to lose their homes.

For almost a year now, eviction filings have returned to pre-pandemic levels. As protections continue to expire, some housing experts expect them to increase even more.

Yukelson, of the apartment association, said he doesn't expect a flood of evictions, which can take several months to get through the courts.

"What will happen is perhaps there will be three-day notices going out when tenants don't pay rent or are not complying with their lease," he said. "There may be evictions that get filed, but what happens in our real world is these things get settled out of court."

What does the expiration mean for tenants?

Starting April 1, tenants are required to pay rent, even if they were financially affected by COVID-19. That means that to avoid eviction, renters need to pay rent every month.

L.A. has adopted some rules that protect tenants in the city from being evicted for owing less than one month's fair market rent, which is determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For example, if a renter in a one-bedroom apartment owes $1,300, a landlord cannot evict them because that is less than the $1,747 fair market rent. The rules also apply to unincorporated L.A. County.

"That buys tenants some time," Malik said. But over time, the amounts can quickly accumulate.

I got an eviction notice. What should I know?

Tenant advocates say their No. 1 rule is: Don't ignore an eviction notice.

I always preach to people, if you get something, either from the landlord, or from the landlord's attorney, or from the court, make sure to address it and do something about it, said John Kim, managing director for client services at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California. I know people have a lot of things to do. So they just set it aside and don't think about it.

If you receive an eviction notice, known as an unlawful detainer, for unpaid rent, you must file an answer with the court within five days or risk a default judgment against you, meaning you have lost the case. The detainer will explain in English and Spanish that your answer must be in a proper legal format and that a letter or a phone call are not enough.

An explainer on how to fill out the form can be found here. Advocates also created a tool kit to help tenants prepare an answer if they are not able to get an attorney.

Gonzalez, the organizer, said she often sees tenants come to her office asking for help after they've received a notice to vacate because they did not respond to the unlawful detainer. At that point, she said, it's much harder to offer any help.

I owe back rent from the pandemic. What should I know?

Estimates show that hundreds of thousands of people across the state fell behind on rent during the pandemic.

There are different rules about repaying that debt, depending on where you are. For example, in L.A., tenants have until Aug. 1 to pay rent owed from March 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021, and they have until Feb. 1, 2024, to pay rent owed from Oct. 1, 2021, to Jan. 31.

State law also bars eviction in some cases for unpaid rent that was owed during the first several months of the pandemic, though tenants who qualify must have signed a COVID-19 Related Declaration of Financial Distress within 15 days of receiving a notice to pay or vacate. For certain periods, they would have had to pay at least a quarter of the rent, and advocates say many renters were unable to do so. Landlords can also still try to collect the unpaid rent in small claims court.

Make sure you know the rules in your city or community  and make sure you know which local government covers your neighborhood (sometimes an address might bear the name of a city when you actually live in unincorporated county territory). A tool provided by the city of L.A. to search your address can be found here.

Am I guaranteed an attorney in eviction court even if I can't hire one?

No. Los Angeles advocates are pushing for a right-to-counsel rule, similar to one that was adopted in New York City several years ago.

There are some resources for low-income tenants who need a lawyer. Stay Housed L.A. offers a link to request legal help for tenants who can't afford an attorney, which connects tenants with organizations that are providing legal services for free. The site also offers a list of workshops that can help explain the eviction process.

However, organizations that offer free legal services are often overwhelmed by the large number of renters requesting help and cannot provide full legal services to everyone.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Gus Stewart/Redferns via Getty

Lasse Wellander, the soft-spoken musician who played guitar on many of ABBAs most well-known tracks, toured with the Swedish supergroup for years, and helped create the Mamma Mia! soundtrack, died Friday, according to his family.

It is with indescribable sadness that we have to announce that our beloved Lasse has fallen asleep, a Sunday statement posted to the Swedes Facebook page read. Lasse recently fell ill in what turned out to be disseminated cancer and early on Good Friday he passed away, surrounded by his loved ones.

Calling him an amazing and humble musician, the post also memorialized Wellander as a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather, concluding that he had been a hub in our lives, and its unbelievable that we now have to live on without you.

In October 1974, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus were hunting for session musicians when they heard a rock-blues group called Nature playing in a Stockholm club. They tagged along to a rehearsal, and asked Wellander, the bands guitarist, if he would be interested in recording with ABBA. If I remember rightly it was Intermezzo No. 1, Tiger, and two or three other numbers, he told the magazine Guitarist last year.

ABBA, which had formed two years prior, boasted a lineup consisting of two married couplesAndersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and Ulvaeus and Agnetha Faltskog. The prospect of any marital strife among his new bandmates wasnt enough to dissuade Wellander, however. ABBA was already a household name, having pumped out two studio albums and won that years Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo. He sensed that the pop group was going to be big, quite early on, he explained. Strong songs all the way. Even the simple pop numbers were very high quality.

He promptly signed up to be the groups lead guitarist, and played on everything from 75 onwards, he said.

Wellander joined ABBA as the group toured Europe, Australia, and Japan over the next half-decade. He would be credited on every album the group put out between 1975 and 1981, ending with The Visitors. By then, both couples had divorced, and the atmosphere in the recording studio was, by natural reasons, a bit different than before, Wellander recalled to the Sunday Express in 2021.

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He got the feeling that maybe it was all coming to an end, he said, and wasnt surprised when he got the call that the group was taking a break. By 1982, ABBA was done, seemingly for good.

Wellander continued working as a freelancer, as he put it, collaborating with other Swedish musicians. A prolific session guitarist, he played on 6,331 titles and 1,698 albums over the course of his career, according to data collected up to March 2020 by the Swedish Artists and Musicians Interest Organization. In 2018, Wellander was honored with the Swedish Musicians Unions Studioraven Award for his session work.

He also found time to rack up seven solo albums to his own name. Two of those albums cracked the Top 40 charts in the 1980s, according to a biography on ABBAs website.

He continued working with his former bandmates, playing on several of Faltskogs solo albums and contributing to Chess, the musical about a Cold War-era chess tournament penned by Andersson and Ulvaeus. After a 1984 concept album and concert tour, Chess was staged on Londons West End and later made the leap to Broadway.

Wellander was also tapped to contribute to the soundtracks of both ABBA jukebox musicals, 2008s Mamma Mia! and its 2018 sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

In 2017, Wellander was driving in his car when he got a call from Andersson, who asked him if he could come to the recording studio, saying he was thinking about making one or two songs with the old band, he told the Express.

At first I didnt realize what he meant, he continued. Then I realized he meant ABBA!

With Andersson, Ulvaeus, Faltskog, and Lyngstad reforming for the first time in nearly 40 years to make 2021s Voyage, Wellander would go on to play guitar on eight of the albums 10 tracks. Everyone was so happy and excited, he said of the recording process. It really sounded like ABBA.

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Benjamin Ferencz, the last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials, died Friday, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington confirmed. He was 103.

Today the world lost a leader in the quest for justice for victims of genocide and related crimes, the museum tweeted on April 7.

Born in 1920 into a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, Ferencz emigrated with his family to the U.S. just 10 months later to escape rampant anti-Semitism. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1943, Ferencz enlisted in the U.S. Army and was given the job of anti-aircraft artillery gunner.

Ferencz reminisced about the Armys odd job placement in a 2016 interview with the Washington Post, noting, In their typical [Army] brilliance, being a Harvard Law School graduate and an expert on war crimes, they assigned me to clean the latrines in the artillery and do every other filthy thing they could give me.

It took a while before it began to dawn upon them that perhaps I might be useful for something else, he continued.

The diminutive-yet-outspoken Ferencz  who barely registered over 5 feet tall  eventually rose to the rank of sergeant as a member of Gen. George Pattons Third Army. Action during the Normandy invasion followed  disembarking his landing craft at Omaha Beach, Ferencz found himself slugging through waist-deep water that came up to the knees of those around him  as did breaking through the Maginot and Siegfried lines, crossing the Rhine and bitter fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.

It was Ferenczs last Army assignment, however, that would forever alter the trajectory of his life.

After an honorable discharge in 1945, Gen. Telford Taylor, then the chief prosecutor of the Nuremberg Trials, recruited Ferencz to return to Germany and work with a team of investigators tasked with uncovering the horrors of the Nazi regime.

Ferencz encountered the depths of human depravity while entrusted with gathering credible evidence of Nazi war crimes for the Armys War Crimes Branch  the Germans maintained meticulous death registries at numerous camps.

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Ferencz in 2016. (Brooks Kraft/ Getty Images)

Camps like Buchenwald, Mauthausen, and Dachau are vividly imprinted in my minds eye, Ferencz said in an interview with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Even today, when I close my eyes, I witness a deadly vision I can never forget.

One of his investigators had discovered a trove of secret reports while rummaging through an annex of the German Foreign Ministry near Tempelhof Airport. The typed pages, bound in loose-leaf folders, had been sent daily by the Gestapo to top Nazi officials.

They provided full details of mass shootings of Jews, Gypsies, and other civilian enemies on the Eastern Front by Einsatzgruppen  SS extermination squads that followed the German army into the Soviet Union.

As Ferencz tallied up the numbers of victims listed in the reports, he was stunned.

When I passed the figure of one million, I stopped adding, he recalled. That was quite enough for me.

In the subsequent trial, the International Military Tribunal determined that nearly two million Jews were murdered by the Einsatzgruppen. But with the highest Nazi officials, including Hermann Goring and Rudolf Hess, already prosecuted, Britain, France and the Soviet Union moved on to other postwar concerns, according to the Washington Post. That left the U.S. to oversee any further prosecutions in Nuremberg.

Gen. Taylor, meanwhile, faced extreme pressure to wrap up tribunal proceedings, which included the prosecution of Nazi doctors who had conducted medical experiments on prisoners as well as the trove of evidence against the roving killers comprising the Einsatzgruppen.

At the time, Taylors staff was overextended and underequipped to take on another case.

I start screaming, Ferencz told 60 Minutes in 2017. I said, Look, Ive got here mass murder, mass murder on an unparalleled scale. And [Taylor] said, Can you do this in addition to your other work? And I said, Sure. He said, Okay. So, you do it.

Ferencz, then just a 27-year-old without previous trial experience, became chief prosecutor in what is considered to be one of the most significant murder trials in history.

In theory, the young lawyer could have charged thousands with crimes. In reality, he was limited to the number of seats in the courtroom  24.

Ferencz chose defendants based on rank and education. Of the original 24 selected for prosecution, one committed suicide before the trial and another died shortly after due to poor health, leaving Ferencz to prosecute 22 men for crimes against humanity.

During the trial, Ferencz became the first to use the word genocide  a term coined by Polish-Jewish refugee lawyer, Raphael Lemkin  in a court of law.

In his opening statement of United States of America v. Otto Ohlendorf et. al, Ferencz told the judge, The killing of defenseless civilians during a war may be a war crime, but the same killings are part of another crime, a graver one, if you will, genocide, or a crime against humanity. This is the distinction we make in our pleading. It is real and most significant.

Death was their tool and life their toy, he continued. If these men be immune, then law has lost its meaning, and man must live in fear.

All 22 men prosecuted by Ferencz were convicted. Most were sentenced to death. Defendant Emil Haussmann died prior to the trial.

In a discussion with historian Andrew Nagorski, Ferencz recalled, I had 3,000 Einsatzgruppen members who every day went out and shot as many Jews as they could and Gypsies as well. I tried 22, I convicted 22, 14 were sentenced to death, four of them were actually executed, the rest of them got out after a few years.

By 1958, the last of the surviving defendants were free men.

The other 3,000  nothing ever happened to them, Ferencz added somberly. Every day they had committed mass murder.

After Nuremberg, Ferencz returned to New York with his wife, Gertrude, and spent several years tracking down and recovering the unclaimed heirlooms of Europes murdered Jews.

Motivated by what he saw during the Vietnam War, Ferencz quit his private practice and worked to establish an International Criminal Court with the power to investigate and charge individuals and nations of genocidal acts and war crimes.

The ICC was finally established in July 2002. Notably, the U.S. signed the treaty, but it was not ratified by Congress.

This story originally appeared on HistoryNet.com.
An injured Ukrainian soldier is treated in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on Sunday, March 19, 2023. (Tyler Hicks/The New York Times)

When WikiLeaks spilled a huge trove of State Department cables 13 years ago, it gave the world a sense of what American diplomats do each day  the sharp elbows, the doubts about wavering allies and the glimpses at how Washington was preparing for North Koreas eventual collapse and Irans nuclear breakout.

When Edward Snowden swept up the National Security Agencys secrets three years later, Americans suddenly discovered the scope of how the digital age had ushered in a remarkable new era of surveillance by the agency  enabling it to pierce Chinas telecommunications industry and to drill into Googles servers overseas to pick up foreign communications.

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The cache of 100 or so newly leaked briefing slides of operational data on the war in Ukraine is distinctly different. The data revealed so far is less comprehensive than those vast secret archives but far more timely. And it is the immediate salience of the intelligence that most worries White House and Pentagon officials.

Some of the most sensitive material  maps of Ukrainian air defenses and a deep dive into South Koreas secret plans to deliver 330,000 rounds of much-needed ammunition in time for Ukraines spring counteroffensive  is revealed in documents that appear to be barely 40 days old.

It is the freshness of the secret and top secret documents, and the hints they hold for operations to come, that make these disclosures particularly damaging, administration officials say.

On Sunday, Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokesperson, said U.S. officials had notified congressional committees of the leak and referred the matter to the Justice Department, which had opened an investigation.

The 100-plus pages of slides and briefing documents leave no doubt about how deeply enmeshed the United States is in the day-to-day conduct of the war, providing the precise intelligence and logistics that help explain Ukraines success thus far. While President Joe Biden has barred U.S. troops from firing directly on Russian targets, and blocked sending weapons that could reach deep into Russian territory, the documents make clear that a year into the invasion, the United States is heavily entangled in almost everything else.

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The U.S. is providing detailed targeting data and coordinating the long, complex logistical train that delivers weapons to the Ukrainians. And as a Feb. 22 document makes clear, U.S. officials are planning ahead for a year in which the battle for the Donbas is likely heading toward a stalemate that will frustrate Russian President Vladimir Putins goal of capturing the region  and Ukraines goal of expelling the invaders.

One senior Western intelligence official summed up the disclosures as a nightmare. Dmitri Alperovitch, the Russia-born chair of Silverado Policy Accelerator, who is best known for pioneering work in cybersecurity, said Sunday that he feared there were a number of ways this can be damaging. He said that included the possibility that Russian intelligence is able to use the pages, spread out over Twitter and Telegram, to figure out how we are collecting the plans of the GRU, Russias military intelligence service, and the movement of military units.

In fact, the documents released so far are a brief snapshot of how the United States viewed the war in Ukraine. Many pages seem to come right out of the briefing books circulating among the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and in a few cases updates from the CIAs operations center. They are a combination of the current order of battle and  perhaps most valuable to Russian military planners  U.S. projections of where the air defenses being rushed into Ukraine could be located next month.

Mixed in are a series of early warnings about how Russia might retaliate, beyond Ukraine, if the war drags on. One particularly ominous CIA document refers to a pro-Russian hacking group that had successfully broken into Canadas gas distribution network and was receiving instructions from a presumed Federal Security Service (FSB) officer to maintain network access to Canadian gas infrastructure and wait for further instruction. So far there is no evidence that Russian actors have begun a destructive attack, but that was the explicit fear expressed in the document.

Because such warnings are so sensitive, many of the top secret documents are limited to American officials or to the Five Eyes  the intelligence alliance of the United States, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. That group has an informal agreement not to spy on the other members. But it clearly does not apply to other American allies and partners. There is evidence that the United States has plugged itself into Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys internal conversations and those of even the closest U.S. allies, such as South Korea.

In a dispatch very reminiscent of the 2010 WikiLeaks disclosures, one document based on what is delicately referred to as signals intelligence describes the internal debate in South Korea over how to handle American pressure to send more lethal aid to Ukraine, which would violate the countrys practice of not directly sending weapons into a war zone. It reports that South Koreas president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was concerned that Biden might call him to press for greater contributions to Ukraines military.

It is an enormously sensitive subject among South Korean officials. During a recent visit to Seoul, the South Korean capital, before the leaked documents appeared, government officials dodged a reporters questions about whether they were planning to send 155-mm artillery rounds, which they produce in large quantities, to aid in the war effort. One official said South Korea did not want to violate its own policies, or risk its delicate relationship with Russia.

Now the world has seen the Pentagons delivery timeline for sea shipments of those shells, along with estimates of the cost of the shipments, $26 million.

With every disclosure of secret documents, of course, there are fears of lasting damage, sometimes overblown. That happened in 2010, when The New York Times started publishing a series called States Secrets, detailing and analyzing selected documents from the trove of cables taken by Chelsea Manning, then an Army private in Iraq, and published by Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder. Soon after the first articles were published, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed fear that no one would ever talk to U.S. diplomats again.

In addition to endangering particular individuals, disclosures like these tear at the fabric of the proper function of responsible government, she told reporters in the Treaty Room of the State Department. Of course, they did keep talking  although many foreign officials say that when they speak today, they edit themselves with the knowledge that they may be quoted in department cables that leak in the future.

When Snowden released vast amounts of data from the National Security Agency, collected with a $100 piece of software that just gathered up archives he had access to at a facility in Hawaii, there was similar fear of setbacks in intelligence collection. The agency spent years altering programs, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, and officials say they are still monitoring the damage a decade later. In September, Putin granted Snowden, a low-level intelligence contractor, full Russian citizenship; the United States is still seeking to bring him back to face charges.

Both Manning and Snowden said they were motivated by a desire to reveal what they viewed as transgressions by the United States. This time it doesnt look ideological, Alperovitch said. The first appearance of some of the documents seems to have taken place on gaming platforms, perhaps to settle an online argument over the status of the fight in Ukraine.

Think about that, Alperovitch said. An internet fight that ends up in a massive intelligence disaster.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is expected to repeatedly reach for her veto pen in the coming weeks after the Republican-controlled Legislature spent the final days and hours of its regular session approving a host of conservative priorities.

Lawmakers approved restrictions on transgender rights, measures on abortion and income taxes during a final push to send bills to Kelly ahead of the end of session early Friday. Lawmakers will return in late April to pass additional legislation and to attempt to override vetoes.

The House and Senate both adjourned without taking action on some significant items, including legalizing fentanyl test strips, a priority of Kelly and the House. An effort to restrict ballot drop boxes was also left unfinished.

But Kelly will soon have to decide whether to approve or reject several major bills that did pass the Legislature in recent days. Some of those measures are almost certain to draw a veto, while the fate of others remains less clear. The governor is also likely to sign some notable bills as well.

Here are some highlights of what actions may be ahead.

Will likely veto

One of the clearest targets for Kelly is almost certainly legislation aiming to regulate the lives of transgender Kansans or restrict gender-affirming care.

The Legislature last week approved a ban on transgender athletes competing in girls and womens sports, overriding a veto by Kelly, who had rejected similar proposals in previous years.

But on Friday, Republican legislators went further, approving a ban on hormone therapy and transition surgery for minors. The House approved the measure only after an anguished debate early Friday.

The House vote was 70-52 and the Senate vote 23-12  well short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.

Earlier in the week the Legislature became the first in the nation to pass the womens bill of rights a sweeping bill that defines man and woman based solely upon reproductive capacity. The bill would ban transgender Kansans from any single-sex space inconsistent with their sex assigned at birth.

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Kelly is all but certain to veto both measures, given her previous opposition to an athlete ban.

I know that there are legislators on both sides of the aisle for whom this was sort of a moral values vote and I think they voted against their own moral code and values and I think thats going to be very tough for them long term, Kelly told reporters on Wednesday about the athlete ban.

The Legislature also sent two sets of abortion bills to Kellys desk last week. Both appear to have a decent chance of drawing a veto, especially after Kansas voters in August rejected a state constitutional amendment that would have given lawmakers the power to ban abortion.

Early in the week, lawmakers approved a bill that applies criminal penalties to any medical provider who does not provide care to an infant born alive during an abortion. The American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said the bill, which mirrors legislation pursued in several red states, is aimed at a situation that does not happen. But a miniscule number of cases have been reported in states that do track the issue.

Lawmakers on Friday also passed a package that defines abortion to clarify that miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy care and contraceptives are not abortion. The bill also requires medical providers to tell women receiving mifepristone, the first pill taken in a medication abortion, that the pill could be reversible.

Kelly vetoed the abortion pill reversal language in 2019. The so-called reversal procedure has not been proven in a peer reviewed study.

Finally, the Legislature approved a 5.15% flat income tax in a package that also included the full elimination of the sales tax on food on Jan. 1, 2024. Though Kelly campaigned on the elimination of the food sales tax, she told reporters last week she did not think the state budget could withstand any version of a flat tax.

While the vote total in the House was big enough to allow supporters to override a Kelly veto, supporters are short of a veto-proof majority in the Senate. However, three Republican senators were absent during the vote. One of those senators, Sen. Carolyn McGinn of Wichita, voted against a version of the flat tax in February.

Outcomes unclear

The Legislature approved a bill aimed at keeping the state pension system, KPERS, from investing based on companies or investment firms philosophy toward ESG  environmental, social and corporate governance principles.

Republicans across the country, including in Kansas, have sought to limit the influence of ESG. They fear ESG can amount to companies and investment firms applying liberal ideology onto business decisions.

State Treasurer Steven Johnson, a Republican, said in a statement that when it comes to investing state dollars, the priority must remain focused on free-market principles and the traditional, non-politicized meaning of fiduciary duty.

Kelly does not appear to have taken a public position on ESG, though Democratic lawmakers voted against the measure.

Its still a panicked response to a fake issue thats been created by right-wing media, state Rep. Rui Xu, a Westwood Democrat, told the Associated Press.

Kellys position is also unclear when it comes to a bill authorizing a state-run presidential primary next year. Lawmakers approved allowing Kansas to hold a primary on March 19, 2024, at a cost of about $5 million to taxpayers.

Kansas Democratic Party chair Jeanna Repass, who Kelly supported to lead the party, has expressed support for the measure. But critics question the use of tax dollars to aid political parties.

Political parties in Kansas traditionally hold caucuses to select presidential delegates  a system that tends to favor party activists. Everyone agrees more people would vote in a primary.

Will likely sign

Kelly supports legislation that would place an independent commission in control of pay for members of the Legislature. The bill doesnt directly affect pay but would create a commission that has the authority to change compensation for lawmakers.

A commission of citizens and former lawmakers would study legislative compensation and issue its first recommendation on compensation levels in 2025.

Previous efforts to increase legislative pay have failed to gain traction in Kansas because of fears among lawmakers that theyll be attacked while facing reelection for voting to raise their own pay. But lawmakers say they are more supportive now because the low pay rate makes it more difficult for young and low-income Kansans to run for office and retain their seats for any extended period of time.

Kelly is also nearly certain to sign legislation that will allow many child sex abuse survivors in Kansas to sue over their abuse.

The legislation would allow police to pursue criminal cases indefinitely and give survivors until they turn 31 to file a lawsuit as well as three years after a criminal conviction.

Advocates for survivors had initially sought the elimination of the statute of limitations for civil and criminal cases, but the legislation extending the time frame was passed as a compromise with Republican leaders in the Senate.
There are only two weeks of the Washington state legislative session left, and lawmakers have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to vote bills out of the opposite chambers from where they originated.

After that cutoff date, lawmakers will then need to review changes made by the other chamber on bills that are returned. If any amendments from the opposite chamber were added, lawmakers in the chamber where bills were initially introduced must go back and agree to those changes.

The last day of the legislative session is April 23.

Here are some of the high-profile bills that already have been approved by the opposite chambers.

Assault weapons

House Bill 1240: Senate lawmakers voted on Saturday, April 8, to advance a bill that would ban the purchase, sale, offer for sale, importation, manufacture and distribution of assault weapons in the state of Washington. The bill does not regulate current possession, and an exception was made in the bill for those inheriting weapons. Lawmakers define assault weapons in several ways. The bill passed the Senate by a 27-21 vote.

Because several changes were made to the bill in the Senate, such as exempting active-duty military members on orders to the state, as well as military retirees who move to Washington, the proposed legislation must now go back to the House for concurrence. If signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, the bill has an emergency clause that would make the bill law immediately.

Abortion

Senate Bill 5242: On Friday, April 7, House lawmakers voted 57-39 to pass legislation that would prohibit cost sharing for abortions on health plans that cover maternity services. The legislation was part of a sweeping package of abortion-related proposals this session, and does not need to return to its chamber of origin for concurrence.

The bill now heads for Inslees desk, and if signed would become effective on Jan. 1, 2024. Plans issued or renewed after that date must include abortion coverage.

Cannabis

Enhanced 2nd Substitute Senate Bill 5367: This law clarifies definitions for cannabis products, and is aimed at limiting youth access to such products. The bill would also regulate the sale of products such as delta-8, which currently can be purchased in gas stations and other stores. Additionally, E2SSB 5367 also prohibits the manufacture, sale or distribution of cannabis products without a state license.

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This legislation passed the House on Friday, April 7, by a 90-6 vote, and will have to be returned to the Senate for concurrence. The bill would go into effect 90 days after the session adjourns if signed by the governor.

Advisory votes

Senate Bill 5082: On Friday night, House lawmakers voted 54-43 to prohibit advisory votes from being placed on Washington ballots. Advisory votes are non-binding, meaning that voters have no power to approve or reject the measures they are voting on. They were created to gauge voter opinion on tax increases that already have passed the Legislature. Anti-tax activist Tim Eyman sponsored the initiative in 2007 that first required advisory votes to be placed on Washington ballots.

Under the bill, voters instead would have access to a website that summarizes operating, capital, and transportation budgets. Expenditures for the most recent bienniums would be available in graph form online as well, and charts of local and state expenditures also would be provided.

If signed by the governor, the legislation will go into effect 90 days after the session adjourns.

Government transparency

House Bill 1533: On Friday, April 7, Senate lawmakers unanimously approved this legislation that would exempt state agency and K-12 public school employees who are survivors of domestic violence from public disclosure requirements under the Public Records Act. The bill has been controversial since its introduction, with news media outlets saying that it would prevent them from doing their jobs if certain records are hidden, so an amendment was added by Senate lawmakers that creates an exception to the exemption for news media requesting public records.

The legislation will have to be sent back to the House for concurrence. If signed by Inslee, the law would go into effect immediately.

Missing, Murdered Indigenous Women and People

House Bill 1177: This legislation would create a cold case investigation unit for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People in the state of Washington under the Attorney Generals Office. It passed the Senate unanimously on Saturday. The bill also previously passed the House unanimously.

The introduction of this bill comes a year after lawmakers in Washington voted to create the countrys first alert system for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People.

The bill will be sent back to the House for concurrence and will go into effect 90 days after the adjournment of the session, if signed by the governor.

Drug possession

Enhanced House Bill 1209: Senate lawmakers voted unanimously on Wednesday, April 5, to restrict the purchase, sale, and possession of pill presses in the state of Washington, which lawmakers say are being used to make counterfeit pills, many containing deadly fentanyl. The legislation would make the purchase, sale and possession of these devices a Class C Felony. House lawmakers also voted unanimously to pass the bill from the chamber.

The bill now heads for Inslees desk and if signed would go into effect 90 days after the adjournment of the session.

Hospital safe staffing

Enhanced 2nd Substitute Senate Bill 5236: The Senate approved this legislation requiring hospitals to establish safe staffing committees by Jan. 1, 2024. Those committees must be 50% comprised of non-managerial nursing staff, and 50% hospital administration. Starting in January 2025, safe staffing plans must be submitted to the Department of Health and those plans must be implemented starting on July 1, 2025. If a hospital is less than 80% compliant with that plan, they must report to DOH.

The law contains several other provisions including the ability of the Department of Labor and Industries to penalize hospitals for non-compliance.

The bill passed the House with a 92-6 vote and now heads for Inslees desk.
A woman has filed a lawsuit against Kansas City police alleging that officers illegally searched her home when they kicked down her door in 2020.

In her lawsuit, Monecia Smith claimed that officers damaged her personal property and seized $20,000 during the unlawful search.

The series of events began in January 2020, when Smith was awoken by someone knocking on her door after midnight. She looked through her surveillance video system and saw a person who she believed had been shot. She did not answer the door.

A detective later told Smith he was going to obtain the video, but she was concerned for her safety and did not let him come into her home, her lawyer wrote.

Within a day or two, officers executed a warrant when Smith was not at her home on Benton Boulevard. They kicked in her front door and caused significant damage to her residence, according to her lawsuit.

Smith drove home once she learned officers were there. As she pulled in, according to her lawsuit, she and her daughter were confronted by officers with guns drawn. An officer can be heard on video calling her a swear word.

She was jeered by unknown police officers with profanity by specifically calling her a b on the Ring doorbell several times, according to her lawsuit.

Smiths attorney, Brian Klopfenstein, said Smith cooperated by allowing detectives to take blood samples off of her door. After the search, she alerted the department that a substantial amount of money was missing from her bedroom, he said.

She immediately did everything she had to to put them on notice about the missing money, Klopfenstein said. But nothing ever came from it.

After Smith contacted members of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners  which oversees the department  they acknowledged the officers acted inappropriately and decided disciplinary action was required, according to Smiths lawsuit.

Smith has since been diagnosed with PTSD and suffers from emotional distress, her attorney wrote in the lawsuit. She now gets nervous whenever she sees a KCPD officer.

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Capt. Corey Carlisle, a police spokesman, said the department generally does not comment on pending litigation to ensure fairness for all parties involved.

The Missouri Attorney Generals Office, which is representing the police board, denied the allegations in court and asked a judge to throw out the lawsuit.

In 2020, Smith told The Stars Editorial Board she did not hand over the surveillance footage to police because she was skeptical of the department and cited the fatal shootings of unarmed Black men by its officers. However, she said she allowed a member of the shooting victims family to view the video.

My family, we live in fear, Smith told the Editorial Board of the police. Why should we trust them?

Smiths lawsuit names members of the police board, former Police Chief Rick Smith, current Police Chief Stacey Graves and other state employees as defendants.

The petition was initially filed in January in Jackson County Circuit Court, but it was transferred this month to the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Missouri.
The Pentagon said on Sunday that an interagency task force is assessing the validity and impacts of "sensitive and highly classified material" that was leaked on various social media sites this week.

"Over the weekend, U.S. officials have engaged with Allies and partners and have informed relevant congressional committees of jurisdiction about the disclosure," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement. "The Department of Defenses highest priority is the defense of our nation and our national security."

The leaked material, first reported by the New York Times on Friday, contains intelligence on China, the Middle East, Israel's spy agency Mossad, and U.S. support for Ukraine's military.

The Pentagon, which is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense (DOD), is located in Arlington, Virginia.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , accused the Kremlin of doctoring the documents and leaking them to discredit U.S. support for the Ukrainian war effort.

"The fictitious "document" that ended up on the net most likely serves to discredit counter-offensive ideas and should provoke an increase in distrust between Ukraine and its partners or within Ukraine," Podolyak told Fox News.

UKRAINE WAR PLANNING DOCUMENTS LEAKED ONLINE, PENTAGON INVESTIGATING

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Some inaccuracies on the documents, such as lower estimates for Russian troop deaths in Ukraine than what has been released publicly, have lead to skepticism about the authenticity of the material.

One of the documents said that a Russia fighter jet nearly shot down a British reconnaissance plane off the Crimean coast last September, an event that could have drawn the U.S. and NATO into the war, according to the Washington Post. UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace previously told the British Parliament that the Russian jets flew "recklessly," but chalked the missile launch up to a "technical malfunction."

The Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into the documents, which were photographed before being spread online.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
KUANTAN, Malaysia, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Kuantan Port on Malaysia's east coast has grown from a minor berth into an increasingly important trading hub, connecting the country with East Asian markets.

Having been previously sidelined unlike the major ports along the country's west coast facing the Malacca Straits, the port has grown into prominence as it is now being connected to the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) and will be connected to the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), Malaysia's mega rail project being built by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).

In a recent interview, Kuantan Port Chief Executive Officer Vino Kumar Selvabalakrishnan told Xinhua that greater interconnectivity with the MCKIP industrial hubs and the ECRL has allowed the port to tap into the booming East Asian markets, where Malaysian commodities and manufactured goods are in high demand.

Commenting on the expansion and modernization of the port, Vino Kumar said the deepwater terminal being built for the port would greatly enhance commerce by allowing larger ships with a deeper draft to dock at the port.

Vino Kumar had been to Ningbo in east China's Zhejiang province. He had seen the Chinese shipping industry firsthand and stressed the importance ports have on stimulating economic growth, citing China's construction of massive ports that had opened up access to its markets and allowed Chinese manufactured products to be shipped to the global market.

He added that Malaysia would benefit greatly from such an approach.

The MCKIP is a key Belt and Road cooperation project and a demonstration base for cross-border industrial capacity cooperation. The MCKIP, together with the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park situated in China's southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has set an innovative example of bilateral economic cooperation under the model of "Two Countries, Twin Parks." 
WASHINGTON (AP)  The online leaks of scores of highly classified documents about the Ukraine war present a very serious" risk to national security, and senior leaders are quickly taking steps to mitigate the damage, a top Pentagon spokesman said Monday. And as the public airing of the data sends shockwaves across the U.S. government, the White House said there are concerns there could be additional leaks.

Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, told reporters that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin first became aware on Thursday that a number of classified briefing slides detailing the U.S. military efforts in the Ukraine war and intelligence involving other nations were leaked.

In the days since, Austin has reached out to allies, held daily meetings to assess the damage and set up a group not only to assess the scope of the information lost but review who has access to those briefings. The department is looking closely at how this type of information is distributed and to whom, Meagher said.

A defense official who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters said the Pentagon has now taken steps to reduce the number of people who have access to those briefings. The official said the Pentagon regularly reviews access lists to weigh who has a need to know and have access to classified material.

At the White House, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was asked if the U.S. was bracing for more online releases.

The truth and the honest answer to your question is: We dont know," he said. "And is that a matter of concern to us? Youre darn right it is.

Kirby said at this point, we don't know whos behind this, we dont know what the motive is.

And he said as U.S. authorities go through the documents that were posted online, they are still trying to determine their validity, but have found that at least some of the papers "have been doctored.

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He and others would not go into detail, but at least one of the documents shows estimates of Russian troops deaths in the Ukraine war that are significantly lower than numbers publicly stated by U.S. officials. 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.

At the State Department, spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters Monday that U.S. officials are engaging with allies and partners at high levels over this, including to reassure them of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and the fidelity of securing our partnerships.

The U.S. officials declined to provide any specifics, including about the expanse of the release, how it happened and to which country leaders the U.S. has spoken. Patel added that there is no question the documents' release present a risk to national security.

Investigators who specialize in tracking social media, including at the journalism organization Bellingcat, say the documents may have been circulating for months in private internet chats on the Discord discussion platform. Asked if the Pentagon has contacted Discord, Meagher referred questions to the Justice Department, which has opened a criminal investigation into the leaks.

The slides, which eventually were distributed on more mainstream sites such as Twitter, detail U.S. training and equipment schedules to support Ukraine, assessments of losses, what the U.S. is monitoring on key allies and strategic partners, and what moves Russia may be taking to undermine those relationships.

While the Pentagon has been careful not to authenticate the information contained in any specific document, overall "they present a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation, said Meagher. Were being very careful and watching where this is being posted and amplified.

The documents are labeled secret and top secret and in some cases resemble routine updates that the U.S. militarys Joint Staff would produce daily but not distribute publicly.

_____ Associated Press writers Nomaan Merchant, Matthew Lee and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
A British spy plane flying over Ukraine was nearly shot down by a Russian fighter jet, according to a leaked Pentagon document circulating on social media.

The surveillance plane was flying off the Crimean coast on September 29. Such spy planes are usually used to collect electronic messages, such as radio transmissions.

According to the document, it was nearly taken down by a missile shot by a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet. Shooting down the British plane could have been momentous enough to bring the United States and its NATO allies into the Russo-Ukrainian War.

The Washington Post investigated the document and found a reference to "a near-shoot down of UK RJ." RJ refers to RC-135 reconnaissance planes also known as "Rivet Joints".

UKRAINE WAR PLANNING DOCUMENTS LEAKED ONLINE, PENTAGON INVESTIGATING

SU-30 naval aviation in close formation in the sky over Zhukovsky, Russia, July 24, 2021.

UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace informed the British Parliament about the confrontation in October, saying that two Russian fighter jets intercepted the RC-135 and flew "recklessly."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

While Wallace added that a Russian jet "released a missile" at the time, he did not disclose that the confrontation was nearly a shootdown. Wallace chalked up the missile launch to a "technical malfunction."

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) referred the leak to the Department of Justice (DOJ) this week.

UKRAINE PREPARES FOR RUSSIAN SPRING OFFENSIVE

ZAPORIZHZHIA, UKRAINE - MARCH 22: An inside view of the damaged building after Russian attacks in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on March 22, 2023. After the attack by Russian forces on 22 March, in which one person died and 34 were injured, the people are trying to continue their daily life. As a result of the attack, many buildings and infrastructure were severely damaged.

"The Department of Defense is actively reviewing the matter, and has made a formal referral to the Department of Justice for investigation," Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said on Friday.

The cause of the leak, which includes troves of documents, is unknown. An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the leak may have been orchestrated by Russians to push misinformation, as some analysts have speculated that the documents were slightly doctored in favor of Russia.

"The published data are related exclusively to the information and operational game that the Russians started in order to introduce confusion, seize the initiative and discredit the very idea of offensive. It is obvious," Podolyak said.

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.
Flags of the United States and South Korea, Against a Blue Sky

Credit - Getty Images

Espionage is a habit well-baked into U.S. historythough at times it has created headaches with allies who have found themselves on the other end of American spying.

In 2013, it was revealed that the NSA and CIA had been tapping Germanys then-Chancellor Angela Merkels phone for years. As more reports of U.S. prying into the German government emerged months later, an American intelligence official was even asked to leave the embassy in Berlin over allegations of spying, with Merkel herself describing the situation as a clear contradiction to trusting cooperation.

And Germany isnt the only ally thats felt aggrieved: the French government was outraged in 2015 after news broke that the U.S. had been spying on then President Francois Hollande and his predecessors. Hollande called his American counterpart Barack Obama and said he received an assurance that Washington would limit its unacceptable spying among allies.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, that habit hasnt stopped. In recent weeks, a scattering of allegedly leaked Pentagon documents, some purportedly only meant to be accessible to those with high U.S. security clearance, were posted across social platforms like Discord, Telegram, and Twitter. TIME could not independently verify how authentic the documents were, but they reportedly included information on U.S. assessments of the war in Ukraine as well as intelligence on diplomatic allies.

More from TIME

At least two of the documents, the Korea Herald reports, detailed internal discussions among South Koreas officials concerning the U.S. pressuring the East Asian nation to help supply weapons to Ukraine amid Seouls hesitancy. The information was reportedly based in part on intercepted communication signals.

Yang Uk, a military and defense analyst at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, tells TIME that official ties between the two countries will not necessarily be gravely affected after this incident, but the idea of espionage amongst allies may hurt general South Korean opinion about the U.S. The office of South Koreas President Yoon Suk-yeol was quick to assert on Monday that the alliance is still strong, but Yang tells TIME: I think the Korean public is really upset that the U.S. is not trusting South Korea.

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A Pentagon official told CNN the U.S. Defense Department is investigating the document leak, and South Koreas government on Sunday said it will discuss issues raised by the expose. Defense officials in Seoul have also repeated that South Koreas policy on Ukraine will not change.

South Korea has been very cautious about directly supplying weapons to Ukraineespecially since South Korean law restricts the export of arms that would affect international peace. We are putting efforts to maintain peaceful, good relations with every country in the world, including Russia, Yoon told reporters in October.

Yang says that the publicization of the documents, however, makes cooperation with the U.S., especially on Ukraine policy, even more fraught. Even if the President wants to helpits really hard to do [now], he says.

The espionage issue has already been taken up by the countrys opposition party. The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which controls the National Assembly, has been at best lukewarm about getting involved in the Ukraine crisis, and its become more vocal about U.S. interference. On Twitter on Monday, the party characterized the alleged American spying on Seoul as a serious violation of national sovereignty. One DPK member, Rep. Kim Eui-kyeom, suggested to the Herald that the U.S. spying revealed in the documents was very intentional and premeditated, while another DPK politician, Rep. Youn Kun-young, accused Yoon of sharing the blame, saying that his relocation of the presidential office last May likely allowed the presidential office, the center of power and national security, to be spied on.

Yoon is planning to visit Washington on April 26 to mark seven decades of alliance between the U.S. and South Korea, and his office denied the accusations that he bore any responsibility for the spying affair. A spokesperson for Yoons office told reporters that if there are forces trying to exaggerate this incident ahead of the South Korea-U.S. summit or distort it to undermine the alliance, they will face the resistance of many people.

The state visit later this month will be the first to the U.S. by a South Korean president since 2011, coming as the Biden administration attempts to shore up its relationships in an Indo-Pacific region fraught with security concerns from China to North Korea. The visit, according to the White House, is meant to deepen ties between the two countries. But a spying scandal just weeks before the summit may leave the countries friendship strained. Says Yang: With the U.S.-Korea relations celebrating 70 years of alliancethis is kind of a disaster.
The author's son with his new shoes. Courtesy of the author

I noticed my 12-year-old was walking on his heels while wearing his new sneakers.

I thought he was walking like that because his new shoes weren't comfortable, but I was wrong.

He was trying to keep his new kicks crease-free.

"Why are you walking like that?"

As my 12-year-old son crept across our living room, he turned his toes outward and walked on his heels. He stepped gingerly, though I don't know if there's another way to step when one avoids using their toes. I was perplexed and wanted to know the deal.

My eyes homed in on his hours-old Nikes. We'd recently returned from Shoe Carnival, where I'd parted with approximately $65 to replace his outgrown everyday sneakers.

I know that wearing cool kicks is important when you're in seventh grade, but so is being comfortable in the shoes you wear all day. I thought the new shoes were hurting his feet. But that wasn't it.

"He's trying not to crease his shoes," my other son said. "Other kids made fun of him because his old Nikes had wrinkles in the top."

Shoes with creases aren't cool nowadays

Apparently, in 2023, having creases in your leather shoes  you know, something that naturally occurs when you break them in  can get you picked on in middle school.

So many things about parenting tweens are baffling. I'd thought I had a decent handle on the current rules for seventh grade, but my lack of sneaker knowledge indicated otherwise.

I did what any clueless Gen X parent would do: I took my question to Facebook. I posted a synopsis of the crease situation and waited to see what other parents would say. Some parents seemed surprised to learn that creases in kicks were supremely uncool, but most seemed aware of this fashion don't.

This isn't just a middle-school thing. Shirley Hickle, a photographer from Ohio, said, "My senior boys won't do certain poses (squatting, foot up, etc.) because they're afraid they'll crease their shoes." Other parents said their kids stuffed their shoes with tissue paper at night to help them keep their shape.

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You can also fall down a veritable internet rabbit hole searching for how to get creases out of your sneakers, but the online back-and-forth led me to discover crease guards, sometimes called crease protectors.

I discovered the world of crease protectors

While the undesirability of creases was not known to me, it is certainly not news to a slew of Amazon vendors selling crease guards. These hard plastic inserts are designed to slip into your shoes and help them hold their shape. Crease guards come in different sizes and are available for different styles of shoes such as the Dunk Low or the Air Force 1.

I remember seventh grade. After my first day at a new school I begged my parents to buy me flare-leg jeans because the straight-leg Levi's that had been OK at my old school instantly branded me as a tween fashion flop. They bought me the flares, and while that didn't have a sweeping impact on my life, I remember well the relief of fitting in, or at least standing out less.

I ordered the crease guards; a set of four was less than $10. I still think the creasing issue is silly, but that's OK. Sometimes it's hard to be 12, and if a cheap piece of plastic can make it a little easier for a minute, then I'm not sorry to buy it. There are way more frivolous Amazon purchases that have my name on them.

My son says the guards aren't uncomfortable  though I'm skeptical  and so far they've kept those creases away.

Read the original article on Insider
Several Georgia law enforcement agencies responded to a series of shootings on Easter Sunday that left two people dead and at least seven others injured.

Channel 2 Action News reported a shooting near Phipps Plaza that injured two people just after 3 p.m. in the area of Peachtree Road and Oak Valley Road.

Atlanta police responded to a call about a man shot in the area. After they found him, police were alerted to two other victims. Its unclear what led to the shooting, but Channel 2s Larry Spruill spoke with a witness who rushed to help one of the victims.

While trying to keep him conscious, I asked him his age, just things he would know about himself. I covered the wound. I put pressure on his wound. I tried to stop the bleeding as best as I could. There were no exit wounds, so the bullet is still inside of him. All I could do was put my First Aid training into play, she said.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Atlanta police responded to another shooting on Sunday where a man was shot in the hand. The shooting happened around 1:54 p.m. off Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. Its unclear what led to the shooting.

In DeKalb County, police responded to a deadly shooting around 4 p.m. at 4640 Memorial Drive. Investigators said the victim was shot in the leg and back after an argument at a car wash.

The victim later died in the parking lot of a nearby Popeyes restaurant. His name has not been released.

One shooting in LaGrange left a 20-year-old man in critical condition. LaGrange police responded to McGregor Street and Colquitt Street, finding the victim shot multiple times.

Police said the victim, identified as Davaris Lindsey, was taken to a metro hospital. No information about a suspect has been released. Police confirmed Lindsey died from his injuries on Wednesday.

TRENDING STORIES:

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In Bibb County, the sheriffs office is investigating a fight that ended with a 14-year-old girl getting shot. Channel 2s ABC affiliate WGXA-TV reported the shooting happened around 7 p.m. at a home on Grosso Avenue.

The girl is stable, but investigators are still working to determine who shot her and what led to the fight.

In Cordele, Georgia, police responded around 3 p.m. to a shooting off 7th Street where a man was shot multiple times. Police did not release the victims condition, but a suspect is in custody.

Cordele police said they arrested 27-year-old Sylvester Smith after Crisp County deputies spotted Smith in a car that matched a description given by a witness. Police said Smith didnt stop for deputies but hit a light pole and was arrested after a minor foot chase.

Channel 2s ABC affiliate WTVM-TV reported a shooting that injured one person on Sims Street in Columbus. No other details have been provided on the victims condition, or the suspect police are searching for.

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Police at the scene of a mass shooting in Louisville, Kentucky. Luke Sharrett/Getty Images

At least four people were killed and nine others injured during a mass shooting at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday. The suspected shooter is also deceased.

The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) tweeted at 8:27 a.m. local time that there was an "active aggressor" in Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, and that there were "multiple casualties." LMPD tweeted at 9:16 a.m. that the shooter had been "neutralized" and there was no longer an active threat.

LMPD Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said in a news conference that police arrived on the scene as gunshots were still being fired inside the bank, per The Associated Press. Police exchanged fire with the suspect, Humphrey said, though it was unclear if the shooter was killed by police or if they took their own life.

The suspect was believed to be a disgruntled former employee of the bank, Humphrey said.

During a press conference following the shooting, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) revealed that two of the victims were close friends of his that "didn't make it." A third friend of his was transported to the hospital, Beshear said, who he hopes will pull through.

"I know virtually everyone in it, that's my bank," a visibly upset Beshear added.

"Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence  Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today's shooting," President Biden tweeted. "Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives."

The tragic incident marks the 15th mass shooting in the United States this year, per AP. It comes just two weeks after a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, took the lives of six people. Similarly to Beshear, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) also said that he lost close family friends in that shooting, per The Tennessean.

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This photo provided by Reid Cornell shows police presence near the scene of a shooting in Louisville, Ky., Monday, April 10, 2023. | Reid Cornell via Associated Press

A shooter entered a bank in downtown Louisville and killed at least five people on Monday.

Police say the shooter was killed soon after the shooting began, NBC News reported.

One of the six people injured was an officer from the Louisville Metro Police Department, per The Washington Post.

According to NBC News, The shooting is being described as a case of workplace violence, perpetrated by an employee who struggled with mental health issues.

The gunman started firing in a conference room in the Old National Bank, and witnesses at the scene described the shooter being armed with a long gun, per ABC News.

The bank shares a building with other businesses and residences, per the Post.

He just started shooting, Troy Haste told ABC Louisville affiliate WHAS. Whoever was next to me got shot. Blood is on me from it.

According to The New York Times, police responded to a call about a shooting, and they encountered active gunshots still being fired inside the location, Paul Humphrey, deputy chief of Louisville Metro Police Department, said.

LMPD has confirmed a shooting situation in downtown Louisville with multiple casualties. I am headed there now. Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville. ^AB  Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) April 10, 2023

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was on his way to the scene and tweeted, Please pray for all the families impacted and for the city of Louisville.
A bomb blast in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan killed at least four people and wounded 15 others on Monday, officials said.

The bomb targeted a police vehicle in a busy market in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, which is home to a separatist insurgency and several Islamist armed groups.

"Initial probe suggests that the explosion was caused by an IED (improvised explosive device) that had been planted on a motorcycle and was detonated using remote control," police official Azfar Mehsar told AFP.

"At least four people were killed in the incident -- that includes two policemen and two civilians," he added.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Wasim Baig, spokesman for the Sandeman Provincial Hospital in Quetta, confirmed the death toll, adding that the civilian casualties included a five-year-old girl.

The BLA made no mention of civilian deaths in their claim, saying only that two police officers were killed because of their involvement "in inhumane treatment of Baloch civilians under the pretext of investigations".

Pakistan has been battling a years-long insurgency by militants in Balochistan who are demanding a bigger share of the province's wealth, as well as attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban.

Tensions in the province have been stoked by a flood of Chinese investment under Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative that locals say has not benefited them.

China is investing in the area under a $54 billion project known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, upgrading infrastructure, power and transport links between its far-western Xinjiang region and Pakistan's Gwadar port.

mak-zz-fox/aha
A Ukrainian de-mining team at its compound on the outskirts of Lyman, in eastern Ukraine, April 3, 2023. (Mauricio Lima/The New York Times)

LYMAN, Ukraine  With a practiced calm, a Ukrainian de-mining expert gingerly pushed aside stalks of dry grass, revealing a lethal surprise  a hand grenade rigged to a trip wire, waiting for someone to heedlessly step on it.

The discovery, near the Ukrainian town of Lyman, was just one small development in a wider cat-and-mouse struggle between mining and de-mining teams that is becoming a pivotal element in Russias war in Ukraine.

Mines, trip wires and booby traps are go-to defensive tools for Russias military, inflicting grievous wounds on infantry or stalling armored vehicles. Easy to rig, bury in dirt or cover with debris by the side of a village road, they are devilishly hard to find.

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De-mining is expected to play a pivotal role in Ukraines anticipated counteroffensive this spring, as Ukraine seeks to push back Russian forces and shift the momentum in the war. Its army will be advancing into dense networks of trenches, tank traps and minefields.

Ukrainian land is covered in thousands of Russian mines, trip wires and booby traps. An area four times as large as Switzerland is unsafe because of land mines, the United Nations has estimated.

They kill or maim hundreds of civilians each month. In March, land mines killed 226 civilians and wounded 724 others. Throughout Ukraine, about 350 de-mining teams work continually.

The Ukrainian government has divided mined zones into priority areas for clearance. It is encouraging technological innovation for de-mining tools, and it intends to create a for-profit market for demining services.

The World Bank has estimated clearing Ukraine of mines will cost $37 billion.

Russia has a vast arsenal of land mines, and its soldiers a rich repertoire of tricks for setting booby traps. Russia is among a few countries, along with the United States, that have not ratified a treaty banning land mines in war.

Finding them has become a well-practiced art for Ukrainian soldiers. Areas dense with trip wires, for example, will often have a dead animal nearby, as animals set them off while roaming in the forest.

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In fact, Ukrainian forces were alerted by a dead dog and a dead goat to the presence of booby traps in a thicket of brush and dry grass near a former Russian position, said the commander of a de-mining team sent to clear them. He asked to be identified only as Lt. Oleh, in keeping with Ukrainian military rules.

There were lots of tricks here, Oleh said of the minefield.

The soldiers probed the ground with fiberglass rods  lest a metal instrument trip an electrically triggered mine intended to kill de-miners. The hand grenade rigged to a trip wire had been found earlier by colleagues before soldiers returned to detonate it safely, as it was too dangerous to defuse.

The team, operating outside Lyman, which was liberated from Russian forces last fall, found one booby trap with a trick to fool de-mining teams, a common occurrence. In this instance, it was a claymore mine  an explosive that sprays shrapnel toward its targets  that had a trip wire.

The Russians had stretched an electrical cable nearby, hinting it could also be set off remotely by a spotter. But the wire ended nearby in the grass, unconnected to any detonator. It was just a ruse to slow the de-mining work by forcing them to trace the cable.

The thicket near the position on the outskirts of a village was also rigged with jumping mines, what American soldiers in World War II called Bouncing Betties. When triggered by a footfall or trip wire, they burst a few feet into the air, then detonate in a spray of shrapnel.

Everybody within 25 meters is guaranteed to die, Oleh said.

One such device, a Russian OMZ-52 jumping mine, had killed the dog and goat.

Two distinct tasks face the Ukrainian de-mining teams. Some clear reclaimed areas so that they become safe for civilians to return. Another, more perilous, type of de-mining is carried out by military engineers, who move at the tip of the spear in assaults  walking ahead of assaulting soldiers to find paths through minefields.

Mine-clearing equipment and techniques have drawn less attention than sophisticated Western weapons like Abrams tanks, though Ukrainian officers say much hinges on these operations.

The process of mine clearing can be done manually. A de-mining expert in another small squad of engineers, Pvt. Ivan, said he did this by taking a step and pausing to peer at a yard or so of ground in front of him. He then kneels, as the sunlight might glint off an all-but-invisible trip wire made from slender thread resembling fishing line if viewed from a different angle.

Maintaining calm is essential, he said, even if infantry commanders are clamoring for speed. In one assault last fall, he said, he safely detonated four tripwire booby traps to clear a path for assaulting troops.

Specialized mine-clearing machinery can also do the job. The chunky, lumbering Soviet-era military vehicle nicknamed the Dragon in the Ukrainian army has flimsy armor and only one weapon: a rocket that tows a line of explosives a few hundred yards forward. Placing the explosives over a minefield and then detonating them clear a path for infantry or tanks to move forward.

You focus on your work without being distracted by the sounds of artillery and small-arms fire during the assault, Ivan said.

The unit of about a dozen men has had soldiers killed or maimed by mines, but military rules prohibit specifying how many.

The United States has been providing military aid in the form of a similar tracked vehicle system called a Mine Clearing Line Charge, or MICLIC, seen as preparation for the spring offensive.

Both the Ukrainian and Russian militaries use anti-handling devices on anti-tank mines, which trigger the explosives if somebody moves the mine and are intended to kill de-mining teams.

The Russian military has set a type of seismically triggered anti-personnel mine, called POM-3, which detonate from the vibrations of footsteps before a de-mining expert can even walk close enough to defuse the device. The POM-3s, small green cylinders that can be spotted by an attentive soldier, have to be destroyed by shooting them from a distance.

Detonating mines or booby traps in place is a common practice. It can be done by placing a small slab of explosives nearby that the de-mining soldiers then detonate together with the mine.

For the trip wire discovered in Lyman in the thicket on a recent, rainy morning, the soldiers chose a simpler method. One positioned, ever so gently, a long rope and grappling hook to snare the trip wire, then backed off and pulled.

A boom sounded. Black smoke wafted up. A soldier then casually coiled the rope and walked out of the thicket.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
This article originally appeared on Backpacker

This year marks Backpacker's 50th anniversary. To celebrate, we asked four of our favorite writers to write a letter to the backpackers of the future--specifically, to 2073, when Backpacker will turn 100 years old. Here, thru-hiker and columnist Liz Snorkel Thomas speculates about what the long walks of the future might look like.

To the thru-hiking Class of 2073,

I am so proud that with all the changes our world has seen, there are still people out there who want to go walk for months at a time.

Don't get me wrong: I am not surprised you are still drawn to the calm of nature, the peace that comes from putting one foot in front of through changing seasons and ecosystems. Despite all the technological advances of your era, our human appreciation for the simple act of walking is what ties your time to my generation, just as it ties us both to the hiking legends of the past like Earl Shaffer and Grandma Gatewood.

Some things have definitely changed. I can't blame you for the drone resupplies. How many times have I fantasized about having pizza delivered to a mountaintop? It reminds me of a Triple Crowner I knew, Brice Hammick, who finished thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail in the 1990s. He told me he understood why thru-hikers of my time were switching to navigating with our phones: "If I'd had it, I would've used it!" I know there's some entitled hikers who don't follow Leave No Trace Principle #26 about having food delivered only at trailheads. But I'm still jealous.

Speaking of GPS, it's so cool that when you look at a landscape, the chip in your eye (or is it in your brain? I'm a little forgetful these days.) shows you where the trail is! Even if the PCT in the Sierra is buried under snow or fog is bathing the AT, your line is right there. You can look off in the distance on the CDT and see the line switchbacking up Gunsight pass. You can zoom in on a mountain and never wonder "Which one of those pointy things is Tumanguya?" (Your old guidebooks may still call it Mt. Whitney.) But I bet it gets annoying always seeing that line. I hope you can turn it off occasionally and experience the unmediated wilderness.

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As a gear nerd, I'm drooling over your 2 pound base weight. Can you believe I used to carry 10 pounds?! That's why thru-hikers could only cover the length of a single marathon on a good day. My favorite piece of your gear is that temperature control bubble. I know at 4 oz, it's got a weight penalty, but I don't know how you'd be able to hike a summer afternoon on the AT without it. I personally would've dished out extra for the built-in bug zapper, though.

Pacific Crest Trail (Photo: Cavan Images via Getty)

I wish that we had taken better care of our public wildlands for you. I'm sorry that so much of the PCT is burnt now. I promise you the trail once had great shady forests that smelled of pine in Oregon and Northern California. I'm sorry that it's been decades since a thru-hiker has known the joy of connecting their footsteps from Mexico to Canada in a single season. I wish you had been able to see the Arizona Trail (along with, well, most of that state).

The solar wells seem to keep down your water carries through dry areas like the San Juans on the CDT, though. My respect and gratitude to the droves of trail maintainers who shore up flooding on the Ice Age Trail and North Country Trail. It's cool to see those northern trails have become the "it" place for thru-hikers!

Perhaps the most miraculous change of your era is the willingness of so many thru-hikers and trail town locals to work together with their hands creating and keeping up trails. You've really built a community around it. (The requirement to do a day of trail work to get a distance hiking permit really seemed to help.) My era never seemed to get it. Your culture values (and puts money!) into keeping up trails no matter what.

In my day, it seemed like we were always trying to educate people about the physical and mental health benefits of hiking. Now, going for a long walk is a normal transition and rite of passage for the young and newly retired alike. Your generation got the memo: Nature works. Your cities and counties have built trails to connect neighborhoods and small towns alike to the great trails of the national trail system. I'm so proud that for people in 2073, the value of hiking, camping, and backpacking isn't in dispute the way it was for us.

I can't wait to strap my pack on to check out the new long distance trails you all built in the regions that still have water-Minnesota, Michigan and Maine. I may be over 80, but I still have some kilometers left in me.

With respect,

Snorkel

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HANOI, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's rice exports in the first quarter this year rose to the highest level in the past 12 years as the country managed to boost export revenues of high-quality and high-price rice which has amounted to half of its total export volume, local media VnEconomy reported on Monday.

Vietnam has targeted rice earnings this year to grow 16 percent to 4 billion U.S. dollars from shipments of between 6.5 and 7 million tons, half of which come from exports of premium-grade rice, said Nguyen Ngoc Nam, chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).

The Southeast Asian country posted a 19.3 percent year-on-year increase in its rice shipments in the January-March period to 1.8 million tons, while it recorded a surge of 30.2 percent in export earnings to 952 million dollars in the period, the General Statistics Office (GSO) said.

The average export price in the first three months is estimated at 531 dollars per ton, up 9.2 percent from a year before, said the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Philippines was Vietnam's largest rice export market in the first quarter, accounting for 43.3 percent of its total rice shipments, followed by China and Indonesia.

Since buyers from China made more purchases of premium-quality rice, the average export price to this market rose 18 percent from a year earlier to 589 dollars per ton, according to the food association.

Exports to Indonesia, Vietnam's third largest rice market in the first quarter, surged three times from a year earlier to 136 million dollars, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Indonesia's new plan to import 2 million tons of rice to shore up its national stockpile to 2.4 million tons in an attempt to ensure food supply and support poor people would give Vietnam's exports a boost, said the VFA chairman.

Global demand for rice reserves is forecast to rise in the short term due to ongoing economic and political uncertainty, hence Vietnam's rice markets are likely to pick up further, said Nguyen Phuc Nam, deputy head of the Asia-Africa Market Department under the trade ministry.

Despite favorable market conditions, rice producers are finding it difficult to gain access to bank loans amid slowing economic growth and tight credit as a result of recent financial turmoil in the world.

The central bank has stepped in, asking banks to simplify administrative formalities, shorten credit appraisal procedures, and diversify loan products, so that rice farmers and traders can gain funds for producing, buying, processing and storing rice for export.

Vietnam's rice export grew 15.7 percent to 7.2 million tons in 2022, posting a 7 percent growth in earnings to almost 3.5 billion dollars, according to the GSO. 
Former President Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on April 4. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

To the editor: While I agree with UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky's basic argument that a gag order should not be issued on former President Trump, I think it would be fair for New York Judge Juan Manuel Merchan to tell Trump in no uncertain terms to leave Merchan's family out of it.

Trump said, "I have a Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife and family, whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris." What do Merchan's wife and daughter have to do with Trump's case?

By mentioning these family members in his post-arraignment speech, Trump instantly increases the risk to them, and evidence shows that his words can inspire followers to do things they later regret.

Merchan should be able to pull Trump back into court and sanction him for making any references to his family. The former president is welcome to speak disparagingly of the judge, but leave the family out of it.

David Berry, Altadena

..

To the editor: I cannot disagree more with Chemerinsky. Although he bases his argument on the 1st Amendment and historical precedent, each case is unique and should be judged accordingly; no one shoe fits all.

In the case of defendant Trump, his past of unlawful and incorrigible behavior continues, despite the warning of Judge Merchan. The day the judge warned him about making inflammatory statements about the case, Trump's words to his supporters were clearly contrary to those instructions.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), lead prosecutor in Trump's first impeachment trial, said it best in his closing speech to the Senate in early 2020:

"We must say enough  enough! He has betrayed our national security, and he will do so again. He has compromised our elections, and he will do so again. You will not change him. You cannot constrain him. He is who he is. Truth matters little to him. What's right matters even less, and decency matters not at all."

Larry Naritomi, Monterey Park

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Little Simz has announced her 10-date North American tour, happening this fall.

This marks the British rappers first time touring across the pond since 2019. She was originally scheduled to embark on a 10-date North American tour in the spring of 2022, but had to cancel it for financial reasons.

Now, a year later, on Monday (10 April), Little Simz shared the exciting news of her 2023 North American tour, in support of her latest album No Thank You.

Its been a long time. Appreciate your love and patience excited to announce my NO THANK YOU North American tour! she wrote on Instagram.

The NO THANK YOU tour will kick off on 20 September in Chicago before making stops in Atlanta, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal, Silver Spring and eventually concluding in New York on 13 October.

For more information about how to land a ticket to see the 29-year-old perform live, read below:

When do tickets go on sale?

Artist and Spotify presale tickets will go on sale on Tuesday (11 April), beginning at 10am EDT, followed by venue presale tickets on Wednesday (12 April) at 10am EDT.

Tickets for the general public open on Thursday (13 April) at 10am EDT.

Where can I purchase tickets?

According to Little Simz, tickets can be purchased through her personal website littlesimz.com. However, Ticketmaster and AXS will also be selling legitimate tickets as well.

Little Simzs previously cancelled 2022 North American Tour was originally in support of her 2021 album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.

Being an independent artist, I pay for everything encompassing my live performances out of my own pocket and touring the US for a month would leave me in a huge deficit, she said at the time.
Find live updates on Day 7 of the trial here.

Editors note: This story contains graphic language about the deaths of children.

Dozens of people lined the fourth-floor hallway of the Ada County Courthouse early Monday morning waiting to get into the courtroom where Lori Vallow Daybells roughly eight-week trial is taking place.

This is the first day that the public, along with reporters, have been allowed in the courtroom. Throughout the five-day jury selection process, family members, reporters and other observers watched through a live stream in the courthouses public hearing room.

An 18-person jury panel  12 jurors and six alternates  will decide whether Vallow Daybell killed her two children: 7-year-old Joshua Jaxon JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Vallow Daybell is also charged with three counts of conspiring to commit murder in her childrens deaths and the death of Tammy Daybell. Vallow Daybell later married Tammy Daybells husband, Chad Daybell.

Chad Daybell  whose trial date has not been set  is also charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the childrens deaths. He is also accused of the first-degree murder of Tammy Daybell. The Daybells have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Vallow Daybell also faces a charge of conspiring to commit first-degree murder in the death of her former husband, Charles Vallow, in Arizona.

Roughly 60 people made their way into courtroom 400 about 45 minutes behind schedule. The onlookers, which include family members and reporters, were reminded that no cameras are allowed and audio and video recording is prohibited.

We had a very serious technical issue that delayed proceedings quite a bit, 7th District Judge Steven Boyce told the jury as they entered the courtroom at 9:15 a.m.

READ MORE: Who gets to be a juror? Panel selected for Lori Vallow Daybells once-in-a-decade trial

2 p.m.  Its a pretty overwhelming task to do: Uncle who identified JJ testifies

Brandon Boudreaux, the uncle of JJ and Tylee, throughout his hour and a half of testimony, described an October 2019 shooting that occurred in Arizona. But his testimony didnt come without some pushback from the defense, which argued Boudreauxs testimony about an Arizona shooting shouldnt be allowed.

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Missouri-based attorney Rachel Smith, who is working with the prosecution, said Boudreauxs testimony is critical to showing that the Daybells killed and conspired to kill multiple people and that there will be additional witnesses who give similar testimony to Boudreauxs. Boudreaux was the previous husband of Melani Pawlowski, Lori Vallow Daybells niece.

Judge Steven Boyce allowed Boudreaux to continue testifying about the Arizona shooting but warned the prosecution that if they dont show sufficient evidence to show that the shooting of Boudreaux was all part of the same plan then they will have an issue with the jury having heard this testimony.

On Oct. 2, 2019, Boudreaux was driving back from the gym when he noticed a grayish-green Jeep Wrangler with a Texas license plate near his home. He testified that as he was driving up he saw the window open farther and heard a bang. The bullet would miss his head by a few inches, Fox10 Phoenix reported. Boudreaux told Thomas during cross-examination that he couldnt identify the trucks license plate number.

But, he said he later remembered that Charles Vallow had bought Tylee a Jeep Wrangler and he actually had the VIN number because he was an insurance agent and Charles Vallow had previously asked him to run the prices on his cars.

Is it possible that that shot came from somewhere else? Thomas asked Boudreaux during cross-examination.

No, Boudreaux responded.

A month after the shooting, the Gilbert Police Department recommend that the Maricopa County Attorneys Office charge the Daybells with attempted murder, but in September 2022 prosecutors said they wouldnt charge Chad Daybell and were still reviewing charges against Vallow Daybell, Fox10 Phoenix reported.

Smith said the Arizona shooting is what actively got law enforcement looking for JJ.

Boudreaux was asked by the Rexburg (Idaho) Police Department to identify JJs body, which he did.

Its a pretty overwhelming task to do, Boudreaux said when asked by Thomas during cross-examination why the Woodcocks  JJs biological grandparents  didnt identify the 7-year-old.

Boyce excused the jury for the day at 3:15 p.m. The prosecution is expected to call Rexburg Police Det. Ray Hermosillo at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

1 p.m.  Kay Woodcock finds wedding purchases on dead brothers Amazon account

Kay Woodcock, JJs biological grandmother, told the court Monday that she and her husband, Larry, hired a private investigator in October after they hadnt heard from Vallow Daybell and didnt know where JJ was. The Woodcocks put out a $20,000 reward and talked to every news outlet they could to raise awareness about Tylee and JJs disappearance.

We were so worried about JJ, Woodcock said in her thick Southern accent as she testified from the witness stand Monday. Woodcock was the sister of Charles Vallow, the fourth husband of Vallow Daybell.

Charles Vallow was shot and killed by Vallow Daybells brother Alex Cox, who originally claimed it was self-defense. But Arizona prosecutors would later accuse Vallow Daybell, along with Cox, of conspiring to kill Charles Vallow.

Woodcock said months after her brother died in July 2019, she was trying to set up Charles Vallows old printer when his email popped up on her computers internet browser. Woodcock said she was able to access his email account and said she noticed an Amazon purchase sent to an apartment complex in Rexburg.

Woodcock testified that she also noticed searches on Charles Vallows Amazon account for items including a beach wedding dress, bathing suit and Malakai wedding rings. The Daybells got married on a beach in Hawaii and were seen wearing Malakai wedding rings, East Idaho News reported.

I was shocked at what Id found, Woodcock said.

Vallow Daybells attorney John Thomas during cross-examination asked Woodcock how she accessed the email and Woodcock responded that she thought it was divine intervention or Gods hand helping her.

11:30 a.m.  JJs grandmother takes the witness stand





Gotta go, mama. Gotta go papa.

Those were the last words JJ told his grandparents, Kay Woodcock told the court Monday afternoon. This was on Aug. 10, 2019, nearly two months before hed go missing and then later be found dead.

Woodcock, JJs biological grandmother, began testifying early Monday afternoon and outlined the details that allowed her brother, Charles Vallow, and Vallow Daybell to adopt JJ. Charles Vallow was Vallow Daybells fourth husband and they were married for roughly 13 years.

JJ was born 10 weeks early on May 25, 2017, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Woodcock said he spent six to seven weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit after he was born with drugs in his system. This led the Woodcocks  Kay and Larry  to become JJs guardians as JJ was Kay Woodcocks sons child.

Woodcock testified Monday that Charles and Lori Vallow Daybell approached the Woodcocks about adopting JJ as they wanted to have a child of their own. Tylee and Vallow Daybells eldest son, Colby Ryan, were from her second and third marriages.

She just kind of seemed like (what) every mom wants to be, Woodcock said about Vallow Daybell. The Woodcocks agreed to let Charles and Lori Vallow Daybell adopt JJ, though they still wanted to be involved in his life. It was part of the adoption agreement that theyd get to see him.

This courtroom sketch depicts Kay Woodcock, the grandmother of Joshua JJ Vallow. Woodcock was the first witness to take the stand during the murder trial of Lori Vallow Daybell on Monday in Boise. Lisa C. Cheney/AP

Woodcock, who lives in Louisiana, said that she and Larry Woodcock would try to see JJ every chance they could.

When he learned to Facetime, he would call us all the time, Woodcock said.

In February 2019, Charles Vallow reached out to his sister, Woodcock said, informing her that he and Vallow Daybell had split up and he was distraught. Woodcock said that from February 2019 to March 2019 they were helping Charles Vallow take care of JJ and she was also helping him with work. Because of this, she had access to his finances and emails.

By July 11, 2019, Charles Vallow had died.

Woodcock testified that in February 2019 Charles Vallow told her hed like to name her the beneficiary of his $1 million life insurance policy. Woodcock would receive the life insurance police and give $500,000 to Charles Vallows two older sons at the request of her brother.

Woodcock said she promised Charles Vallow shed use the remaining money to finish raising JJ, because Lori didnt want him anymore.

While the Woodcocks would Facetime with JJ a few more times before hed go missing and eventually be found dead, the last time the Woodcocks saw him in person was in May 2019 roughly a week before his birthday.

10:30 a.m.  Vallow Daybell defense attorney says the jury needs to focus on Lori

Attorneys havent been able to agree on the series of events that led to the deaths of Tylee, JJ and Tammy, Vallow Daybells attorney Jim Archibald said in his opening statement. This is why they are now asking the 18-person jury panel to decide.

Archibald said that Vallow Daybell was in her apartment in Rexburg when Tylee and JJ died in her brother Alex Coxs apartment  which was in the same apartment complex.

He also said  which the prosecution confirmed  Vallow Daybell was in Hawaii when Tammy Daybell was killed.

You are here to focus on what she did, not on what Chad Daybell did or what Alex Cox did, Archibald said.

Archibald, who stayed behind the podium throughout his statement, also thanked the jurors for giving Vallow Daybell a clean slate as all the information that has been publicized about the case isnt evidence.

Being a defense lawyer isnt a popular job, Archibald said. He mentioned that his law office was bombed a few years ago and said not everyone likes defense attorneys.

He also commented on the indictment, which outlines that Chad Daybell, Vallow Daybell and Cox along with other co-conspirators, both known and unknown did conspire, confederate and agree to kill JJ and Tylee.

This charge is saying theyre not sure what happened, Archibald said, and yet they want you to be sure.

9:45 a.m.   Money, power and sex: P rosecution lays out case in opening statement

Tylees hands were gone. JJs hands were bound. Tammy, who was described as a computer whiz, would never place her hands on a computer keyboard again.

But Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell joined hands as they got married on a beach in Hawaii.

This was just part of the information that Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake laid out in the prosecutions 30-minute opening statement. Blake said that it didnt matter what obstacles  including people  were in Vallow Daybells way so long as she got what she wanted.

Money, power and sex, Blake said in court. Thats what this case is about.

Blake described Tylee and JJ as vibrant. Both children received Social Security benefits, and Blake alleged that Vallow Daybell collected their benefits after they were dead.

Tylee had money, Lori wanted it, Tylees gone, Blake said.

She said that Tylees body, which was found on Chad Daybells property along with her brother JJs body, was a mass of bone and tissue. Blake also said that prosecutors will present evidence that shows DNA was found on a pickax and a shovel which were also found on Chad Daybells property.

Blake alleged JJ took a lot of time, effort and energy to take care of and that Vallow Daybell didnt want to take care of him anymore. JJs body was found wrapped in a garbage bag on Chad Daybells Salem, Idaho, property in Fremont County.

Thats how the defendants little boy was found, Blake said.

Tammy Daybell died on Oct. 19, 2019, and officials previously believed she died from natural causes. But after her body was exhumed less than two months after her death a medical examiner ruled her death a homicide by asphyxiation, Blake said.

The defendant will remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wanted, Blake said, and she wanted Chad Daybell.

Check this story for live updates on Vallow Daybells trial.
A Myrtle Beach sandwich shop that had been closed since last year reopened under new ownership Monday.

The shop had operated for 43 years before the original owners stepped down.

Mr. Sub, which has been closed since March 2022, opened up its doors at its downtown location on Broadway Street.

It is not clear if, or what, changes have been made.

Ken Conley and his brother, Tom, operated the restaurant since 1979. Ken turned 65 last year and Tom, 64.

Were hoping somebody actually buys the business, but were getting out of it, Ken Conley told The Sun News last March. Weve been at it 43 years, we figure its time for somebody else to get a hold of this thing and try it out for a while. Weve had a few people show an interest.

Mr. Subs menu featured a variety of oven-baked, grilled or cold subs; salads; and some extras and sides.
Lori Vallow smiles at a camera after appearing in court on murder charges. East Idaho News/Tony Blakeslee

Photos of J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan remains were shown in the courtroom during their mother's trial Monday.

In opening statements, an Idaho prosecutor said Lori Vallow's plot to kill was about "money, sex, and power."

J.J. was found with his hands bound. Tylee's hands had been cut from her body.

BOISE, Idaho  Gasps broke out Monday morning in the Idaho courtroom where the woman dubbed "Doomsday Mommy" is being tried for her role in the murder of her two children and her most recent husband's late wife.

Prosecutors projected photos of the kids' remains onto a screen in the Boise courtroom. Prosecutors said that when they were found buried on Chad Daybell's property in June 2020, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan's hands had been cut off and 7-year-old J.J. Vallow had been bound with duct tape.

Prosecutors allege that Lori Vallow became radicalized in her religious beliefs, using them as a weapon in her plot to kill her 17-year-old daughter Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old adopted son J.J. Vallow. She is also charged with conspiring with her now-husband Chad Daybell to kill his wife Tammy Daybell before they were wed.

"Money, power, and sex, that's what this case is about," prosecutor Lindsey A. Blake told the 18 jurors on Monday morning.

Vallow and Daybell  an apocalyptic novelist are accused of killing their former spouses and Lori Vallow's two children in 2019, before fleeing to vacation in Hawaii, where they were caught. Vallow's late brother, Alex Cox, is accused of aiding the alleged crimes, though he died in December 2019.

The complicated web of crimes prosecutors have accused the couple of, as well as their "doomsday" religious beliefs, have developed widespread attention among true crime sleuths. Spectators flocked to the main courthouse in Ada County where they are being tried, as well as a second courthouse nearly five hours away where they can watch the trial streamed remotely.

In her opening statement, Blake told jurors that Vallow believed she had the ability to tell whether people's spirits were "light" or "dark."

Story continues

Blake spoke about how Vallow shopped for wedding rings for herself and Daybell in early 2019 when both of their respective spouses and the children were still alive.

The two married on a beach in Hawaii two weeks after Daybell reported finding Tammy dead one morning in bed, Blake said.

Prior to her death, Daybell increased Tammy Daybell's life insurance policy, Blake said.

Vallow is also awaiting trial for her alleged role in planning the killing of her 4th husband, Charles Vallow.

On July 11, 2019, Alex Cox  Vallow's brother  shot and killed Charles Vallow in Arizona and claimed self-defense.

Blake said that Vallow, Daybell, and her late brother Cox are also accused of conspiring in the attempted shooting of the then-husband of Vallow's niece. A man matching Cox's description also fired a weapon at Daybell's late wife in her garage, shortly before she died.

Daybell, a former gravedigger from Springville, Utah, ran a company with his wife that published books about near-death experiences and people's visions about the fall of the United States, Armageddon, and the rapture.

Vallow, a former high-school cheerleader in her native Southern California, was a beauty queen and a one-time Wheel of Fortune contestant who became a superfan of Daybell's books and podcasts, Blake said.

She introduced herself to him in St. George, Utah in 2018 at a meeting for a group called "Prepping a People."

Blake said that when they met, Daybell explained to Vallow they had a polygamous, eternal marriage.

Daybell told Vallow that she had once been the wife of the Mormon angel Moroni, but that he was also married to her in the days of Jesus.

As Blake gave her opening statement, images of the three victims remained projected to the jury. Blake also showed pictures of holes on Daybell's property in Salem, Idaho, where Tylee's mutilated and burned, and JJ's duct-taped and bagged bodies were found "cold in the ground in shallow graves."

As Blake spoke, Vallow, in a black jacket and black-rimmed glasses with long, wavy hair, swiveled her head side-to-side to her lawyers and wrote vigorously on a yellow legal pad. Her ankles were bound by a chain.

In center benches in the hardwood paneled courtroom sat JJ's grandparents, Larry and Kay Woodcock  who had reported the children missing in 2019 after not hearing from them for months.

Her attorney Jim Archibald said in his opening statement that there is enough reasonable doubt to acquit Vallow. He said that at the time her children were murdered in Rexburg, Idaho, they were inside a different apartment. He also said that she had been in Hawaii at the time Tammy Daybell died.

Archibald described Vallow as a highly-religious woman obsessed with "the end of times" whose beliefs began to "morph and change" after her relationship began with Daybell.

Daybell will be tried separately for the same crimes.

Read the original article on Insider
The cause of death of Chad Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell has finally been revealed as Lori Vallows high-profile murder trial got under way in Idaho.

In opening statements in Ada County Courthouse on Monday morning, Fremont County prosecutor Lindsey Blake told jurors that Tammy, 49, died by asphyxiation  and not peacefully in her sleep as was originally claimed.

Tammy died at the hands of another and died of asphyxiation, she said, citing the Utah medical examiner.

Tammy, an otherwise healthy 49-year-old, died suddenly in her sleep on 19 October 2019  just one month after Ms Vallows two children JJ and Tylee disappeared.

Despite the mysterious circumstances, her husband declined an autopsy and her death was ruled natural causes.

Less than a month later, Mr Daybell and Ms Vallow married on a beach in Hawaii.

It was only after the two children were reported missing  and authorities began delving into Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell and their bizarre cult beliefs  that questions began being asked about Tammys death too.

In December 2019, investigators exhumed her body and carried out an autopsy.

Mr Daybell and Ms Vallow were charged with her murder but, until now, officials have remained tightlipped about how Tammy died.
Opening statements are underway in the high-profile trial of doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow who is accused of killing her two children and new husbands ex-wife.

Ms Vallow, 49, is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and son Joshua JJ Vallow, seven.

Tylee and JJ were last seen alive in September 2019. Their bodies were found buried on Ms Vallows new husband Chad Daybells property in Idaho in June 2020.

Ms Vallow is also charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell, who died suddenly in her sleep in October 2019.

Ms Vallow has pleaded not guilty to all charges in a dramatic case spanning a string of murders, unexplained deaths and bizarre cult beliefs about killing zombies.

Jury selection took place last week in Ada County Courthouse with a pool of 1,800 potential jurors narrowed down to 12 jurors and six alternates on Friday.

As the trial gets under way, Ms Vallow will be forced to come face to face with JJs grandparents after Judge Steven Boyce denied her request to ban them from the courtroom.

Key points

Opening statements to begin in Lori Vallow trial

Lori Vallow charged with murder of son, daughter and husbands first wife

Prosecutors say murders were spurred by doomsday cult beliefs

Cult mom also charged with ex-husbands murder in Arizona

Slain sons grandparents can attend trial, judge rules

Tammy Daybell was killed by asphyxiation prosecutor reveals

17:18 , Oliver O'Connell

Blake says Tammy Daybell died at the hands of another and died of asphyxiation, according to Utah medical examiner. This is the first time that information was made public.

After Tammy died, Alex Cox said, I hope Im not their fall guy (referring to Chad and Lori). Alex died the day after he said that.

Blake: "The defendant is charged with multiple crimes" and then lists each charge. After saying Tylee Ryan's name, Blake adds, "her daughter." After saying JJ Vallow's name, Blake adds, "her son."  Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 10, 2023

17:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Story continues

Prosecution says 9 October 2019 was a significant day. Tammy was shot at by an unknown person (believed to be Loris brother Alex Cox). Lori is later overheard saying he cant do anything right, and upset.

Prosecution says Oct 9, 2019 a significant day. Tammy was shot at by an unknown person (believed to be Lori's brother Alex Cox). Lori is later overheard saying "he can't do anything right," and upset. #LoriVallowTrial #LoriVallow @KSL5TV  Lauren Steinbrecher (@LaurenSnews) April 10, 2023

Blake says after Tammy died, Lori met Chads kids and they were all over each other.

Chad told his children that Lori had a young daughter who recently died but there was no mention of JJ and Lori never said anything.

Blake talks about the malachite wedding rings that were ordered before Tammy died and how Chad and Lori exchanged those rings on the beach in Hawaii.

17:09 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori began convincing people JJ was a zombie and they believed her. She told a friend April Raymond that when she got divorced that JJ would live with Charles.

Lori told people she was on a religious mission to gather the 144,000.

They manipulated people to not question their actions. When their actions didnt line up with their teachings all the time so those beliefs changed over time to accommodate that.

Blake says when Alex Cox  who would do anything Chad and Lori asked  first moved to Rexburg, he texted Lori and set the wifi password to too many kids.

Lori responded, Funny.

16:57 , Oliver O'Connell

This case actually starts in October 2018. Thats when the defendant met Chad Daybell for the very first time.

Lori and Chad designated themselves as biblical figures named James and Elena.

Defendant will move any obstacle in her way to get what she wants and she wanted Chad Daybell.



Blake continues to talk about the alleged beliefs & how CD/LV rated people light/dark spirits. These teachings evolved into how someone could be so dark that they become a zombie.    |  (@jlumfox10) April 10, 2023

16:56 , Oliver O'Connell

Crime scene photos are shown to the court of how the remains of Tylee and JJ were found as well as an autopsy photo of Tammy Daybell.

The missing children, the sudden death of Tammy, the quick marriage of Chad and the defendant left so many questions for those still grieving the loss of Tammy and those still wondering 24/7 about the whereabouts of the children.

They were dancing on a sunny beach in Hawaii as Tylee and JJ were in shallow graves.

State presents opening argument against Vallow

16:48 , Oliver O'Connell

Fremont County Lindsey Blake will be giving opening statements on behalf of the state. She moves to a lectern in the courtroom and has a presentation she will be presented. Money, power, and sex -- thats what this case is about.

The defendant used money, power, and sex to get what she wanted. It didnt matter what it was.

Tylee had money, Lori wanted it, Tylees gone.

JJ took time and he also lost his father. When he lost his father, he became much more difficult to care for. He was entitled to social security benefits. The defendant didnt want to have to take care of JJ anymore, he had money, JJs gone.

Tammy had a life insurance policy. Lori wanted Chad all to herself. Tammys gone.

Fremont County Lindsey Blake will be giving opening statements on behalf of the state. She moves to a lectern in the courtroom and has a presentation she will be presented. "Money, power, and sex -- that's what this case is about."  Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 10, 2023

16:46 , Oliver O'Connell

The full indictment is read out to the court.

Vallow shows no emotion when the names of her children are mentioned.

Her plea of not guilty is read out.

A timeline of the trail of mystery deaths surrounding the doomsday cult mom

16:27 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Their disappearances and deaths mark only part of a dramatic case that spans a deeply disturbing pattern of murders, unexplained deaths and bizarre cult beliefs about killing zombies.

Now, Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell are charged in Idaho with JJ and Tylees murders, as well as the murder of Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell.

Ms Vallow is also separately charged in Arizona with conspiring to murder her fourth husband Charles Vallow, with the help of her now-deceased brother Alex Cox  who mysteriously also died three months after the childrens disappearance.

The doomsday couple  who are yet to turn on each other  were due to stand trial together in Idaho but the cases have now been severed.

Lori Vallow: A timeline of mystery deaths surrounding the doomsday cult mom

16:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Boyce instruct the jurors not to look up any information about the case and not to speak with anyone about it.

The clerk of the court swears in the jury and puts them under oath. They all stand and raise their right hand.

The trial will run from 8.30am to 3.30pm each day with morning and afternoon breaks in addition to lunch.

16:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Boyce introduces counsel. Vallow stands with them. The judge summarises the charges against Lori. She looks down at the desk in front of her but glances toward the jury.

Seated at the prosecution table, is Rob Wood (Madison County), Lindsey Blake (Fremont County) and Rachel Smith. I expect Blake to give opening statements as the alleged crimes happened there.    |  (@jlumfox10) April 10, 2023

16:19 , Oliver O'Connell

The jury of eight women and ten men is now seated in the courtroom in two rows.

The youngest member of the jury appears to be in her twenties and the oldest in her 60s or 70s. Most of the jury appear to be in their 40s.

Judge Boyce asks for jury to be brought in

16:15 , Oliver O'Connell

7th District Judge Steven Boyce has entered the courtroom.

The jury will be seated on the right side of the courtroom, the defence team faces them on the left side of the courtroom.

Boyce is explaining the courtroom conduct order that is in effect for both the courtroom and overflow rooms.

He emphasises that there will be no re-entry if people leave the main courtroom, but breaks will be scheduled in the morning and afternoon along with lunch.

The jury is now being brought in.

Lori Vallow seated with lawyers

16:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Black blazer, beige blouse. Now Jim Archibald is seated next to her on the other side. We are about 30-40 feet away.    |  (@jlumfox10) April 10, 2023

Watch: What can we expect as trial gets underway?

15:33 , Oliver O'Connell

The trial of "doomsday cult mom" Lori Vallow begins Monday and Dan is joined by @jessecordweber & @MElaw_NY to break down what could happen after jury selection, and what it means for some of the victims' family members to be allowed to attend the trial. pic.twitter.com/WdSsSvUzDl  Dan Abrams Live (@danabramslive) April 8, 2023

Defence team arrives at courthouse

14:58 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori Vallow Daybells defense attorneys have entered the courthouse. pic.twitter.com/t3giuLeFQq  Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 10, 2023

Lori Vallow loses bid to ban JJs grandparents from trial

14:30 , Rachel Sharp

Cult mom Lori Vallow has failed in her bid to bar the grandparents of her slain son from her murder trial.

Ms Vallows trial began on 3 April 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.

Ahead of the trial, Ms Vallows defence team asked Judge Steven Boyce to prohibit JJs grandparents Kay and Larry Woodcock from hearing testimony in the courtroom.

The move came in response to Judge Boyces 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.

Read the full story here:

Lori Vallow loses bid to ban slain sons grandparents from murder trial

Opening statements to begin on Monday morning

14:10 , Rachel Sharp

Opening statements are set to begin on Monday morning in the high-profile trial of doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow who is accused of killing her two children and new husbands ex-wife.

Ms Vallow, 49, is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and son Joshua JJ Vallow, seven. She is also charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell, who died suddenly in her sleep in October 2019.

Ms Vallow has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Jury selection took place last week in Ada County Courthouse with a pool of 1,800 potential jurors narrowed down to 12 jurors and six alternates on Friday.

As the trial gets under way, Ms Vallow will be forced to come face to face with JJs grandparents after Judge Steven Boyce denied her request to ban them from the courtroom.

Prosecutors say doomsday cult beliefs are at centre of murders

13:50 , Rachel Sharp

At the centre of the string of alleged murders and mystery deaths stands the couples bizarre doomsday cult.

Chad Daybell ran a publishing company that put out books about apocalyptic scenarios loosely based on the theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Lori Vallow followed his books for some time, before the pair finally met in person at a religious conference in Utah in October 2018.

At this point, investigators say their relationship became romantic.

And as their relationship grew more intense, so too did their apocalyptic beliefs.

Vallow claimed in divorce documents that Ms Vallow believed she was a god-like figure chosen to carry out the work of 144,000 believers.

Multiple friends cited in police reports say that the couple believed they could drive out evil spirits and seek revelations from beyond the spiritual veil.

Ms Vallow even believed she could teleport between Arizona and Hawaii, according to documents.

But  most chillingly  the couple allegedly believed that people, including JJ and Tylee, had become zombies.

They allegedly had a scoring system for ranking how far peoples souls had gone from good to evil.

The only way to then rid an individual of the zombies would be for them to die, according to documents.

Prosecutors believe that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell used these beliefs to further their plots to kill JJ, Tylee and Tammy.

Chilling final photo of slain children

13:30 , Rachel Sharp

This is the last known photo  and sighting  of Tylee Ryan before she was killed and buried in the grounds of Chad Daybells property.

Taken on 8 September 2019, JJ, Tylee, Lori Vallow and her brother Alex Cox went on a visit to Yellowstone National Park.

Tylee, 16, was never seen or heard from again.

Days later, on 22 September, JJ was also seen for the last time  at his school in Rexburg and by his mothers friends at her apartment that night.

The last photo  and known sighting  of Tylee Ryan (pictured with JJ and Alex Cox at Yellowstone National Park) (FBI)

Lori Vallows former friend says doomsday cult mom saw her childrens murders as mercy

13:10 , Rachel Sharp

Cult mom Lori Vallow allegedly killed her two children in what she believed was an act of mercy, her former friend has said.

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.

Read the full story:

Lori Vallow saw her childrens murders as mercy, former friend says

Is Lori Vallows trial being broadcast?

12:50 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallows murder trial is not being broadcast live,

Since her arrest in February 2020, court proceedings had been televised.

However, Ms Vallows defence asked the District Judge Steven Boyce to ban news cameras from the courtroom at her trial, citing the need for a fair trial.

In September, the judge agreed and prohibited the case being livestreamed.

Yet another death... of Lori Vallows brother

12:30 , Rachel Sharp

In December 2019, Lori Vallows brother Alex Cox died suddenly aged just 51.

At the time, authorities were demanding Ms Vallow present her children. Tammy was about to be exhumed. And Cox had killed Lori Vallows husband Charles Vallow that July.

One day, Cox was found gasping for air on the bathroom floor of the home he shared with his wife Zulema Pastenes  who he had married just two weeks earlier.

Alex Cox died suddenly in December 2019  two months after allegedly conspiring to murder the children (File)

The autopsy found he had a blood clot wedged in the arteries of his lungs and his death was ruled natural causes. However the overdose drug Narcan was also found in his system.

Days before his death, Ms Pastenes said he suggested his death could be looming.

Like one or two days before he passed, he said to me, Zulema, if anything happens to me, I want you to know that there is money in a bag in the closet and its for you. Its not much but its for you, she told police, according to court records.

The day he died, he had also allegedly called Mr Daybell to receive a blessing over the phone.

No charges have ever been brought in connection to his death.

Lori Vallow also awaiting trial in Arizona for ex-husbands murder

12:10 , Rachel Sharp

Two months prior to JJ and Tylees disappearance, Lori Vallows brother Alex Cox shot and killed her husband Charles Vallow.

It was the morning 11 July 2019 and Charles had gone to his estranged wifes home in Chandler, Arizona, to pick up JJ.

Charles and Ms Vallow had been married since 2006 and had adopted JJ  who was the biological grandson of Vallows sister.

Cox claimed that Charles attacked him with a baseball bat so he shot him in self-defence.

Police interviews with 16-year-old Tylee and a smiling Ms Vallow gave a similar version of events.

Charles and Lori Vallow pictured together. Lori is charged with conspiracy to murder Charles in Arizona (Provided)

However, Cox did not perform CPR on Vallow and waited 43 minutes to call police. Investigators say that Charles was also already down on the ground when Cox shot him a second time.

Charles death came months after he had filed for divorce from Ms Vallow, saying that he feared for the safety of himself and the children and that Ms Vallow had threatened to kill him.

In February, he had pleaded with authorities to stage a mental health intervention for his wife, warning that she believed she was a god preparing for a second coming.

Court documents reveal that he had also learned about Ms Vallows relationship with Mr Daybell that June and had emailed Tammy with the information. He and one of Ms Vallows other brothers were planning an intervention over her cult beliefs at the time of his death  an intervention she is believed to have been tipped off about.

At the time of Charles shooting, the case was ruled self-defence.

Now, Ms Vallow is charged with his murder. Her brother Cox has not been charged  because he too is now dead.

Lori Vallow: A timeline of the trail of mystery deaths surrounding the doomsday cult mom

12:00 , Rachel Sharp

More than three years after her children were last seen alive, doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow is finally on 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.

Their disappearances and deaths mark only part of a dramatic case that spans a deeply disturbing pattern of murders, unexplained deaths and bizarre cult beliefs about killing zombies.

Now, Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell are charged in Idaho with JJ and Tylees murders, as well as the murder of Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell.

Ms Vallow is also separately charged in Arizona with conspiring to murder her fourth husband Charles Vallow, with the help of her now-deceased brother Alex Cox  who mysteriously also died three months after the childrens disappearance.

The doomsday couple  who are yet to turn on each other  were due to stand trial together in Idaho but the cases have now been severed.

Now, Ms Vallows murder trial is under way in Idaho.

Heres a timeline of the tragic and bizarre case:

Lori Vallow: A timeline of mystery deaths surrounding the doomsday cult mom

What happened to Tammy Daybell?

11:55 , Rachel Sharp

Chad 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 JJ and Tylee 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 (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.

What happened to Lori Vallows children JJ and Tylee?

11:50 , Rachel Sharp

JJ and Tylee were last seen alive in September 2019  not long after Lori Vallow had moved the two children from Arizona to Idaho, allegedly to be close to Mr Daybell.

Chilling photos captured a smiling JJ, Tylee and Ms Vallows brother Alex Cox on a visit to Yellowstone National Park on 8 September.

The photo is now believed to be the last proof of life of 16-year-old Tylee.

After that day, she was never seen or heard from again.

Days later, on 22 September, JJ was also seen for the last time  at his school in Rexburg and by his mothers friends at her apartment that night.

By the next morning, the seven-year-old  who had autism  had vanished.

When asked where he was, Ms Vallow allegedly told friends Melanie Gibb and David Warwick that he had to be taken away because he was being a zombie.

In June 2020, JJ and Tylees remains were discovered buried in Mr Daybells backyard.

Their causes of deaths have never been released but court documents give a harrowing picture of what may have happened.

JJs body was found in a black plastic bag wrapped in duct tape while Tylees body had been dismembered and burned in a fire pit, before being buried in the pet cemetery.

Joshua

A doomsday cult and five mystery deaths: Everything you need to know about Lori Vallows trial

11:45 , Rachel Sharp

It looked every inch the fairytale wedding.

Dressed in white with pink flower garlands around their necks, the bride and groom couldnt have looked happier as they exchanged vows on a paradise beach in Hawaii.

Photos captured the apparently blissful day as they toasted their nuptials, embraced and she danced to him playing the guitar.

But, behind the photos, something much more disturbing was going on.

Her two children had not been seen alive in two months.

His wife of three decades  the mother of his five children  had died suddenly just two weeks earlier.

And her husband had been shot dead by her brother (who would also soon be dead) not long before.

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.

The Independents Rachel Sharp delves into what we know so far about the case:

Lori Vallow case summary: Doomsday cult, mystery deaths and kids in a pet cemetery

Welcome to The Independents liveblog on the Lori Vallow trial

11:40 , Rachel Sharp

Opening statements begin today in Lori Vallows murder trial.

Follow along here for all the latest updates.
So-called cult mom Lori Vallow's murder trial is about "money, power and sex," according to Idaho prosecutors.

The prosecution's narrative diverged from the more popular media portrayal of Vallow and her husband, Chad Daybell, as religious extremists who allegedly killed Vallow's children and Daybell's ex-wife in accordance with their apocalyptic beliefs.

"Money, power and sex. Thats what this case is about," Fremont County prosecutor Lindsey Blake said in her opening statements Monday, according to FOX 10 reporter Justin Lum. "The defendant used money, power and sex for the promise of those things to get what she wanted."

Blake alleged that Vallow wanted her daughter Tylee's money and killed her to get the 17-year-old's Social Security benefits moved to her own name. She then argued that J.J., who was autistic, had lost his father and "became that much  harder to care for."

LORI VALLOW TRIAL: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CULT MOM ACCUSED OF KILLING 2 KIDS, HUSBAND'S EX-WIFE

Lori Vallow is accused of killing her two children, J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan; her husband's ex-wife, Tammy Daybell; and her ex-husband, Charles Vallow.

Vallow and her husband, Chad Daybell, are charged with murder and grand theft in the 2019 deaths of Vallow's two children, 7-year-old J.J. Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, and Daybell's ex-wife, Tammy Daybell. They are also accused of stealing the children's Social Security benefits after their murders.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

LORI VALLOW CASE: JJ VALLOW'S GRANDMOTHER DOESN'T RECOGNIZE SO-CALLED CULT MOM SMILING OUTSIDE COURT

Blake went on to accuse Vallow of killing Tammy Daybell because she wanted Chad Daybell, Tammy's husband, "all to herself.". Vallow ultimately married Chad Daybell after her children went missing and after Tammy Daybell died.

In September 2019, Tylee and J.J. went missing from their Idaho home for months. Authorities said Vallow and Daybell lied about the children's whereabouts and then slipped away to Hawaii, where they got married in November 2019.

Lori and Chad Daybell are accused of killing 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old J.J. Vallow in 2019.

Vallow's late ex-husband, Charles Vallow, had noticed a shift in his wife's behavior just before her kids disappeared, J.J.'s grandparents previously told Fox News Digital. She was embracing theories about the apocalypse and had started calling her children "zombies," according to investigators.

Story continues

Vallow first met Daybell at the Preparing A People conference in 2018, where they shared the belief that they had been married in a past life. They referred to each other as Biblical figures named James and Elena and discussed their beliefs that people can have light or dark spirits  some so dark that they could be considered zombies, prosecutors said, as Lum reported.

LORI VALLOW, CHAD DAYBELL 'DOOMSDAY' MURDERS: A TIMELINE OF EVENTS

Investigators eventually found J.J. and Tylee's bodies buried on Daybell's property in rural Idaho in June 2020.

An ax found on Daybell's property had Tylee's blood on it, prosecutors said Monday, according to FOX 10.

Vallow and Daybell allegedly collected J.J.'s and Tylee's Social Security benefits between Oct. 1, 2019, and Jan. 22, 2020, after their murders . Blake said in her opening statements that Vallow used the stolen benefits to fund her lifestyle.

Authorities arrested Vallow in February 2020 and Daybell in June 2020.

LORI VALLOW DEBUTS NEW JAIL LOOK AS DEFENSE CLAIMS SHE DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN CHILDREN'S MURDERS

The couple was indicted in late May 2021 on multiple counts each of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception, first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder related to the deaths of Tylee, J.J. and Tammy Daybell, officials announced at the time. Arizona officials in June 2021 also indicted Vallow in the July 2019 murder of her ex-husband, Charles Vallow.

Daybell has written several apocalyptic novels based loosely on Mormon theology. Both were involved in a group that promotes preparedness for the biblical end times. Vallow and Daybell bonded over their religious beliefs after initially meeting in 2018, when they appeared together for the first time on a podcast discussing theories about the end of the world.

The couple was initially scheduled to stand a joint trial in 2021, but proceedings were delayed due to Vallow's competency examinations and an "exceptionally voluminous" collection of evidence, among other factors. Judge Steven Boyce ruled in February that their cases would be severed because Vallow has refused to waive her right to a speedy trial.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Louisville police officer was fighting for his life Monday, hours after being shot by a gunman in the head during a mass shooting inside a bank building.

Officer Nick Wilt, 26, just graduated from the police academy on March 31 and had barely been on the job when he was shot, Louisville Metro Police Department Interim Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel said during a news conference.

LOUISVILLE BANK SHOOTING SUSPECT: WHO IS CONNOR STURGEON?

Louisville police Officer Nickolas Wilt was shot by a gunman during a mass shooting gat a bank Monday. He graduated from the police academy on March 31, officials said.

"The next few days are important and very critical for Nickolas's recovery," she said, adding had come out of brain surgery at the University of Louisville Hospital.

Wilt has been with the department since October 2022, according to his LinkedIn page. Before joining the force, he worked for Oldham County Emergency Medical Services, the La Grange Fire Department, Oldham dispatch and Henry County EMS, the page said.

Wilt's brother is also training to become a police officer, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

His father, Raymond, who received the Bronze Star while serving during the Iraq War, passed away on Feb. 8, WDRB-TV reported.

In a tweet, Greenberg said the "city and so many from around the nation are praying for Officer Wilt's strength and healing. His heroic actions exemplify the best of law enforcement."

Wilt underwent brain surgery Monday after he was shot in the head. He was one of two officers injured when a shooter opened fire in an Old National Bank branch in Louisville.

The gunman, identified by police as Connor Sturgeon, was killed by police. Greenberg and other officials met with the Wilt family prior to his brain surgery.
Law enforcement responds to active shooting in Louisville, Kentucky (Screenshot / WLKY)

Five people are dead after a shooter walked into the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, and began firing on individuals inside with an AR-15-style rifle.

Police became aware of the mass shooting just before 9am local time on Monday. By 10.30am they announced the shooter was dead, along with five victims. Eight others  including, reportedly at least one police officer  were injured and required medical attention.

Connor Sturgeon, a 25-year-old employed by the bank, was named as the shooter on Monday afternoon.

Heres everything we know about the mass shooting attack:

The shooting

Police believe the shooting began around 8.30am EST at the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Police received word of the shooting sometime between then and 8.53am, at which time the department tweeted that it was aware of the reported incident downtown and advised the public to avoid the area.

Just before 9.30am, police confirmed that there were multiple casualties resulting from the shooting.

The shooting ended sometime between 9am and 10.16am, at which time police tweeted that there is no longer an active aggressor threat. The suspected shooter has been neutralized.

It is unclear how the shooter died, though officers confirmed that they traded shots with the suspect.

Police later said that the shooter had some connection to the bank, though the exact nature of that relationship was not made clear.

I dont know if he was an active employee or former employee but the shooter did have a connection to the building, said Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey.

Two unnamed officials also told NBC News that the shooting is being investigated as a workplace violence situation by an employee who suffered from mental health issues.

A police source told CNN that the shooter used an AR-15-style rifle in the attack.

Suspect Connor Sturgeon

Police identified Surgeon as the suspected shooter on Monday afternoon.

He was an employee of the bank.

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According to a LinkedIn account in his name, Sturgeon had worked at the bank since as a syndications associate and portfolio banker.

His family lives in Greenville, Indiana, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

He graduated from Floyd Central High School, where he played basketball and his father was the coach. He went on to attend the University of Alabama before moving to Louisville.

No motive has been given for the shooting.

The victims

Authorities named the five victims killed at the press conference on Monday afternoon.

They are: Josh Barrick, 40; Tommy Elliott, 63; Jim Tutt, 64; Juliana Farmer, 57; and Deanna Eckert, 57.

Eight others were injured and required medical attention.

Two of those eight are police officers, according to Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey.

Nicholas Wilt, 26, is a Lousiville police officer who was responding to the mass shooting at a bank in the citys downtown when mass shooter Connor Sturgeon shot him in the head.

Mr Wilt is currently in critical but stable condition at a local hospital. Two other victims are also in critical condition. Three others have been released from the hospital, and three others remain hospitalised in stable condition.

Interim Lousiville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said that Mr Wilt had just graduated from his police academy on 31 March.

A man speaking to WLKY said his wife, who works at the bank, called him from inside the building during the shooting. She revealed that she and other employees had been locked in the vault to stay safe during the incident.

The woman escaped unhardmed, according to her husband.

Two of the victims were friends with Governor Andy Beshear, who spoke at an 11am press conference. During an emotional address at nearby Slugger Field, he confirmed that one of his friends was killed, and another was in surgery.

This is awful, he said. I have a very close friend who didnt make it today.

That friend was Mr Elliott. Mr Beshear said Mr Elliott helped him in his early carreer and provided him life advice throughout their friendship.

He was one of the people I talked to most in the world, and very rarely were we talking about my job, the governor said.

He revealed that he banked with Old National Bank and formerly had an office in the building during his campaign for the attorney generals office.

Lawmakers react

President Joe Biden put out a statement about the shooting on Monday afternoon.

Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence  Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by todays shooting, he said.

Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives.

When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?

Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell put out his own statement earlier in the day.

Elaine and I are devastated by the news coming out of Louisville this morning. Thank you to LMPD and our first responders for your bravery at the scene, he tweeted.

We send our prayers to the victims, their families, and the city of Louisville as we await more information.

Second shooting reported nearby

Shortly after the bank shooting, officers were called to the scene of a second shooting nearby.

At 11.20am, LMPD confirmed officers had been dispatched to 8th and Chestnut streets.

Police said that there is no active shooting situation and there is no indication the two incidents are related.

There is NO active aggressor at JCTC at 8th Chestnut streets. We are confirming that there was a shooting outside, and the suspects fled prior to police arrival, LMPD tweeted.
MANILA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed by lightning that struck their makeshift hilltop hut on Sunday afternoon in the southern Philippines, a local official said Monday.

The victims, three females and two males aged 16 to 23, were sheltering in the hut amid a downpour when the lightning struck, said Samuel Miralles, an official of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Digos City in Davao del Sur province.

Miralles said four died immediately, while one died at a local hospital.

The heavy rain delayed the emergency responders from reaching the hut due to the slippery road and dangerous ravine. 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.  A gunman opened fire at a bank in downtown Louisville on Monday, killing at least five people  including a close friend of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear  and injuring nine others, authorities said.

The gunman was identified as Connor Sturgeon, 25, who police said was an employee of Old National Bank on East Main Street, where the gunfire erupted at 8:38 a.m.

Parts of the attack were livestreamed, police said.

Follow NBCNews.com for live coverage

Responding officers arrived in three minutes, exchanged gunfire with the gunman and killed him, interim Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel told reporters.

"The suspect shot at officers. We then returned fire and stopped that threat," she said. "The suspect is deceased."

Gwinn-Villaroel also confirmed that the shooter showed some of the deadly attack live on social media.

"The suspect was livestreaming, and unfortunately that's tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured," she said. "And so we're hopeful that we can have that incident removed."

Four victims were identified early Monday afternoon: Tommy Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; Jim Tutt, 64; and Josh Barrick, 40.

And later Monday evening, police announced that Deana Eckert, 57, had died.

From left, top: James Tutt, Juliana Farmer, and Deana Eckert. From left, bottom: Tommy Elliott, and Joshua Barrick. (via Facebook; via LinkedIn)

An emotional Beshear said he spoke regularly to Elliott and mourned his death.

Today Im hurting, and I know so many people are as well. We lost four children of God, Beshear said.

Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad. Hes one of the people I talked to most in the world, and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend.

Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, was shot in the head, underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition, Gwinn-Villaroel said. Wilt had graduated from the police academy on March 31.

"I just swore him in, and his family was there to witness his journey to become a police officer," Gwinn-Villaroel said.

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The gunman might have had mental health issues, according to a federal law enforcement source who has been briefed on the attack.

JD Worley, the CEO of a medical device company across the street from Old National Bank, saw two police officers wounded. One still managed to take cover and return fire, while the other appeared to be "motionless" and was carried away by other officers, Worley recounted.

The rapid gunfire blew out the floor-to-ceiling glass at the front of the bank, Worley said.

"I mean, it felt like watching an action movie in real life," Worley told "NBC Nightly News." "But this is just something you see on the news often, but never could have fathomed I would ever see something like this happen, not only in my hometown, but right in front of my eyes."

Nine people were taken to University of Louisville Hospital, three were listed in critical condition, and three were released, officials said.

Image: Police Work The Scene Of A Shooting In Louisville, Kentucky (Luke Sharrett / Getty Images)

The fast response of officers prevented more deaths and injuries, Louisville police said.

"It is clear from the officers' response that they absolutely saved peoples' lives," Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said.

"This was a tragic event, but it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened."

Mayor Craig Greenberg also thanked officers for their lifesaving actions. Greenberg himself was nearly killed last year when a gunman entered his campaign office, opened fire and grazed his sweater.

"We come together as a community to work to prevent these horrific acts of gun violence from continuing here and around the state," Greenberg said. "We are a safer community, we are a stronger community thanks to the work of our law enforcement."

Police cars, ambulances and firetrucks flooded Main Street between North Floyd and North Preston streets, in the heart of Kentuckys largest city.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the bank employed a security guard.

"The safety of Old National Bank employees and everyone we serve in our banking center locations is paramount," Old National Bank CEO Jim Ryan said in a statement.

Ryan called for "keeping everyone affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers."

The incident unfolded in the shadows of Slugger Field, home of the Cincinnati Reds Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Bats.

That team was out of town Monday, and police used the stadium as a base of operations, appearing to interview witnesses there.

And as police responded to Old National Bank, some officers had to peel off for another shooting just a mile away, at Jefferson Community and Technical College, officials said.

The two attacks were not connected, and classes at the school were canceled, officials said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and his wife, Elaine Chao, thanked police for their fast and brave work Monday.

"Elaine and I are devastated by the news coming out of Louisville this morning," McConnell said in a statement. "Thank you to LMPD and our first responders for your bravery at the scene. We send our prayers to the victims, their families, and the city of Louisville as we await more information."

President Joe Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden were praying for the victims.

"Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence. ... Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives," Biden said in a statement. "When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?"

Monday's gunfire was the latest mass shooting in America. It happened just two weeks after six people, including three young children, were gunned down at a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee.

There have been several other instances of mass shootings in the workplace just in the past five months:

Monday's gunfire also brought back unpleasant memories for longtime Louisville residents who recall Sept. 14, 1989, when disgruntled employee Joseph Wesbecker went to the Standard Gravure printing plant with an AK-47 and killed eight people.

Wesbecker, 47, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.

Morgan Chesky reported from Louisville, Andrew Blankstein from Los Angeles and David K. Li from New York City.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A 25-year-old man opened fire at a bank in Louisville, Ky., on Monday, killing five people  including a close friend of the governor's  and wounding eight others, including two police officers, officials said.

The deceased victims were identified by police as Tommy Elliott, 63; Joshua Barrick, 40; Jim Tutt, 64; Juliana Farmer, 45; and Deana Eckert, 57.

The suspected shooter, Connor Sturgeon, an employee of the bank, is also dead. He used a rifle to carry out the attack, which police say he was livestreaming on Instagram.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who was close friends with Elliott, ordered flags throughout the state to fly at half-staff until Friday evening in honor of the victims.

Heres everything we know so far.

How it unfolded

A street is cordoned off with crime scene tape as police respond to a shooting at the Old National Bank in Louisville, Ky., on Monday. (Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

The shooting began just after 8:30 a.m. inside Old National Bank in downtown Louisville. Police responded within three minutes to calls of what authorities initially described as an active aggressor.

Law enforcement officials define active aggressors as suspects who indiscriminately try to hurt or kill as many people as possible. Such incidents include shootings, stabbings and other attacks.

When officers arrived, they encountered the suspect, who was still firing gunshots, Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey told reporters at a news conference.

A video posted to Twitter showed police arriving in the area as gunshots rang out. In the footage, an officer is seen running into the street to warn motorists.

Active shooter in the bank! Get out of your cars! Active shooter in the bank! the officer is heard shouting.

Inside the bank, officers exchanged gunfire with the shooter, who died at the scene, Humphrey said. He added that authorities were trying to confirm whether the suspect had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound or was killed by the officers. The shooter acted alone, he said.

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We believe this is a lone gunman involved in this, he said.

At an afternoon press briefing, Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, Louisville's interim police chief, said three of the nine wounded victims were in critical condition.

Two officers were among those injured, including one who was struck in the head with a bullet and was rushed into surgery at University of Louisville Hospital.

That officer was identified as Nicholas Wilt, 26, who had just recently graduated from the Louisville police training academy.

"I just swore him in, and his family was there to witness his journey to become a police officer," Gwinn-Villaroel said, adding that Wilt had come out of surgery and was listed in critical but stable condition.

Police have yet to publicly identify a motive for the attack. Gwinn-Villaroel said that the suspect was livestreaming the shooting online, and that authorities were working to have the footage removed from the internet.

Praise for police response to latest U.S. mass shooting

Law enforcement officers respond to the Louisville shooting. (Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg thanked first responders, including the brave and heroic officers who rushed into the bank.

Without a doubt, their actions saved lives, Greenberg said.

The Democratic mayor also asked for prayers for the victims of this latest mass shooting in the United States.

I ask that everyone around our city, around the country, around the world, pray with us for those who are currently at University of Louisville Hospital injured, fighting for their lives, as a result of another act of gun violence, he said.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as one in which a minimum of four victims are shot, not including any shooter, there have been at least 145 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2023, including Mondays in Louisville.

It came two weeks after six people, including three children, were killed in a mass shooting at a Nashville Christian elementary school.

I want everyone in the city to know that notwithstanding tragedies like today, when multiple people are killed by gun violence, our community will continue to come together, the mayor continued. We will find ways to love and support one another and the families and friends who have been directly impacted by these acts of gun violence. And we will come together as a community to work to prevent these horrific acts of gun violence from continuing here and around the state.

Greenberg added: We will get through this together.

Governors friend among victims

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear at a news conference following the mass shooting. (Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

At the morning news conference, the governor said he had a personal connection with Mondays shooting.

This is awful. I have a very close friend that didnt make it today, Beshear said, holding back tears. So when we talk about praying, I hope people will.

The bank building, he said, was the location where he ran his campaign for attorney general, adding that he knew virtually everyone in it.

Thats my bank, he said.

At an afternoon press briefing, Beshear revealed that Elliott had been one of his "closest friends."

"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor," Beshear said. "Gave me advice on being a good dad. One of the people I talked to most in the world, but very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend."

Beshear said he hopes survivors and families of all the victims will reach out to get the help they need. He thanked law enforcement, including the FBI and ATF agents assisting local police in the investigation.

I want people to know that while today is a horrific act, I do believe that this is a safe community with officers doing their very best each and every day, the Democratic governor added. And thats what we saw here.

How the White House responded

President Biden exits Marine One as he returns to Washington, D.C., from Camp David on Sunday. (Ken Cedeno/Reuters)

President Biden released a statement condemning the latest mass shooting in the United States  and the refusal of congressional Republicans to act.

"Once again, our nation is in mourning after a senseless act of gun violence," Biden said. "Jill and I are praying for those killed and injured in the tragic shooting in Louisville, and for the survivors who will carry grief and trauma for the rest of their lives. We are grateful to the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department officers who quickly and courageously stepped into the line of fire to save others."

According to the White House, the president spoke by phone to Beshear about the tragedy on Monday evening.

"How many more Americans must die before Republicans in Congress will act to protect our communities?" Biden continued. "Its long past time that we require safe storage of firearms. Require background checks for all gun sales. Eliminate gun manufacturers immunity from liability. We can and must do these things now.

"A strong majority of Americans want lawmakers to act on commonsense gun safety reforms," the president added. "Instead, from Florida to North Carolina to the U.S. House of Representatives, weve watched Republican officials double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship and communities less safe. Its unconscionable, its reckless, and too many Americans are paying with their lives."
Authorities in Louisville, Kentucky identified the suspect deceased gunman accused of killing five people inside a building that houses an Old National Bank location as Connor Sturgeon, a former employee.

The shooting happened around 8:30 a.m. and officers that responded within minutes encountered the suspect, who was still firing shots, according to Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.

Sturgeon, 25, who live-streamed the deadly event, was armed with a rifle and killed by police, she said. Authorities initially said Sturgeon was 23-years-old before disclosing his correct age.

"This shouldnt continue to happen," said Gwinn-Villaroel. "Evil cannot take over our city."

The victims killed Monday were identified as Tommy Elliott, 63; Joshua Barrick, 40; Jim Tutt, 64 and 45-year-old Juliana Farmer. All were bank employees. Elliott was a dear friend to Gov. Andy Beshear.

EMOTIONAL KENTUCKY GOV. BESHEAR SAYS HE KNOWS LOUISVILLE BANK SHOOTING VICTIMS PERSONALLY, PLEADS FOR PRAYERS

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Police respond to an "active aggressor" situation in Louisville, Kentucky on Monday, April 10.

"He helped me build my law career," Beshear said during an afternoon news briefing. "Help me become governor. Gave me advice on being a good dad."

The University of Louisville Hospital told Fox News that it received nine patients following the shooting, three of which have since been discharged.

The officer injured was identified as Nickolas Wilt, who underwent brain surgery after he was shot in the head. He graduated from the police academy on March 31, the chief said.

"The next few days ... are critical for his recovery," Gwinn-Villaroel said.

President Biden said following the shooting that "Once again, our nation is in mourning after a senseless act of gun violence.

Louisville police Officer Nickolas Wilt was shot by a gunman during a mass shooting gat a bank Monday. He graduated from the police academy on March 31, officials said.

"Jill and I are praying for those killed and injured in the tragic shooting in Louisville, and for the survivors who will carry grief and trauma for the rest of their lives. We are grateful to the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department officers who quickly and courageously stepped into the line of fire to save others," Biden said.



"How many more Americans must die before Republicans in Congress will act to protect our communities?" he added. "Its long past time that we require safe storage of firearms. Require background checks for all gun sales. Eliminate gun manufacturers immunity from liability. We can and must do these things now."

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Attorney General Merrick Garland also has been briefed about the shooting, Justice Department officials said.

Police deploy at the scene of a mass shooting near Slugger Field baseball stadium in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on April, 10, 2023.

Authorities described the shooting as a "tragic event," but said "it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened."

KENTUCKY POLICE END BANK SHOOTING WITHIN MINUTES: A TIMELINE

"I want people to know that while today it's a horrific act, I do believe that this is a safe community with officers doing their very best each and every day. And that's what we saw here," Beshear continued. "Yes, I know that there are steps that the police department is taking to do things better after a recent report. But we certainly saw, I think, the very best from them today. And I want to thank them and all our other law enforcement officers for responding and doing their best to try to save some of my friends and many others."

Images taken in the area showed a police officer with his weapon drawn. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also were photographed at the scene.

The FBI's Louisville office tweeted that its "special agents have responded to the scene of this morning's shooting in downtown Louisville and are assisting our law enforcement partners."

Old National Bank said in a tweet that "In response to the tragic shooting this morning at our Preston Pointe location in downtown Louisville, members of the Old National Bank executive team, including CEO Jim Ryan, are en route to Louisville.

The area where a shooting took place in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on April 10.

"The safety of ONB employees and everyone we serve in our banking center locations is paramount," Ryan said in a statement. "As we await more details, we are deploying employee assistance support and keeping everyone affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers."

SHOOTING OUTSIDE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN LOUISVILLE LEAVES 1 DEAD, 1 WOUNDED

A witness inside the building where the shooting happened told WHAS11 that an unidentified man with a "long assault rifle" began opening fire on the first floor.

"He just started firing," the witness reportedly said. "I didn't see his face. We were in the conference room. Whoever was next to me got shot, their blood's on me."

Another witness told WHAS11 that the suspect and law enforcement got into a "shootout."

One witness told WDRB she was driving in the area where the shooting happened this morning and heard several gunshots and the sound of glass breaking.

"As I was sitting at that intersection, gunfire erupted, like, right over my head," she said. "When I turned, I saw that one of the windows in the bank had been blown out."

She then noted the quick response from law enforcement.

"They were coming from everywhere," the witness told WDRB. "The police were coming out of their cars with black rifles. I just ducked in my car and waited there."

Fox News' David Spunt, Jake Gibson, Mitch Picasso, Ashley Papa and Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.
Rookie Louisville Metro Police Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, was on the job for just 10 days before responding to the active shooter at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville Monday morning.

Wilt is in critical but stable condition following emergency brain surgery after being shot in the head during the mass shooting, LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said at a news conference Monday afternoon.

Speaking to CBS Mornings, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Tuesday that Wilt did make some positive progress throughout the day Monday, calling it some good news.

We are praying for his continued recovery, Greenberg said.

.@LouisvilleMayor gives an update on the 26-year-old rookie who was hospitalized after being shot in the head while responding to Mondays mass shooting: Officer Wilt is still in critical condition but he did make some positive progress throughout the day. pic.twitter.com/BAKU5Sk8NE  CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) April 11, 2023

Gwinn-Villaroel said Wilt graduated from the Metro Police Academy on March 31.

I just swore him in, and his family was there to witness his journey to become a police officer, she said.

Gwinn-Villaroel said Tuesday that she was proud of Wilts actions, as well as the actions of the other officers who responded to the scene.

He did not hesitate, at all, Gwinn-Villaroel said. He was with his field training officer and he did not hesitate. Just truly proud of the heroic actions of those two officers and everyone else who responded.

According to Wilts LinkedIn page, hed also previously worked as an EMT in neighboring Oldham County. The Oldham Era newspaper reports Wilt graduated from Oldham County High School in 2016.

A Facebook post from the Louisville Metro Police Foundation said Wilt has dedicated his life to serving.

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Hes previously worked as a firefighter and dispatcher, the post says.

Since the sudden death of his father in February, Nick has stepped up and taken over being a handyman for his mom, whom he dearly loves, the post reads.

Additionally, Wilts twin brother, Zack, is also in the police academy, and he has another brother named Alex.

Wilt and his girlfriend, Maddie, met while working at Oldham County EMS and the post included photos of the young couple flashing huge smiles at the camera.

You can tell from these pictures how much he cares for her, the post says.

The Old National Bank shooting left five people  including the gunman, Connor Sturgeon  dead on the scene and nine total injured.

Acording to LMPD, the people killed in the shooting are Joshua Barrick, 40; Juliana Farmer, 45; James Tutt, 64; and Thomas Elliott, 63. Gov. Andy Beshear said Elliott was a close personal friend.

Gwinn-Villaroel said two other officers were injured: one was grazed on the left side, and another suffered minor injuries to the elbow.

Gwinn-Villaroel also confirmed Sturgeon, who was armed with a rifle, was killed on scene by one of the responding LMPD officers.

Dr. Jason W. Smith of the University of Louisville Hospital said three patients, including Wilt, required emergency surgery and as of the 3 p.m. update, all were still sedated.

No one is currently awake but its still very early in this process, Smith said. Really, the next 24 hours for all involved in this who required operation are going to be a critical time period for us to understand really how well theyre going to recover from this acute part of their overall care.

Theyve got long roads ahead of them, but if we can get through 24 hours, then we will take another 24 hours and we will keep doing that until they get out the hospital.

Smith said U of L Hospital received nine total patients from the Old National Bank shooting. Of those, three were in critical condition, three remain in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and three more were treated and released. Five total patients were treated for gunshot wounds from this shooting, he said.

This breaking news story will be updated.
Andy Beshear, the governor of Kentucky, - Luke Sharrett/Getty Images

The man who livestreamed the murder of his colleagues in Kentucky was a finance graduate who had found out he was about to be fired from his banking job, sources have told US media.

Connor Sturgeon said in a note to his parents and a friend that he would target the bank where he had worked for over a year, according to a police source who spoke to CNN.

Four people were killed in the Old National Bank after Sturgeon stormed the branch shortly after opening time and opened fire with an AR-15-style assault rifle. The gunman himself died, taking the toll to five.

Connor Sturgeon - LinkedIn

Police identified the dead as Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliot, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and James Tutt, 64.

Two police officers were among nine people wounded at the scene, including a 26-year-old recent police academy graduate who was struck in the head and remained in critical condition after brain surgery on Monday. Two other victims were also in critical condition.

Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, moved to tears, told a press conference on Monday that he was friends with some of the victims.

This is awful," he said.

"I have a very close friend who didnt make it today. And I have another close friend who didnt, either. And one whos at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through.

Remembering his friend, Mr Elliot, he said: "He taught me how to help build my law career, he helped me become governor, he gave me advice on being a good dad."

Gunman targeted colleagues

According to the Facebook page of the shooter's mother, Sturgeon grew up in southern Indiana, which is just north of Louisville. The elder of two boys, he attended Floyd Central High School in Floyds Knobs, Indiana, where he ran track and played basketball for the team his father coached.

He enrolled as a business student at the University of Alabama in 2016.

Sturgeon worked at the bank as an intern for three summers from 2018 to 2020 before becoming a full-time employee in 2022 as a portfolio banker, according to a LinkedIn profile page.

Story continues

He had no prior contact with Louisville police. But on Monday he embarked on what the city major called a "targeted act of evil violence", opening fire with a sporting rifle during his work's morning staff meeting.

A bank employee took refuge in the vault, locking herself in and calling her husband who she begged to contact police to send help. Caleb Goodlett, her husband, said that by the time he called authorities, they were already on the scene.

Other employees said they were in the office when a colleague came in and warned them about a shooter entering the building carrying guns.

A man who escaped the building during the shooting said the shooter opened fire with a long rifle in a conference room in the back of the building on the first floor.

Witness Troy Haste, who is reportedly a former employee of the bank, told the news station: Whoever was next to me got shot  blood is on me from it.

He said he survived the attack by hiding in a break room, adding: I didnt see his face. I was looking around, opening the door to see where he was at, and I could still see him shooting.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks with police at the scene - MICHAEL CLEVENGER/USA TODAY NETWORK

One witness said she heard multiple gunshots and breaking glass while in her car at a junction nearby.

The woman, only named as Debbie, told WDRB local media station: Gunfire erupted, like, right over my head. When I turned, I saw that one of the windows in the bank had been blown out.

Six others were taken to hospital after the mass shooting - MICHAEL CLEVENGER/USA TODAY NETWORK

Police were called to the building on East Main Street at around 8.30am where officers encountered the suspect almost immediately, still firing gun shots.

He died at the scene and police are still trying to confirm if the suspect died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds or if he was killed by officers.

Police were working to identify all of the victims.

Residents were urged to stay away from the scene as the investigation is expected to carry on into the night.
LEANDRO LOZADA/AFP via Getty Images

Five people were killed and eight more injured, including three police officers, when a Kentucky bank employee shot up his workplace in downtown Louisville on Monday morning, authorities said.

Calls first came in at about 8:38 a.m. for an active shooter at a multi-story office complex known as the Old National Bank Building on East Main Street, police said. Officers were on the scene within three minutes, Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said.

Gwinn-Villaroel identified the suspect as Connor Sturgeon, a 23-year-old white man who was employed by the bank. Sturgeon was neutralized after exchanging gunfire with police. Its unclear if he was killed by police or by self-inflicted gunshots.

His victims were identified as Old National Banks senior vice president Tommy Elliott, 63, market executive Jim Tutt, 64, senior vice president of commercial real estate Josh Barrick, 40, and commercial banking agent Juliana Farmer, 57.

Police later announced that a fifth victim, 57-year-old Deanna Eckert, died hours after being shot during the bloody incident.

David McArthur, a spokesperson for UofL Health, told The Daily Beast the hospital had treated nine victims, including two cops. Three of those patients were later discharged. One injured officer was taken into surgery and the other injuries appeared to be non-critical, a police spokesperson said.

Five people were dead after the shooting at the downtown Old National Bank Building. LEANDRO LOZADA/AFP via Getty

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear revealed Elliott was one of his very close friends. He said two other friends had been hospitalized.

My [attorney general] campaign is out of that building and virtually everyone in it, thats my bank, he said at a press briefing, while appearing to fight back tears. There are a lot of people who are hurting today.

Tammy Madigan, who works for a commercial real estate company on the fifth floor of the bank building, told The Daily Beast by phone that it was probably my worst Monday ever.

There were six people already in the office when one of their colleagues arrived and saw somebody walk into the building with guns, according to Madigan. Spooked, the colleague called his co-workers upstairs and warned everyone not to leave, she said. So Madigan and her colleagues called 911, then locked all the doors. Police were on the scene within five minutes, she estimated.

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But before the police got there, we started hearing shooting, she told The Daily Beast once shed arrived back home. The bathrooms on our floor have keycode entry, so it was probably the safest place we could think of to hide. So the six of us went into the mens room, turned off all the sound on our phones, tried to be as quiet as we could.

The shooting continued for about another five minutes, and Madigan said she and the others heard voices saying they were the police, trying to get them to come out.

But we didnt know if it was really the police or the shooter trying to get us to come out, Madigan continued.

Once the police convinced Madigan and the others they were for real, officers evacuated everyone from the premises.

When the elevator door opened, the shooter was just laying there, dead, Madigan said. There was lots of glass all over. One of the girls in my office was just breaking down. One of the guys was pushing the button to close the doors, so the police let us go out through the basement, and then took us over to Slugger Field, where they began taking statements from everybody in the building. I bet there were 100 cops there, I dont know how many shooters were involved but I know they got one.

While they were still huddled in the mens room, Madigan said she heard police outside the door running while yelling, Blue down! Blue down!presumably in response to the injured officers.

Police deploy to the scene of the shooting. Michael Clevenger/USA Today Network via REUTERS

Videos of the incident shared on social media appeared to show officers in the area yelling at drivers to get out of their cars while warning of an active shooter. Sirens and what sounds like gunshots can be heard in the footage.

Col. Humphrey confirmed the number of casualties and confirmed a lone shooter was responsible.

Madigans husband, Darren, said he was hoping this day would never come. However, he said he knew it was probably just a matter of time.

Were having daily mass shootings now, and my wife and I have been saying, When are we going to have one close to us? he told The Daily Beast. And today there was one in the building where she works.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks with police deploying at the scene of a mass shooting near Slugger Field baseball stadium in downtown Louisville, Kentucky Michael Clevenger/USA Today Network via Reuters

Five people were killed during a mass shooting at a bank building in Louisville, police said.

A survivor described the moments he ran for his life out of the building as bullets were flying.

"I could see him still shooting. I didn't see his face," the man told WHAS-TV in the aftermath.

A survivor of Monday morning's deadly bank shooting in Louisville, Kentucky, described the harrowing moments he ran for his life out of the building as bullets were still flying.

"We have a break room. I got in there, shut the door for a second, and then I was looking around opening the door to see where he was at, and I could see him still shooting," the unidentified man told WHAS-TV in the aftermath of the massacre at Old National Bank.

The trembling witness added: "I didn't see his face, and then I took off running out the front door."

Police initially said four people were killed in the shooting, and nine others, including two police officers, were injured. Monday evening, police said a fifth person, 57-year-old Deana Eckert, died.

Police identified the other victims as Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and James Tutt, 64.

The shooter was also dead after police responded to the scene, according to authorities.

Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey told reporters during a press briefing that authorities exchanged gunfire with the shooter and at least two officers were shot.

Police believe that the shooter had a connection to the bank and that he was an apparent employee, according to Humphrey.

"It is clear from the officers responses, they absolutely save people's lives," Humphrey said. "This is a tragic event, but it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened."

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told reporters that one of his closest friends was among those killed in the shooting.

The Louisville mass shooting comes in the wake of the deadly massacre at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee last month. Three 9-year-olds and three adult staffers were slain in that shooting.

Story continues

"It feels like every day in this country we are totally consumed by yet another mass shooting. Nowhere else in the developed world do people wake up to this preventable horror every single morning," Kris Brown, the president of Brady, a non-profit working to prevent gun violence, said in a statement on Monday.

Brown continued, "It does not have to be this way. But until the gun industry no longer has a vice grip on our elected officials, this will continue to be our daily reality."

April 10, 2023  This story has been updated to reflect that Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear lost one of his friends in the shooting, not two, as he said earlier. The story has also been updated to reflect that nine injured victims were taken to the hospital and five people were killed. Previous statements from police said eight injured victims were hospitalized and four people were dead.

Read the original article on Insider
A gunman opened fire in a downtown Louisville bank Monday morning, killing at least five people and hospitalizing eight others, the Louisville Metro Police Department confirms.

Few details had emerged by Monday afternoon about the shooter or their victims, but an emotional Gov. Andy Beshear did say one of the deceased as a very close friend during a news conference.

While this is Kentuckys first mass shooting of 2023, its the 146th mass shooting in the U.S. this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit that tracks gun violence through police reports, news coverage and other publicly available sources.

Beshear, emotional, says he has a very close friend who didnt make it today.  Tessa Duvall (@TessaDuvall) April 10, 2023

As reported by the New York Times, there is no broad agreement about what constitutes a mass shooting, and the Gun Violence Archives defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people are killed or injured.

According to figures from the archive, there have been more than 11,000 all-cause gun violence deaths so far in 2023. That includes homicides, suicides and unintentional shootings, among other types. In 2022, the Gun Violence Archive recorded 647 mass shootings, and of those, 21 involved five or more fatalities.

Heres a brief though incomplete look at Kentuckys history of mass shootings according to archived Associated Press and Herald-Leader staff reports.

April 10, 2023 mass shooting in Louisville

Casualties for this shooting include at least five people, who have not been publicly identified as of Monday afternoon, and at least eight more injured, LMPD confirmed.

While the details are still emerging, LMPD confirmed the shooting was at Old National Bank in downtown and the shooter had connections to the bank, Deputy Chief Col. Paul Humphrey said Monday.

The shooters exact connection to the bank is unknown, but they are believed to be either an employee or former employee, Humphrey said.

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Sept. 19, 1989 Standard Gravure mass shooting in Louisville

Louisville has experienced mass shootings before, though Mondays shooting is the deadliest since at least Sept. 19, 1989.

On that date, Joseph Wesbecker shot and killed eight people and wounded a dozen others at the Standard Gravure printing plant before killing himself, according to archived news reports.

Wesbecker was a former employee who was on disability leave from the plant. He was armed with an AK-47 rifle and several other guns and had more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

A coroners jury said excessive stress in the workplace and possibly the effects of psychiatric drugs contributed to the rampage.

Survivors and relatives of those killed sued Eli Lilly, maker of the antidepressant Prozac, arguing the drug caused Wesbecker to turn violent, but a jury cleared the company of any liability. The drug maker argued in court Wesbecker had a history of aggression, mental illness and hatred toward his former employers dating back years.

October 1989 mass shooting in Laurel County

Four people were shot to death in Laurel County in October 1989. Their bodies were found in October 1991, wrapped in quilts and sealed with cement in a septic tank at a burned-out home in Bald Rock.

Robert Foley was convicted in the murders and is on death row for those and other homicides.

April 1986 shooting in Lexington

LaFonda Fay Foster and Tina Marie Hickey Powell killed five Lexington people within three hours in this event in April 1986.

Foster was sentenced to death. The sentence was overturned by the Kentucky Supreme Court and she is serving life without parole. Powell was sentenced to life in prison.

October 1981 mass shooting in Floyd County

In another shooting in October 1981, William Oakie Bevins, a 71-year-old retired coal miner, murdered five men and wounded three others at a Floyd County truck parts store.

Bevins was sentenced to death. He died of a stroke at age 78 in 1989 before the sentence was carried out.

This story may be updated.

Do you have a question about Kentucky for our service journalism team? Wed like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.
JetBlue and the Massachusetts Port Authority on Monday announced that nonstop flights to two popular Florida destinations will soon be coming to Worcester Regional Airport.

Daily, year-round service to Orlando International Airport is launching this summer and winter seasonal service to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers will be made available in the winter.

Seats for flights are already on sale with fares as low as $34.

We are proud to introduce even more options to connect our Massachusetts customers to the places they want to fly with more nonstop Florida service from Worcester, said Robin Hayes, chief executive officer, JetBlue. Customers can now much more easily travel back and forth to Florida with JetBlues low fares and award-winning service, including with daily flights to Fort Myers during the Red Sox Spring Training.

With the addition of these routes, JetBlue will serve three Florida cities  Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Fort Myers  from Worcester, meeting the increased demand from customers in the Central Massachusetts region for additional Florida flights.

Worcester Regional Airport is an important economic asset for the entire state, and these new routes will help deliver even more growth and connectivity for our businesses and residents, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said. I congratulate Massport and our federal, state, and city partners for securing this expansion with JetBlue and building on the economic and tourism benefits for Central Massachusetts.

Worcester offers a modern, spacious terminal, easy curbside drop-off and pick-up, free Wi-Fi, full-service food and beverage, and $7 daily or $42 weekly parking.

The return of JetBlues Orlando service and their brand new seasonal flight to Fort Myers demonstrates their commitment to Worcester and the surrounding communities, Worcester City Manager Eric D. Batista said. We applaud the efforts of the Massachusetts Port Authority and Worcester Regional Airport in prioritizing Central Massachusetts as a significant gateway for business and leisure travel.

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Daily service from Worcester to Orlando officially begins on June 15 with two JetBlue flights: Flight #488 (11:05 a.m. to 1:54 p.m.) and Flight #987 (2:40 p.m. to 5:41 p.m.).

Daily service from Worcester to Fort Myers officially begins on Jan. 4, 2024, with two JetBlue flights: Flight #2834 (12:21 p.m. to 3:21 p.m.) and Flight #2833 (4:06 p.m. to 7:06 p.m.).

Worcester is currently served by three major airlines, which offer travel to New York and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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A large apartment complex and townhome project could be coming to Fort Worths Mosier Valley Neighborhood.

Dallas-based developer StoneHawk Capital Partners LLC is asking the city for a zoning change to build 336 apartment units and townhomes at 11413 Mosier Valley Road, just south of Trinity Boulevard near Euless. The units would range from one to four bedrooms with 24 lated to be townhomes, according to city documents.

StoneHawk Capital completed similar projects near downtown Fort Worth: The Bowery in the Near Southside with 303 units and the Jameson at the Bluffs off Samuels Avenue with 387 units. Both complexes have 10 townhomes each.

Its not clear how much rent will be at the Mosier Valley complex, but both the apartments and the townhomes will be for rent, said Barry Hudson, a planning consultant with Dunnaway Associates working on the project.

This development will have more open space than Stonehawks previous Fort Worth developments, Huson said, including a pool, a walking trail, a dog park and space for hold neighborhood association meetings.

The city council will vote on the rezoning the 14 acre parcel at its 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday.

If approved, Hudson said the complex could be open in the next 18 to 24 months, barring any construction or regulatory hurdles.
KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producer, saw its palm oil stock plunge 21.08 percent month on month to 1.67 million tons in March, official data showed Monday.

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board said in a statement that the country's crude palm oil production rose 2.77 percent month on month to 1.29 million tons.

Malaysia's palm oil exports also surged 31.76 percent monthly to 1.49 million tons.

Its palm oil imports slumped 24.25 percent month on month to 39,772 tons. 
Miami police on Monday are asking for the publics help to find an 84-year-old woman who has been missing for several days.

Edis Lopez Collazo, who has Alzheimers, disappeared from her Allapattah home, near the corner of Northwest 24th Avenue and Northwest 29th Street, on April 4, her son Eduardo Lopez Hernandez told the Miami Herald. Miami police told the Herald she has been missing since April 6.

Lopez Hernandez, 64, said he has been looking for his mom everywhere, even distributing fliers while hoping to find her alive and well.

He said his mother may have a scar on her right cheekbone after she fell the day before she disappeared. He said he left her alone for a few minutes to buy her food  but when he returned, she was gone.

She has difficulties talking to others and may be unable to ask for help or remember who she is, her son noted.

I dont know if she has eaten, he said in Spanish. Im desperate.

Lopez Collazo, who stands 5 feet, 7 inches and weighs 120 pounds, was last spotted wearing a blue shirt and beige shorts, police said Monday in a news release. She has black hair and brown eyes.

We need your assistance locating 84-year-old Edis Lopez Collazo who has been reported missing from the #Allapattah area. Shes 57, 120 lbs, has black hair & brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue shirt with beige shorts. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/xDB42Z5CVH  Miami PD (@MiamiPD) April 10, 2023

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Detective L. Verne, or any on-duty detective of the city of Miami of Police Departments Special Victims Unit, at 305-603-6300 or 305-579-6111, or to send an email to SVU@miami-police.org.
Pentagon officials are reeling from the leak of highly classified military plans on the war in Ukraine that surfaced last week  alarmed by both the sensitivity and sheer amount of information exposed.

The U.S. government is scrambling to determine the source of the most significant breach of U.S. intelligence in a decade after the tranche of more than 100 documents surfaced on social media. The documents contain information so sensitive that only people with the highest levels of security clearance in the U.S. government can access them.

The breach raises new questions about what steps the U.S. government is taking to protect sensitive information and particularly the implications for Ukraines fight against Russia. The bulk of the documents appear to be slides developed by the Pentagons Joint Staff to brief senior leaders on the conflict in Ukraine, but they also include information on a range of topics, from U.S. efforts to spy on South Korea to Turkish cooperation with Israel.





Inside the Defense Department, officials described feelings of shock and distress as the scope of the leak emerged over the weekend.

The mood is anger, said one DoD official, who like others quoted for this story was granted anonymity to discuss internal reactions to the leak. Its a massive betrayal.

Im sick to my stomach, said a second DoD official.

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the breach, and the Pentagon is leading an interagency effort to determine the impact on national security. DoD is also now reviewing its processes for handling classified information, including how the information is distributed and to whom, Pentagon press secretary Chris Meagher told reporters Monday.

But DoD is still trying to get a handle on the scope of the breach. The department is continuing to assess what might be out there, Meagher said.

The Department of Defense's highest priority is the defense of our nation and our national security, he said. We of course condemn any unauthorized disclosure of classified information, and we're taking this very seriously.

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National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby also acknowledged that more classified materials may be out there. Asked whether the leak has been contained, he responded: We dont know. We truly dont.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was informed of the leak during his morning briefing on April 6, after an initial tranche of five images surfaced on mainstream social media platforms, according to Meagher. On the morning of April 7, Austin began daily meetings with senior leaders to discuss the issue.

At the secretarys direction, DoD set up a cross-department effort to assess the potential impacts of the leak, engage allies and lawmakers, and determine the way ahead, Meagher said.

The breach has set off a diplomatic crisis, with Biden administration officials seeking to reassure concerned international counterparts.

Officials were initially concerned about the intelligence breach but believed the information would be of limited use to Russia because it showed a snapshot in time, said the first defense official. For example, one slide was labeled Status of the Conflict as of 1 Mar, and depicted a map of troop positions. The documents also appeared to be heavily doctored, the official said.

But by the afternoon of April 7, it was clear that the leak was much bigger than the officials imagined. A tranche of over 100 documents has been circulating since at least early March, when they were first posted online on Discord, a social media platform popular with gamers.

The documents appear to be photographs of printouts that were folded up and then smoothed out again. A number of items appear underneath the paper documents, including Gorilla brand super glue gel and a rifle scope from hunting company Creative XP.

The leak has prompted conversations about whether DoD should further restrict the number of people who have access to sensitive information. The first DoD official described seeing classified information, both in paper form and on electronic tablets, all over the Pentagon.

Anytime that there are documents like this with the sensitivities that they contain, the highest levels of this building is going to be concerned, said a third DoD official.

Experts said the disclosure could be even more damaging than the leak by Edward Snowden 10 years ago, particularly because the information is so recent. The documents related to Ukraine, for example, date from late February to early March, and show battlefield information that is still relevant to the conflict.

Mick Mulroy, a former top Pentagon official and retired CIA officer, said the investigation needs to move quickly not just to identify the source of the leak but to prevent any further disclosures.

We need to rethink how we store and hold classified information and who has access to that information, Mulroy said.


The last known communication from Madeline Kingsbury has been revealed as the search to find the missing Minnesota mother-of-two rumbles on into its second week.

Megan Kingsbury said that she received a final, lighthearted text message from her sister at around 8.15am on Friday 31 March.

We were chuckling about a funny photo exchange between us, and that was the last communication with me, or with any of my family or her other friends, she told Fox News.

Ms Kingsbury, 26, has not been seen or heard from since.

Winona Police said she and the father of her children dropped their two children off at daycare at around 8am that morning and returned home home. He told police he then left at around 10am in Ms Kingsburys car, returning hours later to find her gone.

A huge search has been under way to find Ms Kingsbury ever since, with over 2,000 people joining in. Its unclear if anything has been found but Ms Kingsburys family urged the public not to gossip about any discoveries.

If you are participating in a search party PLEASE keep any and all findings within your group and Law Enforcement, they said.

Key points

Madeline Kingsbury vanished on 31 March after daycare dropoff

Father of children says he borrowed her blue van

Police hone in on journey made in missing moms car

Mom-of-twos final text revealed

Search scaled back after over 2,000 join hunt for missing mom

Family slams gossip about search discovery

Police focus on specific road in search for Madeline

22:05 , Graeme Massie

Investigators have asked residents of Fillmore County to report any signs of suspicious activity that they may have witnessed between 8am on 31 March and 4pm on 1 April, along Highway 43 in both Winona and Fillmore counties.

(Winona Police)

What we know about Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

18:01 , Graeme Massie

Last Friday morning, Madeline Kingsbury dropped her two young children off at their daycare in Minnesota.

She was never seen or heard from again.

Now, one week on, a desperate search is underway to find the missing 26-year-old Maddi whose disappearance has been described as involuntary and suspicious.

Story continues

Rachel Sharp reports.

What we know about missing mother Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

Madeline Kingsburys family continues to lead search parties  after police scale back search

17:30 , Rachel Sharp

Madeline Kingsburys family is continuing to lead search parties to find the missing mother-of-two  after Winona Police announced that law enforcement is scaling back searches.

In a post on the Finding Madeline Kingsbury Facebook page, the family announced search parties planned for Monday 10 April to Friday 14 April.

THIS IS NOT AT ALL A LARGE-SCALE, POLICE LEAD SEARCH EFFORT, the post read.

Were continuing to search as we did prior to the large-scale searches.

Volunteers can sign up to join searches on the page.

This comes after police led almost 2,000 volunteers in a search to find the missing 26-year-old on Friday.

Winona Police said that because of the huge turnout of volunteers, more ground was covered more quickly than anticipated.

Now, law enforcement will focus on targeted searches as the investigation continues, police said.

Madeline Kingsbury had plans to see sister day after she vanished

16:30 , Rachel Sharp

Madeline Kingsbury had made plans to see her sister the day after she vanished without a trace, it has been revealed.

Megan Kingsbury said that she and her 26-year-old sibling had arranged to meet on Saturday 1 April but were yet to flesh out the details of the plans.

They were messaging on the morning of Friday 31 March, with Megan revealing she received the last text from her sister at around 8.15am.

Neither she nor anyone else has seen or heard from Ms Kingsbury since then.

Madeline Kingsburys sister speaks out a week after disappearance

15:30 , Andrea Blanco

The sister of Madeline Kingsbury has said that her family became worried when the missing mother-of-two stopped answering her phone.

This is very unlike her, Megan told Fox News. Shes not the type of person who would want to take a break and not tell anybody. If she had a problem and wanted to get away, she would come to my house.

Megan said that the last text she received from Madeline was at 8.15am on the day that she went missing.

We were chuckling about a funny photo exchange between us, and that was the last communication with me, or with any of my family or her other friends, Megan said.

The Independent has more:

Sister of missing Winona mother Madeline Kingsbury reveals final text

Winona Police announce end of large-scale search

14:30 , Rachel Sharp

Winona Police have announced the end of its large-scale search to find the missing mother-of-two.

Almost 2,000 volunteers joined in the search for Madeline Kingsbury on Friday, trawling through rural areas for any signs as to the whereabouts of the 26-year-old.

This is tough terrain, and we are grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who are taking their personal time to assist with the search, Winona Police Chief Tom Williams said during a press conference.

Police said that because of the huge turnout of volunteers, more ground was able to be covered more quickly.

Now, law enforcement will focus on targeted searches as the investigation continues.

Final text messages revealed

12:30 , Rachel Sharp

The last known communication from Madeline Kingsbury has been revealed as the search to find the missing Minnesota mother-of-two rumbles on into its second week.

Megan Kingsbury said that she received a final, lighthearted text message from her sister at around 8.15am on Friday 31 March.

We were chuckling about a funny photo exchange between us, and that was the last communication with me, or with any of my family or her other friends, she told Fox News.

Read more here:

Police say search efforts will continue in target areas

11:30

The Filmore County Sheriffs Office and the Winona County Police Department announced on Saturday that more than 2,600 volunteers helped comb through vast areas during massive searches over the weekend.

As we develop new leads and new search areas, teams of law enforcement will do targeted searches, a statement by the departments read.

We are not giving up and we want to thank everyone for their continued support for Maddi and her family.

Authorities have 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.

Dive teams and police ATVs have also been used in the search. The Winona Police Department said on Saturday that search efforts will be scaled back but the investigation remains ongoing.

Family slams gossip about search discovery

10:30 , Rachel Sharp

Madeline Kingsburys family has begged the public not to gossip about anything found during the search for the missing mother-of-two.

Around 2,000 people joined in the search for the 26-year-old this weekend following her sudden disappearance on 31 March.

Its unclear if anything has been found but Ms Kingsburys family urged the public not to gossip about any discoveries.

It has come to our attention there has been some gossip about what has or has not been found by search parties. If you are participating in a search party PLEASE keep any and all findings within your group and Law Enforcement. We are all hoping and praying for answers/clues/signs/etc., but we need to let the officials do their job, the family said in a Facebook group focused on the search for the missing mother.

Also, please keep in the front of your mind that we are looking for a Daughter, Sister, Friend and Mother. Make sure you are displaying appropriate and empathetic behavior both on and offline. Thank you for your continued love and support. I think I speak for all of Maddis family and friends when I say that seeing all of the donations made and people out willing to search today was a humbling experience. We appreciate you.

Recap: What happened to Madeline Kingsbury?

09:30 , 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.

No persons of interest in Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Authorities say they will continue search efforts in target areas

Sunday 9 April 2023 21:59 , Andrea Blanco

The Filmore County Sheriffs Office and the Winona County Police Department announced on Saturday that more than 2,600 volunteers helped comb through vast areas during massive searches over the weekend.

As we develop new leads and new search areas, teams of law enforcement will do targeted searches, a statement by the departments read.

We are not giving up and we want to thank everyone for their continued support for Maddi and her family.

Authorities have 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.

Dive teams and police ATVs have also been used in the search. The Winona Police Department said on Saturday that search efforts will be scaled back but the investigation remains ongoing.

What do we know about Madelines last movements?

Sunday 9 April 2023 21:30 , 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.

Family release photos of Madeline Kingsburys tattoos

Sunday 9 April 2023 19:33 , Graeme Massie

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.

Megan Kingsbury asks public to spread the word about missing sister

Sunday 9 April 2023 17:30 , 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.

Madeline Kingsburys sister speaks out a week after disappearance

Sunday 9 April 2023 14:24 , Andrea Blanco

The sister of Madeline Kingsbury has said that her family became worried when the missing mother-of-two stopped answering her phone.

This is very unlike her, Megan told Fox News. Shes not the type of person who would want to take a break and not tell anybody. If she had a problem and wanted to get away, she would come to my house.

Megan said that the last text she received from Madeline was at 8.15am on the day that she went missing.

We were chuckling about a funny photo exchange between us, and that was the last communication with me, or with any of my family or her other friends, Megan said.

Madeline was last seen 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.

Megan refused to answer questions about Madelines husband, asking instead that the focus remained on finding Madeline.

Theres a lot of speculation, of course, with people coming up with theories and asking us a lot of questions that we cant answer, she told Fox. We just want to keep the focus on finding her. Were asking people keep their eyes and ears open.

What we know about Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

Sunday 9 April 2023 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Last Friday morning, Madeline Kingsbury dropped her two young children off at their daycare in Minnesota.

She was never seen or heard from again.

Now, one week on, a desperate search is underway to find the missing 26-year-old Maddi whose disappearance has been described as involuntary and suspicious.

Rachel Sharp reports.

What we know about missing mother Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

Recap: What happened to Madeline Kingsbury?

Sunday 9 April 2023 09:30 , 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 on Friday

Sunday 9 April 2023 05:30 , 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

Sunday 9 April 2023 01:30 , 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.

What do we know about Madelines last movements?

Saturday 8 April 2023 21:30 , 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

Saturday 8 April 2023 17:30 , 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.

No suspects in week-long search for Madeline

Saturday 8 April 2023 14:17 , Andrea Blanco

Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge said on Friday that there are no suspects in the investigation.

The department has 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.

Walk your acreage, check your buildings, check your vehicles, walk trials, check your cameras, surveillance cameras, doorbell cameras, your trail cameras for any indications of anything suspicious or for any sign of a dark coloured Chrysler Town & Country minivan, he said, according to Postbulletin.com.

What we know about Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

Saturday 8 April 2023 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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 release photos of Madeline Kingsburys tattoos

Saturday 8 April 2023 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Madeline Kingsburys sister pleads for her safe return

Saturday 8 April 2023 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Daycare drop-off, a blue van and missing mother-of-two  what we know so far

Saturday 8 April 2023 01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Last Friday morning, Madeline Kingsbury dropped her two young children off at their daycare in Minnesota.

She was never seen or heard from again.

Now, one week on, a desperate search is underway to find the missing 26-year-old Maddi whose disappearance has been described as involuntary and suspicious.

Rachel Sharp outlines what we know so far about Madelines disappearance.

What we know about missing mother Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

Watch: Aerial footage shows extent of todays search

Saturday 8 April 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

What do we know about Madelines last movements?

Friday 7 April 2023 23:30 , 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

Friday 7 April 2023 22:30 , 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.

Almost 2,000 turn out for search, second planned for Saturday

Friday 7 April 2023 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?

Friday 7 April 2023 21:45 , 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.

Megan Kingsbury asks public to spread the word about missing sister

Friday 7 April 2023 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

Friday 7 April 2023 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

Friday 7 April 2023 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

Friday 7 April 2023 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

Friday 7 April 2023 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?

Friday 7 April 2023 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

Friday 7 April 2023 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

Friday 7 April 2023 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.
We want to know who is making a difference in your school community.

As summer nears, The Sacramento Bee wants to recognize those who helped make this school year a great one.

You can nominate your favorite bus driver that helps you get to school every morning, or your favorite teacher that shows up to class with a smile.

Maybe there is a parent who helped fund raise for your school this year who you think deserves to be recognized, or you want to give the school janitor a shout out for going above and beyond.

You can nominate anyone in the education community in the four-county Sacramento region: Yolo, El Dorado, Placer and Sacramento.

Nominations will be open from Monday, April 10, to Friday, April 21. Once we have our list of candidates we will start a voting bracket, where we will introduce our honor roll candidates. Once voting concludes we will name our honor roll.

Were excited to hear from everyone in the community and hope you help us spread the word. Submit your nomination in the form below:
[Source]

A man has been charged after allegedly attempting to run over at least one worshiper after yelling threats and religious slurs at a mosque near Toronto last week.

The incident, which is now under investigation as a hate crime, occurred at the Islamic Society of Markham (ISM), some 30 kilometers (approximately 18.6 miles) north of the Ontario capital on April 6.

It all started when the man entered the mosque on Denison Street and tore a copy of the Qur'an while hurling racist and Islamophobic remarks toward worshippers, according to ISM. He then exited the mosque and allegedly drove his vehicle toward them.

The individual, upon exiting the mosque, then attempted to run over or strike worshippers with his vehicle, ISM said, as per CBC News. We are deeply troubled by this incident, especially as we near the anniversary of the London Terror Attack, where a family in London was run down in an act of hatred.

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The incident came as Muslims all over the world observe Ramadan, a holy month dedicated to fasting, prayer and community.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), the countrys largest pro-Muslim organization, said they were greatly distressed over the attack and called for unity and action.

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This is a time for unity and action. Our places of worship are sacred. So is our right to worship. Its time to stop hate that threatens us all, NCCM tweeted to supporters.

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti also condemned the incident, describing it as an act of hatred. Meanwhile, local Member of Parliament and Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng outright called it a hate crime.

Shortly after midnight on Friday, York Regional Police arrested Sharan Karunakaran, 28, in connection with the incident.

More from NextShark: Asian American Congresswoman Makes History By Wearing Korean Hanbok to Swear In

They located him in Toronto, where he is a resident.

Story continues

Karunakaran was charged with uttering threats, dangerous driving and assault with a weapon. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, April 11.

Investigation into the case continues and police are encouraging other potential victims to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact the #5 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7541, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.

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PATERSON  The man accused of stabbing an imam during Sundays morning prayers at Omar Mosque on Getty Avenue recently alarmed people at another Islamic house of worship in South Paterson because of alleged abnormal behavior.

Serif Zorba, 32, had been attending prayer services at the Mevlana Cami, a mosque on Sussex Street, every day since the start of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month that began March 22, according to the vice president of that congregation, Hasan Oren.

But Zorbas behavior at a recent service caught the attention of worshippers, Oren said.

On Friday afternoon, Zorba entered the Sussex Street mosque for prayers and knelt in prayer position, with his head touching the ground. He draped a black scarf over his head and face and remained there unmoving for an hour and a half, Oren said, describing the behavior as highly unusual.

Extra security could be seen outside Omar Mosque, Sunday afternoon, after an imam was stabbed there earlier in the day. Sunday, April 9, 2023

Who can stay on the floor in prayers position for one-and-a-half hours and cover his head with a black thing? This is not normal, he said.

After prayers, Zorba allegedly approached the imam and pointed at his tie, asking him, Why are you wearing a tie? In our religion, you should not wear a tie.

Though the behavior was odd, Zorba gave no indication of anger or violence, Oren said. Zorba returned for prayers at the Mevlana mosque on Saturday.

Oren heard about Sundays stabbing the next day. When he saw the suspects photo, he went back to check the mosque cameras and realized it was the same man.

Earlier: Suspect named in stabbing attack on imam during prayers at South Paterson Omar Mosque

We were shocked, he said. How can he do that?

Oren described Imam Sayed Elnakib of the Omar Mosque, the victim of the stabbing, as a well-respected religious leader, saying people were saddened by the news. Oren planned to visit Elnakib as he recovers from his injuries, he said.

No explanation of motive

Zorba appeared before state Superior Court Judge Vincenzo Stampone on Monday afternoon in a virtual court hearing from the Passaic County Jail. Bill Rohr from the Public Defender's Office entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. The court said the stabbing suspect initially refused to file for a public defender but said he would do so after the hearing.

Story continues

The Prosecutors Office filed a motion for pretrial detention early Monday, and Zorba is scheduled to appear for his detention hearing on Thursday at 9 a.m. before Judge Scott Rumana.

Authorities have not provided any explanation for the stabbing.

Law enforcement and city government officials gathered outside the Getty Avenue mosque on Monday morning to announce heightened security measures there and at other Islamic houses of worship for the final 10 days of the Ramadan holy month.

New Jersey State Police Maj. Frederick Fife, the officer currently in charge of the Paterson Police Department, declined to reveal details of the extra security, but he said it would include plainclothes officers as well as those in uniform in marked vehicles.

Fife said the plainclothes officers would not be deployed inside the mosques. Other officials said the mosques were not planning any weapons checks of people coming to worship.

Imam Abdel Elnakib describes how his brother, Imam Sayed Elnakib (not shown) was stabbed twice during the Sunday morning prayer session at Omar Mosque, in Paterson. The alleged attacker was praying at the mosque before the attack. Others praying at the mosque apprehended the man before police arrived. Sunday, April 9, 2023

We dont want to turn this into a TSA checkpoint, said Abdul Hamdan, a spokesman for the mosque, referring to the Transportation Security Administration, which screens airplane passengers before they board their flights.

Officials acknowledged Monday that none of the new security measures could have prevented the attack on the 65-year-old imam.

Hamdan and others at the press conference said Elnakib was in stable condition at St. Josephs University Medical Center in Paterson and likely would be released later this week. Hamdan called the members of the mosque congregation who subdued the attacker heroes.

The suspect has not been charged with any hate crimes in the attack. Zorba allegedly has been at the Getty Avenue mosque on other occasions in the past and was participating in the prayers just moments before his attack on the imam. Hamdan has said Zorba was not a member of the Omar Mosque congregation.

Zorba was arrested Sunday and charged with attempted murder and weapons offenses. The mosque spokesman said attendance at Monday mornings prayers was significantly greater than on Sunday, when the incident happened.

The community is bouncing back, said Al Abdelaziz, the councilman who represents Patersons 6th Ward, where the mosque is.

Staff Writers Kaitlyn Kanzler and Liam Quinn contributed to this article.

Hannan Adely is a staff writer for NorthJersey.com. Email: adely@northjersey.com

Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ imam stabbing: Man accused caused alarm at mosque
A man beating a border patrol agent with a wooden club was shot to death near Las Cruces, New Mexico, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

At 8:37 p.m. April 2, a man behind the wheel of a white Nissan Rogue blew past a border patrol checkpoint on Interstate 10, and agents chased after him, CBPs El Paso Sector said in an April 8 news release.

The driver led agents on a miles-long chase through rural roads, which finally ended after he hit a vehicle immobilization device that popped three of his tires, officials said.

He drove about three more miles on flats before getting out and walking, according to the release.

Three agents were following the man, ordering him to stop, officials said, but he kept walking away from them, a shirt in one hand and a wooden club in the other.

One agent tried twice to use a taser on the suspect, but he used his shirt like a shield and blocked the tasers prongs both times, the release said.

Meanwhile, another agent arrived at the scene and approached the man with his baton at the ready, officials said.

The suspect swung at the agent, who blocked the first strike with his baton, officials said. He swung again as he moved toward the agent, causing him to fall on his back, according to the release.

Standing over the agent, he kept swinging, officials said. He is accused of hitting the agent twice and preparing to bring the club down for a third blow when fellow agents opened fire on the suspect.

Around 16 shots were fired and the suspect hit the ground a few feet away from the agent he was attacking, officials said.

An agent at the scene attempted life-saving measures while others called for an ambulance, according to the release.

Agents did not observe any movement or signs of life from the driver, the release said. He was declared dead at 5:16 a.m. April 3 by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator.

Officials released few details about the suspect, but said he was a United States citizen.

Texas man bragged about stealing money from cartel. Now hes missing, officials say

8 people trying to cross into US found dead in marsh near Canadian border, cops say
BRENTWOOD  A Raymond man could face life in prison for attempted murder after prosecutors say he stabbed his brother-in-law in the head multiple times Saturday.

Adrian Demers, 38, is facing 12 charges for allegedly stabbing, punching, kicking and gauging the eyes of his brother-in-law, who police say hired him to do yard work that day at a home on South Road in Brentwood. An affidavit by Brentwood police details how Demers allegedly became enraged when his brother-in-law said he would only pay him a portion of the agreed pay because the job of raking leaves was not complete.

Police say he used his brother-in-laws own knife, stabbing him repeatedly. He then allegedly stole his Glock 19 and drove to a neighbors property where police found him. His brother-in-law was covered in blood when police arrived, according to a police affidavit.

Adrian Demers, 38, of Raymond, is facing life in prison for attempted murder after allegedly stabbing his brother-in-law in the head repeatedly with a knife.

Demers is being held without bail after pleading not guilty Tuesday in Rockingham County Superior Court, where prosecutors described him as a danger to the public. The attempted murder charge is considered a special felony under New Hampshire that carries up to life in prison, the courtroom clerk said Tuesday during the hearing.

The charges included four felonies  two counts of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, one of theft by unauthorized taking, and one of criminal threatening with a deadly weapon. The rest were misdemeanor charges of simple assault.

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State prosecutor Marcia Rosenn asked Judge Lisa English to keep Demers in preventive detention without bail. She also listed numerous past convictions in her argument for keeping Demers behind bars, including simple assault, criminal threatening and receiving stolen property.

I do believe there is as clear and convincing evidence that his release will endanger the safety of the public, Rosenn said. Obviously this was an incredibly vicious and violent assault and attempted murder.

Story continues

Demers interjected multiple times during Tuesdays hearing, appearing by video from the Rockingham County jail and muted for refusing to stop. He called out numerous times that facts in the case were not accurate and that his brother-in-law had threatened him.

It was actually nothing compared to what he was planning to do to me, Demers said in response to Rosenn calling his attack vicious.

Demers was represented by public defender Deanna Campbell, who said her office was still yet to receive key evidence such as body camera footage or audio recordings in the case. She said Demers would likely request another bail hearing once more evidence is made available to his defense.

I suspect he will mount a very vigorous defense, Campbell said.

Car clubs return to Hampton Beach: Police rev up response after past rowdy behavior

Police allege dispute over pay for yard work led to attack

Brentwood police officer Chris Spitalere wrote in an affidavit he was dispatched to the South Road address for a report of a man covered in blood and an offender walking around with a gun. He responded with police from Fremont, Kingston and the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office and was met by three men who guided him to Demers brother-in-law whose face, head and hands were covered in blood, he wrote.

Spitalere was told the assault took place in front of the homes breezeway where Demers was doing yardwork. Demers was told he would be paid $200 for raking leaves around the yard, according to the affidavit. He wrote that he learned Demers did not want to finish the work that day, and so his brother-in-law said he would pay him $160 for the work completed. He said he would give him $40 more when he came back to finish.

(The victim) stated that Demers became irate over not receiving the remaining $40, Spitalere wrote.

Police said Demers allegedly tackled his brother-in-law from behind and began kicking him on the right side in the ribs and head. The victim went into the fetal position to block the strikes, at which point he said Demers stopped kicking him.

At that point, the victim said it felt like Demers began hitting him in the head with a brick, according to the affidavit. Police said he later learned what he felt was Demers allegedly stabbing him in the head multiple times with a knife. The victim described to police what his own pocketknife looked like, and they determined Demers allegedly used that knife after it fell out of his pocket.

The victims firearm, a Glock 19, according prosecutors, was in a holster inside his right waistband. Demers allegedly kept yelling at him to give him the gun while assaulting him. It eventually came loose from the waistband, and Demers allegedly picked up the gun, pointed it at his brother-in-law while it was still in the holster and said, Youre cheating me.

Demers then kicked the knife away, ran to his car and left with the firearm, according to the affidavit. Police say they found him at a neighbors home where he ran. The affidavit states Demers was taken into custody by the Raymond Police Department and New Hampshire State Police and was subsequently transported to the Rockingham County jail.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Prosecutor: Man stabbed brother-in-law in Brentwood over yard work pay
For 32 years, a 10-ounce flier caught from a private pond held a Missouri state fishing record.

But on March 26, Tyler Goodale reeled in two fliers of identical weight and length, according to an April 10 news release from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Those record-worthy fliers weighed 11 ounces, authorities said. State wildlife officials verified the weight of both fish with a certified scale in Wappapello.

Goodale, of Doniphan, caught the fish while using a pole and line at Duck Creek Conservation Area, according to the release.

The previous record holder  Anthony W. Sifford, of Puxico  caught his flier from a farm pond on March 15, 1991, records show.

While fliers are a species of conservation concern in Missouri, officials said their largest populations in the state can be found at Duck Creek Wildlife Area and Mingo National Wildlife Refuge.

This is Goodales second state record fish caught from Duck Creek Conservation Area, officials said. In April 2020, he caught a 5-pound, 4-ounce spotted sucker that also holds a world record.

Duck Creek Conservation Area is in the southeast corner of Missouri.

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According to police, a man was shot and killed after he tried to break into a Phoenix home near Seventh and Portland streets Sunday.

A man was shot and killed after he tried to break into a downtown Phoenix home Sunday evening, according to Phoenix police.

Police said officers responded to the residence located near Seventh and Portland streets just before 6:30 p.m. Officers said they found a man, dead from a gunshot wound, inside the house.

Police said the shooter was the owner of the home and spoke with police at the scene.

Police said details about what led to the shooting remained unknown. Detectives were at the location investigating.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man shot, killed by owner of downtown Phoenix home
Turkiye expects thriving tourism season despite earthquake

Xinhua) 08:28, April 10, 2023

Tourists visit the ancient city of Side, a town of Antalya, Turkiye, on April 2, 2023. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

ANKARA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye's Mediterranean coast is expected to see a large number of tourists flowing in this summer despite the devastating earthquakes in February, industry professionals said.

As temperatures rise, "Turkish Riviera," the southern part of the country famed for its Turquoise coast and ancient heritage sites, is entering the start of its peak tourism season.

Sector representatives reported a decline in reservations following the deadly Feb. 6 earthquakes in the southeastern parts of Turkiye, but things soon returned to normal, they said.

Tourists enjoy their leisure time in Antalya, Turkiye, April 2, 2023. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

"Last year's favorable data on foreign arrivals and revenues have given us hope this year at the start of the summer season," Burhan Sili, chair of the Alanya Touristic Hoteliers Association, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Turkiye's tourism income in 2022 saw an all-time high, jumping to 46.3 billion U.S. dollars with 51 million foreign visitors, the country's statistical authority announced in January.

Sili said that demand dropped in the aftermath of the devastating tremors but then picked up in a couple of weeks, making a full recovery.

People enjoy their leisure time on a beach in Antalya, Turkiye, April 2, 2023. Turkiye's Mediterranean coast is expected to see a large number of tourists flowing in this summer despite the devastating earthquakes in February, industry professionals said.(Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

Alanya, a main tourist destination on the Mediterranean coast, saw a 55-percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year, according to figures released by the local governorate in early April.

Sili said the tourists from Russia and the European countries, especially Germany and Britain, will make up a large share of the arrivals.

"Overall, we estimate that we will close the 2023 season with a better performance than 2022 in terms of the number of arrivals and revenues," Sili added.

Tourists visit the ancient city of Side in Antalya, Turkiye, April 2, 2023. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said in January that foreign arrivals are expected to reach 60 million in 2023, before hitting 90 million dollars in 2028, while the income will reach 56 billion dollars this year and 100 billion dollars in five years.

The sharp depreciation of the Turkish currency against hard currencies since the start of 2022 has also made Turkiye an affordable destination for European nationals that are witnessing a rising cost of living.

Kaan Sahinalp, the Turkiye representative of German travel giant TUI, was also upbeat about the 2023 outlook, indicating that the country is in for a better year than 2022.

Sahinalp pointed out that the weak lira generally favors foreign travelers on a budget and that Turkiye is likely to be once again one of the top choices for many foreigners.

The tourism sector plays an important part in the country's economy, which saw a widening current account deficit in recent years. The industry also provides the livelihood of over two million people in the country.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
(CNN) -- The State University System of Florida Board of Governors has banned the social media app TikTok, along with some other software, applications, and developers, from use on university-owned devices "due to the continued and increasing landscape of cyber threats."

In a memo sent to state university system presidents on Wednesday, Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said, "This regulation requires institutions to remove technologies published in the State University System (SUS) Prohibited Technologies List from any university-owned device and to block network traffic associated with these technologies."

The ban is effective immediately, the memo said.

"Data privacy, particularly concerning student data and faculty research, is a critical priority for the State University System of Florida," the Board of Governors said in a statement to CNN.

WeChat, Tencent also barred

"Therefore, at a March 29 meeting of the Florida Board of Governors, the Board unanimously approved an emergency regulation prohibiting the use of TikTok and other foreign actors identified as an immediate national security risk, across our 12 public university campuses," according to the Board of Governors.

In addition to TikTok, the prohibited technologies include Kaspersky, VKontakte, Tencent QQ, WeChat and any subsidiary or affiliate.

CNN reached out to them for comment.

TikTok spokesperson Hilary McQuaide said "TikTok has taken unprecedented actions to address national security concerns by securing U.S. user data on U.S. soil. The best way to address concerns about national security is with the transparent, U.S.-based protection of U.S. user data and systems, with robust third-party monitoring, vetting, and verification, which we are already implementing."

McQuaide added "TikTok is enjoyed by more than 150 million Americans including university and college students and teachers to engage in the classroom."

Utah also regulating use

Bans and regulations of TikTok in particular, and of social media sites in general, have been increasing in the US and Europe as concerns over privacy, national security and child safety mount.

Late last month, the governor of Utah signed a bill which requires teens to get parental approval to use social media. Earlier this week, the United Kingdom's Information Commissioner's Office, which regulates data, fined TikTok for a number of breaches of data protection law. Italy is investigating TikTok for "dangerous content."

This story was first published on CNN.com "TikTok banned from school-owned devices at all Florida state universities."
A new lawsuit alleges a wellness drink that contains the psychoactive compound kratom caused a man with alcoholism to relapse. Shounak Dharap

A man 7 years sober from alcohol claims in a new suit that an alcohol-alternative drink caused him to relapse.

The drink contains kratom, a psychoactive compound the FDA classifies as an opioid.

The drink's manufacturer intentionally hid mention of kratom in advertisements, the suit claims.

A wellness drink marketed as an alternative to alcohol caused a man recovering from alcoholism to relapse because it contained the psychoactive ingredient kratom, a new lawsuit claims.

California resident Romulo Torres, who filed the suit on March 28 in the Northern District Court of California, said he achieved sobriety from alcohol in 2014, but developed an addiction to the Feel Free wellness tonic, produced by Santa Monica-based firm Botanic Tonics, in 2022.

Torres stated in the suit he drank 10 Feel Free beverages a day and spent $300 a month on the product. He eventually turned to alcohol to cope with the the severity of his withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit Feel Free, and eventually underwent medical detox and entered rehab to curb his dependence.

"We believe the suit is without merit and we will vigorously defend our product in court," Ashlie Keener Kuehn, head of government relations and communications at Botanic Tonics, said in a statement to Insider.

The alcohol-alternative drink contains kratom, a psychoactive compound the FDA considers an opioid

Torres discovered the drink through social media posts marketing Feel Free as an alternative to alcohol, the lawsuit states. Botanic Tonics' Instagram includes posts on the benefits of not drinking, and uses the hashtag "alcohol alternative" on posts about Feel Free.

The rise of the "sober curious" movement has led to a new market for drinks that resemble cocktails but contain no alcohol. Some alcohol-free beverages replace booze with other mind-altering ingredients like CBD or, in Feel Free's case, kratom.

Story continues

Kratom is a psychoactive compound derived from a plant in the coffee family that is native to Southeast Asia, Insider previously reported. Though the Food and Drug Administration classifies kratom as an opioid, the plant can be used as an ingredient in supplements and supplement beverages like Feel Free.

Since the FDA has loose restrictions on supplement regulation, supplement brands can get away with legally using kratom as an ingredient.

Shounak Dharap, an attorney representing Torres, told Insider he believes Botanic Tonics purposely hides mention of kratom in advertising and marketing. Botanic Tonics' website mentions kava, a drink from Fiji that can induce a mild buzz, as the main ingredient in Feel Free, though the ingredient label said the tonic contains a 2600 milligram blend of both kava and kratom leaf.

Feel Free wellness tonics contain a 2600 milligram blend of kava and kratom. Shounak Dharap

On Botanic Tonics' website, the company claims that anything that "makes you feel good can become habit-forming," including its beverages. "Only use Feel Free in the recommended quantity and dosage," the company states. "If consumed responsibly, Feel Free has not been shown to cause any serious physical or social harm."

Torres isn't the only Feel Free user who said they became dependent on the tonic, Dharap said. The suit includes more than a dozen social media posts from users who said they experienced withdrawal symptoms, like itchiness, insomnia, and mood changes, when attempting to stop drinking Feel Free. The Reddit community "Quitting Feel Free" has 200 members as of April 10.

"A large number of people who choose not to drink alcohol do so because of personal struggles with sobriety, and those folks are particularly vulnerable to addictive substances," Dharap said. "To advertise something specifically that can target those folks ... the moral wrong associated with that is extremely high, and the benefit really only profits the company."

Read the original article on Insider
A man is in custody after being accused of stabbing and killing a woman during a knife fight in an apartment, Tennessee police said.

Police responded to the apartment on March 27 and found a man bleeding from his neck outside a Memphis complex, according to an affidavit.

The man, 28-year-old Johnathon Poulino-Martinez, started receiving medical attention from the officers, police said.

Then, Poulino-Martinez told officers I assassinated her, according to the affidavit.

He directed them to an apartment where officers found the door ajar, according to the affidavit.

When the officers went inside, they said they saw a trail of blood leading through the apartment, down a hallway and into a bedroom.

As they moved through the apartment, they saw multiple kitchen knives covered in blood and evidence that there had been a physical struggle, according to the affidavit. The officers found another bloody knife in a trash can, police said.

In the bedroom, they found an unresponsive woman, according to the affidavit, and she had cuts on her neck and head.

She was declared dead at the scene from major blood loss, according to the affidavit. A medical examiner later found more cuts on her back, police said.

Police said Poulino-Martinez was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

He has since been charged with first-degree murder on March 30 and is being held in Shelby County Jail, according to jail records.

Poulino-Martinez was arraigned April 10.

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Firefighters work after a building collapsed early Sunday, April 9, 2023 in Marseille, southern France. A residential building in Frances port city of Marseille collapsed in a loud explosion early Sunday followed by a fire deep within the rubble that hindered rescue efforts | Associated Press

At least four people are dead and four missing after a building collapsed in Marseille, France, Sunday.

Rescue operations continued Monday morning to find the four people who are missing.

What caused the Marseille building to collapse?

An explosion early Sunday morning caused the apartment building to collapse. but the exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, The Associated Press reported.

A gas leak is one possible cause that is being explored, with local residents noting that they smelled gas following the explosion, according to BBC News.

How many people died in the Marseille building collapse?

As of Monday morning, four bodies had been recovered from the rubble. Four more people are still missing.

The hope to find survivors is still there, Minister for Cities and Housing Olivier Klein said, per AP. It is very meticulous work done by firefighters.

How did Macron react to the Marseille building collapse?

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his sympathies to those affected in a tweet Sunday: Thoughts with Marseille, where a building on rue Tivoli collapsed last night. I am thinking of those affected and their loved ones. An investigation is continuing with significant resources deployed. Thank you to the firefighters and rescuers mobilized, he said, according to CNN.
Martha Stewart may have just confirmed Pete Davidsons newest relationship.

Stewart shared a photo on Instagram April 9 posing alongside Davidson and his Bodies Bodies Bodies and "Bupkis" co-star, Chase Sui Wonders. In the snap, Davidson had one of his arms around Stewarts shoulders while he held a container of eggs in his other hand.

@hellofrommuffin dropped by with two friends @pete_davidson_bupkis and @chasesuiwonders They were out looking at our beautiful town of Bedford, Stewart, who has famously weighed in on Davidson's attractiveness in the past, captioned the photo.

She added, I showed them around the farm and inside the winter house where the Easter Bunnies were getting ready for Sunday . Very cute couple !!!!

Wonders left a comment on Stewart's post of three emoji  two bunnies and a white heart.

Davidson and Wonders have recently been spotted at several events together, including at the Daytona 500 race in February.

NASCAR Cup Series 65th Annual Daytona 500 (Chris Graythen / Getty Images)

TODAY.com has reached out to representatives for Davidson and Wonders for comment.

Over the years, the former Saturday Night Live star has been in several high-profile relationships.

He previously dated Larry Davids daughter, Cazzie David, for two and a half years and was engaged to Ariana Grande for four months before the couple split in October 2018.

After Kim Kardashian hosted SNL in October 2021, Davidson and the Skims founder began their romance. During the course of their nine-month-long relationship, Kardashian shared glimpses of their relationship on social media, and the couple made their red carpet debut at the White House Correspondents Dinner in April 2022.

Davidson and Kardashian ultimately split amicably in August 2022.

While Davidson has poked fun at his relationships over the years, he opened up to host Jon Bernthal on a recent episode of the podcast Real Ones about the implications of his highly-publicized romances.

Story continues

In 12 years, Ive dated like 10 people, the 29-year-old told Bernthal. I dont really think thats that crazy, but to some people it seems very interesting. That became all anyone would talk about.

The King of Staten Island star went on to explain how he had met his previous partners, adding, These people that Ive dated, I met them at work. I wasnt in anyones DMs, no one was in mine."

"I worked at one of the five Hollywood epicenters of where you meet people and thats just who I was working with and who I was around," he said, referring to "SNL" where he was a cast member from 2014 to 2022. "Thats how it happens.

Davidson said that he wouldnt change any decision hes made along the way and clarified he wasnt mad at anyone, adding, I think everyones just trying their best and thats just how Im trying to live my life. Its a hard thing to navigate."

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson celebrates with supporters after defeating Paul Vallas late Tuesday in Chicago.

Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson celebrates with supporters after defeating Paul Vallas late Tuesday in Chicago.

The end of the Chicago mayoral runoff was two weeks away and Ray Lopez, a Chicago City Council member backing Paul Vallas, was worried.

Among other complaints, the alderman fretted that Vallas progressive rival, Brandon Johnson, was winning the emotional war with a more uplifting message.

We need a warm and fuzzy Vallas, not a harbinger of doom, Lopez, a conservative Democrat, told HuffPost in a March 21 phone conversation.

Barring major changes in the races dynamics, his prognosis was negative. Vallas is going to lose, he predicted.

Those fears proved correct. After being outspent by 2 to 1 on TV, Johnson, a Cook County commissioner and organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union, defeated Vallas, a former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, on Tuesday, defying public polling that consistently showed Vallas ahead.

As of Monday, with valid mail-in ballots still trickling in, Johnsons lead over Vallas had surpassed 4 percentage points.

Given the uptick in violent crime gripping Chicago, and the citys continued struggle to recover from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the triumph of a left-wing figure like Johnson is a major political feat.

Johnson and his campaign achieved this outcome thanks to a monthslong plan to introduce him to the public, claim the public-safety mantle from the left, consolidate support among Black voters, target voters with digital media advertisements, and discredit Vallas as a Republican with a record of failure.

I dont think Vallas did wrong as much as Brandon did right, said Frank Calabrese, a Chicago-based Democratic data scientist and pollster who was unaligned in the race.

Johnson also benefited from his opposing candidate being Vallas, whose wonkish speaking style contrasted strongly with Johnsons charisma and whose dalliances with the hard right were hard to shake off.

Story continues

The latter was especially costly in a heavily Democratic city where President Joe Biden received nearly 83% of the vote, including a majority in all 50 City Council wards.

The Republican attacks were just too much to overcome, said a senior official on Vallas campaign who requested anonymity to speak freely.

Johnson (left) and Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speak to the media after meeting on Friday. Pritzker, who was officially neutral in the race, had been criticized by Vallas.

Johnson (left) and Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speak to the media after meeting on Friday. Pritzker, who was officially neutral in the race, had been criticized by Vallas.

Brandon Is Better

As a testament to how far hes come, Johnson is fond of noting that he started his mayoral campaign with 2% support in the polls.

But the biggest barrier to raising that number was Johnsons low level of name recognition. Its much harder to support someone, after all, if you dont know who they are.

Under the direction of ad-maker Brandon Davis, Johnsons campaign decided that his first TV spot, in late December, would be just 15 seconds long. The narrator of the spot informs Chicagoans about Johnsons plan to make Chicago safer, create jobs, and improve public schools, concluding with the tagline, For mayor, Brandon Johnson is better for Chicago, as the words Brandon is better appear on screen.

Most political TV ads are 30 seconds long, prompting some Democratic operatives to question the decision. But the brevity of the spot allowed the Johnson campaign to ensure that it aired on broadcast TV more frequently each day, drilling Johnsons name into voters heads.

In a second, 30-second TV ad in January, the campaign used the same Brandon is better frame to raise awareness of the work he did on the county commission expanding health care, investing in violence prevention programs, and preventing housing discrimination.

Davis told HuffPost that the Brandon is better frame was designed to capitalize on Mayor Lori Lightfoots unpopularity and present an alternative to dissatisfied voters.

We knew that, particularly in the general election, this was a change electorate  an electorate that wanted something different, Davis said.

Chicago held citywide, nonpartisan elections on Feb. 28 in which Johnson was competing with eight other candidates, including Vallas, Lightfoot, and U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia. Assuming, as polls anticipated, none of the candidates received an outright majority in that first round, the top two finishers would participate in a runoff on April 4.

Although Lightfoot was openly dismissive of Johnsons candidacy, Johnsons team paced its advertising and messaging with an eye toward a runoff contest against Vallas, who consistently polled in first place.

The campaign planned to use 15 weeks to tell that story consistently and hit benchmarks that would get us into the runoff and ultimately deliver if were in the runoff, Davis said.

Either youre going to say were too radical and we have too many taxes, or youre going to say we have no experience, we have no plan and were not up to the job, but you cant say both.Jason Lee, senior adviser for the Johnson campaign

With that in mind, the campaign set out early on to have Johnson begin inoculating himself from charges that he was soft on crime. At every available opportunity, Johnson emphasized that the issue of violent crime was personal for him, because he and his wife were raising their three kids in Austin, an impoverished neighborhood on Chicagos West Side where crime is rampant.

No one has a greater incentive in this race for our city to be better, stronger and safer than someone who is living the daily experience of working- and middle-class families all over the city of Chicago, Johnson told HuffPost in an interview in February.

While Johnson had spearheaded a nonbinding resolution in 2020 for Cook County to transfer some law enforcement funds to social programs and had spoken positively about the defund the police movement, his public safety plan proposed keeping Chicago Police Department funding where it is. He would instead find ways to make department spending more efficient and use the extra funds to add 200 detectives to the force through internal promotion. He also promised to reopen shuttered public mental health clinics, and double the citys summer youth employment program such that it would provide 60,000 jobs.

In keeping with his mantra of investing in people, Johnson unveiled a budget plan that listed ways to pay for his ambitious agenda. The move was unorthodox, because it included a list of taxes that Johnson planned to raise on high earners and big businesses, including mansion owners, airlines and hotels.

But notably, raising additional revenue elsewhere allowed him to promise that he would not increase the citys property taxes, which are by far the most politically radioactive fiscal issue in Chicago politics. And the budget plan had the added benefit of enabling Johnson to portray himself as more serious than Vallas, who did not present a proposal with a comparable level of detail.

We forced a decision point, recalled Jason Lee, a senior adviser to Johnsons campaign. Either youre going to say were too radical and we have too many taxes, or youre going to say we have no experience, we have no plan and were not up to the job, but you cant say both.

Vallas addresses his supporters after conceding the runoff election on Tuesday. He was unable to allay voter fears about conservative comments he had made over the years.

Vallas addresses his supporters after conceding the runoff election on Tuesday. He was unable to allay voter fears about conservative comments he had made over the years.

Defining Vallas

Johnson began defining Vallas as a Republican who failed public-school families and pensioners from the moment he made the runoff on Feb. 28. In his speech celebrating his entry into the runoff, Johnson alleged that Vallas is someone who is supported by the Jan. 6 insurrectionists, presumably referring to John Catanzara, the president of Chicagos Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) who downplayed the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (The FOP endorsed Vallas in January.)

He switched parties when Barack Obama became president of the United States, Johnson continued. He went as far as to say that he is more of a Republican than anything else. These are his words.

Johnson did not let up. In his March 8 debate with Vallas, the first televised showdown of the runoff, Johnson accused Vallas of being a Republican or a Republican sympathizer at least seven times. Vallas, whose ads always described him as a lifelong Democrat, noted that he had been the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Illinois in 2014, but mostly refrained from putting Johnson on the defensive with attacks of his own. Johnsons past support for the defund the police movement came up only in the context of a moderator question and answer from Johnson.

Indeed, the better-funded Vallas campaign took its time before going on the offensive against Johnson. The Vallas campaigns first two TV ads of the runoff election were positive spots touting former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse Whites endorsement and former President Bill Clintons praise for Vallas work as head of Chicago public schools.

By the time Vallas began attacking Johnson for his past sympathy for defund the police, though, Johnson was defining himself with a 15-second spot outlining his plans to beef up mental health care and youth jobs as a crime prevention strategy.

Maybe he should have tried to define us earlier, Lee, the Johnson adviser, said. [The delay] allowed us to get back up and inoculate ourselves.

Brandon has shown us that if you have an adult conversation with voters about crime, voters understand that poverty is the root cause of crime.Karthik Ganapathy, strategic consultant for the Johnson campaign

The Vallas campaign considered going negative from the start of the runoff, according to a second senior aide on Vallas team. The team felt, however, that those first two ads were necessary to inoculate Vallas against charges that he was not a real Democrat, according to that aide.

At the same time, Johnsons campaign was confident that his belief in what Lee called a nuanced approach to public safety  one that emphasized tackling root causes as well as solving cases  was popular.

A public poll released the day before the April 4 runoff supported this view of public opinion. A majority of Chicago voters polled said they preferred a prevention-first approach to crime that prioritized improving peoples living standards and mental health care, as opposed to imposing tougher sentences and providing more resources to the police.

Brandon has solved a big problem for Democrats, which is that we have been stuck in this defensive posture when it comes to defund. Republicans hit us with it, we feel the need to just overcorrect and say were gonna invest a trillion more dollars in police and put them all over the place, said Karthik Ganapathy, a strategic consultant for the Johnson campaign. Brandon has shown us that if you have an adult conversation with voters about crime, voters understand that poverty is the root cause of crime.

For a more conservative candidate backed by the police union, Vallas had his own relatively liberal positions on police reform. He touted his work negotiating new accountability measures in the Chicago Police Departments newest collective bargaining agreement, and promised to end no-knock warrants, expedite implementation of the Department of Justices consent decree with the police force, and fund non-police violence prevention programs of the kind launched by the Rev. Corey Brooks, a South Side pastor and Vallas supporter.

That message might have been lost on Chicago voters given Vallas emphasis on hiring more cops, his criticism of Johnson for refusing to commit to the same, and his allegations that Johnson would defund the citys police force.

The Johnson campaign also believes Johnson benefited from Republicans over-reliance on defund the police accusations against Democrats, including mainstream Democrats against whom the charge was not remotely credible. As a result, many Democratic voters were jaded about the allegation and more likely to see it as a partisan attack, according to Bill Neidhardt, Ganapathys business partner and fellow Johnson adviser.

The defund attack against Democrats has jumped the shark, Neidhardt said. When we made this race into Republican versus Democrat, every defund ad against Brandon  became Theyre attacking him because hes a Democrat.

Mayoral candidates Willie Wilson (left) and Vallas talk before filing petition signatures on Nov. 21, 2022. Wilsons endorsement of Vallas in the runoff was one of several that failed to deliver a significant number of votes for Vallas.

Mayoral candidates Willie Wilson (left) and Vallas talk before filing petition signatures on Nov. 21, 2022. Wilsons endorsement of Vallas in the runoff was one of several that failed to deliver a significant number of votes for Vallas.

Vallas Shortcomings

Of course, a campaign is inherently boxed in by the strengths and weaknesses a candidate brings to the table.

Vallas, who fell short in his bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2002 and got crushed in his 2019 mayoral run, underwent strenuous media training that improved his message discipline this time around and made him more comfortable speaking about his personal history.

Vallas even filmed a TV ad in which he spoke directly to camera about how his childhood years in the South Side neighborhood of Roseland and the loss of his son to drug addiction informed his view of the challenges shaping working-class Chicagoans.

But Vallas never fully shed his technocratic speaking style, which made for an unflattering contrast with Johnson, who has a preacherly cadence and a penchant for digestible sound bites, such as his aspiration to build a better, stronger, safer Chicago.

Even when discussing an issue as emotional and central to his candidacy as public safety, Vallas often reverted to rattling off statistics  the numbers of 911 calls unanswered, the outstanding arrest warrants, the shortage of shelter beds for domestic violence survivors.

He would have been a great mayor, the senior Vallas campaign operative said. I guess he would have been a better mayor than he was a candidate.

Vallas also made mistakes before his run for mayor that would have been very difficult for any campaign to correct.

In 2009, Vallas entertained a run for the Cook County Board of Commissioners as a Republican. He decided against the plan, and now says that he was only considering Republican affiliation because he wanted to be independent of the entrenched Democratic machine.

But before Vallas ended his flirtation with a Republican run for office, he conducted a half-hour interview with conservative TV host Jeff Berkowitz in which he said he was more of a Republican than a Democrat now. The interview also featured a convoluted exchange in which Vallas said he supported abortion rights but was personally against abortion, stating, Fundamentally, I oppose abortion.

The footage, which had already surfaced briefly during Vallas run for lieutenant governor, was devastating to Vallas 2023 mayoral bid, according to the senior Vallas campaign operative.

But the appearance also dated to a less-polarized period when moderate Republicans were still a factor in Chicago-area politics.

Vallas decision during the COVID-19 pandemic to become a regular guest host on a variety of conservative talk radio shows was much harder to justify in retrospect. The hours of conversation he recorded on those shows included comments deriding President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D); suggesting there was too much focus on Black history in schools; and likening congressional Democrats January 2021 impeachment of then-President Donald Trump to a witch hunt.

Taken in context, Vallas often sounded more like a Democrat trying to give conservative arguments their due, but his mere presence on those shows made for audio  and sometimes video footage  that inflicted lasting political damage.

I dont understand why he was on conservative talk radio two years ago. Thats just not what Democrats do.Frank Calabrese, Democratic strategist

I dont understand why he was on conservative talk radio two years ago, said Calabrese, the non-aligned Democratic strategist. Thats just not what Democrats do.

Absent those appearances, Vallas would still have gotten the citys conservative vote, Calabrese added, because he was sympathetic to the police, endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, and all that stuff. He didnt have to do all this right-wing media.

The Johnson campaign made sure news outlets reported on those comments, brought them up in debates, and included them in an array of TV and digital ads.

In addition, Johnson succeeded in making what might have, in a different era, been an asset for Vallas into something of a liability: his decades as a school choice-oriented, public schools superintendent in economically distressed cities. Vallas work in Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Bridgeport, Connecticut, though deeply controversial, won its share of praise from local stakeholders.

Regardless of their merits, the very nature of Vallas reforms  shuttering some neighborhood schools, allowing charter schools to proliferate and initiating changes that led to the ouster of many Black workers  was disruptive. His choices often prompted fierce resistance from unions, elected officials and parents, many of whom were willing to publicize their issues with Vallas in the course of the mayoral campaign.

Once again flouting campaign advertising conventions, the Johnson campaign aired a two-minute TV spot, Trail of Destruction, in the final three days of the campaign that featured Black public-school parents from New Orleans and Philadelphia lamenting Vallas stewardship of the school systems in their cities and warning against electing him in Chicago. The ad promoted a custom website, wrongforchicago.com, that informed readers in large red font of all the reasons Vallas was a Republican whose policies help wealthy donors and hurt working families.

Even the mismanagement stuff, we could link that to being a Republican too  privatizing schools in New Orleans, laying off teachers and arresting kindergarteners, said Lee, likely referring to the surge in suspensions, not arrests, of kindergarteners in Philadelphia during Vallas tenure.

To communicate all of these elements of Johnsons message, Johnsons campaign spent one-third of its advertising budget on digital ads. Digital advertising  on social media, YouTube, and video-streaming platforms like Amazon Prime  enabled the campaign to target voters by age, geography and voting history. No such targeting is available on television, which made Vallas heavy reliance on TV less efficient and undermined the impact of his 2-to-1 spending edge on that medium.

They relied on an old notion of scare people and be as loud as you can on broadcast television, said Davis, Johnsons advertising consultant. That missed the boat with where people really were.

The two Vallas campaign officials with whom HuffPost spoke did not have an estimate handy of how much of Vallas advertising budget was spent online, but they maintained it was substantial.

Former President Donald Trump's arraignment coincided with Election Day in Chicago, which Vallas' aides believe strengthened Johnson's hand.

Former President Donald Trump's arraignment coincided with Election Day in Chicago, which Vallas' aides believe strengthened Johnson's hand.

Building The Winning Coalition

When Johnson made it to the runoff, it was clear that as the sole Black candidate in the race, he would outperform Vallas in the majority-Black precincts that had voted for Lightfoot and other Black candidates in the first round of the election.

The open question was by how much Johnson would win those precincts. Vallas made a real play for voters in predominantly Black neighborhoods on the South and West sides, landing the endorsements of prominent Black leaders, including Jesse White, former U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D), businessman Willie Wilson, and an array of Black Chicago City Council members and pastors. The hope was that older, more conservative Black voters would seriously consider Vallas and enable him to secure a respectable one-third of the Black electorate.

Vallas even unsuccessfully sought Mayor Lightfoots blessing, while Johnson declined to reach out, according to someone close to Lightfoot.

For his part, Johnson had a long-standing relationship with the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and his son U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D). That friendship made it easier for Johnson to connect with House Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) during Johnsons visit to Selma, Alabama, for the annual commemoration of the Bloody Sunday voting rights demonstration in early March. Clyburn would go on to endorse Johnson, lending him mainstream credibility from a top national Democrat and Black leader.

As it turned out, Johnson won majority-Black precincts with more than 80% of the vote. Both campaigns believe endorsements played less of a role in that outcome than the sheer fact of Johnsons presence on the ballot and the campaigns success in informing Black voters who he was.

Johnsons sweep of the Black vote, in spite of Vallas endorsements from Black Chicago City Council members with well-regarded turnout operations, is an indictment of the old-school Chicago machine, revealing how little power council members have to sway voters, said Calabrese, the Democratic strategist.

Vallas had his own field program that helped him drive up support from his base during the early voting period. And once he was in the runoff, his team merged their field operations with the turnout and canvassing apparatus of the transportation and building trades unions that had endorsed his bid.

The monthslong support that Johnson received from the Chicago Teachers Union and the Service Employees International Union likely gave his field operation a head start, however. Both unions are also better known for their electioneering and worker organizing than other, more moderate unions.

They have the best organizers in the whole country, Calabrese said.

The impact of Johnsons field organization was perhaps most apparent in the substantial increase in young voter turnout that Johnson engineered. The number of voters aged 18 to 24 increased by 15.5% from the first round of the election to the runoff, while the number of voters aged 75 and older decreased by 13.5%, according to a WBEZ analysis.

Geographically, Johnsons strong performance in the highly educated and high-earning lakefront neighborhoods north of downtown Chicago likely put him over the top.

I just dont think that there was any real, effective response to that, especially in this environment today where politics is polarized.Senior official on the Vallas campaign

Johnsons improvement in the 44th Ward, which includes the North Side neighborhoods of Lakeview and Wrigleyville, was emblematic. In the first round of the election, Vallas had won the ward with about 41% of the vote, compared with about 31% for Johnson. In the runoff, Johnson won the ward with more than 51% of the vote, compared with under 49% for Vallas  a result that closely mirrored Johnsons citywide margin.

Many of those so-called lakefront liberal voters have a fiscally conservative streak, but they are solid Democrats, and for enough of them, there were real questions about whether Vallas aligned with their fundamental values.

I just dont think that there was any real, effective response to that, especially in this environment today where politics is polarized, the senior official on the Vallas campaign said.

Meanwhile, new tidbits kept emerging that fed Johnsons narrative about Vallas. Catanzara, who was reelected president of the police union in early March, told The New York Times days before the runoff that a Johnson mayoralty would mean blood in the streets.

Then, the polarizing effect of Trumps indictment on March 30 was the nail in the coffin for Vallas, both Vallas campaign sources told HuffPost.

At the risk of alienating his most conservative supporters, Vallas immediately applauded the news, calling it a chance to show that no one is above the law and affirming that Trump must be held accountable for his actions.

But Johnson used the occasion to remind voters in a TV ad that Vallas had once called Democrats impeachment proceedings against Trump a witch hunt. (Vallas had instead called for Congress to censure Trump, arguing that such a move would have put much more pressure on Republicans in Congress.)

It didnt help matters for Vallas that Trumps arraignment took place on Election Day in Chicago, heightening the salience of partisanship in a race where it was a losing issue for Vallas.

The Trump witch hunt ad was probably one of the deciding factors pushing undecided lakefront liberals toward Johnson more solidly, the second senior Vallas campaign aide told HuffPost. That was probably the difference.
A McDonalds restaurant in Springfield, Illinois. The Strawberry Shortcake McFlurry comes to McDonalds on Wednesday. | Seth Perlman, Associated Press

Creamy vanilla soft serve with bits of buttery shortbread cookies and strawberry-flavored chunks  this new McFlurry makes a popular springtime dessert a little cooler.

The Strawberry Shortcake McFlurry comes to McDonalds on Wednesday and is a new flavor for U.S. customers. According to Food & Wine, a similar flavor with Oreos is sold in Singapore, but this is the first time this flavor will hit the U.S.

This McFlurry is only available for a limited amount of time. The McDonalds website said to order it off of the McDonalds app since theres a limited supply at participating restaurants. It will be on the Sweets and Treats menu on Wednesday.

Related

How to try McDonalds new McFlurry

On Wednesday, order the Strawberry Shortcake McFlurry at a participating location using the McDonalds app to try the new soft serve treat. Its not only available on the app, but the McDonalds website recommended ordering it via the app.

New frosted strawberry biscuits at Popeyes

Is a strawberry crazy inevitable? Strawberries are a popular fruit already, but especially during spring and summer. Popeyes also recently added a strawberry-flavored menu item.

The Tennessean reported Popeyes added a frosted strawberry biscuit for a limited time only. These biscuits have strawberry chunks with natural flavoring and a frosting drizzled on top. Strawberry desserts might be the big trend this coming spring and fall.

Strawberry desserts to try in 2023

In honor of strawberries, here are some strawberry dessert ideas to try.

Strawberry cheesecake.

Chocolate-dipped strawberries on top of chocolate cake.

Strawberry shortcake.

Strawberry cheesecake ice cream.

Strawberries filled with cheesecake filling.

Strawberry tart.

Strawberry cake with strawberry frosting.

Strawberry crumble.

Strawberry trifle.

Strawberry crepes.

Why are McDonalds ice cream machines always broken?

Have you ever been in the drive-thru and ordered an ice cream treat only to hear their machines are broken? Well even if you havent, you may have heard about it. Its become something of an urban legend, but the machines arent always broken.

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Theres even a website called McBroken, which lists which machines are supposedly broken and where they are, according to All Recipes. The chain has even made fun of themselves for the broken ice cream machines.

we have a joke about our soft serve machine but we're worried it won't work  McDonald's (@McDonalds) August 11, 2020

One of the reasons the machine may be down at your particular McDonalds is the long cleaning process these machines go through. It takes around four hours to clean through a self-cleaning process, per All Recipes. Theres also been some reports of error messages on the machines that employees cant resolve. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission began looking into these ice cream machines, so its possible there will be a fix in the future.
A McKinney, Texas man pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a Burkburnett child just as his trial was set to begin Monday.

Chase Jones

Chase James Jones was sentenced by 78th District Court Judge Meredith Kennedy to 15 years in prison for the assault of the 13-year-old.

Police documents said Jones met the child in September 2021 after he made contact on a dating app and drove 168 miles to meet them.

Jones, who was 19 at the time, told police he met the child to break up the relationship, but they ended up having sexual intercourse. The document also claims Jones said he knew it was wrong and is ready to face his punishment.

Jones was arrested Sept. 20, 2021. His bail was set at $100,000 and he was released from jail Nov. 12, 2021. He was back in the Wichita County Jail Monday, according to the jail roster.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: McKinney man pleads to assault of Burkburnett child
As time ticked by, the tractors exhaust heated up.

Charlie Hodges waited several minutes on Rocky River Road with a load of hay in tow, and that was a least a couple minutes too long. By the time he looked left, then right and finally spotted a break in the traffic, the hay was on fire. He hopped off the tractor and ran back to the farmhouse to grab a water hose.

Its made it hard for us to make good use of this field across the road, Hodges, business manager of Hodges Family Farm, said about ever-growing vehicle traffic. We cant move our animals over there.

Traffic is just one symptom of the residential and commercial growth pushing farmland out of Mecklenburg County. As growth in Charlotte exploded and corporate farming between 1997 and 2017 pushed small farmers out of business, the county lost approximately 64,000 acres of farmland about 100 square miles, said Evan Davis, farmland preservation director at the N.C. Department of Agriculture.

Horses graze on Hodges Family Farms on Thursday, April 6, 2023.

The state of North Carolina is expected to lose 1.2 million acres of farmland by 2040, which is more than 1,800 square miles, based on current development trends, according to the department.

The economic impact of losing that farmland would equal 9,100 farms lost, a $1.25 billion reduction in farm output, and 19,600 jobs lost, Davis said.

To stave off losing more farmland, Mecklenburg County is working on a plan to preserve its remaining 13,000 acres of farm property through land conservation efforts and workforce development for the next generation of farmers. The plan seeks to support existing farmers, create farming education programs and preserve local food sources.

How Mecklenburg County plans to save its farms

In October 2022, Mecklenburg County received a $14,000 grant to be used for its farmland preservation plan, said countys sustainability and resiliency manager Erin Stanforth. The money must be used by October 2024.

One way the plan could preserve land is through a voluntary agriculture district  a county ordinance allowing landowners to publicly recognize their farms. It would also create an agricultural advisory board for Mecklenburg County, separate from soil and water conservation district board which is also involved with the countys preservation plan.

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Julia Rogers and her husband started Blackberry Ridge Farm on century farmland that has been in Rogers family for over a hundred years. After Rogers husband returned from active duty in the military, they built a house on the site and began farming hemp and flowers, as well as offering their space for events and educational classes.

Mecklenburg plans to create a funding strategy that would find land the county could buy and protect from development.

The county also plans to create a mentor and apprentice program to connect new farmers with experienced farmers and build a next generation farmer guide to pass down to those who inherit Mecklenburgs farms.

Mecklenburg County would use existing and new grants to fund new equipment, supplies and educational courses and work with Johnson C. Smith University to provide workforce development opportunities for students.

Julia Rogers, owner of Blackberry Ridge Farm in Huntersville, has talked to the county about the plan and is creating a farm summer camp.

Julia Rogers and her husband started Blackberry Ridge Farm on century farmland that has been in Rogers family for over a hundred years. After Rogers husband returned from active duty in the military, they built a house on the site and began farming hemp and flowers, as well as offering their space for events and educational classes.

I think its very important for kids to understand where food comes from, Rogers said. You know to have that connection with nature and agriculture.

The plan could include new agritourism weeks and farmer showcases to spotlight local farms, Stanforth said. There could also be small grant opportunities for Mecklenburg farmers.

The county hopes the planning will result in preserving and creating access to local food, especially for low-income residents.

Charlotte farmer says plan for next generation

Hodges said he hopes the plan includes a focus on succession and estate planning.

His grandfather once grew profitable row crops, including cotton, and reared dairy cows in the early 1900s. Hodges remembers struggling to fall asleep on hot summer nights in the farmhouse with no air conditioning. Theyre memories that make his Century Farm title a little more meaningful.

Now, paint peels off the half-inch cedar planks that make up the homes siding. Hodges deals with pricey bills to renovate the farmhouse to modern standards.

A barn at Hodges Family Farm in east Charlotte on Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Historic homes are expensive to maintain, Hodges said. Farms dont generate a lot of income.

North Carolina has more than 1,800 century farms, but only 16 have the prestige of being 100 years old in Mecklenburg.

When Hodges brother died in 2015, he and his nephew Connor were left to run the farm. Connor Hodges maintains the farm while his uncle manages the business and works a different full-time job remotely.

If they werent willing to take on the business, Hodges Family Farm could have been east Charlottes newest apartment complex or strip mall.

They dont have someone to pass it down to, Charlie Hodges said. Thats why farms get sold.

Losses cause Mecklenburg farms to turn to tourism

Having a good succession plan relies on the profitability of the farm, said Rogers of Blackberry Ridge Farm.

Once its sold, its gone. I think that the importance is keeping farmland to where you can still make an income on it and it can still be profitable, Rogers said. And thats a struggle Mecklenburg County faces ... to not let farmers get in a position where their only option for helping their family keep a viable income is to sell. It has to be profitable to keep going.

Mecklenburg farms have constantly adapted over the years. The Hodges farm has shifted from focusing on row crops and cattle to adding pumpkins, bringing in paying visitors to the farm every October. They host about 25 weddings in a barn venue on the property each spring and fall. Over the past couple of years, they created an online store to sell items grown on the farm.

Blackberry Ridge Farm, also a century farm Rogers inherited from her family, turned to agritourism as well. Rogers and her husband grow flowers and hemp on the farm and sell bouquets and CBD products, but also bring guests to the farm to cut their own flowers or for different community events.

Were surrounded by these communities of people who have families and they want to be able to bring their children to see a farm to see something beautiful and unique in nature, Rogers said. So weve kind of just capitalized on that and weve created that environment for them to be able to come out here and enjoy the farm.

Mecklenburg County Commissioners gave their unanimous endorsement for the plan in March, and county staff members plan to continue to work with local farmers to finalize the plan.

Those with questions can contact soil and water supervisor Barbara Bleiweis at Barbara.Bleiweis@mecknc.gov or Stanforth at Erin.Stanforth@mecknc.gov.
Julian Huff is investing in property for the greater good.

At age 16, Huff planned to own property in the near future. Due to his exposure to real estate and ownership growing up, he felt the idea was almost innate.

I was able to learn a lot of that from my father, Huff told AfroTech.

Setting out to accomplish his goal, Huff even downloaded an application to generate passive income. In December 2020, he was positioned to buy his first home while living in South Korea and taking college courses, so he started looking for the ideal location in Ohio, where he grew up.

The property he chose is located in Akron, OH, and though he intends to live in the home one day, he first plans to rent it to people of color in the underserved community.

One research statistic that really stuck out to me was that Black home ownership is really low in the United States and actually it fell to a historic 60-year low. That alone really motivated and amplified me to get a property, Huff explained.

He says he stumbled upon the Akron property while visiting LeBron James I Promise School. As AfroTech previously shared, James has invested in his hometown and recently established a job training facility to support students and their families by providing retail, dining, and event areas.

Huff, who is currently working for a communications firm in Washington, D.C., is pursuing a similar goal to transform communities in Ohio, though he is concentrating on the housing crisis, which is timely.

Mahoning Matters reports Ohioans are dealing with hiked rent prices and that the shortage of affordable and available housing options has gotten worse in the past year, increasing by 6 percent since a 2022 Gap report was released.

Ohio is definitely in a housing crisis right now and people need places to live, Huff said. Thats just the reality and the problem is a lot of these households are fighting between, Hey, am I gonna spend money on rent this month or Am I gonna spend money on groceries? That shouldnt be a problem.

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He continued: So, I dont plan to stop here. I want to keep acquiring more properties. I want to help raise that Black homeownership rate and good houses that are taken care of to people.

Given the current state of Ohioans, Huff said he understands there will be even more work to be done to change the current landscape. So, he hopes to provide communities with information about programs and practices that can improve their living situation.

My purpose in life is to be a servant and give back to others, Huff expressed. I think providing housing is one thing, but also educating people about the options they have to get a house and educating people about the options they have to reduce their rent. Too often I find that many people dont know about FHA or USDA loans. They dont know about these local and state programs to get a home or live at home, which is a problem.

He added: I would love to work with other leaders to eventually create a program where people are not only able to move into the homes that I own or other people own, but also learn about homeownership.

Huff believes his new property will be finalized by the end of April, if plans go accordingly.
Authorities are investigating a shooting after two people reportedly tried to steal a car in Merced County.

Deputies responded about 7 p.m. Wednesday to the area of Jefferson Street and Santa Fe Avenue in Le Grand for a reported shooting, according to a Merced County Sheriffs Office news release.

Authorities said that during an investigation, deputies learned two people were working on a vehicle when two unidentified men drove up and attempted to steal it.

A fight broke out and the two unidentified men allegedly shot at the victims as they fled the area, according to the release. The victims were not injured by the gunfire. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the Merced County Sheriffs Office Investigations Bureau at 209-385-7472.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 10)  Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos urges several ranking police officials to file leaves of absence within the week, pending the investigation into their alleged involvement in the 6.7-billion shabu haul from a police sergeant last year.

In a press briefing on Monday, the chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) claimed that there was a massive attempt to cover up the arrest of Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo following the confiscation of nearly a metric ton of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu from his property last year.

Abalos bared the names of the 11 high-ranking police officials and three personnel allegedly involved to cover up the arrest. These were then Deputy Chief PNP for Operations PLtGen Benjamin Santos Jr., PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Director Narciso Domingo, PDEG Special Operations Unit (SOU) Region 4A chief PCol Julian Olonan, PDEG SOU Region 4A Arresting Team head PCpt Jonathan Sosongco, PDEG SOU National Capital Region (NCR) officer-in-charge PLtCol Arnulfo Ibanez.

The list also includes PDEG SOU NCR deputy chief PMaj Michael Angelo Salmingo, PLtCol Glenn Gonzales from the Quezon City Police District, PDEG intelligence officer PLt Ashrap Amerol, Manila Police District Moriones Station Commander PLtCol Harry Lorenzo III, PDEG SOU 4A intelligence chief PCpt Randolph Pinon.

Also asked to file a leave were Police Master Sgt. Lorenzo Catarata, Police Senior Master Sgt. Jerrywin Rebosora, Police Staff Sgt. Arnold Tibay and Patrolman Peter Gular.

Abalos presented a CCTV footage of the Oct. 8 anti-illegal drugs operation in Mayos lending firm in Tondo, Manila. He said that the video shows a different scenario from the narration of the events contained in the reports provided by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The video showed a cuffed Mayo entering and leaving his lending establishment, then boarding and alighting from a gray SUV multiple times. He was also uncuffed ats some point in the footage. Some cops were also seen loading a sedan with a large luggage and duffel bag.

Yung mga nakita natin sa [video] tape, unahin natin yung kung may kasalanan sila o wala... mas minamabuti nating mag-leave muna sila. Kung hindi man, isususpinde natin sila pending investigation para hindi maapektuhan ang ebidensya at ang mismong imbestigasyon, Abalos stressed.

[Translation: The ones we saw on the video tape, let's first look into whether they are guilty or not... we better let them go on leave first. Otherwise, we will suspend them pending investigation so as not to affect the evidence and the investigation itself.]

He said the police officials must file their leaves of absence within the week or they will be suspended.

Abalos previously told CNN Philippines that he believes more police officers were involved in this case and as a result, he ordered to form a special task force to keep watch and look into police anomalies and irregularities.

The DILG chief also recalled the case of two police officers taking 42 kilograms of shabu from the 990-kg drug haul, which led to the creation of the special task force known as SITG 990.

National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Vice Chairman Alberto Bernardo said the police officers have admitted that they took the 42 kilos of shabu as part of their old practices.

Sinabi nila na bahagi raw ito ng mga dati nilang kalakaran... Mayroong mga rewards doon sa mga informant na sinasabi nila [They said it was part of their old practices... Giving rewards to informants, as they say], Bernardo said.

RELATED: PDEA, PNP asset confirms seized illegal drugs rewarded to informants  lawmaker

Furthermore, Abalos disclosed that in February, he requested an update from PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin on the investigation into other cops involved in the Mayo case.

Abalos said he was disappointed with the very slow progress of the investigation and authorized NAPOLCOM to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the case and the actions taken by SITG 990.

He said the fact-finding board has testimonies and video evidence that show that there was an attempt to cover up Mayos arrest.

CNN Philippines' correspondent Paige Javier contributed to this story.
(This story has been corrected to update the CDC data on fatalities to more than 70,000 in 2021 from all synthetic opioids, not more than100,000 in fiscal 2022 from fentanyl, in paragraph 4)

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Members of Mexico's security cabinet will be in the United States this week to meet with U.S. officials about the trafficking of synthetic opioid fentanyl, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday.

The meeting's agenda will include other topics, including arms trafficking, the president said, without providing details on which U.S. officials would participate.

Some U.S. lawmakers have been calling on the Biden administration to take a harder line and ratchet up pressure on Mexico to crack down on the fentanyl trafficking. A handful of Republican legislators have even called for the U.S. military to bomb Mexican cartels and their labs inside Mexico.

Overdoses involving synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, killed more than 70,000 people in the U.S. in 2021, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

U.S. officials say almost all fentanyl on U.S. streets is mass produced by powerful crime groups on Mexican soil, a claim Lopez Obrador denies.

China last week responded to a late-March letter from Lopez Obrador asking for help on shipments of fentanyl, saying there is no illegal trafficking of the opioid between China and Mexico.

The letter and China's response did not mention supplies of the precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl.

Lopez Obrador on Monday repeated that no fentanyl is synthesized inside Mexico, a claim the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) disputes.

"In Mexico fentanyl is not produced, the raw material for fentanyl is not produced. If China's government says they do not produce it either, then it is interesting. Who is producing it?," Lopez Obrador said during a regular news conference Monday.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
A photo provided by Russell Lee/Farm Security Administration, via Library of Congress of farm workers threshing wheat near Questa, N.M. (Russell Lee/Farm Security Administration, via Library of Congress via The New York Times)

QUESTA, N.M.  When the old regulars gather at Cynthia Rael-Vigils coffee shop in Questa, a village nestled in the snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains, they sip lattes and lavender lemonade and gossip in Spanish.

Someone from Mexico City or Madrid sitting at the next table could be hard-pressed to follow their rare dialect. But Spanish speakers from four centuries ago might have recognized the unusual verb conjugations  if not the unorthodox pronunciations and words drawn from English and languages indigenous to North America.

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For more than 400 years, these mountains have cradled a form of Spanish that today exists nowhere else on Earth. Even after the absorption of their lands into the United States in the 19th century, generations of speakers somehow kept the dialect alive, through poetry and song and the everyday exchanges on the streets of Hispanic enclaves scattered throughout the region.

Even just a few decades ago, the New Mexican dialect remained at the forefront of Spanish-language media in the United States, featured on television programs like the nationally syndicated 1960s Val de la O variety show. Balladeers like Al Hurricane nurtured the dialect in their songs. But such fixtures, along with the dazzling array of Spanish-language newspapers that once flourished in northern New Mexico, have largely faded.

Spots like Rael-Vigils coffee shop, where the dialects melodic sounds can still occasionally be heard, are few and far between. In places like Albuquerque, New Mexicos largest city, the dialect is being eclipsed by the Spanish of a new wave of migrants, particularly from the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico.

At the same time, there are questions about whether the rural communities that nurtured New Mexican Spanish for centuries can themselves last much longer in the face of myriad economic, cultural and climate challenges.

Our unique Spanish is at real risk of dying out, said Rael-Vigil, 68, who traces her ancestry to a member of the 1598 expedition that claimed New Mexico as one of the Spanish empires most remote domains. Once a treasure like this is lost, I dont think we realize, its lost forever.

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Those speaking New Mexican Spanish in Questa, a village of about 1,700 near the state line with Colorado, tend to be in their 50s or older. Even in her own family, Rael-Vigil sees the language slipping away; her 11-year-old grandson speaks almost no Spanish of any dialect.

He has no interest, she said. Kids his age master the internet; thats all in English. I sometimes wonder, did my generation not do our part to keep the language alive?

I grew up in an old adobe home in Ribera, a village near the Pecos River, speaking some New Mexican Spanish  enough to get by, though not as splendidly as some classmates. Some of my earliest memories involve listening to my grandmother as she chatted in the dialect while flipping tortillas with her fingers on a wood stove.

Despite being born in New Mexico and spending nearly her entire life in the state, my grandmother spoke hardly any English. She is gone now, and with her and those of her generation, the region is losing a linguistic treasure trove harkening back centuries.

New Mexican Spanish is often described as a sampling of 17th century Golden Age Spanish imported directly from the Old World, and somehow meticulously safeguarded in isolation. That depiction may include kernels of truth, linguists say, but the origins and development of the dialect, which they consider an offshoot of the Spanish of northern Mexico, are far more nuanced and complex than the myth.

It is thought to have crystallized around the late 16th century, when a linguistically and ethnically mixed colonizing expedition put down stakes here as part of the European competition for the New World  years before the first permanent English settlement in North America was established in 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia.

The colonists included Europeans from Spain, Portugal and Greece, but also Mexican-born people of mixed Indigenous, European and African ancestry, as well as Indigenous people, thought to be Tlaxcalan Indians, who spoke Nahuatl, the lingua franca of the Aztec empire.

The settlers relied on supply caravans known as conductas to maintain ties with Mexico City. But the small colony could be completely cut off from the outside world for stretches of several years, raising comparisons with places such as the Andean highlands or southern Chile, where the Spanish language evolved in similar isolation.

Damian Vergara Wilson, a scholar at the University of New Mexico who specializes in the states rare variety of Spanish, said he compares the settlement in what was then the northern fringes of the Spanish empire to an off-world colony.

What if we went to Mars on a space vessel and lost contact with other speakers? Wilson said. Thats what happened here. There was very minimal contact.

While the dialects speakers can generally hold a conversation with someone from any of the countries where Spanish is the majority language, those still proficient in New Mexican Spanish can also sound considerably different. (Linguists often call the dialect Traditional New Mexican Spanish or the Spanish Dialect of the Upper Rio Grande Region, drawing a contrast with the more Mexican-influenced Spanish of southern New Mexico.)

In the places where it took root, in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, speakers use words like raton volador (flying mouse) for bat instead of murcielago, as in standard Spanish, and gallina de la sierra (mountain chicken) for turkey instead of pavo or guajalote.

They incorporated Indigenous words like chimal (shield) from Nahuatl, chimayo (obsidian flake) from Tewa and cibolo (buffalo) from Zuni, as well as bisnes (business), crismes (Christmas), sanamagon (son of a gun) and many others from English.

Speakers conjugate creatively, employing unusual verb endings, and tend to aspirate the s sound in many words, making it similar to the h in English (or the j in Spanish). For instance, they might say No je donde esta la caja (I dont know where the house is) instead of the standard No se donde esta la casa.

Len Nils Beke, a linguist who completed his doctoral studies this year at the University of New Mexico, was previously at Ghent University in Belgium, known for its strong Spanish linguistics program, when he told colleagues about the dialect he had encountered in New Mexico.

They seemed astonished at every turn, said Beke, who traveled by bicycle between far-flung villages to conduct field research in New Mexican Spanish, often camping under the stars. It was like, Wow, they do this? Wow, they do that?

The dialect has managed to survive for the nearly two centuries since the United States took possession of New Mexico in 1848, making it the oldest continuously transmitted variety of Spanish in the country. Still, in an era when immigration from Latin America has boosted the number of hispanohablantes in the United States to more than 41 million, the fortunes of New Mexican Spanish  and the region where it once flourished  have been going in another direction.

Economic forces have fueled an exodus from the aging northern villages made up of crumbling adobe homes. Other threats  such as the largest wildfire in New Mexicos recorded history, which tore through the states Hispanic heartland a year ago, and the worst megadrought since before the Spanish settled here  have revealed the fragility of these traditional outposts to extreme weather exacerbated by climate change.

Despite the hardships, there are still some in the region trying to provide the dialect a lifeline.

Julie Chacon, executive director of the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, an organization in Alamosa, Colorado, grew up speaking New Mexican Spanish in the nearby village of Capulin, where it had spread across the state line to southern Colorado in the 19th century. She is now collecting oral histories from viejitos (old ones), assembling workbooks to teach the dialect, and running a heritage camp for children.

Daniel Lee Gallegos and his band Sangre Joven of Las Vegas, New Mexico, hold jam sessions on Facebook for the nuevomexicano diaspora, and Carlos Medina, a comedian and musician, revels in the dialects playful creativity.

The language absolutely will survive, said Larry Torres, a linguist who writes a bilingual column for The Taos News and Santa Fe New Mexican. It may not be the same language that our ancestors recognized, but were using a form of 15th century Spanish with 21st century English.

Others are not so sanguine about the dialects chances of survival, at least not in the form in which it has been recognizable for centuries.

Mark Waltermire, a linguistics professor at New Mexico State University, said he expected New Mexican Spanish to survive for at least two more decades, if only because there are people in their 50s who still speak it.

Beyond that time frame, however, he said it is hard to see a path forward for the dialect  which does not mean Spanish will disappear from New Mexico. Its just being replaced, he said, citing the arrival of new immigrants from Mexico, with a different kind of Spanish.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Bal Harbours Drew Lieberman has finished his prison time for his part in a $60 million healthcare fraud, a role that involved keeping people with substance abuse problems sedated. Now, Lieberman is finished as a doctor.

The Florida Department of Health filed an administrative complaint against Lieberman on March 27, starting the discipline process that likely would have ended with revocation or at least suspension. But Liebermans online Florida Department of Health profile says he beat the department to the punch, voluntarily relinquishing his license.

He had been licensed in Florida since Oct. 23, 1990, and a convicted felon since Feb. 14, 2022, when he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. For his role with Second Chance Detox, which operated as Compass Detox and WAR Network, Lieberman was sentenced to one year and a day prison time, $1.8 million in restitution, $39,000 in forfeiture and a $20,000 fine. He was released from FCI Miami on Jan. 26.

READ MORE: The doctor, the lawyer and the patient recruiter plead guilty in Compass Detox healthcare fraud

Because the fraud occurred well after Lieberman built his 5,442-square foot, three-bedroom, 5 1/2-bathroom Bal Harbour home, that wasnt included in the forfeiture.

READ MORE: Surfside man in $3.5 million fraud wouldnt testify against cohorts, alleges community pressure

Serving comfort drink so patients would serve the fraud

As chief medical officer of Compass Detox, which operated at 1190 Hibiscus Dr. in Pembroke Pines, Liebermans job should have been making sure Compass was the right place for patients as well as starting and monitoring treatment plans.

Instead, as described in Liebermans admission of facts, he and medical director Jose Santeiro kept their customers hooked on drugs to make money.

They prescribed controlled substances, prescription medications, and over-the-counter medications, in quantities and combinations that at times grossly diverged from legitimate medical practice and impaired them enough to prevent proper therapy participation.

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Some of the substances were benzodiazepines, which are known drugs of abuse, and a substance called a comfort drink (also known as a comfort shots or comfort meds), the admission continued. Lieberman created the comfort drink in part to keep patients sedated and so that they would be more likely to remain at Compass Detox. These medications also incentivized patients, including patients who did not qualify for detox, to continually return to Compass Detox.

So, patients stayed for as long as possible. Then the group submitted fraudulent insurance claims for detox and residential treatment.

From June 2017 through September 2020, with Liebermans help, the group submitted least $60,576,082 in fraudulent claims to insurance companies and got paid $18,515,385 on those claims.

Where are the Compass Detox gang members now?

The group that pulled off the healthcare fraud have spent time at FCI Miami, the downtown federal prison.

Lieberman was there. Bal Harbour brothers and Compass Detox owners Jonathan Markovich and Daniel Markovich, owners of Second Chance Detox, are scheduled to be there until Dec. 8, 2034, and Sept. 23, 2028, respectively. Compass and WAR Network medical director Jose Santeiro is there until March 8, 2026.

Bay Harbor Islands attorney and Second Chance Detox co-owner Richard Waserstein was there until his March 20 release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to launder money. Like Lieberman, Waserstein didnt wait for the professional discipline process and gave up his law license last year after pleading guilty to conspiracy to launder money.

Christopher Garnto is doing his time at FPC Pensacola, with scheduled release on Sept. 19. Patient recruiter Frank Bosch is at FCI Coleman in Sumterville until Nov. 1.
What do you do when youve been busted selling fraudulent applications for immigrants trying to become permanent U.S. residents? Dorals Mario Henry Garcia, a U.S. citizen, grabbed Peruvian travel documents and skedaddled through Central America.

Garcia was declared a fugitive when he didnt show up for his Feb. 1 arraignment in Miami federal court. He did show up in Panama on Valentines Day, Feb. 14. Unfortunately for Garcia, the law enforcement officers awaiting him as he got off his flight from Costa Rica werent holding flowers, chocolates or little teddy bears.

Garcia, 65, has pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, misuse of visas and other documents and one count of aggravated identity theft. His sentencing is set for June 14.

READ MORE: Surfside man in $3.5 million fraud alleges community harassed him into not testifying against cohorts

Sponsor lies

You could go to Garcias Mar Financial in Miami Springs for tax preparation, divorce or immigration needs. As part of that third part, Garcia would help file a form I-485, an application for an immigrant to become a legal permanent resident.

Often, those clients would have to provide an Affidavit of Financial Support (form I-864) from a financial sponsor guaranteeing to support the applicant while they were in the United States, Garcias guilty plea admission says. When a client didnt have anyone to act as their financial sponsor, [Garcia] would steal the personal identifying information and supporting documents of a sponsor for a prior legitimate application without in the sponsors knowledge or consent, in exchange for a fee.

Garcia did this at least seven times in 2018 and 2019, using the names, birth dates and Social Security numbers of four sponsors.

Homeland Security Investigations Miami office handled the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hayden P. OByrne handled the prosecution.
Grand Rapids Police

Under proper police protocols, the former Grand Rapids officer who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya last April should not have engaged in a physical confrontation with the 26-year-old Black man, experts hired by his family said Monday.

The analysis came during a press conference to discuss new evidence in the Lyoya familys $100 million lawsuit against former Grand Rapids law enforcement officer Christopher Schurr and the City of Grand Rapids in connection with the April 4, 2022, traffic stop.

Authorities say that Schurr, 32, pulled over 26-year-old Loyoya for a license plate violation. When Lyoya, whose blood-alcohol level was higher than the legal limit, tried to flee the scene, he was fatally shot in the back of the head. Schurr has since been charged with second-degree murder and will face a trial in October.

This is simply a case of driving while Black and we dont ever need to let that issue get swept under the rug, prominent civil rights activist, and the familys lawyer, Ben Crump said on Monday. It all would have been avoided had this police officer not profiled this Black motorist.

The lawyers also revealed affidavits from two experts on police policy and procedurewho revealed that Schurr did not follow protocol. The two affidavits were filed in response to Schurr, who claims he acted in self-defense, and the City of Grand Rapids motion to dismiss the case.

Thomas Tiderington, a retired Fort Lauderdale Police Departments Special Investigations Division commander, wrote in an affidavit that there was no objective basis for Schurr to legally effect a traffic stop of Lyoyas vehicle. he added.

Had Schurr followed proper protocols, Lyoya more likely than not would be alive today, Tiderington said. Schurr should have and could have followed those police protocols instead of choosing to needlessly engage with Lyoya physically.

Former Michigan Cop Sued Over Fatal Shooting of Unarmed Black Man

Authorities say that the shooting happened just after 8 a.m. when Schurr and Lyoya were driving in opposite directionsprompting the officer to turn his car around to check the license plate.

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In footage played at the press release, Lyoya can be seen stepping out of his beige sedan after Schurr stops him. The interaction quickly escalates after Schurr can be seen grabbing Lyoya from behind and the two struggle with a Taser. Schurr maintains that during the altercation Lyoya got ahold of his Taserbefore trying to run away.

In his affidavit, W. Ken Katsaris, a certified Florida Law Enforcement officer, notes he did not see Lyoya gain control of the Tasers grip in the footageand also reiterates that Schurr should not have physically engaged him.

Contrary to his training, Schurr was improperly using dual force by physically engaging with Lyoya while also holding his Taser, Katsaris said.

Tiderington, seemed to agree, writing in his own affidavit that Schurr chose to initiate physical contact with Lyoya as the Congolese immigrant walked away. Instead, he said, Schurr should have waited for backup.

Ultimately, the struggle for the Taser lasted about 90 seconds before Lyoya was pushed on the ground with Schurr on top of him. In the footage, the officer is heard yelling to drop the Taser before ultimately taking out his gun, putting it in the back of Lyoyas head, and shooting him.

When Schurr held his firearm to the back of Lyoyas head, it is my opinion that Schurr did not have a reasonable fear for his life, Tiderington wrote. Therefore, it was unreasonable for Schurr to use deadly force against Patrick.

Schurr was ultimately discharged from the Grand Rapids Police Department. A commander previously testified that Schurr followed the departments protocoland that he was only fired because of the criminal charges against him. Peter Lyoya, the 26-year-olds father, also spoke at the press conference on Monday, expressing his pain over losing his son.

Matthew Borgula, Schurrs attorney in the criminal case, told News 8 on Monday that he has spoken to several experts who say that Schurr did not use excessive force during the incident.

The unanimous consensus of police procedure experts to whom I have spoken and who have looked at this case agree that Officer Schurr did not use excessive force and was justified in using force during the arrest of Patrick Lyoya., Borgula added. The plaintiffs attorneys in this case are likely attempting to try their case, once again, in the public forum.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN  Native American tribes from Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario have come together to call for an end to the Line 5 pipeline.

The Enbridge Line 5 crude oil pipeline, first constructed in 1953, stretches from Wisconsin through 645 miles of Michigan and ends in Sarnia, Ontario. Part of the pipeline travels underwater through the Straits of Mackinac.

In recent years, the pipeline's continued operation has become a source of controversy. Many tribal nations and communities claim that the pipeline goes through their traditional territories. The Straits area in particular is considered a place of significant cultural and historical importance to many native groups, including the Anishinaabe. According to tribal leaders, the pipeline poses a major and direct threat to the ecosystems along its path.

More: Enbridge rejects Michigan's demand to shut down oil pipeline

More: Enbridge sues Michigan over oil pipeline shutdown order

The Straits of Mackinac are central to the Anishinaabe creation story, which makes this location sacred from both a cultural and historical perspective in the formation of the Anishinaabe people, said Austin Lowes, chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, in a statement. Protecting the Straits is also a matter of the utmost environmental and economic importance  both to our people and the state of Michigan.

Tribal leaders and other environmental groups have publicly opposed the pipeline for many years and have called for the pipeline to be shut down.

Supporters of the pipeline point out that it transports 540,000 barrels of light crude oil and natural gas liquids through Line 5 on a daily basis. Shutting it down could impact jobs, fuel transport and property taxes paid by Enbridge.

In an effort to address safety concerns, Enbridge has proposed an underwater tunnel to house the portion of Line 5 that runs under the Straits of Mackinac. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently pushed the permitting timeline for the tunnel project back to spring 2025.

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Critics of the tunnel project say no oil should be transported through the Straits at all, as a spill could have a devastating impact on more than 700 miles of Great Lakes shoreline.

Enbridge personnel and other local agencies conduct an oil spill drill in the Straits of Mackinac in 2015.

More: New Canadian Consul General in Detroit talks EVs, Gordie Howe bridge and Line 5

More: As legal sparring continues, Army Corps pushes Line 5 permit timeline to 2025

The rights of Indigenous people, of my people, are rights that should be respected by all sovereigns, both domestic and abroad, said President Whitney Gravelle of the Bay Mills Indian Community in a statement. Canadas support of Line 5 is a disaster in the making for the entire Great Lakes region because an oil spill will poison our fish, harm our sacred sites, contaminate our drinking water  and ultimately destroy our Indigenous way of life.

Previous attempts to shut down the pipeline have been stopped through various means, mostly the 1977 Transit Pipeline Treaty between Canada and the United States.

The latest attempt saw 51 tribal organizations from Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario submit a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council. This report, dated April 4, claims that the Government of Canada is violating the human rights of Indigenous peoples through its continuous support for Line 5.

The report was submitted to be considered during Canada's upcoming Universal Periodic Review, conducted by the United Nations. As a United Nations member state, Canada is required to be evaluated for its human rights record on a regular basis.

Canada's Universal Periodic Review will take place this year on Nov. 6-17.

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our content

The 51 different tribal organizations that signed the report include: The Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 First Nations throughout the province of Ontario, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Bay Mills Indian Community, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, Hannahville Indian Community, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

The full report as it was submitted the the United Nations can be found at earthrights.org.

 Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Great Lakes tribes send report to United Nations to fight Line 5
A Mickey-shaped waffle from Carnation Cafe, a Victorian-themed restaurant on Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., April 1, 2023. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones/The New York Times)

ANAHEIM, Calif.  The strawberry Dole Whip sundae at Disneyland, in its first minute or so of life, looks perfect. Billowed with fresh fruit and a syrupy drizzle, veiled with tender cake crumbs, it has the dazzling color and softly drooping tip of a cartoon dessert.

By the time you pick up a spoon and find a place to sit down, this may no longer be true. But on the day I met AJ Wolfe in Disneyland, the weather was overcast and slightly chilly, and the sundae was holding just fine.

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With her phone, Wolfe took a vertical shot, then a horizontal shot. A hero shot, then a group shot of all of the snacks we had ordered from Tropical Hideaway in Adventureland. Together, we tasted every item on the table.

By then, the sundae was melting  a super sweet, sickly pink, half-eaten wreck that had managed to make everything in a 3-foot radius sticky, including my phone, my hands and my eyelashes (how?). I found myself going back for bites, but by then, I almost begrudged it.

Luckily, Wolfe had packed wet wipes. At 44, she lives in Dallas and runs Disney Food Blog, a website title with perfect search-engine optimization that employs more than 30 people. There are many Disney fan sites on the internet exploring our intense and complicated relationships to the multinational conglomerate, but few take theme-park food, and by extension the people who obsess over its pleasures, so seriously.

Disney is a religion for people  a drug, she said. I know because there was a time when all my thoughts were focused on: How do I get there again?

In 2008, just before she started the site, Wolfe was living in a little apartment on the northern tip of the New York City borough of Staten Island, running up her credit cards with trips to Disney World in Florida. For a while, the park was the only thing that mattered  a trap door in the back of her life as a grant writer, opening out into a perfect, if provisional happiness.

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From the start, the thing Wolfe loved the most about Disney was the food. She documented every chicken tender and corn dog with her Kodak point-and-shoot camera, treated every ice cream cone in the way of a serious food blogger, shuffling around to be near a window, or rushing dishes outside before they melted to get shots in the best light, with the prettiest background. Over time, she built an archive of the food at the parks, with continuously updated notes on every bakery, restaurant and kiosk.

When Disneyland opened in Anaheim in 1955, the food offerings werent so different from what youd find at a local county fair  hot dogs, fried chicken, barbecue and pancakes. That genre of food hasnt disappeared  theres always a wait for the incomprehensibly large and glistening turkey legs  but as Disney parks expanded across the world and matured, so did their menus.

Today, theres a discreet corporate flavor lab at Disney World where chefs experiment with new dishes, a series of bumper food and wine festivals, as well as sit-down restaurants serving everything from Zanzibar-inspired vegetable curry to roast duck with pistachio pate. Reporters on the food beat for Disney Food Blog are in the parks every day to catch and document new items.

Disneyland, in Anaheim, is known as a kind of locals park  I know plenty of Angelenos who grew up with annual passes (as well as those who consider it a red flag when people brag about annual passes on dating apps). Although I live about 45 minutes away, I had never been until I met Wolfe there for a day of snacking that began with soft, malt-scented Mickey waffles in Carnation Cafe.

You havent touched your ears, said our server, Dave, as he poured us more coffee, and told us that Walt Disney had hired his father as an animator in the 1950s.

About one-third of visitors here are Disney adults, or as Disney calls them non family guests, meaning grown-ups with no children in tow  often in for birthdays, dates, anniversaries and honeymoons. Die-hard Disney fans hold annual passes and dont need a reason to visit. They know the park and its offerings inside and out, in long-term relationships sustained throughout their lives. (Disney has tried, and failed, to prevent people from scattering the ashes of their loved ones in the park, particularly on rides like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.)

In the slow, white tram that takes you from the parking lot to the park entrance, I thought I must look like a Disney adult, clutching my tote bag, entering Disneyland alone.

I was, in fact, a Disney kid. When I was 8, my father took a job working for Disneyland Paris, which was not in Paris at all, but in Chessy, about 20 miles east of the city. This was the early 1990s, during the renaissance years for Disney animation  the years of Aladdin, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast.

Before the park officially opened, my family stayed in each of the American-themed hotels for a couple of nights, eating at all of the restaurants and answering detailed questionnaires about each meal. I had never been to the United States, and without any understanding of these foods and their origins, I ate black bean soup and tortilla chips at the Santa Fe-themed hotel, and oysters Rockefeller in a replica of the Rainbow Room in the New York-themed hotel.

I could have lived on the parks warm caramel popcorn, the smell of which was pumped into the air at several key points in the park, and which I can accurately conjure now, if I take a deep enough breath. It wouldnt be an exaggeration to say that my first Oreo milkshake  from Annettes Diner in Disney Village, where most of the servers worked on roller skates  shifted the course of my life.

I dont usually say all that, though, because it sounds absurd. And did I really enjoy the food, or did the exhaustion and frustration of the theme park put me in such an emotionally fragile place that I clung to the pleasures of a milkshake? Theres no way to know what effect a few years of extremely high Disney doses had on me.

The brands culinary reference points can be just as vivid and enduring as its characters and stories. Chad Wright and Venessa Hinojosa-Wright met in 2009 while they were working at Disney World. They were later married there, and put Disneys sweet potato pancakes on their wedding brunch menu.

Although they no longer work for the corporation, they still love going to the parks, and blog about it on their YouTube channel, Two Tickets to Adventure. At the holidays, they keep an eye out for the lightly spiced, super-soft gingerbread Mickey Mouse cookies. Theyre really coveted in the Disney community, said Hinojosa-Wright, who explained that every year, some portion of the cookies end up peddled by scalpers on Facebook Marketplace.

Wolfes food-fan site caters to families planning first-time trips with detailed instructions and tips, as well as to Disney fans who simply want to know whats changed  if theres a new chef or menu item, a new hard-to-get, limited-edition seasonal snack  since their last visit.

As she developed the site, Wolfes goal was to show all readers what Disney food really looked like. She didnt make restaurant reservations under her own name, avoided photos on the internet (and for this article) and paid for her own meals.

Im old-school, and thats how restaurant critics do it, she said.

She ripped open cheese sticks for the camera to reveal their stodgy or stringy insides, depending on the temperature at which they were served; spooned up soups and sundaes, illuminating their textures; and broke apart cupcakes and cookies.

These families are going to go and spend so much money, Wolfe said. They dont need to see perfect images of the food: They need to see what theyre actually going to get.

What youre actually going to get at Disneyland is, of course, impossible to predict. Crowds swell and prices go up. Characters disappear moments after you arrive to see them. Wait times for restaurants and rides unfurl indefinitely. Key rides shut down and snacks disappear. And bathrooms are never nearby when you really, really need them. You dont know when somethings going to veer from the script, only that it is.

After waffles and sundaes, lumpia and char siu bao, chicken tenders and mac and cheese, blue milk and green milk, one of our last stops of the day was Ogas Cantina, in Galaxys Edge. The Star Wars-themed bar also happens to be one of the few places in the park to serve alcohol, including a vodka, falernum and Curacao-spiked juice called the Jedi Mind Trick. The drinks dont make much sense as cocktails, but still, I couldnt wait to have one in front of me, ideally with a ridiculous garnish on top.

Wolfe put us down on a waitlist and we wandered around, delighted that the wait for Ogas today was just 20 minutes. But within a few seconds of getting inside, it became clear that something had gone horribly wrong.

Protein spill, Wolfe said with authority. Want to get out of here?

Protein spill is gentle Disneyland lingo for vomit. And in a dark, windowless, crowded room like Ogas, the smell is both especially unpleasant and impossible to escape. My eyes hadnt had time to adjust to the darkness, to take in the details or design of the room. I hadnt even opened the menu. But the answer was yes, I wanted to get out of there. We all did.

Later, in the shade of an umbrella, Wolfe and I shared a paper basket of corn dogs. They were warm and bulging, crisp-edged but yielding, with juicy sausages inside. They were almost sweet, and the batter hadnt sponged up too much oil from the fryer. They were, as the sign advertised, hand-dipped.

I had tasted so many snacks by then, I was almost nonfunctioning as a critic, unable to process. The corn dog was fine, but in the chaos of the park during the surge of spring break, after walking about 10,000 steps (Wolfe was keeping track for us), the corn dog was also more than fine.

It was no Oreo milkshake, but it was consolation, fortification and even joy. For a minute or two, the corn dog at Disneyland was everything.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Anti-abortion and abortion rights activists protest during a rally

California has joined a growing number of liberal states that are stockpiling abortion pills, ahead of a looming court decision that may cut off access.

Governor Gavin Newsom said his state had moved to secure up to two million pills of misoprostol, one of the two drugs used for a medication abortion.

The action comes after a Texas judge invalidated long-standing approval for the second pill, mifepristone.

The US Department of Justice has sought a stay on the court order.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday called the Texas ruling "completely out of bounds".

So far, mifepristone remains available, but Democratic governors in Massachusetts and Washington state have also said they had secured emergency supplies of the drug amid the ongoing legal battle.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said her state had ordered about 15,000 doses of mifepristone, and Washington's Jay Inslee said his state had purchased a three-year supply of the drug.

"A judge has made a politically motivated decision to override doctors, patients and medical experts and block access to critical medications," Ms Healey said on Monday. "Today, we collectively are saying loud and clear: not on our watch."

On Monday, the justice department filed an emergency motion, seeking to temporarily block the "extraordinary and unprecedented" ruling from US district Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk that invalidated decades-old approval for mifepristone.

The Biden administration lawyers have asked for a decision by 13 April - one day before the lower court's decision is set to take effect. If the justice department fails to get a stay, its lawyers will take the case to the conservative-dominated Supreme Court within hours, legal experts predict.

It is unclear how justices in either the appeals court or the Supreme Court would rule, or how exactly access to mifepristone would be restricted if the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was ordered to withdraw approval. Adding to the confusion was a duelling decision out of Washington, where a federal judge ordered that access to mifepristone be preserved in 17 liberal states.

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The turmoil has placed a question mark over access to the drug for millions of women, and threatened the biggest blow to abortion access since the country's top court last summer ended the nationwide right to terminate a pregnancy.

More than half of abortions in the US rely on the two-pill abortion medication regimen. Mifepristone effectively stops a pregnancy, while a second drug, misoprostol, empties the uterus. Misoprostol can be taken on its own to end a pregnancy, but is considered less effective.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal advocacy group that represented plaintiffs in the Texas lawsuit, argued that the FDA in its four-year approval process had ignored the potential impacts of mifepristone on the developing bodies of adolescent girls.

Its senior counsel, Erin Hawley, said the FDA had put women in harm's way "by illegally approving dangerous chemical abortion drugs, and imposing its mail-order abortion regime".

"Pregnancy is not an illness, and chemical abortion drugs don't provide a therapeutic benefit," she said.

The FDA spent four years reviewing mifepristone before it was approved, and placed mifepristone in a select category of just 60 drugs that is regulated under a system of extra restrictions, which are repeatedly re-evaluated. Its safety and effectiveness is supported by mainstream medical organisations including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists (ACOG) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"If the FDA can't approve this drug [mifepristone], I'm not sure what the FDA can approve," Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University, told the BBC. "It's been on the market for over two decades, it's got an impeccable health and safety record."

Other legal experts who spoke to the BBC agreed, and said if the Texas ruling were upheld it would vastly undercut the FDA's authority, with implications for practically every drug the agency evaluates.

"It really opens the door up to virtually anybody to challenge any FDA approval," said Scott Lassman, a lawyer with over 30 years of experience in FDA law and policy.

On Monday, more than 300 pharmaceutical executives, including Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, called for the reversal of the Texas decision, saying it was a "decision to disregard science".

With reporting from Madeline Halpert
Mike Pence praised a ruling from a federal judge in Texas that overrules the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the abortion pill mifepristone.

Mike Pence praised a ruling from a federal judge in Texas that overrules the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the abortion pill mifepristone.

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Monday applauded the controversial federal court ruling on Friday invalidating the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations longstanding approval of a widely used abortion pill.

Life won again today. When it approved chemical abortions on demand, the FDA acted carelessly and with blatant disregard for human life and the wellbeing of American women, and todays ruling fixed a 20 year wrong, Pence said in a statement through his PAC, Advancing American Freedom, that was referring to the day the ruling came down last week.

Advancing American Freedom will always fight for the sanctity of life and defend the unborn and women in crisis pregnancies.

Pence is the first among the declared or possible 2024 presidential candidates on the Republican side to weigh in on last Fridays ruling out of Texas. Former President Donald Trump, the presumed front-runner for the GOP nomination so far, has been silent, despite having appointed the federal judge whose ruling could become the most significant abortion decision since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June.

Republicans are quiet  and for good reason. Polls generally show that a majority of Americans support some form of abortion access. Six in 10 voters back legal abortion in most cases, according to a Politico analysis of the 2022 midterms. Abortion access was seen as a powerful issue for Democrats in the last election.

Pence, whose abortion views are informed by his religious faith, doubled down in the wake of Roe v. Wades reversal, saying we must not rest until abortion is outlawed entirely across the country. The former vice president has urged other Republicans to stake out similarly extreme positions on banning abortion access.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks ruling invalidates the FDAs 2000 approval of abortion drug mifepristone. The ruling does not go into effect for a week, while in the meantime the Biden administration has vowed to appeal the decision.

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The Justice Department is also weighing how to proceed in light of a conflicting ruling in Washington state that came down shortly after Kacsmaryks ruling and ordered the FDA to maintain the abortion pill status quo in response to a separate lawsuit brought by a group of Democratic attorneys general.

Related...
SEPTEMBER 20: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Seventeen Democrats wrote a letter to lawmakers asking them to increase Federal Student Aid funding.

The Democrats said lack of funding is "catastrophic" for millions of borrowers relying on relief.

Congress didn't increase FSA funding last year, causing delays in repayment reforms.

A group of Democrats wants to make sure the Federal Student Aid office gets the funding it needs next year.

On Monday, 17 Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, sent a letter to Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee Tammy Baldwin and Shelley Moore Capito, respectively. They called on the subcommittee to provide $2.7 billion in funding for FSA in fiscal year 2024, consistent with President Joe Biden's budget request. The letter comes after Congress did not increase funding for the agency this year.

The Democrats wrote that fulfilling Biden's budget request is "particularly critical given that FSA's FY 2023 funding was stagnant from the previous year, which severely undermines FSA's ability to implement critical programs" like reforms to Public Service Loan Forgiveness, income-driven repayment plans, and President Joe Biden's broad plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt.

"FSA and its services will be expected to communicate important timelines, provide an accessible call center service, answer questions from millions of borrowers, and accurately process extensive paperwork to ensure a smooth transition for borrowers back into repayment," the lawmakers wrote.

"The Department of Education has projected that without additional loan relief, ending the payment pause will result in a devastating spike in delinquencies and defaults," they continued. "However, that projection would understate the catastrophic consequences for millions of working and middle-class Americans if FSA also lacks sufficient funding to provide the outreach and servicing needed to assist borrowers simultaneously needing to navigate the requirements and options for starting payments."

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They noted that Congress flat-funding FSA for 2023 could lead to "severe implementation delays" with a series of programs related to FAFSA. They also expressed concerns that the lack of additional funding would impair FSA's ability to implement its fresh start program effectively, which is intended to restore seven million borrowers in default to good standing before they have to enter repayment.

As the lawmakers referenced, FSA has a lot on its plate. After two conservative-backed lawsuit's paused the implementation of Biden's broad debt relief plan, Biden extended the student-loan payment pause through 60 days after June 30, or 60 days after the Supreme Court issues a final decision on the legality of the relief, whichever happens first.

That means that millions of borrowers will reenter repayment this year with or without relief, and on top of all of that, the department wants to move forward with other targeted reforms  to which the lack of FSA funding has already presented issues. As Insider reported last month, the Education Department pushed back the deadline for borrowers to see a one-time adjustment to their accounts, which was part of the IDR and PSLF overhaul the department announced last year.

Specifically, the one-time account adjustment would give borrowers in those programs one more chance to have their payments updated if there were any inaccuracies, but new FSA guidance said the adjustment would not happen until 2024, rather than the initial estimate of July 2023. More funding will be key to speeding up those processes.

"The lack of adequate resources creates more barriers for students to continue their education," the lawmakers wrote. "We believe this funding request is needed to provide FSA with the resources it needs to fulfill its goal of ensuring that all eligible students and families can access federal student grants, loans, and work-study funds to pursue education and training beyond high school."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 10)  On top of a fishing ban and the escalating damage caused by the recent oil spill, aid given to affected fisherfolk of Oriental Mindoro remained insufficient, environmental groups said Monday.

The impacts of the oil spill and fishing ban are also long-term, so it is not enough to just give one-time assistance, Jordan Fronda, advocacy coordinator of the Center for Environmental Concerns said.

A survey conducted by Kalikasan Peoples Network for the Environment (KPNE) revealed that almost all respondents in the municipalities of Calapan and Pola said ayuda or aid given to them is "not enough."

The groups said ayuda packs would mainly come in the form of food, while other needs such as hygiene supplies for infants or money for allowances and transportation for children going to school were not addressed.

The report also showed 90% of the respondents do not earn enough to meet their familys needs following the oil spill.

The scale of the impacts is immense, which really shows the need for immediate and more comprehensive action responding to the needs of the people, said Berto Alinea of Serve the People Corps-Southern Tagalog.

KPNE together with other environmental groups conducted a fact-finding mission to assess the impact of the oil spill from April 1 to 3. It covers two municipalities and six barangays across Oriental Mindoro.

READ: Groups: Residents say socio-economic impact of Mindoro oil spill worse than COVID

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center, the oil slick has affected a total of 172,928 people as of March 26, the majority of whom are from Mimaropa.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development extended its cash-for-work program for people affected by the oil spill until May.

READ: DSWD extends distribution of cash aid to individuals affected by oil spill until May

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/3/20/DSWD-extends-distribution-of-cash-aid-to-individuals-affected-by-oil-spill-until-May.html
A medication abortion involves taking both mifepristone and misoprostol, but experts say that misoprostol alone is a safe and effective method. (Getty Images)

The fate of mifepristone  a drug that, when combined with misoprostol, is prescribed for medication abortions, which now account for more than half of all abortions performed in the U.S.  is up in the air after a federal judge in Texas ruled to suspend the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone. The unprecedented decision could affect access to the drug across the U.S., including in states where abortion is legal. Seeking to block the order, the Department of Justice filed an emergency stay motion Monday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that another federal judge, based in Washington state, ruled that access to mifepristone cant be restricted in the 17 states and D.C. that recently sued the FDA to drop some restrictions on mifepristone, which the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says are outdated and substantially limit access to this safe, effective medication.

Mifepristone, which has a long-standing safety record, has been approved for 23 years and has been used by 5.6 million women.

While mifepristones fate is being decided, pro-choice advocates and physicians have taken to social media to talk about a possible backup plan if access to mifepristone is impacted  namely, taking misoprostol alone for medication abortions.

But how effective is it to take only half of the standard two-drug regimen for an abortion? And how safe is it? Heres what experts have to say.

How effective is it to take misoprostol alone for a medication abortion?

Experts agree that the most effective regimen for a medication abortion is a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol. However, womens health expert Dr. Jennifer Wider tells Yahoo Life that the World Health Organization lists two safe and effective medical methods for pregnancy termination  one of them is misoprostol alone.

Dr. Andrea Henkel, an ob-gyn at Stanford Medicine Childrens Health and clinical assistant professor in complex family planning at Stanford University, agrees that taking both medications is significantly more effective than misoprostol-only regimens for first-trimester abortion care. She tells Yahoo Life that with mifepristone and misoprostol, about 1 in 20 people will need a procedure (such as a surgical abortion) to complete the abortion. Whereas with misoprostol alone, the number is closer to 2 to 3 in 20 people will need a procedure, she says. It is important to remember that many people choose medication abortion because they wish to avoid a procedure or they live far from a clinician that provides procedures.

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That said, misoprostol alone is considered a safe, dependable and effective way to have an abortion, Dr. Sheila Attaie, a family medicine physician in California and fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, tells Yahoo Life. Studies show that the success rate is around 80 to 100 percent, depending on the dose and amount of misoprostol taken and how far along a pregnancy is.

Attaie points to studies that found misoprostol alone to be 93% successful in terminating pregnancies up to 10 weeks, with other research stating that misoprostol taken on its own is effective and safe and a reasonable option for women seeking abortion in the first trimester.

Misoprostol works by causing the uterus to contract, bleed and expel the embryo, according to Cleveland Clinic, while mifepristone blocks progesterone from continuing to support the pregnancy. When you combine the two medications, the patient has a higher likelihood of passing the pregnancy with less doses of misoprostol, explains Attaie. This is why mifepristone is important, but not necessary, to have a safe medication abortion.

How safe is misoprostol?

Attaie says that misoprostol is extremely safe. She points out that many people  and pets  take the medication to prevent stomach ulcers by decreasing the amount of stomach acid. The complication rate is less than a single percent, says Attaie. This means it is safer than taking Tylenol or Advil.

The most common side effects of misoprostol are nausea, diarrhea, fever and chills. Misoprostol can make you feel like you have the flu or some COVID symptoms, says Attaie. These dont always happen, but if they do they should only last a few hours.

The medication also causes abdominal cramping, which is effective for emptying the uterus and controlling bleeding but can be uncomfortable, she says.

However, as Henkel points out, if mifepristone becomes unavailable, the misoprostol-only regimens require multiple doses of misoprostol, which will increase the frequency of these nondangerous, but highly uncomfortable, side effects.

If mifepristone isnt available, is misoprostol the next best option for medication abortions?

Yes, say experts. On a population level, repetitive doses of misoprostol will be the most accessible medication for first-trimester abortion care if mifepristone is pulled off the market, says Henkel.

That doesnt, however, mean that there wont be some barriers. Wider notes that many abortion rights advocates are incredibly concerned about this pending ruling, adding: If this medication gets banned, it will definitely limit access to safe and effective medical abortion care.

But experts say that if mifepristone isnt available, misoprostol alone is a viable option. Many people around the world have used and will continue to use misoprostol to have safe and effective medication abortions, says Attaie.

If you or someone you know needs help obtaining an abortion or additional information and resources, visit abortionfunds.org or abortionfinder.org. You can also call or text the All-Options hotline at 1-888-493-0092, which offers unconditional, judgment-free support for people in all of their decisions, feelings and experiences with pregnancy, parenting, abortion, and adoption.

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Lifes newsletter. Sign up here.
BROOKHAVEN, Miss.  A sheriff's deputy in south Mississippi on Sunday shot and killed a person who approached the deputy's parked vehicle while holding a weapon, a state agency said.

A news release from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety said the Lincoln County deputy was parked on the side of a state highway when the shooting happened at about 10:30 a.m.

The news release did not name the deputy or the person who was killed. It said no officers were injured.

More: Rankin County deputies accused of shoving guns in mouths of 2 Black men

More: Body-cam video released in fatal Mississippi police shooting

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is examining what happened, as it does with most shootings of or by law enforcement officers in the state. The bureau is a division of the Department of Public Safety.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi deputy fatally shoots man, state agency says
A new online ranking says Modesto not only is one of the worst commuter cities in California, but is in the top three places to avoid in the United States if you dont like the drive to work.

Hire a Helper, a moving service provider, says only other California metro area with a worse commute is Stockton.

Heres why the two are among the worst-rated commuter areas, according to the services methodology:

Cities grouped by size

Only metropolitan areas with a population of 100,000 or more were included in Hire a Helpers study.

The Modesto area, including Ceres, Turlock and Riverbank, and the Stockton area, including Lodi, Tracy and Manteca, are considered midsize metros, with populations between 350,000 and 999,999.

Stockton is in second place for midsize locations you should avoid if you hate commuting. It got a 92.3% composite score based on factors including average commute time, population density and the diversity of times people leave for work.

Modesto follows in third with a 90.5% composite score.

Comparing all population size groups together, Stockton and Modesto move down only one respective rank. They earned third and fourth worst cities for commuting, out of all U.S. metro areas with 100,000 to more than 1 million residents, according to the ranking.

How Modesto scores on the scale

The average one-way, in-county commute time for Modesto and surrounding suburbs is 31.4 minutes, according to Hire a Helper.

A 2020 Stanislaus County Commuter Study showed one-in-four residents work outside the county, half of which travel to the Bay Area. The average commute time for these drivers is 100 minutes.

Modesto has a population density of 369.6 people per square mile, according to the Hire a Helper ranking.

The area has an above-average level of diversity of times that people leave for work, meaning people leave for work at times spread out across the day.

Over 87% of Modesto-area workers commute using private transportation, the ranking says.

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Stockton outranks Modesto

Stockton-area commuters face an average 27.4-minute commute time.

Over 85% of worker commute using private transportation and 95.7% of households have access to a vehicle.

The Stockton area has a population density of 567 people per square mile and its residents also leave for work at different times throughout the day.

How the Central Valley compares

Port St. Lucie, Florida, was ranked the No. 1 city in the nation to avoid if you hate commuting.

With a composite score of 93.6%, Port St. Lucie has a lower in-county commute time than both Stockton and Modesto, but more people leave for work around the same time, causing more congestion.

Overall, California ranks eighth in the list of states to avoid if you dont want to commute. Florida is No. 1.

Generally speaking, both state ranks below average for diversity of times people leave for work.

What do you want to know about life in Modesto? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@modbee.com.
A Ukrainian service member fires a mortar towards Russian troops in frontline near the Vuhledar town, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine February 7, 2023 REUTERS/Yevhenii Zavhorodnii

Leaked estimates show more than twice as many Russians and Ukrainians have been killed in the war.

Up to 43,000 Russians and 17,500 Ukrainians may have died on the battlefield, US intel reveals.

The figures were included in a leak of highly sensitive Pentagon documents now being investigated.

Leaked US intelligence documents reveal that more than twice as many Russian soldiers as Ukrainian soldiers have been killed while fighting in Ukraine.

The documents, which were recently leaked on social media and are currently the focus of a federal investigation, offer estimates for Russian and Ukrainian casualties. US officials have described the information included in the leak  which appear to provide detailed assessments on the Ukraine war  as highly sensitive and classified.

One document in particular suggests that Russia has suffered between 189,500 and 223,000 casualties, including between 35,500 and 43,000 soldiers killed in action and between 154,000 and 180,000 troops wounded.

Ukraine, by contrast, has suffered between 124,500 and 131,000 casualties, including between 15,500 and 17,500 soldiers killed in action and between 109,000 and 113,500 troops wounded.

Both the lower and upper estimates of each military's war dead pegs Russian deaths at more than two times that of Ukraine. Insider was not able to independently verify these figures, and it is unclear when, exactly, the leaked data was compiled, though many of the documents are from late February and early March.

Graves of Russian Wagner mercenary group fighters are seen in a cemetery near the village of Bakinskaya in Krasnodar region, Russia, January 22, 2023. Reuters

The upper boundary of Russia's death toll  43,000  is a slightly lower figure than what other officials and experts have estimated in recent weeks.

Britain's defense ministry said in a February intelligence update that between 40,000 and 60,000 Russian-linked forces  which includes Moscow's regular military and mercenaries from the Wagner Group paramilitary organization  have likely been killed. The Center for Strategic & International Studies, meanwhile, assessed that same month that between 60,000 and 70,000 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine.

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As for total casualties, Britain's defense ministry said in February that Russia likely suffered up to 200,000. And Victoria Nuland, a top US diplomat and the under secretary of state for political affairs, said at the time that over 200,000 Russians have been killed or wounded during the war.

Neither the Russian nor the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, DC immediately responded to Insider's request for comment on the casualty findings contained in the leaked documents.

Ukrainian soldiers of the Aidar battalion training at an undetermined location in Donetsk oblast on April 4, 2023. Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The trove of leaked documents, which became public last week as they began circulating on various social media platforms, has raised alarm bells in Washington and allied capitals about the sensitive military and intelligence information that's now been published. The documents appear to feature details about a wide range of topics and countries  including US partners like Israel, South Korea, and Ukraine and adversarial nations such as Russia, China, and Iran.

A handful of the documents, like the one that reviews both Russian and Ukrainian casualties, contain information about Ukraine's combat readiness and battlefield preparations. They include detailed maps, battle damage assessments, force attrition rates, weapons and other equipment, and more classified information.

Experts have cautioned that malign actors may already be altering these documents for propaganda reasons. For example, in some cases, information about Russian casualties appears to have been altered to show a much lower killed in action figure for the Russian forces.

Ukrainian soldiers carry the coffin of the fallen soldier Evgeny Gulevich as they arrive at the Church of the Most Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Lviv, Ukraine on April 10, 2023. Photo by Omar Marques/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

US officials, meanwhile, are urgently investigating the leak.

"The Department of Defense continues to review and assess the validity of the photographed documents that are circulating on social media sites and that appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement shared with Insider in response to queries about the Russian and Ukrainian casualties.

"An interagency effort has been stood up, focused on assessing the impact these photographed documents could have on US national security and on our Allies and partners," she continued. "Over the weekend, US officials have engaged with Allies and partners and have informed relevant congressional committees of jurisdiction about the disclosure."

"The Department of Defense's highest priority is the defense of our nation and our national security. We have referred this matter to the Department of Justice, which has opened a criminal investigation," Singh added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Billy Schuerman/Daily Press/Newport News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

A grand jury in Newport News, Virginia, on Monday indicted the mother of a 6-year-old who shot his first-grade teacher in January, the city prosecutor announced.

Deja Taylor was charged with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm that endangers a child after her son shot Abigail Zwerner, 25, a first-grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School.

No charges are expected to be brought against the 6-year-old; however, Zwerner filed a $40 million lawsuit against administrators of the elementary school , accusing them of negligence.

According to the lawsuit, the 6-year-old student who shot Zwerner had behavioral problems and "a history of random violence." She claimed that multiple teachers, including herself, warned assistant principal Ebony Parker that the student had a gun on the day of the shooting, but Parker ignored their concerns.

Parker resigned after the shooting.

Zwerner was hailed as a hero for ensuring her other students made it out of the classroom safely despite her injuries. The bullet had pierced Zwerner's hand and gone into her chest.

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew previously said the gun was legally purchased by the boy's mother . In a statement to BuzzFeed News on Jan. 19, the family of the 6-year old said, "The firearm our son accessed was secured.

"Additionally, our son has benefitted from an extensive community of care that also includes his grandparents working alongside us and other caregivers to ensure his needs and accommodations are met," the family continued. "The week of the shooting was the first week when we were not in class with him. We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives.

In a statement announcing the charges on Monday, the citys Commonwealths Attorney Howard Gwynn said the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues, Gwynn said in a press release.

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In his statement, Gwynn also announced that he had petitioned the Newport News Circuit Court to create a special grand jury to investigate any security issues at the school that may have contributed to the shooting.

"The safety and security of Newport News students is of utmost importance. The Special Grand Jury will investigate to determine whether additional charges against additional persons are justified by the facts and the law, Gwynn said. If the Special Grand Jury determines that additional persons are criminally responsible under the law, it can return additional indictments.

Zwerners attorney, Diane Toscano, addressed the indictment in an email to BuzzFeed News on Monday.

There were failures in accountability at multiple levels that led to Abby being shot and almost killed. Todays announcement addresses but one of those failures, Toscano wrote. It has been three months of investigation and still so many unanswered questions remain.

More on this
Deja Taylor, the mother of a 6-year-old boy accused of shooting his teacher at a Virginia elementary school earlier this year, will face two charges.

Newport News Commonwealths Attorney Howard Gwynn said Monday that a grand jury returned two indictments for Taylor, who faces a charge of felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm that endangered a child.

Newport News police Chief Steve Drew said Taylor legally purchased the gun that her son allegedly used.

Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues, Gwynn said in a statement.

Additional charges remain a possibility, he said.

Abby Zwerner, a first grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School, was shot in the chest and hand on Jan. 6, after the boy allegedly pulled a 9 mm handgun from his backpack and opened fire.

A photo of Abby Zwerner is pinned to a coat during a vigil for the teacher, who was shot and injured by a 6-year-old student at Richneck Elementary in Newport News, Virginia, in January.

A photo of Abby Zwerner is pinned to a coat during a vigil for the teacher, who was shot and injured by a 6-year-old student at Richneck Elementary in Newport News, Virginia, in January.

The 25-year-old teacher was seriously injured in the shooting. After an extensive hospital stay, she was able to return home.

Zwerner sued numerous former school administrators last month, accusing them of repeatedly ignoring warnings that the student was armed and had a history of random violence.

Shortly after the shooting, the parents of the student in question described themselves as responsible gun owners who kept their weapons safe.

The firearm our son accessed was secured, the parents told BuzzFeed News, saying their son has an acute disability that requires at least one of his parents to be in the classroom every day.

The shooting happened the first week neither parent was with the child, an absence they said theyll regret for the rest of our lives.

Gwynn said last month the child will not face charges, noting that the prospect that a 6-year-old can stand trial is problematic.

Related...
A six-year-old student at Richneck Elementary School in Virginia shot his first-grade teacher during class in January

The mother of a six-year-old child who shot his teacher at a school in Virginia has been criminally charged.

Deja Taylor, 25, has been indicted by a grand jury with a felony child neglect charge and a misdemeanour charge.

Police had previously said that the gun used in the shooting belonged to Ms Taylor.

The child brought the gun in his backpack to Richneck Elementary School in the city of Newport News on 6 January.

He then shot Abigail Zwerner, a 25-year-old teacher, in the hand and chest during a lesson. Ms Zwerner was seriously injured but survived the shooting.

On Monday, prosecutors said in a statement that Ms Taylor had been charged with one count of felony child neglect and one count of misdemeanour for "recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child."

They added the charges stemmed from a "thorough investigation" into the shooting.

"Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues," said Howard Gwynn, the attorney for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The family had previously said in a statement after the shooting that the gun was secured.

James Elleson, a lawyer for the family, told the Associated Press that the gun had been in the mother's closet on a top shelf and that it had had a trigger lock.

Authorities said other charges could be announced as a special grand jury looked into security issues at the school that may have allowed the shooting to take place.

"If the Special Grand Jury determines that additional persons are criminally responsible under the law, it can return additional indictments," Mr Gwynn said.

The teacher has accused school officials of ignoring multiple warnings that the boy had a gun the day of the shooting, and has sued them for gross negligence.

School officials had previously confirmed that the child's backpack had been searched by a staff member at the school on the day of the shooting, after it had been reported that the student may have a weapon.

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Prosecutors have previously said that the child was unlikely to be charged in connection to the shooting.

Mr Gwynn told NBC News in March that the "prospect that a six-year-old can stand trial is problematic" because the child is too young to understand the legal system.

"Once we analyse all the facts, we will charge any person or persons that we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt committed a crime," Mr Gwynn said at the time.
Deja Nicole Taylor, the mother of a 6-year-old child who shot his Virginia elementary school teacher, has been indicted on a felony charge of child neglect and a misdemeanor count for recklessness with a loaded firearm.

Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues, Newport News Commonwealth Attorney Howard Gwynn said in a news release on Monday.

Last Monday, the teacher injured in the violent altercation, Abigail Zwerner, filed a $40 million lawsuit against her school board and former senior administrators at Richneck Elementary citing negligent behavior which contributed to the shooting.

Zwerner was wounded in her left hand and chest due to a ricochet.

On the day of the shooting, over the course of a few hours, three different times  three times  school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at school and was threatening people. But the administration could not be bothered, Diane Toscano, a lawyer representing Zwerner, said during the press conference in late January.

The filing explicitly named assistant principal, Ebony Parker, for breaching her assumed duty to protect Zwerner despite multiple reports that a firearm was on school property and likely in possession of a violent individual.

The school superintendent, George Parker III, as well as Principal Briana Foster Newton, were also named defendants in Zwerners filing whom the teachers legal team argues were aware of the childs history of random violence.

In early March, Gwynn, the prosecutor leading the investigation in Newport News, Virginia  the jurisdiction where the shooting occurred  opted not to pursue any criminal charges against the minor.

The prospect that a 6-year-old can stand trial is problematic, the attorney said during an interview with NBC News at the time.

Our objective is not just to do something as quickly as possible. Once we analyze all the facts, we will charge any person or persons that we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt committed a crime.

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The lawyer also petitioned the court to impanel a special grand jury to investigate if other potential legal criminal charges were necessary.

The Special Grand Jury will investigate to determine whether additional charges against additional persons are justified by the facts and the law, Gwynn added in Mondays statement. If the Special Grand Jury determines that additional persons are criminally responsible under the law, it can return additional indictments.

More from National Review
BuzzFeed News; Getty Images

Nicole Kidman once said we come to movie theaters for magic : to laugh, cry, and care. What she might have forgotten to mention is that we want a cost-effective experience as much as a magical one.

At one not-so-distant point, you could watch movies anytime and at almost any theater for as low as $10 a month. What could be more magical than that? If you were an avid moviegoer who loved the flexibility of visiting different locations, a MoviePass subscription in 2017 was perfectly cheap and quite beloved.

However, things were far from great behind the scenes of the company. It went bankrupt in 2020 , but its fortunes might be on the upswing. The company is set to relaunch its subscription service this summer, though no date has been announced.

Do expect major changes to the service, as well as some tough competition. MoviePasss return to the market will see the company once again compete with two major subscription plans: AMC Stubs A-List and Regal Unlimited. There are others too, like Cinemark and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema s plans.

Still, MoviePass, AMC Stubs A-List, and Regal Unlimited are arguably the most well-known subscription services. Deciding which one is best is really up to the moviegoer and their cinema-viewing needs. So, below, we break down the pricing and benefits of the three major players.

MoviePass

The waitlist for the new MoviePass has closed, but access for the general public is still expected to come alongside its launch.

MoviePass CEO and cofounder Stacy Spikes told BuzzFeed News it's implementing a new business model that still includes partnering with various cinemas. However, the company will now use a credit system, with varied charges depending on the screenings day and time.

Spikes said the company plans to test out four pricing tiers with differing theater location restrictions. Three of the tiers will be available in most participating locations while the fourth Pro tier will only be available in select markets that have yet to be announced.

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Members will buy credits to watch movies based on the time and day of viewing; weekend night screenings will cost more credits than a Wednesday morning movie, for example.

Here are the four tiers and monthly costs:

Here are the subscription plans for Southern California and NY metro areas:

Heres how many credits a movie costs, including a separate credit tier for locations only in the Southern California and NY metro areas:

Why all the different viewing and credit options? Spikes said certain moviegoers prefer to go to different theaters based on the film they plan to watch. For opening Marvel films, some people may prefer to be in a 500-seat auditorium, while Oscarbaity films might be more desirable in a smaller theater. He compared it to seeing live music.

If you go see a jazz musician or if you're gonna go see Taylor Swift, you're not gonna see them in the same venue, he said. Cinema is a little like that too. And so with MoviePass, you have the ability to experience anywhere you want to see a movie versus just having one circuit.

Regal Unlimited

A second subscription option is Regal Unlimited. It started in 2019 and allows guests to watch as many movies as desired, without a weekly limit, at most Regal theaters, except for some select locations. Heres the list of participating theaters .

There are three tiers for Regal Unlimited, determined by the theater prices near the member. If a subscriber attends a theater in a higher tier, a ticket surcharge of $1.50 to $3 is added to make up the price difference.

Here are Regal Unlimiteds tiers:

[Regal Unlimited] is great value as it pays for itself in just two visits. Plus subscribers get 10% off concessions purchases, said Kelly Hawkins, Regal's vice president of loyalty programs and insights, in a statement to BuzzFeed News.

Hawkins added that Regal Unlimited subscribers also receive the benefits of its free Regal Crown Club membership, where filmgoers earn credits for purchases made online or in the theater for tickets and concessions. Credits can be redeemed to buy popcorn, tickets, and other perks.

AMC Stubs A-List

AMC Stubs and AMC Stubs A-List are not the same thing. AMC Stubs offers benefits like concessions upgrades and money back for purchases. Its essentially AMCs version of Regals Crown Club.

AMC Stubs A-List is the companys subscription program that started in 2018. It allows users to attend up to three screenings a week, and the tally resets every Friday. Subscription prices vary depending on location and the time of year. Prices range from around $19.95 to $23.95 a month, and the A-List program includes Stubs benefits.

Even the free tier allows you to come on Tuesdays and get a significant discount on a movie ticket, Ryan Noonan, vice president of corporate communications at AMC Theatres, told BuzzFeed News. Each tier offers its own value for moviegoers.

Being a member even comes with tailored movie recommendations via email, Noonan added.

Here are the AMC Stubs tiers:
[Source]

The murder charge against Markynn West, who was indicted for the fatal road rage shooting of Dallas community leader Jin Shin, has been dropped, the Tarrant County District Attorneys Office announced last month.

West, 29, acted in self-defense when he fatally shot Shin, 43, in August 2022, his attorney Lesa Pamplin said four days after the charge against West was dismissed by prosecutors.

Pamplin has released surveillance footage, which was shared to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, showing the moments leading up to the death of Shin. Pamplin claimed that Shin was intoxicated and was the first to shoot at the accident scene.

In the video, Shin can be seen pointing his gun at the people surrounding him while West approaches with his own gun. However, it is unclear from the video who fired first.

More from NextShark: Facebook Adds New Safety Features, Donates $5 Million for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

The lawyer believes that the murder charge against West was the result of an overzealous district attorneys office eager to file charges, blaming the pressure from the Asian American community in Dallas, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

It was a pressure campaign put on to smear my client. That community wanted a hate crime and so they tried to give them a hate crime. Hes been portrayed as a villain. Hes been portrayed as a bad guy. When in actuality he saved some womens life that night. You dont want to take anybodys life, but he had to act. Hes not going around saying anything about the guy (Shin). We have kept quiet until now. He just wants people to know that hes vindicated.

Fort Worth police arrested West in September 2022, followed by Kameron Taylor in December 2022, Quamon Deshun White on New Years Day and Keeton Sheppard in February in relation to the incident.

More from NextShark: Conspiracy theory claiming COVID-19 came from US-linked labs in Ukraine trends on Weibo

The altercation started after Shins Jeep hit the rear of a sedan, resulting in a minor collision on South University Drive on Aug. 15, 2022. Later, several vehicles pulled up to the scene, including a Chrysler that had West as a passenger.

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During Shins interaction with the group of eight people, two men punched Shin in the back of his head, causing him to walk away from the group. Another member of the group went inside Shins car to grab his keys.

According to the affidavit, Shin was prevented from accessing his vehicle multiple times. However, he later managed to retrieve a handgun through the passengers side door. The affidavit noted that Shin kept his gun pointed down and that he never fired his weapon during the incident.

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West, who took out his own gun from the trunk of the Chrysler, opened fire when Shin walked back to his car, according to the affidavit. West then raised his gun again and fired multiple shots at Shin, causing him to run east away from the group.

Shin was later found dead by the police at a median away from the scene and out of the surveillance cameras view.

Shin, who was born in South Korea, was an Asian American business owner and community leader in Dallas.

More from NextShark: Dallas mayor calls for anti-violence strategies after Korean hair salon shooting

He immigrated to the United States in 1983 and grew up in various parts of Louisiana and North Carolina before settling in Texas. After graduating from Berkner High School in Richardson, he served in the Marine Corps and obtained his business degree from Western Governors University.

Shin, who was described by friends as a pillar of Dallas Asian community, owned the Encore Family Karaoke at Goodnight Lane in Dallas and co-owned the Dallas branch of Korean restaurant DanSungSa. He is survived by his 14-year-old daughter Ella.

I am broken that he was robbed of his life like this and Ella and I are robbed, May Naing Joe, Shins former partner, previously told The Dallas Morning News. Ella is robbed of a father and all that she could have with him. I lost mine at age 12 to an accident. For Ella to have to repeat the curse is killing me.

Following his death, Shins friends organized a GoFundMe page to help with his funeral and legal fees, while amounts in excess will be given to his daughter.

In a statement released on March 29, Shins family wrote that they do not agree with the decision to drop the murder charges.

It is with immense grief to let all of you know that the Tarrant County DA's office will let the shooter claim self defense and dismiss the case, if it's not already done. Additionally, the ADA presented the three others charged with murder on 3/22 to the grand jury and were no billed, meaning they are dismissed of their charges. The ones that punched Jin will get misdemeanors for assault. We do not agree with this as they led us to believe for all these months they were working hard on this case.

Wests family have also set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for his legal expenses and lost wages.

Kynn has been a pillar of our family, supporting his mother and brother financially even during this case, his cousin Kendra Richardson wrote. He has spent thousands of dollars on lawyer fees, court fees, and has had to sell his car to continue to support himself and his family.

Following the District Attorneys decision, West is reportedly trying to resume a life of normalcy.

I'm sorry that these things had to transpire that way, West told WFAA. But I definitely pray for them. I hope everyone can move on.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 10)  The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is calling on Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) officials to look into airline personnels possible links to human trafficking and illegal recruitment.

The BI on Monday said its commissioner Norman Tansingco made the appeal after BI officers at the NAIA Terminal 3 prevented a passenger from leaving on April 5 as her passport was found to have a fake immigration departure stamp.

The woman was supposedly bound for Kuala Lumpur en route to her final destination in the United Arab Emirates, where she was recruited to work as a domestic worker.

According to the passenger, she was told to line up after her handler handed her a passport and boarding pass, which had a fake stamp.

"The woman narrated during questioning that she was assisted by an airline employee and the latters former officemate in queuing at the immigration departure counter," the BI said.

Tansingco did not name the airline associated with the passengers escorts but the BI chief said the case is being investigated by NAIAs anti-trafficking task force and airport police.

They should stop preying on our poor countrymen who want to work abroad due to poverty and their desire to uplift the lives of their families, he said, referring to the possible connivance of traffickers and airline personnel.

We thus urge airport authorities to dig deeper into these shenanigans and file the cases against those involved," he added.
Twitter owner and billionaire Elon Musk will not restrict Russian officials, including Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council, who posts his "analyses" of the war with Ukraine.

Source: Radio Liberty (Svoboda)

Details: Twitter users have accused Musk of allowing Russian politicians to use the Twitter platform and post their propaganda there.

In particular, they have referred to Medvedev's post that "Ukraine will disappear... because no one cares about it".

Musk has replied that people should decide for themselves and refused to restrict the accounts of Russian government agencies.

Im told Putin called me a war criminal for helping Ukraine, so hes not exactly my best friend.



All news is to some degree propaganda. Let people decide for themselves.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2023

Quote from Musk: "Im told Putin called me a war criminal for helping Ukraine, so hes not exactly my best friend. All news is to some degree propaganda. Let people decide for themselves."

Background:

Medvedev posted on Saturday, 8 April 2023, that Ukraine would supposedly "disappear because no one cares about it".

Musk has repeatedly found himself at the centre of scandals related to his statements or polls about Russia's war against Ukraine.

For instance, he stated that Crimea is as important to Russia as Hawaii is to the United States, which is why it seized it.

In October 2022, Musk offered his Twitter followers a poll, in which he stated his position on the issue of the annexation of Crimea by Russia.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Mourning community members gathered in northwestern Wisconsin Monday as a procession was held to honor two officers who were killed when a routine traffic stop turned into a shootout in the village of Cameron Saturday.

Officers from the Chetek and the Cameron police departments lined the streets as the bodies of the officers were transported from Barron County to Minnesota, where autopsies will take place, after which the bodies will be returned to Wisconsin.

Who were the officers?

The identities of the officers have been confirmed by family and friends as Emily Breidenbach, of the Chetek Police Department, and Hunter Scheel, of the Cameron Police Department.

Chetek Police Officer Emily Breidenbach and Cameron Police Officer Hunter Scheel

According to the Department of Justice, Breidenbach was 32 years old and had served as a Chetek police officer for approximately five years, and Scheel was 23 and had been serving as a Cameron police officer for about a year.

According to the DOJ, Breidenbach started her law enforcement career with the Stoughton Police Department in Dane County. She served there for about nine months before she joined Chetek Police Department, where she had served for approximately four years.

Scheel graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy in December of 2022 and before that served six years in the Army National Guard.

Who was the shooter?

The DOJ identified the shooter as 50-year-old Glenn Douglas Perry, who was pulled over based on a warrant and welfare check after he had been reported for "concerning behavior."

Perry has been a defendant against a local or statewide entity on four different occasions, including two cases in 2020 where the state of Wisconsin found him guilty of disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier  neither of these offenses resulted in jail time.

A routine traffic stop in Cameron, Wisconsin, turns deadly

According to a news release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the shooting occurred when Breidenbach pulled over a vehicle around 3:38 p.m. Saturday for "concerning behavior."

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Gunfire was exchanged between the officers and Perry after the driver was pulled over. Breidenbach, the Chetek officer, and Scheel, the Cameron officer, were pronounced dead at the scene. Perry was taken to a hospital and later died.

The investigation into the shootings is being led by the Division of Criminal Investigation, which will submit a report to the Barron County district attorney when the investigation concludes, the release said.

Barron County District Attorney Brian Wright said results of the investigation should be available in 30 to 45 days.

Community leaders in Barron County respond to the tragedy

In a press conference on Monday afternoon, Adam Steffen, chief of the Cameron Police Department, spoke about the impact the tragedy has had.

"The death of Officer Hunter Scheel and Officer Emily Breidenbach has been tragic to say the least," Steffen said. "In addition to changing the lives of their families and friends forever, this event has touched me, my department, local law enforcement and law enforcement around the world."

Chetek Police Chief Ron Ambrozaitis also made a statement saying, "Step by step, we'll be back and we will pull through this and we will be Emily strong."

Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald with the Barron County Sheriff's Office emphasized how close the communities and police departments in the county are and said the loss will be felt for a long time to come.

"We've had tragic events here and Barron County, but nothing like this," Fitzgerald said. "We only heal as one and we need everybody to take part in that. Thank you again to our community, to our supporters, to our friends, to our families."

Since the incident, Facebook has been flooded with messages from friends and family of the fallen officers who expressed sadness and recounted cherished memories of the officers. Residents have placed flowers outside of both police departments.

Community members have started a memorial fund for Officer Breidenbach at Sterling Bank, 427 Second St., in Chetek. An online version will be created soon titled the "Emily Breidenbach Memorial Fund."

A vigil for the officers will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12 in the village of Cameron. The details of the funerals have not yet been announced but are likely to be made official sometime Tuesday afternoon.

State officials also expressed sadness

In a tweet Sunday morning, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers expressed his sadness saying, "Our hearts are heavy for the Chetek and Cameron police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty yesterday. Kathy and I are praying for the officers' families, colleagues, and the Barron County community mourning this tragic loss."

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul also addressed the incident on Twitter saying, I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss today of two officers. I am thinking of their families and the Chetek and Cameron Police Departments at this incredibly difficult time."

Three Wisconsin officers have now died in the line of duty this year

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, a website that tracks deaths in the line of duty across the country, this incident represents Wisconsin's second and third officer deaths in the line of duty this year. No Wisconsin officers died in the line of duty in 2022.

The other officer death in Wisconsin this year took place two months ago when Milwaukee Police Officer Peter Jerving was shot and killed while seeking to arrest a suspect in Milwaukee.

In that instance, gunfire was exchanged between Jerving and the fleeing suspect leaving both Jerving and the suspect, Terrell Thompson, dead.

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: Emily Breidenbach, Hunter Scheel were officers killed in Barron County
Westend61 - Getty Images

I WANT TO spend the rest of my life with you.

I want to marry you . Well go to Hawaii on our honeymoon. Well buy a house in our favorite neighborhood and have two kids.

Your partner may say things like this to you oftenor, you say it to them. While it can be fun to imagine and plan for the future, sometimes these phrases can be problematic and even a sign of a type of manipulation, called future faking.

Future faking is a bonding technique used in romantic relationships where a detailed vision of the future is outlined in order to expedite connection, says Kara Kays, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist at Thriveworks in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Most future planning happens later in relationships , so when one partner discusses it on your first date or two, it can be a red flag, she adds. Its also an issue if your partner doesnt actually follow through with the plans they promised later on.

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Future faking is actually a form of manipulation, and its keeping you hooked in by making the kinds of future promises you want to hear, says clinical psychologist and author Ramani Durvasula, Ph.D. Its a technique often used by narcissists in relationships, and one of the hallmarks of a toxic, narcissistic relationship is the belief that things will change or get better in the future.

If youre wondering if the detailed comments about how you and your partner will spend your future together are sincere or future faking, experts share some signs to look for and how to deal with a future faker.

What Is Future Faking?

Future faking can happen at any stage of a relationship, but its more common in the beginning, when someone strives to build a quick connection, Kays says.

Future faking may include wanting to have a family with you someday, and they may say things about wanting to get married someday, and buy a house together, someday, Durvasula says.

The trouble is, its not likely to happen.

Narcissists often appear charming at first, feed off of compliments, center conversations and situations around their needs, and gaslight. So, telling someone what they want to hear and hooking them with promises can lure people in initially, Durvasula says.

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But, over time, narcissists will typically turn cold or start acting indifferent to someone elses feelings or even ignore or devalue them.

What Does Future Faking Look Like?

Future fakers are great at figuring out what matters to you and promising that exact thing, Duvasula says. Its often part of the mirroring process where they listen to you and work out what makes you tick, which is the perfect tool to future fake from.

The Good Brigade - Getty Images

Examples of future faking might include statements like:

I can see us settling down together, having two kids, and being very happy in the country

I want to travel the world together

I want to take care of you, so youll never have to work again

Lets save up to buy a home together

But, these comments might be made on a first date, when you dont know each other. Or, the person saying them never plans any trips or saves money to make these promises happen, according to Psychology Today .

Future fakers reassure you, they tell you about the income potential they're going to have one day, or they're making more than enough money to take care of you," Durvasula.

This might lead you to leave a job or move to a new place to be with them, she adds. You might also end up being isolated from others and totally dependent on your narcissistic partner.

Future Faking Can Happen In Any Relationship

Future faking might be more common in romantic relationships, but it can happen in any type of relationship.

Durvasula explains that it can also present itself in family dynamics, where a family member will dangle the offer of future opportunities or financial support in order to get you to do what they want.

One function of future faking is simply to distract you, just when you may be having a growing sense of discontent about the relationship, or starting to draw away, she says. It's a perfect manipulation to draw you back in. They'll focus on talking about future things that really, really matter to you, and doing this can make you doubt yourself and make you think twice about transitioning out of the relationship.

Is Future Faking Intentional?

Its hard to say whether future faking is always intentional or unintentional, Kays says. People are complex, inherently making relationships complex.

Future faking is often deployed by narcissists at very strategic times, Durvasula adds, such as when a big decision needs to be made about work or school that might result in them having less influence.

But, narcissists dont always recognize that their own behavior is problematic, as it seems completely normal to them.

How to Tell the Difference Between Future Faking and a Legitimate Connection

If something someone says sounds too good to be true, Kays says it probably is, and thats a red flag.

Aja Koska - Getty Images

There are many ways to bond and foster connection. Ultimately when building a relationship, trusting oneself, intuitions, and gut reactions will help provide a picture if this person is someone to continue to pursue, she adds.

When someone is trying to build a legitimate connection, they usually wont like, pretend, or exaggerate.

The important thing to remember is that a narcissist has no intention of keeping their promises, which are made with the sole intention of keeping you on the hook. It's kind of a psychological Ponzi scheme, in which you buy in now, and never get paid down the road, says Durvasula.

Honest self-reflection can help you figure out how youre truly feeling about what your partner is bringing to the relationship, Kays says.

How to Handle Instances of Future Faking

Dealing with a future faker can be emotional. Theyve promised you what you want, but at some point, you realize theyre not going to deliver.

If you suspect your partner is future faking, here are some steps to take, according to Kays:

Ask questionssuch as for more details about plans they suggest

Get updates on any progress toward their promises

Dont accept excuses or allow them to distort reality

Point out instances when someone is lying

Try discussing your concerns with the future faker

Consider ending the relationship

Seeking help from a mental health professional might also be necessary, especially if youre also dealing with anxiety, depression, or isolation.

It's not impossible that a future faker can change, Kays says. However, it would take a great deal of self-awareness and proactive measureslikely with the help of a professionalin order to do so.

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Cody Ware has been suspended indefinitely by NASCAR. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

NASCAR suspended Cup Series driver Cody Ware on Monday after Ware was arrested for felony assault in North Carolina.

Ware was arrested Monday by the Iredell County Sheriffs Office and charged with felony assault by strangulation and a misdemeanor count of assault on a female. Ware missed Sunday nights dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway for what his Rick Ware Racing team said was a personal matter" and was suspended shortly after the news of his arrest became public.

Ware, 27, made his Cup Series debut in 2017 and has run a majority of races on the Cup schedule in each of the past two seasons. He drives for his fathers backmarker team and has an average finish outside the top 30 in 97 career starts. Wares only top 10 came in the crash-filled 2022 summer race at Daytona when he finished sixth.

The 2022 season was Wares best season in NASCAR. He had an average finish of 28th and was set to run all 36 races for the first time until he was injured in a crash at Texas Motor Speedway. Ware suffered an ankle injury when his car went head-on into the outside wall and then hit the inside pit road wall after the throttle got stuck because of the damage from the first hit.

Ware has also made starts in NASCARs Xfinity and Truck Series and dabbled in the IndyCar Series in 2021. He made three IndyCar starts two seasons ago with a best finish of 19th in his series debut at Road America.
By Sandra Stojanovic and Omar Younis

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) -Tennessee state Representative Justin Jones returned to the state House on Monday, pumping his fist and declaring "power to the people" as a Nashville-area council restored him to office following his expulsion over a gun protest.

Republican lawmakers ousted Jones and another young, Black legislator last week over their gun control protest on the House floor, capturing national attention with Democrats seeking to advance gun violence prevention and racial equality while Republicans wielded their supermajority power.

County legislatures are empowered to fill local vacancies to the Tennessee statehouse until a special election can be held to fill out the remainder of the two-year term.

The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County voted 36-0 on Monday to make Jones, 27, the interim representative. He had been elected to Tennessee's House of Representatives last year.

Republicans on Thursday voted to kick out Jones and fellow Democrat Justin Pearson, but spared a white representative who joined them in their rule-breaking demonstration in the well of the House floor on March 30.

Unlike the other two, Gloria Johnson, the white representative, did not use a megaphone. The vote to expel her came up one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed, prompting criticisms that race was a factor.

Pearson could get a similar vote for reinstatement on Wednesday when the Shelby County Board of Commissioners will consider reappointing him to his Memphis district.

The three were protesting the legislature's stance on guns in the wake of the March 27 shooting at a Nashville school that killed three 9-year-old students and three staff members.

The Covenant School shooting was one of 146 mass shootings in the United States this year, the highest number to date of any year since 2016, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as four or more people shot or killed, excluding the shooter.

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In yet another shooting on Monday, four people were killed by one of their coworkers at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Metro Council vote set off a celebration among some 600 protesters gathered outside, as people greeted Jones with cheers of "Welcome home!"

Jones then marched with Johnson back to the statehouse, carrying his nameplate, and was sworn in on the steps, surrounded by supporters.

He took his place while the House was in session, holding up a fist while supporters cheered from the gallery.

"I want to welcome the people back to the people's house," Jones said upon being reseated.

Addressing supporters before the vote, Jones accused the Republicans of operating "plantation politics" and abuse of power.

"Thank you, because it's galvanized a nationwide movement," Jones said. "The world is watching Tennessee."

Council Member Delishia Porterfield, who lost to Jones in the 2022 primary for the statehouse seat, nominated him for reinstatement, saying their vote would "send a strong message to our state government and across the country."

A spokesperson for House Speaker Cameron Sexton did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Before the vote, the spokesperson said the House would seat whomever the county legislatures appoint "as the constitution requires."

Jones and Pearson, 28, have both said they would run again in special elections.

Although Republicans control the state legislature, Memphis and Nashville are heavily Democratic. Voters in Davidson and Shelby counties voted overwhelmingly for Democrat Joe Biden over Republican Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential race.

The expulsions have become a rallying cry for Democrats nationally over the issues of gun violence and racial inequality, and an opportunity to push back against Republican dominance at the state level.

While Democrats are competitive nationally, winning the popular vote in seven of the past eight presidential elections, Republicans hold large majorities in many of the state houses where issues such as abortion and gun control are often decided.

(Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta, Gabriella Borter and Rich McKay; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Donna Bryson, Aurora Ellis, Jonathan Oatis, Lisa Shumaker, Leslie Adler and Kim Coghill)
Expelled state Rep. Justin Jones was reinstated to the Tennessee House in a unanimous decision by Nashville's Metro Council less than a week after he was kicked out for participating in a protest against gun violence.

Following the vote and with a raised fist in the air, Jones walked arm-in-arm with fellow Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson into the House chamber. The pair were met with applause.

"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.

"We will continue to be your voice here," he said. "And no expulsion, no attempt to silence us will stop us, but it will only galvanize and strengthen our movement. And we will continue to show up in the people's house."

Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones walks into the House chamber with Tennessee Rep. Gloria Johnson on April 10, 2023. Jones was appointed to represent District 52 by the Metro Nashville City Council earlier in the day after being expelled the previous week for using a bullhorn to shout support for pro-gun control protesters in the House chamber. / Credit: George Walker IV / AP

A Republican supermajority consisting of two-thirds of the Tennessee House voted last Thursday to expel Jones and fellow Democratic Rep. Justin Pearson, who are both Black. Johnson, who also participated in the protest, survived by one vote and was not expelled.

Demonstrations were expected at the statehouse on Monday, when the House was called back into session.

In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Jones said they will "continue to fight for our constituents."

Nashville's Metro Council, the legislative body tasked with appointing a replacement, called a special meeting last week to fill the vacancy. Several Metro council members told CBS Nashville affiliate WTVF that they wanted to appoint Jones to return to his seat in the state legislature.

Councilwoman Delishia Porterfield, who ran against Jones for the House seat he was expelled from, told WTVF that she's standing with the will of the people and will be voting for Jones to return.

"He is duly elected by the community, we have to uphold their wishes, and I 100% believe our body will vote to put my representative back in office," Porterfield said before the vote.

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Pearson, who represents Memphis, could be reappointed Wednesday by the Shelby County Commission, which is set to vote in a meeting then.

But even if both are reinstated this week, it will only be on an interim basis. Following the rules of the expulsion, Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, then has to sign what's called a writ of election to set the dates for a future special election. Expulsions by the House are very rare  just two people have been expelled from the chamber since the Civil War.

The Tennessee House moved to expel Jones, Pearson and Johnson after the three participated in a protest on March 30 in the state Capitol for stricter gun laws in the wake of a shooting at a Nashville school on March 27 that left three children and three adults dead.

Lawmakers said Johnson was spared the same fate as Jones and Pearson because she did not take a bullhorn and address the crowd, among other reasons. But Johnson, who is White, said she survived the vote because she is a "60-year-old White woman and they are two young Black men."

"I think our presence as young Black voices for our constituencies, people who will not bow down, those who will not be conformed, that's what put a target on us the day we walked in the Tennessee General Assembly," Jones told NBC on Sunday. "I mean, this is the first time in Tennessee history we had a completely partisan expulsion by predominantly White caucus  all but one member of their caucus is white out of 75 members  and we are the two youngest Black lawmakers in Tennessee."

The battle at the Tennessee statehouse has received national attention. Vice President Kamala Harris made a last-minute trip to Nashville on Friday to meet with Jones, Pearson and Johnson, who are being referred to by some as the "Tennessee Three." Harris received wild applause and several standing ovations as she told a crowd at Nashville's historically Black Fisk University that Jones, Pearson and Johnson were being, in her words, silenced and stifled as they fought "for the safety of our children."

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NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Exiled Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones is expected to be reinstated Monday after a Republican supermajority booted him from the state Legislature last week for participating in a gun safety protest inside the chamber.

The Nashville Metro Council is voting Monday afternoon to temporarily fill the seat before a special election. Its anticipated that Jones, 27, will earn enough votes from council members to regain his former seat. The Black freshman lawmaker is planning to then lead a march to the statehouse and return to work just as the Legislature gavels in for an evening session.



While its likely that Jones has the support from the majority of the council, its unclear if the entire body will agree to allow him to return immediately. Under the councils rules, there must be a waiting period after an affirmative vote before a reinstated lawmaker can return to the Capitol. Only two council members need to object to a motion to suspend those rules.

A rally, planned for near the Capitol ahead of the council meeting, will feature national figures such as the Rev. Al Sharpton.

The GOP also removed another lawmaker, Rep. Justin Pearson, for violating the same rules of decorum by walking to the well of the chamber and speaking without the permission of Republican leadership. The Memphis City Council will convene Wednesday to consider returning Pearson, 28, to his seat.

A third participant in the protest, Rep. Gloria Johnson, survived despite attempts by the GOP to evict her, too. Johnson, 60, said she believes the vote went differently for her because she is white and her counterparts are Black. The trio led chants calling for changes to gun laws following a deadly mass shooting in Nashville.

The Democrats, dubbed the Tennessee Three, have become national heroes of the left for the unparalleled partisan rebuke, appearing frequently on television and visiting with Vice President Kamala Harris, who traveled to Nashville last week to show support for gun safety measures.

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The trio even earned a segment on "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend.

The story has energized the national Democratic Party thats eager to drive young and otherwise unengaged voters to the polls during an off year without many high-profile elections.

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this report contained a photo of Justin Pearson instead of Justin Jones, who is the lawmaker who was reinstated today.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Ousted Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones returned to the statehouse Monday after the Nashville Metro Council unanimously voted to rename the Democrat to his former seat.

Jones, 27, was kicked out of the state Legislature last week by a Republican supermajority for participating in a gun reform protest on the House floor, a violation of decorum rules.

Immediately following the council vote, Jones led a crowd of more than 1,000 exuberant people through downtown Nashville to the state Capitol, linked arm-in-arm with clergy and other supporters who led the throng in hymns and chants.

Mr. Speaker, I want to welcome the people back to the peoples house, Jones said on the House floor soon after he walked back into the chamber. Supporters filled the galleries and had to be silenced several times by GOP leadership.

Im hopeful for the days ahead for Tennessee, he said. Not because of the actions of this body but for the people who are gathered outside of this chamber who are calling for something better. Who responded to your attack on democracy with an attack of a mass movement for justice and to restore the heart of our state. Not for what you did but for awakening the people of this state.

Last week, Republicans also removed Rep. Justin Pearson, another millennial Black Democrat, for the same violations. Yet Republicans didnt summon enough votes to remove a third member, Rep. Gloria Johnson, a white lawmaker who also called for changes to gun laws by briefly taking over the legislative chamber.

The Tennessee Three have risen to national prominence as the political firestorm surrounding the starkly partisan vote has drawn national attention to the deep red state. The series of events has also reignited the debate around gun safety in the wake of a deadly mass shooting in Nashville last month.



State lawmakers occasionally remove their fellow colleagues, but its often for cases involving criminal misconduct or major ethical lapses. Last weeks vote in Tennessee was exceedingly rare for its speed and partisanship. Nearly all of the Republican supermajority voted to oust Jones and Pearson, and the effort to remove Johnson fell short by a single vote.

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GOP House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who likened their protest to an insurrection, led trial-like proceedings last week as Republicans admonished the group and urged them to repent for their outburst.

Despite Republicans attempt to keep him away, Jones didnt miss a day of work. He returned to the statehouse just in time for the first full session since his removal.

Jones voice was noticeably raspy as he addressed the crowd via a bullhorn on the state house steps before entering the building. He was joined by Pearson as the crowd chanted welcome home. Jones stopped to pray with clergy before being escorted by Johnson back onto the House floor.

Under state law, local legislative bodies hold the power to reinstate ousted lawmakers  a process that typically takes several weeks  but Nashville council members voted to expedite it. A special election will be held to permanently fill Jones seat, a race that hes expected to join and will likely take place later this summer.

Our community members are more than capable of selecting their representative, said Council Member Delishia Porterfield ahead of the reinstatement vote. And their will should never have been undermined.

With this vote we will send a strong message to our state government and across the country that we will not tolerate threats to our democracy.



Pearson, who represents parts of Memphis, is also expected to run for reelection. Hes expected to be reinstated by Memphis council members Wednesday and return to the General Assembly the following day.

After Jones return, the state House resumed its business as usual. At the end of the session, Sexton opened the floor for announcements and called on several members first before granting permission to Jones, the remaining lawmaker with his hand raised, to speak.

Now that Jones was a representative again, he wanted to know when his ID badge would be reinstated, along with access to the parking garage and his government email and his health insurance.

Those were mostly HR questions, Sexton replied, and told him he will not be reappointed to committees until a special election is held. Republicans stripped all three Democrats from their committees before revealing they would pursue removal.

Jones will be allowed to file 15 new bills since his the original legislation he authored was transferred to the Democratic minority leader.

Jones said he plans to use all of those to call for common-sense gun reforms.
Democratic lawmakers Justin Jones (middle) and Justin Pearson (right) were expelled last week

Tennessee officials are expected to vote on whether to reinstate one of two lawmakers who were expelled for leading a gun control protest in March.

Nashville's Metropolitan Council is holding a meeting on Monday to discuss filling the empty seat left by former representative Justin Jones.

Republican colleagues voted out Mr Jones as well as Memphis Rep. Justin Pearson last week.

The rare expulsion vote came just days after a school shooting in Nashville.

Six people, including three young children, were killed in the shooting.

Mr Jones is expected to return to the Tennessee House of Representatives, as 29 of 40 members of the Nashville council have said they would vote to appoint him as an interim representative, according to local outlet the Tennessean. A simple majority is required to reinstate Mr Jones.

The vote comes as state lawmakers return for their first floor sessions since the vote to oust Mr Jones and Mr Pearson.

A Memphis board of commissioners, meanwhile, is expected to vote Wednesday on whether to allow Mr Pearson to reclaim his seat as a temporary representative.

Both Mr Jones and Mr Pearson have vowed to return to the state house and have said they will run in a special election in the coming months to permanently fill the seats.

Republicans accused three Democratic representatives - Mr Jones, Mr Pearson and Gloria Johnson - of bringing "disorder and dishonour to the House" when they joined protestors at the statehouse on 30 March, leading chants from the lectern on the House floor calling for stricter gun laws.

The vote drew further controversy, as Republicans, who hold a supermajority in the state, ultimately voted to expel Mr Jones and Mr Pearson, who are black, and not Ms Johnson, a white woman.

Mr Jones told the BBC after the vote the Republican-controlled House of Representatives had silenced him and those who voted for him.

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"We were calling for action so we can stop our young people and stop our children from being murdered and massacred," he said.

Together, Mr Jones and Mr Pearson represent about 140,000 constituents in Tennessee.

Several of their constituents expressed anger and told the BBC they felt disenfranchised by the vote to oust the two Democrats.

The Tennessee House of Representatives has only voted twice since the Civil War to expel a member - one time for a sitting lawmaker who was convicted of soliciting a bribe, and another for a majority whip who was accused of sexual misconduct.
Justin Jones. AP Photo/George Walker IV

The Nashville Metropolitan Council voted unanimously on Monday evening to reinstate Justin Jones, one of the Democratic lawmakers expelled from the Tennessee House last week.

The Republican-controlled House expelled Jones and another lawmaker, Justin Pearson, after they participated in a gun-control protest on the House floor following the deadly mass shooting at Covenant School in Nashville. The motion to expel a third Democrat, state Rep. Gloria Johnson, failed. Jones and Pearson are both Black, while Johnson is white.

Jones is in his seat again on an interim basis, and on Wednesday, the Shelby County Commission is expected to vote on whether to reappoint Pearson. Special elections will be held to fill their seats, and Jones and Pearson have both said they will run.

Ahead of the Nashville Metropolitan Council's special session on Monday, hundreds of people gathered outside the chambers in support of Jones, with some carrying signs that read "No Justin No Peace." Tennessee state Sen. London Lamar (D) told The Washington Post that in "an attempt to be malicious," Republicans have "created two political megastars who have now made history. I think now it is going to be hard for the Tennessee GOP to continue their covert and overt racism tactics because now the whole nation is watching."

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 10)  Traffic buildup on expressways going to Metro Manila is expected to peak Monday night following the Holy Week break, an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Sunday.

DOTr Office of the Secretary Executive Assistant Jonathan Gesmundo said that gradual traffic buildup along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway already began on Sunday.

The different tollways that will be used to enter the expressways, we will expect also buildup starting tonight (Sunday) and then, it will reach probably its peak tomorrow (Monday) night, Gesmundo told CNN Philippines.

NLEX traffic operations head Robin Ignacio said they estimate some 400,000 vehicles plying the expressway on their way to Metro Manila as classes and work resume on Tuesday.

The DOTr is also foreseeing an influx of passengers at seaports in Manila and Batangas.

The ports, we expect also increased volume here in Manila and in Batangas. The other ports, we expect not much increase. At Matnog, yes, there could be the expected increase in crossings, said Gesmundo.

The Philippine Coast Guard logged 87,373 outbound passengers and 83,535 inbound passengers in all ports across the country on April 9, 12 noon to 6 p.m.

The DOTr also reported a 185-percent increase in the arrivals and departures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) during the first quarter of the year.

Meanwhile, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) officer-in-charge Jorjette Aquino inspected the rail transits maintenance facilities as it will resume operations on April 10.

Operations of the MRT-3 and other rail lines were suspended from April 6 and will resume on April 10.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared April 6 and 7 as regular holidays in observance of Holy Week while April 10, also a regular holiday, is the Day of Valor.
Tennessee State Rep. Justin Pearson reads a newspaper article in the Vasco A. Smith Jr. County Administration Building, Wednesday, April 12, 2023 in Memphis, Tenn. Hundreds of supporters marched Pearson through Memphis to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners meeting, chanting and cheering before entering the commission chambers, where officials quickly voted 7-0 to restore him to his position. | Patrick Lantrip, Daily Memphian via Associated Press

Both lawmakers who were expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives last week have now been voted to be reinstated to their positions in the Legislature.

On Monday, Nashvilles Metro Council voted for former Rep. Justin Jones to return to his post in the Legislature immediately  but on an interim basis to fill his now vacant seat, The Associated Press reported.

Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reinstate Rep. Justin Pearson to the House on Wednesday.

Why were Justin Jones, Justin Pearson voted out of the Tennessee House?

Hundreds of students and parents marched to the Capitol to protest in favor of tougher gun laws in the state. During the protests on March 30. Jones, Pearson and Rep. Gloria Johnson took to the state House floor to advocate for gun control, using a bullhorn to address their colleagues and protesters, according to CNN.

Related

Following the protest, the Republican-majority House argued the trio had broken decorum and three requested to put them up for expulsion. Last Thursday, Jones and Pearson were voted out by the party-line majority, and Johnson was one vote shy of expulsion, the Deseret News reported.

Related

Justin Jones reinstated in the House

The 36 council members voted unanimously to reinstate Jones, NBC News reported.

Today we are sending a resounding message that democracy will not be killed in the comfort of silence, Jones said after the vote, per CNN.

The seven Democrats on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted to reinstate Pearson after receiving thousands of emails and calls from around the county, the country and the world, pleading with them to reappoint Mr. Pearson, The New York Times reported.

I want to commend you for standing up for the things that matter to the people of Shelby County and the state of Tennessee, Commissioner Shante Avant said to Pearson at Wednesdays board hearing, per the Times. You have done well by us in making sure that our voices can be heard.

Jones and Pearson were both reinstated on an interim basis, but in order to serve a full-elected term, each will have to campaign and run again for the elected position in a special election to be held in coming months.
Former state Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville raises his fist on the floor of the Tennessee House chamber as he walks to his desk to collect his belongings after his expulsion from the legislature on April 6, 2023. AP Photo/George Walker IV

The Metropolitan Council voted to reinstate Justin Jones back to his seat in the Tennessee House.

Jones was ousted from the body over gun control protests alongside then-state Rep. Justin Pearson.

The Shelby County Commission will meet on Wednesday to potentially reinstate Pearson to his seat.

One of the two Black Democratic lawmakers who was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives last week after leading a protest for gun reform has been reinstated to his position.

The Metropolitan Council, which is the legislative body of Nashville and Davidson County, voted to appoint former state Rep. Justin Jones  the 27-year-old Nashville legislator who was part of a trio of Democrats who pushed for gun control on the House floor  back to his old seat until a special election can be held later this year.

In a unanimous vote, the council decided to send Jones back to the statehouse in Nashville, only weeks after a mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville prompted a wave of protests in the capital city for gun control in a state where firearms regulations are lax.

Before the vote, at least 29 members of the 40-member council had indicated that they would vote to send Jones back to the statehouse, which would afford him well over the simple majority necessary to receive the appointment. A special election will then be held later this year.

Last Thursday, the Republican-controlled House voted to remove Jones from his position, alongside then-state Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis, over what GOP leaders said was an attempt by the lawmakers to break the decorum of the institution by taking over the floor and rallying the many protestors who had assembled at the state Capitol.

Pearson could be reinstated on Wednesday by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, which will assemble for a special meeting to address the legislative vacancy.

While Republicans voted to oust Jones and Pearson, they spared state Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, who had also joined her Democratic colleagues on the floor over the gun reform push.

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Johnson, who is white, told CNN last week that it was "pretty clear" why she was able to remain in the House, while her two colleagues were removed.

"I'm a 60-year-old white woman and they are two, young Black men," she told the network. "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."

The removals of Jones and Pearson prompted an outcry across the country, including the White House.

"Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting," President Joe Biden tweeted last Thursday. "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," he added.

Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Nashville last Friday and spoke at the historically-Black Fisk University, where she railed against the votes and pressed for more firearms regulations, including background checks, red flag laws, and an assault weapons ban.

"Let's not fall for the false choice: either you're in favor of the Second Amendment or you want reasonable gun safety laws," she said. "We can and should do both."

The vice president also met privately with the three lawmakers.

Oscar Brock, a Republican national committeeman from Tennessee, told The New York Times that the GOP-led votes to remove the two lawmakers from the House were unhelpful to the party.

"If my job, along with other members of the RNC, is to protect the brand of the Republican Party, this didn't help," he told the newspaper. "You've energized young voters against us. Worse than squandering support, you've made enemies where we didn't need them."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Nashville Vice Mayor Jim Shulman said he thinks the Metropolitan Council will vote to send former state Rep. Justin Jones (D), one of the two lawmakers expelled by Republicans from the legislature over their gun control protests, back to the statehouse on Monday.

Weve heard loud and clear from people in Nashville, across the state of Tennessee and across the country that these two gentlemen need to be sent back immediately to the Tennessee statehouse, Shulman said Monday on CNN.

Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, a Democrat representing Memphis, were ejected from the legislature on a party-line vote over their protest on gun control following a shooting at a private school in Nashville that left three students and three adults dead.

The ouster of Jones and Pearson has garnered national attention, serving as a rallying cry for Democrats that have coalesced in support of the lawmakers. President Biden and Vice President Harris have both spoken with the pair.

The metro council, the city-county government of Nashville and Davidson County, is set to move to vote on reinstating Jones to the statehouse on Monday afternoon. Shulman said he was hopeful there would be no objections on the council to send Jones back to the legislature.

At least 22 members of the 40-seat city council have tweeted to declare their support for reappointing Jones to his seat, denouncing the move from Republicans to oust him.

A vote to send Pearson, who represents a Memphis district, could come this week as well.

Pearson and Jones, both Black lawmakers, were ousted from the statehouse while a third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, a white woman, was spared from being expelled for her role in the protest.

Many have been quick to point to the vote to eject Pearson and Jones as racially motivated, a dynamic that Shulman said hoped wasnt the case.

I certainly hope that wasnt the case, Shulman said. But it doesnt look good on its face.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
City leaders in Nashville voted unanimously on Monday to reinstate former state representative Justin Jones, a Democratic lawmaker who was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday for joining in an anti-gun violence protest on the statehouse floor.

Mr Jones and his colleague Justin Pearson, both of whom are Black, were stripped of their House seats last weeks, following an effort from state Republicans that critics called an unprecedented abuse of power in Tennessee history.

Speaking to a crowd of supporters on Monday, Mr Jones decried the states plantation politics and criticised Tennessees Republican Speaker of the House, Cameron Sexton.

Mr Cameron Sexton, whether you reacknowledge the appointment or not, these people, the peoples voices, are the ultimate authority, Mr Jones said. My message to Cameron Sexton is thank you, because it has galvanised a nationwide movement.

The Nashville representative was sworn in on the state capitol steps, shortly after the vote from the Nashville Metropolitan Council.

LIVE: @brotherjones_ is being sworn in on the Capitol steps pic.twitter.com/FMA5j7PdhB  Justin J. Pearson (@Justinjpearson) April 10, 2023

Among the supporters of Mr Joness reinstatement was council member Delishia Porterfield, who previously ran against Mr Jones in the House Democratic primary for District 52.

The people made a choice and it was the right choice, she said during the council meeting on Monday.

Mr Pearsons vacant seat will be discussed on Wednesday in Memphis at a meeting of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

Commission Chairman Mickell Lowery has expressed disapproval with how the two Democrats were expelled.

The protests at the State Capitol by citizens recently impacted by the senseless deaths of three 9-year-old children and three adults entrusted with their care at their school was understandable given the fact that the gun laws in the State of Tennessee are becoming nearly non-existent, Commisioner Lowery said in a statement on Sunday. It is equally understandable that the leadership of the State House of Representatives felt a strong message had to be sent to those who transgressed the rules. However, I believe the expulsion of State Representative Justin Pearson was conducted in a hasty manner without consideration of other corrective action methods.

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Observers said the expulsion vote broke with centuries-old norms in Tennessee and across the country, where lawmakers are usually only expelled after committing criminal offences.

No laws  local, state or federal  were broken here, Carrie Russell, a lecturer in political science and expert on Southern politics at Nashvilles Vanderbilt University, told The Independent.

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.

Glorida Johnson, a third lawmaker who was part of the floor protest, who is white, was able to retain her seat.
National Siblings Day is a time to connect with your brothers or sisters and show appreciation for each other every April 10.

The day is primarily popular in North America  and is the only holiday during the year carved out for sibling appreciation.

Read on below to find out the best ways to celebrate National Siblings Day and why the holiday was created.

TWIN SISTERS HELP SAVE WOMAN WITH MEDICAL EMERGENCY ON FLIGHT FROM BOSTON TO FORT MYERS, FLORIDA

Over the last few decades, National Siblings Day has grown in parts of the United States and Canada as a holiday that celebrates the relationship between siblings, similar to other federally recognized traditions such as Mother's and Father's Day.

In Europe, a similar version of the holiday is known as Brothers and Sisters Day, which is celebrated on May 31.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The sole purpose of National Siblings Day is to celebrate the bonds of brothers and sisters.

The main message of the holiday is to show appreciation and love for your fellow siblings and celebrate the bond you have as brothers or sisters.

Typically, this day is celebrated by siblings showing their appreciation for one another by exchanging gifts, going to a special lunch or dinner or spending quality time together.

Outside the Western world, National Siblings Day is also celebrated in India. Proponents of the holiday have petitioned U.S. presidents and the United Nations for decades to recognize National Siblings Day.

Some governors and states in the U.S. do recognize the holiday  but not the federal government.

"This day does not necessarily have to be attached to a monetary gift," the Siblings Day Foundation said in a statement on its website.

"Individuals can do something special like a good deed or favor, errand or chore for their brother or sister. In cases of deceased siblings, consciously hold them in our memory or light a candle in remembrance."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

National Siblings Day is celebrated across North America on the same date every year, April 10. The holiday has been celebrated in April for over two decades since it was first established by the foundation in 1995.

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The holiday is conveniently set a month before Mother's Day on May 14 and two months before Father's Day, which falls on June 18.

Celebration of the day is a good way to show appreciation for family members during the year and strengthen bonds with your siblings.

National Siblings Day was created by Claudia Evart in 1995 after she lost her brother and sister at a young age.

Evart also founded the Siblings Day Foundation in order to promote and advocate the principles of the holiday.

The April 10 date of National Siblings Day falls on the birthday of Evart's late sister Lisette.
Kremlin

Russias apparent lack of concern over Finlands NATO accession raises obvious questions about the validity of Vladimir Putins efforts to portray the invasion of Ukraine as a reasonable response to creeping NATO enlargement. If Putin genuinely felt NATO posed a security threat to Russia, he could have attempted to derail Finlands membership bid via a combination of diplomatic and military pressure. At the very least, he could have dramatically increased the Russian army presence in the region. Instead, he did next to nothing.

During the period since Helsinkis May 2022 NATO application, Moscow has largely limited itself to grumbling about the accession process. At the same time, Russia has reportedly withdrawn up to 80% of its forces from the Finnish border zone. The drawdown weve seen from this region in the past seven months is very significant. Russia had this ground force posture facing us for decades that is now effectively just gone, a senior Nordic defense official told Foreign Policy in September 2022.

Kremlin officials have since reacted to confirmation of Finnish membership by vowing to strengthen Russias military potential in the border area, but this belated bluster merely serves to highlight how underwhelming Russias overall response has been. The contrast with Moscows devastating use of force in nearby Ukraine could hardly be greater.

Why has Putin remained so calm over the NATO membership of one neighbor while waging a major war over the unlikely NATO aspirations of another? After all, even with the Russian army heavily committed in Ukraine, Putin still has vast additional military, diplomatic, cyber, and economic resources at his disposal and could conceivably have opposed Finlands NATO bid in a wide range of ways. This inconsistency has little to do with legitimate security concerns. Instead, it reflects the unapologetic imperialism that shapes Putins personal world view and defines modern Russias national identity.

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Read also: Putins nuclear saber-rattling is a sign of dangerous Russian desperation

Ever since the early years of his reign, Putin has made no secret of his bitterness over the Soviet collapse, which he has always viewed as a Russian defeat.

In 2005, when he famously referred to the disintegration of the USSR as the biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the century, he stressed that it was a tragedy for the Russian people and the millions of Russians who suddenly found themselves living beyond Russias borders in newly independent countries such as Ukraine. Putin went even further in 2021, lamenting the fall of the USSR as the collapse of historical Russia under the name of the Soviet Union. In other words, he regards the entire Soviet era as a continuation of the Czarist Russian Empire, and sees the settlement of 1991 as anything but final.

Putins sense of historical injustice has led to an unhealthy obsession with Ukraine, which he insists is an inherent part of historical Russia that has been subjected to artificial separation. He is fond of claiming that Ukrainians are in fact Russians (one people), and took the unusual but revealing step in July 2021 of publishing a lengthy essay arguing against the legitimacy of Ukrainian statehood.

This fixation has been further fueled by fears that the emergence of a democratic Ukraine could serve as a catalyst for similar changes inside Russia itself. Putin remains haunted by the pro-democracy uprisings that swept Central Europe in the late 1980s while he was a young KGB officer in East Germany, and views modern Ukraines embrace of democracy as a direct threat to his own authoritarian regime. It is no coincidence that in the build up to last years invasion, Putin began referring to Ukraine as an intolerable anti-Russia.

Over the past 13 months of full-scale war, Putins imperial objectives in Ukraine have become increasingly evident. He has compared his invasion to the eighteenth century imperial conquests of Russian Czar Peter the Great, and has repeatedly spoken of returning historical Russian lands while attempting to annex four partially occupied Ukrainian regions representing almost 20% of the war-torn country. Meanwhile, his army has imposed brutal policies of russification throughout occupied Ukraine, complete with summary executions, forced deportations, the suppression of Ukrainian national symbols, and widespread use of torture against anyone deemed a potential opponent of Russian rule.

Putins imperialistic views on Ukraine are regarded as uncontroversial by domestic Russian audiences. While public enthusiasm for the invasion may vary, many Russians share Putins rejection of Ukrainian statehood, while millions appear comfortable embracing an unambiguously imperial agenda. However, such messaging would be disastrous on the international stage. To counter this, Putin has sought to frame the invasion of Ukraine as a defensive measure by emphasizing Russias longstanding grievances over NATOs post-1991 enlargement.

This approach has played well in an international climate colored by anti-Western sentiment and widespread suspicion of Americas dominant role in global affairs. Over the past year or so, the NATO expansion argument has proved easily the most effective of the multiple narratives promoted by the Kremlin to defend the invasion. While international audiences have remained largely unconvinced by Russian attempts to portray the war as a fight against everything from Western cancel culture to Satanists and fictitious Ukrainian Nazis, Moscows accusations toward NATO have resonated around the world. Kremlin claims of NATO responsibility for the war have been echoed by everyone from Chinese President Xi Jinping to prominent Western academics and even Pope Francis.

The success of Russias NATO expansion narrative has distorted international perceptions of what is the most brazen example of European aggression since the days of Hitler and Stalin. It has encouraged many commentators to view the war as a clash between two competing superpowers rather than a genocidal invasion by an expansionist empire. This has naturally impacted efforts to end the war, with calls to help Ukraine defend itself often met by demands for NATO to de-escalate.

In reality, Russias accusations regarding NATO involvement in Ukraine have never stood up to serous scrutiny. Far from pursuing Ukraine, the alliance actually sidestepped calls to grant the country a Membership Action Plan in 2008, settling instead for vague promises of future membership. NATO has consistently refused to revise this position, even after the onset of Russian aggression against Ukraine with the 2014 seizure of Crimea. On the eve of Russias full-scale invasion last year, Ukraine was widely recognized as being decades away from potentially joining NATO.

The Kremlin has argued that even without Ukrainian membership, any deepening of cooperation between NATO and Ukraine represents an unacceptable security threat. However, this conveniently ignores the existing NATO status of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, all of which border Russia. The three Baltic states are just as close to Moscow as Ukraine, and have been full members of the alliance for almost two decades without any major incident.

The Kremlins passive acceptance of Finnish accession has now further undermined Russian attempts to pose as victims of NATO aggression. After insisting for years that NATOs largely imaginary presence in Ukraine posed an existential threat to Russia, Moscow must explain why the recent advance of the alliance to Russias 1,340 km Finnish border is so comparatively inconsequential. They may wish to present a very different picture to international audiences, but Putin and his Kremlin colleagues clearly recognize that any talk of a NATO attack on Russia is absurd.

This is not to say that Russian displeasure over NATO enlargement is entirely manufactured. On the contrary, Moscows objections are real enough, but they are rooted in resentment rather than genuine security concerns. The Kremlins frustration over the expanding presence of the alliance is not difficult to understand. While NATO poses no plausible security threat to Russia itself, it does create major obstacles for Russian imperialism. Put simply, NATO prevents Russia from bullying its neighbors.

This should provide critics of NATO enlargement with food for thought. Opponents have long accused the alliance of provoking Russia by welcoming countries from the former Eastern Bloc, but it is now painfully apparent that the decision to keep Ukraine internationally isolated was actually far more provocative in practice. Indeed, the security guarantees that come with NATO membership are probably the only reason why we are not currently confronted by an even larger war and further Russian invasions. Unless Ukraine can secure similar security guarantees, a lasting peace in Eastern Europe will likely remain elusive.

This story was originally published by the Atlantic Council. NV is republishing it with permission.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The U.S. Navy sailed a destroyer ship in the South China Sea near the contested Spratly Islands on Monday, angering Chinese officials who claim the archipelago as its own after constructing man-made islands.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius crossed within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef  which includes a large man-made island controlled by China  in what the U.S. 7th Fleet called a lawful, freedom of navigation operation.

Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, a release from the American naval fleet reads. The United States challenges excessive maritime claims around the world regardless of the identity of the claimant.

Mischief Reef is part of Beijings extensive development of artificial islands in the South China Sea, which Beijing has turned into military bases. It has historically been under the administration of the Philippines province of Palawan.

The Peoples Liberation Army, the official name for Chinas military, said the U.S. naval ship entered its territorial waters illegally, according to Reuters, reiterating its claims of sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea.

Besides Mischief Reef, at least two other Chinese man-made bases are fully militarized on the Spratly Islands archipelago: Subi Reef and Fiery Cross.

The Spratly Islands are disputed between several countries, with China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei all staking claim to parts of the archipelago.

The U.S. on Monday said features like Mischief Reef that are submerged at high tide in their naturally formed state are not entitled to a territorial sea.

The land reclamation efforts, installations, and structures built on Mischief Reef do not change this characterization under international law, the 7th Fleet said in Mondays release.

U.S. operations around the Spratly Islands comes as China is concluding a three-day spate of military drills in the sea and air around Taiwan.

China ordered the drills after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in California last week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In the past 18 months, video game developer Epic Games has paid more than $3 million to hundreds of hackers online.

Epic, which is headquartered in Cary and best known for creating the popular game Fortnite, offers tech-savvy individuals money to expose vulnerabilities within its operating systems. The company opened this incentive, called a bug bounty, to invited hackers in 2017. It expanded the program to the public in October 2021 and has since awarded a total of $3.16 million to more than 550 people.

According to the platform HackerOne, which hosts Epics bug bounty program, hackers have uncovered 1,240 valid issues at the company. These discoveries fetched $500 on average, though some earned hackers as much as $50,000.

By working with this community of talented researchers, we are able to strengthen the security of our products and services, Epic Games spokesperson Emily Bass wrote in an email. This program includes work across the Epic ecosystem, including Fortnite.

Cybersecurity experts say more businesses have begun embracing bug bounty programs to broaden their virtual security at a lower price. Like Epic, Raleighs fast-growing software firm Pendo launched its own bounty program two years ago, and well-known national companies like Starbucks, Uber, Yahoo, Slack, Paypal and Spotify all crowdsource their cybersecurity to a degree, dangling money to hackers who often work anonymously. Even the U.S. Department of Defense expanded its bounty program, the first in the history of the federal government, in 2021 after reporting initial success.

Hackers who chase these bounties arent the nefarious agents behind data breaches or malware attacks. Bug bounty programs instead attract thousands of so-called white hat hackers, ethical operators who infiltrate systems with the goal of alerting, not disrupting.

Its very difficult to describe what I actually do, said Deral Heiland, a white hat hacker who works as a principal security researcher at the cybersecurity firm Rapid7. I break into things and get paid to do it.

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Some companies will prepay hackers to attempt system breaches, which is known as a pentesting (short for penetration testing.) But bug bounties are more of an open call.

Any time we design and release new software, we use tools to test and address security vulnerabilities at each step of the process, Chuck Kesler, chief information security officer at Pendo, said in an email. But its also really helpful to engage with the security research community once that code is live  our bounty program has hundreds of researchers continuously looking at websites all over the world and identifying issues.

It was controversial when it first came out

Netscape is credited with creating the first bug bounty program in 1995, but only within the past five years or so have the incentives become common. As businesses move more services online, and bad actors grow more sophisticated, executives have seen the value of having more eyes on their software.

It was controversial when it first came out, said Ray Zeisz, senior director of the North Carolina State University Friday Institute for Educational Innovation. There were people in the industry thinking, Oh, my God, youre crazy. Youre writing checks to the bad guys. But its not necessarily whats happening.

Zeisz said a few of his closest friends now make livings from white hat hacking. Some ethical hackers were once criminal hackers, including Kevin Mitnick, a prolific corporate network breacher whom the FBI arrested in a Raleigh apartment in 1995.

For companies, bug bounties can prove more economical than hiring additional full-time cybersecurity staff. Zeisz pointed out that the millions Epic Games has paid through HackerOne is only a sliver of its multibillion-dollar annual revenue. And other major brands  including IBM and Fidelity  entice white hats with non-monetary credits that hackers seek out to bolster their cybersecurity resumes  or simply for pride.

Epics top bounty hacker

Without permission, hacking is a crime, so companies will typically spell out specific rules for how ethical hackers can proceed legally.

Epic, for example, does not permit hacking by anyone employed at the company, recently employed at the company, or who lived in the same household as a current or recent employee. It also doesnt allow hackers living in countries that the U.S. has issued trade sanctions against, like Cuba, North Korea and Iran.

Formed in 2012, HackerOne is one of the most popular sites for ethical hacking. On the platform, Epic lists four award tiers  low, medium, high and critical  and examples of which discoveries might warrant each bounty amount. Bypassing the companys payment process is deemed a critical catch that could earn up to $10,000. Crashing a server in Fortnite that the hacker is not a member of also ranks as a critical achievement.

One common infiltration technique is called an injection attack, Heiland explained as sending data into a site that wasnt intended to be sent there. He said he once used an injection attack to gain administrator privileges of a companys wireless management system. Companies often require ethical hackers to report vulnerabilities they uncover within a short time frame, allowing the business to fix  or patch  the issues before criminals exploit them.

On HackerOne, Epic Games top bounty hacker works under the name Adam and lists their location as Paris, France. Adam predominately focuses on exposing vulnerabilities at Epic. The company last awarded Adam a bounty on April 6, the 93rd payment Epic has made to the hacker.

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.

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The N.C. Utilities Commission has approved a new rate design that will reduce the credits people with solar panels on their homes receive for energy they send to the grid while also striking down an incentive program that would have made it cheaper to install those panels in the first place.

Rather than receiving a one-to-one credit for energy they add to the grid, homeowners with rooftop solar will now need to pay a mandatory monthly minimum bill and monthly fees for things like energy efficiency and storm damage. Those customers also will pay more for energy used at certain times of day, namely around breakfast and dinner times.

An agreement between Duke Energy and several solar installers that was included in the Utilities Commissions order provides a bridge rate for customers, allowing those who install solar before 2027 to pay the mandatory minimum bill and fees while receiving a higher credit for energy sent to the grid.

Net metering is the term for how customers with solar panels are credited for the power they contribute to the grid.

In 2017, North Carolinas House Bill 589 directed the Utilities Commission to establish a new net metering scheme by 2027. The General Assembly reiterated its desire for a new net metering system in 2021s House Bill 951.

This proactive attempt to come up with net metering rates prior to that deadline was really informed by everyone in that collaborative groups understanding looking around the country, seeing net metering policies being really aggressively rolled back in states that had revised net metering in the last couple years, Taylor Jones, the N.C. Sustainable Energy Associations senior regulatory counsel, told The News & Observer.

Jones pointed to California and Nevada as states where revised net metering policies have been less profitable for customers.

The Utilities Commission is made up of seven members appointed by the governor, currently all appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper. It regulates Duke Energy, Dominion and other gas and water utilities that operate in the state, among other matters.

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The new net metering system is set to become effective on July 1.

Potential legal challenge

Duke Energy has long argued that rooftop solar customers are not paying enough to use the transmission system and grid that allow energy to flow to and from their homes, an argument that utilities in other states have used to curb net metering rates. In a rate design study, Duke determined that customers on the existing net metering scheme were being subsidized by as much as $40 a month in the Duke Energy Progress service area and $30 in the Duke Energy Carolinas service area.

The analyses in the embedded and marginal cost studies that Duke conducted as part of its Rate Design Study capture the majority, if not all, of the known and verifiable benefits of solar generation, the commission wrote in its order.

NC WARN and other environmental groups argue that 2017s HB 589 required the Utilities Commission to conduct its own analysis of the costs and benefits of rooftop solar. The failure to do so could be central to a legal challenge to the net metering ruling, Jim Warren, NC WARNs executive director, said in a press release.

The law requires the utilities commission to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to see if net metering  how it really works, does it really contain the cost shift that has been Duke Energys only argument, virtually, Warren told The News & Observer.

Warren also argues that rooftop solar and associated storage systems are key tools in North Carolinas efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A calculator allowing Duke Energy customers interested in rooftop solar to gauge how the panels would affect their bills is central to the Utilities Commissions order. A similar calculator is available in South Carolina, but the North Carolina version could be slightly different.

Per the commissions order, the new calculator will be available to the public by June 1.

We are planning on building an enhanced version of the calculator for North Carolina and are discussing this with rooftop solar installers, Randy Wheeless, a Duke Energy spokesman, said in an email to The News & Observer.

Key elements in the North Carolina version would include allowing customers to put in their Duke Energy account number and automatically upload their energy usage, Jones said. From there, Jones said, customers or installers should be able to evaluate how different systems would affect their bills.

These are complicated tariff designs. I think that really highlights the importance of this online bill calculator for customers. Thats going to be a really necessary tool for people to really understand any implications, Jones said.

No Smart $aver program

The Smart $aver program proposed by Duke Energy would have given people installing rooftop solar an incentive to let the utility manage their homes thermostats at times of high energy usage.

For Duke Energy Carolinas customers, the anticipated incentive would have averaged $2,822. Duke Energy Progress customers would have averaged a $3,002 incentive. The program would reduce energy usage more effectively than building new power plants and other generation sources, Duke argued.

Customers would have agreed to participate in Duke Energys thermostat management program for 25 years, repaying that years part of the incentive if they overrode the utilities management too many times.

The program was critical to an agreement between Duke Energy and several solar installers that saw the installers agree to support the net metering system in return for the incentive.

I hope that in a future docket or law the legislature, NCUC and NC Public Staff iterate their views of small-scale solar and storage as valuable for the grid, Bob Kingery, the founder of Southern Energy Management, said in a statement. Kingery was one of the installers who agreed to the memorandum of understanding with Duke.

But the Utilities Commission declined the program, instead directing Duke Energy to create a pilot program that would explore how solar and storage impact the greater electrical grid.

In a concurring opinion, Utilities Commissioner Floyd McKissick Jr. explained that he did not believe the proposed Smart $aver program met the statutory definition of energy efficiency because it would not result in less energy usage, but instead resulted in less energy produced from the grid.

Building solar generation to be paid for by ratepayers, whether it is utility built or customer built with utility (ratepayer paid) incentives, is a supply side resource, not (energy efficiency), McKissick wrote.

Failing to approve the incentive could leave the installers in a difficult position, Warren said, pointing to a difficult-to-grasp rate scheme that could make it hard for costumers to understand the impact of solar panels.

It remains just a hash of factors that makes it really difficult for them to market their product, Warren said.

The solar-plus-storage pilot program would be available to people installing solar on their homes for the first time, with half of the participants maintaining total control over their storage and half giving that control to Duke Energy. The incentive for the solar panels would be the same as that proposed in the Smart $aver program, with Duke developing an additional incentive for the battery.

Additionally, the commission directed that the pilot program be open for three years, with both Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress accepting up to 10,000 people into it each year.

While we thought the Smart $aver incentive was a good proposal, we are looking forward to filing the Solar+Storage Pilot that the NCUC requested as part of their order. We will work with the settling parties, including rooftop solar installers, on this upcoming filing, Wheeless wrote in an email.

This story was produced with financial support from 1Earth Fund, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work.
Someone using a mobile phone (Tim Goode/PA) (PA Archive)

Nearly 3,000 Vodafone customers from across the country have complained of a loss of service.

The website Downdetector reported a peak of 2,820 people experiencing problems on the network at 9.26am on Monday April 10.

The issue comes after Virgin Media experienced problems last week with Downdetector receiving 55,000 reports of internet disruption last Tuesday.

One user posted on Twitter: @VodafoneUK please acknowledge that your home broadband is down and give us an idea when you plan to get it up and running again.

Stop all this diagnostic rubbish.

Its your end not ours

Vodafone responded by posting: Were currently investigating the broadband connection queries, our dedicated teams are working to get everything restored as quickly as possible.

Vodafone has been approached by the PA news agency for comment.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 10)  Military bases that host US troops and logistics will not be a staging ground for offensive operations, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday in response to Chinas claim that the temporary stationing sites are a threat to regional stability.

Ang reaksyon ng China ay hindi naman siguro kataka-taka dahil nag-aalala sila, Marcos told reporters. Pero hindi naman tayo papayag na gamitin ang mga bases natin para sa kahit anong offensive na aksyon.

[Translation: Chinas reaction is not surprising because it is concerned. However, we wont allow our bases to be used for any offensive action.]

RELATED: PH retains sovereignty over EDCA sites  DND

The government had announced the location of the four new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, which could temporarily host US military logistics and personnel on a rotational basis.

Defense analysts see the move to expand US military presence in the country as part of efforts to deter Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea and against Taiwan.

Two of the new EDCA sites will be in Cagayan, one in Isabela, and one in Palawan, Malacanang said. These are on top of the five existing ones in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, and Palawan.

Marcos said the EDCA sites will only be used to help the Philippines in times of need, including for relief operations during disasters.

Kaya't kung wala namang sumusugod sa atin, hindi na sila kailangang mag-alala dahil hindi naman sila natin lalabanan, he said. Ang ginagawa lamang natin ay ipagpatuloy natin na pinapatibay natin ang depensa ng ating teritoryo, ang pagdepensa ng republika.

[Translation: A country that is not attacking us need not worry because we wont fight them. What were doing is we continue to strengthen the defense of our territory, the defense of the republic.]

Manila and Washington said the additional EDCA facilities would also create economic opportunities for Filipinos given the infrastructure investments in these locations.

China had said that an expanded military cooperation will only endanger regional peace and stability, drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife and damage its economic development."
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reversed his decision to fire the countrys defense minister last month after mass protests erupted in the wake of his decision.

Netanyahu announced his reversal at a press conference Monday, saying that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will remain in his post after he was fired two weeks ago. Gallant was fired from his position after he called to suspend plans for Netanyahu-backed judicial reforms, which would allow the government to overrule Supreme Court decisions and give the executive more power to appoint justices.

Gallant remains in his position as defense minister and we will continue to work together for the security of citizens of Israel, he said at the press conference.

Netanyahus decision to sack Gallant sparked mass protests across the country and prompted Israels consul general in New York to step down as he was becoming increasingly concerned with the polices of Israels government.

The Biden administration also said at the time that it was deeply concerned about ongoing tensions in Israel. U.S. lawmakers also raised their worries over the potential judicial reforms last month, saying that the proposed judicial reforms could be undemocratic.

We are deeply concerned by todays developments out of Israel, which further underscore the urgent need for compromise, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement last month.

Watson also said in the statement that Israeli leaders should find a compromise as soon as possible, describing it as the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday reversed his decision to fire his defense minister over criticism of the governments contentious plan to overhaul the judiciary.

In a televised speech, Netanyahu said that Yoav Gallant is staying at his post.

I decided to put the differences we had behind us, he said. Gallant remains in his position, and we will continue to work together for the security of the citizens of Israel.

In a tweet showing himself sitting next to Netanyahu, Gallant wrote: We continue together with full strength, for Israels security.

Netanyahu announced late last month that Gallant was fired. The decision set off a wave of spontaneous mass protests and a general strike that threatened to paralyze the country, forcing the Israeli leader to suspend his divisive plan to overhaul the judicial system.

Netanyahu never sent Gallant a formal termination letter. As of Monday, Gallant  whose criticism of Netanyahus planned judicial changes led to his dismissal  was still on the job. Gallants aides said it was business as usual at the Defense Ministry.

In recent days, Gallant was seen taking part in Israeli government meetings discussing tensions in Jerusalem that escalated last week and the wider violence they sparked in the region.

Even in the last few days we worked together and stood together around the clock on all fronts in the face of the security challenges, Netanyahu said.

Days after Netanyahu announced Gallants firing, an Israeli police raid at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site triggered rocket fire at Israel on multiple fronts. Israel responded with airstrikes and artillery fire at rocket launch sites and accused Hamas and Palestinian militant groups of being behind the attacks.

The judiciary crisis and other issues, including his indictment on corruption charges in 2019, have distracted Netanyahu from his traditional focus on security and diplomacy, and many Israelis were concerned about the prospects of a vacant defense minister post.

After Wednesdays police raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound  the third holiest shrine in Islam that is also the most sacred to Jews  rockets were fired on northern Israel from Lebanon, Syria and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

The escalation came at a time of rare convergence of Muslim, Jewish and Christian holidays.
Netflix has confirmed that a Stranger Things spinoff is in the works, with the new project being an animated series.

Per Variety, Eric Robles and Flying Bark Productions, an animation studio from Australia, are developing the currently untitled spinoff.

Stranger Things series creators Matt and Ross Duffer celebrated the news of the project, releasing a statement expressing their excitement.

Netflix

Related: Stranger Things' Jamie Campbell Bower lines up next movie role

"We've always dreamed of an animated Stranger Things in the vein of the Saturday morning cartoons that we grew up loving, and to see this dream realised has been absolutely thrilling," they wrote.

The brothers continued: "We couldn't be more blown away by what Eric Robles and his team have come up with  the scripts and artwork are incredible, and we cant wait to share more with you! The adventure continues"

This isn't the first Stranger Things spinoff to be announced, as a stage play titled The First Shadow was announced last month.

The production, which will debut in London's West End, is set in 1959 Hawkins and follows a young Jim and Joyce as Henry Creel (aka One, aka Vecna from season 4) arrives in town as a new student.



Netflix

Related: Stranger Things bosses excite fans with season 5 clue

The production's synopsis teases a potentially huge connection between it and the end of the sci-fi series: "This gripping new adventure will take you right back to the beginning of the Stranger Things story  and may hold the key to the end."

Plans to expand the Stranger Things universe are now being accelerated given that the main show is due to end with its fifth season  which is set to begin filming this summer, according to lead star David Harbour.

Stranger Things seasons 1-4 are now streaming worldwide on Netflix.

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Netflixs latest series is already making waves with viewers, achieving a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Arriving on the streaming website on Wednesday (6 April), Beef is a dark comedy produced by A24. It stars Minari actor Steven Yeun and comedian Ali Wong as two strangers who get into a road-rage accident.

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Beef has a 99 per cent score at the time of writing on the critic-supported Tomatometer, as well as a 96 per cent score based on audience reviews.

Critics have praised both the shows writing and performances (by Yeun and Wong), suggesting Beef is a shoo-in for this years Emmy Awards.

Writing for Salon, Melanie McFarland said: One day in the future academics may view Beef as a convincing TV distillation of the early 21st-centurys collective mood, a lingering and worsening state of society-wide pandemic anger.

Hyperbolic? Maybe. But I challenge you to find another series that channels the spectrum of fury as wildly, beautifully and crazily while, for the most part, maintaining its focal clarity.

On RogerEbert.com, Brian Tallerico wrote: Steven Yeun is quite simply one of the best actors of his generation, and he makes so many fascinating decisions here.

Wong matches Yeun beat-for-beat from the first episode to last. Its easily the best acting work of her career, and I hope it opens dozens of doors for her in terms of future collaborations.

Ali Wong in Beef' (ANDREW COOPER/NETFLIX)

British GQs Jack King, meanwhile, said that Beef was Netflixs best new show since Squid Game.

Thank god, then, for Steven Yeun  an evergreen statement if Ive ever seen it  and Beef, a Russian Doll-esque return to form for the streamers original programming, and unequivocally the best new series theyve released since 2020s Squid Game, King wrote.

Riding the welcome wave of new Asian-American media emerging over the last couple of years Beef is an inventive drama-comedy from mega-hip studio A24, 10 30-minute episodes spun from an incident of quintessentially LA road rage.

Beef is on Netflix now.
NEWCOMERTOWN  A firefighter and paramedic with the Newcomerstown Emergency Rescue Squad must pay a $3,000 civil penalty to settle a state lawsuit against over allegations that she failed to comply with state laws regarding nonprofits in managing the organization.

State's case: A statue for Heather Stein-Wells in Newcomerstown? She's facing major ethical questions

The March 2021 complaint from the Ohio Attorney General's Office alleged that Heather Stein-Wells:

Assumed sole control of NERS' operations, assets and finances when she became its president.

Awarded herself a six-figure salary from NERS that was never voted upon or approved by independent board members.

Wrote several checks from NERS to her business, Silkworm Flowers & Gifts.

The consent judgment signed April 5 said Stein-Wells denied all allegations in the attorney general's complaint.

The agreement says Stein-Wells must not hold any position as a director or officer in any Ohio organization that is exempt from federal income taxation.

It bars her from providing any service to a charitable organization unless she has no control of its assets; has no business, family or financial relationship to any member; and her compensation is set in advance annually by the organization's board and reviewed at least once a year.

The agreement indicates Stein-Wells may be a director or officer of a nonprofit organization if it is not described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; if she has not control of its assets; if she has no business, family or financial relationship to any member; and if she completes the attorney general's online training about charitable organizations in Ohio.

Other terms of the agreement prohibit Stein-Wells from:

Making solicitations for charitable purposes in Ohio.

Creating any nonprofit entity in Ohio

Providing any service related to bingo in Ohio.

Terms of the settlement have similarities and differences with an agreement reached in September 2020 between the attorney general's office and NERS. The 2020 agreement, for instance, permitted Stein-Wells to help NERS conduct bingo games through 2020, provided she did not control or access bingo funds. Bingo was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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2020 agreement: Newcomerstown fire department gets new board, acting chief, audit, state OK

The recent settlement in the 2021 case carries a lower civil penalty than the judge imposed in an initial default judgment in favor of the attorney general's office. Franklin County Judge Stephen McIntosh ordered her to pay $15,000 in May 2021 after she failed to respond to the lawsuit. He set aside the judgment and reinstated the case after Stein-Wells' attorney, Brad Hillyer, argued successfully that she had not received a copy of the complaint filed against her.

Messages seeking comment were left with Hillyer's office.

Case reinstated: Judge sets aside decision against Newcomerstown firefighter

NERS is being investigated by the Ohio Division of EMS, part of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. The organization's tax exempt status was automatically revoked by the Internal Revenue Service for failure to file a federal tax return for three consecutive years.

Mayor Patrick Cadle said the lawsuit settlement does not change the village's plan to start its own fire department.

The village has a hired a part-time fire chief and 10 volunteer firefighters to start its own fire department to replace the Newcomerstown Emergency Rescue Squad.

Cadle said the Newcomerstown Emergency Rescue Squad has not cashed the checks paid by the village for fire protection since before 2022. Monthly checks for last year's payments totaled $73,152.

Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com. On Twitter: @nmolnarTR

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Lawsuit settlement bars firefighter/paramedic from working at bingo
The Olde Main Street Players two performances of "A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to a Murder netted about $4,000 for the Newcomerstown Historical Society. Cast member included Susie Hart as Vanna White; Christy Penland McMillian as Joan Rivers; Laurna Brown as Phillis Diller; Mackenzie Carr as Taylor Swift; Vane Scott as Ed McMahon; Dave Boyer as Grandpa Jones; David Boyer as The Dude; Michael Wise as Lenny Lugnuts; and Chris Hart as Lt. Columbo. Vane Scott, of Newcomerstown Historical Society, thanked the staff who helped with table decor, kitchen help, servers, desserts, cleanup and gift shop.

NEWCOMERSTOWN  Village Council hired 10 volunteer firefighters at a recent meeting, at a cost of $15 per run to be paid annually in December.

Hired as firefighters were Jeremy Haver, Jeff Parks, Steve Carney, Alvin Moore, Chris Gardner, Austin McMullen, Travis Goodwill, Scott Powell, Coren Meeks and Rick Patterson.

The rate of pay for the fire chief was set at $5,000, and $2,500 for the assistant chief. The fire department was to have a fitting for uniforms.

In another action, Fiscal Officer Lisa Stiteler said 772 subpoenas have been issued, seeking to recover $33,794 in tax liability.

Community clean-up will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 5-6.

ARTSNCT exhibits

A special photography exhibit by the late Dan Froelich, a native of Newcomerstown and 1984 graduate of Newcomerstown High School, is on display through the end of April at Arts Center of Newcomerstown.

Froelich was an outdoor enthusiast who relocated to Arizona in 1991 after graduating from Kent State University.

Much of his spectacular landscape and nature photography was taken throughout the desert, canyons, mountain regions, and cave formations of the Southwest.

Photographic images include Woods Canyon Lake, Arches National Park, Valley of the Gods, Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument, City of Rocks State Park and Provo Canyons Bridal Veil Falls.

Froelichs travels also took him to the Hawaiian Islands, Belize, New Zealands Fox Glacier, Australias Northern Territory, the island of Tasmania and Scotland.

Froelich died at age 55 of colorectal cancer in December 2021.

Another exhibit, Art to Love, is a collection of work created by students at Newcomerstown High School.

The student exhibition was on display at ARTSNCT during March and now can be viewed on ARTSNCTs Facebook. Coming in May, the center will feature a trio of artists from the Coshocton Art Guild.

Arts Center of Newcomerstown is at 304 S. College St. in Newcomerstown. It can be reached at 740-575-5710.

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Smoke alarms

American Red Cross will distribute and install smoke alarms on four village streets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 6.

The Red Cross will visit Martin Luther King Drive, South College Street, Mulvane Street and Chestnut Street. An adult must be present in the house.

For more information, call 330-453-0146.

Bluegrass shows

The Chestnut Hill Bluegrass Band will perform two shows in May.

The first will be 2 to 5 p.m. May 13 at Wooly Pig Farm Brewery, 23631 Township Road 167 in Fresno. The second will be 7 p.m. May 20 at Orange Event Center, 23441 State Route 751 in West Lafayette. Tickets at the door will be $10.

To submit an item for Newcomerstown In The News, email the information to rbooth7747@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Newcomerstown in the News: Council hires firefighters, Dan Froelich photos on display
A Kuwaiti media outlet has unveiled a virtual news presenter generated using artificial intelligence, with plans for it to read online bulletins.

"Fedha" appeared on the Twitter account of the Kuwait News website on Saturday as an image of a woman, her light-coloured hair uncovered, wearing a black jacket and white T-shirt.

"I'm Fedha, the first presenter in Kuwait who works with artificial intelligence at Kuwait News. What kind of news do you prefer? Let's hear your opinions," she said in classical Arabic.

The site is affiliated with the Kuwait Times, founded in 1961 as the Gulf region's first English-language daily.

Abdullah Boftain, deputy editor in chief for both outlets, said the move is a test of AI's potential to offer "new and innovative content".

In future Fedha could adopt the Kuwaiti accent and present news bulletins on the site's Twitter account, which has 1.2 million followers, he said.

"Fedha is a popular, old Kuwaiti name that refers to silver, the metal. We always imagine robots to be silver and metallic in colour, so we combined the two," Boftain said.

The presenter's blonde hair and light-coloured eyes reflect the oil-rich country's diverse population of Kuwaitis and expatriates, according to Boftain.

"Fedha represents everyone," he said.

Her initial 13-second video generated a flood of reactions on social media, including from journalists.

The rapid rise of AI globally has raised the promise of benefits, such as in health care and the elimination of mundane tasks, but also fears, for example over its potential spread of disinformation, threat to certain jobs, and to artistic integrity.

Kuwait ranked 158 out of 180 countries and territories in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2022 Press Freedom Index.

sl/saa/noc/it
A man holds a newly-assembled AR-15 rifle in New Britain, Conn. in this 2013 file photo. Federal prosecutors have argued that devices sold by a Clay County business owner, Kristopher "Justin" Ervin, were designed to be cut apart and used to illegally convert semiuautomatic AR-15s into fully automatic machine guns. (Photo: Charles Krupa/AP)

Attorneys argued over whether two entrepreneurs marketed metal trinkets or DIY devices for illegally converting thousands of rifles into unregistered machine guns as a federal trial opened in Jacksonville.

Clay County business owner Kristopher Justin Ervin and YouTube creative Matthew Hoover conspired to distribute [the items] at a massive scale, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Mesrobian told jurors seated Monday.

Prosecutors contended the pair broke the National Firearms Act, a 1934 law that restricts sales of machine guns, by promoting card-sized strips of metal that Ervin sold under the brand name Auto Key Card.

The strips were etched with a design that prosecutors said a federal agent followed with a cutting tool to create a device that turned a semiautomatic AR-15 into a fully automatic machine gun that fired round after round with a single pull on the trigger.

But defense lawyers argued the 1934 law didnt cover what their clients did, and that they ended up under indictment partly because they complain about government gun regulations.

Matthew Hoover, a Wisconsin gun dealer who talked about Orange Park resident Kristopher J. Ervin's AutoKeyCard in a popular YouTube channel, was indicted last year with Ervin on gun and conspiracy charges.

Hes a political provocateur, attorney Zachary Zermay said of his client Hoover, a Wisconsin-based gun dealer who operates a YouTube channel with 179,000 subscribers. But he said Hoover wasnt marketing machine guns, just using his channel to help in selling a design that essentially upset the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Whether Ervin, who formed an LLC called Free Speech Industries, was selling trinkets or gun parts is a critical question because federal law treats machine gun conversion devices as being equivalent to machine guns themselves.

Defense lawyers have said Ervin was selling nicknacks that the National Firearms Act never envisioned.

The NFA is designed to go after crime weapons, not tchotchkes, Zermay argued last year, after Hoover was charged with conspiring with Ervin by advertising the items on segments that Ervin sponsored.

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This graphic appeared on a website federal agents said Kristopher Ervin used to sell card-shaped strips of metal laser-etched with a design that could convert a semiautomatic rifle into a machine gun.

Mr. Hoover had no reason to believe, at any point, that he would be engaging in criminal conduct if  as alleged  he entered into an agreement with a tchotchke salesman to discuss stainless steel cards with a design on them on his YouTube channel.

Prosecutors have said they plan to call as witnesses several people who bought the items after seeing them discussed on Hoovers YouTube channel.

Ervins AutoKeyCard.com website, which was shut down by the government, sold much of its merchandise for around $80 to $139.

If a buyer saw the card as a conversion device, it would have represented a remarkably affordable route to ownership in a gun market where a wealthy collector can spend $50,000 buying a government-registered Colt M16, a military machine gun whose design is similar to the civilian AR-15.

When Hoover was first indicted last year, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor told a judge Hoover had praised the cards in one video by saying theyre awesome because theyre stupid cheap.

A Mossberg 22 cal. AR-15 style rifle rests on a countertop at a Jacksonville gun shop in this 2016 photo. Federal prosecutors have charged Clay County business owner Kristopher "Justin" Ervin with violating federal gun laws by selling devices to convert rifles like this into fully automatic machine guns.

Ervin hired a machine shop to make Auto Key Cards, she said at the time, estmating the total production was likely in the 2,000-ish range.

The case has drawn attention among gun-rights advocates in a number of areas, with people donating online to funds to help both men.

A recent posting on Hoovers YouTube channel brought messages of encouragement from viewers who perceive the trial as a test on limits of federal gun regulators' authority.

I am not religious but you are doing the lords [sic] work my dude, one viewer wrote.

Praying all goes well for you Brother, wrote another. If you win this , its [sic] a win for ALL OF US !!!!

During trial preparations, U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard agreed to let lawyers question potential jurors about their attitudes toward firearms, including asking whether they believed guns were inherently bad, whether AR-15s should be banned and whether the U.S. Constitutions Second Amendment should be repealed.

However Howard turned down requests from Hoovers lawyers to ask other questions that hinted at views on personal responsibility, including why people catch COVID-19 and whether opioid manufacturers are responsible for overdose deaths.

In my view, these questions are ridiculous, Howard told the lawyers.

The trial is expected to continue through next week and might extend into a third week.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Clay County man, YouTube celeb start federal machine gun trial together
BEIRUT  A rocket attack Monday targeted a base in eastern Syria where U.S. troops are based causing no injuries or damage, the U.S. military said.

The military said in a statement that one rocket struck the Mission Support Site Conoco in eastern Syria on Monday evening and another rocket was found at the attack point of origin.

US launches Syria strikes after contractor killed, 5 troops wounded

No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said that Iran-backed fighters based in eastern Syria might have been behind the attack.

In late March, U.S. forces retaliated with airstrikes on sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard. They followed a suspected Iran-linked drone attack that killed a U.S. contractor and wounded six other Americans in northeast Syria. An official with an Iran-backed group in Iraq said the U.S. strikes killed seven Iranians.

On any given day there are at least 900 U.S. forces in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors. U.S. special operations forces also move in and out of the country, but are usually in small teams and are not included in the official count.

The American troops are trying to prevent any comeback by the Islamic State group, which swept through Iraq and Syria in 2014, taking control of large swaths of territory. The extremists were defeat in Syria in 2019.
By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for strengthening the country's war deterrence in a "more practical and offensive" manner to counter what it called moves of aggression by the U.S. and South Korea, state media KCNA said on Tuesday.

Kim made the comment at an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission held on Monday to discuss ongoing efforts to boost the country's war deterrent to "cope with the escalating moves of the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet traitors to unleash a war of aggression," KCNA said.

North Korea has been reacting angrily to a recent series of the allies' joint military exercises, which KCNA said were intended to prepare for "an all-out war" and forced Pyongyang to explore "powerful practical action", including military options.

Kim ordered further reinforcing the country's war deterrence with "increasing speed" and in a "more practical and offensive" manner, KCNA said.

The meeting "discussed practical matters and measures for machinery to prepare various military action proposals that no means and ways of counteraction are available to the enemy," it added.

South Korea and the U.S. forces have conducted annual springtime exercises since March, including air and sea drills involving a U.S. aircraft carrier and B-1B and B-52 bombers, and their first large-scale amphibious landing drills in five years.

North Korea has also carried out various military activities in recent weeks, unveiling new, smaller nuclear warheads, testing what it called a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone and firing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States.

Seoul's unification minister Kwon Young-se, in charge of handling cross-border affairs, expressed strong regret on Tuesday over Pyongyang not responding on inter-Korean hotlines since last week, calling it "irresponsible."

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The two Koreas operate border hotlines to prevent unexpected incidents, but the North has often refused to receive messages or daily check-in calls from the South when relations are strained.

"We express strong regret over North Korea's unilateral and irresponsible attitude, and strongly warn that it will eventually isolate itself and put itself in more difficult circumstances," Kwon told a news conference.

Kwon also denounced the North for using South Korean assets left at a joint factory park, which the North unilaterally shut in 2016, without approval, pledging to explore measures to hold it accountable.

Senior defence officials from South Korea and the U.S. were set to hold their annual Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Washington on Monday and Tuesday, Seoul's defence ministry said.

Topics of discussion included joint responses to the North's nuclear and missile threats and ways of improving the American nuclear umbrella's execution.

Japan will then join trilateral defence talks on Friday. The three countries last week expressed concern over North Korea using "malicious" cyber activities to bankroll its weapons programmes.

Tokyo's chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters on Monday that Pyongyang could stage further provocations, including nuclear tests.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Additional reporting by Soo-hyang Choi in Seoul, Mariko Katsumura and Kantaro Komiya in Tokyo; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 10)  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said his administration is working to improve the pension system for war veterans to ensure all of them are properly paid.

Ang aming tinitingnan ay kung paano natin patibayin ang sistema ng pagbigay ng pensyon sa ating beteranoTiyakin muna na may sistema upang lahat ng ating beterano ay makatanggap ng kanilang tamang pensyon, he told reporters during the 81st anniversary of the Fall of Bataan commemorated as Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor).

[Translation: What were studying is how to strengthen the pension system for our war veterans. We need to ensure that all of them get the right amount of pension.]

Kapag naayos natin ito, tsaka na natin tingnan kung ano pa ang pwede nating ibigay, he added.

[Translation: Once we fix the system, thats when well study what else we can give to our war veterans.]

This was his response when asked if the government has plans to increase the pension of around 1,000 surviving World War II veterans in the country.

In his speech during the commemoration program at Mt. Samat National Shrine in Bataan, Marcos also reiterated his gratitude to those who valiantly defended the country against colonizers.

We thank our heroesthose who fought, and bled, and died here, for they have shown us the way, not necessarily an easy way, to make us the best citizens of our republic, he said.

Executive Order No. 203, s. 1987 designated April 9 of every year as Araw ng Kagitingan to commemorate the fall of Bataan during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines.

Marcos signed an order moving the observance of the holiday this year to April 10, a Monday, to allow Filipinos to avail of the benefits of a longer weekend.
Police in Northern Ireland reportedly disrupted a bomb plot by members of the New IRA ahead of President Biden's visit this week to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a deal that brought an end to the decades-long low intensity civil war known as "the Troubles."

Members of the New IRA, a paramilitary splinter group of the Irish Republican Army, were "looking for parts to make a bomb" in the border city of Derry, a police source told The Belfast Telegraph.

"The belief is that the New IRA was planning some sort of attack to coincide with Bidens visit, similar to the mortar attack on the cops in Strabane last November," the source told the local newspaper.

FILE PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks at the Friends of Ireland Luncheon on St. Patrick's Day, March, 17, 2023.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (NPSI) did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday. Authorities have warned in the lead-up to Biden's visit that political dissidents could be planning violence to disrupt the event.

UK TO PROBE WHETHER THE 1998 OMAGH BOMB, ONE OF IRELAND'S DEADLIEST INCIDENTS, COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED

MI5, the United Kingdom's top intelligence agency, raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland from "substantial" to "severe" last month. It had been lowered to "substantial" one year ago.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Over the last 25 years, Northern Ireland has transformed into a peaceful society. The Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement demonstrates how peaceful and democratic politics improve society. However, a small number of people remain determined to cause harm to our communities through acts of politically motivated violence," Chris Heaton-Harris, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said on March 28 after M15 upped the threat level.

"In recent months, we have seen an increase in levels of activity relating to Northern Ireland Related Terrorism, which has targeted police officers serving their communities and also put at risk the lives of children and other members of the public."

FILE PHOTO: A man walks past a dissident republican mural in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland.

NPSI Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton told reporters earlier this week that authorities have "very strong community intelligence" that attacks were being planned in Derry, the city where a bomb plot was reportedly foiled, according to BBC News.

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The New IRA, whose members want Northern Ireland to leave the UK and join the Republic of Ireland, claimed responsibility for the shooting of an off-duty senior police officer two months ago in Omagh.

A new mural painted on to the so called Peace Wall gates that separates the catholic and protestant communities can be seen on April 3, 2023 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council declined to comment on the trip.

Biden will visit Belfast in Northern Ireland on Tuesday and Wednesday to commemorate the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and "underscore the readiness of the United States to support Northern Irelands vast economic potential," the White House said.

The president will then travel to Ireland later in the week, with plans to visit Dublin, County Louth, and County Mayo.
A budding entrepreneur is defying all odds while running his own business.

Marcus Moore, who is autistic, created his pretzel company, Moore Crunch, after companies wouldnt hire him for management jobs due to his disorder, WMAR 2 News reports. The CEO runs his business in his home in Annapolis, MD.

I just want to make a life for myself, Moore told WMAR 2 News.

According to Moore Crunchs website, the pretzel brand started when the 29-year-olds mother got him a booth at a local farmers market. Since then, he has balanced working at a grocery store from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and making his pretzels for customers.

I have autism and didnt like that I couldnt take care of myself without the help of my parents, Moore said about himself on the company website. They love me and I love them but Im also trying to live on my own and fit in where I can.

He continued, Its a lot but so much fun. I have met very nice people that dont laugh at me or make me feel like Im weird.

Moore Crunch offers mini pretzels in multiple flavors including Maryland crab, garlic ranch, buffalo, smokehouse ranch, and cinnamon sugar.

Moores father, the first taste tester of his pretzels, has also supported his son.

Being a father is one of the most amazing experiences I think anyone could ever ask for. Being a father of an autistic young man has its challenges, Moores father said in the interview with WMAR 2 News.

But youre always there for your child, he continued. You never stop fighting. You never stop loving them. You never stop pushing for them. And to see Marcus just push through and find something that he loves and for people to embrace him is one of the most incredible experiences any dad could ever ask for.

According to the outlet, Moore aims to expand Moore Crunch, as well as to hire employees with autism to help them have the means to provide for themselves just as he has.

WMAR 2 News notes that Moores pretzels, as of this writing, are sold at Makers of Maryland in White Marsh, Crofton Farmers Market, Fells Point Farmers Market, Eddies, Tidal Salt in Sykesville, Mamma Mishs Homemade Dishes, Cheers and Spirits in Arnold, and a pop-up store.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) named a new nominee to be the top judge of New Yorks highest court after the Democratic-controlled state Senate rejected her first pick.

Today I am nominating Judge Rowan Wilson to serve as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals & announcing my intention to nominate Caitlin Halligan as Associate Judge, Hochul announced on Twitter.

These highly-qualified, thoughtful jurists will serve with distinction & ensure our courts deliver justice to all, Hochul said. If confirmed to the post, Wilson  who already serves the top court as an associate judge  will become the courts first Black chief judge, according to the governors office.

The state Senate earlier this year voted to reject the confirmation of Justice Hector LaSalle, who Hochul described as an overwhelmingly qualified and talented jurist. LaSalle had come under scrutiny from some on the left over his judicial record, and his rejection was a political blow to the governor.

Wilson has served the last six years as the Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals, according to Hochuls office. Halligan is currently a partner at the law firm of Selendy Gay Elsberg PLLC and is a former state solicitor general.

Hochul in a statement lauded Wilsons sterling record of upholding justice and fairness and said Halligan will bring a critical perspective to our justice system. The two nominees will now have to be confirmed by the state Senate.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Andrew Goudsward

(Reuters) - New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday nominated a judge to lead the state's highest court after lawmakers rejected the Democrat's previous pick from her own party.

Rowan Wilson, an associate judge on the Court of Appeals, was named as chief judge of the same court, overseeing the state's sprawling state judicial system. If confirmed, Wilson would be the first Black judge in the post, replacing Janet DiFiore who stepped down in August.

"Judge Wilson's sterling record of upholding justice and fairness makes him well-suited to lead the court at this critical time," Hochul said in a statement.

Hochul nominated Caitlin Halligan, a former New York solicitor general and current partner at law firm Selendy Gay Elsberg, to fill Wilson's current role.

Both Wilson and Halligan were recommended as candidates for the chief judge post by a New York state panel after the state Senate in February voted down Hochul's first nominee, appellate Judge Hector LaSalle, in an unprecedented rebuke of Hochul by members of her own party.

Democratic lawmakers and progressive groups criticized LaSalle's record as too conservative on abortion rights and unions. LaSalle maintained that previous rulings were mischaracterized.

Wilson was nominated to the Court of Appeals by former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, in 2017. He was previously a partner at New York-based law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore.

Wilson said in a statement that "protecting the rights of New Yorkers is my top priority."

In one of his recent past cases, Wilson dissented from a 5-2 ruling last year holding that animals do not have the same legal rights as humans in a case involving an elephant named Happy at the Bronx Zoo.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by David Bario and Richard Chang)
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.

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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.
The occupying authorities in the annexed peninsula of Crimea are planning to strengthen the cooperation between military enlistment offices and schools "with the aim of military-patriotic education of children".

Source: the order of Sergey Aksionov, so-called Head of the Russian administration in occupied Crimea

Quote: "The (Russian) Ministry of Education of Crimea, other ministries and institutions must facilitate an educational and material base for giving students basic knowledge in the defence sector and their training in the basics of military service, conducting military-patriotic work with citizens of pre-conscription age, familiarisation with military rituals, museums, military glory rooms etc."

Details: The occupiers should also organise military patriotic events, such as Conscript Day, Open Day, Ready for Labour and Defence, with the obligatory involvement of the All-Russia "Young Army" National Military Patriotic Social Movement Association.

Last year, the occupiers decided that, starting in September 2023, the basic military training of children will become a mandatory part of the school curriculum.

Students will have to learn to put on a gas mask, assemble and disassemble a machine gun, throw a grenade, pull the bolt of a rifle, bandage the wounded on the battlefield and put on a splint, as well as know the algorithm of actions in case an air-raid siren is activated.

The Crimean Human Rights Group reported that the occupiers are already preparing for the implementation of these measures.

In the Konsol private school, owned by Vladimir Konstantinov, a speaker of the occupying parliament, basic military training for children is being held on a voluntary basis.

This programme includes drill, hand-to-hand fighting and warfare, i.e. military service training.

In addition, the members of the Cossack assault battalion Tavrida in the occupied city of Simferopol told the children about the so-called special military operation (Russian propagandistic term for the war in Ukraine  ed.) and their "heroic days in the trenches".

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Recently, the occupying administration of the city of Kerch opened another centre of military and patriotic education called Dobrynia, where it is planned to hold classes in basic military training.

The All-Russia "Young Army" National Military Patriotic Social Movement Association and the Krimpatriotcentre are also active in Crimea. In March, they held another competition among children for assembling and disassembling the Kalashnikov machine gun and pistols, as well as air rifle shooting.

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Authorities broke up a fight involving between 100 and 150 teenagers Saturday during the 50th anniversary season opening for Worlds of Fun.

An off-duty Clay County sheriffs deputy working security at the amusement park heard reports of a fight between multiple juveniles and large crowds around 7:30 p.m., according to a news release from the sheriffs office.

Park security and law enforcement reported they tried to break up the crowd of between 100 and 150 juveniles and remove them from the park, located near Interstate 435 and Northeast 48th Street in the Northland.

They said the kids continued fighting as officials attempted to move them out of the park. One teenage girl punched a sheriffs deputy in the face, causing superficial injuries, the sheriffs office said. She was arrested and released to her parents.

At one point, some children said another child had taken a gun out, but law enforcement officials werent able to verify the claim.

Sheriffs deputies and Kansas City police officers broke up more fights in the parking lot and eventually dispersed the crowd. They said the park was cleared by about 8:30 p.m.

Its not the first such fight involving large groups of teens at Worlds of Fun.

In 2019, a crowd estimated by police to be around 300 teens got into a large brawl that required multiple law enforcement agencies to respond. The fights were caught on cellphone camera and police body cam, showing a chaotic mess that unfolded with dozens of sheriffs deputies, police officers and other security workers responding to multiple fights and seeking to bring calm to an unruly crowd.

At that time, Worlds of Fun officials said they revoked at least 20 season passes as a result of the fighting.
An Ohio Republican who suspended his 2022 Senate bid after speaking with former President Trump filed paperwork Monday to challenge Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) next year.

Bernie Moreno, a businessman and car dealer, filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to set up his GOP Senate campaign.

NBC News reported that a source close to Moreno said that the businessman will formally announce his campaign next week.

Today, Bernie filed paperwork with the FEC as he continues to explore a run for U.S. Senate, the source told NBC. Over the past few weeks, Bernie has talked with voters, business leaders, conservative activists and donors throughout the state and has received overwhelming encouragement to run.

Moreno had said in a statement that he stepped out of the 2022 open-seat race after a private conversation with Trump, where the two agreed the Ohio field of candidates was too crowded with Trump-aligned Republicans.

I asked for a private meeting with President Trump this afternoon to discuss the state of the Ohio Senate race. I am a businessman, not a politician. Business leaders recognize patterns before they happen. After talking to President Trump we both agreed this race has too many Trump candidates and could cost the MAGA movement a conservative seat, he said at the time, adding, I will focus my efforts on supporting the candidate that wins President Trumps endorsement.

Moreno, 56, now joins what is expected to be another competitive GOP primary for Browns seat, with state Sen. Matt Dolan announcing his challenge in January.

Dolan had also run in the 2022 race for Ohios other Senate seat, but the state legislator lost in the GOP primary to now-Sen. J.D. Vance.

Brown, 70, said last year that he will be seeking his fourth term in the Senate in 2024. The Ohio race will be closely watched in 2024 as Democrats attempt to defend their 51-49 majority in the upper chamber.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In a wood-frame shack without walls on the western edges of this historic city, time stands still.

Amid the constant noise of passing motorcycles and honking car horns, dozens of Haitians are busy at work preparing a traditional staple crop the way their forebears and the islands indigenous people did ages ago: with charred wood, artisan sieves and homemade wooden knives.

While a group of women scrapes away the outer skin of the edible root known as manioc or cassava, using nothing more than the peeled off metal tops of cans, a group of men prepares to process the tuber into flour by washing it, while a third group grates it and removes its toxic juice. The tubers dried, sifted flour is then spread evenly in a circular fashion onto a round, flat iron plate known as a platine, sitting on top of a large concrete slab with burning charcoal underneath.

Once a staple that was frowned upon as poor people food, cassava bread has made a comeback thanks to the rising price of bread and since the COVID-19 pandemic. On the outskirts of Cap-Haitien in northern Haiti, it is also providing employment.

Then come the unique flavorings that break up the neutral, crisp taste of cassava bread and give Haitian kasav its unique flavor and allow it to stand out from its counterparts in Amerindian and Afro-descendant communities across Latin America and the Caribbean: herring, peanut, ginger, sugar, salt, cinnamon, coconut, sweetened condensed cream, pineapple  or any combination of the above.

We have around 11 different flavors, Monarc Petit Benoit, the co-founder of Dope Kasav, says. There are so many I forget.

Staple food of nearly 1 billion people worldwide

The staple food for nearly a billion people around the world, cassava, also known as yuca, is enjoying a renaissance here thanks to its gluten and nut-free flour that is used to produce kasav or cassava bread, a popular flatbread of the regions original Arawak population that until recently was considered poor peoples food in Haiti.

That rebirth, Benoit says, can be credited to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising cost of wheat and other food. All have made wheat bread a pricey luxury, and kasav, with its long-shelf life, an attractive alternative.

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Its part of our culture and the production of cassava has been here for a long time, since the native Indians, Benoit said.

Josnel Pierre pepares kasav flatbread in Haiti, on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. The staple food, which has no fat or sourdough, is still prepared the way it was made centuries ago.

The traditional know-how associated with the making of cassava bread is the driving force behind the countrys decision to join forces with four other Latin America and Caribbean nations  Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Venezuela  to offer the traditional cuisine to UNESCO for recognition on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Cassavas candidacy, a collaboration thats been two years in the making, marks the first time five countries in the hemisphere have come together to pose a multinational entry for the prestigious United Nations honor.

Their pitch? While cassavas taste and texture may vary across the region, and its name differs (kasav in Haiti; casabe in Cuba; ereba in Honduras; pan de Venezuela, bammy in Jamaica), the pan de los Indios or bread of the Indians as it is also known in Cuba, has transcended time and national boundaries.

Its a much needed reminder that at a time when Haiti can feel quite isolated, that we share some of the common lineage, common heritage, common cultural background with much of the region, Dominique Dupuy, Haitis ambassador and permanent delegate to UNESCO, said.

Auguste Boniface Prince, 78, runs a popular cassava bread making business in northern Haiti. He says its a tradition that has been passed from the islands first inhabitants, the Taino Indians, to the enslaved Africans and that Haitians continue to take ownership of the staple.

In Cuba, the tradition lives in six rural provinces across eastern and central Cuba; in Venezuela, cassava is popular among indigenous communities and the countrys African descendants; in the Dominican Republic, as in Haiti, its present throughout, while in Honduras, its a staple food for the Garifunas, the descendants of African slaves mixed with Carib and Arawak Indians who sought refuge in Central America after fleeing slavery and war in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Dupuy, who in 2020 successfully got Haitis first ever entry on UNESCOs Intangible List with the countrys popular independence pumpkin soup, soup joumou, said a cassava inscription provides Haitians with an opportunity to expand the conversation around their country, currently undergoing one of its worst humanitarian crises along with unprecedented levels of gang violence and kidnappings.

Kasav  usually eaten with peanut butter, preferably Haiti-made with a pepper punch  is a symbol of national identity rooted in the countrys African and indigenous history that began long before the arrival of Christopher Columbus and the Spaniards, before French buccaneers established a settlement on Ile de la Tortue, the pirates lair off the countrys northwest coast, in 1625, and long before enslaved Africans rebelled to create the worlds first Black republic in 1804.

Monarc Petit Benoit, in yellow shirt, decided to invest in a cassava business in Haitis second largest city. The food staple has grown in popularity amid rising food prices and the COVID-19 pandemic. Haiti recently joined Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Venezuela in seeking recognition from UNESCO for the popular flatbread known as casabe or kasav, which is still made the same way it was centuries ago, by hand.

That history began centuries earlier when the original inhabitants of the island of Hispaniola, the indigenous Arawak-speaking Tainos, named the entire island Ayiti, meaning land of high mountains.

In this sense, kasav is a rare witness of this tragic and critical encounter between the Taino people and the enslaved Africans brought by force on the colony of Saint Domingue to work on plantations, Dupuy said. It is a witness and a testament of a decision of resilience, a decision to survive and a decision to strive.

The Tainos traditional know-how of producing cassava bread was passed on to others at a key time when the indigenous population on Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere in the hemisphere was on the verge of extinction. The knowledge was absorbed by the enslaved Africans and passed on to their descendants through generations.

Investing in Cassava

This history, said Benoit, along with the financial potential of the product, led him to invest in one of the oldest cassava businesses in the northern city of Cap-Haitien. Like the throng of people stopping by on a recent afternoon to purchase the flatbread, Benoit was a client.

He was also motivated by the shortage of wheat bread during the COVID-19 pandemic and by the idea that if done right, he could also create jobs while helping out farmers.

Cassava from the north is the preference in the country, said Benoit, whose training is in computers. So I thought, why not have the cassava from Cap-Haitien reach other regions and help the national production? The more people consume cassava, the more it will be in demand and the more jobs can be created.

He co-founded Dope Kasav, a joint venture with Auguste Boniface Prince, a well-known cassava bread producer in the city who has been in the business for more than 30 years. A towering figure, Prince isnt much of a talker. But he is happy, he said, when he looks at the transformation taking place.

Auguste Boniface Prince, 78, is well-known in northern Haiti where he sources his cassava plant or manioc from local farmers across the region. His cassava bread business also provides dozens of jobs.

From time to time, I catch myself thinking, How is it that Haitians have come to love kasav like this?  Prince said. Because in the beginning when I started, Haitians didnt want kasav; they didnt like it like this.

Back then his kasav was sold mostly in markets in Port-au-Prince. But now, Prince said, people are stopping by from all over to buy kasav. We dont need to send it out to make a sale.

The open-air factory in Cap-Haitien exists in similar communities in the other four countries, with a division of labor where women and men perform different tasks, and where production is a community affair.

Its one of the things Ive seen Haitians make real and pass on to generations, Prince said about cassava bread production. He also swears by its nutritional value.

Unlike bread, it has nothing artificial in it, he said as he walks over to one and pours a can of sweetened condensed milk on top after a worker added a mixture of ginger and coconut. Its made with all natural ingredients and its something that is good for your health.

Josnel Pierre prepares kasav in Haiti, on Jan. 20, 2023. The popular flatbread, made from cassava flour, is a staple food in the country and is still prepared the way it was made centuries ago with wooden knives and charcoal.

Josnel Pierre, 24, started working at the factory while in school and today works full time, getting paid the equivalent of $19 a day.

I have a wife. I have a child, he said in between breaks. It allows me to keep a roof over my head and make a living.

His job is to bake the bread, shaped like an oversize tortilla or pancake. Grabbing a silver basin, he scoops up flour with both hands, pours it onto the iron plate and spreads it in a circle.

As the flour starts to roast, Pierre checks on other flatbread nearby before returning and adding a mixture of ginger and coconut, which were crushed using a wooden mortar. Over the next 30 minutes  the time it takes for the cassava to brown on both sides  he pats the flour into a round flat shape, creases its edges using a wooden paddle and then turns it over with his bare hands before cutting the bread into squares with a wooden handmade knife and then removing it so it can dry before packaging.

The workshop is abuzz with activity, from the people strolling in off the street to buy kasav, wrapped in brown paper, to motorcycle drivers who pull up to drop off bags of manioc. In one corner, a group of women scraped the root while in another a second group are preserving the starch.

In the middle, young men are either grating the tuber into flour or sifting it to ensure it has no sediments and is ready to be spread onto the platine. The same technique is used by the indigenous people in the community of Masakenari, Guyana, home to the native Wai-wai people, as well as in Dominica where cassava bread is a staple among descendants of the Carib Indians.

Job generator

Since joining forces with Benoit, Prince said hes been able to hire a number of new workers and estimates that he has anywhere from 30 to 35 people working a day in his open-air workshop, where corrugated zinc sheets protect them from the elements but not the baking heat.

The number, he said, doesnt include the farmers across the north who grow and sell him the manioc, or the motorcycle taxi drivers who deliver the tubers by the bag loads. The area that produces the best cassava roots, he said, is the northeast, which includes the villages of Caracol and Trou-du-Nord.

If the farmers had help, Prince said, they would be producing four times the amount of manioc they currently harvest.

Its unfortunate that we dont have a thriving agricultural sector, he said, because the farmers dont have support; they dont really have materials to farm. They are planting with machetes in their hands.
A driver in Lexington was killed after a head-on crash Monday morning, according to Lexington police, and the crash led to another crash in the same area.

The collision happened on Georgetown Road near Kearney Road shortly before 7 a.m., according to Lt. Daniel Truex with the Lexington Police Department. A passenger car collided with an SUV, Truex said.

One driver involved in the crash died at the scene, according to Truex. The other was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The Fayette County Coroners Office identified the driver who died at the scene as Nancy Piatt, 63, of Georgetown. Her cause of the death was pending an autopsy, according to the coroner.

Almost simultaneously, a second crash occurred between a pickup truck and a passenger car in an effort to avoid the original crash, according to Truex. The driver of the passenger car was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The collision reconstruction unit was called out to the scene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, Truex said.

Police had Georgetown Road blocked off between Spurr Road and Iron Works Pike Monday morning, according to the Lexington Traffic Management Center. The road reopened shortly before 12:45 p.m., the traffic management center reported.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 10)  An industry group saw the Palace's decision halting the monitoring of commercial fishing vessels in the country as a "bright move" to bolster local production.

In a statement over the weekend, Inter-Island and Deep Sea Fishing Association (IDSFA) director Roderic Santos said the latest development would help the sector bounce back, which has been "severely affected" by the Philippines' dependence on fish imports and surging fuel prices triggered by the Ukraine-Russia war.

Amid oil hikes, Santos noted, fisher folk have been allotting 40% to 50% of their total operational costs for fuel. Spending only ranged from 20% to 30% before the tension between Ukraine and Russia began.

"The suspension of FAO 266 is a bright move as it would definitely boost the country's fish production, which is important in attaining food security," Santos said.

"FAO (Fisheries Administrative Order) 266 limits fish production in the Philippines while the country resorts to massive importation," he added.

The order, issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in 2020, required all commercial fishing operators to install satellite transponders so that they can be tracked and for them to report their catch.

Last March, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin ordered government agencies to suspend the implementation of the FAO.

In an earlier statement, BFAR said the suspension was directed amid a pending Supreme Court ruling over its constitutionality.
From left: Expelled state Rep. Justin Pearson, expelled state Rep. Justin Jones, and Rep. Gloria Johnson are recognized by the audience at Fisk University before Vice President Kamala Harris arrives in Nashville on April 7, 2023. George Walker IV / AP

One of the two Tennessee lawmakers who were expelled from the Legislature for protesting for gun control in the wake of a deadly Nashville school shooting was reinstated to his seat Monday.

The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County voted unanimously to send Justin Jones of Nashville back to the Statehouse on an interim basis. Justin Pearson, the other expelled lawmaker, from Memphis, could also be reappointed later this week.

"On Thursday, April the 6th, we witnessed a miscarriage of justice and an egregious assault on our democracy which resulted in over 70,000 Davidson County voters being silenced," Council Member Delishia Porterfield said after formally nominating Jones to his seat. "Their will should have never been undermined."

The council's vote sends a strong message to the state legislature and the rest of the country "that we will not tolerate threats to our democracy," Porterfield added.

Minutes after the vote, Jones led hundreds of demonstrators in a march to the state capitol.

Justin Jones leading a march of about 1,000 people through downtown Nashville as he returns to the state legislature #TennesseeThree 09:54 PM - 10 Apr 2023

He was then sworn in on the capitol steps before returning to the chamber.

Jones and Pearson, both young Black men who were in their first terms, have said they plan to run in the coming special elections for their seats. If reelected, they could not be expelled for the same offense.

The two lawmakers were voted out by the House's Republican supermajority on Thursday for protesting against gun violence in the state capitol after six people, including three children, were killed in a shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville on March 27. Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, another member who participated in the protest, survived by a single vote.

Jones raises his fist on the floor of the Tennessee House chamber after being expelled from the Legislature on April 6, 2023. George Walker Iv / AP

Their removal was widely criticized by leaders across the country, including President Joe Biden, who tweeted, "The expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest is shocking, undemocratic, and unprecedented." Expulsions have previously been used to remove members accused of serious offenses, like soliciting a bribe or allegedly committing sexual misconduct.

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Though House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who leads the GOP's supermajority, tried to compare the lawmakers' actions to those of the Jan. 6 rioters at the US Capitol, no protesters broke into the building, damaged any property, or were arrested. Also unlike the 2021 insurrection in Washington, DC, the demonstrators were allowed in the building after going through security screening, the Tennessean reported.

Prior to Jones's reappointment, Doug Kufner, a spokesperson for Sexton, said in a statement provided to BuzzFeed News that whoever is appointed to the vacancies by the Nashville and Shelby County governments "will be seated as representatives as the constitution requires."

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Hi OnPolitics readers. Political news watchers know that President Joe Biden frequently calls on his Irish American heritage. It's a central part of his political identity.

USA TODAY White House reporter Joey Garrison traces back the president's Irish familial history in a story in advance of Biden's Ireland trip this week.

 Biden's Irish roots: From famine-ravaged Ireland to Scranton, Pa.

The story also explores the politics behind Biden's working-class pitch and what it means for 2024:

... The trip is also a way for Biden to connect with voters at home, allowing him to reintroduce his Irish American roots  and lean into his economic message of "dignity"  as he works to win back working-class voters who have fled the Democratic Party.

 Keep reading: How Biden uses his Irish American heritage to appeal to working class voters

What's next: Pres. Biden travels to Ireland tomorrow. His four-day trip will include a visit to where his ancestors once lived.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Biden Irish? Here's his family history before his Ireland trip.
In a murder trial that's captivated the country, prosecutors said Monday that Lori Vallow Daybell, the Idaho mother accused of killing her two youngest children and her husband's late wife, was determined to "remove any obstacle" that stood in her way.

The deaths have drawn widespread scrutiny, speculation and sensationalism, and have been the subject of a Netflix docuseries. Vallow Daybell will spend life in prison if convicted, while her husband, Chad Daybell, who will be tried separately, could face the death penalty.

In front of 12 jurors and six alternates, prosecutors and defense attorneys each painted a vastly different picture of Vallow Daybell. Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake portrayed Vallow Daybell as someone who used "money, power and sex to get what she wanted."

Meanwhile, Vallow Daybell's state-appointed defense attorney, Jim Archibald, described Vallow Daybell as a kind and loving mother" to her children who had a particularly deep interest in religion and the Bible.

He argued that prosecutors don't really know what role Vallow Daybell may have had in the deaths.

Vallow Daybell and her husband both pleaded not guilty to a slew of charges, including murder, conspiracy and grand theft, in the deaths of her kids, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, who was last seen a few days before her 17th birthday in 2019.

The couple are also accused of killing Chad Daybell's former wife, Tammy Daybell, who unexpectedly died in October 2019, about two weeks before Chad Daybell married Vallow.

Idaho mom incompetent to stand trial: Lori Vallow Daybell, charged with killing her children, postponed to assess competency

Idaho mom mentally fit to stand trial: Idaho mom accused of killing children, believing in 'zombies' ruled mentally competent for trial

Prosecutors: Lori Vallow Daybell would 'remove any obstacle' to get what she wants

In a Boise courtroom, Blake told jurors that Vallow Daybell wanted Chad Daybell and that she would "remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants," even if that meant killing her own kids.

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When family members reported the two children missing to authorities in November 2019, Vallow Daybell and her husband refused to cooperate with the investigation and left the state. They were later found in Kaua'i, Hawaii, in January 2020, without the children. They were later arrested in Hawaii and then extradited to Idaho.

The children's bodies were found buried on Chad Daybell's property in rural eastern Idaho in June 2020.

"Charred remains, thats what was left of Tylee," Blake told jurors during her opening statements. Blake then showed them a photo of human remains partially uncovered in a patch of dirt.

"You will hear it explained as a mass of bone and tissue. Thats what was left of this beautiful young woman," Blake said.

The prosecutor added that some of Vallow Daybell's friends will testify during the trial that Vallow Daybell said the children and Tammy Daybell were "dark" before their deaths, focusing on the couple's doomsday-focused faith.

"It's an incredibly complicated case with a deeply emotional set of facts that people, including children, are dead," said David Leroy, a former Idaho attorney general and lieutenant governor. "The term, 'Doomsday Mom' is a very compelling reason to pay attention to what happened here."

According to police reports, one friend said Vallow Daybell allegedly called her kids "zombies."

"The common theme was the body has to be destroyed," Blake told jurors. "The defendant and Chad used their self-proclaimed religious teachings to justify their actions to others  their actions from affair to murder."

Later, Archibald, Vallow Daybell's attorney, told jurors that his client's religious beliefs only began to change after she met Chad Daybell, a religious author whose fictional books focused on the apocalypse and loosely based on the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Archibald also told jurors that prosecutors don't really know what happened in this case. He added that the criminal charges accuse Vallow Daybell of either directing, encouraging, assisting or participating in the murders.

"Did she kill, or did she assist, or did she encourage? Or, did she direct?" Archibald said. "They arent sure."

Vallow Daybell initially 'a doting mother' whose demeanor changed, JJ's grandma says

JJ Vallows grandmother, Kay Woodcock, was the prosecution's first of two witnesses to take the stand Monday. Woodcock's son is JJ's biological father, but he reportedly was unable to raise his son.

During her testimony on Monday, Woodcock cried after Madison County prosecutor Rob Wood showed her a photo of JJ taken when he was around 5 or 6 years old, sitting in a vehicle wearing a seatbelt.

That is my beautiful grandson, JJ, she said.

Woodcock testified that Vallow Daybell was once a doting mother, and told prosecutors the two women were "good friends," KTVB-TV reported.

But Woodcock testified that her opinion of Vallow Daybell changed after Charles Vallow filed for divorce from the then-Lori Vallow in early 2019. Woodcock said her feelings further strengthened after Charles Vallow died.

And after Charles Vallow died, Woodcock testified that regular phone calls and visits with JJ dropped off. Woodcock testified she only had contact with JJ three times after his father died. They were short FaceTime video calls.

The last call happened on Aug. 10, 2019, the month before JJ was last seen alive, Woodcock testified. It only was about 35 seconds long.

"'Gotta go, Mama. Gotta go, Papa. Bye!'" Woodcock testified.

Woodcock said she tried to contact JJ for months with no answer. "Myself and Larry would call, email, text, voicemail, any way we could but I never got any response from (Vallow Daybell)," KTVB-TV reported.

Vallow Daybell also is charged in Arizona in connection with Charles Vallows death but has yet to enter a plea. Cox, who told police the shooting was in self-defense, died a few months after the shooting and was never charged.

Vallow Daybell's trial centers on her mental capacity

Some experts said the trial will almost assuredly focus on Vallow Daybell's mental state at the time of the killings.

Prosecutors said Monday that Vallow Daybell and her husband further their alleged plan to kill the kids and Tammy Daybell to collect life insurance money and the childrens social security and survivor benefits.

Leroy, former Idaho attorney general and lieutenant governor, said Vallow Daybell's defense team may have its hands full as Leroy notes he was one of the architects of Idaho's 1982 law abolishing the insanity defense plea.

In other words, Vallow Daybell can't use insanity as a defense, he said.

"Her mental state of mind typically will not come up in a very direct way in this case, unless the defense attempts to suggest she was in the mental power of a third person and not criminally involved in a conspiracy or a murder," Leroy said.

Idaho does allow for a "guilty but insane" verdict from a jury.

"I think (defense attorneys) will stick with Vallow Daybell didn't do it, she was someplace else and that any DNA obtained could have been placed there before the murders," said John Delatorre, a forensic and disaster psychologist in Arizona and Texas, before the trial started.

During his opening statements, Archibald, Vallow Daybell's defense attorney, told the jury his client has an alibi for the deaths, KTVB-TV reported.

When the children went missing, Vallow Daybell was in her apartment, Archibald said. He claims the children were murdered in Cox's apartment.

When Tammy Daybell was found dead, Vallow Daybell was in Hawaii, said Archibald while attempting to counter the prosecution's accusations, the TV station said.

"We haven't been able to agree on what happened and we need you to decide it," Archibald reportedly told jurors. "This charge is saying theyre not sure what happened, but they want you to be sure."

The trial is expected to go for at least two months.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lori Vallow Daybell murder trial: Idaho mom used 'money, power and sex'
Editor's Note: This article was initially published in German on FOCUS online. 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.

On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia escalated its war against Ukraine, which by then had lasted nearly eight years, with a major attack to subjugate its neighboring country.

Three days later, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz qualified this new and even more serious breach of international law before the German Bundestag as a "turning point" in Europe and announced a special fund worth billions of euros for the urgently needed modernization of the Bundeswehr.

The German government's decision to now also support Ukraine in its defensive struggle with arms deliveries represented a departure from an earlier cross-party consensus not to supply weapons that could be used in a war against Russia.

The Federal Republic of Germany has since provided considerable assistance to Ukraine: The federal, state, and local governments, as well as civil society, have contributed politically, economically, financially, technically, and quite practically to mitigate the devastating consequences of the war, not least by unbureaucratically taking in and housing an enormous number of war refugees from Ukraine, the majority of them women, children, and the elderly, in a very short time.

In this, Germany has set an example equal to Poland, the Republic of Moldova, Slovakia, Romania, the Baltic States, and others.

Moreover, Berlin has been massively involved in providing timely assistance for the rehabilitation of vital Ukrainian infrastructure for energy, drinking water, district heating, and railroads destroyed by Russian missiles, drones, artillery, and others.

Estonian minister warns false peace is prelude to new wars, backs NATO membership for Ukraine Behind the curtains of Estonias substantial support for Ukraine lies the struggle of pushing allies to do more. In an exclusive interview with the Kyiv Independent, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu admitted that he is not satisfied with either the quantity or pace of the allies Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

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Aid to repair civilian facilities destroyed by Russian forces, namely hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and apartment blocks, contrasts with months of only incremental military support to Ukraine from Germany.

Beginning with the promise of a small number of combat helmets, followed by the hesitant delivery of armored recovery and bridge-laying vehicles, and finally of self-propelled howitzers and anti-aircraft guns, and ending with the recent delivery of infantry fighting vehicles and battle tanks, more than a year has passed - a year of intensive fighting in the north, east, and south of Ukraine, with high military death rates on both sides.

In addition, there have been numerous civilian casualties of all ages in all regions of Ukraine, as well as devastating destruction of vital civilian facilities.

As sensible as the non-military and military support of Ukraine in its defensive struggle against the aggression of the Russian Federation is, it is unclear what strategic goal the ruling coalition in Berlin is ultimately pursuing with it.

In this respect, the German government's communication is causing irritation not only within Germany. Formulations such as "Ukraine must not lose" or "the Russian Federation must not win" do not create clarity, but rather cause political uncertainty and harm our country.

This "blind spot" in German-Ukraine policy must urgently give way to political clarity!

That means: The German government must - finally - make a clear statement about what goal it ultimately aims for with the delivery of military equipment, humanitarian aid, as well as technical, intelligence, and anti-cyber support for Ukraine.

In this regard, the preservation of Ukraine's state sovereignty, the integrity of its territory, and the post-war reconstruction of the country must be the essential cornerstones. This includes that the liberation of the territories of Ukraine already occupied and annexed by Russia in 2014 and likewise in 2022 in violation of international law must play a central role.

The formulation of such a strategic objective should be coordinated with NATO and EU partners.

Moreover, it should be demanded that the leaders of Russia responsible for unleashing the war of aggression against Ukraine be prosecuted and sentenced for the "crime of aggression" as defined in Article 8 bis of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

It is not without irony that it was the Soviet international law expert Aron Naumovich Trainin, who as legal advisor to the Soviet prosecution at the Nuremberg Trials against the elite of the "Third Reich" in 1945-46, made a significant contribution to the worldwide recognition of this offense as the most serious crime in international criminal law today.

Regardless of possible interim steps such as a temporary ceasefire on sections of the current frontline, a general ceasefire, and negotiations on a future peace agreement, the goal must be the restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty over its entire territory within the 1991 borders.

Its territorial integrity must be protected by means of international guarantees backed by military sanctions - unlike the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, which was broken by the Russian Federation.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meet with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace on Feb. 8, 2023, in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

The Federal Republic of Germany has a very special political and moral responsibility toward Ukraine for several reasons.

On the one hand, it stands in the continuity of the German Reich, which occupied the entirety of Ukraine in World War I - not least in order to economically exploit the eastern Ukrainian coal and iron ore region of Donbas around Donetsk and Luhansk, which was already important at that time due to the war.

This project was then continued by Nazi Germany in its war of aggression and extermination against the Soviet Union during World War II. The main sites of German aggression, including the brutal occupation regime and the Holocaust, were the Soviet republics of Ukraine and Belarus, as well as the western part of the then Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR).

Here, there is a large gap in the historical picture of the reunited Germany at the expense of Ukraine, which urgently needs to be closed.

It follows from this: Germany has a historically conditioned debt to Ukraine, whose existence is acutely threatened: the Wehrmacht, Einsatzgruppen, and SS devastated Soviet Ukraine for years from June 22, 1941, onward, murdered almost all Ukrainian Jews and Roma, and shot resistance fighters designated as "bandits" by the thousands.

Over six hundred so-called "fire villages," which were razed to the ground by the SS, Wehrmacht, and their helpers after they had completely murdered the village population, were located in Ukraine.

At the same time, millions of Ukrainians were deported to forced labor "in the Reich," and an equal number of Ukrainian Soviet Red Army prisoners of war were left to starve to death in prisoner-of-war camps - here with us, in Stukenbrock, Sachsenhausen, and Bergen-Belsen, not in the distant "Reich Commissariat Ukraine."

How many Ukrainians fought on the Soviet side in the battle for Berlin in the spring of 1945, and how many met their deaths on the Seelow Heights and in Brandenburg forests is unknown to this day - in any case, there were tens of thousands.

"May 8 (1945) was a day of liberation. It liberated us all from the inhuman system of National Socialist tyranny," said then German President Richard von Weizsacker in 1985.

Today, it is about the liberation of parts of Ukraine from a cruel occupation by a different, but equally inhuman system of tyranny.

Batu Kutelia: Lessons from Georgia of geopolitical procrastination 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. Feb. 24, 2022, was the date that Russia launched a decisive offensive against the free world. This war has caused a far-reaching domino effect Kyiv IndependentBatu Kutelia

There is much to suggest that Russia's leadership is playing for time - hoping that German support for Ukraine will soon wane. It is the responsibility of the German government to commit itself to repeatedly reminding the public of the purpose of military support in particular.

In the face of the German debate, which from the beginning has been characterized by appeals to Ukraine to "negotiate" rather than resist, the German government should make it clear that arms deliveries and negotiations are by no means mutually exclusive. However, it is the military balance of power that will determine the outcome of any negotiations, and on an equal footing.

The aggressor's war objective has not changed since February 2022, because Russian President Vladimir Putin is still concerned with the destruction of Ukraine as a state and nation. As long as Ukraine has only the choice between annihilation and resistance, appeals for negotiations, especially from Germany, are cynical.

The extensive documentation of war crimes that the armed forces and other armed formations of the Russian Federation have committed and continue to commit in the occupied territories also make it clear that an end to hostilities would not mean an end to terror and death for the people in these regions.

The German government is now called upon to present to the German and international public a strategic concept for ending the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine and overcoming its consequences, and to put it up for discussion. The German Bundestag is the competent and politically appropriate forum for this.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, left, has routinely received luxury travel and other gifts from Harlan Crow, a real estate developer and Republican benefactor in Texas. (Associated Press)

On Thursday, ProPublica revealed that a right-wing billionaire has secretly funded a lavish lifestyle for Justice Clarence Thomas. Then on Friday, a federal judge in Texas tried to block the use around the country of mifepristone, the medication used in half of all abortions. These two dramatic twists are part of the same story. They show a judicial system out of control, in thrall to right-wing activists and swimming in cash.

It seems that Thomas routinely received luxury travel, gifts and accommodations from Harlan Crow, a real estate developer and Republican benefactor. The Los Angeles Times first reported on the flow of gifts from Crow to Thomas in 2004. Then Thomas simply stopped disclosing them, for nearly two decades.

Details are eye-popping, a tale of luxury trips to faraway places, fancy yachts and private jet excursions that would be valued at $500,000 a pop. A painting shows Thomas, Crow and Leonard Leo, the leader of the conservative Federalist Society, puffing stogies at a private hotel owned by the real estate mogul: an instantly iconic image of a hermetically sealed world of wealth, ideological militancy and elite chumminess.

Leo, of course, has worked with astonishing success to pack the federal courts with conservatives. Expect more to come: Another billionaire recently gave a new conservative nonprofit controlled by Leo $1.6 billion to use on his causes.

Thomas has issued a statement saying that he was merely vacationing with family friends, and he had been advised by colleagues and others in the judiciary that there was no need for him to disclose the billionaires beneficence. Even if he did ask around, that is part of the problem.

The Supreme Courts members police themselves. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has said the justices consult with the code of judicial conduct for guidance, but we have no way to know exactly how they do that. That DIY approach is perilous.

In 2022, Thomas was the only justice to vote to shield records and documents from the committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Months later it was revealed that those documents included texts between Thomas wife, Virginia, and the White House chief of staff about the plot to overturn the 2020 election. Thomas never explained why he did not recuse himself despite this obvious conflict of interest.

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What can be done?

Start with a mandatory ethics code at the Supreme Court. The American Bar Assn. recently urged such a move, noting that the Supreme Court is the only court in the country without such binding rules. If the legitimacy of the Court is diminished, the legitimacy of all our courts and our entire judicial system is imperiled, the association said. If the court refuses to adopt such a change, Congress can act.

There are deeper structural issues at the Supreme Court itself. A surprisingly broad bipartisan national consensus supports limiting the justices to an 18-year limit, ending the life terms they now enjoy. The court is an outlier in this respect: All but one state supreme court, for example, has either fixed terms or mandatory retirement. So do constitutional courts in other countries.

This norm reflects the principle that no public official should hold that much power for that long, an insight reflected when George Washington stepped down after two terms. The best proposals would give each president a regular appointment every two years, with justices moving to senior status and able to hear cases on the lower courts after 18 years. This reform could likely be implemented by statute and certainly by constitutional amendment.

In the meantime, Congress or the Justice Department should investigate Thomas conduct to let the public know the facts and whether the gifts and trips he received violated the law. Theres ample precedent. In 1968, Congress investigated Justice Abe Fortas when it was revealed he took undisclosed support from a wealthy friend. Fortas resigned before facing impeachment.

The ethics and partisanship issues at the Supreme Court are connected to the hyper-charged activism roiling the lower courts. And soon, Thomas could be sitting in judgment on another major ruling imposed by a judge promoted and supported by the Federalist Society.

Conservative activists took advantage of a quirk in federal court rules to place the abortion medication case in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas. Kacsmaryk is an anti-abortion activist who has been deeply involved in Leos Federalist Society.

The judge tried to keep the proceedings secret. His audacious bid to suspend the Food and Drug Administrations long-standing approval of the drug would affect millions of women nationwide, including in states where abortion care is legal. It was quickly countered by another federal judge, and will likely head to the Supreme Court before Thomas and his conservative colleagues, who were also backed by Leos group. Even if Kacsmaryks ruling is overturned, it signals another alarming shift in norms, an abuse of power by ideologues in robes.

The Supreme Court faces a crisis. We must have confidence in the court, but that confidence must be earned. Today the court is rapidly squandering that public trust, which has fallen to an all-time low. The rule of law demands action before the next scandals explode.

Michael Waldman, author of the forthcoming book "The Supermajority: How the Supreme Court Divided America," is president of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Signs at an Oregon treatment center show where receptacles to dispense methadone should be disposed of after use. (Andrew Selsky / Associated Press)

When you receive a scary diagnosis  for cancer, heart disease or other serious illness  one of your first calls is probably to a doctor who can offer the full range of evidence-based care. But if your diagnosis were for opioid addiction and you came to see me, an addiction specialist, federal regulations written half a century ago would bar me from prescribing the most effective treatment: methadone.

The U.S. lost more than 100,000 people to overdoses in 2021 in a crisis now dominated by fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. Thats more than twice the number of deaths at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 1995. When officially tallied, overdose deaths in 2022 will also exceed 2020 levels.

Last month, the FDA made naloxone  the safe and effective drug that can reverse an overdose as its happening, of which Narcan is the best-known brand  available over the counter. If manufacturers set an affordable price, expanded access to naloxone could save countless lives. Expanded access to methadone would do the same.

In contrast to the fatalism with which opioid addiction is usually portrayed, it is treatable. People recover. Long term, the best treatment involves the opioid medications methadone or buprenorphine in addition to offering counseling or therapy, all part of a harm reduction approach that meets patients where they are in their relationship to drugs. Decades of research have shown methadone to be the most effective medication for addiction ever developed. Buprenorphine, a different long-acting opioid, is similarly effective. Both reduce overdoses and can reduce drug use, crime and HIV transmission. They save lives at a comparable rate as giving aspirin for a heart attack. Id go as far as calling them miracle drugs.

So why are doctors like me still barred from prescribing methadone? If I want my patients to access this medication, I can only refer them to opioid treatment programs that offer methadone in highly structured environments. These clinics can be deeply therapeutic for some patients  but they are shockingly hard to find. There are fewer than 2,000 opioid treatment programs across the entire country, and as of 2018, 80% of U.S. counties lacked a single clinic. Patients lucky enough to live near one are required, also by federal regulation, to show up typically six days a week to have staff hand them their daily methadone and watch them drink it. Patients who miss a dose because of a snowstorm, last-minute job interview or family emergency have no other way to access methadone and are forced to struggle through painful withdrawal symptoms.

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If this whole system sounds onerous, its because it was designed to be. It was developed in the early 1970s by what is now the Drug Enforcement Administration, in the shadow of President Nixons war on drugs. Methadone can be dangerous if misused, and at the time it was novel to treat opioid addiction with an opioid medication. Thus the systems architects focused on preventing patients  whom they stereotyped and assumed to be Black and Latino  from selling or giving away their methadone. Fifty years on, despite decades of evidence and experience, controlled programs remain the only way for people with opioid addiction to receive methadone.

Fewer than 10% of people with opioid addiction are receiving treatment with medications in the midst of the worst overdose crisis in U.S. history. In December, Congress removed one barrier to treatment: Any clinician with a DEA license can now prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction. As powerful as this medication is, though, some patients do not respond to buprenorphine, or they prefer methadone. We urgently need to listen to the patients, clinicians and public health experts calling to make methadone more available.

The first and most essential change would be to allow board-certified addiction specialists to prescribe methadone for patients to pick up at a pharmacy. The bipartisan Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access bill, introduced in the Senate and the House last month, would do just that, dramatically expanding access.

Second, the federal agency that regulates opioid treatment programs (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) should adopt its recently proposed rule changes without delay. These changes would give patients more flexibility to take home methadone in the course of treatment.

For those concerned about misuse in this context, we can look at evidence from the past two years. To reduce COVID-19 transmission, patients in opioid treatment programs were temporarily allowed to take home more doses. We did not see a subsequent rise in methadone overdoses, in large part because addiction experts at these programs exercised discretion in deciding which patients would benefit from flexible treatment.

Unsurprisingly, clinicians were better at delivering personalized, patient-centered care than one-size-fits-all federal regulations. Like insulin and many other medications, methadone requires close monitoring and dosing changes when patients start using it. Some patients also benefit from additional oversight, such as urine drug testing, to ensure methadone is not misused. Board-certified addiction specialists have completed additional training and are well-equipped to address these challenges.

More than $54 billion of national opioid settlement funds will soon be funneled to states, counties, municipalities and tribal nations across the country. One of the core strategies for distributing these funds is to increase access to addiction medication. Under the current methadone rules, this money can only go so far.

None of us would accept a status quo for cancer or heart disease in which arcane regulations bar patients from the most effective treatment. The 6 million Americans living with opioid addiction deserve no less.

Ashish Thakrar is an internal medicine and addiction medicine physician in the National Clinician Scholars Program and associate fellow of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. His research and patient care focus on treatment for opioid use disorder.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Camila Alves McConaughey holds the green Converse tennis shoes similar to those worn by Uvalde shooting victim Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, 10, as Matthew McConaughey, a native of Uvalde, Texas, joins White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) ORG XMIT: DCSW316

Bright green Converse shoes were the only way authorities could identify 10-year-old Maite Rodriquez. After the massacre at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022, Maites face was so grossly disfigured by the shooters AR-15-style rifle, it could not be used to help identify her body. This weapon, along with over 1,600 rounds of ammunition, was purchased legally by Salvador Ramos just days after his 18th birthday. For all intents and purposes, until May 24, Ramos was a law-abiding gun owner  until he wasnt.

Gun violence is a public health crisis in our country. In the first 3 months of 2023, the United States surpassed 9,800 deaths by firearm and 130 mass shootings. Thoughts and prayers have done little to curb the increasing number of devastating suicides, gruesome murders and senseless accidents caused by firearms. Together, we implore you to consider the following:

People gather at a memorial outside of Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, March 30, 2023. A shooting at the school on Monday left three adults and three children dead.

Firearms are the #1 means of child and adolescent death. The United States reached a grim statistic in 2019 when firearm injuries surpassed motor vehicle collisions to become the primary cause of death for youth aged 0-19 years in the United States. Despite this realization, little has been done to protect children.

Stronger laws mean fewer deaths. States with stronger gun laws have lower rates of firearm-related homicide and suicide. Additionally, states with more permissive gun laws have been shown to have increased rates of mass shootings.

Mental illness does not equal violence. Mental health is a commonly cited reason for the increasing firearm-related violence in the United States; however, just 4% of gun violence is attributable to mental illness. More importantly, people with mental health disorders are far more likely to be victims of violence rather than perpetrators. We must not associate the term mental illness with criminal as this stigma may lead to fewer people seeking mental health care.

The rising toll of suicide. Pediatric suicide death rates among children ages 10 to 14 years in the U.S. nearly tripled between 2007 and 2017, making suicide the second leading cause of death in this age group, with approximately 40% of those deaths involving firearms. In 2019, 19% of U.S. high schoolers seriously considered suicide and 9% attempted suicide. Unfortunately, half of the youth who attempted suicide considered it for less than 10 minutes before acting.

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A display of gun locks.

Our goal as pediatricians is to protect and support the health and wellbeing of all children. While we cannot solve this crisis alone, we can all find ways to help make meaningful progress to curb gun violence:

Practice safe storage if you opt to keep a gun in your home. Although the absence of guns from childrens homes and communities is the most effective way to prevent firearm-related injuries and death, even small changes can lead to improved safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all guns be kept locked, preferably in lockbox or safe, unloaded and with ammunition locked separately. Responsible storage of firearms in the home has been shown to reduce the risk of unintentional shootings by 78% and firearm suicide by up to 85%. While it may seem that hiding the gun is enough, studies have shown the vast majority of children know where guns in the home are keptand  reported personally handling the firearm. Additional information for parents, providers, and children can be found at ohioaap.org/storeitsafe.

Stay informed on current and pending gun safety legislation. In 2022, President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant federal legislation to address gun violence in nearly three decades.

Make your voice heard and contact your national and state representatives to ask leaders in Congress to continue to work together to ensure the safety of our children. You can also make your voice heard by supporting candidates that support firearm safety legislation. To find a local candidate, you can visit: gunsensevoter.org/states/ohio/

Donate to organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, and Sandy Hook Promise. Funding is integral to research, advocacy, and interventions aimed at preventing gun violence.

The helplessness that plagues us when confronted with another mass shooting in the news can be combated by the action items above. We urge you to take action to support much-needed change in whatever way you can. Collaboration and advocacy are key to ensuring that our children grow up in safe, supported communities.

This guest column was written on behalf of the Cincinnati Pediatric Society Board and local pediatric emergency medicine physicians: Dr. Erica Walters, president; Dr. Sarah Lawler, treasurer; Dr. Nicole Lacasse, past-president; Dr. Abigail Stein; Dr. Camille Graham; Dr. Scott Callahan; Dr. Charles Deitschel; Dr. Chris Peltier; Dr. Robert Ingberg; Dr. Phil Lichtenstein; Dr. Lisa Fioretti; Dr. Bijan Ketabchi; Dr. Mike Gittelman; & Dr. Wendy Pomerantz.

Erica Walters

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Opinion: Thoughts and prayers have done little to stop shootings
Journalist and diplomat Elizabeth "Liz" Colton is a native of Asheville.

A Maldivian friend visiting our Blue Ridge Mountains exclaimed in appreciative recognition: Wow! Just like Kuludhuffushi, his home island in a northern atoll of Maldives. A biological island ecosystem with unique geology, climate, flora and fauna was how the visitor sign described the peak of Mount Mitchell. The Fulbright Scholar, Adam Abdulla, and I stood marveling at the sea-like view of rolling clouds and peaks circling out all around us. We both were remembering similarly vast, circular ocean views from islands in Maldives.

The Indian Ocean archipelago nation of Maldives and the Southern Appalachian Mountains region of Western North Carolina have much in common. In addition to being places I have lived and love among my favorites on Earth, they share lots of attributes, positive and negative. Each for now has a natural heritage of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and, consequently, with these natural assets today each depends economically on tourism. The Maldives islands (with average elevation of only 2 meters or lower than 6 feet) and the WNC mountains with its main city Asheville (at elevation of about 670 meters or 2,200 feet) are among the worlds top destinations.

Yet in each place, unregulated development is destroying the very reasons for tourism-attraction  mountains, trees, ancient rocks, water, views in WNC, and coral reefs, mangroves, other trees, sand, water in Maldives. Many leaders and people in these beautiful locations promote conservation and sustainable development goals on global, national and local levels. Yet in each location theres more difficult work to be done diplomatically to encourage local concern and solutions to environmental problems. As microcosms, these special places can lead not only globally but also locally set examples of conservation.

More: Opinion: Women's History Month reminder: Equal rights for women still not legally ratified

More: Opinion: 'Glocal' diplomacy: A commencement call to practice citizen diplomacy

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Maldives is listed among small island developing states at highest threat of catastrophic inundation from rising seas resulting from global warming. Tourists worldwide are racing to visit this top destination to enjoy idyllic islands before they might go back under the Indian Ocean. WNCs Appalachian/Blue Ridge/Great Smoky mountains and Asheville are a major destination for tourists and buyers seeking escape-property from low-lying beach abodes or polluted urban spaces. In Maldives and WNC, efforts to halt human destruction of natural assets generally fail against powerful local interests supporting or ignoring rapacious activities.

Mountains of Western North Carolina with their beauty and climate, even sacredness, attracted indigenous people who inhabited and revered the land for millennia before conquering European settlers arrived. By mid-19th century, tourists were visiting these mountains and Asheville well before the railroad reached these rugged heights. A detailed guidebook entitled Mountain Scenery in 1859 was written by a great-great-uncle. Long before the 2020 pandemic put a temporary brake on Land of the Sky tourism, Asheville experienced intermittent depression and economic recessions slowing tourism over the previous 160+ years.

More: Opinion: Spring in Asheville time to reflect on plants: 'Amazing time to be a botanist'

More: Editor: Open call for women to share their voices, during Women's History Month and always

Maldives opened to modern tourism in November 1972 and 50 years later the country was voted No. 1 tourist destination in the world. When I moved there in 1976 to conduct my Ph.D. ethnographic fieldwork, there were still only propeller planes bringing relatively few tourists. As the first accredited foreign correspondent in Maldives, I wrote first-time entries about Maldives in modern Asian and world guidebooks. Tragically, what put Maldives urgently on world tourists maps were reports on global climate change and warming threatening the island nation.

Maldivian leaders have become global diplomatic leaders in promoting climate and environmental diplomacy. In the WNC mountains, Asheville is world headquarters for the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Information. Yet in each place, theres often a reluctance to deal with problems at local levels. Whats needed is glocal environmental diplomacy through which diplomacy starts at the local level to promote and assure community conservation and also brings global messages back locally with global and local diplomacy combining to achieve diplomatic solutions.

Positive global images, gaining a reputation as a beautiful destination with remarkable natural scenery, are hard to achieve but easy to lose. Its difficult, if not impossible, to rebuild a fragile natural environment once mountain slopes and trees have been demolished for buildings or mangroves destroyed to fill with air-strips and coral reefs crushed to export sand. Maldives islands and WNC mountains and all our planet need saving. Glocal environmental diplomacy can address issues at the local level to help reach global diplomacys sustainable development goals for saving our whole world natural heritage.

Elizabeth (Liz) Colton, author, diplomat, teacher and Emmy Award winning journalist, currently teaches diplomacy and the media worldwide for UNITAR. Her Ph.D. thesis in social anthropology was on Maldives for the London School of Economics & Political Science. She serves as Diplomat&Journalist in Residence at Warren Wilson College.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: From WNC to Maldives: Urging glocal environmental diplomacy
Billy McFarland attends the 23rd Annual Watermill Center Summit Benefit and Auction on July 30, 2016. Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

On Sunday, Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland announced that another festival is in the works.

"Fyre Festival II is finally happening. Tell me why you should be invited," McFarland tweeted.

McFarland pleaded guilty in March 2018 to wire-fraud charges in relation to Fyre Festival.

On Sunday, Billy McFarland took to Twitter to announce that another Fyre Festival is in the works. In 2017, McFarland founded the first Fyre Festival which became a monumental failure that inspired two documentaries and led to McFarland pleading guilty to wire-fraud charges in relation to the event.

"Fyre Festival II is finally happening," McFarland tweeted. "Tell me why you should be invited." The tweet has less than a thousand likes as of Monday.

This isn't the first time McFarland has toyed with the idea of hosting another festival. In November 2022, McFarland announced his next project, PYRT (pronounced "pirate"). On an episode of the "Full Send" podcast hosted by the Nelk Boys, McFarland said that PYRT is going to be a hotel in the Bahamas for artists and creatives to let loose.

"PYRT is all about taking people to places that they think are impossible," McFarland said. "So I have to do a PYRT fest, right? It can't be tomorrow, it can't be in four months, but there's going to be PYRT fest."

An original advertisement for Fyre Festival. YouTube/Fyre Festival

Back in 2017, McFarland sold over 5,000 tickets to what he claimed would be a two-weekend luxury music festival on a private beach on the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas. McFarland, along with rapper and co-founder Ja Rule, recruited influencers like Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, and Hailey Bieber to promote the event. (Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, said he was scammed himself and was later dismissed from a $100-million class action lawsuit brought by attendees, according to The Guardian.)

According to the BBC, tickets for the festival were on sale for up to $75,000, which were said to include luxury accommodations like eco-friendly "domes and villas."

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The reality proved disastrous. The failed music festival left hundreds of attendees stranded at the venue in the Bahamas without adequate food, water, shelter, or even the musical acts that had been promised as big names like Blink-182, Pusha T, and Lil Yachty had backed out days prior to the event's start.

Photos and videos of the infamous event made the rounds on social media throughout the weekend. Stranded attendees posted photos of the disappointing meals, accommodations, and transportation lines.

As detailed in Netflix's 2019 documentary, "Fyre," Bahamian locals that constructed the festival and helped cater the food said they were never compensated for their work. After the documentary was released, GoFundMe pages raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the caterers and day laborers.

In March 2022, McFarland was released from prison early after receiving a six-year sentence in 2018 for wire fraud related to the Fyre Festival. Part of his plea deal is that he can't serve as a director of a public company ever again and his earnings will be garnished towards paying back over $25 million to fraud victims.

Read the original article on Insider
A community is reeling after three victims were shot and killed Sunday morning.

Orlando police responded to a domestic violence incident around 2 a.m. in Parramore.

Investigators said they heard shots being fired inside a home on Grand Street when they called for backup, and then the armed suspect walked out.

Police said the suspect, 28-year-old Lacorvis Daley, shot at officers, who fired back, and Daley died.

Read: 2 dead, 3 injured after shooting in Orlando, police say

Earlier in the day, Cecil Allen said he was in the area to visit family,

I was coming around the corner when I heard the first shot, he said.

And as Allen was waiting for police to confirm the victims names, he was praying they were not two people he knew.

Read: Orlando police identify 3 victims, suspect in officer-involved shooting

Later Sunday afternoon, police released the names of the three victims: 7-year-old Cameron Bouie, 13-year-old Damionna Reed, and 69-year-old Carole Fulmore.

It is unclear how the victims knew Daley.

I want Parramore to be a good area and thrive, but look; I come to pick up my goddaughter for prom, and look at what happened, Allen said. This is why I moved out of this area. I want it to be a better area.

Read: 3rd suspect involved In murder of 3 teenagers in Marion County arrested, deputies say

Two Orlando police officers are on administrative leave pending the outcome of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, which is standard in cases like this one.

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.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 10)  The United States Navy said that its guided-missile destroyer USS Milius sailed through the disputed South China Sea, asserting freedom of navigation in the area.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius passed through the vicinity of Mischief Reef (Panganiban Reef) which is part of the Spratly Islands (Kalayaan Group of Islands).

The US Navy added that the USS Milius asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands and was consistent with international law.

This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea. USS Milius demonstrated that Mischief Reef, a low-tide elevation in its natural state, is not entitled to a territorial sea under international law, the US Navy 7th Fleet said in a statement on Monday.

The US Navy also slammed unlawful claims in the South China Sea.

Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade and unimpeded commerce, and freedom of economic opportunity, it added.

The US also challenged the excessive maritime claims around the world regardless of the "identity of the claimant."

No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms, the US Navy said.

The US Navy announcement came after Chinas military simulated precision attacks against key targets in Taiwan.

China called the USS Milius mission illegal trespassing.

Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command said in a statement that it has organized naval and air forces to monitor and track the USS Milius.

In a statement reported by Chinese state media, Beijing said the US warship trespassed into the waters of Chinas Meiji Reef or Nansha islands.

This is not the first time that a US warship conducted freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea.

Last month, the same US warship sailed through the waters off Paracel Islands in the South China Sea which also prompted a strong reaction from Beijing.

China repeatedly said these actions taken by the US violated Chinas sovereignty and security and is against international law.
Reuters/Cheney Orr

Almost immediately after Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday, the majority of Nashvilles Metropolitan Council said they would vote to reappoint him. On Monday, the council followed through on that promise, voting unanimously to send Jones right back into the chamber where he and two other lawmakers raised Republican fury by participating in a peaceful gun-control protest late last month.

The final tally was 36-0 with no abstentions.

Moments after the vote, Jones joined a group of what was estimated to be 1,000 protesters in marching to the state Capitol. Many joined in on a call-and-response chant: Tell me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!

Once the crowd reached the steps of the Capitol, the 27-year-old was sworn back into office to cheers.

Tennessee State Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and supporters react after Nashville's Metro Council unanimously reappoints him to the House seat that Tennessee Republicans expelled him from four days ago.



He was reinstated by a vote of 36-0. pic.twitter.com/jEi7Zyztdy  Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) April 10, 2023

In a week after a mass shooting, Jones told a reporter for Mother Jones amid the celebration, it is so outrageous that the first reaction of this body is to expel me rather than to pass common sense gun laws.

On March 30, Jones, along with Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) and Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) took to the floor of the House with a bullhorn to lead protesters who had gathered in the gallery in chanting for gun reform.

The sprawling protestduring which no arrests were made and no damage was done to the state Capitolwas organized in the wake of a school shooting in Nashville that left six people dead, including three 9-year-old children.

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Jones, Pearson, and Johnson were quickly blasted by House Republicans for breaking parliamentary procedure and bringing disorder and dishonor to the House. House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) later characterized the move an insurrection similar to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

After deactivating the trios ID cards and stripping them of their committee assignments, the House voted on Thursday to expel Jones and Pearson, both of whom are Black, by margins of 72-25 and 69-25, respectively.

Justin Jones leading a march of about 1,000 people through downtown Nashville as he returns to the state legislature #TennesseeThree pic.twitter.com/6a041dBjob  Liz Crampton (@liz_crampton) April 10, 2023

Pearsons reappointment could come Wednesday at a meeting of a county board of commissioners in his district. Like Jones, Pearson has vowed to return to the state House, and has said he will run in the forthcoming special election to permanently re-fill the seat.

Pearson was present at Jones swearing-in on Monday, having told a crowd (through a bullhorn) shortly before, They thought if they could kick out Rep. Justin Jones hed never again be Rep. Justin Jones. But they were wrong.

Johnson, who stood alongside Jones and Pearson but did not use the bullhorn, ducked expulsion by a single vote. When asked why she hadnt been thrown out of the House alongside her colleagues, Johnson, who is white, told reporters, It might have to do with the color of our skin.

In the hours after Jones ouster, at least 29 members of Nashvilles Metro Council indicated to The Tennessean that they planned to back his reinstatement. He only needed a simple majority to be restored as state congressman.

In interviews with NBC News, council members said Friday that they had received hundreds of messages from constituents demanding Jones be reinstated.

The GOP-led State Legislature removed the voice from 140,000 people who voted for Jones and Pearson, council member Burkley Allen told NBC. 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.

This is an affront both to lives lost and the will of the voters, member Freddie OConnell tweeted. #TennesseeThree.

Ive got a feeling everythings going to be alright the crowd sings as Justin Jones stands on a pew inside the special called Metro Council meeting @WKRN pic.twitter.com/Msx8ziXfww  Stephanie Langston (@stephnthecity) April 10, 2023

Under the Tennessee State Constitution, filling an expelled lawmakers seat falls to the legislative body of that members county, which can appoint an interim successor until a special election can be held. The Nashville Metro Council is both the legislative body of the city and Davidson Countys consolidated government. Most of its members, council member Russ Bradford told NBC, are Democrats.

At Mondays hearing, the Metro Council had to decide whether to suspend the rules that require city officials to wait four weeks to appoint an interim successor. The motion to suspend the rules went forward without objection, and the council was able to move forward with reinstating Jones.

During the meeting, Jones climbed onto a pew and led the packed room in a chorus of the hymn Ive Got a Feeling, with the crowd singing, Everythings gonna be all right.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Ousted Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville), who was removed last week for participating in protests against gun violence, accused the states Republican House Speaker of leading a white supremacist system.

Jones and fellow Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson (Memphis), both Black men, were voted out by the Republican-controlled state House. A resolution to remove state Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), a white woman, fell short of the two-thirds majority needed.

Al Sharpton asked Jones on MSNBCs Politics Nation what it meant to have a white colleague join the fight.

We are building a multiracial fusion movement. Were in the midst of a third Reconstruction here in Tennessee that hopefully will have national implications. But what it means is that this white supremacist system being led by Speaker Cameron Sexton is an attempt to divide and conquer us, Jones said.

The trio of Tennessee state lawmakers, dubbed the Tennessee Three, led protests against gun violence after a mass shooting that killed six at an elementary school in Nashville last month.

But in reality, you see we, the Tennessee Three, we continue to stand together. Because though their vote was racist, though their vote was to expel the two youngest Black lawmakers, their attack on democracy hurts all of us, whether youre Black, brown, or white. It is an assault on all of us, Jones said.

Johnson has also said she believes she alone was saved from removal due to race. Im a 60-year-old white woman and they are two young Black men, she told CNN.

But not all Tennessee Democrats agree. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) said Sunday that the expulsion move certainly has a racist appearance but argued it was more of a control issue than racist.

I dont think hes [Sexton] had a fondness for either of these two young African American legislators who have only been up there a couple of months, probably not for Ms. Johnson either. They are outspoken and they do their job of representing their constituents, Cohen said.

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Jones and Pearson have both said they will run in special elections to reclaim their seats in the statehouse, but could be back to representing their respective districts even as soon as this week if their city councils appoint them on an interim basis.

But Jones on Sunday said he was concerned that Sexton could try to keep him from getting back to the seat he was expelled from.

Though this councils voting tomorrow, the Speaker has made signals that he may try and refuse to seat me, so we must remain vigilant. Because its not about me, its about the 78,000 people in my district who dont have a representative right now. So Im serving as a representative in exile, you know, because the people of my district do not have a vote on that House floor right now, Jones said.

Nashvilles council is set to discuss Jones removal on Monday and could vote on an interim representative, while the Shelby County commission chairman is expected to pick a date for an interim vote on Pearsons vacancy the same day.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
First, he lost his child in Seoul's Halloween crowd crush. Then came a torrent of online abuse, upending his family's once-private life and making him an internet-wide figure of mockery.

In October, Lee Jong-chul's 24-year-old son was among more than 150 people killed in the disaster in the city's popular Itaewon district. Grief-stricken, he spoke to media, pleading with South Korean politicians to take action.

Then, as has happened after incidents from the Sandy Hook mass shooting to the disappearance of British woman Nicola Bulley, an internet mob formed: Lee and his family's personal tragedy was mocked, belittled and misrepresented online.

From photos doctored to show Lee laughing after being offered compensation to attempts to link him to North Korea -- two viral posts debunked by AFP digital verification reporters -- he and his family have become a virtual punching bag on Korean-language forums.

"It's unspeakable what some of these comments say," said Lee's daughter Ga-young, adding that the sheer volume of abuse was "overwhelming", with any news report on them attracting hundreds of comments, almost exclusively negative, in minutes.

At their apartment in Goyang city just outside Seoul, the family's late son Lee Ji-han's bedroom has not been touched since he last walked out on October 29, 2022. His clothes still hang on the door where he left them, the book he was reading lies on his bed.

"That day changed our lives forever," his mother Cho Mi-eun told AFP, saying she still listens to old voicemail messages just to hear her son's voice.

"Every night Ji-han's father goes out to wait for him, for hours sometimes. He says he's going out to smoke, but we know he's waiting for Ji-han," she said, adding that her husband had made multiple suicide attempts since the disaster and the online attacks.

- Politics of disaster -

The families of the Itaewon victims want answers about why authorities failed to prevent the catastrophe despite clear warning signs, Lee Jung-min, who lost his 29-year-old daughter, told AFP.

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Some of the victims' families formed a group "to understand what really happened and to hold those officials responsible", said the bereaved father, who was visibly tired and unshaven.

But the internet interpreted their efforts to organise as an attack on the government, with right-wing trolls launching a coordinated counter-attack, accusing the families of being profiteers out for compensation, or anti-government forces.

Experts say the government is worried the disaster could hurt the administration. Seoul's last conservative government lost power in part due to its mishandling of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, which killed more than 300.

As a result, some ruling-party lawmakers criticised the victims' families during parliamentary sessions, which created "open season on us" online, Lee said.

Lawmakers promoted outlandish conspiracies: one claimed the crowd crush was caused by vegetable oil poured on the ground by opposition-linked labour union operatives, while another insinuated the deaths were due to illegal drugs.

An official police investigation found no evidence for either claim.

But South Korea's highly polarised political environment allows such misinformation to thrive, said Seo Soo-min, a communications professor at Sogang University.

- No support -

Two days after the disaster, Prime Minister Han Duk-soo publicly urged people not to "make hateful comments, spread fabricated information or share graphic images of the accident".

But the government has done almost nothing to stop the attacks, despite repeated pleas from victims' families for help, said Kim Yu-jin, who lost her 24-year-old sister in the disaster.

A 16-year-old Itaewon survivor committed suicide in December, in part due to shock at the online abuse, the victims' families said.

Prime Minister Han said the government bore no responsibility, blaming the victim for not being "strong minded" enough.

Even a public mourning altar set up to commemorate the victims has become a flashpoint after authorities threatened it with removal, and far-right YouTubers picketed it with abuse while live-streaming.

The victims' families must now not only grieve their lost loved ones, but do battle for their memories online, said Kim.

Every day, she reads the fresh deluge of hateful comments about her sister and reaches out to individual media outlets to request they be removed.

"I know it's a hopeless task, there are countless comments," she said, adding: "But I have to carry on, who else will fight for my sister?"

sks/ceb/leg/smw
As the parent of a child with Down syndrome, I have become all too aware of the revolving door of teachers and paraprofessionals in our schools and, particularly, in our special-education classrooms.

Its not our teachers fault. Years of systemic underfunding of our special-education programs has led to a loss of educators who are  rightfully so  unwilling to take yet another pay cut or spread themselves thin to try to keep up with growing class sizes.

The sad reality is that most educators who leave do so to seek out better pay and benefits. And who could blame them?

One of the biggest issues this revolving door creates is a lack of consistency, which hurts special education students ability to thrive in the classroom.

For students like my son, it takes time to build trusting relationships with their teachers, and time for their teachers to understand how to put them on track to reach their goals both inside and outside the classroom.

Our special education students working with new professionals on a monthly  or even weekly  basis does not support those needs.

A great example of the damage this kind of inconsistency can cause is the year my son was placed on a behavioral intervention plan.

He had never required such a plan in the past, but the revolving door of educators threw him off balance.

He would run from the classroom, even from the building, to escape the unstable environment.

It was terrifying for him, for myself as a parent and for the educators responsible for his safety.

This sudden change in his behavior and needs was clearly due to the changes within the classroom.

Once he was with a stable teacher and support staff the following year, his behaviors diminished and the intervention plan was removed.

The inconsistency of the revolving door in the classroom impacts individual students in ways many politicians simply dont understand.

Not having enough teachers to go around means our schools  and particularly our special education classrooms  cant meet the needs of our special education students individualized education programs.

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Our students have these plans for a reason. Not following a students individualized educational plan is illegal  meaning that when schools dont have adequate funding to follow those plans, theyre put at risk of costly lawsuits that can ultimately take even more money from our classrooms.

Our legislators need to fix this, and they need to do it now.

My family has been part of the Andover school district since my son was 8 years old. He is now a sophomore.

Being in public schools is so much more than learning math or geography  it means being a part of a community.

Right now, my son is in an inclusive learning environment among other students, where he benefits from absorbing information around him at his own personalized pace, and where his peers benefit from learning how to be friends with and support a diversity of students.

But over the last few years, I have felt critical components of our special education programs slip away while I have watched our elected officials, like state Sen. Ty Masterson and state Rep. Kristey Williams, vote against fully funding our special-education programs  and even put public school funding more broadly at risk.

In essence, my own state legislators have voted against doing whats best for my son and all public school students.

Our students in special education programs have a right to be a part of the community and be productive members of society just as much as any other student.

I encourage my representatives, and every representative in the Kansas Legislature, to put politics aside and fully fund special education to ensure every student has the right to be part of a community and thrive.

Beth Hollenbeck is the mother of a special education student in Andover, Kansas.
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.

On a spring day in March 2020, as Pennsylvania teetered on the brink of the COVID-19 lockdown, an anonymous letter arrived at state police offices.

The letter, signed Concerned Citizens, outlined potential wrongdoing by Herm Suplizio, the politically connected manager of DuBois, a small city about two hours northeast of Pittsburgh.

Suplizio, the letter asserted, was directing money from a nonprofit he oversaw to DuBois, where he controlled nearly all government operations  an unusual move that raised questions about its legality.

Now, Suplizio, 62, faces sweeping corruption charges. The Office of Attorney General announced in late March that Suplizio had been arrested on charges of stealing more than $600,000 from public accounts over which he had signatory control. Investigators with that office also allege Suplizio then lied on his tax returns to snag a bigger refund from the government.

The overall scheme was so elaborate, according to the AGs office, that investigators with extensive backgrounds in organized and financial crimes were brought in to untangle what charging documents describe as a web of money moving in and out of accounts, with little oversight or accountability.

Now, this city of about 7,400 people is left to wonder: If Suplizio is convicted, how could such a large theft occur in a place so small without anyone noticing?

I want to know what rock that you guys live under, Ron Trzyna, DuBois city manager from 2000 to 2005, told the City Council at its meeting the week after Suplizios arrest.

Lawyers for Suplizio did not respond to several requests for comment. He faces 15 criminal counts, including theft and conflict of interest. Among them are six felony charges, each carrying a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

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In a surprising twist, a key court document in the case against Suplizio is sealed. The document is traditionally made public once charges against someone are announced and provides more detail about a case.

Attorney General Michelle Henrys office refused to explain the reason for sealing the presentment, even though Suplizio has been officially charged with crimes. Instead, it issued a public statement on the case and then produced an underlying document detailing the charges only after Spotlight PA specifically requested it.

A screenshot from a state Senate campaign video for Herm Suplizio.

Deep roots

Best place to work, best place to live.

So goes the motto for the city of DuBois.

DuBois is surrounded by Sandy Township, which got its name from Sandy Lick Creek, a natural divider of the city flowing from east to west. Early settlers developed the areas resources  lumber, coal and rich soil  through the growth of railroads and manufacturing mills. Today, health care, retail and schools support the local economy, with Penn Highlands DuBois hospital ranking as the biggest employer in Clearfield County.

The city is only one of a handful in Pennsylvania that has adopted an optional form of government known as the council-manager plan. It gives an appointed city manager a wide swath of powers over the day-to-day operations of the government.

DuBois City Council appointed Suplizio to the city managers job in 2010, according to court papers, a position that comes with an annual salary of more than $80,000. He had the power to appoint the chief of police, and decided which employees received raises or bonuses.

So strong was his authority, that the citys mayor reported to him.

He was also a trusted associate of people with power and wealth.

In 2020, the top Republican in the state Senate, Joe Scarnati, announced his retirement and hand-picked Suplizio to be his successor. I have personally worked with Herm Suplizio for over 20 years and I know him as a man of his word who cares deeply for our area, Scarnati, who did not return a request for comment, said in an essay at the time.

Scarnati, a prolific fundraiser, used his political committee to shower Suplizios ultimately unsuccessful campaign with tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions. So did a former political committee chaired by Peter Varischetti, a member of a politically prominent western Pennsylvania family that runs a nursing home chain, among other businesses.

Varischetti did not respond to a request for comment.

Scarnati launched a lobbying firm with another member of the Varischetti family after he left public office. DuBois is now one of his firms clients  a contract that, under DuBois form of government, had to be negotiated by Suplizio.

Even before he became city manager, Suplizio had deep roots in DuBois, serving as a volunteer firefighter and fire chief as well as the mayor for a decade.

When he announced his run for the state Senate, his supporters cited his work in obtaining millions of dollars in state grants and private dollars to revitalize DuBois. From late 2015 to the present, for instance, the city received more than $7.5 million in grants from Pennsylvanias Department of Community and Economic Development, state records show.

In addition to serving as city manager, Suplizio was the executive director of the DuBois Area United Way, earning an annual salary of $30,000. The charitable organization announced Suplizios resignation and the appointment of a new director in the week after his arrest.

He was also, according to the charges, deeply involved in organizing the DuBois Volunteer Fire Departments premier annual celebration: Community Days.

The much-anticipated two-day event held in June marks the anniversary of the 1888 Great DuBois Fire, which destroyed much of the city and led to the creation of the volunteer fire company. Festivities include food, games, fireworks, live music and a parade.

It was one of the many hats Suplizio wore, according to the attorney generals office, that gave him access to bank accounts flush with taxpayer and private money he would use to pay his personal expenses.

According to investigators, Community Days was underwritten both by the city and private donations. Four accounts were used to collect cash or pay for services involving the festival, but they werent controlled by the fire department or monitored by city officials.

Law enforcement officials said Suplizio routinely withdrew money from those accounts, diverting tens of thousands of dollars into personal bank accounts, or using them to pay his credit card bill and even to make political contributions  including $3,000 to Scarnati.

A street in DuBois

Suplizio also used some of the cash from those accounts to reimburse himself for work-related expenses, according to the attorney generals office; he would then claim those expenses as unreimbursed on his personal taxes to lower his taxable income.

Between April 2014 and June 2019, for instance, the AG alleges Suplizio tapped one of the Community Days-related bank accounts, called the Parade Committee account, to write 15 checks to his Visa credit card account totaling just over $131,000.

Nine of those payments, totaling just over $74,108, were for personal expenses charged to his credit card. Investigators didnt detail specifically what they say the money bought, but said his personal charges generally included vacations, utility bills and department store purchases.

The attorney generals office claims Suplizio also tapped DuBois general fund account, as well as the local United Ways bank account, on the same day in 2014 to make two cash transfers, totaling just shy of $6,000 to his personal savings account.

Neither transfer, investigators said, was associated with an expense reimbursement request by Suplizio.

From 2014 to 2021, Suplizio also received reimbursements from the United Way for mileage and cellphone charges amounting to $2,580 per year, according to the AG; he also was reimbursed for mileage and cellphone charges from DuBois. In both instances, he claimed those amounts as unreimbursed business expenses on his taxes, essentially triple dipping, the affidavit of probable cause that describes evidence gathered by investigators in Suplizios case said.

Law enforcement officials allege Suplizio separately pocketed thousands of dollars from city contractors.

One example: DuBois sold its water to various companies drilling for natural gas around the city. One of them, EOG Resources, entered into a contract to buy water from the city. But when investigators subpoenaed the company for the contract, they were surprised to learn there wasnt an official contract. Instead, there were one-page letters from the city, signed by Suplizio, memorializing phone conversations about how much the city would charge per gallon for water.

From 2004 to 2015, EOG made 22 payments, including three checks over $1 million each, according to the AG. Those large checks were made out to the city of DuBois, but stamped and deposited into an unknown account, investigators said.

Five payments from EOG were allegedly made directly to Suplizio. The attorney generals office said copies of the checks note that they were payments for equipment Suplizio was selling to the company, which investigators said amounted to a conflict of interest: He was benefiting personally from a company that he was also negotiating with in his day job as city manager.

Another company, Advance Disposal Systems, had a contract with the city for waste disposal, and paid a quarterly $15,000 administrative fee, by check, to the city for handling its billing, according to the attorney generals office. Those checks were placed in accounts affiliated with the Community Days event.

But when investigators reviewed several years worth of budgets for the event, they said the payments from ADS were penciled in as being much lower, in the $1,000 range.

They also discovered that ADS began paying the quarterly administrative fee six years before the city began handling the companys billing.

In reality, law enforcement officials wrote in charging papers, those administrative payments were simply a way for Suplizio to receive kick-backs. 

ADS was bought by another company, Waste Management, in late 2020. In an email, Waste Management spokesperson Erika Deyarmin said the company is reviewing our contract with the City of DuBois and has no comment at this time.

Checks and balances

In theory, checks and balances are baked into the citys system for tracking finances.

The citys treasurer and onetime controller, Lisa LaBrasca Becker, and the citys finance officer, DeLean Shepherd, both testified before a grand jury empaneled by the attorney generals office to hear evidence in Suplizios case. They provided a roadmap for how money coming in and out of city coffers is accounted for.

Bills for city-related expenses pass through the city controller, who reviews them and stamps any corresponding checks and receipts, according to the affidavit. In DuBois, the controller (who is paid $100 every month) does not have an office, and instead receives a call or text when bills need to be reviewed.

The City Council also looks over those expenses and approves them. The finance director then prints the checks, and the treasurer signs them.

The treasurer also tracks all money coming into DuBois coffers  which is supposed to be deposited initially into the citys general fund  and ensures its allocated to the correct bank account. The treasurers office then generates a monthly report with the most up-to-date balances for each bank account, and any money flowing in and out of them. The City Council then reviews those reports.

LaBrasca Becker testified that she knew ADS had a contract with the city, but had no idea the company was paying a $15,000 quarterly administrative fee. If such payments existed, she said, she should have been made aware of them, so she could include them in her monthly reports.

The citys auditors review DuBois finances annually, but the scope is limited to money flowing in and out of city bank accounts and included on those reports.

LaBrasca Becker said she had no knowledge or oversight over the Community Days bank accounts, and that the accounts werent included in monthly reports.

Several witnesses who testified before the grand jury in Suplizios case said the Community Days bank accounts were overseen by a separate parade committee. Court papers provide no information about who was on the committee, or how the committee approved money flowing in or out of the accounts.

These records are also largely silent on how closely city officials tracked money from city coffers that was paid to Suplizio for his expenses, except to note this: One city official testified that she could not recall an instance where Suplizio submitted any receipts when filing for reimbursement for work-related expenses.

About 40 residents packed the DuBois City Council chambers during the March 27 meeting, a week after the arrest of city manager Herm Suplizio.

Heads in the sand

City officials have said little since the charges against Suplizio became public in March.

Just a week before Suplizios arrest, council members unanimously approved an extension to his contract, two years before it was set to expire in 2025. After Suplizio was charged on March 20, DuBois City Solicitor Toni Cherry released a statement on behalf of the council that appeared supportive of the city manager.

For over two decades, Herm has served DuBois with a passion and determination that has grown its reputation and profile well beyond that of similar cities, the statement to radio news station WPSU said. We are committed to ensuring integrity is maintained within DuBois city government, which, we believe epitomizes Herms tenure as city manager.

Suplizio remained in his city job for a few days before the City Council abruptly changed course and placed him on paid leave.

He will continue receiving his base salary pay, interim City Manager Chris Nasuti told Spotlight PA, but Suplizio does not have access to the city building, systems, or networks and is not being contacted or consulted regarding city business.

The City Council also voted to rescind the contract extension for Suplizio.

City officials are hiding their heads in the sand and saying, We didnt know anything,  said Trzyna, the former city manager.

Trzyna told Spotlight PA he was not well-liked in that position because he raised questions about fire department spending. He said he left the job in 2005 with some ill feelings on my part.

He believes DuBois officials had a role in enabling Suplizios alleged wrongdoings because oversight of city finances was essentially nonexistent.

Trzyna is concerned that the disappointing handling of the allegations by DuBois officials so far would jeopardize the citys ongoing consolidation with Sandy Township. DuBois and Sandy Township officials have pitched the consolidation as a way to reduce overlap of government services between the two municipalities and to attract new businesses.

The consolidation was approved by voters in 2021  with a razor-thin margin of 1% among Sandy Township voters  after three failed attempts in previous decades. Suplizio is a member of the consolidation committee and chairs the subcommittee on fire services.

The Citys fiscal status was a driving issue in the consolidation effort, and if some of the Citys revenues were misdirected and funds misspent, we must learn how it affects the assumptions underlying the consolidation analysis, Sandy Township Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Kevin Salandra, a key figure in the consolidation effort, wrote in a statement.

Sandy Township called for an independent investigation of DuBois financial accounts and for anyone at the City involved in this deception and impropriety to step aside. Nasuti told Spotlight PA in an April 6 email that a forensic analysis of the citys finances is underway with help from the Department of Community and Economic Development.

The township said it hasnt decided whether and under what conditions the consolidation may be called into question.

Tension rose briefly during the March 27 council meeting, when a DuBois resident disputed Trzynas public comment that council members should face resignation, arguing that Suplizio is innocent until proven guilty.

You dont know what its going to be at the end, but youre all hanging him already, the person said.

Herm has done a lot of good things for the city of DuBois, Trzyna told Spotlight PA. But I think it all went to his head and [he] said, I can do whatever I want to do. And we as city residents and taxpayers [are] just as much at fault as the government.

I fault them because they didnt oversee things. But I also fault all the citizens in the city of DuBois, and myself included, that we  never questioned.

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.
A pair of 81-year-old best friends have amassed thousands of fans and followers after documenting their trip around the world in 80 days.

Sandy Hazelip, a physician and lecturer, and her best friend Ellie Hamby, a documentary photographer, set out for their adventure on 11 January, according to their blog Around the World at 80, which the duo have used to document their travels.

According to the friends, their first destination was Antartica, which meant crossing the notoriously rough Drake Passage, a body of water located betweenthe southernmost tip of South America and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, aboard a ship.

In a blog post written from their first destination, the friends, who live in Texas, recalled how their once-in-a-lifetime trip was sparked by a passing remark from Sandy to Ellie five years ago.

We were sitting around the table working late one night, and Sandy said, entirely out of the blue: Ellie, why dont we take a trip around the world in 80 days when we are 80, the pair remembered of the moment they decided to embark on the trip.

After Antarctica, Hazelip and Hamby travelled to Easter Island, a Chilean territory known for its archaeological sites, and then to Argentina.

According to the pairs blog, their visit to Argentina in February replaced their previously planned destination Peru.

Because of political violence in Peru and especially in the Machu Picchu area, we had to cancel this portion of our trip. We have the travel philosophy just go with the flow and enjoy the journey - even if it is not the journey we planned. That is what we did, and what a fun journey we had in Argentina, our substitute destination, the duo wrote, adding that they enjoyed dancing and horseback riding in Argentina.

From there, the friends visited Finland and the North Pole, as well as the Colosseum in Rome. After a trip to London, Hazelip and Hamby journeyed to Zanibar, Zambia, and Egypt, where they saw the pyramids and rode camels.

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After more than 40 days of travelling, the 81-year-old friends visited India, and after that, Nepal, before they made their way to Japan in March.

By 21 March, the longtime friends were in Bali. However, it wasnt their final destination, as the pair made it to Australia by April.

Overall, Hazelip and Hamby, who have also documented their travels on Instagram and TikTok, where they have accumulated more than 52,000 followers, visited 18 countries across all seven continents. During their journey, they were often seen wearing matching T-shirts.

As for the best part of the trip, which lasted more than three months, Hamby told CNN that it was the people she and her friend met along the way.

We love all the sights that we saw, but the things that we remember the most are the people that we met, she said. We met some of the most wonderful, kindest, friendliest people in the world. We just have friends now all over the world that we love dearly.

She also noted that the trip was not a vacation, but rather an adventure. We always say when we started this, we did not plan a vacation, she explained. We planned an adventure. And every single day was an adventure.

On social media, the duos trip has inspired hundreds, with many applauding the pair for embarking on the life-changing travels.

This is so neat! Love watching and following along with you both on your travels! one follower wrote, while another said: Love the smiles [and] love the joy for life. Keep on going!

I love the sense of adventure! someone else wrote.

Others said the trip had inspired them to embark on their own travels, with one person writing: Your videos bring me such happiness and inspiration. Im 59 and fear getting older but you prove anything is possible!

While reflecting on the one thing that helped them communicate in every country, the women told CNN that it was their smiles.

You know, people ask us often about the language, how we manage it, said Hamby. We say with Sandy and Ellie, theres one language and thats a smile. And we found that worked wonders because we were often aware that there was not English spoken. But a smile covers all languages.

Although the pair have since returned home to Texas, they told the outlet they are already planning their next trip.
By Asif Shahzad

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Provincial snap elections are not in Pakistan's national interest given its economic turmoil and security situation, the country's finance minister said on Monday, in defiance of an order by the country's supreme court.

His comments raise the risk of constitutional deadlock to compound the country's political and economic upheaval

In a victory for former prime minister Imran Khan, the court last week mandated the elections, which have been rejected by parliament.

The court set Monday as the deadline for the government to issue funds - 21 billion Pakistani rupees ($73.4 million) - to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and told the ECP to report back to it on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday put forward a financial bill to seek a vote on whether to approve the election funding. It was not clear when a vote would take place.

"The country's economic, security and internal conditions demand that snap polls aren't in the national interest," he said in a televised speech to parliament.

He suggested holding the elections together in all provinces and national seats, saying that would reduce logistics and security expenses, which according to the house speaker was later adopted in a resolution in the parliament.

The supreme court ordered snap polls in the most populated Punjab province to be held on May 14, and said a date could be agreed later for the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, pending some technical issues.

Khan had ordered the dissolution of local governments run by his party in the two provinces to try to force the government to hold elections that are not due until October across the country.

He has been campaigning across Pakistan since he was ousted in a parliamentary no confidence vote in April last year.

The country's crises have worsened meanwhile.

To try to counter a resurgence in attacks, the government over the weekend also announced a country-wide military offensive against Islamist militants.

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Pakistan is also in danger of defaulting on its debt. An International Monetary Fund bailout has been stalled since November, while its central bank's foreign exchange reserves would cover just four weeks of imports, and inflation exceeds 35%.

($1 = 286.2500 Pakistani rupees)

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad; editing by John Stonestreet and Barbara Lewis)
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A man was killed in a confrontation with Ada County Sheriffs Office deputies early Monday on Interstate 84, according to a series of sheriffs office tweets. The sheriffs office described the event as an officer-involved shooting.

A deputy sustained what appear(ed) to be very serious but non-life threatening injuries, according to the posts. No other deputies were hurt.

Idaho State Police alerted the public to a road closure at 3:37 a.m. on social media. Hours later, the Ada County Sheriffs Office said sheriffs deputies were in a confrontation that resulted in an officer-involved shooting according to a tweet around 7 a.m.

The sheriffs office later added that the incident started when a man who was walking on the highway refused to get off the road, according to social media posts. When sheriffs deputies confronted him, the man was injured and died a brief time later, according to the sheriffs office.

The posts did not say how many officers fired at the man. The sheriffs office didnt clarify whether the man had a weapon or offer further details on the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Ada County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Patrick Orr declined to provide the Idaho Statesman with further details on the shooting but said more information would be released in the future.

Idaho State Police warned drivers that eastbound lanes on the interstate were blocked near milepost 59, according to an Idaho State Police Twitter post. Traffic was being diverted near Eisenman Road, which is across from Micron Park, and drivers should avoid the area, according to the sheriffs office.

The lanes reopened at about 11:30 a.m.
City planning is slow work.

But stick around long enough and you get to see the fruits of your labor.

For the last 14 years, as Pascos director of Community and Economic Development, Rick White has helped lead city planning efforts to transform the city into a major economic hub. Hes seen first hand how industry can grow in tandem with population.

Looking back, Im thinking Pasco didnt pack a lot of weight regionally. I think thats really changed in the past 15 years or so, he told the Tri-City Herald. Were pushing close to Kennewicks population and my guess is that in four or five years Pasco may be the largest of the Tri-Cities.

But White will not be at the helm when that day comes.

The city department head plans to retire at the end of the month  on April 30  according to a recent announcement from the city. Fire Chief Bob Gear also plans to retire, his last day effective May 31.

Rick White, Pasco community and economic development director

Mr. White has been instrumental in shaping the rapid development that has yet to slow in his time with Pasco, said interim City Manager Adam Lincoln in a recent statement. Mr. White and Chief Gear will be greatly missed, but their service will be remembered for years!

Their exits are just the latest from top officials at Pasco City Hall. Late last year, Dave Zabell retired after leading the city for eight years as its city manager.

I vacillate between a whole bunch of giddiness from retirement and this worry-wart syndrome, White said of his and other recent departures.

He plans to stick around the next three months to help the Community and Economic Development Department transition. The city will likely soon conduct a search for his replacement.

White says he and his family will remain in Pasco, though plan to spend parts of the year on the Spanish coast starting in 2024.

His annual salary is $169,041. And Gear makes $193,294, which is higher than the citys listed 2023 salary schedule because he has been on a supplemental employment agreement since 2016.

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Annexation battles and booming businesses

As director of economic development, White has his hands in several buckets. Part of his job is helping support the city council, planning commission, the historic preservation commission, the code enforcement board and the hearing examiner with their work.

Were not putting out fires, were not arresting criminals, were taking a real clear look at things that need to be decided now to benefit later, he said. I think a lot of what I do and what I consider a very important part of the job is to make sure our commission and our boards know how important their work is.

After graduating from Eastern Washington University, White got a job at Spokane County Planning doing mostly field work and surveying short plats. He came to the Tri-Cities in the 1980s, taking a position with the City of Kennewick before starting his tenure with Pasco.

White is particularly proud of the work his department did planning for the citys industrial properties and ensuring the infrastructure was there for those properties to develop into robust revenue generators. The business park around Resers Fine Foods is nearly full, White said, and the city continues to support construction of Amazons twin, two-million-square-feet warehouses.

Whites first day on the job at Pasco included a great deal of work over a proposed hot mix asphalt plant that Central Pre-Mix wanted to install at its Harris Road site.

The project received a great deal of push back, with some arguing it would impede on nearby residential development, and a decision by the city planning commission was appealed to the superior court, according to archived Herald reports.

That was day 1 and it actually ended up being settled. They received a special permit with dozens of conditions for the plant, but they never did install it, White said.

He also looks back on the doughnut hole annexation battles that took place in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Some residents living around Argent and Road 68 proposed the creation of a new city called Riverview, population 4,000, to impede encroaching urbanization and city annexation.
Paul OGrady has been remembered as a force for good by his famous friends including Carol Vorderman, Julian Clary and Michael Cashman.

Celebrities paid tribute to the drag queen turned TV and radio star during For The Love of Paul OGrady on ITV on Sunday (9 April) evening, following his death last month at the age of 67.

OGrady, who started out as a social worker while performing on the London nightclub circuit as the acerbic, platinum wig-wearing Lily Savage, died unexpectedly but peacefully on 28 March, his partner Andre Portasio said in a statement.

Remembering OGrady for his activism, Vorderman, 62, said: He was not only brilliant as an entertainer, he was a force for good.

Former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband added: He wasnt just a fighter for the underdog, somebody who was willing to use his platform to speak up for people who didnt have a platform, didnt have a voice, but he could do it in a totally compelling way, much more compelling than any politician.

Actor, politician, and LGBT+ rights activist Cashman commented on a clip of OGrady discussing Conservative politicians on TV, saying: He goes into a rant about injustice, naming the politicians and that was bold. He could have been taken off air, but you couldnt separate him from his principles.

For The Love of Paul OGrady also saw those who knew OGrady remember his compassion for animals, with actor Tony Maudsley recalling how he used to be feeding sheep at the breakfast table, while actress Amanda Mealing remembered seeing a cow in the kitchen eating leftover birthday cake.

The documentary aired on Easter Sunday (Multistory Media)

Throughout his career, OGrady worked extensively to support south London animal rescue centre Battersea Dogs & Cats Home  both on and off screen  and was well-known for his love of animals.

Elsewhere in the special programme, actor Linda Thorson told viewers of OGradys unique experiences with the late Queen Elizabeth II.

I know the Queen was very, very at ease with him, said the 75-year-old. And he would have tea with her, and the reason that the Queen liked talking to Paul is that so few people knew how to talk to her. Paul could talk to anybody.

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Cashman added: The Queen loved him. And of course, all they did was talk about animals and farming, and she loved his sense of humour.

OGrady, pictured with the Queen Consort, was fondly remembered by his colleagues and famous friends (Multistory Media)

Chat show host Jonathan Ross, actor Sally Lindsay and TV presenter Gaby Roslin also appeared to share their memories of OGrady during the programme.

Roslin, 58, who found fame co-presenting The Big Breakfast alongside OGrady as his drag persona Lily Savage, commented: Theres no-one thats ever going to be like Paul, and Lily, ever ever ever.

Following clips of OGrady interviewing the likes of Lady Gaga, Simon Cowell and Cilla Black, Coronation Street star Lindsay, 49, said: He was never like a people pleaser, he didnt give a monkeys who you were, everyone was treated the same. Everyone.

As the programme drew to a close, a message from former professional ballet dancer Portasio, who OGrady married in 2017, appeared on the screen, reading: On behalf of Paul OGrady, his husband Andre Portasio would like to thank everyone for taking their time to send condolences.

The family is overwhelmed with everyones kindness and generosity.

Additional reporting by Press Association
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11)  The repeated infringement on the country's sovereignty and sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) "necessitates the enhancement" of the nation's defense capabilities, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said on Monday.

In his speech during the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) forum held in Washington D.C., the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) chief explained the country still aims to resolve issues on the WPS through peaceful and legal means but enhancing the nation's defense is also a must.

"The Philippines has been clear and consistent about our interest in maintaining the South China Sea as the sea of peace and stability and our aim to boost our defense capabilities, including in the framework of EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement)," he said.

"Repeated infringements on our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction and other destabilizing actions that go against international lawin the South China Sea also necessitates the enhancement of our defense capabilities," he added.

Earlier this year, Manalo said Beijing's aggressive actions in the WPS persist on a daily basis, "depriving the Philippines of the use of our exclusive economic zone."

Manalo made the comment after a Chinese vessel pointed a military-grade laser at a Philippine Coast Guard ship near Ayungin Shoal, temporarily blinding crew members and disrupting its resupply mission.

During the CSIS forum, Manalo also talked about the stronger relationship between the US and the Philippines, touching on multiple topics such as economic alliance, military drills, and the EDCA.

Asked if China's recent moves in the WPS played a role in the countrys decision to build stronger ties with the US, Manalo said the Philippines would have made the decision to expand its security even without the US.

"Whether it be with the US or with even with other partners in the region, we're doing this simultaneously. Improving our ability to defend ourselves and at the same time talking with China and urging them to observe the UNCLOS and other aspects of the rule of law," he said.
A leak of classified US Defence Department documents is a "very serious" risk to national security, the Pentagon has said.

The documents appear to include sensitive information regarding the war in Ukraine, as well as on China and US allies.

Officials say the files are in a format similar to documents issued to senior leaders.

An investigation has been opened to determine the source of the leak.

The documents - some of which officials say may have been altered - first appeared on online platforms such as Twitter, 4chan and Telegram, as well as on a Discord server for the video game Minecraft.

In addition to highly detailed information about the war in Ukraine, some of the leaked documents are said to cast light on sensitive briefing materials relating to US allies.

A source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN that Ukraine has already altered some of its military plans because of the leak.

Other documents reportedly focus on defence and security issues in the Middle East as well as in the Indo-Pacific region.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, a high-ranking Pentagon official said the documents were "a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation".

"We're still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue," said Chris Meagher, the assistant to the secretary of defence for public affairs.

The Pentagon is reassessing their process as to who gets access to such sensitive documents.

"There have been steps to take a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom."

Mr Meagher declined to answer when asked if the Pentagon believes the documents to be genuine, although he said that some "appear to have been altered".

The justice department is now investigating the leak, alongside officials from the Pentagon, White House and elsewhere in the US government.

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The format of the documents is similar to that "used to provide daily updates to our senior leaders on Ukraine and Russia-related operations, as well as other intelligence updates", Mr Meagher added.

The Pentagon first became aware of the document leak last week, with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin first briefed on the matter on 6 April, he said.

Mr Meagher said that the document leak has prompted US officials to reassure its allies "of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and fidelity to our security partnerships".

At a separate briefing, national security spokesman John Kirby said that US President Joe Biden was first briefed about the leak last week.

When asked whether the leak has so far been contained and whether other documents have yet to be released, Mr Kirby said: "I don't know."

BBC News has so far reviewed more than 20 of the documents, many of which appear to detail the deployment and state of Ukrainian and Russian forces ahead of a long-awaited spring offensive by Ukrainian forces.

Some documents, for example, appear to outline US training and equipment being provided to Ukraine ahead of the offensive, as well as when various Ukrainian units will be ready and the anticipated delivery time of military supplies.

While Mr Meagher declined to comment on the potential impact that the documents could have on the front lines in Ukraine, he said that "the Ukrainians have demonstrated their capability and competence in this war".

"The president and secretary [of defence] have both made clear that the United States is going to be with them for as long as it takes," he said.
An interagency effort is underway to assess a trove of apparent Pentagon documents that were posted online and evaluate their potential impact on national security, the Defense Department said late Sunday, amid questions about the source of the leaks.

The Defense Department is assessing the validity of the documents, which appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement.

An interagency effort has been stood up, focused on assessing the impact these photographed documents could have had on U.S. national security and on our Allies and partners, Singh said.

Over the weekend, U.S. officials have engaged with Allies and partners and have informed relevant congressional committees of jurisdiction about the disclosure.

The Defense Department also made a referral to the Justice Department, which has opened a criminal investigation into the leaks, Singh said.

The Pentagon said on Friday that it was reviewing a batch of leaked documents purportedly related to Russias war on Ukraine, but additional documents on other national security topics have surfaced in recent days.

Some of the leaked documents appear to cover U.S. and NATO support to Kyiv, while others reportedly relate to other countries, including Israel and South Korea  though there are also concerns that some of the materials may have been altered.

Reuters reports that U.S. officials are scrambling to try and identify whos behind the incident, and that some experts have suggested it could be an American. Ukraine has suggested Russia is behind the matter.

U.S. officials are working to remove the materials from the social media platforms to which they were posted, according to Voice of America.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A recent leak of U.S. classified intelligence reports appears to confirm what many Latin America and Caribbean watchers have warned about in recent years: Russia and China are trying to gain a foothold amid waning U.S. leadership.

Screenshots of some of those documents obtained by the Miami Herald show that Russian mercenaries were planning to pitch a plan to provide security in Haiti after months of unsuccessful negotiations led by the United States to form a multinational force to help tackle escalating armed gang violence in the Caribbean nation. They also reveal that the Russian government was trying to use Brazils offer to mediate in the war the Kremlin launched against Ukraine to its advantage. Also, according to the highly classified documents, China is benefiting from the Russia-Ukraine war in countries like Nicaragua, where Moscow is a key security partner.

On Monday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said President Joe Biden was briefed late last week when the administration first got word that there were some documents out there. Asked if there were more documents circulating and if they believed the leak had been contained, Kirby said, We dont know. We truly dont know.

Kirby refused to address if the leaked documents had any impact on U.S. intelligence-gathering efforts in Russia, telling reporters I wont speak to intelligence collection one way or another, on any given day.

As I said, U.S. officials have been in touch with relevant allies and partners, given some of these disclosures over the last few days. And well continue to have those conversations as appropriate, he said.

The reports on Russia and Chinas inroads in the Western Hemisphere come as more nations dump diplomatic recognition of Taiwan in favor of Beijing, and countries like Nicaragua and Venezuela, and to a lesser extent Cuba, are willing to allow their political relationship with Russia to be used to project symbolic threats against the United States.

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Evan Ellis, a research professor of Latin American Studies at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute, said that, as a U.S. government civilian employee, he could not confirm, or deny or explicitly comment on leaked classified documents. But public source documents clearly show that U.S. officials have growing concerns about Russia, China and also Irans presence in the hemisphere.

The region is at an unprecedented level of political and economic crisis in which you have many different states, which are kind of teetering on the edge in terms of whether they continue to be transparent democratic regimes or something more radical, said Ellis, who also serves as a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

The sensitive material mainly contains secret U.S. intelligence assessments of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Copies of the documents started circulating on various social media sites weeks ago. Though the Herald could not independently verify them, Pentagon officials have acknowledged that most are authentic though some appear to have been altered. The FBI is investigating the source of the leak.

One report relying on information collected by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said that as of late February, members of the Russian mercenary force known as the Wagner Group planned to discreetly travel to Haiti to assess the potential for contracts with the Haitian government to fight against local gangs.

It wouldnt surprise me that [Wagner] would be looking for business opportunities, Ellis said, adding that he has no personal knowledge of their plans. But theres a difference between looking for business opportunities and actually having a serious conversation with somebody that could lead to a contract.

A top Haitian official told the Miami Herald that Prime Minister Ariel Henry has not had any discussions with the Wagner Group or any Russian officials, nor has he sought help from either as part of his request to international partners to deploy a rapid response force to Haiti to help the national police take on gangs.

Another report says that as of late February, Russian foreign affairs officials favored a Ukraine mediation proposal presented by Brazils recently elected president, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. The secret document suggests Ukraines rejection of the plan is not unfounded since, according to the report, the Russian officials believe the plan to establish a club of supposedly impartial mediators to settle the war in Ukraine  would reject the Wests aggressor-victim paradigm.

Early this year, Lula da Silva rejected calls to send weapons to Ukraine, instead advocating for a negotiated solution. But he has been under fire for equally blaming the two countries for the war and comments last week suggesting that Ukraine should renounce territorial claims to Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. The U.S. intelligence report mentions that the Brazilian government was planning to send an envoy to Moscow to discuss the plan in early April.

Celso Amorim, Lula da Silvas adviser, met Russian President Vladimir Putin in late March, though its not clear if much came from the visit. In an interview with CNN, Amorim said that doors were not wholly shut to finding a negotiated solution to the war.

Ellis views Lula da Silvas position as his way of trying to position Brazil to have a greater international role, in similar fashion to what he did during his previous time in office. He served two terms as Brazils president between 2003 and 2010.

I see that as more kind of opportunistic diplomacy than anything else, Ellis said. You see that with AMLO [President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador] in Mexico for similar reasons ... in El Salvador, in Honduras, if you look at the UN voting record. Theres that kind of traditional Latin American orientation of Were not going to get involved in international politics unless theres something in it for us. 

A third document reveals secret negotiations between China and Nicaragua to build a deep-water port in Bluefields on the countrys Caribbean coast. Citing signals intelligence, the report said that China Harbor Engineering Company had been negotiating to conduct initial site surveys and discuss future operations since mid-2022. Taiwan officials first warned of Chinas interest in building a naval outpost in Nicaragua in late 2022. Nicaragua severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 2021.

According to the report, Nicaragua, under the rule of Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, still views Russia  also interested in Bluefields  as its primary security partner, but since the beginning of Russias full-scale war in Ukraine, has expanded ties with Beijing, purchasing security equipment and agreeing to the presence of a Chinese military representative in the country. While the report says that China has not stated plans to acquire any overseas basing or military access in Nicaragua, it assesses that the Nicaraguan government probably would consider offering Beijing naval access in exchange for economic investment.

Ellis said while he sees the Chinese threat in the region being far, far greater than Russias, there is reason to be concerned about both nations. For example, as the conflict in Ukraine continues, he believes some Latin American countries may be more willing to allow Russia to do some limited, but very serious things from the hemisphere.

As Putin moves toward his end game if he wants to up the ante, he has a small number of threat hosts in the region which are willing to do so, he said.

During congressional testimony in February 2019, the director of U.S. Southern Command at the time, U.S. Navy Adm. Craig S. Faller, told a Senate committee that Russia and Chinas growing influence in the hemisphere was among the chief security challenges affecting the United States.

The most disturbing insight, he said, has been the degree to which external state actors, especially Russia, China and Iran, are expanding their influence in the Western Hemisphere. Russia, in particular, enables actions in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba that threaten hemispheric security and prosperity.
Vedant Patel

We are going to continue to support Ukraine in the face of Russian brutal aggression for as long as it takes, but I am not going to go into details on the same topic, said Patel.

Read also: Moldovans condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine, says Sandu

He added that Ukraine plans its military operations independently from the input from its allies, including the United States.

On April 6, The New York Times, citing sources in the White House, reported that the Pentagon was investigating a leak of classified documents relating to U.S. and NATO efforts to prepare the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the coming counteroffensive. Recently, classified materials, dated March 1, appeared on Twitter, Telegram, and across other social media and messenger apps.

Read also: Two Ukrainian brigades equipped with Bradley IFVs, Stryker AFVs returning to Ukraine after training, Pentagon says

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said the published documents were doctored, and called them a pseudo-leak from Russia.

Read also: US, Germany oppose NATO Membership Action Plan for Ukraine

Ukrainian Defense Intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov also said that the documents were forged by Russian special services. He pointed out that the documents contain false data on combat losses for both sides, with some of the information gathered from open sources.

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 U.S. Attorney's Office recently filed a petition in federal court to force the House of Prayer Christian Church to provide subpoenaed documents as part of multiple civil investigative demands.

Civil investigative demands are requests for information listed in a subpoena. If CIDs are not complied with, the government can impose criminal contempt charges.

The petition, filed Friday in the U.S District Court in the Southern District of Georgia, relates to the House of Prayer bible seminaries in Hephzibah and Hinesville, which are under investigation by the FBI for allegedly scamming hundreds of veterans out of their G.I. bill entitlements.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of Georgia issued demands on Dec. 9, 2019 and Jan. 27, 2023, seeking documents as part of a civil investigation under the False Claims Act, according to the petition.

Escaping the church: Ex-members of FBI-raided church tell similar stories of harassment, stalking

FBI raids: FBI raids Georgia churches near military bases; sources say church was targeting soldiers

The requests were made to determine whether the bible seminaries or those associated with them submitted false claims for veterans' education and housing benefits offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to the petition.

In response to the first request, the bible seminary said one of the church's leaders, Marcus Labat, would provide certificates of compliance on March 12, 2020, but has yet to provide the requested documents, according to the petition. House of Prayer failed to respond to the second request by the Feb. 23, 2023 deadline, according to the petition.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is asking the court to request the House of Prayer bible seminary to provide sworn certificates of compliance for both requests, as required by law, according to the petition.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: New petition filed against House of Prayer Christian Church
TRENTON, N.J.  New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was personally involved in failed contract negotiations between Rutgers University and faculty unions that went on strike Monday for the first time in the school's history.

Now Murphy, a Democrat who has counted organized labor among his closest political allies, is betting he'll be able to reach an accord by becoming further intertwined in the dispute. He's so confident he told Rutgers leaders not to take legal action against the striking workers despite the school's contention the work stoppage is illegal.

Murphy and his staff were in talks with Rutgers and labor officials for months  and as recently as Sunday  ahead of the strike, the governor said. On Monday, he called a meeting in his Trenton office to try resolve the impasse and said he spoke briefly with the two sides at noon.

"I'm not happy that it's come to this. I am happy that we're in the room together," Murphy, speaking after an unrelated event in the Statehouse, said he told those in attendance. "Figure this out ASAP."

Murphy would not directly answer questions about whether he would allow the state to take legal action to halt the strike, saying only, "I hope it doesn't come to that." But a spokesperson for Rutgers said the governor had already told school leaders to hold off on doing so.

"The Governor ... asked us to delay taking legal action asking the courts to order strikers back to work so that no further irreparable harm is caused to our students and to their continued academic progress," the spokesperson, Dory Devlin, said in a statement to POLITICO. "We agreed to his request to refrain from seeking an injunction while it appears that progress can be made."

The legality of a strike from higher education workers at the states flagship public university has been a matter of dispute. Rutgers has maintained that its illegal for workers to strike, saying in an online FAQ that New Jersey courts consistently and expressly have held that strikes by New Jersey public employees are illegal. Unions have insisted that there are no laws explicitly prohibiting their right to strike.

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As Murphy spoke about the strike, union members rallied at Rutgers campuses across the state in New Brunswick, Camden and Newark. The New Brunswick strike included labor leaders ranging from State AFL-CIO president Charles Wowkanech, the Communications Workers of Americas New Jersey affiliate and national American Association of University Professors president Irene Mulvey, who described Rutgers management was stalling and foot-dragging.

Rutgers is for education  we are not a corporation, workers chanted as they carried on strike signs.

Rutgers union leaders also said they worked with other unions to ensure workers dont cross the picket line. Todd Wolfson, general vice president at the Rutgers AAUP-AFT, said construction at the Zimmerli Art Museum at the New Brunswick campus  which was scheduled for today  was blocked to ensure workers did not cross the picket line.

There will be no construction at the Zimmerli today, Wolfson said during a union rally. There will be no construction at the Zimmerli tomorrow. And there will be no construction at the Zimmerli until we get our contract.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) appeared at the union rally and expressed sympathy for graduate assistants and graduate student workers.

I feel very strongly that whatever this final agreement is does have to include them and better wages and security for all of them, he said.

The unions are seeking higher wages as part of a new contract. Other priorities include affordable housing and better health insurance, forgiveness for students' overdue fees and fines, and equal pay for equal work for adjunct faculty.

In a memo, Rutgers president Jonathan Holloway detailed the university's offer to the three unions now on strike  including "enhanced compensation programs" to increase salaries for full-time staff by 12 percent in two years, raising the per-credit salary rate for part-time lecturers and increasing the salary for postdoctoral fellows and associates.

The strike could mar the legacy of a governor who got into office in part because of support from public labor unions and who said Monday, "I don't think there's been a more pro-labor administration in the history of the state."

Murphy deflected questions of whether those factors mean he should have been able to deliver an agreement, saying he has "very good relations" with unions and the school.

"We've been involved in one form or another  including me personally  for months," Murphy said.

Murphy and his staff worked, he said, "all day yesterday and last night" with school officials "at the highest levels."

Murphy said he's optimistic his approach will work.

"I think the very force and nature of our office and our administration in the room, basically with a 'lock-the-door-throw-away-the-key mentality' has a very significant potential to move the needle in the right direction, and that's what we're hoping for," he said.
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assured China on Monday that military bases accessible to the United States would not be used in any offensive action, stressing the arrangement with Washington was designed to boost his country's defences.

China's foreign ministry last week said the United States strengthening military deployment in the Philippines would only lead to more tension in the region, after Manila allowed Washington access to more of its bases.

"China's reaction was not surprising," Marcos told reporters. "The Philippines will not allow the bases to be used in any offensive action," he said.

The Philippines identified last week four more of its bases the United States will get access to, almost doubling the number included in its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

The locations of the bases are significant, with three facing north towards Taiwan and one near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, where China has built artificial islands equipped with runways and missile systems.

EDCA underlines the Philippines' strategic importance to the former colonial ruler the United States, coming at a time of growing concern over China's conduct in the South China Sea and tension over self-ruled Taiwan.

Signed in 2014, it allows U.S. access to Philippine bases for joint training, pre-positioning of equipment and building of facilities such as runways, fuel storage and military housing, but it is not a permanent presence.

"If no one is attacking us, they need not worry because we will not fight them," Marcos said. "What we are doing is we are strengthening our territorial defence, the defence of the Republic."

Marcos' remarks also come ahead of the largest ever joint military exercises between the Philippines and the United States, which will feature for the first time live fire exercises at sea.

(Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty)
Pierre Lacotte's role in the famous defection was recounted in a 2018 biopic titled The White Crow

Pierre Lacotte, a French ballet choreographer who helped superstar Rudolf Nureyev defect from the Soviet Union, has died aged 91.

"Our Pierre left us at 4:00 am," said his wife, retired principal dancer Ghislaine Thesmar.

Lacotte helped Nureyev escape KGB agents in Paris and seek asylum at the capital's Le Bourget airport in 1961.

His role in the famous defection was recounted in a 2018 biopic titled The White Crow directed by Ralph Fiennes.

Ms Thesmar said her husband had died after a cut became septic.

Lacotte started his career at the Paris Opera Ballet as a teenager and later turned his attention to the revival of forgotten 19th Century productions.

In 1961, he became friends with Nureyev while he was on tour in Paris. Lacotte told the BBC in 2012 that he accompanied Nureyev on several tours of the city's restaurants, bars and museums.

This angered the KGB agents who were on the trip, and Nureyev was told he was to be sent home. Nureyev believed he would not be allowed to leave the country again.

Nureyev pleaded with Lacotte not to leave his side at the airport, but Nureyev was surrounded by KGB agents.

Lacotte asked the agents if he and his friend, socialite Clara Saint, could say goodbye to their friend before he left.

"I said, listen Rudolf, look behind me there is Clara Saint, and behind Clara Saint is a policeman. You just have to come to him. You kiss me, you kiss Clara and you say you want to be free. And it's done," Lacotte said.

"I said don't be afraid, stay quiet and do as I say."

Nureyev then made a dash towards two French police and declared that he wished to remain in the West.

Despite being recognised as one of the greatest dancers of his era, Nureyev and his family paid a heavy price. He was only allowed back to the USSR more than 25 years later when his mother was dying, while his Soviet friends' careers were made to suffer.

Nureyev was one of the greatest dancers of his generation

After suffering an ankle injury, Lacotte turned his attention to the archives of the Paris Opera from 1968.

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They included La Sylphide, the first ballet performed completely "en pointe" - where the dancers stand on the tip of their toes - when it was first produced in 1832.

His final work in 2021 was a production of The Red and the Black based on the 1830 novel by French writer Stendhal.

Despite being 91 he was still working, his wife said.

"It's very sad. He still had so many projects and was writing a book," she added.
In this photo provided by Brian Emmenis, people look inside a plane at the Welkom Airport, in Welkom, South Africa, as they search for a venomous snake that the pilot found hiding under his seat midair, Monday April 3, 2023. Rudolf Erasmus had four passengers on board the light aircraft during Mondays flight when he felt something cold slide across his lower back. He glanced down to see the head of a fairly large Cape cobra receding back under the seat, he said. | Brian Emmenis via Associated Press

One South African pilot had a real-life experience with a snake on a plane.

Pilot Rudolph Erasmus was about 11,000 feet in the air when he noticed he wasnt alone in the cockpit  there was a cobra under his seat.

To be truly honest, its as if my brain did not register what was going on, Erasmus told the BBC.

How did the South African pilot know about the cobra snake in the plane?

He was transporting four passengers from Bloemfontein to Pretoria. Shortly after the discovery, Erasmus made an emergency landing  a bite from a Cape cobra is lethal and can kill someone in just 30 minutes, BBC reported.

He informed the passengers about the snake, and everybody remained calm, he told NPR.

What made him notice the snake was that it slithered down his shirt midflight, per CNN.

South African civil aviation commissioner Poppy Khoza praised Erasmus, calling him a hero because he saved all lives on board, NPR reported.

The snake was not seen again after being spotted in the aircraft, even after engineers stripped the plane to try to find it, per BBC.
Sahil Kulgod was released from custody earlier this month, but an Appellate Court decision on Tuesday means he may have to return to incarceration.

Kulgod, 29, of Plainsboro, was sentenced to four years in state prison after he was found guilty of second-degree vehicular homicide in 2019 of speeding more than 85 mph on Millstone River Road in Hillsborough before a collision in which Nancy Louie, 50, of Hillsborough, died on the morning of Jan. 4, 2015.

Kulgod was originally sentenced by Superior Court Judge Robert Ballard to five years in prison, the minimum sentence for a second-degree crime, but when the Appellate Court upheld the conviction, the case was remanded back to court for resentencing. Ballard then downgraded the offense to the third-degree for sentencing purposes and imposed a four-year No Early Release Act sentence.

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office appealed the lesser sentence, arguing that Ballard should have considered Kulgod's social media posts before the crash in which he boasted of driving more than 100 mph.

One of Kulgod's social media posts a week before the crash said, according to court papers, "The number of times I've seen triple digit speeds is probably wayyy (sic) more than what my engineers had in min...#shhh."

Hillsborough police investigate a fatal head-on collision, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, on Millstone River Road.

On Tuesday, the Appellate Court agreed with the Prosecutor's Office that Ballard "abused (his) discretion in excluding consideration of those posts."

The Appellate Court ruled that whichever judge resentences Kulgod should consider the posts.

The Prosecutor's Office argued that the social media posts should be considered because they showed "his purposeful misuse of public roadways to act out his racecar-driver fantasies" in the weeks and days before the fatal crash.

The Appellate Court also ruled that the resentencing be assigned to another judge in the vicinage which also includes Hunterdon and Warren counties.

The Appellate Court also ruled that Ballard "provided no reason" for downgrading Kulgod's crime to third degree.

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The case mirrors another landmark vehicular homicide case tried in Somerset County which made its way to federal court after a decade-long legal battle.

Actress Amy Locane, known for her roles in the TV series "Melrose Place" and the film "Cry-Baby," was found guilty by a jury of vehicular homicide in the death of Helene Seeman on June 27, 2010.

Fred Seeman, a New York attorney, was driving with his wife and turning into the driveway of their Montgomery weekend home when Locane struck their vehicle while going about 20 mph over the 35-mph speed limit. Helene Seeman died in the crash and her husband suffered serious injuries. Locane was drunk at the time.

Locane was originally sentenced to three years in state prison by Superior Court Judge Robert Reed.

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office appealed the sentence. An Appellate Court decision called Locane's sentencing "excessively lenient" and ordered that she return to Superior Court for a new sentencing.

But after Reed did not follow the Appellate Court decision in the second sentencing, the Prosecutors Office again successfully appealed.

Judge Kevin Shanahan then sentenced Locane for a third time in February 2019 to five years in state prison. That sentence was again successfully appealed by the Prosecutor's Office.

Superior Court Judge Angela Borkowski then sentenced Locane on Sept. 17, 2020, to eight years in prison. Locane lost the appeal of that sentence.

Locane is serving her sentence at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Hunterdon County and will not be eligible for parole until Dec. 20, 2024.

Matthew Murphy, a former assistant prosecutor, brought the cases against both Locane and Kulgod.Kulgod was a college student home on winter break when he went for a drive at about 10 a.m. on the day of the crash.

Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Lt. William Pauli testified in the trial that Kulgod's Ford Focus crossed the double yellow line on a curve and struck Louie's 1991 BMW in the right front with enough force that it was pushed off the road and struck a tree.

Testimony at the trial determined that Kulgod was speeding about 86 mph in a 45-mph zone at the time of the crash.

Kulgod's defense was that the accident was caused by someone who was tailgating him.

Kulgod was released April 1 from a residential work-release program at James A. Hemm House.

Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Plainsboro man guilty of fatal Hillsborough crash may return to prison
Agriculture seen as key to US-China ties

09:09, April 10, 2023 By ZHAO HUANXIN in Washington ( China Daily

Deepening engagement will contribute to global food security, diplomats say

Senior diplomats of China and the United States have said they expect agricultural engagement between the two countries to remain strong to benefit both and contribute to global food security, even though tensions continue to be high in their relations.

"Despite the ongoing difficulties in the bilateral relations, high enthusiasm and expectations remain across the two agricultural sectors and societies. This fully demonstrates the momentum, resilience and potential of bilateral agricultural cooperation," Xu Xueyuan, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese embassy in the US, said on April 4.

Speaking at the 2023 Annual US-China Agriculture Roundtable in St. Louis, Missouri, Xu said that as major agricultural countries, both nations give priority to the stable growth of agriculture, the countryside and farmers' income.

"When China and the US work together, we would bring about better well-being for our peoples," she said at the event, hosted by the US Heartland China Association, based in Missouri.

Themed on "Global Food Security: Rise to the Challenge", the roundtable is scheduled to be followed by an online think tank dialogue on Tuesday, and a virtual agricultural education dialogue on Thursday.

In 2022, the value of US agricultural and related products exported to China reached a record $40.9 billion, an increase of 14.5 percent compared with the previous year, making China again the largest market for US exports, the US Department of Agriculture said in February.

Solid foundation

The figures reflect the solid foundation of the agricultural trade between the two sides. They are also a result of China's continued efforts to provide tariff exclusion and trade facilitation for US agricultural products despite COVID and other adversities, Xu said.

In comparison, China's agricultural exports to the US, though on the rise, remained "relatively limited" in scale and variety.

"We hope to further expand two-way trade, and export more aquatic products, vegetables, fruits and other high-quality, specialty products to the US," Xu said.

In addition to trade, the two countries can explore new areas of cooperation to achieve modernization of agriculture, for example, by working together on climate-smart agriculture, soil health, food waste, new varieties, new technology and new equipment, she said.

Agricultural cooperation between the two countries in a wider range of areas will help set an example for global agricultural development, the diplomat said.

She said the global agricultural market has undergone continuous fluctuations as a result of climate change, regional conflicts, COVID-19 and other factors in recent years, and that a healthy agricultural trade relationship between China and the US will help stabilize global markets of food and major agricultural products.

"Together we account for 20 percent of global agricultural imports and 15 percent of exports. If China-US agricultural trade gets unstable, the global market gets unstable as well," she said.

The roundtable was attended by agricultural delegations from Jiangsu, Shandong and Hebei provinces, making Chinese participation the largest at the event since the start of the pandemic.

Speaking via video, US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said that maintaining a constructive agricultural relationship is very important for the overall bilateral relationship between the US and China.

Burns said that he had recently discussed with Chinese Minister of Agriculture Tang Renjian and both shared an interest in increased and ongoing agricultural engagement.

"America's agricultural engagement with the PRC remains strong and is a major positive part of our overall relationship with China and with the Chinese people," Burns said, according to a transcript issued by the embassy on Friday.

"The overall health of our agricultural relationship with China is strong, however, and I expect it to remain strong in 2023," he said.

Top market

Burns noted that China was the top market for US agriculture in the last three years, equating to almost 20 percent of all US agricultural exports on an annual basis.

"Agricultural trade brings jobs and income to rural America. Agricultural trade is making a real and positive difference to our rural communities, across the heartland and in all our farm and ranch states, and in fisheries states like my home state of Massachusetts," he said.

Goods exports from Massachusetts to China increased by 32 percent year on year to reach $3.5 billion in 2021, with 11 percent of the state's global goods exports bound for China in 2021, according to US Export Report 2022, issued by the US-China Business Council.

In his speech, Burns also listed issues of concern in agriculture, such as agricultural biotechnology, which he said is critical to achieving global food security and global climate-smart agriculture goals.

Burns said relationship with China is a "difficult, competitive relationship on many issues", but the US has also said consistently that "we are ready to work with the PRC when our interests coincide", and they include climate change, agriculture, food security, global health and narcotics.

China and the US are the two largest economies and "our bilateral engagement affects not just the two of us, but the entire world", he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
(CNN)  Highly classified Pentagon documents leaked online in recent weeks have provided a rare window into how the US spies on allies and foes alike, deeply rattling US officials, who fear the revelations could jeopardize sensitive sources and compromise important foreign relationships.

Some of the documents, which US officials say are authentic, expose the extent of US eavesdropping on key allies, including South Korea, Israel and Ukraine.

Others reveal the degree to which the US has penetrated the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Russian mercenary organization Wagner Group, largely through intercepted communications and human sources, which could now be cut off or put in danger.

Still others divulge key weaknesses in Ukrainian weaponry, air defense, and battalion sizes and readiness at a critical point in the war, as Ukrainian forces gear up to launch a counteroffensive against the Russians  and just as the US and Ukraine have begun to develop a more mutually trusting relationship over intelligence-sharing.

Ukraine has already altered some of its military plans because of the leak, a source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN.

The leak has also led the Pentagon to take steps to tighten the flow of such highly sensitive documents, officials said, which are normally available on any given day to hundreds of people across the government.

The Joint Staff, which comprises the Defense Department's most senior uniformed leadership that advises the president, is examining its distribution lists to look at who gets these reports, a Defense official said. Many of the documents had markings indicating that they had been produced by the Joint Staff's intelligence arm, known as J2, and appear to be briefing documents.

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Friday that the department is continuing to review the matter and had made a referral to the Justice Department, which separately confirmed to CNN that it has launched an investigation into the source of the leak.

Diplomats frustrated

The documents appeared online last month on the social media platform Discord, according to screenshots of the posts reviewed by CNN. The posts are photos of crumpled documents laid on top of magazines and surrounded by other random objects, such as zip-close bags and Gorilla Glue. It is as if they had been hastily folded up and shoved into a pocket before being removed from a secure location, a source familiar with these kinds of documents told CNN.

While spying is an inevitable part of how the US intelligence community collects information globally, diplomats from some of the countries mentioned told CNN it was frustrating  and harmful to the US reputation  to see that information exposed publicly.

US allies are doing damage assessments, scrambling to determine whether any of their own sources and methods have been compromised by the leak.

"We expect the US to share a damage assessment with us in the coming days, but we cannot wait for their assessment. Right now we are doing our own," said an official from a country that is part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing arrangement with the US, which includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

"We are poring over these documents to figure out if any of the intelligence originated from our collection," the official said.

A second Five Eyes nation official expressed concern about the leaked Ukraine war information handicapping the country on the battlefield.

The official also pointed out that it was alarming to see one of the documents from February titled "Russia-Ukraine: Battle for the Donbas Region Likely Heading for a Stalemate Throughout 2023." The document notes the challenges with assessing the "endurance of Ukraine's operations."

"Gains for Ukraine will be hard to accomplish, but it does not help to have the private US assessment pointing to a likely yearlong stalemate revealed publicly," the official said.

Spying on friends

CNN has reviewed 53 leaked documents, all of which appear to have been produced between mid-February and early March.

One document reveals that the US has been spying on Zelensky. That is unsurprising, said the source close to Zelensky, but Ukrainian officials are deeply frustrated about the leak.

The US intelligence report, which is sourced to signals intelligence, says that Zelensky in late February "suggested striking Russian deployment locations in Russia's Rostov Oblast" using unmanned aerial vehicles, since Ukraine does not have long-range weapons capable of reaching that far.

Signals intelligence includes intercepted communications and is broadly defined by the National Security Agency as "intelligence derived from electronic signals and systems used by foreign targets, such as communications systems, radars, and weapons systems."

The intelligence could explain public US comments about not wanting to give Ukraine long-range missile systems over fears that Kyiv will use them to strike inside Russia. But Ukraine has pledged not to use US-provided weapons to do so.

Relatedly, another intelligence report says that China could use Ukrainian strikes on targets deep inside Russia "as an opportunity to cast NATO as the aggressor, and may increase its aid to Russia if it deems the attacks were significant."

Mykhailo Podolyak, the adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said on his Telegram channel Friday that he believes the documents that have been disseminated are inauthentic, have "nothing to do with Ukraine's real plans" and are based on "a large amount of fictitious information" disseminated by Russia.

Yet another document describes, in remarkable detail, a conversation between two senior South Korean national security officials about concerns by the country's National Security Council over a US request for ammunition.

The officials worried that supplying the ammunition, which the US would then send to Ukraine, would violate South Korea's policy of not supplying lethal aid to countries at war. According to the document, one of the officials then suggested a way of getting around the policy without actually changing it -- by selling the ammunition to Poland.

The document has already sparked controversy in Seoul, with South Korean officials telling reporters that they plan to raise the issue with Washington, according to The New York Times.

Officials from other countries also plan to raise the matter with Washington, but they have not had those conversations yet as they wait to see what the Biden administration says about the leaked documents in the coming days, multiple diplomats said.

An intelligence report about Israel, meanwhile, has sparked outrage in Jerusalem. The report, produced by the CIA and sourced to signals intelligence, says that Israel's main intelligence agency, the Mossad, had been encouraging protests against the country's new government  "including several explicit calls to action," the report alleges.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office responded on the Mossad's behalf Sunday morning, calling the report "mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever."

"The Mossad and its senior officials did not  and do not  encourage agency personnel to join the demonstrations against the government, political demonstrations or any political activity," the statement said. "The Mossad and its serving senior personnel have not engaged in the issue of the demonstrations at all and are dedicated to the value of service to the state that has guided the Mossad since its founding."

Another classified document, also sourced to signals intelligence, offers a window into how the US assesses its allies' policies  and how the US can exert its influence to change them.

The document, titled "Israel: Pathways to Providing Lethal Aid to Ukraine," says Jerusalem "likely will consider providing lethal aid under increased US pressure or a perceived degradation" in its relationship with Russia.

Another document reveals what the US thin ks about some European countries' intentions to donate fighter jets to Ukraine, which has been asking for the planes for over a year.

On February 23, the report says, Bulgaria expressed willingness to donate its fleet of MiG-29 jets to Ukraine  a "challenge," the report assesses, because it will leave Bulgaria without fighter aircraft to fulfill its air policing missions until US-made F-16s are delivered, "which is at least a year away."

Spying on foes

The massive leak also reveals that US penetration of Russia's Defense Ministry and the mercenary organization Wagner Group goes deeper than previously understood.

Much of the information about Russia was gathered via intercepted communications, raising concerns that the Russians might now change their method of communication to better conceal their planning.

Human sources could be at risk too. Maps of Russian troop movements and capabilities included in the trove of documents are sourced in part to human confidential sources, prompting fears among US officials that those assets could now be in danger.

The documents show that the US has been able to intercept Russian targeting plans, down to which exact thermoelectric power plants, electric substations and railroad and vehicle bridges Russian forces planned to attack inside Ukraine and when.

The US was also able to intercept the Russian strategy for combating NATO tanks due to enter Ukraine beginning in April. The plan "called for establishing three fire zones based on range  long, medium, and short  with each zone covered by specific weaponry and unit types," the US intelligence report says.

Highlighting US concerns about the Wagner Group, which has thousands of personnel operating in Ukraine, the documents discuss Wagner's renewed recruitment of Russian prisoners to fight in Ukraine -- underscoring its leader's "continued influence with Putin," one report says -- and the group's plans to strengthen its presence across Africa and in Haiti.

The documents also provide a window into casualty figures on both sides, numbers that are notoriously difficult to estimate accurately and that the US has been reluctant to share publicly in detail.

According to one of the documents, Russian forces had suffered 189,500 to 223,000 casualties as of February, including as many as 43,000 troops killed in action. Ukraine, meanwhile, had suffered 124,500 to 131,000 casualties, with up to 17,500 killed in action, the report says.

Bad actors are already using the leaked documents to spread disinformation, analysts say. The document with casualty numbers, for example, was altered in recent weeks to more than halve the number of Russian deaths, before being spread on pro-Russian Telegram channels.

Asked about the images circulating on Twitter and Telegram, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told CNN on Friday that "we don't have the slightest doubt about direct or indirect involvement of the United States and NATO in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine."

"This level of involvement is rising, is rising gradually," he said. "We keep our eye on this process. Well, of course, it makes the whole story more complicated, but it cannot influence the final outcome of the special operation."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Leaked Pentagon documents provide rare window into depth of US intelligence on allies and foes."
The city of Raleigh is reviewing a planned 36-story, mixed-use tower next to Nash Square in downtown Raleigh.

Called Nash Square Apartments, the plan calls for over 850,000 square feet of space including ground floor retail, more than 400 apartments and 500 parking spaces.

The nearly 1 acre property is a vacant lot at 303 S. Dawson St., next to the Berkeley Cafe.

The property was rezoned in October 2022 to allow up to 40 stories, the highest allowed in the citys code. The previous zoning allowed buildings up to 20 stories.

Berkeley Cafe building not affected

Originally the Berkeley Cafe building was included in the rezoning, but the developers removed it after outcry from fans of the restaurant and people interested in historic preservation. The building, at 217 W. Martin St., has housed a cafe or restaurant for over 100 years.

Alex Little, one of the cafes owners, originally said their lease would run out in November 2022, but the developers ended up extending it for another year.

A hotel was originally planned for the property when the citys zoning rules allowed up to 20 stories.

The property was bought in October by New York-based real estate developer Alchemy Properties, which did not respond to a phone call or email from The News & Observer Thursday afternoon.

Plans list the elevation of the planned building as 429 feet, which would make it one of the tallest buildings in the city. PNC Plaza is the tallest building at over 500 feet.
Family members of a man who Plantation police fatally shot at a hotel over the weekend are now seeking answers following his death.

The shooting occurred around 3 p.m. Saturday at the Plantation Inn Hotel & Lounge, 375 N State Road 7, Officer Chavez Grant, a spokesman with the Plantation Police Department, told the Miami Herald in an email.

Homea Spence died at the scene, and no officers were injured, Grant said. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the lead agency investigating the shooting, the agency confirmed Monday.

Grant didnt say how many officers shot at Spence nor the events that led to the shooting. Police also didnt specify Spences age.

Grant told the Sun Sentinel that the involved officers are on paid administrative leave.

Cellphone video taken by a bystander and obtained by WPLG Local 10 News shows an officer doing CPR on Spence after he was shot, the TV station reported.

According to Local 10, family members gathered outside the hotel Saturday night, pleading for more information from authorities.

He was just on Facebook with me three hours ago, and they wont tell us nothing, a family member told Local 10.

On Facebook, family members and friends mourned Spence.

Damn it man, weve known each other for over 20 years and not a week goes by without you video calling me just for me to know you doing good, Tamekia Walden said.

Tamarick Domineck wrote: Man I cant stop crying because you are my brother from another mother from day 1.
The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is currently investigating an armed robbery that reportedly took place at a Tropical Food store in the Hillcrest area.

According to JSO, a man approached a tropical food store at around 5:30 p.m. Once inside the business, the suspect showed a gun to the employee and robbed the person at gunpoint.

A struggle reportedly took place between the two individuals, resulting in the victim sustaining multiple non-life-threatening injuries during the incident. The suspect did not sustain any gunshot wounds during the struggle and was the only person in the store at the time.

The suspect, described as a person in their mid-30s wearing a hoodie and armed with a handgun, is currently on the run. It is unclear at this time if anything was stolen from the store, as inventory has not been counted.

JSO officials continue to investigate the incident and will provide updates as more details become available. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS to provide any pertinent details that may aid in the ongoing investigation.

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A Cobb County man is accused of exposing himself outside of a metro Atlanta Best Buy.

Channel 2s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell was in Smyrna Monday, where a female employee told police the man exposed himself in front of her in the parking lot as she was waiting for a manager to let her into work about two weeks ago.

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The victim said the same guy, who police have since identified as Christopher Warren, showed up at the store the next week, staring her down.

The victim told police that during the first incident, she was in her car when she noticed Warden move his car closer and closer to her vehicle. According to warrants, the victim saw Warden look at her multiple times from inside his car when he did the unthinkable.

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When police arrived, Warden was gone.

Ten days later, the victim called police again to report that Warden showed up to the Best Buy and stared at her as he slowly drove by.

Police tracked Warden down and said he admitted to touching himself. Warden told police his windows are tinted and he didnt think she could see him or what he was doing. Warden told police he was just trying to find somewhere private to touch himself.

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Police said surveillance video proves Wardens movements and his proximity to the victim were intentional.

Newell talked to shoppers who were shocked at Wardens actions.

I think people are sick, shopper Louis Obeng said. For them to do this is broad daytime, they know they are gonna get caught. I think they should take him to a mental hospital.

Warden has been charged with public indecency.
An emergency dispatcher can be heard relaying what Cash App creator Bob Lee said during a 911 call before his death, NBC reported. Getty

Audio from a police scanner gave more insight into Bob Lee's 911 call, NBC reported.

An emergency dispatcher reportedly said there was "male screaming 'help.'"

San Francisco's police chief has said he is "100% sure" the case of Lee's death will be solved.

Audio from a police scanner gives fresh insight into the moments after Cash App creator Bob Lee was fatally stabbed in San Francisco last week, according to reports.

In an audio recording obtained by NBC in the Bay Area, an emergency dispatcher said that "there's a male screaming 'help,' saying 'someone stabbed me.'"

The dispatcher also told police units to be "advised he is bleeding out" and said the man was "outside on the street," NBC reports.

The New York Post also obtained audio of the dispatcher's conversation. Insider was unable to independently confirm the authenticity of the audio.

"There are no updates to provide at this time," a spokesperson for the San Francisco police department said. "SFPD has not provided any photo/ video/ audio evidence in this incident and is not confirming the contents of such published by other outlets."

Lee, the chief product officer of MobileCoin and former CTO of Square, was fatally stabbed on Tuesday morning, NBC first reported. ABC's San Francisco affiliate, KGO-TV previously reported that surveillance footage from the moments after the incident showed Lee walking around the Rincon Hill neighborhood in downtown San Francisco and asking for help before the police arrived at the scene.

The SFPD said it responded around 2:35 a.m. on Tuesday to the 911 call, according to a press release.

On Thursday, San Francisco police chief Bill Scott said that he was "100% sure" the perpetrator would be found and said "there's evidence that we found that I can't talk about because we don't want to jeopardize this case."

NBC reported that the police had found a knife near the crime scene. The publication said there has yet to be an arrest related to the case.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Andrew Kelley, 26, was found shot outside a home on the Near East Side on May 24, 2020. His homicide remains unsolved.

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to an arrest in a fatal shooting that took place in May 2020 on the Near East Side.

Around 9:05 p.m. on May 24, 2020, Columbus police were called to the 1900 block of Maryland Avenue for a gun-related run. When officers arrived, they found Andrew Kelley, 26, in the backyard of a home.

Police initially said that Kelley, who was from the South Side, was not cooperative with the officers and wouldn't tell them what had happened. He died a short time later at an area hospital.

Video recovered during the investigation showed a fight between Kelley and several other men who were at the location. Police said there were 20 to 30 people on the scene when the shooting occurred.

According to his obituary, Kelley was the oldest of 11 siblings and had a young daughter.

Anyone with information is asked to call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS, use the free P3 Tips mobile application or provide information online at www.stopcrime.org. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and a special coding system is used to provide the reward.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Crime Stoppers offering reward in May 2020 Near East Side homicide
Authorities are searching for two suspects who allegedly broke into a truck stuck in morning traffic on Interstate 93 in Canton and made off with multiple boxes of smartphones.

Troopers responding to a report of a robbery on the highway Monday morning learned the truck was in heavy traffic when the two suspects exited a car, opened the back of the truck, and stole the smartphones, according to Massachusetts State Police.

After the apparent robbery, state police say the suspects got back into their car and fled the scene on the southbound side of the highway.

The truck driver, a native of New Jersey, was not injured during the incident.

There were no additional details immediately available.

Detectives and patrolmen assigned to Troop H are investigating.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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A student uses their phone while walking between classes at Cyprus High School in Magna on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. A majority of Utah parents are worried about their kids access to inappropriate online content, according to a recent poll. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Utahs governor and legislature have taken a hard line when it comes to teen social media use, but the states voters see some leeway in terms of age requirements for having such accounts.

Thats according to the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll, which found that a majority of Utah adults favor limiting social media to those 16 and older (60%), with not quite 1 in 4 thinking teens should be at least 18 before they can have Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok accounts.

Experts note that while one is not an adult until 18, states allow teens 16 and older different responsibilities, such as driving.

The poll results come in the wake of two recently signed bills that make Utah the first state in the U.S. to bar anyone under 18 years old from using social media without express permission from a parent or guardian.

Between March 14-22, 801 registered Utah voters were asked at what age minors should be able to use social media. About 33% said at 14 to 15 years old, while 36% said 16 to 17.

Just 8% said children 13 or younger should have access to social media. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.46 percentage points.

That doesnt mean social media isnt concerning to the subset of 312 parents in the survey with school-age children. The vast majority of those parents said they are worried their child could encounter inappropriate content online, with 63% concerned a great deal and 31% a little.

Even more were concerned their minor children might find sexually explicit content online, with 68% saying they worry a great deal and 31% answering a little. Just 6% said they were not worried about sexual content.

The survey also asked the parents with minor children what steps they take to keep their family safe online. The majority, 68%, said they have taken all necessary precautions to protect my kids.

About 8% said they dont worry much about what their kids would find online, 9% said their kids keep asking for more autonomy than I am comfortable with, 7% said kids resist my efforts to protect them from negative influences online and 9% are not familiar with the services/settings that could protect my kids.

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The subset of questions asked only of parents with minor children has an error margin of 5.5 percentage points.

A majority of Utah parents are worried about their kids access to inappropriate online content, according to a recent poll. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Utah restrictions

The day after the survey was completed, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed two of the countrys first and most restrictive social media bills into law. They are intended to give parents more control over kids online use, from setting time restrictions to saying if a child can access social media at all.

Sponsored by Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, SB152 directs social media companies to get consent from a parent or guardian before someone under 18 opens an account, effectively requiring all Utahns to prove their age to use social media.

When parents approve a social media account, the company must limit overnight use by minors unless theres parental consent, shield youths from advertising  including targeted ads, content or accounts  and prevent minors from messaging certain accounts. Parents or guardians will be able to monitor their childs social media use and interactions.

HB311, sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, prohibits social media companies from using tools that make social media addictive for youths.

(HB311) allows for these social media companies to report quarterly to the Department of Commerce and have an independent audit that shows that those algorithms havent been built to cause minors to be addicted to these platforms, Teuscher said shortly after the bill was signed.

Under both bills, the Department of Commerce can investigate and fine social media companies that dont comply. The bills take effect March 1, 2024.

Cox, McKell and Teuscher all said they hope tech giants will work with lawmakers next session, something the delay would allow.

Come to the table, work with us, Teuscher said. If there are better solutions than what we have in these bills, well implement them. Well pass them at the beginning of next session. But right now the clock is ticking.

Supporters like University of Virginia sociologist Brad Wilcox laud Utahs new rules  and say the poll shows public support, too.

This survey indicates that most parents in Utah think young kids should not be on social media without their parents permission. I am pleased that the Utah legislation will give parents the ability to say yea or nay to their kids getting on apps like TikTok or Instagram, Wilcox said.

He called it noteworthy that a large minority have concerns even about older teens accessing the platforms and can keep their kids off until adulthood if they want.

While the legislation didnt define how companies will verify a users age, advocates of the new rules say Louisiana could be a model; it requires age verification for online pornography sites.

Jean Twenge, a sociology professor at San Diego State and author of the book iGen, said technology advancements offer other possibilities, too. A third-party site could collect identity verification for multiple social media platforms. There are companies like Clear, which collects identification to use at airports, that know how to manage identity data. Theres also talk that artificial intelligence could be used to tell how old someone is using a facial scan. Thats imperfect, but getting more and more accurate, she said, a potential first step that leads to another if the scan gets age provably wrong.

Not all bad?

Still, Sarah Coyne, a professor of child development in Brigham Young Universitys School of Family Life, said the issue isnt all black and white. She calls research on social medias role in the youth mental health crisis more complex and nuanced than its sometimes presented.

Social media, she said, is a tool. And like any tool, it can be used to good or bad effect. She points out that a hammer could kill someone  or build a house. Coyne believes social medias effect on individuals involves many factors, including their personality, experiences, current social situation and history. What theyre viewing on social media matters, as does with whom they communicate, when and the type of media used.

For some, social media can be very negative, but it can be positive for others and neutral for lots more, said Coyne, who noted a study from the Netherlands that said for the vast majority of adolescents, the impact is neutral or positive.

Related

Coyne said her own social media feed has inspirational quotes and beautiful pictures and memes that never fail to uplift her and inspire her to try to be her best self.

While some adolescents may suffer from social comparisons on social media, Coyne said others may curate who they follow and befriend in ways that reduce mental health symptoms. Youths who look at eating disorder websites likely feel negative impact, she said, but there are also positive body image sites that teach people to embrace their size and shape, which could be helpful.

Young people who feel like they dont belong, LGBTQ youths and those with severe social anxiety are among those that may craft a community online that provides a sense of belonging and can reduce suicide risk in some pretty substantial ways, said Coyne.

The Wheatley Institute at BYU found that in a recent study, Teaching by Example, as Deseret News reported in June. That study also suggests that how parents use social media can pose risks for kids.

Coyne would like to see lawmakers take a careful, thoughtful, nuanced look at the research and pass bills that would help all teenagers  something like putting money into media literacy education from a very young age that helps our children learn how to thrive in their media world instead of just trying to shield them from it, she said.

Online risks

Monitoring if kids have social media isnt as simple for parents as saying yes or no, said Twenge. Right now, theres an age floor of 13 many go around. And since many have their own online devices, its very hard for parents to know what kids and teens are doing online. Unfortunately, a lot of times they dont know until it goes wrong.

Twenge cites the case of Alexis Spence, who hid her Instagram account from her parents when she was 11. Spence, now 20, alleges in a lawsuit against Meta that social media use contributed to addiction to the app, depression, self-harm, an eating disorder and suicidal thoughts.

Her parents did everything they were supposed to, from having conversations to restricting use, Twenge said. Spence still got an account.

Another challenge, Twenge said, is that school-owned computers some students use dont allow parental controls.

Inappropriate content

Theres a lot online to worry parents, from sexually explicit material to items related to violence and self-harm, Twenge told Deseret News. Social media apps can also be a place where adult strangers contact minors. Sometimes those conversations can be very inappropriate, including sending explicit pictures. She said some of TikToks so-called challenges can be dangerous, too.

Though the sites say they take down inappropriate material, Twenge said her experience consulting on lawsuits suggests it sometimes takes years to get material removed.

The age limits themselves pose a problem, according to Twenge, because theyre not verified. Shes happy Utah is tackling that. A child can check a box, lie about the birthdate and boom, you have an account. A 7-year-old can do it  and we know that has happened.

She thinks getting social media out of middle school is a good idea  which would make the bottom age at least 15. Sixteen makes more sense, since then kids are deemed responsible enough to drive, Twenge added.

I know parents are in a tough position when it comes to technology, Twenge told Deseret News. Im not at all suggesting its easy or that parents should be aware of all these things or theyre not doing their job. Its almost impossible to keep up with all of that.

Thats why we need help, why we need these laws. Parents struggle with this because its hard, she said.
Pope Francis used his Easter address Sunday to speak about Russias ongoing war in Ukraine and the recent wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Speaking to a massive crowd at St. Peters Basilica, Francis called for peace between Russia and Ukraine, also asking the crowd to pray for those who have been wounded or lost loved ones in the war.

Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia, Francis said on Sunday. Comfort the wounded and all those who have lost loved ones because of the war, and grant that prisoners may return safe and sound to their families.

Even with Francis repeated calls for the fighting between the two countries to end, Ukrainian diplomats have complained that the Vatican leader hasnt come down enough in his statements on Russia and its leader, Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to CBS News,

Francis also called for a resumption of dialogue, in a climate of trust and reciprocal respect, between Israelis and Palestinians, so that peace may reign in the Holy City and in the entire region.

Israeli armed forces have clashed with Palestinian militant group Hamas over the holiday weekend, after Israeli police conducted a series of raids at the al-Asqa Mosque in Jerusalem throughout the week. The clashes coincide with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover.

The Israeli military also conducted airstrikes that targeted Hamas in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip in response to airstrikes launched by the militant group. The airstrikes resulted in the deaths of two Israeli women who were killed on the West Bank over the weekend.

U.S. officials have expressed their concern about the recent violence between Israel and Palestine.

We urge all sides to reduce this violence, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said last week. The side were taking on is safety and security, the side were taking is the status quo, the side were taking is one of peaceful worship.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
After it became known that Russia had launched its full-scale offensive against Ukraine on 24 February, everyone in the Ministry of Defence was on full alert.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda podcast



Details: Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that on the morning of 24 February, he arrived at the Defence Ministry, where everyone was already on full combat alert. According to him, even his office had turned into a combat position.

Quote from Reznikov: "When you entered the building of the Ministry of Defence before, there were a lot of checkpoints there, all the guys on duty were just in uniforms. But when I arrived at about 05:00 on the 24th [February], they were all wearing body armour, helmets, machine guns, with the clips loaded. That is, they were equipped in full combat gear. It was immediately striking. And immediately, a number of bags [filled with sand  ed.] began to grow, which were used to make fortifications and combat positions."

Details: As Reznikov recalls, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi's office was already in charge of the defence operations.

Quote from Reznikov: "We received reports from the respective commanders from different areas: what was happening, where, on which front. When we received the reports, we gave an appropriate response. They would report: Such-and-such is happening, we are doing this and that. So, if Zaluzhnyi saw that, for example, artillery support was needed, and an [enemy] convoy was coming, he would call the person in charge of artillery. He would say: Can you deliver a hit?. Yes, call it in. There was a real live command of the troops.

As for the communication devices, here are all the types of phones you know. We have our special communication, military communication, secure phones, and ordinary messengers with which you are all familiar  they were all used.

There was a lot of activity, but I don't remember any particular change that would happen to Zaluzhnyi. He has always been focused and organised ever since I met him. That's why he has stayed this way.

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Nothing has changed for him. He had been preparing all his life for this attack, and now this moment had come. Zaluzhnyi was just doing his job. And this always gives you such confidence. Because you know how he is, and [Yevhen] Moisiuk (Zaluzhnyis deputy  ed.) is the same, and [Serhii] Shaptala (Chief of the General Staff  ed.) is the same, absolutely calm.

Of course, a lot of swearing was included in the commands. When the Fire!order was given, it sounded a little different."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
(CNN)  Rescuers have found two bodies in the rubble of a building that collapsed in an explosion in the southern French port city of Marseille on Sunday, according to the city's fire department.

Earlier, French authorities said eight people were missing, possibly trapped, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV, but it's not clear if that figure includes the two bodies found.

A "violent explosion" shook the building at around 12:30 a.m. local time, according to Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan, prompting a search and rescue effort as authorities investigated the cause of the blast.

The French Housing Authority said 179 people had been evacuated from the site, rescuers told BFM.

Rescue efforts are being complicated by a fire that erupted within the rubble, alongside debris that has to be removed before it can be fully put out, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told BFM, during a visit to the scene.

Darmanin said rescuers are also concerned about firefighting water endangering the lives of any buried survivors.

Local residents described hearing an explosion, with lots of dust and a smell of gas in the air.

"It was exhausting and completely insane. I saw an avalanche of people panicking in the street and then I started running like crazy," an unnamed witness told BFM.

Approximately thirty of the surrounding buildings have also been evacuated, according to Darmanin.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that his thoughts were with those impacted. "Thoughts with Marseille, where a building on rue Tivoli collapsed last night. I am thinking of those affected and their loved ones. An investigation is continuing with significant resources deployed. Thank you to the firefighters and rescuers mobilized," he said.

A fund of 100,000 euros ($110,000) has been provided to help the victims of the blast, according to the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, with the money coming from regional authorities, BFMTV reported.

BFMTV also reports that the Marseille prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into "unintentional injuries."

Marseille has suffered such incidents before. In 2018, CNN reported on the collapse of several buildings in the city's Noailles district, which killed at least four people.

This story was first published on CNN.com. "2 bodies found, more missing after building collapses in Marseille"
Pride Month is on the horizon as the weather begins to warm in the U.S., marking a time to celebrate LGBTQ communities, promote queer joy and fight for rights that are under attack.

New York hosts the countrys largest pride parades each year, and approximately 5 million people attended 2019 World Pride there , a global LGBTQ festival that marked the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising.

Heres everything you need to know about the upcoming 2023 Pride Month, including dates and a history lesson on the fight for LGBTQ rights.

A National Park Service ranger places rainbow flags, along fencing around Christopher Park near Stonewall Inn in New York City.

When is Pride Month 2023?

Pride Month spans the month of June each year, this year beginning on Thursday, June 1 and ending on Friday, June 30. Pride celebrations  including parades, festivals, parties and picnics  are held throughout the month in different cities across America.

Heres a glimpse at the dates and themes of some of the countrys biggest pride celebrations:

What is Pride Month?

Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York and celebrates the LGBTQ community and the fight for equal rights.

The Stonewall Uprising began on June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a prominent gay bar in Manhattans Greenwich Village. The subsequent protests over the next six days are credited with a shift in LGBTQ activism in the U.S.

The Stonewall Inn, where a police raid in 1969 triggered LGBT riots in New York City, is a landmark in the history of gay rights.

The following year saw some of the first Pride parades in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. Despite the pivotal role transgender people and women of color played in the riots, including trans activist Marsha P. Johnson, they were largely excluded from early Pride celebrations.

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"The reality is that most of the folks on the front lines at the Stonewall uprising were trans women, trans women of color, other people of color, butch lesbians, Cathy Renna, Communications Director for the National LGBTQ Task Force, told USA TODAY last year. And yet somehow, the power that was coming together ... to put together Pride events was from cisgender, gay white men.

Today, Pride Month symbolizes an opportunity for visibility and community. In addition to celebrating LGBTQ love and joy, its also often a time to highlight important policy and resource issues the community faces. In 2021, NYC Pride banned law enforcement presence at Pride events through 2025 because of escalating violence "against marginalized groups, specifically BIPOC and trans communities." And in 2023, LGBTQ organizations are combatting more than 650 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced this year.

History of Pride Month: In-depth look of how the LGBTQ celebration came to be

Rainbow capitalism: How corporate 'symbolic' LGBTQ pride can be harmful

When was Pride Month created?

The first Pride marches in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago happened on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, on June 28, 1970.

In New York, thousands marched from Christopher Street (where Stonewall is) to Central Park in what is widely considered the first Pride parade in the U.S.

But even before the first Pride parades, rumblings of the gay rights movement were happening all over the country. In 1950, for example, activist Harry Hay founded the Mattachine Society, the first national gay rights organization. And in 1955, the first lesbian rights organization, the Daughters of Bilitis, began.

The year 1965 saw the first Reminder Day, an annual picketing event outside of Philadelphias Independence Hall calling attention to the lack of civil rights for the LGBTQ community. In 1966, the Mattachine Society staged a sip-in at a Greenwich Village bar after the New York Liquor Authority banned serving gay patrons because they were disorderly, PBS wrote. And in 1966, there was the Comptons Cafeteria riot, which began when a police officer manhandled a transgender customer at a San Francisco eatery. This led to the founding of the National Transsexual Counseling Unit. As the LGBTQ rights movement grew, the community turned away from outdated terms like transsexual and homosexual to transgender, gay and lesbian. While many consider these terms offensive, there are some who still use them to describe their identities.

The Christopher Street Liberation Day March on June 28, 1970, marked a shift from politeness to pride. In earlier protests, the Homophile Movement in the 1950s and 1960s focused on respectability  dressing in suits and skirts and carrying signs in protest. Post-Stonewall riots didnt come with a dress code or tone requirement.

A new spirit has entered the struggle for homosexual freedom  a new spirit both militant in tone and revolutionary in orientation, a 1970 Gay Liberation Front flyer reads. Homosexuals at last have realized that they will never be able to be liberated by politely asking the system. Freedom is never given  it must be taken.

Stonewall generation: Post-Roe, LGBTQ community should 'be really afraid right now'

What does Pride stand for?

Pride itself does not stand for anything, but the LGBTQ community comprises several identities related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Here are the definitions to know:

L: Lesbian

G: Gay

B: Bisexual

T: Transgender

Q: Queer, or sometimes questioning

+: Encompasses other identities under the rainbow umbrella

LGBTQ Pride flags: An illustrated guide to each one and their meanings

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Pride Month 2023? Why the annual LGBTQ celebrations began
For the royal familys first Easter since the passing of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Princess of Wales shied away from tradition with a bold fashion move.

The British royal family arrived at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle on Sunday 9 April ahead of the first Easter Sunday service of King Charles IIIs reign. The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at the chapel with their three children, all wearing coordinating blue outfits.

Prince George, nine, was seen looking dapper in a navy blue suit and tie, while his younger sister Princess Charlotte wore a navy blue overcoat with light blue tights underneath her floral dress from the British label, Rachel Riley.

The family outing was also the first time Prince Louis had attended the Easter service. To mark his debut, the four-year-old royal wore blue shorts and knee socks with a navy blue blazer and tie. Last year, only George and Charlotte were present at the Easter celebration.

Meanwhile, Princess Kate stunned in a cobalt blue Catherine Walker coat dress she previously wore to last years Commonwealth Day Service. She accessorised the blue look with a matching pillbox hat and handbag. However, it was her bold red manicure that turned heads.

Although women in the royal family are allowed to wear nail polish, theyve typically steered clear from colourful or distracting nail colours. While its not official royal protocol, the late Queen Elizabeth II allegedly preferred skin-tone shades for official events, with Essies neutral Ballet Slippers shade being her personal favourite.

Prince and Princess of Wales arrive with their three children at Windsor Castle on 9 April 2023 for Easter Sunday (Getty Images)

It needs to be skin-coloured so hot red and bright pink, for example, are not correct, especially for official occasions and particularly during mourning, etiquette and protocol consultant William Hanson told The Sun in 2022. So its either translucent or dusky pink  so that would basically be the colour of your nails so it looks natural.

Princess of Wales wears bold red nail colour for Easter service (Getty Images)

Shortly after she married into the royal family, Meghan Markle caused a stir when she donned black nail polish while attending the British Fashion Awards in December 2018. The Duchess of Sussex, who was pregnant with Prince Archie at the time, presented wedding dress designer Clare Waight Keller with the Womenswear Designer of the Year Award while wearing a Givenchy Haute Couture black dress and matching egglant-coloured nails.

Meghan Markle glowing at the British Fashion Awards tonight.



She did a surprise pop up to present Clare Waight Keller with the British Womenswear Designer of the Year award. pic.twitter.com/3PbbZldkJJ  MISS SUBER. (@misssuber) December 10, 2018

This years Easter service was full of firsts for the royal family. Not only was it Prince Louis debut, but it was also the first since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. In less than one month, King Charles III will be coronated alongside his wife, Camilla, Queen Consort. The coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey in London.
A procession and celebration of life service will take place Tuesday morning for Doug McCullough, a Modesto Fire Department captain who died March 19 from job-related cancer.

Whether you want to pay your respects along the procession route or avoid minor traffic delays, heres what you need to know:

The approximately 30-minute procession will start at 10 a.m. at the Deegan-Ripon Memorial Chapel on Palm Avenue in Ripon and end at The House Modesto church on Coffee Road.

The procession will pass landmarks significant to McCulloughs family: Ripon Fire Station 1 because the family lives in Ripon and McCulloughs 16-year-old son, Bryan, is a fire explorer there; Salida Middle School and Station 12 in Salida, where McCullough started his career; and Modesto Station 11 on Carver Road and Pelandale Avenue, where McCullough most recently was assigned before falling ill.

It will involve about a dozen vehicles, including the fire engine from Station 11, in which Bryan McCullough will ride.

After leaving the funeral home, the procession will go east on Main Street, then south on Stockton Avenue, where it will pass Ripon Fire Station 1 before getting back onto Main Street to access the southbound Highway 99 on-ramp.

It will exit on Hammett Road and turn south, then go east on Ciccarelli Road, which becomes Toomes Road, where it will pass Salida Middle School.

The procession will turn east onto Kiernan Avenue, then south onto Salida Boulevard, where it will pass Station 12.

It will turn east on Pelandale Avenue, where it will pass Modesto Fire Station 11 on Pelandale and Carver Road. It will continue onto Claratina Avenue and then turn south onto Coffee Road to end at The House Modesto at Briggsmore Avenue.

There will be rolling closures at the intersections the procession passes through. Motorists can expect short delays of about five minutes.

The public is encouraged to line the route where it is safe to do so but reminded to stay out of the roadway and be mindful of traffic.

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The public also can watch a live stream of the services on the Modesto Fire Departments Facebook page starting at 11 a.m.

While Modesto Fire Department staff attends the service, personnel from 14 other agencies will be covering their stations. They will be coming from as far north as Sacramento, west from the Bay Area, east from Tuolumne and Calaveras counties, and south from Fresno.

McCullough, 52, started his career in the fire services in Salida in 1994 and went to the Modesto Fire Department in 2012. He is survived by his wife Krista, and their two children Bryan,16, and Makenzie, 14.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to California Fire Foundation or to the American Cancer Society collaboration with International Association of Fire Fighters to help fight cancer in the fire service.
Tonayvia Turner, 18, celebrating 2020 prom send-off in the backyard as her younger sister, Cece, fixes the train on her gown. Jovan Garvi

Danielle Nolen sat in her living room, looking glamorous in a baby blue robe and trying to preserve her new regal hairstyle as her family decorated the backyard in black and gold in anticipation of her grand appearance.

Her grandmother began fanning her to keep her from sweating off her makeup as the day grew more humid. Once everything was in place outside, the women in her family made their way back to the living room, where they helped her into her emerald gown. As her mother made the final adjustments and zipped the back of the gown, we all sat back in amazement at how radiant she looked in her ensemble.

We then gathered family and friends in front of Danielles home to await her appearance. The DJ cued up her favorite song. A wicker chair awaited her on the porch, but it might as well have been a throne.

Danielle Nolen, 20, surrounded by women in her family as she dresses for prom in 2019. Scheherazade Tillet

This is what a Chicago-style prom send-off looks like in action. While not exclusive to Chicago, these prom send-offs have become a rite of passage for many Black girls in which their communities celebrate the girls as they take what will be one of many symbolic steps on their journey toward womanhood. For Black girls on the west and south sides of Chicago, prom send-off represents a tradition that goes back  as far as I can tell  at least to the 1990s.

A matter of tradition

As a researcher of Black girlhood, I interviewed and attended prom send-offs for both Danielle Nolen, 20, who attended prom in 2019, and Tonayvia Turner, 19, who attended prom in 2020 amid COVID-19 restrictions. My purpose was to learn more about what these occasions represent  both for the girls and for their communities. In my research, I didnt find much  if anything  that discussed the kinds of prom send-offs that I observed in Chicago. Below are four ways that these events are distinct from regular prom dates.

1. They celebrate Black girlhood

In a society that elevates white or Eurocentric beauty standards over others, prom send-offs put the focus on Black girls beauty and style based on their own standards. The prom send-offs also afford Black girls an opportunity to partake in a sort of pageantry, such as balls held for debutantes, that is often inaccessible to middle- or working-class families, such as the ones who reside on the west and south sides of Chicago.

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Also, research has shown that Black girls are more likely to be seen as less in need of support, nurturing, protection and comfort than other girls  a process known as adultification. It is within this context that Danielle says prom send-offs represent a welcome change of pace for us (Black girls) to be catered to. Tonayvia also emphasized the importance for Black girls to have a shared experience and the feelings of being cared for.

Danielle mother Stephanie Nolen adjusts her gown in the front, while her grandmother prepares to pull up the zipper. Scheherazade Tillet

2. They take elaborate planning

Prom send-offs on the west and south sides of Chicago are not small, intimate prom send-offs where parents take pictures of their child with a date. The ones Ive seen are more elaborate productions. Some girls start planning a year out. Both Danielle and Tonayvia, for instance, said they began planning for their prom send-offs as soon as they became high school seniors.

It takes much organizing to gather the resources needed to pull off a magical presentation. In a prior job as a youth program coordinator, I saw many Black girls who sought employment solely to pay for the expenses associated with going to prom  everything from buying a dress to renting a car or limo.

3. Theyre community affairs

Black girls and their families organize prom send-offs as a thank you to the members of their village  old and young alike.

I have seen people from all aspects of the prom-goers life attend prom send-offs  everyone from teachers and mentors to fellow church members and co-workers. Even after Danielle was chauffeured to the formal prom dance, I stayed behind with her family to enjoy a cookout and line dancing.

4. They support Black businesses

For their prom send-offs, Black girls are intentional about using the services of Black entrepreneurs in their community  from beauticians and photographers to caterers and DJs.

They often rely on word-of-mouth recommendations in their networks to solicit goods and services from Black-owned businesses. For example, in one Chicago neighborhood, Donyell Wynn, owner of Fashionably Unpredictable, is highly sought after for making custom prom gowns.

Prom send-offs are sacred and celebrate Black life in the face of ongoing grief and loss. They extend care and love to create a memorable and enjoyable experience for their communities for years to come.

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This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts. Try our free newsletters.

It was written by: Aja D. Reynolds, Wayne State University.

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Aja D. Reynolds receives funding from Spencer Foundation and Schultz Family Foundation.
This courtroom sketch, from left, depicts Madison County prosecutor Rob Wood, Lori Vallow Daybell and defense attorney Jim Archibald during opening statements of Vallow Daybells murder trial in Boise, Idaho, Monday, April 10, 2023. Prosecutors have charged Vallow Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, with multiple counts of conspiracy, murder and grand theft in connection with the deaths of Vallow Daybells two children: Joshua JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Both are also charged in connection with the death of Chad Daybells previous wife, Tammy Daybell. | Lisa C. Cheney via Associated Press

The case of Lori Vallow Daybell is one of money, power and sex.

Thats according to prosecutor Lindsey A. Blake, who gave the state of Idahos opening argument Monday in the trial of Vallow Daybell, who is charged with conspiracy, murder and grand theft in the deaths of her two children, JJ and Tylee.

But attorneys for Vallow Daybell say its a story of unanswered questions.

Vallow Daybell also faces charges in the death of her new husbands first wife, Tammy Daybell, whose cause of death was revealed for the first time as prosecutors laid out a map for the case jurors will hear over the next several weeks.

Chad Daybell, who is also charged in the three deaths, has pleaded not guilty and will face a separate trial.

The defendant Lori Vallow Daybell used money, power and sex, or the promise of those things, to get what she wanted. What she wanted, was money, power and sex, Blake told the jury. It didnt matter what obstacle she had to remove to get what she wanted ... if it was a person, it didnt matter who.

This courtroom sketch depicts Madison County Magistrate Judge Steven Boyce listening to Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake during opening statements of Lori Vallow Daybells murder trial in Boise, Idaho. | Lisa C. Cheney via Associated Press

Her children, Blake said, were in the way. JJ, a 7-year-old, special needs child, required time, effort and energy. That took away from what Lori wanted, which was spending time with Chad.

Tylee, 17, was receiving Social Security benefits from the death of her father  Lori wanted that money, and now Tylee is gone, the prosecutor said.

And Tammy Daybell had a life insurance policy of which Chad Daybell was a beneficiary. Lori wanted those things, Blake said.

Tammy Daybell, it was revealed Monday, died by asphyxiation at the hands of another person, the prosecutor told the jury. Chad Daybell originally told police that Tammy Daybell had died in her sleep after she went to bed with a cough. Prosecutors also said that Chad had moved her body by the time first responders arrived.

For about 20 minutes, while Blake was giving the opening statement, an image of a deceased Tammy Daybell was left on the courtrooms large screen.

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One of the prosecutions main points was that amid the death of Tammy Daybell, Lori Vallow Daybells estranged husband, Charles Vallow, and the disappearance of her children, Vallow Daybell not only carried on with her life, but did so seemingly without showing grief. Just 17 days after Tammy Daybells death, Lori and Chad held a wedding in Hawaii, exchanging rings they purchased while Tammy was still alive.

They were getting married on a sunny beach in Hawaii, dancing and celebrating their life together, while Tylee and JJ were dead in the ground, Blake said.

Lori Vallow Daybells defense

Vallow Daybells attorney, R. James Archibald, countered with a brief opening argument emphasizing to the jury that they are to consider the specific allegations against his client and no one else.

The publicity about the case that has tainted so many people in the county, state and country, is not evidence, he said.

The childrens disappearance put a nationwide spotlight on Vallow Daybell and her husband, including extensive news coverage, online speculation and a Netflix documentary.

Related

This courtroom sketch depicts defense attorney Jim Archibald speaking during opening statements of Lori Vallow Daybells murder trial in Boise, Idaho. | Lisa C. Cheney via Associated Press

During his statement, Archibald read an alibi filed on Vallow Daybells behalf, which claims she was in her own Rexburg apartment with her friends Melanie Gibb, David Warwick and/or Chad Daybell when the children were killed in an apartment belonging to her now deceased brother, Alex Cox. The statement also asserted that Vallow Daybell was in Hawaii when Tammy Daybell was killed.

Archibald also challenged jurors to consider whether prosecutors establish beyond a reasonable doubt what happened to JJ, Tylee and Tammy Daybell, and what Lori Vallow Daybells alleged involvement is.

Youre here to determine if there even was a conspiracy. Cases, again, can be solved with evidence, they can be solved with a lack of evidence, he said.

Vallow Daybell, her ankles bound by shackles, wore a black blazer-style jacket and black rimmed glasses to court. Her bright blonde hair, pictured in her now easily recognizable mugshot and subsequent news stories, is fading. She showed little emotion for much of Monday morning, including as grisly images of her two children were displayed on the screen.

Prosecutors say both JJ and Tylees bodies were burned  an image of Tylees body shows what appears to be charred remains in a shallow grave, hardly recognizable as human. Her DNA, Blake said, was discovered on a pickaxe and shovel on Chad Daybells property.

Thats what was left of this beautiful young woman, the defendants daughter, Blake said.

And young JJ was bound by duct tape and wrapped in a black trash bag.

Even the most veteran law enforcement officers that youll hear from were disturbed by the scene, Blake said ... this wasnt what they were expecting to find.

While the defenses opening argument was relatively brief, leaning heavily on the notion of conspiracy, prosecutors, on the other hand, gave a detailed overview of Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybells relationship that, they say, began with an instant connection.

They talked a lot; the defendant was flirty, Blake said, describing the couples shared religious beliefs that quickly spiraled, as prosecutors said they used their purported beliefs to justify their actions, from affair to murder. Vallow Daybell, with help from Chad Daybell, began telling others she could rate people on a system, declaring people light or dark. Evil spirits, they said, could push a person out and take over their body. The claims evolved to say the darkness could be so intense that the person would become a zombie.

A common theme was the body had to be destroyed, said Blake.

When the defendant would talk about people being light or dark, she talked about her own daughter being dark, Blake later said. But once Tylee disappeared, Vallow Daybell stopped talking about her and did nothing to help in the search, the prosecutor said  there were no inquires, no missing persons pictures, and no action taken by Vallow Daybell. She had the same reaction, or lack thereof, for JJ, they said.

Archibald, during his opening statement, did touch briefly on Vallow Daybells end of times beliefs, which she shared with Chad Daybell. He noted that the degree in which people value these teachings varies.

Thankfully in this country we can worship how we choose, Archibald told the jury.

Alex Cox, the fall guy

Cox, Vallow Daybells brother, frequently came up in discussions Monday. Cox died from what authorities say were natural causes in December 2019 the day after Tammy Daybell was exhumed. He was never charged in connection with the case. The night before he died, he told his wife I hope Im not their fall guy, prosecutors said.

Days before Tammy Daybells death, Blake said Coxs cellphone was in the area when a masked gunman confronted her in her driveway.

He cant do anything right, a distressed Vallow Daybell said that same day, on the phone with an unnamed individual, according to Blake.

And Coxs phone was also in the Daybells backyard around the last time Tylee was seen, near the spot where her body was later discovered. The last reported sighting of JJ, a witness reported seeing Cox carrying him in his arms. It was peaceful, Blake said, but JJ was never seen again.

The prosecution also touched on Coxs close relationship with his sister, who with Chad Daybell, told him that his purpose in this life was to protect Lori Vallow Daybell. He was a warrior, and he was here to protect Lori, they said, according to Blake.

One of two witnesses called to testify Monday was Brandon Boudreaux, who was married to Melanie Boudreaux, Vallow Daybells niece and follower. According to Brandon Boudreaux, his ex-wife had an affinity towards Lori. ... She looked at her less like an aunt figure, and more like a mom figure.

This courtroom sketch depicts Brandon Boudreaux, who was previously married to Lori Vallow Daybells niece, testifying during Vallow Daybells murder trial in Boise, Idaho. | Lisa C. Cheney via Associated Press

Boudreaux had brought his kids to school in Arizona in October 2019 when someone shot at him while he was in his driveway, shattering his car window.

Boudreaux had recently divorced his wife, who he says was rapidly spiraled into believing the extremist claims of Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell. She said she spoke to God and repeatedly said she didnt feel safe around him, he testified.

So Boudreaux moved to a new house, which he said only about five people knew the whereabouts of. Besides his neighbor, his now ex-wife would be one of the only people who knew of his location the day he was shot at. He told the prosecutors Monday that he got nervous the more he thought about it  and when he re-read emails sent from the late Charles Vallow that mentioned Chad Daybell and his recently deceased wife, he began to put the pieces together.

In my gut, something felt wrong, he said.

Soon he reached his own conclusion that the shooting related to the Lori Vallow Daybell, Chad Daybell and their fringe beliefs.
Prosecutors said at Lori Vallows murder trial Monday that her husband's previous wife, Tammy Daybell, died of asphyxiation.

Vallow is charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder and grand theft in connection with the deaths of two of her children, Joshua JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, along with Tammy Daybell. She has pleaded not guilty, and her trial started April 3 in Boise, Idaho.

Tammy Daybell, Chad Daybells wife, was found dead in October 2019 of what were believed to be natural causes at the time. Investigators exhumed her body and conducted an autopsy, which ruled her death was a homicide.

Fremont County, Idaho, Prosecutor Lindsey A. Blake revealed the results of the autopsy in opening arguments of the trial Monday morning, according to NBC affiliate KSL of Salt Lake City. Tammy was married to Chad Daybell for 28 years before her death.

Chad Daybell is charged with murder in the death of his previous wife and accused of committing insurance fraud related to her death.

Tammy Daybell died just a few months after Lori Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Vallow's estranged husband, Charles Vallow. A grand jury charged Lori with conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree nearly two years after his death, the county attorney's office in Maricopa County, Arizona, said. She will be tried separately, in Arizona, in that case. Cox died in 2019 and was never charged.

Vallow and Chad Daybell married just two weeks after Tammy Daybells funeral, KSL reported. Police documents obtained by KSL revealed that Charles Vallow had learned of Lori Vallows infidelity with Chad Daybell 12 days before he died and threatened to tell Tammy Daybell.

Prosecutors believe Vallow and Chad Daybell became obsessed with doomsday-focused religious beliefs that led them to commit a series of four murders: those of Vallows two youngest children and each of their spouses.

Vallows trial comes years after the disappearance of her children Joshua and Tylee made headlines, as the indictment against her and Chad Daybell took months of investigative work and Vallows mental competency was questioned.

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Vallow has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, conspiracy and grand theft in the deaths of Joshua and Tylee, who were 7 and 16 when they disappeared in September 2019. Their disappearances sparked a monthslong search, and police eventually found their remains on property in rural Idaho belonging to Chad Daybell.

Police uncovered the remains in June 2020 after they searched the property in Fremont County. Chad Daybell was arrested on charges of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, as well as desertion.

Days later, police confirmed that the bodies had been identified as those of Joshua and Tylee.

Court documents later revealed that Joshuas remains had been buried in a pet cemetery and that Tylee had been dismembered and burned in a fire pit.

Vallow and Chad Daybell were not indicted on murder charges until May 2021.

Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey A.Blake said in opening statements Monday that what was left of Tylee's remains were a mass of tissue and bone and that JJ's body was duct taped in garbage bags, NBC affiliate KTVB of Boise reported.

It was decided in a hearing last month that Vallow will not face the death penalty if she is convicted.

CORRECTION (April 11, 2023, 12 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the marital status of Chad and Tammy Daybell when Tammy died in 2019. Chad and Tammy were married at the time; Tammy was not Chads ex-wife.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, at the meeting with Sergei Shoigu, the Minister of Defence of Russia, in Minsk, demanded guarantees that in case of aggression against Belarus, the Russian Federation will protect Belarus "like its own territory".

Source: Belarusian state-owned news outlet Belta

Quote: "I raised this question in the negotiations with the President of Russia. He completely supported me. He said we need to revise all our decrees and agreements  between Belarus and Russia  to see what international normative legal act we must sign now in order to ensure the full security of Belarus.

During the negotiations, it was concluded that in case of aggression against Belarus, the Russian Federation would protect Belarus like its own territory. This is the kind of security guarantees we need."

Details: Lukashenko stated that he raised these questions at the sitting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State (the union between Russia and Belarus  ed.) but had discussed them with Putin before.

Lukashenko claimed that the Western countries do not fulfil the agreements about the security guarantees that they gave within the framework of the Budapest Memorandum in exchange for the withdrawal of nuclear arms.

He added that the Budapest Memorandum "included oaths of all Western states and Russia to guarantee full security to Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus", and this must have included "economic safety" as well, but the West implements sanctions against Belarus and Russia.

Quote: "What security guarantees can the US even provide us with? None. What they do is initiate aggression against us, as we can see now.

We need full security guarantees from our brotherly Russia.

At the end of the meeting, Putin and I raised this question once again and agreed that you and your experts would arrive today, and we would discuss this issue in the context of the current situation, specifically that of the special military operation [this is what the Russians call the war with Ukraine  ed.]".

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Details: Lukashenko discussed combat training and the unity of the "joint allied grouping" with Shoigu and thanked Russia for "keeping a few thousand Russian soldiers" in Belarus "despite all struggles".

Shoigu thanked him in response for the five training grounds provided by Belarus and the "sufficient quantity of instructors  the officers of the Armed Forces of Belarus for training and staffing".

He added that the quantity of the Russian military in Belarus may be increased.

Background:

Alexander Lukashenko has become an accomplice of Vladimir Putin in the war against Ukraine, and Belarus has provided its territory to Russian troops for the invasion of 24 February 2022, and missile attacks on Ukraine for over a year. Belarusian troops are not formally involved in the war, but Lukashenko supports and justifies Putin's actions.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Sister Polly Amorosa, the founder of the Trans Pennine Travelling Sisters (Jamie Robinson (@promoby_jim))

As she puts the finishing touches to her habit, Sister Clarita, a Mexican immigrant living in Los Angeles, tells me that there are more than 3,000 LGBT+ nuns around the world. Theyre part of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an international network of activists who identify as secular nuns. From Sydney to Los Angeles to Huddersfield, these queer nuns swap crucifixes for Pride memorabilia as they get to work on their mission: to promote universal joy and remove any sense of shame felt within the LGBT+ community.

In the UK, official houses for the sisterhood exist in Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff, with more on the way in Glasgow and Bristol. Their modern take on nunneries allow sisters to take part in their mission alongside their ordinary lives  performing, attending protests, handing out free condoms and sexual health leaflets whenever and wherever is convenient. Theres something of the secular self in the nun and always something of the nun in our secular self, explains Sister Polly Amarosa, who in 2021 founded the Trans Pennine Travelling Sisters  a group of queer nuns who carry out their work along the Trans Pennine Trail.

But theyre not real nuns, I hear you say, as your eyes skim across the photos of sisters in drag. I admittedly thought the same when I first met Sister Polly, a trans man and radical feminist who spoke frankly and hilariously about BDSM and patriarchal pleasure. Surely nuns as we know them havent gone completely wild?

Were what the Catholic Church should be, or shouldve been 50 years ago, Sister Polly says. To become a sister, you go through a process which takes inspiration from the ordination process of the Catholic Church. Fully professed sisters start as aspirants, or someone who aspires to be a sister. After meeting with other sisters and talking about the kind of work youd like to do, you become a postulant  traditionally this means someone seeking entrance to a religious order. When youve performed acts of ministry or activism, your house will meet to decide whether to elevate you to a novice. And finally, after youve completed a formal ceremony to commit to the vows of the sisterhood  something called a vestition  you become a sister. Light work. Its about enabling LGBT+ people whove experienced the negative aspects of religion to have a symbolic system that blesses them, and helps them heal, Sister Polly says.

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The idea of a queer, secular sisterhood began in late Seventies San Francisco. In a district presided over by Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office, queer men began wearing nun habits in protests. A few years later, groups of gay men in London wore habits to protest the UK governments treatment of the Aids crisis.

Sister Polly tells me that the sisterhoods arrival in the UK is greatly contested  the Aids crisis meant that many of the original sisters died early, taking the British history of the sisterhood with them. There is speculation that a secular Australian nun brought the idea to London in 1991, but others swear they witnessed nuns protesting with the Gay Liberation Front in the Eighties.

Sainthoods are about honouring our heroes, not with ornaments of empire but with the love of our community

Whatever the truth, Mother Mandragora  who is known as Kell Farshea when theyre out of their habit and identifies as non-binary  first encountered the sisterhood in the Nineties while working as a Press Officer for Act Up, the grassroots political group founded to end the Aids pandemic. People didnt expect articulate, political analysis from gay men dressed as nuns, they tell me. It was an opportunity to put a different perspective into the public domain. It may look ridiculous, but no one can deny we were confrontational.

Their habits were an asset at times, too. Farshea remembers protesting outside of a private members club in the Eighties where notorious Conservative activist Mary Whitehouse was due to give a speech, and starting to chant when Whitehouse took to the stage. It was enough for the police to threaten them, before a passer-by shouted: Are you really going to arrest a nun? Farshea smiles at the memory  the police let them be. Being a sister gave me extra power in that situation. Life as a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence wasnt just fuelled by anger back then, either. It was extremely liberating, Farshea adds. It gave me an opportunity to explore aspects of femininity that were closed off to me at the time.

A key part of the sisterhoods mission is to grant sainthood to often unsung heroes in the LGBT+ community. One of the most memorable sainthoods, which Farshea attended, was that of the filmmaker, artist and gay rights activist Derek Jarman. Derek was a queer hero who was our first and most obvious choice for our saint, they tell me.

Last year in Huddersfield, Sister Polly sainted photographer Ajumu X, now Patron Saint of Darkrooms, for his boundary-crossing work capturing black, queer bodies. Though much of what the sisters do has a comedic or theatrical bent, often involving the houses best orator and a flurry of crude puns, sainting is far from a religious parody. Most times when we talk about LGBT+ people, theyre already dead, theyre in the past, Farshea says. Its about honouring our heroes, not with ornaments of empire but with the love of our community. Sainthood means the work, joy and resistance of queer icons becomes immortal.

Sister Fridge and Sister Belladonna of the London sisters at an anti-war protest (Gordon Rainsford and Denis Doran)

The nuns have also grown from an organisation largely oriented around cisgender gay men to one of enormous diversity. Sister Clarita is the first Mexican in the sisterhood, and there are now a lot more trans and non-binary sisters. Its especially important at a time in which the rights of trans people have become a target for lawmakers  a Scottish bill to streamline the process of changing gender was blocked in January 2023, and only a small number of American states arent currently introducing bills designed to restrict trans rights. The Trans Pennine Travelling Sisters recently attended a Trans Day of Visibility event organised by Trans Leeds, where they offered saintings and, importantly, a listening ear. Last year, they attended a protest in York opposing the governments decision not to ban conversion therapy for trans people, handing out tea bags and a note to say, Keep the T in LGBT. The ban has since been extended to include the trans community. Sisters in Los Angeles are also currently trying to improve political engagement, encouraging those traditionally isolated from the political sphere to vote in upcoming local elections.

Most significantly, though, the sisterhood embrace their position as role models. Novice Ann Ahmana Do Doo from the Glasgow mission tells me about a time she took part in a human library project at a primary school in Scotland. Children between eight and 10 could ask questions of people from different backgrounds whod been invited to the school. In her habit and makeup, Novice Ann spoke about the joy of existing how you wish to be. Over a decade later at Cardiff Pride, she heard someone shout her name. It was one of the same children shed spoken to years earlier, only now older and trans.

We hugged and cried a bit, she remembers. They were so happy. They found the joy that Id been speaking about. She says that what she aimed to do back then was provide someone with the skillset to identify what happiness is. Thats what we teach each other as nuns, and anybody we meet. It justified my existence. The fact I helped a human being develop in a direction that they chose, that they wanted, is why Ill probably do this for the rest of my life.
WASHINGTON (AP)  After almost three months of testimony, dozens of witnesses and countless legal fights, a jury will soon decide whether the onetime leader of the Proud Boys extremist group is guilty in one of the most serious cases brought in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Closing arguments could be as early as this week before jurors decide whether to convict Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants of seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors say was a plot to forcibly stop the transfer of presidential power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden after the 2020 election.

In a trial that has lasted over twice as long as expected, little new information has emerged about the Jan. 6 attack that halted Congress' certification of Biden's victory or the far-right extremist group's role in the Capitol riot. But a guilty verdict against Tarrio, who wasn't even in Washington, D.C., when the riot erupted, would affirm that those accused of planning and inciting the violence could be held responsible even if they didn't join in it.

The case is nearing a close as a new problem may be on the horizon for the Proud Boys, a neofacist group known for brawling and street fights with left-wing activists and disrupting storytelling sessions by drag performers and other LGBTQ events around the country.

The group, Tarrio and two others on trial are also facing a separate, multimillion-dollar lawsuit. A judge is poised to decide how much they should have to pay a historic Black church in Washington for Proud Boys destroying a Black Lives Matter sign during a weekend of pro-Trump rallies in December 2020 that erupted into violence. Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church is seeking up to $22 million in punitive damages, saying it was part of an effort to intimidate those who fight for racial justice.

Tarrio wasn't in Washington on Jan. 6 because he had been arrested two days earlier for his role in burning another Black Lives Matter banner torn down from a different Washington church, Asbury United Methodist. Tarrio was ordered to stay out of the city after his arrest.

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The seditious conspiracy case in Washington's federal court, which began with opening statements in January, has been slowed by bickering between the judge and defense attorneys, repeated requests for a mistrial, lengthy cross-examinations of witnesses and other legal maneuvers that often kept jurors waiting in the wings instead of hearing courtroom testimony.

On trial with Tarrio are Proud Boys chapter leaders Ethan Nordean, of Auburn, Washington; and Zachary Rehl, of Philadelphia; self-described Proud Boys organizer Joseph Biggs, of Ormond Beach, Florida; and Dominic Pezzola, a Proud Boys member from Rochester, New York.

It is unclear if any of them will testify before the defense rests and jurors hear attorneys closing arguments.

The backbone of the governments case is a trove of messages that Proud Boys leaders privately exchanged on the Telegram platform before, during and after the Capitol riot. Their online rhetoric became increasingly angry with each failure by Trumps lawyers to challenge election results in court.

If Biden steals this election, (the Proud Boys) will be political prisoners, Tarrio posted in Nov. 16, 2020. We wont go quietly ... I promise.

As the mob attacked Capitol, Tarrio posted on social media, Don't (expletive) leave.

When a Proud Boys member asked, Are we a militia yet? Tarrio responded with one word  Yep  in a voice note.

Make no mistake," Tarrio wrote. "We did this.

Defense attorneys have argued that there is no evidence of a plan for the Proud Boys to attack the Capitol on Jan. 6.

They have stressed that Proud Boys had FBI informants in their ranks who didn't raise any red flags about the group before Jan. 6. In an effort to show jurors that Tarrio was trying to avoid violence, they also showed how Tarrio frequently communicated with an officer assigned to monitor extremist groups' activity in Washington and advised the officer of the group's plans in the weeks before Jan. 6.

Several Oath Keepers leaders and members who previously stood trial on seditious conspiracy charges similarly argued that the riot was a spontaneous outpouring of election-fueled rage, not the result of a premediated plan. While prosecutors said the Capitol attack was only a means to an end in the Oath Keepers' larger plot to stop the transfer of power, defense attorneys repeatedly raised the lack of evidence that the Oath Keepers had an explicit plan to storm the Capitol.

In the end, prosecutors managed to secure seditious conspiracy convictions at trials against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and five other members, but three others were acquitted of the charge. Those others, however, were convicted of other serious felonies. Sentencings for Rhodes and other Oath Keepers are scheduled for next month.

In the Oath Keepers case, prosecutors could point to a cache of guns stashed at a Virginia hotel as evidence they planned to use force to stop the transfer of power, a key element of the crime.

Among the Proud Boys defendants, only Pezzola is accused of engaging in violence or destruction after being filmed smashing in a Capitol window with a riot shield.

The prosecutors in the Proud Boys case have instead argued that Tarrio and the others handpicked and mobilized a loyal group of foot soldiers  or tools  to supply the force necessary to carry out their plot.

Defense attorneys say that's an unusual, flawed legal concept, and their messages were taken out of context. They've also painted Tarrio in particular as a scapegoat for the riot and an easier person to blame than Trump, whose spoke to a crowd of supporters just before they marched on the Capitol. Pezzola's lawyers even tried to subpoena Trump, but the effort seemed to go nowhere.

Even without his testimony, Trump could factor into the jurys verdict. Jurors saw a video of the 2020 presidential debate at which Trump told the Proud Boys to stand back and stand by," a moment that led to an explosion of attention and membership requests.

These men did not stand back. They did not stand by. Instead, they mobilized, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason McCullough told jurors.

Key prosecution witnesses included two former Proud Boys members who cooperated with the government in hopes of getting lighter sentences. One of them, Matthew Greene, testified that Proud Boys members were expecting a civil war after the 2020 election. The other, Jeremy Bertino, testified that the Proud Boys saw themselves as the tip of the spear."

Bertino is the only Proud Boy who has pleaded guilty to a seditious conspiracy charge. Both said they didn't know of a specific plan to storm the Capitol, though Bertino said they wanted to keep Biden from taking office. Greene said group leaders celebrated the attack on Jan. 6 but didnt explicitly encourage members to use force.

The trial was briefly disrupted when prosecutors told defense attorneys that a woman expected to testify for Tarrios defense had secretly worked as an FBI informant after the Jan. 6 attack. Defense attorneys were alarmed because the woman had been in touch with the defense team, but prosecutors said the informant was never told to gather information about the defendants or their lawyers. Tarrios lawyers ultimately decided not to call her as a witness.

In the civil case brought by the Metropolitan AME, the judge is expected on Tuesday to hear final arguments from the church. The case is against the Proud Boys as an entity as well as Tarrio, Biggs, Nordean, Bertino and another member. The judge has already said they will be liable by default because the group failed to respond to the lawsuit or participate in the case. The only question remains is how much, if anything, they will have to pay.

___

Richer reported from Boston.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the Capitol riot at https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege.
By Sarah Wu and Yew Lun Tian

TAIPEI/BEIJING (Reuters) - Taiwanese are rushing to buy patches being worn by their air force pilots that depict a Formosan black bear punching Winnie the Pooh - representing China's President Xi Jinping - as a defiant symbol of the island's resistance to Chinese war games.

China began three days of military drills around Taiwan on Saturday, a day after the island's president, Tsai Ing-wen, returned from a brief visit to the United States, where she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy despite Beijing's warnings.

Chinese censors have long targeted representations of Winnie the Pooh - created by British author A.A. Milne - over internet memes that compare the fictional bear to China's president.

Alec Hsu, who designed the patch, has been selling it at his shop since last year, but he saw a spike in orders after Taiwan's military news agency on Saturday published a photo of the patch on the arm of a pilot inspecting a fighter jet.

"I wanted to boost the morale of our troops through designing this patch," said Hsu, who owns Wings Fan Goods Shop.

Hsu said he has ordered more patches to meet the increased demand. Customers have included military officers and civilians.

'SCRAMBLE!'

The patch shows an angry Formosan black bear holding Taiwan's flag and punching Winnie the Pooh, with the slogan "Scramble!" - referring to what the island's pilots have had to do with increased frequency over the past three years as China sends more aircraft into Taiwan's air defence identification zone.

The endangered Formosan black bear is seen as a symbol of Taiwanese identity. Taiwan was previously better known internationally as Formosa.

"Where can we get a patch like that! Guaranteed to be best sellers!" Taiwan's de facto embassy in the United States wrote in a tweet on Monday.

Taiwan's air force told Reuters that while it does not "particularly encourage" its members to wear the patch, which is not a part of their uniform, it "will maintain an open attitude" to anything that raises morale.

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China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out taking the island by force. Tsai's government rejects China's sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

While the Winnie the Pooh patch cannot be found on Chinese social media, Beijing has also been promoting videos and commentary about its drills around Taiwan.

The People's Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command, the Chinese unit that would be at the frontline of any military action against Taiwan, released a video on Monday showing scenes from the drill, set against upbeat music.

The video targeted a Taiwanese audience by using traditional Chinese characters, which are still used in Taiwan but no longer in mainland China.

(Additional reporting by Fabian Hamacher and Yimou Lee; Editing by Gareth Jones)
(CNN)  The Italian Coast Guard is leading rescue efforts to save at least 400 migrants adrift on a boat in the Mediterranean Sea between Italy and Malta, along an immigration route that NGOs have warned is perilously dangerous.

Three rescue operations involving several vessels are ongoing to assist the boat of 400 migrants, as well as another boat with an estimated 800 people on board, the coast guard told CNN.

The boat carrying 400 migrants is about 170 miles southeast of Capo Passero, off the coast of Calabria, and is at risk of capsizing after being stranded for at least 24 hours.

The support service Alarm Phone said in a tweet Sunday that it had received a call from the boat, which had departed from Tobruk, Libya, overnight, adding it had reported the situation to authorities, but no rescue operation had been announced.

Many on board require medical attention, Alarm Phone said, including a child, a pregnant woman and a disabled person. It said passengers reported some distressed people may have jumped overboard, including one person who it said was unconscious on the boat. The boats hull had filled with water, it added.

Every year, tens of thousands of migrants fleeing war, persecution and poverty risk the treacherous route in search of better economic prospects. They travel in dinghies that are unfit for the journey and can be left stranded, sparking major diplomatic rows between European countries in the region.

In 2022, 105,131 people reached Italy via the Mediterranean Sea, according to the latest figures from the UNs refugee agency. The same data found that 1,368 were left dead or missing. In March, at least 28 migrants died after their boats sank off the coast of Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Italy.

So far this year, 27,875 people have made the voyage. Most arrivals have journeyed from the Ivory Coast, Guinea, Bangladesh, Tunisia and Pakistan.

German NGO Sea-Watch International tweeted it had found the boat on Sunday, adding Maltese authorities had ordered two nearby merchant ships not to rescue those on board, but had asked one of them to supply the boat with fuel, food and water. CNN has contacted the Maltese authorities for comment, but has not yet received a response.

Sea-Watch told CNN on Monday that the weather had become very bad during the night, with waves up to 1.5 meters (5 feet). Due to the number of people on the boat and the current weather conditions, there is an urgent risk that the boat will capsize, a spokesperson for the NGO said.

The sea rescue coordination center in Malta must therefore immediately initiate a rescue operation. Instead, however, merchant ships are instructed to simply dispense gasoline so that the boat can sail to Italy on its own, which is terribly dangerous, the spokesperson continued.

Alarm Phone said in a tweet it had managed to reconnect with the boat during the early hours on Monday, adding the migrants had continued their journey and had now reached the shared Search and Rescue (SAR) zone between Malta and Italy. They report high waves and strong wind. Still, no rescue is in sight! Dont abandon them at sea, rescue [them] now! the NGO urged.

The Italian Coast Guard told CNN Monday more than 1,700 migrants had arrived on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa in the last 48 hours. It added there were now 1,800 migrants in a space designed for 400. Lampedusa, the closest Italian island to Africa, is a major destination for migrants seeking to enter European Union countries.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Rescue workers race to save 400 migrants adrift on boat in Mediterranean sea"
A photo posted by the LAPD PIO's twitter on April 8, showing a puppy who was thrown out of a car window by a suspect during a police pursuit. LAPD PIO

A puppy in Los Angeles was thrown out of a car during an hours-long police pursuit.

The suspects threw the puppy out of the car window in a designer Michael Kors handbag.

The puppy "miraculously" survived and was taken to a shelter, LAPD said in a tweet.

A puppy in a designer handbag, who was thrown out of a moving car during a 2-hour police chase in Los Angeles, survived the chaotic ordeal Friday, April 7.

According to local station KNBC, Los Angeles police pursued a car with an attempted murder suspect in it for several hours and ten miles around south Los Angeles. At one point, the passengers in the car threw the puppy  in a Michael Kors handbag  out of the car's window while it was moving. The puppy survived.

After the eight-week-old dog was thrown out of the car, officers retrieved the puppy and turned it over to Los Angeles Animal Services.

"Miraculously the dog emerged unharmed and was rescued by responding LAPD officers. The puppy is now in the care of South LA Animal Services, where it is presently being held pending an investigation into the abandonment concern that was noted during the pursuit," LAPD's PIO tweeted on Saturday.

LA Animal Services told Insider that the animal is in the organization's care, but "is not currently available for adoption."

"The puppy is doing well and is being looked after by our dedicated and caring staff," LA Animal Services said in the statement.

Read the original article on Insider
A puppy was thrown from a moving vehicle during a two-hour-long police chase in Los Angeles where officers were pursuing a suspect wanted in connection with an attempted murder and carjacking.

On Friday, Los Angeles Police Department officers chased three suspects through multiple cities when a puppy was placed in a designer handbag and tossed from the suspects moving vehicle.

Luckily, the LAPD says that the dog was unharmed.

The puppy is now in the care of the South LA Animal Services, where it is presently being held pending an investigation into the abandonment concern that was noted during the pursuit, LAPD wrote on Twitter.

Law enforcement was chasing three suspects who are wanted in connection to a carjacking and attempted murder that occurred on 26 March 2023.

Matthew Spease, an Animal Care Technician Supervisor with LA Animal Services, says the mixed breed puppy is doing alright.

All is well as you can see- this little puppys doing just fine, Mr Spease told FOX11 .

Investigators will be looking into finding the canines rightful owner.

LAPD News: (Pursuit Update): On April 7, 2023, around 12:12 p.m., Southeast officers initiated a pursuit of a wanted suspect in connection to an attempted murder/carjacking that occurred on March 26, 2023, in the area of 101st Street & San Pedro Street. pic.twitter.com/Bu719ZWpvg  LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) April 8, 2023

During the pursuit, suspects wrecked one vehicle and jumped into another before being caught. The pursuit ended in the city of Carson.

One suspect, named Gustavo Alvarez, 27, was arrested for attempted murder and carjacking. Another, Lynette Moreno, 27, allegedly set up the second getaway vehicle and was charged with accessory and evading. A third, Michelle Zamudio, 25, is allegedly the driver of the second getaway vehicle and was booked for evading.

Authorities say the investigation is still ongoing.
The rains came to South Florida over the weekend. And wed better get used to it.

Heres what to know this week:

Forecast

Rain chance: The National Weather Services forecast grid for South Florida is a solid gray Monday through Thursday. The sogginess started with a 60% rain and thunderstorm chance on Sunday. Rain chances increase to 70% on Monday, ticking down to 60% on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday will stay rainy, with a 70% chance of rain in the forecast.

What to expect: The South Florida rains will typically arrive by the afternoon Monday. On Tuesday, the Florida Keys can expect heavy storms on Tuesday.

On the water: High surf and small craft advisories are in effect until Wednesday morning. Dangerous marine and beach conditions, the National Weather Service in Miami reported.

Temperatures this week: Monday started out in the upper 60s, with the afternoon high not expected to reach 80. Forecasters expect warmer and more humid conditions midweek and later.

Weekend look ahead: Some good news: The long-term forecast predicts less rain over the weekend, with a 30% chance on Saturday.

Reaction:

 Its been rather dry over the past couple of weeks so to have chances of rain [every day,] this is probably the longest stretch within a couple of weeks, meteorologist Chuck Caracozza told the Miami Herald.

 Dont put away your umbrella just yet., CBS News Miami meteorologist Lissette Gonzalez told her viewers Monday morning.

What Sunday looked like

Flooding: An Easter downpour came with flooding to several parts of South Florida. Vulnerable areas from Miami-Dade to Palm Beach counties saw minor flooding on roads and in low-lying and poor drainage areas. The intense rain caused flooding on Interstate 95 and the Palmetto Expressway, with video shared on Twitter showing slow moving traffic amid the showers.

READ MORE: The longest stretch of rain this year is heading to Miami. It looks very, very wet

Advisories: On Sunday, the weather service issued advisories for Biscayne Bay, warning of waterspouts, wind gusts and small hail. Advisories would be issued Monday based on developments.
With wolves descending from the mountains of Wyoming to feast on his cattle, and his home state of Colorado preparing to reintroduce its own wild packs soon, rancher Don Gittleson says he has tried everything to protect his herd.

That is how he ended up shipping in a pack of feral donkeys to work as "guardian animals."

"They kick, they strike and they bite!" Gittleson told AFP on a visit to his snow-covered ranch on the far northern fringes of Colorado.

"If you were to get one cornered, you would not fare well. They can hold their own."

The wild burros, brought from Nevada with help from government officials, share a field with cattle at Sherman Creek Ranch.

They don't appear particularly interested in mixing with their new bovine neighbors, preferring to stick tightly together on the fringes of the herd.

But, Gittleson says, they pose enough of a threat to wolves looking for an easy kill that the fearsome predators might take their fangs and claws elsewhere.

"It's not that wolves can't kill them," he explained. But the predators are "smart enough to know when they can possibly get injured."

It is one of several nonlethal strategies -- along with red flags, flashing lights and firework-style "cracker shells" -- that ranchers are trying in an effort to keep their cattle out of the jaws of a wolf pack that reappeared in northern Colorado roughly three years ago.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), which was involved in getting the donkeys described it as "a pilot project" for reducing cattle depredation, which it "does not necessarily recommend... more broadly."

While wolves can be shot on sight in neighboring Wyoming, they are strictly protected in Colorado, except in self-defense.

Gittleson says eight of his cows have been killed since 2021 -- the same year Colorado wildlife officials spotted the first litter of wolf pups in the state since the 1940s, born to a pair who crossed from Wyoming.

And in a referendum in November 2020, which pitted mainly urban proponents against mostly rural opponents, Colorado narrowly approved a scheme to deliberately reintroduce wolves to the state by the end of this year.

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Ranchers visited by AFP say it is a mistake.

"The vote was won by people that really have no idea what you're up against up here," said Greg Sykes. "They could care less what we have to put up with, or the harm we're in... it's just one more expense that we can't afford."

Wolves will not stay put for long in the specific parts of the state where they are reintroduced, and are "not afraid to come around houses at night," agreed Gittleson.

"And we have way more people in Colorado than they do in Wyoming."

- 'Wolves belong' -

But for many Americans, wolves embody the spirit of the wilderness and the Western frontier.

European colonists who arrived in the 1600s brought widespread hunting and trapping. By the mid-20th century, fewer than a thousand gray wolves were left in the contiguous United States -- down from at least a quarter of a million.

The 1970s passage of the Endangered Species Act helped save the apex predator from extinction, and in the 1990s wolves from Canada were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park, a vast protected area spanning Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

Now, environmentalists such as Darlene Kobobel, who founded a sanctuary and visitor park called the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, say it is time for them to return to Colorado.

"Wolves belong. They were here way before we were," she said.

"We've been missing them here in our ecosystem for almost 80 years... you have to have predator and prey to make that balance," said Kobobel.

An explosion in deer and elk populations has led to over-grazing and the rampant spread of chronic wasting disease, a contagious neurological condition among animals that wolves can help check by culling the infected, she said.

Kobobel was delighted when Colorado voters backed the reintroduction, insisting wolves are "no worse than any other predator," and that ranchers must learn to protect their cows and sheep, which are the true "invasive species."

"If you're moving to Colorado, or you live here in Colorado, you've moved here for a reason... not only the beauty, but the wildlife."

- 'Wolf kill' -

For ranchers like Sykes, it is a harsh message.

Last month, his beloved sheepdog Cisco was fatally savaged by wolves barely 30 yards (meters) from his farm's porch.

Despite the likelihood of jail time, he admits he was sorely tempted to fetch his gun and try to shoot the wolves, before his wife "talked me off the cliff."

Just days later, he spotted two wolves on a nearby ridge, and the following morning found the carcass of a dead calf that had been ripped apart by the predators.

While ranchers get financial compensation for lost livestock, the process can be long, arduous and bureaucratic. They receive nothing unless officials confirm the death was a "wolf kill."

(CPW says it strives "to provide compensation as quickly and efficiently as possible" adding that it has paid out more than $23,600 for 14 animals, and denied two claims.)

Laying bare the anger in this region, several roadside signs have been erected that read: "IF YOU VOTED FOR RE-INTRODUCTION OF WOLVES... YOU ARE NOT WELCOME!"

"I'm not sure why there needs to be reintroduction when they're already coming in," said Sykes.

He believes ranchers must be allowed to "protect ourselves" with lethal measures.

Gittleson has arrived at more or less the same conclusion.

"These wolves should have been shot a long time ago."

amz/hg/tjj
The recent ransomware attack on Modestos IT network may cost the city at least $1 million for expert help in recovering from it and for additional security detection and prevention tools that may have deterred the attacker, according to a city report.

The City Council on Tuesday is expected to approve spending as much as $586,645 for the expert help and as much as $497,000 annually for the security detection and prevention tools.

Modesto anticipates it will be reimbursed by its cybersecurity insurance provider for the cost of the expert help, less the citys $100,000 deductible, according to a resolution accompanying the city report.

The Police Departments IT network was hobbled by the Feb. 3 ransomware attack. The laptops in patrol vehicles and other technology were not working. The report states it took five weeks to recover from the attack.

Officials have said the attack did not prevent police from responding to 911 calls or put the public at risk. A department spokeswoman said last week that nearly all of the network has been restored, including the laptops in patrol vehicles.

The city report states that before the ransomware attack, Modestos IT Department had been working on asking the City Council to approve this month the purchase of additional security tools.

The City was obviously planning some upgrades, but that doesnt necessary mean that what they already had in place was subpar, said Brett Callow, a threat analyst with the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, in an email. That said, most attacks do succeed as a result of basic security shortcomings like not using MFA (multi-factor authentication) everywhere it should be used.

Callow reviewed the city report at The Bees request.

Withholds companies names

The city did not respond Monday morning to an interview request. Instead, it referred The Bee to City Manager Joe Lopezs recent blog post about the cyberattack. The post essentially restates what is in the city report.

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But while the city managers blog post states the cyberattack was limited to one department, which a city spokesman has confirmed was the Police Department, the city report states the cyberattack was primarily limited to a single department.

The report does not state the name of the firms that helped the city in the cyberattack and are providing it with security detection and prevention tools. The report cites California Government Code section 7929.210(a) in not releasing the names.

The section exempts disclosure of information that if disclosed would reveal vulnerabilities to, or otherwise increase the potential for an attack on, an information technology system of a public agency.

But a city spokesman has provided the names of two cybersecurity firms that helped Modesto in the ransomware attack: MoxFive and one of its subcontractors, Entara. Its not known whether these are the same firms that are not named in the city report.

The spokesman has said MoxFives services included confirming backups are valid and usable and hardware reimaging and rebuilding to eliminate possible infection on servers, workstations and laptops.

A ransomware group called snatch has claimed responsibility for the attack and last week posted 15 files on its website that it claimed contained Modesto data. Callow, the cybersecurity expert, said that generally means a city has not paid the ransom.

He said that is the right thing to do because there is no guarantee the cybercriminals wont keep the data despite being paid or sell it to other criminals.

Personal data accessed?

Modesto has said personal information  including Social Security and drivers license numbers  may have been accessed in the ransomware attack. The city in early March sent letters to people whose personal information may have been compromised and offered them one year of free credit monitoring.

The city has not said how many people received letters, but the city manager has said they were mainly city employees and almost entirely limited to Police Department employees. He has said a small number of people who dont work for the city may been affected, too.

Callow has said ransomware attacks have become more common among public agencies.

For instance, Oakland continues to deal with the fallout of a ransomware attack from February. The cybercriminals have posted Social Security numbers, medical records and home addresses of thousands of current and former city employees, according to CBS Bay Area News.

The news station reported confidential information of some Oakland residents who have filed claims against the city or applied for city programs also has been released.

The City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the basement chambers of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St. The meeting also will be on Zoom. The meeting ID is 869 4597 0570 and the passcode is 84326.
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Reuters

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Rebekah Jones, a prominent critic of fascist Ron DeSantis, is alleging that Florida police have kidnapped her son for political retribution.

The trouble for Jones is that her 13-year-old son sent some disturbing messages to his friends via Snapchat, including ones saying, I want to shoot up the school and its been like 3-4 weeks since I got on my new.antidepressants and they arent working but theyre suppose to by now so I have no hope in getting better so why not kill the losers at school.

In todays see something, say something world, prudence demands that we take threats seriously. But in 2023 America, crazy conspiracy theories are lent credence by politicians who clearly do use the power of government to target their political opponents for retribution.

The GOP Campaign Trail Is Already Getting DeSantis-Proofed

Jones, who was fired from the Florida Department of Health in 2020 after alleging the state was pressuring her to downplay risks of COVID, is currently suing the state over her termination.

Anyone who is a parent can (somewhat) sympathize with Jones defense of her son. I was once pulled into a meeting because my then-young son was alleged to have made threats against the school. After being bullied by a student, he said something to the effect of, I want to fire the school. He meant that he wanted to terminate their employment. They initially interpreted fire the school in a more incendiary way.

While its tough being a parent, its even tougher to give Jones the benefit of the doubt in this particular situation. Her sons comments are hard to misinterpret, and the danger of ignoring blaring warning signslook no further than the recent school shooting in Nashvillecertainly outweighs the danger of intervention.

Moreover, the notion that Jones son was kidnappedher wording in a viral tweetis undermined by the fact that she surrendered her son to the sheriffs office last Wednesday.

Story continues

There is also the unseemliness of Jones using this incident to raise money for her Whistleblower Go Fund Me.

As to the underlying charge that Jones and her son are being targeted for retribution? According to VICE, there is currently no evidence to suggest that the arrest of Joness son is part of a broader vendetta against her by the DeSantis administration.

We are left with the story of a once-promising woman who, like a lot of Americans, seems to have been radicalized by Trump, COVID-19, and (perhaps the most dangerous) a taste of political celebrity. Its unfortunate that she appears to also view her personal struggles as an extension of her political victimhood.

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On the other hand, whether or not she truly believes her accusations, Jones is responding to the incentives we have created. [W]hat gets the most traction with views and followers, its the most performative, over the top, perhaps psychiatrically unwell behavior, Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, author of Glow Kids, told me recently.

In todays world, nuance is trumped by tribalism in the reflexive rush to take sides. For example, the initial response from some media outlets was to cast Jones as the victim (The Miami Herald reportedly had to correct a headline that downplayed the shooting threats as memes).

Meanwhile, our elected leadersthose who might otherwise provide a calming forceare exploiting these same trends.

Trump Derangement Syndrome worked both ways. Donald Trump created a cadre of rabid, delusional cult members, yes. But his behavior also radicalized the media and the Democrats, many of whom sought to fight fire with fire.

Look no further than Stormy Daniels erstwhile attorney, Michael Avenatti. He rose to fame by trying to out-Trump Trump, only to crash and burn. The lesson? As Avenatti put it, live by the sword, die by the sword.

Jones, similarly, appears to be infected by DeSantis Derangement Syndrome. She lives in DeSantiss state, but the governor clearly lives rent-free in her head.

And just as Avenatti aped Trumps rhetoric, Joness hyperbole mirrors DeSantiss behavior when he talks about Disney, Dr. Fauci, local government officials, etc.

In the grand scheme of things, Rebekah Jones and her son are merely a footnote to a much larger story. But when you consider the subplots about conspiracy theories, political retribution, and school shooting threats, this may also be the most 2023 story imaginable.

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Many Democrats, nationally and in Frankfort, have called for more gun control in the wake of the mass shooting event in Louisville.

But the state legislature, controlled by Republicans for the last several years, has focused on limiting gun control.

Most recently the General Assembly passed a bill making Kentucky a Second Amendment Sanctuary, which has already become law because it contained an emergency clause. That law, sponsored by Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, bars local and state police from enforcing any federal firearm regulation banning guns, ammunition, or firearm accessoriesthat takes effect after Jan. 21, 2021.

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear did not veto the bill, House Bill 153, instead allowing it to become law without his signature.

A former attorney general, Beshear said last month that while hes a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, bills like House Bill 153 dont hold up to scrutiny.

Id just like us to spend our time on things that we know are constitutional, and that can improve our lives, like economic development, expansion of health care, he said. That one will be challenged by someone in court, and each and every time its struck down.

All but two of the 27 Democrats in Frankfort voted against the bill, with a few Republicans in the Senate joining them.

What happened today in Louisville is a tragedy, Bray said on Monday. Unfortunately, as a society weve seen the value of life drop to the point where it can be taken callously and selfishly.Whether House Bill 153 became law or not it would not have prevented todays tragedy. There is no piece of legislation that could have prevented the evil that unfolded today. The brutal act that took place was already illegal and carries the strictest punishment in the Commonwealth.

Another bill that would have loosened gun restrictions in the state appeared to be moving through the legislature, but fell flat this session. Rep. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, was pushing a bill that would have forced public colleges and universities in Kentucky to allow many students to carry guns on campus, preventing the institutions from barring people 21 years and older from carrying a concealed weapon on campuses.

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The bill was opposed by the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). Maddox announced during session that it did not have the votes to pass the Republican-controlled legislature.

Maddox worked to pass one of the most consequential gun bills in the state of late in 2019, receiving plaudits from the National Rifle Association (NRA) for helping carry a constitutional carry bill. That bill, passed with the strong support of former Republican governor Matt Bevin, established that no separate permit or training is required for legal gun owners to conceal carry a gun.

Democrats in the legislature filed multiple bills introducing gun control measures, but none of them were assigned to a committee. Two Lexington legislators filed bills on the topic.

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas, D-Lexington, filed a bill that would have allowed urban-county governments, of which Lexington is the only in the state, and consolidated local governments to further regulate firearms and ammunition to reduce gun violence.

Rep. George Brown Jr., D-Lexington, filed a bill that would have banned possession of an assault rifle in most cases, among other things.

Recent bipartisan efforts to pass a red flag law, allowing courts to order law enforcement to take firearms from people who pose a danger to themselves or others, have floundered in Frankfort. Despite the support of Senate Majority Caucus Leader Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, and former veteran GOP senator Paul Hornback, an effort to get such a bill passed has received tepid reception in Frankfort.

The founder of Moms Demand Action, one of the leading organizations calling for gun control in America, Shannon Watts said that Kentuckys gun laws are among the worst in the US, and the state has the 13th-highest rate of gun violence. She also called House Bill 153 dangerous.

In response to school shootings in Kentucky and the rest of the nation, the legislature has pushed to fund School Resource Officers (SROs). A bill was passed during last years legislative session to mandate that all school campuses, with some exceptions where funding is not available, have an SRO. Though many Democrats voted against the bill, Beshear signed it and said that some bipartisan progress could be made on the subject.
Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc (Getty Images)

Republicans have been mostly silent since Fridays dueling decisions on the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, even openly trying to change the subject on the matter. But one GOP member of Congress, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), went the opposite direction, saying Monday that the FDA should ignore the Texas judges attempt to ban the drug nationwide.

This is an FDA-approved drug, whether you agree with its usage or not. Thats not your decision, that is the FDAs decision on the efficacy, safety and usage of that particular drug, Mace told CNN This Morning on Monday. I support the usage of FDA-approved drugs, even if we might disagree.

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Republican @NancyMace says she believes the FDA should ignore the Texas judges ruling. This is an FDA approved drug. Whether you agree with its usage or not, that's not your decision. That is the FDAs decision. pic.twitter.com/wGJBunurcL  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 10, 2023

Later in the interview, host Kaitlan Collins asked outright: Should the FDA ignore Trump-appointed Texas Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk?

Yes, I would, Mace said. This is an issue that Republicans have been largely on the wrong side of. We have, over the last nine months, not shown compassion towards women. And this is one of those issues that Ive tried to lead on.

Mace, whom Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has called trash over her support for rape exceptions to abortion bans, appears to be alone in this stance. While her Senate colleagues are tweeting about anything but abortion, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) went ahead and said Sunday that we should all find something else to talk about besides abortion as he and his party systematically gut our reproductive rights.

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I think its important that we take care of women and its important that we have real discussions on womens healthcare and get off the abortion conversation, Gonzalez said. Women have a whole lot more other issues than just abortion. Lets have those real conversations and lets talk about the other things that are happening in this world.

There is a lot happening in the world, but without bodily autonomy, so many of those problems in the world become secondary. The Turnaway Study from the University of California, San Francisco, found in a 2020 report that people denied abortion saw increase in household poverty for at least four years compared to those who could access abortion. In the study, women who were unable to get an abortion were more likely to stay in contact with a physically violent partner. Even before Roe v. Wade was overturned, maternal mortality rates were going up in this country.

In other words, bodily autonomy is the issue at the heart of everything.

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A House committee on Monday advanced a proposal that would prohibit businesses and government agencies from requiring people to take COVID-19 tests or wear masks to enter their facilities, with the measures sponsor calling such mandates discriminatory practices.

The proposal, a top priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis, would build on prohibitions passed by the Florida Legislature earlier in the pandemic regarding health measures such as vaccination requirements.

Under the plan approved by the House Health & Human Services Committee Monday, businesses and governmental entities would be barred from denying services to people who refuse to wear masks or take COVID-19 tests. Businesses and agencies would be prohibited from firing or refusing to hire people based on post-infection recovery status or the persons failure to take a COVID-19 test, and could face fines up to $5,000 for each violation of the measure.

The Republican-dominated committee approved the bill (HB 1013) in a 12-5 vote Monday, with Democrats decrying its potential impact on private companies.

The keyword is private. Private businesses have the right to make their own decisions, Rep. Marie Woodson, D-Hollywood, said before voting against the proposal.

READ MORE: Florida health officials removed key data from COVID vaccine report

But Rep. Griff Griffitts, a Panama City Republican who sponsored the bill, argued that the proposal is designed to fight discrimination.

Weve known that things have changed dramatically over the last two years, and we have to take that into account. All this is doing is taking the discriminatory practices off what weve learned over the last two years, which people were either being discriminated [against] for jobs, education or employment opportunities based on discrimination from COVID-19, Griffitts said.

The measure also would impose similar prohibitions on educational institutions, including provisions that would bar institutions from requiring COVID-19 tests or imposing mask requirements. Under the bill, educational institutions also could face $5,000 fines for violations.

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The measure also would add requirements for healthcare practitioners. It would require practitioners to obtain the informed consent of a patient or their legal representative before prescribing any medications to treat coronavirus. Under the bill, informed consent would include an explanation of alternative medications for treating COVID-19 and the relative advantages, disadvantages, and risks associated with those drugs.

A House staff analysis of the measure included Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin, Methanol and herbal medicines as examples of such alternative medications. Use of drugs such as Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin sparked nationwide debates during the pandemic, with DeSantis in 2020 backing the states bulk purchase of Hydroxychloroquine for use by healthcare providers.

Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg, argued that the bill goes way too far.

I think that weve gotten to a point where we use science only when it serves our own best interest and the point that we wish to make, Cross said.

The measure has one more committee stop before it can be considered by the full House. A similar bill (SB 252) also is moving in the Senate.

This years proposals follow a series of pandemic-related measures passed during a special session in 2021. DeSantis called for the special session after battling for months with President Joe Bidens administration on issues related to the handling of COVID-19.

Under the 2021 laws, Florida private-sector workers can avoid vaccination requirements if they provide medical reasons, religious reasons or can demonstrate COVID-19 immunity. Also, they can be exempt if they agree to regular COVID-19 testing or agree to wear personal protective equipment. Employers could face fines up to $50,000 per violation if they dont properly follow the law.

Lawmakers in 2021 also barred government agencies from requiring workers to be vaccinated and reinforced a law known as the Parents Bill of Rights that banned student mask and vaccination requirements in public schools.

While DeSantis promoted vaccinating people, particularly seniors, after the drugs became available in 2020, he later became a high-profile opponent of vaccination mandates and has raised questions about the effectiveness of the shots.

In December, the Florida Supreme Court approved a request by DeSantis to impanel a statewide grand jury to investigate alleged wrongdoing related to COVID-19 vaccines.

The approval came after DeSantis submitted a request that alleged there are good and sufficient reasons to deem it to be in the public interest to impanel a statewide grand jury to investigate criminal or wrongful activity in Florida relating to the development, promotion, and distribution of vaccines purported to prevent COVID-19 infection, symptoms, and transmission.
"He is dependent on her; she alone is providing all his food/nourishment through nursing," the Jackson County Animal Shelter says about the kitten's bond with Kela the dog

Jackson County Animal Shelter (2)

An abandoned kitten has a mother again, thanks to a doting dog.

In March, a "very pregnant" Kela moved to the Jackson Country Animal Shelter from another shelter in Michigan because Jackson Country Animal Shelter was more equipped to care for the dog mom and her puppies, the shelter's animal services director, Lydia Sattler, tells PEOPLE.

Initially, the Jackson Country Animal Shelter planned to place Kela in a foster home to give birth. But the pregnant dog was "very scared and would not let anyone get close to her" when she first arrived at the shelter," says Sattler.

"We moved her into our office spaces to try and make her more comfortable and let her get to know us. She became very happy hanging out with us all day," the director says.

On March 31, Kela gave birth to ten healthy puppies at the Jackson Country Animal Shelter. Several days later, a Good Samaritan brought in an abandoned male kitten they found outside. After the kitten arrived, shelter workers brought the tiny cat back to the offices for a bottle and a vet exam.

Related:Rescue Bunnies Help Kitten with Special Needs Get on His Feet and Start Adoption Journey

Jackson County Animal Shelter

It didn't take Kela long to realize someone new was in the offices.

"While he was waiting for his bottle to be warmed up, the kitten was crying in his box. Kela heard the kitten and was scratching at the door to get in that room," Sattler explains.

At first, shelter workers couldn't figure out what Kela wanted until they opened the door to the room holding the abandoned kitten.

Related:Crash the One-Eyed Rescue Cat Becomes the First Feline to Win the Cadbury Bunny Tryouts

"I opened the door to ask her what was wrong, and she immediately ran past me to the kitten. She stuck her head right in the box. I went and picked up the kitten, not knowing what Kela was doing. She tried to take him out of my hand and would not take her eyes off him. She also would not leave the kitten to go back to her puppies," Sattler says.

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Jackson County Animal Shelter

The animal services director decided to place the kitten with Kela's puppies to help the dog calm down.

"As soon as the kitten was added to the puppy pile, she instantly laid down and started cleaning him," Sattler says of Kela.

"Kela was finally content to stay with her puppies again once the kitten was in there with them. We tried to take him out to give him a bottle, and Kela again would not leave his side," she adds.

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.

Since joining Kela's litter on April 3, the currently unnamed kitten has been doing well.

"He is so content to be cleaned, warm, and snuggled. We haven't heard him cry since!" Sattler says of the kitten's time with Kela.

Along with cleaning the kitten, Kela has started nursing the baby cat and made him a part of her pack. Kela's puppies don't seem to mind the plus one.

Jackson County Animal Shelter

"They don't have their eyes open yet, so they will be surprised to see he looks a little different. I wonder if they will notice! They all snuggle together and nurse side by side! I think it is fair to say the whole litter will be great with cats when they are ready for adoption," Sattler says.

The kitten  around ten days old when he arrived at the shelter  will stay with Kela until he is weaned.

"He is dependent on her; she alone is providing all his food/nourishment through nursing as well as cleaning up after him," the Jackson Country Animal Shelter director adds.

Once the kitten and Kela's puppies are weaned, all of the animals will be available for adoption at the Jackson County Animal Shelter.

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(CNN)  Israeli forces shot and killed a 15-year-old Palestinian boy in the Aqbat Jaber refugee camp near the occupied West Bank city of Jericho, Palestinian officials said, as violence in the region continued to simmer on Monday.

Mohammad Fayez Balhan was killed by live occupation bullets in the head, chest and abdomen, the ministry said, adding that two other people were injured by live ammunition and sent to a hospital in Jericho for treatment.

The Israeli military said they raided the camp to arrest a terror suspect.

During the activity, violent riots were instigated in a number of locations, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. As the soldiers left the area, suspects opened fire toward them, hurled explosive devices and Molotov cocktails. The soldiers responded with live fire and .22 caliber ammunition. Hits were identified.

Tensions in Israel and the occupied West Bank have spiraled in the aftermath of recent Israeli police raids on the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Over the last week, dozens of rockets were launched from Lebanon, Gaza and Syria into Israeli territory, followed by Israeli retaliatory strikes.

On Friday, a vehicle hit a group of tourists in Tel Aviv, killing one Italian national, in what Israeli authorities described as a terror attack. Two sisters, aged 15 and 20, with dual British-Israeli citizenship were also killed Friday in a shooting attack in the West Bank. On Monday, the mother of the women, Lucy Dee, succumbed to wounds sustained during the shooting.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the shooting as a severe terrorist attack.

On behalf of all citizens of Israel, I convey heartfelt condolences to the Dee family on the passing of the mother of the family, Leah (Lucy), who was murdered in the severe terrorist attack in the Jordan Valley last Friday, together with her two daughters Maia and Rina, Netanyahu said in a statement Monday.

Netanyahu on Friday instructed Israeli police to mobilize all border police units in reserve and the IDF to mobilize additional forces in face of terrorist attacks, according to his office. The Israeli military said it was on high alert, calling up an unspecified number of reservists amid what it described as very volatile times.

Also on Monday, thousands of Israeli settlers staged a march to Evyatar, an illegal settler outpost in the occupied West Bank that has been a flashpoint for Israels settler movement. Far-right Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Givr, among those who have spearheaded a campaign to legalize the outpost, was among the protesters.

Evyatar sits on a hilltop, along a corridor linking Tel Aviv to the Jordan Valley, known locally as Jabal Subeih. Palestinians who say they own land in the site have been holding counter-protests. Israeli settlers left Evyatar in 2021 after a deal with the government of then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The buildings remained as part of the governments deal with the settlers.

The land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel, belongs to us, Knesset member Ariel Kallner, of Netanyahus Likud party, told CNN. I think that those who live here, the Arabs and so on, they can live here. But its our land.

Under international law, both the West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered occupied territory and settlements there illegal, which Israel disputes.

Nabil Abu Radina, a spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the march as an invasion of settler militias, led by ministers from the Israeli occupation government. Abu Radina also demanded than immediate and quick intervention by the US government to stop this madness for which the entire region will pay the price.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Palestinian teen killed, Israeli woman dies of wounds as West Bank violence simmers"
The mayor of Revere is joining the Healey administration as DCR commissioner, where he will oversee the states network of public parks and beaches.

Brian Arrigo was introduced as commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation early Monday morning. He plans to resign as mayor on April 21, ending a run that began in 2016, and to start work for the state on April 24.

In making the announcement, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs credited Arrigo for his work developing Reveres first master plan in more than 40 years, the creation of a 311-constituent service office, and the construction of a new Department of Public Works facility and a new Point of Pines Fire Station, as well as efforts to encourage public and private investments along Revere Beach, Shirley Avenue, and Suffolk Downs.

Arrigo previously served on the Revere City Council and in 2014-2015 he worked as operating budget manager at the MBTA. For three years starting in January 2006, Arrigo was deputy budget director and fiscal policy analyst at the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Arrigos city is home to Revere Beach Reservation, which DCR describes as the first public beach established in the United States.

Policymaking is about more than laws and budgets -- its about building happy, healthy communities for our residents. Mayor Arrigo understands, as I do, that DCR is central to those efforts, Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. He has extensive experience transforming Reveres waterfront and managing public lands. I know he will work tirelessly so everyone in our state has access to well-maintained green spaces and fun activities for all ages.

Said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper: Its time we think bigger about the role of the Department of Conservation and Recreation in our state. DCR manages 450,000 acres of land in Massachusetts -- from forests to urban oases. We need a Commissioner like Mayor Arrigo who understands the vital role our parks system, tree planting efforts, and conservation work intersect with public health and the climate crisis.

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The new appointee mentioned stepping up tree-planting efforts and improving park maintenance as priorities.

Arrigo was first elected mayor in 2015 and reelected in 2019. He is currently serving the last year in his four-year term.

Healey has proposed a $150.5 million budget for DCR in fiscal 2024. That would represent a 12 percent increase and includes $5 million to begin addressing a backlog of maintenance projects. House Democrats this week are expected to release their redraft of the governors budget.

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Kasey Hopkins got right to the point in his recent letter to U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan expressing remorse for his involvement in the Capitol riot.

Maam you have my rap sheet and to my shame its not a good one, began the Kansas City, Kansas, window contractor in a 3-page note written prior to his sentencing Monday on a misdemeanor charge. ...I was sent to prison in the summer of 2002. Its important to me that you know.

Prison, Hopkins told the judge, was the single best thing to happen to me! After getting out, he said, he turned his life around, started a now-successful business and tried to make amends to those he had wronged.

But on Jan. 6, 2021, Hopkins attended the pro-Trump Stop the Steal rally in Washington, D.C., then walked to the Capitol, breached it twice and entered a senators private office, where he took pictures of rioters ransacking the room.

On Monday, after a lengthy lecture about the seriousness of his Jan. 6 actions and expressing shock at his criminal past, Chutkan sentenced Hopkins to four months incarceration followed by 24 months probation. Hopkins, 48, also must pay $500 restitution for the nearly $2.9 million in damages the government says were caused by the riot.

His sentencing hearing was held via video conference in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

A nervous Hopkins addressed the judge just before she handed down the sentence.

Im ridiculously ashamed to be here right now, he said, but added that he was not the man he used to be. If theres any takeaway from January 6, it was that I allowed myself to get caught up  and bringing fear to people is something that goes against everything I am. I can say that through that experience, I understand that the mob mentality is a very, very real thing, and I can say that punishing me  I can understand that  but punishing those who have helped me get where Im at is something that I, the weight that I will bear on my shoulders if that happens.

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He acknowledged that he had spent seven years in prison for a rape conviction.

But from that day, until this, I still think about it, and it is a motivator to make sure that I continue to move forward, he said. And anybodys path I cross, if I can help or assist in any single way, that I will try and do my best to make sure that after meeting me, theyve left me being glad that I was in their lives...

Chutkan praised Hopkins for undergoing some personal transformation and growth during the time you were incarcerated that led you to be on the path to try to be a better man and said that I think youve in a great, large part, succeeded. But she said the crime that sent him to prison 20 years ago was one of the more disturbing sexual assaults Ive read about in a long time.

She described the events of Jan. 6, 2021, as no less than an attempt to overthrow the government to halt the lawful transfer of power that has gone on uninterrupted in this country since its founding.

...You may have pleaded to a misdemeanor, she told Hopkins, but that does not fully encompass or describe how serious the actions of that mob were on January 6.

The fact that he attended the rally knowing that it might turn into something resembling a civil conflict really boggles my mind, Chutkan said.

And then having attended that rally, and even getting caught up with the crowd walking on to the Capitol, that you would make the decision to cross the line, literally and figuratively, and go into that building not once, but twice, is really amazing and very disappointing.

Hopkins was arrested on Aug. 5, 2022, and charged with four misdemeanors. In December, the government dropped three of the charges in exchange for his guilty plea on one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

He faced a maximum sentence of six months incarceration, five years probation and a $5,000 fine. Prosecutors had requested a sentence of four months incarceration, three years probation, 60 hours of community service and $500 restitution.

Hopkins is among nine Kansas residents charged in connection with the Capitol riot. To date, six have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced, and the cases of three others  two Olathe Proud Boys and a Topeka man all facing felony charges  are ongoing.

According to the governments sentencing memorandum, Hopkins flew to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5 to attend the Stop the Steal rally. Two days before he left, the document said, Hopkins solicited another person to go with him and discussed the potential of a Civil War.

He even proposed forming a group of Proud Felons for Trump when he heard the Proud Boys might not accept men with felony convictions, the document said.

The document included a text exchange between Hopkins and someone it labeled Person 1, who was unable to accompany him because of work.

I am ready for the Civil War and will definitely take off work for that, Person 1 texted. Proud of you for going there now.

The document said Hopkins replied: Civil War would suck! However, if s gets outta hand weve gotta plan. Hope you do too!

Person 1 said hed tried joining the Proud Boys online after Trump told the far-right extremist group to stand back and stand by during a 2020 presidential debate. But he said he got no response.

Hopkins response, according to the governments sentencing document: We should start a PFFT Proud Felons For Trump.

The document said that after attending Trumps rally on Jan. 6, Hopkins walked to the Washington Monument.

According to a statement Hopkins gave to law enforcement, while there, he observed another individual with a noose, it said. Hopkins then walked to the Capitol, and described the scene as a bunch of pirates who had overtaken a ship, and that it was anarchy and chaos.

Hopkins entered the Capitol around 2:54 p.m., the document said, and recorded the unfolding events with his phone. He left the building after about three minutes, it said, but less than 10 minutes later re-entered through the Senate Wing Door, where nearby windows had been broken and furniture overturned.

Hopkins walked down a hallway and entered the private office of Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, of Oregon, the document said.

Inside, there was a crowd of people ransacking the office and smoking marijuana, it said. A man wearing a fake beard, Capitol riot defendant Brandon Fellows, sat in a chair, and Hopkins took a picture of Fellows with Fellows phone.

After leaving Merkleys office, Hopkins made his way to the Crypt, stopping to take a selfie in front of a bust of Winston Churchill, the government said. Hopkins left the building around 3:15 p.m. and stayed on the grounds until at least 4:20 p.m.

Hopkins told the FBI that he saw human feces on the ground outside the Capitol as he was leaving and that he did not observe any police waving people inside the Capitol, according to the document.

The memorandum contained extensive details about Hopkins lengthy and troubling criminal history dating back to 1994.

Most notably, it said, Hopkins was convicted in 2002 for forcible rape, for which he was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Online Missouri court records show that Hopkins pleaded guilty on Feb. 24, 2003, to one count of forcible rape, one count of forcible sodomy, third-degree domestic assault (a misdemeanor) and felonious restraint. He was sentenced to prison for seven years and is now a registered sex offender.

Hopkins also has at least eight other convictions for offenses including assault on a law enforcement officer, assault in the third degree, operating a motor vehicle without a license, possession of a controlled substance and non-support, the governments sentencing document said. And while under periods of supervision for many of those convictions, it said, Hopkins was convicted of additional crimes, including two assaults and possession of a controlled substance.

Hopkins own sentencing memorandum, however, describes him as a compassionate and generous business owner who has turned his life around, is remorseful for his actions, lives to serve others and is a respected member of the community. The document includes letters of praise from friends, his ex-wife and step-daughter.

Kasey has a very loving heart, filled with kindness and determination that has enabled him to pull his life back together after making admittedly poor decisions over 2 decades ago, wrote Laura Waldon, who said shes known Hopkins for nearly eight years.

She said he was a good and honest person who through his business donates time and material to projects for churches and charities.

Before going to prison, Hopkins wrote in his letter to the judge, I was cocky and I was a cheat and a liar. I stole and used people. I manipulated people and took what wasnt mine. I used my past and my shortcomings as a crutch and never took responsibility for anything.

Prison, he said, gave me the opportunity to reflect on my life and how I allowed myself to become such a drain on my loved ones and society. ...I knew that if I Never-Ever wanted to be in a place like prison then I needed to change EVERYTHING about me.

In his letter, Hopkins told the judge that his trip to D.C. was well intentioned in the beginning.

But, it was not well thought through that day, he wrote. When I saw the chaos occurring I should have used better judgment and headed home. I did not and for that I am truly sorry.

I now realize how frightened and terrorized our members of congress, staffers and Capitol law enforcement must have been. I am ashamed and very sorry for having contributed to imposing unnecessary fear and unjustified anguish on my fellow Americans who were doing their best (to) carry out the lawful transition of power. I will forever regret my decision to be a part of this.
A Rockford man will spend more than the next 120 years in prison after violently kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman four years ago.

Matthew Harkey was sentenced to 123 years in prison with 101 of those years being served consecutively.

Harkey was found guilty of five counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, four counts of criminal sexual assault, kidnapping and home invasion last April.

More: Rockford man, registered sex offender faces 120 years for kidnapping, raping woman

On March 13, 2019, Harkey broke into the victim's Rockford home, struck her on the head, taped a ski mask to her head and forced her into the truck of her car.

Harkey drove the 34-year-old woman to his mothers house in Roscoe and handcuffed her to a weight bench in the basement where he sexually assaulted her multiple times.

The woman escaped and called police.

Harkey fled the area in a Nissan Rogue he rented a day before the attack, according to prosecutors. He then led police on a high-speed chase through Rockford and was later arrested a day later in southern Illinois.

Harkey was previously employed by Napleton Honda in Loves Park. He knew the victim professionally, prosecutors said during the trial.

Court records show Harkey was also a registered sex offender in a case out of McHenry County.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford man Matthew Harkey sentenced for kidnapping, raping woman
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Andrew Tate, the divisive internet personality who is under house arrest in Romania on suspicion of organized crime and human trafficking, appeared at prosecutors offices on Monday for forensic searches of electronic equipment confiscated during investigations, his lawyer said.

Tate, 36, a British-U.S. citizen who has six million Twitter followers, was initially detained in late December in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women. None of the four has yet been formally indicted.

Both the Tates appeared on Monday at the Bucharest offices of Romanias anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, as forensic searches were carried out, said Eugen Vidineac, a lawyer representing them.

The brothers attendance on Monday comes after they won an appeal on March 31 to be moved from police custody to house arrest, where they will remain until at least April 29. Prosecutors have already carried out several device searches since they were detained.

As the Tates left the DIICOT offices on Monday, they were met outside by a scrum of media, and a handful of supporters who chanted Top-G, Top-G!  one of the monikers used by his fans.

Asked how he is feeling, Tristan Tate told reporters: Im always ok. I was ok in jail, Im ok now.

Vidineac told The Associated Press that prosecutors have seized a lot of devices" in the case and that theyre still looking for the information, even now.

Being under arrest, even home arrest, the searches (are) mandatory to be done in their presence, he said. The prosecutor is doing his job, we respect the job of the prosecutor, of the authorities, we let them do the investigation ... and we await the results."

Since his release from police detention, Andrew Tate's Twitter followers have rocketed by at least 500,000. A tweet that appeared on his account Sunday read: The world makes alot more sense once you understand that most people dont even want to be free.

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Tate, a professional kickboxer who has resided in Romania since 2017, was previously banned from various social media platforms for expressing misogynistic views and hate speech. He has repeatedly claimed Romanian prosecutors have no evidence and alleged their case is a political conspiracy designed to silence him.

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.

___

McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania.
Russell Crowes latest film The Popes Exorcist has been condemned by The International Association of Exorcists (IAE).

In the trailer released last month, the Sony Pictures movie claims to be inspired by actual files of father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican.

There is actually a real job called the Chief Exorcist in the Vatican, Crowe explains in the films production notes. Father Gabriele Amorth was a real man who held that office for 36 years, and was involved in tens of thousands of exorcisms.

However, in a statement issued last month, the IAE, which Amorth himself founded in 1990, called the film unreliable  splatter cinema, per The Guardian.

It claimed that the films plot, which involves a Vatican conspiracy, poses unacceptable doubt as to who the real enemy is, the devil or ecclesiastical power.

Amorth was president of the IAE until 2000 and died in 2016  he claimed to have performed 160,000 exorcisms in his career.

The end result is to instil the conviction that exorcism is an abnormal, monstrous, and frightening phenomenon, whose only protagonist is the devil, whose violent reactions can be faced with great difficulty, the IAE continued.

Russell Crowe in The Popes Exorcist (Jonathan Hession/Sony Pictures)

This is the exact opposite of what occurs in the context of exorcism celebrated in the Catholic church in obedience to the directives imparted by it.

The group stipulated that its statement was made in response to the trailer and that it would be commenting further once the full feature was released globally on Good Friday (7 April), however, a second statement has not yet been released.

The Independent has contacted the IAE for comment.

Producer Michael Patrick Kaczmarek optioned the rights to Amorths two memoirs  An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories  before the priests death.

I was able to convince [Amorth] that if he took the chance to work with me, that I would try to make sure the Catholicity would be preserved in the film  and that he would be respected as a person along with the Church and his religious order, Kaczmarek said.

My producing partners and I always pitched this as the James Bond of exorcists... The sky was the limit in terms of the number of stories we could tell.

The Popes Exorcist is in cinemas now.
Street in Mariupol

Read also: Russians step up cleansing in Mariupol after attack on collaborator

"The village of Lisne is located in the midst of the forest near the settlement of Nikolske, he reported.

"It is really suitable for (housing) the military. First, it is away from prying eyes. Second, it is close to the occupiers' main deployment in Nikolske. With the support of local collaborator Natalia Mukha, the occupiers have started to evict the villagers.

Andriushchenko stated that the Russians are simply throwing the local residents of the village out onto the street, citing lack of proof of ownership and ID as the reason.

Read also: Rebuilding Mariupol may take about 20 years, says mayor

Russian occupiers reportedly launched the production of concrete reinforcement facilities in Mariupol, Andriushchenko reported on April 6.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Donetsk Oblast

"Over the last seven days, Russia has likely increased its armored assaults around the Donetsk Oblast town of Mariinka, 20 km south-west of Donetsk city," the UKs Ministry of Defense wrote on Twitter.

The fight for Mariinka has been ongoing since 2014, the ministry added. The town has been heavily ruined by artillery fire since then, however, it remains a strategic choke point that allows control of the roads to Donetsk, in particular the key H15 highway.

However, Russia has thus far been unsuccessful in its efforts to capture the town, despite prioritizing the Donetsk Oblast frontline, including Mariinka and Avdiivka. This has resulted in large amounts of resources used for minimal gain, UK intelligence believes.

Read also: Russians still failing to surround Avdiivka almost one year on, says governor

According to Ukraines Armed Forces, the invading Russian forces lose about two companies per day near Avdiivka and Mariinka alone.

The Donetsk Oblast towns of Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mariinka remain the hottest spots of the frontline.

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Russia suffers colossal losses of around two companies of personnel per day

Read also: Russia intensifying armored assault near Mariinka, UK intelligence believes

"Positional fighting is ongoing near Mariinka and Avdiivka, success is alternating as we are regaining all our positions that the enemy has managed to seize, he explained.

Russia suffers colossal losses of around two companies of personnel per day, but it doesn't lose hope.

Captured Russian troops said that they had been sent into battle by "not sober enough commanders without any training," the spokesperson added.

"They wake the personnel up in the middle of the night and send them at gunpoint to storm [Ukrainian] positions," Dmytrashkivskyi said.

The towns of Bakhmut, Mariinka, and Avdiivka remain the hottest spots on the frontline, embroiled in constant fighting. The Ukrainian Armed Forces continues to hold its positions despite repeated Russian assaults, military authorities have said.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
US Abrams tanks and a German Leopard at the training ground in Nowa Deba Poland on September 21, 2022. The US agreed to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

NATO countries such as the US, Germany, and Poland have agreed to send tanks to aid Ukraine.

Leaked documents show that Russia is offering troops "financial incentives" to destroy them, per NYT.

Videos of the tanks being destroyed will then be used to boost Russia's confidence, documents say.

Russia is offering troops bonus pay to destroy tanks that have been supplied to Ukraine by NATO countries, according to leaked US intelligence documents reviewed by The New York Times.

The documents, which were labeled top secret according to the Times, stated that video footage of foreign tanks being destroyed will then be used to boost Russian soldiers' confidence and hobble Ukraine's and the West's morale.

"Financial incentives would be offered for the capture and destruction of foreign tanks, and videos of tanks being destroyed would be widely distributed to reduce the confidence of Ukraine and the West and reassure Russian troops of their ability to overcome this new weaponry," the document said, according to the Times.

The document is part of a larger trove of intelligence that was leaked on social media in the past several days  some of which pertained to Russia's and Ukraine's military activities, the Times reported. Experts have noted, however, that some of the documents may have been altered for propaganda purposes.

Some of the leaked documents also showed that Ukraine may deplete its air defenses by May, emboldening Russia to utilize bomber jets against Ukrainian forces.

Russia's bonus-pay strategy not only reflects the dwindling troop morale amid a costly war but also the country's struggle to effectively respond to Ukraine's tank force despite having a greater number of armored vehicles.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies and Oryx, an open-source intelligence analysis platform, Russia lost nearly half of its tank supply, or more than 1,500 tanks, since the war began last February.

One repeated misstep by Russia was sending a fleet of unprotected tanks into an ambush in Bucha and, later, in Vuhledar.

The US, UK, Germany, and Poland have agreed to send tanks to Ukraine.

Read the original article on Business Insider
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia plans to overhaul its air defence forces after gaining new experience in the war in Ukraine and will also bolster its air defences to counter Finland's accession to the NATO military alliance, a commander in Russia's aerospace forces said.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year in what it calls "a special military operation", the fighting has descended into a grinding artillery war with extensive use of drones and missiles, testing the air defences of both Russia and Ukraine.

In an interview published on Monday with the Red Star newspaper, Lieutenant General Andrei Demin, deputy commander-in-chief of aerospace forces, said air defence forces had faced a number of challenges in the face of Ukrainian strikes.

Russia, he said, had added more than 50 mobile radar stations and A-50 early warning and control aircraft patrolled 24 hours a day while missile and anti-aircraft installations in regions next to Ukraine had been bolstered.

In Ukrainian regions under Russian control, air defence units had been set up to defend key installations, Demin said, while Russia had ramped up production of the RLK-MC anti-drone system.

Reforms "are undoubtedly planned and will be implemented," Demin told the defence ministry's newspaper. "The purpose of the upcoming changes is the development of the armed forces, aimed at improving the air defense system of the Russian Federation."

Demin said that Russia would also bolster is defences after Finland, which shares a 1,300-km (800-mile) border with Russia, joined NATO.

"In these conditions, the air defense forces are working out issues of protecting the state border in the north-west of the country in accordance with the increased threat level," Demin said.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, +79856400243; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Bakhmut city

He emphasized the move was a forced measure rather than a planned step to beef up the Russian forces in the area.

Cherevatyi noted that Russian airborne units had also reported losses in Bakhmut and had been reinforced by conscripts.

Read also: Will Crimea look like Bakhmut following liberation?  military expert analysis

Wagner (Group) is suffering very heavy losses, so they are forced to bring in additional regular army units, including paratroopers and motorized riflemen, to replenish the group in that area, he said.

Read also: Wagner trying to break into Bakhmut center, enemy taking losses in fierce fighting, says General Syrskyi

Earlier, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that the Russian invaders were deploying not only Wagner mercenary forces, but also their most professional units, which have already suffered significant losses, in attempted operations to capture Bakhmut.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Still unable to achieve air supremacy, Russia is nevertheless finding ways to threaten Ukraine from the sky.

Early this year, Russia introduced guided bombs  essentially, the regular gravity bombs modified to be dropped by multirole fighter-bombers from safe distances and deal precise and very damaging strikes in front-line areas and beyond.

Along with the specifically designed sophisticated smart munitions, Russia has been using the modified version of simple 500-kilogram air bombs that it has in vast numbers.

It poses an especially serious threat to Ukraine. By turning simple bombs into guided ones, Russia is unfolding a tactical weapon that is much cheaper, more massive, and more effective than cruise and ballistic missiles, the stockpile of which is largely depleted now. And it can at least partially substitute the lack of air support for its troops on the ground in Ukraine.

The use of Russian guided bombs already has a perceptible effect along the front line, particularly on the Ukrainian defenses of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast.

The Ukrainian Air Force calls this a dangerous situation. Russian guided bombs are launched from beyond the effective ranges of Ukrainian air defenses, and as of now, Ukraine has little to no instruments to counter them.

The Ukrainian air force again insists it must be provided with Western fighter jets operating modern longer-range air-to-air missiles  so that Ukrainian aircraft could push Russian carriers farther away from front lines beyond the effective range of their guided bombs and thus neutralize the threat.

Surviving Avdiivka: Russia intensifies assault on city deemed a second Bakhmut AVDIIVKA, Donetsk Oblast  Avdiivka is an eerie city to drive into in March 2023. One year into Russias full-scale war against Ukraine, but nine years into the Donbas war, the compact city just 10 kilometers from the center of occupied Donetsk is barely holding on. There is little choice Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell

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Deploying new bombs

Overnight into March 24, the Ukrainian military reported a devastating air strike in Sumy Oblast. Russian aircraft dropped 11 munitions identified as 500-kilogram air bombs equipped with UMPK (unified module for gliding and guidance) systems.

The kit reportedly provides old and abundant Soviet FAB-500-62 gravity bombs with a simple satellite guidance system and wings. According to Russian sources, the kits production cost is 2 million roubles ($24,000).

As a result of this modification, a simple bomb becomes a cheap substitute for an expensive guided missile carrying a 390-kilogram warhead. For comparison, a Kalibr cruise missile carrying a 450-kilogram warhead at a distance of up to 1,500 kilometers is worth nearly $6.5 million.

Upon Ukrainian air force estimates, such munitions launched from upper altitudes and at a high velocity can have an effective range of over 50 kilometers. As such, the bombs can deliver devastating hits upon Ukrainian lines and the rear front.

In particular, the FAB-500 family bombs, according to Amnesty International, were used by Russia in its devastating strike on the Mariupol Drama Theater in March 2022.

The accuracy rate of the bombs new smart version is unknown.

However, the cheapness of the modification and the abundance of FAB-500 bombs in the Russian military pave the way for extensive use in war zones.

According to Ukraines Air Force, up to 20 guided bomb hits are registered daily all along the front line, with Russian Sukhoi Su-34 and Sukhoi Su-35 jets used as carriers.

As of now, Russia has not admitted the serial production of UMPK kits.

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Russian gliding smart bombs now go in comparison with U.S.-provided JDAM-ER bomb kits that Ukraine currently operates as well, with their effective range reaching up to 72 kilometers.

The mass deployment gives a go to bombs that are much more powerful than light guided KAB-20L or KAB-50S launched with Forpost drones, the licensed copy of Israeli IAI Searcher systems.

Moreover, even heavier and more advanced munitions have already been seen in use in Ukraine in 2023.

In March, Russian forces were also seen using munitions identified as 1,500-kilogram UPAB-1500B guided bombs in Avdiivka, which has become the target of devastating air strikes wiping away city blocks.

Russian UPAB-1500B smart bomb design is known since 2019. According to the manufacturer, the munitions export version is capable of delivering a 1,010-kilogram warhead. The munition allegedly uses inertial and satellite guidance and navigation systems and has an accuracy rate of just 10 meters.

The manufacturer says the gliding bomb can be dropped at an altitude of up to 15 kilometers from a distance of up to 50 kilometers from the target, which reduces the probability of the carrier being targeted by the adversary longer range air defenses.

The UPAB-1500B can be used by 4++ or 5th generation aircraft, which in fact makes Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers the munitions sole carrier in the Russian Air Force.

And according to experts with the Kyiv-based Defense Express consulting agency, given the short timespan since the design was introduced, Russia is likely having UPAB-1500V in small quantities, along with the munitions smaller version, UPAB-500V.

Besides, the Russian arms industry has historically been prone to overstretching performance specifications for propaganda purposes.

A ground staff directs the Mig-29 fighter jet of the Ukrainian Air Force after a flight during a training session in a military airbase at the Vasylkiv air base on Nov. 23, 2016. (Danil Shamkin/NurPhoto)

Search for solutions

Nonetheless, even in the present situation with Russian FAB-500s with UMPK kits, the Ukrainian Air Force is beating alarms and calling for solutions.

According to the forces spokesman Colonel Yuriy Hnat, even if large Russian gliding bombs are launched at the distance of between 20 and 30 kilometers, thats still a grave danger to Ukrainian front defenses and the close rear.

The only realistic way to counter the threat is, in fact, combating Russian aircraft carrying gliding bombs.

Ukraines outdated Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 lack modern longer range air-to-air missiles and sophisticated radars and cant keep up with more advanced and numerous Russian fighters and its ground air defenses.

The Ukrainian military maintains a multilayered air defense grid on the ground that Russian aircraft cant break through.

At the same time, the effective range is the problem. Ukrainian S-300 systems can cover a range of up to 75 kilometers, Buk-M1 systems  up to 35 kilometers. But if deployed in rear front areas, between 10 or 15 kilometers behind the front, Ukrainian systems would be almost inevitably spotted by Russian radio-electronic reconnaissance and targeted by any means available, including artillery.

That goes along with the fact that Ukraine has a very limited number of long-range air defense systems that need to defend a country the size of France.

For instance, German-provided IRIS-T systems, which have demonstrated high performance rate, have an operational range of only 25 kilometers  making them not helpful against the 50-kilometer-range guided bombs.

According to Ukraines Air Force, U.S.-provided MIM-104 Patriot and Franco-Italian systems SAMP/T, with their effective range of up to 150 kilometers, can be part of the solution to the new Russian threat.

Ukraine holds back on southern counteroffensive, soldiers say Zaporizhzhia Oblast  In a split-second, two Ukrainian jets appear over the road, releasing chaff that sets off a couple of Russian anti-aircraft missiles. It allows one of the planes to hit a Russian position that billows with black smoke rising over the trees, leaving no doubt on how close the Kyiv IndependentAlexander Query

But at the same time, Ukraine currently expects up to three Patriot batteries (up to eight launchers in each) and one SAMP/T battery, which are also primarily expected to shield the country from Russian ballistic missiles.

Besides, if deployed closer to front-line areas, with less protection from the surrounding air defense grid, top systems will also be a number one target for Russian missiles and jamming.

The Ukrainian Air Force sees the best possible solution in acquiring modern multirole aircraft, particularly General Dynamics F-16s, along with AIM-120 air-to-air missiles.

The missiles old versions AIM-120A/B produced in the 1990s, are believed to have an operational range of up to 50 kilometers. Also, the AIM-120C family was modernized to an effective range of nearly 100 kilometers.

So far, the U.S. has been firmly refusing to provide Ukraine with fighter jets.

According to reports in Western media, there is currently research into the possibility of adapting AIM-120 missiles for Ukrainian MiG-29 fighters, in a similar fashion it happened with HARM anti-radiation missiles.

But, according to Defense Express, with AIM-120s, unlike previous adaptations, such development is unreasonably more complex, and, therefore, unsustainable.

A steady contact and the effective use of AIM-120s with old Soviet fighters wound require up to 60% of MiG-29s airborne hardware to be replaced and re-fashioned, the agency says.

The main issue is that MiG-29s radars designed for R-27 air-to-air missiles do not cover the distances necessary to direct AIM-120s properly.

The solution? Obtaining modern fighter jets  the very thing Ukraine has been pressuring the allies for.

It makes more sense (for the allies) to switch to using the designed AIM-120 carriers right away, the agency siad.

For instance, the F-16s.

Note from the author:

Hello! My name is Illia Ponomarenko, the guy who wrote this piece for you.

I hope you found it useful and interesting. I work day and night to bring you quality stories from Ukraine, where Russia is waging the biggest war in Europe since WWII. My little homeland, Donbas, is now the site of the worst fighting. We are helping to keep the world informed about Russian aggression.

But I also need help from every one of you  to support Ukrainian wartime journalism by donating to the Kyiv Independent and becoming our patron. Together, we can help bring peace to Ukraine.
(Reuters) - Russia and Ukraine carried out a major prisoner swap on Monday, with 106 Russian prisoners of war being freed in exchange for 100 Ukrainians, both sides said.

In a Telegram post, Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak said the released Ukrainians included defenders of Mariupol city and its Azovstal steel plant, captured in the war's opening months.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its prisoners were freed after a process of negotiations.

Russia and Ukraine have engaged in periodic prisoner swaps since the beginning of the war in Feburary 2022, in a rare example of direct contact between the enemies.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
The Russian State Duma plans to legalise online draft notices and equate them with paper ones; evaders will not be allowed to leave the country.

Source: Latvian-based Russian media outlet Meduza, Russian media outlet RBC

Details: It is proposed to keep traditional paper draft notices and alerts through the employer, as well as to introduce notices by registered mail and their duplication in electronic form.

It is assumed that if a conscript pretends not to receive a draft notice, he will be obliged to voluntarily appear at the military commissariat during the next draft within two weeks.

If the conscript does not do this, he will receive a message with a digital signature of the military commissar that restrictions on departure and other restrictive measures will be implemented.

If the conscript does not appear again, then, according to Russian lawmakers, in 20 days he will be prohibited from driving a vehicle, entering into real estate deals, registering as a sole trader and taking loans.

Background: In late March, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the spring draft, which traditionally began on 1 April and will last until 15 July. The Russian army plans to draft 147,000 people.

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Self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is holding a meeting with Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu in Minsk.

Source: Belarusian state-owned news outlet BelTA

Details: It is reported that Shoigu has arrived in the Belarusian capital "in the wake of recent agreements between the heads of states".

Quote from Lukashenko: "When we parted ways after the last talks with Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin  ed.], we agreed that you and your experts would come to Belarus and we would sit down with you to discuss the security of Belarus. You know, I have already raised this issue at the [session of] Supreme State Council of the Union State. But before that, we discussed this issue with Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin  ed)."



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A Russian Su-27 fighter jet approaches a US military MQ-9 Reaper drone operating above the Black Sea on March 14, 2023. Screengrab/US Air Force video

A Russian fighter jet nearly hit a British spy plane last year, according to leaked US military documents.

The strike would have had serious implications on NATO member states.

The Pentagon has made a formal referral to the Department of Justice after the leaks surfaced.

A Russian fighter jet nearly shot down an unarmed British spy plane last September, per leaked US military documents, The Washington Post reported.

The Russian missile was fired off the coast of Crimea, part of Ukraine that Russia has occupied since 2014, and where it has its Black Sea naval fleet.

The incident was mentioned in leaked Pentagon documents that have been widely circulating on social media in recent days.

At the time, UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace called the near miss a "malfunction," adding that Russia had acknowledged the incident occurred over international air space, Reuters reported.

Wallace told British lawmakers that two Russian Su-27 fighter jets had intercepted the RC-135, which is used to collect radio transmissions and other electronic messages, had flown "recklessly," with one plane coming within 15 feet of the aircraft.

Article 5 of NATO's treaty declares that an armed attack against one member state would constitute an attack against all of them, with each state having the right to exercise self-defense against the aggressor.

The leaked document, which is labeled "SECRET/NOFORN"  meaning it cannot be shared with non-US citizens  features other details about Russian interactions with US, British and French surveillance planes up to late February.

Another episode, from December 30, saw a British RC-135 accompanied by two Typhoon fighter jets being intercepted by Russian jets that came within 100 feet of it, per The Post.

The trove of classified US documents leaked last week also features extensive details about Ukraine's military capacities. The leak has been an embarrassment for the Pentagon.

The Department of Defense said on Sunday that it was reviewing the documents to assess how authentic they are.

The Pentagon's deputy press secretary said they had made a formal referral to the Department of Justice to investigate the matter.

Read the original article on Insider
Natalia Humeniuk

She stressed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to maintain fire control over roads and railways in the region, striking enemy forces as they retreat.

Read also: Russian political scientist comments on what Russian security forces think of Putin

We are monitoring them, trying to stop not just the movement of columns of equipment and manpower to the front line, but also their retreat, Humenyuk said.

According to her, a powerful preparatory stage for the anticipated counteroffensive is currently underway, at which the Armed Forces of Ukraine are destroying Russian supply depots, concentrations of equipment and manpower.

They, of course, are calculating the distance so as not to be hit by our weapons, but based on the fact that the cotton (slang for explosions deep behind the front line) season has already begun in Crimea, they are gradually realizing that wherever Ukraine is, they wont find peace, Humenyuk noted.

Read also: Zelenskyy participates in Iftar with Muslim soldiers on Ramadan

On March 26, Ukrainian Presidents Representative in Crimea, Tamila Tasheva, said in an interview with NV Radio that Russian invaders are panicking and digging trenches along the entire coastline of the peninsula. These fortifications are visible on numerous satellite images published in recent weeks.

Read also: Ukraine takes out Russian S-300 air defense system in occupied Crimea

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia's war against Ukraine should end with the liberation of Crimea  just as it began with its occupation.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russian forces have deployed guided and fighter jet-launched bombs to attack Kherson Oblast.

Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "[Russian forces] have just deployed guided bombs in an attack on Novoberyslav in the Beryslav hromada.

Enemy fighter jets also dropped three bombs on Kizomys in the Bilozerka hromada."

[A hromada is an administrative unit designating a city, town or village and its adjacent territories  ed.]

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By Pavel Polityuk

KYIV (Reuters) - Russian forces pressed attacks on frontline cities in eastern Ukraine on Monday, while Ukrainian officials played down a report that Kyiv is amending some plans for a counter-offensive due to a leak of classified U.S. documents.

The Russians were pounding Ukrainian positions around besieged Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region and other cities and towns with air strikes and artillery barrages, Kyiv said.

"The enemy switched to so-called scorched earth tactics from Syria. It is destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery fire," Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said of Bakhmut.

The small and now largely ruined city on the edge of a chunk of Russian-controlled territory in Donetsk has for months been the biggest battleground of the war.

The head of the Moscow-controlled part of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said Russian forces now held 75% of the city.

Moscow's military was also targeting the city of Avdiivka.

"The Russians have turned Avdiivka into a total ruin," said Pavlo Kyrylenko, Donetsk's regional governor, describing an air strike on Monday that destroyed a multi-storey building.

"In total, around 1,800 people remain in Avdiivka, all of whom risk their lives every day."

In Chasiv Yar, the first major town to Bakhmut's west, few buildings are left intact and locals lining up to collect food and other aid do not even flinch at the sound of artillery.

"It used to be scarier but now we have got used to it," said 50-year-old humanitarian volunteer Maksym. "You don't even pay attention," he added, his words nearly drowned out by the sound of explosions.

As the battles ground on, U.S. media outlet CNN reported that Ukraine was forced to amend some military plans ahead of its long-anticipated counter-offensive because of the leak of dozens of secret documents.

U.S. officials are trying to trace the source of the leak, reviewing how they share secrets internally and dealing with the diplomatic fallout.

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The documents detail topics including information on the Ukraine conflict, in which Washington has supplied Kyiv with huge amounts of weapons and led international condemnation of Moscow's invasion.

Asked about the report, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said Kyiv's strategic plans remained unchanged but that specific tactics were always subject to change.

The secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, told Reuters: "The opinion of people who have nothing to do with this do not interest us... The circle of people who possess information is extremely restricted."

Some national security experts and U.S. officials have said they suspect the leaker could be American, but have not ruled out pro-Russian actors.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the leak, but said: "There is in fact a tendency to always blame everything on Russia. It is, in general, a disease."

HOT ON THE EASTERN FRONT

A Ukrainian counter-offensive has long been expected after months of attritional warfare in the east.

A Russian winter offensive failed to make much progress and its troops have been bogged down in a series of battles where advances have been incremental and come at a huge cost.

The Ukrainian defenders have also taken heavy casualties.

Syrskyi said Moscow was sending in special forces and airborne units to help their attack on Bakhmut as members of Russia's private mercenary Wagner group, who have spearheaded the Bakhmut assault, were exhausted.

Reuters could not verify the battlefield accounts.

Ukraine's general staff said Russian forces had made unsuccessful advances on areas west of Bakhmut and at least 10 towns and villages had come under Russian shelling, including Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar.

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 after its February 2022 invasion.

Control of Bakhmut could allow Russia to directly target Ukrainian defensive lines in Chasiv Yar and open the way for its forces to advance on two bigger cities in the Donetsk region - Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

While Ukraine has said it wants to inflict as many casualties as possible on the Russian forces as its prepares its own counteroffensive, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week said troops could be withdrawn if they risked being encircled.

In addition to shelling Avdiivka, Russian forces targeted the towns of Maryinka and Kranohorivka to its southwest as well as Vuhledar, a hilltop town further south subject to Russian attacks for several weeks, Ukraine's general staff said.

Elsewhere, Russia's defence ministry said its forces destroyed a depot with 70,000 tonnes of fuel near Zaporizhzhia, and Ukraine reported widespread Russian shelling in northern regions. Officials in the south said Russian aircraft had used guided bombs against towns in the Kherson region.

In a rare coordination between the warring parties, Russia and Ukraine carried out another prisoner swap, with 106 Russian captives freed in exchange for 100 Ukrainians.

(Additional reporting by Ron Popeski, Nick Starko and Tom Balmforth; Writing by Angus MacSwan, Andrew Cawthorne and Arshad Mohammed, Editing by Gareth Jones and Rosalba O'Brien)
The Russians are continuing to abduct residents of Luhansk Oblast who are suspected of helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine  they are being taken away to an unknown destination.

Source: Luhansk Oblast Military Administration on Telegram

Quote: "Cases of violent abduction of civilians by Russian invaders keep happening.

In particular, in Starobilsk they conduct searches of the places of residence of citizens suspected of supporting Ukraine, and take people to an unknown destination  without bringing them back."

Details: The invaders also steal Ukrainian property. For example, in a kindergarten in Chmyrivka, the Russians dismantled and took away a boiler system in parts to an unknown destination.

"However, where cynicism goes off the scale is in the Popasna district. There, the invaders remove stone monuments from graves in cemeteries and take them to Kadiivka, where they re-polish the inscriptions.

Plates stolen from cemeteries are marked with the names and surnames of the dead invaders because it is more than three times cheaper than ordering a new monument," the Oblast Military Administration wrote.

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A Ukrainian jet launches flares over Bakhmut in October. Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Ukraine and Russia are fighting a grinding battle on the ground around Bakhmut.

Russian aircraft, some operated by mercenaries, are also being used in fighting around the city.

Those jets are used sparingly and often at night, likely to test Ukraine's defenses, an expert said.

After months of struggling to capture the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Russian ground troops still haven't been able to wrest control of the city away from tenacious Ukrainian defenders.

One reason is the lack of air support. Despite large numbers of advanced aircraft and munitions, Russian airpower has proven marginal in Ukraine, where the battles have mostly been between infantry, tanks, and artillery.

Yet the Russian Air Force is still conducting airstrikes with limited success, including around Bakhmut.

"I don't think the Russian Air Force is that effective," Michael Kofman, the director of the Russia Studies Program at the Center for Naval Analyses, told the "Geopolitics Decanted" podcast in March.

Russian pilots are flying at night to avoid Ukrainian man-portable air-defense systems  or MANPADS, a term for shoulder-fired missiles like the US-made Stinger  that have had some success in downing Russian aircraft and helicopters, Kofman said.

A Ukrainian soldier at an anti-aircraft battery near Bakhmut on March 30. Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Unlike longer-range surface-to-air missile systems that have radar to detect targets, MANPADS are usually heat-seeking missiles operated by ground troops who must spot aircraft with the naked eye before firing. While this makes the system light enough to be carried by a foot soldier, it also makes detecting and identifying aircraft at night harder.

Russian aircraft "are bombing in Bakhmut, particularly at night so that they can avoid most types of MANPADS. It's only one particular MANPAD system, I think, that Ukraine has that's effective at night," said Kofman, who returned from a trip to Ukraine and the Bakhmut combat zone, in early March.

"So the Russian Air Force has been making bombing runs, and even while I was there, I could hear sort of the distant echo of Russian jets," Kofman added during the podcast, noting that Ukrainian jets are also still active but in a limited role.

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In addition to supporting ground forces, Russia may be probing to see if Ukraine still has enough radar-guided anti-aircraft missiles, such as those fired by the S-300, a Soviet-era system still used by both Russia and Ukraine.

"It's clear that they are pushing more airpower into the fight for Bakhmut, and they're also testing to what extent Ukraine has radar-guided air-defense still up and available," Kofman said. "Because they know that availability of ammunition, basically missiles, for radar-guided air-defense is a problem for Ukraine and has been since October."

"You can see that the Russian airpower is kind of playing in the margins but looking for ways to push itself into the fight," Kofman added.

A Ukrainian helicopter over a field in Bakhmut in January. Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Some of those Russian pilots may be working for Wagner Group, a private military contractor that has earned a reputation for brutality in Ukraine. The mercenary group has become notorious for using criminals freed from Russian prisons in return for agreeing to fight in Ukraine.

While those criminals are barely trained and frequently used as cannon fodder in attacks on Ukrainian forces, Wagner also fields professional contract soldiers whose lives are risked more sparingly and who receive more battlefield support, including from Russia's military.

Former military pilots working for Wagner fall under the latter category. A retired Russian air force general named Kanamat Botashev may have been one of them.

Botashev was shot down and killed after he volunteered to fly a Su-25 attack jet in Ukraine. In June 2022, a downed Russian Su-25 attack jet pilot told his Ukrainian captors that he was employed by Wagner.

Ukraine would not be the first conflict for Wagner's aerial mercenaries. The company reportedly sent pilots and mechanics to support one faction in the Libyan civil war. US Africa Command said in May 2020 that Russia had sent at least 14 MiG-29 and several Su-24 fighters to Libya to support Wagner Group mercenaries.

Russian jets being used to support private military companies in Libya in a photo released in June 2020. US Africa Command

The top US Air Force commander in Africa at the time described the pilots of those jets as "guys that may be retired" and "guys that they're finding out there who have flown these types of aircraft" and said there was concern about their proficiency, including "their ability to put weapons on the appropriate targets."

Recruiting experienced former military pilots would not be a surprising move for Russian forces in Ukraine. In addition to its other struggles, Russia's air force has been plagued by a shortage of fully trained pilots.

The shortfall is so dire that the air force has committed instructor pilots to battle, which will only deprive its flight-training schools of skilled teachers for rookie pilots.

"With a military culture that assigns the most dangerous missions to the most experienced crews, attrition in the VKS has fallen disproportionately on this cadre, reducing the overall effectiveness of the force and its ability to train new pilots," researchers at Britain's Royal United Services Institute said in a 2022 report on the first five months of the war.

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
By Andrew Osborn

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Facing up to a quarter of a century in jail on treason charges he denies, Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza told a Moscow court on Monday his trial recalled one of Josef Stalin's show trials in the 1930s and said he had done nothing wrong.

Kara-Murza, 41, a father of three and former journalist who holds Russian and British passports, has spent years as a politician opposing President Vladimir Putin and has lobbied foreign governments and institutions to impose sanctions on Russia and individual Russians for purported human rights violations.

Russian state prosecutors on Thursday requested a 25-year prison sentence for Kara-Murza, who they accuse of treason and of discrediting the Russian military after he criticised what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

His trial, which will culminate in a verdict on April 17, is being held behind closed doors, but a copy of his final speech to the court on Monday was made available by his wife and lawyer.

In it, he struck a defiant tone, declined to ask the court to acquit him, and said he stood by and was proud of everything he had said.

The current environment, he said, was not so much like the 1970s - a period when the state faced off against Soviet dissidents - as the 1930s, when Stalin conducted a series of show trials and purges of his opponents.

"For me, as a historian, this is cause for reflection," said Kara-Murza.

"Criminals are supposed to repent of what they have done. I, on the other hand, am in prison for my political views. I also know that the day will come when the darkness over our country will dissipate."

Shortly after sending tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February last year, Russia introduced sweeping wartime censorship laws which have been used to silence dissenting voices across society.

"Discrediting" the army can currently be punished by up to five years in prison, while spreading deliberately false information about it can attract a 15-year jail sentence.

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At a time of what they have cast as an existential struggle with the West, pro-government politicians say unity across society is vital and have described Russian citizens questioning Moscow's actions in Ukraine as part of a pro-Western fifth column trying to undermine the military campaign.

Earlier on Monday, dozens of Russian journalists and rights activists - many of whom have fled the country - called on the authorities to free Kara-Murza, saying the charges against him were baseless and politically-motivated.

"Prosecute murderers and criminals rather than honest and responsible citizens who dare to think and speak the truth," the letter said. "Stop Russia's new slide toward Stalinism and a totalitarian system."

There was no immediate response to the letter from the authorities, who regard many of its signatories as traitors who crave the defeat of their own country on the battlefield.

Kara-Murza and his supporters say he has twice survived being poisoned in the past. Russian authorities deny any involvement in the alleged attacks.

(Reporting by Andrew OsbornEditing by Rosalba O'Brien)
White House national security spokesman John Kirby, speaking at a press briefing Monday, declined to discuss specific documents revealed in last week's massive leak but said U.S. officials "have been in touch with relevant allies and partners in recent days."

More than 100 U.S. documents containing sensitive, classified information about the war in Ukraine, Russian military activity, China and the Middle East were posted last month on at least one messaging app. U.S. officials have acknowledged that many of the documents, which began appearing widely on social media last week, are authentic although some apparently have been doctored and others are outdated.

Some of the documents do show sensitive data on military activities, including U.S. drone spy planes in the region and use of ammunition by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian officials, though downplaying the value of the released information, have said they have already altered some military plans as a result of the leak.

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into the leak to determine who is responsible for the intelligence breach.

UKRAINE REACTS TO LEAK: Ukraine challenges, shrugs off leaked Pentagon documents from the war effort: Live updates

Developing:

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said Russia's overall offensive appears to be "approaching culmination"  with few gains to show for it.

The Russian army is moving elite units to the hotly contested city of Bakhmut, Ukraine, military spokesman Col. Serhiy Cherevaty said. Cherevaty said the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company spearheading the Bakhmut offensive, was incurring heavy losses, making it necessary to move in regular army units.

LEAKED DOCUMENTS: Leak of secret Pentagon documents on Ukraine sparks probe, raises fears of more to come

A building in Bakhmut, the site of heavy battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on April 9.

Russian war protesters sentenced to 19 years in prison

A former Russian security service officer and a former emergencies officer were each sentenced to 19 years in prison Monday for setting fire to a Ural Mountains administration building to protest the Ukraine war and Russia's "partial mobilization" draft.

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Russia has been cracking down on dissent in recent months as the Kremlin works to expand troop strength. Roman Nasryev, a former driver for the Russian National Guard, and Alexei Nuriev, an officer in the Emergency Situations Ministry, made international news in October when they were accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail into an administrative building in the Chelyabinsk region town of Bakal in October.

The men were convicted of conspiracy to commit arson in order to destabilize the activities of government bodies and training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities. Prosecutors said the men were members of multiple, online groups with "pro-Ukrainian nationalist orientation.

Russia practicing 'systematic religious persecution' in Ukraine, think tank says

Russian occupation authorities are likely conducting a campaign of systematic religious persecution in occupied Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War says in its most recent assessment of the war. The assessment says Russia reportedly has committed at least 76 acts of religious persecution in Ukraine and has closed, nationalized, or forcefully converted at least 26 places of worship to the Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

More than two dozen clergy have been killed or imprisoned, the assessment says. More than a dozen places of worship have been looted, desecrated, or deliberately destroyed.

"These cases of religious repression are not likely isolated incidents but rather part of a deliberate campaign to systematically eradicate 'undesirable' religious organizations in Ukraine and promote the Moscow Patriarchate," the assessment says.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine war live updates: US reaching out to partners after leak
A Russian police officer - Andrey Kekyalyaynen / Alamy Stock Photo

Two Russian men have been sentenced to 19 years in prison for trying to set fire to a military recruitment office.

Alexei Nuriyev and Roman Nasryeyev were found guilty of terrorism by a district military court in Russias third-largest city of Yekaterinburg. They are expected to spend most of their sentence in a high-security prison.

Mr Nuriyev, a 37-year-old firefighter, and Mr Nasryeyev, a 27-year-old driver in the Russian National Guard, were out celebrating Mr Nuriyevs birthday in October when they walked to the administration building in the town of Bakal and hurled three Molotov cocktails at it.

The blaze was promptly put out by a night guard, but an employee testified in court that the fire could have destroyed the military records of about 4,000 men, thus paralysing local efforts to recruit for the war in Ukraine.

Vladimir Putins mobilisation of several hundred thousand people last year spurred a wave of arson attacks in protest across the country.

Mr Nuriyev and Mr Nasryeyev, who play together in a rock band, said in court that they had been coerced into pleading guilty.

Before the war, arson attacks might have been met with a suspended sentence, but Russias parliament amended a criminal law last year to allow prosecutors to qualify such crimes as terrorist attacks.

Particularly harsh

A non-governmental organisation that has been advocating for the men said it suspected the sentencing was particularly harsh since the defendants used to work for government agencies.

One of the men testified during the trial that he thought setting the building on fire was the only way in which he could protest against Mr Putins decision to send civilians to fight in the war.

By my actions, I merely wanted to show there are people in our town who disagree with the mobilisation and (the war in Ukraine), Mr Nasryeyev said, adding that he wanted his voice to be heard.

A tally by Russian outlet Mediazona, which has been documenting attacks on government buildings, suggested that angry Russians set at least 94 military recruitment offices on fire last year.

The Kremlin has essentially criminalised all forms of protest against the invasion of Ukraine, equating mere criticism of the war to the discreditation of the Russian armed forces.
Russian troops destroyed the Church in the village of Bohorodychne, Kramatorsk District, Donetsk Oblast

According to the ISW, Russia continues to weaponize religion in an effort to discredit Ukraine internationally. It is using information warfare in relation to religion to advance military objectives despite itself grossly violating respective freedoms in occupied Ukraine.

In addition, Russia may use the upcoming Orthodox Easter holiday on April 16 in an effort to delay Ukrainian counteroffensives by calling for a ceasefire out of respect for Orthodoxy, despite the fact that Russia has shown no such respect for religious belief in areas its forces occupy.

In this case, Moscow will pursue several goals, according to the think tank:

Such a pause would disproportionately benefit Russian troops and allow them to secure their gains in urban Bakhmut and to prepare defenses against Ukraines spring 2023 counteroffensive.

Putin may call for a ceasefire to frame Ukraine as unaccommodating and unwilling to take the necessary steps towards negotiations.

A ceasefire on religious grounds additionally reinforces the two-fold Russian information operation that frames Ukraine as suppressing religious groups and positions Putin as the true protector of the Christian faith.

Read also: Mufti Sheikh Said Ismagilov tells NV why he and many other Muslims joined the fight for Ukraine

Russian religious persecutions are likely also part of an ongoing Russian cultural genocide and ethnic cleansing campaign aimed at extirpating the idea of an independent Ukrainian nationality or Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the ISW concluded.

However, as noted by ISW, no combatant is obligated to accept a cease-fire on religious or any other grounds.

Should Russia offer and Ukraine refuse a ceasefire over Orthodox Easter the Kremlin will not thereby have demonstrated any greater devotion to the defense of Christianity or Christian values nor shown that Kyiv rejects those values, reads the report.

Read also: Ukraine dismisses Putins Christmas truce suggestion

In general, Russias systematic religious persecution supports a larger Russian campaign of cultural genocide against Ukraine. The ISW has previously assessed that Russia is conducting mass deportations of Ukrainian children and depopulating Ukrainian territory in what likely amounts to a deliberate ethnic cleansing campaign. Russian deliberate attacks and vandalism against places of worship in occupied Ukraine may also constitute war crimes, the ISW noted.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A portrait of Putin on the wall at the

The administration highlighted the plight of Ukrainians trapped in the occupied town of Starobilsk, where there have been reports of people being kidnapped by the occupying authorities for suspected support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The victims were not returned following their abduction.

Read also: Russia presses Ukrainian prisoners in Luhansk Oblast into military service

Looting by Russian soldiers is still ongoing as well, the administration reported, noting that Russian forces dismantled a water heating station for a kindergarten in the village of Chmyrivka, and stolen the equipment.

"But their cynicism is beyond all limits in Popasna District: The occupiers are stealing gravestones there, taking them to (the nearby occupied town of) Kadiivka to overwrite the inscriptions," the administration said.

Read also: Luhansk governor names sectors of the front in oblast seeing fiercest fighting

Reportedly, the gravestones are being engraved with the names of dead Russian soldiers  it is three times cheaper to reuse an existing gravestone than order a new one, the administration explained.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Russian invaders in Bakhmut have begun to use scorched-earth tactics; the situation in the city is difficult, but it's under control, said Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Source: Military Media Center of the Defence and Security Forces of Ukraine

Quote from Syrskyi: "The enemy has switched to so-called Syrian scorched-earth tactics. They are destroying buildings and positions with airstrikes and artillery fire. The defence of Bakhmut continues. The situation is difficult, but under control."

Details: Syrskyi emphasised that the Ukrainian soldiers have exhausted the Wagner PMC mercenaries with their actions, so the Russians are now forced to involve Special Forces and airborne assault units in the battles for Bakhmut.

The commander emphasised that the fighting is tough on both sides.

It has been reported that on 9 April, Syrskyi visited the hottest areas of the Bakhmut front. He listened to reports from the commanders of military units, and also made operational decisions and set tasks on the spot.

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A Russian drone attacked a boat carrying a 20-year-old man and woman and dropped an explosive grenade in Beryslav hromada [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.] of Kherson Oblast.

Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Prokudin: "In one of the settlements of the Beryslav hromada, a 20-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman, ignoring the restrictions on the exit of small watercraft imposed under martial law, ignoring the threats of shelling by Russians from the left bank [of Ukraine  ed.], tried to go out into the bay by boat."

Details: According to the head of the oblast, the boat was immediately attacked by a Russian drone that dropped an explosive grenade.

Young people were seriously injured and urgently evacuated by the Ukrainian military to hospital, where they received medical care.

Prokudin appealed to residents of the oblast to restrict the use of water transport and any watercraft.

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Russian troops in the south are retreating from the contact line to a distance beyond the reach of Ukrainian weapons.

Source: Natalia Humeniuk, Head of the joint press centre of the Defence Forces of Ukraine's south, on air of Radio Donbas.Realii, as reported by Krym,Realii



Quote: "They continue to move away from the contact line to ensure a distance that will be beyond the reach of our weapons.

But we are trying to maintain fire control over the transportation routes so that they cannot use them, even to retreat that far.

That is, we are tracking their advance, trying to stop their movement, to stop not only the columns of equipment and manpower pulling up to the front line, but also the retreat."

Details: According to her, a "powerful preparatory stage" is currently underway, when the Ukrainian Armed Forces are destroying the capabilities of Russian troops. At the same time, the Russians are "calculating the mileage" to avoid being hit.

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The Russians launched an airstrike on a multi-storey building in the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast on 10 April, destroying it.

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

Quote: "The Russians have turned Avdiivka into ruins. Today, the city suffered another airstrike  another multi-storey building has been destroyed."

Details: Kyryleno added that there were no victims since all the residents of the building evacuated in time.

However, in general, there are about 1,800 people still remaining in Avdiivka who risk their lives every day.

He reminded them that the authorities will help them with the evacuation and called upon the residents to leave the contact line city .

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The governors of two Russian regions bordering Ukraine have decided to cancel military parades on 9 May in order "not to provoke the enemy" by creating clusters of soldiers and equipment.

Source: Kremlin-aligned news outlet RBC, quoting Roman Starovoyt, the governor of Kursk Oblast, and Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod Oblast; Russian Telegram channel ASTRA

Details: It is reported that Kursk will not hold a parade on 9 May "for security reasons".

According to Starovoyt, this is due to the position of the region's operational headquarters, which decided to enhance anti-terrorism measures last week.

The parade in Belgorod was also cancelled.

Quote from Gladkov: "I can tell you now that there will be no parade in order not to provoke the enemy with a large number of vehicles and soldiers in the centre of Belgorod."

More details: According to the governor, the matter of the salute and the procession of the "Immortal Regiment" [a Russian custom to honour their fallen soldiers who fought in the WWII, typically observed on 9 May  ed.] will be considered at the next meeting of the operational staff and a decision will be made based on security issues.

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Rutgers University workers plan to strike Monday after failing over many months to reach a new contract, a historic moment in the schools nearly 260-year history.

The strike also adds New Jersey to a national wave of walkouts as teachers and staff grow increasingly frustrated with their wages and benefits.

Leaders of three unions representing about 9,000 workers voted to strike Sunday night, and it takes effect Monday morning at all three of Rutgers major campuses  Camden, Newark and New Brunswick.

We are not alone, Todd Wolfson, general vice president of Rutgers AAUP-AFT, said in an online meeting after the vote. The strikes that are happening right here in New Jersey and in other parts of the country right now are building on a historic strike wave in higher education.

The strike means instruction and non-critical research to come to a halt and picket lines will instead go up at the campuses, union leaders said. The workers plan to continue not working until a deal is reached.

The potential for a strike has loomed over Rutgers since late last year. University faculty and staff from multiple unions had been working without a contract since summer, and they publicly rallied for higher wages and increased benefits while threatening to strike if the school did not bargain in good faith.

In March, with its members still without contracts, unions voted to authorize a strike. Sunday nights vote took that authorization to the next step as negotiations have stalled.

We take this very seriously, said Rebecca Givan, president of Rutgers' AAUP-AFT union. We have bargained and bargained and bargained and bargained and bargained and were not getting anywhere, and we need to do something more.

The three unions  AAUP-AFT, Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union and AAUP-BHSNJ  represent about 9,000 full-time faculty, counselors, part-time faculty and others. More than 6,000 other union workers in nine other unions are also seeking new contracts.

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Rutgers' president, Jonathan Holloway, said it's "deeply disappointing" to reach this point, especially given the progress the two sides have made recently.

"We have all been hard at work trying to resolve issues around compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment," he wrote in a message to the Rutgers community. "For the past several weeks, negotiations have been constant and continuous. Significant and substantial progress has been made, as I have noted, and I believe that there are only a few outstanding issues. We will, of course, negotiate for as long as it takes to reach agreements and will not engage in personal attacks or misinformation."

Union leaders said they were negotiating for contracts that included not just higher wages but guarantees such as equal pay for equal work for adjunct faculty, affordable housing and forgiveness for students overdue fees and fines. Although the two sides made some progress the last few days, they were far apart on many core issues, Givan said.

The vote to strike comes amid a national wave of college labor action. A combination of factors  such as declining enrollment, rising costs and the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic  have propelled a labor movement that reached campuses around the country, including pro-union, Democratic states like New Jersey. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, a strong supporter of unions, had largely stayed out of the public discourse on Rutgers contract disputes but advocated for the two sides to reach an agreement. He took a more direct approach Sunday night.

Rutgers University is one of the nations premier institutions of higher learning. I am calling the University and union bargaining committees to meet in my office tomorrow to have a productive dialogue, he said on Twitter.

The strike is historic in another way: It would be the first to involve tenured and tenure-track faculty at a Big Ten university, according to the unions.
By: Tamia Fowlkes

On a rare, snowy February afternoon, soon-to-be two-time Academy Award winner Ruth Carter nestled into an intricately decorated corner of her California home and hopped onto a Zoom call. Flashing onto the screen with her small Black dog in tow and walls lined with African art, she joyfully greeted Tayleur Crenshaw and Xavier Henderson, two California-based creatives who lead the organizations Gold Beams and SoulfulofNoise. Eventbrite brought the three creators together with Blavity for a conversation on community, creativity and collaboration in the arts.

Carter, best known for her costume design for films such as Do The Right Thing, Malcolm X, and the Black Panther franchise, serves as a driving voice in the fashion design and arts community. Over the course of her career, Carter has received a variety of accolades and awards celebrating her work. They include four Oscar nominations for 1992s Malcolm X, and 1997s Amistad. As a designer, she has used her work in textiles as a mechanism to explore race, culture and politics through clothing. With each piece, Carter aims to provide context for the cultural and historical moments explored in each project.

Gold Beams and SoulfulofNoise are arts organizations that seek to inform, educate and empower community members through artistic performance and expression. Both organizations built their brands through Eventbrite and continued their growth with the platform since.

SoulfulofNoise was founded by husband and wife Xavier Henderson and Lynisha Hyche in 2016. In the seven years since their launch, the duo has brought together over 20,000 people for live band performances, open mics and festivals highlighting local Black-owned businesses. They boast one of the largest open mic events in the country with their signature #SoulfulSunday program.

Gold Beams, founded by Crenshaw in 2018, curates eclectic events and productions for Black creatives. Their signature event, Second Mondays, started as a small group hangout among Crenshaws friends in her apartment and transformed into crowds of over 3,000 presenting an array of Black art and ethereal Communion. The organization provides a creative hub and open mic for Black artists through panels, parties, galleries, talk sessions, and workshops centering on the Black community.

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Blavity spoke with Carter, Crenshaw and Henderson ahead of the 2023 Oscars Ceremony to discuss how their community and culture influenced their creative passions and desire to bring others into the fold. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for this article.

Blavity: Can you all share the origins of your creative journey? How did you make your space in your respective industries?

Crenshaw: Im from Westchester, New York, I lived in DC, where I went to Howard, but when I moved to Oakland, I didnt know anybody. I was like, wow, I had to make adult friends, and culturally, I was dealing with new things like corporate culture. I got really in my feels and wrote a poem one day called, Am I Crazy, and I was finally like, Im gonna spit these bars. I got bold enough to ask some people to come over to my house, some underground creatives and poets Id met in the city, ordered some pizza and bought a bunch of Trader Joes wine, and it started to become its own community. Eventually, it was 50 people in my apartment. I started telling everybody to come share your art, whether its a journal, whether its a song, whether its a clip, you want us to see like, lets just do it. Ever since then, weve built a beautiful space and events where we bond over real human things that were all thinking and feeling and have a good time.

Henderson: My wife and I started SoulfulofNoise after we started dating. For my entire life, Ive had a beautiful loving environment. My parents they both raised my brother and I with so much love that I got to see what that could do. Its like having magical powers where youre able to change somebody elses life with your actions, thoughts and feelings and my wife was raised the same way. When we created it, we wanted it to be an extension of our family accepting other people. Our first events were a free festival on skid row. In the midst of doing that, it became a beacon of hope, bringing people together with music and fellowship. So, people started coming for that. Weve done almost 300 events in a bunch of different states.

Carter: Im a costume designer of 35-plus years. When I started in this industry I really wanted to tell our stories and being as authentic as I could, but I also wanted to be joyous because I wasnt seeing representation on screen. I met I had been reading the work of Black playwrights and poets since I was a young girl; our community embraced me and guided me to be curious and conscious about the world around me. So, once I became a storyteller within film and got together with Spike Lee and other filmmakers like him, we were like-minded. We wanted to bring that aesthetic to the film, and Ive been passionate about that ever since.

Blavity: What were some of the challenges you encountered while you evolved your work and brand?

Crenshaw: When Second Mondays started at my house, I was doing the texting method. Just mass texting and feeling annoying. And its so annoying. I was copying and pasting and sending, like 50 times, and I couldnt keep track of whether or not people could come. I wondered often if anyone would even come. Having the Eventbrite was a part of creating foundation for the brand where like people can go and see pictures, upcoming events and our contact information. It was super hard for me to learn everything from scratch, so being a connector is really important to me. For all of the artists who want to share their work, I dont want it to be as struggle for them to thrive and share their talent.

Carter: I had come out of a lot of theater experience and internships after my time at Hampton University, but I didnt really feel like I was climbing my way up from the bottom. I remember one week, working over 40 hours and looking at my paycheck and it was only a little over $200. I had a lot of experience, but when I came out into the professional world, I was starting all over again from scratch, dealing with race relations and unconscious bias. But when Spike came into my world, there was no question about it, that I was the costume designer. He let the studio executives know exactly what I needed and that empowered me to make sure I did everything in my power to make him proud. All that I had learned and all I had that I had done to get to this point reminded me that I had earned it. But I also wanted to help other people get there as well.

Blavity: The arts and culture space, though often pushed forward by Black creatives, has not always been the safest or most welcoming space for our community. What or who made you feel as if you had the capacity to exist and thrive in this industry?

Henderson: People showed up who needed that good positive Black experience that wasnt Hollywood, where they didnt need to worry about what they were wearing or if their hair was appropriate. We were not trying to build a network of people dedicated to blank causes that are only transactional, that only show up when theres a dollar to be made, but show up when theres a lack or something that needs to be saved, somebody to encourage, somebody to remind that its OK to be hurt. Thats what our organization stands for. Music is the candy, but the love of community is the medicine that is infused in what we do.

Blavity: What do you hope your work can leave behind for your community? Do you have a dream or vision of what you hope it can contribute to?

Carter: I think back to the sneaker jams Spike Lee would have in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn during our first few films. Before we would start our film, wed have a big street fair and barbecue with in the neighborhood we were in, not wanting to infiltrate, but wanted to let them know that we were also being sensitive to their needs. Every film was started that way, with a community spirit. We would bring Jesse Jackson to our first day and form this big circle, have prayer and bless the film before we started. We would have internships, production assistants that were hired or the lady who was struggling with her crack addiction, she would come and pick up the bottles off of our set. We were not only filmmakers, but we were community builders. The community knew our names and we didnt shy away from it. We encouraged them to be a part of our experience. Its something that lives within you.

Blavity: Your work centers very centrally on camaraderie and collaboration with other creatives. What have you learned from helping other people bring their creative vision to life?

Carter: Ive done a few films with the same actors, Sam Jackson, Eddie Murphy, and, sometimes, its the director and the actors that call me and make me feel excited about a particular project. I wish I could say that I have a stack of scripts here that Im looking through and trying to decide which one I can do. But, Ive been asked to do a lot of different things, you know, B.A.P.S. was completely different from Malcolm X. Its kind of like cleansing your palette, getting away from something for a second and going into another genre is exciting. Ive been very lucky that people see me as someone who does research and gets into the depth of a character and can really bring out a world and I do get offered those kinds of movies.

Crenshaw: It is so liberating to 1000%. just exhale it all out and be yourself. With our events, it feels so at home and so comfortable. When artists on stage, there is not only space for people to come and listen but they are also coming in and making great friends and networking with like great people. Its all Black, and we dont even have to talk about the ailments of the world because we know, they exist. Its truly my goal to just cater to them and give people beautiful times. So, when people feel comfortable enough to continue to break out their shell, especially in front of like an audience, oh my god, like, thats the safety right there. Thats the evolution of this work.



Henderson: This is a vibration that has already existed since the very beginning of time, and all we are is conduits. Were just participants in something positive, thats all. So its just a privilege, to be able to be selected to be able to help people heal through community and music. But not we dont have a monopoly on that. I feel like you can go anywhere in the world, you could find that in every Black church, in any low juke joint, in the people playing music on the street. If you go sit and listen to a musician pour their heart out and listen for 20 minutes, you can start to feel something inside of you too.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. Ed Jones/Getty Images

Sam Bankman-Fried joked about losing track of millions of dollars in assets, a debtors' report said.

The former FTX CEO said the company sometimes found "$50m of assets lying around."

The document accused the individuals in charge of FTX and Alameda of misusing funds and lying.

Sam Bankman-Fried joked about Alameda Research losing track of assets worth millions of dollars, FTX debtors said in a report filed Sunday.

The report, filed in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, alleged that the failed crypto empire was "tightly controlled by a small group of individuals," who "joked internally about their tendency to lose track of millions of dollars in assets."

In an internal communication cited in the report, Bankman-Fried once said FTX's sister company Alameda Research was "hilariously beyond any threshold of any auditor being able to even get partially through an audit."

He said: "Alameda is unauditable. I don't mean this in the sense of 'a major accounting firm will have reservations about auditing it'; I mean this in the sense of 'we are only able to ballpark what its balances are, let alone something like a comprehensive transaction history'.

"We sometimes find $50m of assets lying around that we lost track of; such is life."

According to the report, Alameda struggled to understand what its own positions were, "let alone hedging or accounting for them." In one example referenced in the report, employees were told by an unidentified manager in June 2022 to just "come up with some numbers? Idk."

The document accused the individuals in charge of FTX and Alameda of showing "little interest in instituting an appropriate oversight or control framework." This inner circle reportedly included Bankman-Fried, FTX cofounder Gary Wang, former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison, and FTX's former engineering director Nishad Singh.

Although Bankman-Fried was said to have the final say in company decisions, one FTX executive was quoted in the report as stating that "if Nishad got hit by a bus, the whole company would be done. Same issue with Gary."

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Singh and Wang have pleaded guilty to charges and are cooperating with authorities, while Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to fraud.

Representatives for Bankman-Fried declined to comment. FTX did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Sarasota police are investigating a late Easter Sunday shooting that injured two teenagers in the 2700 block of Maple Avenue, according to a police news release.

Sarasota Police Department officers were patrolling the area when they heard multiple gunshots at about 8:45 p.m. and found a 19-year-old woman who had been shot, according to the release. The woman was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

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Officers learned that a second victim, a 17-year-old, was taken to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, also with injuries that were not life-threatening. Both victims were released after being treated, according to the release.

Sarasota police found bullets in 11 parked cars and two homes, but no other injuries were reported.

Police officials ask that if anyone has any information or saw anything, to call Detective Kim Laster with the Criminal Investigation Division at 941-263-6827 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers of Sarasota at 941-366-8477 or http://www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.

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: Sarasota police investigating Easter Sunday shooting, 2 teens injured
CAIRO (AP)  Saudi Arabias ambassador to Yemen said Monday his trip to the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa was aimed at reviving a cease-fire and re-starting political talks to end the nine-year conflict.

Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber met with Houthi officials in Sanaa on Sunday for talks also attended by Omani officials. The trip came as talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis gained momentum after the Kingdom reached a deal with Iran last month to restore their diplomatic ties. Iran is the Houthis main foreign backer in Yemens conflict.

Al-Jaber said on Twitter that his trip was meant to stabilize the truce and cease-fire, support the prisoner exchange process and explore venues of dialogue between Yemeni components to reach a sustainable, comprehensive political solution in Yemen.

His comments were the first by Saudi Arabia on the visit.

Yemens conflict began in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthis seized Sanaa and much of Yemens north, ousting the internationally recognized government that fled to the south then into exile in Saudi Arabia.

The Houthi move prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene months later in a bid to restore the internationally recognized government to power. The conflict has in recent years turned into a regional proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The Saudi diplomat met with Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthis' supreme political council, which runs rebel-held areas in Yemen.

Yemeni and Saudi officials said Saudi Arabia and the Houthis reached a draft deal last month to revive a cease-fire that expired in October. The deal, brokered by Oman, is meant to usher in a return to political talks, said officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss closed-door negotiations.

One Yemeni official said the phased roadmap includes lifting the Saudi-led coalition's air and maritime blockade on Houthi-held areas, and the rebels would end their siege of Taiz, Yemen's third largest city. The Houthis also accepted security guarantees for Saudi Arabia, including a buffer zone with Houthi-held areas along the Yemeni-Saudi border, he added.

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The Yemeni government and the rebels would also work to unify the country's central bank, and a mechanism would be established to pay salaries of all state employees  including the military  from oil and gas revenues, he said.

The official said Saudi Arabia promised to support a widespread reconstruction efforts in Yemen where the war devastated its infrastructure and created one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters.

Spokespeople for the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition didn't respond to requests for comment.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Monday hailed the talks as a welcome step that would help settle the conflict and de-escalate regional tensions.

What were seeing is different strands, different parties that have been in tension with each other, have been speaking, he said.

Dujarric said the U.N. was not involved in the Sanaa talks, but we very much hope that it can contribute to the overall peace efforts led by (U.N. envoy for Yemen) Hans Gruenberg for the renewal of the truce in Yemen and the restart of the intra-Yemeni political process.

Yemens internationally recognized government has welcomed what it calls Saudi Arabias efforts to bring Yemeni parties to the negotiating table to reach a comprehensive political agreement, according to a statement released late Sunday.

Al-Jaber's trip to Sanaa came days before the implementation of a prisoner exchange deal expected to take place later this week. The deal, brokered by the U.N. last month, involves the release of nearly 900 war prisoners from both sides, including Saudi troops.

Ahead of his trip, the Houthis said Saudi Arabia released 13 Houthi prisoners Saturday in exchange for a Saudi prisoner the Houthis freed earlier this year.

___

Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer contributed from the United Nations.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster wants the state inspector general to open an investigation into the Clarendon County School District for potential financial irregularities.

The concerns were brought to McMaster last week by state Rep. Fawn Pedalino R-Clarendon, who provided the governors office with extensive documentation of the school districts fiscal affairs, including two binders of documents and electronic records, according to a news release

Based on a preliminary review of the materials provided by Rep. Pedalino, it appears that the cited concerns regarding potential financial irregularities warrant further analysis, McMaster wrote to State Inspector General Brian Lampkin.

Pedalino and Clarendon County School District Superintendent Shawn Johnson did not immediately return requests for comment.

In 2022, lawmakers empowered the state inspector general to investigate school districts, public charter schools and other school-related entities.

This is the second school district McMaster has asked the state inspector general to investigate. An investigation last year into Richland 2 over district dysfunction found infighting among school board members as being detrimental to the districts operations, as well as a lack of a procurement card policy, its diversion of district funds to its nonprofit foundation and its lack of an internal auditor.
A mother found a chest binder while helping clean out her teens bedroom and learned a school counselor had given it to the middle schooler, according to a federal lawsuit.

She then learned her 13-year-olds school was referring to the teen with a new name and different pronouns in addition to providing the chest binder, which can flatten the appearance of ones chest, a complaint says.

The Newcastle, Maine, parent accuses school officials at Great Salt Bay Community School in Damariscotta of supporting and hiding her teens gender transition from her, according to her lawsuit filed on April 4. Shes suing the school board, school district Superintendent Lynsey Johnston, the principal and two school counselors.

The mom argues her constitutional rights as a parent were violated as the school socially transitioned her child in secret, according to a news release from Goldwater Institute, a conservative and libertarian think tank based in Phoenix, Arizona, which represents her in the case.

McClatchy News contacted Johnston for comment on April 10 and didnt immediately receive a response.

School policies on informing parents about their childs gender identity and social transitioning differamong states. In some states, including California, Maryland and New Jersey, state guidelines advise schools against disclosing such information without a students consent, according to The New York Times.

Civil rights advocates warn against schools outing transgender youth to their families, which can be potentially dangerous for those not supported at home, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Alabama is the only state with a law requiring schools to force the outing of transgender students and disclose that information to their families, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit think tank. Other states, such as Florida, Kentucky, Utah and Arizona, promote doing so through state law.

The Maine moms lawsuit is similar to other civil cases filed in recent months, according to the Associated Press.

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Mom wants to control and direct the care for her teen

The mom argues that when school officials didnt inform her of providing her teen with a chest binder and referring to the student with gender-pronouns and a name not associated with the 13-year-olds biological sex, it went against her 14th Amendment rights, according to her lawsuit.

Specifically, the complaint states the school violated her right as a parent to control and direct the care, custody, education, upbringing, and healthcare decisions, etc., of their children.

In 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the Fourteenth Amendments due process clause protects the right of parents to have authority in the care, upbringing and education of their child in the case of Washington v. Glucksberg.

After the mom found the chest binder on Dec. 2, her teen told her that one school counselor provided it and instructed how to use it in his office, the complaint says. The counselor said he wouldnt tell the students parents and that the student didnt need to do so either, according to the complaint.

On Dec. 5, the mom met with the school principal and Johnston to discuss the information about her teen that was withheld from her, the complaint says.

When school officials found out, they actually defended the counselors actions  I deserve to know whats happening to my child  the secrecy needs to stop, the mom said in a statement.

The complaint says Johnston later told the parent that school staff hadnt violated any school policies when it came to her child.

The mom pulled her teen out of school on Dec. 8 and started homeschooling the student, according to the complaint.

Maine guidelines on supporting LGBTQ+ students instruct schools to use the name and gender identity a student desires and not doing so could violate the Maine Human Rights Act and Maines bullying law.

The Maine Human Rights Commission Memo published in 2016 states all school staff should be required to address the student by the students chosen name and use pronouns consistent with the students gender identity.

In a separate case, a sixth-grade teacher in Massachusetts was fired after telling a father that his 11-year-old was using a different name and pronoun, The New York Times reported.

After learning this, the man sued the school district and accused it of violating his rights as a parent, according to the Times.

A federal judge dismissed the case in December  before he filed an appeal in January  and ruled that affirming a students gender identity is a matter of giving a person the basic level of respect expected in a civil society generally, the Times reported.

The judge also wrote, however, that it is disconcerting school administrators may actively hide information from parents about something of importance regarding their child, according to the Times.

More on potential dangers of outing transgender youth

In the Maine moms complaint, she says she never gave school officials a reason to believe her child would be endangered upon learning her teens preference to use a new name and different pronouns.

Consequently there is no rational basis for the Defendants withholding and concealing such information, the complaint says.

The U.S. Department of Educations policy letter on transgender students acknowledges that students have a right to privacy when it comes to their personal information, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality fact sheet.

While many transgender students have the support of their families, some do not have supportive families, and inadvertent disclosures could even put the student in danger, the nonprofit social equality organizations fact sheet says.

The physical and emotional well-being of some trans youth may be at risk when they disclose their gender identity to family members who may not be supportive, according to the ACLU.

Trans individuals face higher chances of abuse and rejection from a family member due to their gender identity, according to the organization.

For trans youth, especially those who cannot be safe at home, school may be one of the few places to be themselves, the ACLU says.

The Maine moms lawsuit was filed after the Goldwater Institute demanded Great Salt Bay Community School create a policy that would require staff to inform parents of any decision affecting the mental health and physical well-being of their children, according to the organizations news release.

With the complaint, the mom says she will not send her two younger children to Great Salt Bay Community School because she cannot trust that school officials will be truthful toward her about their individual circumstances.

Damariscotta is about 55 miles northeast of Portland.

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Damage after Hurricane Ian Bonita Springs, Fla., Sept. 29, 2022. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

A study published Monday finds sea-level rise along the coast of the southeastern United States has accelerated rapidly since 2010, raising fears that tens of millions of Americans homes in cities across the South will be at risk from flooding in the decades to come.

Its a window into the future, Sonke Dangendorf, an assistant professor of river-coastal science and engineering at Tulane University, who co-authored the study that appeared in Nature Communications, told the Washington Post.

That paper and another published last month in the Journal of Climate find that sea levels along the Gulf Coast and the southern Atlantic Coast have risen an average of 1 centimeter per year since 2010. That translates to nearly 5 inches over the last 12 years, and it is about double the rate of average global sea-level rise during the same time period.

The Journal of Climate study found that the hurricanes that have recently hammered the Gulf Coast, including Michael in 2018 and Ian  which was blamed in the deaths of 109 Floridians last year  had a more severe impact because of higher sea levels.

It turns out that the water level associated with Hurricane Ian was the highest on record due to the combined effect of sea-level rise and storm surge, Jianjun Yin, a climate scientist at the University of Arizona and the author of the Journal of Climate study, told the Post.

Residents of Houston evacuate their homes after the area was flooded from Hurricane Harvey, Aug. 28, 2017. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show the water level at Lake Pontchartrain, an estuary bordering New Orleans, is eight inches higher than it was in 2006. Other cities threatened by rising oceans in the region include Houston, Miami and Mobile, Ala.

The centimeter-per-year rate is far faster than experts had expected, and it is more in line with projections made for the end of the century, Dagendorf said. High-tide flooding  when the tides bring water onto normally dry land on rain-free days  has more than doubled on the Gulf Coast and Southeast coast since the beginning of this century, according to NOAA. Recent years have seen records for high-tide flooding obliterated. The city of Bay St. Louis, Miss., went from three days of high-tide flooding in 2000 to 22 days in 2020.

A study by scientists with the University of Miami, NOAA, NASA and other institutions, which has not yet undergone peer review, found that the Southeastern sea-level rise accounted for 30%-50% of flood days in 2015-2020.

In low-lying coastal regions, an increase of even a few centimeters in the background sea level can break the regional flooding thresholds and lead to coastal inundation, the study said.
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As part of National Second Chance Month, a job and resources fair will be held this week in Cocoa for those who have been incarcerated or in the criminal justice system.

On Thursday, April 13, the job and resources fair will be held at the Joe Lee Smith Recreation Center at 415 Stone Street in Cocoa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both job seekers and employers are invited to participate at the event, which is being organized by CareerSource Brevard, Florida Department of Corrections, and City ofCocoa.

The City of Cocoa and CareerSource Brevard participated in another job fair last year, this one for veterans as part of the 8th Annual Paychecks for Patriots Veterans Job Fair. The fair coming up this week is focused on helping those who have been incarcerated find a second chance opportunity in the workplace.

The event aims to provide second chances for individuals who have been in the criminal justice system, helping them reintegrate into their communities and find jobs. The fair brings together employers and community organizations, as well as offering information about training programs.

Employers already registered to participate Thursday include Creative Management Technology, Labor Maxx, Labor Finders and the Florida Justice Center.

CareerSource Brevard cited several advantages for employers who choose to hire someone returning to society from the criminal justice system, including up to 50% wage reimbursement for training new hires; a work opportunity tax credit, reducing taxes up to $9,600 over two years; and a federal bonding program for free business insurance for money or property losses resulting from a new hire.

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"It's a way of giving these individuals an opportunity to elevate and grow," said Beatrice Boursiquot, coordinator. "It also reduces recidivism. They can learn from and overcome their mistakes and be a great asset to any establishment despite any barriers. Being able to achieve those positive goals and focus on the positives since being reintroduced into the community is a great opportunity for growth."

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"Once somebody has stable employment, they're not returning back to the justice system [as often]," she said. "These folks are able to move forward with their lives and striving toward progress."

Unemployment rates for those who have been in prison trend much higher than the general population, and those rates only go up the longer an offender has been away. Zippia, a leading company in the employment search industry, published statistics that show the strong links between incarceration, recidivism and employment. According to their research, those who have been in prison have a 27% unemployment rate compared to a 3.5% rate for the United States as of the latest reports. The research also found that the formerly incarcerated who are employed have a 16% recidivism rate compared to a 52% recidivism rate among those without jobs.

Those wishing to participate can contact organizers at Rise@careersourcebrevard.com or by calling Beatrice Boursiquot at 321-394-0613.

Tyler Vazquez is the North Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-917-7491 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @tyler_vazquez

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Second chance job connects employers with previously incarcerated
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday urged Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to investigate a recent bombshell report that Justice Clarence Thomas has accepted and failed to disclose 20 years worth of lavish gifts and luxury travel from a billionaire GOP megadonor.

The ProPublica report, published last week, describes conduct by Thomas that is plainly inconsistent with the ethical standards the American people expect of any person in a position of public trust, reads a letter to Roberts signed by all 11 Democrats on the panel.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, which has legislative jurisdiction over Federal courts and judges, has a role to play in ensuring that the nations highest court does not have the federal judiciarys lowest ethical standards, said the Democrats. You have a role to play as well, both in investigating how such conduct could take place at the Court under your watch, and in ensuring that such conduct does not happen again.

They add, We urge you to immediately open such an investigation and take all needed action to prevent further misconduct.

Heres a copy of their letter:

With Congress in recess for two weeks, Republican leaders have used the opportunity to say absolutely nothing about Thomas unethical and possibly illegal behavior. Democrats have been tepid, at best. Apart from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) calling for Thomas to be impeached, most Democrats have made vague calls for an enforceable code of ethics for the high court without any real plan on how to make this happen.

Nobody has demanded, for example, that Thomas identify which colleague he claims advised him it was fine to accept and not disclose luxury trips from a GOP megadonor for more than 20 years. Nobody has demanded that this Republican billionaire, Harlan Crow, testify before Congress under oath about his decades-long relationship with Thomas and what business interests he may have had before the court in that time.

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At least one progressive judicial advocacy organization says Democrats call on Roberts to investigate Thomas is necessary, but insufficient. This group, Take Back the Court Action Fund, is urging Judiciary Committee chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to step up his response to the situation.

Senator Durbin is, of course, right that Chief Justice Roberts has a responsibility to investigate and address obvious corruption at the Supreme Court, said Sarah Lipton-Lubet, the organizations president. But Roberts and the rest of the right-wing Court majority have proven theyre unwilling or unable to hold themselves accountable for basic judicial ethics.

She added, Senator Durbin should force Roberts and Thomas to come to the Capitol and answer for turning the Supreme Court into a kangaroo court.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, has at least proposed specific action that senators can take. Hes called for a hearing and vote on his bill, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act. It would create a process for investigating misconduct at the court and require the court to adopt disclosure rules for gifts, travel and income that are at least as rigorous as ethics rules for members of Congress.

This Supreme Court has lost its ethical compass, Whitehouse, who chairs the Judiciarys subcommittee on court oversight, said in a statement. 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.

In Senate Democrats letter, they chide Roberts for ignoring their previous concerns about the Supreme Courts lack of ethical standards. They note that The New York Times reported more than 10 years ago that people had been raising questions about Thomas acceptance of favors from Crow.

It is troubling that your 2011 year-end report, which dismissed the call for the Justices to adopt the Code of Conduct, was written notwithstanding the known concerns about Mr. Crows largesse, reads the letter to Roberts. This problem could have been resolved then. Instead, according to ProPublicas reporting, Mr. Crows dispensation of favors escalated in secret during the years that followed. Now the Court faces a crisis of public confidence in its ethical standards that must be addressed.

Democrats said they plan to hold a committee hearing in the coming days on the need to restore confidence in the courts ethical standards. They didnt offer any specifics beyond that, but said if Roberts doesnt resolve the courts ethics mess, the senators will take up legislation to try to resolve them.

You do not need to wait for Congress to act to undertake your own investigation into the reported conduct and to ensure that it cannot happen again, said the Democrats. We urge you to do so.

Related...
Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats on Monday called on Chief Justice John Roberts to investigate revelations from ProPublicas investigation into high-end trips taken by Justice Clarence Thomas at the expense of a Republican megadonor.

In a letter signed by the committees 11 Democrats, the lawmakers said they would hold a hearing after ProPublica reported that Thomas took various trips over the years paid for by Harlan Crow, a Dallas-based real estate developer who has donated millions to conservative causes.

In the coming days, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing regarding the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Courts ethical standards, the Democratic lawmakers wrote. And if the Court does not resolve this issue on its own, the Committee will consider legislation to resolve it. But you do not need to wait for Congress to act to undertake your own investigation into the reported conduct and to ensure that it cannot happen again. We urge you to do so.

The report detailed how Thomas joined Crow for multiple vacations that included trips on his private jet and 162-foot yacht, with costs estimated in the hundreds of thousands.

The report describes conduct by a sitting Justice that he did not disclose to the public and that is plainly inconsistent with the ethical standards the American people expect of any person in a position of public trust, the lawmakers wrote.

Supreme Court justices are required to file annual financial disclosures under federal law, but Thomas in a statement on Friday indicated he was advised that the trips did not have to be disclosed because they fell under a personal hospitality exception.

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.

The federal judiciarys policy-making body last month adopted stricter gift reporting requirements that clarified the exception does not apply to gifts at commercial properties and only spans certain gifts from someone with a personal relationship with the justice in a nonbusiness context. Thomas said he would follow the new guidance.

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But the Democratic lawmakers in Mondays letter called for the high court to go further and adopt the binding code of conduct in place for other federal judges. A group of Democratic lawmakers earlier this year reintroduced a bill that would do so.

But Roberts resisted doing so roughly a decade ago in his 2011 year-end report on the judiciary.

He wrote at the time that the code was a starting point but that it did not adequately answer some of the ethical considerations unique to the high court, also noting that the justices had never addressed whether Congress had the authority to impose ethical rules on the justices.

We submit that the Court has compelling reasons to do so, and urge prompt adoption of the Code of Conduct, the lawmakers wrote. While last months revision to the Judicial Conferences guidance on judicial financial disclosures was a modest step in the right direction, further action is needed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
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HARRISBURG  In his first budget proposal as governor, Democrat Josh Shapiro aims to resolve a longstanding fiscal conundrum: funding the Pennsylvania State Police without taking money away from bridge and road repairs.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro wants to create a steady funding stream for Pennsylvania State Police.

At the moment, $900 million of the agencys roughly $1.4 billion budget comes from the states General Fund, while the rest comes from the states Motor License Fund, which receives money from the states gas tax and is primarily meant to be used for infrastructure spending.

Shapiro would end those transfers by creating a new restricted bank account for State Police. Unlike the General Fund  the states main account, which can use the billions of dollars it receives from sales and income tax payments each year for any purpose  this new police account wouldnt be subject to annual budget negotiations between the governor and legislature.

Instead, by law, a set amount of tax revenue would automatically be allocated to it each year without debate.

The pledge Ive made to our state troopers is that that money would be set aside and walled off only for law enforcement, meaning it couldnt be used for any other purpose, Shapiro said recently in Erie. Weve got to make sure those dollars first go to meeting our law enforcement needs.

Shapiros plan has the support of legislative Democrats, who see another possible upside: Creating such an account would mean the legislature and Shapiro would need to pass a law, which could also include provisions like a long-sought requirement for state and local police to collect racial data from traffic stops. As Spotlight PA previously reported, State Police stopped collecting such data for nearly a decade, leaving observers unable to check for racial bias.

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State Rep. Donna Bullock (D., Philadelphia), chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, said such a requirement, crafted in partnership with State Police, is an option.

Weve seen more progress when weve worked together as opposed to using threats of the purse, Bullock said.

But some GOP lawmakers have criticized the effort to create a State Police fund, arguing this style of autopilot budgeting makes state finances less flexible and more opaque.

A so-called special fund like the one Shapiro is proposing is far from a novel idea. Past legislatures have created more than 150 similar accounts, which are financed through taxes, fines, or fees. That money is then channeled to specific uses, such as providing grants to drain mine runoff or funding operating budgets for state regulatory agencies.

On average, these funds account for about three in every 10 state dollars spent every year. Last year, they amounted to more than $20 billion.

Shapiro and the plans supporters, including the state troopers union, argue that a dedicated revenue stream will keep State Police funding stable. Policy analysts have noted that the certainty of such funding models has drawn states to increasingly turn to dedicated funds to pay for public programs.

A 2019 report by the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, looked at six states budgeting and found that the amount of restricted state spending increased from 2000 to 2015.

The report also noted one of the biggest drawbacks to this budgeting technique: It essentially privileges restricted funds over other spending priorities.

Considered in isolation, each tax or spending restriction may have some merit by locking in important commitments, the report said. But together, they create a block of preexisting priorities against which residual options, those that lack such protections, must compete.

GOP legislators have echoed this concern, arguing the use of restricted funds allows for less legislative oversight year over year while reducing the amount of flexible money lawmakers have to set their priorities.

At what point do we just say, All right, were done appropriating  Well just put it all on autopilot. Human services get 40% of the budget, education gets 40% of the budget, the rest of you fight over the 20%, state Rep. Seth Grove (R., York), the ranking Republican of his chambers Appropriations Committee, said during a news briefing in March. And I dont think thats the trajectory we want to go.

Pennsylvania has used its gas tax to fund State Police for decades. But a big gas tax hike in 2013  approved by former Republican Gov. Tom Corbett as a way to increase funding for repairs to the states crumbling infrastructure  spotlighted those growing transfers as a barrier to the commonwealth catching up on decades of deferred maintenance.

Pennsylvania has used its gas tax to fund State Police for decades. But a big gas tax hike in 2013  approved by former Republican Gov. Tom Corbett as a way to increase funding for repairs to the states crumbling infrastructure  spotlighted those growing transfers as a barrier to the commonwealth catching up on decades of deferred maintenance.

The General Assembly placed a cap on the amount of Motor License Fund money that can be used annually to fund State Police in 2016, aiming to get it to $500 million by 2026. While the legislature has hit that number, it has struggled to further cut the transfers despite proposals from lawmakers in both major parties.

Shapiros predecessor, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, wanted to free up the road and bridge money by replacing it with a fee on every municipality that didnt have its own police department and relied solely on State Police.

However, Republicans, who then controlled both chambers of the General Assembly, repeatedly rejected that plan, arguing it forced rural townships and boroughs to effectively be taxed twice for State Police coverage.

The General Assembly is now split between the Democratic-controlled state House and the Republican-controlled state Senate. Despite holding a little more legislative leverage, Shapiro took a different tack in his March budget address.

Shapiros proposed budget would wind down Motor License Fund transfers over the next five years, preserving $1.5 billion in gas tax revenue for road and bridge repairs over the course of that period.

But it also would require some clever accounting and new revenue from a yet-to-be-determined source.

This year, his plan asks the General Assembly to transfer about $1 billion in existing sales tax revenue on vehicles; liquor; e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products; and $400 million from the Motor License Fund into the new special restricted account, known as the Public Safety and Protection Fund.

Going forward, transfers from the Motor License Fund would continue to decrease until they reach zero by the 2027-28 fiscal year. The Shapiro administration hasnt specified how it would replace that money, instead saying the source is up for negotiation during budget talks.

Shapiros budget includes a proposed 20% tax on recreational marijuana, with sales starting Jan. 1, 2025, and revenues heading to the General Fund.

At least one bipartisan marijuana legalization proposal has suggested using cannabis tax revenue to fund law enforcement. A Shapiro spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on marijuana revenues.

Richard Auxier, a tax policy analyst at the Urban Institute, told Spotlight PA that dedicated funding streams like the proposed State Police one are often seen by policymakers as a way to build consensus on tricky topics.

For instance, Auxier said, its common to see tax revenue from cannabis, gambling, or cigarettes routed to a more politically popular topic like education.

But once a dedicated funding stream is created, Auxier said, You are no longer just making a policy decision about your cigarette tax, about your cannabis tax, about your gambling policies. Youre making decisions about all the programs youve tied to them when you go to make those changes.

And while dedicated funding is often meant to simplify the politics of a policy choice, sometimes that can backfire, Auxier said. For instance, if a tax funding policing has poorer-than-expected returns in any given year, the agency will be underfunded, forcing a tough decision on lawmakers: allow public safety to be low on cash or shift money from another program to cover the budget gap.

Regardless of the funding source, state House Appropriations Committee Chair Jordan Harris (D., Philadelphia) said it is necessary to free up state dollars to chase matching federal funding approved in the 2021 infrastructure law.

The law earmarked billions for infrastructure projects, but to apply for those dollars, state and local governments must cover at least 20% of project costs in most cases.

In cities like mine, in Philadelphia and other places across the commonwealth, there are roads and bridges that need work, Harris told Spotlight PA. Imagine us leaving  and imagine the citizens knowing  that we left or could possibly leave hundreds of millions of dollars, if not more, in federal resources on the table.

He also argued it would bring predictability to State Police funding, something that the Pennsylvania State Police Troopers Association, the labor union that represents the states 4,400 troopers, also supports.

There are always concerns when projecting revenues over the long term, but were confident this governor will deliver on his bold plan to strengthen the Pennsylvania State Police, the association said in a statement.

WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundationsand readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Proposed State Police fund saves road dollars, raises accountability concerns
Warning: Major spoilers for "Beef" episode nine ahead.

"Beef" premiered on Netflix on Thursday and stars Steven Yeun and Ali Wong.

Showrunner Lee Sung Jin said his initial plan for episode nine was "crazier" than what ended up on screen.

"Beef" showrunner Lee Sung Jin said that he had to walk back his original idea for the show's penultimate episode, joking that Netflix and A24 asked if he was "OK" after he outlined it.

Lee spoke with Newsweek about the ninth episode, which represents a shocking tonal shift for the show. "Beef" stars Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as Danny and Amy, two people whose road rage interactions spiral into an all-consuming feud. In the episode, Danny's cousin Isaac's (David Choe) decision to ransom Amy's daughter spirals into a violent shootout that leaves two people dead.

"I knew that I wanted everything to hit the fan," Lee told Newsweek. "We'd been stretching this rubber band for eight episodes now, I knew I needed the thing to snap."

Lee told the publication that the original outline of episode nine was "even crazier, with so many more deaths" other than the two that occurred on-screen.

"But it was too much, and Netflix and A24, rightfully, were like, 'You OK?' And so we brought it back," Lee told Newsweek.

Lee told The Hollywood Reporter that he wrote the original outline "under duress" while shooting the show. After getting "walked back" from a larger slaughter fest, he revised the episode while keeping in mind what its most important story elements were  Danny and Amy's relationships with their respective family members.

In the end, the two people who died in episode nine were two white members of the show's majority-Asian cast, but it wasn't deliberate.

"The natural byproduct of some of that revising was more people staying alive," Lee told The Hollywood Reporter. "So I don't know that it was necessarily intentional that that happened, but it's certainly an interesting outcome."

Read the original article on Insider
Siera Bearchell is opening up about unsolicited parenting advice.

Siera Bearchell has a message for anyone offering unsolicited parenting advice.

On Sunday, the 30-year-old former Miss Universe Canada took to Instagram with a video of herself applying makeup while holding her eight-month-old son. In the clip, Bearchell opened up about a recent experience that didn't sit right with her.

"I was at the zoo with my two kids and I had my baby in the carrier, just like this, and this man walked by me and he said, 'Ah, that's the easiest phase.'" Bearchell explained in the Instagram Reel.

"To be completely honest, I have been struggling," she shared. "No offense to this man, but I know for a fact that he did not go through nine months of pregnancy, delivering a baby, pushing it out of his body..."

Bearchell pointed out that the man has never "dealt with all of the postpartum joys of learning about your postpartum body, nursing and hormones."

"Even though this is my second baby  it was my second delivery, second time going through the newborn phase  honestly, it doesn't get any easier. In fact, it might even be harder," she continued. "For every person, every stage of being a parent is different."

The mom-of-two added: "Telling a woman with a six-month-old baby who is still sleep deprived and still recovering from the trauma of being pregnant and delivery and all of that  to tell her that this is the easiest phase is just... no thanks."

"I believe it gets better," she concluded.

"Every stage of parenting offers new challenges. Some parts get easier, while others become more difficult. Its a journey," she doubled down in the caption.

In the comments, fans praised Bearchell for the important reminder.

"Oh my gosh, this is so true!" an Instagram user wrote.

Another added: "Thanks for posting this!"

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"This is a really solid reminder!" another person commented. "He was definitely just projecting his own parenting experience."

"I needed this validation! I appreciate you for sharing," a fan penned.

One person shared: "So relatable."

Last week, Bearchell shared a video featuring footage of herself modelling swimsuits while she was in the third trimester of her pregnancy.

The Saskatchewan-native paired the post with a caption praising the Canadian swimwear brand for working with her during her pregnancy and helping represent different "shapes and stages of life."

"Eight months ago," she penned to her more than 170,000 followers. "I absolutely love that [Bikini Village] was open to working with me during this stage of my life because you hardly ever see pregnant women in swimsuit campaigns.

"I know it's not relatable for every single person, but I think it's helpful to see different shapes and stages of life represented. Even if it doesn't apply to you at that moment or phase in your own life. I wish I would have seen more of this growing up!"

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
Laid-off employees should look through the fine print and consider their options before signing a severance agreement, labor attorneys said. Getty Images

Some employees being laid off by Big Tech companies can expect generous severance packages.

But accepting severance also means giving up the ability to bring future claims, labor lawyers said.

Employees should consider their options before signing a severance agreement, they said.

As layoffs roil tech and other industries, many departing employees face a consequential workplace decision: signing a severance agreement.

Some tech companies appear to be offering fairly generous packages. Google and Meta are providing at least four months pay for those laid off, with veteran employees qualifying for longer payouts. But exit documents also contain information about health insurance and returning any office equipment, as well as details on seeking unemployment. Once the agreement is finalized, it can be difficult to challenge it later, attorneys said.

Here are five things to consider when signing your severance agreement, according to labor lawyers:

1. Learn if there are WARN act requirements in your state

Companies are often required to let affected workers know ahead of mass layoffs. The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN Act, which applies to big employers, calls for a 60-day notice period.

States also have their own versions of the law, which could require employers to offer even more notice. New York's WARN act, for instance, can require companies to provide a 90-day notice period. New Jersey's similar rule, which calls for certain employers to provide a 90-day notice period, went into effect on Monday.

When WARN Act rules apply, the notice period can determine the time in which employees being laid off need to be paid. For instance, in December 2021, the online mortgage startup Better increased its severance pay for laid off employees to 60 days, coinciding with the 60-day notice duration outlined by the federal WARN Act.

It's not clear how state laws would apply to employees working from home, especially if their employers are not located in those states, said Shannon Liss-Riordan of Lichten & Liss-Riordan PC.

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"There are issues to be worked out about who is subject to which laws in this day of widespread remote work," she said. Liss-Riordan is currently representing more than 1,800 former Twitter employees seeking more severance. An attorney for Twitter did not respond to Insider's emailed requests for comment, and emails Insider sent to Twitter's press address received poop emoji autoreplies.

"Right now, I would say, if you worked in New Jersey or for a New Jersey employer, I'd highly encourage you to talk to a lawyer before signing anything," said Liss-Riordan.

2. Take a closer look at confidentiality clauses in the agreement

The National Labor Relations Board, a key federal labor agency, decided in February that employers shouldn't muzzle workers in exchange for severance. The ruling gives employees room to question language that prevents them from speaking freely about their time at the company, said Nicholas De Blouw, name partner at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, a labor law firm that represents workers in employment cases.

The agency's fairly new decision could still be challenged in court.

"It certainly can give the employees a little more ammunition to break some of these confidentiality clauses, but be very careful," he said, referring to the NLRB ruling. "The law can evolve on these issues."

Companies can also dictate certain penalties for violating terms of their severance agreements  including non-disclosure agreements and confidentiality clauses  and employees should make sure they understand them before signing, said De Blouw.

3. Consider what you are willing to give up in exchange for the severance payment

When employees accept a severance package, they're asked to give up something in exchange  like their ability to sue the company. They may want to consult an attorney to consider the trade-off or explore if they have potential legal claims, attorneys said.

Employees being laid off could explore claims for bias or discrimination, for instance, if they can demonstrate evidence that the layoffs targeted a protected group of workers, Liss-Riordan said.

"We have been receiving a lot of calls from workers laid off by tech companies," she said.

"Usually people are trying to figure out if they might be entitled to more severance pay," she added. "There are employees who want to get their job back  that's difficult to do."

4. Know your deadline for signing the agreement

Laid-off employees usually have a few weeks to sign severance agreements and often a brief additional window after that to change their minds. Acting early will give employees more time to seek any necessary information from their companies, like any documents they've signed, their performance evaluations, and any wage statements, according to De Blouw.

Such documents can help employees determine if and how they can bring legal claims against their employers, if they want to go down that road. If they've signed an arbitration agreement, for instance, they'd have to file an arbitration claim rather than a lawsuit.

"If they wait, we, as attorneys, do not have adequate time to review their case file," De Blouw said.

5. Learn ways to get support after you leave

Departing workers could request other forms of support, like letters of reference or even language in the severance agreement that says the company won't oppose any decision by a state agency to grant unemployment, said Richard Volin, principal at Volin Employment Law.

"Employees can try to negotiate for non-monetary benefits that an employer may be willing to give," he said.

Workers can sometimes also try to negotiate with the company on health insurance, even though employers aren't required to contribute to ongoing health insurance payments, said Liss-Riordan.

"This is a common issue that gets negotiated when an employee seeks counsel from a lawyer after they've been laid off," she said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The TLC star spent the weekend 'adventuring' on a California vacation

Christine Brown/instagram

Sister Wive's Christine Brown has been living her best life on a family vacation with her new boyfriend, David Woolley, and her daughter, Truely.

The trio spent the weekend visiting some of California's famous tourist attractions, including Universal Studios.

Brown shared highlights of her "adventures" on Instagram, which showed the three of them smiling as they posed at the beach, eating giant donuts and visiting Hogwarts castle at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

"Making memories and going through adventures have always been precious to me. I've been blessed enough with the ability and time to make these core memories with my kids. Adventuring with @david__woolley and Truely in California @unistudios this weekend has been wonderful," the reality star said.

But there were too many happy memories to keep it to a single Instagram post, with Brown sharing another series of photos to her 1.1 million followers  with the caption reading, "More EPIC experiences with some absolutely epic people."

Related:Sister Wives' Christine Brown Vacations in Utah with New Boyfriend David Woolley: 'Could Not Get Enough'

Brown went public with her new relationship with Woolley on Valentine's Day 2023 and shared multiple photos of the pair.

"I finally found the love of my life, David," she wrote. "The first time he held me close, it felt like my soul took it's first breath."

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.

Brown added, "He's wonderful and kind, incredible with my children and an adorable grandpa. I never dreamed I could find a love like this."

The couple have become avid travelers, after also taking a vacation together to Utah in March.

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Related:Sister Wives Star Christine Brown Shares Sweet Dancing Video with New Boyfriend David: 'Finally Happy'

Brown shared an Instagram photo of that trip with the caption: "Life is short, why not take a wonderful weekend getaway for some fun new adventures. I love having a partner to go on these fun new adventures with. We could not get enough of the gorgeous views. Utah is a beautiful place, there are so many secrets to explore," she said in the caption.

The relationship with Woolley marks Brown's first since divorcing her husband of 25 years, Kody Brown. The TLC star shared at the time that it had been "awkward" dating again more than a year after her marriage ended.

As for Kody's own romantic life, his polygamous marriages with first wife Meri Brown and second wife Janelle Brown also recently came to an end. He's still married to his fourth wife Robyn Brown.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Six children were lost in the mountain wilderness for hours after a group got turned around and wandered off a North Carolina trail, officials said.

Frigid temperatures and darkness crept in as crews raced to find the group, which also included four adults. After nightfall, all 10 people were found safe, with some suffering fatigue and injuries to their legs, according to Haywood County Search & Rescue.

The group left at about noon April 1 and got off-track in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area, which spans more than 18,000 acres in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The region, roughly 35 miles southwest of the popular tourist destination of Asheville, has opportunities for hiking, camping and horseback riding, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Officials believe the group of 10 people was exploring waterfalls and didnt plan to be gone for more than an hour. But they went for a hike and got disoriented, Lt. Cody Parton of Haywood County Search & Rescue told The Mountaineer.

After getting lost, they left the trail to find cell service and call 911 and were able to find it briefly which is rare in the wilderness but helped initiate the search, the rescue group wrote on April 3 on Facebook. When the rescue was initiated by Cruso Fire Department, the subjects had continued to move, making initial contact difficult.

But eventually, crews passed over water and cut through foliage to get to the lost group. They were found between Yellowstone Falls and Skinny Dip Falls in a steep ravine, below the Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County Emergency Services told McClatchy News in an email.

The hikers were back to safety at about 3 a.m. April 2, about 15 hours after they started their trek, officials said.

What to do if you get lost while hiking

If you think youre getting lost, experts say its best to stop where you are and not panic. You should go over how you got to that point and see if youre able to spot any landmarks.

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Do not move at all until you have a specific reason to take a step, officials with the U.S. Forest Service said.

You should come up with a plan but stay put unless you are very, very confident in the route.

There are steps hikers can take to avoid getting lost and be better prepared for the unexpected:

Have more than enough food and water with you.

Take a compass that you know how to use, or have a GPS device on hand.

Dont rely solely on your cellphone. It probably wont work because of a lack of signal or a depleted battery.

Man holding small child trapped on waterfall ledge as crews rush in, NC rescuers say

Crews rushing to help injured mountain biker find impassable NC trail, rescuers say
Snowy and cool conditions that persisted across the West through last month will likely create a gush of water unlike any the Colorado River has seen since 2011, river forecasters say.

The expected snowmelt should protect hydroelectric power production at Glen Canyon Dam and prevent immediate losses to already depleted reservoirs serving the Southwest, regional and federal officials say.

But it wont break a 23-year megadroughts threat to water supplies in coming years.

Even with this winters weather, conservation is more important now than ever, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said during a Thursday news conference celebrating federal funding for water savings by the Gila River Indian Community.

Lake Powell, the giant holding tank straddling Arizonas northern boundary, is currently forecast to receive 11.3 million acre-feet of water during the April-July snowmelt runoff season, the National Weather Services Colorado Basin River Forecasting Center said Friday. Thats 177% of what it has averaged over a 30-year period marked by extreme lows linked to a warming climate.

If the river flows as expected, it will nearly double the volumes in two of the last three years, and nearly triple the volume recorded in 2021. Still, in a river with the nation's two largest reservoirs sitting at roughly three-quarters empty, one good year doesn't end drought. Refilling Lake Powell alone would take two years like this one, but only if none of the millions of downstream residents or farmers used any water from it.

Water storage: 'Weather chaos' brings enough snow to fill Verde River reservoirs, ease drought conditions

States can't let up on conservation measures

The rush of cold water past Moab, Utah, in late March had Josh Stoner stoked for whats to come.

A ton of snow! the Grand Junction, Colorado, resident said after emerging in a dry suit from a riffle at the rivers Big Bend Beach. Super excited!

Stoner and friends were in Utah for a swift-water rescue course in preparation for a rafting trip later this summer. They joined a dozen or so people floating through the riffle and taking turns getting reeled in with floating ropes. He is an experienced rafter who expects big things from the river this year. Flows in western Colorado have peaked early, in May, during the last several years, he said. This year he expects the big fun to last into June.

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Arizonas top water official, Tom Buschatzke, was decidedly less exuberant on Thursday. As director of the state Department of Water Resources, he remains immersed in talks to persuade water users within Arizona and beyond to share further reductions to ensure a reliable source next year and for years to come.

Were still working on a deficit, he said. We have to keep the pedal to the metal.

If the flows materialize as expected, he said, it means Glen Canyon Dam wont stop producing power this year, and likely not next year either. If the next two years are poor  similar to a dry year like, say, 2002  the dams power plant could again be threatened, he said.

The river forecasting center does not compile total flow projections for tributaries downstream of Lake Powell, but its current snowpack estimates along the Little Colorado and Virgin rivers show potential far above a normal year. In all, it should spell a year in which severely depleted reservoirs slow or stop their recent plunges.

Lake Powell, now holding just 5.3 million acre-feet, is at 23% of capacity, while farther downstream, Lake Mead is at 28% with 7.4 million. The government measures water by the acre-foot, or amount needed to cover an acre to 1-foot deep, roughly 326,000 gallons.

Lake Mead: Feds finalizing $250M in water-saving measures to help drought-stricken Lake Mead

The same "atmospheric rivers" helping the Colorado have dumped colossal snows and rains elsewhere in the drought-stricken West, helping top off reservoirs in central Arizona and California. San Luis Reservoir, California's fifth-largest, has refilled after sitting at one-quarter full in December. But that reservoir is just a tenth the size of Lake Powell.

Last month, before continued snowfall improved the outlook, the dam-managing U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projected Powells surface elevation would end this year somewhat higher than it began. Lake Mead would continue to decline, by about 8 feet, but with more water perched upstream in Powell for later release. Though these are relatively minor changes, its unclear how they might affect mandated reductions among farmers and other water users.

The Bureau of Reclamation is set to release proposed emergency conservation measures next week, accounting for two decades of declines.

Dividing water: As Colorado River is stretched thin by drought, can 100-year-old rules that divide it still work?

'We've never had two good winters in a row'

Recent disappointing years were marred by dry and warm springs that sponged up much of what otherwise could have been decent flows based on snowpack alone. Utahs dry soils could again steal significant snowmelt this year, river forecaster Cody Moser said, but that states mountains also have the amplest snowpack now and were factored into the forecasting model. Soils in Arizona and western Colorado are relatively wetter thanks to summer and fall rains.

The Henry Mountains on March 26, 2023, north of Lake Powell in southeastern Utah.

Weve had a couple pretty good monsoon seasons, Moser said.

While pleased with the predictions, Central Arizona Water Conservation District board member Terry Goddard said its premature to celebrate. His district, which manages the Central Arizona Project Canal delivering water from the river, has already been hit hard by water reductions forced by Lake Meads slide. He considers this years heavy snows a short reprieve from nearly a quarter-century of spiraling disaster.

During that time, he cautioned, Weve never had two good winters in a row. And it would take more than two to refill the reservoirs to comfortable levels.

Like Buschatzke, Goddard said its imperative that all seven states negotiating their commitments to save water retain their urgency. Otherwise, he said, next years snowpack could deliver calamity.

Snowmelt: Salt River Project opens Bartlett Dam floodgates to make room for spring snowmelt

Were hoping that we continue the momentum built over the last several dry years, Goddard said.

What happens next is in the federal governments hands. After proclaiming last year that the seven states needed to conserve between 2 million and 4 million acre-feet a year to stabilize the reservoirs, the U.S. Interior Department asked the states to work out an agreement on how to do it. So far the states have not agreed on how to split up those cutbacks, and next week the department will reveal its own plan.

Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau traveled to Phoenix to tout the Biden administrations commitment to conservation during Thursdays news conference at the governors office. While there, he assured Arizonans that the administration will use every tool to save the river and, with it, the regions economy.

Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau speaks during a press conference discussing Colorado River conservation investments at the state Capitol in Phoenix on April 6, 2023.

This is one of the most significant challenges facing the United States today, Beaudreau said.

Brandon Loomis covers environmental and climate issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach him at brandon.loomis@arizonarepublic.com or follow on Twitter @brandonloomis.

Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Forecasters say Colorado River due for best flows in 12 years
The Great Salt Lake at Antelope Island, Utah. AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

Thanks to record snowfall, the Great Salt Lake's water levels are rising  welcome news to researchers who issued a bleak report in January, warning that the lake was on track to disappear in the next five years.

In November, the Great Salt Lake  home to brine shrimp, amphibians, birds, plants, and reptiles  hit a record low of 4,188.6 feet above sea level, Brigham Young University researchers said, losing more than 70 percent of its water since 1850. The Great Salt Lake is fed by three rivers that rely on snow runoff, and in its report, the BYU team said unsustainable water use, water being diverted away for agriculture and business, and drought is "destroying" the lake. Without strict water conservation efforts, the report said, the Great Salt Lake would not make it.

Utah had a very snowy winter, with eight ski resorts receiving record snowfall. As of April 5, the Great Salt Lake has risen three feet since November, and in the next few months, as the snowpack melts, will fill up even more, with Utah's Division of Water Resources saying the lake level could increase by three to four feet. This year's snowpack is "nothing short of miraculous," BYU ecologist Ben Abbott, lead author of the January report, told The Washington Post.

The lake is still six feet below what Abbott said is "the minimum acceptable elevation for the lake's ecological and economic health," and in order to fully replenish the Great Salt Lake, "we need to reduce our consumptive water use by 30 to 50 percent." Candice Hasenyager, director of Utah's Division of Water Resources, told the Post that the situation has definitely improved at the Great Salt Lake and should be celebrated, but "we must continue to prioritize water conservation efforts and make sustainable water management decisions for the future of this vital ecosystem and for water users throughout the basin."

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Thabo Bester - AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht

A South African convicted murderer who faked his death to escape from prison has been arrested in Tanzania following a two-week manhunt.

South African officials are going to Tanzania on Sunday to begin to extradite Thabo Bester, 35, dubbed the Facebook Rapist as he used the social media platform to lure at least two women he was convicted of raping. He was also found guilty of killing one.

Bester was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 and it was reported in May last year that he died in a fire in his prison cell.

However, reports surfaced of him being seen in Johannesburg and an investigation including DNA samples showed that the body found burned beyond recognition in the cell was not his.

Two weeks ago police said they were chasing Bester and last week they raided a luxurious home he was believed to have been renting in a posh Johannesburg suburb.

Bester was apprehended with his girlfriend Nandipha Magudumana, a well-known celebrity doctor, and a Mozambican national believed to have assisted them to cross borders and evade law enforcement authorities, officials announced.

They were found with several fake passports which were unstamped at the time of their arrest, about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the Kenyan border.

Nandipha Magudumana - @drnandipha/CEN

Authorities have now started the process to extradite the fugitives back to South Africa, where they are expected to face several charges.

Announcing Besters arrest, justice minister Ronald Lamola said: An official delegation from South Africa, comprising senior officials from the police and the department of justice and correctional services will depart for Tanzania on Sunday.

The South African news outlet GroundUp reported that for nearly a year after his prison escape, Bester had lived a lavish lifestyle with Magudumana in Johannesburgs upmarket Hyde Park suburb.

It also reported that while in prison, Bester used a laptop he had for studies to run an event and production company and at one point, addressed a conference from his prison cell, telling attendees that he was speaking from the US.

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Besters elaborate escape from prison has raised many questions about the possible involvement of prison officials.

At least three officials have been fired from the Mangaung Correctional Centre from where Bester escaped, according to local reports.

The prison was managed privately by the British-based G4S security firm.

The South African government has now taken over the management of the maximum security prison and has announced that the G4S contract to manage the prison will not be renewed when it expires in 2026.
On the day he was set to face trial, a South Florida man charged with pocketing bribes for steering patients to a genetic lab-testing company that billed Medicare millions chose instead to admit his crime in Miami federal court.

Michael Stein pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government by soliciting and receiving kickbacks from another South Florida man who co-owned Panda Conservation Group. The Texas-based company operated two genetic testing labs that billed $90 million to the taxpayer-funded Medicare program and received $60 million in payments between April and November 2020.

Stein, 36, of Lake Worth, faces up to five years in prison at his sentencing June 13 before U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga. Justice Department prosecutor James Hayes and defense attorney Howard Srebnick will address his share of the Medicare losses and the impact on his punishment at the sentencing, according to court records.

Pandas co-owner, Leonel Palatnik, and Stein were accused of conspiring to fleece the U.S. governments insurance program for senior citizens and indigent by exploiting waivers granted to telemedicine providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, prosecutors said.

In 2021, Palatnik, 44, of Aventura, was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding Medicare and paying kickbacks to Stein as part of their scheme to bill the federal insurance program for thousands of unnecessary lab tests at Panda.

As part of his plea deal, Palatnik admitted that he paid $50,000 a month in kickbacks to Stein, owner of 1523 Holdings LLC in Hollywood, in exchange for his arranging for telemedicine providers to approve genetic testing orders for patients at Pandas labs. Stein also acknowledged the illicit payoffs in a factual statement filed with his plea agreement.

The illegal monthly payments were disguised as tech-related consulting services, according to prosecutors with the Justice Department. Their business dealings profited dramatically from the pandemic when the U.S. government lifted some telehealth restrictions that made it easier for Medicare patients to receive medical care from home, prosecutors said.

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In turn, Palatnik took advantage of the government waivers by using telehealth providers who authorized thousands of medically unnecessary cancer and cardiovascular genetic testing orders at Pandas labs, prosecutors said. In exchange, Panda gave the telehealth providers access to patient information so they could bill for medical consultations that often did not take place.

Palatnik, who was born in Argentina and raised in the United States, was ordered to pay back $686,590 of his companys ill-gotten Medicare payments to the federal government.

The case, investigated by the FBI and Health and Human Services, was part of a COVID-19 Health Care Fraud take-down of 14 defendants in seven federal districts in May 2021.
Clarification: This article previously stated that Spartanburg's Homeless Court was one of five such functioning programs in the state of South Carolina. A Homeless Court for the city of Rock Hill, South Carolina, recently assumed operation according to reporting The Rock Hill Herald, making six functioning Homeless Courts in the state.

Ahmad Boneparte sits hunched over a legal pad, talking softly with his attorney. Its a rainy Wednesday morning, and court is about to begin.

Ahmad is here for public disorderly conduct, a typical charge to appear on the Honorable Judge Erika McJimpseys docket. He's here to appeal it, also standard judicial procedure. But today Ahmad has a unique opportunity to get his charge dismissed.

Everyone rises as McJimpsey calls the city of Spartanburgs Homeless Court to order.

Rather than City Hall, todays session takes place in a gymnasium in the Northside neighborhood. Here, the defendant and his lawyer arent referred to by those terms, either. Instead, McJimpsey uses participant and advocate.

Today's hearing is Ahmad's last step toward graduation.

Spartanburg is one of six cities in South Carolina with a functioning Homeless Court program.

McJimpsey, Spartanburgs Chief Municipal Judge, formed the program in late 2019. Since then, 33 people have participated. Of those, 16 have graduated and 10 are still in the court process.

The court operates as a guided program for unhoused individuals, one designed to enable treatment and rehabilitation. Theres also an additional incentive to complete the program: a misdemeanor expunged off ones record.

Suzy Cole of Village Legal Hub, a Homeless Court attorney-advocate, said when basic needs are at stake, a petty criminal conviction only further complicates day-to-day life for vulnerable individuals.

If you're already in that survival mode and then you get a criminal charge and wind up in jail, I think that can be a pivotal moment for folks, Cole said.

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Attorney Christopher D. Brough, left, goes over Ahmad Boneparte's case at Homeless Court.

Spartanburg Homeless Court: Who is eligible and how it works

For Boneparte, 35, the months that led up to his hearing were turbulent.

After working for the city of Orangeburg for 15 years, Boneparte relocated with his wife and four children to Spartanburg during the turn of the new year between 2019 and 2020.

A new city and marital troubles upended Bonepartes life. The incident report for Bonepartes February 2022 arrest describes a domestic dispute where Boneparte was unable to calm down before he was arrested for public disorderly conduct.

I just worked hard. I've always been a hard worker, never really been a troublemaker or nothing like that, Boneparte said. We decided to try to start over and move to Spartanburg. Unfortunately, everything's not always a fairy tale ending. So, it's a lesson learned.

After his arrest, Ahmad didnt have a steady place to live and often stayed with friends. This put him under the Courts definition of homelessness, according to Beth Rutherford, Homeless Engagement Specialist for Spartanburg, and a key organizer of the program.

A Homeless Court participant must be currently or formerly homeless or facing homelessness as a result of charges or bench warrants, past or pending. Eligible participants must also demonstrate that they are receiving or have received treatment and are transitioning out of a homeless lifestyle.

Potential participants are often identified when they appear in front of McJimpsey in Municipal Court. She says the Spartanburg Police Department is also a partner and will sometimes identify candidates on the street.

Once a candidate is considered eligible, they are assigned a pro bono attorney-advocate. At the courts inception, McJimpsey approached the private bar in search of lawyers willing to volunteer their time to not further burden the countys overwhelmed public defenders office.

Beth Rutherford, Homeless Engagement Specialist, talks about Ahmad Boneparte's case to the judge.

I don't know any [lawyers] that didn't agree to do it, because it's a great program, Steve Denton of KD Trial Lawyers, said.

After assigning an attorney-advocate, McJimpsey said city staff, service providers and a designated advocate work to identify the origin of an individuals homelessness.

Once that is identified, we begin to work to address those problems ... whatever those root causes are, those issues are addressed, McJimpsey said.

Jennifer Wells, also of KD Trial Lawyers, stressed the importance of client empowerment throughout this process.

"I'm definitely their advocate and a zealous advocate. But also helping them kind of investigate internally to figure out, how did we get here? And how are we going to meet the goals of the program together? Wells said.

Every month, community partners set up, job-fair style, with tables covered with both snacks and literature on offered services. Both program participants and regular users of the Spartanburg Opportunity Center facilities take advantage of the event.

Resources range from mental and physical health services to assistance filing for Social Security. McJimpsey and attorneys agree that there are a variety of issues that can lead to someone becoming unhoused.

Some [people] lose licenses because they didn't have insurance. They get suspended, Denton said. But they need to have a vehicle and be able to go to jobs if they have a job that's 10 miles away.

McJimpsey described the 7th Circuit Solicitors office as the gatekeeper to the program.

The solicitors office, which prosecutes criminal charges filed in Spartanburg and Cherokee County, has sole discretion to admit or deny an applicant. For participation in Homeless Court, the office considers charges or bench warrants for any offense that occurs within the City of Spartanburg that carries a penalty of incarceration for 30 days or less.

Erika McJimpsey, Chief Municipal Judge, city of Spartanburg held Homeless Court on March 22, 2023. Ahmad Boneparte of Spartanburg was one of the cases before the court that day. Here, the judge reacts as she closes Ahmad Boneparte case with a positive outcome for the court and the defendant.

Founding judge talks goals, mission, why Homeless Court matters

McJimpsey said restoration in an alternative setting to a traditional court is the focus of Homeless Court, with the ultimate incentive of dismissing eligible charges once the program is complete.

What I've come to understand in my years of being a judge and [what] became increasingly troubling is the stigma and the shame that's attached to being homeless, McJimpsey said. We hope to restore some of that feeling of hopefulness and that sense of self-esteem that's oftentimes ripped away from a person who has been homeless.

The creation of Spartanburg's Homeless Court began after McJimpsey read an article in the South Carolina Lawyer Magazine about other programs in the state. Columbia, Florence, Charleston and Myrtle Beach have Homeless Courts that predate Spartanburg's. Weeks ago, an iteration was greenlit in Rock Hill, and is now functioning.

McJimpsey started to notice the number of unhoused individuals who circulated through Municipal Court. She recalled one man who frequently appeared at her podium. Later, in 2019, she learned that he died on the street in the midst of a cold snap.

McJimpsey admitted that there is no magic wand to fix homelessness. Some individuals have a lifetime of trauma they've had to face, she said.

To her, its about prevention and finding proactive solutions to a pressing and long-standing issue.

When people are hungry, people are unhoused, the likelihood of them committing crimes is going to increase, McJimpsey said.

A holistic, solutions-based approach that goes beyond just checking boxes is what gives the program legs, Cole said.

The reception from community partners exceeded McJimpseys expectations.

Initially I thought, Wow, I'm going to have to sell people on the importance of helping homeless individuals, McJimpsey said.

McJimpsey's last day working for the city of Spartanburg was Monday, April 3. Even as she departs for a new position in Washington D.C., the program will continue. Judge Jacqueline Moss will step in for the interim, and Homeless Court's next session will occur in May, according to Rutherford.

Ahmad Boneparte, left, listens as his case is heard at Homeless Court.

Boneparte departs as Homeless Court graduate

Back in court during Bonepartes hearing, McJimpsey celebrates his accomplishments. She says the main requisites for completion of the program are having, or working toward, stable housing and employment, and no further trouble.

Hes achieved those.

Although this is only Bonepartes second time in Homeless Court, McJimpsey says she is willing to let him graduate early. He obtained housing in December 2022 and has been employed for a full year.

His hearing concludes, and Boneparte hugs Rutherford. He walks out the latest graduate.

However, a universal timeline for the program is hard to nail down. There can be months between appearances.

Before Ahmad, a woman who was arrested for shoplifting makes her case. McJimpsey agrees to a second appearance in June.

Erika McJimpsey, Chief Municipal Judge, says restoration in an alternative setting to a traditional court is the focus of Homeless Court.

The three-month gap allows time for the woman to overcome some significant financial challenges. She is disabled and sees a doctor in Greenville. McJimpsey acknowledges that a $1,400 monthly income does not stretch very far after $1,000 in rent and out-of-pocket costs of food and medical expenses.

Her father also recently moved in, which resulted in food stamps getting cut off, the womans advocate said.

Well try to get ahead instead of waiting for something else to happen, McJimpsey reassures her.

Minutes later, another man exits, his arms full of a half-dozen pamphlets from the courts community partners.

McJimpsey sees something else in that image.

She calls it justice through another lens.

Chalmers Rogland covers public safety and breaking news for the Herald-Journal. Reach him via email at crogland@shj.com.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg Homeless Court offers alternative sentencing, guided program
The white marble tub was a foot and a half off the ground, but seemed mountainous after I had been bedridden for three days. Just 48 hours before, Id had an emergency C-section to birth my son, and the pain from the abdominal surgery, epidural incision, catheter needles, and edema in my legs made me feel like I had been in a lethal fight. Stepping onto the ground without assistance was a triumph, and taking a hot shower in my Boram Care en suite was a luxury compared to a sterile labor and delivery bathroom.

Honestly, everything at Boram, a buzzy, newly opened $850-a-night (on average) postpartum retreat in New York City, is luxurious  especially for an American. The center, founded by entrepreneurs Boram Nam and her husband, Suk Park, is the first of its kind in the United States, specifically created as a place for birthing individuals to recuperate.

In Korea, this business  having a dedicated postpartum facility  has been around for more than 15 years, Nam says of her namesake establishment, aptly located in Koreatown. It's been very profitable, very popular. To a point, 75% of women that give birth in Korea go into postnatal-care facilities.

In South Korea, these types of facilities offer spa-like postnatal care focused on restorative healing for mothers and newborns. At Boram, residents are treated to three low-sodium, chef-prepared meals a day to help with postpartum edema, foot soaks, massages, and educational courses. In addition to getting much needed sleep  Boram has a 24/7 nursery where babies get care and rest as well  guests are provided with multiple hourlong sessions with lactation coaches to learn breastfeeding and pumping techniques.

Courtesy Boram

Boram packages go for three-, five-, or seven-night stays in one of its 10 rooms in a private wing of the Thompson Central Park Hotel. Says Nam, many of the women who initially book a shorter stay choose to extend their days because theyre just getting so much support. (The way pricing works, the cost per night goes down if you stay for longer.) After they leave, she adds, many mothers become advocates and ambassadors for the brand  and for the practice of more formal postnatal care in general. Those who have come to stay with us, they're shocked that we are the only one, Nam says. This [care] made complete sense to them.

The Dismal State of Postnatal Care in the U.S.

Full disclosure: The idea of not immediately going home after giving birth was confusing to me. I had totally prepared myself for what would be weeks of no sleep and isolation. As it turns out, though, my lens for picturing this is uniquely American; the concept of attentive postpartum care is quite common outside of the US. Taking sanhujori postnatal rest and support in South Korea, which Boram is inspired by, is akin to Belgiums kraamzorg, Latin Americas la cuarentena, and Chinas zuo yue zi, which in some cases costs up to $27,000 for a monthlong stay. In Canada, it is illegal to penalize parents for taking time off, and the UK offers 26 weeks of standard maternity leave.

As the hot water from the rainforest shower hit my body on that first night, I looked at all the scars from a week's worth of needles and knife cuts and all I could think was, How does anyone survive childbirth without the time and resources to recover? The United States is still trying to answer this question.

Last years overturn of Roe v. Wade brought unprecedented attention to reproductive rights and our countrys investment, or lack thereof, in child-rearing. There are no federally funded maternity leave or childcare programs in the US, and we have a much higher rate of postpartum maternal deaths compared with other developed countries.

The National Center for Health Statistics found that the number of maternal deaths rose by 9% from 861 in 2020 to 1,205 in 2021. Nineteen percent of maternal deaths occur between one and six days after delivery, and 21% in week one to six. These deaths are often attributed to severe bleeding, high blood pressure, and infection. But more recently, stress and mental health have been tied to a pandemic-era increase in the maternal mortality rate.

We have seen a huge increase in anxiety and depression in general, says Jessica Vernon, MD, an OBGYN and co-director of the Perinatal Mental Health Program within the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at NYU Langone Health. It definitely reflects being isolated during COVID and not having a support system in the community during pregnancy and postpartum.

My Own Birth Experience

Fortunately, my own pregnancy was a smooth one. Throughout the nine months, I traveled for work and play, going to Los Angeles, Miami, London, and Accra without any medical issues. My blood pressure and weight gain were healthy. The babys development was excellent. Even though I would turn a geriatic age 35 during my pregnancy, I was in such good condition that I did not at all prepare for a cesarean. Between weekly yoga classes, walking for exercise, and regularly seeking the counsel of my doula, I was all set for a smooth vaginal delivery.

So, when I went into labor at 40 weeks, chose an induction over going home in pain, and took 70 hours to dilate to three and half centimeters (10 centimeters is required for a vaginal delivery), I was shocked when a C-section was put on the table. My son was delivered safely, but soon after, my heart rate increased rapidly and I was met with a team of frantic cardiologists concerned about me having a pulmonary embolism.

Courtesy author

Courtesy author

Being a Black mother made my birthing experience all the more sensitive. We experience the highest amount of maternal deaths in this country  nearly three times that of white women. The high-profile passings of mothers Dr. Chaniece Wallace, Kira Johnson, and many others have shone a light on the structural inequalities Black mothers face when bringing a child into the world. As I was wheeled into a recovery room, one of the doctors referenced Serena Williamss blood clot emergency as a reason their concern was heightened. I felt seen but also terrified, contemplating leaving my son in this world without me. And for so many, because of myriad roadblocks, this is where the story ends.

You can never know other people's lived experiences. You just have to listen and believe them, says Dr. Vernon of providing sufficient postpartum care for patients from underserved communities. There's so much that goes back to people with a history of trauma, people with adverse childhood events, people who have grown up with intergenerational trauma and stereotypes and all sorts of other factors that come into play when you get pregnant.

Dr. Vernon is actively working within the NYU Tisch Hospital system to incorporate new programs that educate physicians about implicit bias and create postnatal support groups for Black mothers. But, she acknowledges, generally, the system is broken.

[We need to be] educating the provider on how you can better have conversations and create a space where patients feel comfortable with you, and acknowledge that you don't have all the answers but you want to hear the things that are going to impact their care, she says. Even those things can change so much related to stress and anxiety and other issues that come with pregnancy, when you just feel so out of control.

In recent years theres been a rise in the use of doula care, popularized at least in part by parents sharing their positive birthing experiences on social media. Like many of my millennial counterparts, I hired a doula to help manage the anxiety of navigating childbirth for the first time.

Kris Bailey, a New York-based professional birth doula, says that 90% of her clients are new parents. I think people are realizing more how essential it is to mother the mother, she says. Some positive trends I've seen include prioritizing rest; learning about postpartum doula care and how they can be helpful in the home by providing newborn-care education and extra hands so parents can sleep. Pelvic-floor therapy is on the rise too.

Before she became a doula, Bailey says, she wasnt aware of the horrifying facts concerning maternal and infant health. Working with families in marginalized communities, I got to experience firsthand the blatant disrespect, fearmongering, unnecessary intervention, concerns and pain being neglected.

"In the US  moms feel like candy wrappers. The baby comes out, you throw away the wrapper, and just focus on the baby."

Nam, who is from South Korea but birthed her two children in the United States, was inspired to start Boram after having her own difficult deliveries. She also suffered from postpartum depression for two years after giving birth to her second child. If I was able to do that even for three days, I would have been a different person, she says of what access to a postnatal retreat center would have done for her. I didn't get any support. An hour after surgery, I was on my work email.

How Do Things Get Better for Birthing Parents?

There is no federally funded paid leave in America. So for many  one in four women return to work within two weeks of giving birth  the obligation to provide for their family trumps recuperating from labor. There were a couple of incidents [at Boram] where the mother, even with a clean bill of health, was discharged from the hospital, but they were told to watch out for their blood pressure, Nam says. And we find out the persons blood pressure is really high. We strongly recommend that they go back to the hospital or see their OB. Boram says that when these incidents happened, the facility was in a lifesaving position: Imagine [the patient was at] home and they're like, Ah, it's fine, I'm going to be fine. Nope, that's going to be critical.

Courtesy Boram

Courtesy Boram

The rest I got during my first night at Boram completely reset me. After spending a week in the hospital, constantly being woken from sleep for check-ins, it was physically and mentally restorative to sleep without bother. My son, although new to the world, calmly recovered from birth. I took many hot showers during those three days. I felt safe. I felt supported and cared for. Most important, I felt seen.

Currently, private medical insurance does not cover a stay at Boram. In a country that gives only 19% of workers access to paid family leave, a retreat like Boram can seem inaccessible even when you dont factor in the high price tag. But that is something Nam is working on, by regularly getting on the phone with HR representatives at large companies.

Says Nam, who has an optimistic view of the future of prenatal care, All you need is really having someone understand you and have your needs addressed. We definitely want to work with insurance companies; however, there is no universal health care system in the US, so it's very costly and challenging to navigate even for companies, for individual families, not to mention the people who are underprivileged, right? But we'll get there. We need to get there.

The perfect American birth situation does not exist when federal and state policies do not support healthy pregnancies, deliveries, postpartum care, or child-rearing. Institutions like Boram are attempting to make a difference, but ultimately the larger work is in evolving how society views bringing new life into the world.

In the United States, I've heard it explained that moms feel like candy wrappers, Dr. Vernon says. The baby comes out, you throw away the wrapper and just focus on the baby. I think the big thing that these centers give is the birth parent the permission to put some of their needs before other things. To take the time to focus on yourself, which we as a society do not say often enough.

Read more:

Incomplete Pregnancies Deserve Aftercare, Too

"Pregnancy Nose" Reveals Are Sweeping TikTok

My IVF Experience Didnt End With a Baby

Originally Appeared on Allure
Daisy Ridley, Kathleen Kennedy and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at Star Wars Celebration 2023. (Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)

Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy says that Ahsoka, Acolyte, and Daisy Ridley's new Star Wars movie signal more women-led projects, set in that galaxy far, far way, are on the horizon.

I would say, definitely, the studio president told Yahoo UK at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

We dont set out to say, 'okay, this is going to be a project led by women, and this is', it evolves that way. And Im pleasantly surprised to see theres a balance in the Force, lets put it that way.

"Because in everything that we've been doing, I think we have attracted some really strong women both in front of the camera and behind the camera and thats been thrilling.

Read more: Rey script is 'six weeks off'

The Ahsoka series, set to premiere on Disney+ in August this year, stars Rosario Dawson as the titular Force-sensitive ex-Jedi Padawan and brings her together with Mary Elizabeth Winsteads Hera Syndulla and Natasha Liu Bordizzos Sabine Wren.

Theyre characters who all first appeared on screen in the animated series. Here, theyre teaming up to thwart Thrawns return.

Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) in Ahsoka. (Lucasfilm)

Another prominent woman character that will jump across from one Star Wars series to another is Andors Mon Mothma (Genevieve OReilly) who we glimpsed in the newly released teaser trailer. But which women in Star Wars lore would Kathleen Kennedy most want to see join or make a return to live action as Ahsoka spearheads the move towards more women-centric projects?

Oh, I think theres a lot of interesting characters that can evolve, said Kennedy. Were starting obviously with Rey but trust me Sharmeen [Obaid-Chinoy who will direct the film set 15 years after the end of The Rise of Skywalker] will have some great ideas as to what we put forward. I dont want to step on her toes, but she is working on some really interesting new characters.

Read more: Acolyte cast share details of new Star Wars show

One of the Star Wars universes most creative forces, Dave Filoni, has also been responsible for creating some interesting characters, including Ahsoka Tano. But the Star Wars superfan says that creating women characters isnt a conscious thing for him.

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(L-R) Jon Favreau, Diana Lee Inosanto, Ivanna Sakhno, Rosario Dawson, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Dave Filoni. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)

Its honestly not something that I plan, said Filoni. I just needed a samurai, and I have Ahsoka, and Ive been telling her story. And then I knew in my story I needed a general and I have Hera. I needed a warrior, and I have Sabine. These are just characters that weve accumulated over the years.

"I grew up and I had Luke and Han, Lando. These are great heroes. Theres no end to the type of heroes, you just need to have interesting people playing them and interesting challenges for them.

The important thing is that theyre relatable to everyone. I think that I expect every kind of kid to relate to Sabine and what shes going through, what shes struggling with, and what she needs to overcome  the same that I watched kids being inspired by Luke. Thats the strength of it and the limit here is peoples imagination.

Read more: Will Grogu appear in Dave Filoni's Star Wars movie?

Filoni added, I know for a lot of people its so significant that there are so many women in these films, and I think thats wonderful. I think thats great, and if that inspires people that maybe would have said Its not for me or I cant do that and they say I can be that and I can do that, thats even better. You want it to be not a time of change but a time of inclusion.

Watch the teaser for Ahsoka

Nevertheless, we asked the cast which Star Wars women they want (back) in the live-action fold, whether in an existing series or new project.

Ahsoka Tano actor Rosario Dawson picked the Martez sisters from The Clone Wars. They were the first real folks that Ahsoka met when she left the Jedi Order, and interacting with them had a really profound effect on her and [gave her] a better understanding of what was really happening outside of these pearly gates of the Jedi Order and Coruscant. I just think about them a lot.

"Those for me are the original Latinas that I got to see in there and be like, Okay were here, were taking up space. I would just like to know more about what their journey has been.

Rosario Dawson is Ahsoka Tano. (Lucasfilm)

For Mary Elizabeth Winstead who plays Hera Syndulla, its back to the original trilogy and Princess Leia. Im completely besotted with Carrie Fisher and everything that she was able to do. Obviously, we saw Princess Leia as a child in the most recent Obi-Wan series, and it was amazing to get to see that energy brought back.

Ivanna Sakhno, who plays newly revealed antagonist Shin Hati in the series, agrees on Princess Leia (I do think that theres still quite a bit to explore within her journey and where that can go.), as does Diana Lee Inosanto, the magistrate from The Mandalorian, Morgan Elsbeth, another antagonist.

Read more: Thrawn is 'brutal and manipulative'

Id like to see her swing that lightsaber more, said Inosanto. I know that shes had some training so I would like to see that executed more.

But Inosanto reserved praise for Rey and one other woman character from Star Wars past.

I do love Reys character. Theres such a sensitivity, she said. And then theres [Jyn Erso]. I love the character from Rogue One. Shes a powerful woman.

Diana Lee Inosanto is The Magistrate in The Mandalorian. (Disney+)

Ray Stevenson, who plays another antagonist Baylen, would like to see a new type of woman character emerge  one with Divine Feminine energy.

I think [about] women warriors, women this, but what is it motivated [by]? There is a divinity that women have had to take up a mantle because of certain mens weaknesses, especially leaning towards extreme violence and stuff like this, in order to protect themselves or their family, creed, or their race, or whatever  theyve had to adopt that mantle.

It doesnt necessarily [have to] be that malevolent side of men. Getting in touch with the Divine Feminine [is the way]  I think theres not one character, but I think that sense of Divine Feminine needs to come through.

A very interesting proposition.

Ahsoka premieres on Disney+ in August 2023.
Disney's Star Wars: The Bad Batch is coming back for one last ride with a third and final season with Lucasfilm announcing the news on the fourth day of the Star Wars Celebration 2023 event. The show follows the Clone Wars, depicting a group of experimental clone troopers, each with their own skill, who break away from their army units to form a mercenary group

Executive producers Athena Portillo, Jennifer Corbett, and Brad Rau shared the news during a panel at the celebration, available to watch through a recorded stream of the Star Wars Celebration. The teaser trailer debuted during the panel, but it hasn't been independently released yet.

The annual Star Wars celebration serves as a platform to announce big releases as well as cultivate the franchises vast fanbase, such as connecting cast and crew with fans. This years announcements include Return of the Jedi's 40th anniversary return to theaters, cast members for upcoming releases Acolyte and Ahsoka, and over 20 new figurines from Hasboro Star Wars. Star Wars: The Bad Batch season three is already in production, but it isn't slated to debut until sometime in 2024. In the meantime, seasons one and two are available to stream on Disney+.
The State Media Co. has asked the state Court of Appeals to reinstate a lawsuit that alleged a local school district violated South Carolinas open meetings laws. A judged dismissed the lawsuit last year on procedural grounds.

In a filing on Monday, attorney Billy McGee argues Judge Alison Lee incorrectly used a statutory requirement for a quick hearing to penalize The States senior editor in dismissing the suit against the Lexington-Richland 5 school district.

In her October ruling, Lee dismissed the case based on the fact a hearing on The States request for a summary judgment was not held within 10 days. She did not address the merits of the lawsuit in her dismissal.

This interpretation added a new and substantial obligation on parties seeking to enforce a (Freedom of Information Act) claim where no such language existed, McGee argues in the appeal.

An editor of The State newspaper, Paul Osmundson, filed the suit against the district in August 2021, alleging the district violated the states Freedom of Information law in its approval of a settlement for a former superintendent who resigned her post.

Lexington-Richland 5s former superintendent, Christina Melton, received $226,368 in a settlement from the district after she resigned her position in August 2021.

The States lawsuit alleges the school board approved that settlement illegally behind closed doors. The suit also sought to require that meetings of school board officers be open to the public.

After The State filed its lawsuit, the Lexington-Richland 5 school board approved the settlement agreement with Melton in a public vote, nearly two months after the superintendent announced her resignation. The district also began announcing its board officers meetings ahead of time and opening portions of them to the public.

Under state law in a Freedom of Information complaint, a hearing must be held within ten days of the service on all parties and a scheduling order to conclude the action must be held within six months, Lee wrote in a short court order dismissing the suit. In this current matter, no hearing was held within the allotted timeframe. Therefore, the Motion to Dismiss is dispositive and the court need not determine the merits of the Summary Judgment claims.

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The appeal argues that Osmundson has no ability to schedule a hearing on his suit, and that the statutory language actually requires the chief administrative judge of the circuit court to schedule the initial hearing.

As a result, the court punished Osmundson, the litigant, for the failure of the chief administrative judge to timely schedule an initial hearing, something only the court has the authority to do.

In a June hearing on the lawsuit, Lee told attorneys that the newspaper cannot file a complaint and then expect the Court to realize youre asking for injunctive relief or some type of hearing in order for that to take place, but added that many attorneys probably dont know that.

If allowed to stand, the ruling would place the burden on anyone seeking to enforce the Freedom of Information Act to get a hearing scheduled or risk having their complaint thrown out, perhaps by seeking a writ from the S.C. Supreme Court in each case, the appeal argues. It may even create an unequal application of justice if the chief judge in one circuit is simply quicker to schedule hearings than in another.

The purpose of the 10-day rule, the appeal argues, is to ensure FOIA requests are dealt with promptly, rather than impose grounds for a litigants claims to be dismissed.

Lees ruling also ignores the conditions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the appeal argues, since at the time many courtroom operations were still curtailed and the Supreme Court had given judges wide latitude in scheduling and conducting hearings.
WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday formally declared that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is being wrongfully detained in Russia.

The official classification means Gershkovich's case will be handled by the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department, giving the government additional resources to secure his release. The office's envoy, Roger Carstens, will work toward Gershkovich's release and maintaining contact with his family.

"Journalism is not a crime," Vedant Patel, a State Department spokesperson, said in a statement Monday. "We condemn the Kremlins continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth."

Evan Gershkovich. (Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP - Getty Images)

Blinken last week said he considered Gershkovich wrongfully detained, but it is the first the State Department has formally designated him as such. The Journal was the first to report the new designation.

The U.S. has called on Russia to release Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a businessman and former Marine imprisoned on suspicion of spying.

Gershkovich was arrested on spying allegations at the end of March. The Journal has denied the espionage charges.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The State Department on Monday officially designated an American reporter as wrongfully detained by Russia, after he was arrested in March on espionage charges.

Today, Secretary Blinken made a determination that Evan Gershkovich is wrongfully detained by Russia, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement. Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlins continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth.

The new designation elevates Gershkovichs case, sending it to a State Department office that specializes in negotiating the release of hostages and those wrongfully detained in other countries.



Gershkovich was arrested on March 29 in Yekaterinburg, Russias fourth-largest city. The Wall Street Journal, his employer, has denied the charges and demanded Gershkovichs release  as have other news organizations, including POLITICO.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has previously called for Gershkovichs release, and earlier this month spoke with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia to convey the United States grave concern over Russias unacceptable detention of a U.S. citizen journalist  a rare communication between high-level U.S. and Russian officials amid tension over Russias war in Ukraine.

On Monday, the State Department also called for the release of Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine who has been wrongfully detained in Russia after his arrest there in 2018.
State Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, was absent as the House deliberated on and aproved its state budget bill last week even though he had prepared 27 amendments for it.

State Rep. Bryan Slaton, who was notably absent from the Capitol last Thursday before returning this week, has retained a criminal defense lawyer amid a possible investigation by a Texas House committee over allegations of an "inappropriate relationship" with an intern.

Patrick Short, a Rockwall-based attorney near Dallas, issued a statement Monday saying that Slaton, R-Royse City, had retained him as legal counsel after a possible complaint made against the lawmaker to the Texas House Committee on General Investigating.

The Texas Tribune on Monday was the first to report that Slaton had hired Short's firm. The Tribune later reported that an internal complaint filed against Slaton alleges that he was engaging in a potentially "inappropriate relationship" with an intern.

The complaint came after an incident in which Slaton is accused of messaging the staffer after 10 p.m. March 31 to invite her to his Austin apartment, the Tribune reported.

"We are aware of outrageous claims circulating online by second-tier media that make false claims against Representative Slaton, Short said before the allegations surfaced publicly Monday. "As a result, he has been advised to forward all inquiries in this matter including any that may relate to a possible complaint  to his legal counsel."

The statement did not elaborate on the nature of the complaint, which has been a source of speculation since Thursday when Slaton was absent from the House while representatives spent all day passing the chamber's version of the state's budget for fiscal years 2024-25. The day was to be especially big for Slaton, who had prepared 27 budget amendments.

The House Journal, the chambers attendance tracker, listed Slaton's absence as excused under the designation business in the district.

No one answered at Slatons Capitol office door Thursday, and it was papered over. Slatons chief of staff did not respond to an American-Statesman request for comment.

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Slaton has branded himself as a far-right conservative with anti-LGBTQ legislation and a long-shot bill that would let voters decide whether Texas should secede from the U.S. In 2021, during his first session, Slaton introduced a satirical bill to rename a strip of Interstate 35 in downtown Austin the Steve Adler Public Restroom Highway, mocking Austin's mayor at the time for the city's lax rules against public camping.

Slaton, a former youth and family minister, is married, and he and his wife have a young child.

The five-member House investigating committee handling the complaint against Slaton is chaired by Rep. Andrew Murr, who issued a statement last week refusing to confirm or deny whether there was an investigation of the lawmaker.

State law says the committee may investigate a matter related to the misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, abuse of office, or incompetency of an individual or officer. It also may investigate complaints related to workplace conduct.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Legislature: Bryan Slaton hires lawyer amid possible House probe
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PORT ST. LUCIE  The city has been selected from among more than 50 locations across the state for a new war memorial honoring Floridians who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial Foundation announced.

The monument will be built in Veterans Memorial Park, and could be completed by early 2024, according to Steve Udovich, founder of the Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit in Dunedin.

The 6-foot-tall, 15-foot-wide memorial will be made from India black granite, and join other war memorials in the park such as the Vietnam Veterans Wall, World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Purple Heart Memorial and Gold Star Families Memorial.

"This is unique. There's no other monument like it in the state," Udovich said.

Veterans Memorial Park is at 2100 SE Veterans Memorial Parkway.

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Port St. Lucie was selected out of 50 cities statewide by the Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial Foundation for a new memorial slated for Veterans Memorial Park.

Listing 355 names

The front of the memorial will feature outlines of Iraq and Afghanistan and service emblems. The back will list names of the 355 Floridians killed in each war.

PG Memorials will build the monument. The company has constructed veterans monuments across the nation such as the Fallen Warriors memorial in Philadelphia and the Key West Living Vietnam Memorial Wall.

The idea for an Afghanistan and Iraq war memorial came to Udovich, a retired Army infantry officer, when he moved to Florida from Delaware four years ago, he said.

"It was one of those things where it's sitting in a file, and you're looking at it week after week and eventually you just say, 'We got to get this done," Udovich said.

Cities such as Fort Pierce, Stuart, Freeport and Sebring were considered for the memorial, said Udovich, who has worked on the project with partners Kim Allison, a Gold Star mother; and Phil Wyllie, a retired Army Special Forces officer.

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However, Port St. Lucie, unlike others, already had a central location that was home to multiple war memorials, making the new Iraq and Afghanistan memorial the perfect addition.

"Stuart and Fort Pierce, for example, both have beautiful veterans memorial parks with a few nice memorials, but if you go put in our monument in there, you're going to disturb their current presentation," Udovich said.

Strong local support for the project

Support from the Port St. Lucie City Council and local veterans organizations, such as American Legion Post 318 and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 566, also played a factor in Port St. Lucie's selection, he added.

"This memorial is very important to us, because we want to pass on the legacy to younger veterans," said Steven Cameron, membership director of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 566. "They will now be honored here, too, and we can look to them to take care of the memorials after we (Vietnam veterans) go on."

The local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter, which has about 100 members, has donated at least $500 to the Afghanistan and Iraq memorial, Cameron said.

Udovich hopes the project acts as a catalyst for similar memorials to be built in other states, he said.

The foundation has raised about $52,000 for the memorial, as of Monday, Udovich said; $40,000 is still needed.

To donate, go to www.IAWMF.org.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Iraq and Afghanistan veterans memorial will be built in Port St. Lucie
Carrying Israeli flags and accompanied by soldiers, thousands of determined demonstrators rallied in the West Bank on Monday, pushing for more settlements to be set up in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The crowd, which included many families with young children, was joined by far-right cabinet members including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who said "the response to terror is to build" settlements.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War, and since then has built scores of Jewish settlements alongside Palestinian cities, towns and villages.

While all settlements are deemed illegal under international law, Israel distinguishes between those planned by the state and outposts established by its citizens without government permission.

This distinction has led to tensions and prompted criticism from some Jewish settlers and far-right members of the government.

Israelis of all ages, including numerous armed men, walked to an outpost settlement built without approval from the state, as soldiers stationed within olive groves lined the route.

"I believe that the one solution for all of this problem is if we will settle this place," said 74-year-old Rivka Katzir, from the settlement of Elkan.

"If there is a new settlement that we want to develop, then we will walk there," she added, an Israeli flag attached to one of her walking poles.

The hilltop site where demonstrators gathered, Eviatar, is a now-empty settlement that residents reluctantly agreed to leave in 2021 while Israeli officials examined whether to make it official.

Israeli forces imposed road closures to secure the rally, which Palestinian officials said prompted schools to shut.

"With God's help we will legalise dozens more" outposts, said Ben-Gvir, who lives in a settlement himself.

- 'Support the people' -

Previous protests against Eviatar resulted in multiple Palestinians from the neighbouring village of Beita being shot dead by Israeli forces.

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On Monday some villagers waved Palestinian flags and threw rocks at soldiers, who fired tear gas at the demonstrators out of view of the marching Israeli crowds.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its medics had treated 216 people -- the majority suffering from tear gas inhalation and 22 hurt by rubber bullets.

In Eviatar hundreds of Jewish men prayed together and children played on bouncy castles. Ice creams, candyfloss and balloons were on offer, while families set down picnic blankets.

Rina Cohen, who had travelled from Jerusalem with her husband, said the event was "very successful".

"We came here to support the town, Eviatar... we want to support the people, because they have struggles, their houses were ruined," the 22-year-old told AFP.

A group of young people beside her lifted up a sheet of roofing, putting it back on one of the prefabricated homes abandoned nearly two years ago.

The site has since been guarded by Israeli security forces.

While the Israeli pro-settler rally was held in a carnival atmosphere, elsewhere in the West Bank residents were in mourning.

Israeli forces shot dead a 15-year-old Palestinian in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp near Jericho, where the army said it carried out a raid to detain a "terror suspect".

A British-Israeli settler died of wounds sustained three days ago when her car came under fire, in an attack which also killed her two daughters.

This year, the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 94 Palestinians, 19 Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian, according to an AFP count based on Israeli and Palestinian official sources.

These figures include, on the Palestinian side, combatants and civilians, including minors, and on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, including minors, and three members of the Arab minority.

But the demonstrators at Eviatar were not deterred by the rising violence.

Ezri Tobe, a 52-year-old resident of Yitzhar settlement near Nablus, said "terror will not frighten us".

"What is pushing us is thousands of years of history," he told AFP. Israelis were rallying to tell the government "that we're here to stay".

bur-rsc/rox/hkb
Sixteen years since Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey were convicted of murder, court proceedings related to their cases continue.

Most recently, on March 10, a federal judge ruled in favor of Netflix and "Making a Murderer" filmmakers that the docuseries' portrayal of a former Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office detective did not qualify as defamation.

Avery, now 60, served 18 years in prison after he was falsely convicted of a crime he didn't commit. In 2003, he was exonerated after DNA evidence identified the real perpetrator. But just two years later, Avery was arrested and charged with crimes in connection with the murder of 25-year-old Teresa Halbach. Dassey was charged as well for aiding his uncle in Halbach's sexual assault and murder.

Both Avery and Dassey were found guilty after jury trials and sentenced to life in prison. Their supporters say Avery was framed, and question law enforcement's motives during the investigation.

The case received international attention after the release of Netflix's "Making a Murderer" in 2015. The series has two seasons, both 10 episodes long, detailing the investigation, trial, aftermath and postconviction proceedings.

Summary of the case

On Oct. 31, 2005, 25-year-old Teresa Halbach went missing. A photographer for Auto Trader magazine, Halbach's last assignment before her disappearance was at Avery's Auto Salvage, the Avery family's business in Two Rivers.

That November, Avery was charged with murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and mutilating a corpse for Halbach's death.

A few months later, Dassey was charged with being party to the murder, sexual assault and mutilating a corpse.

At the time of Halbach's disappearance, Avery was the plaintiff in a $36 million civil lawsuit against Manitowoc County and former county officials for his 18-year sentence for his false conviction. When he was 23, Avery was convicted of the 1985 sexual assault of a woman jogging along Lake Michigan and sentenced to 32 years in prison. Attempts to overturn his conviction failed in 1987 and 1996.

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Then, in 2002, a judge granted the Wisconsin Innocence Project permission to conduct DNA testing that was not available at the time of the 1985 rape. DNA testing pinned the crime on Gregory Allen, a man who was then serving a 60-year sentence for another rape in Brown County. In 2003, after 18 years in prison, Avery walked free.

But Avery was again sentenced to prison  this time for life without the possibility of parole  after a jury found him guilty on March 18, 2005, following a six-week trial.

After Avery was charged in Halbach's murder, he settled his lawsuit with Manitowoc County for $400,000.

Evidence against Avery included burned bone fragments in a fire pit on Avery's property, Avery's and Halbach's blood in Halbach's vehicle, remnants of a camera and electronic devices in a burn barrel, a bullet in Avery's garage with Halbach's DNA, and the key to Halbach's vehicle in Avery's bedroom with Avery's DNA on it. Despite the physical evidence, Avery has always maintained his innocence.

Dassey, on the other hand, told investigators in an interview that he sexually assaulted Halbach, was present when Avery killed her, and then helped burn her body and belongings. Dassey later recanted this confession.

Attorneys for Dassey point out that as a teen with intellectual disability, Dassey was highly susceptible to suggestion. Despite a lack of physical evidence tying Dassey to the crime, a jury found him guilty after a nine-day trial in April 2005. He was sentenced to life in prison, with parole eligibility in 2048.

RELATED: Criminal justice experts: Brendan Dassey case has wide-reaching, national impact

The story of Steven Avery is back in the spotlight thanks to "Making a Murderer Part 2."

Where does Avery's appeal stand?

Avery has filed numerous appeals and motions for post-conviction relief over the years, all of which have been unsuccessful.

Avery's most recent motion for post-conviction relief, filed in August 2022, argues another man could have killed Halbach. His attorney, Kathleen Zellner, named the alternate suspect in the appeal and argues the suspect framed Avery by leaving the key to Halbach's vehicle on Avery's property.

In the motion, Avery is requesting an evidentiary hearing.

In July 2021, a state appellate court affirmed Avery's conviction and said multiple motions filed in Avery's appeal "are insufficient on their face to entitle him to a hearing and that the circuit court did not erroneously exercise its discretion in denying the motions to vacate and for reconsideration."

After that decision, Zellner asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review Avery's case, which they rejected in November 2021.

Zellner continues to be vocal in her efforts to free Avery, often sharing updates on his appeal via Twitter.

Zellner initially told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin she would share updates on Avery's appeal, but did not respond to repeated follow-up communication for an interview.

Avery is currently being held at Fox Lake Correctional Institution, a medium-security prison, where he was transferred in June after years at the maximum-security Waupun Correctional Institution.

Brendan Dassey appears in Manitowoc County court in 2007.

Where does Dassey's appeal stand?

Currently, Dassey, 33, has no appeals in the works.

In 2016, a federal judge's ruling gave Dassey hope for release, but upon further review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Dassey's conviction was upheld.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Duffin overturned Dassey's conviction on Aug. 12, 2016. The ruling granted Dassey's petition for either release or a new trial.

In his 91-page decision, Duffin said Dassey's constitutional rights were violated and criticized investigators, state courts and Dassey's pre-trial attorney for how they handled the case.

Prosecutors appealed Duffin's ruling, and a three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit court affirmed the decision 2-1 in June 2017. Prosecutors then sought review by the full Seventh Circuit court, which upheld Dassey's conviction in a 4-3 vote.

The majority opinion said they did not find that Dassey's confession to police was coerced. The dissenting opinion called the decision "a travesty of justice."

Dassey is imprisoned at Oshkosh Correctional Institution.

RELATED: Steven Avery, Brendan Dassey and Making a Murderer: Complete coverage

RELATED: Steven Avery Case Timeline

Will there be a third season of 'Making a Murderer?'

There have been no official announcements regarding a third season of the show.

The second season of "Making a Murderer" follows much of Zellner's postconviction efforts through mid-2018.

Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Making a Murderer: Steven Avery, Brendan Dassey case status today
Stonewalling, co-directed by Huang Ji and Otsuka Ryuji, was the big winner at Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), taking home three prizes including best film in the Young Cinema Competition (Chinese Language) of the Firebird Awards.

While HKIFF did manage to hold some postponed, but in-theatre, editions during the pandemic, this year was the first time the festival had been able to welcome overseas guests after Hong Kong dropped it strict Covid quarantine requirements towards the end of last year. The festival wraps today (April 10) and held its awards ceremony with a screening of closing film, Cheuk Wan-chis Vital Sign, last night.

More from Deadline

Part of a trilogy that focuses on the struggles of young women in contemporary China, Stonewalling also won best actress, which was shared by its two female leads, Huang Xiaoxiong and Yao Honggui, playing mother and daughter, and also picked up the Fipresci prize.

The HKIFF Firebird Award jury commended the film for reminding us of the confusion, difficulty and suffering women face nowadays, and the inescapable responsibilities they have to shoulder. The film premiered at last years Venice film festival and was later acquired by KimStim for North American distribution.

Also in the Young Cinema Chinese-language competition, Macaus Hong Heng-fai won best director with Kissing The Ground You Walked On, and the best actor award went to veteran actor Li Xuejian for To Love Again. A Special Mention went to Bad Education, the debut feature of actor-turned-director Kai Ko.

Mexican director Lila Aviless Totem won best film in the Young Cinema Competition (World), while best director went to Argentinas Martin Benchimol for The Castle. Best actor went to Mirko Giannini for Frances Astrakan, and best actress to the female ensemble cast of Spains 20,000 Species Of Bees.

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In the Documentary Competition, the best film Firebird Award went to Apolonia, Apolonia, in which Danish director Lea Glob charts her relationship with French painter Apolonia Sokol. Polish filmmakers Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosoowski took the Jury Prize with The Hamlet Syndrome, about a group of young actors trying to stage a performance of Hamlet in Ukraine.

Swiss filmmaker Morgane Frund received the Firebird Award in the Short Film Competition with her graduation project, Bear, while the Jury Prize went to Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, a black comedy from Singaporean director Alvin Lee.

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Click here to read the full article.
Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the number of felony counts that former President Trump faces. We regret the error.

Adult film star Stormy Daniels in a new interview said the indictment of former President Trump over his alleged role in a hush money payment to her doesnt feel like a victory.

Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records after a Manhattan prosecutors probe, becoming the first U.S. president  current or former  to face criminal charges.

It doesnt feel like I thought it would, Daniels told New York Magazine of Trumps indictment.

It just doesnt feel like anything, she added. It doesnt feel like a victory.

Shed previously called the former presidents indictment poetic but bittersweet.

Trump faces the charges for a six-figure payment made to Daniels by his former fixer, Michael Cohen, amid Trumps 2016 presidential campaign in order to quiet her allegations of an alleged affair, which Trump denies.

Daniels has said she looks forward to testifying against Trump in court if shes called to do so.

Because I have nothing to hide. Im the only one that has been telling the truth, Daniels told broadcaster Piers Morgan in an interview last week.

Trump, who lost his reelection bid for the White House in 2020, is now the leading GOP candidate for president in 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
HONG KONG  Outraged versus being a global power broker: China has had to consider which look suits the moment as it held military drills around Taiwan.

The three days of scheduled exercises, which the Chinese military said simulated an aerial and naval blockade, as well as precision strikes against key targets, began Saturday as Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei after a U.S. transit stop that included a meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.

China, which claims self-ruling Taiwan as its own territory, had repeatedly warned against the meeting between Tsai and McCarthy, the most senior U.S. official to meet a Taiwanese leader on U.S. soil since Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. It views such official contact as a violation of Washingtons "one-China" policy, under which it recognizes Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China but maintains unofficial relations with Taipei.

While the exercises took place under policies that have governed Chinas actions for decades, more recent developments seem likely to have tempered its reaction: China last week hosted several senior officials from abroad, including French President Emmanuel Macron. Notably, Beijing did not ramp up its military response until after they left.

Image: China conducts three-day military drills around Taiwan (Mei Shaoquan / Xinhua / EPA via Shutterstock)

The combat readiness patrols, dubbed Joint Sword, took place in three areas in waters around Taiwan and were successfully completed Monday, the Chinese military said. A Chinese aircraft carrier took part in the patrols for the first time, with the Japanese military posting video of a fighter jet taking off from the deck. Live-fire drills off the Chinese coast will continue until April 20.

Experts say the exercises were smaller in scale and severity than Beijings actions last August, when it encircled Taiwan with unprecedented live-fire military drills in response to a visit by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Chinas show of strength this time was tempered by the negative global reaction to those military exercises, said J. Michael Cole, a senior adviser on countering foreign authoritarian influence at the International Republican Institute.

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Beijing is also wary of undercutting the image it is trying to cultivate as a moderate alternative to American global dominance, as well as a potential mediator in Ukraine.

You cannot propose a peace plan in Europe while at the same time you are launching large-scale military exercises against a neighbor, said Cole, who is based in Taipei.

An overly aggressive response by Beijing, he added, would also risk derailing efforts to repair relations with Washington, which reached a new low in February after the downing of a Chinese surveillance balloon over U.S. territory prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone a planned visit to the country.

Taiwan condemned the latest military exercises and said it would firmly defend its sovereignty without escalating conflict.

House Speaker McCarthy Meets With Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (Eric Thayer / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

China cannot dictate how our friends internationally would interact with Taiwan, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told NBC News in an interview Monday. And these kinds of interactions have been going on for many, many years.

The American Institute in Taiwan, which serves as the de facto U.S. embassy, said it was closely monitoring Chinas drills and that it was comfortable and confident that there were sufficient resources and capabilities in the region to ensure peace and stability.

Our channels of communication with the P.R.C. remain open and we have consistently urged restraint and no change to the status quo, a spokesperson said, using the acronym for the Peoples Republic of China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin defended the exercises Monday, saying they were a stern warning and a necessary move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Taiwans Defense Ministry said that as of 6 a.m. local time Monday (6 p.m. Sunday ET), it had detected 70 Chinese military aircraft and 11 Chinese military vessels around the island in the past 24 hours, similar to the number the two previous days. Half of the planes entered Taiwans self-declared air defense identification zone after crossing the median line, an unofficial boundary in the Taiwan Strait that China has been traversing more regularly.

Later Monday morning, the ministry said an additional 59 Chinese military aircraft had been detected near Taiwan between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., with 39 crossing the median line. Chinas military spokesman said the drills have shown that Chinese troops are ready to fight at all times to crush any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts.

Although China sends warplanes toward Taiwan almost daily, the numbers tend to increase after events such as the McCarthy-Tsai meeting that it views as provocative.

On Monday, a U.S. Navy destroyer sailed near the Spratly Islands, a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea, in what military officials said was a freedom of navigation operation. China, which claims sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, said the U.S. ship had illegally entered Chinese waters and that it had monitored the ships transit.

U.S. rejects Chinese claim that warship illegally entered waters in South China Sea (@US7thfleet / Twitter)

China earlier announced sanctions against the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where McCarthy and Tsai met Wednesday, and the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank that gave Tsai an award while she was in New York last month, saying they had provided a platform for the promotion of separatist activity.

A visit to Taiwan by a bipartisan congressional delegation led by Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has received minimal response from Beijing by comparison. The U.S. lawmakers left Taipei on Saturday after meeting with Tsai.

Since Chinese leader Xi Jinping officially began an unprecedented third term as president in March, he has embarked on a flurry of diplomatic activity that includes visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in March and receiving senior Western officials such as Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who were both in Beijing last week.

China held off on its military drills around Taiwan until after the departures of Macron and von der Leyen, as well as former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, who was in China until Friday on a historic 12-day visit.

Also last week, the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia met in Beijing to follow up on a surprise deal that China brokered last month to restore diplomatic ties between the two rivals for the first time in seven years.

The timing of the exercises underscores Beijings efforts to balance deterring closer U.S.-Taiwan relations against broader interests in fortifying ties with trading partners and building global diplomatic influence, said Ava Shen, an associate who covers Taiwan and Chinese foreign policy at Eurasia Group, a consulting firm based in New York.

Courtney Kube reported from Taipei, Jennifer Jett reported from Hong Kong, and Janis Mackey Frayer reported from Beijing.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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The Education Department modified student-loan company Nelnet's contract, per SEC documents.

The changes included reduced call center hours, contributing to Nelnet laying off 550 employees.

It also allows Nelnet to have a higher percentage of borrowers hang up without receiving help.

Millions of student-loan borrowers are going to have an even harder time reaching the company that manages their debt this year.

At the end of March, student-loan company Nelnet announced a series of changes to its contract implemented by the Education Department. Nelnet, in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, said that on March 22, the department made modifications to the company's contract that "significantly decreased the price earned by the company per borrower per month," down to 19 cents per borrower.

The department also notified Nelnet that 1 million borrowers in its loan servicing division will be transferred to another servicer over the next few months, further reduction the company revenue and leading it to lay off 550 employees.

"Of all the strategic business decisions we must make, the rightsizing of teams is always the most difficult," Nelnet CEO Jeff Noordhoek said in a statement. "While some terms of employment end knowingly because the specific work is completed, other unanticipated staff reductions are the result of challenging circumstances that have a significant impact on the business. We must adjust accordingly to continue providing value to customers to the best of our ability while also positioning the company for long-term success."

These changes to Nelnet's staffing means less help for the borrowers it services  and it could prove especially challenging when payments are set to resume this year. Previously, Nelnet's call center hours were Mondays from 8am to 11pm, Tuesday through Friday from 8am to 8pm, and Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

With the changes, borrowers will only be able to get ahold of Nelnet on Monday from 8am to 9pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8am to 8pm, Thursdays and Fridays from 8am to 6pm, and weekend hours are not required.

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Additionally, the Education Department raised the "abandon rate" for Nelnet, in which the company is allowed to have 8% of its customers hang up without receiving help, up from 4%.

This is the latest sign that resuming payments this year after an over three-year pause will be quite the burden. Due to conservative-backed lawsuits that blocked President Joe Biden's plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for federal borrowers, Biden extended the payment pause through 60 days after June 30, or 60 days after the Supreme Court makes a decision on the legality of Biden's relief, whichever happens first.

The department has maintained that payments will resume this year, even if that's without relief, meaning that student-loan servicers will be tasked with the transition of millions of borrowers back into repayment, along with carrying out other targeted reforms to repayment and loan forgiveness programs.

As Insider previously reported, the ongoing pandemic debt relief has hit Nelnet especially hard. In May 2022, Nelnet laid off about 150 employees and in January 2023 it laid off another 500, in both instances citing lack of work due to the payment pause extensions.

Borrowers have been struggling with customer service from a range of companies during the pandemic. Some have experienced hours-long hold times to get questions answered on their repayment status, with one borrower previously telling Insider that she was put "into some kind of a loop where the automated phone service would say, 'we seem to be having some kind of a problem,' over and over."

"So I called in a few times over multiple days to see if that problem got worked out and I would eventually get through to somebody, but that never happened," she said.

To be sure, there's only so much the Education Department can do because Congress did not increase funding for the Federal Student Aid office this year, meaning it has limited resources with a lot on its plate. But it's a critical year for student-loan borrowers, and Nelnet is just one sign that they're facing a rocky road ahead.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Regular social interaction  almost on a daily basis  may lengthen the lifespan of older adults, according to a new study of over 28,000 individuals.

Estimates suggest that the number of individuals aged 60 or above globally was at 962 million in 2017, with research predicting this figure to double by 2050.

While previous studies have hinted that active social life is a key element for active or successful aging mostly in Western populations, the new research, published recently in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, assessed whether the frequency of socialising is linked to overall survival in a large group of older people living in China.

Researchers analysed data on participants of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), an ongoing, prospective nationally representative study of older people living independently, which began in 1998.

The new study focused on five separate waves of data collection up to 2018-19, involving a total of 28,563 participants with an average age of 89.

In the survey, participants were asked how often they engaged in social activities.

The categories included whether they socialised almost every day; at least once a week; at least once a month; occasionally; and never.

Researchers also collected information on potentially influential factors such as sex, education, marital status, household income, fruit and vegetable intake, lifestyle, and poor health.

The participants survival was also tracked for an average of 5 years or until death.

Over the first five years, researchers say 25,406 people reported not engaging in any social activity, and 1379 reported doing so sometimes while 693 reported socialising at least once a month, 553 at least once a week, and 532 almost daily.

During the monitoring period, scientists say 21,161 participants died, of whom 15,728 died within the first five years.

The study findings suggested that more frequent social activity is linked to significantly longer survival and greater the frequency, the greater the likelihood of living longer.

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Researchers reported that the time to death was delayed by 42 per cent in those who socialised occasionally, and by 48 per cent in those who did at least monthly.

The figures were 110 per cent among those who did so at least weekly, and by 87 per cent in those who did so nearly every day, compared with those who said they never socialised.

Scientists noted that the standardised death rates among the participants were 6.2 per 100 people monitored for a year among those who never socialised; 4.8 among those who did so occasionally; five among those socializing at least once a month; 5.4 among those doing so at least once a week; and 3.6 among those who did so nearly every day.

The study also found a threshold.

Socialising nearly every day was linked to significantly longer survival in the group among whom time to death was delayed by 204 per cent, researchers say.

The factors linked to being more socially active were male sex, younger age, a higher level of education, marriage, living in a town/city and/or with relatives, and actual/self-rated good health.

When the data was stratified by age, social activity appeared to be even more strongly associated with extended survival within the first 5 years for the oldest, scientists say.

The findings, according to researchers, indicate that strategies to promote the maintenance of an active social life in very old people, should be encouraged.

Although the association between social activity frequency and overall survival attenuated after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, socioeconomic status, healthy behaviours, and several morbidities, it still remained statistically significant, which indicated that social activity participation per se was an independent predictor for overall survival in older people, scientists concluded.
Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin on the latest episode of

Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin on the latest episode of "Succession."

SPOILER ALERT: This piece is full of spoilers about Succession and other film and television programs. If you see a title pop up and you arent where you need to be in it, close the story. Were not responsible for your bottom lip poking out.

Last night, I made the rare decision to catch a late-night show of Air,because the way this 40-something is set up, theres a good chance the movie wouldve ended up watching me.

During the movie, a USA Today news alert popped up on my phone, informing me of a major death on the newest episode of Succession, which aired while I was heading to the show. Because Im intimately aware that you fools dont know how to act on social media, I stayed away from the internet altogetherwhich I shouldnt do for long since thats how I make my living.

So, instead of visiting The Sandman as planned, I was up until 2 a.m. watching solely to avoid spoilers. Its why I can barely keep my eyes open to write this.

What I wasnt expecting is for one of the countrys largest major metropolitan newspapers to get in on the Succession spoilers. I get staying away from social media before a show is spoiled, but honestly, whos reasonably expected to avoid this damn headline?

I give no quarter to people who spoil film and television. I want these idiots to be pushed off the tallest buildings in the stormiest cities and fall on a strychnine-laced soup spoon. This admittedly aggressive energy bubbled back up a couple weeks ago, a few hours after the latest episode of the last season of FXs Snowfall aired.

As soon as I cracked my laptop, I saw someone cussing out Snowfall spoilers on Facebook. Since I essentially need to be on social media for work, it means I had to watch the episode immediately, at 8 a.m., with my morning coffee. Indeed, the episode ended with one of the series most beloved characters, Jerome (Amin Joseph), meeting his end.

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Immediately after finishing the episode, I went right back to my Facebook feed and saw someone posted a fake Uncle Jerome obituary. I told the poster off in her comments, and she responded with my bad and several emojis. Of course, she never actually took the post down.

While I dont fully understand the thinking of humans who move like this, I can only conjecture that it has to do with the psychological need for some people to be first on social media. Its that interplay of brain chemicals  dopamine and oxytocin  that causes folks to be excited about morbid shit like being the very first person to announce the death of a celebrity with a prosaic quote and a few flying dove emojis.

J. Smith-Cameron (left) and Culkin in

J. Smith-Cameron (left) and Culkin in "Succession."

Of course, the very existence of social media is at the core of spoiling issues  you wouldve had to be in the company of someone blabbing about who shot J.R.if you werent in front of your tube for the reveal. These days, networks actually take advantage of live-tweeting, when actors and showrunners of a program engage Twitter users during the episodes airtime. Live-tweeting was a significant catalyst for the buzzy success of Scandal.

I blame this for actors overzealously spoiling their own shows on social media. Snowfall lead Damson Idris tweeted (and since deleted) the requisite appreciation for working with Joseph a day after the episode aired  a surefire giveaway that his character died. My guess is someone at FX yelled at him to take the tweet down because, cmon, one day is not enough.

The inconvenient reality is that abstinence from social media is essential to avoid spoilers; its not what we want, but its the way it is. It was my fault when, after exiting a flight from Las Vegas that was in the air when the Red Wedding episode of Game of Thrones aired, I opened Facebookand saw ROBB STARK IS DEAD! on my way to the baggage carousel. I shouldve known better.

Releasing whole television seasons at once also changed the spoiler game: Netflix dropped the full season of Lilyhammer in 2012, but binge-worthy television didnt become a phenomenon (and something of an expectation) until the first season of House of Cards dropped the following year.

Now, the likelihood that youll have major show plot points spoiled is contingent upon if your lifestyle precludes you from murdering an entire Friday in front of the television. Old-school shows like HBOs The Last of Us, with their weeklong excitement builds between episodes, are refreshing again.

The Washington Post published a piece last year in defense of spoilers; the author suggests that theres a pleasurable tension that comes along with knowing the result of something before watching it to put together the threads. My guess is the author doesnt have too many friends  great material with a lot of threads that you dont catch the first time around demands a rewatch anyway.

Fewer things are more divisive and subjective than the statute of limitations for spoilers. But I think most would agree that material thats been out for years is fair game: The murder of Stringer Bell in Season 3 of The Wire is no longer a spoiler after 19 years; its your fault you havent watched. And dont dare complain about cultural touchstone spoilers, like Darth Vader revealing hes Lukes dad in The Empire Strikes Back or Bruce Willis character being dead the entirety of The Sixth Sense.

For a television show, I think the statute expires after a week, when the next episode airs. Given that, if you wish to discuss spoilery content on social media and you arent actively choosing violence, simply preface your post with SPOILER ALERT, drop a few spaces to avoid accidental views and get into it. Or announce that youll discuss in the comments of the post.

Dont post details about a characters fate that you think are vague but anyone who graduated middle school and has a functioning understanding of the show can surmise  thats worse than people who spoil outright. In fact, if you have any doubt about if you should be posting something, just drop a Damn, that episode was cray-crayand keep it pushing.

It really comes down to not being an asshole. If you post a massive spoiler within 24 hours of a show airing or a films release, Ill just interpret it as an act of violence and respond accordingly. The sanctity of your mama probably wont be safe.

Related...
Phoenix police.

A suspect was arrested Saturday on suspicion of killing two men within two months.

In January, police responded to a call of multiple shots fired inside a residence near 15th Street and Kristal Way in Phoenix. When they arrived, they found 41-year-old Aaron Scott Byous with gunshot wounds; he was later pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

A warrant was issued for 27-year-old Kathryn Hansen's arrest on first-degree murder charges.

In February, officers responded to a house for reports of a shooting near Palo Verde Street and Southern Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found 32-year-old Keith Emmons dead inside a bedroom with gunshot wounds, according to police. Witnesses identified Hansen as the shooter, prompting the department to issue a warrant for Hansen's arrest on first-degree murder charges.

Police searched for Hansen for two months, asking the public to send in any tips that could lead to her arrest, officials said.

On Saturday afternoon detectives arrested 27-year-old Kathryn Hansen after nearly a two-month-long investigation. Hansen was booked into jail for both the Phoenix and Mesa homicides.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suspect arrested in killing of Phoenix man, Mesa man
PLA conducts mock strikes on Taiwan island on 2nd day of encirclement drills

09:22, April 10, 2023 By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan ( Global Times

A computer-generated animation released on April 9, 2023 shows conventional missiles and long-range rocket launchers on land, warplanes in the air and warships at sea simultaneously launching attacks from multiple directions. Photo: screenshot of animation from PLA Eastern Theater Command

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command organized its multiple affiliated military services and branches and conducted joint precision strike simulations on the island of Taiwan on Sunday, the second day of its Taiwan Island encirclement combat alert patrols and "Joint Sword" exercises, continuing to pressure "Taiwan independence" forces and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Different from the first day, which honed seizing control of sea, air and information, the second day trained launching strikes on land targets, showing the exercises featured multiple courses that are very realistic and combat-oriented, experts said.

Under the unified command of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, multiple military services and branches on Sunday carried out simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on the island of Taiwan and in its surrounding waters, keeping the suppressive situation in which the island is encircled, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on the day.

This is the first time an official public report has revealed that "key targets on the island of Taiwan and in its surrounding waters" are mock strike targets of the PLA, observers said.

Zhao Xiaozhuo, a research fellow at China's Academy of Military Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday that the key targets refer to military facilities and specific buildings on the island of Taiwan.

They could include key positions, airfields, important nodes in the Taiwan island's military system as well as important mobile targets, Zhao said.

These key targets should be struck by multiple means from multiple angles in a precise manner, and at the same time when necessary, Zhao said.

In the Taiwan Straits, multiple destroyers, frigates and missile boats worked in tandem with shore-based missile assault groups and locked on targets in the southwest of the island of Taiwan, with the PLA Navy vessels taking strike positions using high-speed maneuvers and stealth approaches.

Conducting tactical maneuvers in waters to the east of the island, the Type 054A frigate Xuzhouof the PLA Navy visually confirmed the frigate Yi Yangoperated by the island of Taiwan from about five nautical miles.

In the air, several dozens of early warning aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft, fighter jets, bombers and electronic warfare aircraft of the PLA Air Force sortied to mission areas in combat formations, built a shore-sea-air joint strike system. Under the support of joint information that enabled the aircraft fleet to accurately grasp the battlefield situation, it provided target guidance and cover for the joint assault forces.

Modularized long-range multiple rocket launcher systems of the Army moved out in the early morning, took advantage of the interconnected reconnaissance, command and fire chain and practiced precision strikes and compound damage using multiple types of munitions on multiple targets under the target guidance from drones.

Also in the wee hours of the day, the conventional missile units of the Rocket Force participating in the exercise relocated themselves after launching the first wave of mock strikes on key targets on the island of Taiwan. With the headquarters selecting new targets, several dozens of missile launchers entered launching positions and readied for a second wave of attack.

The PLA Eastern Theater Command also made a computer-generated animation depicting its mock joint precision strikes on the island of Taiwan. The animanation shows that conventional missiles and long-range rocket launchers on the land, warplanes in the air and warships at sea simultaneously launched attacks from multiple directions of the island.

The mock strike drills on Sunday came after the PLA practiced seizing controlof sea, air and information on Saturday.

These two phases represent a general pattern in modern warfare, as seizing control of sea, air and information is the first step of a military conflict, and striking key targets such as warships, airfields and radar installations contribute to the sustained control, Fu Qianshao, a Chinese mainland military expert, told the Global Times on Sunday.

If the control of sea, air and information is not secure, the follow up operations such as amphibious landing will face grave threats, Fu said.

The PLA Eastern Theater Command's exercises demonstrated and further enhanced its capabilities in these aspects, and showed its determination in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, sending a strong signal to the "Taiwan independence" forces and external interference forces, Fu said.

Firm response

Encircling the island of Taiwan from the Taiwan Straits, as well as the sea and air regions to the north, south and east of the island, the patrols and joint exercises were announced by Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesperson at PLA Eastern Theater Command, on Saturday.

This is a stern warning to "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and their collusion with external forces, and a necessary move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Shi said.

The drills started only a day after Tsai returned to the island of Taiwan on Friday following her meeting with McCarthy in California on Wednesday local time.

Some 71 PLA aircraft and nine PLA vessels were detected around the island of Taiwan on the first day of the exercise, according to the island's defense authority.

Zhao confirmed with the Global Times that the Shandongaircraft carrier group, now operating in the West Pacific waters southeast of the island of Taiwan, is also a part of the exercise, and is playing an important role in surrounding the island from its east side.

Other weaponry and equipment involved in the patrols and joint drills include the PHL-191 long-range multiple launch rocket system of the Army, the Type 052C destroyer, the Type 054A frigate, the Type 22 missile boat, the YJ-12B shore-based anti-ship missile of the Navy, the J-10C, the J-16 and the Su-30 fighter jets, the KJ-500 early warning aircraft, the H-6K bomber, the YU-20 aerial tanker of the Air Force, as well as the DF-11, DF-15 and the DF-16 conventional ballistic missiles of the Rocket Force, according to official PLA reports.

The exercise gathered all military services and branches with complete combat elements, with all of them equipped with live munitions and radars turned on, in a move to demonstrate the PLA's firm will and strong capability in thwarting all "Taiwan independence" secessionist moves and external interference attempts and safeguarding national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, Zhao said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Lacorvis Tamar Daley Orlando Police Department / Via Twitter: @OrlandoPolice

Three people, including a child, died early Sunday in Orlando as a result of a domestic violence incident, police said.

Orlando police have identified Lacorvis Tamar Daley, 28, as the suspected killer in the triple homicide that took place at the home at 614 Grand St. just before 2:30 a.m. Daley was killed following a police shootout.

Speaking at a press conference Sunday, Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said that authorities were responding to a call of reports of domestic violence. Upon arriving at the scene, officers heard gunshots coming from inside the home.

Smith said Daley fired at officers who had arrived at the scene and was killed by returning gunfire. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The officers were not harmed, according to Orlando police.

Police then entered the home, where they found two adults dead, as well as a child who was still alive. All had gunshot wounds, and the child was taken to a local hospital. The three victims were later confirmed dead, according to Orlando police.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer addressed the incident in a Twitter post Sunday, calling the incident a horrific, tragic situation.

Sending support to the family members of the victims, as well as the officers, who were thankfully unharmed, Dyer wrote.

What a horrific, tragic situation. Sending support to the family members of the victims, as well as the officers, who were thankfully unharmed. https://t.co/dQanRzJ6Mo 12:22 PM - 09 Apr 2023

According to data collected by Everytown, domestic violence and gun violence are deeply connected, with an average of 70 women being shot and killed by an intimate partner each month. The CDC found that 1 in 2 women report experiencing sexual or physical violence or stalking from an intimate partner at some point in their lives. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger as a result of domestic violence, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help, you can call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or chat with an advocate via the website.
Christian Paige is a poet. Thats not something the native Tacoman would have admitted as a 10-year-old living in the citys south end.

I grew up in neighborhoods, where if you were carrying a journal, that wasnt going to be something you were likeable for, the spoken word performer said this week. The rules of masculinity were a lot different at that time.

Paige is now 30  what he calls slightly post-young  and the father of two young children. On April 12, Paige becomes the 2023-2025 Tacoma Poet Laureate, as chosen by the Tacoma Arts Commission. In his role, Paige will participate in and host public poetry readings, workshops and other community events. He succeeds current Tacoma Poet Laureate Lydia Valentine.

The position comes with a $4,000 stipend and another $1,000 to aid in implementing projects.

Paige is a professional speaker and educator who has worked in a variety of scholastic settings. His art and his avocation center on community, anti-racism, equity and empowerment. A video he made of one of his poems was nominated for a regional Emmy award.

It all started with that notebook he kept hidden from his peers.

I had a green notepad that I filled from cover to cover with poetry, with writing, with rap songs, with just times where I needed to process things, he said. I carried that, I imagined it, I thought about it.

Theres a through line from that notepad to where Paige, and by extension Tacoma, is today.

I showed up on stage, he said. I continued to do the work. And now, theres a title attached to it. I feel, in some senses, that Tacoma has seen this blossoming story coming. And so have I. And now were here.

Paiges journaling allowed him to express himself in the early 2000s, a bewildering time in his life. His older brother Anthony was serving in the military during the Iraq War.

He often found himself in dangerous situations, Paige recalled of the brother he looked up to. Hes 19. Hes a kid. I cant comprehend why hes at war and there are people shooting at him.

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I would write to my brother. And I would send him cards. Like, heres the last thing that I wrote, heres a rap song or a verse. That was the way that we communicated to each other.

Multi-generational Tacoman

Today, a smart phone with its recording and memo capabilities has mostly replaced Paiges journals. In his youth, he bounced around the city, attending Mount Tahoma and Stadium high schools before graduating from Life Christian Academy. From there, he attended Trinity Lutheran College in Everett. Hes the first in his family to be awarded a college degree.

His mothers family extends multiple generations into Tacomas past.

I grew up on the south end of Tacoma, he said. My grandmother lived on the Hilltop and I didnt know that the Proctor District existed until I was 17.

In school he learned about subjects like Franklin Roosevelts New Deal. But it was through artists and activists that he learned about redlining and housing covenants  codified policies that were meant to exclude people of color from housing.

The ability of artists to illuminate hidden histories is something he holds dear.

Faith

Paige isnt just a Christian in name. His faith is important to him, he said, but you might not know it from his poetry and performances.

I really think that if youre a person whos Christian, that the world should understand you by the way that you model that, he said. Not necessarily by the things that you say.

His poetry covers love, community and taking care of one another.

I would never be on stage like Moses, Paige said. Im not showing up with the tablets by any means. But youll realize, if you are someone who knows the scriptures, that my work is inspired by them.

His art also touches on anti-racism, equity, employment and empowerment.

Im just somebody who wants community to work for everybody, he said. Whether that be educational spaces, whether it be for profit spaces, whether it looks like art, whatever that looks like ... those themes always show up in my work.

A sense of place

Much of Paiges work is rooted in hip hop. Like any credible hip hop artist, he writes what he knows.

These are about experiences that Ive actually lived or ideals that Im trying to live up to, he said. Not necessarily pulling something out of thin air or speaking in abstract terms.

Paiges work is solidly about Tacoma.

My poetry is about the place that I grew up in, he said. Its about the people that Ive interacted with. Its about the lessons that Ive learned at the feet of my grandmother. Its about things that I want to share with the world.

The lines between his art, life and work become blurred.

If Im not living that out, and Im not modeling that, then my poetry is not really worth much, he said.

Connecting with youth

As he ages, Paige increasingly sees himself as a role model for youth. It comes as a bit of a shock, as lifes journey into maturity often does.

I find it really interesting sometimes, that there are elders that see me as peer, he said. Or that there are young people who see me as mentor.

He doesnt accept generational gulfs.

You will hear young people say, OK, Boomer, and then youll hear the older generation, Man, these kids these days, but I think that theres a middle line where we have commonality.

In line with that and his role as a spoken word artist, Paige urges young people to share their stories.

Trees

Paige has performed Trees, the poem that garnered him the Emmy nomination, around the country.

They called us low income. They called us at-risk, the poem begins. Always speaking from a deficit didnt realize that my learned experience was prerequisite to be a leader in this community. How could you ever know unity if youve never seen the broken?

After a performance at a high school in Salinas, Calif., Paige was approached by a student.

 Yo, youre not from my community but that story is my story, the girl said to Paige. The amount of confidence that I watched her walk away with ... and now they teach Trees at Alisal High School.

Theres been rough times in Paiges life. Times when he feared he didnt belong, that the world would be better off without him. But with the support of friends, jags of ugly tears and other help, he got through it. Poems recounting those periods have resonated with young people.

There have been multiple times in my life where people have come up to me after that performance, Paige said. And we dont say anything at first. We just kind of look at each other. We know we hold each other. And there have been instances where people have said, I was going to end my life this weekend. And I dont know for how much longer but I know that I still want to be alive.

His poetry has matured, Paige said, as he has. Poems about school boy crushes have given way to a poem about hearing his daughters heartbeat for the first time.

I think at one stage in my life, I was curating pieces, Paige said. Now ... what story do I have the moral responsibility to tell?

If you go

What: Pass the Torch

When: 6-7 p.m. Wed., April 12.

Where: Tacoma Public Librarys Moore Branch, 215 S. 56th Street.

Admission: Free.

Information: cityoftacoma.org/poet
Taraji P. Hensons Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation and Kate Spade expect to help more than 25,000 Black women at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) with She Care Wellness Pods

Actress Taraji P. Hensons Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation has teamed up with Kate Spade New York to provide wellness pods to HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) across the United States.

Aiming to offer resources for more than 25,000 women, the physical safe spaces known as She Care Wellness Pods include virtual and in-person therapy sessions, psychoeducation sessions, and various workshops such as yoga, art, and sound and dance therapy.

Photo: Courtesy of Kate Spade New York

Youve got to take care of the women first because we drive change. Women are the change in most cases, and so if you want to save the world, you save the women first, Henson told WWD. Black women, we suffer from a myriad of disparities and health, pay, social injustices. No one really hears us when were saying we dont feel well or were not doing well mentally today, so we want to provide safe spaces for these young women.

Taraji P. Hensons Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation and Kate Spade expect to help more than 25,000 Black women at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) with She Care Wellness Pods (Photo by Brian Stukes/Getty Images)

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that nearly 60% of female students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021. destigmatizing mental health with an investment of more than $5 million this year.

For Henson and Kate Spade New York, this partnership made sense. Kate Spade New York  a champion of good mental health, especially after the brands eponymous founder took her life in 2018  has pledged to provide mental health resources to women and to destigmatize mental health with an investment of more than $5 million this year.

Our social impact mission is to empower women and girls across the globe by putting mental health at the heart of our approach, said Liz Fraser, Kate Spade New York chief executive officer and brand president. Womens and girls mental health has long been underfunded, undervalued, and under-acknowledged, and we are so proud of our partnership with Taraji, Tracie [Jade Jenkins, Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation executive director], and The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, an organization that shares our commitment to providing mental health resources to communities that need it the most.

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In addition to the She Care Wellness Pods specifically designed for female-identifying individuals, the Henson Foundation plans to introduce He Care and They Care Wellness Pods as part of its Meeting You Where You Are initiative. These empowering programs aim to provide easy access to mental wellness resources in both conventional and unconventional spaces where African Americans gather.

Photos: Courtesy of Kate Spade New York

The Howard University alumna launched the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in 2018 in honor of her father, who suffered mental health challenges without resources or support, WWD reported. On a mission to improve mental health in Black communities by building culturally competent resources, programs, and education across the country, the foundation acknowledges how things have changed in the last five years. While theres been an increase in mental health discussions in the Black community, more work remains to be done, especially among young people.

Were always trying to eradicate the stigma, and how you do that is you get people talking about it. If you have these pods on campus, theres no way you can ignore that, Henson said. Hopefully, well see a rise in African American and Brown students wanting to start a career in the mental health field because we dont have enough therapists, clinicians, and practitioners. When you talk about trying to get culturally competent therapists or finding a Black therapist or psychiatrist who can understand what youre going through on a day-to-day basis, we dont have it.

The first She Care Wellness Pod will debut Saturday at Alabama State University, according to the schools website.

TheGrio Lifestyle reporter Haniyah Philogene contributed to this article.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Writing Black with Maiysha Kai.

The post Taraji P. Henson addresses HBCU students mental health with new Wellness Pods appeared first on TheGrio.
Our fave Target warm-weather picks, starting at just $15. (Photo: Amazon)

If there's one season that I get excited about shopping for, it's spring. The sunshine and blossoms practically demand that you wear clothes that match their beauty, and I am oh-so-happy to oblige. And let me tell you, Target is making it really easy to meet those demands. It already has tons of gorgeous finds at affordable prices, but Target's Spring Designer Collection is packed with so many cute items, I wouldn't mind adding all of them to my cart. The retailer selected three incredibly talented designers to share their swimsuits, dresses and accessories. Target's designer collabs always sell out quickly so you'll want to jump on your favorites.

Designer Felisha Noel started her brand Fe Noel  focusing on fun, bold prints  with a boutique in Brooklyn. The vibrant patterns and effortless styles are heavily influenced by her Caribbean heritage.

Target Fe Noel x Target Square Sunglasses You can never have too many pairs of sunglasses  especially at this price. The square frames give you plenty of stylish coverage, whether you're at the beach or driving to work. Isn't it fun when something designed to protect you is also fashionable? $15 at Target

Target Fe Noel x Target Feathered Palm Print Cover Up Dress Made for vacation, the tropical palm print on this maxi beach cover up will have you living on island time from now until the end of summer. It has an open front with a belted waist and long sleeves. Bonus: it's made with recycled polyester. $35 at Target

Comfy silhouettes and vintage prints define this brand. Expect flowy dresses and playful patterns in simple pieces you'll look forward to wearing all season long.

Target Rhode x Target Embossed Dot Ruffle Medium Coverage One Piece Swimsuit The key to a flattering one-piece swimsuit is ruching and this one has it in spades. The spandex gathers around the tummy to disguise any lumps without drawing attention to your middle. $45 at Target

Target Rhode x Target Large Leafy Floral Print Tiered Midi Dress This is the easy-breezy cotton dress you'll wear more than any other frock when it's warm. It's tiered with an empire waist, which maximizes comfort if you don't like your tummy to be restricted. And that vibrant orange floral print? It has the power to make any skin tone glow. $35 at Target

Target Rhode x Target Zinnia Floral Print/Dainty Lotus Print Reversible Beach Hat Any dermatologist will tell you to start a hat collection if you plan on being out in the sun  let this one be the first to go on your rack. It's made with lightweight cotton, has a chinstrap for windy days and it's reversible. $20 at Target

Inspired by nature, Colombian brand Agua Bendita turns out stunning Latin American-influenced skirts, dresses and swimsuits that are made to last. Pieces are crafted with sustainable materials to reduce the impact on the environment.

Target Agua Bendita x Target Coral Tile Print Pareo This pareo or wrap-around skirt drapes fabulously, thanks to the cotton-rayon blend, and because it ties around the waist, you can adjust it to a fit that flatters you. $20 at Target
At the University of South Carolina, the states flagship college is working to add braille to nameplates outside professors offices after a number of blind and low-vision students said they were having trouble attending office hours.

At Clemson University, the Upstate college offers extra academic support and social opportunities to first-generation students through its FIRST program, helping to ensure they are successful in school.

That sense of inclusion, that sense of belonging is really what drives the college experience, said Julian Williams, USCs vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion. When they feel that their university is home for them,  they do better in class, they stick around, they remain connected.

Both programs fall under their respective schools diversity, equity and inclusion offices, offices that some South Carolina legislators have questioned whether should exist. Their efforts are part of a national push to eliminate DEI programs that critics argue push a woke agenda on the campuses of public universities and colleges.

A vocal group of ultra-conservative lawmakers say they want to go after DEI programs and funding, arguing that unconscious bias and anti-racism training are being forced onto university faculty, staff and students and is unnecessarily influencing grading, hiring and evaluation practices.

In the last month, that now-18-member group of lawmakers, known as the House Freedom Caucus, have tried to prohibit the state from sending millions of dollars to S.C. colleges and universities for their DEI offices, a total expenditure of more than $8 million.

Though their efforts were unsuccessful, university leaders say they are keeping a close eye on the S.C. State House as one Republican committee chair says she plans to take up DEI-related legislation next year.

First, however, the chair of the House Education and Public Works Committee says lawmakers need to settle on a definition.

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Its something that means something different to different people and how its applied, said Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort.

Universities spend $8.3M on DEI

In South Carolina, the states publicly-funded colleges and universities spend more than $8.3 million on DEI efforts.

That total includes about $1.7 million at USCs main Columbia campus for more than a dozen full-time positions, salaries and other costs. Clemson University spends about $2.5 million on its DEI programs, outspending every other South Carolina school, according to figures collected by the Commission on Higher Education and obtained by The State Media Co.

The programs vary at each college.

At USC, hip-hop Wednesdays can create a sense of community for students of color on campus, and efforts are underway to make the Horseshoe, a gathering space for students on campus, more accessible to people with disabilities, said Courtney McClain, a USC senior and student activist.

Another DEI initiative, McClain said, is the addition of designated prayer spaces on campus for people to practice their faith.

Culture wars have nothing to do with issues students face every day, she said.

In the last year, DEI offices and programs have become targets of predominately conservative politicians, who argue woke initiatives at publicly-funded colleges and universities are being forced onto faculty, staff and students, making some on campus feel uncomfortable.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, requested information from colleges and universities about DEI programs, leading to cancellations of training opportunities and changing how professors teach, some professors told Miami Herald. In January, DeSantis also replaced six board members of the liberal arts school New College of Florida. The board last month abolished the schools diversity office.

Another college, the University of Missouri, recently scrapped diversity statements from its hiring practices after lawmakers filed legislation to ban questions about diversity and race on job applications, the Kansas City Star reported.

We look forward to actual testimony on a bill and hearings on a bill to talk about what they believe is a boogeyman that we know is not, said House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, D-Richland. There are the conservatives out there that have put forth this notion that white people are being discriminated against and weve got to stop discrimination wherever it is, if its against white people.

The faction of House lawmakers last month went as far as to collect information from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, which supports and coordinates the states higher education system, about diversity, equity and inclusion programs at S.C. colleges and universities.

The commission asked each of the states 33 universities and colleges about the cost of the salaries, trainings and operations associated with DEI, including policies, procedures or activities that referenced race, color, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation.

All these schools are teaching something that is problematic, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Adam Morgan, R-Greenville, said last month, asking colleagues to strip money for these programs that he argued are being used in student grading and faculty hiring practices. Theyre mandating, theyre forcing it down teachers throats and its having a corrosive influence on our society, because its actually promoting discrimination.

DEI divides people, Morgan added. It tells people certain groups are better than others, certain groups are the cause of certain peoples ills.

The Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank focused on domestic policy, claims that DEI offices stifle intellectual diversity, prevent equal opportunity, and exclude anyone who dissents from a rigid orthodoxy. The organization has been the inspiration for some politicians vying to shut down DEI.

Lawmakers in other states are looking to do just the opposite. Proposals in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey may require schools to increase their DEI efforts.

Still, DEI offices arent without blemish.

As conservatives target DEI programs, turnover is high in diversity offices. New Mexico State Universitys Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity has reported five interim directors since 2019. The office has struggled with clashing personalities, a lack of trust and communication issues, and the school struggled to serve all minority groups, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported. Black students said it was far from the champion they had hoped for at the majority-Hispanic institution.

And despite the good that DEI offices do in South Carolina, some students say universities need to go a step further to change campus climate. McClain organized a student protest at USC in January to highlight what she said were racism and microaggressions that students experience on campus. A second protest in April also highlighted race relations at USC over student pay, safety and the universitys refusal to remove the names of former slave owners and segregationists that adorn some campus buildings.

At Aprils protest, USC senior Dominque Praylow said she is often one of the only minority students in her classes.

Diversity isnt just filling a room with Black and Asian and Latino and LGBTQ faces, Praylow said. Its about hearing the needs. Its about about hearing the experiences. Its about validating those experiences.

But university leaders stand by the programs, saying that they help better prepare students for their future careers and contribute to the vibrancy of college life.

We are proud of the diversity across our campuses, USC President Michael Amiridis wrote in a Feb. 23 letter to the Commission on Higher Education. Our DEI efforts not only foster a culture of caring but also help individuals become more connected with the larger campus community.

Clemsons spokesman Joe Galbraith said the universitys inclusive excellence efforts provide educational opportunities to citizens and contribute to the economic and wellbeing of the people of the state of South Carolina and beyond. Our mission is to prepare all students for success in their lives with employers in the state, nation and world, and in society. We do so while also fulfilling federal and state legal and accreditation requirements.

The DEI office at USC, similar to others, serves all different kinds of students and faculty, from veterans to those who are the first in their family to attend college. While the concept of DEI is often associated with race and ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation, it encompasses so much more, university leaders say. A non-exhaustive list includes religion, economic, veteran and disability statuses.

The university would look a lot different without the DEI office  and not for the better, McClain said.

Were not going to rush it

Its too late for the South Carolina Legislature to push out standalone legislation that would eliminate DEI offices, or programs.

And lawmakers have appeared unwilling to target those schools through the state budget without input.

But House Education Chairwoman Erickson told The State Media Co. that discussions will have to be completed next year. In 2024, every lawmaker in the 170-member General Assembly will be up for reelection.

It will take a little bit of time. Were not going to rush it, Erickson said.

Erickson said she wants input from the public universities and colleges, citing numbers all over the map in the documents provided to lawmakers about DEI programs across the state.

On the House floor last month, Erickson questioned whether eliminating DEI-related money for universities and colleges could dismantle federal grants those schools get. For example, she said the U.S. Department of Energy has given grant money to Clemson University, USC and S.C. State University to study water quality in the Savannah River, money that is contingent on meeting diversity requirement policies.

Tweezers may need to be used to make sure the state doesnt lose federal dollars, she said.

We dont want to jeopardize things in place, Erickson said.

State Rep. Brandon Newton, who is an adjunct instructor and outreach associate for alumni affairs at USC Lancaster, said the Legislature needs to make sure its not playing games with this process.

If we accidentally pass this (budget one-year law) and it does affect the accreditation, not only will it affect these students, it affects everyone who has went to that institution and has that degree, Newton, R-Lancaster, said during the Houses March budget debate. The licenses that these people get require that their degree be from an accredited program.
Adults and classmates initially thought Romeo Pierre Louis was playing dead, something students allegedly often did, said his parents lawsuit. When teachers checked on him minutes later, he had no pulse.

The parents of a 5-year-old kindergartner who collapsed on the playground of his Connecticut elementary school and died days later marked the tragedys first anniversary last week with a lawsuit.

Chantel Pierre Louis and DMeza Shultz Pierre Louis filed the suit Wednesday against the town of West Hartford and its board of education. According to The Washington Post, the parents alleged that their son, Romeo Pierre Louis, may have survived if someone had rendered medical attention sooner.

We know that nothing will bring our son back, said Chantel Pierre Louis, The Post reported. All we can do is keep his memory in our hearts and do what we can so this doesnt happen to another child.

The parents of Romeo Pierre Louis, a 5-year-old who collapsed on the playground of his Connecticut elementary school two days before his death one year ago, have filed a lawsuit against the town of West Hartford and its school board. (Photo: Adobe Stock)

Romeo spent around 19 minutes playing with friends during recess at Charter Oak International Academy on April 5, 2022, per a West Hartford Police Department incident report. The boy stopped breathing and fell as he was playing freeze tag, according to authorities.

The lawsuit claims that those around him initially thought Romeo was playing dead, something students often did. However, three teachers checked on him minutes later  after another youngster told adults about Romeos inactivity  and found he had no pulse.

Romeos parents said that one teacher rushed him to the nurses office while a second contacted emergency personnel, but it was too late to save their son. He reportedly was attached to an oxygen tank when the police arrived and taken by ambulance to Connecticut Childrens Medical Center.

While a police report stated the child passed away two days later, on April 7, from natural causes, an autopsy revealed that Brugada syndrome, a rare disorder that can cause irregular heart rhythms, caused Romeos death, according to CT Insider. He was just weeks shy of his sixth birthday.

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Michael L. Chambers Jr., the lawyer for Romeos parents, said his clients were unaware of their sons heart condition. He reportedly was unconscious for almost nine minutes before being carried to the school nurse.

There is no reason why a 5-year-old child is on the ground for more than 30 or 45 seconds without an adult responding, contended Chambers, according to The Post. And had they responded, he would have been fine.

According to the lawsuit, the town of West Harford is responsible for any negligence on the part of the education board.

The death of a child under any circumstance is a tragedy, said city lawyer Dallas C. Dodge, The Post reported, and we extend our condolences to the family and friends of Romeo.

Andrew Morrow, West Hartford Public Schools interim superintendent, issued a statement in which he offered condolences to the Louis family and said the school system provided grief counseling to the deeply affected students and staff of Charter Oak.

Romeos family and friends staged a vigil Wednesday afternoon after Charter Oak dismissed its students for the day. It was held close to where he collapsed. His mother requested on Facebook that participants wear white and bring posters that read, Listen to our children.

Family members recited the Lords Prayer and shared tales of Romeos devotion to the Bible, family movie nights and superheroes.

Chambers said that although Romeos family didnt want to sue, they believed it to be their only option for holding the responsible parties accountable. He explained that they wanted to feel like their sons death mattered and that something like this wouldnt happen to another family.

Its absolutely heartbreaking because it was completely and totally avoidable, Chambers said, The Post reported. He said that when parents drop their children off at school each morning, they place a certain level of trust in the hands of teachers and administrators.

And that trust, Chambers asserted, was absolutely broken.

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The post Teachers thought 5-year-old boy was playing dead after collapse, lawsuit says appeared first on TheGrio.
Louis' parents have filed a lawsuit in the State of Connecticut Superior Court, pictured here in September 2022 Getty/Spencer Platt

A five-year-old boy died after collapsing during school recess in Connecticut in April 2022.

Louis' parents have now filed a lawsuit claiming their son's death was avoidable.

Teachers thought Romeo Pierre Louis was "playing dead" and did not attend to him for eight minutes, it says.

A five-year-old boy who teachers thought was "playing dead" during school recess was left unconscious in the playground for eight minutes, and died two days later of a rare heart condition, court documents said.

Now, on the anniversary of his collapse, his parents are suing the town of West Hartford and its board of education. They claimed that educators could have saved his life if they'd acted sooner, according to the lawsuit seen by Insider.

Romeo Pierre Louis was playing freeze tag at his Connecticut elementary school in April 2022 when he suddenly collapsed.

Teachers at Charter Oak International Academy thought he was "playing dead." But when they checked on him eight minutes later they realized he wasn't breathing.

The lawsuit states that other children told the teachers about Louis, but their warnings were ignored.

"By the time the teachers ... realized that Romeo was not playing dead and needed emergency medical treatment  it was too late, and Romeo's life could no longer be saved," the lawsuit said.

Louis was taken to Connecticut Children's Hospital where, despite "significant and extensive efforts to save his life," he died two days later.

Michael L. Chambers Jr., an attorney representing Louis' parents, told The Washington Post that the death was "completely and totally avoidable."

"As any parent who every morning drops their child off at school, there's a certain level of trust we put in teachers' and administrators' hands. And that trust was absolutely broken," he said.

The lawsuit claims that the teachers were negligent in multiple ways.

Louis died of Brugada syndrome, a rare disease that causes irregular heart rhythms. Most people who have the syndrome don't know they have it, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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Chambers said Louis' parents were unaware of their son's condition.

According to The Post, other children in the playground thought Louis was pretending to sleep, police said. Teachers checked on his condition after a child told them he was acting strangely. A nurse then tried to resuscitate him using chest compressions and a defibrillator, without success.

"The death of a child is a devastating and unimaginable loss, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Romeo Pierre Louis," Andrew Morrow, the interim superintendent of West Hartford Public Schools, said in a statement.

He added: "This tragedy has deeply affected the Charter Oak International Academy community."

Read the original article on Insider
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) president has agreed to testify before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in April, the union confirmed to The Hill.

Randi Weingarten accepted the invitation from Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) in a hearing centered around Weingarten and the AFTs alleged role in school closures.

The hearing, titled The Consequences of School Closures, Part 2: The President of the American Federation of Teachers Ms. Randi Weingarten, will take place on April 26 as a follow-up to a hearing in March that focused on the consequences of school closures.

Wenstrup said the hearing will delve into the role Ms. Weingarten and the AFT played in editing the CDCs school reopening guidance and keeping schools closed longer than necessary.

Last month, Wenstrup sent letters to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AFT and 14 other non-governmental groups requesting communications the groups had with the CDC regarding guidance to keeping schools closed during the pandemic.

Who was responsible for the prolonged school closures during the pandemic was the main focus of the March hearing, when lawmakers debated if the teachers unions or the Trump administration should take responsibility.

When we see something that doesnt look like its not right, it usually is follow the money and you can figure out exactly why this stuff happened, so Im excited about looking into this and finding out exactly what drove all of this, where that money went and who made these decisions, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) said at the last hearing.

Weingarten previously rejected an invitation to testify to the House committee last year, citing the last-minute notification as the reason.

It can be expected Republicans will not go easy on Weingarten as many have cited her and other teachers unions as the reason schools stayed closed during the pandemic for longer than the party felt needed.

Weingarten has not been shy to fire back at Republican lawmakers, blaming the Trump administration for the prolonged closures and celebrating Biden for reopening schools.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Elon Musk in front of a Tesla Getty

Tesla stock fell as much as 5% on Monday following news of more price cuts for electric vehicles.

The company also said it will launch a new Shanghai factory to create Megapack batteries.

The EV maker announced over the weekend that it will reduce vehicle prices by as much as $5,000.

Tesla stock fell as much as 5% on Monday after the company announced it will reduce the prices of its electric vehicles.

A post on the company's website on Saturday said the carmaker plans to lower prices on both the Model S and Model X vehicles by $5,000. Additionally, the price of Tesla's Model 3 sedan has been reduced by $1,000, while its Model Y will be $2,000 cheaper.

The price cuts will hit Tesla's margins in the near term, but analysts such as Alexander Potter of Piper Sandler say it's all part of a bigger plan to win more market share and accelerate the decline of gas vehicles.

Others are using it to support forecasts that Tesla stock isn't attractive to buy at current levels.

"While many investors have been hopeful that 1Q margins might be the bottom, we don't believe that will necessarily be the case, particularly given our belief that further cuts are likely," Toni Sacconaghi, a Bernstein analyst who has the equivalent of a "sell" rating on the stock, wrote in a note to clients.

Still, earlier price cuts from Tesla helped boost vehicle sales, as it reported a 36% increase in first-quarter deliveries last week. From the start of the year to the end of March, Tesla sold 422,875 units, mostly Model 3 and Model Y cars.

The company also announced in a tweet Sunday that its next Megafactory will be opened in Shanghai, and that it will be capable of producing 10,000 Megapacks per year. Construction on the site will begin in the second quarter of 2024, according to Chinese state media outlet Xinhua.

That aim of 10,000 Megapacks per year is equal to about 40 gigawatt hours of energy storage, Xinhua said, and the batteries will be sold around the world.

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Currently, Tesla has a Megafactory in Lathrop, California, which can also produce 10,000 Megapacks annually.

In April so far, Tesla stock has dropped roughly 14%, following the 68%-gain it made through the first three months of 2023.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Mifepristone and Misoprostol are the two drugs used in a medication abortion. Mifepristone is taken first to stop the pregnancy, followed by Misoprostol to induce bleeding. ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

The Justice Department filed an emergency motion seeking a stay on last week's abortion pill ruling.

The department says the order banning mifepristone is "extraordinary" and legally flawed.

Anti-abortion activists lacked standing to challenge FDA approval of the drug, the department says.

An "extraordinary and unprecedented" ruling last week that would allow a single judge to take an FDA-approved abortion drug off the market should be placed on hold while the Biden administration appeals the decision, lawyers for the Department of Justice argued in an emergency motion Monday.

Last Friday, a federal judge in Texas sided with anti-abortion activists and ruled that the Food & Drug Administration erred when it approved mifepristone more than two decades ago. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, cited adverse side effects, including death, to argue that the drug is simply too dangerous to remain on the market  a conclusion opposed by all leading medical organizations, which have noted that mifepristone is safer than ibuprofen, Viagra, and pregnancy itself.

Kacsmaryk gave federal authorities a week to comply with his decision. The ruling came the same day as a separate decision from a Washington federal court that barred the FDA from taking "any action" that would limit access to mifepristone. The dueling rulings provoked uncertainty about the legal status of the drug.

In their 49-page response on Monday, DOJ lawyers asked the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to put Kacsmaryk's ruling on hold indefinitely during the appeals process, arguing that the case should never have been allowed to move forward in the first place.

"The district court erred in holding that plaintiffs have standing," the DOJ motion states. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are a group of anti-abortion activists, including medical professionals, called the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. In order to bring their case forward, they needed to show they have been or could be personally harmed by the FDA's approval of mifepristone.

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But anti-abortion doctors are neither in a position to use nor prescribe mifepristone, the DOJ said. Their argument, instead, relies on speculation  and absurdity: "that other doctors will prescribe mifepristone; that those doctors' patients will experience exceedingly rare serious adverse events; that those patients will then seek out plaintiffs  doctors who oppose mifepristone and abortion  for care; and that they will do so in sufficient numbers to burden plaintiffs' medical practice."

DOJ lawyers also said the case should be tossed because the activists waited far too long to bring their suit, since the FDA approved mifepristone in 2000.

Feds criticize anti-abortion study



In their filing, Justice Department lawyers also took aim at the sources Judge Kacsmaryk cited to justify his decision. In last Friday's ruling, Kacsmaryk disregarded the statements of the American Medical Association and other medical organizations  that mifepristone is generally safe when taken as directed. He instead cited what he described as "one study" that purportedly found 14% of those who took the drug reported they had "received insufficient information" about its side effects, including "potential negative emotional reactions like fear, uncertainty, sadness, regret, and pain."

But as Insider noted the day of the ruling, that study was in fact a textual analysis of online posts that purported to use "relational dialectics theory" to interpret the language choices of women writing about their experiences with medical abortions. The Justice Department, in turn, described the source as "an article" that was "based entirely on fewer than 100 anonymous blog posts submitted to a website titled 'Abortion Changes You.'"

The study was also a product of the anti-abortion movement. Its coauthor was listed as a staff researcher at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, a group based in Arlington, Virginia, that "advises and leads the pro-life movement," according to its website. The study's acknowledgments section begins by thanking the institute's president, among others, for providing "support and assistance throughout the entire research process."

In calling for a stay on the Texas decision, Justice Department lawyers argued there is no reason for the ruling to take immediate effect and "upend a decades-long status quo and inflict grave harm on women, the medical system, and the public."

Responding to the government's filing, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Erin Hawley, issued a statement saying the Texas court correctly decided the case. "The FDA put women in harm's way, and the agency should be held accountable for its reckless actions," she wrote.

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

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Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand's deputy prime minister and health minister, at his office in Bangkok on Feb. 8, 2021. Credit - Luke DugglebyBloomberg/Getty Images

Its a Monday in Bangkok, the Thai capital, which means all civil servants by custom don their tan military-style uniforms, and so the arm enthusiastically proffering the ganja oil is immaculately pressed with golden epaulets at the top. Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailands Health Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, unscrews the brown vials lid and takes a deep sniff before breaking into his trademark grin.

Cannabis has been long stigmatized as a narcotic, he tells TIME. But it is no more addictive than tobacco. I consume traditional medicine droplets [of ganja oil] to help me sleep.

Until last summer, Thailand had some of the worlds harshest drug laws. Possession of many of the products laced with cannabis derivatives that Anutin arranges on his desk in Bangkoks Health Ministry buildingsuch as facial scrub, tea, massage balm, hand sanitizer spray, as well as CBD oilwould have then risked a long jail sentence. But Anutins Bhumjaithai Party, which is today the junior partner in a military-backed ruling coalition, competed in national elections in 2019 on decriminalizing the plant, ostensibly to reduce prison overcrowding and foster a budding hemp industry. On June 9, marijuana was decriminalized and a resurgent cannabis culture has since engulfed the Southeast Asian nation of 70 million, with dispensaries peppering both its sprawling cities and chicken coop villages. The Thai cannabis market is projected to reach $9.6 billion by 2030.

More from TIME

Read More: Thailand Had Notoriously Harsh Drug Laws. Now Weed Is Legaland Thats Making Things Complicated

Thailand is actually the [worlds] most suitable location to grow quality cannabis, says Anutin, a former engineer who entered politics in 1996. We have so much knowledge from traditional medicine in Thailand and the use of cannabis extractions can cure so many illnesses and [alleviate] symptoms.

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Anutin Charnvirakul, center, takes selfies with people holding their marijuana plants during the distribution of 1 million free marijuana seedlings in the northeastern province of Buriram, Thailand, on June 10, 2022. Matichon Newspaper/AP

Thailand goes to the ballot box again on May 14, and Anutin is hoping the buzz around cannabis legalization can propel him to become the nations next leader. He is promising another broad swath of reform, including a three-year debt moratorium for farmers; subsidies for green technology adoption; and a $3 billion land bridge spanning southern Thailands Isthmus of Kra.

Yet success in Mays ballot may hinge on an even more seismic undertaking. The election will once again pit the populist political machine of exiled billionaire Thaksin Shinwatra against the Bangkok-based elite power nexus centered on Thailands military, judiciary, and royal palace. Parties backed by Thaksina policeman turned media mogul, who lives overseas after being convicted of corruption (charges he denies)have won every election since 2001 but have been ousted twice by the military and three times by the courts.

With the Thaksin-aligned Pheu Thai Party set to win yet another landslide, observers fear a renewed cycle of deadly street protests and military intervention. A Pheu Thai prime minister would not be acceptable to the establishment, says Thitinan Pongsudhirak, associate professor of political science at Bangkoks Chulalongkorn University



Anutin is one of the few figures capable of bridging Thailands yawning political schism between the Bangkok-based elite and Thaksins heartland in the populous, rice-farming northeast. Bhumjaithai has welcomed 34 influential defectors from other parties in recent months and a decent showing at the ballot box could see Anutin thrust into the top job as the head of either a military-backed or majority Pheu Thai government.

If one factor could shift the whole political equilibrium in Thailand, I think it would be Anutin, says Pavin Chachavalpongpun, an associate professor of Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University in Japan.

Still, Anutin has far from an unblemished reputation, with opponents accusing his cannabis decriminalization of being chaotic, and Thailands pandemic response also receiving fierce criticism from certain quarters. But the burly 56-year-old says he just wants to help the nation move forward without another cycle of political upheaval. Polarization creates differences, conflict, he says, fixing me with an earnest stare. We have to make a better life for our people.

Anutin Charnvirakul stands in front of a cannabis oil shelf at the Asian Hemp Expo at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, on Nov. 30, 2022. Varuth PongsapipattSOPA Image/Shutterstock

If one thing is for certain, Anutin is a hands-on politician, who is most at ease when passing gifts to tourists or 1 million free cannabis plants to farmers. Away from the office, he says his passion is flying his blue-and-white turboprop aircraft, both for fun and official engagements. Once youre airborne, steering a piece of steel in the air, it is meditative, he says. And taking his public health role to impressive heights, he says he regularly uses his plane to help an old school friend who is now a renowned heart surgeon at Bangkoks Chulalongkorn Hospital, ferrying organs back to the capital for transplant. Anutin says hes retrieved hearts, lungs, kidneys, and eyeballs on more than 50 occasions in recent years, most recently in October.

Most organs are harvested from road traffic accidents at night, when there are no scheduled flights, he says. So they call me and I take off at any time. Within three or four hours, my friend would call me and say, mission completethe old heart is beating in a new body.

Anutins own heart beats within a crafty political operator. He is a scion of Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction, one of Thailands largest construction firms responsible for several government mega-projects, including Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport. His father is Chavarat Charnvirakul, a former Minister of the Interior for the establishment-aligned Democrat Party. People say that my father and I should have half of each other. Anutin laughs. He is a very warm person and very focused. But sometimes, in terms of making decisions, he is a lot slower than me. Im a lot more impulsive.

Yet nobody accused Anutin of rushing Thailands COVID-19 response, when he endured criticism for the slow procurement of vaccines, which lagged Southeast Asian neighbors. The National Vaccine Institute eventually issued an apology for the delay. Anutin also faced backlash following a provocative Twitter post from May 2020 that warned compatriots to be more careful of the farang [Westerners] than other Asians. It is winter in Europe and farang come to Thailand to hide from the [COVID-19] disease. Many farang dress dirtily and dont shower. All [Thai] hosts have to be very careful.

The post and account were subsequently deleted and Anutin later claimed he didnt personally send it. However, he had previously grabbed international attention after blowing up on Thai television at a foreigner who rejected his offer of a face mask, exclaiming such people need to be kicked out of Thailand! (Upon arriving for our interview, Anutin greeted this masked TIME reporter by remarking, farang dont normally like wearing masks.)

There have also been accusations of double standards. When China opened its borders on Jan. 8 of this year amid the countrys worst COVID-19 spike, many nations including the U.S. imposed stricter entry requirements on its nationals. Anutin rescinded a vaccination requirement for foreign arrivals the following day, calling such rules cumbersome and inconvenient, and personally greeted the first batch of Chinese tourists at the airport with flower garlands. He denies that he was motivated by political expediency, bowing to a beleaguered but vital hospitality industry with the election looming. All my decisions to improve the tourism industry in Thailand strictly came from health literacy, he says.

Even Bhumjaithais signature cannabis policy has been anything but smooth. The plant essentially became legal by default when a deadline ran out for an inter-ministerial body to agree on new rules governing its usebecause Anutin, according to well-placed sources, threatened to bring down the government if it did. Instead, the plant has been absorbed into existing laws regarding traditional medicine, meaning few proscriptions exist other than a ban on its sale to under-20s, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. A draft cannabis law to clarify its status has repeatedly stalled in parliament due to inter-party bickering.

And despite the proliferation of cannabis cafes and dispensariesthree weed trucks selling joints, gummies, and bong hits were parked opposite this reporters Bangkok hotelAnutin bizarrely still insists that cannabis is only available for medicinal purposes. The legalization has also placed Thailand at odds with its Asian neighbors, with nations such as Singapore vowing to prosecute its nationals who consume marijuana while overseas. Anutin insists that Thailand can eventually export cannabis to overseas markets including the U.S.; at the same time, local marijuana farmers grumble about illegally imported, cheap American weed undercutting their product.

The confusion has prompted several parties standing in the May polls to run on re-criminalizing marijuana, citing a nebulous harm to children, though industry experts believe the horse has already bolted. Its too late, theres an industry around cannabis now, says Chokwan Kitty Chopaka, a longtime cannabis-legalization advocate who runs her own dispensary. Theres too many well-connected people that would need to be compensated.

Anutin Charnvirakul poses with cannabis oil during the opening of a cannabis clinic under Thailand Traditional Medicine at the Museum of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand, in January 2020. Chaiwat SubprasomSOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

If the economics of legalized weed are unclear, Anutins land bridge proposal threatens to be just as hazy. It would link the Andaman Sea port of Ranong via road, rail, and gas pipeline to Chumphon on the Thai Gulf, some 60 miles away. The route would save four days compared to the default transshipment hub of Singapore, Anutin says, boosting the national coffers through hyperconnected manufacturing and industrial zones, servicing South Asia and the Middle East on one side and Southeast and East Asia on the other. We will make the region indispensable so people will come and invest, reduce their costs, and create more opportunities, he says.

Generations of politicians have debated whether a canal or land bridge was the best option to link the two waterways. The canal proposal has been controversial for its expense and engineering challengesthe Andaman Sea is about 3 meters higher than the Gulf of Thailand, so the route would require multiple lock gatesas well as physically dividing the bulk of Thailand from its insurgency-wracked southernmost portion. The land bridge, by contrast, should cost a fraction of the 2,000 billion baht ($66 billion) mooted for the canal and be less symbolically divisive.

A canal would divide the nation, persuading people to think negatively, says Anutin. But when theres no split, only a rail and road connection, it doesnt bother anyone. Its just another transportation route and would create job opportunities.

Yet analysts have questioned whether the double transshipment of goods on both coasts would pay off. Tim Forsyth, a professor at the London School of Economics who specializes in development in Southeast Asia, says that a land bridge has large financial and engineering challenges to being a success.

The likelihood of Chinese firms being awarded the construction contract has also riled Washington in this new era of Great Power competition. The U.S. has been quick to accuse China of debt-trap diplomacy, swapping outstanding loans for equity in projects such as Sri Lankas Hambantota Port, which controversially hosted a Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) vessel last year. China is reportedly already building a naval base in neighboring Cambodia and the potential for ThailandAmericas oldest treaty ally in Asiahosting PLA vessels is a red line for Washington. U.S. Embassy officials have visited Ranong and told business leaders that Chinas involvement would leech economic benefits from the local community.

But when it comes to choosing sides between the superpowers, Anutin refuses to be drawn. He points out that his ancestors hail from Chinas Guangdong province and he still speaks Chinese at home, while his eight years studying and working in New Yorkhe graduated from Hofstra University, where he studied engineeringwere just as instructive to who he is today. Both [the U.S. and China] are our good friends, we cannot take sides, he says. Were not part of that conflict.

Thailand's Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, right, gives garland to Chinese tourists on their arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn province, Thailand, Jan. 9, 2023. Sakchai LalitAP

Anutin is similarly taciturn on the issue of political interference by Thailands traditionally sacrosanct royal family. Since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932 and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, Thailand has weathered 12 military coups, all of which were ostensibly approved by the palace. The monarchs role as official arbiter is integral to the state. While Anutins wood-paneled office contains one large cabinet holding dozens of buddha statues, an entire wall is dedicated to photographs of Thailands royal Chakri Dynasty, past and present.

In recent years, however, increasing numbers of young Thais have taken to the street to demand the monarchy stop meddling in the democratic process. (An upstart political party dedicated to the cause won 17% of the vote in 2019 before it was banned.)

Thailands King Maha Vajiralongkorn is unpopular due to numerous personal scandals and spends much of his time overseas. Since ascending the throne in 2016, the four-times married 70-year-old has consolidated financial and military control, bringing two key army regiments under his command and gaining direct oversight over royal assets estimated in the region of $33 billion. Vajiralongkorn is protected by the worlds strictest royal defamation lawknown as lese-majeste, or Article 112which activists say has been increasingly wielded to crush dissent.

Since November 2020, more than 200 people have been charged with Article 112 in relation to activities at pro-democracy rallies or comments on social media. On March 7, a 26-year-old man was sentenced to three years in prison for selling satirical calendars featuring a yellow duck that authorities deemed insulting to the monarch. This case sends a message to all Thais, and to the rest of the world, that Thailand is moving further away fromnot closer tobecoming a rights-respecting democracy, said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Yet Anutin insists there is no problem with either the palaces roleor the draconian legislation that shields it. Article 112 only affects people who think negatively about our monarchy, he says. If you live a normal life of Thai people, we dont even feel that [Article] 112 exists. So the reformation of anything with regard to the monarchy is not on our agenda.

Its a position that is unlikely to win many youth votesbut it is perhaps a necessary one if Anutin is to realize his political ambitions. Even the architect of Thailands dramatic cannabis U-turn knows where the line is drawn. Regarding his chances of becoming prime minister, Anutin is coy.

My destiny lies with the peoples decision, he says, placing the ganja oil in a wicker gift basket as TIME bids farewell. If they feel that I can deliver what they need, they will choose me to work for them.
Marion County Police are investigating the shooting deaths of three teens (Screenshot / WKMG)

The third juvenile suspect wanted in connection with the deaths of three teenagers in Florida was arrested following a massive manhunt, police said on Sunday.

The 16-year-old suspect, who is not being named by The Independent due to his age, was arrested on Saturday from south of Groveland, Florida, on outstanding warrants after three teens were found dead or dying near each other in Ocklawaha last week.

"[The suspect] was arrested on his outstanding warrants for carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault, grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing or attempt to elude a law enforcement officer, and tampering with an electronic monitoring device," the Marion County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

The sheriffs office had offered up to $10,000 for information leading to the capture of the "armed and dangerous" absconding suspect.

An investigation into the triple homicide is ongoing and "additional charges are forthcoming", the police said.

Two other suspects, a 12-year-old boy and 17-year-old boy, were arrested and charged with first-degree murder on Friday.

Authorities believe the victims and the suspects were part of a burglary gang.

The teen victims, one boy and two girls, were discovered with gunshot wounds in Marion County, just days apart. They were found either dead or dying next to a road close to Ocklawaha, about 60 miles northwest of Orlando.

Layla Silvernail, 16, was found on the side of the road with a gunshot wound on 30 March. She later succumbed to her injuries.

An unidentified boy, 17, was found shot dead beside a road on 31 March within a mile of where Layla was located.

Another 16-year-old girl was discovered on 1 April shot and killed inside the trunk of Laylas car, which had been partially plunged into a lake nine miles from where Layla was found.

Sheriff Billy Woods said the three victims and the three suspects had all been inside Laylas car at one point when the suspects turned on our three victims.

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He added that the motive was robbery.

They fled but left a lot of evidence in their wake, the sheriff said.

While the sheriff said the shootings dont appear to be connected to a gang rivalry, he did say that the suspects are all connected to gangs.

Each and every one of them was in some shape or form ... associated with a gang, the sheriff said.

He added that the young suspects are known to commit other crimes, such as burglaries and robberies in the same area, which is how they got hold of the firearm used in the killings.

Basically, in simple terms, there is no honour among thieves, Sheriff Woods said during the press briefing.

And at some point, these three individuals turned on our three victims and murdered them.

A previous version of this story has been amended to remove the names of the suspects, which were released by police but are not being used by The Independent because they are minors.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Thousands of Israelis, including ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government, marched to an evacuated Jewish outpost in the West Bank on Monday in support of settlements viewed as illegal under international law.

As tensions mounted between Israelis and Palestinians, Israelis from across the country travelled to the outpost of Evyatar while waving Israeli flags and chanting religious songs and slogans during the holiday week of Passover.

Israeli troops fired rubber bullets and tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinian protesters in nearby Beita, injuring 17 people with rubber bullets and two with gas canisters to the head, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.

More than 90 Palestinians and at least 19 Israelis and foreigners have been killed since January.

In a statement, the Samaria regional council representing settlers of the northern West Bank quoted Yossi Dagan, its leader, as having told participants that settlements were the answer to what he called a wave of terror.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right security chief in Netanyahu's cabinet, said at the Israeli demonstration: "Now they understand why I have been pushing for the establishment of a national guard."

Flanked by heavy guard on Monday, Ben-Gvir last week was authorised to head a national guard focused on Arab unrest.

Netanyahu held off giving him direct command after political rivals voiced concern the force could become a sectarian militia.

Many countries view Jewish settlements in the West Bank, captured from Jordan in a 1967 war, as a breach of international law. Israel disputes this and cites biblical and historical connections to the land, as well as security needs.

The mother of two Israeli sisters who were killed last week in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank died of her wounds, hospital officials said on Monday. All three were dual citizens of Israel and Britain.

"Tragic news that Leah Dee has also died following the abhorrent attacks in the West Bank," British foreign minister James Cleverly on Twitter. "There can be no justification for the murder of Leah and her two daughters, Maia and Rina."

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Israeli forces were still trying to track down the assailant.

The far-right Israeli government, which took office in late December, supports recognition and expansion of Jewish settlements in West Bank lands where Palestinians envisage a future independent state.

Last month, the Israeli parliament paved the way for Jewish settlers' return to four settlements in the West Bank by amending a 2005 law that ordered their evacuation, a move condemned by the Palestinian Authority and the European Union.

In February, Israel granted retroactive recognition to eight illegal West Bank outposts, also condemned by international organizations. These did not include Evyatar.

Since the 1967 war, Israel has established around 140 settlements on land Palestinians see as the core of a future state. Besides the authorized settlements, groups of settlers have built scores of outposts without government permission.

U.S.-sponsored statehood talks have been stalled since 2014 while Jewish settlements have expanded.

(Reporting by Emily Rose; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Howard Goller)
Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar stressed that only three people can officially talk about the plans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, commenting on the recent "leak of secret data".

Source: Maliar on the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "Modern warfare is primarily an information war. We must be prepared for the fact that there may be any information stuffing, any information and psychological operations. Any information should be treated critically. Check it, look for the source.

Only official sources can have the only reliable information about the course of hostilities and plans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, and Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov."

Details: In addition, official sources include the General Staff and the Ministry of Defence, as well as press officers authorised by these institutions.

Maliar added that the plans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are kept secret. Therefore, in her opinion, any "leaks" of information are only assumptions.

Background:

On 6 April, the New York Times reported that classified military documents "detailing secret American and NATO plans for building up the Ukrainian military ahead of a planned offensive against Russia" have been circulated on Twitter and Telegram.

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, called the "merged" materials "photoshop" and he joked about the degradation of Russian intelligence. On condition of anonymity, Reuters sources among US officials reported that Russia or pro-Russian elements are behind the leak of several secret US military documents that were posted on social media, and allegedly testified to preparations for the spring counteroffensive to Ukraine.

Later, a new batch of classified documents that appear to detail American national security secrets regarding Ukraine, the Middle East and China have surfaced on social media sites.

On 9 April, the US Department of Justice launched an investigation into the leak of a huge number of US intelligence documents that have been published on social media in recent weeks.

Bellingcat investigators have found that the sensitive US documents focusing on the war in Ukraine, the leak of which has recently been widely publicised, were posted on a WowMao Discord server as early as 1 and 2 March, though they might have first been leaked even earlier.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






The new olive-oil infused drink at Starbucks got mixed reviews from customers on TikTok.

Some people said they liked the coffee and thought it tasted unique.

Others were not fans of the new drink. One TikToker called it an "oil spill on your ice coffee."

The new olive oil-infused drinks at Starbucks got mixed reviews from customers on TikTok: Some people called it smooth and tasty, while others likened it to an oil spill in a coffee cup and spat their drinks out mid-sip.

Starbucks' Oleato line consists of a variety of olive oil-infused beverages. Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz called the line a "game changer" for Starbucks in his last earnings call, saying that it would be "transformative."

But some reviewers on Tiktok beg to differ.

A person named Bananashrooms on Tiktok posted a video of her coffee, describing it as an "oil spill on your ice coffee," adding that the oil was "ooey-gooey."

TikToker Samyra was more candid about her reaction to the drink, gagging as she took a sip of the olive-oil-infused cold foam. She then spit it out into a paper towel.

"Ew!" she said after she wiped her mouth. "That's so nasty."

Samyra's Tiktok has been viewed over 53,000 times as of press time.

Separately, a person who claimed to be a Starbucks barista said in a viral Reddit post that half of her barista team tried the drink in March and that a few people ended up "needing to use the restroom."

Insider could not independently verify the identity of the Redditor, nor is there substantial evidence to support the Reddit user's claim that the coffee chain's olive oil-infused drinks cause diarrhea.

Other TikTokers did seem to like the smoothness of the olive oil in their coffee.

A TikToker with the username boksoongahs said that she liked the Oleato Ice-Shaken Espresso and that it was "really unique."

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She described the olive oil flavor as a spice that has a "kick in the back of your throat," and likened it to the sensation one gets after eating "red pepper flakes."





The Oleato line was first introduced in Italy in February and was later rolled out to customers in the US on March 23.

Representatives for Starbucks did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside of regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A 2-year-old boy drowned in a brook after his father lost him while running away from a car crash in Massachusetts, police said.

When state troopers arrived at the crash at 1:58 a.m. on April 8 in Clarksburg, they discovered the toddler was missing from the vehicle, according to a Massachusetts State Police news release.

The father, 35, of Readsboro, Vermont, drove under the influence prior to the crash and was found in the area of the nearby Hudson Brook, police said. Hes now facing charges of operating under the influence and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, according to the release.

The brook was immediately searched for the boy who was found in the water just before 2:20 a.m., according to police.

A trooper and firefighter pulled the child from the water, and first responders began rendering first aid, police said.

Ultimately, the boy was taken to Berkshire Medical Center in North Adams and pronounced dead, according to authorities.

More charges are expected to be filed against the father in connection with his sons death, police said.

After the father was found by the brook, troopers saw him acting intoxicated, police said.

He was taken to Berkshire Medical Center and evaluated before his discharge, according to the release.

Then he was taken into state police custody, authorities said.

His bail was set at $100,000, WCVB-TV reported.

Clarksburg is about 140 miles northwest of Boston.

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Leaders at the nations largest drug companies offered a scathing response to a court decision invalidating the FDAs approval of the abortion medication mifepristone.

More than 400 of the pharmaceutical industrys top executives spoke out against the ruling made by Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas last Friday.

In their letter, published by The New York Times, the leaders called for the ruling to be reversed, claiming it ignores decades of scientific evidence and legal precedent.

Leaders in the drug industry called for a reversal after a Texas district court judge ruled to invalidate the FDA's approval of the abortion medication mifepristone.

Leaders in the drug industry called for a reversal after a Texas district court judge ruled to invalidate the FDA's approval of the abortion medication mifepristone.

The statement, which was signed by heads at Pfizer and Biogen, denounced the decision as an attempt to curtail the FDAs autonomy, claiming any drugs approval could be in jeopardy if courts can overturn drug approvals without regard for science or evidence.

Kacsmaryk ruled that the FDA improperly approved mifepristone for use in 2000, arguing that the agency manipulated and misconstrued their studies to greenlight elective chemical abortions on a wide scale.

The FDA has since defended mifepristone as a safe and effective option for early-term abortions.

Judge Kacsmaryks ruling is already being challenged in courts. A federal judge in Washington countered the decision in court on Friday, ruling to protect access to mifepristone. The Department of Justice also issued an immediate appeal.

Some Democratic politicians are calling for the Biden administration to ignore the ruling outright. On Sunday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told CNNs State of the Union that the White House has discretion over how to enforce the ruling.

That same day, U.S. Secretary Health and Human Services Xavier Beccera condemned the ruling as reckless on CNN, telling Dana Bash that the Biden administration was considering every option available.

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HSS spokesperson Kamara Jones walked back the possibility later that day on Twitter, saying while people are rightfully frustrated, any interference would set a dangerous a precedent for the executive branch.

Though many red states have tried to limit abortion access, an increasing number of patients are turning to the pill to terminate pregnancies. Even before the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022, it was estimated half of U.S. abortions were carried out via medication.

Related...
Former Wichita City Council member Sue Schlapp adamantly defended her son Matt Schlapp against accusations of sexual battery while speaking to a Republican womens group.

Matt Schlapp, the influential chair of the American Conservative Union, has been accused in a lawsuit of groping a man who worked for Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker while the staffer was driving Schlapp back to his Atlanta hotel last October.

Theres nothing thats more devastating than being the mother of somebody whos falsely accused, Sue Schlapp, 82, told attendees at a Republican Women United meeting in Wichita on Saturday.

Matt Schlapp, a longtime ally and adviser to former President Donald Trump, has filed court documents formally denying the assault.

In her speech, titled Future of the Republican Party: A Mothers Perspective, Schlapp reflected on her time growing up as a Democrat in New York and criticized divisiveness in national politics, casting her son as a victim who has been unfairly targeted for championing conservative values.

Any of you who knows my son knows that its total BS, Schlapp said.

He has built the largest conservative organization in the world, and because of that, as you know, as Republicans, you become the enemy of others.

Carlton Huffman, the career Republican strategist accusing Schlapp of battery and defamation, is seeking $9.4 million in damages. Huffman initially filed the lawsuit anonymously, citing privacy concerns and fear of retaliation, but an Alexandria, Virginia, judge ruled Huffmans identity must be revealed for the suit to proceed.

He was involved in Georgia working for Walker, and the gentleman that was given to him as a driver has been spreading a story and now sued him for nine and a half million dollars for defamation, Sue Schlapp said. I think thats fascinating. Who defamated [sic] who? But that is what happens with defamation and the monkey business that he claims happened.

Matt Schlapp has hired attorney Benjamin Chew, who successfully represented Johnny Depp in a 2022 defamation lawsuit, and who has filed a response to Huffmans complaint stating that any alleged injuries the aide sustained did not come from Schlapp but instead were caused by Plaintiffs own negligence, conduct, actions, or inactions, or were the result of other alternative causes, or a combination thereof.

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He may have to pay something financially just to get everybody off his back, Sue Schlapp said. Sometimes you have to do that if youre going to carry on with your world. Its not admitting guilt but it is saying Im busy. Ive got to carry on here. Take this.

She said her sons professional standing has been damaged by Huffmans accusations.

The American Conservative Union is nervous about him, Schlapp said.

They support him. They want him. But theyre a little afraid of him. Fox News, which he used to be on all the time, has made it quite clear they dont want somebody whos been sued to be on their channel.

Schlapp has so far received the support of many prominent Republicans, including Trump, who shared a stage with him at a Conservative Political Action Conference fundraiser two days after the assault claim surfaced.

Knowing my son, he will never back down, Sue Schlapp said.

She also read a statement from Mercedes Schlapp, the former Trump White House communications director who married Matt Schlapp after they met while both working in George W. Bushs administration.

Pray for the country, pray for the children and pray for the families. The country is headed down the wrong path, and we need Americans of all ages to save this nation before its too late, the statement read.
David de Vleeschauwer

When you think of inspiring depictions of extreme travel, its usually documentaries or adrenaline-pumping YouTube videos filmed on a GoPro. Its rarely a book. But our latest selection for Just Booked, our series on exciting new coffee table books, is just thatan inspiring book on extreme travel. Remote Experiences: Extraordinary Travel Adventures From North to South is its title and it was put together for the publisher Taschen by photographer Daniel De Vleeschauwer.

Its a book perhaps best given for that jaded traveler friend of yours, the one who thinks theyve seen it all. De Vleeschauwers photos take readers on some mind-boggling journeys. Theres the road trip from Hamburg to the northern tip of Europe and back, crossing through nine countries often on icy and lonely roads. Or you can follow along with a gaucho guide and traverse the otherworldly terrain of Patagonia. The one that grabbed our attention? Following in the footsteps of Genghis Khan and joining the golden eagle hunt in a remote area of Mongolia.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A jury trial began Monday for a Pueblo West man accused of shooting two sheriff's deputies on New Year's Day in 2021 after they'd attempted to contact him regarding and alleged bomb threat at the state capitol building in Tennessee.

Eddie Lovins, 50, faces local charges of attempted first-degree murder and attempted first-degree assault. His trial is scheduled to continue through Friday, according to Pueblo court records.

Prior to the interaction with Pueblo law enforcement, Lovins allegedly called Tennessee Highway Patrol and told them there was a bomb in the state capitol building in Nashville, according to an arrest affidavit from the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office. Lovins didnt say he'd planted a bomb, and no bomb was found after a search of the building.

Following up on the alleged threat, Pueblo deputies tried to contact Lovins twice at his home but were unsuccessful. Authorities with the Tennessee Highway Patrol then contacted the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office and told them Lovins had called them again, so the sheriff's office attempted to contact him a third time, according to the affidavit.

Six minutes after arriving at Lovins residence, Sgt. Joshua Rude reported hed been shot at and hit. Deputy Nicolas Berumen, who was also on scene, reported being shot one minute later.

The deputies were treated for their injuries at Parkview Hospital, where doctors found Rude had three dense metallic objects in his head, and Berumen had metallic fragments in his skin, elbow and cheek, according to the affidavit.

Both deputies were released from Parkview the day of the shooting and were expected to make full recoveries.

The affidavit stated Lovins fired at least 15 shots in the direction of deputies.

The shots were believed to be fired through the back screen door of Lovins home. The deputies were alongside a neighbor, whom Lovins had asked to check on his dog, when shots were fired from a weapon Lovins called an AR."

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The Pueblo Metro Bomb Unit was dispatched to the scene after Lovins stated the house was "wired," then-Sheriff Kirk Taylor stated at a press conference shortly after the incident. The bomb unit did not find any explosives in Lovins' residence.

After an approximately hourlong standoff, deputies used a single shot of nonlethal ammunition to subdue Lovins and take him into custody, Taylor said. The round was a beanbag round fired from a shotgun.

Taylor said in 2021 that the sheriff's office had a history with Lovins regarding "mental health problems."

As of Monday afternoon, a jury was still being selected for Lovins' trial, which will be held in the court of Judge Amiel Markensen.

Court officials in Nashville told the Chieftain Monday they have no record of charges against Lovins in the state of Tennessee.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Trial begins for Pueblo West man accused of shooting sheriff's deputies
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps new accounting firm struck a deal with the New York attorney general to hand over documents subpoenaed in the states $250 million civil suit over the former presidents asset valuations.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Whitley Penn LLP, the Texas-based firm Trump hired after he parted ways with longtime accountant Mazars USA LLP, reached the agreement with Trump and New York Attorney General Letitia James last week, according to an April 7 order signed by New York state court Justice Arthur Engoron.

Read the judges order here

Under the deal, Whitley Penn will hand over all documents and communications related to the start of its business relationship with the Trump Organization, as well as all records related to Trumps statements of financial condition, which are central to New Yorks lawsuit.

The AG claims Trump and three of his children inflated the value of assets of the familys real estate business and is seeking penalties including a permanent ban on the four running companies in the state. Mazars disavowed almost a decade of financial statements for the Trump Organization based on findings from Jamess investigation.

Read More: Trump Sued by New York Over Fraudulent Asset Valuations

Whitley Penn initially declined to respond to the subpoena on the grounds that it was blocked by what it said was accountant-client privilege, prompting James to seek a court order from the judge. The privilege doesnt apply in New York, James argued in her filing last month.

The accounting firm will also hand over all documents and communications related to any audit, review or compilation engagement pertaining to several Trump-affiliated entities, according to the agreement.

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In addition, Whitley Penn will allow one of its employees to be questioned by the AGs staff. In her filing, James said she needed to depose a Whitley Penn partner who was involved in transactions and occurrences relevant to this litigation.

The case is set for trial in October.

The case is New York v. Trump, 452564/2022, New York State Supreme Court (Manhattan).

Read More

New Trump Accountants Are Withholding Records, New York AG Says

QuickTake: What Trumps Many Legal Perils Mean for His 2024 Bid

(Updates with details and context starting in second paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Donald Trump has appealed a judges order requiring his former vice president, Mike Pence, to testify to the grand jury probing the effort to subvert the 2020 election.

Trumps appeal, filed under seal, was lodged on the court docket Monday morning. The former president had challenged the bid by special counsel Jack Smith to compel Pences testimony earlier this year, claiming it would intrude on conversations protected by executive privilege.

But Chief U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg rejected Trumps challenge, ruling last month that Pence could be compelled to testify. Boasberg, however, did fashion some limits to Smiths inquiry; he agreed, in part, with a separate argument by Pence that some of his actions are protected by the Constitutions speech or debate clause  which typically prevents Justice Department inquiry into members of Congress and their aides.

Under the Constitution, Pence as vice president also served as president of the Senate, entitling him to some measure of congressional immunity, Boasberg found. Although Pence and his allies felt that the ruling didnt extend far enough, Pence opted not to appeal the decision.



Trumps executive privilege challenges to Justice Department subpoenas have not fared well in a series of secret court proceedings that have played out in recent months. He lost bids before Boasbergs predecessor as chief, Beryl Howell, to prevent Pences aides from testifying in the inquiry, and he recently lost a similar bid to prevent his own top White House advisers from appearing for compelled testimony.

A Trump spokesman confirmed the appeal in a statement blasting the Justice Departments handling of the special counsel investigations.

The DOJ is continuously stepping far outside the standard norms in attempting to destroy the long accepted, long held, Constitutionally based standards of attorney-client privilege and executive privilege, said Trump spokesman Steven Cheung. The Special Counsel is conducting a witch-hunt where the government has sought to violate every Constitutional norm, including the safeguards that protect a Presidents ability to confer with his Vice President on matters of the security of the United States.

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The appeal is one of more than 10 secret proceedings that have governed Smiths expansive inquiries into Trumps bid to subvert the election, as well as his handling of highly sensitive national security secrets found at his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left office. Grand jury proceedings typically play out in secret, a requirement of law and precedent, but the breadth and magnitude of these probes have led to extraordinary rulings that are reshaping the boundaries of the separation of powers, all outside of public view.

The appeals courts secret docket reflects that Trumps appeal was lodged Monday morning after a March 27 ruling by Boasberg in a grand jury matter  a date that coincides with Boasbergs order for Pence to testify. Trump has not yet filed for an emergency expedited effort to block Boasbergs ruling, but he has taken that step in several other cases to no avail.

Its unclear when Pence is expected to testify, but typically judges set precise deadlines for compliance that may drive the timing of various filings and challenges.
By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former President Donald Trump has appealed a judge's order requiring his former vice president, Mike Pence, to testify in the special counsel probe into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Trump's lawyers filed the appeal after a ruling related to the Justice Department investigation of efforts to undermine the 2020 presidential election that Trump, a Republican, lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

The case remains under seal. But on Monday, a new sealed case appeared on the federal appeals court docket in Washington, D.C., that referred to a grand jury matter before U.S. District Chief Judge James Boasberg.

Final briefs in the appeal are due by May 25, according to an initial schedule set by the court, which does not name the parties to the case.

Pence last week disclosed that he would not appeal a judge's ruling that requires him to testify to a federal grand jury about conversations he had with Trump leading up to the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol.

In a March ruling, the judge also said Pence could still decline to answer questions related to Jan. 6.

Several of Trump's attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Special Counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November to handle the two Trump investigations, is presenting evidence to grand juries in two separate investigations.

The first investigation is looking into attempts to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power following Trump's November 2020 loss to Biden. The second is looking at Trump's retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after leaving office in January 2021, and whether he tried to obstruct the Justice Department's investigation.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Jacqueline Thomsen; additional reporting by Kat Jackson and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann, Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler)
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump is appealing a court decision that would require his former Vice President Mike Pence to appear before a federal grand jury probing efforts to undermine the 2020 presidential election, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

A federal judge in Washington in late March rejected the former presidents effort to argue that executive privilege should block Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smiths office from questioning Pence.

Trump appealed that ruling to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit in recent days, according to the person, who requested anonymity to discuss sealed proceedings.

US District Chief Judge James Boasberg had separately ruled on a claim Pence raised invoking legislative privilege against the subpoena for his testimony, but Pences camp announced last week that he wouldnt appeal that decision.

The judges ruling isnt public because it relates to sealed grand jury proceedings, but Pences team previously released a statement describing the decision as a win because it affirmed for the first time in history that the Speech or Debate Clause extends to the vice president of the United States.

Peter Carr, a spokesperson for Smiths office, declined to comment. A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Pence had been the subject of a pressure campaign by Trump and other allies to delay or halt the certification of President Joe Bidens win by Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, according to public testimony from several former top aides and White House lawyers to a special congressional committee. The vice president serves as the presiding officer of that joint session, given his dual role as president of the US Senate.

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The day before the Jan. 6 proceeding, Pence issued a statement making clear that he wouldnt interfere, rejecting legal theories that he had the power to unilaterally act.

Pence hasnt publicly confirmed exactly what he will testify about following Boasbergs ruling on his legislative privilege claim. Pences lawyer had presented the novel theory that the Speech or Debate Clause in the US Constitution  typically invoked to shield lawmakers from being forced into court over their legislative activities  should apply to him as well.

Judges have repeatedly rebuffed Trumps efforts to stop federal prosecutors from putting former top administration officials before the grand jury. On April 4, the DC Circuit denied Trumps request for an immediate order to stop several ex-White House officials from being forced to testify while his lawyers pursued a full appeal.

Smith is overseeing a separate federal criminal probe into whether Trump or others mishandled classified material after he left the White House and whether anyone tried to obstruct the efforts by the National Archives and Justice Department to retrieve US government records. Trump earlier this year lost a privilege fight to stop prosecutors from putting his attorney Evan Corcoran before a grand jury for a second time.

(Updated with Pence role on Jan. 6, other privilege fights.)

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Former President Trump on Monday sought to discourage Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) from officially getting into the 2024 presidential race, claiming it would ultimately divide the GOP and hurt DeSantiss career.

Ron DeSantis is a young man who is not doing well against me in the polls, to put it mildly, Trump wrote on Truth Social. I believe that if he decides to run for President, which will only hurt and somewhat divide the Republican Party, he will lose the cherished and massive MAGA vote, and never be able to successfully run for office again.

If he remains Governor, which is what Florida voters assumed, it would be a whole different story.JUST SAYIN  But who knows? Trump added.

In a press release sent later Monday, Trumps campaign took aim at DeSantis over whether he would support a change to Florida law that requires state lawmakers to resign if they are running for federal office.

The Trump campaign pointed to DeSantiss decision to resign from Congress in 2018 while running for governor, suggesting it would be hypocritical for him not to do the same this time around.

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to campaign full-time for president, during the Florida legislative session, while collecting a salary and having the taxpayers pick up the costs for his travel and security. Its a massive flip-flop from his position in 2018, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. To make matters worse, DeSantis upcoming taxpayer-funded campaign travel appears to put him at odds with Floridas existing Resign to Run law.

DeSantis has not yet announced whether he is running for president in 2024, but he is widely expected to get into the race in the coming months. He has been quietly assembling staff, and an outside pro-DeSantis group has also recently hired several staffers who previously worked with former President Trump in his administration or campaign.

DeSantis has also started traveling to early voting states in the GOP primary calendar, such as Iowa and South Carolina.

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The governor is widely viewed as Trumps most formidable potential challenger based on polling data. Some polls in individual states have shown DeSantis leading Trump, including in Florida, Georgia and Iowa.

But national polls have shown Trump with a healthy lead over DeSantis and other potential challengers for the 2024 GOP nomination. A Fox News poll released last week found Trump with 54 percent support among GOP primary voters, with DeSantis the next closest candidate at 24 percent.

Trump and an aligned super PAC, MAGA Inc., have ramped up attacks on DeSantis in recent weeks, highlighting his past comments on Social Security and Medicare in particular.

Trump last week was charged in Manhattan criminal court with 34 felony counts over his alleged involvement in a scheme to pay hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the weeks before the 2016 election to keep quiet about an alleged affair.

DeSantis has criticized the prosecution as politically motivated, but last month he took a swipe at Trump over the situation, saying he had not paid hush money to a porn star so could not weigh in at length on the matter.

Updated at 2:07 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
On Monday, Donald Trump appealed a federal judges ruling that former vice president Mike Pence must testify regarding conversations the two had leading up to January 6, 2021.

Trump will challenge Judge James Boasbergs decision on the grounds of executive privilege. Last week, Pence decided he would not appeal the order himself, which was in part a victory for the former vice president. Boasberg said Pence could decline to answer questions related to his actions on January 6 itself, when Pence was acting in a legislative capacity as president of the Senate.

The Courts landmark and historic ruling affirmed for the first time in history that the speech-or-debate clause extends to the vice president of the United States, a Pence spokesperson said. Having vindicated that principle of the Constitution, Vice President Pence will not appeal the Judges ruling and will comply with the subpoena as required by law.

Despite the victory for the novel legal route that the vice president took, the courts decision appears to green-light most of the testimony sought by special counsel Jack Smith, who is investigating the former president for alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents.

Pences team has recognized that Trump could separately choose to appeal the executive-privilege ruling. The former vice president will comply with any decisions made on executive-privilege grounds, the Hill reported.

Thus far, Trump has not had success in his attempts to exert executive privilege to keep conversations with those around him confidential.

Over the past year, the grand jury in Washington has secured testimony from Trump White House counsels Pat Cipollone and Patrick Philbin following court decisions that Trump couldnt stop them from answering. More recently, Trump lost his effort to shield other aides, including his former chief of staff Mark Meadows, from testifying. A district court judge ruled against Trump in late March in that case and an appeals court affirmed that ruling last week, on the same day Trump pleaded not guilty in a criminal case that the Manhattan DA has brought against him.

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Pence could be called to testify in front of the grand jury as soon as next week.

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Billionaire philanthropist George Soros has long been a bogeyman for the far right, but Donald Trump's indictment has unleashed a fresh torrent of hate that has also entangled US fact-checkers debunking conspiracies about him.

The Jewish financier is accused by Trump and his backers of influencing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who led the historic grand jury indictment of the former president over a hush money payment to a porn star.

The backlash against Soros, a lightning rod for conservative groups opposed to his funding of liberal causes, stems from donations he made to the criminal justice group Color of Change, which endorsed Bragg for DA in 2021.

Despite no evidence of a direct connection, Trump has gone so far as to claim that Bragg was "hand-picked and funded by George Soros."

"Soros-backed," "Soros-financed" and "Soros DA" have become much-peddled phrases in Republican circles, perpetuating the conspiracy theory that Bragg operated at the direction of the billionaire.

Standing outside the Manhattan court where Trump was arraigned, a protester held up a sign that read: "Google it! George Soros funds US DAs."

Michael Vachon, a spokesman for Soros, said the billionaire "has never met, spoken with, or otherwise communicated with Alvin Bragg."

"Many on the right are attempting to shift the focus from the accused to the accuser, Bragg," Vachon told AFP.

"Because of George's well-publicized support for reform prosecutors, Republicans are alleging that George is behind it all. Several stories in the mainstream media have debunked this, but they persist."

- 'Evil global elite' -

The conspiracy theorists vilifying Soros, a man who survived the Nazi occupation of Hungary, have sought to push the idea of a wealthy Jew working as a puppet master behind the scenes to promote a liberal agenda.

"Conspiracy theories are often built around the idea that there are powerful forces outside of our control acting on behalf of the global elite to keep the truth from ordinary people," Joshua Tucker, co-director of the NYU Center for Social Media and Politics, told AFP.

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"In this case, Soros personifies the evil global elite."

The attacks, observers say, also smack of anti-Semitism.

The "Republican Party... is once again falling back on their anti-Semitic George Soros conspiracy theories," J Street, a Washington-based Jewish advocacy group, wrote on Twitter.

"It's as tired as it is dangerous."

This was hardly the first time that Soros -- who made his wealth in the high-stakes world of finance and is famous as "the man who broke the Bank of England" in 1992, when he made a fortune by betting against the British pound -- has been a target of outsized conspiracy theories.

Far-right influencers claim he has funded the "great replacement" of white Americans with immigrants and people of color.

Around the world, from Central Europe to East Asia, Soros has been accused of stoking immigration, backing coups, sponsoring protests and seeking to push a multicultural agenda.

In recent years Hungary's fiercely anti-immigration prime minister Viktor Orban has accused Soros of orchestrating Europe's migration crisis. Russia has accused Soros, who has poured billions into ex-Soviet satellite states to promote human rights, of fomenting violent uprisings in the region.

- 'Harassment' -

In the latest backlash, Tucker said, it appeared that presenting logical facts made no difference to the "conspiratorial thinking."

A slew of American fact-checkers, who say the focus on Soros in the lead-up and following Trump's indictment is misplaced, have themselves faced online harassment and trolling.

"Conspiracy theorists not only push a particular narrative, but they also attack the credibility of fact-checkers that cast doubt on their claims," Tucker said.

Fact-checkers employed by mainstream American media debunked Trump's claim that Bragg received "in excess of $1 million" from Soros.

While federal records show that Soros sent $1 million to Color of Change, official records show that the group - which insists its decisions are independent of its donors -- spent less than half that amount on supporting Bragg.

"It is a common tactic by hate groups to discredit, harass and silence fact-checkers," said Jay Van Bavel, a professor of psychology at New York University, who has faced similar trolling in the past for his debunking work.

Such "harassment is designed to discredit them and to help reinforce misinformation and conspiracy theories," he told AFP.

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Former president Donald Trump is now leading Florida governor Ron DeSantis in a hypothetical 2024 head-to-head matchup among likely Republican voters in the Sunshine State, according to a new poll from Victory Insights.

The survey shows Trump winning support from 46.6 percent of likely voters, while DeSantis notched support from 31.8 percent of voters. Another 21.6 percent of likely voters said they are undecided. The results mean Trump has enjoyed a 25.7 point swing in his favor since Victory Insights conducted a similar poll in November, when Trump formally announced his campaign and DeSantis was riding high from a landslide reelection win. At the time, polling showed DeSantis with a 10.9-point lead over Trump in Florida.

Five months later, things have changed substantially, Victory Insights senior pollster Ben Galbraith said in a statement. Several other candidates have announced their candidacies, and Trump has been indicted and arrested in a highly politicized move by the Manhattan DA. DeSantis still hasnt officially announced his candidacy, but his messaging, book tour, and PAC activity certainly point to a presidential run in the coming months.

However, its beginning to look more like an uphill battle than previously believed, the pollster added.

Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on Tuesday. The indictment, which Trump has decried as political persecution, appears to have offered a boost to his presidential campaign, which raked in more than $10 million in the days after the news of the indictment broke.

Porn actress Stormy Daniels claimed in the final days of the 2016 presidential election that she had previously had a sexual affair with Trump. Trumps former fixer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about her claims. Manhattan DA Alvin Braggs investigation centered on whether Trump falsified internal business records to conceal the reimbursement payments to Cohen as legal expenses. Bragg is trying to make the untested legal argument that Trump falsified the records in the service of violating federal campaign-finance law.

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Ninety percent of Florida Republicans believe the indictment against Trump was politically motivated, according to the poll, which was conducted between April 6 and 8 among 1,000 likely GOP presidential primary voters in Florida and has a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

Meanwhile, if DeSantis doesnt run, Trump is the frontrunner, and its not remotely close, Galbraith said.

When voters were asked to choose between Trump, DeSantis and other declared Republican candidates, Trump garnered 42.9 percent of the vote and DeSantis came in second with 34.8 percent. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy trailed far behind in third with 3.5 percent, followed by former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley at 3.2 percent and former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson at 1.4 percent. Another 13.9 percent were undecided.

If DeSantis is removed from that group, Trump wins with a whopping 65.9 percent of the vote. Haley sits in a distant second with 7.8 percent and another 22.4 percent are undecided.

However, the poll had one bright spot for DeSantis: the Florida governor was more widely liked than Trump or other 2024 contenders. Voters were asked to rate each of the candidates on a scale of one to five, with five being a very positive view. DeSantis notched an average of 3.85, while Trump received a score of 3.69. Haley followed behind with 2.19. Ramaswamy was given a rating of 1.12.

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NEW YORK (AP)  Legally, the most important words former President Donald Trump said after he was charged with 34 felonies by the Manhattan District Attorney last week were not guilty. But, politically, the most significant may be election interference.

Trumps repetition of those words, which have been taken up by other top Republicans, show how he is trying to turn his historic position as the first former president charged with crimes to his advantage. It's another example of what's been a consistent refrain throughout his political career  claiming without evidence that an election is being rigged against him.

After his initial court appearance in the New York case, the first of several in which he is in legal jeopardy, Trump ticked through the varied investigations he was facing and branded them as massive attempts to interfere with the 2024 election.

Our justice system has become lawless," Trump said as he appeared before supporters at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. "Theyre using it now, in addition to everything else, to win elections.

Trump has made some version of those claims in at least 20 social media posts since March 3, the bulk of which occurred in the last two weeks, accelerating when a Manhattan grand jury appeared to be wrapping up its work and preparing to indict the former president. Trump declared his latest bid for the White House shortly after the November midterms, in what some in his orbit saw as an effort to head off the various probes swirling around him.

Alleging an election is being stolen from him is a routine Trump tactic, despite no evidence to back up his assertions. When competing for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016, Trump claimed his loss in the Iowa caucuses was due to fraud. When he won the White House that November but lost the popular vote, Trump claimed the only reason for falling short in the latter category was because undocumented immigrants voted. A task force he formed to find voter fraud disbanded without finding any evidence to back up his claim.

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In 2020, Trump began arguing the election would be fraudulent months before voting started. He attacked efforts to loosen restrictions on mail voting during the coronavirus pandemic, and expanded those allegations after losing the election to claim he'd actually won it. Those lies led to the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Federal and state election officials and Trumps own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence the 2020 election was tainted. The former presidents allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges Trump appointed.

Trump is behaving like a politician in the legal crosshairs, said Steven Levitsky, a Harvard political scientist.

He's certainly not the first politician to be prosecuted  sometimes fairly, sometimes not  to play the political victim card, Levitsky said.

Levitsky, who cowrote the book How Democracies Die, said that several former presidents of other countries, when prosecuted, have claimed it was a plot to foil their future elections. Most recently, that was the complaint of Brazil's former president Luis Inacio Lula Da Silva after he was jailed before the 2018 election. Silva was freed by his country's supreme court and won back the presidency in October.

What's notable in Trump's case, however, is that his own party is echoing the stolen election claims ahead of the next campaign. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last month said he was directing his party's committee chairs to investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions.

That a whole party is carrying this line is somewhat unusual," Levitsky said.

Last week's charges in New York court stemmed from Trump's reimbursements to his lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen, of hush money paid in the waning days of the 2016 presidential election to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who alleged they had an affair. Even some critics of Trump have seen the charges as a stretch of New York laws.

The heart of the Manhattan case is prosecutors' claim that Trump falsified business records at his company to make the payoff in order to keep a potentially damaging story quiet while he was campaigning  an illegal attempt by Trump, they argued, to try to influence the election.

The former president also faces legal jeopardy from other investigations, two of which are related to his attempts to try to interfere with the 2020 election.

Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, are probing Trump's January 2021 call to the state's top elections officer asking him to find enough votes to declare Trump the winner there, as well as other efforts by the former president and his allies to overturn his narrow election loss in the state.

The U.S. Justice Department also has launched a federal special counsel probe into Trump's attempts to try to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election. Trump is also enmeshed in a federal special counsel investigation of his handling of classified documents found at his Florida estate.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, when asked at a news conference on Tuesday whether the timing of the case was political, responded by saying, I bring cases when theyre ready."

Braggs office declined to comment on Trumps statements about election interference," as did the Department of Justice.

Critics warn that Trump is, once again, sowing suspicions of fraud that could damage democracy. Weve seen this film before, Joanna Lydgate, chief executive officer of States United Action, which tracks politicians who embrace Trump's election lies, said in a statement. We know this is dangerous because we all saw what happened on January 6th.

Trump has routinely waved off such warnings, and has seamlessly integrated his current legal jeopardy into the false allegations hes made for three years about Democratic Party wrongdoing leading to his ouster.

In his first campaign rally, in Waco, Texas, days before the Manhattan indictment, Trump railed against all the investigations and said that his opponents were using the probes because its harder for them to stuff the ballot boxes, of which they stuffed plenty.

The new weapon being used by out-of-control unhinged Democrats to cheat on election is criminally investigating a candidate, he said.

Trump and other Republicans have sometimes contradicted themselves, decrying the investigations as an attempt to tarnish Trump while also predicting they'll aid his bid for the White House.

I think youll see his poll numbers go up, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., one of the president's most vocal backers in the House, predicated at a GOP conference last month. Hes never been in a stronger position. She condemned the charges last week as unprecedented election interference.

Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs for Common Cause, which has long been critical of Trump's allegations of election rigging, noted that all the investigations of the former president began well before he started running for president again.

Nobody is above the law, including former presidents, and running for president cannot and must not serve as a shield for wrongful conduct, Scherb said.

___ Riccardi reported from Denver. Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri in Washington contributed to this report.
Tulare County residents are bracing for another round possible flooding as temperatures are expected to rise in the coming weeks, likely causing local waterways to overflow as lake's rise.

More than a dozen atmospheric rivers hit the Central Valley beginning in December. While causing widespread damage, the storms also created an unusually robust Sierra snowpack, which supplies about a third of Californias water. With snow levels at an all-time high, there is growing concern that when the snow melts it will cause flooding issues in San Joaquin and Tulare basins.

The real challenge as we move into spring and summer though is flooding  significant flooding  particularly in the Tulare Lake Basin, said Karla Nemeth, director of the Department of Water Resources.

Snowmelt season well above average

This seasons statewide snowpack at 227% of average, as of March 27. That is greater than any previous April reading since the sensor network was deployed in the mid-1980s, said Sean de Guzman, water supply forecasting unit manager for the California Department of Water Resources.

Snowpack levels help determine crop planting patterns, ground water pumping needs, and irrigation schedules. The information is also used to evaluate water supply and whether water rationing is needed.

Following the storms, Tulare Lake  located in Corcoran  has water for the first time in roughly four decades. The lake dried up after its rivers were diverted for agricultural irrigation and municipal water uses. However, the lake has reappeared during unusually high levels of rainfall or snow melt.

Today, the lake bed is primarily used for agriculture.

It's up to operators of flood control projects to determine how much water can safely be stored in a reservoir while reserving space for predicted inflows.

Kaweah, Kings, Tule and Kern rivers flow into Tulare Lake.

We continue to work around the clock with our state, county, and local partners to mitigate the risk of flooding downstream of our reservoirs, including Tulare Lake.

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"Our releases at all locations are coordinated with local and regional water resources agencies to reduce flood-related risks to people and property," said Ken Wright, Army Corps of Engineers public affairs specialist. "As always, we are managing our reservoirs to ensure flood control space for potential increased inflows and the operational integrity of our dams, outlet works and spillways."

As of Monday, Lake Success was at 61.6% capacity, Lake Kaweah was at 37.4% capacity, with both dam spillways expected to remain operational, according to Cal Fire. Pine Flat Reservoir was at 62.8% capacity.

In anticipate of snowmelt season, the state is deploying flood fight specialist to support "ongoing flood response activities." California Department of Water Resources is also providing hydraulic and hydrologic modeling and snowmelt forecasts specific to the Tulare Lake Basin that are informed by the department's snowmelt forecasting tools.

Construction on the Tule River Spillway Enlargement Project is also underway and is meant to lower the flood risk for downstream communities by increasing the capacity of Success Lake by 28,000 acre-feet. The project will also support the lakes water storage and recreation abilities, according to Army Corps of Engineers.

"Considering this years record snowpack, we anticipate greater than average inflow of water into Lake Kaweah and Success Lake," Wright said. "Reservoir releases are coordinated with the respective water users on the Kaweah and Tule systems and follow the Water Control Manual."

The manual is used to make assessments on flood control.

However, flooding is not the only risk with snowmelt season.

This year is very different from the last several years, in that the excessive snowpack and rain will continue to create challenges for us in the weeks and months ahead, said CAL FIRE Chief Joe Tyler. Our teams will continue to focus on localized flooding risks, potential for major flooding, water rescues and our operational capabilities to support our communities moving into the spring and summer months.

Water dangers loom when weather warms, snow melts

The eventual spring warm-up will bring fast flows and cold temperatures when all that snow starts to melt. This week's forecast is expected to bring temperatures in the low 80s, according to the National Weather Service.

After successive low-water drought years, it is imperative that Californians understand water safety in and around rivers, streams, lakes and Sierra reservoirs, State Parks Director Armando Quintero said. As the temperature rises, snowmelt-fed waterways can quickly induce incapacitating cold-water shock to even the strongest swimmers. We encourage everyone to follow the advice of public safety officials and avoid entering waterways if asked to do so.

Already this year, water levels in the St. Johns and Kings rivers forced Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux to issue a closer notice for both rivers. The closure includes waterways, banks, and beaches for recreational and commercial use.

The Kings River is closed from the Tulare/Fresno county line, west of Avenue 428, to the Tulare/Kings county line, east of Avenue 384.

The St. Johns River will be closed from Mckays Point, west of Road 236, to where the St. Johns turns into Cross Creek to the Tulare/Kings county line at Avenue 1.

Water warnings are not just for locals.

All Californians are being encouraged to wait until summer to recreate in the water, when conditions are safer.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Tulare County braces for impacts of a historic snowpack
BuzzFeed News; Getty Images

When Twitter Circles launched in August 2022 , it promised users the flexibility to choose who can see and engage with their content on a Tweet-by-Tweet basis.

The ability to limit posts access to a small number of people makes it easier to have more intimate conversations and build closer connections with select followers, the company said in a blog post announcing the feature. Among the voices praising Circles in the post was Belong To, which supports young LGBTQ+ people in Ireland. The group hailed the feature for putting power into the hands of people on Twitter by creating a new way for them to control how they show up online and feel safe expressing themselves.

Eight months and one ownership change later, Circles secure functionality appears to have broken. A number of users are publicly warning those who use the feature that their supposedly secure posts  oftentimes nudes  are leaching into the main For You feed, the algorithmically driven homepage of Twitter.

For New York media worker Adam Moussa, the first indication something was wrong came around 25 minutes after he posted something to his Twitter Circle on April 7. He received a notification that an unfamiliar name had liked the tweet meant for select eyes only. I was like, wait, what? he told BuzzFeed News. I pull up the tweet, and I look at whos liked it. I see theres two people that I dont know that follow me that are not in the Circle who saved the tweet.

After some investigation, Moussa said he subsequently discovered that its not just tweets within his own Circle, but replies hes made to other peoples Circle tweets that are being surfaced through Twitters For You algorithm.

Look, I have 40,000 followers, Moussa said. I work in the media. I have a lot of close friendships on Twitter, but often I wish Twitter were a little bit smaller and I could just talk to my real friends. Thats what Circles is to me and a lot of people. We bitch about people; we talk shit we wouldnt talk about on the timeline. We talk about sexually explicit things. Some people post explicit photos.

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Among those who posted explicit photos was Abraham Josephine Riesman, author of a newly released book called Ringmaster about former WWE chair Vince McMahon. I did a boudoir shoot a few weeks ago and had some nice photos of myself taken, she said. One of them was risque. Riesman posted it on her Twitter Circles, and it, as usual, got no engagement, she said. But she woke up the next morning to find a follower who I dont follow back, much less have in my Twitter Circle, had liked the photo thats a little spicy.

Ive curated my Circles to people I thought wouldnt mind, but the general public does not need to see me in my birthday suit.

Riesman didnt panic  but she didnt want to impose her spicy pics on people. It was, Oh god, am I shoving my naked body in front of a load of people? she said. Ive curated my Circles to people I thought wouldnt mind, but the general public does not need to see me in my birthday suit.

Melissa Ingle, who was a senior data scientist at Twitter until CEO Elon Musk initiated a round of layoffs in November 2022, called all this a major breach of confidentiality. Ingle added, Your Circle is your trusted group of friends, and to see those posts outside that group suggests the algorithm is lacking basic functionality.

For Riesman, the idea that functionality failed isnt exactly a surprise. I long ago gave up on the notion that anything I post online will permanently remain secret, she said. Ive prepared for moments like this in my head. And it didnt faze me. Riesman said her tweet about the incident was more of a public service announcement for people who really do rely on Twitter Circles being a semiprivate space, or at least a controlled public space. Riesman said she has many friends who are trans but not out who post about their gender in Circles and could be outed through the error.

How the Circles problem happened and how it gets fixed are pertinent questions. An email to Twitters press department email asking why the breach of privacy happened received the now-traditional auto-response of a poop emoji .

Unfortunately, the Circles screwup is part of the way of life online, according to Ellen Walker, who is studying internet storytelling and narrative-curated digital culture at the Royal College of Art in London. As quickly as enclosed digital spaces can be curated, they can be taken away in a flash, by virtue of either technological enhancements, wider audience participation or, in the case of the Twitter Circles innovation, a severe misstep on the part of moderating forces, she said.

The impact is significant. It would be one thing if this feature were just being taken away and Twitter told its users, but to happen unexpectedly without warning feels like a betrayal, Ingle said. Unfortunately, under Elon Musk this type of thing is more and more likely to happen because of the severe staffing cuts and lack of expertise he has ushered in. (Musk has fired or let go significantly more than half the companys total number of employees since taking over in October 2022.)

Moussa also blames Musks leadership. It seems like the constant tinkering with whatever they want the For You algorithm to be has just fucked this up beyond belief, he said. This kind of portends greater security issues across the board. If you maintain a locked account, what guarantee do you have at all that it will remain locked? Its a breach. The trust has gone. No one can ever again actually be confident that this shit is not going to completely blow up in their faces.

As for Riesman, she seemed more sanguine. I think theres a part of us that just expects this now, she said. We all who are still trapped here [on Twitter] know that the place is falling apart.

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A year after Twitter restricted the Russian government accounts on its platform, the social network appears to have removed those blockings. The Elon Musk-owned platform has resumed surfacing accounts of Vladimir Putin and the Russian Embassy in search results.

The change, spotted by The Telegraph, also shows the Russian authorities' accounts on timelines and recommendations. A former Twitter employee told the publication that this move is likely because of a policy change.

Twitter has changed its policy about a number of things in recent days, including which accounts it deems government and state-affiliated. The earlier version had a section called "Do these labels limit functionality?" where the company described how it limited the reach of some accounts in this category.

"In the case of state-affiliated media entities, Twitter will not recommend or amplify accounts or their Tweets with these labels to people. In limited circumstances where there is a heightened risk for harm, including situations where governments block access to information on the internet in the context of an armed conflict, Twitter will also not recommend or amplify certain government accounts or their Tweets with these labels to people," the policy read.

Now, the company has entirely removed that section. Additionally, responding to a user over the weekend, Musk said that Twitter will moving forward "neither prompt nor limit their accounts" and the company will "rapidly address any attempts at gaming the system." Historically, there have been multiple instances of the Kremlin using Twitter accounts to manipulate a narrative.

This platform will neither promote nor limit their accounts, but we will rapidly address any attempts at gaming the system. It is a weak move to engage in censorship just because others do so. Letting our press be free when theirs is not demonstrates strength.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2023

Last year, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Twitter enforced a policy that curbed the amplification of government accounts from countries that had blocked the free flow of information.

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"When a government blocks or limits access to online services within their state, undercutting the publics voice and ability to freely access information, but continues to use online services for their own communications, a severe information imbalance is created. Particularly in moments of active, armed interstate conflict, the harms created by this imbalance are acute; access to information, and to the ability to share information, are of paramount importance," the company said in a blog post at the time.

After taking over Twitter, Musk has tried to dismiss the social network's role as an arbitrator of truth, eliminated multiple staffers from the moderation team and expanded the role of Community Notes  the company's crowdsourced fact-checking product  to do the heavy lifting.

Over the weekend, the Anonymous Operations account called out Twitter's lack of action on a Russian official's tweet encouraging the "disappearance of Ukraine." In response, Musk said that all news is "some degree of propaganda" and he is of the view that people should be able to decide for themselves, indicating that Twitter won't interfere in matters that might have violated the social network's speech policy under the previous management.

Im told Putin called me a war criminal for helping Ukraine, so hes not exactly my best friend. All news is to some degree propaganda. Let people decide for themselves.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2023

Under Musk, Twitter has taken stern media-related decisions. Last week, the company blocked replies, retweets and likes to posts with Substack links after the newsletter platform unveiled a Twitter clone called Notes. Twitter has since lifted most of those restrictions, however it still seems to be limiting searches with Substack links.

Separately, Musk labeled NPR a "US state affiliate media" and then changed it to "Government Funded Media" after outcry. Other publications such as BBC, PBS and Voice of America have also been labeled as "Government Funded Media." The BBC has raised an objection to this label and said that the organization is funded by "the British public through the license fee."

Last week, Musk removed the checkmark from The New York Times' account after the publication refused to pay for Twitter's paid verification service. The company initially planned to remove legacy verification marks on April 1, but hasn't moved ahead with it yet.
After initially labeling National Public Radio (NPR) state-affiliated media in a tag that appears on the outlets profile, Twitter shifted the designation to Government Funded Media on Monday.

Although the social-media company moved away from its earlier designation, which placed NPR alongside the Russian state-run news outlet, RT, and Chinas Xinhua News Agency, the new label now places the institution alongside the likes of the BBC, PBS, and Voice of America.

Twitter added a state-affiliated media tag to NPRs 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, Bill Chappell, an NPR reporter wrote following the announcement last week.

NPR operates independently of the U.S. government. And while federal money is important to the overall public media system, NPR gets less than 1% of its annual budget, on average, from federal sources.

John Lansing, the president of NPR, also condemned the decision in an official statement shared on Twitter. We are 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 stands for freedom of speech & holding the powerful accountable. A vigorous, vibrant free press is essential to the health of our democracy.

My full statement on the recent inaccurate Twitter label below: pic.twitter.com/kdusUNtNUo  John Lansing (@johnlansing) April 5, 2023

Twitter executive Elon Musk initially tweeted approvingly of the identification. Seems accurate, the billionaire wrote, sharing an image of the social-media companys announcement defining state-affiliated media as outlets where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources.

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NPR correspondent Bobby Allyn emailed Musk informing him that the website only receives roughly 1 percent of its funding from the federal government, prompting Musk to respond we should fix it.

According to NPR, roughly 40 percent of operational funding derives from corporate sponsorships and nearly a third from fees paid by local public radio stations. The media outlet has publicized a list of its largest donors which include several automotive manufacturers such as BMW, Ford, General Motors, and Honda.

While NPR was founded to represent all of America, the news outlet consistently displays a strong left-leaning political bias.

A 2014 Pew Research Center survey found that the average ideological placement of a typical NPR consumer was more liberal than HuffPost or Buzzfeed and in line with Al Jazeera America, The Colbert Report, and New York Times. Notably, the survey found that the average NPR consumer has a stronger liberal bias than Fox News consumers have a conservative bias.

These findings were echoed in a 2021 study conducted by the Knight Foundation which concluded that although neither NPR nor Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)  another publicly-funded American media program  broadcast government propaganda, they represented the views of a particular group  those of the politically correct elite left  whose assumptions frame public affairs programming on public broadcasting.

NPR has yet to use the social-media platform since Twitters initial decision to brand them state-affiliated media.

More from National Review
Two healthcare workers live streamed themselves trying to get a diaper on a patient with dementia, and invited viewers to offer comments, according to Floridas Brevard County Sheriffs Office.

The two workers, who are ages 18 and 20, have been arrested and charged with exploiting the elderly, records show. Brevard County is about 45 miles east of Orlando.

Im disgusted. ... They are two healthcare workers that were entrusted to take care of this lady, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said at a news conference on Friday, April 7.

They actually put it up on a live stream platform so that their friends could watch it (and) laugh about it as they mock this elderly person in her condition. And not only did their friends laugh, they actually made comments back and forth about how she should be dealt with and be put in a closet.

A portion of the video shared by the sheriffs office shows the workers laughing, making jokes and teaming up to put a diaper on the woman.

The date of the live stream and name of the assisted living facility were not released.

However, Ivey said the facility did everything right when it became aware of the live stream, firing the two employees and alerting the sheriffs office.

Jada Harris, 18, was arrested April 7 and charged with illegal interception of communication, abuse of an elderly or disabled adult without great harm and video voyeurism, jail records show. Bond was set at $6,000.

Shytiona Bishop, 20, was charged April 7 with abuse of an elderly or disabled person without great harm and video voyeurism, records show. Bond was set at $4,000.

An anonymous tip alerted the senior center to the broadcast, Ivey reported.

The patient did not suffer injuries and is currently in the care of professional healthcare workers and her family, he said.

My only hope is that these two (suspects) live long enough in life (that) someone pays it forward in response to their actions of how they treated this lady, Ivey said.

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He added that the commenters who were on there laughing and mocking this poor lady are worthy of the same criticism.

Karaoke singer pulls out his machete when hes told to leave stage, Florida cops say

Woman told armed man she preferred a bullet to enduring sex assault, Florida cops say

Alligator captured in Florida pool, but deputys reaction is what has people talking
Its pretty standard that people who live in Wichita crave the restaurants and entertainment venues that the much-larger Kansas City has.

Less often, Kansas Citians get turned on to a Wichita invention and go crazy for it.

Thats happened, though, over the past two years as two Wichita restaurants  Alex Harbs Meddys and Thrive Restaurant Groups HomeGrown  have branched out to Kansas City. Both have found great success, their owners report  and the restaurant writer for the Kansas City Star confirms. And both are now about to add more restaurants to the Kansas City area.

The most recent of the two to expand to Kansas City is Meddys, a quick-service Mediterranean restaurant that Harb introduced to the Wichita market in 2014 at 7906 E. Harry. Since then, hes added four more: at 21st and Greenwich in 2016; at 120S. Washington in 2018; at 560 S. Ridge Road in 2020; and at 2441 N. Maize Road in 2021.

Wichita responded so well to the Meddys concept, which offers fresh Mediterranean sandwiches, salads, bowls and platters, Harb said, that he decided to expand into Kansas City. The first restaurant there opened in December at 4105 W. 83rd St. in Prairie Village, and the response was huge.

Alex Harb, who added a restaurant in the Kansas City suburb of Prairie Village in December, has had such success that he plans to have three more Kansas City-area Meddys opened by the end of 2023.

Its unbelievable, the feedback, Harb said. I was kind of terrified before it opened, and when we did, it got really busy. Almost four months into it, the numbers are improving and getting better and better.

We dont have to take Harbs word for it, either. Joyce Smith, who writes about restaurants for the Kansas City Star and covered Meddys move into the market, confirmed that its been a big hit. She has a friend from Beirut who once owned a Lebanese restaurant in Kansas City, and he likes the place, she said.

I was just there Monday, and it was packed, and Im hearing that people like it, she said of Meddys.

The first restaurant has done so well, Harb said, that hes planning to open three more in the Kansas City area. The first will be at 6301 Brookside Plaza where a Panera operated until last summer. He hopes to have that one open in September.

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He also is putting one into the Power & Light District in downtown Kansas City and hopes to have that one open in November. Hell build another Meddys restaurant at 87th Street Parkway and I-435 in Lenexa and plans to have it ready in December.

Kansas City residents arent quite as familiar with Lebanese and Mediterranean fare as Wichitas are, Harb said, and hed like to help teach them much the way Latour founder Antoine Toubia taught Wichita in the late 1970s and early 1980s when he opened restaurants like Olive Tree and Cafe Chantilly.

Antoine Toubia back in the day set the standard for Mediterranean cuisine in Wichita, Harb said. Kansas City never had an Antoine Toubia.

A breakfast boom

Wichita-founded HomeGrown has been in Kansas City a bit longer than Meddys and also got a warm reception, said Joe Williams, who is the chief operating officer of emerging brands for Thrive.

Now, the breakfast-and-lunch concept is adding more Kansas City spots.

Thrive, which has three HomeGrown restaurants in Wichita, opened its first Kansas City-area restaurant in the tony Brookside neighborhood in late 2021. It took over the former Avenue Bistro at 338 W. 63rd St.

Since then, HomeGrown also has added a restaurant in Liberty, a suburb in north Kansas City., Mo.

Both locations are doing great, Williams said. Were on a wait every weekend and even hit a wait during the week every now and then, too.

Wichitas HomeGrown expanded into Kansas City, Missouris, Brookside neighborhood in late 2021. Its since added a restaurant in Liberty, Mo., and will soon open another in Leawood in Johnson County.

Smith, the Kansas City Stars restaurant writer, said that HomeGrown also always looks busy.

Now, HomeGrown is moving into the Kansas side of Kansas City. A HomeGrown is set to open in Leawood, which is in Johnson County, in May. And Thrive is eyeing three or four other sites on both the Missouri and Kansas sides of Kansas City.

Wed like to have at least six in the Kansas City market over the next five or six years, Williams said.

The breakfast market is crowded in Kansas City, Williams said, and HomeGrowns main competitor is the long-established First Watch chain of restaurants. But HomeGrown sets itself apart by trying to become an active member of a neighborhood where it opens, Williams said.

We spend a lot of time and energy before we open looking for local partners, he said. Well have a whole list of a half a dozen or so local providers selling us sausage and eggs and honey or whatever we can find. No one else is trying to do that in the way were trying to do it. 

HomeGrown is expanding into other markets as well. One opened in Des Moines on Jan. 30, and its doing extremely well, Williams said. Thrive is also in the process of building a restaurant in Springdale, Arkansas, which is between Bentonville and Fayetteville. It should be ready by June.
By Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Monday determined that Russia has "wrongfully detained" American Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, effectively saying that espionage charges are bogus and that the case is political.

"Journalism is not a crime," State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement. "We condemn the Kremlins continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth."

The U.S. government would provide all appropriate support to Gershkovich and his family, said Patel.

Patel also called for Russia to release Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine serving a 16-year sentence in a Russian prison and is also designated by Washington as "wrongfully detained."

Russia's FSB security service said on March 30 it had arrested Gershkovich, accusing him of gathering information about a Russian defense company that was a state secret.

Russia's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the designation.

The Wall Street Journal has denied Gershkovich was spying. The White House has called the espionage charge, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years, "ridiculous."

U.S. President Joe Biden has called for Gershkovich's release and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an April 2 telephone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov raised Washington's concerns over the reporter's "unacceptable detention."

Patel told reporters earlier that Moscow had formally notified Washington of Gershkovich's detention over the weekend, but had not yet granted U.S. consular officials access to the journalist.

The Wall Street Journal's publisher and editor in chief said the "wrongfully detained" designation "will unlock additional resources and attention at the highest levels of the U.S. government in securing his release."

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"We are doing everything in our power to support Evan and his family and will continue working with the State Department and other relevant U.S. officials to push for his release," the Journal's publisher and Dow Jones chief executive, Almar Latour, and Editor in Chief Emma Tucker said in a statement after the State Department announced its decision.

Reuters was unable to reach Gershkovich's family for comment.

Responsibility for the case will now be transferred from the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs to the office of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, raising the issue's political profile and allowing the government to allocate more resources to securing Gershkovich's release.

Legislation passed by Congress in 2020 lists 11 criteria to help determine if a U.S. citizen is "wrongfully detained." The U.S. Secretary of State uses these criteria to make the designation, but a case does not need to fulfill all 11 points to merit the "wrongfully detained" label.

The list includes, among other things, that the individual is being targeted primarily because they are an American citizen or that the detention is intended to influence U.S. government policy.

Another factor is whether the individual is being held in "inhumane conditions" or was detained in a country where the U.S. mission has received credible reports that the detention is merely a pretext.

The Biden administration has secured the release of at least 25 "wrongfully detained" Americans. More than 30 other U.S. citizens are still being held abroad with that designation.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Katharine Jackson and Jasper Ward; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Lisa Shumaker)
 Read the full article on Motorious

Can enthusiasts on the other side of the pond catch a break?

A new report out of the UK warns owners of classic cars about their Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) tax payments increasing by 10.1 percent at the start of the month. This move apparently was done to keep up with inflation, which makes sense since government policy causes inflation and anyone who owns a classic car is a walking ATM for the government to tap whenever needed.

Check out a Mopar junk yard in the woods here.

Apparently, theres a way to get your classic exempt from taxes in the UK if the vehicle was first registered over 40 years ago. The only way to confirm this is the case is by checking the V5C registration certification or logbook. Then you have to apply for the historic vehicle tax class. You still have to maintain insurance coverage and go through the annual tax process even if you dont end up owing anything. So after all that, you might escape the increased bloodletting at the hands of the government.

Lately it seems like UK enthusiasts just cant catch a break. After all, the government pumped up VAT on classic cars at the start of 2021, an additional 10 percent import duty on classic cars coming from mainland Europe was also instituted. If Brits want to go for a drive on the continent, its more expensive and complicated since they left the EU.

Enthusiasts also had to fight a proposed law that would have made tampering with vehicles illegal. While perhaps the move had some good motivations behind it, as enthusiasts we wouldnt be amused by that sort of thing.

Those who live in London a for the privilege of driving in the city. Failure to comply with that can result in the forced sale of your beloved classic.

UK classic car owners also have to be careful when refueling now that E10 is available to the public. All that ethanol can wreak havoc on a classic cars fuel system.

Source: Express

Images via Facebook

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The Russian Federation continues to suffer considerable losses on the Donetsk front, in particular near Marinka and Avdiivka, to no avail.

Source: This was revealed in the latest intelligence update by the UK Ministry of Defence, reports European Pravda

As stated in the report, over the last seven days, Russia has likely increased its armoured assaults around the Donetsk Oblast town of Mariinka, 20 kilometres south-west of the city of Donetsk.

Mariinka has been fought over since 2014 and has been largely destroyed by artillery exchanges. It commands the approaches to Donetsk and the key H15 road.

"Russia continues to give a high priority to resourcing operations in the broader Donetsk sector, including the Mariinka and Avdiivka areas, expending significant resources for minimal gains," says the report.

At the end of March, British intelligence reported that Russian forces were suffering significant losses in vehicles while trying to encircle Avdiivka and were not making any significant progress there.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine has been forced to amend some of its military plans ahead of a much-vaunted counter-offensive due to a leak of classified U.S. documents, CNN reported on Monday citing a source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Ukrainian officials told Reuters on Friday the allegedly leaked documents contained fictitious information and looked like a Russian disinformation campaign.

U.S. officials are trying to find the source of a leak of classified documents detailing a wide array of topics from Ukraine's air defences to Israel's Mossad spy agency.

Reuters has not independently verified the documents' authenticity.

Asked about the CNN report, presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said Ukraine's strategic plans remained unchanged but that more specific tactical plans were always subject to change.

"There are strategic tasks - they are unchangeable," he told Reuters.

"But operational and tactical scenarios are constantly refined, based on an assessment of the situation on the battlefield, resource provision, intelligence data on the enemy's resources, etc." he said.

"Right now its impossible to reassess plans, because they are only being worked out (now)," he added.

Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, told Reuters: "We are working on our own plans... The opinion of people who have nothing to do with this do not interest us...The circle of people who possess information is extremely restricted."

Some experts have said the source of the leak could be American.

"The focus now is on this being a U.S. leak, as many of the documents were only in U.S. hands," Michael Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official, told Reuters in an interview.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk and Max Hunder; editing by Tom Balmforth)
Ukraine has already changed some of its military plans due to the leak of classified US documents.

Source: CNN citing sources

Details: The news outlet notes that secret Pentagon documents posted online in recent weeks show how the United States is spying on both allies and adversaries, which has deeply concerned American officials who fear that the revelations could jeopardise sensitive sources and compromise important international relations.

Some of the original documents expose the extent of US wiretapping of key allies, including South Korea, Israel, and Ukraine.

Others reveal the extent of US penetration of the Russian Defence Ministry and the Russian Wagner PMC, largely through intercepted communications and human sources that could now be cut off or jeopardised.

Others expose key weaknesses in Ukrainian weapons, air defence, battalion strength and readiness at a critical point in the war, when Ukrainian forces are preparing to launch a counteroffensive against the Russians, and just as the United States and Ukraine have begun to develop a more trusting intelligence-sharing relationship.

Ukraine has already changed some of its military plans because of the leak, a source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNN.

The Pentagon has made an "interagency effort" to assess the impact of the leak, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said on Sunday.

"The Department of Defense continues to review and assess the validity of the photographed documents that are circulating on social media sites and that appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material," Singh said in a statement. "An interagency effort has been stood up, focused on assessing the impact these photographed documents could have on U.S. national security and on our Allies and partners."

Singh added that US officials spoke with allies and partners over the weekend regarding the leak, and informed "relevant congressional committees."

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According to officials, the leak has also forced the Pentagon to take steps to tighten control over the flow of such top-secret documents, usually available to hundreds of people in the government.

The Joint Staff, which consists of the Department of Defense's top military leaders who advise the president, is examining its mailing lists to find out who is receiving the data, one defence official said.

Many of the documents are marked to indicate that they were prepared by the Joint Staff's intelligence unit, known as J2, and appear to be briefing documents.

Singh said on Friday that the department was continuing to look into the matter and had referred it to the Justice Department, which separately confirmed to CNN that it had launched an investigation into the source of the leak.

Background:

On 6 April, The New York Times reported that classified military documents detailing US and NATO plans to build up the Ukrainian army ahead of a planned counteroffensive had been leaked on Twitter and Telegram.

Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, called the leaked materials "photoshopped" and joked about the deterioration in Russian intelligence. US officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity that Russia or pro-Russian elements were behind the leak of several classified US military documents posted on social media that allegedly showed preparations for Ukraines spring counteroffensive.

Later, a new batch of classified documents appeared on social media, allegedly detailing US national security secrets regarding Ukraine, the Middle East, and China.

On 9 April, the US Department of Justice launched an investigation into the leak of a huge number of US intelligence documents that have been posted on social media in recent weeks.

Bellingcat investigators found that the recently posted US classified documents on the war in Ukraine were shared on 1 and 2 March on a Discord server called WowMao, but the original source perhaps even earlier.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Ukraine intends to form an international coalition to bring back Ukrainian orphans held or taken by Russia.

Source: Ministry for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, quoting Minister Iryna Vereshchuk on air during a broadcast by the Rada TV channel

Quote from Vereshchuk: "The help of the international community is very important to us in this matter [bringing back orphans  ed.]. A pool of international leaders is already being formed out of those who have expressed their public support for such a coalition. Ursula von der Leyen, Mateusz Morawiecki and others are among them.

There should also be a mediator. It could be anyone: the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNHCR, UNICEF, etc. I hope that such a platform will soon start operating."

Details: Vereshchuk has recalled that Russia is holding 4,396 Ukrainian orphans illegally  both those who are held in the temporarily occupied territories and those taken illegally to Russian territory.

Background:

Vereshchuk stated at the end of March 2023 that Ukraine was ready to take back its children who had been deported by Russia at the Russian border with any EU member state.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
F-16 fighter aircraft

If there are pilots who know how to fly the F-16 and are ready to take part (in the war), the foreign legion is ready to open their doors, Reznikov said during a briefing.

Read also: Danilov is sure that Ukraine will receive F-16 fighter jets

He also invited foreign specialists who know how to maintain Western-made artillery and tanks to come join Ukraines war effort.

Read also: Ukrainian pilots can master F-16 jets within six months, says air force commander

According to Reznikov, Kyivs Western partners will finally greenlight transfer of modern combat aircraft in coming months.

Ukrainian pilots could master F-16 jets in under six months, Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Gen. Serhiy Holubtsov, said on March 20.

Read also: Ukraine needs F-16 fighters for its defense, says Zaluzhnyi

Ukraine says it needs F-16 fighters to support its coming offensive against Russian invasion forces, and to counter the latest escalation in the war by Russia  the bombing of Ukrainian border cities with guided glide bombs, dropped by Russian warplanes flying outside the range of Ukrainian air defenses.

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
NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Ukraine's deputy foreign minister on Monday said Kyiv wanted New Delhi to be more involved in helping resolve its conflict with Russia and has sought a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials.

Emine Dzhaparova told broadcaster CNBC TV18 in an interview that Kyiv also expected India to invite Ukrainian officials to participate in G20 events and intensify political dialogue with Kyiv.

India holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 this year and hosts a leaders summit in September. New Delhi has not been as critical of Moscow as others for its invasion of Ukraine and has even ramped up its buying of Russian oil - the lifeblood of its economy - while others have sought to buy less or ban it.

Dzhaparova, who is on a four-day visit to New Delhi, told the broadcaster: "We believe India should be engaged and involved in the Ukraine issue to a great extent".

"We believe intensification of political dialogue on the highest level is first step towards this big goal. My president is requesting a phone conversation with the Prime Minister. We are looking forward to welcome him in Kyiv one day," she said.

Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, she said India should be pragmatic in securing its resources, including energy and defence equipment, while warning against dependence on Russia.

India has sought a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine, while Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin in September that now is "not an era of war".

India has also boosted its purchases of Russian oil, taking advantage of the deep discounts following a European ban on Russian oil imports.

Russia, like the Soviet Union before it, has been Indias main source of arms and defence equipment for decades and it has now displaced Iraq as India's top crude supplier as well.

"We only think it is crucial to diversify all of the resources, not only energy but also military resources," Dzhaparova said. "When you are dependent from Russia, they always use this blackmail instrument".

Dzhaparova will meet India's deputy national security adviser and a junior foreign minister during her visit and address a world affairs think tank.

(Reporting by Tanvi Mehta, Sakshi Dayal and Rupam Jain; Writing by Shivam Patel; Editing by YP Rajesh and Hugh Lawson)
April 10, Ukraine returns 100 defenders from Russian captivity

According to the agency, 80 male and 20 female defenders, including nine officers and 91 privates and sergeants, returned home. They fought in Mariupol, Bakhmut, Hostomel, Chonhar, the Snake Island, the Zaporizhzhya and Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plants, among other sections of the front line.

Read also: Kremlin refused Muslim POW exchange on Ramadan, Ukraine says

Among the released POWs were also 24 National Guardsmen, 22 members of the State Border Guard Service, 22 members of the Navy, 21 troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 11 members of Territorial Defense Forces.

According to Andriy Yermak, the head of the Presidents Office, todays prisoner swap was difficult.

Read also: Ukraine exchanged Russian ROC agents in POW swaps, official says

He said that almost half of those released have serious injuries, illnesses, or were subject to torture.

At the same time, Russias Defense Ministry announced the return of 106 Russians.

Read also: Ukraines intelligence frees Ukrainians held captive in Syria

In addition, Ukraine has unilaterally handed over five seriously wounded invaders to Russia, including the only woman who was held captive. Kyiv previously made the same gesture on March 24, 2023.

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
Ukraine returns 24 children kidnapped from Kherson Oblast by Russia

Volunteers from the Save Ukraine charity fund helped secure the childrens return. They were delivered to the city of Kherson.

According to the volunteers, it was one of the most difficult rescue missions. The Russians had interrogated the children for 13 hours, and later forced them to take part in a propaganda stunt.

Read also: Former 'Berkut' officer abuses kidnapped Ukrainian children

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk said that an international coalition is being formed to agitate for the return of Ukrainian orphans who had also been kidnapped by Russian forces.

Therefore, the Coordinating Council for the Protection and Safety of Children, chaired by presidential chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak, is working on the formation of a coalition aimed at rescuing these orphans and pursuing accountability for the kidnappers and enablers.

Read also: Presidential commissioner reveals how Russia systematically kidnaps Ukrainian children

The world communitys help is very important to us in this issue, she said.

A pool of international leaders who have expressed their public support for such a coalition is already being formed, including (President of the European Commission) Ursula von der Leyen, (Polish Prime Minister) Mateusz Morawiecki, and others. There should also be a mediator. It can be anyone: the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNHCR, UNICEF, etc.

Vereshchuk added that she hopes that such a platform will start operating soon.

According to the deputy PM, Russia is harboring 4,396 kidnapped orphans in occupied Ukrainian territories and in Russian territory.

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
KYIV (Reuters) - A senior Ukrainian commander said on Monday that Russian troops were using "scorched earth" tactics in the embattled city of Bakhmut and destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery.

Ukrainian forces have hung on for months in Bakhmut, a small city in eastern Donetsk region, where the fiercest fighting of Moscow's full-scale Feb. 2022 invasion has killed thousands of soldiers and been dubbed the "meat-grinder".

"The enemy switched to so-called scorched earth tactics from Syria. It is destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery fire," said Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces.

But the defence of the city of Bakhmut continued, he said.

Syrskyi, who is overseeing the operation in the east, on Sunday visited front line areas with the fiercest fighting around Bakhmut, Ukraine's Military Media Centre said.

"The situation is difficult but controllable," he said.

Ukraine also accused Russia of using "scorched earth" tactics last summer in its assault on Sievierodonetsk, a city in the eastern Luhansk region. Kyiv's forces were forced to withdraw from there in July after a Russian onslaught.

Ukraine has said its defence of Bakhmut is buying time for it to build up and reconstitute forces for a much-vaunted spring offensive and that it is inflicting huge losses on Russian forces trying to seize control.

But Russian forces have gained ground on the flanks of Bakhmut in recent weeks, threatening key supply lines for Kyiv's defenders and have also made advances inside the city.

The capture of Bakhmut would be Moscow's first major gain since it took the similarly-sized cities of Sievierodonetsk and neighbouring settlement Lysychansk.

Syrskyi said Russia was bringing in special forces and airborne assault units to help their attack on the city as members of Russia's private Wagner military group had become "exhausted".

Story continues

Wagner militia fighters have been spearheading the assault on Bakhmut.

Reuters could not verify the battlefield accounts.

(Reporting by Tom Balmforth; editing by Angus MacSwan and Gareth Jones)
Key developments on April 10:

Ukraines top commander visits Bakhmut, discusses how to further defend the fortress

Russian proxy leader in Donetsk Oblast claims he visited Bakhmut, met Wagner mercenaries

100 Ukrainian POWs freed in prisoner exchange

UK Defense Ministry: Russia increases armored assaults around Marinka, Donetsk Oblast.



Ukraines Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi visited Bakhmut to meet commanders and soldiers defending the largely destroyed city, a statement said on April 10.



In a Telegram post, the commander of Ukraine's Land Forces and Eastern Operational Command said he worked out how to further defend Bakhmut with the commanders of various military units and groups.



Bakhmut, once a peaceful city of about 70,000 people, is nearly encircled by Russian forces and is now the epicenter of the war, but Ukraine has vowed to hold on to it as long as it can.



It is a great honor for me to be side by side with our soldiers at this time, Syrskyi said.



The Ukrainian commander claimed that Russia is losing some of its most skilled fighters  special forces and airborne assault units  in its desperate attempt to capture Bakhmut, destroying the city that they cannot capture.



The defense of Bakhmut continues, our soldiers bravely and expertly carry out the assigned task, he added.



Syrskyis visit to Bakhmut coincided with the leader of the Kremlins proxies in Donetsk Oblast, Denis Pushilins claimed visit to central Bakhmut.



In his Telegram channel, Pushilin wrote that he drove around Bakhmut, and the Wagner mercenaries showed him our flags on the citys administrative building.



As the Orthodox Easter approaches, celebrated by the majority of Ukrainians and Russians, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a D.C.-based think-tank analyzing the war in Ukraine, said the Kremlin could call for another ceasefire over the upcoming religious holiday on April 16.



The Kremlin may call for an Easter ceasefire because such a pause would disproportionately benefit Russian troops and allow them to secure their gains in urban Bakhmut and to prepare defenses against Ukraines spring 2023 counteroffensive, the ISW said in its April 9 report.



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Also on April 10, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on television that Russian forces were attacking in four directions simultaneously  toward Bakhmut and Lyman in northern Donetsk Oblast and toward Marinka and Avdiivka in the southern part.



The U.K. Defense Ministry said on April 10 that Russia has likely "increased its armored assaults" around Marinka, a largely ruined city that sits 20 kilometers southwest of the Russian-occupied Donetsk.



Russia continues to give a high priority to resourcing operations in the broader Donetsk sector, including the Marinka and Avdiivka areas, expending significant resources for minimal gains, the U.K.s latest intelligence briefing said.



One hundred Ukrainian POWs were freed in a prisoner exchange on April 10. (Photo: The Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War / Telegram)

100 POWs freed from Russian captivity

Ukraine reported on April 10 that another 100 servicepeople were freed from Russian captivity in the latest prisoner exchange.



The servicepeople released today were deployed in the south, northeast, and east of Ukraine, as well as near Kyiv, Zmiinyi (Snake) Island, and occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced in a Telegram post.



The Russian Defense Ministry, in turn, also said 106 POWs returned home.



But even as such prisoner exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow  one of the few examples of cooperation  occasionally take place, an unconfirmed number of Ukrainian servicepeople are still held in Russian captivity. Some are severely wounded.



According to what Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets told the Ukrainain branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in January after a conversation with the Russian side, Ukraine estimates that there are about 800 severely wounded Ukrainian servicemen held as POWs in the Russian territory.



The Russian ombudsman told him that he estimated about 200 seriously wounded Russian POWs in Ukrainian territory, according to Lubinets.



As of 2022, over 1,596 Ukrainians  civilians and military personnel  were freed from Russian captivity under the procedure, according to the Coordinating Headquarters.
Working alongside other units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, officers of Ukraines Special Operations Forces detected and destroyed a Russian D-20 152 mm towed gun-howitzer and a supply of its ammunition.

Source: Special Operations Forces on Facebook

Quote: "Special Operations Forces officers, working alongside their brothers-in-arms from an artillery unit, destroyed a D-20 howitzer and an ammunition supply."

Details: Special Operations Forces explained that Ukraines defence forces detected the Russian howitzer during aerial reconnaissance of the area near Donetsk.

"A precisely aimed shot from an M-777 destroyed the enemy target," the Special Operations Forces Facebook post reads.

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Ukrainian fighters shot down two Orlan-10 drones in northern Ukraine on 10 April, the work of another drone was suppressed with the help of electronic warfare systems.

Source: press service of the Operational Command Pivnich (North)

Quote: "Defence forces on the Sivershchyna front downed two unmanned aerial vehicles, probably Orlan-10. One in the border areas of Chernihiv Oblast, the other in Sumy Oblast."

Details: The defenders also managed to suppress the work of another drone with the help of electronic warfare systems.

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Russia has already lost 178,820 troops, 2,750 artillery systems, 2,323 drones, 7,028 armoured combat vehicles and 3,637 tanks in the war of aggression against Ukraine.

Source: General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces on Facebook



Details: Total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 10 April 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

approximately 178,820 (+670) military personnel,

3,637 (+1) tanks,

7,028 (+4) armoured combat vehicles,

2,750 (+10) artillery systems,

534 (+1) multiple-launch rocket systems,

282 (+0) air defence systems,

307 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft,

292 (+0) helicopters,

2,323 (+11) operational-tactical UAVs,

911 (+0) cruise missiles,

18 (+0) ships/boats,

5,607 (+5) vehicles and tankers,

311 (+2) special vehicles and other equipment.

The data is being confirmed.

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The Verkhovna Rada [the Ukrainian Parliament] voted on 10 April in favour of the general draft law with an amendment that restores the additional allowance of UAH 30,000 [roughly US$800] to Ukrainian soldiers outside the combat zone.

Source: messages from members of the Parliament Dmytro Razumkov and Yaroslav Zhelezniak

Details: The Rada adopted draft law 8312 "on improving the legal regulation of issues related to the implementation of martial law measures" on 10 March with 277 votes in favour.

During its consideration, representatives of Smart Politics, the parliamentary association of former Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Razumkov, introduced an amendment that would "return UAH 30,000 to the military, civil protection service, and police by limiting salaries for senior officials." Parliament has supported it with 254 votes.

At the same time, Zhelezniak said that the amendment "returns the allowance to defenders by saving on reduced salaries for civil servants and management of state-owned enterprises (up to 10 minimum wages)".

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada has not yet signed the draft law.

Quote from Zhelezniak: "The main thing here is that the return of the allowances works:

most likely, the Budget will need to be changed;

a 10 minimum wages cut is a small saving. Even 2% of the planned expenditures will not be enough. We used to spend UAH 2.7 billion a day on allowances for the military.

That is why I would not say we have returned it so far."

Background: Due to legislative changes, an additional monthly allowances of UAH 30,000 was cancelled on 1 February for servicemen far behind the lines, outside the combat zone, and who do not perform tasks in Ukraine's east, south or north.

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When Anastacia Kozmina and Oleksiyy Danko woke to the sound of bombing they immediately decided to leave Ukraine. They joined some eight million Ukrainian refugees, faced with finding a safe place to live and work.

The couple arrived in the UK where they found people to be "warm-hearted" and "supportive". But finding jobs was hard. So they started their own business.

Ukraine refugees have been scattered all over the world. This is the story of how many are finding ways of earning a living somewhere new.

'It was a really hard period for us'

In Ukraine, Anastasia worked as a lawyer and Oleksiyy was a qualified pharmacist. They also dry-cleaned furniture to make extra money.

Anastacia said when the bombing began on 24 February 2022, she knew she did not want to live in a warzone.

The couple had friends who had moved to England so they put an appeal on Facebook for a sponsor - and eventually arrived in Southport, Merseyside.

"It was a really hard period for us," Anastacia says. "I stopped doing my makeup, my nails, my hair... I needed six months to refresh, to understand that I am in a safe place."

Anastacia tried to get work as a lawyer but because the UK has a different legal system she couldn't, so the couple decided to use their side-hustle skills and started a business dry-cleaning furniture.

They made leaflets and were surprised to get calls from people who wanted items cleaning, items that were not actually dirty.

"One time Oleksiyy went to clean a small sofa and this lady after that she gave us some beautiful flowers because she wants to support us, she wants to help us and she was really warm-hearted," she says.

They are hoping to continue to build the business. "In England we have another life, we have an opportunity to develop ourselves, to grow," she says.

'I know that I can have a better life'

Yulia says she found deciding to leave Ukraine very difficult but her husband persuaded her it was for the best

Yulia left Ukraine three months after the war began.

She found a sponsor in Nottingham, England, and drove for three days with her two daughters and their dog. Yulia asked us not to use her surname because her husband is still in Ukraine.

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Back home, she ran a successful wedding dress business and her sponsor suggested she start it up again.

"It's a crazy idea, but I think I can try... my profession is my life," she says.

Yulia designs and makes wedding dresses

A friend of Yulia's husband, who was driving to the UK, brought all her sewing machines, fabrics and mannequins to her and Yulia hoped to get some orders.

"It's not easy because system of business in England is different, it's not like in Ukraine," she says.

Yulia struggled to make her wedding dress business work but decided to use her skills and passion to get a full-time sewing job.

A friend of Yulia's husband, who was driving to the UK, brought all of her sewing equipment with him

Yulia says although it's been disappointing not to be able to keep her business going, she is happy with her new life.

"We have a nice place, we have a nice work family... I do what I like to do so I can say that I am lucky."

She says with a bit more time she will try again to get her business off the ground.

'You need to make your mind busy to feel better'

Polina Salaby worked as a dance choreographer and instructor in Lviv before the war started

Polina was preparing the children in her dance school for a competition when Russia invaded Ukraine.

"War started and everything that you planned, it doesn't make any sense," she says.

Polina lived beside a tank factory in Lviv and quickly realised it would be a target. The following morning she left for Poland and a month later joined her sister who had been living in Canada for a few years.

"It was really difficult mentally because you are still part of Ukraine and you are here in Canada and it's very different," she says.

"You need to do something, you need to make your mind busy to feel better," she adds.

Polina got a job in recruitment but her passion was for teaching dance.

She rented space in a studio and started Polli's Dance, teaching Canadian children and the children of other Ukrainian refugees.

"I feel this energy exchange with kids," she says. "It's something that makes me feel happy."

'I just feel this fear inside'

Volodymyr and Regina Razumovskaya left Ukraine a year ago.

They had already been forced out of their home in Donetsk when the region was seized by Russian separatists in 2014 and their business was destroyed.

The couple fled to Kyiv where they set up another business selling plants.

But when Russia invaded the family were forced to flee again - this time to join friends in Perth, Western Australia.

"Could you imagine just to leave your house? To leave you business? To leave your friends?" Regian asks.

"Even one year passed I just feel this fear inside, you are not sure what's going to happen."

Regina says the welcome they received in Australia gave them the belief that they could start again.

Vlodymyr now works full time because the business in Ukraine makes just 10% of what it did before the war.

Regina told us: "When you trust that there is a future for you, you buy plants.

"The people in Ukraine now are so exhausted, so tired by the war they are losing their trust."

Additional reporting by Alex Bell and Jess Quayle
ISLAMABAD (AP)  The U.N. food agency said Monday it urgently needs $800 million for the next six months to help Afghanistan, which is at the highest risk of famine in a quarter of a century.

Aid agencies have been providing food, education and health care support to Afghans in the wake of the Taliban takeover of August 2021 and the economic collapse that followed it. But distribution has been severely impacted by a Taliban edict last December banning women from working at national and international nongovernmental groups.

The U.N. was not part of this ban but last week it said the Taliban-led government has stopped Afghan women from working at its agencies in the country. Authorities have yet to comment on the restriction.

The World Food Program said women aid workers play a vital role in delivering the agency's food and nutrition assistance and that it it will make every possible effort to keep this going, while also trying to ensure the active involvement of female staff.

The WFP urgently needs $800 million for the next six months to continue providing assistance to people in need across Afghanistan, the organization said. Catastrophic hunger knocks on Afghanistans doors and unless humanitarian support is sustained, hundreds of thousands more Afghans will need assistance to survive.

The U.N. said Monday that its Afghan operations remain severely under-funded, with $249 million reported to be confirmed for 2023, nearly one-third of the amount received for the same period in 2022.

It said Afghanistan is dealing with its third consecutive year of drought-like conditions, a second year of crippling economic decline, and is still suffering from decades of conflict and natural disasters.

The total immediate funding requirements to address critical gaps for the coming three months is $717.4 million, according to a statement from the agency's office for humanitarian affairs. This is all part of an overall funding gap of $4.38 billion across the humanitarian response for 2023.

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It previously said that Afghanistan is its lowest-funded operation globally, despite being the world's biggest humanitarian crisis.

The Taliban takeover drove millions of Afghans into poverty and hunger after foreign aid stopped almost overnight. Sanctions on Taliban rulers, a halt on bank transfers and frozen billions in Afghanistans currency reserves restricted access to global institutions and the outside money that supported the countrys aid-dependent economy before the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces.

The country's acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said Afghanistan's assets have been illegally and unjustly frozen. He called for Afghanistan's seat at the U.N. to be handed over to the Taliban-led government. It is still held by the government of former President Ashraf Ghani.

In a video statement shared Monday by the Foreign Ministry's deputy spokesman, Hafiz Zia Ahmad, Muttaqi said U.N. offices and other international institutions are open in Kabul. He did not directly address the ban on female Afghan U.N. staffers in his remarks.

They are active here, so our relationship is good so far, said Muttaqi. We are trying to represent Afghanistan at the United Nations, it is the right of Afghans. But now (Afghanistan's seat) is in the hands of someone who does not represent Afghanistan, does not represent the people, and there is no other group that represents them.
NORMAN  Fake 911 calls originating from outside the United States prompted a massive police presence at the University of Oklahoma on Friday night. The calls falsely reported there was an active shooter on OU's campus.

OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. said late Sunday the university worked with the FBI to determine the false alarm was created by "swatting" calls.

Swatting is a prank where someone makes a hoax 911 call while disguising their phone number and its origin, drawing police and often heavily armed SWAT officers to the location of a made-up emergency.

Harroz sent an email to university students and staff late Sunday.

Police responded to a possible active shooter situation last Friday on the campus of the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

"Although the investigation will continue for some time, it is believed that the calls targeting our campus originated from outside of the United States," Harroz said in the email.

"Sadly, OU is not the only school to have recently been targeted by swatting, and it is deeply troubling there are people who want to purposely inflict such trauma and chaos."

OU swatting event Friday managed

An all-clear was given Friday night 89 minutes after the university alerted students and staff of a reported active shooter on campus. In a tweet, the university said campus police issued an "all clear" after a thorough search revealed no threat was found.

Nate Tarver, chief of the University of Oklahoma's police department, told media representatives at the scene Friday the hundreds of officers who responded to the panic call could not find any evidence that a shooting had occurred.

"We did a thorough search of the library and the adjacent area, and found no threats, no evidence that any shooting had occurred," Tarver said.

The chief said his officers have been trained to respond to active shooter situations and will review the response to determine if there are any areas where it could be strengthened. Beyond that, he said the department's staff was happy that it appeared everyone was safe.

"... I want to express my overwhelming gratitude to the OU Police Department, to the OU Department of Campus Safety, and to the more than 100 officers from multiple law enforcement agencies who immediately and decisively took action, heading directly toward the perceived threat without an ounce of hesitation," Harroz wrote Sunday.

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Similar swatting events on the rise nationwide

On Sunday, Boston University was a target of a similar swatting call.

Boston University Police said that, although officers were still investigating, the department was confident there was no threat to the community in an update just before 8:50 p.m. on Sunday.

We greatly appreciate your cooperation, BU Police told Boston.com. Hoax swatting calls have been occurring nationally and cause a great deal of anxiety to the community.

These types of calls have been increasing at schools and universities, reports The Associated Press.

Hundreds of cases of swatting occur annually, with some using caller ID spoofing to disguise their number. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to respond to an address.

Do fake threats hinder response to real shootings?

Authorities are grappling with false alarms in a country where mass shooters have killed hundreds of people throughout history. Shooters have attacked in places like stores, theaters and workplaces, but it is in schools and colleges where the carnage reverberates perhaps most keenly.

At U.S. schools and colleges, 175 people have been killed in 15 mass shootings that resulted in the deaths of four or more people, not including the perpetrator  from 1999s Columbine High School massacre to March's shooting in Nashville, Tennessee. Thats according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University, in addition to other AP reporting.

Do false threats pose a risk?

Swatting calls have proven dangerous  even deadly  in some situations.

In 2017, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call. Just last month, the city agreed to pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit, with the money to go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch.

The hoax call that led to his death began as a feud between two online gamers. One of the gamers recruited Tyler Barriss to swat the other gamer. But the address used was old, leading police to Finch, who was not involved in the dispute or playing the video game.

Barriss was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, while the other two gamers were sentenced to 15- and 18-month terms.

Police in Maryland also shot a 20-year-old Maryland man in the face with rubber bullets after a fake hostage situation was reported at his home.

The FBI in Pittsburgh nodded to the risk, noting in a statement about the school threat cases that it takes swatting very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk.

Heather Hollingsworth, Peter Smith, Ron Todt, Marc Levy, and Lindsay Whitehurst from the Associated Press contributed to this report.

OU President Joseph Harroz Jr.'s letter to students, staff

Here is the full text of the email Harroz sent to OU students and staff late Sunday:

April 9, 2023

Dear OU Family,

I write to provide an update of what we have learned about the incident that impacted our Norman campus Friday night, which turned out to be false reports of an active shooter. We have since learned more information about what occurred, and I want our community to be the first to know.

First, and above all else, we are enormously relieved that the situation turned out to not be a real event and that our community and our campus are safe. Just as important, I want to express my overwhelming gratitude to the OU Police Department, to the OU Department of Campus Safety, and to the more than 100 officers from multiple law enforcement agencies who immediately and decisively took action, heading directly toward the perceived threat without an ounce of hesitation. Within less than one minute of the initial call to 911, the first emergency RAVE alert was sent to all Norman students, faculty, and staff, and OUPD arrived on the scene in under two minutes. In addition, there were many other staff and administrators who did their part Friday night to keep our community safe and informed. The level of professionalism that was demonstrated across the board is indicative of the quality of our team and the hard work and discipline that are poured into training for such an event. Im also profoundly thankful to every student, faculty, and staff member who took our emergency alerts seriously and remained vigilant as the situation unfolded. As with any major event, we will learn from this and find ways to improve, but the main takeaway is that our community and its response were exceptional.

Police respond to a possible active shooter Friday at the University of Oklahoma.

We now know more about Fridays incident. At approximately 9:24 p.m., several calls were made to 911 reporting an active shooter on campus near the South Oval and Bizzell Memorial Library. Officers immediately responded to the area, and after conducting a thorough search, did not find any evidence of a shooting or criminal activity. With assistance from the FBI, we have since confirmed that this was a swatting incident, where callers fake an emergency that draws a large response from law enforcement. Although the investigation will continue for some time, it is believed that the calls targeting our campus originated from outside of the United States. Sadly, OU is not the only school to have recently been targeted by swatting, and it is deeply troubling that there are people who want to purposely inflict such trauma and chaos.

As relieved as we are that the incident turned out to be false, we recognize that the feelings of fear and anxiety that many of us experienced on Friday were very real. Please remember that resources are available to you through the university. If you are experiencing difficulty, please contact your campus counseling services (Norman, Health Sciences Center, OU-Tulsa).If you are a student, please feel free to reach out to a student life or centralized student affairs team member at your respective campus. Faculty and staff may also seek assistance through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Police searched the University of Oklahoma campus for a possible active shooter on Friday before issuing an all-clear more than an hour later.

Now is also a good time to remember that you can update or verify your contact information for OU emergency communication alerts by visiting ecs.ou.edu. On this page, you can also edit your contact settings to add a second phone number  such as that of a family member or loved one  to receive these alerts. In addition, anyone who is not an OU student or employee may opt in to receive emergency alerts for any of OUs three campuses. To opt in on the Norman campus, text OUALERTS to 67283; Health Sciences Center, text HSCAFFILIATE to 226787; and OU-Tulsa, text outulsa to 67283.

I again share my gratitude to all of you. As always, I am humbled and honored to be a part of this remarkably caring community.

With appreciation,

Joseph Harroz, Jr.

President

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU says fake active shooter calls came from outside the US
In an effort to build relationships and empower community members lacking permanent legal status, the Whatcom County Public Defenders Office and Community to Community will co-host an immigration rights event this week.

The Know Your Rights event, which will include volunteer attorneys and Spanish, Mam and Mixteco language interpreters, is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at Community to Communitys gathering space, 1295 E. Bakerview Road in Bellingham. Community to Community is a local nonprofit led by and for farmworkers focused on immigration rights and food sovereignty.

The event will have presentations on noncitizen rights that are included in both the U.S. and Washington state Constitutions, as well as focus on two state laws that prohibit local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and others from working with federal agencies for the purposes of immigration enforcement.

Proximo evento de derechos de inmigracion busca empoderar a los miembros de la comunidad y forjar relaciones

Presenters will also role-play scenarios and discuss steps noncitizens can take to decrease their chances of having adverse contact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection. Food will also be served.

Under the Constitution, there are certain rights that everyone has regardless of immigration status, said Rosario Daza, an immigration attorney who helped bring the county public defenders office and Community to Community together. The event is basically arming the community with education and connection so that they feel if they assert their rights to remain silent, there will be a public defender there to have their back.

While there are laws that prohibit local law enforcement agencies from collaborating with federal agencies on immigration enforcement, various agencies across the state continue to work with federal immigration officials, Daza said.

The ways that we can push back against that are by empowering the community to know what their rights are and to assert these rights, and to also educate public defenders to spot these violations and report them as well, Daza said. This transparency and this advocacy is what holds law enforcement and state actors to their obligations under the Constitution and under these state laws.

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There has always been a need to empower community members of various immigration statuses to know what the laws and their rights are, especially since Whatcom County is a border county, said Australia Tobon, who works with Community to Community and is part of Bellinghams Immigration Advisory Board.

Too often community members and organizations have received calls about family members who havent returned home, students facing immigration issues because they or their parents were stopped by law enforcement, or people getting lost and ending up at the Canadian border crossing while trying to find a job site, Tobon said.

There are just so many different things to the realities of community members who are noncitizens of our county, she said.

Of the 230,677 people living in Whatcom County, roughly 10.3% are Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus 2021 estimate. That is the second largest demographic in Whatcom next to white people, the data shows.

Collaboration and education

While the primary focus of Wednesdays event is on educating people about their rights in Washington, there is also a focus on collaboration, Tobon said. A public defender can sometimes be the only attorney an immigrant may come into contact with who could potentially prevent that person from becoming involved in the immigration deportation pipeline, Tobon said.

A 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling requires criminal defense attorneys to provide advice regarding immigration consequences to their clients. Whatcom County Chief Deputy Public Defender Maialisa Vanyo said she often uses resource attorneys with the Washington Defender Association to help provide this advice to her clients.

As part of that process, Vanyo said she fills out a form that has her ask clients detailed questions about their entry to the United States, their family members and more really private, personal information that could be really frightening for someone to share. Vanyo said one of her goals with the upcoming event is to explain why a public defender may be asking these questions, how attorney-client privilege protects a persons answers, what attorneys will do with that information and how it helps them provide accurate immigration advice if needed.

Partnering with Community to Community for the event also provides a chance for noncitizens and the public defenders office to build relationships, Vanyo said.

I wanted to see us reaching out to populations that were maybe not as naturally accessible to and I feel like asking that community to come to us is a hard ask, Vanyo said. I wanted us to reach out and be available and see what the response was to that offering of education and support. ... I want to see that grow for our office and have us be available for people, because were here for all people in Whatcom County.

Tobon said they have been working hard to get out information about the upcoming event, including sending invitations to community leaders. She said she hopes that after the event, leaders will take the information learned and share it with their communities.

The intention behind Wednesdays event is ultimately to decrease noncitizens fear and to teach that there are ways to protect themselves at the local level, Tobon said. Its not about negating the fears that exist because of current immigration laws and enforcement, but rather to let people know about the tools available to them and how to prevent adverse interactions, she said.

We cant address fears. The only thing we can do is to give people the armor to know what the law says and what it can and cant do, Tobon said. If a community is informed, theyll take it upon themselves to try to take care of each other and try to seek out resources and help so we dont have the separations occur or we can prevent problems.
By Matt Spetalnick and Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Cuba will hold another round of migration talks on Wednesday, officials said, as the Biden administration braces for the end of COVID-era border restrictions that have blocked Cubans in recent months from crossing into the U.S. from Mexico.

The high-level meeting in Washington will follow one held in Havana in November and comes a year after the Biden administration resumed such conversations after a long hiatus under former President Donald Trump.

The U.S. embassy in Havana resumed full immigrant visa processing and consular services in January for the first time since 2017 in a bid to stem last year's record-breaking flow of migrants from Cuba north to the United States.

This week's meeting "represents a continuation of our long engagement with Cuba on migration matters as neighboring states and is limited to the topic of migration," a U.S. State Department official said on Monday.

"Ensuring safe, orderly, humane, and regular migration between Cuba and the United States remains a primary interest of the United States, consistent with our interest in fostering family reunification, and promoting greater respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba," the State Department official said on condition of anonymity.

Cuba's Communist government said it too seeks to encourage legal and orderly migration, but has long blamed the Cold War-era U.S. embargo for strangling the island's economy and encouraging its youth to emigrate.

A record 220,000 Cubans were caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2022, which ended on Sept. 30, part of a broader increase in apprehensions under Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden. Many other Cubans attempted the perilous journey to Florida in rickety boats and rafts.

Under pressure from Republicans and some Democrats, Biden adopted more restrictive border security measures in January, causing the number of Cubans and other migrants caught at the border to plummet.

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At the same time, Biden expanded legal pathways into the U.S., allowing up to 30,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans per month to enter legally if they travel by air and have U.S. sponsors.

The U.S. Border Patrol arrested 176 Cubans at the southwest border in February, down from nearly 43,000 in December.

But the Biden administration is preparing for a possible increase in migrants attempting to cross the border with Mexico when COVID border restrictions are set to end on May 11.

The restrictions, known as Title 42, allow U.S. authorities to rapidly expel migrants to Mexico without the chance to seek U.S. asylum.

(Reporting By Matt Spetalnick and Ted Hesson; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
The US Justice Department urged an appeals court on Monday to freeze a ruling by a federal judge in Texas that would ban a widely used abortion pill in a far-reaching case that looks likely to wind up at the Supreme Court.

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former Republican president Donald Trump, on Friday overturned the Food and Drug Administration's two-decade-old approval of mifepristone, which is used for more than half the abortions carried out annually in the United States.

"The district court's extraordinary and unprecedented order should be stayed pending appeal," the Justice Department said in a court filing.

"If allowed to take effect, the court's order would thwart FDA's scientific judgment and severely harm women," the filing said. "This harm would be felt throughout the country, given that mifepristone has lawful uses in every state."

The Justice Department asked the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to stay the district judge's order pending a full appeal in the case.

The latest US standoff over women's reproductive rights comes almost a year after the conservative-dominated Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that enshrined a woman's right to abortion for half a century.

President Joe Biden, a Democrat, pledged last week to fight the ruling that would ban mifepristone, calling it "an unprecedented step in taking away basic freedoms from women and putting their health at risk."

"It is the next big step toward the national ban on abortion that Republican elected officials have vowed to make law in America," Biden said.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the ruling on Monday as an "attack on FDA authority" and warned that it could "open the floodgates for other medications to be targeted and denied to people who need them."

Shortly after the judge in Texas issued his decision, a judge in Washington state ruled in a separate case that access to mifepristone must be preserved.

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District Judge Thomas Rice, a Barack Obama appointee, said mifepristone is "safe and legal" and the FDA must preserve access to it in more than a dozen states.

The dueling legal opinions, along with the appeals, means the issue is almost certain to end up before the Supreme Court.

Mifepristone is one component of a two-drug regimen that can be used in the United States through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.

It has a long safety record, and the FDA estimates 5.6 million Americans have used it to terminate pregnancies since it was approved.

- 'Will not cave to extremists' -

As the politically sensitive issue played out in the courts, the governors of states where abortion remains legal in the wake of last year's Supreme Court ruling moved to protect access to medication abortion.

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that his state has secured an emergency stockpile of up to two million pills of misoprostol, which is used in combination with mifepristone but can also be used on its own to induce an abortion.

"We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services," Newsom said. "Medication abortion remains legal in California."

In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey announced that the northeastern state had acquired 15,000 doses of mifepristone, a sufficient stockpile for a year.

More than 250 executives from leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies signed a letter meanwhile warning that a ruling by a judge with "no scientific training" undermines the drug approval authority of the FDA and "creates uncertainty for the entire biopharma industry."

Judge Kacsmaryk's ruling came after a coalition of anti-abortion groups sued to freeze the national distribution of mifepristone.

Kacsmaryk, in his decision, adopted language used by abortion opponents, referring to abortion providers as "abortionists" and saying the drug was used to "kill the unborn human."

Kacsmaryk said the two-drug regimen that includes mifepristone had resulted in "thousands of adverse events suffered by women and girls," including intense bleeding and psychological trauma.

But the FDA, researchers and the drugmaker say decades of experience have proven the medication to be safe and effective when used as indicated.

While he stayed the FDA's 23-year-old approval, Kacsmaryk halted its enforcement for seven days to allow time for appeals.

cl/ec
The largest U.S. military leak in a decade is a serious blow to Ukraines war effort, creating an intelligence threat for that countrys forces ahead of an expected counteroffensive this spring.

Classified documents leaked on social media offer extensive details about munitions, training and air defense systems at a critical point in the fight. The Pentagon is still reviewing the validity of the documents.

Dozens of classified U.S. and NATO documents, some labeled Top Secret, began leaking in more obscure parts of the internet in January before spilling over to Twitter and Telegram and picking up attention last week.

While they only provide a status of the conflict up to March, the material does reveal insight into Ukraines military capabilities, including battalion sizes, training on advanced weaponry and deployment of heavy combat vehicles, such as Leopard II tanks.

They also give a view into Kyivs shortcomings, with at least one document describing how the country could soon run out of munitions for Soviet-era anti-air missile systems, exposing a potential vulnerability in Ukraines air defense systems.

Kurt Volker, a distinguished fellow with the Center for European Policy Analysis, said the leak is worrying because it gives the world a snapshot of U.S. assessments and judgements on the war in Ukraine.

It is signaling to Ukrainians, to Russians, to others, Heres what were thinking, Volker said, and it may give some clues as to the quality of our information, where were getting it from  which will cause the people were collecting on to shut that down.

Perhaps the most alarming leak contains information on the Ukrainian air defenses.

One document, dated in February, says missiles for the S300 will run out by May, while the SA-11 Gadfly missile system will be depleted by the end of March. Both systems make up 89 percent of Ukraines air defenses, according to NATO, and are crucial in fending off frequent Russian missile strikes.

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Russian military bloggers have already widely spread the leaked documents, including those estimating how many air defense systems and aircraft such as fighter jets are deployed by Ukraine.

NATOs assessment also says Ukraine could withstand only a few more waves of Russian missile strikes, while providing a map of where its air defense systems are.

John Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center and a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, referred to the information on Ukraines air defenses as the most unfortunate part of the leaked documents.

But he said none of the documents contain any critical information not already known by NATO allies and Russian intelligence.

I dont think theres any doubt that some damage has been done to Ukraines war effort as a result of leaks, he said. But was the damage overwhelming? Probably not.

Other documents explain the strength and capabilities of Ukrainian brigades, as well as which weapons systems Ukraine has trained on. One February document estimates the number of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and artillery units fielded by Ukraine.

Moscow has been unusually quiet on the leaks, though state-run news outlet TASS published the details of the documents.

Russian military bloggers appear to be skeptical, with one account, the War Chronicle, pointing out misspellings and errors in the material.

Rybar, a blogger with more than 1 million followers on Telegram, called it a controlled leak and a massive disinformation campaign to make Ukrainians look unprepared and ultimately encourage Russia to make a mistake.

The leak is also worrying for the U.S. because Russia could figure out how the Pentagon is collecting crucial intelligence on Russian forces and capabilities.

The documents contain information on not only Ukraines forces but also a detailed assessment on Russias army, from tanks to artillery and aircraft.

Michael OHanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said in an email that the leaks could lead Russia to tighten its communications security, reducing our knowledge of their next moves.

Its unclear how many documents are currently circulating across the internet, but at least 100 separate documents have appeared online, according to several reports and analysts.

The Pentagon on Monday declined to comment on the size and scope of the leak, revealing that the Defense Department was still investigating the matter.

The Department of Defense is working around the clock to look at the scope and scale of the distribution, the assessed impact and our mitigation measures, Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of Defense for public affairs, told reporters.

Were still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue. There have been steps to take a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom. Were also still trying to assess what might be out there, he added.

Meagher also revealed that the format of the documents are similar in format to those used to provide daily updates to our senior leaders on Ukraine and Russia-related operations, as well as other intelligence updates, and present a very serious risk to national security.

Investigative group Bellingcat traced the documents back to a leak in early March through a channel on Discord, a website where users discuss topics, primarily gaming.

Ten of the documents appeared on a Discord channel related to the popular video game Minecraft in the earliest verified leak, but Bellingcat said there may have been leaks as early as January on a separate Discord server.

The Pentagon last week said it was reviewing the document leaks and had turned over a formal criminal investigation of them to the Department of Justice. U.S. officials on Monday said the investigation was a top priority and urged caution when studying the documents, noting some of them have been altered.

The Defense Department did not identify how many have been altered. But a document that gained attention last week inflated the number of Ukrainians killed in action and drastically reduced the number of Russian casualties in the war.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of Ukraines presidential office, has called the intelligence leaks an attempt to divert attention and sow discord among Western allies.

Also on Monday, the Pentagon would not explain whether more documents are likely to appear online and how many officials in the Defense Department had access to these documents. Officials say the leak has prompted the department to take steps to review how some classified information is shared and to whom.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ukrainian soldier on the frontline in Bakhmut, Ukraine on Saturday, April 8. (Libkos/AP)

The Ukrainian governments reluctance to share some of its most sensitive information about its war plans with the United States now appears well-justified in light of last weeks leak of classified U.S. intelligence. The true damage of the breach, coming a year into Europe's largest land war since World War II, remains to be seen, but the picture it paints of Ukraine's military capability shows an army running out of ammunition and a Western-led effort to make up for the deficiencies through open and covert means.

A trove of U.S. Defense Department slides, many marked Secret or Top Secret and printed out and photographed by an as-yet-unknown source were posted to the Discord chat platform on Friday. While the files have since been deleted, they remain widely available after being downloaded and copied.

Most of the material, U.S. officials have said, appears to be genuine. Many are the result of digital and communications intercepts, not only from U.S. enemies but also from allies and partners. The Pentagon and FBI are investigating the leak, which contains intelligence culled from a host of spy agencies  the CIA, the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office and more  with a limitless purview reaching all regions of the globe. At least two of the reports were derived from human intelligence, meaning spies or informants in place in other countries, Thomas Rid, a professor of strategic studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, told Yahoo News. And very specific targets now know their communications are intercepted.

A Ukrainian soldier fires at the Russian positions on the frontline in Ukraine on Wednesday, April 5. (Roman Chop via AP)

The majority of the content deals with Ukraine and the campaign of allied assistance to the embattled country spearheaded by the United States.

Perhaps not coincidentally, the breach occurred just as Ukraines military was preparing to launch a long-anticipated spring counteroffensive designed to claw back more terrain from the Russian occupiers, who control 18% of the country.

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For Kyiv, one of the most alarming revelations from the leak was that it confirmed that Ukraine was on the cusp of launching a full-scale military operation this spring. The documents also provided a U.S. assessment of the force disposition of the Ukrainian brigades gearing up for the imminent push. The leak details how nine of the 12 Ukrainian brigades being prepared for the offensive have been heavily supplied with Western equipment and assesses in detail precisely how much Western equipment has been donated and to which Ukrainian brigade it has been assigned.

The 82nd Air Assault Brigade seems to have received particular attention. It is slated to receive three battalions of Stryker infantry fighting vehicles from the U.S., a battalion of Marder infantry fighting vehicles from Germany and a battalion of Challenger 2 main battle tanks from the United Kingdom. The documents further reference the existence and names of two corps, the 9th Strategic Reserve Corps and the 10th Operational Corps, that will be employed for force reconstitution and offensive operations. The brigade force structures depicted also reveal the deep, wide-ranging contributions from Ukraines other allies, such as Canada and Poland, countries that have committed to equipping multiple Ukrainian battalions.

A Ukrainian serviceman adjusts his helmet in a trench during incoming artillery shelling on the frontline in Ukraine on Saturday, April 8. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)

Detailed information in the leak about the rapidly diminishing numbers of surface-to-air missile systems in Ukraines inventory has also prompted concern about the direction the war is going. Despite the increasing transfer of Western air defense systems to Ukraine, the Ukrainian military still largely relies on its dwindling stockpile of Soviet-era air defense systems to defend its air space from both Russian aircraft and incoming munitions. Western countries, according to the leaked information, have been trying to make up for the shortfall by quietly sourcing resupplies through third-party buyers, quite possibly some still connected to Russias military-industrial complex.

Ukrainian forces, however, withstood Russias grueling winter campaign to freeze and black out the country by targeting its electricity network and energy infrastructure. That Russian campaign was devised by its former operational commander in Ukraine, Gen. Sergey Surovikin. The documents detail a typical engagement between Ukrainian air defense units and a wave of Russias Iranian-supplied Shahed-136 suicide drones on Feb. 27, 2023, confirming claims made by the Ukrainian government that it shot down 11 of the 14 incoming drones, mainly around Kyiv, during a five-and-a-half hour air raid.

The documents also go some way toward illuminating the extraordinary lengths to which Ukraines Western partner nations have gone to keep Kyivs Soviet-era air defense systems in the fight. The United Kingdom, despite not operating any of the systems itself, managed to source Soviet-made Buk medium-range surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine, likely purchased on the international arms market.

A Ukrainian MSLR BM-21 "Grad" fires toward Russian positions on the frontline in Ukraine on Saturday, April 8. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Poland is also listed in the documents as having donated three S-300P platforms, a sophisticated air defense system that the Poles never officially possessed in what was yet another probable purchase from unnamed vendors on behalf of Ukraine.

In a sign that the West is also modifying its own equipment for plug-and-play use in Soviet-made weapons, one document specifies that the U.S. repurposed and modified AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles so that they could be launched by a Buk. This effort, along with other similar hybridizations, is even referred to in the documents as FRANKENsam.

Regardless of the creative workaround solutions to keep Ukraines war machine chugging along, the leaked documents lay out the prospects for the coming months in stark terms. The U.S. assessed that Ukraine will have completely expended its stockpile of medium-range surface-to-air missile systems by mid-May, leaving the Ukrainian military at a severe disadvantage in protecting its troops on the frontline. That air defense should be so badly depleted at the exact time of the forecast counteroffensive makes things worse. Yurii Ihnat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, told the Wall Street Journal, If we lose the battle for the skies, the consequences for Ukraine will be very serious.

The revelations, now public, will likely increase pressure on Kyivs Western partners to both accelerate the transfer of additional air defense systems to Ukraine and perhaps increase the volume on the debate of whether or not to provide Kyiv with Western-made fighter jets such as the American F-16, a major outstanding request on Ukraines security assistance wish list.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet. (Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images)

In the past month, both Poland and Slovakia have pledged over a dozen of their own ex-Soviet aircraft  MiG-29s  to replenish Ukrainian stocks, but these donations will largely serve as replacements for aircraft lost in combat over the past 13 months or as sources for spare parts.

The supply of other munitions, particularly artillery shells, is a subject frequently discussed in the leak. One document muses how Israel might supply arms to Ukraine while maintaining a stable relationship with Moscow, noting, as Yahoo News has previously reported, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has managed to send Ukraines drones and artillery without jeopardizing his ties to Vladimir Putin.

The U.S. spied on its ally South Korea, according to one leaked document, to obtain evidence of internal concerns in Seoul about its possible supply of 330,000 155 millimeter artillery shells to Poland. The understanding was that the Poles would then send this ammunition on to Ukraine, despite Polands being described as the end-user in the arms deal.

A Ukrainian serviceman prepares 155 mm artillery shells. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Other documents in the leak give more context or an interesting perspective on previously reported events. There is a reference to a Sept. 29 near-shoot down of a Royal Air Force (RAF) Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft, which was flying in international air space over the Black Sea, for instance. Despite British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace claiming at the time that we dont consider this a deliberate escalation by the Russians, questions have understandably arisen as to the true severity of the incident and whether the British government was deliberately downplaying the risk to the RAF aircraft. Wallace stated at the time that a Russian Su-27 had released a missile in the vicinity of the RAF Rivet Joint beyond visual range. In response to official Russian statements that the incident was the result of a technical malfunction, he added, Our analysis would concur it was a malfunction.

A British government source claimed that the leaked documents contained inaccuracies and did not reflect what happened in international airspace over the Black Sea. Despite this denial, all subsequent RAF Rivet Joint flights in the area have been accompanied by escorting RAF Typhoon fighter jets.

A Ukrainian serviceman reacts to incoming artillery shelling in a trench on the frontline on Saturday, April 8. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)

The leaks also reveal how limited and out of date certain streams of information on the war now are.

The documents range from February to early March and there is no telling what the U.S. and its allies have done to mitigate some of the worst-case forecasting contained in these assessments. Nor is it clear to what extent these leaks will have far-reaching repercussions on the Ukrainian battlefield. An unnamed adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN yesterday that Kyiv had already altered part of its battle plans in response to the intelligence breach  a claim Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov called into question owing to the small number of officials who are even aware of those plans. Indeed, there's a fair chance that Ukrainians are simply saying theyve had to make last-minute changes to their coming counteroffensive simply to tweak the American intelligence community for allowing this embarrassment to happen in the first place. (Another unnamed adviser to Zelensky previously claimed the documents were crude Russian fabrications.)

One document states that Ukrainian forces as of 25 February were almost operationally encircled by Russian forces in Bakhmut, a city in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, which for months the Russians have poured enormous resources and manpower into trying to seize. The Russians had never severed Ukraines supply lines into central Bakhmut, which has been reduced to an uninhabitable ruin of rubble and corpses. The chief of Ukraines military intelligence agency (HUR), Kyrylo Budanov, described the situation as catastrophic, according to U.S. intelligence. His remedy was to dispatch HURs elite Kraken unit to bolster Ukraines defenses there.

While the risk of Bakhmut falling to Russia is still present, this emergency recourse appears to have succeeded in diminishing the threat of encirclement. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Ukraines current assessment is that in the six weeks since Budanovs dire warning, it has fought the Russians to a standstill in the battle for two key roads, the T504 highway and a route known as the 506.
The State Department on Monday officially designated Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich as wrongfully detained by Russia, nearly two weeks after he was arrested.

The designation, made by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, follows a process conducted within the State Department and officially transfers responsibility of the case to the State Departments Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.

Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlins continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth, the State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement.

He added that the U.S. government will provide support to Gershkovich and called on the Russian government to immediately release him. The Biden administration and the Wall Street Journal have rejected the claims that Gershkovich was spying.

Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after Gershkovich was taken into custody on March 30 and called on Moscow to immediately release him.

Gershkovich was arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service, the main successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB, in Yekaterinburg, where he was allegedly trying to gain access to classified information, according to Russian authorities.

The Biden administration has been working since then to gain access to Gershkovich and to get more information about the arrest.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- The US and the Philippines kicked off the largest version of their flagship military exercise in more than 30 years on Tuesday, a high-profile display of their renewed alliance that includes live-fire training targeting a decommissioned vessel near the South China Sea.

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The annual Balikatan exercise comes just a day after China concluded its own drills around Taiwan and focuses on developing maritime security and amphibious operations at a time Manila and Washington are seeking to push back against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.

The presence of more than 17,600 military personnel almost doubles last years level, according to the US Embassy in Manila.

This years exercises are another defining moment in the deepening alliance between the Philippines and the US, the Southeast Asian nations military chief, General Andres Centino, said at an opening ceremony.

The highlight will be littoral live-fire drills in Zambales province near South China Sea where both American and Philippine troops will target a decommissioned ship to rehearse a maritime strike, said Major General Marvin Licudine of the Philippine Army. The drills aim to enhance the Philippines defensive capabilities and maritime security awareness, he said.

The exercises mark the culmination of US efforts to restore ties with the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, often snubbed Washington in favor of Beijing. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met their Philippine counterparts in Washington on Tuesday, seeking to strengthen collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Weve come together at an historic moment in our alliance, Austin told a briefing. Were building on those bonds to bring greater security, stability and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific.

He said commitments made Tuesday would spur even deeper cooperation, and the two sides reaffirmed that their mutual-defense treaty remains the bedrock of cooperation.

The military drills in Manila and top-level dialogue in Washington speak to the strength and significance of US-Philippine relationship, Heather Variava, charge daffaires at the US embassy in Manila, said at the kickoff ceremony. More than 100 soldiers from Australia will also join the military exercises, while representatives from partner nations will be observers.

The exercises come the same week China held multiple drills near Taiwan after President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a visit to the US, where she met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other US lawmakers. The guided missile destroyer USS Milius also conducted freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea on Monday near the Spratly Islands, passing through waters claimed by Beijing.

Responding to the holding of US-Philippine drills, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday the military cooperation between the two countries must not interfere in South China Sea disputes or cause harm to Chinas territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and security interests.

The long-planned Balikatan exercises with the Philippines arent expected to provoke Beijing much, said Carl Schuster, a former operations director at US Pacific Commands Joint Intelligence Center.

It has a South China Sea angle and will raise tensions as a result but not to a dangerous or unusual degree, he said, adding that the exercises are officially directed at improving Manilas ability to defend its western territories. Beijing is more focused on intimidating Taiwan and signaling to the US that it will not be easy to assist Taiwan in the event of a conflict.

Manila has vowed to pursue collective defense efforts with Washington around the South China Sea in a bid to counter a record number of Chinese incursions in disputed waters. As part of the rapprochement, the Philippines last week identified four new sites that the US will have access to under an expanded defense agreement, with three of them near Taiwan.

Encircle and Contain

The new locations will bring the number of military sites the US can access in the Philippines to nine, including five existing ones, under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. The pact allows the US to rotate its troops for prolonged stays as well as build and operate facilities on those bases in the Southeast Asian country.

Yet in a sign of how Marcos has to balance his nations ties to both Washington and Beijing  China is the Philippines biggest trading partner  hes said the new sites the US will have access to cant be used for offensive operations.

China has criticized the plan regardless, with its embassy in Manila describing it as part of Americas attempt to encircle and contain the worlds second-biggest economy. Beijing asserts rights to more than 80% of the South China Sea, whose other claimants are the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei.

But just because those nations have tensions with China over its vast claims doesnt mean they are lining up behind the US.

Most of the region is in wait, watch and see mode, said Schuster. They want the US to inhibit Chinas behavior but do not trust Americas willingness to do so over the long term. So, they are also trying to maintain good relations with both powers.

--With assistance from Colum Murphy and Philip Glamann.

(Updates with US comment on dialogue in seventh paragraph.)

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The White House on Monday said it is taking a leak of classified information from the Pentagon about the war in Ukraine and other matters seriously, but cautioned that much is still unknown, including whether the leak is contained and how much of the documents are legitimate.

John Kirby, a spokesperson on national security issues, told reporters that President Biden was first briefed late last week when word first emerged that there were classified documents circulating on social media. He has been updated throughout the weekend, Kirby said, and the U.S. has communicated with relevant allies and partners about the leaks.

But Kirby otherwise reiterated that the administration is still working to answer basic questions about who or what is responsible for the leak of classified information.

We know that some of them have been doctored. I wont speak to the validity of all the documents  Were still working through the validity of all the documents we know are out there, Kirby said.

I think we just need to be careful right now speculating or guessing what might be behind or who might be behind a potential leak here of classified information. We need to let the process sort of bear itself out, Kirby added.

Asked if the leak is contained or if there are more documents that may still be released, Kirby said, We dont know. We truly dont know.

Late last week, a batch of classified documents that detailed U.S. briefing materials and were marked secret appeared on social media platforms, including Twitter and Telegram.

The documents show details on the U.S. assessment of the war in Ukraine, including plans for building up the Ukrainian military ahead of a planned counteroffensive, as well as insight into Russian military planning.

The leaks also include sensitive material related to Canada, China, Israel and South Korea.

The Department of Defense is reviewing the scope of the leak, and the Justice Department is leading an investigation into the source.

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Kirby stressed the administration is taking the leak very seriously, and he more broadly condemned the release of sensitive information into the public domain.

There is no excuse for these kinds of documents to be in the public domain, Kirby said. They dont deserve to be in the public domain.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats on Monday urged U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts to investigate luxury trips taken by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas that were paid for by a Republican donor - conduct they deemed inconsistent with ethical standards for "any person in a position of public trust."

The committee will hold a hearing in the coming days on the matter, Chairman Richard Durbin and the panel's 10 other Democratic members wrote in a letter to Roberts. The hearing, they said, would focus on "the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Court's ethical standards."

"And if the court does not resolve this issue on its own, the committee will consider legislation to resolve it," they told Roberts. "But you do not need to wait for Congress to act to undertake your own investigation into the reported conduct and to ensure that it cannot happen again. We urge you to do so."

ProPublica reported on Thursday that Thomas accepted expensive trips from Republican donor and real estate magnate Harlan Crow over decades without disclosing them.

Thomas defended the trips on Friday, saying he had been advised he was not required to report that type of "personal hospitality." But the conservative justice said he would abide by new, tighter rules that recently took effect.

Crow told ProPublica he had "never sought to influence Justice Thomas on any legal or political issue."

The senators in the letter told Roberts that "you have a role to play as well, both in investigating how such conduct could take place at the court under your watch, and in ensuring that such conduct does not happen again."

The report by ProPublica found that Thomas had repeatedly vacationed with Crow, including on his private jet and superyacht in the United States and around the globe. The news outlet said the frequency of the gifts have "no known precedent in the modern history of the U.S. Supreme Court."

"The report describes conduct by a sitting justice that he did not disclose to the public and that is plainly inconsistent with the ethical standards the American people expect of any person in a position of public trust," the senators wrote.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Tim ahmann)
Two University of South Carolina professors accused in lawsuits and school documents of sexual harassment are no longer with the university.

David Voros, a painting professor, retired on Jan. 16, 2023, USC spokesman Jeff Stensland confirmed.

Voros was accused in lawsuits filed by a student and two coworkers of sexual harassment.

One lawsuit, filed in 2018 by former student Allison Duvanant, was settled for $75,000. The suit had alleged that Voros subjected Duvanant to sexual advances during a study abroad trip in Italy. The other two lawsuits, which allege unwanted sexual advances, are pending.

Voros had not taught on campus since 2020. After a year-long sabbatical, he was set to teach several online courses in 2022 spring semester before the university reversed that decision following sizable backlash.

Voros lawyers could not be reached for comment.

Robert Richmond, a theater professor who also faced multiple sexual harassment and sexual misconduct allegations, is resigning effective July 1, 2023, Stensland said.

Richmond told The Post and Courier that he is leaving USC for professional reasons to work in directing in New York City.

Richmond admitted to sending texts to a student asking her to sleep with him, which he called witty banter between friends, records showed. He was also accused of asking female students to perform a lap dance to audition for a school play. One student alleged a sexual encounter with Richmond, which he denied. Another reported being served alcohol until she was too drunk to drive home.

USC investigated complaints against Richmond in 2019, but determined he hadnt violated university policy. However, following allegations published in The State, he was barred from teaching classes at USC in 2021.
Grant Johnson created a roughly 5,700-square-foot live-in cave in Utah that he now rents on Airbnb. Courtesy of Grant Johnson

In 1995, Grant Johnson purchased 40 acres of land and used dynamite to blast a cave in a boulder.

He spent years shaping the walls by hand to create his dream home and moved in in 2014.

Now he rents out a room in the cave for $350 or the whole space for $1,000 a night on Airbnb.

Grant Johnson was living in a 19-foot trailer in Utah when, in 1995, he was presented with the opportunity to purchase 40 acres of land in the state's rugged wilderness.

Johnson was told the site was abandoned by a 1970s cult, but it was the perfect setting for him to achieve a long-held dream: transforming a boulder on the property into his home, using dynamite and his own two hands.

Johnson, who worked in Utah's uranium mines and as a backcountry guide, was inspired by the Moab Desert's famous "Hole N" The Rock" attraction, a family home carved out of a sandstone cliff.

He spent $25,000 and the next 20 years perfecting his new abode  and now anyone on Airbnb can rent a bedroom in the special space for about $350 a night and the whole three-bedroom cave for about $1,000 a night.

Johnson's property is located in southern Utah, about a four-hour drive north of the Grand Canyon and near the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, known for its cascading rock formations.

Johnson lives in the cave with his partner when they're not renting it out, and they also run the property as a homestead and grow tomatoes, peppers, garlic, and corn, some of which they sell.

Johnson even raises horses, cows, pigs, and turkeys  and is planning to build them a cave barn of their own.

"It's a lifetime art project," he told Insider.

He carved the walls by hand using light and sound as guides

Johnson purchased dynamite from a contact through his mining work, who trusted him to use the equipment properly.

"That was in the 90s, so I was able to buy dynamite and just sign a paper. Now it's a lot more difficult," he said.

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The first blast came in the winter of 1995. Johnson returned to the site for the next eight years to hollow out the space he wanted, eventually landing at around 5,700 square feet.

His first time stepping into the cave he created, he couldn't help but be in awe.

"Nothing has been in this space since the dinosaurs," he said. "It's a 100-million-year-old rock."

An instrument in Johnson's music room, left, and Johnson on the 40-acre property. Grant Johnson

In 2005, Johnson employed a pro-builder friend to help finish the project. Together they poured the cement flooring and installed giant sheets of tempered glass that closed the cave off from the wilderness.

There are six openings in the boulder, all facing different directions, that had to be sealed before the space could be inhabitable. The last sheet was installed in January 2014, which is when Johnson moved into the space.

During that time, Johnson also molded the walls and doorways of the cave himself. He used a technique where he would drill parallel holes and tie them together with a perimeter cord, which cracked the rock in the desired shape.

"It's a lot of acrobatics, which is truly difficult," he told Insider.

During the sculpting process, he played with the light and sound of the space. During the winters, he'd sometimes sit in the space, during sunsets or especially during the equinox, and observe how the cave refracted the sunlight.

"I'd just sit down and if I noticed something that didn't fit or that wasn't curved right, I would get the drill," he told Insider.

While he was carving, he'd also play a harmonica and adjust his plans based on the best pitches he could find. It's paid off. Since moving in, Johnson has hosted many musicians, concerts, and even a group of Tibetan monks in the space.

"They did their throat singing and that sound has never left," he said.

One of Johnson's musician friends has even named different rooms after different keys. The living room is "E."

You can rent the property on Airbnb for $1,000 per night

The cave now even welcomes visitors on Airbnb. The "west end" room, with its own staircase leading up to a private balcony, rents out for $350 per night. For $1,000, guests can rent out the entire three-bedroom property, and Johnson and his partner will vacate and stay in a cabin nearby.

Rolling desert hills with a white truck passing through

A view onto Johnson's remote property.Courtesy of Grant Johnson

Guests of the Airbnb are invited to climb on the cave outside and use a rope swing in front of the property. The listing also indicates that sense of adventure extends inside, where guests should be aware of "rugged rock stairs" connecting the rooms of the cave.

The cave runs off-grid and uses water to power things that are plugged into sockets, though the listing makes a point to note that hair dryers and pancake griddles, particularly, are too much for the hydro-electric system to handle. Also one major thing to note: There's no WiFi.

"The desert holds special energy and this space resonates with it. This is where you come to disconnect from the rest of the world," one Airbnb user wrote in a May 2022 review. "The comfort, cleanliness and beauty of it far exceeded any expectations those in our group had."

The guest's parting advice: "Drive a 4WD. Bring some extra water. Cherish your time there. Unwind. Go hike. Unplug and appreciate the space."

Johnson said he loves to watch guests marvel at the unspoiled natural surroundings and hear how they feel more connected to nature by staying in the cave. He recommends every guest climbs out to the patio on the west end at night, and watch the still, desert night.

"You can't ask for a more dark sky. You can't ask for more quiet," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Photograph: Billy Schuerman/AP

A Virginia grand jury on Monday indicted the mother of a six-year-old who shot an elementary school teacher in Newport News in January, charging her with crimes related to felony child neglect and firearms possession.

On 6 January, 25-year-old teacher Abigail Zwerner was badly wounded by a first-grade student in her classroom at Richneck elementary school  with the incident occurring after school officials received warnings that the boy had a gun at school and was in a violent mood.

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The childs mother, Deja Taylor, was charged with felony child neglect and the misdemeanor of recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child, the Newport News prosecutor, Howard Gwynn, said in a statement.

Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues, Gwynn said.

Zwerner last week filed a $40m negligence lawsuit against school district officials.

The lawsuit named as defendants the Newport News school board, the former superintendent George Parker III, the ex-Richneck elementary school principal Briana Foster Newton and the former assistant principal Ebony Parker.

The shooting happened as Zwerner was sitting at a reading table when she was shot in the hand and chest.

She led her students to safety before being taken to hospital, where she stayed for two weeks and through four surgical procedures.

Prosecutors had said the boy, who has not been publicly identified, would not face criminal charges.

George Parker III, the superintendent, was fired after the shooting. Ebony Parker, the assistant principal, resigned.

An attorney for the boys parents said they were committed to responsible gun ownership and keeping firearms out of the reach of children and had tried to do so with the firearm concerned, which belonged to the boys mother.

The family also said the boy has a severe disability and has received mental health treatment.

In the lawsuit, attorneys for Zwerner say the defendants knew the boy had a history of random violence at school and at home.
The Virginia mom of a 6-year-old charged with shooting his first-grade teacher earlier this year has been indicted by a grand jury in connection with the shooting, the Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney's Office announced Monday.

Deja Nicole Taylor, 25, is charged with felony child neglect, and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child.

The charges were brought about after an investigation by the Newport News Police Department and the Commonwealth Attorney's Office.

"Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues," Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn said in a statement.

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The Commonwealth's Attorney has also asked a Circuit Court judge to impanel a "Special Grand Jury" to continue investigating security issues that may have enabled the January shooting. The probe could potentially lead to more people being criminally charged in connection with the shooting.

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Abby Zwerner, a 25-year-old first-grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, was shot in the hand and chest Jan. 6, as she sat at a reading table in her classroom. She spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and required four surgeries.

Richneck Elementary School teacher Abigail Zwerner sat down with NBC for an interview a couple months after being shot by her 6-year-old student in the classroom.

Monday's indictment announcement comes a week after Zwerner filed a lawsuit seeking $40 million in damages from school officials, accusing them of gross negligence and ignoring multiple warnings the day of the shooting the boy was armed and in a "violent mood."

BIDEN IMMEDIATELY CALLS FOR CONGRESS TO ACT AFTER DEADLY LOUISVILLE SHOOTING

The lawsuit names as defendants the Newport News School Board, former Superintendent George Parker III, former Richneck Principal Briana Foster-Newton and former Richneck Assistant Principal Ebony Parker.

In the lawsuit, Zwerner's attorneys say all the defendants knew the boy "had a history of random violence" at school and at home, including an episode the year before when he "strangled and choked" his kindergarten teacher.

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Last month, Newport News prosecutor Howard Gwynn said his office would not criminally charge the boy because he is too young to understand the legal system. Gwynn has yet to decide if any other adults will be charged.

The boy used his mother's gun, which police said was purchased legally. James Ellenson, the attorney for the boy's family, has said previously that the firearm was secured on a high closet shelf with a lock.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Ellenson for further comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Northern Ireland is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (AP)

The president of the USA walked down a street in a town in Northern Ireland to resounding cheers from a huge crowd high on excitement and emotion, as the worlds media jostled for pictures of the historic visit.

That was a quarter of a century ago, in September 1998. The president was Bill Clinton, and the town was Omagh, a place that was still in a state of grief and shock after a devastating bombing that had killed 29 people the month before.

It was a time of great foreboding in Northern Ireland. Those of us who were there in the aftermath of the horrific attack on 15 August recall the deep concern among its people that the Good Friday Agreement, which had been signed that year  ending 30 years of the Troubles, after the loss of 3,500 lives  might not survive what had taken place.

The Clinton administration had played a key part in brokering the deal. And the presidents visit to Omagh, alongside first lady Hillary Clinton, came with a strong message to all parties that the agreement must not be allowed to wither.

The strong backing from Washington  together with the unified stance of the British and Irish governments  ensured that the atrocity, carried out by dissident republicans, did not precipitate a spiral into widespread strife.

Joe Biden is now set to visit Northern Ireland to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. He recently went to Kyiv in an effort to underline the continued support of the US, and the West as a whole, for Ukraine in the war against Russia. His visit was highly significant, as well as symbolic.

The presidents presence in Belfast will be important in respect of the peace process, but also in relation to Britains relationship with the European Union, after the problems caused by the Northern Ireland protocol.

Biden, say US officials, will urge talks between the different political factions, in an effort to ensure stability at a time when MI5 has raised the terrorist threat level in Northern Ireland to severe. The police have warned that dissident republicans  with members of the New IRA being the main suspects  are plotting attacks.

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The Omagh bombing is a grim reminder of what can happen if there is a return to the days of violence. Children who were shopping for school uniforms with their parents, with the new school year about to start, were among those killed and injured; a woman pregnant with twins was among the dead.

Many of the journalists who arrived at the scene of carnage that day helped the emergency services as best we could before turning to our work. Some wondered if the peace deal would have been shattered by the blast, and whether we would have to report on a new round of bombings and shootings.

In the event, the mayhem unified the communities. The victims included both Protestants and Catholics; the main political parties upheld the agreement, and republican and loyalist armed groups maintained their ceasefire.

The US administration expressed concern when loyalist anger over the Northern Ireland protocol led to several nights of rioting two years ago. There were further expressions of concern when the protocol threatened to ignite a trade war between the UK and European Union.

During the G7 summit that was taking place in Cornwall at the time, diplomats said Biden had forcefully addressed the Northern Ireland crisis when he talked to Boris Johnson. They said he had emphasised Americas firm commitment to the Northern Ireland protocol, along with his view that it was fundamental to maintaining peace.

Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, held that the protocol was critical to ensuring that the spirit, promise and future of the Good Friday Agreement is protected, adding: The presidents message is [that] whatever way they find to proceed must at its core fundamentally protect the gains of the Good Friday Agreement and not imperil that.

Biden has often proclaimed his Irish heritage, including in a video released just after he won the presidential election. When a BBC journalist shouted, Mr Biden, a fast phrase for the BBC? the president replied, The BBC? before saying with a broad smile, Im Irish.

The clip, which went viral, was regarded as an affirmation of the affection Biden has for his familys roots in County Mayo, and also as a signal that he did not intend to neglect the northern part of the island of Ireland. He subsequently spelt out that a post-Brexit trade deal between the US and the UK must be contingent upon respect for the agreement and preventing the hard border.

Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal for Northern Ireland, the Windsor Framework, has now been formally signed off, and the trade problems arising from the protocol have now been put to rest. There is no effective government in place for Northern Ireland, however, following the decision of the Democratic Unionist Party, which opposes the Windsor Framework, to withdraw from the power-sharing administration.

Nevertheless, the landmark anniversary of the peace deal comes with a sense of problems being resolved, rather than unending crisis. Sunak is expected to announce the hosting of a Northern Ireland investment summit in September, and to urge the participation of US companies. Biden is expected to stress his unstinting commitment to the effort to maintain stability.

Things would have been different if Johnson had continued in Downing Street. The former prime minister was among the 29 MPs who voted against the Windsor Framework in the Commons.

The UKs Conservative governments have paid a price in their relationship with the Biden administration, after cosying up to Donald Trump when he was in the White House. British diplomatic sources say it was difficult to get ministers visiting Washington to even meet with Democrats. At the same time, a steady stream of Brexiteers headed across the Atlantic to pay their homage to the US president.

Things also became personal between the Democratic Party and Johnson. Bidens distaste for the former prime ministers actions is reported to have been expressed in private, but even in public, Biden has called him the physical and emotional clone of Donald Trump.

The Conservative right accused Democratic politicians of interfering in British politics in relation to both Brexit and Northern Ireland: Barack Obamas warning that the UK risked going to the back of the queue for a trade deal with the US if it chose to leave the European Union was held up as a prime example.

Johnson claimed that Obamas attitude to Britain was based on his part-Kenyan heritage and ancestral dislike of the British empire. Tommy Vietor, a former national security spokesperson for Obama, in his response to a congratulatory message sent by Johnson to Biden after the latter became president, called Johnson a shapeshifting creep, adding: We will never forget your racist comments about Obama and slavish devotion to Trump.

US and UK officials insist that the special relationship is back on track, especially given the closeness with which the two countries have worked in support of Ukraine. Sunaks efforts to repair Britains relations with the European Union are also appreciated in Washington. And there is agreement that the US will continue to take a close interest in Northern Ireland.

For many in Northern Ireland, the involvement of the US is a strong and positive factor in keeping the peace. For Brendan OMaloney, who I met in Omagh on the day of the bombing, the memory of Clintons visit to the town is still vivid. I remember him laying the wreath in Market Street; he had tears in his eyes. They were real tears... he really understood the suffering which had taken place, he said.

OMaloney was hurt by flying glass in the blast; his 14-year-old niece was seriously injured. We were glad Bill Clinton came then, and we are glad that he and Joe Biden are here now, he added. It shows that there is a real effort not to go back to those terrible days.
MADISON  In the wake of a deadly school shooting in Nashville that killed three 9-year-olds and three adults, two Republican lawmakers are proposing to permit Wisconsin school officials to decide whether to allow employees who are licensed gun owners to carry firearms on school grounds  a measure Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has already pledged to veto.

Rep. Scott Allen of Waukesha and Sen. Cory Tomczyk of Mosinee on Monday released a bill that would create an exception to the state's law banning firearms on school grounds if the person holds a concealed carry license, is employed by the school, and the school board has adopted a policy that allows employees who are licensees to possess a firearm.

The proposal also waives for teachers the fees associated with obtaining a concealed carry license.

"School shootings are tragedies we hate to see. The reality is that schools are often soft targets for those looking to do harm. The knowledge that no one on the premise has the firepower to stop them emboldens bad actors," Allen and Tomczyk wrote in a co-sponsorship memo to colleagues seeking support.

"Parents are rightly asking for action to ensure the safety of their students."

In response, Evers said he would veto any legislation that weakens the state's gun-free schools law.

State and federal laws bar firearms in schools, but the federal Gun-Free Zones Act does not apply to individuals licensed by states to carry a handgun. The lawmakers are seeking to extend that exception to state law.

The legislation was released in the days following the March 27 shooting of three 9-year-old students and three staff members inside Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn. The suspect fired more than 150 rounds during the shooting. Bill authors drafted the bill in the fall of 2022, after receiving a resolution from the Germantown School Board calling for the measures, according to Allen's office.

Uvalde school massacre resolution from the Germantown School Board

Bill authors Allen and Tomczyk said the proposal is an answer to a 2022 resolution from the Germantown School Board in the wake of a shooting at a Uvalde, Texas elementary school that killed 19 students and two staff members. The resolution called on state officials to allow school districts to make their own decision about whether to allow license holders to carry firearms on school grounds.

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"This bill does exactly that," Allen and Tomczyk wrote in the memo about the Germantown resolution. "It does not impose a state-wide solution, but it gives the freedom to local school districts to make the right choice for them to protect their students ... Sometimes the best way to deter bad actors is with the threat of force, and this bill gives that choice to school districts."

Germantown School Board member Bob Soderberg said in August he didn't support the idea until the school shooting in Uvalde.

What happened in Uvalde was catastrophic, Soderberg said. It was a game changer for me.

But Democrats said the proposal would make school campuses less safe and Evers promised to veto the bill if it ended up on his desk.

"Wisconsinites have been desperately demanding commonsense proposals that will reduce gun violence and keep our kids, our schools, and our communities safe. This bill isnt among them. This bill shouldnt make it to my desk  but if it does, I'll veto it. Plain and simple," the former state superintendent tweeted on Monday about the proposal.

"I already vetoed Republicans bill to allow loaded guns on school grounds because increasing firearms on school grounds wont make our schools or our kids safer. So, let me be clear: Ill veto any bill that weakens Wisconsins gun-free school zone law. Period."

"I guess it's becoming harder to find days without mass shootings to introduce bad gun bills," said Rep. Deb Andraca of Whitefish Bay, who holds a concealed carry license and is a former teacher.

"Allowing guns in schools is NOT the answer," she tweeted.

Following the Uvalde shooting, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he was open to measures that would allow teachers to be armed, but Evers said at the time it was unfair to put that responsibility on teachers. He also said the idea of beefing up the numbers of law enforcement or security guards in schools made him uncomfortable and that a plan requiring all districts to hire security officers could require more staff than schools could find.

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau, federal law and state law ban firearms on school grounds but provide some identical exceptions to the prohibition, including for police officers and security officers with a school contract.

Federal law also exempts people licensed to possess a firearm by the state if the state requires a background check to ensure the person is qualified for the license but state law does not include an identical exemption, making it illegal for licensees to carry firearms on school grounds, according to the reference bureau. The bill puts the federal exception into state law.

Quinn Clark of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin GOP seeks to give schools option of concealed carry
[Source]

The final farewell of an 83-year-old woman to her dying 87-year-old husband has touched the hearts of Chinese netizens.

A video clip of the farewell, which was recorded by their grandson, surnamed Qi, was posted to Douyin on April 4. The intimate moment has now been viewed by nearly 4 million people.

In the video, the woman is seen encouraging her husband to walk to the light while gently stroking his hair.

Walk to the light. Dont get lost, the woman from Tianjin municipality whispered to her husband, according to the South China Morning Post. Let go of everything. If its time to leave, lets leave without regret.

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According to Qi, his grandmother remained strong in front of his grandfather, who suffered from lung cancer.

She also spoke of a beautiful future with her husband despite knowing that it would not happen.

Come home after your illness is cured. Lets keep each other company for some more years and, at our 60th wedding anniversary, lets ask our kids to hold a big party, she said. I wont come to visit you in the coming days. I will wait for you at home.

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Qi said those who witnessed the farewell in the hospital ward were moved to tears.

Social media users who were touched by the farewell expressed their admiration for the couples love.

This is love. Despite how difficult it was for her to let go of him, she still hoped he would leave the world well, one user reportedly wrote.

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If my loved one would say these things to me when I was dying, I think I wont be scared, another user said.

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Sibling relationships can be complicated.

While lots of thought is given to fostering friendships and romantic partnerships, sibling relationships are often put on the back burner despite their presence in many people's lives.

Other than parents, siblings are typically your longest relationship, and if you're close enough in age where you grew up together, they're also often your first playmates and shape your peer world, explains Dr. Karen Gail Lewis, licensed family and sibling therapist based in Maryland.

"Whether you like them or not, they're there," Lewis says. "You are somebody's sister, somebody's brother  that becomes embedded in the essence of who you are."

But despite the unique role you play in each other's lives growing up, in adulthood those relationships can grow distant or strained for a variety of reasons, from feelings of parental favoritism to being stuck in frozen images of what you were like as a child.

There are steps that can help you move through these challenges.

In honor of National Siblings Day, celebrated on April 10 to highlight the value of siblings, Lewis shared her thoughts on ways to repair the relationship and grow closer to your sibling.

Assess where you're at: If there's tension between you and your sibling, Lewis first suggests reaching out to better understand why things have gotten to this point.

"I would suggest writing a letter or an email and saying, 'I really want to understand why you were so angry at me. And I'm going to listen, I'm not going to be defensive. I'm not going to respond. I just want to understand your perspective of why you're mad at me.' "

Being the one to open up the conversation is important because it allows them to be heard  and "everybody wants to be heard," Lewis explains.

If you get a response, that's a good indicator to move forward with a conversation. If not, the person may not be ready  and that's OK.

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Lewis says to remember that timing is a factor. If you're serious about pursuing a closer relationship, you can always try again.

"Many people tell me, 'I cut off my siblings. I will never speak to her again,' or, 'I tried. I put out an olive branch, and she turned me down or he didn't want to talk to me. That's it.' Well, it's not. Give it a year. Give it six months."

Create a "taboo list": Heard of "agree to disagree"? That can be useful with siblings, too.

Sometimes opinions clash, but that doesn't mean it has to jeopardize the relationship, Lewis says. Instead, she suggests creating a "taboo list" of topics you agree not to bring up when you're with that person.

Such topics might include parents and siblings who aren't present, politics, religion, money and any other "problem topics."

"If everything that you currently talk about is toxic (and) causes problems, yet you still want to be connected, you will evolve," she says.

Ease in: When reconnecting with a sibling, don't expect to dive in head first  instead dip your toe, approaching it with slower, manageable pace.

For example, instead of sitting down for a lunch where your taboo topics may easily arise, Lewis suggests doing something more active like a museum or movie, where the whole focus isn't on your conversation.

"I always say, you want to leave a party while you're still having a good time," Lewis says. "That's why I say start with 30 minutes, 40 minutes. If it goes well, do it again until it begins to feel safer."

For those looking for support throughout this journey, seeking professional help can also be useful, Lewis adds, no matter how close or distant the siblings might be.

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) are pressing some of the largest depositors at the failed Silicon Valley Bank to reveal the nature of their relationship with the firm that collapsed last month.

Warren and Ocasio-Cortez, two of the most progressive lawmakers in Congress, sent letters to 14 of the banks largest depositors, raising concerns about the relationship between the failed bank and some of the largest venture capital firms that invested in it.

The fall of Silicon Valley Bank marked one of the largest bank failures in U.S. history and sent shockwaves through the global banking system. While lawmakers worked immediately to try to stop the bleeding from the incident, Warren and Ocasio-Cortez are now attempting to probe the banks dynamics with some of its largest investors.

The Democrats ask the companies to disclose how long they had been invested in the bank and how much money they had deposited. The letters also asked about the relationship between company executives and the bank, whether the bank provided the company with perks like low-interest loans and whether those perks were also offered to executives or company investors.

The lawmakers pointed to reports that the bank had offered tech startups benefits that other firms would not have, including low-interest loans and plush extras like ski trips and dinners. Warren and Ocasio-Cortez blasted the potential dynamic as mutual backscratching arrangements.

If these deposits were made by company executives and allowed by corporate boards in exchange for personal perks, that behavior raises potential concerns about whether they were meeting their fiduciary duties, the lawmakers said in the letters. According to an FDIC official, the mutually beneficial relationship between SVB and the VC and tech industry may have also undermined regulators efforts to sell SVB following its failure.

The 14 companies that the lawmakers queried are heavily represented by tech and pharmaceuticals: Circle, BILL, BlockFi, Eiger, Ginkgo Bioworks Inc., iRhythm Technologies Inc., LendingClub Corp., Oncorus Inc., Payoneer Global Inc., Protagonist Therapeutics Inc., Roblox Corp., Rocket Lab USA Inc., Roku Inc. and Sangamo Therapeutics Inc.

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The lawmakers are asking for answers from the firms by April 24. The Hill has reached out to all the companies for comment.

Circle told The Hill it had received the letter and is planning to reply by the April 24 deadline.

Updated at 4:50 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Fire crews on Sunday continued to battle a fire that broke out the day prior on the Kodiak Enterprise boat docked at Tacoma, Washingtons Tideflats Port Facility.

The Tacoma Fire Department, the Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington Department of Ecology and other agencies were responding to the fire.

The Department of Ecology first tweeted about the fire shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday. The department said there was no spill but responders had placed booms around the vessel as a precaution.

By Sunday afternoon, the fire had progressed throughout the ship and was approximately 100 feet from the vessels freon tanks.

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The Kodiak Enterprise is reported to have some 55,000 gallons of diesel and 19,000 pounds of freon onboard. The heat from the fire can cause pressure to build in the freon tanks.

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Freon can be toxic if inhaled in large quantities or enclosed spaces, but officials say the chemicals release into the atmosphere is not expected to pose any safety risk to the public.

A fire that broke out aboard the Kodiak Enterprise Sunday as prompted a multi-agency response.

The Tacoma Fire Department issued a temporary shelter-in-place order for NE Tacoma, Browns Point and Dash Point neighborhoods. Residents were urged to remain indoors and limit exposure to smoke.

The Coast Guard closed the Hylebos Waterway for all commercial and recreational vessel traffic. A Coast Guard Cutter was deployed to enforce the closure.

"The safety of the public and responders is our top priority," Coast Guard Capt. Youngmee Moon said in a statement. "The unified command is working closely to leverage each agencys capabilities to respond to this incident as effectively as possible and keep the public safe."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No further details were released.
The music video for Marco from Tropoja

A popular UK-based Albanian rapper has sparked outrage within his own community by releasing a music video in which he smashes a TV screen showing Suella Braverman speaking about illegal immigration in the Commons.

OG Merks, a London-based rapper with thousands of followers, appears to mock the Governments crackdown on people smugglers and Albanians alleged abuse of modern slavery laws.

The rapper, whose real name is Bledar Ramaj, is seen in the video with balaclava-wearing men using a bank machine to count bundles of 20 notes as the Home Secretary is heard telling MPs about a major international operation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) against the smuggling gangs.

He then tells the masked men to put up the volume on the TV before smashing it as Mrs Braverman tells the Commons about the surge in Albanians illegally entering the UK in small boats across the Channel and that many of them are abusing modern slavery laws to remain in the country.

The title of the song is Marco from Tropoja named after an Albanian character in the film Taken where Liam Neeson plays the role of a father whose daughter has been kidnapped by the gang leader Marco from Tropoja. Ramaj was born in Tropoja, a city in the north of Albania, before coming to the UK.

However, the video has been criticised for stereotyping Albanians and setting a bad example to young Albanian men by a youth leader for the Albanian charity Shpresa Programme. It promotes the integration and social contributions of Albanian-speaking migrants in the UK.

Asking to speak anonymously, he said: Rappers like him are a problem in our community. They are giving a bad example to young people in the Albanian community. They are a bad example to other young people in Albania who want to get to the UK.

Separate your jaw from your teeth

Ramaj has more than 4,800 monthly listeners on Spotify and 2,500 YouTube subscribers. In a video entitled Foreign Hustlers, the rapper appears to promote gang violence: Gang s---, Im on the block with them crazy bandits, before adding, separate your jaw from your teeth  this aint a f------ scene from EastEnders.

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It is part of an Albanian rap culture with violent themes. Another group, OTR, meaning On Top of the Rest and based in south east London, have recorded dozens of music videos and posted scores of pictures online of alleged members handling potentially lethal handguns and rifles.

The notorious Hellbanianz gangster rap group shared a video of themselves driving military vehicles fitted with heavy machine guns around a housing estate in east London while shooting a music video that glorified drug crime and violence.

Last year NCA chiefs said a significant number of the Albanians in the UK had entered illegally to work in the grey market or for organised criminal drug gangs and were sending back hundreds of millions of pounds of cash a year to Albania.

They said there was evidence from Albania that migrants were told before they left for the UK that if they chose to join crime gangs and were caught, they should claim to be victims of modern slavery in order to avoid deportation and remain in the UK.

Albanians accounted for a third of the 45,000 Channels migrants last year, prompting Rishi Sunak to negotiate a fast-track deportation agreement with his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama. Mr Rama has criticised British politicians for stereotyping Albanians as criminals when there are many thousands working legitimately in the UK.

Ramaj has been contacted for comment.
Kupyansk, Ukraine  Among the shell-shocked front-line cities of eastern Ukraine, the strategic rail hub of Kupyansk has endured about as much time occupied by Russian forces as it has since it was liberated  roughly seven months each during Vladimir Putin's assault on the country. Kupyansk is in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, which has been both diminished and demolished during 14 months of war. More than 80% of its residents have fled, and the scars of Russia's relentless shelling pockmark roads and apartment buildings.

"Neither Kupyansk nor the towns around Kupyansk will ever be occupied by Russia again," the town's defiant Mayor Andriy Besedin told CBS News. "They won't come back here, for sure."

Russia's invading forces, however, do not appear to have received the mayor's message. They've advanced to within less than six miles of the town, lying in wait just over the eastern horizon.

A map shows the location of the city of Kupyansk, a rail hub in eastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region. / Credit: CBS News

During our visit to the battered region, the airy whoosh of Russian artillery and the booms of Ukrainian forces firing their rockets in reply echoed across the skies above us every several minutes. The silence after each launch leaves people on the ground to wonder anxiously where and when the next shell will fall.

"Kupyansk does have great rail links that connect Russia and Ukraine," explained Besedin. "For the occupiers  for the terrorist state of Russia  Kupyansk has logistical significance in terms of delivering cargo and ammunition onto our territory."

Almost 20 rail lines intersect in the town. About half lead further into the country, while the other half track straight into Russia.

Before Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, many Kupyansk residents would head into Russia to work in better paying jobs, said Besedin.

The tracks have fallen largely quiet during the war, but if Russian forces do manage to recapture Kupyansk, the town could serve as a vital logistics hub for Putin's troops to push further west into Ukraine. The people in the town know that if Russia moves to retake Kupyansk, it will be another bloody battle in a war which, by most counts, has already cost well over 100,000 lives.

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A heavily damaged street in the previously occupied eastern Ukrainian city of Kupyansk, about six miles from the front line and Russia's invading forces, is seen in the spring of 2023. / Credit: CBS News

"If Kupyansk will be taken by our enemy again, it won't be just an occupation, we'll all be killed," said Vadym Kyyachko, regional chief for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. "It won't be like the first time when we were just occupied."

Forced to be on alert every hour of every day, Kyachko and his team rush in after each Russian attack to put out fires and pull people from rubble. He admits he's tired. Several of his colleagues have been injured by Russian shelling, but none of them have been killed, yet.

The day we met Kyachko, he and his team were silently scanning a grassy lawn on the grounds of a college for unexploded Russian ordnance.

An academic building on the grounds of a college in Kupyansk, Ukraine, heavily damaged by Russian S-300 missile in January, is seen in the spring of 2023. / Credit: CBS News

A Russian S-300 missile left a gaping hole in one of the academic buildings in January. With reconstruction seen as foolhardy given the proximity of Russian forces and artillery, we saw the windows and doors still blown out, and we walked over shattered glass that crunched underfoot.

"There are no days when we are not shelled. There's almost nothing left in the villages beyond us," Kyyachko said. "There is no day or night. It's all the same. We've gotten used to it."

Anatoliy Kozar, a 70-year-old farmer, doesn't even flinch at the sound of the artillery fire. With a shock of white hair and bags under his eyes, he lives even closer to the front line than the people in the center of Kupyansk  less than three miles from Russian-claimed territory in the farming community of Petropavlivka.

He welcomed our team to film his obliterated 12,000-acre farm. Wisps of smoke rose up from scattered piles of smoldering grain at the entrance to his farm.

This is the absolute destruction Russian forces have rained on Ukraines front line. We visited the village of Petropavlivka - less than three miles from Russian-controlled territory. The farmer who owns this 12,000 acre complex now owns nothing. He still lives here. #WalkWithMe pic.twitter.com/To8nYpb01M  Ramy Inocencio  (@RamyInocencio) April 10, 2023

"We don't have anything that is not destroyed," Kozar told us. "No wheat, no corn, no pigs. Nothing left. No equipment, no warehouses."

A Russian rocket hit one of his buildings just three days before we were there. Kozar said he'd grown accustomed to near-death experiences.

"My office was there, and a missile landed exactly into my chair," he told us, pointing to the second floor of another heavily damaged building. "Thankfully I wasn't there, nor any of my co-workers."

Anatoliy Kozar, 70, speaks with CBS News on his destroyed farm complex on the outskirts of Kupyansk, eastern Ukraine, in March 2023. / Credit: CBS News

But Kozar refuses to leave his land.

"I am over 70 years old, and to run somewhere  run away? I built all of this with my hands over the years. There have been moments when I've been standing here and a missile is flying over me and I think 'so what.'"

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to restore security "on all fronts" after surging violence that included rocket fire from Lebanon and Syria and two more deaths on Monday.

Netanyahu also reinstated the defence minister whose firing he announced last month.

Heavy clashes, shootings, rocket strikes and a car-ramming attack have marred a period when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan coincides with the Jewish Passover and Christian Easter.

The day after Israeli police on Wednesday stormed the prayer hall of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque -- Islam's third-holiest site -- in a pre-dawn raid, more than 30 rockets were fired from Lebanese soil into Israel, an attack which the Israeli army said was most likely carried out by the Palestinian armed movement Hamas.

Israel then bombarded the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon, targeting "terror infrastructures" that it said belonged to Hamas.

"We will not allow the terrorist Hamas to establish itself in Lebanon", by acting on "all fronts," Netanyahu said in a news conference.

Israeli-Palestinian violence had already intensified since Netanyahu's new government took power in December, a coalition with extreme right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.

The latest surge came after he late last month announced a "pause" for dialogue on judicial reform legislation which split the nation and caused divisions in his government.

Among the casualties was Gallant, whom the prime minister dismissed on March 26 after he cited national security concerns, threats by reserve military personnel not to report for duty, in calling for a halt to the legislative process.

At his news conference, Netanyahu said he and Gallant had "difficult disputes" but he has decided to put them in the past.

"Gallant remains in his post and we will continue to work together for the safety of the citizens of Israel," the prime minister said.

Deadly violence continued on Monday prior to his comments, as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict claimed the lives of a Palestinian teenager and a British-Israeli mother who succumbed to injuries from a West Bank gun attack that earlier killed her two daughters.

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Several ministers from the hard-right government joined a protest march by Jewish settlers, held under tight security in the north of the occupied West Bank.

In the latest West Bank shooting, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian teenager and wounded two other people, the Palestinian health ministry said, during what the army described as a raid to arrest a "terror suspect".

The Israeli army confirmed its forces were operating in the Aqabat Jaber camp, the site of previous deadly Israeli raids this year, near Jericho, where soldiers were seeking "to apprehend a terror suspect".

The army said troops responded with live fire after "suspects opened fire toward (soldiers), hurled explosive devices and Molotov cocktails".

They added that a suspect was taken in by security forces.

Clashes erupted when the army entered the camp and surrounded several houses, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa. A Palestinian security official told AFP that five individuals were arrested during the raid.

Hamas said it mourned the "young martyr" Balhan and praised those "who are standing up to this arrogant enemy".

- British-Israeli mother dies -

The operation came as a Jerusalem hospital confirmed that a British-Israeli woman, Lucy (Leah) Dee, had died after being seriously injured in the West Bank shooting attack Friday that killed her daughters, aged 16 and 20.

The families were residents of Efrat, an illegal Jewish settlement in the West Bank.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted: "There can be no justification for the murder of Leah and her two daughters, Maia and Rina."

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War and hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers live in Israeli-approved settlements there which are considered illegal under international law.

Hundreds of Israelis marched Monday in the north of the West Bank, pushing for state approval of an Israeli settler outpost.

Several government ministers -- including Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir -- appeared at the march to Eviatar, whose residents agreed to leave in 2021 while officials examined their case.

Demonstrators of all ages waved Israeli flags as they rallied along closed-off roads.

Addressing the crowd, Ben-Gvir said "the response to terror is to build" settlements.

- Surging violence -

Violence has flared anew since Israeli police stormed the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa mosque aimed at dislodging "law-breaking youths and masked agitators" they said had barricaded themselves inside.

Late Friday an Italian tourist was killed and seven others wounded in a suspected car-ramming attack in Tel Aviv.

The Israeli army also said it launched strikes on targets in Syria Sunday morning, after rockets fired from there landed in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The conflict has this year claimed the lives of at least 94 Palestinians, 19 Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian, according to an AFP count based on Israeli and Palestinian official sources.

These figures include, on the Palestinian side, combatants and civilians, including minors, and on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, including minors, and three members of the Arab minority.

ha-gb/rox/it
The White House said on Monday that it would be a dangerous precedent for the administration to ignore a federal judges decision last week blocking the sale of an abortion pill.

But Ill say this, you know, as a dangerous precedent is set for the court to set aside the FDAs and expert judgment regarding a drugs safety and efficiency, it will also set a dangerous precedent for this administration to disregard a binding decision, White House press secretary Jean-Pierre said at her briefing on Monday. We are ready to fight this. This is going to be a long fight. We understand this. We stand by FDA approval of mifepristone.

Jean-Pierres comments came after a federal judge in Texas ruled on Friday to suspend the FDAs approval of mifepristone, a drug that can be used in tandem with another to induce an abortion. Though it isnt set to take effect for a week, the decision virtually bans the sale of the pills across the country.

On Friday, Democrats such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said the Biden administration should ignore the ruling, and GOP Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina agreed on Monday.



Its not up to us to decide as legislators or even, you know, as the court system whether this is the right drug to use or not, Mace told CNN.

On Monday, the Justice Department asked an appeals court to put on hold the Friday ruling.

We get the frustration regarding this decision. Absolutely, Jean-Pierre said on Monday. And thats why we were quick to act. Thats why you saw DOJ take action.


Paramount

Before Yellowstone slowed down Season Five with cowboy cookouts and grand overtures of love for its fan-favorite couples, the Paramount drama was committing acts of violence that would even scare Tony Soprano. John Dutton (Kevin Costner) and his cowboys were branding ranch hands like cattleand ruling Montana as a mafia of the West. Dutton's closest subordinate, Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), committed many of the craziest murders himself. Nowadays, Rip is the wisened veteran of the group and a character that fans refer to as the perfect husband.

Since we're waiting on Season Five to return (either this summer or... never?), I figured I'd reminisce on the glory days and ask: What happened here? Well, Hauser has an answer himself. "I think it surprised [creator] Taylor [Sheridan] too," Hauser revealed in an interview with Town & County, "It's definitely not something that was ever on the table, that we ever discussed. In fact, I think it was quite the opposite. [Taylor] was like, Oh man, people are gonna think you're fucking nuts. I wrote this scene, the way you kill this guy or burn this guy, you know what I mean? And for whatever reason it's kind of worked the opposite."

Yellowstone fans love Rip Wheelerespecially his relationship with John Dutton's daughter, Beth (Kelly Reilly). In fact, a moment in Season Five, Episode Seven that had viewers bawling occurred when John Dutton finally called Wheeler his "son." Though the sentiment clearly affected Wheeler, Hauser believes that it never really crossed his character's mind to become a Dutton. "It's more of the loyalty, the honor that he has for John," he said. "But no, never a Dutton."

Never a Dutton? Well, I would reconsider. There's been turmoil over at Yellowstone ever since Season Five went on hiatus and rumors swirled of an ongoing feud behind the scenes between Costner and Sheridan. "Man, I don't know about the end shit," he stated with a laugh. "We're doing alright right now. We shouldn't be talking about the end. We should be talking about Season Five."

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You're right, Rip. Maybe we shouldn't be talking about "the end" as much as we should be talking about a potential Yellowstone: The Rip Wheeler Story spinoff series. If the fanbase wants anyone riding off into the sunset at the end of all this, it's certainly Rip.

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The Republican-controlled Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday voted to expel two state lawmakers for their participation in a protest against gun violence, but both have vowed to return to their old seats in the Tennessee legislature.

Democratic Tennessee state Reps. Justin Jones (Nashville) and Rep. Justin Pearson (Memphis) have both said they will run in special elections for their seats, but could be back in the statehouse even sooner if their respective city council appoint them on an interim basis.

Asked on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday whether he plans to accept a potential reappointment and run in a special election to get back to the state House, Jones said yes and yes.

Pearson said hed be honored to accept an appointment and run in a special election, but noted that hes already heard that people in the state legislature and in Nashville are actually threatening commissioners in his county not to reappoint him.

And this is what folks really have to realize, the power structure in the state of Tennessee is always wielding against the minority party and people, Pearson said.

Its unclear exactly how quickly the county councils will move to pick replacements, or when special elections might be held. But both counties appear to be moving quickly.

Nashvilles Metropolitan Council is set to discuss Jones ouster Monday and potentially vote on an interim successor, while the Shelby County Commissions chairman is expected to set a date for an interim vote that same day.

The expelled lawmakers arent barred from reappointment or ensuing elections, according to the Associated Press.

You know, we will continue to fight for our constituents. And one thing I just want to say  is that this attack against us is hurting all people in our state, Jones said Sunday on NBC.

You know, even though it is disproportionately impacting Black and Brown communities, this is hurting poor white people. Their attack on democracy hurts all of us.

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A member of the Nashville Metro Council said Saturday that hes received almost an email every minute since Thursday asking me to reappoint Rep. Justin Jones and plans to vote to return him to his seat.

At least two Shelby county commissioners have said they plan to reappoint Pearson.

President Biden called the expulsion of Jones and Pearson shocking and undemocratic, while Vice President Harris met privately with the two ousted lawmakers on Friday.

The state House also considered removing a third representative from what many have dubbed The Tennessee Three who participated in the protest, Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), but the resolution to oust her didnt have the votes. Jones and Pearson are Black, while Johnson is white.

Jones, Pearson and Johnson had joined in as protesters swarmed the state government building in the wake of a mass shooting last month in Nashville, where a shooter killed three nine-year-olds and three adults at an elementary school.

The efforts to expel the three state lawmakers have in turn sparked further demonstrations.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty/CDC

The past few weeks have brought with them unsettling news from both East Africa and Central Africa, as Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania have independently announced outbreaks of deadly Marburg virus. The first outbreak, which began in mid-February in Equatorial Guinea, has thus far consisted of at least 29 confirmed and probable cases, 27 of which have proved fatal. Tanzanias Marburg outbreak was announced on March 21so far, eight people have been symptomatic for the disease, and five have died. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking American doctors to be on the lookout for cases stateside, though the risk of the virus in the U.S. is low.

Marburg virus may not be as terrifying as it was portrayed in 1994s The Hot Zone, but any outbreak is concerning to infectious disease experts. First described in 1967 in Marburg, Germany, it is a deadly hemorrhagic fever in the same family as Ebola. The virus infects Egyptian fruit bats and can spill over to humans who come into close contact with the animals or their excretions. A person can also contract the virus from someone whos infected if they come into contact with body fluids, contaminated clothes or bedding, or someone who has died from the virus. A Marburg virus infection is fatal in between 20 and 90 percent of all cases.

Based on these characteristics, you might think that humans would have figured out a vaccine for Marburg yesterday. Youd be partially right: Although a handful of research organizations are working independently on vaccine candidates, no vaccine has been approved to prevent viral infection, and no antiviral has been approved to treat it. Two of these vaccine candidatesmade by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and the Sabin Vaccine Institute, respectivelyhave been tested in humans, but neither has been put through the typical wringer of safety and efficacy trials. And, as both outbreaks come under control, researchers may have missed their chance to deploy and test promising vaccine candidates.

Equatorial Guinea Confirms First Outbreak of Deadly Marburg Virus Disease

There are several reasons why we havent yet come up with an approved vaccine for Marburg, Robert Cross, a virologist at Galveston National Laboratory, told The Daily Beast in an email.

One of the most salient is that there really have not been that many outbreaks, said Cross. However, as we all know, when these outbreaks occur, they come with extremely dire outcomes, often with many dead. Its a blessing and a curse for public health researchers that Marburg outbreaks have historically been few and far in between, as a vaccine cant be tested if people are never infected.

Few cases means there are financial incentives for drug companies to want to make a vaccine. Nonprofit and government-funded research institutes are also working on vaccine candidates, but dont have surplus doses on hand to ship out to the countries affected by ongoing outbreaks. And theres a time limit on the whole process, too: It takes a person between two and 21 days to develop symptoms of Marburg infection, and their condition can rapidly deteriorate within an additional week. When a case is identified, it takes time and resources to identify everyone who could have been exposed to themin Equatorial Guineas outbreak, these close contacts have numbered in the hundreds for some cases.

Doctors Without Borders Slams World Health Organization for Rationing Ebola Vaccine

Keeping in mind all these challenges, the best strategy to test potential vaccines would follow a technique used during the eradication of smallpox, called ring vaccination. The process involves identifying a ring of close contacts to a positive case, then vaccinating them as well as their close contacts, just to be safe.

In a December 2022 paper published in the journal Clinical Trials, an international group of Marburg virus researchers described two ways such a vaccination strategy might work: First, between outbreaks, researchers could identify populations who are at high risk for coming into contact with infected bats or living in areas where Marburg virus has been known to spread, and randomize people to receive a candidate vaccine. These people would need to be followed over a long period of time in order for researchers to collect data on how well a vaccine might protect them against a viral outbreak.

For the second option, public health officials could ring vaccinate households or close contacts during an ongoing outbreak using different vaccine candidates, and compare the effectiveness of different vaccines against each other by studying which households were better protected from infection.

If it isnt clear, both of these strategies require an immense amount of health-care staff, time, and money. As Cross put it, These kinds of trials would really only be possible where adequate funding to support stockpiling of clinical-grade material is possiblea point that has been a continual challenge for emerging pathogens like Marburg.

Moreover, we still dont know very much about which regions support the highest concentrations of Marburg-infected bats, how Marburg virus spills over to humans, and what populations are most at-risk during outbreaks. Drilling down into these questions would help researchers use a finite number of vaccines wisely.

Some of this work is already being undertaken. In 2020, for instance, researchers in the U.S. and Sierra Leone identified Egyptian fruit bats carrying the virus in four different districts in Sierra Leone. While there has not yet been an outbreak of Marburg virus in the country, its neighbor to the northGuineadeclared an outbreak the next year. To Cross, this represented a success of public health surveillance. Scientists were able to detect the virus in a region before an outbreak began, raising the possibility that future spillover events could be predicted.

Want to Stop the Next Pandemic? Protect Wildlife Habitats

Given the low incidence of Marburg outbreaks in the past, the fact that two have sprung up independently from one another in nearly the same month should set off alarm bells on more than count, Cross said. New spillover events speak to a lack of public health investment or follow-up on known risks, like proximity to the bats infected with Marburg.

These two outbreaks are unfortunately the product of insufficient public health investment in surveillance, he said. We know what the reservoir for this virus is, yet we are not investing in better understanding of how the ecology of the reservoir bat is being impacted by such issues as deforestation or even global warming.

Indeed, multiple studies over the past several years have supported the One Health hypothesisthat environmental, animal, and human health are interconnected. The destruction of natural ecosystems and the spread of human development to more and more places means humans and wildlife are in closer contact than ever beforeincreasing the risk of more diseases to jump from species to species until human communities are hit. Though the origins of COVID-19 are still a contested topic, most scientists seem to agree the virus jumped from an animal population (like raccoon dogs) into humans.

Its worth noting that the World Health Organization has not published new statements about the Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania outbreaks since late March, suggesting that both may be winding down. But were not out of the woods for goodif anything, the opposite is true. Human expansion, environmental destruction, and infectious disease spillover are all taking place in a dire cycle. We can be sure that these outbreaks will occur more and more often, so it is imperative that we disrupt the cycle or prevent its deadly effects by pushing forward vaccines and new therapeutics.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Firestone Bay, also known as Devil's Point, is a popular spot for wild swimming

Four wild swimming spots have been designated as bathing waters ahead of summer.

The sites in Rutland, Devon and Suffolk will receive bathing water status from next month, the government said.

It means the water quality at Firestone Bay, also known as Devil's Point, in Plymouth, will be tested regularly.

It comes after the government said companies could face unlimited fines for dumping raw sewage in rivers in its Plan For Water.

As well as Firestone Bay, three other UK sites have been designated as bathing waters.

Sykes Lane Bathing Beach and Whitwell Creek at Rutland Water, and a section of the River Deben at Waldringfield, Suffolk, will also be officially designated ahead of the 2023 bathing water season.

They take the total number of official bathing waters across the country to 424, the highest recorded.

The government said the proportion of bathing waters assessed as good or excellent had increased from 76% to 93%, while 72% were considered excellent compared with 51% in 2010.

Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Luke Pollard made the proposal to Parliament in 2022 to designate Firestone Bay as official bathing waters.

The announcement comes ahead of the summer bathing season

The Environment Agency will take regular samples at the new sites during the bathing season - which runs between 15 May and 30 September.

At Firestone Bay in Plymouth, South West Water will also be required to ensure the water is safe for bathing.

It will assess whether action is needed to cut pollution levels and work with local communities, farmers and water companies to improve water quality at the sites.

Water minister Rebecca Pow said: "These popular swimming spots will now undergo regular monitoring, starting this May, so bathers have up-to-date information on the quality of the water.

"The regular monitoring also means that action can be taken if minimum standards aren't being met.

"We now have more bathing waters than ever, and we've worked hard in recent years to boost their status - with an incredible 93% now classed as good or excellent - and our new Plan For Water will help us go further and faster on our targets."

Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.
A woman has sparked a debate after sharing a message she got from a Hinge match who asked her to get drinks at a bar by his house.

Clarke, @claaaarke_, shared a post on Twitter over the weekend of the message where her Hinge match responded to one of her dating prompts that said: The best way to asked me out is by opening with a time and placelets save the small talk for dinner! In his reply, the unnamed man gave her a time and day to meet for drinks at a bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

When she messaged him back, she said shed bet $100 that the bar [was] down the street from his apartment in Brooklyn and accused him or not giving any consideration to the fact that she lived so far away, as her home is on the westside of Manhattan.

The Hinge match then confirmed that the bar was near his apartment, before claiming that he took her location into consideration. He said that he figured that she doesnt go to East Williamsburg too often and that it was going to be gorgeous weather on the day he wanted to meet. He also pointed out that the bar had a nice outdoor section.

He concluded his message by encouraging her to reach out to him if she changed [her] mind on [him] being inconsiderate.

In the caption of her tweet, Clarke criticised her Hinge match for why he chose this date spot.

F for effort in asking me to travel an hour to have a drink with you at a place two blocks from your home, one wrote. Drinks is so he can spend less money but its nighttime so he can ask me back to his place after. & as if Manhattan doesnt have patios?!

As of 10 April, the tweet has more than 12.5m views. Many Twitter users in the comments agreed with Clarke and slammed the Hinge match.

As a gay man who also lives on the west side of Manhattan, I completely understand your pain here, lol, one wrote. At minimum he could have suggested a bar off the Bedford stop or in the [East Village]!

Bars with outdoor sections are super common, too, so the excuse of his choice being cool or unique or different is trash, another wrote.

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Im with you on this one @claaaarke_ . He should have *at least* offered to meet you halfway. Only explanation is hes just trying to hook up, not wanting anything serious, for minimal effort. Low-risk high-reward (for him). But he cant expect a high hit rate with that strategy, a third claimed.

he really thought he ate that F for effort in asking me to travel an hour to have a drink with you at a place 2 blocks from your home. drinks is so he can spend less money but its nighttime so he can ask me back to his place after. & as if Manhattan doesnt have patios?! pic.twitter.com/LEwA1XKS2t  clarke (@claaaarke_) April 8, 2023

Other people criticised Clarke for not wanting to go on the date because of the location and defended her Hinge match.

Does your bio also say you refuse to leave your neighbourhood lol? Why live in New York if the biggest problem here is not wanting to take a train or Uber to a different neighbourhood? one claimed. Sounds really close-minded and like a red flag!

He.. didnt do anything wrong lmfao, another added. Shouldnt have matched with him unless you were interested enough to provide an alternative.

A third wrote: Im sure he was going to pay for your food and drinks (since he asked you out) paying for your own travel isnt unreasonable at all.

In a video posted to TikTok Sunday, Clarke addressed the viral debate about her Twitter post. After criticising the patio of the bar that her Hinge match allegedly recommended, she further explained why he wasnt considerate.

@claaaarke and dont even get me started on all of the people saying he simply did what i asked  one, simple reading shows he didnt. but two, mcdonalds at 11 am is a time and placewe can all agree that any response is not an appropriate one! 98% of the guys who have responded to that prompt have acknowledged my neighrbohood to pick a convenient spot for both of us. meeting halfway is not asking for too muchits common courtesy and says a lot about your intentions. life lesson!  original sound - clarke

Even if it was the most beautiful bar in the world, how inconsiderate is it for you to ask a woman to travel so far out of her way to meet you at a place that you can literally see, you can literally spit on from the window in your bedroom?she asked. That is insane.

She then claimed that the unnamed man might have thought his date idea was smart so they could walk back to his place after and he could get some. She said this apparent strategy didnt mean that the man was a bad person, just an interesting one

Clarke also addressed the criticism she got for not asking the Hinge match to meet somewhere else.

Am I the only one who saw that message that he knew I lived really far away and just did not care? she said. This may seem like a super small thing, but not even offering to meet me halfway for a first date is super indicative. One of his intentions with me, and two just the fact that hes not considerate of me and my time.

She concluded her video by sharing her stance on being single and noting that it is not an illness.

You never have to lower whatever standards you have or take less than what you feel like you deserve to meet a man where he is. Because youll be fine, she said.

The Independent has contacted Clarke for comment.
Eager start-up founders were hoping to rub shoulders with top honchos at WSC

In March, hundreds of budding entrepreneurs descended on Noida, a suburb of India's capital Delhi, to attend a three-day convention that had dubbed itself the "world's biggest funding festival".

Eager start-up founders looked forward to rubbing shoulders with business leaders at the World Startup Convention (WSC), hoping that their 15-minute pitches would transpire into funding.

In 2021 and much of 2022, India's start-up ecosystem was flush with funds as companies raised record amounts, birthing unicorns and making overnight millionaires of several entrepreneurs. But global headwinds had made investors more cautious, drying up liquidity.

That's why expectations were high from the WSC. But within hours of the event kickstarting on 24 March, things plunged into chaos. Many participants and some sponsors have alleged that they were lured with false promises and cheated; the organisers deny this, accusing some of the entrepreneurs of disrupting the convention.

On Day 1 of the event, Sachin Chauhan and his team arrived at the venue raring to go. An entrepreneur from the northern state of Haryana, Mr Chauhan had bought passes for the event after seeing advertisements for WSC all over social media in February.

Promos for the event featured well-known influencers

According to WSC's website, top Indian politicians including federal transport minister Nitin Gadkari and health minister Mansukh Mandaviya were among the chief guests. Other guests included state chief ministers and ministers, all from the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Mr Gadkari's Twitter and Instagram pages had posted about his planned speech at the event.

Short promo videos featured popular influencers such as Ankur Warikoo, Prafull Billore, Raj Shamani and best-selling author Chetan Bhagat. The publicity material said that 1,500 venture capitalists, 9,000 angel investors and 75,000 start-ups were expected to participate. It was billed as a platform to meet potential customers, network and pitch directly to investors.

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Mr Chauhan, co-founder of the bike servicing and repair app Apna Mechanic, spent 20,000 rupees ($244.4, 196.3) to buy tickets for himself and four colleagues.

They arrived with a presentation for potential investors. Their excitement, however, didn't last long.

"Hours went by and we barely saw any investors," he told the BBC.

Bherav Jain, founder of the start-up Reproc, had travelled thousands of kilometres from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

"The crowd was full of start-up founders," Mr Jain said. "I don't think there was a single person [there] who was an investor."

Top Indian politicians were among the chief guests

By 1.30pm, a scheduled virtual address by Mr Gadkari had been cancelled and a rumble of discontent was spreading among participants.

Many began gathering around the stage, demanding an explanation.

"People started asking questions about where the investors were," Mr Chauhan says. "And it [soon] became chaotic because the founders didn't have answers."

By the end of the day, a group of 19 entrepreneurs - including Mr Chauhan and Mr Jain - had filed a police complaint, accusing the organisers of cheating and breach of trust.

Luke Talwar and Arjun Chaudhary, co-founders of Qofunder Pvt Ltd which organised WSC, denied all the allegations. They told the BBC that a group of "disruptors" with "an anti-BJP agenda" had ruined the event, forcing them to call the police.

The ministers and the BJP have not issued any statements about this.

Within hours of the convention's beginning, there was chaos at the venue

Mr Chaudhary says Mr Gadkari's address was cancelled because of the commotion caused by the group, adding that the rest of the convention took place as planned with police providing security.

"[Investors] may have been less in number but they were there," he added.

According to him, among those present were India's largest private sector bank ICICI Bank, investment firm Unicorn India Ventures, financial services company Bajaj Finserv, and Premji Invest, a private equity fund owned by software tycoon Azim Premji.

But Mr Chauhan says the event mostly consisted of start-up founders going on stage to pitch themselves to an audience of other start-up founders. "What's the point of that?"

Disgruntled participants have written scathing posts about their experiences at the WSC on social media and left negative Google reviews online.

Several companies have also said they were misled into sponsoring the event. Mr Warikoo and Mr Shamani, who have millions of followers on social media, allege WSC used their videos for promotion without permission, which the organisers deny.

Police say they are investigating the case. No one has been arrested or detained yet.

The disappointment is particularly acute for Bambrew, a Bangalore-based sustainable packaging brand, whose founder says it spent $45,000 to sponsor the event.

"We fell into the trap and invested heavily in not only being the sponsor but also in making a setup and samples to be distributed among people," says founder Vaibhav Anant.

Software development platform Builder.ai, another sponsor, says it was "extremely disappointed" with the events at WSC.

"We reached out to the organisers for an explanation, as well as a request for a refund, and to request the removal of our name and brand from this event and their channels," a spokesperson for the company said, adding that they did not get a reply.

Builder.ai's name and logo continue to be featured prominently on WSC's website.

Builder.ai, a sponsor of the event, said it had been "misled"

Other sponsors have tweeted along the same lines.

The organisers, however, blamed the protesting entrepreneurs for the backlash from sponsors and influencers.

The widespread media coverage has "destroyed our lives", Mr Chaudhary says.

Some of the sponsors and participants said that they were under the impression that big names such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter chief Elon Musk would be attending. But organisers said their images had been used for an earlier event planned for January which fell through.

Luke Talwar, one of the organisers, on the last day of the convention

Raghumanyu Taneja, a lawyer who was at WSC hoping to network and is now representing the group that filed the police complaint, says their faith in the event was driven by the involvement of influencers such as Mr Warikoo. They could now face fines under endorsement rules in India, he told the BBC.

Mr Warikoo, however, refutes this. "I am responding personally to all those who are writing in and sharing my formal response with the media," he said in a text message.

The police complaint filed by the entrepreneurs accuses the organisers of perpetrating a $12m scam - the group arrived at this ballpark figure based on the number of people and start-ups they saw at the event.

But Mr Chaudhary says the WSC's total revenue from the event was a fraction of this amount.

"If it was truly a scam, why would we even hold an event where people find out about it in a few hours? Shouldn't I just have run away with the money?" he asks.

The event eventually had 4,000 participants, according to Mr Talwar. The WSC has shared endorsements from start-ups on its website and with the BBC. None of these, however, mentioned the amount of funds they were able to raise.

The complainants say they are planning their next moves on a WhatsApp group, while WSC organisers say they plan to pursue legal action against them.

BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features.

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Navajo code talker John Kinsel, Sr. celebrated a major milestone earlier this year  his 106th birthday.

Who were the World War II Navajo Code Talkers?

During World War II, the U.S. Marines selected a group of Navajo men who created an impenetrable code based on the "complex, unwritten Navajo language" according to Intelligence.gov. They became known as the Navajo Code Talkers.

"The code primarily used word association by assigning a Navajo word to key phrases and military tactics," that site notes, adding that the system "enabled the Code Talkers to translate three lines of English in 20 seconds, not 30 minutes as was common with existing code-breaking machines."

NEW JERSEY MAN WALKS ACROSS US TO RAISE NEARLY $100K FOR HOMELESS VETERANS: RESPECT AND REVERANCE

Kinsel is "certainly someone whose service and life is known," New Orleans-based National WWII Museum's research historian Jason Dawsey told Fox News Digital in an interview.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"What I want Americans to know about patriots like John Kinsel is  that people like [him] stood up during World War II and provided the most amazing contributions to the U.S. war effort in the Pacific," he also said.

Marine Corps veteran John Kinsel Sr. served as a Navajo Code Talker during World War II. He has just turned 106 years old.

The WWII veteran rang in his special day on Jan. 22 in his hometown of Lukachukai, Arizona, with about 30 family members and friends, according to the Navajo Times.

The group gathered in Kinsel's home  a log cabin he built  and Kinsel wore his signature red Navajo code talker association cap to signify his years of service.

Kinsel is "at peace with everything," that outlet noted, adding that he would gesture the sign of the cross as some partygoers approached him.

Kinsel was 21 years old when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1938, the Navajo Times reported, and trained as a code talker.

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Following his assignment to the 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Kinsel served on the battlefield in several locations including Bougainville, British Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima Volcano Islands and Guam.

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After sustaining an injury during a blast in Guam, Kinsel was transported back to Hawaii, returning to San Diego one month later to carry out non-war duties.

Kinsel was honored with an American Spirit Award in 2022 on behalf of the National WWII Museum as were other remaining Navajo Code Talkers Thomas Begay, Samuel Sandoval and Peter MacDonald. (Sandoval passed away last year at age 98.)

The award is the museums highest honor, according to a press release, which recognizes individuals who "exemplify the outstanding qualities of the American spirit and inspire the expression of these values through their lifes work."

VETERAN OF US ARMY REGAINS ABILITY TO MOVE FINGERS WITH NEW PROCEDURE, PROSTHETICS: HOPE FOR NORMAL FUTURE

Dawsey of the National World War II Museum explained that the code talkers were "instrumental in defeating the Japanese" during the war by using their indigenous language to create an impenetrable mode of communication.

A two-man team of Navajo Code Talkers attached to a Marine regiment in the Pacific relay orders over the field radio using their native language.

"In these island-hopping campaigns, communication is vital," he said. "Knowing where the enemy is, knowing what the enemy is doing, whether they're attacking or retreating  These are all crucial things when you're really talking about overcoming an enemy."

PATRIOT REMEMBERED: MILITARY MOM MEMORIALIZES SON WHO DIED IN NATIONAL GUARD HELICOPTER CRASH WITH NEW BOOK

"John Kinsel was one of this group of 400 Navajo code talkers who did this work and did it extremely well, and we should always honor and remember what they did," he also said.

The code was initially thought up by WWI veteran Staff Sgt. Philip Johnson, who was raised on a Navajo reservation and recognized the complexity of the Navajo language.

Private First Class Peter Nahaidinac, left, Private First Class Joseph Gatewood and Corporal Lloyd Oliver, right, all Navajo, study an issue at the Amphibious Scout School in June 1943.

In the spring of 1942, the first group of 29 Marines began their training in Navajo code at Californias Camp Eliot, which turned into some 400 code talkers by the end of the war, according to Dawsey.

The original code was based on approximately 200 Navajo terms, which grew into about 400, each word coinciding with words and phrases in English.

They also had a system for each letter in the English alphabet.

As an example, the Navajo word for "hummingbird" would translate to "fighter plane" and the word for "chicken hawk" would translate to "dive bomber," Dawsey said.

Corporal Henry Bake Jr., left, and Private First Class George Kirk, right, were Navajo Indians serving with a Marine Signal unit. Here, they operate a portable radio set in a clearing they've hacked in the dense jungle, close behind the front lines on the island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, December 1943.

"Its really fascinating seeing how these words take on new meanings with this code," he continued.

"These code talkers had to remember all of this and they had to be able to  under fire, in the heat of the moment  translate these things so that they were transmitted and not deciphered by the enemy," he added.

The Navajo Code Talkers, spanning six Marine divisions, were involved in some of the most "important battles of the Pacific Theater," Dawsey emphasized.

Jason Dawsey is a research historian at the national WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dawsey emphasized that the code talkers, spanning six Marine divisions, were involved in some of the most "important battles of the Pacific Theater."

Code talkers have most famously been recognized for their swift work in Iwo Jima in February 1945.

Following the battle, Marine Corps signal officer Maj. Howard Connor claimed, "were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima," according to Dawsey.

"I don't think it could be put any more bluntly than that about how vital [code talkers] were," Dawsey added.

"When the Navajo Code Talkers are being spoken about, it makes me proud to be a Navajo and next, a woman who also served in the military," said Bernadine (Bernie) Tyler in comments to Fox News Digital. She was born into and still lives in the Navajo Nation in Shiprock, New Mexico, and is program lead of the Dine Naazbaa Partnership (DNP), a veteran-focused, community-led initiative.

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"But most importantly, I am honored to fluently speak the unbreakable code that helped win the WWII and that I try to pass it on to the upcoming generations so that it will always be preserved," she also said.

She added, "The Navajo Code Talkers demonstrated remarkable courage serving our country during World War II. Their legacy endures as a symbol of the unwavering commitment of native veterans who have served our country with distinction."
A group of Yale University students from China published an open letter to the schools president urging him not to "lend Yales name to human rights abusers."

The group of Chinese and Hong Konger students published a letter to university president Peter Salovey in the Yale Daily News expressing their concerns about the April 8 Yale Club US-China Distinguished Colloquium in New York City featuring Chinese consul general Ping Huang .

The students pointed out Huang "recently defended the Chinese governments genocidal policies towards the Uyghur people in Xinjiang" and noted the introduction of his speech was omitted from the English homepage of the event.

YALE UNIVERSITY HAPPINESS PROFESSOR WARNS CAPITALISM IS DESTROYING STUDENTS WITH ANXIETY

The group of Chinese and Hong Konger students published a letter to university president Peter Salovey in the Yale Daily News expressing their concerns about the April 8 Yale Club US-China Distinguished Colloquium in New York City featuring Chinese consul general Ping Huang.

"While the introduction of Mr. Huangs speech is curiously omitted from the English homepage of the colloquium, your face is featured just above his in the Chinese promotion of this event on WeChat," the students wrote the day before the speech.

"This WeChat introduction of the colloquium sets the tone of this event as paying attention to the opportunities and challenges the world faces in a new year and seeking peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit in the path of reconciliation between the two countries," they continued.

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"A PDF one-pager introduction of the colloquium specifies the options offered for the event sponsors, including VIP tickets, an advertisement package with logo and business introduction displayed on the colloquiums promotional materials, and the opportunity to hold an in-person event at Yale University," they added.

The students urged Salovey to address "the Chinese governments human rights violations and the safety concerns about Beijings transnational suppression of free speech and academic freedom," and its "impact on the Yale Chinese, Hong Kong, Tibetan, Uyghur, and other communities" in order to "foster an open and honest dialogue on the challenges the world faces."

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Additionally, the students urged Salovey to "facilitate a discussion in this colloquium where the audience can freely pose questions to Mr. Huang without safety concerns."

"You, the head of Yale University, a non-partisan educational institution, must safeguard academic freedom and the wellbeing of students, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion at Yale. However, amid ongoing human rights abuses against Uyghurs and the continuing persecution of protesters in the peaceful White Paper Protests in China, your silence on the Chinese governments human rights abuses and the impact they have on the Yale community, coupled with your presence alongside a Chinese government official who has publicly defended the abuses against the Uyghurs, could be perceived as an endorsement of the Chinese governments oppressive policies and a cover-up of the human rights violations under the guise of peaceful coexistence."

PROMINENT NYC VENUES REPEATEDLY HOST CHINESE OFFICIAL WHO PRAISED CCP, DENIED UYGHUR GENOCIDE

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping addresses a reception celebrating the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in New York, Dec. 12, 2019.

NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018-- Huang Ping C, new Chinese consul-general in New York, speaks at a press briefing upon his arrival at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, the United States, on Nov. 15, 2018. The Chinese Consulate-General in New York will continue to be dedicated to promoting China-U.S. ties through boosting regional cooperation, the newly-arrived Chinese consul-general said here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Rui) (Xinhua/Li Rui via Getty Images)

The students wrote that on "Yales campus, students already face serious security concerns with transnational surveillance from the Chinese Government" and noted in 2019, "while pursuing his Masters degree at Yale, Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law received numerous death threats from individuals claiming to be Yale students."

"You and your administration remained silent against this attack on the safety of a student and free speech on campus," the Chinese and Hong Konger students wrote. "Seeing your involvement in the Colloquium alongside Mr. Huang, we are deeply concerned about Yales ability to provide an environment free from fear of censorship or retaliation in our academic activities."

The students slammed the Yale president for his silence and his administration being "habitually silent on the Chinese governments human rights abuses," including the violent crackdown against pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, the "inhumane COVID-19 lockdowns in China," and the "persecution of peaceful protesters" during the White Paper protests in China.

"Your silence, coupled with Yales lack of mental health support and academic accommodations, has directly undermined the wellbeing of Yale students during these difficult times," the students wrote.

"As Yale students, we value academic exchanges that foster intellectual diversity and collaboration across different nationalities," they continued. "However, we caution against the potential misuse of Yales academic credentials to condone human rights abuses."

HARVARD HOSTS CHINESE OFFICIAL WHO SAID COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA IS 'GREAT PARTY'

"We strongly encourage all attendees of this event, especially Yale members, to address and inquire about the Chinese governments human rights violations against Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hongkongers, Chinese people and other communities within and outside of China," they wrote.

"We urge you and Yale University to take a firm stance for the human rights abuses caused by the government with which Yale has close ties, and to uphold the values that are fundamental to Yale education: Lux et Veritas," the students concluded the letter.

Fox News Digital first reported on Ping's controversial comments from a August 2021 podcast, where he praised the Communist Party of China (CPC) as a "great party" and claimed that human rights violations against Uyghurs in China were "lies."

"There are lots of lies here fabricated by some people with their own political agenda," Huang said, denying the existence of genocide and internment camps."

"As I said, theres no genocide, not single evidence to prove that theres a genocide or something there. Its just a slandering," Huang said. "As for the vocational and education training center, I think these centers are set by the law  to counterterrorism matters aimed at targeting the terrorism and the religious extremists."

Salovey has come under scrutiny by the university press regarding his trip to China amid allegations a Yale professor gave the Chinese government genetic data they used to profile ethnic minorities in their oppression in the communist country.

Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing the country's economic and social development at a political gathering in Beijing, China.

In 2019, Salovey traveled to Shanghai Jiao Tong University-Yale Immune-metabolic Research Center in China to participate in the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine amid the controversy.

The trip came after a New York Times article revealing that Yale School of Medicine emeritus professor Kenneth Kidd gave genetic data to scientists from China's Ministry of Public Security, which then used the data to persecute the country's Uighur Muslims.

Yale University did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment.

Fox News Digital's Cameron Cawthorne contributed reporting.
In Miami Beach, where housing costs have skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic and affordable units are scarce, a struggling nonprofit that controls more than a dozen low-income and elderly housing properties will turn over its entire portfolio to Miami-Dade County in hopes of keeping the buildings affordable.

Under a deal approved by the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners last week, the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation will transfer ownership of its 16 buildings, totaling 357 income-restricted units, to the county, which manages thousands of affordable units countywide.

The county will take on the nonprofits debt and set aside nearly $13 million for improvements to the buildings, which have faced sanitation and maintenance complaints in the past but seen only limited upgrades as the nonprofit has dealt with financial woes. The groups portfolio includes 14 buildings in Miami Beach and two in the city of Miami, all of which will be legally transferred to the county by the end of this year.

As part of the arrangement, the county has agreed to maintain the buildings at their current levels of affordability. More than half of the tenants make less than $10,000 per year, according to the nonprofit, and more than 80% are elderly or disabled.

It is a huge relief to know that the hundreds of residents living in these affordable buildings no longer need to worry about losing their homes in the midst of an affordable housing crisis, County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, whose district includes part of Miami Beach, said in a statement. When I met with the residents to tell them the news last week, they too were relieved.

READ MORE: DeSantis signs affordable housing bill. It includes some restrictions on local rules

History of problems

Its a change years in the making.

In 2013, Miami Beach reviewed the organizations finances and found serious irregularities, including evidence funds had been spent on unauthorized or ineligible activities. The executive director resigned, two city officials quit and a third was fired. Miami Beach was left on the hook for the misspent funds and negotiated a more than $1 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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After the scandal, the nonprofit stopped receiving government subsidies. It began offloading some assets to make ends meet  subtracting from, instead of adding to, the citys affordable housing stock. Miami Beach took over five of its properties, and the group also sold some of its units at market rate. In 2018, the nonprofit transferred ownership of Madison Apartments, an affordable housing building in South Beach, to the county.

The group tried to maintain control of its remaining properties, despite pressure from county officials. But ultimately, its leaders conceded the buildings and their residents would be better off under county control.

We had exhausted all other options, said Cristian Arango, the Community Development Corporations chief of operations and lone remaining staffer. What really matters is the tenants and fighting off gentrification in Miami Beach.

Miami Beach has repeatedly fallen short of its affordable housing goals. The city has about 2,000 units of income-restricted, subsidized housing, records show, shy of a 6,800-unit benchmark it set in 2017.

Tough financial picture

Arango said the loss of government funding, along with a failure to anticipate rising utilities and property insurance costs, contributed to the nonprofits limited ability to make a dent in the problem in recent years.

Youre already running a building with very thin margins because your rents are so low, Arango said. Someone has to absorb additional costs, especially for rehabilitation projects.

The Community Development Corporation will no longer own or manage affordable housing, though its not clear if it will cease to exist. The group will receive $350,000 plus closing costs from the county for the sale of two of its buildings, money Arango said will be put toward the community in a way that has yet to be decided.

Meanwhile, the countys Public Housing and Community Development agency will start overseeing management of the properties this month. That management isnt expected to change; both the nonprofit and the county work with Orlando-based Royal American Management.

The affected buildings are:

 Fernwood Apartments, 935 Pennsylvania Ave., Miami Beach

 The Shelbourne House, 710 Jefferson Ave., Miami Beach

 Crespi Park Apartments I, 7900 Crespi Blvd., Miami Beach

 Crespi Park Apartments II, 7920 Crespi Blvd., Miami Beach

 Crespi Park Apartments III, 1011-23 79th St., Miami Beach

 Villa Maria, 2800 Collins Ave., Miami Beach

 Villa Matti, 221 28th St., Miami Beach

 Meridian Place, 530 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach

 The Michigan I, 530 Michigan Ave., Miami Beach

 The Michigan II, 532 Michigan Ave., Miami Beach

 The Pennsylvania, 1551 Pennsylvania Ave., Miami Beach

 The Allen Apartments, 2001 Washington Ave., Miami Beach

 The Jefferson Apartments, 542 Jefferson Ave., Miami Beach

 Westchester Apartments, 516 15th St., Miami Beach

 The Camacho Apartments, 126 Southwest Eighth Ave., Miami

 Edificio Pinero Apartments, 1176 Southwest 20th Ave., Miami
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen plans to tell financial regulators gathered in Washington this week that the U.S. banking system is on solid ground despite a string of failures that rattled global markets, a department official said Monday.

The banking turmoil is just one of several big priorities that Treasury outlined in Yellen's agenda for the IMF-World Bank spring meetings, which begin Monday.

Yellen will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, amid meetings with world leaders related to bolstering the global economy, revamping the World Bank and similar institutions, pushing for World Bank nominee Ajay Banga, rallying allies on Russia sanctions and tackling the indebtedness of developing countries.

On financial stability, a senior Treasury official told reporters that "our message has been and will continue to be we think the U.S. banking system is strong and sound." The official said not to expect a big announcement on the topic.

Yellen's meetings include discussions with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and European Commissioner for financial services Mairead McGuinness on Friday. She plans to attend a working dinner of G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors on Wednesday.

"There have been a couple issues at a handful of banks, but we think overall the system is quite strong," the senior Treasury official said. "If you compare things to 15 years ago, the banking system is clearly better regulated, better capitalized, more liquid than it was prior to the global financial crisis, and that's why we don't think you're seeing broad spillovers in the way you did in the past."

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated Yellens role at the G-20 finance ministers dinner.
Tatiana David, a New York mother who was allegedly abducted from her home on her 34th birthday, was shot and killed during a shootout between the person suspected of abducting her and police.

According to People, authorities said David was taken from her home in Ithaca, N.Y. on Wednesday morning and forced into a white SUV.

The alleged abductor is identified as Davids ex-boyfriend Michael Davis. The pair shared a 4-year-old child.

Davis allegedly fled when police tried to stop him on Wednesday evening as he was driving into the state of Virginia. Officers chased the driver until he crashed into a wooden area. Police said they exchanged gunfire with Davis until he was wounded. Officers then found David outside the car after she sustained injuries from an apparent gunshot wound.

Investigators are still looking to determine who fired the shot that struck David.

She was a military veteran, a mother, she served her country [and] did nothing but good in life, Davids brother Emanuel Espada told WTVR-TV. She was an amazing person. Everyone who came across her loved her.

Davis remains hospitalized. Charges against him are still pending.

She was such a bright light and such a beacon of hope, Espada said about his beloved sister. Now she has her life taken from her, for what?
Bill Bennett says he's "very concerned" about the younger generation's attitudes towards work. Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Young people haven't been taught the "value of work," Bill Bennett told Fox Business.

Reagan's education secretary said he was "very concerned" about young people's attitudes towards work.

Data shows that Americans are working fewer hours a week than pre-pandemic.

Young people haven't been taught the "value of work," according to Ronald Reagan's education secretary.

Bill Bennett, who served under President Reagan between 1985 and 1988, told Fox Business he was "very concerned" about the younger generation's attitudes towards work.

Bennett made the remarks in response to questions about a recent Bloomberg article examining why Americans were working fewer hours than before the pandemic struck.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that people in employment worked an average of 38.4 hours a week in March, compared to an average of 39 hours a week in 2019. Research from two University of Maryland professors found that the average US work week had overall fallen by more than 30 minutes since before the pandemic.

Further BLS data shows that the US labor participation rate  the percentage of adults working or actively seeking employment  plummeted in April 2020, when the country first entered lockdown. Although it's since been rebounding, the data shows that the labor participation rate was already in steady decline even before the pandemic hit.

"I'm not concerned so much about the rich not working so much, as long as they're keeping that economy moving, but I am very concerned about the young," Bennett told Fox Business.

"We haven't talked to them about the value of work, we haven't taught them," he continued. "Are parents talking to their kids about work and why they work and how important it is? I'm not so sure. Plus, the schools are certainly not doing that."

Bennett added: "The young people's attitude toward work is kind of like their attitude toward most of what adults do these days: they're not in favor."

Data from the BLS shows that the labor participation rate of people aged between 16 and 19 is actually higher than in years preceding the pandemic. But Gen Z workers say they're feeling burnt out from their jobs, which experts attribute to remote work and post-pandemic stress.

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Bennett's comments appear to echoed the rhetoric of "Nobody wants to work anymore," a phrase repeated by business owners during the pandemic when they struggled to find employees.

The pandemic saw a huge shift in the American labor market as people used took the opportunity to rethink what they wanted from work. Many people left their jobs in search of other roles with better wages and benefits, or the opportunity to work remotely or with flexible hours.

Customer-facing roles saw an exodus of workers as people worried about the dangers of catching coronavirus on the job. Some people also quit their jobs to return to education, retire early, or prioritize caring responsibilities.

But many employers instead claimed that they were struggling to recruit and retain staff because of laziness and the government's pandemic unemployment benefits.

"People got checks for not working, they get used to it, and they want to continue," Bennett told Fox Business.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned a Russian missile strike that he said killed two people, including a child, in a Zaporizhzhia apartment building on Sunday.

Tonight, the Russian army shelled Zaporizhzhia with S-300 missiles. They hit a house, an apartment building. Three people were inside. A man, a woman and a child  a girl, her name was Iryna, she would have turned 11 this year. She died. The man died too, Zelensky said in an address to Ukrainians, adding that the woman is in critical condition.

This is how the terrorist state spends this Palm Sunday. This is how Russia puts itself in even greater isolation from the world, from humanity. Every bright Christian holiday teaches us that we may not know how, but we must be sure that evil will lose, Zelensky said.

May next years Palm Sunday pass in peace and freedom for all our people!

Russian attacks reportedly killed several civilians over the weekend even as Pope Francis used his Easter speech at St. Peters Basilica to call for peace between Moscow and Kyiv.

Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia, Francis said on Sunday.

Catholics celebrated Easter on Sunday, while Orthodox churches marked Palm Sunday this weekend. The majority of religious Ukrainians identify as Orthodox Christian, according to The Associated Press.

Between Saturday and Sunday mornings, Russian forces reportedly launched 40 air strikes, four missile strikes and 58 attacks from multiple-rocket launchers throughout Ukraine.

In recent days, a number of classified documents discussing Ukraine appeared online in an apparent leak of Pentagon materials. Ukraine over the weekend has suggested Russia is behind the leak and altered the materials to spread misinformation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
On 10 April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved Ruslan Kravchenko as the head of the Kyiv Oblast State Administration by decree No. 204/2023.

Source: President's decree

Quote: "To appoint Ruslan Andriiovych Kravchenko as the head of Kyiv Oblast State Administration".

Previously: On 7 April, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine appointed the new head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration.

Background: Kravchenko has been the head of the Bucha district prosecutor's office since 2021. He formerly worked as a military prosecutor under Anatolii Matios. In 2019-2020, he applied for the post of the prosecutor of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, then took part in the competition for the post of the head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. He was awarded the Order of Merit of III degree (23 August 2022).

Kravchenko was the prosecutor in the case where Yanukovych was found guilty of treason and aiding and abetting the war.

During an interview for the position of head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, Kravchenko was asked questions about real estate, savings and the political background of his relatives.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!










The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has had his first conversation with Iraqs Prime Minister. As Zelenskyy states, Ukraine is ready for a new page of cooperation, and the parties discussed the Ukrainian formula for peace.

Source: Zelenskyy on Facebook, website of the Embassy of Ukraine in Iraq

Quote: "I have had a telephone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. I noted that Ukraine is ready for a new page in bilateral cooperation.

We agreed to intensify all existing mechanisms of cooperation and launch new ones. We also discussed the Ukrainian formula for peace."

Details: Information on the embassy's website notes that this is the first conversation between the senior leadership of the two countries.

In addition, bilateral negotiations at the governmental level intensified between Iraq and Ukraine in 2022. This happened after Russia's full-scale invasion.

In particular, in September 2022, Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, spoke at a meeting with former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi about the need to pressure Russia to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative and export Ukrainian grain.

Shmyhal also urged Iraqi businesses to participate in the post-war recovery of Ukraine.

Background: In February 2023, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein. Kuleba called on Iraq to join the Ukrainian peace formula.

A new president was elected in Iraq in 2022. Abdul Latif Rashid became the leader of the country.

In addition, in April 2022, The Guardian reported that Russia was receiving some ammunition and military equipment from Iraq for the war against Ukraine. The Kremlin managed to acquire the weapons with the help of Iranian smuggling networks.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE  As many congregated elsewhere on Sunday morning to contemplate spiritual rebirth, history buffs gathered at the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park to commemorate the American Civil War's conclusion.

On April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee, commanding general of the rebel Army of Northern Virginia, surrendered his men to Ulysses S. Grant, general-in-chief of United States forces. Inside the McLean family's home near the Appomattox County Court House, the two generals signed a cessation of hostilities that effectively ended the war in Virginia.

All those soldiers of mine that were over that way on the other side of the courthouse all got to go home alive, said Thomas L. Jessee, who portrayed Lee in events at the historical park Sunday. And we want to remind people of that and keep the history of this country in front of the people and bring them in so they can see it.

People need to embrace what happened here. They need to embrace the end of the war. They need to understand that the healing began in that parlor in that house on these grounds, said E.C. Fields Jr., who portrayed Grant. Thats why this place, specifically, and our history, in general, is and are so critically important to all of us as we live our lives as American citizens, for we are all countrymen.

Fields said that the original surrender date in 1865 fell on a Palm Sunday. To have the 158th anniversary occur on Easter Sunday this year gives a religious aura to the historical event.

A God and man rejoining to stop the killing, stop the strife and bring our country together, Fields said. There is no better day than the day of resurrection to observe and celebrate the end of the war and the beginning of a country reunited and the beginning of peace.

The agreement signed by Lee and Grant ended their armies' part in a military struggle that freed enslaved Americans like John Robinson of Appomattox County. David Wooldridge, a museum technician at the historical park, led a tour Sunday that ended at Robinsons home within the park's grounds.

He was a founder of the first Black church in the county, was the treasurer of that church, raised a number of children that went on and had their own amazing stories, Wooldridge said. He was so well known in the area here that there was a Black paper in Richmond called the Richmond Planet that wrote about him when he passed away.

The church that Robinson helped to found, Galilee Baptist Church, still holds services and did so Sunday. Woodridge said that while the name of the congregation hasnt changed, the building has.

The building that theyre in now was constructed in 1916, Wooldridge said. They were sort of like a mother church for other Black churches in the county. A lot of congregations moved off and created their own churches after a while.

Also participating in Sundays events at the historical park were Civil War-era reenactors Jean Bryan and Michael Lucas.

If we dont learn anything from the Civil War and what happened, were going to repeat it again, Bryan said. I think were getting close to it again."

Were considering the past. Its important not to just be flippant about it and not take it for granted, Lucas said. Its necessary to take the time, for me and her and everyone else thats here thats a part of this, to immerse ourselves in some respect to understand where we came from, how we got here, who these people were, what their daily lives were like, and how close we are to that, and how close they are to us.

Lucas said the coincidence of Easter Sunday and the anniversary of Lees surrender was simply curious. But Bryan, like Fields, said the coincidence carries a message about peace.

The beginning of peace started here on that day, and thats what Jesus Christ was all about, Bryan said. Treat each other the way you would like to be treated.

Wooldridge said the events of April 9, 1865 initiated a transformation of the nation.

A lot of the things that occur, good, bad and ugly, in this nation, I think, are directly tied to the events that transpired here, to get these armies here, to end the bloodshed between these armies and to also forge a new freedom and a new nation with this whole huge portion of the population that had been relatively barred from participating officially, Wooldridge said. Even though they were always part of the American story, these folks were not allowed to officially be a part of that. To me, that is rebirth.

For Wooldridge, the history of Appomattox is personal. His great-great-great grandmother owned a home nearby.

My family was here. They owned slaves in this village. They lived and died in this village, Wooldridge said. Im just a microcosm and this story is just a microcosm for a lot of Americans and a lot of stories. Unfortunately, we dont hear about them all the time or as much as I think we should because its real easy to get caught up in nostalgia.

For years, the locals here called this the Surrender Ground, Wooldridge continued. But its so much more. This isnt just a story for Civil War buffs. This is a story for Americans, and those interested in the history of America, and the future of America.
Another proof of the dangerous collusion between the Algeria-backed Polisario and Hezbollah, close to Iran, has just been unveiled by the Defense Channel of the i24NEWS news outlet, which pointed out that if Europeans do not become aware of this problem today, tomorrow, it will already be too late.

An exclusive report by the Defense Channel of i24NEWS revealed recently how the Polisario Front, which operates from Tindouf in Algeria, organized a large-scale money laundering network based in Spain, used for the financing of terrorist actions, and how the Polisario is linked to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Based on reports by a Western countrys intelligence services and Spains Guardia Civile, the magazine identified Ahmed Abderrahman as the kingpin of the money laundering network, which used an informal method of transferring money through brokers, called Hawala (money transfer mandate).

As the head of the Hawala, dubbed Tirs, Abderrahman had very close ties with the leaders of the Polisario Front and sponsored networks operating from Tindouf to Europe and well beyond, including in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

In its report, The Defense Channel presented exclusive examples of several bank accounts opened in Spain and Ireland connected to Tirs. The channel also revealed very close ties between the Polisario Front and Lebanons Shiite Islamist movement Hezbollah, through the Hawala.

The report showed Abderrahman seated at a cafe in a European country, where he met with a Lebanese businessman from al-Qard al-Hasan  the financial arm of Hezbollah. He was heard declaring his loyalty to the extremist group.

I love Hezbollah. Despite the struggles in Lebanon, I love what it does. Hezbollah is special. I am Sunni, and yet I love it because its men keep their word. They proved their strength in the 2006 war against Israel and many countries are afraid of them, he said.

The Defense Channel quoted a former European intelligence agent as saying that if the Europeans do not become aware of this problem today, it will already be too late tomorrow.
Morocco has attracted a new American investor, CVG, a global supplier of electrical systems, which will open a facility in Tangier in the third quarter of 2023.

In a recent press release, the U.S. group said it will also open another facility in Aldama, Mexico. Both locations are expected to employ approximately 1,000 new employees each, and production is targeted for Q3 of 2023. These plants are a cornerstone in CVGs strategy of expanding its electrification systems business, its global footprint, capacity and capabilities.

The government of Morocco has helped us tremendously throughout this process and provides excellent job-specific training for our industry, said Harold Bevis, Pdt & CEO of CVG.

The North African Kingdom is well-known for its availability of technical talent in the electrical manufacturing industry, said Bevis, noting the Tangier plant will employ 1,000 skilled workers once the facility is fully operational.

CVG will deploy its proprietary electrical systems manufacturing processes in the new plants, which will act as hub-and-spoke setups with CVGs other electrical systems locations. This shared SG&A structure amongst the multiple plants will further minimize cost structure, maintain nimbleness, and increase response times.

Commercial Vehicle Group (CVG) is a leading supplier of warehouse automation and robotic assemblies, electric vehicle assemblies, electrical wire harnesses, seating systems, mechanical assemblies, structures, plastic products and more to the ecommerce, transportation, warehousing, construction equipment, industrial and recreational vehicle markets.
A declassified U.S. intelligence document recognizes the Moroccan sovereignty over the Eastern Sahara stretching from Hassi Beida (Bechar province) down to Tinjoub town (southern Mhamid Ghizlane) and holds France, the former colonial power, responsible for the territorial dispute between Morocco and Algeria.

The Memo declassified by the Central Intelligence Agency in 2004 strengthens Moroccos legal position and historical rights for the liberation of remaining occupied Saharan territories illegally annexed during French Algeria to the detriment of Morocco.

The declassified U.S. official document sheds lights on the Sand War which broke out in October 1963 between the two neighboring countries (Morocco and newly independent Algeria), stressing that the southern-Saharan stretch of the Moroccan-Algerian border from Figuig down to the Sahara has never been demarcated. This means that Washington holds France responsible for the entangled border problems in the region.

During Frances administration of Morocco and Algeria, successive redefinitions of the administrative line separating Morocco from the French Algerian jurisdiction favored Algeria, which was legally a part of France, while Morocco was only a protectorate, says the CIA document.

After gaining independence in 1956, the Moroccans raised the issue of recovering their Saharan territories annexed during the French Algeria era, adds the U.S. intelligence memo.

In 1958, when the Algerian rebels were operating in the Saharan area, France and Morocco informally agreed on respective operational zones so as to avoid clashes between their forces.

Under this informal agreement, the French extended their occupation north and west of earlier lines, but the new line was not accorded any legal status, underlines the CIA document.

This line, however, is adopted by the Algerians. The Moroccans insist that the true boundary is an earlier line, which places the posts of Hassi Beida and Tinjoub in Morocco. These posts are important because they are on the main caravan trail linking Colomb-Bechar and Tindouf, reveals the U.S. document.

The CIA memo cites an agreement reached in 1961 between late King Hassan II and Ferhat Abbas, then Prime minister of the provisional Algerian government to retrieve the eastern Moroccan Sahara but the Algerian leaders broke their promise. They betrayed Moroccans who supported them during their independence war. They refused to return Moroccan Saharan territories, preferring to stick to inherited colonial borders.
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The Lincoln County commissioners approved a memorandum of agreement for the Sutherland North Bridge project at Mondays meeting.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will now be able to approve the construction permit said Jason Schultz, Lincoln County highway superintendent. The project is a collaboration between the Corps of Engineers, the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Officer and the county.

In other business, the commissioners also:

Approved Nebraska Office of Highway Safety Click-It or Ticket mini-grant from May 15 to June 4 as presented by Lt. Dan Newton of the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office. Newton said the grant request is for $20,000, and rarely does the county get what we ask for, but we have to start somewhere.

Authorized County Board Chairman Jerry Woodruff to sign the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds award agreements with Grace Ministries Food Pantry and the Salvation Army.

Authorized participation in a tour hosted by Murphy Tractor May 1-3. Schultz said the trip is an opportunity to go to the factory and headquarters and look at new technology and new equipment. The trip, which is at no cost to the county, will include commissioners Micaela Wuehler and Chris Bruns.

Approved adoption of Resolution No. 2023-08 to publish a general notice of adoption for the black-tailed prairie dog management plan. State statute requires the publication of the plan by May 1 of each year.

Authorized Woodruff to sign the right-of-way application submitted by Hershey Cooperative Telephone Co.
Nebraska state troopers, with assistance from the Dawson County Sheriffs Office, arrested a Maryland man Monday after a pursuit on Interstate 80 in Dawson County.

About 7:10 a.m., a trooper saw an eastbound Chrysler Pacifica speeding at over 100 mph on Interstate 80 near Lexington. The trooper tried to stop the vehicle, but it fled and the trooper pursued.

The Chrysler exited I-80 at the Lexington interchange, turned around and fled westbound on I-80. The van maintained speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour during the pursuit.

Near the Gothenburg interchange, a Dawson County sheriffs deputy successfully deployed a spike strip to slow the vehicle. The van stopped in the driving lane of I-80 at mile marker 214. The driver was arrested without incident.

In the van, troopers located 85 pounds of marijuana, 4 pounds of marijuana products and a small amount of psilocybin mushroom products. The driver, a 30-year-old Baltimore man, was arrested on suspicion of willful reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest, possession of marijuana  more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance and traffic violations. He was lodged in Dawson County Jail.
Brian Kemp takes a rare L on vouchers. Photo: Justin Kase Photography/Shutterstock

For longtime conservative enthusiasts of diverting public-education dollars into private schools (or home schools), the parental rights movement being embraced by Republicans across the country has been a godsend. With residual heartburn over COVID-19 restrictions on in-school instruction and fresh outrage over alleged woke teachers and administrators teaching kids about sex and gender identity and (gasp) racism, the hoary cause of school vouchers has received a new impetus in many Republican-controlled states. Thats despite growing evidence that vouchers dont tend to produce good educational outcomes, while undermining funding for public schools (including charter public schools that provide significant school choice).

While many jurisdictions have approved small voucher experiments, often aimed at special-education students with few public options, Republicans are now taking vouchers to a new level. Since last year, five states have made the leap to universal vouchers, which enable parents to pay for private-school tuition and/or offset homeschooling costs: Arizona in 2022 (though the state voted for Biden and two Democratic senators, the GOP controlled all three branches of state government until this year), followed by Iowa, Utah, Arkansas, and most recently Florida in 2023.

But now, rural Republican opposition to vouchers has stopped voucher proposals being backed vocally by two of the countrys most powerful GOP governors.

In Georgia, a major expansion of vouchers that Governor Brian Kemp put his considerable political heft behind unexpectedly lost when 16 mostly rural House Republicans voted against it; the bill lost by four votes and died for this session of the legislature. For one thing, many rural communities without private schools would be on the losing end of the funding shift. For another, past efforts by voucher fans to threaten Republican lawmakers with primary opposition appear to have backfired.

And now in Texas, another private-school subsidy initiative that Governor Greg Abbott has made his signature proposal for 2023 has encountered similar Republican opposition. Last week, the Texas House approved a budget amendment prohibiting use of public funds for private schools. Twenty-four Republicans  again, mostly from rural areas  voted with Democrats to give the funding amendment an 86-52 win. While the House has not yet dealt with a Senate-passed version of Abbotts proposal, theres no obvious path for overcoming bipartisan opposition.

These developments reinforce two big problems with vouchers aside from their poor record of improving educational results. First, as my colleague Jonathan Chait recently pointed out, most of the beneficiaries of voucher proposals have already abandoned public schools and are simply grasping for tax money to subsidize decisions theyve already made, undermining the very idea of educational reform via school choice: Providing vouchers didnt give children choices; it simply sent checks to parents who were already privately educating their children.

But second, voucher plans, and indeed the underlying philosophy that education is simply a publicly provided service for parents, ignores the civic role that public schools often play for parents and nonparents alike, particularly in rural areas. What urban and suburban conservatives may deplore as government schools are the glue in many small communities, as NBC News recently explained in a report from the small and intensely conservative West Texas town of Robert Lee during a track meet that drew fans to the public high school from around the area:

Its not just sporting events that make the school the center of the towns identity. Its where residents host potluck fundraisers to help pay a loved ones medical bills, or gather for the annual Robert Lee BBQ Cookoff. Theres no gym or YMCA in Robert Lee, but the school weight room is open to the public in the evenings and on weekends. So is the playground. Lupe Torres, the school districts head of maintenance and facilities, said he doubts many folks in Austin understand the indelible connection that rural Texans have to their public schools.

Resident of towns like these also laugh at the idea their public schools are sinister transmission belts for wokeness.

Without question, Abbott, Kemp, and other Republicans wont give up on vouchers anytime soon; too many big GOP donors and conservative Evangelical activists (who are often deeply committed to homeschooling) sincerely want to destroy traditional public schools. And again, theres a built-in constituency of people already educating their kids privately for whom vouchers are simply a redistribution of taxpayer dollars in their favor. But its becoming clear that reframing the education debate as a battle between parents and unionized teachers and bureaucratic administrators hasnt gotten rid of the idea that theres something in public schools that the public values enough to preserve.
French companies expect continued growth, deepened cooperation in China

Xinhua) 09:43, April 10, 2023

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Niukouyu Wetland Park in southwest Beijing, which occupies an area of 140 hectares, is a witness to the successful collaboration between Chinese and French companies.

The site of the park had been home to an industrial wastewater reservoir of Sinopec Yanshan Petrochemical Company (SYPC). In 2006, SYPC and Veolia Environnement of France started cooperating on wastewater treatment, discharge, and ecology restoration. In 2017, the site became a wetland park and opened to the public for free, with this treated wastewater as its main water source.

Today, the Niukouyu Wetland Park is a habitat for over 140 species of birds, including rare ones, and a hot destination for tourists and shutterbugs.

Christophe Maquet, Veolia's senior executive vice president for the Asia-Pacific Zone, said that Veolia is "one of the companies that are providing solutions for customers in terms of CO2 savings," and China's "dual carbon" goal is "a very important driver" for the company.

"What we expect from the Chinese market for us in the future will be about decarbonization, de-pollution, as well as the circular economy," Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, said on Wednesday in Beijing.

Earlier this week, in the southern metropolis of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi signed a letter of intent for cooperation with the government of Shenzhen's Pingshan District.

The two sides agreed to accelerate the market access to innovative vaccines and promote innovative development of the biopharmaceutical industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Thomas Triomphe, executive vice president and head of vaccines at Sanofi, said the company is currently committed to promoting the landing of several innovative product pipelines in China.

A bio-industry cluster has formed in Pingshan District over recent years. Data showed that by 2022, the number of biopharmaceutical enterprises in Pingshan had exceeded 1,000.

"Sanofi's steady growth in China, especially in vaccines, owes much to the open international business environment created by the Shenzhen municipal government and Pingshan District," said Triomphe.

He added the company would introduce more innovative products and preventive solutions to help support China's public health system and contribute to Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area's economic growth.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Howie Mandel and Terry Mandel have been married since 1980 and share three children

Michael Caulfield/WireImage

Howie Mandel and his wife, Terry Mandel (nee Soil), are childhood sweethearts.

The pair have been married for over 40 years, tying the knot on Mar. 16, 1980, but they first met when they were kids. Like Howie, Terry was born in Toronto, Canada, and the two attended high school together at William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute.

As the America's Got Talent host recalled during an appearance on Today with Hoda & Jenna, the duo met in line while waiting to buy french fries. "I actually borrowed money from her. I didn't know her, and I was short a couple of bucks for french fries and she lent me money. She was, like, 14 at the time and she lent me money. And I've been paying her back ever since," Howie explained.

In the years since, the couple have celebrated many milestones, including the births of their three children and several creative collaborations.

While appearing on Live! With Kelly and Ryan in 2019, Howie joked that these days, his "lovely wife" is not the same person he once knew. "Now she's in love with Bradley Cooper and not me," he quipped as an image of Terry and the A Star is Born actor popped up on the screen.

So who is Howie Mandel's wife? Here's everything to know about Terry Mandel and her decades-long marriage to the comedian.

She began dating Howie in high school

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection

After first meeting at the concession stand at their local Y, Howie started courting Terry when they were both in their early teens  though Terry rejected his early advances.

"She said no until I was like  I think the first time I dated her I was 19. She didn't want to go out with me," he recalled on Today.

The couple's first date was at the movie theater, but it almost ended in disaster due to bad weather.

"We drove to the movies in my mother's Cutlass Supreme. The car hit an ice patch and wound up teetering on its side before coming down on four wheels," he told The Wall Street Journal in 2018.

Story continues

Howie proposed to her in a deli

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Lucky for Howie, Terry finds him as funny as the rest of his fans. Of his proposal to his future wife, the comedian told Streets of Toronto, "I was sitting in a deli, and I'd bought a loose diamond, and I put it on the table and said, 'I got to go to the bathroom, but if you want to make a ring go ahead.' "

He added, "I'm not a romantic; neither of us is romantic. One time in 43 years, I brought flowers home, and she said, 'Where did you get these?' The truth is, I did take them from the set that I was working on."

She and Howie have three kids together

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

The couple share three kids: a son, Alex, born in 1989, and two daughters, Jackie and Riley, born in 1984 and 1992, respectively.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Jackie opened up about having anxiety and OCD, like her dad.

"My dad is very open about going to therapy and erasing the stigma," she said. "Whenever I was upset or sad or having a bad day, I knew I could reach out."

Howie and Terry are also grandparents to Jackie's kids, Abbey and Axel. In January 2023, the Deal or No Deal host shared an Instagram post of his daughter and granddaughter. He paired it with the caption: "my baby @jackelynshultz and her baby #family."

She's a television producer and talent agent

SGranitz/WireImage

Terry is a talent agent and television producer, having worked alongside her husband on a few different projects.

She was an associate producer on the 1985 TV special Howie Mandel: Live from Carnegie Mall. The couple also owns a talent agency based in Los Angeles, The Abstract Talent Agency.

She encouraged Howie to host Deal or No Deal

Howie is known for his iconic role as the host of Deal or No Deal (and its 2018 reboot), but it was Terry who encouraged him to take the job in the first place.

"In 2005, when I got asked to do a game show, there was no comics hosting game shows. And I said no to it three times," he told The Gazette in 2018. "My wife told me to take the deal, and I took the deal."

He remembered telling Terry, "'How do I sustain this for an hour? How do I? I don't want to do this. I don't want to just read trivia questions.' My wife said, 'You'll see. It's good.' And I listened to her."

She has a great sense of humor

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

It makes sense that Howie fell in love with someone equally as hilarious. In a 2009 interview with Good Housekeeping, Howie explained that his wife's humor is one of the things that attracted him to her.

"[Terry] made me laugh. It was wonderful to meet a witty woman," he told the magazine. "Spending your life with someone who doesn't have that wouldn't be palatable."

Their shared sense of humor even extended to their wedding celebrations  the couple spent part of their honeymoon at a comedy club.

"We went to Yuk Yuk's for our honeymoon," Howie recalled to Streets of Toronto, explaining that since they couldn't afford airfare, their nuptials coincided with a business trip. "The day after our wedding, she was sitting on a stool beside me on the stage at Yuk Yuk's, and I explained to the audience that this was my honeymoon show. Again, I'm not a romantic, but this was a moment that she'll never forget."

She's an animal lover

Amy Graves/WireImage

During an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Howie explained that Terry is quite the animal lover, so he once rented an elephant as part of her birthday surprise. However, the sweet gesture didn't exactly go as planned.

"I had [the elephant] brought to the house," he said. "But I'm not a good planner, and I didn't invite anyone. I didn't cater. I didn't bring even a staff."

He then played Kelly Clarkson a clip from the surprise, which showed a less-than-enthused Terry looking on as the elephant stood in their backyard. After Clarkson called the ordeal the "saddest party ever," Howie explained that things got even worse, as the elephant ended up causing $45,000 worth of damage to the property.

"[It] was in our backyard for 12 hours. My wife was bored after a half hour so we went in the house, but elephants, they like palm trees. The elephant took out all our palm trees and laid them down," Howie said, adding that the animal also broke his sprinkler system and dug several deep holes.

Birthday fail aside, Terry is a dog mom to several pups, whom she often shares snaps of on Instagram. "These guys make me smile !!," she captioned one post of her two dogs in February 2023.

She gets pranked by Howie

In a 2020 interview, Howie revealed to Jimmy Kimmel how he pranked puzzle-loving Terry during the COVID-19 pandemic by sneakily hiding her jigsaw pieces.

"My wife, like a lot of other people, [is] doing puzzles. I don't like puzzles, but she buys like thousand-piece puzzles and she sits there, and that's her whole focus," he explained. "So, the second day that she had the puzzle  and I've done it to three puzzles already  I took one piece, and I hide it, and then I just sit there waiting for the next couple days, just waiting. And then there's always one missing!"

"Then she screams, I'm in such joy and she's in such pain. That's the yin and yang of a long marriage," Howie joked.

She supports Howie through his struggles with anxiety and OCD

Michael Caulfield/WireImage

Howie was diagnosed with severe anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder as a child, and he's been open about how the condition has had a crushing impact on his life. He credits Terry and their children for being an anchor that can help pull him from the depression that comes with his disorder.

"The lights of my life are my children and grandchildren," he told PEOPLE in June 2021. "And my lovely wife. She was there for the family when I couldn't be."

Howie explained that while their kids were growing up, he was at times so fearful of germs in the house that he had a guest house built to stay in when a family member was sick. In his 40s, however, the TV host finally decided to seek help after Terry stepped in.

"I was given an ultimatum about my marriage ending if I didn't get help," he explained. "I grew up in an era when the stigma about mental health was huge. But once I realized I wasn't alone, I made it my life's mission to talk about it."

Howie now relies on therapy and medication, in addition to the support of Terry and their children.

"Even on days where I'm in a dark pit, I know that at some point I'm going to climb out of it," he said. "I'm going to see the faces of my family, and that sunshine will be worth the pain."

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After a year of waiting, the Buc-ees convenience store opened in Auburn early Monday morning.

Both local and state leaders attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Texas-based travel center. Located at exit 50 off Interstate-85, Buc-ees is known for its multitude of gas pumps, record holding bathrooms and fresh brisket sandwiches.

Residents both in Auburn and across the state have heavily anticipated the chains fourth Alabama location since construction for the 53,000-square-foot gas station began in October.

On Monday morning, a line of happy Buc-ees customers braving the cold stretched from the beavers front doors to around the corner of the building. Beaver fans came from as far as Charlotte, N.C. and New Orleans, LA to participate. Some customers arrived in the middle of the night, ready to be a part of the 6 a.m. grand opening.

Dalis Smith and Hayes Grogan, both of Auburn, were the first customers at Buc-ees this morning, arriving at 1:45 a.m.

We made friends with security, Smith said. We were parked out there by the road for the longest time and then they let us in the parking lot. And weve just been watching people roll in since then.

Others arrived later, between 4 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. Craig Woodham, who is originally from San Antonio but now lives in Auburn, passed the time with friends and family over a few rounds of the Uno card game as they waited for the doors to open.

Were just Buc-ees fans, Woodham said. My family used to live in San Antonio, so we met Buc-ees that way. Whens the next time a Buc-ees is going to be open in your backyard? So, we thought we wanted to be amongst the first.

One grand opening attendee, Belinda Kock from Tuscaloosa, was decked out in a Buc-ees shirt with a stuffed Bucky the Beaver doll hanging from her jacket. She said this was her second Buc-ees grand opening after the Athens store back in November.

Ive probably visited eight Buc-ees on my motorcycle, Kock said. Bucky the biker and Ive been across the country twice three times this summer and thats what we do. We just visit Buc-ees on my motorcycle.

Josh Smith, the director of operations and expansion manager for Buc-ees, was excited to see the crowd. He proudly showed off the stores amenities, including its deli, bakery, grocery section and legendarily clean bathrooms.

First Responders Day and the grand opening are two of my favorite days when it comes to store involvement, Smith said. When we open the doors and see the excitement on their faces, they walk in, and they view this sensory overloadIts just overwhelming. They stand here for a few seconds and then their jaws just drop. Its like, where do we begin?

With barbecue sandwiches and Brisket tacos in the deli, plenty of sweets in the bakery and fresh coffee waiting, the crowd had plenty of stimulation to take in as they entered the store. It was a line that took a full two minutes to disperse into the voluminous gas station.

Theres always something going on. Theres always something on the board being cooked. Theres fresh brisket being chopped up, Smith said.

Randy Pauly, Buc-ees pitmaster and nine-time barbecue champion, was full of energy and ready to talk up all things brisket and Texas for the customers.

Were rolling in with Texas barbecue in this beautiful state and many, many more, Pauly said. The beautiful thing is that they [the customers] can come roll up to Buc-ees at any time and grab delicious barbecue.

Were a Texas born and raised company thats bringing a Texas love to your town, Pauly added.

Both state and local officials were on hand later in the morning to celebrate Buc-ees grand opening as well. Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, State Senator Jay Hovey, State representative Joe Lovvorn and Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville all spoke alongside Buc-ees co-founder Arch Beaver Aplin III.

Tuberville took the time to connect Buc-ees to family trips and vacations, saying the companys stores brings back the youth in all of us.

Buc-ees has brought that back to our country and back to our state. It is unbelievable what it has done, Tuberville said. This will really enhance Auburn. We were already on the map, but this is even going to put us on the map even more.

Anders likewise talked up the financial impact Buc-ees is expected to have on Auburn. He called the store an anchor for the Cox Road area.

This is only the beginning. Buc-ees has established an anchor here at exit 50 that will spur growth and redevelopment in this area for years to come, Anders said. That Buc-ees would choose Auburn shows that Auburn in itself is a destination with great quality of life for its residents and more and more amenities for visitors.

Anders also said Buc-ees had agreed to donate $50,000 annually to community programs and activities in the Auburn area.

Aplin talked about the jobs his company was creating in Auburn, promising a whole bunch more than the current 175 positions. He also mentioned Buc-ees high-salary positions for its associates, often ranging from $17 to $22 per hour.

We take great pride in being able to have real livable wages that people can prosper under, Aplin said. It was over a year ago maybe a year and a half ago we were here and stuck a shovel in the ground and committed to building something that this community could be proud of. And I hope you will be proud of it. I know we will.
"who allegedly used studios resources to assist the girlfriend into setting up a spa as her personal business, and also for her personal lifestyle expenses such as traveling."



Mess.

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At least they kicked him out instead of turning a blind eye.

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It involved money so of course they're gonna get booted faster but if it wasn't would they have?

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they are turning a blind eye tho. they are kicking out the person calling out the corruption!

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Oh, whoops, guess not.

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You dont fuck with one of the last pure things on this earth



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Not even raiding the petty cash but actually setting up his GF on the company's dime? He's lucky they didn't have him prosecuted.

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Damn I wish my pussy were this powerful

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I wish I had a Princess Mononoke gif ready



You can't trust men

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am i misreading this?



Suzuki is the cofounder and the one who is misusing company funds. Suzuki is the one kicking out Hoshino who objected to the misuse of funds to continue his corruption. Hoshino is the good guy being booted out for pointing out corruption.

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Yeah, I remember reading an article on either like IGN or CBR, and I got the distinct impression that they were booting the person who was financing his lover with company money, but this makes it seem like someone who called out the nonsense for being nonsense was booted.

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https://www.cbr.com/studio-ghibli-president-ousted-co-founder-spends-money-girlfriend/



"Studio Ghibli President Ousted as Co-Founder Spends Company Money on Girlfriend"



yeah the comments here were confusing me. the corrupt one is the cofounder (Suzuki) who has the power to kick out the president (Hoshino). the cofounder (Suzuki) is the one spending money on his gf. "Studio Ghibli President Ousted as Co-Founder Spends Company Money on Girlfriend"yeah the comments here were confusing me. the corrupt one is the cofounder (Suzuki) who has the power to kick out the president (Hoshino). the cofounder (Suzuki) is the one spending money on his gf.

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Yeah, according to reports Hoshino is the one stepping down and the co founder is the one still in the studio

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now sis you know ontd can't read!!

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Guys from the article the whistleblower is the one who's been replaced. I hope he sues the fuck out of Ghibli.

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Oh, okay! I thought the thief was being fired. :(

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Thank you for confirming I wasn't crazy. The first few comments had me questioning my reading comprehension skills.



ONTD doesn't read is evolving into bad comprehension lol

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This is a truly unexpected source for trashy behind the scenes goings on.

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Judging by some YouTube videos that document what its like working there, the employees must have seen a lot over the years

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Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ

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oh yikes. studio ghibli has produced some of my favorite movies, but i've heard that the people at the top don't make it a pleasant place to work

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Theres a video of his employees showing him how AI can change animation, then he rips them apart and says their work is an insult to life itself- the employees almost cry.

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Miyazaki that is

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I mean



What they showed him was horrific

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was he wrong

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Yikes. So, what is the other three co-founders saying about this? If they are letting this slide then that is pretty messy.

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I'm just so tired of men in power ruin things, what a mess. I hope he sues for everything the studio's worth

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men are the worst, just let us have one good thing in this world



like, y'all are stewards of one of the most beloved animation studios fucking ever and you think this shit reflects well on you

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Altec Sentry Altecs commitment to safety extends beyond the investments we make in designing and manufacturing equipment. Keeping crews safe on the job is important to us. For nearly 20 years, Altec Sentry has helped employees train and certify Altec equipment operators on safe and proper operation. We are committed to your safety and believe that industry-leading equipment deserves industry-leading training. Thats exactly what Altec Sentry provides. Altec Sentry has a unique array of training options designed to help employers qualify their operators to safely operate and properly maintain Altec equipment. We also provide preparatory courses and practical examinations for National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) crane and digger derrick operator certifications. 3

High 5 Hooks Strengthen your current cable management and housekeeping activities with the High 5 Hooks from Glove Guard. They are an easy method to elevate tripping hazards from walking surfaces and keeping a safe working environment. H5H hooks are used to effectively suspend cords, hoses, welding leads, cables, and other equipment for oil and gas, petrochemical, construction, shipyards, and other industrial environments. High 5 Hooks are offered in 3 styles providing greater flexibility to find the right hook for the job. Multiple hook sizes and quantity of openings make cable management more effective and reduce tangles and frustration. 3
How to Create a Successful Safety Eyewear Program

Safety eyewear requirements and PPE have been around for a long time. Yet statistics show employees continue to experience significant eye injuries, including loss of vision, because of wearing the wrong PPE for the task or simply not wearing it at all.



There are numerous excuses given as to why that is the case. The reality, however, is that with todays technology and available eyewear, few excuses hold merit. Rather than look to blame or accuse an employee or employer for making poor decisions, this webinar focuses on positive and effective practices that can help you and your employees get out of this injury cycle.



During this 45-minute webinar, we will discuss:

The types of eye hazards and injuries commonly experienced at work and why

The components or steps to creating a successful safety eyewear program

Getting it right the first time in PPE selection, purchase, and use

Gaining the trust and buy-in of your front-line employees and supervisors

Why focusing on hazards rather than compliance is better

How these steps will reduce, if not eliminate, eye injuries at your place of work

Any company of any size and any budget can benefit from this webinar. These steps easily fit into any work location and following these steps will enhance your overall safety culture.

Register below for this free webinar!

DATE: April 13, 2023

TIME: 2:00PM ET - 1:00PM CT - 11:00AM PT

Speaker:

Randy DeVaul is a 40+ year safety professional, designated OSHA/MSHA safety expert for a national attorney group and founder/author of Performance Safety principles and practices. Experienced in ISO, VPP, workers comp best practices, and injury prevention solutions, help is readily available to meet employers needs.

Sponsor:

HexArmor

For 20 years, HexArmor has provided organizations with high-performance PPE and world-class safety support  all with the goal of protecting people. Each day we work hard to solve difficult safety problems with innovative PPE solutions for leading companies in oil and gas, construction, energy, lumber, pulp and paper, mining, and other industrial segments. https://www.hexarmor.com/

Duration: 1 Hour
Privacy and Connectivity: Inspiring Trust with Your Workers

From lone worker protection, to gas detection, to fast incident response, to powerful workplace insightsconnected wearables bring many safety and workplace benefits. However, as with any technological solution that generates volumes of data from usage, employee concerns about privacy and surveillance also arise.



Join our panel discussion where we will discuss how to:

Put people first and keep a human-centered approach to implementing connected safety

Prioritize psychological well-being in organizational decisions

Build trust and confidence with effective change management strategies

Register for this free webinar!

DATE: April 26, 2023

TIME: 2:00PM ET - 1:00PM CT - 11:00AM PT

Moderator:

Meaghan Whitney, Chief People Officer, Blackline Safety

Meaghan Whitney is Chief People Officer at Blackline Safety, where she provides leadership and guidance to Blackline's human resources, health & safety, and payroll & benefits functions with her unwavering focus on culture, communication and engagement in support of our Blackline Values. With over 10 years of human resources experience, including health and safety, organizational development and instructional design, Meaghan has held a variety of roles in her career. She is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources, and is a Certified Professional of the Society of Human Resource Management.



Panelists:

Stephen Tull

Manager, Regulated Field Safety and Training, Chesapeake Utilities Corporation

Steve has been in the Natural Gas industry for 26 years, all with Chesapeake Utilities. He has held several roles in Operations including Gas Services Coordinator, Metering Supervisor, Manager of Gas Conversions and Compliance and most recently Manager, Regulated Field Safety and Training. He oversees the safety and training for Chesapeakes operations in Delaware, Maryland, Ohio and Florida. Steve also oversaw the design and build for the Companys training facility Safety Town.

Jeffrey Fors

Corporate Director of Landfill Gas Operations, Waste Management

Jeffrey has spent the last 20 years with Waste Management and currently is a Corporate Director for the Landfill Gas Program. During his tenure, he has held many roles from Field Technician, Renewable Energy Plant Manager and Area level manager with the company. His job responsibilities have focused heavily on environmental compliance, special project management, and safety.

Jeffrey earned degrees from Penn State University and East Stroudsburg University with an emphasis in Biology. Additionally, he served 12 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, and supported Operation Iraqi Freedom III as a Platoon Sergeant.

Time: 2:00 PM ET

Duration: 1 Hour
Psychological First Aid and Workplace Mental Health

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a vital aspect of crisis management and preventing workplace violence. If we want to promote Total Worker Health (TWH) programs and truly care for our workers, we must prioritize their mental health and ensure they are fit for duty, especially in roles that require safety-sensitive positions.

During this webinar, we will delve into the fundamental principles of PFA and explore how it aligns with TWH and the Americans with Disabilities Act in both on-the-job and off-duty scenarios. We will also briefly address OSHA reporting, the general duty clause and WV definitions. PFA is particularly crucial in evaluating fitness for duty following critical incidents, and it can help prevent suicide risk and aid those grappling with addiction.

We will explore the core principles of PFA, its advantages and limitations, and how it connects to the ADA's "direct threat to safety" defense. It is essential to equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools to provide effective psychological first aid, not just for our workers' sake but for the health and wellbeing of our entire workplace.

Register for this free webinar!

DATE: April 20, 2023

TIME: 2:00PM ET - 1:00PM CT - 11:00AM PT

Speaker:



Adele L. Abrams is an attorney, Associate Safety Professional (ASP) and Certified Mine Safety Professional (CMSP) who is president of the Law Office of Adele L. Abrams P.C., a multi-attorney firm with offices in Beltsville, Maryland, Denver, Colorado, and Charleston, West Virginia. The firm represents employers in OSHA and MSHA litigation nationwide, and her firm also handles employment law matters in a large number of states. Abrams and her firm colleagues provide employment and safety law consultation, safety audits, industrial hygiene assistance, and training services to companies in a variety of industries.



She is a member of the Maryland, D.C. and PA Bars; the U.S. District Courts of Maryland, D.C., and TN; the U.S. Court of Appeals, DC Circuit 3rd Circuit, and 4th Circuit; and the United States Supreme Court. She also serves on the adjunct faculties of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and the University of Colorado-Boulder, where she teaches on employment, labor and occupational safety law.



Adele is active member of the American Society of Safety Professionals, and of the National Safety Council, where she was awarded the Distinguished Service to Safety Award (DSSA) in 2017. Abrams has coauthored several textbooks on employment law, occupational and mine safety and health, and is a regular columnist on safety law issues for multiple magazines. She is also an Avetta Fellow.

Duration: 1 Hour
Why Traditional Hard Hats May Fail in Common Worksite Accidents - Transitioning from Type 1 Helmets & the Effect of Rotational Motion

The construction industry is undergoing a noticeable shift in head protection. Traditional hard hats are effectively no different than when they were introduced over 100 years ago. Type 1 hard hats are designed to protect wearers from impacts to the top of the head only. The problem with this is that these helmets often fail to protect workers from head injuries during slips, trips, and falls if they fall off the wearers head.

The industry has taken note: Type 2 helmets, which can include chinstraps, are increasingly required on job sites. Type 2 helmets are designed to help protect workers from lateral impact to the front, back, side, and top of the head. While this is an improvement, none of the current standards require testing for rotational motion and how helmets can address potential traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

In this webinar, Joe Brandel would discuss why the industry should consider transitioning from Type 1 to Type 2 hard hats, and what to consider with rotational motion and the role it plays in TBIs.

Register below for this free webinar!

DATE: April 19, 2023

TIME: 2:00PM ET - 1:00PM CT - 11:00AM PT

Speaker:

Joe Brandel, Business Development Manager for North America Industrial Safety Market, Mips

Joe Brandel currently serves as Business Development Manager for North America Industrial Safety Market at Mips, a market leader in helmet-based safety. He has been in the construction and industrial safety business for over twenty years. Specializing in head protection, hand protection, fall protection and other personal protective equipment, Joe has provided training for large and small companies throughout the Midwest. He has also provided solutions for a variety of industries, which have not only helped reduce costs, but most importantly, created safer working environments for employees.

Duration: 1 Hour
The Wall Street Journal reports that ExxonMobil, (NYSE: XOM), and Pioneer Natural Resources, (NYSE: PXD) are in preliminary discussions about a merger. There has been a good bit of M&A activity the last year or so in shale country. Quite a bit of which was in the Eagle Ford play in South Texas. I have discussed this activity in a couple of recent OilPrice articles, here, and here. Now it appears the liquids rich Midland, sub-basin of the massive Permian basin is drawing the acquisitive eye of companies looking to bulk up their acreage footprint. There have been some smaller deals focusing on the Midland basin over the last six months. Examples would be Diamondback Energys pick up of Firebird Energy last fall and early this year, a buyout of Lario Oil and Gas interests in the Permian.

It was clear that the late 2022 lull in M&A activity was coming to an end when news broke last week, that megadeal might be in the works for the Midland basins, and indeed the entire Permian basins largest producer, Pioneer Natural Resources.

In this article we will discuss some of the drivers behind what will the largest oil company merger since Occidental Petroleum, (NYSE: OXY) bought Anadarko Petroleum in 2019.

The building of a shale giant

Pioneer Natural Resources was born in a 1997 merger between a firm formed by two West Texas Wildcatters, Howard Parker and Joe Parsley with Boone Pickens flagship oil company, Mesa Inc. In 2020 PXD agreed to acquire Parsley Energy a company formed in 2008 by Bryan Sheffield, son of Scott Sheffield, CEO of PXD in a $7 bn transaction. The deal added about 300,000 acres to PXDs core Midland basin position and about another 100,000 acres in the Delaware basin.

Then, in 2021 PXD shelled out another $6.4 bn to buy privately held DoublePoint Energy for its bolt-on acreage in the heart of the Midland basin. As you can see from the slide below, PXD emerged from this deal with nearly a million acres of very contiguous, blocky acreage that propelled them to the top of the pack of Permian producers.

Related: Oil Prices Head Lower In Calmer Trade



It is this core position that optimizes logistics, including drilling wells with 12-15,000 lateral legs. In a recent analyst conference call, CEO Sheffield spoke to the importance of these long laterals.

The contiguous nature of our acreage position provides multiple operational benefits including drilling and completing 15,000-plus foot laterals with greater than 100 of these expected to be placed on production in 2023. These longer laterals drive improved returns and higher productivity.

If you are looking for a site for a well factory, it doesnt get any better than PXDs nearly one million acre footprint in Texas Upton, Midland, and Martin counties. Additionally this acreage yields oil-weighted production at a time when its clear the demand/supply curve for this commodity is shifting toward a deficit later this year.

Against this back drop incorporating PXDs assets into its massive Permian footprint is a compelling prospect for XOM. What remains to be seen is if Scott Sheffield and Darren Woods can come to a gentlemans agreement, and stave off other suitors who must be considering challenge for PXD.

ExxonMobils conundrum

ExxonMobil in West Texas is also a creation of multiple significant acquisitions beginning in 2009 with gas juggernaut, XTO Energy, for $41 bn in cash and stock. The timing of this purchase was off as gas prices struggled in the 2010s, leading to the oil giant taking a massive write down on the purchase in 2020.

XOM doubled-down on the Permian with its 2017 purchase of Bass family holdings, better known as BOPCO. This time the quest was to increase liquids (crude oil and condensate) production, as newly appointed XOM CEO Darren Woods noted in the announcement-

This investment gives us an exceptional Delaware Basin position in a proven multi-stacked play that can generate attractive returns in a low-price environment. The highly-contiguous position will provide significant cost advantages in developing 3.4 billion barrels of resource, of which 75 percent is liquids. By utilizing ExxonMobils technological strength coupled with its unconventional development capabilities we can drill the longest lateral wells in the Permian Basin, reducing development costs and increasing reserve capture.

Discerning readers will note the similarity in the language used by these two CEOs as they described the advantages that would come from combining their companies with the companies being acquired at the time.

Scale, Logistics, Lower Cost, Technology and longer laterals are common to each CEOs pitch as what their respective deals would bring to the parent company. I discussed these attributes in an article on ConocoPhillips, (NYSE:COP), shortly after its ~$10 bn buyout of Shells, (NYSE: SHEL) Delaware position in 2021.

It is now necessary to compare each companys acreage footprint to fully understand ExxonMobils conumdrum. How to grow efficiently in the Midland basin, and obtain those longer laterals throughout their widely scattered, but sizeable acreage position in the basin. When you do that XOMs desire for PXD becomes obvious.

ExxonMobil and the Law of Large Numbers

The company has made no secret of its intention to grow Permian production to a million barrels equivalent per day by 2027. At today's current level of ~600K, that requires a 12% CAGR and gets you comfortably through that million on schedule. To get there they have to replace ~128K BOEPD of decline and add about ~80K BOEPD of new production in 2023, and then the Law of Large Numbers really kicks in.

For 2023 XOM will need to drill several hundred wells in the Permian to stay on track with this target. They have about $4 bn budgeted for the Permian this year, and that should deliver about the 350 or so wells, figuring $10-12 mm per well needed to hit the target for 2023.

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What about 2024? 2025, and so on? The capex required will be higher each year, probably another half a billion, and the results may be elusive, as the best locations get drilled and the production curve begins to flatten. I discussed the problem of the quality in remaining shale acreage in an OilPrice article back in February, Will U.S. Shale Ever Return To Its Glory Days? Readers desiring more color on this topic should definitely give this a read.

ExxonMobil will probably hit its target in 2027. They are really good at big project development. Given their deep pocketbook and their ability to attract resources, theyve got a good shot at it. But, why wait? It will only get more expensive and they might hit a resource wall- theres only so many pad walking drilling rigs available, as an example. They can get to a million BOEPD and more this year and all it takes is money, and the two CEOs making a deal.

Your takeaway

Using conventional metrics PXD is fairly valued at 5X EV/EBITDA and ~$80K per flowing barrel. To go beyond that you have to factor in XOMs need for growth-PXD would double their output to ~1.3 mm BOEPD, and their need to operate their Midland basin acreage in the most efficient manner possible. XOM will have to put a factor on what the value of PXDs ~$11 bn of TTM EBITDA, their 600,000 BOEPD of liquids weighted production, and 2.2 bn bbls of 2P production are worth. We may be surprised at what they come up with.

Hopefully they wont take too long, PXD shareholders are expecting a nice payday bump from current share pricing, and counting on Mr. Sheffield to drive a hard bargain. With his more than 568K share position in the company, they dont have much to worry about.

We dont have anything official yet, but there is too much synergy in this transaction for it not to go through eventually, in my estimation. I doubt we have long to wait.

By David Messler for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Indias fuel demand jumped by 5% in March compared to a year earlier, official data showed on Monday, as the worlds third-largest crude oil importer continues to see consumption growing.

Indian fuel consumption stood at 20.5 million tons last month, according to data from Indias Oil Ministry cited by Reuters.

Demand for both diesel and gasoline rose in March compared to both March last year and February this year, the data showed. Gasoline demand jumped by 6.8% year-on-year.

In February, Indian fuel demand was estimated to have jumped to the highest level in at least 24 years, and refiners in India raised crude throughput by 2% in February compared to January.

Indian refiners processed 20.85 million tons of crude in February. In barrel-per-day terms, the throughput was at 5.46 million bpd, the highest in bpd terms in Reuters records dating back to 2009.

Fuel consumption in India is expected to rise by 4.7% in the fiscal year between April 2023 and March 2024, estimates by the Indian Ministry of Petroleum and natural gas showed earlier this year. India's gasoline demand is forecast to increase by 7.1% over the next fiscal year, while gasoil demand is expected to rise by 4.2%, according to the projections.

India's robust fuel demand coincides with record-high crude oil imports from Russia, with Indian refineries snapping up cheaper Russian crude.

Russia's largest oil firm, state-controlled Rosneft, signed last month a term agreement with Indian Oil Corporation to raise the supply of Russian crude to India significantly.

From a negligible buyer of Russia's oil before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India has become a key export market for Moscow and is importing record volumes of Russian crude. In February, Russia remained India's top oil supplier for a fifth consecutive month.

India is not abiding by the G7 price cap as it seeks opportunistic purchases of cheap crude, and it doesn't intend to.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Kazakhstans government has announced an imminent increase in the price of fuel, effectively declaring defeat in its attempt to keep costs low for domestic consumers.

As of April 12, the benchmark cost of AI-92 gasoline, the type most favored by Kazakh motorists, will increase by 11 percent to 205 tenge ($0.46) per liter, while prices for diesel will go up by 20 percent to 295 tenge.

This is not an easy decision, but it has been forced upon us. If this is not done now, then in the near future we will face a shortage of fuel, Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov told reporters on April 4.

Smailov noted in his remarks that high rates of consumption for diesel  at 370 liters annually per capita, nobody in Central Asia uses more than Kazakhstan  is a key driver of deficits. Even fuel users in Russia, an energy-rich neighbor to the north, get through only 225 liters of diesel annually.

Demand for other fuels and lubricants have seen a surge too.

Smailov linked the apparent increase in consumption to the so-called grey export of the materials to neighboring countries. Diesel in Russia costs around 45 percent more than in Kazakhstan. In Kyrgyzstan, prices are 64 percent higher; they are double in Uzbekistan.

The fuel is often carried across borders by individual motorists filling up their own tanks and then siphoning out on the other side.

If the price disparity is not reduced, Kazakhstan may this year face a shortage of fuel in the amount of 850,000 tons, Smailov said.

Our cheap fuel contributes to the economies of neighboring countries to the detriment of our own national interests. Therefore, in order to stabilize the situation on the fuel and lubricants market, it is necessary to reduce the price difference, Smailov said.

He said other attempts to clamp down on grey exports have been tried and have failed.

Smailov said the government will, however, seek to avoid shocks in the agricultural industry by maintaining fuel prices level until completion of the spring farming season.

Kazakhstan has for many year relied on its status as a major oil producer to keep prices for fuel on an even keel so as to avoid domestic instability.

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Events in early 2022 are a vivid illustration of what can happen when this compact is disrupted. Price rises in western regions triggered relatively small protests that eventually gained momentum and turned into major nationwide rallies.

By Almaz Kumenov via Eurasianet.org

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Sinopec, China's oil and chemical giant, is set to build the first 'West to East' green hydrogen transmission line in the country, according to a report in state media.

The company will construct a 400km pipeline from Inner Mongolia's Ulanqab to Beijing to transfer hydrogen from renewable energy projects in the northwestern region to cities in China's east. The pipeline, set to have an initial capacity of 100,000 tonnes a year, will also have ports to grant access to new potential hydrogen sources.

While China already has pipelines for 'grey hydrogen,' made from fossil fuel sources, this project would offer an eco-friendly alternative, generated through green hydrogen split from water via renewable energies. Green hydrogen has been touted as a clean alternative for fossil fuels in several industries that are otherwise tricky to decarbonize.

The project follows China's goal to produce 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually, along with around 50,000 hydrogen-fueled vehicles by 2025, as it aims to transition towards renewable energy. Sinopec intends to accomplish the goal by constructing a green hydrogen plant in Ordos, Inner Mongolia this year, with an annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes. The company launched a green hydrogen project in Xinjiang's Kuqa region in 2021.

Sinopec has also embarked on the world's largest project to use green hydrogen to produce coal chemicals. The project, valued at approximately $830 million, is set to be built in Ordos, Inner Mongolia. The facility will produce 30,000 metric tons (t) of green hydrogen and 240,000 t of green oxygen each year.

Using solar and wind power generated in Inner Mongolia, the facility will supply its hydrogen and oxygen to a nearby coal processing facility operated by ZTHC Energy, where Sinopec is a shareholder. The ZTHC facility uses coal to extract hydrogen. Still, the Ordos project will reduce carbon emissions by 1.43 million tonnes yearly, significantly reducing the facility's carbon footprint.

The world's leading hydrogen makers' current operational pipelines are "grey hydrogen," obtained from fossil fuels. As China moves to accelerate its carbon-neutrality plan, pledging to reduce emissions to a net-zero level by 2060, it intends to rely on green hydrogen - made by splitting water via renewable energy - to develop a more sustainable hydrogen infrastructure.

Creating green hydrogen increases demand for renewable energy plants, including solar and wind farms, bolstering the renewable energy sector. The project will promote the application of hydrogen fuel cells while ensuring the extended use of clean energy.

Sinopec's new 'green' hydrogen production facilities reveal how China's largest oil, gas, and petrochemicals producer is taking advantage of the global drive to transition towards renewable and sustainable energy sources. While its green hydrogen endeavors are research projects, they may eventually become integral to its long-term strategy.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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ExxonMobil has held early informal talks about potentially acquiring the largest pure-play shale producer, Pioneer Natural Resources, The Wall Street Journal has reported, quoting sources with knowledge of the matter.

Exxon is looking to boost additionally its position in the U.S. shale patch and it has said for years that the Permian basin would be its key priority area for investments and growing production in the coming years.

In December, Exxon said in its latest corporate plan that more than 70% of capital investments by 2027 would be deployed in strategic developments in the U.S. Permian Basin, Guyana, Brazil, and LNG projects around the world.

Pioneer Natural Resources, whose market capitalization was $49 billion as of market close on Thursday, is the biggest oil producer in the Permian and the largest pure-shale player in the United States.

Contacts between Exxon and Pioneer have been informal only at this stage, and there is no guarantee that the informal talks could turn into formal negotiations, the Journals sources said. Exxon could also decide to pursue an acquisition of another company, and the U.S. supermajor has talked about a deal with at least one other firm, the sources added.

At the end of February, Pioneer Natural Resources said in a brief statement that the Company is not contemplating a significant business combination or other acquisition transaction.

At any rate, if Exxon and Pioneer were to proceed to formal negotiations and potentially reach a deal on an Exxon acquisition, this would be the biggest for the U.S. supermajor since the megadeal of 1999 when Exxon and Mobil merged to create the oil giant.

The rise in oil prices and the need for companies to secure primary drilling locations in the Permian have recently prompted activity in deal-making in the shale patch.

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Just last week, Ovintiv struck a deal to buy untapped oil and gas assets in the Permian from EnCap Investments for $4.3 billion.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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British energy supplier, Octopus Energy, is looking to ramp up its renewable energy supply mix in Japan. The company entered the Japanese market in late 2020 via a joint venture with Tokyo Gas and has garnered approximately 160,000 customers.

The energy supplier currently relies on Tokyo Gas for electricity. About 80% is sourced through liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fired power generation.

However, the companys Japanese arm plans on adding more renewable energy to its procurement portfolio, as the purchasing price of renewable power is stable compared to LNG, as stated by Hajime Nakamura, the CEO of TG Octopus Energy in Japan.

The energy supplier aims to source renewable power directly and expand access to renewable energy as a source of their electricity.

Last week, its power generation arm, Octopus Energy Generation, invested in Yotsuya Capital, a leading Japanese solar power developer.

Partnerships with offshore wind suppliers could give Octopus another renewable bump in Japan.

"In terms of the renewable energy currently developed in Japan, the majority is solar ... so solar is the most easily accessible power generation at this time," Nakamura said.

"But going forward, we expect offshore wind power development will accelerate, so our potential future deals (for sourcing power) will obviously be offshore wind power."

According to Nakamura, Octopus Energy plans to refrain from taking part in Japan's offshore wind power projects' public auctions; this is because the company focuses on supplying power rather than producing it.

Tokyo Gas also provides capital covering new client acquisition costs through the joint venture.

When one million clients have been onboarded, the company's profit margins will exceed acquisition costs, allowing the joint venture to start repaying its loans to Tokyo Gas.

Nakamura declined to disclose the total amount received by his company from Tokyo Gas as working capital.

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Octopus Energy is expanding its renewable energy supply mix in Japan due to its stable purchasing price compared to LNG. It aims to source renewable power directly through partnerships with suppliers, focusing on offshore wind power.

The energy supplier plans to refrain from participating in the public auctions of offshore wind power projects in Japan as it focuses on supplying power instead of producing it.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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The volumes of natural gas that Turkey has found so far in the Black Sea are worth in excess of $500 billion, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez told broadcaster CNN Turk.

The huge gas finds would be enough to supply all households in the country for 35 years, or to cover total Turkish natural gas consumption, including from industry, for 15 to 20 years, the minister added.

Last week, Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) said on Twitter that the installation of the pipes connecting the energy base in the Black Sea to the Sakarya Gas Field Land Facility had been successfully completed. The company said the inauguration of the start of the gas transmission from the field is expected to take place on April 20 in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Sakarya gas field is set to initially produce around 10 million cubic meters per day, before reaching a peak within three years to pump some 40 million cubic meters per day in 2025, Donmez told CNN Turk.

The field inauguration could be the beginning of the Turkish plan to become less dependent on imports of natural gas, which account for 99% of consumption at present.

At the end of last year, Turkey announced a new natural gas discovery in the Black Sea and upgraded estimates for an already discovered field in the basin, in what could be a major step for the country in slashing gas imports and diversifying its energy sources. Turkeys natural gas reserves in the Black Sea have now increased to 710 billion cubic meters (bcm), Erdogan said at the end of December.

The newly developed gas fields are set to go a long way toward Turkeys energy diversification. So far, the country has mostly relied on imports to procure energy supply. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has hit Turkeys economy and energy prices hard and has made energy imports much more expensive for Ankara.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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CUES Welcomes Cindi Horning as Chief Development Officer

The CUES Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to securing financial support for the CUES School System, is pleased to welcome our new Chief Development Officer, Cynthia (Cindi) Elston Horning. In this role, Cindi will lead and manage our development efforts, including major gifts, planned giving, grant writing, annual fund, and corporate partnerships. She will work closely with our leadership team and board of directors to develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan to support our mission and the expansion of school services and programs.

Cindi's previous nonprofit roles include Senior Director Institutional Advancement and Marketing, Catholic Charities in Omaha and Area Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Nebraska. Cindy advocates for the CUES mission and quality education for all. An Omaha native, Cindi attended Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart before graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University.

The elementary CUES Schools - Sacred Heart, All Saints, and Holy Name - anchor their east Omaha neighborhoods and provide a safe place for students to learn academic, social, and interpersonal skills. CUES students thrive in a culture of love, kindness, and excellence.
A ceremony on Wednesday morning at the Omaha National Cemetery near Papillion marked the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of U.S. military combat forces from Vietnam in 1973.
Walk down to the shore of Walnut Creek Lake before dawn, and you could be greeted by a loud pop  like the oar of a rowboat smacking flat on the water.

A beaver has spotted you.

Several of the large rodents have taken up residence in the Papillion lake, providing area residents with a rare opportunity to observe them.

While the animals themselves can be elusive, their handiwork is plain to see along the shoreline.

These suburban critters have been busy.

At the waters edge, theres a kind of a woody graveyard. Multiple trees bear their signature teeth marks, the trunks surrounded by piles of wood shavings. Some trees, gnawed through, have crashed to the ground. Others still stand precariously despite being girdled around the trunk. Last year, after beavers girdled a large tree close to the walking trail, park workers completed the job with a chainsaw to eliminate the risk of it falling on someone.

City officials say the beavers are causing no significant harm to the lake or its structures. Park Superintendent Mike Cunningham said the city has no immediate plans to trap them.

That means metro-area wildlife lovers, who are sufficiently stealthy in early morning or late evening, have an opportunity to see the secretive creatures.

Last November, Cunningham considered trapping the beavers after the number of downed trees started to rise.

But hes going to wait a while.

Once spring weather moves in, the number of visitors to the lake will go sky high, he said.

The surge of people could cause the beavers to leave on their own to find a better habitat for the summer, he said.

The beavers havent yet taken any trees that were of significant value to the park, and are having a positive impact by clearing brush by the lake edge that city workers would otherwise have to cut, Cunningham said.

Occasionally, city workers employ a large brush cutter to whack away at the saplings and brush that sprout by the lake shore. That is done to improve sight lines within the recreation area.

Hes doing it for us, Cunningham said. They feed on the softer woods, so the willow trees, cottonwoods, Siberian elms ... Everything else he pretty much leaves alone.

If the beavers run out of forage along the shore, Cunningham expects they will branch out farther to find trees.

So far, however, the beavers are generally staying at the south and west ends of the lake, where theres less human activity and more trees, he said. Theyve largely stayed away from the north end, where the dam, main parking lots and fishing pier are located.

Weve been watching the inlets, the outlets, and I havent seen any problems from them, Cunningham said. Other than theyre doing great things to increase the visibility of the lake.

Its no accident that the beavers found Walnut Creek to their liking.

Cunningham said the management approach at the lake has been more hands-off than at the other Papillion lakes the city manages, an approach that has resulted in a more natural habitat.

We try not to intervene and be very, very passive, he said.

The management approach at the other lakes  Prairie Queen, Big Elk and Portal  has been different.

For example, at Prairie Queen the native grasses get mowed or hayed every year.

Its not quite as passive, he said.

Nonetheless, there is some evidence that beavers appreciate that lake as well. A visitor can observe beaver-felled trees and dens.

Sam Wilson, furbearer biologist for the Nebraska Department of Game and Parks, said beavers are useful for creating habitat that benefits other animals, making the beavers a sort of keystone species. Damming waterways creates still waters used by amphibians, invertebrates, otters and fish, he said.

They also can cause significant problems for people, blocking ditches and culverts or flooding cornfields, he said.

Wilson said they need to be managed through a number of methods, including lethal control. Nebraska has a trapping season on beavers, which allows people to harvest pelts and control the animals, he said.

Its kind of a complicated story because they can cause these issues with people. But certainly, you watch a beaver working, sit over a beaver pond and watch all the different birds and waterfowl and animals that use it, its interesting.

When they tail-slap the water, they alert other beavers of a threat in the area  but they also alert the intruder that theyre on to them.

Beavers are not rare in Nebraska, Wilson said. Theyre generally found statewide anywhere theres appropriate habitat, he said. That means just about anywhere where a woodland is adjacent to water, such as along the Platte, Niobrara and Loup Rivers, he said.

Their numbers have bounced back from the days when European settlers trapped them for the fur trade, he said.

That really reduced their numbers historically, but they are back in almost every state that had them in the past and doing really well, he said.

Beaver pelts were used to make felt hats and clothing. Also, the beaver has glands called castor glands, which can be used in making perfume.

Currently the trapping season runs from Nov. 1 to the end of March.

In Nebraska during the 2021-22 season, about 8,500 beavers were harvested, he said.

The fur market was doing pretty well 10 years ago or so, but its been really down the last few years, he said. A lot of beavers are trapped because theyre nuisance animals, so theyre causing structural problems or theyre flooding a farmers field, that sort of thing.

Local fur-buyers may buy pelts for art, souvenirs and clothing, while other pelts are shipped to Canada. There, they go into international fur markets where theyre used for clothing.

Beavers can be hard to spot during the day, but they can occasionally be seen working on their dens. Like deer, they are often active at dawn, dusk and night.

Sometimes people confuse beavers and muskrats. Wilson said a key difference is that beavers are much larger, 20 to 60 pounds, while muskrats are small, just a few pounds.

Another difference is the tail. Beavers have broad, flat tails like a boat oar, while muskrats have a rat-like tail.

Both can be seen cruising along in the water with their heads above the surface.

The City of Papillion has trapped nuisance beavers in Halleck Park in the past, said Parks Director Tony Gowan.

Officials havent had any lately, but a few years ago, a beaver took aim at a cottonwood with a 2-foot diameter trunk, he said.

He didnt get all the way through it, but enough to where we had to fell it, so it would be safe, Gowan said. We eventually had to have him trapped.

Early spring is a good time to spot a beaver.

The trees and bushes havent leafed out yet, and the beavers havent yet fully retreated into their nocturnal routine.

They are wary, though, and will sound the alarm when danger approaches. The loud pop of their tail can startle the unsuspecting visitor.

For now, Cunningham said, the beavers at Walnut Creek Lake offer a rare educational opportunity.

You cant put a price on that, he said.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2023
Several years of below-average precipitation and an increased demand for irrigation to maintain crop yields have reduced groundwater levels across most of Nebraska, according to a recent report by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers.

About three-fourths of the states 4,787 observation wells experienced a decline in groundwater levels from spring 2021 to spring 2022, according to the report from the UNL School of Natural Resources Conservation and Survey Division.

Aaron Young, a survey geologist with the natural resources school, said groundwater levels can fluctuate fairly significantly depending on precipitation amounts and how much pumping irrigators have to do.

The less precipitation we get, the less water is available to recharge the aquifer (and) the more water we need to pull out to irrigate crops, he said.

In a really wet year like 2019, by contrast, groundwater levels typically rebound, he said.

Precipitation has been short in the state for the past two reporting periods. Some 96% of weather reporting stations in Nebraska had below-average precipitation during the 2020-21 reporting period and 68% reported levels below the 30-year average during the 2021-22 time frame.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture last week designated 55 of the states 93 counties as primary natural disaster areas because of the ongoing drought, making farmers and ranchers eligible for federal assistance, the Lincoln Journal Star reported. An additional 27 counties were designated because of their proximity to the original 55 counties.

Drought conditions have eased somewhat in Nebraska since the start of the year, but 98% of the state remains in some level of drought, with more than three-fourths in severe drought or worse. Nearly one-third are in extreme drought or worse.

Young said the groundwater declines could cause problems for agricultural producers in the short-term. The combination of below-average precipitation and the need for increased pumping resulted in some significant declines in groundwater levels last year  more than 10 feet in some areas.

He noted, however, that the universitys annual groundwater reports dont paint a full picture of groundwater supplies in Nebraska.

In the long-term, Young said hes not overly concerned about recent declines because Nebraska has a lot of groundwater.

Nebraska is one of eight states that share the High Plains Aquifer, covering about one-third of it. But that one-third accounts for about 70% of the aquifers water volume. The state has a lot more water to draw from than areas like western Kansas and northern Texas, where depletion has been severe.

Many western Kansas farmers, according to a High Plains Public Radio report, have voluntarily cut back on how much they irrigate their crops. Others have been forced to adapt as their wells have run dry.

In Nebraska, changes in groundwater levels since irrigation began have varied greatly, ranging from increases of more than 120 feet to declines of about 130 feet. For most of the state, the net change in groundwater levels since before development began has been less than 20 feet.

Parts of Chase, Perkins, Dundy and Box Butte Counties in southwest Nebraska have experienced significant and sustained declines in groundwater levels, according to the report. Irrigation wells are particularly dense in those counties, annual precipitation is low and there is little or no surface water to recharge groundwater.

But the recent declines could have an impact on irrigators in the near-term. Most natural resources districts have management systems in place that trigger lower pumping allocations if declines reach pre-determined levels, Young said. The NRDs will be making those decisions in the coming weeks.

The hope is that more rain in the coming weeks and months, combined with some of this winters snow, will prevent some of those allocation triggers from going into effect, he said.

But the researchers are seeing additional declines in groundwater levels in eastern Nebraska this spring as they gather data for next years report.

If we have another year of drought, this could be a significant issue come this time next year, he said.

Managers of the Lower Big Blue NRD in southeast Nebraska will watch groundwater levels particularly closely this spring. The NRDs board in December placed a 180-day moratorium on drilling new high-capacity wells, the type typically used for irrigation.

Tyler Weishahn, the NRDs assistant manager, said officials sought to use a stay during the off-season to limit development. The NRD issued a similar stay and revised its rules, including its well-permitting process, in 2013 after the drought year of 2012.

While the NRD has just under 2,500 active irrigation wells, on the low-end of the scale, it also has a spottier aquifer. Managers are in the process of taking spring readings from monitoring wells. The board will review them and determine next steps. The moratorium otherwise runs out June 6.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of April 2023
A brush fire that burned nearly 700 acres just south of Lake Waconda near Union, Nebraska, is estimated to be about 85% contained as of Monday afternoon.

More than 75 firefighters from 36 fire departments from across Nebraska assisted in the response. No injuries or structure damage has been reported, according to Jodie Fawl, a public information officer for the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

The fire started Saturday in Iowa and jumped across the Missouri River into Nebraska that afternoon. Fawl said its likely that the strong winds blew a spark across the river, igniting the fire on the Nebraska side.

According to the incident commander, Shane Adams of the Nehawka Volunteer Fire Department, the fire rapidly spread south to the area of East Union Road. Requests for all available units were immediately called to battle the rapidly moving fire.

Adams reported that fire departments from all over Cass County responded to the scene. Additional units from across Nebraska brought utility-task vehicles to haul water.

The terrain of this fire is treacherous, Adams said Sunday. Relief from local fire departments arrived late into the night and continued to fight fire all through the night. No structures have been affected at this time.

Cass County declared a disaster Sunday and requested state assistance to help with response to the brush fire. Gov. Jim Pillen approved a state disaster, which allows emergency funds to be released in order to assist firefighters.

Cass County Emergency Management and incident command requested that the Nebraska Incident Management Assistance Team help with the response. The Nebraska National Guard sent a crew to work on the ground and a helicopter to fill water buckets from Lake Waconda to drop on the fire Sunday afternoon.

During the fire, Lake Waconda residents and people from surrounding communities gathered to watch as the helicopter scooped water from the lake. Along the Missouri River, the shoreline smoldered as Canada geese swam downstream.

The Nebraska State Patrol sent drones aloft Sunday to provide aerial footage of the fire. Members of the Wildland Incident Response Assistant Team arrived to provide technical support on control and management of the fire.

Fawl estimated that the fire was about 85% contained as of Monday afternoon. Saturday nights rainfall and lower winds Sunday made for an easier day of firefighting, she said. As a result of the high containment, state resources will be demobilized Monday night as local crews continue to monitor.

The village of Union, with a population of about 200 residents, is 15 miles south of Plattsmouth.

The National Weather Service issued a red-flag warning for fire danger Saturday. A combination of warm weather, low humidity and strong winds created extreme fire danger for most of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

The Lake Waconda fire comes on the heels of a large brush fire in Papillion that led to the closure of a portion of Nebraska Highway 370 Saturday afternoon. Firefighters were first dispatched to the area of South 60th Street and Capehart Road at about 2:34 p.m., said Jason Banks with the Papillion Fire Department.

The fire quickly spread north to the area of Highway 370, forcing officials to close the road between 48th and 72nd Streets until around 5:30 p.m. Other area fire agencies, including Bellevue, Plattsmouth and Gretna, were called in to assist with the fire.
Perfect. Twice.

In a recent six-month period, 55th Wing maintenance crews twice recorded flawless Black-Letter scores during inspections of their aging reconnaissance planes.

The inspection at Offutt Air Force Base March 3 of an RC-135V Rivet Joint jet fresh from a yearlong overhaul at its maintenance hub in Texas showed zero discrepancies  the Air Force term for a maintenance problem that requires fixing.

Last September, a 55th Wing EC-130H Compass Call from the Wings 55th Electronics Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, received a similarly perfect inspection report.

Its especially unusual because the two planes are among the oldest in the Air Force. The EC-130H, nicknamed Caesar, was delivered in 1973 and is slated for retirement in the next several years. And the Rivet Joint, with the tail number 64-14841, was built by Boeing in 1964.

You dont see that, even in some of the newer aircraft that have been delivered in the last five to 10 years, said retired Maj. Gen. Rick Evans, a former Air Force navigator and wing commander who now heads the University of Nebraskas National Strategic Research Institute. This is a pretty huge deal.

Aviation historian Robert Hopkins III, a former 55th Wing RC-135 pilot, said its even more notable because of the units checkered history of maintenance woes. A 2018 World-Herald investigation brought to light hundreds of 55th Wing missions aborted or scrubbed because chronic mechanical failures, and the official investigation into a 2015 runway fire aboard a Rivet Joint at Offutt traced the incident to poor practices by the Wings depot maintenance contractor, now known as L3Harris.

Its great for both L3 and the 55th. And its a long time coming, Hopkins said. I think they benefited from the effort to do better.

Aircraft inspections take place every day at the 55th Wing. Any defects are typically recorded on a form in red letters, which is why a perfect score is called a Black-Letter status. The black letters refer to the color of the initials of the planes crew chief on the inspection report.

It means on this given day, I had no daily discrepancies, said Col. Kyle Clement, commander of the 55th Maintenance Group. I have a jet thats just as good as the day it was delivered.

He said perfect inspections are extremely rare. They are meant to be.

Ive served 29 years as an aircraft maintenance officer, and this is only my second Black-Letter experience, Clement said.

The 55th Wing averages about 20 discrepancies on an inspection, according to a news release.

A Government Accountability Office report issued in November 2022 highlighted the huge challenges facing the military  including the 55th Wing  in maintaining an aged fleet of airplanes and helicopters.

The study looked at the mission-capable rates of 49 aircraft of different types over the previous 11 years, from 2011-2021.

Twenty-six of the aircraft studied didnt meet mission-capable goals in any of the years studied. The 55th Wing RC-135W that was studied met its mission-capable goal in six of 11 years, the second-best of the 49 aircraft examined by GAO auditors.

According to the report, the Wing spent more than $444 million on maintenance costs for the RC-135s in 2020, the last year for which budget information was available  $42.2 million in total costs (including operations and support) for each aircraft, and more than $95,000 per flight hour.

The GAO identified spare parts shortages, understaffed maintenance crews, and delays at the Greenville depot site as particular challenges for the 55th Wing in keeping its aircraft flying.

L3Harris has been under scrutiny since an oxygen-fueled electrical fire caused $13 million in damage to a Rivet Joint aircraft on the Offutt runway on April 30, 2015. The pilot quickly aborted a takeoff after hearing shouts and screams from the crew, four of whom were treated for smoke inhalation after the plane was evacuated. Veteran pilots said the plane would very likely have crashed had it taken off.

An investigation board pinned the blame on an aircraft mechanic at L3Harris who had improperly tightened nuts that held the RC-135s liquid-oxygen system in place during a depot overhaul more than a year before the fire. The system leaked and was apparently ignited by an electrical source in the aircrafts galley, causing an intense fire that witnesses compared to a blowtorch.

Clement took command of the 55th Maintenance Group in June 2022, and circulated a memo explaining his maintenance philosophy, which he called the 8 Ts: Time, Training, Tools, Tech Data, Tolerance, Tradition, Teamwork, and Tell Somebody.

His philosophy, Clement said, encourages even the most junior enlisted mechanics to bring attention to maintenance problems, even if it would ground a plane.

Clement credits the 8 Ts, and close attention to many maintenance metrics beyond just the mission-capable rate, with improving results at Offutt. He has also visited L3Harris Greenville depot site several times and is seeing improvement in the planes coming back from there  including the black-letter Rivet Joint.

Greenville does a tremendous job, Clement said.

Still, the entire fleet of RC-135 reconnaissance planes and KC-135 air-refueling tankers had to be briefly grounded for inspections in February after faulty tail-assembly pins were found in the supply chain. The faulty pins were installed on planes undergoing depot maintenance for more than two years before the problem was detected.

Clement said the Wing uses metrics to predict when old parts will wear out, allowing them to be replaced before they fail. The civilian airline industry actually installs sensors on aircraft to detect parts that are about to fail, a system called prognostics. But Clement said such a system would be too costly on an ancient airframe like the RC-135.

Still, he said, the mechanics at Offutt are finding ways to fly the 55th Wings fleet safely  even if black-letter perfection isnt possible every time.

Its my name on the line, whether this fleet is airworthy, Clement said. We dont want to put people at risk. Its not worth it.

Photos: Offutt Air Force Base through the years
SINIYAH ISLAND, United Arab Emirates  Archaeologists said they have found the oldest pearling town in the Persian Gulf on an island off one of the northern sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates.

Artifacts found in this town on Siniyah Island in Umm al-Quwain, likely once home to thousands of people and hundreds of homes, date as far back as the region's pre-Islamic history in the late 6th century. While older pearling towns have been mentioned in historical texts, this represents the first time archaeologists say they have physically found one from this ancient era across the nations of the Persian Gulf.

"This is the oldest example of that kind of very specifically Khaleeji pearling town," said Timothy Power, an associate professor of archaeology at the United Arab Emirates University, using a word that means "Gulf" in Arabic. "It's the spiritual ancestor of towns like Dubai."

The pearling town sits on Siniyah Island, which shields the Khor al-Beida marshlands in Umm al-Quwain, an emirate some 50 kilometers (30 miles) northeast of Dubai along the coast of the Persian Gulf. The island, whose name means "flashing lights" likely due to the effect of the white-hot sun overhead, already has seen archaeologists discover an ancient Christian monastery dating back as many as 1,400 years.

The town sits directly south of that monastery on one of the curling fingers of the island and stretches across some 12 hectares (143,500 square yards). There, archaeologists found a variety of homes made of beach rock and lime mortar, ranging from cramped quarters to more sprawling homes with courtyards, suggesting a social stratification, Power said. The site also bears signs of year-round habitation, unlike other pearling operations run in seasonal spots in the region.

"The houses are crammed in there, cheek by jowl," he added. "The key thing there is permanence. People are living there all year around."

In the homes, archaeologists have discovered loose pearls and diving weights, which the free divers used to quickly drop down to the seabed while relying only on their held breath.

The town predates the rise of Islam across the Arabian Peninsula, making its residents likely Christians. Islam's Prophet Muhammad was born around 570 and died in 632 after conquering Mecca in present-day Saudi Arabia.

Umm al-Quwain's Department of Tourism and Archaeology, UAE University, the Italian Archaeological Mission in the emirate and the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University all took part in the excavation. Umm al-Quwain, the least-populated emirate in the UAE, plans to build a visitor's center at the site.

Today, the area near the marshland is more known for the low-cost liquor store at the emirate's Barracuda Beach Resort. In recent months, authorities have demolished a hulking, Soviet-era cargo plane linked to a Russian gunrunner known as the "Merchant of Death" as it builds a bridge to Siniyah Island for a $675 million real estate development. Authorities hope that development, as well as other building, will grow the emirate's economy.

However, even this ancient site bears lessons for the Emirates.

The story of pearling, which rapidly collapsed after World War I with the introduction of artificial pearls and the Great Depression, holds particular importance in the history of the UAE  particularly as it faces a looming reckoning with another extractive industry. While crude oil sales built the country after its formation in 1971, the Emirates will have to confront its fossil fuel legacy and potentially plan for a carbon-neutral future as it hosts the United Nations COP28 climate talks later this year.

Those searching the site found a dumpsite nearby filled with the detritus of discarded oyster shells. People walking across the island can feel those remains crunching under their feet in areas as well.

"You only find one pearl in every 10,000 oyster shells. You have to find and discard thousands and thousands of oyster shells to find one," Power said. "The waste, the industrial waste of the pearling industry, was colossal. You're dealing with millions, millions of oyster shells discarded."
BRUSSELS (AP)  Finland joined the NATO military alliance Tuesday, dealing a major blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a historic realignment of Europe's post-Cold War security landscape triggered by Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

The Nordic country's 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 signaled they wanted to join NATO after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine sent a shiver of fear through its neighbors.

The era of nonalignment in our history has come to an end - a new era begins, President Sauli Niinisto said before his countrys blue-and-white flag was raised outside NATO headquarters. A short distance away, outside the security fence, a few dozen people wrapped in flags of their own chanted, Ukraine needs NATO.

In praising Finland's membership, U.S. President Joe Biden noted it came on the 74th anniversary of the signing of NATO's founding treaty on April 4, 1949.

When Putin launched his brutal war of aggression against the people of Ukraine, he thought he could divide Europe and NATO. He was wrong, Biden said in a statement. Today, we are more united than ever. And together  strengthened by our newest ally, Finland  we will continue to preserve transatlantic security, defend every inch of NATO territory, and meet any and all challenges we face.

The move is a strategic and political setback for Putin, who has long complained about NATOs expansion toward Russia and partly used that as a justification for the invasion.

Im tempted to say this is maybe the one thing that we can thank Mr. Putin for because he once again here precipitated something he claims to want to prevent by Russias aggression, causing many countries to believe that they have to do more to look out for their own defense and to make sure that they can deter possible Russian aggression going forward, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said before accepting the documents that made Finlands membership official.

The U.S. State Department is the repository of NATO texts concerning membership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent his congratulations to Finland, writing on Telegram that amid Russian aggression, the Alliance became the only effective guarantee of security in the region.

Russia warned it would be forced to take retaliatory measures to address what it called security threats created by Finlands membership. It had also warned it would bolster forces near Finland if NATO sends any additional troops or equipment to what is its 31st member country.

The alliance says it poses no threat to Moscow.

Alarmed by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine last year, Finland, which shares a 1,340 kilometer (832 mile) border with Russia, applied to join in May, seeking protection under the organizations security umbrella.

Russia tried to create a sphere around them and, well, we are not a sphere. Im sure that Finns themselves feel more secure, that we are living in a more stable world, Niinisto said.

Neighboring 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.

Niinisto said Finlands membership "is not complete without that of Sweden. The persistent efforts for a rapid Swedish membership continue. Finland even gave its ratification of Sweden's application to Blinken as it joined.

In Stockholm, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson congratulated Finland and said he believed it would improve Swedens security but added that its no secret that we would like to have concluded it hand-in-hand.

Earlier, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Moscow "will be forced to take military-technical and other retaliatory measures to counter the threats to our national security arising from Finlands accession to NATO.

It said Finland's move marks "a fundamental change in the situation in Northern Europe, which had previously been one of the most stable regions in the world.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Finlands membership reflects the alliances anti-Russian course and warned that Moscow will respond depending on what weapons NATO allies place there. But he also sought to play down the impact, noting that Russia has no territorial disputes with Finland.

It's not clear what additional military resources Russia could send to the Finnish border. Moscow has deployed the bulk of its most capable military units to Ukraine.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said no more troops would be sent to Finland unless it asked for help.

The country is now protected by what Stoltenberg called NATO's iron-clad security guarantee, under which all member countries vow to come to the defense of any ally that comes under attack.

But Stoltenberg refused to rule out the possibility of holding more military exercises there and said that NATO would not allow Russias demands to dictate the organizations decisions.

We are constantly assessing our posture, our presence. We have more exercises, we have more presence, also in the Nordic area, he said.

In 1939 and 1940, Finlands tiny, ill-equipped forces fought in what became known as the Winter War against the Soviet Union. Over an exceptionally cold winter, Finnish fighters, sometimes cloaked in white bedsheets for camouflage and typically moving unseen on foot, snowshoes and skis, lost some territory to Moscow but forced out the invaders.

Finland says it can muster a 280,000-strong fighting force, built on near-universal male conscription and a large, well-trained reserve, equipped with modern artillery, warplanes and tanks. The country of 5.5 million joined the European Union in 1995,

Finland's Parliament, meanwhile, said its website was hit with a so-called denial-of-service attack, which made the site hard to use, with many pages not loading and some functions not available.

A pro-Russian hacker group known as NoName057 (16) claimed responsibility, saying the attack was retaliation for Finland joining NATO. The claim could not be immediately verified.

The hacker group, which has reportedly acted on Moscows orders, has taken part in a slew of cyberattacks on the U.S. and its allies in the past. Finnish public broadcaster YLE said the same group hit the Parliament's site last year.

Associated Press writers David Keyton in Stockholm, Sweden, and Jari Tanner in Helsinki contributed.
In celebration of twenty years at Enter Stage Right -- Bionote of Mark Wegierski (Part Three) By Mark Wegierski

web posted April 10, 2023 In 1990, Mark Wegierski took courses (two days each) in WordPerfect 5.0; dBase III+; and DOS/WP/Lotus/dBase Intro. On January 17, 1991, Mark Wegierski placed first out of 54 persons in a branch-wide Management Skills Exercise (Division Support Branch, Computer and Telecommunication Services Division, Ontario Ministry of Government Services). Also, in 1991, Mark Wegierski completed a Records Management Seminar (7 sessions  21 hours in total), from RIM Services Inc., Toronto. In January to March 1992, he took the WordPerfect 5.1 course (Winter 1992), at the Toronto Board of Education, Western Technical-Commercial School, Evening School. On January 12, 1993, Mark Wegierski attended the first public meeting in Toronto of the National Party of Canada with Mel Hurtig (Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) Auditorium, 252 Bloor Street West). In October 1993, Mark Wegierski published an op-ed piece in The Toronto Westend Express, a free-distribution newspaper (circulation 82,500), and a letter-to-the-editor in the November 1993 issue of that newspaper. In 1994-2001, Mark Wegierski served on the Editorial Board of the zine Reality & Meaning (Morphology Institute), Toronto. The zine published a broad variety of articles, including political and cultural articles by Mark Wegierski, and an assortment of pieces of so-called dissident physics. RAM Group also organized presentations for members and other interested persons. Mark Wegierski remembers making two such presentations, one on the concept of The Dilemma of Hypermodernity (at an elegant Metropolitan Toronto Hall meeting room), and another on Canadian politics (in a City of Toronto community centre meeting room). In 1994-1996, Mark Wegierski served on the Editorial Board of Transforum: Essential Media for the New Renaissance, Torontos fifth-largest alternative general-interest free-distribution newspaper. This newspaper was open to contributions from across the spectrum, and Mark Wegierski was able to publish a number of pieces there. This print newspaper was said to presage the emergence of Internet-based self-posting forums. The newspaper also promoted a lively social scene, including presentations at pub-like venues, and participation in the then-prominent Trivia Quiz League. This was an organized effort across various downtown Toronto pubs and restaurants, with the events usually held on Monday evenings. Not only were these occasions for pleasant social interactions, they also helped the businesses bring in customers on their off nights, who might purchase drinks and various snacks and finger-foods. So, it was a win-win situation. Unfortunately, the Transforum team failed to achieve a high ranking in the Quiz League standings. Also, Transforum promoted alternative currency barter exchanges, such as LETS (Local Exchange Transfer System). Despite its high ambitions, the Transforum newspaper eventually failed because of a perennial lack of major advertising revenues. In August 1995-December 1995/January 1996, Mark Wegierski published four columns in the monthly free-distribution newspaper, Our Toronto Free Press (circulation 60,000), edited by the well-known Toronto Sun columnist, Judi McLeod. Mark Wegierski was shortlisted in the Ludwig von Mises Institute (Auburn, Alabama) "Secession, State, and Economy" Essay Competition (1995). In the 1990s, Mark Wegierski was a member of the Voice of Canadians Committees (VCC), a lobby group created by Richard (Dick) Field, a WWII veteran and long-time political activist. In 1995-1996, Mark Wegierski was an Adviser for a provincial riding association in Toronto. In 1996, Mark Wegierski was a scriptwriter for the POLAND CD-ROM Project (Toronto: International Business Productions and New York: Polish National Tourist Office). Areas included Polish history, literature, music, art, architecture, folklore, and geography. In September 1996, Mark Wegierski travelled by car from Toronto to Barrys Bay, Ontario (in Renfrew County), stopping by at Combermere, Ontario, where the Madonna House Apostolate is located. He stayed for one night near Barrys Bay, before returning to Toronto the next day. In 1996-1997, Mark Wegierski was Vice-President and Acting President of a federal riding association in Toronto. Mark Wegierski returned to studies at the University of Toronto, School of Continuing Studies, in 1998, with three Writing seminars. He then studied at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, with four Creative Writing Workshop courses in 1999-2004. In 2000, he participated in the prestigious Taddle Creek Summer Writers Workshop (four days) (with well-known Canadian science fiction author Robert J. Sawyer as his instructor) at Hart House, University of Toronto, School of Continuing Studies. On July 3, 2004, Mark Wegierski attended American Day  a festive commemoration of the American Independence Day and Polish-American friendship  in Nieszawa, Poland (near Torun in the Kuyavia-Pomerania voivodeship). On July 10, 2004, Mark Wegierski travelled by car from Ciechocinek, Poland (near Torun in the Kuyavia-Pomerania voivodeship) to Czestochowa, Poland, to take part in the 60th Wedding Anniversary of a relatives grandparents. Before the sumptuous reception, there was a commemorative ceremony at the world-famous Czestochowa Jasna Gora Monastery and Shrine of the Virgin Mary. On August 29, 2004, Mark Wegierski attended the official local ceremony of Polish-German reconciliation and the unveiling of a commemorative monument to both Polish and German victims of World War II, in Nieszawa, Poland (near Torun in the Kuyavia-Pomerania voivodeship). In 2005, Mark Wegierski achieved the Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing at the Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA), The Humber School for Writers (an eight-month program). In 2004-2009, Mark Wegierski achieved the Certificate in Creative Writing at the University of Toronto, School of Continuing Studies. Among other courses taken, he received a grade of Honours  equivalent to 90% or higher  in the Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction course taught by Caitlin Sweet, a noted Canadian fantasy and science fiction author. In 2006-2008, he was a member of a private writers group (the Round Room Society) meeting about once a month in the Round Room of Massey College (4 Devonshire Place), University of Toronto, Downtown/St. George Campus. Other members included, among others, a Dean of a major public college in Toronto; a corporate finance officer; and a lawyer who had served as Justice of the Peace in rural Ontario. On June 21, 2008, Mark Wegierski attended and help organize the 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration of his parents, Feliks and Henryka Wegierski. There was a commemorative service at Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Church in Torun, Poland, and later a reception in Lysomice (wee-so-mee-tse), near Torun. (Feliks family had fled from the German invasion to Lysomice in September 1939, briefly taking refuge there.) At the reception, Mark Wegierski gave a long tribute speech to his parents. Also, a privately published album-book and memoir of Feliks Wegierski was distributed. It included a history of the Polish Second Corps (in which Feliks had fought), by Mark Wegierski; reproductions of dozens of original sketches that Feliks had done during the war; Feliks memoir; reproductions of photos of Feliks sculptures, as well as reproductions of numerous family photographs. In 2007-2009, Mark Wegierski participated in eight sessions of the Humber Writers Circle, at Humber College, The Humber School for Writers. Each session lasted 135 minutes, and included an hour-long lecture, and 75 minutes during which the first pages of up to twenty participants, previously submitted electronically, were given quick flash assessments. On August 4, 2009, Mark Wegierski travelled by car from Toronto to Kitchener, Ontario to meet with Mary Nowak, M.A., an early Polish-Canadian graduate of the University of Toronto, and a longtime Polish-Canadian activist. He returned to Toronto late in the same day. In 2010, Mark Wegierski was nominated for the Manning Centre for Building Democracy (MCBD) Pyramid Award (Ideas and Public Policy). On March 24, 2011, Mark Wegierski attended the 55th Anniversary Commemoration of the Adam Mickiewicz Foundation (Canada). This was marked by a Commemorative Lecture by Professor M.B.B. Biskupski (Hollywoods War with Poland: The negative portrayal of Poland during World War II in American films) at the University of Toronto, St. Michaels College Alumni Hall. On June 9, 2011, Mark Wegierski attended the reception for Creative Writing Graduates and Marina Nemat Award Winners (Toronto: University of Toronto, Faculty Club) University of Toronto, School of Continuing Studies, and gave a short but well-received graduation speech. In 2012-2013, Mark Wegierski attended three meetings of the Montgomery Tavern Society (MTS), which had been revived by its Chairman, Richard (Dick) Field, a WWII veteran and long-time political activist. In 2013, Mark Wegierski took a three-month Online Mentorship with Caitlin Sweet, a noted Canadian fantasy and science fiction author, at the University of Toronto, School of Continuing Studies. On May 13, 2015, Mark Wegierski attended the Toronto Premiere of the Warsaw Uprising (2014) Polish film, at Runnymede Public Library, Toronto Public Library System (arranged by the Consulate-General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto). This film is a unique rendering of the Uprising  the director looked at all of the existing documentary footage of the Uprising, originally filmed by the Polish Underground, and edited and shaped it into a movie (colourized and with sound and dialogue added). On September 24, 2020, Mark Wegierski travelled by car from Toronto to Combermere, Ontario (in Renfrew County) where the Madonna House Apostolate is located. He returned to Toronto late in the same day. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical l researcher. Home
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a new date for the commencement of the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

The board disclosed this in a statement signed by its Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin in Abuja on Sunday.

Benjamin said the UTME which was earlier scheduled to commence on April 29, would now start on April 25, 2023.

READ ALSO: APC distributes free JAMB forms, past questions booklets to students in Lagos

He also said the board would hold its rescheduled mock-UTME on April 18, 2023.

It would be recalled that JAMB had earlier conducted its 2023 Mock-UTME on Thursday, March 30 in 725 centres across the country.

However, the exercise ran into some technical hitches in some centres, thereby denying some candidates the opportunity to sit for the examination.

The boards mock examination was designed for the purpose of testing its preparedness and that of its partners for the UTME as well as give prospective candidates the opportunity to have hands-on experience of the CBT test environment.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Kano state chapter has mourned the death of Hajiya Rabi Aminu Dantata, who is wife of Alhaji Aminu Dantata.

The condolence message was issued by Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim, the ACF spokesman on behalf of its chairman Dr. Goni Faruk Umar, noting that though Mama Rabi as she was fondly called died during the holy month of Ramadan at the Holy City of Madina, a wish of many Muslims, we dont usually want our loved ones to go, no matter the circumstances. They are jewels and treasures that we wish to have around if possible forever.

The ACF lauded the good quality life lived by the matriarch, a devout Muslims, and mother of a business mogul Alhaji Tajuddeen Aminu Dantata.

The Pan Northern Nigerian sociocultural association urged the younger generation to learn a lot from the life and times of the late mother and devout Muslim, who has left her footprints on the sands of time.

The ACF urged the Dantata family to strive to keep the good works and memory of the deceased alive and evergreen for all times.

No one can replace a devoted wife/mum and one can only imagine the depth of your grief on the loss of someone so important and special in your life, ACF wrote.

The ACF thanked Almighty Allah that Mama Rabi is survived by accomplished children who are blazing trails in their various endeavours, amongst whom is Tajuddeen Aminu Dantata, a successful businessman and industrialist.

The Pan Northern Nigerian sociocultural association prayed to God grant the deceased eternal rest and her family the fortitude to bear the loss.

The deceased died on Saturday in Madina, Saudi Arabia after a protracted illness. She is survived by her husband Alhaji Aminu Dantata, children and many grand children.




Alaba-Olusola Oke

St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo in Ondo State on Sunday reopened for service ten months after the deadly attack on the church by gunmen.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that over 40 worshippers died in the June 5, 2022 attack by gunmen.

Worshippers who defied fears to attend Easter Sunday service, expressed pleasure for the reopening of the church.

Addressing the congregants, Bishop Jude Arogundade, the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, lamented the growing level of insecurity in the country.

Arogundade appealed to the government to ensure that the attackers were brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

The bishop prayed for the congregants, especially the injured and those that lost their relatives, promising that the church would not abandon them.

Some worshippers who were unable to control their emotions were seen weeping, while recalling the ugly incident.

Arogundade appreciated the Aids to the Church in Need, Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu and other donors for extending their help to the church.

He asked the church members to keep praying for those still suffering and in trauma as a result of the attack, stating that the church would continue to comfort those in pain.

He, however, solicited for more assistance from the Federal Government and the well-to-do in the society for the victims and the church.

We are still waiting for the Federal Government. These are your citizens; let them know they belong to you. I have criticised you enough but if you do well, I will praise you.

Some who have psychological issues are still many; but we believe that with our support and prayers they will return, he said.

Speaking on the reopening of the church, Mrs Jumoke Oyekorode, who lost her mother in the attack, said that the vacuum left by her mother was yet to be filled.

Oyekorode added that it was a good thing for her mother to have died in the church, and thanked God for the reopening of the church.

Also, Mrs Margaret Ata, a survivor of the attack said that she was happy to be back in the church, though as an amputee.

Ata, who lost her an eye and two legs as a result of injuries sustained in the attack, stated that two of her children were on scholarship. (NAN)
The battle for succession in the Palestinian Authority By Yoni Ben Menachem

web posted April 10, 2023 The 88-year-old PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas continues his divide-and-rule strategy among Fatah leaders competing in the battle of succession after he departs from the political stage. Mahmoud Abbas does not intend to retire soon from his post, but he is toying with the top Fatah officials so that they will stay loyal to him until he leaves the political stage. The position of Hussein al-Sheikh, the secretary-general of the PLOs executive committee, who was the leading candidate to become interim chairman of the PA until after presidential elections, was undermined after a recording was leaked to the media in which he defamed and cursed Mahmoud Abbas, according to senior officials in the Fatah movement. The publication of the recording severely damaged his chances of becoming the successor. At the end of March 2023, PA Chairman Abbas announced a change to Section 4 of the Palestinian General Intelligence Law from 2005 allowing General Majed Faraj to remain in his post for an unlimited time. The new section states that the chairman of the PA will appoint the head of general intelligence, and his tenure will end according to the decision of the chairman of the PA, regardless of the number of years he has been in office. In addition, the position of the head of general intelligence is defined as a senior position in the PA, and, like Egypt, he has the status of a minister. Abbas new decision came as a surprise among Fatah leaders and members of the movements institutions and caused a lot of anger, but none of the organizations leaaders is willing to take a risk and openly oppose the decision. Sources in Fatah said that General Majed Faraj has recently managed to draw close to the chairman of the PA, who was severely disappointed by his close associate Hussein al-Sheikh. He is trying to strengthen his position in the battle for succession. Majed Faraj was supposed to finish his term and receive an extension for only one more year, but he managed to convince the PA chairman to extend his term for an unlimited time so that he could compete in the battle of succession and the presidential elections from a position of strength. According to the Palestinian Basic Law, each head of a security organization in the PA serves for four years with the possibility of an extension for another six months by the parliament, but the central council of the PLO dissolved the parliament at the initiative of the chairman of the PA Mahmoud Abbas.

Majed Faraj, head of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service Majed Farajs term of office ended about 10 years ago. He has served in the position since 2009 and replaced Fatah senior Tawfik Al-Tirawi. Before that, he served as the head of military intelligence and gained political power due to his connections with the Israeli Shin Bet and the CIA. He is currently considered the most powerful man in the Palestinian Authority, and he sees himself as the successor of Mahmoud Abbas. According to senior officials in the Fatah movement, the Abbas decision to extend Majed Farajs term indefinitely is resulted from a request from Israel, the Biden administration, and the European Union. The Israeli and international concern is that the chairman of the PA, whose health is not stable, may unexpectedly enter a state of medical impotence, which requires the appointment of a temporary successor at the top of the PA who can take office immediately. Moderate Arab countries also support the candidacy of Majed Faraj as a possible successor because of his extensive security experience and desire to maintain regional stability. Faraj is a figure accepted by international and regional players. He recently participated in the security meetings initiated by the United States in Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh. He supports the American plan of U.S. General Michael Fenzel to establish a Palestinian security force that will fight against the armed terrorist groups in the northern West Bank. Todays active players today in the succession battle are Hussein al-Sheikh, Secretary General of the PLO Working Committee; General Majed Faraj; Mahmoud Al- Al-Aloul, Vice Chairman of the Fatah Movement; Fatah Secretary-General Jibril Rajoub, and Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Ishtayeh. Each of them has armed militias in the field. It is possible that to prevent bloodshed after the departure of Mahmoud Abbas from the political stage, the Palestinian regime will be divided between some of the senior players in the succession battle until presidential elections are held. The move taken by the PA chairman is a move to express support for Majed Faraj, which strengthens his position in the succession battle. Yoni Ben Menachem, a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television, is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center. He served as Director General and Chief Editor of the Israel Broadcasting Authority. Home
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The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), says those attributing the recent attacks and killings in Benu state to Fulani herdsmen are just being mischievous and trying to profile the ethnic group.

The Secretary of MACBAN in the state, Ibrahim Galma, at a press conference on Sunday in Makurdi, absolved his members of killings in Benue State, while demanding that the perpetrators should be fished out and be made to face the wrath of the law.

While condemning the attacks, Galma called on the state government to have security agencies look for the actual killers by beaming their search light away from herdsmen.

READ ALSO: Miyetti Allah has not endorsed any presidential candidate  Nat. President

Galma lamented that despite all the efforts of the union in collaboration with farmers associations in the state, criminal elements were still causing attacks in the state in order to give the Fulani people a bad name.

We condemn the attacks in totality. We, MACBAN, are working hard, we are working together with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria in the state as well as security agencies to make sure that peace and harmony are restored in the state. But bad people are still causing problems, killing here and there.

In fact, we see the governor-elect, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, as a good person and we hope he will change the situation and narrative in the state for the better.

The relationship between the herders and farmers will be restored so that harmony and coexistence of the two groups will be established.

We have full support, respect and hope for the incoming administration, though bad elements are still causing problems in the state.

We are not in support of the killings. We are for peace and we hope to give the new administration maximum support so that peace will return to the state, Galma said.
Waco 30 years later  The deadly ATF/FBI assaults on the Koresh cult compound By Mark Alexander

web posted April 10, 2023 April 19th is a glorious day in American history. It is the anniversary of Patriots' Day and the dawn of American Liberty. It marks the opening salvo of the American Revolution at Lexington and Concord in 1775, the first steps toward establishing an irrevocable declaration of the unalienable Rights of Man, the rights of all people  subordinating the rule of men to our Creator-inspired Rule of Law, the basis for our Republic's Constitution. April 19th, though, is also a date that was irrevocably scarred by the disgraceful actions of the ATF and particularly the FBI 30 years ago, when they assaulted the cult compound of a delusional sociopathic pedophile, Vernon Howell (a.k.a. "David Koresh"), northeast of Waco, Texas. That assault was the culmination of what is infamously known as the Waco siege. The siege began February 28th, a month after Bill Clinton became president. The siege ended 51 days later in a deadly failed attempt to force the cult members out of their compound, actions ordered by Clinton's attorney general, Janet Reno. For context, it is notable that under Reno's stewardship, two future AG outlaws rose to power  both Barack Obama's AG Eric Holder, who was Reno's deputy attorney general, and Joe Biden's AG, Merrick Garland, who was Reno's principal associate deputy attorney general. In Koresh's compound at the beginning of the siege, there were 79 cult adherents of his narcissistic messianic apocalyptic vision, and 46 children, the latter by no means there under their own volition. Some of those children were sired by Koresh with his "wives," at least one of whom he married at age 14. After months of investigations regarding illegal weapons and explosives in the compound, the ATF had warrants for both search and seizure and for arrests, and a full-mounted assault plan and execution was set into motion early on Sunday morning the 28th. Shortly before the ATF commenced with its dynamic entry plan, a photographer, Jim Peeler, was trying to locate two friends, a reporter and camera man with Waco's CBS affiliate KWTX, John McLemore and Dan Mulloney. The latter had been tipped off about the raid, possibly by a Waco Herald-Tribune colleague, or a law enforcement source hoping to get some positive publicity of a successful ATF raid. A day earlier, the Waco Herald-Tribune had begun an expose series on Koresh  "The Sinful Messiah." Unable to find Koresh's Mt. Carmel compound, Peeler stopped to ask directions from a man he spotted along the road. That man was a mail carrier, David Jones, and he gave Peeler the directions to the compound, and became aware of the raid. As fate would have it, Jones was one of Koresh's brothers-in-law, and he tipped off Koresh about the coming raid. As Koresh was sounding the alarm inside the compound, he informed Robert Rodriguez, an ATF undercover agent who had been living in the compound for months, that he knew who Rodriguez was and to call off the raid. Rodriguez left the compound and warned ATF command post supervisors Chuck Sarabyn and Phillip Chojnacki in a nearby house that the raid had been compromised: "They know, Chuck. They know, they know we're coming!" But Sarabyn and Chojnacki moved forward with the dynamic entry plan, despite Rodriguez yelling: "Why? Why? They know we're coming!" At 09:45, that deadly tactical mistake commenced with a convoy of civilian cattle carriers arriving with ATF assault teams hidden inside. A gun battle immediately ensued, with conflicting testimony later by ATF agents regarding who fired first. In the next two hours, there were four ATF agents killed and 16 wounded. There were six Koresh followers killed and 11 wounded. What followed were weeks of grotesque FBI ineptitude combined with unbridled aggression in what played out as a schizophrenic "good cop, bad cop" personality disorder where the good cops (negotiators) and the bad cops (tactical teams) were at odds with each other. On one side, the chief negotiators were, to some degree, succeeding to reason with Koresh, winning release of some adults and children. On the other side, the tactical team leaders were ready to assault the compound. Five things stand out as most memorable about the siege. First would be the fact that reporters with video cameras were present and filmed much of the failed entry and gun battle. There were 75 ATF and FBI agents, and, overhead, three Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks with Texas National Guard crews. Second would be images of the siege and the FBI's military vehicles surrounding the compound, including nine Bradley Fighting Vehicles, five M728 Combat Engineer Vehicles, two M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, and one M88 tank retriever, augmented by two Bell UH-1 Iroquois overhead. These are images that should anger all Americans. There were also the psychological ops at night, including spotlighting the facility and blaring sounds to prevent sleep  jet planes, music, Buddhists chanting, and the screams of rabbits being slaughtered. Third, the image seared into most memories is that of the compound engulfed in flames after modified Combat Engineering Vehicles ripped holes in the building and pumped tear gas into different sections.

FBI officer poses in the aftermath of Waco On that fateful final day, of the 84 people inside the building, 76 were killed, including 28 children (two pregnant women). Nine escaped from the fire and eight were later convicted of firearms charges. Forensic review of the remaining bodies determined that 16, including Koresh, had gunshot wounds to the head. Fourth, the FBI's actions at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, two years earlier influenced Koresh's distrust of the agency. And fifth would be the grotesque "retribution" in response to Waco, the Oklahoma City bombing two years later  on April 19, 1995  by terrorist Timothy McVeigh. This sociopath murdered 168 people (including 19 children) in the Murrah Federal Building, which housed the FBI as well as a daycare center. It was the deadliest act of homegrown terrorism in the nation's history. McVeigh claimed his April 19th attack to be an act of revenge for the deaths of the Koresh cult members. On all counts, Americans should loudly proclaim, "NEVER AGAIN"! I am not going to further detail the events of the siege, but if you're interested in the full account, the most objective of the documentaries was released by Netflix in March: "Waco: American Apocalypse." The best books on the siege are two recent releases, Kevin Cook's Waco Rising and Jeff Guinn's Waco. Another scheduled for release this month is Stephan Talty's Koresh. I will offer a few considered opinions after having viewed and read accounts, having spoken with some who were present, and having a law enforcement background. Keeping in mind that hindsight is sometimes 20/20, these observations are consistent with those I held 30 years ago. There is a common refrain regarding Koresh and his cult, that people in our country have a right to be crazy as long as they are not endangering anyone else. That is true, but not of Koresh, who clearly was endangering others, including the children he victimized. There are legitimate questions about why the ATF did not arrest Koresh offsite. In fact, Koresh did leave his compound with some regularity, and in retrospect, there are no acceptable explanations as to why he was not arrested when away from the compound. The FBI's tactical operations before and on the final day are indefensible. These obscene operations played right into Koresh's apocalyptic vision and final act of martyrdom. This was a prime example of the "Paradox of Power"  the harder they pushed, the more Koresh resisted. I believe that Koresh ordered the compound burned, and there is ample evidence of that, despite the fact that some incendiary tear gas canisters were used by the FBI. That assertion has been backed up by both congressional inquiries and accounts by cult members who escaped the fires. There was bipartisan condemnation of the FBI's overreach, and a congressional investigation concluded that the ATF "was predisposed to using aggressive military tactics." The ATF now uses "dynamic entry" only when all other options have been ruled out, and the FBI now places a greater emphasis on negotiation rather than confrontation. Finally, it is notable that the FBI's actions 30 years ago were indicative of a rogue cadre of command-level agents who acted with impunity. As inexcusable and deadly as the Koresh cult confrontation was, the FBI and other federal agencies still harbor dangerous rogue elements to this day, which pose a direct threat to American Liberty. Given the clear evidence of corruption by a lawless cadre of high-level deep state partisans within the Department of Justice and FBI who attempted to bring down the presidency of Donald Trump, there should be bipartisan condemnation of such rogue government operations. But no such bipartisan denunciation will be forthcoming. At no time since its inception has the FBI's reputation been more soiled than it has been since the 2016 election, and the prosecutorial persecution of Trump ahead of the 2024 election continues. Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. Home
ESR spotlight on Ukraine

Recent articles on the war in Ukraine that have run in Enter Stage Right

What you can do to help the people of Ukraine: The war between Ukraine and Russian continues to rage but while the headlines continue to be dominated by the struggle on the battlefield, David Huntwork says the civilians of Ukraine continue to need the world's help

No, Joe, It's not the 'first anniversary' of the Russo-Ukrainian War: In the aftermath of US President Joe Biden's visit to Ukraine, Mark Alexander discusses the pros and cons of the proxy war  Putin the Tyrant v. Biden the Appeaser

The west should not bend on Russian sanctions: If you think the sanctions against Russia are air tight, you might be surprised to hear that companies like Airbus aren't having problems buying raw material from Ukraine's invader, reports Rachel Alexander

Biden's perilous Putin policy: There is a very real risk that a cornered Vladimir Putin would, argues Mark Alexander, utilize tactical nukes in Ukraine

Whats this fuss about conservatives not joining the left in cheering for Ukraine?: The left has made hay out of the fact that many conservatives aren't keen on getting directly involved in the war between Russia and Ukraine and accused the right of not siding with the smaller country. Rachel Alexander takes issue with that

Is the left agitating for war with Russia so it can cement domestic tyranny?: Selwyn Duke wonders if the Biden administration, by revealing the assistance they've given Ukraine, is actually trying to provoke a war with Russia and with ulterior domestic motives in mind

Alas, the best outcome in Ukraine now may be a relatively quick Russian victory: Selwyn Duke isn't rooting for Russia to win in Ukraine but he's worried that if the war continues to drag on that someone...somewhere is going to do something stupid and turn a regional conflict into something bigger

Echoes from the past: The haunting legacy of Chamberlain's "Peace for our time": Charlotte B. Cerminaro argues that President Joe Biden's actions before and after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia have shown that he's more Neville Chamberlain than Winston Churchill

Fear not  Tony and Wendy will send Putin packing: Mark Alexander says that Blinken and Sherman are Biden's breed of Neville Chamberlain "peace for our time" appeasers when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine situation

Are you ready for nuclear war over Ukraine?: Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have escalated recently and not surprisingly politicians in the United States have hinted broadly that they favour the potential of entering the military fray, says Selwyn Duke

Biden v. Putin: The Ukraine cage fight: Tag-team tyrants Russia and China know that US President Joe Biden is a pushover over issues like Ukraine and Taiwan , writes Mark Alexander, so brace yourself America

Bribery, back room dealing, and bullying' in Ukraine: The origins of Burisma: James Stafford
Matthew Kukah, the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, lamented about the state of Nigeria while in Kaduna for the burial of 18-year-old Michael Nnadi, the seminarian killed by kidnappers in the state.

On Tuesday, February 11, while delivering the homily at the Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaukau, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Bishop Kukah pointed out that the leaders of Nigeria are only loyal to their positions and not to the country. As a result, Nigeria does not possess those values that any sane citizen would want to die for.

He pointed out that citizens of some other countries are willing to risk their lives for their nations but this isnt the case in Nigeria because there is nothing that the citizens can be ready to die for.

He said, Nigeria is at a point where we must call for a verdict. There must be something that a man, nay, a nation should be ready to die for.

Sadly, or even tragically, today, Nigeria, does not possess that set of goals or values for which any sane citizen is prepared to die for her.

Perhaps, I should correct myself and say that the average officeholder is ready to die to protect his office but not for the nation that has given him or her that office.

He went on to say President Muhammadu Buhari runs the most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history.

18-year-old Nigerian seminarian, Michael Nnadi was kidnapped along with three other seminarians on the night of 8 January. Gunmen attacked the Good Shepherd Seminary in Kakau, Kaduna state. While three others were later released, Michael was separated from the others and murdered. A Kaduna-based doctors wife also killed by the kidnapping gang.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez urges the Biden administration to ignore a Texas judge's ruling on the abortion pill mifepristone

The New York Democrat said that Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's ruling made a mockery of the nation's democracy and laws

Other Democrats have urged the president to ignore the judge's abortion pill decision

Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez urged the Biden administration to ignore a Texas judge's ruling on the abortion pill mifepristone that suspends drug use.

The lawmaker said during an interview that the executive branch of the United States government has an "enforcement discretion." She also called Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's decision a mockery of the country's democracy and its laws.

Ignoring a Texas Judge's Abortion Pill Ruling

AOC added that the latest ruling was a blatant and extreme abuse of power, arguing that it was an extraordinary example of judicial overreach. The New York lawmaker is not the only Democrat who has weighed in on Kacsmaryk's ruling over the abortion pill and has called on the president to ignore the decision, as per USA Today.

On Friday, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said that the Biden administration and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could ignore Kacsmaryk's ruling on the abortion pill. The lawmaker added that the FDA, health professionals, and pharmacies could and should continue their jobs as normal, as nothing has changed.

He said they should keep mifepristone accessible to women across the United States despite the Texas judge's ruling. Wyden argued that if not, it could result in vast consequences resulting from the banning of the most common method of abortion in every state, which he said would be "devastating."

Furthermore, the Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra did not dismiss the possibility of ignoring Kacsmaryk's ruling. During an interview, he said, "Everything is on the table."

AOC also argued that if the abortion pill case reaches the Supreme Court, it will result in a national abortion ban. According to The Hill, Judge Kacsmaryk's decision blocked the authorization of mifepristone, which has been in the American market for more than two decades.

Read Also: Texas Judge Suspends FDA Approval of Abortion Pill

The FDA's Approval of Mifepristone

The Texas judge argued that the FDA rushed its approval process of the abortion pill compared to other drugs. In response, United States President Joe Biden's team immediately appealed the ruling, which set the case on a potential run to the Supreme Court.

On the same day as Kacsmaryk's ruling, a judge in Washington state ordered authorities not to make any changes to access to the abortion pill. The dueling decisions of two different judges threw into question the future of abortion access in the country.

Wyden argued that there was no way that Kacsmaryk's decision had a basis in law, arguing that it was instead based on conservatives' "dangerous and undemocratic takeover of our country's institutions."

The situation comes as the FDA places special restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone under a safety program designed to reduce dangerous risks. However, Fox News said the agency relaxed restrictions on this particular drug several times.

Related Article: Kansas Legislators Approve Abortion Pill 'Reversal' Bill

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BLOOMINGTON  Connect Transit will host community engagement sessions this week to discuss a change to the Sapphire Route, which began service late last year.

The proposed change would have the Sapphire Route operate directly between the Walmart in west Bloomington and Rivian Automotive's manufacturing plant in west Normal every 30 minutes.

This change would allow Connect Transit to run the proposed route continuously from 5:45 a.m. till 9:15 p.m., without a midday break. It will also offer better connection to the Sapphire Route from the Brown and Silver routes, Connect Transit leaders said.

The Lime Route will also begin earlier at 5:15 a.m. from Uptown Normal to accommodate connections the adjusted Sapphire Route.

The community engagement sessions will take place:

April 11 and April 20, 4-6 p.m. at Mid American Insurance meeting room, 216 E. Grove Street, in Bloomington;

April 12, 5-9:30 a.m. and 2-8 p.m. on Connect Transit buses on the current Sapphire Route;

April 13 and April 18, 4-6 p.m. at Normal City Hall in room 409.

Contact 309-828-9833 or visit www.connect-transit.com for more information.

Close Ryan Whitehouse, chairman, Connect Transit Board of Trustees; David Braun, Connect Transit GM Ray Lai, Mike Matejka, Jeff Crabill Stacie Lange, Neil Finlen Eric, Melanie and Ethan Shellito, Kathleen Lorenz Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille, Tony Morstatter Janice Crago, Aubrey Staton Terry Reid, Normal Mayor Chris Koos, Neil Finlen Judy Buchanan, Julie Hile Linda Foster, Shelia Harris Pam and David Braun, Judy Buchanan Connect Transit 50th Birthday Party Friday, Jan 27 Heartland Community College, Normal There was birthday cake (3 to be exact), plenty of great food and interesting historic memorabilia as friends and employees of Connect Transit gathered to commemorate the past 50 years of providing safe and reliable transportation and look forward to the future. Ryan Whitehouse, chairman, Connect Transit Board of Trustees; David Braun, Connect Transit GM Ray Lai, Mike Matejka, Jeff Crabill Stacie Lange, Neil Finlen Eric, Melanie and Ethan Shellito, Kathleen Lorenz Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille, Tony Morstatter Janice Crago, Aubrey Staton Terry Reid, Normal Mayor Chris Koos, Neil Finlen Judy Buchanan, Julie Hile Linda Foster, Shelia Harris Pam and David Braun, Judy Buchanan
BLOOMINGTON  Bloomington police were called to a shooting Sunday afternoon on the west side of Bloomington.

BPD Sgt. Josh Swartzentruber confirmed to The Pantagraph that police responded around 2:40 p.m. to a shooting at Alton Depot Park on Western Avenue, where one person had been shot.

BPD spokesman Brandt Parsley said Monday the person suffered non-life threatening gunshot wound to the abdomen and is in stable condition.

No arrests have been made, he said.

The incident remains under investigation, but Swartzentruber said police do not believe there is any threat to the public.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact Det. Brock Merritt at 309-434-2359 or bmerritt@cityblm.org.

Anonymous tips can also be left with the Crime and Intelligence Analysis Unit at 309-434-2963 and CIAU@cityblm.org or by texting "Tip" to 847411.

The Pantagraph's Mateusz Janik contributed to this report.
BLOOMINGTON  A Springfield man was sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to a weapon charge.

Javon M. Robinson, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and one count of aggravated driving under the influence.

Assistant States Attorney Aaron Fredrick said in September, a McLean County Sheriffs Office deputy stopped to help a motorist in Towanda who was stuck in a ditch. Robinson, the driver of the vehicle, showed signs of impairment and did not have a valid drivers license. A .380-caliber firearm was found on or about his person, according to the charges.

Testing later showed Robinsons blood alcohol level was above .08.

Robinson was previously convicted in a 2015 felony in McLean County, which prevents him from being able to legally possess a weapon in Illinois.

As part of a plea agreement, a Class X charge of armed habitual criminal and six traffic charges were dismissed.

He was sentenced to 12 years in the Department of Corrections on the weapon offense. That sentence is to be served at 50%, with credit for 212 days already served.

Robinson was sentenced to two years on the DUI offense, to be served at 50% concurrently with the 12-year sentence. Up to two years of mandatory supervised release will follow his release.
The Police have arrested six persons for attacking a Police officer at the Wono Akotsosu snap checkpoint in the Kumawu District of the Ashanti Region on 7th April 2023.



An investigation has disclosed that the suspects, Edward Boateng, Evans Addo, Yaw Kusi, Michael Owusu, Yaw Boateng and Emmanuel Mensah, and one other suspect currently on the run, pulled up in a taxi cab at the checkpoint.



The taxi which was overloaded with seven male adults caught the attention of one of the three Police officers who were on duty at the checkpoint. He, therefore, stopped them and requested to search the car. However, the suspects in an attempt to prevent the Police officer from checking the car pounced on him and violently attacked him.



A police reinforcement team responding to the incident succeeded in arresting six suspects and efforts are underway to get the last suspect arrested.



The attacked Police officer who sustained a knee injury and one of the suspects who also sustained some injuries were sent to the hospital for medical attention.



Meanwhile, the two other police officers No. 58741 G/Constable Isaac Boiatey and No.61963 G/Constable Evans Owusu who were on duty with the attacked officer have been interdicted for their seeming failure to rescue their colleague, subdue the attackers and get them arrested and have therefore been referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for an investigation into their professional conduct.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Ghana Police Service to immediately arrest and bring to book the Member of Parliament for Abetifi and Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong for comments the party describe as reckless and treasonable.



"We urge the Ghana Police Service to act with dispatch in this matter," a statement signed by their General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey said.



"In a viral video at a rally to climax a health walk organised by the New Patriotic Party at Kwahu in the Eastern Region on Saturday, April 8th, 2023, an event which was equally addressed by Vice President Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, the Minister is on record to have assured his party supporters of the determination of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government to hold on to power no matter what," he added..



Mr Acheampong addressing party supporters at Mpraeso on Saturday said the ruling New Patriotic Party will never hand-over power to the opposition NDC in 2025.



But the NDC in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, slammed the MP and accused the NPP of attempting to subvert the will of the people in 2024.



In furtherance of the above evil agenda, there has been a systematic bastardization of every single independent state institution under this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government. The once respected Electoral Commission has recently witnessed a new low, following the appointment of hardline New Patriotic Party activists into very sensitive positions in the Commission. This action by President Akufo-Addo has left many observers worried and helped to confirm that the ultimate agenda of the NPP is to use every desperate scheme to hold on to power at all cost.



The NDC, a party that both in the years 2001 and 2017, handed power to NPP when the people of Ghana voted for the NPP, wants to assure Ghanaians that we SHALL DO EVERYTHING that is necessary to protect the democratic will and the sovereignty of the Ghanaian people. We wish to assure the good people of Ghana of our resolve and readiness to do whatever is necessary to preserve the democratic will of the people  even at the peril of our lives. The supreme will of the Ghanaian electorate will be manifested come December 7, 2024.



Read full statement below

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ernest Owusu Bempah, has described the National Democratic Congress as a political party 'full of babies with sharp teeth.'



According to Owusu-Bempah, the late Jerry John Rawlings was the only brave person that the NDC produced and the current leaders of the party are cowards who are only 'run their mouths like running stomachs.'



He described the NDC's Communications Director, Sammy Gyamfi and the MP for Ningo Prampram, Sam George as toddlers who were clueless.



There is no brave man in NDC again after Rawlings, Rawlings was the only brave man, the rest are cowards. Sammy Gyamfi and Sam George are toddlers, they know nothing," he said.



Sam George has nothing, he is a coward, they are just babies with sharp teeth who run their mouths like running stomachs but when it comes to real men they just talk, talk is cheap. I am daring the NDC to tell us if anyone is a man," he added.



If they try any violence in the elections we will crash them, we dont want any violence in the elections, it will be peaceful, free and fair but if they try we will crash all of them, Owusu-Bempah said on Sunday, April 9.

Source: Ghanaweb.com









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The recent passing of three revenue bills by Parliament has sparked debate on the magnitude of taxes being imposed by the NPP government.



Some have even gone to the extent of accusing the NPP of reneging on its promise recalling how t to lessen the tax burden on Ghanaians and businesses by abolishing some taxes the then NDC government introduced, which it described as "nuisance taxes".



The accusation is that the NPP has reneged on this promise.



Among these taxes the erstwhile NDC Government introduced were: the 17.5 percent VAT/NHIL on financial services, 17.5 percent VAT/NHIL on imported medicines, 17.5 percent VAT/NHIL on domestic airline tickets, and an increase in the Flat VAT Rate from 3% to 15%.



Indeed in 2016, the NPP stated in its Manifesto the specific taxes it intended to reduce or abolish, including the four listed above.



The big questions are: did the NPP fulfill the promise to abolish these 4 taxes as promised? Did the NPP abolish or reduce a number of other specific taxes it promised to reduce? How tax-friendly has the NPP Government been to Ghanaians and businesses compared to the NDC?



THE FACTS



The specific and exact number of taxes the NPP Government has abolished or reduced, in fulfillment of its 2016 elections pledge, is a matter of public record.



Documents available, including Parliamentary Hansard, prove the NPP, after assuming power in 2017, fulfilled its promise on Tax abolition and reduction, including the 4 it mentioned against the NDC.



Below are the taxes reduced or abolished under the Akufo-Addo government:



1. Abolished the 17.5% VAT/NHIL on real estates

2. Abolished the 17.5% VAT/NHIL on selected imported medicines, that are not produced locally

3. Abolished the 17.5% VAT/NHIL on financial services

4. Abolished import duty on the importation of spare parts.

5. Abolished 1% special import levy

6. Abolished 17.5% VAT on domestic airline tickets

7. Abolished Levies imposed on Kayayei by local authorities

8. Reduced import duty for some goods and vehicles

9. Abolished excise duty on petroleum

10. Provided full corporate tax deduction for private universities who plough back 100% of profits into the university



11. Reduced National Electrification Scheme Levy from 5% to 3%

12. Reduced Public Lighting Levy from 5% to 2%

13. Reduced special petroleum tax rate from 17.5% to 13% and introduced specific rates

14. Replaced the 17.5 VAT/NHIL rate with a flat rate of 3 % for traders

15. Granted Capital Gains Tax Exemption on stocks traded on the Ghana Stock Exchange or publicly held securities approved by the SEC



16. Abolished the income tax on mutual fund and unit trust schemes

17. Abolished income tax on REIT

18. Reviewing the tax threshold for flat VAT

19. Reduction in withholding tax for gold exporters from 3% to 1%.

20. Removal of VAT on lotto stakes

21. Removal of 7.5% income tax on the commission of lotto agents and tax on lotto winnings



The number of taxes listed as having been reduced or abolished by the AkufoAddo government, is without doubt, the largest rollback of taxes by any government in Ghana.



Interestingly, despite the number of taxes abolished and reduced in 2017, the record showed that revenue collection in nominal cedi terms increased by 25% annually after 2017 until covid-19 hit the economy in 2020.



From the above, the Akufo-Addo Government, clearly has been tax-friendly.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Parliamentary aspirant for Ablekuma North Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Madam Ewurabena Aubynn has called on the youth of Ghana and those in her constituency to rally behind the party to win 2024 general elections.



According to her, the NDC has better policies and programmes to ensure the youth of Ghana are positioned at the forefront in their next government.



Ewurabena made this known last Tuesday April 4 after successfully going through vetting to become one of the three Parliamentary aspirants in the Ablekuma North Constituency.



With Ewurabena and John Mahama pairing, I want to assure the youth that there will be better outcomes. Also, with the assurance from the flagbearer of transparency in his government, the youth must come out boldly to support the NDC win the 2024 election, she stated.



Ewurabena said the party sees the 2024 elections and an NDC victory as a powerful instrument to breakdown the injustices in Ghana presently.



She reiterated that the improved membership drive and re-organization of the NDC across board streghtens the grassroots of the party.



"Ablekuma North after 2024, will not be called an orphan Constituency because NDC will win the seat handsomely.



The perception of the constituency being an orphan constituency will change in 2024 and it will be a thing of the past, she stated



Speaking on the vetting, Ewurabena said; I have always been confident that, having worked tirelessly in the constituency, the delegates would also reward my hardwork and competence with a win to serve as motivation for future aspirants."



She called on the delegates to display unity and love during and after this internal contest.



She also appealed for the need of a decent campaign among all aspirants and called on supporters of all sides to exercise moderation in utterances to curb disunity.



I want to use this medium to remind delegates that all the aspirants are good but Ewurabena Aubynn is the best, she stated.



At the end of a successful vetting, the maverick politician picked number one on the ballot paper.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Pentagon leaked documents reveal what the US has learned about Russian intentions and operations

Ukraine may no longer be able to defend the front lines at the end of May

The United States is tuning in on Ukraine's senior military and political leaders

On Saturday, a senior US official stated that classified documents about Ukraine's war effort that appeared online are likely authentic and resulted from a breach but that some of the documents may have been altered before their posting.

A government official characterized this as the "working theory" pending investigation and evaluation.

Russia-Ukraine War Documents Spark Theories

The documents, posted as photos on Twitter and Telegram in recent days, describe Ukraine's military strength, the state of the conflict, casualty figures, and the firing rate for the HIMARS long-range missile systems that the United States supplied to Ukraine.

The documents appear to disclose what the United States has learned about Russian intentions and operations through signals intelligence - intercepted electronic communications. Per NBC News, a former US intelligence official stated that the exposure of a stream of signals intelligence on Russia could have severe consequences.

According to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior military and security officials met on Friday to discuss methods to prevent the leak of military information. A researcher from the online investigative organization Bellingcat said the documents first surfaced on the anonymous image forum 4chan in March.

Since then, various versions of the documents have surfaced online, each citing a different number of Russian casualties during the conflict. The varying versions of the documents and the fact that the casualty estimates are significantly lower than those of independent military analysts and the Pentagon have fueled rumors that the documents have been altered.

In one version, the number of Russian troops slain in combat was estimated to be between 16,000 and 17,500, while the number of Ukrainian soldiers allegedly killed was 71,500.

In November, Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that approximately 100,000 Russian personnel had been slain or wounded in the conflict and that Ukraine presumably suffered comparable casualties.

The documents, including maps and equipment inventories, appear to have been folded and flattened. According to one of the disclosed Pentagon documents, Ukraine's air defense may only be able to defend the front lines at the end of May, as reported by the Washington Post.

One of the documents included a February assessment from the Defense Department's Joint Staff that stated Ukraine's "ability to provide medium-range air defense to secure the [front lines will be utterly diminished by May 23."

Once Ukraine's first layer of defense munitions runs out, the second and third-layer expenditure rates will increase, reducing the country's ability to defend against Russian aerial attacks at all altitudes, according to the alleged classified document.

Both the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense investigated the apparent breach of classified documents after Russian sources posted them on social media platforms such as Twitter.

Read Also: US, South Korea, Japan Express Concern Over North Korea's Cyber Activities

Pentagon Leaked Documents Detail Ukraine's Shortcomings

The documents are dated March or earlier this year and contain information on Ukrainian training, munitions expenditures, and estimated Ukrainian and Russian casualties. According to the documents, no preparations for a Ukrainian counteroffensive are expected this spring.

Another document indicates how rapidly Ukraine's air defense projectiles will be depleted, stating that SA-11 systems will be depleted by April 13, NASAMs made in the United States will be depleted by April 15, and SA-8s will be depleted by May.

In light of the anticipated shortfalls, the Ukrainian air defense should focus on Russian aircraft and helicopters and disregard smaller threats, such as drones. According to The New York Times, the trove of documents contains a report on the state of combat in Bakhmut, a city in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine that has been under siege for seven months.

The documents appear to indicate that the United States is eavesdropping on Ukraine's senior military and political leaders. The Times reported that the document detailed how, as of February 25, Ukrainian forces "were almost operationally encircled by Russian forces in Bakhmut."

General Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's director of military intelligence at the time of the report, described the ongoing battle for Bakhmut as "catastrophic," according to the documents. Advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak, Roman Mashovets, stated that the Ukrainian forces' esteem in Bakhmut was low.

Related Article: Wagner Group Chief Hints at Russia's Leadership Change

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" " Prince performs onstage at The Hollywood Palladium on March 8, 2014 in Los Angeles. In 1993 he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol (pictured). Kevin Mazur/WireImage for NPG Records 2013

Humans love naming things. Gardenias, flamingos, clothespins, you name it. Literally, you name it.

For people, our names help to establish our unique place in the world, often summing up in one word our basic personal data of gender, nationality and family history. Whether based on days of week (as with some tribes in Africa), Hopi familial tradition or Jewish religious custom, all cultures have developed naming conventions. And after all that effort, many still tweak their own names into a nickname like Moose or Flash.

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But are we legally obligated to have a name? Could we erase it and go with nothing, diving into the ultimate anonymity?

In the United States, going without a name is not inherently illegal. Police won't arrest you for not having a name. But you can't legally identify yourself without one, which would make things difficult for you. For instance, you need a legal name on a birth certificate or social security card to obtain a driver's license or passport, open a bank account and get a job.

By virtue of common law adopted through court decisions rather than legislative actions, you can change your name without a court order simply by using it in all aspects of your life. While state laws govern how you can legally change your name, in general, Beauregard can become any Tom, Dick or Harry as long as the new moniker isn't:

intentionally confusing, such as a number

a vulgar word that could induce fighting, including racial slurs

used with fraudulent intent, such as skipping out on unpaid debts

someone else's name for the intent of misuse

However, because of identity fraud and credit card theft, most government agencies will require forms to be filled out and filed if you're changing your name and want the new name on your passport, for example [source: FindLaw].

Other countries including Australia, Germany and Spain have similar laws regarding first names. That said, you still could not legally change your name to nothing because you would have no acceptable way to verify your identity.

But what about naming babies? Can parents choose to not name their child?
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:

Microparmarion sallehi. Credit: Pierre Escoubas

Semislugs, or 'snugs' as they are affectionately known among mollusk researchers, are like the squatters of the snail world: they do carry a home on their back but it is too small to live in. Still, it offers a sort of protection, while not getting in the way of the worm-like physique of the slug.

For reasons unknown, on the island of Borneo, which is shared among the countries of Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia, most slugs are of the semislug type. The genus Microparmarion there consists of around 10 semislug species, most of which are found in the cooler forests of the mountains. So, when citizen scientists discovered a Microparmarion in the hot lowland forest of Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei, as part of their expedition, they were surprised.

For the past years, the scientific travel agency Taxon Expeditions, in collaboration with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) has been organizing biodiversity discovery trips for scientists, students, and laypersons to this forest. On the first trip, in 2018, during a night walk, participant Simon Berenyi, who runs an ethical pest control company in the UK, reached up to a dead leaf suspended over the trail.

Everybodythe other participants, even the resident snail experthad ducked and passed underneath this dead leaf without so much as giving it a glance. But something on its surface caught Simon's eye. "Oi, is that a slug?" he exclaimed, and picked a slimy, well-camouflaged mollusk off it.

A team of citizen scientists in the Brunei forest, searching for slugs and snails. Credit: Pierre Escoubas

At the time, the team's zoologists already suspected it was a new speciesnothing like it had ever been found in this corner of the island. But that single specimen was not enough to publish its description as a new species. Over the years, successive expeditions to the same area came up with several more specimens of the same species, which made it clear that it was really a species never seen before.

On the 2022 expedition, a team composed of UBD students Nurilya Ezzwan and Izzah Hamdani and citizen scientist Harrison Wu from Virginia finished the description. Using the portable lab that Taxon Expeditions always carries with them, the team studied the animals' shell, reproductive organs, and DNA, and prepared a paper for Biodiversity Data Journal, where it was published this week.

The locality where Microparmarion sallehi was found. Credit: Pierre Escoubas

As usual on Taxon Expedition trips, on the last night the team voted on the scientific name for the new species. With an overwhelming majority, the 'snug' was named after Mr. Md Salleh Abdullah Bat, the field center supervisor, who would retire just weeks after the team left. Mr. Salleh himself agrees that it is indeed a very fitting farewell gift.

More information: Menno Schilthuizen et al, A new semi-slug of the genus Microparmarion from Brunei, discovered, described and DNA-barcoded on citizen-science 'taxon expeditions' (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Ariophantidae), Biodiversity Data Journal (2023). DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e101579 Journal information: Biodiversity Data Journal
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: CC0 Public Domain

Dozens of critical habitat areas for threatened shorebirds will be protected after a U.S. District Court in Charleston handed down an order prohibiting three groups from harvesting horseshoe crabs on several of South Carolina's beaches this season.

Red knotsa threatened migratory shorebirddepend on horseshoe crab eggs for survival, each one fueling up on hundreds of thousands of the arthropod eggs in South Carolina on the way to the Canadian Arctic, according to previous reporting by The State Media Co.

But when horseshoe crabs are taken from the beaches red knots flock to, harvested for the benefit of pharmaceutical companies that use the crabs' blue blood to detect bacterial toxins, it removes the red knots' food source. Companies in Europe and Asia have switched to using a synthetic copy of the ingredient, which does not require horseshoe crabs to be captured or bled, The State Media Co. reported.

On Thursday, an order signed by United States District Judge Richard Mark Gergel puts a pause on horseshoe crab harvesting for three opposing groups that applies to nearly 30 beaches in South Carolina. The order lasts through the spawning season, which begins March 15 and ends June 15. The beaches listed have been identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state Department of Natural Resources as critical habitat areas for red knots.

"It is the most significant kind of protection for red knots and horseshoe crabs that's ever been put in place on the Eastern Seaboard," said Catherine Wannamaker, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center.

Part of the order also restricts placing female horseshoe crabs into containment ponds, which hold the taken arthropods before they are bled by pharmaceutical companies.

Charles River Laboratories, one of the defendants in the lawsuit filed by Defenders of Wildlife and the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, is the only company harvesting horseshoe crabs in the state for biomedical purposes.

"It's really a double fold," Wannamaker said Saturday. "No. 1, no harvesting in the areas where red knots are stopping to feed. No. 2, wherever you find a female crab, you cannot take it to a containment pond because we don't want eggs laid in them."

Charles River Lab, Marsh Point Farms Inc. and Gault Seafood LLC are also "prohibited (from) purchasing, selling, placing in containment ponds, and biomedically processing any horseshoe crabs harvested" from the listed beaches during spawning season, the order says.

While the preliminary injunction stops Charles River contractors from harvesting on several beaches up and down the South Carolina coast, it does not limit taking horseshoe crabs from other areas, including marshes.

Samantha Jorgensen, Charles River spokesperson, said Saturday the company had "agreed to the resolution in the motion for a preliminary injunction," allowing it to continue its work by "protecting the health and safety of patients, as well as the security of the global biopharmaceutical supply chain."

Previously, Jorgensen said Charles River had worked with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for nearly 40 years to oversee the annual collection and release of horseshoe crabs.

The company is "committed to collecting this natural resource in a safe and humane manner that is both environmentally sustainable and ensures medical treatments are safe for patients," Jorgensen said.

Part of the Thursday order stipulates that Charles River and its contractors need to certify that the horseshoe crabs they do take are not from the restricted areas. Harvesters also must use GPS during harvesting and provide a record of all the places they took the horseshoe crabs. Beginning April 21, those records will be sent weekly to SCDNR, Coastal Conservation League and Defenders of Wildlife.

SCDNR's fishery staff is working to "write and distribute a new set of permits reflecting the updated conditions" as laid out in the order, said agency spokesperson Erin Weeks on Saturday.

A status conference will be held July 1 to evaluate the effectiveness of the order and to discuss final resolution of the action, according to the filing.

For environmentalists, the district court's order is the second victory in less than a month in protecting red knots and horseshoe crabs. In mid-March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a draft compatibility determination that found horseshoe crab harvesting was not in line with the intended purposes of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. The draft currently pauses harvesting on the entire 66,000-acre refuge.

According to the order, Charles River, Marsh Point and Gault Seafood are not allowed to harvest horseshoe crabs from the following beaches from March 15 to June 15.

Restricted beaches:

North Cape Island Beach

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 and Seabrook Island beaches

Deveaux Bank

Edisto Island beaches

Pine and Otter Island beaches

Harbor and Hunting Island beaches

Fripp Island Beach

Hilton Head Island Beach

Daufuskie Island Beach

Turtle Island Beach

Jones Island Beach

Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge

Bay Point Island and Bay Point Shoal

Little Capers Island

North Island

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EPA Administrator Michael Regan last month made one of his agency's strongest statements to date about the danger of "forever chemicals." New restrictions on those pollutants in drinking water would "prevent thousands of deaths and prevent tens of thousands of serious PFAS-related illnesses," Regan said.

Scientists studying the health effects of the chemicals say that while they can't prove any one case of illness is tied to them, the statement isn't an exaggeration. A growing body of scientific research has confirmed early suspicions that PFAS are linked to some cancers, and added new connections between the chemicals and developmental problems.

Jamie DeWitt, an immunotoxicologist at East Carolina University, leads a lab dedicated to discovering how PFAS damage the immune system. She said the link may seem indirect, but it's valid: If increased exposure to PFAS raises the risk of chronic diseases that can lead to death, then reducing the exposure reduces that risk of death.

That's exactly how the agency calculated its avoided deaths. Regan's comments are based on EPA's economic analysis of the costs and benefits of its proposed water standards, according to a statement from Khanya Brann, EPA deputy press secretary. The rules regulate six types of PFAS, though there are thousands of chemicals in the category.

The document estimates that 7,357 deaths would be avoided from reduced bladder cancer, kidney cancer and cardiovascular disease. The calculations also include benefits from reducing disinfection byproducts in water, or the chemicals that are left over once water has been treated. EPA asserts these chemicals will also be removed with the filtering required to handle PFAS.

Sean Lynch, a spokesman for Maplewood-based 3M Co., wrote in an email that EPA's water rules "lack a sound scientific basis" and that the agency hasn't shown they're needed to protect human health or the environment. Messages to the media office for Chemours, a spin-off of DuPont that still produces fluorinated chemicals, were not returned.

Uncovering links

PFAS chemicals were pioneered by 3M in the 1950s. The company and another manufacturer, DuPont, made the oil- and water-resistant chemicals for a dizzying array of applications. Nonstick cookware coatings, waterproof clothing, dental floss and fire-extinguishing foams are just a few where they are used today.

But the carbon-fluorine bonds that enable these uses also make the chemicals persistent. They don't break down in the environment, and some PFAS linger in the body for years.

Documents released after the state of Minnesota sued the company show that 3M knew about toxicity for decades from internal studies it conducted, and DuPont decided to move women out of its production lines in the 1980s because of internal studies showing birth deformities in rats.

But public research on broader health effects has only advanced in roughly the past two decades. A small number of the chemicals have been well-studied, with the most known about the two oldest, and now discontinued, compoundsPFOS and PFOA.

There's now emerging scientific agreement that some PFAS chemicals are linked with several health problems, according to an influential 2022 report from the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine. It reported strong enough evidence to link PFAS exposure to developmental problems in children who are exposed before and after birth, increased cholesterol in adults and kids, kidney cancer in adults and reduced antibody response in all ages. More limited evidence suggests increased risk of testicular and breast cancers, hypertension in pregnancy and liver and thyroid issues.

EPA's proposed limit on PFAS in water systems set the standard for PFOA and PFOS almost at the limit of where machines can detect the chemicals. That's in part to protect developing fetuses that are exposed to PFAS in their mothers' bodies through the placenta, and infants, who are exposed through breastmilk.

The evidence for these effects is strong enough that the National Academies report recommends that doctors do additional screening for thyroid issues, cholesterol imbalances, kidney and testicular cancer and the bowel disease ulcerative colitis in patients with significant PFAS exposure. For the most exposed, cholesterol checks should start in children as young as 2; signs of testicular cancer and ulcerative colitis need to be assessed starting at age 15.

"They're saying, 'Hey, doctors, if you're treating patients who live in PFAS-contaminated areas, you need to do more for these patients,'" DeWitt said.

Developmental effects

Much of the energy in the scientific world to look at the effects of these chemicals was spurred by the work of the C8 Science Panel. This broad study of health links to PFAS exposure was part of a settlement with DuPont, after the company was sued for contaminating drinking water in the Ohio River Valley. (C8 is another name for the chemical PFOA, because of the molecule's 8-link chain of carbon-fluorine bonds.)

An influential study completed by Philippe Grandjean, an environmental medicine professor at Southern Denmark University, looked at the immune systems of children exposed to these chemicals.

Grandjean, who also co-leads a center devoted to studying PFAS at the University of Rhode Island, initially recruited some 656 pregnant mothers in the Faroe Islands to study the effects of other environmental contaminants and continued to follow up with the children for years. He decided to examine PFAS too, after a study on the chemicals in lab mice was published.

They measured the amount of PFAS in the children's blood at different ages, including after typical childhood vaccinations. Grandjean said the results he ultimately published in 2012 in the Journal of the American Medical Association shocked himthe more PFAS in a child's blood, the fewer antibodies they would produce after a vaccine, as if their immune systems were suppressed. The same association held when researchers looked at the amount of PFAS in the cord blood of newborns.

Part of the problem for developing children, Grandjean said, is that a mother who breastfeeds for six months can transfer as much as half the PFAS in her body to the baby, where the chemicals concentrate ten times as much.

His work and several consecutive studies on the same cohort of Faroese children left Grandjean to conclude that "we are affecting the most vulnerable life stage of the next generation" with PFAS pollution that could cause still-unknown long term effects.

Other research, including some by Grandjean, has linked the chemicals to issues like low birth weight. Hypertension in pregnancy has also been linked with PFAS, including in the original C8 study.

Stopping the flow

Phil Brown, co-director of the PFAS Project Lab at Northeastern University, said his lab is now working on a study in the United States that will build on some of Grandjean's work studying children. DeWitt said she's investigating how the specific molecule PFOA affects the way cells use energy, and effectively ages them.

DeWitt said the associations right now might not be as clear as for other environmental pollutants, like fine particles in the air, which extensive research has shown can cause heart attacks and other deadly events from even short-term exposure.

But she said that fine particulate matter, also known as soot, has been a recognized problem for over a century; scientists are still catching up with chemicals like PFAS.

"The way things work in our world, we have to generate lots and lots and lots of data about the negative effects for people to think maybe we should change what we do and move to something else," DeWitt said.

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A team of geologists from the University of Roma Tre, has solved the mystery of why the bodies of people living in Herculaneum, were not well preserved after they were killed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. In their paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, the group describes how they found evidence of a pyroclastic current striking Herculaneum shortly after Vesuvius blew, essentially vaporizing the people living there.

Prior research has suggested that sometimes when a volcano erupts, a mass of very hot gases and particles flow down the mountain and strike places in the nearby vicinity. Such flows have been found to have extremely high temperaturesin the range above 550C. Evidence of such an event was found after studying an eruption that occurred in Martinique back in 1902.

During that eruption, approximately 30,000 people were incinerated. In this new effort, the research team has found evidence of such a flow striking the town of Herculaneum when Mount Vesuvius blew back in 79AD, incinerating those people living there. The people of Pompeii, were spared the same fate as the city was farther away. Instead, they were buried alive in ash.

In this new effort, the geologists collected carbonized wood samples from sites in Herculaneum and studied them back in their lab. In so doing, they found that they showed evidence of being subjected to a very hot gas for a very short period of time. The result, they suggest, of being exposed to a diluted pyroclastic density current (PDC).

Further study showed that gas temperatures had exceeded 550C. The team also found evidence of several more PDCs moving across the town, though they were much cooler. Eventually, Herculaneum, like Pompeii, was buried under volcanic debris.

The researchers suggest that such a blast of gas and particles would turn a human victim to a very small pile of charred bones and ash, which explains why preserved bodies, like those in Pompeii were not found in Herculaneum. They did find partial remains of an organ of one victim at the Collegium Augustaliuma skull with a vitrified brain inside of it. The find suggested that the brain had been burned at a very high temperature, before quickly cooling, turning it to a form of glass.

The research team suggests their findings should serve as a warning for modern citizens of Naplesa city that is close enough to feel the effects of a PDC should Vesuvius erupt again.

More information: Alessandra Pensa et al, A new hazard scenario at Vesuvius: deadly thermal impact of detached ash cloud surges in 79CE at Herculaneum, Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32623-3 Journal information: Scientific Reports

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This image was taken in August 2019 inside a lava tube near Hawaiis Mauna Loa volcano, where scientists had come to study the microbes and minerals that could reveal insights about similar environments on Mars. Pictured in the left foreground is Chloe Fishman, who, at the time this image was taken, was an undergraduate researcher at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Behind her is Cherie Achilles, and to her right, facing the camera, is Amy McAdam. Both are scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Credit: NASA Goddard / Molly Wasser

In August 2019, Chloe Fishman crawled into a cave beneath the largest active volcano on the planet. Along with scientists from NASA and other institutions, she had come to Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano to study the microscopic life-forms that could survive underneath, in the dark and isolated subterranean environment known as a "lava tube."

Fishman lowered herself 30 feet through an opening in the ground formed where part of the tube had collapsed. She was wearing a headlamp, gloves, and knee pads. As Fishman reached deeper into the darkness, she felt the temperature drop. The moisture in the air swallowed her. When her feet touched the cave floor, Fishman began to look around: "It felt like I had entered a different world," she said.

She may as well have been on Mars. And that's precisely why Fishman and her colleagues had come to Hawaii.

"The microbes we found in Hawaii could be similar to microbes that once lived on Mars, or even microbes that live there today," said Fishman, who, at the time of this study, was an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Sarah Stewart Johnson, an associate professor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Fishman now is a researcher at the Gladstone Institutes at the University of California, San Francisco.

Microbes thrived in the Mauna Loan lava tube, Fishman and her colleagues found, even in areas that received no sunlight, which most living things on Earth need to survive. In these dark areas, the microbes likely were using chemicals in the rocks for nourishment.

Fishman and her colleagues discovered dozens of previously unidentified species of microbes. They also gathered insights about their habitats that will inform strategies to one day collect samples in Martian lava tubes, the researchers reported on Feb. 17, 2023, in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. Mars is one of NASA's top destinations to search for signs of ancient or current micro-organisms, with several missions underway or being developed.

The lava tube Fishman and her colleagues studied, located on the northern flank of the volcano, formed about 200 years ago, qualifying it as "young" on the geologic time scale of billions of years. Less affected than older tubes by water and other weathering conditions, a young Hawaiian tube better resembles Martian lava tubes as they were billions of years ago.

When lava tubes first formed on Mars, the Red Planet was likely similar to Earth, with active volcanoes, an atmosphere, a warmer climate, and flowing water. Since these conditions helped nurture life on Earth, they may have done the same on Mars. Even though the Martian surface became inhospitable to living creatures after the planet shed its atmosphere, cooled, and dried up about 3 billion years ago, microbes could have migrated underground, scientists suspect.

Inside the Hawaiian lava tube, illuminated by headlamps, the walls were lit up in a mural of yellow, orange, pink, green, and white. These materials contained a range of minerals, including gypsum and calcite, arranged in shapes that reminded Fishman of mushrooms and popcorn. While Fishman had come to the cave to scrape flakes from the to bring back to the lab to look for microbial life, most of her colleagues had come to study the minerals. The mineral work is ongoing, but it will intersect with Fishman's if some of the minerals turn out to be more likely than others to host microbes. Insight from this research could help Martian rovers pinpoint promising sites to sample for signs of past or present life.

"We have identified minerals similar to those found at Mauna Loa on the Martian surface and right below it," said Amy McAdam, a geochemist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. McAdam is a member of the science team behind NASA's Curiosity rover, which is exploring Mars, and also analyzing samples plucked from the surface in its onboard chemistry lab.

"Even if it's difficult to tease out signs of life in Martian minerals, we can still learn a lot from them about the environmental conditions of early Mars and whether those conditions were friendly to life or not," McAdam said.

After a week of work in the lava tube, Fishman brought back about 20 half-teaspoon-size samples to Johnson's lab. She poured each one into a test tube filled with liquid and glass beads the size of sand grains. A device in the lab shook them to break apart the samples, thereby releasing cells into the liquid. This allowed Fishman to extract DNA from the cells. Sequencing the DNA revealed the genetic codes for the organisms.

Fishman has sequenced the genomes of 72 new organisms. So far, she has analyzed the genomes of two microbes, which allowed her to classify them based on their characteristics and to add them to global databases.

More information: C. B. Fishman et al, Extreme Niche Partitioning and Microbial Dark Matter in a Mauna Loa Lava Tube, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2022JE007283 Journal information: Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
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Maps showing the collection localities for the (A) Sanger sequences and (B) metabarcoding sequences that came with geo-coordinates (36,559 Sanger collection localities and 3,688 metabarcoding collection localities). Credit: MycoKeys (2023). DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.96.102669

Mention fungi, and most people will probably think of the mushrooms they pick in fall, or maybe the yeast they add when baking or making wine. Others will perhaps recall last week's moldy breador cucumbers gone bad in the refrigerator. Indeed, mycologists have studied these fungi as sources of food and fermentation but also decay and disease for centuries.

But while we're used to thinking of fungi as organisms that form physical structures such as fruiting bodies, or yeast-like life forms that we can grow in our kitchens or laboratories, it is gradually becoming clear that fungi don't readily assort into only these two groups. DNA sequencing studies of environmental substrates such as soil are finding massive evidence of large groups of fungi that do not seem to form fruiting bodies and that we seem unable to grow in the labbut that are there nonetheless.

These groups are often called "dark fungi," in analogy with the concept of "dark matter" in astronomysomething we know is out there, but that we cannot directly observe right now.

A new study in MycoKeys contrasts the accumulation of fungal species recovered using traditional mycological approaches with those recovered using environmental DNA sequencing over time. Even when allowing for various kinds of biases, the authors found that species discovery through environmental sequencing vastly outpaces traditional species recovery in a strongly increasing trend over the last five years. The authors conclude that dark fungi form a defining feature of the fungal kingdom.

"And that's where it gets interesting," Henrik Nilsson at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and the lead author of the study, says.

"Under the current rules of nomenclature, these fungi cannot be given scientific namesthey cannot be described formally. And species and groups that cannot be named formally, well, they tend to fall between the cracks. They're typically not considered in nature conservation initiatives. They are often left out from efforts to estimate the evolutionary history of fungi, and their ecological roles and associations are largely overlooked when we try to figure out how mass and energy flow in ecosystems. They're essentially treated as if they didn't exist."

Second author Martin Ryberg at the University of Uppsala, Sweden chimes in, "And it's not like we're adding the few missing pieces to an otherwise nearly complete jigsaw puzzle. It seems to be the other way around. We're talking about tens of large groups of fungiand thousands upon thousands of species, some of which seem to be so common that we have yet to find a soil sample from which they're absent. Indeed, we're talking about what could well prove to be the dominant life style in the fungal kingdom."

The mycological community has been debating whether the rules of fungal nomenclature should be modified to allow formal description of these dark fungi. So far, the matter has not been resolved in the affirmative. "I think our study shows that it's time to stop that debate, like, right away," Nilsson says. "What we should be debating is how we should describe them. What criteria must be fulfilled for a dark fungus to be given a formal scientific name? Clearly, formation of a fruiting body or growth in the laboratory can't be part of those criteria."

Co-author Alice Retter of the University of Vienna, Austria explains, "We figured we'd kickstart the how debate by listing criteria that we think make sensecriteria that would be stringent enough to allow for only particularly well-vetted dark fungi to be described, upholding a high level of scientific rigor and reproducibility in the process. We blended our own observations with suggestions from the mycological community, culled from depositing a preprint of the manuscript at bioRxiv."

"We're certainly not claiming that our suggestions form the final word in the debate. It's more like they're the first. We're thinking that the mycological community will jointly be able to come up with a set of sound guiding principles on the matterand here comes an initial set of well-meaning observations for nucleation."

The authors advocate gentle modifications to the nomenclatural rules governing the naming of fungi to allow giving formal names to at least the most well-documented species and groups of dark fungi. The suggested modifications would, at present, exclude many rare or otherwise less well-documented dark fungi from formal description.

"But you don't have to have a theory of everything to have a theory of something," senior author Kessy Abarenkov of the Tartu Natural History Museum, Estonia asserts.

"By establishing rules for what's needed to describe dark fungi, and specifying when we'll have to refrain from describing such species at present, mycologists can do what they do best: doggedly gather enough research data to warrant naming of the dark fungi, group by group, and species by species. It's what mycology has excelled at for hundreds of years. It's just the setting that's a bit new."

Sten Anslan, University of Tartu, continues, "Much is at stake, obviously. The current rules governing the naming of fungi have served mycology well for a long time. We don't want to upend or overthrow them. But we fear that if they're not updated in this particular regard, there's a risk that they grow increasingly obsolete over time. Having a book of rules that govern maybe only some few percent of the organisms it was originally conceived to governthe fungal kingdomwould seem untenable in the long run."

Marisol Sanchez-Garcia of the Swedish Agricultural University concludes, "The nomenclatural aspects of dark fungi will presumably be discussed at some length at next year's international mycological congress in Maastricht, the Netherlands. We're hopeful that the mycological community will reach meaningful agreement on integration of the dark fungi into the rules of nomenclature. After all, mycologists are used to negotiating and solving non-trivial questions on a day-to-day basis, and this one is hardly any different."

"Being part of tackling a huge, more or less unknown group of organisms where precious little is set in stone and where the rules will have to be adapted over time for the endeavor to stay attuned to recent developments, well, that's what makes being a mycologist so interesting and rewarding in my eyes."

More information: R. Henrik Nilsson et al, How, not if, is the question mycologists should be asking about DNA-based typification, MycoKeys (2023). DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.96.102669 Journal information: bioRxiv
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This image of the Crab Nebula combines data from NASAs Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) in magenta and NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory in dark purple. Credit: X-ray (IXPE: NASA), (Chandra: NASA/CXC/SAO) Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/K. Arcand & L. Frattare

On Feb. 22, 1971, a sounding rocket lifted off from Wallops Island, Virginia, with specialized sensors aimed at the Crab Nebula, a bright cosmic object 6,500 light-years away. In those days, before recovering physical tapes from the experiment, scientists first received scientific data on a strip chart recorder, a device that printed signals on paper. Astronomer Martin Weisskopf and his colleagues began their analysis on launch day by measuring the distance between signals using a ruler and pencil.

"What makes science so beautiful and exciting is that for those few moments, you're seeing something that no one has ever seen before," said Weisskopf, now an emeritus astronomer at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Decades later, Weisskopf proposed the development of an Earth-orbiting satellite with powerful instruments that could gather much more detailed measurements of the same kind about the Crab Nebula and other mysterious cosmic objects. That satellite became NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), which launched on December 9, 2021.

Now, more than 50 years after the sounding rocket experiment, scientists have used IXPE to create a detailed, nuanced map of the Crab Nebula's magnetic field, revealing more of its inner workings than ever before. The new results, accepted for publication in the journal Nature Astronomy (preprint available), help resolve longstanding mysteries about the well-studied Crab Nebula and open new questions for future study.

IXPE data show that the Crab Nebula's magnetic field resembles that of the Vela Pulsar Wind Nebula, which is also donut-shaped. But at the Crab, scientists were surprised that areas of magnetic field turbulence were more patchy and asymmetrical than expected.

The Crab Pulsar is a famous astronomical object, about 6,500 light-years from Earth, that originated with the explosion of a massive star. The nebula around the Crab contains a donut-shaped magnetic field, which NASAs Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) observed. The orange lines highlight the shape of the magnetic field determined by IXPE. It is superimposed on a composite image made with data from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (blue and white), Hubble Space Telescope (purple), and Spitzer Space Telescope (pink). Credit: Magnetic field lines: NASA/Bucciantini et al; X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/STScI; Infrared: NASA-JPL-Caltech

"This is a clear indication that even the more complex models developed in the past, with the use of advanced numerical techniques, do not fully capture the complexity of this object," said Niccolo Bucciantini, lead author of the study and astronomer at the INAF Arcetri Observatory in Florence, Italy.

A favorite object of study among astronomers, the Crab Nebula resulted from a supernova documented in the year 1054. The explosion left behind a dense object called the Crab Pulsar, about the diameter of Huntsville, Alabama or the length of Manhattan, but with as much mass as about two Suns. The chaotic mess of gases, shock waves, magnetic fields and high-energy light and particles coming from the rotating pulsar is collectively called a "pulsar wind nebula." These extreme conditions make for a bizarre environment that is not yet thoroughly understood.

Weisskopf and colleagues were hoping to understand this extreme environment in a new way by measuring the polarization of X-rays from the Crab Nebula, which shines brightly in X-rays. X-ray polarization gives scientists clues to the direction where the magnetic field points in different parts of a cosmic object, as well as how well ordered the magnetic field is. The magnetic field's geometry and turbulence determines how particles get catapulted toward the speed of light.

NASAs Martin Weisskopf and colleagues from Columbia University in 1971 pose with the Aerobee-350 sounding rocket they used to detect X-ray polarization from a celestial objectthe Crab Nebulafor the first time. Left to right are Robert Novick, Gabriel Epstein, Weisskopf, Richard Wolff, and Richard Linke. Credit: NASA

In the five minutes that the 1971 sounding rocket experiment spent above Earth's atmosphere, it produced the world's first X-ray polarization measurements.

Scientists followed up with a satellite called OSO-8 in 1975, which also measured the X-ray polarization of the Crab Nebula. The rocket and the satellite produced generally the same result: That the Crab Nebula has an average polarization of about 20%.

As project scientist of NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory, which launched in 1999, Weisskopf continued his exploration of the Crab Nebula in new ways. With Chandra, "we took beautiful images of the nebula and pulsar, and we could see the jets and the various structures," he said. Chandra's X-ray imaging revealed wisp-like structures that move in the nebula, and helped scientists to further understand the relationship between the pulsar's energy and X-ray emissions.

Nearly every recent large telescope has pointed to the Crab Nebula to better understand this mysterious supernova remnant. But only IXPE can study X-rays from Crab in terms of polarization, a measure of the organization of electromagnetic fields.

"The Crab is one of the most-studied high-energy astrophysical objects in the sky. So it is extremely exciting that we could learn something new about this system by looking through IXPE's 'polarized lenses,'" said Michela Negro, a research scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center affiliated with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a co-author of the study.

Across the entire nebula, IXPE found about the same average polarization as Weisskopf and colleagues did in the 1970s. But with more sophisticated instruments, IXPE was able to refine the angle of polarization and examine the differences in polarization across the entire object. Scientists see areas of much polarization in the outer regions of the nebula, light-years away from the pulsar, where polarization is lower.

This enabled scientists to investigate not just X-rays from the Crab Nebula but also those coming from the pulsar itself, or the sphere of magnetic fields around it. The findings suggest that those X-rays originate in the outer magnetic field region, called the "wind" region, although exactly where and how is still unknown. Within the magnetic field, shocks generated by the pulsar's "wind" are propelling particles close to the speed of light.

"I'm very proud of everybody associated with IXPE," said Weisskopf, who was the mission's first principal investigator. "Everybody has worked so hard, and it works as advertised." Reflecting on his work on the 1971 experiment that laid the groundwork for the new results, Weisskopf says, "It's like somebody said to me, 'Martin, you did good.'"

More information: Niccolo Bucciantini et al, Simultaneous space and phase resolved X-ray polarimetry of the Crab Pulsar and Nebula, arXiv (2022). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2207.05573 Niccolo Bucciantini et al, Simultaneous space and phase resolved X-ray polarimetry of the Crab pulsar and nebula, Nature Astronomy (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-023-01936-8 , www.nature.com/articles/s41550-023-01936-8 Journal information: arXiv , Nature Astronomy
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The largest of all cats, tigers once roamed throughout central, eastern and southern Asia.

India's wild tiger populationby far the largest in the worldhas risen above 3,000, according to a census released Sunday, boosting efforts to conserve the endangered species.

The largest of all cats, tigers once roamed throughout central, eastern and southern Asia.

But in the past 100 years the tiger has lost more than 93 percent of its historic range and now only survives in scattered populations in 13 countries, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Indian census estimated there were 3,167 tigers in the wild across the country, up from 2,967 reported in the last such exercise.

Surveys are conducted every four years, using camera traps and computer programs to individually identify each creature.

The rate of increase has slowed to less than seven percent over the period, down from more than 30 percent in the previous four years.

But Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the new figure was a "proud moment".

"Our family is expanding," he said at a ceremony in the southern city of Mysuru. "This is a matter of pride not not only for India but the entire world."

Deforestation, poaching and human encroachment on habitats have devastated tiger populations across Asia but Modi said India had been able to increase its numbers thanks to "people's participation" and the country's "culture of conservation".

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the new figure for the tiger population was a 'proud moment'

India is now home to 75 percent of the global tiger population and also the "largest tiger range country in the world", he added.

In 1900, more than 100,000 tigers were estimated to roam the planet. But that fell to a record low of 3,200 in 2010.

That year, India and 12 other countries with tiger populations signed an agreement to double their big cat numbers by 2022.

India is believed to have had a tiger population of around 40,000 at the time of independence from Britain in 1947.

That fell over subsequent decades to about 3,700 in 2002 and an all-time low of 1,411 four years later, but numbers have since risen steadily.

Dipankar Ghose, director of the wildlife and habitats programme at the World Wide Fund for Nature-India told AFP the latest increase in tiger numbers was encouraging.

"On the other hand it also tells us that each of us now need to work harder to restore degraded habitats, ensure safe movement of tigers through corridors and promote coexistence," he added.

 2023 AFP
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Friday, April 7, is National Beer Day in the U.S., and 2023 is revealing some changing tastes.

This year The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States issued its annual economic briefing, which contained a wealth of data on the status of the country's distilled spirits industry. One of the most interesting data points was the fact that, for the first time, the market share enjoyed by distilled spirits (42.1%) exceeded that of beer (41.9%).

Ascending to the peak of the alcohol sales mountain has been a long slog for producers of distilled spirits. In 2000, distilled spirits share of the market was 28.7%. Beer's lead, at 55.7%, must have seemed unsurmountable. So what happened? Why have sales of spirits surpassed sales of beer?

The shift from beer to spirits did not occur overnight. It was slow and gradual, which suggests that the 20-plus year time-span over which these changes occurred represents a generational shift in tastes and preferences.

Which generation was responsible for these shifts? Credited with being responsible for the craft beer revolution, millennials have also had a starring role in the growing popularity of spirits.

The first two decades of the twenty-first century can be characterized as the age of the millennial. A millennial is someone born between the years 1981 and 1996.

In 2002, the first members of the millennial generation were reaching the age of 21, that magic milestone where they could legally purchase alcohol. Recently, those first millennials entered their 40s, while the youngest members of the cohort reached their mid-20s. Today, there are an estimated 79 million millennials.

Thankfully, there has been a plethora of market research that provides insights into the values and tastes of millennials. When it comes to food and drink, millennials appreciate convenience, variety, freshness, and healthy. They also value quality over quantity. So how do these preferences influence their alcohol purchasing decisions?

As with craft beer, spirits offer consumers variety. When combined either with other spirits and/or with other ingredients such as bitters and fruit juices, the consumer has a dizzying array of choices. Take Ready-to-Drink cocktails (RTDs), for example. In 2021, Drizly, North America's largest online alcohol retailer, offered its customers over 450 brands of RTDs, a 170% increase over 2019.

While the more creative among us may take satisfaction from mixing our own cocktails at home, the impressive growth of RTDs offers the ultimate in convenience. No mixing of ingredients necessaryjust pop open the can and they are ready to drink. Millennials appear to have embraced them. In 2022, sales of RTDs grew 35.8%. Between 2017 and 2022, spirits enjoyed their fastest growth in decades. RTDs were a primary driver of this growth.

However, it is more than convenience and variety that is attracting millennial drinkers. Once saddled with a reputation for being overly sweet and made with cheap ingredients, the makers of RTDs have upped their game in recent years, using high quality spirits and other ingredients that are often organic and gluten-free. In other words, they have underwent a process known as premiumization. Moreover, millennials, more than any other demographic cohort, are purchasing these higher quality RTDs. According to Drizly, 62% of RTD purchasers are millennials.

While beer is traditionally a male drink, RTDs have a broader appeal. Sixty percent of Drizly's RTD customers are female. Appealing to both males and females undoubtedly gives RTDs an advantage over beer.

In addition to RTDs, millennials are also driving sales of tequila/mescal and American whiskey, the second and third fastest growth segments in 2022 respectively. Premiumization is also apparent in both segments, as consumers trade-up to higher price products, some of which are made by the 2,000+ craft distillers in the United States.

How can millennials afford to trade up to higher-price spirits? Quite simply, they are making a classic quality vs. quantity trade-off. They are consuming less alcohol, but that they are consuming is of higher quality. The same trade-offs are made by millennials choosing pricier craft over cheaper mass-produced beer.

While spirits have slowly eaten away at beer's market share, it should be noted that the craft beer segment is still performing well. In 2021, while overall beer sales grew by just 1%, sales of craft beer increased by 7.9%. For many millennials, it is not a question of spirits or beer. Many consume both, but those consuming RTDs and premium spirits are also drinking craft beer.
Saudi Arabian officials traveled to Sana'a for peace talks with the Houthi rebel movement

Authorities agreed to prisoner exchanges as part of a historic moment in the years-long conflict

The war between the two sides has continued since and has resulted in tens of thousands of Yemeni people dead

Saudi Arabian authorities are negotiating peace with Houthis in Yemen's capital of Sana'a and have ordered the release of 13 prisoners, marking a historic moment in the years-long conflict.

A Saudi Arabian delegation traveled to Sana'a to meet with the Houthi rebel movement to seek a new route to peace for both sides. Furthermore, a mediation team from Oman also traveled to Sana'a.

Saudi Arabia Peace Talks with Houthi Rebels

Yemen's capital has been under the control of the Houthi rebels since 2015, after they forced back the Yemeni government. After they took the leadership post, war erupted between the rebels and a Saudi-led coalition that supported the region's government.

The conflict has continued since then to take control of the region's government, resulting in the death of tens of thousands of Yemeni people. According to BBC, it also forced roughly 80% of the population to rely on aid for their livelihoods.

A leaked photograph shows Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi shaking the hands of a seemingly unknown Saudi official, whose face was not identifiable. The situation is seen as another sign that both sides are willing to reach an agreement to end the years-long conflict finally.

While no named officials have commented on the peace negotiations, there were reports that a deal could be reached between the two sides before the end of the month.

The terms of the potential agreement have yet to be revealed to the public. However, they are rumored to include commitments to provide salaries for public employees and reopen all ports and airports in the region.

The peace talks between Riyadh and Sana'a run in parallel with efforts conducted by the United Nations. Furthermore, the recent discussions gained momentum following Saudi Arabia and Iran, considered arch-rivals, re-establishing relations in a China-brokered deal, according to Reuters.

Read Also: US, South Korea, Japan Express Concern Over North Korea's Cyber Activities

Ending the Years-Long Conflict

The Saudi envoys reportedly arrived in Sana'a on Saturday and met with Mahdi al-Mashat, the head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, in the region's presidential palace. In a statement, Al-Mashat reiterated the group's position in seeking "honorable peace." He also said that the people of Yemen wanted "freedom and independence."

The release of more than a dozen Houthi detainees was conducted on Saturday. It was in response to the rebel movement releasing a Saudi prisoner held captive by the Houthis.

A Houthi official in charge of prisoner exchange talks, Abdul-Qadar al-Murtaza, said that the released prisoners were given their freedom under the deal agreed upon via the UN. He added that the agreement would be fully implemented by Thursday.

Al-Murtaza's remarks were about a UN-brokered deal that was struck in Switzerland last month and included the release of nearly 900 prisoners. Al Jazeera said the deal is considered one of several developments that underscore the movement seeking to end the eight-year-long war.

Related Article: Fatal Jerusalem Shooting Kills 2, Injures 6 Others

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The Sepkoski Curve, representing marine diversity at the taxonomic level of families over the last 600 million years. The 'Big Five' mass extinctions are labeled at the troughs of the diversity curve, with the relative magnitude of the drop given in parentheses in upper left (from Raup & Sepkoski [1982], p. 1502, Fig. 2; with permission from AAAS). Credit: Are We in a Sixth Mass Extinction? The Challenges of Answering and Value of Asking (2023).

As a philosopher of science, Alisa Bokulich grapples with weighty questions like, how can scientific models represent a system as complex as the Earth? How can we reconstruct Earth's 4.5-billion-year history using only the few traces of data left in the present? Are we approaching a sixth mass extinction?

Philosophy of science is the study of fundamental questions about what science is, how science works, and what it can tell us about the world. Bokulich specifically studies the philosophy of geosciences, dealing with fundamental questions in Earth science, ecology, climate science, and even planetary astronomyshe wrote a paper in 2014 philosophizing on Pluto's demotion to dwarf planet, contextualizing it within the broader history of astronomy.

"If you're trying to make new revolutionary discoveries, the perspective you get from studying the history and philosophy of science can be really helpful for scientists," says Bokulich, a Boston University College of Arts & Sciences professor of philosophy.

Historically, geosciences haven't received as much attention from philosophers compared to other sciences. But as changes to our planet become ever more visible, the climate crisis unfolds, and the loss of biodiversity worsens, there's never been a more important time to interrogate the science that is attempting to steer humanity away from ecological catastrophe.

"Philosophers have the ability to look across a range of sciences, as well as the history of science, to probe the big-picture questions that scientists often don't have the luxury to do in their everyday work," says Bokulich, who directs the Center for Philosophy & History of Science at BU.

Two worlds reunited

Bokulich's fascination with science and philosophy started in her teen years at an all-girls Catholic high school, Forest Ridge, outside of Seattle. During a required theology class, she asked one of the Jesuit priests to oversee an independent study in philosophy. At the same time, she found herself engrossed in physics classes and regularly discussing big questions about quantum mechanics with her teacher.

"Quantum mechanics tells us all sorts of strange things about the world, like, there can be a particle in this room that's not in any particular place in this room. I thought, how could the world be like that?" she says. "That cultivated in me a philosophical and critically reflective attitude that tries to understand what the sciences are telling us about the nature of the world. And that's what philosophy does too."

Her physics and philosophy studies felt like two separate worlds, until she realized that they could be brought together under one umbrella in programs like the History & Philosophy of Science at Notre Dame, where she got her Ph.D. The two fields are actually so close in nature that, until the 19th century, philosophy and science were one discipline, often called "natural philosophy" or "philosophy of nature."

"Aristotle was as much a biologist as a philosopher, and Kant was also a cosmologistalmost all of the great traditional philosophers were also doing science and reflecting on the methods of science of their day. Even the great physicists like Newton, Maxwell, and Einstein were also philosophers at heart," Bokulich says. "Philosophy wants to understand what there is and how it works. And science is one of the most important resources for answering those questions."

Understanding complexity

Since finding her path, Bokulich's research has focused on the geosciences, which include fields ranging from climate science to paleontology.

"One of the things that drew me to the geosciences was wanting to contextualize climate science within the broader Earth sciences," Bokulich says. "The more we can translate climate science to help the public understand how this science works, the more we can help society learn to trust this science and take proper action."

To give students the skills to advance those goals, she founded the Phi-Geo Group, a team of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates dedicated to exploring research in the philosophy of geosciencescurrently the only one of its kind in the world. They meet weekly, often with visiting geoscientists, biologists, and climate scientists, and hold discussions about recent papers in the field.

During the pandemic, their regular meetings (then held on Zoom) resulted in several members talking about one of the biggest open questions in geoscience: Are we in a sixth mass extinction? As a result, they now have a forthcoming paper in the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, which found that, despite the rapid loss of habitat and multiple species, the numbers don't quite add up enough to say we're in the midst of a mass extinction.

Scientists began ringing the alarm about a sixth mass extinction decades ago. An author of one 2017 study that found billions of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians have been lost all over the planet said that, "the situation has become so bad it would not be ethical not to use strong language."

The framing of entering a sixth mass extinction has successfully gained the public's attention, but is more likely to mislead than inform, Bokulich and the authors write. Their paper points out that conservationists and paleo scientists collect data differently, a major challenge when trying to compare the situation today to millions of years ago. Today's biodiversity data is collected at the species level (think: tigers, leopards, jaguars, lions), Bokulich explains, but paleontological records are at the genus level (for those big cats, that'd be the Panthera genus).

"If we were in a sixth mass extinction today, we would expect hundreds of genera to be going extinct, but we hardly know of any genera being lost in modern times, so the numbers don't quite comparebut that doesn't mean it's not horrible and urgent action isn't needed," Bokulich says. "This is more about how awful the past mass extinctions were, than a claim we don't need to be worried about the present."

The researchers note that to adequately address our biological and environmental crises, increased collaboration between conservation biologists and paleontologists will be needed.

"Measuring biodiversity is a complex enterprise that requires mathematical and ecological training, but also philosophical work to understand the phenomenon of biodiversity in all its complexity," says Federica Bocchi, a fifth-year BU Ph.D. student in philosophy and lead author of the paper.

Philosophy has a white male problem

Their findings throw a wrench into the popular mass extinction narrative. And it's not lost on the authors that the paper is notable for reasons beyond the research.

"Philosophy is about 80 percent white men. To have a paper where there are five women, one who's African American, one who's Latina, that is very rare," says Bokulich, who's been a leader in a historically male-dominated field (try to name more than three philosophers you learned about in high school who aren't men). She was the first woman to receive tenure in the philosophy department at BU in 2008 and was the first woman to become a director of a center for history and philosophy of science in North America in 2010.

"Being able to collaborate with different people from the group, along with Dr. Bokulich, has helped me further cement my values as an academic and as a woman in a very male-dominated field," says Leticia A. Castillo Brache, a fourth-year BU Ph.D. student in philosophy and author on the extinction paper. As first-generation international students, Brache and Bocchi also say being part of the Phi-Geo Group has been one of the most valuable experiences professionally and personally while studying at BU.

To further elevate women and historically marginalized groups, Bokulich cofounded the Underrepresented Philosophy of Science Scholars initiative, which provides mentoring to hundreds of scholars and scholarship opportunities. She was recently a fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, where she conducted research for a new book project on the philosophy of the geosciences, which explores issues in the philosophy of data and modeling, and explains how scientists build reliable knowledge even in the face of great uncertainty. It will be one of the first books devoted to the philosophy of geosciences.

"There is so much exciting and urgent work to be done in this field, and we need a diversity of people exploring these questions," Bokulich says. "We also have an opportunity to help make science and philosophy more ethical and just for everyone."
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Sargassum is a brown algae, or macroalgae. Sargassum is an important habitat for marine species providing food, refuge and breeding grounds. However, when it collects along coastlines, it rots  producing a pungent smell and attracting flies. This can mean a real problem for tourism in coastal communities. Credit: Pixabay

A large mass of Sargassum "seaweed" circling around the Gulf of Mexico may soon wash up along the U.S. coast near Floridadepending on the right combination of currents and wind. The bloom, which may likely be the largest ever recorded, is so large that it's visible from space.

Sargassum is a leafy, rootless and buoyant algae that rafts up into large floating mats on the ocean surface. It can be found in the Sargasso Sea and was first written about by Christopher Columbus in 1492 who feared his boat would be trapped in it.

Sargassum is an important habitat for marine species providing food, refuge and breeding grounds. Like other floating marine vegetation, it absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxidean important greenhouse gas that contributes to global warmingthrough photosynthesis and converts it into organic carbon.

However, when tons of it collects along coastlines, it rotsemitting toxins like hydrogen sulfide which produces a pungent smell. These toxins can cause headaches, eye irritation and upset stomachs, depending on the quantity. Mounds of algae on beaches can harm marine ecosystems and disrupt recreation and fishing, costing communities millions.

This map shows an overview of the floating Sargassum as of 5 April and shows the daily mean Sargassum concentration over the last seven days (starting from 5 April 2023). Please note that the map indicates the location of the Sargassum, while its size has been exaggerated for clarity. The geostrophic surface currents dictate how the Sargassum travels towards Florida and beyond. The Sargassum product comes from Coastal Marine Information and Analysis System (SIMAR) which uses data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Credit: ESA (Data source: SIMAR-CONABIO/ CMEMS)

Sargassum has formed large blooms in the Atlantic Ocean, with scientists tracking the massive accumulations since 2011. But this year's bloom could be the largest ever, collectively spanning more than 8,800 km from the shores of Africa to the Gulf of Mexico and weighing 10 million tons.

As part of ESA's Earth Observation Science for Society initiative, ESA works alongside CLS-NovaBlue Environment to monitor floating Sargassum using data from Earth observation satellites.

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image shows the Sargassum around 45 km off the west coast of Guadeloupe. The boat that can be seen travelling southeast is a large 250 m container ship for reference. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2023), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 image shown above reveals the Sargassum around 45 km off the west coast of Guadeloupe. The image has been processed using the near-infrared channel to highlight the Sargassum in bright red.

In addition, the Ocean Virtual Laboratory, which allows oceanographers to discover the world's oceans, have been monitoring the Sargassum. The virtual lab uses more than 350 datasets, Copernicus Sentinel data, in situ measurements and numerical model outputs to provide an unprecedented view of our oceans and improve scientific understanding of ocean and coastal processes leading to the Sargassum which could soon affect Florida's coastlines. This animation shows ocean currents from the Ocean Virtual Laboratory. The virtual lab uses more than 350 datasets, Copernicus Sentinel data, in situ measurements and numerical model outputs to provide an unprecedented view of our oceans and improve scientific understanding of ocean and coastal processes leading to the Sargassum which could soon affect Floridas coastlines. Credit: Ocean Virtual Laboratory

Since 2011, a change in the density and in size of Sargassum levels has been seen which can be monitored from space in different ways.

Multispectral satellite measurements from Sentinel-2 at 10m resolution can capture the extent and evolution of the Sargassum belt stretching across the Atlantic Ocean.

These are complemented by radar altimeter measurements from Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-6 satellites that provide access to geostrophic ocean currents. This means that can we monitor both the location, density and size of Sargassum mats as well as the trajectory of ocean currents that are leading the Sargassum westwardthreatening beaches along the Florida Keys, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and the eastern Caribbean.
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Credit: Pixabay

U.K. and Australian ecologists have used audio technology to record different types of sounds in the soils of a degraded and restored forest to indicate the health of ecosystems.

Non-invasive acoustic monitoring has great potential for scientists to gather long-term information on species and their abundance, says Flinders University researcher Dr. Jake Robinson, who conducted the study while at the University of Sheffield in England.

"Eco-acoustics can measure the health of landscapes affected by farming, mining and deforestation but can also monitor their recovery following revegetation," he says.

"From earthworms and plant roots to shifting soils and other underground activity, these subtle sounds were stronger and more diverse in healthy soilsonce background noise was blocked out."

The subterranean study used special microphones to collect almost 200 sound samples, each about three minutes long, from soil samples collected in restored and cleared forests in South Yorkshire, England.

"Like underwater and above-ground acoustic monitoring, below-ground biodiversity monitoring using eco-acoustics has great potential," says Flinders University co-author, Associate Professor Martin Breed.

Since joining Flinders University, Dr. Robinson has released his first book, entitled "Invisible Friends," which covers his core research into "how microbes in the environment shape our lives and the world around us."

Now, a researcher in restoration genomics at the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University, the new book examines the powerful role invisible microbes play in ecology, immunology, psychology, forensics and even architecture.

"Instead of considering microbes the bane of our life, as we have done during the global pandemic, we should appreciate the many benefits they bring in keeping plants animals, and ourselves, alive."

In another new article, published in Education Sciences, Dr. Robinson and colleagues call for a return to "nature play" for children to expose their developing immune systems to a diverse array of microbes at a young age for better long-term health outcomes.

"Early childhood settings should optimize both outdoor and indoor environments for enhanced exposure to diverse microbiomes for social, cognitive and physiological health," the researchers say.

"It's important to remember that healthy soils feed the air with these diverse microbes," Dr. Robinson adds.

The article, "The sound of restored soil: Measuring soil biodiversity in a forest restoration chronosequence with ecoacoustics" (2023) by Jake M Robinson, Martin F Breed and Carlos Abrahams (Nottingham Trent University) can be viewed on the pre-print server for biology, bioRxiv ahead of review for final publication.

More information: Jake M. Robinson et al, The sound of restored soil: Measuring soil biodiversity in a forest restoration chronosequence with ecoacoustics (2023). DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.23.525240 Jake M. Robinson et al, Optimising Early Childhood Educational Settings for Health Using Nature-Based Solutions: The Microbiome Aspect, Education Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.3390/educsci13020211 Jake Robinson, Invisible Friends (2022). DOI: 10.53061/NZYJ2969 Journal information: bioRxiv
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Visitors view the Columbine Memorial in Littleton, Colorado. Credit: Glenn Asakawa/CU Boulder

Deena Gumina was in third grade in 1999 when a mass shooting at Columbine High School devastated her hometown of Littleton, Colorado. In the years since, these kinds of violent events have become increasingly common across the country, altering the face of K-12 education in the United Statesincluding for Gumina herself. She graduated from high school at Columbine in 2008 and later taught elementary school for five years in Denver.

Today, she's an assistant teaching professor in the School of Education at CU Boulder where she prepares her students to become the teachers of the future. Last month, she wrote an op-ed for Chalkbeat Colorado about the emotional toll that gun violence has taken on her own students. The article was tragically timelydays later, another deadly school shooting took place in Colorado, this one at Denver's East High School.

Gumina spoke to CU Boulder Today about how teachers have become increasingly "under attack" around the nation, and why she still sees room for hope.

"I tell my students, 'You can actually make a change,'" Gumina said. "'You as one person along with your students can do something.'"

What motivated you to speak out about the challenges facing aspiring teachers today?

My students came into class on Tuesday, Feb. 18, the morning after there was a gun-related incident near campus in Boulder. They were scared, and they were not sure what to do. I really didn't know what to say. My students were looking to me to say, "It's going to be okay." But I don't know that. I don't know that they are safe. I don't know that they will be safe in their jobs.

How do these violent incidents affect your students emotionally?

Some of our students have been in active shooter situations themselves. All of them have been in shooter drills. This has been the reality for them for their entire educational lives. It's not new, but it's also impossible to normalize.

We're all expected to hold this space for our students when we can't even hold it for ourselves: I'm here to be a safe space for you, but I don't feel safe myself. It feels like it's event after event, and there's not enough breathing room to recover.

You've also been close to gun violence. How has that changed your life?

I was in third grade during the shooting at Columbine, but I have vivid memories of that day. That was the first time that many people around the country really understood that this could happen. It was a shift in our understanding of how school works.

It landed on me at the time, and it continues to land on me. I felt it again every time I would do an active shooter drill with my students because I knew this was real.

Have school shootings shifted how we prepare students for becoming teachers?

I'm preparing students for a job that we see, over and over again, in the news is under attack. It's under attack on so many levels. It's not just that your job is hard. Your job can also be dangerous, and that can color everything we do.

Students have to come into class and think about: "What would I do if this happened? Where would I put my children? Where would I hide myself? How would I lock the door? Could we get out the window?"

That was really hard for me when I was a teacher. Now it's equally hard as a teacher educator looking at my college students and telling them, "Unfortunately, this is part of the job, even though it shouldn't be. You're going to do two to three active shooter drills a year."

What gives you hope, even amid these horrific events?

There is so much hope in the youth, among our college and high school students. In March, students from East High School in Denver took their mental health day to do a walkout and protest at the Colorado State Capitol. They are not okay with this. It's not hypothetical situation for them in the way I think it is for many of the adults who make policy decisions.

Students here at the university and those who are facing this in high school are so strong and resilient. It's time that adults show up for them.

How are teachers taking action around these issues?

Anyone who works with students should be willing to do the same thing. It's not enough to just be sad anymore.

I think action is possible if we continue to show up. It's my job to show up for my college students. It's my college students' job to show up for their elementary students. There is power in numbers, and there are many of us. There are so many people who feel this very deeply and urgently.

That's the message that I try to send to my students about everything they are up against in schools: If you don't like it, work to change it.
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GLENS FALLS  Residents of Glens Falls are being asked to weigh in on the Special Projects Committees ideas on ways to address overnight parking.

At a meeting on Tuesday, committee members discussed surveying residents in need on on street overnight parking but also remain conscientious of snow removal needs during the winter months.

With recently collecting suggestions from emergency service and public works officials, the board is ready to collect feedback on their ideas of how to add parking for residents that need it.

Previously discussed has been the idea of a pilot program with one street per ward for residential overnight parking. Residents would purchase permits for the parking, but not during the months of November to April.

(For the pilot program) I think its hard to say to someone that were going to collect their money and then say that they cant use that area for four months, said Ben Lapham, Fourth Ward councilman.

Mary Gooden, Fifth Ward councilwoman and committee chair, was absent from the meeting. Bob Curtis, former city clerk, agreed with Lapham and said that the winter months arent doable for overnights.

Curtis also said that the committee will be looking to rule out streets that arent wide enough for fire emergency trucks. Jamie Schrammel, Glens Falls Fire Chief, will be putting together a list of streets too narrow to allow parking and still remain accessible in an emergency.

Ed Donahue, First Ward councilman, said it would be too much of a hassle for the Department of Public Works to maintain during a snowstorm.

They would have to do a third round of plowing if street parking was allowed in the winter, he said.

The streets for the pilot program are projected to include parking at locations on Pearl Street, Washington Avenue for both Wards 2 and 3, Broad Street between Pine and the Hudson/Broad intersection, and Hudson to South Street.

The pilot program was discussed back in February and committee members at the time knew they would want to seek the opinion of the public.

The survey will be accessible until the next Special Projects Committee meeting on April 18 at 2 p.m. The survey can be completed online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/QF8BTDB.
KINGSBURY  Sheriffs deputies are investigating the theft of 14 guns from a gun shop by a teenage suspect early Monday morning.

A 15-year-old male juvenile was taken into custody after Washington County 911 Communications Center received a report of a burglar alarm at Calamity Janes Firearms and Fine Shoes, a news release from the Washington County Sheriffs Office said.

Within a few minutes of being dispatched, sheriffs office units and Hudson Falls Police Department units arrived on scene and saw a suspect fleeing on foot, according to the news release. Officers chased on foot and caught the suspect on Feeder Street. The investigation concluded that the suspect broke the front window and once inside, broke several display cases inside the store.

An area search resulted in the recovery of 14 handguns and various boxes of ammunition. At this time, it appears all firearms have been accounted for and recovered, the sheriffs office said.

The juvenile defendant will be petitioned or arraigned in Washington County Family Court at a time to be determined. The investigation is ongoing.

In the case from the fall, at least 10 adult suspects were charged as part of a widespread investigation that also involved New York State Police, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Warren County Sheriffs Office, Hudson Falls Police Department, Granville Police Department, Glens Falls Police Department, Vermont State Police and Manchester Police Department.
After several swatting incidents targeting New York schools, a trio of state lawmakers have proposed legislation to increase penalties for the crime.

The bill introduced by Republican state Sens. Dean Murray, Jim Tedisco and Mark Walczyk would elevate swatting from a class A misdemeanor to a class E felony.

Swatting is the false reporting of a threat, such as a bombing or shooting, with the goal of generating a large law enforcement response.

Individuals convicted of swatting now face up to one year in jail. However, if the lawmakers proposal becomes law, the sentence would be 1.5 to four years in state prison.

Let me be clear: Swatting is not funny and its not cool, said Murray, a Long Island Republican. It is dangerous and illegal.

Dozens of New York schools have dealt with swatting incidents in the last two weeks, including districts in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties.

Shortly after the school shooting in Nashville, there were more than 30 schools in New York that received false school shooter threats.

That number increased this week when more than 50 schools across the state received similar threats.

The state Education Department and New York State Police sent a joint letter to school administrators urging them to review their safety measures for responding to these incidents. But lawmakers are hoping that increased penalties will prevent the false, disruptive threats.

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.

These contacts threatening violence in our schools is another form of terrorism which cannot be allowed to stand.
Alluring aroma of cured meat wafts out from Chongqing to world

Xinhua) 09:47, April 10, 2023

CHONGQING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- As a county cradled by steep mountains and limited by poor transportation, Chengkou in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality had its revival in its fortune after finding a niche in cured meat.

Zhao Xiaochun, 81, was a cured-meat industry pioneer because he has been promoting local products to the outside world for four decades.

"Finding that many outsiders love the taste of our homemade cured meat, I traveled for three days, carrying 2.5 tonnes of cured meat to the market in Chongqing's Wanzhou District in the 1980s. Delightedly, I made a fortune of 60,000 yuan (about 8,700 U.S. dollars)," Zhao recalled.

Zhao got his big start from the bonus and established his own company in 1988, processing and selling cured meat with fellow villagers in Chengkou.

"Unlike elsewhere, Chengkou locals would simmer the meat with gentle heat to dry it out, and the procedure would last for more than a month. That's how our products acquire the unique taste," Zhao explained.

Zhao's business highlighted its presence across China and forayed into overseas markets, such as the United States and Singapore.

"We have maintained our annual production of around 500 tonnes of cured meat. During this year's Spring Festival, all our goods sold out," Zhao said, adding that thanks to China's optimized COVID-19 response, the company exported 500 kg of cured meat to the United States last year.

Eyeing the massive business potential, Wang Haiming, a former distributor of Chengkou cured meat, became the producer in 2019. This year, more than 200 different varieties of cured-meat products will roll out, meeting diverse customer demands, said Wang.

Last year alone, the county's cured meat industry yielded a total output value of 800 million yuan.

The downstream industrial chain, the pig breeding sector, is also having its moment in the county. Zhao spent approximately 30 million yuan buying over 10,000 pigs from townships and villages administered by Chengkou, benefiting more than 1,100 local households.

"There were around 130,000 full-grown pigs ready to be sold in Chengkou last year. Every local household raises their own pigs," said Fu Xingji, deputy director of the local agriculture commission.

"We opened a liquor factory and swine production base in 1997. We feed the pigs on the wine lees," said He Yixiang, a 49-year-old villager in Houping Township, Chengkou County. "We've joined the cured meat production in recent years. A small-scale supply chain has formed in our own business."

She added that supporting policies targeting the cured meat and pig breeding industries launched by the local government have also injected great confidence into the industry. As experience grows, He is glad to have seen the sales of cured meat this Spring Festival multiply.

"It's a heavy lift from our end to scrape by on the barren land of Chengkou, little-known even for some local Chongqing residents. But we made it through," said Zhao. "And the industry is not only about the wealth of some of us, but common prosperity for all."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
China conducts simulated precision strikes on Taiwanese targets

Taiwan's defense ministry said that it observed multiple air force sorties and continues to monitor Beijing's missile forces

The simulated strikes came a day after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a short trip to the United States

The Chinese military conducted simulated precision strikes against Taiwan for the second day around the island nation on Sunday, prompting a defensive response from the latter's defense ministry.

Taiwanese officials said they detected multiple air force sorties near the island nation, adding that they were still monitoring Beijing's missile forces. China, on the other hand, continues to claim that Taiwan is part of its territory.

China Conducts Simulated Precision Strikes on Taiwan

The recent simulated strikes mark the second day of a three-day military exercise routine that started on Saturday. It came after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen returned from the United States on a short trip to meet with other leaders.

Chinese state media reported that the military was continuing its combat readiness patrols and drills around the self-governed island nation of Taiwan. Reports said that officials deployed multiple types of units to conduct simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on the island and surrounding areas, as per Reuters.

Furthermore, the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese military released a short animation of the simulated attacks on its WeChat account. Missiles could be seen from the footage fired from land, sea, and air and traveling toward Taiwan. Two of the projectiles exploded into flames as they struck their targets.

One source familiar with the region's security situation said that Beijing had been continuously conducting similar air and sea attacks. Chinese officials allegedly focused on what they called "foreign military targets" located in the waters near the southwestern coast of the island nation.

In a statement, the source, who spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to speak to the media, said that Taiwan was not China's only target. They also called the strikes "very provocative."

Read Also: US, South Korea, Japan Express Concern Over North Korea's Cyber Activities

Taiwan's Independence on the Global Stage

On Sunday, Taiwan's defense ministry reported monitoring 11 Chinese warships and 70 aircraft around its territory. Authorities said they responded to the military drills in a "calm and composed manner." They added that the warplanes included fighter jets and bombers, according to Aljazeera.

Taiwan's defense ministry added that the island nation's joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system worked to monitor China's movements. It said the region's air defense forces remained on high alert amid Beijing's simulated precision strikes.

On the other hand, Chinese officials have described the simulations, known as United Sharp Sword, as a warning to separatist forces supporting Taiwan's independence. In response, Taipei condemned Beijing's use of the Taiwanese president's US visit to carry out military exercises that they argued have destabilized the region's peace and security.

China has never ruled out the use of aggressive force in retaking control of the island nation as it failed to use diplomatic means to rule over Taiwan. Beijing also reacted similarly when then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-governed island nation in August last year. CNN said China launched a series of military drills around the island nation.

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A major disaster has perhaps been averted after the Pune Police busted an Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) pilferage racket. Although stealing fuel from tankers is not new, what makes the latest incident a matter of concern is that the deficit of ATF in the tankers after the theft was made up by filling petrol into them. It is common knowledge that mixing petrol with ATF could be dangerous for an aircraft. These tankers carrying ATF were to head for the Shirdi airport, according to the FIR lodged at the Hadapsar police station.

Police say had the tankers reached their destination, it could have been a matter of serious outcome. Four members of a gang have been arrested in this matter. The Hadapsar police claimed they had received a tip-off that some people were stealing petrol and diesel from tankers parked at Laxmi Colony. When a police team reached the spot, they found that the thieves were pilfering petrol and diesel from tankers despite them having magnetic locks and seals of the respective companies.

Investigations revealed that the accused had opened the lock with a key they had, but when they noticed the police, one of them threw it into a gutter. The wall boxes of some tankers were also found open. But what took the team aback was the fact that ATF tankers were filled with the stolen petrol. Those arrested have been identified as Sachin Tambe (40), Sunilkumar Yadav (24), Dajiram Kalel (37), and Shastri Saroj (48). All are residents of Hadapsar. Sunil Tambe, the kingpin of the fuel stealers syndicate, is however absconding. Tambe, the owner of Om Transport, has been indulging in fuel theft for a decade. But he has never been arrested because of his alleged political connections. Police have, however, booked him in this case.

The Social Security Cell (SSC) of the Pune Police crime branch seized eight tankers, mobile phones, three duplicate deep rods (which the gang used to tamper with the fuel quantity in tankers), an electric motor, fuel-mix soil, normal soil, and 14 cans of stolen fuel worth Rs 2.28 crore. Speaking to Mirror, assistant police inspector Aniket Pote of SSC said, When we reached the spot, we found cans filled with stolen petrol and diesel. The accused were pilfering Aviation Turbine Fuel from tankers and then adulterating the remaining fuel in them with petrol. During interrogation, the accused said that they were directed by Sunil Tambe to steal fuel.

They also said that the stolen portion of the ATF was to be mixed with petrol and later sell at a low price to people in their village. We have booked the arrested accused under Section 379 (theft) 285 (Negligent conduct concerning fire or combustible matter) of the Indian Penal Code, and relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act. The accused have been remanded in police custody by the judicial magistrate first class of the holiday court till April 11. We are investigating further, Pote added.

Non-stop probe required

In July 2022, SSC busted a similar racket of fuel theft in Loni Kalbhor. The then-investigating officer Rajesh Puranik found Sunil Tambes involvement in the crime. The probe also revealed the alleged involvement of some employees of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). When the officer started summoning various tanker transport owners and employees of the companies concerned, they filed anticipatory bail applications to prevent arrest. However, the SSC stopped the investigation, and surprisingly, all those suspects withdrew their anticipatory bail applications from the Pune sessions court.

After the SSC busted the racket last year, several illegal activities came to the fore, including using of duplicate dip rods that helped the tanker lobby to top up fuel tankers, tampering with the tanker fabrication design by carving out cavities inside to steal fuel, intentionally avoiding alerts in the vehicle tracking system and misrepresentation in the vaporisation report. The probe revealed that the employees of companies, local police stations, and transporters were all hand in glove in the illegal activities.

Petrol dealers demand SIT

President of the Petrol Dealers Association, Pune, Dhruv Ruparel said, It is shocking to see Air Turbine Fuel, which is used by commercial aircraft to fly thousands of civilians around the country every day, stolen and mixed with petrol. We suspect a very big adulteration racket. It is a matter of national safety and also the safety of citizens as such mindless activity could lead to major air accidents. Ruparel added that such illegal activities have been going on for many years and the government has been facing a loss of crores of rupees.

Those involved cannot operate without the support of oil company officials in Loni Terminals. We have complained to the prime minister and all other higher authorities in the past but no steps have been taken against the gangs. This indicates the level of influence these syndicates have or their nexus with oil companies and the administration. According to Ruparel, the police have lodged four cases against the fuel theft mafia and all these cases mention a similar modus operandi.

This shows that nothing has changed concerning safety checks, checking of fittings, and compulsory vehicle tracking. The latest theft again demonstrates that no measures were taken by oil companies. In a span of 8 months, these incidents have increased. We demand a detailed probe into the matter by forming a Special Investigating Team (SIT), Ruparel added.
Accessible program is designed to bring working engineers up to speed

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Purdue University, a wellspring for hypersonics research, is moving to help fill the need for people trained in the field with a new 100% online Hypersonics Graduate Certificate. The program is designed for working professionals in engineering and management who want to develop a competitive edge by gaining graduate-level knowledge in hypersonics.

The demand for this kind of knowledge has jumped exponentially in the last couple of years as it has become more important to the defense industry, said William Crossley, the Uhrig and Vournas Head of Aeronautics and Astronautics. We have alumni with our undergraduate degrees and with our master's degrees who want this information. We have friends and partners of the school saying their employees need this information to help advance their knowledge base in hypersonics.

The four-course, 12-credit program from Purdues highly ranked College of Engineering and School of Aeronautics and Astronautics teaches state-of-the-art methods in fluid dynamics, aerospace propulsion and materials that are integral to understanding hypersonic flight.

Students can tailor their programs from a selection of graduate-level courses taught by faculty from Purdues flagship West Lafayette, Indiana, campus who are internationally known as leading experts in their fields.

The curriculum is arranged along tracks focused on hypersonic aerodynamics and vehicle design; propulsion systems; and materials, particularly those designed for the high heat transfer rates in hypersonics, said Gregory Blaisdell, professor and associate head for Purdue's Gambaro Graduate Program of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

For more information on Purdues 100% online Hypersonics Graduate Certificate, visit the program website.

Fast in the extreme at more than five times the speed of sound, low-flying and highly maneuverable, hypersonic aircraft and weapons systems being developed by other countries are a major concern for U.S. national security.

Hypersonics research and development also are important in the growth of commercial space travel and in efforts to return to the moon and go to Mars. Spacecraft fly at hypersonic speeds leaving Earths orbit as well as entering planetary atmospheres, and they must be designed, among other things, to deal with the extreme heat generated in the process.

The U.S. once was a leader in hypersonics, but budget reductions after the end of the Cold War stalled progress and allowed other countries, notably China and Russia, to continue moving ahead. Now the U.S. is in catchup mode and needs to increase its supply of people trained in the field.

Purdues history in hypersonics spans decades, and rapid advances underway have turned the university into Americas hypersonics research and testing epicenter. For example, Purdue is home to one of the few Mach 6 quiet wind tunnels in the world. In addition, Purdue is building a $41 million Hypersonics and Applied Research Facility, a lab that will feature the worlds first Mach 8 quiet wind tunnel and the Hypersonic Pulse (HYPULSE) reflected/shock expansion tunnel. The university also has approved plans for a first-of-its-kind Hypersonic Ground Test Center and a $73 million High Speed Propulsion Laboratory.

Purdues prime position in the field and its unmatched facilities have attracted a multidisciplinary team of more than 40 faculty members who, among them, are working on virtually all aspects of hypersonics. In addition to the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Hypersonics Graduate Certificate program involves faculty members from Purdues schools of Materials Engineering and of Mechanical Engineering.

We have an unusually strong connection to industry and government, said aeronautics and astronautics professor Jonathan Poggie, who oversees a large hypersonics-focused research program at Purdue. We work closely with all the major defense contractors and with the government labs all over the country. Pulling together academia, industry and government, plus the human capital here, make our hypersonics leadership unique."

Purdues online Hypersonics Graduate Certificate will draw on the universitys status as a top 10 public university, rated the No. 7 Best Value School in the U.S. (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, 2022), and a top 10 Most Innovative School for five years running (U.S. News & World Report 2023).

For students who want to pursue a masters degree, credits from the Hypersonics Graduate Certificate also can be rolled into Purdues online Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics.

More information on Purdue Hypersonics is available here.

Writer: Greg Kline, Purdue Online, 765-426-8545, gkline@purdue.edu

Sources: William Crossley, crossley@purdue.edu

Greg Blaisdell, blaisdel@purdue.edu

Jonathan Poggie, jpoggie@purdue.edu
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 Illinois Legislature, but only after being amended to make clear that potential hires need to get federal approval to carry a gun.

Federal law generally bars noncitizens from carrying guns unless its for official use, meaning police officers who are not U.S. citizens would not be allowed to carry the weapons off-duty, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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.

The measures Democratic sponsor in the House is state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, whose aim is to help recipients of the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, 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.

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.

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.

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 Chicago 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 to this story.
CHICAGO  Within seconds of stepping onstage to declare his triumph in the Chicago mayoral race, Brandon Johnson extended an olive branch.

After briefly marveling at his improbable political rise, the newly minted mayor-elect said his first order of business was delivering a message to those whod voted for his opponent, Paul Vallas.

I want to work with you, and Ill be the mayor for you too, Johnson said, after the audiences light grumbling over the mention of his rival.

But bringing the city together after the bitter race may be even more improbable, given the cavernous differences between Johnson, who will enter City Hall as one of Americas most progressive big-city mayors in generations, and his more conservative rival who ran a law-and-order campaign.

Unofficial results showed voters were deeply divided, with Johnson winning 51.7% and Vallas 48.3%. Though tens of thousands of mail-in ballots remain to be tallied, geographical and racial fissures are already evident.

In an interview with the Tribune, Johnson said he will try to focus on issues where theres room for consensus.

His 100-day agenda: doubling the amount of youth workers, finalizing a Treatment Not Trauma plan to send a non-police response to certain mental health crises and passing Bring Chicago Home, a plan to hike the real estate transfer tax on properties above $1 million to fund anti-homelessness initiatives.

In a later appearance with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Johnson was less bullish on whether he could pass the last initiative in that time frame, given that it requires a change in state law.

He also plans to focus on environmental issues.

I talk about Austin a lot. Austin is beautiful. It is also a hot spot when it comes to environmental injustice, right? said Johnson, the citys first West Side mayor in almost a century.

To start, Johnson wants to commission a cumulative impact study, which will segue into rebuilding a fully staffed Department of Environment, which was dismantled by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and never brought back under his successor, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, despite her campaign promises to do so.

This would all serve to unite the city around the theme of environmental justice, Johnson said.

Obviously, I have some spaces  the Southeast, Southwest Side of Chicago  that are top of mind, but of course, West Side. You look at Roseland and Englewood, theres some real environmental dynamics there that are quite harmful, Johnson said.

He acknowledged big questions around how he will turn campaign pledges into realities.

After speaking broadly about what he sees as his mandate to tackle public safety via investments in mental health care and jobs for young people, he quipped: Now, I know youre going to ask me how we pay for it. But well get to that. Im sure well get to that. So those are the things that we agree on.

On the campaign trail, Johnson did tout a bundle of tax hikes that were a frequent source of criticism from Vallas, however. Beyond the Bring Chicago Home proposal, Johnsons ideas to raise about $800 million in revenue include a head tax on Chicago employers and a jet fuel tax, as well a hotel tax increase. But Pritzker also cast doubt on another Johnson initiative that would require state legislative action: a levy on financial transactions.

In one postelection cable TV appearance, Johnson also repeated a promise to not raise property taxes.

Perhaps the most crucial decision Johnson faces early in his term is who he selects as police superintendent. Lightfoots choice, David Brown, was blamed for much of the low morale and churn among the rank-and-file, and both mayoral runoff candidates had pledged to fire him  before he departed on his own last month.

The nascent Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability is in the process of culling feedback and names. Potential candidates include former chief and West Sider Ernest Cato III, who was a 2020 finalist for the top job that went to Brown; South Sider and Deputy Chief Larry Snelling; and Angel Novalez, the Police Departments current head of reform.

On the search, Johnson said, I want to make sure that law enforcement, of course, is at the table, (plus) the faith community, the business community and people impacted by violence. He also noted that he has the support of more than half of the newly elected police district council members.

Im confident well come up with a process that will be transparent, that brings real co-governance to the city of Chicago, because I believe that actually helps unite the city as well, Johnson said.

He acknowledged the historic tension and some rub in the polices relationships with many constituents. But he also stressed that those same communities, though wary, do not want to see our systems break down.

We have to be honest about it, Johnson said. Even Paul Vallas recognizes that there are tensions there, that Im going to be a mayor thats intentional about making sure that the conversation is not just had but we come to an agreement of how we address those tensions.

Though Johnsons victory is being hailed as a watershed endorsement of the progressive movement and his campaign message of ending the tale of two cities, the vote breakdown showed a deeply split electorate.

Perhaps its no surprise that a match-off would be close between two candidates who hailed from opposite extremes in the original nine-candidate field, a feature that contributed to them advancing to the runoff over more moderate choices.

The race was also between two Chicagoans who, despite both labeling themselves Democrats, came from starkly different political spheres and frequently engaged in dust-ups that got personal.

To hear Vallas tell it on the debate stage and in attack ads, Johnson was from the radical wing of the party, and his past rhetoric in support of the defund the police movement would further degrade law enforcement. Meanwhile, Vallas would have been a privatizer-in-chief eager to cripple public schools, in Johnsons previous words.

Vallas seemed to grasp the enmity between their camps too, and he took pains in his concession speech to quiet boos from the crowd of his supporters  some of whom seemed to hope he would fight the results  before saying Johnson has his full support as the next mayor.

Johnson largely won the Black vote that had gone to Lightfoot in Februarys first-round election, suggesting Vallas firewall of endorsements from African American establishment politicians, as well as their arguments that those in the citys most violent tracts want more traditional policing, had faltered.

Among the 14 majority-Latino wards, Johnson won those encompassing Chicagos most storied Mexican American and Puerto Rican enclaves: Little Village, Pilsen and Humboldt Park. But Vallas still held on to eight, though some by slim margins, unofficial results as of Friday afternoon showed.

While Vallas won the sole, new majority-Asian ward, white-majority or -plurality wards were split. Both candidates held onto their bases: Johnsons Milwaukee Avenue progressives and Vallas bungalow belt conservatives.

Meanwhile, Vallas strongest support along the north lakefront began downtown, but his share of the vote slipped the farther north the wards were, with Johnson winning north of the border between Lincoln Park and Lakeview.

Ron Rymarczyk, 61, a South Loop and retired IT professional, voted for Vallas and was disappointed by the outcome, especially because the race was pretty tight, and not a lot of people voted, which makes it worse.

Johnson said hes going to unite everybody, and I really hope he does, Rymarczyk said. He made some comments in the past that were the reason I didnt vote for him as far as defunding the police and taxing big business. Im just afraid hes going to milk everybody dry. Thats not what we need.

McKinley Park resident and stay-at-home mom Lydia Arroyo, 45, said she supports Johnson and that the only way hes going to convince (doubters) is by proving the changes that he can bring about and showing that he can get the city under control.

I liked the message he was giving, basically trying to unite the city, Arroyo continued. There is a lot of division. People are worried about violence. I am myself. I understand where people are coming from, but I think its a multifaceted problem and its going to need more than just adding more officers to the street.

Beyond unifying the city, theres a question of whether Johnson can even unite a fractious City Council. That will depend on his approach, say aldermen who endorsed Vallas and whose wards voted for Vallas.

I dont think he has a choice other than to unite, said Ald. Anthony Napolitano, 41st, a former police officer and firefighter whose ward covers the citys Far Northwest Side and OHare Airport. Its a tough assignment, since more than Ive ever seen going on in my 24 years working with the city, Ive never seen a City Council so divided and separated and angry at each other.

Even so, Johnson has a model of how not to engage the council, courtesy of his predecessor, Napolitano said.

Johnson can look at (Lightfoots) blueprint and say, Wow, this didnt work at all. One of the biggest problems in council was the mayor didnt communicate with council members. She picked fights, she held grudges, Napolitano said. When (Emanuel) had an issue or situation and he wanted your support for it, if you didnt support him, he was so mad at you at that point, but when that point was over, he was back to business and started fresh on every single topic. I thought the world of that.

Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, a frequent Lightfoot foe who backed Vallas, has expressed worry about the councils leftward shift, including the five socialists recently awarded key committee chairmanships.

I would not be surprised if the new mayor, working with his fellow socialists and uber-left aldermanic allies, (does) not try to reorganize the chairmanship and structure and council in a way that is more conducive to their political needs, he said.

Johnson will have the same choice Lori Lightfoot had, Lopez added. You either use this moment and move forward, or you return to the politics of being petty and vindictive and continue the turmoil thats existed from one administration into the next. This is his moment. How he chooses to use it will be up to him.

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
B9Creations has partnered with a South Dakota Mines research team to study the causes of osteoarthritis and build foundational knowledge necessary to someday find a cure for the disease  something that has plagued researchers for decades.

B9Creations is a Rapid City-grown provider of additive manufacturing solutions.

While some of the largest brands in medicine, such as Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, have spent billions to no avail, 3-D printing fluidic devices that model the complex interactions between cells in human joints may hold the solution.

The ultimate goal is a type of joint-on-a-chip device. The term joint-on-a-chip is an evolution of lab-on-a-chip, which is a class of devices that mesh and automate multiple lab techniques into one system that could fit on a chip no bigger than a few square centimeters in size.

Leveraging B9Creations 3-D printing technology, the Mines research team has pioneered and patented breakthrough technology  and established a subsequent startup company  that could be a key to finding a cure for osteoarthritis. This technology, called CellWell, in combination with 3-D-printed housing that connects CellWell with technologies modeling other parts of the joint, enables the study of cartilage cells in a way that partially mimics their natural state and allows researchers to observe and test cartilage cells in new ways.

This unique combination of tools offers insights into the causes of osteoarthritis that were impossible before.

Scott Wood, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the NanoScience and Biomedical Engineering Department, and his students led the research and development of the nanoscience technology now utilized by his startup, CellField Technologies. For hundreds of years, doctors have considered osteoarthritis a wear and tear disease, but Wood said its more complicated. Its actually an imbalance of the behavior of the cells in the joint.

With this cutting-edge technology and expert research team, he hopes their combined efforts will be a gamechanger in osteoarthritis research.

Currently when cartilage cells are removed from the body to be studied in a traditional 2-D culture system, they are notoriously difficult to work with because they basically transform into a completely different cell type within a week and a half, Wood said. Our technology mimics human tissue structures to keep cells behaving in the lab the way they would in the body without limiting our ability to study their behavior.

The CellWell technology developed by Wood and his students  a combination of nanotechnology, micropatterning and mechanically-tunable thin-film composite materials  acts like an egg carton for individual cells, nesting each one in an environment that allows it to maintain its physiological nature without restricting their ability to be studied.

The tech can maintain the physiological cell shape and biomarker profile of chondrocytes, the cells found in healthy cartilage, for at least 28 days, four times as long as competing micropatterned technologies, according to Wood.

The new technique will allow scientists to evaluate the cartilage cells as a part of the entire joint, which has multiple types of cells that communicate with each other, Wood said.

The project has earned hundreds of thousands in funding, including a competitive National Science Foundation I-Corps grant, funding from the Governors Office of Economic Development, and assistance from DRACO, a South Dakota nonprofit organization that advises startup companies and entrepreneurs.

Once the technology for stabilizing the chondrocytes had been developed, the CellField team sought to identify how it could be utilized by researchers and industry members.

After interviewing more than 150 leaders in business and commercial enterprises, the team learned that big pharmaceutical companies typically contract out their pre-clinical research, and that small- to mid-size pharmaceutical companies are the ones focused on osteoarthritis cures.

As a result, the CellField team realized that the best use of their technology is to work as a research arm for those smaller pharmaceutical companies.

We learned its the smaller startup companies and mid-sized pharmaceutical customers who we think will be our target market initially, Wood said. We hope that because of our work, we can someday see a cure for this and other debilitating joint diseases.

Last year, Wood won a highly competitive National Science Foundation CAREER Award for his work. The foundation describes the CAREER award as the most prestigious award in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.

Faculty from only 500 of the over 5,000 universities and research institutions in the United States receive this award annually to fund their research. He is one of four faculty at Mines to win an NSF Career Award since 2015 and the second to win from the universitys NanoScience and Biomedical Engineering Department last year.

Wood was also selected as one of seven finalists for the South Dakota Governors Giant Vision Competition, which, according to their website, is a competitive opportunity for South Dakota residents to explore a new business idea and benefit from expert advice while competing for the chance to win up to $20,000 in prize money.
Kathmandu, Nepal, April 10, 2014: Three candidates- Umesh Lal Shrestha, founder and managing director of Quest Pharmaceutical, Anjan Shrestha, executive director at Laxmi Group and Ram Chandra Sanghai of the Triveni Group are competing for the vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), an umbrella organization of Nepalese private sectors.





As the election for the FNCCIs executive committee is scheduled for Wednesday, election fever has gripped the private sectors. The contenders of the vice-president are contesting in the elections by setting up their own panels and intensifying election campaign across the country.





According to the charter of the FNCCI, the senior vice-president automatically becomes president at the end of the latters three-year term.

As per the charter, current Senior Vice-President Chandra Dhakal will assume the post of president on April 16 when President Shekhar Golchha steps down completing his two years long tenure.








Kathmandu, Nepal, April 10, 2014: The chairman of the Securities Board (SEBON) Ramesh Hamal Hamal has reiterated his commitment to resolve the problems faced by the share market investors.





Speaking at a press conference organized on Monday he also urged the investors to foster a favorable environment for the market.





The verdict of the Supreme Court has paved the way to expand the share market, Hamal said. The Supreme Court has on Sunday scrapped a writ petition filed demanding that the SEBON should stop preparations for the distribution of licenses for new share brokers, stock exchanges and commodity exchanges.





A division bench of justices Anil Kumar Sinha and Shushma Lata Mathema dismissed the petition filed by advocate Deepak Bikram Mishra.





Likewise, a group of Investors Association has on Monday met SEBON Chairman Hamal demanding immediate efforts to implement verdict of the Supreme Court to solve the problems seen in the share market sectors.





During the meeting, the group of investor association also demanded that the Securities Board should not delay to introduce new stock exchange, stock brokers, and commodity exchanges.




The Virginia War Memorial is proud to announce the election of Lacyn Barton, Manager of Funeral Revenue & Merchandising to the Board of Directors. Barton has been president of the Woody and Nelsen firms since 2019 and is Woody Funeral Home's first female president since the firm's establishment in 1905. She has worked in the funeral profession for 18 years, serving as a director in seven different states. After a near fatal horse-riding accident, Barton, a world champion mounted shooter, was inspired to pursue a career in funeral service to help people who found themselves in that same dire situation. She earned a degree in mortuary science from Arapahoe Community College, a bachelor's degree in agricultural business administration from Fort Lewis College and an MBA in healthcare management from Regis University, all in Colorado. A citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, Barton received tremendous support from her Native American nation to complete her education, and she has been grateful to provide funeral services for many different Native American groups across the country. Barton is also an accomplished artist whose memorial portraits are displayed across the United States, most notably at the distinguished Joseph Gawler's Sons Funeral Home in Washington, D.C., which has participated in state funerals for decades.
Richmond authorities released the name of the victim in Sundays fatal shooting on the 1900 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike.

Patrick Jenkins, 38, of Richmond was found at the scene with an apparent gunshot wound. Jenkins was pronounced dead at a local hospital, police said.

Richmond police were called to the scene at 7:09 p.m. for a report of a shooting. The shooting is being investigated as a homicide.

The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call police at (804) 646-3246 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
William Barr warns that Donald Trump's 2024 campaign could have consequences for the Republican primary

The former attorney general said that the classified documents probe of the former president has "very good evidence"

Barr criticized a Manhattan grand jury's decision to indict Trump over a hush-money case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels

During an interview on Sunday, former Attorney-General William Barr said that the investigations targeting former United States President Donald Trump could negatively affect the Republican primary.

Barr also criticized the indictment of the Republican by a Manhattan grand jury over a hush-money case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. However, he noted there was "very good evidence" in the probe of classified documents found at the former president's Mar-a-Lago residence.

William Barr on Donald Trump's Legal Challenges

The former attorney general's remarks come as Trump is facing off against multiple criminal investigations amid his campaign for the 2024 presidential elections. The Manhattan grand jury decision also made the Republican businessman the first former or sitting president to face criminal charges, as per Axios.

Since the decision, however, Trump has raised millions of dollars in donations from his supporters, cashing in on merchandise such as a t-shirt with a fake mug shot of himself and the phrase "NOT GUILTY" written below it.

Trump also criticized his former ally in September after Barr said that there was no legitimate reason for the classified documents found by the FBI to be at the former president's Mar-a-Lago residence.

Barr noted that the former president had no claim to the documents, especially those designated as classified, arguing that they belonged to the government. He added that Trump was most likely "jerking the government around."

During an interview, the former attorney general said that the indictment of Trump was simply an abuse of prosecutorial power meant to accomplish a political goal. According to ABC News, he pointed out that the Mar-a-Lago case was much more serious.

Read Also: Justice Clarence Thomas Breaks Silence on Vacation Scandal

Weakest Republican Candidate

The former attorney general's remarks come after his former boss was arraigned last week on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records. During the Tuesday arraignment, the Republican businessman pleaded not guilty.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said that the hush money payment was only part of a "scheme" violating state election laws. The plan was thought to be a plot to keep Daniels' allegations from surfacing during the 2016 presidential election that would have politically harmed Trump.

Barr noted that Trump being charged would only work to further his presidential campaign for the 2024 elections. He argued that it could help him get into the middle of the Republican primary and turn it into a "circus."

The former attorney general said that the Democratic Party might be aware of this possibility and want Trump to win the Republican primary because he is considered the "weakest" candidate.

When asked about the possibility of his former boss being convicted and facing jail time, he said it was not likely to happen before a nomination or even until the 2024 elections. Barr argued that the situation would most likely be dragged on longer and disrupt the Republican Party's process, said Fox News.

Related Article: Texas Judge Suspends FDA Approval of Abortion Pill

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The Chickahominy Health District issued a notification to the people of Mechanicsville Wednesday, that a raccoon has tested positive for the rabies virus. Although the raccoon no longer poses a threat to the public, health officials encourage residents to contact the Hanover Health Department if they've been exposed.
A grand jury on Monday indicted the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his first grade teacher at a Newport News school three months ago.

Deja Nicole Taylor, 25, was charged with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child.

Prosecutors have asked a Circuit Court judge to impanel a special grand jury to continue the investigation into any security issues that may have contributed to this shooting. This could include looking at Richneck administrators, the school system and anyone else. Such a probe could take months  and could lead to more indictments.

The commonwealths attorneys office said the special grand jurys investigation will continue as long as necessary to determine whether others are criminally responsible for the shooting of Jan. 6.

The criminal charges come after a thorough investigation by Newport News Police Department and this office, the Newport News Commonwealths Attorneys Office said in a news release Monday afternoon, saying the facts and the law support charging Deja Taylor with the two offenses.

Man killed in Mechanicsville Turnpike shooting identified Richmond authorities released the name of the victim in Sundays fatal shooting on the 1900 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike.

Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues, Commonwealths Attorney Howard Gwynn said in the release.

The news that a 6-year-old student shot his teacher during class at Richneck made headlines across the country and the world.

As the boy sat at his desk in his first grade classroom that day, he suddenly pulled a gun out of his front hoodie pocket, pointed it at his teacher  seated at a reading table less than 10 feet away  and fired a single round, authorities have said.

The bullet went through Zwerners left hand, which she held up as the boy opened fire, and then struck her in the upper chest and shoulder, where it remains today. Police have called the shooting an intentional act.

Zwerner, of York County, managed to shuttle 18 students out of the first grade classroom before seeking help at a school office.

Police Chief Steve Drew later said the boy used his mothers handgun, a Taurus 9mm. She legally purchased the firearm in York County, and the boy brought it to school in his backpack.

Police turned over their case file to Gwynn in late February. The file included several binders of interviews and other documents, surveillance footage from the school and body camera footage from responding officers.

It was not clear what police detectives had recommended in terms of charges.

Gwynn has ruled out charging the 6-year-old, saying he is too young to have formed the criminal intent necessary. But the prosecutors office has looked into the case  and possible charges against others  for the past six weeks.

On Monday morning, prosecutors took their case to a seven-member Newport News Circuit Court grand jury, seeking direct indictments against Taylor.

The grand jury, which meets in private, returned two true bills, indicting Taylor on one felony and one misdemeanor count. Unlike regular trial juries that in Virginia have to be unanimous, grand juries act on majority rule.

Under the Virginia code section used to charge Taylor with felony child neglect, the grand jury contends she had shown a reckless disregard for the lives of others.

Any parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the care of a child under the age of 18 whose willful act or omission in the care of such child was so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life is guilty of a Class 6 felony, the statute says.

The Irvo Otieno prosecutor: Ann Cabell Baskervill  who is she? Among the most heated criticism aimed at Baskervill has been the release of the video footage that showed Otieno being admitted at Central State Hospital and a scrum of officers and hospital workers on top of him.

That is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The grand jury also indicted Taylor  at the prosecutions request  on the misdemeanor charge of allowing access to firearms by children.

That charge can be brought even if the child was not hurt. The count is punishable by a year behind bars, bringing the potential jail time against Taylor to six years.

Taylors defense attorney, James Ellenson, said his client strongly maintains she kept the gun secured by a trigger lock, a mechanism that prevents the weapon from being fired.

The handgun was stored on the top shelf of a bedroom closet, and Taylor does not how the boy gained access to the gun on the day of the shooting, Ellenson said.

Zwerner earlier this month filed a $40 million lawsuit against the Newport News School Board, asserting that administrators failed to keep the school safe.
A backlog in Virginias teacher licensure application system is leaving qualified candidates waiting six months  and, in some cases, for much longer  for the state to process their applications.

At the same time, Virginia is facing a massive teacher shortage with more than 3,500 full-time equivalent vacancies, according to state data.

Mike Forster, a U.S. Army veteran with more than three years of full-time teaching experience under his belt, is a textbook example of the type of candidate Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he wants in Virginias public school classrooms.

This week marks one year since Forster first mailed in his application for a teaching license, and it has not yet been processed.

Youngkin, who has prioritized K-12 education issues, signed an executive order in September that calls on officials to cut red tape that can discourage retired teachers and teachers licensed in other states from getting the Virginia licenses they need to teach here.

The executive order specifically mentions recruiting more military veterans and career switchers  like Forster.

Emails from licensure staff at the Virginia Department of Education obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch show that there is a backlog of at least six months in processing applications. Various hiccups in the process can prolong that time frame.

"When faced with teacher shortages, Governor Youngkin issued the executive directive to ensure we are recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers, said Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter.

The administration has also worked to remove barriers and incentivize teachers with well-deserved bonuses. One of the governors top priorities is to ensure we provide a great teacher for every classroom in every school in Virginia."

Porter deferred to the state education department regarding the backlog in the licensure application system.

Charles Pyle, a spokesman for the Department of Education, said, Delays in processing are due to a combination of challenges the department has encountered over the past few years. All of these challenges were exacerbated by the pandemic.

Snags in the system

A leading cause of the backlog is the number of vacancies and turnover within the state education department over the last few years. The churn of employees affects processing of the assignments of senior licensure specialists to train new employees.

Del. Schyuler Vanvalkenburg, D-Henrico, who is also a high school civics teacher, called the backlog another example of the Youngkin administration missing the boat on governing issues because they're too busy chasing ideological crusades.

Pyle said the overall average processing timeline over the course of an entire year is 25-30 days. But right now, the departments licensure specialists are still working on requests submitted six months ago, in October.

The state education department is working as quickly as possible to return to our normal processing timeline, which is typically 10-12 weeks. It's important to note that in addition to previously mentioned events, there are ebbs and flows to the request cycle.

April through August is one of the busiest times, along with October through November, according to the education department.

The Department of Education pointed to the shift to telecommuting in 2020, which caused the office to rearrange its flow of operations because the licensure request intake is reliant on paper and on the U.S. Postal Service, which also experienced delays.

Legislation that allowed for COVID-19 flexibilities increased the amount of time specialists spend on licensure requests, according to the education department. In 2020, the state allowed one-year license extensions.

In 2021 and 2022, legislation the General Assembly passed allowed for two-year license extensions. The legislation, while beneficial to license holders, resulted in increased volume and frequency of the number of times specialists "touch" the same license.

For Forster, the hang-ups extended beyond pandemic-induced complications.

After mailing his initial packet last April, staff informed him that he needed to add endorsements, or subjects in which he wanted to be licensed. He sent those in June. Then in December, the education department informed him that he should have applied for a provisional license instead of an initial (full) license. He resubmitted his application in January, and learned in March that a six-month backlog would further delay his application.

According to the education department, most of the applications we receive are incomplete on the first submission.

Another reason for the backlog, according to the department's spokesman, is the fact that licensure specialists spend their time hosting individual training sessions with specific school divisions. Nonpublic schools also request them due to turnover within the central office staff of many divisions.

Only initial applications for a full license and renewal requests can be submitted online. Other license requests must be mailed through the U.S. postal system.

The new budget will fund the initiative to automate the teacher licensure application and intake process, according to Pyle, who said, "We are hopeful to have the new system live by January 1, 2024.

Provisional licenses

Forster is waiting for a provisional license: a short-term license for candidates who have some qualifications, but not all of them (for example, a candidate who lacks college courses specializing in education.)

He holds a bachelor's degree in labor economics from Cornell University and a master's degree from the University of Minnesota. In addition to his seven years in the U.S. Army, he worked for years in the business sector at Altria and Capital One. He was formerly a reporter and editor at The Bedford Bulletin, a newspaper based east of Roanoke in Southside Virginia.

Forster is now in his third year of working full time as a teacher at Benedictine College Preparatory school in Goochland County, where he teaches Advanced Placement macroeconomics and journalism. Most private schools do not require a teaching license issued by the state education department.

The number of provisionally licensed teachers increased by 24 percent last academic year compared with the pre-pandemic average, according to a study from a state commission that conducts research on state agencies on behalf of Virginias General Assembly.

Local school divisions facing teacher shortages enthusiastically have welcomed provisionally licensed teachers, who are filling vacancies left by droves of teachers who quit.

Addressing the teacher shortage

Virginia allocated more than $2 million of its federal COVID-19 relief funds to make grant funding available to assist public school divisions with recruitment and retention of educators.

The state also spent $1 million of its federal relief dollars on its Become a Teacher campaign. Most of those funds were spent on a two-year contract with a marketing firm for the campaign, materials for educator preparation programs, online advertising and maintenance of the website for two years.

Pyle said it is difficult to link the campaign directly with application submissions, but anecdotal feedback finds a corresponding increase in applications since the October 2022 launch of the marketing campaign. The BecomeATeacher website receives an average of 350-400 users per day, with a record 700 users at the end of January, according to Pyle.

The Hanover County school division proactively addressed the shortage by launching its own program last summer that provides provisionally licensed teachers the training needed to obtain a full teaching license.

The first of its kind in Virginia, the program saves teachers thousands of dollars in the process of procuring their full license by allowing them to bypass the need for paying tuition at a college or university and to earn their license while they teach.

The number of provisionally licensed teachers who started teaching and quit before earning their full license is one of the reasons Hanover officials created the program, according to a division licensure specialist.

From the Archives: A look back at motels in and around Richmond Motel Motel Motel Motel Motel Motel Motel Motel Motel Motel Motel Motel motel
Computer hackers intercepted login information from several state employees as the workers tried to access the states human resources and payroll apps on their personal devices.

The Department of Accounts and Virginia Information Technologies Agency took action to halt the hacking after becoming aware of it a week ago Monday.

The hackers used stolen login information to try to access employees banking information, the agencies said.

So far, the agencies have identified three people who have been financially impacted by the incident.

State officials said VITA and the Department of Accounts are continuing to closely monitor the situation and more updates will be provided as they become available.

Ransomware attacks in December 2021 hit the computer system the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services said it uses to manage employee payroll and time sheets as well as computer systems and websites of General Assembly agencies and commissions.

The 2021 attack on the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services system was part of hackers assaults on the global network of the Ultimate Kronos Group, a digital cloud-based human resources management company.

The ransomware attack on legislative systems shut down computer systems and websites for the Division of Capitol Police and the Division of Legislative Services, at a time when the latter was drafting bills and resolutions for introduction in the approaching General Assembly session.

Today in history: April 10 1912: RMS Titanic 1947: Jackie Robinson 1963: USS Thresher 1974: Golda Meir 2005: Tiger Woods 2010: Lech Kaczynski 2017: Colson Whitehead 2017: Robert Bentley 2020: Pope Francis 2021: Rachael Blackmore
Cozumel reports 104 percent increase in cruise ship passengers in 2023

Cozumel, Q.R.  Cozumel reports a 104 percent increase in the number of arriving cruise ship passengers during the first three months of 2023. The increase in figures has consolidated the island as one of the preferred cruise destinations in the Mexican Caribbean.

These positive numbers generate a revitalizing effect in various sectors linked to the arrival of passengers, such as tourism, food and recreational activities.

The Quintana Roo government has implemented strong actions to strengthen the states main industry.

The growth of cruise tourism in Cozumel during the first three months of 2023 is reflected in the 390 arrivals registered, which represents an increase of 13 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.

In addition, the number of passengers increased from 604,445 to 1,230,627, representing a 104 percent growth in arrivals in this period compared to last year.

These results are part of the successful closing of the year 2022, which recorded a total of 1,117 cruises and 2,943,760 passengers in Cozumel.

By the year 2023, it is estimated that there will be 1,154 cruise ship arrivals in Cozumel and 3,726,115 passengers, which shows continued growth in the cruise industry on the island.

In Quintana Roo, we are committed to promoting responsible and sustainable tourism that benefits our local community and preserves our natural and cultural heritage. The growth of cruise tourism in Cozumel is a reflection of the joint work of all sectors and of our vision of a tourism model with social justice, said Governor Mara Lezama.

The Government of Quintana Roo reaffirms its commitment to sustainable and equitable tourism development, boosting prosperity and promoting a tourism model with social justice.
Governor announces new security model for Quintana Roo

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa announced that she will present an initiative to the State Congress of Quintana Roo on the Citizen Security Law.

In a statement, she said that the new law represents a new security model that has the citizenry as its central axis.

Security represents the most important issue for our state. To resolve this pain, from the electoral campaign, I promoted the evolution of the public security model to a new model of citizen security, she said.

Mara Lezama added that the presentation of the Quintana Roo Citizen Security Law initiative before the State Congress represents establishing the bases, mechanisms and instruments to guarantee peace and security of people in our state with a new approach.

She specified that this is a new model in which citizen participation is essential and which incorporates the security policy within the framework of the New Agreement for the Well-being and Development of Quintana Roo, which promotes joint work between the public, social and private initiatives.

This alliance is essential. We need everyone to move forward in crime prevention and peace consolidation in the profound transformation of Quintana Roo with a humanist and progressive government, Lezama said.

According to the initiative, the new Citizen Security model is based on the principles of preserving freedom, safeguarding human rights and restoring peace and order.

To protect people and guarantee access to a life free of violence, the Citizen Security Law initiative includes new factors such as culture and civic justice, community police in prevention functions, greater intelligence and analysis capacities and trained police officers for the investigation of crimes in collaboration with the Public Ministry.

Governor Mara Lezama announced that in addition, a University of Security Sciences and Disciplines will be created, because we know that to move forward we need a more professional, more trained police force with an authentic professional career.

I am convinced that with this comprehensive strategy, government and society will be able to create an environment of peace and advance the security of people and their assets.
Zaragoza Canal dredging project stalled due to lack of funds

Chetumal, Q.R.  Since the Federation transferred responsibility to the State government, the state administration has not contemplated resources to continue the dredging of the Zaragoza Canal.

The Secretariat of Public Works (SEOP), Irazu Sarabia May, says now, the possibility of requesting a budget increase will depend on the project that is presented, whether or not to give it continuity.

In 2018, the administration of former Governor Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez, through the Integral Port Administration and the Secretary of the Navy, signed a collaboration agreement to expand the Zaragoza channel.

The project that was to see the canal expanded to 4,970 meters in length and 50 meters wide by three meters deep, was left in charge of the Secretary of the Navy.

At the time, the former Secretary of Public Works, William Conrado, reported that 160 million pesos was required to blast slab rock, which was preventing them from moving forward, however, the additional money was never set aside and the project stalled.

In August of 2021, the State Government, through the Integral Port Administration of Quintana Roo (Apiqroo) headed by then-General Director Alicia Ricalde Magana, held meetings with U.S. investors to promote the conceptual projects of the Zaragoza Canal that would trigger economic activity in the south of Quintana Roo.

Apiqroo pitching Zaragoza Canal to U.S. investors. Photo: Government of Mexico August 22, 2021.

At the time, the Zaragoza Canal was promoted as a home port for first, second and third generation ships, a marina to accommodate 156 boats, ecotourism villages and a cargo terminal.

Surrounding tourist attractions of Chetumal, Mahahual, Xcalak and the Banco Chinchorro coral reef barrier were also promoted to U.S. investors at the time at a show-and-tell in Florida.
The Roanoke man whose guns were seized by police in January after he threatened to kill officers will go without them for another two and a half months.

Scott C. Roseberry, 52, is the second person to be flagged in the city since Virginias red flag law was enacted in 2020.

The statute allows law enforcement to issue substantial risk orders and seize firearms from people who may pose a threat to the safety of themselves or others.

There, the officer wrote in affidavits and testified in court proceedings, he found Roseberry standing under his carport with a pistol in his hand and apparently drunk.

The officer detained Roseberry, who then made threats to shoot police if they came to his house. He also made threats to murder his ex-wife and father-in-law if they showed up at his house that night.

The officer charged Roseberry with public intoxication, recklessly handling a firearm, brandishing a firearm and carrying a gun in public while intoxicated. He also served Roseberry with an emergency substantial risk order.

In Roanoke Circuit Court on Jan. 11, the risk order was extended through April 10, and Roseberry was ordered to seek medical treatment through Blue Ridge Behavioral Health, according to court records.

On Feb. 8, Roseberry was convicted in Roanoke General District Court of two of the three charges he received for the Jan. 3 incident: reckless handling and carrying a firearm while intoxicated.

Roseberry served no time in jail for the convictions but did pay court costs, he said Monday, when his substantial risk order was reviewed.

Roseberry had previously testified in court that the events of Jan. 3 were related to an argument he had that evening with an ex-wife.

I dont have to worry about her no more, Roseberry told Judge Christopher Clemens on Monday, adding that he is no longer in contact with the woman or her children.

Roseberry said that his firearms, once returned to him, would stay in a safe with a combination that only Roseberry knows.

Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Alyssa Smith said police recently told her that Roseberry has shown good behavior, but she asked that the risk order be extended for officer safety.

Clemens said that while Roseberry appears to be in a totally different place, he was concerned about the nature of the threats he made to law enforcement officers on Jan. 3.

The judge extended the order for what he said would be the final time through June 30. On July 1, Roseberry may pick up his firearms from the Roanoke Police Departments property room.
APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE  As many congregated elsewhere on Sunday morning to contemplate spiritual rebirth, history buffs gathered at the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park to commemorate the American Civil Wars conclusion.

On April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee, commanding general of the rebel Army of Northern Virginia, surrendered his men to Ulysses S. Grant, general-in-chief of United States forces. Inside the McLean familys home near the Appomattox County Court House, the two generals signed a cessation of hostilities that effectively ended the war in Virginia.

All those soldiers of mine that were over that way on the other side of the courthouse all got to go home alive, said Thomas L. Jessee, who portrayed Lee in events at the historical park Sunday. And we want to remind people of that and keep the history of this country in front of the people and bring them in so they can see it.

People need to embrace what happened here. They need to embrace the end of the war. They need to understand that the healing began in that parlor in that house on these grounds, said E.C. Fields Jr., who portrayed Grant. Thats why this place, specifically, and our history, in general, is and are so critically important to all of us as we live our lives as American citizens, for we are all countrymen.

Fields said that the original surrender date in 1865 fell on a Palm Sunday. To have the 158th anniversary occur on Easter Sunday this year gives a religious aura to the historical event.

A God and man rejoining to stop the killing, stop the strife and bring our country together, Fields said. There is no better day than the day of resurrection to observe and celebrate the end of the war and the beginning of a country reunited and the beginning of peace.

The agreement signed by Lee and Grant ended their armies part in a military struggle that freed enslaved Americans like John Robinson of Appomattox County. David Wooldridge, a museum technician at the historical park, led a tour Sunday that ended at Robinsons home within the parks grounds.

He was a founder of the first Black church in the county, was the treasurer of that church, raised a number of children that went on and had their own amazing stories, Wooldridge said. He was so well known in the area here that there was a Black paper in Richmond called the Richmond Planet that wrote about him when he passed away.

The church that Robinson helped to found, Galilee Baptist Church, still holds services and did so Sunday. Woodridge said that while the name of the congregation hasnt changed, the building has.

The building that theyre in now was constructed in 1916, Wooldridge said. They were sort of like a mother church for other Black churches in the county. A lot of congregations moved off and created their own churches after a while.

Also participating in Sundays events at the historical park were Civil War-era reenactors Jean Bryan and Michael Lucas.

If we dont learn anything from the Civil War and what happened, were going to repeat it again, Bryan said. I think were getting close to it again.

Were considering the past. Its important not to just be flippant about it and not take it for granted, Lucas said. Its necessary to take the time, for me and her and everyone else thats here thats a part of this, to immerse ourselves in some respect to understand where we came from, how we got here, who these people were, what their daily lives were like, and how close we are to that, and how close they are to us.

Lucas said the coincidence of Easter Sunday and the anniversary of Lees surrender was simply curious. But Bryan, like Fields, said the coincidence carries a message about peace.

The beginning of peace started here on that day, and thats what Jesus Christ was all about, Bryan said. Treat each other the way you would like to be treated.

Wooldridge said the events of April 9, 1865 initiated a transformation of the nation.

A lot of the things that occur, good, bad and ugly, in this nation, I think, are directly tied to the events that transpired here, to get these armies here, to end the bloodshed between these armies and to also forge a new freedom and a new nation with this whole huge portion of the population that had been relatively barred from participating officially, Wooldridge said. Even though they were always part of the American story, these folks were not allowed to officially be a part of that. To me, that is rebirth.

For Wooldridge, the history of Appomattox is personal. His great-great-great grandmother owned a home nearby.

My family was here. They owned slaves in this village. They lived and died in this village, Wooldridge said. Im just a microcosm and this story is just a microcosm for a lot of Americans and a lot of stories. Unfortunately, we dont hear about them all the time or as much as I think we should because its real easy to get caught up in nostalgia.

For years, the locals here called this the Surrender Ground, Wooldridge continued. But its so much more. This isnt just a story for Civil War buffs. This is a story for Americans, and those interested in the history of America, and the future of America.
" " This January 2022 image shows an aerial view of the Nile River in Egypt's southern province of Qena, north of Luxor. AMIR MAKAR/AFP/Getty Images

Rivers are great collectors. As freshwater molecules flow along the landscape, gravity forces them to seek the lowest possible ground, where they gather with other water molecules. The collected water soon becomes a trickle. Trickles join together to form small creeks, which then join to form larger streams and, ultimately, rivers.

A watershed is an area of land that drains all the water in a particular area to a single point: the place where a river meets the ocean. The size of a watershed can be big or small, depending on the landscape, and some watersheds can be massive. Massive watersheds often make for humongous rivers.

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Where a few creeks and streams running together end and a river begins is difficult to determine, but in order to rank rivers by their length, they've got to start somewhere and a bit of arbitrary fudging has to happen in order to measure them. However, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, "the length [of a river] may be considered to be the distance from the mouth to the most distant headwater source (irrespective of stream name) or from the mouth to the headwaters of the stream commonly identified as the source stream."

So, here they are, from the Nile to the Congo  the nine longest rivers in the world:
According to a leaked document, Russia vows to give its troops a "financial incentive" or a monetary bonus if they successfully damage or destroy a NATO tank in Ukraine.

As NATO tanks are on their way to Ukraine, Russia is giving its troops more reasons to destroy them immediately. It should further help the troops of the Russian nation to boost their morale as they seek to take over the east of Ukraine. Besides that, another leaked document reveals that a Russian fighter jet nearly shot down a UK spy jet last year.

Russia's Financial Incentives to Troops

According to The New York Times, a United States (US) intelligence document shows how Russia plans to encourage its troops to destroy advanced NATO tanks in Ukraine. The document disclosed that Russia offers its troops a monetary bonus when they destroy "foreign tanks."

The supposedly "top secret" document states that "financial incentives would be offered to capture and destroy foreign tanks."

The New York Times notes that the document that exposes the monetary bonuses for Russian troops is among the classified files that started sprouting like mushrooms on social media. The publication reports that government officials in the US have confirmed that the leaked documents are real.

Apart from financial incentives, the document also disclosed that Russia plans to spread videos of its troops successfully destroying NATO tanks. The document states, "videos of tanks being destroyed would be widely distributed."

Doing so seeks to help boost the morale of Russian forces into capturing the advanced technology provided by foreign countries.

The "top secret" file further explains that spreading these videos should "help reduce the confidence of Ukraine and the West." Above and beyond that, the classified document notes that it aims to "reassure Russian troops of their ability to overcome this new weaponry."

Read Also: Finland's NATO Membership Approved, But Why Is Sweden Still Blocked?

Russia Nearly Took Down a UK Spy Plane

Alongside the leaked documents, a document reportedly from the US Pentagon, now shared by many on social media, disclosed that Russia almost shot down a UK spy plane.

According to a report by Fox News, The British surveillance aircraft was flying near Ukraine. To be more precise, the leaked document states that the plane was flying over the Crimean coast when the incident happened last September 29, 2022.

The leaked document also revealed that a Russian fighter jet, known as Sukhoi Su-27, nearly took down the British spy plane using a missile.

Although the missile failed to take down the surveillance plane, Fox News notes that it would have been a significant development if it had been successful. It could potentially force NATO allies and the US into the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.

Related Article: Russia-Ukraine War: NATO Gearing Up For More Military Aid For Kyiv As No Peace Talks Impending

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Reports of crimson-colored snow kept pouring in over the next two millennia. "People in the Dark and Middle Ages were often freaked out by it!" climate scientist Randall Cerveny says in an email. A professor at Arizona State University, Cerveny dedicated an entire book to weird weather stories in 2005. Titled "Freaks of the Storm," it includes a passage on red snow. As Cerveny points out there, Charles Darwin himself once came across white snow in the Andes Mountains that turned blood red as it thawed. Another important figure who witnessed the tinted precipitation was the great Sir John Ross, a British naval officer and Arctic explorer.

Reddish or pinkish snow isn't just a historical curiosity; it's still being observed. In February 2018, for instance, a puddle of red water that turned out to be vermillion snow that had melted was found in Glacier National Park.

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What's the mechanism behind this? In some cases, scarlet dust may be a contributing factor. "Many of the historic ... 'blood snows' of Europe are associated with moisture mixing with red Saharan dust that is blown northward into Europe, which then falls out as either red rain or snow," Cerveny says.

But it turns out that, more often than not, red snow is the product of algae. And, as scientists have learned recently, the stuff is also contributing to climate change.
Joseph Najem, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, will lead the project to create an energy source capable of powering satellites, cameras, weather sensors and other technologies in space. Credit: Jeff Xu/Penn State

A research lab at Penn State will equally share a three-year, $2.55 million grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) with three other teams at Carnegie Mellon University and the Adolphe Merkle Institute of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. The multidisciplinary research collaboration aims to develop a framework for the design and production of soft, self-charging, bio-inspired power sources for applications in space.

Joseph Najem, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State, will lead the project to create an energy source capable of powering satellites, cameras, weather sensors and other technologies in space. Najem and his team will collaborate closely with Michael Mayer from the University of Fribourg to fabricate and produce the multifunctional polymer- or hydrogel-based power sources. Amir Barati Farimani, Carnegie Mellon University, and Christoph Weder, the University of Fribourg, will focus mainly on simulation and the synthesis of the materials required for production.

"The current challenge in space is that lithium-ion batteriesthe kind you'd find in a cell phone or an electric car, for exampleare rigid and very high maintenance," Najem said. "They are expensive to install and require a lot of technology to keep them running. There is also a safety concern due to the potential of explosion when overcharged."

Space applications could benefit from a compliant, self-sustainable power source, according to Najem, one with chemical and physical properties optimized to withstand extreme conditions and with an electrical performance that is suitable for low-Earth orbit missions.

The inspiration for such a power source comes from the charge-separation principle used by electric fish, which have organs that produce electrical discharges for predation and defense.

Najem said that recent studies have exhibited hydrogel-based power sources that, like an electric fish, move charged ions across selective membranes to produce high voltages of power. However, these power sources could not withstand the extreme temperatures in space and are not self-sustainable, which is critical for space applications. Electric fish recharge simply by eating, harvesting energy from their environment. According to Najem, in space, the power source could similarly recharge, using an available resourcesuch as the sunthe way the fish use food.

"We believe that a soft polymer- or hydrogel-based material has the potential, conceptually at least, to operate autonomously," Najem said. "The resulting system will be multifunctional and stimuli-responsive, capable of producing power on demand."

This is the second of two grants Najem's lab has received this year. The first was a $450,000 award from the AFOSR's 2023 Young Investigator Program.

Provided by Pennsylvania State University
Free Ramadan goodies both (left) and trolley with vegetables in NTUC FairPrice (Photos: Farah Nadya/Facebook and Getty Images)

SINGAPORE - An Indian-Muslim couple were rudely shooed away by an NTUC FairPrice employee from a free Iftar goodie packs booth on Sunday (9 April) at the supermarket chain's Our Tampines Hub outlet.

Farah Nadya, a clinical director, wrote about her unpleasant weekly grocery encounter in a Facebook post that quickly went viral.

While reading the stand-board signage at the booth, Nadya's husband Jahabar was approached by a staff member and asked to leave.

Not for India, not for India," said the staff member.

Jahabar, who is of Indian race, responded in disbelief and questioned the staff.

Not for India, dont take. Go away," replied the staff member repeatedly.

Jahabar proceeded to calmly explain to the staff member that Indians can be Muslims and that not all Malays are Muslims.

I dont know. I no education, the top people tell me to say like this. I dont know. Just go away," said the staff member, who continued to ask the couple to walk away from the booth.

Netizens supportive of Muslim couple, question NTUC FairPrice

Netizens have flooded the comments section in support of the couple with many volunteering to share the post to spread awareness. It has since garnered over 1,000 shares.

"I'm going to share this for awareness. Very disgraceful of NTUC to train their staff in this manner. I empathise with the staff because as he explained, he was merely following orders and would probably be told off if a non-Malay took the item. It's basically ignorance and insensitivity," commented a Facebook user.

Others were quick to label the incident as a racist act and expressed disgust. A few had tagged NTUC FairPrice's Facebook page in request of a response and for action to be taken.

Some netizens were more understanding and forgiving towards the staff member.

Public apology with couple contacted and employee counselled

NTUC FairPrice told Yahoo Southeast Asia that the couple has since been contacted and their concerns have been addressed with the matter closing amicably.

Story continues

"We take this matter seriously and would like to apologise for the incident. We have since also counselled our employee accordingly," it said in a statement.

The supermarket chain also responded with a Facebook post on Monday afternoon, announcing their awareness of the incident and expressing their apology. Netizens have responded positively to the post.

This is the 15th year NTUC FairPrice is running the community initiative of offering Muslim customers dates and refreshments 30 minutes before and after Iftar - the meal taken after evening prayers during Ramadan.

The supermarket chain also clarified that Iftar packs are offered free of charge to all Muslim customers during the month-long Ramadan period until 21 April.

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

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Hong Kongs sister SAR Macau is a tourist haven with UNESCO heritage sites, luxury casinos, brilliant coffee shops, and more. Just an hour-long ferry ride away, Macau makes for a great day trip for Hongkongers looking for a leisurely vacation. To lure tourists, the Macau tourism authority announced that they will offer Hong Kong and international visitors a buy-one-get-one-free ferry and bus ticket deal.

Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena Senna Fernandes made the remarks earlier this week. She said, Hong Kong is an important transit point for foreign tourists, especially those en route to Macau. Hence, the government hopes to take advantage of the transportation services and combine travel between the two cities.

Hong Kong visitors can get buy one, get one free Macau ferry tickets

Soon after Macau announced the relaxation in January 2023, the local tourism bureau introduced the Rewarding You to Visit Macau campaign. To attract more international tourists, the Macau government is relaunching the previous free ferry tickets deal for Hong Kong residents staying one night in the city.

The new offer is a buy-one-get-one-free deal available to Hong Kong and international travellers starting mid-April to the end of June. Visitors will get free return tickets upon purchase of a shuttle bus or ferry ticket to Macau.

Hong Kong was the second most important source of visitors to Macau before the pandemic. However, the gaming hub has endured some of the worlds strictest COVID restrictions for nearly three years. After a long hiatus, authorities finally resumed the 24-hour operation of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Macau hopes to welcome more tourists

Macau has welcomed more than 2,000 tour groups from mainland China since February 6. A total of 60,000 people arrived in the city. In February, the Macau government started offering a subsidy scheme for tour groups from the mainland via local travel agencies.

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So far, the governments scheme has covered about half of the total group tour arrivals in the city. International visitors can expect similar incentives in the coming year. Senna Fernandes has already hinted that there are plans to launch travel subsidies for incoming foreign and Taiwanese group tourists in April.

Image credit: Vernon Raineil Cenzon/Unsplash



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The post Macau announces free return tickets for foreign visitors from Hong Kong appeared first on Lifestyle Asia Singapore.
LOS ANGELES  As government officials close the book on the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, health authorities are turning their attention to the next chapter of the vaccination campaign.

Though nothing is etched in stone, federal officials are considering the authorization of another booster shot this spring.

The timing of that decision  and who would be eligible  remains unclear. But for older residents or those with underlying health conditions that make them more likely to develop a severe COVID-19 illness, another booster could provide peace of mind and an additional jolt of protection.

Lots of people at higher risk are asking whether or not they need another dose. And were waiting for guidance on that, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.

Authorities in Britain already greenlighted a spring booster shot  but only for nursing home residents, seniors 75 or older or those who are immunosuppressed and at least 5 years old.

This years spring program will bridge the gap to the planned booster program in the autumn, enabling those who are most vulnerable to be well-protected throughout the summer, Dr. Wei Shen Lim, chair of Britains Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, said in a statement.

Canadas National Advisory Committee on Immunization suggested a similar approach: making a spring booster available for those 65 or older as well as immunosuppressed adults and nursing home residents.

It remains to be seen how much of an appetite there could be for an additional booster in the U.S.

In California, 45% of vaccinated seniors received the updated booster shot. Among all age groups, only 25% of eligible Californians  that is, people who have completed their primary vaccination series  have rolled up their sleeves since the updated bivalent doses became available in September.

Even though uptake of the updated booster shot in Canada has been relatively low, officials there said it would be beneficial to offer additional doses.

We have historically seen patterns of waning protection against severe disease by six months after the last dose, particularly in older adults without prior infection, Dr. Shelley Deeks, chair of Canadas National Advisory Committee on Immunization, said in a statement.

Emerging data demonstrate that those who get the bivalent booster shot are better protected against hospitalization and death, with the benefit particularly pronounced among older individuals.

Among people age 65 to 79 in L.A. County, for instance, those who got the updated booster had one-tenth the risk of being hospitalized compared with those who are unvaccinated, and roughly half the risk of being hospitalized compared with those who are vaccinated but havent received the bivalent booster.

Even among younger adults, in their 30s and 40s, the benefits were noticeable. Those who got the updated booster had one-sixth the chance of being hospitalized than unvaccinated people, and roughly half the chance of being hospitalized compared with vaccinated people who hadnt gotten the updated booster.

The same goes with deaths. Those age 65 to 79 who got the updated booster were about one-tenth as likely to die from COVID-19 compared with unvaccinated people. They were roughly half as likely to die compared with vaccinated people who hadnt received the updated booster.

Even with the termination of many COVID-19 emergency declarations, officials stressed vigilance. Vaccinating those most at risk remains a key focus moving forward  particularly as the disease continues to kill thousands of people a week worldwide.

These (deaths) are largely among individuals who are of older age, they may not have been vaccinated or received the full number of doses that are required for them at their age, said Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organizations technical lead on COVID-19. So the threat remains.

If authorized by U.S. health officials, additional doses of bivalent vaccine  designed to protect against Omicron subvariants that once dominated the coronavirus landscape  will, like in Britain and Canada, probably be made available for older people or others at higher risk of severe COVID-19 complications.

Dr. Peter Hotez, a pediatrics, molecular virology and microbiology professor at Baylor College of Medicine, has been a prominent supporter of making a second updated booster shot available, given whats known about COVID vaccines waning protection over time.

Uptake of the second (updated booster) may only be around 10%, Hotez tweeted. But for those who want it  especially the immunocompromised  they should have that option.

Interactive: 12 charts that show COVID-19 variants, vaccinations, hospitalizations, cases and deaths Your browser does not support the iframe HTML tag. Try viewing this in a modern browser like Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Internet Explorer 9 or later.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  New Mexicos health secretary said hes concerned about the states oversight of a program that uses private providers for home and community-based services for people with developmental disabilities but is being investigated on allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of program participants.

Department of Health Secretary Patrick Allen told The New Mexican that the majority of private providers in the program do a marvelous job and care deeply about their clients, but said a small number of providers arent doing whats needed.

I think Im increasingly concerned that weve not been doing the job we need to do to make sure that all our clients have fabulous providers and are getting the services and care that they need, said Allen, who was appointed health secretary in January.

An investigation of alleged abuse and neglect involving a developmentally disabled person was launched after the case was brought to the states attention on March 1. The state started to reexamine past incidents of suspected abuse and neglect of disabled clients, including three in which a client died and the state terminated contracts with four providers in the Albuquerque area. The allegations also prompted a review of the entire developmentally disabled waiver system, which is meant to offer an alternative to institutional care.

As of noon on Friday, state workers had conducted in-person wellness checks on 4,654 of the 6,815 in the program and identified 68 sites with possible concerns.

At 26 of those sites, the concerns dealt mostly with home repairs, damages or other environmental issues.

But at the remaining 42, the site visits resulted in reported allegations of potential abuse, neglect and exploitation of some of the most vulnerable  and sometimes voiceless  people in New Mexico.

Each of the 68 incidents of concern identified so far is being fully investigated, officials said.

Our staff have reported to me visits theyve been involved in where, like, a parent or guardian or someone has said, This is the first time anybody from the agency has ever visited, Allen said.

Details on the case of abuse that triggered the in-person wellness checks have not been made public, and Allen declined to provide an update on the disabled client who suffered severe and life-threatening injuries, or even say if the person is still alive or recovering.

Im afraid I just really cant right now at the advice of various investigators that are pursuing this, Allen told the newspaper.
SAC CITY, Iowa  A former East Sac County High School teacher was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for having sexual contact with a male student.

Stefanie Kelsey, 35, of Sac City, pleaded guilty Feb. 13 in Sac County District Court to single counts of third-degree sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a school employee.

District Judge Adria Kester also ordered Kelsey to register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry. Kelsey also will serve a lifetime special sex offender sentence after she completes her prison sentence. If she were to violate terms of the special sentence, she could be sent back to prison.

Kelsey also must pay $520 in civil penalties.

Seven counts of third-degree sexual abuse were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Kelsey had sexual contact with the student, who was age 14-15, on a number of occasions from about Sept. 1, 2021, through March 11, 2022, in a vehicle at a county park and at Kelsey's home.

She was arrested March 11, 2022, the day after a parent reported rumors about a sexual relationship between her and the student to the Sac County Sheriff's Office.

Kelsey was a special education teacher at the high school, which is located in Lake View. Her probationary teaching contract was later terminated.
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SIOUX CITY  A man accused of ramming a sheriff's vehicle with a stolen pickup truck before trying to drive through a fence in a Morningside park has pleaded not guilty.

Lennox Vanvacter, 30, of Duncombe, Iowa, entered his written plea Monday in Woodbury County District Court to two counts of second-degree criminal mischief and single counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, first-degree theft, eluding, assault on a peace officer and drug tax stamp violation.

Vanvacter is accused of leading a Woodbury County Sheriff's deputy on a chase reaching 80 mph through Morningside neighborhoods on March 22. According to court documents, Vanvacter crashed into a gate at the Latham Park entrance and became momentarily stuck. He then accelerated in reverse and rammed the patrol car before driving into the park, with the deputy continuing in pursuit.

The pickup became stuck on a park fence after Vanvacter tried to crash through it, and he was arrested after exiting the vehicle, which had been reported stolen in Ida Grove, Iowa.

Vanvacter was found in possession of methamphetamine.
Theres some good news for single Catholics: The pope is cool with Tinder.

In a documentary released Wednesday, Pope Francis discussed sex and other hot-button issues with 10 Spanish-speaking young people. The Pope: Answers, which was filmed last summer for Disney+, features Francis saying a lot of nice, welcoming things to this diverse group of 20-somethings with different religious backgrounds.

On the topic of abortion, the 86-year-old pope said that priests should not ask too many questions and be merciful, as Jesus was. He added that the church should not send her to hell all of a sudden or isolate her, no. We should stay by her side.

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A nonbinary person asked Francis if the church could be a place for LGBTQ people. The church cannot close its doors on anybody, he responded. I dont have the right to cast anyone out from the church. My job is to receive, always.

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And when discussing those who cite Scripture to attack gay and transgender people, Francis said they were infiltrators who take advantage of the church for their personal passions, for their personal narrowness. It is one of the corruptions of the church.

Francis couldnt veer from official church teaching, so he maintained the institutions positions on abortion and premarital sex. But he still framed his answers in a sex-positive way, calling sex one of the beautiful things God gave to human beings.

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To express oneself sexually is something rich, he said. 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.

He emphasized that not all sexual activity should be described as ugly and that the churchs teaching on sex is still in diapers.

But the most surprising comments came when the young people explained Tinder to the pontiff and asked his thoughts on using the app to date. Its normal, he said. Young people have that eagerness to meet each other, and thats very good.

Its unclear if the pope knows of Tinders reputation as the more casual dating app; His Holiness has not yet fielded questions about Bumble or Hinge. (Francis hasnt been on the dating scene since he was a teenager in the 1950s.) But the general sentiment he expresses in the doc fits with his past statements: The pope really wants young people to get married and start families. Lets not forget the time he declared that young people who adopt pets instead of having children are selfish.

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So we know the pope is a fan of romance. Now, Tinder is a fan of his.
The American automaker announced that Tesla's next Megapack battery factory, shortly known as "Megafactory," is set to be built in Shanghai, China.

The giant automaker's chief executive officer (CEO), Elon Musk, confirmed the new Megapack facility in his recent Twitter post. The new facility in the Asian country seeks to build thousands of energy storage batteries yearly, which should kick off later this 2023.

Tesla's New Megafactory in Shanghai, China

According to a report by Axios, the giant electric vehicle (EV) firm of billionaire entrepreneur, Musk, plans to build its next "Megafactory" in China's financial hub, Shanghai, the biggest city in the Asian nation.

The Twitter account of the EV maker made the new facility official in its latest tweet. The post declared that the "next Megafactory will be in Shanghai." The announcement includes a photo of the "signing ceremony of the Tesla Megafactory Shanghai Project" between Tesla Shanghai Co. LTD. and Lin-Gang Special Area Administration.

The all-electric car maker says that the new facility in China is looking to "produce 10,000 Megapack" batteries per year once it begins its production. These Shanghai-produced units will not only be sold, but they will also be available in various parts of the world.

The Wall Street Journal highlights that the yearly production goal of the Megafactory in Shanghai is set to provide roughly 40 gigawatt hours of energy storage. The EV maker currently has a car plant in the Chinese region, the Gigafactory Shanghai. As such, the upcoming Megapack facility is essentially an expansion in the Asian country despite the tensions between China and the United States (US).

The current situation discourages some giant firms from making massive investments in the Chinese nation. Yet, Tesla continues with its expansion in the country.

Read Also: NASA, SpaceX Launch TEMPO Satellite

Elon Musk Confirms New Megafactory in Shanghai

The big boss of Tesla, Musk, took to Twitter, the social network he recently took over, to announce what the new Megapack factory brings to the table, CNBC reports. In a recent tweet by the tech entrepreneur, he says that the upcoming Megafactory in Shanghai aims to "supplement output of Megapack factory in California."

The Tesla chief executive made this pronouncement while sharing the official announcement from the giant EV maker. As of writing, his tweet, posted on Easter Sunday, now has roughly over 13.5 million views, along with more than 40,000 likes.

Some Twitter users responded to his post, congratulating the billionaire on this new milestone. Others asked about the timeline of the new facility.

Tesla opening Megapack factory in Shanghai to supplement output of Megapack factory in California https://t.co/hDpqoyNeOx  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2023

CNBC notes that a China-based state-owned publication, Xinhua, reports that the construction of the Megapack factory will kick off this year. It begins sometime in the third quarter of 2023. Meanwhile, the production of the batteries is expected to be up and running in 2024.

Related Article: Tesla Lawsuit: E-Car Company Charged to Pay $3.2M to Black Ex-worker

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Now that Donald Trump has officially been indicted by the Manhattan district attorneys office, all eyes are on the other investigations he faces. And some legal experts are convinced the next moves are going to come from Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Appointed by the Department of Justice, Smith has been quietly working on two cases involving Trump since November 2022. One focuses on the role Trump played in trying to block the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 electionincluding the Jan. 6 insurrectionand the second investigates the 26 boxes worth of classified documents he took from the White House to Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Those are in addition to Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis investigation into Trumps efforts to overturn Georgias 2020 election results.

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Robert Katzberg, a former federal prosecutor who now focuses on white-collar criminal cases for Holland & Knight, expects well see movement in the Mar-a-Lago case next. I wake up every morning expecting to see the filing of that indictment, he told me in an interview. Ill be shocked if nothing happens by the end of this month.

Katzberg compared Smiths classified documents investigation to a narcotics case, since it hinges on simple possession. Its a slam dunk, he said. Either you have it or you dont, and if youve got it, youre stuck.

Though Smith has been pretty tight-lipped about his investigations, not making any public appearances since being appointed special counsel, there have been hints over the past few months that hes getting close to the end. For starters, he was able to order Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran to testify before a grand jury over the classified documents case. He also brought in other witnesses for a second round of questioning. Thats something you typically do at the back end of the case, Norman Eisen, senior fellow at Brookings Governance, told Slates Mary Harris on What Next.

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Katzberg agreedSmiths classified documents investigation involves minimal witnesses, he said, and could be tried in federal court over the span of two to three weeks. Theres also a possibility that if Smith were to announce an indictment with charges, his case will take precedence over Braggs. Given the significance of the case, [Smiths] entitled to higher priority, said Katzberg. Thats because the DOJ could argue it doesnt want its case to be involved in next years election and that there are national security stakes involved, so the case needs to be resolved before the end of the year.

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If Smith were to announce charges in the classified documents case soon and it were to be expedited to trial, the outcome could be hugely consequential for Braggs and Willis cases. If I am in New York, I want that case tried first. Its a stronger case, so it puts me in a better position.

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Many commentators have noted that Braggs case against Trump seems to be the weakest of the four. Typically in multi-jurisdictional cases, the first indictment to go should be the strongest, Katzberg said. So that once you knock out the first one, the rest will fall like dominoes.

Trump also appears to be worried about Smith. The former president posted a lengthy rant on Truth Social calling the special counsel a radical left lunatic and a totally biased thug, and continued his ongoing shtick of suggesting Jack Smith isnt his real name. (It appears to be his real name).

While we dont know exactly what will happen next, Katzberg is confident well see charges from Smith soon. New York may be the first one filed, he said, but if Smith can file the next indictment soon, thatll be the first case tried.
Despite long-standing Supreme Court precedent directing that the proposal is unconstitutional, Florida legislators this month are seeking to broaden the death penalty to non-homicide crimes. The proposal has Gov. Ron DeSantis full support. On Tuesday, the Florida Senate Rules Committee is expected to vote on the bill, which is the bills last committee stop before the floor.

Specifically, the bill seeks to broaden the death penalty to sexual battery crimes against children. The bill plainly contradicts the courts 2008 decision in Kennedy v. Louisiana, which held that punishing a defendant with death when the crime does not intentionally cause the victims death violates the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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The Supreme Court of just 15 years ago clearly forbade what Florida is now trying to do. Florida legislators say thats the point. Their goal is to provide the Supreme Court with the opportunity to review Kennedy, at which point both Gov. DeSantis and Florida legislators are confident the court, in its current iteration, would overturn Kennedy. Emphasizing the perceived ideological changes on the court since 2008, state Sen. Jonathan Martin (the Senate bills sponsor) argued that Justice Samuel Alitos dissenting opinion in Kennedyjoined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomasopened the door to this legislation. In light of Alitos dissent and the current courts ideological framework, Sen. Martin believes that the new court would be in favor of this legislation. Similarly, state Rep. Jessica Baker (the House bills sponsor) said she welcome[s] a constitutional challenge and is hopeful the court would recede from its improperly decided opinion in Kennedy.

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When asked late last month if the bill is unconstitutional, Rep. Baker responded that fifteen years of wrongly decided caselaw is not persuasive to her. She previously argued that Kennedy is ripe for reconsideration because the majoritys decision was not based on any law and did not point to any statute or constitutional provision for its basis but was, instead, based on the majoritys independent judgment. That statement is far from accurate. As testimony for the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers clarified at the committee hearing, the majority decision in Kennedy was grounded in the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Eighth Amendment.

Of course, the legislators blatant disregard for precedent undermines the bedrock of our court systemthe theory of stare decisis. Worse, legislation attacking precedent undermines our system of government, which is grounded on a separation of powers. When state Rep. Michael Gottlieb asked in a committee hearing late last month if this bill poses separation of powers issues, Rep. Baker said no, though offered no support for her position. Yet, these efforts deliberately undercut the long-standing work of the judiciary in an effort to achieve political gain.

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Of course, theres a good reason state legislators now think they can pass laws ignoring long-standing Supreme Court precedent and rely on the courts recently changed supermajority to demolish long-standing precedent. Indeed, that is exactly what happened in 2021 with the Texas abortion bounty bill, S.B. 8, and again last year when the court overturned its long-standing precedent establishing the constitutional right to an abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. With Dobbs in the background, Floridas legislators are confident this court would be similarly willing to undo Kennedy and expand the constitutional boundaries of capital punishment to make way for this legislation.

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Even if the legislators speculations about the courts views prove true, the bills still pose constitutional concern. With this legislation, Florida will be an extreme outlier in capital punishment. Just the proposal alone marks a stark difference to other legislation pending around the countryfor example, Alabamas proposal to raise their jury recommendation requirement for a capital sentence to unanimity and Ohios abolition proposal. Perhaps more concerning is the idea that child sexual battery is just the beginning to a slippery slope of expanding the death penalty to non-homicide crimesas Rep. Gottlieb suggested at the committee hearing late last month.

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Absolutely no one denies the heinous and atrocious nature of child sexual battery offenses. Nor is it denied that these crimes should be harshly punished. But imposing an unconstitutional penalty that strains the states resources is just not the answer. As we have explained, just one death sentence costs the state millions of dollars more than a sentence of life in prison without parole. Even at its current population of just under 300, Union Correctional Institutionwhich houses Floridas death rowis severely understaffed. The state has had to deploy the National Guard just to meet its bare minimum staffing requirements at UCI.

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As to the victims, each caseincluding any hypothetical test case used to challenge Kennedywill undoubtedly cause extreme emotional pressure. As noted at the committee hearings, the abuser in child sexual assault cases is most often a family member or close family friend. As a result, the living child victimin addition to the trauma from the abusewould bear the weight of the perpetrator being subject to a death sentence and suffer through the decades of uncertainty and appeals that are unique to capital punishment.

A sentence of life without parole is a harsh and severe punishment, including for a person convicted of child sexual abuse. Instead of spending millions of dollars to possibly change long-standing precedent, Floridas resources are much better spent trying to protect our children from the abuse in the first place and ensuring survivors have access to mental health treatment and the proper support following the offense. That is how Florida can end the cycle of violence.
Destroyer USS Milius. Photo: Reuters



China warned that it was for illegal intrusion an American destroyer into the waters near the archipelago Spratlywhich you own, and the US Navy announced that it was an operation free navigation in accordance with international law.

After the operation, the US warship left the area and resumed operations in the South China Sea, the US Navy also explained.

Tensions in the area are escalating after the Taiwanese presidents meeting on Wednesday Tea Ing Ven with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the US Congress Kevin McCarthy in California. After the meeting, China announced military exercises around Taiwan.

According to Beijing, Chinese military aircraft used real ammunition during a simulated attack today, and an aircraft carrier also took part in the exercise. Shandong.

As the three-day military drills began on Saturday, Chinas military said they served as a warning against cooperation between separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence and foreign forces and their provocations.

Although Taiwan has operated independently from the Chinese mainland since the end of the civil war in 1949, Beijing continues to regard it as part of its territory under the One China Policy. At the recent session of the Peoples Congress, the Chinese president again called for reunification Sew Jinpingand Beijing does not rule out the use of force for this purpose.
The scene of the accident. Photo: EPA



Mayor of Marseille Benoit Payan said today that there is still hope to find survivors under the ruins.

The rescuers worked all night, they were also assisted by tracking dogs and cranes. According to the firefighters, their work was made very difficult by the fire, which was steadily burning under the ruins.

The cause of the explosion in which the building completely collapsed, is not yet known, and investigators are looking into the possibility that it was the result of a gas leak.

At the moment of the explosion a little after midnight on Sunday, according to a local resident of the seaside town, everything shook. There was smoke everywhere and the building collapsed onto the street, he told the French news agency AFP.

More than 100 firefighters battled the fire that started after the explosion. When the building collapsed, it also damaged neighboring buildings, and five people were injured. Ambulance services treated another 33 people.

In 2018, eight people died in the collapse of two buildings in Marseille. The accident at the time in a poor part of the city caused a lot of dissatisfaction among the citizens. Residents accused the authorities of ignoring warnings about the poor condition of the buildings.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a settlement with Destin Wings LLC, a Florida-based Hooters restaurant franchisee, over claims that it violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by discriminating against a non-U.S. citizen during the work authorization verification process. The DOJ launched an investigation after the worker complained that Destin Wings refused to accept her valid documentation and demanded additional documents, which she was unable to provide due to her citizenship status.

The INAs anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from requesting specific documents or more documentation than necessary based on a workers citizenship, immigration status, or national origin. Employers must permit employees to present any acceptable documentation of their choice and cannot reject legitimate documentation that reasonably appears to be genuine.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division emphasized the importance of avoiding discrimination during the employment verification process. While employers are legally obligated to verify every new hires permission to work in the United States, they cannot discriminate based on the employees citizenship status or national origin in the process, Clarke said.

The settlement mandates Destin Wings to pay a civil penalty to the U.S., offer backpay to the affected worker, provide staff training on the INAs anti-discrimination provision, and submit to departmental monitoring for three years. The DOJs Civil Rights Division will continue to enforce the INA and combat unlawful discrimination in the workplace.

The Civil Rights Divisions Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the INAs anti-discrimination provision. The IER offers guidance to employers and employees on how to avoid discrimination when verifying work authorization. It also provides resources such as hotlines, free webinars, and information on its website in English and Spanish.

Employers and employees can take advantage of the IERs services to better understand their rights and responsibilities under the INA. The IER encourages anyone who believes they have been subjected to discrimination based on citizenship, immigration status, or national origin during the hiring, firing, or recruitment process, or in the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify), to file a charge or contact the IERs worker hotline for assistance.

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The World AIDS Museum (WAM) is in Fort Lauderdale but its reach is expanding well beyond the borders of South Florida.

The University of Illinois has invited WAMs Executive Director, Terry Dyer, to be part of a series of readings, plays, essays, and books focusing on minority issues.

I take a tremendous amount of pride in serving as an advocate for those living and thriving with HIV, Dyer said. My goal is always to bring a positive face and awareness to the epidemic especially to those in underserved and marginalized communities.

Organizers learned about Dyer through his book, Letters To A GAY Black Boy, detailing his experiences with race, homophobia, social justice, HIV, and acceptance.

Terry's book is a story in which many of our students could feel identified, organizer Jose Manual Diaz-Soto said. We hope that our students find a safe space in our department. A space where they can feel heard and seen.

My biggest message to them will be to normalize the importance of HIV testing and how the epidemic impacts all of us, Dyer said.

Since joining WAM last year, Dyers top priority has been growing the organizations footprint. This trip to Illinois is a big step.

In our meetings leading up to the lecture, it is my understanding there will be questions regarding my book and experiences, impact of HIV on black and brown communities, racism, and discrimination.

HIV does not discriminate against race, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. Therefore, education about the disease should not discriminate as well. Our work at WAM is drastically being affected by the bans in the state of Florida, so it is more important than ever for us to expand messaging. Partnering with universities across the country, corporations, and tours will allow us the opportunity to fulfill our mission on a larger scale.
If you believe right-wing activists youd think there is an epidemic of transgender shooters.

After it was reported the shooter in the recent Nashville school shooting was trans  conservative pundits went nuts.

Here are a few of the claims they made:

There is a clear epidemic of trans or non-binary mass shooters.

 Donald Trump Jr., in a video post, March 28

One thing is VERY clear: the modern trans movement is radicalizing activists into terrorists.

 Benny Johnson, production chief at Turning Point USA, in a tweet, March 27

About 80% of the time these schools shooters are transgender and the media tries to cover it up.

 From the March 28, 2023, edition of Infowars' The Alex Jones Show



Multiple news outlets covered this disinformation campaign including the Washington Post: The data is clear: There is no clear epidemic of transgender mass shooters, and Associated Press: FACT FOCUS: No incredible rise in transgender shooters.

In Johnsons tweet he referred to four shootings:

The Colorado Springs shooter identified as non-binary. The Denver shooter identified as trans. The Aberdeen shooter identified as trans. The Nashville shooter identified as trans.

James Alan Fox, a statistician and professor of criminology, law and public policy at Northeastern University told the Associated Press: There are a lot of mass shootings, hundreds of mass shootings, and to cherry-pick four of them and say heres a trend, thats wrong. You cant make a conclusion thats significant. It is not significant in any statistical sense.

The earliest of those four shootings, Denver, happened in 2018.

In a response to Johnsons tweet Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, tweeted !, which has been viewed 7.7 million times.

Some of these shooters may be trans or gender non-conforming but its not definitive. For instance, as the Washington Post reports the Colorado shooter claims to be non-binary, but a police detective testified earlier this year that the shooter ran a neo-Nazi website, used gay and racial slurs while gaming online and posted an image of a rifle scope trained on a gay pride parade.

Of course, its also true this shooter could very well be non-binary and a neo-Nazi.

But even if all four are trans and/or non-conforming there still would be no epidemic of trans people committing mass shootings.

As the Post points out there is no universal definition of mass killing/shootings. They define a mass killing as an event in which four or more people, not including the shooter, have been killed by gunfire.

Under that criteria only one of the four shootings would be classified as a mass killing.

According to the Post: The Violence Project counts 188 mass public killings since 1966. So with 0.6% of the population, transgender people would expect to be involved in about one shooting.

As for mass shootings, the Gun Violence Project has counted 2,697 since 2018. They define a mass shooting as 4 or more shot or killed in a shooting incident, not including the shooter, in any circumstance."

Using that criteria, the Aberdeen and Denver cases cited by Johnson, would also be counted.

With 0.6% of the population, one would expect at least 16 mass shootings to be conducted by people identifying as transgender, the Post writes. Instead there are just three possible cases cited by conservatives.

This is capitalizing on tragedy for political purposes, Fox said. One should not conclude that being trans or non-binary, they should be more likely to commit a crime like this.


Limited knowledge of Slovak is not a barrier to volunteering in the capital.

The most popular corporate volunteering activity is the Nase Mesto (Our Town) event. (Source: Sme - Jozef Jakubco)

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For foreigners in Bratislava who want to help others there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer  and not knowing the local language need not be a problem.

Some people contact us and theyre already expecting to be disappointed because they dont speak any Slovak. But thats absolutely not a problem, said Michaela Bagalova from the Bratislavske Dobrovolnicke Centrum (Bratislava Volunteer Centre, or BDC), an umbrella organisation for volunteer groups in Bratislava and the surrounding area.

Many volunteer organisations welcome English speakers, as they can help them with  or teach  communication in English, she added.

Where to start
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/world-banks-chief-calls-for-searching-ways-out-of-poorest-countries-debt-impasse-1109304203.html

World Bank's Chief Calls for Searching Ways Out of Poorest Countries' Debt Impasse

World Bank's Chief Calls for Searching Ways Out of Poorest Countries' Debt Impasse

A search for ways out of the world's poorest countries impasse in servicing and restructuring their debts will top the agenda of the World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings scheduled for April 10-16, said WB President David Malpass.

2023-04-09T21:35+0000

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world bank

international monetary fund

kristalina georgieva

david malpass

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The World Bank's chief also said that he was looking forward to discussions of the debt crisis and approaches to achieving debt transparency and sustainability.He added that it was important to achieve "transparent, sustainable debt burdens in order to restart investment, which has slowed to a standstill."On Thursday, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that approximately 15% of low-income countries were experiencing debt distress, and another 45% had high debt vulnerabilities. In total, about a quarter of emerging economies have been at high risk and facing "default-like" borrowing spreads, Georgieva added.The 2023 Spring Meetings will take place in person from April 10-16 in the World Bank Group and IMF headquarters in Washington.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220916/breaking-out-of-dollar-trap-could-bring-an-end-to-unipower-world-experts-tell-sputnik-1100855568.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/based-and-redpilled-exposed-fbi-glossary-links-online-lingo-to-violent-extremism-1109307090.html

Based and Redpilled? Exposed FBI 'Glossary' Links Online Lingo to 'Violent Extremism'

Based and Redpilled? Exposed FBI 'Glossary' Links Online Lingo to 'Violent Extremism'

An exposed FBI 'glossary'appears to flag even innocuous online slang as 'racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism'.

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Using some internet slang words, such as looksmaxxing, based, Chad, and Stacy will get an individual on the FBIs watch list for violent extremism, according to the agencys glossary, obtained by The Heritage Foundations Oversight Project.A lot of innocuous online lingo that is typically bandied about without any link to extremist views is, nevertheless, zeroed in on by the FBI, judging by the list of words and phrases singled out in the documents.According to the Oversight Project, the FBI appears to be thus "equating protected online speech" with signs of "violence".Here is a rundown of some of these words and phrases, flagged by the FBI as indicating "Involuntary Celibate Violent Extremism" or "Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism."According to the "glossary" of the investigative arm of the US Department of Justice, the word cell is short for incel. The latter term is short for involuntary celibate, which refers to an online community of people who are unable to find sexual partners despite being anxious to strike up a relationship. These frustrated people, stated the "threat overview," may seek to "commit violence in support of their beliefs that society unjustly denies them sexual or romantic attention, to which they believe they are entitled." The documents proceed to list incel terminology, which is typically widely used online. The FBI claims that the phrase just be first is online slang used by incels to target minors for sex."Red Pill," or to be redpilled, is a metaphor popularized by the 1999 film The Matrix. It refers to a scene in the movie where the character is offered a choice between a red pill, revealing the world for what it is, and a blue pill, which keeps the truth hidden. It has since been broadly used in connection with seeing "hidden truths", particularly associated with anything ranging from the socio-economic structure and politics to dating. According to the FBI glossary, it is defined as "a belief shared by many online communities that society is corrupt, and that the believer is a victim of this corruption." Also linked to the dating scene online is the often disparaging term "Chad". It is typically used to mean an overly confident, sexually active, often white alpha male, with its female counterpart known as "Stacy." The FBI doc defines the term "Chad" as a "Race -specific term used to describe the idealized version of a male, who is very successful at getting sexual and romantic attention from women." According to the glossary, "incels unsuccessfully compete against Chads for attention."Also featured on the list is the term "looksmaxxing," defined as the "process of self-improvement with the intent to become more attractive." When it comes to the list of terms linked with "Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism" (RMVE), "Red Pill" is offered a different definition in the glossary, stating that, "In the context of RMVE ideology, taking the red pill or becoming redpilled indicates the adoption of racist, anti-Semitic, or fascist beliefs." A black pill, it is added, means that a "corrupt" society can only be changed through massive societal restructuring, often including violence.The FBI also singles out the term "based," coined by rapper Lil B and used to mean "something that is agreeable and cool," or even "anti-woke." However, the agency sees this term as wielded online to "refer to someone who has been converted to racist ideology, or as a way of indicating ideological agreement." The FBI list also includes the term "LARPing," which is a live action role-playing game (LARP), where participants physically portray their characters. However, in political context, according to the FBI, this term might be used to "deride individuals accused of not being as extreme, or in possession of skills, or other valued characteristics they claim to have."The bureau has not given any official comment since the "glossary" was released.

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Veteran actor Michael Lerner has died at age 81

Sam Lerner, the actor's nephew, announced the news via Instagram

Lerner is best known for his roles in 'Godzilla,' 'Elf,' and 'Barton Fink'

Michael Lerner, a veteran actor known for roles in Godzilla, Elf, and Barton Fink, has perished at 81. On Sunday, the actor's nephew, Sam Lerner, announced the news via Instagram.

"'We lost a legend last night. It's hard to put into words how brilliant my uncle Michael was and how influential he was to me." he wrote.

Michecl Lerner Cause of Death

In his heartfelt post, the 30-year-old actor continued, "His stories always inspired me and made me fall in love with acting."

He continued, writing to his 117,000 followers on the platform, "Everyone who knew him knew how insane he was in the greatest manner."

According to TMZ, Michael Lerner portrayed James Caan's supervisor Fulton in the 2003 Will Ferrell film 'Elf,' He left an impression on the audience.

In addition, he has appeared in the films 'Newsies,' 'Harlem Nights,' 'The Mod Squad,' 'Celebrity,' and 'For Richer or Poorer.' He appeared in 'The Brady Bunch,' 'MASH,' 'Starsky and Hutch,' and 'The Good Guys' during the 1970s. Ironside, The Odd Couple, The Rockford Files, Barnaby Jones, Hill Street Blues, and Melba are among his additional roles.

Michael Lerner also appeared in 'Tales from the Crypt,' 'Courthouse,' 'Clueless,' 'Kingdom Hospital,' 'Law & Order: SVU,' 'Matumbo Goldberg,' and 'Glee,' Daily Mail reported. He is survived by his 74-year-old actor brother Ken Lerner. No additional information about Lerner's death was provided. Michael and Sam Lerner's representatives gave no further statements.

Read Also: 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Catarina Scorsone Saves 3 Children from Tragic House Fire

Fans, Celebrities Pay Tribute

Michael Lerner was born in 1941 in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Brooklyn College to study drama. Per CNN, Lerner subsequently received a Fulbright scholarship and spent two years in England before being invited to join the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

An agent in San Francisco discovered him and brought him to Los Angeles, where his career in Hollywood began. Lerner's career in Hollywood spanned decades, with film and television credits extending back to the 1960s. During the 1960s and 1970s, he appeared on television programs such as 'The Doris Day Show,'

'The Bob Newhart Show,' and 'M*A*S*H.' In 1970, he released his debut film, 'Alex in Wonderland,' in which he portrayed Leo alongside Donald Sutherland and Ellen Burstyn. Later, Lerner appeared in such films as 'The Ski Tramp,' 'The Candidate,' and 'Outlaw Blues.' In the mid-1980s, the actor appeared in multiple episodes of 'Hill Street Blues' and 'Melba' before starring in 'Barton Fink' in 1991.

His portrayal of studio executive Jack Lipnick, in which he co-starred with John Turturro, John Goodman, and Judy Davis, earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for best supporting actor. "I read the script, and you have a natural talent for writing.

It was superbly written, and I just knew it," Lerner said of the 'Barton Fink' script in 2016, adding that during his audition in front of directors Joel and Ethan Coen, "I did the monologue the way I wanted to do it, and that was it. And Joel and Ethan were giggling and sitting in a corner."

Several famous people commented on Sam's post to pay tribute to the star. According to Mirror, author and Disney star Logan Miller said, "Absolute legend. Sorry for your loss, my friend."

Moreover, improv actress Wendi McLendon-Covey stated: "I'm so sorry! Sending love to you and your family."

And fans also posted messages on Twitter in response to the news.

Michael Lerner, the prolific actor known for his work in "Barton Fink," "Godzilla," "Elf" and the "X-Men" movie franchise, has died. He was 81. The Oscar-nominated performer died Saturday evening, his nephew and fellow actor Sam Lerner confirmed Sunday afternoon on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/LRAXttI6V7  Sumner (@renmusb1) April 9, 2023

Oscar-nominated actor, #MichaelLerner, who has appeared in films such as Elf, Godzilla & X-Men: Days of Future Past, died at age 81.



His death was confirmed by his nephew, Sam Lerner paid tribute to his uncle in an Instagram post on Sunday afternoon.#USA pic.twitter.com/sR5PlWf80I  Siraj Noorani (@sirajnoorani) April 9, 2023

this is how i learn that sam lerners real dad plays his dad on the goldbergs and not this guy who is actually his uncle https://t.co/TKJZnwgZMm  ashley ray (honeycomb) (@theashleyray) April 10, 2023

Related Article: 'John Wick' Star Lance Reddick Cause of Death, Revealed

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/beijing-calls-military-drills-near-taiwan-warning-for-separatists-foreign-powers-1109313713.html

Beijing Calls Military Drills Near Taiwan 'Warning' for Separatists, Foreign Powers

Beijing Calls Military Drills Near Taiwan 'Warning' for Separatists, Foreign Powers

Military exercises conducted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) near Taiwan are a serious warning for Taiwanese separatists and foreign powers

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china

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The diplomat added that Taiwan's independence and stability in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible. On Saturday, Chinese military launched three-day exercises and patrols in the sea and airspace around Taiwan. It came a couple of days after Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a transit visit to the US on her way back from Guatemala and Belize. The Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the contacts between US and Taiwanese officials, calling on Washington to stop upgrading relations with the island. On Sunday, the armed forces of Taiwan registered 70 Chinese aircraft approaching the island, with 35 of them crossing the so called median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering Taiwan's air defense identification zone. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry also spotted 11 PLA ships in the vicinity of the island. Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan  a territory with its own elected government  maintains that it is an autonomous nation but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/chinese-army-simulates-strikes-on-key-targets-in-taiwan-amid-drills-1109295378.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/biden-planning-to-involve-tiktok-bloggers-in-promoting-2024-reelection-bid-reports-say-1109317252.html

Biden Planning to Involve TikTok Bloggers in Promoting 2024 Reelection Bid, Reports Say

Biden Planning to Involve TikTok Bloggers in Promoting 2024 Reelection Bid, Reports Say

The administration of US President Joe Biden plans to involve hundreds of influencers on various social media platforms, including China's TikTok, to support his reelection campaign in the 2024 presidential race, Axios reported on Monday.

2023-04-10T11:02+0000

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2023-04-10T11:02+0000

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us

joe biden

tik tok

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Biden, who is yet to announce his bid for reelection, is expected to lean on hundreds of influencers to increase his popularity among young voters and effectively counter former President Donald Trump's active social media campaign if he becomes the Republican nominee, according to the outlet. The Biden administration would particularly rely on support of TikTok users, despite the current debate on the app's ban in the US due to its alleged ties to the Chinese government, according to media reports.Over the past weeks TikTok has been under the strict scrutiny of US lawmakers over concerns that the company can collect personal data of 150 million users in the US and hand it over to the Chinese government. In early March, the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs approved a bill that will allow the US government to ban TikTok or any other foreign app if they are believed to be a threat to national security. On March 23, the US House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing to hear testimony from TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, whom US lawmakers questioned about the platform's data privacy practices and alleged ties to the Chinese government. Chew noted TikTok's efforts to safeguard US user data and denied claims that the platform colluded with the Chinese government. However, US lawmakers still expressed skepticism about Chew's statements and called for a ban.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230404/australia-to-ban-use-of-tiktok-application-on-all-government-devices-1109096969.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/china-expects-all-countries-to-reject-any-form-of-taiwan-secession-after-macrons-comment-1109320866.html

China Expects All Countries to Reject Any Form of Taiwan Secession After Macron's Comment

China Expects All Countries to Reject Any Form of Taiwan Secession After Macron's Comment

China is hoping that all countries will understand the essence of the Taiwan issue and firmly oppose any form of the island's independence, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday, commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron's recent statement.

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2023-04-10T12:12+0000

2023-04-10T12:12+0000

world

taiwan

emmanuel macron

china

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"We hope that all countries will realize the essence of the Taiwan issue, adhere to the one-China principle and firmly oppose any form of Taiwan's independence and separatist activities," Wang told a briefing. The spokesman noted that the biggest threat to peace in the Taiwan Strait is the current separatist activities on the island, with Washington's connivance and support. Macron paid an official visit to China last week, during which he praised Beijing's role in the international arena and underlined the importance of bilateral French-Chinese relations in various spheres. During the trip, Macron held 1.5-hour talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, met with State Council Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji. The situation around Taiwan escalated last August after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to the island. Beijing condemned Pelosi's trip, which it regarded as a gesture of support for separatism, and launched large-scale military drills in the vicinity of the island. Despite China's acute reaction, Pelosi's visit unleashed a wave of trips by Western politicians to the island.On Sunday, Macron said that Europe should not let itself be drawn into the confrontation between the United States and China over Taiwan conforming to "the American rhythm," calling on Europeans to "wake up" and think about their own interests.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/beijing-calls-military-drills-near-taiwan-warning-for-separatists-foreign-powers-1109313713.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/chinese-forces-successfully-fulfilled-all-tasks-set-during-drills-near-taiwan-military-1109322234.html

Chinese Forces Successfully Fulfilled All Tasks Set During Drills Near Taiwan: Military

Chinese Forces Successfully Fulfilled All Tasks Set During Drills Near Taiwan: Military

The Chinese forces have successfully fulfilled all tasks that were set during recent military exercises and patrols near Taiwan, Shi Yi, the spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), said on Monday.

2023-04-10T12:57+0000

2023-04-10T12:57+0000

2023-04-10T12:57+0000

military

military drills

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china

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"The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has successfully fulfilled various tasks that were set during the patrols and military exercises near the Taiwan island," Shi said in a statement released on Chinese social network WeChat. During the drills, China's forces underwent a comprehensive test of the combat readiness in real combat conditions, the military officials stated. On Sunday, a day after the start of the training, the armed forces of Taiwan registered 70 Chinese aircraft approaching the island with 35 of them crossing the so called median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering Taiwans air defense identification zone. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry also spotted 11 PLA ships in the vicinity of the island. On Saturday, Shi announced that the Chinese military would conduct exercises and patrols in the sea and airspace around Taiwan from April 8-10, adding that the exercises would serve as a warning for the advocates of the island's independence and a necessary measure aimed at upholding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The situation around Taiwan has recently escalated after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in early August and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has repeatedly condemned the contacts between US and Taiwanese officials, calling on Washington to stop upgrading relations with the island. Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan  a territory with its own elected government  maintains that it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/chinese-army-simulates-strikes-on-key-targets-in-taiwan-amid-drills-1109295378.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/chinese-media-reveals-why-russia-unlikely-to-have-leaked-sensitive-ukraine-docs-1109323820.html

Chinese Media Reveals Why Russia Unlikely to Have Leaked Sensitive Ukraine Docs

Chinese Media Reveals Why Russia Unlikely to Have Leaked Sensitive Ukraine Docs

The FBI and the Pentagon have kicked off investigations after the leak of a damning US intelligence assessment on the Ukrainian conflict. US officials and media immediately blamed Russia, while Kiev characterized the leak as Russian propaganda. The Kremlin said the docs show the dramatic extent to which NATO is entrenched in the conflict.

2023-04-10T13:44+0000

2023-04-10T13:44+0000

2023-04-10T17:47+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

leak

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Russia is not likely to be behind the leak of the top secret US intelligence assessment of the situation in Ukraine, since it would prefer to keep the information under wraps and use it to its advantage, a major Chinese outlet speculates.If Russia has obtained these classified documents, it would not post them online, because this will make Russia lose the source or sources that had provided these documents, an anonymous Chinese international security and intelligence expert told the Global Times. The leak is unlikely caused by Russian intelligence agencies, because this does not make sense, the expert said.The source argued that there was no reason for Russia to let its enemies know that it has obtained this intelligence, because this will also make its enemies change plans, making the hard-won military intelligence useless.Instead, GT noted, the leak goes to show to the world the disunity, distrust and divergences between the US, its allies and Kiev, and to demonstrate that Washington is the biggest obstacle for the international community to promote a ceasefire and peace talks to ending the Ukrainian crisis.The documents demonstrate the precarious state of the Ukrainian military, and will both demoralize the Ukrainian military and reduce Western countries confidence in supporting Kiev against Russia, whether or not they are genuine, the Chinese newspaper suggested.Whodunit?US and Ukrainian officials immediately blamed Russian intelligence for the leak of the classified documents, and suggested that the assessment seems to combine a statistical analysis of supplies, possible operational and tactical plans, as well as a large volume of fictitious information.The documents serve to confirm Russias public assessment on the state of the Ukrainian conflict, showing that Ukrainian air defenses have been depleted by months of strikes, and that Ukrainian casualties are over four times higher than those of the Russian side (contrasting sharply with public estimates by the Pentagon and the Ukrainian military of six-figure Russian losses).The Pentagons reported efforts to scrub the documents from the internet were met with trolling by Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who sarcastically quipped that it was totally possible to delete things from the internet, and that doing so definitely wouldnt draw attention to whatever you were trying to hide.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the leaks quite interesting, and said it was not surprising that Moscow has been blamed. You and I know that there is a tendency to always blame everything on Russia. It is, in general, a disease, the spokesman told reporters Monday.Commentators speaking to Sputnik expressed a healthy measure of a skepticism over the documents authenticity, saying that although they serve to confirm Russias internal assessments on the state of the Ukrainian military, the provide Moscow no benefit as far as the strategic situation is concerned. Others pointed out that it would be highly unlikely for the documents to be published in legacy media outlets without the approval of the national security state.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/ukraine-changes-some-military-plans-after-leak-of-us-intelligence-documents-reports-say-1109308147.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/what-do-we-know-so-far-about-leaked-pentagon-documents-1109311855.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230408/scott-ritter-us-document-leak-much-ado-about-nothing-1109280151.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/former-executives-sue-twitter-over-unpaid-legal-fee-reimbursement---reports-1109333700.html

Former Executives Sue Twitter Over Unpaid Legal Fee Reimbursement - Reports

Former Executives Sue Twitter Over Unpaid Legal Fee Reimbursement - Reports

Three former Twitter executives, including ex-CEO Parag Agrawal, sued the company on Monday for allegedly owing them more than $1 million in reimbursement for legal fees.

2023-04-10T20:58+0000

2023-04-10T20:58+0000

2023-04-10T20:55+0000

science & tech

twitter

lawsuit

legal fees

reimbursement

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Agrawal, former chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde and former chief financial officer Ned Segal filed the lawsuit against Twitter in the Delaware Chancery Court, the report said. The three former Twitter executives are suing the social media company, now run by Elon Musk, for not indemnifying them for situations that required legal counsel, the report said. The lawsuit cites examples of situations including a subpoena to Gadde from Congress to testify before the House Oversight Committee and conversations between Agrawal, Segal and officials from the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the report said. The lawsuit also includes copies of indemnification agreements between the former executives and Twitter, the report said. The copy of Agrawals agreement was unsigned, with the ex-CEO claiming the company has not responded to requests for original documentation, the report added. Twitters press office reportedly auto-replied with a "poop emoji" when contacted for comment.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/musk-claps-back-at-journalist-matt-taibbi-over-twitter-substack-rivalry-1109287597.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/iran-saudi-arabia-make-first-steps-to-appoint-ambassadors-1109329878.html

Iran, Saudi Arabia Make First Steps to Appoint Ambassadors

Iran, Saudi Arabia Make First Steps to Appoint Ambassadors

Iran and Saudi Arabia are in talks on restoring diplomatic relations and have started the process of appointing ambassadors, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday.

2023-04-10T15:52+0000

2023-04-10T15:52+0000

2023-04-10T15:52+0000

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"The initial steps between Iran and Saudi Arabia to appoint ambassadors have been made," he said.Kanaani also said that a technical delegation from Tehran will leave for Riyadh on April 11 to prepare for the opening of the Iranian embassy in Saudi Arabia's capital and the consulate in Jeddah. On Thursday, Saudi technical specialists arrived in Iran to prepare the opening of the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran and the consulate general in Mashhad as part of an agreement between the two countries to restore diplomatic relations. Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, met in China and signed an agreement on the restoration of diplomatic relations and preparation for the opening of diplomatic missions. They also agreed to resume direct flights between the two countries. In early March, Iran and Saudi Arabia, with China's mediation, agreed to resume diplomatic ties that were severed in 2016 after Saudi Arabia's diplomatic missions in Iran had been attacked following the execution of Shiite preacher Nimr al-Nimr.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/chinas-saudi-iran-deal-indicates-us-no-longer-pulling-mideast-strings-1109246891.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/kremlin-on-chinas-military-drills-beijing-has-right-to-react-to-provocative-actions-1109315401.html

Kremlin on China's Military Drills: Beijing Has Right to React to Provocative Actions

Kremlin on China's Military Drills: Beijing Has Right to React to Provocative Actions

Russia sees provocative actions being carried out against China, and Beijing has the right to react, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday

2023-04-10T10:39+0000

2023-04-10T10:39+0000

2023-04-10T10:39+0000

world

china

drills

russia

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"In a very short period of time, we have witnessed multiple actions that were provocative in relation to China. Of course, China has the sovereign right to respond to these provocative actions, including by conducting military maneuvers in strict accordance with international law, and everyone should respect the right of China, just like other countries, to such carry out actions," Peskov told a briefing.On Saturday, Chinese military launched three-day exercises and patrols in the sea and airspace around Taiwan. It came a couple of days after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a transit visit to the US on her way back from Guatemala and Belize. The Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the contacts between US and Taiwanese officials, calling on Washington to stop upgrading relations with the island. The situation around Taiwan escalated last August after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to the island. Beijing condemned Pelosi's trip, which it regarded as a gesture of support for separatism, and launched large-scale military drills in the vicinity of the island. Despite China's acute reaction, Pelosi's visit unleashed a wave of trips by Western politicians to the island.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230408/taiwan-says-detected-71-chinese-military-jets-9-vessels-approaching-island-on-april-8-1109281141.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/lukashenko-minsk-seeks-security-guarantees-from-moscow-in-case-of-external-aggression-1109313335.html

Lukashenko: Minsk Seeks Security Guarantees From Moscow in Case of External Aggression

Lukashenko: Minsk Seeks Security Guarantees From Moscow in Case of External Aggression

Minsk requires that Moscow provides security grantees to Belarus to protect the territory of the republic as if its own territory in case of any external aggression, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday.

2023-04-10T10:08+0000

2023-04-10T10:08+0000

2023-04-10T10:16+0000

world

russia

belarus

security

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"In general, we discussed it at the talks [of the presidents of Belarus and Russia] so that in case of aggression against Belarus, Russia protects Belarus as its own territory. That's what security [guarantees] we need," Lukashenko was quoted as saying by a Belarusian state news agency at a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu in Minsk. Lukashenko said that he raised this issues during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who fully supported Minsk's ideas on the matter. The Russian defense minister arrived in the Belarusian capital to hold security hold with Lukashenko.The meeting comes just weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko held talks in Moscow, where the Russian head of state announced that Russian tactical nuclear weapons would be deployed in Belarus in response to NATO stationing its weaponry close to Russia's borders."We agreed that - in this sense, [Belarusian President] Alexander Grigorievich [Lukashenko] is right when he says 'listen, we are your closest allies. Why do the Americans place nukes on their allies' territory?' They also engage, by the way, in the training of allies' pilots to use these weapons if necessary. We have agreed that if necessary, we will do the same thing, without violating our obligations - I would like to emphasize - without violating our international obligations on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons," Putin said.The Kremlin has put a premium on the fact that the move does not breach Russia's commitments to the non-proliferation since Moscow will retain control over the nukes. The storage sites for weapons are expected to be finished by July 1.For his part, Lukashenko made it clear that he may also consider hosting Russian strategic nuclear weapons if deemed necessary for the protection of the country.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/kremlin-west-overreacting-to-russian-plan-to-station-tactical-nukes-in-belarus-1109291482.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/mod-russian-aviation-strikes-ukrainian-positions-in-krasny-liman-direction-1109306022.html

MOD: Russian Aviation Strikes Ukrainian Positions in Krasny Liman Direction

MOD: Russian Aviation Strikes Ukrainian Positions in Krasny Liman Direction

Russian attack aircraft and TOS-1A "Solntsepek" (Blazing Sun) thermobaric rocket launchers have inflicted a defeat on the manpower of Ukrainian troops.

2023-04-10T04:09+0000

2023-04-10T04:09+0000

2023-04-10T04:09+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

tos-1a

russia

ukraine

russian ministry of defense

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"In the Krasny Liman direction, air defense crews  discovered and destroyed unmanned aerial vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Operational-tactical aviation carried out airstrikes using high-explosive aerial bombs on temporary deployment locations and an enemy ammunition depot. Attack aircraft, using unguided missiles, attacked the firepower and manpower of Ukrainian nationalists. Heavy flamethrower systems TOS-1A Solntsepek inflicted fire damage with thermobaric shells. The enemy suffered losses in personnel and equipment," the spokesperson said.Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, after the Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian provocations. In response to Russias operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine. On September 30, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, signed agreements on the accession of these territories to Russia, following referendums that showed that an overwhelming majority of the local population supported becoming part of Russia. Western countries have significantly increased their economic and military support for Kiev, which now includes air defense and multiple rocket launching systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery, anti-aircraft guns, armored vehicles and various types of ammunition. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in January that arms supplies to Ukraine by Western countries testify to their direct and growing involvement in the conflict.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/one-or-two-shells-per-day-ukrainian-troops-reportedly-hit-by-acute-ammo-shortage-1109298451.html

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Melania Trump is rumored to be considering divorce with Donald Trump

The former first lady has been conspicuously absent since Donald Trump appeared in court

The former president denied a relationship with Stormy Daniels

Melania Trump broke a month-long absence from social media on Easter Sunday by wishing her four million Instagram and Twitter followers a Happy Easter.

The former first lady uploaded an image of a pink rose with the message "Happy Easter!"

Donald, Melania Trump Divorce Rumor



The former first lady accompanied her husband, Donald Trump, at Mar-a-Lago for Easter brunch. Images posted on social media demonstrated that the couple received a standing ovation as they entered the auditorium at the former president's private club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Melania Trump also did not attend Donald Trump's Tuesday evening press conference at Mar-a-Lago, where he thanked his children but did not mention his wife. However, Melania's father, Viktor Knavs, sat between Donald Trump's two sons, Eric and Don Jr., in the front row, as per The Independent.

The former model of Slovenian descent has not been seen in public since March 30. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Melania Trump's former assistant, said last week that the conspicuous absence did not indicate their marriage was dissolving.

Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to alleged hush money payments to Ms. Daniels and two other individuals.

Per Ohmymag, insiders claim that Donald Trump and his wife of 18 years, Melania, are on the verge of divorcing. According to sources close to the situation, Donald Trump's "extremely disturbing" infidelity could lead to a divorce.

The former US President is accused of having indiscretions with porn star Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal, which strained his relationship with his wife. As Donald Trump appeared before a judge for his historic court hearing, his lack of public support from Melania was not overlooked.

The controversial politician is also accused of having affairs with Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, and according to sources, this could lead to Donald and Melania Trump divorcing.

According to sources, despite residing together at Mar-a-Lago, they lead distinct lives and only get together for dinners at his Palm Beach mansion. Melania is reportedly focused on rearing the couple's 17-year-old son, Barron.

While it is not unusual for former First Ladies to withdraw from public life after their husband's presidency, the extent of Melania's absence has prompted speculation about the state of her marriage. There are rumors that she is contemplating a divorce and renegotiating her prenuptial agreement with her spouse. However, any concrete evidence does not support these claims, and Melania has not commented on them.

Cooper Lawrence, an American broadcaster, claims that a divorce between the Trumps is unlikely. The journalist believes the former model should have known better than to abandon such a lucrative opportunity. Lawrence suggests that although rumors have circulated in New York for years that Melania and Donald Trump's marriage is merely a "business relationship," part of that "agreement" includes "her standing by him."

Read Also: VIDEO: Two Buildings in France Collapse

Melania Reacts About Stormy Daniels

On Tuesday, the former president was arraigned on the criminal charges he faces concerning the investigation into the $130,000 hush payments he allegedly made to Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels. Trump denied having an affair with Clifford and accused prosecutors of conducting a politically motivated "witch hunt" against him.

Since her husband's indictment a month ago, Melania has not commented on the alleged affair. However, she has previously addressed the matter, as per Newsweek. When it was first reported in 2018 that Donald paid Clifford off a month before the 2016 election, Melania stated that she had "much more essential things to think about and do" besides worrying about her husband's alleged affair.

Two years later, Melania was overheard alluding to Clifford as a "porn hooker" in a tape recording released by Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, an ex-friend of the former first lady who subsequently published the book 'Melania & Me.'

Melania has heard on the recording informing Wolkoff about Clifford's 2020 Vogue photoshoot, "If you Google, go Google and read it, Annie Leibovitz photographed the porn hooker, as she will be in one of the September or October issues." Melania replied, "Stormy," when asked who the "porn hooker" was.

In response to the audio recordings, Clifford tweeted, "Hahaha! Although I wasn't paid for sex and technically am not a "hooker," I'd rather be that than what you are. On Friday, Clifford sent Melania another message. She told the former first lady, "Contact me if you need me to testify in your divorce case."

Related Article: Donald Trump Judge Juan Merchan and His Family Receive Threats

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/netanyahu-no-decision-has-been-made-to-provide-ukraine-with-arms-supplies-1109333956.html

Netanyahu: No Decision Has Been Made to Provide Ukraine With Arms Supplies

Netanyahu: No Decision Has Been Made to Provide Ukraine With Arms Supplies

The Israeli government has not made any decisions regarding the supply of lethal weapons to Kiev and continues to provide only humanitarian aid, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday, commenting on the leak of secret Pentagon documents.

2023-04-10T21:08+0000

2023-04-10T21:08+0000

2023-04-20T17:06+0000

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Earlier in the day, US media reported leaked Pentagon documents revealed that Israel could consider scenarios in which it would agree to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine under US pressure. Netanyahu added that he did not know how the conflict in Ukraine could be resolved and whether there was even a way to resolve it, but noted he would do "everything possible" to achieve peace. Since the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, Israel has been resisting providing Kiev with weapons and focusing instead on humanitarian assistance. In January, Netanyahu said that Israel was considering providing to Ukraine the Iron Dome air defense system. In mid-March, the Israeli prime minister held a meeting with one of the issues on the agenda being possible military supplies to Ukraine.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/new-poles-are-growing-in-multipolar-world-system-ex-austrian-fm-kneissl-1109293225.html

'New Poles are Growing' in Multipolar World System: Ex-Austrian FM Kneissl

'New Poles are Growing' in Multipolar World System: Ex-Austrian FM Kneissl

As emerging superpowers, such as China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, India and Russia, are forging new political and economic alliances, "rules-based order" promoted by the US and the EU is harming their own economies

2023-04-10T08:00+0000

2023-04-10T08:00+0000

2023-04-12T17:05+0000

karin kneissl

russia

european union (eu)

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Multipolar West Asia, Africa, Latin AmericaRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Ankara on Friday, with part of his agenda dedicated to Syria-Turkiye reconciliation. According to Karin Kneissl, Moscow and Tehran have played important roles in the mediating process, which raised a few eyebrows in Washington.She underlined Moscows role in the Syria-Turkiye talks and pointed to the fact that in its recent bulletin, the White House expressed concern over "being sidelined, bysided, blind-sided, frustrated" in the process, with the "Assad must go" mantra losing its effectiveness on the NATO member state Turkiye:Austria's former top diplomat stressed the growing importance of the Middle East in the newly-forming multipolar world architecture, describing the nuances in terminology, which may help in understanding the changes:When asked which nations besides China, Russia and Saudi Arabia are forming the new multipolar world, Kneissl mentioned India and Latin American nations such as Brazil and Argentina, while also praising the role of some Rainbow Continent nations, such as South Africa and others:On Emerging Powers and the Energy MarketWhen talking about the collective leverage of emerging powers in the energy markets, Kneissl elaborated on the recent decision of OPEC+ to cut oil production  something which, in her opinion, may influence not only the upcoming presidential elections in the United States but also indirectly trigger a chain reaction in the EU.Kneissl likewise explained that the US has already used up the oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and OPEC+'s decision may push the gas prices in America through the roof, prompting the Biden administration to cut oil and gas exports:According to Kneissl, the possible ban on American LNG supplies to Europe, which were partly filling the market gaps caused by the lack of Russian gas supplies to the Old World, may push energy prices in the EU, which have already soared, even higher:She has also pointed at the EU leaders' recent attempts to seek alternatives to the affordable Russian gas in Norway, Canada and Africa, with German Chancelor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron paying visits to gas-producing countries like Algeria, - only to find that there are no easy and quick solutions:The Hypocrisy of 'Rules-Based Order' RhetoricWhen talking about the Wests foreign policy style, Kneissl argued that it harms the EUs economic interests globally. She gave an example of Germanys automotive industry, which is losing ground in Russia after abandoning production and sales in the country. It similarly failed to keep its share of the Middle Eastern market, where it has largely been replaced by the Asian automakers over the past 20 years, and now, due to actions of European leaders, its positions in Asia are also in danger.In her Sputnik interview, Kneissl also spoke about the emerging powers' role in the mediation of global crises, commented on Austria and Switzerland taking sides in the Ukrainian conflict, and thus abandoning their neutrality, and also shared her opinion on the need for "new faces" in Western politics.Kneissl was minister of European and international affairs of Austria from 2017 to 2019. She has been criticized in the EU for her ties with Russia and eventually left Austria and later France because of death threats.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230201/credit-suisse-us-dollar-hegemony-may-be-replaced-by-more-multipolar-monetary-system-1106894583.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/seymour-hersh-cias-nord-stream-counter-op-story-intentionally-absurd-to-reinforce-truth-1109166466.html

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karin kneissl interview, multi-polar world, eu sanctions, emerging superpowers, turkey-syria talks, turkiye-syria talks, saudi-iranian talks
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/one-snowden-like-dissenter-likely-behind-leak-of-pentagon-docs-ex-cia-analyst-says-1109334211.html

One Snowden-Like Dissenter Likely Behind Leak of Pentagon Docs, Ex-CIA Analyst Says

One Snowden-Like Dissenter Likely Behind Leak of Pentagon Docs, Ex-CIA Analyst Says

Recent leaks of classified Pentagon documents were probably carried out by a single dissident within the US security establishment who opposes the Biden administration's policies, former CIA analyst Phil Giraldi told Sputnik.

2023-04-10T21:54+0000

2023-04-10T21:54+0000

2023-04-10T21:51+0000

americas

pentagon leaks

edward snowden

leak

us

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Top secret Pentagon files leaked online in recent weeks provide sensitive details on a range of security topics, including with respect to Ukraine, China, and the Middle East. The materials allegedly expose weaknesses in Ukrainian air defenses and indicate Washington had been eavesdropping on allies, among other secrets. On Monday, the State Department said US officials are engaging allies at the highest levels about the leaks to reassure them of Washington's commitment to safeguarding intelligence. How the Biden administration will find the culprit remains a mystery considering hundreds of officials had access to the material, he added. However, Pentagon officials were deploying serious resources to do so, Giraldi said. The former CIA analyst said the documents, consisting primarily of PowerPoint slides from briefings, included some surprises like the report on Mossad allegedly encouraging the protests in Israel. Giraldi also said the information is old and does not appear to compromise any particular initiatives that are either underway or planned. "It would be a mistake to consider it a massive security breach if one considers actual damage done - beyond considerable embarrassment for the Pentagon," he said. The White House said the leaked information has had no effect on support for Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov at a press briefing on Monday said the leaked documents are "quite interesting," and are being studied, analyzed, and widely discussed in Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/ukraine-leaks-has-the-pentagon-gone-rogue-against-biden-1109332255.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/philippine-president-says-military-bases-in-country-wont-be-used-for-offensive-operations-1109312364.html

Philippine President Says Military Bases in Country Won't Be Used for Offensive Operations

Philippine President Says Military Bases in Country Won't Be Used for Offensive Operations

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Philippines will not allow anyone to use its military bases to conduct offensive operations as the facilities are solely for bolstering... 10.04.2023, Sputnik International

2023-04-10T09:49+0000

2023-04-10T09:49+0000

2023-04-10T09:49+0000

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"China's reaction is not really surprising because they are worried. But the Philippines will not allow the use of its bases for any offensive action. These will only be used to help the Philippines if it needs help," Marcos said, as quoted by media. Marcos added that the Philippines had given the US expanded access to its bases for aid during natural disasters, as the facilities are located in the disaster prone areas. The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) was signed in 2014 between the US and the Philippines with the aim of strengthening the military cooperation of the two countries. The document envisages joint military exercises and higher interoperability between the armed forces of the US and the Philippines. Under the EDCA, the US is not allowed to have permanent military bases in the Philippines, but the agreement provides for US troops' extended stays on the Philippine military bases.Last week, the US Defense Department announced that the Philippines and the US had agreed to expand their Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement EDCA to four new locations, one of them near the South China Sea. Commenting on the recent agreement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that it would lead to "more tensions and less peace and stability" in the region.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/us-pulls-philippines-into-natos-geopolitical-confrontation-versus-china-1109119777.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/russian-ambassador-un-security-council-should-not-duplicate-work-of-general-assembly-1109329569.html

Russian Ambassador: UN Security Council Should Not Duplicate Work of General Assembly

Russian Ambassador: UN Security Council Should Not Duplicate Work of General Assembly

The UN Security Council should not duplicate the work of the General Assembly on global measures but must respond to threats to peace and security arising from weapons transfers, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said on Monday.

2023-04-10T15:37+0000

2023-04-10T15:37+0000

2023-04-10T15:37+0000

world

russia

vasily nebenzya

the united nations (un)

un security council (unsc)

un general assembly

arms smuggling

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The Russian ambassador pointed out that the states comprising the so-called collective West are not sincere in their support for responsible transfers of weapons, as shown by the Ukraine crisis. Nebenzia made the remarks during an event at the UN Security Council dubbed "Risks stemming from violations of the agreements regulating the export of weapons and military equipment." The gathering is one of the signature events during Russia's presidency of the UN Security Council in April.Western ambassadors did not attend the meeting but were represented by deputy ambassadors and diplomatic experts.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/nato-not-even-trying-to-track-arms-sent-to-ukraine-as-russia-warns-of-rampant-smuggling-1109320578.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/russian-govt-delegation-to-visit-cuba-in-may-to-promote-economic-cooperation-1109322058.html

Russian Gov't Delegation to Visit Cuba in May to Promote Economic Cooperation

Russian Gov't Delegation to Visit Cuba in May to Promote Economic Cooperation

A delegation of the Russian government will visit Cuba in May with the goal of promoting the development of bilateral economic cooperation, First Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Vasiliy Osmakov said on Monday.

2023-04-10T12:55+0000

2023-04-10T12:55+0000

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russia

cuba

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"In order for Cuba to become not only a political but also an economic project, it is necessary to change the legislation there in a way to make it preferential for Russian investors," Osmakov told the Russian lower house. This "project" will also require long-term financing and a facility to make it possible for Cubans to get revenue in rubles, the Russian official said, pointing out that this was an approach suitable for all "difficult markets." In November, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Moscow to discuss various areas of bilateral cooperation. The 19th session of the Russian-Cuban interdepartmental commission on cooperation in trade, economy, science and technology ended in November with an agreement on cooperation in higher education. In January, the Cuban president met with a delegation of Russian entrepreneurs in Havana to follow up on agreements reached during his November visit to Moscow.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/russias-foreign-ministry-ready-to-assist-in-installation-of-monument-to-soviet-army-in-zimbabwe-1109328691.html

Russia's Foreign Ministry Ready to Assist in Installation of Monument to Soviet Army in Zimbabwe

Russia's Foreign Ministry Ready to Assist in Installation of Monument to Soviet Army in Zimbabwe

The Russian Foreign Ministry is ready to provide the necessary assistance in ensuring Russian participation in the installation of a monument in Zimbabwe dedicated to the victory of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War.

2023-04-10T17:07+0000

2023-04-10T17:07+0000

2023-04-10T17:07+0000

africa

southern africa

zimbabwe

russia

foreign ministry

monument

great patriotic war

world war ii

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The Russian Foreign Ministry is ready to provide necessary assistance in ensuring Russian participation in the installation of a monument in Zimbabwe dedicated to the victory of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War, said deputy director of the Department of Africa of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrey Stolyarov.Earlier, Maxim Dulyan, head of the Africa Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Sputnik News that at the initiative of the Zimbabwean side, a monument dedicated to the victory of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War will be erected on the territory of the Museum of the Liberation of Africa currently under construction in Harare.The monument will be developed jointly by Russian and African artists and sculptors, an interdepartmental working group is working on this project, Director of the Zimbabwe Institute of African Studies Kwame Muzawazi told the agency.According to her, the monument is planned to be made of bronze, stone, and mosaic. She noted that four points are being considered for the installation of the monument, the size of which will be at least 15-20 meters.On the Russian side, the project is supervised by the Federation Council, the upper house of the Federal Assembly. The topic of creating a museum and opening a monument was raised during a visit by Chairwoman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko to Zimbabwe and her talks with the country's president in June last year.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230329/zimbabwe-thanks-russia-for-help-in-battling-western-sanctions-senate-speaker-says-1108895307.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/russias-state-duma-committee-approves-amendment-on-life-sentence-for-high-treason-1109310928.html

Russia's State Duma Committee Approves Amendment on Life Sentence for High Treason

Russia's State Duma Committee Approves Amendment on Life Sentence for High Treason

The Constitutional Committee of Russia's State Duma recommended on Monday to adopt the amendments on introducing a life sentence for high treason.

2023-04-10T09:27+0000

2023-04-10T09:27+0000

2023-04-10T09:27+0000

russia

russia

state duma

amendments

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According to Pavel Krasheninnikov, the head of the Committee on State Building and Legislation of the Russian parliament's lower house, the amendments are proposed to be considered at a meeting of the State Duma on Thursday. The Committee also recommended to adopt amendments on toughening criminal liability for sabotage and terrorist attacks. Acts of sabotage, as well terrorist attacks, will be punished by up to 20 years in prison (currently the maximum prison sentence for these crimes is 15 years).On Friday, Vasily Piskarev, the head of the parliamentary commission for foreign interference investigation, said that the State Duma, has introduced amendments on life sentence for high treason.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220905/moscow-court-sentences-journalist-ivan-safronov-to-22-years-in-prison-in-high-treason-case-1100399623.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/senegal-intends-to-produce-wheat-in-bid-to-cut-dependence-on-imports-1109309451.html

Senegal Intends to Produce Wheat in Bid to Cut Dependence on Imports

Senegal Intends to Produce Wheat in Bid to Cut Dependence on Imports

Senegal, known for being one of the world's leading producers of peanuts, is now venturing into wheat farming as the cereal market becomes increasingly tense, and the country seeks to decrease its dependence on imports.

2023-04-10T09:42+0000

2023-04-10T09:42+0000

2023-04-10T09:44+0000

africa

west africa

senegal

wheat

wheat exports

grain

grain exports

agriculture

food

food imports

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Senegal, known for being one of the world's leading producers of peanuts, is now venturing into wheat farming as the cereal market becomes increasingly tense, and the country seeks to decrease its dependence on imports.Minister of Agriculture, Aly Ndiaye, has revealed that Senegal intends to explore wheat cultivation, stating that certain wheat varieties could thrive in the country and produce higher yields than other African nations.The West African nation is currently conducting experiments in its northern region, using five one-hectare sites to determine the most profitable wheat variations. Three common wheat varieties and one durum wheat variety are being tested by specialists, according to Minister Ndiaye.Senegal relies heavily on cereal grain imports, mostly from Russia and France. The country's demand for cereals is consistently growing, with imports increasing by 9% hitting 754,000 tons in 2021, as reported by the Senegalese National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD).Food Security in AfricaThe issue of food security has long been a challenge for many African countries, with a significant number of people across the continent facing hunger and malnutrition. Among the main factors contributing to this dilemma are climate change, which appears in the form of droughts, and the reliance on imported grains, which often come at a high cost and can be subject to fluctuations in global prices. However, in recent years, many African nations have been taking steps to reduce their dependence on grain imports and boost their own agricultural production. Take Zimbabwe, which has experienced excellent cereal harvests in 2022, after lean years. These extraordinary yields have enabled the Zimbabwean nation to ensure its food security and also to become an exporter again. Further north, Maghreb countries are facing an unprecedented drought, which requires the implementation of new agricultural strategies. Morocco, for example, is testing new wheat varieties that are more resistant to heat.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230214/kenyas-president-ruto-holds-national-prayer-day-to-ask-god-for-rain-1107426117.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/seymour-hersh--russia-not-letting-nord-stream-story-be-watered-down-and-swept-under-rug-1109323289.html

Seymour Hersh & Russia Not Letting Nord Stream Story be Watered Down and Swept Under Rug

Seymour Hersh & Russia Not Letting Nord Stream Story be Watered Down and Swept Under Rug

Western media is continuing to ignore Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh's Nord Stream bombshell and bring forward new hypotheses as to who... 10.04.2023, Sputnik International

2023-04-10T16:45+0000

2023-04-10T16:45+0000

2023-04-10T16:45+0000

nord stream sabotage

russia

norway

europe

us

nord stream

ukraine

gas pipeline

cia

joe biden

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Over the past month, the Western media has been bending over backwards to eclipse the Nord Stream bombshell by US veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, who detailed earlier this year a US-Norwegian operation that resulted in the destruction of three Russian underwater pipes on September 26, 2022.Still, the Western press' story of six adventurers nixing the pipelines from a pleasure yacht named Andromeda has turned out to be controversial and incomplete.Last week, the mainstream media alleged that the Andromeda had been assisted by another vessel and quoted Mats Ljungqvist, Swedens senior prosecutor, as saying that a state actor seems to be the most likely culprit behind the blast.When it comes to the question of who this "state actor" might be, The Washington Post noted that European officials "have been whispering about the potential involvement of the Polish or Ukrainian government in the attack."As per Ortel, this version seems to be nothing more than part of the Biden administration's damage control op, with Ukraine and Poland serving as convenient scapegoats. The New York Times was the first to single out Kiev and Warsaw in December 2022 as having clear motives to blow the pipelines up.The same December piece claimed, citing a 2007 Swedish Defense Research Agency study, that even "one diver would be enough to set an explosive device" on the underwater gas infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. This scenario was once again repeated by the newspaper on April 7, 2023. Citing "one pipeline expert and a professional diver," who spoke on condition of anonymity, the media outlet said that the potential perpetrators did not need a large quantity of explosives or undersea drones/mini submarine to plant the bomb, since a "small plastic explosive could do the job, as long as it was placed near a seam of the pipeline." If that were true, the alleged Ukrainian and Polish covert actors could have easily been framed.One could easily imagine how long it would have taken for those volunteer divers to find not only the pipes themselves, but also their seams to attach "small plastic explosives" there. In a word, the theory looks absurd unless a state-backed full-scale underwater surveillance expedition took place prior to the placement of the explosives.Norwegian Vessel and Plane Add More to Hersh's StoryIt appears that some traces of such an expedition were detected by Norwegian investigative journalists from Document.no. One of them, veteran intelligence operative Geir Furuseth, told Sputnik in the wake of Hersh's bombshell release that one of the reasons the US tapped the Norwegians to assist them to nix the pipelines was the high competence of the Nordic nation's Navy Special Forces. Indeed, the Norwegian Navy was quick to find the right spot, according to Hersh.Furuseth's colleague, Alf R. Jacobsen, drew attention to the maneuvers of the KNM Otra, an Alta-class minesweeper of the Royal Norwegian Navy, between May 31 and June 3, 2022 in the Baltic Sea not far from the pipes. The alleged routine sailing/training program took place just two days before the beginning of NATO's BALTOPS 22 naval drills. (According to Hersh, BALTOPS 22 was used as a cover for the US clandestine sabotage operation.)Jacobsen pointed out yet another strange coincidence. In his February 16 interview to an alternative American broadcaster, Hersh revealed that the CIA delivered a decompression chamber  special equipment for divers  to a Norwegian alt-class hunter somewhere around the BALTOPS 22 exercises. Jacobsen noted that a Norwegian cargo plane of the C-130 type flew over the Atlantic on approximately May 25, 2022 and first landed in Jacksonville, Florida, but then continued to an airport near the oil city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Remarkably, the US Navys Diving and Salvage Center is located in Florida, while Louisiana is home to oil companies that obviously had a decompression chamber in stock that suited the purpose, the Norwegian journalist presumed.Why No MSM Story Can Counter Hersh's NarrativeThere is a stark contrast between Hersh's detailed story, which was supported by evidence from various sources, and the messy Andromeda yarn disseminated by the Western press.In his April 5 piece, Hersh suggested that the Andromeda story was planted by the CIA, which, according to the journalist, is routine practice for the agency when it needs to divert attention from its clandestine operations. A counter-story should have "a whiff of reality" and be as detailed as possible to be believed, he explained.However, the Andromeda yarn was dead in the water. One possible reason for this could be that the CIA intentionally planted a poorly cooked-up story to "reinforce the truth," according to the Pulitzer Prize journalist's interlocutor: In the world of professional analysts and operators everyone will universally and correctly conclude from your story that the devilish CIA concocted a counter-op that is on its face so ridiculous and childish that the real purpose was to reinforce the truth," the intelligence expert said, as cited by Hersh. Meanwhile, the Western mainstream press is struggling to connect dots to make the Andromeda story look credible, but is failing over and over again as new questions continue to arise.The New York Times recently made another attempt to make its readers reconcile with the fact that the truth may never come out. The newspaper's rationale is that there are only three options, and each of them is disastrous for international affairs. It could be either Russia, or Ukrainian operatives, or a Western nation behind the blast, the media claimed. However, if one of them is officially named as the culprit, it could irreversibly damage the existing status quo, therefore the public will most likely remain in the dark, the media claimed.Still, Moscow has made it clear that it won't let its Western partners sweep the matter under the rug, consistently calling for an international investigation under the auspices of the UN."Though our government meddles in many places, Americans care most about the home front where crime is rising and where economic pain is mounting, Hersh's salvoes should signal to thinking observers that myths concerning Biden's competence and record as president are hanging by thin threads. No politician is indispensable, let alone a doddering and failing one, who might easily be turned out by the Deep State, and then by the electorate," the Wall Street analyst concluded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/seymour-hersh-cias-nord-stream-counter-op-story-intentionally-absurd-to-reinforce-truth-1109166466.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/russian-ambassador-to-denmark-says-object-found-at-nord-stream-part-of-explosive-device-1109237246.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230211/why-hershs-nord-stream-bombshell-may-become-legal-nightmare-for-team-biden--its-nordic-allies-1107344300.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/putin-tells-danish-ambassador-russia-expects-international-probe-into-nord-stream-attack-1109159345.html

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A Texas man was arrested for allegedly shooting a motorist

The suspect was previously arrested for a stabbing death, for which he was ultimately found innocent

Grant was officially exonerated in 2021

Police say a man declared exonerated of a fatal stabbing conviction and seven years in prison in 2021 has been charged with murder in the shooting of a fellow motorist.

Thursday night, Houston police said Lydell Grant, 46, is suspected of killing Edwin Arevalo, 33, following a minor traffic collision. According to police, Grant exited his vehicle, shot Arevalo, and fled.

Lydell Grant's Case

Grant was arrested on Friday after a warrant was issued for his capture, according to police. On Sunday, he remained in prison on a $1 million bond. ABC reported that the attorney for Grant listed in the court documents for this case could not be reached promptly on Sunday.

Grant was convicted in 2012 of stabbing 28-year-old Aaron Scheerhoorn outside a Houston tavern in 2010. At Grant's trial, six witnesses to the assault testified against him.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declared Grant innocent in May 2021 after a new analysis of DNA discovered on the victim's nails indicated Grant's innocence. In 2019, after serving seven years of a life sentence, he was released on parole pending the appeals court's decision.

Jermarico Carter was apprehended in 2019 for Scheerhoorn's murder. Carter, who was located in Atlanta, admitted to the murder. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to prison.

The Innocence Project of Texas, which had labored to exonerate Grant, stated that it could not comment on the specifics of the incident because an investigation is ongoing. The group expressed its "thoughts and sympathies to the victim's family."

"The highest responsibility of a prosecutor is to ensure that justice is done, and ensuring that the correct individual is charged a baseline responsibility," said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.

Read Also: Two Buildings in France Collapse

Footage Shows Texas Man Shoots Motorist

Grant's counsel, Mike Ware, also the Innocence Project executive director, remarked, "We are relieved that Lydell's wrongful conviction has reached this significant milestone."

Carter pled guilty to the homicide of Scheerhorn last year, while the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declared Grant innocent in May 2021.

On Friday, Grant was apprehended after authorities say surveillance footage from the crash near the intersection of Hiram Clarke Road and Brentwood Park Drive helped them identify him as the shooter.

His defense now contends that Grant has been operating his own house-cleaning business for six months and supporting his mother. Per Daily Mail, they argued in court that the last allegation on his criminal record occurred in 2009.

The Innocence Project of Texas issued the following statement to ABC 13: "We are devastated by the news of this tragic event, and our thoughts and condolences are with the victim's family."

"As this investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment on the specifics of this incident," the spokesperson explained. However, he stated, "We stand by Mr. Grant's previous exoneration by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals."

Related Article: California Dermatologist Yue Emily Yu Poisons Husband

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/shiveluch-volcano-in-russias-kamchatka-begins-to-erupt---russian-academy-of-sciences-1109334519.html

Shiveluch Volcano in Russia's Kamchatka Erupts

Shiveluch Volcano in Russia's Kamchatka Erupts

The Shiveluch volcano has begun to erupt on the Kamchatka Peninsula of the Russian Far East, spewing columns of black ash up to 20 kilometers (12 miles) into the sky, the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) said on Tuesday.

2023-04-10T22:04+0000

2023-04-10T22:04+0000

2023-04-11T13:22+0000

russia

shiveluch

volcano

volcano eruption

kamchatka territory

russian academy of sciences (ras)

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"On April 11, 2023, 05:44 a.m. [local time, 17:44 GMT on Monday], the Shiveluch volcano erupted. According to seismic data, the height of ash spewed by the eruption was about 20,000 meters above sea level," the RAS said on Telegram. The Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Far Eastern Branch of the RAS said in a statement that volcanic flows from Shiveluch could travel up to 20 kilometers and block roads. The institute said that ash spews pose a significant danger to aviation; thus, the highest level of threat for aviation was declared on the peninsula. The institute said that ashfall in the village of Klyuchi was the strongest in the last 60 years.Oleg Bondarenko, the head of the Ust-Kamchatsky district, said on Telegram that the sky was covered with a black cloud within a radius of several tens of kilometers from the volcano, including the villages of Klyuchi and Kozyrevsk in the Ust-Kamchatsky district. He added that thunder rumbled due to electrostatic stress in the ash cloud. Ashes began to fall in the villages, he said, and urged residents of the district to remain indoors and wear masks. Vladimir Solodov, the governor of the Kamchatka region, also urged residents not to leave their houses unnecessarily, adding that the work of social institutions and schools was suspended, and the road traffic between Klyuchi and Ust-Kamchatsk was blocked. The government of the Kamchatka region said on Tuesday, citing scientists, that volcanic ash has already spread 500 kilometers northwest of the volcano and continues to spread. Ashfall intensified in Klyuchi and Kozyrevsk, the government added.The government said that a group of rescuers have already departed to Klyuchi to deliver 7,000 medical masks, help the residents, and maintain safety on the roads. Hospitals and other medical facilities in the district were switched to round-the-clock operation, the government said.The press office of Russian regional energy company Kamchatskenergo said severe ashfall caused power outages in the villages of Kozyrevsk and Mayskoe. The company's specialists were waiting for the end of ashfall and snowfalls to begin clearing insulators on power lines and transformer substations, the company said, adding that the social infrastructure of the villages was connected to backup power sources.Shiveluch is one of Kamchatka's largest, most active, and most continuously erupting volcanoes, as well as one of the most active on the planet. Shiveluch is located in central Kamchatka, 50 kilometers from Klyuchi and 450 kilometers from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221120/russias-shiveluch-volcano-threatens-to-erupt-scientists-say-1104451101.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/tennessee-democrat-justin-jones-reinstated-to-state-house-seat-after-gop-expulsion-1109334954.html

Tennessee Democrat Justin Jones Reinstated to State House Seat After GOP Expulsion

Tennessee Democrat Justin Jones Reinstated to State House Seat After GOP Expulsion

Just four days after being expelled from his post in the Tennessee General Assembly, state Rep. Justin Jones was voted unanimously on Monday to reclaim his seat in the state's House of Representatives.

2023-04-10T23:06+0000

2023-04-10T23:06+0000

2023-04-10T23:03+0000

americas

tennessee

justin jones

nashville

reinstatement

us lawmakers

gun control

protest

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Just four days after being expelled from his post in the Tennessee General Assembly, state Rep. Justin Jones was voted unanimously on Monday to reclaim his seat in the state's House of Representatives.Nashville's Metropolitan Council, which is responsible for filling Jones' seat after his Thursday ouster, agreed in a 36-0 vote to reinstate the Democrat as an interim representative for District 52 until a special election can be held. Jones will be eligible to run for reelection.Footage from the vote count captured supporters applauding Jones' reinstatement and bursting into audible cheers. Shortly afterward, Jones joined in a demonstration and marched back to the Tennessee state capitol alongside his supporters.Jones was expelled from the state House chamber on April 6 alongside fellow Democrat Justin Pearson. Although the expulsion initiative also included state Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), the chamber failed to clinch the two-thirds supermajority needed in order to boot the lawmaker from her post.The three lawmakers, dubbed the "Tennessee Three," were accused of breaking chamber rules after approaching the House podium during the session between bills in order to protest and call for gun reform in the wake of the Nashville mass shooting.The expulsion, which drew national attention, has highlighted the role that race has played in the case. Johnson, who is white, relayed to local media that she believed Jones and Pearson were treated differently as both men are Black. Jones himself told US media that he "basically had a member call me an uppity Negro."Robert Hockett, a lawyer and professor with the Cornell Law School, told Radio Sputnik's Political Misfits on Monday that the Tennessee case signaled the "last desperate acts" of the old guard. He explained that the case was twofold, proving that while lawmakers were being "more overt" about their "racialist motivations," it also marked last-ditch efforts to "cling onto power.""It seems when you get to this sort of point.. when youre just shamelessly doing these kinds of things, you might be entering the sort of terminal haze of your own capacity to be calling shots," Hockett said.Prior to the Thursday expulsion, only two other state House members had been expelled since the 1800s, both cases of which dealt with criminal charges or sexual misconduct allegations.A meeting is expected to be held on Wednesday to determine a potential reinstatement for Pearson. Local media reported that at least one of Shelby County's 13 commissioners was in favor of reappointing Pearson to his post.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/republican-led-tennessee-house-expels-two-democratic-members-over-gun-control-protest-1109224069.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/ukraine-changes-some-military-plans-after-leak-of-us-intelligence-documents-reports-say-1109308147.html

Ukraine Changes Some Military Plans After Leak of US Intelligence Documents, Reports Say

Ukraine Changes Some Military Plans After Leak of US Intelligence Documents, Reports Say

The Ukrainian military command has amended some military plans due to the leak of classified US intelligence documents, US media reported on Monday, citing sources.

2023-04-10T06:11+0000

2023-04-10T06:11+0000

2023-04-10T12:46+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

us

russia

pentagon leaks

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A source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the broadcaster that Kiev had already changed some of its military plans because of the leak. Although media did not specify what has been altered, it noted that in late February, Zelensky suggested striking Russian deployment points inside its territory, in the Rostov Region, with drones, as Ukraine does not have long-range missiles that can reach these targets, according to the Pentagon's leaked report. The source also told the news outlet that Ukrainian officials were not surprised with the fact that the US has been spying on them, however, they were quite concerned with the leakage itself.Last week, media reported, citing officials familiar with the matter, that a new trove of classified documents had leaked online that included US military documents relating to Ukraine, China, and the Middle East. Some of the materials exposed alleged weaknesses of the Ukrainian air defense and low ammunition stock. On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said commenting on reports about the leaks that Russia has no doubts the US and NATO are directly or indirectly involved in the Ukrainian conflict, with the level of their involvement gradually rising over time.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/ukrainian-orthodox-church-parishioners-defend-alexander-nevsky-cathedral-from-kievs-henchmen-1109322411.html

Ukrainian Orthodox Church Parishioners Defend Alexander Nevsky Cathedral From Kiev's Henchmen

Ukrainian Orthodox Church Parishioners Defend Alexander Nevsky Cathedral From Kiev's Henchmen

The Kiev regime has been flagrantly persecuting the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), despite the efforts of church leaders to maintain neutrality. Just recently, authorities in the Ukrainian capital embarked on a violent takeover of one of Orthodoxys main shrines  the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

2023-04-10T15:06+0000

2023-04-10T15:06+0000

2023-04-10T15:06+0000

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church

orthodox church

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About 200 parishioners of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) have been staunchly defending the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the town of Kamenetz-Podolsky, Khmelnytsky region, from being seized by followers of the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), according to a Telegram post by a Ukrainian publication.The faithful, as can be seen from the post on Telegram, are singing prayer hymns and refusing to allow entry to OCU supporters.The day before, the UOC indicated that attempts were being made to seize the cathedral by force. According to the Union of Orthodox Journalists, one of the female parishioners required hospitalization after OCU supporters aggressively shoved her.About 100 people who had nothing to do with either the cathedral or the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church had gathered near the walls of the cathedral on Saturday, voting in favor of it being transferred to the OCU.The Union of Orthodox Journalists published a video showing one of the OCU supporters trying to squeeze through the throng of parishioners defending the cathedral and pushing them. Police could be seen standing by idly and not intervening.Earlier, on April 2, the UOC was cited as saying that a crowd had tried to storm the cathedral in Khmelnitsky. Later, they said the clergy were escorted from the territory of the shrine, and those who stormed the cathedral held a meeting at which they voted for its transition to the schismatic structure of the post-coup regime's artificially constructed so-called Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The keys to the premises were ostensibly handed over to a "commission," which entered the church and began an inventory of the property.The developments fall into the overall pattern of persecution that the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church is being subjected to. Referring to its links with Russia, local authorities in different regions of Ukraine, under the guidance of the Kiev regime, have opted to crack down on the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and a bill on its actual ban in Ukraine has been submitted to the country's parliament.The Kiev regime has also imposed sanctions against some members of the UOC clergy. The Security Service of Ukrainian has begun opening criminal cases against the clergy, conducting so-called "counterintelligence activities," searching their homes, as well as churches and monasteries, in search of evidence of "anti-Ukrainian activities."Thus, the situation around the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra - one of the oldest, largest, and historically most significant Orthodox Christian shrines in the world - escalated to a boiling point after the monks of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church refused to leave the monastery following the order of the directorate of the Kiev-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve, the state-owned museum complex subordinate to Ukraines Ministry of Culture. On March 10, the monks were ordered to leave by March 29, after the reserves directorate announced the termination of the open-ended lease agreement with the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, citing an alleged breach of contract. The Russian Orthodox Church, the World Council of Churches, and Ukrainian opposition leaders have slammed the Zelensky government over the move.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230328/what-happened-to-the-orthodox-church-in-ukraine-1108821316.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230120/kiev-seeks-to-ban-ukrainian-orthodox-church-as-part-of-religious-crackdown-1106526197.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/us-designates-wsj-reporter-gershkovich-as-wrongfully-detained-in-russia---state-dept-1109334079.html

US Designates WSJ Reporter Gershkovich as Wrongfully Detained in Russia - State Dept.

US Designates WSJ Reporter Gershkovich as Wrongfully Detained in Russia - State Dept.

The United States has designated Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich as wrongfully detained by Russian authorities following his arrest in March on espionage charges, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Monday.

2023-04-10T21:41+0000

2023-04-10T21:41+0000

2023-04-10T21:38+0000

world

evan gershkovich

state department

detained

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Today, Secretary Blinken made a determination that Evan Gershkovich is wrongfully detained by Russia, Patel said in a statement. The US government will provide all appropriate support to Mr. Gershkovich and his family. We call for the Russian Federation to immediately release Mr. Gershkovich."Journalism is not a crime, " the statement read. In a separate message issued by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the high-ranking official used the announcement as a means to also call for the "immediate release" of Paul Whelan, who has remained in Russia's custody since 2018 after having been charged with espionage. Whelan has maintained his innocence.The State Department's designation officially transfers supervision of the case to the agency's Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Roger Carstens is expected to work on the Gershkovitz case.Although US President Joe Biden did acknowledge Gershkovitz's detention as unjustifiable the week prior, the Monday development marks the first time the State Department has formally issued the designation.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221209/why-didnt-biden-swap-paul-whelan-convicted-for-espionage-in-russia-1105282503.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/us-hatched-plan-to-threaten-russia-with-nord-stream-sabotage-in-late-2021-sy-hersh-says-1109328188.html

US Hatched Plan to Threaten Russia With Nord Stream Sabotage in Late 2021, Sy Hersh Says

US Hatched Plan to Threaten Russia With Nord Stream Sabotage in Late 2021, Sy Hersh Says

President Biden publicly warned Moscow in early February of 2022 that the US would bring an end to the Nord Stream network if Russia began a military... 10.04.2023, Sputnik International

2023-04-10T15:12+0000

2023-04-10T15:12+0000

2023-04-10T16:44+0000

nord stream sabotage

nord stream

seymour hersh

russia

germany

ukraine

investigation

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The Biden administration hatched plans to threaten Moscow with the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines about two months before the escalation of the Donbass crisis into a full-blown conflagration between Russia and Ukraine, Seymour Hersh has said.Above all, it was a threat. I dont think this administration is very good at persuasion. They operate more along the lines of you are either with us or against us. The idea was to tell Putin: if you cross the border into Ukraine, we will blow up the pipelines, Hersh added.The veteran investigative journalist also pointed to another interesting detail about the weeks leading up to the conflict in Ukraine, saying he found it interesting that hardly anyone pays attention to the fact that the forces Russia had at its disposal in February 2022 numbered about 120,000 men, far fewer than required to defeat a country the size of Ukraine.So if people are still saying that Putin wanted to take Kiev, you have to tell them: thats just not the case. That would not have been possible at all. There were at least 60,000 troops in Kiev [in the spring of 2022, ed.]. And because Putin didnt take the city, people like to say he failed. But I just cant imagine how he could have done it with so few troops. Its also worth remembering that the US and NATO greatly increased the numbers and upgraded the capabilities of the Ukrainian army in recent years, making this army at least formidable, Hersh said.The journalist suggested that whatever motivated Russias actions in the early days of the conflict, one thing is clear: [Putin] did not use extreme force. Hersh believes that what Moscow wants in Ukraine isnt physical control or annexation, but its demilitarization and a measure of political control over an area, particularly as far as foreign policy is concerned. The problem driving the crisis, in Hershs estimation, is that Kiev has rejected demilitarization.Furthermore, he said, even if Moscow and Kiev were willing to negotiate a compromise, in the end it wont matter because we [the US, ed.] dont want it that way. The US has promised new money, including for fighter jets. We could train Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16  which, by the way, is an old plane that the Russians could shoot down relatively easily. But dont tell that to the newspaper people. What the US and NATO are doing right now lies somewhere between stupid and crazy.Whatever comes next with the Nord Stream investigations, Hersh is confident that the Biden administration will never admit its responsibility, and that the legacy media in the US would be perfectly happy with such a state of affairs. The journalist fears the conflict in Ukraine could drag on for years, although if Putin deploys his troops more decisively, things might go faster. The US, he said, has already spent nearly $120 billion on the conflict to date, and will need to spend a lot more  something that might prove difficult as public opinion gradually turns against US policy.Hersh also reiterated that the Nord Stream attack was just as much an attack on Europe as it was on Russia, pointing out that when the attack took place in September, winter was just around the corner, and Germany had proven only partially successful in filling up its underground reserves. Unusually mild weather and deliveries of explosively-priced liquefied natural gas helped, but led to a state of permanently high energy prices.Hersh compared the decision to strike Nord Stream to the Bush administrations decision to respond to 9/11 by invading Iraq, saying theres a word for such policy: stupidity. Biden certainly has a chance of being included in the list of dumbest post-war US presidents  blowing up an allys gas supply, leaving the German chancellor with problems keeping his citizens warm and Germany prosperous is unwise. I dont know what will happen to Scholz. I really dont know. Im speaking to people from the Bundestag, but nothing seems to be happening there. Where is the German report [on Nord Stream, ed.]? When will it be published? In 3,000 years?The journalist pointed out that during the German chancellors famous visit to Washington in February 2022, about two weeks before Russia kicked off its special operation, where Biden warned openly that if Russian troops crossed into Ukraine, there will be no longer a Nord Stream  we will bring an end to it, the German chancellor remained silent instead of challenging the US president.It would have been nice if Scholz had said: I support the president in everything he said, but blowing up the pipelines would be unacceptable. But he didnt say anything. His biggest problem is that he has become a collaborator since my first Nord Stream story. He denied nothing, protested nothing, investigated nothing, Hersh said.Hershs bombshell reporting on the Nord Stream attack now serves as the basis of Russia's calls for an independent, international investigation into the act of terror. After ignoring his reporting and then trying to smear the Pulitzer Prize winner as a discredited journalist, legacy media have come up with alternative explanations about who was responsible, citing a mysterious pro-Ukrainian group with no links to any government and a rented yacht purportedly used to carry out the attack. Media tweaked the yacht story last week to say that it may have been only a decoy in a much larger operation after a backlash about the original storys unbelievable claims.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/talks-on-ukrainian-crisis-can-only-be-held-with-taking-into-account-russias-interests-lavrov-1109232881.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230403/german-economy-ministry-aiming-to-cut-energy-consumption-by-265-by-2030-1109092601.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/seymour-hersh-cias-nord-stream-counter-op-story-intentionally-absurd-to-reinforce-truth-1109166466.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/us-senator-threatens-to-leave-europe-alone-in-response-to-macrons-remarks-on-taiwan-1109314697.html

US Senator Threatens to Leave Europe Alone in Response to Macron's Remarks on Taiwan

US Senator Threatens to Leave Europe Alone in Response to Macron's Remarks on Taiwan

US Republican Senator Marco Rubio said, commenting on recent remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron on Europes role in dispute over Taiwan, that the United States should probably leave the European Union to deal with the Ukraine crisis alone.

2023-04-10T10:31+0000

2023-04-10T10:31+0000

2023-04-10T10:31+0000

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"As far as not getting involved in other conflicts that are not ours, we need to ask Europe - does he [Macron] speak for them? Cause we are pretty heavily involved in Ukraine right now, we are spending a lot of our taxpayer money on a European war. And Ive supported that because I think its in the national interests of the United States to be allies to our allies, but if our allies position, and if in fact Macron speaks for all of Europe, and their position now is theyre not going to pick sides between the US and China over Taiwan, maybe we shouldnt be taking sides either. Maybe we should basically say were going to focus on Taiwan and the threats that China poses, and you, guys, handle Ukraine and Europe," Rubio said in a video posted on his Twitter on Sunday. The senator also noted that it is important for Washington to understand whether Macron speaks for the whole EU as a powerful leader or only for his own country. Additionally, Rubio said that Europe and France had been very dependent on the US over the last years. Thus, he said, when Paris sent troops to North Africa to fight terrorism, it could not to transport them, and the US had to fly them there and take them back. The politician also said that if the whole EU supports Macron, the US may withdraw from Europe and by that save a lot of money. Macron's remarks come on the heels of his visit to China this past week, during which he praised Beijing's role in the international arena and underlined the importance of bilateral French-Chinese relations in various spheres. A series of commercial contracts has been signed between companies of the two countries during the visit. On Sunday, following his visit to China, Macron said that Europe should not let itself be drawn into the confrontation between the United States and China over Taiwan conforming to "the American rhythm." He also noted that the Europeans should "wake up" and think about their own interests. The situation around Taiwan escalated last August after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to the island. Beijing condemned Pelosi's trip, which it regarded as a gesture of support for separatism, and launched large-scale military drills in the vicinity of the island. Despite China's acute reaction, Pelosi's visit unleashed a wave of trips by Western politicians to the island.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/macron-urges-europe-to-stay-out-of-feud-between-us-china-over-taiwan-1109300224.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/what-do-we-know-so-far-about-leaked-pentagon-documents-1109311855.html

What Do We Know So Far About Leaked Pentagon Documents?

What Do We Know So Far About Leaked Pentagon Documents?

From US assessments of the ongoing conflagration in Ukraine to issues pertaining to China, the Middle East, and Washington's eavesdropping on key allies like Israel, South Korea, and France, multiple tranches of allegedly leaked classified US military documents have surfaced on social media sites in recent weeks.

2023-04-10T12:48+0000

2023-04-10T12:48+0000

2023-04-13T12:45+0000

us

ukraine

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leaked documents

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An alleged leak of a trove of classified US military documents posted on social media sites over the past few weeks has prompted the Department of Justice to open a criminal probe. US investigators are described by media reports as juggling several possible theories regarding the sources of the leaks related to American military plans in Ukraine, sensitive information linked to China and the Middle East, as well as details about Washington's intelligence gathering efforts. Theories are said to range from a disgruntled employee from within the intelligence community to an insider targeting US national security interests.Despite the fact that a portion of the documents has since been widely covered by media outlets, the exact nature of the leaked Pentagon papers remains unclear. Here is what we know about the classified Pentagon docs leak so far.Where Did Alleged Secret Docs First Appear?Documents labeled "Secret," "Top Secret," and marked "NOFORN," which means they are not intended for release to foreign nationals, are believed to date from late February and early March 2023. However, they only began to make the rounds on social media platforms and apps in the past few weeks. They were purportedly first posted on a Minecraft channel on Discord, a messaging platform popular with gamers, and the noticeboard 4Chan. Subsequently, the documents made their way to more mainstream outlets like Twitter, YouTube, and Telegram. The story was broken by The New York Times. According to the outlet, a major part of the documents are photographed images of classified Pentagon briefing reports. Furthermore, it was added that they seemed to have been folded before they were later photographed. During an interview with Sputnik, international relations and security analyst Mark Sleboda suggested the leaks likely come from the American side or someone within the American side. The analyst noted that some of the leaked papers confirm information that we really already knew, and suggested taking the leaked info "with a grain of salt."What Are the Leaked Pentagon Documents About?Some batches of the leaked documents reportedly contain detailed information about US military plans in Ukraine, where Russia has been conducting a special military operation. The docs, dated March 1, 2023, reportedly contained information about anticipated weapons deliveries, US estimates of Ukrainians and Russians killed in the conflagration, along with force strength estimates. The documents ostensibly reflect the US and Ukrainian perspectives of what is needed for a counteroffensive. Furthermore, possible scenarios for deploying US forces to the region were also believed to be laid out in the trove of papers. US media reported that the documents show the expenditure rate of US-supplied HIMARS munitions, which has previously not been disclosed by the Pentagon.The Ukrainian military command has amended some military plans due to the leak of classified US intelligence documents, US media reported on Monday, citing a source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The media did not specify what has been altered.The apparent classified information about US and NATO plans for Ukraine might have been leaked by US military and government officials frustrated with the Biden administration's "demand for a US victory against Russia, where none is possible, Karen Kwiatkowski, retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel and former analyst for the US Department of Defense, told Sputnik.The ex-analyst for the US Department of Defense pointed out that Ukrainian troops were essentially being sacrificed at the behest of the Kiev regimes political masters, and the current leak may be aimed at US politicians and the American people, and supports their growing skepticism about Biden's proxy war.Philip Giraldi, a former CIA station chief who now serves as executive director of a non-profit anti-war advocacy group the Council for the National Interest, told Sputnik that the materials, some of which are marked "highly classified," were "presumably leaked by someone senior in the hierarchy of the Pentagon." He added that the docs seemingly assembled for a "military audience" feature "limited tactical information." As for the leak's timing, it could be taken to indicate that some people in the US "intelligence/military pipeline" are getting tired of the "pointless support for Ukraine" and seek to "embarrass the Biden administration into cutting back its efforts," the expert contended.Weighing in on the fact that a series of leaked briefing documents were ostensibly prepared for General Mark Milley, former US Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter suggested that if the leak came from within the US military, it would suggest that there are some who oppose a looming Ukrainian offensive and believe that a compromise of sensitive information pertaining to preparations might help forestall this action. "Others might believe that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff might be hesitating in giving a Ukrainian spring offensive the green light and sought to release the material to force General Milleys hand," Ritter said.How Did Washington's Allies React to Leaked Pentagon Docs?In addition to Ukraine, the leaked documents also reportedly contain sensitive information about Washington's security interests in various corners of the world, as well as its intelligence gathering efforts in China and the Middle East. This batch of documents is said to include detailed maps and briefing slides. One slide, said to have been dated February 23, was reportedly labeled "Secret/NoForn." Thus, in excerpts published on social media, there are reportedly at least two discussions about South Korea's deliberations on whether to provide the US with artillery shells for use in Ukraine, violating Seouls policy on providing lethal aid. South Korean officials were ostensibly worried that President Joe Biden would call his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk-yeol in order to pressure Seoul to deliver the shells in question. Another document, allegedly from the CIA, revealed that the US had found out about the internal debate in South Korea from a signals intelligence report, a term used for intercepted communications.As for Israel, a leaked document, labeled top secret, said that in February, senior officials of the country's intelligence agency advocated for Mossad officials and Israeli citizens to protest the new Israeli governments proposed judicial reforms, including several explicit calls to action that decried the Israeli government, according to signals intelligence.On April 9, the office of Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently rejected this claim.One batch of leaked Pentagon documents purportedly contained a slide that hinted at the presence of a small contingent of under 100 special operations personnel from NATO members France, the US, Britain, and Latvia allegedly active in Ukraine. This quickly prompted Frances Defense Ministry to deny that there were any French soldiers on Ukrainian soil.What Have Experts Said About Leaked Secret Pentagon Docs?Once news of the alleged Pentagon document leak broke, experts voiced concern about the potential risks to US national security. The leaks represent a significant breach in security that could impact Ukrainian military planning, former senior Pentagon official Mick Mulroy reportedly said. While defense officials have admitted that the leaked documents are legitimate, they have indicated that the files appear to have been tampered with, as some casualty estimates regarding the Ukraine conflict have been "overstated."National Security Council spokesman, Retired Rear Adm. John Kirby, warned that such leaks of classified documents could potentially put American troops and allies at risk.Ukraine rejected the allegedly fictional docs as Russian disinformation.On April 7, Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on reports about the leaks, saying that Russia has no doubts the US and NATO are directly or indirectly involved in the Ukraine conflict, with the level of their involvement gradually rising over time. On April 10, Peskov remarked on the allegations that Moscow was behind the leak, stressing that the tendency to blame everything on Russia is "a common disease."What Happens Next?As US defense and intelligence officials embark upon probes to discover the source of the alleged leaks, the revelations "will have zero impact on the actual conduct of the conflict," according to US defense analyst Scott Ritter."Besides creating Internet buzz for a few days," the leaks will have a "similarly minimal impact on public opinion," he surmised.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/classified-leak-may-look-to-embarass-biden-into-cutting-back-ukraine-support-1109302415.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230408/awfully-convenient-leaked-nato-plans-for-ukraine-should-be-taken-with-grain-of-salt-1109279802.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230408/classified-docs-leak-hints-at-growing-frustration-in-us-with-bidens-policy-on-ukraine-1109280691.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230408/awfully-convenient-leaked-nato-plans-for-ukraine-should-be-taken-with-grain-of-salt-1109279802.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230408/scott-ritter-us-document-leak-much-ado-about-nothing-1109280151.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/why-pentagon-files-reek-of-disinfo--1109330940.html

Why 'Pentagon Files' Reek of Disinfo

Why 'Pentagon Files' Reek of Disinfo

A leak of apparently classified Pentagon documents concerning US military plans in Ukraine, as well as sensitive information linked to China and the Middle... 10.04.2023, Sputnik International

2023-04-10T17:32+0000

2023-04-10T17:32+0000

2023-04-10T18:07+0000

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"There could be two reasons behind the leak of these documents," Yuri Knutov, military historian, publicist, and director of the Air Defense Forces Museum, told Sputnik. "The first reason is the internal political struggle within the United States of America () If they have people sympathetic to [GOP] views in the intelligence services, in the special services, in the Pentagon, they could leak such documents in order to accuse the Democrats, President [Joe] Biden and his administration of not being able to keep secrets and playing into the hands of the US' adversaries () I think that the second version is the most probable. The crux of the matter is that the leak could be deliberately organized. That is, as a rule, among this type of documents, approximately 60-70% are genuine documents and around 30-40% are falsifications."Referring to the documents concerning a Ukrainian counter-offensive, Knutov suggested that the purpose of the leak is to sow confusion within the Russian General Staff and ensure that the Kiev regime's advance catches the Russians off guard. "Approximately the same scheme was used by Nazi Germany before June 22, 1941, when the Nazi troops attacked the Soviet Union," the military historian remarked.One still cannot rule out that the apparent leak was organized by some Pentagon dissenter, akin to Edward Snowden, according to Dmitry Kornev, military expert and founder of the Military Russia portal. He draws attention to the fact that the allegedly classified documents started seeping out on computer gaming forums and other non-specialized platforms where they were later found. In any event, the trove deserves to be examined, the expert underscored.No Ukraine Offensive Without More Weapons?The trove describes certain problems with Ukraine's military stockpiles. It particularly claims that the Kiev regime is running out of anti-aircraft missiles, which could leave Ukraines critical national infrastructure vulnerable to Russian strikes and complicate the spring counter-offensive. Judging from the purported Pentagon files, the Kiev regime urgently needs ammo deliveries from NATO, which are long overdue.According to Knutov, NATO's latest packages of military aid indicate that the Kiev regime has most likely amassed considerable quantities of ammo and missiles."In addition, the [West] helped Ukraine create Grom-2 tactical missiles with a range of at least 300 kilometers, which we have begun to shoot down," the military historian continued. "These missiles are more modern than the Tochka-U, although they are not as sophisticated as the Iskander-M missile."Similarly, NATO has stepped up the provision of tanks to the Kiev regime, Knutov continued. Some of those tanks could currently be stationed in Poland and then quickly transferred to Ukraine within two-three days, according to him.Even though the gloomy situation depicted by the alleged Pentagon trove could be partially true, in general the potential of Western countries and those cooperating with the NATO bloc is still considerable, Knutov notes, suggesting that the files reek of disinformation.Ukraine's Offensive: There Should be Plethora of PlansThe apparent goal of the Ukrainian Army and their NATO allies is to break through Russia's defenses, sow panic, and then, if everything goes according to their plans, try to encircle the Russian military forces and interrupt communications, the military expert hypothesized."I just proceed from the fact that one cannot underestimate the enemy," Kornev continued. "Underestimating the enemy is the worst thing that can happen. They are very well-educated, they have prepared for this [offensive] () There should be many plans, and which one will go into work will be decided in the eleventh hour. The only way to protect oneself from modern intelligence, which has infiltrated even the top brass, is to work out several plans at once simultaneously, in parallel, saying that we do not yet know which plan will work. Most likely, that's exactly what they do."Now everything depends on the ability of Russian defense experts to gather and analyze data concerning Ukraine's forthcoming attacks. To illustrate his point, Kornev referred to the Battle of Kursk in 1943. At the time, Soviet generals knew in advance exactly where the Nazi German forces would strike and carried out a preventive artillery attack, thus sowing discord among the frontal units of the Nazis.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/us-congressman-ukrainian-spring-offensive-to-show-whether-crimea-off-table-for-kiev--1109247941.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/what-do-we-know-so-far-about-leaked-pentagon-documents-1109311855.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/why-us-ban-on-russian-aluminum-may-prove-lucky-break-for-europe-1109331187.html

Why US Ban on Russian Aluminum May Prove Lucky Break for Europe

Why US Ban on Russian Aluminum May Prove Lucky Break for Europe

The Biden administration has slapped a 200 percent duty on Russian-made new aluminum and scrap, with the tariffs stepping fully into force this week. While the move was obviously designed to put a dent in Russias aluminum producers, American industrialists may ultimately be the ones left holding the bag. Heres why.

2023-04-10T17:18+0000

2023-04-10T17:18+0000

2023-04-10T18:24+0000

economy

aluminum

rusal

sanctions

tariffs

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trade duties

import duties

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The 200 percent duty on Russian aluminum that entered into force on Monday may cause some economic pain for Russian producers over the short term, but in the long term will leave US manufacturers in an unenviable position, according to Dr. Leonid Khazanov, a leading Russian economist specializing in industry and energy.In an interview with Sputnik, Khazanov explained that formally, Washingtons restrictions are driven by national security concerns, and the interests of protecting the US domestic market from Russian exports. In reality, the observer said, were talking solely about an attempt to increase sanctions pressure on Russia, based on how the sanctions already introduced seem to have worked very poorly or have had no effect at all.According to the economist, the inclusion of primary aluminum could be quite unpleasant for Russia, since it means producers will have to reorient to other markets, find new clients, or expand sales to existing ones.The second option is deliveries to Asia  India, China, and possibly Japan, if they want to take it. The Japanese banned the export of aluminum to Russia, although we never bought it from them and on the contrary, Japan itself is a major importer of aluminum, importing about two million tons, the observer added. Like the Europeans, Japan would probably ask for a discount, under the pretext of sanctions-related toxicity, but this may prove acceptable to Russia, since the domestic market has seen better days and likely wouldnt know what do with so much excess metal.Sanctions Danger?Negotiating with Europe could prove difficult, given the sanctions-happy bureaucracy in Brussels, but if national self-interest and restrictions imposed in 2022 are anything to go by (which left non-ferrous metals off the sanctions list), the bloc may cave, Khazanov believes.What is Europes problem right now? On the one hand, their aluminum production has declined sharply. On the other, their automotive production volumes are slowly recovering. Its not easy for European automakers to live in such conditions; they have few purchasing options. Its either Russia or the Middle East or China. Its not advantageous for them to buy from China for political reasons, because for the past 20 years the EU has fought off Chinese aluminum imports in every way possible after they periodically overwhelmed the local market. As for the Middle East, their producers could very easily raise prices. Which leaves Russia. If Europe wants to impose sanctions on Russian aluminum  no problem, they will depend on Chinese and Middle Eastern suppliers. Thats not good for them. The latter could lower prices in order to strengthen their presence, and then jack them up.As for Russia, its reorientation to new markets away from the US will likely take between six months and a year, and require negotiations, the signing of agreements, logistics, etc., the observer says. Khazanov is hopeful that Russian aluminum giant RUSAL will be able to reorient its production away without reducing output.According to Khazanov, the US is now likely to turn to Canadian aluminum to replace the supplies it once got from Russia, and attempt to increase domestic production. But its unlikely that they will succeed because of the rather high cost of energy resources, exacerbated by market whims and the lack of state regulation.If we look at primary aluminum production in the US over the last 10-20 years, we see a systematic drop due to high energy costs, while the production of secondary aluminum has increased as an alternative. In principle, the production of secondary aluminum in the US still has room for expansion, but there is a problem with the availability of scrap, because there is no excess scrap in the US, and would need to be purchased wherever available, most likely Mexico. Accordingly, prices could rise in these conditions, the economist concluded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230408/cost-of-sanctions-foreign-firms-suffer-2-bln-losses-after-leaving-russia-1109269563.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/biden-extends-emergency-authorizing-russia-sanctions-over-ukraine-for-another-year-1109249057.html

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France's President warned that if US-China relations "heat up," Europe would face significant challenges

Emmanuel Macron believes that Europe will face a considerable risk as it "gets caught up in crises" outside the region

He said Europe must invest more in military, nuclear, and renewable energy and less in the US dollar to become less dependent on the US

French President Emmanuel Macron stated in an interview after a three-day official trip to China that Europe must decrease its reliance on the United States and prevent being driven into the US-China tensions over Taiwan.

Macron discussed his pet notion of "strategic autonomy" for Europe, presumably led by France, to become a "third superpower" after spending almost six hours with Chinese President Xi Jinping throughout his trip during an interview with Politico and Les Echos.

While traveling from Beijing to Guangzhou in southern China aboard COTAM Unite, France's Air Force One, Emmanuel Macron stated that the tremendous danger Europe confronts is that it "gets caught up in crises" outside the region, which "prevents it from building its strategic autonomy."

"We don't want to depend on others for critical topics," Emmanuel Macron said in the interview published on Sunday.

French President Emmanuel Macron's idea of "strategic autonomy" has been wholeheartedly accepted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party. Beijing officials often refer to it in their interactions with European nations.

Emmanuel Macron Urges Europe To Lessen Its Reliance on The US

Beijing officials and theorists believe eroding the transatlantic alliance would hasten the West's fall and China's rise. The French leader also noted in the interview that the contradiction would be that European nations, "overcome with panic," assume they are mere "followers" of America.

He added that Europeans must decide whether it is best to escalate Taiwan's political turmoil. He continued that the worst thing would be for Europeans to believe they had to follow the United States' policy and Beijing's "overreaction" to the China-Taiwan conflict.

Communist China considers democratic Taiwan part of its territory and has never stopped trying to annex the island by force. The government of Taiwan rejects China's claims explicitly. During his official China tour, Emmanual Macron underscored that Europe should not escalate the fight but establish its status as a "third pole" in the US-China conflict.

For Europe to become less reliant on the United States, Macron said, the continent must increase funding for its defense sector, advance nuclear and renewable energy, and lessen its reliance on the US currency, according to Reuters.

Emmanuel Macron also expressed concern about the "extraterritoriality" of the US dollar, which he said may lead European corporations to avoid trade with sanctioned nations. France's Head of State noted that if the US-China tensions "heat up," it will be a massive challenge for Europe to find time and resources to "finance" its "strategic autonomy, and we will become vassals."

Read Also: What Melania Trump Says About Stormy Daniels?

US Expresses Skepticism on China's Openness to France

While in China, Emmanuel Macron attempted to distinguish the European Union's approach to Beijing from the United States' more rigid stance by traveling alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as Europe tries to find a middle ground by negotiating trade and investment deals with China while also pressing for human rights and Ukrainian autonomy, The Financial Post reported.

Meanwhile, Washington is skeptical of China's diplomatic overtures to France. Suppose its relations with the United States worsen. In that case, China may seek a reconfiguration that strategically takes it closer to Europe, according to people familiar with the US government's perspective, per a previous HNGN report.

Related Article: Indonesia Proposes Limited Free Trade Deal with US

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Longtime Standardbred racing participant Kent Russell Baker of Phelpston, Ont. passed away on Friday, April 7 at the age of 80.

Kent was adventurous, loved snowmobiling, boating, his cottages on the lake and his passion for horses  he was a talented and successful Standardbred horse trainer, owner and breeder in Ontario. Kent, whose stable included the tough millionaire Open trotter Armbro Chronicle, also held the position of Vice President and Director for the Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA) and continuously spoke out to promote Standardbred horse racing.

Kent loved driving and many times would drive to the races rather than fly. During his later years, he loved driving across Canada and into the U.S.

Born in Collingwood, Ont. to the late Russell and Eleanor Baker. Kent is survived by his wife of 59 years Ann, and his children Shelly (Andrew) and Rick. Kent was a proud grandfather to Taylor, Tylor and Nicholas, and great grandfather to James and Brantley. Kent will be held dear in the heart of his sister Nancy.

Kent will be remembered by his many nieces and nephews, his brothers- and sisters-in-law and his many friends and business associates for his love of life, loyalty and generosity.

Kent will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Visitation will take place at the Carruthers & Davidson Funeral Home - Stayner Chapel, 7313 Highway 26, Stayner, ON, on Wednesday, April 12 and Thursday, April 13 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Funeral service will be held in private with family members only. In lieu of flowers, a donation in memory of Kent may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Kent Baker.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, on Friday joined U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), and 19 congressional colleagues in sending a letter calling on the Chief Justice of the United States to launch an ethics investigation into Justice Clarence Thomas extensive billionaire-funded luxury travel and other outstanding allegations of misconduct, according to a release from Kaines office.

The letter responded to a ProPublica report last week that Justice Thomas and his wife accepted extravagant vacations worth as much as $500,000 from Republican mega-donor Harlan Crow.

We write to request an investigation into these and other outstanding allegations of unethical, and potentially unlawful, conduct at the Supreme Court, according to the letter.

To date, the Court has barely acknowledged, much less investigated, these allegations. Amidst all of thisperhaps due in part to the Courts inactionthe American peoples trust in the Supreme Court has plummeted to an all-time low. We believe that it is your duty as Chief Justice to safeguard public faith in the judiciary, and that fulfilling that duty requires swift, thorough, independent and transparent investigation into these allegations.

The letter also called on the U.S. Supreme Court to align with the rest of government in adopting a proper code of ethics, enforced by independent investigation and reporting.
We would love to hear your thoughts...

1. How did you come up with the idea for your startup?

2. What was the hardest part in the early stages of the startups growth?

3. What are the services/solutions/products that the startup offers? Who are the targeted audiences?

4. What are your strengths and advantages over your competitors?

5. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics?

6. Is the company bootstrapped or funded? What milestones will the financing get you to?

7. What is the road map ahead? How are you planning to achieve it?

Key Management :

Founding Year :

Milestones :

Awards/Recognition :

Clients :
The King Solomon baby story is often touted as a pinnacle of wisdom.

And it is.

Its an ingenious and clever in a way that uses incentives to get people to reveal the very thing they are trying to keep secret.

In short, two women claim to be a babys mother. King Solomon proposes cutting the baby in two so each can leave with half of the baby.

When one womans emotions gave way and is willing to give the baby away to save it, King Solomon knows she is the mother. For only a mother can feel like this for her child.

Read the entire story in 1 Kings 3:16-28.

But the crazy thing is  and I cant believe that I am not the one pointing this out  this is fundamentally the same idea behind medieval ordeals .

Simply your choice to participate or not reveals nearly everything.

Let Peter Leeson explain:

To see what I have in mind, consider a medieval fellow named Frithogar. Suppose Frithogars neighbor, a farmer, accuses him of stealing. Frithogar denies it. The farmer has no witnesses but is well respected. Frithogar isnt, so the court orders him to the hot water ordeal. Frithogar believes in iudicium Deithat priests, by performing the appropriate rituals, can get God to reveal the truth, performing a miracle that prevents the boiling water from burning him if hes innocent, letting him burn if hes not. What will Frithogar do? Put yourself in his shoes. Suppose Frithogar stole from the farmer. He knows hes guilty, but nobody else does. In this case, if Frithogar undergoes the ordeal, he expects to burn. Moreover, he expects to suffer the legal punishment for theft upon being convicteda large fine. Frithogars other option is to decline the ordeal, confessing his crime or settling with the farmer instead. Both of these alternatives punish Frithogar, but neither is as punishing as the fine for stealing and neither will burn him. Thus, if hes guilty, Frithogar will choose to decline the ordeal. Now suppose that Frithogar didnt steal from the farmer. He knows hes innocent but nobody else does. In this case, if Frithogar undergoes the ordeal, he expects to pull his arm from the boiling water unburned. Moreover, he expects to avoid legal punishment upon being exonerated. If Frithogar declines the ordeal and confesses or settles instead, he suffers punishment for a crime he didnt commit. Thus, if hes innocent, Frithogar will choose to undergo the ordeal.

-Peter Leeson, WTF?! An Economic Tour Of The Weird

This, of course, hinges on faith.

He finishes the thought:

In other words, the specter of the ordeal sorts Frithogar by his guilt or innocence. Leveraging his belief in iudicium Dei incentivizes him to choose one way if he hasnt stolen from the farmer, undergo the ordeal, and another way if he has, decline it, revealing his criminal status through how he chooses. This is similar to the way that King Solomon leveraged the specter of cutting the baby in half to incentivize the disputing women to reveal their maternal status.
Here are my notes on, Show Your Work (Amazon), By: Austin Kleon.

Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

If you look back closely at history, many of the people who we think of as lone geniuses were actually part of a whole scene of people who were supporting each other, looking at each others work, copying from each other, stealing ideas, and contributing ideas.

creativity is always, in some sense, a collaboration, the result of a mind connected to other minds.

Thats all any of us are: amateurs. We dont live long enough to be anything else. Charlie Chaplin

When Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke was asked what he thought his greatest strength was, he answered, That I dont know what Im doing.

Like one of his heroes, Tom Waits, whenever Yorke feels like his songwriting is getting too comfortable or stale, hell pick up an instrument he doesnt know how to play and try to write with it.

The best way to get started on the path to sharing your work is to think about what you want to learn, and make a commitment to learning it in front of others.



If you want people to know about what you do and the things you care about, you have to share.



Audiences not only want to stumble across great work, but they, too, long to be creative and part of the creative process. By letting go of our egos and sharing our process, we allow for the possibility of people having an ongoing connection with us and our work, which helps us move more of our product.



You have to make stuff, said journalist David Carr when he was asked if he had any advice for students. No one is going to give a damn about your resume; they want to see what you have made with your own little fingers.

Put yourself, and your work, out there every day, and youll start meeting some amazing people. Bobby Solomon

As publicist Lauren Cerand says, Post as though everyone who can read it has the power to fire you.

Always be sure to run everything you share with others through The So What? Test. Dont overthink it; just go with your gut. If youre unsure about whether to share something, let it sit for 24 hours. Put it in a drawer and walk out the door. The next day, take it out and look at it with fresh eyes. Ask yourself, Is this helpful? Is it entertaining? Is it something Id be comfortable with my boss or my mother seeing?

If you work on something a little bit every day, you end up with something that is massive. Kenneth Goldsmith

Carving out a space for yourself online, somewhere where you can express yourself and share your work, is still one of the best possible investments you can make with your time. Andy Baio

Theres not as big of a difference between collecting and creating as you might think. A lot of the writers I know see the act of reading and the act of writing as existing on opposite ends of the same spectrum: The reading feeds the writing, which feeds the reading. Im basically a curator, says the writer and former bookseller Jonathan Lethem.

The cat sat on a mat is not a story. The cat sat on the dogs mat is a story. John le Carre

When people realize theyre being listened to, they tell you things. Richard Ford

When I was in college, there was always one classmate in every creative writing workshop who claimed, I love to write, but I dont like to read. It was evident right away that you could pretty much write that kid off completely. As every writer knows, if you want to be a writer, you have to be a reader first.

Make stuff you love and talk about stuff you love and youll attract people who love that kind of stuff. Its that simple.

Whatever excites you, go do it. Whatever drains you, stop doing it. Derek Sivers

An amateur is an artist who supports himself with outside jobs which enable him to paint, said artist Ben Shahn. A professional is someone whose wife works to enable him to paint.
CONVENTION CONCERNING THE EXCHANGE OF GREEK AND TURKISH POPULATIONS The Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the Greek Government have agreed upon the following provisions: Article 1 As from the 1st May, 1923, there shall take place a compulsory exchange of Turkish nationals of the Greek Orthodox religion established in Turkish territory, and of Greek nationals of the Moslem religion established in Greek territory. These persons shall not return to live in Turkey or Greece respectively without the authorisation of the Turkish Government or of the Greek Government respectively. Article 2 The following persons shall not be included in the exchange provided for in Article 1: (a) The Greek inhabitants of Constantinople. (b) The Moslem inhabitants of Western Thrace. All Greeks who were already established before the 30th October, 1918, within the areas under the Prefecture of the City of Constantinople, as defined by the law of 1912, shall be considered as Greek inhabitants of Constantinople. All Moslems established in the region to the east of the frontier line laid down in 1913 by the Treaty of Bucharest shall be considered as Moslem inhabitants of Western Thrace. Article 3 Those Greeks and Moslems who have already, and since the 18th October, 1912, left the territories the Greek and Turkish inhabitants of which are to be respectively exchanged, shall be considered as included in the exchange provided for in Article 1. The expression "emigrant" in the present Convention includes all physical and juridical persons who have been obliged to emigrate or have emigrated since the 18th October, 1912. Article 4 All able-bodied men belonging to the Greek population, whose families have already left Turkish territory, and who are now detained in Turkey, shall constitute the first instalment of Greeks sent to Greece in accordance with the present Convention. Article 5 Subject to the provisions of Articles 9 and l0 of the present Convention, the rights of property and monetary assets of Greeks in Turkey or Moslems in Greece shall not be prejudiced in consequence of the exchange to be carried out under the present Convention Article 6 No obstacle may be placed for any reason whatever in the way of the departure of a person belonging to the populations which are to be exchanged. In the event of an emigrant having received a definite sentence of imprisonment, or a sentence which is not yet definitive, or of his being the object of criminal proceedings, he shall be handed over by the authorities of the prosecuting country to the authorities of the country whither he is going, in order that he may serve his sentence or be brought to trial. Article 7 The emigrants will lose the nationality of the country which they are leaving, and will acquire the nationality of the country of their destination, upon their arrival in the territory of the latter country. Such emigrants as have already left one or other of the two countries and have not yet acquired their new nationality, shall acquire that nationality on the date of the signature of the present Convention. Article 8 Emigrants shall be free to take away with them or to arrange for the transport of their movable property of every kind, without being liable on this account to the payment of any export or import duty or any other tax. Similarly, the members of each community (including the personnel of mosques, tekkes, meddresses, churches, convents, schools, hospitals, societies, associations and juridical persons, or other foundations of any nature whatever) which is to leave the territory of one of the Contracting States under the present Convention, shall have the right to take away freely or to arrange for the transport of the movable property belonging to their communities. The fullest facilities for transport shall be provided by the authorities of the two countries, upon the recommendation of the Mixed Commission provided for in Article 11. Emigrants who may not be able to take away all or part of their movable property can leave it behind. In that event, the local authorities shall be required to draw up, the emigrant in question being given an opportunity to be heard, an inventory and valuation of the property left by him. Proces-verbaux containing the inventory and the valuation of the movable property left by the emigrant shall be drawn up in four copies, one of which shall be kept by the local authorities, the second transmitted to the Mixed Commission provided for in Article 11 to serve as the basis for the liquidation provided for by Article 9, the third shall be handed to the Government of the country to which the emigrant is going, and the fourth to the emigrant himself. Article 9 Immovable property, whether rural or urban, belonging to emigrants, or to the communities mentioned in Article 8, and the movable property left by these emigrants or communities, shall be liquidated in accordance with the following provisions by the Mixed Commission provided for in Article 11. Property situated in the districts to which the compulsory exchange applies and belonging to religious or benevolent institutions of the communities established in a district to which the exchange does not apply, shall likewise be liquidated under the same conditions. Article l0 The movable and immovable property belonging to persons who have already left the territory of the High Contracting Parties and are considered, in accordance with Article 3 of the present Convention, as being included in the exchange of populations, shall be liquidated in accordance with Article 9. This liquidation shall take place independently of all measures of any kind whatever, which, under the laws passed and the regulations of any kind made in Greece and Turkey since the 18th October, 1912, or in anyother way, have resulted in any restriction on rights of ownership over the property in question, such as confiscation forced sale, etc. In the event of the property mentioned in this Article or in Article 9 having been submitted to a measure of this kind, its value shall be fixed by the Commission provided for in Article 11, as if the measures in question had not been applied. As regards expropriated property, the Mixed Commission shall undertake a fresh valuation of such property, if it has been expropriated since the 18th October, 1912, having previously belonged to persons liable to the exchange of populations in the two countries, and is situated in territories to which the exchange applies. The Commission shall fix for the benefit of the owners such compensation as will repair the injury which the Commission has ascertained. The total amount of this compensation shall be carried to the credit of these owners and to the debit of the Government on whose territory the expropriated property is situated. In the event of any persons mentioned in Articles 8 and 9 not having received the income from property, the enjoyment of which they have lost in one way or another, the restoration of the amount of this income shall be guaranteed to them on the basis of the average yield of the property before the war, and in accordance with the methods to be laid down by the Mixed Commission. The Mixed Commission provided for in Article 11, when proceeding to the liquidation of Wakf property in Greece and of the rights and interests connected therewith, and to the liquidation of similar foundations belonging to Greeks in Turkey, shall follow the principles laid down in previous Treaties with a view to fully safeguarding the rights and interests of these foundations and of the individuals interested in them. The Mixed Commission provided for in Article 11 shall be entrusted with the duty of executing these provisions. Article 11 Within one month from the coming into force of the present Convention a Mixed Commission shall be set up in Turkey or in Greece consisting of four members representing each of the High Contracting Parties, and of three members chosen by the Council of the League of Nations from among nationals of Powers which did not take part in the war of 1914-1918. The Presidency of the Commission shall be exercised in turn by each of these three neutral members. The Mixed Commission shall have the right to set up, in such places as it may appear to them necessary, Sub-Commissions working under its order. Each such Sub-Commission shall consist of a Turkish member, a Greek member and a neutral President to be designated by the Mixed Commission. The Mixed Commission shall decide the powers to be delegated to the Sub-Commission. Article 12 The duties of the Mixed Commission shall be to supervise and facilitate the emigration provided for in the present Convention and to carry out the liquidation of the movable and immovable property for which provision is made in Articles 9 and l0. The Commission shall settle the methods to be followed as regards the emigration and liquidation mentioned above. In a general way the Mixed Commission shall have full power to take the measures necessitated by the execution of the present Convention and to decide all questions to which this Convention may give rise. The decisions of the Mixed Commission shall be taken by a majority. All disputes relating to property, rights and interests which are to be liquidated shall be settled definitely by the Commission. Article 13 The Mixed Commission shall have full power to cause the valuation to be made of the movable and immovable property which is to be liquidated under the present Convention, the interested parties being given a hearing or being duly summoned so that they may be heard. The basis for the valuation of the property to be liquidated shall be the value of the property in gold currency. Article 14 The Commission shall transmit to the owner concerned a declaration stating the sum due to him in respect of the property of which he has been dispossessed, and such property shall remain at the disposal of the Government on whose territory it is situated. The total sums due on the basis of these declarations shall constitute a Government debt fromthe country wherethe liquidation takes place to the Government of the country to which the emigrant belongs. The emigrant shall in principle be entitled to receive in the country to which he emigrates, as representing the sums due to him, property of a value equal to and of the same nature as that which he has left behind. Once every six months an account shall be drawn up of the sums due by the respective Governments on the basis of the declarations as above. When the liquidation is completed, if the sums of money due to both sides correspond, the accounts relating thereto shall be balanced. If a sum remains due from one of the Governments to the other Government after a balance has been struck, the debit balance shall be paid in cash. If the debtor Government requests a postponement in making this payment, the Commission may grant such postponement, provided that the sum due be paid in three annuities at most. The Commission shall fix the interest to be paid during the period of postponement. If the sum to be paid is fairly large and requires longer postponement, the debtor Government shall pay in cash a sum to be fixed by the Mixed Commission, up to a maximum of 20 per cent. of the total due, and shall issue in respect of the balance loan certificates bearing such interest as the Mixed Commission may fix, to be paid off within 20 years at most. The debtor Govern- ment shall assign to the service of these loans pledges approved by the Commission, which shall be administered and of which the revenues shall be encashed by the International Commission in Greece and by the Council of the Public Debt at Constantinople. In the absence of agreement in regard to these pledges, they shall be selected by the Council of the League of Nations. Article 15 With a view to facilitating emigration, funds shall be advanced to the Mixed Commission by the States concerned, under conditions laid down by the said Commission. Article 16 The Turkish and Greek Governments shall come to an agreement with the Mixed Commission provided for in Article 11 in regard to all questions concerning the notification to be made to persons who are to leave the territory of Turkey and Greece under the present Convention, and concerning the ports to which these persons are to go for the purpose of being transported to the country of their destination. The High Contracting Parties undertake mutually that no pressure direct or indirect shall be exercised on the populations which are to be exchanged with a view to making them leave their homes or abandon their property before the date fixed for their departure. They likewise undertake to impose on the emigrants who have left or who are to leave the country no special taxes or dues. No obstacle shall be placed in the way of the inhabitants of the districts excepted from the exchange under Article 2 exercising freely their right to remain in or return to those districts and to enjoy to the full their liberties and rights of property in Turkey and in Greece. This provision shall not be invoked as a motive for preventing the free alienation of property belonging to inhabitants of the said regions which are excepted from the exchange, or the voluntary departure of those among these inhabitants who wish to leave Turkey or Greece. Article 17 The expenses entailed by the maintenance and working of the Mixed Commission and of the organizations dependent on it shall be borne by the Governments concerned in proportions to be fixed by the Commission. Article 18 The High Contracting Parties undertake to introduce in their respective laws such modifications as may be necessary with a view to ensuring the execution of the present Convention. Article 19 The present Convention shall have the same force and effect as between the High Contracting Parties as if it formed part of the Treaty of Peace to be concluded with Turkey. It shall come into force immediately after the ratification of the said Treaty by the two High Contracting Parties. In faith whereof, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, whose respective full Powers have been found in good and due form, have signed the present Convention. Done at Lausanne, the 30th January, 1923, in three copies, one of which shall be transmitted to the Greek Government, one to the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and the third shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of the French Republic, which shall deliver certified copies to the other Powers signatory of the Treaty of Peace with Turkey. (L.S.) E. K. VENISELOS

(L.S.) D. CACLAMANOS

(L.S.) ISMET

(L.S.) DR. RIZA NOUR

(L.S.) HASSAN PROTOCOL The undersigned Turkish Plenipotentiaries, duly authorized to that effect, declare that, without waiting for the coming into force of the Convention with Greece of even date, relating to the exchange of the Greek and Turkish populations, and by way of exception to Article 1 of that Convention, the Turkish Government, on the signature of the Treaty of Peace, will release the able-bodied men referred to in Article 4 of the said Convention, and will provide for their departure. Done at Lausanne, the 30th January, 1923. ISMET

DR. RIZA NOUR

HASSAN


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.
The Quds Brigade faction in Syria has claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli occupation sites in the Syrian Golan, according to al-Modon.

On Sunday morning, Israeli warplanes conducted a series of airstrikes on various targets in and around the Syrian capital of Damascus, as well as in Daraa, Sweida, and Quneitra. The targets included a military complex belonging to the Fourth Division and radar systems and artillery sites used by Syrian regime forces.

According to the official news agency of the Syrian regime (SANA), explosions were heard in the vicinity of Damascus and their nature is being verified.

According to Syrian security sources, the Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes in the vicinity of Damascus, as well as targeting the operations center of the 90th Brigade in Quneitra, the site of Tal al-Kharf east of Nahta, and the headquarters of the 52nd Brigade in the eastern countryside of Daraa. These locations are known to be part of the regular Syrian armys sites.

Israeli occupation army spokesman Avichai Adraee made a brief statement, saying that Israeli army forces conducted airstrikes in Syrian territory once again. Adraee also tweeted that the airstrikes were a response to an Israeli drone targeting rocket launchers that were being used to fire missiles from inside Syria.

The airstrikes occurred a few hours after the Israeli occupation armys artillery had targeted locations in the Syrian Golan in response to the firing of rockets from Syrian territory. The army had detected three rockets being launched toward the occupied Golan late on Saturday evening, with two of them crossing the ceasefire line. The Iron Dome system intercepted one, while the other fell in an open area.

The al-Quds Brigade faction in Syria has claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli occupation sites in the Syrian Golan. In a brief statement, the faction cited the attacks on al-Aqsa Mosque as the reason for the retaliation against the occupation sites in the Golan.

On Wednesday, violent clashes broke out at the Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem when Israeli occupation police stormed the mosque and physically assaulted Palestinian worshippers.

Following a car ramming attack in Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an order on Friday night instructing the Israel Police to mobilize all Border Police reserve units and the IDF to mobilize additional forces.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The Russian Ambassador to Syria emphasized that the process of normalizing relations between Syria and Turkey is a lengthy one, al-Watan reports.

The Russian Ambassador to Syria, Alexander Yefimov, has announced that the quadripartite meeting at the foreign minister level, which was scheduled to take place between Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Russia, has been postponed until May.

According to Yefimov, the scheduled meeting for Monday has been postponed to the beginning of May. He emphasized that the parties involved are maintaining contact and engaging in consultations in order to achieve positive outcomes in this regard.

Yefimov emphasized that the process of normalizing relations between Syria and Turkey is a lengthy one and that it is not feasible to resolve and discuss all related issues in just one or a few rounds of negotiations. He stated, The path ahead may be long, but we are making progress step by step.

According to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Al-Watan newspaper, the reason for the postponement is due to Damascus firm stance in upholding its commitments to end the presence of Turkish military forces on its territory, cease support for armed factions, combat terrorism, and halt interference in its internal affairs.

The sources noted that Turkey has not shown any indication in its public statements that it is prepared to commit to the principles that Damascus desires. Turkey has linked its military presence to the presence of the Kurdish units represented by the Syrian Democratic Forces  SDF.

During a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that the process of improving relations between Syria and Turkey cannot be achieved instantly. Lavrov stated that it is necessary to build trust, increase transparency, and balance the legitimate interests of all parties involved. He further added that these considerations have been taken into account from the outset of their efforts to improve relations. Lavrov also mentioned that he and his colleagues are preparing for ministerial-level meetings, which were discussed during the recent meeting of deputy ministers in Moscow.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Mazloum Abdi survived a drone attack on Friday while he was at Sulaymaniyah Airport in Iraqi Kurdistan, according to al-Souria Net.

The commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, survived a drone attack on Friday while he was at Sulaymaniyah Airport in Iraqi Kurdistan.

His targeting, which was denied by the SDF but confirmed by U.S. officials and other media sources, stemmed from the tension between Ankara and Sulaymaniyah. This tension arose due to the crash of two helicopters, which were carrying members of the Workers Party and the SDF.

Accompanied by Americans

As of now, it remains unknown who was responsible for targeting the SDF commander at Sulaymaniyah Airport. While reports suggest that a Turkish drone carried out the strike, there has been no official statement from Ankara at the time of writing.

After images from the scene surfaced on social media and the strike was made public, the SDF released a statement refuting claims that Mazloum Abdi had been the target of the attack. The statement read, The reports stating that Mazloum Abdi was targeted in Sulaymaniyah are false, and he is currently carrying out his duties.

According to the Wall Street Journal on Saturday night, U.S. officials stated that a drone strike took place in northern Iraq on Friday, targeting Mazloum Abdi, a U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State.

During the attack, Abdi was travelling in a convoy alongside three U.S. military personnel, and fortunately, there were no casualties, as reported by the newspaper.

According to Colonel Joe Buccino, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, a strike was conducted on a convoy in Sulaymaniyah, located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The incident is presently under investigation.

Buccinos statement did not specifically mention Turkey or Abdi.

Some Western officials suspect Turkey, which considers the SDF a terrorist, to be behind the strike, but Ankara has yet to comment.

While Luc Ghafouri, head of external media for the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq, confirmed an explosion near Sulaymaniyah airport, he did not say who might be responsible.

He wrote in a tweet on Friday: Investigations are underway by the security authorities to determine the causes of the explosion.

How did he survive?

Unnamed sources cited by Russia Today claimed that Mazloum, who was reportedly riding in a military helicopter in the city of Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, was being monitored by two Turkish planes. These sources further alleged that two drones targeted the area near the plane carrying Mazloum, near the border of Sulaymaniyah airport.

The unnamed sources explained that the two Turkish planes were not able to target Mazloum directly due to the presence of foreign individuals who were not Syrian or Iraqi. As a result, they carried out warning strikes only.

In response to the attack on Sulaymaniyah International Airport in the Kurdistan region, the Iraqi presidency condemned the incident and called on the Turkish government to take responsibility and issue an official apology.

Haval Abu Bakr, the governor of Sulaymaniyah, condemned the recent airstrike on a location near the outskirts of Sulaymaniyah airport. In a statement, he called on all political parties to put aside their differences and refrain from making Kurdistan a victim of their conflicts.

The strike occurred just days after Turkish Airlines suspended flights to Sulaymaniyah Airport in Iraqi Kurdistan. The decision came after reports of an air corridor being used to transport PKK fighters between Syria and Iraq.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria.

Six rockets were fired from Syria toward Israel on Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Three of the rockets landed in Israeli territory, while the other three fell short in Syria or Jordan. Israeli forces responded by attacking targets in Syria, including a Syrian military compound, radar systems, and artillery posts. The rocket fire comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli security forces fatally shot a 20-year-old Palestinian. Palestinian attacks on Israelis have killed 19 people in recent weeks. The rocket fire from Syria is the latest escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israels air force struck targets in Syria on Sunday, after militants in the neighbouring country fired rockets toward Israel, capping a week of tensions ignited by a police raid at Jerusalems al-Aqsa mosque.

The Financial Times reports that the latest burst of violence added to fears of a broader escalation. It followed a tense 48 hours in which Israel bombed southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip in response to rocket fire, and twin attacks in Israel and the occupied West Bank that killed two British Israelis and an Italian tourist.

Israels military said it hit several targets in Syria in the early hours of Sunday, including rocket launchers, military radar systems, artillery posts and a Syrian army compound.

It launched the strikes after six rockets were fired from Syria towards Israel, setting off sirens in the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in 1967, and annexed in 1981 in a move not recognized by most of the international community. One rocket was intercepted, and two fell on open ground.

Arabic media said a Palestinian militant group in Syria had claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.

Syrias SANA state news agency said the Israeli strikes targeted areas in the south of the country and had caused some material damage. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The latest cycle of violence began after Israeli police raided the al-Aqsa mosque on consecutive nights last week to remove Palestinians trying to remain in the compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

Sulemaniyah Airport attack sparks international reactions

International observers and leaders have reacted to the suspected Turkish drone attack on the commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, at Sulemaniyah International Airport in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Reactions across the board have condemned the attack; some have called for far-reaching consequences.

Abdi accused Turkey of the attack, saying it sought to sabotage the SDFs international relations. It is particularly annoyed at the patriotic and humanitarian stance of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the second-largest political party in the region, which has close relations with the SDF.

Abdi also noted that Turkey is attempting to upend the SDFs partnerships with other anti-ISIS groups, like the U.S.-led Global Coalition, as well as Iraqi and Kurdish anti-terror units, which he was meeting in Sulemaniyah before the attack.

Additionally, [Turkish president] Erdogan seeks to win the elections and creates a state of chaos to eliminate the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) so that he can open the door for a new invasion of the region, Mazloum Abdi told North Press.

The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), northeast Syrias chief diplomatic body, said that the Turkish government intentionally violates the international law and rules of good neighbourliness, and threatens the lives of the civilians through direct and indirect interference.

It added that Turkish attacks are destabilizing the Iraqi community  one of their main partners in the fight against terrorism.

Ilham Ahmed, the SDCs President of the Executive Committee, argued that continuous Turkish violations of the sovereignty of Syria and Iraq destabilize the Middle East. The PUK is our permanent ally and supporter, in a personal tweet.

U.S. officials

Over the weekend, a number of U.S. officials have also commented on the drone strike. Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic senator for the state of Maryland, called it unacceptable. Van Hollen demanded a full investigation and for the responsible parties to be held to account.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed to North Press that the case is under investigation on Saturday. A spokesperson for the DoD stressed that U.S. forces will remain in Syria and Iraq supporting local partner forces and to achieve the enduring defeat of ISIS. The DoD has so far not named a culprit for the attack.

The voices within the U.S. security community calling for Turkey to be reined in over its attacks on the U.S. partner force have increased in recent months. Michael Rubin, a former official at the Pentagon, argued that it is time to sanction Turkish officials over such attacks, as well as stop intelligence sharing, delist PKK, and kick Turkey out of the anti-ISIS coalition. Rubin even proposed that the U.S. should outfit the SDF with drones of their own.

Iran plans to attack Israeli-owned vessels to avenge advisers killed in Syria

Iran is preparing to attack Israeli-owned trading vessels to avenge two Revolutionary Guards advisors killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes in Syria last month, according to The Times of Israel.

The IRGCs Aerospace Force is gearing up to launch drone attacks on ships sailing through the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, according to the report, which cited two anonymous senior Western intelligence officials.

An Iranian political strategist linked to the IRGC told the newspaper the planned attacks were in retaliation for the strikes in Syria.

The report came as the U.S. military announced it had dispatched the USS Florida, a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine to the Middle East to help ensure regional maritime security and stability. The show of force comes amid heightened tensions with Iran, which continues to harass shipping and attack oil tankers in the area, including several owned by Israelis.

Washington usually does not disclose the locations of its submarines while they are at sea.

It is capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and is deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability, fleet spokesperson Commander Timothy Hawkins said in a statement.

Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from ships or submarines can hit targets up to 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles away).

CIA complained U.S. was blindsided by Saudi outreach to Syria and Iran

CIA director Bill Burns told Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman that the U.S. feels blindsided by Riyadhs moves to restore ties with Iran and Syria as part of the kingdoms increasingly independent foreign policy streak.

Burns travelled to Saudi Arabia at an undisclosed time this week to discuss intelligence cooperation with the Saudi Arabians. During the meeting, he expressed Washingtons frustration at being left out of regional developments, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The visit, first reported by the Washington Post, follows a series of surprise diplomatic breakthroughs by Riyadh that have left the U.S. on the sidelines, fanning talk of the U.S.s waning influence in the region.

By all accounts, Riyadh and Tehran appear serious about moving the relationship forward. According to the WSJ, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has accepted a Saudi invitation to visit the kingdom, although no date has been set.

Burns comments challenge the U.S.s official line that Saudi Arabia kept it informed of its talks with Iran to restore diplomatic relations.

The Saudis did keep us informed about these talks that they were having, just as we keep them informed on our engagements, White House spokesman John Kirby said last month.

Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Russia, Iran, Turkey, Syria postponed to May

The meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran, Turkey, and Syria has been postponed to early May, Russian Ambassador to Damascus Alexander Efimov said in an interview with the Al Watan newspaper.

The meeting, which was scheduled for Monday, has been rescheduled for early May. Contacts and consultations continue between the parties to achieve positive results on this issue, he said.

Efimov emphasized that Moscow will continue to make attempts to convene a quadripartite summit, and added that all issues between the parties can be settled in one or more rounds of negotiations. This is a long road, but were taking it step by step, the diplomat said.

At a press conference following meetings with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that preparations for the quadripartite summit involved, among other things, settling on dates that would be acceptable to all four ministers.

The process of restoring relations between Ankara and Damascus began on December 28, 2022, in Moscow, with meetings involving the heads of Russias, Syrias, and Turkeys defence ministries. The parties agreed to form a joint tripartite commission during the meeting. These consultations should be followed by a meeting of foreign ministers, with the agenda including talks between Turkish and Syrian Presidents Tayyip Erdogan and Bashar al-Assad. Later, it was stated that Iran would participate in consultations.

Iranian President to Assad: World order changing in favour of resistance front

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has told his Syria counterpart Bashar al-Assad on the phone that the world order is changing in favour of the axis of resistance and to the detriment of global arrogance and the Zionist regime, Iranian media reported.

President Raisi added that the crimes of the Zionist regime are a sign of its decline and desperation and show that the future is bright for the resistance front.

The Iranian president also congratulated Assad on the holy month of Ramadan. The Syrian president for his part congratulated Raisi on Ramadan.

Assad further referred to Irans and Syrias resistance against common enemies for 4 decades, saying today, signs are emerging of implosion in the Zionist society.

Assad added that this is the result of resistance and perseverance on the part of the Palestinian people.

The Israeli regime has bombarded Syria frequently over the past few years amid a foreign-backed insurgency against the Syrian government.

The airstrikes have killed many Syrians and even Iranian military advisors. Last week, two military advisors of the Islamic Republic of Iran were killed in Israeli air raids in Syria.

Iran says it will take revenge for these killing by the Zionist regime at the time and place of its choosing.

Australia must rescue citizens from dire Syrian detention camps, Red Cross says

Australia and other countries must continue to rescue their citizens from dire conditions in camps in north-eastern Syria, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said.

The global director general of the Geneva-based humanitarian organization, Robert Mardini, said the state of in-limbo cannot last any longer.

From a humanitarian perspective, this situation is simply untenable, he said.

In October, the Australian government repatriated four Australian women and 13 children from a Syrian detention camp, But about 40 Australian citizens  about 30 children and about 10 women  are believed to remain there.
The Crab Nebula has been part of several studies by astronomers. It began back on February 22, 1971, when a sounding rocket took off carrying specialized sensors directed towards the Crab Nebula from Wallops Island, Virginia. Later on, Martin Weisskopf, an astronomer, suggested the creation of an Earth-orbiting satellite, equipped with advanced instruments to obtain more comprehensive data on the Crab Nebula and other enigmatic cosmic entities. This idea eventually emerged with NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), which was launched on December 9, 2021.

Following over five decades since the sounding rocket trial, scientists have used IXPE to produce a comprehensive and intricate depiction of the Crab Nebula's magnetic field, revealing more about its inner mechanics than ever before. According to IXPE findings, the Crab Nebula's magnetic field structure bears a resemblance to the Vela Pulsar Wind Nebula, taking on a similar donut shape. However, scientists were taken aback to observe that in the Crab Nebula, patches of magnetic turbulence were more unevenly distributed and asymmetrical than anticipated.

More about Crab Nebula

The Crab Nebula is situated in the Taurus constellation, a staggering 6500 light-years distant from Earth, and was formed as a result of a supernova recorded in 1054. The aftermath of the explosion left behind a dense object known as the Crab Pulsar, which is about the size of Huntsville, Alabama, or the length of Manhattan, but possesses a mass equivalent to two Suns.

Tech behind Crab Nebula images

With the hope to understand the extreme environmental conditions of the Nebula, they used the polarization of X-rays emanating from the Crab Nebula, which emits a brilliant X-ray glow. The polarization of X-rays provides scientists with indications regarding the orientation of the magnetic field in different sections of a cosmic entity and the degree of orderliness of the magnetic field. "The magnetic field's geometry and turbulence determines how particles get catapulted toward the speed of light," NASA explained. On average, the Crab Nebula exhibits a polarization level of roughly 20%.

The Crab Nebula, a mysterious supernova remnant, has been the subject of research by several large telescopes in recent times. However, the unique capability of studying X-ray polarization, which is a measure of the organization of electromagnetic fields, from the Crab Nebula is exclusive to IXPE, NASA explained.
Recently, a minor shortwave radio blackout over the Indian Ocean area due to a newly formed sunspot which exploded, spitting out an M3-class solar flare on April 6. The affected countries included India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and even China, Japan, and South Korea. The Sun has gradually become violent due to its Solar Cycle 29 which is expected to hit its peak in July 2025. Therefore, Earth is in for a rough ride until then. Recently, the Sun spewed out C-class solar flare which could make its way towards Earth soon.

According to a report by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as many as 19 C-class flares were produced by the Sun yesterday, April 9. The strongest of them was a C-9.1 solar flare, just shy of an M-class solar flare which was hurled out. What's shocking in 18 of these solar flares originated from a single region known as AR3272 which has an unstable beta-gamma field, according to spaceweather.com.

There is a 95% chance of C-class solar flares hitting Earth today, but that is not it. As per the report, there is a 30% chance for M flares, and a 5% chance for X flares too.

Effects of solar activity

While Earth's magnetosphere deflects most solar activity carried by the solar wind, some charged particles seep through. These energetic particles cause magnetic disturbances, classified as either geomagnetic storms or substorms. These storms can cause stunning sky phenomena known as Auroras or Northern Lights.

When solar particles hit Earth, the radio communications and the power grid is affected when it hits the planet's magnetic field. It can cause power and radio blackouts for several hours or even days. However, electricity grid problems occur only if the solar flare is extremely large.

How NASA monitors solar activity

Among many satellites and telescopes observing the Sun currently, one is the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The SDO carries a full suite of instruments to observe the Sun and has been doing so since 2010. It uses three very crucial instruments to collect data from various solar activities.

They include Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) which takes high-resolution measurements of the longitudinal and vector magnetic field over the entire visible solar disk, Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) which measures the Sun's extreme ultraviolet irradiance and Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) which provides continuous full-disk observations of the solar chromosphere and corona in seven extreme ultraviolet (EUV) channels.
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:

Four out of the five most popular apps on US download charts are Chinese-owned, according to SensorTower data.

Shopping online at Temu, Laurie Silva paid just $1.25 for earrings and $15 for a cardiganshe is among millions of US consumers the Chinese platform is wooing with low-cost bargains and a dizzying array of products.

Temu topped US app download rankings in early April, a spot it held since January, but its rapid rise comes as platforms with links to China face growing scrutiny and when a ban on youth favorite TikTok appears increasingly inevitable.

According to Sensor Tower data, some of the most popular platforms downloaded in the US currently have Chinese roots, including TikTok, video-editor CapCut and fashion upstart Shein.

Temu is positioned as an Amazon-like superstore, selling everything from make-up to homeware and electronics, and its quiet launch last September marked Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo's first foray into the US market.

Based out of a Boston office block, Temu's out-of-the-blue success makes it the second Chinese-made shopping appafter Gen Z darling Sheinto make a splash in America in recent years.

"I've seen so many things in their catalog... offered on Amazon and other online retailers for much more," Silva, a 65-year-old in California, told AFP.

She has placed around 20 orders on Temu, buying craft supplies, jewelry and gifts.

Another customer, 38-year-old Stephanie Wolfe, said she first bought items like eyeliner and jewelry to test the service in January.

"It got here so quick, I couldn't believe it," she said. "Once I realized it was legit, I just started ordering more."

Fueling the frenzy were Temu's commercial spots during the Super Bowl in February that asked more than 100 million US viewers to "shop like a billionaire."

"I was like: 'Oh that's what I use!' Since then I've noticed it's gaining more traction," said Wolfe.

According to Sensor Tower, Temu has had 33 million US downloads since its launch, with user numbers surging on the month of the Super Bowl, the most-watched TV event in the US.

China connections

The rise of Shein and Temu comes as leading US fashion companies seek to reduce their exposure to China with worries intensifying over growing US-China tensions, said Sheng Lu, a professor of fashion and apparel studies at the University of Delaware.

Both brands primarily source their products from China and Temu mostly ships its goods directly from there as well, he added, contrasting this against Amazon's US-based distribution centers.

This allows Temu to tap China's strengths in producing apparel in greater varieties with greater flexibilityall while qualifying for US waivers on import duties for lower value shipments, Lu said.

A recent notice for Shein suppliers in China seen by AFP requires turnaround times of just seven to 18 days on factory orders.

For Shein in particular, artificial intelligence and big data play a "critical role" in its expansion and success, Lu said.

"Shein has utilized data collected from its apps and other social media channels to gain insights into consumers' shopping habits and lifestyles, enabling the company to offer in-demand items," he added.

Fast fashion scrutiny

But the ascent of Chinese apps have been accompanied by scrutiny that Temu may too have to grapple with.

In 2021, non-governmental group Public Eye found that some workers behind Shein's breakneck production toil for 11 to 13 hours a day.

It has also come under fire for generating fast fashion waste and apologized for products like a swastika necklace in 2020.

"Additionally, similar to the case of TikTok, Shein and Temu's rapid expansion in the US has resulted in the collection of vast amounts of personal data from American consumers," said Lu of the University of Delaware.

TikTok faces a potential US ban amid allegations that its data haul amounts to a national security threat and that its algorithm poses a danger to mental health.

So far, Temu and Shein have avoided the fate of TikTok, whose CEO faced a brutal hearing in US Congress last month, with unanimous accusations by lawmakers that the social media app was a threat to America.

Georgia Institute of Technology professor Milton Mueller downplayed the danger of shared data, arguing that that "the nationality of the company is a very crude and nationalistic criterion" in assessing security threats.

A research paper co-authored by Mueller released in January concluded that "data collected by TikTok can only be of espionage value if it comes from users who are intimately connected to national security functions and use the app in ways that expose sensitive information."

"These risks arise from the use of any social media app," the paper said.

Meanwhile, the vast majority of US consumers shrug off security concerns.

But Wolfe said she uses virtual private networks and makes payments through PayPal for added layers of security.

"Because I'm taking precautions, I'm not worried," she said.

 2023 AFP
D2X is a domain-specific language debugging infrastructure that works with most standard debuggers without any modifications and is easily extensible to capture all the domain-specific information the end-user cares about. Credit: Alex Shipps/MIT CSAIL via Midjourney

Sometime in 2019, MIT Ph.D. student Ajay Brahmakshatriya formulated a simple, though still quite challenging, goal. He wanted to make it possible for people who had expertise in a particular domainsuch as climate modeling, bioinformatics, or architectureto write their own programming languages, so-called domain-specific languages (or DSLs), even if they had little or no experience in creating programming languages.

A member of the research group headed by MIT Professor Saman Amarasinghe in the Institute's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Brahmakshatriya wanted these languages to come with all the auxiliary functions people would need to comfortably utilize them, including tools for debugging. This process for getting rid of errors in a piece of software is essential, he and Amarasinghe agreed, as they have called the lack of debugging support "the Achilles heel for DSLs."

It's been a productive few years for both of them. In 2021, Brahmakshatriya and Amarasinghe introduced BuildIt, a software package that greatly simplifies the task of creating DSLs. And last month, at an international conference in Montreal co-sponsored by the Association for Computing Machinery, the duo introduced D2X, a tool that makes it easy to add debugging to any DSL and has been shown to work particularly well with BuildIt. Their paper on the work even won one of two Distinguished Paper Awards given at the conference.

The main reason for producing a language in a specialized domain, Brahmakshatriya explains, "is to promote ease of use." An image-processing DSL, for example, could have a function that says "blur the entire image." Issuing that same command in a general-purpose language would require many more lines of code, notes Brahmakshatriya. "That's part of the reason to use a DSL. The other is performance." Because the operations are specific to that domain, they can be more readily optimizedcarried out in the proper order, and hence completed more efficiently and quickly.

Brahmakshatriya describes BuildIt as "a DSL for creating DSLs." It facilitates a multistep procedure for taking an existing, all-purpose programming language and paring it down until it becomes specialized in just the right way. "Suppose you have a problem, and you want to write a program to solve it," he says. "You could write a program to solve it in its entirety, or you could write a smaller program to solve just the subclass of the problem you're interested in. The more specialized you make the program, the faster it runs." BuildIt is designed to construct DSLs with those guiding principles in mind.

Halidean image processing language invented in 2012, years before BuildIt was aroundis one of the first DSLs to come out of Amarasinghe's group. Its development was led by then-graduate student Jonathan-Ragan Kelley and Andrew Adams, a CSAIL postdoc at the time. "Halide is very popular now, and it is used in many Adobe applications, including Photoshop, but it still doesn't have a debugger," Amarasinghe says. The reason for that, he adds, "is that debuggers are very complicated. It's very hard to write them, which is why most small DSLs don't have debugging support."

That's not a desirable state of affairs, according to Brahmakshatriya, who insists that every DSL should have its own debugger. "You can't directly use existing debuggers for your new language because they don't understand the domain." It's impossible, moreover, to write a program that is completely correct the first time around, he says. "You always start with something that has errors in it, though they often don't show up until much later in the development cycle. If a bug crops up at that point, when you have 5,000 lines of code, it can be very hard to find it." Consequently, once a program is "code complete"deemed ready for testing by its developerssoftware engineers may then have to devote more than half their time to the arduous chore of debugging.

But help is on the way in the form of D2X (pronounced "detox" because it relates to the notion of ridding your program of poisons or defects). D2X is not a program, per se, but is instead classified as a librarya piece of computer code that can be reused by other programs. It is designed to work with existing debuggers (such as GDB or LLDB), serving as a bridge between those tools and a given DSL. A debugger needs information about the program, or programming language, that is to be cleaned up. "Each debugger requires that information in its own particular format, which can be a 400-page document," Amarasinghe says. "If you use D2X, you don't have to worry about that. It's taken care of for you."

With D2X serving as the interface, Brahmakshatriya says, "your program can be debugged using popular debuggers without any modifications to the debuggers themselves." To his mind, that is the main advantage that comes from combining D2X with BuildIt: "If you write a DSL using BuildIt, you don't have to do any extra work. You get a debugger for free, without writing a single extra line of code."

"D2X addresses an inherent contradiction in high-performance software head-on," comments Adrian Sampson, an associate professor of computer science at Cornell University. "On the one hand, domain-specific languages are our only hope for serious improvements in computing efficiency in the modern era. However, making a new debugger for a new language from scratch is hard, and the absence of a debugger is a rational reason that a programmer might reject a 'better' language in favor of a 'worse' one. The great thing about D2X is that it lowers the barrier to constructing a useful debugger for a DSL."

But that's not the end of the story, so far as Brahmakshatriya is concerned. Another feature he'd like to merge with BuildIt, in addition to debugging, is editing, which makes it easier to write a program. Editors, for example, can highlight certain keywords in a document, which can improve its readability. They can perform other functions, such as autocomplete, which automatically fills in text after a small portion is entered.

Brahmakshatriya would like to include profilers along with debuggers and editors as part of the BuildIt platform. "Profilers are like debuggers, but instead of helping you find bugs, they let you assess the performance issues in your program," he says. "If the program is running slower than expected, you can use a profiler to understand which part of the program is bogging things down." Other useful features could be added in the future, he says.

All of these efforts, Amarasinghe maintains, will make the prospect of creating specialized languages much more attractive. "As I see it, there's a huge number of people who support traditional languagesthousands of programmers building tools for C, C++, or Java," he says. "On the other hand, If I am building a simple DSL, I don't have thousands of programmers to provide all that support." But now, with BuildIt and D2X, he adds, "the small guys can get all the things the others get, including debuggers and eventually editors and profilersthe same benefits that come with traditional languages. And you can get that without having teams of engineers writing all kinds of complicated code."

More information: Ajay Brahmakshatriya and Saman Amarasinghe, D2X: An eXtensible conteXtual Debugger for Modern DSLs. groups.csail.mit.edu/commit/pa  3/ajay-cgo23-d2x.pdf

This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching.
April 10, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " Politico " -- The French government denied on Saturday that French soldiers were on the ground in Ukraine, Le Monde reported.

There are no French forces engaged in operations in Ukraine, the team of Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu told the French outlet.

A trove of leaked documents detailing plans about Ukraines spring military offensive and circulating online reportedly imply that French soldiers are present on the battlefield in Ukraine. According to the Guardian, one slide suggested that a small contingent of less than a hundred special operations personnel from NATO members France, America, Britain and Latvia were already active in Ukraine.

The material reportedly also includes information on Ukraines readiness and training capabilities as well as death tolls.

Its unclear who originally obtained and leaked the documents, and the extent to which they may have been altered. It could also be a Russian disinformation operation, U.S. officials said.

The documents cited do not come from the French military. We do not comment on documents whose source is uncertain, Lecornus team also told Le Monde.
India's health ministry calls for vigilance amid spike in COVID-19 cases

Xinhua) 09:49, April 10, 2023

NEW DELHI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- India's federal health ministry has advised states to stay alert amid a spike in COVID-19 cases across the country.

According to data released by the ministry on Saturday, 6,155 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours.

This was the first time since Sept. 16 last year that daily cases have crossed the 6,000 mark.

On Friday, federal health minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a review meeting on the COVID-19 pandemic with local health officials.

Mandaviya said the federal government and states need to continue working together to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. He issued directions to ramp up testing and vaccination efforts.

A spike in influenza and COVID-19 cases has been witnessed since mid-February this year.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
We Are Dancing on the Very Edge of Hell

By Robert C. Koehler

April 10, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " Common Dreams " -- Two dogs walking. One of them says to the other: I bark and I bark, but I never feel like I effect real change.

This is the caption of a New Yorker cartoon by Christopher Weyant from several years ago. It keeps popping up in my head  I mean, every day. Like everyone else, I want what I do to matter, to effect real change. What I do is write. Specifically, I swim in the infinity of possibility. Humanity can kill itself or it can learn to survive. Most people (I believe) prefer the latter, which is all about discovering how we are connected to one another and to the rest of the universe. This is what I try to write about.

Then Congress passes another military budget. And once again, theres the New Yorker cartoon.

An emerging compromise on annual defense policy legislation will endorse a $45 billion increase to President Joe Bidens defense spending plans, Politico reports. . . . The deal would set the budget topline of the fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act at $847 billion for national defense.

You know, more than the worlds next nine defense budgets combined. We have more than 750 military bases around the world. Were sending billions of dollars worth of weapons to Ukraine to keep the war going, in the wake of our two decades of war in the Middle East to rid the world of terrorism . . . excuse me, evil. As a result, the planet is bleeding to death. Not to worry, though. We still have nukes.

How safe and secure can we get?

And heres Northrop Grumman, presenting to the world the B-21 Raider, an updated nuclear bomber, a.k.a., the future of Armageddon. No need to worry. When Armageddon is ready to happen, it will happen smoothly, at the bargain cost of $750 million per aircraft.

Northrop Grumman itself puts it this way: When it comes to delivering Americas resolve, the B-21 Raider will be standing by, silent and ready. We are providing Americas warfighters with an advanced aircraft offering a combination of range, payload, and survivability. The B-21 Raider will be capable of penetrating the toughest defenses to deliver precision strikes anywhere in the world. The B-21 is the future of deterrence.

Were dancing on the edge of hell.

Is it possible for humanity to evolve beyond this? Prior to Armageddon? Advocating that humanitys collective consciousness must transcend militarism and an us-vs.-them attitude toward the planet means lying on a bed of nails. Consider the weird and mysterious act of violence that took place recently in Moore County, North Carolina, which may  or may not  have been triggered by a drag show.

Somebody opened gunfire at two electric substations in the central North Carolina county over the weekend, causing multi-million-dollar damage to the power grid and leaving some 40,000 households without power for half a week. While the perpetrator and motive remain a mystery to law enforcement officials, one person wrote on Facebook: The power is out in Moore County and I know why. She then posted a photo of the Sunrise Theater, in downtown Southern Pines, along with the words God will not be mocked.

The theater had a drag show scheduled that night, which, prior to the power grid attack, had been vehemently opposed by many right-wingers.

The Facebook claim that the power outage was meant to stop the drag show may have been totally bogus (and also a failure, by the way, with spectators lighting the show with their cell phones so it could go on). Maybe well never know for sure. But even if the poster, furious about the scheduled show, had simply co-opted a motive for the criminal act, essentially ascribing it to God, its still indicative that theres a lot of poison in the air. If you hate something, dont try to understand it. Go to war. There was, after all, a mass shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs several weeks ago  indeed, mass shootings directed at multiple targets are, good God, commonplace.

I fear that war remains the logical terminus of collective human consciousness. Indeed, war is sacred, or so surmises Kelly Denton-Borhaug, citing as an example a speech delivered by George W. Bush on Easter weekend in 2008. She noted that W milked the Easter story to glorify the hell the country was in the process of wreaking in Iraq and Afghanistan, throwing a bit of Gospel into his war on evil: Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

She writes: The abusive exploitation of religion to bless violence covered the reality of wars hideous destructiveness with a sacred sheen.

But perhaps even worse than wars pseudo-sacredness is its normalcy, a la that never-questioned trillion-dollar budget that Congress tosses at the Pentagon every year without fail. And the total pushes up, up, up every year, bequeathing us, for instance, that Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, ready to deliver Armageddon on command.

Short of Armageddon, we simply have armed hate-spewers, ready and ever so willing to kill an enemy at the grocery store or a school classroom or a nightclub.

Understand, love, heal . . . these are not simple words. Will we ever learn what they mean? Will we ever give them a budget?
HEICO Co. (NYSE:HEI  Get Rating) has earned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the eleven ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $182.00.

HEI has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of HEICO from $180.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on HEICO from $172.00 to $184.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Benchmark increased their price objective on shares of HEICO from $160.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 21st. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of HEICO from $162.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of HEICO from $180.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 27th.

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HEICO Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of HEI stock opened at $166.41 on Monday. HEICO has a 1 year low of $126.95 and a 1 year high of $177.55. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $170.86 and a 200-day moving average price of $161.38. The company has a market cap of $22.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 64.25, a PEG ratio of 4.09 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 2.91 and a quick ratio of 1.37.

Insider Buying and Selling

HEICO ( NYSE:HEI Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The aerospace company reported $0.67 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.01. HEICO had a return on equity of 13.89% and a net margin of 15.30%. The business had revenue of $620.92 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $588.63 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.63 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 26.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that HEICO will post 2.97 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, Director Alan Schriesheim sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.79, for a total value of $3,335,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 114,261 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,057,592.19. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, VP Thomas S. Irwin sold 3,608 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.56, for a total transaction of $438,588.48. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 40,863 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,967,306.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Alan Schriesheim sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $166.79, for a total value of $3,335,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 114,261 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,057,592.19. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders purchased 3,633 shares of company stock worth $570,635 and sold 39,208 shares worth $6,367,528. 8.26% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On HEICO

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of HEI. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in HEICO by 3,192.9% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,138,939 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $174,872,000 after buying an additional 1,104,351 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP bought a new stake in shares of HEICO during the first quarter valued at approximately $35,606,000. Riverbridge Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of HEICO by 14.7% in the third quarter. Riverbridge Partners LLC now owns 1,221,909 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $175,930,000 after purchasing an additional 156,985 shares during the period. Balyasny Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of HEICO by 2,002.7% in the third quarter. Balyasny Asset Management LLC now owns 155,033 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $22,322,000 after purchasing an additional 147,660 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP grew its stake in HEICO by 555.4% in the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 164,521 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $23,688,000 after purchasing an additional 139,420 shares in the last quarter. 27.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About HEICO

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HEICO Corp. engages in the manufacturing of electronic equipment for the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications, and electronics industries. It operates through the Flight Support Group and Electronic Technologies Group segments. The Flight Support Group segment designs, manufactures, repairs, overhauls, and distributes jet engine and aircraft component replacement parts.

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Shares of Banco Santander-Chile (NYSE:BSAC  Get Rating) have been assigned an average rating of Hold from the eight analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have issued a hold recommendation and one has assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $19.75.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Banco Santander-Chile from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Banco Santander-Chile from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 11th.

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Institutional Trading of Banco Santander-Chile

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Investors Research Corp boosted its position in Banco Santander-Chile by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 20,925 shares of the banks stock valued at $331,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Cardinal Capital Management lifted its position in Banco Santander-Chile by 2.3% during the third quarter. Cardinal Capital Management now owns 48,310 shares of the banks stock valued at $677,000 after buying an additional 1,089 shares during the period. Guggenheim Capital LLC boosted its stake in Banco Santander-Chile by 1.8% during the third quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 61,690 shares of the banks stock worth $864,000 after acquiring an additional 1,110 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in Banco Santander-Chile by 10.3% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 13,467 shares of the banks stock worth $304,000 after acquiring an additional 1,253 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its holdings in Banco Santander-Chile by 106.8% in the third quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 2,663 shares of the banks stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 1,375 shares during the period. 9.76% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Banco Santander-Chile Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BSAC opened at $17.71 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $8.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.72. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $17.21 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $15.81. The company has a current ratio of 1.92, a quick ratio of 1.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.23. Banco Santander-Chile has a 1-year low of $13.37 and a 1-year high of $22.29.

Banco Santander-Chile (NYSE:BSAC  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 3rd. The bank reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.34 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $527.54 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $593.05 million. Banco Santander-Chile had a return on equity of 19.24% and a net margin of 18.02%. Analysts anticipate that Banco Santander-Chile will post 1.65 earnings per share for the current year.

Banco Santander-Chile Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Banco Santander Chile SA engages in the provision of commercial and retail banking services. It operates through the following segments: Retail Banking, Middle-Market, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Other. The Retail banking segment offers consumer loans, credit cards, automobile loans, commercial loans, foreign exchange, mortgage loans, debit cards, checking accounts, savings products, mutual funds, stock brokerage, and insurance brokerage.

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Raymond James downgraded shares of Bath & Body Works (NYSE:BBWI  Get Rating) from a strong-buy rating to an outperform rating in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has $48.00 price target on the stock, down from their prior price target of $50.00.

BBWI has been the topic of a number of other reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Bath & Body Works from $40.00 to $43.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. Cowen upped their target price on shares of Bath & Body Works from $45.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on Bath & Body Works from $55.00 to $47.00 in a report on Friday, February 24th. UBS Group lowered Bath & Body Works from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Bath & Body Works from $45.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $49.24.

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Bath & Body Works Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE BBWI opened at $35.53 on Thursday. Bath & Body Works has a 12-month low of $25.75 and a 12-month high of $58.17. The company has a market cap of $8.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.70. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $39.98 and its 200 day simple moving average is $39.31.

Bath & Body Works Dividend Announcement

Insider Buying and Selling at Bath & Body Works

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, February 17th were paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 16th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.25%. Bath & Body Workss dividend payout ratio is currently 23.19%.

In related news, CFO Wendy C. Arlin sold 1,625 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.29, for a total value of $62,221.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 91,072 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,487,146.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bath & Body Works

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Diversified Trust Co grew its holdings in shares of Bath & Body Works by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 15,941 shares of the companys stock valued at $583,000 after acquiring an additional 307 shares in the last quarter. Kwmg LLC increased its position in Bath & Body Works by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. Kwmg LLC now owns 100,169 shares of the companys stock worth $3,664,000 after purchasing an additional 2,959 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC raised its stake in shares of Bath & Body Works by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 14,427 shares of the companys stock worth $528,000 after purchasing an additional 391 shares in the last quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Bath & Body Works by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 80,715 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,401,000 after buying an additional 2,058 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Natixis grew its stake in shares of Bath & Body Works by 119.5% in the 4th quarter. Natixis now owns 30,864 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,301,000 after buying an additional 16,805 shares in the last quarter. 96.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Bath & Body Works

(Get Rating)

Bath & Body Works, Inc is a specialty retailers and home to Americas Favorite Fragrances, offering a breadth of exclusive fragrances for the body and home, including the selling collections for fine fragrance mist, body lotion and body cream, 3-wick candles, home fragrance diffusers and liquid hand soap.

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Blue River Resources Ltd. (CVE:BXR  Get Rating)s stock price rose 100% on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$0.01 and last traded at C$0.01. Approximately 193,500 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 70% from the average daily volume of 641,921 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.01.

Blue River Resources Stock Up 100.0 %

The stock has a market cap of C$2.35 million, a PE ratio of -5.00 and a beta of 0.07. The firm has a fifty day moving average of C$0.01 and a 200 day moving average of C$0.01.

About Blue River Resources

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Blue River Resources Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It holds 100% interests in Castle copper project covering an area of 335 hectares located in British Colombia. The company was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Victoria Gold (TSE:VGCX  Get Rating) had its price target increased by CIBC from C$10.00 to C$10.50 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports.

VGCX has been the subject of a number of other research reports. HC Wainwright lowered their price target on Victoria Gold from C$22.00 to C$21.00 in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Pi Financial upped their target price on Victoria Gold from C$16.25 to C$17.50 in a report on Tuesday, February 7th.

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Victoria Gold Price Performance

Shares of Victoria Gold stock opened at C$10.34 on Thursday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is C$9.06 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$8.26. Victoria Gold has a 12-month low of C$6.56 and a 12-month high of C$15.46. The firm has a market cap of C$667.14 million, a PE ratio of 19.51 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 46.06.

About Victoria Gold

Victoria Gold Corp. acquires, operates, explores, and develops mineral properties in Canada and the United States. The company primarily explores for gold deposits. Its flagship property is 100% owned Dublin Gulch property, which hosts the Eagle and Olive-Shamrock Gold deposit covering an area of approximately 555 square kilometers located in central Yukon, Canada.

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Conagra Brands (NYSE:CAG  Get Rating) had its price objective hoisted by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $35.00 to $38.00 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday, The Fly reports.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Conagra Brands from $45.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Conagra Brands from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, January 6th. Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on shares of Conagra Brands from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, March 31st. UBS Group cut their target price on shares of Conagra Brands from $45.00 to $43.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 31st. Finally, Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Conagra Brands from $40.00 to $42.00 in a research note on Thursday. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $40.73.

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Conagra Brands Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of Conagra Brands stock opened at $38.38 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $18.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.98, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. Conagra Brands has a 12-month low of $31.01 and a 12-month high of $41.30. The businesss 50 day moving average is $36.48 and its 200-day moving average is $36.60.

Insider Activity at Conagra Brands

Conagra Brands ( NYSE:CAG Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 5th. The company reported $0.76 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $3.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.08 billion. Conagra Brands had a net margin of 6.59% and a return on equity of 15.34%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.58 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Conagra Brands will post 2.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other Conagra Brands news, COO Thomas M. Mcgough sold 45,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.66, for a total transaction of $1,739,700.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 104,859 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,053,848.94. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.98% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Conagra Brands

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its holdings in shares of Conagra Brands by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 64,185 shares of the companys stock worth $2,155,000 after acquiring an additional 3,975 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its stake in Conagra Brands by 0.4% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 309,389 shares of the companys stock worth $10,942,000 after purchasing an additional 1,186 shares during the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Conagra Brands by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 22,548 shares of the companys stock valued at $758,000 after purchasing an additional 807 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its stake in shares of Conagra Brands by 19.8% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 27,151 shares of the companys stock valued at $911,000 after purchasing an additional 4,487 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its holdings in shares of Conagra Brands by 509.0% during the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 366,225 shares of the companys stock worth $12,294,000 after buying an additional 306,086 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.08% of the companys stock.

Conagra Brands Company Profile

(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.

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General Electric (NYSE:GE  Get Rating) had its target price lifted by Barclays from $90.00 to $110.00 in a research note released on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the conglomerates stock.

GE has been the subject of a number of other reports. Bank of America increased their price target on General Electric from $92.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 6th. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on shares of General Electric from $98.00 to $102.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. TheStreet upgraded shares of General Electric from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of General Electric from $87.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on General Electric from $84.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, General Electric currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $96.36.

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General Electric Price Performance

General Electric stock opened at $93.60 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The stock has a market cap of $102.05 billion, a P/E ratio of -3,120.00, a PEG ratio of 6.76 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $87.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $81.16. General Electric has a 12-month low of $46.55 and a 12-month high of $97.87.

General Electric Dividend Announcement

General Electric ( NYSE:GE Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 24th. The conglomerate reported $1.24 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.11 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $21.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.11 billion. General Electric had a net margin of 0.29% and a return on equity of 8.47%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.92 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that General Electric will post 1.98 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 25th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 7th will be issued a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 6th. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.34%. General Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -1,066.67%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On General Electric

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of GE. Wade Financial Advisory Inc acquired a new stake in General Electric during the first quarter worth approximately $248,000. Trust Co. of Vermont raised its stake in General Electric by 23.9% during the 1st quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 4,719 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $451,000 after acquiring an additional 910 shares in the last quarter. Monterey Private Wealth Inc. purchased a new stake in General Electric in the first quarter valued at $208,000. Parsec Financial Management Inc. boosted its stake in General Electric by 11.8% in the first quarter. Parsec Financial Management Inc. now owns 4,753 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $454,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tradewinds LLC. purchased a new position in shares of General Electric during the first quarter worth about $230,000. 70.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About General Electric

(Get Rating)

General Electric Co engages in the provision of commercial and military aircraft engines and systems, wind, and other renewable energy generation equipment and grid solutions, and gas, steam, nuclear, and other power generation equipment. It operates through the following segments: Aviation, Healthcare, Renewable Energy, and Power.

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Shares of Grupo Simec, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:SIM  Get Rating) gapped up before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $34.81, but opened at $36.51. Grupo Simec shares last traded at $36.51, with a volume of 403 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on Grupo Simec in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company.

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Grupo Simec Stock Up 9.0 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $5.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.21 and a beta of 0.31. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $34.61 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.01.

Grupo Simec Company Profile

Grupo Simec ( NYSE:SIM Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 13th. The company reported $0.18 earnings per share for the quarter. Grupo Simec had a net margin of 15.64% and a return on equity of 18.38%. The firm had revenue of $564.09 million during the quarter.

(Get Rating)

Grupo SIMEC SAB de CV engages in the manufacture, processing and distribution of steel and structural steel products. It operates through the following geographical segments: Mexico, U.S., and Brazil. The Mexico segment represents the results of the operations in Mexico, including plants in Mexicali, Guadalajara, Tlaxcala, and San Luis Potosi.

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Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Kim Joo-hyun speaks at a meeting in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap



By Lee Yeon-woo



Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Kim Joo-hyun pledged to provide financial support for startup companies that are suffering due to frozen investments at a meeting on Monday.



The meeting was convened to gather feedback from the industry while preparing financial support measures for venture companies in light of concerns about the economic slowdown. Representatives from startups and venture capitalist companies attended the meeting.



"There are concerns that the overall business environment of venture companies would become harsher due to the economic slowdown following a decrease in exports and the slump in consumption and investments," Kim said at the meeting.



Earlier, financial authorities had vowed to support the venture industry through financial policy institutions, with plans to provide funds worth 205 trillion won ($155 billion). They have also designated "fostering unicorn, small and mid-sized companies" as one of their key priorities for the year.



Despite the efforts, negative factors have led to a decrease in startup investments, prompting the FSC to organize the meeting.



According to FSC data, the amount of venture capital raised in 2022 decreased by 2.8 percent to 17.3 trillion won from the previous year. During the same period, the amount of investment actually implemented decreased by 21.8 percent to 12.5 trillion won.



Park Yong-rin, a senior research fellow at the Korea Capital Market Institute, commented that investor confidence can recover if they "recognizes the authorities' will to stabilize the market" and recommended that the authorities expand their funding support.



Kim has stated that the FSC will work with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to announce financial support measures as soon as possible, which will be based on the outcomes of Monday's meeting.


StockNews.com downgraded shares of Haverty Furniture Companies (NYSE:HVT  Get Rating) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Thursday.

Haverty Furniture Companies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:HVT opened at $31.42 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $507.43 million, a P/E ratio of 6.01 and a beta of 1.38. Haverty Furniture Companies has a 52-week low of $22.77 and a 52-week high of $38.85. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $34.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $31.30.

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Haverty Furniture Companies (NYSE:HVT  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The company reported $1.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.42 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $280.56 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $272.60 million. Haverty Furniture Companies had a net margin of 8.53% and a return on equity of 32.49%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Haverty Furniture Companies will post 4.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Haverty Furniture Companies Dividend Announcement

Insider Buying and Selling at Haverty Furniture Companies

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 27th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were given a $0.28 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.56%. Haverty Furniture Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.41%.

In other news, VP Jenny H. Parker sold 2,620 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.07, for a total value of $99,743.40. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 21,714 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $826,651.98. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Haverty Furniture Companies news, VP Jenny H. Parker sold 2,620 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.07, for a total value of $99,743.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 21,714 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $826,651.98. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Clarence H. Smith sold 13,880 shares of Haverty Furniture Companies stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.29, for a total transaction of $475,945.20. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 34,300 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,176,147. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 31,001 shares of company stock worth $1,069,260. 7.43% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Haverty Furniture Companies

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HVT. Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new position in Haverty Furniture Companies during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $256,000. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. acquired a new stake in Haverty Furniture Companies in the 3rd quarter worth about $237,000. Jump Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of Haverty Furniture Companies by 51.2% during the 3rd quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 14,816 shares of the companys stock worth $369,000 after purchasing an additional 5,016 shares during the period. Cambria Investment Management L.P. boosted its position in Haverty Furniture Companies by 8.3% in the 3rd quarter. Cambria Investment Management L.P. now owns 160,875 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,006,000 after buying an additional 12,375 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP increased its holdings in Haverty Furniture Companies by 9,326.1% in the third quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 13,008 shares of the companys stock valued at $323,000 after buying an additional 12,870 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.17% of the companys stock.

Haverty Furniture Companies Company Profile

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Haverty Furniture Cos., Inc engages in the retail of residential furniture and accessories. The company was founded by James Joseph Haverty in 1885 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

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Hemington Wealth Management lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA  Get Rating) by 11.7% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 15,698 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 1,643 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF comprises 0.4% of Hemington Wealth Managements holdings, making the stock its 29th biggest position. Hemington Wealth Managements holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $1,030,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of EFA. Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 55.4% in 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. Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 3.2% during the third quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 8,051,277 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $450,952,000 after purchasing an additional 246,210 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,783,047 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $435,928,000 after buying an additional 307,120 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 12.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,561,764 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $410,045,000 after acquiring an additional 741,436 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Asset Management Inc increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 2.5% in the third quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 3,129,794 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $175,300,000 after acquiring an additional 75,903 shares during the last quarter. 80.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Price Performance

EFA traded down $0.45 during trading on Monday, reaching $71.49. 5,702,532 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 20,716,352. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a fifty-two week low of $54.61 and a fifty-two week high of $73.22. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $70.25 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $66.04.

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Profile

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.

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Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) had its target price cut by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $89.00 to $65.00 in a research report report published on Thursday, The Fly reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the financial services providers stock.

SCHW has been the topic of several other reports. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. UBS Group lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $90.00 to $97.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Credit Suisse Group upgraded Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and dropped their price target for the company from $81.50 to $67.50 in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. Bank of America lowered their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $74.00 to $60.00 in a report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $79.00 to $61.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $78.27.

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Charles Schwab Stock Up 1.0 %

Charles Schwab stock opened at $49.35 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $88.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.88. Charles Schwab has a fifty-two week low of $45.00 and a fifty-two week high of $86.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a current ratio of 0.38. The stocks fifty day moving average is $68.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $74.59.

Charles Schwab Increases Dividend

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.03). Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 24.94% and a net margin of 34.60%. The company had revenue of $5.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.55 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.86 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 16.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Charles Schwab will post 3.81 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 10th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.03%. This is an increase from Charles Schwabs previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 9th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.57%.

Insider Activity

In other Charles Schwab news, CEO Walter W. Bettinger bought 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $59.31 per share, with a total value of $2,965,500.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 656,501 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,937,074.31. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Walter W. Bettinger purchased 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $59.31 per share, with a total value of $2,965,500.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 656,501 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,937,074.31. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Marianne Catherine Brown purchased 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $53.47 per share, for a total transaction of $267,350.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 9,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $533,844.48. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders bought 81,000 shares of company stock valued at $4,706,960 and sold 728,106 shares valued at $58,067,403. Insiders own 7.50% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Charles Schwab

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SCHW. Cypress Wealth Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 23.5% in the first quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC now owns 4,256 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $223,000 after acquiring an additional 810 shares during the period. Diversified Trust Co boosted its position in Charles Schwab by 4.5% during the first quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 12,812 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $671,000 after acquiring an additional 549 shares during the last quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont grew its holdings in Charles Schwab by 1,463.4% during the 1st quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 641 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares during the period. Parsec Financial Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 5.0% in the 1st quarter. Parsec Financial Management Inc. now owns 164,267 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $8,604,000 after acquiring an additional 7,863 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Timber Creek Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 15.0% during the 1st quarter. Timber Creek Capital Management LLC now owns 86,124 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,511,000 after purchasing an additional 11,259 shares in the last quarter. 73.49% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Charles Schwab

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The Charles Schwab Corp. is a savings and loan holding company, which engages in the provision of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. It operates through the Investor Services and Advisor Services segments. The Investor Services segment includes retail brokerage and banking services to individual investors, and retirement plan services, as well as other corporate brokerage services, to businesses and their employees.

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Berger Financial Group Inc boosted its stake in Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT  Get Rating) by 0.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 16,433 shares of the aerospace companys stock after buying an additional 88 shares during the period. Lockheed Martin accounts for approximately 1.1% of Berger Financial Group Incs investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest holding. Berger Financial Group Incs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $7,995,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,885,865 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $8,840,580,000 after purchasing an additional 289,110 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 5.3% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,256,069 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,320,030,000 after buying an additional 264,665 shares in the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 1,148,736 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $443,745,000 after acquiring an additional 25,283 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.1% during the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 988,725 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $381,934,000 after acquiring an additional 10,587 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP raised its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 59.2% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 698,200 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $269,708,000 after purchasing an additional 259,700 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.18% of the companys stock.

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Lockheed Martin Stock Up 1.4 %

NYSE LMT traded up $6.66 on Monday, reaching $496.83. The stock had a trading volume of 359,136 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,455,340. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. Lockheed Martin Co. has a 1 year low of $373.67 and a 1 year high of $498.95. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $475.20 and a 200 day moving average price of $464.71. The company has a market capitalization of $126.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.67.

Lockheed Martin Dividend Announcement

Lockheed Martin ( NYSE:LMT Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 24th. The aerospace company reported $7.79 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.41 by $0.38. The firm had revenue of $18.99 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.25 billion. Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 68.01% and a net margin of 8.69%. The firms revenue was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $7.47 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Lockheed Martin Co. will post 26.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 1st were given a dividend of $3.00 per share. This represents a $12.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.42%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. Lockheed Martins payout ratio is 55.27%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on LMT. Susquehanna lifted their price target on Lockheed Martin from $510.00 to $512.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $542.00 to $532.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Lockheed Martin in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $417.00 to $422.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Lockheed Martin from a neutral rating to a sell rating and cut their price objective for the company from $388.00 to $332.00 in a research report on Friday, January 13th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Lockheed Martin presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $490.43.

Insider Buying and Selling at Lockheed Martin

In other news, EVP Timothy S. Cahill sold 2,534 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $479.44, for a total transaction of $1,214,900.96. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 10,460 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,014,942.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Timothy S. Cahill sold 2,534 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $479.44, for a total value of $1,214,900.96. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,460 shares in the company, valued at $5,014,942.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director John Donovan bought 556 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 25th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $451.20 per share, for a total transaction of $250,867.20. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,324 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,048,588.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock.

Lockheed Martin Company Profile

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Lockheed Martin Corp. is a global security and aerospace company, which engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services. It operates through the following business segments: Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control (MFC), Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS), and Space.

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Locust Wood Capital Advisers LLC cut its stake in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) by 4.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 259,093 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 13,023 shares during the quarter. Waste Management comprises about 2.3% of Locust Wood Capital Advisers LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest position. Locust Wood Capital Advisers LLC owned 0.06% of Waste Management worth $40,647,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Waste Management by 534.5% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 3,344 shares of the business services providers stock worth $530,000 after buying an additional 2,817 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its stake in shares of Waste Management by 0.7% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 53,067 shares of the business services providers stock worth $8,411,000 after acquiring an additional 370 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Waste Management by 0.6% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 358,624 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $56,842,000 after purchasing an additional 2,309 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in Waste Management by 83.8% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 680 shares of the business services providers stock worth $108,000 after purchasing an additional 310 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Waste Management by 44.8% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 33,030 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $5,234,000 after purchasing an additional 10,212 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.48% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Waste Management

In other Waste Management news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the businesss 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 sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at approximately $787,283.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction on Friday, February 24th. The stock was 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 can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 6,800 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total value of $1,054,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 57,517 shares in the company, valued at $8,915,135. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 30,961 shares of company stock worth $4,796,057 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Waste Management Stock Performance

WM has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. UBS Group cut shares of Waste Management from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $190.00 to $165.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on Waste Management from $157.00 to $151.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 6th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Waste Management from $158.00 to $167.00 in a research report on Thursday. Finally, TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. They set an outperform rating and a $200.00 target price for the company. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Waste Management presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $173.27.

Shares of WM stock traded down $1.03 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $162.63. The stock had a trading volume of 214,597 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,858,880. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $153.86 and a 200-day simple moving average of $157.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $66.15 billion, a PE ratio of 30.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.73. Waste Management, Inc. has a twelve month low of $138.89 and a twelve month high of $175.98.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.39 by ($0.09). Waste Management had a return on equity of 32.91% and a net margin of 11.36%. The business had revenue of $4.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.97 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.26 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6 earnings per share for the current year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $0.70 per share. 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 1.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. Waste Managements payout ratio is currently 51.95%.

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.

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R. W. Roge & Company Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF (NYSEARCA:FNDX  Get Rating) by 6.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 57,307 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,802 shares during the period. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF makes up 2.0% of R. W. Roge & Company Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 12th largest position. R. W. Roge & Company Inc.s holdings in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF were worth $3,062,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in FNDX. Cowa LLC boosted its stake in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 31,068.3% during the 1st quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 3,597,442 shares of the companys stock worth $2,105,000 after acquiring an additional 3,585,900 shares during the last quarter. McAdam LLC grew its holdings in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. McAdam LLC now owns 2,068,672 shares of the companys stock valued at $98,800,000 after buying an additional 76,963 shares during the period. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $64,878,000. Northwest Bancshares Inc. raised its stake in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Northwest Bancshares Inc. now owns 1,323,821 shares of the companys stock worth $63,225,000 after buying an additional 9,762 shares during the period. Finally, Washington Trust Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 60,196 shares in the last quarter.

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Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF Price Performance

Shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF stock traded down $0.05 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $54.84. The companys stock had a trading volume of 89,374 shares, compared to its average volume of 416,111. The company has a market capitalization of $10.62 billion, a PE ratio of 13.00 and a beta of 1.00. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $55.02 and a 200 day moving average of $53.86. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF has a 12 month low of $47.50 and a 12 month high of $59.78.

Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF 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.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FNDX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF (NYSEARCA:FNDX  Get Rating).

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U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) recently received a number of ratings updates from brokerages and research firms:

4/10/2023  U.S. Bancorp was downgraded by analysts at UBS Group AG from a buy rating to a neutral rating.

4/10/2023  U.S. Bancorp had its price target lowered by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $52.50 to $45.00.

4/5/2023  U.S. Bancorp had its price target lowered by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $56.00 to $46.00. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock.

4/3/2023  U.S. Bancorp had its price target lowered by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $60.00 to $55.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock.

3/24/2023  U.S. Bancorp had its price target lowered by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from $55.00 to $49.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock.

3/23/2023  U.S. Bancorp had its price target lowered by analysts at Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. from $77.00 to $64.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock.

3/20/2023  U.S. Bancorp was upgraded by analysts at Robert W. Baird from a neutral rating to an outperform rating. They now have a $52.00 price target on the stock.

3/16/2023  U.S. Bancorp is now covered by analysts at StockNews.com. They set a hold rating on the stock.

3/10/2023  U.S. Bancorp had its price target lowered by analysts at Piper Sandler from $57.00 to $53.00.

3/6/2023  U.S. Bancorp was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating.

2/26/2023  U.S. Bancorp is now covered by analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.. They set a neutral rating on the stock.

2/24/2023  U.S. Bancorp was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating.

2/15/2023  U.S. Bancorp was upgraded by analysts at Piper Sandler from a neutral rating to an overweight rating. They now have a $57.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $53.00.

U.S. Bancorp Price Performance

USB stock traded down $0.19 on Monday, reaching $35.56. 3,642,688 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 12,779,194. 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 twelve month low of $32.72 and a twelve month high of $53.88. The firm has a market cap of $54.47 billion, a PE ratio of 9.58, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.93. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $42.86 and a 200-day moving average of $43.32.

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U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The financial services provider reported $1.20 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.11 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $6.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.61 billion. U.S. Bancorp had a return on equity of 16.13% and a net margin of 21.26%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.07 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that U.S. Bancorp will post 4.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

U.S. Bancorp Announces Dividend

Institutional Investors Weigh In On U.S. Bancorp

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.48 per share. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. U.S. Bancorps dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 51.75%.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. BCK Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp in the first quarter worth approximately $2,514,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 9,397 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $499,000 after buying an additional 276 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 20.8% during the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 21,314 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,176,000 after buying an additional 3,663 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in U.S. Bancorp in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,731,000. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 5.9% during the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 86,048 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,573,000 after purchasing an additional 4,827 shares during the period. 71.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.

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Tokio Marine (OTCMKTS:TKOMY  Get Rating) and The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG  Get Rating) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk and earnings.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Tokio Marine and The Hartford Financial Services Groups top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Tokio Marine $52.23 billion 2.26 $3.74 billion ($0.65) -29.52 The Hartford Financial Services Group $22.36 billion 0.98 $1.82 billion $5.45 12.82

Tokio Marine has higher revenue and earnings than The Hartford Financial Services Group. Tokio Marine is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than The Hartford Financial Services Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk and Volatility

Dividends

Tokio Marine has a beta of -0.8, suggesting that its share price is 180% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, The Hartford Financial Services Group has a beta of 0.85, suggesting that its share price is 15% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Tokio Marine pays an annual dividend of $0.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. The Hartford Financial Services Group pays an annual dividend of $1.70 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.4%. Tokio Marine pays out -30.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. The Hartford Financial Services Group pays out 31.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. The Hartford Financial Services Group has increased its dividend for 3 consecutive years. The Hartford Financial Services Group is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

0.0% of Tokio Marine shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 89.9% of The Hartford Financial Services Group shares are held by institutional investors. 1.8% of The Hartford Financial Services Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Tokio Marine and The Hartford Financial Services Group, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Tokio Marine 0 0 0 0 N/A The Hartford Financial Services Group 0 5 7 0 2.58

The Hartford Financial Services Group has a consensus price target of $86.62, suggesting a potential upside of 23.98%. Given The Hartford Financial Services Groups higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe The Hartford Financial Services Group is more favorable than Tokio Marine.

Profitability

This table compares Tokio Marine and The Hartford Financial Services Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Tokio Marine 3.91% 6.12% 0.88% The Hartford Financial Services Group 8.12% 18.15% 3.44%

Summary

The Hartford Financial Services Group beats Tokio Marine on 11 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Tokio Marine

(Get Rating)

Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in non-life and life insurance, international insurance, and financial and general businesses worldwide. The company provides business, fire, Internet and mobile, rental housing, and natural catastrophe risk insurance services, as well as insurance for retail and corporate fields. It also provides property investment, insurance agency and risk consulting, human resource, in-home care and nursing care information, healthcare/medical, call center, and real estate-related services. Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. serves individuals, small to medium sized non-profit organizations, schools, or churches. The company was formerly known as Millea Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. in 2008. Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1879 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

About The Hartford Financial Services Group

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The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. is an insurance and financial services company. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, Property & Casualty Other Operations, Group Benefits, Hartford Funds, and Corporate. The Commercial Lines segment provides workers compensation, property, automobile, liability and umbrella coverage under several different products. The Personal Lines segment offers standard automobile, homeowners, and personal umbrella coverage to individuals. The Property & Casualty Other Operations segment includes certain property and casualty operations, managed by the company, that have discontinued writing new business and substantially all of the companys asbestos and environmental exposures. The Group Benefits segment provides group life, accident, and disability coverage, as well as group retiree health and voluntary benefits. The Hartford Funds segment offers investment products for retail and retirement accounts and provides investment management and administrative services. The corporate segment includes corporate category discontinued operations, reserves for run-off structured settlement, and terminal funding agree

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UiPath Inc. (NYSE:PATH  Get Rating) shares gapped down before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $16.55, but opened at $16.19. UiPath shares last traded at $16.32, with a volume of 1,243,563 shares traded.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have commented on PATH shares. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of UiPath from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, April 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on UiPath from $16.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on UiPath from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on UiPath from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on shares of UiPath from $13.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UiPath presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $19.39.

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UiPath Stock Down 2.8 %

The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $15.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $13.78. The company has a market cap of $8.97 billion, a PE ratio of -27.32 and a beta of 0.72.

Insider Transactions at UiPath

UiPath ( NYSE:PATH Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 15th. The healthcare company reported ($0.03) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.05) by $0.02. UiPath had a negative return on equity of 15.38% and a negative net margin of 31.02%. The firm had revenue of $308.55 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $278.14 million. As a group, equities research analysts predict that UiPath Inc. will post -0.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other news, CFO Ashim Gupta sold 40,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.61, for a total value of $664,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 1,359,051 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,573,837.11. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CAO Hitesh Ramani sold 12,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.01, for a total transaction of $204,120.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 407,349 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,929,006.49. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Ashim Gupta sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.61, for a total value of $664,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 1,359,051 shares in the company, valued at $22,573,837.11. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 92,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,546,920. 31.88% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UiPath

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of UiPath by 3.8% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 40,993 shares of the healthcare companys stock worth $885,000 after buying an additional 1,506 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UiPath in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $184,000. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of UiPath by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,316,635 shares of the healthcare companys stock valued at $114,786,000 after purchasing an additional 99,242 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP acquired a new stake in shares of UiPath in the 1st quarter valued at $534,000. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new stake in shares of UiPath during the 1st quarter worth $259,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.40% of the companys stock.

UiPath Company Profile

(Get Rating)

UiPath Inc provides an end-to-end automation platform that offers a range of robotic process automation (RPA) solutions primarily in the United States, Romania, and Japan. The company offers a suite of interrelated software to build, manage, run, engage, measure, and govern automation within the organization.

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Rating) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Thursday morning.

Several other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Stephens restated an overweight rating and issued a $605.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Raymond James raised UnitedHealth Group from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $615.00 to $630.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $617.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $590.00 to $610.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, December 7th. Finally, Loop Capital increased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $575.00 to $590.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $602.00.

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UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNH opened at $512.81 on Thursday. UnitedHealth Group has a 12 month low of $449.70 and a 12 month high of $558.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $482.05 and its 200-day simple moving average is $506.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $478.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.67.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $5.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.17 by $0.17. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 6.21% and a return on equity of 27.04%. The company had revenue of $82.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $82.53 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $4.48 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group will post 24.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 21st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 13th were paid a $1.65 dividend. This represents a $6.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Groups payout ratio is presently 31.15%.

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Eclectic Associates Inc. ADV raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Eclectic Associates Inc. ADV now owns 10,184 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $4,813,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the period. Diversified Trust Co increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 10.9% during the 1st quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 44,676 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $21,113,000 after buying an additional 4,382 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermont grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 18.5% during the 1st quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 17,233 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $8,144,000 after purchasing an additional 2,687 shares in the last quarter. BTC Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. BTC Capital Management Inc. now owns 14,828 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $7,000,000 after acquiring an additional 365 shares during the period. Finally, Bangor Savings Bank increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.8% in the first quarter. Bangor Savings Bank now owns 1,189 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $562,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.31% of the companys stock.

About UnitedHealth Group

(Get Rating)

UnitedHealth Group, Inc engages in the provision of health care coverage, software, and data consultancy services. It operates through the following segments: UnitedHealthcare, OptumHealth, OptumInsight, and OptumRx. The UnitedHealthcare segment utilizes Optums capabilities to help coordinate patient care, improve affordability of medical care, analyze cost trends, manage pharmacy benefits, work with care providers more effectively, and create a simpler consumer experience.

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Yeungnam University students listen to the May 18 Foundation's education department director Park Jin-woo's explanation of the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy movement at May 18 National Cemetery in Gwangju, Saturday. Newsis



Visitors seek to learn about May 18 uprising after apology of ex-dictator's grandson



By Lee Hae-rin



Korea's southwestern city of Gwangju is seeing a growing number of young visitors seeking to learn about the 1980 pro-democracy movement. This sudden increase in interest in the city and the historical event was triggered by the apology of former authoritarian leader Chun Doo-hwan's grandson Woo-won, educators said on Monday.



According to the May 18 Democratic Uprising Archives, it has been receiving up to 400 visitors per day since the younger Chun visited Gwangju on March 31. The number is far larger than the daily average of 176 in March. In 2011, the archives were listed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Program, an international initiative to safeguard the documentary heritage of universal value.



Gwangju's May 18 National Cemetery, which holds the graves of 764 victims of the brutal suppression of the pro-democracy movement, also saw the number of visitors double since Woo-won's visit on March 31.



During the first weekend of April, the cemetery saw 941 visitors, which is more than twice that of the previous weekend's 410. Between April 8 and 9, around 800 people visited to pay respects to the deceased democracy activists, an official of the national cemetery told The Korea Times, Monday.



Professor Kim Moon-joo of Yeungnam University and 40 of his students were among the visitors, Saturday.



During the trip, which was planned long before Chun's apology, the group visited historic locations related to the pro-democracy movement, including the archives and the national cemetery, while meeting activists and students from Gwangju.



According to Kim, who has been teaching history in liberal arts class to overcome regional antagonism, many young people who were born and raised in the country's conservative Gyeongsang provinces have inaccurate and distorted perceptions of Gwangju's recent history and "mistakenly understand the democratic movement as a riot led by the North Korean army."



Such misunderstanding intensifies already-existing regionalism between the conservative Gyeongsang and liberal Jeolla provinces, the professor said. Thus, he developed a curriculum to teach an undistorted history and planned Saturday's field trip to provide in-person experience and exchange to his students, most of whom have never visited Gwangju before.



Park Jin-woo, the director of the May 18 Foundation's education department director who guided Professor Kim's students during their visit to the historic sites, told The Korea Times, Monday that he also feels the growing need for history education.



"Many young students are visiting Gwangju," he said, citing Chun Woo-won's apology to the bereaved families as one of many causes behind the trend. "Since Chun Woo-won is around the age of these young students, they could relate to his words and actions of apology more easily," he explained.



Upon growing requests, the director operates several history guides and education sessions about the May 18 uprising planned in and outside of Gwangju for organizations, including the U.S. Embassy in Korea, the minor opposition Basic Income Party, schools and the Journalists Association of Korea, he said.



"Due to the Chun Woo-won effect, there is a growing interest in the May 18 movement and more people are visiting Gwangju, as the COVID-19's endemic and field trip season for school children approaches," said Hong In-hwa, the director of the May 18 Democratic Uprising Archives.



"We hope this could be another chance for more people to understand the pro-democracy movement and remember the fallen heroes who died protecting democracy."




StockNews.com upgraded shares of Valley National Bancorp (NYSE:VLY  Get Rating) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Friday morning.

Valley National Bancorp Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of VLY opened at $8.45 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $4.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.48 and a beta of 1.08. Valley National Bancorp has a 1 year low of $8.26 and a 1 year high of $13.07.

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Valley National Bancorp Company Profile

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Valley National Bancorp is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of retail and commercial banking services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Lending, Commercial Lending, Investment Management, and Corporate and Other Adjustments. The Consumer Lending segment consists of residential mortgage loans, automobile loans and home equity loans, as well as wealth management and insurance services.

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Victoria Gold (OTCMKTS:VITFF  Get Rating) had its price target boosted by CIBC from C$10.00 to C$10.50 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, The Fly reports.

Several other equities analysts have also commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on shares of Victoria Gold in a report on Thursday, March 30th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. HC Wainwright dropped their target price on Victoria Gold from C$22.00 to C$21.00 in a research report on Friday, February 24th.

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Victoria Gold Stock Performance

Shares of VITFF opened at $7.68 on Thursday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $6.70 and its 200 day moving average price is $6.11. Victoria Gold has a 12-month low of $4.77 and a 12-month high of $12.28.

About Victoria Gold

Victoria Gold Corp. engages in the acquisition, evaluation, and development of mineral properties. It project portfolio includes the Eagle Gold, Dublin Gulch, Eagle Extension, and Canalask. The company was founded on September 21, 1981 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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Grand Island developer Amos Anson has been honored with the inaugural Exemplary Volunteer Honor from Grand Island Area Habitat in recognition of his nearly 20 years of dedicated service to the organization.

Anson has been an outstanding volunteer for Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity, serving as interim construction manager and guiding volunteer groups in the construction of Habitat houses, Habitat noted in a press release. His tireless efforts and unwavering commitment have helped shape the organization into what it is today. He has been a true leader in every sense of the word, and his contributions have made a profound impact on the lives of countless families in the community.

In addition to his volunteer work, Anson has also shown his commitment to Habitats mission in a novel and generous way. Anson and his business partners with Highland North, the new housing development in northwest Grand Island, recognized the need for a full-time construction manager at Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity and decided to sell one of their spec homes to benefit the organization. Their generous hearts and commitment to Habitats mission will help ensure that the organization can continue to provide affordable housing solutions to families in need and will have the capacity to grow the numbers of homes built each year, as well as oversee the expansion of services into all of Hall, Howard, Hamilton and Merrick counties.

It is an honor to recognize Amos Anson as the first recipient of the Exemplary Volunteer Honor, said Alyssa Heagy, Habitat executive director. His dedication and hard work have been an inspiration to us all, and his legacy will continue to inspire others for years to come. We are grateful for his tireless efforts, unwavering commitment, and generous heart. Amos is one of those volunteers that will always answer the call to help. From being short-handed on the construction site, to acting as auctioneer; we can count on Amos. Even when he announced he would be stepping down as construction manager, he still found a way to support Habitat and our mission with the Spec Build fundraiser.

The Exemplary Volunteer Honor is an award that will be presented to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the organization and have made a significant impact on the community through their volunteer work.

 Ansons leadership, wisdom, and unwavering commitment have made a lasting impact on the lives of so many, Heagy said. Anson began volunteering with Habitat on house number 40, he is currently assisting on house 114.

Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization dedicated to building homes, community, and hope in the Grand Island, Nebraska area. Since its founding in 1992, the organization has provided affordable housing solutions to families in need, while also promoting community development and volunteerism.

For more information about Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity, visit www.gihabitat.org.
This year's Nebraska State Fair dirt acts feature bucking bulls, ATV aerobatics, powerful tractors and crashing cars.

On the fairs opening day, Friday, Aug. 25, riders in the Ultimate Bullriding Tour will compete at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Foods Outdoor Arena. Tickets start at $25.

Often called the most dangerous eight seconds in sports, bull riding challenges some of Americas toughest cowboys to stay aboard 2,000 pounds of bucking bull for eight seconds or receive a no-score. The Ultimate Bullriding Tour is presented by 880 KRVN and 93.1 The River.

New to the fair, the ATV Big Air Tour will provide its brand of thrills at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at Anderson Field. Tickets start at $13.

"This show delivers incredible stunts and gravity-defying jumps from some of the nations best ATV and off-road riders," says the State Fair. "ATVs, dirt bikes and BMX bikes take flight, performing amazing tricks that make the audiences hearts race." The ATV Big Air Tour is presented by Country 96.

Returning to the State Fair for a second year, the Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pull will be at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, at Anderson Field. Tickets start at $17.

The Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulling Association is the biggest of three sanctioned national pulling associations. With rear tires taller than the average person and engines that shake the ground, the equipment they use looks nothing like your grandpas tractor. This event is presented by News Channel Nebraska.

"Fairgoers whove witnessed Ultimate Bullfighters, sponsored by Grand Kubota, know the thrills in store at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3, at the U.S. Foods Outdoor Arena," the news release says. "In this freestyle event, bullfighters have 60 seconds to score points by performing dangerous stunts as close to the bull as possible without getting hit. The animals are not harmed, unlike in traditional bullfighting."

Ultimate Bullfighters is presented by 880 KRVN and 93.1 The River. Tickets start at $25. Included in the ticket will be Mutton Busting, which starts at 5 p.m.

Those attending at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4, at Anderson Field will get to see the finale of the Nebraska State Fair Demo Derby Point Series. Tickets start at $17.

The 10 events that make up the point series begin on June 17 in Ravenna. Class events include Limited Weld, Bone Stock and Old School. The Demolition Derby is presented by Hits 106, 107.7 The Island, Rock 101.5, Y102 and KGFW.

Admission to all five events is limited, so enthusiasts will need to buy their tickets in advance at StateFair.org. All advance tickets include gate admission. Tickets go on sale to the public for all shows Friday, April 14, at StateFair.org.

This year's fair, with the theme of Whatever Your Flavor, runs from Aug. 25 to Sept. 4.
WOOD RIVER  Wood River was honored Monday for being a community that makes things happen.

Gov. Jim Pillen came to Wood River to present this year's Governor's Showcase Community Award. The honor is given to one Nebraska community each year. The presentation kicked off Community Development Week in Nebraska, which began Monday and runs through Saturday.

Wood River recently received a $562,000 grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development's Civic and Community Center Financing Fund. That money will go toward Wood River's Legacy Station project.

Pillen presented a plaque to Wood River Mayor Greg Cramer before a crowd of about 100 in the Community Center.

Pillen commended the people of Wood River for "being able to figure out ways to just keep plugging together to make your community better and better." He said he's proud of the community for its work in obtaining grants and money from foundations.

"Your community has not let adversity stand in its way," Pillen said, referring to the 2019 flood and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The old Good Samaritan Society nursing home, vacated in 2019, is already the home of the Stick Creek Kids Child Development Center. Plans are well underway to move the town's senior center, library and food pantry into the building. When the project is done, it will be called Legacy Station. The empty nursing home "gave us a great place to grow our community," Cramer said.

Sharon Hueftle, executive director of the South Central Economic Development District, spoke enthusiastically about Wood River. The community was featured as a Community of Champions in the district's annual report last year.

"And there's a reason for that. It's because of the way they do things," said Hueftle, who lives in Holdrege.

Wood River leaders "go out to their community," taking input through surveys. Leaders invite everyone to a supper and "talk through the results of that survey," Hueftle said. The town then sets priorities. People "get together at tables and start what we would call an informal task force to say 'OK, how are we going to address this?'"

Community residents then come to South Central Economic Development and ask, "Is there funding for this? Who do we talk to about that? What other town has done this?'

"And that's really where we come in," Hueftle said.

The South Central Economic Development District, which serves 13 counties, helps with grant applications and provides guidance. But the people of Wood River are doing the real work. "They're getting their hands dirty," Hueftle said.

Wood River is a smart place to turn for other towns looking to generate passion and asking "'How do we get life into our community? How do we do this or that?' Wood River's a good one to look to. They're a good role model," Hueftle said.

The most recent census says Wood River has 1,350 residents.

Cramer praised the fundraising work of local residents. "You've got to raise the money first to get some of these grants. If you don't have the matching funds, it's tough to apply for them," said Cramer, who's been mayor for 16 years.

Last fall, Wood River received a Community Development Block Grant of $433,000, which will go toward the new senior center.

The Legacy Station fund drive has a goal of $3.1 million. About $1.7 million has been raised so far, said Sara Arnett, who is on the Wood River Vision 2020 board.

Wood River has "had excellent funding projects and been a dynamic community to work with," said Gina Doose, a financial packager for the Department of Economic Development.

Wood River City Councilwoman Heather Rotter is "glad to get the word out about how great the community's doing and some of the great things that we're doing to make it better."

Rotter, who's on the Legacy Station board, said the people of Wood River received the Showcase Award "because they are constantly on the forefront of new ideas. The Legacy Station is going to be one of a kind, the first in the state. So I think that probably has something to do with it."

Plus, Wood River residents are "always working towards getting grants and spending the money to improve the community," Rotter said.

Legacy Station has always been good at bringing different age groups together, said Deb Rohrich.

One benefit of Legacy Station is that it will introduce families and young children to the library, said Kim Felton-Canfield, who is the Stick Creek Kids board chair.

Anna Fehringer, who is on the library board, said the community envisions Legacy Station as "being a hub for the town."

Pillen talked about an event held March 29 marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

At that celebration, he spent more than an hour pinning Vietnam veterans.

Getting "to do those kinds of things as your governor, on top of cutting taxes, is really, really rewarding," Pillen said.

Pillen also talked about the need for connectivity across the state. He's hopeful the Legislature will approve a cabinet-level broadband office.

He also said he'd like to see more four-lane "roads that connect us, because it's the 21st century. Wouldn't it be awesome to dream about Highway 30 being four-lane roads between here and there? There's no reason why that can't happen."
The Perspective

Atlanta, Georgia

April 10, 2023



Deforestation and Degradation - An Anthropogenic Destruction Of Mother Earth

According to the UN data, deforestation produces around 1220% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the UN's Redd (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) scheme is viewed as an effective way to cut emissions by buying carbon credits, or "offsets", from developing countries who keep their forests standing. The Paris Climate Agreement recognizes REDD+ and the central role of forests in Article 5.





The UN plans to preserve the world's forests by allowing owners to trade the carbon stored in endangered forests on condition the trees are not felled. The plan aims to slash 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions that come from deforestation and is one of the few aspects of a global deal to fight climate change. Ghana was the second country in Africa after Mozambique to receive payments from a World Bank trust fund for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.





On March 2023, the Government of Liberia (GOL) and the newly founded United Arab Emirate (UAE) -based entity, Blue Carbon, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to implement carbon removal projects in forest sector under Article 6 of the 2015 Paris Agreement. According to the GOL press release, the MOU was cemented following the recent visit of President Geoge Weah to the UAE.





Blue Carbon was established in 2022 by Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, a member of the Dubai Royal Family and Chairman of the company. According to the company website, the Dubai-based companys mandate is to create environmental assets, nature-based solutions and register carbon removal projects. Commenting on the MoU with Liberia, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum said, We are honored to sign this MoU with The Republic of Liberia. This bilateral association marks another milestone for Blue Carbon to enable government entities to define their sustainable frameworks and help transition to a low-carbon economical system, thus reaching their Net Zero goals in compliance with the transferability of credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.





The UAE, Opec's third-largest oil producer, aims to become carbon neutral by 2050 after dubmitting its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in September 2022 in response to the Paris Agreement, which increases the countrys 2030 climate target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 23.5% to 31% of a business-as-usual scenario for the year 2030. The UAE intends to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the year 2030 by 31%, relative to the Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario. Consistent with the approach, the country has planned to invest $163 billion in clean and renewable energy over the next three decades in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.





Recently, the UAE invested more than $50bn in renewable energy projects across 40 countries, and it plans to double that over the next decade. In February 2023, Blue Carbon and the Government of Tanzania through the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) signed an MoU. In the same month, Blue Carbon signed (MoU) with Zambia through the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment to implement carbon removal projects in the forest sector under Article 6 of the 2015 Paris Agreement. The 28th session of the Conference of the Parties, or Cop28 as it is informally known, will be held in the UAE next year. The meeting, which followed on from Cop27 in Egypt last November, will try to find solutions to the threats posed by climate change.





So the information that Blue Carbon of UAE signed $50 billion sorely with Liberia is FALSE. The 50 billion is part of the renewable energy project across 40 countries and not Liberia alone. Blue Carbon agreements with Liberia, Zambia, and Tanzania are geared towards developing forestry-based carbon removal projects in these African countries to generate carbon credits. These agreements fall under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which allows international trade in carbon credits used to meet countries targets set out in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).





Why Liberia?

Liberia is home to 43 percent of the remaining Upper Guinean forest, which also covers parts of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and the Ivory Coast. Its home to endangered forest elephants, pygmy hippos and western chimpanzees. It is estimated that one-third of Liberias 5 million people live in the countrys forests. Liberia is a densely forested country, a resource it could potentially use as a major source of revenue to pay to protect its forests and reduce emissions.





However, Liberias forest sector is vulnerable to corruption, which is exacerbated by weak

institutional capacities of the government agencies in charge of these sectors and a lack of enforcement of existing laws. Since 2000, some 22% of the nations tree cover has been lost to deforestation, largely due to pressure from logging and small farms.





Liberia is ranked 174th, out of the 180 countries of the world and the least in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a score of 24.90 on the 2022 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), . Thus, corruption affects environmental regulations by introducing a bias, not only in the adoption process but also in the implementation process and the application of these regulations. Illegal logging is rife. In Liberia, a country marked by high levels of corruption, polluters or the extractors of natural resources can escape environmental regulations by offering bribes to the administrative authorities responsible for environmental regulation.







An unpublished report from an investigation into logging in the Liberian rainforest found illegal operations on a significant scale, with multiple missteps or breaches of law by the government agency charged with protecting those forests. According to the report, in 2018, a logging company in Grand Bassa County called Renaissance Group Inc participated in illegal logging of $4 million in tropical hardwoods in Grand Bassa County by a company called the Renaissance Group Inc. Liberias Ministry of Justice commissioned a forensic investigation by international experts. The investigation led the Foreign Development Authority to 1,640 illegally harvested ekki logs in a lot owned by Renaissance Group Incorporated. The report outlined a string of irregular and questionable decisions made by top FDA officials following that discovery, including the imposition of a fine against Renaissance amounting to just $5,000  a tiny fraction of the timbers market value.





The investigation said this token fine was part of a pattern of negligence by the FDAs Weah-appointed director, Mike Doryen, and other senior personnel at the forestry agency, who were described as having committed serious breaches of Liberian law in their response to the case. According to the justice ministry investigation, SGS, an independent auditing group that holds an EU-funded contract to monitor Liberias timber trade, expressed concern over the minimal fine in a letter to the FDA. The agency then imposed an additional $100,000 fine on Renaissance  still far more lenient than Liberian forestry laws mandated. Based on the total value of the timber and the severity of the violation, the panel that carried out the investigation said the logs should have been seized and Renaissance should have paid a fine of around $1.75 million.





The investigating panel said there was sufficient evidence to conclude that illegal logging on a significant scale had been carried out by Renaissance. It recommended the logs be confiscated and that Weah convene a special presidential committee to further examine the governments response to the case. Neither recommendation was implemented by President Weah.





According to Liberias renowned newspaper, Daily Observer, in January 2023, Renaissance Group Incorporated won a controversial lawsuit in Liberia, when a court ordered forestry officials to allow a shipment of illegally harvested ekki logs to be exported. Liberian environmental groups say the ruling is emblematic of a breakdown of the laws regulating the countrys logging sector under the current president, George Weah, and exposes its rainforests to serious threat. In March 2023, the paper revealed  kewa Group of companies, a Nigerian firm operating in Margibi and Grand Bassa County at the time, forged another companys document to acquire a new logging contract."

In 2007, a British company Carbon Harvesting Corporation (CHC) approached the Government of Liberia to negotiate the allocation of a 400,000-hectare forest carbon concession - a fifth of Liberia's rainforest- to sell carbon credits to clients who want to offset their carbon emissions. A Global Witness investigation of the financial, social, and environmental risks involved in the proposed deal revealed regular payments were made to Liberian government officials and a politician via a middleman. According to Global Witness, the British company's proposal to rent out one-fifth of Liberia's forests for carbon offsetting could have bankrupted the impoverished Liberian state because under the contract, if Liberia's forests had failed to deliver the full estimated number of carbon credits, based on a minimum target price of around $13.5 per ton of CO2, it could have been liable to make up the difference to a maximum of $2.2bn.





In June of 2010, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed a three-man committee headed by Counsellor Nabelee Warner to probe a proposed Carbon Concession agreement between the Forestry Development Authority or FDA and a UK-based company, Carbon Harvesting Corporation. The appointment of the committee was about a report released by Global Witness concerning the existence of a carbon concession agreement between the Liberian government represented by the Forestry Development Authority and the UK-based CHC covering one-fifth of Liberia's forests.





According to the Committees report investigating the fraud, corruption, misinformation, and illicit nature of the deal, several people were involved in bribery and corruption regarding the CHC contract, but most of them carefully concealed their activities making direct evidence hard to obtain. It was found by the investigating panel committee that not only did the FDA board deliberately fast-track the deal, provide misleading information, and skim over the proposal by CHC, but there existed a criminal conspiracy to violate various Liberian national laws for profit.

There's a great worldwide scramble going on to find forest lands that would qualify for carbon harvesting to gain access to the $16 trillion global carbon market.





In March 2023, Liberia renowned and leading newspaper, the Daily Observer revealed  kewa Group of companies, a Nigerian firm operating in Margibi and Grand Bassa County at the time, forged another companys document to acquire a new logging contract."







Papua New Guinea and Malaysia

There are signs that much carbon harvesting is already leading to social conflict, possible fraud, and worsening land disputes. In 2009, the director of climate change in Papua New Guinea was suspended following allegations that unofficial carbon credits worth $100m were issued from 39 potential Redd projects by an Australian-based carbon company. Landowners claimed they had been forced to sign over the rights to their forests by so-called carbon harvesters. Like Liberia, Papua New Guinea has a history of rampant corruption and illegal logging. In April 2022, the country imposed a moratorium on new voluntary carbon credit schemes to give the government time to create a regulatory framework for future and existing deals.





Carbon harvesting has the potential to be fantastic for forest communities in Liberia, but also to go wrong. As evidenced in the Global Witness investigation, carbon harvesting is widely expected to reward political and commercial elites with billions of dollars of public money, with little or nothing reaching the communities that will be expected to protect the forests. In Liberia, where 1.5 million lives depend on forests, potential carbon harvesting projects might be in limbo because much of Liberia's forests have never been surveyed, and land ownership is fiercely disputed. Local communities are supposed to earn a share of carbon credit sales to pay for better health, education, and alternative livelihoods, but is that possible in Liberia?





In Malaysia, a controversial carbon harvesting deal in Malaysian Borneo is worth an estimated $80 billion. The Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA) ostensibly protects 2 million hectares (4.9 million acres) of rainforest in the state of Sabah from logging for the next 100 years by selling the carbon stored in the trees, plants, soil, and rivers to commercial polluters looking to offset their emissions. But a months-long investigation by Al Jazeera showed that the NCA was hammered out in secrecy, and with what activists and Indigenous leaders said was no due diligence or consultation with landowners. Al Jazeeras investigation also showed that a Singaporean shell company with no obvious experience in carbon trading stood to earn up to $23bn from the deal.





Liberia can learn from her own experience as well as experiences from Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and other countries. The carbon harvesting market is a remarkable opportunity to generate billions for the Liberian economy' obligations for climate finance whilst enhancing energy access, generating jobs, safeguarding biodiversity, and promoting climate action. Liberia with its vast forest can produce millions of carbon credits annually by 2030 by exploiting the predicted rise in carbon trading activity. This level of production would support millions of jobs and bring in billions in revenue.

Efforts to tackle deforestation and forest degradation have still to prove effective. While efforts to halt deforestation in place, persistent extraction of logs driven by expanding demand makes it difficult to control timber harvesting. With the Government of Liberia (GOL) and the newly founded United Arab Emirate (UAE) -based entity, Blue Carbon MOU, Liberia should begin to consider establishing a clear carbon tax policy as it lays the foundation for carbon credits to grow into a significant industry, however, this may be difficult given the poor electricity and infrastructural deficit in the country. Nonetheless, a clear carbon tax framework will help the nation raise revenue to fund necessary climate change initiatives. Also, If Liberia seeks to improve the environment, policies should be put in place to reduce the level of corruption. We are watching!
CARBONDALE  When Clare Killman won a seat on the Carbondale City Council, she did more than just make history in the town she lives in. Killman was the first transgender person ever elected to a city council in Illinois, according to Equality Illinois.

Killman was one of three candidates elected to the council from a field of seven. She received 920 votes, second only to Councilman Adam Loos.

When those results came in on election night, Killman did not know she was the first trans person to be elected to a city council in Illinois, but she knew she hade made history in Carbondale.

Killman received a call at about 11 p.m. from Equality Illinois, the states civil rights organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) Illinoisans, saying she had set a record.

In a press release last week, Equality Illinois said Clare Killman and Jackie McKethen, elected to Crete Library Board, are only the fourth and fifth trans people elected to office in Illinois.

We are extremely proud of the historic electoral victories of Clare Killman for the Carbondale City Council and Jackie McKethen for the Crete Library Board. With yesterdays exciting election results, Killman will be the first trans person to serve on a city council in Illinois, said Myles Brady Davis, Communications Director of Equality Illinois.

Davis continued by saying trans people remain severely underrepresented in all levels of government. Killman and McKethen will be powerful voices for change and will inspire others to run for office in their communities.

With over 380 anti-LGBTQ bills proposed across the country, trans voices and representation at all levels of government is more important than ever. With a proven track record of commitment and effectiveness working towards equality and civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Carbondale and across Illinois, we are confident that Killman will continue the fight for safety and justice, Pride in Action Southern Illinois said a press release announcing Killmans victory.

Killman is thrilled.

I came to Carbondale 10 years ago to build a better life. I was fleeing from Missouri as a refugee of sorts. Carbondale was a safe haven, Killman said.

What she found in Carbondale was acceptance and love, along with basic human dignity and human rights.

I think I owe a debt I need to repay, Killman said.

She was heavily nudged to run for city council by several people. Some of them were Mayor-elect Carolin Harvey, Jackson County Clerk Frank Byrd and Dr. Linda Flowers.

She announced her candidacy in the fall and went to work talking to potential voters.

I talked to a diverse array of the population, and there were areas of consistency, Killman said.

Those included safe and dignified employment, good schools and decent quality housing.

Killman wants to see the conversation in the city moving from entrenched positions to shared positions. She would like to see the city and its conversations be more progressive.

Ive been capable of working across party lines with support from all parties. I couldnt ask for more, Killman said. It only happens when people share a common interest, a common problem. We share conditions of life in this town and not a partisan world.

Killman said it is now her responsibility to represent all of Carbondale.

She said she wants to see neighborhoods within the city integrated.

She also would like to Carbondale become a safe haven for people both like her and not like her, asking what a better time than now?

Killman said we need to reconstitute what it means to be related.

The specialness here is an openness of spirit that you dont get other places, Killman said.

She brings her experience working in activism to the council. That includes work as part of Carbondale Spring, working on the campaign of Ray Lindsey for Congress and positions on various boards.

Killman will officially take her seat on the council in early May.
Orangeburg County Council has once again postponed a decision on whether to allow a proposed 332-home development just outside of Elloree.

Builder D.R. Horton Inc. has asked the county for permission to rezone and develop the property.

I am not scared to make a decision, but I will say hearing outpouring from the community, the pros and cons, I move to review this further before we make a decision, Orangeburg County Councilman Johnny Ravenell said.

Carry it forward please, he said.

Council heard concerns from a number of people on Monday. It then unanimously decided for a second time to table a resolution and ordinance allowing the project.

The developer wants to change the zoning of the property at the corner of Tee Vee Road and Cleveland Street from forest-agriculture to single-family residential development.

Dyanna Myers, who sits on the board of the homeowners association for the Canebrake subdivision, expressed concerns about the proposal.

Myers said the builder is planning to break ground this year with about 65 houses, with the first phase to be done by 2025. She claims that none of the area is being set aside for conservation as mentioned by the company.

She also noted that homes in the planned $275,000 to $365,000 range are out of reach for many residents.

It doesn't sound like they want our people to live there, Myers said. They want to bring people in. We need to protect the people that are here.

Myers later expressed concerns that phone calls have not been returned by some council members.

You are here to represent the people of Orangeburg, of Orangeburg County. Please don't forget your job, Myers said.

Canebrake resident Kathy Scarborough said, Home is the only place on this earth you should be able to shut the door and shut the world out.

Now there are people who want to put the world in our back yard, Scarborough said. Raping the land for a dollar. People clamoring to be heard have nothing to lose. We are homeowners and we stand to lose a lot, not only our way of life and our living day to day, but the environment that we love.

The company and people pushing this project don't live here, she continued They will be long gone but we have to deal with the aftermath of their invasion.

Elloree business owner Timothy Gibbs said he has counted nearly 100 homes and commercial properties that are empty or falling down in and around Elloree. He said there are about 300 homes in the town.

What it tells me is that there was a time when Elloree serviced those homes, serviced those families, Gibbs said.

Horton's development is the tip of the spear toward Elloree's growth, he said. I desperately want to see Elloree the way it once was. I would like to see the town better.

Small business owner Krista Hassell of Elloree said if the town does not control and mold development, it will receive undesired growth.

You will have a Walmart, Hassell said. It is coming. Come together as a community, work with these builders who are willing to work with us or we can just let it invade us. Those are our options. You choose.

Some residents expressed concerns about the town's water and sewer infrastructure.

Town water system officials have said the Elloree Water System does have the capacity to handle the new development, but not all the developments that have inquired about tapping into the system.

According to conceptual plans submitted, the project would include the development of about 169 acres of land into a residential subdivision over the next eight to 15 years.

The plan includes about 332 houses with half-acre lots.

Initially the plan was to build 332 homes on the 332-acre parcel. After hearing concerns from property owners, D.R. Horton pulled out 86 acres that would be adjacent to the Canebrake community. This will bring the total down to 246 acres.

When 59 acres of wetlands and 18 acres of a wetlands buffer are taken into consideration, about 169 acres can be developed. Of this 169 acres, about 25 are a pond.

The proposed development has been denied twice by the Orangeburg County Planning Commission and, if denied by County Council, the developer would not be able to submit another rezoning request for a year.

It is the second time council has tabled the decision.

It initially tabled it in March after also hearing concerns from neighboring property owners.

In other matters:

 Council gave unanimous approval to a resolution agreeing to participate in the Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walmart and Walgreens opioid settlements.

The five companies have agreed to pay as much $20.1 billion collectively to states and local governments across the nation as redress for their role in the opioid epidemic.

South Carolina is estimated to receive about $286 million out of the settlement.

The amount of money the county will receive from the settlement is currently unknown and will depend on how many entities participate in the lawsuit, according to county attorney D'Anne Haydel.

A majority of the settlement money would have to be designated for MUSC Health Orangeburg and drug treatment centers for prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services for opioid use.

 Council gave unanimous second reading approval to the rezoning of two Charleston Highway properties totaling about 192 acres from forest-agriculture to commercial-general for the possible construction of commercial and residential development on the property.

The property is located near Holman's Small Engine repair shop and Laquinta Drive, about 1.37 miles east of the City of Orangeburg. A portion of the property does fall in the Cow Castle Creek flood plain. The property is currently undeveloped. There are adjacent properties that are zoned commercial general and business/industrial.

There was no public opposition to the rezoning request.

 Council gave unanimous second reading approval to the rezoning of about .43 acres of property at 113 Gramercy Lane from residential-general to forest-agriculture for the placement of a single-wide mobile home. Gramercy Lane is about seven miles west of Orangeburg, off of Neeses Highway. There was no public opposition to the rezoning request.

 Council gave unanimous first reading by title only to an ordinance allowing the county to restrict the establishment and selling for onsite consumption of alcoholic beverages within 300 feet of a residence.

Haydel said the ordinance was prompted by a recent incident in the Orangeburg area where an individual is trying to refurbish a residential home with the intention of selling alcohol. The property is located within close proximity of another residence.

 Council entered into closed session to receive an economic development update on a project with the Code Name Project Red Hawk.
Investigators were called to an Orangeburg business on Easter in reference to a fatal shooting, according to Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell.

This investigation is still early yet and we're in the beginning stages to sort out what happened, Ravenell said in a release.

We're still in the process of talking with anyone who may have information, he said.

Ravenell said that just before noon Sunday, Orangeburg County Sheriff's investigators were called to a St. Matthews Road business where a shooting had reportedly taken place.

Investigators arrived to find one individual had been fatally shot.

Ravenell said while the investigation is ongoing, an autopsy may provide more answers into the incident.

Anyone who has any information in regards to the incident is asked to call the sheriffs office at 803-534-3550.
This photo provided by the unification ministry shows a South Korean military officer speaking over the phone with a North Korean military counterpart via an inter-Korean direct communication line, Oct. 4, 2021. Yonhap



North Korea remained unresponsive to daily routine calls with South Korea through an inter-Korean liaison communication channel and a military hotline for the fourth straight day Monday, according to the South's government.



South Korea's unification ministry said the North appears to have "unilaterally" cut off the liaison communication line, after the country did not answer routine opening calls at 9 a.m.



The two Koreas are supposed to hold phone calls twice a day, at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., via their joint liaison channel. But the North stopped responding to such calls Friday morning. Calls from the liaison hotline do not take place on weekends.



Calls through a military hotline also went unanswered for the fourth straight day Monday, according to the South's defense ministry.



The unification ministry said it puts more weight on the North's "unilateral" move to block the liaison communication channel.



"While monitoring the situation, the government is reviewing how to respond (to the North's move). It will not take long for us to issue an official stance," Koo Byoung-sam, the ministry's spokesperson, told a regular press briefing.



It is unclear why the North remains unresponsive to such daily calls with the South.



But there is the possibility that the North may be using the suspension of communication to protest joint military drills between South Korea and the United States or the latest release by the ministry of a report on North Korea's human rights.





A hotline telephone at the Seoul branch of the joint inter-Korean liaison office, July 27, 2021 / Courtesy of Ministry of Unification
(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.
With the help of outdoor cat houses and volunteer labor, Istanbul seeks to improve the lives of its thousands of stray cats.

In the winter of 2008, Didem Gokgoz decided to do something for the stray cats of central Istanbuls Mistik Park.

It was on my way from home to the office, Gokgoz recalls. Every day I passed the park and saw them looking for a place to get some warmth during the winter, and I felt desperate.

The interior architect, 29 at the time, came up with the idea of building small containers in which cats could shelter from the cold and rain. At first people scoffed at the idea, with comments such as Dog houses are for dogs, she says. Today, cat houses can be found all over Istanbul  in parks, outside hotels and shops, and on school campuses. Individuals, companies, and local authorities foot the bill, and not only here but in other Turkish cities as well.

It was not easy at the beginning, Gokgoz says. At first, she made portable houses from plastic and placed them in Mistik Park. But the official who is responsible for Nisantasi, a neighborhood in Istanbuls Sisli municipality (district), had them tossed out. The official, whose office overlooks the one-square-block park, cited visual pollution and smell as the reasons. A meeting failed to resolve the impasse. Gradually, as Gokgoz became more familiar with locals who fed cats in the park, she developed the idea of making higher-end, wooden cat houses. They can be attached to the ground by iron chains to stay affixed permanently. She and eight other women arranged a meeting with municipality officials to discuss it.

The appointment was made for a Saturday morning. Only three people showed up.

There were three of us in the pouring rain: Me, my lawyer friend, and Mr. Mustafa Sarigul [then the Sisli mayor], Gokgoz recalls. We showed him our designs, explained how it would work and everything. Mr. Sarigul listened carefully and said, OK, do it and lets see; if we think it works, we will support it.

A City of Cats

Unlike metropolises where stray cats and dogs are rare, Istanbul is a city symbolized by its cats. A Google search on cat and Istanbul brings up dozens of videos, articles, and tourist tips. Ceyda Toruns 2016 documentary Kedi (Cat) was a hit with international audiences and sparked interest in the citys enormous stray cat population, which the Istanbul Metropolitan Authority estimated at 125,000.

The growing acceptance of cat houses in Istanbul and other Turkish cities  and more humane treatment of stray animals generally  depends on collaboration between local authorities and committed individuals. Although there were previous efforts, installation of officially supported cat houses has encouraged volunteers to cooperate further with authorities in areas such as sterilization of strays (made a responsibility of municipalities by a 2004 law) and feeding of stray animals.

After getting Sariguls word that the cat houses would not be destroyed, Gokgoz and her friends installed the first two in Mistik Park, inviting the mayor to the event.

Thematic fencing decorates the entrance to housing for stray cats in central Istanbuls Mistik Park. The gate, accessible by volunteers, has an opening for the feline residents.

People were confused about the cats, she says. The head [official] responsible for Nisantasi was looking at us from his balcony, displeased, but he couldnt do anything because the mayor was there.

TV news stations covered the event, and the municipality then contacted Gokgoz for more cat houses. Soon afterward, the neighboring Besiktas district started installing wooden cat houses as well. It was a turning point in Gokgozs life. Flooded with requests, she founded Podo, a company that makes whimsical cat houses and other products for pets and stray animals.

The idea spread to other municipalities, such as Kadikoy, followed by cities such as Alanya, Izmir, and Gaziantep. Gokgoz was commissioned to build cat houses for the Sabanci and Bogazici universities, cafes, cosmetic shops, and even the Industrial Development Bank of Turkey.

It became something normal; individuals make requests for cat houses, she says. That was our main goal, and weve reached it. Today, everybody accepts that cats must have their own life spaces in the city.

These days, Gokgoz builds eco-friendly house furniture in her atelier while continuing to design products for cats and building wooden cat houses on demand. Demand for the houses is strong, but as Gokgoz stresses, local authorities need volunteers to help run them.

The first cat houses installed in Mistik Park are still there; now they are covered with a roof and surrounded by a wire fence with a locked, human-sized door and a cat-sized entrance. A group of 12 volunteers called Pati (Paw) holds the key.

Pati volunteers take turns cleaning the cat houses and checking for new arrivals. They take on the responsibility of feeding the cats, get them spayed and neutered, and monitor their health, in cooperation with the Sisli municipality. They know every cat in the park and can thus easily identify newcomers  important to help prevent the spread of diseases.

The women post information on their WhatsApp group about cats that need to be spayed/neutered, missing cats, and cats available for adoption. The municipality helps in cases of urgent intervention and sterilization, but when it comes to regular medical treatment for cats (and dogs), the volunteers raise money among themselves and go to private veterinarians. Although they try to find support via social media, they say that they mostly cover the expenses from their personal budgets, which usually is the case among animal volunteers. One veterinarian next to the park does offer them discounts.

Combating Abandonment

Abandoned cats are their major concern; infections can spread rapidly among cats with the sharing of water and food bowls. Collaboration is important to combat the problem of people simply abandoning animals in parks with cat houses.

According to Ege Sakin, the public relations officer for Sisli municipalitys animal care department, if the public is not well-educated on certain issues, the negative aspects of providing cat houses can outweigh the benefits.

Parks have turned into places of abandonment, she says, noting the situation in Sanat Park (Arts Park), a bigger park about a kilometer from Mistik.

We put the cat houses in Sanat Park, she says. Then it appeared in the newspapers. And the next day, people brought cats from all around Istanbul, even from outside Istanbul. They came with sacks with dozens of cats, saying they will be fine in the park.  Sick cats, blind, and disabled cats that were thrown out of the house ended up in the park, and the local cats who had lived there for years in peace died.

Cat houses in Sanat Park. The structures also are installed outside shops and businesses, and even on university campuses.

The positive benefits of cat houses are largely due to the efforts of volunteers, Sakin says. A volunteer animal protector is the hand, the ear of the street. No matter how many teams we [local authorities] send to the streets, its not possible for us to follow cats the way that volunteers can by looking out their door. Collaboration is vital.

Istanbuls metropolitan authority is legally responsible for sterilizing strays, but this was not the case before 2004. Until the Animal Protection Law came into force, the metropolitan authority had the right to kill stray animals (which was applied on dogs rather than cats). Today the policy is one of decreasing the population of stray animals humanely. This means not only sterilizing but can also involve the provision of medical care and feeding.

Animal right defenders in Turkey support sterilization because the streets are dangerous for the animals. There are not enough private shelters; and municipalities do not shelter stray cats. So-called rehabilitation centers, which house the animals while they receive medical care, are an exception.

Not all 39 municipalities in Istanbul, a city of 15 million, have rehabilitation centers and vehicles to pick up sick and needy animals. At rehabilitation centers, cats get temporary care, but since capacity is limited, these institutions work on a principle of treat and release. When the treatment is done, the cat is left where it came from, and the volunteer who had brought the animal to the center is informed.

The Sisli municipality operates one vehicle that distributes food for strays in the neighborhood; another gives on-site care to animals that cannot be transported to the rehabilitation center; a third is used to transport animals to the center for sterilization.

Sisli also operates a call center. Residents submit requests for services such as sterilization; emergency intervention; and support for orphaned kittens. All requests get replies within 48 hours, Sakin says.

Vital Volunteers

Unlike Sisli, neighboring Besiktas directly supports cat shelters. What began as a pilot project in 2012 is still running. For the past six months, the municipality also has operated a permanent shelter for banned dog breeds such as pit bulls and disabled cats that cannot live outdoors.

Animal shelters are commonly perceived in a negative light in Turkey as a result of social media coverage showing poor hygiene and unhealthy animals confined within four walls. However, according to Tolga Akyildiz, Besiktas municipalitys veterinary affairs manager, conditions here are different: The animals are not in cages, instead moving about freely in a 45 square-meter (484 square-foot) room. A team of 40-some volunteers helps care for them daily, working in shifts.

A kitten receives medical care in an animal rehabilitation center in the Sisli district. Sick or injured stray animals are treated and then released again.

Three volunteers show me around. They met at a session on caring for stray animals given by the municipality. Like the Pati group in Nisantasi, they formed a WhatsApp group to keep one another informed about the cats in their neighborhood and continue their activities in coordination with local authorities during regular meetings.

The volunteers also work on the streets, feeding cats and identifying animals to be sterilized. Each volunteer visits a number of feeding points twice a day, feeding and looking after 35 to 40 cats on average. They say almost all cats in the neighborhood have now been spayed or neutered.

Ballot Boxes, Repurposed

In Beylikduzu, a municipality on Istanbuls west side, volunteer work is essential to maintain its cat houses. In 2018 and 2019, the municipality set out 520 houses, and since then responsibility for them has rested with local volunteers.

Beylikduzu also hosts a permanent shelter for dogs and cats. The municipality helps individual volunteers feed strays, in addition to financing its own feeding program.

We do the feeding three days a week, says Ertugrul Tuncer, veterinary department manager. We choose places where there are no buildings, no traffic, and no people. Eighty percent of the neighborhoods stray cats and dogs live in these out-of-the-way places, Tuncel adds.

Beylikduzus cat houses are made from recycled wood and other materials donated by shipping companies and furniture makers. Building on the efforts of Didem Gokgoz, local authorities have tended to produce simpler houses  perhaps less attractive but cheaper  than the Sisli original.

We made cat houses from ballot boxes after previous elections, Tuncer says. The municipality preferred to distribute houses individually rather than putting groups of them in parks, he explains.

When you build cat houses, it triggers abandonments, he says. And because food is constantly left in cat houses, epidemics spread there. Every time you go to a park you see a dead cat or two. Then people start complaining.  Cats are not like dogs; they do not live in groups. So we distribute [houses] by ones and twos. That way a mother cat can easily get in with her kittens.

For those who can no longer keep their pets and want to give them up, there is no heaven on earth in Turkey, however. Pleas for help on social media trigger insults, which is why abandonments are usually done secretly, in darkness, in the parks. And with every new arrival, infections inevitably rise and make the burden heavier on volunteers shoulders.

City parks and vacant lots are not ideal habitats for cats. But thanks to one womans idea and the efforts of others like her, the lives of the cats of Istanbul are made a little easier.

The work is a constant struggle, says Pati volunteer Ozlem Basara. But at the end of the day, if we provide a safe space for a few animals, we are satisfied.

Defne Sarioz is a freelance video editor and contributes to various online media outlets. In the past, she worked at Medyascope and Yesil Gazete as an editor/reporter. All photos by Defne Sarioz.
The closer-than-close ties between Serbia and the Bosnian Serbs have only deepened under Aleksandar Vucic. But a change may be in the offing.

The relationship between Serbia and Republika Srpska is a recurrent but never an essential topic in Serbian society and the media because it is never questioned. There are no doubts or open issues, since the people are the same  religion, holidays, and history too. The border can be crossed without a passport, just like in Yugoslavia. Even the names are near twins: Republic of Serbia, Serb Republic.

Hands Across the Drina

If you took a poll of the Serbian public on how they feel about their Serbian-speaking cousins across the border in Republika Srpska, no doubt most would say they think of them as close family. The government, of course, is aware that Srpska  the informal short form  is a part of neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. From time to time, government officials publicly state that Serbia respects the territorial integrity of Bosnia. Still, in essence, Serbia sees Srpska as a younger brother and acts accordingly, while the Bosnian Serbs look to Serbia as an ally and wealthier defender. Sometimes it seems Serbs on the Bosnian side of the Drina River love Serbia more than anyone and look on it as a promised land. According to statistical data, the average salary in Serbia is about 600 euros a month, just a bit higher than in Republika Srpska, so you could say this relationship is ultimately about bad and worse.

Since 2008, when Kosovo declared independence from Serbia with the assistance of Western powers and recognition from nearly all its neighbors, the word spread in Serbia that Srpska could be a counterweight. In private, people muttered that if Kosovo had the right to secede, then Republika Srpska can do it too, and if Serbia had its borders changed, so can Bosnia. It is true that from time to time, someone in the Balkans floats the idea of redrawing borders based on ethnic divisions, but it is not European to say that out loud. It can only be implied. For example, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, asked not long ago how he would vote in a referendum on unification with Albania, said he would vote yes if the referendum were held peacefully and democratically. There were no reactions from the international community, but Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic reacted in his favorite way  by asking what if.

Now, just imagine  and this reflects Serbias position irrespective of who is in power []  imagine that one of us had said  no one has and no one will!  that Republika Srpska and Serbia should unite. My question is: do you know how quickly they would react? The they in Vucics question is, of course, the West. His answer: They would react immediately [] and explain to us that we are people of the past, the burden of the Balkans, that we generate crises.

Vucics remarks were only hypothetical. In fact, he has never said that he supports either independence for Republika Srpska or its unification with Serbia, but he is playing the good cop role written long ago. Vucic repeats that he respects the territorial integrity of Bosnia, that there is no impetus for unification, and that Serbia would not incite a crisis.

Serbia is among the signatories and a guarantor of the Dayton Agreement, and this 26-year policy will remain unchanged, he said just a few weeks ago, referring to the U.S.-brokered peace deal that imposed a convoluted constitutional setup on Bosnia and legalized Republika Srpska.

Other Serbian officials are not so coy. Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin, for instance, is a loose cannon who likes to make provocative remarks  supposedly without the consent of the government he has belonged to for quite some time.

I do not understand why the Serbs could not unite. I am not sure why Serbs forming a single state will not solve the Serbian national question. Obviously, in the Balkans, national questions are solved by the nation being united in a unique political structure, he said last spring. Inevitably, he bookends such declarations saying his views are his own, not those of Vucic or the government.

The Drina is a border only as much as we want it to be, Vulin proclaimed in November on the occasion of the opening of a new border crossing between Serbia and Republika Srpska. It divides us as much as we allow it to divide us, separates us as much as we allow it. It must unite us, because we are the same, living on both sides; we rejoice in the same things and we believe in peace.

Vulin is also the architect of the Serbian World, a concept that envisages the unification of all Serbs under Vucics leadership. He is the chief promoter of the view that Vucic is the president of all Serbs wherever they live but particularly in Bosnia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

The Serbian World is as yet a fringe idea, but on the ground Serbia continues to build closer ties with the Bosnian Serbs. When the COVID crisis started, procurement was managed entirely by Vucic  who treated Republika Srpska as part of Serbia  and most Serbs never questioned it. Medical equipment, respirators, vaccines  everything was shared with the Serbs of Srpska. In 2020, Milorad Dodik, the Serb member of the Bosnian presidency, said that since Vucic came to power, Republika Srpska had received more assistance from Serbia than in 20 years from the Bosnian central government

Last April, Vucic pledged that Serbia would invest hundreds of millions of euros into infrastructure in Republika Srpska, most visibly a bridge over the Sava River linked by motorway to the city of Bijeljina. Serbia invests in schools, hospitals, and even an airport in the entity.

The most frequent topic, however, is the planned joint memorial complex dedicated to the victims of Jasenovac. This memorial, Vucic said, would be a mandatory school trip for every child in Serbia, so they would know how our nation suffered in Jasenovac, a complex of five camps built by the Croatian fascist regime where as many as 100,000 Serbs, Jews, Roma, and political opponents died during World War II. The memorial should not be seen as an expression of hate for those who built the camps, he said, careful not to mention who those builders were.

For most Serbs in Serbia, Dodik  for years the most powerful Serbian politician in Bosnia, a close friend to all Serbian governments, and a faithful follower of Vucic  is the face of the Bosnian Serbs. Dodik does not hide that in addition to a Bosnian passport he has a Serbian one, and a vast mansion in an elite part of Belgrade. Dodik is practically the only guest from Republika Srpska seen on Serbian television, preaching his version of the truth. If anyone in Serbia wants to hear any other point of view from the other side of the Drina, they must try hard.

Although the question of uniting Serbia and Republika Srpska is hardly raised at the official level, reading between the lines it seems that their current governments would favor unification if they felt they would not pay too dearly for it.

One joint decision that could point in that direction came in 2020 when both sides declared a Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom, and the National Flag. Particularly interesting and indicative of the regime in Serbia, the day was observed on 15 September in 2020 and again last year because Vucic made it so; the law says nothing of it.

Is the Bromance on the Rocks?

Building stronger ties with Srpska may not be at the forefront of Vucics mind these days, however, since he is engrossed in his campaign for re-election. Until mid-January, he hadnt been seen in public with Dodik for a month, and when they met in Belgrade on 14 January, the usual joint press conference was not held. This may have been a reflection of the sensitivity of the event: Vucic asked Dodik and the rest of Republika Srpska officialdom to participate in the Bosnian central institutions, in effect telling them to lift the boycott they launched in July 2021 in protest of the UN high representatives decree criminalizing the denial of genocide related to the Srebrenica mass killings in 1995.

There are other signs of a change in mood. Local media report on the new U.S. sanctions on Dodik over his secessionist statements and obstruction of the work of Bosnian state institutions, and wonder whether the EU will follow suit. Serbia apparently would not support any such sanctions and its friend Hungary might not vote for them if they come to fruition. Nothing must jeopardize peace, as all leaders in the region repeat. With two months to go before Serbias presidential and parliamentary elections, the usual campaign talk of its endless EU accession process and sputtering economic progress fills the air.

Mirjana Nikolic is a journalist with the Serbian citizen activism and journalism organization CRTA. She contributes to CRTAs Istinomer (Truth-O-Meter) and Open Parliament projects.
Plaintiffs in a lawsuit centering on the admission of a transgender student to a University of Wyoming sorority renewed their request for anonymity on Friday after a U.S. District Judge rebuffed the ask last week.

The renewed request focuses primarily on safety risks for the plaintiffs and the transgender student, who is a defendant in the case. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs challenge U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnsons prior assertion that plaintiffs havent clearly demonstrated that involved parties would be in real danger of physical harm if their identities were revealed, citing recent events related to transgender issues in Wyoming and across the nation that they say raise safety concerns.

If the Courts standard for anonymity is that Plaintiffs must wait for personalized death threats and harassment before they can become anonymous, then the Court has eliminated protection for all litigants, the plaintiffs lawyers, John Knepper and Cassie Craven, say.

Last month, seven current members of UWs Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sued the sororitys parent organization, its president and a member of the group who was the first transgender student to ever be admitted to a University of Wyoming sorority in the schools history.

The plaintiffs allege that the sorority didnt follow its bylaws and policies, breached its housing contract with members and misled them by admitting a transgender member. They seek to remove the transgender student from Kappa Kappa Gamma, bar any man from joining the sorority and obtain monetary damages.

The plaintiffs lawyers requested that the seven sorority members and the transgender student be given anonymity in the lawsuit out of concern for their safety and privacy. In the original complaint, the plaintiffs are all given the pseudonym Jane Doe while the transgender student is called Terry Smith.

But the bar for granting such anonymity is high, and Johnson denied their request on Thursday, saying that their situation didnt meet the standards for allowing the use of pseudonyms.

The bottom line is this. Lawsuits are public events, and the public, especially here, has an important interest in access to legal proceedings. Plaintiffs may not levy serious accusations without standing behind them, Johnson wrote.

Part of Johnsons explanation for denying the request argues that plaintiffs hadnt adequately shown that involved parties are in real danger of physical harm.

But the plaintiffs lawyers concluded otherwise, noting several recent events that they found concerning and relevant to the sorority members safety.

Some of those events are national in scope.

The lawyers highlight a Thursday incident at a Turning Point USA event during which NCAA champion swimmer Riley Gaines said she was assaulted by transgender rights protesters after speaking about her opposition to the inclusion of transgender athletes in womens sports.

They also mention reports that the shooters involved in the recent school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee and attempted shooting in Colorado Springs, Colorado are transgender people  a point that some have latched onto amid intense national focus on transgender issues.

As for Wyoming-specific concerns, the lawyers point to a highly publicized incident last weekend when Laramie Democrat Rep. Karlee Provenza posted a controversial meme on Instagram in recognition of the international Transgender Day of Visibility. The meme depicts an older woman pointing a scoped rifle with the caption Auntie Fa Says protect trans folks against fascists and bigots! Shes wearing the colors of the transgender flag.

Provenzas post saw swift backlash, with the Wyoming Freedom Caucus and the Wyoming Republican Party issuing statements criticizing the meme as an invitation for violence. Wyoming GOP Chairman Frank Eathorne also called for the lawmaker to be stripped of her committee assignments.

The lawyers noted that Speaker of the House Albert Sommers said in a statement last week that Provenza had received death threats over the meme.

According to the plaintiffs lawyers, Todd Schmidt  the Laramie church elder who had his UW tabling privileges revoked after he singled out the transgender student by name on a sign, and who subsequently showed up at the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house  has also received death threats.

The lawyers also express concern about the manner in which the lawsuit has been covered by news publications, noting that some outlets have used the transgender students real name in their reporting and have exaggerated the allegations in the verified Complaint.

Defendant Smith deserves kindness, not anger and harassment. Although some of Smiths behavior is troubling, the Plaintiffs want him treated with respect, the lawyers say, explaining that this is why they requested the transgender students anonymity.

But they also emphasize that the plaintiffs and the transgender student are not similarly situated when it comes to anonymity; while the plaintiffs havent voluntarily put their name in the public sphere in the past, the transgender student has consented to the use of her name in some news stories.

Some of the women in this matter sleep with bars over their doors, the lawyers say. To say that Plaintiffs cower behind an anonymity shield is untrue and does not reflect this Courts usual temperate approach to difficult issues.

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PHOTOS: University of Wyoming community responds to breezeway incident University of Wyoming University of Wyoming University of Wyoming University of Wyoming University of Wyoming University of Wyoming University of Wyoming University of Wyoming University of Wyoming University of Wyoming Riley Skorcz Todd Schmidt Todd Schmidt University of Wyoming
The same group that tried to intervene in the lawsuit against last years abortion trigger ban is making another attempt to get in the middle of a new court battle over abortion access.

The new lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the Life is a Human Right Act  a sweeping abortion law that supersedes the trigger ban and attempts to end the practice of abortion sooner in Wyoming. Gov. Mark Gordon allowed the legislation to become law last month without his signature.

Cody Republican Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, the prime sponsor of the Life is a Human Right Act, as well as House Majority Floor Leader Chip Neiman and Right to Life Wyoming, an anti-abortion advocacy group, unsuccessfully tried to intervene in the lawsuit challenging the abortion trigger ban that became law last year.

They again filed a motion on Thursday to intervene in the lawsuit against the new ban. This time, the group is joined by Secretary of State Chuck Gray. Political observers previously told the Star-Tribune that its an unusual move for an acting secretary of state in Wyoming to get involved in lawsuits against the state.

"As a Constitutional officer of our state, I will continue to stand up for something as foundational to our republic as life," Gray said in a text to the Star-Tribune.

"For the print media to attack me for standing up for the most vulnerable among us shows how out of touch they are with how public servants should do their jobs. We should be doing everything we can to counter the outrageous arguments being brought by the radical Left in this case."

The plaintiffs that brought the lawsuit to the new abortion ban  Wyoming medical providers, a Wyoming abortion fund and other Wyoming women  are the same ones that challenged last years abortion trigger ban. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs later amended the complaint to include a challenge to Senate File 109  legislation that bans medication abortions, and which Gordon signed into law last month. That law doesnt take effect until July.

The motion to intervene argues that the proposed intervenors have a significant protectable interest that would be impaired by the litigations outcome, and that no party currently in the lawsuit adequately represents their interests.

The lawyers representing the group note that the states arguments in the case  if its arguments against last years trigger ban are any indication  will likely focus strictly on questions of legality.

The intervenors, however, aim to offer evidence to challenge plaintiffs assertions that abortion is health care, that the Life is a Human Right Act harms women and medical providers and that the Wyoming Constitution confers a right to abortion.

Unless the Proposed Intervenors are granted intervention, there may not be any rebuttal evidence on the record to counter the harms, vagueness, and health care decisionmaking arguments raised by Plaintiffs, the motion states.

The group also asserts that allowing them to intervene would enhance judicial economy by completing the record and making a final resolution to the abortion question a much less protracted affair.

Though Gray, a former lawmaker, is no longer a member of the Legislature, the motion argues that his zealous advocacy for anti-abortion legislation during his time in the House helped to create the foundation upon which the Life is a Human Right Act was built. It asserts further that Gray has a unique interest in preserving and enforcing the will of the people of Wyoming because hes the states custodian of legislative acts and second in line to the governor.

The motion argues that Rodriguez-Williams and Neiman have a significant protectable interest in defending their authority to make laws, which is the Legislatures reason for being. The group made the same argument when trying to intervene in the lawsuit over the trigger abortion ban.

Representatives Williams and Neiman crafted and lobbied for the legislation at issue; in doing so, they formally represented the interests of their constituents. Their ability to defend the law directly implicates the Legislators electoral interests and duties to the people who elected them to pass such laws, the motion says.

Plaintiffs challenge to the Life is a Human Right Act, the lawyers say, also threatens to undo Right to Life Wyomings anti-abortion achievements in one fell swoop.

The Life is a Human Right Act, as originally drafted, attempted to grant the power of intervention to the bills sponsor and cosponsors  a provision that would have expanded the Legislatures authority over judicial matters.

Some lawmakers, however, were concerned the provision would violate the U.S. Constitutions separation-of-powers principles, since its up to the courts to decide who gets to intervene in litigation. The language granting the power of intervention was ultimately stripped for that reason.

This story has been updated to add comments from Secretary of State Chuck Gray.
Wyoming Republican Party Vice Chair David Holland is running for a third term, joining Chairman Frank Eathorne in a bid for reelection at the GOPs state convention in May.

Holland, an Arizona native who moved to Wyoming in the 70s, has been the vice chair of the state GOP since 2019. Hes served on and off as a Republican precinct committeeman in Crook and Campbell counties since 1984.

The vice chair of the party fills in for the chair as necessary, but doesnt have voting power at the national level like the chair, national committeeman and national committeewoman do.

Many of Hollands concerns and priorities center on national issues, some of which have made their way into discussions in Wyoming  the southern border crisis, stopping what some call the sexualizing of children and worries about election integrity, though cases of voter fraud in Wyoming are extremely rare, to name a few. Several bills addressing these topics came up during this years legislative session.

There are issues today that our parents and grandparents wouldnt ever have to face, Holland said.

We need to go beyond just being a traditional Republican Party. Too many times we dont want to offend people, and so we dont take a strong stand on issues, and there are tremendous issues going on in our country right now.

March saw significant shifts in county GOP makeup. In another iteration of the constant tug-of-war of influence among factions of the Wyoming GOP, a number of counties where hard-line elements of the party once dominated turned over in favor of more traditional or big-tent leadership.

Holland, who is more aligned with a hard-line brand of Republicanism, said he looks forward to working with new county GOP leadership.

The chair, state committeeman and state committeewoman of each county GOP will get to vote in May on new leadership picks for the Wyoming Republican Party. Beside the chair and vice chair positions, the Wyoming GOPs secretary post, currently held by Donna Rice, will also be up for election. (The national committeeman and national committeewoman posts will be voted on next year.)

Eathorne, the current chairman of the Wyoming GOP, has already indicated that he intends to run for a third term  a move that some said bucks tradition, but that isnt restricted by party bylaws.

I kinda think George Washington set the example of running for two terms and then quitting, and I wasnt going to run, Holland said of his own bid for a third term as vice chair of the party. But at the last meeting in January, I had a quite a number of people asked me to run for another term.

Holland is also supporting Eathornes reelection bid. I dont know why they would replace him. I think hes done an excellent job.

Eathornes tenure as chairman of the state GOP has been mired in controversy, with some calling him the best thing thats happened to the party, while others say his leadership has incited unnecessary fractures among Republicans. Some of the criticism toward Eathorne has been aimed at the state GOPs leadership more generally.

Ive heard people say that the leadership of the party is controlling and theres no debate, Holland said.

I cant speak for the others, but I will say, as far as Im concerned, I represent the true voice of registered Wyoming Republicans.

Both Holland and Eathorne were unopposed in the last state leadership elections. Holland said he thinks its healthy to have more than one candidate, and that hed welcome the competition. As of now, there arent any candidates that have publicly confirmed a bid against Holland or Eathorne.

The Wyoming Republican Party leadership elections will take place May 6 in Jackson.
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.
This photo, provided April 8 by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, shows a test of what North Korea claimed was an underwater nuclear-capable attack drone called Haeil-2, in North Korea's waters. Yonhap



'Weapon capabilities may have been exaggerated, but allies should take it seriously'



By Jung Min-ho



After North Korea claimed it successfully tested a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone recently, South Korea's military immediately played it down, saying the capabilities of the weapon may have been exaggerated or even faked.



That may be true. But, if left undisturbed, it could grow into a significant threat to Seoul and, in the long run, to its defense alliance with Washington, analysts told The Korea Times Monday.



"One of North Korea's main goals in diversifying its delivery means for nuclear weapons is to increase the defense burden for South Korea and the United States. In that sense, the North will likely achieve what it wants by making the announcement," said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University.



"The regime may be in the early phase of developing the weapon. But that would force Seoul and Washington to prepare for the threat. It takes a great deal of technology and, of course, resources to develop detection systems for such underwater weapons  We also should keep in mind that it is just one of 20 new weapons systems Pyongyang has revealed since 2019."



In the past three weeks, North Korea conducted three tests of what it claimed were nuclear-capable underwater attack drones designed to destroy ports and warships. The latest one tested between April 4 and 7, Haeil-2, traveled some 1,000 kilometers underwater for more than 71 hours before successfully detonating a mock warhead in the desired location near the eastern port city of Tanchon, South Hamgyong Province, the North's state media reported.



This comes with tests of other types of underwater drones  Haeil and Haeil-1  which it said are capable of setting off a "radioactive tsunami" against enemies. The tests have "perfectly proved" the reliability of the weapon, North Korea claimed.



"There are two important questions," said Shin Jong-woo, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, a think tank. "First, given that the weapon is powered by an electric motor, does North Korea have the technology to make batteries that can last for 72 hours in water? Second, does North Korea have a system that can trace the target and detonate explosives underwater? What's been revealed so far does not answer those questions."





The Republic of Korea Navy's Aegis destroyer Yulgok Yi I, front row right, U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, center, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Umigiri, front row left, travel in formation during a joint naval exercise in international waters off South Korea's southern Jeju Island, April 4. The South Korean, U.S. and Japanese navies began their first anti-submarine drills in six months the previous day to boost their coordination against increasing North Korean threats. Courtesy of South Korea's Ministry of National Defense
Ready to go: Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago employees walk past the new Buccoo Reef seabridge ferry at the Port of Port of Spain following its arrival from Australia. The ferry is due to make its inaugural sailing tomorrow. Photo: Jermaine Cruickshank
Amid the escalating murderous scourge in our country some are finding it possible to use a f
A woman wrapped in a blanket was struck and killed early Saturday when Tucson police say she got up from lying in the street and stepped in front of a pickup truck.

The incident happened about 2 a.m. in the 4500 block of East Pima Street, near North Swan Road, police said in a news release.

The unidentified woman was seen lying on Pima while wrapped in a blanket, when witnesses told police she got up and stepped in front of a 2007 Dodge Ram pickup truck, the release said.

She was pronounced dead at the hospital. The woman's name was withheld pending family notification, police said.

The driver, a 34-year-old woman, was found to be impaired, the news release said.

The circumstances of the crash will be presented to the Pima County Attorney's Office for possible charges, the release said.
Alex Jaeger placed the last of the blood pressure cuffs inside the car and prepared herself for the two-hour drive.

Jaeger is president of the University of Arizonas chapter of the Flying Samaritans, an organization for undergraduate students that takes monthly road trips to Agua Prieta, Sonora, to provide free medical and dental care.

Each month, the group of students and health practitioners, including physicians and dentists, hosts a one-day health clinic for residents of Agua Prieta.

The clinics not only help the residents of Agua Prieta, but also provide valuable real-life experience for students wanting to pursue careers in medicine. Volunteers have the opportunity to interact with patients, do physical exams and learn firsthand under the guidance of practicing medical professionals.

Jaeger, a senior majoring in neuroscience, looks forward to spending her Saturday helping others.

Lisette Lecorgne, a nurse practitioner who worked at the UAs Campus Health center, served as an advisor to the UA chapter of Flying Samaritans from 2008-22. She has been a part of the Flying Samaritans since the early 1990s and said she has seen firsthand how the organization helps the Agua Prieta community and the students involved in the club.

Its just such a gracious sharing of cultures, of ideas, of information that I think is so valuable, Lecorgne said. That is the clinical component of health care to me that has always been so important.

The parent organization was established in 1961 after a small planes engine failure over Baja California, Mexico, led to an emergency landing in El Rosario, where the community aided the planes occupants. After the occupants returned to their intended destination in San Diego, they organized a relief flight to provide supplies like food and clothing to thank the community for its help.

This gesture of goodwill eventually developed into the Flying Samaritans, originally called the Flying Angels by the residents of El Rosario.

Outside of monthly clinics, the UA chapter also engages in local outreach opportunities, including hosting blood drives, organizing volunteering opportunities at Tucson Medical Center, and handing out care packages to Tucsons homeless population.

Were always trying to work on figuring out how were able to give back to the community ... with local outreach and public health, Jaeger said. I feel like there is a niche for any student or any individual interested, as well.

Another key facet of the UAs Flying Samaritans is its bilingual component. Members who speak Spanish interpret and translate for patients and providers. To help with communication, the group has a committee that meets biweekly to focus on improving Spanish skills among members.

One member of the UAs Flying Samaritans is Arturo Lujan, a medical student who serves as a co-president of the organization from the medical school side.

Lujan grew up in Agua Prieta and lived five blocks from where the club sets up its clinics. This connection has made the clubs mission even more personal to him and has allowed him to directly impact lives in his hometown.

Because I grew up in a family that did not have a lot of medical resources, I experienced firsthand the health care deficits in Agua Prieta, Lujan said. It just means a lot to be able to serve an area of the community where theres a high concentration of people that need health-care services and are not able to afford going to a hospital.

Though the organization is successful in its mission to provide free access to health care in Agua Prieta, Jaeger said there are challenges on the logistical end that make the clinics tough to coordinate. Juggling the coordination of volunteers and practitioners, and getting needed approval through the UA Travel Registry, requires teamwork and communication.

The organization supports its endeavors financially through fundraising events, club dues and donations. Recently, the club has also gotten funding from the Associated Students of the University of Arizona to go towards acquiring reusable medical supplies such as glucometers and blood pressure cuffs, Jaeger said.

The organizations next Agua Prieta clinic takes place on April 22, and Jaeger said the group is always looking for more volunteers who are interested in helping underserved communities.
NEW YORK  Legally, the most important words former President Donald Trump said after he was charged with 34 felonies by the Manhattan District Attorney last week were not guilty. But, politically, the most significant may be election interference.

Trumps repetition of those words, which have been taken up by other top Republicans, show how he is trying to turn his historic position as the first former president charged with crimes to his advantage. It's another example of what's been a consistent refrain throughout his political career  claiming without evidence that an election is being rigged against him.

After his initial court appearance in the New York case, the first of several in which he is in legal jeopardy, Trump ticked through the varied investigations he was facing and branded them as massive attempts to interfere with the 2024 election.

Our justice system has become lawless," Trump said as he appeared before supporters at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. "Theyre using it now, in addition to everything else, to win elections.

Trump has made some version of those claims in at least 20 social media posts since March 3, the bulk of which occurred in the past two weeks, accelerating when a Manhattan grand jury appeared to be wrapping up its work and preparing to indict the former president. Trump declared his latest bid for the White House shortly after the November midterms, in what some in his orbit saw as an effort to head off the various probes swirling around him.

Alleging an election is being stolen from him is a routine Trump tactic, despite no evidence to back up his assertions. When competing for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016, Trump claimed his loss in the Iowa caucuses was due to fraud. When he won the White House that November but lost the popular vote, Trump claimed the only reason for falling short in the latter category was because undocumented immigrants voted. A task force he formed to find voter fraud disbanded without finding any evidence to back up his claim.

In 2020, Trump began arguing the election would be fraudulent months before voting started. He attacked efforts to loosen restrictions on mail voting during the coronavirus pandemic, and expanded those allegations after losing the election to claim he'd actually won it. Those lies led to the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Federal and state election officials and Trumps own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence the 2020 election was tainted. The former presidents allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges Trump appointed.

Trump is behaving like a politician in the legal crosshairs, said Steven Levitsky, a Harvard political scientist.

He's certainly not the first politician to be prosecuted  sometimes fairly, sometimes not  to play the political victim card, Levitsky said.

Levitsky, who co-wrote the book How Democracies Die, said that several former presidents of other countries, when prosecuted, have claimed it was a plot to foil their future elections. Most recently, that was the complaint of Brazil's former president Luis Inacio Lula Da Silva after he was jailed before the 2018 election. Silva was freed by his country's supreme court and won back the presidency in October.

What's notable in Trump's case, however, is that his own party is echoing the stolen election claims ahead of the next campaign. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last month said he was directing his party's committee chairs to investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions.

That a whole party is carrying this line is somewhat unusual," Levitsky said.

Last week's charges in New York court stemmed from Trump's reimbursements to his lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen, of hush money paid in the waning days of the 2016 presidential election to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who alleged they had an affair. Even some critics of Trump have seen the charges as a stretch of New York laws.

The heart of the Manhattan case is prosecutors' claim that Trump falsified business records at his company to make the payoff in order to keep a potentially damaging story quiet while he was campaigning  an illegal attempt by Trump, they argued, to try to influence the election.

The former president also faces legal jeopardy from other investigations, two of which are related to his attempts to try to interfere with the 2020 election.

Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, are probing Trump's January 2021 call to the state's top elections officer asking him to find enough votes to declare Trump the winner there, as well as other efforts by the former president and his allies to overturn his narrow election loss in the state.

Trump is also enmeshed in a federal special counsel investigation of his handling of classified documents found at his Florida estate.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, when asked at a news conference whether the timing of the case was political, responded by saying: I bring cases when theyre ready."

Braggs office declined to comment on Trumps statements about election interference," as did the Department of Justice.
PHOENIX  Arizona cities, environmental advocates and businesses are teaming up to combat extreme heat by launching a variety of tree-planting initiatives.

With names like Trees are Cool and a Cool Corridor program, Mesa and Phoenix are trying to motivate residents to join the effort by providing free trees and resources to help with planting.

Tucson Million Trees has planted about 100,000 trees across the city over the last three years. The goal is to plant 1 million trees by 2030.

Efforts like that cant come soon enough. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggests that Arizonas climate conditions are becoming more extreme, and fatalities from extreme heat have spiked in recent years.

According to a report from the Arizona Department of Health Services, 835 people died from heat-caused and heat-related deaths in 2020, nearly double the 443 deaths recorded in 2019. In 2021, 302 heat-caused deaths and 552 heat-related deaths occurred for a total of 855 deaths.

Maricopa County had a record number of 378 heat-associated deaths from Jan. 1 through Nov. 1, 2022, according to the county Public Health Department.

Nick Arnold, a legislative program manager at the climate advocacy group Climate Cabinet, said the staggering numbers arent a coincidence.

Were seeing heat and aridity increase because of climate change, Arnold said. Places without adequate tree coverage are experiencing worse extreme heat all throughout the day because without tree coverage, pavement and a lot of our infrastructure is absorbing heat from the sun and then releasing it back out at night even when there is not the same solar energy.

Mesas tree effort

Seeking to increase Mesas tree canopy, Mayor John Giles announced a Trees are Cool initiative in February, with a goal of planting 1 million trees in the city by 2050.

Any meaningful climate action plan  must address heat mitigation, and trees have a significant role to play in providing shade, keeping temperatures low and filtering greenhouse gas emissions, Giles said in announcing the program. I encourage everyone to get involved in planting new trees in Mesa.

As part of the initiative, the mayors office launched an online tool to record newly planted trees. The data, which takes existing trees into account, will help the city track efforts to meet its goals. The website also shows Mesa neighborhoods at a greater risk of being impacted by the heat and provides information on choosing, planting and nurturing trees.

We need to work together to ensure that our community can withstand the changing weather patterns caused by climate change, both in terms of extreme temperatures and ongoing drought, Scott Bouchie, director of the Mesa Environmental and Sustainability Department, said in a news release. It is especially important to reduce temperatures in our most vulnerable neighborhoods. And planting trees can help us do this.

Through the citys neighborhood planting program, Mesa residents can get up to $100 for planting two trees, according to news reports, and volunteers can help plant the trees. Find more information about the program on the city of Mesa website, mesaaz.gov.

Master planning in Phoenix

In 2021, Phoenix made headlines when it established the nations first publicly funded Office of Heat Response and Mitigation. Spearheaded by Arizona State University environmental science professor David Hondula, the four-person team has developed a strategic plan to combat urban heat and its associated health risks.

One of the key players on the team is Lora Martens, a landscape architect with expertise in desert plants. As the teams urban tree program manager, Martens is tasked with increasing Phoenixs tree canopy. Her efforts build on the citys 2010 tree and shade master plan, which has a goal of a 25% tree canopy coverage by 2030. Martens estimates that the city only has around 12% tree canopy coverage now.

I have a feeling that its close to the right goal, but that we want to maybe have more nuance in how its not 25% everywhere, she said. Maybe there should be more canopy coverage where people are walking and a little bit less in areas downtown where theres a lot of shade from buildings.

Martens said tree-planting efforts in Phoenix are fragmented among different city departments, with Phoenix Urban Forestry taking charge of major streets and parks. Martens objective is to unite all departments under a master plan for tree planting. This includes incentivizing tree planting on private properties during new construction and identifying ways to encourage planting on established sites, she said.

While the city currently conducts tree-planting events with city workers, Martens office is developing a program to involve volunteers. She hopes it will be operational later this year.

Phoenix currently operates a Cool Corridor Program, which combats urban heat island effects by planting trees and other vegetation along city streets. Anyone interested in getting involved in this initiative can contact the citys Street Transportation Department for more information at tucne.ws/1n2e.

Man-made shading considered

As temperatures in Arizona continue to soar, the rising number of homeless individuals in Phoenix has contributed to the increasing number of heat facilities. According to the Maricopa Association of Governments, the number of unsheltered people in Maricopa County surged to 5,029 in January 2022 from 1,646 in 2016.

While planting more trees in the city is a long-term solution to combat the extreme heat, immediate action may be needed to provide relief to those in need. The City Council has allocated $3 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to install human-made shade structures. The Office of Heat Response and Mitigation is overseeing the project, and environment specialist Mary Wright said that built shade can allow us to tactically provide shade in locations where a tree likely would not survive or where a tree may require extra water to survive.

That project is in the planning stages, she said, and community input, product availability, cost, safety and aesthetics are still being taken into account. All of the structure designs will be customizable to incorporate the integration of local artists artwork, which is a high priority for the community, she said.

The Office of Homeless Solutions is also taking steps to provide safe places for homeless individuals to cool down and access water during the hot summer months. One of the priority areas we are targeting is putting up shade and cooling structures in and around the Human Services Campus (12th Avenue and Madison Street), where we currently have our largest concentration of people who are unsheltered. We are also continually exploring opportunities to create indoor cooling facilities, the office said in a statement.

Non-governmental groups step up

Separate from Phoenixs efforts to plant trees and install shade structures, American Express announced a $1.1 million grant to American Forests in February 2022 to help the nonprofit conservation organization increase tree equity in four cities where American Express has offices: Phoenix, New York City, Salt Lake City and Sunrise, Florida.

The two organizations are tracking progress of tree-planting efforts through an interactive map that shows the tree-equity score of neighborhoods throughout the Valley, not just Phoenix. According to American Forests website, the tree-equity score evaluates existing tree canopy, population density, income, employment, surface temperature, race, age and health.

American Forests calculates tree-canopy coverage in different parts of Phoenix through a partnership with EarthDefine, a geospatial data and services company based in Redmond, Washington. EarthDefine calculates coverage by targeting trees with a laser and measuring the time for reflected light to return to the receiver. Their scores are different from canopy coverage reported by Mesa and Phoenix.

Michelle Kurtz, a spokesperson for American Forests, said they use additional data from a variety of sources to derive the score, including the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey, imagery from Landsat and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

American Forests has not said how many trees they expect to plant. But they indicated that their goal is to get as close as possible to a tree-equity score of 100 in each of the four cities in the grant. The grant also will support climate-resilient urban forests, create forestry jobs marketed to historically marginalized populations, identify urban tree nursery needs and help build nursery capacity, American Express said on its website.

According to the interactive map, Phoenix has an average tree equity of 80 out of 100. Meanwhile, Mesa has an average score of 80 and Chandler has a score of 81. Glendale and Gilbert have scores of 75 and 83, respectively.

Tree-equity scores in individual neighborhoods throughout Phoenix vary greatly. Scores are significantly lower in low-income communities and communities of color in south and west Phoenix. Some neighborhoods have scores in the 20s, 30s and 40s, while other neighborhoods in Phoenix have scores of over 90.

On Feb. 16, the partnership was kicked off when members of the American Express Phoenix office volunteered alongside representatives from American Forests and the Arizona Sustainability Alliance to plant 45 trees at the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area just south of downtown Phoenix. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego was among several community leaders in attendance.

Trees Matter

The Phoenix nonprofit Trees Matter has worked to increase the number of trees in the Southwest since its inception in 2005.

Through its tree planting program, Trees Matter provides training tools and resources to help community members organize tree-planting events, and works with local government agencies, schools and businesses to coordinate efforts. Trees Matter also provides free trees to low-income residents and helps them plant and care for the trees.

For those looking to volunteer with Trees Matter, there are several ways to get involved. Individuals can participate in a community tree-planting event organized by the organization, become a Trees Matter ambassador, make a donation or join the organizations mailing list to stay informed about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Learn more at treesmatter.org/volunteer.

Trees Matters partnership with the Salt River Project on the Utility Shade Tree Program is an example of how the organization is working with other groups to promote the benefits of trees. The program offers SRP customers a low-cost way to add shade trees around their homes and businesses, encouraging the planting of large, low-water-use shade trees that can help reduce energy consumption. Trees Matter works with SRP to provide information and resources to customers interested in participating in the program, and offers free workshops to help participants learn how to plant and care for their new trees.

Shading legislation stalls

While municipalities and businesses are taking action to protect citizens from the heat, the Arizona Legislature has been slow to act.

SB 1689, introduced by Sen. Mitzi Epstein, D-Phoenix, would give the Arizona Department of Education $400,000 to distribute to public schools for tree planting. Although every Senate Democrat has co-sponsored the bill, no legislative committee has taken action on it. In addition to the Senate Rules and Appropriations committees, it was assigned to the Senate Education Committee in February.

Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, D-Tucson, the ranking member on the House Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee, said she believed that Republican lawmakers have been uncompromising on SB 1689 and other environmental justice bills proposed by Democrats.

The Republicans have a slim majority; they are the ones in control of what bills get assigned to and heard in committee, she said. Unfortunately, those bills are not being discussed.

Republicans have considered at least one bill that could increase tree equity and shading. Introduced by Rep. Gail Griffin, R-Hereford, HB 2441 would have allowed homeowners to plant Arizonas state tree, the blue palo verde, on their property without needing a permit or being subject to fees or fines.
Gareth Weir, Deputy Ambassador at the British Embassy Seoul, poses near Deoksu Palace in central Seoul, March 10. Korea Times photo by Kwon Mee-yoo



UK diplomat seeks deeper partnership with Korea to address global challenges



By Kwon Mee-yoo



As Korea aims to take on a greater role in the international development arena, the United Kingdom can be an ideal partner, leveraging British expertise and Korean innovation, said Gareth Weir, Deputy Ambassador at the British Embassy Seoul.



Weir is a development professional with extensive overseas experience, working in parts of Africa and Asia at a global management consulting company and later contributing to the creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in the U.K.



"The first half of my career was in the private sector, working for a consulting company, before moving to the public sector, joining the U.K. civil service initially to work on development," he said during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, March 10.



"I worked in Tanzania, Mozambique, Nepal on big transformation programs. I spent over a decade living in developing countries and working on key issues such as humanitarian aid, access to finance, economic growth and women's empowerment. It's something I'm passionate about."



With this experience in both private and public sectors, Weir believes that achieving a balance between the two sectors is crucial to making a meaningful impact on development.



"I think actually, businesses have a big role to play in development. They have to understand that they are not here just to make money ... but to improve the world which we live in and understand their impact on climate, people and supply chains. (Businesses are) not just about money, but they are here as an actor in society and have a responsibility to play that role," he said.



"But having worked for a long time in business, I also am very interested in the role of the public sector to shape the policy framework and understand government interventions that can help shift private and public sector to deliver change."



In that context, Weir is interested in Korea's path of development and ambition to become a major global development player.



"Coming here, it's a very different dynamic. (Korea is) a developed country, which has an incredible story of its own development  one of the very few that have managed in one generation to move from a low GDP per capita to over $30,000 now," he said.



"(It is) so fascinating to hear and talk about Korea's success and get to know more about that. But I'm also really interested in Korea's ambition to be a big global development player, as set out in the recently published ROK (Republic of Korea) Indo-Pacific strategy. ROK has an ambition to be a top 10 donor, which is a big step."



Korea as emerging development player



Gareth believes that global superpowers should be doing more to address the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals and sees Korea as having a significant role, mentioning Korea's growing presence at bilateral and multilateral levels.



"In my times traveling various countries in Africa and others, I've met and seen KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) in action and they have a good reputation. I have met and worked with Koreans in the field and seen the ambition of Korea to do more," he said.



"Korea has helped to start and host important initiatives such as the GGGI (Global Green Growth Institute) and the Green Climate Fund. Both are headquartered in Korea and they are important international organizations focused on climate, a shared challenge for all of us."



The deputy head of mission sees potential for collaboration between Korea and the U.K. in multilateral organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and Green Climate Fund.



"We're looking to explore how we can partner on priority themes together such as climate, health and digital in the Indo-Pacific. There's also potential to work together to bring in more good investment into poorer countries in the region with our publicly funded investment vehicles in Korea and U.K. working together to catalyze much bigger investment," Weir said, noting other potential areas for cooperation such as gender equality and peace.



"One of the most challenging things for international development is climate change and it is right at the heart of our mutual development agenda. There are many important projects related to energy transition such as shifting to renewables or core infrastructure that can be difficult to finance on pure commercial terms and need a blended model. The U.K. and Korea have the expertise to share on financing these types of projects that have a big impact on development."



The U.K. is interested in the Indo-Pacific due to its substantial market economy with half of the world's population and GDP.



"Korea is a very significant player in the region, being a top 10 economy (in the world) with great innovation. The science and tech that Korea has is pushing the barriers of the next innovation and the K-wave, your soft power, is unmatched," he said.



"Partnering with Korea can help benefit all of us in the region. I think fundamentally, we have a similar outlook  we both focus on the rules of law, norms and human rights. The kind of values that are in Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy are the values that the U.K. hold. In that sense, we have a lot in common even though our countries are very different in terms of history, culture and languages."



Weir also noted the longstanding relations between Korea and the U.K., which date back to the Joseon Kingdom era and will be celebrating their 140th anniversary this year with a series of political and cultural events.



"A lot has happened on the peninsula over the last 140 years and the U.K. is very proud of our deep friendship with ROK," Weir said.


Kind of a drag

Republicans, you must be so proud your chosen legislators have prioritized attacking Public Enemy No. 1  drag queens. Justine Wadsack leads the charge in Arizona. (Having observed Justines pre-election shenanigans and now this, I find her to be rather scary, and I dont think Id want children around her.) This attack on drag and LGBTQ in general is a Republican culture war tactic designed to rile the base nationwide. Its very popular and successful. I wonder, do these Republican drag-phobes worry about children seeing the violent video from Jan. 6th? A crazed mob attacking and maiming police, setting up gallows (Hang Mike Pence! Hang Mike Pence! USA! USA!), desecration of the Capitol, and a bloodthirsty mob going after Congressional members. Surely more harmful to kids than exposure to drag. Oh wait, I forgot! Those violent insurrectionists are great patriots; their violence that day admirable! No doubt Tucker Carlson is working on spinning all that video gifted him by Kevin McCarthy into the Republican fairy tale version. Stay tuned.

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley

A thought

Were the ventriloquist Edgar Bergen starting his career today, I wouldnt be surprised if he named his dummies Kevin McCarthy and Marjorie Snerd.

Larry Gray

SaddleBrooke

News media

Watching the news today as most days I just heard three people were killed in the war in Ukraine, my question is why are three killed there more important than 85 murders and 130 car deaths in the U.S.? Why are we so concerned with deaths overseas but not here? I wonder if they put on their news about all deaths in the U.S.

Thomas R. Crawford

Foothills

Why?

In 1998 the Republican leadership claimed to be so horrified by Bill and Monica. In 2016 they embraced Donald Trump who is a million times worse than Bill Clinton. Why?

Now that Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, the GOP leadership is again rallying around Trump. Why?

This is obviously a double standard.

God is NOT working through Trump. Perhaps the opposition is?.

Flora Frederick

Midtown

Rule of law

Disappointed about Trumps indictment, his lawyer Joe Tacopina bemoaned that he had hoped that the rule of law would prevail. Surrender your credentials because, it did, Joe. It did.

Rick Cohn

West side

An apropos juxtaposition

Today (April 4) as I made my way through a Catalina Foothills neighborhood  the same day in which the very first former U.S. president, ever, was arrested and arraigned in court on criminal charges, 34 felony counts to be exact  I happened upon a seemingly apropos juxtaposition which left me agog and agape. In front of a private home, a Trump Country flag waved in the breeze high up on a pole. Parked immediately below the unfurled flag was a green, yellow and white commercial mini-van with the following advertisement blaring across its side panel in capital letters:  PEST ELIMINATION. Thank you, Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg. You made my day. Pest eliminationindeed.

Stephen Kraynak

Foothills

Hard to believe

I have a hard time rationalizing why hard working Americans would give their hard working dollars for the Trump Defense Fund. Lets see, he says he is a billionaire, he flies his private plane (Boeing 757) that has a capacity of 228 passengers everywhere, lives in a palatial home and you are giving him money. P.T Barnum was right: There is a sucker born every minute.

Fred DiNoto

Northwest side

Pouring water on the ground

Re: the April 5 article Who should get precious Colorado River water.

We need to stop pouring Colorado River water onto the ground to grow crops in the desert southwest. Per Tony Davis Yuma farm facts sidebar: Flood irrigation is used on 96% of all irrigated acres. Nutritionally useful food crops need to be supported but need to be produced with very efficient watering methods. Nutritionally marginal crops need to be devalued as farming in the desert becomes more precarious due to dwindling water supplies.

Water from the river is part of Earths natural resources that belonged to all of us before early entrepreneurs legally enclosed part of the commons for private benefit. As Arizonas population increases and drought conditions endure, we need to open the Law of the River and reconfigure water allocations to better align with all peoples needs.

Donald Ijams

Midtown

Why are we different?

Having worked in six different countries, international friends dont understand why Americans are unwilling to do anything about gun violence. The fact that Americans carry loaded guns in public is to my foreign colleagues, unfathomable. Some even turned down jobs here because they didnt want to worry about their children being in friends homes or schools having loaded guns.

Most western countries have the same mental health and social challenges we do. Their kids game, watch violent movies, follow social media, learn about sex at an early age, are bullied or ostracized if different, have divorced or single parents, live in families with alcohol/drug abuse and suffer mental health issues. Religion has declined; crime increased.

Every excuse used by pro-gun groups is found there. Theres only one major difference between their order-of-magnitude lower gun violence and ours  the number of guns.

So, why are we obsessed with guns when it causes so much tragedy?

Sue Applegate

SaddleBrooke

Really?

Republicans want to protect parents that forgot they were carrying a loaded weapon onto school grounds.

First, how do you forget you are carrying a loaded gun? (Side rant: If you forget you have your gun, youre missing opportunities to be a Good Guy With a Gun because you forgot ya had yer gun!)

Second, if you forget you are carrying a loaded gun, you shouldnt be carrying a loaded gun.

Third, you probably shouldnt be trusted to raise a child, either.

Fourth, what is wrong with the people that vote for these idiots?

David Reynolds

East side

MAGA campaign jingle

Profound apologies to Robert Palmer, RIP.

Your lights are on but youre not home

Your mind is not your own

Your brain sweats, your body shakes

Another lie is what it takes

You cant sleep, no, you cant eat

Theres no doubt, youre in deep

A one track mind, you cant be saved

Oblivion is all you crave

Your throat is tight, you cant breathe

Another lie is all you need

Woah, you like to think that youre immune to his stuff, oh yeah

Its closer to the truth to say you cant get enough

You know youre gonna have to face it, youre addicted to Trump

Might as well face it, youre addicted to Trump (repeat endlessly...)

Rick Cohn

West side

Democracy

Has the Republican party gone completely bat crazy? The Tennessee legislature just voted by that bodys Republican-led two-thirds majority to oust two of three of their members, for what they were elected to do, provide a voice for the citizenry of their districts. Rep. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, two Black legislators, were removed. Rep. Gloria Johnson, the one white female legislator at the same protest, was not. When asked why, she only replied, look at our skin color. How horrific. How racially tinged. How undemocratic. See what gun lobby money supports? Can we all now see the authoritarian, only-my-vision of gun laws, abortion, race and gender equality, freedom of the press, and voting rights, among other issues, that the Republican party is espousing? Beware, my fellow Americans. Representatives Jones and Pearson may have been gagged in the Tennessee legislature but they will return, louder and with more support. They have mine.

John (Jay) Van Echo, PE
BREWTON, Ala. (AP)  A motorist was fatally shot and an Alabama state trooper was shot and wounded after a traffic stop escalated into a car chase and shootout on Easter night, authorities said.

Two other people were also wounded and hospitalized, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said in a press release Sunday, without providing further details on the extent of their injuries or how they may have been involved.

The episode began at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday when the trooper tried to pull over a vehicle for a traffic violation on Interstate 65 in Conecuh County but the driver refused to stop, according to the state agency. The chase went into Escambia County until the vehicle left the road.

Once off the roadway an officer-involved shooting occurred, the agency said. The trooper, identified as Cpl .Jeremy Alford, was struck by gunfire and was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.

Alford is expected to make a full recovery, Alabama Law Enforcement Secretary Hal Taylor said in a statement.

Cpl. Alford acted with true courage and heroism over the course of the incident and was able to secure the scene and ensure public safety while injured, Taylor said, adding that Alford has served for nearly three decades in law enforcement.

No additional details would be released because the shooting is under investigation by the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation, which is standard in officer-involved shootings, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said. The bureau will hand over its results to the Escambia County district attorney.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  Delawares Supreme Court has affirmed convictions for criminally negligent homicide against a North Carolina truck driver whose tractor-trailer plowed into several vehicles on Interstate 95 in Wilmington in 2019, leaving two people dead.

Brian Keith Winningham, 43, of Fairmont, North Carolina, was convicted after a bench trial of homicide, vehicular assault and inattentive driving. He was sentenced last year to 23 years in prison, but the sentence was suspended for four months behind bars and probation.

A public defender for Winningham argued on appeal that the homicide convictions should be overturned because his only driving infraction was briefly diverting his attention from the roadway. Winningham also argued that the trial judge erred in finding that he failed to perceive a risk of death or serious physical injury, when criminally negligent homicide requires proof of a failure to perceive a risk of death.

The Supreme Court affirmed the convictions Monday, citing evidence indicating that Winningham had diverted his attention from the road for at least four seconds while driving at highway speed.

A rational trier of fact could find that, under the circumstances, Winninghams inattention was prolonged enough that it was a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe, wrote Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz Jr.

Winninghams truck barreled into a line of traffic that was backed up in the travel lane waiting to exit the highway. The tractor-trailer crashed into three stopped cars, killing a 9-year-old girl and a 61-year-old man. One of two other victims who were injured was left paralyzed.

According to Mondays ruling, the tractor-trailers dash camera showed that Winningham was traveling in a hurried manner, and had passed at least seven other tractor-trailers in a 20-minute span between when he started driving and the time of the crash.

Even though the lane to his left and the improved shoulder to his right were empty, he did not attempt to avoid the line of cars before the crash. The stopped traffic was visible in the dashcam video at least four seconds before the collision, the court noted.

The ruling came just three days after a tractor-trailer driver in southern Delaware ran a stop sign and hit a van, killing a 59-year-old Maryland man and leaving a 67-year-old woman critically injured. The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 26-year-old man from Richmond, Virginia, was not injured.
BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. (AP)  Human remains found more than 30 years ago near Battle Mountain have been identified as a Utah woman who disappeared in 1989 and was the apparent victim of a homicide.

Judy Manzaneras of Salt Lake City was 19 years old when she last was seen, authorities said.

Hikers found the remains in the area known as Hilltop Canyon about 13 mile (21 kilometer) east of Battle Mountain in February 1990 but until recently, efforts to identify them had been unsuccessful, the Elko Daily Free Press reported.

In June 2022, the Nevada State Police Investigation Division and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) partnered with Othram Inc. technology to determine if advanced forensic DNA testing could establish an identity for the woman or a close relative.

Nevada State Police reported that the skeletal remains were sent to Othram with funding provided by NamUs, the Research Triangle Institute, and the National Institute of Justice.

Othrams in-house genealogy team used forensic genetic genealogy to produce investigative leads, which were returned to Nevada State Police detectives.

Further investigation determined her identity and her cause of death was ruled as a homicide, detectives said.

An investigation into her death is continuing. Anyone with information regarding the case is urged to contact the Nevada State Police Investigation Division at 775-684-7412.
After a few weeks alongside national and global law enforcement leaders in Washington, D.C., a Tulsa police captain has returned home with a strengthened resolve not to compromise on the departments recruiting or training standards.

Representatives from mid-major cities across the country attended the Metropolitan Police Departments inaugural DC Police Leadership Academy, which also attracted a few from English, Dutch, German and Canadian agencies, creating a diverse, collaborative space and a swarm of networking opportunities.

We talked about problems that were all facing, like recruitment and retention, Capt. Mark Ohnesorge told the Tulsa World. A lot of large agencies, including a lot of agencies (at the academy), have lowered their standards for entry into their police agencies. We were one of the few there that has not.

Ohnesorge, the departments incident management team commander and assistant training director for recruiting and hiring, attended a two-week session earlier this year. He returned for a third week in late March to graduate with the class of 70 as cherry blossoms colored the nations capital.

The academy focused teaching sessions on critical thinking, growth mindset and motivational leadership, Ohnesorge said, but also offered opportunities to delve into a range of topics, including officer wellness, reorganizing and ordering departments to offset staffing issues, and coordinating response to large-scale situations such as active shooters.

Ensuring officers wellness was key, Ohnesorge said, and he brought back some ideas to try out.

I think were doing a lot here in Tulsa to prioritize wellness for our police officers, but I think there are always things that we can do better, he said, noting many priorities are at play. How can we get the most out of our staffing, run (the department) more efficiently, but also keep our employees happy? The people who actually go out and make the 911 runs; how do you keep them happy?

Such can be especially challenging in the aftermath of tragedy. Throughout the academy, experts walked the cohort through case studies of several active shooter situations that took place across the country, including those in 2017 in Las Vegas and in 2012 in Aurora, Colorado, from an incident and personnel management perspective.

The latter study illustrated just how important the local Police Departments next actions and the citys support were to first-responders, Ohnesorge said.

Of course, anything tragic like that, its a community event, and the police are part of the community, Ohnesorge said. We saw that here when (Sgt.) Craig (Johnson) was shot and killed. We saw that the community rallied around the Police Department. So, just kind of remembering that our police officers are humans and families and they go home and think about these things just like any other person would.

Not many coastal representatives had heard about Tulsas mass shooting on the Saint Francis Health System campus last June, but those from the Midwest who had offered their kudos on TPDs response, Ohnesorge said.

In fact, Tulsa in general seemed to have a fair reputation among attendees. Ohnesorge said he was approached by several who mentioned that they had visited the city for one reason or another, including some as recently as December for the National Public Safety Partnership Summit, the Bureau of Justice Assistances national violent crime reduction conference.

I actually texted the chief I think the first week because I had three or four people approach me and say, Hey, I was just there for the PSP conference, Ohnesorge said. They had a lot of good things to say about our city and our department, so that was nice.

As for training and recruiting police officers, Ohnesorge said what was taught and what he heard from other agencies was validating.

Were doing what we can right now to attract the right candidates to be police officers, and what were doing in terms of training is headed the right direction, Ohnesorge said. Of course, its always better to have more training, but the fact that we have a 31-week academy, then four months of field training, then 40 hours of in-service this year, that kind of stuff, I think, is imperative for continuing to develop a modern police officer.

Thats in addition to the bachelors degree that each applicant must have before consideration in the Tulsa Police Academy.

Ohnesorge said that, in terms of on-boarding and training, TPD was either comparable or required more than most other agencies he spoke with.

The only ones that had more training than we did were the foreign agencies, Ohnesorge said. And they just have kind of a different police culture than we do.

As for TPDs recruitment outlook, Ohnesorge said it continues to trend in the right direction, though the surge in applications brought on by advertisement of a $15,000 hiring bonus seems to have leveled off.

TPDs January academy class size of only 11 certainly hurt, Ohnesorge said, but for the May academy, the department was able to gather an encouraging 22 qualified applicants.

Thats 22 people that we felt were of the caliber that we were looking for, because were not in the business of putting anyone out on the streets of Tulsa with a badge and a gun, Ohnesorge said. Thats the first thing we look for when we get someone in here: Can we see if we trust handing them a gun and telling them to go out and protect the city?

Despite the staffing challenges, the Tulsa Police Department is unwilling to compromise on quality candidates for quantity, Ohnesorge said, but its not seeking any one background. Recruiters are casting a wide net over a variety of career fields but walking a narrow road when it comes to the pursuit of character.

We dont really care if they dont have a lot of skill sets that are specific to this area, because we can train that into them, Ohnesorge said of potential applicants. If they are teachable, and if they have that high character, high integrity, then thats all we need. We can do the rest here.

Anyone interested in applying may visit the departments informational recruiting website, jointpd.com.

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On the short list: Four elementary educators and a CareerTech instructor are the five finalists for Tulsa Public Schools 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Announced Friday afternoon via social media, the finalists are Emerson Montessori lower elementary teacher Hanna Al-Jibouri, Carnegie special education teacher Katie Bercher, Mayo Demonstration fifth grade teacher Hunter Najera, McClure fifth grade teacher Allie Diaz and McLain CareerTech teacher Cindy Haley.

Help wanted: Bixby Public Schools is hosting a job fair Tuesday afternoon at 14901 S. Harvard Ave. Session No. 1 is scheduled for 4:30-6 p.m., while session No. 2 is scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m.

Attendees are asked to register in advance at bixbyps.info/jobfair to help ensure an accurate head count for dinner.

Public hearing: TPS Indian Education will host its federally required Title VI public hearing at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Wilson Teaching and Learning Academy, 2710 E. 11th St. Details on how to access the hearing via Zoom are available at tinyurl.com/TPSTitleVI.

Open house: Tulsa Public Schools Parent Resource Center, 525 E. 46th St. North, is hosting a community outreach event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Along with free food, a petting zoo and face painting, families will be able to meet with representatives from TPS schools and programs and register for the districts free summer programming.

Stay home days: KIPP Tulsa and Owasso are not in session Monday. Monday is also a distance learning day for Coweta and Union.

Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences is not in session Thursday or Friday.

School is not in session Friday for Berryhill, Mounds or Pretty Water.

School board schedule: The boards of education for Allen Bowden, Berryhill, Broken Arrow, Claremore, Collinsville, Coweta, Glenpool, Jenks, Liberty, Mannford, Mounds, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Skiatook, Union, Verdigris and Wagoner are scheduled to meet Monday.

The State Virtual Charter School Board is scheduled to meet Tuesday in Oklahoma City. The boards of education for Anderson and Pretty Water are also scheduled to meet Tuesday.

The board of education for Epic Charter Schools is scheduled to meet Wednesday in Oklahoma City. The State Department of Education issued a press release Friday afternoon announcing a special State Board of Education meeting for Wednesday morning, but as of 5 p.m. Friday, no formal meeting notice had been posted.

The Inola Public Schools board is scheduled to meet Friday.
Hotel service providers in popular destinations of Vietnam such as Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc reported only 30-60 percent of their rooms have been booked for the upcoming holidays, much lower than the pre-pandemic levels. The lackluster response was attributed to an economic downturn and lots of people flocking to their hometown to enjoy five days off from April 29 to May 3 to celebrate Hung Kings Commemoration Day, Reunification Day, and International Workers Day. Also, airfares for domestic flights are too high, even higher than those of some international services, influencing peoples decisions on choosing domestic destinations, according to some tourism operators. Khanh Hoa: lower-than-expected hotel bookings Though public workers are entitled to five days off for the holidays, the number of guests booking rooms in Nha Trang, a beach destination in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, was lower than expected. The Alma Resort in Cam Lam District has seen around 60 percent of its rooms booked, even though the resort is offering a 30-percent discount on pre-paid bookings, said an Alma Resort representative. Vo Quang Hoang, general manager of the Ariyana Hotel and chairman of the Khanh Hoa Hotel Association, said the hotels reservations for the holidays have yet to reach 50 percent. If Khanh Hoa is to serve the same large number of visitors as in the pre-pandemic period in 2019, the hotel occupancy rate should not be so high, given that the province is home to up to 1,169 lodging facilities with over 55,000 rooms, Hoang said. South Korea is a major market for international tourists traveling to Khanh Hoa but visitors from this country mostly take short trips. Besides, only a modest number of Chinese visitors have returned after China resumed outbound tours for its citizens, he explained. Therefore, domestic visitors are the main source of tourist arrivals in the province, he said. Lodging service providers of the Khanh Hoa Hotel Association decided to keep their room rates unchanged while improving their service quality, he continued. Tourism businesses are waiting for the arrival of more Chinese tourists as well as last-minute travelers. However, there will be no hotels fully booked during the holidays. Even hotels and resorts in prime locations could see their occupancy reaching 70-80 percent, he forecast. To woo more visitors during the holidays, Khanh Hoa is working to improve the quality of tours and tourist attractions, according to the provincial tourism authority. The south-central province will launch multiple tourism promotion activities in April and May, including opening a new air route linking South Koreas Daegu with Khanh Hoas Cam Ranh City, inviting and welcoming familiarization trip visitors from various parts of the country, and organizing a roadshow to promote tourism cooperation with China. Da Nang: lots of discounts, low bookings The number of reservations at some major coastal hotels in Da Nang City, central Vietnam for the upcoming holidays remains flat. Ngan Nguyen, a Sheraton Grand Danang Resort representative, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the resort recorded its bookings for the holidays at around 60 percent, with only 25 percent of the bookings made by domestic visitors. Hotels and resorts in Da Nang, central Vietnam reported lower-than-expected bookings for the upcoming holidays. Photo: T.Luc / Tuoi Tre The resort saw a sharp decline in the number of domestic guests compared to the same period in the past few years, due to high airfares on domestic routes, she said. Besides, the number of international guests inched down due to flight reductions on some international routes, including those from India. To cope with the gloomy prospect, the Sheraton Grand Danang Resort is offering a host of discounts and special deals to improve its booking levels. According to Cao Tri Dung, chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, the central coastal city is expected to receive some 65-70 international flights per day during the holidays, equivalent to the peak season in 2019. Also, the city is set to welcome a high number of domestic flights, at roughly 70-75 flights per day. Similar to Nha Trang, Dung anticipated that there will have no hotels fully booked during the given period, adding that hotel room rates in the city have remained stable until now. Phu Quoc: sharp declines in hotel bookings Reservations at the Sunset Sanato Resort and Villas Phu Quoc for the holidays reached around 30 percent, a steep fall versus the same period in previous years, said Le Trung Thuc, public relations director at the resort. Aside from factors linked to an economic downturn, high airfares for domestic flights to Phu Quoc also keep visitors away from this island city, Thuc said. Were waiting for more last-minute guests. We also offer lots of special deals to guests with bookings for the holidays, Thuc added. Du To Tuan, director of Vietravels branch in Rach Gia City, Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, said his office received bookings from some 200 tourists for tours to Phu Quoc, which is off the coast of Kien Giang Province, while 400 others opted for other destinations. Tran Quoc Khanh, chairman of the Kien Giang Tourism Association, hoped that local carriers operating flights to and from Phu Quoc and relevant agencies would work out more reasonable airfares to woo more visitors to the island. Up to now, hotel bookings in the island city have fluctuated between 30 and 45 percent, down significantly against the past few years, while soaring airfares discouraged visitors to embark on trips to the island, the chairman elaborated. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Hotel service providers in popular destinations of Vietnam such as Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc reported only 30-60 percent of their rooms have been booked for the upcoming holidays, much lower than the pre-pandemic levels.

The lackluster response was attributed to an economic downturn and lots of people flocking to their hometown to enjoy five days off from April 29 to May 3 to celebrate Hung Kings Commemoration Day, Reunification Day, and International Workers Day.

Also, airfares for domestic flights are too high, even higher than those of some international services, influencing peoples decisions on choosing domestic destinations, according to some tourism operators.

Khanh Hoa: lower-than-expected hotel bookings

Though public workers are entitled to five days off for the holidays, the number of guests booking rooms in Nha Trang, a beach destination in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, was lower than expected.

The Alma Resort in Cam Lam District has seen around 60 percent of its rooms booked, even though the resort is offering a 30-percent discount on pre-paid bookings, said an Alma Resort representative.

Vo Quang Hoang, general manager of the Ariyana Hotel and chairman of the Khanh Hoa Hotel Association, said the hotels reservations for the holidays have yet to reach 50 percent.

If Khanh Hoa is to serve the same large number of visitors as in the pre-pandemic period in 2019, the hotel occupancy rate should not be so high, given that the province is home to up to 1,169 lodging facilities with over 55,000 rooms, Hoang said.

South Korea is a major market for international tourists traveling to Khanh Hoa but visitors from this country mostly take short trips. Besides, only a modest number of Chinese visitors have returned after China resumed outbound tours for its citizens, he explained.

Therefore, domestic visitors are the main source of tourist arrivals in the province, he said.

Lodging service providers of the Khanh Hoa Hotel Association decided to keep their room rates unchanged while improving their service quality, he continued.

Tourism businesses are waiting for the arrival of more Chinese tourists as well as last-minute travelers.

However, there will be no hotels fully booked during the holidays. Even hotels and resorts in prime locations could see their occupancy reaching 70-80 percent, he forecast.

To woo more visitors during the holidays, Khanh Hoa is working to improve the quality of tours and tourist attractions, according to the provincial tourism authority.

The south-central province will launch multiple tourism promotion activities in April and May, including opening a new air route linking South Koreas Daegu with Khanh Hoas Cam Ranh City, inviting and welcoming familiarization trip visitors from various parts of the country, and organizing a roadshow to promote tourism cooperation with China.

Da Nang: lots of discounts, low bookings

The number of reservations at some major coastal hotels in Da Nang City, central Vietnam for the upcoming holidays remains flat.

Ngan Nguyen, a Sheraton Grand Danang Resort representative, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the resort recorded its bookings for the holidays at around 60 percent, with only 25 percent of the bookings made by domestic visitors.

Hotels and resorts in Da Nang, central Vietnam reported lower-than-expected bookings for the upcoming holidays. Photo: T.Luc / Tuoi Tre

The resort saw a sharp decline in the number of domestic guests compared to the same period in the past few years, due to high airfares on domestic routes, she said.

Besides, the number of international guests inched down due to flight reductions on some international routes, including those from India.

To cope with the gloomy prospect, the Sheraton Grand Danang Resort is offering a host of discounts and special deals to improve its booking levels.

According to Cao Tri Dung, chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, the central coastal city is expected to receive some 65-70 international flights per day during the holidays, equivalent to the peak season in 2019.

Also, the city is set to welcome a high number of domestic flights, at roughly 70-75 flights per day.

Similar to Nha Trang, Dung anticipated that there will have no hotels fully booked during the given period, adding that hotel room rates in the city have remained stable until now.

Phu Quoc: sharp declines in hotel bookings

Reservations at the Sunset Sanato Resort and Villas Phu Quoc for the holidays reached around 30 percent, a steep fall versus the same period in previous years, said Le Trung Thuc, public relations director at the resort.

Aside from factors linked to an economic downturn, high airfares for domestic flights to Phu Quoc also keep visitors away from this island city, Thuc said.

Were waiting for more last-minute guests. We also offer lots of special deals to guests with bookings for the holidays, Thuc added.

Du To Tuan, director of Vietravels branch in Rach Gia City, Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, said his office received bookings from some 200 tourists for tours to Phu Quoc, which is off the coast of Kien Giang Province, while 400 others opted for other destinations.

Tran Quoc Khanh, chairman of the Kien Giang Tourism Association, hoped that local carriers operating flights to and from Phu Quoc and relevant agencies would work out more reasonable airfares to woo more visitors to the island.

Up to now, hotel bookings in the island city have fluctuated between 30 and 45 percent, down significantly against the past few years, while soaring airfares discouraged visitors to embark on trips to the island, the chairman elaborated.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Politics -- Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong and a high-ranking delegation departed for Laos on Monday morning to pay an official visit until Tuesday at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith. Society -- A truck running on a street in Quang Ngai City in the namesake central province suddenly lost control, hitting a series of motorbikes and a car in both directions and injuring many people on Sunday evening. -- Two boys drowned and another went missing during a beach swim in Van Ninh District of south-central Khanh Hoa Province on Sunday afternoon. -- Ride hailing service provider Grab has apologized for using a map that mislabeled multiple Vietnamese islands in the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago as Chinas, saying it is fixing the information. -- A 19-year-old British female tourist on Sunday accused a Vietnamese male staff member of a cruise ship of raping her during her night stay on the yacht in Lan Ha Bay off Cat Hai District of northern Hai Phong City. Business -- Many tenants have withdrawn from commercial spaces in Ho Chi Minh City as they take hits from the blows of declining purchasing power and high costs. World news -- Four people have died and nine others have been injured in an avalanche southwest of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, Reuters quoted interior minister Gerald Darmanin as saying on Sunday. -- Eight people are not responding to calls and are thought to be under the rubble of two buildings that collapsed in an explosion early on Sunday in the southern French city of Marseille, Reuters quoted local officials as saying. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Read what is in the news in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong and a high-ranking delegation departed for Laos on Monday morning to pay an official visit until Tuesday at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.

Society

-- A truck running on a street in Quang Ngai City in the namesake central province suddenly lost control, hitting a series of motorbikes and a car in both directions and injuring many people on Sunday evening.

-- Two boys drowned and another went missing during a beach swim in Van Ninh District of south-central Khanh Hoa Province on Sunday afternoon.

-- Ride hailing service provider Grab has apologized for using a map that mislabeled multiple Vietnamese islands in the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago as Chinas, saying it is fixing the information.

-- A 19-year-old British female tourist on Sunday accused a Vietnamese male staff member of a cruise ship of raping her during her night stay on the yacht in Lan Ha Bay off Cat Hai District of northern Hai Phong City.

Business

-- Many tenants have withdrawn from commercial spaces in Ho Chi Minh City as they take hits from the blows of declining purchasing power and high costs.

World news

-- Four people have died and nine others have been injured in an avalanche southwest of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, Reuters quoted interior minister Gerald Darmanin as saying on Sunday.

-- Eight people are not responding to calls and are thought to be under the rubble of two buildings that collapsed in an explosion early on Sunday in the southern French city of Marseille, Reuters quoted local officials as saying.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Around 20 cars parked on the sidewalk or by the roadside near Linh Dam Lake in Hoang Liet Ward, Hoang Mai District, Hanoi were believed to have their tires punctured by vandals, said a local official. A representative of the Hoang Liet Ward Peoples Committee said on Monday morning that local police are working to clarify the case. A report surfaced on social media earlier the same day, saying that more than 20 cars parked near Linh Dam Lake suffered tire punctures. Each car tire had around 1-2 punctures. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre According to a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper correspondent, the affected cars were parked on the sidewalk along Nguyen Phan Chanh Street near the lake. Some others parked by the roadside in the area encountered the same fate. Each car tire had around 1-2 punctures, with each measuring about one centimeter long. D.T.Q., 46, a resident of the Linh Dam apartment building, told Tuoi Tre that he learned of the car tire punctures in his neighborhood from social media on Monday morning. The man immediately rushed to a parking lot and discovered his car tire had two punctures. It costs over VND2 million [US$86] to repair the tire punctures," he said. This is the first time that such an incident has happened in the area. I feel angry at those damaging personal property." D.V.H., another resident in the area, also had his cars two tires punctured. I hope authorities will quickly identify and handle the culprit, the 40-year-old man said. There are several parking lots in his place, but H. and many neighbors opted to temporarily park their cars on the sidewalk for their own convenience, he said. Car owners check their vehicles with punctured tires. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Around 20 cars parked on the sidewalk or by the roadside near Linh Dam Lake in Hoang Liet Ward, Hoang Mai District, Hanoi were believed to have their tires punctured by vandals, said a local official.

A representative of the Hoang Liet Ward Peoples Committee said on Monday morning that local police are working to clarify the case.

A report surfaced on social media earlier the same day, saying that more than 20 cars parked near Linh Dam Lake suffered tire punctures.

Each car tire had around 1-2 punctures. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

According to a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper correspondent, the affected cars were parked on the sidewalk along Nguyen Phan Chanh Street near the lake.

Some others parked by the roadside in the area encountered the same fate.

Each car tire had around 1-2 punctures, with each measuring about one centimeter long.

D.T.Q., 46, a resident of the Linh Dam apartment building, told Tuoi Tre that he learned of the car tire punctures in his neighborhood from social media on Monday morning.

The man immediately rushed to a parking lot and discovered his car tire had two punctures.

It costs over VND2 million [US$86] to repair the tire punctures," he said.

This is the first time that such an incident has happened in the area. I feel angry at those damaging personal property."

D.V.H., another resident in the area, also had his cars two tires punctured.

I hope authorities will quickly identify and handle the culprit, the 40-year-old man said.

There are several parking lots in his place, but H. and many neighbors opted to temporarily park their cars on the sidewalk for their own convenience, he said.

Car owners check their vehicles with punctured tires. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A 19-year-old British female tourist on Sunday accused a Vietnamese male staff member of a cruise ship of raping her during her night stay on the yacht in Lan Ha Bay off Cat Hai District of northern Hai Phong City. The British traveler named Cerys Ann reported the case to Cat Hai police officers on Sunday. She said she was staying on the five-star Era cruise ship docked at the Quai To area in Lan Ha Bay on Saturday night when the male employee, named Pham Van Hai, a 34-year-old resident of Dong Trieu Town, Quang Ninh Province, a neighbor of Hai Phong City, raped her. While working with police officers, Hai pleaded guilty, saying that he had drunk alcohol earlier, so he failed to control his acts. The Cat Hai District Peoples Committee later asked the district police to coordinate with other relevant agencies to deal with the case in line with the law. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

A 19-year-old British female tourist on Sunday accused a Vietnamese male staff member of a cruise ship of raping her during her night stay on the yacht in Lan Ha Bay off Cat Hai District of northern Hai Phong City.

The British traveler named Cerys Ann reported the case to Cat Hai police officers on Sunday.

She said she was staying on the five-star Era cruise ship docked at the Quai To area in Lan Ha Bay on Saturday night when the male employee, named Pham Van Hai, a 34-year-old resident of Dong Trieu Town, Quang Ninh Province, a neighbor of Hai Phong City, raped her.

While working with police officers, Hai pleaded guilty, saying that he had drunk alcohol earlier, so he failed to control his acts.

The Cat Hai District Peoples Committee later asked the district police to coordinate with other relevant agencies to deal with the case in line with the law.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, third from left, and Rwandan Ambassador to Korea Yasmin Amri Sued, fourth from left, pay silent tribute during Kwibuka 29, an event honoring the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, at the War Memorial of Korea, central Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Embassy of Rwanda in Korea



By Kwon Mee-yoo



The Embassy of Rwanda in Seoul held a ceremony, Friday, to remember the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.



Over 200 guests, including some 60 diplomats and members of the Rwandan community here, attended the event held at the War Memorial of Korea in central Seoul.



In 2003, the United Nations designated April 7 as the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. In Rwanda, the day is observed as Genocide Memorial Day under the name "Kwibuka," which means "to remember" in the Rwandan language of Kinyarwanda. This year's memorial day was called Kwibuka 29, marking the number of years that have passed since the genocide.



Rwandan Ambassador to Korea Yasmin Amri Sued expressed her gratitude to all of the attendees at the Kwibuka 29 event, with a special mention of Egide Gatari, who spoke at the beginning of the ceremony about the significance of remembrance and creating a safer world for future generations.



Ambassador Sued also shared the history that led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the importance of combatting hate speech and genocide ideology. She concluded by thanking young Rwandans and Koreans who came to the event and showed their understanding of the significance of remembrance.



This year, former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attended the event to reaffirm the UN's commitment to "never again" let genocides happen.



"Over the past 29 years, Rwandans have demonstrated strong resilience in overcoming the greatest tragedies and, in the process, have inspired the rest of the world," Ban said.





Ambassador of Rwanda to Korea Yasmin Amri Sued delivers a speech during Kwibuka 29, an event honoring the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, at the War Memorial of Korea, central Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Embassy of Rwanda in Korea
Ride-hailing firm Grab has made an apology for using a map that mislabeled multiple Vietnamese islands in the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago as Chinas. The violation does not relate to its respect for Vietnam and its people, said Grab. Many customers last weekend found that Grabs map showed incorrect information about Vietnams sovereign territory. Among the islands in Vietnam's Truong, only Son Caand Sinh Ton were labeled with their Vietnamese names while others were displayed in English or Chinese names. In particular, Vanh Khan (Mischief) Reef, which belongs to Vietnam, was not labeled with the Vietnamese name, using English and Chinese names instead. Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef, which China has illegally occupied, was labeled as 'Nansha District,' the name that China illicitly uses for Vietnams Truong Sa. A Grab Vietnam representative told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the firm is working with the partner which provided the map to fix the erroneous information. Grab takes opinions seriously and sincerely apologizes for possible concerns, the representative added. The firm is committed to a long-term operation in the Vietnamese market and expects to contribute further to Vietnams socio-economic development. Ride hailing service providers in Vietnam are using maps provided by partners. German automaker Volkswagen earlier displayed a Volkswagen Touareg car with a navigation app containing a map with the illicit nine-dash line China resorts to in its claims to nearly all of the East Vietnam Sea. The General Department of Vietnam Customs later asked customs agencies in cities and provinces to inspect car imports from China. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Ride-hailing firm Grab has made an apology for using a map that mislabeled multiple Vietnamese islands in the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago as Chinas.

The violation does not relate to its respect for Vietnam and its people, said Grab.

Many customers last weekend found that Grabs map showed incorrect information about Vietnams sovereign territory.

Among the islands in Vietnam's Truong, only Son Caand Sinh Ton were labeled with their Vietnamese names while others were displayed in English or Chinese names.

In particular, Vanh Khan (Mischief) Reef, which belongs to Vietnam, was not labeled with the Vietnamese name, using English and Chinese names instead.

Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef, which China has illegally occupied, was labeled as 'Nansha District,' the name that China illicitly uses for Vietnams Truong Sa.

A Grab Vietnam representative told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the firm is working with the partner which provided the map to fix the erroneous information.

Grab takes opinions seriously and sincerely apologizes for possible concerns, the representative added.

The firm is committed to a long-term operation in the Vietnamese market and expects to contribute further to Vietnams socio-economic development.

Ride hailing service providers in Vietnam are using maps provided by partners.

German automaker Volkswagen earlier displayed a Volkswagen Touareg car with a navigation app containing a map with the illicit nine-dash line China resorts to in its claims to nearly all of the East Vietnam Sea.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs later asked customs agencies in cities and provinces to inspect car imports from China.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Da Nang Hospital in the namesake city in central Vietnam conducted an autologous stem cell transplant for the first time, opening a wide door of a new treatment approach in the central region. The hospital on Monday announced its success in the autologous stem cell transplantation, thanks to the technical transfer from the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Hanoi. This approach means cells are taken from another patient and then transplanted into this patient. The patient receiving the transplantation is identified as Le Thi C., 57, a resident of Que Son District in Quang Nam Province, a neighbor of Da Nang. She was admitted to Da Nang Hospital as she suffered from severe anemia and osteoarthritis. C. had the tumor in her back removed at the department of neurosurgery, while her samples were sent for a biopsy. As a result, she was diagnosed with myeloma at the third stage, so she would undergo chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. Da Nang Hospital teamed up with the national institute to evaluate her health condition and map out a plan to transplant bone marrow using the autologous therapy. The patient underwent four or five courses of chemotherapy before the transplantation. After her health condition got better, doctors started to separate her stem cells and injected them back into her body via a vein. Given the treatment period and results, the national institute assessed the case as a success. Dr. Le Duc Nhan, director of Da Nang Hospital, said that in the 2019-20 period, the hospital sent doctors from its departments of neurology, musculoskeletal, and clinical hematology to the national institute for training on the approach. Due to their efforts in learning, a team of over 30 medical workers at the hospital have successfully performed a bone marrow transplant using autologous stem cells, Dr. Nhan said. With the success, many patients suffering from malignant diseases will be saved with the approach, he added. A photo shows Dr. Le Duc Nhan (L), director of Da Nang Hospital, giving flowers to the patient receiving the autologous therapy. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre Truong Van Trinh, deputy director of the Da Nang Department of Health, said the transfer of the autologous treatment method from the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion to Da Nang Hospital was part of the citys professional healthcare center development program. Trinh said that the success in the first autologous stem cell transplantation opened a new chapter for the growth of in-depth medical treatment at the hospital, and acted as a stepping stone to the next professional approach. Da Nang Hospital annually receives and treats some 30 patients diagnosed with myeloma. The number of patients in need of stem cell transplantation is on the rise, so the city allowed the hospital to build an organ and stem cell transplant center. The center is slated for completion this year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Da Nang Hospital in the namesake city in central Vietnam conducted an autologous stem cell transplant for the first time, opening a wide door of a new treatment approach in the central region.

The hospital on Monday announced its success in the autologous stem cell transplantation, thanks to the technical transfer from the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Hanoi.

This approach means cells are taken from another patient and then transplanted into this patient.

The patient receiving the transplantation is identified as Le Thi C., 57, a resident of Que Son District in Quang Nam Province, a neighbor of Da Nang.

She was admitted to Da Nang Hospital as she suffered from severe anemia and osteoarthritis.

C. had the tumor in her back removed at the department of neurosurgery, while her samples were sent for a biopsy.

As a result, she was diagnosed with myeloma at the third stage, so she would undergo chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation.

Da Nang Hospital teamed up with the national institute to evaluate her health condition and map out a plan to transplant bone marrow using the autologous therapy.

The patient underwent four or five courses of chemotherapy before the transplantation.

After her health condition got better, doctors started to separate her stem cells and injected them back into her body via a vein.

Given the treatment period and results, the national institute assessed the case as a success.

Dr. Le Duc Nhan, director of Da Nang Hospital, said that in the 2019-20 period, the hospital sent doctors from its departments of neurology, musculoskeletal, and clinical hematology to the national institute for training on the approach.

Due to their efforts in learning, a team of over 30 medical workers at the hospital have successfully performed a bone marrow transplant using autologous stem cells, Dr. Nhan said.

With the success, many patients suffering from malignant diseases will be saved with the approach, he added.

A photo shows Dr. Le Duc Nhan (L), director of Da Nang Hospital, giving flowers to the patient receiving the autologous therapy. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre

Truong Van Trinh, deputy director of the Da Nang Department of Health, said the transfer of the autologous treatment method from the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion to Da Nang Hospital was part of the citys professional healthcare center development program.

Trinh said that the success in the first autologous stem cell transplantation opened a new chapter for the growth of in-depth medical treatment at the hospital, and acted as a stepping stone to the next professional approach.

Da Nang Hospital annually receives and treats some 30 patients diagnosed with myeloma.

The number of patients in need of stem cell transplantation is on the rise, so the city allowed the hospital to build an organ and stem cell transplant center.

The center is slated for completion this year.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Air conditioners will be installed at some schools near the construction site of the Long Thanh International Airport project in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam to prevent dust from entering classrooms. The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the investor of the mammoth airport project, will provide VND300 million (US$12,834) to install the air conditioners, said the Peoples Committee of Long Thanh District, where the airport is being developed. The district has required the local education and training office to review and make a list of schools affected by the dust. After the air conditioners are installed, windows and doors at these schools will be closed, protecting students and teachers from the dust. The dust from the leveling of the site has affected teaching and learning activities at these schools. The Peoples Committee of Long Thanh District is also counting the number of households hit by the dust as required by the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment. The department earlier warned of the pollution caused by the dust from the construction site of the airport project and asked the ACV to take strict measures to protect the environment and prevent an impact on the health and daily life of locals. However, the air quality has yet to improve, sparking public concerns. Many foreign direct investment enterprises in the nearby Loc An  Binh Son Industrial Park also complained about such dust, saying that it has affected their products and workers health. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will issue conclusions on the ACVs compliance with regulations on environmental protection during the execution of the airport project this month. The dust has spread far and wide, affecting many communes and towns in Long Thanh District as the ACV did not spray water sufficiently, according to the ministry. On a construction area of over 2,500 hectares, many vehicles have traveled frequently and fast, resulting in the dust spread. The ACV built more reservoirs and mobilized fire trucks to spray water at the construction site. More than 2,600 workers along with 1,860 pieces of machinery are working to build the foundation of the airport project. The Long Thanh International Airport project, some 40 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, will span an area of 5,000 hectares of land in Binh Son Commune, Long Thanh District upon completion. The airport, a key national project, carries a price tag of over VND336.6 trillion ($14.4 billion) and has an annual capacity of 100 million passengers and five million tonnes of cargo. The first phase of the airport project, which can handle 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo a year, is slated for completion in 2025. The airport project, which got off the ground in 2021, is expected to ease pressure on the overcrowded Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Air conditioners will be installed at some schools near the construction site of the Long Thanh International Airport project in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam to prevent dust from entering classrooms.

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the investor of the mammoth airport project, will provide VND300 million (US$12,834) to install the air conditioners, said the Peoples Committee of Long Thanh District, where the airport is being developed.

The district has required the local education and training office to review and make a list of schools affected by the dust.

After the air conditioners are installed, windows and doors at these schools will be closed, protecting students and teachers from the dust.

The dust from the leveling of the site has affected teaching and learning activities at these schools.

The Peoples Committee of Long Thanh District is also counting the number of households hit by the dust as required by the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

The department earlier warned of the pollution caused by the dust from the construction site of the airport project and asked the ACV to take strict measures to protect the environment and prevent an impact on the health and daily life of locals.

However, the air quality has yet to improve, sparking public concerns.

Many foreign direct investment enterprises in the nearby Loc An  Binh Son Industrial Park also complained about such dust, saying that it has affected their products and workers health.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will issue conclusions on the ACVs compliance with regulations on environmental protection during the execution of the airport project this month.

The dust has spread far and wide, affecting many communes and towns in Long Thanh District as the ACV did not spray water sufficiently, according to the ministry.

On a construction area of over 2,500 hectares, many vehicles have traveled frequently and fast, resulting in the dust spread.

The ACV built more reservoirs and mobilized fire trucks to spray water at the construction site.

More than 2,600 workers along with 1,860 pieces of machinery are working to build the foundation of the airport project.

The Long Thanh International Airport project, some 40 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, will span an area of 5,000 hectares of land in Binh Son Commune, Long Thanh District upon completion.

The airport, a key national project, carries a price tag of over VND336.6 trillion ($14.4 billion) and has an annual capacity of 100 million passengers and five million tonnes of cargo.

The first phase of the airport project, which can handle 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo a year, is slated for completion in 2025.

The airport project, which got off the ground in 2021, is expected to ease pressure on the overcrowded Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong, along with a high-ranking delegation of Vietnamese officials, traveled to Laos for an official visit to the neighboring nation on Monday morning, marking his first international trip since he took office in early March. The visit was made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, said the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Some major Lao newspapers such as Pasaxon -- the official organ of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party -- and PathetLao of the Lao News Agency covered the warm welcome to State President Thuong in their Monday issue. These newspapers affirmed that the official visit would succeed and contribute to deepening bilateral ties. Among the members of President Thuongs entourage are Le Khanh Hai, Chairman of the Presidential Office of Vietnam, Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Huynh Thanh Dat, Minister of Science and Technology, Tran Sy Thanh, chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee, Duong Quoc Hung, assistant to the state president, Tran Van Tuy, chairman of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association and Ambassador of Vietnam to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung, reported the Vietnam News Agency. Besides, the leaders of the Ministries of National Defence, Public Security, Planning and Investment, and Education and Training are accompanying President Thuong during the two-day visit. Participation in multiple events in Laos During his Laos visit, President Thuong is scheduled to attend a welcome ceremony and a seminar, and witness the signing of cooperation deals. In addition, he will meet the Lao prime minister and president of the Lao National Assembly, as well as some high-ranking officials of Laos. The Vietnamese state president will also visit the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos and meet some representatives of the Vietnamese community in Laos. State Vice-President Vo Thi Anh Xuan sees President Vo Van Thuong off at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Photo: Vietnam News Agency The relationship between Vietnam and Laos is extremely special and has been established and developed for ages, through the length of history, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet. The two countries joined hands in fights for national independence in the past and have closely partnered to boost their economic growth and national sovereignty protection. Given their in-depth partnership and friendship, Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong selected Laos for his inaugural foreign trip as head of state," said Viet. "This demonstrates Vietnam always attaches much importance to its relationship with Laos. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong, along with a high-ranking delegation of Vietnamese officials, traveled to Laos for an official visit to the neighboring nation on Monday morning, marking his first international trip since he took office in early March.

The visit was made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, said the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Some major Lao newspapers such as Pasaxon -- the official organ of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party -- and PathetLao of the Lao News Agency covered the warm welcome to State President Thuong in their Monday issue.

These newspapers affirmed that the official visit would succeed and contribute to deepening bilateral ties.

Among the members of President Thuongs entourage are Le Khanh Hai, Chairman of the Presidential Office of Vietnam, Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Huynh Thanh Dat, Minister of Science and Technology, Tran Sy Thanh, chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee, Duong Quoc Hung, assistant to the state president, Tran Van Tuy, chairman of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association and Ambassador of Vietnam to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

Besides, the leaders of the Ministries of National Defence, Public Security, Planning and Investment, and Education and Training are accompanying President Thuong during the two-day visit.

Participation in multiple events in Laos

During his Laos visit, President Thuong is scheduled to attend a welcome ceremony and a seminar, and witness the signing of cooperation deals.

In addition, he will meet the Lao prime minister and president of the Lao National Assembly, as well as some high-ranking officials of Laos.

The Vietnamese state president will also visit the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos and meet some representatives of the Vietnamese community in Laos.

State Vice-President Vo Thi Anh Xuan sees President Vo Van Thuong off at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

The relationship between Vietnam and Laos is extremely special and has been established and developed for ages, through the length of history, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet.

The two countries joined hands in fights for national independence in the past and have closely partnered to boost their economic growth and national sovereignty protection.

Given their in-depth partnership and friendship, Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong selected Laos for his inaugural foreign trip as head of state," said Viet.

"This demonstrates Vietnam always attaches much importance to its relationship with Laos.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Part of the Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here gig is revealing star secrets, regrets and long-buried thoughts on famous situations.

Last night it was time for former Australian Idol judge Ian Dicko Dickson to reflect on those infamous 2003 comments, when he told a young Paulini, You need to choose more appropriate clothes or shed some pounds.

Last night he told campmate Woody he had once received a letter from a surgeon about his daughter who was in hospital with an eating disorder.

He said, This is your fault. She was an Australian Idol fan and when you said that comment to Paulini, she spiralled out of control and she is now in hospital, she might die and if she does, I am going to hold you personally responsible,' he said.

To feel that my words had driven a beautiful young girl, the apple of her fathers eye, into a hospital ward where she could die, its really hard.

A visibly emotional Dicko, a father of two young girls at the time, said he sought professional advice on eating disorders and accepted his comments may have triggered vulnerable viewers.

Youve got to accept responsibility, you know? And Im prepared to accept in that long society struggle to get there, Im one of the villains that brought us there. I cant change that. We do live in a different world now.

Id like to have learned from it, Id like the world to have learned from it. I certainly dont have the slightest inkling for bailing someone up for the way they look these days.

butterfly.org.au
Alfred Saxty and his medals which will go on sale. Bottom right shows documentation relating to Saxty (Image: Noonans / SWNS)

The family of one of the heroes of Rorke's Drift that inspired the film Zulu is trying to buy back his lost medals after they saw them put up for auction.

Alfred Saxty was just 20-years-old at the time of the famous battle in January 1879.

He was one of 150 British and colonial troops who bravely defended the station of Rorke's Drift in South Africa against 4,000 Zulu warriors in what is recognised as one of the most famous battles in British Military history.

His medals from the battle - after which a record 11 Victoria Crosses (VC) and five Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded to survivors -are to be auctioned next month and are expected to fetch up to 20,000.

Saxty's 'shocked' ancestors had no idea their relative's medals were still in existence until reading about them.

READ MORE: Car bursts into flames after crash on major Essex road bringing traffic to a halt

Echo: Alfred Saxty (first on the left) with other Rorke's Drift survivors (Noonans / SWNS)

Alfred Saxty (first on the left) with other Rorke's Drift survivors (Noonans / SWNS) (Image: SWNS)

His great-great-grandson even says he used to ask his parents which of the characters in the classic film Zulu, starring Sir Michael Caine, was his relative.

Now the "proud" family is campaigning to raise the money necessary to purchase the medals before they go to auction next month.

Saxty's ancestors say they plan to display the medals in a museum so future generations can learn about their relative and his comrades' story.

The campaign medals from Saxty's South African and Burmese campaigns will go on sale at auction house Noonans of Mayfair's sale of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria next month.

They have been put up for auction by an anonymous private collector.

But David Saxty - Alfred's great-grandson - believes the medals should be in the possession of him and his family.

Echo: The Saxty family

The Saxty family (Image: SWNS)

The 70-year-old, who is a father of two and grandfather of three himself, explained the family were surprised to learn the medals were still in existence.

Story continues

The retired lorry and cherry-picker operator, who lives on Canvey with his wife Jan, said the first the family knew of the medals was from a 2006 book called Legacy Heroes of Rorke's Drift, by author Kris Wheatley.

The book describes Alfred Saxty as having "stood his ground" against the Zulu warriors despite "knowing that the garrison was hopelessly outnumbered" and that his chances of survival were 'slim'.

On their surprise discovery of the existence of the medals, David said: "My nephew Aaron picked up on it after reading it in the paper - none of us knew that they were being sold or that they ever even existed, so it was quite a shock for us.

"Alfred was a bit of a rogue He had altercations with officers, two marriages Its quite an interesting can of worms.

But we are very proud of him in our family; not many survived from Rorkes Drift.

The last we had heard about the medals was in the book, which said hed lost the medals in Burma and had had to apply for replacements.

My grandfather was Alfreds son, but I was three when he died; too young for him to have said anything about his dad.

It would be nice to keep and have the medals in a museum; then everyone could see them and learn the story.

I think thats a nice idea because the Battle of Rorkes Drift is such a big part of British history.

Im surprised a collector has got them. I feel the medals belong to the family."

Saxty, who served as a Corporal in 'B' Company of 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot, was one of the last survivors of the battle.

He was posted to the 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot at Brecon and served in South Africa from February 1 1878 to January 12 1880, during the Anglo-Zulu War, fought between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom in 1879.

Saxty, along with 150 fellow British and colonial comrades, successfully defended the mission station of Rorke's Drift, on the border of the Zulu kingdom and the then-colony of Natal, against sustained attacks from between 3,000 and 4,000 Zulu warriors over 12 hours of fierce fighting.

A record 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded after the battle, which saw the death of around 500 Zulu warriors and 17 defenders, with one of the awards going to Lt Gonville Bromhead  played in the 1964 film Zulu by Sir Michael Caine.

Saxty was quickly promoted to the rank of Sergeant the day after the battle and later served in Burma and India before eventually being discharged in February 1895.

He died in Newport, Wales, where he lived with his sister, in 1936, aged 77.

The Legacy Heroes book describes how one of Alfred's sons, Wilfred, fought in "two World Wars" before "stealing a train" to ensure the safety of his family.

Other members of the Saxty family also fought in wars, with the book describing the lineage as having "made their indelible mark" and "shown the courage that was on display at Rorke's Drift and inherited by them through their bloodline".

READ MORE: Victory for south Essex WASPI women affected by state pension injustice

Echo: Medals which are set to go on sale

Medals which are set to go on sale (Image: Noonans / SWNS)

It also says Mr Saxty enlisted in the Army aged just 17, but gave his age as 19 and his name as Alfred Saxty - instead of his real name of Albert.

Aaron Saxty, son of David's brother Martin and great-great-grandson of Alfred Saxty, says his family's history gives him great pride.

The 41-year-old father of four, said: "When I saw the headline of the article about the medals going up for sale, I was absolutely gobsmacked.

We thought the medals had all been lost to time, so to see them going up for auction answered a lot of questions.

The Battle for Rorkes Drift is quite important as an historic event and something that is talked about a lot.

We get invited as a family to attend events up and down the country because of Alfred."

Aaron, who works in telecommunications as a solutions architect and lives in the town of Calne in Wiltshire with his wife, Diane, and their four daughters, says he used to ask his parents which one of the soldiers in the film Zulu was his relative.

He said that seeing the medals displayed in a prominent army or war museum would bring an immense feeling of pride and justice to the family.

I dont want to mount the medals on my wall, but I dont want them in a collectors box somewhere, either," Aaron said.

If we bought them, we could loan or donate them to a museum.

Various family members are going to donate towards buying the medals, but it would be great to get some national backing as well.

We are very proud that most of my male family members have fought in several World Wars, and I have my grandads medals from World War II on my wall.

But because the Zulu war was very important given the history and the legacy, it would make us incredibly proud to have the medals displayed with his whole story - warts and all."

The Legacy Heroes book also details Alfred's chequered and adventurous life as well as his not-so-heroic exploits, such as when he was caught drunk on duty in 1881 and imprisoned, and his amorous exploits whilst serving in Gibraltar - which left him needing medical attention whilst his battalion sailed to India.

Julian Farrance, from the National Army Museum in London, explained that the awarding of the record number of Victoria Crosses given in history was an attempt by the government to 'deflect attention' from the 'disastrous' action at Isandlwana earlier the same day.

The Battle of Isandlwana was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu war, when 1,300 British and colonial troops perished at the spears, shields and rifles of some 20,000 Zulu warriors.

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Mr Farrance added: "There are several reasons why Rorkes Drift still holds a place of significance.

"Partially it is the positively bountiful award of Victoria Crosses given to the defenders, which was actually an attempt by Lord Beaconsfields government to deflect attention away from the disastrous action at Isandlwana earlier that day.

"Partially it is the influence of the famous film Zulu. The impact of this film is obvious.

"Many of us have watched Messrs Caine and Baker defend the mission station on an annual basis - usually at Christmas.

"However, the most important reason that it retains its significance is due to the almost mythic nature of the action: a small band of defenders faced with overwhelming odds but somehow winning through, still speaks to us to this day, because it is a stirring story."

Noonans' Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria sale will be held on Wednesday, April 19.
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Adding the hybrid powertrain to the Toyota Corolla Cross will cost you around $5000.

For the money, you get around a 10-mpg improvement and almost 30 more horsepower.

Options for the three trims include two-tone paint and a moonroof, with the top XSE model starting just over $35,000.

The literal Corolla of SUVs will start at $29,065 with a hybrid powertrain for the 2023 model year. The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid will come in three trim levels and will top out at $35,750 for the top-of-the-line XSE trim with all available options.



The nonhybrid 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross starts at $24,395, and you get more than just better efficiency for your five grand. For one thing, the hybrid model has slightly different front and rear styling. Also, while the base engine in the nonhybrid version produces just 169 horsepower, the hybrid system uses three electric motors for a combined output of 196 hp.

The good news is that the all-wheel drive Corolla Cross Hybrid comes with a fuel-economy improvement as well. While the nonhybrid Corolla Cross models are rated at either 30 or 32 combined mpg by the EPA, Toyota said it expects the EPA will rate all grades of the Corolla Cross Hybrid at 42 combined mpg.



Depending on gas prices in the coming years, someone planning to keep the Corolla Cross for about a decade would be able to recoup the increased cost of the hybrid model based on fuel efficiency. To run just one example of an average American driver putting on 13,500 miles a year, theyd need 450 gallons of gas in the 30-mpg nonhybrid Corolla Cross. In the hybrid? Just 322. At this weekends average national price of $3.60 a gallon, the hybrid driver could save $461 at the pump.



Some of the money saved on fuel could be used to option up the new Corolla Cross Hybrid. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard in all of these models, and it includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, and dynamic radar cruise control, among other features. The lone optional feature thats somewhat safety related is the adaptive headlights, which can be had for $615 on the XSE trim.



Other options include a more premium JBL sound system ($800), a moonroof ($940) and two ways to make your vehicle stand out paint-wise. There are six standard exterior paint colors and one that costs extra (Wind Chill Pearl, $425). There are also four $500 two-tone color combinations that add a black roof.



Finally, a $1250 convenience package is available. Toyota doesnt specifically say whats included in this package, but what appears to be the same option on the nonhybrid Corolla Cross includes a moonroof and power liftgate.

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toyota

The only option for the S base trim is the optional color. All other options can be had on the SE trim, which starts at $30,385, or the XSE, starting at $32,160. An 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the voice-controlled "Hey Toyota" Intelligent Assistant is standard, as are 17-inch alloy wheels and LED headlamps. The SE trim adds two important convenience featuresblind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alertas well as roof rails and paddle shifters. The XSE grade gets 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, and a power drivers seat.



The 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid will arrive at Toyota dealerships in June. Toyota will build the car at the new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Alabama.



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The presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul / Courtesy of presidential office



Opposition parties urge gov't to demand apology from US



By Nam Hyun-woo



Revelations of alleged wiretapping of the South Korean government by U.S. intelligence is feared to overshadow President Yoon Suk Yeol's scheduled summit with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden later this month.



Yoon is facing growing domestic pressure to demand the truth and seek an apology from Washington. But this also presents a tough choice for the president to make, since such demands could spoil the mood as the two countries are set to celebrate the 70th anniversary of their alliance during the summit.



According to The New York Times and other Western media reports, classified military and intelligence documents that have been trending online in recent weeks contain internal discussions of the South Korean government on whether to provide the U.S. with artillery shells to be used in Ukraine, violating Seoul's policy of not providing lethal weapons.



In the documents, which were identified as being from the CIA, former presidential secretary for foreign affairs Lee Moon-hee  referred to as Yi Mun-hui in the documents  reported to former Director of National Security Kim Sung-han that Yoon and Biden should not speak on the phone before Seoul forms a clear stance on supplying ammunition to Ukraine.



Lee noted that Seoul cannot go against its own stance of not providing lethal weapons. Thus, the only option is to change its stance. However, Kim raised concerns that such a move could be interpreted as a compromise between Yoon's state visit to the U.S. and the ammunition deal, while he "suggested the possibility" of selling munitions to Poland, according to the report.



After the alleged wiretapping was revealed, the presidential office said it will "have necessary consultations with the U.S." and "explore measures by reviewing past precedents in other countries."



A senior official at the presidential office said, "This does not mean that we are confirming whether there was an attempt at wiretapping and measures will be taken after knowing what happened exactly." The official added that "there will be knowledge sharing with the U.S. during the process of finding the facts."



When asked about what efforts South Korea is making to find out the truth, another official at the presidential office said, "Both sides are making efforts," but did not elaborate.











President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden look at each other during their joint press conference at South Korea's presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, May 21, 2022. Yonhap



The presidential office appears to be taking a cautious stance, due to worries that the controversy and Seoul's possible demand for an apology may spoil the mood for the upcoming Yoon-Biden summit on April 26.



A third official at the presidential office said that there is a low chance that the controversy will dampen the enthusiasm for South Korea and the U.S. to deepen their alliance further, given that Yoon's visit is welcomed by not only the Biden administration, but also the U.S. Congress.



However, Yoon faces mounting domestic pressure to demand an apology from the U.S. regarding the wiretapping allegations.



"The (South Korean) government and the president should demand precise information regarding the leaked documents and the reports and reveal that to the public," main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) floor leader Park Hong-keun said Monday.



"If confirmed, it is an unacceptable practice that cannot be tolerated in the 70-year alliance and a clear infringement of South Korea's sovereignty that shatters bilateral trust  The U.S. government should be faithful to its ally and apologize to the South Korean public and the government, if those reports are true," Park added.



Minor opposition Justice Party Chairperson Lee Jeong-mi also said that the wiretapping allegations are "beyond imagination" and the South Korean government "should demand from the U.S. crystal-clear facts, an apology and a promise to prevent a recurrence."





Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) floor leader Park Hong-keun, right, speaks during the party's supreme council meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. On the left is DPK Chairman Lee Jae-myung. Yonhap
Climate change has very sadly got to a point where you can look out the window to see the toll on the environment and biodiversity, Chris Packham has said.

The broadcaster was speaking as he presents the second series of Our Changing Planet, in which he revisits vulnerable habitats over seven years.

Packham is joined by presenters Liz Bonnin, Steve Backshall, Gordon Buchanan, Ade Adepitan and Ella Al-Shamahi as they travel to California, Greenland, the Maldives, Brazil, Kenya and Cambodia for the BBC show.

When asked what he hoped viewers take away from the series, Packham said: I hope that the film highlights that in any corner of our planet, at any point, we can now, very sadly, find connections to changes in our environment, climate, and biodiversity.

Ade Adepitan visits Kenya in Our Changing Planet (BBC Studios/Ferne Corrigan/PA)

I could go out of the unit where I am now and find things flowering that wouldnt have been flowering at this time when I was a child, so I can see climate change out the window of my industrial unit in Taunton.

Anyone can see it anywhere, if they look. I guess that thats another one of our messages.

Were saying that this simple system in Greenland can tell us a lot but you dont need to go that far, you can look out the window.

The environmentalist, who fronts the BBCs Winterwatch and Springwatch shows, travelled to the north-eastern side of Greenland to talk to a group of scientists following the muskox.

Packham said: The scientists were taking samples of just about everything, and fitting the collars and weighing, measuring, so I was able to join in first hand, which meant I was hands on with a muskox.

So in a sort of childlike way, that was a tremendous thrill because Id seen them and they have the potential to be dangerous animals, animals you treat with respect because of their size, but being able to get up close and personal with them was fantastic.

Elsewhere, BBC presenter Adepitan, who has previously featured in the documentary Climate Change: Ade On The Frontline, travels to Kenya to report on the effect of rising temperatures and failed rains.

Story continues

When he visited the country in 2021, the elephants were being severely affected by drought.

As Adepitan returned, he said he saw people and elephants now fighting over food and water supplies.

Talking about his highlight from the show, he said: I think finding out that one of the elephants was pregnant.

Just to find out that theres going to be a new baby in this situation, because this is where we talk a lot about elephants dying, and an elephant struggling.

So to have a moment where we talk about an elephant being born, was beautiful.

Our Changing Planet returns on Sunday April 16 at 7pm on BBC One.


Seven sites have received government backing to win UNESCO World Heritage status.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) publishes a "tentative list" around every 10 years setting out which sites it feels have the best chance of being included.

If successful, the sites will join the 33 other World Heritage sites in the UK or overseas territories, including Stonehenge and Hadrian's Wall.

The seven sites are:

York city centre - with its Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman history, and civic and religious buildings including York Minster.

Birkenhead Park - a pioneering project to bring greenery to urban environments and be a blueprint for municipal planning that has influenced famous sites such as New York's Central Park. It was opened in 1847.

The Zenith of Iron Age Shetland - three ancient settlements dating back thousands of years.

The East Atlantic Flyway - a migratory bird route over western Europe which includes Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent.

The Little Cayman Marine Parks and Protected Areas - in the UK overseas territory of the Cayman Islands.

The Flow Country - a large area of peatland across Caithness and Sutherland in Scotland's north.

Gracehill Moravian Church Settlement - in Northern Ireland.

The last two submitted their full nominations to UNESCO earlier this year, and remain on the government's tentative list, while the other five are new additions.

Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: "Today we are confirming our support for some of the most enchanting heritage sites and breathtaking landscapes in the UK and its overseas territories as they bid for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

"All the locations being put forward would be worthy recipients of this accolade - and we will give them our full backing so they can benefit from the international recognition it can bring."

UNESCO World Heritage status is for places that are of "outstanding universal value to humanity" and should be "protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy".

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For sites in immediate danger, the World Heritage mission aims to provide emergency assistance.

In countries that have adhered to the World Heritage Convention - which defines what sites can be considered to win UNESCO World Heritage status - it provides professional training and assistance, and encourages local communities to participate in preservation.

Read more:

Which short-haul airline was ranked UK's worst for delays last year?

Liverpool stripped of UNESCO World Heritage status

French baguette secures spot on UNESCO cultural heritage list

Places already recognised include the pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, the Taj Mahal in India, the Grand Canyon in the USA, and the Acropolis in Greece.

Laura Davies, HM Ambassador to UNESCO, said: "It is great that the UK is contributing to making World Heritage more representative.

"These five sites brilliantly reflect the diversity and beauty of the UK and its overseas territories' natural and cultural heritage, and I look forward to working with them towards World Heritage listing."

The DCMS will work with local authorities and devolved administrations to develop their bids.
The Russian Embassy in Kenya shared an image on Twitter on April 6 showing an exhausted-looking Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, who has been incarcerated in the United Kingdom since 2019. However, it turns out that one of his supporters generated the image using artificial intelligence.

If you only have a minute:

The Russian Embassy in Kenya tweeted an image of a weak and ill-looking Julian Assange in a bid to complain about the embattled Wikileaks founders conditions of imprisonment in the UK.

However, we noticed some aspects of the image that made us suspect that it wasnt an actual photo but rather a fake image.

It turns out that a Twitter account that supports Assange used artificial intelligence to generate the image in order to raise awareness about his imprisonment.

The fact-check, in detail

The same image was shared on March 31 in a tweet in French, which has since garnered more than 191,000 views.



Read more on The Observers - France 24



Read also:

Why these images do not prove that Vladimir Putin sent a 'body double' to Mariupol

How one year of disinformation has shaped the narrative of the Ukraine war online

Did Volodymyr Zelensky call for preventive nuclear strikes against Russia? Not exactly
University of North Georgia (UNG) alumna 2nd Lt. Hayley Farmer, '22, on April 7 became the first woman to graduate from Ranger School after commissioning as an officer from UNG.

Farmer's Ranger class started with 380 students, and 147 graduated, for an attrition rate of more than 60%. She will next go through Stryker training at Fort Benning before going to her first assignment in Germany.

It isn't the first history Farmer has made history, either. In May 2022, she was the first woman to commission into the Army infantry branch as her first choice from UNG, and only the second woman overall to commission into the infantry from UNG.

"Ranger School is a physically and mentally grueling combat leadership course designed to push Ranger students to the limits of their endurance often under extreme and hazardous conditions approaching that of actual combat," Retired Lt. Col. Keith Antonia, UNG interim vice president for leadership and global engagement and a Ranger Hall of Fame member, said. "Despite a high attrition and recycle rate, Lt. Farmer made it straight through the 62-day course. That takes a lot of heart, guts, determination, and stamina."

Farmer earned a litany of honors during her time at UNG. She was a part of three top-four Ranger Challenge teams at the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition, each of which won the ROTC title in the event at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Ranger Challenge is the varsity sport of Army ROTC, and teams compete against other colleges in events such as patrolling, marksmanship, weapons assembly, grenade assault course, Army Combat Fitness Test, land navigation, and road march.
DP floor leader Park Hong-keun, middle, speaks during the press conference held at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap



A group of opposition lawmakers who visited Japan last week said Monday they conveyed South Koreans' concerns over Tokyo's plan to release radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.



Four lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) paid a three-day visit to probe the radioactive water release plan, and hold meetings with municipal lawmakers and residents of the Fukushima area. They also requested Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the Fukushima plant, share information related to the matter.



"We were able to draw the attention of both South Korean and Japanese people to the issue once again," Reps. Wi Seong-gon said. He claimed all residents they met were opposed to the release plan.



"People say there is an alternative of making a water tank on land and storing the water there. It's a matter of cost," Wi added.



Rep. Yang Yi-wonyoung said the DP lawmakers confirmed the contaminated water contains plutonium and other chemicals even though it went through liquid processing systems, and a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency has no expression that Japan's plan is "credible."



The DP lawmakers plan to push for a special parliamentary body or a parliamentary investigation to deal with the matter and explore cooperation with other countries to create an international consultative body on the issue.



"Until when will the government pussyfoot around for the Japanese government in front of a matter that concerns the safety and lives of our people?" DP floor leader Park Hong-keun said, urging the government to take the matter to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.



Park also called on Japan to suspend its plan, which he said does not guarantee safety and is opposed by neighboring countries. (Yonhap)


HA NOI  In the era of growing environmental and social concerns, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards have emerged as a game-changer for firms seeking to improve their customer engagement and financial access.

Chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association Vu uc Giang revealed that many firms in the industry had suffered a significant drop in order volume by between 40 to 50 per cent because they were reluctant to embrace ESG.

He said ESG is the key to gaining competitive advantages as it enhances firms' internal governance and promotes their public image. It also improves their access to funds as ESG-oriented loans have become abundant in recent years.

IMF data shows that ESG loans tripled in value in 2021, accounting for 18 per cent of the total loans available to emerging markets (not including China). Global ESG assets, in Bloomberg Intelligence's estimation, could reach US$50 trillion by 2025.

One of the noteworthy companies benefiting greatly from ESG was BAF Vietnam Agriculture JSC, which was granted VN900 billion (US$38 million) of loans last year from the International Financial Corporate to build sustainable farms.

Vinamilk, a leading company in terms of ESG maturity, estimated that seven years of ESG implementation, from 2014 to 2021, had saved the company VN274 billion in costs.

This financial benefit was big, but ESG's non-financial benefits were much bigger, including better management structure, higher brand value, higher employee satisfaction, easier access to referential loans, and improved resilience against shocks.

Notably, Vinamilk's brand value rose from $1.6 billion in 2019 to $2.8 billion in 2022 on the back of its commitment to ESG. Its level of employee satisfaction stood at over 84 per cent during the period.

The Siam Cement Group, a Thai corporation owning over 20 affiliated companies in Viet Nam, has expanded its production of environmentally-friendly products to deal with the recent global weakening demand.

Thanks to its effort to embrace ESG, the company saw its revenue grow by 7 per cent in 2022, with green products contributing to 51 per cent of its sales.

According to a PwC report last year, about 80 per cent of firms in Viet Nam have made ESG commitments or plan to do so soon. This move is primarily driven by the demands of consumers, employees, and investors.

About 61 per cent of the yet-to-embrace-ESG firms cited lack of knowledge as the key barrier to ESG commitments, 48 per cent cited financial capability, 46 per cent cited company size, and 28 per cent cited lack of transparency in ESG data.

As ESG is not free of charge, many firms willing to embrace ESG are finding themselves stuck in a vicious circle  they need funds to adopt ESG, yet without ESG in place, they remain in a weak position to access funds and gain sales.

Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam Gabor Fluit remarked that ESG rules in Viet Nam lack coherence, and the allocation of responsibilities among stakeholders is poorly regulated.

This legal incompleteness could discourage foreign investments in the green sector and incur additional costs related to environmental assessement.

He called for more legal documents to legislate for the country's carbon-neutral commitments in COP26 and more measures to raise the awareness of ESG among firms.  VNS
AN GIANG  The Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of An Giang Province grew 6.3 per cent in the first three months, the fifth-highest among provinces of the Mekong Delta region.

Pham Minh Tam, director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, said that in the first three months of the year, industrial production in An Giang recovered strongly. In particular, the index of industrial production increased by 9.71 per cent over the same period a year ago.

In addition, commercial activities were also bustling again, with total retail sales of goods and services reaching VN49 trillion (US$2.09 billion), up 16 per cent over the same period last year.

An Giang's export activities also had many positive signs, with export turnover reaching $285 million, up 7.3 per cent from last year. The main export items of An Giang Province all increased compared to the same period in 2022 in terms of both output and turnover, thanks to the Chinese market reopening, which boosted the export of agricultural and aquatic products, especially pangasius products.

In the first three months of the year, An Giang's tourism industry welcomed 4 million tourists, an increase of 60 per cent from a year earlier to reach 50 per cent of the goal for 2023. State budget revenue reached VN2.19 trillion, reaching nearly 33 per cent of the year's target, an increase of over 3.2 per cent over the same period in 2023.

In the first six months of 2023, An Giang aims to increase GRDP between 6.94 per cent and 7.4 per cent, and for all of 2023 between 7 per cent and 7.5 per cent.

To achieve this, it will focus on the development of hi-tech agriculture, concentrated growing areas and linkages between stakeholders to increase value, according to its Peoples Committee.

It will speed up restructuring of agriculture, including river-based aquaculture, expand cultivation of high-quality rice varieties and switch to high-value crops on unproductive rice fields.

It will develop concentrated growing areas for some key agricultural items, including 10,217ha of fruits, 6,000ha of vegetables and 1,500ha of tra catfish, by 2025.

Situated in the centre of the delta, on the border with Cambodia, and a gateway to Can Tho City and HCM City, An Giang has great economic potential.

It has identified agriculture as the basis of its economy and is soliciting investment in key items such as rice, tra fish, fruits and vegetables.

It will strengthen advocacy activities to apprise companies, co-operatives, co-operative groups, and households about its incentives and attract their investment in agriculture and rural development.

Farmlands account for more than 80 per cent of the provinces area, and it has abundant freshwater throughout the year for agriculture, especially rice.

For exports, the province has 211 agricultural co-operatives with a total of 13,269 members and 960 co-operative groups with a total of 15,213 members.

It is granting production codes for fruits and other crop growing areas to meet export demand.

To get a production code, there has to be a minimum area of 10ha and farming on it should conform to Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VietGAP) or other equivalent standards.

The province has issued codes to 434 areas where rice, fruits and vegetables are grown as of last year, and their produce is exported to the US, South Korea, New Zealand, Japan, China and some other markets.

It plans to issue 617 more codes for rice and glutinous rice, 130 for vegetables and 83 for fruits this year.

It has identified four main fruits - mango, banana, longan, and citrus varieties.  VNS
HA Noi - VinFast, a subsidiary automaker of conglomerate Vingroup, has announced that it delivered a total of 1,689 electric vehicles (EVs) to Vietnamese clients in the first quarter of this year.

The company handed over 915 electric vehicles in March alone, comprising VF e34, VF 8 and VF 9 models. On March 27, 2023, it also delivered the first batch of full-size VF 9 SUVs to customers.

During the same period, VinFast handed over 395 VF 8 and 469 VF e34 cars to clients in March alone. Following an upgrade with new software FR6.0/7.0, which optimises the energy consumption of vehicle features and improves charging and battery functions, the travel distance of the VF e34 can reach 318.6 km/charge (according to NEDC standards), making it the best-selling EVs in the month.

In April, VinFast is expected to hand over the first VF 5 Plus to Vietnamese customers and export the second batch of VF 8 EVs to the EU market. Furthermore, the first batch of VF 8 City Edition models was delivered to US customers at the beginning of March 2023.  VNS
KIEN GIANG  The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kien Giang welcomed nearly 2.3 million visitors in the first quarter of this year, up 44.7 per cent year-on-year, according to the provincial Department of Tourism.

In the first quarter of the year, the number of international tourists visiting the province surged nine-fold over the same period last year to reach more than 207,000.

Tourism revenue totaled more than VN5.36 trillion (US$229 billion), a year-on-year increase of 263 per cent.

Phu Quoc Island received more than 1.55 million tourists in the first three months, up 43 per cent year-on-year.

The province will put more investment in tourism infrastructure development to improve the quality of tourism products and services, said Bui Quoc Thai, director of the department.

It has strengthened tourism linkages with other cities and provinces and boosted promotion and marketing activities at home and abroad to attract more domestic and foreign tourists, Thai said.

The provinces Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centre plans to participate in the Vietnam Travel Mart in Ha Noi from April 13 to 16 to promote its tourism potential and enhance tourism investment and cooperation, he said.

To date, the province has attracted investments worth totally VN380 trillion in 328 tourism projects covering more than 10,000 hectares.

Of that figure, 75 projects worth more than VN19.2 trillion are on stream and 84 projects worth VN197.5 trillion are under construction. The remaining 169 projects have been approved and are undergoing investment preparation procedures.

The provinces master plan on tourism development for the 2021-30 period outlines four key areas: Phu Quoc, Ha Tien-Kien Luong, Rach Gia-Kien Hai, and U Minh Thuong.

Its target is to receive 8.3 million tourists this year, a year-on-year increase of 9.7 per cent.  VNS
HCM CITY  An art camp attracting painters, photographers, theatre artists and musicians has been launched by the HCM City Theatres Association and HCM City Fine Arts Association.

The HCM City Arts Camp 2023 includes field trips and visits to local museums and galleries. Tourist sites and historical relics are also featured.

The artists will join workshops and discussions on theatre, music producing and composing, contemporary fine arts, exhibition-making and art projects.

Works featuring different forms of traditional theatre and music will be released in videos, documentary films and books as a way to bring the arts closer to audiences.

After the camp, artists will also have a chance to showcase their works and further develop their career.

According to theatre director Ton That Can, deputy chairman of HCM City Theatres Association, the association encourages young artists, and folk and ethnic artisans to join the camp. We will work with traditional art clubs and centres to offer new methods helping the artists release their art online, he said.

The camps first group of 30 artists, including Meritorious Artist and musician The Hien and famous painter Hu Thanh Binh, made trips to Nha Be and Binh Chach districts on April 4.

Promoting arts

The HCM City Fine Arts Association sent 20 artists to participate in the HCM City Arts Camp 2023.

The association was established on November 28 in 1981 and has supported the citys artists to introduce their works to the public.

In the beginning, it had only 300 members, including leading artists such as Trang Phuong, Quach Phong and Huynh Phuong ong.

The association now has nearly 1,000 members and 10 clubs of young artists, women artists, veteran artists and ethnic Hoa artists, among others.

It has organised numerous exhibitions featuring its members works which reflect the development of Vietnamese arts and connect artists with art lovers.

The association organised 262 exhibitions attracting more than 7,000 amateur and professional artists in the last five years. Many programmes to support young artists were also launched.

Along with exhibitions, the association also holds field trips and creative camps every year to encourage artists to find new topics and inspiration for work.

Sculptor Nguyen Xuan Tien, chairman of the association, said his association helps connect artists in the city and all over the country who want to share their works with art lovers.

We are working to host exchange programmes with artists from Southeast Asian countries and other countries to offer opportunities for local artists to learn from experienced artists, he said.  VNS
HA NOI  Lawmaker Nguyen Anh Tri on Monday presented a proposal to a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on building a Law on Gender Identity.

In Viet Nam, there are currently no specific legal documents regulating gender identity and gender transition and no comprehensive and complete studies or surveys on gender identity and transgender people in Viet Nam, therefore there is currently no accurate picture of the situation.

The building of gender identity law would clearly demonstrate the high regard that the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam holds for the values of humanity and the spirit of protecting vulnerable communities and 'leaving no one behind' in its policies, Tri said.

The scope of the law only focuses on two gender identities, male and female.

Accordingly, the law regulates the rights and obligations of individuals who undergo sex reassignment from female to male or from male to female; competent agencies confirming the gender identity of transgender individuals; conditions, documents, and procedures for individuals who wish to undergo sex reassignment procedures; conditions, documents, and procedures for organisations and individuals performing medical interventions.

Three policies are clearly stated in this proposed law: the right to change their gender identity, the right to have a gender identity that is different from the gender at birth recognised upon the request of the citizen, and the right to choose a medical intervention method for sex reassignment.

Tri said that just a day before, in a feedback document, the Government has stated its position supporting the making of the gender identity law, which would help contribute to the institutionalisation of some human rights-related contents that have been recognised in the 2013 Constitution and the 2015 Civil Code.

From 2016, the Government has assigned the Ministry of Health to research and propose the development of legal documents on sex reassignment, however, this is a difficult issue that requires time and resources.

The Government has tasked the ministry to provide its research results to facilitate the efforts of NA lawmakers in penning the bill.

Presenting the reviews of the proposal, Chairman of the NA Legal Committee Hoang Thanh Tung stated that the NA Legal Committee and the Social Committee highly appreciate the efforts and dedication of the NA deputies in preparing the proposal for the law, and recognise the necessity of promulgating this law.

Most opinions from the NA Legal Committee concurred to include the gender identity law project in 2024 agenda and table the bill for NA-wide feedback during the eighth plenary session, Tung said.

He also requested the Government's support in coordinating with lawmakers in the building of the law.

Tung also pointed out a number of concerns from the committee given its sensitive and difficult nature, which ask for more clarity on the political and real-life basis for the building and promulgation of the law in the proposal.

The scope of the law also has some overlaps with the Law on Gender Transition that the Government is studying, Tung noted, asking lawmakers to continue studying the issue to complete the requested document for the building of the law.

NA Secretary Bui Van Cuong said sensitive or difficult is not a good reason to avoid the issue.

"[Society] is relatively open towards the issue already. If we don't soon build a legal corridor, there will be a lot of issues in both institutional and practical dimensions," Cuong said.

Chairman of NA Social Committee Nguyen Thuy Anh, while appreciating Tri's brave and dedicated initiative given the nature of the law, but urged the authors to deliberate more on the practicality and the relevant documents to improve the draft law project.

The top legislator Vuong inh Hue underlines his respect for the proposal to build a law by a NA lawmaker.

But given that there are still differing opinions and there is still time left, Hue suggested that the reviewing bodies, deputy Tri, and the Government prepare additional reports and submit them to the NA Standing Committee at the next meeting.  VNS
VIENTIANE  Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong met with Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane on Monday afternoon as part of his ongoing official visit to the neighbouring country.

During the meeting, Saysomphone Phomvihane stressed that President Thuong's visit to Laos for the first time in his new position shows the importance that Viet Nam attaches to the special relationship between the two nations.

He spoke highly of important and comprehensive achievements made by the Vietnamese people during the national construction and development in accordance with the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, saying that Viet Nam's rapid and stable development has become a motivation for Laos in its national construction process in the integration period.

The top Lao legislator thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for gifting the new building for the Lao legislature, describing it as a typical symbol of the Viet Nam-Laos special relationship.

For his part, President Thuong applauded the close cooperation between the two countries legislative bodies, affirming that Viet Nam is willing to support Laos to successfully undertake important diplomatic activities in the coming time, including hosting the first Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam Summit (CLV) Parliamentary Summit in 2023 and assuming the role as Chair of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2024.

He also conveyed the congratulations of the Vietnamese Party, State, and NA senior leaders to the Lao leader on the traditional New Year Bunpimay.

The two leaders emphasised the importance of regular exchanges of delegations and high-level meetings, and appreciated the implementation of the cooperation agreement between the two legislatures signed in May 2022.

They suggested the two NAs continue to enhance the exchange and sharing of professional experience through organising conferences and seminars; closely coordinate with and support each other at regional and international parliamentary forums.

They also reaffirmed that the two sides always attach great importance to and give the highest priority to strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos, considering this an invaluable asset and a decisive factor to the revolutionary cause in each country.  VNS
VIENTIANE  Viet Nam and Laos will make efforts to enhance economic cooperation, further exchange macroeconomic management and anti-corruption experiences as well as upgrade international border gates and roads connecting the two countries,

The statement was made during a talk between President Vo Van Thuong and General Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and President of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith, during the Vietnamese leaders two-day official visit to Laos, which started yesterday.

Lao leader Thongloun expressed his appreciation that Laos was chosen as the first country that President Thuong visited since becoming President.

He thanked Viet Nam for its support to Laos in its socio-economic recovery and development while congratulating Viet Nam on the great and comprehensive achievements in implementing the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress and the socio-economic development plan.

President Thuong said he too highly appreciated the achievements that the Lao Party, Government and people have made in the cause of renovation and national construction, and expressed his belief that Laos will soon overcome any difficulties to successfully implement the goals set out by the 11th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

He also thanked the sincere and pure affection and the help and support of the Lao State and people for the cause of construction and defence of the Fatherland of Viet Nam.

The two leaders also expressed their delight at the development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Despite being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides made great efforts to maintain high-level delegations and contacts, while continuing to promote the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

Defence and security cooperation and economic cooperation have also been promoted. Many ODA projects have been completed and put to use. Cooperation in the fields of culture, society, education, sports, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities, especially among border provinces, continues to be strengthened, and bring concrete benefits.

The two leaders agreed that in the current complicated situation facing the world and the region, the two countries need to strengthen consultation, exchange of experiences, cooperation and assistance to overcome challenges and difficulties so that they can together build an independent, self-reliant economy with extensive international integration.

The two leaders reaffirmed the consistent policy of both countries to always attach great importance to and give the highest priority to consolidating and cultivating the great friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos.

The two countries will effectively implement high-level agreements between central and local ministries and branches while strengthening consultations on strategic issues.

They will also promote the exchange of visits and contacts at all levels, review and improve the efficiency of cooperation mechanisms and continue to promote the positive results of the Viet Nam-Laos and Laos-Viet Nam Year of Friendship and Solidarity 2022 to raise awareness about the traditional history of special solidarity relations between the two countries.

The two will also coordinate in building historical relics on Viet Nam-Laos relations, including Laos-Viet Nam Friendship Park in Vientiane.

The two sides also agreed to step up the security-defence cooperation to deal with new challenges while continuing to support each other to ensure political stability, security, social order and safety in each country.

The leaders also said they will well implement the agreements and closely coordinate in border management, especially preventing and combating transnational crimes, drug crimes, illegal exploitation of natural resources, and illegal entry and exit while coordinating in finding, unloading and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos.

During the meeting, the two leaders affirmed that Viet Nam and Laos will improve the efficiency of cooperation in the fields of education and training, tourism, energy, clean agriculture, science, technology, health, culture, people-to-people exchange and cooperation between localities of the two countries.

Following the talk, the ministries of the two countries signed two cooperation documents in the fields of science, and technology and innovation.

Also during this trip, President Thuong met with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane.  VNS
HA NOI  Tran Qui Thanh, the Chairman of Viet Nam's largest private beverage company Tan Hiep Phat, along with one of his daughter Tran Uyen Phuong, have been arrested in the southern province of Binh Duong on Monday.

Thanh (born in 1953), Phuong (1981), and Thanh's another daughter Tran Ngoc Bich (1984), are accused of "abusing trust to misappropriate assets" crime under the Penal Code.

Bich was serving as Tan Hiep Phat Group's Director, while Phuong was the company's Vice-Director.

The arrests were made following a police investigation into denunciations from a number of individuals in HCM City and ong Nai Province, who accused the wealthy family of several crimes.

They include fraudulent misappropriation of assets, abusing trust to misappropriate assets and tax evasion.

The allegations are connected to several high-value real estate projects in these two southern localities since 2020 November.

The same day, the police conducted search of nine premises which include the offices and homes of the three defendants.

Investigations are ongoing.

The company has a number of beverage products that are popular among Vietnamese consumers, including "Number 1" Energy Drink and "Zero Degrees" green tea.

The company also sells to an additional 16 countries around the world, according to its website.

Established in 1997 the business currently has a charter capital of VN276 billion (US$11.7 million).  VNS
A warning sign about beverages laced with drugs is displayed at a private tutoring academy in Gangnam, Seoul, April 9. Yonhap



Police said Monday they are tracking down two individuals based in China for allegedly masterminding an extortion scam that involved handing over beverages laced with drugs to random high school students in Seoul.



The two  a Korean national in his 20s surnamed Lee and a Chinese national in his 30s surnamed Park  are accused of ordering a Korean national surnamed Gil to make and supply methamphetamine-laced beverages, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) said.



Four other individuals then handed out the beverages to the students in Gangnam Ward, southern Seoul, on April 3 after tricking them into believing they were helpful for concentration, according to the SMPA.



The SMPA alleges that the two suspects have connections to crime rings based in China that specialize in voice phishing scams, with the possibility of a higher-ranked mastermind behind all the schemes.



The SMPA said it has sought arrest warrants for the two and has made a request for cooperation from Chinese authorities.






HAI PHONG  A British tourist who claimed she had been sexually assaulted on a cruise ship in Ha Long Bay has told police she no longer wants to press charges.

The 19-year-old had claimed she was attacked on Saturday evening by a 34-year-old member of staff on the vessel.

Police immediately launched an investigation following the alleged incident on board the ship which is registered Era HP-4888.

But on Sunday, the tourist gave a letter to police saying she was intoxicated at the time of the alleged assault and had difficulties remembering what actually happened.

She also told authorities she didnt want to be examined and asked them not to pursue the matter any further.  VNS
Vietnam, along with Thailand, India, and Cambodia, has led a significant increase in semiconductor chip exports to the US market this year, accounting for more than 10% of US imported chips for seven consecutive months.

The US Census Bureau data shows that US semiconductor chip imports reached US$4.86 billion in February 2023, an increase of 17% from 2022.

The Asian region accounted for 83% of the total semiconductor chips imported by the US from around the world.

India saw a 34-fold increase in semiconductor chip exports to the US, totaling $152 million, while Cambodia reported a remarkable 698% growth, generating $166 million in revenue, an unprecedented figure.

Vietnam and Thailand are major players in the semiconductor chip manufacturing market and have seen their trade with the US increase by 75% and 62%, respectively, according to Bloomberg News.

For seven consecutive months, Vietnam has accounted for more than 10% of the chips imported by the US from around the world.

In February 2023, Vietnam's semiconductor chip exports to the US reached $562.5 million, up from $321.7 million in February 2022. Vietnam ranks third in Asia in terms of semiconductor exports to the US, after Malaysia and Taiwan.

Recently, US officials have expressed concern about the country's reliance on foreign chip suppliers, particularly from South Korea and Taiwan, for advanced chip production. The latest data from February suggests that the US is diversifying its electronics supply chain, with moves such as Apple Inc. shifting iPhone production from China to India.

While Malaysia has traditionally been a leader in chip exports to the US, its market share fell to 20% in February.

Semiconductor chips are the basic components of modern electronic devices, including computers, phones, and home appliances.

Hanoi Times
The event was chaired by Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung and was attended by the ministrys departments, ICT companies, and leaders of the media.

According to the ministrys report, revenue of the industry in March was estimated to hit $14.15 billion), up 30 per cent on-month, thus increasing its total revenue to $23.85 billion in the first quarter, down 3 per cent on-year, and meeting 20 per cent of the yearly target.

The industrys state budget contribution was estimated at $385.65 million in March, up 10 per cent on-month, and $1.06 billion in the first quarter, up 9 per cent on-year.

The growth rate of the digital economy in the first quarter of 2023 was 13.6 per cent, an increase of 3.99 per cent compared to the end of 2022. The proportion of the digital economy to GDP in the first quarter of 2023 was 14.62 per cent.

Representatives of businesses and associations discussed possible problems of the proposal to apply excise tax on online games; universalisation of network information security services for the whole population; promoting the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem in Vietnam; and the development of the e-commerce market in Vietnam.

In the upcoming months, the minister set out tasks for the industry to make good results in 2023. Accordingly, enterprises that have cooperation with ministries, agencies, and localities must pay attention to re-evaluate the IT systems of ministries and localities to propose upgrading, ensuring connection, sharing of data and quality of online public services.

The year 2023 will be used by AI to create virtual assistants, contribute experts in fields, businesses and organisations. Minister Hung noted, 2023 is the year to promote quality in all activities, not only laws, but also the quality and sustainability of digital infrastructure. It is the year of data. It is necessary to clarify the content, assign tasks to units of the ministry, other ministries, agencies and localities."

vir
Zhao Tuo, who used to earn 10,000 yuan per month, now only receives 4,000 yuan. As a result, he has chosen to leave the Pegatron factory in Shanghai, which is Apples iPhone assembly partner. After working there for some time, Tuo decided to take a car back to his hometown to find a new way out.

Tuo isnt the only worker who has left the iPhone factory. A major exit is taking place as workers are no longer receiving high wages due to the shrinking scale of production. Workers income, which was 10,000 yuan (USD 1,454) this spring, has now dropped to 3,000-4,000 yuan (USD 436-581).

Tuo stated that the current salary at the iPhone factory is even lower than his income in his hometown. He said that working in the factory was like a gamble, as workers are not selected to work in any department and work more or less as assigned.

When he first arrived at Pegatron, he was assigned the position of warehouse manager, which was a relatively easy job. However, he was later transferred to the production line where Tuo works 10 hours a day, screwing screws as small as a grain of rice into the smartphone case. Each iPhone needs 2-8 screws, and during peak periods, he had to screw in 750 phones every day, or else his money would be deducted. Skilled workers can even assemble 1,200 machines. If he fulfills his quota and works overtime during peak months, Tuo can earn 10,000 yuan a month.





Like many other workers, he lives in a dormitory with 8 people per room. There are almost no expenses other than meals. Social interaction is relatively low. Sometimes I have dinner with my roommates, thats all, Tuo said. With a decent income and little spending, he can save a fair amount of money to send back to his hometown.

However, after the first three months of the year, Zhaos income dropped by 60%. If he continued to stay, his salary would decrease further. At its peak, the Pegatron plant in Shanghai required 80,000 workers, but now, the scale is significantly reduced.

Xu Li, 23, a worker at Shanghai Pegatron, said: Of the factorys eight assembly lines, five have stopped, leaving only three operations. Some have been shipped overseas in recent months. Li said the current scene was in contrast to a few months ago. At the beginning of the year, if you wanted to work at an iPhone assembly factory, you even had to pay a pawn. Now the monthly salary is only about 3,000 yuan. Some of my colleagues have been moved to Kunshan and then quickly returned because there was no work, Li said.

Spring in iPhone assembly plants in China is passing in the context of assembly workshops shrinking in size, low profits, and few orders. Some factories are looking to move production out of China. In late March, a Reuters source stated that Pegatron is planning to open a second facility in India, just six months after opening the first factory with an investment of 150 million USD.

Vietnam and India are considered a potential destination for Apple to gradually shift the iPhone assembly line out of China. According to the statistics of the Electronics and Mobile Association of India from April 2022 to February 2023, Indias smartphone export value has reached 9 billion USD, of which the iPhone accounted for more than 50%.

Apart from Pegatron, a number of other Apple partners are also facing a general bleak situation.

Foxconns recruitment partner said that since the beginning of the year, orders at Zhengzhou and Shenzhen factories have dropped sharply, and accordingly, the need to recruit has disappeared. A factory insider said that many orders have been shipped to Vietnam and India, and since last year, some managers have been transferred to the country. The layoffs are only a matter of time, according to IT Times and Sina.
PELALAWAN, Indonesia, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of the Indonesia government's efforts to combat stunting, Asian Agri and Tanoto Foundation signed a joint agreement with the Government of Pelalawan Regency, Riau Province.

The agreement was signed by H. Nasarudin, Deputy Regent of Pelalawan who is also the Head of the Team for the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction (TPPS) and Gatot Sibuea, Group Manager of PT Inti Indosawit Subur (Asian Agri) Buatan Plantation.

To prevent and reduce stunting rates in Pelalawan Regency, the cadre training for Posyandu or integrated health service post, a community-based initiative in Indonesia, will be carried out with the Family Assistance Team (TPK) together with the Asian Agri and Tanoto Foundation team in three villages in Pelalawan Regency, namely Delik Village, Lalangkabung Village, and Pelalawan Village. The TPK will be tasked with counselling mothers and expectant mothers, facilitating referral services, as well as the provision of social assistance and conducting monitoring of target families who are at risk of stunting.

The Deputy Regent of Pelalawan, H. Nasarudin, said that stunting prevention is Indonesia's national program which requires collaboration from the Government and stakeholders, including the private sector. "We really appreciate Asian Agri and Tanoto Foundation for their commitment to help suppress stunting in Pelalawan Regency, especially in Delik Village, Lalangkabung Village, and Pelalawan Village. Through this collaboration, we hope to accelerate the reduction in the stunting rates in Pelalawan Regency. We hope that all companies in the Pelalawan Regency area will actively participate in implementing this program," he said.

Gatot Sibuea, Group Manager of PT Inti Indosawit Subur (Asian Agri) Buatan Estate said that the commitment to support the Government's efforts to prevent stunting is a manifestation of the company's 5C principles, which is to what is good for the community, good for the country, good for the climate, good for the customer, and good for the company.

"The signing of this joint agreement is a form of our commitment in terms of stunting prevention. Through this collaboration with the Regional Government of Pelalawan Regency and Tanoto Foundation, we hope to be able to assist the Government's efforts to reduce stunting rates in Pelalawan Regency. Through this joint effort, we hope to continue to provide benefits to the community, especially those around the company's operational areas," Gatot added.

Asian Agri is a member of the RGE group of companies founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tanoto Foundation is an independent philanthropic organisation, also founded by Sukanto Tanoto and his wife, Tinah Bingei Tanoto.

About Asian Agri:

Asian Agri is one of Indonesia's largest palm oil producers. Founded in 1979, the company today manages 100,000 hectares of plantation land and employs over 20,000 people. A pioneer of the Indonesian government's Trans-National Government Migration (PIR-Trans) program, Asian Agri currently works with 30,000 Plasma Scheme smallholders in Riau and Jambi who operate 60,000 hectares of palm oil plantations, and independent smallholders who manage a total 41,000 hectares.

Implementing a strict "no burn" policy since 1994 and best practices in sustainable plantation management, Asian Agri has helped its smallholder partners improve productivity, yield and supply chain traceability, while assisting them obtain certifications. The company's mills are technologically advanced and energy self-sufficient, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.

All business units of Asian Agri has the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO). Currently, all Asian Agri's plantations in North Sumatra, Riau & Jambi provinces and Plasma Scheme smallholder plantations in Riau & Jambi provinces have been 100% RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certified. In addition, ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) has been achieved by all plantations owned by Asian Agri and the smallholders it supports.

The company's operations are ISO 14001 certified, while its Learning Institute and nursery research center in Pelalawan, Riau province, Indonesia are both ISO 9001 certified. Asian Agri's laboratory at the Center for Research and Development in Tebing Tinggi is accredited by the National Accreditation Committee under the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC MRA).

Source: RGE group of companies
Police in the Cat Hai district of Hai Phong city are currently investigating a case involving a foreign female tourist who has accused a male employee of the Era Hp48xx ship of raping her while the ship was anchored in Lan Ha Bay.

11

The incident was reported on April 9 by the victim, who was born in 2004 and had spent the night on the ship in the Quai To area of Cat Hai district.

According to the victims statement, the alleged rape occurred on the evening of April 8 and involved P.V.H., a male employee of the Era Hp48xx ship who was born in 1989.

The Cat Hai District Police have since invited the victim, P.V.H., and other relevant parties to the district police headquarters for questioning.

The Cat Hai District Peoples Committee has directed the Cat Hai District Police to collaborate with other relevant authorities in order to conduct a thorough investigation in compliance with the law.

Lan Ha Bay is made up of around 300 karst islands and limestone sea rocks and can be found southeast of Cat Ba Island. As a geological extension of Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay is equally as beautiful although it is less visited, less inhabited and therefore has the extra appeal of being a more peaceful place.
Vietnam's ST25 rice exported to the Republic of Vanuatu
Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway



In terms of airways, many airlines have also increased the opening of routes connecting the Southwest with other regions, contributing to creating momentum and promoting trade. Specifically, Bamboo Airways will open a direct flight connecting Ca Mau and Hanoi from April 29. Vietjet also started operating the Can Tho - Van Don route on April 25.

The Mekong Delta consists of 13 provinces and cities, is one of seven major economic regions of Vietnam, and has a lot of potential for agriculture, and industry... Recently, this area has received a lot of attention in infrastructure investment by constructing a system of highways, seaports, and inland waterways, creating a driving force for development for the whole region.Read more:According to the road network plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the Western region will have six expressways with a total length of 1,166 km, with 4-6 lanes. Up to now, the Mekong Delta has been completed and put into operation on a scale of phase one (4 lanes) with a total length of 171 km, including sections of the Ben Luc - Trung Luong expressway (40 km), Trung Luong - My Thuan (51 km), Cao Lanh - Lo Te (29 km) and Lo Te - Rach Soi (51 km).Expected that by the end of this year, the first phase of the My Thuan - Can Tho expressway will be completed (4 lanes, 17 m wide, about 22 km long). When open to traffic, this road will connect with the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong - My Thuan route, helping to shorten the time from Saigon to Tay Do to only 3 hours.Many investors said that convenient transportation not only contributes to stimulating trade and tourism development but also creates good conditions for localities to attract investment, including real estate. In addition to the infrastructure development, the Mekong Delta also has the advantage of a 700 km long coastline, a long border with Cambodia, Thailand, and convenient connections between Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast.According to experts, the real estate market in this area will have more room for growth if there are more deep-water ports, attracting goods near Ho Chi Minh City, and promoting the development of the marine economy.Besides, the land price level in the area is still low, along with the advantage of infrastructure being deployed to help investors have more opportunities to catch the potential price increase.Also read:In recent years, the real estate market here has witnessed the landing of many businesses such as Vingroup, Sovico, KITA Group, Dat Xanh, and SunGroup... Especially, KITA Group is currently the investor in the Star City - Stella Mega City project in Can Tho City (basically completing the base, and handing over some products) and Stella Mega City Phu Hoa in Vinh Long.
Bac Giang earmarks 3.5 billion VND to encourage industry development, Illustrative image (Source: congnghieptieudung.vn)

Bac Giang  The northern province of Bac Giang will earmark 3.5 billion VND (149,250 USD) to activities to facilitate industrial development in the province. The funds have been approved by the provincial Peoples Committee.



The funding will be used to cover technological transfer and the utilisation of cutting-edge machines and science-technology in agro-forestry product processing, food and beverage, support industries in service of garments-textiles, and mechanical and electronic production.



The province will focus on developing typical rural industrial products, improving the management capacity of businesses, raising their awareness of and capacity for clean industrial production, supporting rural industrial facilities in design and packaging, and stepping up the communications work.



This year, it will continue raising the quality and efficiency of industry promotion work with a focus on rural industries based on locally available materials.



The province has boosted the sectors in which it has potential like agro-forestry product processing, handicrafts and construction materials, and urged and supported organisations and inpiduals to participate in rural industrial production, with cleaner technologies.



To bring into full play such industry encouragement projects by 2025, Bac Giang will concentrate on some key sectors that have potential, competitive advantages and the capacity to join the global production network and value chain.



The locality will continue supporting garment-textile and leather sectors, with priorities given to high value-added steps, along with others that employ local labourers.



Priorities will also be given to industries that serve agriculture and rural areas, especially agro-forestry-fishery product processing, and more attention will be paid to both traditional and new craft villages, especially in areas where farming land are revoked or those are home to ethnic minority communities.



The industry encouragement work has significantly contributed to accelerate economic and labour restructuring in rural areas towards industrialisation and modernisation, creating jobs, increasing incomes, reducing poverty, raising cultural and social life in rural areas, and building new rural areas.



In 2022, the total funding for the work in Bac Giang amounted to 5.7 billion VND, with industry encouragement projects focusing on agricultural product preservation, agro-forestry product processing, and mechanical and electronic production.



Meanwhile, during the 2019 -2021 period, Bac Giang rolled out 78 projects and supported more than 100 rural industrial facilities to participate in exhibitions, among other activities.



Bac Giang is also building trademarks for local farm produce with an aim of reaching more markets, toward raising the value of agroforestry to produce export by an average of 8% a year to reach about 200 million USD by 2030, according to the provincial Peoples Committee.



The province now has eight key agricultural products namely Thieu lychee, chicken, pork, citrus fruit, high-quality rice, vegetable, peanuts and fish, 14 typical products and 30 products of good potential. Among them, 40 products have had their trademarks protected. Some have earned geographical indication protection abroad like Luc Ngan lychee is protected in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, the US, Australia and Singapore, Chu and Ke dry rice noodle ares protected in Japan, the RoK, Thailand, and Yen The range chicken in Singapore, China and Laos.



Bac Giang also has 60 products with trademarks and 155 One Commune One Product products meeting three-star standards and above.



The provimce aims to speed up the implementation of public investment projects, especially large-scale and key projects in the second quarter of this year, according to the provincial Peoples Committee.



In March, the province established a number of new industrial complexes with a total investment of more than 1.87 trillion VND (78.2 million USD), according to local authorities.



These new industrial facilities are expected to attract investment in a wide range of sectors, such as electronics, garments and textiles, farm produce processing, supporting industries, and manufacturing.



Under its master plan on improving investment efficiency by 2030, the province will allocate more than 10,000 hectares to industrial development.

Bac Giang welcomes two projects worth $700 million On the first days of 2023, the northern province of Bac Giang is welcoming two projects from Singapore and China with the total investment capital of $760 million.
Seniors set out on road to new horizons

10:05, April 10, 2023 By Xin Wen ( China Daily

A growing number of older people have started learning to drive since the age limit was scrapped.

Zhang Lanying's apartment is always clean and tidy.

It's as typical a home of a Beijing native as one could imagine: an old-fashioned square table adorns the dining room; a wooden bed with railings on three sides stands in the guest room; and when you enter the master room, sunshine spills onto the balcony.

Located near Beijing's East Third Ring Road, Zhang's apartment is on the fifth floor of an old building. However, there is no elevator, so the 69-year-old uses the stairs every day to go grocery shopping or simply take a walk.

In May 2021, she started a new routine: learning to drive at a suburban driving school in the hope of gaining a license.

"I enjoy the feeling of driving, and I take it very seriously. It was almost my proudest moment when I received my driver's license," she said.

Like Zhang, a growing number of Chinese seniors have started learning to drive in recent years, hoping to change their routines and improve their quality of life by learning a new skill in older age.

China has also introduced policy adjustments and reforms specifically for this purpose.

Twelve new public security traffic control measures were rolled out on Nov 22, 2020. In addition, the upper age limit of 70 to apply for a driver's license for small cars  both manual and automatic  and mopeds was scrapped, so anyone in good health can apply as long as they have passed the required tests and conform to more stringent standards than younger people.

Data from the Ministry of Public Security show that in June 2021, China had 16.57 million drivers age 60 and older, a rise of 16.36 percent from the same month the previous year.

China's economic growth and higher living standards in recent decades mean that more seniors now have the opportunity to learn to drive and buy automobiles.

Zhang Lanying, 69, shows her driver's license in Beijing in January. [ WANG ZHUANGFEI/CHINA DAILY]

Driving dreams

Beijing native Liu Fugen fulfilled his youthful driving dream when he decided to learn last year.

To his delight, he passed one of the exams in January. "I always wanted to drive when I was young. But back then I was a soldier and the army only drove Liberation trucks, which were used to transport materials," the 69-year-old said.

When he left the army and began working at a State-owned factory in Beijing's Chaoyang district, he was 23 but he never had an opportunity to drive.

"If you wanted to drive in those days, you needed an introductory letter from your workplace or you would have to find someone influential to explain why you wanted to enroll on a course," he said. "It wasn't easy to learn to drive back then."

During the years of China's planned economy (1953-78), the allocation of resources was decided by the government, and the authorities formulated policies to guide and adjust the direction of economic activity.

Liu recalled that cars didn't become popular in the capital until 1996, while driving schools didn't emerge until about 2000.

In 1992, as the reform and opening-up policy developed, the nation's rapid industrial development put it on a fast track to greater use of private automobiles.

At the end of 1995, the number of registered private cars exceeded 10 million, but by the end of 2017, more than 300 million motor vehicles were registered, and about 150 out of every 1,000 people nationwide were drivers.

Last summer, when a neighbor told Liu that he could learn to drive at a school in the suburbs, his youthful dream was revived.

"I am in my 60s, but in good health," Liu said. "Now, there aren't extra things for me to worry about with my family or work. When I receive my full license and buy a car, I will be able to drive wherever I want, taking my wife along."

Liu signed up with the Eastern Pioneer Driving School in a southwestern suburb at the end of July. He passed the written driving exam in September and the road test on a driving range in November. In October, he drove on a public highway for the first time when he started training for the road tests.

"I felt pretty good during the training for the road tests. The instructor guided me to perform a 90-degree turn into the parking lot, the same maneuver in reverse, and parallel parking. I spent three days practicing in the parking lot and passed the exam without a hitch," he said.

He said he paid 5,300 yuan ($770) for the course  about a month's pension. He is scheduled to complete all the courses in about six months and get a full license.

"It's really good that I have an opportunity to learn at my age," he said.

Zhang practices reversing under the guidance of a driving instructor in January. [ WANG ZHUANGFEI/CHINA DAILY]

Honoring loved ones

Zhang, who got her driver's license in September, didn't get off to a smooth start.

After she signed up with a driving school in May 2021, she took the written exam three times but failed on each occasion. She cried on the way home every time.

To pass the written test, examinees have to score 90 points out of 100.

The pretest study booklet for the exam contains 1,583 questions, consisting of multiple-choice or true-false alternatives, and the test consists of 100 questions randomly selected out of the total.

"I failed my first written test, and cried all the way home on the subway," Zhang said. "When I got home, I began thinking about what I had done wrong and reviewed the content the instructor had told us in class."

During training days, Zhang took the school's shuttle bus at 6:50 am, usually with 70 to 80 mostly younger people and two or three seniors like herself.

Zhang said she likes being with young people and hearing them compliment her.

"When I first waited for the shuttle at the stop, a young woman said hello and invited me to sit with her on the bus. She said I am about the same age as her mother, and she admired me for learning to drive at my age, which made me proud," she said.

She passed an initial road driving test at the fourth attempt, and an advanced road test at the second attempt. In July, she passed the written exam about safe, civilized driving at the first attempt, and got her license in August.

Initially, Zhang's daughter, a nurse at the Peking University People's Hospital, disagreed with her decision, saying it would be too dangerous to drive at her age.

However, Zhang persisted, believing that being able to drive would make life more convenient.

She is competitive and straightforward by nature. She enjoyed singing and dancing when she was young, and has a lot of friends.

After retiring from a State-owned factory at age 45, she landed a job as an assistant financial manager at a real estate company.

Now, she helps out in her community's subdistrict office, and is willing to help whenever neighbors, including security guards, need her assistance.

Her husband, who died of cancer seven years ago, was a professional driver, which is one of the reasons Zhang was interested in learning to drive.

"On Tomb Sweeping Day 2021, when I got home from his grave, I thought 'I want to learn to drive'," she said. "I didn't know when I would get my full license, but I understood that I would have to work hard and be prepared. I was very happy when I got it. If my husband were here, he would be exhilarated and he would definitely congratulate me."

Aging society

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics in January show that 280 million people  19.8 percent of the population  were age 60 or older.

It predicted that by the end of 2035, 300 million people will be age 60 and older, more than 20 percent of the population. That will mean that one in every four Chinese will be a senior.

According to the United Nations standards, a country is defined as "aging" when more than 10 percent of its population is age 60 or older, and "aged" when the proportion is 20 percent or higher. As China's population ages rapidly, every aspect of society will be altered.

Zhang Fu, 36, an instructor for the road test, has been teaching people to drive for 11 years. He said the number of seniors rose after the age restriction was scrapped.

"Since 2020, for every 20 to 30 students, there is always one age 60 or older," he said, adding that teaching older people requires great patience and he often needs to repeat key points.

"Unlike young people, who can remember the content after one or two explanations, older students need more guidance during training. I always need to guide seniors, to equip them with knowledge and skills as they learn step by step."

"Older students are always more anxious when gaining new knowledge. As an instructor, I help them rationalize their feelings in an attempt to study the new skills clearly. As a matter of fact, older people take driving more seriously than younger folk."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Two suspects in the distribution of drug-laced drinks to random high school students in Seoul are escorted by police to enter the Seoul Central District Court to attend their arrest warrant hearings, Monday. Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye



Police have requested the assistance of Chinese authorities in locating two individuals based in China suspected of masterminding the distribution of drinks laced with drugs to high school students in Seoul.



The police suspect that the latest case could be linked to a voice phishing ring based in China, based on an investigation that revealed at least three of the suspects have historical involvement in voice phishing scams.



Police are also considering the possibility that there could have been a higher-ranked mastermind behind the crimes.



According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Monday, investigators are tracking down two suspects based in China  a Korean national in his 20s surnamed Lee and a Chinese national in his 30s surnamed Park, on suspicion that the two ordered a Korea-based suspect surnamed Gil to make and supply drinks laced with illegal drugs.



Lee, who has a history of involvement in voice phishing scams in Korea, went to China last October, according to the police.





A drink containing methamphetamine, which was handed out to random students in Seoul, April 3 / Courtesy of Gangnam Police Station

Gil, who was caught last Friday, testified during questioning that he had made the drug-laced drinks by mixing methamphetamine and milk following the instructions of his friend, Lee, and sent such drinks to Seoul via express buses and delivery services.



The drinks in question were distributed on April 3 to high school students by four other individuals in areas near Gangnam-gu Office Station on Seoul Metro Line 7 and the Suin-Bundang Line, and Daechi Station on Seoul Metro Line 3. Both are crowded with renowned study academies.



The four allegedly offered the drinks for free claiming it was a "tasting event" and tricked students into believing that such drinks were helpful for improving memory and concentration.



The crime ring also allegedly blackmailed the parents of students who consumed the drinks, demanding money to prevent their children from being reported to the police for drug use.



The four individuals claimed that they were just part-time workers hired through the internet and did not know that the drinks were laced with drugs.



According to the police, however, one of the four individuals has a history of involvement in voice phishing scams dozens of times.



The police are investigating another suspect, surnamed Kim, alleging that he masked internet phone numbers coming from China as local mobile phone numbers when blackmailing the parents.



Kim has allegedly specialized in altering phone numbers for voice phishing scam rings and has been connected to prior phishing scams at least 14 times.



During police questioning, Kim denied his connections with the drug-laced drinks, claiming that he was not acquainted with Gil and had believed his work of altering phone numbers would be used only for voice phishing crimes.



The police have sought arrest warrants for Gil and Kim.



The police are expanding their investigation to look into the Kakao IDs used to communicate with the part-time workers who distributed the drinks.



In order to cope with increasing concerns over drug-related crimes, the government will launch an interagency investigation team comprised of personnel from the prosecution, the police, the Korea Customs Service, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.





Senior prosecutor Shin Bong-soo speaks during a media briefing at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Monday, unveiling plans to launch an interagency investigation team to cope with increasing drug-related crimes. Yonhap
A solar park in Kampong Speu province (Photo source: khmertimeskh.com)

Hanoi - The Cambodian government on April 7 approved the construction of five power plants with a total capacity of 520 megawatts.



According to spokesman of the Cambodian government Phay Siphan, the approval was made during a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.



Phay Siphan said the 70-MW Stung Russey Chrum Kandal hydropower plant and the 100-MW Stung Veal Thmor Kambot hydropower plant in Koh Kong province will be combined into a single project.



The remaining projects are solar power plants, namely included a 150-MW station in Pursat province, two 60-MW plants in Kampong Chhnang and Svay Rieng provinces, and an 80-MW plant in Prey Veng province, he added.



The official underlined the importance of these projects in ensuring the sustainable development of the energy sector in Cambodia, saying that they will help produce clean energy, reduce fuel consumption and ensure the protection of the environment, natural resources and climate change.



The Cambodian government will receive a total tax revenue of around 322.8 million USD during the business operation of the five projects.



According to the Electricity Authority of Cambodia (EAC), energy supply in Cambodia rose by 2.6 per cent to 4,495 MW in 2022 compared to a year earlier.

As of 2022, over 98 per cent of the total 14,168 villages in the Southeast Asian nation had access to electricity.
Visitors at the Cu Chi Tunnels relic site in HCM City (Photo: VNA)

HCM City  New tourist destinations, tourism products and services as well as promotion programmes of Ho Chi Minh City were introduced at the 19th HCM City Tourism Festival that concluded on April 9.

This year, visitors to the festival had a chance to join four new pilot tours to explore different corners of the city, including one connecting the city and neighbouring Tay Ninh province.



Phan Dong Nhut from the city's Department of Tourism said that during the District 1- Hoc Mon - Cu Chi - Tay Ninh tour, visitors can experience perse cultural and historical relic sites of the city and Tay Ninh.



Huynh The Vinh, Director of Green Summer International Travel Company Limited, said that the tourism route to the west of the city with connection to Tay Ninh province is a promising tour, optimising Tay Ninhs popular destinations.



He underlined the need for HCM City and Tay Ninh to further enhance the quality of tourism products and services, and design suitable routines to exploit the potential of the destinations, helping promote the growth of other sectors.



Duong Anh Duc, Vice Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee, said that the city will continue to coordinate with other localities to effectively boost tourism development with more joint tourism products and programmes, while working together in preserving and promoting the cultural and historical values of the nation and calling for more investment in the tourism, transportation, trade-service sectors.



In the first quarter of this year, HCM City welcomed 7.5 million domestic visitors and 1.04 million foreign tourists, earning over 36.11 trillion VND (1.54 billion USD), a surge of 77.2% year on year.

HCM City aims to improve efficiency of Overseas Vietnamese affairs The Ho Chi Minh City Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs will continue to renovate itself to further enhance its operational efficiency, thus optimising OVs contributions to the construction and development of the city in the new period, heard a conference held in the city on March 9 to launch the committees tasks in 2023.

HCM City launches first one-stop model for women, children Instead of having to go to many places to seek support, women and children who are victims of violence just need to go to a one-stop model for women and children located at Hung Vuong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for medical care, and psychological and legal counselling.

HCM City sees over 22 per cent rise in FDI inflows in Q1 Ho Chi Minh City has drawn 497.5 million USD of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first three months of this year, up 22.4 per cent year on year, according to the citys Statistics Office.
KTG Industrial breaking ground of the third phase o the Nhon Trach 2 project

Based on the previous success of phases 1 and 2, phase 3 will still include single-storey terraced factory units with the addition of a new double-storey factory block with cargo lift access. This new element in design offers more choices to satisfy tenants' various production setup requirements and improves space usage efficiency.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, Dang Trong Duc, CEO of Boustead & KTG Industrial Management Co. (BKIM) said that KTG Industrial Nhon Trach 2  Nhon Phu was an 18.69ha development comprising of 3 phases.

"The projects phases 1 and 2 have been completed, and almost at full occupancy, all existing tenants have started operation. We are proud to host tenants from various origins, including Germany, China, South Korea... operating in diverse industries such as footwear, electronics, and high-tech thermoplastic, said Duc. Through this project development, we also want to express our bold ambition to improve the quality of overall service experiences, set the highest level of safety and security, and create a green, clean, and beautiful working environment for all tenants.

The development is surrounded by key transportation infrastructure including future Long Thanh International Airport, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau and Ben Luc-Long Thanh highways, Cat Lai Bridge connecting Nhon Trach with seaports, and international airport. It is a 50-minute drive from the Ho Chi Minh City center via the Long Thanh  Dau Giay Expressway, a 45-minute drive from Cat Lai Port and a 50-minute drive from Cai Mep  Thi Vai Port.

Nhon Trach district and its nearby urban areas (Districts 2 and 9, Thu Duc district of Ho Chi Minh City and Bien Hoa city) are home to a total population of over 2.1 million, offering a large labour pool across different skill-sets.

Duong Thi Xuan Nuong, deputy director of Dong Nai Industrial Zones Management Authority said, The project is growing and contributing to enhance the competitiveness of the real estate business market in Dong Nai industrial parks, meet the needs of investors, especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises from many countries, who are looking for locations to implement projects to produce or store their products and goods while the industrial land bank are gradually limited.

KTG Industrial breaking ground of the third phase o the Nhon Trach 2 project

Beside Nhon Trach 2, KTG Industrial also has projects in Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen provinces, as well as other locations in Dong Nai namely Yen Phong 2C, Song Cong 2, An Phuoc, contributing to the existing landbank of approximately 110ha. KTG Industrial aims to be one of the leading industrial real estate platforms in Vietnam.

Most of all factories meet the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards by using renewable energy (roof solar system, energy saving construction with extra insulation on ceiling and skylight panel); clean and modern design with good curb appeal that improves value and impression of overall neighborhood; adopting both VAS and IFRS accounting standards to reach a high level of financial transparency; diversity of employment with equal opportunity-based employment practices (Vietnamese, Singaporean, and South Korean); providing the highest welfare packages to all employees.

KTG starts construction of ready-built factory in Nhon Trach 3B Industrial Centre Khai Toan Group (KTG) has recently begun the construction of a ready-built factory in Nhon Trach 3B Industrial Center in Dong Nai province, featuring its Industry 4.0 factory.

KTG Energy launches free solar power panel offers for businesses The solar power initiative of KTG Energy in industrial zones will save hundreds of thousands of dollars for businesses, as well as give them a chance to find a use for their unused roofs.
A cultural and artistic exchange programme to celebrate the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022. (Photo: VNA)

Vientiane - Major newspapers of Laos on April 10 ran articles highlighting the upcoming official visit by President Vo Van Thuong to Laos, affirming that it will contribute to deepening the Laos  Vietnam special relations.



In its article, Pasaxon - the official newspaper of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) - said the Vietnamese Presidents official visit to Laos from April 10  11 at the invitation of Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith will help strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, and affirm that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing the relations with Laos.



It spotlighted the fruitful development of the bilateral relations, saying that Laos and Vietnam always affirm their responsibility to preserve, protect, and step up their great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, which is increasingly developing in all areas based on the spirit of independence, self-mastery, and equal and win-win cooperation.

Laos and Vietnam are still making their all-out efforts to further develop the bilateral relations across fields of politics, national defence- security, economy, trade, investment, education, and people-to-people exchange; and closely coordinate and support each other in the regional and international arena, it stressed.



The visit is an opportunity for leaders of both sides to discuss and agree on strategies and measures to further promote all-around relations, as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of common concern, it stated.



Meanwhile, PathetLao, a publication of the Laos News Agency KPL, said that the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples are an exemplary relationship that never fades in international relations.



Both Pasaxon and PathetLao noted that the visit aims to strengthen and cultivate the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, nations and peoples.



The relations have become a priceless common asset of the two Parties and nations, and a factor decisive to the victory of each countrys revolution, they emphasised.

Laos shifts gears on electric vehicle promotion Lao government has promoted electric vehicles which it hopes will help minimise fuel imports and ensure energy supply in the country.
Vietnamese people staying in Kiev receive the cash support. (Photo: VNA)

Moscow - The Vietnam Red Cross Society and the Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine have provided cash support to 15 needy Vietnamese inpiduals and households in Kiev, who have been affected by the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Addressing the ceremony to hand over the assistant to recipients in Kiev on April 7, Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thach said that the support is expected to ease the difficulties facing Vietnamese citizens who are still staying in Ukraine amid the conflict.

The diplomat expressed his hope that with the tradition of solidarity and mutual support, the Vietnamese community in Ukraine will soon overcome difficulties and stabilise their.

A representative of the recipients thanked the Vietnam Red Cross Society, compatriots at home and the embassy for the support which is of great help in the current context.
People visit the 44th Bangkok International Motor Show. (Photo source: motoshow.in.th)

Bangkok  Oil prices remain elevated, pushing demand for electric vehicles (EV) in Thailand. This is reflected in the number of orders for EVs at the 44th Bangkok International Motor Show.

Industry Ministry Permanent Secretary Nattapol Rangsitpol said the show held from March 20 to April 2 with the participation of 40 automobile and motorcycle makers attracted 1.62 million visitors.

At the event, over 42,880 automobiles were ordered, an increase of 34.45% compared with the figure at the last year's show. Notably, 21.53% of all automobile orders, or over 9,230 ones, were EVs.

Nattapol said EVs have gained more popularity due to supporting measures from the government that brought EV prices down. Meanwhile, consumers now have greater confidence in EV standards. Automakers have also been launching a perse range of new EV models and carrying out sales promotion campaigns for EVs.

He said that the Ministry of Industry has provided the EV industry with supportive factors, for example, the establishment of standards associated with all types of EVs, including those for cars, pickup trucks, buses, cargo trucks, motorcycles, and tricycles. Standards were also established for batteries and charging stations. A total of 128 standards were established in all.

The ministry also developed the Automotive and Tyre Testing, Research and Innovation Center (ATTRIC)  the first of its kind in the ASEAN region - to improve automobile standards, facilitate research on automobile performance and support the testing of prototypes.

Nattapol said the ministry has also worked with relevant agencies to lay down a vision for Thailand to become a major electric vehicles and parts manufacturing centre.

Thailand targets to produce 725,000 electric automobiles per year by 2030, accounting for 30% of the countrys automobile production, Nattapol said, adding that it will add no less than 200 billion baht (nearly 6 billion USD) of value to the economy.

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.

Thailand: Chiang Mai suffers from serious fine-dust pollution 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.
The two sides at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Ministerial Declaration on starting negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between the two nations right after Vietnam completed its procedures.

The signing took place after a meeting between Dien and Al Zeyoudi during the Vietnamese minister's working visit to the UAE from April 5-6.

During the meeting, the Vietnamese official said the two countries can start their negotiations on CEPA after the draft terms of reference (TOR) of the agreement is agreed and approved by authorised agencies.



Dien spoke highly of opportunities that the CEPA can bring for both countries, in the context of Vietnam having become a manufacturing hub for many important commodities in the region and the world, while the UAE has many strengths as a transshipment port and financial and logistics centre. The combination of strengths of the two sides will create a momentum for growth in their trade and investment ties in the coming time, he said.

The minister affirmed that the UAE is Vietnam's largest trading partner in the Middle East - North Africa regions, noting that ample room remains for the two countries to tap the potential of their economies that have complementary strengths.



He suggested the two sides strengthen the exchange of all-level delegations and business delegations to explore cooperation opportunities, especially in the field of trade and investment.



Dien also proposed management agencies of Vietnam and the UAE study and promote the establishment of a cooperation mechanism for Halal certification to facilitate the trade in agricultural products between the two countries.



Agreeing with the proposals of the Vietnamese official, Al Zeyoudi said his country wishes to expand economic cooperation with Vietnam and always considers Vietnam its important economic partner.



The UAE's leaders have also given instructions on starting negotiations on the CEPA as soon as Vietnam completes procedures, he noted, adding not only the Ministry of Foreign Trade, but many ministries and sectors in charge of fields such as energy, industry, and logistics services of the UAE have all backed the negotiation, signing and implementation of the CEPA.



Also during the visit, Minister Dien held a meeting with the UAE's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei.



Dien informed his host on Vietnam's wish to cooperate more closely with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in not only traditional energy, but also new and renewable energy development.



He proposed that the two sides sign a new MoU on energy cooperation, adding that Vietnam will create favourable conditions for UAE partners to cooperate with Vietnam in oil and gas exploitation. He suggested considering the possibility of investing in building a centre for transshipment and storage of crude oil and petrochemical products in Vietnam to provide for the Asian region.



Dien also asked the UAE side to study investment opportunities in power transmission infrastructure in Vietnam and support Vietnam in training human resources in this field.



Agreeing with Diens proposals, Al Mazrouei stressed that there is great potential for the two countries to step up their cooperation.



The UAE has been researching, negotiating and signing many FTAs with important partners like Vietnam, he said, adding that the UAE government hopes the two countries can sign an FTA this year.



The UAE wants to partner with Vietnam in the fields of power transmission, power generation, food security, healthcare, infrastructure, construction, and port management, the official said.

UAE vows 'responsible' artificial intelligence rollout The world's first minister for artificial intelligence says the United Arab Emirates isn't only looking for economic benefits as it seeks to become a leading nation in the sector.

Vietnams U23 to play friendly with UAE The U23 Vietnam team will play a friendly with the United Arab Emirates (UAE)s U23 team on May 28.

US, UAE announce clean energy partnership worth $100 bn Funds will also go toward supporting "emerging economies whose clean development is both underfunded and essential to the global climate effort," the statement said.
The event was chaired by Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung and was attended by the ministrys departments, ICT companies, and leaders of the media.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung chaired the meeting

According to the ministrys report, revenue of the industry in March was estimated to hit $14.15 billion), up 30 per cent on-month, thus increasing its total revenue to $23.85 billion in the first quarter, down 3 per cent on-year, and meeting 20 per cent of the yearly target.

The industrys state budget contribution was estimated at $385.65 million in March, up 10 per cent on-month, and $1.06 billion in the first quarter, up 9 per cent on-year.

The growth rate of the digital economy in the first quarter of 2023 was 13.6 per cent, an increase of 3.99 per cent compared to the end of 2022. The proportion of the digital economy to GDP in the first quarter of 2023 was 14.62 per cent.

Representatives of businesses and associations discussed possible problems of the proposal to apply excise tax on online games; universalisation of network information security services for the whole population; promoting the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem in Vietnam; and the development of the e-commerce market in Vietnam.

In the upcoming months, the minister set out tasks for the industry to make good results in 2023. Accordingly, enterprises that have cooperation with ministries, agencies, and localities must pay attention to re-evaluate the IT systems of ministries and localities to propose upgrading, ensuring connection, sharing of data and quality of online public services.

The year 2023 will be used by AI to create virtual assistants, contribute experts in fields, businesses and organisations. Minister Hung noted, 2023 is the year to promote quality in all activities, not only laws, but also the quality and sustainability of digital infrastructure. It is the year of data. It is necessary to clarify the content, assign tasks to units of the ministry, other ministries, agencies and localities."

Taxes and emissions among growing digital concerns The digital economy in Vietnam has strong growth potential, but faces a number of significant hurdles, including losses in tax revenue, infrastructure challenges, and vast carbon emissions.

Nokia laying groundwork for Vietnams digital economy With over three decades of experience in ICT spanning across different countries, Nokia Vietnam general manager Ruben Moron Flores shared his insights with VIRs Hong Giang regarding Nokias plan to bolster the data centre market and ICT infrastructure in Vietnam.

Supporting the digital economy space The first few months of 2023 have not been easy for digital economy companies and investors who fund them. Eric Johnson, counsel at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, pores over the critical issues and trends that will affect Vietnams digital space.

Greener, faster, smarter digital plans Various experts have explained how Vietnam can be smarter, greener, and more efficient in its digital overhaul, with an eye towards sustainability.
Former dictator Chun Doo-hwan's grandson Woo-won listens to his mother's testimony about the secret safe filled with cash over the phone in this episode of "Curious Story Y" aired on SBS last Friday. Captured from Internet



By Lee Hae-rin



Ex-President Chun Doo-hwan's former daughter-in-law joined her son in revealing the late dictator's criminal and fraudulent activities, testifying that Chun and his wife kept a giant secret safe filled with cash as well as an art piece worth more than $1 million at their residence.



During a phone call with her son, Chun Woo-won, in an episode of "Curious Story Y" aired on SBS, Friday, Choi described the secret safe of the late former dictator.



According to Choi, former First Lady Lee Sun-ja had a long corridor of closets on both sides of the wall, one of which hid a door to a secret safe.



"Like a huge safe at a bank, it had a metal handle," Choi recalled, explaining the secret safe was about the size of her bedroom and was filled with cash.





Chun Woo-won maps out his grandfather's house on a tablet to describe the location of the secret safe in an episode of "Curious Story Y" aired on SBS, Friday. Captured from Internet
Vintage Aviation News staff did not write this article; the content comes via our partners who wish to help $upport our website.

Military aviation has been a male-dominated field since its inception, but women have been integral to its development and success since the very beginning. From World War I to the present day, women have served as pilots, mechanics, engineers, and more, battling discrimination and paving the way for future generations of female aviators.

The First Women in Aviation

The first woman to receive a pilots license was French aviator Raymonde de Laroche in 1910. It would be several years before women were allowed to join military aviation. During World War I, women were not allowed to serve as pilots, but they did play important roles as nurses, mechanics, and administrators. One notable example was the Womens Royal Air Force (WRAF) in Britain, which was formed in 1918 and allowed women to work in various roles, including mechanics and drivers.

It wasnt until World War II that women were given the opportunity to serve as pilots in military aviation. In 1942, the United States formed the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), a group of civilian female pilots who were trained to fly military aircraft.

The WASPs

The WASPs flew a variety of planes, including fighters and bombers, and were responsible for ferrying aircraft from factories to military bases, towing targets for gunnery practice, and performing other non-combat missions. Although they were not officially part of the military and did not receive the same benefits as male pilots, the WASPs played a vital role in the war effort, freeing up male pilots for combat duty.

Despite their contributions, the WASPs faced discrimination and were not always treated as equals to their male counterparts. They were not allowed to wear military uniforms, and when a WASP pilot died in a plane crash, her family was not entitled to a flag or a military burial. It wasnt until 1977 that the WASPs were finally recognized as veterans and granted military benefits.

After World War II

After the war, opportunities for women in military aviation continued to expand. In 1974, the U.S. Air Force opened its pilot training program to women, and the first female Air Force pilots graduated in 1977. In 1993, the military lifted its ban on women serving in combat roles, paving the way for women to become fighter pilots and other combat aviators.

Today, women serve in a wide range of roles in military aviation, from pilots to mechanics to air traffic controllers. In 1993, the U.S. Navy named its first female carrier air wing commander, Captain Rosemary Mariner. And in 2015, the first female fighter pilot was selected to fly the F-35 Lightning II, one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world.

Despite these advances, women still face challenges in military aviation. They are often underrepresented in leadership roles, and they may face sexism and discrimination from male colleagues. Additionally, the physical demands of military aviation, such as the need to lift heavy equipment and work in cramped spaces, can be especially challenging for women.

However, women continue to prove that they are up to the task. In 2011, the first combat mission performed and planned entirely by women was led by Lieutenant Colonel Christine Mau. And in 2015, a team of female U.S. Marine Corps pilots became the first all-female crew to fly a combat mission in an F/A-18 fighter jet.

In conclusion, the history of women in military aviation is one of perseverance and determination. From the early pioneers who fought for the right to fly to the female fighter pilots of today, women have shown that they are just as capable and skilled as their male counterparts. While there are still challenges to be overcome, women in military aviation continue to break barriers and pave the way for future generations.

If you are passionate about military aviation, you can find a partner that will share your interest. For example, you can meet Ukrainian women for marriage that are also interested in this topic.

Vintage Aviation News staff did not write this article; the content comes via our partners who wish to help $upport our website.
WAVERLY  The Waverly Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors recently presented a local business with a Progress Award and held a ribbon cutting for a new business in Waverly, presenting it with a First Dollar Award.

The Ambassadors presented Flourish Beauty Co. at 207 W. Bremer Ave. with a Progress Award to celebrate its move to this new location in December. Flourish had previously been in business at another location in town before renovating this space as well as adding a new stylist. Find more information about Flourish at its Facebook page.

The Ambassadors presented Justin Henry, owner of the Henry ESP, with a First Dollar Award and held a ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of the business at 195 20th St. N.W., Suite C. The location opened in July 2022 and he provides screen printing as well as embroidery services. Henry ESP is also one of the newest members of the Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit its website at www.henryesp.com.

Scenes from the 2023 White House Easter Egg Roll
MONDAY, April 10, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued another warning about certain sleep apnea machines made by Philips Respironics.

Already the subject of a 2021 recall, some of the company's repaired continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines may still be dangerous to use, the agency said in an alert issued Friday.

"The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall," the agency said. "Use of these devices may cause serious injuries or death."

The original problem with some of the machines was that foam that is meant to dull noise was breaking off from inside the machine and going into the mouths of people using the unit for sleep apnea. Inhaling the foam can cause "serious injury, which can be life-threatening," Philips noted in its original recall notice.

The latest issue with some of the machines is that the company gave repaired machines the wrong or duplicate serial numbers, the latest FDA alert said. That may lead to the devices delivering the wrong prescription to sleep apnea patients. If receiving the wrong prescription, patients may not receive any CPAP benefits.

"Incorrect therapy or therapy failure may lead several health conditions such as respiratory failure, heart failure, serious injury and death," the FDA added.

Philips Friday statement acknowledged the repair issues, including that a "limited amount [1,200] of remediated first-generation DreamStation CPAP devices had been incorrectly programmed with either an incorrect serial number or a duplicate serial number."

The company is notifying patients if their machines may provide them with the wrong prescriptions.

"To date, we are more than halfway with the shipments of replacement devices to patients," the company said.

The FDA has tracked complaints numbering 98,000 since the 2021 recall. People have reported having respiratory problems, pneumonia, dizziness, chest pain, infections and cancer.

In addition, the company has been sued by dozens of sleep apnea patients, CBS News reported.

The company said it has received 43 complaints about the repaired machines. No one has reported injury or death.

Sleep apnea affects about 30 million Americans. It causes blocked airways during rest and interrupts breathing.

More than 20 different Philips devices have been recalled, including the A-Series BiPAP ventilators, the DreamStation CPAP machines and the Trilogy 100 and 200 style ventilators.

More information

The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more on sleep apnea.

SOURCE: CBS News
Eighteen months after April Adcox learned she had skin cancer, she finally returned to Charlestons Medical University of South Carolina last May to seek treatment.

By then, the reddish area along her hairline had grown from a 2-inch circle to cover nearly her entire forehead. It oozed fluid and was painful.

Honestly, I was just waiting on it to kill me, because I thought thats what was going to have to happen, said the 41-year-old mother of three, who lives in Easley, South Carolina.

Adcox had first met with physicians at the academic medical center in late 2020, after a biopsy diagnosed basal cell carcinoma. The operation to remove the cancer would require several physicians, she was told, including a neurosurgeon, because of how close it was to her brain.

But Adcox was uninsured. She had lost her automotive plant job in the early days of the pandemic, and at the time of her diagnosis was equally panicked about the complex surgery and the prospect of a hefty bill. Instead of proceeding with treatment, she attempted to camouflage the expanding cancerous area for more than a year with hats and long bangs.

If Adcox had developed breast or cervical cancer, she likely would have qualified for insurance coverage under a federal law that extends Medicaid eligibility to lower-income patients diagnosed with those two malignancies. For female patients with other types of cancer, as well as pretty much all male patients, the options are scant, especially in South Carolina and the 11 other states that havent yet implemented Medicaid expansion, according to cancer physicians and health policy experts who study access to care.

In the face of potentially daunting bills, uninsured adults sometimes delay care, which can result in worse survival outcomes, research shows. The odds of patients getting insurance to help cover the cost of treatment play out a bit like a game of roulette, depending upon where they live and what type of cancer they have.

It is very random  thats, I think, the heartbreaking part about it, said Dr. Evan Graboyes, a head and neck surgeon and one of Adcoxs physicians. Whether you live or die from cancer shouldnt really be related to what state you live in.

The Affordable Care Act gave states the option to expand Medicaid eligibility and cover more people. Shortly after the law passed, just 2.6% of adults ages 18 to 64 with a new cancer diagnosis lacked insurance in Medicaid expansion states versus 7.8% in nonexpansion states, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology in 2018. Researchers at the American Cancer Society, who conducted the analysis, estimate that about 30,000 uninsured people are diagnosed with cancer each year.

But in all states, lower-income uninsured patients with breast or cervical cancer may have another route for coverage, even if they dont otherwise qualify for Medicaid. Adults with cancer detected through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program can enroll in Medicaid for the duration of their cancer treatment, as a result of advocacy efforts and federal legislation that started more than three decades ago.

In 2019, 43,549 breast and cervical cancer patients were enrolled, according to a Government Accountability Office report published in 2020.

If youre lucky to be diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, youre good, said Dr. Fumiko Chino, a radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, who studies cancer treatment access and affordability. But otherwise, you may have some significant obstacles.

The total amount billed to the insurer during the year following a cancer diagnosis can be steep. For instance, costs in 2016 averaged $168,730 for lung cancer and $137,663 for colorectal cancer, according to a 2022 study that calculated insurance claims for several common malignancies diagnosed in privately insured patients.

Since uninsured adults can struggle to afford preventive care, their cancer may not be identified until its more advanced, making it costlier for the patient and the health system, said Robin Yabroff, an author of the study in JAMA Oncology and a scientific vice president at the American Cancer Society.

Patients who cant get financial assistance through a safety-net facility sometimes rack up medical debt, use credit cards, or launch fundraising efforts though online sites, Yabroff said. We hear stories of people who mortgage their homes to pay for cancer treatment.

Cancer patients can purchase insurance through the ACA health insurance marketplace. But they often must wait until the regular enrollment period near the end of the year, and those health plans dont become effective until the start of the next calendar year.

Thats because the federal law was designed to encourage people to sign up when they are healthy, which helps control costs, said MaryBeth Musumeci, an associate teaching professor of health policy and management at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. If a new diagnosis were a qualifying event for new coverage, she said, then it would incentivize people to stay uninsured while they were healthy and they didnt think they really were going to need coverage.

Meanwhile, the on-ramp to Medicaid coverage for lower-income patients with breast and cervical cancer is a story of successful advocacy, dating to a 1990 law that created the national breast and cervical screening program. Mammography started to be widely recommended in the 1980s, and advocacy groups pushed to reach more underserved individuals, said Katie McMahon, a policy principal at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the organizations advocacy arm.

But research showed that some uninsured adults struggled to get care for those cancers detected through the screening program, McMahon said. A 2000 law allowed states to extend Medicaid to them, and by 2008 all 50 states and the District of Columbia had done so, according to the 2020 GAO report.

For other cancer patients, one of the remaining avenues to coverage, according to Chino, is to qualify for disability through the Social Security Administration, after which they can apply for Medicaid. The federal agency has a lengthy list of criteria for cancer patients. It also has a Compassionate Allowances program, which offers faster reviews for patients with certain serious medical conditions, including advanced or aggressive cancers.

Although the rules vary, many patients dont qualify until their disease has spread or the cancer requires at least a year of intense treatment, Chino said. That presents an inherent catch-22 for people who are uninsured but have curable types of cancer, she said.

To qualify for Medicaid, I have to wait for my cancer to be incurable, she said, which is very depressing.

For example, the Compassionate Allowances program doesnt list basal cell carcinoma, and it covers head and neck cancer only if it has spread elsewhere in the body or cant be removed surgically.

Adcox said that before her 12-hour operation last June, her financial assistance application with the Medical University of South Carolina was still pending. Someone from the hospital, she recalled, estimated the bill would be $176,000 and asked how much Adcox could put down. She cobbled together $700 with the help of loved ones.

But she did qualify for financial assistance and hasnt received any bills, except from an outside lab services provider. Its over, Adcox said. Shes since undergone radiation and will have more reconstructive surgeries. But shes cancer-free. It didnt kill me. It didnt kill me.

Still, not everyone finds a safety net.

Brian Becker, of El Paso, Texas, was uninsured and not working when he learned he had chronic myelogenous leukemia in summer 2021, said Stephanie Gamboa, his ex-wife and the mother of their young daughter. His cancer physician required an upfront payment, she said, and it took several months to borrow enough money.

He started chemotherapy the following year, and over months lost weight and became weaker, returning to the emergency room with infections and worsening kidney function, Gamboa said. The last time their daughter saw her father, he couldnt get out of bed. He was literally skin and bones, Gamboa said.

Becker started the process to request disability benefits. The text he sent Gamboa, which she shared with KHN, stated that review of his application began in June 2022 and was expected to take six months.

The denial letter, dated Feb. 4, 2023, arrived more than a month after Beckers death in December at age 32. It read in part: Based on a review of your medical conditions, you do not qualify for benefits on this claim.

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.

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This story can be republished for free (details).
MONDAY, April 10, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Not everyone wants children, and that number is higher than you might think, a new poll shows.

More than 1 in 5 Michigan adults aren't really interested in becoming parents, a number that initially surprised researchers so much that they repeated the study and found the number who didnt want kids was essentially the same the second time around.

We found that 20.9% of adults in Michigan do not want children, which closely matches our earlier estimate of 21.6%, and means that over 1.6 million people in Michigan are child-free, said study co-author Jennifer Watling Neal, a professor of psychology at Michigan State University (MSU).

Michigan is demographically similar to the United States as a whole, so this could mean 50 million to 60 million Americans are child-free," she said in a university news release.

The second study used a new sample of 1,000 people who completed MSUs State of the State Survey. This was conducted by the universitys Institute for Public Policy and Social Research.

Many adults are child-free, and there do not seem to be differences by age, education or income, said study co-author Zachary Neal, an associate professor of psychology at MSU. However, being child-free is somewhat more common among adults who identify as male, white or who have always been single.

Although some have expressed concern that childless adults will later regret the decision not to have children, Watling Neal explained: We found no evidence that older child-free adults experience any more life regret than older parents. In fact, older parents were slightly more likely to want to change something about their life.

Child-free people warrant more attention, particularly as reproductive rights are being eroded, the study authors said.

States restrictions on reproductive health care may result in many people being forced to have children despite not wanting them, which is very concerning," Neal said.

The findings were published April 5 in PLOS ONE.

More information

The Pew Research Center has more on people without children in the U.S.

SOURCE: Michigan State University, news release, April 5, 2023
The extra federal money comes through an obscure, complicated mechanism called directed payments  available only for states that hire health insurers to deliver services for Medicaid.

Its not Medicaid expansion, which Georgia Republican leaders have rejected. Instead, the state Department of Community Health is using an under-the-radar Medicaid funding opportunity that has been rapidly taken up by more than 35 states  including most of the states that have expanded the government insurance program.

Emanuel Medical Center in rural Georgia racks up more than $350,000 a month in losses providing health care for low-income and uninsured patients. But a new state funding proposal could significantly reduce those deficits, not just for the 66-bed Swainsboro facility but for most rural hospitals in Georgia, according to state Medicaid officials.

In 2020, these special funding streams, which are approved by federal health officials, sent more than $25 billion to states, according to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), which advises Congress.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, when asked for an updated total, referred KHN to individual states for their spending figures. CMS has not publicly published total spending related to state directed payments, said agency spokesperson Bruce Alexander.

But the Government Accountability Office, Congress watchdog agency, and MACPAC say federal health officials should do more to monitor directed payments and evaluate whether states meet the programs goals, which include improved access and quality of care. More transparency is needed, these agencies said.

A MACPAC report last year found that fewer than 25% of directed payment plans running for at least a year had evaluations available for review.

Federal health officials are getting a lot of questions on directed payments from GAO and MACPAC, said Debra Lipson, a senior fellow at consulting firm Mathematica, which has studied the issue. Its a lot of money.

CMS hasnt yet released reports on quality metrics for the program, Lipson added.

Alexander, the CMS spokesperson, said the agency takes our role in oversight and transparency seriously, and we are working collaboratively with our federal and state partners to improve our oversight and transparency of directed payments.

Medicaid is the government health insurance program for low-income and disabled patients. Its jointly financed by the states and the federal government.

CMS launched the directed payments program in 2016. Georgia officials estimated the state will net $1 billion in federal funds this fiscal year for hospitals and other medical providers through its directed payment programs.

California estimates it brought in more than $6 billion just last year in new federal funds through directed payments. Arizona received $4.3 billion between 2018 and 2022. Florida netted more than $1 billion over a 12-month period ending in September.

This special Medicaid funding may indirectly help patients by strengthening financial stability for hospitals, along with offering the potential for capital improvements from the added cash infusions.

But patient advocates and Democratic lawmakers in Georgia said providing insurance coverage for the medical needs of the uninsured by adopting Medicaid expansion is more urgent. Hospitals, like Emanuel Medical Center, would benefit from Medicaid reimbursements for patients who now often rack up unpaid bills for care.

The uninsured are not going to get preventive care, and that drives up health care costs, said state Sen. Elena Parent, an Atlanta-area Democrat. The state should have expanded Medicaid.

That expansion is not going to happen in Georgia in the short run, as Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is set to launch new limits on Medicaid enrollment for low-income adults, with work requirements attached.

Under directed payments, added funding for hospitals and other Medicaid medical providers flows through different avenues, including minimum fees for services, a general reimbursement increase, and pay hikes based on quality of care.

Payments are based on the volume of services delivered. If one hospital served more Medicaid patients than another, its reimbursements would be higher, Lipson said.

CMS initially was surprised by the volume of states directed payment proposals, said Lipson. Some states have 25 or more, she added. They must be renewed annually. Often states finance their portion through hospital assessments or money transferred from public funds, such as hospital authorities, county governments, and state agencies.

Georgia has five such directed payment plans. Their goals include boosting Medicaid pay for hospitals and doctors, strengthening the health care workforce, and improving health outcomes and equity, said Caylee Noggle, commissioner of the state Department of Community Health, which runs Medicaid in Georgia.

Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, a large safety-net provider, said it expects to gain $139 million across four of the Georgia programs.

Its a tremendous benefit for us, said Ryan Loke, Gradys chief health policy officer. Without this money, Grady would be in a lot worse position.

Grady is seeing more Medicaid and uninsured patients who formerly used nearby Atlanta Medical Center, which closed last year.

State Sen. Ben Watson, a physician and Savannah-area Republican, pointed out that such safety-net hospitals, which serve a large portion of people who lack health coverage, are getting higher pay through Medicaid directed payments, thus helping them cover some losses.

Georgia plans to use these funding streams as a base for extending extra help to rural hospitals.

With the extra payments, Grady and other hospitals will approach or reach their normal funding limit for hospitals that serve a disproportionate share of indigent patients. The state would take about $100 million of this excess money and send it to rural hospitals.

The Georgia Hospital Association said the directed payment money is helpful but wont cover costs of charity care for the uninsured.

Theyre not looking at [hospitals] bad debt, said Anna Adams, an executive with the group. An insured patient is a healthier patient. Wed love to see as many people covered as possible.

Officials at rural hospitals in Georgia, meanwhile, are looking forward to the projected boost in Medicaid funds.

Its going to put cash in the coffers of rural hospitals that are struggling, said Jimmy Lewis, CEO of HomeTown Health, an association of rural hospitals in the state.

Damien Scott, CEO of Emanuel Medical Center, said hes cautiously optimistic about the coming allocation. On his wish list: attracting a pediatrician to his county  it has none currently  and gaining the space to move the hospitals lone MRI machine from a truck into the hospital building.

As it is, he said, we struggle every month for our survival.

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.

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This story can be republished for free (details).
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, has invalidated the FDAs two-decade-old approval of mifepristone, part of a drug regimen used in medication abortion. The order will take effect on April 14, unless an appeals court or the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes.

In Washington state, U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice, appointed by former President Barack Obama, directed the FDA not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in 17 states and the District of Columbia, where Democrats sued to protect its availability.

The conflicting rulings are all but assured to wind up before the Supreme Court.

KHN senior correspondent Sarah Varney joined PBS NewsHours Ali Rogin to discuss the language in both decisions and what they portend for the future of abortion rights in the United States.

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.

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This story can be republished for free (details).
WATERLOO  The Courier is celebrating the Cedar Valleys Top Nurses for the fifth consecutive year.

Nursing is an essential profession that requires skill, knowledge, dedication and commitment to providing exemplary service in caring for patients. Cedar Valley nurses are on the front lines each day, providing specialized care and comfort to their patients.

For 2023, 10 nurses have been selected as the Cedar Valleys Top Nurses. They were nominated by co-workers, friends and family members. Last years winners came from every corner of the nursing field, representing local hospitals, clinics and more. That is true again in 2023, as well.

An independent panel of judges selected nine nurses for the annual honor, and readers chose the 10th nurse.

Judges were Dr. Shawn Buhrow, MSN, BSN, RN, American Sentinel College of Nursing at Post University; Dana Clasen, DNP, MSN-ED, RN, professor at Allen College of Nursing and director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, Allen College-UnityPoint Health; and Troy A. Moran Sr., Ed.D, dean of Sciences and Health Sciences, Hawkeye Community College.

The Courier is grateful for their expertise and professionalism.

The 2023 Cedar Valley Top Nurses are:

Allie Boyle, MercyOne-Waterloo Medical Center.

Andrea Burgart, Cedar Valley Hospice, Readers Choice winner.

Danette Christiansen, Harmony Waterloo (formerly ProMedica).

Christiara Deese, Care Initiatives Inc.

Salem Fauser, Black Hawk County Health Department.

Sarah Kutz, UnityPoint-Allen Hospital.

Jake Powers, MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center.

Carol Ratchford, MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center.

Tina Styron, UnityPoint-Allen Hospital.

Amanda Vervaecke, UnityPoint Wound Clinic.

The Cedar Valley Top Nurses will be honored at luncheon at 11:30 a.m. May 10 at the Diamond Event Center, 5307 Caraway Drive, Cedar Falls. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at go.wcfcourier.com/nursesluncheon. Deadline for purchasing tickets is April 30; tickets will not be sold at the door.

Honorees will be profiled in a special publication in The Courier on Sunday, May 7.

Sponsors for the 2023 Cedar Valley Top Nurses are NewAldaya Lifescapes, Western Home Communities, MercyOne, UnityPoint Health, Cedar Valley Hospice and the Courier Media Group.

Photos: The Couriers 2022 Top Cedar Valley Nurses celebration Nurses Event 1 Nurses Event 2 Nurses Event 3 Nurses Event 4 Nurses Event 5 Nurses Event 6 Nurses Event 7 Nurses Event 8 Nurses Event 9 Nurses Event 10 Nurses Event 11 Nurses Event 12 Nurses Event 13 Nurses Event 14 Nurses Event 15
WATERLOO  Delicate insects drift and dance on filament threads in the wake of a gentle air current stirred by a closing door. These flighty wings, made of screen and twigs fastened together with copper wire, cast shadows against a pale, gossamer backdrop.

In Joan Webster-Vores hanging art installation, the wings and ghosts represent the declining population of damselflies and dragonflies. Her work is featured in the From Above exhibition now open in the gallery at Hawkeye Community Colleges Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center.

Shadow is imperative, Webster-Vore said. I think of the elusive quality of insects appearing and disappearing and the declining insect and bird populations. About 16% of dragonflies are at risk of extinction, part of the diminishing food chain that feeds birds and other species.

The exhibition also features the artists series of ethereal, graceful watercolors of the California coastline and water she painted while looking down from a high sea cliff.

Webster-Vore is one of four artists whose work shares similar perspective and synergy in From Above. The exhibit also features Thomas Payne, art professor and photographer at Wartburg College in Waverly, Scott Robert Hudson, Cedar Falls artist and curator, and Katie Walberg, a Cedar Falls artist known for her whimsical and structural landscapes.

The gallery will be the setting for a closing reception for the Cedar Valley Arts Summit on April 28. Hosted by the arts advocacy organization Limelight, the event is at 5 p.m. and is open to the public. A kombucha tasting is planned and hors doeuvres will be served.

The four-person show grew out of an invitation to Webster-Vore from HCCs curator Lindsay Buehler. She approached me because I do a lot of installation work. At the same time, Scott had initiated a conversation among the four of us about having a group show. Each artists work is distinctly different, but we complement each other, and there is a commonality that we share in our work, Webster-Vore explained.

Hudson pulled the thread, Buehler said, that stitched together the connection between these particular artists and their work in various media and their approach to the idea of seeing things from above or from a height. Im amazed at how well their points of view work and speak to each other.

Hudson agreed that there is authentic chemistry between our work and our personalities. Joan came home from California with her series of watercolors. I knew Thomas was experimenting with drone photographer, and Katie takes a birds-eye view of urban and agricultural environments with a great sense of humor.

His own work builds on aerial views of the Blythe Intaglios, giant geo-glyphs found on the California side of the Colorado River discovered in a 1932 airplane fly-over. The artist incorporates pictographic Mars Rover Traverse Maps to suggest great geographic distance and time.

Paynes pieces are beautiful, detailed and dramatic abstractions of Iowa land surface, including the Wapsipinicon River flood plain, created using drone photography. He has two drones, but his process is more about stretching the cameras ability, as well as his own skill at capturing compelling images from various heights and angles.

Its interesting to see things from a different perspective. Normally the photography I do is not abstract, so Im going into a new way of dealing with photography, Payne explained.

Im trying to understand what makes a good abstract photograph, Payne said. There is no concept or idea behind it  its just abstract.

Walberg pointed out a second unifying theme in their art. Were looking from an aerial viewpoint, but were also thinking about a larger picture concerning the environmental effects, a large range of conditions that affects our lives in many different ways, she said.

The Cedar Falls artist creates outlandish exaggerated everyday environments in 2D and 3D, manipulating physical structures, power grids, landscape, roadways and other signs of urban sprawl along with playful elements, such as a potted plant on a doorstep or a solitary green tree surrounded by concrete. Several exquisitely detailed 3D landscapes are contained inside glass domes.

I love those  theyre like little specimens that can be studied, Walberg said. I feel like Im still exploring where I can go with this.

The gallery is on the third floor at the center located at 120 Jefferson St., Waterloo.

Ludicrous Landscapes by Katie Walbert katie walberg artwork .jpg 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-09 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-06 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-07 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-08 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-01 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-02 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-03 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-04 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-05
In this photo taken on April 4, Cho Mi-eun, left, and her husband Lee Jong-chul, whose 24-year-old son Lee Ji-han (pictured in framed photo) was killed during a Halloween crowd crush in the popular Itaewon district in October last year, pose for a photo with their daughter Lee Ga-young in front of Jong-chul's bedroom at their family home in Seoul. AFP-Yonhap



First, he lost his child in Seoul's Halloween crowd crush. Then came a torrent of online abuse, upending his family's once-private life and making him an internet-wide figure of mockery.



In October, Lee Jong-chul's 24-year-old son was among more than 150 people killed in the disaster in the city's popular Itaewon district. Grief-stricken, he spoke to media, pleading with Korean politicians to take action.



Then, as has happened after incidents from the Sandy Hook mass shooting to the disappearance of British woman Nicola Bulley, an internet mob formed: Lee and his family's personal tragedy was mocked, belittled and misrepresented online.



From photos doctored to show Lee laughing after being offered compensation to attempts to link him to North Korea  two viral posts debunked by AFP digital verification reporters  he and his family have become a virtual punching bag on Korean-language forums.



"It's unspeakable what some of these comments say," said Lee's daughter Ga-young, adding that the sheer volume of abuse was "overwhelming", with any news report on them attracting hundreds of comments, almost exclusively negative, in minutes.



At their apartment in Goyang city just outside Seoul, the family's late son Lee Ji-han's bedroom has not been touched since he last walked out on Oct. 29, 2022. His clothes still hang on the door where he left them, the book he was reading lies on his bed.



"That day changed our lives forever," his mother Cho Mi-eun told AFP, saying she still listens to old voicemail messages just to hear her son's voice.



"Every night Ji-han's father goes out to wait for him, for hours sometimes.



He says he's going out to smoke, but we know he's waiting for Ji-han," she said, adding that her husband had made multiple suicide attempts since the disaster and the online attacks.





In this photo taken on April 5, Cho Mi-eun, left, kneels down while crying as her husband Lee Jong-chul places his hand on her back, in the alleyway where their 24-year-old son Lee Ji-han was killed during a Halloween crowd crush in the popular Itaewon district of Seoul in October last year. AFP-Yonhap



Politics of disaster



The families of the Itaewon victims want answers about why authorities failed to prevent the catastrophe despite clear warning signs, Lee Jung-min, who lost his 29-year-old daughter, told AFP.



Some of the victims' families formed a group "to understand what really happened and to hold those officials responsible", said the bereaved father, who was visibly tired and unshaven.



But the internet interpreted their efforts to organize as an attack on the government, with right-wing trolls launching a coordinated counter-attack, accusing the families of being profiteers out for compensation, or anti-government forces.



Experts say the government is worried the disaster could hurt the administration. Seoul's last conservative government lost power in part due to its mishandling of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, which killed more than 300.



As a result, some ruling-party lawmakers criticized the victims' families during parliamentary sessions, which created "open season on us" online, Lee said.



Lawmakers promoted outlandish conspiracies: one claimed the crowd crush was caused by vegetable oil poured on the ground by opposition-linked labor union operatives, while another insinuated the deaths were due to illegal drugs.



An official police investigation found no evidence for either claim.



But Korea's highly polarized political environment allows such misinformation to thrive, said Seo Soo-min, a communications professor at Sogang University.





In this photo taken on Nov. 1, 2022, mourners pay tribute in front of a joint memorial altar for victims of a deadly Halloween crowd crush, outside the City Hall in Seoul. AFP-Yonhap
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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP)  A grand jury in Virginia has indicted the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher on charges of child neglect and failing to secure her handgun in the family's home, a prosecutor said Monday.

A grand jury sitting in Newport News charged the boy's 25-year-old mother with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor charge of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm, Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn said in a news release.

The Associated Press isnt naming the mother to shield the identity of her son.

Ellenson said Monday that his client plans to turn herself in later this week. He did not comment on the indictments, which were first reported by the Daily Press.

The decision to charge the boy's mother is the latest development to cascade from the shooting in this shipbuilding city of about 185,000 people near the Chesapeake Bay.

Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues, Gwynn said.

Gwynn said his office has petitioned the court to empanel a special grand jury to continue an investigation into any security issues that may have contributed to the shooting.

The safety and security of Newport News students is of utmost importance. The Special Grand Jury will investigate to determine whether additional charges against additional persons are justified by the facts and the law, Gwynn said.

Virginia's law on felony child neglect says any parent, guardian or other person responsible for the care of a child whose willful act or omission in the care of such child was so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life is guilty of a Class 6 felony. The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The misdemeanor charge says its against Virginia law to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen. That charge is punishable by a maximum of one year in jail.

Police Chief Steve Drew has repeatedly characterized the shooting as intentional. He said there was no warning and no struggle before the child pointed the gun at Zwerner and fired one round, striking her in the hand and chest.

Zwerner, 25, hustled her students out of the classroom before being rushed to the hospital, where she stayed for nearly two weeks.

Ellenson told The Associated Press in January that he understood the gun was in the womans closet on a shelf well over 6 feet (1.8 meters) high and had a trigger lock that required a key.

The family said in the wake of the shooting that the boy has an acute disability and was under a care plan that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day. The week of the shooting was the first when a parent was not in class with him, the family said.

The family said in the days after the shooting that the child was placed under hospital care and receiving the treatment he needs.

The shooting also unleashed a torrent of criticism about school administrators.

Days after the shooting, school officials revealed that administrators at Richneck Elementary had suspected the child may have had a weapon before the shooting occurred. But they didn't find it despite searching his backpack.

At a subsequent school board meeting, parents and teachers lambasted administrators for what they called a misguided emphasis on attendance over the safety of children and staff. They said students who assaulted classmates and staff often faced few consequences, while Zwerner' shooting could have been prevented if not for a toxic environment in which teachers concerns were ignored.

In a lawsuit filed last week seeking $40 million in damages, Zwerner's attorneys accused school officials of gross negligence and of ignoring multiple warnings from teachers and other school employees the day of the shooting that the boy was armed and in a violent mood.

In the lawsuit, Zwerners attorneys said all of the defendants knew the boy had a history of random violence at school and at home, including an episode the year before when he strangled and choked his kindergarten teacher.

The school board in Newport News fired the district's superintendent, while Richneck's assistant principal resigned from the school division. The elementary school's principal is still employed by the district but no longer holds that position.

Richneck also installed metal detectors before it reopened on Jan. 30, a full three weeks after the shooting occurred.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  A Louisville bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at his workplace Monday morning, killing five people  including a close friend of Kentucky's governor  while livestreaming the attack on Instagram, authorities said.

Police arrived as shots were still being fired inside Old National Bank and killed the shooter in an exchange of gunfire, Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said. The city's mayor, Craig Greenberg, called the attack "an evil act of targeted violence.

The shooting, the 15th mass killing in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, about 160 miles (260 kilometers) to the south. That state's governor and his wife also had friends killed in that shooting.

In Louisville, the chief identified the shooter as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, who she said was livestreaming during the attack.

Thats tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured," she said.

Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, said in a statement that it had quickly removed the livestream of this tragic incident this morning.

Social media companies have imposed tougher rules over the past few years to prohibit violent and extremist content. They have set up systems to remove posts and streams that violate those restrictions, but shocking material like the Louisville shooting continues to slip through the cracks, prompting lawmakers and other critics to lash out at the technology industry for slipshod safeguards and moderation policies.

A man who fled the building during the shooting told WHAS-TV that the shooter opened fire with a long rifle in a conference room in the back of the buildings first floor.

Whoever was next to me got shot  blood is on me from it, he told the news station, pointing to his shirt. He said he fled to a break room and shut the door.

Nine people, including two police officers, were treated for injuries, University of Louisville Hospital spokeswoman Heather Fountaine said in an email. One of the wounded, identified as 57-year-old Deana Eckert, later died, police said Monday night.

One of the wounded officers, 26-year-old Nickolas Wilt, graduated from the police academy on March 31. He was in critical condition after being shot in the head and having surgery, the police chief said. At least three patients had been discharged.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he lost one of his closest friends in the shooting.

Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad," said Beshear, his voice shaking with emotion. "He's one of the people I talked to most in the world, and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend.

Also killed in the shooting were Josh Barrick, Jim Tutt and Juliana Farmer, police said.

These are irreplaceable, amazing individuals that a terrible act of violence tore from all of us, the governor said.

Beshear spoke as the investigation in Louisville continued and police searched for a motive. Crime scene investigators could be seen marking and photographing numerous bullet holes in the windows near the front door of the bank, not far from Waterfront Park and minor league ballpark Louisville Slugger Field.

As part of the investigation, police descended on the neighborhood where the suspect lived, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of the downtown shooting. The street was blocked as federal and local officers talked to residents. One home was cordoned off with caution tape. Kami Cooper, who lives in the neighborhood, said she didnt recall ever meeting the suspect but said its an unnerving feeling to have lived on the same street as someone who could do such a thing.

Im almost speechless. You see it on the news but not at home, Cooper said. Its unbelievable, it could happen here, somebody on my street.

Deputy Police Chief Paul Humphrey said the actions of responding police officers undoubtedly saved lives.

This is a tragic event, he said. But it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened.

Just a few hours later and blocks away, an unrelated shooting killed one man and wounded a woman outside a community college, police said.

The 15 mass shootings this year are the most during the first 100 days of a calendar year since 2009, when 16 had occurred by April 10, according to a mass killings database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. The pace slowed later in 2009, with 32 mass killings recorded that year.

Going back to 2006, the first year for which data has been compiled, the years with the most mass killings were 2019 and 2022, with 45 and 42 mass killings recorded during the entire calendar year.

It was the second time that Beshear was personally touched by a mass tragedy since becoming governor.

In late 2021, one of the towns devastated by tornadoes that tore through Kentucky was Dawson Springs, the hometown of Beshears father, former two-term Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. Andy Beshear frequently visited Dawson Springs as a boy and has talked emotionally about his fathers hometown.

Contributing to this report were Becky Reynolds in Louisville, Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky, Beatrice Dupuy in New York, database journalist Larry Fenn, researchers Rhonda Shafner and Jennifer Farrar in New York and AP Technology writer Michael Liedtke in San Ramon, California.

A previous version used an incorrect spelling of Deana Eckert's name, based on information from authorities.

A previous version incorrectly reported the shooter's age, based on information from authorities.
He had a chance. Said Zelensky

Zelensky said he would no longer answer Xi Jinpings calls

A French colleague, Mr. Macron, told me that during his visit to Beijing, he persuaded Xi Jinping to call me. Unfortunately, I have to upset him. The Chinese leader had a chance, he missed it. The time for peace talks has been lost; from now on, Ukraine will only talk to China from a position of strength. I extended the hand of friendship, and now it is clenched into a fist, Volodymyr Zelensky

Position of strength?

This is almost the most unbelievable thing Ive read today. But below is even more ignorant

I really do think that the West is simply mentally ill and has to be put down to save the world

There is no future

Budwieser has become the queer of beer

People in the West, wake up, not woke up

WtR
University of Nevada Police are investigating a 'swatting' call that prompted a police presence on the campus Sunday night.

We had some viewers reach out about police presence in that area.

University police say they did receive a call, but it has since been confirmed as a 'swatting' hoax.

It's when someone reports a fake violent emergency to emergency lines like 9-1-1.

Police say it's become a national trend in recent months with other schools in Northern Nevada also falling victim.

UNR Police say there's no threat to the campus.
On April 8, Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry, 56, posted a photo of herself holding a glass of wine on a balcony, naked (though with private parts not visible). I do what I wanna do, she wrote. Happy Saturday.

i do what i wanna do.  pic.twitter.com/hDIkyfiy53  Halle Berry (@halleberry) April 8, 2023

Zimbabwean antifeminist and social media entrepreneur Shadaya Knight, 29, was outraged. Imagine being in your fifties, still posting nudes for attention in menopause when you should be chilling with the grandkids. Aging with dignity is no longer a thing.

Berry retorted with a droll tweet: Did you guys know the heart of a shrimp is located in its head?

Berry was even more eloquent on the subject of aging in her cover story in the February/March 2022 issue of AARP The Magazine, in which she said she found happiness and balance in her 50s. Her comment has more wisdom than Knights, and more dignity: Were all going to get older, said Berry. Were going to look different. I refuse to become someone who just tries to hold onto a youthful face and not embrace whats most important about being beautiful  how you live your life, how you give back to others, how you connect to people, how you strengthen your mind, body and soul and nourish yourself, how you give in a meaningful way of yourself.

Knight frequently attacks women online.

Being married to a woman is like living with a snake, he opined. You just have to know how to charm it ... One drunk man is more intelligent than 3 women with PhDs.

Celebrities and fans were quick to jump in with words of support for Berry after the troll lashed out.

Actress Audra McDonald, 52, wrote to Berry, You won the internet today with this clap back.

Enjoy life. Whatever life brings you. Halle has the right attitude, an Instagram user wrote.

You are like that fine wine in your hand, Halle. Aging fabulously, wrote another.

Berry might have replied to Knight by quoting what she told AARP: The most beautiful people have something radiating inside.
Capt. Mike Lane was freed from the notorious Hanoi Hilton as part of Operation Homecoming in February 1973. He had spent six years and two months in captivity after ejecting from his F-4 Phantom at 25,000 feet over North Vietnam.

The 31-year-old U.S. Air Force pilot was flown back on a military aircraft to Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington, D.C. I was there for a couple of weeks to make sure all my body parts worked okay, and I was still sane and safe to let loose on the streets, Lane recalled to AARP Veteran Report.

Next he was to return to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a homecoming celebration. This time, he flew on an Eastern Airlines civilian flight. On board that day was a flight attendant named Ruth Sweeney.

Ruth was one of the 5 million Americans who had spent $2.50 on a nickel-plated POW bracelet engraved with the name, rank and loss date of a captured or missing American serviceman. The bracelet had been a reminder to her of those still suffering far away in Southeast Asia. Many had forgotten them, but she had not.

Five-minute rock star

Photo of Lane, made by the North Vietnamese, on the day he was captured. Courtesy Mike Lane via Maine Military Museum

When the crew told me that Mike was on the plane, I just had to meet him, Ruth told AARP Veteran Report. She approached him when they landed in Charlotte.

This young flight attendant walks up to me and wants to know if I knew the guy that she was wearing the POW bracelet for, Lane said.

Ruth was inquiring about the fate of Captain John Fer, whose name had been on her wrist for three years. John made it, hes fine, Lane responded. Hes got all his digits. Hes cool. Ruth thanked him and left to join the reception group on the tarmac.

Lane was greeted by a crowd of well-wishers. I walked over to them, and I was a five-minute rock star for the young kids, Lane said. They were all happy to shake my hand. While all this was going on, that young lady, Ruth Sweeney, ended up standing next to my best friend from high school, by the name of Tommy.
Did you know that theres a seaweed season each year? In Florida it typically falls between March and October, but 2023 has already seen plenty of the stuff arrive on state beaches and more is expected to arrive throughout the summer.

Theres also a massive blob of seaweed, roughly 5,000 miles wide, heading for Florida and the Caribbean. It threatens to disrupt tourism, and as it washes up onshore will be a danger to people around it. However, its not as scary as it may sound and isnt entirely a bad thing. In fact, it can provide a great benefit for marine ecosystems.

What exactly is a seaweed blob?

A seaweed blob is actually called a seaweed bloom, and it is not one massive unit but is instead a group of seaweed mats that move together. Each mat is a large seaweed patch on the oceans surface that never attaches to the ocean floor. They all float along with the oceans currents.

Currently, sargassum seaweed makes up one of the largest blooms in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a brown type of algae that is distinguishable not only by color but also by the gas-filled bubbles that are formed at its stems to help it stay afloat.

Although a massive bloom of seaweed may seem immediately alarming, it is not necessarily a cause for concern. These blooms have been forming since Christopher Columbus sailed the Atlantic, and they have come under the study and observation of scientists for years.

Seaweed blooms are safe havens for many sea creatures, creating an upside-down reef-like environment for them. Fish, turtles, seabirds, reptiles, and many more species of marine life call these blooms home.

Why it can be dangerous

For all of the good they can provide, seaweed blooms have also proven to be quite harmful as well. When it comes to marine life, a large bloom of sargassum seaweed can become dangerous for the creatures that call it home. If the bloom grows too large, it begins to suck away all the oxygen from the water. This makes it uninhabitable and turns it into a dead zone, forcing the marine life out.

For humans, the bloom can be dangerous once theyve drifted ashore on the beaches. As the sargassum seaweed begins to decay, it releases hydrogen sulfide. This is a harmful chemical that causes a variety of health problems in people exposed to it, from symptoms as mild as eye irritation to as severe unconsciousness and respiratory issues. It has also been linked to increased risks of pregnancy complications in women.

The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt

The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt is a massive sargassum bloom thats been monitored by the University of South Floridas Optical Oceanography Laboratory since 2011. Using satellite imagery, they have been able to gauge the size of the belt each year, concluding that its getting larger and larger.

In June 2022, the team of scientists estimated that the weight of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt was a whopping 24.2 million tons. It measures in at approximately 5,000 miles wide, almost twice the width of the continental United States. Unsurprisingly, the belt can be seen from space.

Blooms from the belt have been washing up on the beaches of Florida, Mexico, and other Caribbean locations year after year. However, as the belt grows larger, it is becoming more and more difficult to deal with the masses of seaweed washing ashore.

Problems with disposing of sargassum seaweed

The increasing size of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has been directly linked with the climate crisis. Factors like increasing ocean temperatures, changing currents, and shifting hurricane patterns have been identified as contributors to the belts increasing size.

Additionally, human interference in the way of deforestation and increased runoff of fertilizers in farming have increased levels of various chemicals in certain parts of the ocean. These chemicals promote the growth of sargassum seaweed.

When it comes to ridding beaches of the massive blooms, there is still no concrete solution. The seaweed cannot be used for fertilizer, nor can it be used for food, as it contains arsenic and other chemicals which are extremely harmful to the human body. In that same vein, it cannot be composted, as those chemicals can seep into groundwater, potentially introducing it into our drinking water and into the human food chain.

More from us: Enormous Grey Blob on California Beach Turns Out to Be Extremely Rare Creature

As of now, the massive Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt will continue to float toward the beaches of Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean.


The remains of a Korean independence fighter, who campaigned in Europe and the United States against Japan's 1910-45 colonization, returned home from New York on Monday, a century after his death.



A ceremony for the repatriation and burial of Hwang Ki-hwan's remains took place at the Daejeon National Cemetery in Daejeon, 140 kilometers south of Seoul, after they arrived earlier in the day, just one week before the centennial anniversary of his death.



"(Hwang) proudly voiced our nation's strong will for independence and made efforts to win support from the international community," Veterans Minister Park Min-shik said at the ceremony. "The government will repatriate the remains of heroes buried alone in faraway lands ... to our now independent country until the very last one."



The independence fighter's life came into the spotlight in recent years as he became known as the real-life model of a protagonist in the hit 2018 TV series "Mr. Sunshine."



Born in Sunchon, South Pyongan Province, now in North Korea, in 1886, Hwang moved to Hawaii in 1904 and volunteered to fight for the United States during the First World War, being stationed in France.





The remains of the late Korean independence fighter Hwang Ki-hwan arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, returning home 100 years after he died in New York in 1923, April 10. Yonhap



After the war, he remained in Europe and took part in Korea's independence movement by supporting Korean representatives at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919.



In 1921, Hwang served as a member of the Korean provisional government's diplomatic mission in London and worked at its American committee before dying of heart disease in New York on April 17, 1923. His body was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in New York.



In 2008, a pastor at a Korean American church rediscovered his grave, leading Seoul's veterans ministry to start making efforts to repatriate his remains in 2013.



Although the New York cemetery had sought a local court's approval for the relocation due to the absence of Hwang's family members, it finally reached an agreement in January this year after much persuasion from the ministry. (Yonhap)




A recent Albuquerque Journal story, More leadership changes at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, quoted a letter from three now-former members of the National Hispanic Cultural Centers board of directors. Among other claims, the letter alleged some employees fell into habits of not working, during a period of leadership transition.

While we acknowledge changes in leadership are never easy, we reject the characterization of our friends and colleagues at the center that appeared in the letter and in the paper in the strongest possible terms. Our hard-working staff at the NHCC is the heart and soul of an institution that preserves, supports and advances Hispanic art, culture and humanities in New Mexico and beyond.

While we have always worked hard and done more with less, weve doubled down on our commitment to serving our community in 2023. Below are just a few recent achievements from the center  achievements that wouldnt have been possible without the tireless efforts of our staff.

 Our team worked alongside Sen. Martin Heinrichs office to secure a $500,000 grant that will be used to digitize the NHCCs photograph, object, recording and document archives. These archives connect New Mexicans and all Hispanic Americans to their family and community histories and will soon be more accessible than ever.

 Education staff launched a series of new programs, from early childhood events like Bilingual Storytimes and Arte Poquito to family-friendly Dia de Familia and Noche de Familia celebrations. In the last 90 days, our staff coordinated and executed multiple soldout events, including a screening of Star Wars in Navajo and an authors talk that drew so much attention even the waiting list was full. NHCC educator Elena Baca receiving the Museum Education Art Educator of the Year Award from the New Mexico Art Education Association in 2022 just demonstrates the talent and dedication present on our education team.

 Our visual arts staff celebrated a successful run of the beloved exhibition Fronteras del Futuro, which received national praise from publications like Hyperallergic, with a string of popular events. This team has developed and secured funding for four new exhibitions that will open in 2023. This means collaborating with artists on projects ranging from bilingual printmaking to a mixed-media exploration of the agave plant.

 Our performing arts team works with dozens of artistic organizations each year on performances ranging from folk dance to opera. Last year, this small staff worked with partners on nearly 100 plays, films, concerts and other performances, which drew around 37,000 people and grossed over $875,000. And theres more coming in 2023.

Our staff brings a unique blend of passions and skill sets, having worked at organizations like LucasFilm, San Antonio Museum of Art, the Gellert Center for Education and the FBI Art Crime Team. Theyre all united by their passion for Hispanic arts and culture, and peers around the state have taken notice. As a community-focused arts institution with deep ties to our neighborhood and city, our credibility ultimately comes down to the work of our staff. For this reason, we feel strongly that unfounded and misguided criticism of our colleagues and friends should not be tolerated.
The car was in the lake.

The subject was struck in the head by someone he was facing, so as soon as we find out who is left handed 

Its a Tuesday night and members of Croak and Dagger, an organization of local mystery writers and mystery fans, are playing a game.

Its a murder mystery game, of course. Because when these people get together, murder is always on the scene.

The secretary had nothing to gain, right?

You go, girl

Croak and Dagger is the New Mexico chapter of Sisters in Crime, an organization founded in 1987 to champion women mystery writers.

The New Mexico chapter, formed in 2004, has 30 members. Like Sisters in Crime, Croak and Daggers membership is not limited to authors. It also includes aspiring writers, people who enjoy reading mysteries and even men.

Bernalillo resident J.L. (Janet) Greger, 75, is the author of the Science Traveler series of mystery/thriller novels featuring epidemiologist Sara Almquist. In the latest entry, Bungle in the Jungle, Almquist tackles malaria, dengue fever and political unrest in Brazil. Just another day on the job.

In Croak and Dagger, we focus on getting publicity for our books, getting ideas for our books and working with libraries, Greger said.

Chapter members go on field trips to places such as morgues, police stations and FBI offices. They rotate displays of members books among area library branches and have donated funds and books to more than 50 of New Mexicos smallest libraries.

There was a sealed letter that had to be mailed.

Cold case crimes

Croak and Daggers monthly meetings usually consist of listening to guest speakers, writers talking about their latest books, law enforcement officers or forensic specialists talking about criminal investigation.

But on this night, Greger, head of the chapters hospitality and special events committee, decided to challenge members with a game of deduction. The setup is this. More than 20 years ago Cary Underwood, the owner of a vineyard, mysteriously disappeared. But when an earthquake reveals where his body has been hidden all these years, investigators  using old police reports, new police reports, newspaper articles, etc.  take up a very cold trail in pursuit of the murderer.

We have never done this before, Greger said. I thought this would make for a more lively meeting and appeal to younger members.

But only seven people, an uncommonly small number, show up this night for the meeting at Albuquerques First Unitarian Church. And not one of them is young. Greger soldiers on, however, dividing those present into two teams competing to identify the killer. Alluding to a piece of evidence, she points out:

You notice there were no fingerprints from Cary on it.

Not so cozy

Croak and Dagger member Ann D. Zeigler blames her whole life on Nancy Drew, the teenage girl amateur detective who appears in a series of mystery novels aimed at young readers.

I learned to read before I went to school, Zeigler, 75, said. On my first day in first grade, while the other kids were learning the alphabet, I was reading Nancy Drew. I got sent to the principals office.

Zeigler ended up pursuing a career in law, becoming a trial lawyer specializing in bankruptcy fraud. After dealing with embezzlers and liars, she finds it difficult to get into cozy mysteries, a subgenre in which the detective is usually an amateur in a small community and sex and violence happen off stage.

Sweet ladies who run bake shops dont speak to me, she said. And since I spent so much of my professional life with FBI agents, I find books with FBI agents doing amazing things so out of line I just cant read them. The work FBI agents do is pretty rigidly set out in a little box.

Zeigler has written two nonfiction books, Tips Lawyers Wish You Knew and, with Ernesto F. Rojas, Preserving Electronic Evidence for Trial. But shes working on a trilogy of mystery/suspense novels featuring a woman archaeologist and a male international business consultant.

Sandi Hoover, 79, Croak and Dagger vice president, is a geologist by training and a naturalist by inclination. Among other things, her career included time as executive director of the Houston Audubon Society. Hoover is the author, with Jim Tritten, of a mystery/suspense novella titled Panamas Gold, and is now working solo on a sequel. Her main character is a woman environmental lawyer named Lanny Mitchell.

She said the work in progress is no cozy.

Lanny, in a fit of rage and to protect her husband, kills a man with a machete, she said. I didnt know she was going to do it until it was there on the page.

Ideas all around

Lee Higbie, 81, is one of the men in Croak and Dagger. Using the pseudonym of BJ Creighton, he has written Ebolavirus, a bio-terrorism thriller set in Atlanta and the Middle East, and No Sanctuary, which takes place at Rowe Sanctuary, a wildlife sanctuary along the Platte river in Nebraska.

I get my novels from things I am thinking, Higbie said. We were volunteering at Rowe Sanctuary and were in these plywood blinds, 4 feet by 8 feet. How can you coop two people up in something like that and they not kill each other.

Margaret Tessler, 86, is a former president of the chapter. She has written seven mysteries, six of them in a series featuring immigration lawyer Sharon Salazar. She describes her mysteries as cozies with an edge.

In Glass Houses, an unsettling series of events is touched off when Sharon notices something wrong at the home next door.

I live in a mobile home park and feel reassured when I see my neighbor, Tessler said. But what if I saw something amiss, something that was not right. Thats where I got the idea.

Crimes of passion

Lying and having a reason to kill are two things that will take you to the top (of a suspect list), Greger said, encouraging the teams of gamers as their investigations get into crunch time.

Linda Triegel, 80, Croak and Dagger president, sifts through pages of evidence.

Not really my thing, she said. Im not good at solving mysteries.

Triegels writing roots are in romance. Back in the 1980s and 90s, she wrote about 10 novels in the subgenre known as Regency romances.

But I like the atmosphere and the characters in cozy mysteries, she said. Writing under the name of Elly Kirsten, Triegel has turned out a cozy mystery titled Civil Blood and is working on a sequel. Civil Blood is set in a small New England town during a theater festival. Diana Quick, who is opening a bed and breakfast in the town, discovers the body of a local man. What at first appeared to be an accident turns out to be murder.

The town is like the Connecticut town I grew up in, Triegel said.

Whodunit

Times up. In just slightly more than an hour, the two teams have narrowed the list of suspects down to one they believe is the murderer.

Obviously the folks in Croak and Dagger know murder. Both teams arrive at the same solution and it is the correct one.

That was kind of fun, Zeigler said. It made for a challenging experience for us.

Spoiler alert. The business partner did it.
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last summer, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pledged $10 million for a reproductive health care clinic that includes abortion services in Dona Ana County.

Now, that money has been officially approved as part of this years capital outlay bill.

While certain groups have already begun working on planning a facility that would offer a broad spectrum of reproductive services, a spokeswoman for the Governors Office could not say yet which organizations will receive the funding.

The $10 million in capital outlay is to plan, design, and construct a reproductive health clinic in Dona Ana County, spokeswoman Maddy Hayden said. An organization or organizations that put forth plans that meet the needs of reproductive health care for individuals in Dona Ana County will receive that capital.

She added that the Governors Office has been in conversations with a broad coalition of reproductive health care groups on what their vision is for this project.

With the inclusion of millions of dollars in the capital outlay bill to fund a clinic that offers abortion services, almost every Republican legislator voted against the bill. Traditionally, capital outlay bills pass almost unanimously.

Senate Minority Whip Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, called the inclusion a slap in the face and said a center that offers abortions is a very controversial issue to fund.

We fund things within our districts that are like roads and infrastructure improvements, security for our schools  never an abortion clinic or anything of that type, Brandt said. Its basically saying we dont care about your religious beliefs, we dont care what you think, we dont care what your constituents believe.

The capital outlay bill ended up passing the Senate 27-13, with almost every Democrat voting for it. Democratic Sen. Shannon Pinto of Tohatchi voted no, while two Republicans  Sen. Stuart Ingle of Portales and Sen. Steven Neville of Aztec  voted yes.

In the House, the bill passed 41-26 with all Republicans voting against it and all Democrats  except for Rep. Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde and Rep. Anthony Allison of Fruitland  voting for it.

Capital outlay bills pass unanimously every year with about 30 seconds of debate, said Sen. William Sharer, R-Farmington, adding that he objected to taxpayer money being used on a building for a private business. This year it did not because of that $10 million. A billion dollar capital outlay and $10 million was the debate  the whole debate.

Meanwhile, organizations working to expand access to reproductive health care have been having conversations with the University of New Mexico Hospital and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains about a joint venture for a clinic.

Adriann Barboa, the New Mexico policy director for Strong Families New Mexico, said a memorandum of understanding between the entities has been drafted, but has not yet been signed.

This is the first time I have ever seen collaboration like this in which these large entities are at the same playing level as two local community organizations, Barboa said. We have the same power and decision making around this center. Were forming a community-centered board.

A spokesman for UNMH said it is just one of many seats at the table and referred all questions to the Governors Office. Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains did not respond to questions.

Early start on clinic

In 2021  before Texas enacted Senate Bill 8, which banned abortion after six weeks, and before the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade  Bold Futures NM and Strong Families New Mexico began working with UNM on a scoping grant to determine where it should open a reproductive health care clinic, said Charlene Bencomo, the executive director for Bold Futures in Las Cruces.

The group settled on Dona Ana County and soon, she said, Planned Parenthood also wanted to be involved.

As conversations with community members continued, many pointed to a lack of access to all kinds of reproductive health care, not just that associated with abortions, Bencomo said.

As a person who was born and raised here in southern New Mexico I can certainly say that waiting lists for just a general Pap smear can be months long even for a person who has insurance and meets all those check marks that you would think would allow someone to just have access to those types of services, she said.

Now, Bencomo said, theyre working on making the plan a reality. The expected time frame is anywhere from one to two years and quite a bit more money still has to be raised.

As New Mexico has become a destination for those from other states seeking abortion services, advocates say the state has to go beyond Roe to make those services, and other health care, more accessible for far-flung, diverse communities.

Choice is not a choice if you dont have the income to get there, you dont have the means, Barboa said. We in New Mexico  because of the work weve been able to do  were able to go beyond Roe, and a lot of what that really means is actually providing some of the very basic health care services in our rural communities.

She stressed that Medicaid in New Mexico already covers abortion care and a lot of what the clinic will be doing is expanding access to health care throughout the state.

This clinic with or without that $10 million is going to be a community driven, full spectrum reproductive health clinic that does serve from the very basic needs, to abortion care, to trans to folks needing (care), Barboa said.

For more details about New Mexico abortion services, read another Journal story here.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams executive order last August expanding access to reproductive health care in New Mexico directed state departments to review existing access to abortion care and come up with a plan to expand it and make it more easily affordable and accessible, especially in rural and under-served parts of the state.

It was the same executive order that designated $10 million in capital outlay money for a clinic in Dona Ana County.

Dr. Laura Parajon, the deputy cabinet secretary for the Department of Health, said part of the review included determining exactly how many facilities offered abortion services. The answer? Ten across Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Dona Ana and Rio Arriba counties  seven of which offer procedural abortions.

She said the DOH is working on creating a website with this information as well as launching a hotline to help people navigate where to get a broad spectrum of reproductive health services as well as funding, lodging and more.

We are looking at who is least able to get access and what we found is  some of the data shows  those in rural areas, low income, adolescents, uninsured and gender diverse, Parajon said.

For its part, the states Human Services Department said it has been working, even before the executive order, to make it easier for people to get birth control and to pay for abortion services. This includes expanding a pilot program that offers long-acting reversible contraception in school health care centers.

Acting Medicaid Director Lorelei Kellogg said the HSD made changes to the Medicaid program, including that providers can now submit a bundled claim for reimbursement for abortion services rather than submitting claims for individual services  like an ultrasound, office visit, etc.  separately. It also got a higher reimbursement for maternal and child health codes and has been working on establishing a doula program that is reimbursable by Medicaid.

For more news about abortion in New Mexico, read this story.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  More than 200 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have returned home in a prisoner swap, the warring countries said Monday.

Russias Defense Ministry said 106 Russian soldiers were released from Ukrainian custody as part of an agreement with Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys chief of staff, said that Russia freed 100 Ukrainian prisoners.

Neither announcement mentioned whether any intermediaries were involved in the agreement.

Some of the Ukrainian soldiers have severe injuries and illnesses, Yermak said in a statement published on Telegram.

He added that the latest of the sporadic prisoner swaps in the war that started in February 2022 was not an easy one. He did not elaborate.

Ukraines Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War alleged that almost half of the 80 men and 20 women soldiers who returned home have serious injuries, illnesses or have been tortured. It presented no evidence for its claims.

According to Ukrainian news reports, one of the women prisoners is Valeriia Karpilenko, a border guard who had helped defend Mariupols Azovstal steel plant. Last May, she married a Ukrainian soldier in the steel plants basement while Russian forces surrounded the complex. Her husband was killed three days later.

The freed Russians were being flown on military transport planes to Moscow for medical treatment and rehabilitation, the Defense Ministry said.

Such exchanges represent one of the few areas of cooperation between Ukraine and Russia. The two sides have returned hundreds of each others soldiers, as well as the bodies of fallen troops, since the war began.

Meanwhile, Ukraines presidential office said at least six civilians were wounded in the latest Russian shelling.

Separately, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian forces struck a power plant and residential buildings in the eastern province.

The Russians also shelled nine border villages in the provinces of Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv.

Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in televised remarks that the country has nearly seven million internally displaced people, including about one million children.

Most of them have abandoned their homes in the east and the south to move to safer locations in central and western Ukraine.

___ Associated Press Writer Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
New Mexico State Police are investigating a fatal ATV crash in the Gila National Forest last week.

Officer Ray Wilson, a State Police spokesman, said officers were called to State Road 35, near the Gila National Forest Wilderness Ranger District Office outside of Mimbres, for a crash around 11 p.m. on Friday.

The initial investigation indicates that a Polaris Sportsman ATV, driven by Alexander Harry Yazzie, 35, of Hurley, NM was traveling on State Road 35, Wilson wrote in a news release. For unknown reasons, the ATV overturned, ejecting Yazzie and his 39-year-old female passenger.

He said Yazzie died at the scene and the passenger was airlifted to a hospital in an unknown condition.

Alcohol appears to have been a contributing factor in the crash, and helmets were not utilized, Wilson said.
SANTA FE  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is headed back to Washington D.C. this week to undergo her second knee surgery in three months.

A spokeswoman said the Democratic governor experienced complications from a January surgery she underwent to fix a torn anterior cruciate ligament, meniscus damage and other issues.

Those complications include a small fragment of bone that came loose during the initial surgery. That material will be removed during this weeks procedure, said Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Maddy Hayden.

This surgery is nowhere near as significant as the full knee replacement procedure she underwent in January, Hayden added.

Lujan Grisham has received some criticism from Republican lawmakers for traveling out of state for the medical procedure, but previously told the Journal she had been a patient of the doctor performing the surgery when she served three terms in Congress.

Meanwhile, the governor will also meet with federal officials while in the nations capital this week.

As of Monday, she had meetings planned with officials from the Department of Justice, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security and the White House, according to the Governors Office.

The governor is currently scheduled to return to New Mexico on April 17.

Per the state Constitution, Lt. Gov. Howie Morales will serve as acting governor while Lujan Grisham is traveling out of state.
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An explosive device was discovered at a construction site near a railway station in Seoul on Monday, causing a brief disruption to train services.



The unidentified device was found by a construction worker at a site for a railroad maintenance depot near Yongsan Station at 3:57 p.m., according to firefighters.



An explosive ordnance disposal team from a nearby Air Force unit arrived at the site at 5 p.m. to defuse the bomb.



As a safety precaution, the state-run Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL) closed three tracks close to the site.



While the defusing operation was ongoing, all trains passing through the station were suspended for 10 minutes starting from 6:14 p.m.



KORAIL said all trains are currently running normally. (Yonhap)


A man charged with killing a motorcyclist in a 2021 crash in Albuquerque was later convicted of drug charges in Oklahoma and sentenced to five years in federal prison, court records show.

Weston Hill, 31, was extradited to New Mexico in March to face charges in the April 2021 death of Victor Garcia, who was struck and killed while riding his motorcycle on Atrisco Vista SW.

Hill, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, pleaded not guilty Monday in 2nd Judicial District Court to charges of vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident in Garcias death.

Hill remained in custody Monday at the Metropolitan Detention Center. No trial has been scheduled in the case.

I as always will simply emphasize that all of our clients are legally innocent prior to a conviction whether by plea or trial; and our office is committed to providing Mr. Hill with an appropriately vigorous defense, Hills attorney, Douglas Wilber, said in a written statement.

In the days after the fatal crash, a district court judge rejected a prosecutors motion to hold Hill in jail pending trial, according to court records. The conditions of Hills release included a prohibition on drug possession.

But on May 10, 2021  about two weeks after the fatal wreck  Hill was arrested by police in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, for possession of 46 grams of heroin and six ounces of methamphetamine, federal court records show.

Hill pleaded guilty in September to possession of meth with intent to distribute and sentenced to five years in federal prison, according to records filed in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma.

Hill was extradited to New Mexico as a borrowed prisoner to face prosecution in the vehicular homicide case, Assistant District Attorney Guinevere Ice said in recent motion.

Prosecutors allege Hill was driving north on Atrisco Vista SW when he crossed into the southbound lane and struck a motorcycle driven by Garcia on April 25, 2021. Garcia died at the scene.

Hill and his passenger then allegedly fled the scene on foot, Bernalillo County Sheriffs deputies wrote in a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.

Hill was later arrested at a mobile home park in the 200 block of Atrisco Vista SW after a resident reported that he and the passenger were knocking on doors and asking directions to a motel, the complaint said.
SANTA FE  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams sweeping line-item vetoes of a massive tax bill have drawn criticism from some fellow Democrats  including U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich.

Heinrich said on social media this weekend he was disappointed by the governors vetoes of tax provisions that would have benefitted families, veterans and educators.

He also cited vetoed climate-focused tax incentives in the bill, including tax credits for electric vehicles, energy storage systems and geothermal energy generation.

New Mexicos state Legislature took bold action for our state, Heinrich said. I am disappointed to see those efforts now vetoed.

In a message to lawmakers after her vetoes, Lujan Grisham said she had concerns about the sustainability of the tax package, saying the packages ultimate cost of more than $1.1 billion in annual foregone revenue could have lead to future spending cuts.

The two-term governor, who began her second term in January, also said she was committed to keep building a fairer, more productive tax environment over the next three years.

In addition, the governor defended her administrations work on environmental issues, citing a bill she signed that will appropriate $100 million for two new trust funds that will provide regular dollars for forest restoration and other conservation programs.

I absolutely reject some of the really sharp criticism that we didnt do enough on the environment, Lujan Grisham said during a Friday news conference.

However, the vetoed tax provisions dealing with alternative energy represented only a fraction of the tax packages total price tag.

The electric vehicle tax credit would have cost up to $7.4 million per year, while the cost of the credit for energy storage systems was projected to be about $4 million annually, according to a fiscal estimate of the bill.

Meanwhile, Heinrichs foray into state government issues could increase speculation about his possible interest in running for governor in 2026.

When asked in February, Heinrich told the Journal he was focused on his 2024 reelection campaign to the Senate seat hes held since 2013, but declined to rule out a possible gubernatorial bid.

Several Democratic lawmakers have also expressed displeasure about the governors vetoes, which were finalized on the final day for Lujan Grisham to take action on bills passed during this years 60-day legislative session.

House Speaker Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, said in a statement the final version of the tax package contains some key provisions but falls short of the promises made to small businesses  including child care providers  who are the backbone of our economy.

Rep. Debra Sarinana, D-Albuquerque, who worked on several of the energy-related tax credits included in the package, said Monday she was also disappointed by the governors vetoes.

I thought it was a pretty thoughtful tax package, Sarinana said in an interview.

A Lujan Grisham spokeswoman declined to comment Monday on the criticism levied by Heinrich and other Democrats regarding the governors vetoes.

While the governor used her line-item veto power to slice most of the provisions out of the tax package, she did leave intact an expanded child tax credit, changes to New Mexicos film incentive program and a $500 tax rebate  married couples filing jointly will get a $1,000 check.

In all, the governor vetoed 35 bills passed by lawmakers this year  her highest veto rate since taking office in 2019.

Heinrich also took issue with one of those standalone vetoes, tweeting his disappointment that Lujan Grisham vetoed a bill that would have established new child welfare office in the state Attorney Generals Office.

That bill was pocket vetoed by the governor, meaning it died when she declined to sign or veto in advance of Fridays deadline.
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In a picture shared on the lifestyle guru's Instagram page, the trio appear to be in good spirits while at her property, which spans more than 150 acres and is home to at least 200 chickens and other animals.

Apr 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - A very cute couple pays a visit to Martha Stewart's farm. Pete Davidson and his girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders visited the lifestyle guru at her sprawling estate, Cantitoe Corners, in Bedford, New York to celebrate Easter while touring the town with a real estate broker.

In a picture shared on Martha's Instagram page, the trio could be seen posing on the front steps to a building on her property, which spans more than 150 acres and is home to at least 200 chickens and other animals. They were all smiling at the camera as Pete stood in the middle while holding a tray of fresh farm eggs.

For the visit, the "Saturday Night Live" alum dressed in sweats and beanie. Chase, meanwhile, donned a black leather jacket and pants. As for the farm owner, she wore a tan sweater and cream pants.

"@hellofrommuffin dropped by with two friends @pete_davidson_bupkis and @chasesuiwonders They were out looking at our beautiful town of Bedford," Martha wrote in the caption. "I showed them around the farm and inside the winter house where the Easter Bunnies were getting ready for Sunday . Very cute couple !!!!"

Pete and Chase first sparked romance rumors in December 2022 when they attended a New York Rangers game together alongside castmate Rachel Sennott. The "bodies, bodies, bodies" co-stars fueled the romance rumors when they were snapped cuddling up to each other in a Brooklyn restaurant as they waited on food together. The two also went on a date at Universal Studios Hollywood before jetting off to Hawaii for PDA-filled getaway.

Interestingly, Pete was previously involved in bizarre dating rumors with Martha. In response to the wild speculations, Martha shared, "Pete Davidson is like the son I never had. He is a charming boy who is finding his way."

In October 2022, Martha weighed in on Pete's love life during her appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show". Of the comedian, who used to date the likes of Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, Phoebe Dynevor, Kate Beckinsale and Emily Ratajkowski, she said, "He's dated so many women. I'm not saying that's bad. I think that's good. He's sort of cute. I know everybody loves him."

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The reality TV star is accused of being a hypocrite and looking for clout after she shares pictures of her worshiping a massive cross in a stunning gown on Easter.

Apr 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - Blac Chyna a.k.a. Angela Renee White continues to make use of her social media platform to speak of her newfound faith. As Christians all around the world celebrated Easter on Sunday, April 9, the former music video vixen marked the holiday by sharing photos from a stunning photo shoot.

The former OnlyFans creator took to her Instagram page to share pictures and a video of her posing in front of a massive cross. In the images, she wore a white-and-pink designer dress as she walked across a field to approach the cross.

Once she got in front of the cross, the mother of two got down on her knees and bowed down in respect to Jesus. She accompanied the photos and videos with some Bible verses, including one that read, "And he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. Mark 16:6.' "

Despite the positive messages that Chyna was trying to spread with her posts, some people cast doubt on her "change." One naysayner commented on her photos, "I love the fake you're trying to rebuild your love/bond with God. But it's starting to seem VERY extra and for CLOUT. Praising God doesn't require announcements and showing it off. Praise in silence as well, and Blessings will announce themselves! Stay Blessed..."

Another slammed the reality TV star, "Girl cut the hypocrisy." A third skeptic asked others, "LMAOO y'all really believe this 'change' @BLACCHYNA went through?"

"Blac chyna trying to hard to prove a point like is you trynna please God or us?!??!" someone wondered. Another criticized Chyna's sexy outfit as pointing out, "Not #BlacChyna getting sexy for Jesus. Bringing new meaning to 'Come as you are.' "

Some others, meanwhile, praised Chyna for taking a new direction in her life. "This speaks volumes on so many levels," one person said. Another gushed, "Am Soo proud of you ma."

Defending the model against the criticism, someone said, "It's crazy how you feel your changing your life for God then people start nit picking who you're becoming and judging you on everything keep on your road Angela and don't pay attention to the negative people running their mouths they probably need God too."

Another clapped back at the haters as writing, "No one told you to live your worldly life in private but when you start honoring God in public people get uncomfortable! Keep going sis!"

Chyna recently credited baptism for kicking off her journey into "new beginnings" as she has been undergoing dramatic make-under surgery. "I was reborn on my birthday 5-11-22. God is Good," she shared along with her baptism picture.

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The 'Hurt Locker' actor enjoys a fun time with his 10-year-old daughter Ava Berlin and other family members while riding a motorized scooter during their visit to the Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park.

Apr 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - Jeremy Renner continues to thrive following his scary snowplow accident. More than three months after the near-fatal incident, the 52-year-old actor has stepped out for a fun family outing.

On Friday, April 7, the Oscar-nominated actor took to Instagram to share a photo of him and his family at the Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park in Valencia, California. In the image, he was seen leaning against a pole with assistance from a cane, while a motorized scooter was parked nearby.

The group seemed to have a lot of fun that day, flashing a smile to the camera while posing in front of a rollercoaster. Jeremy's daughter was among them, standing next to her father while holding a plush toy.

"Good Friday," the Hawkeye depicter in Marvel Cinematic Universe captioned the snap. He added, "made magic on the mountain with some of my amazing family! [a heart emoji] sixflagsmagicmountain #thankyou."

In another photo posted on his Story, Jeremy and his family posed in front of colorful flower arrangement that decorated a Six Flags Spring Break sign. He also shared a video of him riding a motorized scooter during the visit to the theme park. "Leading the way. Best I can. SPRING BREAK 2023!!!" he wrote in the caption.

The outing came after Jeremy opened up about the aftermath of the snowplow accident in an interview with Diane Sawyer. In the interview which aired on Thursday, he admitted that he was afraid he would end up "like a spine and a brain like a science experiment."

The "Avengers: Endgame" star added that refusing to submit to thinking of himself as a victim was helping him recover. He said, "As I shift the narrative of being victimized or making a mistake or anything else, I refused to be f**king haunted by that memory that way. That's what I talk to my family about  that I put upon them. We just endured - that's real love. It's suffering, but that feeds the seeds of what love is."

Jeremy is now doing upright workouts and walking on treadmills to help him regain his strength and fitness.

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The Bravolebrities are spotted enjoying the night together at an 'Emo Nite' party held at the Avalon in Hollywood, Calif., with Scheana allegedly yelling, 'F**k Tom!'

Apr 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - "Vanderpump Rules" stars Scheana Shay, Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix were partying the night away amid Tom Sandoval's affair scandal with Raquel Leviss. The trio were spotted enjoying the night together at an "Emo Nite" party held at the Avalon in Hollywood, Calif., on Friday night, April 7.

According to Page Six, spies overheard Scheana blasting Tom for cheating on Ariana. "F**k Tom!" so she allegedly yelled. As a hard rock version of Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" wrapped, the Viva Verano founder added, "I said f**k Tom in case you didn't hear me."

The outlet added that Ariana, meanwhile, stuck her middle finger up in the air while they played The All-American Rejects' "Gives You Hell". When the set concluded, Scheana could be heard yelling again, "F**k Tom," prompting the DJ to encourage the crowd to chant the words along with her.

Prior to this, a source revealed that Ariana was "heartbroken" after discovering that Tom and Raquel went behind her back. The insider noted that the Something About Her owner "was there for Raquel during the [James Kennedy] breakup," adding that Ariana felt "betrayed" by Raquel, whom she considered a "friend."

The party aside, Ariana is channelling her heartbreak to positivity as it's reported that she will join the new season of "Dancing with the Stars". An insider told Page Six, "ABC is in late stage conversations with [Ariana] to be a contestant to join 'DWTS' this fall." It was also said that Ariana "has already received all of the approvals and sign-offs from NBC Universal," the parent company of Bravo, which produces "Vanderpump Rules".

"Dancing with the Stars" isn't the only project that the bartender is preparing for. The reality TV star is set to appear in a new Lifetime movie, "Buying Back My Daughter", which will also star Meagan Good.

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Enjoying some family time during the Sunday holiday, the 'America's Got Talent' judge also lets out a social media video of her children taking part in an egg hunt.

Apr 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - Heidi Klum was celebrating Easter weekend by going topless. On Saturday, April 8, the longtime judge on NBC's "America's Got Talent" shared a photo of herself posing in nothing but bunny ears and undies.

The 49-year-old unleashed the steamy snap on Instagram. In the picture, she could be seen wearing nothing but a pair of fluffy white and pink bunny ears as well as a pair of star-printed black underwear. Posing topless with little-to-no makeup on, she strategically covered her bosom with her arms and her loose wavy blonde hair.

In that same photo, the first German model to become a Victoria's Secret Angel was also seen pouting to the camera as she looked up at the sky with closed eyes. She was standing on the side of a large pool while exposing herself under the sun in a backyard.

In accompaniment of her steamy photo, the wife of Tom Kaulitz included a red heart, bunny and sun emojis in the caption. She locked the comment section of her post, but still managed to gather plenty of likes.

Aside from the steamy post, Heidi also made use of Instagram Story to share a snap of her and husband Tom sharing a kiss. In the snap, the "Germany's Next Top Model" host was seen donning a fluffy hat and covering her eyes behind a pair of sunglasses.

On Sunday, April 9, Heidi let out a more family-friendly post. She posted a video of her children celebrating Easter together. The mother of 18-year-old Leni Klum, 17-year-old Henry, 16-year-old Johan and 13-year-old Lou recorded her kids taking part in an Easter egg hunt.

In the clip, the ex-wife of Seal can be heard shouting "Go!" The camera then documented the moment her kids ran around the backyard to look for eggs while carrying baskets in their hands. Explaining the video, she simply penned in the caption, "Happy Easter."

Earlier in April, Heidi received backlash on Instagram after making an insensitive pregnancy joke. At the time, the model reposted a photo of Sofia Vergara kissing the former's belly with a note that read, "I'm going to be an aunt!!" She later revealed that it was only a prank made for April Fools' Day.

In response, one of Heidi's followers complained, "being pregnant isn't a funny April Fools' joke." Another fumed, "I find this extremely distasteful and hurtful to those women still going through their infertility journey." Despite the backlash, Heidi remained tight-lipped about her controversial prank.







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The 'Oops!I Did It Again' hitmaker, who tied the knot with her longtime boyfriend Sam Asghari in June 2022, is seen cradling teddy bears after exiting a private plane that lands in Los Angeles.

Apr 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - Britney Spears has returned to Los Angeles after enjoying a Hawaiian vacation with her manager Cade Hudson. The musician, however, raised people's eyebrows as she was spotted without her wedding ring once again.

On Saturday, April 8, the 41-year-old was photographed exiting a private plane while holding stuffed animals. For the outfit, she wore a patterned dress covered with a tan jacket, black heels, sunglasses, a large sun hat and a purse.

What was missing was Britney's wedding band. It was no surprise though since the "Oops!I Did It Again" songstress, who tied the knot with Sam Asghari in June 2022, has been seen ringless several times during he getaway.

The "Till the World Ends" songstress ditched her sparkle ahead of her trip to Mexico with her friend and manager Cade Hudson. Days later, she was seen without the rock when hanging out with a member of her "security personnel" in Puerto Rico.

On April 5, the mom of two posted a video of her dancing in front of a wall while still not wearing her wedding ring. "I was hot in my car  saw some pink graffiti and played !!!" she captioned the clip as she was drenched in sweat.

Sam himself was also captured without the band. He, however, seemed to debunk the split speculation as he later posted a photo of himself on his Instagram Stories on March 30, with his wedding band clearly visible.

Additionally, Sam's representative claimed it had nothing to do with marital problems. Brandon Cohen from BAC Talent told Page Six their client Sam simply took off his ring as he is filming a movie.

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The former 'One Tree Hill' actress is heading to divorceville as her husband of less than two years, Victor Webster, has lodged documents to legally end their marriage.

Apr 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - Shantel VanSanten has reportedly separated from her husband Victor Webster. The "One Tree Hill" star's partner is rumored to have filed for divorce after less than two years of marriage and three wedding ceremonies, with TMZ.com reporting Webster filed paperwork to end the marriage at the start of the year citing January 10 as the date of the couple's separation.

"Irreconcilable differences" was cited in the documents as the reason for the split.

The couple met on the set of Hallmark movie "Love Blossoms" in 2017 and became engaged in February 2021 after four years together. They went on to stage three different wedding ceremonies - the first was an intimate and spontaneous civil ceremony held outside Pasadena City Hall in California on August 9, 2021.

Shantel, 37, revealed she had been devastated by the death of her grandfather - who she wanted to walk her down the aisle - and decided to tie the knot on the date of her grandparents' wedding anniversary. She told Brides magazine, "In the midst of my grief, I looked at Victor and said I wanted to do a spontaneous civil ceremony on my grandparents' wedding date, August 9."

"The idea of my grandparents being reunited and watching over our ceremony from above gave me some peace. They were married for 63 years, had such a special, deep love ... In so many ways, I felt their presence with us. Although it was not planned, it ended up being the most beautiful day."

Shantel and Victor, 50, went on to stage a second ceremony in October of 2021 in Napa, California and a third was held in the bride's hometown of Luverne, Minnesota. She added to Brides of her marriage, "As there are unwritten chapters ahead, we will surely experience more hardships on this grand adventure. I couldn't be more sure we can overcome anything together."

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The 'Big Hero 6' star has joined forces with PETA to save a little pig from slaughterhouse and transported the creature to an animal sanctuary in Pennsylvania.

Apr 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - "Babe" star James Cromwell has rescued a piglet from the slaughterhouse. Being a vocal animal rights advocate, the 83-year-old actor teamed up with PETA to secure a brighter future for a baby pig in the US which was found "scraped, bruised and covered in mud" after falling from a meat truck taking it away to be fattened up for slaughter shortly before the Easter weekend.

Before the piglet was transported to the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, Cromwell got a chance to video chat with the little creature - which was named Babe after the actor's beloved 1995 film about a pig who learns to take on the duties of a sheep dog.

In a clip posted on Twitter, he's heard telling the piglet, "Hello there, little man. I understand your name is Babe. I knew a pig named Babe. What a smart little pig she was. Bet you are too." Cromwell wrote in the caption, "This sweet little guy is NOT Easter dinner. He jumped off a transport truck and will now be traveling to an animal sanctuary to live a peaceful life. That'll do pig. That'll do. "

He added in a statement released through animal rights organization PETA, "Having had the privilege of witnessing and experiencing pigs' intelligence and inquisitive personalities while filming the movie Babe changed my life and my way of eating, and so I jumped at the chance to save this real-life Babe. Every pig deserves to live in peace and joy at a sanctuary, choosing when to frolic, where to forage, and how to spend their time, yet few do."

The actor was previously named PETA's Person of the Year in 2022 after speaking out against the live export of pigs from Ireland, and pressuring Starbucks to end its vegan milk up-charge in the US.

Mimi Bekhechi, PETA's vice president for the UK, Europe, and Australia, praised the screen star for his campaigning, saying, "James Cromwell's compassion for all animals knows no bounds. He's PETA's Person of the Year for playing a vital part in our hard-fought campaigns on behalf of animals whose abuse is kept hidden as they are confined to cages, exploited, and killed."

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Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo gives a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, March 6. Yonhap



Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo will visit Washington this week to prepare for President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the United States, the presidential office said Monday.



Kim will visit Washington from Tuesday to Saturday to meet with U.S. government officials and discuss preparations for a "successful state visit" by the president on April 26, the office said.



In the meetings, Kim will also exchange views on various issues, including North Korea, economic security, and cooperation on regional and global issues, it added. (Yonhap)


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The 'Gone Girl' actress stays away from networking parties as she compares the male attendees who called themselves 'party promoters' to 'sex traffickers.'

Apr 11, 2023

AceShowbiz - Emily Ratajkowski is no longer going to networking parties as they were filled with "disgusting" middle-aged men. The supermodel, 31, who revealed in her best-selling essay collection "My Body" about being raped aged 15, said she quit the gatherings three years ago and compared people at them who called themselves "party promoters" to "sex traffickers."

"Disgusting, 40-plus men (would show) up in black cars. There's no direct explanation of what is being traded for what, which is why it's so creepy. They call themselves party promoters, but, like, party promoters or sex traffickers?" she told the LA Times about how the parties worked.

Emily, who has been dating while looking after the two-year-old son Sylvester she has with her estranged film producer ex-husband Sebastian Bear McClard, 42, said she attended the gatherings when she started modelling.

Her LA Times profile said she would be at a casting session, and a model a few years older would befriend her, before a few days later inviting her to dinner at a trendy restaurant. When she arrived, she would see a group of young women like herself, "stiffly looking around at each other in little outfits" before car loads of men arrived.

The profile added Emily is now "interacting mostly with queer and femme-presenting people" at her modelling jobs as it "makes her feel safer." It also said, "Though she stopped going to these so-called networking dinners years ago, she says she constantly hears from young models who end up in similar scenarios they aren't anticipating."

In her best seller "My Body", she wrote about how, after a night of doing vodka shots at age 15, she awoke to a boy raping her.

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In this interview with Adgully, Sanjay Sehgal, Chairman & CEO, MSys Technologies, a global technology services company that specializes in storage, cloud computing, big data analytics, and DevOps, shares his insights on the current tech landscape, the emergence of Chat GPT, the future of digital publishing, and the Indian tech industry's role in a global economy. Additionally, Sehgal, who is also a venture and angel investor and a philanthropist, explores the role of upskilling in ensuring job security in the face of technological advancements and the unique position of the Indian tech industry in the global economy.

With every tech revolution, there are job losses; a few years back we embraced the same scenario with the era of test automation, which eliminated the need to have manual testing. But this does not have to be the case as with each technological advancement if you upskill your workforce there is a symbiotic relationship that leads to larger efficiencies, he says. Excerpts from the interview:

What does the emergence of Chat GPT mean for the industry, advertisers, and tech professionals?

Its no news that ChatGPT has taken the world by storm, and this global tech phenomena hints at a new innovation that has been in the works for many years with several tech companies. This new wave will be led by tools empowered with AI and machine learning that will automate tasks in the publishing, digital advertising and customer service industry. For example, it will help advertisers not only target the right audience but also draft personalized messaging for the said audience. The service industry can benefit from the natural language processing of AI tools like Bard and ChatGPT that can act as intuitive chat bots to improve service quality with minimal human intervention. For tech professionals, it is nothing but great news as the industry will need a new league of workforce to build more such tools, just like they did when we saw the uprising of apps.

Exciting times lay ahead and it is imperative that industry professionals and organisations at large understand about this technology and upskill themselves to work with it.

What is the future of digital publishing? How will Metaverse and AI change their face?

Digital innovation is at the cusp of either becoming obsolete or redefining its usefulness. Advent of not just ChatGPT, but also several bleeding edge tech empowered by AI and machine learning will automate several tasks of digital publishing. However, we will always rely on humans to deliver the end results; AI may be able to create a foundation for them to creatively mold into a finished product of content.

As the tech industries across the world see a sizable decline, what will it take for young entrepreneurs and new workforce entrants in the tech industry to survive and thrive in this period?

ChatGPT has emerged at a very crucial time in the tech industry, where there is a major upheaval in the market, and an innovation to push tech was much needed. It will serve as a boon to the industry where AI is bound to automate several repetitive tasks and bound to improve the quality of several tasks.

With every tech revolution, there are job losses; a few years back we embraced the same scenario with the era of test automation which eliminated the need to have manual testing. But this does not have to be the case as with each technological advancement if you upskill your workforce there is a symbiotic relationship that leads to larger efficiencies.

How do you distinguish between the tech industry in India vs the world? Why does the Indian tech industry not go through a tectonic shift and massive layoffs as we have seen elsewhere?

The Indian tech industry is synonymous with the IT and BPO industry, which are some of the biggest services we export globally. Tech companies throughout the world may witness a major setback, but our offerings at attractive and competitive pricing make us an important, albeit somewhat indispensable, part of the digital fabric of global worlds largest tech players. In the next few years, India could also be one of the major players in the AI industry, which will further expand our capabilities to robotics and strengthen our tech leadership in a global economy. Additionally, we see a new opportunity not just to aid businesses with our services, but also develop them with digital engineering, product development, and other core business aspects.

In the current landscape, global tech players are now turning away from China owing to their mercurial management done during COVID which has proven beneficial for us as those companies are turning towards India as one of the tech destinations.

What are the product engineering use cases for the content creator industry?

Just as you develop a software product through product engineering, you can also enhance, pivot, innovate, and make an efficient use of all the available resources in your content creation journey through this. For example, content creators need video editing software that is easy to use, feature-rich, and can process large video files quickly. Product engineering can help develop and improve video editing software to meet the needs of content creators. It can also help with digital asset management where a system can organise and manage their assets in a personalized fashion.

How does a complex tech infrastructure tool like a product engineering application pave the way for reshaping how content creators approach and use Metaverse?

Product engineering plays a critical role in the content creator industry by developing software and tools that enable creators to produce high-quality content efficiently and effectively. It can help them develop new and innovative AR and VR experiences that can engage and captivate their audience.
National Geographic in India is all set to bring forth the incredible journey of Tata Motors, an Indian automotive manufacturing company, giving its viewers a glimpse into the companys inspiring journey of introducing EVs in India. Premiering on April 09, 2023, at 7.00 PM on National Geographic Channel, the film titled Go.ev delves deeper into the mission of the organization, overcoming the perception driven challenges that come with the EV technology.

By identifying the uncertainties that exist within the community in purchasing an EV, the film showcases the Tata Motors approach in addressing these concerns that have helped accelerate the growth of the EV sector. This film brings to light the tremendous effort of the designers and engineers at Tata Motors in building impactful solutions around cost, range, charging infrastructure and range anxiety. It also touches upon the companys expansion plans of launching 10 EV models in the market by 2025, helping ensure health & wellness is at the core of the future of mobility.

At National Geographic, we strive to bring forth stories that provide in-depth understanding to satiate the curious minds of our viewers. This documentary is yet another attempt to further enhance the knowledge of our audience around the evolution of EVs through the lens of Tata Motors and follow the companys journey to bring about a positive change in the automobile sector, said National Geographic India Spokesperson

At Tata Motors, we are committed to building a sustainable future through the adoption of electric vehicles in India. We are quite elated to have again collaborated with a credible and environment conscious brand like National Geographic who with its innovative and inspiring storytelling has helped us spread and share our vision of revolutionizing the EV segment in India, said Tata Motors Spokesperson

Go.ev, will premiere on April 09, 2023, at 7.00 pm on National Geographic Channel
Arise IIP, a Dubai-based infrastructure firm, has appointed Nikhil Gandhi as its Executive Director.

Before joining hands with Arise IIP, Gandhi had been working with MX PLayer as Chief Operating Officer for over two years.

Prior to MX Player, Gandhi was associated with Tik Tok. where Initially he was the head of India & south India and later was elevated to head of Middle East & Africa, Turkey & South Asia.

He has also worked with some renowned media firms such as Walt Disney Company, UTV, Bennett Coleman and Viacom 18.
Authorities were responding to a report regarding an incorrigible juvenile at the school at about 4:30 p.m. when staff alerted them about an employee possibly giving fentanyl to students.

Melissa Harloam-Garrison, 46, was taken into custody on suspicion of providing the powerful opioid drug to students at Bright Futures Academy, a non-public K through 12 school, according to a statement released Thursday by the Riverside Police Department.

An employee at a special needs school in Riverside was arrested Tuesday for allegedly giving Fentanyl to students, including one who overdosed but survived.

Melissa Harloam-Garrison, 46, was arrested on suspicion of giving the drug to students, including one who ODed, at a special needs school

Yesterday, I learned that a fellow autism Mom has been dealing with a horror that seems incomprehensible. Her son was out placed to Bright Futures Academy in Riverside California, where a staff was arrested for dosing kids with drugs. Her son is caught up in this nightmare. Many of you will recall that my own daughter was abused on a school bus 12 years ago. Our kids with autism face horror every day. And we can barely protect them. Do we have to drug test our kids if we see behavior changes? Send them with a gluten free lunch and Narcan?

Authorities were responding to a report regarding an  incorrigible juvenile  at the school at about 4:30 p.m. when staff alerted them about an employee possibly giving fentanyl to students.

Police learned that a student at the campus had recently overdosed the previous week at their home in another city, the news release states. That student was revived and will recover, Riverside Police Department spokesman, Ryan Railsback, told Los Angeles.

A school investigation revealed that a staffer who serves as a bus driver and campus security was suspected of giving Fentanyl to the student who overdosed as well as others while on campus, according to the news statement.

Authorities identified the employee as Harloam-Garrison. She is apparently the daughter of the schools chief operating officer, Railsback said.

Harloam-Garrison lives in a cottage on the school property with her husband, police said.

When officers searched their home, they found more than 100 suspected Fentanyl pills, two handguns, and various types of ammunition.

Harloam-Garrison was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on several charges, including possession of narcotics for sale, sale of narcotics to minors, possession of controlled substances, possession of a firearm on school campus, and child endangerment. She is being held on $50,000 bail and is due in court Friday.

Her husband, 58-year-old David Garrison, was arrested and booked at the same detention center for possessing a firearm on campus and being a person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. He is being held on $25,000 bail.

Bright Futures Academy was not available for comment at the time of publication.

At least 8 students received fentanyl from Riverside school employee, police say

https://abc7.com/riverside-school-employee-arrested-fentanyl-students/11875368/

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- A Riverside school employee and her husband face criminal charges for allegedly distributing fentanyl to at least eight students at a school for students with special needs, police say.

Melissa Harloam-Garrison, 46, was arrested this week on suspicion of providing the drug to students at Bright Futures Academy, a non-public school serving kindergarten to 12th grade students.

Riverside police say their investigation started on Tuesday afternoon after they were called to the school to deal with an incorrigible student.

"This is the type of school that has kids with special needs and cognitive and behavioral struggles, so it's not necessarily uncommon for us to respond like that," said Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback.

But upon arriving on campus their investigation took a different direction.

"While they were there, some staff members approached the officers to let them know of their suspicions of another employee possibly furnishing fentanyl to some students."

Police then brought in their narcotics team, which learned that a student had recently overdosed on suspected fentanyl the week before at their home in another city. That student was revived by paramedics and will recover.

Later, police said their investigation revealed Harloam-Garrison was believed to have distributed the fentanyl to students on campus, including to the student who overdosed.

"I guess her status or her job at the school she's actually employed, is acting as security or campus aid, but is also a bus driver, and we believe that she's related to the owner or chief operating officer, who is her mother," said Railsback. "There's probably been at least eight to 10 students that this employee gave fentanyl to."

Police say Harloam-Garrison lives in a cottage on school property with her husband. A search of Harloam-Garrison's home found more than 100 suspected fentanyl pills, two handguns and various types of ammunition, according to police.

Harloam-Garrison was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on several charges, including possession of narcotics for sale, sale of narcotics to minors, possession of controlled substances, possession of a firearm on school campus and child endangerment. She is being held on $50,000 bail.

Her husband, 58-year-old David Garrison, was arrested and booked for possessing a firearm on campus, and being a person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. He is being held on $25,000 bail.

Harloam-Garrison was scheduled to be arraigned on Friday afternoon, but did not appear in court because of medical reasons. Her husband did appear in court, but their arraignment was postponed until Monday.

Bright Futures Academy released a statement Friday night that said, in part:

Bright Futures Academy (BFA) has become ensnared in a terrible situation involving a now-former employee, Melissa Harloam-Garrison, who is alleged to have provided illegal drugs to a small number of students. School administration is working with local law enforcement, student families, and as well as state and local education offices toward resolution of this event. Our Adelanto campus remains open. BFA has been and remains committed to the safety of the students in their care.



None of the school personnel involved were felons, as has been reported. No students were killed or admitted to a hospital for an overdose. Mrs. Harloam-Garrison was a Behavioral Aide - not a bus driver or security guard as has been reported. She has been terminated by BFA.



BFA is appealing today's hasty decision by the California Department of Education to temporarily revoke our special education funding certification. Districts are still permitted to send students to BFA-Riverside utilizing general education funds. This will allow families to continue their child's education routine with the same teachers and curriculum they have had all year.



Parents will continue to receive updates from school administrators. The school has been searched by Riverside Police Department investigators as well as an independent team of drug sniffing dogs. No additional illicit items have been found.



###



Underestimated: An Autism Miracle

BY JB Handley and Jamison Handley



In Underestimated: An Autism Miracle, Generation Rescues cofounder J.B. Handley and his teenage son Jamison tell the remarkable story of Jamisons journey to find a method of communication that allowed him to show the world that he was a brilliant, wise, generous, and complex individual who had been misunderstood and underestimated by everyone in his life.















The Environmental And Genetic Causes of Autism



By James Lyons-Weiler, PhD



The Environmental and Genetic Causes of Autism delves deep into the full body of past and current research to reveal how genetic predispositions and environmental factors can combine to produce the conditions autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD).



While most autism researchers focus on either environmental or genetic causes of autism, Lyons-Weilers opus demonstrates that to fully understand the condition and to finally put its rate on the decrease, it is essential to pay attention to the science showing how the two classes of factors interact.
Lawmakers attend a Whole House Committee meeting at the National Assembly to discuss possible revisions to the country's election policy, April 10. Yonhap



Lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties opened a Whole House Committee meeting for the first time in 20 years to debate electoral reforms to be applied to next year's parliamentary elections.



Over the next four days, 100 lawmakers in the 300-seat Assembly are expected to discuss three proposals put forward by the parliamentary political reform special committee that centers on adjusting the size of constituencies and the number of proportional representation seats.



Another issue is whether the committee will pick up as an agenda item a proposal from ruling People Power Party leader Kim Gi-hyeon to cut the number of lawmakers by at least 30.



Kim made the suggestion last week, citing poll results that call for the number of lawmakers to be reduced and claiming that the authority of lawmakers has been entrusted by the people.



Agreed-upon revisions will be applied to the general elections scheduled for April 10 next year.



Monday's meeting marks the first time in nearly two decades for the Assembly to launch a Whole House Committee meeting. A meeting was held in 2003 to discuss dispatching troops to the Iraq War followed by another round of debate the next year on extending their term. (Yonhap)


Brevard County (Fla.) Sheriff Wayne Ivey didnt hold back in describing his disgust with two healthcare workers charged with elderly abuse after they live-streamed their treatment of an elderly patient with dementia.

During a press conference streamed through the sheriffs department Facebook page, Ivey described the women as pieces of crap and scumbags for their treatment of the patient.

Im going to try and use restraint as I tell you about this case, because Im disgusted, Ivey began. The perpetrators in this case are not only disgusting, but vile individuals who live streamed themselves abusing one of our elderly citizens who suffers from dementia.

Even worse, they are two healthcare workers who were entrusted to care for this lady at a local facility.

Ivey played a portion of the suspects live-stream during the press conference. In it, the women can be heard yelling at the woman and threatening to put her in a closet, as well as mocking her on camera for those who were watching.

Abusing an elderly person, or anyone for that matter, is disgusting enough, but to make matters worse they livestreamed the abuse, Ivey said. They actually put it up on a livestream platform so their friends could watch it, laugh about it, as they mocked this elderly person in her condition.

I will tell you not only are (the suspects) bags of crap, but the people who were on there laughing and mocking this poor lady, youre bags of crap. Ivey added after showing the video.

The two women -- 20-year-old ShyTonia Bishop and Jada Harris, 18, are each charged with abusing a disabled adult or elderly person, and video voyeurism. Harris faces an additional charge of illegal interception of communication.

Bond was set for Harris at $6,000, while Bishops was set at $4,000. Both suspects have posted bond and been released from the Brevard County Jail. Abuse of a disabled adult or elderly person is a 3rd-degree felony in Florida, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Ivey bemoaned the low bond amounts, noting they are set by the state.

If they let me do it, (the bond) would be when hell freezes over for these two, he said.

The assisted living facility where the suspects were employed was not identified, but Ivey credited them for doing everything right in immediately notifying his department of the incident and terminating the two women.

Ivey also noted the irony that the two suspects would receive better treatment from jail personnel than they gave the woman entrusted to their care.

I wouldnt let these two care for a pet cobra, he said, because it might bite them and die of scumbag poisoning.
Crimes caused by gang activity would result in longer prison sentences under legislation scheduled for consideration this week in the Alabama State House.

Attorney General Steve Marshall is backing the bill that he said would help police and prosecutors confront the violence and property crimes caused by gangs. Marshall said he is working alongside the Republican sponsors of the bill, Rep. Allen Treadaway of Jefferson County, former assistant chief of the Birmingham Police, and Sen. Will Barfoot, a Montgomery attorney.

Treadaways bill will be up for consideration Wednesday in the Alabama House Judiciary Committee, while the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider Barfoots bill. This is the sixth week of the legislative session, which can last for 15 weeks.

Marshall said the bill has two main objectives, to enhance sentences for crimes committed to support or promote a criminal gang, and to require minimum prison terms for carrying or using a gun during a gang-related crime.

Marshall spoke about the problem recently on Alabama Public Televisions Capitol Journal. The attorney general said violent crime is rising in cities and rural areas and said he has heard from mayors about the influence of gangs. Marshall noted that Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin publicly called for a truce in gang activity after five people were shot to death on a Friday and Saturday in September.

If youre a gang member engaged in gang activity resulting in crime, then we ought to enhance that punishment to create that deterrent effect for those that want to engage in this behavior, Marshall said on Capitol Journal. If youre going to engage in criminal activity with a gang and youve got a gun, were going to make sure you serve a minimum amount of time.

The bill would apply to acts committed to benefit, promote, or further the interest of a gang, which is defined as three or more people working in an alliance to engage in a pattern of criminal activity. The bill creates a definition of gang member and increases the penalties for their crimes.

If a gang member commits a Class A felony, the most serious category, they would serve at least 25 years in prison. If they committed a Class B, C, or D felony, they would be bumped up to the next highest category.

Any person who has a gun while doing any act to benefit or promote a gang would serve at least five years in prison, and 10 years if the weapon was fired during the act. The bill carries enhanced penalties for certain weapons like short-barreled shotguns and rifles and machine guns.

The bill also requires minors 16 or older to be prosecuted as an adult if they commit crimes to benefit gangs. State law already requires minors 16 and older to be tried in adult court if they are charged with a capital offense, other crimes involving serious injuries, and drug trafficking.

Besides the bill on gang activity, legislators are proposing other bills that will result in longer prison sentences. Last week, Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law a bill to require mandatory prison time for possession of one gram or more of pure fentanyl, the drug that is the leading cause of overdose deaths. A bill to reduce how much time state inmates can shave off their sentences by good time, or following the rules while in prison, will be a priority in the House this week, Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said. The Senate passed that bill in March. The Alabama District Attorneys Association is backing legislation to increase the penalties for gun possession by those barred from having guns because of a felony conviction and for using guns while committing violent crimes. Prosecutors also want to increase penalties for some lower-level felonies.

The calls for tougher criminal sentences come as Alabama contends with allegations by the federal government that its prisons hold men in conditions that violate the Constitution and with the rising costs of the correctional system, including the cost of new prisons.

Read more: Alabamas billion-dollar prison plan does not end the overcrowding

Alabama Senate passes restrictions on good time prison sentence reductions

Alabama prosecutors want mandatory prison for felons who violate gun prohibitions

This story was updated at 12:46 p.m. to say that both the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider the gang bill on Wednesday.
As Alabama lawmakers appear to warm up to the idea of Medicaid expansion, Arkansas has emerged as a potential model for the program.

The Alabama Hospital Association has previously stated they are working on an Alabama-specific model that draws from the best of other states, with Arkansas as a major source.

Arkansas expanded Medicaid in 2014, becoming one of the first southern states to do so. It provided health insurance to over 250,000 uninsured people making less than 138% of the poverty line, currently $34,307 a year for a household of three.

More from Alabama Reflector

But unlike states that enrolled the expansion population into existing Medicaid programs, Arkansas chose to do it differently. The state used its expansion dollars to buy private insurance for the uninsured Arkansas population.

Some states have tried to expand Medicaid using similar models, but Arkansas is the only state that has kept the private option alive.

Although Arkansas Medicaid program has gone through some transformation since its inception, it has managed to provide health insurance to the states working population while keeping costs at or below what the federal government requires.

Arkansas provides health insurance to people living under the 138% Federal Poverty Level by enrolling most qualifying residents in a private health plan. Those who are medically frail and need more medical care are generally enrolled into traditional Medicare, which helps keep plans in the private option more affordable.

The Private Option

Dr. Joe Thompson, the President & CEO at Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI), considered one of the architects behind Arkansass Medicaid expansion, said in an interview last week that they used Medicaid expansion as a tool to address some of the states problems in the commercial insurance sector.

By putting that guarantee purchaser (the federal government) in the individual market, we really stabilized our individual market, he said. And I think many times many key decisions are made in isolation without recognizing how they can, if used intentionally to stabilize your hospital system, increase the competition on your marketplace.

The state has been able to keep costs down by enrolling up to 80% of the Medicaid population in a private plan and 20% in traditional Medicaid fee-for-service, Thompson said. Once the state reaches 80% of enrollees in the private option, they automatically start enrolling new recipients under the traditional model.

Older residents and those who require specialized medical care, especially those in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, are enrolled in Medicaid.

Thompson said that private insurance companies also stand to benefit from expansion because the cost of uncompensated care is not shifted to them. He said that they directly benefit from the expansion because the uninsured individuals are still going to the hospital and to the emergency room.

But what the health care providers then have to do is they have to ask for higher reimbursement of their commercially insured people to offset the losses they have on their uninsured people, Thompson said.

Outcomes

A National Bureau of Economic Research 2019 study by Sarah Miller found that mortality rates in states that chose to expand and those that did not were similar before the implementation of the ACA expansions. But once the policy was put into effect, there were considerable decreases in mortality rates in the states that decided to expand, as opposed to those that did not.

According to the study, Alabama experiences roughly 192 deaths per year due to not expanding Medicaid. Arkansas, in comparison, averted 110 deaths due to expansion.

A 2018 report from ACHI said the private option in Arkansas had been successful in increasing access to healthcare for uninsured Arkansans, reducing uncompensated care costs for hospitals, and improving health outcomes for patients.

To give you an example of uncompensated care in our university medical system, before expansion, about 16% of their patients had no source of payments. After expansion that dropped down to 4%, Thompson said. So thats how much benefit the charity hospital got in the state, and the private hospitals felt an equal impact.

The study also compared the healthcare experiences of individuals enrolled in Medicaid and those in the private option in Arkansas.

Both groups had similar geographic access to providers and network of providers, but enrollees in the private option felt that they had better access to care than Medicaid enrollees.

Other outcomes were mixed. Medicaid enrollees had more emergency room visits, while private option enrollees had longer hospital stays. Private option enrollees received more clinical preventive services and disease management services and showed better to medication management, but Medicaid and private healths use of different billing codes did not allow for a direct analysis.

No significant differences were observed for pregnancy-related care or non-emergency medical transportation.

Louis Norris, a health insurance analyst at healthinsurance.org, said the report didnt show obvious advantages one way or the other.

It was kind of a balancing act, she said. Some people were getting, by some metrics, better access to care, although overall mortality did not differ. Pregnancy outcomes, there was no difference. So, youre on a lot more prescriptions if youre in a [private plan], but youre less likely to use the emergency room..

Loretta Alexander, the health policy director at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, said that 30% more children became insured as a result of their parents becoming insured.

Because typically, a lot of times when adults dont have insurance, they dont make sure that they sign their kids up for Medicaid. So just in them getting on the expansion, it allowed their kids to also get Medicaid, she said.

The winning argument

To expand Medicaid using the private option, Arkansas officials had to get a waiver from the federal government, and Thompson said they got the waiver approved by explaining that the state did not have the capacity to provide insurance under the traditional model.

Officials said the state did not have enough physicians in the Medicaid network to provide healthcare to over 200,000 people in Arkansas. Physicians in the Medicaid network cared for about 26,000 enrollees prior to expansion, and Thompson said they accepted the waiver to avoid a network adequacy crisis.

And our argument was  if we have to use the Medicaid provider network, were going to have to raise the payments across all of our Medicaid providers to get adequate coverage to where the commercial payers are, Thompson said.

He said that ACHI spent a lot of time studying the potential impacts and benefits of providing insurance through the private market, and he said every one of their predictions came true. There was increased competition in the insurance market, a guaranteed purchaser that lowered rates, a reduction in applications for disability benefits, and financially stabilizing hospitals.

Managed care vs fee-for-service

Medicaid benefits can be offered by fee-for-service (FFS), managed care or both.

With FFS, the state pays healthcare providers directly for each service provided to a Medicaid beneficiary.

With managed care, the state pays for a managed care plan for each enrolled person. The plan pays healthcare providers for all Medicaid services that the beneficiary needs, based on the plans contract with the state.

The managed care approach, utilized in 39 states and D.C., covers most Medicaid enrollees under the age of 65, including non-disabled children and adults. But just over half of Medicaids spending on benefits is for managed care.

Norris said that if the state contracts out with a private insurance company, it evens out the costs.

So, theyll give them $600 a month, $400 a month  whatever the capitated amount is  and then the state doesnt spend anything else. Its on the insurance company to manage that. And hopefully keep costs as low as possible, Norris said.

Managed care has not been widely used for high-cost populations such as people with disabilities. Additionally, some expensive services like long-term care may not be covered under managed care contracts, though its becoming more common.

Medicaid FFS pays doctors less than other private insurance, which can make it hard for Medicaid patients to find a doctor. Doctors may choose not to participate in Medicaid due to the low payment rates. On average, Medicaid pays doctors about two-thirds of what Medicare pays, but this varies depending on the state and the service provided.

Compared to fee-for-service, managed care became more popular because it provides more control and benefits for the state. It also allows for better accountability for outcomes and supports efforts to measure, report, and monitor performance, access, and quality of care. Managed care programs can also improve care management and coordination.

Iowas Medicaid Expansion

Other states have tried to expand Medicaid using private health insurance, but ultimately reverted to the traditional expansion model.

Iowa received a waiver from the federal government in late 2013 allowing the state to provide health insurance through a private option for residents living between 101% and 138% of the federal poverty level. Everyone under the 100% poverty level would be enrolled in the states traditional Medicaid program.

But Iowas model was short-lived. The two health insurance carriers in the state faced financial hardships as one insurer was liquidated in about a year, as the majority of people in Arkansas were enrolled in traditional Medicaid.

The state then switched to the traditional Medicaid model by putting enrollees under the 138% poverty level in Medicaid managed care, allowing the private insurers to manage care for the Medicaid population.

Arkansas avoided that problem because, much like Alabama, had a very low eligibility level for Medicaid eligibility. Only residents making 17% of the federal poverty level qualified Medicaid prior to expansion, much like Alabamas current 18%, Thompson said.

Thompson said the model wasnt successful in other states that used the private option because they already provided Medicaid services to residents up to the 100% poverty level.

So going from 100% to 138% didnt yield as many covered lives, and so the benefits probably werent as tangible and the leverage that the state had wasnt as great, Thompson said.

He said that for a state like Alabama, the number of people living between 18% of the poverty level and 138% would yield hundreds of thousands guaranteed payees into the insurance market.

So, its an opportunity to use that leverage to make some impacts in your insurance world, he said.
An unidentified body was found Saturday evening in the car of a Port Orange, Florida teacher who was last seen in October 2020, said the Volusia County Sheriffs Department.

The body was discovered hours after Robert Heikkas car was spotted submerged in a canal along Pioneer Trail, in the New Smyrna Beach area.

While positive ID has not officially been made, the Port Orange Police Department has been in contact with Mr. Heikkas family, read a social media post by the Sheriffs Office. Our thoughts go out to the Heikka family and friends this evening.

This is the latest update in a case thats gone cold ever since Heikka, a teacher at Creekside Middle School, did not show up for work on Oct. 26, 2020, said a spokesperson for the Port Orange Police Department at a press conference in December of 2020.

Heikka, who was 70 when he was last seen, worked in the Volusia County School District since 1989. He began teaching at Creekside Middle School in Port Orange in 2002.

Port Orange Police first got reports from his colleagues, who said it was out of character for Heikka to suddenly leave without saying anything, Detective Sgt. Steven Nagy said at the same press conference.

Nothing was missing from his home, he added.

The last place Heikka could be placed by investigators, Nagy said, was in the Cape Canaveral shores area on the evening of Oct. 24. He was spotted on a bank surveillance video, according to Nagy, who described it as an average transaction.

The Port Orange Police Department have been assisted in its investigation by the FBI, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and multiple sheriffs offices, including Volusia and Orange counties.

ccann@orlandosentinel.com

2023 Orlando Sentinel. Visit orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
What do you do when youre a student ambassador for your boarding school making public remarks at a serious milestone event and you have the blue blazer but dont have a necktie to wear? Head for the mall, some teens would say.

At the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville, youll summon the tech and 3D-print a tie yourself.

Thats what junior Chase Watson did before representing the student body at a signing ceremony this week marking a formal partnership between the still-new state technical school and nearby NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The school is open to students from across Alabama.

Watson, 18, of Slapout, near Montgomery, told the audience of students, faculty, political dignitaries and aerospace and defense company representatives that he decided to print the tie himself. They laughed out loud at classic Huntsville-style ingenuity, and Watson wore a big grin showing the tie to a reporter afterward.

From the seats, Watsons tie looked like any basic dark necktie complementing a blue blazer and light blue button-down shirt. Up close, it is a pattern of small hexagons linked together. Watson said he found the design at thingiverse.com and used the schools Prusa 3D Printer with the full support of printer room supervisor Daniel Elliott.

Watson was one of the student representatives at the signing ceremony that made the cyber tech and engineering school and NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center educational partners. Students from the school will be able to learn from a space center where 3D printing is already making rocket parts of the future.

As for his future, Watson is thinking college, mechanical engineering studies and then some kind of job in ... 3D printing. Hes followed the recent news about the March 23 launch of the Terran 1 3D printed rocket and 3D printed organs possibly solving the shortage in surgical transplant parts.

We thought of it as a last-minute save, Watson said of his tie. Now, he thinks it may have been much more.
One of the two Black Democrats who were expelled last week from the GOP-led Tennessee House was reinstated Monday after Nashvilles governing council voted to send him straight back to the Legislature.

The unanimous vote by the Nashville Metropolitan Council restores Rep. Justin Jones to office just four days after Republicans stripped him of his seat. Moments after the decision, Jones began marching to the Capitol several blocks away with hundreds of supporters.

When they tried to bury us, they didnt realize we were seeds, Jones told supporters at the Nashville courthouse before the vote.

Republicans banished the two lawmakers over their role in a gun-control protest on the House floor in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting.

The other lawmaker, Justin Pearson, could be reappointed Wednesday at a Wednesday of the Shelby County Commission.

The expulsions on Thursday made Tennessee a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy and propelled the ousted lawmakers into the national spotlight.

Jones appointment is an interim basis. Special elections for the seats will take place in the coming months. Jones and Pearson have said they plan to run in the special election.

Before the special council session was to begin, a couple of hundred people gathered in front of the Nashville courthouse, and more were pouring in. Some held signs reading, No Justin, No Peace. Inside the courthouse, a line of people waited outside the council chambers for the doors to open.

Rosalyn Daniel arrived early and waited in line to get a seat in the council chambers. She said she is not in Jones district but is a Nashville resident and concerned citizen.

I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, during the Civil Rights Movement, so I understand why this is so important, she said.

Republican House Speaker Cameron Sextons spokesperson, Doug Kufner, indicated that whoever is appointed to the vacancies by the Nashville and Shelby County governments will be seated as representatives as the constitution requires.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth and Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison said they will welcome back the expelled lawmakers if they are reinstated.

Tennessees constitution provides a pathway back for expulsion, they said in a statement. Should any expelled member be reappointed, we will welcome them. Like everyone else, they are expected to follow the rules of the House as well as state law.

Jones and Pearson quickly drew prominent supporters. President Joe Biden spoke with them, and Vice President Kamala Harris visited them in Nashville. The expelled lawmakers have filled out their legal teams. Eric Holder, who served as attorney general under former President Barack Obama, now represents Jones.

The world is watching Tennessee, attorneys for Jones and Pearson wrote to Sexton in a letter Monday. Any partisan retributive action, such as the discriminatory treatment of elected officials, or threats or actions to withhold funding for government programs, would constitute further unconstitutional action that would require redress.

A third Democrat targeted for expulsion, Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, also attracted national attention.

Political tensions rose when the three joined with hundreds of demonstrators who packed the Capitol last month to call for passage of gun-control measures.

As protesters filled galleries, the lawmakers 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 where six people were killed, including three children.

Johnson, who is white, was spared expulsion by a single vote. Republican lawmakers justified splitting their votes by saying Johnson had less of a role in the protest  she didnt speak into the megaphone, for example.

Johnson also suggested race was likely a factor in why Jones and Pearson were ousted but not her. She told reporters it might have to do with the color of our skin.

GOP leaders have said the expulsions  a mechanism used only a handful times since the Civil War  had nothing to do with race and instead were necessary to avoid setting a precedent that lawmakers disruptions of House proceedings through protest would be tolerated.

Expulsion has generally been reserved as a punishment for lawmakers accused of serious misconduct, not used as a weapon against political opponents.
A shooting Monday at a bank in downtown Louisville killed at least four people and wounded at least eight others, police said. The suspected lone shooter was also dead.

Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey told reporters officers who arrived on the scene encountered active gunshots still being fired inside the location at that time.

Officers exchanged gunfire with the shooter, who appeared to be a former employee of the bank, but it wasnt clear how he died.

We do not know exactly the circumstances of his death at this time, Humphrey said.

Humphrey said at least eight people were being treated for wounds, including two police officers. One officer and another of the wounded were in critical condition.

Police later said on a twitter that officers were on the scene of the shooting within minutes. Calls first came in for the shooting at the Old National Bank about 8:30 a.m.

In a tweet, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he was heading to the scene.

Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville, Beshear said.

The FBI said its agents were also responding to the shooting.

The shooting happened in a building on East Main Street not far from the Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is supporting Floridas effort to deny some Medicaid coverage to state residents who are transgender or nonbinary.

Last year, a Florida state agency decided to stop the states Medicaid program from covering puberty-blockers, hormone treatment and gender reassignment surgeries for people diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

A report from the agency, which has been criticized by many medical experts, claimed that such procedures did not clearly treat gender dysphoria and can have harmful effects. Many of the same procedures still are available, under Medicaid, to treat different conditions.

LGBTQ advocates sued Florida, claiming the agencys new approach is discriminatory.

A statement from Marshalls office claims that available scientific evidence does not support puberty blockers, hormone treatment, or gender-affirming surgery as safe and effective treatments for gender dysphoria.

Marshall said he does not believe that taxpayer dollars should be used for experimental medical interventions.

Eight other states have similar restrictions on Medicaid coverage, according to the Movement Advancement Project. Two others -- Mississippi and Arkansas prevent Medicaid from covering certain gender-affirming care for children.

Alabama does not currently block Medicaid coverage for health care related to gender dysphoria.

Marshall currently is defending an Alabama law that would ban many forms of gender-affirming care for children and minors in the state.
Multiple agencies searched this afternoon in the waters of the Coosa River for a man missing since shortly before midnight Wednesday.

Bryan Jeremiah Stamps was last seen Tuesday in Gadsden. Det. Lt. Scott Lumpkin said Stamps vehicle, a 2002 Honda Accord, was discovered at 11:50 p.m. at the apex of the Meighan Bridge in Gadsden in one of the westbound lanes, with the engine running.

Lumpkin said friends and family had not described Stamps as suicidal, and there was no indication that he jumped from the bridge. Officers attempted to locate his phone, with no success, and looked for him in several locations, including local hospitals, police said.

In fact, his vehicle had been found earlier in the week abandoned in the Tuscaloosa Avenue area, reportedly with transmission trouble.

A family member filed a missing persons report on Friday at around 5:30 p.m.

A boat is backed into the Coosa River at Gadsden's Coosa Landing Sunday, April 9, 2023, as part of a search for a missing man. (William Thornton / wthornton@al.com)

Gadsden Police Chief Lamar Jaggears said boat crews were arriving at Coosa Landing in Gadsden to begin a search this afternoon. However, the river current is too swift to use divers, he said.

Stamps is described as standing 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Boat crews from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Ball Play, Coates Bend, Hokes Bluff, and Etowah County are taking part in the search.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gadsden police at (256) 549-4500 or Detective Nick Keener at (256) 549-4634.

This post was modified at 5:36 p.m. CST April 9 to correct information about the persons cellphone.


By Choe Chong-dae



Throughout history, Azerbaijan's unique location at the crossroads of East and West endowed on it a pivotal role in facilitating trade and cultural exchange along the Silk Road, connecting Central Asia with Anatolia, the Black Sea and the West.



A recent archaeological discovery in the ancient city of Gabala has revealed the large extent of Azerbaijan's cultural and trade relations with the ancient Unified Silla Kingdom of Korea (668-935) as Silla traded with the Middle East. This historical evidence emphasizes Azerbaijan's significant role in the global network of trade and cultural exchange.



It is heartening to learn that the epic poem "Leyli and Majnun," penned by Nizami Ganjavi (1141-1209), the legendary Azerbaijani poet, philosopher and literary figure from the 12th century, was recently translated into Korean. The publication not only introduces Azerbaijani classical literature to Korean readers but also promotes cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Azerbaijan and Korea through the awareness and appreciation of Azerbaijani culture and literature in Korean society. In a sense, it is a positive step towards establishing stronger cultural ties between the two nations.



Azerbaijan is widely recognized for its promotion of multiculturalism, which emphasizes religious tolerance and cooperation between different faiths. The country has taken various measures to restore religious and cultural heritage sites that were destroyed in the past.



The country implemented policies and has demonstrated a strong commitment to multiculturalism, celebrating the diversity of its population which includes Azerbaijanis, Turks, Lezgins, Talysh and other minor ethnic groups. Azerbaijan recognizes and acknowledges the significance of its diverse population and considers it an integral part of the country's identity without prejudice. Irrespective of ethnicity, language or religion, Azerbaijan guarantees the rights of all citizens thus promoting social harmony and cohesion among different communities.



The remarkable legacy of Heydar Aliyev (1923-2003), the third president of Azerbaijan, cannot be overlooked. He is widely recognized as a powerful leader who led his people through complex historical and political challenges towards independence through indomitable determination. Aliyev's outstanding management skills and patriotism ensured that Azerbaijan achieved remarkable progress in various fields such as socioeconomics, science and technology, politics and culture.



This tremendous leader's extraordinary efforts to restore the country's historical memory and direct innovative energy toward reviving the national spirit provided the Azerbaijani people with a new and strengthened self-awareness. This return to their roots ultimately led to the establishment of an independent nation. As a result, he is known not just as the national leader of the Azerbaijani people but also the founder of the independent state of Azerbaijan.



To turn an independent Azerbaijan into a modern, powerful state with sustainable economic development, Aliyev determined the oil and gas strategy, which would lie at the heart of the fundamental transformation of the future political and economic reforms. To honor his legacy, the Azerbaijan government declared 2023 as "the year of Heydar Aliyev" in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of his birth.



Aliyev's remarkable leadership led Azerbaijan towards independence and prosperity, leaving an indelible mark on the country's statehood. His leadership reminds me of Park Chung-hee, the former president of Korea from 1963 to 1979 who implemented various outstanding economic policies that transformed Korea from a poor, agricultural nation into a modern, industrialized economy. Park's remarkable economic policies are frequently referred to as the "Miracle on the Han River."



Azerbaijan's rich history has been shaped by its strategic geographic location and diverse cultural heritage with a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures such as architecture, music, cuisine and customs that reflect its multiculturalism. This recognition of the significance of diversity in fostering unity and respect among communities has led to a promotion of cultural awareness, inclusivity and tolerance. Ultimately, tolerance is a vital virtue for cultivating positive relationships between different religions, nations and ethnic groups, not only in Azerbaijan but also in Korea.





Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association.


Easter Sunday marked the somber anniversary of a shooting in Birminghams W.C. Patton Park killed Areyelle Yarbrough and injured five others.

On Monday, the FBI and the Birmingham Police Department announced a $30,000 reward for information that leads to Yarbroughs killer or killers.

Patton Park is a place where our community members go to experience the calmness of nature, to exercise, and on the holidays to spend time with family and friends, said BPD spokesman Officer Truman Fitzgerald. On Easter Sunday 2021, this place of peace was transformed into a war zone as gunshots rang out.

Our community lost a beautiful soul that night in Areyelle Yarbrough, he said.

Areyelle Meishaun Yarbrough (Special to AL.com)

The five surviving victims ranged in age from 21 to 5.

Their lives were forever changed, Fitzgerald said, and we want them to know we are fighting for them as well.

The gunfire erupted just after 7 p.m. that Sunday, April 4, 2021, while hundreds, if not more, were gathered celebrating the holiday.

Officers arrived to find Yarbrough, 32, laying on the ground just outside the passenger door of her vehicle wounded by gunfire. She was pronounced dead outside vehicle, and those with her said she was trying to protect some of the children who were with her.

A witness said two women were sitting on top of a blue Dodge Charger when someone opened fire, striking the Charger and the two women.

She said one of those women was shot in the chest; the witness said the other was Yarbrough.

Then, multiple people started shooting. They didnt even know what they were shooting at, she said, estimating about 100 shots were fired.

Yarbrough was a graduate of Alabama A&M University graduate and currently working on her MBA. She was a manager over 12 employees at the Jefferson County Department of Revenue where she headed principal accounting for business and sale tax licensing.

The FBI and Birmingham police on April 10, 2023, announced a $30,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the 2021 Easter Sunday shooting at Patton Park. (Carol Robinson)

Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond and FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Birmingham office, Carlton Peeples, held a press conference Monday in Patton Park.

Thurmond called the park shooting senseless violence.

We have young lady who was here trying to enjoy Easter with family and friends who was shot by stray gunfire and lost her life, the chief said.

We know there were many other people in this park who witnesses what happened, he said. We know there are many others who know what happened and they know who is responsible.

We want to get those killers off the streets of Birmingham, Thurmond said.

Peeples agreed.

They were here on an Easter Sunday, a holiday that millions of Americans celebrate with friends and family, Peeples said. However, on that day, and every Easter going forward, the family of Miss Yarbrough will continue to mourn the loss of her life.

Time does not take away the pain of her loss, nor does time diminish our dedication to do everything we can to find her killer, he said.

In addition to the $30,000 reward, billboards by Lamar Advertising featuring Yarbroughs slaying and the reward will be on display beginning today and running for 30 days.

Residents living in zip codes 35022, 35212, 35217, 35207, 35206 will also be receiving targeted ads on Facebook and Instagram.

If you know the FBI, we have two things going for us in these types of cases  a very long memory and a dogged to commitment to run down every lead, Peeples said. Were seeing far too much violence in Birmingham, and no one can solve it alone.

Peeples emphasized the need for community involvement.

There were a lot of people in that park two years ago on Easter Sunday, he said. Someone saw something but maybe thought it wasnt worth passing along. Someone may know something but is maybe too scared to come forward. If you are one of those individualsI hope you considering sharing any information you have with investigators.

The FBI and Birmingham police on April 10, 2023, announced a $30,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the 2021 Easter Sunday shooting at Patton Park. (Carol Robinson)

We not only owe it to her family, he said, but we also owe it to this community.

Thurmond has previously said investigators believe members the Birmingham street gang - H2K or Hard to Kill  were behind the dozens of bullets fired in the park that day.

H2K became very prevalent with the Patton Park shooting, Thurmond said in a previous AL.com interview.

H2K has since been the target of Birmingham, county, state and federal investigations. Some leaders and members have been jailed on other charges, but those arrests have yet to yield enough information to make an arrest in the park shooting.

They havent shared any information hat would help us with this case at this point in time, the chief said.

Still, Thurmond said, he hopes the passing of time will change the minds of those who know what happened that night.

We hope that some of the people involved could possibly be in jail or things have changes in the past two years that would make somebody more akin to coming forward and giving information, the chief said. People are potentially scared of retaliation if they come forward, but the thing is, there are killers on our streets that still remain. Until people come forward, that narrative isnt going to change.

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764, Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777, or the FBIs tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324.
Four people have been charged following a multi-agency investigation that authorities say involved four people using stolen identities to make identifying documents for immigrants here illegally.

According to the Decatur police, the investigation began after tips in January and February.

On February 8, investigators with the Decatur polices vice/narcotics unit, working with the departments financial crimes unit, the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals and the Social Security Administration, executed a search warrant at 1005 Honeysuckle Lane S.W.

According to police, investigators found inside the residence several forms of stolen identification, as well as identifying documents that had been manufactured.

Arrested were:

Estela Pablo, 32, of Decatur, charged with trafficking in stolen identities, held on $150,000 cash bond.

Agustin Tzep-Pablo, 27, of Decatur, charged with trafficking in stolen identities and tampering with physical evidence, on a $150,300 cash bond.

Miguel Pablo Guitierrez, 43, of Decatur, charged with trafficking in stolen identities and giving a false name to law enforcement, held on a $150,300 cash bond.

Police said Agustin Ramos-Pablo, 33, of Decatur, was not at the residence during the execution of the search warrant. On April 7, investigators arrested him at his residence. He was transported to the Morgan County Jail and held on $250,000 cash bond.
A Columbiana man has been charged with attempted murder and could face more charges following a shooting Sunday afternoon in Jackson County.

Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen said the incident happened at about 4 p.m. outside Foodland in Stevenson on U.S. 72.

Investigators say a man and woman, who had been in a relationship, were talking in the parking lot. Channing Anwara Mitchell, 30, of Columbiana, is a relative of the woman, Harnen said.

Mitchell went to his vehicle, retrieved his gun and began firing rounds, aiming at the ex-boyfriend.

However, one bullet struck a man getting a drink out of a machine at the store. Other rounds went into several vehicles and the building, Harnen said.

They were sprayed all over the place, he said.

The shooting victim, wounded in the lower body, was transported to Chattanoogas Erlanger Hospital and is expected to recover. Mitchell turned himself later to Stevenson police.

He has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, shooting into an unoccupied vehicle and shooting into an occupied building. Mitchell is being held without bond.
An Alabama State Trooper is recovering after he was shot in the line of duty following a Sunday-evening pursuit in south Alabama.

Authorities on Monday identified the trooper as Cpl. Jeremy Alford.

The exchange of gunfire left one suspect dead, and two other people injured.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Hal Taylor visited Alford at the hospital Monday morning.

I am extremely relieved and thankful to share that he is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery, Taylor said. Cpl. Alford acted with true courage and heroism over the course of the incident and was able to secure the scene and ensure public safety while injured.

With nearly three decades in law enforcement, Cpl. Alford is a true professional and public servant, dedicated to keeping the citizens of his local community and the state of Alabama safe, Taylor said. I ask that you please continue to keep Cpl. Alford and his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers as we all look forward to a speedy recovery.

Trooper Sgt. Jeremy Burkett said the incident began at 6:30 p.m. Sunday Alford tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on Interstate 65 in Conecuh County. The driver failed to stop, and a pursuit ensued.

The chase traveled into Escambia County where the suspect vehicle left the road.

Once off the roadway, an officer-involved shooting occurred, Burkett said a news a release. He did not elaborate on how many people, or who, fired shots.

Burkett said one person died, and two others were injured. The injured were taken to an undisclosed hospital.

The name of the slain suspect has not yet been released.

The State Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe. Once complete, the findings will be turned over the Escambia County District Attorneys Office.
An Alabama State Trooper was injured, and another person killed when gunfire erupted following a police chase in south Alabama Sunday evening.

Trooper Sgt. Jeremy Burkett said the incident began at 6:30 p.m. when a trooper tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on Interstate 65 in Conecuh County. The driver failed to stop, and a pursuit ensued.

The chase traveled into Escambia County where the suspect vehicle left the road.

Once off the roadway, an officer-involved shooting occurred, Burkett said a news a release. He did not elaborate on how many people, or who, fired shots.

Burkett said one person died, and two others were injured. The injured were taken to an undisclosed hospital.

The trooper was also struck by gunfire and taken to an unnamed hospital for medical treatment. The extent of the troopers injuries, or those of the other two people, was not released.

The State Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe. Once complete, the findings will be turned over the Escambia County District Attorneys Office.

No additional information was released.
A spokesperson for the United Mine Workers of America said the union does not expect a move to decertify it at Tuscaloosa Countys Warrior Met Coal to stand.

Phil Smith, chief of staff from the UMWA, said a petition filed last week with the National Labor Relations Board will not pass muster.

The petition was filed on April 6, according to the NLRB website. Attempts to reach the NLRB and Warrior Met Coal for comment were not immediately successful.

According to the NLRB website, employees in a workplace may file a petition for decertification if they believe support for a union has diminished. An election can be held after collecting signatures from at least 30% of workers in a unit.

A majority of votes in an election decides the outcome. The NLRB lists 795 employees affected in the Warrior Met Coal case.

The petition comes a month after union members at Warrior Met Coal began returning to work after a 23-month strike, believed to be the longest in Alabama history.

The union offered an unconditional return to work in February after months of stalemate in the labor talks.

The strike began April 1, 2021, when approximately 1,100 union members walked off the job, seeking better pay and benefits that they say were part of an earlier contract negotiated under Warrior Mets corporate predecessor.

According to the union, concessions to keep the company afloat back in 2016 were not restored in subsequent contract offers.

Smith referred other questions to an earlier statement in the pro-union Valley Labor Report by the UMWAs director of communications, Erin Bates.

Its unfortunate that this is happening at the very moment our members are going back to work and all parties are trying to move forward and the fact is that the companys consistent refusal to bargain in good faith from the outset of this process has created an atmosphere where this kind of union-busting could exist, Bates said.

We certainly hope that no management personnel are encouraging or participating in this effort, which would be a blatant illegal act.

According to the NLRB, 311 decertification petitions were filed last year in the U.S., with 93 lost by unions and 54 won by them. The majority of petitions were withdrawn.


By Choo Jae-woo



On March 19, a news report alleging North Korea's tactical nuclear weapons test caught nuclear pundits around the world off guard. It was particularly shocking for its strategic implications from two perspectives. One, is the completion of North Korea's tactical nuclear weapons system, if, in fact, it is factually true. The other is the South's apparent increased vulnerabilities to the North's tactical attacks due to nuclear warheads or biochemical canisters. The South's vulnerabilities are obvious to all by the fact its standing defense system and deterrence capabilities are not designed to counter such attacks from the North.



If North Korea is, as alleged, capable of launching tactical short-range ballistic nuclear missiles from silos, coupled with a complete and perfected command-and-control system, it will push the South Korean people's desire for their own nuclear weapons to another level. Already a drastic rise in public support for having our own nuclear weapons was demonstrated by two different survey results. A Jan. 31 survey by Korea Gallup showed that 77 percent of respondents were in favor of nuclear weapons, an increase of nearly 10 percentage points from the Jan. 1 survey conducted by Hankook Research.



In the meantime, the Korean government has taken two different approaches to North Korean nuclear threats. One is to consolidate the U.S.' commitment to extended nuclear deterrence. The other is to amend the Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation of 2015. In the latter scenario, South Korea would seek a provision allowing it to reprocess its spent nuclear fuel and the enrichment of uranium. The Agreement still abides by the requirement of the Atomic Energy Act (as amended), and stipulates that with U.S. permission, Korea can reprocess U.S.-original spent fuel as well as spent fuel from South Korea's U.S.-designed reactors.



It is apparent that the United States and Korea have been in close consultation on the question of the U.S. guarantee of nuclear security to its ally. Since South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's inauguration last May, one of the issues he immediately went after was to verify and confirm the U.S.' commitment to extended nuclear deterrence. Korea's new president felt the need to clarify this for one clear reason: The nuclear deterrence strategy that the two countries had agreed on, also known as the Tailed Deterrence strategy, was in 2013.



The strategy now seems outdated against the North's pre-emptive nuclear strikes that can come from mobile launchers, silos, submarines and others alike. An updated version of the strategy has been under discussion by the two allies since last fall. While they are working to further improve the information-sharing system, a new point is proactively also being sought. It is about designing a set of responses befitting to various nuclear crisis contingencies per launcher type (e.g. silos, mobile and submarines) and nuclear warheads (e.g. tactical, strategic and hydrogen). For this reason, the Korean government opposes the public demand for nuclearization.



Nevertheless, the government's persistent demand for an amendment to the existing civilian nuclear cooperation agreement already sounds controversial. While the Korean government officially rejects the idea of becoming a nuclear weapons state, the implications of a revision speak otherwise. It calls for granting Korea the right to reprocess spent fuel and enrich uranium. It is based on the fact that Korea is fast running short of storage for its ever-growing nuclear waste.



Washington is well aware of the situation but still reluctant to do something about it for two political reasons. The U.S. is concerned about going against its nonproliferation policies should it grant fuel-making technologies to Korea, not to mention nuclear materials for fuel or nuclear weapons. Furthermore, Washington has contended the latter's possible negative impact on denuclearization talks with Pyongyang.



From the Korean perspective, the only way to meet the challenges from the aforementioned three domains is by Korea having reprocessing and enrichment facilities. As an act of deterrence, these facilities will place Korea in the middle phase of nuclear weapons building capacity. It will somewhat satiate the Korean public's appetite for nuclear weapons and alleviate their fear of the North's growing nuclear threat. Along with extended nuclear deterrence in place, it could work towards our own advantage as it may somewhat offset the advantages the North feels that it has in its self-proclaimed nuclear power status at denuclearization talks.



The Korean government's concerns about growing stockpiles of spent nuclear fuel outpacing storage space will be drastically resolved. Had Korea had small nuclear power programs with less than 10 reactors, Korea's argument for reprocessing or enrichment would have been financially unworthy and not justifiable. However, it is a country with 24 reactors and is the fifth largest user of nuclear power globally. Korea plans to build more nuclear plants but no storage facilities. At the current production rate of nuclear waste, it will reach its storage capacity limit starting in 2031.



The ROK-U.S. alliance must confront the challenges stemming from the nuclear waste-associated problems. Reprocessing and enrichment facilities should come under the supervision of ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, replacing the existing civilian-led High-Level Bilateral Commission. The Command can keep enriched uranium from military use. The U.S. Forces in Korea must secure a stable supply of electricity for its sophisticated weapons systems.



An enrichment program can fortify the U.S.' extended nuclear deterrence programs with weapons-grade uranium readily available in Korea. The reality is that the U.S. can afford only 100 tactical nuclear weapons for regions other than Europe. It is an insufficient amount to counter North Korea's tactical nuclear attacks alone. It will be a memorable 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance should they be materialized.





Choo Jae-woo (jwc@khu.ac.kr) is a professor of international relations at Kyung Hee University and director of the China Center at the Korea Research Institute for National Security. He was a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution.


A consensus has been reached by the legal panels at the alphabet soup media outlets  the people who consider "consensus" to be synonymous with "proof." They've looked at Alvin Bragg's charging document and are less than impressed with the strength of his legal reasoning. Their reaction was something like: Bragg investigated Trump for two years, upended our legal system, and launched a media circus for this? This nothingburger is all he's got?

District Attorney Bragg charged President Trump

with 34 stacked misdemeanor charges of business document errors,

which are past their statute of limitations,

and are bumped up to felony violations,

with the claim they were done to hide a felony,

which is still hidden because Bragg is keeping it a secret from the court and the defendant.

That's apparently how it's done in New York.

Is Alvin Bragg so much of an amateur that he didn't realize that a charging document has to actually charge a crime? Does he think he can arrest and book a citizen without telling him what crime he's accused of  like what they used to do in the good old USSR?

But Bragg didn't stop there. He also asked the judge to set a trial date for January 2024  letting the defense know that they have eight months to prepare a defense for a crime he hasn't disclosed. It's only a coincidence that January of next year is when the presidential primary season will be spooling up. I'm amazed that Bragg thinks he can get away with such sloppy work, given the scrutiny he's under. Does he think he's Kamala Harris or something?

And then there's the Pandora's box he just opened. Unless the courts put a rapid end to this clown show, he has put the Clintons, Bidens, Obamas, and Pelosis in legal jeopardy  by forever changing the rules of political discourse and criminal justice in America. If the Dems are going to change the rules in their rabid pursuit of The Donald, it's only appropriate that we review our tactics in light of the new rules. By the way, did you hear that Barack Obama may have received millions of dollars in illegal campaign contributions from the Chinese? I hope he doesn't have a bunch of campaign paperwork errors that can be stacked on top of that.

Here's my question: does any of Alvin Bragg's treatment of President Trump constitute a civil rights violation? We actually have a law against that. Its title is "MISCONDUCT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT & OTHER GOVERNMENT ACTORS -- Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law" (18 USC 242). It states:

This provision makes it a crime for someone acting under color of law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.

Has Bragg run afoul of the 4th Amendment? I like this passage:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation[.]

What exactly is the "probable cause" when Bragg won't say what the crime is? Is there any chance that Bragg or his minions pulled a "Clinesmith" with their sworn affidavits to get search warrants? If they lied, they're criminals under the above stated statute. The fact that a judge signed off on the warrant doesn't make it legal  it makes the judge either a prosecution witness or a criminal himself.

Then there's this passage from the 5th Amendment:

... nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law ...

Is charging Trump with a crime that isn't a crime Bragg's idea of "due process"? Will a jury of his peers see it the same way?

There's also this one from the 6th Amendment:

... and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

When Bragg dragged Trump from Florida to New York, and booked him without telling him the underlying felony, was he informing Trump of the "nature and cause of the accusation"? Is he denying Trump "the assistance of counsel for his defense" if Trump's legal team doesn't know what they're defending him against?

Finally, there's also the 14th Amendment. I like this passage:

... nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

When Bragg promised to "get Trump," even before any crime was alleged, was that his idea of "equal protection"? Again, will a jury of his peers see it that way? Did Bragg miss the class in law school where they explained that the 14th Amendment was written to protect citizens from precisely what Bragg is doing  picking the man and then looking for the crime? Does he realize that when he promised to "get Trump," he announced his intent to commit a crime, and when he indicted Trump, he committed that crime  all under the color of law?

Alvin Bragg could face criminal prosecution by the Justice Department if it deems the damages serious enough  like interfering in a presidential election (we call that insurrection now). Just in case Bragg doesn't know, the statute of limitations for 18 USC 242 is seven years. He has until April of 2030 to wait for a knock on his door by a friendly federal SWAT team  that being the way it's done now. Is there any chance we'll have a Republican-appointed A.G. sometime before 2030  one that wants to clean up the corruption? Did Bragg give thought to any of that?

I've been lobbying for some time for 18 USC 242 to be used to rein in government overreach. I think Bragg would be a fantastic test case. It would be a clear message that we are still a self-governed country (if we are), and not to be trifled with.

What can Alvin Bragg look forward to after his house of cards collapses? Will the radical left still love him now that they see he couldn't even write a cohesive indictment? I doubt it. Will the Dems still love him when Barack and Joe are fitted for their orange jumpsuits? Probably not. Will the Republicans love him when this stunt blows up in his face like an exploding cigar? Absolutely not, though there will be some comic relief. We love the rule of law too much to ever celebrate this perversion of criminal justice.

Buckle up, Alvin. You're about to find out what the left does with useful idiots who are long on stupid and short on useful. See Al Franken, Andrew Cuomo, Michael Avenatti, and soon to be Joe Biden.

John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He has written for American Thinker and American Free News Network. He can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com.

Image: Alvin Bragg. Credit: CBS News via YouTube, CC BY 3.0.
The law that redefined death in 1981, referred to as the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA), is being revised. The UDDA states that death by neurologic criteria must consist of "irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brainstem." However, in actual practice, doctors examine only the brainstem. The result is that people are being declared dead even though some still have detectable brainwaves, and others still have a part of the brain that functions, the hypothalamus. Lawyers have caught on, pointing out in lawsuits that the whole brain standard was not met for their clients. As a result, the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) is working on updates to the UDDA based on proposals from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN).

In the interest of preventing lawsuits, the AAN is asking that the neurologic criteria of death be loosened even further and standardized across the United States. The revised UDDA is referred to as the RUDDA. Below is the proposal drafted at the February session of the ULC, which will be debated this summer:

Section  1. [Determination of Death] An individual who has sustained either (a) permanent cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or; (b) permanent coma, permanent cessation of spontaneous respiratory functions, and permanent loss of brainstem reflexes, is dead. A determination of death must be made in accordance with accepted medical standards.

Notice that the new neurological standard under (b) does not use the term "irreversible," nor does it include the loss of whole-brain function. The term "permanent" is being defined to mean that physicians do not intend to act to reverse the patient's condition. Thus, people in a coma whose prognosis is death will be declared dead under this new standard. An unresponsive person with a beating heart on a ventilator is not well, but he is certainly not dead! The Catholic Medical Association and the Christian Medical and Dental Association have written letters to the ULC protesting these changes.

In addition, the AAN proposes that there be no requirement for informed consent before initiating brainstem-reflex testing. One of the tests is called the apnea test. During this exam, the patient is removed from the ventilator for 810 minutes, attempts to breathe are monitored, and carbon dioxide in the blood is measured. This test has absolutely no benefit for the patient. It can only cause harm, as rising levels of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream cause an increase in intracranial pressure, which is hugely detrimental for a brain-injured patient. The idea that there will be no informed consent requirement for this potentially harmful exam violates the ethical principles of autonomy, justice, beneficence, and non-maleficence.

The UDDA has been controversial since its inception in 1981, and experts on both sides of the issue admit that it has serious flaws. Most notably, organ donors declared dead under its criteria are, in fact, still alive. The heart beats, lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide, kidneys produce urine, livers remove toxins, children go through puberty, pregnant women gestate babies, hair grows, and in many cases the brain and body communicate to regulate life-sustaining functions. Organ donors declared dead under the UDDA do not meet the Dead Donor Rule (DDR) and are exploited for body parts.

In 2018, Harvard Medical School hosted "Defining Death." At this watershed medical conference about "organ transplantation and the 50-year legacy of the Harvard report on brain death," the experts determined that the UDDA was not true to a biological definition of death and the DDR was violated as a result.

These revelations about UDDA and DDR inconsistencies are not new. In the 2008 affirmation of the UDDA, "Controversies in the Determination of Death: A White Paper by the President's Council on Bioethics," the chairman, Edmund D. Pellegrino, M.D., pointed this out. "Ideally," he wrote in his minority dissent, "a full definition would link the concept of life (or death) with its clinical manifestations as closely as possible," and the UDDA does not satisfy these objective findings. He stated: "The only indisputable signs of death are those we have known since antiquity, i.e., loss of sentience, heartbeat, and breathing; mottling and coldness of skin; muscular rigidity; and eventual putrefaction as the result of generalized autolysis of body cells."

ULC commissioner James Bopp, National Right to Life Committee, argues that people declared dead under the neurologic criterion of the UDDA are entitled to the same protections as unborn babies. He states these are an "identical debate, just a different context." Thus, those who vigorously defend life as starting at conception (i.e., at the level of cells) are inconsistent when they accept the UDDA whole-brain definition of death.

In May of 2021, Alan Shewmon, M.D. and 107 experts in medicine, bioethics, philosophy, and law recommended that the UDDA be revised but stated that the RUDDA was not the way to do it. Shewmon has documented 175 cases of people meeting the neurological standard for death who continued to live on, some for over twenty years. He has also reported and testified in court on behalf of "brain-dead" children, most notably Jahi McMath. Although legally dead in California, Jahi experienced puberty, which requires brain and body interaction, and even started to recover before she received her second death certificate five years later. Many have even recovered and have gone on to live normal lives after a diagnosis of "irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem."

The ULC solicits expert opinions and suggestions on the proposed changes to the UDDA. We believe that the changes being proposed to the UDDA will only benefit transplant stakeholders at the expense of the rights of patients and families. Declaring a comatose, brain-injured patient dead to be able to harvest his organs is an issue of concern to every American, especially since roughly 170 million people are registered as organ donors (see "Cherish Your Life! DON'T Be a Registered Organ Donor"). Shewmon put it best: "Just as cigarette ads are required to contain a footnote warning of health risks, ads promoting organ donation should contain a footnote along these lines: 'Warning: it remains controversial whether you will actually be dead at the time of the removal of your organs.'" The public deserve a voice at the table before a law is passed that takes away their right to life.

Heidi Klessig, M.D. is a retired anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, and Christopher W. Bogosh, RN-BC, B.Th., is a psychiatric mental health registered nurse and author. They are observers to the Uniform Law Commission on the RUDDA, and their work may be found at respectforhumanlife.com.

Image: ElisaRiva via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Squad stalwart [New York] Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [AOC] says shes willing to file articles of impeachment against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for failing to report decades of luxury trips with a billionaire GOP donor  [saying] I think this is an emergency. I think that this is a crisis. I think weve had a crisis for some time on the Supreme Court.

--New York Post, April 7, 2023

The Democrat News-Media Complex (the DNC) has discovered another intolerable crisis that they hope may enable them to impeach the only black male, Clarence Thomas, on the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in order to remove him from that position.

That's so that Joe Biden can put perhaps another black woman on the court who doesnt know what a woman is, because that, not expertise in the Constitution, is the primary qualification for a SCOTUS seat by the Biden administration. AOC, given her zeal for social justice [that is, injustice], says she is willing to file the articles of impeachment herself. One might normally think that removing the only black male on the Court is a clear case of racism, but it is not because AOC is a Democrat and socialist and Justice Thomas is a Republican. Anyone who disagrees is a racist.

There are in fact two crises, one more longstanding and one more immediate, that have been unhinging AOC and other Democrats for quite some time.

The first and longstanding crisis is that since there are more Republican than Democrat justices on the Court right now, Democrats do not always get their way, which in their minds is a threat to democracy itself.

The second more immediate crisis is that Justice Thomas and his wife Ginni have accepted lavish gifts, in the form of cruises around the world, for the past two decades from a major GOP donor. Call this the cruises crisis! This article deals only with the more recent intolerable crisis that Justice Thomas and his wife took cruises with a friend.

There are, however, a few not-so-minor problems with the case for impeachment that are tacitly acknowledged by the Democrat responses to the cruises crisis. The main problem is that as NBC News, not exactly a bastion of right-wingers, but, in fact, a left-leaning station, has reported, there has for many years been

a loophole that allowed Supreme Court justices to avoid disclosing certain gifts  including travel  funded by their friends . The federal judiciary just last month announced in a letter to lawmakers that it had tightened its rules for what judges and justices need to include in annual financial disclosure statements.

Since Boston University is, apparently, better at teaching dancing than it is at teaching what legal loopholes are, Comrade AOC does not appear to grasp that one cannot impeach Justice Thomas for passing through a loophole that existed when he took those cruises.

Prof. Stephen Gillers of the New York University law school, who, unlike most dancers, actually knows something about the law, does, however, understands this:

"In my view, before the recent amendments, the situation was sufficiently vague to give Thomas a basis to claim that reporting was not required.

In other words, changes have recently been made to close this loophole, but before that Justice Thomas could reasonably claim to have done nothing wrong under existing rules. That does not, of course, prevent Comrade AOC and other Democrats from wanting to impeach Justice Thomas for rules that they have not fabricated yet. Maybe comrade AOC and what remains of the Democrat Party will try to get him retroactively next.

Indeed, although Comrade Sen. Dick Durbin, in the Durbin Statement on Reports of Justice Clarence Thomas Acceptance of Undisclosed Luxury Gifts from Republican Megadonor, may not grasp this himself, having been too distracted trying to find an insurrection and other Trump crimes against humanity that never happened, has already tacitly admitted that there is no legal basis to impeach or punish Justice Thomas,

Todays Pro Publica report reveals that Justice Thomas has for years accepted luxury travel on private yachts and jets and a litany of other gifts that he failed to disclose.  Todays report demonstrates, yet again, that Supreme Court Justices must be held to an enforceable code of conduct, just like every other federal judge. The Pro Publica report is a call to action, and the Senate Judiciary Committee will act.

That is, comrade Durbins call for the Senate Judiciary Committee to act and create enforcable rules governing the behaviour of Supreme Court Justices acknowledges that those rules do not exist at present.

Checkmate!

Although there is a prima facia case to be made that such rules should be tightened, it is worth pointing out that this case is not airtight. For there are reasons why one might not want to tighten these kinds of rules on SCOTUS justices, namely, that any such rules might be used by unhinged partisan dancers in Congress to remove SCOTUS justices on spurious grounds, thereby violating the Separation of Powers act of the Constitution.

Further, if such rules are put in place, one will find that when Democrat appointees violate the rules there is no problem and what passes for our news media cannot understand what the fuss is about. On the other hand, when Republican appointees violate the rules, or even when they dont but are accused of doing so, it will be a crisis and an emergency, necessitating impeachment and, perhaps, even riots.

If the current crop of Democrats had, instead of giving themselves over to theatre and hyperbole, including claims of fake insurrections and fake legal cases against their political opponents in order to destroy civil liberties and establish a totalitarian state, while neglecting the even worse sins on their own side of the aisle, exhibited greater standards of integrity, it might be possible to contemplate new ethics rules for SCOTUS justices.

Unfortunately, the Democrats have amply demonstrated that they cannot be counted on the administer ethics rules and the rules of law fairly.

There is an additional irony to this story too delicious to ignore, namely, that Comrade AOC is herself currently facing a House ethics investigation over gifts she took for the Met Gala. Comrade AOC wore a striking white dress with blood-red Tax the Rich lettering on the back but she only paid the designer after the House Ethics Office asked the congresswomans office about the garment. Her Eminence was also given a handbag, shoes, jewellery, makeup, transportation, and ready-room services that she didnt initially disclose. The tickets to the event were $30,000 each. Her fiance was also given gifts. Needless to say, however, none of this is any problem for the same reason cited earlier, namely, that she is a Democrat and, in addition, because, as a socialist, she needs to get used to being given free stuff produced by somebody else.

If, however, Clarence Thomas had been given the very same dress, shoes and jewelry and worn them to the gala it would be an eyeball-popping mouth-frothing threat to Democracy itself crisis and calls for impeachment.

Image: USDA, via Flickr // public domain
It probably isnt lost on most readers that conservatives arent always the best at articulating grand visions for the future or for the course of the country. Conservatives are very good at diagnosing problems and lobbying for the negation of those problems, but not always good at crafting an alternative solution or visionary agenda to counter these problems, the problems caused by leftists. Woodrow Wilson had his 14 points and the League of Nations, FDR had the New Deal, LBJ had The Great Society, and the World Economic Forum has the Great Reset.

If America makes it to 2024 (and I say if because, at this point, it is not guaranteed that American civilization will survive until the next election, as it may collapse for any number of reasons before that time), it is clear to me that a grand vision that is equal to or exceeds the left wing grand visions mentioned previously is needed, as a conservative alternative vision in 2024 may be Americas last shot at saving itself from plunging into the abyss. That is why I am proposing something like a return to Enumerated Powers America.

What does this mean? what might it look like? Its simple: America must return to the pre-progressive era of the early 20th century. American government must be reduced to the size it was for the first century and a half of its existence, it must be restored to the ideal government that the founders laid out in the Constitution, and must never again be allowed to go outside of the size or scope that the founders envisioned. Government, in essence, must return to only performing the duties that the Constitution explicitly demands and allows them, and absolutely no more. It must be a government that looks like the one described by the Enumerated Powers in Article I, section 8 of the US Constitution.

According to the Constitution, the federal government is only supposed to have 18 inherent powers. These powers are reserved for the federal government because they are things only the federal government can do, with the idea that the individual states can do everything else on their own, without the federal government intruding on their daily business. Clause 1, for instance, states that, The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the united states, but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States. Notice that the founders only intended for enough tax revenue to be raised to A.) pay the national debt and B.) provide for the common defense, which means fund the military. Nowhere does this clause mention entitlement programs that will go insolvent in a few years and are increasingly bankrupting the American people, like Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP (food stamps) etc, schemes which have become mandatory for some reason.

In clause 11 of this section, the Constitution grants the federal government the power to go to war if, and only if, it formally declares war, with the consent of congress: to declare war, grant letters of marquee and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water. That means that, technically, the Biden Administrations proxy war with Russia, and the endless supply of military armaments to the Ukrainian military from the United States military could be construed as unconstitutional, because Biden never actually declared war against Russia. Other powers granted to the federal government include things like maintaining an army, a navy, militias, establishing post offices, etc.

What do the Enumerated Powers not permit the federal governments control over? Well, issues like education, healthcare, energy, the environment, transportation, tax collecting, and so forth clearly do not fall under the constitutional purview of the federal government. So that means that nearly all of the existing administrative state can and should be overhauled, dismantled, and abolished. There are 15 cabinet offices in the Executive Branch of the US government. All but 5 (the departments of State, Treasury, Defense, Homeland Security, and Justice) should be abolished, because these five departments are the only ones that are relevant to the federal governments Enumerated Powersand the only ones that do anything remotely close to the duties of the federal government.

All the rest of the administrative state (the departments of education, energy, transportation, agriculture, commerce, labor, health and human services, housing and urban development, veterans affairs, and the interior) and the additional agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, should be abolished, immediately. That is a monumental task and an uphill battle, but we are discussing a vision that may take a long time to be implemented. On the top of the list, the Education and Environmental Protection agencies must go first. If someone cannot tell that the Education department must be done away with, for instance, which is the reason that things like Critical Race Theory, Comprehensive sexuality education, and social-emotional learning are being taught in public schools, and the reason that public schools are not motivated or incentivized to change anything no matter how much pushback they get from parents, then they are not paying attention. Parents and good teachers should be demanding the abolition of the DOE.

And the reason that all these other departments can be expunged from the government is because the Tenth Amendment of the Bill of Rights clearly states: the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. The Constitution clearly does not permit the federal government any say over how the individual states determine their policies or govern themselves in relation to education, energy, their environmental landscape, or nearly anything else that the modern government seeks to control. Why are so many so blind to these obvious facts? These ideas are not revolutionary; the only time they were revolutionary was when a small group of American patriots first unveiled them to the world in 1790. Ever since then, they have served as the basis for the freest and most prosperous nation in the world, if not the history of the world.

And what has happened since the turn of the last century? Congress, who the Enumerated Powers primarily applied to, has ceded most of their constitutional authority and power to the administrative state, and have allowed the administrative state to expand unabated and exponentially since then, to the point where a few government agencies staffed by unelected bureaucrats are making the bulk of the laws today that all Americans have to follow. The only way for the country to survive is if Joe Bidens America returns to Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Franklins America, Enumerated Powers America.

Graphic credit: public domain
The swing state of Wisconsin has been called out for at least one vote-rigging scheme that has swung elections.

But there's more than just Zuckerbucks, a privately funded entity that invaded public election spaces without voter consent in an act the state's special counsel office said amounted to 'bribery.'

According to JustTheNews, there's also this:

A Wisconsin lawmaker is questioning whether it was legal for a political action committee to pay people to encourage others to vote for liberal Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz in the state Supreme Court election in the latest mobilization tactic to raise integrity concerns in the battleground state. Wisconsin Takes Action, a project of Organizing Empowerment PAC, held live Zoom training sessions during the Wisconsin Supreme Court race , instructing potential "community mobilizers" on how to reach out to people to encourage them to vote and get paid hundreds of dollars for their outreach efforts.

Like the Zuckerbucks operation, the Wisconsin Takes Action group sounded innocent enough in its aims. It paid activists $30 to download their app and then contact 75 of their family and friends to urge them to get out and vote, even offering them pre-done message templates to use. In return, for each group of 75, (controlling for 15 of them), it would even assess how successful their efforts were in getting people to vote. After that, it would issue a series of gift cards either to a variety of retailers or a pre-paid Mastercard as a reward for their efforts:

From Feb. 22 to March 19, mobilizers were to create their lists and contact the 60 people to ask if they were registered to vote. If the mobilizers did this, then they would receive a $60 gift card from their choice of various retailers or a prepaid Mastercard. The 60 contacts were then to be contacted again between March 20 and March 30 to be encouraged to vote early, which would get the mobilizers another $65 gift card. Then, between March 31 and April 2, mobilizers were to contact the 60 people again to ensure they had a plan to vote, which would earn a $70 gift card. Finally, both the day before and on Election Day, mobilizers were to contact the 60 people to encourage them to go to the polls, worth another $75 gift card. Completing all of these steps resulted in a total of $270 in gift cards.

All in all, a pretty cheap way of buying votes, actually, but apparently, many took them up on it. No more volunteering because a canvasser believes it. The gift cards, of course, are a red flag, often used by bribers as well as spies, and money launderers, to get around bribery and espionage laws, whether of selling secrets or buying votes. There were also $30 cash incentives for recruiting other leftists to participate in the gift card scheme.

And by coincidence, Wisconsin had not just its primary, but its general election for a state supreme court justice which just happened to swing the court to the left. The off-year election for the relatively obscure office was won a few days ago with a "record-breaking" turnout.

JustTheNews outlined why it was skeevy:

First, it wasn't just a family and friends operation for gift cards:

Despite claiming to use people's personal networks for outreach, one organizer said: "To reach out to people, you really only need their name and phone number. Also, because you don't need to know them at all, we're paying just to reach out to people. As long as you can send a text to somebody with a number, that's going count as outreach." One of the organizers explained how the app has texts prewritten for mobilizers to send to their contacts, saying that they could send them to acquaintances at local pharmacies and gyms.

There also was this:

Wisconsin GOP state Rep. Janel Brandtjen told Just the News on Friday she believes that offering gift cards in exchange for mobilizing voters violates state law forbidding election bribery. If it doesn't violate the law, then Republicans should use it, she added.

After all, if you are committed to your cause, why should you need to be taking gift cards to do it? Isn't that bribery as normal people understand it? And why the gift cards instead of the cash? Haven't elections been won without this? Also, groups like this are supposedly not allowed to target individual voters by law, JustTheNews noted, but here we are.

Then there was this creepiest detail of all:

One of the organizers said during the training session: "This type of organizing is almost brand new. The first time it was utilized was in 2020, and then it was only used in the Georgia runoff [Senate] elections. They did it last cycle in Nevada in the last election cycle and it worked really well." The organizer added, "Now they're planning to do it for this and then for all swing states in 2024 potentially."

Obviously, when Democrats talk about the "granularity" of their get-out-the-votes efforts, this appears to be one of the things they mean. Offering cash and gift cards to get it all done just stinks to high heaven of bribery and obviously, it's affecting election results. GOP legislators in Wisconsin says it's filing its ethics complaints, but with a state Supreme Court in the Democrat bag, good luck with that.

It's trash like this that makes Americans distrust elections more and more, a problem that has been growing by leaps and bounds as these tech players and political manipulators skirt around bribery laws and use any means necessary including payoffs to get what they want. It's disgusting stuff and if the Wisconsin legislators are powerless to stop it, it's up to other state legislators to act to stop this naked rigging by the left, buttressed by nothing less than paying bounties for votes.

Image: JimIrwin, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0
Alissa Heinerscheid, the vice president of marketing for the Bud Light brand, part of the Belgian InBev global brewing empire, is featured in a Twitter video (hat tip: Steven Hayward of Powerline) explaining her approach to convincing enough customers to drink her product. Although the hiring of Dylan Mulvaney as a spokesfigure (is that really a word?) is not mentioned, the move is implicitly part of the strategy she outlines, which is, in essence, to forget about the existing customers, who are "fratty and out of touch," and instead acquire new, younger customers, presumably the products of the indoctrination factories we call public schools and universities.

Ms. Heinerscheid is highly conversant in the shibboleths of marketers, but you don't need an MBA to detect the contempt that she has for her existing customers. I wonder how often she has engaged with them over beers at taverns. My guess is that she has spent more time reading reports about them than actually connecting with them and even finding empathy, not to mention the key to getting them to buy more Bud Light. This one-minute video is a landmark in the annals of marketing, where an executive essentially abandons her customers because they are old and not cool.

Alissa Heinerscheid, Bud Lights VP of Marketing, doubles down on her extreme woke strategy to promote the declining American beer brand to young people, while smearing her former customers as fratty and out of touch.



Hows that working out for you, lady? @budlight pic.twitter.com/zNYKbMnZnu  Old Row (@OldRowOfficial) April 9, 2023

Photo credit: Twitter video screen grab.
Andrew Branca is one of the best gun-rights legal analysts in the country. However, its possible that he erred when he suggested that the key issue in the trial was whether Daniel Perry, the former Army Sergeant convicted for shooting Garrett Foster, a BLM protestor, actually saw Foster point a rifle at him. If news reports are correct that the prosecution effectively nullified Texass stand your ground self-defense law, the jury may not have reached or cared about anything that Foster did. (UPDATE: I've learned that the preceding sentence is a little too "inside the law" in form. Here's what I was trying to say: With the wrong law before them, the jurors may never have discussed among themselves whether Foster aimed a rifle or, even if they did, they may have considered that fact legally irrelevant. If the only thing they cared about was that Perry should have escaped, everything else would be a matter of indifference to them.) In that case, the verdict was a clear miscarriage of justice due to prosecutorial misconduct.

Thomas Lifson wrote a post this morning in which he discussed Brancas contention about Fosters rifle and where it was pointed. In brief, Branca argued that, if the jury concluded that Foster was not pointing the rifle at Perry when Perry shot him, Perrys self-defense argument was invalid, and the jurys verdict convicting him was justified.

Image: Daniel Perry upon hearing the verdict. YouTube screen grab.

My first instinct when I read this argument was to point to a photograph that seemingly shows Foster immediately outside of Perrys car, with his elbow pulled back as if holding a rifle horizontally at someone. That photo, combined with testimony that Foster was known to wave his rifle around, would seem to indicate that he was, in fact, pointing a rifle at Perry:

Here is Garrett Foster pointing his loaded AK-47 at Daniel Perry in Austin, TX in 2020



Daniel Perry was just convicted of murder for defending himself pic.twitter.com/OJzITvR9VJ  Jack Poso  (@JackPosobiec) April 8, 2023

Its entirely possible, though, that the jury had concluded that Foster aimed the rifle at Perry but didnt care. Thats because of an argument the prosecution made that effectively nullified Texas law:

During closing arguments in Perry's murder trial, 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 countered that Perry had plenty of choices, including driving away before he fired his revolver. (Emphasis mine.)

If the jurors accepted the prosecutions argument, they could have concluded that Perry, by not instantly reversing his car the moment he saw people in the street, had forfeited his right to self-defense, regardless of what Foster did. In other words, once Perry allowed himself to get trapped by a screaming mob, it no longer mattered whether Foster aimed a rifle at Perry because Perry could not defend himself as a matter of law.

The problem is that this isnt Texas law. As Greg Abbott stated in his tweet about working for a pardon, Texas has one of the strongest Stand Your Ground laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney.

I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry. pic.twitter.com/HydwdzneMU  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 8, 2023

If a prosecutor gives a jury permission to ignore the law, any subsequent conviction is invalid.
A photo showing several New York City skyscrapers emblazoned with bright crosses, formed by lights in each building being turned on to form the holy Christian symbol outlined against the darkness of unlit rooms and the night sky surrounding them, has recently resurfaced on social media. The three crosses measured roughly 150 feet in height.

Dont tell me there isnt a war on our Faith.



This was New York.



Good Friday, 1956.



NEW YORK. pic.twitter.com/ib8YIGRg7f  Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) April 9, 2023

The year was 1956. The date was April 5. Good Friday.

How times have changed.

Sixty-seven years later, an Oregon woman was (allegedly) denied permission to adopt a child because she is a Christian. (In days of yore, when a child needed to be adopted, a common thought was that he would be best off if put "in a nice Christian family." We've come full circle in just two or three generations.)

And Walter Reed National Military Medical Center issued a "cease and desist order" to Holy Name College, a community of Franciscan Catholic priests and brothers, who have provided pastoral care to service members and veterans at Walter Reed for nearly two decades. Entering Easter Holy Week. Walter Reed dispensed with the Catholic priests in favor of a secular defense contracting firm.

Moreover, "On Easter Sunday (April 9)," according to an Eventbrite post, "the Los Angeles LGBT Center" was scheduled to host "the all-ages Drag March LA  mobilizing against the oppressive anti-LGBTQ+ tidal wave in America." Say what? There is an oppressive anti-Christian tidal wave  being launched in part by transgenders in this country  but the LGBT community is sacrosanct, while transgenderism is the hottest fad and coolest religion going today.

Michigan's Democrat governor, Gretchen Whitmer, recently repealed the state's near-total abortion ban, dating back to a 1931 statute, guaranteeing that abortion on demand will remain legal for the foreseeable future.

She proudly stated: "Today, we're going to take action to make sure that our statutes and our laws reflect our values and our constitution." She added that ongoing efforts to ban abortion in other states were "un-American, anti-free and, frankly, sickening."

Preventing the wholesale slaughter of the very innocents you've created is sickening? Actually, I can't think of a more sickening statement than that, but, what the hell, Whitmer was allegedly re-elected by a majority of 54-44% about five months ago, so most voters in the Wolverine State must be pro-baby-slaughter.

And Democrat governors in states such as Oregon, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, New Mexico, Illinois, California, and Minnesota proudly preside over their fiefdoms and often trumpet their liberal abortion laws.

Anti-Christian bigotry  and outright hatred  is rapidly rising across the fruited plain. Marxist/fascist beliefs and policies are aiding and abetting the assault.

All of this has  not coincidentally  occurred simultaneously with a collapse in Americans' intelligence, at least as measured by I.Q. scores. The finding of a rapid decline in intelligence should not be a shock to anyone, given that many now profess to believe that men can become women and vice versa. (The dumbing down of America was presaged by the public education system opting for indoctrination over education and edification and the mainstream media trading objectivity for agenda-driven "reporting.")

I have never been a proselytizer, but when Christians are confronted by aggressive, intolerant ideologues who mock our belief in a "sky daddy," we need to push back and set the record straight.

As believers, we may be challenged to explain the existence of God.

Those who don't believe, however, have to explain the existence of absolutely everything else.

Image: Twitter screen shot.
U.S. President Joe Biden, right, meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 14, 2022. Reuters-Yonhap



Seoul asked to serve as mediator in US-China chip contest



By Kim Yoo-chul



Angered by Washington's moves to limit China's access to technology to manufacture highly-advanced semiconductors, key Chinese leaders are still struggling to figure out how to apply various retaliatory measures without curbing their ambitions in the chip industry.



Chinese President Xi Jinping views semiconductors, a vital material used in everything from consumer products, artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computers to destroyers and stealth jets, as strategic assets in its continued high-profile contest with the United States, and even efforts to level up its global influence. Both the U.S. and China have no questions that semiconductors are the core center of a "technology war."



China has some ability to manage its semiconductor industry, which is home to indigenous chip manufacturers. However, a point of concern is that these Chinese manufacturers supply chips that are not so advanced. Even worse, from China's standpoint, is that the Joe Biden administration is asking companies in its like-minded allies to strictly limit access to semiconductor component tools to manufacture chips used for quantum computers, AI, 5G telecommunications and other applications related to national security.



Japan and the Netherlands, two of Washington's top allies and homes to exclusive semiconductor making tools, have accepted U.S. requests to limit access to advanced technology over its growing security concerns. In addition, U.S. officials are in discussions with Samsung Electronics, the world's largest memory chip manufacturer, about fixing quotas in terms of the amount of semiconductor manufacturing and the level of technology used in their Chinese plants.



Chinese President Xi, not surprisingly, strongly criticized such U.S. efforts, claiming that Washington was trying to completely block Beijing's own development. Xi ordered the Chinese public to remain in full readiness for a fight. Despite such furor, the fact is that Chinese policymakers have limited room to apply heavy retaliatory actions against South Korean semiconductor producers, which also includes SK, because Beijing wants to avoid disrupting technology industries, political analysts in Seoul said.



While Xi is pushing heavily to advance his "Made in China 2025" policy, which aims to boost the country's chip self-sufficiency rate to 70 percent, recent estimates by market research firm International Business Strategy show that China's chip self-sufficiency rate as of last year remained at just 25.61 percent. However, that self-sufficiency rate includes the production of chips by foreign companies on Chinese soil. Samsung Electronics and SK are operating massive chip lines in various Chinese cities because of tax incentives and other financial benefits from the regional governments there.





A Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is displayed during the "Galaxy Experience" launch event in Tokyo, Japan, April 6. UPI-Yonhap



"China is also interested in growing its auto-related chip industry. But as China was below a 5 percent self-sufficiency rate in this sector as of 2021, it needs Samsung and SK's support. And these South Korean companies also need to win China's sustainable support to keep their cutting-edge and billion-dollar worth factories working," an aide to former President Moon Jae-in, who handled Seoul's trade policies, said.



Effects of China's probe into Micron to be limited



Within that context, while there are concerns that Beijing could make Samsung Electronics and SK part of its new cybersecurity review, following a recent decision to launch a cybersecurity probe into Micron Technology, it's unlikely it will apply any obvious retaliatory measures against Samsung and SK given the South Korean companies' continued and heavy contribution to China's efforts to increase its chip self-sufficiency, government officials here said.



"The Cyberspace Administration of China's (CAC) decision to review chip products sold by Micron Technology in China should be viewed as China's unofficial discomfort after Washington's request for Japan and the Netherlands to join the moves to restrict the export of brand-new chip manufacturing equipment. The latest CAC's decision isn't primarily aimed at targeting Samsung and SK," a senior government official said anonymously, because he wasn't officially authorized to speak to the media.



Extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) tools are crucial to produce advanced semiconductors with the Netherlands controlling global EUV machinery distribution. EUV is a highly-complicated process and not just a result of huge investment. China is on track to develop its own tools; however, its companies are far behind creating EUV equipment compared to the Netherlands-based ASML's tools, and this will require decades of research.



Representatives at Samsung and SK headquarters said they are closely monitoring the developments of CAC's moves, however, the companies added that they have no further comments regarding the issue as of now because of the sensitivity of the issue. The reality is Samsung's NAND flash chip factory in Xi'an, for example, accounts for over 40 percent of the company's total NAND flash production, according to data provided by TrendForce, another market research firm.



Also, as Beijing is seeking to attract more foreign investments to lift growth and boost job creation amid mounting economic challenges, Samsung and SK's chip factories there play significant roles from a renewed Chinese policy standpoint, experts say.





A smartphone with a displayed Micron logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6. Reuters-Yonhap
(For a counterpoint, suggesting that the prosecutors committed a grave reversible error regardless of the gun evidence, see here.)

From what I at first read, saw, and heard, I figured that Army sergeant Daniel Perry was the victim of a Soros-backed D.A. who was, like so many others, indicting people for merely defending themselves. Much as Kyle Rittenhouse was put on trial when he fired at someone pointing a rifle at him, Perry claimed that he responded with gunfire when a BLM demonstrator named Garret Foster pointed an AK-47 he was carrying at him in a 2020 Austin, TX protest march. Perry was, at the time, driving an Uber car.

But Andrew Branca of Legal Insurrection has surprised me with his close analysis of the evidence presented and his conclusion that the jury's conviction was legally justifiable:

From the start Perry would be arguing that he shot Foster in self-defense, and only after Foster had pointed his rifle at Perry. THE KEY ISSUE IN THE TRIAL: WAS THE RIFLE POINTED AT PERRY? And right there we have the key issue in this murder trial. Certainly, if the jury believed that Perry fired only after Foster pointed his rifle at him, there could hardly be a clearer case of self-defense. Indeed, as someone who personally carries a firearm for self-defense on a regular basis, anyone who unlawfully points a rifle at me ought to have a high expectation of getting shot in self-defense. Immediately following the announcement of the guilty verdict, social media rather exploded with outrage at a guilty verdict so insanely inconsistent with Perry's narrative of shooting in self-defense only after facing the muzzle of Foster's rifle. The problem with this outrage, however, is that it presumes as an indisputable fact that Foster initiated the deadly force confrontation by pointing his rifle at Perry. That "fact," however, is not indisputable. Indeed, that fact was aggressively disputed by the prosecution, which argued to the jury that Foster never pointed his rifle at Perry, and so Perry's claimed legal grounds for shooting Foster in self-defense simply doesn't exist. In support of this narrative of guilt the prosecution presented the testimony of multiple witnesses who told the jury that Foster never pointed his rifle at Perry. The confrontation itself was captured on poor quality video, from which screen captures were secured, and neither video nor stills ever show Foster pointing his gun at Perry. (snip) If the jury concluded that Foster had not, in fact, pointed his rifle at Perry, then it must also conclude that it was Perry who was the initial deadly force aggressor in this confrontation when he shot Foster  and, as the initial deadly force aggressor Perry cannot justify his use of force as self-defense.



Perry, seated, explains his shooting during a police interrogation.

Branca points out that when there is a dispute over fact, it is the role of the jury to decide what the facts are. Those of us who did not sit through the trial owe them deference in general. There are further points to Branca's analysis, which you should read if the case interests you, and especially if you are impatiently awaiting a pardon for Perry by Texas governor Greg Abbott.

My instincts remain in favor of someone who feels threatened having the right to defend with lethal force. So for me, the question is what emphasis the jury ought to have placed in the nature of the BLM demonstration. Was it inherently threatening? Were there racist chants like "Get whitey"? And was the Austin jury, where they "keep Austin weird" as a civic religion, impartial?

At a minimum, I can see that Governor Abbott needs to take his time in coming to a decision on the pardon. I also hope and anticipate that Tucker Carlson, who has pushed for a pardon, will have Andrew Branca on as a guest to discuss this.

Photo credit: YouTube screen grab.
The title of the April 9 Times Sunday opinion piece was "Four Opinion Writers on Trump's Indictment and 'the Borderlands of Illegality,'" but, for the purpose of precision, it should have been styled "Three anti-Trump propagandists and one NeverTrump on the need to keep humiliating the SOB."

The propagandists participating in this anti-Trump exercise were Times opinion (as propaganda) columnists Lydia Polgreen, Ross Douthat (the NeverTrump voice), Carlos Lozada, and Michelle Cottle of the Times editorial (as propaganda) board.

Polgreen started the anti-Trump propaganda by expressing surprise (dismay) that the former president had no prior arrests and suggested that that was because he "always manag[ed] to wriggle out of trouble." Ms. Polgreen thereby suggests that she studied at the Pelosi "guilty unless you prove your innocence" school of law. Ms. Cottle (sharing Ms. Polgreen's conclusion) did not think Mr. Trump would end up in prison. Thereupon, Douthat interjected: "If we don't think he's going to end up in jail for any of these potential prosecutions [sic], then the purpose of a prosecution is a symbolic conviction?"

Lozada followed with a puzzling comment, insisting that Trump must still be prosecuted, and then added this:

When Donald Trump incites an insurrection, when Donald Trump attempts to strongarm Georgia election officials to find 11,780 more votes, that has to have legal consequences even if it doesn't have political consequences.

The phrase "asserting facts not in evidence" springs to mind. Lozada's virulent exposure to Trump Derangement Syndrome seems to have rendered irrational his remarks about an insurrection and "strongarming" election officials in Georgia, but at The New York Times, rational lucidity apparently is not considered a plus in hiring opinion writers. Behold, Lozada is trying to transform phony, off-the-wall anti-Trump Democrat talking points into legal arguments. What balderdash; what sleight-of-hand. What chutzpah.

Cottle tried to rescue Lozada from his incomprehensible mutterings, declaring the Georgia matter a "better sell" than the New York case. "Better sell" to whom? A Georgia jury handpicked by the Fulton County district attorney is likely to be as anti-Trump as the Manhattan panel. Isn't that what this is all about  ways and means to destroy our legacy of liberty?

Thereupon, Lozada digressed to tell his fellow anti-Trump panelists that he had read Michael Cohen's book. At this point, Douthat and Polgreen stated likewise. Incredibly, three of these four anti-Trump propagandists acknowledged to readers that they sought out a convicted felon as the source for reliable information about former president Trump.

Skipping past the Michael Cohen digression, Polgreen burst out with this doozy: "I've been thinking about what kind of a RICO [Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations] statute to deal with a political figure like Donald Trump would look like." She continued: "And I think that the RICO statute might be elections  that the way that you legitimately defeat someone who commits these kinds of relatively minor offenses, but add them all up to pretty nasty crimes, is actually through making sure that he doesn't get into office again via buying an election." Let's pause here. Has Donald J. Trump ever been accused of buying an election, even by his most deranged foes? Behold Polgreen, the totalitarian, looking for ways and means to make sure we really turn into a banana republic. This is the voice of opinion at The New York Times.

There is a bit more to the four-part discussion, including this mixed metaphor from Douthat  "That train has sailed"  but, to borrow a term once invidiously applied by former FBI director James Comey, to comment further is rather nauseating.
Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank both were multi-billion-dollar bank failures. First Republic and Credit Suisse were multi-billion-dollar banks that required large cash infusions to avoid failure. Writing in the Washington Examiner, Paul Tice points out that all four institutions followed P.C. prescriptions for enlightened corporate leadership, basically the recipe for ESG (and DIE).

As the current banking crisis continues to roll through the global financial system, one common denominator among all the bank failures to date has been corporate ESG policies promoting climate action, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and other progressive initiatives. Silicon Valley Bank , the first bank to collapse, lent to more than 1,500 start-up climate tech firms, the majority of which had no cash flow or ability to service bank debt. Most of the directors on the bank's board had no banking experience but were instead chosen for the DEI boxes that they ticked. Signature Bank, the second institution to be seized by federal regulators, prided itself on being "the first bank in the United States to have an openly gay man on the board" and held internal seminars on the use of proper pronouns in the workplace. The bank was also an official supporter of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures and had started to disclose its lending portfolio emissions as the first step toward a net-zero banking model. First Republic Bank, which recently required a $30 billion bailout from its industry peers to stay afloat, became the first large U.S. bank to stop lending to the fossil fuels industry back in 2021, achieving carbon neutrality that same year Even Credit Suisse, the most systemically important bank to fail thus far, believed in "sustainable finance for a better world" and did its part to direct capital toward the achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. The Swiss bank also actively promoted its transgender "allyship" by having a high-profile, non-binary, gender-fluid section head within its Global Markets Technology group.

The line connecting ESG policies to the bank failures is indirect, or, if you will, a dotted line. The proximate cause of the SVB failure was not loans to politically correct environmental startups, but rather too many long-term Treasury securities in its portfolio of assets. But the fact is clear, at least in the case of SVB, with which I am most familiar, that management took their eyes off the ball of risk management. Risk management roles remained unfilled for a time, and some risk managers clearly prioritized ESG over actually, you know, managing risk.

It's very clear to me that ESG is an abomination, an excuse for management to substitute their personal values for the interests of the shareholders being guarded, as fiduciary responsibility requires.

It should surprise no one when managers most concerned with demonstrating their virtue fail to carry out their fundamental responsibilities. So, in that sense, ESG is at the root of these troubles, and if more companies, especially banks, fail to learn to reject ESG, there will be more trouble ahead.

Photo credit: Minh Nguyen, CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Let me openly state my bias: I have no respect for the Dalai Lama. This has nothing to do with his faith or his standing as a spiritual leader. It has to do with the fact that this man, a lifelong refugee from the Peoples Republic of China, which controls Tibet by force, has self-identified as a Marxist. Thats just wrong. Whats also wrong is something that happened in India the other day: He asked a little boy to kiss him on the lips and suck his tongue. Even Biden hasnt gone that far (yet). What the heck is wrong with our world leaders?

My problem with the Dalai Lama begins with the fact that he has proudly identified himself as a Marxist on at least two occasions:

The Dalai Lama identified himself as a Marxist on Tuesday while addressing capitalism, discrimination and violence at a lecture on world peace in Kolkata, India. This is not the first time that the 14th Dalai Lama has spoken about his political leaning - in 2011 he said: I consider myself a Marxist...but not a Leninist when speaking at a conference in Minneapolis. We must have a human approach. As far as socioeconomic theory, I am Marxist, he said to the audience on Tuesday, at the lecture entitled A Human Approach to World Peace which was organized by Presidency University. The Tibetan spiritual leader partly blamed capitalism for inequality and said he regarded Marxism as the answer: In capitalist countries, there is an increasing gap between the rich and the poor. In Marxism, there is emphasis on equal distribution, he said, adding that many Marxist leaders are now capitalists in their thinking. He said that he regarded economic and social inequality in India as the reason for ongoing discrimination against women and low social castes, calling on the worlds youth to take the 21st century from a century of violence to a century of peace.

Image: The Dalai Lama. Twitter screen grab.

Those statements mean that a lifetime spent opposing the Chinese communists has failed to inform the Dalai Lama that Marxism is the ultimate inequality: A small cadre of powerful people control the rest of their nation through implicit or explicit violenceand, invariably, even as their population grows increasingly impoverished, they dramatically increase their own wealth. That cognitive lapse means that, entirely separate from his status as a religious leader, the Dalai Lama is not a man deserving of my respect. (I have the same feeling about Pope Francis. My respect for the office stops short of a man who is almost certainly a communist.)

And then theres the 87-year-old Dalai Lamas recent disturbing behavior in India:

Trigger warning: Pedophilia



Dalai Lama calls up a minor boy, kisses him on lips, asks for a tongue kiss as well. Also, notice where he takes the boys hand. This is disgusting and appears to be a case of child molestation.pic.twitter.com/3O8nEabwiK  Saif (@isaifpatel) April 8, 2023

The Dalai Lamas office put out a tweet trying to explain away what he did as innocent and playful.

Perhaps Im unduly puritanical, but I dont think its innocent or playful when a powerful old man asks a young boy to suck his tongue. If anything, his playfulness reminds me of Joe Biden being playful with any little girl (and some big girls) he can get his hands on:

Powerful old men lose their inhibitions and start doing in public things that everyone must wonder whether they were doing in private. As the tweet about the Dalai Lamas tongue-sucking indicates, Im not the only one creeped out by what he did:

Utterly shocked to see this display by the #DalaiLama. In the past too, hes had to apologize for his sexist comments. But saying - Now suck my tongue to a small boy is disgusting.

https://t.co/z2qMGignHO  Sangita (@Sanginamby) April 9, 2023

Dalai Lama sexually assaults a child!



Why isnt the media talking about this?



pic.twitter.com/Z0bAvaboKF  Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 10, 2023

This is a disgusting, vile and shameful display by a religious leader. Had this been the action of a Catholic priest, it would have been all over the mainstream media, but because it's by an exiled Dalai Lama, they will just sweep it under the carpet away from public view. pic.twitter.com/jy2UXrHkUu  Yes, it's me (@ElysiusThor) April 9, 2023

People are beginning to feel that theyre witnessing the shenanigans in Epsteins Island (rich and powerful people sexually abusing children) play out on the larger stage of the world. And indeed, there is something very wrong in the world today.

One of the reasons QANON gained so much traction was that it shined a spotlight on the fact that, across the world, the rich and powerful are preying on children. For more evidence of this, just take a stroll through The Vigilant Citizen website. Or just check out this article for a popular photographers collective.

As for me, Im re-reading Dennis Pragers Rational Bible books. They make me feel clean after living in a dirty world.
Every day, the media and other Democrats seek to brand Republicans as racists if they dare disagree with Democrats' radical leftist ideology and policies.

Democrats who engage in lawless acts and who happen to be non-white people are treated as heroes. That includes two legislators who participated in a riot, protest, or insurrection in Tennessee with the aim of disrupting legislative hearings and then got themselves expelled from that body as a result. They were invited to the White House, and they were feted. That stands in stark contrast to the failure of Joe Biden to visit the Christian families of Nashville who were just killed recently by a transgender mass shooter. But Biden being Biden, he invited the two disruptive legislators to D.C. for the purpose of playing the race card. He certainly didn't want to take questions on Afghanistan.

In contrast, for decades, Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas has been under attack from the left for the sole reason that he is a black conservative. When Thomas was nominated to the Supreme Court, the media and other Democrats sought to destroy him for an unconfirmed story about some kind of sex harassment against Anita Hill, which Thomas vehemently denied. It was not at all different from their comparable effort to destroy Judge Brett Kavanaugh with an unverified story about things he supposedly did when he was young during his Supreme Court hearings.

Now they are out to destroy Thomas because he took trips with a billionaire friend without disclosing them, which, based on a loophole in U.S. law, he wasn't required to report anyway. Rather than close the loophole, which they have the power to do as legislators, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants Thomas to be impeached for this. There is absolutely no indication that Thomas has ever done political favors for the billionaire in exchange for the trips, so why is this treated as a big scandal?

USAToday put out the following story and described it as a scandal, dredging up the unverified Anita Hill story to boot. The paper even said Biden had to deal with it as if it were a major development and Biden should get involved.

Following furor over GOP-donor luxury trips, Joe Biden reckons with another Clarence Thomas scandal Anita Hill's riveting testimony alleging sexual harassment by Clarence Thomas was still fresh on Joe Biden's 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 you'd like to say?" Over the next few minutes on that evening of Oct. 11, 1991, Thomas would denounce Hill's allegations as "sleaze," "gossip" and "lies" and characterize the committee's confirmation hearing helmed by Biden as "a circus" and "a national disgrace." "As far as I'm concerned," Thomas concluded of the televised hearing, "it's a high-tech lynching for uppity Blacks."

I don't recall USAToday calling it a scandal that Biden frequently stays at a private equity billionaire's mansion. I bet he doesn't disclose the huge value of these stays on his disclosure forms. How much would it cost for a family to stay there? It certainly exceeds the annual gift tax exclusion.

According to the New York Post:

For the second straight year, President Biden and his family will spend Thanksgiving at the Nantucket home of private-equity billionaire David Rubenstein  and Biden's 2024 plans could be among the dinner table discussion topics. Joe Biden, his wife Jill, and other family members were set to fly to the upscale Massachusetts island on Air Force One later Tuesday and remain there until Sunday, the White House confirmed over the weekend. While there, the Bidens plan to stay at Rubenstein's sprawling, $20 million waterfront home, the Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror reported.

The media still don't even care about the massive Biden family scandal of taking huge kickbacks for years from many foreign sources, as has been revealed from the abandoned Hunter Biden laptop and other sources, but Clarence Thomas takes a trip with a billionaire, and he must be destroyed.

It should be a scandal that the son of George Soros, who funds so many leftist D.A.s, has so much access to the White House, making multiple trips there, but the media and other Democrats don't care.

According to the Daily Mail:

The son of billionaire philanthropist George Soros made more than a dozen trips to the White House last year as he follows in his father's footsteps as a prolific Democratic networker. Alexander Soros, 37, frequently posts shots of himself with Democratic politicians including Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama and Sen. Chuck Schumer  whom he called a 'good friend.' And recently-updated White House logs reveal he has visited at least 14 times since December 2021.

So no matter how many career criminals get out to increase crime throughout the country as a result of these Soros-funded district attorneys, there are few stories in the media about the Soros family contributions to it.

No matter how much minority communities and families are destroyed by this crime, there is no outrage.

No matter how many minorities are shot and killed by career criminals, there is no demand that Soros family funders stop. Biden and other Democrats don't say a word.

But if Clarence Thomas takes some legally permitted trips, he must be stopped.

It is so hard to spot that everything from the media is about pushing a leftist agenda.

They don't care what color of person they insist on destroying. The only thing they care about is whether their targets are conservatives  and they have a special little cold spot for black conservatives.

Image: Caricature by DonkeyHotey via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
You already know about the terrible event in Louisville, Kentucky, which saw a disgruntled former bank employee open fire at a meeting, killing several people and wounding several more. Invariably, after a shooting, leftists blame the GOP because it supports the right to armed self-defense. In Sturgeons case, though, it seems that, once again, this mass murder was probably carried out by a leftist.

As far as the Biden administration is concerned, if theres a shooting, its the GOPs fault because the GOP, along with the majority of Americans, still believes in the Second Amendment:

Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence  Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today's shooting.



Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives.



When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?  President Biden (@POTUS) April 10, 2023

The Democrats reflexive desire to blame guns may be because its the Democrats (especially people in Democrat-run cities) who are doing the shooting. Theres even a meme for it.

Meme; unknown creator.

In the case of the Louisville shooting, Twitchy put together a collection of tweets that purport to show Connor Sturgeons social media accounts. We dont yet have proof that they were his accounts, but the fact that they were apparently being erased in real time indicates that they probably belonged to him. And how many Connor Sturgeons are there who worked for Old National Bank in the Louisville Metropolitan Area? Its not that common a name.

One of the signs that Sturgeon was a leftist is that his LinkedIn account identifies his pronouns. Someone in a comment to the following tweet suggested that the pronoun info was a default, but I can assure you that no conservative would ever allow that kind of default to stand:

BREAKING: Meet Connor Sturgeon (he/him), the Louisville mass shooter.



He killed multiple people this morning.



Do we believe the MSM will show you this screenshot? pic.twitter.com/nk8AGO9g90  CaitlinSinclairTV (@CSinclairtv) April 10, 2023

Someone else found a Reddit account that, more likely than not, belonged to the shooter. There, he put up pro-lockdown and anti-Trump memes:

Theyre already wiping, #ConnorSturgeon, the #Louisville mass-murderers social media accounts.



These were the anti-Trump

and pro-lockdown posts on a Reddit under an account with the same name at his already nuked Twitter account.



Another Democrat killer.



(Credit Andy S.) pic.twitter.com/V2Nuvom7Qt  Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) April 10, 2023

There is also a Connor Sturgeon identified as a Democrat in Jefferson County, Kentucky:

Here is Connor Sturgeon, a registered Democrat, and accused of the Kentucky Bank shooting. pic.twitter.com/C22cMy7YZ1  Real Frank (@realzitro) April 10, 2023

If those social media posts belong to the shooter, its pretty clear he was a leftist. While leftists may hate guns at a political level, theres no doubt that they are willing to use them for mass murder.

And that brings me to something else about white leftists: They are more likely to be mentally ill which, presumably, means theyre more likely to be on psychotropic antidepressants. Theyre also almost twice as likely as Republicans to smoke pot. Antidepressants are associated with things such as hostility and suicidal ideation (and Sturgeon texted a friend that he was suicidal before going on his spree). Meanwhile, pot is associated with psychotic violence.

Connor Sturgeon, therefore, may prove to be the poster boy of gun violence in America: An unhappy leftist young man who (if my currently unsupported guess is correct) was medicated with antidepressants and self-medicating with pot.

Image: Connor Sturgeon LinkedIn profile
After Russia annexed Crimea back in 2014, the US government imposed several sanctions to restrict American companies from doing business with sanctioned individuals and entities. However, Microsoft has recently found itself in trouble with the US Treasury and Commerce Departments for allegedly violating US sanctions on Russia and other countries. As a result, the department has ordered Microsoft to pay over $3 million in fines after its products and services ended up in the hands of blacklisted companies and persons in the Crimean region of Ukraine.

The violations reportedly took place between July 2012 and April 2019, thus predating the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The US authorities accuse Microsoft of using an indirect resale model in Russia to develop sales leads and negotiate bulk sales with end customers. In simple terms, Microsoft sold its products to non-blacklisted companies, which then sold them to blacklisted entities.

In certain volume-licensing programs involving sales by intermediaries, Microsoft was not provided, nor did it otherwise obtain, complete or accurate information on the ultimate end customers for its products, says the OFACs notice.

Additionally, Microsofts failure to obtain accurate information about some of these end-users and the possible intentional circumvention of the companys screening controls by Microsoft employees in Russia also contributed to these violations. For instance, Microsoft initially rejected one of Stroygazmontazhs subsidiaries, a Russian infrastructure company, as a potential customer after blacklisting the company back in 2014. However, Stroygazmontazh still managed to get Microsoft products by using a pseudonym arranged by the companys employees in Russia.

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Microsofts self-discovery and reporting of violations

While this violation demonstrated a reckless disregard for US sanctions, the Treasury Department also acknowledged that Microsoft self-discovered the violations, investigated them, and self-reported them to the government. Moreover, the company has also made significant changes to its enforcement policies and measures.

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.
China has strong capability to thwart 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities in any form

10:15, April 10, 2023 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily

China has taken a series of countermeasures in response to the meeting between the leader of China's Taiwan region Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during Tsai's so-called "transit" through the U.S., which constituted a grave political provocation against China.

These countermeasures, while representing China's resolute and forceful response to the attempt of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to "cling to U.S. support to seek independence" as well as the U.S. attempt to use Taiwan to contain China, have fully demonstrated China's resolve to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Tsai's "transit" trip was in fact an attempt to seek breakthroughs and propagate "Taiwan independence;" and the so-called "diplomatic breakthrough" was nothing but another step to bring great suffering to Taiwan.

During her "transit" through the U.S., Tsai didn't stay at the airport or a hotel. Instead, she made contact with U.S. government officials and congressional members under various pretexts, in an attempt to make official interaction between Taiwan and the U.S.

It's obvious to see that Tsai's "transit" trip was not a personal activity at all. It was in essence a political adventure to further collude with the U.S. and fawn on the U.S. to seek support for "Taiwan independence." It was also an attempt to create "one China, one Taiwan" or "two Chinas," find opportunities to peddle the "Taiwan independence" claims in the international arena, and seek support from anti-China forces in the U.S.

While the DPP authorities take every opportunity to conduct separatist activities for "Taiwan independence" out of selfish political gains, the U.S. has wantonly used Taiwan as a pawn to contain China in total disregard of the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the fundamental interests of the people in Taiwan. It is a "troublemaker" and "destroyer" of the peace and stability across the Strait.

The U.S. Congress, as part of the U.S. government, has the responsibility to fulfill the solemn commitments the U.S. government has made to China by strictly abiding by the one-China principle and refusing all forms of official interaction with Taiwan.

Under neither international law nor U.S. domestic legislation does "separation of powers" give the U.S. the excuse to defy international obligations and take actions that go against the basic norms governing international relations, provoke against China's sovereignty, and break its own commitment on the Taiwan question.

Past mistakes can not justify today's mistakes, and repeating the same mistakes doesn't provide any legitimacy for erroneous behavior.

While frequently claiming that they remain committed to the one-China policy, the U.S. authorities have in fact constantly distorted, falsified, obscured, and hollowed out the one-China principle, and have been using Taiwan as a pawn to contain China's development and progress. Such misdeeds come at the cost of the interests, well-being, and bright future of Taiwan compatriots.

China firmly opposes any "transit" trip by the Taiwan region's leader to the U.S. in any name or for any reason, and firmly opposes the U.S. government having any form of official interaction with the Taiwan region.

China has repeatedly lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side over Tsai's "transit" trip to the U.S. However, the U.S. side has kept indulging and supporting the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. China has to take resolute countermeasures against such egregious actions.

China's taking countermeasures following the provocative trip is neither "overreaction" nor "military intimidation" as claimed by the U.S.

All the countermeasures taken by the Chinese government are what China is fully entitled to do to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. They are necessary and timely defensive countermeasures aimed at safeguarding China's national sovereignty and security, and stopping the anti-China forces in the U.S. and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces from going further down the wrong and dangerous path.

The one-China principle has been recognized by the United Nations (UN) and the vast majority of countries. It has become a widely recognized basic norm governing international relations and is part and parcel of the international order established after World War II.

China's resolute countermeasures against the escalation in the collusion between the U.S. and the Taiwan region are also a legitimate action to safeguard the basic norms in international relations and the post-war international order.

If China failed to react to the actions that interfere in China's internal affairs and undermine its national sovereignty taken by the U.S., the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms governing international relations including respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity would be reduced to empty words.

By firmly rejecting the U.S. provocations on the Taiwan question, China is saying no to the U.S. hegemony and bullying, and upholding international fairness and justice, which is why China's action has been supported by the overwhelming majority of countries in the world.

China will resolutely fight against every separatist activity seeking "Taiwan independence" and every grave provocation made by external forces playing the "Taiwan card" to contain China. It will never allow its national sovereignty and territorial integrity to be wantonly trampled upon and undermined.

Facts have proven that the Chinese government has strengthened its strategic initiative for China's complete reunification and consolidated commitment to the one-China principle within the international community by resolutely fighting against separatism and countering interference.

The Chinese government has great capabilities to shape the strategic situation and environment for its national reunification, and to thwart "Taiwan independence" separatist activities in whatever form.

The cross-Strait reunification is an overriding historical trend and the right course, while "Taiwan independence" is a retrogression leading to a dead end. The separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence" and external interference will not stop the prevailing historical trend of China's reunification or the course of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The Chinese people have the resolve, the will, and the ability to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity. They must and will realize the historic goal of reuniting their motherland.

(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, Liang Jun)
More than 40 people with master's and doctoral degrees attend LGES' BTC conference at Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, Saturday. Courtesy of LGES



By Kim Jae-heun



LG Energy Solution (LGES) held a Battery Tech Conference (BTC) in San Francisco, Saturday, to attract global talent to lead its future growth, the company said Sunday.



Over 40 selected individuals with master's and doctorate degrees from top U.S. universities and laboratories, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of California, Los Angeles, Purdue University and Argonne National Laboratory participated in the conference, which was held at the Fairmont Hotel under the theme of "LG Energy Solution that provide enthusiasm and specialty to human resources."



LGES's top executives, including CTO Shin Young-joon, also joined the event to introduce the company's vision, roles and duties of its each business unit as well as growth programs for talented young workers.



"Until now, there have been many cases where students studying overseas find jobs at foreign companies due to a lack of Korean global firms, where they can expand their professional capabilities," an LGES official said. "LGES, a global leader in the battery industry, expects to provide an attractive opportunity for talented young workers who want to develop their personal careers as we are actively recruiting top-level human resources."



A number of questions followed from the participants after a presentation about the company's growth potential, corporate culture and various career advancement programs.



"It was particularly impressive that LGES has high potential for business growth to triple its sales within the next five years and a dedicated team to seek the growth of employees with a horizontal corporate culture. I was able to feel that the company truly seeks to grow together with individual workers," one of the participants at the BTC conference said.



BTC is a global recruitment event that has also been held under the name of Business & Campus Tour since 2006, before LG Energy Solution was spun off. This year's BTC attracted 200 applicants, up from just 50 in 2021.


The BBC has objected to being labelled as government-funded media on one of its main social media accounts.

The broadcaster says it is speaking to the social media company about the designation on the BBC account.

It said in a statement: The BBC is, and always has been, independent.

We are funded by the British public through the licence fee.

The label links through to a page on Twitters help centre which says state-affiliated media are outlets where the government exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution.

That label was applied to US broadcaster NPRs Twitter handle, but it has been changed to government-funded media  the same as the BBC account.

The BBC has always maintained its impartiality and operates through a Royal Charter agreed with government, which says it must be independent.

Britons pay a 159 licence fee each year to fund the corporations output, which is set by government but paid by individual households.

While the BBC account, which has 2.2 million followers, has been given the label, much larger accounts associated with the corporations breaking news and sport output are not currently being described in the same way.

The account mainly tweets about BBC-produced TV programmes, radio shows, podcasts and other non-news material.

Twitter has been contacted for comment.
The significance of the historic Good Friday Agreement is to be remembered on Easter Monday as it reaches its 25th anniversary.

As part of the events marking the milestone, Ulster University has launched the programme 25@25, where 25 recent graduates will be chosen for training opportunities based on their commitment to Northern Irelands future.

The anniversary date comes after commemorative events took place on Good Friday, the holy day the landmark peace deal was agreed.

Victims and survivors of The Troubles watched the sunrise over a Co Down beach and a ceremony took place at Stormont Buildings, where architects of the agreement reflected on its significance.

The anniversary of the diplomatic achievement comes as the powersharing institutions it paved the way for 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 Protocol, Stormont has not returned.

Commenting on the anniversary, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised the bravery, perseverance, and political imagination of those who had taken difficult decisions on April 10 1998, as he encouraged Stormont to be revived.

Victims and survivors of the Troubles gather in Killough, Downpatrick, Co Down, to watch the sun rise to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (Liam McBurney/PA)

While it is time to reflect on the solid progress we have made together, we must also recommit to redoubling our efforts on the promise made in 1998 and the agreements that followed, he said.

Speaking on Sunday, Irish premier Leo Varadkar said that he would intensify his engagement with Mr Sunak in a push to restore the powersharing institutions  based on a lesson he learned from the peace negotiations.

One thing Ive been struck by watching all the documentaries around the history of the Good Friday Agreement was the extent to which the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister had to be in lock-step, and now that we have the agreement on the protocol, I think its possible to do that, he said.

It comes after police in Northern Ireland warned of the potential for dissident republicans attacking officers in Londonderry on Easter Monday.

Senior detectives said strong intelligence had indicated that public disorder could be used to launch attacks on officers in the city  though they added they had no indication this was a result of the GFA anniversary.

The heightened security risk also comes a day before US President Joe Biden is to visit Belfast in a trip that is to focus on commemorating a quarter century of 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.
US President Joe Biden has been very excited about visiting the island of Ireland for quite some time, a White House spokesman has said.

At a White House press briefing, national security council co-ordinator for strategic communications John Kirby outlined the presidents itinerary during his four-day trip, starting on Tuesday.

Mr Kirby said the US president will be greeted by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he arrives in Belfast and they will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Biden will then head to Ulster University to speak about the tremendous progress since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago

It will underscore the readiness of the United States to preserve those gains and support Northern Irelands vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities, he said.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Kirby added: Today, I think you all know is actually the 25th anniversary since the Belfast Good Friday Agreement was signed, ending decades of violence and bringing peace and stability to Northern Ireland.

President Biden cares deeply about Northern Ireland and has a long history of supporting peace and prosperity there.

As a US senator, Joe Biden was an advocate for how the United States could play a constructive role supporting peace,

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Joe Biden (Niall Carson/PA)

After his speech at Ulster University, Mr Biden will travel to Co Louth, where his great-grandfather James Finegan was born.

The Finegan family lived there before they crossed the sea to begin a new life in America.

He will tour Carlingford Castle on Wednesday before spending the night in Dublin, said Mr Kirby.

He said Mr Biden will then meet Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday and take part in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell at the presidents official residence, Aras an Uachtarain.

Following that ceremony, he will meet again with the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, whom the president just hosted here for St Patricks Day.

In both meetings, the president will discuss our close co-operation on the full range of shared global challenges.

He will then address a joint session of Irish parliament about US-Irish co-operation to advance democracy, peace, security and prosperity.

Mr Kirby said Mr Biden will attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday.

On Friday he will travel to Co Mayo for the culmination of the trip.

The president will visit Knock Shrine, pilgrimage site of vision of Virgin of Knock (Alamy/PA)

He will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit.

He will then speak at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.

Mr Kirby said the presidents great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827.

Those bricks were used to construct and support the great cathedral and help Edward afford to buy tickets for himself and for his family to sail to America decades later in 1851.

The president is very much looking forward to that trip and to celebrating the deep historic ties that our two countries and our two people continue to share.

St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina (Alamy/PA)

Mr Kirby noted the shared connection between the US and Ireland.

As well as the shared deep history between the United States and Ireland, today one in 10 Americans claim Irish ancestry and Irish Americans are proudly represented in every facet of American life.

Ireland is a key economic partner of the United States and the United States and Ireland are working closely together to make the global economy more fair.

Ireland has been a key partner for 21st century challenges as well and the Irish Government has been strong supporters of Ukraine providing vital non-lethal assistance including medical supplies, body armour, and support for Ukraines electric grid, as well as their agriculture.

They have supported EU sanctions on Russia and the people of Ireland have generously welcomed nearly 80,000 Ukrainians offering refuge to those who were forced to flee their homes in search of safety.

Youths throw petrol bombs at a PSNI vehicle ahead of a dissident Republican parade in the Creggan area of Londonderry on Easter Monday (PA)

Asked about recent violence in Northern Ireland, Mr Kirby said the president was grateful for the work that Northern Irelands security forces have done and continue to do to protect all communities.

Hes again very much looking forward to going to Belfast, he said.

As for security concerns, you know we dont ever talk about security requirements of protecting the president but the president is more than comfortable making this trip and hes very excited to do it, he added.

Asked about timing the visit while Northern Irelands institutions were suspended, Mr Kirby reiterated that the trip was timed for the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

An agreement that the president has a personal connection to and obviously is very, very proud to see this has really changed lives and livelihoods in Northern Ireland.
Labour is to launch more adverts attacking Rishi Sunak by blaming him for crashing the economy, despite criticism from within the party.

The initial ad, which accused the Prime Minister of not wanting child sex abusers to go to prison, caused unease among the Shadow Cabinet.

But frontbencher Emily Thornberry continued to defend the ad, which colleagues including shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell have declined to endorse.

The shadow attorney general told BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Monday: The way I judge these things is this. Theres two things  is the criticism based on clear and objective facts? And secondly, is the individual concerned in a position to be able to do something about it? Or is it something which is a result of something theyve done?

And if the answer to both of those things is yes, then I dont see any reason why we cant criticise that person individually.

She said if Mr Sunak really thought that it was so important, he would do something about it.

Sir Keir Starmer also defied critics of the advert, saying he made absolutely zero apologies for the campaign regardless of how squeamish it made people feel.

Writing in the Daily Mail, the Labour leader said he refused to just stand by or avoid calling this what it is.

Labour is the party of law and order. pic.twitter.com/EP6VXToK9z  The Labour Party (@UKLabour) April 6, 2023

Senior party figures including former home secretary Lord David Blunkett called for the ad to be withdrawn, arguing that Labour is better than the gutter politics.

Further adverts scheduled to drop ahead of the May local elections are to include one suggesting Mr Sunak thinks it is right that the public is paying for the Conservatives crashing the economy through higher housing costs.

Ms Thornberry was challenged over Sir Keirs role as a member of the Sentencing Council when it set out guidelines in 2012 suggesting that not all child sex abusers should automatically be jailed.

Asked whether Sir Keir, the then-director of public prosecutions, objected to the guidelines at the time, she said: I dont know the details of what the exact guidance is in relation to the Sentencing Council, but I do know this, that it is open to Parliament to set minimum and maximum sentences.

She said it should be the default position that an adult convicted of sexually assaulting a child will go to prison.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he made zero apologies for the under-fire advert (Stefan Rouseau/PA)

But a Labour government would not fund any more prison places, she said, because were a party of optimism.

What we need to do is we need to look at it from the very beginning to the very end of the criminal justice system.

If we had more community police officers on the street, which we do commit to and we have a clear idea of where the funding comes from in relation to that, we would be able to catch people earlier.

The row centres on a tweet in which Labour highlighted analysis of official data and said that under the Tories 4,500 adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under-16 served no prison time.

13 years of Tory failure has broken our justice system. Victims wait months if not years for justice, while dangerous criminals avoid prison. Labour will prevent crime, punish criminals, and protect communities. pic.twitter.com/gSBv5oyO0Q  The Labour Party (@UKLabour) April 7, 2023

Alongside a photo of the Prime Minister, it read: Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesnt.

Judges and magistrates, rather than the prime minister of the day, are responsible for handing out sentences.

The figures Labour highlighted cover the period since 2010, five years before Mr Sunak entered Parliament. He did not become Prime Minister until October last year.
Estate agent Savills has seen an increase in people looking to downsize to smaller properties since last September.

The property firm surveyed agents representing its 130 UK offices and found more than half (53%) had seen an increase in the number of downsizers on their books.

Andrew Perratt, head of UK residential at Savills, said: Equity-rich older homeowners are some of the best placed to moved in todays market as they are less likely to be impacted by higher mortgage costs.

Most will have enjoyed significant house price growth over their period of ownership, while owners of large family homes will have seen their properties appreciate substantially over the course of the pandemic, meaning they are sitting on a significant reserve of equity.

Across our network, our downsizer vendors are telling us that they will prioritise using the extra equity to help family with their finances, or to supplement a retirement fund and reduce overheads.

While realistic pricing is crucial in todays market, we are still seeing a shortage of larger family homes.

Finding the right next home seems to be the biggest barrier to those who have made the decision to downsize, according to 79% of Savills agents.

The majority of agents (61%) said that their downsizers are planning to remain locally based.

Popular criteria for downsizers looking to move included homes being in good condition, cheaper to run and lower maintenance overall, the findings indicated.

Being able to have room for family or friends to stay over were also high on downsizers wish-lists.
An NHS leader has urged the Government and junior doctors unions to call in the Acas conciliation service to end their stalemate and avoid catastrophic strikes.

On the eve of what is set to be the most disruptive walkout in NHS history, chief executive of the NHS Confederation Matthew Taylor has said the likely impact is heartbreaking and called on both sides to end their battle of rhetoric.

Thousands of junior doctors led by the British Medical Association (BMA) will take industrial action in the four days between Easter Bank Holiday and the following weekend.

Mr Taylor said there is no question this strike will be more disruptive than the 72-hour walkouts by NHS staff last month, which led to 175,000 cancelled appointments.

Speaking about pay negotiations which would avoid the action, Mr Taylor told BBC Breakfast: Its depressing that there seems to be no movement at all from the two sides of this dispute over the last few days.

We should consider asking the Government and the trade unions to call in Acas, the conciliation service, to provide some basis for negotiations, because if anything the positions seem to have hardened over the last couple of days.

Junior doctor strikes are set to take place for 96 hours from 7am on Tuesday (Jacob King/PA)

Mr Taylor also told Sky News that what were seeing is a battle of rhetoric rather than talks, adding that he expected up to 350,000 appointments to be cancelled.

He said: These strikes are going to have a catastrophic impact on the capacity of the NHS to recover services.

The health service has to meet high levels of demand at the same time as making inroads into that huge backlog that built up before Covid, but then built up much more during Covid.

Thats a tough thing to do at the best of times, its impossible to do when strikes are continuing.

NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor has said the BMA strikes will pose risks to patients (Victoria Jones/PA)

Asked whether everyone who needs urgent care this week will get it, he said: We hope so.

Theres no point hiding the fact that there will be risks to patients, risks to patient safety, risks to patient dignity, as were not able to provide the kind of care that we want to.

Mr Taylor also advised the public to use NHS services in the most responsible way you can, and to avoid risky behaviour which could result in a visit to A&E during the strikes.

The BMA has asked for a 35% pay rise to bring junior doctor pay back to 2008 levels, and help resolve the recruitment and retention crisis.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has blasted this demand as unrealistic and said their strikes had been planned to cause maximum disruption.

Junior doctors will walk out from 6.59am on Tuesday until 6.59am on Saturday.
A letter to the US attorney general has been signed by 35 parliamentarians calling for extradition proceedings to be dropped against Julian Assange on the fourth anniversary of his detention at Belmarsh prison.

Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds East, organised the letter, which has been given the support of MPs and members of the House of Lords from six parties.

They call on Merrick Garland to drop the proceedings, which date back to former US president Donald Trumps administration and, it is claimed, relate to Assanges role as a journalist and publisher in publishing evidence of war crimes, corruption and human rights abuses.

Assange is being held on remand as he challenges the High Courts ruling that he should be extradited to the US to face trial after leaking military documents.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange leaves Westminster Magistrates Court (PA)

Mr Burgon said: British parliamentarians are increasingly alarmed by the potential extradition of Julian Assange to the United States.

Any extradition would, in effect, be putting press freedom on trial. It would set a dangerous precedent for journalists and publishers around the world.

Four years on since Julian Assange was first detained in Belmarsh high-security prison, now is the right moment to draw a line under this outrageous prosecution initiated by the Trump administration, drop the charges against Julian Assange and allow him to return home to Australia.

Signatories include Conservative MP David Davis, Caroline Lucas of the Green Party, Jeremy Corbyn, Angus MacNeil of the Scottish National Party and Liz Saville-Roberts of Plaid Cymru.

The letter says: If Mr Assange were to be extradited to the United States, he faces a prison sentence of up to 175 years for his publishing work which was carried out in the United Kingdom and in partnership with globally leading news outlets.

This would clearly have a chilling impact on journalism and would set a dangerous precedent for other journalists and media organisations. It would also undermine the USs reputation on freedom of expression and the rule of law.
Essex Police have denied being directly reprimanded by Suella Braverman for sending five officers to seize a collection of dolls which are considered racist from a pub.

The officers took several golliwogs from the White Hart Inn in Grays, Essex, on April 4, as part of an investigation into an allegation of hate crime reported on February 24.

A source close to the Home Secretary said her unhappiness at the incident had been passed on to the force, as first reported by the Mail Online.

The outlet quoted a Home Office source as saying police forces should not be getting involved in this kind of nonsense and instead focus on catching criminals.

Essex Police said it is categorically not true that Ms Braverman had contacted the force about the probe, but did not rule out having been contacted by the Home Office.

A team of four officers and one tutee attended the pub last week after a report of someone being racially harassed, alarmed or distressed by the presence of the rag dolls, which are based on 18th century minstrels and now regarded as racist caricatures.

Owner Benice Ryley said she has displayed the collection of around 30 dolls, donated by her late aunt and customers, in the pub for nearly 10 years.

She told the PA news agency: Theyre my childhood history, its a part of our inheritance. I cant see any harm.

I really am angry because what theyve taken away is valuable.

Mrs Ryley hit back at allegations of racism, saying the pub frequently hosts Indian weddings, and said she does not understand how people could be offended by the dolls.

No, I dont know how they can find it offensive, she said.

If they dont like it, they dont have to come through the door.

No arrests have been made, with Mrs Ryleys husband Chris set to be questioned when he returns from abroad in May.

Ms Bravermans reported intervention comes after she last week drew criticism for singling out British Pakistani men over grooming gang concerns, despite government research finding no clear link between gang members and ethnicity.

The Home Secretary, who once railed against the tofu-eating wokerati, is regarded as a divisive figure for her remarks on migration and culture war issues.

Essex Police said in a statement on Monday: We are investigating an allegation of a hate crime in Grays.

We're investigating an allegation of a hate crime in #Grays. The report was made to us on 24 Feb and we visited a venue off Argent St on 4 April. We're aware of reports suggesting we have been contacted on this by the Home Secretary. This is not true.https://t.co/H2JL5wMXHl  Essex Police (@EssexPoliceUK) April 10, 2023

The report was made to us on February 24 after a member of the public reported being distressed after attending a venue off Argent Street.

The investigation is being carried out under Section 4(a) of the Public Order Act 1986 and Section 31 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

We have regularly discussed the progression of this case with the Crown Prosecution Service and on Tuesday April 4, five officers visited a location off Argent Street, Grays, and seized several items in connection with that investigation.

No-one has been arrested or charged in connection with the investigation and our inquiries are ongoing.

We are aware some elements of the media have reported that Essex Police has been contacted directly by the Home Secretary in relation to this investigation.

At the time of writing, this is categorically not true. As a result, we would ask all media reporting this to amend their news reports immediately.

In addition, as is the case in all investigations across every police force, we maintain operational independence from the Home Office which ensures that every investigation is carried out without fear or favour.
A postcard thought to be the earliest discussing the sinking of the Titanic is being sold at auction.

The card, written in Southampton, explains how the writer found out that the Titanic had gone to the bottom.

It was written at 5pm on April 16, 1912 just 36 hours after the Titanic had sunk, and is expected to fetch between 2,000 and 3,000 when it goes under the hammer at London-based auction house Charles Miller Ltd.

The postcard, which was sent to an address in Bedford at 7pm on the day it was written, is being sold by an unnamed English collector who said they enjoyed owning the item and wanted others to see it.

The collector said: The sinking of the Titanic was such a significant and tragic event.

I am hoping that the postcard will be bought by a museum or by someone who will display it to the general public, so that it can be generally appreciated, rather than housed in a private collection where few people will see it.

Maritime specialist Charles Miller added: It is fascinating to see this correspondence, which was sent so soon after the Titanic slipped beneath the waves.

It is likely that the sender was involved in shipping, as it is intriguing to read that White Star Line was heavily reliant on the newspapers for their information as to what had occurred.

The auction will take place on April 25.
Samyang Foods' Buldak Ramen / Courtesy of Samyang Foods



By Kim Jae-heun



Nissin Foods, a Japanese global food company, is facing growing criticism for selling products that closely resemble the popular Korean Buldak Ramen instant noodle product manufactured by Samyang Foods, according to industry officials, Monday.



Nissin introduced Hot & Spicy Fire Wok last September. The product allegedly not only copied the taste and packaging design of Buldak Ramen, but also has the Korean word "bokkeummyeon" written on its packaging, which means fried noodle in Korean. Its price is only one-fifth of the original.



"Nissin's Hot & Spicy Fire Wok product looks very much like Samyang Foods' Buldak Ramen. Some consumers are confused about which is the original. It also introduced a new cup noodle recently that resembles Samyang Foods' Carbo Buldak Ramen. It looks to me like Nissin just wants to ride on the popularity of Korean instant noodle products," a local food firm official said.





Nissin Foods' Hot & Spicy Fire Wok / Screenshot from Nissin Foods' website
Two climate change protesters have clashed with museum security guards after they jumped the barrier to a dinosaur display.

Footage shows Just Stop Oil (JSO) members, who the group has named as Daniel Knorr, 21, and Victoria Lindsell, 67, entering the Dippy the Diplodocus exhibit at Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry before being arrested.

A video posted by JSO follows the pair climb over a low metal barrier before being tackled to the ground by staff in high-vis jackets, and later being led away in handcuffs by West Midlands Police (WMP) officers.

One staff member is shown seizing Mr Knorrs rucksack, while another tackles Ms Lindsell and shouts: Stop it, stop it now. Do you understand?

Best Quality Available. Undated handout photo of Just Stop Oil protester Victoria Lindsell, 67, being arrested (Just Stop Oil/PA)

The demonstrators both remove jumpers to reveal white Just Stop Oil t-shirts before they are removed.

WMP confirmed that two people were arrested in the museum at around 10am on Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage.

The force added that two large bags of dry paint were also seized by officers and that protest liaison officers are still at the scene to keep people safe and limit disruption to a minimum.

Ms Lindsell, an English language teacher from Leamington, Warwickshire, said she felt forced to take part in the civil resistance action because nothing else has moved our genocidal Government to act for the welfare of all.

Victoria Lindsell, 67, being arrested (Just Stop Oil/PA)

In a statement issued by JSO, she said: Day after day, we are alerted to the impact of rising carbon emissions, but this dinosaur government crashes on with incentivising yet more fossil fuel extraction, whilst pocketing millions from the industries leading us to extinction.

Knorr, a student from Oxford, also said he felt he had no choice but to take part in the stunt because were barrelling towards suffering, mass death and the annihilation of our species.

In a statement, he said: I cannot and will not commit myself to a future of powerlessly watching these horrors unfold. The dinosaurs had no choice  we do.

Humanity is at risk, as is everything we know and love- our historical artefacts, our art, our heritage.

Cultural institutions have failed to admit the truth and failed to address the urgency of action.

It is immoral for institutions to stand by and watch whilst our society faces inevitable collapse.

We call on everyone involved in arts, heritage and culture to join us in civil resistance.
Seven sites have received Government backing to win Unesco World Heritage status, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced.

York city centre, Birkenhead Park and an Iron Age settlement in Scotland could be in the running to join the prestigious list.

Unescos World Heritage site system offers the opportunity for cultural and natural heritage sites to gain international recognition and promote themselves on a global stage.

Gracehill Moravian Church in Co Antrim (Stormont Department for Communities)

On Monday the DCMS revealed the seven places to be placed on its Tentative List, published around every 10 years, which sets out the sites it is felt have the best chance of succeeding in being included.

Five new sites from across the UK and overseas territories have been added, meaning they are now part of a seven-site list to be put forward by the Government.

Among the cultural sites on the list is York, which harbours a rich history left behind by its Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman inhabitants  with civic and religious buildings including its Minster.

Also backed by the Government is Birkenhead Park, which opened in 1847, and was a pioneering project to bring greenery to urban environments.

The site provided a blueprint for municipal planning that has influenced town and city parks across the world, including New Yorks Central Park.

The Zenith of Iron Age Shetland, a collection of three ancient settlements dating back thousands of years, has also been placed on the Tentative List.

An aerial view of Birkenhead Park visitor centre, Birkenhead, Wirral (Peter Byrne/PA)

Places of natural significance recommended for consideration by the DCMS include the East Atlantic Flyway, a migratory bird route over western parts of Europe including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent.

It joins the list in recognition of its vital importance to bird populations and wildlife as an area that sees huge transient bird populations pass through every year.

The Little Cayman Marine Parks and Protected Areas, situated in the UK overseas territory of the Cayman Islands, have also been put forward for their exceptional importance to marine biodiversity and their incredible natural beauty.

The five sites join two more that submitted their full nominations to Unesco earlier this year, and remain on the Governments Tentative List.

They are The Flow Country, a large area of peatland across Caithness and Sutherland in the north of Scotland which plays a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, and the Gracehill Moravian Church Settlement in Northern Ireland.

If successful, the seven sites would join the 33 other World Heritage sites already based in the UK including Stonehenge and Hadrians Wall.

Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: Today we are confirming our support for some of the most enchanting heritage sites and breathtaking landscapes in the UK and its overseas territories as they bid for Unesco World Heritage Site status.

All the locations being put forward would be worthy recipients of this accolade  and we will give them our full backing so they can benefit from the international recognition it can bring.

Laura Davies, HM Ambassador to Unesco, said: It is great that the UK is contributing to making World Heritage more representative.

These five sites brilliantly reflect the diversity and beauty of the UK and its overseas territories natural and cultural heritage, and I look forward to working with them towards World Heritage listing.

The DCMS says it will now work with local authorities and devolved administrations to develop their bids.
The SNP has been urged to come together by its former Westminster leader now the party has selected Humza Yousaf as First Minister.

Ian Blackfords comments came just 24 hours after SNP president Mike Russell told The Herald newspaper that Scottish independence cannot be secured in the immediate future amid the ongoing police investigation into party finances.

Mr Blackford told the BBCs Good Morning Scotland on Monday that Mr Russell was signalling that the party is facing a very challenging period, and warned that political parties that arent united tend to face electoral challenges.

The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber added: I would appeal to everyone in the party to come together now the election contest for the leader and the First Minister is over.

Police Scotland raided the SNPs headquarters in Edinburgh last week as their investigation into its finances continues (Lesley Martin/PA)

Mr Yousaf narrowly beat rival Kate Forbes in the leadership contest last month.

Mr Blackford, who backed Mr Yousaf to replace Nicola Sturgeon as leader, added: I actually think, when I look over the course of the first few days of the leadership of Humza, hes made a number of very positive announcements.

He said the party needs to make sure that we rise to the challenges that we have and that it is ready to face its first electoral contest of the general election next year.

He said: Im optimistic but we need to make sure that we show that were worthy of the support of the people of Scotland.

He added: If we look at support for independence, its still hovering around about or close to the 50% level.

We need to demonstrate that we are worthy of the trust of the people and its about, I would say, the Scottish Government delivering across all the devolved areas and doing the work that we need to do to demonstrate that the best answer for Scotland is to become an independent country.

Police searched Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrells home last week (Robert Perry/PA)

Last week, Peter Murrell, former chief executive of the SNP and Ms Sturgeons husband, was arrested and their home searched by police. He was later released without charge.

On Saturday, Ms Sturgeon, speaking outside her Uddingston home, said the last few days had been obviously difficult and that she would fully co-operate with the police investigation.

She said Mr Murrell was not able to say anything about his arrest while the inquiry continues.

Again, thats not necessarily a matter of choice. Thats just the nature of this, she added.

The Glasgow Southside MSP said she intends to get on with life and my job, as you would expect me to.
Rishi Sunak has stressed the bravery and compromise exhibited by the leaders who secured the Good Friday Agreement as he called for power-sharing to swiftly return to Northern Ireland.

On the 25th anniversary of the peace deal, the Prime Minister celebrated the difficult decisions taken and political imagination displayed to end the Troubles.

So we must get on with the business of governance, he said in a statement on Monday, ahead of talks to get Stormont running again intensifying.

He will host US President Joe Biden in Northern Ireland to commemorate the event, which takes place despite the assembly key to the deal still not sitting.

The peace brought by the treaty also remains fragile, with the terror threat having been raised amid warnings of possible attacks on police.

Mr Sunak said there is a need to recommit to redoubling our efforts to deliver on the promise made when the deal was signed on April 10 1998.

Reflecting on the beginning of a new chapter, the Prime Minister said the agreement continues to enjoy huge international support, as demonstrated by Mr Bidens visit.

As we look forward, we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership  showing bravery, perseverance, and political imagination, he said.

We commemorate those who are no longer with us and the many who lost their lives by trying to prevent violence and protect the innocent.

And we give thanks to them as we reflect on the new generations that have grown up and continue to grow in a world in which peace and prosperity has prevailed.

While it is time to reflect on the solid progress we have made together, we must also recommit to redoubling our efforts on the promise made in 1998 and the agreements that followed.

That vision, he said, is of economic opportunity, prosperity, and stability.

So we must get on with the business of governance, Mr Sunak continued.

My mission, duty and responsibility as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is to deliver for people in Northern Ireland.

We stand ready to work with our partners in the Irish government and the local parties to ensure that the institutions are up and running again as soon as possible.

There is work to be done.

But Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said no-one could put a timeline on when powersharing would be back up and running.

He told BBC Radio 4s Westminster Hour: Anybody who is predicting a date by which the executive would go back in Northern Ireland would be someone who can also sell you a four-leaf clover. No one knows  deadlines are deadly in Northern Ireland term.

Writing in The Telegraph, he added: Across a range of measures, the people of Northern Ireland are being directly impacted because of an ongoing lack of locally accountable devolved government.

The UK Government wants to see the Northern Ireland institutions delivering better public services, more investment and a stronger Union based on prosperity there is no surer way to achieve that than for political parties to come together to get on with the job of delivering on the peoples priorities and to make Northern Ireland work.

US President Joe Biden is visiting Northern Ireland this week (Niall Carson/PA)

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Northern Ireland is standing at another crossroads 25 years after the agreement that he said represents the very best of what our politics can achieve, the triumph of hope over division, of peace over strife and of prosperity over conflict.

With political stalemate at Stormont and a period of difficult Anglo-Irish relations, we must use the spirit and the trust built by the architects of the Good Friday Agreement to push us forward to another 25 years of peace and prosperity, he said.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has warned of the potential of dissident republicans launching attacks on police officers in Londonderry on Easter Monday.

MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has insisted the political vacuum in the nation caused by his partys refusal to re-enter Stormont is not to blame.

In February last year the DUP withdrew its support for the powersharing institutions formed by the Good Friday Agreement as it protests against post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he will be intensifying talks with Mr Sunak in the coming weeks to try to get Stormont running again.

Were working towards having the institutions up and running in the next few months, he told RTEs This Week programme.

Mr Sunak will meet Mr Biden off Air Force One when he arrives on Tuesday evening.

The president will take part in events on Wednesday, before heading to the Republic of Ireland, where he will visit Dublin, Co Louth and Co Mayo.
The majority of voters believe political leaders do not display enough compassion, research has suggested as Labour comes under criticism for its attack advert on Rishi Sunak.

Some 57% believe leading politicians should show more compassion, compared with 9% who say they are already too compassionate, according to a survey.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer defied calls to withdraw Labours campaign accusing the Prime Minister of not thinking child sex abusers should go to prison.

Labour voters are far more likely to think political leaders in Britain do not show sufficient compassion, according to the research commissioned by the Global Compassion Coalition.

Labour is the party of law and order. pic.twitter.com/EP6VXToK9z  The Labour Party (@UKLabour) April 6, 2023

The YouGov survey had 83% of them responding that there was too little compassion, compared with 37% of Conservative voters at the last general election.

There has been unease on the Labour frontbench about the attacks on Mr Sunak over the Conservative Governments track record on crime.

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary in charge of Labours crime policy, was not informed or consulted about the campaign, according to The Observer.

Senior figures have also criticised it, with Labour former home secretary Lord David Blunkett suggesting the ad was an example of gutter politics, saying: My party is better than this.

He urged Sir Keir to intervene over the campaign, writing in the Daily Mail: When baseless allegations and spurious slurs replace fair and robust political debate, not only is the standing of our leaders undermined, the very foundations of our democracy are compromised.

Alongside a photo of the Prime Minister, an image reads: Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesnt.

The Twitter post highlights Labour analysis of official data and says that under the Tories 4,500 adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under-16 served no prison time.

Judges and magistrates, rather than the prime minister of the day, are responsible for handing out sentences.

The figures Labour highlighted cover the period since 2010, five years before Mr Sunak entered Parliament.

He did not become Prime Minister until October last year.

Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry said she disagrees with the critics, saying it was a legitimate question to ask.

Labour was continuing with the ad campaign.

The compassion survey of 2,003 British adults was carried out in February, before the row.

Jennifer Nadel, co-director of the Compassion in Politics campaign, said: In the last few days weve seen an example of the kind of politics we must leave behind.

A serious and sensitive issue has been used to score political points at the expense of respectful and constructive debate. And as our polling reveals  the public have had enough.

Politics should be the space where we come together to solve common problems and improve lives for the better  not a winner-takes-all punch-up that leaves us all weaker and worn out.
JiZMak Da Gusha Endorses Erection of Oderus Urungus Monument

What if? What if you and your weird friends actually followed through with every crazy, stoned idea that you ever came up with? Or at least a few of them? Make a campy sci-fi movie! Start a really loud band! Show up at the Grammys dressed as obnoxious aliens! Open your own bar with you as the theme!

The members of Gwar have managed to do all of these over the last 39 years, nicely punctuated by the Hail Seitan sandwich you order at the bar  no pickles, please.

More from Spin:

The interior of the GwarBar, sited on an odd triangular street corner in Richmond, Virginia, is everything that the Hard Rock Cafe pretends to be and fails at. The stage props and guitars on the walls can come down whenever a band member wants to use one in a show or video. Actual musicians and hard-partying metal scene guys can be found knocking back whiskey and McDuckets (nuggets made with duck meat) after a late-night concert. Michael Derks, Gwars rhythm guitarist in the character of Balsac the Jaws of Death, can often be found behind the bar pouring drinks.

Derks can do pretty much whatever he wants here because its his bar. His and the other seven members of Gwar, which is arguably the weirdest metal band in the history of the genre, and that is saying an awful lot.

Ive been in Gwar for over 35 years now, and even before I was in the band, I worked in restaurants, Derks said while sitting at his bar at the ungodly early hour of 2 p.m., which is like breakfast time for bartenders, musicians, and freelance writers who get off of work at 2 or 3 a.m. and then need a certain amount of me time before crashing.

Its always been like, I could work in a restaurant, take a month off to go on tour, and come back A lot of musicians actually work in restaurants, bartenders, working in the kitchen and stuff like that Ive worked in restaurants since I was 14 years old. and we spend so much of our time as musicians in bars. What do you do when youre not touring? Unless youre huge, you know, even if youre at the level that Gwar is, we have to have part-time jobs, you know. Its like we cant support ourselves on just music.

George Abruzzo

A dirty little secret of the music industry is that a lot of the artists and bands that you love and see in concert and maybe even actually pay for an album arent able to survive on their income as artists. That guy on stage in front of a thousand people at a packed nightclub might be driving for Uber or slinging mojitos after the tour is over. He isnt likely to mention this on his social media, but that is the reality of the modern music industry, where the $16 for a brand new CD of the late 90s has been replaced with a quarter of a cent or whatever quantum form of currency Spotify is now paying to musicians.

Gwar has taken control of the means of production, as it were. They own the actual bar and restaurant where they can pour drinks and flip burgers (called beefcakes here) if they so choose.

Taking control is kind of what Gwar does in general, even if Earth as whole has proven disturbingly resistant. The band originated when a different band, Death Piggy, was rehearsing in a cheap space in a dilapidated former Richmond dairy in 1984. In the room next door, Hunter Jackson and a few friends were hard at work making props and costumes for a sci-fi movie that Jackson planned to make about a bunch of alien barbarians who arrive on Earth ready to conquer but get distracted by things like new girlfriends and joining a band.

Dave Brockie, Death Piggys vocalist and Gwars founder, asked Hunter if he could borrow the costumes for a night to have the band open for themselves dressed up as what became Gwar. Jacksons props, characters, and story were quickly subsumed by the conquering power that is Gwar; absorbed like the quivering flesh of their enemies. Death Piggy quietly died so that Gwar might live.

Along the way they turned into a truly tight, sharp-edged metal band with real instrumental prowess, challenged by the need to play technically difficult material while wearing many pounds of bulky foam and latex and whatever hidden contraptions squirt out the gallons of fake blood and other bodily fluids that tend to hose the audience in the face during a Gwar show.

George Abruzzo

Derks and Brockie started talking about the idea of a Gwar bar around 20 years ago. Of course it would have to be in Richmond, home of Gwar and of Virginia Commonwealth University, which boasts a large arts program that many of Gwars members are alumni of and which continues to provide a reliable stream of interesting weirdos that make Richmond arguably the funnest gritty American city after New Orleans. Of course it would have to be in the Jackson Ward neighborhood, where you wouldnt have wanted to set foot 20 years ago but today you can hit up a trendy art gallery and still have full confidence that someone will at least try pulling on your car door handles.

Theres a homeless guy with impressive dreadlocks who pretty much lives in the alley behind the Gwar bar. Really nice dude. Begs for cash for art supplies and sells decent paintings.

At Gallery Five, on the other side of the block, a few months ago I saw the Embalmers, a surf rock instrumental band dressed in sharp suits and red fezes playing Cure covers while students and old metal guys bounced around, elbows and Doc Martens flying inches away from expensive art for sale. After the show, a bunch of them headed straight for the GwarBar.

It may have been started as a branded destination, the ultimate item on the merch table. But the GwarBar is a bona fide local institution. A rock and roll watering hole where kids in new bands hang out, where touring bands like Slayer like to stop in, and of course there are also folks who are there specifically for Gwar.

We definitely get a lot of people from outta town that have come here, Derks told me. Theyre visiting Richmond as their Gwar pilgrimage, you know, to see the GwarBar, to see the dairy where it all started, to go to Daves memorial in Hollywood Cemetery and see the Brockie murals all over the city. People do make this the Richmond pilgrimage, and this is kind of like the Mecca for Gwar fans.

Dave Brockie died in 2014, and Derks has been pretty much the guy in charge ever since. It was Derks who finally started making moves on their old idea, partnering with an experienced restaurant owner to make the GwarBar a reality.

George Abruzzo

Since the GwarBar opened, Gwar has continued to metastasize. You can order a Gwar-themed beer, Blood Geyser. Their whiskey, Ragnarok Rye, goes for over a hundred bucks a bottle retail and has received extraordinarily high ratings. Theres a comic book, GWAR: In the Duoverse of Absurdity, written by Derks and fellow band-member Matt McGuire, aka Sawborg Destructo.

Now theres also a documentary, This is Gwar, paid for by horror network Shudder, also available for a few bucks streaming on Amazon Prime. The band is playing European festivals this summer and there always seems to be a new video around the corner.

Gwar has always been powered by the work of an art collective, The Slave Pit, which builds and repairs the constant flow of new costumes and props. The Slave Pit has had their own gallery shows. A crew of bartenders and cooks (who look way cooler than you or I ever will) have now joined the ever-growing staff in service of the needs of all that is Gwar. Also the brewers and the whiskey makers and the guys who illustrated the comic book and the whole crew behind the documentary. Gwar is an industry, constantly expanding. They will never drive for Uber.

The GwarBar keeps evolving and growing every year, Derks said, gesturing towards a grotesque latex mask and a wall made to look like stone. Margaret [Rolicki] just painted the walls, like the dungeon walls, over the pandemic and we just keep adding stuff and taking stuff down. So its kind of like a rotating curated museum.

I meant to ask about a breakfast cereal but got distracted by all the stuff on the walls.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

The post JiZMak Da Gusha Endorses Erection of Oderus Urungus Monument appeared first on SPIN.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  A Louisville bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at his workplace Monday morning, killing five people  including a close friend of Kentucky's governor  while livestreaming the attack on Instagram, authorities said.

Police arrived as shots were still being fired inside Old National Bank and killed the shooter in an exchange of gunfire, Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said. The city's mayor, Craig Greenberg, called the attack "an evil act of targeted violence.

The shooting, the 15th mass killing in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, about 160 miles (260 kilometers) to the south. That state's governor and his wife also had friends killed in that shooting.

In Louisville, the chief identified the shooter as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, who she said was livestreaming during the attack.

Thats tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured," she said.

Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, said in a statement that it had quickly removed the livestream of this tragic incident this morning.

Social media companies have imposed tougher rules over the past few years to prohibit violent and extremist content. They have set up systems to remove posts and streams that violate those restrictions, but shocking material like the Louisville shooting continues to slip through the cracks, prompting lawmakers and other critics to lash out at the technology industry for slipshod safeguards and moderation policies.

Nine people, including two police officers, were treated for injuries from the Louisville shooting, University of Louisville Hospital spokeswoman Heather Fountaine said in an email. One of the wounded, identified as 57-year-old Deana Eckert, later died, police said Monday night.

One of the wounded officers, 26-year-old Nickolas Wilt, graduated from the police academy on March 31. He was in critical condition after being shot in the head and having surgery, the police chief said. At least three patients had been discharged.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he lost one of his closest friends in the shooting  Tommy Elliott  in the building not far from the minor league ballpark Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.

Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad," said Beshear, his voice shaking with emotion. "He's one of the people I talked to most in the world, and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend.

Also killed in the shooting were Josh Barrick, Jim Tutt and Juliana Farmer, police said.

These are irreplaceable, amazing individuals that a terrible act of violence tore from all of us, the governor said.

It was the second time that Beshear was personally touched by a mass tragedy since becoming governor.

In late 2021, one of the towns devastated by tornadoes that tore through Kentucky was Dawson Springs, the hometown of Beshears father, former two-term Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. Andy Beshear frequently visited Dawson Springs as a boy and has talked emotionally about his fathers hometown.

Beshear spoke as the investigation in Louisville continued and police searched for a motive. Crime scene investigators could be seen marking and photographing numerous bullet holes in the windows near the banks front door.

As part of the investigation, police descended on the neighborhood where the suspect lived, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of the downtown shooting. The street was blocked as federal and local officers talked to residents. One home was cordoned off with caution tape. Kami Cooper, who lives in the neighborhood, said she didnt recall ever meeting the suspect but said its an unnerving feeling to have lived on the same street as someone who could do such a thing.

Im almost speechless. You see it on the news but not at home, Cooper said. Its unbelievable, it could happen here, somebody on my street.

A man who fled the building during the shooting told WHAS-TV that the shooter opened fire with a long rifle in a conference room in the back of the building's first floor.

Whoever was next to me got shot  blood is on me from it, he told the news station, pointing to his shirt. He said he fled to a break room and shut the door.

Deputy Police Chief Paul Humphrey said the actions of responding police officers undoubtedly saved lives.

This is a tragic event, he said. But it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened.

Just a few hours later and blocks away, an unrelated shooting killed one man and wounded a woman outside a community college, police said.

The 15 mass shootings this year are the most during the first 100 days of a calendar year since 2009, when 16 had occurred by April 10, according to a mass killings database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

Going back to 2006, the first year for which data has been compiled, the years with the most mass killings were 2019 and 2022, with 45 and 42 mass killings recorded during the entire calendar year. The pace in 2009 slowed later in the year, with 32 mass killings recorded that year.

___

Contributing to this report were Becky Reynolds in Louisville, Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky, Beatrice Dupuy in New York, database journalist Larry Fenn, researchers Rhonda Shafner and Jennifer Farrar in New York and AP Technology writer Michael Liedtke in San Ramon, California.

___

A previous version used an incorrect spelling of Deana Eckert's name, based on information from authorities.

___

A previous version incorrectly reported the shooter's age, based on information from authorities.
The Chinese military deployed 71 aircraft and nine naval vessels around Taiwan on Sunday, the second day in a row that the People's Liberation Army has conducted massive drills near the island.

It comes after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned this week from a trip to the United States, where she met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and other lawmakers.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense tasked its air force, navy, and land-based missile systems to monitor the Chines aircraft, 45 of which crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial buffer zone between the island and mainland China.

Chinese state television said that the units carried out "simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan island and the surrounding sea areas," according to Reuters.

TAIWAN RESIDENTS AGREE US WILL NOT COME TO THEIR AID IF CHINA INVADES, ARE DIVIDED ON THREAT LEVEL

China regularly dispatches aircraft and ships around Taiwan, though this weekend's drills were much larger than in recent months.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Beijing was outraged at the meeting between McCarthy and Taiwan's president, responding by slapping sanctions on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where the two leaders met, as well as the Hudson Institute for "providing a platform and convenience to Taiwan separatist activities."

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and other hawkish lawmakers have stepped up calls for the U.S. to commit to defending Taiwan in the event of an invasion by China.

"The question for the Congress  should we have a defense agreement with the island of Taiwan? We don't, should we have one?" Graham told Fox News Sunday. "Yes, I'd be very much open to using U.S. forces to defend Taiwan, because it's in our national security interest to do so."

CONFLICT WITH CHINA 'LAST RESORT' BUT CONGRESS WILL AUTHORIZE TROOPS IF AMERICANS SUPPORT IT: MCCAUL

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., the Chairman of the House Select Committee on China, noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping "would like to reunify Taiwan with the mainland by force if necessary."

"The fact that the Chinese were throwing a temper tantrum about the Speaker of the House meeting with the democratically elected leader of Taiwan on American soil just shows you how sensitive they are," Gallagher told Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures. "We need to be moving heaven and earth to surge power out to the Indo-Pacific before it's too late, before we have another war on our hands."

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, also led a delegation of lawmakers to Taiwan this week after visiting Japan and South Korea.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a speaking event in South Carolina this week, making his first public appearance in the state ahead of a potential 2024 presidential bid.

South Carolina is a key state in the presidential primary cycle as it is the third state to hold a primary or caucus contest after only the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire Primary. It also includes a more diverse population than the states before it.

The event will take place in Spartanburg, where State Sen. Josh Kimbrell will host DeSantis on April 19.

DeSantis' first public visit to South Carolina coincides with a tour to share his "Florida Blueprint" in other key states including Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan in recent weeks.

2024 FRICTION: FORMER TRUMP OFFICIALS JOIN PRO-DESANTIS GROUP

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis defeated Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Charlie Crist on November 8, 2022 in Tampa, Florida, to win re-election as governor.

The multi-state speaking gigs give DeSantis, who is well-liked among Republicans, a chance to lay out some of his policy achievements in Florida.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

He may also use the events to show his attentiveness to national issues beyond his own state or set up possible contrasts with other GOP candidates, including former President Donald Trump.

PRO-DESANTIS SUPER PAC TOUTS $30 MILLION FUNDRAISING HAUL

Kimbrell told the Associated Press on Sunday that he had been hoping to bring DeSantis to South Carolina for months now. He said Republicans in the early voting state are accustomed to hearing from multiple presidential candidates, in person, well before official campaigns in the state kickoff.

"Ive told everybody associated with his team, Youve got to get here early and often,'" Kimbrell, who has urged DeSantis to officially jump into the 2024 Republican primary, told AP. "Ive tried to make it clear to them that, if you want to win, youve got to get here early."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during 'The Florida Blueprint' event on Long Island, New York, United States on April 1, 2023.

"I believe that Ron DeSantis is as popular among my base as Trump is," Kimbrell added. "But you cant just mail it in. He's going to have to press the flesh, roll his sleeves up, and get really serious."

DONALD TRUMPS CAMPAIGN URGES RON DESANTIS DONORS TO 'DEMONSTRATE' LOYALTY TO FORMER PRESIDENT

The only current GOP candidates, including Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson have already visited the state.

Former President Donald Trump looks on during a rally at the Waco Regional Airport on March 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas.

Other potential candidates are orbiting South Carolina as well.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has made a visit to the southern state and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is scheduled to attend a summit later this week with donors, as he mulls his own presidential bid.

DeSantis most recently visited South Carolina for a gubernatorial fundraiser near Charleston last year. The event was attended by top donors in the state, including those who previously backed Trump.

Kimbrell said he agrees with Trump on policy but suggested DeSantis is more agreeable "personally."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Ted Cruz built his reputation as a conservative flamethrower after leading the government shutdown over Obamacare funding in 2013, cultivating that brand during his presidential campaign and beyond over the last decade.

Now, the Texas Republican is seeking to show some bipartisan credentials as he runs for re-election in a state that is becoming more competitive and gave him a scare in his last race.

In a wide-ranging interview in his Capitol Hill office, Cruz highlighted his work as the top Republican on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and how hes teamed with Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., on legislation requiring that consumers be informed if their refrigerator or other home appliances have recording capabilities.

Cruz touted his work with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., on a bipartisan bill to fight a potential ban on new or existing gas stoves.

And he spoke of his unlikely partnerships with two other Senate Democrats on the Commerce committee  Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico and Raphael Warnock of Georgia  to help create new interstates that will boost trade and business in their states.

Oversight is one large bucket for the committee, Cruz said. And then the other large bucket is positive, bipartisan legislation that can move, that can pass into law, that is pro-jobs and pro-growth. And the Commerce Committee has a long history of passing legislation like that.

As Cruz sees it, his new perch as ranking member of the Commerce committee will be a boon for fellow Texans  and, in turn, beneficial for his re-election campaign. The panel covers many key industries that have deep footprints in the Lone Star State, he said, from space and airlines to telecom, tech and energy.

I think campaigns should be about issues and substance and results, Cruz said, sitting in his Russell Senate Building Office, where three of his bills that President Barack Obama signed into law hang on the wall. The Commerce Committee has vast jurisdiction over nearly half the U.S. economy. Having the responsibility of being the ranking member for the Commerce Committee is enormously beneficial to Texas.

It gives me the ability to fight for 30 million Texans in a way that has real, meaningful impact," he added.

Tricky balancing act

Cruzs new posture comes after he survived a near miss in his 2018 campaign, edging out Democratic rival Beto ORourke by a mere 2.6 points in the Republican stronghold. ORourke spent his campaign belittling Cruz as all talk and no action  a senator whod spent six years slinging partisan arrows and delivering nothing for Texas.

To some Texans, it rang true. Cruz lost independent voters to O'Rourke in that contest, according to NBC News exit polls.

Cruz developed a reputation as a pugnacious partisan in his first year when he spurred a 17-day government shutdown in 2013 that many Republicans wanted to avoid and which failed to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Three years later, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., memorably quipped that someone could kill Cruz on the Senate floor and no senator would vote to convict them.

Now, facing an unpredictable cycle that lands in a presidential election year, Cruz is trying to get ahead of those inevitable attacks from Democrats. But itll be a tricky balancing act to stay true to his right-wing firebrand persona while also trying to reach out to the types of swing voters who nearly sent him packing in 2018. Cruz has shown that side of him in recent days by blasting the indictment of former President Donald Trump as the work of a left-wing Soros prosecutor who is making a mockery of the rule of law.

Sen. Ted Cruz holds the children's book

In his successful 2022 re-election campaign, Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock barnstormed Georgia touting his work with Cruz to bolster the I-14 corridor in the South  often drawing gasps from his liberal crowds.

Now, its Cruzs turn to do the same.

Cruz recalled getting the bill over the finish line. Tom Carper from Delaware said, Well, if Cruz is for it and Warnock is for it, we ought to all be for it  and it passed unanimously to peals of laughter!

And last year, Cruz and Lujan successfully tucked language in a spending package that designates a portion of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor, from Laredo, Texas, to Raton, New Mexico, as a future interstate route  a critical step toward adding the 830-mile stretch to the U.S. Interstate Highway System. The pair have rolled out a separate bill that would name the corridor Interstate 27.

My experience with Sen. Cruz is weve always worked together, said Lujan, who for two cycles served as House Democrats campaigns chief.

After Lujan suffered a stroke last year, he said Cruz would often check in to see how he was doing. Its just a reminder, say hello to people, get to know them, Lujan said. You never know where youre gonna find partnerships.

'Ted is Ted'

But skeptical Democrats on the Commerce panel still view Cruz as a partisan attack dog. Asked about Cruzs bipartisan work on the refrigerator and appliance privacy bill, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, literally rolled his eyes.

I just havent seen any evidence that Ted has changed, Schatz said. Theres not a single one of us that doesnt have one or two bipartisan bills. The question is: How do you behave on a daily basis? And I just havent seen a big change. Maybe Im wrong, and Id be happy to be proven wrong, but so far it seems like Ted is Ted.

David Bergstein, a spokesman for Democrats Senate campaign arm, was more blunt: Cruz is one of the most vitriolic, least productive, bombastic, self-absorbed members of the U.S. Senate. The idea that hes a productive working member is laughable to the people of his state. Bergstein said the committee will look for opportunities to put Republicans on defense in states like Texas.

At times, Cruz offered a broad definition of bipartisan successes, counting among them the scuttling of two of Bidens nominees  for which hes claimed credit. Last month, Phil Washington, Bidens choice to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, dropped his nomination after Cruz attacked him as unqualified on aviation safety issues and Democrats couldnt muster enough support within their ranks to advance his nomination out of the Commerce panel.

Weeks earlier, Gigi Sohn, Bidens pick for the Federal Communications Commission, also withdrew her nomination after all Republicans and a handful of Democrats threatened to reject her. Cruz had pointed out that Sohn had made donations to a group that had attacked some key senators, including Manchin and Sinema.

At the end of the day, Republicans agreed and several Democrats agreed with us as well, Cruz said.

2024 will 'not be boring'

Cruzs prospects for re-election will depend in part on who his partys presidential nominee is. The Republican victory margin in Texas has shrunk from 16 points in the 2012 presidential election to 9 points in 2016 to less than 6 points in 2020. Yet Cruz, the runner-up to Trump in the 2016 race, is resolute about staying agnostic in the 2024 primary.

Asked what advice hed give to Trumps rivals, Cruz chuckled. I am not in the business of giving advice, he said. To candidates running for president right now  I have every confidence we will have a wild and wooly primary. My focus is on running for re-election to the Senate in the state of Texas. And I have absolute certainty the presidential race will not be boring.

Meanwhile, multiple former Cruz staffers have gone to work for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seen by many as the main GOP alternative to Trump. The senator said it simply speaks to the quality of his political team. We came in second in 2016, he said. We came very, very close to winning altogether. That team is tremendously talented.

Cruz and DeSantis, a former member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, were both first elected to Congress in 2012 and spent the next few years as troublemakers. Asked if he believes DeSantis would make a good president, Cruz grinned.

Good try, the usually loquacious senator said. I think the voters will make that determination.




Ulf Ausprung, CEO of Han Sung Motor, attends the 2023 Dream Gream launch ceremony at the Glad Hotel in Seoul, Feb. 21. Courtesy of Han Sung Motor



By Kim Hyun-bin



Han Sung Motor has been operating Dream Gream, an art scholarship program for middle and high school students, with the Korea Mecenat Association since 2012.



It is the first corporate social responsibility (CSR) program among imported car dealership companies. The company's scholarship program provides young artists with mentoring classes in various art fields with renowned artists, allowing the recipients to pursue their dreams for up to six years until they graduate from high school.



"The domestic art scene is growing significantly and as the public's interest in art is steadily increasing, it shows that art is recognized as an important factor in daily life," said Ulf Ausprung, CEO of Han Sung Motor.



"This year, we want to provide much more differentiated educational opportunities to students and mentors. We plan to focus on participating in various art fairs to allow students to directly experience the atmosphere of the industry first-hand, collaborate with famous artists and expand points of contact by communicating with the public."



First, Dream Gream plans to participate in Plastic Art Seoul (PLAS) 2023, scheduled to take place at COEX in May. For this, Dream Gream plans to present media art classes with artist Yang Min-ha, who is a professor at the University of Seoul.





Dream Gream showcases ceramic art pieces titled "SKIN" at the 2018 Craft Trend Fair held at COEX in Seoul, Nov. 22, 2018. Courtesy of Han Sung Motor
Lou Dobbs hosts "Lou Dobbs Tonight" at Fox Business Network Studios in 2018 in New York City. (Steven Ferdman / Getty Images)

It's not the settlement the media industry has been anticipating, but Fox News has reached an agreement with a Venezuelan businessman whose name was linked to false allegations about voting machines used in the 2020 election.

Attorneys for Fox News and Majed Khalil, the plaintiff in the suit, filed a letter Saturday with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York stating the two sides have reached a confidential settlement and will jointly file a motion to dismiss the case with prejudice early this week. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

This matter has been resolved amicably by both sides," a Fox News representative said in a statement.

The action comes as Fox News heads to a Delaware court on April 17 for the $1.6 billion defamation case brought by Dominion Voting Systems. Jury selection for trial starts this week, with no sign of a settlement in sight.

The judge in that case has already ruled that Fox News made false statements about Dominion. The jury will decide if the network acted recklessly or with malice in presenting the misinformation and whether Dominion is entitled to damages.

Among the false claims Dominion cites in its case is that the Denver-based voting machine maker was founded in Venezuela and had ties to its government. Attorneys for former President Donald Trump made similar claims about voting software company Smartmatic, which is also suing Fox News for defamation.

Khalil said in his lawsuit filed in 2021 that former Fox Business Network anchor Lou Dobbs and Trump's attorney Sidney Powell named him as part of a false conspiracy theory that Dominion and Smartmatic manipulated votes in order to throw the election to President Biden.

The remarks were on the Dec. 10 edition of Dobbs' program, well after it was known throughout Fox News that there was no evidence of election fraud nor that the voting equipment companies had any ties to Venezuela, according to evidence filed in the Dominion case.

Khalil had no connection or business dealings with the companies or the development of their software.

"These allegations ... were fabricated by Defendants out of thin air to xenophobically add another 'foreign name' to the manufactured charges of a non-existent Smartmatic or Dominion conspiracy with Venezuelan officials and private citizens," the suit said.

Dobbs' program was canceled by Fox News in February 2021.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
French President Emmanuel Macron, following a trip to Beijing in which he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, said in a new interview Sunday he does not believe Europe should follow the "American rhythm" on Taiwan.

"We don't want to get into a bloc versus bloc logic," Macron said in an interview for French business daily Les Echo,arguing that Europe "should not be caught up in a disordering of the world and crises that aren't ours."

"The question asked of us Europeans is the following: is it in our interest for there to be acceleration on the topic of Taiwan? No. The worst thing we Europeans could do would be to be followers on this topic and to adapt to the American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction," he said. "Why should we go at a rhythm chosen by someone else?"

TAIWAN RESIDENTS AGREE US WILL NOT COME TO THEIR AID IF CHINA INVADES, ARE DIVIDED ON THREAT LEVEL

"As Europeans, our concern is our unity," Macron added, according to German broadcaster Deutsche Welle. "The Chinese are also concerned with their unity, and Taiwan is a component [of this unity] from their point of view."

Macron, facing domestic turmoil amid large scale demonstrations over pension reforms, traveled to China last week with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a show of European unity with Beijing.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Macron, who reportedly spoke to reporters of establishing "strategic autonomy" and making France a "third pole" superpower on equal grounds as the U.S. and China, rather than becoming a "vassal" of other states, planned to urge Xi in talks Thursday to use Beijing's influence with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

DISORDERLY PROTESTS HIT FRANCE FOR THE 11TH DAY, BUT NUMBER OF STRIKERS FALLS

In a speech to French residents of China, Macron said he would "try to build, and somehow engage China toward a shared responsibility for peace and stability on international issues," including Ukraine, Iran and North Korea.

Meanwhile, Chinas military declared Monday it is "ready to fight" after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island. The drills came in response to Taiwanese Presidents Tsai Ing-wen's trip to the U.S. last week when she met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, urged more weapon sales to Taiwan to help deter any Chinese invasion. "Theyre not where they need to be. If we want deference for peace, we need to get these weapons into Taiwan," McCaul said, according to News Nation. "I sign off on all foreign military weapons sales. Twenty-two weapons systems over three years ago checked that have yet to get into Taiwan, into the island. That will provide deterrence to Chairman Xi to think twice about an invasion."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
"We're part of Hollywood history," says Luis Reyes, a historian of Latinos in Hollywood. "We weren't acknowledged, but we were there." (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

If Hollywood buffs want to jog their memory about the exact proportions of the Mexican water tank where James Cameron shot "Titanic," Luis Reyes has the answer. If a Latina filmmaker seeks to brush up on her cinematic heritage, she can check out Reyes on TV critiquing Dolores del Rio's and J. Lo's most emblematic roles.

And if an #OscarsSoWhite activist demands to know why Charlton Heston  arguably the whitest actor in history  was cast in brownface to play a Mexican narcotics agent in "Touch of Evil," and why there remains a scandalous shortage of Latinos in leading-man roles, Reyes might reply that ... well, it's complicated.

Growing up in New York, the son of a Puerto Rican father and a Dominican mother, Reyes developed a lifelong liaison with darkened spaces. Decades later, he still can recount in granular detail the day that he saw "Planet of the Apes" at the Loews Capital on 52nd Street. He took in "Spartacus" at the DeMille on 7th Avenue at 47th. At his neighborhood theater, the Nemo (Broadway at West 110th Street), he rooted for John Wayne's Captain Jake Cutter in "The Comancheros," and he hooted at Jerry Lewis' Nutty Professor at the Loews Olympia on 107th Street.

"When you live in New York you have the whole world at your feet, especially in Manhattan," Reyes said over French dip sandwiches at Philippe one recent afternoon. He delivered these finely etched remembrances not through a haze of nostalgia, but as though he'd exited the movie house minutes before and couldn't wait to tell a friend.

Closing in on 70, Reyes knows everybody and remembers everything about the movies, knowledge that he gleaned not only through countless afternoons in cushioned seats but through his extensive one-on-one interviews with actors, directors and writers and many years spent working as a publicist, hanging out on movie sets with everyone from Anthony Quinn to Salma Hayek and Mel Gibson.

Oh, the anecdotes! Just take him to Philippe some afternoon ....

He started writing about movies as a student at Bishop DuBois High School  you know, right there on 152nd Street?  and later for an organization called ASPIRA that assisted Puerto Rican students. ("We were all militant then. I was the head of the propaganda committee.")

He dreamed of being an actor and snagged a few bit parts.

"But I found out I wasnt that good an actor." Plus, Hollywood folks didn't think he "looked Mexican" enough. Actually, they didn't think he looked Mexican at all.

"A lot of times people thought I was Black; they didnt think I was Mexican. Because they didnt have Dominicans at that time. In California, either you were a Mexican  and Mexicans looked a certain way."

Then he took a friend's suggestion to switch to publicity, and it was Lights! Camera! Career!

"The whole process of making movies interested me more than the acting part. To be a publicist you have to be nice with people, and you have to write notes for the movie, so it's like a term paper. And you got to be on the set, and you got to see how it all came together from beginning to end, which later came in handy while writing the books."

Luis Reyes' new book, "Viva Hollywood," illustrates a century of Latino and Spanish contributions to film culture. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Authoritative, anecdote-rich and ardently written, Reyes' books chronicle the all-too-obscure tale of the multitudes of Latinos, Latin Americans and a few Iberians who've shaped Hollywood since the silent era. Regarded as essential reference texts by students, academics and industry pros, they include "Made in Mexico," "Hispanics in Hollywood" and his latest, the effusively illustrated "Viva Hollywood: The Legacy of Latin and Hispanic Artists in American Film" (Running Press/TCM).

They tell how silent screen idol Ramon Novarro  born Jose Ramon Gil Samaniego in Durango, Mexico  minted the archetype of the "Latin lover." Why two Puerto Rican performers  first Rita Moreno, then Ariana De Bose  won Oscars playing Anita in the 1960 and 2021 versions, respectively, of "West Side Story."

"We as Latinos did not work in a vacuum; we worked with everybody," Reyes said. "We're part of Hollywood history. We weren't acknowledged, but we were there."

And if you've pondered why Yalitza Aparicio won an Oscar for "Roma" but "really hasn't done that much since" (Reyes' words), or whether Tenoch Huerta's career may follow a different trajectory after his "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" breakout, Reyes can school you in the history of how the industry has gorged on fresh Latino talent while usually denying its members the second and third chances that it grants to actors, directors, writers, editors and cinematographers of lesser pigmentation.

But while Reyes, a kind and chivalrous fellow, has written eloquently and unsparingly about the discrimination that pervades Hollywood, "I didn't want to dwell on that," he said. "I wanted to dwell on the achievements." His writings celebrate what is the most "American" of all art forms precisely because it was birthed by immigrants from everywhere.

Luis Valdez, the director, playwright and screenwriter who employed Reyes as a bad guy for a few scenes in his 1994 comedy-western "The Cisco Kid," said Reyes' books provide "a tremendous service for future generations" by showing the contributions Latinos have made to the film industry and the obstacles they've encountered and surmounted.

"I think hes laid it out in a very clean way, the categories of stardom and the legacy going back to the silent days in Hollywood," Valdez said. "And hes done it without prejudicial anger, without being pissed about this or that. Hes not grinding an ax, hes laying it out so that everybody can relate and come to their own conclusions."

Producer Nancy De Los Santos-Reza, who got to know him while working together on Gregory Nava's "Mi Familia" (1995), describes Reyes not only as a respected cultural interpreter but as a sort of one-man diplomatic corps in a business where ruthless self-interest often rules.

"When you meet somebody who is trustworthy and honest and kind-hearted, you really pay attention. And that's what he is," said De Los Santos-Reza, whose next film is the romantic comedy "The Answer to My Prayer."

Luis Reyes, longtime movie publicist and historian, visits the Hollywood-focused Larry Edmunds Bookshop. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

As for Reyes' authorial output, she compares him to the late Chicago film critic Roger Ebert, who fashioned a Pulitzer Prize-winning style that was unshowily erudite and went down smooth.

"Go read Luis to understand the heart and soul of our community of artists," she said. "And go ask Luis out to dinner and just have him talk to you about the movies."

Actor Pepe Serna, who worked with Reyes half a lifetime ago on "Walk Proud," said that his friend's encyclopedic knowledge and personal relationships connect Latino film artists across generations and regions.

"He's the bridge between the old timers and now," said Serna, whose overflowing filmography ranges from Roger Corman's "The Student Nurses" to "Scarface" and Eva Longoria's "Flamin' Hot."

"He's from New York, so he's also a bridge from East Coast to West Coast."

Reyes knows better than practically anyone how Hollywood still keeps its drawbridge half-raised to Latinos trying to enter the magic kingdom. In decades past, Latinos were hired to play all kinds of roles: Native Americans, Arabs, you name it. And many of the "Latino" roles were crude, reductive and racist. Too many still are.

"There was one guy, he worked so often as a bandito that he had his own bandito costume. Because they paid you more if you brought your own costume," Reyes said. "Some people didnt mind stereotypes because it was work."

Reyes believes that "an actor is an actor and should be allowed to play any role he can believably play and that his talents allow him to, and that audiences will accept." The problem, as he sees it, is that Latinos and Latinas don't get equal opportunity to fill leading roles and other marquee technical posts on ambitious, artistic films or big-budget blockbusters.

"And it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy: 'Oh, there are no Latino leading actors.'"

Still, Reyes was heartened by this year's Oscar contestants like Ana De Armas, Guillermo del Toro and "Argentina, 1985," and for the multiple accolades accorded to "Everything Everywhere All at Once." He's looking forward to upcoming feature films with Cheech Marin and Esai Morales, among many others. He's encouraged at the way TV, streaming and other platforms are giving Latinos more shots at employment. And you can catch him April 16 at the Hollywood Legion Theater, where he'll moderate a Q&A after a special screening with Edward James Olmos and Lou Diamond Phillips of Ramon Menendez's "Stand and Deliver" (1988) as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival.

Though he's not ready to stop writing, he may ride off into the sunset someday to visit Rome and Paris, then take the train to Barcelona, Granada  .

Because I want to go to Almeria. Where they shot all the spaghetti westerns, of course.

And he wants to revisit Durango, which body-doubled for many Hollywood westerns, their gunshots and brash gringo accents ringing out across the arid Mexican plains.

"Its cowboy country, John Wayne. I always say, La tierra de Pancho Villa y de John Wayne!'"

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Iranian authorities have begun installing cameras in public places to rein in the growing number of women who have discarded their hijabs in violation of the countrys strict dress code.

The cameras are being installed in public and thoroughfares. A police statement carried on state media said the move was aimed at "preventing resistance against the hijab law." Women who violate the law will "receive warning text messages as to the consequences."

CCTV cameras are seen in a street in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2023.

Many Iranian women have been increasingly ditching their veils since the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in the custody of Irans morality police after shed been detained for not wearing her hijab properly. Protests that erupted in the wake of Aminis death were met with a brutal crackdown by the government.

Despite the risks, videos have flooded social media showing women defying the obligatory dress code as they enter malls, restaurants, shops, and streets.

US SAILS GUIDED-MISSILE CAPABLE SUB TO MIDEAST IN SHOW OF FORCE AGAINST IRAN

The installation of cameras came as dozens of schoolgirls across Iran fell ill in what is suspected to be another wave of poisonings targeting young girls since November.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Saturdays police statement on the hijab law called on business owners to "seriously monitor the observance of societal norms with their diligent inspections."

The grave of Mahsa Amini in her hometown of Saqqez, Iran.

Women in Iran have been compelled to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothes to disguise their figures since the implementation of Sharia Law, following the 1979 revolution.

Late last month, an Interior Minister described the veil as "one of the civilizational foundations of the Iranian nation" and "one of the practical principles of the Islamic Republic."

The ministers statement urged citizens to confront unveiled women. Such directives have, in past decades, emboldened hardliners to attack women. Last week, a viral video showed a man throwing yogurt at two unveiled women in a shop.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Since becoming dads, the Jonas Brothers revealed they have maintained one "unspoken rule" in this new chapter of life: no parenting advice from one another.

"We really don't give each other advice about family. It's kind of like an unspoken rule. We just do our own thing; do it your own way," Kevin, 35, said on SiriusXM radio Friday.

When asked if their "unspoken rule" was in place due to the brothers' working relationship, Nick, 30, said, "The last thing you want to hear from your siblings is how to parent your child."

"I think we all sort of understand that and just say, 'You do your thing. I'm just gonna show up and be Uncle Nick,' and that's how it goes.

JONAS BROTHERS ON WALK OF FAME STAR, JOKE ABOUT THEIR KIDS FOLLOWING IN FOOTSTEPS: 'WHO'S PAYING FOR THERAPY?'

Since becoming dads, the Jonas Brothers revealed they have maintained one "unspoken rule" in this new chapter of life: no parenting advice from one another.

"It's a really healthy thing that we never really spoke about, but I think it's the right thing," Nick continued.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Nick is the youngest of the brother trio and recently added a new little one to the family, with him and his wife, Priyanka Chopra, welcoming a baby girl named Malti Marie via surrogate in January 2022. The couple first started dating in May 2018 and got engaged just two months later, eventually getting married in two separate ceremonies Jodhpur, India, later that year.

JONAS BROTHERS DO PLAY-BY-PLAY OF YANKEES GAME, MISTAKENLY CALL BULLPEN A 'BALL PIT'

Chopra shared in late January 2023 that she and Nick were unsure if baby Malti would even make it during her stay in the neonatal intensive care unit for three months.

Danielle Jonas, Kevin Jonas, Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner, and (front) Alena Rose Jonas and Valentina Angelina Jonas attend The Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony honoring The Jonas Brothers on January 30, 2023 in Hollywood, California.

"Ive been really protective of this chapter of my life with my daughter. Because its not about my life only. Its hers too," Chopra told British Vogue for its February issue published shortly after her daughter's first birthday.

JOE JONAS WANTS TO RE-RECORD THE JONAS BROTHERS' FIRST ALBUM LIKE TAYLOR SWIFT: 'REALLY CLEVER'

Chopra said the couple spent every day with Malti before they were given the green light to bring her home, saying, "I didnt know if she would make it or not."

When asked if their "unspoken rule" was in place due to the brothers' working relationship, Nick, 30, said, "The last thing you want to hear from your siblings is how to parent your child."

Nick's older brother Joe, 33, welcomed his second daughter with his wife Sophie Turner shortly after, announcing the exciting news in July 2022. The couple previously welcomed their first daughter, Willa, in July 2020 after tying the knot at a Las Vegas ceremony in May 2019. They had a formal wedding in France the following month.

Kevin and his wife, Daniella, married in 2009 and was the first of the brothers to become a dad, with the couple welcoming their first daughter, Alena Rose, in 2014. Their second daughter, Valentina Angelina, was born in 2016.

Fox News' Brie Stimson contributed to this report.
The last known communication from Madeline Kingsbury has been revealed as the search to find the missing Minnesota mother-of-two rumbles on into its second week.

Megan Kingsbury said that she received a final, lighthearted text message from her sister at around 8.15am on Friday 31 March.

We were chuckling about a funny photo exchange between us, and that was the last communication with me, or with any of my family or her other friends, she told Fox News.

Ms Kingsbury, 26, has not been seen or heard from since.

Winona Police said she and the father of her children dropped their two children off at daycare at around 8am that morning and returned home home. He told police he then left at around 10am in Ms Kingsburys car, returning hours later to find her gone.

A huge search has been under way to find Ms Kingsbury ever since, with over 2,000 people joining in. Its unclear if anything has been found but Ms Kingsburys family urged the public not to gossip about any discoveries.

If you are participating in a search party PLEASE keep any and all findings within your group and Law Enforcement, they said.

Key points

Madeline Kingsbury vanished on 31 March after daycare dropoff

Father of children says he borrowed her blue van

Police hone in on journey made in missing moms car

Mom-of-twos final text revealed

Search scaled back after over 2,000 join hunt for missing mom

Family slams gossip about search discovery

Police focus on specific road in search for Madeline

22:05 , Graeme Massie

Investigators have asked residents of Fillmore County to report any signs of suspicious activity that they may have witnessed between 8am on 31 March and 4pm on 1 April, along Highway 43 in both Winona and Fillmore counties.

(Winona Police)

What we know about Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

18:01 , Graeme Massie

Last Friday morning, Madeline Kingsbury dropped her two young children off at their daycare in Minnesota.

She was never seen or heard from again.

Now, one week on, a desperate search is underway to find the missing 26-year-old Maddi whose disappearance has been described as involuntary and suspicious.

Rachel Sharp reports.

What we know about missing mother Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

Madeline Kingsburys sister speaks out a week after disappearance

15:30 , Andrea Blanco

The sister of Madeline Kingsbury has said that her family became worried when the missing mother-of-two stopped answering her phone.

This is very unlike her, Megan told Fox News. Shes not the type of person who would want to take a break and not tell anybody. If she had a problem and wanted to get away, she would come to my house.

Megan said that the last text she received from Madeline was at 8.15am on the day that she went missing.

We were chuckling about a funny photo exchange between us, and that was the last communication with me, or with any of my family or her other friends, Megan said.

The Independent has more:

Sister of missing Winona mother Madeline Kingsbury reveals final text

Winona Police announce end of large-scale search

14:30 , Rachel Sharp

Winona Police have announced the end of its large-scale search to find the missing mother-of-two.

Almost 2,000 volunteers joined in the search for Madeline Kingsbury on Friday, trawling through rural areas for any signs as to the whereabouts of the 26-year-old.

This is tough terrain, and we are grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who are taking their personal time to assist with the search, Winona Police Chief Tom Williams said during a press conference.

Police said that because of the huge turnout of volunteers, more ground was able to be covered more quickly.

Now, law enforcement will focus on targeted searches as the investigation continues.

Final text messages revealed

12:30 , Rachel Sharp

The last known communication from Madeline Kingsbury has been revealed as the search to find the missing Minnesota mother-of-two rumbles on into its second week.

Megan Kingsbury said that she received a final, lighthearted text message from her sister at around 8.15am on Friday 31 March.

We were chuckling about a funny photo exchange between us, and that was the last communication with me, or with any of my family or her other friends, she told Fox News.

Read more here:

Police say search efforts will continue in target areas

11:30

The Filmore County Sheriffs Office and the Winona County Police Department announced on Saturday that more than 2,600 volunteers helped comb through vast areas during massive searches over the weekend.

As we develop new leads and new search areas, teams of law enforcement will do targeted searches, a statement by the departments read.

We are not giving up and we want to thank everyone for their continued support for Maddi and her family.

Authorities have 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.

Dive teams and police ATVs have also been used in the search. The Winona Police Department said on Saturday that search efforts will be scaled back but the investigation remains ongoing.

Recap: What happened to Madeline Kingsbury?

09:30 , 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.

No persons of interest in Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Authorities say they will continue search efforts in target areas

Sunday 9 April 2023 21:59 , Andrea Blanco

The Filmore County Sheriffs Office and the Winona County Police Department announced on Saturday that more than 2,600 volunteers helped comb through vast areas during massive searches over the weekend.

As we develop new leads and new search areas, teams of law enforcement will do targeted searches, a statement by the departments read.

We are not giving up and we want to thank everyone for their continued support for Maddi and her family.

Authorities have 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.

Dive teams and police ATVs have also been used in the search. The Winona Police Department said on Saturday that search efforts will be scaled back but the investigation remains ongoing.

What do we know about Madelines last movements?

Sunday 9 April 2023 21:30 , 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.

Megan Kingsbury asks public to spread the word about missing sister

Sunday 9 April 2023 17:30 , 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.

Huge turnout for mass search on Friday

Sunday 9 April 2023 05:30 , 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

Sunday 9 April 2023 01:30 , 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.

What do we know about Madelines last movements?

Saturday 8 April 2023 21:30 , 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

Saturday 8 April 2023 17:30 , 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.

No suspects in week-long search for Madeline

Saturday 8 April 2023 14:17 , Andrea Blanco

Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge said on Friday that there are no suspects in the investigation.

The department has 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.

Walk your acreage, check your buildings, check your vehicles, walk trials, check your cameras, surveillance cameras, doorbell cameras, your trail cameras for any indications of anything suspicious or for any sign of a dark coloured Chrysler Town & Country minivan, he said, according to Postbulletin.com.

What we know about Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

Saturday 8 April 2023 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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 release photos of Madeline Kingsburys tattoos

Saturday 8 April 2023 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Madeline Kingsburys sister pleads for her safe return

Saturday 8 April 2023 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Daycare drop-off, a blue van and missing mother-of-two  what we know so far

Saturday 8 April 2023 01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Last Friday morning, Madeline Kingsbury dropped her two young children off at their daycare in Minnesota.

She was never seen or heard from again.

Now, one week on, a desperate search is underway to find the missing 26-year-old Maddi whose disappearance has been described as involuntary and suspicious.

Rachel Sharp outlines what we know so far about Madelines disappearance.

What we know about missing mother Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

Watch: Aerial footage shows extent of todays search

Saturday 8 April 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

What do we know about Madelines last movements?

Friday 7 April 2023 23:30 , 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

Friday 7 April 2023 22:30 , 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.

Almost 2,000 turn out for search, second planned for Saturday

Friday 7 April 2023 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?

Friday 7 April 2023 21:45 , 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.

Megan Kingsbury asks public to spread the word about missing sister

Friday 7 April 2023 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

Friday 7 April 2023 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

Friday 7 April 2023 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

Friday 7 April 2023 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

Friday 7 April 2023 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?

Friday 7 April 2023 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

Friday 7 April 2023 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

Friday 7 April 2023 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.
Hundreds of people attended the funeral for two British-Israeli sisters killed in a shooting on Friday in the occupied West Bank.

Maia Dee, 20, and Rina Dee, 15, were buried following an emotional ceremony in the Jewish settlement of Kfar Etzion on Sunday.

Among the mourners was Itamar Ben-Gvir, national security minister in Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus government.

The emotional service was held in the Jewish settlement of Kfar Etzion (AP)

Maia (left) and Rina Dee, were killed in a shooting in the West Bank (Family handout)

May we and no-one else in the whole world ever know so much sorrow. Amen, said the victims father, Lee Dee, a rabbi at the Zait Ranaan synagogue in Efrat, a Jewish settlement in the West Bank.

Today the Jewish people have proven we are one, he said. A simple, quiet family is devastated. The whole country hurts.

The two sisters 45-year-old mother was seriously wounded in the attack and remains in hospital in critical condition.

Violence flared this week after an Israeli police raid on Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, a site sacred in Judaism and Islam, ahead of the rare convergence of Passover and Ramadan.

The incident prompted militants in Lebanon, and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, to fire a barrage of rockets into Israel, in a move Israeli security experts have said that was likely approved by Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel followed with strikes on sites allegedly linked to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza and southern Lebanon.

Mourners join the funeral procession for the two sisters (AFP/Getty)

There was an outpouring of grief from mourners at the funeral (AP)

Late on Saturday and early on Sunday, militants in Syria took the rare step of firing rockets toward Israel and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. A Damascus-based Palestinian group loyal to the Syrian government claimed responsibility for the first of two rounds of rockets, saying it was retaliating for the Al-Aqsa raids.

Israel responded with artillery fire into the area of Syria from where the rockets were fired. Later, the military said Israeli fighter jets attacked Syrian army sites, including a compound of Syrias 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 on Saturday, telling Mr 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.

The whole country hurts the service was told (AFP/Getty)

Hundreds gathered to say goodbye (REUTERS)

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, Lebanons armed Shia movement, met Palestinian Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Lebanon, the group said on Sunday, and discussed the Al-Aqsa events.

Three people were also killed over the weekend in Palestinian attacks in Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Despite the tensions, Ramadan prayers and Jewish Passover visits at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound passed without incident on Sunday.

Small groups of Jewish visitors under heavy police guard walked through the mosque compound, known in Judaism as Temple Mount, as thousands of worshippers gathered for the Passover holiday's special "Priestly Blessing" at the Western Wall below.

Israeli soldiers on alert after a rocket launched from Syria landed nearby, in Golan Heights (EPA)

A view from the Mount of Olives shows a group of Jewish visitors on the Al-Aqsa compound on Sunday (Reuters)

The Israeli military said that in light of the security situation, it would extend a closure of crossing points to the West Bank and Gaza until 13 April, when Passover ends.

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.

Associated Press contributed to this report
Trade secretary Kemi Badenoch (PA)

The governments prediction that its Brexit trade deal with Asia-Pacific countries will grow the economy by 0.08 per cent may be an overestimate, it has emerged.

Officials working on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) deal changed their usual approach to calculating the GDP figure and instead used a new model that generates larger estimated GDP impacts, according to the governments own documentation.

Trade secretary Kemi Badenoch last week responded to mockery of the low figure, which amounts to a 1.8bn economic boost, by saying her department's estimate was probably too low and ignored some benefits.

But her departments own small print suggests the number might have been even smaller had the previous model for calculations been used.

Brexiteer government ministers have been keen to talk up the benefits of doing trade deals outside the EU  but have been left frustrated by their own forecasts which show limited economic upsides from the new free trade agreements.

Speaking last week, Ms Badenoch argued that CPTPP would bring significant economic growth if we use it properly. However, she admitted she did not have hard numbers to back this up.

I cant stand this estimate, even though it came from my department, she said of the 0.08 per cent figure.

A technical document, published by the Department for International Trade, states that officials could not employ their usual approach to calculating the GDP benefits of a deal, known as a Melitz-style model, because there were too many unknown variables.

Instead, the department used a so-called Armington-style model to get the number for CPTPP, which the document notes tend to produce higher GDP figures for a given free trade agreement.

The model also produces results that are not directly comparable to the previous estimates for deals with the US, Australia, Japan and New Zealand, the document states.

The Armington model is itself not unusual, and is routinely used by trade modellers and academics. However, the change in methodology has raised eyebrows given the political focus on the small benefits of such trade deals.

Sam Lowe, a trade expert and senior visiting fellow at the King's Policy Institute, told The Independent: "While the approach the government has taken is perfectly credible, the change in methodology does seem to have been made with the intention of making the GDP figure sound more impressive."

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow international trade secretary, described the government record on trade as lamentable.

No wonder they feel the need to present figures in the most favourable way they can find. The OBR predict a 6.6 per cent fall in exports in 2023, a hit of over 51bn to the UK economy. That hammers UK growth and will make the cost of living crisis even worse.

Sarah Green, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for trade, said: No matter which way you look at it, the official forecast says that the economic benefit from this deal will be small.

Instead of trying to discredit the official figures, the government should be working to grow our economy by cutting the red tape stopping British businesses from exporting their goods and services abroad.

After failing to secure its original objective of a Brexit trade deal with the United States, the government has presented joining the CPTPP as its flagship trade deal and a major benefit of leaving the EU.

Ministers say there are wider benefits to their agreements not captured by the government's modelling, and The Independent understands officials have been asked to look at ways to capture these.

"This use of the Armington model specification rather than the Melitz-style model specification affects the estimated scale of impacts. Specifically, it generates larger estimated GDP impacts for a given FTA," the department's document states.

"The use of this Armington model specification, along with updates to the databases and estimations of trade barrier reductions, means that the scale of impacts in this scoping assessment are not directly comparable to those presented in the published scoping assessments for the US, Australia, and New Zealand."

In an analysis published by the UK Trade Policy Observatory, Minako Morita-Jaeger said that while accession to CPTPP was a geopolitical strategic gain, the economic value for the UK is likely to be small.

The policy researchers noted that the UK already has bilateral free trade agreements with nine CPTPP members out of eleven", including comprehensive deals with Japan, Canada, Singapore and Australia.

Polls suggest the public has high hopes for the agreement. A new Savanta survey for the Independent shows that 59 per cent of those asked believe joining the Indo-Pacific trade pact is important, while 17 per cent believe it is unimportant.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade, which took over the responsibilities of the Department for International Trade earlier this year, said: This scoping assessment reflects historic trading patterns and does not capture all the potential impacts of the deal.

It does not account for future expansion of CPTPP, the value of increased supply chain resilience, or future changes to sectors the UK excels in  such as the increasing importance of services trade.

Our accession to CPTPP sends a powerful signal that the UK is open for business and using our post-Brexit freedoms to reach out to new markets around the world and grow our economy.

The department added that it continually reviews and updates its methodologies to ensure they are in line with global best practice.
Wizz Air has been crowned the worst major airline for flight delays from UK airports for the second year running.

According to a new analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data, the Hungarian carriers UK departures were an average of 46 minutes and six seconds behind schedule in 2022.

It marks a threefold increase on the previous year, when the airline also ranked bottom for punctuality.

Consumer group Which? described the figures as worrying and claimed they demonstrate the need for the CAA to be given tougher powers.

Wizz Air operates short-haul flights from eight UK airports including Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick, and Luton.

In near second was Tui, with an average delay of 40 minutes and 18 seconds. This was followed by Qatar Airways (31 minutes and 48 seconds), Turkish Airlines (29 minutes and 30 seconds), and Pegasus Airlines (27 minutes and 18 seconds).

Norwegian Air Shuttle recorded the best performance with an average delay of just 13 minutes and 42 seconds.

The analysis by the PA news agency took into account all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines with more than 2,500 flights. Cancelled flights were not included. The average delay for all these flights was 23 minutes.

May and June were the worst months for punctuality as the aviation sector failed to recruit and train enough staff to cope with a surge in demand for holidays following the ending of the UKs coronavirus travel rules.

Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said: These figures are worrying, but will be no surprise to passengers whove had to endure shoddy treatment from airlines for years.

With a regulator still lacking the appropriate powers to punish airlines who break the law, including withholding refunds, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that some carriers are simply getting away with leaving passengers high and dry.

May and June were the worst months for punctuality, data shows (EPA)

To better protect passengers, the government must give the CAA effective powers to clamp down on poor airline behaviour, which includes the ability to hand out hefty fines when they continually flout the law.

The CAA has civil powers to take enforcement action against airlines, but court cases typically take several years to be concluded.

Government proposals to give the regulator more powers were consulted on in early 2022, but no changes have been made.

CAA consumer director Paul Smith claimed too many passengers faced disappointing levels of delays last year.

He went on: The CAA has regularly asked for stronger consumer enforcement powers, including the ability to impose fines on airlines.

When things do go wrong, we expect airlines to proactively provide passengers with information about their rights when flights are disrupted, as well as offer timely support and assistance.

Weve already raised concerns about Wizz Air and are working closely with the airline to improve outcomes for consumers.

In December 2022, the CAA said it had significant concerns about the Hungarian carrier as it was delaying paying refunds and its passengers were far more likely to make escalated complaints than those of other airlines.

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said strong booking levels for flights suggest consumers are confident that issues have mostly been sorted.

But he warned that strikes are causing disruption and I expect those to worsen in the coming months.

He added: This may end up an equally difficult and unpredictable year for those expecting smooth journeys on every trip.

Strikes affecting the aviation sector in recent months include walkouts by security staff at Heathrow, border officials at several airports and Passport Office workers.

Full breakdown of airline delay figures

Here is the full ranking of major airlines based on flight punctuality from UK airports in 2022.

Airlines are ordered from the longest average delay per flight to the shortest (duration in brackets).

Wizz Air: 46 minutes and six seconds Tui: 40 minutes and 18 seconds Qatar Airways: 31 minutes and 48 seconds Turkish Airlines: 29 minutes and 30 seconds Pegasus Airlines: 27 minutes and 18 seconds Flybe: 26 minutes and six seconds Air Portugal: 25 minutes and 48 seconds Air Canada: 25 minutes and 18 seconds British Airways: 23 minutes Vueling: 22 minutes and 12 seconds Ryanair: 22 minutes Loganair: 22 minutes Jet2.com: 21 minutes and 42 seconds Air France: 21 minutes Swiss Airlines: 20 minutes and 48 seconds Emirates: 20 minutes and 36 seconds EasyJet: 20 minutes and 24 seconds Lufthansa: 20 minutes Eurowings: 19 minutes and 24 seconds Virgin Atlantic: 19 minutes KLM: 18 minutes and 30 seconds Delta Airlines: 18 minutes and 18 seconds Aer Lingus: 18 minutes and six seconds Eastern Airways: 17 minutes and 30 seconds American Airlines: 16 seconds and 48 seconds Blue Islands: 16 minutes and 42 seconds Aurigny Air Services: 16 minutes and 30 seconds Iberia: 15 minutes and 36 seconds SAS: 14 minutes and 30 seconds United Airlines: 14 minutes and six seconds Norwegian Air Shuttle: 13 minutes and 42 seconds

A spokesman for trade body Airlines UK said: The whole industry knows how important punctuality is for customers.

Last year was not representative due to the late unwinding of Covid restrictions which required a very steep ramp up.

Since then, the sector has invested huge resources into increased resilience for this summer and we cant wait to welcome people back for their well-earned breaks.

Wizz Air did not respond to a request for comment.
Cracks are seen inside a column supporting Seoul Station Central Xi Apartment building in this March 21 file photo. Screenshot from an internet forum



By Park Jae-hyuk



GS E&C was found to have been embroiled in conflicts most frequently among the nation's 10 largest builders over the past three years regarding defects in apartment buildings they built, according to land ministry data, Monday.



Data given by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to Rep. Heo Jong-sik of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea showed that the ministry was asked between 2020 and 2022 to review 573 cases related to defects in apartment buildings constructed by GS E&C.



HDC Hyundai Development Company faced 376 dispute cases during the period, while Daewoo E&C, Lotte E&C and Hyundai E&C faced 295, 229 and 203 cases, respectively. Hyundai Engineering, DL E&C, POSCO E&C, Samsung C&T and SK Ecoplant followed them.



Between 2020 and 2022, the land ministry was asked to review a combined 2,055 cases related to defects in apartment buildings built by the nation's 10 largest builders. According to the ministry, each case can include up to 10 particular complaints.



Among the particular complaints, those related to dew condensation accounted for the largest proportion. In 2021, the land ministry was asked to review 1,562 cases related to dew condensation in structures built by GS E&C.



GS E&C explained that complaints about dew condensation increased sharply during the three years, as 370 households in the same apartment complex asked for the ministry's review all at once. The company emphasized that it completed fixing most of the defects.



However, GS E&C's apartment buildings built under the Xi brand name have been hitting the headlines in recent months, due to various complaints from residents.



Last month, residents of the Seoul Station Central Xi Apartment complex were evacuated after cracks were found in pilotis. Although the city government and the builder dismissed concerns over the building's safety, the incident tarnished the brand value of Xi.



Last August, residents of the Bangbae Gran Xi Apartment complex in southern Seoul complained about bad smells. This was attributed to GS E&C storing chemicals and other construction materials in the building's underground parking lot.


Aerial view of Kewalo Basin Harbor, Kakaako, Ala Moana Beach park in Honolulu with mall and Condo towers surrounding on a beautiful day in Oahu, Hawaii. (Eric Broder Van Dyke via Getty Images)

A surfer was hospitalized in serious condition Sunday after a shark bit his right leg in waters along Honolulu's busiest tourism district on Oahu's south shore, officials said.

The attack was reported about 7 a.m., and first responders included Honolulu Emergency Medical Services and the Honolulu Fire Department, said Shayne Enright, a spokesperson for the Honolulu Emergency Services Department.

Before they arrived, however, surfers "helped apply a tourniquet to his wound," she said by email.

The victim, described as a 58-year-old man, was surfing a spot called Kewalos off Kewalo Basin Harbor, which is just north of the tourist mecca of Waikiki, Enright said.

South shore beaches are home to a number of globally known surf spots, including Ala Moana Bowls, Kaisers and Canoes, some of which have been featured in film and television depictions of Hawaiian life since the 1950s.

Native Hawaiian culture often views sharks as family guardians and teaches that the fish should be regarded respectfully.

Local authorities posted signs near the attack warning beachgoers of the danger, Enright said.

"Honolulu Ocean Safety will continue to patrol the waters off of Kewalo Basin and Ala Moana after this morning's shark bite," she said.

The U.S., led by Florida's 16 incidents, reported the most unprovoked shark attacks in the world last year, according to the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida. Of the 41 U.S. cases, one ended in death, in Hawaii.

The state accounted for five unprovoked attacks last year, the file says.

In Honolulu this weekend, high temperatures have been in the mid-80s, with surf at 2 to 3 feet, according to the National Weather Service and the private wave forecaster Surfline.
Trump appeals order requiring Pence to testify in Jan. 6 probe -source Former U.S. President Donald Trump indicted by a Manhattan grand jury

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former President Donald Trump has appealed an order requiring his former vice president, Mike Pence, to testify in the special counsel probe of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to media reports on Monday.

Trump's lawyers filed the appeal after a ruling related to the Justice Department investigation of efforts to undermine the 2020 presidential election that Trump, a Republican, lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Pence last week disclosed that he would not appeal a judge's ruling that requires him to testify to a federal grand jury about conversations he had with Trump leading up to the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol.

In a March ruling, the judge also said Pence can still decline to answer questions related to Jan. 6.

Special Counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November to handle the two Trump investigations, is presenting evidence to multiple grand juries.

At issue are attempts to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power following Trump's November 2020 loss to Biden and Trump's retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after leaving office in January 2021.

(Reporting by Kat Jackson and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Jonathan Oatis)
Hinglish, a cherished reminder of the Raj that we love to hate, will forever remain Indias pride and glory

Unlike Italians and other Continentals, Indians, like all former colonials, nurse a certain guilty pride about proficiency in English. (Representational Image)

One had always suspected that the saffron lobbys Hindi fervour was a political position like love jihad and cow protection. Now, Indias ruling party has been upstaged by Italys ultra-nationalist coalition whose Brothers of Italy constituent has chosen a sister, 46-year-old Giorgia Meloni, as Prime Minister despite its absolute parliamentary majority. If the bill it has announced becomes law, Italians will be fined up to 100,000 euros ($108,750) for using foreign, meaning English, terms, in official communications.

It is not just a matter of fashion, as fashions pass, they explain, but Anglomania (has) repercussions for society as a whole. It demeans and Mortifies the land of the immortal Dante. Even the practical justification for English disappeared when Britain stormed out of the European Union, literally illustrating the Channel frozen, Continent isolated gag that supposedly provided a London newspaper headline one bitter winter.

Unlike Italians and other Continentals, Indians, like all former colonials, nurse a certain guilty pride about proficiency in English. External affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar boasts of Indias tricolour flying higher than the Union Jack in flawless English, not in his native Tamil or in Indias rashtra bhasha, that is Hindi. Ms Meloni should denounce that recourse to English as demeaning and mortifying, but a loyal BJP stalwart like Mr Jaishankar can chuckle that the proud Italians did not hesitate to borrow the Atma Nirbhar Bharat  or self-reliant concept  from India, even naming Adolfo Urso Minister for Business and Made in Italy. Its another matter that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself took the concept from Jawaharlal Nehrus determination to conserve foreign exchange by making import substitution the cornerstone of his economic planning.

As minister for commerce and industry, Piyush Goyal seems the most logical candidate for the additional Made in India appellation, but one suspects that the distinction being so patriotically emotive, the Prime Minister might want to reserve it for himself. Given the flamboyance of his attire for ceremonial occasions, it would be an apt description for a man who also likes to teasingly call himself a faqir with a jhola. But unlike his Italian counterpart, Mr Modi is never likely to call himself an underdog  a phrase that Ms Meloni apparently uttered in English not long ago.

Like Italians, Indians too take liberties with language. The veteran editor of Kolkatas now vanished Amrita Bazar Patrika is believed to have retorted, when asked about his papers execrable English, that since the British were our enemies and we couldnt harm them in any other way, he was doing his best to destroy their language. The rejoinder came from the English academic, Humphrey House, who taught for a while at Calcutta University. House claimed that his Bengali had improved tremendously as a result of reading the Patrika every day.

No wonder an American author wondered whether a supposedly bilingual Italian really also spoke English or merely thought he did.

If he was baffled by an Italian woman smearing col-cream on her face or her husband squandering time and money in a nihgt (nightclub), Indias prepone must be equally confusing and cousin brother downright contradictory.

In acting against English, Italy has taken its cue from neighbouring France where the intrusion of foreign words has been forbidden since before the First World War, although the objection wasnt always seriously enforced.

However, a Commission on Terminology was set up in 1970. Five years later the Maintenance of the Purity of the French Language law had imposed fines for using illegal Anglicisms. In 1984  the year of the Orwellian apocalypse  the Commissariat General de la Langue Francaise was established to guard linguistic virginity.

Not that the vigilance was always successful. Although TWA, a popular American airline up to 2001, was fined for adding insult to injury by issuing boarding cards only in English, the astute French were not going to be done out of some of the good things of life just because they emanated from the Anglophone world. They enjoyed their gadgets, deplored a holdup, wore blue jeans during leisurely weekends, shopped in self-service supermarkets, and brought abuses to the notice of the manager. Just as the aura of Merrie England didnt affect the popularity of rosbif, a bif-tek became as popular in France as the chicken tikka masala in England.

In fact, there were remarkably few prosecutions for linguistic multiculturalism. In 1988 the Ecole Centrale de Paris, a revered engineering institute, even made it mandatory for students who had no plans for ever leaving France to work abroad to speak and write fluent English, a requirement that could usefully be introduced in Indias medical and engineering colleges.

Unlike Frances President Francois Mitterrand, no Indian ruler will ever declare that his country is engaged in a war with Anglo-Saxons. One reason could be that the discerning French recognise the potential peril of larding their speech with unfamiliar words and phrases from an alien tongue. A well-testified tale has it that at a farewell lunch that he gave for General Charles de Gaulle and Madame de Gaulle at the end of the Second World War when they were leaving their exile in Britain to return home, Winston Churchill asked Madame what she was most looking forward to.

Pat came the reply: A penis! What! Churchill burst out, and again Madame de Gaulle repeated: A penis! While everyone sat in stunned silence, the general turned to his wife and explained: I think, my dear, the English pronounce it appiness!

Another reason  which also explains why Arvind Kejriwal is such a nosey parker  is social snobbery. As an Indian Institute of Technology graduate and erstwhile member of the Indian Revenue Service, Mr Kejriwal may be one of the most fluent English speakers in Indias political elite. He is understandably curious about the competition from Race Course Road, sorry, Lok Kalyan Marg.

Being sharply rapped on the knuckles for inquisitiveness and saddled with a Rs. 25,000 fine  reminders that this Vishwa Guru and Mother of Democracies tolerates no prying  is no deterrent for Delhis chief minister, who noted that atma nirbhar loyalty did not prevent Mr Modi from spurning Gujarati and Hindi and turning to Engl-ish to make his momentous televised speech on the partial demonetisation in November 2016.

Italy and France may affect to decry English, and Singapore frown on Singlish.

But Hinglish, a cherished reminder of the Raj that we love to hate, will forever remain Indias pride and glory.

The writer is a senior journalist, columnist and author
Francis' reflection on the women at the tomb on Easter Monday: "If we keep his joy to ourselves, perhaps it is because we have not yet truly encountered him."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - We truly encounter Jesus when we witness to him, noted Pope Francis today as he addressed the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Regina Caeli prayer on Easter Monday, the feast of the Easter proclamation.

Commenting on the Gospel passage of the women at the tomb on Easter morning, the pontiff emphasized how the encounter with the risen Jesus takes place while they were already joyfully going to bring the disciples the announcement of the tomb being found empty.

"Jesus meets them as they go to announce him," the pope explained. "This is beautiful: when we announce the Lord, the Lord comes to us. Sometimes we think that the way to stay close to God is to hold Him tightly to us; because then, if we expose ourselves and talk about it, judgments come, criticism, maybe we don't know how to answer certain questions or provocations, and then it's better not to talk about it. Instead, the Lord comes as we proclaim Him. This is what women teach us."

This is what happens with all good news, the pope noted, giving the example of the birth of a child: "One of the first things we do is to share this happy announcement with friends. And by telling them about it, we also repeat it to ourselves and in some way make it come alive in us even more. If this happens for good news, it happens infinitely more for Jesus, who is not just good news, or even the best news in life, but life itself."

And then the women of the Gospel proclaim Jesus alive despite the fact that an entire city had seen him on the cross.

"When we encounter Jesus," Francis noted, "no obstacle can keep us from proclaiming him. If instead we keep his joy to ourselves, perhaps it is because we have not yet truly encountered him."

Hence the invitation to ask oneself, "When was the last time I witnessed to Jesus? Today, what am I doing so that the people I meet receive the joy of his proclamation? And again: can someone, thinking of me, say: this person is serene, he is happy, he is good because he met Jesus? Let us ask Our Lady," the pope concluded, "to help us be joyful proclaimers of the Gospel.

At the end of the prayer, the pope recalled the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreements for Peace in Ireland. And - renewing his Easter wish - he invited people to continue to pray for peace in the world, especially in the troubled Ukraine.
Israeli police escort Jewish visitors marking the holiday pf Passover to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount, in the Old City of Jerusalem during Ramadan, April 9. AP-Yonhap



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.





Israeli police escort Jewish visitors marking the holiday pf Passover to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount, in the Old City of Jerusalem during Ramadan, April 9. AP-Yonhap



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.





Mourners attend the funeral of two British-Israeli sisters, Maia and Rina Dee, at a cemetery in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Kfar Etzion, Sunday, April 9. AP-Yonhap
Mick Ireland is proud to have helped Rachel in so many campaigns and elections. Contact him at mick@sopris.net.
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In this handout photo released, April 9, by the Houthi group's media arm Ansar Allah, head of the Houthi's supreme political council Mahdi al-Mashat, left, shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber, in Sanaa, Yemen. AP-Yonhap



Saudi officials were in Yemen's capital Sunday for talks with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as part of international efforts to find a settlement to Yemen's nine-year conflict, officials said.



Saudi Arabia's delegation, chaired by the kingdom's ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber, met with Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi's supreme political council, which runs rebel-held areas in Yemen, according to the Houthi-run SABA news agency.



An Omani delegation, which arrived in Sanaa on Saturday, joined the talks, the agency reported. It said al-Mashat hailed Oman's efforts to bridge the gap between different sides in the war to achieve peace in Yemen. SABA did not give further details.



Mohammed al-Bukaiti, a Houthi leader, said earlier on Twitter that Saudi and Omani officials would discuss "ways to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region."



He said achieving an honorable peace between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia would be "a triumph for both parties," and urged all sides to take steps to "preserve a peaceful atmosphere and prepare to turn the page of the past."



There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia on the trip, the second of its kind in 2023, according to a Saudi official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to brief reporters.



In comments to The Associated Press, Hans Grundberg, the U.N. envoy for Yemen, described the ongoing efforts, including the Saudi and Omani talks in Sanaa, as "the closest Yemen has been to real progress towards lasting peace" since the war began.



"This is a moment to be seized and built on and a real opportunity to start an inclusive political process under U.N. auspices to sustainably end the conflict," he said.



The talks in Sanaa are part of international efforts led by Oman to settle Yemen's conflict, which began in 2014. That's when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of the country's north, ousting the internationally recognized government that fled to the south and then into exile in Saudi Arabia.



The Houthi move prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene months later in a bid to restore the internationally recognized government to power. The conflict has in recent years turned into a regional proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.



Saudi Arabia and the Houthis reached a draft deal last month to revive a cease-fire that expired in October. The deal is meant to usher in a return to Yemeni political talks, according to Saudi and Yemeni officials.





A handout photo made available by the Houthis-run Saba News Agency shows chairman of the Houthi-formed Supreme Political Council Mahdi Al-Mashat, center, holding a meeting with delegations of Saudi Arabia and Oman in Sana'a, Yemen, April 9. EPA-Yonhap
Photo: Build Tiny

Photo: Build Tiny

Photo: Build Tiny

The team at Build Tiny has proven to be one of the most talented and ingenious in the world of tiny living. Although their models dont stray too far from the standard size, they bring something new every time. When it comes to functional yet stylish configurations, the possibilities seem endless.Wai-iti was completed at the end of 2020 and delivered to a rural area with beautiful views in the South Island of New Zealand. Offering eight meters (26.2 feet) in length and 2.4 meters (7.8 feet) in width, this would seem like the typical one-loft home on wheels. The main floor includes a generous kitchen, flanked by an adorable living area at one end, and the bathroom at the other end. But upstairs, guests would be surprised to discover that theres something more than a simple bedroom.Like all Build Tiny creations, the Wai-iti is luminous and airy, with big windows and a minimalist interior style. The living area gets plenty of natural light, and is the perfect spot for admiring the homes natural surroundings, thanks to the generous windows and the proximity to the glass doors.The built-in shelves immediately catch the eye as one of the most striking features of Wai-iti. These are the perfect way of adding storage space and making the interior more stylish, at the same time. They frame the window beautifully, and allow an extra shelf on top, while also leaving enough room for the large, modular sofa bed.During the day, this is the perfect seating area for family and friends. Theres even an unusual reading nook, tucked in the middle, framed by the built-in shelves. Thanks to this seating arrangement, this lounge is both great for socializing and privacy.As youd expect, theres also plenty of storage underneath, out of sight. At night, this can easily become an extra queen-size bed, turning the whole area into a second, cozy bedroom.Moving on to the kitchen, you are drawn by the massive, elegant-looking countertop. The L shape allows the smooth integration of a breakfast bar while leaving a lot of space for preparing meals. With this kitchen, you might even forget that youre inside a tiny home. Youve got full-size appliances, large cabinets under the countertop and wall-mounted ones, and not just one, but two pull-out pantries.A discrete pocket-cavity sliding door separates the bathroom from the kitchen, without disrupting the airy, open-area layout. The Build Tiny formula for bathroom design always includes a generous shower with an elegant glass wall, a compact vanity, and a composting toilet. Not just one, but two windows keep the space well-ventilated and bright.The stairs with built-in storage are a common element for this type of tiny house configuration . In this case, the steps are quite tall, to allow even more storage, and theres another surprise. If you look carefully, youll notice a cute indoor kennel for the puppy, which is also carefully integrated within the same staircase. Plus, theres also a solid, yet elegant, handrail that adds safety and makes the whole area look more like a conventional home.The protection wall for the loft mirrors the shelf design in the living area, creating a beautiful sense of balance. The loft itself is minimalistic, allowing only a queen-size bed and a practical shelf unit behind it.One of the best things about this loft is that its not just flanked by two large windows, but even boasts a skylight  the perfect recipe for fresh air, natural light, and a feeling of spaciousness. And theres more. The shelf unit doubles as a separation area between the sleeping area and the home office.This is definitely not your typical home office, both design- and placement-wise. But its another ingenious solution from Build Tiny. Since theres no room for an actual chair, this office space was built with a very unusual drop-down foot well. It looks a bit uncomfortable, but it is a clever way of using that loft area behind the bedroom. Its perfectly placed in front of the window, and a few discrete shelves are the perfect addition for small office equipment.In most cases, the breakfast bar downstairs would double as a desk, so this configuration with a separate loft office is out-of-the-box for sure. Its private yet luminous, accessible, and functional. This way, the main floor area can use all of the available space for a traditional-style kitchen and a welcoming living area.Build Tiny is an expert in simple, yet elegant ideas. Packed with smart solutions that make it truly livable, the Wai-iti weighs 3,750 kg (8,267 lbs) without the removable items, which enabled it to travel safely on top of a custom trailer. A perfect family house for those who work from home, this ingenious tiny is proof that tiny homes are made for modern living.
EV

Automated driving is yet to show progress, although people riding in one of Cruise's robotaxis in San Francisco might think otherwise. Cruise, a GM company, operates its commercial robotaxi service in a geofenced area in San Francisco. Despite perfectly "knowing" the site, its robotaxis are frequently involved in road accidents. Most of them are almost nothing, while others are fender-benders.The crash that occured on March 24 could be classified in the latter category. A Cruise robotaxi driving autonomously crashed into the back of a Muni bus. The accident was strange because it happened in broad daylight, and a bus is a huge target, impossible to miss. Moreover, the crash happened very close to a bus station. Thankfully, Cruise analyzed the car's data and reached a surprising conclusion. It had to do with the fact that the bus was an articulated vehicle, and the Cruiseremained fixated on the front while it hit the back.Remember those hilarious training when parents would hide an object, and the toddler thought it magically disappeared? Something like that happened with the Cruise robotaxi. A dog would know that things don't disappear and start looking for them, but Cruise software is not that smart. We wondered how it could miss the huge bas stopped in front of it, and here's the official explanation.The autonomous-driving software saw the articulated bus and considered it as two different objects when it departed the station. When it straightened up, the front of the bus disappeared, and only the back was visible. The bus then braked and stopped, but the Cruise robotaxi considered that the front of the bus continued its journey and did not brake soon enough to avoid the crash with its back. The robotaxi thus hit the bus at around 10 mph (16 kph).Cruise has issued a voluntary recall to address the software issue that caused the crash. After testing the fix, the company is confident that this specific issue will not occur after the update. Cruise is trying to understand why the accident happened now, considering that its cars encounter this type of bus daily. It found that the collision occurred due to a unique combination of factors, such as the specific position of the vehicles when the robotaxi approached the bus, its speed, and the timing of the bus's deceleration (within only a few seconds of the front section becoming occluded).A more serious crash occurred on June 3, 2022, right after Cruise started its commercial service in San Francisco. That night, a Cruise robotaxi carrying one paying customer turned left into traffic and was hit by another car . Passengers in both vehicles were sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Google Maps beta builds

Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution

How to download and install Google Maps beta builds

Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution

This strategy gives them enough time to collect data on the reliability and stability of each update. The process starts with the release of a new feature to a limited number of users. After the new feature lands on these devices, the parent company looks into the collected data to determine certain values, including potential bugs.Based on the results of the analysis, the rollout can continue or be suspended for the parent company to address the determined problems.Needless to say, given such a release model happens in waves, not all users are getting new features at once. Some are luckier and receive them on day one, but the majority have to wait much longer until the availability improves.Google too uses the same approach, with certain updates for its software, including Google Maps and Android Auto , going live in stages to users.Thats why many users look for ways to make the wait shorter, even if this involves installing pre-release versions of the software.The easiest way to try out new features in Google Maps before they go live for everybody is to install beta builds of the application.Google has a dedicated beta program for its mapping solution. Thanks to this program, the company can experiment with new features and get feedback from testers before the public rollout begins.It goes without saying only experienced users should be part of a beta program . Google expects each and every one of the enrolled users to contribute with feedback. As such, you must know how to submit a bug report, this way helping Google resolve a bug before the launch.At the same time, its important to know that beta builds come with an increased likelihood of bugs. This means some features might not work exactly as expected, and occasionally, Google Maps could crash. Everything makes sense, as the beta program is specifically here to let users try out pre-released software. This includes unpolished builds and updates that havent been thoroughly inspected for bugs and performance issues.Becoming a beta tester for Google Maps is quite easy. The search giant has a dedicated Play Store page to let you enroll in the program , so just open it and then register to become a beta tester.You cant have both the beta and the stable build of Google Maps on your device. Once you are in, the beta build automatically replaces the stable version of Google Maps. If you leave the program, when Google releases the first stable update for Maps, it replaces the beta build on your mobile device.Beta builds typically ship at a faster pace than stable updates. This is because Google must experiment with new features and improvements, so every time it fixes something reported by testers, it releases a new update. Automatic updates are therefore recommended to make sure you always run the latest release.If you dont want to be part of the beta program but still try out early Google Maps builds, you can always download the pre-release updates manually.Android devices support APK installers, which are similar to the EXE or MSI installers on a Windows computer. Android apps come packed in APK installers, so by downloading such a file on your device, you can manually install a specific version of a mobile app.As such, you can download a beta build of Google Maps and manually install it on your smartphone. The process doesnt require advanced knowledge, as you must only tap the installer and wait. If your Android device isnt configured to allow the manual installation of apps, you must provide special permissions during the process. beta build of Google Maps installed manually automatically replaces the stable version if its a newer release. As a result, no further tweaks are required on your device.If you want to return to a stable version of Google Maps, you have two options. First, you can just install the stable Google Maps release, but only if its a newer build than the beta. Newer files always replace the older ones on an Android phone. Second, you can uninstall the beta build and then install Google Maps either from the Google Play Store or manually with the dedicated APK file.If you install a beta build of Google Maps manually, the aforementioned risks of running pre-release software still apply. This means you are still likely to come across bugs and other issues, as beta builds are used for testing. This time, you cant send feedback to Google directly but use other channels, such as the official support forums. Getting support for the encountered bugs would be harder to obtain as well.
NHTSA

Initially limited to 1,500 examples for all markets, the Carrera GT ultimately ended series production after 1,270 cars were completed. Porsche was forced to pull the plug due to a change in airbag regulations in the United States market, where the Carrera GT was especially popular. 644 were produced for U.S.-based customers, of which 489 are called back under campaign 23V-241 as per thedocument attached below.Affected vehicles were produced in sequential order between WP0CA29894L001005 and WP0CA29885L001577 in the period between December 19th, 2003 and October 27th, 2005. These 2004 and 2005 models feature spherical joints that dont meet the German automakers service life durability expectations because of the material theyre made from.X46Cr13 is the material in question, a basic type of stainless steel thats often used for cutting tools and for surgical instruments. Porsche highlights that exposure to salt and mechanical stress may result in cracks or fractures of the X46Cr13 spherical joints that connect the wishbone suspension components on the front and rear axles. The cracks or fractures may extend to the wishbones, thus affecting the vehicles controllability.The Volkswagen Group-owned automaker was presented with this problem in August 2019 in the form of a customer vehicle that experienced one-sided broken spherical joints. The owner didnt experience anything off with the cars handling prior to the dealer service visit during which a service tech identified the damage.Porsche understandably initiated analyses to determine if the August 2019 event was an isolated case or a systemic issue that may affect other Carrera GT vehicles. To this effect, other vehicles were obtained to analyze the state of the spherical joints. No critical damage caused by corrosion or mechanical stress was identified on 20 in-service vehicles. Through 2021 and 2022, more cars were analyzed from different markets.Porsche ultimately acknowledged that X46Cr13 doesnt have sufficient corrosion resistance in this particular application. A grand total of four part numbers are listed in the document attached below for the control arms that locate the wheel uprights and hubs to the cars chassis.Said components were manufactured by Germany-based Carl Hirschmann, but the concern presented above is not the suppliers fault. Porsche designed these components, and Porsche decided on the material used for them. But in Porsches defense, kudos to the German automaker for owning up to its mistake after so many years since the very last Carrera GT rolled off the line in Leipzig.Remedy components are produced from 42CrMoS4, a chromium-molybdenum steel whose chromium and copper improve corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. Unfortunately for affected owners, replacement parts arent available yet. Owners will be notified of the recall no later than June 2nd by an interim letter, after which a final notification will be sent by first-class mail when said parts become available.
As I was sitting at my desk a few days ago, I received an unexpected invitation from BMW's Corporate Communication Manager, Alex. He had set up an event for a successful robotics team that goes by the name of RO2D2. I was aware that more and more teenagers are getting involved in this field today, but I was about to be overwhelmed by the scale of it all. Arriving at one of the biggest local BMW dealers, I could already see that a group of about 15 high school students were busy setting up the scene for the demo that was about to follow.On the surface they had prepared for the event, there were two different robots. One was an older creation of theirs, while the other was the new contender in town. Even before seeing it move, I realized how special it is. After all, it's not every day that you build such an advanced piece of machinery to compete against some of the finest teams in the world. That's right, the boys and girls at RO2D2 are headed for Houston, Texas , where they will be competing in the FIRST Tech challenge against thousands of other competitors.The competition has been around for over 20 years now, and it doesn't take long to realize that it's helping pave our way to the future given the event format. Teams are built similarly to start-ups, and it's not all about research and development when building a robot . Handling marketing, PR and the business side of things has helped shape these teenagers to the point where they can build a sustainable future for both themselves and those that follow in their footsteps.After witnessing some demos, I was given the chance to operate one of the robots too. The experience was not in any way similar to Discovery's BattleBots , a show that I used to watch during my junior-high period, yet it was still very much exciting. Even though the team had adapted a console controller to operate their creations, the inputs are highly accurate and quite intuitive as well. An extendable arm was put into place to give the robot an edge over its opponents, and I get the feeling that their little creation is going to be tough to beat in Houston.To make things even more fun, BMW decided to give us a preview of their new BMW XM . As the car was still under a cover, someone came up with the idea of using the robot for the unveiling. Although it wasn't built with that kind of task in mind, it still performed admirably. Just like that, we could see the XM with our own eyes, and it's even more impressive than it was by looking at photos of it alone. The only thing left to do right now is for us to take it out for a spin, which might happen sooner rather than later.
Photo: Admiral Yachts/The Italian Sea Group

Photo: Admiral Yachts/The Italian Sea Group

Photo: Admiral Yachts/The Italian Sea Group

Featuring a sumptuous appearance and stunning custom interiors signed off by Giorgio Armani , Silver Star is sure to leave a lasting impression. It was designed and built by Admiral Yachts, a division of the global luxury yacht operator Italian Sea Group, and is part of the yards S-Force lineup. Admiral is known for making the dreams of even the most demanding yacht owners come true, with an impressive portfolio that includes almost 150 yachts and megayachts.Bearing a striking resemblance to the highly acclaimed Geco , another yacht in the S-Force series that was launched in 2020, the new 180-foot (55-meter) Silver Star features an overall sporty appearance with bold curves, sinuous lines, and aerodynamic volumes. It spans three decks, the uppermost being a sundeck, and combines the excellence of the yachting world with luxurious fashion and design.The steel and aluminum superyachts hull and superstructure, as well as the layout and design, are the same as in Geco, but there are some differences too. These include the Chevy White exterior color and the interior by Italian fashion design studio Armani Casa, boasting rich fabrics and custom-designed furniture. Moreover, seamless connectivity between interior and exterior spaces was also a main focus, so it has large glass sliding doors on all decks.Several special areas on the vessel stand out, confirming the high-quality standards of Admiral vessels. The open-air beach club sitting at the waterline and taking advantage of abundant full-beam space is one of them. It has high fully-glazed side walls that provide wind protection while still keeping the area entirely alfresco for the owners and guests to be able to enjoy the surrounding ocean. A huge sunbathing platform is served by a state-of-the-art staircase that allows for easy access to the sea.A hot tub with a custom design and a bar are present on the sundeck, guaranteeing maximum relaxation for guests. Further on the upper deck, there is also a large multifunctional touch-and-go helipad for easy transportation.However, where Silver Star truly shines is the interior, renderings of which have just been revealed. Defined by a luxurious yet light atmosphere in Armani Casas style, the interiors use neutral colors, special finishes, and materials like metal, marble, and silk to add standout details.This superyacht is the further result of the exciting partnership with Giorgio Armani, of which I am extremely proud and is the confirmation of our ability to measure ourselves in unique projects with brands of excellence, says Giovanni Costantino, Founder & CEO of The Italian Sea Group. Giorgio Armani is synonymous with timeless elegance and refinement, and his stylistic vision contributes to further enhance our aesthetic sensibility and confirm our business model oriented to the customization of every detail to make absolutely unique each of our works in feeling with the vision and desire of each shipowner.A beautiful main saloon, complemented by a circular-shaped dining room, offers guests onboard plenty of opportunity for socialization. These areas can be opened up to the exterior at the touch of a button, thanks to the extra-wide glass sliding doors.In terms of accommodation, Silver Stars layout is typical of superyachts this size. It has been designed to comfortably sleep up to 12 guests in six suites, including a master suite on the main deck, one VIP cabin on the lower deck, and four guest staterooms, two of which can operate as twins or doubles. The vessel is also equipped with five cabins for 11 crew members, who will cater to the guests every need and ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.As mentioned, neutral colors dominate the decor throughout the six staterooms, lounges, and other areas of Silver Star, but there is also a particular champagne glow, as Admiral describes it, which is achieved through the use of metal accents. To cut off the monochromatic environment and create a contrasting effect, the designers used Tamo wood, a cool-toned Japanese maple. Other materials used include ivory onyx, bluette rosewood marble, and printed silk produced in Venice.The 499GT superyacht is meant to be enjoyed for lavish and comfortable vacations, so dont expect any remarkable innovations in terms of performance. The vessel is fitted with two 1,926 hp CAT engines running at 2300 rpm that propel it to a top speed of 18 knots (21 mph/33 kph) and a cruising speed of 16.5 knots (19 mph/30 kph). It offers a transatlantic range (3,500 miles) when cruising comfortably at 10 knots (11.5 mph/ 19 kph).Another noteworthy thing to mention is that the owners requested that Silver Star be built in compliance with the voluntary Green Plus classification of RINA, which prioritizes lower impact on the environment. Silver Star is now listed for sale with TWW Yachts, the brokerage that handled the construction of the yacht for its current owner.
Customers dine near a giant screen broadcasting news footage of an aircraft taking off from China's Shandong aircraft carrier while taking part in a combat readiness patrol and "Joint Sword" exercises around Taiwan conducted by the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), at a restaurant in Beijing, April 10. Reuters-Yonhap



China simulated "sealing off" Taiwan during a third day of wargames around the self-ruled island on Monday, as the United States deployed a naval destroyer into Beijing-claimed waters in a show of force.



China launched the exercises in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke a furious response.



After two days of exercises that included simulating targeted strikes on Taiwan and encirclement of the island, the Chinese military said the wargames also included "sealing" it off, and a state media report said dozens of planes had practiced an "aerial blockade".



One of China's two aircraft carriers  the Shandong  also "participated in today's exercise", the military added.



The United States, which had repeatedly called for China to show restraint, on Monday sent the USS Milius guided-missile destroyer through contested parts of the South China Sea.



"This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea," the U.S. Navy said in a statement.



It added that the vessel had passed near the Spratly Islands  an archipelago claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. It is about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from Taiwan.



The deployment of the Milius immediately triggered more anger from China, which said the vessel had "illegally intruded" into its territorial waters.



Meanwhile, Japan said on Monday it has scrambled jets in recent days as Chinese planes landed and took off from the Shandong.





Taiwan Navy vessels anchored in Keelung harbor in Keelung city, Taiwan, April 10. EPA-Yonhap



'No war'



On Beigan island, part of Taiwan's Matsu archipelago that is within eyesight of China's mainland, 60-year-old chef Lin Ke-qiang told AFP he simply did not want war.



"We, common people, just want to live peaceful and stable lives," Lin said, adding that Taiwan's military was no match for China's.



"If any war happens, now that their missiles are so advanced, there's no way our side could resist. This side will be levelled to the ground."



China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949. China views democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day.



The United States has been deliberately ambiguous on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily.



But for decades it has sold weapons to Taipei to help ensure its self-defense, and offered political support.



Tsai met McCarthy outside Los Angeles on her way home from a visit with two allied countries in Central America.



In August last year, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan in its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island by McCarthy's predecessor, Nancy Pelosi.



Tsai meeting with McCarthy in the United States rather than in Taiwan, was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for the island but avoid inflaming tensions with Beijing.



But China had repeatedly warned against any meeting, and began the latest wargames soon after Tsai returned to Taiwan.



"These operations serve as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking 'Taiwan independence' and external forces and against their provocative activities," Shi Yin, a PLA spokesman, said about "Joint Sword".



Tsai responded to the drills by pledging to work with "the US and other like-minded countries" in the face of "continued authoritarian expansionism".





This handout photo from the US Navy taken on Nov. 20, 2021 shows the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) sailing in the South China Sea. AFP-Yonhap
The update to version 4.4, now available on the Apple App Store, is an impressive release. It includes everything from small bug fixes to brand-new features and CarPlay goodies.The first thing iPhone users should notice after updating the app is the support for new widgets. OsmAnd now comes with two new widgets, one of which displays the coordinates for the map center. The second widget shows the exact time or the time left until the next sunrise or sunset.In terms of navigation, the update comes with voice prompts for a series of new languages, including Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Slovenian, and Catalan. Hiking routes are getting new refinements as well. Version 4.4 includes the ability to select routes on the map specifically if you want to view more information or begin the navigation.Given its open-source license, OsmAnd also puts users in full control of their privacy. This update further improves on this promise by adding options to disable history logging in the app.Beginning with this update, OsmAnd also displays a legal warning when enabling speed camera alerts. Such features are forbidden in certain markets, and OsmAnd wants to make sure all users are aware of the local regulations when enabling the alerts.For CarPlay users, the new version included options for managing existing data. For example, the update adds history information, while also refining the tracks and favorites lists. This way, users should be able to interact with their addresses and start navigation faster. Additionally, the favorites feature is getting support for searching, making it easier to find a previously bookmarked location.Users who run OsmAnd on their iPhones are getting improved Wikipedia integration. The update adds support for viewing images hosted on Wikipedia. The parent company says it has also updated the reader UI to render all articles correctly.The changelog also includes smaller improvements, including a manual rotation mode for map orientation and improved support for external keyboards. Like every other update, the new version also includes smaller bug fixes and improvements.Theres one big change specifically aimed at iPhone users in this update. Beginning with version 4.4, OsmAnd requires at least iOS 15. This means your iPhone must be running this version of the operating system or a newer release. Unless the smartphone is updated to meet the new requirements, the app would no longer get any improvements.OsmAnd will continue to run on iPhones powered by iOS 14 or earlier versions. However, no new improvements would be received, which means users will miss all the latest functionality.
Grigorians office said that he discussed with his Iranian opposite number, Ali Shamkhani, the security situation in the region and Armenian-Iranian relations. It gave no details of their working dinner.

Iranian news agencies reported that Grigorian praised Iran for promoting regional peace and stability and said forging closer links with Tehran is a top priority for the Armenian government.

Shamkhani was reported to reaffirm Tehrans opposition to any geographic change in the region.

Iranian leaders have repeatedly made such statements in response to Azerbaijans demands for an extraterritorial corridor to the Nakhichevan exclave that would pass through Syunik, the sole Armenian province bordering Iran. They have warned against attempts to strip the Islamic Republic of the common border and transport links with Armenia.

Lingering tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan have flared up in recent weeks partly due to Baku's deepening ties with Tehran's archenemy Israel, highlighted by the opening of an Azerbaijani embassy in Tel Aviv.

Meeting with his visiting Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov late last month, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen reportedly declared that the two nations will form a united front against Iran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry challenged Baku to explain implications of that statement.

Last week, Azerbaijani authorities expelled four Iranian Embassy employees and arrested six men who they said are linked to Iran's secret services. They also alleged Iranian involvement in an assassination attempt on an anti-Tehran Azerbaijani lawmaker.

Bayramov and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian discussed the rising tensions in a phone call on Saturday.

Amir-Abdollahians deputy, Ali Bagheri Kani, visited Yerevan late last month for what the Armenian Foreign Ministry described as regular political consultations between the two neighboring states. Kani spoke out against the presence of external forces in the South Caucasus.

Hakob Badalian, an Armenian political analyst, suggested on Monday that Yerevan has intensified diplomatic contacts with Tehran and other foreign partners lately to try to reduce heightened risks to regional security.

I regard the interaction with Iran as one of the most important directions in this [endeavor,] he told RFE/RLs Armenian Service.
The man was apprehended in Ashotavan, a village in Syunik province situated not far from Azerbaijans Nakhichevan exclave. Local residents said that he wore civilian clothes and carried no firearms.

The Armenian Defense Ministry said the Azerbaijani claims to be a soldier. In his words, there was another serviceman with him, the search for whom is continuing, it said in a short statement.

The Azerbaijani military reported, meanwhile, that two of its soldiers serving in Nakhichevan have done missing due to heavy fog. It did not identify them.

The Azerbaijanis were reportedly first spotted overnight in Bnunis, another village just a few kilometers south of the Syunik town of Sisian. Several local residents told RFE/RLs Armenian Service that they knocked on the door of fellow villager Shoghik Matevosians house.

They didnt talk, said one of them. They left when she shut the door.

Matevosian and members of her family refused to comment.

Bnunis and Ashotavan are located about 20 kilometers from the nearest Azerbaijani army positions on Nakhichevans border with Syunik. It was not clear how they managed to cross the heavily militarized frontier and advance deep into Armenian territory undetected. Armenias Defense Ministry said nothing in this regard.

The incident left some local residents worried about their safety. They want the police or the military to patrol their streets.

We now always lock our gate and entrance door, said Khachik Manucharian, a 70-year-old man living in Bnunis. I dont what could happen.
The incident happened as Pashinian visited the village of Malishka and spoke to local officials and ordinary residents.

Armenias Investigative Committee said that the unidentified woman approached Pashinian and attacked him in order to interfere with the legitimate official activities of the prime minister. It said nothing about her motives.

In a statement, the law-enforcement agency added that criminal proceedings will likely be launched against her.

According to Armenian media outlets, the woman and her family are former residents of the town of Lachin which was handed back to Azerbaijan last summer following a change in the route of the land corridor connecting Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh.

News.am quoted the Mailshka mayor, Garik Nazarian, as saying that the family rents a house in his village, one of the largest in the country.

The arrested womans husband told Aravot.am that the familys housing issues is not what drove her to throw the umbrella at Pashinian. I dont have time to talk right now, but Ill definitely talk later, he said.
10 April 2023 10:46 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Tet International Development LLC with Japanese capital and shareholder Taro Sawada cultivates tobacco on an area of about 1,200 hectares in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports citing the Director of the company Namig Asgarov telling in an interview with the local media outlets.

Regarding future projects and prospects, Namig Asgarov said that Tet International Development would also invest in the livestock sector in Azerbaijan, and farms will be created for this purpose. Preparations are being made in this direction.

Previously, the head of Tet International Development Company, Taro Sawada, while talking about future plans, said that investments in other fields have started, along with tobacco farming. Soon, a processing plant producing charcoal from hazelnut shells will begin operating in Zagatala. In addition, fruit and vegetable products are planned to be packed and exported to Japan.

Taro Sawada invests in the tobacco sector in Azerbaijan. At present, 4 tobacco processing enterprises of his company are operating in Azerbaijan. The company exports Azerbaijani tobacco.

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10 April 2023 12:20 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation is actively working to promote the rich material and spiritual heritage of Shusha city, known as Azerbaijan's historical and cultural pearl and the 2023 Cultural Capital of the Turkic World, throughout the Turkic world, as well as in foreign countries.

The foundation gets ready to host the Days of Shusha in Uzbekistan on April 11-12, Azernews reports.

The large-scale event is organized in partnership with the Azerbaijani Embassy in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Tashkent.

The Days of Shusha promise diverse programs, presentations and concerts arranged by the foundation and reflecting the history and culture of Shusha and Karabakh as a whole.

State officials, deputies, representatives of diplomatic corps accredited in the country, as well as heads and representatives of Turkic Cooperation Organizations will be among the guests of the event.

The Days of Shusha will contribute to the wider dissemination of complete information about Shusha and its promotion throughout the world.

Initiated in 2012, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation focuses on the preservation of the Turkic heritage in member countries as well as conducting projects in collaboration with partners in third nations.

The foundation provides assistance in the protection, study, and promotion of Turkic culture and heritage through supporting and funding various activities, projects, and programs.

The organization carries out its activities in cooperation with TURKSOY and the Turkic Academy.

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10 April 2023 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

The Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus, which has been known for its pro-Armenianism for a long time, has always expressed its contempt and hatred against the Turkish nation in various forms at the international level. This time, the pro-Armenian parliament of the South Cyprus has adopted a so-called resolution condemning Azerbaijan and urging it to immediately reopen the Lachin road. In that biased and baseless document it says that the 'sole road connecting Karabakh with Armenia has been blocked since December 12'.

Speaking to Azernews, former Turkish general Yucel Karauz has commented on the issue.

"The point is that it is impossible to expect more than this from the Greek state of Southern Cyprus. The Armenophilism in South Cyprus, which is made up of Greeks and Romans, goes back a long time. However, their intervention in the eco-protest held by Azerbaijan in its Karabakh region is of course a new event," the Turkish military expert said.

Karauz talked about the atrocities committed by the state of Southern Cyprus against Turks 48 years ago and reminded them that they are always together with Armenians. He noted that in 1975, South Cyprus raised the issue of the so-called Armenian genocide for the first time.

"If we want to know deeply why South Cyprus intervened in the Karabakh issue of Azerbaijan, then we should take a closer look at history. In 1975, the Armenians in Southern Cyprus, by uniting with the Russians against the Ottoman state, distorted the crimes they committed for their benefit and invented a so-called history of genocide. For the first time in history, South Cyprus adopted the so-called Armenian Genocide as a law. This "law" was brought up again in 1982. And finally, as we know, in 2015, the Greek state of Southern Cyprus adopted a law that it is a crime not to accept the Armenian Genocide in its country."

According to the former general, South Cyprus's meddling in the peaceful protests against environmental terrorism in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan is a step outside the norms of international law.

"It is the sovereign right of Azerbaijan to hold protests against environmental exploitation in the internationally recognized territories, and no state or international organization has the right to interfere with it.

As for the control of the Lachin road, this must be mentioned that the state of Azerbaijan is absolutely right. Because Azerbaijan aims to prevent the illegal carrying of weapons and illegal activities of Armenians within Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.



The former Turkish general, strongly condemning this step of the Greek state of Southern Cyprus, also mentioned that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, when he received the Greek envoy last year, reminded him of the level of relations between Turkiye and Azerbaijan.

"Last year, while meeting with the Greek ambassador, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev reminded him of Azerbaijan's position in Turkiye-Greece relations. As the state of Turkiye, we strongly condemn the adoption of such a foolish resolution by Southern Cyprus today, and we demand that the Greek state of Southern Cyprus remember the crimes it committed against the Turks in the first place."

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10 April 2023 09:59 (UTC+04:00)

Peaceful protests of the Azerbaijani eco-activists continue on the Lachin-Khankendi road.

So far 4 vehicles of the Russian peacekeepers have passed through the peaceful protest area on the Lachin-Khankendi road without any hindrance.

The eco-activists did not hamper the passage of four trucks of the Russian peacekeepers moving from Khankendi towards Lachin, Azernews reports. Besides, 31 vehicles of Russian peacekeepers have passed through the area during the day.

This once again proves that allegations on protesters blocking the Khankendi-Lachin road are the disinformation and that the protesters

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10 April 2023 11:08 (UTC+04:00)

Sabina Mammadli Read more

OSCE Chairman-in-Office, North Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani will visit Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on April 10-13, Azernews reports.

During the visit, the official plans to meet with parliamentarians, civil society representatives, and other interlocutors.

The trip will focus on strengthening the cooperation between the OSCE, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, addressing existing security challenges, and promoting peace and stability through dialogue in the South Caucasus region.

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries of Russia, the USA, and France had mediated a peaceful solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts resulted in no progress as Armenia refused to abide by the UN Security Council Resolutions (822, 853, 874, and 884) demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of its troops from Azerbaijani territories, which was the main obstacle to the resolution of the conflict.

The trilateral ceasefire deal, signed by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders on November 10, 2020, ended the three-decade-long conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which along with the seven adjacent regions came under the occupation of the Armenian armed forces in the war at the outset of 1990s.

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10 April 2023 11:37 (UTC+04:00)

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on amending the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated September 29, 2022 No. 3493 "On financing activities related to social protection of disabled people and members of martyr families from the funds of compulsory personal insurance.

According to the amendments, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan will finance activities related to social protection and social security of persons with established disability due to the war and families of martyrs from the state compulsory personal insurance funds, formed additionally in 2022 and 2023.

Previously, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan envisaged the financing of activities related to this category of citizens through the state compulsory personal insurance, formed in 2022.

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10 April 2023 11:46 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Two Azerbaijani military personnel are missing in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azernews reports citing Azerbaijans Defense Ministry.

According to MoD, the incident took place in the direction of the Shahbuz district. Due to limited visibility and unfavorable weather conditions, two servicemen of the Azerbaijan Army are gone missing in the area.

The Defense Ministry noted that the necessary measures are being taken to search for the lost military personnel.

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10 April 2023 14:55 (UTC+04:00)

Sabina Mammadli Read more

Azerbaijani Medical University held the 5th scientific-practical conference of the Faculty Student Scientific Society dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Azernews reports per Defense Ministry.

Medical service officers of the Medical Department and Military Medical Faculty, teaching staff of National Defense University and Azerbaijan Medical University, students and cadets took part at the conference.

The conference took off with the commemoration of the memory of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Azerbaijan's martyrs with a minute of silence. Then, the Azerbaijani national Anthem was performed.

During the conference, it was emphasized that due to the attention and care of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, innovations were made in the field of military medicine of the army establishment, and the development of modern military medicine, a professional military doctors team was achieved.

The conference discussed the great contribution of military medical personnel to the victory in the 44-day Patriotic War. Furthermore, reports and speeches on scientific topics that are important in the field of Medicine were heard and other detailed discussions were held.

Besides, the activities of the Student Scientific Society were highly appreciated, and it was recommended to deepen theoretical and practical experiments and conduct research on the mentioned topics.

In the end, a group of officers, cadets, teachers and students were awarded and were presented certificates.

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10 April 2023 15:36 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

In recent days, many serious diplomatic issues have arisen against the backdrop of increasing tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan. The fact that Azerbaijan officially opened its first ever embassy in Tel Aviv at the end of last month and then Iran's diplomatic representatives were declared persona non grata and expelled from the country comes to the importance.

Unable to accept the realities, Tehran is literally shaking with anger and nervousness. It should be recalled that during the opening of the embassy in Israel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had addressed an insinuating message to Azerbaijan. However, this time, the Persian regime, which did not bear with the stricter measures with respect to expelled diplomats last week, sent a threatening message to Azerbaijan through the media.

Read "Baku Should Heed the Ukraine Lesson" in tomorrow's edition of Tehran Times.



Visit https://t.co/8hi3EBzDY8 to read more pic.twitter.com/rV3w7pR0N5  Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) April 9, 2023

As reported, Tehran Times, a clandestine pro-government Iran's online newspaper, has published an article about Azerbaijan with full of hatred and threat. The article criticizes the 'anti-Iran policy of the Azerbaijani government given the recent terror attack on its embassy in Tehran. It is interesting that in the article Iran directly accuses Azerbaijan without discussing its position.

Over the last few weeks, Azerbaijani authorities have initiated a concerted campaign against Iran at the media and diplomatic levels. Azerbaijani media outlets are now disseminating slanted reports against Iran almost on a daily basis with the Baku officials providing them with the stuff they need.

Azerbaijan accused Iran of recruiting spies, supporting terrorist groups, and siding with Armenia among other things. Recently, Azerbaijan conducted a purge among Azerbaijani clerics and religious people. Also, it declared four Iranian embassy staff as persona non grata in a move that further escalated tensions between the two sides, the article reads.

In addition, despite all available evidences, Iran shamelessly threatened Azerbaijan for its dirty deeds. In the article, the author Sadeq Feredonabadi allegedly threatened Azerbaijan with what happened to Ukraine as a result of Russia's occupation.

Pundits believe that the Republic of Azerbaijan needs to learn from the lessons of the Ukraine war, which indicated that the West has forsaken its promises of support for its allies.

However, with such an article, Iran reveals its true inner face of its aggressive tendencies. Tehran and its terrorist allies forget that Azerbaijan tested how to deal with the occupying states on every field.

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10 April 2023 18:00 (UTC+04:00)

Sabina Mammadli Read more

Thirty years of Armenian occupation did not take pity on anyone or anything, leaving thousands of people homeless, destroying lives, as well as the cultural and historical heritage of Azerbaijan. With the sole goal to pursue ethnic cleansing, the Armenian regime, which speaks about Arstakh being their homeland, did nothing but destroy and wreak havoc in what is said to be their dear lands.

Armenia did not even attempt to repopulate and flourish the Karabakh region but rather simply wiped down cities and villages, leaving everything in ruins.

In this vein, Azerbaijans Aghdam, which is often referred to as the Hiroshima of the Caucasus, has fallen victim to Armenias policy of ethnic cleansing with Juma Mosque being the only building that remains standing among the vast area of ruins.

Prior to the occupation, Aghdam was considered the commercial center of the entire region, where 143,000 people lived in the city with 124 villages. Some 145 historical and cultural monuments were registered in Aghdam and none of them survived the total destruction.

In a recent article titled 'They destroyed everything': Inside the war-torn lands of Azerbaijan's 'Hiroshima' published in the UKs Express, the author John Varga writes about his two-day trip to Azerbaijans liberated territories.

The destruction and devastation is almost total, yet very little of it was inflicted by military means and warfare. The evidence speaks overwhelmingly of a calculated and deliberate attempt to eradicate any trace of the Azerbaijani people and their culture from these lands, the British journalist wrote.

Moreover, the publication underlined that the Armenian military first looted the abandoned houses and then sold the empty properties to other Armenians and even Iranians for between US$200-300.

The purchasers stripped the houses for all they were worth - first, they took furniture, washing machines and other household goods, before carting off bricks, stones, roof tiles and window frames. Finally, they set fire to what was left of the house, leaving nothing but some charred remains and a few bricks, the article continued.

The journalist also did not miss Armenias eradication of any trace of the former inhabitants and their culture, specifically when it came to mosques and cemeteries.

But Varga was not the first journalist horrified by the tragedy of Azerbaijans liberated lands. A video reportage produced by the Associated Press stressed how the return of Aghdam is a triumph for Azerbaijan, but the joy of returning is mixed with sadness and anger because one has to return to a devastated city. The world-famous photographer Reza Deghati, who has lived in France for many years, visited Azerbaijan both during the First and the Second Karabakh Wars and pictured the aftermaths of the destructions.

Despite this aggression, the Hiroshima of the Caucasus is now being rebuilt and will welcome its first residents in 2025. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has made the reconstruction and rebuilding of Karabakh a priority of his political agenda by investing billions of dollars into the construction of new roads, airports, railways, houses and energy infrastructure.

In 2021, Azerbaijan allocated $1.5 billion for the reconstruction of liberated territories, followed by AZN 2.2 billion ($1.2 billion) in 2022. These funds will be used primarily to restore infrastructure (electricity, gas, water, communications, roads, education, health, and so on) as well as cultural and historical monuments.

We are building nine new cities and initially more than 300 villages and towns from scratch. This is a rare and unprecedented model of post-conflict reconstruction by a national government using its own financial resources. In 2021-2022, the state of Azerbaijan spent about $4bn on reconstruction in liberated areas. This year, we plan to allocate at least $1.7bn. President Ilham Aliyev stated.

The Azerbaijani leader has invested projects worth 40 million manats ($23 529) in the Aghdam Industrial Park, the number of residents of which has reached 15.

With the continuous investments in the reconstruction of Azerbaijan's liberated territories, the vandalized cities and villages are surely destined to blossom in the nearest future.

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Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SabinaMmdl

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10 April 2023 19:30 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev have visited the Astana International Financial Centre.

Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre Renat Bekturov briefed the heads of state about the potential of the Financial Centre for attracting investments and supporting regional initiatives, arousing interest of international investors in Azerbaijani projects and investment structure.

President Ilham Aliyev underlined the importance of reliable and favorable investment climate for free operation of shareholders. On the Middle Corridor, the head of state noted that this corridor is important not only for expanding transit capabilities but also development of business in various spheres.

Then, President Ilham Aliyev signed the guest book.

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10 April 2023 09:30 (UTC+04:00)

Estonia may buy US-made F-16 fighter jets and transfer them to Ukraine, the Baltic republics Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said, Azernews reports citing TASS.

I think it is very reasonable," Estonias top diplomat said in an interview with the Kiev Independent on Saturday.

Reinsalu acknowledged though that his country does not currently have such aircraft at its disposal.

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10 April 2023 21:21 (UTC+04:00)

Turkmenistans Dayhanbank State Commercial Bank has become the local leader in terms of the volume of issued plastic cards.

As of the beginning of April 2023, Dayhanbank has issued more than 1.87 million plastic cards.

Turkmenistan State Commercial ranked second with more than 1.02 million cards, with Halkbank Joint-Stock Commercial Bank closing the Top 3 with more than 614,705 cards.

At the same time, Dayhanbank, according to the data of the Central Bank of Turkmenistan, mainly works with clients in the regions of the country. Thus, most of the cards issued by the bank were issued to customers in the Mary region (554,985), Dashoguz (461,600) and Lebap (419,431) regions.

The other two leaders in the ranking, Turkmenistan State Commercial Bank and Halkbank Joint-Stock Commercial Bank issued most of the cards for holders living in Ashgabat, 479,563 cards and 223,159 cards, respectively.

Full ranking of banks in Turkmenistan by the volume of issued plastic cards as of 01.04.2023:

Bank: Number of cards Dayhanbank State Commercial Bank of Turkmenistan 1,871,202 Turkmenistan State Commercial Bank 1,026,565 Halkbank Joint-Stock Commercial Bank 614,705 Turkmenbashi Joint-Stock Commercial Bank 571,610 State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan 486,769 Senagat Joint-Stock Commercial Bank 415,971 Rysgal Joint-Stock Commercial Bank 163,614 Turkmen-Turkish Joint-Stock Commercial Bank 113,590 Total number of cards 5,264,026

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FILE - West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey speaks during a press conference at the state Capitol in Charleston, W.Va., Feb. 16, 2022. On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, Morrisey announced that he will run for governor in 2024.
Robert Price is an Emmy-winning reporter for KGET-TV. His column appears here Sundays; the views expressed are his own. Reach him at rprice661@gmail.com or via Twitter: @stubblebuzz.
Sal Moretti served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, is a retired city superintendent and a former county supervisor district director. You can email him at morettis3313@gmail.com.
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With the 2024 presidential race on the horizon, rumors of potential candidates are swirling. Of the front-runners, the favorite in North Carolina is Florida governor Ron DeSantis, according to the latest Civitas Poll. When polled against President Biden, DeSantis won a plurality of the support (43.6%), leading Biden closely by 2.6 points. A hypothetical race against Biden and Trump came in even tighter, with Biden pulling in 45.4% of the support, and Trump behind by two points (43.45). However, both hypothetical races are close, within the 3.98% margin of error for the poll.Interestingly, DeSantis and Trump both pulled in a similar number of votes, but in the race against DeSantis, fewer people said they would vote for Biden, while more said they were unsure. Biden received a five percent bump among women when matched against Trump (50% to 37%) compared to DeSantis (45% to 38%)said John Locke Foundation President Donald Bryson.The Civitas Poll included a matchup against Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence. This race had the highest percentage of 'unsure' voters, at 19.3%, with Biden leading Pence by two points at a plurality of 41.4% support. While Nikki Haley has declared her candidacy, it was not polled in this month's survey.The GOP was the leader in all other statewide races polled. Republicans' strongest lead is in the ballot for the state General Assembly, with 46% of voters showing support for the generic Republican candidate, as opposed to 42.1% support for the generic Democrat. The race for Governor and Congress both had the generic Republican up by 2.3% over the generic Democrat, with 45.3% of respondents support for the gubernatorial candidate, and 44.7% for the congressional candidate.Voter confidence in North Carolina's elections is up. Nearly 60% of respondents said they believe North Carolina's next election will becompared to only 49% in March 2021, the last time this question appeared on the Civitas Poll. Still, the vast majority of voters (70.8%) would like to see North Carolina secure elections further by adding a citizens-only voting amendment to the state constitution. Support for this amendment is greatest among registered Republicans (90%) and Independents (71%), but even a majority of Democrats are in favor of citizens-only voting (56%). More than twice as many Democratic respondents were in favor of the amendment than opposed.Likewise, support for voter I.D. remains strong amongst North Carolinians, with nearly seven out of ten voters in favor. Support is greater among males than females (77% vs. 61%), and is almost ubiquitous with registered Republicans, at 96% support. Registered Democrats, on the other hand, are split down the middle with 45% supporting voter I.D., and 44% opposing it.said Bryson.Support for a Taxpayer Bill of Rights enjoys the support of a lesser majority (56.7%), with low opposition (11.2%). This proposed constitutional amendment would limit the growth of government spending to inflation plus population growth and include returning excess revenues to taxpayers. Adding right-to-work to the state constitution shows similar levels of support, with 54.4% of North Carolinians in favor, and 14.3% opposed. Adding right-to-work as an amendment to the constitution would further codify N.C. workers' right to abstain from joining (or paying) a labor union.One constitutional change that a majority of voters have yet to support, however, is the repeal of the literacy test from Article VI of the N.C. Constitution. While the repeal has the support of a plurality of respondents (41.8%), many North Carolinians are neutral or unsure (30.2%), and a minority (28%) remain opposed to removing this unenforceable policy. These results indicate that there is still a potential for sway on both sides of the issue to either adopt or reject the repeal, which has stalled in the state House.On the environment, North Carolinians appear pessimistic. Despite steep declines in greenhouse gas emissions over the past two decades, a plurality (46.2%) of North Carolinians believe the state's environment is worse now than it was in 2005, and the number one environmental concern cited was climate change. This gloomy perception goes hand-in-hand with the finding that a majority of North Carolinians believe the media's portrayal of the environment is mostly or completely negative (56.5%). Outside of climate change, voters' top environmental concerns were water pollution followed by natural disasters. At the bottom of the list was over-fishing and habitat loss.For additional media inquiries or to schedule an interview:Brenee GoforthMedia Manager & Communications AssociateJohn Locke Foundationbgoforth@lockehq.org(919) 805-2414
Treasury officials Liz Rosenberg and Brian Nelson will meet with leaders of financial institutions in Switzerland, Italy and Germany. The AP reports the officials will have a simple message, "1. Continue to provide Moscow with material support or 2. Keep doing business with countries that represent 50 percent of the global economy."

Washington has only rallied its NATO allies and other close partners to adopt the sanctions. Meanwhile, China has added more countries to its Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and Saudi Arabia and Turkey are two of the latest prospective members.

Upon becoming a member of the SCO, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi observed that the more countries the US sanctions, the more these targeted nations may cooperate as trading partners."The relationship between countries that are sanctioned by the US, such as Iran, Russia or other countries, can overcome many problems and issues and make them stronger," he said. "The Americans think whichever country they impose sanctions on, it will be stopped, their perception is a wrong one."

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-will-threaten-europe-implement-sanctions-russia

Macron: Europe must cut reliance on US dollar, seek strategic autonomy

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/04/10/701284/Macron-calls-on-Europe-to-unfollow-US
A Port Arthur woman has been indicted for the death of her alleged ex-boyfriend more than a year after he was found dead.

Lace Christian, 23, recently was indicted for murder in the death of ex-boyfriend Lonnie Scott

Just before 9:30 p.m. on Aug 10, 2021, officers received reports of suspicious activity from the 2200 block of 17th Street in Port Arthur, according to court documents. A caller said that a man was seen running down 17th Street, and a woman was northbound on Vicksburg Avenue.

According to the documents, officers later found Scott dead inside his residence, and Christian's GPS ankle monitor showed that she had been at the home on Aug. 8 and 9, 2021, according to documents.

Phone records also show communication between the two beginning on Aug 7 through 9, 2021, the documents said.

Related: Port Arthur woman hospitalized after shooting

Christian claimed to police to not know Scott and that she had never been to his house. She later changed her story saying that they were in an intimate relationship, and phone communication between the two ended on Aug. 9, 2021, the documents said.

Christian was said to have been in his house before and after Scott was believed to have died, police said in the documents. Her ankle monitor movements also line up with the Aug. 10 phone call.

Christian also was indicted in May for fatally shooting Russell Realdo in the 1600 block of Maple Street in Port Arthur.
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I remember applying to every scholarship I could as a college student. Higher education is expensive and so many scholarships go unclaimed each year because people just don't know about them.

But luckily now, companies, organizations, etc. can reach students across the country -- or world -- with posts on social media platforms, putting more eyes on the money they offer.

And that's how Beaumont native Tiffany Tran discovered a savory opportunity.

No clucks, just big bucks

Tran, a West Brook High School and Lamar University graduate, was awarded Chick-fil-A's inaugural $25,000 Community Scholarship.

Now a graduate student at the University of Texas School of Dentistry, Tran was one of only 13 people nationwide to be selected for the award, the company announced Thursday. The money was a portion of the more than $67,000 in scholarships Chick-fil-A has given to Beaumont students so far this year.

RELATED: Beaumont student wins Taco Bell's Live Mas $25K scholarship

Tran's work in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura in 2020 is what set her apart from other applicants, the company said in a news release.

"Tiffany helped her neighbors by preparing meals and donating 400 dental hygiene kits for hurricane victims," the release states.

In a recorded interview for the company, Tran said she's excited to put the scholarship money toward her graduate education.

"With my degree, I hope to become a dentist, and I would like to go back to the Southeast Texas community and serve the general population there and really try to fight the oral health care disparity," she said. "The scholarship represents an opportunity for me to further my education and relieve some of the financial stresses that are associated with school."

However, Chick-fil-A is not the only company or organization to notice Tran's achievements. Last year, she received a $10,000 Live Mas scholarship from the Taco Bell Foundation.

Additionally, Tran received the prestigious Lamar University Presidential Scholarship prior to her freshman year at the university; was named a Texas State University System Scholar in 2020; and in August 2022 was awarded a $8,500 fellowship from the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, among other recognitions.

RELATED: Reporter's notebook: South Texas State Fair gives students chance to shine

While at Lamar, Tran was a student in the Reaud Honors College, was a founding member of the honors college's Model United Nations Team; served as a university ambassador; and served as president of the Student Government Association, in addition to other student and community organizations.

Tran said that winning the Chick-fil-A Community Scholarship gave her hope in knowing that though she's from a smaller community and transferring from a smaller university, that her hard work has paid off.

"If you work hard for your dreams...you can achieve them," she said.

Well said, Tiffany. Congrats!

The director's choice

RELATED: Reporter's notebook: What's going on in Lumberton and other local ed news

We talked a little about student artwork in last week's reporter's notebook, but we support local students in fine arts here, and this student also deserves a spotlight.

Beaumont United High School senior Nathan Martin has won the Stark Museum of Art Director's Choice Award in the Any Way You Slice It: 2023 Juried Student Art Exhibition for his incredible art piece.

Martin won over more than 800 students in Southeast Texas and his piece is now on display at the Stark Museum of Art, located at 712 Green Ave. in Orange. See his piece in the photos above.

If you find yourself there, check it out!
Grand Central Cafe

The house where some of the most gruesome scenes in "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" were filmed is now being transformed into a family restaurant.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

The Victorian home seen in the 1974 movie was where Leatherface and his cannibalistic family lived. In 1998, the house was taken down from its original location in Round Rock and reassembled in Kingsland. In 2012, it was turned into the Grand Central Cafe. Now it's being transformed into a full-service restaurant called Hoopers in honor of Tobe Hooper who directed the horror classic.
VIDOR -- The fresh paint, dry floors and a stable, elevated building is a marked improvement from the campus that previously stood at 2400 Texas 12 in Vidor.

More than five years ago, Vidor ISD's Oak Forest Elementary School was ravaged by Tropical Storm Harvey, forcing its students and teachers onto other campuses, eventually settling in portable buildings.

After further damage from subsequent storms, years of false starts due to delayed funding approval from federal officials and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a bigger, better future is on the horizon for students, teachers and staff.

On Monday, just over 650 students will start attending school at the original campus site once again, this time in a larger, state-of-the-art facility, built to withstand future floods.

RELATED: Vidor breaks ground on new elementary school 3 years post Harvey

"There's a lot of emotions in this," said Oak Forest librarian Tayna Burges, who has worked at the school for 14 years. "(We're) very excited. I can't wait for our kids to come and see the new space that we have and all that the school has to offer that we're not used to."

Only finishing touches and a couple of inspections remain to be completed, Oak Forest Principal Devan Dart told The Enterprise at the campus Tuesday.

"Other than that, it's ready to go," he said. "We still have the alarm system and (public address) system (to complete), but even that would be something we could operate without, so we're pretty good."

Dart, who's in his second year as principal of the campus, said along with excitement, staff is mostly just relieved to be at this point.

RELATED: Harvey forced Southeast Texans to high ground -- permanently

"There's a lot of elements that you don't think about if you're not at the portables," he said. "Any time it rains, you have to take all the kids' backpacks inside because they're going to get wet. And every time you transition outside, (the students are) going to get wet. If it's cold outside, you're going to be cold all day. Then, safety and security is always in the back of everyone's mind, too. It's a tough challenge to make that a secure location on top of just trying to round up six-year-olds."

Arguably the new school's biggest asset is it's elevation -- now a few feet higher than the previous campus.

"Hopefully (flooding) doesn't happen again," Dart said. "And there's retention ponds now, a better drainage set up and different things, so hopefully that doesn't occur."

For many of the students returning to the school Monday, this will be the first time they've attended school in a traditional setting.

RELATED: Vidor ISD finally moving forward on middle school project

"Every time (there's been) progress (on the new school), we've shown (the students) pictures, 'Hey, this is what we're looking forward to, this is coming in,'" Burges said. "They're just so excited, they can't wait. Once they step indoors, they don't have to go back (outside) unless they're going out to recess. Our kids aren't used to that, (in the portables), once they walk out of their classroom, they're outside."

With the new building comes amenities that weren't available before, including additional bathrooms, teacher workspaces and storage, among other spaces, Burges said.

"The librarian position at Oak has never had an office, they've never had storage or work room and those are things we have now," she said.

Burges, along with other school staff on Tuesday, spent a majority of the day getting the library ready for students, loaded with some 10,000 new books that were purchased with grant money from the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries and Dollar General.

RELATED: Harvey + 2: Storm-damaged Vidor Middle School to be razed

"It's a little overwhelming right now, but walking into this space, I'm very lucky to be able to come in here and work every day," Burges said.

Burges said that the school's library lost almost every single book it had between Harvey and Tropical Depression Imelda in 2019.

"(After Harvey), what was flooded was already trashed before I even stepped into the library," she said. "We had a cleaning crew and they came in and they cleaned everything they needed to clear. Anything that we were able to save, we put in our gym. But then Imelda came through and it flooded our gym. So, at that point, we lost everything -- we started pretty much from nothing."

The school, designed in a U-shape, has "pods" for each grade level, all decked out with central collaboration labs with carpet, touch screens and dry-erase marker-friendly glass panels.

RELATED: Vidor schools get $1M for Harvey recovery

The new cafeteria features a stage for performances and is connected to the school's music room. The cafeteria tables transform into benches for concert seating and a collapsible room divider allows the cafeteria to open into the gym for extra space.

Even the nurse's office has been upgraded with two treatment rooms, a testing room, its own bathroom and shower and even a lobby waiting area.

"It's like a hospital wing," said district Director of Community Relations Deedra LaPray.

Classrooms are now equipped with cubby areas for students to store their backpacks and jackets -- gone are the days of having to leave students' backpacks outside simply because there wasn't room for them in the portables.

RELATED: Vidor students, faculty yearn for a normal school day

Second grade English/Language Arts teacher Mary Majors, who was working on her classroom Tuesday afternoon, she's never been more excited to prepare her classroom, she said.

Majors began teaching at Oak Forest this school year but has been teaching in the district since 1996 at Vidor Elementary. Though she didn't spend the same number of years teaching in the portables that her colleagues have, the four months she did teach in them were difficult, she said.

"It's hard enough being a teacher and preparing for all the little minds, but when you also have to go through the winter walking down the hallway (outside), going through the drips, the crowdedness, the smells changed every day depending on what animal was (underneath the portables)," she said. "I have survivor's guilt because I wish everybody could have this."

Majors began working on her classroom during the winter holiday break, adding that the district allowed teachers a certain amount of overtime hours so that they could get their rooms ready for students.

RELATED: Photos: Progress Report on area school builds

"(The new school) is probably the most beautiful, cleanest, brightest, cheerful place that (the students) will ever have experience in," she said. "I'm just very thankful, very blessed to be on this journey with them. It's a great place to be."

As time progressed with infrequent progress on the school, Burges said it seemed at times that a reopening would never happen.

"We were told certain dates and then COVID happened and it pushed it back," she said. "After COVID, materials became unavailable, so it pushed it back even further. Some of us kind of felt like, 'We'll believe it when we see.' It did kind of get a little discouraging towards the end, but we're all super excited now."

Responsive to Intervention teachers Pam Denson and Nicole Holcomb, who have taught at Oak Forest for 17 and 19 years, respectively, said the reopening of Oak Forest is going to be a rejuvenation for the entire community.

RELATED: Recovery distant 11 weeks after Harvey

"After (Harvey), it's kind of like a big show of progress that our community is still alive, still moving on," Holcomb said.

The road to recovery has at times been long and difficult for Vidor -- the school district and community. But in the end, Burges said it was all worth it.

"We've had a resilient staff and students and community and everyone's been patient with us and they've made the best of a rough situation and I think it's well deserved that they're finally getting a chance to go to a real campus," Dart said.

Oak Forest students will see the completed campus during field trips Thursday and Friday and the district will hold a community opening of the campus from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the 2400 Texas 12 location.
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LONDON (AP)  U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised the bravery of political leaders who struck the Good Friday peace accord 25 years ago Monday, as he urged Northern Irelands current politicians to return to work.

While the peace deal largely brought an end to 30 years of hostilities, the Northern Ireland Assembly has been in limbo for more than a year since the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest new post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.

Sunak discussed the importance of compromise in reaching the April 10, 1998 peace deal and called for redoubling efforts toward economic opportunity, prosperity, and stability.

It is a promise we must continue to fulfill, he said. So we must get on with the business of governance.

Sunak is set to greet U.S. President Joe Biden when he arrives Tuesday night in Belfast for a four-day visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland. The White House said Biden would mark the progress since the agreement was struck and underscore Northern Ireland's economic potential.

The U.S.-brokered deal got Irish republican and British loyalist paramilitary groups to lay down their arms, largely ending the violence known as the Troubles that claimed 3,600 lives. It also ended direct British rule and set up a power-sharing government for Northern Ireland.

As we look forward, we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership  showing bravery, perseverance, and political imagination," Sunak said. We commemorate those who are no longer with us and the many who lost their lives by trying to prevent violence and protect the innocent."

While an entire generation has grown up without the regular fear of violence, divisions remain over the conflicts legacy. Occasional attacks by dissidents led U.K. authorities last month to raise Northern Irelands terrorism threat level to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

Police had warned that officers could be attacked in an Easter Monday parade  for which official permission had not been granted  in Londonderry by Irish republican dissidents who opposed the Good Friday Agreement.

During the otherwise peaceful demonstration in the Creggan neighborhood, a group of youths in hoods and black face masks threw fire bombs and bottles at a police Land Rover, before it drove off in flames.

Police said no officers were injured and no arrests were reported.

The parade was to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule in Ireland, which Stephen Murray, a leading Republican dissident, told the crowd was unfinished business.

I have a message for the British occupiers," Murray said. Their paramilitary police and their entire establishment: so long as you continue to oppress us, you will meet with the inescapable consequences.

Politicians who condemned the attack included Michelle ONeill, vice president of the Irish nationalist Sinn Fein, which was allied with the paramilitary Irish Republican Army during the decades of Catholic-Protestant violence.

Twenty-five years on from the Good Friday agreement this needless street disorder in Derry has no place in our society," O'Neill said. We must stand united, appealing to all those concerned to end these attacks and refrain from further threats of violence."

With the Troubles legacy in the backdrop, Britains exit from the European Union has created newer political tensions over trade issues.

British unionist politicians left Northern Irelands 1.9 million people without a functioning administration when they walked out of the power-sharing Belfast government a year ago to protest customs checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. imposed after Brexit, which they say undermine the regions place in the United Kingdom.

Last month the U.K. and the EU signed an agreement, known as the Windsor Framework, that aims to eliminate many of the checks while maintaining an open border between the north and its EU neighbor the Republic of Ireland  a key pillar of the peace process.

But the Democratic Unionist Party refuses to return to government because it says the deal leaves some EU laws in place in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he couldnt put a timeline on when power-sharing would be back up and running.

Anybody who is predicting a date by which the executive would go back in Northern Ireland would be someone who can also sell you a four-leaf clover, he told BBC Radio 4.

Irish premier Leo Varadkar said he would work with Sunak to help restore the Belfast government, saying he learned from the Good Friday agreement that the two leaders need to be in lock-step.

What we know from history is that Northern Ireland only really works when the two governments work hand in hand, he told RTE, Ireland's national public media service. ___

David Keyton in Londonderry, Northern Ireland and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.
Courtesy of Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas

National Volunteer Week is being celebrated April 16 through 22, 2023. On behalf of all of us at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, I want to say a special thank you to the dedicated volunteers who make a difference every day; within our walls and in our community.

Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they care about. Their stories serve to inspire others to take action, to realize their power to make a difference, and be a force that transforms the world.
Former Santa Rosa, Calif.-based pain management physician Thomas Keller has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for illegally prescribing Schedule II and IV controlled substances, the Justice Department said April 7.

Mr. Keller was indicted Sept. 27, 2018, after allegedly repeatedly prescribing oxycodone to a 17-year-old patient outside the course of professional practice.

Mr. Keller also repeatedly prescribed the patient, who was struggling with mental health issues, carisoprodol and diazepam for more than two years. The patient died of an overdose of oxycodone and other drugs, according to a Justice Department news release.

Evidence at trial demonstrated that Mr. Keller prescribed oxycodone, carisoprodol and diazepam despite knowing the dangerousness and addictiveness of the three drugs.

Mr. Keller was convicted in November on four counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, the release said. He surrendered his medical license in 2019.
Florida-based multispecialty physician group Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches has acquired Palm Beach Digestive Associates.

The gastroenterology group's five Florida practice locations and its ASC in Delray Beach will form the gastrointestinal division of Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches, according to an April 10 news release from CareAbout, a healthcare portfolio company with an equity investment in the group.

Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches has more than 90 providers across more than 30 locations in Florida's Palm Beach and Broward counties.
Oregon Health & Science University has signed a $111 million contract amendment with New York City-based Skanska USA for the system's hospital expansion project in Portland.

The contract, which includes patient floors, parking, a multimodal hub bus stop and three pedestrian sky bridges, is part of the 14-story hospital expansion.

Building began in 2022, and the improved hospital is expected to open to patients in 2026 in an expanded 538,000-square-foot property.
A 102-year-old woman in Israel is the oldest known person to receive a cardiac pacemaker, The Jerusalem Post reported April 9.

Rachel Kafri complained to her physician of feeling dizzy and unwell. She later underwent the surgery at Galilee Medical Center in Najariya, Israel.

"To implant a pacemaker in someone at the age of 102 is complex," Shaul Atar, MD, director of the hospital's cardiology department, told the Post. "Rachel and I met 15 years ago when I treated her at Emek Medical Center in Afula. Before any surgical procedure or invasive operation at this age, or at any age, one should think carefully and calculate the risks. Rachel, of course, wondered if it was suitable for her to undergo the procedure. I explained that implanting a pacemaker could extend her life and improve its quality, and that the risks were not high. I am happy that it was successful and that she feels well."
E.W. Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Mich., was placed on lockdown April 10 after reports of a man with an AR-15 and a bomb threat against the facility, the Lansing State Journal reported. The lockdown ended when police officers cleared the hospital.

"On 4/10 at approximately 3:31 a.m., Lansing Police were dispatched to Sparrow Hospital for a reports of a person with an AR-15," the Police Department tweeted. "Officers immediately responded and during the process received more calls from the same person threatening to bomb the building."

Police said they searched the hospital and determined the threats were not credible. The building was cleared around 6:30 a.m.

"At this time we believe this was a swatting call. Right now there is no suspect, but there is no credible threat to the public," police said. "We take swatting calls like these very seriously and we continue to investigate to try and find out who is responsible."

The hospital, in a statement shared with Becker's, said it "received several calls from an individual threatening the safety of our caregivers and patients. 911 was immediately contacted and a bomb threat alert was issued to all Sparrow caregivers."

The hospital said police conducted a thorough search of the building, and when no credible threat was found, the bomb threat alert was lifted.

"At Sparrow, the safety and security of our patients, caregivers and visitors is our top priority and we have and will continue to take a strong, proactive approach to protecting our campuses," the hospital said.
Foundation stone laid for Sino-Bangladesh joint venture hospital, medical college

Xinhua) 10:42, April 10, 2023

This photo taken on April 8, 2023 shows a scene of the groundbreaking ceremony of North Point Medical College and Hospital (NPMCH) in Panchagarh, Bangladesh. (Xinhua)

As one of the largest health sector foreign investment projects in Bangladesh, the North Point Medical College and Hospital will be an exemplary health sector project and benefit locals in infrastructure, employment, and facilities.

PANCHAGARH, Bangladesh, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The construction of a China-Bangladesh joint venture medical college and hospital started formally in northern Bangladesh on Saturday.

Laying the foundation stone for North Point Medical College and Hospital (NPMCH), Bangladeshi Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi expressed hope that the hospital would be an exemplary health sector project, benefiting people from the country and in the region.

With an investment of 25 billion Bangladeshi takas (around 250 million U.S. dollars), this medical college and hospital "is one of the largest health sector foreign investment projects in Bangladesh," Munshi told Xinhua on the project site in Bangladesh's northern Panchagarh district, 468 km away from the capital Dhaka.

"I believe that the joint venture hospital will develop into a model project, encouraging other industries," said Munshi, thanking China's support for Bangladesh's mega infrastructure development.

Bangladeshi Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi addresses the groundbreaking ceremony of North Point Medical College and Hospital (NPMCH) in Panchagarh, Bangladesh on April 8, 2023. (Xinhua)

Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said he felt proud that Chinese nationals and companies paid high attention to the health care of Bangladesh people, as nothing is closer to people's hearts than healing the dying and wounded.

The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh will extend full cooperation in establishing the medical college and hospital, which would pave the way for creating employment and development of infrastructure and other facilities in the region.

He said Chinese investments in Bangladesh have so far created 1 million job opportunities in the country.

Mazharul Haque Prodhan, a member of parliament from Panchagarh, said they believe that the construction of the NPMCH would benefit the locals in terms of employment, infrastructure and other facilities.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen addresses the groundbreaking ceremony of North Point Medical College and Hospital (NPMCH) in Panchagarh, Bangladesh on April 8, 2023. (Xinhua)

Md Taufiq Hasan, project director of the NPMCH, told Xinhua that the project would employ 3,000 people directly and thousands of others indirectly by bringing in health sector veterans worldwide.

The NPMCH project's Bangladeshi partner, managing director HM Jahangir Alam Rana, told Xinhua that the NPMCH is aimed to deliver advanced tertiary-level medical care of international standards to the people of Bangladesh.

The hospital will start operation in the first phase and the medical college in the second phase of the project, he said.

He said the joint venture sends a very strong signal to Chinese investors that they are welcome to invest in Bangladesh where the potential is tremendous and projects are profitable.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
In this article, published in issue 39 of In Defence of Marxism magazine last autumn to celebrate the books centenary, John McInally looks at James Joyces revolutionary novel Ulysses, challenges the view that it is apolitical, and explains why it should be on your reading list.

To learn one must be humble. But life is the great teacher.

James Joyces Ulysses, began in 1914 and published in February 1922, chronicles a day in Dublin, 16 June 1904, and follows the activities and thoughts of its three main characters, Leopold Bloom, a Jewish advertising man, Stephen Dedalus, based on the young Joyce himself and in the final chapter Blooms wife, Molly. The title comes from Homers mythic classic The Odyssey, a foundation stone of western literature, that describes the wanderings of Odysseus (Ulysses), reluctant warrior of the Trojan conflict who, like the characters of the petit-bourgeois milieu described in the novel, lived on his wits.

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Get your copy now at https://t.co/vvFupc58TU  pic.twitter.com/xzErkG3nK8  Wellred Books (@WellredBooks) October 15, 2022

Both right-wing reactionaries and Stalinists condemned and ridiculed Ulysses. The former saw in it a threat, not just to conservative literary and artistic authority, but to their political and social interests too. Meanwhile, in a 1934 speech on Contemporary World Literature and the Tasks of Proletarian Culture Karl Radek, in a much-quoted comment, stated there was nothing to be learned from Ulysses triviality of form and content and that Joyces basic feature is the conviction that there is nothing big in life, no big events, no big people, no big ideas; and it was A heap of dung, crawling with worms, photographed by a cinema apparatus through a microscope. Radek demonstrated a complete misunderstanding of everything Ulysses represents and how it signified a revolution in literary form and structure, depth of content, especially in its representation of the complexity of the lives of ordinary human beings, their thought processes, and interrelationships.

Although the false view that Joyces work, including Ulysses, is apolitical does not stand up to serious scrutiny, it persists still  not least amongst socialists.

So, what was Joyces background, his politics, and artistic themes and aims? He was born into a well-off family of the new Catholic, nationalist middle-class that fell into abject poverty during his youth, which caused personal trauma that left a deep impact on him. The betrayal of Irish nationalist leader Charles Stewart Parnell by the Church and fellow nationalists also left a deep impression on him. Joyce sprang from the petit-bourgeois and this milieu was the subject of his short stories and novels: from Dubliners, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Ulysses, through to his final masterpiece, Finnegans Wake, he produced an interconnected body of work through which the political viewpoint of this self-declared socialistic writer ran in a consistent thread.

Dubliners, his naturalistic short story collection reflects the struggles of recognisable human beings in a society in a state of moral, social, and political paralysis in which poverty, exploitation, and the class antagonisms of a city in economic decline are realistically described throughout. The specific exploitation and oppression of women in Irish society is sharply and sensitively represented. And, in The Dead, justifiably regarded as the greatest short story in the English language, expresses, amongst many interconnected themes, the antagonism between individuals representing different petit-bourgeois political trends  those supportive of the new nationalist revival and those who have reached an accommodation with British colonialism.

In A Painful Case Joyce, who admired the militancy of New Unionism, paints a very witty, sharp and critical portrait of a middle-class dabbler in socialist politics: He told her that he had for some time assisted at the meetings of an Irish Socialist Party where he had felt himself a unique figure amidst a score of sober workmen in a garret lit by an inefficient oil-lamp. When the party had divided into three sections, each under its own leaders and in its own garret, he had discontinued his attendances. The workmens discussion, he said, were too timorous, the interest they took in the question of wages was inordinate. He felt they were hard-featured realists and that they resented an exactitude which was the product of a leisure that was not within their reach. No social revolution, he told her, would be likely to strike Dublin for some centuries.

Photochrom print of OConnell Street, Dublin, Ireland, c. 1899 / Image: Photochrom Prints Collection at the Library of Congress, via trialsanderrors, Flickr

Joyce did not have a consistent, worked out theory of socialism, his political outlook defined more by what he opposed than what he was for. He never shed the individualism of his class background and his artistic temperament, and was more influenced by the anarchist ideas of Bakunin, whom he had read, than Marx. He uncompromisingly opposed colonialism, imperialism, militarism  he was a lifelong pacifist, and an instinctive internationalist who was inspired by the struggles of the European working class, like the Trieste general strike of 1903, where he lived in self-imposed exile and spent much time discussing with workers.

Joyce understood that Britains strategic refusal to allow the development of industrialisation, except in the loyal North, was a key factor in Irelands colonial subjugation, locking the country in agrarian backwardness. Around the same time Trotsky was developing the theory of permanent revolution, Joyce believed it was Irelands young proletariat, not the middle class he came from, that had most to gain from the breaking of the colonial link.

Joyce admired the artistic talent of W.B. Yeats but poured scorn on his role in the Irish Literary Revival in popularising its ersatz mythology. He demanded artists deal with the world of real, ordinary people rather than polluting minds with destructive fantasies and this, a central theme in Ulysses itself, stood in opposition to the entire concept of the hero that underpinned generation after generation of slaughter.

He opposed the narrow nationalism and racist exceptionalism of Padraig Pearses ideology, which he regarded as the mirror-image of British imperialism and was revolted by its blood-sacrifice mythologising. In a scene in Ulysses, equally comedic and deadly serious, Bloom, in the face of antisemitic and personal abuse, challenges the bigoted, nationalist Citizens espousal of physical force saying: Thats not life for men and women, insult and hatred. And everyone knows its the very opposite of that that is real life. While metaphorically blinding the Citizen (corresponding to the one-eyed Cyclops in Homer) with reason and love, he is obliged to flee, albeit shouting defiance in the face of his increasingly belligerent foe: Mendelssohn was a jew and Karl Marx and Mercadante and Spinoza. And the saviour was a jew and his father was a jew.

For Joyce, British colonialism and the Catholic Church were equally tyrannical, the latter represented colonialism of the minds and souls of the people / Image: Nheyob

In the very first chapter of Ulysses, the Britisher Haines suggests Stephen is his own master but retorts, I am a servant of two masters, Stephen said, an English and an Italianthe imperial British stateand the holy Roman catholic and apostolic church. For Joyce, British colonialism and the Catholic Church were equally tyrannical, the latter represented colonialism of the minds and souls of the people. Joyces suspicion of Irish nationalism was largely based on his fear that, if breaking the link with Britain was not done on a class basis, then the middle-class nationalists who betrayed Parnell would create a priest-ridden Ireland. The contempt that the Irish establishment demonstrated toward Joyce was not just because he wrote unmoral books, but his opposition to the reactionary political and religious nature of the Irish state.

Joyce wrote about the middle classes, it was what he knew, but he saw no independent political role for that class. Ulysses was published just shortly before the founding of the Irish Free State, nationalist leaders like Michael Collins had demanded that Labour Must Wait, and set aside its demands until the British were ejected. The working-class leaders who acquiesced to this betrayal set the conditions for the defeat of the Irish Revolution with dreadful consequences: partition, sectarian division, continued economic and political subjugation by Britain and, as feared by Joyce, a society dominated by a repressive, socially conservative Church.

Ulysses was banned in the United States, Britain and elsewhere, and while never officially banned in Ireland it was seized at customs, unobtainable in bookshops, and the Irish press subjected Joyce, and even his family, to the most vicious and personalised attacks. Despite bans, burnings, and confiscations it had enthusiastic supporters, prepared to risk fines and lengthy prison sentences to smuggle the most infamously obscene book in ancient or modern literature to those eager to read it. In a New York court in 1933, Judge John M. Woolsey, having read the book, delivered an historic judgement in response to a challenge to the ban. He said that nowhere did he find the the leer of the sensualist but a somewhat tragic but very powerful commentary on the inner lives of men and women and concluded; while in many places the effect on the reader undoubtedly is somewhat emetic, nowhere does it tend to be aphrodisiac.

Like most serious artists of the period, Joyce was looking to develop new artistic forms to express and come to terms with the rapid and profound changes in modern capitalist society, technological, scientific, economic, political, including emergent theories in psychology, of particular interest to writers and other artists. Joyce was not, thankfully, writing political manifestos. He was in the vanguard of these revolutionary changes and qualitative advances in literature: he sought to expand the novels content to present a more profound and realistic representation of the dialectical contradictions and unity of human relationships within the wider, determining social and political conditions of the time.

If literature is a route to compassion through empathy, then Stephens description and self-identification with the hapless schoolboy whose work he is correcting demonstrates Joyces unstinting artistic integrity and insight. In other hands, this passage could so easily have appeared cold and detached, or could have descended into unearned emotion, as Joyce described sentimentality: Ugly and futile: lean neck and tangled hair and a stain of ink, a snails bed. Yet someone had loved him and borne him in her arms and in her heart. But for her the race of the world would have trampled him under foot, a squashed boneless snail. She had loved his weak watery blood drained from her own Like him was I, those sloping shoulders, this gracelessness. My childhood bends beside me.

Ulysses is neither politically nor philosophically neutral. Joyce was a materialist. In one of the most difficult chapters beginning: Ineluctable modality of the visible: at least that if no more, thought through my eyes, which is the point many readers throw in the towel, the pretentious young Stephen is reflecting on sense perception, but his idealist reflections are consistently brought back to the real material world through awareness of his own bodily functions.

In the novels concluding chapter, consisting of eight, long, unbroken sentences totalling around 22,000 words, the last word is given to Molly Bloom, in her much discussed and analysed soliloquy. Whatever else might be revealed about Molly in this remarkable evocation, this is a woman who knows her own mind and is more than capable of holding her own in a world dominated by men. And, whatever else might be read into it, her concluding utterance I said yes I will Yes. is, above all, a clear and powerful affirmation of life; as is the entire novel itself.

Those critics who condemned the so-called crudity of Ulysses and its supposed obsession with the body either failed, or refused, to recognise this was, in some respects, the most revolutionary aspect of the entire work. If Joyce was making any point, it was that the bodies of real human beings should be liberated from repression, poverty, degradation and, more than anything, their systematic slaughter on the battlefields serving the interests of corrupt ruling elites.

Barricade in Townsend Street, Dublin, during the 1916 Easter Rising / Image: public domain

Written during the First World War and the struggle for Irish independence, Ulysses, while set prior to these events, was shaped by, and was a reaction to them. That one day in 1904 Dublin is not a static world, preserved in aspic, but one shaped by the social, political, and economic events that provided the context for future cataclysmic transformations. Political and philosophical concerns, dilemmas, contradictions run like a thread through the novel despite its allusive and symbolist form and techniques  it was a revolutionary attempt to develop forms of literary expression capable of explaining and interpreting the modern world, not by rejecting all that went before but preserving what was progressive and liberating while exposing and rejecting what was oppressive and repressive.

But what of the book itself, is it worth the effort? It would be disingenuous to deny that it does present difficulties for the reader. Joyce was an uncompromising artist who aimed, in describing the particular  one day in Dublin  to address and reveal the universal.

Ulysses follows the literal ramblings of its characters through Dublins streets. Their other ramblings, conversational or in interior monologue contain many oblique references to Irish politics and require some knowledge of the period, and also some understanding of the history of literature Joyce brilliantly parodies. But there is no need to delve into the seemingly endless products of the academic Joyce industry: a quick read of a Coles or Sparkes summary will give any reader a general picture of the action and the themes.

Anything worthwhile in life requires effort, so does Ulysses, but it shouldnt be a trial; the novels joyous musicality and its comedy, in many places still laugh-out-loud, as with the mock-heroic description of the Citizen, which is worth the journey alone.

Joyces expressive range is unequalled, moving from the mundane to the unexpectedly poetic; when Stephen and Leopold say their farewells on the doorstep of the latters house, they gaze upon The heaventree of stars hung with humid nightblue fruits.

But if anything defines Ulysses it is its empathy with and compassion for humanity. Blooms interior monologue is not the meaningless chaos as Radek and the bishops would have it, but the full characterisation of a recognisably real flesh and blood human being, and one who, while standing in the face of bigotry, ignorance and all the other destructive features of a broken society in need of transformation, never succumbs to cynicism or despair, but believes in humanity and its potential for progress and enlightenment.
The following hospitals and health systems have announced or shared plans for raising workers' pay in 2023.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list.

1. Iredell Health System, based in Statesville, N.C., said it will increase pay for nurses and other positions over the coming months. A "majority of its 1800 employees" will see the pay raise, the system said.

2. Members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East reached a tentative agreement with Boston-based Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital. Under the agreement, workers will receive a minimum 10 percent wage increase this year in addition to larger wage growth due to annual step movement and other adjustments. The agreement also establishes an hourly minimum wage of $18.10 by April 2025.

3. Valhalla, N.Y.-based Westchester Medical Center Health Network's HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston, N.Y., and the New York State Nurses Association agreed to a new three-year contract that includes raises. The contract covers more than 200 nurses at HealthAlliance Hospital.

4. Hagerstown, Md.-based Meritus Health is increasing its minimum wage from $15 to $17.

5. Winston, Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health raised its minimum wage from $15 per hour to $17 per hour.

6. Members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana (Calif.) Medical Center approved a contract that will raise wages by an average 40 percent, according to hospital and union statements shared with Becker's.

7. Pittsburgh-based UPMC made plans to raise its minimum wage to $18 per hour, more than double the minimum wage in Pennsylvania. The health system will begin by increasing wages at its Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Williamsport hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory centers and other facilities by January 2025.
A cyberattack disrupted the IT network of Rushville, Ill.-based Culbertson Memorial Hospital, WGEM reported.

"This action disabled access to most functions while we investigated the activity," Culbertson CEO Gregg Snyder said in a statement reported in the April 7 story. "We immediately retained third-party specialists to assist us with our investigation."

Hospital officials say they expect to have their systems restored April 11 after the March 30 incident caused the network to be taken offline, according to the story. They said they are unsure if any patient information was affected.

"Right now our focus is to get up and running and fully functional by Tuesday, Molly Sorrell, director of community relations, told the news outlet.

Mr. Snyder also told WGEM the 22-bed critical access hospital has undergone "many upgrades and security improvements to help prevent similar events from happening in the future."
While other EHR vendors have undergone layoffs in recent months, Epic has gone the opposite direction, expanding hiring and building new facilities.

How did the Wisconsin-based company do it? By remaining privately owned and not overhiring, its leaders say.

"We hire very carefully," a spokesperson emailed Becker's. "We make sure to stay within our hiring goals and not to hire beyond the work that we know is ahead of us."

Epic is constructing three new buildings at its 260-acre Verona, Wis., headquarters to make way for an expansion of 1,700 employees this year. The company has about 13,000 staffers worldwide (with most of them located at the Wisconsin campus).

By contrast, Oracle Cerner has reportedly been laying off hundreds of employees and freezing promotions and raises. Athenahealth, a smaller EHR vendor, let go of 178 employees in early 2023. Meanwhile, Big tech companies such as Amazon and Meta Platforms have been undergoing workforce reductions in the five-figures.

In a March 23 story on the layoffs at Oracle Cerner, Bloomberg noted that Oracle is "famous for its cost cuts and high profits."

Unlike Oracle, which bought Cerner last June for $28.4 billion, Epic has remained privately held since its 1979 inception.

"Publicly traded companies might feel the need to focus on quarterly earnings," the Epic spokesperson said. "By laying people off, their earnings may be greater (at least temporarily), and their stock value may increase. Since Epic isn't publicly traded, we don't have those pressures."

The spokesperson noted that the company's voluntary turnover average over the last three years, 11 percent, was lower than the information (19 percent), healthcare (29 percent) and private (34 percent) sectors as a whole, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Former Epic employees recently described working for the company as a demanding but valuable experience. Epic is also famous for the charm and amenities at its rural headquarters, which include a slide, treehouse and small farm, to go with spaces themed after "Harry Potter," "Alice in Wonderland" and "Wizard of Oz."

Meditech, the nation's third-largest EHR vendor by hospital market share (and also privately held), told Becker's it has beaten the larger tech-industry odds as well, adding more than 600 staff members in 2022 and hiring in "strategic areas" during the first quarter of 2023.

"As with every company, we monitor the business and economic conditions of the industry and will adjust plans as needed to ensure we remain strongly positioned to service our customers and ensure their success while remaining a financially strong organization," a spokesperson emailed.
Administrators at Providence Mission Hospital, which has campuses in Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach, Calif., are reexamining the programs and services offered at both hospitals, The Orange County Register reported April 7.

The news comes shortly after the health system announced a $712 million investment for Providence Mission Hospital that includes building two multispecialty medical centers and a new patient care tower.

The Laguna Beach hospital's outpatient lab service recently closed due to staff shortages and community leaders are concerned that further services may be cut as financial challenges and staff shortages continue across the hospital sector.

"The past city council have vigorously defended keeping the hospital local," Anne Caenn, president of Village Laguna, told councilmembers, according to The Register. Ms. Caenn said she is worried that the hospital's emergency room or physician offices could be next. "We need to get you involved immediately so we don't lose it," she said.

Providence Mission Hospital has operated the Laguna Beach facility since 2008, when it acquired it from Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health, according to the report.
Hospitals and health systems using pixel tracking technology on their websites may not know that the tools are sending patient information to third parties, BankInfoSecurity reported April 7.

Cory Brennan, cybersecurity and technology attorney at Taft Stettinius and Hollister, told the publication that many healthcare organizations may not be aware of how these tools operate.

Ms. Brennan said that these tools could have been implemented by marketing teams or third-party service providers, and with high staff turnover rates, the healthcare organization may not even know which tools are running on their websites.

"It could not be more important to be able to really get a full inventory and scope of those tracking technologies  and then also to start testing them  to see exactly what information is being tracked and transmitted through the use of those technologies," Ms. Brennan said.

This comes after a Health Affairs study found that 98.6 percent U.S. hospital and health system websites implemented tracking technologies that sent patient data to third-party companies such as Alphabet, Meta and Adobe.
Sidney Wanzer, MD, pioneering advocate for physician-assisted death, died March 28 at 93.

Dr. Wanzer practiced internal medicine for 28 years in Concord, Mass., before moving to Harvard University Health Services. He took a special interest in end-of-life issues, according to his obituary, and authored a book as well as several articles on the physician's responsibility to the dying patient.

He was also the head of the publications committee for the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War which won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1985  and a board member of the Society for the Right to Die.

Dr. Wanzer is survived by his wife, three sons and six grandchildren.
Members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers are set to strike April 19 at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland (Calif.).

More than 1,200 union members are slated to participate in the strike, an NUHW spokesperson told Becker's. Striking workers include service and technical workers, business office and clerical workers, and other professional employees.

Members of the California Nurses Association and the Caregivers and Healthcare Employees Union are also slated to hold a one-day sympathy strike in solidarity with NUHW members. Those unions represent registered nurses and other healthcare workers at the hospital.

"We know that our NUHW colleagues are a key part in ensuring our patients receive the care they deserve," Gail Lorenzana, BSN, RN, a registered nurse in the hematology/oncology unit, said in an April 7 union news release. "They are the technicians and food service workers, as well as the therapists and social workers. So, we are standing with NUHW in their fight for a fair contract."

UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital Oakland expressed disappointment about the strike plans and emphasized its committment to negotiating in good faith.

"We're heartened that the union agreed to participate in the federal mediation process and remain hopeful that they will prioritize their patients by calling off the strike," the hospitla said in a statement shared with Becker's. "Ensuring access to exceptional care for our young patients and their families remains our top priority and our clinical and operations teams are hard at work to minimize the disruptions this strike would cause."

NUHW members at the facility have been working without a contract for many months, according to the union. During negotiations, the union has expressed concerns about any potential future plans to cut medical services or jobs in the East Bay.

The hospital, in its statement, emphasized its commitment to Oakland and the East Bay.

"The total number of NUHW-represented employees at BCH Oakland has increased steadily since 2018 and we are actively moving forward with plans to modernize our Oakland facilities, expanding our ability to provide excellent, compassionate care to children and their families, regardless of their ability to pay," the hospital said.
In an unprecedented decision, a federal judge in Texas ruled April 7 to suspend the FDA's decadeslong approval of one of the two abortion pills, effective April 14.

The judge partly ruled in favor of four organizations and four physicians who filed suit in November against the agency for approving mifepristone, which is part of a two-drug regimen intended to terminate a pregnancy in the first 10 weeks. Medication abortion has been approved since 2000.

This is the first time a U.S. court has called for a drug approval to be revoked despite the FDA and the drugmaker opposing its removal. The preliminary injunction could, at least temporarily, hinder access to mifepristone across the country.

"The Court does not second-guess FDA's decision-making lightly," U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk said in his decision. "But here, FDA acquiesced on its legitimate safety concerns  in violation of its statutory duty  based on plainly unsound reasoning and studies that did not support its conclusions.

"There is also evidence indicating FDA faced significant political pressure to forego its proposed safety precautions to better advance the political objective of increased 'access' to chemical abortion  which was the 'whole idea of mifepristone.'"

The case is ongoing. Danco Laboratories, a manufacturer of mifepristone, and the FDA appealed the ruling April 7.

"Today's regressive ruling on mifepristone jeopardizes the health of women across the country and undermines our entire system of drug approval," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra tweeted April 7. "It opens the door for courts to overturn @US_FDA's evidence-based decisions for purely political or ideological reasons."

In a move to broaden access to mifepristone, 12 attorneys general filed a separate lawsuit in Washington on Feb. 23 against the FDA and HHS concerning mifepristone; but in this case, they argue the FDA added "burdensome restrictions" when it gave the drug Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies restrictions.

The federal judge in this case ordered the FDA to keep mifepristone available in 17 states. This decision, also a preliminary injunction, was filed hours after Mr. Kacsmaryk's ruling. The contradictory rulings will likely head to the Supreme Court, according to The New York Times.

In January, the FDA said "public interest would be dramatically harmed" if mifepristone's approval was revoked. On April 8, the agency said mifepristone's "approval was based on the best available science and done in accordance with the laws that govern our work," added it "stands behind its decision" and thinks there should be continued access to FDA-approved medications.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, anti-abortion organizations turned to block abortion pills. Medication abortion is the most popular way in the U.S. to end a pregnancy, and it has been used by 5 million people, according to Danco Laboratories.

The argument against the drug

Research has confirmed the drug safely works, but the Texas lawsuit does not exclusively target its safety and efficacy. Rather, it targeted the federal government's ability to approve it.

"The only way the FDA could have approved chemical abortion drugs was to use its accelerated drug approval authority, necessitating the FDA to call pregnancy an 'illness' and argue that these dangerous drugs provide a 'meaningful therapeutic benefit' over existing treatments," the plaintiffs said in a 113-page court document.

"But pregnancy is not an illness, nor do chemical abortion drugs provide a therapeutic benefit over surgical abortion," the document said. "In asserting these transparently false conclusions, the FDA exceeded its regulatory authority to approve the drugs."

The plaintiffs argued the FDA should not have approved an "unsafe drug regimen," nor should it have allowed patients to access mifepristone through telehealth during the pandemic.

Another argument against mifepristone is that it causes "cramping, heavy bleeding and severe pain." But, uterine bleeding is common in almost all patients during a medical abortion, and fatal infections and bleeding very rarely happens, according to the FDA's medication guide.

In the U.S., medication abortion is safe and 97.4 percent effective, the FDA says, and there are benefits to both surgical abortion and medication abortion, according to San Francisco-based UCSF Health and Los Angeles-based UCLA Health.

The argument against abortion pills also called on the Comstock Act, an 1873 rule that outlawed "immoral" and "indecent" publications to be mailed. The plaintiffs say this means abortion pills should not be cleared for mail orders. In December, however, the Justice Department said this law bans the mailing of abortion pills only if the sender knows they are for an illegal abortion, not if the patient lives in a state that legalizes abortion.

U.S. braced for this ruling

In January, the FDA cleared a path for some retail pharmacies to dispense mifepristone, and CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid said they applied for the option. Before this allowance, the pill was primarily dispensed directly to patients in a clinic, medical office or hospital.

Danco Laboratories filed a motion against the Texas case, and a spokesperson said April 7 "is a dark day for public health, especially for reproductive rights and the reliance on science and medical expertise to guide decisions about what drugs are safe and effective and should be available to patients."

The pills' distributor, AmerisourceBergen, did not immediately respond to Becker's requests for comment.

In January, President Joe Biden directed HHS to offer more protections to abortion pill access, and Vice President Kamala Harris said the suit is an attack on healthcare's "fundamental rights."

"This is not just an attack on women's fundamental freedoms; it is an attack on the very foundation of our public health system," Ms. Harris said during a Feb. 24 press briefing. "Those who would attack this process and the ability of the FDA to make these decisions ought to look in their own medicine cabinets to figure out [whether] they're prepared to say that those medications that they need to alleviate suffering and to prolong the quality of life should no longer be available to them. Because that is what we are talking about."

She echoed these comments in more press calls on March 13 and March 16.

In a January post on its website, the FDA said it was "coordinating with the Department of Justice and others across the government" on what happens if a state refuses to allow mifepristone to be prescribed as an abortion pill.

What's next

Before now, there has never been a legal case against the FDA that asked the agency to retract a drug's approval. When the FDA looks to withdraw a drug from the market  which is not uncommon  the process takes weeks to months.

But a court requiring the FDA to do so is unprecedented, according to the Justice Department. Because not all manufacturers of mifepristone are part of the cases, it is unclear how the Texas and Washington rulings will affect them.

Mifepristone is approved to medically terminate a pregnancy in about 80 other countries, according to the FDA. Some providers in the U.S. told The Washington Post they will still perform surgical abortions or prescribe only the second abortion pill, misoprostol.

President Biden said his administration will fight this decision, adding, "If this ruling were to stand, then there will be virtually no prescription, approved by the FDA, that would be safe from these kinds of political, ideological attacks."

Misoprostol, the drug taken 24 hours after mifepristone in medication abortion, can be used on its own to terminate a pregnancy  but that option is less effective and slower, research shows.

"I'll fall out of my chair if the FDA is forced to rescind approval for this product based on this case," Caleb Alexander, MD, professor of medicine and epidemiology at Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in February. "It would mark a striking departure from the regulatory system that we have built over more than a century."
A nurse is suing Exeter (N.H.) Hospital, claiming she was wrongfully terminated and denied a religious exemption over her refusal to get a flu vaccine, according to court documents.

According to the complaint, Melissa Tripp, RN, joined Exeter Hospital in 2019. The lawsuit alleges Ms. Tripp worked in her office behind 8-foot partitions and her role did not involve direct patient care. She claims the hospital had previously granted her a religious exemption, but when she requested one in 2020, the hospital asked for more details, including filling out a form for review.

When the nurse declined to fill out the form, citing privacy concerns and the "right to religious liberty," she was allegedly threatened with termination, according to the complaint cited by the news outlet. Ms. Tripp told her employer that she objected to fetal tissue, canine kidney cells and other additives. The lawsuit claims Ms. Tripp's religious exemption was denied Nov. 27 and that she was terminated Dec. 1. The nurse is seeking unspecified damages for religious discrimination and wrongful discharge, among other allegations.

The complaint was originally filed in state court in February and was moved to the New Hampshire District Court on April 5. Exeter Hospital declined NH Business Review's request for comment.

Editor's note: Becker's has reached out to Exeter Hospital and will update the report if more information becomes available.
Five female leaders at Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health started their careers tending to patients at the bedside. But somewhere along their career tracks, all five set their sights on the top of the leadership ladder.

Today, all five women are C-suite leaders throughout the HMH system. They have many things in common: they are highly compassionate and dedicated individuals; they are able to see the 30,000-foot view, even when in the weeds in the hospital boardroom; and they are fervent believers that with a nurse mindset, the sky's the limit.

Patricia Carroll, MSN, describes her career transition to leadership as a "progressive journey." She was a bedside nurse for 14 years and spent another 12 years in various nurse leadership roles before becoming president and chief health executive at Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, N.J., and Old Bridge (N.J.) Medical Center in 2022.

Regina Foley, PhD, RN, took on the role of executive vice president and chief transformation officer and interim chief nursing officer at Hackensack Meridian in April 2022. She began her career at the bedside but within five years was a nurse leader.

Lisa Iachetti, BSN, RN, began her career as a bedside nurse in 1982 but wanted to move up the ladder. She did just that, moving from one nursing leadership role to another. Fast-forward 40 years and Ms. Iachetti became the president and chief hospital executive officer at North Bergen-N.J. Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center in July 2022.

Caitlin Miller, BSN, RN, quickly transitioned from being a bedside nurse to a leadership role as an assistant nurse manager for one year, and two more years as nurse manager at Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, N.J. She took on the role of interim president in 2022 and became the permanent president and chief hospital executive of Bayshore Medical in February 2023.

Michele Morrison, RN, tended to patients at the bedside for 20 months before turning her attention toward leadership. After serving in several roles  risk management, performance improvement, operations at another New Jersey hospital, she took on the role as interim hospital president and chief hospital executive in 2019 at Southern Ocean Medical Center in Stafford Township, N.J. Six months later, she became the president and chief hospital executive.

Becker's spoke with these leaders to find out what spurred them to switch from the clinical team to administration, how they empower nurses in their hospitals and what they are doing to attract and retain quality nurses.

Editor's note: Responses have been edited lightly for clarity and brevity.

Question: What prompted you to move from the bedside to the "corner office"?

Patricia Carroll: My experience as a nursing leader was a progressive journey, and at each step I was given expanded opportunities and span of control. I became inspired to become a hospital leader and be part of a greater chance to positively influence patient care.

Dr. Regina Foley: With so many years at the bedside, I knew what the patients needed and saw myriad opportunities to improve areas such as patient experience, quality and cost. I had the confidence and knowledge to pursue my passion, which is to build a better healthcare system for patients.

This isn't a job to me, it's like my fourth child (I am a proud mother of three). I always want to "keep getting better"  which happens to be HMH's motto  for the patients we serve.

Lisa Iachetti: I have had many great mentors who have provided me with tremendous opportunities. I left the bedside to become a hospital leader because I wanted to make a larger impact on the lives of the patients and family members."

Caitlin Miller: I began to think more expansively about how the hospital was run and how all departments affected the patient and team member experience. I loved doing direct patient care and talking to patients and their families. I enjoyed having a checklist of things to do each day for my assignment of patients and the feeling of accomplishment at the end of my shift.

To take care of a person during their time of weakness and vulnerability has always felt like a true privilege. The idea of being a hospital leader was always appealing to me because I felt like I could have greater influence and impact.

Michele Morrison: Prior to nursing [I] worked as a paralegal and was in college pursuing my degree in criminal justice when my younger brother suffered from a preventable medical error. That sparked my interest in healthcare and I pursued a degree in nursing. Once a bedside nurse, it was an easy transition to risk management since it combined my medical degree and background in the legal field. It also provided the opportunity for me to make a difference away from direct patient care to prevent medical errors.

Q: How do you encourage nurses to take on leadership roles in your hospital?

PC: I absolutely encourage nurses to take the step out of their "comfort" zone. I lean on my own experience and career path to encourage and support nurses to seek out new opportunities. Nurses learn to be in charge of their patient care, adapt and pivot when required. They work effectively in a team and take the lead to ensure safe patient care. The skills of communication and relationship building are successfully translated to be a hospital leader.

RF: Bedside nurses can pursue roles such as charge nurse, resource nurse and/or assistant nurse manager, which give them exposure to issues (payroll, staffing, contract negotiations) that they would need to tackle as leaders. If a nurse speaks up and expresses an interest in leadership, they will immediately get on my radar for opportunities to lead.

We also have a shadow leadership program where nurses can shadow leaders such as chief nursing officers to get the exposure and experience necessary to become leaders.

Within HMH, we grow our own. We want nurses to remain here for the duration of their career. We have a nursing leadership development program that's structured to cultivate the next generation of nursing leaders.

LI: Nurses make great leaders. I see things from a human perspective, as do my nurse colleagues. I stay connected to my roots by rounding regularly, particularly in the emergency department. I love participating in the patient healing process and connecting with our patients as much as I love participating in successful initiatives  such as mentoring leaders and the team. The team spirit here is inspirational. Seeing it firsthand allows me to better understand and advocate for the hospital's patients and team members.

CM: A nurse's expertise and vantage point is extremely important in helping a hospital run effectively. We are patient-focused, collaborative and compassionate.

Providing development opportunities and mentoring is critical. If it wasn't for the leaders who took an interest in me, recognized my potential and gave me growth opportunities, I would not be in my position today. I feel a tremendous responsibility to pay that forward. Helping team members see their potential and gaining confidence in their abilities is a joy for me.

MM: I love to encourage nurses to have a seat at the administrative table. My team is entirely healthcare providers: a physician, pharmacist and four RNs. Having a team that understands the clinical impact on decisions and operations is very important to me. It provides a foundation for connecting with our team members and physicians on every level and gives us credibility in the healthcare arena.

Q: What particular characteristics do female hospital leaders need to be successful?

PC: I have always believed that everyone should be judged on their work, not on their gender. I am grateful for every opportunity that I have had and work to earn the respect of my leaders and colleagues. As a woman leader, I have learned to pivot and adapt to not only provide for my family but to meet every expectation in my work and career.

From my own experience, female hospital leaders need to remember to stay strong in their beliefs, to remember their viewpoint is a valuable contribution and to provide a role model to the women behind them. When I look back in history, I am in awe of what women have done to give me this opportunity, we must continue to go forward and show examples that women leaders can successfully rise to a position of influence.

RF: We need humility, [the ability to] keep our ego in check, resilience and be grounded in the present moment.

LI: Confidence  having the feeling that you can trust, believe in and be sure about your abilities. Courage  the ability to do something that may frighten you at first. It is all about being brave and demonstrating your strengths while emulating empathy.

CM: There is an added level of persistence and resilience needed as a female leader. I think women have to work harder to show we can handle tough conversations and situations, and make difficult decisions.

I have noticed that female leaders, at times, are not allowed to simply be competent and effective. I've personally gotten feedback on occasions, from men, about my facial expressions and seriousness. Women are expected to be comforting, happy and smiling. It's an expectation only placed on women.

MM: Female leaders more quickly pivot with change. Perhaps this is mirrored from the many changes females experience during life with body changes, hormonal changes, childbearing and being care providers and moms. We are agile in the ever-changing landscape of healthcare, all while maintaining composure and leading our teams forward despite barriers. And we do it with compassion for patients, our team and the communities we serve.

As a nurse myself, I understand how patient care works and is delivered at the bedside. This gives me the opportunity to discuss operations on a different level with leaders and engage with our front-line team members.

Q: Can you describe a nursing initiative at your hospital that has really moved the needle toward improvement?

PC: We have focused on three areas: quality improvement, patient experience and reducing hospital-acquired infections. In my career, quality initiatives have been pivotal in "the moving the needle" for patient safety and quality.

RF: Nurses move fast and are adaptable. I think about the saying that's associated with the U.S. Marines: "Improvise, Adapt and Overcome."

We used a nurse's work ethic and culture of collaboration and operational excellence to help the state of New Jersey, New Jersey State Police and the National Guard to stand up the COVID vaccine megasite at the Meadowlands (Rutherford, N.J.). We did it in just four weeks. We also scaled that operation to 34 other locations across New Jersey. We managed product storage, transportation, safety and logistics. We did it safely and without incident.

Nurses were the backbone of this operation and administered 800,000 vaccinations. It is one of the greatest success stories of the pandemic.

LI: As part of the HMH Palisades Medical Center reimagining plan and with the addition of the new executive team, we continue to remain laser focused on maintaining our commitment to providing a thriving and prosperous community hospital. Our priority is making sure we have highly trained nurses in place to care for patients throughout the hospital.

CM: Throughout my time in healthcare, I have been committed to creating a welcoming culture where team members have the opportunity and ability to implement their ideas. Our "Think Tank Committee" at Bayshore Medical Center is a monthly open roundtable discussion where team members can bring culture ideas, patient safety and experience recommendations and projects that will improve the experience for our team members and patients.

When team members have an open line of communication to administration, it empowers them to build their leadership skills and create a healthy workplace environment. Having an "open door" policy is not just a talking point for me, it is a way of leadership for me.

I have a passion for planning and organizing events that bring our team together. We hold countless events throughout the year that promote inclusion, engagement and connection.

MM: While most emergency departments exercise the use of "pull to full," last summer we implemented "pull to infinity." This essentially means that we don't use the waiting room any longer. We bring every patient to a room and if the rooms are full, we pull them to our infinite triage area. This allows our team to get started with advanced nursing initiatives (a set of pre-approved protocols that jump start treatment). We let patients know that we are starting their treatment immediately.

This process has expedited our time to medical screening exams, test results and disposition. Patient experience has also soared with this new model. For patients getting admitted, we have also implemented a new process for nursing handoff and transfer to expedite getting the patient moved to their inpatient unit within 30 minutes. This makes for a great first impression, improved patient experience and alleviates boarding time in the emergency department.

Q: What are you doing to help your hospital attract and retain quality clinicians?

PC: This is a network-wide initiative: We create an environment that supports a culture that recognizes everyone is human and, when conflict occurs, we support open discussion and resolution and not retaliation  at all levels. We spend more time with each other than our own families and so, as leaders, we should work to create that space that allows us to give one another "grace" in times of conflict.

RF: To retain them, we're creating an environment and culture that allows them to practice at their best. To attract them, we are continually focusing on creating a high-quality, compassionate environment that yields the best outcomes for our patients. Outcomes attract talent. In addition, the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine is training the next generation of clinicians and encouraging them to practice right here in New Jersey. We also have tremendous partnerships with three schools of nursing to attract the best and brightest to our network.

LI: We conduct salary reviews and make market adjustments when needed. We have created focus groups to foster a more cohesive and trusting, collaborative relationship within the nursing teams. Nurses meet with executive leadership monthly in an effort to share for improvement as well as share what is working well. We also support the shared governance model.

CM: We need to understand that the mentality has changed, especially in a post-COVID world. There are team members who want more work/life balance, more flexibility, quality of life, and a positive work environment. That requires that we put an emphasis on fostering a strong, supportive work culture. Every leader has to buy in to creating an environment that is welcome, inclusive and supportive.

With new nurses, it is important we recognize that and give them the support they need so that we retain them and they remain committed and loyal to the organization. This requires continuing education opportunities, leadership development and mentorship programs, engagement events with family integration and recognition programs and scholarships.

MM: Like many organizations, we have implemented retention bonuses for our team members as one strategy. More importantly, we have maintained a culture of collaboration throughout Hackensack Meridian Health and Southern Ocean Medical Center. A great example of this is when we are in "red" census, you will often find me and my executive team transporting patients, rounding in all departments, providing snack carts for our team members, answering call bells and assisting in any way possible.

Patient care is my priority and anytime I can assist my front-line team in this capacity, I jump right in. I make sure I'm present and available to my team with frequent and scheduled rounding throughout the hospital including at least once a month on the night shift.

We have some great formal programs for team member wellness, and stress.

Lastly, we always make sure to have some fun whenever we can, celebrating milestones, participating in a Super Bowl party, March Madness and other monthly events to keep our team members feeling energized and part of a great team.
A Wisconsin family claims its daughter's hospital room was filled with grime, dirt and bed bugs, CBS affiliate WDJT reported April 8.

Erin Teske-Wolf took her 5-year-old daughter to Wauwatosa-based Children's Hospital of Wisconsin for surgery on April 5, and afterward they stayed in a room overnight. While there, Ms. Teske-Wolf claims she noticed black grime in the bathtub, floors and baseboards covered with dirt and dust, and a sticky substance on the bedside table.

In the morning, Ms. Teske-Wolf said she found little black bugs stuck to her shirt, sheets and the pullout bed. Two hospital employees collected handfuls of the bugs in a specimen jar and gave her new sheets after she complained. "Both said that they appear to be baby bedbugs, but that they did look dead," Ms. Teske-Wolf said.

The hospital called a local pest control service in for an inspection that day. They found no bed bugs dead or alive in the room, a hospital spokesperson told Becker's.

"Children's is committed to providing clean and comforting spaces for our patients and their families," a hospital said in a statement shared with WDJT. "Our environmental services team will immediately address feedback when our standards are not being met. While a recent social post suggested bed bugs were present in a patient care room, an independent exterminator confirmed that no bed bugs were present the same day the concern was expressed."

The family said it is trying to find another exterminator to examine the bugs, according to the report.
David Higginson, Executive Vice President, Chief Innovation Officer at Phoenix Childrens, joins the podcast to discuss his background, opinion on the state of EMRs, Phoenix Children's data strategy, EMR platforms improvement on patient experience, and more.
Omicron subvariant XBB.1.15 has remained dominant since January, but several other XBB offshoots may crowd out the strain over the next few weeks.

The CDC's variant proportion tracker estimates XBB.1.5 accounted for 88.3 percent of cases for the week ending April 8, with three other XBB relatives accounting for 9.4 percent.

The World Health Organization addedXBB.1.16 to its list of variants under monitoring March 22. The CDC is not yet tracking the newest omicron subvariant, though it has been spotted in at least 18 states. The strain is most prevalent in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, including India, where it has replaced other circulating variants.

XBB.1.16 and other XBB sub variants "are starting to crowd out XBB.1.15 in the U.S. without notable change in clinical outcomes," Eric Topol, MD, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in San Diego, tweeted April 7, adding that is "likely the one to overtake in the weeks ahead" due to its growth advantage over other XBB relatives.

Two other COVID-19 updates:

Hospitalizations: Sixteen states have seen increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the last 14 days, according to CDC data tracked by The New York Times, which shows "the number of daily hospital admissions," or "how many patients tested positive for COVID in hospitals."

First evidence of COVID-19 virus crossing placenta: A new case study from researchers at the University of Miami offered the first evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can cross the placenta and harm infants. The report found two infants born to mothers who tested positive for COVID-19 suffered severe brain damage. Neither of the infants tested positive at birth, though had detectable antibodies and increased inflammatory markers.
From New York Bone & Joint Specialists to Mayfield Brain & Spine, here are eight orthopedic and spine practices that have opened or are planning to open new office locations this year.

1. New York City-based New York Bone & Joint Specialists is opening its fourth location on the Upper East Side.

2. Miami Bone & Joint Institute filed an application to construct a new medical space.

3. The NeuroSpinal Institute of Broward (Fla.) moved into an expanded office space 2,000 square feet larger than its previous location.

4. OrthoAtlanta opened a new office at Piedmont Walton Hospital in Monroe, Ga.

5. Cincinnati-based Mayfield Brain & Spine opened its fifth location on Cincinnati's east side.

6. Orthopedic Institute in Sioux Falls, S.D., plans to open a new location in Delapre Township, S.D.

7. Fairlawn, Ohio-based Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center opened a new location in Ashtabula, Ohio.

8. Omaha-based Nebraska Spine + Pain Centers opened a satellite office in South Sioux City Neb.
Assurances from the likes of ECB president Christine Lagarde may not be as strong as they appear. Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images   Getty Images
The new planning portal was launched in December (stock image)

Almost 10m of public money has been spent on a new planning portal for Northern Ireland that has been branded not fit for purpose.
Emergency services have attended the scene of a suspected gas leak at Northern Ireland police station.

The incident occurred within the vicinity of Armagh police station on Monday evening.

A PSNI spokesperson said: Police are presently dealing with a suspected gas leak within the vicinity of Armagh Police Station.

"Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service are in attendance.

However in a further update the PSNI confirmed that no leak was detected.

In relation to our earlier post about a suspected gas leak at Armagh Police Station, colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended, and conducted a number of checks, a spokesperson said.

"Nothing untoward was found.
US President Joe Biden who is due in Belfast on Tuesday (Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty)

President Joe Biden is set to touch down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening ahead of a whirlwind visit to Belfast before heading to the Republic of Ireland.

Weve compiled a plan of what the visit involves and what to expect.

Why is President Biden visiting Northern Ireland?

President Biden is due to visit Belfast as part of events to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

He has long expressed a desire to visit Northern Ireland and Ireland given his Irish heritage, with the visit rumoured as far back as his inauguration.

The White House finally confirmed he would make the trip last week, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying the trip was to mark the tremendous progress since the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago and to underscore the readiness of the United States to support Northern Irelands vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities.

How long is he due to be in Belfast?

While his visit to Ireland is expected to last several days, the US Presidents time in Northern Ireland will be relativity short.

Mr Biden is set to arrive in Belfast on Tuesday evening via Air Force One. He will stay at an undisclosed location before his sole engagement on Wednesday afternoon.

He will leave Northern Ireland late Wednesday afternoon.

What is he expected to do while here?

Much like his visit, the engagement plans for President Biden are set to be short  with only one official event planned.

On Wednesday afternoon, he will give a keynote speech at Ulster Universitys Belfast campus which opened last autumn.

Who is else is visiting Northern Ireland?

President Biden joins several other US politicians in Northern Ireland over the coming days.

Former president Bill Clinton, alongside his wife, former Secretary of State and current Queens University Chancellor Hillary Rodham Clinton, are also due in Belfast next week.

Both are expected to attend various events marking the Good Friday Agreement anniversary, with Mrs Clinton due to award 25 women involved in the peace process at a ceremony at Queens next Tuesday.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also confirmed he will visit Belfast to join President Biden this week. He will be joined by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris.

Will there be much disruption?

President Bidens visit to Belfast is set to be one of the biggest security operations in the PSNIs history.

Last month, Northern Irelands terror level was raised to severe with the PSNI confirming they have "strong" intelligence that terror attacks were being planned against their officers on Easter Monday ahead of the presidential arrival.

On Friday, the PSNI warned motorists to expect traffic disruption in Belfast on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the much anticipated presidential visit.

However, roads in which the President will be travelling are also expected to be disrupted given the presidential courtesy of being able to bypass traffic lights.

The armoured cars were spotted travelling down Belfast's M2 ahead of the President's visit to Northern Ireland

Where else is President Biden visiting?

Upon leaving Belfast on Wednesday, President Biden will travel to Co Louth and Mayo.

During stops in Dundalk and Carlingford, he is expected to conduct a walkabout in Dundalk, with both towns significant for the President given his ancestral connections in both.

He will then travel to Dublin, where he is expected to meet with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Irish President Michael D Higgins, with trips to both Aras an Uachtarain and Farmleigh also planned.

President Biden is also set to address a joint sitting of the Dail and Seanad, becoming the fourth president in history to do so, after John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

The White House said he will discuss the USs close co-operation on the full range of shared global challenges and the address will celebrate the deep, historic ties that link our countries and people.
Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has received a death threat from a criminal gang calling itself the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters.

The group is made up of members who were expelled from the UDA during a bitter feud in north Down.

Mr Bryson said he has notified the PSNI which is working to identify the individual who issued the menacing messages.

"Tonight both I, and my family, have received death threats from a criminal gang who call themselves the Real UFF, he tweeted.

This threat is being traced by PSNI.

"I will never be intimidated by a ragtag bunch of drug dealing, house breaking criminals who are not loyalists.

The anti-protocol protester added: Mainstream loyalism has, and will continue to, peacefully oppose these thugs who are a cancer on the community.

Mr Bryson said that mainstream loyalism would not be intimidated.

Making threats to people and their families is their modus operandi, Mr Bryson continued.

They are cowards and gangsters and they wont be bullying me or any genuine loyalist.

I am engaging with the PSNI who are as we speak working to trace the threat, and given how it was made it will be traced, and I look forward to the criminal thug facing court very soon.

TUV leader Jim Allister called for tougher action against paramilitary gangs in light of the threat.

"Continuing threats and posturing by gangsters of proclaimed Real UFF must be faced down by PSNI, he tweeted.

"Paramilitaries pandered to for years under phoney transition aegis think they are untouchable.

"Are they? That is the question government and PSNI must answer.

A PSNI spokesperson said: We do not discuss the security of individuals and no inference should be drawn from this.

However, we want to reassure the public that we will take the appropriate action when made aware of anything that may put an individual at risk.
Petrol bombs are thrown during an Easter commemoration event in Derry on April 10th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

Petrol bombs are thrown during an Easter commemoration event in Derry on April 10th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

The Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee march is currently underway in Derry (Photo: Kevin Scott/Belfast Telegraph)

Masked youths set fire to wheelie bins in the Bogside area of Derry. Pic by Kevin Scott.

Police vehicles have been attacked with petrol bombs in Derry (Photo: Kevin Scott/Belfast Telegraph)

Police have been attacked in Derry (Photo: Kevin Scott/Belfast Telegraph)

Police have been attacked in Derry (Photo: Kevin Scott/Belfast Telegraph)

Police are reviewing footage of youths throwing petrol bombs during an un-notified Easter Rising parade in Derry as an investigation into potential offences under the Terrorism Act gets underway.

Officers in a PSNI Land Rover came under attack in the Creggan area of the city on Monday afternoon.

Around 30 youths set wheelie bins alight in the middle of the road of the Eastway area to create a roadblock a short time later.

Derry City & Strabane Area Commander Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard described the violence as incredibly disheartening.

"As the parade was un-notified, police were in attendance with a proportionate policing operation, he said.

Sadly, before the parade even started, we observed young people in the vicinity making petrol bombs to throw at police.

"Shortly after the parade commenced, petrol bombs and other objects were thrown at one of our vehicles at the junction of Iniscarn Road and Linsfort Drive.

"This was a senseless and reckless attack on our officers who were in attendance in the area in order to comply with our legal duties.

The police officer said participants at the parade made their way out of City Cemetery before removing paramilitary uniforms under the cover of umbrellas and setting them on fire.

PSNI vehicle hit with petrol bombs at a republican parade in Londonderry

Organisers of this parade communicated in advance their desire to have a respectful and dignified event, however, that is not what we witnessed today," Mr Goddard added.

There can be no place for this type of criminal activity.

"It is not wanted nor welcomed by the vast majority of people across the city.

"During today's policing operation, we deployed evidence-gathering resources, and obtained footage which will now be reviewed as part of an investigation into potential offences under the Terrorism Act 2000.

"As we head into this evening, we would appeal for calm, and welcome support from those with influence to help prevent any further disorder in the city this evening."

A spokesperson for the PSNI previously confirmed no injuries have been reported as a result of the rioting.

Images of the violence showed a number of youths throwing petrol bombs at a PSNI Land Rover, which was installed with a CCTV camera.

Trouble flared as a parade in the city  organised by the Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee which has the support of Saoradh  made its way down Iniscarn Road.

The Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee march in Derry (Photo: Kevin Scott/Belfast Telegraph)

The Irish tricolour and IRA signs line the parade route down Iniscarn Road and Iniscarn Crescent, which passed the local church.

Flags reading Unfinished Business and Unfinished Revolution containing the silhouettes of gunmen hung from lamp posts.

At the city cemetery on Monday, a Republican delivering the oration told those gathered that it is not enough to shout up the IRA, the important thing is to join the IRA.

In response to footage of the attacks on police circulating on social media, UUP leader Doug Beattie said: Absolute wasters. Sent out to riot by men sitting in pubs acting the big lads. #NoGoingBack.

SDLP MP Colum Eastwood said: These are kids with no memory or experience of the violence of 25 years ago and theyre being exploited and abused by people with no vision for the future.

This is the real cost of failure. We have to do much better.

Irelands Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney expressed his full support for the PSNI in the face of violent attacks.

"So called dissident republicans have nothing to offer our society, north or south, he wrote.

A tiny minority of thugs seeking headlines, wanting to take Northern Ireland backwards.

Alliance leader and former Justice Minister Naomi Long said scenes of people born after the GFA attacking the police are utterly tragic.

"They are being groomed by adults who have nothing to offer but misery and destruction, she added.

"The people of Creggan deserve better. Solidarity with police.

Petrol bombs are thrown during an Easter commemoration event in Derry on April 10th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

DUP MLA Gary Middleton described it as a clear coordinated attack on the PSNI.

"The parade was illegal from the outset, he said. This reckless behaviour is an attempt to cause harm not only to PSNI officers but to our communities as well. There must be swift action to bring those responsible to justice.

Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong branded the violence as disgraceful.

"The actions of some who want to drag NI back to dark days is abhorrent, she said.

One side throws petrol bombs, trades in drugs, prostitution and criminality and the other side does exactly the same. Criminals.

The Northern Ireland Policing Board issued a statement on its social media channels.

"Depressing to see the level of hate directed at officers this afternoon in Creggan, it tweeted.

Thankful that no one has been injured and that calm will be restored.

Petrol bombs are thrown during an Easter commemoration event in Derry on April 10th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

Speaking ahead of Mondays parade, Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton, said displays of paramilitary uniforms and shows of strength were expected, in addition to the illegal parades.

"We have very strong community intelligence coming forward in relation to Mondays events and real concern that there may be attempts to draw police into serious public disorder and to use that as a platform to launch terrorist attacks on police," he said.
NI visit can get deadlocked powersharing back on track, says Ulster University boss

The vice-chancellor of Ulster University hopes Joe Biden uses his visit to the institutions new 360m Belfast campus to deliver a message of hope.

Professor Paul Bartholomew said the US presidents trip, announced for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, would be a very special day for Northern Ireland and the university itself.

Mr Biden will deliver his address on Wednesday after arriving in Northern Ireland the previous evening to tight security, with the PSNI on high alert after the raising of the terror threat level.

It will be his only public engagement on this side of the border before he heads to the Republic to give a speech at the Houses of the Oireachtas, with the Dail and Seanad being recalled from the Easter break for the occasion.

With powersharing locked in stalemate, there will be no appearance at Stormont.

The president will be very welcome to our new campus at Ulster University, the vice-chancellor said.

While its obviously going to be a time of reflection on the last 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, its also important where we go from here.

The US president has been criticised for committing to just one public engagement in Northern Ireland, but Mr Bartholomew said his visit could help get the Assembly back on track.

What the president will say is obviously being strictly controlled by White House, but a message of hope for the future, something fitting with the strategy of Ulster University, would be welcomed by all, he added.

It will be a significant occasion for Ulster University to be involved in. It will increase our standing on the world stage and its the perfect opportunity to showcase what is possible in Northern Ireland.

The president will deliver the keynote address in some fabulous surroundings which showcase whats not only great about Belfast, but what can be great about Northern Ireland.

But for the future, this must be more than simply a photo opportunity.

There will be lovely photos for the walls, but there must be substance behind them [so we can] look back in years to come and say [the photos] were taken at a critical time in the future destination of the country.

As we mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, Ulster University, across all three of our campuses, is looking forward to preparing the next generation of civic, business and societal leaders.

Ulster University is a Northern Ireland-wide university, and while our new Belfast campus truly reflects the hope and promise of the agreement and our aspirations for a positive, prosperous and sustainable future for everyone, this is about the whole of the country welcoming a sitting president of the United States of America.

Ulster Universitys Belfast campus is one of the largest higher education capital builds in Europe over the last decade and its immediate regenerative impact is clearly visible.

Over the last four years, accommodation for over 5,000 students has been developed around the campus and an area characterised by very low footfall and sustained physical neglect has become one of the most lively parts of the city.

Elsewhere Phoenix Park in Dublin will close completely from 5pm on Tuesday to facilitate the visit and will stay shut on Wednesday and Thursday. The Ukraine war situation is understood to be behind the move.

There had been partial closures, not a complete public exclusion, for the visits of other US presidents.

The same security concerns are believed to be behind the decision that Mr Biden will use a helicopter to visit Carlingford, Co Louth  rather than taking a motorcade from Belfast through south Armagh.
SF thinks it should be illegal to treat a nun more favourably than a criminal  and not for the reason you might think
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said the Good Friday Agreement must not be taken for granted despite recent dissident republican attacks.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the Conservative MP said the Agreement gave Northern Ireland a new beginning but the attacks were a stark reminder of the intent from a small number of people who want to drag us all back to the dark days.

It helped bring an end to almost 30 years of the Troubles and enabled a generation to grow up in a more peaceful, increasingly prosperous society, which is taking steps towards reconciliation he said.

Thanks to the Agreement, Northern Ireland has broken down many of the barriers that kept communities divided.

Today more children than ever are able to benefit from integrated education. And simple things that were almost unthinkable a quarter of a century ago, like a bus route connecting east and west Belfast, are now viewed as part of normal, everyday life.

Last month, Northern Irelands terror level was raised to severe with the PSNI confirming they have "strong" intelligence terror attacks are being planned against their officers on Easter Monday.

Singling out Northern Irelands economy post-Agreement, Mr Heaton-Harris writes about the recent high-profile film productions which filmed the majority of their scenes in Belfast including the recent action film, Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Amongst Thieves.

He also writes about Northern Irelands cyber sector attracting international investment  something he claims would have been beyond imagination in the decades before 1998.

Mr Heaton-Harris is set to join Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast on Wednesday where they will greet President Joe Biden who will make a brief stop as part of the Good Friday Agreements anniversary.

However, Mr Biden will not travel to Stormont due to lack of functioning Executive in Northern Ireland. Mr Heaton-Harris previously declared the short visit was not a snub.

The NI Secretary said he acknowledges the feeling of frustration there is no current Assembly.

The UK Government wants to see the Northern Ireland institutions delivering better public services, more investment and a stronger Union based on prosperity.

This kind of political instability undermines the strength of our Union.

He said the Government wants to see the communities of Northern Ireland come together to take advantage of the future opportunities stemmed from the Windsor Framework deal, which was presented as a solution to the Northern Ireland Protocol issue in February.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed he will meet with President Joe Biden in Belfast on Wednesday as he calls the Good Friday Agreement an incredible moment in the UKs history.

In a statement released by Downing Street on the 25th anniversary of the historic peace agreement on Monday, Mr Sunak said it was his mission, duty and responsibility as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is to deliver for people in Northern Ireland.

As we look forward, we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership - showing bravery, perseverance, and political imagination," he said.

"We commemorate those who are no longer with us and the many who lost their lives by trying to prevent violence and protect the innocent.

"And we give thanks to them as we reflect on the new generations that have grown up and continue to grow in a world in which peace and prosperity has prevailed.

Mr Biden will travel to Belfast tomorrow (Tuesday) and set to give a keynote speech at Ulster Universitys Belfast campus.

His visit is set to be short as he will not visit Stormont due to the lack of functioning Executive.

The US President will then leave Belfast to visit the Republic of Ireland, travelling to Co Mayo, Louth before meeting with political leaders in Dublin.

The PSNI is currently on high alert ahead of the visit after the terror level in Northern Ireland was increased earlier this month.

"While it is time to reflect on the solid progress we have made together, we must also recommit to redoubling our efforts on the promise made in 1998 and the agreements that followed continued Mr Sunak.

That vision, he said, is of "economic opportunity, prosperity, and stability".

"So we must get on with the business of governance he added.

"My mission, duty and responsibility as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is to deliver for people in Northern Ireland.

"We stand ready to work with our partners in the Irish government and the local parties to ensure that the institutions are up and running again as soon as possible.

"There is work to be done."

The Prime Minister previously made several visits to Northern Ireland in February ahead of the unveiling of the Windsor Framework, a new deal with the EU designed to address issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Shortly after the deal was announced, Mr Biden said the deal had his full support and was a vital, vital step for Northern Ireland.
Twenty-five years ago, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern signed the Good Friday Agreement, achieving peace in Northern Ireland after three decades of sectarian violence known as the Troubles claimed more than 3,500 lives.

The April 10, 1998, agreement, approved by 71 percent of voters in the North and 94 percent in the Irish Republic, was the result of years of painstaking negotiation between parties who had long seen each other as bitter enemies, a consequence of bombings, reprisals, discrimination in work and social life, constant anxiety and fear  all leaving a dark cloud hanging over their childrens collective future.

For the first time, the largely Protestant unionist parties and the primarily Catholic nationalist parties now would renounce violence, share power and determine their future together.

A generation on, the situation in Northern Ireland is far from perfect. Too little progress has been made in true integration between the two communities. Divided neighborhoods remain, and economic inequality persists. The uncertainty surrounding Brexit  which Northern Ireland voted against  has led to political paralysis and left the country without a standing government for more than a year.

But against the odds, the peace has held and democracy has not lost its grip. The Windsor Framework, agreed on earlier this year by Britain and the European Union, offers the opportunity to maintain a growing Northern Ireland economy. And it embraces the Good Friday Agreements promise that peace would be strengthened by special relations between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic while the North retains its place in the United Kingdom.

Why has peace in Northern Ireland endured, when other efforts around the world remain stubbornly far from a resolution? I believe the answer lies in the way the peace was made.

First, the process was driven by the people. Theyd grown weary of the killing and the arbitrary tragedies of nonlethal political violence, and weary of the economic deprivation born of the divisions.

It was clear in the faces of the people I met on my visits there, of all backgrounds, that they were determined that the conflict must end. As Hillary has emphasized, the people, especially the women, were out in front of the politicians because they wanted their children and grandchildren to grow up outside the shadow of violence and hatred.

The Good Friday Agreement negotiations were driven and maintained through the rough spots by the demand for peace. It has produced an entire generation in Northern Ireland that has grown up largely free from the horrors of sectarian violence, free to focus on solving problems and seizing opportunities.

Second, the political leaders on all sides showed real courage in making sacrifices and compromises with their adversaries and committing to inclusivity, knowing perfectly well that they were putting their own political futures at risk. Trust was built slowly but surely through years of confidence-building measures, such as prisoner releases and cease-fires.

Real credit belongs to the leaders including Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair; before them John Major, Albert Reynolds and John Bruton; and to John Hume, David Trimble, Gerry Adams and many others. Soon, even unionist leader Ian Paisley, who didnt take part in the peace talks, joined in a functioning government with Sinn Feins Martin McGuiness. In so many other conflict areas, leaders have ultimately failed to take that final leap of faith.

Third, the peace process was successful because the United States was deeply involved in a way that both sides came to see as positive. I believed America could and should play a role in the Northern Ireland peace process  not in spite of, but because of our special relationship with the United Kingdom, and because of the large Irish American community that cared deeply about their ancestral homeland.

At the urging of the New York Irish community, when I ran for president in 1992, I said that if I were elected, I would take an active role in ending the conflict, beginning by appointing a special envoy. Some advisers warned that it would be a difficult commitment to keep  and at first it was, with deep divisions in Congress and my own administration. Beginning with a two-day visa for Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams that allowed him to give a speech to an Irish American group but not to fundraise, the United States carefully established itself as an honest broker that enabled the deeply distrustful sides to communicate.

Finally, the peace has held because the framework of the Good Friday Agreement has proved to be fair to all sides and better than any other deal thats out there. The details, hammered out under the brilliant, patient but determined watch of special envoy George Mitchell, reflected the complex views of both communities, enabling them to trust the agreement to protect their myriad interests.

Bill Clinton   PA

The agreement committed the parties to majority rule with minority rights, respect for individual rights, civil rights and the rule of law, the prohibition of violence, and disarmament and demobilization of paramilitary groups. It also created a system of shared decision-making, shared economic benefits and special ties to the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Though power-sharing has at times yielded frustration and even gridlock, it has given each side the opportunity to make its concerns heard and work toward consensus. Even now, with Stormont, the legislature, sitting unused, the question is when not if the government will get back up and running. Even the most imperfect democracy is better than a return to violence.

In 1995, when I made my first visit to Northern Ireland, I stood before a crowd of thousands in Derry and recited the lines of one of its favorite sons, Seamus Heaney:

History says, Dont hope

On this side of the grave.

But then, once in a lifetime

The longed-for tidal wave

Of justice can rise up,

And hope and history rhyme.

The events that led to peace in Northern Ireland were a happy occasion of hope and history rhyming, but such achievements are still too rare. All around the world in areas of conflict and deep political and social divisions, people are yearning for better, safer, more inclusive days ahead. The challenge will be finding the leaders with the courage to meet the moment and make the hard choices necessary for peace within frameworks that give everyone a voice.

On this anniversary, the people of Northern Ireland and all their friends around the world have much to celebrate. I hope this moment of shared memory will allow them to continue the work of peace and inspire others to believe, as Heaney wrote, in miracles / And cures and healing wells and find their own way forward.
The heartbroken family of a Romanian mother-of-four stabbed to death in Limerick are now hoping to repatriate her remains.

Geila Ibram (27) suffered fatal injuries after being stabbed multiple times in a frenzied attack in an apartment off the Dock Road in Limerick last Tuesday.

A 26-year-old Afghan national, Habib Shamel, was charged with her murder before Belfast Magistrates on Saturday.

He had been arrested in the Malone area of south Belfast on Thursday after travelling by bus from Limerick to Northern Ireland.

Shamel - who arrived in Ireland in October 2020 - was remanded in custody and will appear again before court in Northern Ireland on May 2.

He had been living over recent months in the mid-west of Ireland and had claimed asylum status.

Gardai and the PSNI are closely liaising over the ongoing investigation.

PSNI and gardai described the fatal attack as "frenzied and vicious" - with a PSNI detective telling the Belfast court, as the prosecution opposed bail, that the defendant was "a "volatile and dangerous human being, with a real danger of reoffending".

Ms Ibram is from the Tulcea area of Dubruja in Romania.

She had travelled to Ireland only three weeks before her death in a bid to support her children and family in Romania.

Gardai conducted a detailed three day examination of the scene off the Dock Road with an intensive search for the murder weapon involved.

Relatives of Ms Ibram have now visited Limerick and viewed her remains at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

They are now considering her funeral arrangements and are hoping to repatriate her remains to Romania.

Limerick community leaders now want to show their support for the family - and to highlight local disgust at violence directed towards women.

A special candlelit vigil will be staged in Limerick on Tuesday evening.

The vigil aims to show support for the Ibram family and the Romanian community as well as demonstrating a public rejection of all forms of gender based violence in Irish society.

It will take place at 5.30pm at Steamboat Quay in Limerick city centre.

One of the organisers of the vigil, councillor Elisa O'Donovan, said "the tightknit Limerick community wanted to pay its respects (to Geila)."

She added that recent violent attacks against women had horrified all of Irish society.

"I am numbed that this extreme violence against women is becoming so frequent in our lives...to die (as Geila did) in such violent and horrific circumstances is unthinkable."

Gardai have again appealed for anyone who witnessed or heard anything suspicious off the Dock Road in Limerick at lunchtime on Tuesday (April 4) to contact them.

CCTV security camera footage has played a central role in the garda investigation.
US President Joe Biden has been very excited about visiting the island of Ireland for quite some time, a White House spokesman has said.

At a White House press briefing, national security council co-ordinator for strategic communications John Kirby outlined the presidents itinerary during his four-day trip, starting on Tuesday.

Mr Kirby said the US president will be greeted by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he arrives in Belfast and they will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Biden will then head to Ulster University to speak about the tremendous progress since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago

It will underscore the readiness of the United States to preserve those gains and support Northern Irelands vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities, he said.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Kirby added: Today, I think you all know is actually the 25th anniversary since the Belfast Good Friday Agreement was signed, ending decades of violence and bringing peace and stability to Northern Ireland.

President Biden cares deeply about Northern Ireland and has a long history of supporting peace and prosperity there.

As a US senator, Joe Biden was an advocate for how the United States could play a constructive role supporting peace,

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Joe Biden (Niall Carson/PA)   Niall Carson

After his speech at Ulster University, Mr Biden will travel to Co Louth, where his great-grandfather James Finegan was born.

The Finegan family lived there before they crossed the sea to begin a new life in America.

He will tour Carlingford Castle on Wednesday before spending the night in Dublin, said Mr Kirby.

He said Mr Biden will then meet Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday and take part in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell at the presidents official residence, Aras an Uachtarain.

Following that ceremony, he will meet again with the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, whom the president just hosted here for St Patricks Day.

In both meetings, the president will discuss our close co-operation on the full range of shared global challenges.

He will then address a joint session of Irish parliament about US-Irish co-operation to advance democracy, peace, security and prosperity.

Mr Kirby said Mr Biden will attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday.

On Friday he will travel to Co Mayo for the culmination of the trip.

The president will visit Knock Shrine, pilgrimage site of vision of Virgin of Knock (Alamy/PA)

He will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit.

He will then speak at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.

Mr Kirby said the presidents great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827.

Those bricks were used to construct and support the great cathedral and help Edward afford to buy tickets for himself and for his family to sail to America decades later in 1851.

The president is very much looking forward to that trip and to celebrating the deep historic ties that our two countries and our two people continue to share.

St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina (Alamy/PA)

Mr Kirby noted the shared connection between the US and Ireland.

As well as the shared deep history between the United States and Ireland, today one in 10 Americans claim Irish ancestry and Irish Americans are proudly represented in every facet of American life.

Ireland is a key economic partner of the United States and the United States and Ireland are working closely together to make the global economy more fair.

Ireland has been a key partner for 21st century challenges as well and the Irish Government has been strong supporters of Ukraine providing vital non-lethal assistance including medical supplies, body armour, and support for Ukraines electric grid, as well as their agriculture.

They have supported EU sanctions on Russia and the people of Ireland have generously welcomed nearly 80,000 Ukrainians offering refuge to those who were forced to flee their homes in search of safety.

Youths throw petrol bombs at a PSNI vehicle ahead of a dissident Republican parade in the Creggan area of Londonderry on Easter Monday (PA)   Liam McBurney

Asked about recent violence in Northern Ireland, Mr Kirby said the president was grateful for the work that Northern Irelands security forces have done and continue to do to protect all communities.

Hes again very much looking forward to going to Belfast, he said.

As for security concerns, you know we dont ever talk about security requirements of protecting the president but the president is more than comfortable making this trip and hes very excited to do it, he added.

Asked about timing the visit while Northern Irelands institutions were suspended, Mr Kirby reiterated that the trip was timed for the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

An agreement that the president has a personal connection to and obviously is very, very proud to see this has really changed lives and livelihoods in Northern Ireland.
A letter to the US attorney general has been signed by 35 parliamentarians calling for extradition proceedings to be dropped against Julian Assange on the fourth anniversary of his detention at Belmarsh prison.

Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds East, organised the letter, which has been given the support of MPs and members of the House of Lords from six parties.

They call on Merrick Garland to drop the proceedings, which date back to former US president Donald Trumps administration and, it is claimed, relate to Assanges role as a journalist and publisher in publishing evidence of war crimes, corruption and human rights abuses.

Assange is being held on remand as he challenges the High Courts ruling that he should be extradited to the US to face trial after leaking military documents.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange leaves Westminster Magistrates Court (PA)   Dominic Lipinski

Mr Burgon said: British parliamentarians are increasingly alarmed by the potential extradition of Julian Assange to the United States.

Any extradition would, in effect, be putting press freedom on trial. It would set a dangerous precedent for journalists and publishers around the world.

Four years on since Julian Assange was first detained in Belmarsh high-security prison, now is the right moment to draw a line under this outrageous prosecution initiated by the Trump administration, drop the charges against Julian Assange and allow him to return home to Australia.

Signatories include Conservative MP David Davis, Caroline Lucas of the Green Party, Jeremy Corbyn, Angus MacNeil of the Scottish National Party and Liz Saville-Roberts of Plaid Cymru.

The letter says: If Mr Assange were to be extradited to the United States, he faces a prison sentence of up to 175 years for his publishing work which was carried out in the United Kingdom and in partnership with globally leading news outlets.

This would clearly have a chilling impact on journalism and would set a dangerous precedent for other journalists and media organisations. It would also undermine the USs reputation on freedom of expression and the rule of law.
Youths throw petrol bombs at a PSNI vehicle ahead of a dissident Republican parade in the Creggan area of Londonderry on Easter Monday (Liam McBurney/PA)   Liam McBurney

The chief of police in Londonderry has appealed for calm as scenes of violence against PSNI during a dissident parade have been condemned by politicians across Ireland.

A number of missiles were hurled by young people at a PSNI Land Rover monitoring the parade in the Creggan area of the city on Easter Monday.

The parade, organised by the Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee, started in the Central Drive area when a number of masked men in paramilitary-style dress formed a colour party carrying the Irish flag and a host of republican flags.

As the parade progressed towards the City Cemetery, the police Land Rover came under attack, with masked youths throwing petrol bombs and firing fireworks before it drove off in flames.

The parade culminated at the republican plot in the cemetery, where speeches were heard.

Dissident Republicans parade in the Creggan area of Londonderry on Easter Monday (Liam McBurney/PA)   Liam McBurney

One speaker described the event as respectful and dignified, paying homage to the revolutionary heroes of 1916 and all the republican dead.

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Derry City and Strabane area commander, Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard, said: What we saw develop this afternoon in Creggan was incredibly disheartening.

As the parade was unnotified, police were in attendance with a proportionate policing operation.

Sadly, before the parade even started, we observed young people in the vicinity making petrol bombs to throw at police.

Shortly after the parade commenced, petrol bombs and other objects were thrown at one of our vehicles at the junction of Iniscarn Road and Linsfort Drive.

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This was a senseless and reckless attack on our officers who were in attendance in the area in order to comply with our legal duties.

As participants at the parade made their way out of the City Cemetery, they removed their paramilitary uniforms under the cover of umbrellas and burnt them.

Organisers of this parade communicated in advance their desire to have a respectful and dignified event, however, that is not what we witnessed today.

There can be no place for this type of criminal activity. It is not wanted nor welcomed by the vast majority of people across the city.

During todays policing operation, we deployed evidence-gathering resources, and obtained footage which will now be reviewed as part of an investigation into potential offences under the Terrorism Act 2000.

As we head into this evening, we would appeal for calm, and welcome support from those with influence to help prevent any further disorder in the city this evening.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill described the violent scenes as deplorable.

She added: Twenty-five years on from the Good Friday Agreement this needless street disorder in Derry has no place in our society.

As political leaders we must stand united, appealing to all those concerned to end these attacks and refrain from further threats of violence, whether in Derry or North Down.

This type of illegal and anti-community activity is deplorable and out of step from wider community and public opinion.

Our focus is on the future and on the future of our young.

This society is moving forward and peace and stability will prevail.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he hoped the situation would quickly calm down.

It is very, very disappointing that people have gone ahead with a march that has not been notified to the police, he told the BBC.

Hopefully it will calm down very quickly and the police can get about their business because they are there to protect all communities across Northern Ireland.

Youths throw petrol bombs at a PSNI vehicle ahead of a dissident Republican parade in the Creggan area of Londonderry on Easter Monday (Liam McBurney/PA)   Liam McBurney

The clashes come as Northern Ireland is preparing for a visit from US President Joe Biden.

Asked about the matter during a press briefing, a White House spokesman said US President Joe Biden is more than comfortable visiting Northern Ireland despite the recent violence.

Mr Kirby said: As for security concerns, you know we dont ever talk about security requirements of protecting the President but the President is more than comfortable making this trip and hes very excited to do it.

He said Mr Biden is grateful for the work Northern Irelands security forces have done and continue to do to protect all communities.

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the senseless violence is the last thing the people of Derry want to see.

It was wrong 25 years ago and it is wrong now, he said.

The saddest part of this spectacle is that young people with no memory or experience of the violence of our past are being manipulated and abused by people with no vision for the future.

Those whipping our kids into a frenzy and sending them out to attack the police have nothing to offer the people of Derry and this city will continue to reject them.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton tweeted: Another clearly coordinated attack on the PSNI.

The parade was illegal from the outset. This reckless behaviour is an attempt to cause harm not only to PSNI officers but to our communities as well. There must be swift action to bring those responsible to justice.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said: Absolute wasters. Sent out to riot by men sitting in pubs acting the big lads.

Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong tweeted: Disgraceful. The actions of some who want to drag NI back to dark days is abhorrent.

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Irish Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney also tweeted his support for the PSNI.

So called dissident republicans have nothing to offer our society, north or south, he said.

A tiny minority of thugs seeking headlines, wanting to take Northern Ireland backwards.

Last week, senior police warned of the potential for disorder at the event.

Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said the force received strong intelligence that dissidents were planning to launch terror attacks against officers on the bank holiday.

Police increased security measures in response to the parade.

Groups marched in west Belfast and other areas in Northern Ireland across the Easter weekend as part of an annual public marking of the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising against the then-British rule across the island of Ireland.

Most parades were lawful and passed without incident.

However, police are investigating a masked colour party which led a parade in Falls Road in west Belfast organised by the Irish Republican Socialist Party on Sunday.

Parade participants were issued with warnings and footage was gathered by police, who will review it as part of an investigation into potential terrorism offences.
People march to the outpost of Eviatar in the West Bank (Ariel Schalit/AP)   Ariel Schalit

Thousands of Israelis led by at least seven Cabinet ministers marched to an evacuated West Bank settlement on Monday, in a defiant signal that Israels most right-wing government in history is determined to accelerate settlement building on occupied lands despite international opposition.

The march took place as the Palestinian Health Ministry said a 15-year-old boy was killed by Israeli fire during an army raid in the occupied West Bank, while a 48-year-old woman died of wounds sustained in an attack last week that killed two British-Israeli sisters.

Israels Hadassah Hospital announced the death of Lucy Dee, the mother of the two sisters. She was injured in the shooting when travelling with Rina, 15, and Maia, 20, in the West Bank.

The march posed a new test for Israels security forces after days of unrest fuelled by tensions over a contested holy site in Jerusalem.

Israeli police and army forces were being deployed to the northern West Bank  the scene of frequent tensions in recent months  to secure the march, which came after days of fighting in Jerusalem and along Israels northern and southern fronts.

People march to the outpost of Eviatar in the West Bank (Ariel Schalit/AP)   Ariel Schalit

The planned demonstration added to the already combustible atmosphere in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank that has accompanied the overlapping of major Jewish and Muslim holy days.

Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians over the Jerusalem shrine have reached fever pitch in recent weeks.

The Israeli army said its troops were operating in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp next to Jericho in the West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 15-year-old Mohammed Balhan was killed by army fire.

The army said it entered the camp to arrest a wanted Palestinian suspect. It said residents opened fire and hurled explosives at the troops, who responded with live fire and hits were identified. It said the wanted suspect was arrested, and there were no Israeli casualties.

The march to Eviatar, an unauthorised settlement outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by the Israeli government in 2021, was being led by hard-line ultranationalist Jewish settlers. Organisers are calling for the settlements reestablishment and legalisation.

Speaking at the march, national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that we are here to say that the Israeli nation is strong and that we are here and will remain here.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads the most religious and ultranationalist government in Israels history. Several members of his Cabinet, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir  both West Bank settlers  and at least 20 members of Knesset were expected to take part in the march.

Visits to Eviatar were officially banned by the military after its evacuation, but that prohibition has been loosely enforced in recent months.

People are marching to Eviatar, an unauthorised settlement outpost in the northern West Bank (Ariel Schalit/AP)   Ariel Schalit

Israeli army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht said the military approved Mondays march, saying it would be highly monitored and highly protected.

Ohad Tal, a politician with the Religious Zionist party, said there was no reason in the world to cancel the march.

We need to send a message  the message that we dont intend to concede and we are here to stay, he told Army Radio.

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have soared following last weeks police raid on Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The hilltop shrine is the emotional ground zero of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

For Jews, it is known as the Temple Mount, their faiths holiest site and the place where two temples stood in antiquity. For Muslims, it is known as the Noble Sanctuary, home of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

Dozens of Jewish visitors entered the site on Monday escorted by Israeli police for a second consecutive day.

These tours by religious and nationalist Jews have increased in size and frequency in recent years, raising fears by Palestinians that Israel may partition the site.

An Israeli soldier guards a march to the outpost of Eviatar (Ariel Schalit/AP)   Ariel Schalit

Israel insists it has no intention of changing the longstanding arrangement that permits Jewish visits, but not worship, at the Muslim-administered shrine.

Last week, Palestinians barricaded themselves inside Al-Aqsa 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 Ramadan.

Police removed them by force, detaining hundreds and leaving dozens injured.

The violence at the shrine was followed by rocket fire by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, southern Lebanon, and Syria starting on Wednesday, and Israeli air strikes targeting those areas.

Recent days have also seen Palestinian attacks that killed two Israelis and an Italian tourist.

Palestinian attacks have killed at least 19 people in Israel since the start of the year, including one soldier.

More than 90 Palestinians 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.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Middle East war. It has built dozens of settlements in the territory that are now home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers.

Most of the international community considers Israels West Bank settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians.

The Palestinians seek the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem for their future independent state.

Benjamin Netanyahus government has made settlement expansion a top priority.
Damaged houses in Bakhmut, the site of heavy battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region of Ukraine (AP)   LIBKOS

More than 200 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have returned home in a prisoner swap, the warring countries said.

Russias Defence Ministry said 106 Russian soldiers were released from Ukrainian custody as part of an agreement with Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys chief of staff, said that Russia freed 100 Ukrainian prisoners.

Neither announcement mentioned whether any intermediaries were involved in the agreement.

Damaged houses in Bakhmut, the site of heavy battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region of Ukraine (AP/Libkos)   LIBKOS

Some of the Ukrainian soldiers have severe injuries and illnesses, Mr Yermak said in a statement published on Telegram.

He added that the latest of the sporadic prisoner swaps in the war that started in February 2022 was not an easy one. He did not elaborate.

Ukraines Co-ordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War alleged that almost half of the 80 men and 20 women soldiers who returned home have serious injuries, illnesses or have been tortured. It presented no evidence for its claims.

According to Ukrainian news reports, one of the women prisoners is Valeriia Karpilenko, a border guard who had helped defend Mariupols Azovstal steel plant.

Last May, she married a Ukrainian soldier in the steel plants basement while Russian forces surrounded the complex. Her husband was killed three days later.

The freed Russians were being flown on military transport planes to Moscow for medical treatment and rehabilitation, the Defence Ministry said.

The front line in Bakhmut, Ukraine (Libkos/AP)   LIBKOS

Such exchanges represent one of the few areas of co-operation between Ukraine and Russia. The two sides have returned hundreds of each others soldiers, as well as the bodies of fallen troops, since the war began.

Meanwhile, Ukraines presidential office said at least six civilians were wounded in the latest Russian shelling.

Separately, Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian forces struck a power plant and residential buildings in the eastern province.

The Russians also shelled nine border villages in the provinces of Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv.

Ukraines deputy prime minister, Iryna Vereshchuk, said in televised remarks that the country has nearly seven million internally displaced people, including about one million children.

Most of them have abandoned their homes in the east and the south to move to safer locations in central and western Ukraine.
While the DUP holds firm on its stance over Brexit, prolonging the Stormont impasse, political leaders find themselves seeking outside intervention once more

From left, First Minister David Trimble, US President Bill Clinton, Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon and Prime Minister Tony Blair stand on the steps of Stormont parliamentary buildings in 2000   AFP via Getty Images

One of the stars that aligned when Tony Blair felt the hand of history on his shoulder 25 years ago was the changing politics of the Irish lobby in the US. For years, American money had been funnelled to the IRA through an organisation called Noraid.

When I worked for the BBC in the early 1990s, I interviewed Irish Americans at a St Patricks Day fundraiser in New York who thought they were supporting freedom fighters against English colonial oppressors. They did not know that most people in Northern Ireland wanted to be part of the UK.

The critical change was made by John Hume, the nationalist who sought a united Ireland by peaceful means, who persuaded Ted Kennedy and other leading Irish American politicians that US money for terrorist bombs was a bad idea.

Thus Bill Clinton, who like any Democratic president needed the votes of Irish Americans, was freed to play a constructive role with his ally Tony Blair in the Good Friday negotiations (although it also helped that as a second-term president he would not be running for re-election).

Jonathan Powell, Blairs chief of staff, points out that US influence was also important after the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was signed. Members of Congress such as Peter King, a Republican from New York, had continued to be the bane of our life, Powell says. But after 9/11 they came to see the dark side of terrorism and helped to push Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, the Sinn Fein leaders, to put IRA weapons beyond use.

Even so, the power-sharing government, led by David Trimble of the Ulster Unionist Party and Seamus Mallon of Humes SDLP, did not survive long. The centre could not hold.

It took several more years before cross-party government could be restored, at the end of Blairs time as prime minister. This time power was shared between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

That arrangement kind of worked between 2007 and 2022, that is, for 15 of the past 25 years, although the government was suspended from time to time as one crisis succeeded another. But the balance of the extremes could not hold either, after it was destabilised by the EU referendum vote.

The DUP supported Brexit, but refuses to support any of the attempts to resolve the consequences of it.

What Blair calls the recent Brexit-related turmoil in Northern Ireland means that the parties need to seek outside help again. Negotiators tend to say, No one really understands our dispute like we do, according to Blair. That is correct, but sometimes not understanding the dispute like they do holds the key to resolving it.

He praises Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, for doing her bit, showing unexpected flexibility in reopening the Brexit treaty to allow the Northern Ireland protocol to be rewritten. Blair wouldnt say so himself, but Rishi Sunak has been astonishingly Blairite in his successful renegotiation of Boris Johnsons botched deal.

Sunaks youthful optimism and his apparent naivety make him come across as an enthusiastic Blue Peter presenter  just like the shockingly young-looking Blair in those photos of a quarter of a century ago.

Yet, just like Blair, he has a steely core and a quick negotiators mind, and thus secured a deal that everyone had said was impossible. Only, just like Blair, he couldnt get the DUP on board at the first time of asking.

US President Joe Biden announces April visit to island of Ireland

Another much younger face in some of those Good Friday photos is that of the 35-year-old Jeffrey Donaldson, walking out of the negotiations on the morning the deal was done.

Donaldson was then Trimbles heir-presumptive as leader of the UUP, but later defected to the DUP, which had refused to take part in the talks at all.

Now he is leader of the DUP, with an ambiguous position on Sunaks Windsor Framework, and on the all-important question of whether his party will go back into power-sharing government.

I suspect that Sir Jeffrey, as he now is, is more aware than some of his DUP colleagues of the vulnerability of the partys position.

In 2007, the DUP was needed to make the balance of the extremes work, but there is a new centre in Northern Ireland, marked out by the non-sectarian Alliance Party, which won 17 seats in the Assembly last year, to 27 for Sinn Fein and 25 for the DUP.

The rules of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement would have to be rewritten to allow the Alliance Party a role in power-sharing governments that reflected its support, but the DUP cannot assume that its 21% of the vote will give it a veto forever.

So it is possible that Sir Jeffrey will show the leadership urged on him by Blair and others to persuade enough of his party to return to government.

Now it is President Bidens turn to do his bit. On the surface, a Catholic US president who venerates his familys roots in the Republic of Ireland is not ideally placed to put pressure on the DUP.

Even the more general sense of an international community that is willing Sunaks deal to succeed is likely, if anything, to be counterproductive against the inward-looking us against the world attitude of the DUP.

But what President Biden does bring is American money, and the promise of more US investment in Northern Ireland. Perhaps the DUP, which negotiated 1.5bn for public services in Northern Ireland as the price of its support for Theresa Mays wounded government, will be influenced by that.

At least it is better than Noraid funding republican terrorism.
Sian Brooke became a geek to learn everything about the PSNI ahead of taking on her role as Grace Ellis in the BBC crime drama Blue Lights.

The show, written by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, is set in contemporary Belfast and follows a number of probationary police officers working in the city and the challenges and threats they face.

Sian (42) revealed: Im a bit of a geek at heart. Each role is like going back to school and learning a brand-new subject. I read hundreds of articles, spoke to police officers and social workers and gathered as much information as I could to build the character. We were lucky enough to visit a PSNI station and talked at length with the officers there.

This was invaluable, as they gave us so many insights into what the actual day-to-day life of a serving officer is like and how it impacts upon their personal life: checking underneath their car each time they drive to work; not being able to tell their kids exactly what their job was; the constant shift changes.

Sian Brooke   Dave Benett/Getty Images

Sian plays mum-of-one Grace, who decides in her 40s to leave her steady job as a social worker to join the PSNI. Having previously worked in social care she straddles a fine line between being personal and professional.

She explained: Sometimes characters come along that click with you. Its obviously something to do with the writing, but Grace just jumped off the page and connected. What I hope the audience find relatable is that even though shes someone trying to do good in this world, shes also messy and flawed.

I also have a personal connection to the story, as my dad was a policeman, so its a world I was very familiar with growing up.

Sian admitted that the best bit about filming in Belfast was getting to drive around in the police cars.

She added : Its not something you do every day. You were sat in a car that had no working functions inside and there would be a stunt driver on top speeding round corners and doing handbrake turns, which meant you could have all the fun but none of the responsibility  perfect.

All episodes of Blue Lights are available on BBC iPlayer.
GFA: Terrorists who were released only to return to violence

The Troubles killers, hitmen and bombers who just couldnt keep their noses clean after 1998 deal

Johnny Adair and Sean Kelly were among those released under the Good Friday Agreement

Christopher Woodhouse Sunday Life Mon 10 Apr 2023 at 07:30
ORGANISERS of Makhadzis show, which ended prematurely in Mutare on Good Friday, say some enthusiastic and rowdy fans were to blame for the chaos.

The South African energy goddess had a nightmarish outing at the Manicaland Motoring Club.

She was left scurrying for cover when fans hurled missiles into the VIP enclosure.

A number of fans were injured and admitted to hospital, according to our sister paper, Manica Post.

Some reports say fans were riled by Makhadzis move to perform using backtracks, a claim event organisers have shot down.

Others claim the venue was oversubscribed, which led to the stampede as fans wanted to catch a glimpse of Makhadzi, on smart phones. Clearing the air, event organiser  Partson Chipaz Chimbodza  urged fans to desist from the violent conduct during live shows.

Well, I would like to put the record straight regarding what happened in Mutare.

Firstly, I would like to apologise to Makhadzi and her team for being caught in the fracas, he said.

Chipaz told H-Metro that fans overpowered their security, which resulted in them destroying barricades.

The Makhadzi show, event organisers say, attracted a bumper crowd as most people were not used to foreign acts in the Eastern Highlands capital. Its true that bottles were thrown onto the stage but they were not targeted at Makhadzi as claimed on the social media and other media outlets.

When Makhadzi appeared on stage, fans jostled to catch a glimpse of her and broke barricades demarcating the VIP enclosure and ordinary side.

This did not go down well with fans in the VIP and the pushing and shoving resulted in bottles being thrown towards the VIP section.

It obviously appeared as they were targeting Makhadzi but the few minutes she performed, people were very happy.

With violence now common at most high-profile shows in Zimbabwe, Chipaz who sits on the arts and music promoters board, believes there is still a lot which needs to be done to deal with this culture of violence. I urge people to be respectful of artists and organisers as this will dent our industry.

Its sad when a foreign artists act is disrupted by rogue fans.

We dont want the same to happen to our artists when they perform in other countries, he said.

Makhadzi has endorsed Zimbabweans for their massive support of her brand. Last year, she told the local media that Zimbabwe was now her second home. H Metro
Zulkifli Zainal Abidin (left), Malaysias new facilitator for peace talks in the Thai Deep South, shakes hands with Lt. Gen. Santi Sakuntanark, commander of the Thai 4th Army Region, at Fort Ingkayuth Borihan in Pattani province, Thailand, Feb. 28, 2023.

The Thai government, in an apparent peace overture in late March, urged Barisan Revolusi Nasional separatist rebels to stand down from hostilities during Ramadan in the far south.

In a statement that seemed to offer BRN the olive branch of a truce, Thailands negotiating team in Malaysia-brokered peace talks with the insurgents expressed its intention of having a good atmosphere and without violence throughout the month of Ramadan so that our brothers and sisters can observe Ramadan safely.

Meanwhile, sources on both sides told this observer that the negotiating team representing the rebel group has now decided to sit out meetings with the Thais at all levels until after next months general election in Thailand.

Because Islams holy month of fasting overlaps this year with another auspicious religious observance, the Buddhist New Year of Songkran, the Thai side in its March 24 statement invited BRN to help create a positive and non-violent atmosphere in Thailands southern border region, where Muslims are the majority.

On the surface, the idea sounded pleasant to the casual observer and general public. But to people who observe this conflict closely, politicizing holidays, regardless of the religion, doesnt help the situation.

For Artef Sohko, president of The Patani, a political action group that promotes the right to self-determination for the people of this historically contested region, The pretentiousness behind Thailands suggestion is so unnecessary.

If they really wanted to carry out a ceasefire, they need to do it right, like accepting suggestions from the BRN that terms of reference (TOR) be jointly drafted to allow the participation of an international monitoring team, Artef said.

The rebels were hoping the issue would make it to the high-level negotiation during the last round of peace talks, held in Malaysia in late February. But the Thais had other things in mind.

Thailands appetite for members of the international community to get involved in conflict resolution in the far south has always been low. There is a general understanding that any foreign participation has to be done on Thailands terms.

The extension of the olive branch struck many as something created for public consumption, as was the case with a recent statement from the head of the Thai panel in the talks, Gen. Wanlop Rugsanaoh, who expressed the hope that the long-running conflict could be settled in two years time. Anything to suggest progress is being made is welcome, especially in the middle of an electoral campaign season.

Seeing no point in talking to a government that is totally focused on the upcoming general election, BRN has since indicated that it would not be meeting again with the Thai side at any level until a new administration is formed in Bangkok.

A motorist gets her temperature measured at a checkpoint during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Yala province, Thailand, April 27, 2020. [Surapan Boonthanom/Reuters]

By the look of it, Thailands veiled invitation for a ceasefire was ripped from BRNs playbook.

In April 2020, when Thailand and other Southeast Asian nations were in the early throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, BRN announced a unilateral ceasefire on humanitarian grounds across the Deep South, saying that health workers shouldnt have to worry about being caught-up in crossfire between the combatants in the long-running conflict.

In spite of an appeal from local activists for the military to stand down and reciprocate BRNs goodwill gesture, the army at the time unleashed its troops to hunt down BRN combatants staying in remote villages. BRN said these cells werent part of any ongoing operation and their fighters were merely laying low while observing the unilateral ceasefire.

However, during the first 24 months of BRNs unilateral ceasefire  from April 2020 to April 2022  Thai troops killed scores of suspected BRN fighters in a series of standoffs, where government security forces, who heavily outnumbered and outarmed the insurgents, surrounded them as they hid out in villages.

As many as 64 suspected BRN insurgents were killed by Thai forces in such standoffs during BRNs unilateral ceasefire, and only one rebel surrendered. Many of those who were holed up fought to their deaths knowing that the odds of escaping alive were slim to none.

So far, the Deep South has not been free of violence during this years Ramadan.

Thai authorities have reported at least four suspected attacks by insurgents, including a fatal one and a flurry of attacks this past weekend:

On March 29, a deputy village headman was shot and injured in Pattani province.

On April 7, two defense volunteers were injured by a roadside bombing in Pattani.

On Saturday evening, suspected rebels shot dead a village defense volunteer as he was leaving a mosque and walking home after prayers in Tak Bai, a district in neighboring Narathiwat province.

And early Sunday morning, suspected insurgents attacked a military outpost in Yala province, but no one was injured.

BRN in polls waiting mode

BRNs move lately to push the pause button on any more meetings until a new Thai government is formed, will give all the sides some time to go back to the drawing board.

In the past, there was a problem with continuity; a new government in Bangkok used to mean a new team of negotiators. It remains to be seen if the current team of Thai negotiators  officially known as the Peace Dialogue Panel  will remain in place when the next government comes to power.

Still, much work still lies ahead because the peace process has reached a critical juncture as Thailand, Malaysia and the BRN struggle to identify common ground on how to push the talks along. The list of issues that need to be pinned down in the negotiations includes public consultations, reduction of violence, and political solutions for bringing this conflict to an end.

Of late, inclusivity has also emerged as an issue to put on the table; Thailand wants other insurgent groups in the far south to join the talks but BRN thinks its too early to include them in high-level negotiations. However, BRN is willing to consider the participation of these groups at the technical level where in-depth discussions on the aforementioned three items usually take place, according to one informed rebel source.

Don Pathan is a Thailand-based security analyst.
Mohammad Mahfud MD, Indonesias coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs and head of the National Coordination Committee for Money Laundering Prevention, gestures during an interview at his office in Jakarta, Dec, 26, 2019.

Following a public furor, Indonesia on Monday announced it would set up a high-level task force to investigate one of the biggest corruption scandals in the country  U.S. $23.3 billion in allegedly suspicious transactions over the last 14 years within the Finance Ministry.

The move came amid public outrage over the lavish lifestyles of some finance officials, whose wealth was exposed after an assault case involving the son of a senior taxman. The case raised questions about how civil servants could afford luxury cars, designer clothes and overseas trips on modest salaries.

The suspicious Finance Ministry transactions disclosed last month allegedly involved tax evasion, money laundering and smuggling, including $13 billion (194.4 trillion rupiah) linked to the alleged smuggling of gold, according to Mohammad Mahfud MD, the head of the National Coordination Committee for Money Laundering Prevention.

The committee will soon form a joint task force that will supervise and follow up on all of the analysis reports and audit reports with a total value of than 349 trillion rupiah ($23.3 billion) by building cases from scratch, Mahfud told reporters.

He said the task force would involve the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK)  Indonesias anti-money laundering agency, the tax and customs directorates, the police, the attorney generals office, the financial services authority, the national intelligence agency and his own ministry.

Mahfud said the PPATK had issued 300 analysis and audit reports on transactions with a total value of more than 349 trillion rupiah since 2009.

Of those transactions, 260.5 trillion rupiah ($17.4 billion) involved companies related to the customs authority, while 53.8 trillion rupiah ($3.6 billion) related to civil servants and other parties, Deputy Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara said late last month.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who has been credited with progress in her efforts to reform the tax system, increase revenue collection and improve fiscal management, has vowed to investigate the suspicious transactions.

Meanwhile, one analyst said a non-governmental body should conduct a probe into the transactions.

Tauhid Ahmad, of the Institute for Development Economics and Finance (INDEF), argued that an independent party can provide independent views outside the government.

They should not leak the results until they can be revealed to the public. They should be chosen to mediate conflicts among government agencies, Tauhid, who is the executive director of the Jakarta-based INDEF, told BenarNews.

If it is a systemic issue, then the internal oversight system must be revamped, while if it is a matter of individual misconduct, they must face sanctions commensurate with their wrongdoing.

Tauhid said the discovery of repeated suspicious transactions in the finance ministrys agencies would erode tax compliance and cause a huge economic loss.

State revenue will shrink and foreign confidence will also wane. They will be reluctant to invest in Indonesia, he said.

Alleged gold smuggling

Mahfud didnt give many details on Monday about the probe process or its deadline, but said the task force would prioritize the audit reports with the highest value, starting with one involving 189.27 trillion rupiah ($13 billion) that was linked to an alleged gold import scheme.

In a hearing with a parliamentary commission last month, Mahfud said 15 companies were suspected of smuggling gold bars and not paying import fees or income tax on them, allegedly in collusion with customs officials.

The import documents stated raw gold bars were being brought in, but it was found to be refined gold, which meant that the importers avoided fees of 5% and income tax of 2.5%.

Mahfud said that PPATK had detected signs of money laundering since 2017 and reported them to the Finance Ministry. However, the reports never reached the minister, Mahfud said.

In 2020, PPATK sent another letter, but the issue was unresolved, he added.

The Finance Ministry has come under public pressure after a recent assault case involving the son of a tax official exposed his lavish lifestyle  flaunting expensive cars and motorbikes  on social media.

The official, Rafael Alun Trisambodo, was fired and has since been investigated by the countrys anti-corruption agency on suspicion of accepting bribes.

Rafaels son, Mario Dandy Satrio, is awaiting trial on charges of assaulting a 15-year-old boy, who is recovering in a hospital after being in a coma.

Amid public angst about these scandals, President Joko Jokowi Widodo has urged parliament to expedite the deliberation of a bill that would allow the government to seize assets linked to crimes such as corruption and money laundering.

The bill was submitted by the executive branch to the House of Representatives in 2020 but has not been debated by lawmakers.

Indonesia ranks 110th out of 180 countries in Transparency Internationals 2022 Corruption Perception Index. The country has struggled with longstanding corruption as government officials often allegedly ask for bribes to speed up projects and approve permits.

Jokowi has pledged to fight corruption and improve governance as part of his agenda to attract foreign investment and boost economic growth.

However, critics have said that corruption remains endemic and systemic in Indonesia, and pointed to the weakening of the Corruption Eradication Commission under a controversial law passed in 2019, which reduced its powers and independence.
Malaysias government was on the defensive as it clarified its South China Sea policy, a day after the opposition leader skewered Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for apparently taking a softer stance over a territorial dispute with China.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on the issue at the weekend amid a buzz among the public and analysts about comments that Anwar made after he returned from his first official visit to China as PM.

In its statement, the foreign office said that the countrys position on the South China Sea is consistent and remains unchanged.

The Government of Malaysia is unequivocally and firmly committed to protecting Malaysias sovereignty, sovereign rights and interests in its maritime areas in the South China Sea, as depicted by our 1979 Map, it said.

The 1979 Map, issued by the Malaysian Department of Mapping and Survey, has served as the official reference for the countrys territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Malaysia firmly holds the view that matters relating to the South China Sea must be resolved peacefully and constructively, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), the statement said.

By stating the term negotiation, Prime Minister Anwar had made the point that issues relating to the South China Sea should be discussed or resolved in a peaceful manner and without compromising Malaysias principled position, to avoid any escalation of disputes and the threat or use of force, the ministry further stated.

[I]t is therefore within this context that Malaysia will continue the diplomatic approach in our engagements with other States, including China, it said.

After he returned from his trip to Beijing, the prime minister said he had told Chinese President Xi Jinping that, as a small country, Malaysia needed to continue with oil exploration in the waters of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Radio Free Asia and BenarNews reported on April 5.

But if the condition is that there must be negotiations to secure [our rights], then we are prepared to negotiate with China, Anwar said.

His remarks raised eyebrows in Malaysia and abroad because it seemed he was climbing down from the tougher stance that he took on the South China Sea issue before he became prime minister.

The PM, while afterwards answering questions in Parliament, seemed to adjust his conciliatory tone by adding that he insisted that the area  falls within Malaysias territory and that in the meantime our exploration efforts will continue.

During his meeting with Xi in Beijing, the Chinese leader brought up the offshore work of Malaysian state petrochemical firm Petronas in the Southeast Asian nations EEZ in the South China Sea, Anwar also told lawmakers.

He said he told Xi 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.

On Thursday, Muhyiddin Yassin, leader of the Bersatu party that heads the opposition Perikatan coalition, ripped Anwar for his comments.

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.

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 claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including waters within the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

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 claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including waters within the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

An oil rig is seen off the coast of Johor, Malaysia, Nov. 7, 2017. [Henning Gloystein/Reuters]

The initial statement by Anwar about his government being prepared to negotiate with China about the rights to explore natural resources in the South China Sea had led to some criticism that Malaysias sovereignty and jurisdiction on its continental shelf is recognized and not a matter of dispute or up for negotiation.

Analysts warned against what they see as Chinas bilateral approach where Beijing tries to divide and conquer members of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN when it comes to the South China Sea disputes using its superior economic weight.

Xi Jinping has used official state visits by President Marcos Jr. of the Philippines in January and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in April to press Chinas claims in the South China Sea and to press for bilateral discussions, said Carlyle Thayer, a veteran regional specialist.

Several ASEAN states have accused China of impeding and harassing their oil and gas activities in areas within their exclusive economic zones that also fall within Chinas nine-dash line, which Beijing uses to claim historic rights to almost 90% of the South China Sea.

In 2016, a U.N. tribunal declared this imaginary boundary as illegal, in a case brought by the Philippines.
Enrique Manalo, the Philippines foreign secretary, speaks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, April 210, 2023.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo on Monday said he holds out hope for peace in Taiwan, even as China carries out war games near the island after the recent trip by its leader to the United States.

Manalo is in Washington this week to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken as part of the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, which will include Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, amid Manilas preparations to open four more U.S. military outposts on its territory.

But the trip comes as Beijing carries out naval military drills around the self-governing island  about two hours flight from Manila  following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens recent trips to the United States, which included a meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies ahead of his meetings, Manalo said that the Philippines was closely monitoring the situation given the self-governing island is right next door.

But he said that he believed Beijings response this time around had not been quite as aggressive as in the aftermath of the trip to Taiwan by McCarthys predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, in August 2022.

Well, that really escalated tensions, Manalo said of Pelosis trip to the island that Beijing considers a renegade province. But so far, we see now that this visit is  hopefully  its not as it was in August.

This could hopefully pave the way, lets say, for calming the situation a bit on the straits [and] between China and the United States, he said.

South China Sea

Manalo also said that the maintenance of peace in the South China Sea, which he referred to as the West Philippine Sea, was a priority for Manila as competing claims for the maritime territory are negotiated with Beijing and other claimants in Southeast Asia. West Philippine Sea is the term Manila uses for its claimed territory in the South China Sea.

In an apparent reference to Beijings unilateral moves to build-up coral reefs into naval bases in the disputed waters, he defended the international rule-based order as the fairest way to arbitrate control of the waters but said Manila would always uphold its sovereignty.

The Philippines was at the heart of this seascape, he said, and the South China Sea, for us, is also about people, with Philippine citizens relying on the waters for fishing. He said Manila would therefore not accept any harassment or denial of access to the waters.

The Philippines has been clear and consistent about our interest in maintaining the South China Sea as a sea of peace and stability  and [about] our aim to boost our defense capabilities, he said.

Manalo meets with Blinken and Austin on Tuesday.

This story was reported by Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews.


A LOCAL funeral parlour clashed with a bereaved family on Good Friday after it withheld a body of their relative.

Zvido Zvenyu Funeral parlour refused to release body of Chirango Nechavava, who died on April 5 in Mabvuku.

The parlour was demanding payment of services the family say were never asked for.

The deceased was 39.

The row was taken to Mabvuku Police Station where the Nechavava family lodged a police report against the parlour under RRB 5508170.

Family representative, Reverend Tawanda Utete, told H-Metro that the parlour carried out extra services, without the bereaved familys knowledge.

We agreed as a family to pay for the removal of the body to a hospital only, said Rev Utete.

Some of the mourners after they collected body

The parlour went on to carry out other services, without consulting us, and brought a receipt with unjustified charges, which included a post-mortem.

We refused to pay for those costs and they refused to release the body as well as a burial order.

We approached the Funeral Association of Zimbabwe authorities as well as lodging a police report against them.

That forced them to release the body and mourners had to travel during the night.

The parlour wanted to extort us but we stood our ground, said Rev Utete.

Funeral parlour official, Clemence Magidi, confirmed the incident saying police forced them to release the body. We had a misunderstanding with the bereaved family because they wanted to collect their body without paying the full amount, said Magidi.

They engaged the police and we ended up releasing the body but we are yet to understand which Act police used.

There is no Funeral Act at all.

They told us about these allegations being levelled against us, he said. The body of Chirango was taken to Buhera where it is was expected to be buried yesterday. H Metro
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BENNINGTON  Results from the state Department of Health's drug overdose report lay out a sad and sadly familiar litany: Overdose deaths rose in 2022, and fentanyl was involved in all but a few of those deaths, often in combination with heroin, cocaine, opioid prescription pills and other drugs.
Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.
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.
Brian Arrigo, who has served as mayor of Revere since 2016, was appointed to be the next commissioner of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. He will assume the role on April 24.
We've used this space far more than we'd prefer to lament the seemingly insurmountable infrastructure woes facing Berkshire towns and cities. From perilous potholes to crumbling sidewalks, these cracks in the very foundations of our communities not only frustrate our daily lives but increase risks to our public safety, too.
BIG RAPIDS  Big Rapids Community Library is hosting a free story time event to promote Big Rapids Public Schools' upcoming production of Frozen Jr.

From 10:15-10:45 a.m. Saturday, April 15, co-director Devann Hattis and members of the cast, including the students playing Olaf, Anna and Elsa, will visit the library, 426 S. Michigan Ave.

"I am so excited for this opportunity and for our students to share their love of reading with others," production assistant Leah Lipar said.

There will be drawing for two free tickets to Frozen Jr. which are normally $7.

Frozen Jr. will have showings at 7 p.m. April 20 and 21, 2 p.m. April 22 and 5 p.m. April 23 in the Big Rapids High School auditorium. Tickets are available at brhsmi.booktix.com or at the door.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Courtesy of Dee Van Horn, GFWC Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Courtesy of Dee Van Horn, GFWC Show More Show Less 3 of 3





BIG RAPIDS  Hundreds of blue pinwheels have popped up all around Big Rapids, thanks to members of the General Federation of Women's Clubs.

"Use of the blue pinwheel is part of the Pinwheels for Prevention program with the goal to bring child abuse awareness to the community and urge community members to report abuse when they see it or suspect it," GFWC Big Rapids member Dee Van Horn said.
Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

The Michigan Department of Transportation announced it will be lifting its annual spring weight restrictions from all state trunkline highways in the Lower Peninsula

As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, MDOT will no longer impose or enforce weight restrictions on state routes, which typically carry M, I or U.S. designations, south of the Mackinac Bridge. However, frost restrictions are still in effect for the Upper Peninsula.
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BIG RAPIDS  The Big Rapids Community Library has several Phelps Little Free Libraries placed around the city for use by residents. Phelps Little Free Libraries are a community book exchange, where patrons can take a book and leave a book.

Library director Lauren Perkins said they have been working on refurbishing and replacing some of the existing Little Libraries, and recently, volunteers from Habitat for Humanity have taken on the task of building several new Little Libraries.

Volunteers Dave Hammelund, Terry Kimble, Jim Angell, Ken Smith and Habitat staff member Jim Baer provided the supplies and the manpower to construct the little houses that will become Little Library installations around the city.

Perkins has reached out to Artworks Big Rapids, 106 N. Michigan Ave., to help decorate the newly built little libraries, and is considering talking with the Big Rapids High School art classes, as well.

Perkins said they have not yet determined where the new Little Libraries will go, but she is working on those plans now.

One of them will go at the community pool, and I am sort of spreading them out, Perkins said. I will talk to the parks and see if we can put one at Northend (Riverside Park) and possibly at Swede Hill. When we find out where they will go, I will add them to the bookmark.

There are currently bookmarks available at the library that have a map of the Phelps Little Free Library locations throughout the city.

Locations include:

The Anna Howard Shaw Memorial Park, 426 S. Michigan Ave.

The Mecosta County Welcome Center, 127 State St.

The Pocket Park, 123 N. Michigan Ave.

Hemlock Park on Hemlock Street

Pediatrics Associates of Big Rapids, 650 Linden St.

St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 323 S. State St.

United Church of Big Rapids, 120 S. State St.

Big Rapids Housing Commission, 9 Park View Drive.

Phelps Little Free Libraries are named for Harriet C. Phelps, the widow of a Big Rapids businessman and state legislator, who wanted to contribute to the intellectual growth of her community and was instrumental in establishing the Big Rapids Community Library, according to information provided by Perkins.
Tonight's rundown:

 Talking Points Memo: Joe Biden continues to decline with the world watching and remains out of the press reach

 Presidential Historian Larry Cook weighs in on how Bidens relationship with the press compares to past presidents

 US Special Forces have been confirmed to be in Ukraine

 OReilly describes Democrats hosting the DNC in Chicago as Crazy Arrogant

 The trial of Fox News gets underway

 58% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck even as inflation begins to cool off

 Smart Life: Utilizing Kelly Blue Book when searching for a new car

 This Day in History: FDR dies in office

 Final Thought: what to do when someone is disrespectful to you

In Case You Missed It:

 Read Bill's latest column, "Reason to Believe"

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A son of billionaire George Soros has quietly become a de-facto White House ambassador, making at least 14 visits there on behalf of the far-left kingmaker since President Joe Biden took office, records reviewed by The Post show.

Alexander Soros  a prolific Democratic fundraiser in his own right who likes to boast about his relationships with world leaders on social media  scored at least a dozen meetings with White House officials in 2022, according to recently updated White House visitor logs. Soros, 37, also participated in two other confabs there in late 2021, the records show.

His latest trips include visiting Dec. 1 with then-White House Chief of Staff Ron Klains advisor Nina Srivastava, who also worked on Bidens presidential campaign, the logs show.

Later that evening. the younger Soros was one of 330 people who attended a lavish state dinner on the White House South Lawn hosted by the president and First Lady Jill Biden honoring French President Emmanuel Macron and Macrons wife, Brigitte.

A day later, Alexander Soros  who chairs the powerful, liberal grant-making network Open Society Foundations founded by his dad  met with both Advisor to the Counselor of President Mariana Adame and Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer, records show.
A cybersecurity expert believes an event similar to the HSE cyberattack, but on a larger scale, is only a matter of time and that it will take this to change attitudes towards cybersecurity.

Rob Allen, VP of operations at ThreatLocker, a cybersecurity firm based in Florida, told BreakingNews.ie: "People need guidance on cybersecurity and I think that is lacking everywhere, not just in Ireland."

He pointed to the United States, where a 'zero trust' cybersecurity policy is mandated for companies linked to the federal government.

This was introduced through Executive Order following the Colonial Pipeline attack in 2021.

It is similar to the policy advocated by most cybersecurity companies, but Mr Allen feels it should be in legislation.

He thinks the European Union will introduce laws like this, however, he warned it could take an incident even larger than the HSE cyberattack in May 2021, which the health service has still not fully recovered from.

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"I do expect it to come it's just a question of what is the event... I thought it would be the HSE attack, it doesn't seem to me that it was though. It's a question of when, rather than if."

He added: "I think it is a matter of time, if something happens here or on a European scale and people will realise we can't just keep doing the same thing we have always done.

"One of the phrases we use in our presentations is from Henry Ford, 'If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.'

"Continuing to do the same things again to try to protect yourselves will not work, I think a new approach is needed, and zero trust is that approach."

In his IT work before joining ThreatLocker, Mr Allen pointed to an example of how the move to remote work hindered protection for companies. He also said threats to organisations have become much more common.

"We looked after a couple of hundred companies around the country. At one point we decided they needed better firewalls. A lot of customers took the advice, then Covid happened and everyone brought their computers home. The protection was gone, and they were more exposed than ever.

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"Businesses are getting wiped out every day of the week. My personal experience is we would have only dealt with an incident once a month, they didn't reach the news. If you never hear about it, you're probably not going to take the threat as seriously as you should."

"The traditional approach of antivirus on your computer and a firewall on the outside of your network just isn't cutting it these days, the fact is people work from everywhere," he explained,

"If you can't be as well protected when you are outside the corporate network it is a waste of time."

There are two types of organisations; those who have been hit by a cyberattack and those who will be hit by a cyberattack.

While large-scale cyberattacks draw huge attention, Mr Allen said businesses are being targeted constantly.

"There are two types of organisations; those who have been hit by a cyberattack and those who will be hit by a cyberattack.

"It's a negative way to look at things, but that's the harsh reality... it is just a matter of how serious the attack will be.

"The problem is it only hits the news when it is a massive incident, the attack on the HSE or the Colonial pipeline in the US."

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When asked if more companies come for help to prevent cyberattacks, or when they have already been targeted, Mr Allen said it is "a little bit of column A and a little bit of column B".

He explained that the landscape of hacking is ever-changing, with data exfiltration now at the core of "over 90 per cent of ransomware attacks".

"It's not 'we're going to encrypt your stuff, pay us and we'll let you have it back', because the bad guys are not stupid, they realise most people have backups and can get up and running again.

Dark web

"What a lot of organisations can't get back up and running from is having your data for sale up there on the dark web... the reputational damage, the trust that you lose if that kind of thing happens is what keeps a lot of IT people up at night.

"There have been examples recently of what is called a supply chain attack. Hackers could go after 10,000 individual organisations, and might get into a number of them, but if they can get into a software supplier to all those organisations and breach them... then they can push their malicious software out to those 10,000 organisations.

"Supply chain attacks are a major concern. Realistically every piece of software that you use is a potential vulnerability. Whether it's Office, Windows, Teams, Zoom... anything, every piece of software is a potential way into your network and software is full of holes.

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"It's just a matter of if those vulnerabilities are known to bad actors and if they are being exploited at any given time. Obviously software companies try not to release software with bugs, but sometimes they do."

Many businesses opt to pay hackers when their data is stolen, but Mr Allen warned that this is never a good idea. "These people are criminals, and you can't trust them to delete your data even if you pay."

"The problem is they will say 'pay us x amount of bitcoin, and we will delete your data'. You can't trust them. If you pay them, that's just advertising the fact you will pay, they will come back in six months' time and demand more money.

"What they are now doing is publishing it on the dark web and selling it to your competitors as well. Why would they make money on the data once when they can do it multiple times?

"This concept of double-dipping is more and more prevalent in cyberattacks... so my advice is never pay."

He reiterated that businesses should adopt their own zero trust approach to cybersecurity.

"My favourite part of the definition is when they said 'assume a breach is inevitable, or has already likely occurred'.

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"Basically work on the perspective that they are already in your network... how do you then limit the damage and stop them?

"My opinion is that it will come here sooner or later... it's just a question of a big enough attack or breach taking place. I think ultimately it is probably something that will come in legislation.

"There are some areas we are ahead of places like the US in terms of data protection, GDPR. There are others where we are behind, and I think this is one where we are a little behind."

Rob Allen, Threatlocker.

He added: "Personally I expected there to be more of a reaction to the attack on the HSE... from the outside looking at that event and what happened I don't know if we learnt too much about it.

"Nothing really concrete has come out of it, no government action to say this is what organisations need to do to stop it happening again. That is kind of worrying.

"That was an event of such a scale you would have thought governments would have been saying 'we need to do something about this'.

"This is of course from the outside looking in, but I don't see that as having happened."

In researching data leaks on the dark web, Mr Allen said the two main destinations for exfiltrated data are Russia and China. He believed Russia would be the main destination, but was surprised to learn a lot more went to China.

Private information

One of the main fears following the HSE cyberattack was private medical information of patients ending up on the dark web, and Mr Allen said the amount of confidential data of different kinds on it is "terrifying".

Business Cybersecurity expert says many Irish firms are bei... Read More

"Threats are evolving, hackers do not stand still and neither should we. I've spent a lot of time in the last few weeks looking at ransomware operators' leaks on the dark web, they're not difficult to find but some of the information out there is terrifying. Company balance sheets, customer lists, accounts.

"Can you imagine your personal medical information for sale? When I looked a couple of weeks ago, I didn't want to go too deep, but a Portuguese airline TAP had been breached, and their information was there.

"It started off with customer names, email addresses, dates of birth. That was the tip of the iceberg, to get attention of what they had. When they didn't get paid, they dumped terrabites of data on the dark web for anyone to access. It is a terrifying prospect and if it's not, it should be."

Threatlocker launched its EMEA headquarters in Blanchardstown, Dublin earlier this year. It plans to create 120 Irish jobs, with 25 currently working at the Dublin HQ.
Gardai have inspected a possible helicopter landing zone at a GAA club in Co Louth GAA as part of final preparations for a visit by US president Joe Biden this week.

Mr Biden will undertake several engagements north and south of the Border as part of the visit to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The US president will begin his trip in Northern Ireland on Tuesday and is then expected to visit Carlingford and Dundalk in Co Louth on Wednesday before arriving in Dublin.

A fire engine at Cooley Kickhams GAA club (Niall Carson/PA)

One possible route to Co Louth is by helicopter, and emergency services were seen placing security barriers and pacing the perimeter of Cooley Kickhams GAA club in Carlingford on Monday.

On the Dublin leg of the journey, Mr Biden will address members of the Oireachtas and meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Michael D Higgins.

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It has been announced that Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate Mr Biden's visit.

A garda security cordon is put into place at Cooley Kickhams GAA club (Niall Carson/PA)

The Office of Public Works said it made the decision following a request to close the park from gardai.

All gates, including pedestrian gates, will be closed during the 24-hour period.

The end of the trip will include a public speech by Mr Biden in Co Mayo, outside St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina, on Friday evening.
US president Joe Biden's visit to Ireland will cause road closures and potential disruption in some areas, with a major security operation underway ahead of his four-day stay.

Gardai issued guidance ahead of Mr Biden's visit this week, advising that parts of the country will be impacted by related events, particularly Mayo, Louth and Dublin.

Mr Biden will first visit Northern Ireland on Tuesday before travelling to the Republic on Wednesday, when gardai said his engagements will be concentrated in Co Louth from the late afternoon into the late evening.

On Thursday, focus will shift to Dublin, particularly the Phoenix Park and the south city centre, when Mr Biden is due to meet President Michael D Higgins.

The final stage of Mr Biden's visit will see him travel to Co Mayo on Friday, when he will give an address in Ballina.

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Gardai confirmed Mr Biden will arrive and depart from Dublin Airport at various stages throughout the visit, and will also use Ireland West (Knock) Airport on Friday.

Normal operations will continue at both airports throughout the duration of Mr Biden's stay, but passengers have been advised to allow extra time to travel to the airports due to heightened security and possible road closures in the areas.

"In general, traffic restrictions for the visit will be kept to the minimum required and it is intended that any impact on the public will be localised and minimal," a statement from gardai said.

"However, the public can expect localised road closures to facilitate events and temporary rolling road closures to facilitate security escorts over the course of the 12th  15th April, 2023."

Gardai highlighted a number of traffic measures have been implemented in Dublin for security reasons, including:

Monday - Saturday: Parking restrictions on Earlsfort Terrace, Leeson Street Lower, Hatch Street Lower, Castle Street and Ship Street

Tuesday - Saturday: Earlsfort Terrace closed to traffic, pedestrian access to businesses on Earlsfort Terrace via Hatch Street only

Wednesday, 5pm - Thursday, 5pm: Phoenix Park will be closed to all access, traffic and pedestrians (with arrangements in place for local access only)

The force added that information on further road closures, parking restrictions and traffic diversions for Louth, Dublin and Mayo will be published in the coming days.

Live traffic updates will also be available via official garda social media accounts and on the Garda website.
Gardai in Cork have arrested and charged two men as part of an investigation into the theft of multiple high value vehicles across the country.

On Wednesday 5th April 2023, gardai arrested two males in Conna, County Cork, following the attempted theft of a high value vehicle in the area.

The two men (aged in their late 20s and mid 40s) were detained at Garda Stations in Cork under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

The man in his 20s has since been charged and has appeared in court where he was remanded in custody to appear at Fermoy District Court on Friday 14th April 2023.

The man in his 40s has also been charged and is expected to appear before a special sitting of Mallow District Court at 5pm on Monday 10th April 2023.

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A 25-year-old bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at his workplace in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday, killing four people, including a close friend of the state governor, while livestreaming the attack, authorities said.

Lets be clear about what this was, Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg said. This was an evil act of targeted violence.

The shooting, the 15th mass killing in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, about 160 miles to the south.





The governor of Tennessee and his wife also had friends killed in that shooting.

Police arrived as shots were still being fired inside Old National Bank and killed the gunman in an exchange of gunfire, Louisville metro police department chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said.

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The suspect shot at officers, the police chief said. We then returned fire and stopped that threat.

She identified the gunman as Connor Sturgeon, who she said was livestreaming during the attack.

Thats tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured, she said.





Today is a tragedy. Louisville and the entire commonwealth are mourning and we call on everyone to share the love, support and compassion this community desperately needs right now. 1/3  Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) April 10, 2023

Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, said in a statement that it had quickly removed the livestream of this tragic incident this morning.

Nine people, including two police officers, were treated for injuries following the shooting, University of Louisville Hospital spokeswoman Heather Fountaine said.

One of the officers, Nickolas Wilt, 26, was in a critical condition after being shot in the head.

At least three patients had been discharged.

Emotional Kentucky governor Andy Beshear said he lost friends, including one of his closest friends, Tommy Elliott, in the shooting in the building on East Main Street not far from the Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.

This is awful, he said. I have a very close friend who didnt make it today. And I have another close friend who didnt, either. And one whos at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through.

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Police and fire crews near the scene of the incident in Louisville (Timothy D Easley/AP)

Also killed in the shooting were Josh Barrick, Jim Tutt and Juliana Farmer, police said.

It was the second time that Mr Beshear was personally touched by a mass tragedy since becoming governor.

In late 2021, one of the towns devastated by tornadoes that tore through Kentucky was Dawson Springs, the hometown of Mr Beshears father, former two-term Kentucky governor Steve Beshear.

Andy Beshear frequently visited Dawson Springs as a boy and has talked emotionally about his fathers hometown.

Mr Beshear spoke as the investigation in Louisville continued and police searched for a motive.

Crime scene investigators could be seen marking and photographing numerous bullet holes in the windows near the banks front door.

A man who fled the building during the shooting told WHAS-TV that the gunman opened fire with a long rifle in a conference room in the back of the building on the first floor.



A police crime scene technician takes photographs of bullet holes in the glass of the building in Louisville (Timothy D Easley/AP)

Whoever was next to me got shot  blood is on me from it, he told the news station, pointing to his shirt. He said he fled to a break room and shut the door.

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Deputy police chief Paul Humphrey said the actions of responding police officers in Louisville on Monday had undoubtedly saved lives.

This is a tragic event, he said. But it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened.

The 15 mass shootings this year are the most during the first 100 days of a calendar year since 2009, when 16 incidents had occurred by April 10, according to a mass killings database maintained by the Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

Going back to 2006, the first year for which data has been compiled, the years with the most mass killings were 2019 and 2022, with 45 and 42 mass killings recorded during the entire calendar year.

The pace in 2009 slowed later in the year, with 32 mass killings recorded that year.
Chinas military has declared it is ready to fight after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan.

The exercises, that simulated sealing off the island, followed the Taiwanese presidents trip to the US last week.

The combat readiness patrols named Joint Sword were meant as a warning to self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own, Chinas military said earlier.

The theatres troops are ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts, it said on Monday.

The exercises were similar to ones conducted by China last August, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan in retaliation for then-US speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan, but have been smaller and less disruptive.

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China launched large-scale military drills in retaliation for Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wens meeting with US house speaker Kevin McCarthy (Ringo HW Chiu/AP)

Military experts say the exercises serve both as intimidation and as an opportunity for Chinese troops to practise sealing off Taiwan by blocking sea and air traffic, an important strategic option the Chinese military might pursue in the event it uses military force to take Taiwan.

The Chinese actions follow Tauwanese president Tsai Ing-wens delicate mission to shore up Taiwans dwindling diplomatic alliances in Central America and boost its US support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

A US congressional delegation also met with Ms Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

China responded immediately to the meeting with Mr McCarthy by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Ms Tsais US trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

China wants to use any increase of diplomatic interactions between the US and Taiwan as an excuse to train its military, said Kuo Yu-jen, a defence studies expert and director of the Institute for National Policy Research in Taiwan.

Chinese ships in the Taiwan Strait in April (CCTV/AP)

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the islands democratic government encourages Taiwanese people who want formal independence, a step Chinas ruling Communist Party says would lead to war.

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The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the Communist Party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

After Ms Pelosi visited Taiwan, China conducted missiles strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan, while also sending warships and warplanes over the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

It also fired missiles over the island itself which landed in Japans exclusive economic zone, in a significant escalation.

The live-fire exercises disrupted flights and shipping in one of the busiest shipping lanes for global trade. This time, shipping and maritime traffic have largely continued as normal.

The exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting 200 flights by Chinese warplanes in the past three days.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), said the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan as well as waves of simulated strikes at important targets on the island.

On Monday, the PLA said its Shandong aircraft carrier was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan for the first time. It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off from the deck of the ship in a post on Weibo, the social media platform.

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The appearance of the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean suggests that it could be used to prevent foreign militaries from coming to help Taiwan, said Han Gan-ming, a research fellow at the government-backed Institute for National Defence and Security Research.

In the future if theres a similar military manoeuvre, then Taiwan will have to face it alone, Mr Han said.

Between 6am Sunday and 6am Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwans Ministry of National Defence.

Among the planes that crossed the median were eight J-16 fighter jets, four J-1 fighters, eight Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes. Taiwan also tracked J-15 fighter jets, which are paired with the Shandong aircraft carrier.

Later on Monday morning, Taiwans Defence Ministry reported another 59 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday in which eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the islands Defence Ministry. It said in a statement that it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

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Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as from its own navy vessels.

Chinas military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent towards the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities.

The military activity has increased a notch since Ms Pelosis visit, with Chinese PLA fighter jets regularly flying over the middle boundary line. Experts say PLA navy vessels regularly navigate the waters off Taiwans north-eastern coast.

Meanwhile, to the south in the South China Sea, the US 7th Fleet said its missile destroyer USS Milius sailed by Mischief Reef in a freedom of navigation operation. China has built an artificial island on the sea feature to stake its claim to the disputed territory.

China said the US illegally trespassed into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government, according to a statement from the Chinese militarys southern command.
Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park bears rich fruits

11:29, April 10, 2023 By Zhang Niansheng, Liu Hui ( People's Daily

Photo shows a bird's eye view of Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) in Malaysia. (Photo courtesy of Beibu Gulf Holding [Malaysia] Sdn. Bhd.)

Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) located in Malaysia, as a model of China-Malaysia cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has promoted pragmatic cooperation between China and Malaysia and deepened the friendship between the two countries.

Over the past 10 years, the industrial park has borne rich fruits. It has attracted 12 projects with a combined investment value of more than 40 billion yuan ($5.81 billion). These projects have generated industrial output value totaling over 35 billion yuan, created about 5,000 long-term jobs, and contributed an estimated 10 million tons to the increase in the annual throughput of the Kuantan Port, a multipurpose port in Malaysia.

In February 2013, the MCKIP was officially launched in the capital city Kuantan of Pahang state, Malaysia. Located in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) of Malaysia, the tranquil city of Kuantan is an over three-hour drive away from Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur and adjacent to the Kuantan Port.

The MCKIP, together with the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park (CMQIP) situated in China, represents a groundbreaking innovation: the model of "Two Countries, Twin Parks."

"During the past 10 years, the MCKIP has become one of the most successful industrial parks in the ECER," said Baidzawi Che Mat, chief executive officer (CEO) of the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC).

"The 'Two Countries, Twin Parks' model built by Malaysia and China is successful," he noted.

Alliance Steel (M) Sdn. Bhd. was the first entrant in the MCKIP. It only took 18 months for the project to set up its full-process production line in the industrial park.

With its annual output surpassing the designed annual production capacity of 3.5 million tons, Alliance Steel (M) Sdn. Bhd. has emerged as one of the largest and most advanced steel businesses with full-process technologies for steel products in Malaysia, and its products are sold to global markets.

Steve Hu Jiulin, chief technology officer of Alliance Steel (M) Sdn. Bhd., can still remember vividly the local situation he saw when he first arrived in Kuantan city.

"When I came here in 2014, this place was mountainous and swampy. And the ground works alone took us more than a year," Hu said.

"Who would think that there used to be a mountain right at the site of the office building," he said, pointing at the office building where he works.

The premises of Alliance Steel (M) Sdn. Bhd. now boast wide and clean roads and neatly arranged buildings, including office building, factory building, and dormitory.

"The technological design and equipment of the project of Alliance Steel (M) Sdn. Bhd. are all from China. They are the most advanced ones of the industry," Hu said.

Hu recalled that during a local official's inspection tour in Alliance Steel (M) Sdn. Bhd., the official asked as soon as he entered the premises of the company, "Why is this project so clean that it doesn't seem like a steel mill?"

After learning that the project has followed standards for environmental protection higher than the local standards, and that all the waste heat and gases produced during the production processes are recycled for power generation in a bid to promote circular economy and energy conservation and carbon emission reduction, the official's eyes widened in surprise.

Steelworkers are busy with production in a workshop of Alliance Steel (M) Sdn. Bhd. (Photo courtesy of Alliance Steel [M] Sdn. Bhd.)

Alliance Steel (M) Sdn. Bhd. has more than 4,000 employees, among whom most are local people who enjoy much higher salaries than the average local salary.

The east coast where Kuantan city is located is relatively backward in terms of economic development, a local employee told People's Daily, adding that local people, especially young people, used to go to the relatively developed west coast states of the country for employment.

Now that Alliance Steel (M) Sdn. Bhd. has been settled in the locality, he can work near his home and has significantly improved his quality of life, the young man said.

The development of the MCKIP has boosted investment in Malaysia and China while creating jobs in various fields from production to management, said Baidzawi.

Local contractors and suppliers have also participated in the development of the industrial park, which has benefited a good number of local small and medium-sized enterprises, according to him.

The Kuantan Port is the largest port on the east coast of Malaysia, as well as a pillar for the development of the MCKIP. The Malaysian government has listed it as one of the key ports of the country.

In 2013, the Beibu Gulf Port Group in south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region became a shareholder of the Kuantan Port, and this China-Malaysia cooperation has brought new vitality to the Malaysian port that enjoys a history of more than 40 years.

The Chinese company, together with the Malaysian operators, jointly upgraded the Kuantan Port and are working to expand the port.

According to Ye Jingtao, general manager of operations of Kuantan Port Consortium Sdn. Bhd. which manages the Kuantan Port, equipment at the new port is all imported from China due to limited local supply. To ensure that the employees can well operate the equipment, the Beibu Gulf Port Group has launched training programs and sent employees to Chinese ports for learning.

Under the joint efforts from both the Chinese and Malaysian sides, the handling capacity of the Kuantan Port has been constantly improved. Its throughput and revenue doubled year on year in 2015. And three years later, it became the largest public port for bulk cargoes of Malaysia and two new 150,000-ton deep water ports were built.

Baidzawi said that the MCKIP and the CMQIP are expected to build more complete industrial and supply chains between Malaysia and China, and deepen their pragmatic cooperation in trade, investment, technological cooperation, tourism, culture and other sectors, as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership has taken effect.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
The Biden administration formally determined on Monday that a Wall Street Journal reporter arrested in Russia on espionage charges has been wrongfully detained.

The designation elevates the case of Evan Gershkovich in the US government hierarchy and means that a dedicated state department office will take the lead on securing his release.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the determination on Monday, saying he condemned the arrest and Russias repression of independent media.

Today, Secretary Blinken made a determination that Evan Gershkovich is wrongfully detained by Russia, the department said in a statement.





I made the determination that the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained Evan Gershkovich. We call for his and Paul Whelans immediate release.  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) April 10, 2023

Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlins continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth.

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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 federal security service specifically accused Mr Gershkovich of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory.

The Wall Street Journal has denied the accusations.

The State Department said the US government will provide all appropriate support to Mr Gershkovich and his family and again called for Russia to release him as well as another detained US citizen, Paul Whelan.
A question for Easter Monday: would Australia be better governed if our political leaders were practising Christians? Would the economy work any better?

One thing thats changed since last Easter is that were no longer led by a prime minister happy to let his Christian faith be known. By contrast, I wouldnt know what Anthony Albaneses religious views are, if any.

An Easter Vigil held at St James Church in Sydney on Easter Sunday. Credit: Steven Siewert

Another thing thats changing is the decline of adherence to Christianity in its many denominations. This is partly the immigration of many people of other religions, but mainly the growing indifference of many from formerly churchgoing families. And, perhaps, the growing number of university graduates.

According to the 2021 census, the proportion of people identifying as Christian has fallen from 61 per cent to 44 per cent in a decade, with those reporting no religion rising from 22 per cent to 39 per cent.
In my last newsletter I wrote about the possible economic implications of artificial intelligence, arguing that while they might be large, history suggests that they will take longer to materialise than many people expect.

Life being what it is, several people came back at me, citing a prediction I made in 1998 that the internets growth would soon slow and that by 2005 or so, it will become clear that the internets impact on the economy has been no greater than the fax machines. I did indeed say that, in a throwaway piece I wrote for the magazine The Red Herring  a piece I still dont remember having written, but I guess I was trying to be provocative.

The internet may have made less of an economic impact than you ewould think. Credit: Louie Douvis

Obviously I was wrong about the internet petering out, and have admitted that. So it goes. Show me an economist who claims never to have made a bad prediction, and Ill show you someone whos either dishonest or unwilling to take intellectual risks.

But how wrong was I, really, about the internets economic impact? Or, since this shouldnt be about me, have the past few decades generally vindicated visionaries who asserted that information technology would change everything? Or have they vindicated techno-sceptics like economist Robert Gordon, who argued in a 2016 book that the innovations of the late 20th and early 21st century were far less fundamental than those between 1870 and 1940?
It is almost 15 years since I was diagnosed with Parkinsons, joining the estimated 250,000 Australians living with PD.

Parkinsons is often simplistically described as a neurological movement disorder. Even after a decade and a half, it surprises me with its odd, almost malicious intent, attacking when it is least expected and most unwelcome.

John Watkins: Im sick and tired of losing the capacity to do the common everyday things I used to do without thinking. Credit: Janie Barrett

In the past twelve months, almost all it touches has become steadily worse, but it has been the unrelenting attack on my mental health and peace of mind that has been hardest to cope with. Undue catastrophising and, over-the-top anxiety accompany every decision, event, or appointment, and with it a depression that is impossible to explain away, that spreads a pall over too many days. Finally, after months of false starts, my psychiatrist and I have found an antidepressant that has calmed the spirit, at least for a while.

Almost as bad has been the decay in my ability to comfortably move about. When rising from a sitting position, I have begun to totter, skip, shuffle and stumble around the house. Like a pinball, I lurch from one buffer to the next  door, lounge, window frame, wall, reaching out, trying to find an anchor point so that the message can get through to the brain that I am up and moving and that unless it helped, a catastrophic fall was coming my way.
A woman allegedly stabbed to death by her partner of 13 years has been remembered as someone who was funny and smart after the man faced court on a murder charge.

Tony Eriksen, 61, appeared via video link at Parramatta Bail Court with his cuffed hands clasped together on Monday morning.

Anthony Eriksen appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Monday morning. Credit: LinkedIn

The court heard how Eriksen allegedly fatally stabbed his 59-year-old partner Lisa Fenwick in the chest in their Mascot apartment on Church Avenue on Sunday evening.

Paramedics found her with multiple stab wounds, the court heard.
Loading I was in shackles. I couldnt say vaccine, Pfizer, Moderna whatever, I had to go soft on Russia-Ukraine. Boikov said being banned from YouTube was not a disaster, but three months ago he fled his comfortable life in Breakfast Point hoping to keep his broadcast alive. I was driving on the Anzac Bridge, I rang Day Street [police], they connected me to the inspector he said come in, hand yourself in, youre going back inside, parole wants ya, Boikov said. I said yeah nah. I gunned it to the consulate hoping I wouldnt get picked up.

Boikov had been given 10 months in prison for breaching a suppression order and naming an alleged paedophile at an anti-lockdown rally in May 2022. He was paroled and booked a ticket to Russia. Loading Then he spotted a pro-Ukraine protest at Town Hall and decided to start filming. An older man confronted Australias most vocal pro-Putinist, and Boikov pushed him away. The older man was injured tumbling down the steps. Police charged Boikov with assault and causing actual bodily harm. His passport and parole were revoked on the eve of the flight to Moscow.

The government want me, want me badly. I can be of no use if Im in prison bail denied or parole or whatever. I cant broadcast, he said. They call me Putins patriot, Putins main man in Australia, do we trust the Australian police to give me a fair go after what they did to me last time? A magistrate convicted Boikov in absentia in February and issued a second arrest warrant. Boikov became notorious for visiting Russia, where he posed with guns, and for celebrating Putins growing authoritarianism while dressed in military fatigues. Boikovs apartment in the Russian consulate overlooks street signs and posters on other diplomatic buildings supporting Ukraine. Credit: Wolter Peeters

Born in Sydney but of Russian heritage, Boikov visited his ancestral homeland in 2014 and met one of the three Russian nationalists later convicted in absentia and sentenced to life imprisonment for downing the passenger airliner MH17 over Ukraine. Boikov refuses to accept a European courts ruling that pro-Russian forces committed the mass murder of 298 people including 38 Australians. He called it a tragedy but believes it was an accident. On return to Sydney, he was questioned by multiple security agencies before being released. But his following grew dramatically during the pandemic as he railed against vaccines and lockdowns. Simeon Boikov meets Igor Girkin, aka Strelkov, one of three Russian nationalists convicted in absentia of downing flight MH17. Credit: Svoboda Alliance NSW Inc

I think he was hitting the prominent core themes of the freedom rallies: the government as the problem, theyre trying to control you, the anti-vaccine mandates, said Dr Josh Roose, a researcher of right-wing extremism. Loading He certainly exploited the lockdown to increase his profile. Boikov would drive around Sydney with the Eureka flag flapping behind his car, filming confrontations with police as they pulled him over and debated public health orders. Police took a special interest in Boikov as he whipped up an audience online and crowds during anti-lockdown rallies.

They were handing out infringements like confetti, load him up, get him off the road, Boikov said. Boikovs official request for citizenship and asylum from hostile state - Australia. The police turned me into what I am. Roose said Boikov had come full circle since the Ukraine invasion, pivoting once more to become Australias number one Putin propagandist. Hes no Julian Assange  Hes a cheerleader for Russian fascism and anti-democratic forces in Australia, Roose said.

The Russians may well have chosen a more articulate figurehead, I think hes an accidental one, I think they dont know what to do with him. YouTubes ban has relegated Boikov to obscure corners of the internet where his remaining tens of thousands of followers laud Putins bloody invasion and spread unhinged conspiracy theories. If Boikov reaches Russia he said he would avoid the conflict zone because it would be a waste of talent to hand him a Kalashnikov. The fighting for me is all on the political front and informational front, thats my interest, he said. The Herald understands diplomatic discussions are under way about how to get Boikov out of Australia, but he said his links to the Kremlin were overblown.

Boikov with priests and officials in Russia in 2015 holding the flag of Novorussia, an unrecognised area of southern Ukraine that Russia claims. It demoralises me sometimes, I just wish someone [from Russian officialdom] would say well done for f--- sake, he laughed. What saves me is there is no formal link to the Russian government. Loading If Boikov is not a useful trade, he may be forced to leave the consulate and finish his time in prison in Australia. Only then will he be able to get on a plane to Moscow. Inside the consulate hallways, diplomatic staff keep a distance. His wife visits him each day to cook.
Fortunately, my then local state MP, Clover Moore, intervened and eventually the NSW Attorney-General ceased to pursue the costs. Walls is among a growing number of Australians calling for a rethink of the system for assessing patients complaints about suspected medical injuries and for providing compensation. Under the existing law, patients seeking compensation for medical injuries must sue a healthcare professional or provider, typically for negligence. The process is so time-consuming, emotionally taxing and costly as to be prohibitive. People dont always realise that no-win no-pay arrangements [with plaintiff lawyers] do not protect you from being potentially liable for the costs of the defendants if they win, Walls said. In addition, some treatment injuries, such as an adverse drug reaction, may not involve negligence.

A target for reform Professor Richard Epstein, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the University of NSW, wrote in the Royal College of Physicians Future Healthcare Journal last month that the inequity of medical negligence-based adversarial litigation in the USA, UK and Australia is a recognised target for reform. He examined potential options for reform including, in the long term, the introduction in Australia of a no-fault compensation scheme  such as in Scandinavia, France and New Zealand  funded by taxation and by redirected medical indemnity fees. Such schemes are administrative, may sit alongside court-based options, and do not require a claimant to prove negligence. Claims are processed faster than court cases are heard, but the sums paid to successful claimants are typically much lower than court-ordered compensation. Australia already has no-fault compensation schemes to cover adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, motor accidents and workplace injuries.

The Australian Lawyers Alliance has previously expressed its opposition to no-fault schemes where they preclude suing for compensation, saying that empirical studies have demonstrated that no-fault and welfare-based schemes fail to provide anywhere near adequate levels of compensation. A first draft In 2011, the Productivity Commission recommended not only a National Disability Insurance Scheme but a National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS), which would provide no-fault compensation for catastrophic injuries, including those arising from medical treatment. The previous Labor government started preliminary work with the states and territories on the NIIS before losing power in 2013. Federal Labor returned to power in May last year. Bill Shorten, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, said in October last year that I do think the injury insurance scheme should be part of the discussion in the current review of the NDIS, which is due to report in October.

Lessons from New Zealand Under the New Zealand model, patients may seek compensation from the state-owned Accident Compensation Corporation for medical treatment injuries. A patient needs to show a causal link between their injuries and the treatment, but not negligence. Treatment includes an adverse drug reaction, an incorrect diagnosis and a failure to provide treatment at all or in a timely manner. Epstein, visiting scientist at the Garvan Institute, told this masthead that there have been some gains and some disappointments from no-fault compensation adoption in New Zealand. The big wins have been for improved patient equity, access, and time to dispute resolution, but there has been no hard evidence for reduced overall system costs, better safety standards, or greater deterrence of medical malpractice, he said.

The no-fault system may also be less traumatic and more civilised for both plaintiffs and defendants, partly due to clearer separation of professional disciplinary proceedings from plaintiff compensation, although intangibles like this are hard to quantify. Epstein said there had been many ongoing contributions to the debate about a no-fault compensation scheme and yet, for whatever reason, the medicolegal reform clock hasnt ticked much in Australia since the Menzies era. If prioritising fairness is a national goal, inputs from stakeholders and overseas experts should start being harmonised, he said. He described the UK House of Commons Report on NHS Litigation Reform as required reading. The central recommendation of the UK report was that an independent administrative body be set up to investigate medical injury cases and determine eligibility for compensation.

Challenges in design and funding Peter Breadon, health and aged care program director at the Grattan Institute, said the potential benefits of a no-fault scheme included quicker results for patients, potentially lower [insurance] premiums for doctors and, if designed well, less complexity and less defensive medicine. A lot of the challenges are in the design and the funding, Breadon said. Court-appointed experts A 2003 review of negligence laws, led by the late former judge David Ipp, QC, recommended consideration be given to trialling a system of court-appointed experts in negligence cases to avoid the need for parties to seek out expert evidence.

Walls said that had there been a court-appointed expert, the result in my case might have been very different. Epstein said that as a short-term measure it seems logical that this change could improve plaintiff equity and access, but it might also prove easy to criticise in practice when dispute outcomes are compared with the adversarial system. A wholesale change to some form of no-fault system remains the more ambitious reform to pursue, so one risk of a transitional system is that this momentum for deeper change could be weakened, he said. Harm on repeat Vickie Veitch sustained life-threatening injuries during a routine prolapse operation in Victoria and spent more than four years fighting for compensation. She is a founding director of the FairCare Alliance, a charitable organisation in Victoria that supports and advocates for injured patients.

Vickie Veitch in Melbourne in April. Credit: Penny Stephens These compensation cases are brutal, Veitch said. I had the best lawyer; I really did. Going into that adversarial system with your healthcare provider is ... harm on repeat. Her case has since been resolved, with no admission of fault from the healthcare professional or facility. A petition Veitch teamed with Walls to launch a petition to the Albanese government late last year for a fairer national compensation system for injured patients, starting with a parliamentary inquiry to investigate a no-fault compensation scheme.
Beth Radulski was well into adulthood when she learnt she was autistic, but the diagnosis triggered a welcome turnaround in her academic career.

Before her diagnosis in her mid-20s, education was a constant and debilitating struggle for Radulski, who failed year 9 and quit a number of university courses.

Education was a constant struggle for Beth Radulski before her autism diagnosis in her 20s. Credit: Luis Ascui

Today she is a PhD candidate at La Trobe Universitys Department of Social Inquiry, where she is spearheading a groundbreaking employment program at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre.

Radulski attributes her educational setbacks to habitual masking and camouflaging her autistic traits to try to fit into a neurotypical world.
Two men attacked in Northbridge on Saturday night believe they were the victims of a random homophobic attack.

Adrian Lea and a friend were walking along James Street around midnight when they were approached by a group of men who questioned them about their sexuality.

Adrian Lea believes he was the victim of a homophobic bashing. Credit: Facebook

The group then set upon and bashed the pair. Lea suffered a broken nose and told 9 News Perth the attack did not stop until bystanders stepped in.

Both of them jumped on me and starting hitting me in the face, he said.
The nations biggest banks and financial services companies will be summoned to a series of unprecedented war-gaming exercises to test how they would respond to debilitating cyberattacks that could upend the lives of tens of millions of Australians.

Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil said recent attacks on Optus, Medibank and Latitude Financial were just the tip of the iceberg when it came to damaging cyberattacks, and the government was preparing for more profound breaches that crippled critical infrastructure assets such as the water supply and electricity grid.

Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil says the government needs to prepare for worst-case scenarios. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The groups that are conducting cyberattacks are becoming more professionalised, industrialised, powerful and effective, she said.

ONeil, who is responsible for cybersecurity, said the impacts of recent large data breaches had been real and consequential ... but when you think about the impacts of the failure of a major hospital, the interruption of a traffic network or serious disruption of our banking system, the impacts can get much worse.
Trumps arrest on charges of falsifying company records to conceal a hush money payout to a porn star has only boosted his standing in the polls. In the week or so after his arrest, his support among Republican voters leapt by around 20 percentage points. And why shouldnt it? Trump might be an affront to democracy, but the effort to pursue him over this case is another. The prosecutor is an elected politician from the opposing political party, the Democrats. This is not an aberration. It is a serious flaw in the US justice system. The Trump case merely highlights it. Americans think this situation is normal because they are inured to it. But how can the prosecution possibly be fair and dispassionate when its run by a politician pursuing a career in politics? In Australia, as in other Westminster democracies, prosecutors are employed by an independent office of state and serve as impartial public servants. In New York County, where the Trump case is taking place, you have to run for election to become the chief prosecutor, called a district attorney. You have to raise funds, campaign for votes, make political promises and, inevitably, be a Democrat. Every New York County district attorney since 1942 has belonged to that party.

The incumbent is Alvin Bragg, who campaigned for the post while talking publicly about his investigations into Trump. Even if Bragg is operating strictly according to objective rules in prosecuting Trump, many Americans will never believe it. This is not to argue that a politician should escape prosecution for crimes; it is to observe that a politically partisan justice system will never be accepted universally as a fair one. The huge sympathy vote that weve so far seen for Trump is the inevitable result. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is a Democrat, like every New York County DA since 1949. Credit: Bloomberg And, as Americas democracy continues to teeter, a competing model is standing in the international marketplace to offer countries an alternative. Chinas President Xi Jinping says that the China model for a better social governance system offers a new option for other countries and nations if they want to speed up their development while preserving their independence. The Chinese Communist Party is waging a systemic challenge to the Western-dominated global system. And it is inviting other nations to join it. As the NATO alliance put it last year, Beijings stated ambitions and coercive policies, it asserted, challenge our interests, security and values.

Loading As Australia learnt in the last three years, Beijing readily uses sticks in its attempts to dominate other nations, unsuccessfully in Australias case. But it also offers very appealing carrots. Chinas Belt and Road initiative continues to offer countries around the world investment on a vast scale, with an estimated $US1 trillion already lent to 150 countries for major infrastructure under the project. This made China the worlds largest official creditor. And as the Belt and Road scheme faded from the news somewhat, Beijing has been busy retooling it. It has made fresh loans totalling $US240 billion to bail out debtor nations floundering under the burden of repayments, according to Boston University research published last month. Lessons are being learnt; the scheme rolls on. One of the researchers, Christoph Trebesch, says that in Chinas financing behaviour we see clear historical parallels to when the US started its rise as a global financial power, from the 1930s onwards and especially after World War II.
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New broker inspired by solving 'big puzzle' for clients Move from banking career motivated by greater choices

Levelling the investment playing field for build-to-rent homes could deliver 150,000 new apartments and help address Australias stark housing affordability challenges, according to a new study commissioned by the Property Council of Australia.

The study by EY found that a level investment playing field for BTR developments could create 150,000 rental homes over 10 years, significantly helping the Australian government hit its ambitious target of 1 million homes by 2029, and considerably easing the pressures in the rental market.

BTR housing, which is relatively new to the Australian residential market, is currently valued at $16.8 billion with the potential to expand to a $290 billion sector, which would see the creation of up to 350,000 new apartments in an optimistic scenario, the report also found.

Mike Zorbas (pictured above), Property Council of Australia CEO, said build-to-rent housing is the missing ingredient in Australias housing mix.

With a 79,300-home deficit to 2033, Australia needs better planning, more land supply, proper housing targets, and a national strategy on build-to-rent and purpose-built student accommodation, Zorbas said. The potential to create 150,000 homes over the next 10 years with just one asset class shows build-to-rent is about as close to a housing policy silver bullet as they come.

Australia is grappling with a worsening housing affordability crisis where state governments miss their housing targets and planning systems fail to keep up. To offer more housing choices and affordable options to Australians, we need to tap into institutional investment in build-to-rent housing from Australia and abroad.

More supply means downward pressure on the cost of renting and buying, and people who live in build-to-rent housing will enjoy the benefits of professionally managed properties, good locations, superior amenities and long-term security of tenure.

The report, released ahead of the May federal budget, found equalizing the tax regime for managed investment trusts with other institutional asset classes would efficiently boost Australias housing supply as well as help those who were already pioneering BTR in the country.

High-level financial modelling undertaken as part of the study showed that if the managed investment trust withholding tax was halved to 15%, in line with other property asset classes, three times as many BTR projects would proceed compared to a business-as-usual approach. The Australian government would also get a 30% rise in tax receipts over a 10-year period.

Australias BTR market is new and small compared to other countries. EY estimated that the sector has the current size of $16.87 billion with only 11 operating build-to-rent projects, and another 72 projects in the pipeline. Thats just 0.2% of the total value of the residential housing sector. If the sector grew to just 3% of Australias residential stock, it could be valued at $290 billion, according to the reports conservative estimates.

In the US, BTR housing units numbered more than 20 million, representing 12% of the countrys total housing stock. In the UK, the BTR sector has grown exponentially in recent years from 47,000 units in 2016 to over 240,000 just last year.

The growth of build-to-rent in the UK and US has been strongly supported by governments at all levels welcoming institutional investment, Zorbas said.

The report proposed to apply a 15% managed investment trust withholding tax rate for foreign investors, a 10% rate for affordable housing, allow institutions to claim GST, promote the sector, and address the regulatory barriers for domestic superfund investors.

Its critical that investments in build-to-rent housing need to be eligible for the 15% withholding tax rate, and an incentivised tax rate of 10% for investors that choose to incorporate the supply of affordable housing dwellings within their build-to-rent projects, Zorbas said. To accomplish the ambitious goals established in the National Housing Accord, the government needs to level the build-to-rent investment playing field in the May 2023 budget.

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are said to be "unable" to return to the United Kingdom without the security they need. (Photo: REUTERS)

A new explosive book, "Our King: Charles III" by royal commentator Robert Jobson, claims that discussions at the "highest level" took place regarding whether to strip Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles.

According to the book, senior palace officials believed that Prince Harry had "turned his back" on his family after he and Meghan departed from royal life in 2020.

However, King Charles was not supportive of removing the titles from his son and daughter-in-law, the book reveals.

A palace insider shared with Robert Jobson that many officials jokingly suggested that Prince Harry was suffering from "Stockholm syndrome," saying, "There was a point when officials joked Harry was the victim of Stockholm syndrome, and he was Meghan's hostage, but now most just feel Harry has turned his back on everything he has known."

The book claims that King Charles is deeply troubled by the growing rift between him and his younger son, and wishes to see more of his two grandchildren from the Sussexes. "The fact is that Charles is deeply saddened by the widening gulf between him and his youngest son, and wishes he could see more of the Sussexes' two children," the book states.

It further adds, "Without doubt, Harry's stream of complaints have threatened to upset the harmony of the new reign. Each TV interview to promote his autobiography has made the chances of healing the rift with his father seem less likely."

The book suggests that if Prince Harry continues to criticize the monarchy, King Charles will face mounting pressure. "Ultimately, despite Charles' enduring love for his son, he will come under increasing pressure if Harry continues to attack the monarchy. At that point, the King would have two options: put up with the spreading stain on his reign or take action to limit its scope," the book concludes.


Alliance Air has 21 aircraft in its fleet. These include 20 ATR turboprop planes and a Hindustan Aeronautics-made Dornier-228. It operates 120-130 flights daily, many of them to destinations where it is sole operator. Pilots of government-owned Alliance Air went on a flash strike on Monday seeking a salary revision that causes nearly half its flights to be cancelled.



"It is a flash strike. There was no notice or advance intimation about the mass sick leave," said Alliance Air's chief executive officer Vineet Sood. Its operations went haywire on Monday as over half of its 200 pilots reported sick. By the evening the airline was able to operate around 60 per cent of scheduled flights.



In fact, restoration of the minimum guaranteed payment of 70 hours is also one of the four demands put forth by Air India pilots to their management last month. Alliance Air, until last January, was a subsidiary of Air India, which was sold by the government to the Tata group. During the Covid-19 pandemic, like other airlines, Alliance Air effected a pay cut for its pilots. The agitating pilots want their salaries restored to pre-Covid levels.

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"We are persuading the pilots to come and negotiate and we are hopeful they will," Sood said.



Alliance Air is a key operator of the government's rural connectivity scheme, and links un-served towns. In fact, it is sole operator on 29 routes and the disruption of flights has caused some concern for the management. A civil aviation ministry official said the pilots' demands will need to be examined. "The company has been making losses. We need to see whether it's genuine or not, and the impact it will have on the airline. Mass sick leave is not the correct way to address the issue," he said.



The airline said it had to cancel flights on 24 routes due to the flash strike. Apart from the strike, it blamed supply chain disruption and delay in availability of spares for its inability to operate flights on these routes. In a statement, Alliance Air said that since no notice was served by agitating pilots, the management has taken a serious view on the development.

"The said action on the part of cockpit crew has caused inconvenience to the travelling public, brought disrespect to the airline and also resulted in a revenue loss. Passengers were kept informed of these cancellations and have been facilitated either with full refund or have been accommodated on alternate flights," the airline said in a statement.


This includes operations like removal of remaining gypsum and leachate handling operations, among other things. While granting the permission to the Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta firm, the Court relied on the High-Powered Expert Committee report and the recommendation of the State of Tamil Nadu. The Court has permitted it to carry out certain activities towards upkeep of the Plant which would not only ensure the safety of the Plant but also the surroundings, a statement said on Monday. A three-member Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Justice D Y Chandrachud, has allowed Sterlite Copper to carry out maintenance works at its Thoothukudi plant.



Earlier in the month, the Ministry of Home Affairs had informed the Rajya Sabha that it was examining complaints against certain NGOs for misusing foreign funds to organise protests around the Vedanta Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. During the hearing, the upkeep of the plant was supported by a lawyer appointed by the non governmental organisations, representing nine panchayats, 13 coastal Sangams, suppliers and downstream units, as this would support generating livelihood for the surrounding communities, it added.



According to industry sources, the net loser of the closure was the Indian economy. From being a net exporter of copper in 2017-18, India is now an importer. The plant used to produce about 40 per cent of Indias copper demand and contributed about Rs 2,500 crore to the exchequer, 12 per cent of the Thoothukudi ports revenue, and 95 per cent market share of sulphuric acid in Tamil Nadu. Production at the plant has been suspended since 2018, after protests broke out against the firms plan to double its annual capacity to 800,000 tonnes. Subsequent police firing caused the death of 13 people and injured 102. At the peak of the pandemic last April, the Supreme Court allowed the firm to produce oxygen for medical purposes.

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Last year, a commission headed by justice Aruna Jagadeesan, set up by the Tamil Nadu government to look into the police firing during the anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi, has blamed the police for firing against unarmed protestors. It stated that no notice was issued to warn the protestors ahead of the firing. The commission also recommended a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to the kin of the deceased, including the Rs 20 lakh already paid.
The government should earmark the entire spectrum available in the medium frequency range of 6 gigahertz band for mobile telephony so as to enable them to deliver high-speed data services in the range of 50-100 mbps, telecom industry body COAI said in a letter to the Department of Telecom.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), whose members include Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea, in the letter to telecom secretary K Rajaraman has said that mobile service providers need 2 megahertz frequencies in the medium band spectrum to enhance user experience and entire 1200 megahertz of frequencies available in 6 Ghz band should be earmarked for them.

"We recommend that the most optimal allocation for the country in the 6GHz band is to identify the entire 5925-7125 MHz i.e., 1200MHz spectrum for IMT applications as this would maximize the economic and societal benefits for achieving the national target of 1 trillion digital economy," COAI Director General SP Kochhar said in the letter dated April 7.

At present, the 6 Ghz band is earmarked for mobile, fixed wireless (wifi) and fixed satellite services.

"Licensed 6 GHz is ideal for commercial success and deployment of 5G NR, 5.5 G, and 6G in the future. An additional 2 GHz of mid-band spectrum would be required to meet the IMT-2020 user-experienced data rates of 100 Mbit per sec on the downlink and 50 Mbit per second on the uplink in cities with a high density of population as per GSMA," Kochhar said.

According to the letter, the government is likely to vacate spectrum from broadcasters or satellite users in C band (3670-4000 Ghz) for 5G and 6G use.

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"However, even this spectrum from C band will not be enough to reach the required 2GHz spectrum for IMT in mid-band. It is essential that 1200 MHz available in 6GHz is allocated for mobile communications in India to get this critical 2GHz spectrum in mid-band," Kochhar said.

He said that shortage of 6 GHz spectrum would compel TSPs to densify networks to meet 5G performance requirements which will lead to 60 per cent higher annual costs.

"Without densification, 5G download speeds would be reduced to 50 per cent if less spectrum is allocated in the 6 GHz band," Kochhar said.

At present telecom operators are using frequency in the spectrum bands of 700 Mhz, 800 Mhz, 3300 Mhz and 26 Ghz band for 5G services.
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The Union Animal Husbandry Ministry was recently pulled up by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and Animal Husbandry for the challenges farmers face from state government officials and insurance companies. The Centre is considering a comprehensive livestock insurance scheme just like Prime Ministers Fasal Bima Yojana, The Hindu reported. Currently, less than 1 per cent of the countrys cattle population is insured and the average yearly premium is 4.5 per cent of the insured amount.



The Centre is planning to introduce the scheme ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Recently, the ministry was pulled up by a Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) for zero insurance coverage of livestock in 2022-23.



For this purpose, the ministry recently held a meeting with several insurance companies and other stakeholders. The main focus of the scheme will be to reduce the premium to attract more farmers to enroll in the insurance scheme. The ministry is considering waiving premiums for cattle rearers from Scheduled Caste (SC)-Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities.

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The Centrally-sponsored scheme is being managed by the respective State Livestock Development Boards. The new comprehensive scheme will replace the current Centrally-sponsored scheme which is functional in approx 100 districts of the country and is managed by the respective State Livestock Development Boards.



The report further added that the ministry prefers direct transfer of benefits to farmers accounts. According to the ministry, farmers are often stuck in a fight between state government officials and insurance companies.


This was stated on Monday by Sumit Dawra, special secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). After the adoption of the Prime Ministers GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP) by all key central infrastructure ministries and departments, the industry department is now nudging state governments to weave it into their infrastructure projects.



The DPIIT has also been conducting workshops to promote wide adoption of PM GatiShakti. As of now, four regional workshops have been conducted with 30 states and Union Territories (UTs). The fifth workshop will be held in Varanasi from April 11 to April 12. Apart from planning infrastructure projects, states have been asked to identify critical infrastructure gaps.



The GatiShakti NMP was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi one-and-a-half years ago. The masterplan is an integrated digital plan depicting the economic zones and the multimodal connectivity infrastructure. The focus in workshops has been on demonstrating the adoption of PM GatiShati NMP. Special emphasis has been given to maintaining data quality and ensuring multimodal connectivity to economic clusters. The focus is also on ensuring access to schools, primary health centres, besides creating an efficient logistics ecosystem in the country, Dawra told Business Standard.

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While all states and UTs have uploaded data on the NMP, the Centre has now urged them to conduct inter-department meetings. It aims to integrate the interventions of various ministries and the central and state government departments. It addresses the missing connectivity gaps in such zones.



States have been asked to focus on developing logistics parks, integrated with warehouses, check posts, land custom stations and temperature-controlled facilities in their respective policy frameworks. This will help in interacting with investors and regional business associations to understand the interventions needed for both infrastructure and logistics.



Citing a case regarding the use of NMP by states, Dawra said that under Chhattisgarh governments Narva Garwa Ghurwa Bari Yojana, 300 rural industrial parks will be developed. States have also been asked to give industry status to logistics, which will enable access to finance on easier terms.

Similarly, use of the master plan expedited 5G rollout in Chandigarh. Apart from that disaster management plans were also developed in Goa. For instance, a tool was developed to identify high and low-level flood line areas in Goa and an evacuation plan was also developed, Dawra said.
Indias telecom instrument imports from China increased by just 0.8 per cent, while that from Taiwan jumped 57 per cent. Taiwans growing share was significant also because Indias overall telecom instrument imports rose by 7.5 per cent during the period.

During April-February 2022-23, Taiwans share in Indias import of telecom instruments jumped to 9 per cent from 2.3 per cent in the same period a year earlier. Though China continued to be Indias major source of high-tech imports, its share declined from 45.8 per cent to 43 per cent during this period.


Headers (also known as sender IDs) are combinations of characters or numbers used by various banks, marketing firms, utility providers, and government offices to send bulk SMS messages to consumers. These IDs are used to identify the sender's brand or company name. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has blocked up to 120 headers operated by a group linked to a Chinese entity in the last two months, according to data released by the Union Home Ministry.



Giving an example, a ministry official said that the header of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution (WBSEDC) was compromised and taken over by a Chinese host, resulting in fraud with consumers who received messages about their outstanding electricity bills. Meanwhile, an investigation by the ministry's Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) revealed that the headers were hosted from China, The Hindu reported.



Another official mentioned that the scam was running for a minimum of three years and was only recently brought to the attention of I4C officials. "The SMS contained malicious links, which, when clicked, would lead to financial loss for the consumer as the hacker would get access to the persons phone. Consumers would fall for it as the header genuinely belongs to the state electricity distribution company," the official was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

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After I4C's investigation, Trai contacted telecom providers, requesting a response within 30 days regarding active or inactive headers. The origin of the blocked headers' IP addresses was traced to China, said the official.



I4C has been a priority for the Centre to strengthen since its inception in 2020. The I4C's Threat Analytical Unit (TAU) analyses financial crime and fraud patterns and reports to central agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Enforcement Directorate, and police forces. Earlier on February 16, Trai issued instructions to Access Service Providers to curb header and message template abuse. They were directed to re-verify and block unregistered headers and message templates within 30 and 60 days, respectively.



Scammers hack into these companies' websites before contacting victims and claiming to be from their bank and offering to resolve their complaints. Unfortunately, many consumers fall for this ruse and provide sensitive information, such as their One-Time Passcode (OTP), giving the scammer access to their bank account and resulting in a loss of funds, according to an official who spoke to The Hindu. According to TAU reports, scammers have been using consumer redressal websites of banks and commercial firms to defraud people.


The round 1 seat allotment list of UCEED has details such as the candidate roll number, rank, and seat allotted. Allotted candidates' seats can reach the institution and fulfilled the admission methods within the specified time. Candidates can inspect the UCEED 2023 round 1 seat allotment result on the website at uceed.iitb.ac.in. IIT Bombay is to release the UCEED 2023 round 1 seat allotment result today i.e. April 10, 2023. Applied candidates for the seat allotment method can go to the official website of UCEED to look at the result.

UCEED 2023: Counselling details

Submission of Online Application for BDes Programme- Mar 14 to 31, 2023

Seat allotment round 1- Apr 10, 2023

Seat allotment round 2- May 10, 2023

Seat allotment round 3- Jun 10, 2023. There will be three rounds of seat allotment for eligible students, according to the available schedule. The complete schedule is available to candidates here.

UCEED 2023: Checking details (Seat allotment round 1)



 Visit the official UCEED 2023 website. Today, the seat allocation results for UCEED 2023 round 1 will be posted online. The choices made by students in the allotment applications will be used to allocate seats. To check the seat allocation result, candidates can follow the steps below:

Also Read IIT Bombay declares UCEED 2023 results online for B.Des programmes CSAB 2022: NEUT seat allotment result out; How to check, download JoSAA 2022 round 5 allotment result declared; check details here Tamil Nadu NEET PG 2022 Counselling Round 2 Allotment List released NEET PG Counselling 2022 final merit list result declared; check details Application window for CUET-UG reopens, no change in the syllabus Application window for CUET-UG to reopen for 3 days, no change in syllabus Kerala Samastha exam results announced: Here's how to check and download UP Board 2023 class 10th, 12th Result yet to be declared: full details here Indian Army Agniveer Admit Card 2023: Everything you need to know

 Enter the login information.  Select the UCEED 2023 seat allocation round.
The UPPSC 2022 exams were held between September 27 and October 01, 2022, at different exam centres in Lucknow, Prayagraj, and Ghaziabad. A total of 5,311 candidates appeared for the main exam, and of these, 1,070 candidates cleared the exams and qualified for the interview round. The interview round was held between February 2 and March 21, 2023.

Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission announced the PCS-22 final result on Friday. All the candidates who appeared for UPPSC PCS 2022 exam can check and download their respective results on the official website of uppsc.up.nic.in.
Senior leaders attended the meeting

The meeting was attended by the party's senior leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and other members of the CEC. They were joined by senior party leaders from the state such as Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, as they deliberated on the names of probable candidates.

Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to announce the list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections on Monday or Tuesday. A three-hour meeting was held by BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) on Sunday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from his Karnataka tour, to finalise the candidates for Karnataka Assembly polls.


The regulator has given 12 months to comply with the norms for existing contracts, which will come up for renewal before October 1. For agreements that are due for renewal on or after October 1, the RBI-regulated financial institutions have been asked to comply with the norms within 36 months of the renewal dates. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday released the final norms for outsourcing of information technology- (IT-) related services by financial sector entities, which will come into effect from October 1.



The agreements that come into force on or after October 1 shall comply with the provisions of these directions from the date of agreement itself, RBI said. With respect to new outsourcing arrangements (agreements that come into force before October 1), the entities must comply with the new norms preferably from the agreement date but not later than 12 months from the date of issuances of the norms.



Further, such foreign banks shall be subject to a comply or explain approach wherein such foreign banks, may deviate from any specific part of these Directions subject to examination and acceptance by the RBI of a reasonably justifiable explanation for the same, the norms said. The new norms are applicable for Indian banks, NBFCs, primary cooperative banks, credit information companies, and all other entities that are regulated by the RBI. In the case of foreign banks operating in India through branch mode, reference to the board or board of directors in these directions should be read as reference to the head office or controlling office which has the oversight over the branch operations in India.

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The board will be responsible for putting in place a framework for approval of IT outsourcing activities depending on risks and materiality. The RBI said that outsourcing of any activity shall not diminish the regulated entities obligations as also of its board and senior management, who shall be ultimately responsible for the outsourced activity. The regulated entities must have a comprehensive board approved plan on the IT outsourcing policy.



Further, the norms said the REs should have a robust grievance redressal mechanism and that responsibility for redressal of customers grievances related to outsourced services would rest with the RE. According to the norms, the regulated entities should ensure that the service provider, if not a group company, shall not be owned or controlled by any director, or key managerial personnel, or approver of the outsourcing arrangement of the RE, or their relatives. An exception can be made with the approval of the board.



The new norms have also put additional requirements for cross border outsourcing. Outsourcing arrangements shall not affect the rights of a customer against the RE, including the ability of the customer to obtain redressal as applicable under relevant laws, RBI said.


RBI has also reduced the number of documents an entity has to furnish along with the application form to register as a CIC from 52 to 18. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reviewed the system of processing applications for registration as core investment companies (CICs), making it smoother and hassle free. It has amended the application form companies must fill out to register as CICs, making it more structured and aligned with the rules that govern such entities.



In the event of the Reserve Bank calling for further documents in addition to those mentioned in the list, the applicant company must respond within a stipulated time of one month, RBI said in a statement on Monday. However, the central bank has reserved the right to call for any further documents beyond the 18 that the entity is mandated to furnish, in order to satisfy itself on the eligibility of the company seeking CIC registration.



Among the documents the entity seeking registration as a CIC has to furnish are: Audited balance sheets and profit & loss accounts for the past three year, along with directors & auditors report, or for such shorter period as are available, business plan of the company for the next three years, and projected balance sheets. A CIC is a non-banking financial company (NBFC) that carries on the business of acquisition of shares and securities and holds not less than 90 per cent of its net assets in the form of investment in equity shares, preference shares, bonds, debentures, debt or loans in group companies. Further investments in equity shares in group companies should constitute not less than 60 per cent of its net assets.

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Further, the entity has to submit credit bureau ratings of its directors of the company, board resolution to the effect that the company has not accepted/solicited any public deposit and will not accept the same in future without the prior approval of Reserve Bank of India in writing, among other things.
After losing the national party status, the Trinamool Congress is exploring legal options to challenge the decision of the Election Commission, a party source said on Monday.

The EC withdrew the national party status of the TMC, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) earlier on Monday.

The party is exploring legal options to challenge this decision by EC, a TMC source said.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party did not issue any official reaction.

The opposition BJP mocked the TMC following the development.

"TMC lost the national party status & will be recognised as a regional party. Didi's aspiration to grow TMC find no place as people know TMC runs a most corrupt, full of appeasement & terror govt. Govt's fall is also certain as people of WB will not tolerate this govt for long," BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said in a tweet.

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In an order issued on Monday, the EC said that NCP and TMC will be recognised as state parties in Nagaland and Meghalaya respectively, based on their performance in the recently concluded assembly elections.

The TMC was formed on January 1, 1998, after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee left the Congress to form her own political party.

After two unsuccessful attempts in 2001 and 2006, the party came to power by defeating the Left Front in 2011, riding the crest of massive public outrage against the communists.

The party, in recent years, has tried to expand its footprint across the country to pose a direct challenge to the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, the efforts did not bear much fruit.

The BJP, Congress, CPI(M), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), National People's Party (NPP) and the AAP are now national parties.


The Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate on the Delhi-London-Heathrow route returned shortly after departure. An Air India flight to London returned to Delhi on Monday due to the "serious unruly behaviour" of a passenger onboard.



Officials said that the accused person continued to create a scene even after verbal and written warnings and the pilot-in-command had to return to Delhi. Subsequently, the accused person was handed over to the concerned security authorities and adequate action was initiated. An FIR was lodged as the accused person allegedly misbehaved and caused physical harm to two of the cabin crew members.



An FIR has also been lodged with the police. "Safety, security and dignity of all on board is important to us at Air India. We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight to depart for London this afternoon," added the spokesperson. "Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members. The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing," said an Air India spokesperson on Monday.

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Last week, a drunk flyer on board an Indigo flight from Delhi to Bengaluru tried to open the flap of the emergency doors. Subsequently, the matter was reported to the concerned agencies and appropriate action was initiated. Airlines have witnessed many such incidents of unruly behaviour by some air passengers in the last few months.



In order to deal withnunruly behaviour, DGCA has issued CAR, Section 3- Air Transport, Series M, and Part VI titled 'Handling of unruly/ disruptive passengers'. During the end of March, two passengers travelling on an Indigo flight from Dubai to Mumbai continued consuming alcohol onboard despite multiple warnings from the crew. They verbally abused the crew and co-passengers.



--IANS 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 Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

kvm/dpb


On April 5, Amul tweeted, "A new wave of freshness with milk and curd is coming to Bengaluru. More information coming soon. #LaunchAlert" The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) has been facing backlash in Karnataka from locals as well as politicians from the Opposition. This comes after the cooperative that sells dairy products under the brand name "Amul" announced last week that it would start selling its products in the state.



What is the Amul-Nandini controversy? The main opposition came from the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). It sells dairy products in Karnataka under the brand name "Nandini". Reports state that KMF is the second-largest milk procurer in the country.



Nandini has also kept its price points low at Rs 39 per litre. Amul, however, is expected to enter the state at a higher price point. Nandini is the largest supplier of milk in Bengaluru. It accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the total market in the city. Opposition parties have said that the entry of Amul is a "conspiracy" to kill the brand Nandini.

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The protests are being held in order to protect KMF's place in the state's market. The entry of Amul is being seen as an attempt to trample upon KMF. "Amul Taaza and Amul Gold, our packet milk brands, will be available for Rs 54 a litre and Rs 64 a litre each in Bengaluru," Jayen Mehta, managing director (MD) of GCMMF told the Financial Express (FE).



Last week, it announced its entry in Karnataka via an e-commerce channel. Soon, social media was flooded with hashtags like #SaveNandini and #GobackAmul. GCMMF is India's largest dairy producer. It sells a wide variety of products including milk, curd, chocolates and cream under its brand "Amul". In 2022-23, it registered an 18.5 per cent jump in its turnover to Rs 55,055 crore. In FY24, it is aiming to touch Rs 66,000 crore in revenue.

Inauguration of Mandya Dairy and Amit Shah's statement

The protests started after Union Home Minister Amit Shah, late last year, called for a merger between KMF and Amul. While inaugurating a mega-dairy in Madya in Karnataka, Shah said that if Amul and Nandini work jointly, they will be primary dairies in three years. He added that if Karnataka and Gujarat come together, it will benefit the farmers all over the country.



Politics around the Amul-Nandini controversy This was seen as a hint towards the "merger" of the two co-operatives. Political parties as well as several experts opposed the merger.



"It was Gujarat's Baroda Bank that subsumed our Vijaya Bank. Ports and Airports were handed over to Gujarat's Adani. Now, Amul from Gujarat is planning to eat our KMF (Nandini). Mr Narendra Modi, Are we the enemies of Gujaratis?" he added. On Sunday, senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah tweeted, asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "Is your purpose of coming to Karnataka to give to Karnataka or to loot from Karnataka? You have already stolen banks, ports and airports from Kannadigas. Are you now trying to steal Nandini (KMF) from us?"



PM Modi was in Karnataka on Sunday to attend an event commemorating 50 years of "Project Tiger". "Instead of giving 2 crore jobs a year to youths, Narendra Modi took away the jobs of Kannadigas from our banks, ports and airports," he further said, "Now Karnataka BJP wants to hurt the prospects of our farmers by giving KMF to Amul."



"Nandini's market reach is wide, there is no need to fear Amul," he said. Earlier on Saturday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that Nandini was the "pride of Karnataka" and his government had taken all measures to make it number one at a national level.



"If Amul sells milk online at Rs 57 per litre, we sell it at Rs 39. We are sending our products to Tamil Nadu and other states," he said, adding that it was impossible to erase the Nandini brand. State cooperation minister ST Somashekar on Sunday reiterated that there was no proposal to merge KMF with Amul.

Nandini gets support from Bengaluru Hotels Association

The Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association also later announced that they will use only Nandini milk to "support the state's (dairy) farmers".
The Centre on Monday directed state governments to enforce Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) certification on consumer products while stressing the use of digital technology to protect consumer rights and reduce pending cases in consumer courts.

After inaugurating a day-long workshop on "Consumer Protection in the northern states" held in Chandigarh, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh emphasized the role of technology in strengthening the consumer protection ecosystem and the importance of infrastructure and human resources in consumer commissions.

The Secretary said, "State heads should ensure that BIS Certification is enforced on required products for consumer safety," an official statement said.

He also discussed the time dissemination project by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to reduce India's reliance on Western countries for time accuracy.

Nidhi Khare, Additional Secretary in the Consumer Affairs Ministry, stressed the use of digital technology to protect consumer rights, reduce the pendency of cases in consumer commissions, and the importance of moving towards mandatory e-filing.

She highlighted the work of the ministry on misleading advertisements, endorsement guidelines, e-commerce platforms, and direct selling guidelines, and urged consumers to be cautious of misleading ads on all platforms.

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She also made consumers aware of gambling games, products without BIS Certification, and influencers promoting products, the statement added.

Senior officials from Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh governments attended the workshop.


Officials in the agriculture department said rabi crops had been sown in 1.936 million hectares, which is more than the target of 1.925 million hectares. Chhattisgarh has surpassed the target it had set itself for sowing rabi crops.



The state government discourages paddy sowing during the rabi season. In the previous year, rabi crops were sown in 1.83 million hectares, officials said, adding that with a 5 per cent increase, a sowing target of 1.925 million hectares was set for the current season.



Pulses were sown in 865,000 hectares this rabi season, accounting for 45 per cent of the area proposed for rabi cultivation this year. Due to the arrangement for purchasing pulses on support prices and campaigning for those, the trend of pulses cultivation among farmers has increased rapidly, an official added.

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Besides, wheat sowing in 271,000 hectares, maize in 171,000 hectares, ragi in 35,000 hectares, and coarse grains in 155,000 hectares have been completed in the state. According to the data compiled by the agriculture department, cereals were sown in 597,000 hectares, pulses seeds in 814,000 hectares, oilseeds in 284,000 hectares, sugarcane in 42,410 hectares, and vegetables and other crops in about 200,000 hectares.



The Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, and the Kottayam institute have signed an agreement on this. According to the agreement, the rubber institute will bear the expenditure, including that for plant, manure, fertilisers, pesticides, and manual labour for seven years. The institute will also provide technical guidance on extracting rubber. The plantation will be managed, however, by the Vishwavidyalaya. As part of crop diversification, which is reportedly yielding good results, the Chhattisgarh government is considering rubber plantation. The Rubber Research Institute, Kottayam, will conduct experimental farming of rubber in a hectare in the Bastar region.

The vice-chancellor of Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Girish Chandel, said rubber had been providing appreciable profits. Scientists of the institute have found the soil, weather, and geo-ecology suitable for the cultivation of rubber, he said.
Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday accused Rahul Gandhi of being a "troll" after he sought to link him with the Adani row, and asked the Congress leader to answer three questions posed to him instead of levelling "unfounded" allegation and diverting people's attention from main issues.

"It is clear that you are now limited to being a troll," Scindia, once a confidant of Gandhi, said in response to the Congress leader's swipe on Saturday on leaders who have quit his party in recent years as he kept up his offensive against the government over the Adani issue.

"They hide the truth, that's why they mislead everyday! The question remains the same - whose Rs 20,000 crore benami money is in Adani's companies?" Gandhi asked in a tweet in Hindi and attached an image with the names of the leaders with that of Adani.

He cited the names of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Scindia, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Kiran Kumar Reddy and Anil K Antony in his tweet.

Hitting back, Scindia asked why does not Gandhi apologize for his "derogatory" comments about backward classes? Instead, he says he is not Veer Savarkar and will not apologise. "Insult of a patriot and so much arrogance," the BJP leader said.

"The Congress has always pointed fingers at courts and why are you now putting pressure on them for your selfish interests," he asked.

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"Why should the rules be different for you? Do you consider yourself a first class citizen? You are so consumed by arrogance that appreciating even the importance of these questions is beyond your understanding," Scindia said, targeting Gandhi.

Other leaders mentioned in Gandhi's tweet have also attacked him, with Sarma saying that he will file a defamation case against the Congress leader.
Sukesh Chandrasekhar, the alleged conman accused of extorting Rs 200 crore from the wife of a prominent businessman, Monday moved a Delhi court accusing the judge hearing the case of bias and seeking its transfer to another judge.

Chandrasekhar filed an application before Principal District & Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma.

"Since the applicant/accused has alleged bias against the Presiding Officer/ ASJ let copy of the present transfer petition be sent to him elucidating his comments upon the same, which may be placed before this court for further consideration on April 17, 2023," the judge said.

The Principal District and Sessions judge directed the jail authorities concerned to produce the accused through a video conference on the next date of hearing.

In his application, the alleged conman claimed the reliefs being granted to the other accused in the case were not being extended to him and his wife.

Chandrasekhar is accused of cheating and extorting Aditi Singh, the wife of former promoter of Religare Enterprises Shivinder Mohan Singh, who was arrested in October 2019 in a case related to alleged misappropriation of funds at Religare Finvest Ltd.

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Chandrasekhar and his associates reportedly took money from Aditi after posing as government officials and promising to secure bail for her husband. Chandrasekhar reportedly persuaded Aditi to transfer money by impersonating a central government official over a spoof call while he was lodged in Rohini jail.

Both Chandrasekhar and his actor wife Leena Maria Paul were arrested by the Delhi Police in September last year for their alleged role in the case.
Delhi on Monday logged 484 fresh COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 26.58 per cent, meaning that nearly one in every four people tested returned a positive result, according to data shared by the city government's Health department.

Three people suffering from COVID-19 died in the national capital. However, the health bulletin stated that COVID-19 was not the primary cause of death.
Noting the "direct and pernicious impact" of smokeless tobacco on public health, the Delhi High Court Monday affirmed a ban imposed by the food safety commissioner on manufacture, storage and sale of gutka, pan masala, flavoured tobacco and similar products in the city.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma set aside a September 2022 decision of a single judge of the high court quashing the ban and allowed the appeals filed by the Centre and Delhi government against it.

The court opined that there "existed no justification" for the quashing of the notifications and dismissed the objections raised by entities in tobacco business against the prohibitory notifications issued from 2015 till 2021.

"We find ourselves unable to sustain the impugned judgment rendered by the learned Judge. These appeals shall consequently stand allowed. We find no merit in the challenge raised in W.P.(C) No. 3362/2015 (against the ban). It shall, in consequence, stand dismissed," said the bench, also comprising Justice Yashwant Varma.

"It becomes necessary to observe that the writ petitioners (manufacturers of tobacco related products, etc) did not dispute that both cigarettes as well as smokeless tobacco have a direct and pernicious impact on public health...once it was found and conceded that both categories of tobacco constituted substances which had a direct impact on public health, the impugned notifications clearly did not warrant being quashed," observed the court.

The court, in its 176-page judgement, also observed that the Supreme Court has already called upon governments to ban manufacturing and sale of gutka and pan masala and the single judge could not have held the same to be not applicable to the present instance.

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Rejecting the objection of the tobacco businesses that the ban was discriminatory as it only aimed at "smokeless tobacco" and not cigarettes, the court stated that the measures were adopted bearing in mind the "larger number of users of smokeless tobacco" and the food safety authorities were also "statutorily armed" to impose such a prohibition".

"Article 14 cannot possibly be invoked on the ground that since a particular genre of tobacco has not been banned, there should be no prohibition in respect of an equally harmful article," said the court as it noted that while 163.7 million people in the country were users of only smokeless tobacco, the number of persons smoking was pegged at 68.9 million.

"The power to prohibit stands specifically conferred upon the food safety authorities by virtue of Section 30(2)(a) of the FSSA (Food Safety and Standards Act). The learned Judge thus clearly appears to have overlooked the fact that the principal enactment itself had conferred a power to prohibit. Regulation 2.3.4 (of Prohibition Regulations) proscribes the use of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in any food product. That prohibition is clearly neither provisional nor impermanent," it stated.

The court said as long as the interest of public health requires, the authorities would "clearly be justified in continuing" its prohibitory orders till the situation is remedied or it is established that there is no harm to public health.

"The peremptory direction issued by the Supreme Court was an ambiguous command to all State Governments and Union Territories to enforce the prohibition in respect thereof and to ensure compliance with the diktat of Regulation 2.3.4 (of Prohibition Regulations). There was thus no justification for the learned Judge holding that they would not apply," it said.

The court also noted that the notifications in questions were not an attempt to regulate tobacco or nicotine but to regulate food containing those substances and the power of judicial review did not extend to interfering with a policy decision unless it be shown to be wholly erroneous, capricious or manifestly arbitrary.

The court further said that neither pan masala, nor chewing tobacco or gutka stood excluded from the definition of "food" under Section 3(1)(j) of the FSSA.

"A careful reading of the Impugned Notifications would establish that what was proposed to be banned was not raw or pure tobacco. The subject matter of the prohibitory order was tobacco when mixed with other ingredients and additives. Those articles were specified to be gutka, pan masala, flavoured/scented tobacco and other like products. It would thus be wholly incorrect to assume that the notifications sought to ban tobacco per se," it stated.

The court observed that before the single judge, the petitioners clearly appear to have proceeded on the mistaken assumption that the notifications sought to ban or prohibit tobacco when what was enforced was prohibition of the addition of tobacco or tobacco products to a food product.

On September 27, 2022, the single judge had quashed the ban, saying they were issued in a mechanical manner and the authorities exceeded the powers vested in them.

The petitioners had contended before him that the notifications were arbitrary and ultra vires the FSSA and violated their fundamental rights.

The single judge had said the Commissioner of Food Safety can issue prohibition orders only in emergent circumstances after giving an opportunity of being heard to the concerned food operator and ban was clearly violative of Article 14 of the Constitution as it sought to create a classification between smokeless and smoking tobacco.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address a public meeting at Ponda town in South Goa on April 16 as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign for the next year's Lok Sabha elections, state BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said on Monday. Shah, a former BJP president, will arrive in Goa from adjoining Maharashtra and address the meeting in Ponda town as part of the saffron outfit's campaign for the 2024 general polls, he said. Tanavade was talking to reporters after a meeting of the state BJP core committee which took stock of preparations for the poll rally. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, a core committee member, attended the meet. The BJP leader said the ruling party is also gearing up for polls to Sankhalim (North Goa) and Ponda municipal councils in May. Though the municipal council elections will not be contested on party lines, the BJP will extend its support to candidates, he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
We need not be worried: N K Arora



People in India need not be worried about the present Covid scenario in the country, according D K Arora, who heads the governments Covid Working Group as well as the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.



In an interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire to discuss the rising Covid numbers, Arora also said that we need to learn to live with Covid-like influenza. It would be advisable for three categories of people who have not had the booster dose to take it, he added. The three categories are people over 60, those with comorbidities and people who are immunocompromised.



However, Dr. Arora made clear that there is no need for a fourth dose. As he put it, experience from the West shows additional boosters do not prevent infection. As far as protection from serious disease is concerned, it is well provided by the first two doses which 90 per cent of people over the age of 12 have taken. Boosters, however, would be advisable for people who fall in the three categories that he mentioned.



In the interview, Arora revealed that India will shortly have two new Omicron-derived vaccines, one of which is an mRNA vaccine and the other is protein-based. The present vaccines are all derived from the Wuhan strain.



- BS Reporter

Government and private hospitals carried out mock drills across India on Monday, a first such exercise this year and coming just over three months after the previous routine, to reassess the countrys healthcare preparedness to tackle a potential Covid wave.The number of daily cases increased to 5,880 on Monday. Several states, including Delhi, warned its citizens to be on alert citing that cases are expected to rise in the coming days. In Mumbai, where 328 cases were reported on Monday, the civic body also made masks mandatory in all hospitals run by it.During the mock drills, the participants took stock of available medicines, X-ray machinery, oxygen supply and PPE (personal protective equipment) kits. While Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi to review the drill, various health ministers followed suit in their respective states. At RML Hospital, Mandaviya had informal interaction with its heads of departments and staff. He listened to suggestions from doctors, nurses, personnel of security and sanitation services, which revolved around quality clinical practices, measures for infection control, hospital management, sanitation processes and patient-centric provisions.The decision to go for nationwide mock drills on Monday and Tuesday was taken at a review meeting on Covid held on April 7, in which state health ministers, and principal and additional chief secretaries participated. The last mock drill was carried out on December 22, 2022.The number of active cases increased to 35,199 with 14 deaths being reported in the last 24 hours. The nationwide Covid death toll has increased to 530,979. The daily test positivity rate (TPR) across the country on Monday stood at 6.91 per cent; in Kerala, it was above 10 per cent in 10 of the 14 districts.As of Sunday, Kerala topped the list of Covid cases with the number crossing more than 12,000. Other states with high case counts include Maharashtra and Delhi.Delhi is a densely populated city. Cases will rise and many people will show flu- and influenza-like symptoms such as fever and cough. But they will recover, said Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj.States such as Haryana, Kerala and Puducherry have made wearing masks mandatory in public places, while Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made it mandatory in its hospitals. BMC has also advised its employees to wear masks in public places.The Centre has urged states to identify emerging hotspots by monitoring trends of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases; sending sufficient samples for testing of Covid-19 and influenza; and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian, who inspected a mock drill at Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital in Chennai, has directed officials in various districts to be on alert.The latest wave of Covid-19 is not as severe as the previous ones and hence there is no requirement for ICU treatment and oxygen. The spread of another variant of Omicron is being witnessed across the country, Subramanian said.In the review meeting held with states last week, it was highlighted that XBB 1.16 is currently the most prevalent coronavirus variant and it is not causing severe disease.Private hospitals, too, have started preparations to tide over a possible spike in cases. The increase in Covid cases across needs urgent attention. Presently, there are very few admissions. However, we must not drop our guard and renewed focus on Covid-appropriate behavior is required, Bishnu Panigrahi, group head, medical strategy and operations, Fortis Healthcare.We have reviewed our preparedness: Emergency areas were identified, where suspect patients can be cared for in case there is a surge in admission. We also ensured the availability of PPE kits, medicines and oxygen. Those who have not taken their third precautionary Covid vaccine are advised to take it, he added.


A trade deal with India has been one of the biggest goals for the British government which wants to cut tariffs and open opportunities for the UK's service sector to expand into the world's second-largest country. An official of the foreign ministry has said that the trade talks betwen India and UK are still on and the report by The Times in "baseless", as reported by Reuters. Earlier in the day, The Times reported that India has halted trade talks with the UK over Sikh extremists. It added that India is not expected to resume talks until the UK condemns the Sikh extremist group that attacked the Indian High Commission in London in March.



The attacks were conducted by the supporters of Amriptal Singh, a Sikh separatist. Singh is a staunch supporter of a separate land for Sikhs, Khalistan. He has been on the run since last month and Punjab Police have been actively looking for him across the country. The relations between the two countries have, however, soured in the past few weeks. First, over a documentary by the BBC on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And then due to the attacks on the Indian High Commission.



The Times report added that in a bid to bring negotiations back on track, the UK Home Office is planning to make an announcement in the coming weeks and a crackdown on Sikh extremists and supporters of the Khalistan movement. Similar attacks were also conducted on the Indian consulate in San Francisco.

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QR codes have been pasted on the gates of all the MCD's primary schools to enable parents to scan those and fill the admission form online, a move aimed at simplifying the process, officials said on Monday.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) Education department met at the Kedarnath Sahni Auditorium to discuss ways to improve the foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) skills of primary-level students, the MCD said in a statement.

Monday's meeting, attended by more than 1,500 school principals, mentor teachers, and zonal officials from the department's 12 zones, discussed ways to achieve the milestones in the 2023-24 academic year.

"As a new initiative, the Education department has placed QR codes on the main gates of all MCD schools to simplify the admission process.

"Parents can scan the QR code and fill the admission form online to get admission for their wards in the schools of their choice," the statement said.

The initiative is a significant step towards streamlining the admission process and making it more convenient for parents, the officials noted.

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As part of its efforts to improve the students' foundational literacy and numeracy skills, the Education department has introduced new assessment tools that focus on their needs, interests and core subject areas.

It has also prepared a phase-wise schedule for conducting baseline assessments, classes and evaluations.

In addition, the department has launched the Mission Buniyaad to support foundational literacy and numeracy skills and achieve the goal of NIPUN Bharat.

The initiative aims to provide basic quality education to every child in MCD schools, ensuring that they become self-sufficient and capable individuals.

A survey will begin in the third and fourth week of April for the enrolment drive in schools.

"The survey aims to increase the number of children with special needs who can avail of quality education in MCD schools," the statement said.

"The Education department is committed to providing quality education to all the students and ensuring that every child receives an education that will help them achieve their goals and aspirations.

"The initiatives launched in the new academic year are aimed at achieving this goal and ensuring that no child is left behind," it added.
Senior BJP leader and central minister Bisheswar Tudu courted a controversy by claiming that many of the officers appointed through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) are "dacoits".

He alleged that while a "chicken thief" can be punished, an official who runs a mineral mafia. cannot be touched as the system protects him.

The union minister of state for tribal affairs and jalshakti made these controversial remarks while addressing a gathering as chief guest at the golden jubilee function of a government school at Baliapal in Balasore district on Saturday.

He was heard making the controversial statement in a video which was shared on social networking sites. The authenticity of the video could not be checked by PTI.

I had an idea that those who are appointed through UPSC ... they are the most knowledgeable persons and are always in high positions. But now I feel that most of those who have qualified from there perhaps are dacoits. I do not say 100 per cent, but many of them are dacoits, Tudu asserted.

The UPSC is the country's premier central recruitment commission which functions as an independent body and appoints top government officers.

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The minister, who is an MP of Odisha, said that the UPSC office is just behind his residence in Delhi and initially he had high regard for it but that has changed now.

During his speech, the union minister also asked: Why our society is engulfed in corruption and injustice if such educated people are there?.

Giving the reply to his own rhetprical question, Tudu said, It is because of lack of morality in our education system. Lack of spiritual education and thoughts among us.

The minister had in 2021 also courted controversy by accusing state government officials of misbehaving with him in his constituency in Mayurbhanj.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday stepped up his attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after the police there reportedly said the violence during Ram Navami was pre-planned, saying as to why the state government "was sleeping".

This comes a few days after the Hyderabad MP had slammed the Bihar and West Bengal governments over the processions during festivities leading to violence on Ram Navami.

"I had said earlier that it was pre-planned. When it was pre-planned, why were you people sleeping?... It is the failure of the Nitish Kumar-RJD government. They proved to be a failure in stopping this violence," he told reporters here.

The authorities gave permission for a procession and the police remained a mute spectator when a madrasa is burnt in front of them, Owaisi alleged. "When such a major violence takes place, the government so far does not talk about giving compensation. You (Bihar government) don't suspend those policemen. Instead of that, you do 'Iftar', eating 'khajur' (dates)," he said.

He was replying to a query about Bihar police reportedly terming the violence in connection with Ram Navami, especially in Nalanda, to be pre-planned.

Asked if he is satisfied with the action taken by the Bihar police, he replied in the negative and claimed that, on the contrary, Muslim persons are being arrested.

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In Bihar's Sasaram town, the persons whose houses had been looted in the arson are being targeted, he claimed.

Bihar police on Sunday arrested five more people in connection with its probe into the communal violence that erupted in Bihar Sharif town in Nalanda district during the Ram Navami festivities.

Owaisi on April 4 blamed the JD(U)-RJD government in Bihar and the TMC regime in West Bengal for allegedly failing to check the recent incidents of violence during Ram Navami.

On Congress leader Sachin Pilot announcing a daylong fast seeking action over alleged corruption during BJP rule in Rajasthan, Owaisi alleged that governments headed by either Congress or BJP are two sides of the same coin.

"Either Congress government or BJP government, (they are) two sides of the same coin. Both encouraged corruption. That's why you see that an ex-deputy chief minister is going to protest againt his own government. What message goes out with this? The message that goes out is that Congress or BJP are not serious about (fighting) corruption," the Hyderabad MP said.

Pilot on Sunday alleged that the Ashok Gehlot-led government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the BJP rule in Rajasthan and announced a one-day fast to press for action, in a sign of escalating tussle in the party's state unit ahead of assembly polls later this year.

Asked about the AAP launching the 'Degree Dikhao Campaign' (Show the degree campaign), Owaisi displayed his degree certificate to the mediapersons.

When questioned if Prime Minister Narendra Modi should show proof of his degree, the AIMIM chief did not give a direct reply.

The AAP on Sunday had launched the 'Degree Dikhao Campaign' under which party leaders will share with the public their educational qualifications every day.
The Supreme Court on Monday posted for hearing in July, a plea of the Meghalaya government challenging the High Court's order which had put a stay on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Meghalaya and Assam to resolve the long-standing interstate boundary dispute between the States.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala said the plea was wrongly listed today by the Registry and will take it up for hearing in July.

The bench said, "We will keep this in July."

The Meghalaya High Court on December 8, 2022, had put an interim stay on the execution of the Assam-Meghalaya border pact, which was entered into between the two states subsequent to the signing of the MoU on March 29, 2022.

The MoU was signed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma to resolve the long-standing interstate boundary dispute, particularly in respect of six areas.

The Meghalaya government while approaching the top court against the High Court's order has said that the issues concerning the alteration of boundaries or exchange of areas between two states are a purely political question within the "sole domain" of the Executive.

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It stated, "The MoU signed by the two states is a sovereign act between the states to demarcate the boundaries in a fair and transparent manner which cannot be interfered with by way of a writ petition and much less by passing an interim order."

The arrangement dictated Assam keeping 18.51 square kilometres of land, with Meghalaya keeping 18.28 square kilometres of land, for the 36.79 square kilometres of total land.

Meghalaya was carved out of Assam as a separate State in 1972, but the new State challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act, of 1971, leading to disputes in 12 border locations.

The interim order was passed by the High Court on a plea moved by some residents claiming that the MoU violates provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution which relates to 'Administration of Tribal Areas' in North East States.

Earlier, the apex court had stayed the High Court's order which had put a stay on the MoU between the states.
The Supreme Court Monday ordered setting up of a high-powered committee headed by former apex court judge Justice Deepak Gupta to monitor the process of verification of certificate of law practice and other educational degrees of over 25 lakh lawyers in the country, saying it was of utmost importance to preserve the administration of justice.

The move comes amid allegations of lawyers with fake degrees practising in courts across the country.

Asking lawyers to participate in the exercise, the bench said non-verification of advocates, intended to weed out the fake ones, will bring the administration of justice under serious cloud.

The verification of lawyers' degree and certificate to practice is of utmost importance to preserve the administration of justice, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chadrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala said.

Besides Justice Gupta, the committee will comprise former Delhi High Court Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and retired Allahabad High Court judge Arun Tandon, it said.

Senior advocates Rakesh Dwivedi and Maninder Singh will also be on the panel which will have three members nominated by the Bar Council of India (BCI), it said.

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The Committee has been asked to start work on a convenient date and to file a status report to the bench by August 31.

"It is the duty of every genuine advocate of the country to ensure that they cooperate with the BCI in seeking to ensure that the certificates of practice are duly verified together with the underlying education degree certificate. Unless this exercise is carried out periodically, there is a great danger that the administration of justice would itself be under a serious cloud, the bench said.

It noted the submissions of senior advocate and BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra that lawyers without verification have become members of some State Bar Councils and that such persons may also have held judicial officers' posts.

The bench said the access to the judicial process cannot be granted to people who profess to be lawyers but do not have genuine educational qualifications or degree certificates.

The bench took note of the submissions that the universities have been demanding fees from bar bodies for verifying certificates of enrolled lawyers and directed that such universities and examination boards should verify genuineness of degrees without charging any fee.

All universities and examination boards shall verify the genuineness of degrees without charging any fee and requisition by the state bar councils shall be processed without undue delay, it ordered.

Law graduates are required to get enrolled with the state bar councils for practising law and currently there are 25.70 lakh enrolled lawyers in the country.

In 2015, the BCI had notified the BCI Certificate and Place of Practice (Verification) Rules 2015 to identify genuine lawyers. The Rules were challenged before various High Courts and the cases were ultimately transferred to the Supreme Court.

The order came on the transfer plea earlier moved by the BCI.


Emine Dzhaparova told broadcaster CNBC TV18 in an interview that Kyiv also expected India to invite Ukrainian officials to participate in G20 events and intensify political dialogue with Kyiv.

Ukraine's deputy foreign minister on Monday said Kyiv wanted New Delhi to be more involved in helping resolve its conflict with Russia and has sought a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials.



Dzhaparova, who is on a four-day visit to New Delhi, told the broadcaster: "We believe India should be engaged and involved in the Ukraine issue to a great extent".

India holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 this year and hosts a leaders summit in September. New Delhi has not been as critical of Moscow as others for its invasion of Ukraine and has even ramped up its buying of Russian oil - the lifeblood of its economy - while others have sought to buy less or ban it.



Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, she said India should be pragmatic in securing its resources, including energy and defence equipment, while warning against dependence on Russia.

"We believe intensification of political dialogue on the highest level is first step towards this big goal. My president is requesting a phone conversation with the Prime Minister. We are looking forward to welcome him in Kyiv one day," she said.

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India has also boosted its purchases of Russian oil, taking advantage of the deep discounts following a European ban on Russian oil imports.

India has sought a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine, while Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin in September that now is "not an era of war".



"We only think it is crucial to diversify all of the resources, not only energy but also military resources," Dzhaparova said. "When you are dependent from Russia, they always use this blackmail instrument".

Russia, like the Soviet Union before it, has been Indiaas main source of arms and defence equipment for decades and it has now displaced Iraq as India's top crude supplier as well.

Dzhaparova will meet India's deputy national security adviser and a junior foreign minister during her visit and address a world affairs think tank.


The state is planning to replace more than 15 per cent of the paddy acreage with millet and oilseed crops in the coming years. Since Uttar Pradesh is the second largest paddy producer in India, the reorientation of the sowing pattern would alter the agricultural landscape and provide farmers with a lucrative farm value chain. The Uttar Pradesh government is looking to boost the production of millets and oilseeds by increasing the area under cultivation.



In UP, the paddy acreage stands at about 6 million hectares (mh) with annual production of 15 million tonnes (MT) of the cash crop. The paddy acreage could come down to 5 MH when the millet and oilseed roadmap is implemented in entirety. Recently, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stressed that the farmers earnings would not increase merely by sowing wheat and paddy, but the agricultural sector needs to integrate with the food processing, packaging, and export value chains to exponentially augment rural income.



Interestingly, India is also among the top five oilseeds producers with 20 per cent of the global oilseeds acreage under cultivation, yet high domestic demand necessitates net imports. India produces groundnut, soybean, sunflower, mustard, safflower, etc. The country also exports oilseeds. While India is among the leading oilseeds importers, higher oilseeds production will provide ready domestic and global markets for the states farmers and traders. In 2021, India imported oilseeds worth $2.39 billion, followed by China and Turkey at $1.34 billion and $1.27 billion respectively.

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UP millet area is pegged at 1.1 mh with the production of almost 5 mt, which roughly corresponds to 20 per cent of Indias annual output. Major millet crops include jowar, bajra, kodo, ragi, kottu, and sanwa. In UP, the oilseeds area is estimated at 1.3 mh with annual production pegged at 1.15 MT. The major oilseeds grown in UP include groundnut, mustard, sesame, linseed etc. Moreover, the emphasis on millets, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has renamed as Sri Anna (divine food grain), and the growing popularity of millet-based processed and cooked food, offers a large potential for millets.



The state agricultural road map is aimed at doubling the farm income and contributing to the larger $trillion economy target of UP, a senior government official noted. Now, the state is looking to increase millets acreage to 2.5 mh and launch exclusive millet outlets and engage women rural entrepreneurs and self-help groups in its value chain.

The millets offer a spectrum of low risk crops, which are resilient to climate change. As such, the state is promoting the cultivation of such nutritious cereals in rainfed areas. UP is even planning to introduce millets in the midday meal scheme.


However, online gaming industry officials told Business Standard that they would be seeking legal recourse and approach the high court against the move. We will be taking legal advice in this regard and will be approaching the high court soon, said Malay Kumar Shukla, secretary, E-Gaming Federation (EGF). Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Monday cleared a Bill to ban online gambling, including rummy and poker with stakes, dealing a blow to the industry in the state.



Last week, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had notified new gaming-related amendments to the IT Act 2021, allowing multiple self-regulatory organisations to take a call on whether a real-money game should be allowed in India. Industry bodies are of the view that the Centre has the rightful mandate to regulate online gaming. This was the second time that the Bill was placed before the governor for his assent. In the first instance on March 8, Ravi had returned it saying that the state had no legislative competence to frame the Bill. However, the Bill was again passed unanimously in the state Assembly on March 23.



He said the move was disappointing, as it disregarded six decades of established legal jurisprudence and also the recent judgment of the Madras High Court which struck down a similar law. The central government has anyway notified the online games rules, and as we have said it has the rightful mandate under the Constitution to regulate online gaming. What this (Tamil Nadu) law in effect does is (that it) treats and conflates games of skill as gambling and games of chance. The law also completely misunderstands technology and prohibits random number generators, which are an integral part of fairness for online gaming, reacted Roland Landers, chief executive officer, All India Gaming Federation (AIGF).

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In June, a committee headed by Justice K Chandru had submitted its report in Tamil Nadu on the effects of online games with stakes on its users. The panel not only suggested a ban on online games with stakes, but also batted for a ban on advertisements that encourage people to play them. It is not clear whether the current ordinance includes the advertisement aspect as well. The report had highlighted that in the last three years at least 17 people lost their lives in the state due to online games involving stakes. As the oldest and largest industry body, representing the highest number of Indian MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) start-ups, we will challenge the constitutionality of the law once the effective date is notified. We have full faith that our judicial system will uphold the fundamental rights of the gaming platforms and their users, he added.



Landers argued that the AIGF has been engaging with the Tamil Nadu government to understand its concerns and also made the latter aware of the proliferation of offshore gambling websites and apps that flourish when constitutionally protected India apps are banned, as was also seen during the previous unconstitutional ban by the state government. Though the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government brought a law banning online games in February 2021, the high court struck it down in August 2021. The M K Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government moved the Supreme Court with an appeal in this regard in November 2021.


Under the leadership of Sundararaman Ramamurthy, the exchange has lined up several changes in the cash market, equity derivatives, as well as currency derivatives. BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange), Asias oldest bourse, is initiating several tweaks to its products to arrest the fall in market share  both in the equity cash and derivatives segments  said people in the know.



For the cash segment, BSE has reduced the tick size to just 1 paisa for stocks below Rs 100. The move has already started to yield results, with the turnover for stocks in this segment growing 14 per cent in March. Ramamurthy  an early architect of the rival National Stock Exchange  took charge as managing director and chief executive officer of BSE in January.



Strikes with an interval of 10 paise strike interval have contributed to 64 per cent of the US dollar/rupee turnover in March. In February, the BSE introduced the 10 paise strike intervals for the currency options segment. The move helps lower premiums, leading to lower costs of trading.

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The lot sizes of the Sensex will be reduced from 15 to 10; for Bankex Index derivatives, from 20 to 15. The change is aimed at lowering the lot size and thereby the margin to attract traders. The most significant change, however, will be the relaunch of the Sensex and the Bankex derivatives contracts.



The exchange will also reach out to brokers and traders, highlighting the benefits of the product tweaks and low costs. It will also underscore the high correlation between the Sensex and the Nifty  the most popular index derivatives. Now, the Sensex contract size will be Rs 6 lakh, compared to the Niftys Rs 9 lakh.



The exchange has been in dialogue with several top brokers like Zerodha, Upstox, ICICI Securities, and Axis Securities. On many platforms, the BSE was not getting access and prices were not being shown to traders. The BSE is engaging with them to facilitate the same, said a person in the know. Another unique proposition offered by the bourse will be to move the day of expiry to Friday (from Thursday) to appeal to traders with specific hedging and trading needs.



Notwithstanding lower costs, the BSE has failed to develop any cracks in NSEs dominant position. The transaction charges in equity futures at BSE are zero, while it claims 90 per cent lower transaction charges in equity options.



The impact costs for the BSE are on the higher side. It is like a chicken-and-egg situation. All these product tweaks are innovative but traders wont move unless there is liquidity. And liquidity cannot be generated until traders move, said a broker. Industry players say traders are willing to incur higher costs of trading for a venue that offers deeper liquidity, helping lower impact costs.



Meanwhile, in the derivatives segment, its market share has dropped to near-zero, from 2.5 per cent at the end of last financial year. In the cash segment, the bourse had a market share of nearly 7 per cent in March, up from 6.6 per cent a month earlier.








Elon Musk has sparked a row with the BBC after labelling the broadcaster as a "government-funded media" organisation, however, Britain's national broadcaster was quick to push back against the categorization, reported CNN.

The label now appears on outlets that receive some government funding, including BBC, PBS, NPR and Voice of America. However, it does not appear on other government-backed outlets, such as Canada's CBC or Qatar's Al Jazeera.

The @BBC account - which has 2.2 million followers - is currently branded as government funded. The label has not been given to the BBC's other accounts, including BBC News (World) and BBC Breaking News, reported CNN.

Twitter has not given a definition for what it considers "government-funded media" to constitute.

In a statement provided to CNN, the BBC said, "We are speaking to Twitter to resolve this issue as soon as possible. The BBC is and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee."

BBC is predominantly funded by UK households via a license fee, which is also required to watch non-BBC channels or live services. This is supplemented by income from commercial operations.

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BBC's branding comes after a row erupted between Musk and the American NPR network after Musk changed NPR's label to "state-affiliated media" - which effectively suggested the US government could influence its editorial policy and compare it to outlets such as the Kremlin-funded Russia Today.

Following backlash from NPR - who said it would not tweet from the account while the label was in place - it was instead changed to "government-funded media," reported CNN.

The label from Twitter even sparked a backlash from the White House, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying "there's no doubt of the independence of NPR's journalists."

NPR receives some funding from public institutions but the vast majority comes from sources such as corporate sponsorships and NPR membership fees.

Twitter defines state-affiliated media outlets as outlets "where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution."

Critics of the move have pointed out that Twitter CEO Elon Musk's other companies, Tesla and SpaceX, have received billions in government funding, grants and subsidies throughout the years, but neither of them has a "government-funded" label on their Twitter accounts, reported The Hill.
Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves reached $31.14 billion by the end of March, the lowest since December 2016, showed the latest central bank data.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) data showed the country's foreign exchange reserves stood at $31,142.72 million in March from $32,333.71 million in February, Xinhua news agency reported.

This is the lowest level of forex reserves Bangladesh has held since December 2016 when the country's foreign exchange reserves crossed the $32 billion mark for the first time, an official of the bank's Forex Reserve and Treasury Management Department said on condition of anonymity.

The official said that reserves slumped to a six-year low amid soaring import costs due to the Ukraine crisis that has dealt a major shock to commodity markets worldwide.

Forex reserves equivalent to six months' import bills are considered adequate for a growing economy like Bangladesh.

With the existing reserves, however, central bank officials said Bangladesh is in a position to pay around five months' import bills.

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Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves hit an all-time high of $48 billion in August 2021.

In a bid to boost shrinking forex reserves, the Bangladeshi government since last year has taken various measures, including relaxed rules, to woo more remittances from millions of Bangladeshi people living and working abroad.

--IANS

int/sha


Taiwans Defense Ministry said in a statement that on Sunday it detected 70 aircraft from Chinas Peoples Liberation Army and 11 warships near Taiwan as of 4 pm, with 35 of the warplanes crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering the southwestern part of the islands air-defense identification zone. China held a second day of military drills around Taiwan, with multiple exercises involving aircraft and ships, after the islands president, Tsai Ing-wen, returned from a visit to the US.



The PLA said Saturday it will hold drills and patrols in airspace and waters on the north, south and east sides of Taiwan from April 8 to 10. Eastern Theater Command spokesman Senior Colonel Shi Yi said in a statement on Saturday that the drills are a stern warning against Taiwan separatist forces collusion with foreign elements. He didnt mention Tsais visits to New York and Los Angeles, which included meetings with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other US lawmakers. Warships and warplanes passed over the median line in groups from the north, center and south of the strait, according to the statement. Taiwans military spotted J-15s, the Chinese navys carrier-based fighter jets, among the aircraft.



In a statement late Saturday night, Chinas Ministry of Defense said the PLA dispatched several conventional missile brigades, along with some army artillery brigades, under the command of the Eastern Theater. The units conducted simulated strikes on designated targets, according to the statement, with photos and video clips showing launching vehicles moving to positions and missiles being erected. Chinas drills only let the world see it destroys peace, Taiwans vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan told reporters Sunday. We dont show weakness. We dont evade, and we are not afraid. Our policies ensure security of territorial sea. This is our bottom line.

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The attorneys, in the filing on Monday, denounced J&J's move to refile its subsidiary LTL Management for bankruptcy, which relies on a controversial legal maneuver, just two hours after its first case was dismissed.

Johnson & Johnson's renewed effort to resolve talc lawsuits through an $8.9 billion bankruptcy settlement must be dismissed as a "fraudulent scheme" that defies a court order rejecting the company's previous attempt to settle the litigation, according to court filing from lawyers representing cancer victims.



J&J said last week that its new bankruptcy plan was the best way to resolve current and future talc lawsuits alleging that its baby powder products cause cancer, including more than 38,000 cases that have previously been filed in federal court in New Jersey.

They said the company had fraudulently transferred $50 billion in assets away from LTL to get around a court ruling that it was not in sufficient "financial distress" to qualify for bankruptcy.

J&J, which maintains that its talc products are safe and do not cause cancer, said 70,000 claimants had signed up to support its new $8.9 billion settlement plan. The plaintiffs' new filing disputes J&J's claimed level of support.





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Saudi Arabians and Omanis delegation held talks with the Houthi officials in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, in an effort to end the nine-year-long conflict, Houthi-run media, SABA reported.

This visit highlights the progress in the Oman-mediated consultations between Riyadh and Sanaa, which run parallel to United Nations peace efforts.

Negotiations also gained momentum since archrivals Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to re-establish ties in a deal brokered by China, according to Al Jazeera.

The envoys met the head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat on Sunday where he affirmed the firm stance towards a just and honourable peace that the Yemenis aspire to and achieve their aspirations for freedom and independence, according to SABA.

For his part, the head of the Saudi delegation thanked the brothers in the Sultanate of Oman for their important role and great efforts in the framework of bringing peace to Yemen and their keenness to support peace and stability in Yemen.

The meeting was attended by the head of the national delegation, Muhammad Abdel Salam, the deputy head of the national delegation, Lieutenant General Jalal Al-Ruwaishan, the head of the Security and Intelligence Service, Major General Abdul Hakim Al-Khaiwani, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hussein Al-Ezzi, the member of the national delegation, Abdul-Malik Al-Ajri, and the head of the Military and Security Committee, Major General Abdullah Yahya Al-Razami.

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Earlier, in March, Iran's mission to the United Nations said that the restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran will contribute to finding a political solution to the war in Yemen, state news agency IRNA reported.

"The restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran [would] speed the ceasefire, help launch a national discussion, and build an inclusive national administration in Yemen," the Iranian UN mission stated on Sunday, according to IRNA.

Since its outbreak in 2014, the conflict in Yemen has been fought on a battlefield where Riyadh and Tehran have supported opposing parties. The Arab Coalition was established by Saudi Arabia to defend the Yemeni government, which is recognised internationally, militarily against the Houthi movement, which is backed by Iran, reported Al Arabiya News.

Arab and Western governments have long accepted that Iran supplied weapons to the Houthi militia, which was then used to launch cross-border strikes primarily against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Throughout the years, the regional warships of the US and the UK have successfully stopped numerous shipments of weapons built in Iran aboard ships bound for Yemen.

Analysts have hailed the significant diplomatic achievement as a huge step towards resolving several regional military crises.

According to the statement from the Iranian envoy, relations between Riyadh and Tehran are significant on three tiers bilateral, regional, and global levels. All three tiers, including West Asia and the Islamic world, will benefit from the reestablishment of political links between the two nations, Al Arabiya News reported.
The Shehbaz Sharif government has convened a joint sitting of the two houses on April 10 to consider the bill that aims at curtailing the powers of the chief justice of Pakistan after President Arif Alvi returned it to the parliament for reconsideration, reported Geo News.

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has convened a joint sitting of parliament on Monday (today) as President Arif Alvi returned the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023, unsigned a day earlier.

The bill was aimed at curtailing the powers of the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) -- including the suo motu and the formation of benches.

The President had returned the bill for reconsideration to parliament as per the provisions of the Article 75 of the Constitution, stating that the bill prima-facie travels beyond the competence of parliament and can be assailed as colourable legislation, reported Geo News.

According to a circular issued by the NA secretariat, "In exercise of the powers conferred by proviso to rule 4 of the Parliament (Joint Sittings) Rules, 1973, the honourable Speaker has been pleased to call a joint sitting on Monday, the 10th April, 2023 at 4.00 p.m. instead of 2.00 p.m."

Earlier, the joint sitting of parliament was scheduled to be held on April 10 at 2 pm, reported Geo News.

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If the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023, is approved by the joint session of the parliament with majority, it will be presented to the president again for his assent. If the president does not give his nod to it within 10 days, the approval is deemed to have been given.

The legislation process says, "If the President refers back a bill to Parliament it is considered in a joint session and if passed by majority is deemed to have been passed by both Houses. Sent again to President to shall give assent in 10 days failing which assent shall be deemed to have been given."

A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif castigated the president for returning the top court bill, unsigned and called him a worker of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), reported Geo News.

"President Alvi returning the Supreme Court Bill duly passed by Parliament is most unfortunate," the prime minister said in a hard-hitting tweet.

In the tweet, the prime minister said the president had belittled his office through his actions as he follows the PTI chief's orders rather than fulfilling his constitutional duties, reported Geo News.

"Through his conduct, he has belittled the august Office by acting as a worker of the PTI, one who is beholden to Imran Niazi more than the Constitution & demands of his Office," he added.
Taiwan's Defence Ministry detected 70 Chinese military aircraft and 11 naval ships around Taiwan by 6 am on Monday and its armed forces were monitoring the situation to respond to these activities.

"70 PLA aircraft and 11 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities," Taiwan's Defence Ministry said in a tweet.

"35 of the detected aircraft(SU-30*8, J-11*4, J-10*6, J-16*8, TB-001 UCAV, Y-9EW, Y-8 ASW, J-15*4, CH-4 UCAV, KJ-500 AEW & C) had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest and southeast ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated," it added.

China entered the third day of the drills, which kickstarted on Saturday (April 8), right after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen returned from the US where she met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a meeting to which China strictly showed opposition.

Al Jazeera reported that the declaration was made on Sunday as Taiwan's defence ministry said that it had discovered numerous Chinese air force sorties and was keeping an eye on Beijing's missile forces.

Taiwan, on Sunday, tracked 71 Chinese military aircraft, and 9 naval ships by 6 am. "45 of the detected aircraft(SU-30*8, J-11*4, J-10*16, J-16*10, TB-001 UCAV, Y-9EW, Y-8 ASW, H-6K*2, Y-20, KJ-500) had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated," the Ministry said.

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China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, began three days of military exercises around the island on Saturday, the day after President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei from Los Angeles, where she met with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Meanwhile, Taiwan also lodged a protest against Chinese military drills around Taiwan, saying that the country would not yield to threats.

Taking to Twitter, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said, "#Taiwan is our homeland, and no matter where we go or what we encounter, she is always charming and beautiful. Every story on this land is etched in our memories. We, #ROCArmedForces, are fighting with all our heart to defend our homeland and to protect our home together."

Tensions between China and Taiwan escalated after the US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi travelled to the country in August last year. China raised objections to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.

This time, Taiwan retaliated by sending aircraft, naval boats, and land-based missiles to observe PLA planes and ships.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan once again lauded India's foreign policy and said that Islamabad "wanted to get cheap Russian crude oil just like India" but was not able to do so as his government collapsed in a no-confidence motion.

Addressing the nation in a video message, he said, "We wanted to get cheap Russian crude oil just like India but that could not happen as unfortunately, my government fell due to a no-confidence motion."

Notably, he was the first Pakistani PM to visit Moscow in the past 23 years, Khan could not broker any deal that could give relief to the cash-strapped country.

Pakistan is reeling under the worst-ever economic crisis and Khan lamented over the fact that his country could also purchase Russian crude oil at a discounted rate that India enjoys despite the ongoing Ukraine war.

It is also important to remember he was in Russia on the day of the start of the conflict last year. He mentioned his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the clip.

Interestingly, this was not the first time when Khan acknowledged India's achievements in terms of growing its economy and purchasing Russian oil despite Western pressure.

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"No other leader except Nawaz in the world has properties worth billions. Tell me about one country whose Premier or leader has billions worth of properties outside the country. Even in our neighbouring country, how many properties does PM Modi has outside India?" he had said at a public gathering in September 2022.

Earlier in May 2022, Khan hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to purchase cheap oil from Russia despite pressure from the United States.

"Despite being part of the Quad, India withstood US pressure and bought cheap oil from Russia to facilitate its people," tweeted Imran, adding, "Our government was trying to achieve this through an independent foreign policy."

India is the world's third-largest oil-consuming and importing nation. It imports 85 per cent of its crude oil needs. Ever since the war between Russia and Ukraine, the West and Europe imposed stringent sanctions on its energy. This resulted in Russia's offering more discounts to its oldest ally, India.

Sanctions hit Russia signed an agreement with an Indian oil giant intending to boost the crude oil supply. According to the Russian news agency, TASS, Moscow's top oil company Rosneft signed a deal with the Indian Oil Company to increase the supply of petroleum to India.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik in April 2023 claimed that the first-ever shipment of cheap oil from Russia would reach Pakistan next month, reported Geo News.

During an interview with a private news channel, the State Minister said that Islamabad has finalised the deal with Moscow, adding, "The first shipment will reach next month through a cargo."

The deal, which has been in the making for months, could ease some of Pakistan's fiscal trouble as the country, a net importer of energy, looked for ways to cut its oil import bill.

Malik said the government had already made progress in this regard and hoped to issue separate billing for the underprivileged and elite class, reported Geo News.

Last month, the sources told The News that the Petroleum Division was trying to procure Russian crude oil at around USD 50 per barrel, at least USD 10 per barrel below the price cap imposed by the G7 countries on the precious commodity being taken from Russia due to its war on Ukraine.

Officials, involved in the virtual talks with Russia, had shared that Moscow was more interested in completing all the prerequisites such as the mode of payment, shipping cost with premium, and insurance cost before signing the agreement with Pakistan, reported Geo News.

Talks have been ongoing between Pakistan and Russia since last year for the trade of oil which had remained a contentious issue in Pakistan's politics.

Former prime minister Imran Khan had repeatedly claimed that his government was ousted for pursuing an "independent foreign policy," which would have allowed the country to buy oil at a discounted price from Russia, just like India.


One of the largest leaks of alleged classified US military documents in a decade has sparked an official investigation by the Department of Defense and could complicate American support for Ukraine shortly before a major offensive by Kyiv. By Ben Westcott, Alex Millson and Low De Wei



Heres what we know about the leaks so far: Multiple tranches of documents have appeared on social media sites over recent weeks, some of them reportedly intended only for those with the highest levels of US security clearance. The information covers a wide range of topics, from US assessments of the war in Ukraine to intelligence gathered on diplomatic allies.

What is in the documents?

According to the New York Times and other outlets, the initial document leaks focused on US assessments of the war in Ukraine originally written in February and March, including estimated casualties on both sides and what equipment and ammunition would be required by Kyiv in the future. However, they reported that at least one document appears to have been altered to lower Russias death toll in the war and inflate that of Ukraine, raising questions over the reliability of the papers.

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Where did the documents appear? Among the more recent leaks, there have also been reports on the US gathering intelligence on its diplomatic allies, including South Korea, Israel and Ukraine. The documents also allegedly lay out the USs extensive access to intelligence from inside Russias government, revelations that could have dire consequences for American espionage going forward.



Bellingcat, an independent investigative news outlet, said the documents appeared to have originally been posted on obscure internet sites, including a Minecraft channel on Discord, which is a popular messaging application for fans of computer games. The leaked information has turned up across multiple social media platforms and apps in recent weeks, including Twitter and YouTube.



What do we know about their origins? The documents drew greater attention once they were discovered and posted more broadly to far-right noticeboard 4Chan and pro-Russian messaging groups on the Telegram app.



If theyre real, the key question is who leaked them  and no one has the answer. The method of circulation suggests they were removed by an American, although that hasnt been confirmed. While the US government hasnt officially confirmed their authenticity, CNN reported on Sunday that an official investigation had been opened into their origin by the US Department of Justice. Most of the documents appear to be photographs of classified Pentagon briefing reports that look as though they had previously been folded up before the images were taken, according to the Times. That suggests someone removed them, possibly in a pocket or briefcase, from their original home.

Have they been deleted from the internet?

With the documents now widely shared on the internet, its highly unlikely that they can now be removed or hidden. At least one major social media platform, Twitter, seems to have little appetite for forcibly erasing the documents. Its billionaire owner, Elon Musk, mocked the idea of potentially removing the documents from the web in a tweet last week. Still, the White House said efforts were being made to remove the material.

How have countries responded?

Ukraine has dismissed the documents publicly as Russian disinformation, with an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy telling the New York Times that they were fictional. Russia is trying to influence Ukrainian society, sow fear, panic, mistrust and doubt, the report cited the adviser as saying. Its typical behavior.
Nicosia [Cyprus], April 10 (ANI): Last Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, held in Beijing their first meeting in seven years and formalized the agreement to restore diplomatic relations and bury the hatchet between their countries.

They discussed the appointment of ambassadors, a visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Riyadh, the issuing of visas to each other's citizens and the resumption of flights between the two countries.

The Chinese-brokered landmark accord between two countries that were bitter rivals for years may have a domino effect on other Middle East countries like Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, where the two countries supported opposing sides, and could play a big role in stabilizing the region.

Furthermore, it is indicative of China's new role as a diplomatic and strategic player in the Middle East and causes uneasiness to Washington, which sees Beijing's economic and soft power increasing and its own influence diminishing in this strategic region of the world.

It looks like the bloody war in Yemen, where the Iranians backed the rebel Houthis and Saudi Arabia the internationally recognized government, will come to an end. The war in Yemen has claimed the lives of more than 233,000 people, while about five million people are at risk of famine and a cholera outbreak has affected over one million people.

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Last year, a ceasefire was brokered by the United Nations, which was largely observed by the two sides. Now, following the accord between Saudi Arabia and Iran, under which the two countries agreed to stop their involvement in the war, the ceasefire is expected to become permanent.

Moreover, the Saudi government expects that it will no longer have to worry about Houthi missile and drone attacks against its oil installations and will not have to spend additional billions of dollars on sophisticated air defence systems.

The agreement represents a major success for internationally isolated Iran as it has managed to mend relations with Saudi Arabia, one of its two main enemies in the Middle East (the other enemy is Israel) and what is more this was achieved without Tehran's prior deal on its nuclear program, which was generally believed to be a prerequisite for any improvement of relations with Riyadh.

Hussein Ibish, of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, points out that the accord "for Iran represents a successful effort of trying to push back against regional isolation without major changes to its policies, which adversaries like Saudi Arabia had previously been demanding."

As regards Syria, for many years Saudi Arabia had been actively supporting insurgents trying to topple the Bashar al-Assad regime, while Iran sent thousands of troops to prevent its collapse. Currently, pro-Iranian militias continue to control several Syrian provinces.

However, due to the military support given by Russia to Damascus, it became apparent to Riyadh that the Assad regime will stay in power. So, the Saudis changed their policy on Syria. They discontinued assistance to the insurgents and now they are talking about Syria's return to the Arab League.

For many years now, the pro-Iranian armed group Hezbollah has been a formidable force in Lebanon that exercises a big influence in the military and political affairs of the country. It has gradually become a hybrid terrorist organisation that occasionally fights Israel, while it provides social welfare to thousands of citizens who suffer due to the unprecedented economic crisis facing the country.

Lebanese politics have been broadly split for years between Hezbollah and a pro-Saudi coalition.

More many months now, Lebanon is facing an economic meltdown, without a president or a fully empowered cabinet, while the opposing sides fail to reach an agreement almost on all burning issues facing the country.

The restoration of relations between Riyadh and Tehran has sparked some hope that this could lead to an end to government paralysis. Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, recently described the accord achieved in Beijing as "historic" and said the "positive reading of the news should also prompt Lebanon's politicians to quickly elect a president."

With regard to Iraq, following the US-led invasion of 2003 and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, various militias with ties with Tehran joined the reconstituted Iraqi Army. After the advance of the Islamic state into northern Iraq in 2014, Iran provided technical advisers to the Iraqi government, troops to fight ISIL and weapons to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, sparking Saudi alarm.

In 2020 there was a limited thaw in relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia and the two countries reopened a crossing between them. Now with the Chinese brokered accord, relations between Tehran, Riyadh, and Baghdad are expected to improve even more.

Clearly, Israel is the country that is most unhappy with the restoration of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as it sees its hopes of establishing diplomatic relations with Riyadh and even forming a coalition against Iran vanish into thin air.

The threat of a possible Iranian attack against Saudi Arabia has now receded and there is no more a powerful incentive for Riyadh to think about improving relations with the Jewish state.

Another country that is not thrilled about the Chinese-brokered deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, is the United States, which sees its general plans for the Middle East as failing. A State Department spokesman, commenting on the Riyadh- Tehran accord, said: "If this dialogue leads to concrete action by Iran to curb its destabilizing activities in the region, including the proliferation of dangerous weapons, then of course, we would welcome that."

Furthermore, the US is not happy about China's growing influence in the Middle East, while Washington's influence diminishes. It realizes that it is now unlikely to achieve a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, while Iran forges ahead with enriching uranium to nuclear weapons grade, and instead of facing increased international isolation, it is improving its relations with a formerly implacable rival.
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Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Bihar BSEB 10th Compartment Exam: The Bihar School Examination Board will going to close the Bihar BSEB 10th Compartmental Exam 2023 registration process today, April 10, 2023. Candidates who want to apply for the matric compartmental examination can visit the official site of BSEB at secondary.biharboardonline.com.

This facility is available for those students who did not pass the Bihar Board Class 10 examination. This is their second chance to pass the examination. Students can apply to appear for the compartmental examination by registering themselves.

Bihar BSEB 10th Compartment Exam: Steps to Apply

Students are required to follow the steps given below to apply for the Bihar BSEB 10th Compartment Exam.

Go the official site of BSEB at secondary.biharboardonline.com

Now,Click on Compartment Special Exam 2023 link available on the home page.

Fill in the required details and click on login.

A new page will open where candidates will have to fill in the details.

Make the payment of the application fees and click on submit.

Your form has been submitted.

Download the page and keep a hard copy of the same for further need.

BSEB Class 10 results 2023 was announced on March 31, 2023. A total of 81.04 % students passed the examination. Bihar board Matric examination was conducted from February 14 to February 22, 2023, in two shifts across the state at various exam centres.
UCEED Counselling 2023: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay will going to release the round 1 seat allotment result for Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design (UCEED) 2023 today on April 10, 2023. Candidates will have to log on to uceed.iitb.ac.in to check their results. IIT Bombay had held the UCEED 2023 counselling from March 14 until 31, 2023. The exam is conducted for candidates who are looking forward to pursuing a degree in Bachelor of design (BDes) courses at various IITs.

UCEED 2023 1st Seat Allotment Result 2023: How to Check

Candidates are required to follow the steps given below to check their round 1 seat allotment result for UCEED 2023.

Visit to the official website at uceed.iitb.ac.in.

Click on the tab that reads 'Announcements'.

Choose the link to check the round 1 seat allotment result 2023.

A PDF file will be displayed on the screen. Check for your name and the institute allotted to you.

Download the file on your device.

Print its hard copy for future references.

Once the candidates are allotted an institution, they will be required to pay the seat acceptance fee to confirm their seats.

UCEED 2023: College Participation

The following colleges accept the UCEED scores for providing admissions to candidates in BDes courses.

IIT Bombay

IIT Delhi

IIT Guwahati

IIT Hyderabad

IIITDM Jabalpur
Seven-seaters are all about practicality. For the Filipino family, it has to be safe, reliable, but most of all, offers comfort and joy with...
AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation seriously jeopardizes peace, stability in Asia-Pacific: embassy

Xinhua) 13:04, April 10, 2023

LONDON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The United States, Britain and Australia have been pressing ahead with nuclear submarine cooperation despite being widely questioned, which creates nuclear proliferation risks and undermines the international non-proliferation system, the Chinese Embassy in Britain has said.

In response to a question concerning the trilateral Australia-UK-U.S. (AUKUS) cooperation on nuclear submarines, the embassy said on Friday that such cooperation will exacerbate the resurgence of the Cold War mentality, trigger a new round of arms race, and further provoke regional security and military confrontation, seriously jeopardizing regional peace, stability and prosperity.

The Asia-Pacific is now the most dynamic and fastest growing region in the world, which hasn't come easily, the embassy said in a press release. "The AUKUS cooperation is designed to serve the U.S. geopolitical agenda to introduce group politics and Cold War confrontation into the Asia-Pacific with military deterrence. It is aimed at creating a NATO-replica in the Asia-Pacific, which runs counter to peace and stability in the region."

The AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation marks the first time for nuclear weapon states to transfer naval nuclear propulsion reactors and weapons-grade highly enriched uranium to a non-nuclear weapon state, it noted.

As the current International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards system is incapable of ensuring effective safeguards, such cooperation poses serious nuclear proliferation risks, seriously compromises the authority of the IAEA, and deals a blow to the agency's safeguards system, the embassy said.

"If the three countries are set on advancing the cooperation, other countries will likely follow suit, eventually leading to the collapse of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime," it said.

China urges the three countries to heed the call of the international community and regional countries, discard the outdated zero-sum Cold War mentality and narrow geopolitical mindset, earnestly fulfil their international obligations and do more things that are conducive to regional peace, stability, unity and development, the embassy said.

"This serves the fundamental and long-term interests of regional countries as well as the three countries themselves," it said. "The UK is not a country in the region and it is unwise to overstretch itself."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A concerned citizen reported that they had heard an explosion in the 5000 block of Ooltewah Ringgold Road. The noise was found to only be a power line issue and EPB was notified to respond.

Officers checked the well-being of a resident in the 4300 block of Cele Court. Everything checked out okay.

A minor parking lot crash was reported at the Cracker Barrel.

A Collegedale fugitive was booked on a petition to revoke bond warrant after failing to appear in court on theft charges.

An officer checked the area around the 5900 block Howe Lane after dispatch received an unknown 911 call. Nothing was located.

East Ridge police made contact with a Collegedale fugitive and transported them to the county jail on a failure to appear warrant from theft charges.

A lost cell phone was turned into the police department. The phone had been found in the 8600 block of Apison Pike.

A lost wallet was turned into police.

A traffic stop in the 5900 block of Main Street resulted in the driver being charged with driving on a suspended license.

An officer responded to a disorder between siblings in the 4300 block of Cele Court.

An unknown 911 call came in from the Village at Apison Pike apartment complex. The area was checked but no emergency was found.

An alarm was activated at an empty business in the 5900 block of Reagan Lane. Everything checked out okay.

A traffic stop in the 5100 block of Ooltewah Ringgold Road resulted in the drivers arrest on Collegedale warrants for vandalism and criminal trespass, a result of the Cele Court disorder that had been responded to earlier in the shift

A two-vehicle crash was reported in the 10400 block of Lee Highway. One driver was transported to the hospital and both vehicles were towed from the scene.

An unknown 911 call came in from the 5500 block of Little Debbie Parkway. The area was checked but no emergency was found.

Officers checked the 4300 block of Katie Kim Lane after receiving reports of gunfire. Nothing was located.

Police responded to the Hawthorne at the Summit apartment complex after receiving reports of loud music. The residents were spoken to and agreed to turn their music down.

A business alarm was activated in the 10300 block of Lee Highway. Everything checked out okay.

A business alarm was activated in the 5100 block of Ooltewah Ringgold Road. Everything checked out okay.

Collegedale police assisted a busy sheriffs office by checking a residential alarm in the 8200 block of Saddleback Circle. Everything checked out okay.

A business alarm was activated in the 5100 block of Ooltewah Ringgold Road. Everything checked out okay.

A business alarm was activated in the 5100 block of Ooltewah Ringgold Road. An unlocked door was discovered and the building was checked. Everything checked out okay.

An unknown 911 call came in from the 4800 block of College Drive East. The area was checked but no emergency was found.

Collegedale police received an alert from the Bradley County Sheriffs Office regarding an individual walking in the middle of the railroad tracks in the rain towards Collegedale. Officers made contact with them and determined that they were not in any danger and asked them to stay off the train tracks for safety reasons.

A vehicle crash was reported in the Arbys parking lot.

A Walmart shopper reported that they had lost their wallet somewhere in the store.

A resident reported that a suspicious vehicle with out of state tags had been driving slowly through the Barrington Country Estates neighborhood. The vehicle had left the area before officers arrived.

A traffic stop in the 10600 block of Lee Highway led to the passengers arrest for an aggravated assault warrant out of Catoosa County. The fugitive was transported to the jail for extradition.

A Collegedale fugitive was booked on a failure to appear warrant from an original charge of driving on a revoked license.

A Collegedale fugitive was booked on a failure to appear warrant from an original charge of driving on a revoked license.

A concerned citizen reported a possible house fire in the 5000 block of Little Debbie Parkway. Officers met with the homeowner who had a wood pile burning and had a burn permit.

Collegedale police were requested to assist a busy Chattanooga police department and responded to a vehicle crash with entrapment in the 8100 block of Old Lee Highway.

Officers responded to a residential alarm in the 9600 block of Rookwood Circle. The alarm was found to be a malfunctioning unit.

A traffic stop in the 10300 block of Lee Highway resulted in the passengers arrest for possession of methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia.

A vehicle stolen out of Florida was discovered in the Walmart parking lot and impounded.

Chattanooga police made contact with a Collegedale fugitive who had a failure to appear warrant from a speeding ticket. They transported the individual to the jail.

An officer was dispatched to the Cracker Barrel regarding a possible crash that had occurred in the parking lot. Video footage showed that it did not happen at the Cracker Barrel.




The Nashville Metro Council called a special meeting on Monday afternoon and unanimously voted to put expelled House member Justin Jones back into the General Assembly for District 52.

A large number of Jones supporters were at the meeting and outside the council chambers, and they accompanied him on the short walk to the state Capitol. There he was sworn in by Chancellor I'Ashea L. Myles.

The House on Thursday, after a raucous day-long session, expelled Mr. Jones and Justin Pearson of Memphis for their part in breaking into a House session with a pro gun message.

There was an attempt also to expel House member Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, but it fell one vote short.

Justin Jones can serve until a special election is held. He plans to run in that election.

The council took the time to have the minutes of the meeting written up and signed in a certified copy so there would be no delay in his ability to retake the District 52 seat.

Notice of the special called meeting said:

The District 52 seat in the Tennessee State House of Representatives was vacated by adoption of HR0065 on April 6, 2023.

When the seat of any member of either house becomes vacant, Article 2, Section 15 of the Tennessee State Constitution places the onus on the local legislative body to elect an interim successor to serve until a special election occurs to fill the vacancy where a vacancy is created more than 12 months prior to the end of the members term. The interim successor must be a qualified voter of the district represented.

Pursuant to Section 3.04 of the Metropolitan Charter and Rule 49 of the Council Rules of Procedure, I am calling a Special Meeting of the Metropolitan Council on Monday, April 10, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber for the following purposes:

to announce the vacancy of the Tennessee House of Representatives District 52 seat;

to discuss Council Rule 49 procedures for filling vacancies in offices of public officials; and

if determined by the Council, vote on the election of an interim successor.

Jim Shulman

Vice Mayor
The American Rescue Plan Act was designed to relieve struggling communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. But what happens when these federal dollars meant for public good end up in the pockets of elected officials or their affiliated organizations? The city of Chattanooga is grappling with this very issue. Two prominent groups receiving funds from the plan are under scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns.





Chattanooga Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod's fiance, Anthony Gladden, founded Kingship Chess Academy and the non-profit Kingship Chess Group, a chess program that received $150,000 in American Rescue Plan funds.Councilwoman Raquetta Dotley is the executive director of The Net Resource Foundation, a non-profit that received $250,000 in federal dollars. Both Coonrod and Dotley have been accused of conflicts of interest, as their close associations with the groups that received funds raise questions about the impartiality of their decision-making as elected officials.





According to the Chattanooga City Charter, elected officials are required to avoid conflicts of interest and act solely in the public's best interest. Impropriety by an elected official can take many forms, including using their position for personal gain, abusing power, or showing favoritism to specific individuals, groups or family members. In this case, the potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns stem from Coonrod and Dotley's close relationships with the organizations that received federal funds and could benefit financially from these transactions.





The lack of oversight from the Mayor's office and the remaining City Council raises additional concerns about the appropriateness of these transactions.





To make matters worse, Kingship Chess Academy was dissolved by the Tennessee Secretary of State's office after failing to file its annual report on time in 2022. How did two high-risk groups missing proper financial statements receive federal funds? This inconsistency and lack of transparency only highlight the need for greater accountability and oversight in allocating public funds.





The American Rescue Plan Act was intended to provide much-needed relief to struggling communities. Still, these recent allegations of conflicts of interest and ethical concerns overshadow its efficacy. As the city of Chattanooga grapples with these issues, elected officials must act in the best interest of their constituents and uphold the highest ethical standards. The public deserves transparency and accountability in the allocation of federal funds, and it is the responsibility of those in power to ensure that these funds are distributed fairly and equitably. Anything less is a disservice to the public trust.





Marie Mott
The power company in Cleveland, Tn., is planning to get into the broadband business. Appoval was given on Monday by the Cleveland City Council for the formation of the Cleveland Utilities Authority.

Tim Henderson, president/CEO of Cleveland Utilities, said the move would allow the utility to put in a "Smart Grid" similar to EPB's in five years instead of the current projected 15 years.

The $72 million includes $64 million capital for installing the fiber system and $8 million for three years of operation for the new division.

There initially would be 12 new jobs.

The utility would offer a standard one-gig service and up to 10 gigs.

Mr. Henderson said, "Our fiber service will touch every electric meter we have."

He said the new utility's division would be a stand-alone branch. The utility currently handles electric, water and wastewater.

Mr. Henderson said the planned Internet rates would be lower than those currently quoted by private providers that include Spectrum and AT&T.

He acknowledged that local private firms could "undercut" the Cleveland Utility rates as has happened elsewhere. Officials said the utility would be able to offer much better customer service.

Councilman Ken Webb, who formerly headed Cleveland Utility, said private companies have some fiber but much less-reliable "co ax and copper."

Officials said the new setup would allow the utility to partner with private companies on solar projects.

The initial board for the planned new "Energy Authority" is the same as for the current Cleveland Utilities Board:

Aubrey Ector At large Director June 30, 2025

Joe Cate At large Director June 30, 2026

Eddie Cartwright At large Director June 30, 2024

Debbie Melton At large Director June 30, 2023

David May, Jr. Representative of Cleveland City Council September 2024

Under an amendment, the Authority Board will have seven members, including an additional member of the City Council.

The Cleveland City Council will continue to name the board members.

Councilman Casada said he was getting some kickback on the idea, and he noted that most Cleveland households and businesses can currently get Internet from private firms.

He and Vice Mayor Avery Johnson were opposed on the vote on setting up the authority, but it prevailed 5-2.

A citizen group, the Cleveland TN Patriots, asked for a delay, saying the public has had very little notice of the plan.

The group said a public hearing was held last Wednesday night "when most residents of Bradley County are in church."

They said a vote on the far-reaching project was then set for today.

Members of the group include Dan Rawls, founder of Bradley Constitutionalists; Glenda Pappu, organizer for the Tennessee Neighbors for Liberty; Ted Gleason, treasurer for Advocates for Bradley County; and Angie Kitchen, State Coordinator of Information and Education for Tennessee Republic.

In Chattanooga, EPB has operated a broadband program for a number of years.

The Cleveland City Council approved this resolution:

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Cleveland Utilities (CU) has determined that CU should provide broadband services under the authority of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 7-52-601, et seq., and otherwise applicable law, subject only to the approval of the City Council of the City of Cleveland, Tennessee (the City); and

WHEREAS, in connection with the development of the broadband business plan for CU, the Board of Directors and the management team of CU have evaluated the potential benefits associated with the formation of an energy authority pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Energy Authority Act, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 7-36-101, et seq. (the Authority Act); and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has determined that the formation of an energy authority by the City Council will provide the optimal business structure for CUs existing electric, water, and wastewater operations and for CUs broadband operations;

and

WHEREAS, the management team of CU has presented a proposed form of the Certificate of Incorporation for Cleveland Utilities Authority, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors recommends the City Council to consider the formation of an Authority.



NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND duly adopts a resolution by a two-thirds (2/3), or greater vote, and finds and determines that it is wise, expedient, necessary, and advisable that an authority be formed, it shall authorize the City Manager to proceed to form the authority,

and the City Council shall approve the form of the Certificate of Incorporation proposed to be used by the authority; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, according to the powers of this Act, the Authority in most ways will have the power to Act as an independent local jurisdiction where the City will have to consider how to give the Authority control over the hundreds of millions

of dollars in public assets to the independent authority; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that after the approval of this resolution the City Council will have no authority to unilaterally to change the Articles of Incorporation, or ever reverse this decision, and this Authority will act in perpetuity; and



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, according to the powers of this Act the Authority Board will have complete control and supervision of any system of the authority and to make all such rules governing the rendering of services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, according to the powers of this Act the City Council would not have any approval powers or have any authority over water rates, wastewater rates, broadband rates, electric rates, or the budget of Cleveland Utilities in perpetuity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, according to the powers of this Act, upon transfer of an electric, water, and wastewater system from the City to an authority and the assumption or satisfaction of all obligations of the Board, the all jurisdiction and all control of the City over such system must be transferred to the authority, and supervisor board having oversight over such system shall cease to exist.
Sandra Blaylock Seifert, a Texan by heart and a woman of strength and independent spirit, passed away on April 3, 2023, in her hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was a grounded personality that made her loved and respected by all who knew her.

Sandra was born in Amarillo, Texas, and moved to Chattanooga with her parents and sister, graduating from Chattanooga City High and then moving to New York City on a scholarship to attend the Cooper Union Institute of Art and Science. Sandra was a talented artist and graphic designer, who worked as the Art Director for the Herald Tribune and many popular Manhattan Magazines. She met her husband Hans Seifert while visiting her sister, Waynette and brother-in-law, Harold Sosebee, who were stationed with the U.S. Army in Darmstadt, Germany.

Sandra and Hans lived in several countries spanning the globe, but ultimately retired in their favorite city of Chattanooga, to be close to family. Her natural curiosity and international poise gave her a unique perspective on the world that she shared with those around her. She was an adventurer at heart, always eager to explore new places and meet new people.

One of Sandra's greatest passions was international cuisine, and she was an amazing cook known for her Mexican dishes, heart-warming soups, southern food, and banana bread. Her martinis were legendary, and she loved nothing more than preparing a meal and a drink with friends and family.

Sandra was always dressed for the occasion, with a fresh haircut and beautiful jewelry. She had a presence that commanded attention and left a lasting impression on everyone she met. Her talent as an artist was also something that was admired by many, and her work was a true testament to her creativity and passion.

Sandra will be deeply missed by her family and friends, who will always remember her for her strength, independent spirit, and quirky humor. Her legacy will live on through the memories she created and the love she shared with all those who were fortunate enough to know her. Sandra is survived by her daughter Christina, son Alex, and grandchildren Matthew, Evie and Harrison. Not to forget legions of cousins, nieces and nephews, and lifelong friends around the globe.

Sandra will be laid to rest in Spring City, Tn., privately by her children.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Cooper Union scholarship fund at https://connect.cooper.edu/register/?id=50f29afc-c0fe-4b03-9abe-e7651a1fcdbd

Rest in peace, Sandra.

Visit www.heritagebattlefield.com to share condolences with the family.

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Battlefield Parkway.
The Planning Commission on Monday recommended approval for UGC zoning for two run-down Lee Highway motels that the new owner wants to convert to apartments.

Planning Agency staff members said the Motel 6 and America's Best Inn could be converted without the rezoning, but not as many units could be changed.

The change allows 94 units at Motel 6 instead of 70 and 64 units at America's Best Inn instead of 56.

Attorney Buddy Presley said 175 residents signed a petition in opposition.

He said instead of making the change to apartments, "the money needs to be put into fixing up the motels."

Attorney Presley said it is "inhumane" to put residents in such small apartments.

One resident said, "For some reason we have gotten to be the mecca for homelessness. I feel like I am under siege. The price for my home has plummeted."

David Matthews of the Planning Commission said, "I'm really torn. We need affordable housing. We need that housing really bad."

Chairman Ethan Collier agreed. He said of the change, "I think it makes things much better for you in the long haul."

Mike Price of MAP Engineers, who urged approval, said the two motels had generated major numbers of police calls.

He said Thornhill Management has hired an architect on the projects.

Mr. Price said there would be studio apartments and some two-bedroom units as well as pools and community rooms.

The final decision will be by the City Council.

Thornhill Management earlier dropped plans to convert the Knights Inn in Lookout Valley to apartments after strong opposition from County Commissioner Joe Graham and City Councilman Chip Henderson.
I was disappointed that the Tennessee Legislature voted to expel members legally protesting this important issue of gun control in America.

This vote was led by Republicans. I do applaud those Republicans that did not vote to expel. They thought for themselves - not just go along with the wave.

I am not angry with my friends in the Legislature. I love them, but I feel they are on the wrong side of history here. I hate that they will carry that vote on their shoulders through the years.

Evidently they dont recall a few years back when the Legislature was trying to pass a state income tax. Conservatives, Republicans and some Democrats protested vigorously. They drove their vehicles around the Capitol blowing their horns and using loudspeakers while the Legislature was in session. They screamed from the balcony No tax. Not only was there no punishment, the protest worked. It was a legitimate protest.

The issue of guns in the wrong hands killing some 60,000 Americans a year is a legitimate protest. Protesting on a Legislature that has pretty much turned its back on the issue.

Through the years Americans have always protested when their leaders ignored their pleas. The Boston Tea Party, Womens suffrage and the Civil Rights Movement are all examples of the people speaking out to make change. Here We are again.

Im sorry that our leaders say this disrupted their meeting but guns in the hands of people who should not have them are disrupting our schools, churches, malls, clubs, Country Music concerts, people in their homes watching TV or sleeping, and people sitting on their porch or working in their yard or driving down the street.



The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution states that the main purpose of the document is to

ensure domestic tranquility and to keep its citizens safe.



I believe in the right of good people being able to go armed and protect themselves, but this is not whats happening. Government is allowing young minds and mean and violent people to get all kinds of weapons to rob and hijack and kill.



I am disappointed that our Vice President came to Nashville as it makes this look like a political issue. This is not a Republican vs. Democrat; Black vs. While or FOX vs. CNN issue. This is an anti-crime public safety issue that cannot be ignored.

This gun issue and the Illegal Border Crossings are two matters America needs to fix now.

I think our governor is a decent man. I voted for him and contributed financially to his campaign. However, I have learned he is extremely pro-gun and he, along with the gun lobbyists, are training the Legislators to vote more guns and ignore and overlook tremendous issues with guns.

For example, the Nashville school murders. His solution is more guns in the schools. He ignores or overlooks that this killer had gone to five different gun stores purchasing seven guns - some military style, then shooting their way into the school murdering these innocent children.

The killer had a map showing their plan to go to the Green Hills Mall. So when putting armed guards in schools, what about malls? Or is a better plan to get guns out of these killers' hands?

To show how out of touch the Legislature is they proposed a bill allowing teachers to carry guns, but they would have to have training and a background check. This may be a good idea. But they dont require it out in public with this Open Carry Law that allows people to have no training ( Police hate that law). It needs to be repealed immediately because of the unintended consequences It has caused.



It is my hope that our Legislature will listen to the people and not be pressured by the gun lobbyists who represent gun manufactures and gun dealers who want to pass more laws to sell more guns.

I hope I have not angered my Republican friends. However, to be a strong party you must have different opinions and discuss them rather than hide down the hall and just vote with the flow.

I have talked with many Police, Republicans, Democrats and Independents who feel as I do.

I encourage you to speak out on this most important issue of our time. I dont have a big following but many of you do.

Please encourage your Legislators to stand strong and vote with their heart.

There go the people. I am their leader. I must follow.

Russell Bean

* * *

Thank you, Judge Bean, for your eloquent and courageous letter. Our state's elected leaders should all read it, print a copy and carry it with them every day for the remainder of their term(s) in office.

Thank you, sir.

Michael Mallen, Esq.

* * *

Judge Bean,

Reading your letter, I couldnt help but think of the last time I had the pleasure of practicing in your court.

My client was a young man who, leaving work at twilight while approaching an intersection, glanced down to make sure hed turned on his headlamps. As a result of this momentary distraction, he struck a pedestrian in the crosswalk. He was cited for several traffic offenses. After a brief hearing, you graciously dismissed everything but the failure to yield. My client was upset, as he believed that the pedestrian had stepped out in front of him, not giving him time to stop. You very kindly explained to him that he was approaching an intersection that required a complete stop, that the pedestrian in the crosswalk had the right of way, and that he shouldve been paying more attention in that situation. I took my client to the side room to watch the defensive driving video as you directed, and you continued the business of the court, moving on to the next defendant.

Had my client had a crowd of friends there to shout and disrupt the court, demanding that you ignore statute and precedent, Im fairly certain they wouldve found themselves escorted out, at the very least, if not jailed for contempt. If I had grabbed a bullhorn and joined such a disruption in your court, I would have expected the same, plus sanctions regarding my license to practice, because Im expected to know better as an officer of the court.

Had my client and his hypothetical friends driven around the courthouse honking and demanding a change in the law, you would have likely ignored them, and continued the business of the court while they exercised their right to protest.

Protestors in DC pitched a tantrum on Jan. 6, 2021 similar to the tantrum pitched in Nashville last week. We see whats happened to them. And, if North Georgia gadfly Marjorie Taylor Greene had grabbed a bullhorn and joined them, Im fairly certain that the folks writing in support of the Tennessee Three (apologies to Luther Perkins, Marshall Grant, and W.S. Holland) wouldnt be extending the same grace to Greene.

I agree that we need to find ways to keep weapons out of the wrong hands. But, that requires calm discussion, not capitulation to the mob. And cooler heads wont prevail if we allow hot heads to control the conversation. Sometimes you have to put the hot heads in time-out.

Kevin Hargis




The royal family has finally unveiled the invitation for King Charles IIIs coronation. Its a colorful and intricate card that represents a significant milestone in the royal familys legacy. Heres a closer look at the coronation invitation and a breakdown of the symbolism behind it.

King Charles | HANNAH MCKAY/Contributor

Andrew Jamieson designed King Charles IIIs coronation invitation

The royal family revealed King Charles IIIs coronation invitation a month before the grand event. According to the Royal Familys website, it will be printed on recycled paper. It is expected to be issued to nearly 2,000 guests, including members of the royal family, foreign dignitaries, and other VIPs who will attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the invitation reads. By command of the King the Earl Marshal is directed to invite [name] to be present at the Abbey Church of Westminster on the 6th day of May 2023.

The card was designed by heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator Andrew Jamieson, a Brother of the Art Workers Guild  an institution the King is also an honorary member of. The south London-based artist told the Times that he used old chivalric themes as inspiration.

I came up with the concept of a wildflower meadow, inspired by medieval books of hours and tapestries, and the motif of a green man, Jamieson explained. Butterflies, birds, bees, anything you would see in a flower meadow. The official flowers, of course  the rose, shamrock, thistle, daffodil  and theres a sprig of rosemary in there for remembrance as well as wild strawberries.

The artist was sworn to secrecy when he learned he would design the invite. The whole thing was absolutely hush, hush,' he recalled.

The invitation features symbolic flowers and animals

The official invitation for the Coronation of The King and The Queen Consort has been revealed.



Designed by Andrew Jamieson, the invitation features the Green Man, an ancient figure from British folklore, symbolic of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign.



1/7 pic.twitter.com/MpajIk0SQw  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 5, 2023

King Charles coronation invitation is more in tune with nature than majesty. The floral border represents a British wildflower meadow and features clusters of flowers, each with its own symbolic meaning.

The border includes roses to represent England; daffodils, which represent Wales; shamrocks for Ireland; and thistles for Scotland. The Lily of the Valley may be there to represent Queen Elizabeths favorite flower. Some of the flowers are grouped in bunches of three to reflect Charles as the third king of his name.

The border also includes a butterfly, a bee, and small drawings of a lion, unicorn, and boar from the royal couples coats of arms. The bee symbolizes industry and diligence, while the butterfly represents transformation and metamorphosis. The lion and unicorn are symbols of England and Scotland, respectively. The boar is a symbol of bravery and strength.

A gold letter C featured on the border represents Charles name, and a second C made of green vines and flowers inside it may represent Queen Camilla. They are adorned with two birds  a robin and a wren. The birds symbolize rebirth and can also be considered a tribute to the Kings parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

Strawberries also adorn the card. This may also be a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, as strawberries were her favorite fruit. She was known to eat strawberry jam every day.

King Charles IIIs coronation invite also features two coats of arms

Along with the beauty and symbolism of nature, King Charles coronation invite also features notable symbols of the monarchy. Charles coat of arms  which he was given at the age of 13  sits at the upper left corner of the card. It features a lion representing England, a harp symbol for Ireland, a unicorn for Scotland, and the Latin version of the phrase God and my right.

Queen Camillas coat of arms  which she received in 2015  sits in the upper right corner. It features the same lion and harp from Charles crest but also includes a boar representing her father.

The coronation card features a Green Man at the bottom

King Charles IIIs coronation invitation card also features a Green Man figure, a symbol of rebirth and the renewal of nature. Its a symbol that has been used in art and literature for centuries.

The Green Man is often depicted with leaves and branches growing out of his mouth, symbolizing the power of nature to sustain life. As the Royal Familys website details, the Green Man is also a symbol to celebrate the new reign. Its crown of natural foliage is formed of leaves of oak, ivy, and hawthorn, and the emblematic flowers of the United Kingdom.
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Students in their final year of high school have a lot on their plates when it comes to college applications.

They need to write the perfect college essay, have impeccable grades, and show just how well-rounded they are through various after-school activities.

After putting in all that effort and enduring months of waiting to see if they got into their dream school, it can be extremely disheartening for hard-working students to be met with a rejection letter.

It is not a rare occurrence for a student who has done everything right to be passed over for admission by their top-choice universities.

Colleges are becoming increasingly competitive, so applicants must do even more to stand out from the crowd.

Its hard not to feel crushed by that rejection, but that doesnt mean you arent good enough to get into your school of choice.

A TikTok creator and high school senior named Sarah (@exexextentacitittez) shared her frustration after being rejected from all the universities she applied to in California.

She was denied admission from UC Riverside, UC San Diego, Cal State Long Beach, and UC Irvine and was waitlisted at Cal State Fullerton.

My heart is completely broken. 14 years of school to be rejected from every college. Gifted student doesnt mean (anything), she wrote in the caption of her video.

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Outraged sparked as the FDA's approval of an abortion pill called mifepristone has been stopped by a federal judge in Texas. The medication used in abortion was stopped because the judge stated that FDA's approval violated a federal rule for permitting an accelerated approval of specific drugs and some subsequent actions of the agency.

This move of the FDA has caused their action to be unlawful. The Biden administration filed an appeal causing the decision to be put on hold for a week

Federal Judge's Decision to Stop FDA Approval of Abortion Pill Mifepristone

According to the report in CBS News, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's injunction did not entirely withdraws or suspend the FDA's approval of the pill, which some anti-abortion groups and medical associations requested.

This move of Kacsmaryk could have denied millions of women on their access to the pill throughout the country and even in states where the law permits abortion. The FDA's expert opinion that mifepristone is safe and effective was toppled because of this decision, and their integrity is being tested, according to Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The Department of Justice intends to appeal and request a stay pending appeal. Especially in light of the recent Supreme Court decision to reverse Roe v. Wade, which has led to numerous states adopting more rigid limits or even entire prohibitions on the practice, the result increases the ambiguity and uncertainty surrounding abortion availability statewide.

Also Read: Controversial Idaho Bill Criminalizing Assistance for Minors' Abortions without Parental Consent Passes Legislature

President Joe Biden and Pro-Abortion Groups Criticized the Decision

In the article in Manila Bulletin, Biden slammed the decision as an ideological attack on women's rights, arguing that the court had replaced its judgment with that of the FDA. He also added that there is no problem when the FDA approves because they are an expert agency that supports every drug, in which the decision could endanger virtually every prescription approved by the FDA.

Jack Resneck, president of the American Medical Association, voiced worry that enabling judges to interfere with established FDA procedures would be careless and dangerous. A significant pro-abortion organization in the US, Planned Parenthood, also condemned the decision as an assault on medicine. They showed disbelief that a single judge could arbitrarily ignore scientific evidence and reverse the FDA's approval of a drug that has been used for more than two decades safely and effectively.

Another critic, which is the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, described the decision as "regressive" and cautioned that if it were not capsized, this would have some bad effects on women and their health and also the families across America. According to Forbes, Becerra promised that the department would retaliate against the choice.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also denounced the decision, calling it a significant step toward the Republican party's objective of a total abortion ban that might destabilize the nation. According to vice president Kamala Harris, the decision is unprecedented and poses a national threat to women's rights. Both Harris and Biden voiced worry that the decision weakens the FDA. They cautioned that additional FDA-approved medications would be subject to political and ideological attacks if they were to stand.

Related Article: FDA Changes Abortion Pill Dispensing Rules; Doctors Raise Concerns for Potential Dangers for Women
Pexels/Olga Lioncat

Pope Francis could not attend the Good Friday Way of the Cross procession because of the cold temperature at night in Rome. The pope has recently been discharged from the hospital due to medication for a respiratory illness.

The Holy See has announced that the pontiff will miss the event and instead will watch it from his house in the Vatican. The intense cold was the main reason for the pope's absence, and he would follow the procession from the Santa Marta hotel and pray with those who gathered with the Diocese of Rome at the Colosseum.

Pope Francis' Absence was Due to Temperature Conditions in Rome

In the report in Euro News, Pope Francis has led an early evening prayer service at St. Peter's Basilica celebrating Good Friday, in which it remembers the crucifixion and death of Jesus for humanity. The pope wore crimson-colored vestments and utilized a wheelchair to come to the central area of the basilica and presided over the prayer service. He was in a wheelchair because of chronic knee pain.

In an earlier event, Francis was admitted to the hospital due to bronchitis. He was hastily discharged on April 1 and was expected to celebrate and attend his Holy Week schedule, including the Way of the Cross procession and Mass in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday.

Francis listened to a lengthy speech delivered by the official preacher of the Vatican at the Good Friday Basilica ritual. Although he occasionally had an audible rasp while reading aloud and at the conclusion of the nearly two-hour service when he gave his benediction, he stood up once to kiss a statue of Jesus on a tall cross brought to him and then lowered his head in profound contemplation.

Every year, the Celebration of the Good Friday Way of the Cross procession at the Colosseum is an essential event during the Holy Week ceremonies. According to CBS News, this year, the celebration drew about 20,000 people, which they held lighted candles in the darkness outside the arena.

The procession was led by the faithful, who carried a lightweight cross that was tall and slim, and the theme was of the choosing of Pope Francis, in which was "voices of peace in time of war." Several accounts of suffering, specifically those who are victims of war, migrants, civil warfare, and hunger from the different parts of the world, were read aloud.

The experiences of a young Ukrainian who first went to Italy to avoid the conflict in his country but eventually returned and a young Russian whose brother died, maybe after being ordered to fight in Ukraine, which Russia invaded in February 2022, were among those presented. Francis has regularly advocated for peace in the area and expressed his sorrow and sympathy for the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

Also Read: Pope Francis Honors Holy Thursday Tradition, Washing Feet of 12 Young People

Pope Francis Meeting Some Patients in the Hospital Where He was Admitted

Pope Francis met with some patients before leaving the Gemelli Hospital, where he received care and treatment for his bronchitis. According to Fox News, during this visit, he made time to pray with the mother of a five-year-old child who had died the night before.

Before leaving, he also added his signature to a boy's cast on his arm and thanked the hospital staff for their assistance throughout his stay.

Related Article: Pope Francis Undergoes Treatment for Respiratory Illness, Expected to Stay for Several Days in the Hospital
Stewardship of the Earth can be a winsome witness to both unbelievers and the next generation of Christians. Here are ways to take action.

In a recent blog, we shared that believers are the most well-equipped to lead in the face of a global climate crisis because of our faith in Christ. Many people read that article and asked, "what should I do?" This article is the second of a two-part series that provides a framework and helpful tips for getting started. (Part one is here.)

Samaria (outside your immediate community/national concerns)

Because of the amazing regenerative cycles that God created, our earth will heal if we stop sending greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere (net zero) and clean up some of the excess. That is excellent news. However, we must act fast to limit irreversible damage to the earth's fragile ecosystems and the subsequent impact on people.

Advocate for policies that prompt action for adaptation (helping us deal with the effects) and mitigation (achieving net zero). To get there, we need the collective efforts of government, business, and civil society. Yes, we know this starts to get sticky, but remember that creation stewardship is not a partisan issue. It affects us all, and action will need to be taken by all. We urge you not to relinquish your opportunity for influence.

Find a policy guide to help you advocate for effective solutions. The Gerontological Society of America provides a concise and helpful beginners guide to governmental advocacy. We like it because it doesnt say what to advocate for, just how to do it. Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (YECA) tracks and vets climate policy ideas that align with Christian principles, which is helpful if youre looking for ideas on what to advocate for.

Support initiatives that drive business solutions. Businesses are taking a leading role in climate action. Follow companies that are part of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). Support organizations who pledge to reforest the Earth as part of the trillion trees community. Invest your retirement funds in a portfolio of ESG funds or use a tool like MSCI to identify companies who are making a positive impact. These are just a few ideas; we encourage you to find one that motivates you.

Ends of the Earth (global concerns)

As Jesus taught in Acts 1:8, our call is not an either-or. It is a both-and. As we steward the earth, remember: the people worldwide who have contributed the least to climate change suffer the most.

Our organization, Plant With Purpose, works with small-holder farmers in some of the worlds most vulnerable places. Ironically, while the average American family contributes 48 metric tons of Carbon (CO2e) to the atmosphere each year, these global farming families each sequester seven metric tons annually. By helping them, we are also helping ourselves. When we support organizations that plant trees, promote regenerative agriculture, clean the oceans, and work towards other critical "nature-based solutions," we join God in His global kingdom mission and bring relief to the world's most vulnerable people.

In Christ, we can face difficult challenges with trust, not fear. A big theme throughout the Bible is that human understanding is limited, but God generously offers wisdom. Let's take a posture of humility and catch a renewed vision for building a hopeful future and loving our neighbors well.

It may not be easy or comfortable, and comes with some sacrifice, but we can consider it joy because we know God is with us. We have an opportunity to do something honorable. Just like Americans rallied during World War II around rationing and collecting scrap metal, we can pull together for a cause greater than ourselves and have it bring out the best in all of us. As Christians, we can be proud to be on the leading edge of these efforts.

RESOURCES

For your church:

Nine-part film series with discussion questions for your church or small group (Tearfund)

For Young Adults:

Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (YECA) offers a fellowship program, education and advocacy opportunities

For Study and Inspiration:

Download Scriptures on Creation to inspire worship of our Creator and stewardship of creation (Plant With Purpose)

For Evangelical Perspectives:

Download the National Association of Evangelicals report Loving the Least of These: Addressing a Changing Environment. to gain a greater understanding of how creation care is part of loving the most vulnerable.

For Advocacy:

The global organization Renew Our World is a network of Christians advocating for climate action.

For Offsetting your Carbon Footprint:

Climate Stewards, a division of Global Christian conservation organization A Rocha, helps individuals, churches and businesses calculate and offset their carbon footprints.

For Hosting a Prayer Vigil:

Aside from personal prayer to align our hearts with the heart of God, and to plead for his intervention in the face of global suffering, consider organizing a climate vigil prayer event. Climatevigil.org offers free resources and ideas.

READING LIST

Saving Us: A climate scientist's case for hope and healing in a divided world by Katharine Hayhoe

Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters by Sandra L. Richter

Following Jesus in a Warming World: A Christian Call to Climate Action by Kyle Meyaard-Schaap

Reforesting Faith: What Trees Teach Us About the Nature of God and His Love for Us by Matthew Sleeth

The Better Samaritan blog is produced by the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, which offers a M.A. in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership and a Trauma Certificate. To learn more and apply, visit our website

Christi Huizenga Renaud, vice president of development and marketing, and Lynne Marian, director of marketing, serve with Plant With Purpose. Plant With Purpose is a global Christian organization working at the intersection of global poverty and environmental degradation. Theyve worked alongside almost half a million people (who have planted more than 50 million trees) in some of the world's most vulnerable communities.
Bob Jones University board chair resigns amid accusations of unethical behavior

The chair of Bob Jones University's Board of Trustees has resigned effective immediately, days after the conservative Christian school's president resigned, reportedly over issues regarding campus leadership.

BJU Board of Trustees Chairman John Lewis tendered his resignation last Thursday after having served over 30 years as a member of the board of the Greenville, South Carolina-based nondenominational university, reports Greenville News.

The resignation comes amid controversy over Lewis' actions as board chair, with an online petition for his resignation receiving over 7,800 signatures, accusing him of "dysfunctional leadership" and "unethical behavior."

"As alumni, students, faculty, and friends of BJU, we call for the immediate resignation of Dr. John Lewis and the reinstatement of Dr. Steve Pettit as President of BJU," read the petition.

On March 30, Steve Pettit announced that he was stepping down, having become head of the Christian academic institution in 2014.

"It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve as the president of Bob Jones University," said Pettit in a statement posted to Facebook on March 31.

"My memories of the wonderful people, the incredible student body, and the perpetual blessings of God will linger with me throughout the rest of my life. Whatever good has happened it is because of the blessings of God and the humble service of His devoted people."

Founded in 1927, Bob Jones University is an Evangelical liberal arts institution that offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees. According to the university's website, around 3,000 students are enrolled, 70% of which live on campus.

The South Carolina-based FITS News reported on a leaked letter by Pettit that was written to the board 10 days before his resignation, vowing to leave BJU if Lewis remained as chair.

"The current direction is unsustainable," wrote Pettit. "I am walking down a dark road with no light ahead. The future of BJU requires the chairman and the president to work together. It is not happening now, and I can't see it happening in the future."

Pettit claimed that Lewis was holding clandestine meetings, not properly storing "sensitive board documentation" and had restricted access to information for certain administrative figures.

Pettit also accused Lewis of increasing "the disunity of the board over the past several months" and showing "an uncaring or cavalier disregard for the cause of troubling financial numbers triggered by the ongoing dysfunction and uncertainty."

Some have speculated that Pettit might remain president of BJU now that Lewis has resigned, instead of leaving at the end of the school year. It remains unclear if Pettit will rescind his resignation.
Evangelical leaders pray for Gods intercession after Trump indictment: Demonic situation

In response to the nearly three dozen counts of "falsifying business records in the first degree" filed against former President Donald Trump in Manhattan, several Evangelical leaders joined a prayer call last week seeking God's intercession.

Trump, seeking the Republican nomination for the 2024 election, appeared in New York City for arraignment last week, prompting his longtime religious adviser Paula White-Cain to organize an "Emergency Prayer Call" with Trump's faith advisory board through Intercessors for America.

Among the participants in the call were Evangelical pastors who served on the informal Evangelical advisory board organized during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and remained active during Trump's term in office. Following the 2020 election defeat, Trump launched a new National Faith Advisory Board in 2021 led by televangelist White-Cain and Jenny Korn, who served in the Trump White House.

"Today we are coming together as people of faith with deep concern about the direction of America," White-Cain, who formerly served as the senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Center in Apopka, Florida, said.

"Regardless of any party affiliation, we should all be appalled when a judicial system is weaponized against a political opponent. Today, we do what people of faith in America have always done and continue to do. We pray and we and cry out to God for righteousness."

During the call, Trump denounced what he called a "fake investigation" and "sham" indictment, saying "radical left people" who "hate our country" are behind it.

The former president, indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, reminded the faith leaders that he appointed three U.S. Supreme Court justices who ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade last year, allowing states to set their own abortion laws. He further claimed that Christians are "being discriminated against" and "we can't let that continue."

Toward the end of the call, Sean Feucht, a former Bethel worship leader and founder of the Let Us Worship movement, called the indictment a "horrible, corrupt, disgusting, evil, demonic situation." Feucht, who ran as a Republican for Congress in 2020, prayed for divine intervention and a favorable outcome for Trump, expressing trust in God's plan.

"What a heavy, somber, shameful day for the nation, Lord. I just pray, God, for believers that are listening to my voice, for President Trump who is listening to my voice, I just pray that You would replace the heaviness, God," Feucht said. "Instead of a spirit of despair, God, would You release a garment of praise? I pray, God, that this call would catalyze and mobilize intercession to go forth, prayer warriors, God, that would rise up to change the atmosphere over our nation."

Feucht prayed for God to mobilize the Church to "rebuild the wall of righteousness in America again."

"We don't know how this story is going to end. We know that You got a plan, God. We know that You got a plan that no eye has seen, no ear has heard," he continued. "We trust You tonight as the people of God. We trust that You can take what the enemy meant for evil, in this horrible, corrupt, disgusting, evil, demonic situation with this case in New York. We just thank you, God, that You can shift it and turn it around for our good."

Other participants in the call include Pastor Jentezen Franklin of the Free Chapel in Gainesville, Georgia; Pastor Samuel Rodriguez of New Season Church in Sacramento, California; conservative radio host Eric Metaxas; and Focus on the Family founder James Dobson.

"We're calling out for justice, righteousness, in the culture. What is taking place here is evil, it's wrong," Dobson, 86, prayed. "We ask you to intercede on behalf of former President Donald J. Trump."

Speaking to supporters at his Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida last week, Trump called the charges "an insult to our country."

His speech at Mar-a-Lago marked his first public comments since details of the indictment were released.

Notably absent from the indictment was an allegation related to a payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Trump insisted on his innocence and accused Democrats of trying to destroy him since the 2016 election, citing past investigations and impeachment trials as evidence.

Last month, evangelist Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, asked his followers to pray for Trump amidst the "onslaught" against him. Graham said the charges were politically motivated and warned that arresting Trump would be a grave mistake.

He urged Christians across the country to pray for Trump and work together to strengthen the nation.

In September 2021, Trump joined Feucht in calling for a 21-day prayer period during a National Mall event on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
Idaho becomes first state to ban abortion trafficking

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a bill into law making it illegal for an adult to help an underage girl obtain an abortion without consent from a parent or guardian. Anyone convicted of violating the law could face two to five years in prison.

Referred to as the abortion trafficking law, the legislation is the first of its kind in the United States.

The law not only prohibits the procurement of abortion pills for an underage girl but also makes it illegal to transport a pregnant girl across state lines for an abortion without her parents knowledge and consent, The Associated Press.

Violators will face two to five years in prison and could also be sued by one of the girls parents or guardian. However, parents who have raped their child will not be able to sue, though the criminal penalties for those who helped the girl obtain an abortion still apply.

The law also grants the state's attorney general the authority to prosecute someone for alleged violations of the law, even if the county prosecutor, who would typically be responsible for filing a criminal case, declines to do so, according to the newswire.

To avoid infringing upon the constitutional right to travel between states, Idahos law only criminalizes the in-state portion of a trip to an out-of-state abortion provider.

In his signing statement on April 5, the Republican governor wrote, House Bill 242 does not criminalize, preclude, or otherwise impair interstate travel, nor does it limit an adult woman from obtaining an abortion in another state. Rather the abortion trafficking provision in the bill seeks only to prevent unemancipated minor girls from being taken across state lines for an abortion without the knowledge and consent of her parent or guardian.

A legal opinion from Idahos new Attorney General, Raul Labrador, states that the ban also prohibits healthcare providers from prescribing abortion medications to be picked up in other states or referring patients to out-of-state providers for abortion services, according to the newswire.

Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion business, announced it will challenge the law, arguing that it will isolate young people and put them in danger, particularly those in abusive situations.

However, Katie Daniel, state policy director of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a network of more than 1 million pro-life Americans nationwide, celebrated the ban.

With too many cases of the abortion industry willfully covering up abuse and siding with traffickers, abortion trafficking is a nationwide issue, Daniel said. Through this landmark law, Gov. Little and pro-life legislative leaders have established one of the most enforceable parental consent policies in the country  setting a standard for deterring and punishing such horrific exploitation of young girls.

Daniel said parental rights have become a primary focus for Planned Parenthood and other pro-choice advocacy groups, adding that in Ohio, the American Civil Liberties Union is challenging the states parental consent law, vowing to remove it through a ballot initiative or legal action, ultimately depriving parents of their ability to protect their daughters.

Idaho is one of 13 states that have banned abortion in all stages of pregnancy and is also among a few states with laws penalizing those who help people of any age obtain abortions.

Currently, 36 states require parental involvement in an underage girl's decision to have an abortion, with exceptions under certain circumstances, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

Last month, a Texas man filed a lawsuit for wrongful death and conspiracy against three women he claimed helped his ex-wife obtain chemical abortion pills, marking the first case of its kind since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

In the lawsuit, Marcus Silva alleged that two of his ex-wife's friends assisted her in obtaining chemical abortion pills. He further accused a third woman of transporting the drugs to murder baby Silva.

Silva stated that his wife discovered her pregnancy in July 2022, a month prior to the activation of Texas trigger law, which prohibits abortion unless a doctor determines it is necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother.

Under the Texas Heartbeat Act, which was passed in 2021, citizens are permitted to sue anyone who performs, aids or abets an abortion after the detection of a baby's heartbeat.

In January, a group of pro-life doctors expressed concerns about the risks associated with taking abortion pills, particularly without medical supervision, following the Food and Drug Administration's decision to finalize a Biden administration rule change that allows the drugs to be available at pharmacy chains and mail-order companies nationwide.

The American College of Pediatricians published a 24-page report at the time, titled Chemical Abortions: With and Without Medical Supervision. In the report, co-author Dr. Jane Anderson addressed the implications of the FDA's decision, cautioning that "women are deeply harmed by chemical abortion."

Anderson criticized the FDA's decision, stating: "This disregard for human life and safety betrays the purpose of the FDA  safety  and reveals what chemical abortion truly serves: politics and profit, not people.  Chemical abortion pills are intended to result in the death of a human being. This is antithetical to the practice of medicine. Instead of protecting a mother and her baby, chemical abortion puts a woman's life at risk and makes her the facilitator of her child's death."
Evil act of targeted violence: At least 5 killed, 8 injured in mass shooting at Kentucky bank

Update: 8 a.m. ET April 11: Louisville Metro Police have confirmed that a fifth victim has died following the mass shooting at a downtown Louisville, Kentucky bank. The fifth victim has been identified as Deana Eckert, 57, who died Monday night at an area hospital.

Original:

At least four people were killed and nine others injured on Monday after a man entered and opened fire inside a Louisville, Kentucky, bank where he worked, authorities say.

At a press conference Monday afternoon, Mayor Craig Greenberg described the mass shooting as an "evil act of targeted violence" and assured that "our city is here for everyone impacted" by the tragedy.

"First, I ask that everyone around the city, around the country, around the world pray with us for those who are currently are U of L hospital, injured, fighting for their lives as the result of another act of gun violence," Greenberg said. "I want to thank all the first responders, all of the brave and heroic men and women of LMPD, who, thanks to their efforts, quickly responded to the emergency call. ... Without a doubt, their actions saved lives."

Around 8:40 a.m., local police were alerted to an active shooter at the Old National Bank on the 300 block of E. Main Street in downtown Louisville, arriving a few minutes later and shooting the suspect dead.

Authorities identified the victims as Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliot, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and James Tutt, 64.

The shooter was identified as Connor Sturgeon, a 25-year-old bank employee who held two degrees from the University of Alabama and reportedly told a friend that he was feeling suicidal. According to LMPD Interim Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, Sturgeon's weapon was a rifle.

Authorities set up a reunification center for people who may have family involved in the mass shooting at the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville.

At a press conference held that morning, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear spoke about how the mass shooting affected him personally, as he knew a couple of the victims.

"I have a very close friend that didn't make it today," said Beshear. "And I have another close friend who didn't either, and one who is at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through."

"So, when we talk about praying, I hope people will," Beshear added, noting that his campaign for state attorney general was based out of the building where the shooting happened.

Beshear commended first responders for their actions to stop the shooter, noting that police "made it to this scene in a matter of minutes after receiving the call."

"And there is no doubt in my mind that their efforts saved lives, and they put their own on the line," the governor said. "We have at least one officer in surgery right now that is there because he took those actions to try and protect the people of Louisville."

Elliott, the bank's senior vice president and a longtime Democratic Party fundraiser, is a close friend of Beshear and his father, Steve, a former Kentucky governor, according to The Lexington Herald-Leader. Elliott formerly served as chairman of the Kentucky Retirement Systems Board of Trustees as an appointee of Gov. Steve Beshear.

"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career," Andy Beshear said during the press conference. "Helped me become governor. Gave me advice on being a good dad. He was one of the people I talked to most in the world, and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend."

The Louisville mass shooting comes two weeks after Audrey Hale, a 28-year-old trans-identified biological female, entered The Covenant School of Nashville, Tennessee, and opened fire, killing six people, including three children, before being shot dead by police.
Woman gets 18 months in prison for stealing $89K from Methodist church to pay for gambling, bills

An Alabama woman was sentenced to prison for stealing nearly $90,000 from a congregation and gambling it away. The major financial loss eventually led to the church's closure.

Carmen Ramer Davis, a 59-year-old resident of Opp, was sentenced last Thursday to 18 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to eight counts of wire fraud, according to a Department of Justice press release.

Davis served as the secretary for Brooklyn Congregational Methodist Church in Coffee County from 2006 through 2019 when the church became aware of her criminal activities.

In addition to her prison sentence, Davis will also have to pay the church $89,440.32 in restitution, the exact amount she stole, and one year of supervised release after she's released on probation.

The crimes committed by Ms. Davis victimized an entire faith community, said United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. 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.

According to court records, as secretary, Davis had access to the churchs bank accounts and had the authority to pay for expenses and bills. She eventually obtained a debit card tied to the churchs bank account without the congregation being aware of it.

Davis used the card for fraudulent cash withdrawals, cashing checks for herself, personal purchases at retailers, and trips to casinos located in Alabama and Mississippi.

Davis fraudulent actions were discovered in August 2019, according to the DOJ, when a church leader got a letter from the bank where the church had an account indicating there were insufficient funds to cover a $75 check written against the churchs account.

Last August, another church secretary in Alabama pled guilty to 12 counts of wire fraud for embezzling approximately $209,000 from First Baptist Church of Foley from 2007 to 2019.

Sharon Collins, the former secretary of FBC Foley, admitted to using cards issued in both her name as well as the names of coworkers to steal the money from her church and use it for assorted expenses, such as satellite TV bills, airfare and a college degree.
How the Ugandan anti-LGBTQ law made me change my mind

The passing of an anti-LGBTQ bill by Uganda's parliament is one thing that has made me shift ground on my conviction about politics. Before, I believed Christians should leave the politics of this world because it is of the devil and nothing good can come of it. I have seen Christians who stepped into the political realm and lost their stand with Christ. Because of this, most of my articles have suggested that legislation is not needed to bring any meaningful change in society.

However, as things keep progressing, it seems like there are far too many people who do not want God in their lives, regardless of how often theyre presented with the Gospel. Those who are so hardened to the Gospel, and who pursue wickedness, need legislation to check their destructive tendencies and protect the innocent from their harmful behaviors. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers (1Timothy 1:9).

The few who have decided to be agents of Satan are becoming very popular and domineering in our societies these days. Uganda members of parliament have decided to declare war against the evil manipulations of the devil. I finally realized the advantage of having political power. Many of us in other African countries, apart from Uganda, have been pleased with what the Ugandan parliament did.

This legislation is not just about this present world but eternity. It is wrong to leave those who do not know what they are doing to be condemned to eternal fire simply because we are pretending that everyone has the right to live the way they want. Our children need protection from moral decay and sexual perverts. Our societies need laws that promote peace, joy, and righteousness. Our duty as Christians is to love the sinners and work hard to bring them out of darkness into the marvelous light of Christ. To be sure, part of bringing them out of darkness and into the light means the long-term work of pastoral care, ministering with compassion to people who struggle with sexual sin of every kind, including homosexuality and transgenderism.

But it is obvious that some have decided to resist the Gospel at all costs and celebrate godlessness openly. Should we allow them to perish in their sins?

Back in the day, sexual sin was secret  it was hidden. Nowadays, if you dont openly celebrate the LGBTQ lifestyle you are shunned and driven out of polite society. The souls of men and women are the target of this demonic merchandise, and something must be done urgently to halt this invasion. No matter how popular and accepted the LGBTQ ideology becomes in the Western world, evil is evil and can never be tolerated. The Ugandan parliament has acted with wisdom. We hope our nations follow suit.
China unilaterally appoints bishop to Shanghai in violation of Catholic Church agreement: Vatican

Chinese authorities have appointed a new bishop to the largest Roman Catholic diocese in China in violation of a bilateral agreement between the Holy See and China, the Vatican says.

The Chinese Communist Party-controlled Council of Chinese Bishops appointed Bishop Shen Bin from Haimen, in Jiangsu province, as the new bishop of Shanghai.

"The Holy See had been informed a few days ago of the decision of the Chinese authorities" to transfer the Bishop and "learned from the media of the installation this morning," Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office, said in a statement shared by Vatican News last Tuesday. "I have nothing to say about the Holy See's assessment of the matter."

The Council of Chinese Bishops is headed by Shen himself and is not recognized by the Holy See, the Catholic news agency AsiaNews reported.

The Shanghai diocese said on its website that around 200 people attended the inauguration ceremony for Bishop Shen. Shen wants to "continue to carry forward the fine tradition of patriotism and love of the Catholic Church in Shanghai" and to "adhere to the principle of independence and self-government."

The Vatican renewed a controversial agreement with China last October, initially enacted in 2018. The agreement allowed the government to submit candidates for bishop offices but supposedly gave the final say to Pope Francis.

"The Vatican  is committed to continuing a respectful and constructive dialogue with the Chinese Party for a productive implementation of the Accord and further development of bilateral relations, with a view to fostering the mission of the Catholic Church and the good of the Chinese people," the Holy See Press Office said at the time.

The first deal was signed with the hope of bringing peace between the underground congregation loyal to the pope in China and the state-backed official church. In the agreement, both sides acknowledged the pope as the supreme leader of the Catholic Church for the first time since the 1950s.

The unilateral appointment of Bishop Shen comes only months after the Vatican accused Beijing of violating the bilateral accord by installing a bishop in a diocese not recognized by the Holy See.

The Chinese embassy in Rome has not yet responded to the Vatican's statement.

The bishopric of Shanghai has been vacant since the death of Bishop Jin Luxian in April 2013. While the Holy See has stated that the city's auxiliary bishop, Ma Daqin, should administer the diocese, he has been under house arrest since 2012 for publicly rejecting the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, the Communist body governing the local Church.

In an interview with Vatican News published after the October 2022 renewal of the agreement, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said that the two-year renewal "mainly concerns aspects that are essential to the daily life of the Church in China."

"Pope Francis  with determination and patient foresight  has decided to continue along this path not under the illusion of finding perfection in human rules, but in the concrete hope of being able to assure Chinese Catholic communities, even in such a complex context, of the guidance of pastors who are worthy and suitable for the task entrusted to them," said Parolin.

"The ultimate goal of this journey is for the 'little flock' of Chinese Catholics to advance in the possibility of living serenely and freely their Christian life, which is made up of the proclamation of the Gospel, solid formation, joyful celebration of the Eucharist, as well as an industrious witness of charity, in order to be close to those who struggle the most to cope with life, as was the case during the difficult time of the pandemic."

Critics of the agreement between the Vatican and China argue that the appointment of only six new bishops since the deal's signing is evidence that it is not yielding the desired results. They also point to the increasing restrictions on religious freedoms in China for Christians and other minority groups.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated in September 2020 that religious freedom conditions for Catholics in China had only worsened in the two years since the agreement was first adopted.

"The Vatican endangers its moral authority, should it renew the deal," Pompeo tweeted at the time.

The U.S. State Department has long listed China as a country of particular concern for tolerating or engaging in religious freedom violations.

Open Doors USA, which monitors the persecution of Christians in over 60 countries, estimates that China has more than 97 million Christians, many of whom worship in unregistered or "illegal" underground churches.

The five state-sanctioned religious groups in China are the Buddhist Association of China, the Chinese Taoist Association, the Islamic Association of China, the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.

Even the organizations affiliated with the five authorized religions can be subject to surveillance and monitoring.

In 2018, the communist regime released a document titled "China's Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief." It declared that Chinese faith communities should adhere to the direction of localizing the religion, practice the core values of socialism, develop and expand the fine Chinese tradition and actively explore the religious thought which accords with China's national circumstances.
Hindu nationalists protest distribution of Bibles at World Book Fair

A group of Hindu nationalists shouted slogans, tore posters and took away books, disrupting the free distribution of copies of the Bible by Gideons International at the New Delhi World Book Fair this week. Meanwhile, other stalls have been able to sell Hindu and Sikh scriptures without protest.

According to NDTV, a video of the incident has gone viral on social media, showing men shouting religious slogans and demanding an end to the distribution of free Bibles. It also shows one of the protesters claiming to be the Delhi head of Hindu United Front, with others arguing with him about Indias Constitution and the rights enshrined under it.

Many visitors at the book fair expressed that the chaos due to the protest was not befitting of an event of this stature, the media outlet said, adding that the police said no complaint had been filed by either the organizers of the book fair or Gideons International and that there was no violence.

However, NDTV reported that the protesters tore posters that said people could get a Free Holy Bible and took away books from The Gideons stall at the event, which began on Feb. 25 and will conclude Sunday.

The Hindu nationalist group Vishwa Hindu Parishad accused Christian groups of trapping the Hindus.

The members protesting were not related to us directly. Distributing free books or not isnt the matter ... it is basically a question of mentality. It is the way they were distributing, pursuing or cheating people, denigrating other religions thats what got the people agitated, VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal was quoted as saying.

Volunteers at the Gideon stall were quoted as saying they are not forcing anyone to take the Bible. I have been manning a stall at the book fair for 10 years, but this is the first time something like this happened, a volunteer said.

Close to the Gideons stall, free yoga classes are being offered, and the Hindu holy book Bhagavad Gita was being sold, NDTV noted, adding that several other stores at the literary event featured religious text on Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam and Christianity.

Gideons International is an Association of Christian business and professional men and their wives dedicated to telling people about Jesus through associating together for service, sharing personal testimony, and by providing Bibles and New Testaments, according to its website.

The group Release International has predicted that persecution is likely to increase in India, where radical Hindus appear increasingly emboldened by the dominance of the nation's right-wing BJP government.

Religious freedom conditions in India have drastically deteriorated in recent years following the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the rise of the BJP in 2014, a report by the group said.

Christians comprise only 2.3% of Indias population, and Hindus account for about 80%.

Open Doors USA, an organization that monitors persecution in over 60 countries, ranks India as the 10th-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution.

The organization reports that Hindu extremists aim to cleanse the country of their presence and influence.

The driving force behind this is Hindutva, an ideology that disregards Indian Christians and other religious minorities as true Indians because they have allegiances that lie outside India, and asserts the country should be purified of their presence," an Open Doors factsheet on India reads.

This is leading to a systemic, and often violent and carefully orchestrated, targeting of Christians and other religious minorities, including use of social media to spread disinformation and stir up hatred.
Indian pastor remains jailed despite bail after Hindu extremists file false conversion charges

NEW DELHI  A pastor in northern India remains in jail after more than three months despite winning bail because Hindu extremists filed new false charges against him, his wife said.

We are going through troubled times, and we dont know when this will come to an end, said Preeti Masih, whose husband, Pastor Vijay Masih, completed 100 days in jail on Feb. 7.

The pastor of an Evangelical Church of India (ECI) congregation in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh state, won bail orders on Jan. 16, but new cases filed against him extended his arrest term. Initially, he had been arrested on April 14, 2022, and was released on bail after three days, but then he was arrested again on Oct. 30.

Pastor Masih and 49 Christians in the Hariharganj locality of Fatehpur were arrested one after another starting last April under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, and other laws. The initial complaint was filed by an official of the local Hindu extremist Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) against 35 identified Christians and 20 unidentified Christians on April 15.

Pastor Masih and the other arrested Christians, plus a few more, faced newly filed charges in

a complaint by Virendra Singh on Jan. 23. The complaint lists 47 identified Christians and 20 unidentified Christians, and the same names figure in another complaint filed on the same day by Sanjay Singh.

In both the complaints, the Christians are baselessly accused under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, along with unfounded claims of forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy.

We have a list of about 55 Christians whom to arrest, and we have arrested 49 of them and have received NBW (non-bailable warrant) for the six who were left, Senior Sub-Inspector of Kotwali police station in Fatehpur Santosh Kumar told Morning Star News.

He confirmed that all four of the registered complaints since April 14 repeat the same list of names with only few additions in the latter two.

If the six who are currently not arrested abscond from the police, we have orders to attach their properties under section 82 and 83 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, he said.

Maundy Thursday attack

The cases began when a mob of Hindu extremists shouting Jai shree Ram [Hail, lord Ram] surrounded Pastor Masihs Maundy Thursday church service on April 14, Preeti Masih said.

News media accompanied the extremists, who had brought locks that they used to lock the front and the back gates of the church property. VHP leaders called the police even as the Christians inside reported the attack to officers by phone.

Upon arrival, officers told the Christians to remain calm and allow them to handle the matter, even as they prepared to arrest them.

We were fooled by believing that the police will do the right thing, Preeti Masih told Morning Star News. They noted down the personal details of all the Christians, like the aadhaar number (government-issued ID), date of birth, present address and permanent address along with their names.

Officers told the Christians they would take them to the police station and then let them go, she said.

Like fools we believed the police, and 35 from amongst us were taken to the police station along with Pastor Vijay, she said.

As the Christians waited at the station, officers filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 35 identified and 20 unidentified Christians, and they were taken to court. Nine of them who were aged or had physical ailments were allowed to return home, and the rest  including women and young children  were sent to jail.

They procured bail and were released two days later, on April 16.

In his complaint, the local VHP official, Himanshu Dikshit, accused those gathered at the church service of forcibly converting 90 Hindus. Station Head Officer Amit Mishra then baselessly told news outlet ThePrint that the ECI was heavily involved in forcefully converting Hindus and others, Preeti Masih said.

Mishra reportedly said the Christians would give all kinds of allurements, like admissions to children in missionary schools and jobs to youngsters in the local missionary hospital and NGOs. They would go to villages and extend financial help to people. They would buy buffaloes for those who couldnt afford them.

The station head told ThePrint that 1,000 to 2,000 people were estimated to have been converted by church members named in the FIR.

Preeti Masih roundly denied the allegations, saying they were all made-up stories.

None of the allegations of allurement and forced conversion are true, she told Morning Star News. Police did not ask us anything. They have only heard one-sided complaints from the opposition party, and under pressure from them they have carried out arrests.

Edwin J. Wesley, legal officer and the general secretary of the ECI, said the VHP leader and his supporters made up the entire story. He called the case a complete fake.

The FIR is totally false and baseless, Wesley told Morning Star News. If one visits the church, it is evident that the church capacity itself is not more than 60 people, so those who were present at the time of the attack inside the church were the total number of people mentioned in the FIR.

Preeti Masih said she and her husband lived peacefully with area Hindus and had good relations with everyone.

We have been living cordially along with our neighbors for many years now, she said. We have had no problems on personal levels with anybody. It is very shocking as well as very hurting to see our neighbors speak against us. Only when media people arrived and interviewed our neighbors have they come up with stories and spoken against us, even when none of it is true, and we have done nothing to be targeted.

History of harassment

Three police stations in Fatehpur have filed at least seven FIRs since the beginning of 2022 on complaints from the VHP and Bajrang Dal, claiming Christians were trying to convert Dalits and Hindus through allurement, trickery, coercion and other means.

Most of the 35 named in the initial FIR are employees of the Broadwell Christian Hospital in Fatehpur, a 113-year-old hospital established in 1909. Police issued notices to the chairman of the hospital, Dr. Samuel Mathew, and clerk Parminder Singh on Jan. 4 to provide documents for the investigation, according to the FIR.

Officers also issued notices to the staff of World Vision Internationals Fatehpur office and the bishop of the Evangelical Church of India in Prayagraj to provide materials as part of the investigation.

Separate notices were issued on Dec. 28 to Chancellor Jetti Oliver, Vice-Chancellor Bishop Rajendra B. Lal and administrative official Vinod B. Lal of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Science (SHUATS), Prayagraj, to record their statements, according to the FIR. A notice has also been served to Senior Pastor the Rev. Paul Sigamony, ECI Church-Allahabad Bible Seminary, a resident of Prayagraj, about 80 miles from Fatehpur.

Fatehpur police on Jan. 20 filed a separate FIR against eight officials in Prayagraj, including the vice-chancellor and two pro vice-chancellors, alleging criminal conspiracy and violations under the U.P. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020.

As arrests continued the past 10 months and a local intelligence unit investigates accusations in Prayagraj, each day something new crops up, the ECIs Wesley said.

We knew this matter is false, and soon it will be sorted in Fatehpur, but sadly it has spread from Fatehpur to Allahabad [now Prayagraj], and many small villages in and around Allahabad where church fellowships are held, he said. They are enquiring of the village churches about the date of their establishment, and who is in charge of the church/fellowship.

Police have not limited themselves to small villages but also large institutions like SHUATS and Allahabad Bible Seminary, Wesley said.

Meantime, Preeti Masih has managed to sustain herself and her two children, ages 12 and 10, on her husbands salary that ECI continues to remit. She visits her husband at least twice a week and encourages him to press on.

Pastor Masih has been leading the ECI church in Fatehpur for last 13 years.

A spokesperson for the Evangelical Fellowship of India Religious Liberty Commission said local media have contributed to the surge of false accusations of fraudulent conversions in India.

Clearly forceful conversion is nothing but a sham, and its just a bogey that is being dragged with the idea of creating a false narrative, the spokesperson said on condition of anonymity. And media plays a major role in creating this perception about the community. As far as forceful conversion is concerned, there hasnt been any single instance of conviction in the past or even now, because Christians are merely followers of Christ and believe in the idea of serving, loving and taking care of each other.

The hostile tone of the National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, against non-Hindus, has emboldened Hindu extremists in several parts of the country to attack Christians since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in May 2014, religious rights advocates say.

India ranked 11th on Christian support organization Open Doors 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The country was ranked No. 31 in 2013, but its position worsened after Modi came to power.
Tribal Christians recount horrors of devastating spate of attacks carried out by Hindu nationalist mobs 'They would have killed me and my family had I not fled to the jungle'

Tribal Christians in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh continue to suffer the aftermath of a series of brutal attacks carried out by Hindu nationalists in recent months, resulting in more than 2,500 Christians becoming homeless and hundreds of homes being vandalized and looted.

There wasnt even a time for me to lock the door of my house before I fled to the jungle, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern quoted a distressed tribal Christian as saying.

The ferocity of the attacks has left many Christians feeling traumatized and constantly living in fear, ICC said.

They would have killed me and my family had I not fled to the jungle, a survivor, identified only as Pastor Kanan, was quoted as saying. The phone call that I received from my friend saved my life  he alerted me about the furious mob that was advancing toward our village Gadhbengal carrying sharp weapons and sticks.

A recent report by a fact-finding team said a series of attacks on Christians, who are tribal, or indigenous, took place from Dec. 918, 2022, in numerous villages in the two districts displacing about 1,000 Christians.

Their homes were vandalized and their churches and properties were attacked for refusing to re-convert to Hinduism.

On New Years Day, an anti-Christian mob of nearly 700 radicals mobilized in the Christian-populated area of Gadhbengal village, and destroyed homes and properties, ICC said, adding that around 200 Christians escaped the mob when they were alerted about rioters heading their way.

Later, a video, shared by Global Christian Relief, showed hundreds of protesters armed with rocks, iron rods and wooden sticks attacking the 50-year-old Sacred Heart Church in Narayanpur districts Edka village on Jan. 2.

The mob destroyed everything, the church and the presbytery, Sacred Heart parish priest Fr. Jomon Devasia told UCA News at the time. A tense situation prevails here.

Two local leaders from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi  Rupsai Salam and Narayan Markam  were among the accused.

Many of those affected also sustained serious injuries in the attack, ICC said.

Despite this, some Christians have returned to their villages, while others remain concerned about future attacks.

Attacks against tribal Christians have increased since radical Hindu groups launched a campaign in 2020 to stop the countrys tribal, or indigenous, people from converting to Christianity. These groups have been demanding that the government ban those who convert from receiving educational and employment opportunities.

Most tribals do not identify as Hindus; they have diverse religious practices and many worship nature. However, the governments Census classifies them as Hindu.

In September 2020, tribal villagers vandalized 16 houses belonging to Christians from the same tribe in three separate attacks in Chhattisgarh, forcing most of the Christian women in those villages to flee into jungles for safety at the time.

Chhattisgarh is one of several Indian states with anti-conversion laws, and the violence has left the Christian community with little protection or recourse from the government, ICC noted.

While Christians comprise only 2.3% of Indias population and Hindus account for about 80%, proponents of such laws say they are needed to crack down on Christians or Muslims forcing or giving money to Hindus to persuade them to convert.

These laws typically ban conversion through coercion, allurement, fraudulent practices, marriage or misrepresentation. Hindu nationalist activists and groups have often used the laws to file allegations of forced conversion with police against religious minorities. The burden of proof falls on those accused to prove that conversions were not done in force.

ICC earlier quoted a local Christian leader as saying that the ongoing violence in Chhattisgarh had brought back traumatic memories of the attacks in Odisha states Kandhamal district, which is also a tribal-majority district.

The leader was referring to August 2008 when radical Hindu nationalists killed at least 39 Christians and destroyed 3,906 homes. These incidents have shocked the entire Christian community in the state, and the sad thing is that the people in authority did not bother to help.

The group Release International has predicted that persecution is likely to increase in India, where radical Hindus appear increasingly emboldened by the dominance of the nation's right-wing BJP government.

Religious freedom conditions in India have drastically deteriorated in recent years following the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the rise of the BJP in 2014, a report by the group said.
Christian colleges can receive Title IX funds and uphold religious beliefs on LGBT issues, judge rules

A federal court has ruled that Christian colleges and universities with traditional views on sexuality and marriage can continue to receive funding through Title IX, rejecting LGBT students' efforts to strike down a religious exemption to federal discrimination law.

In a ruling Thursday, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken in Oregon dismissed the case filed by a group of LGBT Christian college students and former students who sued the U.S. Department of Education in 2021 for providing religious exemption to Title IX discrimination laws to Christian higher education institutions.

Aiken, a Clinton appointee, concluded that plaintiffs failed to show that the original religious exemption granted by Congress decades ago for Title IX has a discriminatory purpose.

"Plaintiffs have submitted no allegations of discriminatory motivation on the part of those enacting the religious exemption. To the contrary, Plaintiffs argue that when Congress enacted Title IX, protections for  or discrimination against sexual and gender minorities  were 'of no concern,'" wrote Aiken.

"Plaintiffs provide no evidence and supply no allegations involving the above-listed factors for the Court to consider and evaluate whether Congress was motivated in part by a discriminatory purpose when it enacted the religious exemption."

Title IX of the Civil Rights Act forbids sex-based discrimination in education, but colleges upholding traditional definitions for marriage and sexuality can request exemptions that allow them to adhere to scriptural beliefs on matters of sexuality.

The court rejected the plaintiff's claim that religious exemptions violate the First Amendment of the Constitution, noting that "the Supreme Court has interpreted it to allow, and sometimes require, the accommodation of religious practices."

"Plaintiffs' allegations do not plausibly demonstrate how the relief they seek in enforcing Title IX in religious schools is not the very excessive entanglement Plaintiffs argue is impermissible," continued the opinion.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, the legal nonprofit representing three Christian higher education institutions, celebrated the ruling.

"Title IX, which applies to schools receiving federal financial assistance, explicitly protects the freedom of religious schools to live out their deeply and sincerely held convictions," said ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman in a statement.

"A group of activists asked the court to strip that protection away from schools that educate the next generation and advance the common good. The court correctly concluded that Title IX's religious liberty exemption doesn't violate any of the plaintiffs' claimed rights."

In March 2021, an advocacy organization called Religious Exemption Accountability Project filed the lawsuit on behalf of 33 LGBT former and current students who believe they were discriminated against at 25 religious colleges.

The plaintiffs claim they unexperienced mistreatment and harassment due to their LGBT identities.

Elizabeth Hunter, the lead plaintiff in the case, was a former student at Bob Jones University in South Carolina who claimed that school officials harassed her because of her sexual orientation. She took issue with the student handbook detailing behavioral rules prohibiting same-sex romantic relationships, saying the school created a "scary, harsh environment for me."

Other schools attended by plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Liberty University, Baylor University, Oral Roberts University, Azusa Pacific University, Regent University School of Law, George Fox University, Cedarville University, and Brigham Young University, among others.

REAP Director Paul Southwick stated in 2021 that the Title IX religious exemption was an "unconstitutional" government endorsement of religion.

"Our lawsuit asks a federal court to declare that the religious exemption to Title IX, as applied to a class of LGBTQ+ students attending the more than 200 religiously affiliated colleges in the United States that openly discriminate against them, using taxpayer dollars, is unconstitutional," stated Southwick.

"It is a violation of the First Amendment's prohibition on the establishment of religion and a violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments' guarantee of Equal Protection under the law for LGBTQ+ Americans."

In May 2021, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, an advocacy organization claiming about 140 member schools across the U.S., filed a motion to intervene in the case and called the lawsuit "frivolous." In October 2021, the CCCU's request to intervene was granted.

"Faith-based higher education has always been an essential element of the diversity of higher education in the United States  many of the first colleges and universities in the country were religious  and it is crucial that students continue to be given the opportunity to choose and access the college of their choice in a diverse educational landscape," the CCCU argued.
Narendra Modi attends church service on Easter; Christians say, But what about persecution?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a rare visit to a Catholic church in New Delhi on Easter Sunday, greeting priests and worshipers in an apparent move to court Christian voters for his otherwise Hindu nationalist party, whose allies are known for attacking the minority community.

Modi attended the service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in the nation's capital and planted a tree on the premises on Sunday, The Hindu reported, adding that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party might have been seeking to appease Christian voters.

However, Christians point to ongoing persecution and a decline in religious freedom since Modis party came to power in 2014.

A.C. Michael, a former member of the governments Delhi Minorities Commission, released a statement in response to Modis visit, sharing statistics on Christian persecution in the country.

It is a matter of fact that incidents of violence against Christians have increased from little over 100 in 2014 to 600 by the end of 2022, according to the United Christian Forums toll free helpline service, said Michael, UCFs national coordinator. This year, 2023, has already witnessed 200 incidents in the first 100 days.

He added: It is also another matter of fact that the Supreme Court of India since Sept. 1, 2022, repeatedly has been asking for details of violence against Christians across India and the Modi government has already sought three extensions as they are unable to find incidents of forceful conversions which are the pretext to target Christians.

Modi tweeted about his visit, emphasizing his meetings with Christian religious leaders and claiming that his government is committed to the welfare and development of all communities.

The visit comes as the BJP seeks to strengthen ties with Christians in the northeastern states of Nagaland and Meghalaya and the southern state of Kerala where the community has its largest population in India.

Legislative elections are expected in nine states this year, along with numerous by-elections for state legislative assemblies and local body elections. Moreover, 2024 will witness legislative elections in an additional seven states as well as the national general elections.

Open Doors USA, an organization monitoring persecution in over 60 countries, ranks India as the 10th-worst country in the world for Christian persecution. The group attributes the rise in persecution to the election of Modi and the ascension of the BJP.

Christians make up only 2.3% of Indias population, while Hindus account for more than 80%.

Open Doors states that Hindu extremists seek to cleanse the country of Christians and other religious minorities and that this drive is rooted in Hindutva, an ideology that denies Christians and other minorities true Indian identity and aims to purify the nation of their presence.

According to Open Doors, this ideology is responsible for the systemic, often violent targeting of Christians and other religious minorities, including the use of social media to disseminate disinformation and incite hatred.
Nashville massacre proves twisting language and reality has deadly consequences

The immense confusion that is a feature, not a bug, of gender ideology emerged this week following the devastating massacre of six people at a Nashville Christian School.

In the aftermath of the horror, conflicting news reports emerged about the identity of the assailant, as it was unclear whether the shooter was male or female. This was due to the insertion of a transgender identifier and how it obfuscates the material reality of sex in favor of an amorphous gender identity. Indeed, this is precisely how transgenderism sows social chaos by hijacking our language, rendering it utterly unrecognizable even about the most basic of facts.

As British lesbian feminist academic Julia Long said at a September free speech event in Bristol, the word trans has one function and that is to falsify realityas soon as you have a word that can institute the lie that a man is a woman, everything is reversed. Despite the term transition, which implies that hormone treatment or surgery can turn males into females and vice versa, most trans activists admit that the euphemistically labeled gender affirming care can do no such thing. Rather, they say, it is a means of creating psychological relief, sort of like smoothing wrinkles through plastic surgery or producing a winning smile through dental implants. But there is a differenceone that is huge and unbridgeable.

Changing sex is impossible. No amount of chemical intervention or surgery can change a persons sex. The XX chromosomes remain XX. The XY chromosomes remain XY.

But there is also damage done to language itself when we begin to refer to biological males or females by opposite sex pronouns and act as if, by our words, we can change reality. The twisting of language is a deadly serious problem.

At base, the splitting of sex and gender is a distortion of language to change how people see reality. Behind the distortion is a belief that no truths about the world can be known with certainty. Rather, truth is up to the individual. In the United States, a majority now believes this. If nothing about reality is knowable, then no meaningful difference exists between male and female (or truth or a lie, or justice or injustice, or any other distinction, for that matter). Words bear no clearly identifiable relationship to anything knowable. At root, the gender ideology battle is a battle over the very meaning of words. It is a twisting of language to change how people see the world.

While many, if not most, people understand and use the word gender to mean sex, gender ideologues have built an entire theoretical edifice in support of its larger aims, namely the deconstruction of sex, even its abolition. If you can convince people to observe males and females and conclude that there is no meaningful difference, you can convince them of anything.

The prefix trans means to change, and the individuals who experienced some kind of body dysmorphia that manifested in confusion about ones sex were, until recent years, known as transsexuals. For many, the word connotes something extremely odd  perhaps a sexual fetish. But with the introduction of the idea that gender is malleable, people were led to question whether the distinction between male and female even exists or matters.

Because of the long-running game that activists have played to confuse the public about sex and gender, the insertion of trans has dulled the senses of the masses. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact moment when the shift from what was once called transsexuals to transgender persons happened; but the shift was, we believe, a cunning one that was intended to mainstream transgenderism and even apply it to children.

The idea of a transsexual child still creates discomfort in many people because, at least for now, most people continue to object to the sexualization of children. To refer to a child as a transsexual would make people feel uneasy. But with the introduction of a malleable gender, which might be followed by the add-ons identity and expression, the term is softened and sounds less abrasive. A transgender child could be a pre-pubescent youth on hormone-blockers or may be just a kid who does not conform to certain gender norms and stereotypes. This murky, catch-all label for this category of people allows for the confusion to continue to metastasize.

Meanwhile, the discordance is more broadly furthered both in the childs mind and in society because of how the use of words drifts further from the ontological reality of sex. Good-faith conversations and debates about these issues become impossible because there is no longer a common frame of reference within which to exchange ideas.

Indeed, among the most pernicious aspects of twisting language is that people are required, if they want to be socially acceptable, to participate in lies. This is not merely the modulation of language that occurs through time. It is an undoing of the very idea that the words we use refer to anything real.

The gender ideology movement insists that for humans to be free to pursue their fullest self-interest, reality itself must be deconstructed. But reality is a stubborn thing. It is knowable. It cares little about our perceptions, if those perceptions do not line up with the way things really are. In relation to sex and gender, regardless of our linguistic machinations, our sex as male or female is stamped on nearly every cell of the body. No matter what linguistic tools are employed to achieve this end, it is a vain effort that will fail.

The attack on language as an attack on reality itself is nothing new. And the confusion of language leads, inevitably, to confusion in all things.

This is an adapted excerpt from the book Exposing the Gender Lie: How to Protect Children and Teens from the Transgender Industrys False Ideology by Dr. Jeff Myers of Summit Ministries and Brandon Showalter of The Christian Post. It can be downloaded here.
Warren Buffetts most under-researched investment decision

Warren Buffett is an American business magnate and philanthropist who has been called the greatest investor of all time. You may be aware of his excellent investments in Bank of America, Apple, Coca-Cola and Kraft Heinz, as well as a few bad investments along the way. But have you heard about his most under-researched investment decision?

Warren Buffett once said, Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing. And with all due respect to this investment genius, Buffetts biggest investment decision is illogical and vastly under-researched, in spite of the fact that he stands to lose his most valuable asset.

On his first trip to India in 2011, Warren Buffett was asked about his religious views. He responded, I am personally an agnostic. I am a true agnostic. I am right in the middle. It is not because I am a closet atheist. It is not because I am a closet theist. I grew up in a religious family, and as I began to think for myself, I came to the conclusion that I dont know. I dont think there is anything wrong with that conclusion. I dont disagree with people of faith at all. In fact, I regard all faiths pretty much equally being an agnostic. I dont think you can wish yourself into a faith. Faith, the word, means you are not getting there by a logical approach. You are really getting there based on a feeling of faith. And I dont have that, but I dont question other people that have it. I dont feel that theyre wrong. I just dont know. And I prefer to find out the answer at some distant date.

Warren Buffett has run across his share of scams over the years with investment pitches that were certainly too good to be true. But what he does not yet realize is that he has been scammed into believing an absurdity about religious faith. He thinks that faith means you are not getting there by a logical approach. This is completely false, and I will show you why.

Compare it to the world of financial investments for example. Warren Buffett never invests in a company without first researching key indicators. And if he decides to pull the trigger, he takes a step of faith based on sound facts and logical analysis. How else could he have become the greatest investor of all time?

Warren Buffett does not seem to realize that religions must be approached like companies in a way. You investigate the person at the top, as well as all the pertinent data upon which to make an informed decision. It is reasonable and logical to research religious claims before investing your immortal soul by taking a step of faith.

Buffett assumes that religious people get to their respective position based on a feeling of faith. And while that may be true for some religions, it is certainly not true for Christianity. Rather than being a blind faith based on feelings, Christianity is an intelligent and logical faith based on evidence, history, and sanctified reason.

My recent op-ed, A Christian Turned Atheist vs. Atheist Turned Christian, reveals the logical approach to the Christian faith that led Canadian astrophysicist Hugh Ross to become a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ. Like Hugh Ross, Warren Buffett is a brilliant man. The huge difference between the two men is that Buffett assumes faith is a feeling and lacks a logical foundation, whereas Ross realizes that Christianity is an evidence-based faith loaded with logic and an overwhelming amount of historically factual data.

It would be logical and wise for Warren Buffett and those who think like him to actually do some research and check out Scott Powells Holy Week CP op-ed, Jesus Christs Resurrection: The Best Documented Event of Ancient History."

This is not pie-in-the-sky daydreaming or wishful thinking. It involves placing your trust for eternity in the hands of the One who was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5). The Apostle Paul explained that when Christ rose from the dead, he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living (1 Corinthians 15:6).

Dr. Hugh Ross correctly stated, There is the empty tomb. The powerful enemies of the emergent Christian faith, the Jewish religious leaders and the Romans were unable to produce the body of Jesus. Also, it would take more than visions to persuade the 10,000+ Jews living in Jerusalem at that time  more than a third of the total population  to become Christians in the few days that followed Jesus death on the cross.

That is solid evidence upon which to wisely invest your immortal soul through a step of faith.

Warren Buffett said, Beware the investment activity that produces applause; the great moves are usually greeted by yawns. Good advice. For example, consider all the people who were yawning yesterday on a sleepy Easter Sunday morning.

Were you one of them, or instead, did you rush with the disciples to the empty tomb to celebrate what the angel said to the women on that first Easter morning: Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said (Matthew 28:5-6).

Ideally, how long would Warren Buffett like to own a company? He said, Our favorite holding period is forever. Thankfully, Jesus rose from the dead to place a forever portfolio within reach of each of us.

Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life (Revelation 22:17).

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25,26)

Like Warren Buffett, your most valuable asset is your immortal soul. And those who invest faith in Jesus live to enjoy the return on their investment forever. You have Gods Word on it!
Assisted suicide would 'irreparably damage' Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is being urged not to introduce assisted suicide after a poll found that islanders are evenly split on the issue.

The results of the Manx consultation found that 49.61% disagreed with legalising assisted suicide on the island, while 49.01% were in favour of it.

The consultation asked, "In principle, do you agree or disagree that assisted dying should be permitted for terminally ill adults on the Isle of Man?"

There were 3,326 responses in total, the majority of which came from islanders.

In response to the consultation, Dr Ben Harris, President of the Isle of Man Medical Society and a member of the Manx Duty of Care campaign group, warned that legalising assisted suicide "would irreparably damage our caring Manx society".

"The experience in other jurisdictions has demonstrated there is no safe way to legislate for assisted dying and it should now be dropped completely," he said.

The campaign for assisted suicide on the Isle of Man is being led by Dr Alex Allinson, who introduced the Private Members' Bill in June last year.
Chris Pratt describes the moment he met wife Katherine Schwarzenegger at church

Chris Pratt has described being lovestruck by wife Katherine Schwarzenegger after meeting her at church for the first time.

He told Drew Barrymore about the moment during an interview for her talk show.

He said the encounter happened at a time when he was "really struggling and felt really broken".

"For me, my own journey, (it was about) finding a higher power and leaning on that and being like, 'Please save me,' and then feeling saved," he said on The Drew Barrymore Show.

Then he met Katherine and credits her with also helping him through that time.

"I was in the front row of church  which is like, you kind of don't want to be like, 'Woah, who's that?' at church, you know what I mean?" he said.

"But I was sneaking some glances and wondering, 'Who is that? Anyway, what am I doing? Come on, I'm broken, help me. But who's that?'"

The pair have been married since 2019 and have two daughters together. They are practising Christians and attend Zoe Church, which is pastored by Chad Veach. Pratt also has one son to ex-wife Anna Farris.

He told Barrymore he believed meeting Katherine was part of God's plan.

"It made sense. You know when you're doing a puzzle and there's a piece, and you're like, 'I'm certain that's the piece,' and then you jam it, and it looks like it should be the piece (but then) you're like, 'Oh it's that one,'" he said.

"It just fits together. You're like, 'Oh, it fits because it was the piece that was made to fit there.' It felt like that."

He added, "God has a fast-forward button. When it's right, boom, you're hit. You fall in love, you get married."
Christianity's values 'are British values', says Prime Minister

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has used his Easter message to praise Christianity and the "considerable contribution" of Christians to national life.

Mr Sunak, Britain's first Hindu prime minister, said that Christianity's values of "tolerance, compassion and charity" were "embedded" in Britain's history and "national fabric".

He added that these values were "British values".

"Easter Sunday gives us a chance to reflect on the considerable contribution Christian communities make to our national life  offering support and a sense of belonging to so many across the country," he said.

"Christianity and its values of tolerance, compassion and charity are embedded in our history and national fabric. Its values are British values.

"I would like to wish all those celebrating today a very happy Easter."

Leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, thanked churches for providing "unity and hope" in a tweet that was shared alongside a video of himself meeting with church leaders.

He wrote, "Churches across Britain support their community, providing a sense of unity and hope, particularly when times are tough.

"At this time of optimism and new beginnings, I thank them for everything they do, and wish you all a very Happy Easter."

The importance of Christianity to Britain was debated in Westminster a few weeks ago when Nick Fletcher, Conservative MP for Don Valley, suggested that the country should be more "proud" of its heritage.

"Some want to rewrite history, but everywhere we look, we see our Christian heritage, and nowhere more than in this place," he said.

"It matters to our national life, it is the air we breathe. Although many deride and want to misrepresent it, the reality is that it has been a source of great benefit.

"Much of what makes Britain great stems from this heritage, and many others from around the world recognise that, so why don't we?

"We should be proud of our Christian history and our Christian values. It would be a constitutional disaster to try and erase it, but even worse, it would be a spiritual disaster."
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, that's 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 weren't broken to speed up his death, as were the legs of the other two men who were crucified. His legs weren't 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." Here's the problem with this theory  it doesn't 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 leader's 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 Christ's body decayed in the tomb and His resurrection was only spiritual (a ghost). The other theory asserts that God destroyed Christ's body in the tomb and that His resurrection was also only spiritual, and not physical.[2] Both of these theories maintain that witnesses didn't 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 it's not a resurrection. It's 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 doesn't 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 isn't 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.

Claudia Kalmikov blogs at Straight Talk With Claudia K. First published at The Christian Post.
Come rain or shine, Boyfriend will put on a show. The underwear-clad, New Orleans-based cabaret rapper proved as much four years ago, when she performed at the Legendary Art Car Ball, the wild fete and Orange Show Fundraiser that precedes the annual Art Car Parade in Houston.

That year, the last before COVID forced the whole event to go on hiatus, the ball took place downtown, in the shadow of City Hall at Hermann Square. Just before Boyfriend and her cadre of dancers were set to take the stage, the skies opened up, dumping torrential rain on revelers in true Houston fashion. But the show had to go on, and it did.

"I loved that show," Boyfriend told Chron in an interview earlier this week. "I remember being soaking wet. There was one part of the stage where I could stand and be out of the rain but every time I did I felt guilty. In hindsight, I wonder now if maybe that wasn't kind of dangerous."

For Boyfriend, who's been performing and touring for just over a decade, that Houston show sticks out. "Sometimes when the conditions aren't perfect, it creates a shift," she says. "It created a real bond with the crowd who was there."

She'll have a chance to try and top it in a few days, on April 14, when she returns to headline this year's Art Car Ball. Perhaps second only to the Art Car Parade, the ball has become a signature Bayou City event, where Houstonians of all stripes are welcome to let their freak flags fly. This year's event, happening at Orange Show World Headquarters, also features interactive and performance art, food and drinks, extravagant costumes, and hundreds of illuminated and fire-breathing art cars. Boyfriend says she loves performing in Houston because she views the Bayou City and New Orleans as "step-sisters"similar arts-, diversity-, and music-wise.

Jamaal Ellis/Contributor

Born as Suzannah Elizabeth Powell in Nashville (the signature Tennessee drawl is a dead giveaway), Boyfriend grew up in the Church of Christ, and attended Christian schools as a kid. After high school, she moved to Los Angeles, where she worked in television and began to hone the Boyfriend persona. Eventually she returned to the South, this time to New Orleans, where she's lived ever since.

"My stuff is in New Orleans," she says, before describing both NOLA and LA as her dual homes. That duality informs the character and music of Boyfriend. Her shows are theatrical and often sexually charged, and her songs deal with everything from self-pleasure ("Like My Hand Did") to BDSM ("Dance with the Devil.") Yet on stage, she dresses like a '50s housewife, in cone bras, giant hair rollers, and sometimes cotton house dresses or chiffon robes. A self-described "interloper of scenes," she's collaborated with everyone from Pussy Riot to Big Freedia to Cindy Wilson of the B52s, sometimes as a performer, sometimes as a songwriter. "It's been a bit of a challenge career-wise because I don't fit into a box."

Boyfriend has spent the first part of this year in Los Angeles, working on the follow-up to her 2022 EP Sugar and Spice. She considers the new set of recordings, to be called And Everything Nice, an addendum to the 2022 record. After that, she has a bigger project in mind, one she's hesitant to talk about but that she describes as a big shift, in terms of theme.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

On a break from recording, Boyfriend spoke to Chron from Nashville, where she was helping her mother and aunt clean out a house for a "life-changing yard sale" happening later this spring. She says she worked briefly as a professional organizer before writing music full-time. (She has also worked as an arts educator in New Orleans.) Among the items she found during the clean out: a mixed CD made for her by a friend, complete with a handmade collage cover.

In some ways, it was a bittersweet homecoming, though. Boyfriend says she was also struck by the many billboards for gun sales she saw as she entered Nashville, barely a week after a shooter killed three children and three adults at a Christian school there. "I can't imagine flying into Nashville for a memorial for your niece or nephew or loved one and seeing that," she says.

The artist is troubled by the political attacks happening in Southern states against trans folks, reproductive choice, drag shows, and other freedoms. (On the day we spoke, the Republican-led Tennessee legislature was preparing to vote out two members who protested with students in support of gun control measures following the Nashville shooting.) "I assume the people know where my politics lie," she says, referring to her music and performances. "It's infuriating and I find it really hard to function with how angry I am."

Still, Boyfriend says, she tried to channel that anger into her work and her fans. "The performances and the work are the release," she says. "The community aspect of the show is part of the release." A little rain could never dampen that.

The Legendary Art Car Ball will take place from 6-11 p.m. April 14 at Orange Show World Headquarters, 2401 Munger Street. The event also features performances by Austin musician Caleb de Casper, Free Rads Street Band, Ms. YET and the Renegade Carnies, and video installations by Houston art duo Input/Output. Admission starts at $40 and the event is for adults only.
As a composer who knows his way around a good reprise, Alan Menken is appropriately inclined to revisit his work. Take "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast": After writing the scores for the Disney animated classics in the 1990s, the 73-year-old returned to work on both movies' Broadway adaptations and their recent live-action film versions.

"These are my babies," says Menken, the winner of eight Oscars, 11 Grammys, an Emmy and a Tony. "At some point, I know I'm going have to say, 'Okay, [someone else] take it and do it.' But I really want to keep my musical stamp in the things that I created. It means a lot to me."

Chuckling, he adds, "You could call it dedication - or you could call it neurosis."

Menken's melodies will arrive in Washington, D.C., later this month when the "Aladdin" stage musical runs at the National Theatre from April 19-30. Come May 26, his latest Disney endeavor will hit theaters: the live-action remake of "The Little Mermaid," for which Menken composed the score and wrote new songs with Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Speaking over video chat last month from his North Salem, N.Y., home, Menken reflected on bringing "Aladdin" to the stage, plunging back into "The Little Mermaid" and the endurance of his legacy.

Q: The stage version of "Aladdin" recently celebrated nine years on Broadway. What do you remember most about the challenge of adapting that story for a different medium?

A: Our job was, yes, of course, to bring "Aladdin" from the animated movie to the stage. But I wanted to make it so much more than that. There was some sort of treatment that was basically very true to what had been in the movie [and didn't include several songs that had been cut from the film]. I was actually unusually adamant that I really wanted to find a way to bring in the songs that [lyricist Howard Ashman] and I had written: "Proud of Your Boy" and "High Adventure" and "Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim." So we said, "Okay, reset." And everybody was on board, which I'm really grateful about.

Q: You mentioned Ashman, who died in 1991, a year before the film's release. How important was it to honor his legacy in the stage show?

A: For me, that was really the ultimate thing. We had to bring in the brilliance that Howard created that we had lost. It didn't come together easily. We played with so many different elements, but what finally opened on Broadway was just the creme de la creme of all the things we had worked on for "Aladdin." One of the most gratifying things in my career is the way "Aladdin" has turned out.

Q: When you revisit a project like "Aladdin" or "The Little Mermaid," what's the balance between re-creating your previous work and putting a new spin on it?

A: When I create a musical, I'm designing a house that I know others are going to live in, and I want to make sure this structure is strong enough to stand in any adaptation. So I treasure having new collaborators come and give their input into what we've already written. I treasure having new actors come and give interpretations to the roles. I love that. The last thing I want is something that's kind of just chiseled in stone.

Q: How would you describe the experience of collaborating with Miranda on "The Little Mermaid"?

A: Years ago, I kept hearing about this little boy named Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was at the same school as my niece. It was just constantly, "Lin-Manuel Miranda has a question." "Could you sign this for him?" I was like, "Who is this kid?" Then years passed - and there's Lin-Manuel Miranda! Us collaborating on "Mermaid," it's been wonderful. He's an artistic genius because there's such an amalgam of styles in terms of what he does on his own. He was a little bit intimidated working with me, I think, because you're filling Howard Ashman's shoes. Lin's on top of the world, but he's still going, "Can I do this?" That's what I love about him - he's very real.

Q: How did your respective songwriting styles mesh?

A: There's one song that's very much in the Menken wheelhouse, a ballad [for Prince Eric] called "Wild Uncharted Waters." At the other end of the spectrum, there's a song where I took a variation on a piece of music from the original animated movie - kind of a lilting melody - and then Lin actually rapped over it in the most amazing way. That's a song called "Scuttlebutt" that's sung by Scuttle and Sebastian. And then there's a new song for Ariel, "For the First Time." There, similarly, I took it in kind of a lilting direction. He said, "That's good, but can we give it more of a Latin beat?" Sure enough, it just ended up in this unique sweet spot.

Q: So much of your work from decades ago is being reimagined. There are the live-action remakes of your Disney films. "Little Shop of Horrors" is running again off-Broadway. You have a "Hercules" stage musical in the works. How does it feel to see your music remain so present in the public consciousness?

A: It's wonderful, and occasionally a little unreal. "Newsies" just reopened in London. "Sister Act" is going to be embarking on, like, a world tour. We just had the sequel to "Enchanted" that came out. I always just keep my head down and write and serve the work. I love that, and I also know that there's nothing more collaborative than musical theater, so to achieve these kinds of successes, it means that you've been very fortunate and working with some wonderful people.
See What You're Missing: New Ways of Looking at the World Through Art

By Will Gompertz

Pegasus. 342 pp. $28.95

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Late in life, Francis Bacon complained to his friend, the critic David Sylvester, of the hopelessness of talking about painting: "One never does anything but talk around it - because if you could explain your painting, you would be explaining your instincts." Former BBC arts editor Will Gompertz is not quite so pessimistic. In "See What You're Missing: New Ways of Looking at the World Through Art," he appraises his subjects' visual instincts and what we might learn from them.

Gompertz considers artists "expert lookers" who perceive the world more deeply and satisfyingly than the rest of us. His examples, which follow no explicit program or order, range from David Hockney to Wassily Kandinsky, Yayoi Kusama, Artemisia Gentileschi, Jennifer Packer and the 11th-century Chinese landscapist Guo Xi. Gompertz's account differs from others, he suggests, in combining explorations of both "how looking can add to our appreciation of artists" and "how artists look, adding to our appreciation of life." Does the one lend insight to the other?

There are passages of charm. "They talk of people seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses," Gompertz writes. Hockney's lenses "are on a permanent St-Tropez setting, where everything is lit up by an explosion of bright colors in a rapturous celebration of life." Agnes Martin was "a hunter in the jungle of her imagination: stalking, watching, sensing, readied." I enjoyed Gompertz's profiles of the one-of-a-kind sculptors El Anatsui and Eva Hesse.

On the whole, however, the analysis and turns of phrase are not particularly profound or satisfying. On Frida Kahlo and her work: "You can't paint hurt without hurting." How much, one wonders, are the reputations of "painful" pictures informed by biography? Gompertz does not say. If we adopt Rembrandt's "lead," he observes, we "take a long, hard look at ourselves and render what we see in a self-portrait. The result might not be a great work of art but at least it'd be a selfie with a bit of soul."

Dealers, museums and galleries are "upmarket." Cy Twombly's abstraction is like "Chandler in 'Friends': hard to like at first, but totally irresistible after a few encounters." Paul Cezanne's career is strewn with "game-changing" moments and events. His "compositional style" would "probably go down with the art establishment like a dodgy prawn on a cruise ship." Paula Rego's "The Dance" has "a distinct Agatha Christie vibe." Divining shapes was "the basis" of Georgia O'Keeffe's gift: "There should be an app for it."

"See What You're Missing" belongs loosely to the "last line" genre; that is, any book, play or film in which the spirit of the work's title is channeled into its concluding utterance or phrase. (For every "Chinatown," there is an "Iron Man.") Gompertz ends most chapters in this vein, with an insistent reminder of his "looking and seeing" theme.

Fra Angelico's achievement? "There is no fixed reality, as this friar-painter demonstrated - it all depends on your perspective." Regarding Gentileschi: "She removed the blinkers of assumption and presumption and showed us what we had been missing in all those classic stories - a female point of view." Packer: "She has taught herself to see what is not there, and to show us that what is not present tells us as much about our world as what is." A single throwaway line may be necessary. Arrayed one after another, these maxims begin to grate.

"I now wake up on a cloudy day with glee, not gloom," Gompertz writes near the end of the book, "having been shown the magnificence of a brooding skyscape by the romantic painter John Constable. If I'm feeling a little down, I think about Agnes Martin sitting alone in her adobe house in New Mexico and wonder how she sat waiting for an optimistic feeling, which then cheers me up. And, when I open a bottle of beer," he relates, "I hold the metal top in my hand for a moment and see it as a dab of 'paint' in one of El Anatsui's wonderful hanging mosaic sculptures." Gompertz is enthusiastic and open-minded, yet he rarely surprises; real seeing cannot fail to.

- - -

Max Carter is vice chairman of 20th- and 21st-century art at Christie's in New York.
A groundbreaking ceremony for a new freestanding full-service branch of PNC Bank was held Tuesday at 802 Hidalgo in downtown Laredo.

The new branch will replace the existing location at 700 San Bernardo Avenue.

Susana Melendez, Regional President and Head of Commercial Banking for the Texas Border Market for PNC, said she was pleased that PNC now had a new, very modern branch.

We are very happy because there are few approvals for new construction due to the cost involved, and we are very flattered that Laredo has been selected for the construction of a new branch that will be a little different from what we are used to but will have very unique things, Melendez said.

Courtesy photo/PNC Bank

PNC said that the 3,700 square-foot branch on Hidalgo Street features:

A variety of meeting areas that include traditional conference rooms and versatile lounge spaces. Each individualized area has collaborative technology.

Bankers will be equipped with a tablet so they can move fluidly through the branch to a space that meets customers needs.

Meeting spaces are wifi connected with monitors for screen sharing for both customers and bankers.

This new branch signifies PNCs commitment to the Laredo community, she said. We are excited to be growing in Laredo and bringing our customers a new contemporary facility with the latest banking technology. They will have access to our complete suite of offerings and this new space will accentuate our personalized approach to banking.

She said that the staff of the branch on San Bernardo Avenue will move to the new branch.

It was more expensive to adapt the infrastructure of an old construction to the new technologies, and that is why a new construction was chosen, and even so the new branch will have a million-dollar investment, she said. But I think that our clients in Laredo will feel that it is a different branch concept and they will like it because it will be a full service branch, that is, it will have everything with advanced technology.

PNCs new Laredo branch will feature a modern design intended to provide customers with a comfortable experience, as well as an array of digital banking capabilities and three drive-up lanes. The historic carriage house located nearby will remain in the same location and will not be affected.

Courtesy photo/PNC Bank

Melendez believes that this new, trendy branch will have a positive impact on the downtown area, which has seen a decline in recent years.

Part of the facade of the new building will face Interstate 35, so it will be more accessible for people coming and going to Mexico. I hope that our building will help reactivate the economy and businesses in the downtown area, she said.

She said that she hopes that, as has happened in other cities such as El Paso and San Antonio -- which have embellished their downtown areas -- the opening of the new branch will lead some investors to work on a project to turn downtown into a place where history, culture, gastronomy and businesses converge, and that it becomes a district for everyone in downtown Laredo.

We receive people from many places in the United States, and there is not a person who does not say that they love the place, she said. So imagine when there is a renovated downtown with a very beautiful, very unique river.

Courtesy photo/PNC Bank

Regarding when the construction project will be finished, Melendez said that it is contemplated to be completed at the end of 2023 or in the first months of 2024.

Melendez covers the area of Laredo, the Rio Grande Valley and Corpus Christi which spans into El Paso.

Finally, Melendez invited the Laredo community to visit the bank and use the services it offers.

PNC has this human quality behind all its services. It is a strong bank and although a big bank, it stands out for its personalized customer service. We thank all our clients who trust us and soon we will be reporting the upcoming opening of our new branch, she said.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  One of the two Black Democrats who were expelled last week from the GOP-led Tennessee House was reinstated Monday after Nashvilles governing council voted to send him straight back to the Legislature.

The unanimous vote by the Nashville Metropolitan Council took only a few minutes to restore Rep. Justin Jones to office just four days after Republicans stripped him of his seat.

Moments later, Jones marched to the Capitol several blocks away. He took the oath of office on the steps and entered the building while supporters sang This Little Light of Mine.

A loud round of applause erupted as Jones walked into the chamber with Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, who was also targeted for expulsion, but spared by one vote.

To the people of Tennessee, I stand with you, Jones said in his first statement on the House floor. We will continue to be your voice here. And no expulsion, no attempt to silence us will stop us, but it will only galvanize and strengthen our movement. And we will continue to show up in the peoples house.

Power to the people, he shouted, to cheers. Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton told Jones' supporters in the galleries to please refrain from disrupting the proceedings.

Republicans banished Jones and fellow lawmaker Justin Pearson over their role in a gun-control protest on the House floor in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting.

Pearson could be reappointed Wednesday at a meeting of the Shelby County Commission.

The expulsions on Thursday made Tennessee a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy and propelled the ousted lawmakers into the national spotlight. In the span of a few days, the two had raised thousands of campaign dollars and the Tennessee Democratic Party had received a new jolt of support from across the U.S.

Jones' appointment is an interim basis. Special elections for the seats will take place in the coming months. Jones and Pearson have said they plan to run in the special election.

At the end of Mondays evening session, Jones stood on the House floor and asked Sexton if he would be reappointed to legislative committees after being stripped of assignments last week. Jones also asked to receive full access to legislative buildings, which includes the the parking garage, and health care benefits. While Sexton referred some of the questions to human resources, the Republican leader said that traditionally in the past that appointed lawmakers do not receive committee assignments.

Pearson, meanwhile, told reporters Monday that the lessons that weve gotten here is that people power works."

It is because thousands  millions  of people have decided that they will march, they will lift up their voices and elevate them to end gun violence to protect our communities and ensure that the voice of the people that we care to represent us are heard in the state Capitol and all across this country, Pearson said.

As Jones was restored to his position, Nashville scored a win in court over a different move targeting the city by state-level Republican officials. A three-judge panel temporarily blocked implementation of a new law that would cut Nashvilles metro council in half, from 40 to 20 members.

Before the special session of Nashvilles governing council was to begin Monday, a couple of hundred people gathered in front of the Nashville courthouse, and more were pouring in. Some held signs reading, No Justin, No Peace. Inside the courthouse, a line of people waited outside the council chambers for the doors to open.

Rosalyn Daniel arrived early and waited in line to get a seat in the council chambers. She said she is not in Jones district but is a Nashville resident and concerned citizen.

I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, during the Civil Rights Movement, so I understand why this is so important, she said.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth and Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison said they will welcome back the expelled lawmakers if they are reinstated.

Tennessees constitution provides a pathway back for expulsion," they said in a statement. "Should any expelled member be reappointed, we will welcome them. Like everyone else, they are expected to follow the rules of the House as well as state law."

Jones and Pearson quickly drew prominent supporters. President Joe Biden spoke with them, and Vice President Kamala Harris visited them in Nashville. The expelled lawmakers have filled out their legal teams. Eric Holder, who served as attorney general under former President Barack Obama, now represents Jones.

The world is watching Tennessee," attorneys for Jones and Pearson wrote to Sexton in a letter Monday. "Any partisan retributive action, such as the discriminatory treatment of elected officials, or threats or actions to withhold funding for government programs, would constitute further unconstitutional action that would require redress.

Johnson, the third Democrat targeted for expulsion, also attracted national attention.

Political tensions rose when the three joined with hundreds of demonstrators who packed the Capitol last month to call for passage of gun-control measures.

As protesters filled galleries, the lawmakers 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 where six people were killed, including three children.

Johnson, a white lawmaker from Knoxville, was spared expulsion by a single vote. Republican lawmakers justified splitting their votes by saying Johnson had less of a role in the protest  she didnt speak into the megaphone, for example.

Johnson also suggested race was likely a factor in why Jones and Pearson were ousted but not her. She told reporters it might have to do with the color of our skin.

GOP leaders have said the expulsions  a mechanism used only a handful times since the Civil War  had nothing to do with race and instead were necessary to avoid setting a precedent that lawmakers disruptions of House proceedings through protest would be tolerated.

Expulsion has generally been reserved as a punishment for lawmakers accused of serious misconduct, not used as a weapon against political opponents.
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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP)  A grand jury in Virginia has indicted the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher on charges of child neglect and failing to secure her handgun in the family's home, a prosecutor said Monday.

A grand jury sitting in Newport News charged the boy's 25-year-old mother with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor charge of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm, Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn said in a news release.

The Associated Press isnt naming the mother to shield the identity of her son.

The boy shot first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner on Jan. 6 inside her classroom at Richneck Elementary School. Police said the boys mother legally purchased the gun. Her attorney, James Ellenson, has said the gun was secured on a top shelf in her closet and had a trigger lock.

Ellenson said Monday that his client plans to turn herself in later this week. He did not comment on the indictments, which were first reported by the Daily Press.

The decision to charge the boy's mother is the latest development to cascade from the shooting in this shipbuilding city of about 185,000 people near the Chesapeake Bay.

Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues, Gwynn said.

Gwynn said his office has petitioned the court to empanel a special grand jury to continue an investigation into any security issues that may have contributed to the shooting.

The safety and security of Newport News students is of utmost importance. The Special Grand Jury will investigate to determine whether additional charges against additional persons are justified by the facts and the law, Gwynn said.

Diane Toscano, an attorney for Zwerner, said there were failures in accountability at multiple levels that led to the shooting.

Today's announcement addresses but one of those failures, Toscano said in a statement, referring to the indictments against the boy's mother.

Days after the shooting, school officials revealed that administrators at Richneck Elementary had suspected the child may have had a weapon before the shooting occurred. But they didnt find it despite searching his backpack.

At a subsequent school board meeting, parents and teachers lambasted administrators for what they called a misguided emphasis on attendance over the safety of children and staff. They said students who assaulted classmates and staff often faced few consequences, while Zwerner's shooting could have been prevented if not for a toxic environment in which teachers concerns were ignored.

In a lawsuit filed last week seeking $40 million in damages, Zwerners attorneys accused school officials of gross negligence and of ignoring multiple warnings from teachers and other school employees the day of the shooting that the boy was armed and in a violent mood.

In the lawsuit, Zwerners attorneys said all of the defendants knew the boy had a history of random violence at school and at home, including an episode the year before when he strangled and choked his kindergarten teacher.

Our lawsuit makes clear that we believe the school division violated state law, and we are pursuing this in civil court, Toscano said Monday.

Virginia's law on felony child neglect says any parent, guardian or other person responsible for the care of a child whose willful act or omission in the care of such child was so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life is guilty of a Class 6 felony. The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The misdemeanor charge says its against Virginia law to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen. That charge is punishable by up to one year in jail.

Police Chief Steve Drew has repeatedly characterized the shooting as intentional. He said there was no warning and no struggle before the child pointed the gun at Zwerner and fired one round, striking her in the hand and chest.

Zwerner, 25, hustled her students out of the classroom before being rushed to the hospital, where she stayed for nearly two weeks.

Ellenson told The Associated Press in January that he understood the gun was in the mother's closet on a shelf well over 6 feet (1.8 meters) high and had a trigger lock that required a key.

The family has said the boy has an acute disability and was under a care plan that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day. The week of the shooting was the first when a parent was not in class with him, the family said.

The family said in the days after the shooting that the child was placed under hospital care and receiving the treatment he needs.

The school board in Newport News fired the district's superintendent, while Richneck's assistant principal resigned from the school division. The elementary school's principal is still employed by the district but no longer holds that position.

Richneck also installed metal detectors before it reopened on Jan. 30, three weeks after the shooting.

___

For more coverage of the shooting: https://apnews.com/hub/newport-news
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Jeffrey Miller, Colorado State University

(THE CONVERSATION) To the relief of avocado lovers from coast to coast, the 2022 avocado drama between the United States and Mexico was fleeting.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture banned imports of the fleshy fruit from Mexico on Feb. 11, 2022, after an employee of its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, who was working in Mexico, received threats after refusing to certify a mislabeled shipment of avocados.

With only a two- to three-week supply stored in American warehouses, any extended disruption to the avocado pipeline would have been quickly felt.

Eight days later, the ban was lifted, and cooks could resume smashing avocados into guacamole, blending them into smoothies and smearing them onto bread without trepidation.

Yet to me, this disruption  however brief  reveals just how reliant the U.S. has become on its neighbor for a product that has seen its demand soar. When I was working on my book Avocado: A Global History, I was struck by the extent to which this lucrative trade has evolved over the past 25 years, making it an attractive business possibility for both legitimate and criminal enterprises.

Mexicos cash crop

Avocados from Mexico have been fueling Americas taste for the fruit since 1997, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture lifted a 1914 import ban, which originally was implemented due to fears over pests like seed weevils infesting U.S. crops. At the time, Southern California produced about 90% of the avocados eaten by Americans.

Since then, per capita avocado consumption in the U.S. has ballooned from 2 pounds in 2001 to nearly 8 pounds in 2018.

This increase in the popularity of avocados, coupled with the limitations of domestic sources, has allowed Mexican avocados to dominate the American market. Today, Mexico  specifically, the Mexican state of Michoacan, which is the only state certified to sell the fruit to the U.S.  supplies about 80% of the 60 million pounds of avocados eaten north of the border each week.

Avocados are sometimes referred to as green gold because of the price they command in international commodity markets. Exports of avocados from Mexico were valued at nearly US$3 billion in 2021, ahead of both tequila and beer, two other popular Mexican exports. The average price of an avocado is up 10% from a year ago; during the brief ban, the price of a carton of the fruit catapulted to nearly $60, up from around $30 a year ago.

Currently, less than 1% of avocados eaten in the U.S. come from places other than Mexico and the U.S. Countries like Peru and Colombia also produce the fruit.

Cartels want their piece of the pie

In Mexico, the high profit margins of the avocado trade attracted the interest of crime cartels, and those operating in Michoacan began to infiltrate the avocado business more than 20 years ago.

As various cartels have vied for control of the avocado industry, violence and extortion have escalated in the region. In the beginning, cartels were content to extort farmers, packers and exporters  in essence, taxing them for the ability to do business without interference from the cartels.

But a bloody turf war has intensified in recent years.

In 2019, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel killed nine people in Uruapan, Michoacans hub of avocado distribution, hanging their corpses from a prominent overpass in the city. They dumped seven more bodies on the side of a road, leaving a banner at the scene that taunted a rival gang, the Viagras. There are even reports of cartels using drones to drop bombs as part of their efforts to control the economy of the region.

Threats directed at inspectors have happened before. While no individual cartel has been directly tied to a specific threat, U.S. officials seem to think the threats are linked to increased cartel participation in the avocado trade.

In 2019, a team of USDA inspectors working in Ziracuaretiro, a city just west of Urupan, were robbed and threatened with violence. Later that year, the USDA wrote a memo stating it would suspend inspection activities if threats of physical violence and intimidation against inspectors continued. After the most recent threat, the USDA referenced this memo when announcing the temporary import ban.

The Hass holds all the cards

Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obradordismissed the notion that the suspension was due to cartels associated with the avocado trade. Instead, he blamed unspecified political interests in the U.S. and pressure from other countries who want a share of the lucrative American avocado market.

One of the reasons the U.S. began allowing Mexican avocados to be imported over the objection of domestic growers was NAFTA. The U.S. wanted the ability to send corn and other agricultural goods to Mexico under the rules of the 1994 free trade agreement. But the Mexican government demanded some sort of agricultural export quid pro quo to help balance trade between the two countries, and avocados were ripe for the job.

The recent brief disruption underscores the risks of being so heavily reliant on a product that comes from one region in one country thats rife with violence and corruption.

Yet it isnt easy to simply open up an avocado spigot from another country. Americans really prefer just one variety of avocado: the Hass, which is the type imported from Mexico. While the U.S. allows Hass avocado imports from Peru and Colombia, wholesalers prefer not to sell them because theyre thought to be lower quality. Hass is the dominant variety grown in California, too, but American growers cant grow nearly enough to meet the demand.

Greenskin avocados, which are grown in Florida and the Caribbean, along with many other countries, arent nearly as popular with consumers due to textural differences and the fact that they dont change color to indicate when they are ripe. Greenskin avocados could ease U.S. dependence on Mexican avocados, but until they gain acceptance by avocado eaters, they wont help wean Americans off the Hass avocados grown in Michoacan.

Avocados might be a source of political tension, but their unicorn status as a creamy, delicious food thats considered healthy makes most people willing to put politics aside and pass the guacamole.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/how-mexicos-lucrative-avocado-industry-found-itself-smack-in-the-middle-of-gangland-177406.
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In 2015, researchers coined a phrase to describe a little-discussed cycle they said was destroying the lives of American girls: the "sexual-abuse-to-prison pipeline."

Their report argued that victimized girls, especially girls of color, were being unjustly punished. Girls running away from abusive homes: arrested for truancy. Girls being sold by traffickers: locked up for prostitution. Again and again, the researchers at Georgetown University and the nonprofit Rights4Girls argued, the systems that were supposed to be helping abuse survivors were actually harming them.

Before long, their report was everywhere they had hoped it would be. In training sessions for social workers and jail employees. In bills proposed to change state and federal law. It was even cited in a speech by President Barack Obama.

But eight years later, despite the attention paid to their research, despite the #MeToo movement, despite the nationwide reckoning over systemic racism, the researchers say abused girls are still facing a crisis. A report unveiled Monday, titled "Criminalized Survivors: Today's Abuse to Prison Pipeline for Girls," details the failing laws, stubborn policies and lack of reforms keeping a vicious cycle at work.

"What messages are we sending when it's the survivor of sexual abuse who is the one who gets locked up?" said report co-author Rebecca Epstein, the executive director of Georgetown Law School's Center on Gender Justice and Opportunity.

The new report focuses on the specific charges being faced by girls, who are considered more likely than boys to be arrested on low-level offenses.

The number of girls arrested on charges of prostitution or "commercialized vice" has greatly decreased since the previous report, with the most recent arrest data, from 2020, showing at least 110 minors being charged with that offense. But the report's authors say they think that statistic is highly inaccurate, in part because of the very reforms for which they advocated.

In states where lawmakers successfully banned the arrest of minors for prostitution, police and prosecutors often take teenagers into custody anyway. But instead of charges of prostitution, their paperwork lists "proxy" or "masking" charges, such as loitering, drug possession or disorderly conduct.

Some argue that in the absence of residential programs to provide victims of trafficking the support they need, putting them in detention - where they can at least spend time away from their abusers, drugs and other dangers - is the next best thing.

The authors strongly disagree.

"The regular conditions of confinement are traumatic for any child," said co-author Yasmin Vafa, the executive director of Rights4Girls. But for victims of sexual abuse, and especially victims of trafficking, she said, "things like strip searches, the use of isolation or solitary confinement, basically being told when and where to go at all times and the use of restraints" can be exponentially harmful.

Low-level offenses are far from the only charges victims of abuse face, the report concludes.

Victims of child sex trafficking are being charged with recruiting other victims, leading to long prison sentences and registration as sex offenders.

"This practice, which holds child victims liable as traffickers themselves, fails to recognize the broader circumstances: that is, the violence, coercion, threats, manipulation, and other forms of control that traffickers use to force their victims to exploit other children," Vafa and Epstein wrote.

Then there are the victims of sexual abuse who try to escape abuse and end up facing life in prison.

The report examines six cases of abuse victims, all girls of color, charged with murder. Some of the cases have attracted the attention of celebrities and social media masses in recent years.

Among them is Chrystul Kizer, who was 17 years old when she was charged with murder in the killing of a man who filmed his repeated sexual abuse of her and other Black girls. Kizer told The Washington Post in 2019 that she had acted in self-defense. Wisconsin prosecutors argue that she premeditated the killing to steal the man's car.

Last year, the state's Supreme Court issued a groundbreaking ruling that will allow Kizer to argue in court that the crime she committed was a "direct result" of the trafficking she experienced. If a judge and then a jury agree, she may have the chance to be acquitted of some or all of the charges against her.

Other victims charged with similar crimes in the past had no such opportunity. In 2004, 16-year-old Cyntoia Brown was imprisoned for killing a man who paid to abuse her. She spent 15 years in prison before the governor of Tennessee, under pressure from activists and celebrities, granted her clemency.

Brown and other formerly incarcerated survivors of abuse now advocate for victims like Kizer. Sara Kruzan, who spent nearly two decades in prison for killing her abuser at 16, is the namesake of a congressional bill that would allow federal judges to deviate from mandatory minimums when sentencing minors.

Until such laws are a reality, Vafa and Epstein say they hope that their report and its recommendations can serve as a warning sign and study guide for defense lawyers, prosecutors and others who play a role in determining the fate of abuse victims.

If they read the report's introduction, the first words they come across are those of a teenage survivor of sexual abuse, Pieper Lewis. Like Kizer, Brown and Kruzan, Lewis was charged with killing her abuser. But after two years in a juvenile detention facility, she was sentenced to probation instead of prison time - a sign, for many, of progress.

"My spirit has been burned but still glows through the flames," Lewis said in court last year. "Hear me roar, see me glow, and watch me grow."

In November, after five weeks in a court-ordered transition program, Lewis cut off her GPS ankle monitor and fled the facility. She later told the Des Moines Register that she felt unsafe and re-traumatized by her experiences in the adult facility.

As the researchers prepared to release their report, citing Lewis's story as another example of the abuse-to-prison pipeline, Lewis herself was back in a jail uniform, pleading guilty to new criminal charges for running away.

A judge is expected to decide next month how she will be punished.
The stakes were high - a federal judge in Texas, known for his antiabortion views, was presiding over a lawsuit seeking to undo government approval of a key abortion drug and block access to the medication in every state.

The Democratic attorney general in Washington state, Bob Ferguson, launched a counter move, suing the federal government to increase access to the same abortion drug.

The legal maneuvering played out in dramatic fashion Friday evening: Less than an hour after U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, a nominee of President Donald Trump, blocked approval of the abortion drug mifepristone by the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, ordered the FDA to preserve "the status quo" and retain access to the medication in 17 states and the District of Columbia.

The remarkable one-two punch set up an extraordinary legal clash that will almost certainly be decided by the polarized U.S. Supreme Court. It provides a real-time window into how liberals are trying to counter a flood of conservative litigation in a federal judiciary reshaped by Trump, and how the political right is using single-judge court districts to advance a deeply conservative agenda.

The conservative groups that sued the FDA in Texas cherry-picked Kacsmaryk, a lifelong antiabortion advocate who is the sole judge in his Amarillo, Tex., district, to hear their case. And the coalition of Democratic state attorneys general responded by taking the rare step of suing the Democratic Biden administration to demand fewer FDA restrictions on access to the abortion pill in their states.

"Part of the reasoning for my decision to file a decision here in Washington state is because I could not leave the fate of women's reproductive rights in Washington in the hands of a single judge in Texas appointed by Donald Trump whose views on reproductive freedom are well known and unfortunate," Ferguson said in an interview Friday night.

"I felt this was coming," he said of Kacsmaryk's order. "I am not surprised by either ruling."

Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University who has lobbied for the Biden administration to protect access to abortion, said he found both lawsuits problematic, because he believes they undermine the FDA's authority to assess and approve medications.

He expressed particular concern about the Texas case, which sought to upend approval to a drug that has been on the market for more than two decades - and is one of two medications used in combination to terminate pregnancies. But he said both decisions could politicize the FDA and have far reaching implications beyond mifepristone.

"Partisans are weaponizing the public courts system, and the victim is science and public heath," Gostin said. "This is crazy and crazier. I disagree with both decisions, but I think that the Texas decision is far more radical and far more extensive."

- - -

Immediate impacts

Rice declined a request by the attorneys general to grant a nationwide preliminary injunction that protected mifepristone, applying his order only to the liberal states that filed the lawsuit.

Kacsmaryk, in contrast, did issue a preliminary nationwide injunction blocking FDA approval of the drug. But it does not go into effect for seven days, giving the Justice Department time to appeal.

If the right-leaning U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit does not allow the FDA to maintain approval of mifepristone pending the outcome of an appeal of Kacmaryk's ruling, legal experts say, it is unclear how the two conflicting orders would play out. Such a situation could increase liberal pressure on the Biden administration to tell the FDA to ignore Kacsmaryk's decision, the experts said.

Ferguson and other Democratic attorneys general who filed the Washington state lawsuit said if both rulings take effect, they would expect the FDA to preserve access to mifepristone in their states - even if it becomes prohibited in other ones. They acknowledged in interviews that they filed the lawsuit in part with the intent of blunting the impact of Kascmaryk's ruling in their states.

"Absolutely," said Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum (D). "The FDA would be forced to follow the court ruling in the case."

If they reach the Supreme Court, the conflicting cases would present justices with their biggest test on abortion access since their landmark decision in June to overturn the guarantee of abortion rights provided by Roe v. Wade.

A key player could be Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, who voted with the majority to overturn Roe but wrote in a concurring opinion that he did not see the decision as limiting abortion options in the states that wanted to provide them.

At the crux of both of the Texas and Washington cases, the plaintiffs are questioning whether the FDA followed the scientific evidence when it determined how to regulate mifepristone - one of the two medications used in more than half of all abortions in the United States. The Texas lawsuit argues that the drug, which the FDA has repeatedly found to be safe and effective, should never have been approved.

Abortion providers have said that without mifepristone, they would either offer only surgical abortions in states where it is legal or offer medication abortions using a single-drug protocol - which is also safe, according to experts, although there is more cramping and bleeding than if mifepristone is used as well.

- - -

Timing and jurisdiction

Judges do not typically comment on cases beyond their rulings, so it is hard to conclusively determine how and why the opinions by Kacsmaryk and Rice landed so close together on Good Friday.

But legal experts say such timing is extremely rare and likely not coincidental - and could create the perception that the opposing decisions were driven by politics.

Rice had skeptical questions for the Democratic attorneys general during a 40-minute hearing on March 28 in the Washington state case, which sought to make it easier to distribute mifepristone to patients. In the decision issued 10 days later - a remarkably quick turnaround even for a judge known for moving expeditiously - Rice refused to order the FDA to remove existing restrictions, but also prohibited the government from further limiting access to the drug.

In his opinion, Rice acknowledged the Texas case and said that he would deny the request by the attorneys general for a nationwide injunction, in part, because of the competing Texas lawsuit.

In Texas, Kascmaryk held a four-hour hearing in his case on March 15, and issued his ruling just over three weeks later.

Democrats and legal analysts have accused the conservative groups that brought the Texas lawsuit of engaging in judge shopping, saying they strategically filed in Kascmaryk's single-judge courthouse because they knew he would be sympathetic to their cause. Kascmaryk, who ascended from the conservative legal group First Liberty Institute, joined the federal bench in 2019. Since then, many of his decisions have been wins for the right, including one that struck down Biden administration protections for transgender people and another that forced thousands of asylum seekers to return to Mexico while they awaited processing.

Before he became a federal judge, Kacsmaryk served on the board of Christian Homes and Family Services, an organization that offers housing and adoption services to women with the goal of providing an alternative to abortion. The language of his ruling Friday echoed terminology used by antiabortion activists, calling abortion providers "abortionists" and referring to fetuses and embryos as "unborn humans."

Filing in single-division courthouses, legal experts says, bucks the random assignment of judges that is a tenet of the American judicial system.

The lead plaintiff in the Texas abortion pill case, the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, has a mailing address in Tennessee, according to records filed with the Texas secretary of state's office. The group incorporated in Texas - with a "registered agent" in Amarillo - several months before the lawsuit was filed.

Ferguson and the coalition of attorneys general filed their lawsuit in the Eastern District of Washington - one of two federal court districts in the state. Ferguson said they selected that district in part because it is home to Washington State University, a large university that does not have the required credentials to distribute mifepristone under current FDA guidelines.

The Eastern District has nine judges, two of whom were appointed by Republican presidents, according to the court's website. Joseph H. Harrington, a former U.S. attorney for Eastern Washington, said judges in the district are randomly assigned cases, so "there would not be what you would typically call judge shopping."

Rice was confirmed by the Senate in 2012. He served as a federal prosecutor in the same Washington state district for 24 years and worked for one year as a trial attorney in the Justice Department's tax division. In 2018, he sided with Planned Parenthood in a case seeking to block the Trump administration's decision to stop funding for a teen pregnancy prevention program.

"There is no universe in which this case was filed in Spokane specifically so it would be assigned to Judge Rice. That's a pretty telling contrast from what's happening in Amarillo and elsewhere in Texas," said Steve Vladeck, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law, who has studied and been critical of the practice of judge shopping. "The former is forum shopping, which is inevitable in any legal system with permissive jurisdictional and venue rules. The latter is judge shopping, which ought to be anathema to any system that prides itself on the putative neutrality of its judiciary."

- - -

Divided politics

While the back-to-back delivery of the two rulings was remarkable, it's not uncommon for government agencies to have to balance conflicting rulings from different judges, according to Aziz Z. Huq, a constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago. The federal government, for example has regularly had to contend with disparate rulings around the Affordable Care Act - another polarizing issue that politicians and activists similarly tried to settle in courts.

Seemingly partisan court opinions, Huq said, mirror the divided politics in the country and it's "not plausible to expect patterns of judicial appointments to not reflect that."

"The forefathers may have hoped for a more high-minded executive and legislative branch consideration of those who are appointed to lifetime appointments on the federal bench," Huq said. "But this is just the 1780s playing out in a hyperpartisan world."

New York and California - two of the biggest Democratic strongholds - did not join the Washington lawsuit. Democratic attorneys general who did participate said they believed the litigation was their best shot at keeping access to mifepristone if the Kacsmaryk ruling takes effect.

"I'm concerned about the case in Texas," Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown (D) said in an interview over the weekend. While he felt conflicted about suing a Democratic administration, he said, Maryland's "interest in protecting reproductive freedoms in Maryland outweighed any concern about the optics of bringing a lawsuit against Biden's FDA."

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) said she signed onto the Washington state lawsuit because she did not believe the nation's judicial system was intended to allow a single federal judge to change a major policy for the entire country.

She said that her constituents in Michigan have repeatedly proven at the ballot box that they are in favor of abortion rights, including when voters overwhelmingly approved an initiative in November that enshrined the right to abortion in the state constitution.

"It was clear to so many of us that the antiabortion activists so eager to see Roe. v. Wade overturned were never just going to send these issues back to the states," Nessel said, adding that she believes Kascmaryk "would do anything and everything to undermine abortion rights. We felt we had to do something about that."
AP

MITCHELL, Ind. (AP)  A prosecutor has cleared two Indiana law enforcement officers of any criminal wrongdoing in connection with a fatal shooting during a traffic stop in February.

Lawrence County Prosecutor Samuel C. Arp II said he has reviewed the incident and decided City of Mitchell Police Officer Christian Anderson and Lawrence County Sheriff's Deputy Joshua Rhoades' actions were justified, WXIN-TV reported Monday.
Jailed Kremlin opponent Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr. likened judicial proceedings against him on Monday to the sham Stalin-era and later proceedings that condemned his countrymen to prison or death sentences.

Kara-Murza also said he's proud of his public statements and behavior for which he's facing charges of treason and spreading false information about the Russian military in Ukraine.

A journalist and a prominent government opponent who twice survived poisonings he blamed on the Kremlin, Kara-Murza has been behind bars since his arrest a year ago. He made his comments near the end of his closed-door trial in a statement posted on Russian social media sites.

Speaking to a Moscow court, he said the level of opaqueness about the charges against him surpassed the trials of Soviet dissidents in the 1960s and 1970s, and the language used against him was reminiscent of the 1930s, when Soviet citizens were arrested on fabricated charges and put on show trials.

Lawyer Maria Eismont, who is representing Kara-Murza, reported that a verdict is expected April 17, with the prosecutor requesting a 25-year sentence to be served in a strict regime prison colony where conditions are harsh and prisoners are held in locked cells rather than in barracks.

The charges against Kara-Murza stem from his March 15 speech to the Arizona House of Representatives in which he denounced Russias military action in Ukraine. Investigators added the treason charges while he was in custody.

In his statement, Kara-Murza said he was jailed for his political views, for speaking out against the war in Ukraine, for many years of struggle against (Russian President Vladimir) Putins dictatorship.

Not only do I not repent of any of this, I am proud of it, he said, adding that he looks forward to a day when those who kindled and unleashed this war, and not those who tried to stop it, are recognized as criminals.

Russia adopted a law criminalizing spreading false information about its military shortly after it sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Authorities have used the law to stifle criticism of what the Kremlin calls a special military operation.

Kara-Murza was an associate of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was killed near the Kremlin in 2015. Russian officials have denied responsibility for the poisonings Kara-Murza alleges occurred in 2015 and 2017.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP)  A Mexican citizen was sentenced Monday to life in a U.S. prison for killing a man who reported him and his brother to authorities for cheating migrant workers out of millions of dollars.

A U.S. District Court judge in Brunswick, Georgia, sentenced 46-year-old Juan Rangel-Rubio nearly six months after a jury convicted him of conspiring to kill a witness and other criminal counts.
MILWAUKEE (AP)  A landlord has been ordered to pay $1.35 million for a fire that killed two people in Milwaukee in 2019, a newspaper reported.

Will Sherard has shown a reckless disregard for the condition of his properties, Milwaukee County Judge William Sosnay said in a March 31 decision.
As Donald Trump faced the looming threat of an indictment in New York last month, scores of Republicans offered a full-throated defense of the former president. But not Ron DeSantis, who resented that Trump expected fealty while attacking him relentlessly and wanted to show he wouldn't be cowed into falling in line, according to two people familiar with the Florida governor's thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly.

Asked about the case at a news conference on March 20, two days after a Trump adviser criticized his "radio silence," DeSantis accused the prosecutor of "pursuing a political agenda" against Trump, echoing many others in the party. But he also noted the allegations of "porn star hush money" at the center of the case, seeking to put a spotlight on Trump's personal conduct and show he was "not going to be bullied" by the ex-president, one of the people said.

The backlash from Trump and his allies was swift, and when an indictment came in late March, DeSantis took a route suggested early on by Dustin Carmack, a former congressional aide expected to join his presidential campaign, according to another person with knowledge of the conversations, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to more openly describe private talks. DeSantis declared Florida would "not assist in an extradition request," even as Trump's team had already indicated that the former president would surrender.

Representatives for DeSantis did not respond to a request for comment. Carmack could not be reached for comment.

The episode underscored the stark challenges DeSantis faces in confronting Trump, as the governor gears up to enter the presidential race. The governor's recent struggles to find his footing on the national stage, where he is a relative novice, stands in contrast to the dominance he has established in Florida, confidently battling the political left and other foes and winning reelection by nearly 20 points in the fall.

His response to Trump's indictment reflects the trial and error in his approach as well as his reluctance to declare open warfare against the top-polling Republican candidate. Rather than open a new phase of combativeness with Trump, DeSantis is lying low again, at least for the moment.

The person who said DeSantis wasn't going to be "bullied" expects the governor to push back on Trump more sharply if he runs for president. But this person also expects he will take "the high road" and engage with Trump on policy rather than trade insults and employ name-calling - for instance, by rebutting the former president's criticisms of how DeSantis handled the pandemic and taking aim at Trump's own record on the issue, including his use of Anthony S. Fauci as a White House coronavirus adviser.

Past campaigns have shown the perils of hoping that Trump simply implodes, some Republicans said, but assailing Trump head-on also carries big risks, especially for a 2024 hopeful such as DeSantis, who has supporters who overlap with Trump's.

"This is when you'd expect candidates to try different things out," said Alex Conant, who worked on Sen. Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential campaign. He added that DeSantis recently "tried something out" on the issue of Ukraine as well - calling Russia's invasion a "territorial dispute" unimportant to U.S. interests. After drawing vocal GOP criticism, DeSantis took a harder line against Russia and said his words had been "mischaracterized."

GOP voters "really dislike it when other Republicans attack Trump," Conant said, suggesting that only President Biden - a Democrat - had found a good way to counter him.

Trump has continued to hammer DeSantis in recent weeks - using disparaging nicknames to describe his rival, pointing to polls showing the governor lagging behind him and suggesting that DeSantis would be working in a law office, a cigar store or a pizza parlor if Trump had not endorsed him and helped boost his candidacy for governor in 2018.

In private, DeSantis has pushed back to allies on Trump's assertion that he "made" DeSantis and has described some of Trump's behavior as erratic, according to a person who has spoken to him directly. The governor has been taken aback at how soon Trump attacked him, some people with knowledge of the situation said - while he and his team expected that such criticism would eventually come, it arrived earlier than they thought.

Aides and allies of the governor have also made their own frustration with Trump clear. "Mention Trump and people's eyes roll back into their heads," said a DeSantis donor.

For now, DeSantis is back to publicly ignoring Trump's attacks - his longtime strategy before his "hush money" comments at the news conference last month and his sharpened contrasts with Trump in an interview around the same time with conservative commentator Piers Morgan. On Tuesday, as the former president was arraigned in New York, the governor appeared at a closed-press pet adoption event with puppies.

But a super PAC created to back a DeSantis bid is already taking aim at Trump, suggesting he would be a weaker general-election nominee. The former president faces other criminal investigations probing his efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat and his handling of classified documents after leaving office. Trump has also faced blame for some of the losses in key midterm races in which he elevated the GOP nominee.

"Ron DeSantis can win the general election - that's something that I don't believe Donald Trump can do," says a man featured in a video recently released by Never Back Down, the political committee backing DeSantis for 2024 that is expected to have his campaign's blessing.

In Pennsylvania last weekend, DeSantis emphasized that "there is no substitute for victory - the winners get to make policy. The losers go home."

In Arizona - a crucial swing state where Trump-endorsed candidates lost last fall - GOP political consultant Constantin Querard has been traveling the state gathering signatures for a letter urging DeSantis to seek the presidency. With more than half of the Republicans in the state legislature among his firm's clients, Querard believes DeSantis will help down-ballot candidates win in 2024.

"We want the conservative who can win at the top of the ticket," Querard said.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, said in a statement that the former president "is dominating in poll after poll - both nationally and statewide - crushing the primary and general fields."

Cheung added: "We get stronger every day while others are limping around searching for relevance and attention."

DeSantis allies are acutely aware of Trump's still-strong influence and appeal in the Republican Party. A senior member of Never Back Down has said the group will be heavily involved in building crowds for DeSantis, in part because of Trump's fixation on crowd size and the expectation that a front-runner candidate draws big audiences, according to a person familiar with the comments.

"If you're DeSantis, you have to desperately avoid the small room with Jeb Bush asking attendees to please clap," the person said, referencing a viral moment from Bush's unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2016.

A spokeswoman for Never Back Down did not respond to requests for comment.

Speaking to reporters on the way home from a Texas rally last month, Trump belittled the size of DeSantis's book tour crowds - incorrectly. He claimed DeSantis' biggest crowd in Iowa was 179 people; in fact, it was more than a thousand.

DeSantis emerged triumphant from the 2022 midterms, winning reelection decisively while some other Republicans in marquee races, who were tied to Trump and his movement, fell short. But Trump's lead over DeSantis in national polling for 2024 has grown in recent months, and many Republicans believe GOP outrage over his indictment has boosted his position.

"The only crime that I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it," Trump said in a speech last week after his arraignment. He faces 34 counts of falsifying business records, all related to allegations that he worked to suppress his affair with adult-film actress Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors say he hid payments to keep Daniels quiet during the 2016 presidential election.

Trump has pleaded not guilty and has used the case as a rallying cry in his campaign.

The former president has picked up notable Republican endorsements amid the indictment: Byron Donalds, a Florida congressman who has been a DeSantis ally, announced on Thursday that he is backing Trump for 2024.

"There is only one leader at this time in our nation's 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," Donalds said in a statement, which noted that Reps. Matt Gaetz and Anna Paulina Luna, also of Florida, have also pledged their support.

DeSantis is not expected to formally enter the race until after the Florida legislative session ends in May, and political veterans caution against drawing conclusions from early polling. Many declared and potential candidates are also hoping that strong performances in early nominating states such as Iowa and New Hampshire - where in-person campaigning is key - will set them on the path to victory.

The Florida governor has already made his way through Iowa and will head to New Hampshire soon.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Gabrielle Hartley, University of Connecticut

(THE CONVERSATION) When the Human Genome Project announced that they had completed the first human genome in 2003, it was a momentous accomplishment  for the first time, the DNA blueprint of human life was unlocked. But it came with a catch  they werent actually able to put together all the genetic information in the genome. There were gaps: unfilled, often repetitive regions that were too confusing to piece together.

With advancements in technology that could handle these repetitive sequences, scientists finally filled those gaps in May 2021, and the first end-to-end human genome was officially published on Mar. 31, 2022.

I am a genome biologist who studies repetitive DNA sequences and how they shape genomes throughout evolutionary history. I was part of the team that helped characterize the repeat sequences missing from the genome. And now, with a truly complete human genome, these uncovered repetitive regions are finally being explored in full for the first time.

The missing puzzle pieces

German botanist Hans Winkler coined the word genome in 1920, combining the word gene with the suffix -ome, meaning complete set, to describe the full DNA sequence contained within each cell. Researchers still use this word a century later to refer to the genetic material that makes up an organism.

One way to describe what a genome looks like is to compare it to a reference book. In this analogy, a genome is an anthology containing the DNA instructions for life. Its composed of a vast array of nucleotides (letters) that are packaged into chromosomes (chapters). Each chromosome contains genes (paragraphs) that are regions of DNA which code for the specific proteins that allow an organism to function.

While every living organism has a genome, the size of that genome varies from species to species. An elephant uses the same form of genetic information as the grass it eats and the bacteria in its gut. But no two genomes look exactly alike. Some are short, like the genome of the insect-dwelling bacteria Nasuia deltocephalinicola with just 137 genes across 112,000 nucleotides. Some, like the 149 billion nucleotides of the flowering plant Paris japonica, are so long that its difficult to get a sense of how many genes are contained within.

But genes as theyve traditionally been understood  as stretches of DNA that code for proteins  are just a small part of an organisms genome. In fact, they make up less than 2% of human DNA.

The human genome contains roughly 3 billion nucleotides and just under 20,000 protein-coding genes  an estimated 1% of the genomes total length. The remaining 99% is non-coding DNA sequences that dont produce proteins. Some are regulatory components that work as a switchboard to control how other genes work. Others are pseudogenes, or genomic relics that have lost their ability to function.

And over half of the human genome is repetitive, with multiple copies of near-identical sequences.

What is repetitive DNA?

The simplest form of repetitive DNA are blocks of DNA repeated over and over in tandem called satellites. While how much satellite DNA a given genome has varies from person to person, they often cluster toward the ends of chromosomes in regions called telomeres. These regions protect chromosomes from degrading during DNA replication. Theyre also found in the centromeres of chromosomes, a region that helps keep genetic information intact when cells divide.

Researchers still lack a clear understanding of all the functions of satellite DNA. But because satellite DNA forms unique patterns in each person, forensic biologists and genealogists use this genomic fingerprint to match crime scene samples and track ancestry. Over 50 genetic disorders are linked to variations in satellite DNA, including Huntingtons disease.

Another abundant type of repetitive DNA are transposable elements, or sequences that can move around the genome.

Some scientists have described them as selfish DNA because they can insert themselves anywhere in the genome, regardless of the consequences. As the human genome evolved, many transposable sequences collected mutations repressing their ability to move to avoid harmful interruptions. But some can likely still move about. For example, transposable element insertions are linked to a number of cases of hemophilia A, a genetic bleeding disorder.

But transposable elements arent just disruptive. They can have regulatory functions that help control the expression of other DNA sequences. When theyre concentrated in centromeres, they may also help maintain the integrity of the genes fundamental to cell survival.

They can also contribute to evolution. Researchers recently found that the insertion of a transposable element into a gene important to development might be why some primates, including humans, no longer have tails. Chromosome rearrangements due to transposable elements are even linked to the genesis of new species like the gibbons of southeast Asia and the wallabies of Australia.

Completing the genomic puzzle

Until recently, many of these complex regions could be compared to the far side of the moon: known to exist, but unseen.

When the Human Genome Project first launched in 1990, technological limitations made it impossible to fully uncover repetitive regions in the genome. Available sequencing technology could only read about 500 nucleotides at a time, and these short fragments had to overlap one another in order to recreate the full sequence. Researchers used these overlapping segments to identify the next nucleotides in the sequence, incrementally extending the genome assembly one fragment at a time.

These repetitive gap regions were like putting together a 1,000-piece puzzle of an overcast sky: When every piece looks the same, how do you know where one cloud starts and another ends? With near-identical overlapping stretches in many spots, fully sequencing the genome by piecemeal became unfeasible. Millions of nucleotides remained hidden in the the first iteration of the human genome.

Since then, sequence patches have gradually filled in gaps of the human genome bit by bit. And in 2021, the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) Consortium, an international consortium of scientists working to complete a human genome assembly from end to end, announced that all remaining gaps were finally filled.

This was made possible by improved sequencing technology capable of reading longer sequences thousands of nucleotides in length. With more information to situate repetitive sequences within a larger picture, it became easier to identify their proper place in the genome. Like simplifying a 1,000-piece puzzle to a 100-piece puzzle, long-read sequences made it possible to assemble large repetitive regions for the first time.

With the increasing power of long-read DNA sequencing technology, geneticists are positioned to explore a new era of genomics, untangling complex repetitive sequences across populations and species for the first time. And a complete, gap-free human genome provides an invaluable resource for researchers to investigate repetitive regions that shape genetic structure and variation, species evolution and human health.

But one complete genome doesnt capture it all. Efforts continue to create diverse genomic references that fully represent the human population and life on Earth. With more complete, telomere-to-telomere genome references, scientists understanding of the repetitive dark matter of DNA will become more clear.

[Get fascinating science, health and technology news. Sign up for The Conversations weekly science newsletter.]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/the-human-genome-project-pieced-together-only-92-of-the-dna-now-scientists-have-finally-filled-in-the-remaining-8-176138.
Since the 1990s, when Jean Wehner started to remember the "sexual torture" she endured as a Catholic high school student, she has sued the Baltimore Archdiocese, written a memoir and appeared in a Netflix documentary about her abuse. But the release last week of a Maryland attorney general's report citing decades worth of internal church records about her abuser - it all brought a kind of bitter validation, Wehner says, to that terrified little girl.

"I'm my own worst detective as an adult. I was taught by my faith system to be a good girl, not to lie, not to believe something that isn't true. I'm always still doubting myself and dissecting everything and challenging myself," said Wehner, 69, now a wellness practitioner in Elkridge. "This puts the detective to rest. The adult me, who has been trying to integrate with this child, can now say: 'Oh hell yes, I will 100 percent stand up for you.'"

The report released Wednesday into Catholic clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore is added to at least 20 others that have been done in Catholic dioceses by government officials around the country. While the topic of clergy abuse has been a steady drumbeat in the news for more than two decades, the impact of these reports - these official words on official documents - is incredibly powerful for survivors, even those who are now-greying.

Survivors in Maryland and other parts of the country where reports have happened said these are extremely intense documents that can collapse the decades, in both healing and terrifying ways.

For people whose abuse was denied in the past by officials, seeing their suffering affirmed in print brings both relief and anger. Some learn that specific, intimate details of their abuse were repeated with other youth, and that they share a horrible secret with other wounded strangers. Some believe the stamp of societal institutions like the attorney general and the Catholic Church will awaken a numb populace to the fact that sexual abuse's damage can be lifelong. Some will never even read a document thick, for them, with trauma.

Teresa Lancaster decades ago sued the Archdiocese of Baltimore for alleged mishandling of Father Joseph Maskell, who had abused her in the late 1960s when he was her counselor at Archbishop Keough High School. While the archdiocese says in its statements that it learned only in the 1990s that Maskell had "abused," the new report shows multiple instances starting in the mid-1960s when top figures in the archdiocese were told that Maskell would interview Boy Scouts about their sexual fantasies and practices and was alone with young girls in the rectory for hours under "suspicious" circumstances.

"There were a lot of reports on him. If they had stopped him, [I and other victims of Maskell] would never have been abused. When we needed to be believed, we weren't," said Lancaster, now an attorney.

She has only read a slim slice of the graphic, 463-page report so far, saying it's "overwhelming." Overwhelming but essential, she said.

"When people see it in print they realize the extent of the torture. When you say: 'I was abused,' they don't realize the neatly planned coverups by higher-ups that enabled it to spread like wildfire. The details are important. It's different to picture yourself 16 years old, naked on a priest's lap. How would you like your son or daughter to be in that position?"

Mary McHale said it felt empowering in 2018 when then-Pennsylvania attorney general Josh Shapiro released and read at a news conference parts of a grand jury report that included the Rev. James Gaffney, who abused her when she was a Catholic high school student in Reading in the 1980s. At the time she was coming to terms with being a lesbian and he used the secret as a basis for the abuse, she says. She told her parents and others at the time, but asked them not to report it because she was terrified her sexuality would become public.

Multiple priests and survivors from her childhood community were in the report, she said, and it "felt good seeing it in print. Over the years I was sick of people minimizing" abuse in the Catholic Church, said McHale, 51, a physical therapist and trainer.

But McHale's initial expectations after the report came out weren't met, she says. "I thought it would have this huge impact here, in a Catholic culture, everyone you live around, work with - you're all Catholic. To stand up and speak against it, a lot of people aren't too pleased with that even now. As time marches on, people move on. People who are practicing tell themselves 'It's just a few bad eggs.' But it's not. It's systemic coverup."

Survivor and longtime prominent advocate David Clohessy said the government investigations, of which there are at least 20, "are a very mixed bag." While they can have a healing affect, many are very superficial and skim the surface, he said. He praised reports in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

"These reports are welcome but are a very poor substitute for real justice, criminal prosecution and harsh punishments which are most effective at deterring future coverups, inside and outside the church. And none of the attorneys general have really done the kind of aggressive outreach to victims, witnesses and whistleblowers that will really help more people who saw, suspected or suffered abuse to speak up," he said.

According to Bishop Accountability, an archive and advocacy group for abuse survivors, the new Maryland report includes the names of 33 clergy members who were not previously identified as abusers by the archdiocese.

In a detailed FAQ published last week about the report, the Archdiocese of Baltimore said it "does appreciate some aspects of the report" and that "acknowledging the painful reality of child sexual abuse in the Church is a significant source of support for victims and a moment of transparency that helps in the effort to protect children." However, it criticized the report as giving an unfair picture of the modern-day archdiocese. It "does not acknowledge the full scope of the Archdiocese's efforts to protect children in recent decades" and doesn't give enough weight to the fact that the number of new allegations dropped dramatically, the church said.

Survivors interviewed for this story describe the new anger generated by reports - like Maryland's - that have agreed to redact for now some names of alleged abusers or those who facilitated a coverup, or church leaders framing abuse as a historic issue. Part of their suffering, some say, happens when Catholic officials fight to keep the lawsuit windows very small, or to file for bankruptcy when faced with costly mandates to pay survivors, or to go along with redactions.

"They didn't give those [internal church records] over until they were subpoenaed. When they speak to the past, I'm not hearing them speak to the survivor in front of them who still carries that wounded child," said Wehner, whose brother had to read and then summarize for her the parts of the Maryland report that pertained to her.

"There are people who couldn't go out that front door" the day the report was released, "who couldn't go to that meeting" [Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown held with survivors that day], who haven't told their families because of that fear." To her, when church leaders characterize abuse as a problem in the past, that fear is triggered.

Lara Fortney-McKeever and four of her nine sisters were sexually assaulted by a priest in the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pa., in the 1980s. They believed they were forbidden from talking about it for more than two decades, McKeever said, until the grand jury probe started around 2016. In the report they learned that several high-ranking clergy - including then-Harrisburg Bishop William Keeler, who went on to become the archbishop in Baltimore - received a complaint about the priest, the Rev. Augustine Giella, but failed to remove him.

Reading the report "was bittersweet. It validated what we felt we knew, but then we saw five years could have been saved." Her younger sisters' assaults could have been prevented, they learned. She's still searching for how she feels about what she learned in the report.

"I was able to hide in a happy place for years, and it made me face a reality that I may not have been ready to face. But in hindsight, it did end up becoming healing for me because it's helped me reach so many that were afraid to come forward," she said. "Sunlight is disinfectant for evil."
Roanoke held off for a year, resisting calls to cut ties with its sister city in Russia because of that country's devastating invasion of Ukraine. But in late February, days before the war's first anniversary, officials felt they had to act.

Down came the tricolor Russian flag flying downtown alongside the flags of the six other countries where Roanoke has sister cities. And in Century Plaza - a public space decorated by columned monuments to each city - up went a laminated notice on the Russian sculpture announcing a suspension of "all interaction and communication with our counterparts in Pskov at this time."

"The Russian flag was tearing at the hearts of our friends from Ukraine who have had friends and relatives killed in these horrendous attacks," explained Bill Bestpitch, who serves as treasurer of Roanoke Valley Sister Cities. "We wanted to show our support - and that's not a strong enough word for it. But how do we have sympathy with the people of Ukraine without sounding like we are blaming the people in Pskov we're connected with?"

In scores of communities that have built strong connections to people in post-Soviet Russia, decisions to distance themselves since the war began have often been protracted and wrenching. Banning Russian vodka was one thing. Shelving decades-old relationships was considerably harder.

Elected officials coast to coast heard pleas to close their programs as well as to keep them afloat. Some people argued that Russians needed American friendships more than ever, while others countered that Russian cities had blood on their hands. The San Jose City Council contemplated suspending its sister-city relationship with Yekaterinburg but instead passed a resolution condemning the invasion.

The discussions were especially painful in Albany, N.Y. "We were heartsick, and there were voices in the group who said, 'If you don't take a moral stand, what kind of human being are you?'" said Dawn Weinraub, a Russian scholar involved in the 32-year alliance that Albany has nurtured with the western Russian city of Tula. "But if we did, it would burn bridges."

These sister-city relationships, nonpolitical by design, have withstood crises before. They weathered Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia and its 2014 takeover of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, continuing even amid the increasingly harsh crackdowns of President Vladimir Putin's government.

Yet Putin's full-scale assault on Ukraine forced far greater soul-searching. Some scholars see the U.S. groups' dilemma as a reminder that geopolitics simply cannot be avoided at times.

"It's the combination of aggression abroad and repression at home that has made citizen diplomacy nonviable now," said Keith Brown, director of the Melikian Center for Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies at Arizona State University.

The partnerships can be restored, added Brown, who is a member of Tempe Sister Cities. "But a great investment will be required to rebuild, like the shattered cities of Ukraine. It's not the same, but it's a reminder of how easy it is to destroy things and how much harder and costly it is to build things."

Since President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the U.S. sister-cities program in 1956 to promote peace, about 2,500 official partnerships have formed between American cities and those overseas. More than 100 have been with Russian cities, with visits and programs independent of the two governments' actions and ideologies. Beyond grass-roots letter-writing exchanges, there have been sophisticated educational and economic initiatives. In Virginia, Roanoke's 31-year partnership with Pskov also provided hospitals and orphanages there with medical provisions.

It was all part of a broad movement aimed at opening up the Soviet system. For many American participants, the experience helped pierce the distrust built up over the Cold War.

"Before I went to Russia, I honestly didn't have any interest. Why would I want to go to a former communist country?" recalled John Lovric, who leads the sister-cities association in Anacortes, Wash. "But I went in 2011 and loved it. You find common ground - whether in music, taking a walk in the park or maybe looking out at the ocean like we do here."

Sister Cities International Inc. asked groups to stay active, in part to keep their Russian counterparts from becoming isolated. A few hoped to help dispel the Kremlin's propaganda. It soon became clear, though, that communicating could be perilous.

The head of a West Coast program had been in regular contact with his counterpart in Russia - and then all communication abruptly stopped.

"When we got in touch again, she said she had been out of town for a while," he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of concerns for the woman's safety. "It took me a while to learn she had been detained for speaking up against Putin. Speaking to Americans also became dangerous."

About 60 U.S.-Russia sister cities officially remain, though they are mostly inactive for the time being, according to the umbrella organization. But momentum is growing for U.S.-Ukraine sister-city relationships. Before the war, the organization counted roughly two dozen. It has since heard from about a dozen more American cities that want to form partnerships in Ukraine.

Several of the U.S.-Russia groups have found channels through which to assist Ukrainian refugees in Europe. In Roanoke, where Ukraine's flag now flies instead of Russia's, the program sent more than $5,000 for refugees via its sister-city counterpart in Opole, Poland. The Anacortes program did the same through its Romanian sister city.

In Upstate New York, the founder of the Albany-Tula Alliance mourns what once was.

For years, Charlotte Buchanan said, the program had a highly visible presence in both countries. It supplied food and medical equipment to schools and orphanages in Tula. It helped establish a public health program there and offered countless Russian visitors training in free-market business. So many educational and cultural exchanges took place that the Albany group rented apartments for its visitors.

"I remember a judge who had about 30 or so courts under him. He wanted to come because Russia was going to allow juries to decide on some crimes," Buchanan recalled recently. "He lived in our house for two weeks, and we took him to courts. He wanted to make sure the citizens recognized their responsibility to jury. It was wonderful, and we became friends."

Those visits, research collaborations, even essay contests - none are possible while the war drags on, and perhaps for years to come.

"We were on the way to having a stronger, more open world, and now we've closed ourselves tighter than I've seen for a long time," Buchanan said.

Still, some supporters are doing their best to maintain ties in very personal ways. Not long ago, about 20 people in Anacortes and its sister city of Lomonosov got together via Zoom. They kept the conversation light in case Russian authorities were listening in. Then they sang folk songs together.

"We wanted them to know we took down the Russian flag, but this is not going to break up our relations," Lovric said. "This isn't a war between us and our friends."
Conservatives are once again attempting to stick it to The Man with their latest boycott, this time calling for Americans to stop drinking Bud Light in response to a sponsored Final Four video paid for by the beer brand featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

The ad shows Mulvaney drinking a Bud Light and talking about basketball, or whatever sport it is that everyone was getting mad in March about. Suffice to say, a number of Republicans weren't jazzed to see their staple session beer "go woke."

Enter Houston-area Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), who joined in on the wave of backlash to the commercial with an Instagram post over the weekend. In a video published to the platform on Sunday, Crenshaw vows to throw out all the Bud Light in his fridgeonly to find it stuffed with Karbach, Dos Equis and other cans.

"Saw Bud Light's stupid ad campaign," Crenshaw says in the video. "So guess what we're going to do? We're going to throw out every single Bud Light we've got in the fridge."

"Alright, well I guess that was easy," Crenshaw remarks at the Bud Light-less scene.

Many on the internet were quick to point out that the Karbach filling Crenshaw's fridge is owned by Bud Light parent company Anheuser-Busch Inbevthe same corporation the congressman was purportedly positioning himself against.

"You really gotta use those research skills you use when gerrymandering on bud lights beers bud," replied user kirby_carlock. "If you are going to do cancel culture make sure you do it right snowflake."

"Hey snowflake, Anheuser Busch owns Karbach brewery," noted user urbanhoustonian. "So you might want to throw all that out as well."

"You may want to do some research," remarked user janelday99.

Crenshaw is far from the first or only to respond negatively to Bud Light's recent use of a Mulvaney as a brand spokesperson. Michigan rock artist Kid Rock posted an Instagram video of himself swearing and shooting cases of Bud Light in response to the ad.

"F--k Bud Light and f--k Anheuser-Busch, too," the 52-year-old yelled in the now-deleted vide, according to NBC News' Jay Valle.

In a public statement provided to Valle, an Anheuser-Busch representative said the company is just going about its promotional strategy as usual.

"Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics," the representative tol Valle.
Houston Independent School District teacher Brandon Gracia faces human smuggling charges after being arrested with four migrants in his car who entered the country earlier this month in Eagle Pass, Texas.

According to Kinney County officials, the 26-year-old Patrick Henry Middle School teacher was initially pulled over for a traffic violation in south Texas and presented his HISD school identification.

"What we're gathering is he was contacted on social media, wanted to make some quick money, came to the border, picked up a predetermined location, and was headed back to Houston," Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe told FOX 26 News last week. "He's looking at state jail time and could get up to six to eight years on all this."

Coe also told FOX 26 that according to U.S. Border Patrol, the four people found in Gracia's car were in the U.S. illegally and tried to hide when authorities approached the vehicle.

"The individuals lying down in the back seat were trying to conceal themselves from view," Coe added.

According to Coe, Kinney County officials say 741 people in 2022 were caught smuggling migrants from the Texas-Mexico border, many of them first-time offenders with zero criminal histories like Gracia.

"Best I can tell, this is his first time," Coe said. "We are catching some that have no criminal history, that have not been in trouble before in their life and hit a point of life where they think they need money bad enough they're going to try this so we need to turn the economy around we need to educate people and we need to find the source."

Gracia is currently out on bond.
KPRC 2

After being off-air for a month, KPRC 2 Houston weekend anchor Syan Rhodes returned to work on Easter Sunday to announce this is her last week on the channel. Rhodes took to social media over the weekend to announce the news. "It has been a blessing to come back to my hometown and serve my community as an advocate for truth and a voice for the voiceless," Rhodes wrote. "I am forever grateful for how you have embraced me and supported me for nearly 9 years, welcoming me into your homes, literally and figuratively, to tell stories that matter."

In addition, Rhodes thanked viewers for checking in on her during her time away and explained that she was on leave for the last four weeks after becoming a licensed foster parent. "I took time off to get acquainted with the little one and settled as we begin a new journey together," Rhodes wrote. "It was been a whirlwind and an already life-changing experience and my family and I are so honored to be able to love and provide a safe place for this special child."
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One of the worlds leading pediatric and congenital heart surgeons and a Midland native returns home for a fundraiser Wednesday at the Racquet Club.

Dr. Charles Fraser Jr., appointed as executive director of the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease at Dell Childrens Medical Center in 2018, will appear at an event hosted by Dell Childrens Foundation, in partnership with Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin.

Through the leadership of Midland native and internationally revered surgeon, Dr. Charles D. Fraser Jr, congenital heart care for children in Texas is being transformed through the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, according to a news release about the event. The heart center at Dell Childrens has operated on well over 1,500 children since 2019 including children from the community of Midland and throughout West Texas.

The release calls the Midland High School graduate one of the worlds leading pediatric and congenital heart surgeons and states he has fostered the development of nationally and internationally recognized pediatric heart and lung transplant and is the pioneer of lifesaving first-in-human procedures and devices.

Prior to joining Dell Childrens, Fraser served at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston as senior surgeon of its congenital heart surgery program, ranked No. 1 nationally by U.S. News and World Report, according to the news release. He also served as surgeon-in-chief of the hospitals surgical enterprise, leading more than 100 surgeons.

Fraser attended Sam Houston Elementary, San Jacinto Junior High, Edison Freshman (now Midland Freshman) and graduated from Midland High in 1976, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram article.

It was at Midland High when Fraser first had thoughts of becoming a doctor. One of his mentors was his own pediatrician, the late Dr. Brent Blonkvist.

"He was an icon of pediatrics in Midland for many years," Fraser said. "Definitely a role model as a physician."

Fraser bio
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TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Chinas military declared Monday it is ready to fight after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island in response to the Taiwanese presidents trip to the U.S. last week.

The combat readiness patrols named Joint Sword were meant as a warning to self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own, China's military said earlier.

The theaters troops are ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts, it said Monday.

The exercises were similar to ones conducted by China last August, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan in retaliation for then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, but have been smaller and less disruptive.

Military experts say the exercises serve both as intimidation and as an opportunity for Chinese troops to practice sealing off Taiwan by blocking sea and air traffic, an important strategic option the Chinese military might pursue in the event it uses military force to take Taiwan.

The Chinese actions follow President Tsai Ing-wens delicate mission to shore up Taiwan's dwindling diplomatic alliances in Central America and boost its U.S. support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. A U.S. congressional delegation also met with Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated the position of President Joe Biden's administration that Tsai's transit through the U.S. and the congressional visit to Taiwan were not out of the norm. Tsai transited through the United States six times between 2016 and 2019.

There was no reason to react in any way militarily, he said. Theres no reason for tensions across the Taiwan Strait to devolve into any kind of conflict.

China responded immediately to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsais U.S. trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

China wants to use any increase of diplomatic interactions between the U.S. and Taiwan as an excuse to train its military, said Kuo Yu-jen, a defense studies expert and director of the Institute for National Policy Research in Taiwan.

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the islands democratic government encourages Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Chinas ruling Communist Party says would lead to war. The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the Communist Party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

After Pelosi visited Taiwan, China conducted missiles strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan, while also sending warships and war planes over the median line of the Taiwan Strait. It also fired missiles over the island itself which landed in Japans exclusive economic zone, in a significant escalation.

The live-fire exercises disrupted flights and shipping in one of the busiest shipping lanes for global trade. This time, shipping and maritime traffic have largely continued as normal, Kuo said.

The exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting more than 200 flights by Chinese warplanes in the past three days. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the Peoples Liberation Army, said the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan as well as waves of simulated strikes at important targets on the island.

On Monday, the PLA said its Shandong aircraft carrier was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan for the first time. It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off the deck of the ship in a post on Weibo, the social media platform.

The appearance of the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean suggests that it could be used to prevent foreign militaries from coming to help Taiwan, said Han Gan-ming, a research fellow at the government-backed Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

In the future if theres a similar military maneuver, then Taiwan will have to face it alone, Han said.

Between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwans Ministry of National Defense. Among the planes that crossed the median were eight J-16 fighter jets, four J-1 fighters, eight Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes. Taiwan also tracked J-15 fighter jets, which are paired with the Shandong aircraft carrier.

By Monday evening, Taiwan's defense ministry reported another 91 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets, early warning aircraft and military transport planes.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday in which eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the island's Defense Ministry. It said in a statement that it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as from its own navy vessels.

Chinas military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent toward the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities. The military activity has increased a notch since Pelosi's visit, with Chinese PLA fighter jets regularly flying over the middle boundary line. Experts say PLA navy vessels regularly navigate the waters off Taiwan's northeastern coast.

Meanwhile, to the south in the South China Sea, the U.S. 7th Fleet said its missile destroyer USS Milius sailed by Mischief Reef in a freedom of navigation operation. China has built an artificial island on the sea feature to stake its claim to the disputed territory.

China said the U.S. illegally trespassed" into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government, according to a statement from the Chinese military's southern command.

Outside of the military maneuvers, Kuo said he was worried about the announcements from Fujians Maritime Safety Administration from last week, when it said it would conduct on-site inspections of cargo ships and working vessels in the Taiwan Strait as part of a patrol exercise.

First theyll target ships traveling between the Strait, then they will target any international ship, he said. Gradually this will become the de facto new status quo.

One of the U.S. representatives who attended the meeting with Tsai last week said Saturday the U.S. must take seriously the threat China poses to Taiwan. Republican Mike Gallagher, chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on China, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island governments defenses, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan.
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JERUSALEM (AP)  Thousands of Israelis led by at least seven Cabinet ministers marched Monday to an evacuated West Bank settlement, in a defiant signal that Israels most right-wing government in history is determined to accelerate settlement building on occupied lands despite international opposition.

The mass rally also threatened to further raise tensions that have been heightened by days of unrest across the region over a contested Jerusalem holy site. In new violence, Israeli troops killed a 15-year-old Palestinian boy during an arrest raid in the occupied West Bank, while a 48-year-old Israeli woman died of wounds sustained in an attack last week that killed two of her daughters.

Monday's march took place in the northern West Bank  the scene of repeated violence in recent months. Thousands of Israeli police and army forces were reportedly deployed to secure the march, which added to the already combustible atmosphere that has accompanied the overlap of major Jewish and Muslim holy days. Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have reached a fever pitch in recent weeks surrounding the Jerusalem shrine.

The march to Eviatar, an unauthorized settlement outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by the previous Israeli government in 2021, was being led by hard-line ultranationalist Jewish settlers.

Daniella Weiss, another settler leader, told Kan public radio that the ministers' participation in the march could be a therapy for the government to free yourselves from the dictates of the U.S. and Europe concerning West Bank settlement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads the most religious and ultranationalist government in Israels history.

Several members of his Cabinet, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir  both West Bank settlers  and at least 20 members of the Knesset were taking part in the march.

Speaking at the march, Ben-Gvir said we are here to say that the Israeli nation is strong and that we are here and will remain here.

Mondays march appeared to be aimed in part at shoring up support for Israeli hard-liners like Ben-Gvir.

Recent polls have shown a sharp drop in support for the new hard-line government in the wake of months of violence, including growing dissatisfaction among people who voted for it.

A poll on Channel 13 TV found that 60% of respondents said they do not trust the government to deal with the current wave of violence, compared to 27% who do trust it. The poll questioned 699 people and had a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points.

Visits to Eviatar have been officially banned by the military since its evacuation, but that prohibition has been loosely enforced in recent months. Israeli army spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said the military approved Monday's march, saying it would be highly monitored and highly protected.

Scores of families, nearly all of them Orthodox Jews, many of them pushing baby strollers, took part in the march. At the outpost, inflatable slides were set up for children to jump and play on.

The march passed without major violence, though Israeli troops fired tear gas at Palestinians in the nearby village of Beita who hurled stones toward soldiers to protest the march. The Palestinian Red Crescent medical service said two people, including a journalist, were shot by Israeli rubber bullets, while 115 people suffered from tear gas inhalation. A video circulated on social media showed a tear gas canister landing next to a Palestinian journalist as he delivered a TV report.

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have soared following last week's police raid on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The hilltop compound where the mosque sits is the emotional ground zero of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For Jews, it is known as the Temple Mount, their faith's holiest site and the place where two Temples stood in antiquity. For Muslims, it is known as the Noble Sanctuary, home of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

Dozens of Jewish visitors entered the site on Monday escorted by Israeli police for a second consecutive day. These tours by religious and nationalist Jews have increased in size and frequency in recent years, raising fears by Palestinians that Israel may partition the site. Israel insists it has no intention of changing a longstanding arrangement that permits Jewish visits, but not worship, at the Muslim-administered shrine.

Last week, Palestinians barricaded themselves inside Al-Aqsa 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 Ramadan. Police removed them by force, detaining hundreds and leaving dozens injured.

The violence was followed by rocket fire by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, southern Lebanon, and Syria starting Wednesday, and Israeli airstrikes targeting those areas.

Recent days have also seen Palestinian attacks that killed two British-Israeli sisters and an Italian tourist. On Monday, Israel's Hadassah hospital announced the death of Lucy Dee, the mother of the two sisters. Lucy Dee, who was traveling with her daughters, had been hospitalized in critical condition since Friday's shooting in the West Bank.

The Israeli army said its troops were operating in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp next to Jericho in the West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 15-year-old Mohammed Balhan was killed by army fire.

The army said it entered the camp to arrest a wanted Palestinain suspect. It said residents opened fire and hurled explosives at the troops, who responded with live fire and hits were identified. It said the wanted suspect was arrested, and there were no Israeli casualties.

Palestinian attacks have killed at least 20 people, including one soldier, since the start of the year. At least 92 Palestinians 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.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war. It has built dozens of settlements that are now home to more than 700,000 Jewish settlers.

Most of the international community considers Israels West Bank settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians. The Palestinians seek the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem for a future independent state.

Netanyahu's government has made settlement expansion a top priority, and already has advanced plans to build thousands of additional homes.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Indiana schools may soon be required to notify parents if their children request a name or pronoun change at school, after the state Senate on Monday advanced a House bill that some worry could out transgender kids to their families.

The Republican-dominated state Senate's 37-12 vote came after intense committee hearings where residents derided the measure as an attack on the state's LGBTQ+ students, especially trans youth.

Like Indiana, Republican-led legislatures around the country have been seeking to curb LGBTQ+ rights, especially in targeting transgender individuals everyday life  including sports, health care, workplaces and schools.

Under the Indiana bill, which the House first sent to the Senate in February, a school would have to provide written notification to a child's parent or guardian within five business days of the child asking to be called a different pronoun, title, or word." Supporters say this approach would empower parents to choose how their children are raised.

We know parents rights are important, and they need to know whats going on in their childs life at school, Republican state Sen. Stacey Donato, one of the bills sponsors, said before Mondays vote.

Protesters against the legislation, which originally resembled Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay law enacted last year, often filled the Statehouse hallways this session with thunderous cheers of No hate in our state and Kill the bill.

Growing up in an abusive home made it impossible for me to come out earlier, though Ive known that Im nonbinary since the age of 5, Quinn Mackenzie, a 30-year-old Indiana resident, testified during a Senate education committee hearing last month. I know we all like to believe that every parent is, I believe the words were, competent and good-intentioned. But that hope does not reflect the sad reality.

The parental notification bill would also bar schools from from teaching human sexuality in pre-K through third grade. One of the bill's authors, Republican state Rep. Michelle Davis, said this would put parents in control of introducing sensitive topics to their children.

But critics say the measure would inadvertently eliminate discussions about LGBTQ+ individuals in the classroom out of fear that such topics constitute human sexuality, which is not defined in the bill.

The proposal now returns to the state House chamber for a concurrence vote. If approved, the measure would then go to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who recently signed a ban on all gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

I want you to know that this bill, in my opinion, does not protect children or parental rights, Democratic state Sen. J.D. Ford, the Legislatures only openly gay member, said Monday. Our teachers care about our children, and its insulting to the entire profession to think to think that there is a conspiracy ... of teachers trying to secretly teach our young children anything that is age inappropriate.

__

Arleigh Rodgers 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 her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arleighrodgers

___

This story corrects the spelling of Sen. Stacey Donato's first name  Stacey, not Stacy.
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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has nominated Rowan D. Wilson as chief judge of the state's highest court, her second candidate for the job. If approved, Wilson would become the first Black person to hold the position.

Wilson is a Harvard Law School graduate who currently serves as an associate judge of the Court of Appeals  a position he has held since 2017. He said in a statement Monday that serving as chief judge would be the honor of his career.

Hochul said in her announcement that Wilson's sterling record of upholding justice and fairness makes him well-suited to lead the court at this critical time."

Hochul's nomination of Wilson comes after Hector LaSalle, her initial pick for chief judge, was rejected by Democrats in her own party in favor of a judge with a more politically progressive record. LaSalles supporters said he was being unfairly targeted by the left and that his judicial opinions were being misconstrued.

Brian Ginsberg, a frequent litigator in the state's Court of Appeals who has appeared before Wilson, said the veteran judge is a probing questioner and would be a force of intellectual leadership in the role.

Hochul also nominated former state solicitor general Caitlin J. Halligan, who is currently a partner at a New York City-based law firm, to fill Wilson's spot as associate judge. Halligan was a highly recommended candidate from a list of seven reviewed by the Commission on Judicial Nomination, Hochul said.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, chair of the state's Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a statement that the importance of nominees to the state's Court of Appeals cannot be overstated" given recent decisions by federal courts on issues such as abortion and gun safety.

He said he looks forward to conducting hearings to examine the nominees' records.

State Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, a Democrat, expressed support for Wilson's nomination, saying Wilson is exactly the type of person who can restore the integrity and reputation of the Court of Appeals after the damaging tenure of the previous administration.

Hochul also announced strong support for Wilsons intention to recommend Joseph Zayas as chief administrative judge, where hed oversee a budget of more then $3 billion. ___

Maysoon Khan 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 Maysoon Khan on Twitter.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration formally determined Monday that a Wall Street Journal reporter arrested in Russia on espionage charges has been wrongfully detained.

The designation elevates the case of Evan Gershkovich in the U.S. government hierarchy and means that a dedicated State Department office will take the lead on securing his release.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the determination on Monday, saying he condemned the arrest and Russias repression of independent media.

Today, Secretary Blinken made a determination that Evan Gershkovich is wrongfully detained by Russia, the department said in a statement. Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlins continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth.

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 Federal Security Service specifically accused Gershkovich of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. The Wall Street Journal has denied the accusations.

The State Department said the U.S. government will provide all appropriate support to Gershkovich and his family and again called for Russia to release him as well as another detained American citizen, Paul Whelan.

Monday's statement from Blinken was the first public comment on the case since Russian news agencies reported on Friday that Gershkovich had been charged with espionage and had entered a formal denial.

The state news agency Tass and the Interfax news agency said a law enforcement source informed them that the 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.

The case has caused an international uproar and last 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, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

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.

Gershkovich has been ordered held behind bars for two months in Russia pending an investigation. A Moscow court said it had received a defense appeal of his arrest; the appeal is scheduled to be heard on April 18, according to Russian news agencies.
AP

PARIS (AP)  The death toll from Sunday's avalanche in the French Alps rose to six, including two mountain guides, local authorities said Monday.

The prosecutors office in Bonneville, in the Haute-Savoie region, said the body of a sixth person was found after searches resumed on Monday morning.
Its different out here in So Cal (southern California)  not wrong, necessarily, just different.

My wife and I are Connecticut Yankees going bicoastal to get to know our grandson.

For starters, the Pacific people are so mellow and friendly. Here on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, they bring their Mercedes-es and Beemers to a full stop at crosswalks and stop signs, and just wait, longing for pedestrians to parade in front of them ad infinitum. Indeed, they wave you across well before you reach the curb. No need to rush across: the indigenous motorists seem to enjoy idling. Heck, they brake for jaywalkers.

Back East such auto-reasonableness is unprecedented and would be viewed with suspicion. Kidnappers, perchance?

I can count the times on one hand that Ive heard cars honk in anger these past two weeks.

Heres another oddity: people often smile when passing you on the sidewalk for no discernible reason. They might even say, Howya doing? like you graduated high school together. The first few times this happened I was speechless. Now I say, Fantastic, how about you? Im lying, of course, but let it go.

The So Cal vibe ramped up the moment we entered our cozy island rental. Two prominent wall placards dominate the decor: one reads Relax and the other Enjoy Every Moment.

Were trying our best, we really are, but it doesnt come naturally to people from Connecticut. Enjoying every third moment is the best we can muster.

And whats not to enjoy about Balboa Island, named for the explorer who never visited it? Once a swamp, this 900-acre destination is a tourist mecca with shops offering things you never thought youd ever need but suddenly have to have. Like frozen bananas. In less than a block there are three emporiums offering this island delight with myriad toppings to die for.

And the shops, well you just have to saunter in and look around because its impossible to tell from their names what they are selling. The Snooty Peach (be careful how you spell that), for example, doesnt sell peaches  or even bananas.

The Blue Canoe doesnt sell boats.

Nearby is an establishment called Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. Honest. Your guess is as good as mine.

The store named simply $18 or less is selling unspecified items now, according to the small print, for $24 or less, and its not even high season.

I had to Google Permanent Jewelry, which unbeknownst to me is totally trending. It signifies baubles that dont come off, at least not without a hearty tug, like belly button rings. I hurried past.

One establishment sells cigars and soy candles, period, basta. I didnt go in, but I assume they'll throw in a pack of matches gratis.

After shopping we booked a whale watch and didnt spy a single cetacean. We enjoyed those expensive moments on the bounding main as best we could. But what was most surprising about our three-hour cruise was we didnt see any other boats either; OK, maybe a handful. Meanwhile, the harbors, marinas and estuaries of So Cal are chockablock full of vessels of all sizes and descriptions.

We did succeed in adding new birds to our respective life lists, like the marbled godwit and the long-billed curlew. We saw more than two dozen species at the wonderful Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, a sanctuary bounded on one side by the busy Pacific Coast Highway, just past a brigade of oil derricks and a huge refinery. A friendly local whom we struck up a conversation with gave us a tour, like hed been expecting us.

On our last day a man ahead of me in the coffee shop checkout line, turned around and said hed be paying for my java.

Were heading back to Connecticut soon, more relaxed, for sure. We enjoyed our sojourn here, almost every moment.

David Holahan is a freelance writer whose credits include The Washington Post and Connecticut Magazine.
HARTFORD  Two days before the controversial chairman of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles faces a renomination vote in the state Senate, Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday said that if reconfirmed, Charlton Giles of Milford would no longer serve in that capacity.

Instead, Jennifer Zaccagnini of Watertown, who was unanimously confirmed by the House last week to be a member of the board, will become the new chairwoman, Lamont's office announced Monday afternoon.

A couple hours earlier, Lamont said to reporters that he would a new leadership appointment, which comes after last week's two-hour debate in the state House of Representatives over two other nominees, all members of a three-member panel headed by Giles that was the focus of criticism over a sharp increase in sentence commutations for nearly 80 incarcerated felons.

While the House nominees were easily confirmed, they drew sharp opposition over what some lawmakers called a policy that is beyond the board's power and surprises prosecutors, victims and their families.

Lamont said that within the next two weeks, he will gather a group of victims' rights advocates, prosecutors, lawmakers, public defenders and other stakeholders including the pardon board "on what the policy should be" going ahead. "We'll be looking at new leadership overall," Lamont said. "There were a lot of pardons in a short period of time. Maybe it's time to take a pause and let the legislature weigh in on what they think the rules of the road should be."

Connecticut has seem a spike in pardons and particularly commutations in recent years, prompting backlash from some conservative lawmakers and victims rights advocates.

After granting only three total commutations from 2017 through 2021, the board granted 71 in 2022 and 25 more in the first two months of 2023. Incarcerated people are eligible for commutation when they have been in prison for 10 years or more and are more than two years away from a chance at parole.

Paroles, which erase convictions for people who have already left jail or prison, have also increased, although not as dramatically. According to state data, the board issued 2,122 pardons in 2022, up from 1,980 in 2021 and 1,396 in 2020.

Richard Sparaco, executive director of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, said earlier this year that the uptick in commutations emerged from the board's desire to think critically about whether long prison sentences were truly serving the state.

"Is it in the best interest of justice to continue that individual's incarceration?" Sparaco said. "Or have they done everything that correction can possibly do outside of just retribution?"

Sparaco said he believes most people with compelling cases for commutation have likely already had their cases heard and that commutations are therefore likely to slow in the coming months. Someone denied commutation must wait at least three years to reapply and even then may do so only if "new information" emerges.

Advocates for clemency argue that people who commit even serious offenses should be given an opportunity to change and to redeem themselves. Opponents say letting people out of prison before they've served their full sentences is unfair to victims and their families.

While some members of the House questioned whether the board had the power to shorten so many prison sentences, Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, co-chairman of the law-writing Judiciary Committee, said during the floor debate that the pardon board had always had the power, and that it was appropriate for the panel to shorten prison terms, especially for incarcerated people who committed crimes before the age of 25. One example cited by lawmakers who voted against the nominations of Michael Pohl or Manchester and Deborah Smith Palmieri of Guilford, was a 100-year sentence reduced to 42 years.

"I'm told the legislature did give them that prerogative to make the change in procedures," Lamont said to several reporters in the State Office Building. "There was a change that took place in the last year and the legislature has a right to weigh in on that. The legislature said that the chairperson has the right to set up what the rules of engagement are. Now they have expressed some distress, that maybe the rules were changed. Okay, come to the table, if you want to change the rules, here is your opportunity to do so."

The board consists of 10 full-time members plus part time members. Salaries range up to $178,651 for the chairman, to more than $140,000 for full-time members. Giles has served on the board since 2019. The chairperson decides who serves on the three-member subcommittee that screens incarcerated people for potential release."

"Thinking about new leadership," Lamont said of his desire to get a new board chairman. "He is free to stay on that board as long as he wants to," he said of Giles.
An internal complaint filed against state Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, alleges that he was engaging in a potentially inappropriate relationship with an intern. The complaint came after an incident in which Slaton and the staffer allegedly met up at his Austin apartment last weekend.

The complaint, obtained by The Texas Tribune, was reported to the House General Investigating Committee by a legislative staffer. The account in the complaint was also corroborated by another source who works in the Capitol who had direct knowledge of the incident.

Slaton allegedly called the intern after 10 p.m. March 31 inviting her to his Austin condo, the complaint said.

A source with direct knowledge of the incident told the Tribune that Slaton drank alcohol with the intern, who was under 21.

Slaton, who was in the Capitol on Monday, declined to answer questions and referred to a statement put out earlier in the day by a criminal defense attorney he has retained.

A representative for the intern said she has been advised by the House committee not to comment.

Patrick Short, the attorney for Slaton, issued a statement Monday morning saying his firm is representing Slaton over a complaint, but provided few details. We are aware of outrageous claims circulating online by second-tier media that make false claims against Representative Slaton, Short said. As a result, he has been advised to forward all inquiries in this matterincluding any that may relate to a possible complaintto his legal counsel.

Short did not identify the specific claims  or media  he was referring to, and he declined to comment further when reached by the Tribune.

The Rockwall-based lawyers website says he has over 30 years of legal experience representing clients in East and North Texas in personal injury, wrongful death, criminal defense, and select civil litigation cases.

House Speaker Dade Phelan said in a statement that his office would be looking into the matter.

The Texas House does not tolerate misconduct or other inappropriate behaviors and takes all allegations related to these issues seriously. I expect this matter to be addressed in a swift and thorough manner under the rules governing our chamber for the 88th Legislature and all applicable standards of conduct, he said.

The Capitol has been abuzz about Slatons whereabouts after he missed one of the most important days of the session Thursday, when the House debated the budget. It was even more eyebrow-raising because the conservative rabble-rouser had proposed 27 amendments to the budget. Slaton was the only absence when the roll call was called Thursday morning.

As speculation grew about Slaton during the budget debate Thursday, the chair of the General Investigating Committee, Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, issued a statement saying the panel does not comment on any investigations it undertakes, including statements confirming or denying the existence of any ongoing investigation.

Slaton has been married to his current wife since 2017, and filed for divorce in April 2022, according to court filings. They agreed to cease the divorce in November. He is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. According to his website, hes also worked as a youth pastor at numerous Southern Baptist churches in Texas.

He is known as one of the farthest-right members of the Texas House and a thorn in the side of his partys leadership. He was first elected in 2021, defeating a longtime Republican incumbent he criticized as too moderate.

Slaton is especially known for his stridently anti-LGBTQ views. Last year, he called for a blanket ban on minors at drag shows, saying it was necessary to protect children from perverted adults. He has also proposed giving property tax cuts to straight, married couples  but not LGBTQ couples or those who have previously been divorced  based on the number of children they have.

Earlier this year, Slaton also filed a bill that would allow for a referendum on Texas secession from the United States during the states next general election, despite most experts agreeing such a move would be illegal.

Allegations of sexual misconduct have cast a long shadow at the Capitol, with little oversight of workplace conduct and frequent attempts to downplay such behavior or sweep it under the rug.

Two years ago, the Capitol was rattled by allegations that a lobbyist had used a date rape drug on a legislative staffer. Those allegations were ultimately determined to be false by a Department of Public Safety investigation, but legislative leaders nonetheless pushed for reforms in how state lawmakers learn about and handle sexual harassment in their workplace.

Lawmakers passed a law that would require sexual harassment prevention training for legislators, statewide elected officials and registered lobbyists.

In 2017, The Daily Beast reported on accounts of sexual harassment and misconduct in and around the Texas Capitol, including allegations made against past and current state lawmakers, like state Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, who one woman accused of forcibly kissing her. A spokesperson for Miles at the time called the allegations unfounded and implausible.

In 2018, state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, was accused of sending photos of his genitals to a graduate student at the University of Texas. Schwertner  who was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of drunken driving charges  said at the time that someone else sent the messages using his LinkedIn account and another private phone messaging app that belongs to him.

Robert Downen, Renzo Downey and Joshua Fechter contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/10/bryan-slaton-texas-legislature-ethics-criminal-attorney/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
WFO BINGHAMTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 11, 2023

_____

FIRE WEATHER WATCH

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Binghamton NY

232 PM EDT Mon Apr 10 2023

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH

TUESDAY EVENING FOR LOW HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS FOR FIRE WEATHER

ZONE 210...

The National Weather Service in Binghamton has issued a Fire

Weather Watch, which is in effect from Tuesday morning through

Tuesday evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zone 210.

* WIND... Southwest at 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph

* HUMIDITY... 20 to 30 percent

* THUNDERSTORMS... None expected.

* IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.

Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions

are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible

Red Flag Warnings.

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR THE ST LAWRENCE VALLEY...

Ongoing technical issues resulted in an incorrect reissuance of

a fire weather watch outside of the area where critical fire

weather conditions are expected to occur Tuesday. While gusty

conditions are expected, relative humidity values will be more

marginal in the 30-35% range which does not meet critical

conditions. We apologize for any confusion related to this issue.

We will continue to work to correct this to minimize any future

errors.

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING

THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RH FOR THE

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY AND LOWER CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY...

* AFFECTED AREA...In New York, Champlain Valley of New York. In

Vermont, Champlain Valley of Vermont, Northern Taconics and

Lower Connecticut Valley North.

* Timing...Late Tuesday morning into Tuesday evening. Strongest

winds and lowest relative humidity values will occur between

noon and 5 PM Tuesday.

* WINDS...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...20 to 35 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...In the lower to mid 60s.

* Impacts...Dry vegetation combined with gusty winds and low RH

will promote the potential for rapid fire spread with any fires

that may start.

* Additional information...A burn ban is in effect for all of New

York through May 14th, which means no open burning is allowed.

Those in Vermont should consult with your local fire warden

regarding open burning.

may occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag

Warnings.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, April 10, 2023

_____

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX

604 PM CDT Mon Apr 10 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern

Gillespie County through 645 PM CDT...

At 604 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8

miles west of Doss, or 18 miles south of Mason, moving south at 20

mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Harper.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to

localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded

roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.

Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe

shelter inside a building or vehicle.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio

stations and available television stations for additional information

and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 3050 9914 3024 9912 3025 9930 3047 9930

3050 9931

TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 002DEG 19KT 3048 9926

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN

MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO LUBBOCK Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, April 9, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northwestern Lubbock County in northwestern Texas...

Northeastern Hockley County in northwestern Texas...

Southwestern Hale County in northwestern Texas...

Southeastern Lamb County in northwestern Texas...

* Until 630 PM CDT.

* At 550 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 4 miles east of

Anton, or 13 miles west of Abernathy, moving southeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Shallowater.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to

flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO LUBBOCK Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, April 9, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southwestern Lubbock County in northwestern Texas...

Northwestern Lynn County in northwestern Texas...

Northeastern Terry County in northwestern Texas...

Southeastern Hockley County in northwestern Texas...

* Until 815 PM CDT.

* At 728 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line

extending from 3 miles southeast of Lubbock to near Wolfforth to 6

miles southwest of Reese Center, moving southeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Trained weather spotters. At 725 PM CDT, quarter size

hail was observed at multiple locations in Lubbock.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Lubbock, Wolfforth, Slide, Lubbock South Plains Mall, Woodrow,

Reese Center, Smyer, Ropesville and Lubbock Science Spectrum.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to

flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

In addition to large hail, significant amounts of smaller hail are

likely. Accumulating hail can cause damage to crops, trees, and

vehicles.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO LUBBOCK Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, April 9, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

South central Lubbock County in northwestern Texas...

Lynn County in northwestern Texas...

Northeastern Terry County in northwestern Texas...

* Until 845 PM CDT.

* At 758 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line

extending from 3 miles southeast of Woodrow to Slide to 11 miles

south of Wolfforth, moving southeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Tahoka, Slide, Woodrow, Wilson and New Home.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to

flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

In addition to large hail, significant amounts of smaller hail are

likely. Accumulating hail can cause damage to crops, trees, and

vehicles.

...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL EARLY TUESDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast.

* WHERE...San Antonio River At Goliad.

* WHEN...Until early Tuesday morning.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 7:00 PM CDT Sunday the stage was 27.52 feet.

- Forecast...The river is near its crest and should begin to

gradually subside. It will then fall below flood stage late

tomorrow morning.

- Flood stage is 25.0 feet.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

Below are the latest river stages and stage forecasts:

Fld Observed Forecasts (7 pm)

Location Stg Stg Day/Time Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

San Antonio River

Goliad 25.0 26.8 Sun 8 am 19.2 7.8 6.2 6.0 5.3

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Yoakum

County through 815 PM CDT...

At 758 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over

Denver City, moving southeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Denver City.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to

localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded

roadways.

Light accumulations of small hail will be possible. Consider moving

to a sturdy shelter until this storm passes.

LAT...LON 3296 10299 3311 10287 3302 10260 3296 10260

TIME...MOT...LOC 0058Z 304DEG 9KT 3299 10284

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN

MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO LUBBOCK Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, April 9, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northwestern Dickens County in northwestern Texas...

Eastern Crosby County in northwestern Texas...

* Until 830 PM CDT.

* At 802 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 4 miles northeast

of Crosbyton, moving southeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...59 MPH at Ralls West Texas Mesonet.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Crosbyton, White River Lake and Mcadoo.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to

flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

In addition to large hail, significant amounts of smaller hail are

likely. Accumulating hail can cause damage to crops, trees, and

vehicles.

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN HOCKLEY COUNTY IS

CANCELLED...

The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned

area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT

FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LUBBOCK...NORTHWESTERN LYNN AND NORTHEASTERN TERRY

COUNTIES...

At 803 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line

extending from 3 miles southeast of Woodrow to near Slide, moving

southeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...

Slide and Woodrow.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to

...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL WEDNESDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast.

* WHERE...Guadalupe River At Victoria.

* WHEN...Until Wednesday morning.

* IMPACTS...At 22.5 feet, Minor lowland flooding occurs. Fox's Bend

in Riverside Park becomes inaccessible, and the Riverside Boat

Ramp parking area is affected by flood waters.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 7:00 PM CDT Sunday the stage was 21.01 feet.

- Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage

late this afternoon to a crest of 23.2 feet tomorrow

afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage early Tuesday

morning.

- Flood stage is 21.0 feet.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

Below are the latest river stages and stage forecasts:

Fld Observed Forecasts (7 pm)

Location Stg Stg Day/Time Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

Guadalupe River

Victoria 21.0 20.4 Sun 8 am 22.9 16.4 8.5 5.8 5.5

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
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What is Six Sigma?

Six Sigma is a quality management methodology used to help businesses improve current processes, products, or services by discovering and eliminating defects. The goal is to streamline quality control in manufacturing or business processes so there is little to no variance throughout.

Six Sigma was trademarked by Motorola in 1993. The name references the Greek letter sigma, which is a statistical symbol that represents a standard deviation. Motorola used the term because a Six Sigma process is expected to be defect-free 99.99966% of the time  allowing for 3.4 defective features for every million opportunities. Motorola initially set this goal for its own manufacturing operations, but it quickly became a buzzword and widely adopted standard.

Six Sigma is specifically designed to help large organizations with quality management. In 1998, Jack Welch, CEO of GE, helped thrust Six Sigma into the limelight by donating upwards of $1 million as a thank you to the company, recognizing how Six Sigma positively impacted GEs operations and promoting the process for large organizations. After that, Fortune 500 companies followed suit and Six Sigma has been popular with large organizations ever since.

Six Sigma principles

The goal in any Six Sigma project is to identify and eliminate any defects that are causing variations in quality by defining a sequence of steps around a certain target. The most common examples youll find use the targets smaller is better, larger is better, or nominal is best.

Smaller is Better creates an upper specification limit, such as having a target of zero for defects or rejected parts.

creates an upper specification limit, such as having a target of zero for defects or rejected parts. Larger is Better involves a lower specification limit, such as test scores  where the target is 100%.

involves a lower specification limit, such as test scores  where the target is 100%. Nominal is Best looks at the middle ground  a customer service rep needs to spend enough time on the phone to troubleshoot a problem, but not so long that they lose productivity.

The process aims to bring data and statistics into the mesh to help objectively identify errors and defects that will impact quality. Its designed to fit a variety of business goals, allowing organizations to define objectives around specific industry needs.

Youll also find similar principles in Lean Six Sigma, which combines the principles of Six Sigma with the Lean methodology. Incorporating Lean into Six Sigma brings a heightened focus on reducing waste, defects, and variance, while also staying ahead of schedule and under budget. This lean methodology helps organizations stay more agile and flexible while also focusing on establishing long-term processes. Lean adds a stronger focus to defects, overproduction, waiting, nonutilized talent, transportation, inventory, motion, and extra-processing. The idea is that by solving these issues, companies can solve problems faster, improve efficiency, and boost productivity.
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Feature: Chinese books draw Thai fans at Bangkok Int'l Book Fair

Xinhua) 13:15, April 10, 2023

BANGKOK, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Holding several books, including one on China's high-quality development, 51 year-old Wisan Chedi was searching for more books at a Chinese book exhibition booth at the Bangkok International Book Fair 2023.

"By reading the books, I'd like to know how China has achieved such rapid social and economic development over the past decades," Wisan said.

Fascinated by the Chinese culture and China's economic and social achievements, Wisan, a civil servant in Thailand's aviation sector, wanted to learn more about China and started to learn Chinese in 2006. He can now read Chinese books and speak basic words and phrases.

"As a major country, China pursues win-win cooperation, promoting cooperation with other countries for mutual benefits," he said, adding that China focuses on making everyone more prosperous, and Thailand can learn a lot from China, in terms of governance and economic policies.

Grabbing another book about economics of China's opening-up, Wisan said he is also interested in topics such as the Chinese modernization and the renminbi (RMB) internationalization, and is planning to visit China via the China-Laos railway.

The 11-day book fair, which ended Sunday, did not only attract Chinese book fans like Wisan, but also Thai industry players amid closer cooperation and exchanges between the two countries.

At the book fair, Thailand's publishing house Hongsamut signed a contract with China's Elephant Publishing House on introducing the latter's book series of national parks into Thailand.

The book series, written for kids, are interesting stories about China's national parks. "They are quality books for children and the stories focus on environmental protection. We believe Thai children and parents would love the books," said Ken Yu, license director with Hongsamut.

Ken, who has been working in the industry for more than 10 years, said Thai readers are interested in a wide range of China-related topics and are keen to better understand China via Chinese books.

Besides children's books, Chinese books about poverty reduction, governance as well as finance, economics and trade development are also welcomed by Thai readers as they are curious about how China was able to achieve such rapid development in such a short period of time, he said.

With cultural affinity, it's easier for Thai readers to understand Chinese novels, which are also popular in Thailand, he said.

Under a contract signed between China's Xiamen International Book Company Ltd. (XIBC) and Thailand's Mangmoom Culture Co. Ltd., one of "The Grave Robbers' Chronicles," a best-selling Chinese young-adult novel series that tells of the grave-robbing exploits of a young man from a family of tomb raiders, would be introduced into Thailand with another two novels.

Besides physical books, the XIBC is also seeking cooperation with Thai companies to promote Chinese audiobooks in the Southeast Asian country. At the book fair, the XIBC held a panel discussion about audiobooks, which attracted Thailand's publishing houses, audiobook producers, audiobook service providers and book translators.

"They are all very interested. We have reached preliminary cooperation intention with Thai partners. We hope this will help boost overseas readers' access to Chinese books, helping them read more about China and better understand China," said Wu Yunxi, XIBC's board director and vice general manager.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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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.

The overall objective of the programme is to contribute to the facilitation of the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict by supporting the increase of confidence between Chisinau and Tiraspol through joint initiatives involving local authorities, civil society organizations and other stakeholders from both sides of the river.

Specific objectives:

 To contribute to economic and social development by ensuring a more equal access to the opportunities provided by the AA and its DCFTA and integration between the two banks of the Nistru River;

 To tackle the growing disparity between the Transnistrian Region and the rest of the country by supporting local development and CSOs;

 To continue supporting the sectoral rapprochement in pilot sectors (i.e. Culture and others) and to progressively include Transnistria in Moldovan-wide development initiatives in order to facilitate the future reintegration while limiting the development gap between both banks;

 To support the activities of media on both banks of Nistru river through common media production.

The programme will represent a framework for engaging in development interventions across the security zone on both sides of the Nistru/Dniestr River, comprising a series of activities that will strengthen, regularize and intensify interaction between otherwise divided societies, aiming to establish this interaction as a norm.

The programme will represent a framework for engaging in development interventions across the security zone on both sides of the Nistru/Dniestr River, in line with agreements reached in the 5+2 negotiation process. As such, it is comprised of a series of activities that will strengthen, regularize and intensify interaction between otherwise divided societies, aiming to establish this interaction as a norm. It looks to deal strategically with barriers to cooperation experienced by all development cooperation actors working in Transnistria by building the trust towards such actions and broadening opportunities for engagement for a wide range of actors. Special focus will be given to balancing the actual support of the programme to communities on both banks of the Nistru/Dniestr River.

Scope of Work

The Project Associate in close cooperation with the project team, under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager, will ensure the provision of administrative and financial services of the highest quality and standards to the project team, UNDP Country office, as well as national counterparts and clients. More specifically:

Administrative management:

 Pro-actively contribute to day-to-day project implementation and ensure conformity to expected results and project work-plans;

 Provide support to national and international consultants in the implementation of their tasks for the achievement of project results (communication, contracts, agenda, visas, hotel reservations, etc) and coordinate short-term consultants;

 Maintain records on all project personnel/national consultants and their respective status (contracts, ToRs, time and attendance  if appropriate, etc.) in accordance with accepted policies and procedures;

 Prepare and issue contracts;

 Make pertinent logistical arrangements for the prompt and effective implementation of the programme activities;

 Draft minutes of Project Board and other project related meetings;

 Assume responsibility for administrative matters of a more general nature, such as registry and maintenance of project files and records;

 Prepare Travel Authorizations and F10 claims for project staff and consultants;

 Arrange and coordinate translation services/projects;

 Arrange external and internal meetings (including the meetings of the Project Board, pre-bidding conferences, launching events, workshops, interviews, as well as other relevant meetings etc.).

Financial management:

 Prepare requests for advance of funds and/or direct payments;

 Contribute to preparation of recurring reports as scheduled and special reports as required for budget preparations and audit;

 Verify vendors information in Atlas and submit requests for vendor updates;

 Advise and assist international advisors and national consultants on all aspects of allowances, travel claims and other financial matters and calculate payments due for claims and services;

 Undertake other financial and administrative tasks on an ad hoc basis.

Procurement:

 In accordance with the project Work Plan support the procurement of equipment, supplies and services;

 Create and manage e-requisitions in ATLAS;

 Arrange for equipment maintenance and insurance as required;

 Ensure that contractual processes follow the stipulated UNDP procedures;

 Physically clear and ensure delivery of equipment and supplies procured for the various programme sites;

 Maintain an equipment and spare inventory including verification and transfer when required.

 Other duties as assigned.

Key Results:

The key results have a direct impact on the overall successful achievement of the Support to Confidence Building Measures project. Accurate analysis and presentation of information enhances UNDPs position as a strong development partner. The information provided facilitates decision-making of the Project Board, the Beneficiary and UNDP management.

Institutional Arrangement

Direct supervisor: Programme Manager

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Manager the incumbent contributes to an effective and efficient implementation of confidence building projects through a range of actions contributing to the design, planning, management and monitoring of project activities. The Project Associate applies and promotes the principles of results-based management (RBM), as well as a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.



The Project Associate works in close collaboration with the Project team as well as the team in the Country Office (CO) for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resolving complex programme/project-related issues and information delivery. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies, as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems.

Core Competencies:



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 discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management/Digital Awareness and Literacy

Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skilfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed

Business Management/Operations Management

Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organizations business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.

Business Management/Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solution, and deliver timely and quality results ans/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 beyond clients immediate requests. Ability to anticipate clients upcoming needs and concerns.

External Relations and Advocacy/Event planning and execution

Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate

Administration and Operations/Entitlement travel

Knowledge of policy and procedures related to entitlement travel, including the identification of entitlement for lump sum for UNDP as well as other UN agencies

Administration and Operations/Documents and records management

Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving

Administration and Operations/Events management (including retreats, trainings and meetings)

Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.



Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary Education.

University Degree in economics, finance, accounting, law, public administration or other related field would be desired.

Experience:

At least 6 years (with Secondary Education) or 3 years (with University Degree) of experience in administrative work, accounting/finance, economics, in development assistance or related work for a donor organization, consulting company, or NGO experience is required.

Previous experience with EC/UNDP is a strong advantage.

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Required skills:

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Ability to work in a team.

Excellent interpersonal skills are an essential part of the job.

Ability to prepare accurate reports and other related documents.

Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and ability to prioritize.

Desired additional skills

Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure

Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Languages:

Fluency in both oral and written English, Romanian and Russian.

Knowledge of one or more minority languages relevant for Moldova, including Romani, Gagauzian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian and sign language is an asset.

Required Documents

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.

, 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. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

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
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.

Project Description

Starting with October 2021, Moldova is facing a significant increase of gas prices as a consequence both of very tight global energy markets and a recently amended contract with Gazprom Moldova gas supplier. During the winter season 2021-2022, Moldova purchased its gas at prices about three or four times higher than in previous years which represented about $770/1000 cubic meters in October, $450/1000 cubic meters in November and December and $650/1000 cubic meters in January 2022. The prices are highly dependent of international gas market fluctuations which puts Moldovan Government in the situation to quickly react in case of unforeseen excessive price increases. This has put significant pressures on Moldovas public finances and on the ability of the most vulnerable citizens to afford gas throughout the winter. The situation is becoming more complex as the Gazprom applies a rigid approach in terms of contractual deadlines for payments of advances, which has not been the case ever before.

In response to this energy crisis, the Government of Moldova introduced a State of Emergency on October 22, 2021 and January 20, 2022 and has prepared an urgent response to strengthen the social protection systems ability to respond to increased energy tariffs. The Moldovan Government response is to ensure compensations measures for heating of all population in the proportion of 67% (from tariff increase) in December 2021 to 80% in January 2022.

Given the increase of gas tariffs will lead to subsequent increases of the electricity prices, the entire national economy and population will be affected. In this circumstances, Moldovan Government is looking to diversifying gas and electricity supply, to strengthen its energy security and enabling a transparent, fully open and well-functioning energy market.

For a country in which nearly two thirds of the population lived on less than $10/day before the pandemic began, where the expenditure on food and energy absorbs the vast majority of vulnerable household incomes, and where the vulnerable households generate the lions share of its electricity from gas, the current energy price increase has already shown significant implications. Energy poverty is to deepen, particularly for the poor households that are having to face a three to four- fold increase in energy prices (for gas and electricity) during the 2021-2022 heating season and beyond.

Combined with the countrys aggravated context by the COVID-19 pandemic (5th COVID19 wave as the Omicron variant outbreaks) and on-going macroeconomic social distress, the energy shocks also pose major risks to the Governments reform program, which seeks to strengthen Moldovas alignment with European and global good governance practices and is central to Moldovas hopes for achieving the SDGs. The current geopolitical situation brings additional urgency to pursue these actions.

The acute gas supply crisis in Moldova has also been subject of discussions within the Moldova-EU Association Council meeting on October 28, 2021. The EU and Moldova stressed the importance of resilience against any potential efforts by third parties to use energy as a geopolitical lever. The Association Council recalled the importance of continued energy market reform to strengthen competition and transparency in this sector. The EU has urged Moldova to ensure that the energy sector reform demonstrates full respect of the Energy Community acquis and is in line with the EU Third Energy Package. The EU side confirmed its support to the objective of Moldova to synchronize its electricity network with the Continental European Network (CEN), an important step towards the integration into the EU energy system and market.

Under these circumstances the Government of Moldova will be assisted to tackle the current energy crisis and energy poverty, and addressing prioritized systemic elements in the energy sector to cope with potential future energy crisis. In partnership with EU, UNDP Moldova will therefore, support the Government of Moldova:

To tackle the current energy crisis and energy poverty, and addressing prioritized systemic elements in the energy sector to cope with potential future energy crisis

To support the Government of Moldova in building its capacities towards strengthening the national energy security, as well as in improving the legal and regulatory framework and operationalizing specific rapid large-scale interventions to tackle energy poverty and support most vulnerable and affected groups of population and businesses.

The Project duration is envisaged between 2022- 2023 with support from Foreign Policy Instrument (herewith FPI) of EU.

Scope of Work

The Procurement Assistant in close cooperation with the project team, under the direct guidance and supervision of the Procurement Coordinator and Programme Manager, will ensure the provision of financial and administrative services of the highest quality and standards to the project team, UNDP Country office, as well as national counterparts and clients. More specifically:

Procurement:

Pro-actively contribute to day-to-day project implementation and ensure conformity to expected results and Programme work-plans;

In accordance with the Programme Work Plan support the Procurement Coordinator in procurement of equipment, supplies and services ensuring full compliance with UNDP rules and procedures;

Draft annual Programme procurement plan and keep it up to date, as well as draft periodical procurement reports based on inputs from Programme team;

Organize procurement processes, including preparation and conduct of micro-purchases, RFQs, ITBs or RFPs, by drafting bidding/selection documents (or address direct invitations to submit offer), receipt of quotations, bids or proposals, their preliminary screening, participate at the negotiation of conditions of contracts, in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations;

Support the Procurement Coordinator in organizing procurement processes with respect to individual consultancy services (ICs, RLAs, Rosters), coordinate receipt of applications and financial proposals, their preliminary screening, participate at the negotiation of financial proposals or contract conditions in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations;

Prepare the submission packages to the Contract, Asset and Procurement Committee (CAP);

Draft contracts packages for goods and services for management approval;

Draw up and maintain evidence and monitoring of awards and contracts with project implementing partners, consulting organizations, contractors, etc.;

Maintain records on national/international consultants and their respective status (contracts, ToRs, and attendance  if appropriate, etc.) in accordance with corporate policies and procedures;

Monitor and draft in Quantum system suppliers performance with respect to the quality and timely delivery of goods/services;

Create and manage e-requisitions in Quantum;

Arrange for equipment maintenance and insurance as required, manage office stationary supplies;

Maintain an assets and spare inventory including verification and transfer when required and provide inputs for corporate reporting on assets and inventory.

Verify suppliers information in Quantum and collect Supplier data forms for updating information to further submit for update in Quantumto the Procurement Coordinator.

Administrative management:

Assume responsibility for archiving Programme documents in accordance with UNDP SOP on archiving, transfer the packages to relevant UNDP CO focal person, as well as keep evidence of archived packages;

Prepare timely inputs to project reports in the area of responsibility as necessary;

Provide other administrative support when required by the Programme management.

Other duties:

Pass the Mandatory Learning Courses and submit certificates to Human Resources for records;

Keep abreast of UNDP rules and regulations in the area of responsibility and maintain an optimum level of knowledge by continuous learning;

Provide inputs for elaboration of proposals and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies in consultation with Project management.

Key Results:

The key results have a direct impact on the overall successful achievement of the Programme objectives. Accurate analysis and presentation of information enhances UNDPs position as a strong development partner. The information provided facilitates decision-making of the Programme Board, the Beneficiary and UNDP management.



Institutional Arrangement

Direct supervisor: Procurement Coordinator.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Procurement Coordinator and Programme Manager, the incumbent contributes to an effective and efficient implementation of programme objectives through a range of actions contributing to the design, planning, management and monitoring of activities. The Procurement Assistant applies and promotes the principles of results-based management (RBM), as well as a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.



The Procurement Assistant works in close collaboration with the Project team as well as the team in the Country Office (CO) for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resolving complex programme/project-related issues and information delivery. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies, as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems.

Core Competencies:

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 discrimination



Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management/Results-based Management:

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management/Project Management:

Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Procurement/Contract management:

Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations

Procurement/Data analysis:

Ability to extract, analyze and visualize procurement data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making

Procurement/Data management:

Knowledge of processing, storing, and validating procurement data

Procurement/Sourcing:

Ability to find, evaluate and engage suppliers of goods and services

Administration & Operations:

Documents and records management Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving



Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary Education with training in procurement.

University Degree (Bachelors Degree) in economics, law, public administration, business administration or another related field would be desired.

Experience:

A minimum of five (5) years (with Secondary Education) or two(2) years of experience (with Bachelors Degree) in administrative work, procurement, economics, experience in development assistance or related work for a donor organization, consulting company, or NGO is required.

Previous experience with EC/UNDP is a strong advantage.

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling web-based management systems.

Required skills:

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, age sensitivity and adaptability;

Treats peers fairly by maintaining consistent values, inspiring trust and confidence through personal credibility;

Accepts responsibility and accountability for the quality of the outcome of his/her decisions.

Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and ability to prioritize.

Desired additional skills:

Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, is required to obtain, evaluate and interpret factual data and to prepare accurate and complete reports and other documents.

Adapts flexibly to changing situations, overcomes obstacles and recovers quickly from set-backs

Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback

Ability to achieve results and meet strict deadlines in an effective manner

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Languages:

Fluency in oral and written English, Romanian and Russian.

Knowledge of one or more minority languages relevant for Moldova, including Romani, Gagauzian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian and sign language, is an asset.

Professional Certificates:

Certification in procurement is an asset.

Required Documents:

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.

, 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. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

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
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.

In August 2022 the United Nations in Moldova launches a new project  Building sustainable and inclusive peace, strengthening trust and social cohesion in Moldova.

This project, led by OHCHR, will be implemented primarily by OHCHR, UNDP and UN Women in partnership with civil society organizations, decision-makers and professionals from both banks of the Nistru-river.

Under this project OHCHR will work on strengthening the cross-river engagement and productive interaction at the level of government and de-facto structures, civil society organizations, National Human Rights Institution and the human rights focal point on the left bank, community level, and also on strengthening responses to divisive narratives and misinformation to reduce social tensions.

The work of OHCHR under the project will be funded by the United Nations Peace Building Funds. The implementation duration of the OHCHR component will be 24 months, starting in September 2022.

The major interventions under the OHCHR-led component of the project will be:

 Empowerment of rights-holders  communities, CSOs, the Peoples Advocate (Ombudsman) and the Human Rights focal point on the left bank, to strengthen their engagement and contributions to the cross-river dialogue and ultimately to the settlement talks on human rights issues.

 Increased capacity of duty-bearers  settlement process actors will have their knowledge and skills increased from a human rights and gender equality perspective, so that these are better integrated into the negotiation agenda.

 Awareness raising among society about the misinformation, divisive narratives and hate speech.

 Support implementation capacity of authorities in regard to the new legal framework tackling hate speech.

 Support initiative on monitoring, reporting and combating misinformation and divisive narratives.

The two main outcomes the project aims to achieve are as follows:

Outcome 1  Strengthened cross-river engagement and productive interaction through the advancement of human rights, the Women, Peace and Security agenda and improved access to social services

Outcome 2  Strengthened responses to divisive narratives and misinformation thereby reducing inter-community tensions.

The Project Associate will report to the Finance and Administrative Associate heading the project management support team. The Project Associate will support OHCHR in ensuring the smooth running and implementation of the OHCHR component of the Building sustainable and inclusive peace, strengthening trust and social cohesion in Moldova project (pending approval). The Project Associate will assist in the implementation of day-to-day activities, in the framework of the OHCHR Annual Work and Cost Plans. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with all relevant programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies applying.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative management

Assist in the smooth and efficient implementation of project activities, as requested;

 Provides logistical support to the organization of meetings, events, external translation and other related activities;

 Assist the OHCHR Finance and Administrative Associate and other key OHCHR staff in all administrative-related matters, such as logistics support to different events organized by the project, drafting of the minutes for these events and, coordination of field visits and international missions to the project;

 Maintain records on all project personnel/national consultants and their respective status (contracts, ToRs, time and attendance, if appropriate, etc.) in accordance with policies and procedures in force;

 Prepare and issue contracts related to the project;

 Make pertinent logistical arrangements for the prompt and effective implementation of project activities;

 Handle the preparation of all project-related documents;

 Maintain the projects database, including registry and maintenance of project files and records;

 Maintain office equipment and manage office stationery supplies;

 Provide general efficient receptionist and information services;

 Draft and translate correspondence, when needed;

 Compile, copy and distribute all project reports;

 Conduct other related tasks as requested.

Financial Management

Prepare requests in advance of funds and/or direct payments;

 Monitor budget expenditures and maintain a proper record of budget and spending;

 Prepare proposals for budget revisions;

 Prepare and submit expenditure and budget status reports;

 Undertake other financial and administrative tasks on ad hoc basis;

 Arrange for procurement of equipment, supplies and services.

The achievement of the above key results will have an impact on the overall successful implementation and achievement of the objectives of the Project.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to OHCHR, wider United Nations.

Understands and adheres to all relevant rules, regulations and procedures and guidelines, including OHCHR rules and procedures, as well as, where relevant and applicable, UNDP and UNOG rules, regulations and procedures and guidelines.

Adheres to the highest standards of professional ethics in a human rights context.

Exhibits the highest levels of respect for cultural, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, age, sexual orientation and gender identity differences, and endeavors on a permanent basis to advance self-awareness of respect among the diversity of peoples as a core UN value.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

Shares knowledge and experience

Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Proven ability to problem-solve, and think creatively to develop and implement smart business solutions in a challenging socio-economic environment

Excellent interpersonal skills

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

Leadership and Self-Management

Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure or in situations of multiple demands

Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University Degree in economics, finance, accounting, law, human rights, public administration or other related field.

Experience:

At least four years of experience in administrative work, accounting/finance, economics, or other relevant substantive area is required.

Previous experience in an international organisation, consulting company, or NGO is a very strong advantage.

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in oral and written English, Russian and Romanian is a must.

Knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language is an asset.

Required Documents

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.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

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
The charges of espionage against Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich are false and fabricated. But there is evidence of a crime in his case. In fact, according to several experts, theres an argument for the Justice Department to open an investigation to determine if those involved in Gershkovichs arrest violated US law against hostage taking.

A 1984 statute defines hostage taking as the seizing or detention of an individual coupled with a threat to kill, injure or continue to detain such an individual in order to compel a third person or governmental organization to take some action. The US has jurisdiction outside the United States when a hostage is a US national or if there is an effort to coerce the United States government.

While Russia has not yet made explicit demands for Gershkovichs release, recent hostage taking incidents in Russia have been resolved via trades or prisoner swaps. The unusual speed and severity of the Russian governments reaction to Gershkovichs arrests on charges of espionage  Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov quickly claimed he was caught red-handed  suggests that it may have been a pre-planned operation. The fact that it occurred soon after the US Justice Department lodged charges against Sergey Cherksaov, an alleged Russian intelligence agent, raises further suspicions. Cherkasov posed as a Brazilian student in the United States, and later got a job with the International Criminal Court in the Hague. He was deported to Brazil, where he is serving a fifteen year prison sentence.

Rob Saale, who served as an FBI Special Agent and later the director of the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell (and now does private security consulting), says a potential prosecution of Russian state actors for taking an American hostage could be another tool in the toolbox of hostage recovery and deterrence. But Saale notes that there could be significant challenges to a successful prosecution including the fact that evidence of a conspiracy, should it exist, is likely to have been gathered by US intelligence and would thus be classified. This could be overcome via declassification, but a potential prosecution of Russian officials would raise a host of difficult policy questions. Would it open the door for reciprocal efforts by Russian prosecutors to go after US officials? Would it create a credible threat that might deter future kidnappings?

Saale told me prosecuting state actors is a strategy I dont believe has been tried before. But a former federal prosecutor I spoke with put it a different way. We already do these types of cases, he noted. We just dont prosecute powerful and wealthy state actors. The US government increasingly prosecutes state actors who engage in other crimes such as drug trafficking, sanctions violations, and money laundering. A case pending currently before the Supreme Court involving a Turkish state-owned bank accused of money laundering and evading sanctions involves the limits of sovereign immunity, which the Turkish bank argues protects it from criminal liability.

Dani Gilbert, a leading expert on hostage policy and a national security fellow at Dartmouth, told me that diplomatic hostage taking is generally resolved through trades, which are effectively a concession to the hostage takers. While the US has successfully negotiated for the release of two Americans jailed on criminal charges, Trevor Reed and Brittney Griner, another American, Paul Whelan, remains in jail in Russia, serving a sixteen-year sentence for espionage.

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When it comes to state hostage-taking, providing effective deterrence is the million dollar question, Gilbert said. A 2020 law called the Levinson Act allows the Secretary of State to designate Americans as unlawfully detained and fast track their recovery. The State Department made an official designation on Monday for Gerhskovich. The Levinson Act also allows the US government to impose visa restrictions or block property of those deemed to be involved in hostage taking. Last year, President Biden issued an executive order affirming these new authorities.

The US response to hostage taking and kidnapping around the world is guided by a hodgepodge of different policies and approaches. Under US law, families are permitted to pay ransom to secure the release of Americans kidnapped by criminal organizations, such as Mexican drug cartels. But they are not allowed to do so in the case of terrorist organizations, such as Al Qaeda, because of the US no concessions policy. However as Gilbert notes, the US routinely makes concessions to free hostages held by states.

The inconsistency of approaches has generated fierce debate. But Brian Jenkins, a Senior Adviser at the Rand Corporation and one of the countrys leading experts on counterterrorism, says that the argument over the no-concessions policy misses the point.

The most powerful determinant of whether or not there would be further kidnappings is not the policy of the government, but the fate of the kidnappers or their organization,Jenkins told me when I was researching my 2019 book on hostage policy, We Want to Negotiate. If kidnappers are apprehended and appropriately punished .. then kidnappings will decline. If this is not done, it doesnt make any difference what the policy is.

This is why in the Gershkovich cases, as in all cases of American hostages, the US should focus first on bringing the hostage home. But it should also focus on creating effective deterrence. While there are many obstacles to a successful prosecution of a state actor for hostage taking  and many complex considerations  criminal prosecution is an option that the US should keep on the table.

In fact, merely reframing Gershkovichs detention as a possible crime is an effective way to communicate just how outrageous Russias actions are. Doing so can help make the case to the global public that his arrest is not merely the result of some sort of diplomatic dispute.

Washington Post opinion writer Jason Rezaian, who knows a thing or two about diplomatic hostage taking, wrote in a recent column that journalists covering the Gershkovich case should not refer to him as an alleged spy, noting that he is a hostage until proven otherwise.

I agree, but would go further.

If Gershkovich is a hostage, then someone committed a crime under US law. Any Russian officials involved in that act should face consequences for their actions.

Joel Simon is the founding director of the Journalism Protection Initiative at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.
In March 2021, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in Tennessee passed a resolution welcoming the Daily Wire, a right-wing news site founded by Ben Shapiro, to the state following its relocation from Los Angeles. Tennessee welcomes all truth seekers and puts a premium on the truth and facts, the resolution read, before approvingly quoting Shapiros contentions that facts dont care about your feelings and that the moment the majority decides to destroy people for engaging in thought it dislikes, thought crime becomes a reality. Two months later, the House passed a resolution welcoming Tomi Lahren, a right-wing commentator on Fox and elsewhere, to the state. In between times, it did likewise for Candace Owens, also a right-wing commentator, after inviting her onto the House floor. Both resolutions hailed Tennessee as a destination for intelligent conservatives. The governor signed off on both.

Almost exactly two years later, Natalie Allison, a former reporter for The Tennesseean who now works for Politico, mentioned the Owens resolution in an article detailing the recent rightward drift of Tennessees Republican Party, and thus the state House. Allison was writing because Republican lawmakers had just voted to expel Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson, two Democratic representatives, from the House after they briefly interrupted a legislative session to protest political inaction on gun laws following a recent mass shooting at a Christian school that killed six people, three of them young children. The Republican majority accused Jones and Pearson of threatening behavior and breaching decorum. A vote to expel a third lawmaker, Gloria Johnson, narrowly failed; asked by reporters why she had been spared, Johnson replied, I think its pretty clear: Im a sixty-year-old white woman and they are two young Black men. The expulsions shocked the political world, Allison wrote, but for those who have closely watched the chamber in recent years, the events were of little surprise.

The shocked political world included many members of the national political media, which (eventually) afforded prominent coverage to the story. A media scrum formed at the Tennessee Capitol; Jones and Pearson toured national TV programs, including yesterdays edition of Meet the Press, while cable news shows chewed over the news. (On the right, talking heads likened Jones, Pearson, and Johnsons conduct to the January 6 insurrection.) The level of coverage, Lorraine Ali, the TV critic at the LA Times, wrote, was rare for a state-level political story, and Jones and Pearson, in particular, made the most of the spotlight. 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, Ali wrote. 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.

The expulsions were not the first national news story to emerge from Tennessee this year; indeed, the state is in the midst of a particularly brutal news cycle. In January, police in Memphis killed Tyre Nichols, a Black man, during a traffic stop (five officers were later charged with his murder); late last month, tornadoes and severe storms hit the state, nine soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash just over the border in Kentucky, and there was the school shooting. All this, of course, has been exhausting for a state press corpson Friday, Melissa Brown, a reporter at The Tennesseean, noted the feeling that the state had lived through a century in the last ten days alonethat has also been on the frontlines of important recent stories that have made fewer national headlines. Last week, the state lost its Title X certification, and with it millions of dollars in family-planning funds for low-income residents, while the state Senate passed a bill protecting teachers who refuse to use their students preferred pronouns. Earlier this year, a Republican lawmaker proposed that the state allow hanging by a tree as a method of execution. (The lawmaker apologized to anyone who may have been hurt or offended.)

Nor were the expulsions the only story from a state to drive the national news cycle last week. At least three others also did so, as a national-media spotlight that had been trainedwith unbearable, narrow intensityon Donald Trumps arraignment in the early part of the week started to split and pool across other parts of the country. Tuesday, the day of the arraignment, also brought a mayoral election in Chicago and a crucial vote in Wisconsin that tipped the balance of the states Supreme Court in a liberal direction. The latter was, in no small part, covered as a story about abortion rights, a subject that took center stage again late Friday after a Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas suspended the Food and Drug Administrations decades-old authorization of mifepristone, an abortion pill. The judge delayed his ruling for a week to allow the Biden administration to appeal; less than an hour later, a judge in Washington State ordered the FDA to keep mifepristone available in eighteen states that brought a lawsuit before him. Youd be hard-pressed to think up a more consequential Friday-night news dump.

After weeks of shallow, Trump-saturated national political coverage, it was refreshing to see significant media attention devoted to stories of immediate, real-world policy significance. Not that all of the national-level coverage got to the heart of this significance: the elections inspired no little horserace analysis, while the Tennessee and abortion stories were sometimes bothsidesed; taken together, they inspired cliched analysis that made liberal use of words Id love to ban (unprecedented, dueling decisions), as well as rote, uninsightful handwringing about division and polarization. These stories have not always been easy for the national press to cover. They have, sometimes, rested on complicated local dynamics not always understood by journalists and pundits in New York and DC. And there have sometimes been access restrictions, or attempted ones: the Texas judge in the mifepristone case, for example, tried not to publicize a scheduled hearing until the last minute, relenting only after the Post rumbled him. He cited unspecified threats, but delayed notification would also have made it hard for reporters to get to the hearing, given the relatively remote location of the courthouse.

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All of this, of course, serves as a reminderas if we needed oneof the importance of well-funded, hard-hitting local news in every part of the country, and what we lose in its absence. Reporters in Tennessee have contributed some excellent coverage and commentary, not only of the expulsions last week but of the broader context of a state legislature that has lurched to the right while wielding power in increasingly opaque and arbitrary ways, as a monthslong investigation by Phil Williams, a high-profile local TV reporter, found last year. Last weekend, journalists from Gannett-owned papers in Tennessee, including The Tennesseean, fanned out to forty faith communities in the state, to chart their reactions in the wake of the school shooting. The resulting story dropped yesterday, focusing the broader expulsions fallout.

Still, in recent years, newsrooms in Tennesseeincluding those owned by Gannetthave faced cuts. Some local outlets have used national wire copy to cover the expulsions; Allison, in her article for Politico, noted that the press corps covering the states Capitol is now a fraction of the size it was decades earlier, even as it has increasingly been tasked with covering a non-stop stream of befuddling scandals and unforced errors. Recently, the state legislature considered a bill that would end the legal requirement for foreclosure notices to be placed in local newspapersa significant potential blow to the revenue of smaller outlets in the state. (Other states have pushed through similar bills.) And journalists in Tennessee would seem to have faced threats beyond the financial. Last weekend, hours after he covered a gun-reform protest that followed the school shooting, the family home of Justin Kanew, the founder of the progressive site the Tennessee Holler, was shot at. No one was hurt and the culprit, and their motive, remain unknown. Yesterday, Tennessees attorney general condemned the shooting. According to one local journalist, he was the first Republican in the state to do so.

State Republican lawmakers have had more to say about the influx of right-wing media celebrities into their stateand, of course, about the conduct of Jones and Pearson. Ali, of the LA Times, is perhaps correct that in expelling their Democratic colleagues, Republican lawmakers only unwittingly started a national debate. The alternative, of course, is that they knew exactly what they were doing. The right-wing media ecosphere, these days, feasts on outrage.



Other notable stories:

Late last week, a tranche of what appeared to be classified US national-security documents were posted on social media. The documents contain sensitive information not only about the war in Ukraine, but also US interests in the Middle East and China; according to the Times, US officials have acknowledged that the documents are real, though they appear to have been doctored in various ways, and the identity of the potential leaker remains unclear. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials and pro-war Russian bloggers have accused each other of using the documents to spread disinformation.

On Friday, Russia formally charged Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was recently arrested in the country, with espionage; Gershkovich denied the charges. As Michael M. Grynbaum reports, for the Times, Gershkovichs arrest sent an indisputable signal that foreign reporters were newly vulnerable in Russiascrambling an assumption, among some newsrooms, that official accreditation granted a degree of safety to their staff, and forcing editors to reevaluate how to cover the country.

Amid broader diplomatic tensions between the two countries, China last week froze the visas of two Indian journalists, blocking them from returning to Beijing. China characterized the visa freezes as corresponding counter measures to what it described as the unfair treatment of Chinese journalists by India, including the apparent recent expulsion of a staffer for the state news agency Xinhua. Reuters has more.

Voice of Americas Kate Bartlett reports on the press-freedom situation in Africas Sahel region, which, despite the recent release of the kidnapped French journalist Olivier Dubois, has deteriorated of late. Home to numerous violent Islamist extremists, the region suffers from political instability and sometimes regular coups, Bartlett writes. Journalists are persecuted by armed Islamist factions and ruling military juntas alike.

And Politicos Michael Schaffer argues that the US media landscape needs a reboot of Crossfirethe CNN debate show that was hosted by Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala, and famously killed by Jon Stewartor something like it. Stewart was right that Crossfire had become unedifying, Schaffer writes, but what has replaced itprogramming featuring like-minded people ginning one another up to even more rageis worse.

ICYMI: The tabloid coverage of a case about a tabloid

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
CARNEY, Okla. (AP)  A magnitude 4.0 earthquake was among a series of six tremors that struck central Oklahoma on Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

No injuries or serious damage were reported following the quakes that also included a magnitude 3.3 temblor and began early Thursday near the town of Carney, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City.

The other quakes ranged from 1.6 to 2.3 in magnitude, according to the U.S.G.S.

I know the earthquake was definitely felt here because I received a lot of phone calls early this morning, said spokesperson Dawn Jones with the city of Stillwater, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northeast of quakes epicenter.

No damage or injuries were reported in the city, Jones said, or on the campus of Oklahoma State University, according to OSU spokesperson Shannon Rigsby.

Thousands of earthquakes of varying magnitudes have been recorded in Oklahoma during the past decade and have been linked to oil and gas production, particularly the underground injection of wastewater, which is a byproduct of oil and gas production.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which regulates the oil and gas industry in the state, is sending inspectors to investigate 15 injection wells, according to spokesperson Matt Skinner.

Weve identified the wells that might be suspect and will audit them for both the volume of wastewater they inject and the pressure used to inject the liquid, Skinner said.

The commission has previously directed oil and gas producers to close some injection wells and reduce volumes in others to lessen the chance of earthquakes.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
AVON LAKE, Ohio -- On April 6, a special meet-and-greet at the Avon Lake Public Library brought together a large group of artists and art lovers.

All of the pieces in the librarys new show are a combination of black, white and gray, created by artists from Creative Space Avon.

Amidst refreshments, Judy Snook-Kean, owner of Creative Space Avon, spoke to the crowd then announced the award winners.

This is the third black-and-white theme show that I have hosted, she said. July 2015 was my very first gallery show, called Shades of Gray. 2020 brought back the opportunity for another show, and it was called Shades of Gray + Red. And this show is called Black, White and Gray.

Thirty-three artists are showcasing 70 works of art.

Art mediums covered pottery, jewelry, photography, fused glass, drawings, paintings, mixed media and prints, Snook-Kean said. Ten artists are new to Creative Space gallery. Twenty-three are returning artisans.

A local potter, Darcy Peacock from Quill Pottery, is featured in the show.

Teresa DeChant, of DeChant Art Consulting LLC, is the judge for this juried show. She has been an art consultant to the Cleveland Clinic for 20 years, having initiated and built the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Art Collection.

All the art from Black, White and Gray is for sale and can be picked up after the show ends April 27. The show is free, but call the library before arriving to be sure a meeting is not being held in the gallery area.

The awards were as follows:

 Best of Show, abstract painting Modern Gravity by Miles Schneider

 Directors Choice, drawing Amy Winehouse by Michael Kato

 Second place, photo Atchafalaya by Marina Neyman

 Third place, infrared photo Long Live Rock by Bill Naiman

 Honorable mention, mixed media Hanging Around by Greg Leininger

 Honorable mention, acrylic pour mixed media River Runs Through It by Angel Novak

The phone number at the Avon Lake Library is 440-933-8128.

Read more from the Sun Sentinel.
PARMA, Ohio -- Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills residents will decide Issue 4 on May 2.

Parma City Schools Superintendent Charles Smialek said the 4-mill bond issue involves the district receiving $79.1 million in matching funds from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC).

The passage of Issue 4 covers the construction cost of a $250 million high school building serving the entire district on the site of the current Parma Senior High School, which is set for demolition this summer.

Weve tried to stress the $79.1 million in OFCC matching funds hard, especially in the town hall meetings, Smialek said.

This is your money that sits in a pot in Columbus. Public dollars are taxpayer dollars. That traces back to every individual that buys anything, earns anything, owns anything.

You walk to any border of our district, and youll hit another district that has invested and has taken advantage of these funds -- taxpayer dollars -- from Columbus. Its our time to capitalize on that money thats sitting on the table for us, Smialek said.

Similar to a failed new-money ask in November, this time around the new-money request is for a 4-mill bond issue that, if approved, will cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 an additional $11.67 a month.

The proposed roughly 300,000-square-foot building would become what Smialek called Northeast Ohios largest high school campus.

The ask is what we think is very reasonable -- at least more reasonable than other communities we see what theyre asking their voters for, Smialek said.

The return on investment would be trajectory-changing for our community and our kids. Were talking about building the campus with the most opportunity in Ohio right here in Parma, he said.

Its time to put Parma back on the map for positive opportunities for families and kids.

The timing of Issue 4 appearing on the May ballot is tied to a ticking clock regarding the upcoming expiration of the recent OFCC application related to the $79.1 million in matching funds.

Our key is making sure that people actually get out and vote, Smialek said. Theres not much on the ballot.

Its pretty easy to stay home, so were trying to make sure people remember May 2 is the date. This is such an important issue. We feel like if we can get folks to turn out, weve got a fighting chance.

Something of significance for the superintendent and district came last week when Parma City Council unanimously endorsed the passage of Issue 4.

This marks the first time in years that council members have backed a new-money issue.

Thats really significant, Smialek said. It shows that our community leaders -- elected and appointed -- think this is a good investment for our kids and our community. I was thrilled to get the unanimous vote, honestly.

We certainly knew we had support, but to get everybody to go on the record with a positive vote endorsing a bond issue I feel is significant -- especially in an election year. They have their own constituencies to answer to, and it shows that, ultimately, they believe this is a good decision moving forward.

Despite the fact that Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills residents -- for the third time over the last three years -- voted down a new-money levy last fall, Smialek said the most election results showed enough promise to return to the voters.

Thats why hes optimistic about this fourth try.

Honestly, my gut tells me that weve got a shot, Smialek said. We have to continue to be aggressive and continue to have as many conversations at doorsteps as we can. I think were doing a better job of that this time than probably we have in the past.

Were just going to continue to work hard. I would be lying if I said it was a done deal. I dont really believe that, but I also believe we absolutely have a chance to pass this.

Read more news from the Parma Sun Post.
RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Mayor Kim Thomas has a new role: The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer Districts Suburban Council of Governments (SCOG) has elected her its vice president.

SCOG is a representative body of the 61 suburban communities the sewer district (NEORSD) serves, and is responsible for electing three members of the sewer districts Board of Trustees.

Lyndhurst Mayor Patrick Ward serves as president and University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan as secretary.

I am honored to serve as vice president of the SCOG this year, Thomas said in a news release. The sewer district is a great partner for Richmond Heights and the suburban communities. I am thrilled to take on such an active role as we continue to provide the sewer districts customers with valuable resources and services.

In the same news release, NEORSD Chief Administrative Officer Constance T. Haqq said, In addition to electing three members to NEORSDs Board of Trustees, the SCOG serves an invaluable role in connecting to our member communities.

In addition to the grant programs and technical assistance available to our communities, we show up and regularly engage with our customers.

SCOG meets quarterly to learn about the sewer districts programs and how area residents can benefit. Recent presentations from sewer district representatives include several funding programs, such as Green Infrastructure Grants, Community Cost Share and Member Community Infrastructure Programs, which are available to member communities, as well as Clean Water Act regulatory requirements and pending legislation.

Richmond Heights residents have benefited from the following programs.

 NEORSD offers cost-saving programs to eligible customers. In 2022, the sewer district hosted a Utility Assistance Resource Fair in Richmond Heights. A total of 127 residents received assistance at the event to pay their utility bills. Residents are encouraged to contact the NEORSD if they are in need of utility assistance.

 Richmond Heights was recently awarded $500,000 through the federal governments Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act to design the citys capacity improvement project. NEORSD will procure and manage the design contract on behalf of Richmond Heights.

Read more from the Sun Messenger.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Attorneys have filed 31 lawsuits against Norfolk Southern Railroad since the February train derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

The lawsuits, in federal court in Youngstown, so far represent about 100 East Palestine residents and about a dozen businesses in the village. Three dozen people and five businesses from outside the village also have sued. The first lawsuit was filed on Feb. 7, four days after the derailment.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson ordered that all 31 cases be consolidated to streamline proceedings.

The appointment of interim class counsel is critically important in a case of this nature, as it is an ongoing event affecting potentially thousands of residents, property owners and businesses in East Palestine, Ohio, and the surrounding area, all of whom are members of the putative classes that have been proposed, Pearsons order said.

The cases do not include lawsuits filed by the Ohio attorney generals office and U.S. Department of Justice against the railroad company over a string of Norfolk Southern derailments across the country. Those cases will move through the court system separately.

The 31 lawsuits will operate as one consolidated case for now, Pearson ordered. Pearson has yet to certify the cases class-action status, but is consolidating them under an interim basis.

She named as co-lead counsel: Seth A. Katz of Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine P.C.; M. Elizabeth Graham of Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.; Jayne Conroy of Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC; and T. Michael Morgan of Morgan & Morgan P.A.

Were honored by the courts order appointing us as co-lead counsel for the litigation against the Norfolk Southern Railway Co. arising out of its Feb. 3rd train derailment and subsequent environmental disaster, Katz, Graham and Conroy said in a joint statement.

The derailment of 38 cars in a 149-car train spilled an estimated 1.1 million pounds of vinyl chloride and other hazardous materials. The chemicals leached into the ground and nearby rivers and tributaries. Some made it into the Ohio River.

The chemicals caused residents to become sick and fish and other wildlife to die. Half of the towns population of 5,000 people evacuated during a controlled release of the chemicals because of fears the trains derailed cars could explode.

Adam Ferrise covers federal courts at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. You can find his work here.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Some people who worked from home in 2022 could save hundreds of dollars on their local taxes by requesting a refund if taxes were withheld for another place. But Ill warn you: its a hassle.

Ill save $300 on my municipal taxes this year  about a 20% savings. Ill save $220, or 13%, next year. But the paperwork took about 12 hours to figure out.

What makes it especially difficult is not every city handles this the same way. Two otherwise identical workers can get completely different amounts of money returned, depending on where their office and homes are located.

If your employer withholds taxes for more than one community  the work is likely done for you. If they dont, you may be getting overtaxed each year.

The juice may not seem worth the squeeze. But if you plan to work from home indefinitely, and your employer isnt withholding taxes correctly, this is worth the trouble.

Tax Day is on April 18 this year, right around the corner. While refund requests can be submitted later, youll likely want to figure this out sooner rather than later.

Worked from home? You may be getting overtaxed.

To understand whats happening, we need to take a step back.

Employers generally keep part of your paycheck, anywhere from 1% to 3%, to pay municipal incomes taxes. And Pre-COVID-19, 100% of this money went to one city for most people.

Many office workers started doing their jobs from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of us still are  whether its once a week or full time.

At face value, this can save employees money, because their home city could have a lower tax rate.

If you ask most CPAs, employers are supposed to withhold municipal income taxes based on where employees perform their work. For many hybrid workers, this would be two cities. If they did, these savings for employees would be automatic.

But, unfortunately, at least some employers still withhold 100% of income taxes at the city where the company office is located. This means employees need to request refunds and file more complex tax returns to realize these savings.

Amy Arrighi, executive director of the Regional Income Tax Agency, said employers should withhold taxes based on where work is done, not where the office is. She said RITA will work with employers to help them understand their withholding obligations.

She said its too early to tell how common this problem is. As RITA gets refund requests, it will get a sense of which employers are still withholding all to one location.

I cant tell you exactly how to fill out your refund form, because RITA and the Central Collection Agency, Clevelands income tax administrator, handle them differently.

But we can explore whether doing so will save you money.

Getting a local tax refund. How much money can it save you?

There are dozens of caveats to this question, because it really depends on your income, where you work and how your employer handles your withholding. My tax situation is full of oddities.

In my case, I moved from Cuyahoga Falls to Berea halfway through the year. Both cities tax income at 2%, but Berea does not give full credit for taxes paid elsewhere.

Meanwhile, my employer moved its offices from Cleveland, a CCA community, to Brooklyn, a RITA community, midway through the year. I started the year fully remote, then worked in the office for one day each week. Now its three days a week.

Ill spare you the math and just say that after getting refunds from Cleveland and Brooklyn, my total municipal tax bill for 2022 should drop from $1,450 to $1,150.

Lets explore a couple of situations to illustrate what your taxes may look like.

For each situation, well do the math for one employee that makes $50,000 and works five days a week, or 260 days per year. In each case, the employer withheld all of your taxes to one municipality.

Situation No. 1: Hybrid work, full credit and two RITA communities:

You work three days a week in Brooklyn and twice a week in Cuyahoga Falls - a relatively straightforward 60/40 split.

At a 2.5% tax rate, $1,250 was withheld to Brooklyn. But only $30,000 was made in Brooklyn. You should have been taxed $750; you can request a $500 refund.

The remaining $20,000 is taxed by Cuyahoga Falls at 2%; so you owe them $400.

Congrats, you made $100.

Situation No. 2: Hybrid work, but your office is in Cleveland

The exact same worker gets less money back if their office is in Cleveland. Why? Vacation days and holidays. And because I oversimplified the math a little bit for RITA communities.

Income tax refunds depend on the days worked outside of the employment municipality. In our case, this means days worked at home and not in the office.

RITAs refund worksheet takes paid time off out of the equation. The days off are divided between office and home. Three days in the office essentially becomes a 60/40 split.

The CCAs tax form assumes every day off  holidays, paid time off, etc.  are days taxed in Cleveland. This is where the 260 working days number comes in - based on a five-day workweek for the entire year.

Lets look at Situation No. 1 again, but instead you work three days in Cleveland and two days in Cuyahoga Falls.

You also get 15 days of paid time off and get all 11 bank holidays off.

At a 2.5% tax rate, $1,250 is withheld for Cleveland.

Your 26 days off are worked in Cleveland. Then 60% of your remaining time was spent in the office  another 140 days. You spent 96 days working from home (260  140  26).

Using the CCAs math, $31,923 was made in Cleveland. You owe $799 and get a $451 refund.

Cuyahoga Falls will tax the remainder, $18,077, at 2%  you owe $362.

Congrats, you made just $89.

Also important: If you live in a RITA community but requested a refund from a non-RITA community, like Cleveland, you dont need to pay RITA its share until you get your refund approved, Arrighi said. You should tell RITA that youre waiting on a refund when you file.

Situation No. 3: Hybrid work and partial credit

A real quick explainer: Some cities give residents a tax break if they paid taxes to another city. But some only give partial credit.

Lets say you work three days in Brooklyn and two days at home in Berea; where the tax rate is 2%  but residents only get a maximum of a 1.5% credit for taxes paid elsewhere.

Essentially, money made in Brooklyn is taxed twice. Brooklyn gets 2.5% and Berea gets 0.5% for an effective tax rate of 3%.

Your employer withheld $1,250 for Brooklyn, and Berea wants another $250  $50,000 taxed at 0.5%. This would amount to a tax bill of $1,500, unless you get a refund.

So, lets look at getting a refund.

Again, only $30,000 was made in Brooklyn, so you get $500 back.

The remaining $20,000 is taxed at 2%  you owe Berea $400.

Then the $30,000 made in Brooklyn is taxed at 0.5% by Berea for $150.

Your total tax bill is $1,300. Congrats, you made $200 by doing the paperwork.

Situation No. 4: Situation No. 2, but Shaker Heights instead of Berea

Lets run the same math but replace Berea with Shaker Heights; where the tax rate is 2.25% but residents only get a maximum 0.5% credit for taxes paid elsewhere.

Again, money made in Brooklyn gets taxed twice. Brooklyn gets 2.5%, Shaker Heights gets 1.75% for an effective tax rate of 4.25%.

Your employer withheld $1,250 for Brooklyn and Shaker Heights wants $875 a $2,075 tax bill.

Lets look at the refund math.

Only $30,000 was made in Brooklyn, so you get $500 back. The remaining $20,000 made while working in Shaker Heights is taxed at 2.25%  you owe Shaker Heights $450.

Then the $30,000 made in Brooklyn is taxed at 1.75% by Shaker Heights for $525.

Your total tax bill is after doing the paperwork is $1,725, down from $2,075.

Congrats, you saved $350.

Editors note: The math in this example has been corrected, and previously had incorrect income tax information for Shaker Heights.

Situation Nos. 5, 6, 7, etc:

Each example above had a 60/40 split, but the same method applies whether you work from home one day a week or every day. Lets take a real quick look at the differences.

Office is in Brooklyn, but you live and work in Cuyahoga Falls four days a week. Your tax bill goes from $1,250 to $1,050 ($250 for Brooklyn, $800 for Cuyahoga Falls).

Office in Brooklyn, but work four days a week in Shaker Heights? Your tax bill goes from $2,075 to $1,325 ($250 for Brooklyn, $1,025 to Shaker Heights.)

Office in Cleveland, but work in Berea twice a week? And lets say you got 20 days off in 2022. Your total tax bill was $1,500. Now its $1,272 ($788 for Cleveland, $484 for Berea.)

Is it time-consuming?

Youve read 1,500 or so words about math. So, obviously, figuring this all out is time-consuming.

I spent about 12 hours filling out tax refunds for both Cleveland and Brooklyn. Again, my tax situation involved four municipalities. I barely saved enough to make this worth it.

Next year Im dealing with just two cities, and one form, so Im guessing it will be a two-hour job at most.

Theres no rush, though. Taxpayers have three years to file to request for refund. You dont necessarily need to file before Tax Day  although it is probably the best way to do so.

Is this practical? And are the savings worth your time?

You likely did not read this and think Wow, this looks like an easy way to save money. Truthfully, its hard to recommend going through all of this. However, I think you should consider it.

My goal is to make remote work a long-term move, which means Ill be dealing with this mess for years to come. That means saving this year becomes saving money every year.

In theory, Ive learned how to do this. Ill just have to plug in new numbers each year to save hundreds.

If youre back in the office 100% of the time, this is a one-off and probably not worth it. But if you plan to work from home forever, invest the time now so you can save each year.

Saving You Money is cleveland.com and The Plain Dealers column about saving money. We want to know how we can help you save money. Send your questions and comments to smcdonnell@cleveland.com.

Read past columns at cleveland.com/topic/saving-you-money/.

Doing taxes? Here are some columns that may help

How to file your federal, state and local tax returns for free (or at least cheaply)

Unprepared for tax season? Heres (almost) everything youll need to file
CLEVELAND, Ohio  BioEnterprise Inc., an incubator for businesses in the biotech and healthcare industry, will cease operations and turn over its assets to its founders: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals.

The change was announced in a joint statement Monday afternoon. Together, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospital and Case Western will take over operations of the organization they launched together more than 20 years ago.
WASHINGTON, D. C. - Cleveland businessman and luxury car dealer Bernie Moreno is making a second attempt at running for U.S. Senate after dropping out of last years crowded Republican primary to replace U.S. Sen. Rob Portman.

Moreno on Monday filed Statement of Candidacy paperwork at the Federal Election Commission, to formally enter the GOP primary contest for the chance to take on incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com have reached out to Morenos campaign for comment.
LOUISVILLE, Ky.  The 23-year-old bank employee who opened fire in his Louisville workplace Monday morning livestreamed his actions as he killed four people  including a close friend of the governor, authorities said.

Lets be clear about what this was, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said, according to the Associated Press. This was an evil act of targeted violence.

The shooting, the 15th mass killing in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, about 160 miles to the south. That states governor and his wife also had friends killed in that shooting, Associated Press reported.

Previous story: Police report multiple casualties from shooting in Louisville

When police arrived, shots were still being fired inside Old National Bank. They killed the shooter in an exchange of gunfire, Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said at a news conference.

The chief identified the shooter as Connor Sturgeon, who she said was livestreaming during the attack, the Associated Press reported.

Thats tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured, she said. Were hopeful that we can have that incident removed, that footage removed.

Nine people, including two police officers, were treated for injuries from the shooting, University of Louisville Hospital spokeswoman Heather Fountaine said in an email to Associated Press.

One officer, a 26-year-old who graduated from the police academy March 31, was in critical condition after being shot in the head and having surgery, the police chief said.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he lost one of his closest friends in the shooting.

These are irreplaceable, amazing individuals that a terrible act of violence tore from all of us, the governor said of Mondays victims.

It was the second time Beshear was personally touched by a tragedy since becoming governor.

In late 2021, Dawson Springs, the hometown of Beshears father, former two-term Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, was devastated by tornadoes that tore through Kentucky. Andy Beshear frequently visited Dawson Springs as a boy and has talked emotionally about his fathers hometown.

As Beshear spoke Monday, crime scene investigators could be seen marking and photographing numerous bullet holes in the windows near the banks front door. Police continue to search for a motive.

The 15 mass shootings this year are the most during the first 100 days of a calendar year since 2009, when 16 had occurred by April 10, according to a mass killings database maintained by the Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

Going back to 2006, the first year for which data has been compiled, the years with the most mass killings were 2019 and 2022, with 45 and 42 mass killings recorded during the entire calendar year. The pace in 2009 slowed later in the year, with 32 mass killings recorded that year.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Members of the Ohio State Board of Education on Monday discussed how to find a new head of the Ohio Department of Education, at a time when the legislature is looking to overhaul education policy in the state.

Interim Ohio State Superintendent of Public Instruction Stephanie Siddens is expected to leave her post to become deputy superintendent of a small suburban Columbus district, where she could begin July 1, pending approval from the Upper Arlington Schools board on Tuesday.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Easter 2024 will fall 10 days earlier on the calendar than it did in 2023 as the lunar cycle shifts the holiday out of April.

Western Christians will mark the holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on March 31, 2024. The beginning of Easter season, the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, will fall on Feb. 14, 2024, the same as Valentines Day.

The reason the holiday shifts around the calendar is that Easter is tied to the beginning of spring and a full moon  specifically the first Sunday following the first full moon following the spring equinox.

Related story: When is Easter Sunday holiday in 2023?

The spring equinox is the precise time the sun is positioned directly over the Earths equator. But churches long have set the equinox as March 21 for calculating when Easter is to be celebrated.

Sometimes that can mean the actual equinox and the date observed by the churches is not the same. In 2024, as was the case in 2023, the actual equinox will occur on March 20, but churches will still look to March 21 as the first day of spring.

Since the date is tied to the cycles of the moon, it can fall anytime from March 22 to April 25. This year, for example, the first full moon  the Pink Moon -- following the equinox was in the early hours of April 6. Easter was celebrated on the next Sunday, April 9.

The first full moon after the 2024 spring equinox will brighten the sky on March 25, a Monday. Easter will be celebrated the following Sunday, March 31 on the Gregorian calendar used by Western Christians.

Orthodox Christians calculate Easter using the Julian Calendar, and it often falls later on the calendar. In 2024, Easter in Orthodox churches will be celebrated on Sunday, May 5.

March 31 and April 16 are the two most common dates for the Easter holiday. The holiday will fall 22 times on each of those dates over the 500-year period of 1600 to 2099, Readers Digest reported, citing U.S. Census Bureau data.

The rarest date for Easter is March 24, which has only come up twice on that date and will not happen again until 2391.
Rotunda Rumblings

Jordan on the move: Right-wing attack dog Jim Jordan of Ohio wants to use his new chairmanships of the House Judiciary Committee and its newly formed Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of Government to change how government operates. The government, these agencies, have been turned on the very people, the American people who theyre supposed to serve, Jordan told Sabrina Eaton, vowing to restore fairness. So far, hes used his committee posts to pursue that goal by conducting 12 hearings, issuing 20 subpoenas, sending 148 letters, conducting 8 transcribed interviews, obtaining 113,980 pages of documents and putting out two reports.

Arrested developments: Jordan announced Friday hed sent a letter to Matthew Colangelo, senior counsel to the New York County District Attorneys Office, requesting testimony and documents about its indictment and arrest of ex-President Donald Trump. Colangelo, a former Biden Department of Justice official and senior attorney at the New York Attorney Generals Office, has previously taken part in multiple investigations into President Trump and was reportedly hired to jump start Braggs stalled investigation into President Trump, a Judiciary Committee press release said.

Siddens out: After two years as chief overseer of Ohios schools on an interim basis, Stephanie Siddens is leaving. Jake Zuckerman reports shes off to serve as a deputy superintendent in a suburban district outside Columbus.

Adoption grants: Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order Friday formally launching a state grant program for adoptive parents. Zuckerman reports parents who adopted this year can now apply for grants between $10,000 and $20,000, pending the circumstances.

Helping RFK: Former Cleveland mayor and U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich has signed on as an adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s presidential campaign, according to Robert Costa of CBS News. Kucinich, a two-time presidential candidate himself, could end up being RFK Jr.s campaign manager or top political adviser, Costa reports, though one source told him that Kucinich is urging Kennedy to focus more on the environment than on his opposition to vaccines.

Hunger pains: School officials are asking state lawmakers to insert funding in the state budget for universal school lunches, not only to reduce hunger but also to encourage poorer students who currently qualify for federal free lunches to get food without feeling stigmatized. The Ohio Capital Journals Susan Tebben has more.

Full Disclosure

Five things we learned from the May 13, 2022 financial disclosure form filed by Ohio House Minority Whip Jessica Miranda, a Democrat from suburban Cincinnati:

1. Aside from her legislative salary of $73,640.48 in 2021, Miranda reported earning more than $100,000 from Uno Tax LLC, her insurance brokerage and tax preparation service.

2. Besides her personal residence, Miranda owned a single-family home in Fairfield.

3. Mirandas lone reported investment was a retirement fund through the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System.

4. At some point in 2021, Miranda owed more than $1,000 to PNC Bank and Capital One.

5. The Ohio House of Representatives reimbursed Miranda $2,140.34 in mileage and $860.13 for lodging in 2021.

Straight From The Source

Many of my progressive friends are rightly upset with the vote to remove two duly elected state reps in [Tennessee], but in Ohio in the 1980s Democrat Speaker Vern Riffe would shut down GOP state reps on the floor for years at a time because he felt offended at something they said.

- Former Ohio state Rep. Gene Krebs, a Butler County Republican, tweeting on Friday after the Republican-controlled Tennessee House of Representatives expelled two Democratic members for their role in a gun-control protest.

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.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Encino Energy offered the state a signing bonus and royalties that it claims could tally nearly $2 billion over a period of more than 15 years as it sought to be the first to frack Ohios largest state park, records show.

The Texas-based drillers offer included a $115 million signing bonus for leasing rights to drill for oil and gas under Salt Fork State Park in Southeast Ohio. The proposal, which was ultimately rejected, also called for a 20% royalty payment for oil and gas sales of minerals found under the park.

Supporting documents the company provided to the state claim the combination would amount to potential payments of up to $1.8 billion through 2041.

Read more: Meet the Texas driller that wants the gas under Ohios largest state park

Im pleased to deliver this indication of interest of [Encino] to lease from the Department of Natural Resources the oil and gas rights located under Salt Fork State Park, the letter, signed by Encino CEO Hardy Murchison, states.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer obtained those documents via a public records request as the state prepares to open its state parks to drilling for oil and natural gas for the first time.

While Encinos offer was rejected, its likely a foreshadowing of more to come after a new state law effectively forced opened the door for companies seeking to drill under Ohios state parks, some of which sit on Marcellus and Utica shale formations. Its also a sign of the money and power behind a policy that leaves some of Ohios most pristine swaths of undeveloped land in the crosshairs of the extraction industry.

Encino made its offer Dec. 14, 2022, one day after GOP lawmakers passed legislation that forces state agencies to accept lease proposals to explore for oil and gas made by qualifying energy companies. Gov. Mike DeWine signed the bill into law in January, and it took effect last week. (Most laws take 90 days from a governors signing to kick in.)

Related: Environmental groups sue to block law that could force gas drilling in state parks

Encino owns leasing rights to more than 1 million acres of subterranean land in Ohio. Salt Fork would add 21,000 acres and, extrapolating from the companys royalty projections, billions in value to its inventory. The company claims it would produce 69 million barrels of oil and 375 billion cubic feet of natural gas over 18 years from the park.

The drilling program is estimated to last six years, an economic analysis Encino provided to the state claims.

Following that period, Encino would continue spending money in the Ohio economy to support production and ongoing maintenance of the relevant equipment.

Lawmakers tucked the proposal to expand drilling rights in state parks into unrelated legislation late last year and quickly passed it without ever holding public hearings on the idea. That process prompted a lawsuit last week from environmental advocates seeking to block the bill from taking effect, claiming lawmakers skipped over constitutional requirements while passing the bill.

The materials Encino submitted to the state suggest a plan already was in motion well before the legislation was unveiled. For instance, one document is dated October 2022, months before the state parks idea was shared publicly. The offer letter says the company has already begun securing surface locations outside of the Park.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer previously reported on Encinos interest in capturing oil and gas under Salt Fork, although DeWine, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Encino declined to directly confirm as much. ODNR released the offer letter and supporting documents Friday.

While the new state law effectively forces state agencies to accept lease proposals from qualifying drillers, this is only true until the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission establishes permanent rules governing how to execute a 2011 state law passed with the aim of allowing for drilling in state parks. That law was never implemented, and the commission only just began to form and draft rules in earnest.

As of Friday, Encino had made the only offer to date to drill under a state park since the law passed, ODNR spokesman Andy Chow said. Mike Chadsey, a spokesman for the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, said companies the association represents are waiting for the commission to draft rules before submitting offers.

While DeWine and his administration rejected Encinos offer, his office previously indicated in a statement that drillers should defer to the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission to draft rules.

Dan Tierney, a spokesman for the governors office, said the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission is expected to finalize rules controlling the leasing process in six weeks or so. He said he doesnt expect any drillers to apply for leases until that point, and the new law allows the state to vet and negotiate leases in good faith. That would likely take enough time that the new rules would take effect in the interim.

Plus, waiting those 6 weeks for clear rules are a more favorable option for drillers than something that could be tied up in litigation, he said.

It is possible somebody could act adversarially, but the nature of people applying for mineral rights in this timeline, theres a likelihood theyll act collaboratively and not adversarially, Tierney said.

Encino spokesperson and lobbyist Jackie Stewart said the company is still pursuing Salt Fork.

The project would provide more than a billion dollars of revenues to the state, enabling transformative investments in parks and recreational infrastructure, she said. It would also unlock the value of stranded minerals owned by Ohioans near the park and contribute materially to the local job market, economy and taxes.

Ohios consideration of such long-term deals comes as the planet grows increasingly warmer, and scientists from the U.N.s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently issued a comprehensive report rife with dire warnings about the planetary need to shift away from fossil fuels.

The pace and scale of what has been done so far and current plans are insufficient to tackle climate change, said Hoesung Lee, the chair of the climate panel, according to The New York Times. We are walking when we should be sprinting.

The same bill that forced the states hand on allowing drilling for minerals under state parks also took the unusual step of classifying natural gas, a planet-warming fossil fuel, as green energy.

A park surrounded by wells

In the offer and in responses to inquiries, Encino was adamant it would not interrupt surface land or water in the park.

The company would rely on a process called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in which they drill down thousands of feet vertically from well pads adjacent to the park before turning 90 degrees to reach shale formations underneath. From there, water, sand and a range of chemicals are sprayed at extremely high pressures to free methane, or natural gas, from the rock.

Natural gas drilling, processing, and transferring relies on significant infrastructure. But the lease proposal states Encino will not locate well pads, access roads, pipelines, or others within the boundaries of the park.

However, a map within the companys proposal depicts a park perimeter essentially besieged by well pads (large industrial lots) on all sides.

A screenshot of a map enclosed in documents, obtained in a public records request, Encino Energy submitted to the state of Ohio in an offer to buy leasing rights to drill for oil and gas under Salt Fork State Park.

The lease term offered was three years and could be extended beyond there. Encino estimated drilling about 89 wells to capture Salt Forks oil and gas, per the documents.

Fracking relies on large volumes of water that can be either hauled in or drawn from a nearby source. The Encino lease doesnt specify its water source, but Stewart said it will not come from Salt Fork Lake, the centerpiece of the park.

She said Encino would commit to state of the art environmental practices bearing no impact on the surface or water of the park.

The lease calls for Encino to use its best efforts to minimize the frequency of flaring  the burning of excess natural gas at the point of extraction. Flaring, light and noise population from drilling, and the constant stream of trucks hauling water to and from drill sites tend to be the most prevalent complaints among people who live near such operations.

The offer said Encino would abide by substantially similar environmental protections as Encino agreed to with the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District  another arm of state government. Encino leased 7,300 acres of land under Tappan Lake (near Salt Fork) for $40 million plus 20% royalties from MWCD last year, not counting an agreement to purchase millions of gallons of water from the lake to free gas from underneath.

Besides the funding for the state, Encinos money would flow to landowners adjacent to the park collecting royalty checks; the state and local tax base; and contractors who build and maintain the drilling infrastructure.

Despite Encinos extensive operations in Ohio, the company only directly employs 139 workers, the documents state. However, it says drilling at Salt Fork would support an average of 1,680 jobs between 2023 and 2041 when you consider its contract workers.

The beach at Salt Fork State Park.

House Bill 507

The failure of the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission to form and roll out rules effectively blocked the 2011 law that first allowed state agencies to lease their lands to energy companies from taking effect.

Encino bought up land around Salt Fork and commissioned economic analysis studies and laid other groundwork before the turbo-charged introduction and passage of HB507 in December. Stewart, from Encino, said the company had no advance knowledge of the bill to come.

Our efforts to lease Salt Fork began months before and independently of HB507, Stewart said. As records show, Encino did not lobby on HB507. Nor did we have prior knowledge of its introduction. The state had been legally authorized to lease state lands since 2011. Encino operates near the park, where private landowners want to have their minerals developed, so we already have surface locations and leases in the area.

Besides allowing drilling in state parks, HB507 declared natural gas  a fossil fuel-derived, climate warming product  to be green energy, which environmentalists and energy attorneys described as a dubious and regressive claim. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer previously reported on a dark money nonprofit linked to the natural gas industry proposing similar legislative language months before HB507 was introduced.

Lobbying records show a long line of oil and gas interests lobbied on HB507, but not Encino. However, the company disclosed discussing state lands leasing with DeWines administration.

On Monday, the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission is set to hold a public hearing on a draft of its rules, which would control the leasing process going forward. Meanwhile, environmental advocates have asked a Franklin County judge to put the new law on hold while she considers their case.

Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
Boxes of mifepristone, the first pill given in a medical abortion, are prepared for patients at Women's Reproductive Clinic of New Mexico in Santa Teresa, U.S., January 13, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday asked a federal appeals court to keep the abortion pill mifepristone on the U.S. market as litigation plays out, and indicated that it may ask the Supreme Court to intervene in the case, days after a federal judge suspended the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the medication nationwide.

The DOJ asked the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to block U.S. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's unprecedented decision by noon Thursday "to enable the government to seek relief in the Supreme Court if necessary." Kacsmaryk's suspension of the FDA's approval of mifepristone is set to take effect 12 a.m. Saturday CT.

The Biden administration's lawyers said in a filing to the 5th Circuit that "there is no basis for extraordinary nationwide relief that would upend a decades-long status quo."

"If allowed to take effect, that order will irreparably harm patients, healthcare systems, and businesses," the Justice Department lawyers wrote in a court filing.

Danco Laboratories, the distributor of mifepristone, also asked the 5th Circuit to block Kacsmaryk's decision from taking effect, calling it an "unprecedented judicial assault on a careful regulatory process that has served the public for decades."

"If this Court is inclined to deny the emergency or administrative stay, Danco also requests an administrative stay of at least fourteen days to allow Danco the opportunity to seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court," the company's attorney Jessica Ellsworth wrote in a court filing.

When asked whether Danco will stop distributing mifepristone if Kacsmaryk's decision takes effect this Saturday, Ellsworth said the company will consult with the FDA about how to proceed.
China's population dipped to 1.412 billion last year from 1.413 billion in 2021, according to its National Bureau of Statistics. D3sign | Moment | Getty Images

China is facing a population crisis in part due to more women choosing to focus on their careers and personal goals, instead of starting a family. Already grappling with an aging population and poised to be overtaken by India as the world's most populous country, China continues to struggle to boost its birth rate. The Chinese government abolished its one-child policy in 2016 and scrapped childbirth limits in 2021. However, married couples are having fewer children  or choosing to not have any at all, said Mu Zheng, assistant professor at the department of sociology and anthropology at the National University of Singapore. "Covid continues to have many negative repercussions and has caused an overall sense of uncertainty towards the future," Mu told CNBC. "There's a sense of helplessness that is prohibiting many women from wanting to have children."

watch now

The rising cost of living is also steering more people away from wanting to expand their family, she added. China's National Bureau of Statistics reported that the population dipped to 1.412 billion last year from 1.413 billion in 2021. The natural growth rate was negative for the first time since 1960, according to Wind data.

Career and freedom remain a priority

China has a larger population of mothers in the workforce compared with countries in the West, Andy Xie, an independent economist, told CNBC. "There is a desire to have a career in China and being a stay-home mother is never a goal. It doesn't even appear on the radar for most women," Xie said. As more women attain higher qualifications and rise up the ranks in the workplace, they expect their husbands to earn more than them, according to Xie. In 2020, female students accounted for almost 42% of doctorate degree enrollment, and a significantly higher number of women enrolled for a master's degree than men, Statista data showed. "Men face a tremendous burden as women would demand financial security from them," and in turn wouldn't want to get married either, according to Xie who said that "people used to be criticized for being single, but there's no social stigma against it anymore."

A mother and her baby play on a slide at Wukesong shopping district in Beijing on May 11, 2021. Noel Celis | Afp | Getty Images

Awen, a 31-year-old freelance designer from Shenzhen who would only give her first name, says she's happy being single right now. All the women who shared their personal experiences for this story were only comfortable sharing their first names. "Saving money and focusing on my career are my priorities now, I already feel so exhausted after work, I can't imagine how parents with children feel." She said most husbands in China often do not play a pivotal role in a child's upbringing, and the burden falls entirely on mothers instead. "Many women don't want to get married because the housework and babysitting duties will fall on them," Awen said. "So if women feel that they need to do housework, earn money, and do everything by themselves, why not just be alone?" But that doesn't mean her parents are convinced. "My parents want our bloodline to stay alive, so that means have many children and grandchildren," Awen said.

Helping women strike the balance

Trip.com is one Chinese company that takes pride in trying to encourage more women to have children. In an organization where more than half of its 30,000 employees are women, the online travel agency came up with its own solution to encourage women in the company to have more children. "We only give women seven to eight years to build a career, a family, and have children," CEO Jane Sun told CNBC last month, adding that the timeline is "very tight." Many young employees are already 28-years-old when they get their PhDs, and pregnancies after 35 years of age come with higher risks, she pointed out. Trip.com offers subsidies from $15,000 to $300,000 to help employees who are Chinese nationals offset the hefty cost of freezing eggs, she said.

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When the initiative first started in 2018, more than 50 employees contacted the firm's welfare team to find out if they were eligible, she added. "We are amongst the first, or maybe the only Chinese company, that offers this option," according to Sun. "You always have to offer the option up, and whether people take it or not is completely up to them." Pregnant employees are offered free taxi rides to and from work, and receive cash benefits when their child is born and starts school, she added.

Can anyone freeze their eggs?

But there's a caveat. Women in China who want to freeze their eggs must be married, according to Chinese regulations. However, some women in China want children but may not be ready to get married, said Mu the assistant professor from NUH. "Women are now more economically independent  so marriage is not such an attractive option to many of them," she said. According to data from CEIC, 7.64 million couples got married in 2021, a decline from 8.14 million in 2020.

I am very happy with my child, but I sometimes regret becoming a mother. Shannon a single mother

Additionally, women who divorce after having children face social stigma and struggle to balance their career while raising a child alone. "I don't think it's shameful to be a single mother, but I kept it a secret from my colleagues as I don't want them to look at me differently," said Shannon, a 36-year-old mother from Shenzhen. Shannon told CNBC her father said: "It's better to have gotten divorced than never getting married at all."

A maternity nurse performs a health check on a newborn baby. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Although she is happier after the divorce, being a single mother comes with difficulties she never expected, she told CNBC, highlighting that she struggles with not having enough time and freedom to do what she wants. "I am very happy with my child, but I sometimes regret becoming a mother," Shannon said. "I'll never want to have another kid and I don't want to get married again." China's southwestern province of Sichuan announced at the start of the year that unmarried residents are able to reap the same benefits of married couples, a move it hopes will increase the country's birth rate, Reuters reported. Such actions could possibly help solve low fertility in China since it is "decoupling the connections between marriage and fertility," Mu said.

Housing concerns

High property prices in China continue to hinder many couples who might want to settle down, said Xie the economist. Owning property in China is a "really strong symbol," and people would often want to buy a house before tying the knot. However, "housing cost is a big concern for anyone who wants to get married," Xie said. "It needs to come down by at least 50% to make marriage more desirable," according to the economist. "There are no single silver bullets here," he added. "Housing availability and price are contingent on marriage and the number of children" that couples have.  CNBC's Daisy Cherry and Ulrica Lin contributed to this report.
Associate Justice Clarence Thomas poses during a group photo of the Justices at the Supreme Court in Washington, April 23, 2021.

The Senate Judiciary Committee's Democratic majority on Monday called for an investigation into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' behavior after a report revealed he had failed to disclose years of luxury trips funded by a Republican megadonor.

Chief Justice John Roberts should "immediately open" a probe into "how such conduct could take place" on his watch, read a letter from Chairman Dick Durbin of Illinois and the Senate Judiciary panel's 10 other Democratic members.

The committee announced in the letter that it would hold a hearing "in the coming days" on "the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Court's ethical standards."

The Democrats also warned they would "consider legislation to resolve" the issue if the high court does not do so on its own.

The letter came three days after Thomas said he had been advised early in his tenure as a Supreme Court justice 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 said in a statement.

The 74-year-old justice, who has served on the nation's highest court since 1991, was responding to ProPublica's report last Thursday that he had accepted expensive trips from wealthy GOP donor Harlan Crow for more than two decades.

Crow told ProPublica that "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." That hospitality included vacations on Crow's 162-foot superyacht, flights on the GOP donor's private jet and stays at his exclusive resort, according to ProPublica.

The investigation, which cited a range of documents and interviews, also quoted ethics experts who said Thomas appears to have violated a disclosure law by not reporting the trips. But some judicial ethics experts have said Thomas may not have been required to report the trips under the rules that had been in place before they were updated last month.

Thomas's statement noted that the reporting 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 Senate Judiciary panel's letter to Roberts said Thomas' failure to report the trips is "plainly inconsistent with the ethical standards the American people expect of any person in a position of public trust."

The letter came after Durbin, the Senate majority whip, called for the imposition of an "enforceable code of conduct" for justices, who are not bound by the same ethics rules followed by other federal judges.
Attorneys for former President Donald Trump are trying to block ex-Vice President Mike Pence from testifying in a special counsel investigation of Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, NBC News reported Monday.

The latest move in the sealed court proceedings came less than a week after Pence said he would not fight a judge's order for his testimony before the federal grand jury involved in the probe.

Trump's legal team has appealed that order from U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C., NBC reported, citing a source familiar with the litigation. The notice to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is currently under seal.

The reported appeal also followed Trump's historic indictment and arrest in a separate case being prosecuted by the Manhattan district attorney's office. Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records during his arraignment in Manhattan on Tuesday.

As Pence prepares to comply with the subpoena in the investigation targeting his former boss, he is considering launching a 2024 presidential campaign that would put him in direct competition with Trump, the current Republican front-runner.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, in a statement to CNBC accused the Department of Justice of "attempting to destroy the long accepted, long held, Constitutionally based standards of attorney-client privilege and executive privilege."

The spokesman, who also derided special counsel Jack Smith's probe as a "witch hunt," said those standards "protect a President's ability to confer with his Vice President on matters of the security of the United States." He also asserted that the probe was intended to influence Trump's standing in the 2024 election.

Attorneys for Trump and spokespeople for Pence and the special counsel did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment.

Pence previously said he planned to challenge Smith's subpoena for his testimony, arguing that his former role as vice president  which also made him president of the Senate  granted him constitutional cover against being compelled to testify about key pieces of the probe.

Boasberg ordered Pence to comply with the grand jury subpoena late last month, NBC reported. The judge reportedly ruled that Pence has some protections against testifying about his role on Jan. 6, 2021, when he presided over Congress' efforts to confirm President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory.
Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) is an oil stock worth owning on its own merits. But a fresh report that Exxon Mobil (XOM) could acquire the Club holding would likely unlock even more value. Exxon has held "informal" talks about buying Pioneer, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Any potential deal would not transpire until later this year or in 2024, the Journal reported. Exxon  which generated $62 billion in free cash flow in 2022 and ended the year with nearly $30 billion in cash  has held acquisition discussions with at least one other oil-and-gas firm, according to the Journal. Pioneer shares jumped more than 6% Monday, to around $221 each  making it by far the best-performing energy stock in the S & P 500 . Shares of Exxon fell by by 0.25%, to just under $115 apiece. Pioneer and Exxon did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment Monday. Exxon's reported interest in Pioneer is hardly a surprise because the Texas shale driller is a "marquee" independent exploration-and-production company in the lower 48 states, Stifel analyst Derrick Whitfield told the CNBC Monday. If Exxon wants to meaningfully bolster its rig count in the Permian Basin, it's "going to need quality depth of inventory," which Pioneer has, Whitfield said. The analyst, who has a buy rating and $286 per share price target on PXD, said the likelihood of a Pioneer-Exxon deal comes down to how much Exxon is willing to pay. "I think management would want to ... improve performance of their asset base and arguably have a higher stock price before coming to the table with Exxon Mobil," Whitfield said. "That's not to say if Exxon Mobil offered a 25% premium, it wouldn't be done. Personally, that was the number I had pegged in my mind. If you saw a 25% premium, I think that would bring them to the table because, let's be realistic, every independent wants to be acquired by Exxon Mobil." The Club believes it may take a bit more for Pioneer to seriously consider selling. A 25% premium from where Pioneer closed Thursday, at roughly $208 per share, would value shares at around $260 each. However, Jim Cramer said Monday he thinks Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield  an industry veteran in his second stint leading the company  would hesitate to sell at a per-share price below $285. That's Pioneer stock's all-time closing high, reached in June 2022. "I am not saying he wouldn't sell. I am saying that he's not going to sell below where this stock was, given the fact oil could be going back to $90 [a barrel], given the fact that he's got the best Permian assets," he added. West Texas Intermediate crude  the U.S. oil benchmark  was trading down more than 1% Monday afternoon, at $79.70 a barrel. We were content with our Pioneer investment prior to Exxon's reported interest in the company, adding to our PXD stake twice last month at lower levels than Monday's market price. Our most recent purchase of 25 shares on March 20 came at roughly $185 each. Pioneer's attractiveness stems in large part from its quality acreage and low oil price breakevens, at roughly $39 per barrel. That enables the firm to generate hefty amounts of free cash flow and return most of it to shareholders through stock buybacks and quarterly dividends. Knowing that Exxon is reportedly on the prowl for an acquisition, investors may look at Pioneer and other Permian operators even more favorably. Stifel's Whitfield believes the Journal story could put a near-term floor underneath Pioneer's stock price  a view we share. At the very least, Pioneer's shareholders may be more likely to remain invested in the company, Whitfield said. And that's certainly our intention at this time. "What I suspect is it's going to further firm the shareholder base because you now have an article that directly links Exxon Mobil to Pioneer, and the way it was set up, there is clearly an interest there," Whitfield said. "I think if you've seen Pioneer at [a] much higher share price in the past, that gives you that much more conviction to hold onto it now." (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long PXD. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

Permian Basin rigs in 2020, when U.S. crude oil production dropped by 3 million a day as Wall Street pressure forced cuts. Paul Ratje | Afp | Getty Images
OpenAI logo displayed on a phone screen and ChatGPT website displayed on a laptop screen are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on December 5, 2022.

Japan will consider government adoption of artificial intelligence technology such as OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot if privacy and cybersecurity concerns are resolved, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Monday.

The remarks from Matsuno, the top government spokesperson, came shortly before Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a visit to Japan, where Altman said his company is "looking at opening an office."

"We hope to ... build something great for Japanese people, make the models better for Japanese language and Japanese culture," Altman told reporters following his meeting with Kishida.

Asked about Italy's temporary ban on ChatGPT  developed by Microsoft backed OpenAI  Matsuno told a regular news conference that Japan is aware of other countries' actions.
The Biden administration on Monday asked a federal judge to clarify how it should respond to his order to keep the abortion pill mifepristone on the market in more than a dozen states, in case another judge's conflicting ruling to suspend the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the medication goes into effect later this week.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice of the U.S. Eastern District of Washington on Friday barred the FDA from "altering the status quo and rights as it relates to the availability of mifepristone" in the 17 states and the District of Columbia that sued to keep the medication on the market there.

Rice's decision came just 20 minutes after U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the U.S. Northern District of Texas suspended the FDA's approval of mifepristone nationwide. The Justice Department on Monday asked the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to block Kacsmaryk's decision from taking effect as litigation plays out. The government's lawyers indicated they may ask the Supreme Court to get involved.

The Justice Department asked Rice to clarify its obligations on the legality of mifepristone by Friday. Kacsmaryk's decision goes into effect at midnight CT on Saturday if the 5th Circuit doesn't block the order out of Texas.
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.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  The Nashville Metropolitan Council voted Monday to return Justin Jones to the state Legislature after he was removed last week by Republicans for protesting gun violence on the House floor.

The 36 council members at Monday's meeting unanimously supported reinstating Jones. The council had suspended its rules to allow an immediate vote instead of holding a monthlong nomination period.

Less than an hour later, Jones was sworn in on the steps of the State Capitol. He raised his fist as he entered the House chamber while supporters chanted, "Welcome home!"

"I want to welcome democracy back to the people's house," Jones said in a speech on the House floor. "I want to thank you all, not for what you did, but for awakening the people of this state, particularly the young people. Thank you for reminding us that the struggle for justice is fought and won in every generation."

Jones and fellow Democrat Justin J. Pearson, who are Black, were expelled Thursday in House votes that drew national attention to racial dynamics in the state's legislative body.

Jones, Pearson and state Rep. Gloria Johnson had led supporters in chants calling for gun control measures after a shooting at a Nashville school killed six people, including three 9-year-old children. The three broke House rules and used a bullhorn when they were not recognized to speak.

House leaders cast the protest as an "insurrection" and voted Thursday to expel Jones and Pearson from the General Assembly. Johnson, who is white, survived her vote, which she suggested had to do with her race. After Monday's council vote, Johnson and Jones embraced and locked arms.

Hundreds of demonstrators who had assembled outside the Metro Nashville Courthouse marched to the State Capitol after the council vote. They were joined by Jones and Pearson.

"Today we send a resounding message that democracy will not be killed in the comfort of silence," Jones said, speaking in front of the State Capitol. "This is not about one person. It's not about one position. It's about a movement."

Pearson said: "You might try and silence it. You might try and expel it, but the people's power will not be stopped."

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners, the body charged with choosing Pearson's successor, will meet Wednesday to consider action to reappoint Pearson to his seat, Chairman Mickell Lowery announced Sunday.

"I believe the expulsion of State Representative Justin Pearson was conducted in a hasty manner without consideration of other corrective action methods," Lowery said in a statement. "I also believe that the ramifications for our great state are still yet to be seen."

Cameron Sexton, the Republican House speaker, has committed to seating whomever the two bodies appoint to fill the vacancies, including Jones and Pearson.

"The two governing bodies will make the decision as to who they want to appoint to these seats," a spokesperson for Sexton wrote in a statement. "Those two individuals will be seated as representatives as the constitution requires."

In interviews since their expulsion, Jones and Pearson said they have felt tensions among their fellow legislators since they started in the majority-white Legislature. Jones said he and Pearson had a "target" on them since they joined the Legislature because of their race, ages and activist backgrounds.

Pearson added, "When you have people who make comments about hanging you on a tree and hanging Black people on a tree as a form of capital punishment, when you wear a dashiki on the House floor and a member gets up and they talk about your dashiki saying it's unprofessional, they're really sending signals that you don't belong here."

Democrats in Washington have rallied around Jones and Pearson. Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Nashville on Friday to meet with the "Tennessee Three," as the group has been called, praising them for "channeling" their constituents' voices in speaking out against gun violence. President Joe Biden also called them and invited them to visit the White House. He had called their expulsion "shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent."

Nashville Metropolitan Council member Zulfat Suara said: "He's a duly elected representative of his constituents. They voted him in. They chose him. They want him to speak for them. We cannot stop the voices of the masses or what the voters wanted. That would not be good for our democracy. What the state did [Thursday] is that: kill democracy."

Black Nashville residents expressed outrage at the ousting of the two lawmakers, saying it silenced their voices. "It's like our vote doesn't matter," one resident said.

Expulsion from the Legislature has been a rare punishment reserved for the most serious offenses, with only a few such instances in the last several decades. Unlike in those cases, Jones and Pearson were not charged with or convicted of breaking the law.

Under state rules, Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, must schedule a primary for Jones' and Pearson's seats within 60 days and a general election within 107 days. Both Jones and Pearson have said they will seek re-election.
The U.S. military document leak is an opportunity to recalibrate our understanding of what is happening in Ukraine, said a political science professor at Harvard University.

Graham Allison, Harvard's Douglas Dillon professor of government, said the Ukrainian government has said its military is "killing ten times as many Russians as Russians are killing Ukrainians." But the intelligence leak suggests, instead, that there are four times as many Ukrainians killed, he told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia."

"It's one of the rare occasions where you can study the differences between what is being said in public and ... what the realities are on the battlefield," he added.

A senior U.S. official previously told NBC News that the leaked documents are likely real, but some may have been altered before they were posted.

The classified documents that surfaced on social media last week include details on Ukraine's air defenses and plans for a spring offensive against Russian troops. Allison called this a "big loss" for Ukraine, as information about its air defenses "make it possible for Moscow to bring its aircraft and bombers back into the fight."

"The order of battle of your enemy ... [is] one of the most valuable things that an adversary can have," he said.

 Audrey Wan
You don't often see an investor taking an entrepreneur's idea and giving it to a competitor, but that's exactly what Mark Cuban did on Friday's episode of ABC's "Shark Tank."

During the episode, Justin Crowe pitched his 3-year-old cremation alternative startup Parting Stone to investors, including Cuban. The company works with more than 600 funeral homes in the United States and Canada to provide mourners with polished stones containing the ashes of their loved ones  a sentimental, "comforting" way to remember them, Crowe said.

The idea came from a simple question, he said: What do you do with an "awkward and uncomfortable" small plastic bag of ashes?

Unsatisfied with the idea of scattering them in a special place or keeping them in an urn on the mantle, Crowe applied for and won a grant to collaborate with material scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory to "invent a new form of human remains," he said in a YouTube video published by the company in 2020.

At the time of the "Shark Tank" episode's filming last year, Parting Stone was on track to bring in $1.3 million in annual revenue while managing $800,000 in annual expenses, Crowe said. He asked investors for $400,000 for 5% of his company's equity, saying the money would go toward automating his company's processes to "get to a place of [stronger] profitability."

But Cuban quickly threw a wrench into those works. "I invested in a company called Eterneva," Cuban told Crowe. "We're a direct competitor with you."

Cuban didn't just decline to offer a deal: He noted that Crowe had given him a great idea on a silver platter. Eterneva currently focuses on turning ashes into diamonds, and Cuban viewed Parting Stones' offerings as a great second product line.

"I like the idea so much, I'm going to take it to [Eterneva CEO Adelle Archer] and see if she can do the same thing," he said.

Fortunately for Crowe, a couple other investors showed interest in competing with Cuban. The cremation industry seemingly has plenty of room: It's worth $3 billion in the U.S. alone, according to market research firm IbisWorld.

Lori Greiner called Parting Stones "genius," and Kevin O'Leary said the category was right up his alley. "There are two areas I invest in: weddings and death," O'Leary said. "Recession proof."

Together, Greiner and O'Leary offered Crowe a total of $400,000 for 20% equity, which they'd split down the middle.

Then, Barbara Corcoran jumped in, offering $400,000 for 10% equity, along with a $20 royalty per sale until her investment was paid back. O'Leary and Greiner offered to match that deal.

Crowe rejected them all, saying that Parting Stone had both direct-to-consumer sales and business-to-business sales through funeral homes  and he'd only pay royalties from the consumer side.

Greiner and O'Leary gave Crowe a final offer: $400,000 cash for 10% equity, a $20 consumer royalty and a $12.50 business-to-business royalty. Crowe accepted.

"Now that we have Lori and Kevin on board, we're going to utilize their teams [and] expertise to blow this up and make sure everyone in the United States knows that when you choose cremation, you do not have to receive ashes," Crowe said. "There's a comforting alternative."

Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to "Shark Tank."

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Check out: Mark Cuban shares his No. 1 strategy for starting a lucrative businessit's 'where the big bucks are made'
Crime scene tape cordons off a street as law enforcement officers respond to an active shooter near the Old National Bank building on April 10, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky.

A gunman opened fire at a bank in downtown Louisville on Monday, killing at least five people  including a close friend of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear  and injuring nine others, authorities said.

The gunman was identified as Connor Sturgeon, 25, who police said was an employee of Old National Bank on East Main Street, where the gunfire erupted at 8:38 a.m.

Parts of the attack were livestreamed, police said.

Follow NBCNews.com for live coverage

Responding officers arrived in three minutes, exchanged gunfire with the gunman and killed him, interim Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel told reporters.

"The suspect shot at officers. We then returned fire and stopped that threat," she said. "The suspect is deceased."

Gwinn-Villaroel also confirmed that the shooter showed some of the deadly attack live on social media.

"The suspect was livestreaming, and unfortunately that's tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured," she said. "And so we're hopeful that we can have that incident removed."

Four victims were identified early Monday afternoon: Tommy Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; Jim Tutt, 64; and Josh Barrick, 40.

And later Monday evening, police announced that Deanna Eckert, 57, had died.

An emotional Beshear said he spoke regularly to Elliott and mourned his death.

"Today I'm hurting, and I know so many people are as well. We lost four children of God," Beshear said.

"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad. He's one of the people I talked to most in the world, and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend."

Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, was shot in the head, underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition, Gwinn-Villaroel said. Wilt had graduated from the police academy on March 31.

"I just swore him in, and his family was there to witness his journey to become a police officer," Gwinn-Villaroel said.

The gunman might have had mental health issues, according to a federal law enforcement source who has been briefed on the attack.

JD Worley, the CEO of a medical device company across the street from Old National Bank, saw two police officers wounded. One still managed to take cover and return fire, while the other appeared to be "motionless" and was carried away by other officers, Worley recounted.

The rapid gunfire blew out the floor-to-ceiling glass at the front of the bank, Worley said.

"I mean, it felt like watching an action movie in real life," Worley told "NBC Nightly News." "But this is just something you see on the news often, but never could have fathomed I would ever see something like this happen, not only in my hometown, but right in front of my eyes."
Asia-Pacific is aging rapidly  especially China. One in four in the region will be over 60 years old by 2050, according to the United Nations. In China, authorities expect those aged 60 and over to jump from 280 million to more than 400 million by 2035 . That would be the equivalent of Britain's and the U.S.' current populations  combined. The social and economic implications of a silver economy are mostly negative, but there are some big opportunities for investors. CNBC Pro spoke to analysts to find out how to play the trend. Health-care tech and gear Tech is one major opportunity, according to Sandeep Rao, head of research at Leverage Shares, which sells exchange-traded products. "It bears noting that  in general  Asia's ageing population isn't nearly as resistant to using technology as ageing populations in other parts of the world have tended to be," he told CNBC Pro. Rao named Hong Kong-listed JD Health International, an online health-care company, as a stock to watch because of its "rapidly growing presence" in online clinical assistance services. And Japanese health-care tech companies Sysmex and M3 are "very interesting bets," according to Rao. He also likes Singapore-listed Raffles Medical as it has a dedicated division for equipment development and because its upmarket services make it "somewhat recession resistant." Rahul Sen Sharma, managing partner of financial services firm Indxx, added, "Companies that are innovating in the healthcare sector, such as those specializing in wearables, telemedicine, genomics, and more, that cater to the needs of this demographic could experience significant growth." He recommended the Global X Aging Population ETF , which includes not just health-care companies and pharmaceutical firms, but also wearables and medical device companies such as Cochlear, GN Store Nord and Teleflex. China's 'very promising bets' Investors can look to focus on China's aging population by market reach or income segment, according to Leverage Shares' Rao. In terms of sheer market presence, mainland-listed Shanghai Pharmaceuticals and Topchoice Medical are "very promising bets," he told CNBC Pro. As for investors looking to get exposure to China's wealthier income segment, he named Raffles Medical, Asian Healthcare Specialists and IHH Healthcare  stocks that will also give similar exposure in other Asian countries. Dividend payers and financial services High-dividend-paying stocks as well as financial services are set to benefit from the aging population, according to analysts. The older cohort will increasingly prefer to receive dividends from their stocks to fund their consumption  instead of spending their capital gains, which means they will rotate more into stocks paying high dividends, according to King Fuei Lee, co-head of Asian equity alternative investments at U.K. asset management firm Schroders. "In a world that is rapidly ageing, the demand for dividends from the growing cohorts of retirees and soon-to-retire will underpin demand for dividend payers, making these stocks attractive investments on a longer-term basis," he wrote in a March note. "Any investor who is looking for fast-growing companies with strong corporate governance in Asia will do well to pay heed to them," he added. Another potential beneficiary of aging populations is financial services, according to Rob Clarry, investment strategist at wealth manager Evelyn Partners. As people live longer, they will likely need to save more to support themselves as cash-strapped governments are less likely to fund them, he said. "Not only does this create a significant tailwind for various parts of the financial services industry  investment management, platforms or pension providers  it may also influence the performance of financial markets themselves," Clarry said. Health care and age-related diseases A greater number of people aged over 65 means more age-related diseases will need to be treated, Clarry said. Global health-care expenditure will reach 10.2% of global gross domestic product by 2030, up from 8.8% in 2018, he said, citing Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development data. Annual spending on nursing homes will rise by $325 billion by 2070, and spending on medicine and drugs will climb by more than $40 billion annually over the next 50 years  in light of an aging U.S. population, Clarry said, citing recent analysis from PGIM. Clarry recommends the Aubrey Global Emerging Market Opportunities fund, which is a play on growing consumption in emerging markets, mainly in India and China, where people are spending more not just on health care, but also food and wealth management services.
Check out the companies making headlines in premarket trading.

Micron Technology  Shares jumped more than 6% following news that Samsung Electronics plans to cut memory chip production near term. Many Wall Street analysts said the move could accelerate a recovery within the memory chip industry.

Pioneer Natural Resources  The stock popped 7% before the bell after the Wall Street Journal reported that Exxon Mobil has held informal talks to acquire Pioneer. Exxon shares fell 0.6%.

Tesla  The electric vehicle stock fell nearly 2% before the bell. Tesla said it plans to build a "megapack" battery factory in Shanghai and cut vehicle prices again.

First Republic  Shares fell more than 3% after the regional bank suspended dividend payments on preferred stock.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing  U.S.-listed shares of the Taiwan-based semiconductor stock fell nearly 1% before the bell after the company reported a monthly drop in revenue.

Capital One Financial  Shares of the financial company fell more than 4% in premarket trading after Capital One said in a filing that Walmart is moving to end its credit card partnership. Capital One said in a filing that Walmart is suing to end the agreement, while Capital One maintains that the retail giant does not have a right to end the agreement early.

Block  The Square and Cash App parent lost nearly 2% in the premarket following a downgrade to market perform from outperform by KBW. The firm said the company is feeling pressure from a growing list of small risks.

 CNBC's Alex Harring and Jesse Pound contributed reporting
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Uber -owned ride-hailing service Careem announced Monday a spinout with major backing from a new source, as well as from its parent company.

Tech holding company e&, formerly Etisalat, based in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, signed a binding agreement with Uber Technologies to acquire a 50.03% majority stake in the spinout  which will be known as Careem Technologies  with a $400 million investment.

Careem's ride-hailing business remains fully owned by Uber, which acquired it for $3.1 billion in 2019. Uber's stake in the spinout is currently undisclosed.

Careem Technologies will focus on the growth of the company's "super app," which offers dozens of services beyond ride-hailing in one app. Some of those services include Careem Quik grocery delivery in 15 minutes or less, food delivery, PCR test booking, digital payments and remittance transfers, bicycle rentals, laundry and cleaning services, and event ticket booking.

"The non-ride services that are Careem-owned and operated today will be owned and operated by Careem Technologies in the future," a spokesperson for Careem told CNBC. Services offered by third-party partners, like laundry service Washmen or events marketplace Tikety, will remain operated by those third parties.

Careem has emphasized Uber's enduring role in the new entity. "Uber will continue to have a shareholding in the spinout, but the spinout will be independent with a different ownership structure," the spokesperson said.

Asked why the creation of an independent entity was needed, the spokesperson explained that Uber being a publicly listed company meant there were restrictions on how new investment could come in.

"It wasn't necessarily that we felt a spinout was required in any way, and I think Uber's continued ownership stake in the spinout is a testament to their continued belief in the Super App vision and desire to be part of this journey," he said. "But ultimately, I think, with Uber being a publicly listed company, there are only so many ways you can take new investment from a new party."

With the nearly half-billion-dollar investment and majority stake in Careem Technologies from e& as well as ongoing support from Uber, Careem says it's confident about the growth of its super app goals going forward.

"I am thrilled to partner with Careem, and welcome e&, as we grow the Careem super app to deliver more services to millions of people in this fast-moving part of the world," Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement.

Careem operates in more than 80 cities and 10 countries, according to its website. Established in 2012 by co-founders Mudassir Sheikha and Magnus Olsson, the company grew from a Dubai-based ride-hailing firm to a "Super App" platform, used across the Middle East from Morocco to Pakistan.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., greets Martin Gruenberg, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, during the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing in Dirksen Building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

WASHINGTON  Two top progressive lawmakers questioned whether Silicon Valley Bank offered its largest depositors unusually cushy treatment, one month after the institution collapsed and sparked broader damage to the banking system.

In letters to depositors dated Sunday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., sought details on what they called the "cozy" relationship between SVB and 14 of its biggest depositors. Among those who were sent letters are Roblox CEO David Baszucki, BlockFi CEO Zac Prince and Roku CEO Anthony Wood.

"Silicon Valley Bank's unusually cozy relationship with its clients increased the threat of contagion when the bank went under," Warren said in a statement. "The American people deserve to know how these mutual backscratching arrangements developed, who benefited from them, and what role they played in Silicon Valley Bank's failure."

SVB's banking practices were particularly attractive to startup companies that deposited more than the $250,000 limit insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Over 95% of the bank's deposits were uninsured as of December, which threatened companies' ability to make payroll after the bank failed.

The bank's 10 largest accounts held $13.3 billion in deposits, the lawmakers wrote.

Some of the "coddling" and "white glove" benefits that bank executives used to attract venture capitalist depositors included lower interest mortgage rates for startup founders who couldn't get loans from other banks, generous lines of credit that allowed depositors to quickly wire money to their startups, and sponsored ski trips, conferences and fancy dinners, the lawmakers said.

"If the reports are accurate, these mutual backscratching arrangements could help explain why some customers placed massive, uninsured deposits at SVB," the lawmakers wrote. "And if these deposits were made by company executives and allowed by corporate boards in exchange for personal perks, that behavior raises potential concerns about whether they were meeting their fiduciary duties."

The business practices of SVB executives might have also complicated the sale of the failed bank to another financial institution due to the close relationship between borrowers and depositors, the lawmakers wrote.

Warren and Ocasio-Cortez asked the depositors to provide details on any special treatment they received from SVB by April 24. They asked for information including a list of benefits and perks and any requirements to hold deposits with SVB in exchange for fringe benefits.

Spokespeople for Roblox, BlockFi and Roku did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
More than 600 cases regarding hate speech on Twitter are pending before German courts under the countrys hate speech takedowns law". The law, known colloquially as NetzDG, allows for fines of up to 50 million euros per case.

Twitter's voyage through rough weather continues, with the microblogging site potentially facing fines to the tune of tens of billions of euros in Germany for failing to take down hate speech posts.

As per a report by Techcrunch, more than 600 cases regarding hate speech on Twitter are pending before German courts. Adding fuel to the fire, earlier this week, Germany had announced an investigation into "suspected systemic failures under the countrys hate speech takedowns law". As per Techcrunch, the law, known colloquially as NetzDG, allows for fines of up to 50 million euros per case.

Last year, The New York Times had reported major increases in hate speech since Musk took Twitter October-end and fired staff in Germany and axed the content-moderation team in the US.

Last week, Elon Musk told his employees that Twitter  which he bought for $44 billion last year  is worth about $20 billion now. Assuming all 600 cases in Germany go against Twitter, the social media giant will have to fork out 30 billion euros in fine  that's nearly $33 billion dollars, or 65 percent more than what the company is worth now. This could very well mean Twitter will go bankrupt. While all this is theoretical at the moment, the number and amount of fines could easily stack up to tens of millions of dollars, at the very least.

As per the Techcrunch report, Germany is initially looking into "just a handful of tweets out of hundreds that have been reported and collated in a database". The report adds that s ome of the abusive tweets were posted by a user who had been banned before Musk's takeover, but has since had his account reinstated.

The German government, Techcrunch adds, was spurred into action after a legal challenge succeeded in establishing the tweets were illegal, and said it has found sufficient indications of failures in Twitters complaint management processes. This could result in the first penalty for a social media company for failure to remove illegal content under NetzDG.

Also read: Twitter Verified unfollows all accounts amid chaos over blue ticks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that the New York Times report on Mossad encouraging the protests against his judicisry overhaul was "mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever".

Israel's government rejected claims raised in leaked documents aparently fom the Pentagon that leaders of its intelligence service Mossad had supported nationwide protests against a proposed overhaul of the country's judiciary.

The New York Times published an assessment on April 8 that it attributed to a Central Intelligence Update from March 1 that Mossad leadership had encouraged its staff and Israeli citizens to join the mass protests. The paper said that while the leaked documents seemed authentic, it did not mean they were accurate.

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that the report was "mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever".

"The Mossad and its senior officials did not  and do not  encourage agency personnel to join the demonstrations against the government, political demonstrations or any political activity," it said.

Netanyahu's judiciary overhaul plan sparked unprecedented public anger since his coalition of hard-right and religious parties came to power late last year, and has also caused alarm among Israel's Western allies.

The proposed legislation would enable parliament to override Supreme Court decisions and hold control over judicial appointments.

After weeks of intensifying demonstrations, Netanyahu in late March relented and said he would delay the contested reforms to allow for compromise talks with opposition parties.

The U.S. Justice Department said on Friday it was in touch with the Defense Department and had began a probe into the leak of the alleged documents, covering several subjects relating to national security. It declined further comment.

Also read:

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 23 that his country's intelligence agency Mossad helped Greece prevent a terrorist attack planned against at least one Jewish site in Athens.

Greek authorities said earlier that two men described as being of Pakistani origin, who were not named, had been arrested for allegedly planning an attack on a Jewish restaurant. The attack was considered to be imminent and to be intended to cause extensive loss of life.

The suspects were charged Tuesday with terrorism offenses, while a third man believed to be outside Greece has been charged in absentia with similar offenses.

A statement from Netanyahu's office maintained that the attackers were linked to Iran.

(With inputs from agencies)
An Internationally Competitive Graduate Program

Marco Barracchia 22 has won the Erasmus Mundus Excellence Scholarship to fund his Europubhealth+ graduate program in Spain and the Netherlands, focusing on Leadership and Governance of European Public Health. This internationally competitive graduate program received more than 1,400 applications for the double masters degree; only 20-25 are accepted into the program each year. The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship is even more competitive, as not all students accepted into the program receive the scholarship.

The application has been one of the most competitive I have applied to, but I never lost hope, shares Barracchia. I knew within myself where I was coming from and what my objectives were.

Barracchia was an international student from Italy, which further demonstrates the successes of international students at CC. The first person he called when he opened the email announcing his scholarship? His mother.

Its hard sometimes to believe you made it, he says. Especially when you are a low-income, first-generation student raised by a single mother. She is my biggest supporter ever. After I told her about the acceptance, her tears of happiness made all the effort worth it.

For his first masters in Fundamentals of Public Health, Barracchia chose Granada, Spain to learn how the local-national-supranational intertwine, promoting culturally appropriate interventions and mastering skills such as policy development, quality assurance, and health impact assessment. As an added bonus, he says hed like to challenge himself with learning his fourth language, Spanish, and to reconnect with the Mediterranean region.

This masters aligns with my long-term objective to work in intergovernmental policymaking that focuses on designing evidence-based policies and reducing health inequities, he adds. I am eager to become a public health expert committed to increasing health access around the world.

Barracchias specialization will be in Maastricht, the Netherlands, where he will focus on leadership and governance of public health.

Marco is a great example of a student who leveraged the unique opportunities available at CC, says Roy Jo Sartin, Writing Center specialist and Erasmus Mundus adviser for CC. He studied abroad in India, South Africa, and Jordan; volunteered with the Western Organization for People Living with HIV/AIDS (WOPLAH) in Kenya; and received a SEED grant to develop a cross-cultural guide on HIV prevention strategies for public health workers in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Italy. He also received a Venture Grant for global health research, an Anthropology Department grant for his senior thesis research, and a summer internship funding award from the Career Center for his WOPLAH work in Kenya.

Long-term, Barracchia wishes to develop non-vertical, community-based initiatives, centering on equal healthcare access within vulnerable communities in Europe and beyond.

After conducting global health research in eight countries and five continents thanks to CC's unique opportunities, as well as researching transnationally maternal-child health, migration, and queer health, and after studying at CC along emergent decolonial, antiracist, feminist anthropological currents, I decided to attend this masters program, to bring back home what I have learned so far.

Barracchia begins the next chapter in September 2023. Meanwhile, he is currently doing a research project on HIV and PrEP use in Italy, working with community health organizations in Italy and Kenya and is hoping to publish an article on his research in South America in a medical anthropology journal.
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Facing a sharp drop in revenue, Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC is seeking assurances from the US about subsidies it will receive when it builds its new $40 billion manufacturing facilities in Arizona.

TSMCs US investments are part of the chipmakers strategic move to expand beyond Taiwan, due to the countrys own political tensions with China, as well as the onoing US chip trade war with China, which is putting companies globally in the crosshairs.

Trade tensions are coming at a time when chip makers find themselves in a market environment that features substantially weakened demand compared to past years.

TSMC itself saw net revenue drop by more than 15% on a year-on-year basis in March, according to a preliminary revenue report issued Monday.

While March 2022 saw TSMCs net revenue top $5.6 billion, March 2023s figures dropped to $4.7 billion, which was a sharp decrease even in month-to-month terms. (February saw TSMCs revenues reach $5.3 billion.)

The numbers are better for TSMC when viewed on a quarterly basis  the company posted a 3.6% net revenue increase in the first quarter of 2023, for a total of $16.6 billion, compared to last years figure of $16.1 billion.

PC shipments drop as pandemic surge subsides

The recent decline is likely tied to the sharp drop in demand for end-user devices. Worldwide shipments of traditional PCs dropped by 29% in the quarter compared to a year before, to a total of 56.9 million, according to a report issued today by IDC. Researchers for IDC expect sales to continue to suffer in the near term  thanks to the pandemic-fueled spike in demand finally petering out  but said that normal refresh cycles could begin to take hold again in 2024, revitalizing the market.

Yet even that is far from a certainty, warned IDC devices and displays research vice president Linn Huang.

If the economy is trending upward by then, we expect significant market upside as consumers look to refresh, schools seek to replace worn-down Chromebooks, and businesses move to Windows 11, Huang said, in the report. If recession in key markets drags on into next year, recovery could be a slog.

TSMCs down numbers are not an aberration for the silicon market, as other chipmakers, including Samsung, have reported shrinking revenue. Meanwhile companies like TSMC and Samsung are being heavily incentivized to produce their more advanced chips in the US, thanks to new laws like the CHIPS and Science Act.

That pressure has caused additional anxieties for overseas chipmakers, who will have to adhere to a broad set of US guidelines for semiconductor makers seeking CHIPS Act funds. Some of the conditions showed the administrations social and economic priorities, including for a diverse workforce.

In addition, there are concerns about the idea of clawbacks of excess profits that could be owed to the government via its upside sharing provisions, as well as worries over confidential business information being kept secret, according to a Reuters report.

Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua told reporters on Monday that TSMC was talking to the US about the details of the CHIPS Act subsidies, Reuters reported, which added that it received a statement from TSMC that confirmed the talks.

"We can confirm that we are communicating with the U.S. government about the CHIPS Act guidance," according to the TSMC statement.
India-France business summit to kick off on April 11

India's Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal will lead the Indian delegation at India-France Business Summit, commemorating 25 years of India-France friendship in Paris before heading to Rome, Italy to meet Deputy PM Antonio Tajani.

Goyal's visit is expected to impart further momentum to bilateral relations with Indias key business partners in the European region. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@PiyushGoyalOffc

Goyal and Olivier Becht, France's Minister delegate of Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad will co-chair the India-France Business Summit.

Indian Ambassador to France Jawed Ashraf told Doordarshan India in an interview that the summit was a great opportunity for India.

"There is an unprecedented level of interest and attention in India for a number of reasons. One of course is that this is the year of G20 presidency for India. Second is the pace of our economic growth; we've had an extremely good post-pandemic recovery...all of this has place India as perhaps the most attractive place to do business in," he said.

The summit will focus on themes including building a green future, emerging technologies, defence cooperation and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, an official release said. Accompanied by a delegation of Indian CEOs, the Minister is also scheduled to meet with French business leaders across various sectors and will attend a CEOs roundtable.

Narrating Indias development story on French soil!



It was a pleasure to interact with the Indian diaspora in Paris & describe how India is emerging as a bright spot on the global stage under the decisive leadership of PM @NarendraModi ji.



 https://t.co/DJzbyIcIdp pic.twitter.com/6aV8ITnmwO  Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 10, 2023

The business summit and CEO roundtable are being organised by the Embassy of India in Paris in partnership with Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Business France and Indo French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI).

Narrating Indias development story on French soil!



It was a pleasure to interact with the Indian diaspora in Paris & describe how India is emerging as a bright spot on the global stage under the decisive leadership of PM @NarendraModi ji.



 https://t.co/DJzbyIcIdp pic.twitter.com/6aV8ITnmwO  Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 10, 2023

The visit is expected to impart further momentum to bilateral relations with Indias key business partners in the European region.
Seeing nothing ominous in that policy, the similar Children's Wish Foundation stepped in like the "cool" parent and made Craig's wish happen. The chain letter became a smash hit, and by the end of 1991, Craig had shattered the Guinness World Record with 35 million get-well cards having been sent to the boy's home in Britain.

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In a mini-miracle, a rich businessman took notice of Craig's wish adventure and contacted him about covering the cost of his surgery. Craig received proper surgery soon after the record was reached, and is still alive and healthy today. With the record beaten and cancer gone, Craig officially announced he wished for the cards to stop. Wow, way to go, mankind!

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The boy survived, but dozens of mailmen threw their backs out.

Then shit got nuts. It turns out there's a reason the Make-A-Wish foundation doesn't traffic in chain letters. Millions of them were already out there being circulated, and they didn't disappear with Craig's cancer. The wonderful people who sent get-well cards didn't stop forwarding them to other wonderful people, no matter how much Craig and his family told the public, "We're good over here, you can stop now! Seriously it's getting hard to breath in here." Eventually, Craig's family abandoned their home, unable to tolerate the daily volume of mail. With an address that was no longer current, the post office quickly grew wise and began forwarding any Children's Wish Foundation related mail to the company headquarters in Phoenix. Eventually, the company had to begin storing them in a massive holding-area staffed by 40 volunteers -- just enough to handle the 300,000 messages received each week. Hey, slow down, mankind!
For a while now, touch grass has been an excellent burn to direct at terminally online gamers and trolls, a biting, succinct way of telling them to put down the controller and get outside and argue with a tree for a change.

As an added bonus, a recent meta-analysis of 28 studies has now confirmed that its legitimately good health advice as well, as spending time outside can reduce blood pressure, decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety and encourage more physical activity.

In terms of how long you need to touch grass to see a benefit, past data suggests that two hours a week spent in nature is optimal.

The evidence shows that nature prescriptions can help to restore and build capacities for better physical and mental health, lead author Xiaoqi Feng explained in a press release. What we need now is to work out how to make nature prescriptions happen in a sustained way for those people with high potential to benefit, but who currently spend little time in nature.

Perhaps in the future then, touch grass wont just be a sick burn, itll be something doctors scribble down on a prescription pad, too.
With a notoriously nocturnal timeslot of 12:37 am Los Angeles time, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson was an easy show to miss for casual fans with early bedtimes. Apparently, that group includes Seann William Scott.

The American Pie star was slated to appear on The Late Late Show one fateful Friday night in September, 2008, but Los Angeles traffic caused Scott to miss his date with the Scotsman. Scott's absence forced Ferguson to do what he does best  he improvised. This mishap led to one of the most memorable and impromptu interviews in Fergusons career as, instead of asking Stiffler a total of two pre-planned questions before ripping up his notecards, Ferguson shredded the nights entire playbook and invited segment producer Lisa Ammerman to sit in the armchair and answer his off-the-cuff questions.

On The Late Late Show, Ammerman was responsible for coordinating the celebrity guest appearances, so Scotts failure to attend his scheduled interview should have been the biggest headache of her evening. Then Craig told her to put on the mic.
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Federal prosecutors are recommending a Connecticut man receive the longest sentence so far associated with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, according to a court memo filed Friday.

Assistant U.S. States Attorney Kimberly Paschall wrote in the memo that prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of 188 months, or 15 years and 8 months, for Ridgefield resident Patrick McCaughey III. The sentence recommendation is the maximum possible under the applicable guidelines, Paschall wrote in the memo.

The sentence, if imposed, would be the longest associated with the Jan. 6 riots, surpassing the 10 years handed down to Thomas Webster, a former New York Police Department officer who brutally assaulted an officer on the front lines of the riot.

Paschall argued in the memo that a significant sentence like the one requested is necessary to deter others from acts of domestic terrorism, which she said the breach of the Capitol certainly was.

The violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6 was cultivated to interfere, and did interfere, with one of the most important democratic processes we have: the transfer of power. And it is important to convey to future rioters and would-be mob participants  especially those who intend to improperly influence the democratic process  that their actions will have consequences, Paschall wrote in the memo. There is possibly no greater factor that this court must consider.

Paschall also asked that the court impose $2,000 in restitution and three years of supervised release on McCaughey.

Attorney Dennis Boyle, who represents McCaughey, is seeking a one-year prison sentence for his client. He wrote in a 25-page memo that McCaughey knows he was wrong for participating in what Boyle called one of the saddest episodes in American history.

Mr. McCaughey is a good man who has learned from his mistake. He has no prior criminal history and is extremely unlikely to recidivate in this manner again, Boyle wrote in his memo.

McCaughey is scheduled to be sentenced Friday following his conviction on nine charges, including three counts of assaulting police and obstruction of an official proceeding, at a bench trial in September 2022.

Federal prosecutors alleged that during the riot, McCaughey joined a mob attempting to break into the Capitol building through an entrance on the lower west terrace. During the scuffle, Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges became pinned in a door frame by a clear police riot shield that McCaughey was wieding, according to the government's court filings.

A video from the riot posted to YouTube shows Hodges screaming in pain as his gas mask was ripped off, exposing his bloodied mouth.

Hodges testified before the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack that he feared being dragged out and "lynched" by the mob.

"My arms were pinned and effectively useless, trapped between either the shield on my left or the door frame on my right with my posture granting me no function strength or freedom of movement, I was effectively defenseless and gradually sustaining injury from the increasing pressure of the mob," Hodges told the Jan. 6 committee.

While pinned, another rioter grabbed his gas mask "and used it to beat my head against the door," Hodges said. He was crushed further as the crowd began a "heave-ho" motion against the line of law enforcement officers trying to hold the entrance to the Capitol, according to Hodges and government court filings. A rioter also stole his baton and used it to beat Hodges, the video shows.

Hodges testified during McCaugheys trial and the judge watched the YouTube video focusing on the officers injuries.

Attorney Lindy Urso, who also represented McCaughey, has previously called his clients actions on Jan. 6 an idiotic decision. He also previously indicated McCaughey would likely file an appeal to Fridays decision.
Feature: China's hearing-impaired baristas taste the good life

Xinhua) 13:22, April 10, 2023

Hearing-impaired barista Zeng Zheng(L) communicates with his colleague in a coffee shop located at Songshan General Hospital, Yubei District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

CHONGQING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- For many people, the taste of coffee is rather ordinary, while for others it seems sour or bitter. But for hearing-impaired barista Zeng Zheng and his peers in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, coffee presents a rich and pleasing variety of taste experiences.

There is even some variety in the different forms of sweetness on offer, according to Zeng, with some hitting the palate from the start, while others initially seem bitter but finally resolve into sweetness.

To some extent, this reflects Zeng's life experience, with the bitterness of losing his hearing giving way to something more positive, thanks to his new career. Together with several hearing-impaired colleagues, he works at an inclusive coffee shop named "Yijiao Caf," located at Songshan General Hospital.

It is one of two branches with the same name, which translates as "One Corner Caf". The name was inspired by a famous children's book called "The Missing Piece" by Shel Silverstein.

The story centers on a circular creature that is missing a wedge-shaped piece of itself. It starts out on an adventure searching for the missing piece, and is eventually successful. However, having filled the gap, it realizes it can no longer enjoy some of its favorite activities, such as singing. At the end of the story, it gently puts the piece down and continues happily on it way.

The moral of the story is that one can find happiness by accepting one's personal quirks and imperfections.

Zhu Jiayun, head of a charity for people with disabilities in Chongqing's Yuzhong District, founded the brand in May 2022, hiring several hearing-impaired people to work as baristas.

"Actually, everyone has a missing corner," said Zhu. "Some people may feel they are lacking in love, and some people may have a career goal that is hard to attain. However, our life should not be about pursuing perfection, but about accepting our own imperfections. You should enjoy your life."

In Zhu's caf, the hearing-impaired baristas pass a writing pad to the customers who then write down their orders. The more experienced customers often use simple sign language to say thank you.

One thing that binds the customers and staff together is the intense aroma of coffee in the place, complete with the array of additional flavors.

Standing behind the counter during a quiet moment, Zeng took the time to savor a cup of coffee brewed by one of his colleagues. He jotted down his impressions in a little notebook, then shared his findings with others using his phone.

"Lemon, citrus and a little bit of Michelia alba. Have you tasted them yet?" he typed.

Now 40 years old, Zeng goes to various places in the city searching for different tastes and fragrances, with flower and fruit markets his favorite spots.

"Previously, I had neglected fragrances and made do with a simple existence. But coffee has changed my life," he said.

Zeng often invites his hearing-impaired peers to drink hand-brewed coffee at his house. The guests include Zheng Yi, 52, who has also fallen in love with coffee thanks to his new career.

In September 2022, Yijiao launched a free-of-charge barista training program for the hearing-impaired. The program attracted Zeng, Zheng and their ilk, who used to scrape by with various low-skilled jobs.

Four out of the 15 trainees were then employed by Zhu after a stringent entry examination. In the same month, the first Yijiao Caf outlet, located in Yuzhong District, opened its doors.

In February this year, the second outlet opened in Songshan General Hospital, in Chongqing's Yubei District. In just a month, the new outlet sold more than 3,700 cups of coffee. For every 10 yuan (about 1.45 U.S. dollars) earned by the store, 0.1 yuan is donated to public welfare funds, said Zhu.

The design team of the Yijiao Caf brand is also composed of hearing-impaired staff.

"Over the past few years, the career options for hearing-impaired people have no longer been restricted to factory work. Many of them are now lawyers, designers, teachers and tour guides," said team member Wang Yuan.

In the city's business incubation base for those with developmental disabilities, where the team is located, there are more than a dozen start-ups founded by disabled people. They operate in various fields, such as floriculture and e-commerce livestreaming.

With his first two outlets now thriving, Zhu plans to open three more coffee shops this year.

"I hope that Yijiao Caf is more than just a coffee shop, but can also serve as a model space, where the able-bodied and those with developmental disabilities can make coffee, drink coffee, or live and work together," Zhu said.

Hearing-impaired baristas work in a coffee shop located at Songshan General Hospital, Yubei District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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PARIS (AP)  Comments by French President Emmanuel Macron over Europe's priorities on Taiwan have raised questions over the EUs relationship with both the U.S. and China, on the eve of his planned speech on the bloc's sovereignty in The Netherlands.

Macrons remarks were published Sunday in an interview with French newspaper Les Echos and Politico Europe.

The question we need to answer, as Europeans, is the following: is it in our interest to accelerate (a crisis) on Taiwan? No," Macron was quoted as saying in the interview. "The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the U.S. agenda and a Chinese overreaction.

The comments were made Friday, before China launched large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island in response to the Taiwanese presidents trip to the U.S. last week.

Macron spoke to reporters on his way back from a three-day state visit to China, where he spoke at length with President Xi Jinping, including about Taiwan, according to Macrons office.

The remarks have drawn wide attention on social media, and experts raised questions about whether Macrons views are in line with the European Unions position and whether the bloc of 27 is able to become the third superpower" that Macron says he hopes to build within a few years.

Asked about Macrons comments Monday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby insisted that the U.S. and France have a terrific bilateral cooperation and closely coordinate on security issues in Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, the Sahel and elsewhere.

Were focused on ... making sure that together were meeting the national security requirements of both countries, Kirby said.

Macron on Tuesday is to start a two-day state visit in The Netherlands, where he is scheduled to make a speech on Europes sovereignty, with a focus on the economy and industry, according to his office.

We, Europeans, must wake up. Our priority is not others' agendas in all regions of the world, Macron said in the interview.

He emphasized the concept of strategic autonomy for Europe which he has promoted for years. He warned of what he called the trap that would lead to the bloc "getting caught up in crises that are not ours.

We dont want to depend on others for critical topics, he insisted.

Politico said Macrons office asked to check the presidents quotes before they were published, a common practice in France, leading to some parts of the interview in which he spoke even more frankly about Taiwan and Europes strategic autonomy getting cut out.
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TRUMBULL  William Lee, a World War II veteran, Yale University graduate, artist, historian and community staple, died last week in his Trumbull home at 99 years old.

Pat Rackliffe, one of Lee's daughters, said her dad was a force of nature, with a big personality.

"You knew he was in the house when he came in. There were many loves in his life," she said, later adding, "It was a life really well-lived."

In addition to his time in Trumbull, Lee lived in Fairfield for many years. He served as the director of America's Bicentennial Celebration in Fairfield, and later as the director of Fairfield's Historical Civic Center at the Burr Mansion and as town historian.

Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick called Lee a "treasure" to the Fairfield community.

He took great pride in enriching generations of residents with his vast knowledge and love of Fairfields local history," Kupchick said." We are truly grateful for all of Bills contributions and extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Rackliffe said Lee loved his family, and he was incredibly involved in their lives. She said he has photo albums that put the rest of his family's to shame.

"He loved visiting and participating in everything," she said. "He enjoyed very minute  every celebration."

Rackliffe said Lee was proud of, but humble about, his service as a combat engineer in France and Germany during World War II. She said all things Yale were important to him, adding he was a fine arts major and met great people.

When it comes to Fairfield, Rackliffe said Lee spent his childhood on the beach and loved it there and in the rest of town.

"History was always important to him," she said, noting he organized a reenactment of the British invasion of Fairfield during the War of 1812. "It was huge for him."

Michael Jehle, the executive director of the Fairfield Museum and History Center, said Lee was a passionate advocate for Fairfield's history and the preservation of its historic properties. He said Lee's guidance and enthusiasm were always tremendously helpful.

"He was a talented man and very passionate about the community," Jehle said. "It was always a great joy to meet with him, talk with him and share in his enthusiasm."

Kathleen Maxham, Fairfield's probate court judge, said everyone loved Lee, and his art is even hanging on the walls of the probate court.

"He was an unbelievable artist, and prolific," she said.

Maxham said Lee was active in preserving the history of the town, including doing work at Sun Tavern (a historic building on the Fairfield Green) and the Burr Homestead. She said he was a treasure, and a wonderful person and a "Renaissance man."

When he moved to Trumbull after retiring, Rackliffe said, he got involved with the history and people living there as well.

"He was always involved with where he lived," she said.

Rackliffe said Lee was unstoppable, noting he was still driving until last summer. Even his death, she said, was almost as if it was planned.

"He always said he wanted to die at home," she said. "Last Saturday, in the evening we were watching the UConn game. It was a lovely evening. The next morning he said 'I'm having a hard time moving about.' He took to his bed and by Tuesday night he was gone."

Rackliffe said he spent his last days talking with family members. She said it was very peaceful, as if he had orchestrated it.

When his friends started passing away about 20 years ago, Rackliffe said, he started making new friends  like a next generation. She said he loved talking to people, whether it be at church, on walks or at his house.

"He's an interesting person," she said, noting he would talk to people about topics such as local history or his war experience. "In just a short conversation, people would be drawn in. It was lovely for him that he had new people come along in his life. He was never a lonely person."

Even late in life, Rackliffe said, Lee was busy. She said he always had a project going on, from painting to constructing World War II fighter plane models.

"I think it's what kept him going," she said. "He would always say, 'I've got so much more to do."'

A Mass of Christian burial will take place 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Stephen Church, Trumbull. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery, Fairfield with military honors.
BRIDGEPORT  Police are investigating after a person was shot at a gas station on Fairfield Avenue Saturday night.

Around 11:20 p.m., Bridgeport's emergency communications center received multiple reports of gunfire in the area from the city's ShotSpotter system, according to Scott Appleby, the city's director of emergency management.

At the scene, witnesses told police that a male suspect who was wearing all black "fired a silver firearm" at a male victim at the gas station, Appleby said.

The shooter continued to fire at the other individual while driving away in a vehicle, Appleby said.

A victim with a gunshot wound was later taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center. Appleby said the victim was "uncooperative" and has not given police any information about the shooting.

Anyone with information can contact the Bridgeport Police Department at 203-576-TIPS
MONROE  Planning and zoning officials are questioning a proposal to build a combined 196 units, echoing some safety and traffic concerns residents have raised for the possible complex near the Trumbull line.

The proposal  known as the Pond View Development  would build seven apartment buildings, each with 28 units, at 127 Main St. There will also be parking a maintenance building, a clubhouse with a pool, cabanas and space for outdoor activities.

During the recent meeting, Kevin Solli of Solli Engineering, a firm representing the applicant Pond View LLC, reiterated how the project would include solar panels at the clubhouse and low-flush toilets, using less water than traditional ones. Faucets and showerheads would pour a limited number of gallons per minute, Solli said. The project would also feature bike racks and electric vehicle charging stations, he said.

Developers are really trying to reduce that overall impact and really kind of focus on the sustainability aspect of what weve trying to bring to the community, Solli said.

The applicant has also tweaked the plan to include a ridge, or berm, on the east side of the property, with a six-foot fence. They also plan to grow plants north of the proposed development.

We feel what we proposed is a robust buffer to be cognizant of what our surrounding environment is, Solli said.

Still, a few residents living nearby who already oppose the plan pushed back against the proposed change.

Monroe Economic Development Commissioner Rick Smith, who lives in the area, suggested children would climb on the ridge.

"You don't think the kids are going to try to climb on that?" Smith said. "Come on now."

Residents living in the area have criticized the proposals traffic study, which estimates the project would generate 73 new trips during peak morning hours and 77 trips during peak afternoon hours. At a hearing last month, they said it doesnt adequately account for the number of residents who would live there and some have called traffic in the area dangerous.

As part of the project, engineers are proposing to widen the road at a Route 25 intersection near Dunkin Donuts and Baskin-Robbins.

That just adds some additional capacity to ensure that it can operate effectively and efficiently, Solli said.

Last month, some residents expressed concern the proposed apartment project would contribute to overcrowding in schools, especially coming not long after planning officials approved another project near Trumbull.

Engineers estimate the Pond View Development would house about 18 school-aged kids, who Sollis told commissioners wouldnt all necessarily be new students to the school system.

Proponents estimate the money the apartment project would bring to the town will offset any additional expenses the schools might have for the students who live there.

During the most recent meeting, Lupo and Alicia Garfield, a resident living nearby, said the estimates of schoolchildren were too low for a 196-unit apartment project.

Id love for the community to grow, responsibly, but I just think that theres too many apartments here, Garfield said.

Some planning and zoning commissioners were wary about residents having to drive their children to a nearby bus stop on Route 25.

It doesnt seem like a lot, but if you have 17 kids, they could be all in elementary school, waiting to get on the bus, getting out of the car, youre going to back up 25, Lupo said.

Although the proposal includes a bus stop near its clubhouse to accommodate public transportation, the stop wouldnt be included in any school bus routes. Engineers have agreed to work with the local school board to identify a stop within the proposed complex or at a nearby area.
LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland (AP)  Demonstrators opposing the Good Friday peace agreement that ended three decades of hostilities in Northern Ireland firebombed a police car Monday in Londonderry during a march on the agreement's 25th anniversary, officials said.

Police called for calm and said no officers were injured in the attack during an otherwise peaceful demonstration. No arrests were reported.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  More than 200 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have returned home in a prisoner swap, the warring countries said Monday.

Russias Defense Ministry said 106 Russian soldiers were released from Ukrainian custody as part of an agreement with Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys chief of staff, said that Russia freed 100 Ukrainian prisoners.

Neither announcement mentioned whether any intermediaries were involved in the agreement.

Some of the Ukrainian soldiers have severe injuries and illnesses, Yermak said in a statement published on Telegram.

He added that the latest of the sporadic prisoner swaps in the war that started in February 2022 was not an easy one. He did not elaborate.

Ukraines Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War alleged that almost half of the 80 men and 20 women soldiers who returned home have serious injuries, illnesses or have been tortured. It presented no evidence for its claims.

According to Ukrainian news reports, one of the women prisoners is Valeriia Karpilenko, a border guard who had helped defend Mariupols Azovstal steel plant. Last May, she married a Ukrainian soldier in the steel plants basement while Russian forces surrounded the complex. Her husband was killed three days later.

The freed Russians were being flown on military transport planes to Moscow for medical treatment and rehabilitation, the Defense Ministry said.

Such exchanges represent one of the few areas of cooperation between Ukraine and Russia. The two sides have returned hundreds of each others soldiers, as well as the bodies of fallen troops, since the war began.

Meanwhile, Ukraines presidential office said at least six civilians were wounded in the latest Russian shelling.

Separately, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian forces struck a power plant and residential buildings in the eastern province.

The Russians also shelled nine border villages in the provinces of Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv.

Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in televised remarks that the country has nearly seven million internally displaced people, including about one million children.

Most of them have abandoned their homes in the east and the south to move to safer locations in central and western Ukraine.

___ Associated Press Writer Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
WFO NORMAN Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, April 9, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southwestern Jackson County in southwestern Oklahoma...

West central Wilbarger County in northern Texas...

Southern Hardeman County in northern Texas...

* Until 445 PM CDT.

* At 358 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 6 miles north of

Quanah, moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

* Locations impacted include...

Quanah, Chillicothe, and Medicine Mound.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT

FOR NORTHEASTERN KENT AND SOUTHEASTERN DICKENS COUNTIES...

At 401 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Girard, or 9

miles southeast of Spur, moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...

Girard.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to

flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
Opinion: Going about your day-to-day campus life while a group tour walks by can feel awkward. Heres how best to handle the anxiety of being observed.

----------

Its made you self-conscious before, hasnt it?

Maybe youve been working in the EMU while a crowd of parents and budding students shuffles by, and you can feel the stares scan you. You immediately realize how hunched your back is over your laptop, how trash your outfit is that day, how greasy your hair is and now youre overthinking the Panda Express carton next to you. To them, youre the picture of academia: a model college student they hope to become.

For the people on these tours, what theyre seeing is a simulation. They see an average day on campus unfold and imagine themselves or their child fitting into this picture. Theyre eyeing up every student they see because the students are a representation of what they might look like if they went to this school.

What they dont see is that the student theyre observing is not an actor paid to reflect them. Its a real 18-year-old hiding a very real panic attack about being the 300th student to not pass Math 111 (this term). That isnt a model feverishly researching for a term paper on their laptop. Thats a senior responding to a text from their roommate saying they somehow ran through their houses drywall playing Beer Pong.

We didnt sign up to put on a show for these tourists, but there you are being watched while you try to get a research paper done on the last day before Canvas locks the assignment. Being looked over by a tour guide group can be a stressful experience for any student on campus, so Ive made a list of things you can do to better blend in and avoid the embarrassment.

Look like a scholar

These tours are expecting to see intelligent young minds blooming at this institute of knowledge, so dont disappoint them. Wear a gown and your graduation cap while you study in the library before you even graduate. Hold an open book in each hand, one being Fahrenheit 451 and the other being Jane Eyre. Look pensively into the distance and mutter to yourself about Plato. Wear a monocle. Grow a beard. Be the scholar they expect to see. It may help to carry around a lab coat and goggles with beakers of chemicals to blend in more.

Smile and laugh in a diverse friend group

If you really want to meet expectations and not be embarrassed by a staring tour group, become a poster for the campus website. The tour group will be thrilled to see they stumbled by such a great group of friends who all completely coincidentally each represent a different ethnic identity and sexuality. The university values diversity so much that theyll be right on time with that check they promised you.

Scatter

As soon as a tour group wanders by where you are, immediately get up and run away. Leave your things, as well. If the entire EMU fishbowl immediately evacuates when a group walks in, maybe theyll begin to understand that theyre upsetting the vibe.

Spread a rumor

I saw an article by College Raptor that gave advice to touring college students to approach the students of the university they visit and ask them their genuine thoughts on their life on campus. I think this is bad guidance for two reasons. The first is youre not supposed to tap on the glass of the exhibit because you freak out the zoo animals. The second is you give too much power to a possibly disgruntled Oregon student.

Maybe Im evil, but it would be all too easy to come up with a story to freak out a 16- or 17-year-old. Yeah, the classes are cool and whatever, but did you hear that Riley Hall is haunted? All of the sudden you arent anxious about being asked a question and now theyre freaked out about the rats that crawl around the Student Rec Center you told them about.

Stare back

Even out the tension of being observed by returning the puzzling look back to that kid whos been watching you sit on your phone while the tour stops. Blink a bunch of times; make them think youre trying to send them a message.

Ask if anyone has a lighter

I would bet the tour guide will lead everyone away from you if you loudly ask everyone. Dont mention what its for.

Get out!

The most awkward situation Ive heard of is people wondering if they were in the frame of someone taking a picture of campus on their phone as the tour walks by. However, there is a canonical and completely understandable response to this. Widen your eyes, run up to this person and grab them by the shoulders. Start yelling Get out! Get out of here while you still can! Someone will pull you away eventually, and you can get back to what you were doing.
US Dollar, Chinese Yuan, USD/CNH  Q2 Top Trade Opportunity

US Dollar may continue pressuring the Yuan in Q2

A Chinese export decline seems to be a key factor

Keep a close eye on USD /CNH between 7.08  7.52

Recommended by Daniel Dubrovsky Get Your Free Top Trading Opportunities Forecast Get My Guide

US Dollar May Continue Pressuring the Chinese Yuan in the Second Quarter

This is a continuation of my ongoing outlook on USD/CNH based on a multiple linear regression model. I have made a couple of changes from the first quarter 2023 outlook. The first is we are now looking at USD/CNH instead of CNH/USD. The second is that the model was simplified, removing variables no longer statistically significant.

The first variable used to gauge the impact on the exchange rate is Chinese exports (year-over-year). Increasing global appetite for Chinese goods should translate into higher demand for the local currency and vice versa. The second variable is G20 real GDP (also y/y). Chinas economy is closely tied to the global business cycle, making capturing worldwide growth a key component of this equation.

Finally, the spread between 10-year Treasury yields and equivalent Chinese bonds was factored. This is trying to capture the difference between United States and Chinese monetary policy expectations.

This model confirms that Chinese exports and G20 real GDP tend to have an inverse relationship with USD/CNH. In other words, the Yuan persistently appreciates when the world consumes more Chinese goods and when global growth rises. Meanwhile, when bond yields rise in the US relative to China, the Yuan tends to weaken and vice versa.

After making this model, Bloomberg second-quarter economic forecasts for the three variables are noted. Using the latter, I can then estimate how USD/CNH might behave in Q2 with an error zone. In the chart below, the model estimates USD/CNH rising about +9% y/y in Q2 versus +9.9% y/y in Q1. At the time of writing, USD/CNH was well within the margin of error prescribed by the Q1 forecast.

For the second quarter, this outlook translates into a 7.52  7.08 exchange rate zone, up from 6.77  7.19 prior. In other words, we could be looking at cautious US Dollar strength. This is highly influenced by an anticipated -6.0% y/y contraction in Chinese exports.

This zone could come in handy if prices move outside of this range. For example, a drop below 7.08 could speak to the US Dollar being oversold and vice versa. Needless to say, we might see performance outside of the error range should conditions warrant.

Recommended by Daniel Dubrovsky Get Your Free USD Forecast Get My Guide

--- Written by Daniel Dubrovsky, Senior Strategist for DailyFX.com

To contact Daniel, follow him on Twitter:@ddubrovskyFX
Keir Starmer is a sadistic paedophile who kills babies and eats them for breakfast. I'm Richard Littlejohn and I approve this message.

Before Labour starts reaching for Mr Rumpole  or in their case, one of m'learned friends at Nonces'R'Us, the celebrated Left-wing yuman rites chambers founded by Cherie Blair and others  let me make it absolutely clear that none of the above is remotely true.

But that's exactly the kind of prime-time political message you see during the commercial breaks on American television in the run-up to elections.

Most of them are paid for by so-called PACs  allegedly independent Political Action Committees  and often endorsed by the candidates themselves, while giving them a certain deniability.

It's a way of getting round campaign funding limits  the very laws the Democrats are currently using in their increasingly deranged attempts to nail Donald Trump.

The party's latest series of attack ads claim that Rishi Sunak doesn't believe adults who sexually abuse children should be sent to prison

Sadly, Labour has now decided that lying through their teeth is the best way back to power

They've even got a name for it, 'swift-boating', after Republican-sympathising Vietnam veterans were wheeled out to trash John Kerry's war record, as a naval officer in the Mekong Delta, during his presidential defeat by George W. Bush.

Turned out, none of the allegations had any basis in truth. But they undoubtedly helped the Bush campaign, which resulted in a bitterly contested, narrow victory eventually settled in court.

Back then, 20-odd years ago, we consoled ourselves that it couldn't happen here.

That was, of course, before public trust in politicians was comprehensively undermined by the dodgy dossier downloaded off the internet by Labour's then resident nutter-on-the-bus Alastair Campbell, which persuaded the Commons to take us into an illegal war in Iraq.

Sadly, Labour has now decided that lying through their teeth is the best way back to power.

The party's latest attack ad claims that Rishi Sunak doesn't believe adults who sexually abuse children should be sent to prison.

It's straight from the New Labour songbook and doesn't surprise me in the slightest since it's now reported that the odious slimeball Peter Mandelson is back in the fold giving Starmer PR advice.

Far from distancing himself from this appalling calumny, Starmer has given it the full 'thumbs up, three sombreros' treatment. Writing in yesterday's Daily Mail, he offered 'zero apologies' for his disgraceful smear campaign against the Prime Minister.

I'm Keir Starmer and I approve this message.

Far from distancing himself from this appalling calumny, Starmer has given it the full 'thumbs up, three sombreros' treatment

Starmer is desperate to portray the Tories as soft on crime, soft on the causes of crime. He's got a point, to be fair. But whose fault's that?

And just in case the usual swivel-eyed Guardianista conspiracy theorists think we made it up, Starmer's article was offered to the Mail by Labour's spin doctors.

They obviously wanted it to receive the widest possible attention, which is why they beat a path to the door of Britain's best-selling newspaper. It would have been rude not to run it.

Starmer is desperate to portray the Tories as soft on crime, soft on the causes of crime. He's got a point, to be fair. But whose fault's that?

The legal establishment, the police, the courts have all been colonised by the yuman rites brigade, of which Starmer is one of the most prominent luminaries.

Ever since Tony Blair incorporated pernicious European 'human rights' legislation into British law  his self-proclaimed 'proudest act in politics'  the very concept of right or wrong, of falsehood and truth, has been comprehensively defenestrated.

As some of us predicted at the time, it has proven to be a charter for terrorists, murderers, sex offenders, drugs barons, people smugglers and illegal migrants, to name but a few serial miscreants. Starmer's old chambers, Doughty Street, have been among the prime beneficiaries of the money-spinning bonanza that followed.

His enthusiastic embrace of Labour's yuman rites racket catapulted Starmer to the giddy heights of becoming Director of Public Prosecutions  an office he distinguished by vindictively persecuting innocent journalists to the delight of an aggrieved Gordon Brown, after Rupert Murdoch withdrew his love, and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile.

Starmer's excuse for not nicking that well-known novelty northern nonce was that he wasn't the lead officer on the case.

Which is a bit like the manager of a Premier League side claiming that losing away in the cup to a second-string, second division team was all down to the players and nothing to do with the way he set them up. Frankly, it doesn't wash.

The allegations against Dishy Rishi are especially scandalous, even though there is sufficient credibility to the claim that the Tories have failed to overturn the 'liberal' consensus on crime in the 13 years they've been in power. For a start, Sunak wasn't even in the Cabinet until 2019 and he's never had any ministerial involvement until now in the criminal justice system.

Yet Starmer is trying to blame him for the failure to send convicted sex offenders to jail  despite the fact that, as DPP, Starmer himself sat on the committee that drew up the sentencing guidelines.

I'm not a lawyer, thank goodness, but I'm pretty sure Sunak would have a prima facie case for libel. Not that he should pursue legal redress. That's always a fool's errand. And he certainly doesn't need the money. To be honest, he doesn't even have to rise to the bait. Starmer is doing a pretty good job of committing hara-kiri, and could be on track for spectacularly seizing electoral defeat from the jaws of victory  blowing the kind of lead which cost Rory McIlroy the 2013 Masters.

Yesterday, having set the hare running, Starmer went missing in action, sending that other yuman rites brief Lady Nugee out on to the BBC Today programme to defend the indefensible.

She didn't disapppoint. Her interview with Justin Webb was characterised by all the pompous, entitled, Islingtonian bluff-and-bluster which so endears her to White Van Man. Webb ripped her to pieces.

Nugee, aka Emily Thornberry, was unrepentant. So, too, is Starmer, if you believe what one Labour source is reported to have said. Going into full Bachman-Turner Overdrive, this alleged 'insider' boasted: 'You ain't seen nothing yet.'

I'm Richard Littlejohn and I approve this message

B-b-b-baby, you ain't seen nothing yet.

So, presumably, we can look forward to the grubbiest British election ever, as Labour doubles down on dishing the dirt on Dishy Rishi. Starmer should be careful what he wishes for, particularly when he tries to smear Sunak as soft on crime. Starmer himself is the original Mr Softee  he's even got the same haircut as the legendary ice cream vendor.

Let's not forget that Starmer is the man who shamefully sent Nonce-Finder General Tom Watson to the Lords. Watson, you will recall, is the ex-Labour deputy leader who enabled a sex offender called 'Nick' to falsely accuse blameless men of the most heinous crimes, including the rape and murder of children.

Watson was desperate to prove that a sinister, secret paedophile ring operated right at the heart of the Conservative establishment, dating back to Mrs Thatcher's time in No 10 and beyond.

Yet Starmer now believes that this appalling stain on the body politic is a fit and proper person to grace the benches of the Upper Chamber and influence policies which impact our daily lives.

Not only that  and apart from campaigning to make anti-Semite Jeremy Corbyn Prime Minister, while sitting silently in his Shadow Cabinet  Starmer has apparently taken his lead from Watson by attempting to smear Rishi Sunak as a 'friend of the paedophile'.

So repellant is this line of attack, it has been condemned by Labour figures across a broad spectrum, from former Home Secretary David Blunkett in this newspaper, to current Shadow Home Sec Pixie Balls-Cooper and even Corbyn's ultra-Left sidekick John McDonnell.

Starmer may not be a sadistic child abuser who kills babies and eats them for breakfast. But, as this revolting campaign of denigration and vile innuendo against Sunak confirms, he is a desperate, shameless chancer, running scared, happy to drag British politics into the sewer, and utterly unfit for the highest office in the land.

I'm Richard Littlejohn and I approve this message.
Frankly, it is the most offensive thing that I have witnessed in 50 years of writing about British politics.

Labour's vile new social media campaign, which has sought to brand the Prime Minister as soft on paedophiles and gun criminals, would have embarrassed even Alastair Campbell, the thuggish spin doctor deployed by Tony Blair in his pomp.

These hateful advertisements, which Labour sources boast have already been viewed more than 20 million times, show a smiling Rishi Sunak.

In the most notorious of them, the caption asks: 'Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn't.'

Below, to make the smear more plausible, it reproduces the PM's signature.

Writing in these pages, the former Labour Home Secretary Lord Blunkett was right to call the campaign 'gutter politics'.

He urged Labour to repudiate the material  in vain.

Labour's vile new social media campaign, which has sought to brand the Prime Minister as soft on paedophiles and gun criminals, would have embarrassed even Alastair Campbell, the thuggish spin doctor deployed by Tony Blair in his pomp

Poisonous

In today's Mail, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer himself accuses 'Rishi Sunak and successive Tory governments of letting criminals get away with it . . . I make absolutely zero apologies for being blunt about this'.

It is clear that Labour intend to pursue this as a major line of attack in the run-up to the next General Election, expected next year. They will apparently do so no matter the cost to our public discourse.

A third advert has suggested Sunak 'doesn't think thieves should be punished', while another is reportedly in the pipeline that will make the spurious claim that the PM has 'decriminalised' rape.

It is legitimate, of course, for Labour to question the Conservatives' record on crime. But by suggesting that Mr Sunak is personally protecting paedophiles and rapists, those who concocted this toxic propaganda are wilfully poisoning the wells of national life.

Yesterday, the Labour-supporting Observer newspaper reported that the Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, was not informed about the campaign. I find this barely credible. Even if it is true, Cooper should still do the decent thing and resign.

What I find utterly implausible, however, is the suggestion that Starmer was unaware of the ads and 'would not usually be expected to sign off individual campaign materials'.

Would Sir Keir really have risked his party's  and his own  reputation by allowing such a personalised campaign of hatred against the Prime Minister to be commissioned and flushed through the sewer of social media without his knowledge?

Remember: the advert was published by Labour's official Twitter account to its one million followers, not on some minor online forum.

In today's Mail, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer himself accuses 'Rishi Sunak and successive Tory governments of letting criminals get away with it . . . I make absolutely zero apologies for being blunt about this'

Whatever the truth, the damage has been done.

Sir Keir and his entire Shadow Cabinet have questions to answer.

In particular, I want to know whether Ed Miliband, the Shadow Energy Secretary, is comfortable with this smear campaign. As Labour's first Jewish leader, from 2010-15, he knows first-hand how badly the anti-Semitism unleashed by his successor Jeremy Corbyn damaged his party.

And what about Labour's former deputy leader, Harriet Harman, or its former Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt? What do they have to say?

A more ruthless political commentator might labour the point that, back in the 1970s, Baroness Hewitt (as she now is) and Ms Harman allowed the pressure group they then ran, the National Council for Civil Liberties, to be affiliated for eight years to the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE), which lobbied for the decriminalisation of sex with children. In 2014, Baroness Hewitt apologised for 'getting it wrong' about PIE, several of whose members were convicted paedophiles.

She claimed she and Harman (now, of course, the scourge of Boris Johnson in the long-running 'Partygate' farrago) had merely been 'naive'.

One thing I do know: no previous Labour leader would have endorsed such inflammatory tactics  certainly not Neil Kinnock, nor Blair nor Gordon Brown.

Inflammatory

Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan, Michael Foot and John Smith  all of whom I met  must be rolling in their graves. Whatever you thought of their politics, these were all men of integrity.

Yet what appals me more than anything else, I think, is the sheer hypocrisy of these advertisements.

Starmer was the Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013. And it is a fact that he sat on the panel in 2012 that set the sentencing guidelines for child sex abuse cases that are still in force today.

In other words, as DPP, Sir Keir bears direct responsibility for the fact that prison sentences for child sex offenders are not mandatory. Sunak, meanwhile, wasn't even in Parliament until 2015.

It gets worse for Starmer. Over the weekend, it was reported that in 2013 his office intervened in the case of a primary school teacher who was standing trial for 'sexting' a 16-year-old schoolboy.

The then DPP's principal legal adviser ordered the prosecution to drop the case  to the 'disgust' of the child's mother.

So who's really been soft on child abuse? This pathetic spectacle implies a man unfit to lead his party, let alone the country. But it is also deeply revealing about the Labour Party's mindset.

The truth is that  as these desperate adverts show  they are running scared of Rishi Sunak.

The truth is that  as these desperate adverts show  they are running scared of Rishi Sunak

The PM's poll numbers are rising and the gap between the parties is narrowing. The latest poll by Opinium puts it at 11 per cent; last month it was 15 per cent.

Hence this ugly, flailing bid to destroy Sunak. The adverts signal something close to panic at Labour HQ. There is still time for the economy to recover and for voters to return to the Tories.

Sunak, a workaholic with a firm grasp of detail, is proving effective on issues from small boats to Northern Ireland. The public is relishing his obvious competence.

And there is a final crucial thing that these adverts expose: the manifest contempt in which the Left-wing elite holds ordinary people.

So little do these bien pensants know about those who voted for Brexit in 2016  and deserted Labour for Boris Johnson in 2019  that they imagine slurs about being a friend to paedophiles are the surest route to victory.

Hatred

One member of this elite is Emily Thornberry MP, notorious for her patronising tweet in 2014 in which she noted how a white van had been parked outside a house in Kent flying the flag of St George. This snobbish outburst led to her resignation as Shadow Attorney General.

Now happily ensconced back in the same job under Sir Keir, she is one of the few Labour politicians who has stooped to defending the attack adverts publicly.

The condescension of Starmer and his crew towards the British public has caused them to sink to a new nadir.

We have never voted in this country for the politics of hatred. If the Labour Party continues to patronise the electorate like this, they will only deserve their inevitable failure.
As someone who grew up in Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles in the 1970s, I used to fear that peace would never come to my homeland.

But the Good Friday Agreement, which celebrates its 25th anniverary this week, has defied the cynics and pessimists.

Today, however, there are signs that it is fraying.

Paramilitary extremists, made up of Loyalist and Republican dissidents, continue to operate.

In February, Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell sustained life-changing injuries after being shot in front of his own son: a full month after the attack, his condition was said to be 'critical but stable'.

Pictured: President Joe Biden at the White House on April 4, days before his trip to Ireland

The official terror-threat level was recently raised from 'substantial' to 'severe'.

This awkward backdrop is worsened, of course, by the continuing failure of the power-sharing executive at Stormont, a centrepiece of the Good Friday Agreement.

Partisan

The situation cries out for leaders with wisdom, courage and empathy. But these, sadly, are hardly qualities we can apply to Joe Biden.

As Air Force One touches down in Belfast today to join the anniversary commemoration, the mood is tense.

Democracy in Northern Ireland hangs in the balance and there could hardly be a more unsuitable figure than this doddery octogenarian to prop it up. Visibly in the grip of physical and mental decline, Biden is also much too partisan to be the honest broker that the region needs.

Instead, he appears bizarrely obsessed with his distant Irish roots and seems to have swallowed wholesale the Republican movement's propaganda about British 'oppression'. Biden has a wealth of English ancestors but prefers to ignore this fact.

Instead, he introduces himself as the great-great-grandson of the Blewitts of County Mayo and the Finnegans of County Louth who, as these clans' proudest son puts it today, 'boarded coffin ships to cross the Atlantic more than 165 years ago'.

Veering towards the mystic, Biden has declared: 'As long as I can remember, it's been sort of part of my soul.'

Masked members of a Dissident Republican colour party take part in a commemorative march in Londonderry in Northern Ireland on April 5

Even today, his Secret Service codename is 'Celtic'.

Victimhood and tribalism come easily to him. On a visit to Israel last year, Biden likened the Irish to the Palestinians, while during his 2020 White House bid, he was asked if he could have a 'quick word' with the BBC.

'The BBC?' he exclaimed, before adding, as if it mattered: 'I'm Irish!'

Not that this has stopped the gaffe-prone President from stooping at times to unfortunate racial stereotypes.

In a speech last year, Biden said: 'I may be Irish but I'm not stupid.' He went on to confuse his own wife's father with her grandfather.

On one St Patrick's Day as vice-president, he announced: 'No one wearing orange will be welcome in my house.'

Perhaps because of these manifestly biased views, the 'Special Relationship' between Britain and America seems to mean little to him.

The chances of a major U.S.-UK trade deal, which Trump had previously extolled, took a heavy blow when Biden entered the White House.

In 2016, Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as vice-president, notoriously told Britain that it would be at the 'back of the queue' in trade deal negotiations in the event of Brexit. Biden seems to have taken the same dismissive approach.

Even Rishi Sunak's Windsor Framework, which reset trading relations with the EU, and Britain's new membership of the Pacific-oriented CPTPP trade bloc do not seem to have revived the prospect.

A dissident republican throwing petrol bombs at an armoured police car after holding an anti-Good Friday Agreement rally on the 25th anniversary of the peace deal, in Londonderry

'Uncle Joe' will be all smiles with Sunak tonight in Belfast, but a true transatlantic economic partnership remains a distant dream. Biden's emphasis on his heritage reflects in part the deep bonds between his Democratic party and America's Irish community.

The President fancies himself the inheritor of the progressive mantle of John F. Kennedy, the only other Catholic to have reached the White House.

But the problem with Biden is that his embrace of his Irishness seems to be accompanied by a simplistic view of history and a visceral antipathy towards the English.

Some of that attitude apparently stems from his mother Catherine Finnegan, known as Jean, who loathed everything English.

The British writer Georgia Pritchett recalled a meeting in the White House with Biden, who told her that his mother 'had written several poems about her hatred of the English. He went off to find them and returned with hundreds of poems describing how God must smite the English and rain blood on our heads.'

The Good Friday Agreement was all about ending conflict, yet Biden seems to glory in discord. Asked to describe his political hero, he usually names Wolfe Tone, the 18th-century Irish Protestant who led a rebellion against British rule.

Voiced

Similarly, he likes to trumpet the fact that one of his great-grandparents, Edward Blewitt, was a member of the 'Molly Maguires', a violent secret society of Irish migrant miners, in Pennsylvania.

Having first been elected a senator in 1972, when the Troubles were at their blood-soaked peak, Biden has repeatedly voiced his support for the Irish cause.

Dissident republican youths created a road block following an illegal Dissident march in the Creggan area on April 10, 2023 in Londonderry

In 1985, when the British authorities were heavily engaged in their long campaign against the IRA  whose terror operations were partly bankrolled by Irish-American supporters through the sinister Noraid organisation (the Irish Northern Aid Committee)  Biden, as senator for Delaware, opposed a treaty with Britain that would have allowed the extradition of IRA terror suspects from the U.S.

He told his fellow lawmakers: 'If we ratify this treaty, we will be admitting that the justice system is fair  a notion I absolutely abhor.'

The soundbite, perhaps, was lost on the families of the 1,700 or so people killed by the IRA, including more than 500 civilians. Thanks to Biden's influence, the treaty was heavily watered down.

To be clear: Biden's views on Ireland are entirely a political choice.

Bill Clinton, his Democrat predecessor, took a far more reasonable view.

Laughable

It was Clinton, of course, who played what was probably the pivotal role in securing the Good Friday Agreement, through his intellectual grasp of policy, his knowledge of current affairs, his gift for reconciling opposing positions and his ability to win trust from all sides, including the initially suspicious Ulster Unionists led by David Trimble.

Clinton's charisma and communication skills were also central to winning public support for the deal.

My brother heard him speak in Belfast in 1998 and told me: 'It was the most magnetic piece of oratory I've ever heard.'

For all their flaws, both Bill and, as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton have shown an abiding commitment to Northern Ireland. Hillary today is Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast.

The idea of Biden having such an impact is laughable.

The world has become a more unstable place with him as President.

When dynamism is required, he has created a vacuum. Where we need inspiration, he has left only embarrassment.

Referring to one branch of his relatives, Biden said: 'The Finnegans are fond of their Irish grudges and they don't easily let one go.'

He may enjoy revelling in such blinkered grievances. But it is an approach that, one day, could come at a terrible cost.
While the idea of the pairing left some repulsed, many said it was delicious

There's a viral new drink gaining popularity on TikTok at the moment, and it's caused quite the uproar - an espresso martini with parmesan cheese.

Last month, a famous TikToker who has branded himself as the 'cocktail guy,' named Jordan Hughes, went viral after he posted a clip of himself making the unusual drink - and it inspired others to try it out too.

And while the idea of the unexpected pairing left some people repulsed, many have vowed that it's actually delicious after tasting it.

'A bartender friend of mine told me that I had to make an espresso martini with parmesan cheese in it,' Jordan began in the clip, which had more than 272,000 views at the time of writing.

'He could just be trolling me, but I want to try it.'

Say what? There's a viral new drink gaining popularity on TikTok at the moment, and it's caused quite the uproar - an espresso martini with parmesan cheese

Last month, a famous TikToker who has branded himself as the 'cocktail guy,' named Jordan Hughes, went viral after he posted a clip of himself making the unusual drink

Don't knock it 'til you try it: It inspired others to try it out too - and while the idea of the unexpected pairing left some people repulsed, many said it's delicious after tasting it

The TikTok showed him mixing espresso, coffee liqueur, vodka, a 'pinch' of sea salt, and ice before straining and pouring it into a 'chilled glass.' He then grated some parmesan cheese over the top of it.

'This feels crazy, my goodness,' he joked. 'OK, let's try this monstrosity.'

After taking a sip of the concoction, Jordan told his followers that it was 'awesome.'

Soon after, many others decided to film themselves making and tasting the drink, and it quickly became a viral trend.

Another TikToker, named Miguel Buencamino, who is well known on the app for making drinks, shared a clip of himself giving it a go last month, and he branded it as 'delicious.'

A third user, named Evie, also joined the craze, and she said it was 'so good.'

'I'm probably gonna top all of my espresso martinis with cheese now, thank you internet,' she added.

According to Food & Wine, the drink works because the 'umami' in the cheese 'balances out' the 'bitterness' from the coffee.

'A bartender friend of mine told me that I had to make an espresso martini with parmesan cheese in it,' Jordan began in the clip. 'He could just be trolling me, but I want to try it'

The TikTok showed him mixing espresso, coffee liqueur, vodka, sea salt, and ice before straining and pouring it into a 'chilled glass.' He then grated parmesan cheese over the top of it

Success! 'This feels crazy, my goodness,' he joked. 'OK, let's try this monstrosity.' After tasting the concoction, Jordan told his followers that it was 'awesome'

Another TikToker, named Miguel Buencamino , who is well known on the app for making drinks, shared a clip of himself giving it a go last month, and he branded it as 'delicious'

@holycityhandcraft Ok ok Its time to finally make this monstrosity the PARMESAN(?!) Espresso Martini. This idea was initially suggested by the talented @thebittergringo and with @highproofpreachers stamp of approval, I knew I had to try it and Im not gonna lie yall, this was astonishingly delicious. I typically put a pinch of salt in my espresso martinis anyway but that savory, cheesy, funky salinity you get from parmesan is just unmatched and worked perfectly in this cocktail. I would not be surprised to see this pop up at more bars soon, but yall already know that would be a $24 cocktail  TL;DR: You need to make this, its so good.  PARMESAN ESPRESSO MARTINI  * 2 oz Vodka *  oz Coffee Liqueur *  oz Simple Syrup * 1 oz Espresso * Grated Parmesan (Garnish)  Instructions: Combine the all of the ingredients except garnishes in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake, double strain into a chilled coupe. Grate fresh parmesan over top. Serve and enjoy. - #cocktails #drinktok drinktokidrinkrecipesmakeadrin#makeadrink #cocktail #holycityhandcraft #recipereels #espressococktails #espressomartini #espresso  Roxanne - Instrumental - Califa Azul

'Despite the sticker shock one might feel about this combination, coffee and cheese historically do play well together  think of tiramisu, which calls for mascarpone and espresso, Scandinavian kaffeost, which features actual cubes of cheese in coffee, and even the American staple breakfast pairing of a bagel with cream cheese and coffee,' the outlet explained.

Even so, some social media users were still skeptical.

'No, no, no, no, NO,' wrote one user in response to Jordan's video, alongside a throwing up emoji.

'What the?' someone else asked, while a third person said, 'Um nope.'

Other commenters, however, were more intrigued - and supportive. A different user wrote: 'Coffee and cheese pair beautifully, clever call.'

'I'm in love with Espresso Martini as well as parmesan... What could possibly go wrong?' asked someone else.

Another comment read: 'In Columbia they put cheese in their coffee and it's tasty, so why not in an espresso martini?'

While chatting with The New York Times, Jordan reflected on the internet's reaction to his video.

A third user, named Evie , also joined the craze, and she said it was 'so good'

Approved: 'I'm probably gonna top all of my espresso martinis with cheese now, thank you internet,' she added

Some social media users were skeptical, while others were intrigued, and they took to the comment section of Jordan's post to share their thoughts

'Bartenders and home enthusiasts alike have been sending me photos and videos of themselves trying it, or making an Espresso Martini with parmesan for guests at the bar,' he explained.

'So far, it's a pretty small minority of people who are disgusted by it after trying it. But the overall response overall is along the lines of: "Wow, this is so weird and fun and amazing, and I want another one."'

He also shared some tips on making the perfect espresso martini with cheese, and he suggested parmesan that's 24 months old.

Jordan added that grating the cheese finely is key, because if the flakes are too big, it won't 'integrate into the cream atop the martini.'

'The cocktail sounds a lot weirder than it actually is, but that thin layer of finely grated parmesan genuinely complements the bitter coffee with a subtle savory and salty element,' he added.

'Don't go overboard with the parmesan though your Espresso Martini is not a plate of pasta.'
A woman has garnered viral success after showcasing her extremely detailed PowerPoint presentation that broke down the various stages of dating - from 'talking' to a 'committed romance.'

Charlotte W, a 29-year-old from Austin, Texas, frequently shares 'dating commentary' on TikTok where she boasts more than 85,000 followers.

Most recently, she took to the video-sharing platform to provide an explainer on how to define romance phases.

From going on a couple dates to being able to call your crush your boyfriend, girlfriend or partner, Charlotte has revealed everything you need to know about defining the stages of love.

Charlotte W, from Austin, Texas, has showcased her extremely detailed PowerPoint presentation that broke down the various stages of dating

Most recently, the 29-year-old took to the video-sharing platform to give her explanation of how to define romance phases through a PowerPoint

She broke the timeline into categories: The talking stage, dating and then an established, committed relationship

First, Charlotte showcased a piece of paper that broke down dating stages.

'If you are actively going on dates with someone, that is dating. It doesn't mean boyfriend/girlfriend,' she said before showing a more organized and electronic version of the chart on her laptop.

She broke down the timeline into categories: The talking stage, dating and then an established, committed relationship.

Poll Do YOU agree with Charlotte's dating definitions? Yes No Do YOU agree with Charlotte's dating definitions? Yes 120 votes

No 233 votes Now share your opinion





The TikToker explained that you and your partner are boyfriend/girlfriend once you have had the 'define the relationship conversation.'

'If you are actively going on dates with someone and dating, you are not in a relationship, you are not boyfriend/girlfriend,' she added.

Charlotte then showcased synonyms for words to use once you have had the conversation, including 'in a relationship,' 'together' and 'partner.'

Under the 'talking' portion of her chart, she described it as: 'The window of time before the first date has taken place. If [you] met on [dating] apps, communication may just be via text.'

She explained that 'talking' is used to categorize the time leading up to the first date.

Under the 'dating' umbrella, Charlotte explained that this stage was broken up into three sub-categories: attraction (which is defined as one to three dates), compatibility (which includes three or more dates), and the right fit (which is between 'six to 30 weeks' of going on dates).

The TikToker explained that you and your partner are boyfriend/girlfriend once you have had the 'define the relationship conversation'

Charlotte initially decided to make the video describing the romance stages in response to content creator Montaine, who is known for sharing his thoughts on the dating scene

Charlotte initially decided to make the video describing the romance stages in response to content creator Montaine, who is known for sharing his thoughts on the dating scene.

To Montaine, going on dates is seeing someone, while dating is used to describe people who are boyfriend/girlfriend.

Charlotte stitched his video to explain why he was incorrect.

Many viewers flocked to the comments section and agreed with Charlotte.

One user wrote: 'Dating is literally going on dates. Date-ing.'

Many viewers flocked to the comments section and agreed with Charlotte

Another person added: 'Completely agree with you and he just makes it more complicated. I only have the energy to talk to or date one person so as soon as we are talking.'

'Thank you, thank you,' someone else wrote.

'Thank you!! I'm sick of people saying they haven't been in a relationship for years. It minimizes the months spent dating one person or another,' one user said.

And while many social media users were on Charlotte's side, others branded her take wrong, agreeing with Montaine instead.

And while many social media users were on Charlotte's side, others branded her take wrong, agreeing with Montaine instead

One person wrote: 'So angry for being so wrong. Dating someone implies longer term ie boyfriend/girlfriend. It's not the first few dates stage where you're just meeting.'

Another user added: 'You're literally wrong. I'm sorry to say but if you say "I'm dating someone", I fully expect that y'all are in a committed relationship.'

'Dating is boyfriend/girlfriend,' someone else wrote.

'This is crazy because I literally thought everyone thought dating is the same thing as being in a relationship lol what,' a social media user added.
Travellers in the know are flocking to a small beachside town to soak up dreamy tropical holiday vibes without having to fly or sit in a car for hours.

Toowoon Bay, on New South Wales' Central Coast, is just 1.5 hours from Sydney by car and is known for its quiet, sparkling beach, 'sleepy' small town and stunning surrounds.

Just south of The Entrance, Toowoon Bay has been described as 'your own personal paradise', with those who visit indulging in paddle boarding, beautiful national park walks and top tier fishing.

There are rocky reefs near both ends of the patrolled beach which are great snorkelling spots, while the nearby Little Bay Beach is famous for its bright blue water and gentle surf.

One of the most popular spots is Tuggerah Lake and its parallel walking and bike track. Those who visit enjoy some enchanting scenery as the estuary is a habitat for all kinds of local birds including black swans and sharp-tailed sandpipers.

Travellers in the know are flocking to a small beachside town to soak up dreamy tropical holiday vibes without having to fly or sit in a car for hours

Toowoon Bay, on New South Wales' Central Coast, is just 1.5 hours from Sydney by car and is known for its quiet, sparkling beach, 'sleepy' small town and stunning surrounds

One of Toowoon Bay's 'must-visits' is Kims Beachside Retreat, an iconic getaway that's been in the town for more than 100 years and has a rich and fascinating history.

The charming otherworldly hideaway takes you out of the hustle and bustle of the city and places you in your own tree-lined bubble with timber bungalows, spa villas and uninterrupted views of the beach beyond.

Kims also has its own cocktail bar, restaurant and massage facilities so those who stay can immerse themselves in the rainforest and leave only when they're ready to re-enter reality.

One of Toowoon Bay's 'must-visits' is Kims Beachside Retreat, an iconic getaway that's been in the town for more than 100 years and has a rich and fascinating history

The charming otherworldly hideaway takes you out of the hustle and bustle of the city and places you in your own tree-lined bubble with timber bungalows, spa villas and uninterrupted views of the beach beyond

Kims also has its own cocktail bar, restaurant and massage facilities so those who stay can immerse themselves in the rainforest and leave only when they're ready to re-enter reality

While Kims is regularly refreshed and feels brand new, hints of its long run are scattered through the winding pathways - from the dining room bell to signal the hour to the curious line of narrow railway tracks once used to transport coal for Kims boilers and Arga stoves.

The Central Coast as a whole is increasingly becoming a weekend getaway of choice for many Aussies, especially those in Sydney, for those who wish to escape the grind and wind down without spending a fortune.

Some of the most popular and beautiful spots include The Entrance, Terrigal and Terrigal Beach, the Bouddi Coastal Walk, Long Jetty and the Norah Head Lighthouse.

For those travelling back to Sydney, they can extend their holiday by visiting Sydney Oyster Tours on the way.

The Central Coast as a whole is increasingly a weekend getaway of choice for many Aussies, especially those in Sydney, for those who wish to escape the grind and wind down without spending a fortune (pictured, The Entrance)

Some of the most popular and beautiful spots include The Entrance, Terrigal and Terrigal Beach, the Bouddi Coastal Walk, Long Jetty and the Norah Head Lighthouse (pictured, the Entrance Lake House)

A dreamy holiday on your doorstep: What to do on the Central Coast starting at Toowoon Bay  Coast to Lake Walk  a 7.5km loop starting from Kims Beachside Retreat, along the beach to The Entrance, then along the lake, through Long Jetty back to Kims  If you'd prefer to cycle you can hire bikes at The Entrance from Boomerang Bikes and explore the stunning Tuggerah Lakes Cycleway. Collect a bike from adjacent to Vera's Water Garden (a colourful play space on the waterfront)  Hire a SUP, kayak or motorboat from The Entrance Boat Shed  While at The Entrance stop off at Grant Molony + Rowsie then try The Entrance Lake House for lunch. Located on the lakeside this is a perfect place to stop when cycling or walking around the lake  Explore the vibrant suburb of Long Jetty. Long Jetty is a vibrant stretch along The Entrance Road; a showreel of unique art, design, fashion and antiques curated by local makers, creators and collectors. A great place to browse in boutiques such as Tiki Lala, Sorry Grandma, Plain Janes, Sadie Lou and Ohana  Head back to Sydney, stopping at Sydney Oyster Farm Tours where you take a boat ride out to the oyster leases to learn about the evolution of oyster farming and see the current cultivation methods used to bring you the beautiful Sydney Rock and Pacific Oysters you love Advertisement

Medical student and oyster farmer Sheridan Beaumont has been farming for 15 years and recently launched tours of her family's Broken Bay farm on the Hawkesbury River to revive it after a series of challenges.

The tour, which is a 45-minute drive from Sydney at Mooney Mooney, offers an educational and luxurious 'farm-gate to plate' experience where guests don waders and shuck oysters straight from the leases before enjoying them with complimentary Champagne.

'I want to get it to the point where I have hundreds of people walking around the river with tables scattered everywhere,' Sheridan told the ABC shortly after opening.

And the reviews speak for themselves.

Medical student and oyster farmer Sheridan Beaumont (pictured) has been farming for 15 years and recently launched tours of her family's Broken Bay farm on the Hawkesbury River to revive it after a series of challenges

'Such an incredibly amazing experience! We did the Immerse Yourself tour and we could not fault anything. Sheridan, Jason, Ben and the entire team were so full of knowledge which made our day flawless,' a guest wrote

'This experience was fantastic! We did the Immerse Yourself experience and cannot fault it! Fantastic to take any overseas guests to! The oysters and the prawns were delicious,' one wrote.

'Such an incredibly amazing experience! We did the Immerse Yourself tour and we could not fault anything. Sheridan, Jason, Ben and the entire team were so full of knowledge which made our day flawless,' another wrote.

'From the time of booking, Sheridan was so accommodating that she opened up an afternoon session at my request and was so pleasant to deal with from the get go! Get yourself in those waders and have the best day ever!'
READ MORE: Working from home on Monday and Friday is a new blow to our city centres

Felicia, 53, from Arizona in the US, said she wants a better work-life balance

A woman who has been working remotely since the beginning of the pandemic has revealed she quit her job instead of returning to the office full-time.

Felicia, an administrator from Arizona, was earning a six-figure salary but decided she would rather give it up altogether than go back to five days in the office.

The 53-year-old told Insider she didn't think she needed to be in the office to do her job well and was reluctant to return to a way of working like before the pandemic.

Her story comes as Insider reports employers across the US are demanding staff return to full-time office work, with some threatening to sack employees who don't comply.

According to Felicia, this threat was enough to make her take things into her own hands and quit.

Felicia, 53, from Arizona in the US, worked as an administrator and earned more than $100,000 per year, but after her employer put a stop to hybrid working she decided she'd rather have a good work-life balance than a high salary (stock image)

She explained that, for a year and a half, she had been working to a hybrid model that required her in the office for just two days per week, with the other three days at home.

Describing it as the 'perfect work-life balance', Felicia argued she got a lot more work done during her days at home than she did in the office.

In contrast, her office days were so full of 'distractions and interruptions' that she found she would come home from work and continue working at her home desk for several hours to get things done.

Just one months after Felicia's boss asked her to return to the office full-time, she handed in her resignation.

Explaining her reasons for quitting, she explained she wanted more time to herself, but added the culture of 'water-cooler gossip' had returned.

Felicia revealed her light-bulb moment came one day when she was stuck in a traffic jam on the way to a work meeting.

'It's like, why am I doing this to myself when it's not even necessary?' she said.

The administrator added she thought her bosses were suffering from 'productivity paranoia' which caused them to be concerned their remote employees were not doing enough work.

She challenged the belief held by many of her co-workers that she was only working when she was in the office, and the other three days of her week were 'days off'.

Felicia said: 'That is not true. We got most of our work done when we were working the three at home.

'I just got to the point where it just wasn't working for me. And I walked away from over a $100,000-per-year salary to seek positions that have hybrid options so that I can have that work-life balance.'

Now, Felicia is looking for new roles that will offer her more flexibility, even if she has to accept a pay cut.

She believes the inflexibility of some employers will harm productivity in the long run and could lead to an exodus of workers.
Princess Charlotte and her cousins followed into the footsteps of their stylish mothers as they attended the Easter Mattins Service at Windsor Castle yesterday.

The Princess of Wales' only daughter, seven, looked pretty as a picture in a blue floral dress from British designer Rachel Riley, priced at 65.

Meanwhile Mia Tindall and her sister Lena, who were accompanying their parents Mike and Zara, sported stylish numbers from Reiss.

Mia, nine, donned a 84 navy and ivory dress with embroidered flowers from the designer's new collection.

Meanwhile, Lena, four, wore a ditsy pink floral dress from the same designer, costing 68, with a headband she first wore during the late Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee celebrations in June last year.

The Princess of Wales' only daughter, seven, looked darling in a blue floral dress from British designer Rachel Riley, priced at 65 as the royal family attended the Easter Mattins Service at Windsor Castle yesterday

Mia Tindall, left, and her sister Lena, right who were accompanying their parents Mike and Zara, sported numbers from Reiss. Pictured leaving the service with Peter Phillips, Edo Mappeli Mozzi and Princess Beatrice, Prince William and Prince George

Lena wore a 368 asymmetrical dress from Reiss with a green headband. She first donned the look during the late Queen's Jubilee Platinum pageant last June

Dressed in her floral dress, which she paired with blue woolen tights and black Mary Jane shoes, Princess Charlotte's took a page out of her mother's book as she waved to well-wishers on her way out of the Easter Mattins yesterday.

Her frilly number is described by the royally-approved brand as their 'ever popular frill trimmed dress style.'

Its online description reads that the number is 'fully lined with a button closure and sash to tie at the back.'

Charlotte paired the dress with a navy Amaia Kids 'Razorbil' summer coat, which she has worn several times in the past.

The Princess's look was understated and matched her mother's electric blue coat-dress by Catherine Walker.

Charlotte's blonde locks were parted in the middle with two strands of hair pinned back to frame her heart-shaped face.

Meanwhile, Mia Tindall donned an elegant dress from Reiss, adorned with orange, burgundy and green floral details.

The number's sleeves and skirt were bordered with navy at the hem and collar, which matched her navy headband and its blue flower made of fabric.

Princess Charlotte wore the dress with blue tights, left. The floral number is a popular design from Rachel Riley

Mia, nine, looked darling in her navy and ivory 84 dress from Reiss, which is adorned with orange and burgundy details, right

Mia, four, looked darling in the floral dress from Reiss and her green Hucklebone headband, left. The dress includes an asymmetrical hem, right

Her blonde tresses were coifed in a neat ponytail, and her only visible piece of jewellery was a small silver and golden bracelet.

Mia's younger sister Lena, four, wore a pink floral dress from the same designer, priced at 3268.

The floral number had a ruffled collar and long sleeves as well as an asymmetrical hem.

It is believed she wore the dress at the late Queen's Jubilee Platinum pageant last June, paired with a jean jacket.

Yesterday, she wore it with a green headband from Hucklebone priced at 59, that she also debuted during the pageant, where she and her cousin Prince Louis stole the show with their antics.
A savvy schoolboy who started selling sweets to make new friends at school is now set to make 8,500 in his first year of trading.

Sol Murdoch, nine, recently moved to Aberchirder, Scotland, from Portsmouth and noticed there weren't many sweet shops in the area.

Having spotted a gap in the market, the entrepreneurial child asked his mother Holly Murdoch, 27, if he could strike out on his own.

The mother - who manages a veterinary dispensary - explained: 'It was a normal evening when Sol randomly came downstairs and said he wanted to sell sweets.

'He gave me a Dragon's Den-style presentation and talked me through what he wanted to do and why.

Sol Murdoch, nine, recently moved to Aberchirder, Scotland, from Portsmouth and decided to set up his own sweet business

'There's only one shop where we live and it's quite expensive there, and we get quite bad snow so you can be confined to the village.'

Holly and Sol's uncle Cameron McCorgray, 25, agreed with the aspiring businessman that this could be a good way for him to meet other children in the area.

With their 250 investment, Sol bought his first batch of stock as well as packaging and branded Project Sweet aprons and bags.

As Sol is too young to have memberships with wholesale companies, Holly has bought them on his behalf - but allows him to take the lead on the products.

She added: 'He's got a range of vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free sweets, he's thinking about everyone.'

Sol officially set up the business in February 2023 and made 700 in his first month.

Along with fulfilling orders on his Facebook page, Sol also sells sweets at local markets and at his school too.



Despite only operating for three months, the nine-year-old has already shipped 47 bags of sweets across the country.

Sol with his mother Holly Murdoch. With his 250 investment, Sol bought his first stash of sweets, labels, aprons and packaging

Pictured: Sol selecting the sweets he wants to sell through Project Sweet. Holly says she leaves all these decisions to Sol

Holly added: 'I don't think he expected it, I think he just thought, "I'll sell some sweets and make some pocket money' to spend on toys he's into like Pokemon, Harry Potter and Lego."

'It's gone far beyond what any of us thought. When he was younger, he always told me he'll be a millionaire - he used to say he was going to be rich.

'He's always had this urge to do really well for himself which is quite remarkable really.

'I try and keep my distance and let him make the decisions and choose what he wants to sell, he tells me what sweets he needs and wants to buy, I'm just there to tie the bags and support him.'

What's more, Sol will make a cool 8,500 in his first year if he continues selling his sweets at his current rate.

The schoolboy pictured wearing his branded Project Sweet apron. Sol officially set up the business in February 2023 and made 700 in his first month.

Left: Sol in his Project Sweet hoodie earlier this year. Right: one of the company's pick and mix boxes

Sol Murdoch pictured selling his sweets at a local market. Despite only operating for three months, the nine-year-old has already shipped 47 bags of sweets across the country

But rather than splashing out on toys, the businessman has decided to put his earnings to one side.

Praising her son's entrepreneurial spirit, Holly added: 'Sol is a very normal nine-year-old, he enjoys sports, days out, family time and spending time with friends, and the other side to him is this entrepreneur.

'It probably would have scared other children but he's loving it - a lot of other kids would want to spend all the money, but he hasn't.

'I ask him what he's going to buy, and he says he's going to save it to buy something better.

'I think he's fantastic anyway, I'm his mum, he just makes me so proud - if it was me at that age, I wouldn't have any sweets left to sell, I would have eaten them all.'
Angry shoppers have blasted Aldi, Tesco and Sainsbury's over their 'disappointing' chocolate Easter eggs.

Over the weekend, an outraged Aldi shopper, from the UK, blasted the brand on Twitter after discovering their milk chocolate treat had gone mouldy.

Urging other shoppers to check their chocolate carefully, the social media user shared a photo of them holding up their rocky road flavoured egg.

According to the product description, the egg - which is made by Aldi brand Choceur - is 'loaded' with bits of marshmallow, honeycomb and pieces of pretzel.

As the cardboard box had a plastic window on the front, the shopper was able to see the pretty pink chocolate 'drizzle' on top of the egg when they purchased it.

The outraged Aldi shopper, from the UK, blasted the brand on Twitter after discovering their milk chocolate treat had gone mouldy

But after opening the box at the weekend, the shopper was horrified to see the chocolate at the bottom of the egg had gone mouldy.

They fumed: 'Mouldy Easter egg from Aldi. Make sure you check yours.'

After tagging the brand in the tweet, Aldi UK reassured the shopper that they are happy to give them their money back.

They responded: 'Sorry to see this, please feel free to return the packaging and receipt to store for a full refund at your next convenience.'

A spokesperson told Femail: 'Although very rare, incidents like this can occasionally occur if packaging is damaged at any point before the product is consumed.

'We have apologised to [the customer] and offered him a full refund.'

What's more, another shopper was frustrated to find their Tesco Easter egg looked nothing like how it had been advertised on the box.

The Twitter user had purchased the Cluckie the White Choc Chick - which doesn't contain milk, wheat or gluten - from Tesco's Free From range.

A Tesco shopper blasted the brand after discovering a fault with their milk-free white chocolate Easter egg

The furious customer shared a photo of what the sweet treat was supposed to look like with their Twitter followers

They then tagged the brand on Twitter to find out what had happened to their Easter egg from the brand's Free From range

Yesterday, the shopper was furious to find their chocolate chick appears to have been squished during production.

Sharing a picture on Twitter, they fumed: 'Thanks Tesco. Really looking forward to eating my only egg...'

A spokesperson for Tesco told Femail: 'Were sorry to hear about this.

'If a customer is not satisfied with a product, they can always return it to us for a full refund.'

Meanwhile, two customers blasted Sainsbury's after discovering a fault with their 3.50 Belgian Milk Chocolate eggs.

A third shopper was furious over their 'disappointing' 3.50 milk chocolate Easter egg from Sainsbury's

However, another shopper saw the funny side and joked that the shape made it more 'convenient' to eat

Having cracked open their boxes, the shoppers were baffled to find that the hollow eggs seemed to have collapsed in on themselves during production - leaving a hole in the middle.

'How disappointing,' one said. 'Just opened my Easter egg from my husband to find this!'

However, the second shopper was left equally baffled - but was determined to see the funny side.

Tagging the brand, they added: 'Just opened my Easter egg... don't know what happened to it but I have to say it is more convenient to eat this way...'

The brand then responded: 'Sorry for the damaged Easter egg. Can you DM us with the full name, address, postcode and email on the account? I'll look into this for you.'

Femail has approached Sainsbury's for additional comment.
Princess Beatrice appeared to take style notes from her aunt as she stepped out in Windsor for the Royal Family's Easter celebrations yesterday.

The royal, 34, looked effortlessly elegant in a pale pink Emilia Wickstead midi dress with a black lace trim running down the arms.

The Duchess of Edinburgh first wore the designer frock to Royal Ascot in June 2018 - where she joined the late Queen and the Duchess of Sussex for a day at the races.

For the annual event, the mother-of-two wore a mauve fascinator, nude pointed heels and a pink clutch bag that perfectly matched the tone of her designer dress.

Yesterday, Beatrice stepped out in the exact same design for the Royal Family's Easter Sunday Service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor.

Princess Beatrice pictured leaving St George's Chapel in Windsor following the service yesterday. She wore a pink midi dress by Emilia Wickstead which she offset with black accessories

But rather than copying her aunt's exact look, Beatrice put her own spin on the frock - which is by one of the Princess of Wales' favourite designers.

Offsetting the lace detail, the mother-of-one opted for a series of black accessories.

To cinch her in at the waist, Beatrice added a feminine black silk bow belt.

The royal also chose a statement black fascinator with a faux white colour to wear to the church service.

As well as a boxy black clutch, Beatrice finished off her ensemble with a pair of black suede slingback high heels.

But this isn't the first time Beatrice has turned to another member of the Royal Family for fashion inspiration.

For her July 2020 wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, the royal wore a tiara and vintage dress generously lent to her by her grandmother the Queen - who passed away at the age of 96 last September.

The sleeveless gown was originally designed by Norman Hartnell - who also created the Queen's 1947 wedding dress - in the 1960s.

The Duchess of Edinburgh first wore the designer dress on the first day of Royal Ascot in June 2018

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi arriving at the service behind Zara, Mike and Philip Tindall

Left: Princess Beatrice shakes hands with a minister following the service. Right: Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo leave the service

However, it was remodelled by the Queen's dresser Angela Kelly and Stewart Parvin to serve as a wedding dress.

The gown was made using Peau De Soie taffeta in shades of ivory, complete with puffed organza sleeves, which were added for Beatrice.

The royal then added a Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara to complete her look - which her grandmother also wore for her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947.

The tiara, made by Garrard in 1919 from a necklace given to Mary as a wedding present, was given to the Queen Mother in 1936 and later loaned to Princess Elizabeth and Princess Anne for their wedding days.

Much like the Kokoshnik tiara, it was designed to look like a fashionable Russian headdress with 47 diamond bars.

Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi pictured on their wedding day in July 2020. The royal bride wore a vintage dress belonging to her grandmother

The Queen pictured wearing the Norman Hartnell dress in December 1962. Her granddaughter Princess Beatrice upcycled the frock for her July 2020 wedding

Tiaras in this style were particularly popular in the first half of the 20th century, and the Queen inherited it on her mothers death in 2002.

Yesterday marked the first time the Royal Family had come together to celebrate Easter since the Queen passed away.

The late monarch did not attend last year's Easter service due to the mobility issues she was suffering at the time, and she was instead represented by senior royals.

The Wales family were in a group of younger royals at back of the party walking down from Windsor Castle to St George's Chapel on Sunday morning.

That group included Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, and Mike and Zara Tindall with their two eldest children, Mia and Lena.

The King and Queen Consort - also in royal blue - led the party. Behind them were his brother and sister, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne.
The Monagasque royal, 65, spoke about the restoration of the royal palace

Prince Albert of Monaco has revealed Princess Charlene is 'excited and happy' about the royal project to restore the palace amid rumours their marriage is on the rocks.

The Monagasque royal, 65, claimed his wife, 45, 'shares the joy' of the eight-year-long project in which Italian renaissance frescoes within the palace were brought back to life after other royals had covered them over with paint.

The prince was speaking for the first time since the palace was forced to issue a statement denying rumours the couple were in the process of a divorce.

After French publication ROYAUTE announced their 12-year marriage was coming to an end, a spokesman said the couple 'formally deny the malicious rumours peddled by the magazine'.

In recent weeks the couple have put on a united front at events around the principality, including a memorial mass service for Prince Albert's late father, Prince Rainier, last week.

Prince Albert has revealed his wife Princess Charlene is 'excited and happy' about a project to restore frescoes in the Monagasque Palace which took eight years to complete, following rumours their marriage was on the rocks (pictured last month at the Woman of the Year awards)

Speaking to Hello! magazine from the palace as the restored works were unveiled, Prince Albert, who shares eight-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella with Charlene, suggested his wife was enthusiastic about the project.

When asked about his South African-born wife, he said: 'Princess Charlene was excited and happy that we were able to carry out this work. Last year, she was showing some of her guests the state apartments and really enjoyed showing them the frescoes.

'It shows how much she cares about the project and her desire to share the family's joy regarding these beautiful works.'

When split rumours first emerged last month, royal fans also noticed former Olympic swimmer Charlene had stepped out during a solo trip to Milan without her wedding ring.

However, later that day, the couple made a joint appearance at the Monte Carlo Woman of the Year awards, where Charlene appeared to be wearing her wedding ring - pouring cold water on the split rumours.

The royal couple share eight-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella (pictured in September 2022)

The plot seemed to thicken at the next royal engagement, when Prince Albert attended the Rose Ball in Monaco without his wife present.

Elsewhere in his interview, Prince Albert referred to his late mother, Hollywood star Grace Kelly, who first began to decorate the palace when she moved to Monaco following her marriage to Prince Rainier.

Describing his mother as a woman with 'assured taste', he said he believed his parents were watching over him and his family and that they would 'encourage us to continue on this path'.

The pair's relationship timeline has hardly been smooth sailing; rumours about the state of their marriage began to swirl after Charlene was absent from Monaco for most of 2021 while having medical treatment in her native South Africa.

The mother-of-two was admitted to a Swiss clinic to be treated for exhaustion on her return - but is now back in full swing with royal duties and public appearances.

A tumultous two years for Princess Charlene that saw her spend 10 months in South Africa away from her children, admitted to a treatment facility in Switzerland and strike a rumoured 10million a year deal with Albert 2021: HEALTH ISSUES, 10 MONTHS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND ADMISSION TO A SWISS TREATMENT FACILITY January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. March 18 - Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa April 2 - Charlene posts an Instagram picture of herself, Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Easter from an unknown location May 8 - Albert, Jacques and Gabriella attend a Grand Prix event in Monaco without Charlene May 18 - Charlene shares her first picture from her conservation trip in South Africa June 3 - New photos emerge of Charlene on her conservation trip June 5 - Charlene puts on a united front as she shares a photo with her family to mark her niece's fifth birthday with her brother's family, Albert and the twins in South Africa June 24 - Charlene's foundation releases a statement saying she is unable to travel and is undergoing procedures for an ear, nose and throat infection July 2 - Charlene and Albert mark their 10th anniversary separately. 'This year will be the first time that I'm not with my husband on our anniversary in July, which is difficult, and it saddens me,' she said in a statement August 13 - Charlene undergoes a four-hour operation. The reason is not announced August 25 - Charlene shares photos of Albert, Gabriella and Jacques visiting her in South Africa September 1 - Charlene is admitted under an alias to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital after suddenly 'collapsing' September 2 - Charlene is discharged, with a statement from the Palais Princier reading: 'Her Highness is closely monitored by Her medical team who said that Her condition was not worrying' September 30 - Charlene releases a stylish video promoting her anti-poaching campaign from her South African bolthole October 3 - Charlene shares a photograph of herself smiling in front of a Bible in her first snap since being discharged from hospital following her health scare October 6 - Albert tells RMC radio Charlene is 'ready to come home' October 8 - Princess undergoes more surgery in South Africa November 8 - Charlene arrives back in Monaco. Prince Albert said within hours it became clear she was 'unwell' November 13 - Albert attends Expo 2020 in Dubai without Charlene. Following his return from the trip, Albert holds an intervention with Charlene's brothers and a sister-in-law in which Charlene 'confirmed' she would seek 'real medically framed treatment' outside of Monaco November 16 - Royal household confirms Charlene will not attend National Day celebrations on November 19 November 17 - Albert reveals Charlene has left Monaco and is recovering in a secret location November 19 - Albert reveals Charlene is in a treatment facility 'elsewhere in Europe' after a family intervention November 25 - Sources tell Page Six Charlene 'almost died' after sinus surgery and 'lost nearly half her body weight' due to being 'unable to swallow'. They also said it was 'unfair' to portray her as struggling with mental health issues December 11 - Royal breaks her silence on Instagram to wish her twins Jacques and Gabriella a happy seventh birthday December 24 - Charlene is still 'months from recovery' but will reunite with Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Christmas at treatment centre 2022: ROAD TO RECOVERY January 25 - Charlene celebrates her 44th birthday alone. Royal shares slideshow of snaps from happier times featuring Albert, their children and her swimming career as she continues to receive treatment outside of Monaco March 14 - Palace announces that Charlene is back in Monaco but will take time to 'further strengthen her health before gradually resuming her official duties' April 17 - Charlene is pictured for the first time in a family portrait to celebrate Easter April 30 - Charlene makes her first public appearance since leaving a treatment facility as she attends Monaco E-Prix with Prince Albert May 7 - The royal makes her second public appearance at the Sainte Devote Rugby Tournament May 10 - French media claims Albert has agreed to pay his wife 10million a year to make sure she fulfils her consort role May 25 - Charlene continues her return to public life at Monte Carlo Fashion Awards with daughter Gabriella May 28 - Charlene continues her return to public life as she joins Prince Albert at the F1 in Monaco for the first time since 2019 June 6 - Albert says he was hurt by the 'vicious' rumours about his wife's absence from Monaco and his family 'missed the princess a lot' June 16 - Charlene appears sombre in all-black ensemble for Catholic festival June 18 - Charlene of Monaco looks glamorous in all-green ensemble as she steps out with Prince Albert for the Monte Carlo TV Festival opening ceremony June 23 - Albert and Charlene attend a science exhibition opening with their children in Oslo - her first overseas visit since returning to public duties July 4 - Albert and Charlene hold hands in new portrait to mark 11 years of marriage July 5 - Charlene visits the Princess Grace Hospital Centre in her first solo engagement since her return to Monaco July 9 - Albert attends Monaco's Rose Ball without his wife, despite it being the highlight of the social calendar July 18 - Charlene joins Albert at the 73rd Red Cross Gala in Monte Carlo July 20 - Couple visit The Vatican for a private audience with Pope Francis September 4 - Charlene joins Albert and their children Gabriella and Jacques for a rare family appearance at traditional picnic in Monaco September 6 - Charlene and Albert take their twins Jacques and Gabriella, 7, to class for their first day back after the summer holiday September 12 - Couple attend a memorial service for the late Queen Elizabeth II September 19 - Charlene attends the Queen's funeral in London alongside Albert October 4-5 - Charlene wows on a solo surprise visit to Paris Fashion Week October 21 - Charlene makes emotional solo visit to an animal shelter as she sends 'all her love' to fans following her return to royal duties November 8 - Couple attend the annual Princess Grace Awards in New York November 16 - Charlene attends Monaco's Red Cross Christmas gift distribution with Albert November 19-20 - Charlene attends Monaco National Day celebrations with Albert and presents awards at 2022 World Rugby Awards ceremony December 2 - Charlene takes her seven-year-old twins to Monaco Christmas village along with her model niece Charlotte Casiraghi December 13 - Couple attends Monaco's Red Cross Christmas gift distribution with her husband Prince Albert December 14 - Family attend Christmas tree ceremony in Monaco December 15 - Charlene reveals she feels 'much better' and has 'much more energy' after lengthy health crisis in an interview with Monaco Matin - the first since returning to royal duties December 21 - Family releases a stylish family Christmas card December 23 - 'Proud' Albert praises Charlene for 'turning it around in an incredible way' after lengthy health crisis, saying she had a 'very tough year' Advertisement

Charlene and Albert - who share eight-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella - married in July 2011 after the prince proposed with a handcrafted pear-cut diamond flanked by smaller diamonds designed by Paris-based Italian jeweller Repossi.

Later, during the wedding service, the couple exchanged 18-carat white gold platinum rings by Cartier, with Charlene laughing as she placed the ring on her husband's finger.

At the time of the wedding, Charlene was dubbed the 'Runaway Bride' by the French media after allegedly trying to flee before the ceremony, but the reports were always denied.

A Parisian news magazine reported that Charlene had been stopped at Nice airport after allegedly learning a distressing revelation about her future husbands private life.

A senior Monaco detective claimed at the time: Charlene had her passport confiscated so that the Princes entourage could persuade her to stay.

The rumour mill in France went into overdrive. Charlene had, it was suggested, heard talk of another illegitimate child, conceived when she was dating Prince Albert in 2005, and who would bring his tally of children born out of wedlock to three.

But the Princess would go on to dismiss the hilarious rumours. She said: Why would he go through all this effort to have our dearest friends come join us, for us to be reluctant?
A US woman living in Paris has shared the five things that are frowned upon in the French capital - from snacking between meals to asking for a to-go box at restaurants.

Amanda Rollins is originally from Boston, Massachusetts, but moved to Europe in 2017.

And she has become a social media sensation by showcasing what it is really like to live in the City of Lights as an American.

Most recently, she went viral after she candidly exposed what would rub French people the wrong way - and the revelations may surprise you.

A US woman living in Paris has shared the five things that are frowned upon in the French capital - from snacking between meals to asking for a to-go box at restaurants

Amanda Rollins, who is originally from Boston but moved to the Europe in 2017, has become a social media sensation by showcasing what it is really like to live in Paris as an American

According to the online star, the French hardly ever eat between breakfast, lunch, and dinner - and munching while you're on the move is totally frowned upon

According to the online star, who has gained more than 607,000 followers on TikTok and 55,000 on Instagram, the French hardly ever eat between breakfast, lunch, and dinner - and munching while you're on the move is totally frowned upon.

'Things that will definitely get you dirty looks in Paris,' Amanda began in the video, which has been viewed more than 1.4 million times.

'Not saying you can't do these things, you can do whatever the hell you want.

'But if you do these things, you are gonna get dirty looks.

Amanda dished: 'There's one thing you can eat while walking - only one thing, a baguette'

'Number one is eating while walking. The French don't really snack.

'There's one thing you can eat while walking - only one thing, a baguette.

'That is the only thing that is acceptable to eat while walking. Anything else, it's just not super common.

'You do not see people eating on the Metro. They eat at meals, and that's it.'

Next up on Amanda's list of things that Americans do that French people are not fond of was talking loudly.

She explained that people from the US often think they are using an 'inside voice,' but in reality, they are much louder than they realize.

'Listen, I love you guys, I am you guys, I'm one of you. But you f**king scream. Americans - you f**king scream,' she continued.

'You're screaming. Your voice that you think is your inside voice, no it's not. It's your outside voice.'

In addition, Amanda warned against asking to take your leftovers home from a restaurant if you are ever visiting Paris.

'Asking for a to-go box at a restaurant, that's really uncommon and super un-French,' she told her followers.

Next up on Amanda's list of things that Americans do that French people are not fond of was talking loudly

In addition, Amanda warned against asking to take your leftovers home from a restaurant if you're ever visiting Paris

The influencer explained that the portion sizes in France are usually perfect for what 'a normal human would eat in one meal,' so it's very uncommon to 'not finish your meal'

The influencer explained that the portion sizes in France are usually perfect for what 'a normal human would eat in one meal,' so it's very uncommon to 'not finish your meal.'

'French people finish their meals, like I said, they don't snack. If they're sitting down for a meal, they're gonna have the whole meal,' she explained.

'It's very uncommon for you to not finish your meal, and then if you do, it's even more uncommon to ask for a box. You can, I've done it, but you might get looks.'

The TikToker said that another thing that French people don't like is when you dress too casually in public.

She advised against wearing 'anything comfortable' like athleisure clothes, sweatpants, or leggings when you go out.

'If I could live my whole life in sweatpants, I f**king would. But you're not gonna see it [in Paris],' she revealed.

'Athleisure is for the gym or your home. If you leave the house in like leggings or sweatpants or even joggers, you're gonna get looks, it's just not how people dress here.'

The TikToker said that another thing that French people don't like is when you dress too casually in public and advised against wearing athleisure clothes, sweatpants, or leggings

But on the other end of the spectrum, Amanda said you should be careful about dressing too fancy when you're exploring Paris

While speaking to the New York Post about the TikTok, Amanda explained that it's a 'generalization' based on her 'observations' from living abroad

But on the other end of the spectrum, Amanda said you should be careful about dressing too fancy when you're exploring Paris.

'If you're going out in Paris wearing a short skirt and heels, or just like being overly dolled up, you're also gonna get some looks,' she added.

'For the most part, when we go out on a Friday night, it's jeans and a top with boots, sneakers, flat shoes, or maybe small heels, but like you are not gonna see the full attire - the full mini skirt, heels, makeup.'

Amanda concluded the video by reminding her followers that they can 'do whatever they want,' stating, 'who cares if you get looks?'

While speaking to the New York Post about the TikTok, Amanda explained that it's a 'generalization' based on her 'observations' from living abroad.

'The things I mention are from my observations of life in Paris, my personal experiences, and what I've heard from French people,' she said.

'These are simply observations. Life in France is different from the US in many ways, and these are just some of the quintessential American things that could raise some eyebrows over here in Paris.'
A mom-of-two who underwent gastric sleeve surgery to lose weight has said she is now struggling to cope with the 20 pounds of excess skin that it left behind.

Claudette Hawk, from New York, shed half her body weight following the procedure but has since candidly revealed that she was happier when she weighed 316 pounds.

The 59-year-old, who now weighs 163 pounds, having gone from a size 19 to a size 10, thought she would be ecstatic after having surgery but has been left devastated by the resultant mounds of skin.

She has said that she is unable to look at herself in the mirror or have sex with her husband, and is forced to 'roll up her saggy skin to look like boobs.'

Claudette Hawk, 59, (pictured before surgery) from New York, underwent gastric sleeve surgery to lose weight has said she is now struggling to cope with the 20 pounds of excess skin that it left behind

She shed half her body weight following the procedure but has since candidly revealed that she was happier when she weighed 316 pounds (pictured after her surgery)

Claudette (pictured after the surgery) thought she would be ecstatic after having surgery, however, she is now miserable and is desperately trying to remove her painful excess skin

The mom-of-two decided to undergo the gastric sleeve surgery when she became too big to play with her granddaughter and had no option but to crawl up the stairs to her apartment.

Claudette, who works as a flower delivery driver, said she felt more attractive before shedding the weight, and is now so self-conscious that she doesn't let truck driver husband Thomas, 65, see her naked.

She said: 'When I looked in the mirror when I was heavy, I [was able to look at myself]. Now I don't like looking in the mirror other than at my face. I don't like my body at all. It's horrendous.

'I used to have a nice set of breasts, now I look like I have cow udders. I try not to look at my body.

'I have no boobs, they are flat and hang down. I roll them up and put them in the bra so it looks like I have boobs but I don't. They're nothing you'd want to look at.

'The tops of my legs are like elephant stumps, they're very heavy with the skin hanging there.

The 59-year-old said she felt more confident before she underwent the surgery, adding: 'I'm more self-conscious about my body now than I was when I was bigger.

'I would never go out in shorts or a T-shirt. I wear compression hosiery, sleeves, a belt around my belly.'

The mom-of-two (pictured before the surgery) decided to undergo the gastric sleeve surgery when she became too big to to play with her granddaughter

The flower delivery driver (pictured after the surgery) said she felt more attractive before shedding weight and is now so self-conscious that she doesn't let truck driver husband Thomas, 65, see her naked

The 59-year-old, (pictured with her husband before the surgery) said she felt more confident before she underwent the surgery

Claudette, who explained she had an active sex life prior to the weight loss, revealed she now struggles to be intimate with her husband due to the excess skin.

She explained: 'It affects intimacy. I don't let my husband see me without clothes on. I did when I was bigger.

'It's hard because we did have a pretty active sex life when I was heavier which I'm still trying to wrap my mind around.

'I feel like I'm not attractive to him now with my body looking the way it is, which is why we don't.'

She added that the excess skin didn't just affect the way she looked as it also left her with painful 'rashes' and was making it harder for her to perform everyday tasks.

'The skin gives me rashes where the skin is overlapping and there's a funky smell. It's a constant thing. The extra skin on my arms pulls and the gravity makes everything heavier and harder to do things,' she explained.

'It can be painful so I wear a lot of compression garments.'

She added that the excess skin doesn't just affect the way she looks, it has also given her painful rashes (pictured)

Claudette, (pictured before the surgery) who explained she had an active sex life prior to dropping pounds, revealed she now struggles to be intimate with her husband due to the excess skin

The 59-year-old (pictured after the surgery) explained: 'It affects intimacy. I don't let my husband see me without clothes on. I did when I was bigger'

Now, she is desperately fundraising $15,000 for surgery to have the painful excess skin removed, the muscles in her stomach tightened and a boob job in the hopes she'll be able to finally get her life back.

Although the surgery is pricey, Claudette is hopeful it will boost her confidence and mood.

She said: 'I'm hoping the surgery will change things but there's no guarantee.

'The surgery is quite expensive. I think I would be able to look at myself and emotionally happier because even when I take a shower, I get in and out.

'It would save time because I wouldn't have to use all the compressions. I have to get my body all secure so it takes me a while to get dressed.'

Claudette said her body went into shock after the gastric sleeve surgery meaning she wasn't able to exercise, which she thinks may have contributed to the excess skin.

Now, she's desperately fundraising for surgery to remove the painful excess skin so she can finally get her life back (Claudette pictured before the surgery)

Claudette (pictured before the surgery) said: 'The surgery is quite expensive. I think I would be able to look at myself and emotionally happier because even when I take a shower, I get in and out'

While Claudette (pictured after the surgery) doesn't regret the surgery because it allowed her to shed pounds and keep up with her granddaughter, the extra skin leaves her in pain

Speaking about her journey, Claudette revealed that she first began gaining weight when she became pregnant with her first child at the age of 19.

And, when she had her thyroid removed after being diagnosed with cancer in 2006, she put on more weight.

Claudette said: 'In 2016 the weight really started causing me problems with walking, I could barely walk up the stairs to my apartment, I would practically crawl.

'I have a granddaughter that I couldn't do as much with. My doctors never mentioned my weight so in my head I had nothing to worry about.

'When it started to impede what I could do and I basically never left the house and couldn't participate with my granddaughter I wanted to change,' she revealed.

Claudette concluded: 'I had a horrific experience with the sleeve but I never regretted having it no matter how bad I felt because I was losing weight. It took my body a really long time to adjust.

'I knew there would be excess skin because I was overweight for so long and I was told as long as after the surgery I exercised it wouldn't be so bad but I couldn't exercise because I was in bad shape. It wears me out.'
Gen Zs and millennials have started turning their backs on 'therapy speak' after claiming over-the-top 'boundary setting' is making people more mean.

One 24-year-old, simply known as Laura, told Bustle that she was left hurt and frustrated after a five-year friendship abruptly came to an end.

She revealed that the friend cited that she had to 'honor her own needs' and that she no longer had 'the emotional space' to continue their friendship.

Laura has since hit out at the unwavering self advocacy - but it seems she is not alone in shunning 'therapy speak.'

Gen Zs and millennials have started turning their backs on 'therapy speak' after claiming over-the-top 'boundary setting' is making people more mean (stock image)

Laura, who did not reveal her surname, revealed that her friend had texted her to end their long-term friendship.

The friend wrote: 'I'm in a place where I'm trying to honor my needs and act in alignment with what feels right within the scope of my life, and I'm afraid our friendship doesn't seem to fit in that framework.

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'I can no longer hold the emotional space you've wanted me to, and think the support you need is beyond the scope of what I can offer.'

Reflecting on the situation, Laura told the publication: 'It felt like she was ending the friendship with an HR memo. I would have hoped that you'd respect me enough to give me something more straightforward, or at the very least more kind.'

She also said that she was upset that she had not been given the opportunity to respond.

But - as increasingly more people use terms like 'self-care' and 'boundary setting' to justify their actions - Laura is not the first to begin questioning the use of 'therapy speak.'

Dr Arianna Brandolini, a clinical psychologist from New York, caused quite the stir on TikTok after posting a video on how to break up with a friend.

In the recent clip, which has so far been viewed more than 938,000 times, Dr Brandolini explained what 'should be said' in such a situation.

Dr Arianna Brandolini, a clinical psychologist from New York, caused quite the stir on TikTok after posting a video on how to break up with a friend

But social media users were quick to slam the sentiments as 'hurtful' as increasingly more people turn their backs on 'therapy speak'

Enacting the scenario, she said: 'I've treasured our season of friendship but we're moving in different directions in life.

'I don't have the capacity to invest in our friendship any longer.'

The expert continued: 'I get that it might be hard to understand but I've been reevaluating many areas of my life recently including my ability to be a good friend to you.

'I just want to be honest and upfront so I don't disappoint your expectations. I'm sorry if this feels painful and confusing. I wish you all love and success.'

But social media users were quick to slam the sentiments as 'hurtful' and 'traumatizing.'

One user wrote: 'The part that seems to be missing is the reconciliation and opportunity to mend the relationship.'

Another said: 'Therapy needs to teach that not everything needs to be said out loud.'

A third added: 'This is both condescending and somehow meticulously scripted, but so precisely careless of the person's feelings, which is a strange paradox.'

'Therapy speak' is rooted in one-sided observation and increasingly more people are arguing that it completely overlooks the fact that there is another person on the other side of the 'boundary.'

It is now being seen by many as a kind of selfishness that leaves little room for honest discussion and hinders healthy relationships.
Jasmine Parker, 13, has been carrying out the kind tradition since she was six

A teenage girl has delivered more than 2,000 eggs to sick children in hospitals over the Easter period - continuing a seven-year tradition she began at only six years old.

Jasmine Parker, 13, has since 2016 personally donated some 4,200 eggs which she collected in her family home with the help of her community.

In the first year, she, along with the help of friends and family, delivered 100 eggs to the Royal Victoria Children's Hospital in Belfast.

And the good Samaritan's efforts have more than doubled since, as she has received donations from all over the country.

'Easter is for everyone,' she said. 'Every child should enjoy it. I want to keep doing this every year!'

Jasmine Parker, 13, has since 2016 personally donated some 4,200 eggs which she collected in her family home with the help of her community

Her mother, Maggie Parker, has expressed her pride at Jasmine's sweet nature.

'She's so kind-hearted, and just wants the children to enjoy Easter,' she said. 'My house, and my mum's house were completely covered in eggs. Towers of eggs are all ready to go for Easter.'

'It's an amazing thing to achieve at such a young age and just shows her kind heart,' she added. 'It means the world to the kids we visit too.'

The sweet gesture kicked off years ago when, while in a supermarket, Jasmine asked Maggie 'if sick kids would get any eggs'.

That same day, the little girl asked if they could put a call-out for donations on Facebook, so that they could deliver the chocolate delights to poorly children.

Maggie says they were getting people 'knocking at the door with eggs' within just 'hours'. 'I couldn't believe it,' she gushed. 'There was so much support immediately.'

Her mother, Maggie Parker, has expressed her pride at Jasmine's sweet nature. Jasmine pictured with nurses

In the first year, she, along with the help of friends and family, delivered 100 eggs to the Royal Victoria Children's Hospital in Belfast

Jasmine's parents later took her to the hospital to hand over the eggs - leaving the nurses 'shocked'.

'We were sad to not see the kids reactions, but the nurses we're overjoyed,' she said.

The following year, in 2017, the family collected over 200 eggs and then 400 in 2018.

They distributed the eggs to both the Royal Victoria's Children's Hospital and the Ulster Hospital, both in Belfast.

Maggie said as the campaign continued, more and more people wanted to get involved as her 'little car couldn't carry the amount of eggs'.

In 2019, Jasmine's father Jay offered his white van for transportation after collecting 700 eggs through donations and fundraising - generous well-wishers would post eggs or drop them off at the house.

Her mother, Maggie Parker, has expressed her pride at Jasmine's sweet nature. The young girl hopes to continue the tradition every year

This year, Jasmine and Maggie have shattered their record once more and gathered more than 2,000 eggs, which they started delivering on Easter morning. Jasmine pictured trying to fit the eggs into a car

The sweet gesture kicked off years ago when, while in a supermarket, Jasmine asked Maggie 'if sick kids would get any eggs'. Jasmine pictured with nurses

In 2020, their efforts were sadly halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic but they still managed to raise more than 300 for the children's hospital thanks to a charity raffle. Moreover, they still managed to deliver 200 chocolate eggs.

In 2021, Jasmine, who was crowned Junior Miss Galaxy Ireland, managed to collect and deliver 800 of the Easter treats.

And last year the family kicked things into the next gear as they were determined to beat her record, promoting the endeavours online.

Their efforts paid off and they managed to collect 1,618 Easter eggs- which were delivered to almost every children's hospital in Northern Ireland, missing just two.

And the good Samaritan's efforts have more than doubled since 2016, as she has received donations from all over the country

Maggie said as the campaign continued, more and more people wanted to get involved as her 'little car couldn't carry the amount of eggs'. Jasmine pictured with nurses

'It took us a few days, but Jasmine was pumped to get everything delivered,' Maggie said. 'Our walls were covered in eggs. Fortunately, my mum was able to keep some eggs in storage for us.

'Jasmine was overjoyed by her accomplishment. Every cupboard was filled to the brim.'

This year, Jasmine and Maggie have shattered their record once more and gathered more than 2,000 eggs, which they started delivering on Easter morning.

'We wanted to make sure every child in hospital had an egg this year,' Maggie said. 'We've got a van, and two cars all ready to make the journeys. I'm so proud of Jasmine, every year she's still so keen to help. Our very own Irish Easter bunny.'
The Queen denied her 'favourite uncle' - the Duke of Windsor - his dying wish just ten days before his death, a new documentary has revealed.

Aged 46, Elizabeth II famously visited Edward VIII at his and Wallis Simpson's house in Paris, France, during the former King's last days, and apparently rejected his request to grant his wife an HRH title.

The late royal, who died in 1972, had abdicated the throne in 1936 out of love for Wallis, who was American and divorced.

Speaking on The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, which airs on ITVX on April 20, the Duke's nurse Julie Alexander said the rejection 'broke his heart'.

'He was terribly sick,' she said. 'He couldn't have weighed - maybe 80 lbs, if that... [he] wasn't eating at all.

Aged 46, Elizabeth II famously visited Edward VIII at his and Wallis Simpson's house in Paris, France, during the former King's last days, and apparently rejected his request to grant his wife an HRH title. Pictured, the Queen, Wallis and Prince Philip during the visit in Paris

'The Duke was very, very concerned about his appearance but he insisted that he'd be sitting up in a chair, not in bed, and wearing clothes to hide any tubes.'

The visit, although melancholy in nature, also marked the first time Wallis hosted the late monarch.

'The Queen said no,' Julie continued. 'She said no, even on that sad day. It was, you know, breaking his heart, I think. That's what he wanted... that title for her. Not having that title for his wife was a slap in his face.'

The visit which took place in May, 51 years ago, was also depicted in Netflix's The Crown.

Elizabeth spoke to 'uncle David' - as he was known to close family - alone before appearing with just the Duchess for a photograph. The Duke died on May 28, less than a month before his 78th birthday.

Edward's relationship with Wallis, who had been twice married before her union with him, was a scandal when news first emerged of it.

The late royal, who died in 1972, had abdicated the throne in 1936 out of love for Wallis, who was American and divorced

Edward's relationship with Wallis, who had been twice married before her union with him, was a scandal when news first emerged of it. Elizabeth, Wallis and Edward pictured in 1967

His proposition to marry her  whilst divorce proceedings with her second husband were still ongoing - sparked a constitutional crisis which culminated in Edward's decision to abdicate.

After his abdication, Edward was made the Duke of Windsor by his brother  the new King George VI - and granted the style of His Royal Highness.

However, after their 1937 marriage and decision to settle in France, Edward was upset by the King's decision to issue Letters Patent which denied Wallis the style of Her Royal Highness.

Edward received a tax-free allowance from his brother which went some way to maintaining his and Wallis's lavish lifestyle.

It comes as last summer, a historian claimed that Edward opted to abdicate because his father's treatment of him had made him a 'rebel' who did not have the 'self-discipline' to be king.

Speaking at the Chalke Valley History Festival, which is sponsored by the Daily Mail, historian Professor Jane Ridley said the royal's shocking decision to step back from duties stemmed from the fact his father had made 'no attempt' to prepare him for being king.

After their 1937 marriage and decision to settle in France, Edward was upset by the King's decision to issue Letters Patent which denied Wallis the style of Her Royal Highness

She said he showed him no affection or praise and made no effort to 'build a relationship', which in the long run had 'quite bad effects' and was one of the 'key factors leading up to the abdication'.

As a result, whilst Elizabeth and her father King George VI are 'famous' for diligently reading official government papers, Edward's would 'come back with wine stains and cigarette burns on them', Professor Ridley said.

She added Edward thought his role was a 'waste of time' and to a 'large extent' this was a 'reaction against his dad who bullied him'.

Edward spoke of his childhood and his father in his 1951 autobiography, A King's Story, in which he claimed the concept of duty was 'drilled' into him.

However, Professor Ridley said Edward and his brothers, who included the future King George VI, were 'terrified' of their father.

'He would shout at them for things like being five minutes late for dinner. They would be sent back to their bedrooms,' she said.

Edward spoke of his childhood and his father in his 1951 autobiography, A King's Story, in which he claimed the concept of duty was 'drilled' into him. Pictured giving his abdication speech

Speaking on The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, which airs on ITVX on April 20, the Duke's nurse Julie Alexander said the rejection 'broke his heart'. Pictured, Elizabeth and her uncle, Edward, in 1933

The Duke died on May 28, less than a month before his 78th birthday. Elizabeth, Wallis and the Duke of Edinburgh pictured at Edward's funeral

'It is bad enough being shouted at by your father, but it is even harder if your father is the King. These four princes were brought up to be frightened of their father.'

She added: 'George made no attempt to prepare his son for being king. Being king in a conventional fashion. So his son rebels against him and rebels against his idea of kingship.

'George V and the [late] Queen are famous for turning around their red boxes full of documents within hours of getting them back and being punctual and conscientious and diligent.

'I think there is quite a lot of not always fascinating work they have to do.

'With Edward VIII, the documents would come back from his place at Windsor they would come back with wine stains on them and cigarette burns.

'It was quite clear that he wasn't respecting all the rules about being discreet, and he just thought the whole thing was a waste of time.

'I think that to a large extent began as a reaction against his dad who bullied him. He thought his dad was a silly old thing, and he became what he was, a rebel, Edward VIII.'

'When he became King he realised he didn't want to do it. Couldn't do it. Didn't have the self-discipline to do it,' she added.

After being slammed for meeting Adolf Hitler in Germany in 1937, Edward and Wallis spent much of their time holding lavish parties and travelling between Paris and New York.

The full series is available on Thursday 20 April on ITVX
Mumsnet founder's ex Ian Katz has now found love with the widow of AA Gill

Mumsnet co-founder Justine Roberts earlier this year revealed that she had left her husband after being 'hit like a tornado' by love for someone else.

But Channel 4 executive Ian Katz has been stormed with a romantic hurricane of his own and is enjoying a 'passionate' relationship with Nicola Formby, 57, widow of celebrated writer A.A. Gill.

Speaking to Daily Mail columnist Richard Eden, a friend confirmed that the former Newsnight editor, 55, and his new belle are 'very happy together and have been going out some time'.

The couple spent the Easter weekend at the Oxfordshire home of Formby's close friend, the film producer Jemima Goldsmith.

South African former model Nicola married restaurant critic Gill, her boyfriend of 23 years, just weeks before his death in 2016 at the age of 62.

Jemima Goldsmith (centre) next to Ian Katz (left) and Nicola Formby (right), widow of A.A. Gill

South African former model Nicola (pictured in 2012) married restaurant critic Gill, her boyfriend of 23 years, just weeks before his death in 2016 at the age of 62

Nicola, whom Gill would describe in his columns as 'the Blonde', had twin sons with the writer.

The wordsmith also had two more children with his second wife, Amber Rudd, the former Home Secretary. His first wife - Cressida Connolly - is the daughter of writer Cyril Connolly.

Ian, who is chief content officer at Channel 4, has four children with Justine, whom he met while they were students at Oxford University.

In January, Richard also revealed that the Mumsnet founder, 55, was living with her new partner.

Ian (pictured last year) was previously the deputy editor of the Guardian and editor of Newsnight on BBC Two before he left to join Channel 4 in 2017

Justine Roberts, co-founder of parenting website Mumsnet, recently revealed she left her husband after being 'hit like a tornado' by love for someone else (pictured in 2015)

'I just fell in love although I don't want to go into with who,' she said. 'Obviously, what happened was not planned or ideal. I wasn't sitting there thinking, "I've got to get out of [this marriage]"', but, [love] literally hit me like a tornado.

'I'm sure menopause has something to do with that  you put your head up a bit from nurturing your children, you're a little less tired and you think, "Actually, I may have half a life left."

'It was subliminal in my case, but I was open to another way of living and another relationship.'

Their separation, she previously told the Daily Telegraph, 'was traumatic and disruptive' - because 'we're not as a society set up to believe that separation and divorce is anything other than failure'.

A.A. Gill and Nicola Formby, pictured together in London in February 2015

Justine told the outlet that she and Ian 'had a fantastic time' - and called their partnership 'the best of marriages'.

The pair separated in 2019 after 30 years together.

Ian was previously the deputy editor of the Guardian and editor of Newsnight on BBC Two before he left to join Channel 4 in 2017.

Mumsnet, which was founded in 2000, is an online forum offering advice for middle-class parenting dilemmas.

It calls itself 'the UK's most popular website for parents' and aims to make parents' lives 'easier'.

Ian and Nicola spent the Easter weekend at the Oxfordshire home of Formby's close friend, the film producer Jemima Goldsmith (pictured)

It features blog-style content, product reviews and community forums to talk about issues facing parents and boasts eight million monthly visitors. In 2018 the business generated 8.6million in revenue.

The website has met with controversy in recent years after The New York Times described it as 'transphobic' due to discussion on the 'Feminism: Sex and Gender' topic.

Some have argued stricter moderation is necessary but Mumsnet saw a loss in advertising following the backlash.

Last May, Justine put Mumsnet users' questions to then Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to 10 Downing Street.

She has also appeared on the Today programme for a discussion about proposals to drop former PM Liz Truss' free childcare plans.

Ian declined to comment at the time.
In just over a decade, Argylica Conditsis has gone from selling shoes in her bedroom to being the co-founder of a $60million dollar fashion empire.

At 17 she launched Babyboo from the comfort of her parent's home in Baulkham Hills, NSW, with a $1,000 investment she'd saved from her job at Pizza Hut - and from humble beginnings it all started with a 'crazy idea'.

'Having just finished high school I was looking for heels that made a statement but couldn't find any. So I started embellishing shoes for myself,' Ms Conditsis told FEMAIL.

'Once I started seeing the great response from others, I thought to try sell them on Facebook - and it went viral instantly.'

The shoes would take hours to create and Ms Conditsis, now 29, had hundreds of orders on end from customers, which she struggled keeping up with.

Then her brother William, now 27, suggested introducing clothing into the mix - and watched the brand take off to reach new heights ever since.

Today Babyboo has grown to become an Australian ecommerce juggernaut that boats 1.5million Instagram followers and is sold in 145 countries.

Argylica Conditsis (pictured) is the co-founder of global fashion empire Babyboo

Over 12 years Babyboo has grown to become an Australian ecommerce juggernaut that boats 1.5million Instagram followers and is sold in 145 countries

Ms Conditsis launched the brand alongside her brother William, now 27, (left) and they both dropped out of university to pursue the idea (pictured in 2012)

Ms Conditsis had to drop out of her Visual Communications university degree to keep up with demand - a decision her parents tried talking her out of.

'It was never meant to be the business it was today - it was literally just a crazy idea for a hobby, but it got a lot of attention and virality,' she said.

Not only did she not have any business experience, she also didn't have any funding, mentoring or assistance.

'Being so young when we first started out, we were in this naive, delusional state of mind. I was hungry to do something new and had no idea where it would take me,' she said.

'If you told me back then everything we've achieved now I would've laughed. The goal was never to build a successful business, but just a goal to do more.'

Ms Conditsis turned to a planned, sensible approach when it comes to growing the business which helped reach global success.

'We spent out money wisely, but also weren't scared to fail. And if we did we learnt from it quickly then pivoted and quickly moved on,' she said.

'We kept reinvesting everything we made back into the business to develop it further.'

Not only did the siblings not have any business experience, they also didn't have any funding, mentoring or assistance (pictured today)

'If you told me back then everything we've achieved now I would've laughed. The goal was never to build a successful business, but just a goal to do more,' she said

Uniquely positioned in the fashion e-commerce space, each Babyboo collection takes between six to eight months to create, from the first sketch to the final stitch

Today Babyboo is one of Australia's fastest growing tech companies with three global teams.

Uniquely positioned in the fashion e-commerce space, each Babyboo collection takes between six to eight months to create, from the first sketch to the final stitch.

Designed in Australia with an extensive range of women's clothing and accessories that resonates with a global audience, Babyboo has cemented itself as a millennial and Gen-Y phenomenon with cult-like appeal.

Ms Conditsis says the products are high quality and the designs are unmatched.

'You won't find the styles anywhere else. We think long and hard about each collection,' she said.

Since the beginning the co-founders have used social media to their advantage to market the products to their target audience.

'We learnt very quickly how to make social media work for us - and I think that's one reason why we've had so much success,' she said.

Today the business has customers all around the world, predominantly in Australia, the US and UK.

Since the beginning the co-founders have used social media to their advantage to market the products to their target audience

Not only that, Ms Conditsis considers herself to be a customer and using her own instinct to understand what other women want

Ms Conditsis considers herself to be a customer and uses her own intuition to understand what other women want.

'I have this instinct that's become very natural. We also follow trends and are aware our customers today are not the same customers we had 12 years ago - we've all evolved,' she said.

This attention to detail has been another driving force that's sent the brand to new heights.

'We know our product won't change the world, but you will when you wear it,' she said.

'We know our product won't change the world, but you will when you wear it,' she said

Argylica's top five business tips Don't fear failure because you'll never try if you do Make sure you're passionate about what you're doing In a saturated market, hone in on developing a high-quality product Build a brand not a business - consider the 'why' and what you want it to be known for Make sure you're consistently evolving over time Ms Conditsis said one questions she's asked the most is 'how did you start?', and she reassured there's 'no secret when it comes to business' 'Everything has been trial and error since day one. All the business knowledge I've gained has been from this experience,' she said Advertisement

Ms Conditsis said one questions she's asked the most is 'how did you start?', and she reassured there's 'no secret when it comes to business'.

'Everything has been trial and error since day one. All the business knowledge I've gained has been from this experience,' she said.

'Everyday we're making mistakes and not getting it right, but we're learning from those experiences and we pivot really quickly.

And when asked what advice she'd give to others starting out, she said to don't fear failure and don't rush the process.

'Don't force it, push it, or cut any corners because you'll end up backtracking,' she said.

'Allow yourself to flow through it, and evolve along the way. '

She also said to never compare yourself to the journey of others.

'I remember was always so harsh on myself in the beginning and I feel like a lot of women in business really beat themselves up by comparing themselves,' she said.

'I always say that comparison is the theft of joy, and you should never compare your chapter one to someone's chapter six. You'll get there eventually, you just need to be consistent.'
One of the biggest manufacturers of Covid tests claims its swabs averted thousands of deaths during the pandemic, analysis suggests.

A report, commissioned by diagnostics firm Randox, concluded that 14,000 fewer patients were hospitalised with the virus because of its PCR swabs.

The company, which was awarded more than 600million in Government contracts without a competitive bidding process, also took credit for averting 3,000 Covid deaths.

The findings, compiled by consultancy firm OCO Global, concluded that tests provided by the Northern Ireland-based company also delivered 8.3billion of benefits to the economy.

Randox claims this was due to driving down transmission, getting key staff back to work faster and enabling international travel.

A report, commissioned by the diagnostics company, found that its PCR swabs meant there were 14,100 admissions in the UK during the pandemic

Former Tory MP Owen Paterson (right) quit in November 2021 after a probe found that he broke lobbying rules while working for Randox, as well as other companies

The report sets out that Randox processed more than 17million PCR tests as part of the UK's testing programme, between March 2020 and June 2022  around 12 per cent of all the country's tests.

Within the first nine months of the virus hitting Britain's shores, Randox's capacity increased from 300 tests per day to 120,000.

READ MORE NHS trust warned doctors on visas who chose to strike will be reported to BORDER FORCE University Hospital Lewisham part of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust where the staff member sent the message to internationally trained junior medics Advertisement

Rapid upscaling in response to the Covid crisis as well as innovation in software, automation and robotics, enabled it to do so, the report states.

The company also provided a further 7.7million PCR tests and 1.8million lateral flow swabs to corporate clients and international travellers.

Around 4.4million international return journeys took place due to Randox tests, it is estimated.

Earlier in the pandemic, those arriving in the UK had to show proof of a negative test taken within two days of travelling, as well as pay for a PCR test when back in Britain.

OCO Global's findings were based on data from Randox and interviews.

A spokesman for Randox said: 'We believe this report delivers clear evidence of the performance, outcomes and value of the work which Randox is proud to have carried out during one of the greatest peacetime emergencies to have hit the world and the UK.'

Former Tory MP Owen Paterson quit in November 2021 after a probe found that he broke lobbying rules while working for Randox, as well as other companies.

Mr Paterson was paid nearly 100,000 a year by Randox, alongside his salary as MP for North Shropshire.

An investigation by the parliamentary watchdog found that he broke House of Commons rules by lobbying on behalf of the firm.

Mr Paterson has insisted that he acted in the interests of public health and safety at all times, while Randox has repeatedly said that the former MP played no role in the company securing the Government's contract.
Junior doctors are being encouraged by their union to pick up lucrative locum shifts after this week's 96-hour strike action when hospitals will be in chaos.

The British Medical Association has advised junior doctors to make back the salary they will lose from striking and 'plan extra locum shifts now' for 'just before and after the strike days when there will be plenty of work to do'.

Locum shifts, which cost the taxpayer 3billion last year, are an increasingly popular option for NHS bosses to plug rota gaps in hospitals across the country.

Last year, the Mail revealed that junior doctors are leaving NHS staff jobs in droves for locum work and earning  in some cases  up to 17,000-a-month.

In an online guide for activists, the BMA is telling its 45,000 junior members: 'Employers will offer locum shifts for the strike days. If you can, we suggest you do not cover these days as it could undermine the action.

The British Medical Association has advised junior doctors to make back the salary they will lose from striking. Pictured: Striking junior doctors at Homerton Hospital in Hackney on March 14

Locum shifts, which cost the taxpayer 3billion last year, are an increasingly popular option for NHS bosses to plug rota gaps in hospitals across the country

'Instead plan locum shifts elsewhere in the month and perhaps just before and after the strike days when there will be plenty of work to do.'

But Tory MP Sir John Hayes said: 'It would be completely unacceptable to take time off to strike and then make the money up later by locuming. That's poor advice and the BMA is being irresponsible.

'Locums play an important part in the service but it shouldn't compensate those who have been on strike. I think most doctors would acknowledge that the money should be put into patient care.'

A spokesman for the BMA said: 'Junior doctors lose pay when they take industrial action so taking on additional shifts is a way that they can make up for some of these losses.'

The BMA is also providing a minimum hourly 'rate card' for junior doctors, with rates ranging from 62 per hour up to 154 per hour based on experience and shift.
A mother who made 200 calls to her GP for an appointment has told of her shock cancer diagnosis  which she only received by swapping surgery.

Jolene Segrave said she spent roughly two months trying to get seen at The Ridge Medical Centre, Bradford.

The 32-year-old first developed troublesome symptoms in October, complaining of extreme tiredness and itchiness all over her body before losing weight and suffering night sweats.

After a night of drinking alcohol that same month, the mother-of-three felt pain in her shoulder and arm and thought she was having a heart attack.

She was eventually diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma in February.

Ms Segrave only found out she had the aggressive form of blood cancer when she decided to move her whole family to another GP practice, who then referred her to specialists.

Jolene Segrave said she spent roughly two months trying to get seen at The Ridge Medical Centre

It wasn't until February that Ms Segrave was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma, after trying 'hundreds of times' to see a local doctor

The mother-of-three first developed symptoms in October of extreme tiredness and itchiness all over her body, then started to lose weight and experience night sweats

She said: 'I called 200 times to get through.

'[On one] particular call, when I finally managed to get through, they cut me off before I even entered the queuing system.

'I moved my entire family out of there [The Ridge Medical Centre].'

Ms Segrave, who has children aged ten, five and one, added: 'I thought I was going to have a heart attack. It is not something you expect to get when you are 32.

'I would tell people that if you have any lumps make sure they are checked out straight away.

'You might even have to change your GP like I did.'

Ms Segrave said she began to feel very unwell roughly six months ago, with a worrying array of symptoms.

But she claims screen grabs from her phone prove she made hundreds of unsuccessful calls to her surgery and once spent over 53 minutes on hold only to be cut off.

In December, she registered her family with Bradford Student Health Services, where she was given an appointment and medics found two lumps on her neck.

She was then referred via the Two Week Wait scheme  which requests an urgent appointment with a specialist for people with symptoms that might indicate cancer.

Ms Segrave was seen by a specialist at the Bradford Royal Infirmary and then sent for an ultrasound-guided biopsy.

In February, Ms Segrave received the devastating news that she had Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare cancer that develops in the lymphatic system.

Hodgkin lymphoma starts in the white blood cells.

It is named after Thomas Hodgkin, an English doctor who first identified the disease in 1832.

It affects around 2,000 people each year in the UK, and 8,500 a year in the US.

Ms Segrave has since started chemotherapy for the disease - which was found in her neck, armpit, abdomen and bones - and has shaved off all her hair after it fell out following a nap.

She said: 'This type of cancer is very aggressive. There are six cycles of escalation. I am okay but the chemotherapy does make you quite tired.

Ms Segrave said she took her whole family out of The Ridge Medical Practice (pictured) and to a different GP surgery

Ms Segrave has since started chemotherapy for the disease - which was found in her neck, armpit, abdomen and bones - and has shaved off all her hair after it fell out following a nap

'One day I fell asleep on the sofa and woke up with hair all over the cushions. I knew then it was time to cut it all off. I wanted to take control.'

A spokesman from The Ridge Medical Practice wished Ms Segrave the best for her treatment but refused to confirm if she was a previous patient with them.

They told the Telegraph and Argus: 'We are very sorry to hear that this lady has a diagnosis of Hodgkin's Lymphoma, that must be very upsetting for her and her family, and we hope that her treatment goes well and has positive outcomes for her.

'As we respect and take very seriously our obligations around confidentiality and information governance, we can neither confirm nor deny whether this lady has ever been on our patient list and we cannot respond specifically to the issues raised to us in this story.

'We always encourage patients to let us know as soon as they are experiencing any problems with our services as most of the time we can help them straight away and advise about ways of getting the best from our practice every time they need us.

'Our complaints procedures are clearly displayed on our website and in our surgeries and include advice about getting help in being supported by an advocacy team to ensure that patients have equitable access to giving us feedback about our practice.

'We constantly keep access to our services under review and strive to find ways of improving this.'

MailOnline has approached The Ridge for comment.
Complaints over non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox have hit a record high, campaigners say.

Save Face, a national register of practitioners and clinics, received 2,824 complaints last year.

The figure, which includes treatment complications, is a quarter higher than in 2020.

The surge in complaints has raised concerns over the lack of public protection while a new licensing regime for the industry is implemented.

MPs want the policy to be introduced quicker.

Under current rules, an aesthetic practitioner in the UK doesn't need any mandatory qualifications. It means that anyone can go on a training course and then be allowed to perform dermal filler treatments.

Save Face, a national register of rigorously assessed practitioners and clinics providing procedures such as Botox, received 2,824 complaints last year

However, calls to speed up the regime were rejected by the Department of Health and Social Care in February, sparking fears the regulation could take up to three years to be put in place, according to The Times.

This is despite complaints to Save Face increasing considerably, up from 2,436 in 2021 and just 2,083 in 2020.

Derma-fillers  which can cost in the region of 200  made up 69 per cent of all complaints in 2022.

The procedure sees a substance, usually hyaluronic acid, injected into the face to fill out wrinkles or make lips and cheekbones look bigger or more defined.

Its popularity has boomed in recent years as women aspire to look like celebrities such as Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian, prompting concern from experts worried that Britons are falling victim to a largely unregulated cosmetic aesthetic industry.

One case, mentioned by director of Save Face Ashton Collins, involved a woman who went for an anti-wrinkle injection but was suspected to have been given an unlicensed product, resulting in serious complications.

'People think I'm exaggerating when I say this but she has literally had to have half her face removed,' she said, adding that infections had 'eaten away at her tissue and nerves' - for which she needed multiple surgeries.

Carolyn Harris, Labour's co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on beauty and wellbeing, said: 'If it's not properly governed, if we don't give people the right training, if we don't give proper accreditation and licensing to people who are properly qualified, then it's potentially life-threatening.'

Ms Collins said the MP calls for the implementation of the regime by July were 'unrealistic'.

But she said protections could be put in place in the meantime, and urged the Government to 'put out a proper awareness campaign to anybody thinking of having these treatments'.

Ms Collins added that it could also be a mandatory requirement for practitioners to have malpractice insurance - which she said would mean if something was to go wrong, rather than pay out thousands of pounds to correct it, it would be covered for compensation.

Professor David Sines, executive chairman of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners, agreed that the deadline of July was not possible given the amount of work required.

He said it was 'always going to take two very busy years' to get it ready, which would mean an introduction date of 2025.

As well as complaints, dozens of cases are heard by Save Face every year of people who have not had a face-to-face consultation before receiving botulinum toxin injections  which is a legal requirement. Botox is the best-known brand of botulinum toxin.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Following a series of positive discussions with stakeholders, we plan to carry out our first consultation on the procedures that will be in scope of the licensing scheme this summer.'

It comes after a MailOnline investigation revealed last month that British aesthetics clinics were offering Botox in illegal cosmetics lotteries.

It was found that a dozen clinics were running raffles online, inviting Brits to purchase tickets for as little as 5 for a chance to win treatment packages worth up to 650 in value.

Campaigners have called for an clinics to stop offering lotteries and raffles for treatments, especially those that feature prescription only medications

Simply Aesthetics London has a dedicated web page for its monthly 'Beautiful Raffle'

Campaigners accused those running the raffles of employing 'dangerous tactics' to encourage Brits to have such treatments, including for prescription only drugs.

They warned that offering the cosmetic procedures as prizes can trivialise them and their potential consequences.

And recent research has suggested Botox injections could impair the ability to recognise others feelings.

In a study by scientists at the University of California and researchers from Botox-makers AbbVie, which involved looking at happy and sad faces, the participants who had had the anti-ageing injections had altered brain activity in areas related to emotion.

Roughly 900,000 Britons have Botox injections each year, where a compound called botulinum toxin is injected into areas of the face, such as the forehead and around the eyes and mouth. This procedure relaxes the muscles under the skin by blocking the nerve signals that cause them to contract, smoothing out wrinkles.
Nearly 100 people are thought to have been infected by a rare fungus linked to a paper factory in Michigan - in what could be the biggest fungi outbreak ever.

Blastomyces - an infectious mold - is feared to have arrived in moist and rotten wood at the Billerud paper mill in Escanaba, in the north of the state.

Public health officials have officially diagnosed 19 people but another 74 people are thought to also be infected after showing symptoms. 'Roughly a dozen' of the infected have been hospitalized.

Experts told DailyMail.com that the scale of the outbreak was 'extraordinary'. It could turn out to be the largest Blastomyces outbreak to date after a 2010 cluster saw 55 people infected.

Experts today said the outbreak involving more than 90 people was extraordinary for its size, saying they typically numbered less than ten cases

Pictured above is the Billerud paper mill factory in Escanaba, upper peninsula, Michigan, where the outbreak has originated

The fungus normally triggers around 6,700 cases and 60 deaths every year across the US. Outbreaks normally number less than ten cases.

But fungal infections are becoming more common, partly attributed to the warming climate, and health experts fear they are among the biggest threats to humanity.

Blastomyces is a mold that lurks in damp soil and leaf litter in the eastern half of the United States.

People can breathe in its spores, which can infect the lungs and cause a 'cold-like' illness with symptoms including a cough, fever and chest pain.

In severe cases, the fungus spreads from the lungs to other organs, including the muscles, bones and brain.

The disease has a mortality rate of about one in 100 patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

All of the patients in Michigan are believed to be workers at the factory. One of the patients has been hospitalized for weeks.

Michigan has only recorded about 26 cases of the fungus every year for the past half a decade.

If the majority of the probable cases test positive, it will make it the largest outbreak to date.

The current record - a 2010 outbreak in Wisconsin - involved 55 cases, including 30 hospitalizations and two deaths. A source was never identified.

Gerald Kell, who heads up the United Steelworkers Local 21 union representing employees at the Michigan plant, told the Detroit Free Press: 'I've been at the paper mill for about 11 years and we have never seen anything like this.

He added: 'Of course, people are concerned. We aren't sure where the exposure is coming from. It's not pinpointed; we have cases throughout the mill. It's a 2,200-acre facility.'

The outbreak began in early March when local health authorities said they had detected 15 cases, dated to late January and February.

But this number has now grown to as many as 93  with an investigation launched and medics ready to quickly test anyone who has fallen ill at the factory for the disease.

Dr William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University, told DailyMail.com: 'Outbreaks of blastomycosis are unusual and this outbreak of blastomycosis is extraordinary for its size.

'It looks as though it is the largest recorded outbreak of blastomycosis in the US.'

Asked how many cases outbreaks normally trigger, he said there were 'usually ten or fewer infected persons'.

He added that it was unlikely there would be a wider community spread of the fungus, because it is not spread via person-to-person contact and the mill  where the outbreak source is  is set away from the town.

Health officials warn that blastomycosis cases are rising across the US. In Minnesota, which is also in the midwest, data shows that infections with the fungus are on the rise

Blastomycosis (stock image of fungus blastomyces) can trigger symptoms that look like a cold in the early stages, but the fungus can then spread to other areas of the body triggering more severe disease

Testing by Public Health for Delta and Menominee Counties (PHDMC) has spotted 19 confirmed cases  patients with symptoms where the fungus has also been seen under a microscope or grown in a lab.

There are also 74 probable cases, which have symptoms of the disease and have tested positive for antibodies that fight the infection.

Mr Kell revealed that 'roughly a dozen' people had been hospitalized.

Drugs are available to treat the condition, including antifungals  such as itraconazole  which works by disrupting the wall of fungus cells, causing cell leakage and eventual death.

Those taking these drugs, however, may need to keep using them for up to a year to clear the infection.

There are also no vaccines currently available, which can help to prevent the disease in the first place.

The mill is run by Billerud AB, an American Subsidiary of the Swedish pulp and paper manufacturer.

Its vice president Brian Petersen said: 'The health and safety of our Escanaba employees is our first priority.

'Although the source of the infection has not been established, we continue to take this matter very seriously and are following recommendations from health and government officials and implementing numerous, proactive steps to protect the health and safety of our employees, contractors and visitors.'

Workers at the mill are now being asked ot wear company-provided N95 masks, the same that were used to protect people from Covid.

Deep cleaning is also underway for ventilation systems in the plant, as advised by health officials, to avoid disease spreading.

Last weekend employees held a fundraiser for those who had fallen sick to help cover healthcare costs, which raised more than $30,000.
GPs, pharmacists and matrons are being drafted in to relieve pressures this week

Up to 47,600 junior doctors will walk out this week in pursuit of a 35% pay rise

Brits were today begged not to do anything 'risky' this week because of a four-day strike that could 'utterly overwhelm' hospitals.

Up to 47,600 junior doctors across England will walk-out between April 11 and 15 in pursuit of a massive 35 per cent pay rise.

Dire internal predictions warn 350,000 procedures and appointments may be axed in what could be the most disruptive strike action in the NHS's 75-year history.

GPs have already began cancelling consultations to cope with the impending chaos, while pharmacists and matrons have been roped in to cover striking staff with an 'all hands on deck' approach.

Ahead of the start of the 96-hour strike, which starts at 6.59am tomorrow, Matthew Taylor, chief executive of NHS Confederation, called on the public to use the system in 'the most responsible way you can'.

Striking junior doctors at Homerton Hospital in Hackney hold a rally on March 14, with signs saying 'If you love your NHS pay your doctors' and 'A clap a day won't get the NHS staff to stay'

Almost 325,000 operations and appointments have been cancelled because of NHS strikes this winter, while up to 350,000 could be

Protesters during a strike rally in Trafalgar Square on March 15, with a sign saying 'I'm not Doctor Who so don't pay me like it's 2008'

Health leaders say its impact will be greater than any previous picket as it comes after the bank holiday Easter weekend, when there is usually a spike in pent-up demand.

Fewer consultants will also be available to cover for striking juniors as many will be on holiday.

It means even critical services such as emergency departments and maternity wards are likely to be operating with a skeleton staff, although bosses will prioritise urgent care.

'Try to avoid risky behaviour, because the NHS is not going to be able to provide the level of care we want to provide,' Mr Taylor told Sky News.

'We say to the public  obviously if you have a medical emergency you need to call 999, but if you have a concern then there's 111, there's the NHS website.

'Try to use the NHS in the most responsible way you can.'

When asked whether the strikes would be worse than the 72-hour walkouts by NHS staff last month, he told BBC Breakfast: 'It will be worse, there's no question.

'Not only is the action longer, but it's sandwiched between the Easter Bank Holiday weekend and another weekend, and it's a time when many consultants will have booked holiday.

'We have Ramadan, we have Passover as well. In a sense it's a perfect story in terms of the capacity of the health service.'

Mr Taylor said added that the strikes are going to have a 'catastrophic impact' on the ability of the NHS to recover from the Covid backlog.

He said the most 'depressing' thing about the last few days is the 'battle of rhetoric' that has taken place between the Government and unions, rather than constructive negotiations.

He urged the British Medical Association (BMA) and ministers to call in conciliation services to help break the stalemate.

Dr Robert Laurenson, BMA junior doctors committee co-chairman outside University College Hospital in central London. He accuses Health Secretary Steve Barclay of failing to engage properly with his demands

British Medical Association members protest outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London

Young medics on the picket line at Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle

NHS data on A&E performance in February shows that just seven in 10 A&E attendees (71.5 per cent) were seen within four hours of showing up at A&E (red line). Meanwhile, 34,976 patients who sought help in emergency departments were forced to wait more than 12 hours  equivalent to more than 1,000 patients per day (yellow bar)

Jeremy Corbyn joined NHS junior doctors outside the Whittington Hospital in north London

Walkouts begin tomorrow and will last until Saturday morning, making it the most extensive action on record.

And the impact of the industrial action could be worse than initially feared, as GP practices are scrapping some routine appointments for up to a week so medics can cover shifts for workers on strike.

Surgeries across England were found to be cancelling appointments by The Telegraph, with Granville House Medical Centre in Chorley saying there would no pre-bookable appointments until April 17.

GPs are being offered up to 200 an hour by NHS managers to cover night shifts during the four-day strike  double the normal rate  and 150 for day shifts.

Some London hospital trusts are offering a day rate of as much as 2,400, according to the MoS.

READ MORE: Now the GPs could strike! Surgeries could close for 24 HOURS or severely cap appointments under industrial action plans being considered by BMA Advertisement

Pharmacists, matrons and paramedics are also reportedly being drafted in to relieve pressures, as well as some non-patient staff such as radiologists and biochemists.

An A&E registrar told The i paper that weekend rotas, which would usually have 'bare bones' staff, have been beefed up to try and cope with backlogs.

But she added: 'That's a good thing, because we're hoping to clear patient backlogs, but it's also a bit annoying as it's taken the strike action to get normal staffing on these days.

'That's what we should have all the time anyway, but because we are so short staffed we don't get that. That just highlighted to me why we're taking this action.'

Last month's junior doctor walkout resulted in 175,000 appointments and operations being cancelled, with up to 29,243 staff absent on each of the three days.

This means this week's strikes could see more than twice as many cancellations.

Today the BMA junior doctors Twitter account wrote: 'Tomorrow junior doctors across England will start round two of our strike action to restore our pay.

'Don't go to work, don't cross a picket line. Stick together, fight together, win together.'

Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director for the NHS, warned the four-day strike is set to be 'the most disruptive industrial action in NHS history'.

The BMA frames the demand as pay restoration rather than a pay rise.
A Texas judges decision last week to freeze access to one of two abortion pills has thrust millions of women into a world of uncertainty.

US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, ruled Friday to undo the 2000 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of mifepristone, siding with those who argued that the FDA did not adequately review its safety risks.

This contradicts what health authorities at the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say about the drug. They instead argue there have been no safety concerns since its rollout over 20 years ago.

Judge Kacsmaryk's 67-page order gave the government seven days to appeal, meaning until Friday, mifepristone is legal.

The FDA can use enforcement discretion when it deems, based on a mountain of clinical evidence, that the risk of the drug to the public is low.

So, what are the current laws when it comes to medical abortion, and what happens now? Dailymail.com looks at the most pressing questions in the wake of the landmark decision:

The Texas ruling against the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone will likely have major implications for abortion access throughout the US, even in states where abortion remains legal

What is medication abortion?

A medication abortion typically refers to a two-drug regimen that terminates a pregnancy in the privacy of a womans home.

Mifepristone is taken first and works by dilating the cervix and blocking the effects of the hormone progesterone, which is needed to sustain a pregnancy.

About 24 hours later, the patient takes misoprostol, a drug developed to treat stomach ulcers that causes the uterus to cramp and contract.

This causes bleeding and leads to the expulsion of the pregnancy tissue.

Medical abortion has become the most commonly used method for terminating a pregnancy, making up 53 percent of the procedures in the US.

This figure increased greatly from 2019 to 2020, as loosened FDA regulations and fear of Covid kept many out of doctor's offices and instead received medicine at home.

Previously, a physician could only dispense mifepristone in person at a subset of specialty offices and clinics because of safety concerns.

Mifepristone has been in use since the 1980s, first emerging in Europe.

More than 5.6 million women have successfully used medication abortion since the drugs approval 23 years ago, according to the FDA.

A 2012 meta-analysis of 87 clinical trials published in the journal Contraception affirmed that medication abortion is generally safe.

In the study, serious complications such as severe vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, or infection requiring hospitalization occurred in less than 0.3 percent of patients.

Studies show mifepristone is safer and sends fewer people to the emergency department than popular drugs such as Tylenol and Viagra.

The complication rate for carrying a child to term, meanwhile, is considerably higher at 1.4 percent.

What happened on Friday?

Judge Kacsmaryk ruled Friday in favor of the conservative Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine to repeal the FDA's approval of the drug.

The group includes doctors who claimed they have had to treat women with complications from medication abortions.

The plaintiff claims that the FDA skirted safety guidelines in approving mifepristone, even though the agency imposed several prescribing restrictions to mitigate some of the risks of complications when taking the medication, such as heavy bleeding.

Judge Kacsmaryk, appointed by President Trump in 2017 and known to be a staunch Christian conservative, sided with the group.

He said in his decision: 'The Court does not second-guess FDAs decision-making lightly.

'But here, FDA acquiesced on its legitimate safety concerns  in violation of its statutory duty  based on plainly unsound reasoning and studies that did not support its conclusions.'

Meanwhile, government lawyers representing the FDA argued that regulators had reviewed extensive data and found no such safety concerns.

Can I still buy abortion pills?

The order is not a final ruling on the case's merits but rather a preliminary injunction, meaning that it bans the drug while the case proceeds.

It is still legal to prescribe and dispense at least until Friday when the week-long stay that Judge Kacsmaryk imposed to give the government time to appeal expires.

Pharmacies certified to dispense the pills can still do so until then.

The FDA, Department of Justice, and Danco Laboratories, the manufacturer of the pill, have filed appeals to the 5th Circuit Court.

If the appeals court does not grant at least one of them emergency relief, then the drug will be pulled from shelves on Friday.

What happens now?

Less than an hour after Judge Kacsmaryk's ruling, a liberal judge in Washington State issued a contrary decision.

Judge Thomas O Rice of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, an Obama appointee, ordered the FDA not to change mifepristone access.

The Washington suit was filed by a coalition of Democratic attorneys general in 17 states and the District of Columbia sought to block the FDA from pulling the drug from the market.

The decision has further muddied the waters, making it even more unclear what the drug's fate will be.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson believes the ruling could allow patients in the 18 blue states and DC to continue getting access to mifepristone.

In his hope, the drug will remain available even after the decision goes into effect on Friday.

Ferguson told NPR: 'If you live in Washington State or one of the 17 states that joined Washington in our lawsuit...then the judge's ruling in our case preserves the status quo on ensuring that access to mifepristone remains available.

For the rest of the states, though, the Texas judge's ruling 'seriously has the potential to eliminate that access for mifepristone here in the coming days,' he continued.

In the Washington suit, abortion rights activists argued the FDA was too restrictive when it approved mifepristone in 2000.

At the time, regulators attached limitations and certification requirements for pharmacies and doctors to dispense and prescribe the drug.

This legal clash has sowed alarm and confusion, especially among the roughly 58 million women of reproductive age who do not live in a state where abortion is banned.

More than a dozen states have restricted access to abortions following the overturning of Roe V Wade

What is the most likely outcome?

The conflict over medication abortion will likely reach the Supreme Court.

Because the Texas ruling did not expressly order the FDA to remove mifepristone from the market, legal scholars say the agency could find a way to keep it on the market.

Rachel Rebouche, a law professor at Temple University, in Philadelphia, said the agency could exercise enforcement discretion and keep the drug in circulation.

This is when the commissioner of the FDA decides to relax specific regulatory requirements for certain drugs and substances for reasons of its choosing.

For example, during a shortage last year, the agency used enforcement discretion to lax requirements on international imports of baby formula.

In deciding to use its enforcement discretion not to restrict access to the medication, the FDA would also be in cooperation with Judge Rice's order.

Oregon Democratic Sen Ron Wyden, a critic of the mifepristone ban, said Friday: No matter what happens in seven days, I believe the Food and Drug Administration has the authority to ignore this ruling.

'Im again calling on President Biden and the FDA to do just that.

Women in blue states suddenly confronted with the possibility of not having a right to the medication abortion regimen may have some recourse, depending on where they live.

In Washington, for instance, the Department of Corrections has bought up tens of thousands of doses of mifepristone that it will soon become authorized to dispense.

And Whole Womens Health, an independent medication abortion provider in New York City, said Friday: [W]e follow directives from the FDA, and not anti-abortion judges in Texas who lack any formal medical training.

'Whole Womans Health will continue to dispense [mifepristone] in our clinics and our Pills by Mail program for the next week as we monitor both decisions.

If the 5th Circuit were to uphold the Texas ruling, the DOJ would most likely appeal that decision to the Supreme Court, which could quickly decide whether or not to suspend the injunction.

Is this the end of medication abortion as we know it?

It could be in that medication abortion could go from a two-drug regimen to just a single drug, misoprostol.

A misoprostol-only regimen is standard in many parts of the world and even has the full endorsement of the World Health Organization.

Abortion providers have been preparing for the eventuality in which misoprostol is the only tool in the medication abortion toolbelt.

Planned Parenthood, Abortion on Demand, Aid Access, Carafem, Choix, Forward Midwifery, Hey Jane, and Just the Pill have said they are prepared to prescribe misoprostol-only abortions as a workaround.

But, this method is not as effective as a dual-drug combo.

While mifepristone and misoprostol are 100 percent effective at terminating a pregnancy, the latter alone does not always work.

A study published in February by researchers at the University of Texas and Columbia University found that misoprostol alone only terminated pregnancies in 88 percent of cases.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has appealed the ruling of a Texas judge to pull access to the abortion medication mifepristone.

It was announced that the DOJ would appeal on Friday in the hours following the decision by US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, ruled Friday to undo the 2000 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

The move was met with immediate backlash from much of the pharmaceutical industry, with major players such as Pfizer and Merch condemning Judge Kacsmaryk's ruling.

The immediate future of mifepristone now lies in the hands of the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals. Currently, the drug is set to be pulled from the market on Friday, but the appeals court could issue an injunction to allow its use for the time being.

This landmark case for not only abortion rights in the US but also the power of regulators to oversee drugs is expected to eventually make it to the Supreme Court.

Mifepristone, unlike its counterpart misoprostol, is only approved for abortion healthcare, as well as, for some miscarriages. It was approved in 2000. Roughly one-half of abortions are completed using the two-pill system (file photo)

'The Justice Department strongly disagrees with the decision of the District Court... and will be appealing the court's decision and seeking a stay pending appeal,' the agency wrote after the ruling Friday.

'Today's decision overturns the FDA's expert judgment, rendered over two decades ago, that mifepristone is safe and effective. The Department will continue to defend the FDA's decision.

'The Department is committed to protecting Americans' access to legal reproductive care.'

Believing that a ruling to invalidate mifepristone's FDA approval was imminent, several states have already begun stockpiling the drug.

California Gov Gavin Newsom announced on Monday that his office made plans to secure an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills.

Gov Newsom said: 'We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services. Medication abortion remains legal in California.'

In Washington, the Department of Corrections has bought up tens of thousands of doses of mifepristone that it will soon become authorized to dispense.

Gov Inslee said at a press conference last Tuesday: 'Washington is a pro-choice state and no Texas judge will order us otherwise.'

And Whole Women's Health, an independent medication abortion provider in New York City, said Friday: '[W]e follow directives from the FDA, and not anti-abortion judges in Texas who lack any formal medical training.

'Whole Woman's Health will continue to dispense [mifepristone] in our clinics and our Pills by Mail program for the next week as we monitor both decisions.'

Some have also started to stockpile misoprostol, a stomach ulcer drug used alongside mifepristone in medication abortions.

While there are no challenges to the drug's approval, some fear its access could be on the chopping block next.

A misoprostol-only regimen is standard in many parts of the world and even has the full endorsement of the World Health Organization.

But, this method is not as effective as a dual-drug combo.

While mifepristone and misoprostol are 100 percent effective at terminating a pregnancy, the latter alone does not always work.

A study published in February by researchers at the University of Texas and Columbia University found that misoprostol alone only terminated pregnancies in 88 percent of cases.

Also following the ruling, over 300 biotech and pharma industry executives signed a letter saying the ruling amounted to 'judicial interference' that imperils to future of prescription drug approvals.

Signees included those from Pfizer, BioNTech, Merck and other major players.

The leaders are calling for Judge Kacsmaryk to reverse his decision, which has set off a wave of uncertainty and questions about the legal landscape of abortion access.

They wrote: 'We call for the reversal of this decision to disregard science, and the appropriate restitution of the mandate for the safety and efficacy of medicines for all with the FDA, the agency entrusted to do so in the first place.'

It was a rare show of unity from biotech companies large and small in response to Friday evening's surprise ruling.

California Gov Gavin Newsom (pictured) said: 'We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services.' His state is stockpiling abortion drugs as the fate of mifepristone remains in the balance

They added: 'The decision ignores decades of scientific evidence and legal precedent.

'Judge Kacsmaryk's act of judicial interference has set a precedent for diminishing FDA's authority over drug approvals, and in doing so, creates uncertainty for the entire biopharma industry.'

Ever since Congress gave the FDA overarching jurisdiction to determine whether drugs are safe and effective as part of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938, courts have typically deferred to the agency's scientific expertise.

But the Texas ruling erodes the legitimacy of the FDA as the arbiter of good medical and scientific regulatory judgement.

Experts fear that it opens the door for more political rifts over medications that have been deemed overwhelmingly safe.

The judge's decision, they fear, could send a chilling effect across the field of medicine development, an already risky and expensive endeavor.

The pharma execs added: 'As an industry we count on the FDA's autonomy and authority to bring new medicines to patients under a reliable regulatory process for drug evaluation and approval.

'Adding regulatory uncertainty to the already inherently risky work of discovering and developing new medicines will likely have the effect of reducing incentives for investment, endangering the innovation that characterizes our industry.'

Court challenges such as the one mounted in Texas could open the door for other parties to challenge the FDA's approval of other new or existing drugs deemed controversial and caught in culture war crosshairs.

In response to the Texas judge last week, President Joe Biden said: 'If this ruling were to stand, then there will be virtually no prescription, approved by the FDA, that would be safe from these kinds of political, ideological attacks.'
Victims who have lost thousands of pounds in a cruel scam that sees fraudsters impersonate their bank have slammed Revolut for their response.

Using a spoofed phone number that looks like it is from the e-money institution, scammers are convincing customers to hand over a One Time Passcode (OTP) to register devices with Apple Pay, before downloading the cards on to their own phones.

The fraudsters then go on shopping sprees costing thousands in high-end stores, draining the victim's bank account.

And Revolut has been heavily criticised for its customer service, as victims complain that its live chat sent them around in circles - with one saying that the challenger bank blames its customers.

The e-money institution, which does not have a UK banking licence, was founded in 2015 by former Credit Suisse and Lehman Brothers trader Nik Storonsky, 38, and Vlad Yatsenko, 39.

Daria Tymicka (pictured) had just finished studying game design at the University of Worcester when she lost nearly 10,000 that she had saved while working as a restaurant supervisor

Revolut was founded in 2015 by former Credit Suisse and Lehman Brothers trader Nik Storonsky, 38, and Vlad Yatsenko, 39 (file image)

One Apple Pay fraud victim, Harvey Austen, 18, says he lost 1,750 to the scam in January and was forced to give up his car - sending his credit score tumbling.

He had to ask his parents for a loan to cover getting to work because he could barely afford the 90-minute train journey.

'Because my car insurance was paid monthly and because I'm 18 it was about 4,000 pounds a year roughly for a 2006 Vauxhall Corsa, and that was a credit agreement.

'It damaged my credit score. Horribly. I went from a good score to almost the bottom of poor.

'I've settled the debt now with the insurer and I did manage to get a new car recently, thanks to a lender but it's high APR, hugely high APR.'

The Kent-based construction project coordinator said the challenger bank hadn't taken his financial circumstances into account.

'It's really hard to get by and Revolut haven't put that into consideration at all, that people are in a cost-of-living crisis.

'I mentioned this to them, in my live chat with them and they shared no care in the world about that. They couldn't be less interested if they tried to, quite frankly.

'They show no regard whatsoever for the actual human side of things. There's no way you can talk to them on the phone, there's no physical branch.

'They don't refund for fraud and they blame the customer,' the 18-year-old said.

Ukrainian mother-of-two who came to the UK as a refugee scammed out of 6,000 by fraudsters pretending to be from HMRC Dinara Loktionova, 37, a Ukrainian mother-of-two, said she was threatened with five years in prison by fraudsters pretending to be from HMRC Dinara Loktionova, 37, who moved with her two children to the UK in April 2022 following the outbreak of was in February 2022, said the scammers had told her she had an unpaid tax bill. She paid nearly 6,000 and borrowed thousands from a Ukrainian friend before realising it was a scam and she thinks she was targeted because she is a refugee. The software developer and tester, who is working for a UK-based company but was a lecturer in her home country, was threatened with deportation and prison by the cruel fraudsters. NatWest have promised to refund her the 998 she paid and Revolut will pay back 4,800 after she made a formal complaint to the e-money institution. Originally the challenger bank told her 'there was nothing they could do'. Mrs Loktionova's husband is serving in military intelligence in Ukraine and she was worried that without the money she saved she would not be able to help him if he is injured or reach her parents in an emergency situation. 'I saved this money to share with my parents. To be more confident here in this country. 'They think Ukrainians are a better target audience for frauds because there are a lot of single mothers with children in the country who are scared to be sent to prison,' she explained.

Figures from scam reporting body Action Fraud show that frauds involving OTPs are on the rise, with 538 reported in 2021 and 742 in 2022.

And recent figures for Revolut suggest it has been struggling with protecting customers against fraud, with the number of crime reports made to Action Fraud ballooning to 7,198 last year, up 81 per cent from 3,975 in 2021.

That was the fourth highest figure for any firm offering current account-style services, trailing only Barclays, Lloyds and Santander.

The data also accounts for cases where the fraudsters funnel money through Revolut accounts or in when an identity has been stolen and a fake account set up.

The financial firm, which offers current account services but is not a bank in the UK, announced in early March that it would be getting its banking licence 'imminently'.

Challenger banks are relatively small retail banks set up to compete with larger more traditional financial institutions.

Revolut  worth 28billion according to its most recent valuation  reported its first ever profit, of 26million, for 2021 in February, as turnover tripled to 636m during the cryptocurrency boom.

The challenger bank is not signed up to the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM) in the UK, a voluntary agreement between banks that they will repay victims of some kinds of fraud.

Heather Buchanan, executive policy director for the APPG on Fair Business Banking, said at the end of March: 'I'd be utterly gobsmacked if Revolut is welcomed into the licensed banking sector.

'We could be letting in a wolf in sheep's clothing, and I don't think that would end well at all for the sheep.'

And many of those who have lost money to scams using the platform agree.

Daria Tymicka had just finished studying game design at the University of Worcester when she lost nearly 10,000 that she had saved while working as a restaurant supervisor.

She'd carefully put aside the money to pay for expensive graphic design packages when she graduated so that she could build a portfolio of work.

But the scammers - who knew her address in the UK, her address in her home country of Poland and both of her phone numbers - spent 9,330 in Selfridges after connecting to her Apple Pay in September 2022, decimating her savings.

She says Revolut told her they hadn't detected fraudulent activity on her account and that she must have made the payment - more than a two hour drive away from where she was at the time.

Revolut, which holds a banking licence in the EU, initially rejected her dispute in a typo-ridden email, saying: 'After a careful investigation, we have identified that the transaction(s) you've marked as unrecognised must have been performed contactless through your [sic].

'Since you've indicated that this device remains in your possession, we can only conclude that the transaction was carried out by yourself.'

Revolut also rejected her formal complaint although it did eventually accept that she had not made the payment.

Daria, now living in Glasgow, had to chase Revolut through the Bank of Lithuania because her account is based in the EU.

'I think they need better warnings. I wasn't expecting them to refund me 100 per cent because I knew it was my mistake.

'But my friend, she had an account with another bank and then two years ago she received a phone call with a scam as well and she basically gave someone all these card details. They spent thousands and the bank repaid him 80 per cent.'

But the Bank of Lithuania dismissed her claims for a refund, meaning that she would have to take Revolut to court to try and get her money back; something she doesn't have the resources to do.

'It's been so long now. The first two, three months were very hard - a lot of crying. At this point it is just good that people will know.

'My mother said: "At least it's not health, it's just money, money comes and goes." This is something I need to realise for the rest of my life.'

Mikhail Moudrakovski, 36, a Wimbledon-based management consultant who specialises in customer service, lost 3,600 to the fraud.

Mikhail Moudrakovski (pictured), 36, said the fraudsters were some of the best customer service people he'd come across

Co-Founder Nikolay Storonsky has previously blasted the Financial Conduct Authority for being slow with Revolut's UK banking licence (pictured in 2018)

After checking the number online, he was certain he was speaking to the Revolut fraud team.

He said the scammers had been so convincing that he had transferred more money to Revolut out of another bank account because they'd told him it would be safer there.

The fraudsters even said he needed to delete the Revolut app from his phone to reduce the risk of it being hacked while they 'secured' his account.

'They went on a little bit of a spree. At that point I became livid. I remember my wife told me she had never seen my face so red when I ran into the kitchen,' Mikhail said.

'I went through it with a few senior colleagues at work and they said, "You're going to get your money back, they're liable for this," but of course Revolut did absolutely everything to avoid that.

How to keep your money where you want it - in YOUR bank account Cyber security expert James Bore said the new challenger banks and e-money institutions have not been properly investing in anti-fraud measures Cybersecurity expert James Bore explained the simple rules he follows to stop scammers. Keep a small amount of money in Revolut and similar platforms Use the app like a cash wallet, James advises, to minimise the risk of large losses. Use one-off cards for online payment and subscriptions to protect your data from leaks Revolut allows users to generate one-off cards with new numbers for transactions. The platform Do not trust that the number on your phone is the bank calling If you are called out of the blue, ask the agent for a reference number, hang up and then call the bank on the number that is listed on their website or on your card. If it is your bank calling, the person on the phone will be perfectly happy to assist you. If it is a fraudster, they will try to keep you on the phone. Hang up immediately and report the incident to your bank or e-money platform.

'They kept putting me through this very brutal, slow answering system of chat messages, "We're escalating, we're escalating, yes, no, maybe," and obviously at the end of every chat there slowly came this rejection and I think they were trying to wear me out.

'It was a very dark week, the week that I was talking to Revolut with this hope that they would do something about it. I remember I was very low, like I had been betrayed because I had trusted Revolut for my money for so long.'

The customer service expert said he thought the fraudsters had offered better service than the e-money institution.

'The scammers had made me feel so secure which is so funny because it was the opposite of Revolut's customer service which was incredibly insecure because they gave me vague answers, they wouldn't help me in any way.

'There were so many tricks. I was actually very impressed by them, to be honest. The sophistication of that manipulation; I felt very clever.'

He explained how the scammers had played on his emotions to convince him that he needed to trust them.

'Everyone makes every decision, every customer, even in business-to-business transactions are made with tons of emotional background.

'We think we are rational people but we are actually making our purchases and commitments very much based on emotion. That was an extremely emotional event for me. That's about as emotional as it gets in terms of interacting with a business.'

Mr Moudrakovski added that Revolut was risking losing more customers with its customer service.

'All of those key points where you have got to step it up or you're not just going to lose the customer, you're going to have these runaway stories where people just want to tell the world about how bad your business is. That's really damaging for your business' reputation.

'Revolut is literally hiding. When I was trying to interact with them, I was like, how do I talk to someone, and I could never get a voice interaction.'

Cristina Murroni, 57, who was the victim of an Authorised Push Payment fraud through her Revolut account and lost nearly 10,000, has started a Facebook group for victims.

She said that she had been shocked by the number of people who had reached out to her and said that they were 'traumatised' by their experiences.

'We are traumatised. Told one thing when the reality was another one.

'There are allegations - although they are only allegations - that maybe Revolut really has such weak defences on its system that it has become one of the scammers' favourite platforms.'

Ms Murroni said she had been disappointed with Revolut's response and has taken them to the Financial Ombudsman and will receive their decision shortly.

A spokesman for Revolut said it had introduced stronger and clearer warnings and new 'enhanced' interventions for payments made in a digital wallet (file image)

'The human link is always the weakest link in security. So you have got to re-enforce exactly that point. And Revolut is very far from state of the art.'

The business-owner said she had 'learnt a lesson' from the scam and understood better how people can be so vulnerable to fraud.

'So in one way, I know I sound like a real yoga person, but it was a lesson in humility. I thought it would never happen to me and I now know how vulnerable people feel and it's not a nice feeling.

'It's a good human lesson but I don't want to pay that big a price for it.'

A spokesman for UK Finance, the trade association that represents the financial services sector said: 'Fraud has a devastating impact on victims and the banking industry's primary focus is protecting customers from fraud happening in the first place.

'Criminals are sophisticated and will make every attempt to steal your personal and financial information, often by purporting to be your bank to gain your trust.

'It is important to remember that your bank will never ask you to share your full PIN, password or OTP.'

A spokesman for Revolut said it had introduced stronger and clearer warnings and new 'enhanced' interventions for payments made in a digital wallet like Apple Pay.

The spokesman said Revolut takes the protection of its customers 'extremely seriously' and said it was vital that criminals were stopped at the source.

It said customers would never be contacted by phone if they had not first been contacted through the Revolut live chat.

The e-money institution added that it considers reimbursement on a case-by-case basis and looks at the effectiveness of its own warnings along with the actions of the customer.
A self-described dark-web seller with a history of violence gloated over police bungling a raid on his home when an officer inadvertently wiped evidence of the incriminating transactions.

Joshua Giffin, who also goes by the name Yusha Jalal Abdullah, posted video last week showing the police search at his Brisbane home on February 7 last year.

It is unclear whether the raid was linked to Giffin being charged with assaulting, choking and sending disturbing messages to his ex-girlfriend; crimes for which he subsequently served just over a year in jail.

The footage Giffin posted last week showed a police officer examining the contents of Giffin's laptop.

The vision showed the policeman taking out the USB that runs the operating system without switching the computer off, which can cause data to be lost.

Giffin bragged about the officer's apparent error with a voiceover, 'it was at this moment he knew he had 'f***** up'.

Once the policeman removed the device the computer monitor went black and displayed white writing before appearing to switch off completely.

'QLD police find my laptop during a raid on my house, logged into TOR, logged into a marketplace and on an account with 4.5 years worth of transactions,' his caption read.

'Then Senior Constable Moron saves my a** by pulling out the USB running the OS and the drive wipes everything.'

A Queensland Corrective Services discharge notice revealed he was taken to the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre in Archerfield on February 8 last year - the day after the raid.

Pictured: Joshua Giffin, who also goes by the name Yusha Jalal Abdullah

He bragged about having four-and-a-half years worth of his own dark web transactions accidently wiped

Giffin was then released last November before being convicted over the horrific abuse of his ex-girlfriend earlier this year.

He was later jailed after being convicted of other unrelated offences.

The court was told Giffin and the woman were living in separate bedrooms of the same apartment at the time, but she confided she wanted the relationship to end because she was 'scared' of him.

Giffin sent abusive messages over three hours, the court heard.

He told her to 'pack your f--king sh-t up' and warned: 'Come back here and I'll slit your f--king throat'.

When she said she would be calling police, Giffin threatened to kill them too.

Giffin then confronted her in the lobby at 11.45pm.

After taking a swing and missing, he grabbed her around the neck and squeezed tightly.

The victim struggled to breathe before Giffin raised a hand and caused her to flinch before he said: 'Yeah you're scared now you fat sl-t.'

Giffin then punched the woman in the head twice, leaving a large lump. The entire attack was captured on CCTV, the court was told.

Defence barrister Daniel Boddice said his client was in the grips of a number of mental health and substance abuse disorders at the time of the offending.

District Court judge Geraldine Dann said his behaviour was 'despicable, nasty and mean' and he had no one to blame but himself for his actions.

Giffin was given a sentence of two years and nine months but was released on parole last month.

Queensland Police was contacted by Daily Mail Australia for comment.
An award-winning newspaper columnist was captured on police body-worn camera footage describing the moment he kicked a dog he says was attacking him on a busy city street.

Australian Financial Review journalist Aaron Patrick claimed he was fearful for his safety when he put the boot into the pet outside a Chemist Warehouse in Sydney's inner-city Darlinghurst.

The 52-year-old has pleaded not guilty to committing an act of animal cruelty on November 27, 2021 and has hired prominent solicitor Bryan Wrench to represent him.

Video of police speaking with Patrick after his encounter with the dog Rosie - described as looking like a Pitbull or Staffordshire Bull Terrier - was shown in Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday.

Australian Financial Review columnist Aaron Patrick was captured on police body-worn camera footage describing the moment he kicked a dog he says was attacking him on a Sydney street. The 52-year-old is pictured outside Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday

It began with Senior Constable Mathew Clarkson telling Patrick he was under arrest for animal cruelty and affray as he stood outside the Chemist Warehouse on the corner of Oxford and Riley Streets.

Police allege Patrick nudged Rosie in the ribs with his shin then kicked at at her face while they were both on the eastern side of Riley Street at 6.18pm.

Patrick was then chased by the dog's owner, Caleb Harrower, and another man across the road into Chemist Warehouse where he turned and swung his right foot into Rosie's head.

'I was walking down here,' he told Senior Constable Clarkson. 'And this dog came up to me and ran at me.

'It was a big dog and I was fearful of what the dog was going to do with me so I kicked the dog to try and get it away from me.

'But it was in self-defence because I was fearful for my safety.'

Patrick agreed Rosie was on a leash but claimed Mr Harrower, who runs a tattoo studio named after his pet in Surry Hills, had lashed out in an attempt to hit him.

Video of police speaking with Patrick after his encounter with the dog Rosie - described as looking like a Pitbull or Staffordshire Bull Terrier - was shown in court on Thursday. 'Are you seriously going to handcuff me for kicking a dog?' Patrick asked. Rosie is pictured

'I didn't think that person had the dog under control,' he told Senior Constable Clarkson. 'I was genuinely in fear of my safety and I kicked the dog to try and just get it away from me.

'If you're going to charge me with animal cruelty I think it's fair you charge him with assault.'

Senior Constable Clarkson then told Patrick, 'I'd probably try to punch you in the face too if you kicked my dog'.

When asked by Mr Wrench if that was an inappropriate thing to say, Senior Constable Clarkson initially answered 'no comment' then said 'probably professionally, yes - inappropriate, yes.'

Before being taken into custody, Patrick said he had never been arrested previously.

'Are you seriously going to handcuff me for kicking a dog?' he asked Senior Constable Clarkson, who did.

Australian Financial Review journalist Aaron Patrick claimed he was fearful for his safety when he put the boot into a dog outside this Chemist Warehouse in inner-city Darlinghurst

Mr Harrower was not charged with assault and Patrick was not charged with affray when he was taken to Surry Hills police station.

Under cross-examination, Senior Constable Clarkson confirmed Rosie suffered no injury as a result of her encounter with Patrick.

When Mr Wrench asked the officer if he had made investigations to determine Rosie's breed, police prosecutor Sergeant Jas Poonia objected.

'If it's a Chihuahua compared with a Staffy cross there's a difference in how you deal with those dogs,' Mr Wrench said.

Sergeant Poonia said police relied on each of three alleged contacts between Patrick and Rosie to sustain the animal cruelty charge against him.

'It's a series of kicks that is the act of cruelty,' he told magistrate Rana Daher. 'Each of these individual kicks are acts of cruelty. We say it's the entire sequence.'

Mr Wrench told Ms Daher the onus was on the prosecution to prove whatever Patrick did was unreasonable, unnecessary or unjustifiable.

'It is completely denied Mr Patrick performed an act that was in any way cruel as defined in the legislation,' he said.

The journalist appeared on the court list charged under his full name, Aaron Odysseus Patrick. He has used the byline A. Odysseus Patrick when writing for foreign publications

The case was adjourned for several months when an audio-visual link between the court and Mr Harrower, who was in New York, failed to work.

The journalist appeared on the court list charged under his full name, Aaron Odysseus Patrick. He has used the byline A. Odysseus Patrick when writing for foreign publications.

Odysseus is a legendary Greek king renowned for his intellect, guile and versatility and the hero of Homer's epic work The Odyssey.

Patrick is billed as the 'senior correspondent' for the AFR where he writes about politics and business from the paper's Sydney newsroom.

He has previously written for The New York Times, The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, having started his journalistic career on Melbourne's Herald-Sun.

As well as writing for the Nine newspaper, Patrick also penned the book 'Ego: Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberal Party's Civil War' which was released last year.

He has also published works on the previous Morrison government, the downfall of the Labor Party after the Rudd-Gillard era and the unravelling of Tony Abbott's government.
MailOnline has looked back at the billionaire's biggest failures and successes

Billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson's space bound enterprise Virgin Orbit failed unceremoniously last week as the satellite launch company filed for bankruptcy.

The firm had failed to secure the long-term funding it needed to help it recover from rocket launch failure in January.

The historic launch from Newquay, Cornwall, on January 9 was meant to have been the first ever satellite blasted into orbit from British soil - but an 'anomaly' with the LauncherOne rocket prevented the equipment it was carrying from reaching orbit.

A repurposed 747  named Cosmic Girl by Virgin  took off from Newquay Airport at 10.02pm. The jumbo jet was carrying the rocket, which would deposit its payload in a low Earth orbit, but LauncherOne was unable to reach the right altitude to maintain an orbit.

The company, based in Long Beach, California, lodged the filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware seeking a sale of its assets after announcing the layoff of roughly 85% of its 750 employees last week.

Billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson's space bound enterprise Virgin Orbit failed unceremoniously last week as the satellite launch company filed for bankruptcy

The LauncherOne rocket in a hanger at Spaceport Cornwall, at Cornwall Airport in Newquay

Cosmic Girl, a Boeing 747-400 aircraft carrying the LauncherOne rocket under its left wing, pictured as final preparations were made at Cornwall Airport Newquay on January 9

'At this stage, we believe that the Chapter 11 process represents the best path forward to identify and finalize an efficient and value-maximizing sale,' Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart said in a statement on Tuesday.

The company listed assets of about $243million (around 195million) and total debt at $153.5million (around 123.4million) as of September 30 in the filing.

Virgin Orbit went public in 2021 through a blank-check deal, raising $255million less than expected. The company was spun off from Branson's space tourism firm Virgin Galactic in 2017, Virgin Orbit air-launches rockets from beneath a modified Boeing 747 plane to send satellites into orbit.

And as Branson's latest business venture has ended in failure, MailOnline has taken a look back at some of the British billionaire's other, perhaps less well known, ventures that didn't take off, from Virgin Cola to Virgin Brides. But this goes to show that even the most successful entrepreneurs cannot avoid the occasional misstep.

We will also look at some of Virgin's biggest successes including the one that started it all, Virgin Records, which Branson sold for more than half a billion pounds in 1992; and Virgin Media, one of the UK's leading TV and broadband providers.

The Virgin flops: Branson's brand disasters

Virgin Cola

These days, Richard Branson is not a name you would naturally associate with soft drinks, but when he introduced Virgin Cola in 1994, he thought he could compete with big players Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

Branson now considers Virgin Cola to be one of the biggest business mistakes he ever made, but he certainly made a splash when he introduced the fizzy drink by driving a tank through the streets of New York and 'declared war' on their biggest competitor by smashing through a wall of Coca-Cola cans.

While Virgin had 'grand ambitions' with the beverage, the business says they faltered as they did not disrupt the market or offer consumers 'something significantly better' than the competition.

Recalling the launch in a blog post, Branson said: 'It's fair to say that our launch of Virgin Cola in 1994 was not subtle. Driving a tank through New York's streets before smashing through a wall of Coca-Cola cans certainly created some front-page headlines, which was exactly what we wanted.

'With Virgin Cola, we felt confident that we could smash our way past Coca-Cola and Pepsi, our main competitors. It turned out, however, that we hadn't thought things through. Declaring a soft drink war on Coke was madness.'

Richard Branson (pictured) now considers Virgin Cola to be one of the biggest business mistakes he ever made

Richard Branson (left) introduced Virgin Cola in 1994 to compete with Coca-Cola

In response the Virgin Cola's growing popularity, Coca-Cola retaliated heavily, even going so far as to threaten shops with pulling their product from shelves if they also stocked Virgin Cola.

Branson said they had 'effectively parked our tank on the lawn of the world's largest soft drinks brand, and we weren't quite prepared for the size or the ferocity of Coca-Cola's response, which included a steep increase in their marketing budget and pressure on distributors not to work with us.

He added: 'Had we known how the company would react, we may well have taken a different approach. I consider our cola venture to be one of the biggest mistakes we ever made - but I still wouldn't change a thing.

'Perhaps the biggest positive to come from Virgin Cola, however indirectly, was the launch of Innocent Drinks. Co-founder Richard Reed, a former employee at Virgin Cola, was inspired by his experience, and later started selling his own smoothies with a couple of friends. He now heads one of the biggest, most purposeful drinks brands in Britain.'

The licence for Virgin Cola was sold by Princes Group to Silver Spring in 2007, but the new owners stopped producing it less than two years later in early 2009.

Virgin Vodka

Virgin Drinks launched Virgin Vodka (pictured) in 1994 but it did not last long on the market

Virgin Drinks launched an altogether more adult product around the same time as Virgin Cola in 1994 - their own brand of vodka.

Virgin Vodka did not catch on with the public and did not last long on the market - and it was officially withdrawn when all of Virgin Drinks went out of business in 2007.

Virgin Brides

Richard Branson launched wedding dress firm Virgin Brides in 1996 with a photoshoot of him in a wedding dress

Richard Branson launched Virgin Brides in 1996 with a now infamous photoshoot of him, having shaved off his trademark goatee and made up in blue eyeshadow and lipstick, modelling a wedding dress sold by the firm.

While the business did not become a success, Virgin say it is worth talking about 'on the strength of that photo alone'.

The last Virgin Brides shop, which was based in Manchester, shut its doors for good in 2007.

According to The Guardian Branson later quipped: 'I think because there arent many virgin brides, it never really took off.

'Or maybe it was the picture that put people off.'

Virgin Clothing

Richard Branson, in lipstick, eyeliner, and a wig, attends a Virgin press conference at Union Square Virgin Megastore in New York in September 1998

Branson launched his own fashion line, Virgin Clothing, in 1998 which sold garments designed for men and women between the ages of 18 and 35, according to CEO World.

However the clothing line, which Branson wanted in high street clothes shops, only lasted two years until 2000 as, according to analysts, their target market did not find it appealing.

Younger people were sceptical about the prices offered as well as Branson's own fashion sense.

Virginware

Models pose for the launch of Virginware underwear onboard a Boeing 737 above Sydney, Australia on October 15 2003

Not deterred from his previous garments failure, Branson created lingerie line Virginware in 2003.

It seemingly off to a better start than Virgin clothing with rapid expansion due to impressive online sales.

They opened 30 stores by 2004 which included a flagship one in Carnaby Street in London, Retail Week reported at the time.

But this success was short lived as the brand went into administration just a year later in April 2005. In a closing down sale that July they sold 35,000 pairs of bras and G-strings.

Virgin Vie At Home

Branson's cosmetics brand, Virgin Vie (later known as Virgin Vie At Home) launched in 1997. At the time he thought he would have the products sold in over a hundred high street shops in just five years.

But the make-up never really gained popularity with the public and in 2009, the unsuccessful company was sold off and renamed Vie at Home, the Telegraph reported at the time.

But this evolution of the brand went defunct itself in 2011.

VirginStudent.com

An archived webpage from 2005 of Richard Branson's Virgin Student website

This Branson failure could well have been a victim of being too ahead of its time.

Community website VirginStudent.com, which launched in 2000, is similar to what today we might call a social networking site - but it launched four years before Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook.

An archived version of the site shows it has similar features to Facebook, including profiles, photo albums, friends lists, and messaging. And the site had managed to amass hundreds of thousands of users by 2001.

One former user said: 'VirginStudent gave you free email, as well as a space to share and store photos and other files. Additional features included a free SMS service, instant messenger functionality, calendars, and news and reviews.'

However, the site eventually shut down in 2005 repeated technical issues and it not gaining enough traction against competitors such as MySpace.

Virgin Cars

Branson attempted a foray into the automotive industry in the year 2000 with Virgin Cars

Branson attempted a foray into the automotive industry in the year 2000 with Virgin Cars.

The online car retailer launched in May of that year, with Branson making the bold prediction that they would sell 24,000 cars within their first year - but they had only shipped 2,000 by October.

And by 2003 they had only sold 12,000 cars before ceasing operations in December 2005.

Looking back at the venture, Branson said: 'Back then, we identified a gap in the retail market and set about revolutionizing the way that cars were being sold.

'That turned out to be the wrong angle, and Virgin Cars ended up shutting down just five years later.'

Virgin Racing

Sir Richard Branson and daughter Holly Branson with their Virgin Racing F1 car and a car from film Cars 2 in 2011

Unperturbed by his first experience in the car business, Branson set up Formula 1 team Virgin Racing in 2010.

It only operated under that brand for one year, becoming Marussia Virgin Racing in 2011, and then Marussia Racing from 2012-2014.

The team then was renamed as Manor Marussia F1 Team in 2015 and then Manor Racing 2016 when they last appeared on the tracks.

Virgin Little Red

Virgin Atlantic launched subsidiary Virgin Little Red in 2012, which operated domestic UK flights from 2013. Pictured: Sir Richard Branson flashes his underpants on his arrival in Edinburgh after he left the inaugural Virgin Atlantic Little Red flight from London Heathrow

While Virgin Atlantic has made itself known as a successful airline, not all associated ventures have turned out so well for Richard Branson.

They launched subsidiary Virgin Little Red in 2012, which operated domestic UK flights from 2013. They said they were happy to lose 3million a week until the brand had grown, but this never happened.

In 2014, they announced they were cancelling the service as it was unable 'to make a positive contribution to Virgin Atlantic's network'.

The Virgin successes: Branson's brand winners

Virgin Records

Virgin Records is where it all began for Richard Branson. He started selling records in a magazine in 1970 using the name Virgin Mail Order.

As sales were so strong his team decided to open up a brick and mortar store in Oxford Street, London leading to the birth of Virgin Records in 1972.

It gave music-lovers the opportunity to listen to tracks and hang out with their friends, making it an incredibly popular place to browse and buy records.

Richard Branson, pictured aged 28, set up the first Virgin Records store in Oxford Street, London in 1972

After the shop was a runaway success, Branson and co turned to developing their own record label, releasing their first album - Mike Oldfield's prog-rock record Tubular Bells - in 1973.

The label bagged what is now considered a pivotal British band when they signed the Sex Pistols in 1977.

Branson sold Virgin Records for a whopping reported 560million ($1billion) to Thorn EMI in June 1992.

Virgin Atlantic

Richard Branson founded airline Virgin Atlantic in 1984

Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic airline operated its first flight between London Gatwick Airport and Newark in New Jersey, USA on June 22, 1984.

They set out to use Branson and other Virgin leaders' experience in public relations to their advantage and convince the public to fly with them.

Branson, the airline's chairman, took every opportunity to bring it attention, including hot air ballooning, abseiling down Manhattan high rises and even kissing the Spice Girls.

This media onslaught gave Virgin Atlantic a reputation as the airline for adventurers.

And clearly customers are still happy to fly with them, as they reported a revenue of 928million in 2021, showing a remarkable recovery after the pandemic.

Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile was founded by the Virgin Group in 1999 as the world's first mobile virtual network operator

Virgin Mobile was founded by the Virgin Group in 1999 as the world's first mobile virtual network operator - meaning they do not maintain their own radio towers and networks, instead using other's hardware.

They originally used coverage of One2One, which became T-Mobile, before moving to EE. They then moved to Vodafone in 2019 and again to O2 in 2022 after a merger was announced with the brand.

All Virgin Mobile customers will be moved to O2 contracts by the end of this year.

Virgin Media

Virgin Media lay their own network of fibre-optic cables across the country which and can offer speeds of up to one Gigabit per second

One of the UK's biggest TV, phone and broadband providers Virgin Media was founded in 2007.

Their origins lay in early comms firms Telewest and NTL, who merged in 2006 before being bought out and rebranded as Virgin the next year.

Virgin Media lay their own network of fibre-optic cables across the country which and can offer speeds of up to one Gigabit per second, among the fastest available in the UK.

They merged with O2 in 2021 to become Virgin Media O2, and the company has a massive annual revenue of 10bn in 2022.

Virgin Money

Virgin Money's first high street bank in Newcastle in January 2012

Branson decided to branch out in March 1995 when he founded Virgin Money, although it was originally known as Virgin Direct.

As Virgin Direct they offered a value personal equity plan, a kind of tax-privileged investment account that was replaced by individual savings accounts in 1999. They launched Virgin One in partnership with the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1997.

Virgin then founded price comparison website virginmoney.com in 2000, which was merged with Virgin Direct in 2002 to form the company as it now stands.

The brand made a failed attempt to acquire the Northern Rock bank in 2007. But in the wake of the financial crisis, Branson said in 2009 that he still wanted the company to enter the banking sector, telling the Telegraph: 'We are going to get back into the mortgage business and we will become a bank either by acquisition or by getting our own banking licence. You will see us become a consumer bank within the next couple of years.'

They then applied for a full banking licence in 2009.

Virgin Money then bought Northern Rock from the British Government, who had nationalised it after the credit crunch, for 743million in November 2011.

Virgin Money then later merged with CYBG plc in 2018, who owned Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank.

In 2022, the brand is growing banking powerhouse, with a revenue of reported revenue of 1.7billion in 2022.

Virgin Active

Richard Branson takes a beating from model Nell McAndrew at the launch of the Virgin Active Gym and Life Centre in Shepherd's Bush, West London, in September 2002

Richard Branson launched his own fitness and health club business Virgin Active in 1999 as the first club opened in in Preston, Lancashire.

The brand introduced the equivalent of a Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse underneath the gym floors of some of their high end clubs to make the experience feel like a private members' lounge rather than just somewhere to exercise.

As of today there are 43 active Virgin Active health clubs in the UK.

Virgin Active expanded to South Africa in the year 2000, buying the assets of the Health and Racquet Club, whose parent company had gone into liquidation - and as of today they now have 133 locations in the nation.

They have also have clubs in Italy, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Namibia and Botswana and report revenues of millions of pounds a year.
Hunter Biden's lawyer claimed there will be '3 more', in text messages with a right-wing nonprofit about Donald Trumps arrest.

The heated text exchange, between hotshot Hollywood attorney Kevin Morris and a 'researcher' working with the conservative think tank Marco Polo, has raised questions over what the First Son's legal team know about prosecutors' plans against the former President.

The news comes as Morris sued Marco Polo and its founder, former Trump White House staffer Garrett Ziegler, in a Los Angeles court last week for alleged harassment, invasion of privacy and 'criminal impersonation' over the nonprofit's investigation into Hunter's abandoned laptop and alleged Biden family corruption.

The Marco Polo self-described 'researcher', texting Morris under a pseudonym, attempted to rile up the multi-millionaire lawyer by taunting him with texts about his family and information from Marco Polo's 645-page report on Hunter's laptop and the First Son's shady dealings with the Chinese, Ukrainians and other foreign businessmen.

Morris shot back, in Signal app messages from March 30 obtained by DailyMail.com, writing: 'I love when you just keep talking. Don't worry if you missed the Trump news. There'll be 3 more over the next few weeks.'

Hunter's lawyer Kevin Morris wrote in a text sent to right-wing group Marco Polo that there will be '3 more' during an exchange about Donald Trump's arrest

The texts raise questions over what the First Son's legal team know about the Manhattan DA's plan for Trump, who was arraigned Tuesday

The Marco Polo self-described 'researcher', texting Morris under a pseudonym, attempted to rile up the multi-millionaire lawyer. Morris shot back, in messages from March 30 obtained by DailyMail.com, writing: 'I love when you just keep talking. Don't worry if you missed the Trump news. There'll be 3 more over the next few weeks'

In another exchange on April 4, the anonymous provocateur texted Morris: 'Not everyday you get to arrest your political rival,' and the attorney replied: 'Imagine 4 of them.'

The texts raise questions over what Hunter's legal team know about potential plans by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and other law enforcement agencies in potential cases against Trump or his associates.

The texts could also be a general reference to the other ongoing investigations against Trump and his supporters, already known to the public.

These include a Fulton County, Georgia probe into election meddling, a review of how Trump handled sensitive government documents found at his Mar-a-Lago home, and a special counsel investigation into Trumps alleged role in the January 6 2021 riots at the Capitol.

Marco Polo founder Garrett Ziegler is a 27-year-old former Trump White House aide

Morris also claimed in texts attached as an exhibit to his legal complaint, that he had a team of '8 lawyers with 10+ years as AUSA's in SDNY,'  referring to Assistant US Attorneys in the Southern District of New York.

'We have 8 SDNY prosecutors on our team. All this took was a phone call. 8 lawyers with 10+ years as AUSA's in SDNY,' he wrote. 'Everything you put on social media is being monitored by 3-4 law enforcement agendas.'

Morris also claimed to be working with the FBI reporting alleged harassment by Marco Polo in text messages sent to the group in June last year.

'Any and all texts go automatically to SDNY and NYV and WDC FBI you f***ing moron,' the lawyer wrote. 'You like to scare people? You like showing personal information? Beating up on girls? And every time one of you morons responds to Garret's texts asking for help the FBI has recorded it.'

The researcher told DailyMail.com they started texting with Morris of their own accord, but later forwarded the expletive-ridden, sparring conversations with Morris to Marco Polo.

Morris made his fortune from Hollywood contracts including representing the creators of South Park in a $935 million deal dating back to 2007.

He has been described as Hunter's 'sugar brother', after reportedly lending the First Son up to $2.8 million to pay off his IRS tax bill in an apparent bid to stave off a tax crimes investigation by federal prosecutors.

Reports of his addition to Hunter's legal team emerged in May last year.

On Monday Morris filed a civil lawsuit against Ziegler and his nonprofit, demanding at least $5 million for alleged doxing, harassment, invasion of privacy, criminal impersonation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The complaint calls Ziegler, 27, 'a right-wing extremist and provocateur who has made a reputation harassing people connected to President Joe Biden or his son, Hunter Biden.'

Morris accuses Ziegler of posting his personal data including property addresses and phone numbers on social media, orchestrating a 'harassment campaign', and 'posting picture[s] of Morris' family members on [Marco Polo's] social media channels while making derogatory comments about them.'

He claims 'several of the right-wing extremists who follow Ziegler on social media and the Website made veiled threats of violence against Morris, called Morris, and even drove by Morris' property.'

In another exchange on April 4 the anonymous provocateur texted Morris: 'Not everyday you get to arrest your political rival,' and the attorney replied: 'Imagine 4 of them'

In a statement, Ziegler told DailyMail.com the lawsuit was 'utterly ridiculous' and 'false'.

'What Morris is alleging in the lawsuit is utterly ridiculous,' he said. 'The founder of Marco Polo was not the person corresponding with him. He has no jurisdiction over me. The court has no jurisdiction over me [as a non-California resident]. And most importantly, every single one of his allegations is false. He just puts some CNN articles as support and name-calls me for the entire complaint.

'Kevin has not shown any legitimate cause of action against me, and this is a lawfare tactic. He and his wife have tens of millions of dollars, and I have $7,000 to my name.'

'Marco Polo is an open source intelligence collective. That means we are constantly receiving tips and material from digital savants across the country,' he added. 'It's a small group, granted. There's only about a half dozen of us, but those half a dozen people know a lot of right-wing activists across the country. So it's a grassroots activists collective.'

The feud between Hunter's lawyers and the nonprofit began when Marco Polo released a 645-page report in October last year detailing alleged corruption by the Biden family and embarrassing details of Hunter's drug and prostitute use.

The report accused Hunter, Biden family members including President Joe Biden, and their associates of a total 459 crimes.

The legal documents say Ziegler is trying to 'gain financial benefit by raising money' over the Biden investigation, claiming Marco Polo 'raised millions of dollars through this type of conduct.'

A copy of the nonprofit's latest IRS filings says it raised $91,792 in 2021, with Ziegler taking a salary of $35,313 for an average of 60 hours' work per week.

Ziegler told DailyMail.com the 2022 filings are currently being prepared, and that he took a salary of around $73,000 last year.

The complaint accuses Ziegler of impersonating Democrat fundraiser John Cooper in text messages 'in an effort to get Morris to disclose information about Hunter Biden'.

In a message from May 2022, a Marco Polo operative sent Morris an emblem of his organization and wrote: 'Kevin, you have given us plenty. Thank you!'

'Call your lawyer, Garrett. We already have you. You've been a bad boy,' the attorney responded, referring to Marco Polo founder Ziegler

A furious-sounding Morris responded: 'You're going to enjoy being a buttboy for 20 years dude. Lube up'

After discovering he had been duped, Morris sent a flurry of angry messages to his respondent.

Morris called Ziegler a 'f***ing moron', 'f***nuts', said 'I'm going to take all your money', 'I know where you live' and 'You're going to enjoy being a buttboy for 20 years dude. Lube up' in the May and June 2022 messages, previously published by DailyMail.com.

'I also have you making those threatening phone calls. They are already with the FBI. I know where you live,' the lawyer wrote.

'You're f***ing with the wrong guys. It's not like this wont be hanging on you for the rest of your life - There is right and wrong in this world. You are a viscous little p***y and I'm coming to get you.'

Ziegler told DailyMail.com all communication with Morris was by independent researchers and that he has never spoken to Hunter's lawyer.

Morris has also been accused of using deceptive tactics himself.

The State Bar of California is currently investigating an ethics complaint against the attorney that claims he infiltrated the set of the movie My Son Hunter under false pretenses to spy on its makers for his client

An ethics complaint against Morris was filed by the Biden biopic producer Phelim McAleer (right) who claimed Morris infiltrated the set of the movie My Son Hunter under false pretenses to spy on its makers for his client

The ethics complaint against Morris was filed by the Biden biopic's producer Phelim McAleer.

McAleer claimed Morris flew on his private jet to the set in Serbia in November, posed as an independent documentarian and shot more than 40 hours of film, audio and interviews.

'Mr. Morris intentionally misrepresented to me that he had never met or spoken with Mr. Hunter Biden,' the complaint alleged, claiming the attorney 'used deception and misrepresentation to spy on a movie project about his client to gather information to help his client.'

'He used deceit to secure such access by not disclosing he was Mr. Biden's lawyer,' it said. 'Mr. Morris used his cover as a documentary filmmaker to conceal his true purpose: performing legal investigative work on behalf of his client, Mr. Hunter Biden.'

A source close to Morris told the New York Post last year that the ethics complaint 'won't go anywhere.'

'[McAleer is] making a mistake taking Kevin on  plus he's a humiliated producer who is hilariously playing hurt while his cruelty and actions do actual harm to real people,' the source told the Post. '[McCleer] should go climb back under the rock he came from.'
A teenage girl who was chased and sexually assaulted by a predator when she got off a train has slammed the justice system after her attacker was released from jail despite a chilling report into his chances of rehabilitation.

Rowlan Kim Paul, 40, spent three years and three months in jail for the attempted rape of a girl, 17, in broad daylight at Joondalup Train Station, north of Perth, Western Australia on December 13, 2019.

Paul was high on the synthetic cannabis Kronic, despite having a history of schizophrenia, when he pinned the teenager to a wall and put his hand up her dress.

He was also on bail for other offences at the time of the sexual assault.

Two members of the public ran to help her when she screamed. Paul ran from the scene but was arrested soon after.

Rowlan Kim Paul's now 21-year-old victim delivered a harrowing statement after he was released, saying she suffers PTSD when she sees the same colour Hawaiian shirt Paul had on (pictured above)

He spent three years and three months in jail for the attempted rape of the then-17 year old girl in 2019. Now 21 she believes it is inevitable he will reoffend

Paul was recently released from custody having served his full sentence after previously being denied parole in 2021.

He was immediately placed on a 12-month post-sentence supervision order (PSSO) by the Prisoners Review Board, The West Australian reported.

A PSSO imposes community supervision obligations on nominated offenders.

A report by the parole board said while Paul did complete a sex offender treatment program, he made only 'minimal or preliminary gains'.

Even more concerning, the report said Paul didn't have 'sufficient protective strategies' to reduce his risk to the community or to support his own rehabilitation.

In a statement, the now 21-year-old victim said she found it hard to believe Paul was allowed back on the streets with few restrictions despite not being fully rehabilitated.

She said the three year, three month sentence he received was 'a slap in the face'. The maximum possible sentence was seven years.

The sexual assault that landed Paul in jail occurred at Joondalup train station on December 13, 2019

'To find out that he has not participated in the programs to a satisfactory level is insulting to everything I had and continue to experience,' the woman told The West Australian.

In her victim impact statement, she outlined the psychological impacts of the attempted rape.

The woman felt that ever since the sexual assault her independence has been 'completely shattered'.

The woman had been to an open day for the University of Notre Dame on the day of the attack but dropped out only weeks into her courses because of panic attacks and anxiety from catching the same train.

She has also been diagnosed with PTSD which she says can be brought on by seeing someone in a blue Hawaiian shirt - which Paul was wearing when he attacked her.
The Colt incest family is almost all grown up and a family tree of the depraved clan, whose discovery living in isolation in the hills behind a country town rocked the world, shows its tangled bloodlines.

Four generations of inbreeding had gone virtually unnoticed, until authorities uncovered the clan living in filthy conditions on an isolated bush block outside Boorowa, four hours south-west of Sydney.

In 2012, shocked police and welfare workers found a living area of the farm that 'smelt of urine and faeces' which lay in open buckets among the sleeping areas, and was also populated by about 20 dogs.

By that time, the Colt's patriarch, Tim, who had moved the family between rural Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia to evade detection as he fathered his daughter's children, had died.

Tim's wife June, herself the product of a brother and sister relationship, had also died, but not before at least two of her children, a sister and brother, had a firmly established relationship of their own.

And two of the next generation - a brother and sister who were the children of Tim's favourite daughter Betty - had also taken up with each other and had three children, one of whom had died from a genetic disorder.

The rampant sexual practices detailed in the original NSW Children's Court judgment among the closely related Colt children, and their detachment from society suggested the practices would have continued.

A family tree of Australia's most inbred clan, the Colts, shows the intergenerational incest and tangled bloodlines of the group uncovered living in isolation on a squalid farm in 2012

The court appointed the family a pseudonym, Colt, to protect the identity of the children, 12 of whom were removed due to neglect.

All but one of the children removed were found by DNA testing to have homozygosity, that is their parents were closely related or very closely related, meaning their parents were brother and sister or a parent and child.

Many of the children spoke unintelligibly, walked in a shuffling fashion, had never used toilet paper or a toothbrush, could not read or write, had fungal infections, and rotting teeth.

The children were dirty, wore dirty clothing and were shy and unable to make eye contact. It emerged that they were malnourished, and routinely sexually abused and, assaulted.

Their removal by NSW's then Family and Community Services department from the communal compound broke up the Colts, who are now scattered across four states.

The farm was also sold, leaving some of them heartbroken and unhappy.

TIM COLT

The family patriarch, Tim Colt fancied himself as a travelling minstrel, the frontman for his touring family band.

Born in 1943, he and June Colt, who died in Victoria in 2001, had seven children, Rhonda, Betty, Cherry, Frank, Charlie, Paula and Martha.

He was a sexual abuser of his own daughters, in particular Betty who gave birth to 13 children, nine of whom were among the Colt children DNA tested and five found to be the children of related parents.

The family patriarch, Tim Colt, fancied himself as a travelling minstrel but he moved his family around to evade detection while fathering his daughter Betty's children

Betty was probably sexually molested by her father as young as 12 years old, and court documents reveal that Tim, who died in 2009, was the name given by some of her children when asked who their father was.

Betty Colt's solicitor tendered a letter to the court detailing that she had been informed that Betty, Rhonda and Martha Colt's maternal grandparents - the parents of their mother June - were brother and sister.

BETTY COLT

Now in her early 50s, Betty Colt is the mother of 13, grandmother of at least four and had five of her children removed in 2012, two of whom - Billy and Bobby - she attempted to kidnap from foster care.

Betty smuggled the boys, then aged 14 and 15, a mobile phone and charger during contact visits and then set up a 'runaway plan', recruiting her elder son Bobby to kidnap his brother Billy.

She planned to take Bobby and Billy to South Australia where they were to work as fruit pickers.

Betty Colt is taken off to prison after being convicted of attempting to kidnap her sons out of foster care after they were removed from family's squalid rural compound due to neglect and DNA proof of their inbreeding

DNA tests showed Bobby's father was either Betty's own father or one of her brothers, and NSW Police wire taps revealed the then 48-year-old had a sexualised relationship with the 15-year-old.

In the taped conversations, Betty called her son 'big boy', told him he had a 'sexy' voice and that she couldn't wait to be reunited with him.

'They'll find it very hard to f***ing get you back,' she told Bobby.

'They don't know who your father is...don't talk to anyone, tell Billy not to talk to anyone.'

Betty Colt was jailed for 12 months over the kidnap plot and is now believed to live in country NSW along with one of her sons, who is now aged in his 20s.

Betty's youngest daughter Carmen revealed after she had been taken into care that she had sex with family members.

She also said that three of her brothers, Brian, Dwayne and Billy had once taken her and Kimberly - the teenage daughter of Betty's daughter Raylene - to the bush, tied them to a tree and took their clothes off.

She also said she had watched her brother Dwayne have sex with Cindy, the five-year-old daughter of Carmen and Dwayne's aunt Rhonda.

Carmen is reported to have said that her father was her maternal uncle, Charlie Colt.

MARTHA COLT

Martha Colt had six closely related children, one of whom died and four of whom were the product of a father-daughter or brother-sister relationship.

After authorities descended on the Colt's rural compound outside Boorowa, a judge found 'that Martha Colt engaged in consanguineous, incestuous sexual relations within the Colt family group'.

Martha's children told authorities that she and her brother Charlie Charlie Colt slept together in a bed in one of the farm's tents.

Martha's daughter's Ruth, and Nadia later disclosed to their carers that their brothers Albert, Jed and Karl showed them books with pictures of naked men and women, and touched their breasts.

They said that their brother Albert, aged 15, had sex with the sisters who were then aged nine and seven.

Martha Colt had five surviving children, all of whom had closely related parents, four of them the product of a brother and sister or father and daughter relationship

Nadia said she did not like what her brothers did to her, including touching her chest and bottom, and and that when she had told her mother Martha, Charlie Colt had smacked the boys with a 'big belt'.

Both Martha's daughters were underweight, did not know how to use a toilet, or what toilet paper was, and and had never seen a toothbrush before.

RAYLENE COLT

Betty's oldest child, Raylene was born when her mother was just 15 or 16 and enjoyed a close relationship with her.

Raylene had one daughter, 13-year-old Kimberly, who was also removed from the Boorowa farm on July 18, 2012 along with five of Betty's children, all of Martha's and Rhonda's youngest, Cindy.

After that traumatic day, Raylene contended that Kimberly's father was a man called Sven, a backpacker from Sweden or Switzerland who she met on a date in Victoria.

But tests proved her child's father was a relative, and and Kimberly later told a psychologist that she had the same father as her mother, Raylene Colt, and her grandmother, Betty Colt.

Raylene Colt had a daughter Kimberly who was removed into care where she told a psychologist that she had the same father as her mother and also her grandmother, Betty

Kimberly also reported that she and her cousin Carmen had engaged in oral sex with Carmen's brother Dwayne, and that her mother Raylene was aware of this.

She had also told Raylene about other sexual acts with with her uncles Joe, Bobby and Dwayne,

Initially abusive to caseworkers, Kimberly threatened to cut one's fingers off and said, 'You wait till Charlie finds out. Charlie will come and get us'.

She had to be taught how to clean her teeth, use toilet paper, comb her hair and eat with a knife and fork, had urgent dental problems, hearing and speech issues and was illiterate.

She did reveal the extensive sexual interaction she'd had with her brothers and cousin and that her mother Raylene knew about it.

TAMMY COLT

Tammy Colt, the second daughter of Betty, was 27 and not living on the farm when the rest of the Colts were discovered, having moved to Victoria.

She told a caseworker she had been in a relationship with her younger brother, Derek Colt, and that he was the father of her three children.

She had two surviving children, Fiona, 4 and Anna, 3, since removed into care, and a third Sally had died aged two months.

It was recorded that Sally had died in Canberra hospital in 2012, from Zellweger syndrome, a rare and 'universally lethal' genetic disorder after the child was born with extremely dysmorphic features of a thick short neck and low set ears,

Tammy Colt (left) told a caseworker she had been in a relationship with her younger brother, Derek Colt (right), and that he was the father of her three children

Tammy disclosed that she had been sexually abused within the Colt family from the age of 12, when other family members began having sex with her, including her brothers Colin and Derek and two cousins.

She said that the same happened to her sisters, Raylene, Tracy, Jane and Penny and that their mother Betty Colt encouraged this activity.

They were not allowed to see a doctor when pregnant in case someone found out what was happening.

There had been various miscarriages on the Boorowa farm of which she was aware and she used to hide from her brothers to avoid sex and she secretly went on the pill aged 16 without her mother's knowledge.

ALBERT, JED AND KARL COLT

The three sons of Martha Colt had a close relationship with their mother and after their removal into care expressed a desire to be restored to her care.

Now they are grown up, all aged in their 20s, they have reunited with Martha, although it is not clear if they have also re-established contact with the uncle who is believed to be at least two of the men's father, Charlie Colt.

When the brothers were discovered on the farm, then aged 11, 13 and 14, they had physical and mental limitations.

Albert Colt, the oldest, could not be understood when he talked, had limited personal hygiene, needed urgent dental work, had a hearing impairment and limited reading skills.

Martha Colt with her three sons, Albert, Karl and Jed, who when removed from her care could hardly read or wash and their speech was unable to be understood

His sisters and cousins reported he had sexually abused them on the farm.

Jed Colt presented with a bacterial infection on the soles of his feet, a severe hearing impairment, poor personal hygiene, a tongue infection, and fungal infections on his toes.

His speech was not understandable and he was cognitively impaired.

Martha's youngest son Karl, then aged 11, was very thin, had poor personal hygiene and his speech was not understandable.

He walked in a shuffling fashion, had tonsil and adenoid issues, limited reading and cognitive impairment. After being taken into care, he threatened to stab staff with pencils, and cut their throats.

In 2018, the boys' mother Martha posted on Facebook videos sent to her by her sons complaining of their treatment in care.

In a halting and often indistinct voice, Karl Colt, complained that in care 'I got threatened and I got bashed. I got a hiding ... foot on the backside of head'.

He said carers had told 'me to shut up and it's, um, sad and not fair'.

Jed's video, in which his diction is so indistinct as to be like a dialect rather than English, he talked about it being 'tough', someone 'wanted money' and asked 'why make the boys upset'.
The city of Austin's George Soros-backed DA has slammed the Texas Governor's vow to pardon a soldier who was convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester who pointed an AK-47 at him during a protest in 2020.

Travis County District Attorney General Jose Garza condemned Greg Abbott's promise to contact the state Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend the board expedite his request to pardon Sgt. Daniel Perry.

Perry was convicted Friday by a Travis County jury in Garza's district of fatally shooting 28-year-old Garrett Foster during a July 2020 protest in Austin over George Floyd's murder. He faces up to life in prison when sentenced later this week.

'In a state that believes in upholding the importance of the rule of law, the Governor's statement that he will intervene in the legal proceedings surrounding the death of Garrett Foster is deeply troubling,' began Garza in a statement posted to Twitter

'In this case, a jury of twelve listened to testimony for nearly two weeks, upending their lives to painstakingly evaluate the evidence and arguments presented by both the State and the Defense,' Garza explained.

Jose Garza was backed by George Soros during his campaign and has condemned Abbott's promise to intervene in the legal proceedings surrounding Garrett Foster's death

Perry, above, was convicted of murder on Friday for fatally shooting Garrett Foster, an armed protester in 2020, during nationwide protests against police violence and racial injustice

U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Perry, was seen walking out of the courtroom during jury deliberations in his murder trial, on Friday

'After hearing from civilian eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, and deliberating for over fifteen hours, they reached the unanimous decision that Daniel Perry did not kill Garrett Foster in self- defense and was guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt,' Garza wrote as he recounted the case.

'In our legal system, a jury that gets to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent - not the Governor,' he added.

'Make no mistake, without intervention from the Governor, the defendant's conviction would be reviewed by both state and federal courts who will examine the record to ensure that no legal errors were made at this level and that the evidence supported the conviction.

'Our constitution has built in protections to ensure that no defendant is convicted when the law or evidence does not support it, and this is a central tenant of our legal system,' Garza, a George Soros-backed Democratic DA, added.

On Saturday, Governor Abbott tweeted he would work to quickly pardon the army sergeant and reign in Garza together with other supposed 'rogue District Attorneys.'

Abbott said he was planning to ask the state Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend a pardon and to expedite his request in order to pardon Sgt. Daniel Perry.

'I look forward to approving the board's pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk,' the GOP lawmaker wrote.

Abbott's intentions saw Whitney Mitchell, Garrett Foster's fiancee, composed a devastating statement of her own on Sunday afternoon in which she criticized the Republican Governor.

'I felt some sense of justice and reliefThe governor has immediately taken that away since he announced there are two legal systems in Texas: One for those with power, like Mr. Perry, and one for everyone else.'

Abbott's intentions saw Whitney Mitchell, left, Garrett Foster's fiancee, compose a statement of her own on Sunday afternoon in which she criticized the Republican Governor

'I felt some sense of justice and reliefThe governor has immediately taken that away since he announced there are two legal systems in Texas: One for those with power, like Mr. Perry, and one for everyone else,' Mitchell wrote on Sunday. She is pictured crying in court last Friday

Garrett Foster is seen at the driver's window. The barrel of the rifle is pointed towards the ground, while his right arm is high with his hand seemingly placed on the grip of the weapon. His weapon and Perry's were both legally-obtained

Perry, a Fort Hood Army Sgt was driving his car as an Uber driver that evening to earn some extra cash, when he tried to get through a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters.

One of those protesters - Garrett Foster - pointed his AK-47 in the window of Perry's car, with the serviceman opening fire in response and killing Foster.

Both men's guns were legally-obtained, with jurors in Austin claiming Perry had other, non-deadly means of self-defense available to him.

'Texas has one of the strongest 'Stand Your Ground' laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney,' Abbott said.

After the Friday ruling, Garza issued praised the prosecution's efforts.

'I'm grateful to our dedicated career prosecutors and victims' counselors who tried this case,' he said. They worked hard to make a complete and accurate presentation of the facts to the jury. Our hearts continue to break for the Foster family. We hope this verdict brings closure and peace to the victim's family.'

Garza is one of numerous district attorneys across the country whose campaigns received millions in funding from Soros, leading directly to wave of liberally-minded judicial policies and decisions.

He received about $600,000 from the Soros-backed Texas Justice and Safety PAC during his campaign, leading to his appointment in 2021.

Soros has funded the campaigns of dozens of liberal prosecutors across the US. He has defended it, saying America needs to invest less in prisons and more in other strategies that he claims will reduce crime

Garza vowed to end 'over-prosecution' of minorities and impoverished residents.

He has also drawn ire from the Austin Police Department for arresting officers for incidents which had been handled through department's internal process.

Other Soros-backed DAs include Alvin Bragg, who led effort to indict former president Donald Trump over hush-money payments made to pornstar Stormy Daniels.

The billionaire's DAs have stripped away bail laws and opted to forgo prosecuting crimes like theft and reckless driving, effectively giving criminals a free pass and leading to the breakdown of law and order across the United States.

As a direct result, crime has skyrocketed in major cities overseen by Soros's DAs. In 2021 under Kim Foxx's reign, Chicago had the most murders it's seen since 1994. And in Philadelphia, drug use and violent crime has seen a surge since Larry Krasner took office.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said he is seeking to pardon a U.S. Army sergeant who was convicted of murder in the 2020 fatal shooting of an armed protester during nationwide protests against police violence and racial injustice

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has instructed the Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend a pardon and to expedite his request

U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Perry is comforted by his attorney Doug O'Connell after he was convicted of murder in the killing of Garrett Foster

Perry killed Garrett Foster, 28, who is pictured with his wife Whitney Mitchell, a quadruple amputee who uses a wheelchair

Daniel Perry, a 37-year-old Uber driver and Army sergeant, was found guilty of murder

Perry's attorneys argued that the shooting was self-defense as Foster approached Perry's car with an AK-47 rifle.

Prosecutors said Perry could have driven away before firing his revolver and witnesses testified that Foster never raised his rifle at Perry.

Foster attended the protest with his wife Whitney, a quadruple-amputee who uses a wheelchair.

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.

Perry, who was charged in 2021, was stationed at Ft. Hood about 70 miles north of Austin in July 2020 when he was working for as an Uber driver and turned onto a street straight into a large crowd of BLM demonstrators in downtown Austin.

In video streamed live on Facebook, a car can be heard honking before several shots ring out and protesters begin screaming and scattering.

Garrett Foster and and his girlfriend, Whitney Mitchell, are seen at the July 2020 protest

Garrett Foster was caught on camera earlier in the evening explaining why he felt the need for an AK-47

First responders were seen preparing to transport Foster to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead in a photograph from July 25, 2020

Witnesses said during the trial that Foster never raised his rifle at Perry - but a photograph taken at the time appears to suggest otherwise.

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.

Although Texas is known as a conservative, staunchly-pro Second Amendment state, its three big cities - Austin, Dallas and Houston - are all very liberal.

Austin in particular is known for its progressive politics, and played host to large Black Lives Matter protests and riots during summer 2020.

During the trial, Garza and his team of prosecutors presented social media posts where Perry was critical of the 'anti-police' sentiments being stoked across the nation after the murder of George Floyd

Guillermo Gonzalez, prosecuting, said Perry's postings showed he was vehemently opposed to protesters.

Perry also said that in Texas you could get away with shooting them.

'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.'

Foster had been crossing 4th Street on Congress Avenue with Mitchell and hundreds of other demonstrators when a motorist sped towards the crowd and began blaring its horn. Cell phone footage captured the moment the fatal shots rang out

The scene of Foster's shooting in Austin, Texas on July 25, 2020

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.'

Activists are pictured on July 26, 2020 holding a vigil for Foster, the day after he was killed

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.'

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 man's neck for more than nine minutes. Floyd, who was handcuffed, repeatedly said he couldn't breathe.

Floyd's killing was recorded on video by a bystander and sparked worldwide protests as part of a broader reckoning over racial injustice.
The SNP leadership was branded secretive, evasive and menacing by Joanna Cherry in her scathing resignation letter after she quit the party's ruling committee, it has been reported.

The prominent Nationalist MP condemned the secrecy around the state of the party's finances when she dramatically stood down in 2021.

In a damning assessment of the SNP hierarchy, Ms Cherry warned they were 'secretive and evasive' about financial affairs, meaning it was 'impossible' for her to improve transparency and scrutiny as promised.

The letter also complains of a 'menacing atmosphere' within the National Executive Committee (NEC).

The revelation follows a disastrous week for the Nationalists in which Nicola Sturgeon's home was raided, her husband Peter Murrell arrested and the SNP's headquarters searched in connection with a police investigation into the party's financial affairs.

Speaking out: Joanna Cherry has been a long-standing critic of the SNP leadership

Former leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Nicola Sturgeon speaking to the media outside her home in Uddingston

Police have been probing the SNP's books after complaints that some cash donated to fight another independence referendum was allegedly not in the party's accounts.

Former chief executive Mr Murrell was arrested on Wednesday and released without charge 'pending further investigation'.

The hierarchy, including Ms Sturgeon and party president Michael Russell, has repeatedly denied that any money was 'missing'.

But Ms Cherry's explanation for quitting the NEC in 2021 reveals long-standing concerns about how transparent the SNP has been with its finances.

She told the party's business convener, Kirsten Oswald MP, that she was 'very concerned at the lack of adherence to the party's constitution, the cavalier attitude towards legal advice and fiduciary duties'.

She added: 'Over the years I have sat on a number of management boards and I have never seen business conducted in such an inadequate way as it is on the SNP NEC.

'Nor have I experienced the menacing atmosphere in which the business is conducted.'

Ms Cherry left the post just days after the departure of Douglas Chapman as party treasurer, saying that he 'had not received the support or financial information required' to carry out his duties in the role.

In her resignation letter, leaked to The Sunday Times, Ms Cherry argued she could not fulfil her promise to members to 'deliver better scrutiny and transparency' because of the party's reticence to open the books.

Ms Cherry left the post just days after the departure of Douglas Chapman as party treasurer

The Edinburgh South West MP wrote: 'Due to the secretive and evasive manner in which business is conducted in our party it has proved impossible for me to do the job I was elected to do.'

The police began investigating the whereabouts of donations worth almost 667,000 after accounts showed only 97,000 in the bank at the end of 2019 and total assets of about 272,000.

It was previously revealed that Mr Murrell gave the SNP a loan of 107,620 in June 2021 'to assist with cashflow' and the party then broke electoral law by failing to declare it on time.

Approximately 60,000 of the loan was still outstanding in October of that year, according to the latest accounts.

Asked whether the loan would be repaid, new party leader Humza Yousaf last week said: 'That, of course, would be the intention.'

It also emerged last week that the SNP's accountants had quit as police ramped up their fraud investigation, plunging the party into further turmoil. The SNP launched a search for new accountants prepared to work with the party after Johnston Carmichael, which had audited its books for more than a decade, dropped it as a client.

Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: 'The SNP should have promptly suspended Peter Murrell at the start of the investigation into his management of the SNP's finances'

Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Donald Cameron said: '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.'

Ms Cherry has been a vocal critic of the party's leadership in recent years, claiming it 'wasn't a team effort'.

Speaking to journalists about the state of the SNP last week, Mr Yousaf said: 'It is very, very clear that the governance in the party was not as it should be.

'But clearly there is now an opportunity with a new chief executive to do things differently.' The SNP's decision to allow Mr Murrell to continue at the helm of the SNP after police launched their investigation has also been criticised by opponents.

Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: 'The SNP should have promptly suspended Peter Murrell at the start of the investigation into his management of the SNP's finances.

'The party's refusal to do so shows the SNP's reluctance to be open and transparent about where the money went and who knew about its murky finances.'
A South African murderer who faked his own death to escape from prison has been arrested following a police manhunt.

South African officials are going to Tanzania Sunday to begin to extradite Thabo Bester, 35, dubbed the 'Facebook Rapist' as he used the social media platform to lure at least two women he was convicted of raping. He was also found guilty of killing one.

Bester was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 and it was reported in May last year that he died in a fire in his prison cell.

However, reports surfaced of him being seen in Johannesburg and an investigation including DNA samples showed that the body found burned beyond recognition in the cell was not his.

Rapist and murderer Thabo Bester, 35, will now be extradited from Tanzania

Nandipha Magudumana, Bester's girlfriend, is a well-known celebrity doctor in South Africa

Two weeks ago police said they were chasing Bester and last week they raided a luxurious home he was believed to have been renting in an upmarket Johannesburg suburb.

Bester was apprehended with Ms Magudumana and a Mozambican national believed to have assisted them to cross borders and evade law enforcement authorities, officials announced.

They were found with several fake passports which were unstamped at the time of their arrest, about six miles from the Kenyan border.

Authorities have now started the process to extradite the fugitives back to South Africa, where they are expected to face several charges.

'An official delegation from South Africa, comprising senior officials from the police and the department of justice and correctional services will depart for Tanzania on Sunday,' Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said Saturday, announcing Bester's arrest.

The South African news outlet GroundUp reported that for nearly a year after his prison escape Bester had lived a lavish lifestyle with Magudumana in Johannesburg's upmarket Hyde Park suburb.

Bester reportedly escaped from the Mangaung Prison in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa in May 2022, where he was serving a life sentence for rape and murder

While in prison, Bester used a laptop he had for studies to run an event and production company, GroundUp reported. At one point he addressed a conference from his prison cell, telling attendees that he was speaking from the U.S., it reported.

Bester's elaborate escape from prison has raised many questions about the possible involvement of prison officials.

At least three officials have been fired from the Mangaung Correctional Centre from where Bester escaped, according to local reports.

The prison was managed privately by the British-based G4S security firm.

The South African government has now taken over management of the maximum security prison and has announced that the G4S contract to manage the prison will not be renewed when it expires in 2026.
GP surgeries are suspending routine appointments for patients as the public is being urged to 'think twice before you go' to A&E this week amid fears the four-day walkout will be the 'most disruptive strike that we've seen in NHS history', it was reported last night.

Some NHS Managers are also offering General Practitioners thousands of pounds per day - or 200 an hour - to cover for emergency department doctors striking from 7am on Tuesday.

It is believed the strikes, which will involve up to 47,600 medics in pursuit of a 35 per cent pay rise, will 'utterly overwhelm' the health service. This is thought to be because workers who previously stepped in to cover shifts may have annual leave booked during the Easter holidays.

Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, urged the public to 'think twice before you go' to A&E over fears staff levels will not be able to cope during the junior doctor strikes.

Some NHS Managers are offering General Practitioners thousands of pounds per day - or 200 an hour - to cover for striking doctors

NHS England National Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis who has warned that four days of strikes by junior doctors next week will cause 'unparalleled levels of disruption'

GP practices across the country told their patients to expect care to be disrupted, The Telegraph reported. Granville House Medical Centre in Chorley told patients appointments will be managed on a daily basis, while Bacon Lane surgery in Edgware said urgent services would be prioritised. The St Austell Healthcare centre in Cornwall began suspending appointments more than a week before the beginning of the strike, on March 31.

And the strikes could prove lucrative for individual doctors, according to WhatsApp messages shared on Twitter. Shifts were offered for 150 per hour during the day, rising to 200 at night. Hospitals looking for cover included several major London hospitals, including Chelsea and Westminster, St Mary's and West Middlesex.

While emergency care will be 'prioritised' during the action, the public are being urged to use services 'wisely'.

'There will be additional pressure on A&E departments, for instance, because the staffing there will be lower,' Sir Stephen told Times Radio.

'We are asking the public to think twice before you go. Of course, if it's a severe illness, you should be going  that's a very important message.

'But use other services where they're available such as pharmacies. Our priority is to keep patients safe. But services, as I say, will be fragile and we will see a lot of disruption.

'And, unfortunately, a lot of rescheduling of appointments and procedures.'

A three-day junior doctor strike last month resulted in 175,000 appointments and operations being cancelled, with up to 29,243 staff absent on each of the three days.

More than a quarter of a million cancellations are expected this week, including cancer services in some instances.

'I think this is going to be the most disruptive strike that we've seen in NHS history,' Sir Stephen added.

'Services will be fragile this week, because it's a significant part of the workforce that are likely not to be there.'

The walkout begins at 7am tomorrow and will end at 7am on Saturday, April 15  the most extensive action on record.

More than a quarter of a million cancellations are expected this week, including cancer services in some instances (file image)

Yesterday, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the action was 'militant' and timed to cause maximum disruption.

'Unfortunately, the decision by British Medical Association junior doctors' leaders to maintain an unrealistic position meant we were unable to make progress with talks,' the minister wrote in The Sunday Telegraph.

He added: 'It seems they are intent on maintaining a militant stance rather than working with the Government and NHS management to meet the best interests of their members and of patients.'

Mr Barclay said significant disruption was 'inevitable' and he was concerned the walkout carried 'considerable risk to patient safety'.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the BMA's pay demand was 'totally unreasonable and unaffordable' and urged the union to come to the table with a 'realistic approach'.

He added: 'We are working with NHS England to put in place contingency plans to protect patient safety. The NHS will prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care and trauma.'

In a statement yesterday, NHS England said that appointments and operations would only be cancelled 'where unavoidable' and patients would be offered alternative dates as soon as possible.
Sisters' father paid tribute to them at their funeral at a cemetery in Kfar Etzion

The devastated father of two British-Israeli sisters who were murdered in a drive-by shooting in the West Bank on Friday has told how their memory will be kept alive, describing them as 'two flames who have not gone out'.

Heartbroken Rabbi Leo Dee described Maia and Rina Dee, 20 and 15, as his 'two precious gifts'.

The sisters were killed in a shooting by Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank near the Hamra settlement, 30 miles north of Jerusalem, on Friday. Their mother, Lucy, 48, who was travelling with them during the attack, remains in a critical condition.

The Dee family was originally from London but moved to Efrat in the West Bank nine years ago.

Mourners, including school friends of the sisters, gathered at the funeral in the settlement of Kfar Etzion in the West Bank and sang songs of grief under in the cemetery's prayer hall.

In an emotional tribute, Rabbi Dee called his daughters flames, saying they will 'bring more light into the world' after their deaths.

British sisters Maia (left) and Rina (right) were murdered in a West Bank drive-by shooting

Rabbi Leo Dee, 51, (pictured) the father of two British sisters who were murdered in a drive-by shooting in the West Bank on Friday broke down in tears as he paid tribute to his 'beautiful angels' at their funeral

Speaking at his daughters' funeral, a grief-stricken Rabbi Dee said: 'How will I explain to Lucy [his critically injured wife] what has happened to our two precious gifts?'

Heart-breaking images showed Rabbi Leo Dee (right) mourning the loss of the two sisters with relatives

Young mourners were seen sobbing at the sisters' funeral service, held yesterday, in which their father described them as 'two flames who have not gone out'

An aerial view shows friends and family of Maia and Rina Dee gathering for their funeral in Kfar Etzion

He added: 'You have inspired and loved us. In return we will love you forever.'

The sisters' bodies were covered in pieces of cloth embroidered with the star of David, one black and the other blue. Rabbi Dee hugged his daughter's bodies tightly, then sat with his three surviving children. Addressing the mourners, he said of his wife, who is in a coma: 'How will I explain to Lucy what has happened to our two precious gifts?'

In his tribute to Maia he said: 'You were always an angel and now you will always be our guardian angel.

'You wanted to sign up for another year of national service, where you could really make a difference. But mummy and I wanted you to start your studies and maybe meet a special boy.

'But you insisted that girls like you always do two years of volunteering so we waited to see what and where this would be.'

Turning to Rina, he said: 'You were such a great student. Such a great friend. You dreamt of travelling the world, now you are travelling to heaven.' Family friend and senior rabbi at Hendon United Synagogue in north-west London, Mordechai Ginsbury, told Sky News he was 'devastated'.

'To think that in a few moments, so senselessly and painfully, this has happened, such a tragic loss of life, of goodness, is just devastating,' he said.

He added: 'They were just a delightful family, full of commitment, vigour, passion, energy, and they did wonderful things for us in the community.'

Many of those who attended the funeral were teenagers - including some of Rina's school friends

Songs of grief filled the cemetery as mourners gathered to pay their respects to the 'much loved' British sisters

Rabbi Dee, who was formerly a City investment banker, believes that the killers will be 'brought to justice'

The girls' mother Lucianne, 48, who was also in the gunned-down car, is fighting for her life in hospital after undergoing surgery to remove bullets from her neck and spine

Friends and relatives of the dead girls are comforted during the moving service in tribute to the dead teenagers

Heart-breaking pictures from the funeral service showed mourners screaming out in pain and embracing one another

The BBC reports that songs of grief filled the cemetery as hundreds of mourners, many of whom were teenagers, paid their respects to the two sisters

Relatives lean over the shrouded bodies of the dead sisters in grief at their funeral on Easter Sunday

Heart-breaking pictures from the funeral service showed mourners screaming out in pain and embracing one another as they try to process the shock death of the sisters which came amid soaring Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

The car that the victims were travelling in crashed after coming under fire, before the gunmen continued to shoot at close range, according to Israeli media.

Rabbi Dee, who gathered with relatives at the front of the prayer hall next to a low podium, moved to Israel from London with his family nine years ago and had been living in the West Bank settlement of Efrat.

Mr Dee was formerly a senior rabbi at the Radlett United Synagogue in Hertfordshire and before that he was an assistant rabbi in Hendon, north London.

Mordechai Ginsbury, senior rabbi at Hendon United Synagogue, who is still in touch with the family said he was feeling 'absolute devastation, pain, grief and shock'.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: 'To think that in a few moments, so senselessly and painfully, this has happened, such a tragic loss of life, of goodness, is just devastating.'

Britain's Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (pictured) paid tribute to the two 'much loved' British sisters who were killed on Friday

Sir Ephraim Mirvis said that 'no words can describe the depth of our shock and sadness at the heart-breaking news'

Distraught mourners attend the funeral of the two British-Israeli sisters who were shot dead in an attack on Friday

Rabbi Ginsbury said he spoke to Rabbi Dee last night, where the father and husband admitted that 'one of the things that is sustaining him is the blanket of warmth and love which is enveloping them within Israel and around the world'.

Last night, Britain's Chief Rabbi has paid tribute to the two 'much loved' sisters, adding 'no words can describe the depth of our shock and sadness at the heart-breaking news'.

Paying tribute to the sisters on Twitter, Chief Rabbi Mervis said: 'No words can describe the depth of our shock and sadness at the heart-breaking news of the murder by terrorists in Israel of Maya & Rina Dee, daughters of Rebbetzen Lucy, who is in a critical condition & Rabbi Leo Dee, my dear colleagues.

'They were much loved in the Hendon and Radlett communities in the UK as well as in Israel, and well beyond. We pray for a refuah shelema for Rebbetzen Lucy and also for those injured in the terrorist attack yesterday on the promenade in Tel Aviv.'

Mr Dee, who quit his job as a City investment banker to become a rabbi, believes that the killers will be 'brought to justice'.

He previously revealed that he traced the car down with a tracking device, where he saw his wife being airlifted to hospital but his daughters were already dead.

Speaking from his wife's hospital bedside, Rabbi Dee told The Mail on Sunday that he was travelling with other family members in a car some distance ahead when a relative called to ask if he knew 'about the shooting and if the family was OK'.

'I said everyone was fine, but when I called my wife and two daughters there was no answer.'

In panic, he turned on a Google tracking device which allows parents to follow their children's mobile phones. It led him to the Hamra settlement, 30 miles north of Jerusalem.

London-born Rabbi Dee said: 'My daughters were friends of each other as well as sisters. Now we are diminished. Maya was doing national service in the south, and was passionate about helping others. Rina is what you would call an A* pupil. We were proud of them.

'My wife's condition is very serious. We are praying, and people around the world are praying, that she will get better.'

He added: 'I don't blame the terrorists as they will be brought to justice. I am more worried about the tensions between Jews in Israel. Some people think that the new religious government will suppress minority rights and become totalitarian. But this is not a risk as Judaism is about balancing love and justice.'

The Dee family left Britain in 2014, having returned there from Israel in 2008. They then moved back to Jerusalem, where Rabbi Dee is a highly respected author and academic.

On leaving the Radlett United Synagogue in Hertfordshire he said: 'It has been a tremendous honour for Lucy and I to have lived in this warm and friendly community. We will cherish this period of our lives.'

The funeral for the sisters was held in Efrat. Pictured: Israeli medics and police check the damaged car at the scene of a shooting

Israeli forces gather near the Hamra junction in the northern part of the Jordan valley in the occupied West Bank following the shooting

Israeli medics and policemen check a damaged car at the scene of a shooting attack

Cars line up next to the Hamra junction, in the northern part of the Jordan valley in the occupied West Bank after the April 7 attack

Friends described the sisters as 'beautiful, kind and happy young women'.

Rabbi Dee said he had lived in Israel prior to returning to Britain in 2008, but the family had missed it 'intensely' and decided to return.

'We love the Jewish state, the huge array of Jewish learning institutions, the fact that the buses stop on Shabbat, the ability to buy kosher food at any supermarket and a culture that is fully in tune with our own,' he added.

READ MORE: British holidaymakers are confirmed wounded in Tel Aviv terror attack when driver ploughed into pedestrians after father watched his two British daughters get shot dead in front of him in separate horror Advertisement

After the attack, the Israeli Prime Minister wrote a personal tribute on Twitter for the sisters killed in the attack: 'On behalf of all the citizens of Israel, I send my condolences to the Di Mafart family for the murder of the two wonderful sisters, Rina and Maya.'

He added: 'In these moments, if the family is fighting for its life, and together with the entire nation of Israel, I pray for its safety, and we all send our condolences and strength to this dear family in this moment of great sorrow.'

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.

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 attack came amid escalating violence between Palestinians and Israeli factions in response to clashes at the Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem earlier this week.

The Israeli military initially reported that the Hamra shooting 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.

In response, 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.

Soon after the attack, a car in Tel Aviv mounted the pavement and drove into pedestrians, killing one and injuring several.

Security measures were again ramped up in response. The Times of Israel reported that the IDF was planning to bolster the police forces as police prepared for unrest at Al-Aqsa.

An unspecified number of air force reservists including fighter pilots and drone operators were also called up yesterday.

A car in Tel Aviv overturned after driving into pedestrians and losing control on Friday

One was killed and seven were injured in the attack which took place this evening in Israel

Rockets hit Bezet and Shlomi in the north of Israel on Thursday as regional violence worsens

The attacks on Friday followed on from 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 on Friday.

Al-Araby al-Jadeed reported yesterday 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.'

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

Palestinian mourners carry the body of 20-year-old Ayed Azzam, who was reportedly shot dead by Israeli forces on Saturday

The IDF have stressed Israeli warplanes 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.
Daniel Andrews remains on TikTok despite pledging to delete his account as part of Victoria's withdrawal from the the popular but controversial Chinese social media app.

The Victorian premier said his government and the state's public servants will follow rules outlined by the Commonwealth and get rid of the app on any official Victorian device.

As part of the announcement last week, Mr Andrews revealed he would also shut down his own TikTok account, which has 109,700 followers.

Mr Andrews made the announcement shortly after arriving back in Australia from a four-day trip to China, which is Victoria's biggest trading partner.

He met several high-level government officials, including China's Education Minister, Huai Jinpeng and Beijing Mayor Yin Yon.

Daniel Andrews announced a Victorian government ban on TikTok shortly after arriving back in Australia from a four-day trip to China. He didn't raise security concerns about the app while there

Mr Andrews has been a big user of TikTok, often appearing in his videos in a hard hat and fluro vest

The trip was a trade mission to try and grow the number of Chinese people coming to Victoria as international students.

But Mr Andrews did not raise the fact that TikTok is now regarded a security risk across many western nations while he was in China.

There are now growing fears that the app, owned by ByteDance, could be being used by China to spy on officials in foreign states.

Anthony Albanese signed off on a federal government ban on TikTok last Tuesday following a review of the app's security risks.

States and territories were also briefed and were expected to follow suit with similar bans.

That led to Mr Andrews announcing that TikTok would be removed from any phone or computer used by Victorian public servants and politicians - including his own.

'I'm afraid I cant give you all the specific details of when and how [TikTok will be removed], but we will deliver the national framework and what will you find over a period of time, hopefully quite soon, [is] that platform will not be supported and not be operated by any Victorian government device,' Mr Andrews said.

He has not posted any new content to his TikTok since March 21, when he posted a clip of the transgender flag being raised following protests in Melbourne involving anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull and neo-Nazis.

Anthony Albanese signed off on a federal government ban on TikTok last Tuesday following a review of the app's security risks

Mr Andrews is an accomplished user of social media to get his messages across and he got far more traction on TikTok than most of his fellow politicians

But despite assurances his TikTok would be removed, it hadn't happened as of Monday afternoon.

His account remains visible and has dozens videos, some of which have hundreds of thousand and even millions of views.

Mr Andrews is an accomplished user of social media to get his messages across and has got far more traction on TikTok than most of his fellow politicians.

His most watched TikTok clip was an encouragement to Year 11 and 12 students to 'choose nursing' as a career in August 2022. That was seen 4.2million times.

One filmed 36m under Melbourne in the huge cavity where the city's new State Library Station will go has been watched 2.1 million times.

In December 2019, a provocative clip showing a Holden being crushed as part of a message about taking dangerously modified cars off Victoria's roads was viewed 2.9 million times.

A clip of Mr Andrews agreeing that 'I think it is' time to get on the beers to celebrate the the end of Victoria's epic 2021 Covid lockdown was watched 994,000 times.

On Sunday, Sky News Australia became the first Australian media organisation to cease publishing content to TikTok.
Trump attacked the Biden administration for reports it put out last week claiming he was responsible for chaos in Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021

Donald Trump has slammed the Biden administration as the 'worst in history' for blaming him for the chaotic withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

The former president launched into a tirade of furious Easter Sunday Truth Social posts, including one addressing White House reports published last week blaming a lack of preparation by the Trump administration for the disastrous 2021 withdrawal.

'Can you believe that the totally corrupt Biden Disinformation Administration is now trying to blame 'TRUMP' for their incompetent exit from Afghanistan,' he wrote.

'They are the worst in history, absolutely terrible people always blaming someone else for their mistakes and blunders - of which there are many!'

Donald Trump of messages to his social media platform Truth Social on Easter Sunday ripping into the Biden administration for blaming the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 on his administration. He is pictured after his arraignment on April 4

One Truth Social post addressed White House reports published last week blaming a lack of preparation by the Trump administration for the disastrous 2021 withdrawal

The stream began on Sunday morning with a string of Trump's signature capitalized messages.

'HAPPY EASTER TO ALL, INCLUDING THOSE THAT DREAM ENDLESSLY OF DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF DREAMING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE,' he wrote.

In a subsequent message, he wrote simply: 'World War III' but it was not immediately clear what that was in reference too. In a follow up he wrote the U.S. 'will end up in World War lll with these vicious, but very stupid, people in charge.'

He also mentioned again the issue of election interference and accused the Democrats of planning to rig the upcoming election in 2024.

Trump also addressed the ongoing criminal charges he is facing in New York and appeared to refer to the Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg as a 'thug prosecutor'.

Last week National Security Council spokesman John Kirby defended the Biden administration's actions in Kabul during the withdrawal, 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, which led to the Taliban toppling the American-backed Afghan government the U.S. spent trillions over 20 years to keep stable.

At the same time as blaming the Trump administration for the disaster, he also denied that there was chaos at all.

'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 killed 13 Americans and some 170 others. 'I just don't buy the whole argument of chaos.'

Trump's furious stream of Easter Sunday messages began in the morning and went on throughout the day

The withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 culminated in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that killed 13 Americans and some 170 others

In one post Trump wrote simply: 'World War III', but it was not immediately clear what that was in reference too

The report found 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 2,500 remaining troops.

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.

It 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.

Trump reacted to the document and Kirby's comments on Thursday too.

'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 ex-president 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.'

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 watchdog report 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

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.'

During Thursday's briefing, Kirby wouldn't say if any firings would take place.

'Who's going to get fired over this?' asked Fox News Channel's Peter Doocy. Kirby responded 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 said.

He also asked, 'Is this all we get?'
A high-flying executive who allegedly killed his partner of 13 years has faced court charged with her murder.

NSW Police were called to an apartment in the inner-south Sydney suburb of Mascot on Easter Sunday just after 6pm following reports of an alleged domestic-related incident.

Lisa Fenwick, 59, was found on the 10th level of her Church Avenue unit block.

The court heard paramedics tried desperately to save her but she tragically died at the scene with 'multiple stab wounds' to her chest.

Her partner, Anthony 'Tony' Erikson, 61, was charged with murder and faced Parramatta Bail Court on Monday.

Anthony Erikson (pictured), 61, has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend Lisa Fenwick, 59

Lisa Fenwick (pictured), 59, was found on the 10th level of the Church Avenue unit block with multiple stab wounds. Paramedics desperately tried to revive the woman, but she tragically died at the scene

Police were called to a unit block in Sydney's inner-south suburb of Mascot at about 6.10pm on Easter Sunday following reports of a domestic-related incident (Pictured: Ms Fenwick's Mascot apartment)

A neighbour reported hearing screams coming from the apartment on Sunday night as families gathered to celebrate Easter Sunday.

Appearing in court on Monday, Eriksen's only words were 'yes' when the magistrate asked him if he understood his charges, The Daily Telegraph reported.

He made no application for bail.

According to his LinkedIn, Eriksen works as a self-employed food nutrient educator to 'empower people to learn how to make healthy food choices throughout their whole lives'.

He held a number of roles within the government, mining and banking sector including being an insurance consultant at AMP and a project manager at ANZ.

He also worked as a senior financial analyst at the Department of Defence in 2009 and had university degrees from Harvard University and Stanford University School of Medicine.

A friend of the couple described Ms Fenwick as 'very sweet' and said the pair were well-known in the neighbourhood for walking their two dogs around the local parks.

Local resident Prateek Mundae described the incident as 'shocking'.

'It's very daunting to hear,' Mr Mundae told the ABC.

'It's quite surprising. I've been staying over here for three years.'

'I live on the corner and I saw lot of police cars,' another local resident said.

'I feel so nervous and sad for the family. It's so bad and it's really scary.'

Police were called to a unit block on Church Avenue in Sydney's Mascot (pictured) after the woman in her 50s was found with stab wounds
Many however operate at reduced hours

The Easter long weekend is almost over with some of Australia's biggest retailers getting ready to return to business as usual - but not before maintaining shorter hours for Monday.

Many retailers across the country closed their doors across the four-day Easter long weekend, between Friday, April 7 and Monday, April 10.

With Passover also spanning April 5 to April 13 and Ramadan from March 22 to April 21, this time of year is often a busy period for many Aussies.

Losing track of which stores are trading and which arent can be quite easy so read on for a quick run-down on when Australias major retailers will be open this Easter Monday.

Easter Monday sees most businesses open but with shorter trading hours (pictured: A man buying seafood in Sydney)

Bottle shops, Dan Murphy's, and BWS are open on Easter Monday but with reduced hours

What is open on Easter Monday?

Easter Monday sees most businesses open but with shorter trading hours.

Most Woolworths stores are open, except for some Woolworths Metros in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

All Coles stores across the country are open, except for select stores in South Australia.

South Australian Coles stores in Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Adelaide Rundle Place, Whyalla, Murray Bridge Green, Mount Gambier, Victor Harbor, Mount Barker and Berri are open for business.

All IGA stores are open countrywide.

Most Woolworths stores are open, except for some Woolworths Metros in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. All Coles stores across the country are open, except for select stores in South Australia

Westfield shopping centres are welcoming people everywhere except a select few in South Australia, with shoppers told to check online for exact opening hours.

Kmarts around the country are open except in South Australia where only select stores will be open. Esperance in Western Australia is closed.

Dan Murphy's and BWS bottle shops are open but to reduced hours.

All Bunnings stores across the country are open.
Joe Biden is planning to recruit an army of TikTok influencers to win over Gen Z voters during his 2024 reelection run.

The president's digital strategy team is connecting with social media celebrities and offering them their own briefing room in the White House, Axios reports.

Among those recruited is Henry Sisson, a 20-year-old NYU student who runs a TikTok page with more than 600,000 followers. He offers commentary on US politics and regularly promotes the power of Gen Z to boost support for the Democrats.

Others recruits include Vivian Tu, 29, another TikTok influencer, and Heather Cox Richardson, 61, who writes a popular newsletter on the blogging platform Substack.

It comes as the Biden administration has endorsed the Restrict Act, a bill which proposes a total ban or severe restrictions to the reach and power of Chinese-owned TikTok.

As tensions with China have grown, an increasing number of Democrats have joined the Republicans in calling for such a law.

President Biden's re-election campaign will rely on an army of social media influencers who will use TikTok, among other platforms, to drum up support from Gen Z voters

Among those recruited is Henry Sisson, a 20-year-old NYU student who runs a TikTok page with more than 600,000 followers

Republicans should be terrified of Gen Z and young voters  pic.twitter.com/t6wAOCzhOs  Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) April 6, 2023

Biden's plan to leverage social media to boost popularity was spearheaded by Rob Flaherty, who has been named assistant to the president - a testament to the emphasis the White House is placing on digital strategy.

A FEW MEMBERS OF BIDEN'S INFLUENCER ARMY Harry Sisson - A 20-year-old NYU student who runs a TikTok page with more than 600 thousand followers. He uploads short clips on politics that regularly criticize the GOP and is known to discuss the power of Gen Z voters. Vivian Tu - A 29-year-old former JP Morgan investment banker who runs a TikTok page called YourRichBFF which offers financial advice. She was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 social media list. Heather Cox Richardson - A 61-year-old professor of history at Boston College who has a huge following on the blogging platform Substack. The success of her newsletter 'Letters from an American' was profiled by the New York Times in 2020. Advertisement

'We're trying to reach young people, but also moms who use different platforms to get information and climate activists and people whose main way of getting information is digital,' Jen O'Malley Dillon, White House deputy chief of staff, told Axios.

Plans to create a dedicated White House briefing space for influencers to meet is another sign that the new push is serious. It would mean the existing Press Briefing Room no longer would be the administration's only messaging center.

'We actually asked the White House, 'When are we going to get press briefing passes?' ' Sisson told Axios. 'They were actually were very responsive to it,' he added.

Sisson's short video clips have gone viral on TikTok a number of times. He often discusses the power of Gen Z voters to impact elections.

'Republicans tried to silence their voices and the voices of the many Gen Z activists,' he said in one video. 'They failed and they failed badly. If you thought this was bad for Republicans, just wait until 2024. There will be a wave of young voters showing up to the ballot box and they will vote blue.'

Biden lags behind the former president Donald Trump when it comes to reach on social media, especially on video hosting platforms like YouTube and Facebook, Axios reported.

His new strategy will primarily target platforms used by younger voters, such as Instagram and TikTok.

The White House now wants to work with influencers who have local audiences that can be mobilized when he travels to certain states in the same way its regional team has built relationships with local media outlets.

Last year Biden met with viral TikTok star and transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney in the Oval Office to discuss her transition and transgender issues in the US, though there is currently no indication that she will be part of his 'army'.

Vivian Tu is a 29-year-old former JP Morgan investment banker who runs a TikTok page called YourRichBFF. She was reported to be a member of Biden's team who will use her following to boost his re-election chances

Richardson is pictured interviewing Biden in February 2022

One influencer confirmed by Axios to be a member of Biden's new team is Tu, who offers financial advice to her more than 2 million followers on TikTok.

Boston College professor Richardson stands out from the other two influencers in that her primary platform is Substack, which generally caters to an older audience. Richardson has existing ties to Biden and interviewed him in February 2022.

Last Thursday two US senators proposed to give the Biden administration new powers to ban TikTok.

Biden's plan to leverage social media to boost popularity was spearheaded by Rob Flaherty (pictured). He has been named assistant to the president

Senators Mark Warner, a Democrat and John Thune, a Republican, last month proposed the Restrict Act that would grant the Commerce Department new authority to review, block, and address a range of transactions involving foreign information and communications technology that pose national security risks.

'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,' Warner and Thune said in the Wall Street Journal.

The White House and 26 senators support the Restrict Act which would apply to foreign technologies from China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba.

However, critics say the bill is overbearing and interferes with the civil liberties of Americans, including the more than 150 million US TikTok users.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew appeared before Congress last month and was grilled about national security concerns posed by the app.
Thousands of jellyfish-like creatures known as By-the-Wind Sailors have washed up along the beaches of Southern California.

Marine biologists are advising beachgoers to look, but not to touch Velella velella because they have tentacles which can leave a small sting, although they are not considered to be dangerous to humans.

The creatures have a sail on their tops which allow them to be blown across the ocean - leaving them at the mercy of currents and winds.

So far, they have been spotted at dozens of beaches along the California coast including Huntington Beach, Zuma Beach, Manhattan Beach and Salt Creek Beach.

The By-the-Wind sailors are also known as colonial hydroids and are similar to Portuguese Man O'War, feeding on algae and zooplankton.

Thousands of purple-colored creatures resembling jellyfish, called Velella velella or By-the-Wind Sailors, are being washed up on Southern California's beaches

'Watch for them on the beaches,' Nona Reimer, a science teacher said in an Instagram video. 'They're gonna be washing on the shore pretty soon.'

Marine experts say the Velella velella often show up on beaches after strong winds push them ashore. California's recent spate of strong storms is likely a factor in their arrival this time around.

On Friday, Dana Wharf Whale Watching, which operates off the coast of Dana Point, California, said that they had seen 'hundreds' of the sailors in the water.

'Watch for them on the beaches,' Nona Reimer, a science teacher said in an Instagram video while picking one up with her fingers. 'They're gonna be washing on the shore pretty soon.'

'You may come across a fresh wash-up of Velella, tinging the stretch of shoreline blue, but if they've been there a while, they will look like crinkly and dry ovals of cellophane,' Point Reyes National Seashore posted online.

In Huntington Beach, Marine Safety Battalion Chief Doug Leach said hundreds had been spotted along the shoreline.

A beachgoer took pictures of the unusual disc-shaped marine creature

Professor Jamie Seymour said the stings of a velella or by-the-wind sailor is not that strong

'We have a ton of them, mostly north of the pier, all over the high tide line as the tide was dropping this morning,' Leach said to the OC Register.

California has experienced wave after wave of strong winter storm so the arrival of such unusual creatures may not come as a complete surprise.

By-the-wind sailors are named so because of their semi-circular fins that grow either to the right or the left.

The fins lead the animal across the waters in whatever direction the wind is blowing, enhancing the survival of the species.

'Some of the population will go left, the others will go right. If the winds blowing to push everybody towards the beach, half will go offshore and half will go onshore,' Professor of Toxicology Jamie Seymour told Yahoo News.

'Twenty to 30 years ago it would probably have been uncommon to see them. Nowadays it's certainly not,' Professor of Toxicology Jamie Seymour said

The jelly-fish-like creatures each measure around seven to 10 centimeters in length, are bright blue and distinguished by a gas-filled float that rises above the surface of the water

The creatures have a small sail on top of their bodies which helps them travel around

'Twenty to 30 years ago it would probably have been uncommon to see them. Nowadays it's certainly not.'

Between 2014 and 2016, possibly millions, washed ashore blanketing beaches across the state.

It drew curious beachgoers onto the sands to see them up close, although they are known for living in more warner tropical waters off Baja California, Mexico.

The transparent creatures can measure up to 10cm long but are usually smaller in size. They are part of the Cnidaria group, which includes jellyfish and corals.

Once the creatures are stranded on the beach, they can disintegrate and die, becoming food for birds.

The last time the 'by-the-wind sailors' washed up on West Coast beaches was in 2015/16

The creatures are not harmful to humans but will begin to smell fishy as they decompose. Pictured, the onslaught as seen in 2015 in Oregon
Ukraine's air defense systems could be depleted by the beginning of next month amid heavy fighting against Russian forces, according to what appear to be leaked Pentagon documents.

A large cache of highly classified Pentagon documents that appear to detail classified information including how Ukraine's S-300 air defense systems could run out of missiles and ammunition by May 2 at the current usage rate have appeared online in recent days.

The documents also detailed how Ukraine's air defenses protecting Ukrainian troops on the front line could be 'completely reduced' by May 23.

The Justice Department has now launched a criminal investigation into the possible release of the Top Secret documents, which mostly pertain to the state of the Ukraine war.

An initial batch of documents labeled 'Secret' and 'Top Secret' - reportedly containing charts on the war in Ukraine as well as the strengths of different battalions - first circulated on Twitter and Russian Telegram channels last month.

And a further batch of documents of more than 100 Pentagon documents - this time also detailing US national security interests pertaining to areas including China and Israel's Mossad spy agency - was being shared on Twitter on Friday, the New York Times reported.

The authenticity of the documents is still in doubt as experts suggest they could have been altered or used as a misinformation campaign to suit Russia's agenda. They pointed to how some of the documents giving battlefield casualty estimates from Ukraine were altered to minimize Russian losses.

Ukraine's air defenses could be depleted within weeks - making the country vulnerable to Russia President Vladimir Putin's fighter jets, newly leaked Pentagon documents suggests

Such closely-guarded information could be of great use to Russian forces, and Ukraine said its president Volodymyr Zelensky and top security officials met to discuss ways to prevent leaks

One of the documents, dated February 23 and marked 'Secret,' outlines in detail how Ukraine's S-300 air defense systems would be depleted by May 2 at the current usage rate

These are two of the leaked documents which have been shared by the New York Times

This document appears to show the state of Ukraine's air defenses in February, and in May when it is anticipated they'll be badly depleted

One of the documents, dated February 23 and marked 'Secret', outlines in detail how Ukraine's S-300 air defense systems would be depleted by May 2 at the current usage rate. Such closely guarded information could be of use to Russian forces.

READ MORE: Leaked Pentagon documents show spies are deeply ingrained in Russian intelligence services and Putin's army is ravaged after a year of fighting Advertisement

In the early days of the war, Ukraine relied on the these air defense weapons - S-300 and the Buk to target aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles - which make up 89 percent of Ukraine's protection against fighter aircraft.

This allowed Ukraine to focus on battling against Putin's ground troops, who have faced heavy losses since the war began. But the Russian despot has held his air force of 485 fighter jets back - far more than the 85 Ukraine has in its military.

'[Russia] made the choice that they were not going to sacrifice their knights for their pawns,' Dara Massicot, a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, told the NYT.

'Instead, they're going to throw those mobilized troops without proper air support, because they're a more plentiful resource.'

Russia's fleet also includes far more sophisticated fifth generation planes including the Su-57, while Ukraine's pilots have to make do with MiG-29s, which first flew in 1983.

If Ukraine can no longer defend its skies, Putin could ramp up fighter jet attacks on Zelensky's forces, dramatically tilting the 15 month-long conflict in his favor.

While US officials have said those running the investigation have not ruled out the possibility that pro-Russian elements were behind the leak, some experts have said the source could be American.

Officials say the breadth of topics addressed in the documents, which touch on the war in Ukraine, China, the Middle East and Africa, suggest they may have been leaked by an American rather than an ally.

'The focus now is on this being a U.S. leak, as many of the documents were only in U.S. hands,' Michael Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official, said.

But two US officials said on Sunday that they have not ruled out that the documents may have been doctored to mislead investigators as to their origin or to disseminate false information that may harm U.S. security interests.

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.

'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 Ukraine's 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.'

In a statement on Sunday, the Pentagon said it was reviewing the validity of the photographed documents that 'appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material.'

US officials told the Washington Post that some documents appeared to have been manipulated but many were consistent with CIA World Intelligence Review reports that are shared at high levels within the White House, Pentagon and State Department.

Defense analysts say any breach of internal classified US documents would be both damaging and potentially embarrassing.

In addition, the leak would prove valuable to Moscow by showing how deep US intelligence has penetrated parts of the Russian military apparatus,

One document marked 'Top Secret' and from a CIA Intel update from March 1, says the Mossad intelligence agency was encouraging protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to tighten controls on the Supreme Court.

Ukraine managed to keep Putin's fighter jets at bay as he pulled the troops back. Pictured: Su-34 jet fighter of the Russian Air Force firing missiles during Exercise Aviadarts 2018.

Because according to the leaked documents, Ukraine's stockpile is rapidly depleting, which in turn, opens up a window for Russian planes to attack

Putin could decide that it is now safe enough to send in Russia's 'valuable and numerous fighter jets and bombers to attack Ukrainian positions and artillery'

The document said the U.S. learned this through signals intelligence, suggesting the United States had been spying on one of its most important allies in the Middle East.

In a statement on Sunday, Netanyahu's office described the assertion as 'mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever.'

Another document gave details of internal discussions among senior South Korean officials about U.S. pressure on Seoul to help supply weapons to Ukraine, and its policy of not doing so.

The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Monday that fact checks on the documents are a priority and that it would request the U.S. to take 'appropriate' steps after confirming details.

Yoon's office said the possibility that the documents were fabricated or a product of third-party interference cannot be ruled out, warning any attempts to 'disrupt the alliance would face repercussions'.

Some lawmakers of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party expressed 'strong regret' over the spying allegations, calling them a clear violation of national sovereignty and a major security failure of the Yoon administration.

'We strongly demand a thorough investigation and urge that similar incidents do not occur,' the lawmakers said in a joint statement.

The Pentagon has not addressed the contents of any specific documents, including the apparent surveillance of allies.

Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that while there was concern about the leak at the Pentagon and intelligence agencies, the documents showed a snapshot in time from more than a month ago, rather than more recent assessments.

The two officials said the military and intelligence agencies were looking at their processes for how widely some of the intelligence is shared internally.

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 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.

Officials are looking at what motivations a U.S. official or a group of officials would have in leaking such sensitive information, said one of the officials who spoke to Reuters.

The official said investigators were looking at four or five theories, from a disgruntled employee to an insider threat who actively wanted to undermine U.S. national security interests.

Meanwhile, one U.S. military official said that providing air defense system reinforcements to Ukraine is key in helping the country regain territory in its planned spring counteroffensive.

Because according to the leaked documents, their stockpile is rapidly depleting, which in turn, opens up a window for Russian planes to attack.

Putin could decide that it is now safe enough to send in Russia's 'valuable and numerous fighter jets and bombers to attack Ukrainian positions and artillery,' senior Pentagon officials said, according to the New York Times.

'Russia still remains a bit fearful of flying into Ukraine because there's still a fair amount of density of Ukrainian kit,' U.S. General Philip Breedlove told the NYT.

Such a move could be a risky one for Putin.

'Just because he brings it back in play doesn't mean it's going to have smashing success,' General Breedlove said.

Another report of the leaked documents has the number of Russian fighter jets currently deployed in Ukraine at 485 compared with 85 Ukrainian jets

However, European countries have stepped up efforts to reinforce the country's air defenses, providing missiles for Ukraine's existing systems, like its Soviet-era S-300s. Pictured: A Ukrainian Airforce MIG 29 perform during the annual Air Show in 2016

Officials say it's not clear if the additional aid the US is sending will be enough, and say it depends on whether Putin continues to hold back his warplanes and if NATO allies make their own deliveries, the NYT reported.

In November, Ukraine received a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) which is produced by both the United States and Norway.

NASAMS include a radar, sensors, launchers that can be loaded with six missiles each and a mobile command center where soldiers can monitor airborne threats.

But western countries have also began providing Kyiv with more sophisticated systems - including German who sent IRIS-T air defense batteries, which each consist of a radar, a command-and-control system and three missile launchers, carrying a total of 24 missiles, the NYT reported.

Some officials have expressed concern about Ukraine's low stockpile.

Another report of the leaked documents has the number of Russian fighter jets currently deployed in Ukraine at 485 compared with 85 Ukrainian jets.

However, European countries have stepped up efforts to reinforce the country's air defenses, providing missiles for Ukraine's existing systems, like its Soviet-era S-300s.

The intelligence breach could have a drastic impact upon the landscape of the conflict in Ukraine. Biden, left, is pictured meeting Ukrainian President Zelensky in February 2023

Despite the Biden administration pouring almost $200 billion into the Ukrainian military, the leak revealed that its stockpiles are severely depleted and it is low on air defense ammunition

The trove of leaked Pentagon documents suggests the US knows far more about Russia's war campaign than Ukraine's - despite funding the latter to the tune of $200 billion.

The documents, which were leaked online in recent days, portray the Russian military as struggling in their war with Ukraine, which has killed hundreds of thousands.

Intelligence agencies are believed to have comprehensively infiltrated Russia's military and its leading spy agencies, offering considerable knowledge of upcoming maneuvers, as well as insights into how badly Putin's war is going.

But the same cannot be said for Ukraine, according to the New York Times. The paper reported that 'The United States has a clearer understanding of Russian military operations than it does of Ukrainian planning.'

US officials have allegedly resorted to spying on Ukraine itself to try and get an idea of their military plans.

America also remains unsure of the total number of Ukrainian casualties - with the documents stating only that Zelensky's forces have suffered 124,500 to 131,000 casualties, and 17,500 dead.

Even then, intelligence officials say confidence in the accuracy of those figures are low.

Pictured: A villager is seen near a wracked car during heavy fighting at the front line of Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar, in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine in April 2023

A villager collects wood during heavy fighting at the front line of Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar

Smoke rises from the town of Bakhmut as heavy fighting for the control of the town continues

The United States has devoted most of its considerable spying resources to hindering Putin's efforts and helping Ukraine.

But its spies have also been eavesdropping on allies, including Ukraine itself, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Israel.

The Times reported that Ukraine is being spied on in the hopes of getting a clearer picture of its military strategies, to try and help maximize the effectiveness of its army against Putin.

That comes despite the US spending $200 billion on advanced military hardware and spying equipment for Ukraine, with the cash credited for helping the country successfully hold-off Russian advances far longer than anyone thought necessary.

And while support for funding Ukraine continues to have bipartisan support, news that US officials are often in the dark could raise questions over the sheer amount of resources that the White House continues to send to Eastern Europe.

The documents, which included reports from late February to early March, also unearthed probes in several other nations, including South Korea, Iran and the UK

The documents have revealed the efficacy of US efforts to infiltrate Russian intelligence. Pictured: Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, April 6, 2023

The 100 pages of documents, at least some of which are believed to be accurate, were leaked on a Discord server earlier this year.

They've triggered panic at the Pentagon, and a huge effort to work out where the leak is coming from.

Ukraine has suggested they're not real, but Pentagon officials are said to be treating them as genuine, exposing another schism between the US and its costly ally.

They also appear to show that the intelligence services have been compromised as some reports contain daily real-time warnings on the timing and targets of Moscow's strikes - which has enabled the U.S. to warn their Ukrainian counterparts.

The documents - while up to several months old - offer detailed insights into which Russian intelligence agencies have been most compromised, and clues as to how the United States has gleaned so much secret Kremlin information.

The documents - while up to several months old - offer detailed insights into which Russian intelligence agencies have been most compromised, and clues as to how the United States has gleaned so much secret Kremlin information

Leaked documents suggest the U.S. knows more about Putin's war operations than Zelensky's, which raises questions over the $200 billion in military aid that has been sent to Ukraine

The document leak indicates that the US has been spying on Ukrainian allied officials. Pictured: A Ukrainian serviceman in training exercises in Donetsk
The messages, sent to at least seven Texas peace officers, saw the dispatcher speak at length with both a sergeant and deputy about their alleged past trysts

A Texas 911 dispatcher faces the ax after she was allegedly caught sexting seven cops and having affairs with two - after her husband discovered the sordid messages and shared them with her bosses.

Krystle Perez, an overnight dispatcher at San Antonio's Bexar County Sheriff's Department, has been placed on leave over the sleazy messages - which saw her speak with both a sergeant and deputy at length about alleged past trysts.

Other messages sent by Perez, 38, and uncovered by husband Giancarlo Perez, 41, contain equally sexed-up correspondence - between her and four other officers employed by the force, as well as a cop at a nearby department.

One of those officers, Deputy Juan Leal, has been placed on unpaid leave as a result of the recent revelation, whereas another, Deputy Jason Jarvis, has been hit with a proposed suspension of 30 days.

Sergeant Renaldo Salinas has also been placed on leave without pay, as the department continues to vet the salacious text messages.

Salinas, Leal and Perez have all been warned by Bexar County Sheriff's offices that they are likely to lose their jobs. They deny misbehaving while on-duty, but the sheriff is now investigating to see whether this is true.

Messages sent to Salinas suggest he and Perez met up for sex, while Jarvis's wife - who's now divorcing him - said he admitted an affair to her.

Many of the messages leaked to the department by Perez's jilted husband are extremely sexual in nature, while others recount Perez's past exploits with two of the officers in painstaking detail.

Krystle Perez, a 38-year-old overnight dispatcher at San Antonio's Bexar County Sheriff's Department, has been placed on leave over the sordid messages - which saw her speak at length with both a sergeant and deputy about alleged past trysts

This text sent to Reynaldo Salinas suggests he and Krystle Perez previously met for sex

The messages were uncovered and sent to the small-town police department by husband Giancarlo Perez, and are now being vetted to glean their legitimacy

Sgt Renaldo Salinas of Bexar County Sheriff's Office texted Perez implying they'd previously met for sex

Deputy Juan Leal, above, sent raunchy messages - although there's no suggestion he met up with Perez. He and Salinas are both on leave, and have been told they'll likely be fired

Another, Deputy Jason Jarvis (at right), has been hit with a proposed suspension of 30 days. Seen here with wife Jessica, the deputy reportedly has confessed to having sex with the dispatcher - and has since been hit with divorce papers

'She was the love of my life and it was very distraught, heartbreaking,' 41-year-old Giancarlo told KABB San Antonio over the weekend of how his marriage imploded last December when he discovered the texts on his wife's phone.

'I was in disbelief,' he says in the clip, and at on point even appeared on the verge of retching as he recalled the traumatic discovery.

The outlet on Friday shared screenshots of some of the messages he uncovered from his 38-year-old spouse's iPhone - most being between Perez and cops from the county department and one set sent to a City of Converse officer.

'I feel so Hot and Sexy when I'm in you,' one undated message sent to Giancarlo's wife by Sgt. Salinas reads.

Grabs show a not-so-subtle reply from the late-night dispatcher, who wrote: 'I can feel it all of it and I love it'.

Other messages showed much of the same, with several others sent between Perez and Salinas indicating the pair had been engaging in extramarital affairs.

'We need another hotel day,' a sext from Salinas sent in response reads, suggesting a previous illicit tryst.

The message garnered a show of affirmation from the dispatcher, whose prospective termination is currently under review by the department's internal affairs office.

'Yes!!' she wrote, before asking when the high-ranking officer 'was back on nights.' Salinas, in a one-word reply, responded 'Friday,' with the rest of the thread purposely omitted due to its explicit nature.

Additional messages sent to Salinas saw Perez describe herself being 'rolled up in bed like a burrito', before being met with a lustful 'mmm' from the sergeant.

One message sent to Leal saw Perez refer to him as her 'daddy', while he lustfully expressed his excitement at getting 'naked' with the dispatcher. Leal hasn't been accused of meeting Perez for sex in-person

Deputy Jason Jarvis's wife Jessica, above, welled-up as she recounted discovering her husband's alleged affair with Perez. She's now divorcing him

In others, she described how she was going to 'hunt down' the peace officer presumably to engage in more trysts, with Salinas assuring her that they would 'figure something out.'

In one thread sent at 10:20 pm on a Friday night, Salinas seemingly plans a sexual excursion with Perez. 'I get off at midnight, came in early,' the officer writes.

'I miss your lips,' Salinas writes in another, earning a 'my lips miss you' from the overnight dispatcher.

Other messages between the two were too graphic to recount, but almost all alluded to past and prospective sexual interactions between the pair, with several showing their indisputable desire for one another.

'They use emojis to reference body parts, they talk about kissing, making out and these sexual connections,' Giancarlo told KABB of the many leaked messages.

The outlet also shared photos of some slightly less incriminating, but equally lustful communications between Perez and other officers such as Deputy Leal - who was also put on unpaid leave as investigators probe the trove of texts.

The messages shared by the outlet between Perez and Leal, while just as graphic as those involving Salinas, did not reference any prior sexual encounters, but did show a burgeoning desire between the two.

'I can't wait for us to be naked and us caressing each other and then kissing each other all over,' one unmarked message from Leal reads.

Another message was almost illegible, but referenced a 'need' for 'that grown woman love'

One text sent to Salinas saw the pair refer to erotic hunting roleplay

In another, Perez told Salinas she was 'rolled up like a burrito,' prompting an approving 'mmm'

Perez's desire to kiss one of the seven men she's accused of sexting was evident in this message

Another suggests an assignation was planned after work tryst, having gotten in early in the hopes of escaping before the end of her shift too

'And then I can lay on you and kiss you all over,' Perez writes in another, calling the deputy 'daddy' - to which Leal cheekily replies 'Like 'ALL OVER'?'

Both men have been put on the same unpaid leave, with another officer, Deputy Jarvis, recently hit with a proposed suspension of 30 days - as well as divorce papers from his longtime wife.

While not included in the de facto sext dossier, messages between the dispatcher an deputy reportedly also contained similar language suggesting an affair between the two - philandering his wife Jessica said the suspended officer has since confirmed.

Tennessee cop Maegan Hall, pictured, was fired from La Vergne PD earlier this year after sleeping with six of her colleagues, despite being marred

'These are people that are supposed to be protecting us, serving and making sure the community is safe,' Jessica said during a sitdown with KABB on Friday after claiming her soon-to-be ex conceded to having an affair with the dispatcher.

'Instead they're busy setting up affairs they're busy setting up appointments to basically have sexual relations.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to both Giancarlo and Krystle Perez for comment.

The drama is reminiscent of the scandal which engulfed La Vergne Police Department in Tennessee earlier this year.

Married cop Maegan Hall was fired after having sex with six of her colleagues - but her husband Jedidah Hall stood by her, with the pair currently trying to save their marriage.
China simulated a 'sealing off' of Taiwan during a third day of wargames around the self-ruled island on Monday, as the United States deployed a naval destroyer into Beijing-claimed water in its own show of force - raising tensions in the region.

Beijing announced the three days of drills on Saturday, after Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The drills on Monday saw a Chinese aircraft carrier joining in combat patrols as Taipei reported another surge of warplanes near the island - including ship-launched J-15 fighter jets, that have until now never been seen inside Taiwan's air defence zone, and nuclear-capable H-6 bombers armed with live missiles.

Meanwhile, the US - which had repeatedly called for China to show restraint - sent the guided-missile destroyer the USS Milius through contested parts of the South China Sea. Japan also responded, scrambling jets in response to the air drills.

The move by the US navy angered Chinese officials, who said the warship had 'illegally intruded' in the South China sea.

The Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan tweets a video showing Chinese PLA ships and planes in their territory, with caption: 70 PLA aircraft and 11 vessels were detected by 16:00(UTC+8) April 9th. 35 of the detected aircraft had crossed northern, central, and southern median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered our southwest ADIZ.

China simulated a 'sealing off' of Taiwan during a third day of wargames around the self-island on Monday as the United States deployed a naval destroyer into Beijing-claimed waters

China's military conducted naval and aerial blockade drills around Taiwan on as it wrapped up three days of exercises, with an aircraft carrier joining in patrols

A pilot is photographed operating an aircraft of the Air Force under the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) during a combat readiness patrol and 'Joint Sword' exercises around Taiwan, at an undisclosed location

President Tsai Ing-wen, left, returned to Taiwan from a meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles

China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under Beijing's control. On the contrary, China's president Xi Jinping sees reunification as a key goal.

Taiwan's government strongly disputes China's claims and has denounced the drills.

Chinese state television said aircraft, including nuclear-capable H-6 bombers armed with live missiles, along with warships and an aircraft carrier staged drills to 'form a multi-directional island-encompassing blockade situation'.

'In the Taiwan Strait, the northwest and southwest of Taiwan and the waters east of Taiwan (Chinese forces) took the initiative to attack, giving full play to their performance advantages, flexibly maneuvering to seize favorable positions, and advancing at high speed to deter opponents,' the report said.

The Eastern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army said the aircraft carrier the Shandong also took part in combat patrols, and showed fighters taking off from its deck.

Taiwan has been tracking the Shandong since last week in the Pacific Ocean.

Taiwan's defence ministry published a map on Monday of the previous 24 hours of Chinese air force activities, showing four carrier-based Chinese J-15 fighters operating over the Pacific Ocean to Taiwan's east.

The ministry said that as of mid-morning on Monday that it had spotted 59 military aircraft and 11 ships around Taiwan, and that the Shandong carrier group was drilling in the Western Pacific.

The Shandong conducted air operations in waters close to Japan's Okinawan islands on Sunday, Japan's defence ministry said on Monday.

Jet fighters and helicopters took off and landed on the carrier 120 times between Friday and Sunday, with the carrier, three other warships and a support vessel coming within 143 miles of Japan's Miyako island, the defence ministry said.

Japan said it had scrambled jets in recent days as Chinese fighter planes landed and took off from the aircraft carrier.

In a statement, Japan's joint staff said it had observed the Shandong and several other Chinese naval vessels in the area south of Miyako island since Friday.

It listed the Kuznetsov-class Shandong, along with a Luyang III-class missile destroyer, a Jiangkai II-class frigate and a Fuyu-class fast combat support ship.

The vessels were spotted between 140 and 270 miles south of Miyako island, in the far south of Japan, the statement said.

'We confirmed approximately 120 landings and departures on the Chinese navy's Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Shandong, 80 times by fighter aircraft and 40 times by helicopters,' the statement said.

Japan has been following China's military drills around Taiwan 'with great interest', a top government spokesperson said on Monday.

Japan has long worried about China's military activities in the area given how close southern Japanese islands are to Taiwan.

'The importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only important for the security of Japan, but also for the stability of the international community as a whole,' Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

The southern Japanese island of Okinawa hosts a major U.S. air force base, and last August when China staged war games to protest the visit of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei, Chinese missiles landed within Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Pictured: A map showing Chinese incursions into Taiwan's air space in drills on Monday

Chinese navy ships take part in a military drill in the Taiwan Strait. China's military sent several dozen warplanes and 11 warships toward Taiwan in a display of force

A man stands on a jetty behind a tourist boat and Chinese flags on Pingtan island, opposite Taiwan, in Chinas southeast Fujian province

Soldiers of Taiwanese Army also take part in a military exercise at an undisclosed location in Taiwan

Exercises on Monday were set to include live-fire drills off the rocky coast of China's Fujian province, about 50 miles south of the Matsu islands and 120 miles from Taipei.

The local maritime authority said the exercises would be held between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm around Pingtan, a southeastern island that is China's nearest point to Taiwan.

AFP journalists on Pingtan did not see any immediate military activity in an offshore area on Monday.

A video published Monday to the Eastern Theatre Command's official WeChat account showed a pilot saying he had 'arrived near the northern part of Taiwan Island', with missiles 'locked into place'.

In another video with dramatic orchestral accompaniment, the pierce of an officer's whistle sends military personnel running into position as a simulated barrage on Taiwan unfolds on screen.

The US has said it is also watching China's drills closely, and on Monday sent the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius through contested parts of the South China Sea.

'This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea,' the US Navy said in a statement

It added the vessel had passed near the Spratly Islands - an archipelago claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. It is about 1,300 800 miles from Taiwan.

The deployment of the Milius immediately triggered more anger from China, which said the vessel had 'illegally intruded' into its territorial waters.

The United States has been deliberately ambiguous on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily.

But for decades it has sold weapons to Taipei to help ensure its self-defence, and offered political support.

Tsai met McCarthy outside Los Angeles on her way home from a visit with two allied countries in Central America.

In August last year, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan in its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island by McCarthy's predecessor, Nancy Pelosi.

Tsai met with McCarthy last week in the United States, rather than in Taiwan.

This was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for Taiwan but avoid inflaming tensions with Beijing.

But China had repeatedly warned against any meeting, and began the latest wargames soon after Tsai returned to Taiwan.

'These operations serve as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking 'Taiwan independence' and external forces and against their provocative activities,' said Shi Yin, a PLA spokesman, said about 'Joint Sword'.

Tsai responded to the drills by pledging to work with 'the US and other like-minded countries' in the face of 'continued authoritarian expansionism'.

Military boats from Taiwan's Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit patrol the Matsu Islands as Chinese fighter jets and warships simulated strikes on Taiwan

Air Defense and Missile Command of Taiwan Air Force takes part in a military exercise, at an undisclosed location in Taiwan

Chinese military vehicles of are pictured as the country conducted a second day of military drills around Taiwan on April 9, in what it has called a 'stern warning' to the self-ruled island

Taiwanese soldiers are seen manning anti-aircraft artillery near Taipei, as China conducts military exercises around the self-ruled island

China simulated a 'sealing off' of Taiwan during a third day of wargames around the self-ruled island on Monday as the United States deployed a naval destroyer into Beijing-claimed waters in a show of force

China's military simulated precision strikes against Taiwan in the second day of drills around the island on Sunday.

The Eastern Theatre Command on Monday released a short video on its WeChat account showing an H-6 bomber flying in what it said was the skies north of Taiwan.

'The missiles are in good condition,' an unidentified voice says, as the video shows images from the cockpit.

'Start the fire control radar, lock on the target,' another voice says, showing images of a missile under the aircraft's wing

It then shows a pilot readying the fire control button for what it describes as a simulated attack, and then pressing the button, though it did not show any missiles being fired.

Taiwan's military has repeatedly said it will respond calmly to China's drills and not provoke conflict.

The defence ministry separately released pictures on Monday of mobile launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship missiles at an undisclosed location, as well as missile-armed fast attack boats at sea.

Reuters reporters at the Cape Maobitou park in Pingtung county on Taiwan's southern tip saw Hsiung Feng launchers deployed near a scenic spot on Monday, as soldiers stood guard and tourists watched.

Life in Taiwan has continued normally with no signs of panic or disruption, and civilian flights operating as usual.

\People walk on the beach watching the sunset, in Pingtan, Fujian province on Sunday night

Anti-tank fortifications from previous conflicts are seen silhouetted as the sun sets over Chinese city Xiamen in Kinmen, Taiwan. Kinmen, an island in the Taiwan strait that is part of Taiwan's territory, is so close to China that the deep-water port of Xiamen, one of China's biggest, lies less than three miles away across the water

A Taiwanese tank used in previous conflicts and on display for tourists is seen silhouetted against the skyline of Chinese city Xiamen as dusk fell on Sunday

'Most normal people probably aren't afraid, with the main reason being that everyone thinks that China will certainly not start a war,' said retiree and former soldier Tang Pao-hsiung, 78.

On Beigan island, part of Taiwan's Matsu archipelago that is within eyesight of China's mainland, 60-year-old chef Lin Ke-qiang told AFP he simply did not want war.

'We, common people, just want to live peaceful and stable lives,' Lin said, adding Taiwan's military was no match for China's.

'If any war happens, now that their missiles are so advanced, there's no way our side could resist. This side will be levelled to the ground.'
The bodies of a Lotus band member and his 20-year-old son have been found more than three weeks after they vanished while kayaking on Beaver Lake in Arkansas during a spring break family vacation.

Chuck Morris, 46, the percussionist for the Colorado jam band Lotus, and his son Charlie Morris never returned after going out on the water last month.

On Sunday, the Benton County Sheriff's Office announced their bodies had been recovered.

Major Kenneth Paul led the search efforts utilizing many resources from across the country - which involved diving 180ft.

Investigators spent 24 days of searching using helicopters, drones, sonar, divers and dogs. Both bodies were recovered over the weekend.

The bodies of Chuck Morris, 46, right, the percussionist for the Colorado jam band Lotus, and his son Charlie Morris, 20, were found on Sunday in a lake where they had gone kayaking

Rescuers searched Beaver Lake in Arkansas for 24 days to find the bodies of Chuck Morris and son Charley

Chuck Morris is pictured with his son Charley, wife Jennifer and their daughter

The father and son's kayaks were found early on in the search while Chuck's hat and coat were also found.

It's believed the pair drowned after one fell into the cold waters of the lake and the other tried to rescue them.

'What saved me from the beginning of this is that they died together; they were together,' Chuck's wife and Charlie's mom, Jennifer Thompson, told ABC News, adding that she 'misses her boys'.

The family had decided to travel from Kansas City to Beaver Lake during the Spring Break holidays after Lotus had finished a 25-city tour.

Chuck and Charlie, a sophomore at Ohio Wesleyan University who aspired to be a lawyer, decided to go kayaking on the lake, despite there being strong currents and three-foot waves.

Chuck and Charlie, a sophomore at Ohio Wesleyan University who aspired to be a lawyer, decided to go kayaking on the lake, despite there being strong currents and three-foot waves

Investigators spent more than three weeks scouring Beaver Lake and the surrounding area using helicopters, drones, sonar and dogs. The father and son's bodies were found on Sunday

Chuck Morris of Lotus performs on stage in in Gulf Shores, Alabama in 2013

Chuck Morris of Lotus performs during the Sin City Incidents at the Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas on February 15, 2015

'We thought it would be a great idea for Chuck and Charlie to be able to get on the kayaks before a storm hit,' Thompson said, adding that she and their 12-year-old daughter had decided to leave them to go into town.

But when Thompson and her daughter returned, the father and son were not at the home where they were staying.

'We got home, and they weren't back yet. My husband being the adventurer that he is, we're like, 'oh, they must be having a great time,'' she said. But Thompson said she began to panic and went searching for the pair.

Chuck Morris of Lotus is seen performing on stage in Okeechobee, Florida in 2016

Chuck Morris, Mike Greenfield, Mike Rempel, Jesse Miller and Luke Miller of Lotus perform at The Fillmore in San Francisco, California in April 2012

Unable to find them, she called the police who searched the lake and later found their kayaks. Thompson described them as 'beautifully gentle, loving men.'

Thompson added: 'We are overwhelmed by the love from around the world for Chuck and Charley, and we will celebrate their lives and contributions to the world in gatherings that will be announced in coming days and weeks.'

'Chuck was fun and creative and funny, and Charlie was pensive and serious and very much believed in the responsibility of people to be good.'

A GoFundMe page has been set up and has raised over $195,000 for the family's expenses.

Lotus had previously announced a series of benefit concerts in Denver, Pennsylvania and New York with proceeds going directly to the Morris family.

The first benefit shows will take place at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver on April 21 and April 22 with two other dates planned on May 5 at XL Live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and May 6 at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York.
An ethanol firepit has exploded during what was supposed to be a happy Easter long weekend party leaving a young woman fighting for her life and four others suffering horrific burns.

Paramedics were called to Calvert Parade in Newport, on Sydney's northern beaches, at about 5.30pm on Easter Saturday where a small group were having a gathering.

It is understood the ethanol fire pit they were huddled around blew up while it was being refilled.

Several guests were caught by the fireball and managed to dive into a nearby backyard pool, which paramedics said lessened the extent of their injuries.

But a 26-year-old woman suffered severe burns to her face, neck and chest and was rushed by ambulance to the Royal North Shore Hospital where she was put into an induced coma.

A 26-year-old woman was one of five people burnt by an explosion of a backyard fire pit at a Sydney northern beaches house (pictured)

It is understood the ethanol fire pit they were huddled around blew up while it was being refilled (pictured: ethanol based fire pits)

The ethanol-based fire pits are a popular alternative to traditional fire pits due to their ease of installation and requiring less maintenance.

The fire pits surged in popularity thanked to their aesthetically-pleasing sleek blue or orange-tinged flames dancing over smooth rocks.

They are also practically odourless but have been known to cause injuries.

Experts have warned of the risks associated with ethanol burners with multiple serious burns incidents across Australia.

Ethanol is a volatile substance and the flame itself is often hard to see resulting in people refilling the fuel when the burner is still lit or very warm, leading to something referred to as 'flame jetting'.

Flame jetting occurs when a container of flammable liquid meets an ignition source, resulting in flames shooting out almost like a blowtorch, engulfing bystanders.

A 2022 Fire Prevention Australia (FPA) report into the heaters from 2010 to 2016 found there were 117 reported incidents involving ethanol heaters resulting in 113 injuries and 36 house fires.

The FPA said many of the incidents occurred when people were refilling the fire pits.

'When refilling the heaters, people often incorrectly presume the fuel tray is empty and proceed to fill the tray while there is still fuel left in it,' the report stated.

'The fuel vapour can ignite with an explosive affect.'

Consumers have been warned of the risks associated with ethanol burners following multiple serious burns incidents across Australia

On March 17, 2017, then-Small Business Minister Michael McCormack put a national interim ban on the sale of certain ethanol heaters after a spate of incidents.

The interim ban was introduced after a 28-year old Western Australian woman suffered serious burns to her face and body when an ethanol burner exploded in her backyard.

A similar incident occurred around the same time in Queensland where two people suffered serious, life-altering burn injuries.

However, in July, 2017 the ban was replaced by a new standard called the Consumer Goods (Decorative Alcohol Fuelled Devices) Safety.

The standard meant the heaters were legally required to be a permanent fixture, pass a European standard stability test, come with a fuel container with a flame arrester or an automatic fuel pump system and visibly show a warning of the products dangers.
She is now on leave but the university did not say if it was a result of their action

Tirien Steinbach has told The New York Times she should have 'de-escalated'

A Stanford dean who was slammed for letting students heckle a conservative federal judge before berating him herself has finally admitted she handled the situation badly.

In interview with The New York Times, published on Sunday, Tirien Steinbach admitted she should have made more of an effort to reduce the tension. The paper didn't quote her mea culpa directly, but reported she admitted she 'did not get the balance of her words right.'

Steinbach, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion sparked outrage when she encouraged the class instead of enforcing the school's free speech rules. She's currently on leave, and it's still unclear if that decision was voluntary, or forced on her by Stanford.

Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan had been invited last month by Stanford's Federalist Society to speak, but was greeted with posters saying he had committed crimes against trans people for denying a prisoner's request to change pronouns in 2020.

Tirien Steinbach, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at Stanford has said that in hindsight she should have tried harder to calm the situation

Fifth Circuit Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan, 51, who was appointed by Donald Trump, was asked to give a speech at the famous law school last week about the circuit's Court of Appeals by the student chapter of the Federalist Society

'My role was to de-escalate,' Steinbach said. 'And to, I hoped, give the judge space to speak his prepared remarks.'

She added she did not think her comments, which were recorded, would have been broadcast to the world in such a way.

Tim Rosenberger Jr., the president of Stanford's Federalist Society said he had a cordial and productive relationship with Steinbach, a former ACLU lawyer, and she had been a trusty advocate for free speech beforehand.

He said initially he could not find a co-sponsor for an event with Nadine Strossen, a former head of the American Civil Liberties Union and a champion of free speech, but that he found Steinbach was willing to moderate the discussion.

'That took some courage,' he said. Steinbach is currently on administrative leave but Stanford would not confirm whether it had actively enforced it.

It is unclear if the students or Steinbach were aware the trans woman they were furiously protesting for is a pedophile

In her initial public rebuttal over the incident, Steinbach said she intended to 'deploy de-escalation techniques' when she stepped up to the podium where Judge Duncan was speaking.

She wrote: 'My intention wasn't to confront Judge Duncan or the protesters but to give voice to the students so that they could stop shouting and engage in respectful dialogue.

'I wanted Judge Duncan to understand why some students were protesting his presence on campus and for the students to understand why it was important that the judge be not only allowed but welcomed to speak.'

She claims her role was to 'observe' and 'de-escalate', before saying that she got involved to stop the 'verbal sparring match'.

Footage shows her launching into a six-minute long speech, which she admitted was prepared, in which she also attacked the judge.

Student protestors launched vile insults at the judge, including telling him his 'daughters should be raped' after tempers flared over his ruling in the case of a transgender pedophile.

Steinbach believes 'free speech isn't easy or comfortable' and claims she tried to defuse the situation by 'acknowledging the protestors' concerns.'

She went on: 'In my role as Stanford Law School's associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, I supported the administration's decision not to cancel the event or move it to video, as it would censor or limit the free speech of Judge Duncan and the students who invited him.

She claims that her role was to 'observe' and 'de-escalate', before bragging that she got involved to stop the 'verbal sparring match'

Transgender pedophile Norman Varner was banned from changing her name to Kathrine Nicole Jett by Judge Duncan. His refusal triggered a firestorm of outrage by the Stanford Law school students. She is pictured in 2013

'Instead, the administration and I welcomed Judge Duncan to speak while supporting the right of students to protest within the bounds of university policy.

'As a member of the Stanford Law School administration - and as a lawyer - I believe that we should strive for authentic free speech.

'We must strive for an environment in which we meet speech - even that with which we strongly disagree - with more speech, not censorship.'

Stanford confirmed that Steinbach is currently on leave, and that the students involved in the woke protest - which was in defense of a convicted pedophile  will not be punished for their actions.

The woke dean started to question how the 'anger and fury' of the protestors could be looked at as 'people who are unhappy about the way things are'.

She asked: 'Is there a way that we can stop blaming and start to talk and listen to each other?'

Ending her lengthy opinion piece, Steinbach added: 'Diversity, equity and inclusion plans must have clear goals that lead to greater inclusion and belonging for all community members.

'How we strike a balance between free speech and diversity, equity and inclusion is worthy of serious, thoughtful and civil discussion.

'Free speech and diversity, equity and inclusion are means to an end, and one that I think many people can actually agree on: to live in a country with liberty and justice for all its people.'

However, when he arrived at the school, he was met by around 100 students screaming obscenities at him, including one protester who told him: 'We hope your daughters get raped'

He eventually asked for an administrator when the heckling wouldn't stop and in stepped the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Tirien Steinbach. She has since said it was her job to 'de-escalate' the situation

Law School Dean, Jenny Martinez, and Stanford President, Marc Tessier-Lavinge, have since 'formally apologized, confirming that protesters and administrators had violated Stanford policy' days later.

But students appear not to have learned their lesson, with Martinez's classroom vandalized by students furious that she'd apologized to Duncan on their behalf.

He was asked to give a speech at the famous law school earlier in March about the circuit's Court of Appeals by the student chapter of the Federalist Society.

However, when he arrived at the school, he was met by around 100 students yelling obscenities at him, including one protester who told him: 'We hope your daughters get raped.'

He was warned prior to his arrival that there may be protesters and the school had to allow it, but reassured him they were 'on top of it.'

If there was any disruption, the school would handle it, he was told, but Duncan said that didn't happen.

Students held signs that read 'trans lives matter' and 'FED SUCK'

In a Facebook post, the group labeled the students 'fascists' who 'dressed in black and formed a mob to ambush Dean Martinez to heckle and shame her'

Photos obtained by The Washington Free Beacon show Dean Martinez's classroom covered in posters about 'free speech' after an apology was given to Judge Duncan

Judge Duncan wrote in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal: 'While in practice, I represented clients and advanced arguments the protesters hatefor instance, I defended Louisiana's traditional marriage laws,'

Students stormed into the classroom with signs reading 'FED SUCK' and 'Trans Lives Matter' to heckle him about his judicial decision in Jett's case.

Steinbach, stepped in - but instead of calming the students down, she 'insisted she wanted to talk to all of us,' Duncan said.

'Something felt off,' he wrote. 'Students began screaming, and I reluctantly gave way.

'Whereupon Ms. Steinbach opened a folio, took out a printed sheaf of papers, and delivered a six-minute speech addressing the question: 'Is the juice worth the squeeze?'

Video footage of the event shows the altercation between the associate dean and the judge.

'Can I say something to him, is that okay?' Steinbach asked the students before turning to Duncan. 'Is that okay?'

Duncan reiterated that they were 'heckling' him and asked for an administrator, which caused students yell that she was.

Steinbach's head can be seen aggressively nodding yes, but the students yelling made it unable to hear what she was telling him.

Martinez apologized to Judge Duncan on behalf of the school, saying the incident was not indicative of its free speech policies

Varner was previously convicted of child exploitation and possession charges in 2005 but was handed an 18-month suspended sentence by an Indiana court.

'I would like to help,' she told Duncan.

'In what way?' he replied.

As students screamed that his 'racism was showing' and to 'respect black women,' the judge eventually conceded, saying: 'I guess I have to let her.'

She then took the lectern and said: 'I had to write something down because I'm so uncomfortable up here,' before launching into her six-minute speech.

In her address, Duncan claimed she called his work 'abhorrent' and said it had 'caused harm' because it 'literally denies the humanity of people.'

She also claimed that his presence on campus put her in a tough spot because it was her job to 'create a space of belonging for all people.'

The judge was targeted because of his ruling on a transgender pedophile in 2020, where he refused to allow her bid to get her name changed.

DailyMail.com can reveal the mugshot of Norman Keith Varner, 42, who failed in her bid to change her name to Kathrine Nicole Jett, 42, on court records.

Varner has twice been convicted of possessing child pornography and failing to register as a sex offender.

In 2012 Varner pleaded guilty to one count of attempted receipt of child pornography and was sentenced to 15 years in prison which will be followed by 15 years supervised release.

Jenny Martinez, the dean of Stanford Law School, found her classroom had been vandalized by students angry about the apology

By 2015, while in prison, Varner came out as a transgender woman and began 'hormone replacement therapy' shortly after trying to change her surname to Jett in Kentucky.

However, the US Court of Appeals rejected Varner's appeal to change her conviction records to her new name.

Fifth Circuit Judge Stuart Duncan and others ruling it as 'meritless' because the pedophile was known as Norman Varner at the time she committed the child sex abuse offenses.

But her case sparked anger amongst the woke Stanford law students, and Steinbach, who sabotaged his speech at the prestigious university earlier this month.

Varner's case was widely reported at the time of the court challenge by outlets including NBC News, including details of her vile crimes.

That suggests Stanford students may have known the magnitude of the crimes she committed - but that they decided to defend her anyway.

Varner was previously convicted of child exploitation and possession charges in 2005 but was handed an 18-month suspended sentence by an Indiana court.

She was then arrested in 2010 for failing to register as a sex offender, as well as several appearances in court and a suspended sentence for fraud offenses and bad checks in the late 1990s.

Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com show that between April 2010 and June 2010 Varner tried to receive child porn on a Compaq computer.

The pedophile possessed a video which was nearly two minutes long showing a 'prepubescent female' and a 'nude minor male'.
Indonesian authorities have demanded a Brazilian teenager arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into Bali face a firing squad in a stark warning for all tourists visiting the holiday island.

Brazilian Manuela Vitoria de Araujo Farias, 19, claims she was tricked by a gang after three kilograms of cocaine were allegedly found in her luggage when she arrived in January.

Ms Farias flew into Bali from Brazil via Qatar, but the drugs were not detected until she landed in Bali.

She has been in custody since then, charged with international drug trafficking.

Global press agency Newsflash reported that prosecutors demanded the maximum penalty - either death by firing squad or life in prison - last week.

Brazilian Manuela Vitoria de Araujo Farias, 19, claims she was tricked by a gang after three kilograms of cocaine were allegedly found in her luggage when she arrived in Bali January

She has been in custody since then, charged with international drug trafficking

Prosecutors allege she was working with a drug gang to smuggle the cocaine into Bali.

But lawyer, Davi Lira da Silva, said Ms Farias was only in Bali to visit temples where monks pray for the sick, as her mother recently suffered a stroke.

Her lawyers said she was going to seek Buddhist prayers for a cure.

Mr da Silva claimed the teen was tricked into co-operating after the gang who hired her told her of the temples to win her trust.

'They said that she could pray in the temples to ask for her mother's healing,' he said.

Her lawyer also claimed her client sold lingerie and perfume for a living but was tricked by people she trusted.

They also claimed that the gang had promised to pay for surf lessons for the young woman once she arrived in the country.

If Ms Farias manages to escape the firing squad, she would still face life imprisonment in Indonesia.

Her bleak fate serves as a warning to tourists visiting the holiday paradise.

Global press agency Newsflash reported that prosecutors demanded the maximum penalty last week

Ms Farias flew into Bali from Brazil via Qatar, but the drugs were not detected until she landed in Bali

Thousands of Australians have flocked to Bali since the holiday island's international borders reopened in March 2022 for the first time in two years.

Around 1.23 million Australians visited Bali in 2019 before international borders shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The death penalty exists for many crimes in Indonesia including drug smuggling, according to Australian government website Smart Traveller.

Drug possession and banned activities such as smoking in a public place and gambling also can result in jail time.

'Penalties for drug offences include heavy fines, long prison sentences and the death penalty. Police target tourist destinations,' the website states.

'You may face heavy fines or jail for possessing even small amounts of drugs, including marijuana.'

Cannabis-based products such as cannabis oil, hemp, CBD, THC, hash and edibles are also banned in Indonesia, including for medicinal purposes.

Manuela Vitoria de Araujo Farias could face the death penalty if convicted of drug smuggling

Aussie travellers flocking to the Indonesian island have been warned to read up on what they can and can't do in Bali (stock image of travellers)

'A medical prescription does not make it legal. If you take such products to Indonesia or purchase or use them in Indonesia, you can be arrested and face imprisonment, fines, deportation or the death penalty,' Smart Traveller warns.

'Police target illegal drug use and possession across Indonesia. Police often target popular places and venues in Bali and Jakarta.'

Travellers are also warned check with a doctor or the Indonesian embassy before taking any prescription medications including sleeping pills into the country as many psychotropic medications and painkillers are banned and could be confiscated upon arrival.

'Make sure you carry a prescription that covers the quantity of medication you're taking with you,' authorities warn.

Smoking is banned in many public areas in Bali and could lead to imprisonment and a fine.

Convicted Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in Indonesia in 2015

The sentencing of Australian Schapelle Corby was televised worldwide in 2005

Gambling is also illegal in Indonesia and could result in a stint behind bars.

Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in Indonesia in 2015 as the convicted ringleaders of the so-called Bali Nine drug smugglers.

The nine Australians were arrested trying to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin to Australia on a flight out of Bali's airport in 2005.

Of the remaining seven only one, Renae Lawrence, has been released from jail while another, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died in prison of cancer.

In October 2004, Australian Schapelle Corby became a household name when the then 27-year-old beauty student was arrested at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport with 4.2kg of marijuana in her boogie board bag, a crime she has always denied committing.

She returned to Australia in May, 2017.
Revellers made the most of the long Easter weekend as they went on booze-ups across the country.

Partygoers in holiday-inspired fancy dress celebrated on the streets of London, Newcastle and Leeds over the four-day weekend.

Photographs show groups of drunken young adults posing for photos outside popular bars and restaurants.

While most stuck to simply enjoying a few drinks, others seemingly partied too hard - and ended up in police custody.

At least four people were rushed to hospital after more than 1,000 revellers gathered for an illegal rave at an industrial estate in Bridgend, South Wales, on Saturday night that was broken up by police.

Now those who maximised the weekend fun are likely grateful for the Easter Monday bank holiday so they can recover and nurse their hangovers from home before going back to work tomorrow.

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Partygoers in holiday-inspired fancy dress smile for the camera in Leeds on Sunday

Revellers on Broad Street in Birmingham were hit with strong winds and rain on Sunday night

Partygoers on Broad Street in Birmingham hid their hair from the elements with coats as showers poured on Sunday night

A woman uses a handbag to shield her hair from the rain in Birmingham on Sunday night

Revellers continue their booze fest on Easter Sunday on the lash in Leeds

Partygoers sporting fancy dress hit the streets of Leeds on Easter Sunday

Revellers on Broad Street in Birmingham were hit with strong winds and rain as they enjoyed a night out on Easter Sunday

Many partygoers in Birmingham were looking a lot colder on Easter Sunday than on previous nights over the Bank Holiday weekend

Four people have been rushed to hospital after more than 1,000 youths gathered for an illegal rave on Saturday night

Pictured are revellers at the rave at the Kenfig Industrial Estate in Margam, South Wales on Saturday night

A pair of friends wearing bunny ears pose for the camera in Leeds on Sunday

Two girls are pictured in Leeds on Easter Sunday

Friends sporting superhero and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costumes partied in Leeds on Easter Sunday

Two girls with bunny ears celebrate Easter weekend in Liverpool

A posse of PVC-clad bunnies paraded through Birmingham on Saturday night as revellers hit the town to continue the Easter Bank Holiday. The group of ladies were promoting the superclub PRYZM and had their own music and lasers as they partied in the street, much to the joy of passers-by

A bride-to-be capitalised on the four-day bank holiday weekend as she and her friends got together for her hen do in Leeds this weekend

A shoulder to cry on: A woman comforts her friend after an Easter Sunday day out in Leeds

The day of rest: Two friends take a breather on a bench in Leeds's city centre on Easter Sunday

Two friends enthusiastically pose for the camera on a night out in Newcastle on Easter Sunday

Bunny-looking: A man and woman grin for the camera while eating in Newcastle on Easter Sunday

Fancy dress: Four friends look surprised outside a nightclub in Newcastle this weekend

Hallelujah: Two women reach for the sky on a night out in Newcastle on Easter Sunday

Love thy neighbour: A man carries a woman on his back in Newcastle on Easter Sunday

A woman sits on a man in Newcastle on Sunday

A woman in bunny attire sits on a bench in Leeds

A group of friends pose in fancy dress outside a bar in Leeds on Easter Sunday

A group of revellers strike a pose outside a bar in Newcastle on Friday night

Revellers in high spirits took to bars and clubs of Oxford on Good Friday, striking extravagant poses as photographers snapped their pics

One reveller celebrated both Easter and her birthday as she hit the bars in Newcastle on Friday

Officers arrest troublemaking revellers out on Friday night in Newcastle for the Easter weekend break

Revellers were in good spirits as they went from bar to bar in Nottingham city centre on Friday

Drinkers wearing bunny ears are seen enjoying pints as they make the most of a Good Friday night out in Soho, London

A reveller dressed as Jesus - and holding an inflatable Jesus - hit the streets of Newcastle on Good Friday

Nottingham was packed with revellers enjoying the Good Friday bank holiday. One man was seen being placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a police car at around 6pm following a suspected assault inside a pub

A woman is seen apparently twerking in the streets of Soho, London on Good Friday as a man seemingly encourages her shenanigans

Revellers are pictured out on Friday night in Newcastle for the Easter weekend break
The world's most premature twins have celebrated their first birthday after being born 126 days early with doctors saying they could not be saved.

Adiah and Adrial were born at just 22 weeks and weighed less than a pound each.

The twins' mother and father Shakina Rajendram and Kevin Nadarajah had prayed for a miracle after Shakina went into labor early and were told that their local Toronto-area hospital could only offer comfort care and let them pass naturally.

Proclaiming that God was in control, they told in recent TikTok videos how their trust in God 'anchored' them during the tough period.

Adiah and Adrial now hold the world record for the most premature and lightest twins born, according to Guinness World Records.

The world's most premature twins Adiah and Adrial celebrated their first birthday in March after being born 126 days early, as doctors said there was nothing they could do to save them

The twins' mother and father Shakina Rajendram and Kevin Nadarajah had prayed for a miracle after Shakina went into labor early and were told there was nothing the doctors could do

Shakina and Kevin were still reeling from another pregnancy loss when Shakina went into early labor at just 21 weeks - just over four months pregnant.

They 'were in complete shock' when the doctors told them there was no hope of the twins survival.

'We just felt likethis isn't happening,' Kevin said. 'I was talking to God overnight and just telling him, 'we need a sign of hope that things are going to turn around.'

Every minute leading up to the birth meant a better chance of survival for the twins.

'We knew that if they were born even just a few minutes early it would be a matter of life and death,' Shakina said.

Shakina was transferred tp Mount Sinai Hospital and the twins were born just one hour after they turned 22 weeks.

Like some premature babies, they had some complications. The twins suffered brain bleeds, bowel perforations and lung disease from prematurity. But there were also near-death moments.

Proclaiming that God was in control, the twins' parents told in recent TikTok videos how their trust in God 'anchored' them during the tough period

Adrial has had a more difficult road to recovery than his sister, but both babies are meeting their milestones, their parents said, documenting many of them in TikTok videos

'We had many difficult conversations with doctors Doctors would come to us and say, 'Maybe it's time to withdraw medical care,'' Shakina said.

But the parents refused to give up on their twins, adding that their trust in God 'anchored' them during the tough period.

'But we saw what doctors maybe didn't see, which was our babies' fighting spirit. We saw that the babies' had a will to survive They never gave up on themselves even though they had all these complications. They were pushing through,' Shakina said.

'[It] reassured we as us parents had to fight for them [too]. Even though the odds were stacked against us, it felt like sometimes we were the only ones advocating for the babies to be given life-sustaining measures,' she added.

The community supported the family with their prayers, which they saw through the twins' miraculous recovery.

Even the medical team began to find hope and after a tumultuous six months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ('NICU'), the twins finally were able to come home.

'The medical care team played an important, really significant role, but they weren't the only [ones] keeping the babies alive,' Shakina said.

'Ultimately,' Kevin said, they believed God 'was in control of the babies' lives and would sustain them.'

'That helped give us faith and hope to keep going on even when we saw really difficult, [and] scary things,' Shakina added.

Adrial has had a more difficult road to recovery than his sister, but both babies are meeting their milestones, their parents said, documenting many of them in TikTok videos.

'Adiah came home breathing and eating on her own he's rolling over learning how to sit independently. She's very feisty,' Shakina said.

'She likes chatting and babbling all day long also very loving and gentle towards her twin brother.'

Adrial needed breathing assistance but has been completely off oxygen for the past month and has made great progress.

Now, the parents are using TikTok and their twins' story to share how medical professionals view the viability of premature infants.

Shakina pointed out that there are some who say babies born this early shouldn't be saved because of risk of disabilities, but she wants people to know that with proper support and therapy, they can still thrive.

'There's no denying the fact that babies born at this gestation statistically have a high risk of morbidity,' Kevin admitted.

'Could there be more that could be done in terms of policy, management, care offered to parents, conversations with parents in a more balanced [approach] as opposed to just risk of death and disability?' he asked.
The Met launched its own hotline after the murder of Sarah Everard

A hotline for complaints about rogue police officers could be rolled out to each force in Britain as a record number of constabularies remain in special measures.

Scotland Yard launched the first such hotline last November and more than 1,000 people used it to report misconduct, with officers now responding to 350 cases.

Some of these reports have prompted intelligence-led drug tests and covert investigations into officers at Britains biggest force.

Officers have also been suspended from duty and even arrested due to information from the Mets partnership with Crimestoppers for the dedicated hotline.

And the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) confirmed it was possible that the same system could be rolled out across every force in the country to root out officers abusing their position.

The Met launched its own hotline for members of the public to report rogue officers in the wake of Sarah Everards murder at the hands of serving officer Wayne Couzens

A spokesman said: The NPCC is exploring the roll out of a national police integrity line as a priority.

An update on the progress of this will be issued in due course.

It comes as six forces, including the Met, were placed in special measures following inspections from His Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

Rapist cop David Carrick is accused of carrying out sex attack when he was 13 Advertisement

The Met launched its own hotline for members of the public to report rogue officers in the wake of Sarah Everards murder at the hands of serving officer Wayne Couzens, and a month before PC David Carrick admitted raping and sexually abusing 12 women.

In a letter to the Home Secretary and Mayor of London outlining his efforts to improve standards, commissioner Sir Mark Rowley explained the impact the hotline had made so far.

He said more than 1,000 reports had been made by members of the public, including 23 that related to concerns about racism.

He added: Since it launched, we have had over 1000 people contact this service, resulting in 350 reports that we are actively responding to - including opening overt and covert investigations, conducting intelligence-led drug testing and building a corroborated intelligence picture regarding officers of concern - and we have seen Crimestoppers information lead directly to arrest and suspension from duty.

Last week it emerged the Met has 161 officers with criminal convictions in its ranks  including three who carried out sexual offences while employed.

Scotland Yards commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, made the revelation in a letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman and the Mayor of London.

PC David Carrick admitted raping and sexually abusing 12 women

It comes after the force was branded institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic in a major review.

Ms Braverman said it was crucial that the public had confidence in the Met to keep Londoners safe.

I have been clear that a relentless focus on improving standards and common sense policing is required, she added.

Suella Braverman blasts police force for sending FIVE officers to seize collection of golliwog dolls Advertisement

Sir Marks update on the work to root out unfit officers demonstrates the scale of this challenge but I have confidence in his plan to turn around the Met and ensure the force is delivering for the public.

I am also driving forward work to review the police dismissals process to ensure the system is effective at removing officers who fall below the standards we expect.

Chairman of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee, Susan Hall, said it was concerning that so many serving officers had criminal convictions but she trusted the Met to robustly review their cases.

It is promising to see that the Commissioner is determined to deliver on more suspensions, more hearings and more dismissals of those who simply should not be police officers, she added.

To achieve this, the Commissioner needs clearer rules which give him greater power to remove officers who are proven unfit for the role, as we recommended in our report looking at the police complaints system last year.

We will continue to scrutinise the Commissioner and the Mayor to ensure that they reform the Met and rebuild trust among Londoners.
An Albanian gangster convicted of murder in his home country has been granted anonymity after claiming asylum in the UK - to protect him from rivals.

The criminal served a life sentence for murder and other 'very serious offences' before being released and travelling to Britain by boat.

Following his arrest a judge ruled his identity should be hidden from the public 'for the sake of security' - after he claimed to have been threatened by gangland rivals.

Tory MP David Morris told The Sun: 'It's an outrageous decision which shows contempt for British citizens.'

Meanwhile, Tory MP Philip Davies said revealing the middle-aged man's identity and criminal history was 'clearly in the public interest'.

The criminal served a prison sentence for murder and other 'very serious offences' in his home country before arriving in Britain by boat

Judge Nicholas Aldridge, sitting at a Tribunal Hearing Centre, said nothing could be published that could 'directly or indirectly' identify the criminal, including his previous crimes.

The Albanian is in custody at an immigration centre, with a decision pending over whether he can be deported.

A spokesman for the Home Office said: 'It's another shocking example of why we must stop the boats.'

It comes after new figures revealed just 215 of the 45,755 migrants who crossed the Channel by small boat last year have been deported.

More than 25,000 of those were found to be refugees, despite government claims that the majority of those crossing by small boat are economic migrants.

The figures, based on Home Office data, also show that one in five channel migrants are children.

A group of migrants being brought ashore on a boat at Dover in Kent

Last year saw record numbers arrive into Dover - 1,104 boats with an average of 41 people each day.

READ MORE: More than 4,500 migrants have now crossed the Channel this year Advertisement

Data obtained through a Freedom of Information request showed just 0.47 per cent of the total migrant arrivals have been deported, including seven who were found to be criminals.

And Conservative MP for Dover Natalie Elphicke said deportation rates are so low they are no longer a deterrent to those travelling to the UK by small boat.

She also urged Home Secretary Suella Braverman to 'get a grip' on processing migrant arrivals, by stopping boats leaving France so they can't reach the UK.

Priti Patel, as home secretary in 2021, claimed that '70% of individuals on small boats are single men who are effectively economic migrants'.

But the Home Office has now admitted, via a Freedom of Information request, that it had no evidence to support this claim. The statement has not been corrected.
A pipe that spewed sewage into a Welsh river valley for more than 7,800 hours has topped a list of the worst offenders for waste discharge last year.

The pipe, owned by Welsh Water, dumped sewage for the equivalent of 325 days at the River Ogmore in Pontyrhyl, south Wales.

Second in the list was another Welsh Water pipe located just three miles away, again impacting the scenic Welsh river, while sewage was dumped for more than 6,896 hours - equivalent to 291 days - into the River Ellen from a wastewater treatment works in Cumbria.

Data published by the Environment Agency has revealed the worst offending water companies in Britain, The Express reports.

Of the top 20 pipes dumping the most sewage, ten are owned by United Utilities, which operates across the north west of England and the Lake District.

The pipe, owned by Welsh Water, dumped sewage for the equivalent of 325 days at the River Ogmore in Pontyrhyl, south Wales

The firm's pipes at Plumbland, Preston, Lancaster, Carlisle and Ravenglass were all among the top ten, the data shows.

Other pipes included in the list are located at Dalderse wastewater treatment works in Falkirk, where there were 238 spills recorded - equivalent to more than 6,000 hours.

It comes as Environment Secretary Therese Coffey has warned that sewage dumping in rivers by water companies will take 25 years to fix.

Unveiling the government's plan for water, she said anyone who thinks it can be fixed overnight is 'dishonest' and it will take until 2050 to put right.

Speaking at an event at the London Wetland Centre last week, she said that the 'public have quite rightly been horrified' by the scale of the problem.

She said: 'The truth is that however much we all want to see this fixed yesterday, there is no way that we can stop pollution overnight.

'If there were, I would do it just as quickly - and without hesitation.

'And anyone who tells you that they can - or get 56billion pounds of capital investment out the door and into improvements to infrastructure under twenty-five-years - is either detached from reality or being definitively dishonest with the public.'

Dr Coffey said that any more rapid action to fix the sewage scandal would push water bills up by around 800 by 2049.

Tim Farron, Lib Dem MP for Lake District constituency Westmorland and Lonsdale, described the figures as 'a nationwide scandal'.

He said: 'In my own area, I am outraged that the Lake District is not safe from the scourge of sewage dumping.'

'This should be protected land and the lakes cannot become polluted by profiteering firms who couldnt care less about the environment.'

Seventh on the list was the Lune Street Pumping Station in Lancaster, which recorded 226 spills into the River Lune

Second in the list was another Welsh Water pipe located just three miles away, again impacting the scenic Welsh river

A pipe at the Esk Estuary (River Esk pictured), owned by United Utilities, recorded 204 spills across more than 4,600 hours

Other pipes included in the list are located at Dalderse wastewater treatment works in Falkirk, where there were 238 spills recorded

'United Utilities are committing environmental crimes by pumping sewage into national parks and it has to stop now. Ministers need to get tough on these firms.'

Mr Farron added: 'These new figures reveal the sewage crisis is now impacting every corner of the country.

'This is truly a nationwide scandal. It is now or never to save our rivers, lakes and coastlines. The public will never forgive this Government if they fail to stop the polluting and profiteering water firms.'

Overall, raw sewage was spewed into Britain's rivers more than 300,000 times across 2022.

Simon Parsons, of Scottish Water, said: 'The quality of Scotlands water environment is at its highest ever level, with 87 percent of watercourses achieving a high or good classification.'

The scandal of sewage dumping in rivers by water companies will take 25 years to fix, the Environment Secretary has warned

Therese Coffey (pictured), unveiling the government's plan for water, said anyone who thinks the issue can be fixed overnight is 'dishonest' and it will take until 2050 to put right

Tim Farron, Lib Dem MP for Lake District constituency Westmorland and Lonsdale, described the figures as 'a nationwide scandal'

Welsh Water said: 'We take our responsibility for protecting the environment seriously but understand the real concerns there are regarding the operation of storm overflows, and can assure our customers that we are listening.'

A statement from United Utilities added: 'We are committed to delivering a step change in performance. We know there is much more to do.'

Meanwhile, England's dirtiest beaches were also revealed last week.England's dirtiest beaches that swimmers should avoid have been revealed in time for the Easter break.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Labour will step up its personal attacks on Rishi Sunak this week by targeting the Prime Minister's handling of the economy, despite the ongoing furore over its claim he is soft on child sex attackers.

Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he will make 'absolutely zero apologies' for his party's adverts attacking the PM - despite unease in his own ranks.

Labour provoked Tory fury with posters which claimed the Prime Minister does not think child sex abusers or thieves should go to prison.

Critics, including hardliners in his own party, described it as gutter politics while opponents have asked questions about Sir Keir's own actions when he was Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013.

But the Opposition leader is standing by his party's stance, writing in the Mail that he backs 'every word Labour has said' on crime, 'no matter how squeamish it might make some feel'.

His comments, in an exclusive article, sparked a fresh backlash last night. In his article Sir Keir said: 'I make absolutely zero apologies for being blunt about this. I stand by every word Labour has said on the subject. When 4,500 child abusers avoid prison, people don't want more excuses from politicians  they want answers.'

And the attacks will reportedly turn to the UK's stalled economy this week, with a source telling The Times: 'You ain't seen nothing yet.'

Sir Keir Starmer's comments saying he would not apologise for the campaign sparked a fresh backlash last night

Labour came under fire from its own supporters on Thursday when it posted the first of its attack adverts on Twitter

Labour will claim Sunak thinks it's 'acceptable' for council tax to rise above 2,000 and he 'thinks its right' for people to pay higher housing costs and mortgage rates.

This morning Labour frontbencher Emily Thornberry continued to defend the ad campaign, which other frontbenchers including Yvetter Cooper have distanced themselves from.

The shadow attorney general told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I have to say, the way I judge these things is this. There's two things - is the criticism based on clear and objective facts? And secondly, is the individual concerned in a position to be able to do something about it? Or is it something which is a result of something they've done?

'And if the answer to both of those things is yes, then I don't see any reason why we can't criticise that person individually.'

She said when Mr Sunak became Prime Minister last October, 'what he needed to do was to seriously address the backlog problem in the courts' which makes it 'quite difficult to get cases... all the way to court', as well as tackling 'unduly lenient sentences' and overcrowding in prisons.

Sir Keir also said the Tories are 'insulated' from the effects of crime, telling the Mail: 'Rishi Sunak and successive Tory governments have let criminals get away with it because they don't get it.

'They have never lived in those neighbourhoods... they have never walked in those shoes. I have. I know exactly who suffers when government goes soft on crime: not those insulated from its effects, but ordinary, decent people.'

Despite blaming Rishi Sunak for the poor rate of custodial sentences for heinous sex crimes since 2010, the Labour leader was partly responsible for it when he was director of public prosecutions (DPP).

Minutes of a meeting from 2012 show he was present when the Sentencing Council agreed to redraft the guidelines for sexual assault on children with a separate sentencing range for victims under and over 13 years.

A Tory source told the Mail: 'Sir Keir is a Lefty lawyer who made his reputation getting some of the most depraved criminals in Britain off on 'human rights' grounds. He wrote many of the guidelines that led to soft sentencing which the Government is reversing. When we ended automatic halfway release for serious violent and sexual offenders he ordered his MPs to oppose us and get more criminals out of prison...'

Sir Keir's decision to back the posters is set to provoke fresh anger among senior figures in the party. It emerged yesterday that Ms Cooper, the shadow home secretary who is in charge of Labour's crime policy, was not informed about the campaign.

But her intervention triggered a briefing war, with an insider telling the Mail on Sunday: 'If Yvette disagrees so strongly with pointing out the Tories' dismal record on crime, she knows where the door is. She still has delusions of being leader but leaders don't stab people in the back.'

Referencing Ms Cooper's comments, a Tory source told the Mail tonight: 'If Sir Keir Softie can't even control events in Labour HQ, how could he possibly be trusted to run a country?'

The source added that the leader's refusal to apologise for the attack ads was 'yet another example of Starmer's Labour saying what they think is politically convenient in any given week'.

'All Labour has achieved is drawing attention to Sir Softie's activist lawyer past where he campaigned for terrorists and paedophiles. Only the Conservatives can be trusted to keep this country safe,' they added.

Labour came under fire from its own supporters on Thursday when it posted the first of its attack adverts on Twitter.

Alongside a photo of the Prime Minister, the image read: 'Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn't.' The poster also added below: 'Under the Tories, 4,500 adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under-16 served no prison time.'

It emerged yesterday that shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured with Sir Keir last week), who is in charge of Labour's crime policy, was not informed about the campaign

Another one of the attack adverts posted on Thursday by the Labour Party

However, judges and magistrates, rather than prime ministers, are responsible for handing out sentences. And the figures highlighted cover the period since 2010  yet Mr Sunak only entered Parliament in 2015 and did not become Prime Minister until October last year.

In fact, Sir Keir was on the Sentencing Council for some of the period referred to in the ads as the director of public prosecutions. He sat on the council in 2012 when it was agreed child sex abusers should not get an automatic prison sentence, although a maximum of 14 years in custody was set.

The poster was branded 'one of the worst political adverts in recent UK history' with critics  including those on the Left  urging Labour to take it down.

But the next day, the party posted another image  this time suggesting Mr Sunak believes adults convicted of possessing a gun with intent to harm should not go to prison.

And on Saturday, Labour shared another which suggested Mr Sunak does not believe thieves should be punished.

Some party insiders think the furore plays well for Labour's electoral prospects but a host of senior figures have lambasted the tactic.

The party's former home secretary Lord Blunkett wrote in the Mail that the 'gutter' attacks left him 'close to despair'  and that Labour is 'better than this'.

And shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell sought to distance herself from the posters, saying: 'I didn't design the graphic, it's not my graphic.' But Ms Thornberry defended the ads  though she admitted some people 'felt uncomfortable about it'.

Labour is said to have held talks with political allies in America and Australia, including Paul Erickson who masterminded Anthony Albanese's general election victory last year. A source told the Mail that the party is 'determined to take the fight to the Tories'.

'They may not be used to a Labour Party that wants to campaign on law and order but it's important to Keir Starmer and he wants voters to be in no doubt that we're on their side,' they added.
A duck which was found swimming around with a knife lodged in its neck after being stabbed by cruel thugs in France has made an astonishing full recovery.

Shocking footage showed the mallard swimming around a pond in Saint-Nolff, Brittany, with other ducks, despite having a red blade wedged in just below its head.

Outraged animal activists have since filed a complaint for animal abuse as they look to seek justice for the horror act which took place last month.

Somehow, the wild duck seemed completely unfazed by the knife and it was still able to walk, fly and eat despite the severe wound.

Concerns for the animal, which has been dubbed Donald by locals, first arose on March 24, when a walker alerted the welfare charity Pinocchio et Sauvageons 56 to the injury.

A duck which was found swimming around with a knife lodged in its neck after being stabbed by cruel thugs in France has made an astonishing full recovery

Concerns for the animal first arose on March 24, when a walker alerted the welfare charity Pinocchio et Sauvageons 56 to the injury

The shocking discovery prompted the charity, with the assistance of firefighters, to try and save the duck from any further damage by removing the knife.

However, to their surprise, the duck continued to evade them and rescuers were unable to initially catch it, Le Parisien reports.

It took seven days for rescuers to finally capture the duck, when they were eventually able to sedate him and remove the weapon from its neck.

Once the surgery was performed, the duck flew right out of the cage when the door was opened.

The animal charity - and even the mayor of Saint-Nolff, have been providing updates to the duck's health since - and he seems to have made a full recovery from what could have been a life-changing injury.

Mayor Nadine Le Goff-Carnec Maire shared a montage of photos of the duck being treated by vets and released back into the wild.

She described the rescue mission as a 'happy ending' and thanked firefighters for helping to remove the knife and return the duck to the water.

'As soon as the cage was opened, the duck flew away,' she added.

Rescue teams initially struggled to catch the duck but seven days later they were able to sedate him and remove the weapon

'His behavior was observed on the water. Everything is going well!!! Happy ending for this duck...'

Local authorities are now trying to track down the person responsible for heartlessly stabbing the animal.

Back in 2021, the French Senate adopted a new animal protection bill in a bid to combat shocking abuse.

Within the bill, authorities pledged to clamp down heavier on fines and recommended sentence times for those convicted of animal cruelty.
Elon Musk has defended labelling the BBC 'government-funded media' on Twitter.

The billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, who also owns the social media platform, attached the label to the corporation's official account on the website.

But while he claimed that 'all organisations have bias', he said he still follows the BBC because he thinks it is 'among the least biased'.

The BBC has always maintained its impartiality and operates through a Royal Charter agreed with the Government, which says it 'must be independent'.

The broadcaster objected to Musk's decision and contacted Twitter after the 'government-funded media' designation was attached to the @BBC account.

Responding to the complaint, Musk asked: 'Is the Twitter label accurate?'

He later directly emailed the BBC, writing: 'We are aiming for maximum transparency and accuracy. Linking to ownership and source of funds probably makes sense.

'I do think media organisations should be self-aware and not falsely claim the complete absence of bias. All organisations have bias, some obviously much more than others.'

Twitter owner Elon Musk has defended labelling the BBC 'government-funded media'

The broadcaster objected to being labelled as such (pictured, the title 'Government Funded Media' and contacted Twitter after the designation was attached to the main @BBC account

He continued: 'I should note that I follow BBC news on Twitter, because I think it is among the least biased.'

Britons pay a 159 licence fee each year to fund the corporation's output, which is set by the Government but paid by individual households.

The broadcaster said it was speaking to Twitter about the designation, adding: 'The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee.'

The label on the BBC's official account takes users to a page on Twitter's help centre which says 'state-affiliated media' are outlets where the Government 'exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution'.

While the BBC account, which has 2.2million followers, has been given the label, much larger accounts associated with the corporation's breaking news and sport output are not currently being described in the same way.

The 'state-affiliated media' label was also applied to US broadcaster NPR's Twitter account, but it has since been changed to 'government-funded media' - the same as the BBC account.

The BBC account mainly tweets about BBC-produced TV programmes, radio shows, podcasts and other non-news material.

Musk, 51, has cut down activity from the social media company's communications department in the last few weeks. Since March the press department email address has automatically replied with a poo emoji, as it did today when MailOnline approached Twitter for comment.

Since Musk bought Twitter in October he has fired top executives and conducted layoffs with the aim of cutting the company's 7,500 staff by around half, while he has also allowed people to buy blue ticks which verify their accounts.

Recently Musk was dethroned from the top spot on Forbes's annual billionaire list following his decision to purchase Twitter for $44billion.

He earned the number one spot on Forbes World Billionaires list last year, when he had an estimated net worth of $216billion, overthrowing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Musk is now the second-richest billionaire in the world behind Bernard Arnault, the chairman of French luxury goods giant LVMH  which owns brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Tiffany & Co.

The two had been trading places on the list over the past few months, CNN reports, but Arnault was able to supersede Musk after his net worth grew more than $50billion to $211billion.

The broadcaster said it was speaking to Twitter about the designation, adding: 'The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee'

Since Musk bought Twitter in October he has fired top executives and made layoffs aiming to cut the company's 7,500 staff by around half

At the same time, Musk's net worth fell to $180billion  $39billion less than it was last year, according to Forbes's calculations.

Forbes explains that Musk's standing plummeted after he purchased Twitter for $44billion  funded by Tesla shares.

Investors in the electric car giant worried at the time about its share value plummeting as Musk took over the social media giant.

Tesla eventually gained back much of its losses, but is still selling at about half of what it was before Musk took over Twitter in October.

Musk was able to keep much of his wealth as SpaceX valuation increased from $13billion to $140billion in the past year alone.

Still, that proved to not be enough to compete with Arnault, 74, who had a 'banner year' in 2022 due to record-high profits at his conglomerate.
Self-described misogynist and former kickboxer Andrew Tate has been pictured arriving for questioning in Romania after he was released from custody last month.

Tate was seen along with his brother Tristan outside offices of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) in Bucharest today, for forensic searches of electronic equipment confiscated during investigations.

Sporting a beard, hoodie and sunglasses, the controversial 36-year-old influencer was pictured as he made his way through a throng of photographers into the office building, where prosecutors have examined electronic equipment confiscated during the investigation into his case. He was later seen leaving the building.

He and his brother were moved to house arrest in Romania on March 29 after being arrested last year. They had been detained since 29 December on suspicion of human trafficking, rape and forming an organised crime group to exploit women.

The brothers and alleged accomplices Georgiana Naghel and Luana Radu will remain under house arrest until April 29 after winning an appeal to leave prison.

Self-described misogynist and former kickboxer Andrew Tate is seen arriving for questioning in Romania after he was released from custody last month

Tate was seen along with his brother Tristan (pictured) outside offices of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) in Bucharest today

Sporting a beard, hoodie and sunglasses, the controversial 36-year-old influencer was pictured as he made his way through a throng of photographers into the office building, where prosecutors have examined electronic equipment confiscated during the investigation

None of the four has yet been formally indicted and remain under investigation.

The accused had appealed their detention multiple times over the last four months without success, but they won an appeal on March 31 to be moved from police custody to house arrest.

Tate has maintained his innocence since his release from prison.

On the influencer's appearance at the DIICOT offices on Monday, a spokesman for the Tate brothers told MailOnline that the interview was a routine part of the investigation.

'Andrew and Tristan Tate visited DIICOT earlier today as a routine visit to assist authorities with the investigation,' the spokesman said.

'There have still been no charges made against the brothers and they are extremely focused on beating these fabricated accusations.'

Prosecutors have already carried out several device searches since they were detained.

As the Tates left the DIICOT offices on Monday, they were met by a scrum of media, and a handful of supporters who chanted "Top-G, Top-G!" - one of the monikers used by fans.

Asked how he is feeling, Tristan Tate told reporters: "I'm always OK. I was OK in jail, I'm OK now."

Mr Vidineac told the Associated Press that prosecutors have seized "a lot of devices" in the case and that they're "still looking for the information, even now".

"Being under arrest, even home arrest, the searches (are) mandatory to be done in their presence," he said.

"The prosecutor is doing his job, we respect the job of the prosecutor, of the authorities, we let them do the investigation ... and we await the results."

Since his release from police detention, Andrew Tate's Twitter followers have rocketed by at least 500,000.

The influencer's appearance on Monday came after he made a bizarre post on Twitter, telling Elon Musk - the owner of the platform - to 'escape' the Matrix.

Responding to an image shared by the billionaire of the 1999 film in which Musk alluded to the insignificance of arguing with strangers on the platform, Tate responded to the world's second richest man by writing: 'You must escape.'

Tate often refers to a conspiracy involving the concept of 'The Matrix' as a global conspiracy trying to control the world. He frames himself as being someone who will help people break free of this 'control'.

There is no such evidence such a conspiracy exists.

His grilling at DIICOT also comes after a post last week in which he suggested he will be assassinated as part of this global plot.

'I prepare my body to absorb the brutal kinetics of piercing lead,' he wrote, along with a shirtless picture of himself presumed to be inside his Romanian home.

'As all other silencing attempts fail, and stage 3 approaches - I anticipate a bullet will be the chosen utensil of pacification,' he wrote. 'I can only pray and prepare. I will force myself to breathe the best I can. I promise.'

On April 2, the controversial content creator said in an email to his fans he thought he would never be released. 'If you truly believe you are screwed, the system is against you and you'll never get out, a strange sense of calm comes over you.'

'When I accepted I may never get out of prison, I felt BETTER. Isn't that insane?'

He said that Romanian law enforcement 'decided when I woke up, when I slept, when I ate, and where I went'.

Andrew Tate arrives at Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), in Bucharest, Romania, April 10

Andrew Tate leaves the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) where prosecutors examined electronic equipment confiscated during the investigation into his case, in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, April 10

In the email, Tate urged his subscribers to realise they were also 'not free' and living 'INSIDE of the Matrix'.

'In your life, your boss decides when you wake up and when you eat and your bank decides where you go.'

A statement from the brothers after their release read: 'We are ecstatic to announce the Romanian judicial system approved Andrew's and Tristan Tate's appeal against last week's extension decision.

'They will be placed under house arrest while the investigation continues. We are appreciative of the judge and courts for allowing the brothers to return home.

'Both brothers are looking forward to being reunited with their families in Romania and want to extend their thanks to all the supporters who have stood by them during this time.

'They will continue to fight to clear their name of these fabricated accusations; however, this is a big step in the right direction.'

Tate took to Twitter on 1 April to share a video of him pacing back and forth, smoking, under house arrest.

He wrote: 'Since last year ive [sic] been in 24 hour lockdown. No yard time.

'Pacing a 3metre [sic] cell with zero electronics or outside contact.

Andrew Tate, left, enters his house, during a visit by Romanian police officers to checking if they are present at the location, on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, 1 April 2023

A samurai statue inside the grounds of the 'Hustlers University' belonging to Andrew and Tristan Tate, where they have been placed under house arrest, in Bucharest on 1 April 2023

'Absolute clarity of mind. Real thoughts. Real plans. Vivid pain.'

Tate was previously banned from the social media site Twitter but reinstated by Musk after the billionaire bought it at the end of last year.

In January, he said he was first allowed to contact fans via email from prison.

He wrote, saying he had been left in a cell without light, with cockroaches and bedbugs his 'only friends at night'.
His friends desperately tried to save his life before alerting emergency services

The unidentified boy was enjoying a swim in the River Aire in Hunslet, Leeds

A 14-year-old boy died after swimming in a canal over the bank holiday weekend, police have announced.

The boy, who has not yet been identified, was at the River Aire in Leeds near to George Mann Road in Hunslet, Yorkshire on Saturday.

It is understood that he disappeared out of view from the group of friends he was with.

Specialist dive teams carried out a frantic search of the canal and the boy was pulled from the water.

He received medical attention at the scene, but was pronounced dead a short time later, police said.

The River Aire in Hunslet, Leeds, Yorkshire where a 14-year-old boy died

Tributes have been paid to 14-year-old boy who died after getting into difficulty in a canal over the Easter weekend

Flowers, cards and a teddy bear have today been left at the scene, close to a rowing club and the city of Leeds sea cadets.

Temperatures reached as high as 13C on Saturday afternoon.

A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire police has confirmed the boy passed away.

She said: 'At 4.32pm yesterday (Saturday), police received a concern for safety report for a male in the canal by Thwaite Lane, Leeds. Emergency services attended and recovered a teenage male from the water.

'He received medical attention at the scene, but was sadly pronounced deceased a short time later. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file has been prepared for the coroner.'

A sign showing the safety procedures next to the canal

A danger warning telling people not to swim in the canal
Russian Su-27 jets buzzed an RAF spy plane over the Black Sea on September 29

British Defence Secretary said a Russian missile was released 'in the vicinity'

But leaked US intelligence documents revealed the plane was almost shot down

A Russian fighter jet nearly shot down an RAF reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea last year, Western intelligence documents have revealed, in an incident which could have drawn the UK directly into the Ukraine war.

On September 29, an RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft was flying through international airspace close to the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula when it was buzzed by a squadron of Moscow's Su-27 fighters.

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At the time, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace acknowledged the incident, telling Parliament that the Russian jets 'recklessly' came within 15ft of the RAF plane and one 'released a missile in the vicinity'.

Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu blamed a technical malfunction and Wallace, having spoken with other Russian defence officials, accepted the explanation and drew a line under the incident.

But leaked US military documents have now revealed that the missile launch came agonisingly close to striking the RAF aircraft in an incident that was described as 'a near-shoot down of UK RJ (Rivet Joint)'.

A Russian Su-27 jet shadowing an RAF RC-135 spy plane over the Black Sea in September came close to shooting the British aircraft down but its missile malfunctioned

The Russian mistakenly believed a radar operator on the ground gave him permission to fire

Two Russian Su-27 fighter jets were following the British plane when one suffered a 'technical malfunction' and fired a missile, Ben Wallace said (file image)

An RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint spy plane had been flying over international waters near Crimea at the time of the incident in September

A UK defence source meanwhile disputed this version of events, telling MailOnline: 'These reports contain inaccuracies and do not reflect what happened in International air space over the Black Sea,' referring back to Defence Secretary Wallace's comments to Parliament in October.

Had a Russian missile blown Rivet Joint out of the sky over the Black Sea, the UK and its NATO allies may have been compelled to war.

According to Article 5 of the founding treaty of NATO, member nations agree that an armed attack against one or more of them 'shall be considered an attack against them all'.

If such an attack does occur, each NATO member will assist the country that has been attacked with any action 'it deems necessary'.

The RAF regularly flies sorties over the Black Sea's international waters, as well the Baltics and eastern Poland, to gather intelligence.

The role of the Rivet Joint aircraft is to hoover up electronic transmissions and communications - the plane is also known as a 'nuke-sniffer' for its ability to detect radioactivity.

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British and US aircraft continued to conduct these reconnaissance flights after the hair-raising incident in September, but RAF surveillance aircraft are now escorted by Typhoon fighters while the US resorts to the use of unmanned surveillance drones.

Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said last month that it is important to keep the Black Sea and the skies over it open to all nations.

'The Black Sea is a critical international seaway supporting many of our Nato allies, including Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, and does not belong to any one country,' he said.

Ryder's comments came after yet another aerial incident in which Russian jets dumped fuel on and ultimately crashed into a US surveillance drone last month.

Video footage shows the Russian fighter jet approaching the American drone from behind and beginning to release fuel as it passes - the Pentagon said

A broken propeller on the UAV

A comparative functioning propeller

Drone footage showed the shocking moment Moscow's Su-27 jet approached the US MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from behind and clipped its propeller over international airspace on March 14.

US forces had to bring down the $32million surveillance drone in international waters after the encounter, sparking a race between Moscow and Washington to recover it.

Russian ships were spotted at the crash site on March 15 trying to find the debris, though the Pentagon insisted the parts could not be retrieved and any intelligence had been wiped.

Moscow insisted its jet did not make contact with the drone, and instead blamed 'sharp maneuvering' for the crash.

But experts say it was likely an accidental clash as Russian pilots adopted increasingly aggressive tactics to force the drone to change course.
A Russian fighter jet nearly shot down an RAF reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea last year, Western intelligence documents have revealed, in an incident which could have drawn the UK directly into the Ukraine war.

On September 29, an RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft was flying through international airspace close to the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula when it was buzzed by a squadron of Moscow's Su-27 fighters.

At the time, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace acknowledged the incident, telling Parliament that the Russian jets 'recklessly' came within 15ft of the RAF plane and one 'released a missile in the vicinity'.

Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu blamed a technical malfunction and Wallace, having spoken with other Russian defence officials, accepted the explanation and drew a line under the incident.

But leaked US military documents have now revealed that the missile launch came agonisingly close to striking the RAF aircraft in an incident that was described as 'a near-shoot down of UK RJ (Rivet Joint)'.

A Russian Su-27 jet shadowing an RAF RC-135 spy plane over the Black Sea in September came close to shooting the British aircraft down

Two Russian Su-27 fighter jets were following the British plane when one suffered a 'technical malfunction' and fired a missile, Ben Wallace said (file image)

An RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint spy plane had been flying over international waters near Crimea at the time of the incident in September

A UK defence source meanwhile disputed this version of events, telling MailOnline: 'These reports contain inaccuracies and do not reflect what happened in International air space over the Black Sea,' referring back to Defence Secretary Wallace's comments to Parliament in October.

Had a Russian missile blown Rivet Joint out of the sky over the Black Sea, the UK and its NATO allies may have been compelled to war.

According to Article 5 of the founding treaty of NATO, member nations agree that an armed attack against one or more of them 'shall be considered an attack against them all'.

If such an attack does occur, each NATO member will assist the country that has been attacked with any action 'it deems necessary'.

The RAF regularly flies sorties over the Black Sea's international waters, as well the Baltics and eastern Poland, to gather intelligence.

The role of the Rivet Joint aircraft is to hoover up electronic transmissions and communications - the plane is also known as a 'nuke-sniffer' for its ability to detect radioactivity.

British and US aircraft continued to conduct these reconnaissance flights after the hair-raising incident in September, but RAF surveillance aircraft are now escorted by Typhoon fighters while the US resorts to the use of unmanned surveillance drones.

Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said last month that it is important to keep the Black Sea and the skies over it open to all nations.

'The Black Sea is a critical international seaway supporting many of our Nato allies, including Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, and does not belong to any one country,' he said.

Ryder's comments came after yet another aerial incident in which Russian jets dumped fuel on and ultimately crashed into a US surveillance drone last month.

Video footage shows the Russian fighter jet approaching the American drone from behind and beginning to release fuel as it passes - the Pentagon said

After the clash, the onboard camera shows a broken propeller (L) and a comparative operational propeller (R) turning. Russia previously said it did not make contact with the drone

Drone footage showed the shocking moment Moscow's Su-27 jet approached the US MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from behind and clipped its propeller over international airspace on March 14.

US forces had to bring down the $32million surveillance drone in international waters after the encounter, sparking a race between Moscow and Washington to recover it.

Russian ships were spotted at the crash site on March 15 trying to find the debris, though the Pentagon insisted the parts could not be retrieved and any intelligence had been wiped.

Moscow insisted its jet did not make contact with the drone, and instead blamed 'sharp maneuvering' for the crash.

But experts say it was likely an accidental clash as Russian pilots adopted increasingly aggressive tactics to force the drone to change course.
Vladimir Putin's forces are building a huge trench across Ukraine's invaded region of Zaporizhzhia as he prepares for a counteroffensive from Kyiv's armies.

The scar across the countryside - which can be seen from space - is some 45 miles in length so far, as Russia fears a repeat of last year when Ukraine won back swathes of territory.

Having invaded this part of Ukraine last year, Putin appears acutely worried about holding this strategic region after illegally annexing it into the Russian Federation.

The line is almost 50 miles behind the current frontline, indicating the Russian fear as to how far back the Russian despot's forces could be pushed.

The 'mega-trench' was highlighted by the Ukrainian Centre for Journalistic Investigations.

Vladimir Putin's forces are building a huge trench across Ukraine's invaded region of Zaporizhzhia as he prepares for a counteroffensive from Kyiv's armies

Pictured: Three satelite images that show the trench stretching across Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, which is partially occupied by Ukraine. The trench is around 45 miles in length, reaching from the village of Semenivka in the west and Marynivka in the east

The extreme point of the Russian fortification in the west, revealed by images from Sentinel-2 satellite, is located on the outskirts of the village of Semenivka.

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This is some six miles from the centre of Melitopol.

In the east, it runs to the village of Marynivka in the Primorskyi district.

The construction includes dugouts and anti-tank emplacements.

Digging of the trench began from two directions in September last year - using hired labourers from Kyrgyzstan, according to reports.

Some complained they had not been properly paid.

The giant trench has been ridiculed by Ukraine, who said the super long lesion would be Russia's only success.

Natalya Gumenyuk, spokesman for Ukraine's southern defence forces, said: 'Well, at least they [the Russians] will win at something.

'There will be no second victories.

'Let them be record holders from the trenches.'

The trench was seen by the Sentinel-2 satellite and it mirrors defensive lines being constructed in annexed Crimea - where some are on the holiday playground's popular beaches.

Parts of the line have been covered by Russian propaganda TV which urged the central Asian hired labourers to 'dig with sapper shovels like in the Second World War'.

Yet the construction is a tacit admission of the failure of Putin's invasion.

In February 2022 he believed Russian troops would be welcomed with flowers and dancing women as they took Kyiv with the rest of the country folding soon afterwards.

Instead, he now fears being driven back from territory he currently still holds in Zaporizhzhia.

The trenchline is almost 50 miles behind the current frontline, indicating Vladimir Putin's fear as to how far back the Russian despot's forces could be pushed. Pictured: Putin today

Russian troops dig trenches with shovels in occupied Ukraine

Russian soldiers walk down a trench in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine

A Belarusian volunteer soldier from the Kastus Kalinouski regiment, a regiment made up of Belarusian opposition volunteers formed to defend Ukraine, fires a 120mm mortar round at a front line position near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, on April 9

The revelations about the huge trench in Zaporizhzhia came after shelling killed two people over the weekend in the region's capital city (also called Zaporizhzhia).

WATCH MORE: Ukrainian tank storms Russian trenches near Bakhmut in another terrifying drone video from the frontlines Advertisement

The Zaporizhzhia region's governor, Yurii Malashko, said 18 communities in all were shelled.

Three people were killed and five were wounded on Saturday, Mr Malashko said.

Zaporizhzhia is home to Europe's largest nuclear power plant and one of four Ukrainian provinces that Putin illegally annexed in September.

Since then, Russia's military has sought to oust Ukraine's troops from those areas, especially the Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, which make up the industrial region known as the Donbas, which has long had ties to Russia.

Bakhmut, a city in Donetsk, has seen the 13-month war's longest and most brutal battle, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of troops.

Western analysts have said Russian forces recently made it into the centre of the city.

Seizing Bakhmut after more than eight months would give the Kremlin a badly wanted victory and a path to push on towards bigger Ukrainian-held cities.

The Russian army is moving elite units to Bakhmut, Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Eastern Group of Forces, said on Sunday.

Col Cherevaty said the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company whose fighters have spearheaded the offensive on Bakhmut, was incurring heavy losses, making it necessary to move in regular army units from the regular army, including paratroopers and motorised riflemen.

Between Saturday and Sunday morning, Russian forces launched 40 air strikes, four missile strikes and 58 attacks from multiple-rocket launchers on various parts of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces reported.

According to the General Staff, Russia focused attacks on the Donetsk province communities of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka.

Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Sunday morning that two civilians were wounded on Saturday.

Officials in the Kherson province, where Ukrainian forces forced a partial Russian retreat in November, said the southern region also received numerous attacks.

They did not report any casualties.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think-tank, said late on Saturday that it thinks Russia's overall offensive 'is approaching culmination'.

The institute cited Ivan Tymochko, the head of the Ukrainian Council of Reservists for the country's ground forces, as reporting that recent Russian attacks appeared designed to distract and disperse Ukrainian troops preparing for a potential counter-offensive.

'Tymochko stated that Russian forces are not making serious advances anywhere on the front line,' the think-tank said.

Ukrainian servicemen stand in a trench near the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on April 8

Ukrainian servicemen stand in a trench near the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on April 8

Ukrainian servicemen stand in a trench near the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on April 8

Noting that Russia has made heavy use of artillery to 'offset key shortcomings in combat capability', the institute said reported ammunition shortages would 'undermine the Russian military's ability to continue offsetting its other weaknesses and limitations'.

However, classified documents that appeared online, with details ranging from Ukraine's air defences to Israel's Mossad spy agency, have US officials scrambling to identify the leak's source, with some experts saying it could be an American.

One of the documents, dated February 23 and marked 'Secret,' outlines in detail how Ukraine's S-300 air defense systems would be depleted by May 2 at the current usage rate - and could mean Russia could change the course of the war with jets.

Such closely guarded information could be of use to Russian forces, and Ukraine said its president and top security officials met on Friday to discuss ways to prevent leaks.
The Dalai Lama has apologised after an unsettling video appeared on social media in which he kissed a young Indian boy on the lips before asking him to 'suck' his tongue.

Footage of the uncomfortable incident showed the moment the Tibetan spiritual leader invited the boy on stage during a charity event at his temple in Dharamshala, India in February.

In the video, the boy asks the Dalai Lama 'can I hug you?', to which Tenzin Gyatso responds: 'Okay - come!'

The spiritual leader first asks the boy to kiss him on the cheek, before pointing at his lips. He holds the boy's face as they briefly kiss, then the pair press their foreheads together.

Just as the boy goes to pull away, the Dalai Lama instructs him: 'And suck my tongue' - prompting him to slowly inch forward towards the 87-year-old's outstretched tongue.

The Dalai Lama has apologised after a unsettling video appeared on social media in which he kissed a young Indian boy on the lips before asking him to 'suck' his tongue

Some supporters of the Dalai Lama sprang to his defence, claiming their leader was simply 'joking around'

Others went as far as to describe the Dalai Lama as an 'insidious false prophet' while one user called for him to 'be arrested for paedophilia'

Attendees of the event, held by India's M3M Foundation, can be heard laughing as the boy sits awkwardly in front of the aged Tibetan Buddhist leader and nervously follows his orders.

Before letting the child go, the Dalai Lama imparts some wisdom, telling him to 'look to those good human beings who create peace, happiness' and not to 'follow those human beings who always kill other people'.

Some supporters of the Dalai Lama sprang to his defence, claiming their leader was simply 'joking around'.

But the clip has sparked outrage on social media, with commentators branding the Dalai Lama's actions 'scandalous', 'disgusting' and 'absolutely sick'.

Others went as far as to describe him as an 'insidious false prophet'.

'Utterly shocked to see this display by the #DalaiLama. In the past too, he's had to apologise for his sexist comments. But saying "now suck my tongue" to a small boy is disgusting,' wrote user Sangita.

Another poster, Rakhi Tripathi, said: 'What did I just see? What that child must be feeling? Disgusting.'

In this file photo taken on December 29, 2022, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama waves during his first day of teaching session at the Kalachakra Ground in Bodhgaya

The office of the spiritual leader posted a formal statement on social media today apologising for his actions.

'His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused,' the statement read.

'His Holiness often teases the people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras,' it added.

'He regrets the incident.'

The Dalai Lama remains the universally recognised face of the movement for Tibetan autonomy.

But the global spotlight he enjoyed after winning the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize has dimmed and the deluge of invitations to hobnob with world leaders and Hollywood stars has slowed, partly because the ageing leader has cut back on his punishing travel schedule, but also due to China's growing economic and political clout.

Beijing accuses him of wanting to split China, and has referred to him as a 'wolf in a monk's robe'.

The Dalai Lama was forced to apologise in 2019 for saying that any woman who succeeded him 'should be more attractive'

Just weeks ago, the spiritual leader courted more controversy when he named an eight-year-old boy with joint US and Mongolian nationality as the reincarnation of the third most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism

In 2019, the Dalai Lama apologised for saying that if his successor were to be a woman, she would have to be 'more attractive'.

He was 'deeply sorry' and 'genuinely meant no offence' after his comment sparked a global backlash.

The monk's office said his 'off-the-cuff remarks' had 'lost their humour in translation', insisting he was a strong supporter of women's rights.

The comments, which were criticised around the world, were made in an interview with the BBC.

Then just weeks ago, the spiritual leader courted more controversy when he named an eight-year-old boy with joint US and Mongolian nationality as the reincarnation of the third most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism.

The formal title of the child, who is said to have a twin, is the tenth Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche - the third most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism and the faith's leader in Mongolia, according to The Times.

Rumours about the boy's identity had swirled around the spiritual community for years, but his existence has only now been confirmed with his public appearance in India, where the Dalai Lama lives in exile.

The unveiling sparked fury in China, which previously said it will only recognise Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leaders their special government-approved appointees have chosen.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr said the investigation into classified documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate could pose a serious threat to Donald Trump.

In October, The Justice Department began investigating whether the former President violated three federal statutes when he brought back White House materials with him to Mar-A-Lago instead of turning them over to the National Archives as required.

Barr - who was once a loyal defender of Trump - said that the former President 'played games' with federal investigators, and maintained that prosecutors had 'very good evidence' against him.

'He had no claim to those documents, especially the classified documents. It belonged to the government,' Barr said on ABC's 'This Week' on Sunday. 'I think he was jerking the government around.'

'The government is investigating the extent to which games were played and there was obstruction in keeping the documents from them. I think that's a serious potential case, I think they probably have some very good evidence there,' Barr continued.

Barr warns Trump faces more threat from classified docs case than over hush money

It comes even as Barr dismissed the indictment of Trump over his alleged involvement in the 2016 'hush money' scandal

It comes even as Barr dismissed the indictment of Trump over his alleged involvement in the 2016 'hush money' scandal as an 'abomination,' and 'the epitome of the abuse of prosecutorial power,' on Fox News last week.

Trump made history as the first ex-president in U.S. history to be indicted with charges of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.

Barr argued how the legal theory behind the indictment was 'pathetically weak' and that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is 'going after the man, not a crime.'

'Obviously, we don't have the indictment, so there's a little bit of speculation involved, but based on the news reports, if they're accurate, this is an abomination,' Barr said on Fox News.

'It's the epitome of the abuse of prosecutorial power to bring a case that would not be brought against anyone else. They are going after the man, not a crime. And the legal theory, frankly, is pathetically weak,' he suggested.

'The legal theory is pathetically weak. The case is held together by chicken wire and paper clips and rubber bands. It's a lousy case. And it's a shameful episode in our history where this local prosecutor is trying to effect the political process by bringing this case,' Barr railed.

He delved into the legal arguments that will likely be made, noting how the case likely revolved around how Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen recorded the reimbursements paid to him from Trump as 'legal payment'.

Barr explained how the statute requires that any such misclassification of funds be done with the intent to defraud, which may not be the case in this situation.

READ MORE: Inside Mar-a-Lago - Melania Trump's 'gilded cage' where she has spent much of her time since leaving the White House and is staying out the spotlight during his arrest drama A security guard stands on the perimeter of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home Advertisement

'The claim is that [recording the Cohen reimbursements as legal payments] is false and therefore violated a misdemeanor statute in the first instance against false documents,' Barr said.

He added on Sunday's ABC airing: 'If it was fraud, it was committed in the course of fraud. And I don't see anywhere specified in here exactly what the fraud was,' Barr said. 'These were his own business records. He was paying himself the hush money and the business records were his own company. He's the owner of the company.'

He maintained that the Mar-a-Lago case was a bigger potential instrument in the former President's downfall, however.

The Mar-a-Lago case began when Trump voluntarily turned over 15 boxes of documents to the National Archives in January and the DOJ opened an investigation in February after discovering classified materials were brought back to Mar-A-Lago.

They eventually served a subpoena for additional materials in June and then searching Mar-A-Lago in August when it appeared Trump's attorneys did not actually turn over all the documents.

Some of the classified documents had the most top-secret designations, and the Washington Post reported that documents may include details on other countries' nuclear capabilities.

The government has alleged in court filings that there is evidence Trump and his team 'concealed and removed' documents from a storage room at Mar-A-Lago, which could constitute obstructing its investigation, and has accused Trump of storing classified materials in unauthorized locations.

The DOJ is investigating whether Trump violated three federal statutes, including the Espionage Act, which broadly deal with the mishandling of government and national security documents and carry potential punishments of fines or maximum prison sentences between three and 20 years, depending on the statute.

Former AG Bill Barr tells Jon Karl the case against former Pres. Trump aims to 'get into the middle of the Republican primary process and turn it into a circus.' 'They want him to be the nominee because he is the weakest of the Republican candidates.'

The Former Attorney General also slammed Trump as the weakest of the Republican candidates, saying he would ultimately lose to Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election.

'I think ultimately the savvy Democratic strategists know [the Manhattan District Attorney's Office probe] is going to help Trump, and they want him to be the nominee because he is the weakest of the Republican candidates, the most likely to lose again to Biden,' Barr said on Sunday.

'I don't think anything's going to happen before a nomination is made and even perhaps until the election, the 2024 election,' Barr said when asked about the likelihood of Trump being convicted and sent to prison. 'This stuff is going to drag out through '24, and it's going to stymie and disrupt the whole Republican primary process.'
Yuechi rice noodles: Time-honored dish of Sichuan earns global reputation

People's Daily Online) 13:49, April 10, 2023

Yuechi Plain in southwest China's Sichuan Province, hailed as a land flowing with milk and honey, is teeming with rice with superior quality.

Known for its shiny, white rice, Yuechi rice was historically served to royal families 300 years ago during the Qing Dynasty. Now, the rice is also used to make rice noodles, which has become a signature dish of Yuechi.

Aside from tasty rice, fresh and delicious soup adds amazing flavor to rice noodles. Fresh ingredients are stewed on a wood-fired stove several hours to get a milky white, fragrant soup base. The strong flavor gives people an endless aftertaste.

Yuechi rice noodles have been brought to the dining tables across China and even overseas, becoming a world-famous brand of Yuechi.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
Ireland is preparing a lavish welcome for Joe Biden ahead of the US president's first visit to the country as US president as he prepares to cross the Atlantic to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The American leader, who is intensely proud of his Irish heritage and the US's role in the peace accord, will visit his ancestors' home town of Ballina in Mayo later this week.

And the locals are already preparing the down to receiving him, with decorations already in place.

But it will come after he take part in a series of engagements in Belfast including a formal meeting with the Prime Minister - amid warnings over the peace that the GFA achieved.

The commemorations come amid a heightened terror threat in Northern Ireland, which power-sharing in Stormont remaining collapsed amid post-Brexit tensions.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the threat from dissident republicans was 'a stark reminder of the fragility of peace', and urged the Democratic Unionist Party to get back into Government.

The American leader, who is intensely proud of his Irish heritage and the US's role in the peace accord, will visit his ancestors' home town of Ballina (bar owner Michael Carr pictured) in Mayo later this week.

But it will come after he take part in a series of engagements in Belfast including a formal meeting with the Prime Minister - amid warnings over the peace that the GFA achieved.

Mr Biden will leave Northern Ireland on Wednesday for the Republic, where he will visit Dublin, Co Louth and Co Mayo.

Joe Biden;s fifth cousin Councillor Andrea McKevitt, outside Fitzpatrick's bar and restaurant in Jenkinstown, Co Louth, where then vice-president met locals during his visit in 2016

Derek Furlong poses in the window of his Ballina photo centre, as he and others dress up their business properties in the town centre

Mr Sunak will meet the US president off Air Force One when he arrives on Tuesday evening. Mr Biden will leave Northern Ireland on Wednesday for the Republic, where he will visit Dublin, Co Louth and Co Mayo.

In a statement, the PM said the signing of the Good Friday Agreement was an 'incredible moment' in the history of the UK.

'It was a powerfully rare example of people doing the previously unthinkable to create a better future for Northern Ireland,' he said.

'It is that promise of a better future that we offered to everyone in Northern Ireland that I will be thinking of first and foremost over the coming days.

'It is my responsibility as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to ensure we are making good on that promise.'

Signed on April 10 1998, the Good Friday Agreement ended the 30-year conflict of the Troubles, during which more than 3,500 people were killed.

Mr Sunak said he is 'relentlessly focused' on delivering economic growth for Northern Ireland, which he said is crucial to improving living standards.

He is expected to use Mr Biden's visit to drum up long-term investment for the nation, and announce that the UK will host a Northern Ireland Investment Summit in September.

The Prime Minister will address the 'Agreement 25' conference at Queen's University on Wednesday before hosting a gala dinner.

A major policing operation costing around 7 million and backed up by around 300 officers travelling from other parts of the UK will be under way around the anniversary.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has warned of the potential of dissident republicans launching attacks on police officers in Londonderry on Easter Monday.

MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat in Northern Ireland level to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, has insisted the political vacuum in the nation caused by his party's refusal to re-enter Stormont is not to blame.

In February last year the DUP withdrew its support for the powersharing institutions formed by the Good Friday Agreement as it protests against post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Signed on April 10 1998, the Good Friday Agreement ended the 30-year conflict of the Troubles, during which more than 3,500 people were killed.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the threat from dissident republicans was 'a stark reminder of the fragility of peace', and urged the Democratic Unionist Party to get back into Government.

Heaton-Harris said no-one could put a timeline on when powersharing would be back up and running.

He told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: 'Anybody who is predicting a date by which the executive would go back in Northern Ireland would be someone who can also sell you a four-leaf clover. No one knows - deadlines are deadly in Northern Ireland term.'

Writing in The Telegraph, he added: 'Across a range of measures, the people of Northern Ireland are being directly impacted because of an ongoing lack of locally accountable devolved government.

'The UK Government wants to see the Northern Ireland institutions delivering better public services, more investment and a stronger Union based on prosperity... there is no surer way to achieve that than for political parties to come together to get on with the job of delivering on the people's priorities and to make Northern Ireland work.'
A small north Wales village and ex-military bases across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are being considered as part of a 'desperate scramble' by Home Office staff for new migrant accommodation, it has emerged.

Figures show more than 4,500 people have been detected crossing the English Channel in small boats this year, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak having recently vowed to end the housing of more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels.

The Government has already announced plans to establish new migrant accommodation on a barge in Dorset, as well as surplus military sites in Lincolnshire and Essex, and an old prison in East Sussex.

But, according to The Times, Home Office officials are scouring a list of disused crown properties to find further housing for at least 25,000 migrants.

The Prime Minister last week said 'it can't be right' that Britain is spending 6million a day on housing asylum seekers in hotels

A former military site could provide accommodation for 800 people in Feltham, west London

The disused Forthside Barracks, on the outskirts of the Scottish city of Stirling, could host 350 people

An internal Government portal, said to be accessible only by civil servants and ministers above a certain security clearance, is reportedly being searched for places to host families with young children.

It has been revealed to include St George's Barracks near the Rutland village of North Luffenham, which could house about 2,200 people.

A former military site in Feltham, west London, could provide accommodation for 800 people. The disused Forthside Barracks in Stirling could host 350 people.

And the Kinnegar Logistics Base, a military site in County Down, could accommodate 500 people.

It was also reported that a Hull-based company called Payman Holdings is being lined up to build cheap modular units to accommodate migrants.

It was said these could be installed in the north Wales village of Northop Hall in order to house about 250 migrants, which would increase the village's population by a third.

A Home Office source was quoted as saying: 'It feels like a desperate scramble to find any alternative accommodation, as ministers are increasingly frustrated about having to keep using hotels because the backlog in asylum cases remains stubbornly high.'

Mr Sunak last week said 'it can't be right' that Britain is spending 6million a day on housing asylum seekers in hotels, as the PM repeated his promise to reduce the bill to taxpayers for migrant accommodation.

Cheap modular units to accommodate migrants could be installed in the north Wales village of Northop Hall

St George's Barracks, near the Rutland village of North Luffenham, could house about 2,200 people

The Kinnegar Logistics Base, a military site in County Down, could accommodate 500 people

There are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels. The Government is facing a backlash from local Tory MPs and councils - including the threat of legal action - over those sites it has already announced as new migrant accommodation.

The Home Office said it does not comment on commercial arrangements for individual sites used for asylum accommodation.

A spokesman said: 'The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain.

'We have been clear that the use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable  there are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer 6million a day.

'The Home Office is committed to making every effort to reduce hotel use and limit the burden on the taxpayer.'
Classified documents that appeared online, with details ranging from Ukraine's air defenses to Israel's Mossad spy agency, have U.S. officials scrambling to identify the leak's source, with some experts saying it could be an American.

Officials say the breadth of topics addressed in the documents, which touch on the war in Ukraine, China, the Middle East and Africa, suggest they may have been leaked by an American rather than an ally.

'The focus now is on this being a U.S. leak, as many of the documents were only in U.S. hands,' Michael Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official, told Reuters in an interview.

The authenticity of the documents is still in doubt as experts suggest they could have been altered or used as a misinformation campaign to suit Russia's agenda. They pointed to how some of the documents giving battlefield casualty estimates from Ukraine were altered to minimize Russian losses.

An initial batch of documents labeled 'Secret' and 'Top Secret' - reportedly containing charts on the war in Ukraine as well as the strengths of different battalions - first circulated on Twitter and Russian Telegram channels last month.

And a further batch of documents of more than 100 Pentagon documents - this time also detailing US national security interests pertaining to areas including China and Israel's Mossad spy agency - was being shared on Twitter on Friday, the New York Times reported.

Classified documents that appeared online, with details ranging from Ukraine's air defenses to Israel's Mossad spy agency, have U.S. officials scrambling to identify the leak's source, with some experts saying it could be an American. Pictured: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrives for meetings at the Pentagon on March 30

A Ukrainian serviceman fires a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) from a launcher during a training exercise in the Donetsk region on April 7

One of the leaked Western documents regarding the Ukraine - Russia war

The Justice Department has now launched a criminal investigation into the possible release of the Top Secret documents, which mostly pertain to the state of the Ukraine war.

Two U.S. officials told Reuters on Sunday that they have not ruled out that the documents may have been doctored to mislead investigators as to their origin or to disseminate false information that may harm U.S. security interests.

READ MORE: Leaked Pentagon papers predict Ukrainian's air defenses will be exhausted by MAY 23 Advertisement

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.

'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 Ukraine's 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.'

In a statement on Sunday, the Pentagon said it was reviewing the validity of the photographed documents that 'appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material.'

Two U.S. defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the Pentagon was examining procedures governing how widely some of the most sensitive U.S. secrets are shared.

Some of the documents, one of the officials said, would most likely have been available to thousands of people with U.S. and allied government security clearances despite being highly sensitive, as the information directly affected those countries.

The Pentagon on Sunday said in a statement that an interagency effort was assessing the impact the photographed documents could have on U.S. national security as well as that of close American allies, a standard procedure known as 'damage assessment' for leaks of classified information.

Ukrainian servicemen stand in a trench near their position near the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region on April 8

The first official said the number of people who had access to the documents underscores that sensitive information was perhaps being shared too widely with personnel who might not require the level of detail some of the documents contained.

'The Pentagon has needed to curtail the unbridled access to some of the most sensitive intel when they've (got) no justifiable reason to have it,' the first official said.

READ MORE: Leaked Pentagon documents show spies are deeply ingrained in Russian intelligence services and Putin's army is ravaged after a year of fighting Advertisement

The two officials said further that although the leaks were highly concerning, many of them provided only snapshots of time in February and March - when they were dated - but did not appear to disclose anything about future operations.

Although the release of documents appears to be the most serious public leak of classified information in years, officials say it so far does not reach the scale and scope of the 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables that appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2013.

One of the documents, dated February 23 and marked 'Secret,' outlines in detail how Ukraine's S-300 air defense systems would be depleted by May 2 at the current usage rate.

Such closely guarded information could be of use to Russian forces, and Ukraine said its president and top security officials met on Friday to discuss ways to prevent leaks.

Another document, marked 'Top Secret' and from a CIA Intel update from March 1, says the Mossad intelligence agency was encouraging protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to tighten controls on the Supreme Court.

The document said the U.S. learned this through signals intelligence, suggesting the United States had been spying on one of its most important allies in the Middle East.

In a statement on Sunday, Netanyahu's office described the assertion as 'mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever.'

Another document gave details of internal discussions among senior South Korean officials about U.S. pressure on Seoul to help supply weapons to Ukraine, and its policy of not doing so.

The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Monday that fact checks on the documents are a priority and that it would request the U.S. to take 'appropriate' steps after confirming details.

These are two of the leaked documents which have been shared by the New York Times

This document appears to show the state of Ukraine's air defenses in February, and in May when it is anticipated they'll be badly depleted

Yoon's office said the possibility that the documents were fabricated or a product of third-party interference cannot be ruled out, warning any attempts to 'disrupt the alliance would face repercussions'.

Some lawmakers of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party expressed 'strong regret' over the spying allegations, calling them a clear violation of national sovereignty and a major security failure of the Yoon administration.

'We strongly demand a thorough investigation and urge that similar incidents do not occur,' the lawmakers said in a joint statement.

The Pentagon has not addressed the contents of any specific documents, including the apparent surveillance of allies.

Officials are looking at what motivations a U.S. official or a group of officials would have in leaking such sensitive information, said one of the officials who spoke to Reuters.

The official said investigators were looking at four or five theories, from a disgruntled employee to an insider threat who actively wanted to undermine U.S. national security interests.

Daniel Hoffman, a former senior CIA undercover officer, said that given past activities of Moscow's intelligence agencies, it was 'highly likely' that Russian operatives posted documents related to Ukraine as part of a Russian disinformation operation.

He said such operations - meant to sow confusion, if not discord, among Russia's adversaries - were a 'classic' practice of Russian spy services to leak authentic documents in which they have inserted false information.

The aim, he said, appeared to be to drive a wedge between Ukraine and the United States, Kyiv's largest provider of military support.

Some national security experts and U.S. officials say they currently suspect that the leaker could be American, given the breadth of topics covered by the documents, but they do not rule out pro-Russian actors. More theories could develop as the investigation progresses, they said.

The Kremlin and the Russian embassy did not respond to a request for comment about whether it was involved in the leak.

Ukraine said its president and top security officials met on Friday to discuss ways to prevent leaks.

The White House has declined to discuss publicly who might be responsible for the breach, and has referred all questions about the leak to the Pentagon. The Pentagon said that over the weekend, U.S. officials spoke with allies and had notified the relevant congressional committee about the leak.

'I'm deeply troubled by the possible extent and nature of the information exposed and expect to be fully briefed in the days to come,' said Representative Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger who sits on the U.S. House of Representatives intelligence and foreign relations committees.
A six-year-old girl is fighting for her life in hospital after being mauled by a dog.

Emergency services were called to Ormesby St, Woodridge, south of Brisbane, just after 4.30pm on Monday following the attack.

It is understood the little girl is currently in Queensland Children's Hospital in a serious condition after sustaining significant abdominal, chest and shoulder injuries.

The girl was reportedly on a fence when the dog, a Bull Arab, jumped up and dragged her into the yard.

A six-year-old girl is in hospital after being attacked by a Bull Arab in Woodridge, south of Brisbane

A male relative of the girl jumped the fence to rescue her and was also bitten, suffering leg injuries.

The male, in his late 20s, was taken to the QEII Jubilee Hospital in a stable condition.

A dog was seen being removed from a property, and police remained at the scene until about 6.30pm.

Police said the Child Protection Investigation Unit had been notified.
Tyson also revealed he had struggled with gender dysphoria for years

YouTube star Chris Tyson, 26, has been undergoing HRT for the past two months

YouTube star MrBeast's sidekick Chris Tyson has revealed he started 'life-saving' hormone replacement therapy two months ago.

Tyson, 26, who says he uses any pronouns, revealed how his physical appearance 'has already started to change' after two months of treatment.

The star, who has appeared in scores of videos alongside YouTube's biggest star MrBeast, tweeted: 'Informed consent HRT saved my and many others' lives. The hurdles gender non-conforming people have to jump through to get life-saving gender-affirming healthcare in a first world country is wild to me.

'Just let people make informed decisions about their own bodies.'

Tyson, who revealed he has struggled with gender dysphoria for years, said he decided to start HRT two months ago and that becoming a parent to his son helped with his decision to start the treatment.

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson and has 144 million subscribers on YouTube, showed his support for his co-star by replying 'Gotchu' to one of Tyson's tweets.

YouTube star MrBeast's sidekick Chris Tyson has revealed he started 'life-saving' hormone replacement therapy two months ago. Pictured: MrBeast (left) with Tyson (right) at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in LA on March 4, 2023. At this time, Tyson says he had already started his treatment

Tyson is pictured in 2019 - before he started his hormone replacement treatment

Tyson, who revealed he has struggled with gender dysphoria for years, said he decided to start HRT two months ago. Pictured: Tyson with his wife Katie Tyson in 2019

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson and has 144 million subscribers on YouTube, showed his support for his co-star by replying 'Gotchu' to one of Tyson's tweets

People assigned male at birth are typically prescribed estrogen as it blocks testosterone and allows people to better align with their gender identity.

Tyson, has a two-year-old son called Tucker with Katie Tyson, who he married in June 2018. It is not clear what their relationship status is after the YouTuber announced his HRT treatment. Rumours have circulated on social media they have separated, but this has not been addressed by Tucker or Katie.

Tyson, who came out as bisexual in November 2020, credited Tucker with helping him get through his treatment. The YouTuber tweeted: 'If I didn't have this little nugget I'd never have gotten this far.

'He's taught me so much about myself in such a short time. I can't wait to learn through life together.'

The number of people who are transgender and who undergo surgery and hormone therapies to transition has increased sharply in recent years - particularly in the US.

Tyson revealed he was going through HRT after a Twitter user shared side-by-side photographs of him before and after the therapy, while asking 'bro wtf happened'.

'HRT, and it's only been two months,' Tyson wrote in response, adding that he had had been learning about gender dysmorphia for 21 years after discovering his sister's dresses in her closet.

He added: 'The amount of body positivity I've gotten in just two months is insane.'

Tyson, who came out as bisexual in November 2020, credited Tucker with helping him get through his treatment

Tyson, 26, (pictured last week) revealed how his physical appearance 'has already started to change' after two months of treatment

Tyson tweeted it's 'never too late to be yourself' alongside a picture of him during the HRT treatment

Tyson has a two-year-old son called Tucker with Katie Tyson, who he married in June 2018 (pictured together). It is not clear what their relationship status is after the YouTuber announced his HRT treatment

Transitioning has many measurable benefits, including alleviating gender dysphoria for 80 percent of people who undergo the changes, improving their sex lives and overall quality of life.

But introducing higher levels of sex hormones is not without its risks, including raising the risks of heart attacks, strokes and blood clots, research says.

Experts from Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Darby, Pennsylvania, found in February that trans patients who take the drugs are up to seven times more likely to suffer an ischemic stroke compared to trans patients who are not prescribed them.

But Tyson said he was 'genuinely so glad' he had been able to teach people 'what HRT is and how it can and has helped so many people'.

I was super nervous to be public about this because Ive always been so private when it comes to this, but seeing conversations started because of me is amazing, Tyson added.

MrBeast came to prominence when he donated thousands of dollars to small Twitch users and YouTubers. He is the most followed person on YouTube with 144 million followers.

Inspired by the Roald Dahl classic Charlie and the Chocolate factory, the multi-millionaire gave away $500,000 to a supporter in June.

He also gained major media attraction and attention for his real-life take on the Netflix series Squid Game, which saw the content creator recruit applicants to play real life games.

Last month, MrBeast was lambasted online for gifting a young waitress a new car covered in logos as a tip - with several criticizing the gesture as a shameless publicity grab for his new chocolate venture.

The unorthodox gratuity was seen in a TikTok video posted on March 27, and serves as only the latest in a string of wild, lavish gifts dished out by the popular YouTuber.

@mrbeast Amys been getting to work without a car formonths, thanks to you we changed that :-)  original sound - MrBeast

MrBeast - real name Jimmy Donaldson - was lambasted online last month for gifting a young waitress a car covered in logos as a tip - with many criticizing the gesture as a shameless publicity grab

The car - a black Toyata sedan - was plastered with ads for Donaldson's latest business venture, his four-ingredient Feastables chocolates. Straight from the factory, the car would usually cost at least $21,500, per Kelley Blue Book

In the 42-second clip, MrBeast is seen sitting at a nondescript restaurant while speaking to his server.

Accompanied by a cameraman, Donaldson asks the server about the biggest tip she's ever received. When she replies $50, he hands her the keys to a black Toyota Corolla parked outside - which he billed as her 'brand new car.'

The video then cuts to Donaldson, 24, leading the young girl to her new ride - with the restaurant worker evidently left in awe by the gesture.

The video, however, was met with mixed reception, with many pointing out how the car was plastered with ads and the fact the server could not actually drive. Straight from the factory, the car would usually cost at least $21,500, per Kelley Blue Book.

In February, Mr Beast hit back at critics who slammed him for paying to cure 1,000 people's blindness.

The YouTube star posted video showing sufferers with severe cataracts undergoing surgery paid for by the millionaire. The sufferers are then able to see following the surgery, with the help of a the non-profit eye care organization, See.

But some online said the video was 'demonic', showing how sufferers could only receive the surgery by becoming online content for a rich YouTuber instead of getting the necessary treatment from the government.

One Twitter post retweeted thousands of times read: 'There is something so demonic about this and I can't even article what it is.'

Another said: 'What's grotesque about it is that such a life changing treatment exists and the only way these people can access it is be becoming "content".'

The world's biggest YouTuber MrBeast has hit back at critics who slammed him for paying to cure 1,000 people's blindness

Some also claimed MrBeast, who was YouTube's highest-earning creator in 2021, earning an estimated $54million that year alone, was exploiting the sufferers to gain more fame and accrue more wealth for himself.

But the YouTuber hit back, saying: 'Twitter - Rich people should help others with their money.

'Me - Okay, Ill use my money to help people and I promise to give away all my money before I die. Every single penny.

'Twitter - MrBeast bad.'

He also added: 'I dont understand why curable blindness is a thing. Why dont governments step in and help?

'Even if youre thinking purely from a financial standpoint its hard to see how they dont roi on taxes from people being able to work again.'

Donaldson is known for his outlandish stunts which include videos of him being buried alive for 50 hours, and another where the last person to take their hand off a private jet gets to keep the plane.

In addition to being YouTube's most subscribed individual, he is also one of the website's highest earners.

In his video, he also gave away $10,000 to a number of cataracts patients, bought one a Tesla, and even donated $50,000 to another's college fund. He also donated $100,000 to See.

According to the nonprofit MyVision.org, cataract surgery costs an average of $3,500 per eye.

In the video, MrBeast shows patients getting their bandages removed after surgery, and shows their reaction. For many of them it was the first time they were able to see properly in decades.
Residents in one of Britain's 'poshest and quietest' villages are outraged over plans to turn a 300-year-old mansion into a late night boozy party venue which could play music until 1am.

Last year the village of Ombersley, Worcestershire, was named as one of the poshest in the country after Savills estate agents reported a steep rise in demand for rural properties.

But locals now fear their peace will be shattered after a planning application was submitted to turn the historic Ombersley Court into a late-night party venue.

Gemini Hospitality Group, which owns the Grade I-listed mansion, wants to serve alcohol until 12am and play music until 1am every night.

Businessman Tim Hopkins bought the mansion, which is set in 39-acres, for 3.5million in 2017.

Ombersley Court, Worcestershire, which could be turned into a party venue

The village of Ombersley, Worcestershire, which residents say is usually very quiet

The planning permission laid out outside Ombersley Court - it requests that alcohol is sold until midnight

He is understood to have spent hundreds of thousands restoring the state rooms, including one where the Iron Duke of Wellington regularly stayed after his triumph over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

Locals are now preparing for a war of their own over his plans to turn the historic mansion into a lucrative party business.

Residents of the quaint countryside village, where house prices average a staggering 682,000, fear it could 'lose its character'.

Michael and Angela Podmore, who live half-a-mile from the house, said they could hear noise from a charity ball held in a marquee in the grounds last summer.

In their objection letter to Wychavon District Council, they said: 'The noise could be heard from our home more than 600 metres away.

'It would have had a worse affect on the hundreds of homes closer to Ombersley Court.'

Michael Podmore, 64 and a Landscape Architect, said: 'I'm not against people setting up businesses.

'The Court was falling down before it was taken over, it needed taking over. It needed somebody to do something with it.

Businessman Tim Hopkins bought the mansion, which is set in 39-acres, for 3.5million in 2017

Locals are unhappy over plans to turn the historic mansion into a party business

Villagers have spoken out about their concerns - saying they are worried about the noise the venue could make

'It was initially bought to be developed to be a home. I don't have a problem with people developing it due to its historical heritage.

'The bit that I probably have a problem with is the staying open after 11pm bit on the application.

'They did have a charity event there and we live 600 metres from the Court and we could sing along to the songs it was that clear. It went on until the early hours of the morning.

'Apparently people could hear it in Uphampton, over the hill, which is even further away.

'The village is in itself is a dark skies village, it has no street lamps. It's a quiet village, something like this is completely out of character.

'What they have inside the Court is one thing, but the events in the grounds is what people are worried about.

'There's no acoustics. At night it's silent, if you were in a town you've got a background noise but when it's silent, there's excess noise.'

One resident, who wished to remain unnamed, said she feared that the plans could affect house prices in the village where properties cost an average of 682,500

He continued: 'It would be a blight on the whole village. There's a lot of people who live a lot closer, families and kids or elderly people.

'Music going on until the early hours of the morning is not ideal.

'The alcohol licence doesn't bother me one way or another, we've got three pubs in the village. It's difficult to object to it in the day. Beyond 11pm is a reasonable cut off point.

'The concern is it will get developed into a wedding venue but if you imagine 20 weekends of the year with live bands and discos not in the hall but in marquees it won't be ideal.'

He said it's all about 'money making' and fears it will be at the cost of the community.

Residents David and Susan Collier, said the noise from the same event could be heard a mile away in the next village.

They said: 'On that occasion the loud music created a disturbance as far as Uphampton, preventing people from sleeping.

'As it was a single event in aid of a local charity, residents chose not to complain.

'However, this would not be tolerable on a recurring basis. It would be especially unwelcome when residents are working during the week.'

While another shared her fears the already congested village would suffer from the additional traffic the development would cause

One local said it's all about 'money making' and fears the plans would be at the cost of the community

Wychavon District Council's licensing subcommittee will review the application on Wednesday.

One resident, who wished to remain unnamed, said she feared that the plans could affect house prices in the village where properties cost an average of 682,500.

She said: 'It could affect all of our house prices. There was talk of it being turned into a festival site by some people, we don't want festivals here.'

While another shared her fears the already congested village would suffer from the additional traffic the development would cause.

The unnamed woman said: 'There's already a lot of traffic running through the village.

'There's an A road that gets busy directly opposite the hall. It's a nightmare to cross and I have a small child.'

Another said: 'We moved from Worcester and hoped of a village life, it would be like living next to a nightclub.'

The row engulfing the historic village of Ombersley comes four years after locals were 'held to ransom' by a notorious family of travellers.

In 2019 the Doran family bought cheap land and threatened to build homes without planning permission unless locals bought the plots back for vastly inflated sums.
They have offered customers a 10 per cent discount by quoting 'NOT OFFENDED'

An artificial grass firm which had to take down a billboard showing a bikini-clad woman with the slogan 'get laid by the best' has poked fun at those who complained about it - and revealed a new advert showing a naked man instead.

Great Grass MCR, based in Failsworth, Oldham, were forced to take down a billboard in November last year after the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK's independent regulator of advertising across all media, ruled against it.

The poster features headline text which states 'Artificial Grarse Experts'. Underneath is an image of a woman wearing a thong with text which states: 'Perfect 365 days a year... Get laid by the best.'

The giant billboard was put up by the company at a busy junction in nearby Hollinwood, where Oldham Road meets the M60 motorway.

The company then slapped up a replacement sign poking fun at the people who complained, and have even offered customers a 10 per cent discount by quoting 'NOT OFFENDED'.

An artificial grass firm has been forced to take down a billboard showing a bikini-clad woman with the slogan 'get laid by the best' and poked fun at those who complained - as well as revealing a new advert showing a naked man instead

Great Grass MCR, based in Failsworth, Oldham, were forced to take down a billboard in November last year after the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK's independent regulator of advertising across all media, ruled against it

Directly speaking to the four, the new billboard read: 'Apologies to the offended 4. You found it offensive, we all found it funny. Just because you're offended, doesn't mean you're right.'

Today bosses have put up a new poster featuring a hunky topless man. The sign now reads: 'Great abs, great grass' - while adding that their fake turf is 'perfect 365 days a year'.

The ASA ruled the company's bikini billboard 'objectified and stereotyped women as sexual objects'.

In a statement following their ruling, they went on to say the hoarding, placed close to the company's headquarters in Oldham, Greater Manchester, was 'likely to cause serious offence.'

They added: 'The ad must not appear again in its current form.

'We told Great Grass MCR Ltd t/a Great Grass to ensure their future ads were socially responsible and did not cause serious or widespread offence.'

In response, Great Grass said they'd used the slogan 'Get laid by the best' in the past while adding there had only been three complaints at the time of the ruling.

And they therefore believed that most onlookers, which may have numbered in the thousands, were not offended but found it amusing.

They assumed further complaints were mostly generated by people on social media encouraging others who likely had not even seen it to raise concerns.

In response to the ASA, the company said 'Get laid by the best' was a strapline it had used for years and the claimed 'perfect 365 days a year' meant it believed their grass was perfect all year round.

The ASA said: 'Great Grass said it was noteworthy that there had only been three complaints when the ad had been seen by thousands of people.

Today bosses have put up a new poster featuring a hunky topless man. The sign now reads: 'Great abs, great grass' - while adding that their fake turf is 'perfect 365 days a year'

'They therefore believed that most people were not offended by the ad, but found it amusing. They believed the complaints were generated by people on social media encouraging others who likely had not even have seen the ad, to complain about it.

'Great Grass also said that to assume that the person featured in the ad was a woman was wrong and offensive to the transgender community.'

A spokesman for Great Grass told the Manchester Evening News in November: 'The ad was a bit of light-hearted fun and not intended to offend anyone. There have been a number of people posting the ad on social media with positive comments.

'We thought with all the problems going on in the world at the moment anything that can bring a smile is a welcome distraction. It is a very busy junction and the ad has been seen by thousands and thousands of people.

'To the three who found it offensive, we apologise. To the fifty odd thousand who found it amusing, sorry it's got to go.'
An underground fight club is erupting on social media with kids filming each other in 'horrifying' bare-knuckle brawls in school yards across Australia.

Social media groups are being created by students at private and public schools where videos are posted of boys and girls brawling or ambushing victims.

It is part of a disturbing trend which has grown in popularity online and now concerned experts are stepping in to try and change the culture and help prevent lifelong trauma to the victims of this violence.

The existence of these closed online groups was thrust into the national spotlight last month when footage circulated of a 13-year-old girl in Queensland allegedly being tortured by other girls for hours.

'I think we are quite desensitised to violence and brawls and to physically hurting each other,' child psychologist Andrew Greenfield told The Project on Monday.

The existence of these closed online groups was thrust into the national spotlight last month when footage circulated of a 13-year-old girl in Queensland allegedly being tortured by other girls for hours (pictured)

'That's a massive concern to me because the message it sends out is that its okay to not only be involved, but its also okay to watch and be a bystander and do nothing about it.

'We don't want to oversimplify it and only pay attention to the symptom, but it's also about the reason behind that as well.'

School board advisor Simon Dewar believes social media platforms should be doing more to shut down the content and prevent children from ruining their future and the lives of others.

'Social media platforms have got a big role to play in this, they can certainly do more I feel,' Mr Dewar said.

'But in addition to that, I don't think that we can wait for social media platforms to take this and to make things better.

'So as a community there's lots we can do.'

The former principal who now advises teachers and school leaders on how to curtail violence in schools said the long-term impacts on regularly viewing such violent content is going to be 'significant'.

Private social media groups are being created by students at private and public schools where videos are posted of boys and girls brawling or ambushing victims (two examples are pictured)

An underground fight club is erupting on social media with kids filming each other in 'horrifying' bare-knuckle brawls in school yards across Australia (an example is pictured)

Child Psychologist Andrew Greenfield (left) and principal-turned-advisor, Simon Dewar (right) are speaking out about the disturbing new trend

'Unfortunately we are seeing young people in general show more acts of violence and those acts of violence are varying,' Mr Dewar said.

'Although it's not every student, every school, every day; what it might feel like is that there's been that increase because we are seeing it through our social feeds.'

In Victoria alone, more than 130 fights involving children and teens have been posted to one notorious Instagram page.

The brawls shows horrific violence including gang bashings, head-stomping and teens being punched and kicked on the ground.

'It's very concerning because the footage is becoming more violent and the young victims in these videos are sometimes bloodied and begging for help,' a senior police officer told the Herald Sun.

'It needs to stop because I fear someone is going to get badly hurt in one of these fights.'
A gang of shameless thugs who sold fake prescription drugs worth more than 20million on the dark web and bragged of 'living like gangsters' on social media have been jailed.

Christopher Kirkby, 35, Marc Ward and Thomas Durden, both 36, sold drugs such as Xanax and other benzodiazepines before posing with bottles of champagne inside fancy restaurants and nightclubs.

In one photo shared on his Instagram account, Kirkby was seen with a 1,250 bottle of Crystal Rose during a visit to the five-star Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge, west London - as they splashed 1,679 on a night out in June 2017.

Ward also shared a photograph himself smoking a cigar with the caption: 'Living like a gangster!'

But the gang's illegal activities were uncovered following an investigation from Pfizer Global Security, the firm which previously manufactured the drug, and the trio were jailed for more than 20 years at Portsmouth Crown Court.

In one photo shared on his Instagram account, Kirkby was seen alongside Durden with a 1,250 bottle of Crystal Rose during a visit to the five-star Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge

Ward (pictured) shared a photograph himself smoking a cigar with the caption: 'Living like a gangster!'

The gang members bragged about their lavish lifestyle and posted pictures of their expensive nights out on social media. Pictured: Kirkby

When correctly prescribed, Xanax is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders, but it is often abused by those seeking its sedative effects and has been described by police as 'highly dangerous substances' if not prescribed properly.

Although widely used legally in the US, it is available only on prescription in the UK.

But Ward, under the name 'HulkedBenzoBoss', sold the counterfeit pills via the dark web and left some buyers addicted.

Pfizer Global Security launched a probe in June 2016 after a number of test purchases were made showing Ward was operating behind the Darknet vendor .

The case was subsequently passed to police in early 2017.

While operating as 'HulkedBenzoBoss', Ward was involved in at least 22,843 deals of the fake Xanax tablets and other class C drugs, police say.

An estimated 2,157,700 in Bitcoin was collected by Ward from the Darknet markets and deposited into three main cryptocurrency wallets.

But he was arrested as he left his home in Havant, Hampshire, on June 13, 2017.

Ward was detained on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug of class C between June 2016 and June 2017, and of money laundering.

Kirkby poses for a selfie alongside fellow drug gang member Durden during a night out. The pair have now been jailed

The gang members posted pictures of expensive Dom Perignon, Cristal and Bollinger Champagne

Christopher Kirkby, of Shefford, Bedford, has been jailed for nine years, six months for his role in the drug gang

Durden, of Dartford, Kent, was sentenced to six years and five months in prison for his role in the group

A search of his property revealed an involvement in a wider conspiracy in the production of counterfeit Xanax.

While Ward was in custody, the gang began the process of closing down their 'lab' based in a lock-up in Gravesend, Kent, in order to reinvent themselves on the Darknet as AchlysUK.

Charlton Pascal, 30, joined the conspiracy under the orders of Kirkby and attended the 'lab' to collect items from Durden.

A pill press was moved on June 20, 2017, to Shefford, Bedfordshire, and then transferred to the control of John Turner, 49, in Devon the following month.

Police carried out raids of the properties belonging to Durden, Kirkby and Pascal four months later and each was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the conspiracy.

Cryptocurrency to the value of 1.3m was seized from Durden, before Turner was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the conspiracy February 13, 2019.

Ward, of Portsmouth, was jailed for five years after he admitted conspiring to supply Alprazolam. He also pleaded guilty to a number of other offences at a previous court hearing including offering to supply class B and class C drugs, acquiring criminal property and converting criminal property.

Marc Ward, 36, of Queens Road, Fratton, Portsmouth, was jailed for five years after he admitted conspiring to supply Class C drug Alprazolam

Money found during a police raid of a property at South Street in Havant, Hampshire

A blue barrel filled with counterfeit drugs was recovered during one of the police operations

Durden and Kirkby also admitted a further count each of conspiracy to supply Alprazolam and converting criminal property and Pascal a count of acquiring criminal property.

Durden, of Dartford, Kent, was sentenced to six years and five months in prison. He earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Alprazolam and a single count of converting criminal property.

Kirkby, of Shefford, Bedford, was jailed for nine years and six months for the same offences.

Detective Superintendent Neil Cripps, a senior investigating officer at the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), said: 'This organised crime group worked to set up a "business" to act as a cover, producing and supplying counterfeit Xanax and other class C drugs on a commercial scale with a street value in excess of 20m.

'Their actions subsequently had a devastating impact on those who purchased the drugs for casual use and found themselves addicted to what are highly dangerous substances if not prescribed by a medical professional and used correctly. As with all illegal drugs, there is always an inherent danger to those who take them.

'The SEROCU worked closely with Pfizer Global Security on this case to ensure those responsible for these serious offences were brought before a court to account for their actions.

'Our five-year investigation has subsequently resulted in significant prison sentences for those whose sole aim was to profit from others' misery.

'If you become aware of the supply of drugs in your community, please contact your local police force on the non-emergency number 101. We will continue our work disrupting and tackling serious and organised crime across the communities of the south east.'

Pascal and Turner will be sentenced at a hearing at the same court in May.

A proceeds of crime investigation is currently ongoing, where authorities will try and seize some of the cash made by the gang.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has backtracked after suggesting Conservative voters back Labour at the next general election to help get rid of the SNP.

Mr Ross was slapped down by No10 at the weekend over his suggestion that tactical voting be used to reduce the nationalists' seat numbers at Westminster.

With the SNP in crisis under new leader Humza Yousaf the polls have tightened with Labour, suggesting Anas Sarwar could make major inroads.

But a Labour resurgence in Scotland could also open the door to Keir Starmer taking power as prime minister.

Last night Mr Ross told Channel 4 News: 'I'm very clear I want Scottish Conservative voters to vote Scottish Conservative, but we know, there are many seats across Scotland in the north, the north east and the central belt such as East Renfrewshire where the Scottish Conservatives are the challengers to the SNP.'

Mr Ross, who has been leader of the Scottish Conservatives since 2020, then suggested other parties should vote for the Tories to see the SNP 'losing seats' across Scotland.

Last night Mr Ross told Channel 4 News: 'I'm very clear I want Scottish Conservative voters to vote Scottish Conservative'

Ross risked a split with Tory leader Rishi Sunak as he said people should 'do what's best for the country' to help loosen Scottish National Party's grip on Scotland.

He said: 'If supporters of other parties unite behind the Scottish Conservatives we can see the SNP losing seats right across Scotland.

'What I am focused on are the seats where the Scottish Conservatives are the main challengers, it's up to other parties to decide what they want to do in the seats they are targeting.

'Currently at Westminster and Holyrood, the Scottish Conservatives have more MSPs and MPs than Labour or the Liberal Democrats combined.

'We are the biggest party challenging the SNP.'

But Mr Ross was challenged on these assertions by Channel 4 correspondent Ciaran Jenkins, who asked him if he was 'sure about that'.

Mr Jenkins said: 'How many seats are Labour in second place to the SNP in Westminster?'

Mr Ross said: 'Less than the Scottish Conservatives.'

He was then presented with figures showing that Labour were actually second place to the SNP in 26 Westminster seats in Scotland, compared to 20 for the Tories.

Mr Ross said: 'I haven't discussed this directly with the Prime Minister, but we have discussed where we are going to be focusing our efforts in the forthcoming general election whenever that is called.'

The Tories rejected Mr Ross's comments on Sunday, and said they were 'emphatically not the view of the Conservative Party' and that voters should support the Tories 'wherever they are standing'.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'Douglas Ross' delusional reaction to the pressure his party faces is truly something to behold.

'His desperate attempts to smear Labour at every turn smack of a leader and a party who know that their time is up.

'Scotland deserves better than the scandal-hit SNP and the failing Tories.

'The people of Scotland are crying out for change and Scottish Labour is working hard to deliver the change that Scotland needs.'
The weekend rave lasted for hours and saw four people hospitalised

Pictures from an enormous rave that saw 1,000 illegally gather at a Welsh industrial estate show revellers climbing on speakers, dancing with black eyes and dressed up as Vikings before police eventually shut it down.

The event - which saw four hospitalised- was organised by free rave movement Peace Love Unity Respect (PLUR) and saw hordes of people descend on the Kenfig industrial estate late on Saturday evening.

Videos from the event showed ravers dancing throughout the early hours of Sunday morning as local police battled to shut down the music and disperse the huge crowds.

Locals living in nearby Kenfig and Bridgend say that they were unaware of the secret planned event until they heard the 'thumping music all night' and noticed 'over 70 cars' clogging up the local road network.

Sharing a video of the crowds during his Sunday morning run, one local man said the scenes were reminiscent of a 'punk' event.

Hundreds of revellers descended on a small industrial estate in Wales this weekend

Some turned up dressed as Vikings for the Egg Tech Easter rave event

Police scrambled to the site to shut down the illegal gathering late on Saturday night

Revellers were pictured dancing with black eyes at the event that saw four people hospitalised

Over a thousand people descended on Kenfig Industrial estate in South Wales

Police were called to the units late on Saturday evening as the rave began

He said: 'It's like that scene from crocodile Dundee when the punk rockers gate crash that house. It's crazy, from what I could make out they've travelled down from England.'

Other videos taken showed huge crowds gathered around makeshift stages that had been erected on the site.

Several videos show people inhaling balloons as they dance in the congested area.

Police said they were called to reports of a loud event in Bridgend, south Wales, on Saturday night and ordered the crowds to disperse however by lunchtime yesterday there were still hundreds of people at the site.

Providing an update this morning, Superintendent Steve Jones commented: 'We are reviewing all lines of enquiry following the gathering at Kenfig Industrial Estate to identify any offences under the appropriate legislation.

'The relevant details of some offenders have been obtained and enquiries are ongoing.

'A large majority of those who attended the event left in the late afternoon.

'Our resources remained in the vicinity of the scene throughout yesterday evening. The injuries of those taken to hospital remain non serious.'

The rave began late on Saturday afternoon and continued long into the night

Footage shared on social media showed revellers dancing long in the night and lighting fires

Some revellers brought sparklers to the illegal event on the Kenfig industrial estate

Police say over 70 cars were parked along the small country roads leading to the illegal rave

Witnesses say that some people at the rave were seen lying semi-conscious on the ground

Police eventually managed to disperse the crowds on Sunday afternoon

Local reaction to the rave, which reportedly saw several people lying 'semi-conscious' around the rave has been mixed with some commending their efforts and others criticising the mess that has been created.

One person wrote on Facebook: 'That place is just going to be left full of c**p and litter. Kenfig is abused enough by some local people and it's such a shame.'

Another said: 'Let them carry on not hurting or harming anyone.'

One raver, Nigel, travelled from Hampshire with his three friends in a van.

He said they arrived in the early hours and do not worry about when they have to head home and they go to these sorts of events most weekends.

This weekend, according to Nigel, was a significant event on the rave scene as it is EggTech or EggTek, which is a celebration of techno music at Easter.

The annual event is part of the Peace Love Unity Respect (PLUR) and 'free rave movement', which originated in the US in the 1990s.

The rave started on Saturday night and lasted all the way until Sunday afternoon

Around 70 cars descended on the area causing local roads to become blocked

Locals reported seeing people leaving the site of the rave early yesterday morning

Locals have criticised the event and fear people will leave large amounts of rubbish behind

Free raves intend to offer people an opportunity to 'escape' and freely dance in a safe space among like-minded people.

Nigel said: 'It's a class event and this is a good place for it. Last year we had it in Dorset. 100% worth the trip.'

Local resident Chris Davies said: 'I started work at 6am this morning and I thought it was a concert or something. You could hear it at the bottom of the hill. They're not much trouble.

'There were people walking down this morning and I stopped a guy and asked: "What's going on? Is it a concert?" He just went "Uuuhhh". I wasn't getting much out of him.'

Another participant, Chris, travelled for four hours to get here today and said it's been 'completely worth it'.

Explaining how they find these raves, he said: 'Basically they come out about a week before. Everyone sends their numbers in on the social media group and then everyone gets a group text saying: Ring this number on this day.'

'Then on the phone line it gives you a general area to go to. Last night it said "head to Bristol area". So everyone in the country going was heading to Bristol last night.

'Then that changed to Cardiff as we were driving through the night. That's the best thing. It's an adventure. Eventually you find out where you're going. I've been going to them for years and you get to know so many people. It says on all texts: Respect the land and respect the police.

'It's just a bit of fun getting loads of people together and having a party... I've always found as long as you're nice to the police they're decent.'

Police have remained in the area today to clean up rubbish and move people away

The ravers left behind lots of rubbish including beer cans and plastic bottles

Police have said they are still investigating the illegal rave

Locals had expressed reservations that the area would be left littered following the rave

Ahead of the bank holiday weekend the Welsh Ambulance Service urged people not to 'waste vital resources'.

The service said: 'The Welsh Ambulance Service is urging the public to protect their resources over the four-day Bank Holiday weekend.

'The Trust is reminding people to collect any medication, including prescriptions and stock up on first aid supplies to treat minor injuries and illness as home.

'Along with the four-day weekend comes an improved weather picture, and we are asking the public to please drink responsibly and treat our emergency workers with respect.'

Sonia Thompson, Assistant Director of Operations (Emergency Medical Service), said: 'We always see a rise in demand in our services over a long weekend, and this weekend is expected to be no different.

'Improved weather usually means more people are out and about socialising or travelling to visit family and friends, so it's important that they collect their prescriptions, keep a stocked first aid kit in their homes and cars and know what services to use should they become ill or suffer an injury.'
A flight to London Heathrow was this morning forced to return to Delhi after a passenger started reportedly pulling an air hostess's hair before brawling with staff.

Flight AI 111 left Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport at 6.35am local time but was forced to return shortly after departure due to the 'serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board'.

The passenger was immediately removed from the Air India aircraft before being handed back over to police at the airport.

The Hindustan Times reports that the man started pulling one of the cabin crew's hair 15 minutes after taking off, while he later attacked other members of staff.

Air India said that despite receiving verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued to cause 'physical harm' to members of the cabin crew.

Air India flight AI 111 left Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport at 6.35am local time but was forced to return shortly after departure due to the 'serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board' (file image of Air India aircraft)

Eventually, the pilot decided that the only thing left to do was to return to Delhi and remove the man from the flight.

The crew members who were attacked by the passenger are now being supported by the airline company - who said that 'safety, security and dignity' on board is vital.

Air India confirmed to MailOnline that the flight later took off to London at 2.24pm, local time.

A spokesman for Air India said: 'Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London Heathrow on April 10, 2023 returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board.

'Not heeding verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members.

'The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing.'

They added: 'An FIR [first information report] has also been lodged with the police. Safety, security and dignity of all on board is important to us at Air India.

Air India confirmed to MailOnline that the flight later took off to London at 2.24pm, local time. Pictured: Heathrow Airport

'We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight.'

Just last month, a passenger travelling from London to Mumbai was caught smoking in the toilets of an Air India flight.

In November, passenger Shankar Mishra was accused of drunkenly urinating on an elderly woman on an Air India flight from New York to Delhi - something he denies doing.
Therese Coffey was under fire today after promoting new UK bathing waters - using a picture of herself standing next to a muddy estuary.

The Environment Secretary tweeted a picture of herself on the River Deben estuary in her Suffolk constituency, one of four new official 'wild swimming' areas for the 2023 summer season.

But to coincide with today's announcement she was forced to take a photo during poor weather at the site in Waldringfield, standing next to a muddy bank and churned-up water in the river, and below rain-filled skies.

It comes as the Government is under pressure to tackle the scale of pollution, especially sewage, being dumped in UK rivers and off the coast.

Locals have reported discovering E. coli bacteria they say is from sewage, at a site only a few miles upstream of the new bathing waters.

Ms Coffey did not allow replies to her tweet but it did not stop other Twitter users poking fun at the image.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner quipped: 'Not taking a dip yourself?'

The Environment Secretary tweeted a picture of herself on the River Deben estuary in her Suffolk constituency that is one of four new official 'wild swimming' areas for the 2023 summer season.

Ms Coffey did not allow replies to her tweet but it did not stop other Twitter users poking fun at the image.

Nigel Pickover, a former editor of the Eastern Daily Press newspaper in East Anglia, said: 'Isnt the Waldringfield site just a few swimming strokes downstream from the heavily polluted Martlesham Creek with its huge E. coli issues?'

In her original message, Ms Coffey said: 'Four new designated bathing sites confirmed today, including Waldringfield on the River Deben in Suffolk Coastal - the first estuary site'.

But Nigel Pickover, a former editor of the Eastern Daily Press newspaper in East Anglia, said: 'Isnt the Waldringfield site just a few swimming strokes downstream from the heavily-polluted Martlesham Creek with its huge E. coli issues?'

The sites in Rutland, Devon and Suffolk will receive bathing water status from next month, the Government has announced. This means they will benefit from regular water-quality monitoring.

As well as Waldringfield, the sites are Sykes Lane Bathing Beach and Whitwell Creek at Rutland Water and Firestone Bay in Plymouth.

They take the total number of official bathing waters across the country to 424, the highest recorded.

The Government said the proportion of bathing waters assessed as 'good' or 'excellent' has increased from 76 per cent to 93 per cent, while 72 per cent are considered 'excellent' compared with 51 per cent in 2010.

This is despite classification standards for bathing waters being made stricter in 2015, it claims.

The announcement follows the publication last week of the Government's Plan For Water, which said water companies could face unlimited fines for dumping raw sewage in rivers, and outlined proposals which could see wet wipes containing plastic banned.

Labour said the plan amounted to a rehash of old policies and claimed the measures would not stop sewage being dumped.

The Environment Agency will take regular samples at the newly designated sites during the bathing season - which runs between May 15 and September 30.

It will assess whether action is needed to cut pollution levels and works with local communities, farmers and water companies to improve water quality at the sites.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says when it selects new swimming sites, it considers how many people bathe there, if the site has suitable infrastructure and facilities, such as toilets, and where investment in water quality improvements following designation would have the most impact.

Only those applications that meet these factors are taken forward to public consultation.
It comes after a major Norfolk Southern railway disaster in February in Ohio

Two crew members were transported to a nearby hospital after the crash

At least 11 cars on a North Atlantic Southern train derailed in Jasper, Alabama, on Saturday evening, causing diesel and engine oil spills.

Two crew members were transported to a nearby hospital after the crash, but have since been released.

Norfolk's cleanup teams are in the area, and the company says there is no hazmat threat from the derailed cars.

'According to Norfolk Southern, the train crew was briefly trapped in the engine room because the engine tilted over. There were no major injuries, but RPS was called to the scene to evaluate the crew and transported two crew members as a precaution,' Jasper Police wrote in a statement.

'Jasper Fire called all personnel in to assist the crew in getting out of the train and managing the scene, along with Jasper Police. Norfolk Southern and Walker County EMA are remaining on the scene to return the track to service,' the statement continued.

At least 11 cars on a North Atlantic Southern train derailed in Jasper, Alabama, on Saturday evening

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw testifies before a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing on improving rail safety in response to the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Norfolk acknowledged the spillage in its own statement on the derailment on Sunday.

'During the derailment, the locomotive rolled onto its side and as a result spilled some diesel fuel and engine oil. Norfolk Southern crews have responded and have been working through the night on cleanup. We'd also like to thank the first responders who quickly arrived on-scene and took care of our crew,' the company wrote.

It came just hours after five Norfolk Southern Trains were derailed in Pittsburgh, causing no hazards or injuries, according to authorities.

Five empty train cars veered off the tracks between 9:30 and 10 a.m. near Telford and West Carson Streets in the citys Esplen neighborhood, the Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety said.

City officials temporarily closed parts of West Carson Street as crews moved equipment through the area to remove the derailed cars.

It was unclear what caused the derailment.

The crash on Saturday was the most recent derailment to have taken place across the U.S, following a Norfolk Southern derailment disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, in February.

It resulted in the evacuation of residents after the trains spilled hazardous materials.

This photo taken with a drone shows portions of a Norfolk and Southern freight train that derailed the night before in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 4, 2023

Cleanup continues on Feb. 24, 2023, at the site of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio

Norfolk Southern has faced mounting criticism over safety since the major derailment.

The state of Ohio also subsequently sued the railroad company over the freight train derailment under charges that it exposed East Palestine to huge levels of toxic material.

The lawsuit demanded the company pay for the full cleanup of the accident and for any environmental damage it caused. It also seeks to force the company to pay for groundwater and soil monitoring in the years to come, along with compensation for economic losses in East Palestine and surrounding areas.

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw apologized before Congress in early March for the impact the derailment had on the village and its surrounding communities, but he didn't make specific commitments to pay for long-term health and economic harm.

The company pledged more than $20million in aid to East Palestine.

In a press conference announcing the lawsuit, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost called the accident 'entirely avoidable,' and accused the railroad of violating numerous Ohio laws.

The February 3 accident forced at least 2,000 people to evacuate their homes. While nobody was hurt in the ensuing chemical fire, numerous residents reported feeling ill and authorities think the local environment could be affected for years to come.

Ten of the cars that derailed carried hazardous materials, including five with vinyl chloride, said National Transportation Safety Board member Michael Graham.

Vinyl chloride, a colorless gas, is considered carcinogenic by the US National Cancer Institute and is used to make the white plastic PVC pipes often used in plumbing.

An ensuing chemical-fueled inferno saw a column of smoke rise high into the air and spread chemicals across the landscape. Cleanup crews from Norfolk Southern elected to burn off the spilled chemicals, which resulted in further toxic dispersion.

Yost said Norfolk Southern was responsible for 'killing tens of thousands of fish and other animals, and recklessly endangering the health of Ohioans throughout the region.'

'The fallout from this highly preventable accident is going to reverberate throughout Ohio for many years to come,' he said.

Residents have complained of sore throats and persistent coughs in the aftermath, with some saying that their chickens have mysteriously died just one day after officials conducted a 'controlled explosion' of the trains carrying vinyl chloride and their pet foxes becoming lethargic.
A 36-year-old man was killed after being shot in the head and neck in a smoke shop in Harlem, police have said.

In-store footage shows the horrifying moment the man is shot as he turns to leave the busy store on Lenox Avenue just before 8pm on Easter Sunday.

Seconds before, he appeared to be having a conversation with the shooter, who police are still looking for and have said did not work for the store. The victim also seemed to be talking to an employee behind the counter.

Video shows the victim raising a hand towards the attacker on his way out. The gunman then takes a gun out of his pocket and shoots him. The other customers quickly flee.

The victim struggles to get up before the attacker shoots him a second time. He was later taken to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The killer reaches into the victim's pockets before the video ends. It is not clear what provoked the assault, though police chiefs warn that robberies targeting smoke shops have jumped 10% this year.

The victim (seen in brown) is initially seen in the store with a number of other customers

After apparently talking to the shooter and the assistant, he turns to leave the smoke shop

The shooter approaches after shooting the target in the neck, with the store having emptied

Police reported the incident yesterday shortly after the attack.

They said they were looking for a Black man wearing black pants, a FDNY EMS jacket with lettering on the back, a black hat and gray sneakers.

At 9:26pm it was reported the man had been pronounced dead.

They said an investigation into the attack was ongoing, and that they had recovered two shell casings from the site.

In a New York City Council public safety hearing in March, police chief John Chell said robberies targeting storefronts advertising paraphernalia had jumped 10% this year.

This compounded the existing upward trend set last year. 599 violent thefts were reported in 2022, up 138% from 2021.

Two days prior, a smoke shop employee was killed during an armed robbery in Queens.

Surveillance footage captured gunshots as three were seen running out of the Plug Smoke Shop on the corner of Jamaica Avenue.

Police said Daryus Clarke, a 20-year-old employee, was shot dead in the attack.

The shop had only been open a matter of months. An employee at a nearby store told CBS 'a lot of smoke shops get robbed... different people in from the neighborhood that I've never seen before.'

Police said the suspects escaped in a white Toyota with $100 in cash and $50 in merchandise.

Police have struggled with violent crime at some of the new stores, which have opened since New York legalized recreational marijuana in March 2021 and opened its first legal shop in December 2022.

In October 2021, store CCTV caught the moment a brazen robber tried to rob a store in the Bronx, jumping over the counter before being beaten by a group of store workers and fleeing.

Police again appealed for information to help catch the suspect, offering a $3,500 for helpful information.

Separately, earlier this year, police were pictured raiding unlicensed stores after they were caught selling cannabis to underaged customers.

It is legal for adults 21 and older to possess up to three ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis for personal use in New York, but vendors require separate licenses.

There are separate laws restricting the sale of paraphernalia.

Footage from after the attack shows police gathered around the store and tape set up

The victim was shot twice by his attacker and later pronounced dead in Harlem Hospital

The victim fled and according to police, who are appealing for information, is still at large

Police call for witnesses to help catch the suspect believed to be responsible for the attack

Witnesses with information that could help police in the case of the Sunday shooting on Lenox Avenue can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org.

The can also download the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.

Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
Israeli forces killed a 15-year-old Palestinian boy and injured two others in a raid on a refugee camp near Jericho in the occupied West Bank on Monday - the latest escalation in the region following violence at a holy site in Jerusalem last week.

In a brief statement earlier today, the Palestinian health ministry said teenager Mohammed Fayez Balhan was killed 'by occupation (Israeli) bullets in Jericho', and 'two people were injured by live bullets in the lower extremities' and taken to hospital.

The Israeli army said its forces were operating in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp near Jericho, without providing further details. A request for comment from AP was not returned.

Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that clashes erupted when Israeli forces entered the camp and surrounded several houses, arresting five individuals during the raid.

The attack in the Palestinian refugee camp took place just one day removed from the funeral of two British-Israeli sisters who were killed in a drive-by shooting in the West Bank.

Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis led by at least seven Cabinet ministers marched to an evacuated settlement in the West Bank - a defiant signal that Israel's most right-wing government in history is determined to accelerate settlement building on occupied Palestinian lands despite international opposition.

Both incidents come as violence continues to spiral following clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian Muslim worshippers at the al-Aqsa Mosque - a holy site for both Jews and Muslims - in Jerusalem's old town last week amid Jewish Passover celebrations and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Mourners chant anti-Israeli slogans as they march with the body of Palestinian teenager Mohamed Fayez Balhan, 15, in Jericho in the occupied West Bank on April 10, 2023, ahead of his funeral after he was killed during a Israeli raid in the nearby Aqabat Jaber camp

Relatives react during the funeral of a Palestinian who was killed during an Israeli raid, near Jericho in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, April 10, 2023

Relatives of 15-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Bilhan shed tears nearby the body of him at the morgue of Jericho Hospital

Israeli settlers march towards the outpost of Eviatar, near the Palestinian village of Beita, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, on April 10, 2023

Family members mourn during the funeral of two British-Israeli sisters, Maia and Rina Dee, at a cemetery in the Jewish settlement of Kfar Etzion in the occupied West Bank, Sunday, April 9, 2023

Maia (left) and Rina Dee, sisters who were killed in a terrorist shooting attack in the West Bank on April 7, 2023

Rabbi Leo Dee, 51, (pictured) the father of two British sisters who were murdered in a drive-by shooting in the West Bank on Friday broke down in tears as he paid tribute to his 'beautiful angels' at their funeral

British-Israeli sisters Maia and Rina Dee, 20 and 15, were killed in a shooting by Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank near the Hamra settlement, 30 miles north of Jerusalem, on Friday.

Their mother, Lucy, 48, who was travelling with them during the attack, was left in critical condition, but died later on Monday despite four days of intensive care.

The Dee family was originally from London but moved to Efrat in the West Bank nine years ago.

Mourners, including school friends of the sisters, gathered at the funeral in the settlement of Kfar Etzion in the West Bank and sang songs of grief under in the cemetery's prayer hall.

In an emotional tribute, Rabbi Dee described his daughters as 'flames', saying they will 'bring more light into the world' after their deaths.

Israeli police and armed forces are escorting several Israeli officials and thousands of nationalist Jewish settlers on a march to Eviatar - an unauthorised Israeli settlement outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by the previous government in 2021.

Visits to Eviatar were officially banned by the military since its evacuation, but that prohibition has been loosely enforced in recent months.

Now, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads the most religious and ultranationalist government in Israel's history and wants to press on with establishing more Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, much to the disdain of Palestinian officials.

Several members of Netanyahu's Cabinet, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir - both West Bank settlers - and at least 20 members of Israel's parliament were expected to take part in the march.

Israeli police clashed with Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City for second time on Wednesday, witnesses said

People clear the carpet after clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem on Wednesday

An image on social media appeared to show worshippers with their hands cuffed behind their backs and laying the ground after Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque

Muslim worshippers perform Friday prayers outside the Dome of Rock Mosque at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have soared following last week's police raid on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The hilltop shrine is the emotional ground zero of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For Jews, it is known as the Temple Mount, their faith's holiest site and the place where two temples stood in antiquity.

For Muslims, it is known as the Noble Sanctuary, home of the al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

Dozens of Jewish visitors entered the site on Monday escorted by Israeli police for a second consecutive day. These tours by religious and nationalist Jews have increased in size and frequency in recent years, raising fears by Palestinians that Israel may partition the site. Israel insists it has no intention of changing the longstanding arrangement that permits Jewish visits, but not worship, at the Muslim-administered shrine.

Last week, Palestinians barricaded themselves inside al-Aqsa 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 Ramadan.

Police removed them by force, detaining hundreds and leaving dozens injured.

The violence at the shrine was followed by rocket fire by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, southern Lebanon, and Syria starting Wednesday, and Israeli airstrikes targeting those areas. Recent days have also seen Palestinian attacks that killed two Israelis and an Italian tourist.

Palestinian attacks have killed at least 19 people in Israel since the start of the year, including one soldier. At least 92 Palestinians and have been killed by Israeli fire so far this year.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war. It has built dozens of settlements in the territory that are now home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers.

Most of the international community considers Israel's West Bank settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians. The Palestinians seek the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem for their future independent state.
Pope Francis today prayed that the Good Friday agreement, responsible for ending decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland, can be 'consolidated' to benefit the people of all of Ireland.

The pontiff, who was hospitalised with bronchitis at the end of March, was speaking about the 1998 agreement in his noon address on Easter Monday to tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square.

The Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, ended 30 years of conflict known as the Troubles, in which more than 3,500 people were killed.

Signed 25 years ago today, Westminster also devolved powers to Northern Ireland, giving them control over key areas such as education and health, although this has not been in place since February last year due to power-sharing concerns from the DUP.

Speaking about the historic peace deal, the 86-year-old pontiff said: 'Today marks the 25th anniversary of the so-called Good Friday agreement, or of Belfast, which brought an end to the violence that for decades troubled Northern Ireland.

Pope Francis today prayed that the Good Friday agreement, responsible for ending decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland, can be 'consolidated' to benefit all of Ireland

The pope's comments come ahead of Joe Biden's visit to Northern Ireland where he will mark the 25th year of the Good Friday Agreement

'In a spirit of gratitude I pray to the God of peace so that what was achieved in that historic step can be consolidated to benefit all the men and women of the island of Ireland.'

The pope's comments come after he presided at a solemn Easter Sunday Mass yesterday after he was forced him to skip an outdoor service on Friday as a precaution to his recent illness.

He was taken to Rome's Gemelli hospital on March 29 after suffering with breathing difficulties. After doctors established he had contracted a mild case of pneumonia, he made a rapid recovery and was discharged in time for the hectic Easter schedule.

The pope's prayers come ahead of US President Joe Biden meeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast tomorrow to launch several days of high-profile commemorations.

President Biden will reflect the vital role the United States played in brokering the agreement.

Later in the week, the American leader, who is intensely proud of his Irish heritage and the US's role in the peace accord, will visit his ancestors' home town of Ballina in Mayo.

The commemorations come amid a heightened terror threat in Northern Ireland, which power-sharing in Stormont remaining collapsed amid post-Brexit tensions.

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.

President Biden will mark the 25th year of the Good Friday Agreement alongside Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Locals in Ballina in County Mayo have decorated their businesses to welcome President Biden for his trip to his ancestral home after his visit to Belfast

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.

Last month, Britain's MI5 intelligence agency increased the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to 'severe' - meaning an attack was considered highly likely.
Hundreds of social media users guessed what it could be - including a 'bear'

A snap of a mystery animal has sent officials and locals baffled after it was spotted in a Texas state park.

Authorities at the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, of Texas Parks and Wildlife, posted a picture of the beast on social media - asking for help identifying it.

The small four legged animal can be seen sniffing the ground close to a tree, after being captured by a night camera.

Posting on Facebook the park said: 'Captured on game camera - a mystery animal lurking in the Rio Grande Valley! '

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?

The small four legged animal can be seen sniffing the ground close to a tree, after being captured by a night camera

'Regardless, it's thrilling to see such an incredible animal in its natural habitat. We'll keep you updated as we continue to investigate this mystery.

'Have you ever captured a mysterious animal on camera? Share your story in the comments, and let us know what you think this animal is!'

The post attracted hundreds of comments of people guessing what the animal could be - with some ideas closer to the mark than others.

One guessed that it was 'a bear' but if not then definitely a 'park ranger in disguise', while another added it was a 'good ol' Texas size rate'.

Anther said 'capybara?', before a third added: 'How about a picture of a deer in the same spot so we can get some size context.'

But after a few days of speculation park officials unveiled wht they beleived the animal was - an American Badger.

The post attracted hundreds of comments of people guessing what the animal could be - with some ideas closer to the mark than others

They said in an updated post: 'Wow, this photo has got a lot of attention! We agree with most of the comments that this is very likely an American Badger'

Authorities at the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, of Texas Parks and Wildlife, posted a picture of the beast on social media - asking for help identifying it

They said in an updated post: 'Wow, this photo has got a lot of attention! We agree with most of the comments that this is very likely an American Badger.

'Not to be confused with the Honey Badger that lives in Africa and Asia and is rumored to not care very much.

'To clarify, this photo was taken by a park visitor and we do not have an exact location where this photo was taken, except it was indeed in the RGV.

'While American Badgers are not commonly seen in the valley (partly due to their nocturnal behavior), this is part of their natural range.'

Its unclear where exactly in the Rio Grande Valley the photo was taken.
A once high-flying executive accused of knifing his partner of 13 years to death in their unit, allegedly called triple-0 immediately after.

Anthony 'Tony' Eriksen, 61, allegedly murdered his partner Lisa Fenwick, 59, with a frenzy of stab wounds to her chest inside the 'Mascot Square' apartments on Church Ave, Mascot, south of Sydney, on Easter Sunday.

A neighbour reported hearing screams coming from the couple's apartment before emergency services arrived around 6pm.

A NSW police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia it will be alleged Erikson called emergency services after the alleged stabbing, with NSW Police taking him into custody as paramedics tried to save his partner.

Ms Fenwick tragically died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics to revive her.

It is understood the pair were heavily involved in local politics, including the City of Sydney Council elections.

Anthony 'Tony' Eriksen, 61, allegedly called triple-0 before he is accused of murdering his partner with a series of stab wounds to her chest

Lisa Fenwick, 59, tragically died from stab wounds on Easter Sunday

Erikson was charged with murder and faced Parramatta Bail Court on Monday.

His only words in court were 'yes' when the magistrate asked him if he understood his charges, The Daily Telegraph reported.

He made no application for bail.

According to his LinkedIn, Eriksen works as a self-employed food nutrient educator to 'empower people to learn how to make healthy food choices throughout their whole lives'.

He previously held a number of roles within the government, mining and banking sectors, including being an insurance consultant at AMP and a project manager at ANZ.

He also worked as a senior financial analyst at the Department of Defence in 2009 and had university degrees from Harvard University and Stanford University School of Medicine.

A 2017 news report revealed that Eriksen had lobbied Bayside Council to get timed parking on his street following complaints of drivers using the area for long-term parking for nearby Sydney Airport.

Emergency services were called to the Mascot apartment around 6pm on Sunday

He was successful and consequently signs restricting parking to one hour between 6am and 6pm were installed along sections of Church Ave, after the council approved a recommendation from its traffic committee.

Friend of the couple Jeremy Maspero described Ms Fenwick as 'very sweet' and said the pair were well-known in the neighbourhood for walking their two dogs around the local parks.

'We used to call Tony 'the mayor' because he would literally just spend all day walking up and down 'The Avenue', as we called it (Church Ave) talking to people on the street about issues,' he said.

Local resident Prateek Mundae described the incident as 'shocking'.

'It's very daunting to hear,' Mr Mundae told the ABC.

'It's quite surprising. I've been staying over here for three years.'

'I live on the corner and I saw lot of police cars,' another local resident said.
After it was flattened, Co-op said it would be up and running by the end of 2020

Pubgoers have been left furious after their local was demolished to make way for a new supermarket - but the site still remains empty more than three years later.

The much-loved King Hotel in Pontarddulais, Swansea, was flattened in 2020 with the promise of a new Co-op supermarket to be up and running and serving the community by the end of that year.

But the 'ghost' supermarket is still remains empty on the business corner of St Teilo Street - with locals having no clue when it will open.

It was said at the time that the 650,000 development would see a new 2,500 sq ft food store, creating between 15 and 20 jobs, with customer car parking, alongside a focus on fresh, healthy foods, Fairtrade produce, meal ideas, bakery, award-winning wines and essentials.

Villager David Beynon said: 'It's a mystery, I can't make any sense at all of it.

 Slide me  Pubgoers have been left furious as a popular boozer was demolished to make way for a new supermarket but the site still remains empty more than three years later. The much-loved King Hotel (left) in Pontarddulais, Swansea, was flattened in 2020 with the promise of a new Co-op supermarket to be up and running and serving the community by the end of that year

'We were all dismayed to see the King Hotel knocked down because it had been a part of the village for so long,' said villager David Beynon

But the 'ghost' supermarket is still remains empty on the business corner of St Teilo Street - with locals having no clue when it will open

'We were all dismayed to see the King Hotel knocked down because it had been a part of the village for so long. The King was a lovely pub but times move on.

'We were delighted to know the Co-op was coming there - it was supposed to open last March but there was delay after delay.'

Resident Derek Lewis said: 'The great days of the King have long gone so it's best that it's going so the community can have something that we will use.

'But years later many residents seem frustrated to still be waiting for a local shop to take the pub's place.'

A spokesperson for the Co-operative Group told Wales News: 'Decisions on plans for the store to open are yet to be taken.'

MailOnline has approached Co-op for comment.
Ukraine says it has been forced to alter its plans for a spring counteroffensive after a leak of classified US intelligence documents revealed top secret military details, according to a report.

The documents, which emerged online, included details ranging from the war in Ukraine to China, the Middle East and Africa - and have US officials scrambling to identify the leak's source, with some experts saying it could be an American.

Now, citing a source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, CNN has reported that Ukraine has been forced to amend some of its military plans ahead of a much-vaunted counter-offensive because of the information revealed in the leaks.

Meanwhile, Russian forces are continuing to press attacks in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, focusing on two cities and pounding Ukrainian positions with air strikes and artillery barrages, Kyiv said on Monday.

The commander of Ukraine's ground forces said the Russians were destroying buildings in besieged Bakhmut in what he called 'scorched earth' tactics.

Elsewhere a missile strike killed a father and his 11-year-old daughter.

A Ukrainian service members ride a BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues near the front line city of Bakhmut, April 6

Bakhmut, the site of heavy battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region, on Sunday

For months Bakhmut has been the focus of the biggest and bloodiest battle of the war. Pictured: Residential blocks in Bakhmut that have been left scorched by fighting in the city

For months Bakhmut has been the focus of the biggest and bloodiest battle of the war, now in its second year, and has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties.

Russia has long claimed its forces are on the cusp of seizing the city, but Ukraine's soldiers have continued to hold out as the country prepares to mount its latest counteroffensive to drive Russia further back east.

Kyiv's forces proved capable of executing such offensives last year when they reclaimed vast swathes of territory in the North and South.

Plans for a new counteroffensive with the goal of repeating this success are said to have been in the works for months. However, after the alleged leak of the US documents, CNN reports that Kyiv has been forced to alter its plans.

However Ukraine on Monday played down the reports of a change in plan.

Asked about it, presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said Ukraine's strategic plans remained unchanged but that more specific tactical plans were always subject to change. 'There are strategic tasks - they are unchangeable,' he told Reuters.

'But operational and tactical scenarios are constantly refined, based on an assessment of the situation on the battlefield, resource provision, intelligence data on the enemy's resources. Right now it's impossible to reassess plans, because they are only being worked out now.'

Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, told Reuters: 'We are working on our own plans... The opinion of people who have nothing to do with this do not interest us...

'The circle of people who possess information is extremely restricted.'

The documents, the authenticity of which the MailOnline has not independently verified but which have been widely reported on, include information about the war in Ukraine, including losses for both sides and other details.

One of the documents, dated February 23 and marked 'Secret' outlines in detail how Ukraine's S-300 air defence systems would be depleted by May 2 at the current usage rate - and could mean Russia could change the course of the war with jets.

Such closely guarded information could be of use to Russian forces.

Some national security experts and US officials say they suspect that the leaker could be American, given the breadth of topics covered by the documents, but they do not rule out pro-Russian actors.

A former CIA officer has said it is highly likely that Moscow orchestrated the leak in order to sow confusion and potential divisions between Washington and its allies.

The Kremlin hit back, saying that there was a general tendency to always blame Russia for everything, when asked about the accusations.

'I cannot comment on this in any way. You and I know that there is in fact a tendency to always blame everything on Russia. It is, in general, a disease,' Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Asked about the idea that Washington had spied on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Peskov, who called the leaks 'quite interesting', said that this could not be ruled out.

'But the fact that the United States has been spying on various heads of state, especially in European capitals, for a long time now, has come up repeatedly, causing various scandalous situations,' he said.

A group of Ukrainian soldiers ride atop an APC on the frontline in Bakhmut on Saturday, April 8

A destroyed armoured military vehicle lies in a road in Bakhmut, on Sunday, April 9

An MI-8 helicopter flies over an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine on Saturday, April 8

A Belarusian volunteer soldier from the Kastus Kalinouski regiment, a regiment made up of Belarusian opposition volunteers formed to defend Ukraine, fires a 120mm mortar round at a front line position near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, on April 9

The report came as the commander of Ukraine's ground forces accused the Russians of using what he called 'scorched earth' tactics in Bakhmut.

READ MORE: US officials are racing to find out how classified docs appearing to show highly sensitive details about the war in Ukraine, China and the Middle East appeared online Advertisement

Ukraine's Armed Forces General Staff said on Sunday fighting was heaviest along the western approaches to Bakhmut. The Russians were also targeting the city of Avdiivka, it said, which lies around 30 miles to the south of Bakhmut.

The assault on Bakhmut, a small city in Donetsk at the edge of a chunk of Russian-controlled territory, has taken on a symbolic significance.

Putin appears hell-bent on capturing the city at any cost - despite analysts saying it offers little in the way of tactical benefit - in order to get his first victory in months.

Nevertheless, on Monday, ground forces commander Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said the defence of Bakhmut continued. 'The situation is difficult but controllable,' he said in comments quoted by Ukraine's Media Military Centre.

Moscow is sending in special forces and airborne assault units to help their attack as members of Russia's PMC Wagner group are now exhausted, Syrskyi said.

Wagner mercenaries have spearheaded the Russian assault on Bakhmut which has left the city of a pre-war population of 70,000 largely in ruins.

'The enemy switched to the so-called scorched earth tactics from Syria. It is destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery fire,' Syrskyi said.

Ukraine's general staff said Russian forces had made unsuccessful advances on areas west of Bakhmut and at least 10 towns and villages had come under Russian shelling. The Russians had also made no headway in attacks on Avdiivka, it said.

Donetsk is one of four provinces in eastern and southern Ukraine that Russia declared annexed last year.

It is seeking to fully occupy the region in what appears to be a shift in its war aims after failing to overrun the country soon after its invasion in February 2022.

Western analysts say both sides have been losing large numbers of troops in the battle for Bakhmut, a regional transport and logistics hub prior to the war.

Control of Bakhmut could allow Russia to directly target Ukrainian defensive lines in Chasiv Yar in the east and open the way for its forces to advance on two bigger cities in the Donetsk region - Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

While Ukraine has said it wants to inflict as many casualties as possible on the Russian forces as its prepares its own counteroffensive, President Zelensky last week said if troops risked being encircled they could be pulled back.

Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said Russian forces controlled the centre of Bakhmut, with much of their assault now focusing on the railway station.

'There is heavy fighting in the city centre and the enemy is gradually moving toward the western outskirts,' Zhdanov said.

Britain's Defence Ministry said that over the last seven days, Russia also appeared to have increased its armoured assaults around the town of Marinka, also in Donetsk province.

'Russia continues to give a high priority to resourcing operations in the broader Donetsk sector, including the Marinka and Avdiivka areas, expending significant resources for minimal gains,' it said.

Meanwhile, the Institute for the Study of War - a Washington-based think tank - said late on Saturday that it thinks Russia's overall offensive 'is approaching culmination'.

The institute cited Ivan Tymochko, the head of the Ukrainian Council of Reservists for the country's ground forces, as reporting that recent Russian attacks appeared designed to distract and disperse Ukrainian troops preparing for a counteroffensive.

'Tymochko stated that Russian forces are not making serious advances anywhere on the front line,' the think-tank said.

Ukrainian servicemen stand in a trench near their position near the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk

An Ukrainian serviceman fires 2s1 'Gvozdyka' self-propelled howitzers at an undisclosed position near the outskirts of Bakhmut, Donetsk

Noting that Russia has made heavy use of artillery to 'offset key shortcomings in combat capability', the institute said reported ammunition shortages would 'undermine the Russian military's ability to continue offsetting its other weaknesses and limitations'.

READ MORE: Leaked Pentagon papers predict Ukrainian's air defenses will be exhausted by MAY 23 Advertisement

In a video address on Sunday night, Zelensky denounced Russian air strikes coinciding with the observance of Orthodox Palm Sunday.

Ukraine's State Emergencies Service said a 50-year-old man and his 11-year-old daughter were killed after Russian forces struck a residential building in Zaporizhzhia, in the south-east.

A woman identified as the wife and mother of the victims was pulled from under the rubble.

'This is how the terrorist state marks Palm Sunday,' Mr Zelensky said in his address. 'This is how Russia places itself in even greater isolation from the world.'

The majority of Ukraine's 41million people are Orthodox Christians who celebrate Easter next weekend, as does Russia.

Pope Francis, who has been critical of Russia's war, prayed for peace during Easter events in the Vatican on Sunday.

'Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia,' he said.

Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry said its forces had destroyed a depot with 70,000 tonnes of fuel near Zaporizhzhia.

The forces destroyed Ukrainian army warehouses storing missiles, ammunition and artillery in the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, the ministry said.

Ukraine also reported widespread Russian shelling in northern regions. Officials in the South said Russian aircraft had used guided bombs against towns in the Kherson region.

This came as a Moscow-backed official announced on Monday that he had visited the frontline city of Bakhmut in Ukraine, suggesting that Russia's forces have made significant gains there.

Denis Pushilin, the Russia-installed head of the eastern Ukrainian Donetsk region, posted a video of himself on Telegram in the heavily destroyed city.

'Here is our Artemovsk,' Pushilin said, using the Soviet-era name for Bakhmut.

'It is being liberated by Wagnerites,' he added, in reference to the Wagner mercenary group spearheading Russia's battle in the city.

Destroyed buildings and ruins could be seen in the background behind Pushilin, who wore a camouflage helmet.

He appeared to be standing in the central Svoboda square of the city.

The sound of artillery could be heard in the video.

A pilot sits inside an MI-8 helicopter at an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine, April 8

Ukrainian servicemen fire 2s1 'Gvozdyka' self-propelled howitzers at an undisclosed position near the outskirts of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, April 7

The head of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, last week claimed the group had 'in a legal sense' captured Bakhmut because he said it had taken control of city hall.

The Russian army reported no such gains, and Ukraine has said it is continuing to defend the city.

In a sign that Wagner has made significant gains, several Russian war correspondents have in recent days published videos from Bakhmut.

One of those was Semen Pegov, who published images of himself riding on a motorbike accompanied by Wagner fighters through the ruins of the city.

As the battle for Bakhmut continues to rage, the president of Belarus told Russia's defence minister on Monday that he wanted guarantees that Moscow would defend his country if it was attacked, the state-owned BELTA news agency reported.

BELTA cited Alexander Lukashenko as making the remarks to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during a meeting in the Belarusian capital Minsk.

Lukashenko was cited as saying that he had previously discussed the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin who he said had agreed with him that such security guarantees were necessary and needed to be formalised.

'In general, it sounded at the talks (with Putin) that in the case of aggression against Belarus, the Russian Federation would protect Belarus as its own territory. These are the kind of security (guarantees) we need,' Lukashenko was quoted as saying.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko meets with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Minsk, Belarus, on April 10

Belarus, which currently hosts a contingent of Russian forces, has offered assistance to Moscow during its military campaign in Ukraine which Russia calls 'a special military operation'.

In the war's earliest days, Minsk allowed Moscow to use its territory to launch an ultimately unsuccessful assault on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Since late last year, a flurry of military drills and visits from high-level Russian officials have sparked speculation that Belarus may formally join a new attack on Ukraine.

Lukashenko has consistently denied such intentions, but has said that Belarus will respond to any incursions on to its territory or attempts to foment unrest.
An elderly couple died after frying and eating poisonous pufferfish for lunch in Malaysia.

Ng Chuan Sing and his wife Lim Siew Guan, who were both in their early 80s, inadvertently bought at least two poisonous pufferfish online on March 25, according to authorities in the southern state of Johor.

Ms Guan, 83, began to experience 'breathing difficulties and shivers' on the same day that she had fried the pufferfish, while her husband started to show similar symptoms an hour after eating the meal.

Tragically, after both were rushed to intensive care, Ms Guan was pronounced dead at 7pm local time, CNN reports.

Her husband, Mr Sing, 84, fell into a coma for eight days before he died on Saturday morning after his condition deteriorated.

Ng Chuan Sing (right) and his wife Lim Siew Guan (left) were killed after eating a poisonous pufferfish for lunch

Ms Guan, 83, began to experience 'breathing difficulties and shivers' on the same day that she had fried the pufferfish (file image), while her husband started to show similar symptoms an hour after eating the meal

The couple's daughter, Ng Ai Lee, demanded accountability for her parents' death as she held a press conference outside their home on Sunday before their funeral.

'Those responsible for their deaths should be held accountable under the law and I hope the authorities will speed up investigations,' she said.

'I also hope the Malaysian government will beef up enforcement and help to raise public awareness on pufferfish poisoning to prevent such incidents from happening again.'

Currently, Malaysian laws prohibit vendors from selling poisonous food such as pufferfish meat, and those caught doing so face fines of up to - or risk being jailed for up to two years.

Ms Lee also revealed how her father asked about his wife's welfare shortly before he passed away himself.

'My father woke up from an eight-day coma,' she said. 'The first person he asked for was my mother. We told him she is resting at home.

'We did not tell him the truth because we were worried that he could not take it but we had a feeling that he knew my mother had died. He cried.'

The daughter of the elderly couple, Ng Ai Lee (pictured), has called for accountability for her parents' death and tougher regulations

Ms Lee also revealed how her father (pictured) asked about his wife's welfare shortly before he passed away himself

She added that seemed to have recovered and had even been transferred to a normal ward on Thursday but after asking about his wife once again, he died yesterday, reportedly from pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in an artery that blocks blood flow to the lung.

Pufferfish, known as 'fugu' in Japan, continues to be enjoyed at high-end restaurants in Tokyo despite the severe risks.

Fugu chefs are meant to undergo extensive training for up to three years before they are permitted to prepare the pufferfish for food.

Parts of the fish's organs, skin, blood and bones contain tetrodotoxin - a deadly poison which can cause horrific symptoms before death.
Gavin Newsom is going all-in on his attacks on Ron DeSantis, claiming that there's no way the popular Florida governor will beat Donald Trump in a primary and slamming his signage of a permitless carry law.

The Democratic California governor's repeated criticism of DeSantis seems to be setting up a rivalry as Americans call for new blood in the White House  while it appears the 2024 presidential election could be another show-down between septuagenarian Trump and octogenarian President Joe Biden.

DeSantis, 44, has not yet announced whether he is running in the GOP primary, but many expected him to take his growing war chest and enter the race in coming months.

Newsom, 55, says there's no shot the Florida Republican wins against the former president.

'He's gonna get rolled by Trump,' Newsom told former White House Press Secretary and now MSNBC host Jen Psaki. 'Trump's just gonna roll him. Thumped.'

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said that his Florida counterpart Ron DeSantis will be 'rolled' by Donald Trump and claimed he is 'scared to death of the public'

DeSantis has not yet announced a bid for president, but is so far the only one who is giving Trump a run for his money in the polls

.@GavinNewsom to @jrpsaki on a potential DeSantis 2024 presidential campaign: He's gonna get rolled by Trump. Trump's just gonna roll him. Thumped. Honestly, if I were offering him political advice, I'd tell him to pack up and wait a few years. pic.twitter.com/8EJ9uZk6Yi  Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) April 9, 2023

'Honestly, if I were offering him political advice, I'd tell him to pack up and wait a few years,' Newsom added in his Sunday interview with Psaki.

He also claimed that DeSantis is 'scared of the public.' It's unclear what this attack was in reference to, but could be the fact that Florida governor has snubbed most mainstream media by refusing to engage in interviews with outlets his office views as unfavorable of his policies and positions.

Of Newsom's stunt, DeSantis' Deputy Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern slammed the California governor for spending 'his time talking about Governor DeSantis.'

'[Gov. DeSantis] spends his time governing on behalf of Floridians, implementing conservative policy, and spreading Florida's blueprint for success,' he added in a tweet on Newsom's comments saying DeSantis is 'scared.'

Newsom sat-down for a pre-recorded interview with Psaki in Alabama while touring Republican-led states, including Arkansas and Mississippi.

During that interview, he didn't mince words for arguably the most popular and widely-known GOP state leader.

'They don't care about our kids,' Newsom said of DeSantis and the Florida legislature after it passed a law allowing people in Florida to carry firearms without a permit.

'If they did, they'd ban these damn weapons of war,' he added in the interview aired Sunday. 'They would have background checks that require some common damn sense.'

The finger-pointing came in the wake of the bill's signage, which happened just days after a shooting at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee left six dead, including three nine-year-old students.

'[DeSantis is] scared to death, scared of the people, scared of the public,' Newsom said. 'I think the majority of NRA members probably oppose that position.'

Newsom sat down for an interview with Jen Psaki during a took a tour of red states following the launch of his new PAC, aimed at calling out red states and 'authoritarian leaders'. He attacked DeSantis signing a new permitless carry law in Florida just days after the Tennessee school shooting

.@GavinNewsom on Gov. Ron DeSantis signing a permitless concealed carry bill into law at a nonpublic event in his office: Hes scared to death.@jrpsaki: Whos he scared of?



Newsom: Scared of the people. pic.twitter.com/JkmntocikA  Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) April 9, 2023

The California governor, who was able to hold onto his seat after facing a recall election for his actions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, has recently been intentionally increasing his national relevance.

Newsom recently launched a new political action committee (PAC) called Campaign for Democracy. It is aimed at calling out policies in red states and targeting who he claims are 'authoritarian leaders.'

The new conceal carry law in Florida was signed by DeSantis in the week following the March 27 Covenant School shooting. It has broad opposition by Democrats  and even some Republicans.

A University of North Florida poll from early March shows that 62 percent of respondents opposed the bill, with a whopping 93 percent of Democrats feeling that way and only 21 percent of Republicans agreeing.

'Constitutional Carry is in the books,' DeSantis said during a press release after signing the bill into law.

Since the shooting in Tennessee last month, protests have ensued at the state's Capitol and thrown the legislature into disarray. Two members were expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives after staging a protest on the floor.
Stills released of owner and trainer who flee the store as staff treat the victim

The dog, a Great Dane, is currently in a seven-day quarantine at its home to test for rabies

No official charges have been brought against the two women by Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

Surveillance footage shows the horrifying moments a Home Depot customer was bitten in the face by a dog - with its owner claiming it head butted its victim.

The customer was visiting the store in Evergreen, Colorado, when the dog's owner and trainer approached them on March 31.

He was asked to give the dog a treat as part of its training, but after agreeing he was bitten in the face by the Great Dane.

Both the dog's owner and trainer then immediately left the store as staff were tending to the victim.

They were caught on surveillance footage leaving the area, as Jefferson County Sheriff's Office released stills to search for the two women.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office's is still investigating the incident, and no official charges have been announced

Authorities confirmed that the victim sustained 'serious' injuries and will need facial surgery.

The dog's owner was apprehended on Thursday, with the sheriff's office confirming that the canine is usually quarantined in similar cases.

In a statement they said: 'The owner would be held accountable for restitution or in the event of any enforcement action.

'For dog bites, the dog is quarantined at their home for 10 days, to ensure the dog is not exhibiting any behaviors associated with rabies.'

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office's is still investigating the incident, and no official charges have been announced.

However the victim wants to press charges, with officers lodging two pending charges that include dog fighting off premises under owner control or harboring a vicious dog.

The owner claims the dog did not bite the victim but rather head-butted the victim, and the dog is seven days into a quarantine for rabies at their own home.

If you have information that might be helpful to authorities in their investigation you are asked to contact Jefferson County Animal Control at 303-271-5070.
India today denied 'baseless' claims it had stalled trade talks with Britain over a row about Sikh separatist protests outside its high commission in London.

Supporters of the Khalistan movement - which seeks to create a homeland for Sikhs in the Punjab - last month staged demonstrations at the building in Aldwych.

Windows were broken and two members of security staff were injured, while police arrested a man on suspicion of violent disorder.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly condemned acts of violence against embassy staff and vowed to 'robustly respond' to the attacks.

But it has been claimed the Indian government wanted Britain to go further and publicly condemn the Khalistan movement.

This has supposedly seen New Delhi disengage from negotiations with Britain on a post-Brexit trade deal, while it awaits a stronger response.

Yet, India's foreign ministry this morning insisted trade talks had not been suspended and denied the 'baseless' report.

A source close to Kemi Badenoch, the UK's Business and Trade Secretary, also dismissed the 'nonsense' claim.

Supporters of the Khalistan movement - which seeks to create a homeland for Sikhs in the Punjab - last month staged demonstrations outside India's high commission in London

It has been claimed the Indian government wanted Britain to go further and publicly condemn the Khalistan movement

Rishi Sunak (pictured with Indian PM Narendra Modi in November) has signalled he is taking a different approach to trade agreements and said he would not 'sacrifice quality for speed'

The UK and India have a 29billion trading relationship that both sides are seeking to boost further through the signing of a free trade deal.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson had aimed to get an agreement done by last October, but that deadline passed withouth a deal being signed.

After becoming PM, Rishi Sunak signalled he was taking a different approach to trade agreements and said he would not 'sacrifice quality for speed' in striking deals.

An eighth round of trade talks between Britain and India took place between 20 and 31 March.

According to The Times, a row over Sikh separatist protests in London is among several problems to have slowed negotiations.

A Whitehall source told the newspaper: 'India has said they don't want to speak about trade, they don't want to do trade negotiations because they think it's part of a wider problem of us not taking the attack against the Indian high commission and the wider Sikh separatist movement seriously.

'Indians don't want to talk about trade until they get a very public demonstration of condemnation of Khalistan extremism in the UK.

'I wouldn't underestimate the strength of feeling on this. They're expecting the Government to say something on Sikh extremism before they come back to the table seriously.'

It has also been claimed that visa conditions for Indians working in the UK, a critical BBC documentary about Indian PM Narendra Modi, and comments by Home Secretary Suella Braverman about Indians outstaying their UK visas have all contributed to the slow-going of trade talks.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: 'Both the UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial free trade agreement and concluded the latest round of trade talks last month.

'The Foreign Secretary has condemned the recent acts of violence at the Indian High Commission, and we are working with the Metropolitan Police to review security and make changes to ensure the safety of its staff.'
President Joe Biden on Monday gave his strongest indication yet hes running for another term in the White House - but admitted he wasnt prepared to announce it yet.

Biden, 80, said he's 'planning' on a re-election bid during an interview with the Today Show's Al Roker ahead of the annual White House Easter Egg Roll with Jill Biden at his side.

The president has said multiple times he intends to run again in 2024, despite questions about his health and age, but has made no indications of when he'll formally announce his bid.

Roker asked him: I was just wondering, Mr. President, will you be taking part in the Easter egg rolls after 2024?

President Joe Biden gave his strongest indication yet that he's running for re-election

President Joe Biden (left) and first lady Jill Biden (right) address the crowd Monday at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll

I plan on at least three or four more Easter egg rolls? Maybe five, Biden said. Maybe six. What the hell. I don't know.

Roker asked him if he was planning on running in 2024.

Ill either be the guy rolling the egg or the guy pushing them out, Biden quipped.

I plan on running, Al, he said, but we're not prepared to announce it yet.

Biden is the oldest president in history, and at his annual physical earlier this year, his doctor declared him fit to be president.

Originally there was talk Biden would announce his re-election campaign in February, shortly after his State of the Union address. Then the talk was it would be in April.

But his packed schedule shows no timeline for an announcement. The president leaves for Ireland on Tuesday, where he'll celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and visit his ancestor's land.

Joe and Jill Biden joined Al Roker on the Today Show to talk about the Easter Egg Roll

Easter Egg Roll decorations are on display in the East Colonnade of the White House

Toward the end of the month he and Jill Biden will host their second state dinner.

It is unclear why he hasn't announced yet or when he will do so.

Biden averages a 44% approval rating in the RealClearPolitics polling average.

He hasn't drawn a serious primary challenger although Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have announced bids.
A group of complete strangers banded together to save a man after his car rolled, leaving him trapped inside with a severely broken arm.

CCTV captured the moment the man in his 60s slammed into a parked vehicle in St James, Perth, causing it to flip.

Footage shows the driver instinctively stretching his arm out of the window to brace for impact as the vehicle rolled, leaving it severely crushed.

A band of six men rushed to the wreckage in an attempt to free the driver before paramedics arrived to treat him.

'I was just out hitching my trailer up to the car and heard a big bang, looked across the road and a car was on its side,' Good Samaritan Chris Brehaut told 7News.

'He was just in a lot of pain, his right arm was quite badly broken with a lot of blood, but he was conscious and talking to us.

'But just in a lot of pain.'

After deliberation among the group they decided it would be best not to flip the car for fear that it could've made a bad situation worse.

Instead the group simply stabilised the car until paramedics arrived who took the necessary steps to free the man.

Footage shows the driver stretch his arm out of the window before it rolled over, leaving him trapped inside

CCTV captured the moment the Western Australian man in his 60s slammed into a parked vehicle causing it to flip

A group of onlookers rushed to help the man before paramedics and fire rescue workers arrived

Other onlookers directed traffic while they waited for emergency services to arrive.

Firefighters also arrived to help the group, with the man finally being freed following the exhaustive effort.

Police are now investigating the incident to determine the cause.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to WA police for comment.
Maia and Rina Dee, 20 and 15, died instantly when car was shot at in West Bank

The devastated father of two British-Israeli sisters who were killed in a brutal West Bank drive-by shooting today tragically described how their 'family of seven is now a family of four' after his wife died from her wounds.

Rabbi Leo Dee told a press conference from Erfat Settlement that his daughters Rina and Maia, 15 and 20, were killed by 20 bullets from a Kalashnikov rifle and his wife Lucy was shot twice.

He said he had been informed of an attack and called his family before realising he had received a missed call from his daughter Maia.

Speaking at the press conference, broadcast on the BBC, the heartbroken rabbi said: 'I hadn't noticed it ring, I hadn't picked up the phone, the feeling she called me during the attack and I wasn't able to speak to her will come back and haunt me for a while.'

Rabbi Dee said that he saw a photograph on Instagram of his car with a bullet hole in it, and the family's suitcases with blood on them, which compelled him to drive 'like a lunatic' to the scene. He said that he was able to identify his daughter Maia at the scene after police produced her identity card, and he then drove to the hospital where his wife had been taken.

He said: 'I went numb. I didn't cry yet, I was highly rational. I drove another hour and a half to the hospital.

'Lucy had had two bullets - one through the brain stem and one lodged at the top of her spine. There was an operation. There was reason for hope. But alas our family of seven is now a family of four.'

Three days after the attack, Lucy has died in hospital as a result of her injuries

Mother Lucy Dee, 48, left, died as a result of her injuries following the drive-by shooting, three days after her daughters Rina (centre) and Maia (right) were killed in the attack

Rabbi Dee described his wife and daughters as 'three beautiful innocent young ladies in the prime of their lives' and urged people to post images of the Israeli flag on social media in their memory.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the British Jewish community have expressed their condolences to the family.

Netanyahu vows to 'restore calm and security' to Israel amid soaring tensions Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would 'restore calm and security' to the country, after rising tensions over the last week in the Middle East. Tensions have mounted in Israel since last week, with heavy clashes, shootings, rocket strikes and a car-ramming attack marring a period when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan coincides with the Jewish Passover and Christian Easter. The day after Israeli police stormed the prayer hall of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque - Islam's third-holiest site - in a pre-dawn raid, more than 30 rockets were fired from Lebanese soil into Israel, an attack which the Israeli army said was most likely carried out by the Palestinian armed movement Hamas. Israel then bombarded Gaza and southern Lebanon, targeting 'terror infrastructures' that it said belonged to Hamas. 'We will not allow the terrorist Hamas to establish itself in Lebanon', by acting on 'all fronts,' Netanyahu said on Monday. In the same news conference Netanyahu also announced that he would reverse his earlier decision to sack his defence minister, Yoav Gallant. 'There have been disputes between us, even difficult disputes on certain subjects, but I have decided to leave these disputes behind us,' he said. 'Gallant remains in his post and we will continue to work together for the safety of the citizens of Israel.' Advertisement

Mr Netanyahu posted on Twitter: 'On behalf of all the citizens of Israel, I send my heartfelt condolences to the Dee family on the death of the mother of the family, the late Leah (Lucy), who was murdered in the severe attack in the Bekaa last Friday, along with her two daughters Maya and the late Rina.'

The Board of Deputies of British Jews posted: 'Our hearts go out to the Dee family at the terrible news that Lucy Dee has now also passed away after the Palestinian terror attack on Friday that killed two of her daughters, Maia and Rina. May their memories be for eternal blessing.'

Mrs Dee, 48, was seriously injured in the attack on their car near an Israeli settlement in the West Bank on Friday and on Monday, Israel's Hadassah hospital announced that she had died, according to reports by AP.

Rabbi Dee was formerly the senior rabbi at Radlett United Synagogue in Hertfordshire and assistant rabbi in Hendon, north London.

The sisters were born in London and the family moved to Israel in 2014, according to The Telegraph.

The Radlett United Synagogue told the PA news agency: 'The Radlett Jewish community is devastated at the terrible news of Rebbetzen Lucy Dee's passing, in addition to the deaths of her and Rabbi Leo Dee's daughters, Maia and Rina.

'The community greatly admired the inspiring Dee family during their time at Radlett. Lucy and her daughters were idealistic, pure-hearted and kind.

'We and the world have been robbed of their presence, but their light can never be extinguished. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Rabbi Leo and his children, Keren, Tali and Yehudah.'

The family lived in the Efrat settlement, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, according to the settlement's mayor, Oded Revivi.

The three family members were among six people caught up in the attack carried out by Palestinian assailants.

The family was in one of three cars on their way to Tiberias in the Galilee for a family holiday.

In footage from the funeral on Sunday, broadcast on Sky News, Rabbi Dee said: 'Maia and Rina, you have loved us, you have inspired us, and in turn we will love you forever.

'May your souls be bound in the bond of eternal life.

'And may we, and no-one else in the world, ever know so much sorrow.'

Israeli-British Rabbi Leo Dee, whose two daughters died in a West Bank shooting, speaks in the Jewish settlement of Efrat after his wife, who was seriously wounded in Friday's attack, has now been pronounced dead

Family members mourn next to the bodies of Maya and Rina during their funeral in the Israeli settlement of Kfar Etzion in the West Bank on Sunday

The mother and her two daughters were killed after suspected Palestinian gunmen opened fire on their car in the Jordan Valley on Friday. Pictured: Policemen at the scene

Rabbi Leo Dee, the father of Maya and Rina, broke down in tears as he paid tribute to his 'beautiful angels' at their funeral on Sunday

Officials at Hadassah University hospital confirmed the mother's death this afternoon, and her family said they have decided to donate her organs in order to save the lives of others, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Rabbi Dee broke down in tears at Maia and Rina's funeral on Sunday as he told how the memory of his daughters will be kept alive. Now, he must grapple with the heartbreaking reality that his wife is no longer alive.

Lucy's death coincides with that of 15-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Fayez Balhan, who was shot by Israeli forces in a raid on a refugee camp near Jericho in the occupied West Bank earlier today.

Both incidents come as violence continues to spiral following clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian Muslim worshippers at the al-Aqsa Mosque - a holy site for both Jews and Muslims - in Jerusalem's old town last week amid Jewish Passover celebrations and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Lucy will be laid to rest tomorrow in Efrat, two days after the funeral of her daughters. Rabbi Dee is set to speak on his wife's death at a press conference this evening.

In the meantime, family, friends and neighbours have continued to pay tribute to Lucy and her two late daughters.

Roi Indik, a neighbour of the family, wrote on social media: 'Yesterday there was a heartbreaking funeral, and the mother's funeral will take place tomorrow. How much pain, how much sorrow? It is indescribable.'

Merav Sela, a friend of Lucy, said: 'Lucy had the smile, the laughter, the joy. The one who didn't give up both Hebrew and English - that's how we had funny conversations where I spoke in English and she in Hebrew. I always envied her for her never-ending energy.'

On Sunday, mourners, including school friends of Maia and Rina, gathered at the funeral in the settlement of Kfar Etzion in the West Bank and sang songs of grief under in the cemetery's prayer hall.

In an emotional tribute, Rabbi Dee described his daughters as 'flames', adding they will 'bring more light into the world' after their deaths.

Choking back tears, Rabbi Dee added: 'You have inspired and loved us. In return we will love you forever.'

The sisters' bodies were covered in pieces of cloth embroidered with the star of David, one black and the other blue.

Rabbi Dee hugged his daughter's corpses tightly, then sat with his three surviving children.

In his tribute to Maia he said: 'You were always an angel and now you will always be our guardian angel.

'You wanted to sign up for another year of national service, where you could really make a difference. But mummy and I wanted you to start your studies and maybe meet a special boy.

'But you insisted that girls like you always do two years of volunteering so we waited to see what and where this would be.'

Turning to Rina, he said: 'You were such a great student. Such a great friend. You dreamt of travelling the world, now you are travelling to heaven.'

Family friend and senior rabbi at Hendon United Synagogue in north-west London, Mordechai Ginsbury, told Sky News he was 'devastated'.

'To think that in a few moments, so senselessly and painfully, this has happened, such a tragic loss of life, of goodness, is just devastating,' he said.

He added: 'They were just a delightful family, full of commitment, vigour, passion, energy, and they did wonderful things for us in the community.'

Ginsbury said he spoke to Rabbi Dee on Sunday night, where the father and husband admitted that 'one of the things that is sustaining him is the blanket of warmth and love which is enveloping them within Israel and around the world'.

Heartbreaking pictures from Sunday funeral service showed mourners screaming out in pain and embracing one another as they try to process the shock death of the sisters which came amid soaring Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

British sisters Maia (left) and Rina (right) were murdered in a West Bank drive-by shooting on Friday

Friends and family members of Maia and Rina mourn during their funerals on Sunday

An aerial view shows friends and family of Maia and Rina gathering for their funeral

Many of those who attended the funeral on Sunday were teenagers - including some of Rina's school friends

Songs of grief filled the cemetery as mourners gathered to pay their respects to the 'much loved' British sisters on Sunday

Relatives lean over the shrouded bodies of the sisters in grief at their funeral on Easter Sunday

Israeli forces gather near the Hamra junction in the northern part of the Jordan valley in the occupied West Bank following the shooting

Israeli medics and policemen check a damaged car at the scene of a shooting attack

The car that the victims were travelling in crashed after coming under fire, before the gunmen continued to shoot at close range.

Rabbi Dee gathered with relatives at the front of the prayer hall next to a low podium.

Mr Dee, who quit his job as a City investment banker to become a rabbi, believes that the killers will be 'brought to justice'.

He previously revealed that he traced the car down with a tracking device, where he saw his wife being airlifted to hospital but his daughters were already dead.

London-born Rabbi Dee said: 'My daughters were friends of each other as well as sisters. Now we are diminished. Maya was doing national service in the south, and was passionate about helping others. Rina is what you would call an A* pupil. We were proud of them.'

He added: 'I don't blame the terrorists as they will be brought to justice. I am more worried about the tensions between Jews in Israel. Some people think that the new religious government will suppress minority rights and become totalitarian. But this is not a risk as Judaism is about balancing love and justice.'

But violence continues to spiral in the West Bank following the deaths of Maia, Rina and now Lucy.

In a brief statement earlier today, the Palestinian health ministry said teenager Mohammed Fayez Balhan was killed 'by occupation (Israeli) bullets in Jericho', and 'two people were injured by live bullets in the lower extremities' and taken to hospital.

The Israeli army said its forces were operating in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp near Jericho, without providing further details.

Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that clashes erupted when Israeli forces entered the camp and surrounded several houses, arresting five individuals during the raid.

Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis led by at least seven Cabinet ministers marched to an evacuated settlement in the West Bank - a defiant signal that Israel's most right-wing government in history is determined to accelerate settlement building on occupied Palestinian lands despite international opposition.

Relatives during the funeral of a Palestinian who was killed during an Israeli raid, near Jericho in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank today

Relatives of 15-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Bilhan shed tears by his body at the morgue of Jericho Hospital

Israeli settlers march towards the outpost of Eviatar, near the Palestinian village of Beita, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, on April 10

An image on social media appeared to show worshippers with their hands cuffed behind their backs and laying the ground after Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque last week

Muslim worshippers perform Friday prayers outside the Dome of Rock Mosque at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

Israeli police and armed forces are escorting the nationalist group on a march to Eviatar - an unauthorised Israeli settlement outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by the previous government in 2021.

Visits to Eviatar were officially banned by the military since its evacuation, but that prohibition has been loosely enforced in recent months.

Now, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads the most religious and ultranationalist government in Israel's history and wants to press on with establishing more Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, much to the disdain of Palestinian officials.

Several members of Mr Netanyahu's Cabinet, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir - both West Bank settlers - and at least 20 members of Israel's parliament were expected to take part in the march.

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have soared following last week's police raid on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The hilltop shrine is the emotional ground zero of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For Jews, it is known as the Temple Mount, their faith's holiest site and the place where two temples stood in antiquity.

For Muslims, it is known as the Noble Sanctuary, home of the al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

Dozens of Jewish visitors entered the site on Monday escorted by Israeli police for a second consecutive day. These tours by religious and nationalist Jews have increased in size and frequency in recent years, raising fears by Palestinians that Israel may partition the site. Israel insists it has no intention of changing the longstanding arrangement that permits Jewish visits, but not worship, at the Muslim-administered shrine.

Last week, Palestinians barricaded themselves inside al-Aqsa with stones and firecrackers, demanding the right to pray there overnight, something Israel has in the past only allowed during the last ten days of Ramadan.

Police removed them by force, detaining hundreds and leaving dozens injured.

The violence at the shrine was followed by rocket fire by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, southern Lebanon and Syria starting Wednesday, and Israeli airstrikes targeting those areas. Recent days have also seen Palestinian attacks that killed two Israelis and an Italian tourist.

Palestinian attacks have killed at least 19 people in Israel since the start of the year, including one soldier. At least 92 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire so far this year.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Six-Day war. It has built dozens of settlements in the territory that are now home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers.

Most of the international community considers Israel's West Bank settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians. The Palestinians seek the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem for their future independent state.
A British businessman spent years supplying communist spies with military technology from the Ministry of Defences top secret Porton Down laboratory, state files allege.

Peter Tarnoy is said to have used his cover as a British pharmaceutical company executive to collect materials developed for troops to combat chemical and biological warfare. He then passed them to handlers during his regular work trips behind the Iron Curtain, according to newly declassified documents in the Czechoslovak Security Service archives.

The Hungarian-born father of four, who lived with his Oxford graduate wife in an East Sussex farmhouse, also kept a close observation on experts at Porton Down who worked on what he said was highly secret material. He is said to have supplied details of their research and lives  including their lovers  to his spymasters.

His handlers were Czech agents, but much of the information and materials he provided were at the request of their Soviet friends  who expressed their gratitude, the files allege.

Tarnoys alleged activities are said to have proved lucrative for the now 87-year-old and helped fund his daughters' private school fees.

Peter Tarnoy (pictured) was allegedly a spy for the Czech Republic and Soviet Union

For his part, Tarnoy insisted it was nothing to do with money, telling his handlers in a letter: I committed myself to your cause. I have been serving loyally and to the best of my ability.

Professor Anthony Glees, an intelligence and security expert from the University of Buckingham, said: The relative ease with which he obtained materials and information from Porton Down that were valued by the Czech secret service will horrify the public and deeply embarrass MI5 and British security generally.

Contacted by the Mail, Tarnoy  who remains an active businessman and pillar of the establishment  denied all the allegations, claimed the files were forged and said he was actually treated with great suspicion by Communist authorities.

Professor Glees said that he had never heard of anyone successfully disputing the veracity of Communist era archive archives and pointed out the purpose of the extensive files was to help the police-state regimes maintain hold on power, so it would have been ludicrous for them to fake documents.

Raised in Budapest by his bank worker mother and eminent art historian stepfather, Tarnoy fled Hungary in 1956, shortly after the Soviets crushed the uprising against Communist rule.

After arriving in the UK, he obtained British citizenship and won a bursary from Boots to study at the Chelsea College of Technology before becoming a management trainee at Unilever.

In 1965 he started working at a pharmaceutical and industrial machinery business called AVP, which sold equipment to socialist countries including Czechoslovakia, entailing frequent visits and longer term stays in Bratislava, now the capital of Slovakia.

It is here that the Czechoslovakian archive starts to describe the security services' purported involvement with Tarnoy.

In 1974 he was arrested and accused of illicit enterprise, the files state. Tarnoy denies he was ever accused of any crime.

Tarnoy allegedly sent a handwritten 'application' to Czech authorities asking to spy for them

In the letter, he wrote he was 'fully aware of the possible consequences' of breaking his pledge

After his arrest, the Czech spy agency, STB, assessed whether he could be used for intelligence work.

IN FULL: Peter Tarnoy's written application to become a Czechoslovakian spy 'I, Peter Tarnoy, born on the 28th Nov 1935, in Budapest, of British nationality, of Harwood Cottage, East Grinstead, Sussex, working at the A.P.V Co Ltd as director, responsible for sales to Eastern Europe being aware of my criminal activity by which I have broken the Czechoslovakian law, hence with I apply to be enabled to nullify my above mentioned activity by the cooperation with the Czechoslovakian Security Authorities. 'I pledge to follow all the instructions that will be given to me in this respect and to fulfil honourably all the tasks within my best powers. I will not reveal my facts about this activity to anybody, neither to the British authorities, nor to my wife, relatives, fellow workers, friends etc. 'I am fully aware of the possible consequences, which I will bear in the case of breaking my pledges. 'I have signed this application without any pressure, freely and voluntarily. 'P. Tarnoy' Bratislava 12 March 1974 Advertisement

After three days in custody and being warned he could face up to five years in jail, Tarnoy was recruited for co-operation by the Czech Ministry of the Interiors Scientific and Technical Intelligence division. He was given the codename Piter.

The file noted: Piter accepted co-operation with the Czechoslovak Intelligence Service as the only possible solution to his difficult situation.

It was implied to him that he could work his crimes off this way. He handwrote a declaration of co-operation.

Tarnoy was given specific tasks, methods of communication and a cover story for his detention in Czechoslovakia to tell his friends, colleagues and family.

The spies concluded he was extremely capable, hard-working, ambitious but sometimes a bit wild, almost on the verge of gambling.

He was said to be a mixture of a typically Hungarian character and artificially created English traits and habits

The files noted he had many very interesting social connections in Great Britain, and whilst still in custody he provided a detailed description of selected contacts. Tarnoy now denies this.

The handwritten document included TV presenters, publishers, lawyers, captains of industry, barristers, stockbrokers, doctors, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, retired millionaires and even best-selling writer Paul Gallico, author of The Poseidon Adventure.

Tarnoys most powerful contact was Madron Seligman  his boss at the company where they worked  who was also an MEP and best friends with then Prime Minister Edward Heath, although Tarnoy stressed he had no direct access to the Tory leader.

By the end of the first year his handlers reported being particularly happy with the information he provided.

He attends meetings on time, does his best to fulfil the set assignments and follows instructions.

Tarnoy provided materials developed at the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down, which conducted research to help defend UK Armed Forces from weapons of mass destruction.

A file from August 1981 noted: The agent is working on obtaining technological documentation for  military use such as protective clothing, masks, filters and other protective equipment against chemical and biological weapons

He has already handed over basic information and a number of samples  and keeps getting new information as per our instructions and our Soviet friends requests.

He obtains this information using a cover story.

Tarnoy is alleged to have supplied military technology from the Ministry of Defences top secret Porton Down laboratory

Papers allege that in 1982 alone he handed over 11 materials from the lab which the Czechs variously rated as interesting, valuable and informative

A file the following year noted that Tarnoy followed on from his previous success and was assigned tasks relating to obtaining military technology materials, specifically those relating to protection against WMD

The materials were passed on to our Soviet friends and received positive feedback.

He was also given extra tasks and asked extra questions for every material he had obtained, which increased their usability for the communists, the files said.

In 1982 alone he handed over 11 materials which the Czechs variously rated as interesting, valuable and informative, which included technical documentation, samples, brochures and drawings of equipment and machinery.

Most of the materials were of a confidential nature, some could be classed as secret, the files said.

The files also say that many of the materials he provided, while often first developed at Porton Down, were manufactured by private companies around the UK or elsewhere.

Several British companies, including Tarnoys, had shares in Porton Down, the files said.

Another file added that thanks to this process the manufacture of this material, which can be used in protection against WMD  is imminent.

Spy chiefs concluded he should carry on with fulfilling special military requirements set by our USSR friends, in particular those concerning special protective materials against WMD.

Tarnoy (pictured) has denied claims he was a spy and instead says documents were forged

In letters later written to his handlers, Tarnoy said : I was asked to obtain products from Porton Down. I did as I was requested, all at considerable expense to me.

This included charcoal cloth, which he said was developed for the protection of army personnel against nerve gasses.

He wrote: This was an important development at Porton Down and I was asked to obtain as much material as possible

I managed to be in close touch with several key people, including the key technical man.

I obtained practically all the information I was asked for and even arranged the right necessary expertise to build a full production plant.

He also provided valuable details and samples of new TNT explosives requested by his handler, and advised methods of bringing it into Czechoslovakia via a third country to dodge sanctions.

Describing this work in a letter to his handlers, Tarnoy said: Much useful technology was passed on and again key people were cornered.

He also offered to provide a leading expert on vibration control for which the military applications could be of considerable interest with tanks and heavy military vehicles.

A 1983 file said: Piter described the situation in Porton Down as being favourable for deeper exploration and he supplied a list of staff and contact details for biology professor working in its microbiological technology laboratory.

The following year he reported to his handler that a senior manager and biotechnology expert at Porton Down was being squeezed by the Bulgarian intelligence and supplying them information after an apparent honey trap.

The files note: Piter has seen him on a couple occasions secretly copying some documents, always at a time when this Bulgarian woman was in England.

It added the Tarnoy had said the manager was totally obsessed with her, which was probably how he was gained for co-operation.

Tarnoy suggested inviting the professor and the senior manager to Prague for round table talks with Czechoslovak experts over potential co-operation in the area of biotechnologies.

In a later letter to his handlers, Tarnoy said: I reported that [the biotechnology expert] was working with much interesting and highly secret material and he could be of considerable use to you, adding that he had provided a certain tip for the method to be used in cracking this nut.

I kept him under close observation and I have a fair knowledge of his activities.

Other than avoiding jail, his main initial motivation for co-operation was money, the files allege.

A 1983 file said: Piter described the situation in Porton Down as being favourable for deeper exploration

A report at the end of his first year as an agent claimed that while Tarnoy emphasised that his co-operation with us was voluntary, he was primarily driven by cash and would sometimes refer to his difficult financial situation.

At other times he implied to his handler he might stop his co-operation, but when he hears of the money incentive on our part though, he recoils and does not mention it again.

A file from 1981 noted: Piter is currently under money pressure apparently because he is paying tuition fees for his daughters, which come to 4,000 per year.

For his own part, despite often complaining about the expenses he racked up on missions, Tarnoy insisted in a letter to his handlers in 1985: My motivation was never financial and I believe that I proved this point on many occasions.

I am a fairly wealthy man and a few hundred pounds make little difference to me these days.

Tarnoy now denies ever receiving money from Czech government sources.

By the mid 1980s the relationship was deteriorating, with spy chiefs accusing him of becoming totally unsatisfactory at fulfilling his tasks and a significant reduction in materials provided.

With the threat of jail now apparently spent, the communists warned they might ban him from working in Czechoslovakia, which would harm his business dealings.

His handlers described being at a crossroads.

If Piter brings the required samples (of good quality) from Porton Down to the next meeting, our co-operation will continue on a material-financial basis.

'If not, the [handler] will notify Piter of end of co-operation including the consequences related thereto (no entry to Czechoslovakia).

After a final meeting in February 1985, using the cover of a business meeting, his handler reported: Piter did not bring anything to the meeting, kept making excuses and tried to blame us for bad results of our co-operation because we are not generous enough, etc.

The meeting was terminated without any plans for future communication and with the aforesaid warning in place.

For his part, Tarnoy was adamant he had done everything asked of him, telling his handlers: The service I provided was excellent.

Shortly before the final meeting, he wrote complaining that much of his work for his handler had not been followed up.

He added: I served faithfully, yet I had no financial demands. In fact the whole matter cost me much more than I received in my expenses.

I do intend to keep my side of the agreement, but it is difficult to say in advance how many opportunities will present themselves I can only hope that the future will bring some useful results.

In an earlier handwritten letter he said: Ever since I committed myself to your cause I have been serving loyally and to the best of my ability I think that there would be no question of doubt about my sincerity and reliability.

In another, typed, letter bearing his home address he wrote: I have done all that I could when asked to carry out certain tasks. I am ready and willing to be of further service and given the right opportunity, I am certain that sooner or later I repay the energy spent on me.

The files do not always make clear if the materials and information said to have been provided by Tarnoy benefited the communists.

After the collapse of Communism, Tarnoy continued to enjoy a glittering career as an energy consultant, and is currently involved in working on electric car developments in eastern Europe, working with Hungarian government ministers.

In 2002 he was quoted in the Financial Times describing some of the failings of communism.

He served as chairman of the the British Hungarian Society, pictured alongside the Hungarian economic minister in 2014 at a electric car push, and in 2020 was a special guest at the Hungarian Embassy in London where he was described as a renaissance leader of the Hungarian diaspora.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that three men named in the files as Tarnoys contacts in Porton Downs now closed Chemical Defence Establishment did work there during the 1970s to 1990s.

An MoD spokesman said: 'We take security extremely seriously, providing professional training, rigorous security checks, and operating robust security measures to protect our people and assets.'
The crime occurred after hours and police weren't notified until the next day

They cut a 24 by 18 hole, big enough to fit an adult, to break into the store

Brazen thieves tunneled their way into an Apple store through the bathroom wall of an adjoining coffee supplies store - making away with more than $500,000 worth of gear.

Seattle police said the crime at the Alderwood Mall was 'calculated' and the thieves struck about 7pm on April 2 when the stores were closed.

It's unclear if the thieves were hiding out in the adjoining Seattle Coffee Gear restroom, or whether they initially broke in before cutting a hole into the Apple store. Photos of the scene showed a hole large enough to fit an adult in between a toilet and sink.

The break-in wasn't reported until the following morning when Apple employees noticed several iPhones missing from the shelves.

'Approximately 436 iPhones in total were taken out of the back,' LPD Communications Manager Maren McKay said. 'In total about $500,000 worth of merchandise was stolen and that's iPhones, iPads, Apple watches.'

Thieves broke into a Seattle Apple store and stole $500,000 in gear on April 2. The burglars managed to enter the tech store by digging a hole through an adjacent store's wall

The hole leading into the tech shop appeared to be covered up after the incident occurred

Eric Marks, Seattle Coffee Gear Regional Manager, said the thieves managed to break into his shop by prying open its locked front doors.

'Our front door was locked. They pried our front door open,' Marks told local outlet KOMO. '[The hole was a] 24 by 18 hole cut in the wall into what appears to be the back room of the Apple store.

'I'm surprised we were the conduit for them to get to the Apple store,' he added.

Lynwood police said the crime was well-thought out based on the mall's surveillance image, which has not yet been released. The thieves were wearing masks and no fingerprints were left at the scene.

Lynwood police and Apple weren't immediately available for comment.

This map of the Alderwood Mall shows the Apple store is directly next door to the Seattle Coffee Gear store

It's unclear if the thieves were hiding out in the mall when they started their game plan inside the Seattle Coffee Gear shop (Pictured)

Retail theft in the US has grown to be one of the largest epidemics in the past few years.

The multi-billion issue has led to several well-known chain stores sounding the alarm for help, including Best Buy, Lowe's, Walmart, CVS and other drug stores, CNBC reported.

Doug McMillon, Walmart CEO, previously warned against the historic hike in the crimes that aren't fixable through advanced security systems.

'If that's not corrected over time, prices will be higher, and/or stores will close,' McMillon told the news outlet.

McMillon suggested that staffed police departments can fix the problem.

Last year, the National Retail Federation released a study that claimed the amount of goods shoplifted was about a $35 billion loss. The study was conducted by select anonymous retailers.
Animation shared by military showed how it would bombard island with missiles

China's military has declared it is 'ready to fight and smash Taiwanese independence', releasing an animated video simulating how it would launch an all-out attack on the self-governing island nation.

The clip, shared by the Chinese military's Eastern Theatre Command's official WeChat account and later posted on Twitter by The Global Times, showed how Beijing would launch a torrent of missiles from the mainland and its navy in the Taiwan Strait to demolish Taiwan's defences before invading.

It comes as China's military completed three days of large-scale 'combat readiness patrols' which simulated completely sealing off the island in a military blockade and were described by defence officials as a 'warning'.

'The theatre's troops are ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of ''Taiwan independence'' and foreign interference attempts,' the military said Monday.

The exercises were similar to ones conducted by Beijing last August, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan in retaliation for then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island - seen by Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of China.

Military experts say the exercises serve both as intimidation and as an opportunity for Chinese troops to practice sealing off Taiwan by blocking sea and air traffic, an important strategic option the Chinese military might pursue in the event it uses military force to take Taiwan.

China's military shared an animated video simulating how it would launch an all-out attack on Taiwan

This handout photo taken on April 9, 2023 and released by Japan's Ministry of Defense on April 10, 2023 shows a fighter plane taking off from the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong in Pacific Ocean waters, south of Okinawa prefecture

China's military has declared it is 'ready to fight and smash Taiwanese independence' after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around the self-governing island nation

The Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan tweets a video showing Chinese PLA ships and planes in their territory, with caption: 70 PLA aircraft and 11 vessels were detected by 16:00(UTC+8) April 9th. 35 of the detected aircraft had crossed northern, central, and southern median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered our southwest ADIZ.

Beijing's war games were launched amid Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's delicate mission to shore up her nation's dwindling diplomatic alliances in Central America and boost its U.S. support.

Tsai met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week, before a U.S. congressional delegation reconvened with her over the weekend in Taiwan upon her return home.

China responded immediately to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsai's U.S. trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the island's democratic government encourages Taiwanese movements who want formal independence from China, a step China's ruling Communist Party says would lead to war.

The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the Communist Party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

'China wants to use any increase of diplomatic interactions between the U.S. and Taiwan as an excuse to train its military,' said Kuo Yu-jen, a defence studies expert and director of the Institute for National Policy Research in Taiwan.

After Pelosi visited Taiwan last year, China conducted missiles strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan, while also sending warships and war planes over the median line of the Taiwan Strait. It also fired missiles over the island itself which landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone, in a significant escalation.

The live-fire exercises disrupted flights and shipping in one of the busiest shipping lanes for global trade.

President Tsai Ing-wen, left, returned to Taiwan from a meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles

Military experts say the exercises serve both as intimidation and as an opportunity for Chinese troops to practice sealing off Taiwan by blocking sea and air traffic

The exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting 200 flights by Chinese warplanes in the past three days.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the People's Liberation Army, said the exercises are 'simulating the joint sealing off' of Taiwan as well as 'waves of simulated strikes' at important targets on the island.

On Monday, the PLA said its Shandong aircraft carrier was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan for the first time. It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off the deck of the ship in a post on Weibo, the social media platform.

The appearance of the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean suggests that it could be used to prevent foreign militaries from coming to help Taiwan, said Han Gan-ming, a research fellow at the government-backed Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

'In the future if there's a similar military manoeuvre, then Taiwan will have to face it alone,' Han said.

Between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense.

Among the planes that crossed the median were eight J-16 fighter jets, four J-1 fighters, eight Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes. Taiwan also tracked J-15 fighter jets - previously never seen inside Taiwan's air defence zone - which are paired with the Shandong aircraft carrier.

A pilot is photographed operating an aircraft of the Air Force under the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) during a combat readiness patrol and 'Joint Sword' exercises around Taiwan, at an undisclosed location

Chinese navy ships take part in a military drill in the Taiwan Strait. China's military sent several dozen warplanes and 11 warships toward Taiwan in a display of force

Later Monday morning, Taiwan's defence ministry reported another 59 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday in which eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the island's Defense Ministry. It said in a statement that it was approaching the situation from the perspective of 'not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.'

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as from its own navy vessels.

China's military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent toward the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities. The military activity has increased a notch since Pelosi's visit, with Chinese PLA fighter jets regularly flying over the middle boundary line.

Experts say PLA navy vessels regularly navigate the waters off Taiwan's northeastern coast.

Meanwhile, to the south in the South China Sea, the U.S. 7th Fleet said its missile destroyer USS Milius sailed by Mischief Reef in a freedom of navigation operation. China has built an artificial island on the sea feature to stake its claim to the disputed territory.

The exercises were similar to ones conducted by Beijing last August, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan in retaliation for then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as from its own navy vessels. Pictured: Evening news broadcast shows Chinese fighter jets on a screen in Beijing

Experts say PLA navy vessels (pictured) regularly navigate the waters off Taiwan's northeastern coast

Chinese military vehicles are pictured on second day of military drills around Taiwan on April 9

China said the U.S. 'illegally trespassed' into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government, according to a statement from the Chinese military's southern command.

Outside of the military manoeuvres, Kuo said he was worried about the announcements from Fujian's Maritime Safety Administration from last week, when it said it would conduct 'on-site inspections' of cargo ships and working vessels in the Taiwan Strait as part of a patrol exercise.

'First they'll target ships traveling between the Strait, then they will target any international ship,' he said. 'Gradually this will become the de facto new status quo.'

One of the U.S. representatives who attended the meeting with Tsai last week said Saturday the U.S. must take seriously the threat China poses to Taiwan.

Republican Mike Gallagher, chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on China, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island government's defences, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan.
House Democrats are taking a largely symbolic step by introducing legislation Monday that affirms the FDA's approval of drugs women use to medically terminate early-stage pregnancies.

The action comes after a Texas judge ruled last week to put a stay on the popular abortion pill mifepristone, claiming it is unsafe for women despite it being in use since 2000.

Democrats have been highly critical of the ruling, claiming that the judicial action by the Trump-appointed judge should not supersede the FDA's decades-old approval of the abortion pill.

Progressive lawmaker Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has also called on the Biden administration to ignore the ban completely.

Two Democratic lawmakers are introducing legislation Monday that would solidify that FDA's power to authorize abortion drugs

Trump-appointed Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk ordered last week a halt on the abortion pill mifepristone over fears surrounding its safety

Reps. Pat Ryan of New York and Lizzie Fletcher of Texas are introducing the new legislation Monday, which would clarify that the Food and Drug Administration cannot be overruled by state laws and that it has final say regarding medical abortion.

The law, if passed, would also allow healthcare providers to prescribe these pills over telemedicine appointments.

Texas-based U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's decision is meant to take effect Friday, but the Biden administration has already appealed.

Meanwhile, fellow District Court Judge Thomas Rice in Washington state ruled that he would keep the 'status quo' by not allowing the FDA's mifepristone authorization to be suspended.

The opposing rulings clear the path for a probable Supreme Court battle down the line in yet another abortion rights fight after the decision overturning Roe v. Wade last June.

Democrats claim that women's rights are under attack in the U.S. with the 6-3 conservative majority Supreme Court ending decades of precedent set in the Roe decision.

Republican-led states have been implementing stricter abortion laws in the wake of the ruling last summer  and now the abortion pill is facing a ban.

Judge Kacsmaryk ruled on Friday to halt the distribution of a pill that has become the most common method of abortion in the United States since the FDA approved its use in 2000.

Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez doubled-down on her call for the Biden administration to ignore the Texas ruling.

Boxes of the drug mifepristone sit on a shelf at the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., March 16, 2022. A federal judge in Texas on Friday, April 7, 2023, ordered a hold on the U.S. approval of the abortion medication mifepristone

A pro-abortion protester displays mifepristone, an FDA approved drug for medical abortions,during a counter-protest in New York City on March 25, 2023

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in demanding that the Biden administration ignore the ruling in Texas

'That is a pretty stunning position if you think about it,' CNN State of the Union host Dana Bash pushed back on AOC in a Sunday morning interview.

'I want to take a step back and dig into the grounds around ignoring this preliminary ruling as well,' Rep. Ocasio-Cortez replied. 'There is an extraordinary amount of precedent for this.'

'And for folks saying this is a first, that this is precedent setting  it is not,' the New York progressive lawmaker added. 'The Trump administration also did this very thing, but also it has happened before. The idea of consistency in governance until there is a higher court ruling is not an unprecedented thing to happen.'

Meanwhile, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra suggested that the administration could recommend that the FDA not heed the recent ruling, saying he wants the courts to overturn the decision.

Bash asked Becerra Sunday morning if he is 'taking it off the table' the potential of recommending that the FDA ignore a ban on the pill.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra suggested that the administration could recommend that the FDA ignore the ruling

'Everything is on the table  the president said that way back when the Dobbs decision came out,' Becerra replied.

'Every option is on the table.'

The former California attorney said the judge's ruling could have dire ramifications on any FDA-approved drug, such as vaccines, insulin or new Alzheimer's drugs coming onto the market because it seeks to 'turn upside down' the entire FDA approval process.
Hunter Biden and his son, baby Beau, joined President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll.

Hunter attended the annual White House event for a second year in a row as House Republicans have started investigating his foreign business deals as part of a broader look into 'Biden family influence peddling,' the phrasing used by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer.

Baby Beau was enlisted by his grandmother, Dr. Biden, to assist in her reading the book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, in the reading nook, holding up the book for her while she recited it to guests.

'This is Beau my grandson,' the first lady told the crowd. 'Thank you Beau. Thank you for reading with Nana,' she said.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten brought their twins Penelope and Gus to the Easter Egg Roll, and posed for pictures with the youngsters at the egg roll game.

Baby Beau Biden (left), the son of Hunter Biden, helps his grandmother, first lady Jill Biden (right) read the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

President Joe Biden (left) walks with his son Hunter Biden (right) at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

Chasten and Pete Buttigieg attended the Easter Egg Roll with their twins, Penelope and Gus

President Joe Biden (left) and first lady Jill Biden (right) gave brief remarks at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

Hunter Biden can be seen at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll. He is being investigated by several House Republican-led committees

Secretary of State Antony Blinken brought his young kids to the reading nook and was spotted standing with Hunter's wife Melissa Cohen as Dr. Biden read to the children.

The president and first lady appeared on the Truman balcony flanked by two Easter bunnies and made brief remarks to kick off their portion of the program.

'Good morning everyone, I'm Joe Biden, Jill Biden's husband,' the president said, repeating the often-made joke. 'Welcome to the White House - your house.'

'Easter is a season of joy, a time of rebirth, renewal, faith, hope and love,' he continued. 'A time to remember that in the beauty of spring, the seeds of new opportunity are planted.'

'And this spring, our future is filled with unlimited possibilities that can multiply and grow because of all the good people here and throughout the country,' the president added.

Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff walked the grounds with the president and first lady.

After her stop at the reading nook, Dr. Biden appeared at the talent show stage and introduced a performance by cast members of Disney's The Lion King stage production.

Dr. Jill Biden introduced a performance from the cast of Disney's The Lion King at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

Beau Biden with his mother Melissa Cohen (left), the wife of Hunter Biden, attended Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

Hunter Biden (center) stands alongside his father President Joe Biden (left) during Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

Hunter Biden (left) enters the White House with his father, President Joe Biden (right) at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

Dr. Jill Biden (right) puts her hand on the back of baby Beau Biden (left) as they share a story at the reading nook at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

'The Lion King has amazed and enchanted kids and grown ups alike,' she said. 'And now they're bringing their magic to the Easter Egg Roll.'

The cast performed the opening song of the hit 1994 Disney movie and Can You Feel the Love Tonight.

The Easter Egg Roll spans 12 hours, starting at 7 a.m. and not wrapping up until 7 p.m., with about 30,000 people expected to come through the White House gates.

Thousands of military and veteran families are invited, as well as caregivers and survivors, according to the White House press release.

Disney's new 'woke' Little Mermaid, actress Halle Bailey, was announced as one of the entertainers, but did not perform while the president, first lady, vice president and second gentleman were outside.

Bailey plays Ariel in the upcoming live-action version of the Disney cartoon classic.

The movie, set to be released in May, has proven to be controversial - including changes to song lyrics to reflect cultural shifts and questions about whether Ariel will prove to be enough of a feminist icon. And Bailey, who is black, was subject to racist attacks online when the first images of her as a mermaid appeared.

Transportatiob Secretary Pete Buttigieg (upper left) and his husband Chasten (upper right) help their twins Penelope and Gus roll eggs at Monday's Easter Egg Roll

Baby Beau Biden (left) assist his 'Nana,' Dr. Jill Biden, in reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? during Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

President Joe Biden hugs a participant at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

Secretary of State Antony Blinken sits with his chiledren as they attend a story reading in the book nook during Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

President Joe Biden takes a selfie with attendees at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

One attendee was not impressed with Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll

The Marine Band performs at Monday's Easter Egg Roll in advance of the president and first lady's appearance

Children participate in the egg rolling game that gives the White House Easter Egg Rolls its name

GUESTS AT THIS YEAR'S EASTER EGG ROLL Cast members from Disney's The Lion King Halle Bailey, star of the live-action The Little Mermaid Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Dawes Members of the Baltimore Ravens, D.C. United, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Washington Commanders, the Washington Mystics and the Washington Spirit Sesame Street's Rosita, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and Grover Gritty, the orange hairy mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers Characters from Paw Patrol and Sponge Bob Squarepants The Nationals' Racing Presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt The Minions Superman and Wonderwoman Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Astronaut Snoopy and Charlie Brown Advertisement

Disney characters, along with those from PBS, Sesame Street and other childhood favorites - have long been a part of the White House Easter Egg Roll.

But Disney is now a part of the political conversation after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is eying a presidential bid, made it a target as part of his war on 'woke' culture. Disney fired back and the dispute will likely make headlines into the next year.

Jill Biden, a teacher, tried to keep the focus of Monday's event off politics and on education.

'Learning doesn't only happen in the classroom,' she said standing alongside her husband on the Truman balcony.

She's again dubbed her event an 'EGGucational' day, noting in a Twitter post that it will be a day 'where children and their families will learn, explore, and have fun at the White House.'

In honor of the theme, NASA sent one of the wooden Official White House Easter Eggs up to the International Space Station, where astronauts used it to demonstrate the laws of gravity.

On the South Lawn, there were a variety of stations to teach children about farming, healthier eating, exercise and more.

Families of the U.S.S. Delaware and U.S.S. Gabrielle Giffords - two Navy ships that Jill Biden sponsors - were in attendance.

Tickets for the general public were distributed through an online lottery.

The American Egg Board donated about 30,000 eggs for the traditional egg race, where children use wooden spoons to roll the eggs in a race across the South Lawn.

The White House Easter Egg Roll dates back to 1878.

It was canceled the first year of the Biden administration due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year it rained through portions of the event.

This year, crowds got sunshine and temperatures in the high 50s and low 60s.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (right) snaps a picture of his husband Chasten (left) and their twins Penelope and Gus at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll
Taxpayers could soon be paying their returns with crypto as the IRS implements an $80 billion plan to revolutionize the outdated agency.

The mega-package promises to improve customer service, modernize its 1960s-style technology and more heavily audit wealthy families and businesses.

The long-beleaguered agency claims it is also getting to grips with what experts call its 'unacceptably poor' customer service standards, adding its has slashed the wait times on its customer service line from 27 minutes to four.

IRS commissioner Danny Werfel - who took to the post last month- said the funding will facilitate a five-year plan to digitize the tax-filing process and clear its paper backlogs.

It means by 2026 taxpayers and third parties should be able to make payments through online accounts with the option to use bank account, credit or debit card or through a digital wallet.

In theory it means a taxpayer could pay the return via crypto, which is hosted in digital wallets, Forbes reports.

A graphic shows the breakdown of spending from the IRS's new $80 billion plan to improve customer service

The IRS said the digital service should help customers to identify their mistakes before filing returns and upgrade their filing errors more quickly.

'Now that we have long-term funding, the IRS has an opportunity to transform our operations and provide the service that people deserve,' Werfel told reporters.

It comes after years of heavy criticism directed at the IRS for its understaffing and poor customer service standards which were exacerbated during the pandemic.

National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins wrote in a blog post: 'Developing a plan and successfully implementing it are two different things.

'But, for the first time in my 40 years as a tax professional, the tax administration stars seem to be aligning.'

She added that customer service standards at the IRS had been 'unacceptably poor' well before the pandemic.

The Strategic Operating Plan states that $4.3 billion will be allocated to improving the service for taxpayers while $3.2 billion is reserved to 'quickly resolve taxpayers' issues.'

The agency said it had already spent some of the money earmarked for customer service by hiring 5,000 phone assistors ahead of the 2023 filing season.

And taxpayers have been able to respond to certain IRS notices online since February.

Werfel also alleged that the agency now answers between 80 and 90 percent of calls, up from 17 percent in the 2022 fiscal year.

He claimed that the average call wait time had also been slashed from 27 minutes to four.

However when Dailymail.com tried to reach operators this morning, the wait time took 15 minutes 29 seconds.

And that did not include the time spent navigating the agency's phoneline's endless automated questions.

Werfel - a business consultant who earned a $6.6 million paycheck last year - took up the role of IRS commissioner last year

Werfel was nominated to the role by President Joe Biden

The bulk of the plan budget - $47.4 billion - will focus on expanding 'enforcement on the wealthy and businesses.'

A further $12.4 billion will be focused on delivering cutting-edge technology, $8.2 billion is allocated to recruitment of a 'high-skilled, diverse workforce' and $3.9 billion will be spent on energy security.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said the agency is moving to a 'fully digital correspondence process' and aims to eliminate its paper backlog within five years.

What's more it is focused on closing the tax gap to reduce the budget deficit.

It plans to do this focusing on auditing tax returns for wealthy families, large corporations and complex partnerships.

But the plan drew fresh complaints from Republicans who want to repeal the IRS funding as part of their demands for raising the $31.4 trillion federal debt ceiling.

Senator Steve Daines, a Montana Republican, said the IRS 'plans to deploy an army of tens of thousands of IRS agents to increase audits on Montana families and reach into the pocketbooks of Americans.'

Werfel sought to debunk erroneous Republican claims that the funding will create an army of 87,000 armed agents to harass Americans on their taxes.

He said that the percentage of Criminal Investigation staff would not change from its current proportion of about 3 percent of the IRS workforce.

Only around 2,100 Special Agents in the Criminal Investigation unit are authorized to carry firearms, according to a Reuters.

Werfel - a business consultant who earned a $6.6 million paycheck last year - was nominated into the role of IRS commissioner last month by President Joe Biden with a view to clean-up the organization.

He had previously led the cross-government effort under President Obama to dole out $700 billion in stimulus money following the 2008 economic meltdown.

The job is notoriously difficult to fill due to the logistical complications of running an agency with roughly 80,000 employees.
This is the moment two Just Stop Oil eco-zealots are tackled by security as they attempt to enter a dinosaur exhibit at a museum.

Two protesters were tackled as they entered the 'Dippy the Dinosaur' display at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry.

Footage posted by the protest group shows Daniel Knorr, 21, and Victoria Lindsell, 67, climb over a low metal barrier before being tackled to the ground by staff in high-vis jackets.

The pair were subsequently led away in handcuffs by West Midlands Police officers.

It is understood they were intending to spray paint the dinosaur exhibit before being thwarted by security.

Two protesters were arrested as they entered the 'Dippy the Dinosaur' display at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry

Daniel Knorr is led away from the museum by a police officer following the failed stunt this morning

One staff member is shown seizing Mr Knorr's rucksack, while another tackles Ms Lindsell and shouts: 'Stop it, stop it now. Do you understand?'

The two protesters behind the failed stunt Daniel Knorr is a student from Oxford. He said he felt he had 'no choice' but to take part in the stunt because 'we're barrelling towards suffering, mass death and the annihilation of our species'. Knorr most recently took part in a 24-person 'go slow' march in Oxford on April 2 to demand an end to all new oil and gas projects. Millionaire Victoria Lindsell is an English language teacher from Leamington, Warwickshire. Also involved with the protest group Insulate Britain, she has been involved in a number of demonstrations in recent months. She was charged with three public nuisance charges in March last year after being arrested at least five times for blocking roads, including the M25. Advertisement

The demonstrators both remove jumpers to reveal white Just Stop Oil t-shirts before they are removed.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police confirmed two people were arrested in the museum at around 10am on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage.

The force added that 'two large bags of dry paint were also seized by officers' and that 'protest liaison officers' are still at the scene to 'keep people safe and limit disruption to a minimum'.

A spokesperson for Just Stop Oil said: 'Two supporters of Just Stop Oil were arrested at the Herbert Museum in Coventry this morning whilst demanding that the government stop all new UK fossil fuel projects and calling on employees and directors of UK cultural institutions to join in civil resistance against the governments genocidal policies.'

Ms Lindsell, an English language teacher from Leamington, Warwickshire, said she felt 'forced' to take part in the 'civil resistance' action because 'nothing else has moved our genocidal Government to act for the welfare of all'.

Also involved with the protest group Insulate Britain, she has been involved in a number of demonstrations in recent months.

She was charged with three public nuisance charges in March last year after being arrested at least five times for blocking roads, including the M25.

Knorr, a student from Oxford, also said he felt he had 'no choice' but to take part in the stunt because 'we're barrelling towards suffering, mass death and the annihilation of our species'.

The demonstrators both remove jumpers to reveal white Just Stop Oil t-shirts before they are removed

Knorr lay motionless after being tackled by security guards, who were able to confiscate a rucksack filled with paint

Ms Lindsell, an English language teacher from Leamington, Warwickshire, said she felt 'forced' to take part in the 'civil resistance' action

She was tackled by an oncoming security guard as she attempted to climb over a barrier around the exhibit

In a statement, he said: 'I cannot and will not commit myself to a future of powerlessly watching these horrors unfold. The dinosaurs had no choice - we do.

'Humanity is at risk, as is everything we know and love- our historical artefacts, our art, our heritage. Cultural institutions have failed to admit the truth and failed to address the urgency of action.

'It is immoral for institutions to stand by and watch whilst our society faces inevitable collapse. We call on everyone involved in arts, heritage and culture to join us in civil resistance.'

Last year, Just Stop Oil engaged in protests at the Kingsbury Oil Terminal in North Warwickshire.

The group has also caused huge disruption with supporters climbing motorway gantries on the M25 and the QEII Bridge in Dartford, Kent, as well as blocking main roads in London.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: 'We arrested two people following disorder at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry around 10am today (10 April).

'A woman, aged 67, and a man, aged 21, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage and remain in custody for questioning.'

Dippy, meanwhile, has proved hugely popular since taking up residency at the Herbert earlier this year

Ms Lindsell is held to the ground by a member of security as she was seen wearing a Just Stop Oil t-shirt

Knorr was tackled to the ground as he attempted to jump over a barrier around the dinosaur display

'Two large bags of dry paint were also seized by officers. We have Protest Liaison Officers remaining on scene to keep people safe and disruption to a minimum.'

Dippy, meanwhile, has proved hugely popular since taking up residency at the Herbert earlier this year, with crowds pouring in to see the diplodocus cast, dubbed Britain's favourite dinosaur.

The exhibit is a life-size replica of a Diplodocus carnegii skeleton  a 26 metre-long dinosaur that lived 155-145 million years ago.

The dinosaur has been based at the Natural History Museum in London for more than 100 years, but took up residence in Coventry in February.
The number of children and teens being killed by gunfire jumped 50 percent between 2019 and 2021, leaving nearly half of US parents scared that a bullet will kill their offspring, Pew Research Center says.

Over those two years, the number of child gunshot deaths grew from 1,732 to 2,590  the highest number since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started counting deaths in 1999.

The Pew study follows a spate of school shootings, including a rampage at a small, private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, that left three adults and three nine-year-old students dead on March 27.

According to The Washington Post, 2022 was the most violent year in schools in decades, with 46 shootings.

As well as gunshot deaths, there were also 11,000 emergency room visits of children with firearm injuries in 2020, the most recent year for which data are available, another rise on recent years.

The number of child gunshot deaths grew from 1,732 to 2,590  the highest number since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started counting deaths in 1999

America's child gunshot death crisis. Pictured: the aftermath of an eight-month-old gunshot victim, who died after a gun was discharged by the victim's three-year-old brother, in Houston, Texas

The rise in child gun deaths is linked to the increased availability of guns, the number of mass shootings and the growing number of gunshot deaths overall  both of adults and those under 18.

In the US, there are more guns than people, and many households own one or more firearms, meaning children can be exposed to guns at a young age, and accidents can happen even when weapons are stored safely.

In 2021, there were 48,830 gun deaths among Americans of all ages  by far the highest yearly total on record and up 23 percent from the 39,707 recorded in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic.

But there are big differences among adult and child gunshot victims.

More than half of adult firearm deaths are suicides. For minors, only a third are suicides. Most of the young deaths, six in ten, are homicides, and an alarming five percent of them are accidents.

Boys are much more likely to die from gunshots than girls  a difference of 83 percent to 17 percent. Older children and teens between the ages of 12 and 17 accounted for 86 percent of all gun deaths.

Victims are disproportionately black. African American minors made up 46 percent of those deaths in 2021, even though they represent only about 14 percent of the entire US youth population.

Other victims were white (32 percent), Hispanic (17 percent), and Asian (1 percent).

That means black children and teens were five times more likely to die from a bullet than their white counterparts.

Mourners pause in front of photos of the victim's of a school shooting, custodian Mike Hill (left), and student Evelyn Dieckhaus, at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee

New York City was shocked when in 2021 a gang member opened fire in broad daylight in the street in Harlem, nearly killing a pair of siblings aged five and 13. Miraculously, they were not struck by gunfire

Some 45 percent of parents worried that their child will be shot, a Pew survey of 3,757 US parents with at least one child younger than 18 found late last year

Ryan Girdusky, an author and commentator, linked the rise in child gunshot deaths to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest movement in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.

'The creation of BLM and hyper-focus on 'woke' policies ... caused thousands of kids to lose their lives,' Girdusky posted on social media.

Many children are victims of domestic violence or gang bloodshed, and some are caught in the crossfire of violent conflicts.

These high fatality rates have death have left some 45 percent of parents worried that their child will be shot, a Pew survey of 3,757 US parents with at least one child younger than 18 found late last year.

Black and Hispanic parents in poorer, urban areas were more worried than others, researchers found. Democrat-voting parents were also more fearful of their child being shot than were their Republican counterparts.

Everytown for Gun Safety, a campaign group, says American children suffer 'staggeringly high rates of gun deaths and injuries' and many experience mental health problems and get worse school grades due to the stress of gun violence.

'The vast majority of child and teen gun homicide deaths and unintentional shooting deaths and injuries occur in the home,' the group says.

'More than 80 percent of child suicides involve a gun that belong to a family member.'

Campaigners have called for greater restrictions on guns, including background checks on those buying weapons, and tougher rules on how weapons must be stored to reduce the chances of accidents.

But there's strong opposition to gun control from many Americans, who warn against restricting a right that's enshrined in the US Constitution.
Police have identified the three victims - including two children - who were killed during the domestic violence incident on Easter Sunday morning following a shootout between police and the 28-year-old suspect, Lacorvis Tamar Daley, according to Orlando police Chief Eric Smith.

According to the Orlando Police Department, the victims are 69-year-old Carole Fulmore, 13-year-old Damionna Reed and 7-year-old Cameron Bouie.

Lacorvis Tamar Daley, 28, who reportedly killed three victims on Easter Sunday

Mail Online has reached out to the police department to confirm the relationship between the victims.

Officers responding to the incident arrived to the home around 2:28 a.m.  located in the area of Parramore Avenue and Grand Street  and reported hearing shots fired as soon as they got there, Smith described at a news conference.

'A suspect walked out of the house, walked towards the officers, shot at the officers, the officers returned fire and the suspect fell,' Smith said. 'We detained the suspect, who later was deceased. We cleared the house and in the house we found three people who were shot. OPD itself transported a young child to the hospital who died upon arrival at the hospital. So we have three victims who came out of the house and the one suspect that we shot.'

Two children, aged 13 and 7, are killed alongside woman, 69, in Orlando

Mail Online has reached out to the police department to confirm the relationship between the victims

The suspect was identified Sunday afternoon as 28-year-old Daley, according to police.

The department said in a statement that Daley was responsible for the homicide of the three individuals located inside of the home.

Joanne Capel, a neighbor, told News 6 that one of the victims inside the house had messaged her frantically to reach out to her for help.

'I didn't get to the phone in time. I looked up, she texted me 'Call police, he's shooting,' Capel said. 'I'm kind of upset that even though I called the police, I still couldn't help her (...) this was the sweetest lady you'll ever meet.'

District 5 City Commissioner Regina Hill told News 6 it was a horrifying situation.

'It's heart wrenching to wake up to his horrific news of a family and a child being murdered here on Resurrection Sunday, Easter Sunday. Thinking where they would be having possibly a family gathering and an Easter egg hunt that I'm sponsoring right there in Parramore, and a child losing their life, just a family losing their life, is unimaginable,' she said.

The officers involved were wearing body cameras during the incident; according to policy, the department intends to release the footage within 30 days. The officers were not injured and will be placed on paid administrative leave, following protocol, as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates. The State Attorneys Office will also conduct an investigation, as will the Orlando Police Department internally, a news release states.
The pensioner has two past bank robbery convictions from 1977 and 2020

Bonnie Gooch, 78, was charged with an attempted bank heist in Pleasant Hill

A 78-year-old woman with a history of bank robberies is now facing new charges after she allegedly handed a teller a note that said 'I didn't mean to scare you' during a recent Missouri heist.

Bonnie Gooch was jailed on a $25,000 bond after she was charged with stealing or attempting to steal from the Goppert Financial Bank in Pleasant Hill on Wednesday.

Gooch, who has two past bank robbery convictions from 1977 and 2020, had allegedly walked into the bank and handed a teller a robbery note demanding '13,000 small bills', according to court documents seen by The Kansas City Star.

But not forgetting her manners, Gooch is said to have signed off the note with the phrase: 'Thank you, sorry I didn't mean to scare you'.

Surveillance video also captured Gooch banging on the counter, asking the teller to hurry, Cass County prosecutors said.

Bonnie Gooch (pictured) was jailed on a $25,000 bond after she was charged with stealing or attempting to steal from the Goppert Financial Bank in Pleasant Hill on Wednesday

Gooch, who has two past bank robbery convictions from 1977 and 2020, had allegedly walked into the Gopper Financial Bank (file image) and handed a teller a robbery note demanding '13,000 small bills'

Officers later spotted a car matching the suspect vehicle description provided by staff driving less than two miles away from the bank following the attempted bank heist and pulled it over.

They found the pensioner behind the wheel, with cash scattered on the car's floorboard, prosecutors said, adding that Gooch smelled strongly of alcohol.

'Obviously it was a tense situation, Pleasant Hill Police Chief Thomas Wright told Kansas City's Fox 4. 'But when the hands of an elderly woman come out of the car and that is who is driving the suspect vehicle, it's a little shocking.'

'It's just sad,' Wright said, adding that the suspect had no diagnosed ailments.

Gooch was also convicted of robbing a California bank in 1977 and one in the Kansas City suburb of Lee's Summit in 2020. Her probation in the second heist ended in November 2021.

During the 2020 heist, Gooch's son, said his mother, then 75, 'was off her rocker' and had left the house 'angry, saying she was going to rob a bank', according to court documents.
Exiled former Spanish King Juan Carlos will reportedly fly to London from his Middle East bolthole next week for a private lunch with King Charles III.

The controversial 85-year-old royal, who has been at the centre of corruption investigations in his homeland and a long-running and ongoing legal battle with his former lover, is also expected to make only his second visit to Spain since his shock departure in August 2020.

Leading Spanish daily El Mundo is reporting he will travel from London to the Galician resort of Sanxenxo, one of the places he visited in his first return to his homeland in May last year following his move to Abu Dhabi nearly three years ago, to take part in a regatta.

Juan Carlos joined his son, Spain's current King Felipe VI, and other members of its royal family including Felipe's former TV news journalist's wife Letizia Ortiz, at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral last September.

The Spanish government described his trip at the time as 'private', insisting Juan Carlos' son and daughter-in-law were the only royal representatives there in an official capacity.

MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.

Exiled former Spanish King Juan Carlos (pictured in 2019) will reportedly fly to London from his Middle East bolthole next week for a private lunch with King Charles III

The exact day Juan Carlos will jet to London has not yet been revealed, but the visit is expected to come before the Charles III's coronation on May 6. Pictured: King Charles III waves to the crowd as he leaves St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, Sunday, April 9

El Mundo says Juan Carlos was initially planning to make a new trip to Spain in mid-May but decided to bring his plans forward to next week because it was an 'inadequate date' so close to local and regional elections on May 28.

The exact day he will jet to London has not yet been revealed, but the visit is expected to come before the Charles III's coronation on May 6.

The former king, who is still married to his wife Sofia despite his numerous extra-marital affairs, has been accused of making a pass at Princess Diana when she was just 25 during a holiday she and the then-Prince Charles spent in Majorca in 1986.

Spanish royal expert Pilar Eyre made the claim in a 2012 book.

Diana herself denied anything untoward had happened but admitted that while the libidinous former king was 'charming' he could be a 'little too attentive.'

A 2017 book by Spanish society writer Amadeo Martinez Ingles dubbed Juan Carlos a sex addict and claimed he bedded almost 5,000 women.

Apart from his extramarital dalliances, said to have resulted in secret love children, the former Spanish king has found himself at the centre of corruption investigations and been accused of harassment by former lover Corinna zu Wittgenstein-Sayn in a case heard by London's Court of Appeal last year.

UK Court of Appeal judges ruled in December Juan Carlos, who reigned as King of Spain from 1975 to 2014 when he abdicated in favour of his son, had immunity for the period before he abdicated.

Her claim, launched in London's High Court, will be heard at a trial expected to be later this year.

Their relationship remained a secret until 2012 when it emerged they had been on safari together to Botswana at the height of Spain's economic crisis.

The trip came to light after the former monarch broke his hip in a fall and he had to be flown back to Madrid for surgery.

Juan Carlos left Spain for a luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi after Swiss prosecutors opened an investigation into bank accounts he was accused of having in tax havens.

King Juan Carlos I, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, was invited to the late monarch's funeral by Buckingham Palace. He is now set to meet King Charles III ahead of May's coronation

The disgraced former King Juan Carlos of Spain arrived at Westminster Abbey for the Queen's funeral last year (pictured) despite a row over his attendance with the Spanish government

Apart from his extramarital dalliances, said to have resulted in secret love children, the former Spanish king has found himself at the centre of corruption investigations and been accused of harassment by former lover Corinna zu Wittgenstein-Sayn (pictured in London in 2014) in a case heard by London's Court of Appeal last year

Spain launched its own investigations based in part on information shared by Switzerland including one about cash the former king allegedly received as part of his involvement in a high-speed Saudi Arabia rail contract.

The scandals he was caught up in left his reputation in tatters, although the investigations into him for alleged corruption and tax fraud were archived after he deactivated the possibility of legal action by paying off his tax debts.

Earlier this year it was reported businesswoman Corinna zu Wittgenstein-Sayn, 57, was selling her stately home in Shropshire after telling friends she fears for her safety.

Juan Carlos - who is a great-great-grandchild of Britain's Queen Victoria - is now a tax resident in the United Arab Emirates.
Gangs of masked youths waited outside a cemetery armed with petrol bombs in Londonderry after a police van was attacked as violence broke out on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

A number of missiles were hurled by young people wearing tracksuits and masks on their faces at a PSNI Land Rover monitoring the parade in the Creggan area of the city on Easter Monday.

The parade, organised by the Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee, started in the Central Drive area when a number of masked men in paramilitary-style dress formed a colour party carrying the Irish flag and a host of republican flags.

As the parade progressed towards the City Cemetery, the police Land Rover came under attack, with masked youths throwing petrol bombs and firing fireworks before it drove off in flames. The parade culminated at the republican plot in the cemetery, where speeches were heard.

Police appealed for calm after their officers came under attack during the dissident republican march, while figures across the political spectrum condemned the 'deplorable' scenes of chaos and violence.

It comes ahead of US President Joe Biden's arrival in Northern Ireland tomorrow as part of the celebrations to mark the Good Friday Agreement, the historic peace deal signed in April 1998.

People listen to a speaker during a dissident Republican parade in the Creggan area of Londonderry on Easter Monday

Youths carrying petrol bombs stand outside Derry City Cemetery

Masked members of a Dissident Republican colour party take part in a march

A police van is attacked with petrol bombs by masked youths

The parade culminated at the republican plot in the cemetery, where speeches were heard. One speaker described the event as 'respectful and dignified, paying homage to the revolutionary heroes of 1916 and all the republican dead'.

A PSNI spokesman said: 'Our officers have come under attack in Creggan, with petrol bombs and other objects thrown at their vehicle while in attendance at an unnotified Easter parade. No injuries have been reported at this time. We would appeal for calm.'

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill said: 'Twenty-five years on from the Good Friday Agreement this needless street disorder in Derry has no place in our society. As political leaders we must stand united, appealing to all those concerned to end these attacks and refrain from further threats of violence, whether in Derry or North Down. This type of illegal and anti-community activity is deplorable and out of step from wider community and public opinion.

'Our focus is on the future and on the future of our young. This society is moving forward and peace and stability will prevail.'

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he hoped the situation would quickly calm down.

'It is very, very disappointing that people have gone ahead with a march that has not been notified to the police,' he told the BBC. 'Hopefully it will calm down very quickly and the police can get about their business because they are there to protect all communities across Northern Ireland.'

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the 'senseless violence' is the last thing the people of Derry want to see.

'It was wrong 25 years ago and it is wrong now,' he said. 'The saddest part of this spectacle is that young people with no memory or experience of the violence of our past are being manipulated and abused by people with no vision for the future. Those whipping our kids into a frenzy and sending them out to attack the police have nothing to offer the people of Derry and this city will continue to reject them.'

DUP MLA Gary Middleton tweeted: 'Another clearly coordinated attack on the PSNI. The parade was illegal from the outset. This reckless behaviour is an attempt to cause harm not only to PSNI officers but to our communities as well. There must be swift action to bring those responsible to justice.'

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said: 'Absolute wasters. Sent out to riot by men sitting in pubs acting the big lads.'

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said: 'The saddest part of this spectacle is that young people with no memory or experience of the violence of our past are being manipulated and abused by people with no vision for the future'

One speaker described the event as 'respectful and dignified, paying homage to the revolutionary heroes of 1916 and all the republican dead'

A PSNI spokesman said: 'Our officers have come under attack in Creggan, with petrol bombs and other objects thrown at their vehicle while in attendance at an unnotified Easter parade'

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he hoped the situation would quickly calm down

Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong tweeted: 'Disgraceful. The actions of some who want to drag NI back to dark days is abhorrent'

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the 'senseless violence' is the last thing the people of Derry want to see

Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong tweeted: 'Disgraceful. The actions of some who want to drag NI back to dark days is abhorrent.'

Irish Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney also tweeted his support for the PSNI.

'So called dissident republicans have nothing to offer our society, north or south,' he wrote.

'A tiny minority of thugs seeking headlines, wanting to take Northern Ireland backwards.'

Last week, senior police warned of the potential for disorder at the event.

Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said the force received 'strong' intelligence that dissidents were planning to launch terror attacks against officers on the bank holiday.

Police increased security measures in response to the parade.

Derry City and Strabane area commander Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard said: 'What we saw develop this afternoon in Creggan was incredibly disheartening.

'As the parade was unnotified, police were in attendance with a proportionate policing operation.

'Sadly, before the parade even started, we observed young people in the vicinity making petrol bombs to throw at police.

'Shortly after the parade commenced, petrol bombs and other objects were thrown at one of our vehicles at the junction of Iniscarn Road and Linsfort Drive.'

He added: 'This was a senseless and reckless attack on our officers who were in attendance in the area in order to comply with our legal duties.

'As participants at the parade made their way out of the City Cemetery, they removed their paramilitary uniforms under the cover of umbrellas and burnt them.

'Organisers of this parade communicated in advance their desire to have a respectful and dignified event, however, that is not what we witnessed today.

'There can be no place for this type of criminal activity. It is not wanted nor welcomed by the vast majority of people across the city.

'During today's policing operation, we deployed evidence-gathering resources, and obtained footage which will now be reviewed as part of an investigation into potential offences under the Terrorism Act 2000.

'As we head into this evening, we would appeal for calm, and welcome support from those with influence to help prevent any further disorder in the city this evening.'

Groups marched in west Belfast and other areas in Northern Ireland across the Easter weekend as part of an annual public marking of the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising against the then-British rule across the island of Ireland.

Most parades were lawful and passed without incident.

However, police are investigating a masked colour party which led a parade in Falls Road in west Belfast organised by the Irish Republican Socialist Party on Sunday.

Parade participants were issued with warnings and footage was gathered by police, who will review it as part of an investigation into potential terrorism offences.

Masked youths have hurled petrol bombs at a police vehicle in Londonderry as violence erupted on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement

A police Land Rover was engulfed in flames as parades marking the Easter Rising got underway

The PSNI Land Rover was fitted with a CCTV camera and had been monitoring a parade, which was led by a number of people in paramilitary-style dress

Masked youths with petrol bombs

It comes ahead of US President Joe Biden 's arrival in Northern Ireland tomorrow as part of the celebrations to mark the Good Friday Agreement, the historic peace deal signed in April 1998

Mr Biden, who is intensely proud of his Irish heritage and the US role in the establishment of the Good Friday Agreement, will arrive in Belfast tomorrow evening.

But his visit will come at a precarious moment in the 25-year history of the 1998 peace deal.

Last month, the terror threat level in Northern Ireland was raised to 'severe' meaning an attack is considered to be highly likely.

There is also a continued political crisis in Northern Ireland, with the DUP still refusing to re-enter powersharing at Stormont as part of their protest against post-Brexit trade arrangements.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has warned that recent dissident republican attacks demonstrated there were 'a small number of people who want to drag us all back to the dark old days'.

'It's a stark reminder of the fragility of peace,' the Cabinet minister said in a newspaper article, as he also urged the DUP to end their boycott of Stormont institutions.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden off his presidential jet, Air Force One, when he arrives on Tuesday evening.

The US President will leave Northern Ireland on Wednesday and travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will visit Dublin and County Louth.

He will also make a trip to his ancestors' home town of Ballina, County Mayo, where locals have prepared the town to receive him and decorations are already in place.

Mr Biden, who is intensely proud of his Irish heritage and the US role in the establishment of the Good Friday Agreement, will arrive in Belfast tomorrow evening.

The US President will later this week make a trip to his ancestors' home town of Ballina, County Mayo, where locals have prepared the town to receive him

Mr Biden's visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will come at a precarious moment in the 25-year history of the Good Friday Agreement

Mr Biden's fifth cousin, Councillor Andrea McKevitt, is pictured outside Fitzpatrick's bar and restaurant in Jenkinstown, Co Louth, where then vice-president met locals in 2016

Derek Furlong poses in the window of his Ballina photo shop, as he and others dress up their businesses in the town centre

In a statement, Mr Sunak said the signing of the Good Friday Agreement was an 'incredible moment' in the history of the UK.

'It was a powerfully rare example of people doing the previously unthinkable to create a better future for Northern Ireland,' he said.

'It is that promise of a better future that we offered to everyone in Northern Ireland that I will be thinking of first and foremost over the coming days.

'It is my responsibility as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to ensure we are making good on that promise.'

Signed on 10 April 1998, the Good Friday Agreement ended the 30-year conflict known as The Troubles, during which more than 3,500 people were killed.

Mr Sunak said he is 'relentlessly focused' on delivering economic growth for Northern Ireland, which he said is crucial to improving living standards.

He is expected to use Mr Biden's visit to drum up long-term investment for the Northern Ireland, and announce that the UK will host a Northern Ireland Investment Summit in September.

The PM will address the 'Agreement 25' conference at Queen's University Belfast on Wednesday before hosting a gala dinner.

A major policing operation costing around 7million and backed up by around 300 officers travelling from other parts of the UK will be under way around the anniversary.

The PSNI had warned of the potential of dissident republicans launching attacks on police officers in Londonderry on Easter Monday.

MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat in Northern Ireland level to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, insisted the political vacuum in Northern Ireland - caused by his party's refusal to re-enter powersharing at Stormont - is not to blame.

Last year, the DUP withdrew its support for the Stormont institutions formed by the Good Friday Agreement as part of its protests against post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Signed on 10 April 1998, the Good Friday Agreement ended the 30-year conflict known as The Troubles, during which more than 3,500 people were killed

Chris Heaton-Harris has warned that recent dissident republican attacks demonstrated there were 'a small number of people who want to drag us all back to the dark old days'

Mr Heaton-Harris said no-one could put a timeline on when powersharing would be back up and running.

He told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: 'Anybody who is predicting a date by which the executive would go back in Northern Ireland would be someone who can also sell you a four-leaf clover. No one knows - deadlines are deadly in Northern Ireland term.'

The Northern Ireland Secretary wrote in the Telegraph: 'Across a range of measures, the people of Northern Ireland are being directly impacted because of an ongoing lack of locally accountable devolved government.

'The UK Government wants to see the Northern Ireland institutions delivering better public services, more investment and a stronger Union based on prosperity... there is no surer way to achieve that than for political parties to come together to get on with the job of delivering on the people's priorities and to make Northern Ireland work.'
California, Texas and Florida have all had 13 recorded mass shooting while Louisiana had 12, and Illinois and Tennessee suffered eight

Kentucky is the latest state in America to be shaken by gun violence, as the mass shooting inside a Louisville bank marked the 146th in 2023.

The US reached the grim milestone on Monday of more Mass Shootings than days on Monday, which has already surpassed previous years - following the fatal shooting that left five dead, including the gunman, and eight injured at the Old National Bank.

Last year, the US hit 130 mass shootings as of April 10, 2022. The number later skyrocketed to 646 by the end of the year, according to the Gun Violence Archive - a nonprofit organization that compiles statistics on shootings in the US.

Around the same time in previous years, the numbers were slightly lower, including 137 in 2021 and 87 in 2020. The totals for each year eventually skyrocketed to between 610 and 690.

The Louisville shooting occurred a few hours north of the Covenant School shooting in Nashville on March 27 that left six dead, including three nine-year-olds. The Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as an incident where at least four people are injured with a firearm.

The Monday morning Kentucky shooting marked the 146 mass shooting in 2023. The graph above shows the number of mass shootings up to April 10 in previous years on the left. On the right shows the total number per year

Blood was seen on the steps outside the Old National Bank in Louisville on Monday morning

The Nashville shooting, which is the 129th mass shooting this year, is one of just five in history which had a female gunman.

The rare attacks first happened in 1979 with a teenage girl, who said she murdered because she 'didn't like Mondays'.

So far this year California, Texas and Florida all had 13 recorded mass shooting while Louisiana had 12, and Illinois and Tennessee suffered eight, according to the Gun Violence archive.

Authorities haven't identified the Louisville bank gunman or his motive.

Initially five people were reported dead and six injured until the late Monday morning when authorities announced nine people are in critical condition.

Those injured include one of two officers who were shot as they exchanged gunfire with the alleged shooter.

Among the dead is the gunman. It remains unclear whether the suspect died by officers' gunfire or from a self-inflicted wound.

A bank employee recalled the fatal incident that started around 8.30am when a man with a 'long assault rifle' fire multiple shots near the conference room, the unidentified employee told WHAS.

'He just started firing,' the unnamed employee said. 'I didn't see his face. We were in the conference room.

'Whoever was next to me got shot, their blood's on me,' he added.

Another witness said they heard multiple gunshots as well as breaking glass coming from the bank Monday morning.

The deadliest mass shooting of the year was in Monterey Park, California on January 21 - which left 11 people dead before the gunman took his own life during a police standoff.

The incident at the Star Ballroom Studio were Huu Can Tran, 72, previously taught lessons before he was expelled occurred during Lunar New Year celebrations.

People are pictured embracing following the mass shooting at the Old National Bank

Pictures from the scene show smashed class at the Old National Bank following the shooting

Police were deployed to the scene of the mass shooting in downtown Louisville on Monday morning

ATF officers were seen with a stretcher outside the Old National Bank on Monday

Two people are pictured embracing outside the Old National Bank in Louisville

Ambulances and police cars were seen outside the Louisville Slugger Field following the shooting

MASS SHOOTINGS PER STATE 2023 State Number of mass shootings Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

DC

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee

TexasUtahVirginiaWashingtonWisconsin 2

2

3

13

4

1

13

5

8

1

1

12

5

2

4

3

3

3

5

8

5

1

9

4

8

131113

Eight people were killed during a shooting on January 4 in Cedar City, Utah, with Michael Haight killing his wife, their five children and his mother-in-law before turning the gun on himself.

There are about 120 guns for every 100 Americans, according to the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey.

No other nation has more civilian guns than people, with around 44 percent of US adults living in a household with a gun.

Around one third own one personally, according to a November 2020 Gallup survey. A third of US adults believe that there would be less crime if more people owned guns.

However, multiple studies show that where people have easy access to firearms then gun-related deaths are more frequent  including suicide, homicide and unintentional injuries.

Mass shootings also drive a demand for more guns, with many Americans feeling they are 'safer' if they personally own a weapon.

The rate of gun violence is eight times greater than in Canada, which has the seventh-highest rate of gun ownership in the world.

Numbers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation data from 2019 show that the US's gun death rate is 22 times higher than the European Union and 23 times greater than Australia.

Discussions on gun violence and the Second Amendment is always close to the heart of politics in the US, with President Joe Biden constantly complaining about Congress' inability to pass 'common sense' measures after multiple mass shootings this year.

The president made an emotional appeal for stricter gun laws as he signed an executive order to increase the number of background checks following the most deadly shooting of the year in California.

He said: 'Ban assault weapons. Ban them again. Do it now. Enough. Do something. Do something big.

His order will increase the number of background checks to buy guns, promote better and more secure firearms storage and ensure U.S. law enforcement agencies are getting the most out of a bipartisan gun control law enacted last summer.

But many Republicans, who currently control the House, blame a 'mental health crisis' in the US for the gun violence problem.
Failed crypto exchange FTX was governed by 'hubris, incompetence, and greed,' according to a new report by the company's debtors.

The report is the first released by FTX debtors since the rapid November collapse of the multi-billion dollar digital asset company. Its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, has pleaded not guilty to criminal fraud charges.

The Bahamas-based crypto-empire was run without sufficient financial and accounting controls, and had a tendency to lose track of millions of dollars in assets, which members of the company would internally joke about, according to the report.

'Despite the public image it sought to create of a responsible business, the FTX Group was tightly controlled by a small group of individuals who showed little interest in instituting an appropriate oversight or control framework,' read the report.

A newly released debtor's report about the collapse of FTX attributes a significant amount of the company's failure to the 'hubris, incompetence, and greed' of its top executives, including founder Sam Bankman-Fried

John Ray III was appointed CEO and chief restructuring officer of FTX after the firm collapsed in November. He has been overseeing the Chapter 11 process

'These individuals,' who included Bankman-Fried, and top executives including former engineering director Nishad Singh and former chief technology officer Gary Wang, 'stifled dissent, commingled and misused corporate and customer funds, lied to third parties about their business, joked internally about their tendency to lose track of millions of dollars in assets, and thereby caused the FTX Group to collapse as swiftly as it had grown,' continued the report.

'While the FTX Groups failure is novel in the unprecedented scale of harm it caused in a nascent industry, many of its root causes are familiar: hubris, incompetence, and greed.'

The report shed light on specific details of the failed company's disorganization, including that at the time that the company filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy last year, there was not even a complete list of its employees.

In a press release, FTX's new chief executive officer and chief restructuring officer, John Ray III said the company is 'releasing the first report in the spirit of transparency that we promised since the beginning of the Chapter 11 process.'

'We are continuing our efforts to review the events that factored into the fall of FTX and to identify and recover as much value as possible for creditors,' he said.

The report went on to say that 'reconstruction of the Debtors' balance sheets is an ongoing, bottom-up exercise that continues to require significant effort by professionals.'

So far, digital assets worth more than $1.4billion have been recovered and secured, while an additional $1.7billion has been identified and is in the process of being recovered.

Debtors reviewed more than 1million documents and analyzed the firm's available financial records and electronic devices, in addition to interviewing nearly 20 employees in order to piece together the aspects of the business that led to its spectacular failure.

In the report, the debtors concluded that 'FTX Group lacked independent or experienced finance, accounting, human resources, information security, or cybersecurity personnel or leadership, and lacked any internal audit function whatsoever. Board oversight, moreover, was also effectively non-existent.'

'Individuals,' who included Bankman-Fried, and top executives including former engineering director Nishad Singh and former chief technology officer Gary Wang, 'stifled dissent, commingled and misused corporate and customer funds, lied to third parties about their business, joked internally about their tendency to lose track of millions of dollars in assets,' read the debtor's report

Former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison pleaded guilty last year to charges pertaining to her role at the company. She is cooperating with investigators

Bankman-Fried is expected to go to trial in October after entering a not guilty plea to fraud and campaign-finance law charges several months ago. It was recently disclosed that he transferred $2.2billion from FTX to his personal account before the company went under

Bankman-Fried is expected to go to trial in October after entering a not guilty plea to fraud and campaign-finance law charges in March.

Several other company executives have already pleaded guilty to various charges.

Singh, who is cooperating with prosecutors, pleaded guilty in February to fraud.

Wang and former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison also pleaded guilty last year to charges in connection to their roles at FTX and its sister trading firm.

Last month, it was revealed that Sam Bankman-Fried secretly transferred $2.2billion from FTX to his personal account and $1billion to five members of his inner circle before the cryptocurrency exchange collapsed, according to bankruptcy court filings.
Top secret documents leaked online containing classified information on Ukraine's counter-offensive plans could have been an inside job, senior officials have claimed.

They set out concerns on how Kyiv's armed forces are running short on some weapons, the location of Ukrainian air defenses, and the extent to which the Biden administration spies on friends and foes alike.

The documents, which have been circulated for weeks on social media, also touch on Israel's Mossad spy agency, China, the Middle East and Africa

The leak covers such a wide range of topics, prompting experts to suggest that the main source could be an American.

'The focus now is on this being a US leak, as many of the documents were only in US hands,' Michael Mulroy, an ex-senior Pentagon official, told the Reuters news agency.

Kyiv-based security analyst James Rushton said that 'the Russians are clearly the main beneficiaries' from the leak.

'It's a major embarrassment to the US, and it comes at a critical time as Ukraine is preparing to launch their long-awaited Spring counteroffensive,' he told DailyMail.com.

'Kyiv was already cautious about sharing their operational plans with Washington; this will likely further damage intelligence sharing between Ukraine and Western partners at a crucial moment,' he added.

US officials have not ruled out pro-Russian elements behind the leak, although the investigation by the Justice Department is still in its early stages.

It is the most serious intelligence security breach in the United States since WikiLeaks obtained some 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables in 2013.

The Ukraine leaks are a series of photographs of presentations and files printed on A4 paper, folded twice, perhaps to be smuggled out of a secure area.

Images circulating on Telegram, a popular messaging app, reveal the leaker's identity. This picture shows an English-language instruction manual for a hunting scope in the background.

Investigators will be looking at clues seen in the margins of the photos that could help unmask the leaker.

They include Gorilla glue, shoes, and an English-language instruction manual for a GlassHawk HD spotting scope traditionally used for hunting.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed suggestions that Moscow had orchestrated the release of such highly confidential information.

'There is, in fact, a tendency to always blame everything on Russia. 'It is, in general, a disease,' Peskov, Putin's long-serving propagandist, said.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, claimed the leak was 'to divert attention from the actual preparation for the next stage of the war.'

Another aide to the Ukrainian leader told CNN that Ukraine's military had already changed their counter-offensive plans as a result.

A spokesman for Mr. Zelensky failed to reply to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

But Tom Cotton, a Republican senator from Arkansas, hit out at President Joe Biden, accusing the 80-year-old of 'slow rolling' US aid to Ukraine.

'We should not be surprised that Ukraine may be running a little low on ammunition,' he told Fox News.

'They've been telling us for a year that they need more, they need more air defense systems.'

According to the leaked documents, Ukraine's air defense systems could be depleted by the beginning of next month.

They spell out how Ukraine's S-300 air defense systems could run out of missiles and ammunition by May 2 at the current usage rate.

The documents also detailed how Ukraine's air defenses protecting Ukrainian troops on the front line could be 'completely reduced' by May 23.

An initial batch of documents labeled 'Secret' and 'Top Secret' - reportedly containing charts on the war in Ukraine as well as the strengths of different battalions - first circulated on Twitter and Russian Telegram channels last month.

And a further batch of documents of more than 100 Pentagon documents - this time also detailing US national security interests pertaining to areas including China and Israel's Mossad spy agency - was being shared on Twitter on Friday, the New York Times reported.

The authenticity of the documents is still in doubt as experts suggest they could have been altered or used as a misinformation campaign to suit Russia's agenda and how some of the documents giving battlefield casualty estimates from Ukraine were altered to minimize Russian losses.

Ukraine's air defenses could be depleted within weeks - making the country vulnerable to Russia President Vladimir Putin's fighter jets, newly leaked Pentagon documents suggests

Such closely-guarded information could be of great use to Russian forces, and Ukraine said its president Volodymyr Zelensky and top security officials met to discuss ways to prevent leaks

One of the documents, dated February 23 and marked 'Secret,' outlines in detail how Ukraine's S-300 air defense systems would be depleted by May 2 at the current usage rate

These are two of the leaked documents which have been shared by the New York Times

This document appears to show the state of Ukraine's air defenses in February and in May, when it is anticipated they'll be badly depleted

One of the documents, dated February 23 and marked 'Secret,' outlines in detail how Ukraine's S-300 air defense systems would be depleted by May 2 at the current usage rate. Such closely guarded information could be of use to Russian forces.

READ MORE: Leaked Pentagon documents show spies are deeply ingrained in Russian intelligence services and Putin's army is ravaged after a year of fighting Advertisement

In the early days of the war, Ukraine relied on these air defense weapons - S-300 and the Buk to target aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles - which comprise 89 percent of Ukraine's protection against fighter aircraft.

This allowed Ukraine to focus on battling against Putin's ground troops, who have faced heavy losses since the war began. But the Russian despot has held his air force of 485 fighter jets back - far more than the 85 Ukraine has in its military.

'[Russia] made the choice that they were not going to sacrifice their knights for their pawns,' Dara Massicot, a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, told the NYT.

'Instead, they're going to throw those mobilized troops without proper air support, because they're a more plentiful resource.'

Russia's fleet also includes far more sophisticated fifth-generation planes, including the Su-57, while Ukraine's pilots have to make do with MiG-29s, which first flew in 1983.

If Ukraine can no longer defend its skies, Putin could ramp up fighter jet attacks on Zelensky's forces, dramatically tilting the 15-month-long conflict in his favor.

Some inaccuracies - including estimates of Russian troops' deaths significantly lower than numbers publicly stated by U.S. officials - have led some to question the documents' authenticity.

'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 Ukraine's 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.'

In a statement on Sunday, the Pentagon said it was reviewing the validity of the photographed documents that 'appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material.'

US officials told the Washington Post that some documents appeared to have been manipulated, but many were consistent with CIA World Intelligence Review reports that are shared at high levels within the White House, Pentagon and State Department.

Defense analysts say any breach of internal classified US documents would be both damaging and potentially embarrassing.

In addition, the leak would prove valuable to Moscow by showing how deeply US intelligence has penetrated parts of the Russian military apparatus,

One document marked 'Top Secret' and a CIA Intel update from March 1 says the Mossad intelligence agency was encouraging protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to tighten controls on the Supreme Court.

Ukraine managed to keep Putin's fighter jets at bay as he pulled the troops back. Pictured: Su-34 jet fighter of the Russian Air Force firing missiles during Exercise Aviadarts 2018.

Because according to the leaked documents, Ukraine's stockpile is rapidly depleting, which in turn, opens up a window for Russian planes to attack

Putin could decide that it is now safe enough to send in Russia's 'valuable and numerous fighter jets and bombers to attack Ukrainian positions and artillery'

The document said the U.S. learned this through signals intelligence, suggesting the United States had been spying on one of its most important allies in the Middle East.

In a statement on Sunday, Netanyahu's office described the assertion as 'mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever.'

Another document gave details of internal discussions among senior South Korean officials about U.S. pressure on Seoul to help supply weapons to Ukraine, and its policy of not doing so.

The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Monday that fact checks on the documents are a priority and that it would request the U.S. to take 'appropriate' steps after confirming details.

Yoon's office said the possibility that the documents were fabricated or a product of third-party interference cannot be ruled out, warning any attempts to 'disrupt the alliance would face repercussions'.

Some lawmakers of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party expressed 'strong regret' over the spying allegations, calling them a clear violation of national sovereignty and a major security failure of the Yoon administration.

'We strongly demand a thorough investigation and urge that similar incidents do not occur,' the lawmakers said in a joint statement.

The Pentagon has not addressed the contents of any specific documents, including the apparent surveillance of allies.

Two U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed concerns about the leak at the Pentagon and intelligence agencies. Conversely, they downplayed the release as the documents showed a snapshot from over a month ago rather than more recent assessments.

The two officials said the military and intelligence agencies were looking at their processes for how widely some intelligence is shared internally.

One U.S. official said the initial documents resemble data produced daily by the Joint Staff, although some numbers are wrong.

The official said that even if they were legitimate, 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 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, including a section titled 'Total Assessed Losses,' in which one document lists 16,000-17,500 Russian casualties and up to 71,000 Ukrainian deaths.

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.

Officials are looking at what motivations a U.S. official or a group of officials would have in leaking such sensitive information, said one of the officials who spoke to Reuters.

The official said investigators were looking at four or five theories, from a disgruntled employee to an insider threat who actively wanted to undermine U.S. national security interests.

Meanwhile, one U.S. military official said that providing air defense system reinforcements to Ukraine is key in helping the country regain territory in its planned spring counteroffensive.

Because according to the leaked documents, their stockpile is rapidly depleting, which opens up a window for Russian planes to attack.

Putin could decide that it is now safe enough to send in Russia's 'valuable and numerous fighter jets and bombers to attack Ukrainian positions and artillery,' senior Pentagon officials said, according to the New York Times.

'Russia still remains a bit fearful of flying into Ukraine because there's still a fair amount of density of Ukrainian kit,' U.S. General Philip Breedlove told the NYT.

Such a move could be a risky one for Putin.

'Just because he brings it back in play doesn't mean it's going to have smashing success,' General Breedlove said.

Another report of the leaked documents has the number of Russian fighter jets currently deployed in Ukraine at 485 compared with 85 Ukrainian jets

However, European countries have stepped up efforts to reinforce the country's air defenses, providing missiles for Ukraine's existing systems, like its Soviet-era S-300s. Pictured: A Ukrainian Airforce MIG 29 perform during the annual Air Show in 2016

Officials say it's not clear if the additional aid the US is sending will be enough, and say it depends on whether Putin continues to hold back his warplanes and if NATO allies make their own deliveries, the NYT reported.

In November, Ukraine received a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), which is produced by both the United States and Norway.

NASAMS include radar, sensors, launchers that can be loaded with six missiles each and a mobile command center where soldiers can monitor airborne threats.

But Western countries have also begun providing Kyiv with more sophisticated systems - including German, who sent IRIS-T air defense batteries, each consisting of a radar, a command-and-control system and three missile launchers, carrying 24 missiles, the NYT reported.

Some officials have expressed concern about Ukraine's low stockpile.

Another leaked document report shows that the number of Russian fighter jets currently deployed in Ukraine is 485 compared with 85 Ukrainian jets.

However, European countries have stepped up efforts to reinforce their air defenses, providing missiles for Ukraine's existing systems, like its Soviet-era S-300s.

The intelligence breach could have a drastic impact upon the landscape of the conflict in Ukraine. Biden, left, is pictured meeting Ukrainian President Zelensky in February 2023

Despite the Biden administration pouring almost $200 billion into the Ukrainian military, the leak revealed that its stockpiles are severely depleted and it is low on air defense ammunition

The trove of leaked Pentagon documents suggests the US knows far more about Russia's war campaign than Ukraine's military strategy.

The documents leaked online in recent days portray the Russian military as struggling in their war with Ukraine, which has killed hundreds of thousands.

Intelligence agencies are believed to have comprehensively infiltrated Russia's military and its leading spy agencies, offering considerable knowledge of upcoming maneuvers and insights into how badly Putin's war is going.

But the same cannot be said for Ukraine, according to the New York Times. The paper reported, 'The United States has a clearer understanding of Russian military operations than it does of Ukrainian planning.'

US officials have allegedly resorted to spying on Ukraine to get an idea of their military plans.

America also remains unsure of the total number of Ukrainian casualties - with the documents stating only that Zelensky's forces have suffered 124,500 to 131,000 casualties, and 17,500 dead.

Even then, intelligence officials say confidence in the accuracy of those figures are low.

Pictured: A villager is seen near a wracked car during heavy fighting at the front line of Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar, in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine in April 2023

A villager collects wood during heavy fighting at the front line of Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar

Smoke rises from the town of Bakhmut as heavy fighting for control of the town continues

The United States has devoted most of its considerable spying resources to hindering Putin's efforts and helping Ukraine.

But its spies have also been eavesdropping on allies, including Ukraine, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Israel.

The Times reported that the U.S. is spying on Ukraine in the hopes of getting a clearer picture of its military strategies and helping maximize the effectiveness of its army against Putin.

That comes despite the US Joe Biden's administration stumping up more than $77 billion in aid to the war-torn country since the full-scale invasion began last year.

Those figures have been complied by the German think-tank the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

US cash has been credited for helping the country successfully hold-off Russian advances far longer than anyone thought necessary.

And while support for funding Ukraine continues to have bipartisan support, news that US officials are often in the dark could raise questions over the sheer amount of resources the White House continues to send to Eastern Europe.

The documents, which included reports from late February to early March, also unearthed probes in several other nations, including South Korea, Iran and the UK

The documents have revealed the efficacy of US efforts to infiltrate Russian intelligence. Pictured: Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, April 6, 2023

The 100 pages of documents, at least some believed to be accurate, were leaked on a Discord server earlier this year.

They've triggered panic at the Pentagon, and a huge effort to work out where the leak is coming from.

Ukraine has suggested they're not real, but Pentagon officials are said to be treating them as genuine, exposing another schism between the US and its costly ally.

They also appear to show that the intelligence services have been compromised as some reports contain daily real-time warnings on the timing and targets of Moscow's strikes - which has enabled the U.S. to warn their Ukrainian counterparts.

The documents - up to several months old - offer detailed insights into which Russian intelligence agencies have been most compromised, and clues as to how the United States has gleaned so much secret Kremlin information.

The documents - while up to several months old - offer detailed insights into which Russian intelligence agencies have been most compromised, and clues as to how the United States has gleaned so much secret Kremlin information

Leaked documents suggest the U.S. knows more about Putin's war operations than Zelensky's, which raises questions over the $200 billion in military aid that has been sent to Ukraine

The document leak indicates that the US has been spying on Ukrainian allied officials. Pictured: A Ukrainian serviceman in training exercises in Donetsk
Lori Vallow murdered her children as she hunted 'money, power and sex' with her husband Chad Daybell, jurors in the doomsday cult mom's murder trial have heard.

At the start of the cult mom's murder trial in Boise, Idaho on Monday, the court was shown harrowing pictures of the scene where the remains of Vallow's two children - Tylee Ryan, 16, and JJ Vallow, seven - were found in Salem, Idaho.

The 'doomsday cult mom allegedly murdered her children after believing the second coming of Christ was imminent and her children were 'zombies'.

The 49-year-old is also accused of conspiracy to murder her husband Chad Daybell's ex-wife Tammy, 49. Daybell - who will also face a separate trial over the killings - was a doomsday 'prepper' who forged a reputation through books and talks about the end of the world.

Tylee's 'charred remains' were discovered in a shallow grave. Investigators also found Tylee's DNA on a pickaxe and shovel found at Chad Daybell's property, where the bodies were buried in the yard.

Lori Vallow murdered her children as she hunted 'money, power and sex' with her husband Chad Daybell, jurors in the doomsday cult mom's murder trial have heard. Pictured: A court sketch of Vallow in court in Boise, Idaho on Monday

'Doomsday cult mom' Lori Vallow's trial for the murders of her children JJ, 7, and Tylee, 16 started on Monday. She is pictured in August 2022

Vallow is accused of killing her kids, seven-year-old Joshua (JJ) and 16-year-old Tylee

Police discovered the remains of JJ and Tylee in a burn bit at the home of Chad Daybell in Salem, Idaho, in 2020

All that was left of Tylee was 'a mass of bone and tissue', the court was told. 'That's what was left of this beautiful young woman, the defendant's daughter,' Fremont country prosecutor Lindsey Blake told the jury.

JJ's body was found in garbage bags with duct tape around him, including around his head.

Vallow sat emotionless while tragic photos were shown of the ditch where JJ was found. Jurors heard the bodies were found after Vallow referred to her children as 'dark' and 'possessed'.

Blake said Vallow was motivated to by 'money, power and sex' to kill JJ, Tylee, and Daybell's husband's ex-wife, Tammy Daybell.

'Lori Vallow Daybell used money, power and sex - or the promise of those things - to get what she wanted. What she wanted was money, power and sex,' Blake said.

'It didn't matter what obstacles she had to remove to get what she wanted.'

Blake said Tylee was a 'vibrant young woman' with her 'whole life ahead of her'. 'She was just about to enter into adulthood and make her own way in the world,' Blake said.

She said Tylee would receive social security payments following the death of her father. 'Tylee had money. Lori wanted it and because of that, Tylee is gone.'

She said JJ was a 'vibrant, happy-go-lucky'. But caring for JJ, who had autism, required 'time, effort and energy'.

Caring for JJ 'took away from the defendant doing what she wanted to do - devoting her time to Chad Daybell,' said Blake.

After they vanished, Vallow continued to collect benefits to 'fund her lifestyle'.

Meanwhile, there were 'no known actions' by Vallow to find her children. Instead she posed as a 'likable, energetic' mom to convince people nothing was wrong.

Daybell and Vallow believed they could rate people 'light or dark' and getting 'rid' of evil spirits from dark people, jurors heard. They were convinced the second coming of Christ was imminent and only 144,000 people could be saved.

Lori Vallow, 49, had been due to stand trial alongside her husband Chad Daybell, 54, but their cases were separated earlier this month

'She was here on a religious mission to gather the 144,000, so she needed to spend her time and energy there,' the prosecutor said.

'What she did on earth no longer counted for her,' Blake added. Vallow and Daybell used their warped religious ideas to 'justify' their actions.

Vallow's attorney said her alibi was that she was in her apartment in Rexburg, Idaho, when JJ Valow and Tylee Ryan died in the apartment of Alex Cox [Vallow's brother]' in Rexburg.

She said she was in Hawaii when Tammy Daybell died.

Tammy Daybell's cause of death was finally confirmed at the trial as asphyxiation. The death was initially treated as not suspicious, but an autopsy was carried out as suspicious grew about Vallow and Chad Daybell.

Jurors heard Vallow and Daybell believed 'Tammy was dark, Tammy was possessed, she was possessed by an evil spirit named Viola.'

There were also 'conversations between Alex Cox, the defendant and Chad Daybell' about 'people being light or dark'.

'Alex Cox would do whatever the defendant and Chad Daybell asked of him,' said the prosecutor. Cox is Vallow's brother who was found dead in December 2019 - days after Tammy Daybell's body was exhumed.

Outlining the defense case, Archibald said Vallow 'believes in life after death' and 'believes she will see her deceased children'.

He accepted she had an interest in the 'end times', adding: 'In this country we get to worship how we choose. The evidence will show that once Lori and her friends met Chad Daybell - an author on religious subjects - her beliefs began to morph, to change.'

Archibald told jurors 'that's where you come into this story'.

'What happened? How did these children die? Who was involved? When did it happen? Where did it happen? Why did it happen?' he said.

He said Vallow was a 'good, responsible mother' and that's what motivated Kay Woodcock to ask Vallow to adopt JJ with Charles Vallow in 2014.

'The evidence will show that people were attracted to her,' said Archibald, including her 'pretty smile, her vivacious personality, her fun-loving, happy go luck personality. People wanted to be around her.'

In court on Monday, Vallow was being closely watched by several relatives of her alleged victims, including JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock

Lori with her daughter Tylee, who she accused of murdering along with her young son

Earlier on Monday, Vallow grinned as the jury was led into the court house. She had her curled blonde hair down below her shoulders and wore a pair of thick-rimmed glasses and a dark blazer over a white shirt.

She scrawled notes on a pad and exchanged words with her lawyers, John Thomas and Jim Archibold, who were sat either side of her, while the indictment was read.

At times, Vallow smiled while whispering to her legal team. She also looked intently at the jury as Judge Boyce greeted the jurors and warned them of their responsibilities in the case.

Vallow was being closely watched by several relatives of her alleged victims, including JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock.

There was noticeable tension in the courtroom as nearly 100 people - a mixture of lawyers, officials, security, the public, relatives and media - crammed onto the long wooden benches.

Her children's remains were found in shallow graves in the yard of Daybell's home in Rexburg, Idaho in June 2020. In the months leading up to the grim discovery, Vallow had flatly refused to answer the desperate questions from friends, relatives and law enforcement about Tylee and JJ's whereabouts.

Her silence triggered nationwide concern and thrust the case into the national spotlight as investigators from several states and the FBI became involved.

Vallow was eventually arrested in Hawaii in February 2020 after she failed to meet a court order that she produce the children. Daybell was arrested after the bodies were found and both were later charged with their murders.

Several other people close to the couple - including Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, and her ex-husband, Charles Vallow - also died in suspicious circumstances in the months and years before the children's bodies were found.

Vallow and Daybell deny the murders of JJ, Tylee and Tammy Daybell.

Dozens of members of media from across America waiting outside the courthouse on Monday morning from 7am.

Relatives including Charles Vallow's sister, Kay Woodcock, and her husband, Larry Woodcock, were escorted through the scrum and into the building shortly before proceedings began. The couple were previously carers for JJ - who had autism - before he was adopted by Vallow in 2014.

The Woodcocks were at the forefront of the public campaign to locate the children and demand answers from Vallow.

The judge in the case, Seventh Judicial District Judge Steven Boyce, has already caused controversy by banning cameras in the courtroom. The move has been fiercely criticized by relatives of Vallow's alleged victims who are otherwise forced to travel hundreds of miles to witness her trial.

Legal experts also say the ban is a threat to open justice.

The court is expected to be packed every day as the media, public and relatives seek a glimpse at the proceedings.

Judge Boyce has also ruled out the death penalty for Vallow if she is convicted - which has angered relatives who say it's the only appropriate punishment for the murder of her children.
Donald Trump is continuing his tear against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by claiming a 2024 White House bid would destroy his chances of being able to ever win another election.

The ex-president called DeSantis 'young' and suggested that he might have a more bright political future if he remains governor of Florida to the end of his second term in 2026.

Previously, Trump claimed it would be highly 'disloyal' if DeSantis launched a 2024 presidential run.

'Ron DeSantis is a young man who is not doing well against me in the polls, to put it mildly,' Trump posted to his Truth Social platform.

Former President Donald Trump warned Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis against running for president in 2024 because it will ruin his ability to 'successfully run for office again'

'I believe that if he decides to run for President, which will only hurt and somewhat divide the Republican Party, he will lose the cherished and massive MAGA vote, and never be able to successfully run for office again,' the former president continued.

'If he remains Governor, which is what Florida voters assumed, it would be a whole different story.JUST SAYIN' - But who knows?'

Trump is a resident of Florida, changing his address in the middle of his presidency from his lifelong home of New York City.

DeSantis has not yet announced a bid for president  and has stayed coy on whether he will make a White House run. But his recent actions, including visiting early primary states and releasing a book and going on tour, have only fueled speculation.

His book outlined actions he took as governor of Florida that he believes could be applied to the rest of the United States.

Trump was the first Republican to announce his run in the 2024 primary race in November 2022. He is facing three official challengers so far  his former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asak Hutchinson and biotech multimillionaire Vivek Ramaswamy.

Polling shows that DeSantis is the only potential 2024 candidate that even gets close to Trump's figures. Only in a few niche polls, however, has DeSantis bested the former president.

Trump also called out a poll showing DeSantis trailing him by 15 percent among Florida Republican primary voters as another sign that he shouldn't run against him.

'I guess Ron DeSantis is not quite as popular in Florida as people thought,' he posted on his social media platform Monday afternoon. 'I assume, among other things, that they don't want their Social Security and MediCare cut!'

The hypothetical head-to-head showed Trump with 47 percent support and DeSantis with 32 percent.

Trump posted to his Truth Social platform Monday that a White House bid from the 'young man' DeSantis would just 'divide the Republican Party'

Many believe that the indictment of Trump has only emboldened the MAGA base and increased his popularity as a GOP martyr among the Republican Party.

Trump's campaign also released a lengthy statement on Monday questioning if DeSantis will 'flip-flop' on Florida's so-called 'resign to run' law in order to make a White House bid in 2024.

Resign to run is a Florida law that requires lawmakers on the state level to step down from their position if they are officially running for a different public office.

Many have speculated that this is another reason why DeSantis has not yet announced a run, claiming he wants the Florida's Republican supermajority legislature to change the laws so he can run without resigning from the State House.
Police forces spent 34million of taxpayer cash on spin doctors last year despite thousands of crimes going unsolved daily, the Mail can reveal.

Constabularies have hired at least 753 full-time employees in communication roles with questionable job titles, such as 'graphic designer' and 'TV and events assistant', to battle scandals and improve their image.

Forces increased their total spending on communications staff by more than 8 per cent last year, adding 16 full-time staff members, despite the ongoing policing crisis.

Tom Ryan of the Taxpayers' Alliance, who carried out the research, said: 'Taxpayers are tired of their cash going towards misplaced priorities and non-jobs of questionable value.

'While huge numbers of crimes go unsolved, police are spending more and more on spin doctors.

Police forces spent 34million of taxpayer cash on spin doctors last year despite thousands of crimes going unsolved daily (file image)

Tom Ryan of the Taxpayers' Alliance, who carried out the research, said: 'Taxpayers are tired of their cash going towards misplaced priorities and non-jobs of questionable value' (file image)

'Forces should focus funds on fighting crime, not fighting fires in the media.'

Police Scotland spent more than 3.1million on communication staff in 2021/22, according to the data, which was obtained through Freedom of Information requests.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland forked out 2.5million, while regional forces in the West Midlands, Essex and South Wales spent 1.8million, 1.5million and 1.4million respectively.

All five have faced scandals in recent years.

The cumulative figure is likely to be higher than 34million, with ten police forces, including the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police, failing to reply to the FOI request.

In 2015, it was revealed that the Met Police have an annual communications budget of more than 10million.

More than 5,000 crimes are now going unsolved every day, figures show.

Police Scotland spent more than 3.1million on communication staff in 2021/22, according to the data (file image)

More than 5,000 crimes are now going unsolved every day, figures show (file image)

The latest analysis shows 1.47million criminal cases were closed by police without a suspect being identified between January and September 2022.

A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs' Council said: 'Police communications teams play an important role in the day-to-day function of police forces, supporting the activity of their force across many different areas, including operational activities.

'They do this through a variety of ways, such as press releases to keep the public informed on investigations, appeals for missing persons and social media posts to raise awareness of crime trends and how to avoid falling victim.'
Tammy Daybell's cause of death has finally been confirmed as asphyxiation, more than two years after second autopsy was completed.

The stunning revelation came on Monday during cult mom Lori Vallow's trial in Boise, Idaho for the murder of her two children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and JJ Vallow, seven.

The 'doomsday cult mom allegedly murdered her children after believing the second coming of Christ was imminent and her children were 'zombies'.

The 49-year-old is also accused of conspiracy to murder her husband Chad Daybell's ex-wife Tammy, 49. Daybell - who will also face a separate trial over the killings - was a doomsday 'prepper' who forged a reputation through books and talks about the end of the world.

Tammy Daybell's death in 2019 was initially treated as not suspicious, but an autopsy was carried out as suspicious grew about Vallow and Chad Daybell.

Tammy Daybell's cause of death has finally been confirmed as asphyxiation, more than two years after second autopsy was completed

Lori Vallow, 49, had been due to stand trial alongside her husband Chad Daybell, 54, but their cases were separated earlier this month. Vallow is accused of conspiracy to murder in Tammy Daybell's death

Lori Vallow murdered her children as she hunted 'money, power and sex' with her husband Chad Daybell, jurors in the doomsday cult mom's murder trial have heard. Pictured: A court sketch of Vallow in court in Boise, Idaho on Monday

Jurors on Monday heard that Vallow and Daybell believed 'Tammy was dark, Tammy was possessed, she was possessed by an evil spirit named Viola.'

There were also 'conversations between Alex Cox, the defendant and Chad Daybell' about 'people being light or dark'.

'Alex Cox would do whatever the defendant and Chad Daybell asked of him,' said the prosecutor. Cox is Vallow's brother, who was found dead in December 2019. A medical examiner determined he died of natural causes.

Prosecutor Lindsey Blake said the autopsy later revealed 'Tammy died at the hands of another and that the cause of her death was asphyxiation'.

'You will hear how around the time of Tammy's exhumation, Alex Cox made a statement along the lines of "I hope I'm not their fall guy".

'Alex Cox died the next day [after the exhumation] on December 12, 2019.'

Vallows attorney said her alibi was that she was in her apartment in Rexburg, Idaho, when JJ Valow and Tylee Ryan died in the apartment of Alex Cox [Vallow's brother] in Rexburg.

She said she was in Hawaii when Tammy Daybell died.

In February 2021, a Utah medical examiner completed an autopsy on Tammy Daybell after it was revealed that Vallow and Daybell were being investigated over her death.

Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries said at the time that the results of the autopsy were not being made public because it was being used as evidence in the investigation.

Tammy reportedly died in her sleep on October 19, 2019, after going to bed coughing, according to an obituary.

Yet she was in training for a 5km run to be held a few days after her death, one friend told DailyMail.com.

'She was into healthy living, very fit  and then all of a sudden we hear she has died,' the friend said. 'It didn't make sense then and it doesn't make sense now.'

Tammy Daybell was married to Mormon Doomsday author Chad Daybell (pictured together). Two weeks after his wife's death Chad married cult mom Lori Vallow

Jurors on Monday at Lori Vallow's murder trial heard that she and Chad Daybell believed Tammy Daybell (pictured) 'was possessed by an evil spirit named Viola'

According to the East Idaho News, Tammy had also visited with her siblings and parents two weeks earlier in Springville, Utah, and showed no sign of sickness.

However, Mormon Doomsday author Chad reportedly declined an autopsy and her death was ruled to be from natural causes.

Two weeks after the death of the mother-of-five, Chad married cult mom Lori whose own husband, Charles, had died a few months earlier.

Police launched an investigation into Tammy's death  and the death of Lori's fourth husband Charles  after a search was mounted for Lori's children JJ and Tylee last year.

The children were found buried on Chad's property in Salem, Idaho, last June and investigators believe the cases could be linked.

Fremont County Coroner Brenda Dye asked a judge in Utah to have Tammy's body exhumed from its grave in Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, Utah - where Chad had once worked - after suspicions were raised.

It was exhumed on December 11, 2019, one day before the death of Lori's brother Alex Cox, who was also being investigated in connection with all four deaths.

DailyMail.com revealed exclusively in January 2020 that police were investigating whether Tammy may have been poisoned.

'We're looking for poison, but we are just having to wait for lab results,' Humphries said in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com.

'You could say we are in a sort of holding pattern right now.'

Fremont Sheriff's Department is heading up the investigation into Tammy's death after she died at her home 15 minutes  and across the county line  from the apartment in Rexburg where the children were last known to be living.

Cult mom Lori Vallow is on trial in Boise, Idaho for the murder of her two children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and JJ Vallow, seven.

'From an investigation point of view this is a disaster,' Humphries said of the case last year with a search still underway for the children.

'There are multiple agencies involved  us, Rexburg police, the FBI, as well as police departments in Arizona.

'There are people who have died strangely in several places, and two kids that we have absolutely no idea where they are.'

Humphries revealed that police in Arizona alerted his department that things may not be as they seemed. In his 12 years as sheriff, he said he had never had any contact with Chad Daybell.

'Then about 10 days prior to her death we got a call that a guy in a mask was firing paintballs at their house. By the time we responded of course there was no one there. The feeling was it was all a prank.'

At the time Tammy Daybell wrote on Facebook: 'Something really weird just happened,' the East Idaho News reported.

'I had gotten home and parked in our front driveway. As I was getting stuff out of the back seat, a guy wearing a ski mask was suddenly standing by the back of my car with a paintball gun. He shot at me several times, although I don't think it was loaded.

'I yelled for Chad and he ran off around the back of my house.'
Kim Kardashian has launched a furious defense of a Florida businessman who faces re-prosecution for orchestrating a $1 billion Medicare fraud scheme after his 20-year sentence was commuted by former president Donald Trump.

Philip Esformes, 52, was convicted in 2019 of 20 criminal counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, paying and receiving kickbacks, money laundering, bribery, and obstruction of justice- and hit with a 20-year prison sentence.

His $1.3 billion Medicare fraud scheme was described by prosecutors as one of the biggest Medicare fraud cases in US history.

The former healthcare executive only served four-and-a-half years of his two-decade prison sentence and was released December 22, 2022 along with up to 200 other convicts whose sentences were commuted in the final days of Trump's presidency.

On Saturday, Kardashian took to Twitter calling his case 'prosecutorial misconduct' and encouraged her supporters to read and share Esformes' story.

'Now the DOJ is trying to send him back to prison for the same crimes the judge sentenced him on. Please read his story and share,' she wrote.

Kardashian took to Twitter on Saturday calling the case 'prosecutorial misconduct' and encouraged her supporters to read and share Esformes' story since the Department of Justice is trying to send him back to prison

Philip Esformes, 52, was convicted of 20 criminal counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, paying and receiving kickbacks, money laundering, bribery, and obstruction of justice in 2019. Prosecutors described his $1.3 billion Medicare scheme as one of the biggest Medicare fraud cases in US history

Kardashian defends former healthcare fraudster Phillip Esfomes

Kardashian asks her supporters to read and share Esformes' story

'Philip Esformes was convicted of 20 charges equaling $170k. The judge then used those charges along with charges a jury found him NOT guilty of and sentenced him to 20 years in prison and 43 million dollars in restitution and criminal asset forfeiture.

'Philip served 4.5 years in prison - much of it in isolation in order to avoid abuse by guards and other prisoners while observing his devout religious beliefs,' Kardashian tweeted.

'After hearing about the prosecutorial misconduct in the case, Trump gave Philip a commutation and let him come home to his family. He has focused on giving back and has been a law abiding, devoutly religious family man.'

Esformes had operated a network of nursing homes and assisted living facilities in South Florida and was found guilty of paying kickbacks and bribes to doctors and administrators so they would refer patients to his businesses.

FBI agents described Esformes as a man 'driven by almost unbounded greed.'

Trump at the time claimed the move had been supported by a number of former attorneys general and said Esformes was ailing, but did not specify his health condition.

The White House had issued a statement at the time his 20-year sentence was commuted by the former president.

'While in prison, Mr. Esformes, who is 52, has been devoted to prayer and repentance and is in declining health,' the White House said in a statement.

Philip Esformes was among those pardoned by President Trump in the final days of his presidency. Esformes, 52, had been serving a 20-year sentence for orchestrating a $1billion Medicare fraud scheme. FBI agents describes Esformes as a man 'driven by almost unbounded greed'

Trump at the time claimed the move had been supported by a number of former attorneys general and said Esformes was ailing, but did not specify his health condition

Days after his release however, Esformes was photographed dancing at his daughter Serena's wedding held in the backyard of his multimillion-dollar Miami Beach home that took place on New Year's Eve, the New York Times reported.

The celebration - and Esformes's pardon - appeared to have angered some of his own neighbors.

On Twitter, Gary Ressler shared a photo of a gift basket sent by the newlyweds to neighbors as an apology for the loud festivities.

'Wishing you a happy & healthy 2021! We apologize in advance for any noise from the celebration of our marriage. Xoxo, Drew and Serena,' the couple said in a note along with a champagne gift basket.

The gesture, however, did not sit well with Ressler, who blasted Esformes for hosting such a party and pointed out that the fraudster's home had been 'reroofed and re-landscaped' ahead of his release.

'This mother******, Philip Esformes stole $1.5BB from [Medicare] couldn't be bothered to mow his lawn for the four years he spent in the prison but, days after a [Trump] pardon, he found the wherewithal to host a grand wedding for his daughter in his backyard tonight!' Ressler tweeted, adding '#CrimePays.'

Federal prosecutor Paul E. Pelletier, who spent years pursuing charges in the case, chimed in slamming the presidential pardon which he said undermined the hard work and duties of public servants.

'It is an incredible kick in the teeth to the agents and prosecutors who toil away every day under very difficult circumstances to achieve justice and some restitution to the taxpayers from the billions of dollars that has literally been stolen from them,' Pelletier told the Times.

'If you are going to steal $250 million from Medicare, you are going to jail for 20 years. I have no sympathy for these people. None,' he added, revealing the prosecution had intentionally sought a long sentence to make an example of the fraudster.

Included in Trump's list of controversial pardons at the time was Judith Negron, who had been convicted in a separate $205million Medicare fraud scam, conspiracy and money laundering.

She had served only eight years of a 35-year sentence at a Florida prison when she was first granted clemency in February after her case was brought to Trump's attention by Kim Kardashian.

Trump then commuted the remainder of her term of supervised release in December.
Among the dead is the gunman, who is said to have used an AR-15-style rifle

'Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives': Biden

Five people have died, and nine others have been wounded in bank shooting

President Joe Biden responded to Monday's shooting in Louisville, Kentucky, by repeating his call for stricter gun control and calling on Republicans in Congress to enact it.

'Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence  Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today's shooting. Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives. When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?' he wrote on Twitter.

Five people were killed, and eight others were injured in an early morning shooting at the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville. The suspected gunman died at the scene.

Biden declared himself powerless to do anything more on gun violence after a shooting in Nashville, Tenn., last month killed six people, including three children.

President Joe Biden called Monday's shooting in Louisville 'senseless' and called on Republicans in Congress to pass gun control legislation

'I have gone the full extent of my executive authority to do, on my own, anything about guns,' Biden said, shifting the burden to Congress.

But even when Biden's Democrats were in charge of both chambers of Congress, they could not pass significant gun reform legislation. It is highly unlikely to happen now with Republicans in control of the House.

Congress has passed legislation encouraging local governments to set up red flag laws and made minor changes to background checks. But it has failed to reauthorize the assault weapons ban, which Biden initially helped pass as a senator.

The issue is becoming political, with Biden blaming Republicans in Congress and the GOP arguing they are protecting second amendment rights.

The Louisville shooter, believed to be a 'disgruntled employee,' opened fire at around 8.33 am on Monday, when the bank opened and employees attended a morning conference.

The University of Louisville has since announced that it treated nine patients, including two officers and seven civilians. Three patients have already been released.

Among the dead is the gunman, who is said to have used an AR-15-style rifle in the shooting. Whether the suspect died by officers' gunfire or from a self-inflicted wound remains unclear.

Authorities are now encouraging the public to stay away from the 300 block of East Main Street in the city's downtown area  located just hours from Nashville, where a gunman recently opened fire at a Christian school and killed six people.

People are pictured embracing following the mass shooting at the Old National Bank

Blood was seen on the steps outside the Old National Bank in Louisville on Monday morning

In another tragic morning for America, here are the most significant developments from the latest mass shooting:

One bank employee told WHAS that they saw a man with a 'long assault rifle' fire multiple shots near the conference room.

'He just started firing,' the unnamed employee said. 'I didn't see his face. We were in the conference room.

'Whoever was next to me got shot, their blood's on me,' he added.

Another witness said they heard multiple gunshots as well as breaking glass coming from the bank Monday morning.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a news conference that one of his 'good friends' was a victim of the shooting

Pictures from the scene show smashed glass at the Old National Bank following the shooting

ATF officers were seen with a stretcher outside the Old National Bank on Monday

Two people are pictured embracing outside the Old National Bank in Louisville

Investigators from the Louisville Metro Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are pictured responding to the scene of the shooting

Police were deployed to the scene of the mass shooting in downtown Louisville on Monday morning

Louisville metro Police stand outside of the Old National Bank building as the investigation continues

Authorities say there is no ongoing threat to the public, but are urging people to avoid the area as the investigation continues

'I had just dropped my son off at work on River Road,' an unnamed witness told WDRB. 'I was at the stop light, and the first thing that I saw  there was a guy across the street of the intersection and he was lying down at the entrance to a hotel.'

At first, she said, she thought the man was just out for a jog  but then she noticed he was on the steps and not the sidewalk.

That is when she said she heard gunfire, with video from the scene showing at least three shots were fired.

'As I was siting at that intersection, gunfire erupted, like, right over my head,' she said. 'I didn't know if it was going at the bank or out of the bank, I took off.'

'When I turned, I saw that one of the windows in the bank had been blown out.'

She then said she saw police vehicles pull up to the area.

'They were coming from everywhere,' she said. 'The police were coming out of their cars with black rifles.'

'I just ducked in my car and waited there.'

The Old National Bank remained roped off following the shooting on Monday

Ambulances and police cars were seen outside the Louisville Slugger Field following the shooting

Police in Louisville, Kentucky are responding to an active shooter outside the Old National Bank

Meanwhile, Tammy Madigan, who works for a commercial real estate company on the fifth floor of the building said she and her co-workers decided to hide in the bathroom.

She said there were about six people in the office when one of her colleagues arrived and said they saw somebody walk into the building with guns.

Her colleague then called his coworker on another floor and warned everyone not to leave, while Madigan and her coworkers called 911 and locked all the doors.

'But before the police got there, we started hearing shooting,' Madigan told the Daily Beast.

'The bathrooms on our floor have keycode entry, so it was probably the safest place we could think of to hide,' she continued. 'So the six of us went into the men's room, turned off all the sound on our phones, tried to be as quiet as possible.'

After about five minutes, Madigan said she heard voices saying they were police.

'But we didn't know if it was really the police or the shooter trying to get us to come out,' she said.

Once the officers were able to convince Madigan and her colleagues they were real, she said, officers evacuated them from the premises.

'When the elevator door opened, the shooter was just laying there, dead,' she said. 'There was lots of glass all over.

'One of the girls in my office was just breaking down,' Madigan continued. 'One of the guys was pushing the button to close the door, so the police let us go out through the basement, and then took us over to Slugger Field, where they began taking statements from everybody in the building.

'I bet there were 100 cops there,' she said.

Photograph of the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville - where police have reported an active shooter incident

The FBI and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms officers are also on the scene.

Old National Bank is an American regional bank with nearly 200 retail branches operated by Old National Bancorp and based in Chicago, Illinois and Evansville, Indiana.

In a statement CEO Jim Ryan said: 'The safety of Old National Bank employees and everyone we serve in our banking center locations is paramount.

'As we await more details, we are deploying employee assistance support and keeping everyone affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers.'
When Don Lemon revealed to the world in 2011 that he was gay, he admitted he was terrified that exposing his true identity would ruin his illustrious career.

'I'm scared,' the CNN anchor said in an interview. 'I'm talking about something that people might shun me for, ostracize me for. It's about the worst thing you can be in black culture. I guess this makes me a double minority now.'

As it turned out, Lemon had nothing to fear. If anything, the revelation of his sexuality bolstered his success, as he was embraced at CNN as the poster-boy of the liberal establishment and the network's authority on race as liberal America fell into Trump Derangement Syndrome and demanded collective atonement for any and all past sins.

Instead, it has been Lemon's more recent public outing as an alleged power-hungry misogynist with a history of openly cruel behavior towards women that now threatens to ruin his career. And ironically, according to a CNN insider, it may be that identity  which he once so feared revealing - that is the very thing keeping him in a job.

'Without a doubt, a white straight male would have been fired by now,' a source at the network told DailyMail.com. 'He's a minority in his race and sexuality Don seems to be in a protected class, and he continues to get away with behavior that others wouldn't.'

When Don Lemon revealed to the world in 2011 that he was gay, he admitted he was terrified that exposing his true identity would ruin his illustrious career.

As of late, Lemon, 56, appears to have been making more headlines than he is covering.

The trouble seems to have all started at the end last year, when new CNN Chairman Chris Licht moved to steer the struggling left-wing network away from stale, partisan political commentary.

As a result, Lemon lost his primetime hosting gig and was moved instead to join journalists Poppy Harlow and Kaitlin Collins on a new show, 'CNN This Morning'.

Negative reports began to emerge almost immediately.

First, in December, we heard that Collins, 30, was rumored to have fled the set in tears after Lemon berated her for interrupting him during a segment.

Then in February, things bubbled over further, as Lemon found himself embroiled in an ugly on-screen row, which critics said betrayed blatant misogyny.

Live on air, he became indignant over Republican Presidential candidate Nikki Haley's call for competency tests for politicians over 75 years of age.

'I think it's the wrong road to go down,' Lemon insisted. 'She says people, you know, politicians or something are not in their prime.'

'Nikki Haley isn't in her prime, sorry,' he went on. 'A woman is considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.'

Harlow, 41, appeared shocked by what she was hearing: 'What are you talking about, wait  prime for what?'

Following an increasingly uncomfortable back and forth, Harlow reportedly left the set 'with Collins following her to try to talk to her.'

And then came last week's a searing expose in Variety depicted Lemon as a jealous and viciously competitive colleague dating back to his early days at CNN Atlanta in 2006.

As a result, Lemon lost his primetime hosting gig and was moved instead to join journalists Kaitlin Collins (left) and Poppy Harlow on a new show, 'CNN This Morning'.

Live on air, he became indignant over Republican Presidential candidate Nikki Haley's (pictured) call for competency tests for politicians over 75 years of age.

Just two years after joining the network, Lemon began co-anchoring a weekday show with veteran journalist Kyra Phillips. And in a potential foreshadowing of tensions now looming over Lemon, the pair's relationship quickly deteriorated.

The rivalry turned downright bizarre after Lemon reportedly launched a secret intimidation campaign against Phillips after she was selected for a plum job to be embedded with US forces in Iraq.

Lemon would 'tear up pictures and notes on top of and inside Phillips' desk' in a cubicle they shared, Variety claimed.

When Phillips returned from Iraq, sources who spoke to Variety claim she received text messages from an unknown number that read, 'Now you've crossed the line, and you're going to pay for it.'

The texts were reportedly traced to Lemon.

For his part, Lemon has denied the claims  and, publicly at least, CNN has backed him. In a statement the network said the Variety article was 'riddled with patently false anecdotes' and 'based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip.'

But inside sources speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com paint a very different picture, and say the network's response has been incredibly misleading. They claim Lemon's on-going misogynistic abuse is well-known and CNN big wigs let it slide.

'The galling part of all of this is the suggestion that the allegations in the Variety piece are old,' said a CNN source. 'There is new stuff. This year and last year women have complained to CNN management. But CNN is pretending that these are old allegations that they can't confirm. That is ludicrous.'

'There have been complaints about on-air comments but also things that he's said off-camera that are degrading, and completely inappropriate in the workplace.'

CNN declined to comment on these fresh allegations, but certainly it is testimony that chimes with other details in Variety's searing report.

In addition to apparently appalling treatment of Phillips, Lemon allegedly called a producer 'fat' to her face and deemed fellow journalist Soledad O'Brien  whose mother is of Afro-Cuban descent - 'not black' after she was chosen to host CNN's 'Black in America' docuseries.

And so, the big question now hanging over the network is: why does Don still have a job?

People familiar with the situation claim Lemon is protected in an organization that values empty virtue signaling over its own female staffers.

'CNN is beholden to the cancel-culture lobby,' an insider said. 'If they were to let Don go the minority representation lobby would go after them'.

'CNN is under new leadership but it is the same subservient attitude towards cancel culture. Since the Nikki Haley incident women inside and outside the network are saying this is not acceptable.'

After Lemon's remarks about Haley in February sparked widespread criticism, the network hastily announced that he would spend three days off-air. But after the short absence, a 'frank and meaningful conversation' with Licht, and an agreement to participate in a single day of 'formal training', he was back.

Inside the walls of CNN, such a limp response was seen an yet another insult to the women who worked there.

'It's certainly an embarrassing look for the network and you would imagine top talent being rude and misogynist to women is not something you'd take lightly,' a source said. 'A day of training is a f****** joke.

Lemon would 'tear up pictures and notes on top of and inside Kyra Phillips's (pictured) desk' in a cubicle they shared, Variety claimed.

Lemon allegedly deemed fellow journalist Soledad O'Brien (pictured)  whose mother is of Afro-Cuban descent - 'not black' after she was chosen to host CNN's 'Black in America' docuseries.

I know that there are multiple women who feel ignored and unsupported.'

In fact, things are said to now be so bad that some women reportedly refuse to even appear on TV alongside him.

And yet, CNN has dismissed talent before for much lesser alleged offences.

The network notably parted ways with former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum after he claimed, 'there isn't much Native American culture in American culture,' during a conservative conference in 2021.

Despite apologizing, saying he 'misspoke' and explained that he 'was not trying to dismiss Native Americans', Santorum was shown the door.

The same went for top-rated anchor Chris Cuomo after he secretly aided his brother, then governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, in an ongoing sexual harassment case against him.

As of now, it doesn't appear that Lemon is going anywhere. And, as CNN's ratings continue to reach new lows, our insiders say the only way they see Lemon getting the boot is if he becomes a significant drag on profits.

'Unless his ratings continue to stay so low and it's a net financial loss  I truly feel like he'll continue to stay in his spot,' one source said. 'They'll make a decision based on the bottom line  and there is a cost to crossing cancel culture that they're not willing to pay right now.'

Or perhaps, our insider predicted, Lemon's allegedly decades-long reign of misogyny at the network will end with litigation.

'My question is when is enough - enough. Because at some point there might be some legal responsibilities,' said the insider. 'I don't know if this is going anywhere but certainly Don feels like he's being protected at the expense of many other people who apparently aren't as important -- and that includes his co-hosts.'
The CNN anchor who has been struggling to reign in his behavior for months now, was caught on a hot mic moment insulting Jon Stewart

Embattled CNN anchor Don Lemon suffered another slip up Monday when he was caught disparaging Jon Stewart during a hot mic moment.

On his morning show, Lemon tossed to a clip of Jon Stewart interviewing US Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, in which Stewart confronted the official about what he called extreme waste in the Defense Department's $850million budget.

Hicks took issue with Stewart's description of the issue, to which he replied: 'I can't figure out how $850billion to a department means that the rank and file still have to be on food stamps. To me, that's f***ing corruption.'

As the video faded out, Lemon can be heard on his mic saying, 'He gets a lot of leeway with the comedian thing, though.' It seemed Lemon had been chatting with his co-anchors about Stewart during the time that the clip played.

CNN anchor Don Lemon was caught on a hot mic insulting Jon Stewart during the Monday morning broadcast of his struggling show

After a few seconds of silence, Lemon backtracked to say that Stewart is so much more than a comedian, a point that he then proceeded to repeat several times.

Stewart, in addition to being a comedian, has over the years become a staunch advocate for American servicemen and first responders.

He has lobbied lawmakers in Washington many times over issues like benefits for 9/11 first responders and healthcare coverage for servicemembers exposed to burn pits.

When Lemon realized what had happened, he attempted to run damage control on the situation by saying: 'We were just discussing that Jon Stewart is so much more than a comedian. He is a thought leader.'

Lemon's co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins added that Stewart, who currently host The Problem on Apple TV+, 'needs no introduction' due to his prolific advocacy for veterans' rights.

'Yeah, I was saying comedian and television host, he's so much more than that,' said Lemon, doubling down. 'I don't even know if you need to qualify Jon Stewart as that. But good interview there.'

Lemon has been the subject and cause of much tension at CNN of late, having, over the last several months made several on air comments that have provoked ire behind the scenes, in addition to reportedly bad behavior off-air.

Most recently, the former primetime talent was accused by women at the network of misogynistic behavior and being 'disrespectful' toward several members of the staff.

The allegations this time date back to 2008  years before he was accused of being sexist toward GOP Candidate Nikki Haley when he she 'isn't in her prime.'

Sources told Variety that Lemon, 57, was rude to Nancy Grace on the air, and Soledad O'Brien during an editorial meeting attended by roughly 30 staffers.

Exchange between @jonstewart and @DepSecDef Kathleen Hicks on the defense budget: "I can't figure out how $850 billion to a department means that the rank and file still have to be on food stamps. To me, that's fucking corruption." pic.twitter.com/2pu0geUyRE  CSPAN (@cspan) April 7, 2023

Jon Stewart has established a reputation, in addition to being a comedian, for advocating on behalf of servicemembers and first responders

One senior executive told Variety at the time: 'As fast as you could make a rule, Don would bend it.'

He has also clashed several times with former White House Correspondent and current co-host Kaitlan Collins live on air.

The pair have repeatedly spoken over one another and eventually, it was reported that their clashing resulted in a bust-up during which Lemon screamed at Collins on December 8. She reportedly ran from the set in tears.

After that, he was reportedly told to take a day to 'cool off' by boss Chris Licht but instead blew up at staffers after a company newsletter featured a story about his altercation with Collins.

Since the incident in December, Lemon has been sent to Memphis and on other assignments, while Collins worked remotely from Washington DC on several occasions in January.

He was also forced to undergo 'formal training' after making sexist comments about 2024 presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, 51, being past her prime.

After that comment, Lemon missed the show for three days straight, as insiders said he is aware that he is on his 'final warning.'

Licht, who slammed Lemon's remarks, sent a memo to staffers following the incident saying that Lemon agreed to participate in training.

Lemon is in hot water at CNN: Sources recently told Variety that Lemon was rude to Nancy Grace on the air, and Soledad O'Brien during an editorial meeting attended by roughly 30 staffers

Lemon's actions toward women are coming to light, especially after he allegedly screamed at Kaitlan Collins off-air for interrupting him on December 8

According to a memo sent to staffers on, Licht said: 'I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation.

'He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously.

'It is important to me that CNN balances accountability with a fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes.'

Lemon returned to the show, but did not acknowledge the backlash he faced live on air  instead issued a groveling apology online moments before the show aired.

Licht previously said that the remarks were 'upsetting, unacceptable and unfair to his co-hosts, and ultimately a huge distraction to the great work of this organization' during an editorial call.
Angry business owners on a busy London road have slammed 'nonsense' Labour council measures to reduce traffic by stopping drivers from taking shortcuts on back roads that they claim are killing footfall near their shops.

A new Hammersmith and Fulham Council (LBHF) scheme dubbed the 'Clean Air Neighbourhood' uses five cameras to deter non-residents from driving down side streets in an effort to limit air pollution.

Non-resident drivers breaking the rules now face hefty fines after a two-month warning period ended in January and the scheme has been criticised for increasing traffic on the New King's Road in Fulham.

The Labour-run council says the congestion is not being caused by the air-pollution scheme but furious local business owners have said it's costing them money.

It comes as Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, suggested again today that he might endorse introducing a 'pay-as-you-drive' scheme into London - with motorists charged depending on the time of day, how many passengers are in their car and how far they drive.

The scheme allows residents to drive through the cameras without charge but will fine any unregistered vehicles that drive past the cameras marked on the map

Traffic in Fulham, west London. New cameras have been introduced to stop drivers from outside the borough going down side streets

Mehmet Oz, manager of Fulham Greens, said his customers wanted to park near the shop so that they could get their shopping home

All residents with vehicles registered in the borough can go through the cameras on the junction of Stokenchurch Street and Ryecroft Street, Perrymead Street, Peterborough Road, Broomhouse Lane, and Edenhurst Avenue, without penalty.

But drivers from other parts of London, including just over Wandsworth Bridge, can't access the side streets without incurring a fine.

Manager of Fulham Greens, Mehmet Oz, 29, said: 'It's affecting the business. People used to park here on a Saturday. This is a grocery store.

'People want to park their car, get a bit of shopping and take it to their car if they can't carry it. We used to have a lot coming from Wandsworth Bridge.'

One of Mr Oz's colleagues, who asked not to be named, said: 'We've lost a lot of customers, and from what I'm seeing and hearing from neighbours their businesses are dropping way down. Normally there are cars parked around here.'

Nicholas Kennerson, 49, has owned the frame fitting shop Fix Your Pix since 1995.

During a long career, he has 'a couple of times' had 'frightening Russian security guards' who were 'clearly carrying a gun' watching over him as he worked on their clients' extremely valuable artworks.

On the clean air scheme, he said: 'It's a load of c**p. [The council] sent someone round, I said it's nonsense, but they're going to force it through. We're all losing money two months in.'

Nicholas continued: 'Hally's [brunch restaurant] across the road has lost 10,000 in the last two months, I think. I'm not so bad because all my customers are local, but it's worse for those who depend on people stopping to grab a coffee.

A staff member at Fulham Greens said the grocery shop had lost a lot of business because of the motoring measures

Brunch spot Hally's has lost 10,000 in the two months since the scheme started, a local businessman said

Nicholas Kennerson, 49, who has owned the frame fitting shop Fix Your Pix since 1995, called the measures 'c**p'

Fix Your Pix on the New King's Road in Fulham. The owner said the traffic was adding 20 minutes to journeys

'You can't park anywhere, and the traffic adds another 20 minutes to your journey so it's not worth it for a coffee.

'The big companies can afford to take a hit, and all my customers can drive in the area, but the boutiques are going to take a hit. I've been through two recessions, and we're all waiting on tenterhooks for the latest business rates as well.

'If they go up, how can they justify it when we're getting less business? I've been here so long, I have established clients.

'A good Instagram presence is the best thing ever. It's free advertising if you do one post a day. Now I only do it three times a week because I was getting too much work.'

Manager of The Real Flower Company across the road, Catherine Rubaine, 57, said: 'It's affected us big time. I would say footfall has decreased, and I know a lot of customers live over Wandsworth Bridge and they won't come in anymore - it's a nightmare. I would say we're down at least 10 per cent a week minimum.'

Catherine Rubaine (right), 57, manager of The Real Flower Company, said a lot of her customers won't come over Wandsworth Bridge thanks to the new measures

Freelance florist, Penny Comerford, 44, said the shop was quiet on a Saturday as a result of the traffic measures

Describing additional traffic on main roads, Ms Rubaine added: 'It just makes these roads really, really busy. They say it's clean air but come 3pm the road is choca.

'How can that be better? How is there supposed to be clean air but cars stand still for hours? How can that be clean? It's polluting a hell of a lot more.'

Freelance florist, Penny Comerford, 44, said: 'On Saturday it's so quiet around here. It used to be really busy, but now it's gone.'

When asked if she had seen a decrease in custom, Felicity, a manager at the clothing shop Katie and Jo, said: 'Definitely. There's a huge customer base in Wandsworth and it's really affected them coming over here - it's a real shame.

'People are averse to coming over here and it takes so much longer because of the traffic. It's just horrific. This is our only shop.

'We really rely on footfall as well and less people are able to get over here.'

Another furious restaurant owner said: 'It needs to be scrapped. It's a terrible scheme, I struggle to get in deliveries. They need to fix Wandsworth Bridge Road first.

'It's killing the independent businesses, they're finding it very difficult to rely on daytime trade. It takes over an hour to drive through Wandsworth Bridge Road or Putney, and you can't park on the side of the street - it's too expensive.

'Why come here? All it's really done is concentrated traffic into two roads rather than spread it out.'

The owner of a family-owned store on New Kings Road said: 'Some have seen a decline in revenue - it's not easy to be here.

'I'm a local shop and all my customers are local, three miles away on foot. But I know a lot of people suffering from it, it's not good. Even though I'm not suffering, I'm not happy with it.'

Asked if she felt she and others had been properly consulted, she added: 'No. There have been leaflets but I can't say anything else.. And having traffic on to the main road here, I suppose it's more congested.

'There are more pollutants in the air rather than spread around the side streets. It's had a good effect on residential areas I suppose, but the signage isn't clear either and you're hit with a camera.'

The complaints come as Sadiq Khan plans an ULEZ expansion from August 2023 and once again touted the idea of charging people based on what time of day or night they use their cars on Monday.

'Road use charging is interesting,' he told the Financial Times. 'If you get rid of the congestion charge, get rid of Ulez, get rid of road tax, and charge people depending on how many miles they drive, how polluting their vehicle is, what time of day they're driving, are there alternatives related to public transport, how many people are in the car, that's potentially quite exciting.

'The problem is the technology's quite a long way off.'

The scheme follows the 'successful' clean air neighbourhood trial to the east of Wandsworth Bridge Road, which the authority says has seen '8,000 fewer cars emitting dangerous nitrogen oxide entering the area' and carbon dioxide emissions 'reduced by one tonne a day'.

Having consulted the council's engineers, a LBHF spokesperson said that New Kings Road has 'totally different traffic issues' to Wandsworth Bridge Road, and it would be wrong to blame increased congestion in New Kings Road on the authority's clean air trial.

The scheme follows the 'successful' clean air neighbourhood trial to the east of Wandsworth Bridge Road, which the authority says has seen '8,000 fewer cars emitting dangerous nitrogen oxide entering the area'

A new Hammersmith and Fulham Council (LBHF) scheme uses five cameras to deter non-residents from driving into the area, in an effort to limit air pollution

This is because 'increased congestion on this major east-west route is down to TfL installing a new pedestrianised signal crossing at the junction with Battersea Bridge and introducing a new bus lane on the Chelsea Embankment, which in itself has reduced road capacity by about one-third.

'Overlaying this are road closures at Hyde Park Corner and Victoria Station that have significantly reduced the road network capacity in Central London and are impacting all the way to the south of the river. Plus, Thames Water are currently carrying out emergency works in New Kings Road.'

Conservative MP for Chelsea and Fulham, Greg Hands, has also criticised the scheme. He tweeted on March 17: 'Really helpful meeting with residents across Fulham last night opposed to the Labour council's botched traffic scheme. My view has always been that the council must consult properly across Fulham before doing radical measures like these. Businesses being hammered too.'

LBHF's cabinet member for the public realm, Sharon Holder, said: 'I'm sorry to see Mr Hands talking down Fulham business just as his government has done down Britain's business over the last 13 years.

'We back business in Hammersmith & Fulham. That's why we designed the Clean Air Neighbourhood trial so customers can reach every business without going through a camera.

'We're also going door-to-door on our high streets to ensure the trial works for all firms in the area.

'Residents and businesses tell us they're pleased we're tackling the toxic air crisis after decades of pollution and congestion. They also support our vision to make New Kings Road a more attractive destination for shoppers and visitors.'

LBHF's website also states that it does not want to fine motorists.

A resident who lives on Linver Road, which has seen a dramatic reduction in traffic since the introduction of the scheme, said he liked the scheme.

'I think it's a great thing, it's fantastic. Now they've got the cameras out everywhere, it's stopped the rat run. They recorded 15,000 cars travelling down the road [Linver Road] in a week. And for these guys [business owners] it's great, because they've got traffic on the main road.

'We were always woken up at 7am by people swearing at each other before the cameras. The trouble is between 7am and 9am and 4.30pm and 7pm, all the side roads were like rat runs - it was horrendous.

'Now traffic is down about 90 per cent and I can sleep properly with the windows open.'

A spokesperson from the Wandsworth Bridge Road Association, a third-party body that works with the council and local businesses, said there had been a lengthy pre-consultation period which was well-publicised and that the LBHF Clean Air Neighbourhood Scheme was implemented over a 'long time'.

'Our main concern is, and always has been, to reduce the traffic and congestion on this predominantly residential road and to help regenerate the high street by supporting the businesses.'

The WBRA said it runs a regular meeting for local businesses and has produced a booklet of maps for the businesses to share with their customers

The council website says that it does not want to fine motorists. A trial period where drivers would receive a letter but not a fine ended in January

The WBRA said it runs a regular meeting for local businesses and has produced a booklet of maps for the businesses to share with their customer databases.

'Without exception all the businesses we spoke to thought these were extremely useful for their customers. Raising the profile and footfall of the high-street is key to its success.'

The association added that the scheme had allowed for full road closure events, including the Wandsworth Bridge Road Spring Fayre, which will take place again this year on May 21.

'The cameras are only a part of the CLEAN scheme. Alongside initiatives to discourage through-traffic the scheme is committed to redesigning the main road to make it more attractive for pedestrians and cyclists, which will increase footfall and consequently trade for the local businesses.

'The council agreed to implement some short-term improvements to the road prior to the camera scheme (the green cycle lanes, boxes, speed signals etc) and Wandsworth Bridge Road is now pushing the council to develop a full redesign of the road in line with the vision of a Clean Green thriving high-street.'
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's gleaming new $1 billion international terminal is a bust because it can't accommodate as many widebody planes as it was meant to - and it will cost millions to fix the mistake.

The massive renovation to expand the airport's terminal was intended to simultaneously fit 20 large aircraft - but the end results in 2022 showed the facility could only hold 16, according to the airport operator, the Port of Seattle.

Clark Construction, located in Maryland, was the company behind the design that is now being re-envisioned by the Port - and which will set it back $78 million to fix.

The Port sent a letter to the construction company last year to complain about their shortfall, which they estimated led to a 20 percent lessened capacity for international flights arriving at the airport.

The letter read that the facility can result in, 'damages to the Ports operations in the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars over the expected life of this project,' the Seattle Times reported.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (above) paid $1b for a botched renovation job and may have to pay millions more to fix it, officials claim

The eight-year project concluded last year and was supposed to expand the international arrival facility to simultaneously fit 20 large aircraft. Pictured: Construction on the airport

Apart of the renovations was to extend the arrival facility at Concourse A by 450,000-square-feet, according to the news outlet.

The Port's original budget laid out a $344 million bill in 2014. But the price tag significantly increased to $968 million amid the pandemic and other additional costs.

According to the news outlet, the funding for the project was provided by airport fees, including parking costs and revenue from airport shops.

The renovations was supposed to take four years to complete but was ultimately delayed until 2022.

While new plans to expand the airport are in the making, lawsuits have been filed by both the Port and the construction company.

Clark Construction filed an about $60 million lawsuit against the Port arguing that the company wasn't paid for extra labor, pandemic building costs and changes to the design during construction.

But at the start of the year, the lawsuit was countered by the Port for $100 million to cover the cost of fixing the flawed design.

The renovations was supposed to take four years to complete but was ultimately delayed until 2022. Pictured construction workers at the airport in March 2022

The Port sent a letter to the construction company last year to complain about their shortfall, which they estimated led to a 20 percent lessened capacity for international flights arriving at the airport

The Port argues that after testing out the renovations with aircrafts, they concluded the space needed to park planes along with moving fuel trucks and luggage carts wasn't suffice.

A total of four gates were identified as having issues. The Port further said the construction company hasn't helped at identifying solutions.

Clark Construction denied in a statement to the news outlet that they had done anything wrong.

According to Pacific Northwest President Brett Earnest, the construction company successfully finished the project while meeting 'the Ports established goals and requirements.

'The current gate configuration is consistent with the Port-approved concourse study and meets the specifications and requirements per our contract,' the statement to the news outlet reads.

Earnest added: 'The Port is now identifying modifications to gate design based on operational considerations that were not contemplated in the program requirements in our contract.'

Clark Construction has taken the lead on other massive airports projects, including the newest terminal at Kansas City International Airport that opened this year.

The company was also responsible for Seattle's Convention Center.
Republicans are bringing their fight with Manhattan Alvin Bragg to New York City on Monday where they will hold a field hearing with 'victims' of the district attorney's policies.

The April 17 Judiciary Committee hearing, entitled 'Victims of Violent Crime in Manhattan,' will 'examine how Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's pro-crime, anti-victim policies have led to an increase in violent crime and a dangerous community for New York City residents,' according to a release.

Republicans, led by Judiciary Chair him Jordan, R-Ohio, have claimed Bragg is turning a blind eye to crime in his city while using a novel legal theory to indict former President Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The witness list has not yet been shared, and it's unclear if Republicans will invite Bragg himself to join. It's also not clear if any Democrats will show up to the hearing.

From the start of 2022 when he took office to November of this year, Bragg downgraded 52 percent of felony cases to misdemeanors. When he did bring forth a case, his office won a conviction just 51 percent of the time - a low figure compared to the district attorney's office in recent years.

Republicans are bringing their fight with Manhattan Alvin Bragg to New York City on Monday where they will hold a field hearing with 'victims' of the district attorney's policies

Republicans, led by Judiciary Chair him Jordan, R-Ohio, have claimed Bragg is turning a blind eye to crime in his city while using a novel legal theory to indict former President Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records

The New York City field hearing will bring the GOP fight against indictment to DA Alvin Bragg's backyard

Bragg's office pushed back against Republicans' New York crime narrative, noting that homicides and shootings have declined in Manhattan since Bragg took office.

'Dont be fooled, the House GOP is coming to the safest big city in America for a political stunt. This hearing won't engage in actual efforts to increase public safety,' a spokesperson said. The office noted that New York City's murder rate (5.2 per 100,000) is three times lower than that of Columbus, Ohio (15.4) - in a district neighboring Jordan's.

'If Chairman Jordan truly cared about public safety, he could take a short drive to Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Akron, or Toledo in his home state, instead of using taxpayer dollars to travel hundreds of miles out of his way.'

Bragg, who campaigned on criminal justice reform, issued a controversial 'Day One' memo after taking office stating he would only seek prison time in the most severe cases.

In February 2022, Bragg walked back a little on his policies, sending out a memo that made it clear to all his staff that any crime involving a firearm would be prosecuted as a felony  reversing the stance he had taken just a month before.

Bragg's office also took heat when he tried to prosecute 61-year-old bodega worker Jose Alba for fatally stabbing a man who attacked him over a bag of chips. Bragg later dropped the charges against Alba.

Crime in New York City ticked up in 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic (before Bragg took office) after a decade-long mostly downward trend. Overall crime soared about 22 percent in 2022 - with Bragg taking office on the first day of that year.

From April 2022 to April 2023, most violent crimes are now down, but felony assaults and car thefts are up.

The city was far safer in 2022 than it was during a dangerous period in the 80s and 90s -- murders and robberies were down 80 percent in 2022 compared to 1990, rapes down 50 percent.

The Judiciary Committee, together with Oversight and Administration, have launched all-out political war against Bragg over the indictment, most recently firing off a subpoena to prosecutor Mark Pomerantz, who formerly worked in Bragg's office and wrote a book about the need to prosecute Trump.

Pomerantz tried to persuade the DA he should prosecute Trump - but quit when Bragg rejected his legal theories.

Bragg has refused to comply with documents requests from chairs of the three committees relating to Bragg's communications with the Department of Justice. Bragg has described Republicans' interference as improper interference in a criminal case.

The charges against Trump were revealed Tuesday and included 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels and 'catch and kill' payments through the National Enquirer to Playboy model Karen McDougal and a doorman who purported to have a story on Trump's alleged love child with a housekeeper.
Former President Donald Trump has appealed a judge's order requiring his former vice president, Mike Pence, to testify in the special counsel probe into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

On Monday, a new sealed case appeared on the federal appeals court docket in Washington, D.C., that referred to a grand jury matter before U.S. District Chief Judge James Boasberg.

While the case remains under seal, Reuters cited a person familiar with the matter and reported that Trump was challenging Pence testifying.

Last week the former vice president announced that he would not appeal a judge's ruling that required him to appear before a grand jury.

That grand jury is looking into Trump's role in the January 6 Capitol attack and attempts to overturn the 2020 election, overseen by Special Counsel Jack Smith, appointed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Former President Donald Trump (left) has appealed a judge's order requiring his former vice president, Mike Pence (right), to testify in the special counsel probe into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election

Special Counsel Jack Smith is overseeing a probe looking at former President Donald Trump's role in attempting to overturn the presidential election and the U.S. Capitol attack on January 6, 2021

Smith is also overseeing a second investigation looking at Trump's retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after leaving office in January 2021, and whether he tried to obstruct the Justice Department's investigation.

Pence had initially challenged a subpoena to testify, arguing that he was offered some protection in his role as president of the Senate while presiding over the joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 election on January 6.

'I can't speak very much about it and matters that are before the grand jury today, but I can tell you that I'm very pleased that the federal judge agreed with our position that the Constitution's Speech and Debate clause does extend protections to the vice president when I'm serving as president of the Senate,' Pence said late last month during a visit to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Boasberg's ruling would allow Pence to decline some lines of questioning about what happened on January 6.

But Pence has also hinted he would be forthright.

'I have nothing to hide,' the former vice president told reporters in Iowa. 'I've written and spoken extensively about that day,' he added.

In March, Pence spoke at the annual white-tie Gridiron Dinner in Washington, D.C. and offered his strongest rebuke against Trump yet.

'President Trump was wrong. I had no right to overturn the election, and his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable,' Pence said.

Several of Trump's attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Final briefs in the appeal are due by May 25, according to an initial schedule set by the court, which does not name the parties to the case.
Property has five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and private caretaker quarters

Aspen vacation home of Senator Dianne Feinstein, 89, has sold for $25 million

California Senator Dianne Feinstein's Aspen, Colorado vacation home has sold for $25.25 million eight months after it was listed for $29.9 million, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The 36-acre property has five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a private caretakers quarter, pool, hot tub, and pond.

The home, known as Bear Paw Ranch, was listed in July after Feinstein's husband of 42 years, Richard Blum, died in February 2022.

Feinstein's property in Colorado is the second sprawling home her family has sold in recent years after she listed her Lake Tahoe estate for $41 million in 2021.

The sale of the Aspen property comes mere weeks after Feinstein, who has been in office since 1992, announced she will not seek re-election in 2024. She will be 91.

California Senator Dianne Feinstein's Aspen, Colorado vacation home has sold for $25.25 million eight months after it was listed for $29.9 million, according to the Wall Street Journal

The 36-acre property has five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a private caretakers quarter, pool, hot tub, and pond

The home, known as Bear Paw Ranch, was listed in July after Feinstein's husband of 42 years, Richard Blum, died in February 2022

The sale of the Aspen property comes mere weeks after Feinstein, who has been in office since 1992, announced she will not seek re-election in 2024. She will be 91

According to a Coldwell Banker listing, the property was built by Blum in 1998.

The estate 'has hosted countless American heads of state, dignitaries and community members' a blog post from 2022 reads.

Located just minutes away from downtown Aspen in Star Mesa, the home includes an 8,847 square-foot main house and a 2,136 square-foot guesthouse.

The property's backyard includes a private pond, pool, and hot tub and is surrounded by mountain peaks and landscaping.

The home's pond also comes with a waterfall.

Backyard views span several valleys and mountain ranges in the Aspen area.

'Rolling green hills dotted with a constellation of Aspen trees and peaceful streams run through the land,' the listing post states.

Inside, the home boasts wide open spaces with abundant windows and intricately carved logs. Its great room also includes a massive stone fireplace.

'Doors on either side of floor-to-ceiling glass lead to the southern lawn and outdoor terrace, ideal for hosting intimate family dinners or large gatherings for special occasions,' the listing post reads.

Each of the home's five bedrooms includes 'unique' views of the surrounding mountains and landscaping.

The log-detailing extends throughout the main house with touches of rustic style through the kitchen and each bedroom and bathroom.

According to a Coldwell Banker listing, the property was built by Blum in 1998

The estate 'has hosted countless American heads of state, dignitaries and community members' a blog post from 2022 reads

Located just minutes away from downtown Aspen in Star Mesa, the home includes an 8,847 square-foot main house and a 2,136 square-foot guesthouse

Inside, the home boasts open spaces with abundant windows and intricately carved logs

One of the home's five bedrooms

'Doors on either side of floor-to-ceiling glass lead to the southern lawn and outdoor terrace, ideal for hosting intimate family dinners or large gatherings for special occasions,' a listing reads

The kitchen includes stained wood cabinets and white countertops

Backyard views span several valleys and mountain ranges in the Aspen area

The property's backyard includes a private pond, pool, and hot tub and is surrounded by mountain peaks and landscaping

The great room is anchored by a massive stone fireplace on the far wall

Each room boasts unique views of the surrounding mountain and landscaping

The home's pond, located in the backyard, also comes with its own waterfall

According to the Wall Street Journal, the estate was sold by a family trust whose beneficiaries are Blum's three daughters from a previous marriage

'Bear Paw Ranch is the embodiment of refinement and luxury in the American West,' said realtor Carrie Wells in 2022.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the estate was sold by a family trust whose beneficiaries are Blum's three daughters from a previous marriage.

Property records indicated the buyer was a limited liability company connected to Sankesh Abbhi, the chief executive of Sitero, a software company.

Feinstein and Blum's previous multi-million dollar property in Lake Tahoe was listed in 2020 for $46 million and then again in 2021 for $41 million.

The New York Post reported in November 2021 that the house sold for $36 million.

That property was comprised of three separate structures  a main house and two guest houses. It sits on five acres of land.

The main house alone included six bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms and also included 278 feet of white sand beach and a 172-foot pier.

Blum and Feinstein were married for 42 years before his death in 2022

Feinstein, who is currently the oldest sitting senator, will most likely retire in her home city of San Francisco, however, where she once presided as mayor

The main house alone included six bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms and also included 278 feet of white sand beach and a 172-foot pier.

Feinstein, who is currently the oldest sitting senator, will most likely retire in her home city of San Francisco, however, where she once presided as mayor.

The public servant announced her retirement from Congress in February when her office released a statement.

'I am announcing today I will not run for reelection in 2024 but intend to accomplish as much for California as I can through the end of next year when my term ends,' Feinstein said.

Fellow Democrats have been pressuring the elderly lawmaker for years to retire in order to usher in a new age of representatives.

Potential names running for Feinstein's seat in 2024 have included Reps. Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff and Katie Porter.
A grand jury in Virginia has indicted the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher on charges of child neglect and failing to secure her handgun in the family's home, a prosecutor said Monday.

A grand jury sitting in Newport News charged the boy's 25-year-old mother with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor charge of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm, Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn said in a news release.

The Associated Press isn't naming the mother to shield the identity of her son.

The boy shot first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner on Jan. 6 inside her classroom at Richneck Elementary School. Police said the boy's mother legally purchased the gun. Her attorney, James Ellenson, has said the gun was secured on a top shelf in her closet and had a trigger lock.

Ellenson said Monday that his client plans to turn herself in later this week. He did not comment on the indictments, which were first reported by the Daily Press.

Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, where the shooting occurred. Several parents have filed a lawsuit against the school for not protecting their kids

The decision to charge the boy's mother is the latest development to cascade from the shooting in this shipbuilding city of about 185,000 people near the Chesapeake Bay.

'Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues,' Gwynn said.

Gwynn said his office has petitioned the court to empanel a special grand jury to continue an investigation into any security issues that may have contributed to the shooting.

'The safety and security of Newport News students is of utmost importance. The Special Grand Jury will investigate to determine whether additional charges against additional persons are justified by the facts and the law,' Gwynn said.

Virginia's law on felony child neglect says any parent, guardian or other person responsible for the care of a child 'whose willful act or omission in the care of such child was so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life' is guilty of a Class 6 felony. The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The misdemeanor charge says it's against Virginia law to 'recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen.' That charge is punishable by a maximum of one year in jail.

Abigail Zwerner, 25, was shot in the hand and chest by the child at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, in January. She is shown above in an interview with TODAY

Police Chief Steve Drew has repeatedly characterized the shooting as 'intentional.' He said there was no warning and no struggle before the child pointed the gun at Zwerner and fired one round, striking her in the hand and chest.

Zwerner, 25, hustled her students out of the classroom before being rushed to the hospital, where she stayed for nearly two weeks.

Ellenson told The Associated Press in January that he understood the gun was in the woman's closet on a shelf well over 6 feet (1.8 meters) high and had a trigger lock that required a key.

The family said in the wake of the shooting that the boy has an 'acute disability' and was under a care plan 'that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.' The week of the shooting was the first when a parent was not in class with him, the family said.

Despite her brush with death, Abby says she is excited to return to teaching

The family said in the days after the shooting that the child was placed under hospital care and receiving 'the treatment he needs.'

The shooting also unleashed a torrent of criticism about school administrators.

Days after the shooting, school officials revealed that administrators at Richneck Elementary had suspected the child may have had a weapon before the shooting occurred. But they didn't find it despite searching his backpack.

At a subsequent school board meeting, parents and teachers lambasted administrators for what they called a misguided emphasis on attendance over the safety of children and staff. They said students who assaulted classmates and staff often faced few consequences, while Zwerner' shooting could have been prevented if not for a toxic environment in which teachers' concerns were ignored.

In a lawsuit filed last week seeking $40 million in damages, Zwerner's attorneys accused school officials of gross negligence and of ignoring multiple warnings from teachers and other school employees the day of the shooting that the boy was armed and in a 'violent mood.'

In the lawsuit, Zwerner's attorneys said all of the defendants knew the boy 'had a history of random violence' at school and at home, including an episode the year before when he 'strangled and choked' his kindergarten teacher.

The school board in Newport News fired the district's superintendent, while Richneck's assistant principal resigned from the school division. The elementary school's principal is still employed by the district but no longer holds that position.

Richneck also installed metal detectors before it reopened on Jan. 30, a full three weeks after the shooting occurred.
He famously started a feud with Brit talk show host James Corden for throwing a tantrum at Balthazar, and in the past also banned Graydon Carter

New York City restaurateur Keith McNally has slammed his fellow Brits for being terrible tippers - and says' he's 'ashamed to be English'.

In a blistering Instagram post featuring the Union Jack, the London-born owner of celeb hotspot Balthazar, who famously called out James Corden for throwing a tantrum over an omelet last year, slammed his countrymen: 'I Wonder Why English People Are Generally The WORST TIPPERS in N.Y. Restaurants?,' he raged.

'Especially if they're middle or upper class. This is not a complaint, just a fact. (Even the Scots generally tip better than the English in NY restaurants).'

McNally didn't reference a specific incident in his post and has not responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment. In the US, it is custom to tip service workers anywhere between 15 to 25 percent.

McNally's post comes just two weeks after a separate incident where a New York City waitress- who did not disclose where she worked - slammed a table of European diners for leaving a $70 tip on a $700 bill.

Keith McNally says he's 'ashamed to be English' after calling out Brits for being terrible tippers

One woman commented on McNally's post that low tips were because 'we expect to tip as appreciation for exceptional service'

One user suggested English people's poor tips are because of bad service but Keith says upper class subconsciously want to keep the working class down

Despite counting British-born Vogue editor Anna Wintour a Balthazar regular, McNally launched a blistering attack on English people labelling them the worst tippers

Turning to old stereotypes regarding Scottish people being stingy, McNally believes English are worse tippers:

Poll Are English people the worst tippers? Yes No Are English people the worst tippers? Yes 156 votes

No 249 votes Now share your opinion





'Even the Scots generally tip better than the English in NY restaurants.' he said.

One IG user explained the English lack of tipping: 'Its because we expect to tip as appreciation for exceptional service and not to subside low wages.'

But McNally responded he thought it was a British class issue:

'I dont believe this is the reason. Time and again my servers have given English customers perfect service only to often receive way less than the standard 15% tip', he said, adding:

'I think most middle and upper class English people tip abominably because subconsciously they want to keep working people in their place as theyve done for hundreds of F****g years.'

Aside from celebrity hotspot Balthazar in Soho, McNally also owns popular restaurants Minetta Tavern and Morandi.

He regularly posts photos of himself with his famous guests, including Anna Wintour and Sienna Miller.

Yesterday, McNally revealed a mystery celebrity who dined at Morandi for dinner left wait staff a $1000 tip.

'Servers were thrilled to hear that X was coming in tonight. X is phenomenally generous and usually leaves over a grand for the tip. X decided to sit in a booth today. (He usually goes for a window table.) X left a $1000 tip to server Mercedes.

It's unclear who the mystery celeb diner is.

McNally asked 'I Wonder Why English People Are Generally The WORST TIPPERS in N.Y. Restaurants?' (He's pictured with English actress Sienna Miller in February)

Last year, McNally famously confronted British talk show host James Corden over his 'abusive' behavior towards servers when he sent back an egg yolk omelet for having traces of egg white in it. He claimed his had a food allergy.

However, after 86'ing Corden - a term used in the restaurant industry meaning to stop serving a person, or to kick them out - McNally has since revoked the ban.

Following claims that Corden was 'abusive' to staff at Balthazar, McNally posted a lengthy Instagram post calling the comedian and actor out for his alleged behavior.

McNally said Corden called him to apologize 'profusely'.

Declaring that 'all was forgiven', he said: 'Having f**ked up myself more than most people, I strongly believe in second chances. So if James Corden lets me host his Late Late Show for 9 months, Ill immediately rescind his ban from Balthazar. No, of course not. But....anyone magnanimous enough to apologize to a deadbeat layabout like me (and my staff) doesnt deserve to be banned from anywhere'.

His celebrity-loved restaurants attract the likes of Mick Jagger, Cher and Andy Warhol, but McNally has strict rules for how he deals with customers at his eateries - including not to give stars any special treatment.

'Never get them drinks on the house, always talk to the person they're with more than them,' he told the Sunday Times.

'Famous people get really p***ed off by over-elaborate service. They just want to be left alone.'

Not hovering around tables and always repeating orders back to customers to ensure no mistakes are made, are also part of McNally's requirements he sets for his servers to make sure that diners have the upmost experience at the restaurant.

'Be friendly, but never chummy,' he began in a lengthy Instagram post, which he titled, 'Rules for restaurant serves.'

'Always repeat the customer's order back to him. Skate sounds like Steak after one martini.'

McNally famously started a feud with fellow Brit James Corden after the talk show host threw a tantrum when egg whites were spotted in his wife's egg yolk omelet

Corden and Julia in 2018. He claimed she told Balthazar staff she had a 'serious food allergy'

McNally was born in Bethnal Green in east London in 1951, to Joyce, a cleaner and Jack, a dock worker and amateur boxer.

In 1975, he moved to New York where he had the intention of becoming a director, but soon turned his sights to restaurants after working in a series of kitchen jobs from oyster shucker to busboy.

Five years later he opened up his first restaurant, the Odeon in Tribeca, with his first wife Lynn Wagenknecht and his brother Brian.

The Odeon soon became the 'center of the downtown art scene', with Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, Anna Wintour, Lorne Michaels and the cast of Saturday Night Live among its regulars.

The Cockney who became king of New York's restaurant scene: How Keith McNally, 71, the twice-divorced boss of celebrity hotspot Balthazar, refuses special treatment for stars and hands out free champagne but 'never to Al Pacino'.
Mike Pompeo has lashed out at Emmanuel Macron over his claims that Europe should stay out of the row over with China over Taiwan.

The Trump-era Secretary of State slammed the French leader's claims that the EU should not take sides in the long-running row over who controls the island.

'The best way to respond to Chinas provocation is to recognize Taiwan as the free and sovereign country it is,' the ex-CIA director said. 'Never give an inch.'

Pompeo, who served the 70th United States secretary of state from 2018 to 2021, is rumored to be considering a run for the White House.

In a thinly-veiled swipe at the French president, ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the only correct response to Chinese aggression was to recognize Taiwan as an independent nation.

His comments came after Macron's much-criticized interview with several French media outlets in which he suggested Europe should not get involved in the spat.

'We don't want to get into a bloc versus bloc logic,' Macron said in an interview for French business daily Les Echo, arguing that Europe 'should not be caught up in a disordering of the world and crises that aren't ours.'

'The worst thing we Europeans could do would be to be followers on this topic and to adapt to the American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction,' he was quoted as saying. 'Why should we go at a rhythm chosen by someone else?'

Those remarks were made to a select group of journalists as he returned from a three-day state visit to China.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Taiwan's government, which enjoys security guarantees from the US, strongly objects to China's claims.

Chinas military had declared earlier on Monday that it is 'ready to fight' after three days of large-scale combat exercises that simulated sealing off the island.

The drills came in response to Taiwanese Presidents Tsai Ing-wen's trip to the US last week when she met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Macron's interview sparked fury on both sides of the Atlantic as lawmakers fumed over his soft stance on the China-Taiwan issue

The German lawmaker, who is close to former leader Angela Merkel, lambasted the French president over his trip to Beijing calling it 'a PR coup' for the Chinese regime

German member of parliament Norbert Roettgen said Macron had 'managed to turn his China trip into a PR coup for Xi and a foreign policy disaster for Europe.'

The influential conservative lawmaker, who sits on the German parliamentary foreign affairs committee, said he was 'increasingly isolating himself in Europe.

It is the latest foreign policy blunder by the 45-year-old French head of state who has warned Russia must not be 'humiliated' in any future peace talks on Ukraine.

But his dovish China stance also angered diplomats and lawmakers in the United States, which has been the biggest provider of Western support to Ukraine.

Liz Harrington, an aide to would-be Republican nominee Donald Trump, said Macron's dismissal of US concerns on Taiwan was a symptom of 'a weak America under Joe Biden.'

'Under President Trump both our allies and our adversaries respected us,' she said. 'That is no longer the case.'

Nathan Sales, a former Acting Under Secretary of State under the Trump presidency, said the French stance could harm ties with its Western allies.

'Xi Jinping would like nothing better than to split the transatlantic alliance, and President Macrons ill-conceived comments open the door to exactly that,' he told DailyMail.com

'Macron appears to be out of touch, not only with the United States, but with the rest of Europe.

'Particularly in the wake of the Ukraine war, Europeans understand the importance of American leadership and recognize that a world led by an authoritarian power like Beijing would be hostile to European values,' he added.

Republican Mike Gallagher, who has represented Wisconsin's 8th congressional district since 2017, said the remarks were 'embarrassing' and 'disgraceful.'

'This is a massive propaganda victory for the Chinese Communist Party,' he told Fox News.

'The irony and the tragedy is that it actually makes war across the Taiwan Strait more likely,' the Congressman added.

Marco Rubio, the Republican senator representing Florida, took to social media to hit out at the French leader, accusing him of undermining ties with the United States.

'Maybe we shouldn't be picking sides either. Maybe we should basically say that we are going to focus on Taiwan and the threats China that poses and you guys handle Ukraine and Europe,' the 51-year-old 2016 presidential candidate added.

Nile Gardiner, the director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation think-tank, blasted Macron for 'acting as Beijing's useful idiot. '

'His appeasement of China is an embarrassment to France,' he said.

Ivo Daalder, a former US ambassador to NATO under the Obama administration, said Macron was a hypocrite because 'he is perfectly fine with relying on US security commitments to address crises like Ukraine in Europe.'

But the White House sought to diffuse the row, with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby saying the Biden administration remains 'comfortable and confident in the terrific bilateral relationship we have with France.'

Deputy French ambassador to the US Aurelie Bonal insisted that 'France and Europe will always be the USA's close allies and partners.'

'France's position on Taiwan has not changed,' she wrote on Twitter.
A man shot dead in the early hours of Easter Sunday has been named by police probing his murder.

Abdullah Hassan, 25, was found with gunshot wounds at a block of flats in the Gleadless Valley area of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Abdullah was found seriously injured in Callow Drive shortly after 1.30am on Sunday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite the best efforts of medical professionals.

In a statement released by South Yorkshire Police on Easter Monday, his relatives described him as 'one of a kind'.

Abdullah Hassan (pictured), 25, was found with gunshot wounds at a block of flats in the Gleadless Valley area of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and pronounced dead at the scene

The area was last year used as a filming location for the Disney+ reboot of 90s classic film The Full Monty

They said: 'The passing of our son and brother has caused our entire family a very deep sadness and hurt. He was a massive pillar in our family and it is beyond painful to lose him in such tragic circumstances. There is only one way to describe him. He was one of a kind, inside and out.

'As a family, we kindly ask that we are given time to grieve this loss and we hope that justice will be secured for him swiftly.'

A post-mortem examination established a single gunshot wound caused Abdullah's death, South Yorkshire Police said. The force added that a large police presence would remain in and around Callow Drive as officers comb for clues and continue their investigations.

Gleadless Valley where Abdullah Hassan was shot was used as a filming location for the Disney+ reboot of 90s classic film The Full Monty last year.

Detective Chief Inspector Philip Etheridge, who is overseeing the investigation, urged anyone with information to come forward.

A post-mortem examination established a single gunshot wound caused Abdullah's death, South Yorkshire Police said

The force added that a large police presence would remain in and around Callow Drive as officers comb for clues and continue their investigations

He said: 'Extensive inquiries have been carried out over the course of the day and those living locally will have seen an increased police presence, which will continue over the coming days.

'I know that confirming this individual's cause of death will do little to ease the concerns and worries within the community, but please be assured that officers and staff are working tirelessly and meticulously to investigate this and bring those responsible to justice.'

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 74 of April 9 2023 or use the form.

To submit CCTV, dashcam or doorbell camera footage, email the force on enquiries@southyorks.pnn.police.uk quoting the same incident number in the subject line.

Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via its website.
Richard Branson met with Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday as Russian forces pounded Ukraine with missiles.

The Virgin Galactic founder met Ukraine's president in Kyiv, where he became a new ambassador for UNITED24, Ukraine's official fundraising platform.

Thanking British billionaire Branson for his support, Zelensky said: 'It is very important that famous and influential personalities keep joining this platform. One of our key tasks is to keep the world's focus on Russia's war against Ukraine, which has been going on for over a year.'

Branson told Zelensky that on the way to Kyiv he met some soldiers in Lviv, including one 'who lost both arms and a leg and he was still smiling and positive and wanted to get back to the frontline'.

Richard Branson poses for a picture with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a meeting, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 10, 2023

Branson attends a meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 10, 2023

Earlier Branson was in Bucha, outside Kyiv, with American philanthropist Howard Buffett, supporting the construction of a kitchen that will help feed children in educational facilities.

The kitchen will aid communities in Bucha, Borodianka and Nemishaevo.

Branson attended an event for the kitchen with Bucha Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Oleksiy Kuleba and Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska.

Mayor Fedoruk said on Telegram on Monday: 'More than 10,000 hot meals will be cooked here every day for our children. Another similar factory will be built in the Kharkiv region with Mr. Howard's support as well.'

Branson also met with Zelensky in June, a few months after the invasion started on February 24.

Branson wrote in a letter on his website that he talked with Zelensky, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kubela and a group of Ukraine business leaders while also stopping off at some of the sites Russians had attacked since the war broke out.

A Ukrainian service members ride a BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues near the front line city of Bakhmut, on April 6

A group of Ukrainian soldiers ride atop an APC on the frontline in Bakhmut on Saturday, on April 8

'My main purpose in going to Kyiv was to meet and listen to Ukrainians, to understand their fears and concerns and also to learn what business, in partnership with civil society and governments, can do to support Ukraine most effectively,' he wrote.

Branson said he saw Zelensky close to the end of his visit for a 'personal meeting' that included members of the president's cabinet.

'The contrast to our first conversation, just two days prior to the invasion, couldn't be any greater,' Branson said. 'In the eyes of the world and his own people, the President has emerged as a rare wartime leader who projects both unbreakable spirit and indefatigable determination to see this war through and repel the aggression.'

On Monday, Russian forces pressed attacks on frontline cities in eastern Ukraine, while Ukrainian officials played down a report that Kyiv is amending some plans for a counter-offensive due to a leak of classified US documents.

The Russians were pounding Ukrainian positions around besieged Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region and other cities and towns with air strikes and artillery barrages, Kyiv said.

'The enemy switched to so-called scorched earth tactics from Syria. It is destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery fire,' Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said of Bakhmut.

The small city on the edge of a chunk of Russian-controlled territory in Donetsk has for months been the biggest battleground of the war.

The head of the Moscow-controlled part of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said Russian forces now held 75 per cent of the city.

Moscow's military was also targeting the city of Avdiivka.

'The Russians have turned Avdiivka into a total ruin,' said Pavlo Kyrylenko, Donetsk's regional governor, describing an air strike on Monday that destroyed a multi-storey building.

'In total, around 1,800 people remain in Avdiivka, all of whom risk their lives every day.'
A top body language expert revealed that Donald and Melania Trump showed a 'desire to get even closer' as they sat side-by-side at Mar-a-Lago Sunday and enjoyed Easter Brunch.

Sunday's shared meal marked the first time the former first lady was seen with her husband in 10 days, after noticeably skipping the trip to New York last week where he was arraigned and his subsequent speech Tuesday night in Mar-a-Lago's ballroom.

There were whispers that Melania's absence indicated the former first couple was experiencing marital troubles - as the former president was indicted on charges related to the 2016 hush-money scheme, involving porn star Stormy Daniels.

Daniels alleged a tryst while the Trumps were married.

Melania Trump joined Donald Trump for Easter brunch at Mar-a-Lago Sunday

Former President Donald Trump and Melania received a standing ovation when they came into the ballroom

But body language expert Judi James told DailyMail.com that 'this choice of seating suggests closeness and even a desire to touch while they talk and eat.'

'It makes them look like a double-act as well as a couple, engaged in intense and animated conversation in a way that we rarely saw while they were in the White House,' she noted.

James acknowledged that the clip of the Trumps at brunch was 'blurred and speedy' but still gave 'several important cues and clues about the state of the Trumps' relationship.'

She pointed to how the Trumps were seated next to one another.

'Rather than sit at a chilly or impersonal distance or even a non-committal face-to-face, they have chosen to sit side by side at the otherwise empty table,' she said.

James also observed the small gestures Donald and Melania were making.

'There are signals of a desire to get even closer, too,' she said. 'Trump's right hand is extended in Melania's direction as he speaks, while Melania leans a long way forward and toward her husband to listen.'

'She seems to open her mouth in surprise or shock at something he is saying, too, suggesting she is using the kind of active listening and empathetic signals that might flatter him,' James continued.

But that expression, James said, didn't indicate a fight.

'If this were an animated argument between them, you might expect the distance between them to grow, rather than shorten,' she noted.

Melania had not been seen in public since March 30 - the evening it was announced Trump was going to be indicted by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg

Donald and Melania walked into Mar-a-Lago's ornate ballroom and received a standing ovation from the crowd, videos posted online showed.

The couple's table was roped off with velvet ties, separating them from the other holiday goers.

Easter brunch at Mar-a-Lago is a tradition for the couple.

Even during Trump's presidency, they would spend the holiday together at the 'Southern White House.'

Mar-a-Lago offers its members a lavish Easter brunch with a massive buffet that includes oysters, shrimp and champagne.

There's also an Easter Egg hunt on the club's grounds for the kids with figures dressed up as the Easter Bunny and other children's characters.

The former first lady had broken her radio silence online by tweeting a simple 'Happy Easter!' message.

For the Easter holiday, she wore a white dress with what appeared to be a flower pattern on its shoulders and down its center. The former president sported a pink tie with his dark suit.

Their table had pink and orange tulips on it. Mar-a-Lago was decorated for the holiday with paper mache bunnies and pink roses.

Donald Trump worked the ballroom, as evidenced by several users posting selfies with the former president on social media.

But the sighting of Melania, 52, was remarkable after she was careful to stay away during the most public parts of Donald Trump's indictment.

James pointed out that these moments were happening in the semi-private.

While guests could see the Trumps interact, reporters were not in the room.

She said, 'this unofficial glimpse seems to suggest the ex POTUS AND FLOTUS might actually still be a very firm double-act behind the scenes.'

Still, Melania did not join the former president in New York last Tuesday when he turned himself over to authorities and pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges.

Nor was the former first lady at Trump's rally at Mar-a-Lago after his Manhattan arraignment when the former president gave a speech that included a special shoutout to most of his children, but not his wife.

Her father Viktor Knavs was present for the speech, sandwiched between the former president's two eldest sons, while the former first lady was mysteriously absent.

On March 30, the evening the indictment was announced, Melania was by Donald Trump's side in a very public show of strength as the couple dined together with friends at their usual, highly visible table at Mar-a-Lago.

Melania and Donald Trump ate Easter brunch alone together at their table

It remains unclear why she skipped his speech, but sources previously told DailyMail.com she is hurt and angry about the allegations that Trump had an affair with Daniels.

The former first lady faces up to a year and a half of having her dirty laundry aired out in public as the New York criminal case against her husband drags on.

Those who know her well say that she is choosing to stay out of the spotlight to protect herself from the news of her husband's infidelity.

Before the indictment was announced last week, a source told PEOPLE that Melania 'is leading her own life' and 'still feels happy' at Mar-a-Lago, but 'remains angry and doesn't want to hear' about the alleged $130,000 in hush money to Daniels.

Lauren Wright, a political scientist at Princeton University, also told DailyMail.com she is 'not surprised Melania was nowhere to be found at her husband's post-indictment speech.

'Throughout Trump's presidency, when the Stormy Daniels issue came up, Melania would assert her independence in one way or another, either avoiding the topic or, most famously, contradicting those who claimed to know her feelings about the alleged extramarital dalliance,' she noted.

And Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former aide and friend, said she believes that Melania's recent silence and disappearance from the scene is deliberate.

'It's her weapon of choice and her protective armor,' she says.

In contrast, Donald Trump has been out and about. He was greeted with huge cheers in Miami Saturday night as he took his seat in the front row of UFC 287 alongside organization president Dana White.

He joined other celebrities including Kid Rock and Mike Tyson to watch not only the main event between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira, but also the battle between MAGA supporter Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns. Melania Trump was not present for that event.

The Mar-a-Lago resort hosted an Easter brunch with activities for kids

Some of the holiday decorations at Mar-a-Lago

Melania, 52, had noticeably not followed her husband to New York City last week when he turned himself over to authorities and pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges. The couple are pictured here in 2017

Melania had previously gone missing in action in January 2018, days after Trump's alleged affair with Stormy Daniels was outed by the Wall Street Journal.

Daniels was paid just before the 2016 election to keep quiet about an affair that she said she had had a decade earlier with Donald Trump  when the Trumps were newlyweds and soon after Melania had given birth to their son Barron, the report said.

Then-President Trump promptly denied everything.

At the time, Melania Trump, then the first lady, canceled her plans to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos with Trump.

She had been scheduled to go.

Instead she visited Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. with her mother and then flew to Mar-a-Lago, taking time to enjoy herself in the on-site spa.
A fifth victim of the Louisville bank shooting has died in hospital, police confirmed on Monday evening, as the company says there are 'no adequate words' to tell of their loss.

The death of Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer at the bank and a mother of two, was confirmed on Monday evening by Louisville police.

All five were senior executives at the bank.

Tommy Elliott, 63, a close friend of Governor Andy Beshear, was named among those killed, as were Joshua Barrick, 40; James 'Jim' Tutt, 64; and Juliana Farmer, 57.

They were declared dead at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

The five were murdered by their former colleague Connor Sturgeon, 25, when he stormed a conference room at Old National Bank at 8.30am - half an hour before the branch opened to the public.

Jim Ryan, CEO of the bank, said on Monday evening: 'There are no words to adequately describe the sadness and devastation that our Old National family is experiencing as we grieve the tragic loss of our team members and pray for the recovery of all those who were injured.'

Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer at the bank, was declared dead on Monday evening

Thomas Elliott, 63, one of Governor Andy Beshear's closest friends, died Monday morning in the mass shooting at Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky

James 'Jim' Tutt, 64 (left), was a market executive at Old National Bank, while Joshua Barrick, 40 (right) was vice president of commercial real estate

Juliana Farmer, 57, a loan analyst at the regional firm, was a mother and grandmother

Ryan continued: 'Obviously, this is an incredibly difficult situation, and our entire focus is on making sure that everyone affected has the support and assistance they need.

'On behalf of everyone at Old National, I also want to acknowledge and thank Louisville law enforcement, the medical community and state and local officials for their incredible response to this tragedy.

'And finally, we ask you to please continue to pray for all those affected.'

Elliott, the bank's senior vice president, was a friend of Governor Beshear and had donated $2,000 to his gubernatorial campaign in 2018.

He had donated to many Democratic candidates over the years, and was well known in local and state Democratic circles. He served on Beshear's inaugural committee in 2019.

Tutt was a commercial real estate executive for the southern region of Old National Bank.

Barrick, who appears to have a wife and two young children, was a senior vice president of commercial real estate at the bank, where he had worked since last August, according to his LinkedIn.

Farmer - a mother and grandmother - was a loan analyst at the regional firm.

Beshear earlier fought back tears as he revealed one of his friends had been killed in the atrocity - and a second was wounded.

'I have a close friend that didn't make it,' he told a press conference.

The Democrat said his state attorney general campaign was run out of the office building where the shooting took place.

'I know virtually everyone in it, that's my bank,' he said.

'Today I'm hurt and I'm hurting and I know so many people out there are as well.

'We lost four children of God today, one of whom was one of my closest friends.

'Tommy Elliot helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad. One of the people I talk to most in the world and very rarely were we talking about my job.'

Sturgeon, according to authorities, was an employee of the bank who had been fired, or was aware that he was about to lose his job.

He used an AR-15-style rifle and wounded nine people, including two police officers.

Connor Sturgeon killed five people - former colleagues at Old National Bank - before he was shot dead by police on Monday

Officer Nickolas Wilt (middle), 26, was shot in the head and is in critical condition. He has come out of brain surgery, the interim police chief said on Monday evening

Rookie police officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, was also shot in the head and remains in critical condition. He had only been in the job 10 days.

Interim Police Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel said: 'The next few days are important and very critical for Nickolas's recovery.'

She said he had come out of brain surgery at University of Louisville Hospital.

Mayor Craig Greenberg said he handed Wilt his police academy graduation diploma less than two weeks ago.

'Our city and so many from around the nation are praying for Officer Wilt's strength and healing,' Greenberg tweeted. 'His heroic actions exemplify the best of law enforcement.'

The second injured officer has not been named.

Three victims have since been discharged from hospital.

During the shooting, it was overheard on police scanners that Sturgeon was 'suicidal and texted a friend that he would 'shoot up the bank.''

Police also confirmed that Sturgeon live-streamed the shooting on his Instagram, which has since been taken down.

The gunman was also killed in the shooting, but it is unclear if he died from a self-inflicted wound or from injuries he sustained as he exchanged gunfire with officers at the scene.

Governor Andy Beshear earlier fought back tears as he revealed one of his friends was killed in the atrocity - and a second was wounded

Joshua Barrick with his young family

Jim Tutt and his wife, Karen Tutt

Bank employees told how they fled from the blood-soaked scene and scrambled to the vault to hide from the killer as he rampaged through the building.

Photos showed shattered glass and pools of blood lying outside the front of the office.

Witnesses have said that Sturgeon was carrying a 'long assault rifle' when he fired multiple shots near the conference room at the bank.

'He just started firing,' an unnamed employee told WHAS.

'I didn't see his face. We were in the conference room.

'Whoever was next to me got shot, their blood's on me,' he added.

Officers arrived within three minutes and found the shooter still firing, Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said. They exchanged fire with Sturgeon.

A high school friend said Sturgeon was a star athlete in Indiana, where he excelled at track, football and basketball at his school just across the Ohio river from Louisville.

But he suffered multiple concussions and wore a head guard.

Connor Sturgeon, 25, is seen in action representing Floyd Central high school in Floyds Knobs, Indiana - 10 miles from downtown Louisville

Sturgeon was a star of the track, as well as being a talented football player and basketballer

Sturgeon was at high school in Indiana, just across the Ohio river

'The big thing I keep going back to is that in the first year of high school, we played football together in eighth grade, he was out most of the year because he had multiple concussions,' the friend told The Daily Beast.

'Then he had a couple more in high school.

'I'm not saying it's the cause but I always think back to that.

'There were times I'd wonder, will this catch up with him? But never in this way. He's the last person I'd expect would do this.'

The friend said that Sturgeon was popular and high flying, and was nicknamed 'Mr Floyd Central'.

His father Todd Sturgeon was Floyd Central's head basketball coach until last year.

He previously coached the University of Indianapolis' men's basketball team for 10 seasons, but left in 2007 after watching his son at a basketball camp and realizing 'maybe he'd rather have more time to spend with his own sons than other people's.'

Sturgeon's brother is a professional model.

'I know everyone always says this about shooters but I truly would have never expected it to be him,' the friend said.

Sturgeon suffered multiple concussions, his high school friend said, and at times was unable to compete due to his head injuries

Sturgeon is seen with a track and field award in 2016

After graduating from Floyd Central in 2016, Sturgeon went to the University of Alabama and graduated in 2020, the university confirmed.

In a 2018 essay for the university, unearthed by The Daily Beast, Sturgeon wrote about his quest to improve his 'discipline, responsibility, and self-esteem... so that I can improve myself as a whole.'

Sturgeon said he struggled to make friends - despite his friends seeing him as popular and a star athlete.

'My self-esteem has long been a problem for me,' he wrote.

'As a late bloomer in middle and high school, I struggled to a certain extent to fit in, and this has given me a somewhat negative self-image that persists today.

'Making friends has never been especially easy, so I have more experience than most in operating alone.

'Furthermore, college has introduced a whole new atmosphere and new challenges, so it is easy to feel like I am not doing as well as I should be.

'This semester, however, I think I have begun to mature socially and am beginning to see improvement in this area.

'I have found that taking time out to take stock of how I feel and what I can do to feel better has helped me be more social and in turn feel better about myself.'

Sturgeon worked at Old National Bank (pictured on Monday), but had been told he was being fired

Police are seen on the scene of Monday's shooting in Louisville

A police officer stands outside the Sturgeon family home in Louisville

Sturgeon's LinkedIn said he completed three summer internships between 2018-2020, before starting work at Old National Bank as a syndications associate and portfolio banker.

'I am certified in the RMA Lending Decision Process, hold a Master's in Finance from the University of Alabama, and am on the Young Professionals board for Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana,' he wrote on his profile.

He also hosted a basketball-focused podcast with two friends, The Daily Beast said, and tweeted about the NBA.

He also posted shows of support for the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, as well as criticism of police violence and of Donald Trump.
The White House has confirmed that President Joe Biden will still fly into Northern Ireland where he will push to break the power-sharing deadlock at Stormont on the 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement, despite the violence in Londonderry on Easter Monday.

A White House spokesman said Mr Biden is 'more than comfortable' visiting Northern Ireland as he prepares to meet leaders from all five of Northern Ireland's main political parties.

John Kirby said the President will be greeted by Rishi Sunak upon arrival in Belfast on Tuesday and the two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday. He will then head to Ulster University to deliver remarks commemorating the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Biden tweeted: '25 years ago, Northern Ireland's leaders chose peace. The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement ended decades of violence and brought stability. I look forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast, underscoring the U.S. commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity.'

The President's visit comes as gangs of masked youths waited outside a cemetery armed with petrol bombs in Londonderry after a police van was attacked as violence broke out on the anniversary of the agreement.

John Kirby said Mr Biden will be greeted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak upon arrival in Belfast on Tuesday and the two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the 'senseless violence' is the last thing the people of Derry want to see

Dissident republican youths create a road block following an illegal Dissident march in the Creggan area on April 10, 2023 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Mr Biden tweeted: '25 years ago, Northern Ireland's leaders chose peace. The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement ended decades of violence and brought stability. I look forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast, underscoring the U.S. commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity'

A number of missiles were hurled by young people wearing tracksuits and masks on their faces at a PSNI Land Rover monitoring the parade in the Creggan area of the city on Easter Monday.

The parade, organised by the Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee, started in the Central Drive area when a number of masked men in paramilitary-style dress formed a colour party carrying the Irish flag and a host of republican flags.

As the parade progressed towards the City Cemetery, the police Land Rover came under attack, with masked youths throwing petrol bombs and firing fireworks before it drove off in flames. The parade culminated at the republican plot in the cemetery, where speeches were heard.

Police appealed for calm after their officers came under attack during the dissident republican march, while figures across the political spectrum condemned the 'deplorable' scenes of chaos and violence.

One speaker described the event as 'respectful and dignified, paying homage to the revolutionary heroes of 1916 and all the republican dead'.

Police increased security measures in response to the parade.

Speaking during a press briefing, Mr Kirby said: 'As for security concerns, you know we don't ever talk about security requirements of protecting the President but the President is more than comfortable making this trip and he's very excited to do it.'

Mr Kirby said Mr Biden is grateful for the work Northern Ireland's security forces have done and 'continue to do to protect all communities'.

'He's again very much looking forward to going to Belfast,' he said.

Asked about timing the visit while Northern Ireland's institutions are suspended, Mr Kirby reiterated that the trip was timed for the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

He said: 'An agreement that the President has a personal connection to and obviously is very, very proud to see has really changed lives and livelihoods in Northern Ireland.'

Commenting on the violence that took place during the parade, Derry City and Strabane area commander Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard said: 'What we saw develop this afternoon in Creggan was incredibly disheartening.

'As the parade was unnotified, police were in attendance with a proportionate policing operation.

'Sadly, before the parade even started, we observed young people in the vicinity making petrol bombs to throw at police.

'Shortly after the parade commenced, petrol bombs and other objects were thrown at one of our vehicles at the junction of Iniscarn Road and Linsfort Drive.'

He added: 'This was a senseless and reckless attack on our officers who were in attendance in the area in order to comply with our legal duties.

'As participants at the parade made their way out of the City Cemetery, they removed their paramilitary uniforms under the cover of umbrellas and burnt them.

'Organisers of this parade communicated in advance their desire to have a respectful and dignified event, however, that is not what we witnessed today.

'There can be no place for this type of criminal activity. It is not wanted nor welcomed by the vast majority of people across the city.

'During today's policing operation, we deployed evidence-gathering resources, and obtained footage which will now be reviewed as part of an investigation into potential offences under the Terrorism Act 2000.

'As we head into this evening, we would appeal for calm, and welcome support from those with influence to help prevent any further disorder in the city this evening.'

A dissident republican throws petrol bombs at an armoured police car after holding an anti-Good Friday Agreement rally on the 25th anniversary of the peace deal, in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, April 10, 2023

A police van is attacked with petrol bombs by masked youths

Youths carrying petrol bombs stand outside Derry City Cemetery

One speaker described the event as 'respectful and dignified, paying homage to the revolutionary heroes of 1916 and all the republican dead'

People listen to a speaker during a dissident Republican parade in the Creggan area of Londonderry on Easter Monday

Masked members of a Dissident Republican colour party take part in a march

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said: 'The saddest part of this spectacle is that young people with no memory or experience of the violence of our past are being manipulated and abused by people with no vision for the future'

A PSNI spokesman said: 'Our officers have come under attack in Creggan, with petrol bombs and other objects thrown at their vehicle while in attendance at an unnotified Easter parade'

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he hoped the situation would quickly calm down

Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong tweeted: 'Disgraceful. The actions of some who want to drag NI back to dark days is abhorrent'

A PSNI spokesman said: 'Our officers have come under attack in Creggan, with petrol bombs and other objects thrown at their vehicle while in attendance at an unnotified Easter parade. No injuries have been reported at this time. We would appeal for calm.'

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill described the violent scenes as 'deplorable'.

She added: 'Twenty-five years on from the Good Friday Agreement this needless street disorder in Derry has no place in our society. As political leaders we must stand united, appealing to all those concerned to end these attacks and refrain from further threats of violence, whether in Derry or North Down. This type of illegal and anti-community activity is deplorable and out of step from wider community and public opinion.

'Our focus is on the future and on the future of our young. This society is moving forward and peace and stability will prevail.'

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he hoped the situation would quickly calm down.

'It is very, very disappointing that people have gone ahead with a march that has not been notified to the police,' he told the BBC. 'Hopefully it will calm down very quickly and the police can get about their business because they are there to protect all communities across Northern Ireland.'

Joe Biden 'very excited' about Ireland trip, White House says US President Joe Biden has been 'very excited' about visiting the island of Ireland for 'quite some time', a White House spokesman has said. At a White House press briefing, national security council co-ordinator for strategic communications John Kirby outlined the president's itinerary during his four-day trip, starting on Tuesday. Mr Kirby said the US president will be greeted by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he arrives in Belfast and they will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday. Mr Biden will then head to Ulster University to speak about the 'tremendous progress' since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago. 'It will underscore the readiness of the United States to preserve those gains and support Northern Ireland's vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities,' he said. Advertisement

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the 'senseless violence' is the last thing the people of Derry want to see.

'It was wrong 25 years ago and it is wrong now,' he said. 'The saddest part of this spectacle is that young people with no memory or experience of the violence of our past are being manipulated and abused by people with no vision for the future. Those whipping our kids into a frenzy and sending them out to attack the police have nothing to offer the people of Derry and this city will continue to reject them.'

DUP MLA Gary Middleton tweeted: 'Another clearly coordinated attack on the PSNI. The parade was illegal from the outset. This reckless behaviour is an attempt to cause harm not only to PSNI officers but to our communities as well. There must be swift action to bring those responsible to justice.'

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said: 'Absolute wasters. Sent out to riot by men sitting in pubs acting the big lads.'

Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong tweeted: 'Disgraceful. The actions of some who want to drag NI back to dark days is abhorrent.'

Irish Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney also tweeted his support for the PSNI.

'So called dissident republicans have nothing to offer our society, north or south,' he said.

'A tiny minority of thugs seeking headlines, wanting to take Northern Ireland backwards.'

Last week, senior police warned of the potential for disorder at the event.

Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said the force received 'strong' intelligence that dissidents were planning to launch terror attacks against officers on the bank holiday.

Groups marched in west Belfast and other areas in Northern Ireland across the Easter weekend as part of an annual public marking of the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising against the then-British rule across the island of Ireland.

Most parades were lawful and passed without incident.

However, police are investigating a masked colour party which led a parade in Falls Road in west Belfast organised by the Irish Republican Socialist Party on Sunday.

Parade participants were issued with warnings and footage was gathered by police, who will review it as part of an investigation into potential terrorism offences.

Masked youths have hurled petrol bombs at a police vehicle in Londonderry as violence erupted on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement

A police Land Rover was engulfed in flames as parades marking the Easter Rising got underway

The PSNI Land Rover was fitted with a CCTV camera and had been monitoring a parade, which was led by a number of people in paramilitary-style dress

Masked youths with petrol bombs

It comes ahead of US President Joe Biden 's arrival in Northern Ireland tomorrow as part of the celebrations to mark the Good Friday Agreement, the historic peace deal signed in April 1998

Mr Biden, who is intensely proud of his Irish heritage and the US role in the establishment of the Good Friday Agreement, will arrive in Belfast tomorrow evening.

But his visit will come at a precarious moment in the 25-year history of the 1998 peace deal.

Last month, the terror threat level in Northern Ireland was raised to 'severe' meaning an attack is considered to be highly likely.

There is also a continued political crisis in Northern Ireland, with the DUP still refusing to re-enter power-sharing at Stormont as part of their protest against post-Brexit trade arrangements.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has warned that recent dissident republican attacks demonstrated there were 'a small number of people who want to drag us all back to the dark old days'.

'It's a stark reminder of the fragility of peace,' the Cabinet minister said in a newspaper article, as he also urged the DUP to end their boycott of Stormont institutions.

Mr Sunak will meet Mr Biden off his presidential jet, Air Force One, when he arrives on Tuesday evening.

The US President will leave Northern Ireland on Wednesday and travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will visit Dublin and County Louth.

He will also make a trip to his ancestors' home town of Ballina, County Mayo, where locals have prepared the town to receive him and decorations are already in place.

Mr Biden, who is intensely proud of his Irish heritage and the US role in the establishment of the Good Friday Agreement, will arrive in Belfast tomorrow evening.

The US President will later this week make a trip to his ancestors' home town of Ballina, County Mayo, where locals have prepared the town to receive him

Mr Biden's visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will come at a precarious moment in the 25-year history of the Good Friday Agreement

Mr Biden's fifth cousin, Councillor Andrea McKevitt, is pictured outside Fitzpatrick's bar and restaurant in Jenkinstown, Co Louth, where then vice-president met locals in 2016

Derek Furlong poses in the window of his Ballina photo shop, as he and others dress up their businesses in the town centre

In a statement, Mr Sunak said the signing of the Good Friday Agreement was an 'incredible moment' in the history of the UK.

'It was a powerfully rare example of people doing the previously unthinkable to create a better future for Northern Ireland,' he said.

'It is that promise of a better future that we offered to everyone in Northern Ireland that I will be thinking of first and foremost over the coming days.

'It is my responsibility as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to ensure we are making good on that promise.'

Signed on 10 April 1998, the Good Friday Agreement ended the 30-year conflict known as The Troubles, during which more than 3,500 people were killed.

Mr Sunak said he is 'relentlessly focused' on delivering economic growth for Northern Ireland, which he said is crucial to improving living standards.

He is expected to use Mr Biden's visit to drum up long-term investment for the Northern Ireland, and announce that the UK will host a Northern Ireland Investment Summit in September.

The PM will address the 'Agreement 25' conference at Queen's University Belfast on Wednesday before hosting a gala dinner.

A major policing operation costing around 7million and backed up by around 300 officers travelling from other parts of the UK will be under way around the anniversary.

The PSNI had warned of the potential of dissident republicans launching attacks on police officers in Londonderry on Easter Monday.

MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat in Northern Ireland level to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, insisted the political vacuum in Northern Ireland - caused by his party's refusal to re-enter power-sharing at Stormont - is not to blame.

Last year, the DUP withdrew its support for the Stormont institutions formed by the Good Friday Agreement as part of its protests against post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Signed on 10 April 1998, the Good Friday Agreement ended the 30-year conflict known as The Troubles, during which more than 3,500 people were killed

Chris Heaton-Harris has warned that recent dissident republican attacks demonstrated there were 'a small number of people who want to drag us all back to the dark old days'

Mr Heaton-Harris said no-one could put a timeline on when power-sharing would be back up and running.

He told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: 'Anybody who is predicting a date by which the executive would go back in Northern Ireland would be someone who can also sell you a four-leaf clover. No one knows - deadlines are deadly in Northern Ireland term.'

The Northern Ireland Secretary wrote in the Telegraph: 'Across a range of measures, the people of Northern Ireland are being directly impacted because of an ongoing lack of locally accountable devolved government.

'The UK Government wants to see the Northern Ireland institutions delivering better public services, more investment and a stronger Union based on prosperity... there is no surer way to achieve that than for political parties to come together to get on with the job of delivering on the people's priorities and to make Northern Ireland work.'
The Justice Department on Monday appealed a Texas court ruling that invalidated the approval of the most commonly used abortion drug in the U.S., calling the decision 'extraordinary and unprecedented.'

Judge Matthew Kascmaryk, a Donald Trump appointee, ordered the Federal Drug Administration to revoke its approval of mifepristone on Friday  one of the two medications used in more than half of all abortions in the United States.

The lawyers for President Joe Biden's administration argued the challengers had no right to file the lawsuit since they were not personally harmed by the abortion pill.

DoJ asked the 5th Circuit to rule on its request to halt Kascmaryk's decision by noon on Thursday 'to enable the government to seek relief in the Supreme Court if necessary.'

'We're ready to fight,' said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

'If allowed to take effect, the court's order would thwart FDA's scientific judgment and severely harm women, particularly those for whom mifepristone is a medical or practical necessity,' the Justice Department wrote.

The move came as press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre warned the administration is 'ready to fight' the case.

'It probably is gonna go up to the Supreme Court, which we feel pretty confident that we're gonna win,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at her briefing on Monday.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of mifepristone in 2000, but the plaintiffs in Texas argued the FDA didn't adequately review mifepristone's safety. It is one of two drugs used for medication abortion in the United States, along with misoprostol, which is also used to treat other medical conditions.

Medical groups point out mifepristone has been used by millions of women over the past 23 years with a low complication rate.

Complicating matters, a federal judge in Washington state on Friday issued a preliminary injunction in a different case ordering the FDA not to make any changes that would restrict access to mifepristone in at least 17 states where Democrats had sued.

More than a dozen states have restricted access to abortions following the overturning of Roe V Wade

People march through downtown Amarillo to protest a lawsuit to ban the abortion drug mifepristone

The dueling decisions could mean the Supreme Court takes up the issue even faster.

Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone in the body and is used with the drug misoprostol to end pregnancy within the first ten weeks.

More than half of abortions in the U.S. are now medication abortions, and the vast majority of those involve that two-drug protocol.

But the second medication in that regimen, misoprostol, also can be used alone to induce abortion.

Several states, including New York, Washington, Massachusetts and California, are now stockpiling misoprostol ahead of uncertainty about how much longer mifepristone will be available.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said his state is securing an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills of misoprostol.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy said her state has already stockpiled some 15,000 mifepristone pills, and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced his state had about three years' worth of mifepristone on-hand.

And House Democrats took a largely symbolic step on Monday by introducing legislation that affirms the FDA's approval of mifepristone.

Democrats have been critical of the Texas decision. Progressive lawmaker Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York called on the Biden administration to ignore the ban completely.

Trump-appointed Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk ordered last week a halt on the abortion pill mifepristone over fears surrounding its safety

A pro-abortion protester displays mifepristone, an FDA-approved drug for medical abortions,during a counter-protest in New York City in March

Democrats claim that women's rights are under attack in the U.S. with the 6-3 conservative majority Supreme Court decision last year that ended nearly 50 years of federally recognized access to abortion in the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973.

Republican-led states are implementing stricter abortion laws in the wake of the ruling last summer  and now the abortion pill is facing a ban.

Whatever happens at the appeals court, the losing side will almost certainly take its case to the Supreme Court. Once again, the administration could first ask for an immediate pause to give the justices more time to fully consider the issue.

This time, though, while the case is about an abortion pill, the issues that are headed the court's way are about the rules that govern federal regulations and technicalities in the law: Did FDA take the right steps before approving the use of mifepristone? Do the anti-abortion groups and doctors who are suing the FDA have the legal right, or standing, to be in court? Did too much time elapse since the approval of mifepristone in 2000?

There is no timetable for when the Supreme Court might act, especially if a temporary pause keeps the FDAs approval of the pill in place.
Florida's biggest crocodile - a 14 foot monster named 'Croczilla' - was snapped showing off its gleaming teeth in a swamp at Everglades National Park.

The reptile surfaced from a nearby swamp on Sunday, opening its mouth wide and showing its razor-sharp teeth.

Wildlife photographer Kymberly Strempack Clark, who had been looking for the crocodile for months, encountered the 2,000lb beast near the Nine Mile Pond.

Clark was packing up for the day after being out in the wild for hours trying to locate the croc. She told Fox35 Orlando that when she passed the last truck hauling kayaks into the back, she she spotted the massive reptile and was in complete awe.

'When I saw this guy, I am not sure who opened their mouth wider, Croczilla or me?' she said.

The magnificent reptile surfaced from a nearby swamp on Sunday opening its mouth wide and showing its razor sharp teeth.

Wildlife photographer Kymberly Strempack Clark, who had been looking for the crocodile for months, was in awe when she came close to the 2,000 pound beast

Clark, who describes herself on her Instagram as a hiker and 'distracted walker,' wrote about their chance encounter and stood admiring Croczilla for more than an hour.

'This Croc has been on my herping bucket list for awhile now. So excited to have finally met him!!,' she wrote.

'Although Crocs are native to America, this estimated 14-foot+ Crocodile is about the largest Croc found in the wild,' she said.

In her post she shared her knowledge about crocodiles and alligators explaining that in comparison to alligators, crocodiles have a more narrow snout, are lighter in color, and both upper and lower sets of teeth can be seen.

She also talked about some of the crocodiles' body language.

'Although this crocodile looks fierce, the American Crocodiles are very timid. The open mouth is not a sign of aggression but usually a way of regulating body temperature or a yawn,' she said.

But she offered a word of caution, saying in part: 'Always keep a safe distance from crocodiles and other wildlife. Crocodiles are classified as threatened by FWS.

Crocodiles and alligators could lunge up to six feet from a resting position so experts urge those to stay at least 20-feet away from them.

The largest saltwater crocodile was named Lolong, at 20 feet three inches long, and native of the Philippines.

In 2011, Lolong was caught and two years after is capture, died due to stress, The Science Times reported.

Wildlife photographer Kym Clark in Florida captured the crocodile known as 'Croczilla' on Sunday while she was at Everglades National Park

Dozens of crocodiles swarms the Everglades

Clark told Fox35 Orlando that she spotted Croczilla when she passed the last truck that was hauling kayaks out of the park and was in complete awe

Everglades National Park is a 1.5-million-acre wetlands preserve located on the southern tip of Florida. The scenic nature preserve is often compared to a grassy, slow-moving river

The Everglades is made up of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and pine flatwoods. Many species lives in the preserve including, endangered leatherback turtle, Florida panther and West Indian manatee

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Commission, (FWC) the American crocodile is protected as a Threatened species by the Federal Endangered Species Act, and as a Federally-designated Threatened species by Florida's Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.

Though a crocodile and alligator may look the same there are major differences between to the two reptiles.

Crocodiles are typically a grayish-green color, their fourth tooth on their lower jaw is exposed when their mouth is closed. They also have a narrow tapered snout. A young crocodile is lighter in color with dark stripes, as per FWC.

Alligators are black in color, their upper teeth are exposed when their mouth is closed and their snout is broad and rounded. The younger alligators are darker in color with yellow stripes, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Commission.

Everglades National Park is a 1.5-million-acre wetlands preserve located on the southern tip of Florida. The massive and scenic nature preserve has been compared to a grassy, slow-moving river.

The Everglades is made up of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and pine flatwoods.

The preserve is also home to hundreds of animals and endangered species, including the leatherback turtle, Florida panther and West Indian manatee.
The White House admitted Monday it does not know whether more Pentagon documents about the U.S.'s secret foreign operations will leak.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that an investigation is ongoing, and as of now, they have few answers as to how a large cache of highly classified Pentagon documents that appear to detail classified information got out.

The documents reveal how Ukraine's S-300 air defense systems could run out of missiles and ammunition by May 2 at the current usage rate have appeared online in recent days.

The documents also detailed how Ukraine's air defenses protecting Ukrainian troops on the front line could be 'completely reduced' by May 23 and suggested the U.S. has a better grasp on Russia's war strategy than ally Ukraine's.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that an investigation is ongoing

Ukraine's air defenses could be depleted within weeks - making the country vulnerable to Russia President Vladimir Putin's fighter jets, newly leaked Pentagon documents suggests

Kirby was asked if the Pentagon was bracing for further leaks. 'The truth and the honest answer to your question is: We don't know,' he said. 'And is that a matter of concern to us? You're darn right it is.'

'We don't know who's behind this, we don't know what the motive is,' he added. Kirby said that as officials went through documents posted online, at least some appeared to be 'doctored.'

Kirby made a futile attempt at urging reporters not to report on the content of the classified documents.

'This is information that has no business in the public domain,' he said firmly. 'It has no business ... on the front pages of newspapers or on television.'

The Justice Department has now launched a criminal investigation into the possible release of the 'Top Secret' documents, which mainly pertain to the state of the Ukraine war.

An initial batch of documents labeled 'Secret' and 'Top Secret' - reportedly containing charts on the war in Ukraine as well as the strengths of different battalions - first circulated on Twitter and Russian Telegram channels last month.

And a further batch of documents of more than 100 Pentagon documents - this time also detailing US national security interests about areas including China and Israel's Mossad spy agency - was being shared on Twitter on Friday, the New York Times reported.

The authenticity of the documents remains in question as experts suggest they could have been altered or used as a misinformation campaign to suit Russia's agenda, including reduced casualty counts.

Under the 'Total Assessed Losses section,' one document lists 16,000-17,500 Russian casualties and up to 71,000 Ukrainian deaths. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the U.S. 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.

'We're worried that these documents are out there  They shouldn't be out there, period,' Kirby said in Monday's briefing.

The leaks also suggested Mossad, the national intelligence agency of Israel, secretly encouraged protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his planned judicial reforms last month. Netanyahu's office, which oversees the Mossad, denies the claim.

Such closely-guarded information could be of great use to Russian forces, and Ukraine said its president Volodymyr Zelensky and top security officials met to discuss ways to prevent leaks

The document said the U.S. learned this through signals intelligence, suggesting the United States had been spying on one of its most important allies in the Middle East.

In a statement on Sunday, Netanyahu's office described the assertion as 'mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever.'

Another document gave details of internal discussions among senior South Korean officials about U.S. pressure on Seoul to help supply weapons to Ukraine, and its policy of not doing so.

The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Monday that fact checks on the documents are a priority and that it would request the U.S. to take 'appropriate' steps after confirming details.

Yoon's office said the possibility that the documents were fabricated or a product of third-party interference cannot be ruled out, warning any attempts to 'disrupt the alliance would face repercussions'.

Intelligence agencies are believed to have comprehensively infiltrated Russia's military and its leading spy agencies, offering considerable knowledge of upcoming maneuvers and insights into how badly Putin's war is going.

But the same cannot be said for Ukraine, according to the New York Times. The paper reported, ' The United States has a clearer understanding of Russian military operations than it does of Ukrainian planning.'

US officials have allegedly resorted to spying on Ukraine itself to try and get an idea of their military plans -- including spying on Zelensky himself.

One of the documents, dated February 23 and marked 'Secret,' outlines in detail how Ukraine's S-300 air defense systems would be depleted by May 2 at the current usage rate. Such closely guarded information could be of use to Russian forces.

In the early days of the war, Ukraine relied on the these air defense weapons - S-300 and the Buk to target aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles - which make up 89 percent of Ukraine's protection against fighter aircraft.

These are two of the leaked documents which have been shared by the New York Times

One of the documents, dated February 23 and marked 'Secret,' outlines in detail how Ukraine's S-300 air defense systems would be depleted by May 2 at the current usage rate

This allowed Ukraine to focus on battling against Putin's ground troops, who have faced heavy losses since the war began. But the Russian despot has held his air force of 485 fighter jets back - far more than the 85 Ukraine has in its military.

Russia's fleet also includes far more sophisticated fifth generation planes including the Su-57, while Ukraine's pilots have to make do with MiG-29s, which first flew in 1983.

If Ukraine can no longer defend its skies, Putin could ramp up fighter jet attacks on Zelensky's forces, dramatically tilting the 15 month-long conflict in his favor.

The Pentagon has not addressed the contents of any specific documents, including the apparent surveillance of allies.

Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that while there was concern about the leak at the Pentagon and intelligence agencies, the documents showed a snapshot in time from more than a month ago, rather than more recent assessments.

The two officials said the military and intelligence agencies were looking at their processes for how widely some of the intelligence is shared internally.

One U.S. official said the initial documents resemble data produced daily by the Joint Staff, although some numbers are wrong.

The trove of leaked Pentagon documents suggests the US knows far more about Russia's war campaign than Ukraine's - despite funding the latter to the tune of $200 billion.

A villager collects wood during heavy fighting at the front line of Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar
The mystery over who invented Bitcoin has reached fever pitch after it emerged Apple Mac computers contain a hidden manifesto dedicated to the cryptocurrency.

It spawned a litany of conspiracy theories with crypto obsessives speculating the late Apple founder Steve Jobs was behind the multi-billion-dollar venture.

Bitcoin was created in 2008 by 'Satoshi Nakamoto' - a name long thought to be a pseudonym - in response to the financial crisis.

It has gone on to become the world's largest cryptocurrency worth around $540 billion according to CoinMarketCap data on Monday.

What's more, the value of Bitcoin has surged by 68 percent this year as economic uncertainty sparked by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has made customers distrustful of mainstream firms.

It makes Nakamoto potentially one of the wealthiest people in the world - though very little about his identity is known.

Crypto fans noted that April 5 marked the unofficial 48th birthday of the founder, according to information on a profile with The P2P Foundation.

Here Daily Mail rounds up the most popular theories about the so-called 'Father of Bitcoin'...

Steve Jobs

Conspiracy theorists speculated that the late Apple founder Steve Jobs was responsible for Bitcoin, with some noting Nakamoto disappeared in 2010 - one year before Jobs passed away

The internet went into overdrive last week after it emerged a white paper from Nakamoto was hidden on every Mac computer sold since 2018.

The discovery was made by tech blogger Andy Baio and prompted speculation that the Bitcoin founder and Apple genius were somehow related.

The paper - titled 'Bitcoin: A peer-to-peer electronic cash system' outlines the case for implementing digital currencies globally. It was first published in October 2008.

Crypto investor Lark Davis pointed out that Nakamoto seemed to disappear in 2010 - one year before Jobs passed away.

'The timeline fits,' he wrote on Twitter.

Separately Jason Williams, Jason Williams, author of Bitcoin: Hard Money You Can't F*ck With, said on the platform: 'Steve Jobs is Satoshi Nakamoto. I am serious.'

However others were quick to point out that Apple temporarily banned Bitcoin from its app store in 2014 amid concern over volatile cryptocurrencies.

A viral post last week revealed that a Bitcoin manifesto is hidden on every Apple Mac computer sold since 2018

A copy of the 2008 Bitcoin manifesto is hidden on every Apple MacOS sold since 2018, expert discovers

Craig White

An Australian computer scientist came forward claiming to have created Bitcoin in a 2021 court case.

The case - heard in Miami - was sparked after his former business partner's family demanded a stake in his wealth.

The family of David Kleiman alleged that he and White together made up the identity of Nakamoto.

David Kleiman (left) and Craig Wright (right) appeared to be unmasked as the founders Bitcoin as part of a Florida lawsuit but the court never ruled on whether they were genuinely 'Satoshi Nakamoto'

White was ordered to pay $100 million in damages to Kleiman's family after a jury surmised he had breached intellectual property rights.

However the case made no ruling over whether the pair had actually found Bitcoin themselves.

Those embedded in the crypto community have remained skeptical over White's claims.

Dorian Nakamoto

In 2014 Newsweek published a story called 'The Face Behind Bitcoin' which claimed to have unmasked the father as retired physicist Dorian Nakamoto.

Columnist Leah McGrath Goodwin claims that when she visited him at is California home he told her he was 'no longer involved in that,' adding he 'cannot discuss it.'

Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto was incorrectly identified as Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto in 2014

However after the article was published the Japanese-American scientist insisted he had misunderstood Goodman's questions.

He also claimed he hadn't heard of Bitcoin prior to the article being published.

However he has remained the most plausible choice among the crypto community.

Other names linked to the Bitcoin founder

Computer scientist Nick Szabo came under scrutiny for his connection to the cryptocurrency after it emerged he had written a research paper in 1998 based on 'bit gold.'

The paper was seen as a precursor to bitcoin.

Billionaire Twitter CEO Elon Musk was forced to deny he was Nakamoto in a 2017 tweet

However the American man - who came from Hungarian descent - had always denied any involvement.

Other candidates to have been noted include the government and various computer scientists.

Even billionaire Twitter CEO Elon Musk was forced to deny he was Nakamoto in a 2017 tweet.
Two dogs have been seized by authorities after a six-year-old girl was viciously mauled by a Bullmastiff.

The dog jumped up and dragged the girl off the fence where she was sitting and into a yard on Ormesby Street in Woodridge, south of Brisbane, at 4.30pm on Monday.

She suffered significant abdominal, chest and shoulder injuries and was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital in a serious condition, where she is recovering.

Queensland Health told Daily Mail Australia she remained in a serious but stable condition on Tuesday.

It marked the second vicious dog attack by the same breed during the Easter long weekend after a nurse, in her 60s, had her ear bitten off in Melbourne on Sunday.

The dog attacks are the latest in a list of fatal and life-threatening maulings over the past year, with calls growing for dangerous breeds to be banned.

A six-year-old girl who was viciously mauled by a dog is continuing to be treated in hospital for her horrific injuries

A 20-year-old relative was also taken to hospital after they tried to save the six-year-old girl during the vicious dog attack in Queensland.

The 20-year-old had jumped the fence to rescue the little girl.

They suffered leg injuries and were rushed to the QEII Jubilee Hospital in a stable condition.

The Bull Mastiff was removed from the property and handed over to dog handlers working for Logan City Council.

Police said the Child Protection Investigation Unit had been notified of the attack.

A nurse, in her 60s, was attacked in a separate incident while on her neighbourhood walk in Bulleen, east Melbourne, the day before on Sunday.

A three-year-old Bull Mastiff latched onto her neck and ripped off the woman's ear before it was finally pulled off by the dog's owner.

The nurse was taken the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where she had surgery on her neck overnight and remains in a stable condition.

Surgeons were unable to reattach her ear so she will need to be fitted with a prosthetic one.

The family told 7News the victim is lucky to have survived the brutal attack.

An extremely remorseful owner told the network that she was 'just so sorry for the lady'.

'I know there's nothing that I can say that's going to make it better for her. It's heartbreaking,' the unnamed owner said.

She insisted that while the dog was big and powerful 'he's generally very loveable and dopey'.

The Bullmastiff was removed from the property and handed over to dog handlers working for Logan City Council

'It's completely out of the blue, and you're just thinking, "What triggered it? What triggered it?" and I don't think there will be an answer,' she said.

Manningham City Council rangers have seized the dog and it is expected the animal will be put down.

'I understand what his fate will be and I understand for safety, for everybody, what's going to happen,' his owner said.

The attacks come despite repeated calls to ban dangerous dog breeds following a spate of dog attacks by different breeds of dogs over the years.

Two-year-old Talan Peters died from serious head injuries following a dog attack by a Bull Arab in Mena Creek, near Cairns in far north Queensland, in February 2022.

Another two-year-old narrowly escaped death after they were set upon by a South African Boerboel in Adelaide in March.

Veterinarian Derek McNair broke his silence following the attack saying dangerous dog breeds, like the South African Boerboel, should be banned.

'They are big dogs, they can get up to 80 kilos so they're huge dogs,' he told FIVEaa.

'They're very loyal to the family they live with but they have an underlying trait that they can be aggressive to strangers and can be aggressive towards other dogs.'
The hero rookie cop who was shot in the head while trying to stop the Louisville bank gunman had only been on the police force for 10 days.

Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, remains in critical condition at a local hospital after running toward gunman Connor Sturgeon, 25, to save the lives of innocent Old National Bank employees on Monday, according to Louisville Metro Police Department.

Wilt was one of two officers responding to the mass shooting when Sturgeon opened fire around 8.30am - killing four and injuring eight. The gunman also died.

The rookie officer was shot in the head while his colleague was grazed by a bullet. It's unclear where the second officer was shot.

Wilt was transported to the hospital where he is now in stable condition after undergoing brain surgery.

Nickolas Wilt, 26, was identified as the officer shot by the Louisville gunman. He had graduated from the police academy 10 days ago

Wilt was shot in the head while responding to the mass shooting on Monday. A photo of Wilt at his graduation ceremony showed him smiling alongside Louisville Major Craig Greenberg and interim police chief Jacquelyn 'Jackie' Gwinn-Villaroel

Wilt was sworn into the police department in March 31 - 10 days before the mass shooting, the police department said.

A photo of Wilt at his graduation ceremony showed him smiling alongside Louisville Major Craig Greenberg and interim police chief Jacquelyn 'Jackie' Gwinn-Villaroel.

'I just swore him in and his family was there to witness his journey to become a police officer,' Gwinn-Villaroel said. She added the next few days for Wilt's recovery will be critical.

According to a LinkedIn page matching Wilt's name and location, he graduated in 2016 from Oldham County High School.

Wilt had been with the police department since October 2022 - around the time he likely would have started the 24-week police academy program.

His extensive work history includes time at the La Grange Fire Department, Oldham County Emergency Medical Services, Oldham dispatch and Henry County EMS and the La Grange Fire Department.

A quote at the top of the LinkedIn page reads: 'The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.'

Connor Sturgeon, 25, has been identified as the shooter at the Old National Bank on Monday

A photo of the swearing in ceremony Wilt participated in are seen above. Police chief Gwinn-Villaroel (far right) said the next few days will be critical for his recovery

Officers were seen being sworn into the Louisville Metro Police Department in March

Authorities say Sturgeon, 25, started shooting up the bank with an AR-15 style assault rifle after being fired from his position as a syndications associate and portfolio banker.

Louisville Metro police said they arrived at the 300 block of East Main Street within three minutes of the gunman opening fire, and found him still spraying bullets when they arrived.

Videos of the shooting posted online showed officers at the scene running out into the street during rush hour traffic on Monday and warning drivers to get out of the car because there is an 'active shooter.'

During the shooting, it was overheard on police scanners that Sturgeon was 'suicidal and texted a friend that he would "shoot up the bank" and had left his parents a note informing them of his intentions to attack his workplace, CNN reports.

Police also confirmed that Sturgeon livestreamed the shooting on his Instagram, which has since been taken down and is now in police custody.

Sturgeon was also killed in the shooting, but it is unclear if he died from a self-inflicted wound or from injuries he sustained as he exchanged gunfire with officers at the scene.

The victims have been identified as Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and James Tutt, 64.

Thomas Elliott, 63, one of Governor Andy Beshear's 'closest' friends, died Monday morning in the mass shooting at Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky

Joshua Barrick, 40, a vice president of commercial real estate at the bank, was also killed by the lone gunman. James 'Jim' Tutt, 64, was a Market Executive at Old National Bank who was killed Monday morning

Juliana Farmer, 57, a mother and grandmother was also killed in the shooting

Witnesses have said that the alleged shooter was carrying a 'long assault rifle' when he fired multiple shots near the conference room at the bank.

'He just started firing,' an unnamed employee told WHAS . 'I didn't see his face. We were in the conference room.

'Whoever was next to me got shot, their blood's on me,' he added.

Another witness said they heard multiple gunshots as well as breaking glass coming from the bank after she dropped her son off at his job.

'I had just dropped my son off at work on River Road,' an unnamed witness told WDRB. 'I was at the stop light, and the first thing that I saw  there was a guy across the street of the intersection and he was lying down at the entrance to a hotel.'

At first, she said, she thought the man was just out for a jog  but then she noticed he was on the steps and not the sidewalk.

That is when she said she heard gunfire, with video from the scene showing at least three shots were fired.

'As I was siting at that intersection, gunfire erupted, like, right over my head,' she said. 'I didn't know if it was going at the bank or out of the bank, I took off.'

'When I turned, I saw that one of the windows in the bank had been blown out.'

She then said she saw police vehicles pull up to the area.

'They were coming from everywhere,' she said. 'The police were coming out of their cars with black rifles.'

'I just ducked in my car and waited there.'
Nineteen suspected terrorists have arrived in Britain via small boats across the Channel, security sources have told the Mail.

The foreign nationals linked with groups including Islamic State reached the United Kingdom illegally from northern France last year.

Most have since lodged asylum claims here  and cannot be deported due, in part, to human rights laws.

The 19 men are now believed to be living in hotels paid for by the British taxpayer.

Seven were already under 'active investigation' in other countries when they arrived here, it is understood.

Nineteen suspected terrorists have arrived in Britain via small boats across the Channel, security sources have told the Mail

The foreign nationals linked with groups including Islamic State reached the United Kingdom illegally from northern France last year. File photo of group of people thought to be migrants crossing the Channel in 2020

Some of the 19 suspects are now under surveillance by the Security Service MI5, the government listening post GCHQ, and counter-terrorism police, it is believed.

But the Government is powerless to remove any of the 19, because they face a risk of torture or ill-treatment in their home countries.

Five of the known terror suspects who arrived last year are Iraqi, five are Iranian, four are Afghan, four are from Somalia and one is Libyan.

Of the seven under active investigation, five are linked with Islamic State (Isis) or its offshoots.

Three of those are Iraqi and two are associated with Isis's Afghan affiliate, Islamic State in Khorasan. The remaining two are associated with Iranian terror groups.

British security services established the true identities of many of the 19 suspected terrorists through the routine fingerprinting carried out on all Channel arrivals, it is understood.

Evidence against them varies from case to case but is thought to include a mix of overseas convictions and intelligence material.

A security source said: 'It's a real problem and not something we're able to easily stop.

'Once they're here we can monitor them and limit any potential threat they pose but it adds to the overall surveillance burden.'

Some of the 19 suspects are now under surveillance by the Security Service MI5, the government listening post GCHQ, and counter-terrorism police, it is believed. File photo of a group of people thought to be migrants from October 2022

But the Government is powerless to remove any of the 19, because they face a risk of torture or ill-treatment in their home countries

The revelation will place intense pressure on opponents of the Government's Illegal Migration Bill, which sets out new powers to detain Channel migrants, limit their access to human rights appeals and then remove them from the UK to Rwanda or another safe country.

Last night the suspected terrorists' arrival in Britain by small boat was described as a 'national scandal'.

Former Army officer Bob Seely, a Tory MP, said: 'There are now not only criminals coming into the country illegally, but people with terrorist affiliations. This is appalling and deeply concerning.

'Our security agencies have enough on their plate without having to increase monitoring to cope with an influx of foreign terror suspects.

'Those who oppose Government measures to halt the small boats crisis frankly need a reality check.'

Natalie Elphicke, the Tory MP for Dover, said: 'People will rightly be concerned that terror suspects have been able to enter our country in small boats and not be detained. It's a national scandal.

'This raises serious issues of national security. Ministers must urgently review this situation and make sure that public protection always comes first.'

Dr Alan Mendoza, of counter-terror think-tank the Henry Jackson Society, said: 'This is extremely concerning. We already have enough problems with home-grown terrorist threats, without having to import others to join them.

'It is quite horrific, and adds weight to the Government's contention that there is a real risk posed by Channel migration.'

MI5 is known to have around 3,000 so-called 'subjects of interest' who are under active investigation.

MI5 is known to have around 3,000 so-called 'subjects of interest' who are under active investigation. Pictured: Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who has vowed to crack down on small boat crossings

Police and MI5 are able to carry out intense, round-the-clock surveillance of a maximum of only ten individuals because of the extraordinary cost.

This type of surveillance on one suspect requires 20 to 25 armed officers working shifts, costing more than 2million a year.

Prosecution of the 19 suspected terrorists who arrived by small boat last year is currently thought to be impossible.

If the cases against them are based on surveillance material  or other information from intelligence-gathering  it cannot be used in British courts.

MI5 and MI6 resist attempts to use such evidence in open court, fearing it will expose their surveillance capabilities or put covert sources in danger.

The suspects cannot be arrested and remanded in jail because there is no prospect of them being charged or prosecuted, based on available evidence.

Official figures show 1,057 small boat migrants reached Britain in the week to yesterday, the highest seven-day total so far this year.

Rishi Sunak has vowed to 'stop the boats' as one of his five key pledges to voters, after last year's total reached a record of more than 45,700.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'Our highest priority is protecting the safety and security of this country, which is why the UK has world-class police, security and intelligence agencies and a robust counter-terrorism framework.

'If an individual of national security interest entered the UK as an illegal migrant, we would take the firmest possible steps, which could include removal, action by law enforcement or other appropriate measures.

'As the Prime Minister has said, this Government is focused on stopping small boats, and the Illegal Migration Bill will enable us to take back control of our borders and ensure we have an asylum system that is fair, safe and legal.'
Lori Vallow used the Amazon account of her dead ex-husband to shop for wedding clothes and a ring for her marriage to doomsday prepper Chad Daybell days before they allegedly orchestrated the murder of Daybell's wife, her trial heard.

The 49-year-old allegedly searched for a 'beach wedding dress', bathing suit, malachite ring and men's clothing - just days before Tammy Daybell died.

The searches in October 2019 were also just a few months after Vallow's ex-husband, Charles Vallow, was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox.

Vallow and Daybell allegedly murdered two of her children, Joshua Jackson 'JJ' Vallow, seven, and Tylee Ryan, 16, after claiming they were 'dark' and 'possessed'. They are also accused of the murder of Tammy Daybell, 49.

The couple went on to marry in Hawaii less than two weeks after Tammy died - in a ceremony that included the malachite ring and other items named in the Amazon searches.

JJ's grandmother, Kay Woodcock, told Vallow's murder trial that she discovered the Amazon searches made on Charles Vallow's account at around the beginning of October. Charles died on July 11, 2019, and Tammy Daybell died on October 19, 2019.

JJ's grandmother, Kay Woodcock, told Lori Vallow's murder trial that she discovered the Amazon searches for a wedding ring and dress on Charles Vallow's account around the beginning of October 2019 - days before she and Chad Daybell allegedly orchestrated the death of his wife

Lori Vallow, 49, had been due to stand trial alongside her husband Chad Daybell, 54, but their cases were separated earlier this month

Woodcock was able to access the Amazon account after using a password her brother had shared with her before he died to log into his email account. She also took possession of some of his electrical devices after he died.

Woodcock said she discovered the searches on a morning in November 2019 after she woke up at 4.30am through 'divine intervention' and was using her brother's electronic devices when she realized she could access his accounts.

She also became emotional as she was shown a picture of JJ while giving her testimony.

She said that after Charles Vallow died, Lori Vallow 'didn't want anything to do with him anymore'. After Woodcock's contact with JJ stopped in August 2019, she hired a private investigator to try and track down her grandson.

He was later reported missing and JJ and Tylee's remains were found in a shallow grave in Daybell's backyard in June 2020.

Woodcock also revealed in her harrowing testimony that Vallow was once a 'doting mom' to JJ and Tylee. She remembered Vallow as a 'doll' who was 'very engaged' in caring for her kids several years before she allegedly killed them.

The trial has heard that Vallow believed her children were possessed and she conspired with Daybell to kill them and Tammy Daybell. Chad Daybell was a doomsday prepper who amassed a small following through books and talks about the so-called second coming.

JJ Vallow was born in May 2012 to Kay Woodcock's son, but his birth parents lost custody when tests found drugs in his system at birth.

Woodcock and her husband, Larry, initially took care of JJ before he was adopted by Lori and Charles Vallow in 2014. Woodcock told the court on Monday that Vallow 'seemed to be the kind of mom that every mom wants to be'

Lori with her daughter Tylee, who she accused of murdering along with her young son

Woodcock and her husband, Larry, initially took care of JJ before he was adopted by Lori and Charles Vallow in 2014.

Explaining the decision for the Vallows to adopt JJ, Woodcock said: 'They had a much different lifestyle than Larry and I did. All we did was work and go home. They were a busy lifestyle, they were very family-oriented.'

Woodcock said Vallow 'seemed to be the kind of mom that every mom wants to be'.

She added: 'Charles and I were very close. He was my brother and we always got along. We were very close and Lori - she was just a doll. We were good friends, we talked all the time.'

Vallow listened intently as Woodcock gave her testimony - occasionally appearing to jot notes on a piece of paper.

Woodcock added that she and Larry saw JJ often, including visiting the Vallow family while they lived briefly in Hawaii and after they moved back to mainland America, which was around Christmas time in 2016.

Woodcock remembered Vallow at that time as 'a doting mom, she was very engaged'. 'Charles was hands on, he was engaged,' she added.

Kay and Larry Woodcock led the public campaign to locate JJ and Tylee after they vanished.
Feds are currently vetting the possibility the kids were lured by a sex trafficker

A preteen girl and a friend stole her fathers car for a five-hour, interstate joyride to meet an online predator - sparking a full-on federal search and now an FBI investigation.

Jade Gregory and pal Khloe Larson, aged 12 and 14, made it more than 400 miles from Gainesville, Florida, to Alabama before being found safe by authorities.

The duo, driving in Gregory's parents Ford Taurus, had apparently been corresponding with an unknown person online, intending to meet him in Louisiana.

Their sudden disappearance last week triggered a massive federal search, while creating a furor through much of the US South.

The pair, now safe, were missing for less than a quarter of a day. Feds further revealed Wednesday that the pair voluntarily left their homes and traveled alone.

They are vetting the possibility the children were lured by a sex trafficker.

Jade Gregory, 12, made it more than 650 miles from Gainesville, Florida, to Alabama before being found safe by authorities on Wednesday

She picked up 14-year-old Klhoe Larson before driving her father's Ford Taurus toward Lousiana. The duo had apparently been corresponding with an unknown person online

'We have cancelled our active missing children alert,' the Union County Sheriff's Office wrote in a statement Thursday morning shortly after the girls were found.

'Jade Gregory and Khloe Larsen have been located safe in Bayou La Batre, Alabama,' the statement posted to the department's social media stated.

'Many thanks to the multiple agencies involved throughout Florida, Alabama and Louisiana to include the FBI and FDLE [Florida Department of Law Enforcement].

'Thank you for all the tips and information received.'

It was not immediately clear where exactly the children had been found, nor by whom. Police did not confirm Monday whether an outsider's tip led to the discovery.

The pair are now safe and back with their families. An Amber Alert was issued for the youngsters on Wednesday at roughly 11:50am, and was resolved by 4pm.

They were last seen in the area of Main Street and County Road 237 in Lake Butler, sometime after Gregory hopped behind the wheel her dad's pickup Wednesday. Shortly after, she swooped by her older friend's residence to take her along for the ride.

Police suggested that both of the children had been corresponding with the unknown man or party.

The pair are now safe and back with their families. An Amber Alert was issued for the youngsters on Wednesday at roughly 11:50am, and was resolved by 4pm

They were last seen in the area of Main Street and County Road 237 in Lake Butler (seen here) sometime after Gregory hopped behind the wheel her dad's pickup Wednesday. Shortly after, she swooped by her older friend's residence to take her along for the ride

Since cancelled, the Missing Child Alert sent members of several states into a frenzy as fresh-faced images of the kids flashed across millions of billboards and American television screens

Since cancelled, the Missing Child Alert sent members of several states into a frenzy as fresh-faced images of the youngsters flashed across millions of billboards and television screens.

When the pair were apprehended, they had already traversed nearly 400 miles of land and most of Northern Florida, and were only a few dozen miles from making it through Alabama and into Mississippi.

At that point, the girls would have been on the home stretch of their journey toward Louisiana. Investigators did not divulge what part of the Bayou State the two had been traveling to.

The FBI now investigating a person they believe the two girls were planning to meet. The Bureau did not immediately respond to a Monday DailyMail.com request for comment.
Kinmen is a holiday destination with a difference: tanks are parked by some beaches, spiked barricades poke from the sand and villages are dotted with bomb shelters.

Tourists who flock there  a little cluster of islands that belongs to Taiwan but sits barely one mile off mainland China  can visit an unusual attraction: the Jhaishan Tunnel.

This is an underground canal more than 1,000 feet long, carved deep into the granite hillside to protect soldiers and boats from aerial attack while unloading military supplies.

The canal is a legacy of China's civil war, fought between the triumphant Communists of Mao Zedong and the defeated nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek who fled to Taiwan.

The conflict that left more than one million dead officially ended in 1949 but attacks from the mainland on Kinmen dragged on for another three decades.

The canal is a legacy of China's civil war, fought between the triumphant Communists of Mao Zedong and the defeated nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek who fled to Taiwan (tourists on April 10)

Tensions are rising again between Beijing and the Taiwanese capital Taipei  and Kinmen finds itself again on the frontline of a struggle (President Xi Jinping, file image)

When I stop at a local restaurant for some prawn noodles, the cook shows me how  as a child  she would cover her ears to block out the chilling sound of incoming missiles. A school friend of hers was asleep in bed when she was killed.

In a nearby bookshop, owner Chen Chang Ching tells me of a man in his village blown apart in a bombing. 'The shells did so much damage that when his family went to pick up the pieces, they could not even find his skull,' he says.

The United States later admitted this struggle for Kinmen sparked the planet's 'first serious nuclear crisis' in the late 1950s, when its defence chiefs secretly drew up plans to use nuclear weapons against China to defend the island's sovereignty.

Now tensions are rising again between Beijing and the Taiwanese capital Taipei  and Kinmen finds itself again on the frontline of a struggle with frightening potential to spark global conflagration.

At the weekend, China's armed forces simulated 'precision strikes' on Taiwan with 45 Chinese fighter planes and bombers entering its airspace or crossing the unofficial dividing line between the two territories, part of a military drill that China's leader Xi Jinping described as a 'stern warning' to the breakaway republic.

It was clearly designed to intimidate Taiwan after its president, Tsai Ing-wen, met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week. China's Communist dictator has previously openly bragged that he will seize the thriving democracy on his doorstep 'by all necessary means' as he spends vast sums to build up China's military strength.

The tension has been rising for months. Last August, Beijing staged massive live-fire military drills, followed by repeated incursions into Taiwan's airspace and territorial waters, in response to brief visits to Taiwan by U.S. politicians.

Naturally, Kinmen was at the sharp end of these hostilities, with Taipei moving anti-drone weapons to the islands after troops were buzzed by aircraft flown from China.

A month later, China accused Washington of 'making trouble' after America announced a $1.1 billion package of arms sales to Taiwan, including missiles and logistical support for a radar-controlled early-warning system.

And Britain was criticised for 'sending the wrong signals' after trade minister Greg Hands made a two-day trip there shortly afterwards.

China claims Taiwan is a troublesome breakaway province rather than a sovereign state and uses its muscle to intimidate countries and companies into adopting its stance.

Its leadership sees the civil war as unfinished business.

Last August, Beijing staged massive live-fire military drills, followed by repeated incursions into Taiwan's airspace and territorial waters (a jet fighter takes off on April 10)

If there is an attack, Kinmen would be among the first places targeted. Apart from the Jhaishan Tunnel, its granite hills are riddled with 17 other major tunnels and bunkers (jets on April 10)

But the big question is whether the nationalist Xi really wants to launch an assault to prove his supposed greatness  or is this just sabre-rattling?

So might this vain dictator really try to seize Taiwan, rallying his people in patriotic fervour to crush a nearby bastion of freedom and force its 24 million people  along with their world-beating computer chip industry  into the arms of Beijing? And if he did, would this prosperous young democracy resist like Ukraine against Russia  or rapidly collapse under attack from the world's biggest armed forces?

Certainly if there is an attack, Kinmen would be among the first places targeted. Apart from the Jhaishan Tunnel, its granite hills are riddled with 17 other major tunnels and bunkers, including one that can hold 8,000 troops.

Kinmen's freedom results from victory in the last battle of the civil war. After three days of brutal fighting in October 1949, the nationalists defeated more than 9,000 Communist troops who landed in a flotilla of wooden fishing boats.

Afterwards it was turned into a fortress with more than 100,000 troops doubling its population, then pounded mercilessly by bombardments from the mainland. Eventually the two sides, wearying of war, created almost a charade of conflict to save face as they agreed to shell each other for short periods on alternate days.

Taiwan still maintains significant troop numbers and weapon stockpiles on Kinmen, as well as on Matsu and Penghu, two other strategically important island clusters.

Given Kinmen's bloodstained history, it feels strange to look over a narrow stretch of water and see Xiamen, the city that launched President Xi's rise to power after he became its vice-mayor aged 32.

'It's weird to see China so close,' admits Yueh-Tzu Huang, 33, a dentist visiting from Taipei. Her husband Johnny Tsao, 32, stresses the importance of knowing their history since Taiwan evolved into such a different place from China with democracy and liberty.

'We don't want war but we must be prepared,' he says. 'I do worry about it but I'm not afraid. We have to defend our country so I think I'd fight if needed.'

It is impossible to determine if China's threats to Taiwan are genuine or designed to stir up its domestic audience  let alone whether allies such as the U.S. and Japan would send in military forces to assist Taiwan if attacked.

Although Kinmen could probably be annexed quickly, given its closeness to China, experts reckon Beijing would struggle to mount a successful full-scale invasion of Taiwan.

Beijing would have to ferry at least 50,000 troops and huge amounts of ammunition, armoured vehicles, food, fuel, medical supplies and weapons across a 110-mile stretch of water (Taiwan navy vessels on April 10)

Russia's failures in Ukraine show the significance of logistics  and Moscow was invading across a land border

'I don't see an attack for the next five years because they still don't have capability to launch an offensive assault,' Su Tzu-yun, a leading defence analyst in Taipei, told me late last year.

Beijing would have to ferry at least 50,000 troops and huge amounts of ammunition, armoured vehicles, food, fuel, medical supplies and weapons across a 110-mile stretch of water  and most would have to be sent by sea given the limitations of airlifts.

Russia's failures in Ukraine show the significance of logistics  and Moscow was invading across a land border. 'Beijing will be rethinking its strategy for Taiwan since it can see the difficulties of sending a big army and supplies into hostile terrain,' says Su.

Admiral Lee Hsi-ming, former military chief of staff, argues that this attack by another nationalist dictatorship should be a wake-up call for his country. 'Putin's irrational decision to invade Ukraine makes Taiwan realise there could be war.'

He points out that in 25 years Beijing's military spending has soared from twice that of Taiwan to an incredible 20 times higher.

He argues for a 'porcupine' strategy that would involve small, mobile military units aided by trained citizen militias frustrating landing efforts rather than deploying scores of expensive aircraft, tanks and warships.

These are the tactics I have seen used in Ukraine  where I have spent 25 weeks of the past year although the former admiral says one big difference is that it would be harder for fellow democracies to send weapons to an island nation post-invasion.

'If you don't help Taiwan today, it will be too late,' he warns.

'But if we develop really robust capability then I do not think China could take over Taiwan.

The Chinese city of Ximen is seen in the background as a Taiwanese collects clams on April 9

The mannequin of a Taiwanese soldier faces out toward the Chinese city of Ximen from the Shaxi Fort

'The key is surviving the first waves of attack, the cyber attacks, the missiles  then you can defend yourself.'

His stance is backed by Li-Chiang Yuan, who served as defence attache to the UK.

But the former air force colonel fears China could achieve its aims by blockading Taiwan into submission by means of an old-fashioned siege.

'They do not need to send tanks to our shores,' he says. 'Taiwan has only seven to ten days' reserves of natural gas.

'We can be suffocated with insufficient energy and food supplies, leading to chaos in society and collapse of infrastructure. This is much easier than sending over thousands of troops.'

Dr Yuan fears Taiwan's military mindset is too conservative, fixated on outdated tactics for warfare, and that the morale of citizens may be too soft to resist blitzkrieg.

But Victor Chan, a journalist, reckons younger generations, raised in democracy and with no illusions about a repressive Chinese dictatorship, would fight for their future.

As he says: 'It is human nature to react when you are threatened with life being erased.'
Former President Donald Trump is expected back in New York and back in court Thursday - this time for Attorney General Letitia James's ongoing probe of his business empire.

News outlets reported Monday that Trump was due back in the Big Apple to sit for a second deposition as part of James's $250 million civil fraud lawsuit.

James filed a civil suit against Trump and three of his adult children - Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka - accusing them of fraud by overvaluing assets to secure loans, but then undervaluing them on tax documents.

James, a Democrat, wants to bar all four Trumps from serving as executives of companies in the state of New York.

Donald Trump is expected back in New York for Attorney General Letitia James's ongoing probe of his business empire

Last week, Trump referred to Letitia James as a 'racist in reverse' for pursuing a civil case against his businesses

Trump's appearance at a lower Manhattan criminal court last week caused chaos in the streets as both pro and anti-Trump factions showed up to demonstrate

The New York Post reported that Trump plans to plead the fifth during Thursday's sit-down.

He is due to fly from Mar-a-Lago - where he was spotted with his wife Melania at Easter brunch on Sunday - to New York on Wednesday, The Post said.

Last week he arrived at Trump Tower on Monday and then on Tuesday took his scaled-down motorcade to lower Manhattan to be arraigned in the Stormy Daniels hush-money case.

It marked the first time in American history a former president was charged with a crime.

A grand jury assembled by Manhattan Attorney General Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

The former president pleaded not guilty.

Trump's return to New York created a chaotic atmosphere around New York Criminal Court, with both pro and anti-Trump factions represented.

Trump ally, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, briefly rallied outside the courthouse in his support - but was called a 'Nazi' and told to 'go back to Georgia b***h' by members of the crowd.

She quickly retreated to her car.

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (pictured bottom left in sunglasses) was swarmed by a scrum of the media and protesters as she appeared for a rally outside the court hosting Donald Trump's indictment

The firebrand Trump ally was drowned out as she tried to speak in a park opposite the court by anti-Trump protesters screaming 'Nazi' and 'go back to Georgia b****'

Security was beefed up around the courthouse and Trump Tower.

Additionally, the judge in charge of the hush-money case, New York Judge Juan Merchan, has had to increase his security after receiving a flurry of death threats after Trump turned him into a political target.

After leaving New York, Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago and delivered a speech attacking Merchan, James and others.

'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 said of Merchan from the podium at his Florida home and resort.

Merchan's daughter works in Democratic politics and NBC News found that he had donated $15 last cycle to President Joe Biden, who robbed Trump of a second term.

The former president referred to James, who is black, as a 'racist in reverse' for pursuing the fraud cases against his businesses.
On April 8, 2011, Keir Starmer joined some of Britain's top legal eagles at a monthly meeting of the Sentencing Council, the ultra-powerful quango that tells judges and magistrates how convicted criminals ought to be punished.

It was all in a day's work for our then-Director of Public Prosecutions, who was joined by 12 fellow members of the committee, plus no fewer than 15 officials and observers, around what must have been one of Britain's longest conference tables.

Issues they discussed ranged from the 'media coverage' of a recent consultation on drugs sentencing, which had seen members attacked for their alleged liberal bias, to proper tariffs for burglary, assault and anti-social behaviour.

But it was the seventh item on the agenda that  for Starmer, at least  would eventually prove the most controversial.

Minutes of the gathering, which was chaired by Sir Brian Leveson (of Press inquiry fame), show that Sir Keir and his fellow members were presented with 'initial findings' of a review into 'current sentencing practice for sexual offences'.

Minutes of the gathering, which was chaired by Sir Brian Leveson (of Press inquiry fame), show that Sir Keir (pictured) and his fellow members were presented with 'initial findings' of a review into 'current sentencing practice for sexual offences'

It was the start of a lengthy process that would end, three years down the line, with a series of dramatic  and some might say woefully misguided  changes to the way in which courts in England and Wales deal with these most heinous of crimes.

During that period, Sir Keir attended 21 of 23 meetings at which the Sentencing Council formulated new guidelines related to 50 different sex offences.

The crimes that were looked at, during this review, ranged from rape and sexual assault to prostitution, grooming, sex-trafficking, voyeurism, exposure and child pornography.

Eventually, the Council decided that 20 of these crimes could, in certain circumstances, be punished via community orders rather than prison sentences.

That number include a total of eight offences where the principal victim is a child. They range from 'sexual assault of a child under 13' to 'possession of an indecent photograph of a child' to 'paying for the sexual services of a child' and 'arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child'.

This all happened on Sir Keir's watch and there is absolutely no evidence that he ever objected to these (on paper) remarkably soft sentencing guidelines, which took effect in April 2014.

At no point did he publicly voice so much as a flicker of concern about the fact that introducing them could result in significant numbers of child sex offenders being spared prison.

And if the earnest Director of Public Prosecutions happened to voice any scepticism in a more private forum  for example during any one of the 21 Sentencing Council meetings listed above  those remarks failed to find their way into any official minutes that were subsequently published, all of which have now been reviewed by the Mail.

In other words, one might fairly argue that Starmer bears significant responsibility for the fact that, from 2014 until the present day, it has been possible for child sex offenders who come before the courts in England and Wales to avoid jail.

Yet fast forward to last Thursday, and the same Keir Starmer could be found claiming voters ought to somehow blame Rishi Sunak for this regrettable state of affairs.

Yet fast forward to last Thursday, and the same Keir Starmer could be found claiming voters ought to somehow blame Rishi Sunak for this regrettable state of affairs

In what Labour grandee David Blunkett derided as a 'gutter attack', the Leader of the Opposition presided over Labour's official Twitter account cynically asking a rhetorical question: 'Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn't.'

The post, illustrated with Sunak's photo and signature, sought to justify this allegation by noting that '4,500 adults convicted of sexually assaulting children served no prison time' since the Conservatives took office.

The truth, as it happens, is that Sunak bears little responsibility for this statistic. He wasn't even an MP until 2015, and under British law, it's judges and magistrates, rather than politicians, who decide whether individual criminals ought to go to prison.

Starmer's decision to go on the offensive, on this front, is not just dishonest but also deeply hypocritical.

For the Labour leader's own track record gives every indication that he, rather than the Prime Minister, is the one who takes the view child sex offenders ought to be spared jail.

You can see this pertinent fact laid bare in black and white by browsing through the Sentencing Council's 'Sexual Offences Guideline Consultation', issued from its offices at the Royal Courts of Justice on December 6, 2012.

Spanning some 370 pages, its publication followed discussions that had taken place at no fewer than 15 monthly meetings that Starmer had attended, in person, over the previous 18 months.

The contents of the consultation also formed the basis of the new guidelines that were issued two years later and have, largely, been in place ever since.

The document makes clear, during the opening pages of its introduction, that Starmer and his colleagues on the Council had decided that certain sex crimes were insufficiently serious to justify a prison sentence.

'The Council believes,' the document states, 'that in some cases both the victim and the public will be better protected by the imposition of punishment in the form of a rigorous community order, with programmes which challenge offenders to change their behaviour and above all not to reoffend'.

For the Labour leader's own track record gives every indication that he, rather than the Prime Minister, is the one who takes the view child sex offenders ought to be spared jail

It goes on to list various crimes that Starmer and fellow members of the Council reckoned should be punished via community orders.

These include the offences of 'assault by penetration,' 'sexual activity with a child,' the 'sexual assault of a child under 13,' 'causing or inciting a child to indulge in sexual activity,' 'inciting a child family member to engage in sexual activity,' 'causing a child to watch a sexual act,' the 'possession of an indecent photograph of a child' and 'arranging or facilitating child prostitution or pornography'.

Helpfully, the consultation document  which, let us remember, was produced during Starmer's time on the Council  then lists a number of 'scenarios' in which judges might choose to impose non-custodial terms on sex offenders.

'For example, a judge sentencing an offender convicted of spying on women in community changing rooms with a hidden camera (voyeurism), may decide to impose a community order of up to three years,' reads one such case study.

Very essence of grubby hypocrisy

Another 'scenario' proposed an incident where 'an offender approaches a woman at a crowded bus stop and grabs her breast over her clothing'. The document continues: 'The offender has no previous convictions.

There is no doubt that this would be a very distressing experience for the victim and the sentencer will want to impose a sentence that prevents other women from being assaulted in a similar way in the future.

'For this type of case, the judge may wish to impose a community order for a period of up to two years with a requirement that the offender attends a sex offender treatment programme where his offending behaviour can be challenged and addressed.'

Child sex offences are, crucially, among those which should in some circumstances be dealt with via community orders, the document released on Starmer's watch continues, so long as the crime is 'non-penetrative'.

This particularly applies in cases where there is 'no evidence of grooming or exploitation or significant disparity in age'.

So it goes that a crime cited in the document involves a case where an 'an 18-year-old male au pair lives with a family and is responsible for being in sole charge of a 14-year-old girl after school, driving her home from school and cooking dinner.

The truth, as it happens, is that Sunak bears little responsibility for this statistic. He wasn't even an MP until 2015, and under British law, it's judges and magistrates, rather than politicians, who decide whether individual criminals ought to go to prison

The au pair and girl become close and are caught by the parents in a state of undress kissing and touching each other'.

Another revolves around circumstances where 'the victim (V) is a 12-year-old girl and lives next door to the offender (O) who is 19.

They have known each other for a number of years. O lives at home with his parents and has learning difficulties with very few friends of his own age.

V and O begin to spend a lot of time together and O asks V if she will be his girlfriend.

There are no signs of exploitation with both believing they are in a genuine relationship. They have sex on two occasions.'

As for child pornography, the document specifies that 'a non-custodial starting point is recommended for possession and distribution of level C images and for possession of level B images'.

It adds: 'For offences involving indecent images, there may be cases where the sentencer considers that a lengthy community order with a sexual offences treatment programme, such as the i-sotp81 programme (specifically designed to treat internet offenders), will be more appropriate than a very short custodial sentence'.

It should be stressed that there may be a perfectly legitimate case for dishing out non-custodial terms in some of the circumstances described above.

Justice isn't always black and white, and experts on the Sentencing Council were entitled to take the view that for less serious offences, community orders can provide an effective way of punishing an offender and protecting the public.

What Keir Starmer isn't entitled to do, however, is sit on a committee that allows 'sexual assault of a child' to sometimes attract a non-custodial sentence, and then  a decade later  blame someone else for the consequences.

As any good lawyer would argue, that represents the very essence of grubby hypocrisy.
Todays revelation that suspected terrorists have entered Britain posing as small boat migrants brings a whole new context to the Channel crisis.

It was already known that hundreds of criminals had been identified among arrivals from France  raising huge questions about Britains porous border and the Governments ability to protect its citizens.

Now we know that the problem is far, far worse.

The 19 terror suspects who camouflaged themselves as would-be refugees to enter the UK are known to be affiliated with some of the most murderous groups in the world, including Islamic State and the Somali Islamist insurgent group al-Shabaab.

The security services were already under pressure keeping tabs on thousands of individuals who pose an active threat in the UK.

Todays disclosure by the Mail highlights the nonsensical laws and processes which apply to Channel migrants (file image)

The 19 terror suspects who camouflaged themselves as would-be refugees to enter the UK are known to be affiliated with some of the most murderous groups in the world (file image)

It has now emerged that the Channel crisis has added to that number.

Although the exact level of threat posed by the 19 men remains unknown, it is thought some are considered dangerous enough to require surveillance.

Todays disclosure by the Mail highlights the nonsensical laws and processes which apply to Channel migrants.

If any known terrorist arrived in this country by legal routes  such as a scheduled flight  they would most likely be stopped and identified at immigration control.

They would then almost certainly be refused entry to Britain under the Home Secretarys powers to exclude someone on national security grounds.

But if the same terrorist arrives by small boat across the Channel, they cannot be turned away.

Human rights laws and international refugee conventions require they be given an opportunity to claim the right to live in this country indefinitely.

In fact, the 19 who came here last year are now thought to be living in hotels on full board at the taxpayers expense, some of them for many months already.

With average nightly costs of 150, that means each suspect is costing the public purse about 4,500 a month, or 55,000 a year, in support costs alone.

It is understood there can be no criminal prosecutions because the evidence against them is based on intelligence material  which cannot be used in courts  and sources say the authorities hands are tied.

The predicament will add further weight to the argument that Channel arrivals must be dealt with in an entirely new way, as the Illegal Migration Bill sets out to do.

Suella Bravermans legislation, currently going through Parliament, will give the Home Secretary new powers to detain irregular arrivals, such as those who come by small boat.

The ability to bring human rights challenges will be curtailed, and the Home Office will be able to remove failed applicants to Rwanda or another safe country.

The Bill faces opposition from Labour, other opposition parties and even  on some of its measures  from within the Conservatives own backbenchers.

Now we know that terrorist suspects who despise our way of life have used the Channel as an open door to Britain, those opponents face some very deep soul-searching about the potential consequences of leaving this countrys border exposed to abuse.
President Biden signed a Republican-led measure on Monday that ended the national Covid-19 emergency after more than three years.

The White House already had its own plans to wind down the emergency declaration on May 11, but the bill moved up that timeline by about a month.

Despite having strong objections to the bill earlier in the year, Biden announced in March he would not veto the legislation. It passed the Senate 68 to 23.

President Biden, pictured Monday, signed a Republican-led measure on Monday that ended the national Covid-19 emergency after more than three years

The legislation is a simple one-line measure saying that national emergency declared on March 13, 2020, 'is hereby terminated.'

At the same time Biden signed the bill, the White House announced it is allocating $5 billion to create 'next generation' Covid-19 vaccines. The funding will be taken from money put aside by the Department of Health and Human Services for Covid tests and PPE.

Former President Trump first declared a national emergency that March to allow federal funding to be freed up for vaccines and testing centers.

It's the third bill the president has signed into law since Republicans took the majority in the House - behind a GOP-led bill rescinding Washington, D.C.'s criminal justice reform and one that ordered the intelligence community to declassify information on Covid-19 origins.

The bill signed Monday was among the early bills the new House GOP put forward at the start of the year.

At the time, the administration warned the proposal would cause chaos.

More than 197 Democrats in the House voted against it.

'An abrupt end to the emergency declarations would create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system - for states, for hospitals and doctors offices, and, most importantly, for tens of millions of Americans,' the administration said in a formal statement of administrative policy.

It was the second time House Democrats voted against a bill to get behind what they thought the president's position was only for him to reverse course. House Democrats roundly voted against the D.C. crime bill, then Biden said he wouldn't veto it - giving Senate Democrats cover to vote for the bill.
A black Tennessee Democrat expelled from the state legislature for his gun control protest on the House floor has gotten his job back less than a week after he was thrown out.

Nashville's governing council voted 36-0 to reinstate Rep. Justin Jones on Monday, four days after the Republican-led vote to oust him thrust him into the national spotlight.

Republicans banished the two lawmakers over their role in a gun-control protest on the House floor in the aftermath of the deadly Nashville school shooting, which killed six people including three children.

The other lawmaker, Justin Pearson, could be reappointed Wednesday by the Shelby County Commission.

Justin Jones, one of the two Democrats who were expelled last week from the Republican-led Tennessee House was reinstated Monday after Nashvilles governing council voted to send him straight back to the legislature

Jones (center) Rep. Justin Pearson (left) and state Rep. Gloria Johnson (right) were disciplined after their protest on gun control following the Nashville school shooting

Gloria Johnson, a white female Democrat lawmaker who joined in the protest kept her job, sparking racism allegations.

The trio chanted for more gun control and broke House rules by using a bullhorn when they were not authorized to speak.

The GOP members called the demonstration an 'insurrection' and voted to expel them last Thursday.

But on Monday the Republicans said they would welcome their appointments as part of the state's constitution.

Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton's spokesperson, Doug Kufner, indicated that whoever is appointed to the vacancies by the Nashville and Shelby County governments 'will be seated as representatives as the constitution requires.'

House Majority Leader William Lamberth and Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison said they will welcome back the expelled lawmakers if they are reinstated.

'Tennessees constitution provides a pathway back for expulsion,' they said in a statement. 'Should any expelled member be reappointed, we will welcome them. Like everyone else, they are expected to follow the rules of the House as well as state law.'

Jones and Pearson quickly drew prominent supporters. President Joe Biden spoke with them, and Vice President Kamala Harris visited them in Nashville. The expelled lawmakers have filled out their legal teams. Eric Holder, who served as attorney general under former President Barack Obama, now represents Jones.

'The world is watching Tennessee,' attorneys for Jones and Pearson wrote to Sexton in a letter Monday. 'Any partisan retributive action, such as the discriminatory treatment of elected officials, or threats or actions to withhold funding for government programs, would constitute further unconstitutional action that would require redress.'

More to follow
An abuse survivors' network has blasted the actions of the Dalai Lama which saw him kissing a young Indian boy on the lips before asking him to 'suck' his tongue.

The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), a U.S.-based organization that supports the survivors of spiritual and religious abuse expressed their disgust on Monday following the release of the disturbing footage.

'We are as horrified as any viewer by the actions of the Dalai Lama. Our primary concern is with the innocent boy who was the subject of this disgusting request by a revered spiritual figure.

'Additionally, it is just as disturbing to read the minimizing statement released on behalf of Buddhist enlightenment,' SNAP said in a statement.

'An 87-year-old man asking a young boy to perform a blatantly sexual act in a public setting is very disturbing. We feel it is important that every single person who sees, suspects, or suffers child sex crimes, regardless of the level of crime, contact law enforcement to report it,' the abuse survivors' network said.

Footage of the incident showed the moment the Tibetan spiritual leader invited the boy on stage during a charity event at his temple in Dharamshala, India in February.

The Dalai Lama has apologised after a unsettling video appeared on social media in which he kissed a young Indian boy on the lips before asking him to 'suck' his tongue

Some supporters of the Dalai Lama sprang to his defence, claiming their leader was simply 'joking around'

In the video, the boy asks the Dalai Lama 'can I hug you?', to which Tenzin Gyatso responds: 'Okay - come!'

The spiritual leader first asks the boy to kiss him on the cheek, before pointing at his lips. He holds the boy's face as they briefly kiss, then the pair press their foreheads together.

Just as the boy goes to pull away, the Dalai Lama instructs him: 'And suck my tongue' - prompting him to slowly inch forward towards the 87-year-old's outstretched tongue.

Attendees of the event, held by India's M3M Foundation, can be heard laughing as the boy sits awkwardly in front of the aged Tibetan Buddhist leader and nervously follows his orders.

In the video (pictured), the boy asks the Dalai Lama 'can I hug you?', to which Tenzin Gyatso responds: 'Okay - come!'

Others went as far as to describe the Dalai Lama as an 'insidious false prophet' while one user called for him to 'be arrested for paedophilia'

Before letting the child go, the Dalai Lama imparts some wisdom, telling him to 'look to those good human beings who create peace, happiness' and not to 'follow those human beings who always kill other people'.

Some supporters of the Dalai Lama sprang to his defence, claiming their leader was simply 'joking around'.

But the clip has sparked outrage on social media, with commentators branding the Dalai Lama's actions 'scandalous', 'disgusting' and 'absolutely sick'.

Others went as far as to describe him as an 'insidious false prophet'.

'Utterly shocked to see this display by the #DalaiLama. In the past too, he's had to apologise for his sexist comments. But saying 'now suck my tongue' to a small boy is disgusting,' wrote user Sangita.

Another poster, Rakhi Tripathi, said: 'What did I just see? What that child must be feeling? Disgusting.'

In this file photo taken on December 29, 2022, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama waves during his first day of teaching session at the Kalachakra Ground in Bodhgaya

The office of the spiritual leader posted a formal statement on social media today apologising for his actions.

'His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused,' the statement read.

'His Holiness often teases the people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras,' it added.

'He regrets the incident.'

The Dalai Lama remains the universally recognized face of the movement for Tibetan autonomy.

But the global spotlight he enjoyed after winning the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize has dimmed and the deluge of invitations to hobnob with world leaders and Hollywood stars has slowed, partly because the aging leader has cut back on his punishing travel schedule, but also due to China's growing economic and political clout.

Beijing accuses him of wanting to split China, and has referred to him as a 'wolf in a monk's robe'.

The Dalai Lama was forced to apologise in 2019 for saying that any woman who succeeded him 'should be more attractive'

Just weeks ago, the spiritual leader courted more controversy when he named an eight-year-old boy with joint US and Mongolian nationality as the reincarnation of the third most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism

In 2019, the Dalai Lama apologised for saying that if his successor were to be a woman, she would have to be 'more attractive'.

He was 'deeply sorry' and 'genuinely meant no offence' after his comment sparked a global backlash.

The monk's office said his 'off-the-cuff remarks' had 'lost their humour in translation', insisting he was a strong supporter of women's rights.

The comments, which were criticised around the world, were made in an interview with the BBC.

Then just weeks ago, the spiritual leader courted more controversy when he named an eight-year-old boy with joint US and Mongolian nationality as the reincarnation of the third most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism.

The formal title of the child, who is said to have a twin, is the tenth Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche - the third most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism and the faith's leader in Mongolia, according to The Times.

Rumours about the boy's identity had swirled around the spiritual community for years, but his existence has only now been confirmed with his public appearance in India, where the Dalai Lama lives in exile.

The unveiling sparked fury in China, which previously said it will only recognise Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leaders their special government-approved appointees have chosen.
The Prime Minister is likely to wait to hold a general election until October or November next year, sources said last night.

Rishi Sunak's team believes that waiting until the autumn will allow the electorate to benefit from the beginnings of any economic recovery and see the effects of his tough migrant boats package, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Sunak only became Prime Minister in October 2022, after Liz Truss' brief and calamitous spell in Number 10.

A general election must be held by January 2025 according to parliamentary rules.

Some of the latest polling data suggests that Labour is maintaining its significant advantage over Sunak's Conservative Party, with an average of 24 points between the parties.

Sunak only became Prime Minister in October 2022, after Liz Truss' brief and calamitous spell in Number 10 (pictured in March 2023)

Keir Starmer's Labour Party has maintained a significant lead in the polls, with one recent YouGov survey giving him a 40-point lead among voters in London

Earlier this year, Tory party chairman Greg Hands also appeared to signal that the second half of 2024 was the preferred date for a poll.

Having assumed the post in February, he told supporters in a message: 'The next 18 months will see us win or lose the next general election.'

There has been speculation that Mr Sunak could opt for an earlier date in 2024.

A recent Guardian article said Keir Starmer's Labour Party were convinced May of that year is the most likely month for a general election, to coincide with local elections.

'Some of their voters will treat those local elections as midterms and protest against them, but they would otherwise vote Tory in a general election, because that's what happens to governments.

'If you're a few points behind, why risk things looking worse? We have to be ready for May 24', one Labour strategist said.

Following the repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, the new Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act lays out the rules on when an election must be called.

The latest date that parliament can dissolve is 'the beginning of the day that is the fifth anniversary of the day on which it first met'.

The current parliament met on December 17, 2019 and an election must be held within 25 days of the five year anniversary. This will be in January 2025.

The repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act returned the right to choose exactly when an election is held to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister of the day can go to the monarch and request that they dissolve Parliament, triggering a general election.

This might be because their five-year time limit is up or because they feel they have lost the support of their party.
Doctors ought not to go on strike. This principle is so fundamental that it should need no discussion.

By striking for four days this week, junior doctors reveal their greed and irresponsibility because they are prepared to put their own interests above those of their patients.

They claim no one will die because of their action, emergency services will be maintained and routines necessary to save people in extremis will not be affected.

Believe that if you like. After all, it is not as if emergency services were working perfectly before the strikes.

But even if ambulance response times are unaffected, operations and outpatient appointments will have to be postponed.

Striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham

The whole purpose of the strike is to inflict suffering on the public: if nobody suffered, the strike would be pointless.

Indeed, according to NHS England, the strike by 61,000 junior doctors will have a greater impact than any of the recent health service strikes.

The chief executive of the NHS Confederation, an organisation of health service bodies, went further, saying it would have a 'catastrophic impact' on NHS waiting lists, with up to 350,000 appointments and operations likely to be cancelled.

In other words, the junior doctors have reversed the overriding principle of the Hippocratic Oath: First do no harm. Their principle appears to have become: First do harm, then we'll see.

By means of inflicting avoidable suffering on large numbers of people, with the threat of more to come, they hope to put pressure on the Government to give them a pay rise of 35 per cent, far more than any other public sector pay claim.

The British Medical Association union is behaving more like the unions that did so much to ruin the British car industry in the 1970s than an association of professionals.

Reading the British Medical Journal, the BMA's flagship publication, sometimes gives you the impression you are wading through the old Soviet propaganda sheet, Pravda, so little discussion is there in its opinion columns, so taken for granted are its Left-wing principles.

This strike will also inevitably reduce the esteem in which doctors are held by the public, and rightly so. The reservoir of respect for the medical profession, built over decades, is derived in part from the willingness to work long hours irrespective of pay.

Public sector workers attend a rally by unions at Trafalgar Square in London, Britain, March 15

Both the doctors, or at least their representative organisation, and the Government have worked to erode the dignity, trust in and admiration of the profession.

Young hospital doctors used to work long hours, perhaps sometimes dangerously so.

But now they are not allowed to exceed 48 hours per week and are prevented from doing so even if they try to exceed this.

It's a policy that has introduced clock-watching and gives them less opportunity to learn by long experience. Managers have also ensured, by constant interference, that senior and junior doctors have far less satisfying contact than they once enjoyed.

A junior doctor was once a member of a team, consisting of more senior doctors, and an important member at that.

But now, both patients and junior doctors are like parcels in games of 'pass the parcel', held until the music stops or the clock reaches a certain hour. The seniors don't know the juniors, and the juniors don't know the seniors. Patients don't know who their doctors are, and doctors don't know who their patients are. My mother was in hospital for six weeks before she died, during which time she saw only one of the many doctors who treated her more than once.

They put up practically no resistance to these deleterious developments, so long as they were adequately, or even well, paid.

Moreover, the doctors still have many advantages not enjoyed by others: job security, guaranteed career progression, generous pension entitlements and at least six weeks of annual leave per year.

File photo: The NHS logo displayed outside a hospital in London

The new system is wasteful and miserable for patients and doctors alike. There is thus plenty for doctors to complain about (to say nothing of patients), and there has been for many years.

But the unethical strike will only increase discontent in the long run. Unfortunately, junior doctors, egged on by BMA zealots, have chosen a demand for an extraordinary pay rise as their cause.

This gives the public the impression that the profession is overwhelmingly concerned for itself, and that it is willing to see patients suffer for the sake of money.
Pubs are disappearing at an increasing rate as soaring energy bills and rising food prices pile pressure on landlords.

More than 150 have closed in the first three months of 2023  a rise of almost 60 per cent on last year.

The overall number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and being offered to let, dropped to 39,634 by March 31, according to analysis of government data by real estate firm Altus Group.

This is down 153 on the 39,787 recorded in England and Wales at the end of last year.

More than 150 have closed in the first three months of 2023  a rise of almost 60 per cent on last year (stock image)

Fifty-one sites were lost each month, an increase from the 32 a month in 2022.

Pubs are no longer recorded in government data once they have been demolished or converted to homes, offices or day nurseries. Last year 386 venues were lost for good.

The British Beer and Pub Association warned that the average energy bill would rise by 18,400 a year from this month after the Government's relief scheme wound down.

The end of the support for non-households' energy bills is set to wipe out the benefit seen from reductions to property taxes, according to Altus Group.

Alex Probyn, of the firm, said: 'Pubs have seen their values for the business rates tax fall 17 per cent overall and, with measures taken at last year's Autumn Statement, that will mean a tax saving of 5,500 for the average pub.

'But that simply won't compensate for the energy support being lost, making plots even more attractive for alternative investment.'

Kate Nicholls, of industry body UKHospitality, previously said: 'For our members, energy bills have soared to become the determining cost for whether they are viable.'
The Queen Consort will use a controversial ivory sceptre in the coronation ceremony, Buckingham Palace has confirmed, despite risking a potential backlash among wildlife campaigners.

Camilla will be crowned alongside her husband the King on May 6, during an ancient ceremony at Westminster Abbey featuring deeply symbolic objects representing the royal duties and responsibilities of the sovereign.

It has now emerged that she will hold two sceptres, will court controversy by using one made with ivory.

There had been reports the sceptre would not be used given the Prince of Wales's long-standing campaign to stop the illegal trafficking of animal parts, like rhino horn and elephant ivory.

The Queen Consort has already agreed not to use a crown embellished with the contentious Koh-i-noor diamond at the coronation.

A new portrait of King Charles and the Queen Consort was released when the invitation to the Coronation was unveiled

Britain is at the forefront of global conservation efforts after the Ivory Act 2018 brought in a near-total ban in the dealing of items containing elephant ivory, beginning from June last year.

Last August, the Prince William hailed a 'landmark' illegal wildlife trade sentencing that saw a man jailed for five years for conspiring to traffic millions of dollars worth of rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory.

He previously said that there is a 'moral duty' to stop the ivory trade and described the material as a 'symbol of destruction, not luxury'.

The sceptre in question, which is made of gold, ivory and enamel

But despite the Prince's vehement position, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Sunday that the sceptre would be among the regalia used at the coronation.

The ivory sceptre is part of the crown jewels and regalia held in trust by the monarch for the nation.

The crown jewels form part of the Royal Collection and have traditionally been held at the Tower of London which is managed by Historic Royal Palaces.

Kathryn Jones, senior curator of decorative arts, at the Royal Collection Trust, speaking about previous coronation ceremonies, said: 'The Queen is also presented with two sceptres... this is again this symbol of temporal power - so with the cross.

'And the second sceptre, like the King's sceptre, has the dove on the top, (and is) symbolic of equity and mercy.

'And this one the wings are folded, rather than spread, it has the same symbolism - so it's the Holy Spirit.'

The original coronation regalia was destroyed by order of parliament after King Charles I was executed after the Civil War, briefly leading to a republic with Oliver Cromwell as the head of state.

The regalia was broken up and melted down into gold coins and the jewels were sold.

The ivory staff which Camilla will use was made in 1685 by Sir Robert Vyner for Queen Mary of Modena, the wife of James II.

Camilla will be crowned alongside her husband the King on May 6, during an ancient ceremony (pictured at Easter Sunday service)

King Charles' official Coronation invitation is a riot of flora and fauna centred around an ancient folklore symbol, the Green Man

She was the first Queen Consort to participate in a coronation ceremony following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

Symbolic of the monarch's spiritual power, it is topped with a distinctive enamelled dove with spread wings.

The three-foot-seven-inch-long staff cost 440 in 1661 and is encircled in four places with jewelled colours.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: 'As with any historical collection of its size, it is to be expected that the Royal Collection includes items that contain ivory as this reflected the taste at the time.'

The use of the sceptre was confirmed as part of an announcement from the palace on the regalia that will feature at the service, including the Sovereign's Ring and St Edward's Crown.
Vodafone is finally back online following a seven hour outage that left thousands without internet.

According to Down Detector, the problems started at around 08:29 BST and affected users across the country.

Hotspots were in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff, although social media users in other locations also complained of problems.

A Vodafone spokesperson said: 'We have now fixed the issue impacting just over 1% of our home broadband customers today.

'Customers should already be seeing their connectivity return. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience to anyone impacted today, and can confirm this was an isolated incident.'

Vodafone is finally back online following a seven hour outage that left thousands without internet

While the issue started at around 08:30, Vodafone waited until 11:00 to issue a statement on the outage.

This read: 'We're aware of and investigating an issue impacting some of our home broadband customers since this morning.

'Getting our customers reconnected is now our top priority, and we're incredibly sorry for any inconvenience this is causing.'

Several frustrated users took to Twitter to discuss the outage.

One user said: 'Is #vodafone home broadband down for you as well? Getting green lights in #w12 #London but no connection...'

While the issue started at around 08:30, Vodafone waited until 11:00 to issue a statement on the outage

Social media users said that they could connect to their routers, but were unable to get an internet connection

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Another added: 'At least Vodafone is consistently the worst. internet is down.. again.'

Vodafone initially responded to complaints by advising customers to use their 'self serve area' to 'diagnose and service any issues' themselves.

However many said this was unhelpful as there appeared to be a nationwide problem.

One user said: 'Read the room.

'Country wide issues and multiple reports of your online tools not working.

'By all means, keep firing the same response out.'

Last week, rival provider Virgin Media suffered a similar five hour outage that left thousands of Britons unable to access the internet.

Down Detector gets network status updates from various sources including social media and reports submitted to its website.

The network problems come just after news that Vodafone is set to finalise a merger with its rival Three within weeks.

Talks between FTSE 100 giant Vodafone and Three's owner, CK Hutchison  led by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-Shing  have been going on for more than six months.

The networks hope that a combination of their UK operations could help them to compete with their rivals in the roll-out of 5G.

Hotspots were in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff, but social media users in other locations also complained of problems

'By combining our businesses, Vodafone UK and Three UK will gain the necessary scale to be able to accelerate the rollout of full 5G in the UK and expand broadband connectivity to rural communities and small businesses,' Vodafone said in an update to shareholders.

Vodafone would own 51 per cent of the new business, and Mr Hutchison would take the rest.

In 2021, Virgin Media and O2's 31 billion merger was given the green light by the UK's competition watchdog.

The outage also comes a few months after Vodafone launched new cost-of-living packages for households and small businesses.

A social broadband tariff gives households connectivity for 12 a month, and the tech giant gives small businesses free broadband for a year.
If you use Twitter, you'll notice a new emoji gracing your feed today, in the form of a majestic crown.

Buckingham Palace has released an official emoji today to celebrate the coronation of King Charles.

The colourful cartoon motif depicts the 17th century jewelled solid gold St Edward's Crown with purple velvet cap - the regalia which will be used to crown the King on May 6.

It is the first emoji created for a British coronation, with the last crowning - Elizabeth II's - taking place 70 years ago, before the invention of social media, mobile phones and even the internet.

Here's how to try the new coronation emoji out for yourself.

Buckingham Palace has released an official emoji today to celebrate the coronation of King Charles

The colourful cartoon motif depicts the 17th century jewelled solid gold St Edward's Crown (pictured) with purple velvet cap - the regalia which will be used to crown the King on May 6

How to use the coronation emoji Navigate to Twitter on either desktop or mobile, and login. At the top of the page, type out a tweet, and make sure you include one of the following hashtags: #Coronation, #CoronationConcert, #CoronationWeekend and #CoronationBigLunch Post your tweet and the new coronation emoji will automatically be added on to the end of it Advertisement

The image marking the weekend of coronation festivities will appear on Twitter from today.

To try it yourself, simply navigate to Twitter on either desktop or mobile, and login.

At the top of the page, type out a tweet, and make sure you include one of the following hashtags: #Coronation, #CoronationConcert, #CoronationWeekend and #CoronationBigLunch.

Post your tweet and the new coronation emoji will automatically be added on to the end of it.

While this is the first emoji created for a British coronation, this isn't the first time the royal family has released an official emoji.

Last year, an emoji depicting a crown-wearing corgi called PJ was released in celebration of the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

The cartoon image of the cheerful dog - the late Queen's favourite breed - appeared on the monarchy's official Twitter account, with the message: 'Meet PJ the corgi, our Jubilee emoji!'

Sporting a crown of purple and platinum - the colours of the Jubilee - PJ, with his tongue sticking out, appeared automatically on Twitter when users included Jubilee hashtags.

Last year, an emoji depicting a crown-wearing corgi called PJ was released in celebration of the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee

The launch of the new coronation emoji comes shortly after Apple released 21 new emoji in its latest iOS update, including a shaking face, a Wi-Fi symbol, a jellyfish and different coloured hearts.

The highly-requested 'pink heart' emoji is one of three new hearts included in the release, along with light blue and grey variations.

'Shaking face', meanwhile, could be used for shock reactions or to indicate excessive movement, such as during an earthquake.

Other inclusions are pea pod, ginger, angel wing, maracas, moose, donkey and a khanda  the symbol of the sikh faith.

The emoji are included in iOS 16.4, Apple's new software update, which is available now for iPhone models from the iPhone 8 and newer.
Free public charging stations in the US have become the latest weapon for cyber criminals to infect devices with malware and tracking software.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warns people not to connect to the free power but instead carry their own chargers and USB cord that plug into an outlet.

The attack lets bad actors scrape personal information from devices, such as account logins, passwords, credit card details and photos.

The FBI's alarming message, however, was not sparked by a recent attack but is to provide a service announcement to people visiting airports, hotels and shopping centers where stations are widespread.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warns people not to connect to the free power but instead carry their own chargers and USB cord that plug into an outlet

'Everyday tasksopening an email attachment, following a link in a text message, making an online purchasecan open you up to online criminals who want to harm your systems or steal from you,' the FBI's website reads.

'Preventing internet-enabled crimes and cyber intrusions requires each of us to be aware and on guard.'

The agency urges against doing sensitive transactions, such as purchasing goods, on devices before connecting to a public network.

Hackers have become creative over the past decade, finding new, inconspicuous ways of infiltrating our devices to steal personal information.

The FBI urges users to examine the email address in all correspondence, scrutinize website URLs, and not click links in unsolicited text messages, which has recently become a major issue.

Recent data shows that Americans are being attacked by more than 376 million scamming text messages daily, posing as Netflix, Amazon and banks to steal their money or voices.

These fake messages claim users' accounts are frozen, or credit cards are expired, prompting them to click a link that asks for personal information.

'If you get a text message you weren't expecting and it asks you to give some personal or financial information, don't click on any links. Legitimate companies won't ask for information about your account by text,' according to the Federal Trade Commission.

The attack lets bad actors scrape personal information from devices, such as account logins, passwords, credit card details and photos

'If you think the message might be real, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real. Not the information in the text message.'

Mobile devices have advanced our lives in ways we could never imagine, but they have also become a vital tool for scammers to weasel their way into our lives.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reported that between 2015 and 2022, the number of robotext complaints skyrocketed from 3,300 to 18,900 per year.

And Americans lost $10 billion to these scams in 2021 alone.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement: 'Scam artists have found that sending us messages about a package you never ordered or a payment that never went through along with a link to a shady website is a quick and easy way to get us to engage on our devices and fall prey to fraud.'

Netflix released a statement about such schemes that urgently claimed 'your account is on hold,' stating an issue with the current billing information.

A link is attached to the message with a note telling recipients they have 48 hours to take action before their account is permanently suspended.

The link takes users to a site that looks like Netflix and asks them to reenter their credit card details, which the scammer steals.

The FBI urges users to examine the email address in all correspondence, scrutinize website URLs, and not click links in unsolicited text messages, which has recently become a major issue. Pictured is a scam text message

'We will never ask you to enter your personal information in a text or email,' Netflix said in a statement about the fishy texts.

'We will never request payment through a 3rd party vendor or website. If the text or email links to a URL that you don't recognize, don't tap or click it.

'If you did already, do not enter any information on the website that opened.'

Unfortunately, if scammers successfully trick you into visiting the webpage, they could quickly exploit your phone or computer.

Amazon is another major company used to trick people with text messages.

The fake communications could claim your account has been suspended after a security check and provides a link to verify your credentials.

Another scheme tells consumers that an expensive product was ordered from their account and includes a phone number if they think it was a mistake.

Like Netflix, Amazon has also addressed the issues by urging customers not to share their personal information.

In May 2022, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) sent out an alarm after people received text messages from a bank, alerting them to a hold, fraudulent activity, or an update to a financial account.

'Scammers will use the opportunity to obtain your banking information. For example, a website may prompt for an ATM card number and PIN under the guise of 'reactivating your ATM card,'' BBB said in a statement.

'Other times, the link may download malicious software that gives scammers access to anything on the phone. A scammer on the phone may demand personal information such as your social security number.'

The FCC announced new rules to combat spammy text messages requiring cellular providers to block text messages from suspicious sources, including phone numbers that appear 'invalid, unallocated, or unused.'

The update, announced last week, also requires carriers to block text messages from phone numbers that do not send text messages.
A businessman has revealed plans to operate a ferry service with the historic Morgenster ship between England and the Belgian Coast.

Karel de Boer said he wanted a 'new age of sail' that is environmentally friendly and captures the 'romance of the sea'.

The 100-year-old ship's maiden voyage will sail from Ostend, Belgium, to Ramsgate, Kent, on May 1, for a price of 700.

Mr de Boer told the Times: 'It is not a traditional crossing but a real sailing trip. We're entirely dependent on the wind. That means we don't know exactly when we will arrive.

'An active and open attitude is a must, from hoisting the sails to navigating. You can also take over the helm for a while. So it is much more than just a crossing.'

The 100-year-old ship's maiden voyage will sail from Ostend, Belgium, to Ramsgate, Kent, on May 1, for a price of 700

The saloon area of the Morgenster sailing boat where 12 guests can sleep in hammocks

The companionway steps into the saloon and dining area of the vessel

The 150ft ship was built in 1919 and can accommodate 24 passengers in two and four-bed cabins. The crossing between Ostend and Ramsgate can take between 10 and 30 hours depending on the wind.

Mr de Boer said he realised it was a 'shame' people no longer used sailing ships for 'day-to-day' purposes on the North Sea and thought it would be a better way to travel with no reliance on fossil fuels.

The sailing will be the first voyage to cross the Ostend to Ramsgate route since Transeurope Ferries filed for bankruptcy in 2013. The route had been in use for hundreds of years, with Ostend having been a hub since 1584 and Ramsgate a 'royal harbour' since 1749.

The Morgenster will be surveyed by the Maritime and Coastguard agency in the coming days before the service gets final approval.

The ship can accommodate a total of 24 guests. Pictured: a two-bed berth cabin with a sink

A four-berth cabin onboard the Morgenster vessel

Another angle of the vessel's dining area where food and drink is provided by a cook

Mr de Boer said he would consider investing in a new class of passenger sailing ships if the voyage was a success.

He added: 'We want to make crossings with fast sailing ships accessible to a wider public in the future.

'These classic old ships are very beautiful and wonderful but we want to look to the future and the modern technologies being developed that are quicker. This will be more feasible for a larger audience.'

The 46-metre ship was built in 1919 and can accommodate 24 passengers in two and four-bed cabins

The crossing between Ostend and Ramsgate can take between ten and 30 hours depending on the wind. Pictured: sailors climb the rigging of the Morgenster in Poland, 2012

Karel de Boer, 44, said he wanted a 'new age of sail' that is environmentally friendly and captures the 'romance of the sea'
In September 2o22 Russia declared that four Ukrainian provinces (Luhansk and Donetsk in the east, plus Kherson and Zaporizhzhia to the south) were now Russian territory. This was a violation of international laws and agreements that Russia had agreed to. Another problem with this annexation effort was that Russia only controlled some of the territory in these four provinces. There is a fifth province, Crimea, that Russia occupied in 2014 and several years later annexed. Despite not controlling four provinces completely, all this Russian occupied territory amounts to a quarter of Ukrainian territory. .For Russia, that is bad news because Russian occupation forces are suffering from poor morale, lack of training and inability to deal with Ukrainian partisan or the Ukrainian troops massing to stage another offensive to drive the Russians out of Ukraine.

There was more bad news with the four newly annexed provinces was that the Russians still have not managed to extend their national electronic media (radio, TV and Internet) monitoring and censorship system into the annexed territories. The government agency responsible for getting this done, or not, is the MRFC (Main Radio Frequency Center). This organization is responsible for Internet monitoring and censorship as well as doing the same for radio and TV stations. The Russian occupied areas are supposed to be free of Ukrainian commercial media, like cellphones, Internet, TV or radio. Any Ukrainian caught violating this edict is subject to punishment. That did not suppress the continued use of Ukrainian media, nor did efforts to outlaw the use of Ukrainian currency and passports. Meanwhile over a million Ukrainians have been exiled to Russia and over 50,000 children sent to Russia, some to be adopted by Russian couples. Out of all this grew a growing number of armed Ukrainian partisan groups in the occupied territories, making life difficult for Russia officials and Ukrainians who work for the Russians.

MFRC tasks included changing the designation of occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian in the Russian national weather reports. That took months to take care of. Progress in other areas has been equally slow. Getting Russian state-controlled radio and TV service into the annexed territories was not only difficult but not much used by local Ukrainians. The reality is that most Russians in Russia seek some access to Ukrainian media, usually via the Internet, for more accurate news on whats really happening in Russian occupied areas of Ukraine. The MFRC efforts to impose censorship on media in occupied Ukraine was seemingly accomplished. The reality was that most of the Ukrainians were getting their information from unoccupied Ukraine. Russian censors monitor messages sent via the Internet inside Russia and in other Russian speaking areas. This indicates what popular attitudes are (especially regarding the Russian government) and indicates what censorship or disinformation should be used to deal with that. This sort of thing has been going on in Russia long before the Internet came along, as have disinformation operations. Similar tactics are used against web sites or pages on the Russian portion of the Internet. Implementing this in the occupied territories has proved a challenge. Much of this illegal behavior was taking place in closed (you had to apply for entry)) chat rooms and the dark web (sites that dont show up in search engines like Google). Manu Ukrainians in the occupied territories preferred to spend much of their time in these difficult-to-censor area. MFRC and affiliated censorship and disinformation bureaucracies were having a lot of problems with these difficult Ukrainians.
Anthony Callea revealed on Sunday he had major doubts about writing his tell-all autobiography Behind The Voice.

The Australian Idol star, 40, told the Herald Sun he found the writing process to be 'confronting' as it forced him to relive painful memories.

'It's definitely been a process. This is actually my life and I'm going to put this out there and it's really quite confronting,' he said.

'This whole process has definitely been a year-long psychology session.'

Anthony's autobiography Behind the Voice was released on April 5 and provides a never-before-seen look at his rise to fame and coming out as gay.

Anthony Callea, 40, (pictured) revealed on Sunday he had major doubts about releasing his tell-all autobiography Behind The Voice

'It brought to the surface things I have put in a vault and haven't thought about for a long time because I needed to not think about them to move forward.'

The pop star, who rose to fame on season two of the competition, revealed he actually auditioned for the first season of the show in 2003, but fled the studio, consumed by anxiety.

That same night, he hid out in a hotel room, terrified as he had left his parents a note revealing that he was gay before he set out for the audition.

'At this point, yes, I knew I was gay, but I couldn't even say the word out loud. I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror and say, "I'm gay." The shame and embarrassment were too much and I hated myself' he writes.

The Australian Idol star told the Herald Sun he found the writing process to be 'confronting' as it forced him to relive painful memories

Anthony's autobiography Behind the Voice was released on April 5 and provides a never-before-seen look at his rise to fame and coming out as gay

Anthony married actor Tim Campbell in 2014 after seven years of dating.

He confirmed his sexuality in 2007, three years after placing second to Casey Donovan on season two of Australian Idol.

He told fans via his website: 'For some, "coming out" isn't a big issue. For me it was.

'Others say you should just be honest with yourself. Well, that is easier said than done.'
Hailey Bieber was feeling festive on Easter Sunday as she took to Instagram to share outtakes from her day.

The 26-year-old supermodel. who is married to Justin Bieber, used the photo-sharing platform's Stories to keep her 49.4 million followers entertained.

The Rhode skincare founder posed in an outdoor selfie, standing underneath a tree in a strapless cream dress.

She wrote underneath the flawless photo, 'Happy Easter,' and added yellow heart and hatching chick emojis.

The runway regular's dress featured a small midriff cutout and showed off her cleavage and tan lines.

Holiday spirit: Hailey Bieber was feeling festive on Easter Sunday as she took to Instagram to share outtakes from her day

Mrs. Bieber also recorded herself in a seconds-long snippet that showed her basking in the sun with a bunny ears filter.

Her light brown blunt bob haircut was styled in a center part at the locks blew in the breeze.

She donned a pair of small, gold, croissant earrings and wore a light face of makeup, complete with lip gloss.

In another image shared on her account, Hailey posed alongside Rhode Head of Brand, Lauren Ratner.

The two women smiled hard and flashed their pristine manicures - Hailey's French and Lauren's red.

Ratner was clad in a pale yellow dress with delicate white lace trim and she wore her long, brown locks loose.

The marketing guru reposted the snapshot in her Instagram Stories and added a single white heart emoji.

The Rhode team has been working on overdrive lately as it prepared to launch its latest peptide lip treatment, a passionfruit flavor.

Her look: The Rhode skincare founder posed in an outdoor selfie, showing off a strapless cream dress

Gorgeous: The runway regular's dress featured a small midriff cutout and showed off her cleavage and tan lines

Last week Bieber shared the sexy images to Instagram, adding the caption, 'PASSIONFRUIT JELLY. New passionfruit jelly peptide lip treatment is coming 4/6 sign up for the waitlist now rhodeskin.com @rhode.'

Hailey launched her Rhode skincare line  named after her middle name  in June 2022.

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.

Sunkissed: She donned a pair of small, gold, croissant earrings and wore a light face of makeup, complete with lip gloss

Cute: In another image shared on her account, Hailey posed alongside Rhode Head of Brand, Lauren Ratner

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.
Married At First Sight bride Evelyn Ellis snubbed Dan Hunjas in a very awkward cast reunion at the Royal Easter Show on Thursday.

Photos taken at the event show Evelyn completely ignoring Dan as he attempts to say hello to her.

Evelyn gave Dan an ice cold reception as she strolled towards former MAFS groom Al Perkins, refusing to acknowledge Dan's existence in the slightest.

Dan, a Gold Coast entrepreneur and self-described 'thought leader', looked quite excited to see Evelyn before she gave him the cold shoulder.

Nicknamed the 'hottest MAFS bride ever', Evelyn certainly lived up to her title as she strutted around in a tight white crop top and overalls.

Married At First Sight bride Evelyn Ellis (left) snubbed Dan Hunjas (right) in a very awkward cast reunion at the Royal Easter Show on Thursday

The star wore minimal makeup and wore her raven tresses in long braids.

Dan meanwhile showed off his beefy physique in a grey T-shirt and ripped jeans,

Following awkward reunion, Dan told Kyle and Jackie O's podcast he was surprised by the snub.

'I love Evelyn so I don't know what all the drama is about, but when the cameras are on it switches to a bit of hate,' he said.

Evelyn gave Dan an ice cold reception as she strolled towards former MAFS groom Al Perkins (right), refusing to acknowledge Dan's existence in the slightest

The pair famously feuded over the 'butt dial' scandal on the show, which saw Evelyn accuse Dan and Hugo Armstrong of trash-talking their wives.

The pair clashed on the Kyle and Jackie O Show last month over the 'butt dial', with Evelyn pulling no punches.

During the interview, Evelyn also accused Dan of having 'three girlfriends' on the go while he was 'married' to Sandy, and even called him a 'piece of s**t'.

Dan, who has always insisted he wasn't one of the men overheard speaking in the 'butt-dial' call, said that while a drunken conversation between a group of MAFS grooms had leaked, he had nothing to do with it.

He added that the whole thing had been 'blown out of proportion' by Evelyn.

Dan, a Gold Coast entrepreneur and self-described 'thought leader', looked quite excited to see Evelyn before she gave him the cold shoulder

But Evelyn maintained Dan was one of the men trash-talking his wife, and told radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson she had proof.

'I'm more than happy to bring my phone out after, if that helps,' she said.

Dan argued the timing of the call proved his innocence, because the conversation was overheard in the evening, by which time he had already gone home.

'I said, "What time did this apparent butt-dial happen?" And she goes, "It was after eight o'clock,"' he said, before telling Kyle and Jackie he'd left the group by then.

'Absolutely there were things that were said, but the way that Evelyn had described it and blew it all up out of proportion was absolutely not [what] happened.'
Fionn Whitehead said he 'couldn't stop laughing' as he filmed the new BBC adaption of Great Expectations with his co-star Rudi Dharmalingam.

The new BBC adaptation - which also features Olivia Coleman as Miss Havisham and Shalom Brune-Franklin as Estella - has been slammed for being 'sexed-up' by TV watchers and critics.

Fionn, 25, who plays Pip in the show, told The Daily Star about the fun the cast had behind the scenes of filming the Charles Dickens classic.

He and Rudi Dharmalingam shared a moment where they burst out into 'hysterics' while filming a scene in the racy drama.

He said: 'One of the days I was getting hysterical and couldn't stop laughing.

'Hysterical': Fionn Whitehead said he 'couldn't stop laughing' while filming the BBC's Great Expectations (pictured with Shalom Brune-Franklin as Estella)

Co-star banter: Rudi Dharmalingam, who plays Wemmick, shared a hilarious moment with Fionn

'There was a shot of Rudi, who is naturally hilarious, and all he had to do was spread butter on a piece of toast...

'But the intense eye contact he was making with me, while spreading the butter was just killing me and I just couldn't keep it together.'

Rudi plays Wemmick, Jaggers' assistant, who keeps Pip company as he moves to London.

And speaking about Oscar winner Olivia Coleman, Fionn emphasised how different she is from her 'intimidating' character Miss Havisham, calling her 'unbelievably lovely, kind and hilarious'.

BBC One's Great Expectations has been met with controversy since it first aired last month.

The Dickens Fellowship blasted a scene which sees bare-bottomed Mr Pumblechook spanked over a bed by housewife-turned-dominatrix Mrs Gargery.

Meanwhile Nick Knowles slammed the show saying it's 'unnecessarily salacious' and a 'car crash'.

The DIY SOS star, 60, questioned 'why we sex up period dramas' as he launched a furious rant on Monday.

Venting his thoughts to Twitter, revealed that he ended up 'turning off' the series that 'failed to live up to its name.'

Screen: Written by Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight, the series stars Fionn Whitehead as Pip and Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham (pictured)

Shocking: Nick's critique of Great Expectations comes after the Dickens Fellowship blasted a scene which sees bare-bottomed Mr Pumblechook spanked by dominatrix Mrs Gargery

Screenwriter Steven Knight has sexed up the tale in a nod to topics he feels the author hinted at, but couldn't explore in 19th century Britain.

Explaining the decision to embellish the story, Knight said he tried to 'imagine if Dickens was writing the story now and had the freedom to go to those darker places' and asked: 'What would he do?'

The Dickens Fellowship, a global association of people who share an interest in the classic author's life and works, accused Knight of being 'disingenuous'.

Honorary general secretary Paul Graham claimed Knight simply embellished the tale to 'generate viewership', adding that Knight's explanation was 'slightly ridiculous'.

He said: 'How can he put himself in Dickens' place and say what he would have done? I think the scenes would appear just gratuitous. I don't know if Dickens would have put in a spanking scene!... Pumblechook is essentially a comic character with no hint of sexual deviancy...'

One scene sees a bare-bottomed Matt Berry as Mr Pumblechook being spanked in private by Mrs Joe Gargery, played by Hayley Squires.

In another, Miss Havisham encourages an 18-year-old Pip to lose his virginity on his birthday.

Great Expectations, written in 1860, follows orphan Pip, who is taken on as a companion for Miss Havisham and her adopted daughter Estella (played by Shalom Brune-Franklin) before moving to London after he comes into money from a mysterious benefactor.

Great Expectations continues on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.
Blac Chyna celebrated the Easter holiday with a special Instagram post on Sunday after experiencing a religious awakening as a born-again Christian.

The former OnlyFans creator - who recently removed a 'demonic' tattoo from her hip - modeled a white and pink designer dress and extended her arms toward a massive cross.

The 34-year-old bombshell, whose real name is Angela Renee White, donned an elaborate gown with matching gloves and a large pearl necklace.

The mother-of-two styled her hair in short curls and opted for smokey golden eye makeup, blush, and a glossy nude lip.

In the first image, she gazed at the camera amid the backdrop of blue skies as she posed with her hands on her hips.

Feeling the spirit: Blac Chyna, 34, celebrated the Easter holiday with a special Instagram post on Sunday after experiencing a religious awakening recently

Born again: The former OnlyFans creator posed with her arms extended toward a massive cross on a hill

She captioned the post, 'Watch stand fast in faith. be brave, be strong.' 1 Corinthians 16:13.

The beauty's 16.9M followers rushed to the comments section to praise the star on her recent physical and spiritual transformation.

One fan wrote, 'Lady, you are changing lives and dont even know it. They will never say it. These young women are watching and taking notes... Keep your eye on THE MOST HIGH. The best is yet to come.'

In a separate post, Chyna showed off the back of her fancy dress as she stood below the massive crucifix atop a hill.

Angela captioned the second image, 'And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him." Mark 16:6.'

In a third image, the Rob & Chyna star posed with her eyes closed and arms up blended with the large cross over her.

'For I am with you, no one will attack you to hurt you. Acts 18:10,' she captioned the third post.

Her new images come after she claimed she had 10lbs of illegal silicone injections removed from her butt.

The eight-hour procedure was performed last month by West Hollywood plastic surgeon Dr. David Matlock.

'You know how many CCs [cubic centimeters] I took out? 1,250 CCs,' the Washington, DC native told Access last week.

'A two-liter Coke bottle all in my booty!'

Looking good: The mother-of-two styled her hair in short curls and opted for smokey golden eye makeup, blush, and a glossy nude lip

That's a load off! Chyna (L) claimed she lost 10lbs after having all of the illegal silicone injections from her behind removed on March 9 during an eight-hour procedure by West Hollywood plastic surgeon Dr. David Matlock (R)

Before and after: The star told Access on Monday: 'You know how many CCs [cubic centimeters] I took out? 1,250 CCs. A two-liter Coke bottle all in my booty!'

Blac was only 19 when she had an unlicensed 'regular person' inject her rear end, which got 'super inflamed, really hard, and really hot.'

'It was very scary,' Chyna - who used to be 10-time Grammy nominee Nicki Minaj's body double - explained.

'They're giving whatever substance that they're doing and giving it to you. They're not gonna tell you, "Hey, you know, you could possibly die."'

Dr. Matlock told the outlet the 'physical dangers of getting illegal fillers are many' as patients 'can have infections, abscesses, sepsis - sepsis patients can die from that.'

The 59-year-old specialist in female genital cosmetic surgery also performed the Hearts Pure spokesmodel's fifth breast augmentation, which was a reduction.

Blac has embarked on an epic make-under 'healing journey' by having all of her face fillers removed, her long manicure removed, and a Baphomet tattoo lasered off her left hip.

Chyna - who's also had liposuction three times - has made a massive life transformation since her days peddling bleaching cream or working the pole as a stripper called 'Cream.'

The born-again Christian - who was baptized on May 11 - has even ditched her $19.99/month subscription OnlyFans account.

Au natural: She has embarked on an epic make-under 'healing journey' by having all of her face fillers removed (pictured March 15), and a Baphomet tattoo lasered off her left hip

Born-again Christian: Blac - who was baptized on May 11, 2022 - has even ditched her OnlyFans account and legally changed her name back to Angela White

Blac legally changed her name back to Angela White despite none of her social media reflecting the name change.

Chyna keeps busy running her clothing line BlacChynaCloset and her beauty company, Lashed Cosmetics.

On the personal front, The Black Hamptons actress is mother to six-year-old daughter Dream Renee from her on/off 11-month relationship with ex-fiance - Keeping Up with the Kardashians alum Rob Kardashian - which ended in 2017.

Blac is also mother to 10-year-old son King Cairo Stevenson from her three-year relationship with ex-fiance - Grammy-nominated rapper Tyga - which ended in 2014.
Sir David Attenborough has unearthed the skull of a ferocious Jurassic predator in his latest BBC film.

The documentary narrator, 96, explored the history of the incredible Tyrannosaurus rex of the oceans which terrorised Dorsets Jurassic coast millions of years ago.

The creature had a huge 6ft jaw crammed full of huge dagger-like teeth and Sir David revealed the skull is 'virtually undamaged' after all these years.

He said: 'Pliosaurs were the biggest and most formidable hunters in the Jurassic seas  the marine equivalent, you might say, of T-rex.

'The skull of this one is, by itself, over two metres long and armed with massive fangs.

Sir David Attenborough has unearthed the skull of a ferocious Jurassic predator in his latest BBC film

The documentary narrator, 96, explored the history of the incredible Tyrannosaurus rex of the oceans which terrorised Dorsets Jurassic coast millions of years ago

'Skulls, which can tell us most about an animal, are easily smashed before fossilisation.

'But this one is virtually undamaged and promises to reveal all kinds of new details about these terrifying hunters that preyed on Lyme Regiss better-known ichthyosaurs.'

Sir David will work with palaeontologists to better understand this monster for the BBC1 programme which is filmed on location in the UK.

By better understanding the new species of pliosaur, by using the skull, the experts can discovery how the beast looked, behaved and hunted.

Executive producer Mike Gunton said: 'Sir Davids eyes lit up when we told him about this find. He couldnt wait to join the dig and get a first look.'

Jack Bootle, head of specialistfactual programme commissioning at the BBC, added: This film promises to be a thrilling trip through time to a moment when monsters ruled the seas around Britain.'

Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit.

It comes after Sir David was crowned the greatest British TV presenter of all time, according to a poll last month.

Sir David said: 'Pliosaurs were the biggest and most formidable hunters in the Jurassic seas  the marine equivalent, of T-rex. The skull of this one is, by itself, over two metres long and armed with massive fangs'

Sir David will work with palaeontologists to better understand this monster for the BBC1 programme which is filmed on location in the UK

The TV presenter won 28 per cent of the vote with 30 household names making up the list in all.

In second place in the Perspectus Global poll is the late Sir Terry Wogan, whose broadcasting career began in the 1960s and included his BBC chat show Wogan in the 1980s and 1990s and his Radio 2 breakfast show, in which he entertained millions of TOGs (Terrys Old Geezers and Gals).

Sir Bruce Forsyth came third, having presented a string of Saturday night prime-time hits including The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, Bruces Price is Right and co-hosting Strictly Come Dancing.

Ant and Dec, who have won the title of best TV presenter at the National TV Awards 21 times, were eighth.

When asked what makes a great TV host, 47 per cent of Britons felt it was someone who seemed genuine.
Andy Cohen has responded to criticism after being accused of 'praising' celebrities for losing weight with the diabetes drug Ozempic.

The 54-year-old Bravo host on Tuesday's episode of Watch What Happens Live told guest Dolores Catania, 52, that she looked 'thin' and answered to the backlash by saying he was just trying to 'deliver the goods' for his audience.

'Thank you,' replied Dolores, who stars on The Real Housewives Of New Jersey.

'Ozempi?,' Andy asked referencing the diabetes drug that has been used by celebrities for weight loss.

'Yup,' Dolores answered with a laugh.

Backlash response: Andy Cohen, shown last Tuesday in New York, has responded to criticism after being accused of 'praising' celebrities for losing weight with the diabetes drug Ozempic

She then confirmed to Andy that she was on Ozempic.

'What housewife isn't on Ozempic?,' Andy said.

'Not one,' Dolores said.

Andy quipped that half of the RHONJ cast was on Ozempic and Dolores agreed.

'I wasn't coming to reunion looking any bigger than anyone else. So I got on the bandwagon,' Dolores said.

She told Andy that there were no side effects and she was 'just not hungry'.

Andy addressed the backlash on Wednesday's episode of his Radio Andy show on SiriusXM and shared a message he received on social media from a viewer.

'Tonight was the third 'Watch What Happens Live' guest who I've heard you praise for losing weight and inquiring about Ozempic,' the message read.

Looked thin: The 54-year-old Bravo host on Tuesday's episode of Watch What Happens Live told guest Dolores Catania, 52, that she looked 'thin'

Good question: 'Ozempi?,' Andy asked referencing the diabetes drug that has been used by celebrities for weight loss

'Well, you know what? This woman  she's right,' Andy acknowledged.

'I said to [Dolores], 'You look great,' and she said, 'Yeah, I lost weight.' I go 'Ozempy?' She said, 'Yep, you better believe it!' I was happy that she told the truth about it, by the way, because there are so many people who aren't,' Andy said.

He noted that he never praised Dolores for his weight loss and just pointed out that she looked 'thin' on WWHL.

'I'm trying to deliver the goods for my audience watching. I mean, if Dolores shows up looking 15 pounds lighter, I gotta find out how it happened,' Andy said.

The use of Ozempic for weight loss was recently blasted by former The Real Housewives Of New York City star Bethenny Frankel, 52.

'People don't want to admit [they use Ozempic] but they want people to believe it was blood, sweat and tears [that led to their weight loss],' Bethenny posted on Tuesday on Instagram.

'The loophole for people avoiding the Ozempic admission is that many celebs are actually on Mounjaro, a different drug [also used to treat diabetes], and more new drugs are coming soon,' she claimed in her post's caption.

She compared the drug's popularity to that of past fads like Ephedra (Ma Huang) that became popular in the late '90s but was later banned by the FDA after supplements containing the ingredient were determined to have serious health risks.

'So [Ozempic] is now a seemingly positive drug that's going to alleviate obesity. The problem is it is for diabetes and they're selling it in Mexican pharmacies and airports,' Bethenny added.

She also claimed that she's heard the drug  which is given as weekly injections for $1,000 a month  is also a 'mood alterer' that's caused 'irrational' behavior in those taking it.
It appears Kathy Griffin is dealing with another medical concern.

On Sunday, the comedian and actress had to spend at least part of her Easter holiday undergoing a medical procedure.

'Happy Easter???' she began, with more than a hint of sarcasm, in the caption of an Instagram photo. 'Getting an MRI.'

While MRIs (Magnetic resonance imaging) are a common procedure to diagnose non-life threatening injuries like torn muscles and ligaments, they are also used to detect more serious heath conditions like tumors and an assortment of ailments that can afflict bodily organs.

And another added concern is Griffin's lung cancer diagnosis in August 2021, despite not being a smoker, that resulted in her having an operation to remove half of her left lung later that same month.

Health concern: Kathy Griffin, 62, took to her Instagram page to reveal she had to spend part of her Easter in a medical facility getting an MRI

In the social media photo, Griffin can be seen sitting in the medical facility all wrapped up in a white blanket with a black protective mask over her mouth and nose as a precaution.

A number of people, including several celebrities, have since taken to the comment's section after learning about her visit to a medical facility over the weekend.

Television personality Ross Mathews offered his support by posting, 'Sending you love!'

Pulp Fiction actress Rosanna Arquette showed her concern by writing, 'Whats up ? Are you ok. Love you', while Will & Grace star Debra Messing simply wrote, Honey!'

Oscar-nominated actress Sharon Stone, who's a breast cancer survivor, showed solidarity with Griffin by revealing: 'Got mine last week.'

Lizzy Savetsky, a former cast member on The Real Housewives Of New York City, posted, 'Sending you so much love KG.'

Actor and Glee and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend writer Michael Hitchcock offered a bit of advice to her before she gets under the MRI machine: 'when the MRI gets really loud pretend youre in a bangin club. Sending love!' she shared, along with a series of red heart emojis.

Just this past February, Griffin also took to Instagram to reveal she was getting treatment for psoriatic arthritis.

'Remacaid infusion day for my psoriatic arthritis. Oh boy,' the 62-year-old wrote in the caption, alongside a photo of her in the hospital wearing a black protective mask over her mouth and nose.

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis linked with psoriasis, a chronic skin and nail disease. It is similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in symptoms and joint swelling (inflammation), but it tends to affect fewer joints than RA, according to the Johns Hopkins Medicine website.

Show of support: A number of celebrities are among the people who have taken to the comment's section to share their concern and support for Griffin

In the photo, the comedian and actress is wrapped up in a blanket while wearing a protective mask, during her visit to a medical facility for an MRI

And a few months earlier, in December she posted video of herself in a hospital, where she was undergoing her '2nd vocal cord surgery.'

It turns out she has had to undergo vocal cords surgery after lung cancer treatments affected her speech to the point that she lost her voice, which can be traumatic for anyone but given that she makes her living with her voice, we can only assume it was a very worrisome time for the stand-up comedian.

Griffin took to her Instagram page and confessed she would do 'anything to get my voice back' in an emotional video posted just before the procedure.

Back in September the Oak Park, Illinois native revealed she had been working on getting her voice back after her lung cancer treatment.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, she had a higher-pitched voice, as a result of the treatments.

'My voice got some damage,' said told Kimmel, before showcasing her comedic touch. 'But Im fine, it doesnt hurt and the important thing is my boobs are still fabulous,' she said as she shook her chest that elicited cheers from the audience cheer.

Recent medical history: Just this past February, Griffin also took to Instagram to reveal she was getting treatment for psoriatic arthritis, which is similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in symptoms and joint swelling (inflammation), but it tends to affect fewer joints than RA

Cancer diagnosis: In August 2021, Griffin gave an update on her lung cancer diagnosis

Her voice concerns came in the wake of her year-long recovery after revealing she was diagnosed with stage one lung cancer, despite never having smoked cigarettes.

Within three months of her August 2021 diagnosis, Griffin would be declared cancer free.

She also suffered 'a bunch of injuries' when she feel down some stairs during period in her life when she tried to commit suicide.

It happened when she was admittedly addicted to pills following the backlash she received after posing with a bloody effigy of then-President Donald Trump in 2017.

I tried to kill myself, and ended up in the psych ward, Kathy said during an appearance on The New York Times Sway podcast.

She explained that she felt adrift after being 'canceled' and losing all of her gigs in the aftermath of the controversy.

Griffin said that her two suicide attempts convinced her to seek help and embrace sobriety.
Kristen Stewart celebrated her birthday on Sunday and her fiancee Dylan Meyer paid tribute to her with an Instagram post.

The Twilight sensation  who attended Rita Ora's Grammy party in February  turned 33 and her longtime love penned a heartfelt caption to express her love.

Dylan gushed, 'I love you so much,' sharing with her 116,000 followers on the photo-sharing platform.

She began the note by writing, 'Cheers to my favorite Shrimp on her birthday! Sweetheart.'

The screenwriter continued, 'I love you more than all the shades of green, all the phases of the moon, all the cats in LA.'

Birthday wish: Kristen Stewart celebrated her birthday on Sunday and her fiancee Dylan Meyer paid tribute to her with an Instagram post

Sweet: The Twilight sensation turned 33 and her longtime love penned a heartfelt caption to express her love

Meyer added, 'Love you more than chunking express, or Denis Johnsons already dead, or the stooges raw power.

'I love you more than a dominos pizza when youre stoned, a Rickys fish taco when youre hungover, and EVEN more than a plate of wings ~ hot and extra crispy ~ from rustic, aka the pinnacle of my capacity to love.'

Dylan lovey-dovey words went on, 'Some might say thats too much love but I say those people are squares. Go big or go home! Happy birthday dude I love you so much.'

The post has so far been liked more than 22,000 times by fans who joined in to wish the star well.

Kristen's gal pal Ashley Benson also joined in on the birthday wishes, sharing a black and white snap of her and the actress to social media.

'Happy birthday butt butt,' she wrote, adding two black heart emojis.

Dylan, who became engaged to Kristen in 2021, shared a similarly gushy tribute for Valentine's Day this year.

She began, 'One time I turned a hundred dollars into fourteen hundred dollars at a casino in Pittsburgh.

Professing her love: Dylan gushed, 'I love you so much,' sharing with her 116,000 followers on the photo-sharing platform

Nickname: Kristen's gal pal Ashley Benson also joined in on the birthday wishes, sharing a black and white snap of her and the actress to social media

I was playing craps (my first time ever) and when it was my turn at the dice I didnt roll a seven for forty five minutes straight. Strangers were getting rich off of my hot streak, tipping me chips and tequila shots.

Cheering for me, clapping me on the back. Calling their gambling addicted friends/co-workers/ex-wives to regale them with my extraordinary feat.'

'I was the hero of the people, an instant legend. Bennie and the Jets was playing. My hair looked great, too,' she added.

She wrapped it all up by saying, 'And even this, the clear peak of my short time on earth, does not remotely come close to how it feels to spend a Monday night in sweatpants with you, valentine.'

The duo were first seen together in late summer 2019 - they were spotted kissing in NYC.

They pair went Instagram official in 2019 and later became engaged in 2021.
Sunrise stars David 'Kochie' Koch, Natalie Barr and Edwina Bartholomew were all smiles on Easter Friday as they waited for a flight at Sydney Airport.

The esteemed hosts were spotted having a laugh as they prepared to board a flight to Melbourne.

Veteran presenter Kochie, 67, looked sharp in an unbuttoned navy blazer paired with a crisp white shirt and black trousers.

He completed his look with black dress shoes and held a tight grip on a black leather bag as he made his way through the airport.

Meanwhile, his co-host Natalie Barr, 55, turned heads in a knitted white top and jeans, topped off with a chic tan overcoat draped over her shoulders.

Sunrise stars David 'Kochie' Koch (right), Natalie Barr (left) and Edwina Bartholomew (centre) were all smiles on Friday as they laughed it up together at Sydney Airport

The esteemed hosts wore smart-casual outfits as they prepared to board a flight to Melbourne

Veteran presenter Kochie, 67, looked sharp in an unbuttoned navy blazer paired with a crisp white shirt and black trousers

She let her brunette locks hang around her shoulders and added a touch of glamour to her look with gold hoop earrings.

News presenter Edwina Bartholomew, 39, rounded out the trio, looking stylish in a brown and white striped shirt, jeans and white sneakers.

Her blonde tresses flowed in loose waves and she flaunted her flair for luxury fashion by carrying a freshly-pressed frock in a Carla Zampatti garment bag.

Kochie provided a big hint on Sunday that he is looking to life beyond the popular breakfast show.

Meanwhile, his co-host Natalie Barr, 55, turned heads in a plunging white corduroy top and jeans, topped off with a chic tan overcoat draped over her shoulders

Natalie added a touch of glamour to her look with gold hoop earrings

She let her brunette locks hang around her shoulders and exuded confidence and style as she made her way to the Departures lounge

The veteran presenter told the Herald Sun that after two decades in the role he is looking to scale things back.

'I have been doing it almost 21 years. I love it, I still have a passion for it, but I want a bit more flexibility in my life,' he said.

'My wife Libby and I want to enjoy our lives and Channel Seven are happy to help.'

Kochie signed a two-year contract extension with Seven last year that will see him staying on Sunrise until at least 2024 - although he negotiated for 'greater flexibility' with his working commitments.

'Everything has to come to an end. I have got the flexibility to do it on my terms and I am incredibly grateful I have that opportunity,' he said.

News presenter Edwina Bartholomew, 39, rounded out the trio, looking stylish in a brown and white striped shirt, blue jeans, and crisp white sneakers
County in Guangxi boosts high quality rural tourism

People's Daily Online) 14:29, April 10, 2023

Fully leveraging its abundant tourism resources, Pingnan county, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has developed various forms of facilities catering for tourists including agri-tainment, R&Bs and camping sites, realizing the rapid growth of the tourism sector.

Photo shows the beautiful scenery of Beidi Mountain in Dapeng township, Pingnan county, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

In recent years, the Dapeng township in Pingnan has combined environmental and humanity resources to build up high quality rural tourism, which led to the establishment of the Beidi Mountain tourist area.

Beidi Mountain lies at the southern foot of Dayao Mountains. With forest coverage rate reaching 80 percent, the mountain boasts a high quality of air and water with negative oxygen ions reaching 20,000 cubic centimeters.

In 2018, the Beidi Mountain scenic area was listed as a national 4A-level tourist attraction, and it has recently become a preferred destination for visitors from Guangxi, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

The scenic area has seen the number of visitors soar in the past few years. The recorded tourist entries skyrocketed from over 100,000 in 2018 to 800,000. Newly-built freeways and highways linking Dapeng township with several cities in south China have fueled the increase of visitors.

As of Feb. 26, 2023, Beidi Mountain served more than 5,000 visitors and over 40 travel groups, who mainly came from Guangdong and other regions of Guangxi. Since the beginning of the year, the scenic area has received between 5,000 to 7,000 visitors on weekends, and 500 to 1,000 on weekdays. The scenic area has recorded over 100,000 visits, which generated nearly 20 million yuan ($2.91 million).

Photo shows a camping site in Luode village of Dapeng township, Pingnan county, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

Dapeng township has been digging deep into various characteristic cultures and providing visitors with diversified experiences, including camping and cultural tourism.

Luode village of the township has built more than three camping sites on abandoned land, receiving over 10,000 visits during the Spring Festival holiday this year.

The town has renovated 2,088 buildings, hoping to provide visitors with tours combining local culture and nature.

In 2022, Dapeng township received over 960,000 visits from tourists, and 32.73 million yuan ($4.76 million) in revenue was generated from tourism.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Justin Theroux has long been a self-confessed dog lover and advocate over the years.

And on Easter Sunday the Leftovers star, 51, headed out on one of his daily walks with his beloved Pit Bull, Kuma, and a female friend.

The longtime leading man took advantage of a sunny day and made his way around the bustling streets of Manhattan while holding on to the leash of his trusted four-legged family member, as his gal pal followed close behind.

As always, the Washington, D.C. native was the picture of casual-cool dressed in tampered black denim jeans and a black jacket over a white t-shirt.

He also donned black combat boots, dark sunglasses and a black trucker hat over his short dark hair, which he eventually changed out for a beanie cap.

Casual cool: Justin Theroux, 51, headed out on one of his daily walks with his beloved pet pooch Kuma, along with a female friend in New York City on Easter Sunday

Theroux's friend flashed a smile and was dressed in black pants and orange-red overcoat.

She also sported a pair of pink running sneakers, and had her dark brown locks flowing well past her shoulders.

While out and about, the trio stopped to get breakfast, which was documented with a photo of Kuma eyeballing a waffle dish with fresh fruit and whipped cream.

Theroux, who sat to the left of his pet pooch in a booth seat, looked directly at the camera.

Theroux adopted Kuma from the Texas-based organization called A Chance To Bloom Dog Rescue in 2018.

The non-profit rescued her from a kill shelter not long after she was found among the destruction left behind by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

The Washington, DC native has regularly donated his time, money and star power to animal shelters and adoption organizations.

On Saturday, Theroux took to his Instagram page and shared a photo of himself and Kuma hanging out with Joker: Folie a Deux director Todd Phillips and Lady Gaga, who plays Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn in the superhero sequel alongside Joaquin Phoenix.

Pet adoption advocate: Theroux, who changed in his trucker hat, adopted Kuma from the Texas-based organization called A Chance To Bloom Dog Rescue in 2018

Sniffer alert: During their walk, the trio stepped for breakfast at a restaurant, which got the attention of Kuma, who could be seen eyeballing a waffle dish

'Midnight jokers,' he shared in the caption with the hashtags '#ethanchase #thatsawrap #adoptdontshop,' which all but solidifies Theroux's return as Ethan Chase in the Joker sequel, despite only cameoing for a split second in the original.

When sharing how he scored the cameo in Joker, the actor revealed that Phillips rang him up one random day with a conveniently timed offer.

'If I wasn't free, I wouldn't have done it, but I was free, so I said, "Yeah, Id love that. That would be super fun." What's wrong with sitting around and giggling for a day with Robert De Niro and Todd Phillips?'

His social media post also confirms the Joker sequel has wrapped shooting after starting principal photography on December 10, 2022.

Along with Phoenix and Gaga, the cast also includes Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland and Harry Lawtey, among others.

Joker: Folie a Deux is scheduled to premiere in theaters on October 4, 2024.
It's been a time of celebratory milestones in recent weeks for Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria Baldwin.

And on Easter Sunday the couple were back in celebration mode when they spent the holiday with their seven children, seemingly at their suburban New York home.

In an amazing feat, Hilaria, 39, was able to gather all four of her sons - Rafael, seven, Leonardo, six, Romeo, four, and Eduardo, two - and three daughters - Carmen, nine, Maria, two, and the newest member to join the family, Ilaria, six months, for a group photo.

The kids all sat on the living room floor, two of which snuggled up on to their mommy's lap, as Alec, 65, kneeled down behind his wife.

It turns out Hilaria used a bit of mother's ingenuity in order to get everyone in place for the photo.

Holiday celebration: Hilaria and Alec Baldwin celebrated Easter with their seven children: Ilaria, six months, Carmen, nine, Rafael, seven, Leonardo, six, Maria, two, Romeo, four, and Eduardo, two, at home on Sunday

'The only way I got them all in the picture, was to hold a large plastic tub of candy on my lap,' she shared in the caption, adding, 'My face is either congratulating myself for a moment of mommy genius, or wondering if the sugar high and crash later would be worth it.'

She then took a moment to congratulate herself, writing, 'I love that by 7 kids, I've given up on the all looking at the camera and smiling, and just want them to be present in the photo.

'Happy Easter y felices pascuas to all of you from us. Much love,' she ended the post.

For the Sunday celebration, everyone looks to be dressed casually, which includes some wearing a shorts and t-shirt combination, while there's more than one of the kids still wearing their pajamas.

Carmen helped out her parents by keeping an eye on the newest arrival to the family, Ilaria, and holding her up on her lap so she could be easily seen in the picture.

While Hilaria is flashing a beaming smile towards the camera, Alec wore a more serious expression.

Six days earlier, the acclaimed actor was absolute glowing with joy while posing for a family photo during a party in honor of his 65th birthday.

'A photo of our wildness, just as we are. May this year bring you peace, health, and happiness. We feel lucky to be by your sidethrough all of it. Happy birthday, Alecwe love you,' she gushed in the caption of the April 3 post.

Another Baldwin celebration: HIlaria, 39, shared another family photo when she wished her husband a happy 65th birthday last week

Birthday love: The acclaimed actor simple wrote: 'I'm lucky,' in an Instagram post when celebrating his 65th birthday on April 3

Night out: Hilaria and Alec both took time out to share their love for one another while marking the 11th anniversary of their engagement last weekend

The couple also had reason to celebrate just over a week ago when they paid tribute to one another on the 11th anniversary of their engagement.

Hilaria would snap a selfie of pair standing in an elevator, seemingly en route to celebrate, revealing in the caption of the photo that they 'got engaged 11 years ago, today.'

For his celebratory message of love, Alec summed up his growing family life with his wife with a few sentences.

'Eleven years ago today, I got engaged to a wonderful human being. She's under this pile somewhere,' he wrote, in a reference to the picture showing Hilaria laying on the floor of their home with several of their children surrounding her.

'11 years, 7 kids, an ocean of memories later, I love you Hilaria,' the Academy Award-nominated actor concluded in the post.

And about seven weeks ago, the Yoga instructor, podcaster and author marked the 12-year anniversary of the day she and Alec met.

It turns out they first locked eyes at Sarma Melngailis' New York restaurant Pure Food and Wine on February 18, 2011.

The Baldwins will celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary on June 30.
'I mean, look, the only thing that I really feel about it is slightly jealous, you know?,' Crowe said

Russell Crowe revealed that he feels 'slightly jealous' about the upcoming highly anticipated sequel to Gladiator due out in 2024 by director Ridley Scott.

The 59-year-old actor in a recent interview with Collider was asked what he would like to see in the next installment by English director Scott, 85, who directed the original 2000 film.

'I don't really know where they're going to go with it. I'm sure that [there have] been things on [Scott's] mind for the last 24 years that he thinks he can probably do better, or something. I think that's one of the positives about it, for sure, that it is Ridley because he's going to want to go back into that world and create something [on] the same level of spectacle as the first one,' Crowe said.

He added: 'I mean, look, the only thing that I really feel about it is slightly jealous, you know? Because I was a much younger man, obviously, and it was a huge experience in my life. It's something that changed my life, really. It changed the way people regarded me and what I do for a living, and, you know, I've been very lucky to be involved in lots of big movies, but the legs on that film are incredible. Here it is, it's 2023, and we made that film in 1999.'

'I guarantee you, somewhere around the world tonight, Gladiator is going to be showing on primetime TV. And you don't always get that kind of longevity with every film you do, so, it obviously holds a special place in my heart,' Crowe concluded.

Gladiator star: Russell Crowe, shown in December in Australia, revealed that he feels 'slightly jealous' about upcoming sequel to Gladiator due out in 2024 by director Ridley Scott

Crowe portrayed Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius in the original and won the Oscar for Best Actor for his work in the film.

He confirmed last month on The Ryan Turbidy Show that he was not working on the sequel starring Irish actor Paul Mescal, 27.

'I'm sure at some point in time they'll want to ask me about something, but they haven't brought anything up in a while,' Crowe said.

'It's an extension of the narrative, but it is long beyond Maximus' passing, so it doesn't really involve me at all,' he explained.

Crowe added that he heard, 'that young fella Paul is a good dude and I wish him the best of luck with it.'

'I think where they're picking the story up from, a young Lucius, stepping into the role of emperor. I think that's a very smart idea within the world of the film that we created,' Crowe said.

It was reported last month that Denzel Washington, 68, had joined the cast of the highly anticipated sequel.

Gladiator 2 is scheduled for release in theaters on November 22, 2024.

Crowe can next be seen in the upcoming horror film The Pope's Exorcist that will be in theaters on Friday.

Oscar winner: Crowe portrayed Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius in the original and won the Oscar for Best Actor for his work in the film
Luisa Zissman exhibited her washboard abs as she took to Instagram on Easter Monday.

The former Apprentice contestant, 35, displayed the fruits of her labour while posing in a pink bandeau for a stunning selfie.

She ran a hand through her dark blonde tresses and framed her face with a pair of oversized black sunglasses.

In her caption, the Celebrity Big Brother star wrote: 'Happy Monday. How are you spending yours? .'

Luisa slipped into a yellow bikini as she visited a farm yard during her sun-soaked Thailand getaway on Saturday.

Woah! Luisa Zissman displayed her abs while posing in a pink bandeau for a stunning Instagram selfie on Easter Monday

Having fun: In her caption, the Celebrity Big Brother star wrote: 'Happy Monday. How are you spending yours? '

She looked sensational in the skimpy two piece as she posed for a slew of fun snaps with a drove of pigs.

The swimsuit boasted a bandeau top and high-cut bottoms and perfectly showcased her svelte figure.

Shielding her eyes behind oversized shades, Luisa wore her caramel tresses -ironically- in pigtails as she got down and dirty in the mud.

Writing: 'There is a reason the expression as happy as a pig in s*** exists'.

'Today, I experienced the expression in real life & I can confirm when rolling around with with these guys I really was as happy as a pig in s***'.

Last year Luisa revealed she has African heritage after finding old photographs of her great-granddad and other family members.

She also told of how she believes she is related to former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.

Speaking in her recent podcast episode with co-host Anna Williamson, the reality TV star explained how people 'wouldn't believe' her if they didn't see photographs to prove it - so later shared photos of her late family member on Instagram.

Excursion: Luisa slipped into a yellow bikini as she visited a farm yard during her sun-soaked Thailand getaway on Saturday

Messy business: She looked sensational in the skimpy two piece as she posed for a slew of fun snaps with a drove of pigs.

Talking on the topic of family traditions, Luisa brings up her 'affinity' to Nelson Mandela on the LuAnna podcast.

'Did we talk about my black granddad on the pod? We need to get the pictures up or people will not believe me,' she told co-host Anna Williamson.

'We had family over right and the old pics came out - I think I might have realised my affinity to Nelson. I do believe I am related to Nelson Mandela.

'Because when we saw the picture of my great granddad he was black.

'We actually don't know where in Africa he was from, all we know is that he was African. He was maybe West African but we don't know. How do I find out?

'I'd like to think that I'm related to Nelson Mandela.

She added that the man she is referencing in the picture is the father to her grandmother, whose mother was Italian.

Luisa adds: 'She even looks black though, doesn't she?'

'I do believe I'm related to Nelson Mandela!': It comes after Luisa insisted that she 'is African' after finding old photographs of her great-granddad and other family members who 'look black' (pictured in 2021)

'Now, his oldest son is the only one alive out of the four kids,' Luisa explained.

'My Nonna [grandma] has died, my mum's two uncles died and there's only one left - and he's old and started to get Alzheimer's.

'There was also a suspicion that my great granddad was a spy... now that my great uncle Hector is regressing, he keeps talking about how the fact he would have to go through the tunnels with packages and meet soldiers in Germany.'

She later took to Instagram to show her 625,000 followers exactly what she was referring to in the episode.

Writing in a caption to two snaps showing her granddad and other late family members, Luisa said: 'Hey guys if you listen to LuAnna: The Podcast I know I promised pics of my great grandad.

'Here you go, the little girl in the pics is my Nonna (Italian for grandma) so my mums mum. The boys are her brothers.

'The eldest boy (Uncle Hector) is the only remaining sibling alive (out of 4)  told y'all I was African and you didn't believe me.'

Luisa's revelations come not long after she was slammed by Ulrika Jonsson for branding NHS workers planning to strike as 'cruel' and said staff should never have entered the profession if they were concerned about salaries.

She blasted the National Health Service staff, calling them 'irresponsible', 'cruel' and 'jumped up t****'.

Writing in her column for The Sun, Ulrika said Luisa's comments were 'heartless' as she praised nurses for the work they do.

She wrote: 'Zissman's comments about nurses are not only extraordinarily heartless but show an ignorance beyond reproach.

'Sometimes you have to wonder if some people aren't entirely bereft of intelligence and empathy.'

Ulrika said being a nurse required 'dedication' and no one who chooses it as a career is doing so for the money.

While she doesn't like the planned strike, Ulrika said she likes even less that 'accountants at the top' have six-figure salaries while those at the bottom 'have their backs up against the wall'.

Ulrika added: 'She won't care what I or anyone else thinks about her comments  which is why, thank the Lord, there will never be a Nurse Zissman.'
Comedian Reuben Kaye has embraced the notoriety of his appearance on The Project, where he made a lewd joke about Jesus, with more scathing jabs aimed at religion.

In late February Kaye forced hosts Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris to make a groveling apology after making the quip about Jesus: 'I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more'.

Kaye appeared last Wednesday on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Allstars Super Show which was broadcast by the ABC where he showcased risque material centred around the Catholic church and child abuse.

'I was raised by Jews but I was reared by Catholics,' he said.

The joke earned the gay comedian sustained applause, which he acknowledged with a mock curtesy.

Following the storm of outrage generated by a lewd joke about Jesus on Channel 10 show The Project drag comedian Reuben Kaye continues to aim jokes at Christianity

Later he talked about the controversy surrounding drag queen Courtney Act, being involved in a story time for children segment on an ABC Play School last year.

'But when you get right down to it, who would you rather have holding your child  a drag queen or a priest?' Kaye said to cheers from the audience.

'Because the worst thing a drag queen's gonna put on a kid's face is glitter.'

Kaye then sings about having 39 lashes, which is amount of whipping Jesus received before being crucified.

He then tells the audience the difference between drag queens and churches is that the former pay taxes while the latter pays 'hush money'.

Kaye (pictured in London in 2022) made a series of religious jokes when he appeared on an ABC show last week

As four drag queens join him on stage amid a shower of fake money Kaye ended his act with a knowing and defiant look at the audience before declaring: 'Nailed it.'

He recently shared the material again on social media with the caption: 'Happy Easter'.

The TV appearance was to promote his cabaret show Kaye Hole, which runs until April 22 as part of the comedy festival.

'Queer, messy, fast, loose and f**king hilarious,' the show's promotion reads.

'The hottest late-night ticket in town, where the riskiest and most diverse acts of the Festival let loose dripping in sweat and backed by a live band.'

Following his appearance on Channel 10's The Project media watchdog ACMA said it has received 203 complaints or inquiries about the episode aired on Tuesday 28 February.

Following the lewd joke Kaye (pictured left) made about Jesus in late February The Project hosts Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris (pictured centre right) issued an apology the next day

Co-host Harris laughed at the joke, which went to air uncensored during the live broadcast, but her Muslim colleague Aly sat stony-faced.

The next night Aly and Harris apologised for the joke.

'We want to acknowledge the particular offense that caused our Muslim viewers but especially our Christian viewers,' Aly said.

'Obviously I understand just how profound that offence was.'

Aly and Harris said the joke was unexpected and left unedited because it was a live broadcast.

However, one of the program's former panellists Em Rusciano cast doubt on this.

'I find it pretty hard to believe that (Reuben Kaye)'s joke that stopped a nation wasn't script approved,' she wrote on Twitter.

'I've worked on The Project  VERY little is off the cuff! A tiny, tiny amount. They've flat out thrown him under the bus (in my opinion). Sorry, but someone had to say it.'
Alison Hammond continued to be placed in the firing line for last week's 'Theatre-Gate' scandal, as she divided stars and critics over her apology.

While hosting This Morning with Dermot O'Leary on Wednesday, the duo debated news that singing along to musicals in theatres had been banned - to which Alison, 48, laughed and claimed she would be 'devastated' if she had to stop singing.

The debate came just days before a 'mini riot' broke out during a production of The Bodyguard in Manchester on Friday and was met with an onslaught of criticism from stars who insisted singing along was entirely inappropriate.

However, after Alison apologised on Sunday, she was met with support from celeb friends - including Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, who appeared on the show on the day of the debate, and Katherine Ryan - and branded 'a national sweetheart'.

Despite the wave of support after the apology, some stars - including Arlene Phillips - continued to blast the star, with the Strictly judge insisting she has 'no idea' of the plight of performers and branded the scenario 'distressing'.

Shock: Alison Hammond continued to be placed in the firing line for last week's 'Theatre-Gate' scandal, as she divided stars and critics over her apology

Hurt: While hosting This Morning with Dermot O'Leary on Wednesday, the duo debated news that singing along to musicals in theatres had been banned - to which Alison, 48, laughed and claimed she would be 'devastated' if she has to stop singing

Kind words: However, after Alison apologised on Sunday, she was met with support from celeb friends - including Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, who appeared on the show on the day of the debate, and Katherine Ryan - and branded 'a national sweetheart'

Touching: A slew of stars gave their heartfelt support

Shocker: While Danny was candid in his resistance to the singing, he did add a heart to the post

The saga began when This Morning hosted a discussion about the ban.

Alison said during the ITV discussion: '[Theatre staff] are regularly walking up and down the aisles before the performance and during the interval with 'no singing' signs' I mean, I can't believe it, I'd be devastated', while also laughing.

In an unfortunate turn of events, just two days later police were called to the Palace Theatre when the show starring Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton had to be stopped twice before ending when a woman was dragged out after refusing to stop singing.

After much backlash, on Sunday a remorseful Alison took to Instagram to share a statement in which she apologised for her misguided actions.

Sharing a statement to Twitter it read: After reflection and the comments I made on Wednesdays show I want to apologise to anyone who I offended especially the incredibly talented theatre performers, who I have the utmost respect for.

I had no idea the level of disruption audiences were causing and tried to make light of the topic on Wednesdays show, and for that Im truly sorry.

Apologies: Following the shocking Manchester scenes and her own trip to the theatre Alison decided to apologise for her words and vowed to 'do better in the future'

Not for me: Arlene Phillips was less forthcoming with her forgiveness

Nope! She shared a message showing her chagrin

Adding: I am a great supporter of theatre and the arts and would never sing at the top of my lungs at any performance, I was wrong in what I said and Ive given this a lot of thought over the past fw days and believe I was wrong.

On Thursday evening I attended a performance of the GBBO the musical which I absolutely loved and gave a standing ovation, theatre is a magical experience for me and my family.

She concluded: I want to use my platform for good as always and want to stand up with the performers, front of house and theatre staff especially after seeing what happened at The Bodyguard in Manchester, which has made me sick to my stomach.

Once again I am truly sorry but trust me I will do better in the future.

Despite backlash, she was met with praise and support from her friends and fans.

Eek! Danny Mac was reluctant to support the star

Take note: He hit back in a gentle manner and communicated with followers

Even A-listers were getting in on the action, with Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham writing: '..And you very much do use your platform for good my friend. Always. Love you for this. Utter class. Sending you a squeeze. HX'.

Funnywoman Katherine Ryan wrote: 'ANYONEs problem with Allison Hammond WILL BE PERSONALLY SOLVED BY ME. Let the nations sweetheart have a laugh, FFS shes not going to ruin a musical, shes here to be the light of our otherwise miserable lives.

Les Dennis penned: 'Good on you Alison', while Danny Mac simply added a heart to the post following his own thoughts on the drama.

Further stars to send their love included Bad Education and theatre star, Layton Williams, Strictly's Karen Clifton, Rylan Clark, Les Dennis and Doctor Ranj Singh.

Arlene did not seem as satisfied with the apology, as she wrote: 'Alison thank you for your apology but I would just like to say , you have no idea what it is really like for those performers in the shows where the songs are popular hits and certain members of the audience feel entitled to join in...

Shocked: Katherine Ryan launched her defense

Sweet: Les Dennis was also being kind to the star

'Performers are unsure what to do. They are not trained when audiences get out of control and arguing with each other. Its so distressing. Lets hope this behaviour stops and normality returns.'

Danny Mac added: 'You can sing along with me anytime you like. Metaphorically Literally the actual point (being missed almost everywhere I look) is the EXPERIENCE of everyone in the audience & the SAFETY of everyone in the building.

'That is all. This is not about the performer... Its not about the performer necessarily but if Ive paid to see a trained, talented cast, Then its them I want to hear'.

In her support however, other fans wrote: 'Good for you for speaking out. But I think most level headed people knew you didnt mean singing along like a banshee...

'It's not even an apology!' Dermot meanwhile has been slammed by fans after issuing a 'disappointing' statement over his 'encouraging' of disrespectful audiences in theatres

Addressing the situation: Dermot urged viewers to watch the 'whole interview' before turning his attention to Easter eggs

Shock: Police were called to the Palace Theatre in Manchester when a show starring former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton had to be stopped twice, before ending early due to rowdy crowd caused chaos (Melody pictured with co-star Ayden Callaghan)

'Apologising after making a mistake is becoming a lost art these days. Well done, Alison... Too many miserable people trying to make a big thing out of it. Leave Alison alone... You where having fun Alison. Dont fret...

'I sing to Defying Gravity too. And Popular and As long as your Mine. And every song... Alison, this was classy of you & a testament to your authentic character...

'All this has done is highlighted an already existing problem at theatres and the theatre performers should be to you actually. You are not responsible for individual behaviours'.

Shortly before Alison's heartfelt apology, her co-star Dermot added his own statement, however came under fire for his refusal to apologise.

Dermot has been slammed by fans after issuing a 'disappointing' statement over his 'encouraging' of disrespectful audiences in theatres.

Awful evening: On Saturday former Pussycat Doll Melody discussed the incident on her Instagram Story, thanking those who were 'respectful' and said 'it feels awful' that the show had to be stopped

Distancing himself from the situation, the TV host wrote in a Sunday tweet: 'Evening all... A lot of people commenting about a reaction to a story we covered on This Morning about the 'Bodyguard' show and audiences singing along.'

Dermot added: 'Could I politely urge anyone passing judgement on the clip to watch the whole interview... as I was actually arguing AGAINST people singing too loudly in theatres.

'Nothing but love and respect for those treading the boards. Peace and love to all.'

He showed he wanted to put the whole ordeal behind him, as he ended the statement on a light-hearted note, saying: 'Now, back to those Easter eggs... Dx'

But his fans were left less than impressed at his post, criticising him for being 'tasteless' and not 'taking responsibility'.
Sir Michael Caine treated himself to a day at the beach on Easter Sunday as he continues to recover from having surgery on his back last year.

The decorated actor, 90, has been enjoying a holiday in the Caribbean with his wife Shakira, 76, and made the most of another day of sunshine as he chilled out at the beach.

Michael was seen heading to a deckchair with the help of his trusty walking frame and an aide before settling in to top up his tan.

The Academy Award winner has been using a walking stick in public since 2018 after a nasty fall on ice left him with a broken ankle.

Sir Michael - who recently celebrated his 90th birthday in London - has been resting up after undergoing major surgery last year.

On the move: Sir Michael Caine, 90, was assisted by a walking frame and aide as he headed to the beach in Barbados on Sunday for some well earned downtime after major surgery

'He had a back operation quite recently,' Michael's wife Shakira told the Daily Mail recently. 'He had spinal stenosis.'

She described her husband as a 'strong man' as she confirmed that he was doing 'great' and was 'recovering' following the operation.

The Guyanese former model added: 'The operation was fantastic. He'll be up and dancing again soon.'

Spinal stenosis is a condition that narrows the spinal canal and can cause back and leg pain. Surgery is usually recommended only when non-surgical treatments have not been effective.

Earlier this year, Michael explained: 'I have a spine problem which affects my leg, so I can't walk very well.'

In October 2021, Michael announced that he would likely retire from acting as he described his movie Best Sellers co-starring Aubrey Plaza as 'my last part, really'.

He noted that he has limited mobility and added: 'There's not exactly scripts pouring in for a leading man that's 88, you know?'

But it seems that the actor is yet to star in other projects, as he is set to take part in Czech action historical drama film Medieval, while it is believed he will reprise his role as Arthur Tressler in Now You See Me 3.

Soaking up the sun: Michael was seen heading to a deckchair with the help of his trusty walking frame and an aide before settling in to top up his tan

Sir Michael began acting in 1953 when he took a job at a repertory company in West Sussex.

He said: 'I haven't worked for two years and I have a spine problem which affects my legs so I can't walk very well'.

Further he pointed to the memoirs he has been publishing over the past several years - The Elephant In Hollywood in 2010 and Blowing The Bloody Doors Off in 2018.

'And I also wrote a book, a couple of books which were published and were successful so I'm now not an actor - I'm a writer,' he said.
Former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Rogers has gone Instagram official with her new love interest, model Morgan Waterhouse.

Rogers took to the social media platform on Monday evening, sharing a gallery of images of the loved-up duo just days after dismissing rumours the pair were an item.

In one image, Olivia is seen beaming from ear to ear as she leans in for a cuddle with her genetically blessed beau.

In another, Olivia appears to be having the time of her life on a night out on the town with Morgan, as they both cradle what appear to be cocktails.

In a third image, the new lovebirds are seen posing in an audience.

Former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Rogers has gone Instagram official with her new love interest, model Morgan Waterhouse. Rogers took to the social media platform on Monday evening, sharing a gallery of images of the loved-up duo. Both pictured

In another image, Olivia appears to be having the time of her life on a night out on the town with Morgan, as they both cradle what appear to be cocktails. Pictured

In a third image, the new lovebirds are seen posing in an audience. 'Happyyy girl,' Olivia captioned the carousel of images

'Happyyy girl,' she captioned the carousel of images.

Olivia's post was soon inundated with well-wishes from her celebrity pals.

'Best news,' wrote TV presenter Erin Holland.

'Super cute,' added model Lindy Klim alongside a red love heart emoji.

'Wonderful,' wrote The Bachelor's Alex Nation.

Olivia's post was soon inundated with well-wishes from her celebrity pals. 'Best news,' wrote TV presenter Erin Holland. While Lindy Klim wrote: 'Super cute' alongside a love heart emoji

Even Morgan couldn't resist commenting on the post, adding a heart hands and infinity emoji

Even Morgan couldn't resist commenting on the post, adding a heart hands and infinity emoji.

Shane Warne's daughter Brooke, The Bachelor's Anna Heinrich and Married At First Sight's Ella May Ding also offered kind words.

Olivia and Morgan were first linked together when they posted identical photos of the view from Rogers' apartment. They also recently enjoyed a holiday together in Paris for Fashion Week.

Olivia and Morgan were first linked together when they posted identical photos of the view from Rogers' apartment. They also recently enjoyed a holiday together in Paris for Fashion Week.

Earlier this month, Olivia told the Herald Sun that she met Morgan through her best friend and stylist Paul Versace.

Olivia confirmed her split from husband Justin after just eight months of marriage in October last year.

Break-up rumours began swirling in September after fans noticed she'd reverted to her maiden name on Instagram and unpinned all photos from her February 2022 wedding.

Olivia confirmed her split from husband Justin after just eight months of marriage in October last year

The former couple, who met in 2018, were last pictured together in August 2022 in a series of loved-up holiday snaps from their trip to New York City.

Olivia addressed her break-up in an Instagram post on October 3.

'After 4.5 years together, Justin and I have come to the difficult decision to separate as a couple,' she wrote.

'I do not wish to make any further statements about this in the near future.

'Please respect our decision and privacy at this time. Thank you for all your private DMs, kindness and support.'
ABBA have paid tribute to their long-term guitarist Lasse Wellander after he passed away at the age of 70 last week.

The Swedish musician played on some of the iconic pop group's biggest hits throughout the 70s and 80s and he was also involved in their recent Voyage album, which was released in 2021.

In a statement released on Monday, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad gushed that Lasse was a 'dear friend, a fun guy and a superb guitarist who will be deeply missed'.

The bereaved group penned: 'The importance of his creative input in the recording studio as well as his rock solid guitar work on stage was immense.

'We mourn his tragic and premature death and remember the kind words, the sense of humour, the smiling face, the musical brilliance of the man who played such an integral role in the Abba story. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten.'

Making music: Farewell: ABBA have paid tribute to their long-term guitarist Lasse Wellander after he passed away at the age of 70 last week (Lasse is seen on stage with ABBA at the Empire Pool Wembley in London in November 1979)

Born to perform: In a statement released on Monday, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad gushed that Lasse was a 'dear friend, a fun guy and a superb guitarist who will be deeply missed'(clockwise L-R: Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad circa 1970)

A statement released by Lasse's family on Sunday read: 'It is with indescribable sadness that we have to announce that our beloved Lasse has fallen asleep.

'Lasse recently fell ill with what turned out to be cancer that had spread, and early on Good Friday he passed away surrounded by his loved ones.'

It concluded: 'We love and miss you so much.'

Lasse began playing guitar as a child and joined bands local to where he lived in Nora, Sweden. He started recording with ABBA in October 1974, featuring on their hits Intermezzo No.1 and Crazy World.

The guitarist featured on 24 of the pop group's recordings and featured on all eight of their albums.

He toured with the stars and performed in front of sold-out crowds in 1975, 1977, 1979, and 1980.

He went on to work with other Swedish artists when ABBA split for the first time in 1982.

In 2008, he was enlisted to work on the Mamma Mia! movie soundtrack, with the film starring the likes of Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried.

Lasse released his own solo album in 1981, and produced and released another 11 further albums in the years after.

Rock on: Lasse released his own solo album in 1981, and produced and released another 11 further albums in the years after

Pop music: The Swedish musician played on some of the iconic pop groups biggest hits throughout the 70s and 80s (front L-R: technician Michael Tretow, and ABBA stars Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson duing the production of a new ABBA album in 1978. In the background studio musicians Rutger Gunnarsson, Ola Brunkert and Lasse Wellander)

His last album was released in 2006, with the title translating into English as Simple Ticket.

He also released singles O Come, All Ye Faithfull, Merry-Go-Round, and Overdrive last year.

In 2021 he was involved in creating ABBA's most recent album Voyage.

The released featured 10 new tracks from the band, delighting fans.
Georgia Fowler and her husband Nathan Dallah headed out for a family stroll in New York's trendy Soho on Easter Sunday.

The chic couple cut cool figures in casual ensembles and wheeled their one-year-old daughter Dylan with a pram.

The model, 30, opted for a fuzzy cardigan in a coffee tone which she wore buttoned and tucked in to her trousers.

She added a pair of white jeans in a loose fit, along with a brown belt with a gold buckle.

Georgia kept warm in a black beanie, and appeared to have on minimal makeup up for the outing.

Georgia Fowler (pictured) and her husband Nathan Dallah headed out for a family stroll in New York's trendy Soho on Easter Sunday

The chic couple cut cool figures in casual ensembles and wheeled their one-year-old daughter Dylan with a pram. Nathan is pictured left

The model, 30, opted for a fuzzy cardigan in a coffee tone which she wore buttoned and tucked in to her trousers

She wore her brunette locks down in messy waves and completed her ensemble with chunky black boots.

Nathan meanwhile stayed on trend in an oversized grey hoodie and a pair of black and white trousers paired with white sneakers.

Little Dylan was at times carried by her father, the rest of the time resting in her pram as her mother wheeled her along, or toddling alongside mum.

Georgia and Nathan tied the knot in the Southern Highlands in January.

She added a pair of white jeans in a loose fit, along with a brown belt with a gold buckle

Georgia kept warm in a black beanie, and appeared to have on minimal makeup up for the outing

She later put on a pair of oversized designer sunglasses with yellow frames

The newlyweds, who share daughter Dylan, announced their engagement on July 30 last year.

At the time, Georgia revealed on Instagram Nathan proposed during a photo shoot for Tiffany & Co.

The model was shooting a campaign called 'Tiffany Love' when Nathan dropped down to one knee on set.

In the video, Nathan was seen getting down on one knee in front of Georgia.

She wore her brunette locks down in messy waves and completed her ensemble with chunky black boots

Little Dylan was at times carried by her father, the rest of the time resting in her pram as her mother wheeled her along, or toddling alongside mum

Georgia and Nathan tied the knot in the Southern Highlands in January

The mother-of-one is back in New York after living in Australia for the past few years

'I would say that I had this really crazy idea,' he said in the clip.

Georgia replied, 'Yes, I will,' before the crew cheered for the happy couple.

The mother-of-one is back in New York after living in Australia for the past few years.

In a recent Instagram post, she confirmed she was back with IMG models, 14 years after her first trip to the Big Apple when she was just a teenager.

'Can't believe I'm back in NYC and this time with my mini me. It was no small choice bringing my daughter to the other side of the world, (that 17 hour direct is no joke!) but you just couldn't kick the love of work out of me,' she wrote.
Amanda Holden put on a sizzling display as she stunned in a photoshoot ahead of Britain's Got Talent's sixteenth series.

The TV judge, 52, flashed her legs in a thigh-split black maxi dress which she accessorised with a structured gold metal pieces.

She added inches to her enviable frame with coordinating heels, while sporting a champagne choker and bracelet.

Simon Cowell, 63, meanwhile, cut a dapper figure in a black suit and an unbuttoned white shirt, while framing his face with aviator sunglasses.

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 47, looked suave in matching tuxedos while Alesha Dixon, 44, flashed a hint of her midriff in a corset-style waistband and a cropped waistcoat.

Hot stuff: Amanda Holden put on a sizzling display as she stunned in a photoshoot ahead of Britain's Got Talent's sixteenth series

Suave: Simon Cowell, 63, meanwhile, cut a dapper figure in a black suit and an unbuttoned white shirt, while framing his face with aviator sunglasses

Bruno Toniolo, 67, the panel's latest addition, wowed in a blue jacket featuring gold prints, which he layered above a white shirt and blue velvet trousers.

While there was no mention of recently departed judge David Walliams, Dec did admit he and his partner-in-crime pulled some pranks on the former Strictly judge.

He said: We, quite mischievously, kept telling him different rules.

'So when he hit his golden buzzer on the first session of the first day, mid-way through an act, we told him not to worry because he had another golden buzzer tomorrow, and that he had one every day!

'That might have something to do with the fact we have more golden buzzers this year! We also played a prank on the rest of the judges by going into their room and doing a BGT quiz, but secretly gave Bruno all the answers in advance.

'That was quite fun to see the look on everyone else's face. Ant: Much to Simon's annoyance that somebody else would win a quiz about his show. He quickly worked out it was a prank and didn't like it! But we loved it.'

Once known as Mr. Nasty due to his no-nonsense approach, when Simon was asked if he still considers himself the toughest judge to impress, he replied: 'I don't know, I think we all have different opinions.

'I don't really think about it too much. You have to take each act individually. Rather than just thinking, Im just going to be tough or whatever,, because everybody's different. I think it's only fair to be honest. I really, really do.

Dapper: Bruno Toniolo, 67, the panel's latest addition, wowed in a blue jacket featuring gold prints, which he layered above a white shirt and blue velvet trousers

What a pair! Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 47, looked suave in matching tuxedos

Good watch: Britains Got Talent returns on Saturday April 15 at 8pm at and Sunday April 16 at 7:45pm on ITV1 and ITVX

'I don't like the idea of lying to people, saying everyone's great because unfortunately, they're not.

'But the thing about our show, as I said before, you don't need to win to change your career, a good audition that goes viral can open so many doors. Thats what makes us stand out, I think, from other shows.'

On emerging themes from the pre-recorded auditions, Amanda revealed: 'Yeah, weve had a lot of choirs this year, more than ever before, I think.

'I really want a choir to win this year. Theres a mens choir which are just brilliant. I enjoyed the fact that they were a group of men who were coming on for a good singsong.'

Alesha gushed about going back to Manchester for the first time in three years: 'The audience is always so enthusiastic and up for it and we'd missed it.

'We hadn't been there for three years and we always loved touring around the country because it felt like the circus had come to town.

'There is a different sort of perspective and vibe depending on where you go. And it shouldn't always be London-centric. So I was well up for it, I was happy to be there and I think the audience really appreciated it.'

Uh-oh: There was no mention of recently departed judge David Walliams (pictured in 2020)

While the show has been enjoyed by millions across the nation since 2007, Bruno let slip that he's never even seen it himself before.

He enthused of his experience so far, 'Oh, it's incredible! I mean, honestly, Ive had such a good time! Really, really, really good.

'Because it is completely new for me, I told Simon, I never watched the show before. But I never watch anything Im in, I never even watched Strictly or Dancing With the Stars.

'I want to feel free to give it my own personal spin, not copy what someone before me has done, if that makes sense. And the truth is that the talent really excites me because I love watching new talent.

'This is like live theatre. It's a proper variety show like we used to get. And I always loved that. Let me tell you, some of the talent weve seen during auditionsabsolutely incredible. Wow!'

Britains Got Talent returns on Saturday April 15 at 8pm at and Sunday April 16 at 7:45pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Channel Seven's popular reality show, Farmer Wants A Wife, returned to screens on Monday night with an unexpected twist that had the farmers seeing double.

For the first time in the show's history, identical twin sisters from Western Australia, Rachel and Chelsea, 22, will be vying for the farmers' hearts.

Rachel, a promotions assistant, confessed in her bio that she has been 'the third wheel in my twin sister's relationship'.

On the other hand, marketing assistant, Chelsea describes herself as 'the friend who never leaves the room quiet.'

Chelsea chose Farmer Matt, 23, a cattle farmer from Bookham, NSW, while Rachel chose Farmer Brenton, 26, a cattle farmer from Darriman, Victoria.

For the first time in Farmer Wants A Wife history, identical twin sisters from Western Australia, Rachel and Chelsea, 22, (both pictured) will be vying for the farmers' hearts

Chelsea describes herself as 'the friend who never leaves the room quiet.' (Pictured with Farmer Matt)

Meanwhile, fans of the dating show were left disappointed as Samantha Armytage took the reins as the show's host, replacing long-time presenter Natalie Gruzlewski.

The unexpected change in hosting duties left viewers questioning the reasons behind the decision and longing for the return of Natalie, who will instead serve as co-host.

Twitter was soon flooded with fans expressing their confusion and disappointment.

'What happened to Nat? She is like the OG,' wrote one perplexed viewer.

Farmer Wants a Wife viewers weren't impressed after tuning into Monday's premiere episode to see Samantha Armytage, 46, (pictured) replace veteran host Natalie Gruzlewski

'Did they kick Nat to the kerb cos Sam wanted the job?' wrote another viewer.

'What's with Sam Armitage? Just NO. Where's Nat?' a third fan quipped.

One particularly disgruntled fan wrote, 'Gosh, I'd be annoyed if I signed up to be a wife or a farmer and @sam_armytage showed up as the host instead of the #Stunning and #Personable @NatGruz.'

Within the first 15 minutes of the show, Natalie was only featured in several frames, where she interviewed past couples, while Samantha was heavily featured as she introduced each of the show's new contestants.

One upset viewer tweeted, 'Did they kick Nat to the kerb cos Sam wanted the job?'

'What's with Sam Armitage? Just NO. Where's Nat?' a third fan quipped

Sam joined the dating show as a 'guest host' last year, but her minor role has now been expanded while Natalie is 'scaling back' her duties.

Natalie will present her own segment called 'Nat's Getaway' during the 2023 season, with Sam 'front and centre' as the face of the franchise.

A Seven executive told TV Tonight the pair, both 46, had effectively 'flipped roles'.

New Idea claimed the shake-up ruffled Natalie's feathers after being the face of the show for years.
Samantha Armytage has shared a rare insight into her marriage during Monday's premiere of Farmer Wants A Wife.

The television host was introducing farmer Sam when he said that he's 'not a big talker' and Sam could relate.

'My mates would say I'm the complete opposite to romantic. But things can change and I'm sure it will,' he added.

'You sound like my husband!' Sam quipped, laughing, implying Richard is also prone to being quiet and not much of a romantic.

It comes after the millionaire equestrian businessman revealed that his TV presenter wife was looking for a change when they met and began their romance.

Samantha Armytage (pictured) shared a rare insight into her marriage during Monday's episode of Farmer Wants A Wife. The television host was introducing farmer Sam when he said that's 'not a big talker' and Sam could relate

'There's been a lot said about that stuff but, honestly, I think she was just looking for something a bit different when she met me', Richard tells this week's issue of Stellar.

'She's always been a happy person while I have been around her,' he continued.

'We have been enjoying what's in front of us. It's been really good. She's a country girl, so it hasn't been such a huge adjustment'.

Samantha chimed in that she was 'lucky' to meet Richard as the pair took part in the joint interview.

'You sound like my husband!' Sam quipped, laughing, implying Richard (left) is also prone to being quiet and not much of a romantic

'I think we make a good match. I was very lucky to find him at that point in my life,' she said.

The couple look smitten in the accompanying shoot as they posed for photos at their Bowral property.

The journalist met her husband Richard, 60, at socialite Skye Leckie's 60th birthday party in April 2019, and she said there was an instant connection.

They later got married on New Year's Eve in 2020 on Richard's 40-hectare property in Bowral.
Marnie Simpson posed naked on her bed for a social media snap, on Sunday.

The newlywed, 31, urged her followers on Twitter to 'slide into her DMs' as she promoted her OnlyFans, just weeks after marrying Casey Johnson, 27.

Lying in bed on her front, Marnie was sure to include an eyeful of her bare behind in the jaw-dropping photograph.

The Geordie Shore star - who shares two young sons with her new husband - wrote alongside: 'GMMMM, Happy Easter... Come slide in my dm's!'

Marnie tied the knot with former X Factor contestant Casey on March 22 in a rustic barn wedding.

Wow! Newlywed Marnie Simpson, 31, posed naked for a social media snap on Sunday and urged her followers on Twitter to 'slide into her DMs' as she promoted her OnlyFans

Married: It comes just weeks after marrying Casey Johnson, 27, with whom she shared two young sons

Speaking to OK! following their big day, she said: 'We've finally tied the knot - we're over the moon!'.

And Marnie looked nothing short of sensational for her special day, where she recently revealed that she had chosen not one, but seven wedding dresses for the celebration.

She said that the multiple dresses were on standby 'just in case' as she worried about stains and drink spillages.

Making good use of the options, the bride donned three throughout the day, looking stunning in a mesh-sleeved gown with a corset bodice for the ceremony.

But then it was time for dress number two, the blush ruffled gown with elbow-length gloves - which she dubbed 'her favourite' of the choices.

The couple were forced to postpone their nuptials back in 2021 due to ongoing Covid restrictions, before finally walking down the aisle.

Her former Geordie Shore co-stars Sophie Kasei, Charlotte Crosby and Holly Hagan all attended with their respective partners; Jordan Brook, Jake Ankers and Jacob Blyth, as well as pal Lateysha Grace.

Following the celebrations, Sophie jested that 'even the nuttiest of girls can find their true love'.

Congrats! It comes after Marnie and her Geordie Shore pals shared images from her wedding day to Casey Johnson on Instagram

Beauty: Finally giving a sneak peak into their special day, the former Geordie Shore star shared a selection of snaps to her Instagram and was seen in a second dress

And touching on spending the day with her old friends as well as new husband, Marnie admitted that her big day was more of a 'night out'.

She told OK!:' At one point I think I forgot I was at my wedding  I felt like I was just on a night out. It was like Geordie Shore all over again.

'It got really wild at the end; this always happens whenever the Geordies are in town. Things just get messy!'

Marnie shares two-year-old son Rox with her now husband, as well as baby boy Oax who she welcomed in May 2022.
Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace paid tribute to Nikki Grahame on the second anniversary of her death, on Sunday.

Nikki died on April 10, 2021, a day after she was discharged from Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester after a three week stay to treat her for anorexia.

Two years on, the reality show icon was honoured with a heartfelt post from her Big Brother series seven castmate Aisleyne, 44.

Taking to social media, Aisleyne shared a series of photographs of the pair together, and penned: 'I will forever protect you even now you're gone...

'My little cherub on earth & now in heaven... I love you darling... you beautiful, funny, special woman I miss you dearly all the time. @NikkiGrahame.'

'I will forever protect you!' Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, 44, paid tribute to Nikki Grahame on the second anniversary of her death, on Sunday

Throwbacks: Taking to social media, Aisleyne shared a series of photographs of the pair together, and wrote: 'My little cherub on earth & now in heaven'

Nikki shot to fame on the 2006 series of Big Brother and gained an army of fans with her iconic phrase 'who is she?'.

Despite finishing fifth, the TV personality became one of its most recognisable contestants.

She later spoke publicly about how she developed anorexia while still a child and struggled with the condition throughout her life, spending time in hospital on a number of occasions.

Nikki had struggled with anorexia for much of her life and was first admitted to a psychiatric hospital at age 12.

Last year, her mother Sue recalled the day Nikki died saying: 'She was discharged from hospital.

'She came down to visit me, she collapsed and she was blue lighted into the local hospital in Dorset and she was there for two weeks.

'She had a BMI of 10, she was pitiful, and I went there every day to shower her, to dress her, to sit with her while she ate, to take the load off the nurses, it wasn't a specialised unit.

'Nikki managed to convince them "I'll be fine when I go home, I'm going back to the clinic on Monday", but they'd already said we can't have you because you can't make stairs and so they let her home and she died that night.

'Paying tribute: I love you darling... you beautiful, funny, special woman I miss you dearly all the time' penned Aisleyne

'But she rang me at half-three in the morning and she said "Hi mum", she was quite normal, she normally did it when she was drunk. She said "I managed to get to the loo", she'd ordered herself a walking frame so she managed to get into the loo.

'I said "well done darling, that's the way, every day just write down one thing that's been positive today. You'll get there, there is no hurry."

'She said "Mum, I'm so tired". So I said "Go to sleep darling. I'll call you in the morning", and she died.'

Sue said she continues to be glad her daughter took part in Big Brother, and that Nikki never regretted being on the show.

For help and support with eating disorders contact SEED on (01482) 718130 or visit https://seed.charity/
Having common ground is a must for any new relationship.

And as fellow 'nepo babies'  stars accused of gaining success because of celebrity parents  Phoebe Dynevor and her rumoured new man must have had plenty to talk about.

The actress, who played Lady Daphne in Netflix series Bridgerton, has been pictured hand-in-hand with US actor Cameron Fuller in west London.

The couple, both 27, attempted to go incognito in dark sunglasses and caps as they took a stroll through Notting Hill with Cameron's father Brad.

Phoebe, whose mother is Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor, was dressed casually in a pair of black leggings and an oversized brown leather jacket.

PDA: Phoebe Dynevor put on a cosy display with rumoured boyfriend Cameron Fuller as they snuggled up on a stroll through London's Notting Hill on Wednesday

Catching up: As fellow 'nepo babies'  stars accused of gaining success because of celebrity parents  Phoebe and her rumoured new man must have had plenty to talk about

Cameron, whose father produced A Quiet Place II, matched her outfit in black trousers and a large coat.

The actor has starred in a handful of US television shows with a major role in The Last Ship, of which his father was an executive producer.

Hes also known for his YouTube channel with real life BFF Gregg Sulkin.

Phoebe greeted Brad with a hug before they walked around the shops and stopped off at Planet Organic.

It comes a month after the actress, whose credits include The Colour Room, was first spotted with Cameron as they left a hotel in New York City.

Last year, Phoebe was briefly linked to Andrew Garfield after they met at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards in London.

The actress was said to have hit it off with the former Spiderman star, who is 12 years her senior, during the star-studded after-party for the bash.

A source told The Sun: 'Andrew and Phoebe clicked straight away, there was an immediate attraction. They know each other through various acquaintances in the business and have plenty in common.

'But this is certainly no one-off encounter. After leaving together, theyve since met up and are acting like a proper couple,' they continued.

Catching up: Phoebe greeted Cameron's father Brad with a hug before they walked around the shops and stopped off at Planet Organic

On the move: The couple, both 27, attempted to go incognito in dark sunglasses and caps as they took a stroll through Notting Hill with Brad

Low-key look: Phoebe, whose mother is Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor, was dressed casually in a pair of black leggings and an oversized brown leather jacket

Casual: Cameron, whose father produced A Quiet Place II, matched her outfit in black trousers and a large coat

Famous face: The actor has starred in a handful of US television shows with a major role in The Last Ship, of which his father was an executive producer

Online presence: Cameron is also known for his YouTube channel with best pal Gregg Sulkin

She has previously dated US comedian Pete Davidson but they split up in 2021 after about five months.

'It was wild while it lasted and they both really care for each other,' an insider told The Sun at the time.

'But the distance has put a strain on them. Their mates think they make a great couple but the distance has made it completely unworkable.'

Meanwhile, Cameron previously sparked dating rumours with actress Lucy Hale last year as they were pictured out on dinner dates several times.

He also dated fellow internet personality Lauren Elizabeth for nearly three years.

In January 2013, Chloe Moretz received a plastic ring from her 'boo' Cameron.

At the time, Cameron told her that he loves her and misses her on Twitter, to which she responded: 'I'm excited to see you boo'.

Cameron, who is a long-term friend of the actress, got down on one knee and gave the pretty star a plastic ring in a mock proposal during their outing in West Hollywood.

Chloe's family have known the Fullers ever since Brad Fuller produced the Amityville Horror remake in which Chloe made her film debut.

Fantastic four: The rumoured lovebirds strolled along with Cameron's dad and a female friend

Catching up: The group seemed in good spirits on their stroll through the city

Clued-up: Phoebe was seen glued to her mobile phone as she relaxed on their stroll

A source close to the actress told MailOnline at the time that there was no steamy romance.

They said: 'Chloe isn't dating anyone, she's too young and has been friends with the boys for a long while... her career is her main priority.'

Phoebe has been promoting her latest film, psychological thriller Fair Play, in which a newly engaged couple are pushed to the edge following an unexpected promotion at a hedge fund.

'How she navigates work life in a very male-dominated industry and how she navigates her relationship and, you know, in many ways has to make herself smaller in order to make other people feel comfortable, I could relate to that,' she told Sundance Film Festival in January.
Russell Crowe's controversial film, The Pope's Exorcist, has been slammed by Vatican exorcists ahead of its release on Friday.

The actor, 59, delivers a chilling performance as the late Father Gabriele Amorth, chief exorcist of the religious institution, who died in 2016 after becoming one of the most famous and respected exorcists in the Catholic Church.

But the International Association of Exorcists (IAE) have branded the picture 'unreliable splatter' while claiming the title is 'pretentious'.

They went on to say the movie poses 'unacceptable doubt' to the public as to who 'the real enemy is, the devil or ecclesiastical power'.

The group said in a statement: 'The end result is to instil the conviction that exorcism is an abnormal, monstrous, and frightening phenomenon, whose only protagonist is the devil, whose violent reactions can be faced with great difficulty.

'Unreliable splatter!' Russell Crowe's controversial film, The Pope's Exorcist, has been slammed by Vatican exorcists ahead of its release on Friday

Talented: The actor, 59, delivers a chilling performance as the late Father Gabriele Amorth, one of the most famous and respected exorcists in the Catholic Church

'This is the exact opposite of what occurs in the context of exorcism celebrated in the Catholic church in obedience to the directives imparted by it.'

Although the Catholic Church officially recognises exorcism, its modernisers see it as a medieval hangover that plays on superstition to strengthen religious devotion.

Russell recently revealed a creepy incident that occurred while he was filming the new horror film about demonic possession.

The Oscar winner said that after completing filming on The Pope's Exorcist one day, he found a dead bird on his door step.

Still, the Gladiator star was quick to dismiss the suggestion that the spooky incident was the work of some other-worldly evil force.

Telling the story on social media site Joe, Russell, who lives on a farm in northern NSW, said that he thought that a wild animal was responsible for the grisly find.

The incident occurred while Russell was filming the Pope's Exorcist in Ireland.

'Being an old bushy, I just sort of put two and two together and realised that there must be some creature around there who had noticed that we weren't there and had proffered the dead bird as a welcome home gift,' Russell explained.

Furious: But the International Association of Exorcists (IAE) have branded the picture 'unreliable splatter' while claiming the title is 'pretentious'

The star then appeared to allude to the countless stories about haunted sets and supernatural happenings that reportedly occurred during the making of such Hollywood 'Demon' classics as The Exorcist (1973) and The Omen (1976).

'I think with a lot of these things, it really depends on what you're prepared to take in and whether or not you can remain objective,' he said.

'[You]...see these things and understand these things and still stop yourself from sliding into the rabbit hole with that thought process.'

Russell plays Father Amorth, who wrote two books detailing horrifying tales of demonic possession - An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories.

His death prompted national mourning in Italy, where an estimated 500,000 people visit an exorcist each year.

The Pope's Exorcist is scheduled for release on Friday April 14 in the UK and U.S.
As The World Turns star Elizabeth Hubbard has died aged 89.

The death of the iconic Emmy Award winning actress - who played Lucinda Walsh on the show - was announced by her son Jeremy Bennett, 51, on Facebook over the weekend.

He wrote: 'Im sorry to say with a broken heart my mum passed over the weekend. Thank you for being an unmovable rock that guided me through life. I will try to honour your memory for as long as I live.'

The star was a two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner, scooping her first gong in 1974 for her role as Dr. Althea Davis on NBCs The Doctors.

She won her second in 1976 for daytime drama TV movie First Ladies Diaries: Edith Wilson.

RIP: As The World Turns star Elizabeth Hubbard has died aged 89 (pictured 20020

Wow: The star was best known for her tole as Lucinda Walsh on As The World Turns - a role she played from 1984-2010 (pictured with Patrick Tovatt as Cal Stricklyn)

However it was her role as ruthless businesswoman Lucinda Walsh which became her most famous, garnering her nine Daytime Emmy Award nominations.

Jeremy is the only child she shared with ex-husband David Bennett, who she was wed to from 1970-1973.

She last acted in soap opera web series Anacostia from 2015-2018 playing Eva Montgomery.

She was nominated in 2016 for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for the role.

Hubbard was born in New York City and attended Radcliffe College, graduating in 1955.

She studied theater at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and became the first American to receive the school's silver medal.

Her first onscreen acting role came in 1962, when she starred as Anne Fletcher on soap opera, Guiding Light.

In 1964, she debuted on The Doctors as Dr. Althea Davis, playing the role until 1969, before choosing to pursue Hollywood film roles.

The star was a two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner, scooping her first gong in 1974 for her role as Dr. Althea Davis on NBCs The Doctors (pictured with James Pritchett as Chief of Staff Dr. Matthew Powers)

Incredible: Hubbard was born in New York City and attended Radcliffe College, graduating in 1955

She would later return to the soap after one year and play Davis until 1977, playing the role on-off until its cancelation in 1982.

In 1970 she made her film debut in Oscar-nominated film I Never Sang for My Father starring alongside Gene Hackman.

She also appeared in films including The Bell Jar (1979), Ordinary People (1980) and The Treatment (2006).

She also starred in One Life to Live as society matron Estelle Chadwick in 1983 before joining As The World Turns the following year.

Hubbard would temporarily leave the show in 1999 but returned several months later - staying until its final episode in 2010.

The star played sexologist Sair Poindexter in Dutch soap Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden (Good Times, Bad Times) in 2009.
The husband of One Tree Hill star Shantel VanSanten has filed for divorce after just 20 months of marriage and a whopping three wedding ceremonies.

Her now estranged husband - fellow actor Victor Webster - made the filing to end the marriage with 37-year-old actress according to documents obtained by TMZ on Monday.

The 50-year-old Canadian actor made the filing back in January as the documents cited their date of separation as the 10th.

The two thespians do not have any children together and the reason for their separation is unclear as he checked the celeb-favorite 'irreconcilable differences' box.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the split couple is that they tied the knot in three separate ceremonies back in late 2021 which were highlighted by Brides at the time.

Split: The husband of One Tree Hill star Shantel VanSanten has filed for divorce after just 20 months of marriage and a whopping three wedding ceremonies; as they are seen in one of the images from Brides

Moving on: Her now estranged husband - fellow actor Victor Webster - made the filing to end the marriage with 37-year-old actress according to documents obtained by TMZ on Monday; the former couple are seen in March 2018

According to the publication, Victor had proposed on top of a mountain in February 2021 when they began planning two wedding ceremonies before circumstances caused them to add a third.

Their first ceremony took place in August of that year as they enjoyed an intimate courthouse wedding on the anniversary date of Shantel's grandparents after her grandfather passed away.

She explained to Brides: 'When my grandfather unexpectedly passed away on Fathers Day, the heartbreak was unbearable; I had been planning on him walking me down the aisle in Minnesota.

'In the midst of my grief, I looked at Victor and said I wanted to do a spontaneous civil ceremony on my grandparents wedding date, August 9. The idea of my grandparents being reunited and watching over our ceremony from above gave me some peace.

'They were married for 63 years had such a special, deep love. They were the example to me of how love is a choice and takes work. It wasnt perfect, but their love was always pure'

As if that already wasn't enough the couple were joined by 48 friends and family for a ceremony in wine country Napa, California.

Last but not least came the third gathering in Shantel's hometown of Luverne, Minnesota.

The theme of that wedding was vintage and prairie-inspired as she explained: 'We wanted to blend into the nature around Blue Mounds Park.

Bond: Their first ceremony took place in August of that year as they enjoyed an intimate courthouse wedding on the anniversary date of Shantel's grandparents after her grandfather passed away

Squad goals: As if that already wasn't enough the couple were joined by 48 friends and family for a ceremony in wine country Napa, California

Back to her roots: Last but not least came the third gathering in Shantel's hometown of Luverne, Minnesota

'The leaves on the trees were vibrant fall colors, so I wanted to play with those tones and let nature inspire the colors: dusty rose, mauve, blush, burgundy, beige, tan, caramel, and toffee.'

The duo met on set of 2017 TV film Love Blossoms and were just friends until their relationship took a romantic turn the following year.

Shantel is best known for portraying Quinn James on seasons seven through nine of One Tree Hill from 2009 to 2012.

She has also starred on television series including Shooter, The Boys, The Flash and For All Mankind and films including The Final Destination, You And I, Remembrance, and most recently American Murderer.

Victor has nearly 90 credits to his name including TV series Workin' Moms and films The Scorpion King 4: Quest For Power, Surrogate, and Bringing Down The House.

Loved up: The duo met on set of 2017 TV film Love Blossoms and were just friends until their relationship took a romantic turn the following year
Daniel Radcliffe has revealed he acted like an 'absolute d***' during a crucial kissing scene on the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

The 33-year-old actor, who played hero Harry, even apologised to cast mates Emma Watson, 32, and Rupert Grint, 34, for his behaviour after their characters Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley enjoyed a smooch in the 2011 fantasy flick.

Speaking in HBO special Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, Daniel explained: 'I did not make this [awkward situation] better, because I've been told significantly that I was just being an absolute d***,'.

He continued: 'and was like, 'I'm gonna come on set and watch you guys kiss. I'm sorry about that, guys'.

The final film in the series saw the young wizard finally defeat nemesis Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) with pals Hermione and Ron locking lips when they find themsleves trapped in the Chamber of Secrets.

Bad boy: Daniel Radcliffe, 33, has revealed he acted like an 'absolute d***' during a crucial kissing scene on the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Smooch: The 33-year-old actor, who played hero Harry, even apologised to cast mates Emma Watson, 32, and Rupert Grint, 34, for his behaviour after their characters Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley enjoyed a smooch (pictured) in the 2011 fantasy flick

Sorry guys! Speaking in HBO special Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts , Daniel explained: 'I did not make this [awkward situation] better, because I've been told significantly that I was just being an absolute d***,' (L-R) Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson pictured in the movie)

During the reunion show, actress Emma revealed she felt uncomfortable kissing her co-star because he felt like a brother to her after they all grew up working on the films together.

She said: 'Obviously us kissing was the most horrifying thing either of us have ever had to go through ... [It] felt wrong ... Everyone wanted to be on set for it. Cause everyone was like: 'This is gonna be good, guys'.'

She also opened up about having a crush on her co-star Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the wizard movie series and was three years older than her.

Emma recalled: 'I walked into the room where we were having tutoring.

The assignment that had been given was to draw what you thought God looked like, and Tom had drawn a girl with a backward cap on a skateboard.

'And I just don't know how to say it  I just fell in love with him. I used to come in every day and look for his number on the call sheet, it was number seven, and if his name was on the call sheet, it was an extra exciting day.'

Tom was 14 years old when the first Harry Potter movie came out in 2001, while Emma was just 11. They both starred in all eight Harry Potter films.

It comes after Emma revealed that everyone wanted to be on set to see her 'incest' moment with pal Rupert.

Making amends: Daniel continued: 'and was like, 'I'm gonna come on set and watch you guys kiss. I'm sorry about that, guys' (pictured on the 20th anniversary reunion)

Pals: Actress Emma also revealed she felt uncomfortable kissing Rupert because he felt like a brother to her after they all grew up working on the films together

Despite the character's kiss being a long time coming for fans, the two actor's involved said they felt like siblings after working together since the age of 11.

Back in 2012, Emma told Jonathan Ross: 'We did the kiss two weeks ago, and it was the most horrible thing I've ever had to do.

She continued: 'Not because Rupert isn't lovely, and there are millions of girls out there who would probably chop their left arm off to kiss him, but it just felt like incest. That's the only way I can describe it.

'The great thing about kissing is that you close your eyes, so it was fine when I was actually kissing him because I had my eyes closed. So I could not think about the fact that it was him.

'The worst bit is when we had to open our eyes and look at each other because then it was just like, and then we couldn't keep going.'

Speaking during the HBO reunion special, Return To Hogwarts, Emma and Rupert reminisced on their kiss and their thoughts on the scene haven't changed.

She said: 'Obviously us kissing was the most horrifying thing either of us have ever had to go through'

Awkward: It comes after Emma revealed that everyone wanted to be on set to see her 'incest' moment between her and pal Rupert

Close: Back in 2012, Emma told Jonathan Ross: 'We did the kiss two weeks ago, and it was the most horrible thing I've ever had to do'

Two decades after first hitting screens, the cast and crew of Harry Potter reunited for the 20th anniversary Return To Hogwarts special to deep dive into life behind the wizarding franchise.

In the special, which debuted on HBO Max, Sky and NOW TV in 2022, fans are treated to a mosey down memory lane helmed by lead actors Daniel, Emma and Rupert, as well as a slew of their dazzling co-stars and the brains behind the eight movies.

While the stars regaled tales of life on and off screen during their time in one of the biggest movie franchises of all time, notably absent was creator JK Rowling, who only appeared via archive footage in the wake of an ongoing row over her views on transgender issues.

Alongside the core trio, the line up includes Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange) and Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy).
Christina Hall cleared things up for people with the wrong impression about her home life.

The HGTV star, 39, who has a primary residence in Orange County and a second home in Franklin, Tennessee, felt compelled to clarify her living situation on her Instagram Stories on Friday.

She also insisted people who believe she 'left' or 'stole' her children were prescribing to 'false info.'

'For everyone confused... we do NOT live In Tennessee... we live in California... we have a second home in Tennessee.

'False info': Christina Hall cleared things up for people with the wrong impression about her home life

'For all those people thinking I left the kids or stole the kids... false info... we just frequently visit our home away from home.'

On Sunday, Christina also shared snaps of her family's Easter celebrations, which included plenty of chocolate and a visit from the Easter bunny.

'Easter 2023,' she captioned the slew of snaps. 'Complete with baby goats and baby chicks.'

She was joined by her husband Joshua Hall and her three children: daughter Taylor El Moussa, 12, and sons Brayden El Moussa, seven, and Hudson, three.

Christina shares Taylor and Brayden with Tarek El Moussa, her first husband, and son Hudson with Ant Anstead, her second husband.

She tied the knot with Joshua last year, just a year after divorcing Ant and four after the end of her marriage to Tarek.

Tarek is now married to Selling Sunset star Heather Rae El Moussa while Ant has been going strong with Renee Zellweger for the last two years.

In late 2022, Anstead and Hall finally settled their custody battle over Hudson, several months after Ant filed for filed for full custody of the child.

That'll settle it: Hall clarified her family situation on her Instagram Stories on Friday

Good times! Hall chronicled her family's Easter celebrations in Tennessee, which included a visit from the Easter Bunny

Aww! Hall's husband cuddled two baby goats

Following court-mandated mediation, the former couple agreed to 'continue to have joint legal and joint physical custody' as they previously agreed upon in June 2021.

The duo, who split in September 2020, will also follow a new holiday schedule with 'exceptions' to their initial arrangement, according to Page Six.

Last week, Ant revealed he had relinquished the oceanfront home in Orange County that served as a refuge during his divorce from Christina.

Sweet tooth! There was plenty of candy to go around

Too cute! Hudson held up an adorable baby chick

Affectionately nicknamed 'Temple House' by Anstead, the TV host, 44, sold the cottage earlier this year in an off-market deal after a buyer approached him with an offer, People reports.

'Temple is sold,' Anstead told the outlet.

'It came at the right time, for another property and a change in my personal life that I'm really pleased about,' he said. 'So I was like, yeah. I made the call there and then.'

He previously had it formally listed for $3.3 million in October 2022, before changing his mind and removing from the market.

The home also served as a retreat for Ant during his divorce from Christina.

'For me, it served as a sanctuary for that period, and that period's over,' he said. 'I'm in a really fantastic place. I feel very, very blessed to be where I am now, privately. For that purpose, Temple did its job.'

Former flame: Hall was embroiled in a custody dispute with Anstead (pictured 2019) over their son Hudson, but they settled the issue last year
Zoe Ball looked sensational as she enjoyed an Easter break with her family in sun-soaked Cyprus this week.

The Radio 2 host, 52, was joined on the trip by her siblings as well as TV legend dad Johnny, 84, who playfully posed up a storm for the camera.

Zoe slipped into a strapless black and white swimsuit and donned shades as she topped up her tan besides the pool.

Meanwhile Johnny, who was married to Zoe's mum Julia until 1972, entertained his grandchildren with games of dominoes before the family enjoyed a trip on a pedalo.

The former Play School host looked happier than ever in the sunshine with fans rushing to comment on his good health.

Family time: Zoe Ball, 52 (centre) slipped into a strapless swimsuit as she joined TV legend dad Johnny, 84 (right) and family on a sun-soaked family holiday in Cyprus this week

Loving life: The former Play School host looked happier than ever in the sunshine with fans rushing to comment on his good health

Game time: Johnny, who was married to Zoe's mum Julia until 1972, entertained his grandchildren with games of dominoes

Legend: Fans were thrilled to see Zoe's 'ageless' dad joining her on the trip

On wrote: 'Ahhhh your Dad looking so well. What a legend'.

While another jokingly said: 'Your Dad simply does not age - is he a robot?'.

Zoe captioned the snaps: 'My family & other other animals'.

Johnny was a regular fixture on children's television in the late 1970s and 1980s presenting several series of mathematic and technology programmes.

Zoe her DJ husband Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, announced in 2016 that they had 'come to the end of our rainbow' after 18 years of marriage.

However, the divorced couple are clearly on very warm terms still, with Cook, 59, crediting his former wife for keeping him down to earth when he was at the height of his fame.

He told the Changes podcast: 'One thing I did have to keep a lid on during that crazy time was my ego.

'While you've got licence to break rules, you've always got a lot of people who'll let you get away with murder.

Pose: Johnny appeared in high spirits during the trip

Fun in the sun: Later the family enjoyed a trip on a pedalo

Family time: Zoe captioned the snaps: 'My family & other other animals'

'Zoe was really good for me for that, because she knew the fame game and we would sort of check each other.

'If I wasn't respectful to people, she'd go: 'Oi, come on, that's not how we behave! Go back and thank them for that.'

'We were both quite good at keeping each other's feet on the ground. Because it's hard when everyone's saying: 'Here, have this, take this, drink this, you're brilliant.'

Tv Star: Johnny was a regular fixture on children's television in the late 1970s and 1980s presenting several series of mathematic and technology programmes (pictured on Play School in 1975)

'It's hard to keep some kind of limit and say: 'I am actually a human being, not a superstar.' I think we probably saved each other a lot of bother.'

It comes after Fatboy Slim revealed the shocking ritual he goes through before taking to the stage to perform.

The superstar DJ has a rather unorthodox request which his manager indulges in to make sure the musician is in the right frame of mind.

He requires a slap round the face to ensure he's alert and ready to go on stage for each gig.

Split: ZoeBall and her DJ husband Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, announced in 2016 that they had 'come to the end of our rainbow' after 18 years of marriage

Grounded: However, the divorced couple are clearly on very warm terms still, with Cook, 59, crediting his former wife for keeping him down to earth when he was at the height of his fame

'That transformation involves three Red Bulls, putting on a Hawaiian shirt, removing my shoes and being slapped really hard around the face by my tour manager, Al,' he said according to The Sun.

The ritual first came about when he went sober 14 years ago, with the smack taking the place of any drinks.

He explained: 'The slap replaces the cheeky vodka and orange or something else which used to get me on stage fighting.

'It just means all my adrenaline is there and I am in a fighting mood to perk me up.'
Kaia Gerber was spotted out enjoying a walk around her Los Feliz neighborhood with her good friend Travis Jackson on Monday.

The friends were walking one of the model's dogs and carrying on what appeared to be a spirited discussion as they got some fresh air.

The runway regular, 21, wore a pair of wide-legged black pants with an elastic waistband and a short-sleeved, cropped, cobalt blue t-shirt that showed off a glimpse of her toned tummy.

She slipped her feet into a pair of black and white Adidas shoes, wore sunglasses on her face and carried a green handbag over one shoulder and a blue ball cap in one hand.

Travis, meanwhile, wore a pair of loose, grey cotton shorts, a black, short-sleeved t-shirt, black socks and black and white Adidas.

Friendly stroll: Kaia Gerber was spotted out enjoying a walk around her Los Feliz neighborhood with her good friend Travis Jackson on Monday

The young actress' latest film project debuted at the South by Southwest Festival on March 11.

She stars in Bottoms, alongside Dagmara Dominczyk, 46, and Ayo Edebiri, 27.

The comedy, which is about two unpopular queer high school students who start a fight club to have sex before graduation, is being distributed by Amazon.

Her character is named Brittany.

'I love her because she is very dry, like me' the star explained to IMDB. 'She just lives in her own world and she is unapologetic about it.'

A release date has not yet been announced.

Kaia said her style icon growing up was not her mother, supermodel Cindy Crawford, 57, but British actress Jane Birkin, the mother of actress Charlotte Gainsborough, 51.

'She's just effortlessly cool and chic without trying... or it never looks like she's trying.'

Casual clothing: The runway regular, 21, wore a pair of wide-legged black pants with an elastic waistband and a short-sleeved, cropped, cobalt blue t-shirt that showed off a glimpse of her toned tummy

As far as her dating life goes, Kaia has been in a long-term relationship with Elvis actor Austin Butler, 31, since 2021.

They made their red carpet debut when they attended the 2022 Met Gala together last May.

The relationship began just one month after Kaia ended her prior 13-month relationship with Euphoria star Jacob Elordi.

Butler was previously in an eight year relationship with actress Vanessa Hudgens.

Sunny day: She slipped her feet into a pair of black and white Adidas shoes, wore sunglasses on her face and carried a green handbag over one shoulder and a blue ball cap in one hand

Last month, the couple took time out of their busy schedules to surprise sick kids at the Children's Hospital in Los Angeles.

The cover girl and the actor helped raise money during the hospital's annual Make March Matter fundraising campaign.

Kaia's parents, supermodel Cindy and Casamigos tequila founder Rande Gerber, 60, joined the couple on their philanthropic outing.

The proud father posted a photo of Kaia sitting at a round table while drawing pictures and talking to a young girl in a wheelchair.

He captioned the post, '"There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people" VVG (Vincent Van Gogh) As a dad, this makes me so proud. My girl @kaiagerber spending time with the kids @childrensla.'
James Marsden has recalled a 'bizarre experience' when he served jury duty which saw a lawyer praise his film performances in their opening statement.

The X-Men star, 49, whose show WestWorld was canceled in January, claimed he was left shocked when one of the lawyers involved in an 'eviction case' in an LA court told him they 'loved all his work' as they opened proceedings.

Marsden told People: 'I just served once before and it was a bizarre experience because it was here in L.A., and I walked into the courtroom and there was a wall of headshots of actors who have served jury duty before  in a government building!

'I was thinking in my mind, 'Well, if anybody recognizes me, then maybe I would be a distraction. I don't know. I wasn't really trying to get off jury duty.

'One of the lawyers' opening arguments  in the middle of an opening argument, he turned to me and he goes, "And I've loved everything you've done"'

Love it: James Marsden has recalled a 'bizarre experience' when he served jury duty which saw a lawyer praise his film performances in their opening statement (pictured last month)

Hmm: The X-Men star, 49, whose show WestWorld was canceled in Januar y, claimed he was left shocked when one of the lawyers involved in an 'eviction case' in an LA court told him they 'loved all his work' as they opened proceedings (stock image)

He added the comment made him want to quip 'Judge, I should go' but then he remembered 'it was a courthouse with a wall full of headshots so, they're gonna love that

Back in January Marsden revealed his disappointment at Westworld's cancellation in an interview with Rolling Stone.

The actor who played cowboy Teddy in the show, which HBO canceled back in November before the creators could wrap up the show with a fifth season.

Not only was the series canceled, but Warner Bros. Discovery announced last month that it would remove the show from its streaming service HBO Max.

'Id be lying to you if I told you that the way we ended Westworld wasnt a disappointment,' Marsden said in the interview.

'Im never going to speak without gratitude about any of my experiences, but it would have been nice to be able to complete the story we wanted to finish.'

He added that he loves his 'Westworld family' before adding that he would go home and watch the show as a fan as well.

'I totally understand its an expensive show and big shows have to have big audiences to merit the expense, I just wish it was about more than financial success,' he said.

Frustrated: Back in January James said he's upset with Westworld's cancellation in an interview with Rolling Stone (pictured in show with Evan Rachel Wood)

Critcally acclaimed: Westworld had earned an impressive nine Primetime Emmy awards throughout its run, as well as a total of 54 nominations

The Enchanted actor said he's holding out hope that the show may one day be finished.

'Maybe thats just wishful thinking, because I know we had plans to finish it the way we wanted to,' he added.

Westworld was reportedly canceled because of the high cost of producing the show.

It had been reported that season one carried a hefty budget of $88million, with the figure growing to $107million in season two.

The axing came during an 'ongoing evaluation of programming' with HBO's parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.

Westworld had earned an impressive nine Primetime Emmy awards throughout its run, as well as a total of 54 nominations.

It was launched by HBO back in 2016 as a prestige drama with high hopes of it becoming another long-running show amid the success of Game of Thrones, and boasted a stellar cast with Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins.

Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright and Thandiwe Newton were also part of the original cast.
Asher Keddie shared a heartfelt tribute to her artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo as they celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary on Monday.

The actress, 48, uploaded throwback photos from their beachside wedding ceremony on Fiji's Turtle Island, which had just one guest in attendance: Vincent's 11 year-old son, Luca, from a previous marriage.

'Can't believe how much we've done in 10 years... Happy anniversary love hearts... you're everything to me, and our little Valentini,' Asher wrote.

In one photo, Asher smiled and posed alongside her new husband as he carried his son.

The couple embraced one another as they posed on the sand with Luca in a second image.

Asher Keddie, 48, (right) shared rare photos from her intimate wedding in Fiji to artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo (left) to celebrate their 10th anniversary on Monday

Asher and Vincent tied the knot in the beachside ceremony on Fiji's Turtle Island in April 2014.

The couple went on to welcome a son of their own, Valentino, in March 2015.

They first met at Vincent's art studio in Melbourne in 2012, but he was running late and she was close to leaving.

The actress posted rare photos from their private beachside ceremony on Fiji's Turtle Island which had just one guest in attendance: Vincent's son, Luca, from a previous marriage

She told InStyle magazine: 'I saw this incredibly gorgeous but chaotic man come outside the building looking all around him frantically - I hadn't ever met him before but I recognised him from photos - and I thought, "Oh, my God, that's him!"

'Look, this is going to sound absolutely like a ridiculous movie scene but there's no point in playing it down.'

'It was one of those very special moments in life where we walked towards each other and both felt exactly the same thing, and that was, "Oh, right, I'm going to be with this person [forever]," before any words were even spoken.'

'Can't believe how much we've done in 10 years... Happy anniversary love hearts... you're everything to me, and our little Valentini,' Asher wrote

Asher and Vincent tied the knot in the beachside ceremony on Fiji's Turtle Island in April 2014. The couple went on to welcome a son of their own, Valentino, in March 2015

Vincent's famous works include striking portraits of Julia Gillard, Baz Luhrmann and Heath Ledger, with his work highlighting the depth of Ledger's mental struggle was revealed one month after his death in 2008.

The artist has a hotel in Brisbane named after him, which is filled with his paintings.

Vincent, a four-time Archibald People's Choice prize winning artist, likes to spend time with his subjects before painting them, adding a personal relationship to his creative idea before putting his brush on the canvas.
With a significant rise in housing sales post-Covid, real estate consultant Anarock has said unsold homes with developers across seven major cities fell 12 pc in the last five years, and time needed to clear these inventories have come down by half to just 20 months.

In its latest report, Anarock said unsold housing stocks have declined 12 per cent to 6,26,750 units at the end of January-March this year from 7,13,400 units as of March 31, 2018.

More importantly, Anarock said, inventory overhang (estimated time developers need to clear unsold inventories at current sales velocity) fell to 20 months from 42 months at the end of March 2018.

An inventory overhang of 18-24 months is normally considered healthy.

Anarock Chairman Anuj Puri attributed the drop in unsold stocks and inventory overhang to a surge in housing sales.

In Q1 of 2023, the top 7 cities recorded all-time high sales of more than 1.14 lakh units.

Strong home-ownership sentiment, relatively lower home loan rates, strong momentum in luxury housing, and the anticipation of further price hikes were major factors in boosting housing sales, Puri observed.

As per the data, Delhi-NCR remained the frontrunner in reducing overall inventory overhang in the last five years  from 66 months in Q1 2018 to 23 months in Q1 2023.

During the last five years, in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the inventory overhang has shrunk to 21 months from 55 months.

Bengaluru currently has the lowest inventory overhang of 13 months. Hyderabads inventory overhang was reduced to 21 months from 23 months. Pune builders will require 20 months to sell unsold stocks against 40 months five years ago.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will hold a series of meetings with leaders and top CEOs of France and Italy next week during his three-day visit to these two countries to further boost trade and investment ties.

The Minister will be on an official visit to France (Paris) and Italy (Rome) on April 11-13. He will be accompanied by a delegation of top Indian CEOs.

In France, Goyal along with Olivier Becht, Minister delegate of Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Government of France, will co-chair the India-France Business Summit on April 11, the commerce ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The summit will focus on various themes, including building a green future, emerging technologies, defence cooperation and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific regions, it added.

Goyal is also scheduled to meet with French business leaders across various sectors and will attend a CEOs roundtable.

Both Indian and French ministers will participate in an event that will showcase Indias cultural heritage and soft power and are expected to witness the participation of over 600 dignitaries from the French government, the Indian business diaspora in France and members of the French business community.

Goyal will also be interacting with members of the Indian community in Paris.

In Rome, the statement said, Goyal would meet Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

He is scheduled to meet top Italian CEOs for bilateral meetings followed by CEOs Interactive Business Session, where 35 CEOs are likely to participate, the ministry said, adding this would be followed by a meeting with Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, who would also interact with Indian CEOs.
Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund Temasek will acquire an additional 41 per cent stake in Manipal Health Enterprises for over Rs 16,300 crore (USD 2 billion), boosting its stake in one of India's largest hospital chains to 59 per cent.

Temasek will buy the stake from private equity firm TPG as well as Manipal founder Ranjan Pai's family, the companies said in a joint statement.

They did not disclose the financial details of the transaction.

Sources, however, said Temasek stake buyout would be for over Rs 16,300 crore valuing Manipal Health Enterprises (MHE) at around Rs 40,000 crore, making it the largest deal in the Indian healthcare sector.

Temasek, which already has an 11 per cent stake in Manipal, will increase its holding to 59 per cent after the transaction.

While TPG will fully exit, Pai's family will reduce stake from about 50 per cent to 30 per cent.

India's sovereign wealth fund, the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) too is selling its full stake to Temasek.

Manipal runs a chain of 29 hospitals in 16 cities, with 8,300 beds.

"We are very glad for Temasek's acquisition of a significant stake in Manipal Health Enterprises and its support to the management team in building out the platform to its full potential," Manipal Group Chairman Ranjan Pai said in a statement.

Investing in healthcare requires a long-term outlook as well as a sensitivity to social responsibility, he noted.

"I am glad that we have partners like Temasek and TPG who resonate with these values and will continue to be a part of the journey ahead.

"I am also grateful to NIIF who partnered with us at a critical juncture, at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic and supported us as we continued to provide high-quality healthcare," Pai added.

Headquartered in Bengaluru, Manipal Hospitals currently serves over 50 lakh patients a year through its network of 29 hospitals.
The Commonwealth represents one-third of humanity that needs urgent reform in its leadership to make it democratic

The world order has changed since the inception of the Commonwealth. It is the right time to take a fresh look into the working of the commonwealth and there is an urgent need to make a paradigm shift in its total approach towards the member countries. Recently in succeeding his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III not only takes over the leadership of the United Kingdom but also that of the Commonwealth. A British dynasty as head of the Commonwealth, a free association of 56 independent self-governing nations, has always been an embarrassment to democratic values and leaders. In today's democratic world, hereditary leadership has no place in any organization. A monarch from the United Kingdom can't be the head of the Commonwealth. As a confederation of states based on shared history and values, the Commonwealth represents one-third of humanity. All members share one common history which is the illegal occupation by Britain. Trying to delineate history from the Commonwealth is impossible. There is no organization like it when it comes to historical baggage. Due to its colonial heritage, it has always suffered from an imperial hangover which impedes its reformation.

The Commonwealth represents one-third of humanity that needs urgent reform in its leadership like Group 20 (G-20) which runs under the leadership of a rotating Presidency. The leadership of the Commonwealth should also be chosen under the leadership of a rotating Presidency of all member countries by a principle of rotation among its members in the appointment of its leader during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Rotation-based leadership is characterised by equality. This means that every member of the Commonwealth has the same rights with the same hierarchical level; there is no place for a King. It is also recommended that the office of the Commonwealth also operates from the Commonwealth's leader country till the period the country is in a leadership position.

There is a growing desire among the members of the Commonwealth to be free of any imperial aura associated with the British royal family that indicates the organisation's colonial origins as the British crown is the symbol of monarchy that has a very bloody history. Hereditary leadership cannot be tolerated by republic members who hold democratic values. And if the commonwealth doesnt agree with the reform of Democratic leadership then members have the right to leave this autocratic organization.

The subject of whether the leader of the organisation should be a natural leader in the contemporary democratic world has been raised again with Prince Charles' succession as head of the Commonwealth. In addition, the Chagos Archipelago territorial issue has favoured Mauritius and disadvantaged Britain. Britain's actions are not in the best interests of its leadership in a post-Brexit context because the Commonwealth is made up of numerous small island states, and the handling of Windrush immigrants has raised concerns between Britain and the 12 Caribbean countries. The Commonwealth must set boundaries between its colonial past and its present and adopt a new perspective. It would be nothing less than a colonial artefact if the smaller states are unable to relate to the ideology and values of the organisation.

The Commonwealth needs to be redesigned, and more significantly, its power base needs to be decentred from London. The organisation can capitalise on a variety of shared risks and opportunities in the absence of a direct common threat without having to resort to its dismal past.

Fostering an effective alliance based on equality and sovereignty that can deliver an ambitious agenda for its members requires fresh and proactive leadership. Therefore, we advocate rotating leadership instead of automatic succession as in the past, but what's more important than the nominal figurehead of the Commonwealth is its actual leadership, and the UK is no less aligned on this issue. Today, the UK's political leaders lack both the willingness and the capacity to lead the Commonwealth, as they are far removed from their historic power positions.

Developing a positive Commonwealth and updating its mission to allow its members to flourish as equal partners in today's environment is a tall order that will require new leadership.

In the world of today, India is a growing force that will have a profound impact on how the world looks in the future. For more than a century, India was the jewel in the Crown of Britains global colonial empire. The idea of the jewel becoming the bearer of the crown may be called for if the nobler of the many diverse values of old are to continue. As a strong and able nation, India is capable of leading if properly supported and guided. Reshaping the Commonwealth as a force for global progress is an opportunity it should not miss given its ambition to play a broader role in world affairs.

(The writer is the Chairman of the Dalmia Group of Companies. Views expressed are personal)
The freedom of the press is critically important to protect the foundation of democracy, writes Bishal Kumar Saha

India, one of the world's largest democracies, has been witnessing a disturbing trend in recent years  a steady decline in its ranking in the World Freedom Index. The country's rank has deteriorated from 112 in 2016 to 150 in 2022. It is not surprising that India's ranking is deteriorating sharply when the government is making blatant efforts to oppress the media's free voices at any cost. The Indian government's heavy-handed approach towards the media has been a cause of concern for the last few decades. The country has witnessed a series of attacks on journalists.The government has also been accused of using various tactics to suppress dissenting voices, including imposing restrictions on the media, detaining journalists, and shutting down social media platforms. One of the most significant challenges faced by the Indian media today is the threat of defamation lawsuits. The government has used these lawsuits as a means to silence journalists and media outlets critical of its policies.

The lawsuits are often frivolous, and the damages demanded are exorbitant, which leads to self-censorship among journalists and media outlets. In addition, The use of surveillance and counter-terrorism laws, such as NSA (National Security Agency) UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and Sedition law as conventional weapons to silence dissent and intimidate those who speak out against the government. Such laws are meant to be used for legitimate national security purposes, and should not be abused to stifle dissent or intimidate the press. The Indian government has also been using its regulatory powers to stifle media freedom.

It has been accused of selectively targeting news outlets critical of the government, imposing fines, and suspending broadcast licenses. The government has also used its control over state-run media to shape public opinion and suppress dissent. The government's attempts to control the narrative have also extended to social media platforms. In recent years, the government has asked social media platforms to take down content it deems objectionable. The government has also proposed new regulations that give it more power to regulate social media platforms, which has raised concerns about censorship and free speech. The pathetic situation of media freedom in India is a matter of great concern.

Free and independent media is essential for the functioning of a healthy democracy. It serves as a watchdog, holding those in power accountable and informing citizens about the issues that affect their lives. Recently, The Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment in support of press freedom and ordered the government to refrain from taking any action that would impede the functioning of Media One or Madhyamam. The Supreme Court's decision is a decisive step in the right direction towards upholding this fundamental right and ensuring that journalists can work independently and without fear of retribution.

The court noted that free and independent media is essential for the functioning of a democratic society and that any attempt to curb press freedom is a threat to the foundations of democracy. A vibrant and free media landscape is also necessary for the free flow of information, which is critical for an informed citizenry.

The Indian government must recognize the importance of media freedom and take steps to protect it. It must stop using its regulatory powers to stifle dissent and impose restrictions on the media. Instead, it should work towards creating an environment that fosters free and independent media. The use of laws like the UAPA and NSA to stifle free speech and dissent should be scrutinized and challenged, and efforts should be made to ensure that they are not misused for political purposes.

(The writer is a researcher)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will embark on a six-day visit to Uganda and Mozambique beginning Monday to explore ways to expand Indias ties with the two countries.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), announcing the visit, said on Sunday that Jaishankars first destination would be Uganda.

The external affairs minister will visit Uganda from April 10-12. During the visit, he is expected to hold delegation level talks with his counterpart Foreign Minister of Uganda General Jeje Odongo, call on leadership of the country and meet other ministers, the MEA said.

It said Jaishankar will also inaugurate a transit campus of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Jinja.

An MoU between India and Uganda on setting up of the first ever campus of NFSU outside India, is likely to be signed during the visit.

The MEA said Jaishankar will also participate in the ground-breaking ceremony of a solar powered water supply project in Uganda.

He will also address the trade and business community of Uganda and have an interaction with the Indian diaspora.

The MEA said Jaishankar will visit Mozambique from April 13 to 15, adding it will be the first-ever visit by an external affairs minister of India to Mozambique.

During the visit he will call on top leadership and also co-chair the fifth session of the Joint Commission Meeting with Mozambican Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo.

Jaishankar is also expected to meet several other ministers and representatives of the Assembly of Mozambique.

He will also interact with the Indian diaspora based in Mozambique.

The external affairs ministers visit to Uganda and Mozambique is expected to further strengthen Indias strong bilateral relations with these two countries, the MEA said.
A Pakistani intruder was shot dead along the line of control (LOC) in Poonch district of Jammu & Kashmir while two others were captured alive by Indian Army in the wee hours on Sunday.

The trio, according to the Indian army authorities, belonged to the narco terror group. During the search operations the army also recovered three bags with fourteen packets of Narcotics weighing approximately 17 kgs, Pakistan currency, some documents, and eatables.

According to a Jammu based Defence spokesperson,during the preliminary questioning of the two intruders who have been apprehended alive, all three intruders are residents of Maidan Mohalla, village of Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (POJK) Chanjal. Sharing details of the operation, the Defence spokesman said, at around 10.15 p.m late Saturday night alert troops deployed on the Line of Control in the Poonch Sector observed a suspicious movement of a group (three individuals) close to the Line of Control. At around midnight the group crossed the Line of Control and started infiltrating on their own side.

The Indian army troops deployed on the fence challenged the infiltrators. As the intruders started to run away, they were engaged by fire, in which one intruder was shot dead, while the other two managed to run into the jungle taking advantage of the thick foliage and rocky outcrop. Defence spokesman said, in order to prevent their escape across the line of control the entire area was immediately cordoned off.

At first light fresh search operations were launched wherein the dead body of one intruder was recovered at the encounter site.

As the search progressed in the jungle, one intruder was apprehended alive in wounded condition. In the subsequent search the third intruder was also apprehended alive, Defence spokesman added.
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday said Rahul Gandhi must respond to the serious charge made by former Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad that he has alleged ties with "undesirable businessmen".

Prasad, a former Union minister, also sought to know if Gandhi was trying to weaken the country at the behest of anti-India businessmen.

"Ghulam Nabi Azad has made a serious allegation that whenever Rahul Gandhi goes on a foreign tour, he meets many 'unwanted businessmen', Prasad told reporters here.

"Who are these 'unwanted traders' and what are their interests? Is Rahul Gandhi trying to weaken India at the behest of anti-India businessmen and working against Modi ji (PM Narendra Modi)?," he said.

Prasad also wondered why Gandhi is maintaining a stoic silence over the alleged involvement of Congress leaders in a number of scams.

Revelations made by Azad are serious in nature... Rahul Gandhi needs to clarify, the senior BJP leader said.

In a recent interview with Malayalam News channel Asianet News, Azad, referring to the Gandhi family, said, "The entire family has associations with businessmen, including him (Rahul). I can give you 10 examples of where he would go even outside the country, to meet people who are undesirable businessmen."

Gandhi on Saturday took a swipe at some leaders who have quit the Congress in recent years and some of whom have joined the BJP, while keeping up his offensive against the government over the Adani issue.
It appears that all is not well in the Rajasthan Congress. With Assembly election months away, factionalism is rearing its head with Congress leader Sachin Pilot opening a new front against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

In a sign of escalating tussle in the partys State unit ahead of Assembly polls, Pilot on Sunday alleged that the Gehlot-led Government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the BJP rule in Rajasthan and announced a day-long fast to press for action.

Without referring to Pilots demand, the Congress issued a statement in Delhi that Gehlot as Chief Minister has implemented schemes that have benefited people and the party will seek a renewed mandate later this year on the strength of these landmark achievements and the collective efforts of our organisation.

The move by former Deputy Chief Minister to open the new front against Gehlot amid the factional fighting is seen as an attempt to pressure the high command to resolve the leadership issue ahead of the year-end Assembly polls.

No action was taken (by the Gehlot Government) on the corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje Government.

While in the Opposition, we promised an inquiry into the mines scam of Rs 45,000 crore, Pilot said at a Press meet at his residence here, announcing a hunger strike on Tuesday.

He said he wrote to Gehlot last year on the issue but did not get any answer to his letters.

With six seven months left for the elections, the opponents can spread an illusion that there is some collusion. Therefore, action will have to be taken soon so that the Congress workers feel that there is no difference between our words and actions, he said.

He also showed videos of statements of Gehlot in the Assembly and outside in which he had levelled corruption allegations against the previous BJP Government. He said he will observe a day-long fast at Shaheed Smarak on April 11, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule who was from the Saini community to which Gehlot belongs.

Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads over the post of the Chief Minister ever since the Congress formed the Government in Rajasthan in December 2018. The Opposition BJP said Pilot should also demand an investigation into the alleged corruption during the Congress Governments tenure.

Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said in a statement that the infighting between the Chief Minister and his former Deputy has increased to such an extent that now Pilot will sit on hunger strike against his own Government.

While a section of Congress leaders supported Pilots demand, others claimed it would inflict great harm to the party in the upcoming election, particularly when it is working on a strategy to repeat its Government in the State.

In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Congress Government in Rajasthan with Gehlot as CM has implemented a large number of schemes and taken many new initiatives that have impacted the people profoundly.

This has given the State a leadership position in governance in our country. The Bharat Jodo Yatra in Rajasthan was an outstanding success made possible by the dedication and determination of the party organisation in the State, he said.

Later in the year, the Congress will seek a renewed mandate from the people on the strength of these landmark achievements and the collective efforts of our organisation, Ramesh said.

In July 2020, Pilot and a section of party MLAs rebelled openly, demanding a leadership change in the State. It led to a one-month-long political crisis that ended after assurance by the party high command to look into the issues raised by Pilot.

The former Deputy Chief Minister said Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had given him the responsibility of the party in the state and he, along with other leaders, had opposed the wrong policies of the then BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje.

He said the Congress as a responsible Opposition had raised the issue of corruption because of which the BJP was voted out of power. He said the State Government has a zero tolerance policy for corruption and to further strengthen it, transparent and effective action should have been taken.

Now six-seven months are left for the election, the opponents can spread confusion that there is some collusion, Pilot said.

He said he never called for any malicious action but the credibility that the Congress had built as the Opposition party has to be maintained. Gehlot and I had made allegations together. How will we know it is true until there is a fair investigation. If it comes out in the investigation that no one was guilty, we will accept that Gehlot and I were liars.

But until a case is registered, how will people believe that the allegations made by us are true or false, Pilot said.

He said it was one of the suggestions he had given to the party high command.

Pilot has been often, though in a subtle manner, demanding the party leadership to take action on issues raised by him.

Following the revolt by Pilot and 18 other MLAs in 2020, Gehlot used terms like gaddar, nakara, nikamma for his former deputy and accused him of being involved with the BJP leaders in a conspiracy to topple the Congress Government.

A few days before Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Rajasthan from Madhya Pradesh, Gehlot had again targeted Pilot, calling him gaddar in an interview with a news channel in November last year.

Pilot responded to it, saying it was not his upbringing to use such language.

Pilots demand to order a probe and take action in the alleged mining scam during the previous BJP government and other corruption allegations was supported by State Cabinet Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas.

Khachariyawas was the Jaipur Congress president when Pilot was the PCC chief and used to be at the forefront with him in raising the corruption issue. He was in the Pilot camp but during Pilots revolt against Gehlot in 2020, Khachariyawas switched to the Gehlot camp.

He said whatever Pilot has pointed out is right, and action against corruption should be taken.

Pilot is an asset for the party and Rahul Gandhi has said this... I would also speak to the chief minister and say that we should take action, Khachariyawas said.

Another Congress leader said Pilots announcement was also a kind of revolt against Gehlot and this would certainly harm the party.

At a time when the Congress Government is leaving no stone unturned to retain power in the upcoming elections, Pilots announcement to sit on Anshan will definitely send a wrong message among the masses. This should be avoided, the Congress leader said.

Pilot supporters said issues raised by the leader before the party high command have not been addressed so far, which has left him disappointed.

They said the party workers wanted Pilot to be the Chief Minister.

Pilot had a major contribution in bringing Congress to power in 2018. As the PCC chief, he worked hard to revive the party and because of him, the party got a majority of seats in eastern Rajasthan but he was not given the rightful share in the government, a Pilot supporter claimed.
India is a country where protecting nature is part of culture We do not believe in conflict between ecology and economy, but give importance to coexistence between the two, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted while releasing the much-awaited tiger census data, Status of Tigers in India, 2022, in Mysuru on Sunday.

The census report, released on the silver jubilee of Project Tiger, shows the numbers of the big cats has increased from around 2,967 tigers in 2018 to 3,167 in 2022, up by 6.74 per cent, even as it flags concerns that the local tiger population has become extinct in several areas, including Sri Venkateswara National Park, Tiger Reserves like Kawal, Satkosia and Sahyadri, while stressing the need to avoid negative human-tiger interactions. According to the data, the tiger population was 1,411 in 2006, 1,706 in 2010, 2,226 in 2014.

Population increase is substantial in Shivalik and Gangetic floodplain, followed by central India, north-eastern hills, Brahmaputra flood plains and Sundarbans, while Western Ghats population showed decline.

Attributing the increase in the number of tigers to the countrys culture of protecting the nature, the Prime Minister reiterated that the success of Project Tiger has many dimensions and it has led to an increase in tourist activity, awareness programmes and a reduction in man-animal conflicts in tiger reserves. The presence of big cats has made a positive impact on the lives and ecology of the local people everywhere, Modi added.

Modi also launched the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and released a booklet Amrit Kaal Ka Tiger Vision, presenting the vision for tiger conservation in the next 25 years. He said the protection of wildlife is a universal issue, adding that IBCA was Indias endeavour for the protection and conservation of seven big cats: Tigers, leopards, cheetahs, lions, snow leopards, puma and jaguars.

Cheetahs had become extinct in India decades ago. We brought this magnificent big cat to India from Namibia and South Africa. This is the first successful transcontinental translocation of the big cat, Modi said.

At the inaugural session of the commemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger, the PM also released a `50 coin. Around 97 countries can be member states of the IBCA and it will focus on preventing the extinction of big cats due to various threats, including climate change. It will drive benchmarking of big cat conservation practices and create a corpus of funds for conservation of big cats.

Modi, earlier in the day, went on a safari at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka amidst the picturesque surroundings of the towering Western Ghats, as part of programmes to mark 50 years of Project Tiger.

Dressed in a speckled safari clothing and hat, he reportedly covered about 20 kilometres in an open jeep inside the tiger reserve, located partly in Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagar district, and partly in H D Kote and Nanjangud taluks of Mysuru district. Spent the morning at the scenic Bandipur Tiger Reserve and got a glimpse of Indias wildlife, natural beauty and diversity, Modi tweeted with some pictures of the safari.

During his speech at the event, the PM said, India with just 2.4 per cent of the worlds land area, contributes about 8 percent of the known global diversity. It is the largest tiger range country in the world. With nearly 30,000 elephants, we are the largest Asiatic elephant range country in the world. Our rhino population of nearly 3,000 makes us the largest single-horned rhino country in the world.

India is the only country to have Asiatic lions, and their population has increased from around 525 in 2015 to 675 in 2020, he said, adding that the leopard population is up by 60 per cent in a span of four years. Also, endangered aquatic species have shown improvement by measures like cleaning of rivers and water bodies.

Modi also visited the Theppakkadu elephant camp at Mudumalai in the hilly Nilgiris district and interacted with Bellie and Bomman, the elephant caretakers who featured in an Oscar-winning documentary.

The number of tiger reserves has gone up from 28 in 2006 to 51 today. India had 2,967 tigers in 2018, or 7 out of every 10 big cats in the wild in the world, according to the All-India Tiger Estimation Results released in 2019. Madhya Pradesh had the highest number with 526 tigers (308 in 2014), followed by 524 (406) in Karnataka and 442 (340) in Uttarakhand. What initially started with nine tiger reserves now spans 53 such protected areas.

However, experts noted that the growing number of tigers in the country will inevitably lead to more man-animal conflicts as the predators venture out for prey as well due to fighting for territory among them. So far this year, the country has already lost 52 big cats. Last year the mortality figure was 121.

The report itself rings alarm bells as it says that no doubt big cats have occupied new areas in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the local tiger population has become extinct in several areas, Sri Venkateswara National Park, including Tiger Reserves like Kawal, Satkosia and Sahyadri.

While the expansion of tiger habitats is a positive development, there is a need to pay attention and act quickly in these areas to reverse the trend of extinction of small populations and avoid negative human-tiger interactions, says the report.

It has called for serious conservation efforts to help tiger population recovery in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The small and genetically unique population of tigers in Simlipal is a priority for conservation. Wildlife habitats in the region face various threats, including habitat encroachment, illegal hunting, conflicts with humans, unregulated cattle grazing, excessive harvesting of non-timber forest products, forest fires, mining, and expanding infrastructure, as per the report.

SP Yadav, head of Project Tigers admitted that there are several tiger reserves where the tiger population has reached their carrying capacity, like Corbett, Kanha, Pench, Bandhavgarh, Tadoba Andheri, Ranathambhore and 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.
Rajeev Nath, Managing Director, Hindustan Syringes & Medical Device Ltd and forum coordinator, The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD), while speaking to Health Pioneer, rues that the domestic medical devices sector is being given step-motherly treatment and suggests ways to boost the segment which played a pivotal role during Covid pandemic

India imported medical devices worth Rs 63,200 crore in 2021-22, up 41 per cent from Rs 44,708 crore in 2020-21 and this is not a good sign for Indian manufacturers. Even Budget 2023 didnt provide much relief to the sector. There seems to be a stalemate in this regard. Whereas, globally, other countries are doing better with their own consortiums/ groups in the MedTech sector.

With the majority of the devices being imported, the way out for Indian manufacturers is very limited. We are seeking policy clarity because if the government really has no wish to provide tariff protection or to make it profitable for manufacturing of medical devices in the country then the people who are importing will keep on importing then there is no point in trying to invest money in putting up factories.

What we noticed is that post Covid the imports have come down for the covid critical medical devices as demand fell , not for all but quite a few of them, at the same time there's been a steep increase of the import of non-covid medical devices.

There have been many cases where the imports have gone up from 25% to 152% which is extremely alarming and the government needs to seriously consider tariff and non-tariff barriers to address this particular issue as a tit for tat policy otherwise India will always be 80% import dependent. We've seen the gains done in the toy industry using non-tariff barriers, we've seen the gains done in the mobile phone industry and consumer electronics for using tariff barriers, a mix of both I would say are required in case of medical devices.

The Indian medical devices factories are audited by the Indian Certification bodies and then inspected by SLA but there is no Indian Regulators or Certification Body doing inspection or audit of the companies in China or the other countries and its easier and faster to get an import License than a manufacturing License from CDSCO. That is not a level playing field, the domestic manufacturers do need a level playing field.

However, if the government starts implementing what parliament health committee has suggested and thats what AiMeD has also been recommending then there is definitely hope that what is 80% import dependency can convert into 60% market share for Indian manufacturers with even 70% of the recommendations of Parliament being implemented. The most important strategic recommendations made by the Parliamentary committee on Health are:

To have a separate law for Medical Devices separate from Drugs Act

Have a separate medical devices department considering these are engineering products not chemicals like in the case of pharmaceuticals

The third area is the issue of review of tariff structure

The area of review of the trade margins and the price control mechanisms to protect consumers and to support ethical marketing

Another area which the parliament has recommended is the case of having a research linked incentive scheme and they've also recommended widening the scope of PLI scheme to cover more medical devices, lower investments as well as to cover critical components and raw materials which are key to manufacturing certain medical devices in the country

The Medical Device policy by itself has been on the anvil under discussion since 2014, multiple drafts have been made but the strong imports lobby manages to get the announcement delayed.

In the area of public procurement also it's important that the government needs to incentivize procurement by quality-based selection criteria rather than just the lowest price criteria, so to have an objective quality certification like ICMED ( Indian Certification for Medical Devices by QCI) as a criteria or Design India certification from DPITT as a criteria to promote R&D and indigenisation.

We are unaware of the reasons why the government is shying away from providing the much-needed nominal custom duty protection to support investments in the medical devices sector to address the 80% import dependency. While it is understandable that the government seeks to protect consumers and would like to ensure that they access medical devices at a low nominal cost then capping of MRP over the imports landed price is more impactful for consumers, also equally important is the issue of healthcare security of the country which was shown when Covid came and the government had to resort to lockdowns so that manufacturing of medical devices could be done to provide support to the healthcare infrastructure and the healthcare facilities in the country as supply chains internationally got disrupted.

We request kind consideration of the government for encouraging domestic manufacturing to be sustainable and as an attractive proposition in long term for becoming AtmaNirbhar to address national healthcare security needs exposed at the onset of Covid and for Ease of Doing business.
A 30-year-old woman who had suffered a miscarriage after allegedly being shot at by her neighbour in outer Delhis Siraspur died at a city hospital, police here said on Sunday.

Ranju was allegedly shot at by her neighbour, identified as Harish, on April 3 after she objected to loud music being played during a function at his home, they said.

The womans condition was stated to be critical. She was undergoing treatment at a city hospital. We received information from the hospital on Saturday that she had succumbed to her injuries, a senior police officer said.

Following her death, the police have added Section 302 (murder) to the FIR, he said.

Harish and his friend Amit, whose gun was used to commit the crime, have been arrested, the police said. The police received a PCR call regarding a firing incident in Siraspur on April 3. After reaching the spot, it was found that Ranju had been admitted to Max Hospital in Shalimar Bagh. Doctors at the hospital told the police that she had suffered a gunshot injury in her neck and was unfit to give a statement.
On the run for 22 days now, the pro-Khalistan Sikh preacher and Waris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh is still out of Punjab polices reach. Notwithstanding massive manhunt launched by the Punjab Police  not only in Punjab but also in other states of Haryana, Delhi, Utttrakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, Amritpal and his close aide Papalpreet Singh have managed to escape the police dragnet at several occasions.

No less than 5000 policemen have till date conducted search operations at 150 bus stands and 300 dears in five states, but to no avail.

NRI Detained, Released Later

Meanwhile, the Punjab police on Sunday detained an NRI, identified as Jaswinder Singh Pangli, in connection to a probe into the radical preachers escape from Hoshiarpur district  claiming to have seized crucial evidence against the fugitive Khalistan sympathizer.

Pangli  a resident of Jagatpur Jatta village near Phagwara  is the first arrest made by the Punjab Police after Amritpals escape from Maranaia village in Hoshiarpur. As per reports, the police has also arrested several others in connection with this case and are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the great escape.

However, by the evening, Pangli was released within 24 hours as the police failed to furnish any evidence against him in the Hoshiarpur court on Sunday afternoon.

In the court, NRIs counsel Tanhir Singh Baryana told that Jaswinder Singh was arrested based on suspicion in the case of Amritpal Singh but the police did not find any evidence in this regard, due to which the court released Jaswinder Singh.

Later talking to the media, NRI Jaswinder Singh Pangli said that he has nothing to do with Amritpal Singh.

Amritpal has been absconding since Punjab Police initiated a massive crackdown against his Waris Punjab De outfit on March 18. In Punjab, Amritpal was last traced to Maranaia village in Hoshiarpur on March 28. Following his escape, the Hoshiarpur Police has been continuously conducting search operations to catch him, especially in deras, gurdwaras, and other religious places.

As the Punjab police is also working in close liaison with the other states, and keeping a close watch on Amritpal, his last location was traced at Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh over a week back. Upon investigation, the police found that the CCTV footage of the Mohanpur Gurdwara in Pilibhit, up to the evening of March 25, were missing.

On March 30, Joga Singh, who was a kar-sevak at the gurdwara, was arrested following the discovery of an abandoned vehicle near Phagwara on March 28. The police had already arrested the driver of the vehicle, Gurwant Singh.

Security Beefed Up

Ahead of Baisakhi celebrations amid the circulation of an unverified video of Waris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh urging the followers to spread the word of a big congregation on Baisakhi to discuss issues before the Sikh community, Punjab police has beefed up the security arrangements in Bathinda, especially around Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo.

The states Additional Director General of Police Surinder Pal Singh said that the security arrangement is a positive message that the situation on-ground is normal. We want more and more people to visit the state on Baisakhi. It will send out a positive message that the situation is normal in Punjab. No restrictions have been imposed, he said.

Already, the police has cancelled leaves of all the its personnel, and those who were on leave have been called back. Police sources say that the state force is working as a part of the strategy to arrest Amritpal as there is strong possibility that he would try to enter the state around Baisakhi.

The police have also installed strong blockades at strategic locations like Ajnala, Attari, Ramdas, Khemkaran, Patti, Bhikhiwind, Baba Bakala, among others.

Earlier, on April 2, amid speculations that Amritpal Singh was likely to surrender at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Parminder Singh Bhandal said that if the Khalistan leader wants to surrender, they will help him do so in accordance with the law.

Earlier, the fugitive Khalistan leader purportedly appeared in a new video saying that he was not a fugitive and will soon appear in front of the world. He had also urged the Akal Takht jathedar to convene Sarbat Khalsa  a massive congregation of the entire Sikh community  which has been virtually rejected by him. The jathedar (head priest) of the Sikhs highest temporal seat, Akal Takht, has, in fact, gave a call for the three-day annual celebrations at Takht Damdama Sahib, while making it clear that this was not a call for Sarbat Khalsa.
BJP's state in-charge, party's chief whip in Rajya Sabha MP Laxmikant Vajpayee reached Jharkhand to participate in BJP Halla Boll programme. Party workers from 32,000 villages will gather in Ranchi on April 11 to participate in halla boll programme which is gherao of state secretariat. The BJP agitation is to remind the Hemant Soren government of its promises and poor law and order situation in state.

Talking to reporters at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport, he said that the time has come to throw out Hemant Soren's government from the state. He said that we will go among the public and inform them about the misdeeds of the government. On termination of Lok Sabha membership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the BJP leader said that BJP has no role in termination of Rahul Gandhi membership, but Lok Sabha acted in terminating the membership after Surat Court judgment. He said the matter is in court.

He said that now BJP workers will work to remove the present government in a constitutional manner and the Halla bol programme is in this direction. Jharkhand BJP will gherao the Jharkhand cabinet on April 11 as per the schedule. The entire party is engaged in its preparations. BJP state in-charge Laxmikant Vajpayee will also inquire about the preparations for this programme. Party officials claim that the gherao of the Jharkhand ministry on April 11 will be a historic gherao. Talking about the preparations for this movement, big banners written with the slogans Hemant Hatao, Jharkhand Bachao have started being put up at the square-intersections. Hoardings are being put up at every square of Ranchi

State President Deepak Prakash said in the press conference in the past that after the block and district level demonstrations, BJP workers will now force Hemant Sarkar to leave the throne with a huge demonstration in the capital according to the public sentiment of the state. He said that the April 11 demonstration and the Secretariat siege would be historic. People from all sections including farmers, laborers, youth, women, tribals, Dalits, backward classes will participate in this.

Preparations are being made for organizing the programme. Party officials said that on April 11, the present government will come to know what is the attitude of the public towards the government. The rule of the government here for three years has been bad governance. This government is going to strike the hearts of the unemployed. It is a government that snatches employment. It is a government full of destruction. The public is also hurt and wants to get rid of this government.

Party workers from 32,000 villages will gather in Ranchi on April 11 in a booth-level meeting. To remind the Hemant Soren government of its promises and against the bad situation happening in the state, BJP workers will organize a gherao program in Ranchi on this day. The BJP president claimed that BJP workers from 32,000 villages of the state will reach Ranchi in this gherao demonstration. Hemant Sarkar will be reminded of his election promises through the gherao demonstration.
The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) will stage a protest before employment offices of all districts in Chhattisgarh on April 24 against the unemployment allowance announced by the government.

BJYM state President Ravi Bhagat said all those registered with employment exchanges should be given the allowance. The arrears of the last four years should also be paid. Congress spokesperson Dhananjay Singh Thakur said there was no logic in the protest when the scheme was being implemented. The BJYM should direct its protest against the Central government as more than 30 lakh posts were lying vacant in the country.


PNS



: A two-day 14th triennial General Council meeting of the Employees ' Union of the Bank of India, State unit, began at Keonjhar on Saturday and the theme of the meet was 'Changing global economy and role of trade union.'



Bank of India Employees' Federation general secretary Dinesh Jha Lalan inaugurated the programme. Reception Committee chairman Suresh Patnaik delivered the welcome address and Ambedkar Foundation, New Delhi member Dilip Behera joined as chief guest.



All India Bank Employees' Union general secretary Vikram Kumar Mishra, Comrade Ramakrishna Panda, State Bank Employees Union general secretary PK Tripathy, ST, SC and OBC Employees Association secretary Hari Shankar Nayak attended the programme as guests of honour.



General secretary Pravir Kumar Ghose read out the annual report. More than 300 delegates from all over Odisha attended.
The Border Security Force Director General of New Delhi Dr.Sujay Lal Thausen has visited the BSF Training Centre and School Meru. As the DG reached to the centre the Inspector General of Centre cum commandant Inderjeet Singh Rana welcomed the DG in Shane-Magadh guest house of the centre.

After receiving the Guard of Honour the chief guest was reached to the administrative building meet with the all officers of the centre. In the introductory session the DG briefed the officers and discussed on

the important issues and issued some direction to the officers.

The DG Thausenwas visited the whole area of the centre. He has visited STC ( Subsidiary Training Centre ) and took the stocks of the different activities and the different equipments in the centre.

A conference was conducted in Priya hall of the centre with the jawans and officers. In the conference the DG BSF said in his speech that Border Security Force has glorious history in which The BSF trained

the Bangladesh Mukti Vahini during Indo Pak war 1971. He has also mentioned the achievements and challenges of training related resources in BSF.

DG while addressing the personnel said that the institute needs to be better prepared to tackle all training related challenges in order to deliver quality training.

The Inspector General cum Commandant Inderjeet Singh Rana said that the Meru training centre and school has been recognized as the best centre at National and International level with the ISO9001:2015.

He further said that this centre trained the jawans in Counter Emergency, Counter Terrorism, Field Engineering and explosive.

We are also providing the training to the jawans of friendly countries and state police jawans. At the time of opening this centre the Basic training was provided by the Meru training centre and school Meru.


The Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) on Sunday said it has not yet decided to support the bandh called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in state on April 10.

CCCI President Amar Parwani said the killing of a youth after a communal dispute in a village of Bemetara needed to be condemned. It also raises questions on the security system.

He stated the CCCI expresses its sympathies to the family of the young man who was killed. A security personnel was also injured.

The VHP has called a Chhattisgarh Bandh on April 10. It has sought support from the Chamber.

The Chamber urged the state government to take concrete steps to counter communal riots.

On Saturday, one person was killed and three policemen were injured in a clash between members of two communities.
Chhattisgarh Leader of Opposition Narayan Chandel on Sunday urged the government to provide data of Central government schemes funding from 2019 till date (2023) and its utilization.

He also sought to know further steps taken to minimize loan amount of Rs 27,000 on each citizen, imposing a ban on liquor as pledged and details of budgetary allocation for the flagship programmes Narva, Garwa, Ghurwa aur Baari (NGGB).

He demanded details on jobs given to youth, reduction of land holdings of farmers, and fulfilment of pledges taken for regularisation, pay hike, announcement of dearness allowance and compassionate appointment of officers and employees.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that timely and quality education as well as education that values culture, tradition and nationality is alone meaningful.

Emphasising that it is crucial for the development of a students personality, he added that it is the responsibility of the educational institutions to also inform students about those schemes of the government that can help them achieve their goals.

Chief Minister Yogi was addressing the inauguration/foundation ceremony 'Abhyudaya' of Maniram-based Delhi Public School (DPS) in Gorakhpur, as the chief guest on Sunday.

He said that when the whole world was battered by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, India came up with the new National Education Policy, which opens doors of possibilities for institutions like DPS.

The chief minister said that Indian scholars had always stressed that knowledge should be accepted from everywhere, adding that the centres of education should be such that pave the way for all-round development of students and do not only create long queues of unemployed degree and certificate holders.

Chief Minister Yogi also emphasised the importance of sensible use of technology in education, pointing out that though knowledge of technology is very important in todays world, one must not be its slave. He said that technology should be used as a medium for public welfare and nations growth.

The chief minister said that DPS pro vice-chairman Vishal Singh had expressed his desire to open DPS branches in Kushinagar, Maharajganj and Siddharthnagar. These three are border districts and the government will extend all possible cooperation if good institutions come forward to set up their branches here, he remarked.

The chief minister added further that Gorakhpur is a big centre of education, medical treatment, employment and business for the people of eastern Uttar Pradesh as well as bordering Bihar and Nepal. He said that many institutions had been set up near DPS.

Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, is just an hour's drive from here. Along with this, a bypass is also being constructed till Kushinagar, so that the distance of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana place will be completed in just half an hour. We are also bringing the project of 'New Gorakhpur' in this area.

The chief minister said that India was changing under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that a new India had emerged in the last nine years of his governance.

The ability of a leader is tested during challenging times. During COVID-19, when the whole world was in a state of inertia and confusion, India rose to the challenge and presented a model before the world. The sensitive government made arrangements for providing free tests, free treatment, free vaccines and free ration for 80 crore people, he remarked.

The chief minister said that Pakistan had a population of 22-23 crore and yet people were begging for bread crumbs in the country. On the other hand, India has been giving free ration to 80 crore people for the last three years. It is a reflection of the will power of todays leadership, he claimed.

The chief minister said that it took 101 years for the vaccine of encephalitis, a disease that killed thousands of children every year in eastern UP, to arrive in India and today India had developed two indigenous vaccines of COVID-19 within nine months of the outbreak of the pandemic under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Encephalitis vaccine was made in Japan only in 1905, but it was brought to India in 2006 ,when we fought vigorously from road to Parliament on the issue, he said.

The chief minister added that in 2017, when Prime Minister Modi gave him the responsibility of the post of chief minister, he focused on the prevention of encephalitis by running a comprehensive campaign. As a result of this, encephalitis, which caused untimely death to more than 50,000 innocent people in 40 years, was now completely under control, he added.

Also present on the occasion were Ravikishan Shukla (MP), DPS Pro Vice Chairman Vishal Singh, chief patron of DPS Gorakhpur, former MP and former advocate general Vijay Bahadur Singh, High Court judges, Justices CD Singh, Sangeeta Chandra, BR Singh, Karunesh Panwar, Saurabh Lavania, Vivek Kumar Singh, Sadhna Thakur, Rahul Chaturvedi, district panchayat chairperson Sadhna Singh, MLA Fateh Bahadur Singh, Pradeep Shukla, Rajesh Tripathi and Harsh Vajpayee.

On this occasion, the students of the school presented a mesmerising cultural programme. Prior to his address at the function, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the school premises, building and also met the staff.
In a shocking incident, a businessman and his wife were burnt alive after fire broke out in their house near Hanuman Garhi intersection of Ayodhya Kotwali area late on Saturday night.

The local police along with fire tenders rushed to the spot after learning of the incident and doused the fire after about an hour.

According to the reports, there is a shop named `Ramesh Patang Wale' at Hanuman Garhi Square, in which the owner lives with his family. At around 12:15 on Saturday night, Ramesh along with his wife Usha went to the back side of the shop and slept. Suddenly fire broke out in their house and after the neighbours saw thick smoke, they rushed and called the police. Later the fire was doused and the couple were taken out and shifted to local Shri Ram Hospital from where the doctors referred them to the KGMU Trauma Centre in Lucknow but both died on the way.

Inspector Manoj Kumar said that prima facie, the cause of the fire seemed to be a short-circuit.

A case was registered in this regard and bodies were sent for autopsy.

Meanwhile, a senior advocate of Muzaffarnagar district and his wife were killed when a truck collided with their car in Deoband area of Saharanpur.

According to police sources, Manoj Singhal (50), a senior advocate of Muzaffarnagar district and member of Budhana Nagar Panchayat, and his wife, Anju (47), were going by a car which was hit by a truck in Deoband area of Saharanpur late on Saturday night. Both died on the spot.

Sources said the incident took place when Manoj was on his way to Muzaffarnagar district with his wife. He was returning from Budhana.

In another accident, two brothers of Mainpuri died in the early hours of Sunday near Chhitauni village located on the highway in Etah Kotwali rural area.

On receiving information about the accident, the police reached the spot and sent the bodies for post-mortem.

Inspector-in-charge Sunil Kumar Singh said that a speeding motorcycle crashed into the road divider near Chhitauni village due to which Monu (25) and his younger brother Gaurav, of Dagru police station Kurawali area died on the spot.

The relatives said that both the brothers were returning from Delhi by motorcycle and were going to their native village after three years but met with a tragic end.

A case was registered and bodies were sent for post-mortem.
Renowned surgeon Dr. Rajesh Singh of Giridih was nominated as The Association of Surgeons of India Jharkhand Chapter's Secretary.

Whose information was received by Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh through the official mail of ASI. The committee was decided in the meeting of surgeons held in Hazaribagh last month.

The Jharkhand team of ASI will be headed by Satish Mirdha till 2023 while Dr RN Singh will take over in 2024.

Vice President Dr. Sujit Raj, Treasurer Dr. Sujit Raj was selected in the new committee.

Several political party leaders, SDM Kundan Kumar, dozens of doctors from Giridih congratulated Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh after becoming secretary.

Dr. Rajesh told that in the coming month of May, a team of surgeons from all over the state and the country will be assembled at Suriya in Giridih district.

On this day, information about prevention and treatment of diseases will be shared with the people from the village to the city.It is to be known that even after getting infected himself during the Corona period, he had worked to give new life to dozens of infected patients by providing health facilities.
About 200 job holders in Odisha are under police scanner for using fake certificates to secure jobs, informed Crime Branch (CB) DSP Debabrata Chakra here on Sunday.

The CB has prepared a list of these persons and it would soon start summoning them one by one for questioning, said the DSP.

As per reports, there are serving Government employees as well among those who have produced fake certificates to avail Government jobs. Some people have already been detained for questioning.

The fake certificate racket in Balangir is a big case and it was going on for years together, said Chakra.

On Friday, four job aspirants were arrested on the charge of furnishing fake educational certificates to secure Postal jobs in Jeypore of Koraput district.

Police had earlier arrested four persons for running a fake certificate racket. The arrested accused included Manoj Mishra of Balangir and his associate Alok Udgata.

Mishra and Udgata provided fake certificates of various universities and colleges to job aspirants who availed Government jobs in Odisha. The fake racket certificate syndicate was busted when some Government offices were surprised that job aspirants applying for posts with matriculation as educational eligibility had left studies despite securing above 90% marks in aggregate.

We wondered why the job aspirants securing 90 per cent and above marks are applying jobs instead of pursuing higher studies. When we dug deeper, we came to know about the vicious circle of fake certificate syndicate, said the Government officials.

After arresting Mishra and Udgata, the Crime Branch had taken them on remand. After completion of the remand period, they were sent to judicial custody.

Moreover, the fake certificate racket has also reared its ugly head in Sambalpur. The matter came to the fore after the Sambalpur Division Postal Superintendent lodged complaints against six postal job aspirants at the Town police station. Most importantly, all of them had allegedly procured certificates from Uttar Pradesh.
According topmost priority to women welfare, the Yogi Adityanath government has been taking dedicated steps ensuring all-round empowerment and uplift of women. In line with the vision, with Rs 150 crore, the government will solemnise the marriage of poor girls belonging to Other Backward Classes.

It may be mentioned here that the state government has been allocating funds and provides grants for the marriage of poor girls of Backward Classes. The grant is provided by the State Backward Classes Welfare department on applications submitted by any family belonging to the Backward Class seeking to avail of the grant amount. So far, the state government has provided grants of Rs 771 crore to 3,85,514 beneficiaries under the marriage grant scheme.

In the order issued by the department, it has been stated that the benefit of the scheme should be provided as per the prescribed rules and following the instructions completely. The officials must inform the government by the 10th of every month that the amount has been spent under this head. Non-compliance with this will be treated as an irregularity.

Also, the sanctioned amount will not be used for any other work under any circumstances and the remaining amount will have to be deposited in the treasury at the end of the financial year.

In this regard, instructions will be given by the director, Backward Classes Welfare department to the officers concerned in all the districts and divisions to take necessary action.

To benefit from the scheme, some terms and conditions have been set by the department. It is necessary to follow these conditions while applying. The most essential rule in this is regarding the estimation of the income of the poor. The annual income of the applicant should be Rs 56,460 in urban areas and Rs 46,080 in rural areas. In the application, the age of the groom should be 21 years and of the bride 18 years. Caste certificates must be attached. Under the scheme, the benefits of the marriage grant can be given to a maximum of two daughters from a family.

In addition, under the Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana, grants are provided by the Social Welfare department for the marriage of daughters belonging to financially weaker sections. The Social Welfare department organises mass marriages and spends Rs 51,000 on each marriage. Earlier this amount was Rs 35,000, which has been increased. So far, over 2.25 lakh girls have been married under this scheme.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday said that the State Government was making endeavors to bring the states economy back on track within four years.

Sukhu, addressing a gathering as the chief guest during the Swarna Jayanti and Himachali Milan Karyakram organized by the Himachal Social Bodies Federation at New Delhi on Sunday, congratulated the Federation for preserving the identity and culture of the state in the national capital.

The State Government is sincerely chalking out strategies for the speedy development of the stateThe Government is making endeavors to bring the states economy back on track within four years, he said.

The Chief Minister also invited Himachalis, residing outside the state, to visit the hill state in coming years to see positive and constructive changes coming up in the state due to the visionary policies and programmes of the government. The State Government would work upon the goal to make Himachal Pradesh one of the most progressive and prosperous states of the country in the next ten years, he said.

Sukhu said that his government presented a budget that focuses on growth of all sectors, especially uplifting the rural economy. The State Government was also taking various other initiatives like connecting all districts with heliports, expansion of Kangra airport, speeding up of work on roads, he said adding that the State Government was also promoting tourism in Kangra district and coming up with many ambitious projects to attract more tourists to the area.

The Chief Minister said that Himachal was heading towards becoming a Green State by 2026, while detailing the Governments vision for switching towards green energy. He elaborated about the Governments initiatives for encouraging electric vehicles, solar energy etc, besides the unique step taken by the State Government to provide a respectable life to orphan children in the state through Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Aashray Scheme.

He said that the state government was also empowering women by providing rights to girls in land holdings.

Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board vice-chairman RS Bali, who presided over the function, remembered his deep attachment with the organization since childhood. He thanked the Chief Minister for his dedication for the growth of the state and for introducing novel schemes which will go a long way to develop Himachal Pradesh as one of the most progressive states of the country.

Bali also received the Himachal Ratan award conferred upon by the Federation to his late father and former Minister GS Bali for his notable contribution in public life and towards society.




: RTI activist and human rights defender Rabindra K Mishra filed a petition before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Government of Odisha on Friday praying to release the salary of 28 guest faculties of Sashasi Bhusan Rath (SBR) Autonomous Womens College, Brahmapur, which is due since December last year.



According to information available, the 28 guest lecturers working in SBR Autonomous Women's College, Brahmapur, have not been paid their salary for the last four months. While the guest Lecturers of other Government Colleges in the city have already received salaries for the above period, the reason for non-payment of salary to these 28 guest faculty members is not yet known. This is a gross violation of human rights because it disrupts their livelihoods, activist Mishra said in his petition.



He urged the NHRC to take the matter seriously and issue a directive to the competitive authorities, so that human rights can be further promoted and there will be no problem in imparting education to female students of the prestigious womens college.



Mention may be made that these 28 guest faculty members had also jointly submitted a memorandum on April 5 to the Principal, SBR Government Womens College urging the authorities to release their salary up to March 2023 as they are passing through serious fiscal hardship. However, it went unheeded. According to unconfirmed sources, the college had received Rs 59 lakh towards salary of the guest faculty members, but the college authorities reportedly could not disburse the amount in time i.e., within March 31, for which the amount was reportedly returned back to the Government.


To ensure that livestock is provided quality treatment in a time-bound manner and the farmer is saved from additional expenses like travelling to the point of care and availing quality medicines, the Himachal Pradesh Government is going to start a new project Sanjeevani  providing doorstep delivery of veterinary services to the farmers.

The initiative will serve farmers at 44 blocks located in 12 districts of the state. The centralized call centre at the Directorate of Animal Husbandry will be integrated with 44 Mobile Veterinary Ambulances.

The uniqueness of the initiative lies in its ability to connect the doctor and the farmer through a mobile app, which also tracks the efficiency of service delivery, medicines prescribed, and livestock diseases related data in one platform, said the State Governments spokesperson.

The one-of-its-kind telemedicine platforms will ensure that the farmer avails quality treatment at the doorstep in a time-bound manner. Apart from veterinary services, farmers will also be given guidance on nutrition care for their livestock.

The states rural economy is based on agriculture and animal husbandry is a major component of it, said the spokesperson, adding that there are approximately 4.41 million livestock in Himachal Pradesh, and taking its care is an important aspect of every rural household, and timely, proper care can benefit farmers and improve their standard of living.

Veterinary services like artificial insemination, medicines, vaccination, surgery, infertility testing, etc are being provided to livestock in the state, but to avail of these or to ensure proper healthcare of livestock, dairy farmers have to take their livestock to the nearest clinic which entails expenditure on travel and transport. Sometimes, livestock succumbs to ailment for want of timely treatment, said the spokesperson adding, Hence, mobile veterinary clinics are proposed to be set up. The clinics will deliver veterinary services to the doorstep of farmers.

The Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) has signed an MoU with Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited (BFIL), a subsidiary of IndusInd Bank, for the Sanjeevani project. The collaboration, under National Animal Disease Control Programme-Mobile Veterinary Van (NADCP-AHD-MVU), will enhance the doorstep delivery of livestock care, making all veterinary services available for farmers just a phone call away. The toll-free number will be operational soon.

This integrated call centre will work like a single contact point for different matters concerning livestock health care and vaccination programmes and will act as an effective communication platform between government and livestock owners.

It will also provide personalized assistance to the livestock farmers or owners on various aspects such as tele-medical-consultation, information about government schemes, programmes especially Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme, grievance redressal, query resolution etc.

The call centre will ensure coordination between mobile veterinary clinic vehicles and working livestock clinics, to shorten the time taken for extending livestock care.
Chhattisgarh Police on Sunday busted an IPL betting racket operating in a house in Rajnandgaon city and arrested three persons.

Rajnandgaon Senior Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told The Pioneer that they were Dinesh Banjare, Rohan Rai and Jitendra Tiwari, all from Durg district.

The police seized eight mobile phones, a LED TV, a laptop, a Wi-Fi device, Rs 99,500 in cash and betting records. They had bet on an IPL match to be played between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians on Saturday night.
After five days of intense protest, the Kurmi agitation that had disrupted train services by blocking railway tracks has been withdrawn. The protest, which began on April 5, gained traction as hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the tracks, demanding action on their grievances. They demanded inclusion of Kurmi in the Eighth Schedule of Constitution.

The protest was organised by a group of Kurmi Samaj who were seeking the demands or issues raised by the protestors. The protesters occupied the railway tracks, disrupting the normal functioning of train services in the area, leading to train cancellations, delays, and inconvenience to passengers.

A press communique from SER said that the public agitation and rail blockade which was continuing at Kustaur station in Adra Division of South Eastern Railway since 05.04.2023 has been withdrawn at 11.45 hrs. today (09.04.2023).

However, the agitation at Khemasuli station of Kharagpur Division which started on 05.04.2023 is still continuing. Agitation has also started at Kotshila station in Adra Division from 12.20 hrs today.

The agitation gained widespread attention as images and videos of the protest spread on social media, with people expressing support and concern over the disruption caused by the protest. The local administration and railway authorities had been in talks with the organizers of the protest to find a resolution to the issue.

After five days of negotiations and discussions, a breakthrough was finally reached as the organizers agreed to withdraw the protest from the railway tracks. The decision came after assurances were given by authorities to address the demands of the protesters in a timely manner.

In a joint statement, the organisers of the protest and the authorities expressed their commitment to resolving the issues raised by the protesters through peaceful means and dialogues. They also appealed to the public to maintain peace and not disrupt public services in the future.

As the protest was lifted and the railway tracks were cleared, train services resumed gradually, and normalcy was restored in the area. However, the impact of the protest on the local economy and public transportation system is expected to be felt in the coming days, as efforts will be needed to mitigate the losses incurred during the agitation.

The incident has once again highlighted the power of peaceful protests and the need for open channels of communication between the authorities and the public to address grievances and find amicable solutions. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that protests are conducted within the legal framework, without causing harm or disruption to public services.


A group of Maoists killed a grocery vendor and injured two others, accusing them of being police spies, in Sukma in Chhattisgarh, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place on Saturday when Pradip Baghel, Sunil Pradhani and Gopal Baghel, all from Dornapal, went to sell groceries in the interiors Polampalli area, Sukma Superintendent of Police Sunil Sharma said.

Around 25 to 30 Maoists of the Konta Area Committee apprehended them in Palamagdu village.

The Maoists thrashed them with sticks and left them injured. The Naxalites took away their motorcycles, the officer said.

Pradip succumbed to injuries while being shifted to a hospital.

When security personnel were cordoning off the forest near Palamadgu and Arlampalli villages on Sunday, Naxalites numbering around 35 opened fire, triggering a gun battle, the official said.

The Maoists then fled the spot.

The police recovered mobile phones of the three vendors, a motorcycle, petrol bombs and Maoist literature from the spot.
The National Students Union of India (NSUI) has sent a letter to the Yogi Adityanath government regarding major student issues, including the demand for reinstatement of student unions, withdrawal of exorbitant fee hike.

On the occasion of its 53rd Foundation Day here on Sunday, NSUI Central Zone president Anas Rehman held a press conference and made a strong demand for restoration of the students union. The NSUI has also urged the government to allocate 10 per cent of the country's budget for education.

While addressing media persons, Rehman, while demanding the restoration of the student union, said that due to the indecisive and dictatorial attitude of the administrative officers of universities across the state on student issues, the students had to been deprived of many facilities and their voice also went unheard in absence of any proper platform so the government should immediately announce the holding of students union elections.

Rehman further said that fees were being increased continuously in universities and colleges. He said due to financial irregularities and corruption in educational institutions, there were reports in the media that students were being deprived of scholarships. He said most of the students were deprived of hostel facilities and they were forced to stay outside in expensive accommodations, due to which they had to face a lot of financial difficulties in getting education. He said bus travel should be made free for graduate and post-graduate students and the universities should have 24-hour library facilities.

Rehman said the government should enact a law to control arbitrary fee hikes every year by private schools and universities. He said private schools arbitrarily fixed curriculum due to which the parents had to bear the additional burden of buying new books every year.

He said if the government did not listen to their demands, especially of students union polls, the NSUI would soon launch an agitation.
Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister Anil Vij on Sunday said that RT-PCR labs have been set up in every district of the State. With this, Haryana is the first state in the country to have an RT-PCR lab in every district.

Vij, interacting with the media persons in Rohtak, said that the State Government is completely prepared to deal with COVID-19. We have also installed machines for genome sequencing in Haryana so that the sample can be checked within the state earlier it use to take so much time. Genome sequencing of each COVID case is now being done to find out its mutation, he said.

He said that people should wear masks in crowded areas where gathering is more than 100 people. He further informed that health workers were already given guidelines to wear masks. He said that mock drills will also be done on April 10 and 11. He said that this variant is very mild and there is nothing to worry about.

He informed that out of about 750 positive patients, only 25 are in the hospital and the rest are receiving treatment at home. Whatever services were there during the time of COVID phase have been reactivated. He said that people themselves have to be cautious and follow the guidelines set by the government.

In response to a question regarding crime, Vij said that ever since Dial 112 started, there has been a significant reduction in crime. He said that the police vehicle reaches the spot in eight minutes which is unprecedented.

Vij further said that the availability of COVID-19 related medicines is also being monitored at all levels as per the requirement in the healthcare facilities. He said that the people, who have got booster dose, would be given free supplements, like multivitamins, protein supplements, and protein bars, so that they can be protected from the virus.

Besides, officers of the Health Department that all health workers have been asked to give precaution dose as early as possible. The state has made it mandatory for health workers to get precautionary third dose within seven days after receiving the vaccine consignment. Also people with comorbidities and the elderly should be vaccinated on priority. Vij said that a sufficient number of machines, laboratories and other equipment are available to deal with any emergency.

Haryana Records 428 Fresh Infections

Amid an increase in COVID-19 cases in some parts of the state during the last few days, Haryana on Sunday reported 428 fresh infections and no coronavirus-related fatality from any parts of the State. According to the state Health Department's bulletin, of the fresh infections, Gurugram reported 217, followed by 60 in Panchkula, 41 in Faridabad, 27 in Jind, 17 in Hisar, 16 in Rohtak, 15 in Ambala, 13 in Karnal and others. As many as 145 patients cured from the infection on Sunday, it stated.

Punjab Reports 72 New COVID Cases

Punjab on Sunday recorded 72 fresh cases of coronavirus on Sunday, according to a medical bulletin. Among the new cases, 18 were reported from Mohali, 13 from Ludhiana, 10 from Amritsar, six from Barnala, five from Pathankot, four each from Hoshiarpur, Patiala three each from Jalandhar, Muktsar, two each from Ropar, Sangrur, one each from Bathinda and Moga, it said.

The number of active cases rose to 636 on Sunday, it said, adding that the positivity rate stands at 9.43 per cent. There was no report of death in the state due to COVID on Sunday while 63 patients were released from the hospital. No Stocks Left; Himachal Seeks More Vaccines

No Stocks Left; Himachal Seeks More Vaccines

Witnessing a spike in COVID-19 cases with four related deaths reported in a day on Sunday, the Himachal Pradesh government has sought more vaccines from the Centre, pointing out that it was left with no stocks.

The state Health Minister Col (retd) Dhani Ram Shandil has urged the Centre to ensure vaccine supply as no stock left to inoculate.

The Minister said that there are sufficient beds, sufficient supply of oxygen along with adequate number of ventilators available at hospitals throughout the state. We are regularly monitoring the present situation and there is no need to panic as the things are under control as sufficient resources are available, he said.

The weekly positivity rate is 6.6 per cent and the current hospital admission rate is 0.9 per cent. The state is conducting around 5,000 tests per day. In the past few days, the state has been recording positive cases in excess of 300. However, the number on Friday dipped largely due to reduced testing, admit officials.

On Sunday, the hill state recorded four COVID-related deaths, taking its total toll to 4,204. The Health department officials said that the State also reported 138 fresh COVID-19 cases, with the active caseload currently standing at 1,764.

On Sunday, three people succumbed to the virus in Shimla, while one death was reported from Sirmaur district, the officials said. The deceased were all males in the 50-81 age group.

Kangra district has reported the maximum number of Covid-related deaths with 1,268, followed by Shimla at 733, Mandi 518, Solan 341, Hamirpur 333, Una 283, Sirmaur 229, Chamba 179, Kullu 164, Bilaspur 97, Kinnaur 41 and Lahaul and Spiti 18.
Easter Sunday, the Christian holiday that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, was celebrated with joy and fervor in the city as Christians gathered in churches and participated in various festivities to mark the occasion.

The day began with early morning church services, with many Christians attending Easter Sunday Mass or other special worship services in their local churches. The atmosphere was one of reverence and jubilation as worshippers sang hymns, prayed, and listened to sermons that focused on the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is considered the cornerstone of the Christian faith.

Churches were adorned with beautiful floral arrangements and decorations, symbolizing new life and resurrection. Many churches also held special programs for children, including Easter egg hunts and other fun activities, to make the day even more enjoyable for families.

After the church services, the festivities continued with various community events and activities. Many parks and public spaces were filled with families enjoying picnics and gatherings, while children participated in Easter egg hunts and games. Some neighborhoods also organized festive parades or carnivals, with people dressed in colorful Easter-themed costumes, spreading cheer and goodwill.

In addition to the religious and community celebrations, Easter Sunday also brought the tradition of exchanging Easter eggs, which are often decorated and gifted as symbols of new life and rebirth. Many families prepared special meals and treats to share with loved ones, with Easter brunches and dinners being a popular tradition in some households.

The mood in the city was one of joy, togetherness, and reflection as Christians celebrated the significance of Easter Sunday. It was a day of spiritual renewal, community bonding, and family celebrations, as people came together to honor the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope it brings to millions around the world.

As the day came to a close, Christians in [City Name] carried the spirit of Easter with them, filled with a sense of joy, gratitude, and renewed faith, as they looked forward to the days ahead with hope and optimism.

Overall, Easter Sunday was a time of celebration, reflection, and joy as the community came together to commemorate this significant Christian holiday. It was a day filled with worship, festivities, and fellowship, as Christians in the city rejoiced in the message of resurrection and the hope it brings to their lives.

People in large numbers visited the St. Mary's Church in Bistupur, St. George's Church in Northern Town and St. Joseph's Cathedral in Golmuri and other churches to attend the morning mass today. The Roman Catholic Churches organised a midnight mass that started around 11:30 pm yesterday. The rituals started with blessing of the candle followed by the Easter vigil mass.

The churches since yesterday were decorated with colourful lights. Members of the Christian community lit candles and offered prayers at various churches in the city. Easter hymns and Easter songs were also sung at the prayer service.

Easter Sunday is the central religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. Lord Jesus was resurrected on the third day after his crucifixion and this signifies the concept of life after death. This means death is not the end. People do give Easter eggs as a resemblance of the tomb of Jesus Christ as there is life in eggs," said Father David Vincent of the Jamshedpur Diocese. He added that, Easter is an occasion of rejoicing, thanks giving and sacrifice to the teachings of Christ.
A tenth-grade USA student Shresht Rawat reached out to the needy villagers of Nagri Chama in Jharkhand and donated to them some edible and daily need items. To reach out to these people he availed a helping hand from his grandmother Mangla Kumari who lives in India and a Greece-based organisation Amurtel which works for the betterment of peoples life quality worldwide

Shresht Rawat is a student of Upper St. Clair High School, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Shresht is in 10th Grade and enrolled in International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP)

For his MYP Project , last year Shresht decided to help people from rural villages in India by donating money that will be used to buy food packets and some daily needs items. Since then Shresht has been working few hours over the weekends and also reaching out to people for donations. Shresht managed to collect 690 USD that translates to INR 58650 (Indian Rupees). This amount was good enough to distribute 100 mosquito nets and food packets to the families of village Nagri Chama in Jharkhand state of India.

Shresht took help from his grandmother, Mangla Kumari, who lives in India and helped Shresht to coordinate with an international organization called Amurtel. Amurtel works on improving quality of life for people worldwide.
Bahrain has announced the launch of a new initiative, Aspire, that has been mainly designed to support the career development of Bahraini postgraduate degree holders as well as create quality job opportunities that match their qualifications.

The decision was taken at the weekly Cabinet Meeting held today (April 10) at Gudaibiya Palace which was chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Aspire's objectives align with the proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives in the light of a memorandum lodged by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs, reported BNA.

The Cabinet also approved the memorandum regarding the acquisition of real estate for public use to provide spaces for urban development, it stated.

Another memorandum, submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects, regarding a draft decision to form a ministerial committee to review the naming of cities, neighbourhoods, villages, suburbs, roads, squares, and intersections was also approved.

During the meeting, His Royal Highness gave directive that all government sector employees and retirees be paid their salaries on April 18, before the Eid Al Fitr holiday, it added.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution to urge the Centre and the President to fix a timeframe for State Governors to approve Bills adopted by the respective Houses.

The bill, moved by Chief Minister M K Stalin and adopted by the House also sought the President and the Centre to 'advise' Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi to give his assent to the Bills passed by the state Assembly in a time-bound manner.

The government's move came in the wake of bills including the ones seeking exemption to Tamil Nadu from the NEET ambit and banning online gambling pending with the Raj Bhavan for the Governor's assent.

While moving the Bill, Stalin launched a tirade against the Governor, saying Ravi was not approving certain bills due to his "whims and fancies."

He also charged Ravi with converting the Raj Bhavan into a "political Bhavan" and accused him of being against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu.

The resolution "regretfully" recorded that by keeping the Bills pending, the Governor was against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu.

Opposition AIADMK was not present when the bill was moved as the K Palaniswami-led party had earlier staged a walkout on a different issue.

The BJP members walked out over the Governor issue.
Amid a political row over Amul versus Karnataka's Nandini brand, members of a pro-Kannada organisation on Monday staged a demonstration against the Gujarat based dairy cooperative.

Police detained the members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and took them into preventive custody.

The ruling BJP in the State and the opposition Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) have been engaged in a war of words in recent days after the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation announced its plans to sell Amul milk and curd through quick commerce platforms in Bengaluru.

Leaders of the Congress and JD (S) criticised the move saying it would hurt the interests of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which owns Nandini brand.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Sunday said: "It was Gujarat's Baroda Bank that subsumed our Vijaya Bank. Ports and Airports were handed over to Gujarat's Adani. Now, Amul from Gujarat is planning to eat our KMF (Nandini). Mr Narendra Modi, are we the enemies for Gujaratis?"

Hitting back at the Congress, the BJP's IT Cell in-charge Amit Malviya said Amul and the KMF are neither merging, nor Amul is entering Karnataka.

"KMF is nation's second largest milk cooperative. KMF has depots in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. 15% of KMF's total sales is outside Karnataka. Nandini is exported to Singapore, UAE and many other countries. Amul and KMF are NOT merging, Malviya tweeted on Sunday.

He slammed the Congress for "spreading lies" against his party's government in Karnataka.

On Monday, in an apparent gesture to express solidarity with the KMF, Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar visited a Nandini Milk parlour in Hassan and bought some of its products.

Meanwhile, the Bangalore Milk Union Limited (BAMUL), part of KMF, said milk production has come down in the State due to the onset of summer. However, the Karnataka State Hotels' Association (KSHA) alleged that an "artificial scarcity" of Nandini products has been created to "favour" Amul in Karnataka.

"There is a reduction in milk production in the State from about 90 lakh litres a day to about 75 lakh litres a day due to which some people may be facing scarcity. There is nothing unusual about it," P Nagaraju, Director, BAMUL, told PTI.

Nagaraju said Nandini sends 2.5 lakh litres of milk to Mumbai, 1.5 lakh litres to Hyderabad and another batch of milk to Andhra Pradesh every day for supply to school children of those States. The milk production is now improving, he added.

KSHA president Chandrashekhar Hebbar alleged: "There is an attempt to create scarcity of Nandini in favour of Amul. We get to know this. Nandini Ghee, which is of superior quality, is not available these days".

He claimed that he was buying Nandini Ghee in the "black market".
China's military sent several dozen warplanes and warships toward Taiwan in a large-scale exercise that simulated sealing off the island in response to its president's trip to the US

The Chinese military earlier had announced three-day combat readiness patrols which it called Joint Sword, as a warning to Taiwan, a self-ruled island which China claims as its own.

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the island's democratic government encourages Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step China's ruling Communist Party says would lead to war.

The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the ruling party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

Military analysts suggest that in the event of a war, China may block sea and air traffic around Taiwan, preventing the United States, Japan or other nations from intervening or sending supplies to help the island defend itself.

China's latest military actions follow President Tsai Ing-wen's delicate diplomatic mission to shore up Taiwan's dwindling alliances in Central America and boost its US support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. A US congressional delegation also met with Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

China responded to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsai's US trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

On Monday morning, the Chinese People's Liberation Army said its Shandong aircraft carrier for the first time was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan. It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off the deck of the ship, according to a post from the PLA's Eastern Command on Weibo, the social media platform.

State broadcaster CCTV, citing the PLA, said the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan as well as "waves of simulated strikes" at important targets on the island.

Between 6 a.M. Sunday and 6 a.M. Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence.

Among the planes that crossed the median were 8 J-16 fighter jets, 4 J-1 fighters, 8 Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes.

Later Monday morning, Taiwan's defence ministry reported another 59 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday, where eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the island's Defence Ministry. The ministry said in a statement it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as on its own navy vessels.

In addition to combat readiness patrols, China's People's Liberation Army would hold live fire training in Luoyuan Bay in China's Fujian province opposite Taiwan, the local Maritime Authority announced over the weekend.

China's military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent toward the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities.

One of the US representatives who attended the meeting with Tsai last week said Saturday the US must take seriously the threat China posed to Taiwan. Republican Mike Gallagher, chairman of the US House Select Committee on China, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island government's defences, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan.
An emergency meeting of the federal Cabinet has been called on Sunday to decide whether funds should be released to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for holding the polls in Punjab on May 14, or show open defiance to the orders of the Supreme Court, according to a media report.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the meeting would be held in Lahore with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair, Dawn newspaper reported. This is an important meeting on the current issues. However, its agenda has not been circulated yet, she said, adding that significant decisions might be taken in the huddle.

Most Cabinet members would participate in the deliberations through video links.Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has separated itself from the Sharifs demand that Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial should step down. But, according to sources, the party may review its stance at the last minute on whether to support its senior coalition partners decision to reject the apex courts order on Punjab polls.

A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) insider told Dawn that the release of funds for Punjab elections, President Dr Arif Alvis decision to return the Supreme Court Bill, and Justice Athar Minallahs judicial note in the case of the election  which PML-N sees grossly in favour of its stance  would come under discussion during the meeting. He said the Sharifs were in a complete mood to defy the CJP-led three-member benchs decision to hold elections in the province on May 14 and there was no secret in it.

Be it Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz...all in one voice have rejected the three-bench verdict and the parliament is also standing behind the PML-Ns stance, he said and added that the party was also unanimous on this point. He said that in Sundays meeting, the Premier and Cabinet would declare that there were no funds for the May 14 elections.

And lets see what action the SC takes on Monday...we dont care, he said and added that PML-N was desperately looking for a narrative and this defiance would help it build one with which it can go into polls. Further legislation by parliament to clip the apex courts powers may also be discussed in the meeting, he said.

Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar earlier in the day also did not give any hint that the government would be releasing funds to the ECP for the Punjab polls.
Shore Capital reiterated their hold rating on shares of Genuit Group (LON:GEN  Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, MarketBeat reports.

Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Peel Hunt upgraded shares of Genuit Group to a buy rating and set a GBX 320 ($3.97) target price on the stock in a report on Friday, March 17th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 370 ($4.60) price objective on shares of Genuit Group in a report on Wednesday, March 15th.

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Genuit Group Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of GEN stock opened at GBX 263 ($3.27) on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.67, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 34.48. Genuit Group has a twelve month low of GBX 244 ($3.03) and a twelve month high of GBX 481.50 ($5.98). The companys 50-day moving average price is GBX 298.91 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 297.91. The stock has a market cap of 655.32 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,023.08, a PEG ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 1.22.

Genuit Group Increases Dividend

Insider Buying and Selling at Genuit Group

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 24th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 20th will be paid a dividend of GBX 8.20 ($0.10) per share. This represents a yield of 2.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 20th. This is a positive change from Genuit Groups previous dividend of $4.10. Genuit Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 9,230.77%.

In related news, insider Joe Vorih acquired 11,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 16th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 256 ($3.18) per share, for a total transaction of 28,160 ($34,972.68). Company insiders own 0.69% of the companys stock.

About Genuit Group

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Genuit Group plc develops, manufactures, and sells water, climate, and ventilation management solutions in the United Kingdom, rest of the Europe, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Residential Systems, and Commercial and Infrastructure Systems. It offers above and below ground drainage systems, rainwater solutions, and various plastic hot and cold plumbing products, as well as commercial ventilation, underfloor heating, hydronic filters, and plastic plumbing systems.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Friday.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on the company. Lake Street Capital increased their price objective on Proto Labs from $37.50 to $40.00 in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Benchmark upgraded Proto Labs from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $45.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, February 13th. TheStreet cut shares of Proto Labs from a c- rating to a d rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, Craig Hallum boosted their price target on shares of Proto Labs from $20.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Proto Labs currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $36.67.

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Proto Labs Price Performance

Shares of PRLB opened at $31.18 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average is $32.32 and its 200-day moving average is $30.55. Proto Labs has a 12-month low of $22.04 and a 12-month high of $53.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $816.92 million, a P/E ratio of -8.16 and a beta of 1.19.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About Proto Labs

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. UBS Group AG increased its stake in shares of Proto Labs by 9.9% in the second quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,378 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $114,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming increased its position in Proto Labs by 40.0% in the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 1,505 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 430 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd raised its stake in shares of Proto Labs by 76.6% during the 3rd quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 1,079 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 468 shares in the last quarter. Graham Capital Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Proto Labs by 8.6% during the 1st quarter. Graham Capital Management L.P. now owns 6,351 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $335,000 after buying an additional 501 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caxton Associates LP grew its stake in shares of Proto Labs by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. Caxton Associates LP now owns 12,895 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $470,000 after buying an additional 523 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.41% of the companys stock.

(Get Rating)

Proto Labs, Inc engages in the manufacture of custom prototypes and production parts. It offers 3D printing, CNC machining, and injection molding services. The company was founded by Lawrence J. Lukis and Gregg Bloom on May 5, 1999 and is headquartered in Maple Plain, MN.

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BT Group (OTCMKTS:BTGOF  Get Rating) and America Movil (NYSE:AMOV  Get Rating) are both business services companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability and earnings.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for BT Group and America Movil, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score BT Group 0 2 3 0 2.60 America Movil 0 1 0 0 2.00

America Movil has a consensus target price of $19.00, indicating a potential downside of 8.43%. Given America Movils higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe America Movil is more favorable than BT Group.

Valuation & Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio BT Group N/A N/A N/A $0.25 7.67 America Movil $844,501.00 N/A N/A $21.76 0.95

This table compares BT Group and America Movils top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

America Movil is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than BT Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

38.1% of BT Group shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.1% of America Movil shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

BT Group pays an annual dividend of $0.10 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.3%. America Movil pays an annual dividend of $3.81 per share and has a dividend yield of 18.4%. BT Group pays out 40.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. America Movil pays out 17.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. America Movil has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. America Movil is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Profitability

This table compares BT Group and America Movils net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BT Group N/A N/A N/A America Movil N/A N/A N/A

Summary

America Movil beats BT Group on 6 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About BT Group

(Get Rating)

BT Group Plc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of communications services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer, Enterprise, Global, Openreach, and Other. The Consumer segment offers mobile, broadband, home phone, and television services. The Enterprise segment sells communications and information technology (IT) services to businesses and public sector organizations; and provides network products and services to communications. The Global segment includes managed network and IT infrastructure services. The Openreach segment builds and manages the fixed network that connects the homes and businesses. The Other segment refers to the unallocated technology costs and corporate units. The company was founded by Sir William Fothergill Cooke, George Parker Bidder and Joseph Lewis Ricardo in 1846 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

About America Movil

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America Movil SAB de CV engages in the provision of telecommunications services. The firm operates through the following segments: Mexico Wireless, Mexico Fixed, Brazil, Colombia, Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay), Andean Region (Ecuador and Peru), Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama), the Caribbean (the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) and Europe (Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia). Its products and services include wireless voice, wireless data and value-added services, fixed voice, fixed data, broadband and IT services, Pay TV and over-the-top (OTT) services. The company was founded on September 25, 2000 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico.

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Shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE:ARI  Get Rating) dropped 4.2% on Monday . The company traded as low as $8.58 and last traded at $8.69. Approximately 795,102 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 29% from the average daily volume of 1,116,499 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.07.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company.

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Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Stock Down 3.3 %

The company has a quick ratio of 36.70, a current ratio of 36.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.24 billion, a PE ratio of 5.40 and a beta of 1.59. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $10.73 and a 200-day moving average price of $10.87.

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Announces Dividend

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 15.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finances dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 88.05%.

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ARI. MAS Advisors LLC increased its position in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 17.1% during the first quarter. MAS Advisors LLC now owns 110,840 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,535,000 after purchasing an additional 16,168 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,378,310 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $19,200,000 after buying an additional 13,735 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. raised its position in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 28.0% during the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 22,392 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $312,000 after buying an additional 4,899 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 57.3% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 73,379 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,022,000 after acquiring an additional 26,742 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its position in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 14.6% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 113,890 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,586,000 after acquiring an additional 14,502 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 54.57% of the companys stock.

About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance

(Get Rating)

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc engages in the provision of real estate investment trust. It offers loan programs that include senior loans, subordinate debt, bridge loans, and preferred equity. The company was founded on June 29, 2009 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. raised its position in DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE  Get Rating) by 13.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,404 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc.s holdings in DTE Energy were worth $400,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp grew its holdings in shares of DTE Energy by 3.1% in the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 152,364 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $17,529,000 after purchasing an additional 4,511 shares in the last quarter. ARGI Investment Services LLC increased its position in shares of DTE Energy by 15.4% during the third quarter. ARGI Investment Services LLC now owns 13,074 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,504,000 after acquiring an additional 1,740 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System acquired a new stake in shares of DTE Energy in the third quarter valued at $1,427,000. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its holdings in DTE Energy by 12.6% in the second quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 1,721 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $218,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the period. Finally, Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in DTE Energy in the third quarter valued at $181,000. 74.55% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on DTE shares. StockNews.com began coverage on DTE Energy in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. TheStreet raised shares of DTE Energy from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Friday, January 13th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of DTE Energy from $138.00 to $133.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of DTE Energy from $123.00 to $124.00 in a report on Monday. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of DTE Energy from $126.00 to $120.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, DTE Energy has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $128.44.

DTE Energy Stock Down 1.0 %

NYSE:DTE traded down $1.13 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $112.72. 125,582 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,223,968. DTE Energy has a fifty-two week low of $100.64 and a fifty-two week high of $140.23. The company has a market capitalization of $23.23 billion, a PE ratio of 20.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $110.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $113.25.

DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The utilities provider reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.24 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $4.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.07 billion. DTE Energy had a return on equity of 12.99% and a net margin of 5.63%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.05 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that DTE Energy will post 6.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

DTE Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 20th will be given a $0.9525 dividend. This represents a $3.81 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.38%. This is a positive change from DTE Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.95. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 17th. DTE Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 69.02%.

About DTE Energy

(Get Rating)

DTE Energy Co operates as a diversified energy company, which engages in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services. It operates through the following segments: Electric, Gas, DTE Vantage, Energy Trading, and Corporate and Other. The Electric segment consists of generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan.

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Fidelity High Dividend ETF (NYSEARCA:FDVV  Get Rating) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Monday . Approximately 284,090 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 75% from the previous sessions volume of 162,324 shares.The stock last traded at $38.29 and had previously closed at $38.13.

Fidelity High Dividend ETF Stock Performance

The firms 50-day moving average price is $38.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $37.41. The firm has a market cap of $1.41 billion, a PE ratio of 13.53 and a beta of 1.01.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Fidelity High Dividend ETF

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Coastal Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Fidelity High Dividend ETF in the third quarter worth $27,000. Allworth Financial LP lifted its holdings in Fidelity High Dividend ETF by 23.4% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,644 shares of the companys stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 312 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. bought a new position in Fidelity High Dividend ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $61,000. Absolute Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Fidelity High Dividend ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $66,000. Finally, Bank of New Hampshire acquired a new stake in shares of Fidelity High Dividend ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $69,000.

Fidelity High Dividend ETF Company Profile

The Fidelity High Dividend ETF (FDVV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Fidelity High Dividend index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap companies that exhibit positive dividend characteristics, with overweights to sectors that exhibit higher dividend yield. FDVV was launched on Sep 12, 2016 and is managed by Fidelity.

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Mowasalat (Karwa), Qatar's leading transportation company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with bus manufacturer Yutong, for joint research and development of electric vehicles (EVs) for logistics.

The MoU was signed by Fahad Saad Al Qahtani, CEO of Karwa and Shen Hui, CEO of Yutong Middle East.

The MoU outlines several areas of cooperation between the two companies, including the joint promotion of the application and development of electric commercial vehicles in Qatar, joint research and development electrification projects, and the joint research on safe driving and operation efficiency for electric vehicles. This MoU adds to Karwas agenda of actively pushing towards a healthier environment.

Key player

Al Qahtani said: "We are the key player for transportation in Qatar and as such we are aware of our ecological responsibility for the country. This cooperation will help us achieve our goal of promoting the use of clean energy and reducing carbon emissions. We look forward to working closely with Yutong on the joint research and development of EVs for logistics, as well as other initiatives related to new energy."

At Yutong, we are committed to create a sustainable future for all, and we will further advance the development of electric commercial vehicles in Qatar. This collaboration represents a significant milestone for Yutong, and we look forward to working together to contribute to a greener and cleaner environment for Qatar," said Hui.

During the last years, Karwa has been committed to reducing carbon emissions and promoting clean energy in Qatar. For the Qatar2022 tournament, the company introduced the use of E-Buses and E-Limousines for shared public transportation with a tremendous success.

e-Mobility

By promoting E-vehicles for commercial purposes and conducting joint research on battery recycling, the company continues to contribute to the development of e-mobility and creating a greener environment for future generations.

Karwa's efforts towards sustainability support the Qatar National Vision 2030 for a sustainable and diversified economy, the reduction of adverse influences on the environment and improvement of the quality of life for Qatars citizens.-- TradeArabia News Service
Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. lessened its stake in Lowes Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW  Get Rating) by 0.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 89,751 shares of the home improvement retailers stock after selling 676 shares during the period. Lowes Companies accounts for approximately 2.2% of Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest position. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Lowes Companies were worth $18,013,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Standard Family Office LLC purchased a new position in shares of Lowes Companies during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Lowes Companies during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Lowes Companies by 56.0% during the third quarter. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC now owns 142 shares of the home improvement retailers stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. Blume Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Lowes Companies by 70.6% during the 3rd quarter. Blume Capital Management Inc. now owns 145 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Finally, McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Lowes Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.62% of the companys stock.

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Lowes Companies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE LOW traded up $1.89 during trading on Monday, reaching $200.46. The stock had a trading volume of 470,375 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,033,277. The stock has a market cap of $119.55 billion, a PE ratio of 19.84, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.09. Lowes Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $170.12 and a one year high of $223.31. The firms 50 day moving average price is $202.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $201.06.

Lowes Companies Dividend Announcement

Lowes Companies ( NYSE:LOW Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The home improvement retailer reported $2.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.21 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $22.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.71 billion. Lowes Companies had a net margin of 6.63% and a negative return on equity of 82.30%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.78 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Lowes Companies, Inc. will post 13.84 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 26th will be given a $1.05 dividend. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 25th. Lowes Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.96%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

LOW has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Lowes Companies from $215.00 to $210.00 in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Loop Capital boosted their price objective on Lowes Companies from $200.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. Truist Financial lowered their target price on Lowes Companies from $258.00 to $235.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $235.00 target price on shares of Lowes Companies in a report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Lowes Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Lowes Companies has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $223.85.

Insider Buying and Selling at Lowes Companies

In other news, EVP Donald Frieson sold 9,411 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $197.00, for a total transaction of $1,853,967.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,888 shares in the company, valued at $3,523,936. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.24% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Lowes Companies

(Get Rating)

Lowes Cos., Inc engages in the retail sale of home improvement products. The firm offers products for maintenance, repair, remodeling, home decorating and property maintenance. It also provides home improvement products in the following categories: appliances, bathroom, building supply, electrical, flooring, hardware, paint, kitchen, plumbing, lighting & fans, outdoor living, windows and doors.

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Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH raised its stake in shares of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA  Get Rating) by 6.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 451,066 shares of the aircraft producers stock after buying an additional 26,504 shares during the quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH owned about 0.08% of Boeing worth $85,924,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of BA. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in Boeing by 189.7% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,894,753 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $229,414,000 after purchasing an additional 1,240,669 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Boeing during the 1st quarter worth $135,429,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Boeing by 1.5% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 45,200,241 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $5,472,845,000 after acquiring an additional 670,698 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in Boeing by 125.0% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,139,143 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $218,147,000 after acquiring an additional 632,913 shares during the period. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC increased its holdings in shares of Boeing by 1,588.5% in the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 558,140 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $67,580,000 after acquiring an additional 525,085 shares in the last quarter. 57.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently weighed in on BA. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on Boeing from $200.00 to $220.00 in a report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $225.00 price objective on shares of Boeing in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Boeing from $222.00 to $248.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Boeing from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and upped their target price for the stock from $213.00 to $220.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their price target on Boeing from $185.00 to $217.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 14th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $223.06.

Boeing Stock Up 0.8 %

BA stock traded up $1.78 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $213.15. The company had a trading volume of 821,676 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,180,229. The Boeing Company has a 52 week low of $113.02 and a 52 week high of $221.33. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $207.87 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $184.04.

Boeing (NYSE:BA  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The aircraft producer reported ($1.75) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.05 by ($1.80). The company had revenue of $19.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.10 billion. The companys quarterly revenue was up 35.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned ($7.69) earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that The Boeing Company will post 0.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Boeing Company Profile

(Get Rating)

The Boeing Co is an aerospace company, which engages in the manufacture of commercial jetliners and defense, space, and security systems. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Airplanes (BCA), Defense, Space and Security (BDS), Global Services (BGS), and Boeing Capital (BCC). The Commercial Airplanes segment includes the development, production, and market of commercial jet aircraft and provides fleet support services, principally to the commercial airline industry worldwide.

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Hamilton Point Investment Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO  Get Rating) by 2.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 42,093 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 966 shares during the period. Hamilton Point Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Rio Tinto Group were worth $2,997,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Boston Partners raised its stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 9,137 shares of the mining companys stock worth $503,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. boosted its position in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. now owns 2,741 shares of the mining companys stock worth $151,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. Front Row Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 18.8% during the third quarter. Front Row Advisors LLC now owns 1,258 shares of the mining companys stock worth $69,000 after buying an additional 199 shares during the period. Sargent Bickham Lagudis LLC increased its position in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 33.5% in the 4th quarter. Sargent Bickham Lagudis LLC now owns 797 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, YorkBridge Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Rio Tinto Group by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. YorkBridge Wealth Partners LLC now owns 7,100 shares of the mining companys stock worth $391,000 after acquiring an additional 203 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.43% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on RIO shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,310 ($65.95) to GBX 5,380 ($66.82) in a report on Wednesday, January 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,800 ($72.03) to GBX 6,200 ($77.00) in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. StockNews.com upgraded Rio Tinto Group from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 27th. CLSA raised shares of Rio Tinto Group from an underperform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,750 ($71.41) to GBX 5,790 ($71.91) in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Rio Tinto Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $5,790.00.

Rio Tinto Group Price Performance

Rio Tinto Group Cuts Dividend

NYSE:RIO traded up $0.27 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $67.02. 307,030 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,220,413. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.10. Rio Tinto Group has a 52-week low of $50.92 and a 52-week high of $83.21. The firms fifty day moving average price is $70.69 and its 200 day moving average price is $67.09.

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 10th will be issued a dividend of $2.25 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 9.8%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 9th.

Rio Tinto Group Profile

(Get Rating)

Rio Tinto Plc engages in the exploration, mining, and processing of mineral resources. It operates through the following business segments: Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper and Diamonds, Energy and Minerals, and Other Operations. The Iron Ore segment supplies global seaborne iron ore trade. The Aluminium segment produces bauxite, alumina and primary aluminum.

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Barnwell Industries, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:BRN  Get Rating) major shareholder Ned L. Sherwood bought 201,505 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $2.73 per share, with a total value of $550,108.65. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 1,918,661 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,237,944.53. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Major shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

Barnwell Industries Price Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN BRN opened at $2.96 on Monday. Barnwell Industries, Inc. has a 12-month low of $1.89 and a 12-month high of $3.40. The company has a market cap of $29.47 million, a P/E ratio of 4.05 and a beta of 0.52.

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Barnwell Industries (NYSEAMERICAN:BRN  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 10th. The energy company reported $0.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Barnwell Industries had a return on equity of 53.58% and a net margin of 29.07%. The company had revenue of $7.51 million during the quarter.

Barnwell Industries Dividend Announcement

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Barnwell Industries

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 23rd were given a dividend of $0.015 per share. This represents a $0.06 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 22nd. Barnwell Industriess dividend payout ratio is currently 8.22%.

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BRN. Two Sigma Investments LP bought a new position in shares of Barnwell Industries during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP purchased a new position in shares of Barnwell Industries in the 1st quarter worth $78,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Barnwell Industries by 145.1% in the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 40,745 shares of the energy companys stock worth $104,000 after buying an additional 24,118 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Barnwell Industries by 15.0% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 637,622 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $1,639,000 after acquiring an additional 83,286 shares during the last quarter. 9.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, TheStreet raised Barnwell Industries from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Tuesday, March 7th.

Barnwell Industries Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Barnwell Industries, Inc engages in the oil and natural gas exploration, land investment, and contract drilling services. It operates through the following segments: Oil & Natural Gas, Land Investment, and Contract Drilling. The Oil & Natural Gas segment engages in the exploration, development, production and sale of oil and natural gas in Canada.

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Moneywise Inc. lowered its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPLV  Get Rating) by 2.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 27,540 shares of the companys stock after selling 722 shares during the period. Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF accounts for 1.3% of Moneywise Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Moneywise Inc.s holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF were worth $1,760,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of SPLV. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 117.2% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 79,254 shares of the companys stock worth $5,317,000 after buying an additional 539,472 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 5.7% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 6,056 shares of the companys stock worth $406,000 after purchasing an additional 327 shares in the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. bought a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF in the first quarter worth $292,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 31.4% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,370 shares of the companys stock valued at $427,000 after purchasing an additional 1,521 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 38.3% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 141,759 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,511,000 after purchasing an additional 39,284 shares in the last quarter.

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Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF Trading Down 0.5 %

SPLV traded down $0.29 on Monday, reaching $63.16. The company had a trading volume of 959,345 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,793,290. The company has a market capitalization of $10.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.07 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a fifty day moving average of $62.07 and a 200-day moving average of $62.22. Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF has a one year low of $55.99 and a one year high of $69.82.

Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF Profile

The Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Low Volatility index. The fund tracks a volatility-weighted index of the 100 least-volatile stocks in the S&P 500. SPLV was launched on May 5, 2011 and is managed by Invesco.

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iShares MSCI Chile ETF (BATS:ECH  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $27.33 and last traded at $27.57, with a volume of 1922240 shares. The stock had previously closed at $27.50.

iShares MSCI Chile ETF Stock Performance

The firms fifty day simple moving average is $28.49 and its 200 day simple moving average is $26.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $543.13 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.48 and a beta of 0.94.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI Chile ETF

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in ECH. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Chile ETF by 362.2% in the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,077 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 844 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc bought a new stake in iShares MSCI Chile ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Chile ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. James Investment Research Inc. bought a new position in iShares MSCI Chile ETF during the third quarter worth $46,000. Finally, AlphaCentric Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Chile ETF in the third quarter valued at $65,000.

About iShares MSCI Chile ETF

iShares MSCI Chile Capped ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Chile Capped Investable Market Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Chile Investable Market Index (the Index). The Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure broad based equity market performance in Chile.

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Security Financial Services INC. cut its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA  Get Rating) by 13.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 22,601 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 3,512 shares during the period. Security Financial Services INC.s holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $1,484,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 55.4% in the third quarter. Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University now owns 8,785,451 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $492,073,000 after buying an additional 3,132,027 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 8,051,277 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $450,952,000 after acquiring an additional 246,210 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,783,047 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $435,928,000 after purchasing an additional 307,120 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 12.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,561,764 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $410,045,000 after purchasing an additional 741,436 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 3,129,794 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $175,300,000 after purchasing an additional 75,903 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.78% of the companys stock.

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iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Stock Performance

Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF stock traded down $0.49 during trading on Monday, reaching $71.45. The stock had a trading volume of 2,706,945 shares, compared to its average volume of 20,673,633. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 52 week low of $54.61 and a 52 week high of $73.22. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $70.25 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $66.04.

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.

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Security Financial Services INC. reduced its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG  Get Rating) by 5.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 38,159 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,231 shares during the quarter. Security Financial Services INC.s holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF were worth $3,196,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EFG. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 11.9% during the 1st quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,254 shares of the companys stock worth $217,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp lifted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 34.0% during the first quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 10,468 shares of the companys stock worth $1,007,000 after buying an additional 2,657 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 5.9% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,076 shares of the companys stock worth $392,000 after buying an additional 228 shares during the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 81.0% in the 1st quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 5,319 shares of the companys stock valued at $512,000 after buying an additional 2,381 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Interchange Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF in the 1st quarter worth $266,000.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Stock Performance

Shares of BATS EFG traded up $0.19 during trading on Monday, hitting $93.62. 529,878 shares of the company were exchanged. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a 12-month low of $67.58 and a 12-month high of $85.81. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $90.57 and a 200-day moving average price of $85.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.53 billion, a PE ratio of 18.69 and a beta of 0.87.

About iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF

iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East.

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Stelco (TSE:STLC  Get Rating) had its price objective decreased by Stifel Nicolaus from C$54.00 to C$47.00 in a research report issued on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. Stifel Nicolaus price objective would suggest a potential downside of 2.99% from the companys previous close.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Cormark lifted their price objective on Stelco from C$59.50 to C$63.00 in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Scotiabank boosted their price target on shares of Stelco from C$45.50 to C$57.00 in a research note on Friday, February 24th. National Bankshares raised their price objective on shares of Stelco from C$49.00 to C$51.00 in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Eight Capital upped their target price on shares of Stelco from C$43.25 to C$48.00 in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada set a C$52.00 price target on shares of Stelco and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$55.88.

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Stelco Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of TSE:STLC traded up C$0.23 during midday trading on Monday, reaching C$48.45. 28,582 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 209,801. The firms 50 day simple moving average is C$53.33 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$45.86. The stock has a market cap of C$2.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.31, a P/E/G ratio of 0.03 and a beta of 2.43. Stelco has a fifty-two week low of C$30.20 and a fifty-two week high of C$60.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 60.28, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.55.

About Stelco

Stelco Holdings Inc is Canada-based company and owner of one of the technologically advanced integrated steelmaking facilities in North America. The Company produce flat-rolled value-added steels, including coated, cold-rolled and hot-rolled steel products as well as metallurgical coke. With gauge, crown, and shape control, as well as reliable uniformity of mechanical properties, The Companys steel products are supplied to customers in the construction, automotive and energy industries across Canada and the United States, as well as to a variety of steel service centers, which are regional distributors of steel products.

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Shares of The Timken Company (NYSE:TKR  Get Rating) saw strong trading volume on Monday . 848,366 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 38% from the previous sessions volume of 612,865 shares.The stock last traded at $75.59 and had previously closed at $73.69.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on TKR shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Timken from $95.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 6th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Timken from $78.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. KeyCorp raised their price objective on shares of Timken from $88.00 to $102.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Timken from $70.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Timken in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Timken currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $91.75.

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Timken Price Performance

The stock has a 50 day moving average of $82.60 and a two-hundred day moving average of $74.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 2.47. The stock has a market cap of $5.50 billion, a PE ratio of 13.45, a PEG ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.54.

Timken Announces Dividend

Timken ( NYSE:TKR Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 6th. The industrial products company reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.09 by $0.13. Timken had a net margin of 9.06% and a return on equity of 19.52%. The business had revenue of $1.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.09 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.78 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that The Timken Company will post 6.85 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 21st were paid a $0.31 dividend. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.64%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 17th. Timkens dividend payout ratio is currently 22.63%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Richard G. Kyle sold 24,841 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.97, for a total transaction of $2,135,580.77. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 383,082 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,933,559.54. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 9.89% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Timken

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Timken by 39.1% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 26,335 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,599,000 after purchasing an additional 7,408 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Timken by 10.8% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 7,312 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $444,000 after acquiring an additional 712 shares during the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new position in shares of Timken in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,059,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Timken by 33.2% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 44,547 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,704,000 after purchasing an additional 11,093 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its position in Timken by 10.5% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 25,300 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,536,000 after purchasing an additional 2,412 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.00% of the companys stock.

About Timken

(Get Rating)

The Timken Co engages in the engineering, manufacturing, and marketing of bearings and industrial motion products. In addition to bearings, it offers drives, belts, chains, lubrication systems, couplings, industrial clutches, and brakes. It operates through the Mobile and Process Industries segments.

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New Delhi, Apr 10 (UNI) Vietnams Minister of Public Security General To Lam on Monday called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar during which the two sides discussed strengthening the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and also security issues, amid China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.

The Vice Presidents Office in a tweet, said:

The Minister of Public Security of Vietnam, H.E. Gen. To Lam called on Hon'ble Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas today.

They discussed the significance of strengthening India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership & the broad domain of security.

The visit of the powerful Vietnamese Minister to India comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Vietnam next week, with a view to boosting the US Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Beijing's laying claim to most of the South China Sea, which borders Vietnam, has irked Hanoi. Late last month a Vietnamese ship had a tense encounter with a Chinese vessel inside Hanoi's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea.

India's flagship overseas firm ONGC Videsh Ltd is exploring for oil and gas in a Vietnamese block in the South China Sea.

India and Vietnam share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since 2016 with defence cooperation as a key pillar of the partnership.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had paid a three-day visit to Vietnam in June last year during which the two sides inked key pacts including a 10-year vision document for deepening of bilateral defence cooperation.

Bilateral ties between India and Vietnam have strengthened in recent years with a shared focus on regional security issues and trade.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vietnam in 2016, on his way to China for the G-20 summit, in the first visit by an Indian prime minister in 15 years.

UNI RN
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses during the launch of the 'Vibrant Villages Programme', in Kibithoo, Arunachal Pradesh, Monday, April 10, 2023. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi/Beijing/Kibithoo (Arunachal): Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday said that the era when anyone could encroach on Indias border lands has passed, and "no one can dare cast an evil eye on its territorial integrity".

Speaking at the launch of the "Vibrant Village" programme at the border village of Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh, one of Indias easternmost places, he said the valour of the Army and ITBP personnel ensures that no one can encroach on even an inch of Indias land.

"The era is gone when anyone could encroach on our lands. Now, not even land equal to sui ki noke (inch of land) can be encroached," the minister asserted.

He said no one can cast an evil eye on India because of the security forces who protect the countrys frontiers. "In 1962, whoever came to encroach this land had to return because of the patriotic people living here," Shah noted.

Calling this frontier location the "first village of India" and not the "last", he further said Prime Minister Narendra Modis government had brought about a "conceptual" policy change to develop these areas and help the locals living here by providing basic amenities to them. He also announced that he would be staying in Kibithoo village Monday night.

Saying that the border areas were the top priority of the Modi government, he pointed to the infrastructure and other development work carried out by his government in the Northeast.

Meanwhile, China on Monday criticised home minister Amit Shahs visit to Arunachal Pradesh, stating that this violated "Chinese sovereignty" over the area, just days after India hit back at Beijings move to rename some places in the border state in an attempt to stake its claim over the area.

Responding to a question on Shahs visit, Chinese foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said: "Zangnan (the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh) is Chinas territory".

"Indian officials activities in this area violate Chinas sovereignty and (are) not conducive to peace and tranquility in the border regions. We firmly oppose it," he said at a media briefing in Beijing.

Shah said that earlier, people who returned from border areas used to say that they visited the "last village" of India, but the Modi government had changed this narrative with people now saying they visited the "first village of India", the home minister said.

"Before 2014, the entire Northeast region was seen as a disturbed area but because of the Look East policy, it is now known for its prosperity and development," Shah said.

Paying homage to the martyrs of Kibithoo who laid down their lives in the 1962 war, the Union home minister said they fought with indomitable spirit despite lack of resources.

He also said no one says "Namaste" in Arunachal Pradesh as people greet each other with "Jai Hind" that "fills our hearts with patriotism". He added: "It is because of this attitude of the Arunachalis that China, which had come to occupy it, had to retreat."

The minister said the "Vibrant Village" scheme envisages that tap water, electricity, cooking gas, financial inclusion, digital and physical connectivity and job opportunities are available in remote border areas. He said the government has set a three-year target for making available such facilities in these regions.

Last week, China announced renaming of 11 more places in Arunachal Pradesh in Chinese, that it claims as "Southern Tibet", evoking a sharp reaction from India. "We have seen such reports. This is not the first time China has made such an attempt. We reject this outright," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in New Delhi.

The Vibrant Village Programme has a three-pronged aim as this will ensure the personal development of individuals, provide basic facilities and employment avenues so they do not desert the border villages for better opportunities in the mainland and provide facilities of basic infrastructure, electricity and health, Shah said.

The minister said enhanced facilities for border guarding troops of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Army will also be provided. "Our policy is that no one can challenge the honour of our borders and our forces," he said.

Speaking about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the home minister said the law was removed from about 70 per cent of the Northeast and the day "is not far" when it will be "entirely" lifted from these areas.
It said that the mandate for DRDO is to develop cutting-edge technologies and eventually through the transfer of such technologies. (Photo: ANI)

NEW DELHI: Unhappy with insufficient budget for defence R&D, the parliamentary standing committee on defence has recommended that in the current fiscal 2023-24 more funds must be granted to DRDO during the mid-year review in Revised Estimates.

The committee undertook a review of the funds allocated to the department of defence, R&D, during the last five years.

"In respect of the budgetary grants, the committee found a drop in DRDO expenditure as a percentage of total GDP over the past few years. From the data provided by the ministry of defence, the committee found that the percentage share of the defence R&D budget to total GDP has come down to 0.078 per cent in 2021-22 from 0.088 per cent in 2017-18," it said.

It said that the mandate for DRDO is to develop cutting-edge technologies and eventually through the transfer of such technologies to equip our services with internationally competitive systems and platforms.

"When the allocations are consistently going down, it would be difficult for DRDO to attain developmental goals, and to attain an edge over adversaries. The committee opined that budget grants of DRDO should be suitably enhanced for the growth of defence technologies," it said.

The panel said that it was informed that in the current year, DRDO projected Rs 23,263.89 crore at the Budget Estimate stage, which is 5.1 per cent of the defence budget.

"As per the ministry, the exclusive research and development budget is Rs 5,000 crore only, out of this 25 per cent that is around Rs 1,300 crore is earmarked for the private sector. Hence it can be very well understood that the amount actually left for DRDO projects is under constraints," it said.

The panel said that R&D is a prerequisite for a robust modern defence mechanism and the government has to take care of funds for in-house projects of DRDO along with outsourcing defence R&D. "The committee, therefore recommend that during 2023-24 adequate funds should be channelized to DRDO at subsequent stage i.e. RE for its ongoing and future projects," it said.

The committee also observed that data reveals that there has always been a decrease in the Budget estimate proposed and Budget estimate approved or allocated for defence R&D. "In the year 2021-22, the projected amount was Rs 23,460 and allocated amount was Rs 20,457 crore which was Rs 3,002 less than the projection. Likewise, in the year 2022-23, the projected amount was Rs 22,990 crore and the allocated amount stood at Rs 21,330 crore which was Rs 1659 crore less than the projection," it said.

However, the committee noted that during the financial year 2023-24, the projected amount was Rs 23,790 crore and the allocated amount is Rs 23,263.89 crore.

"The committee noted that for the first time, the difference is marginal and stands at Rs 526 crore," it said. The panel recommended that the defence ministry should undertake all out efforts in future and ensure that no cut is made in the budget while allocating the amount.
Cairo, Apr 10 (UNI) Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Sunday calls for an end to all forms of terrorism and foreign interference in Syria in order to restore its security and stability.



During a phone call with the United Nations Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen, the top Egyptian diplomat reiterated Egypt's full support for Pedersen's efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement in Syria, in line with Security Council Resolution 2254, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

For his part, the UN envoy thanked Egypt for its contribution and ongoing support in resolving the Syrian crisis.

Shoukry and Pedersen also discussed ways to alleviate the sufferings of the Syrian people, according to the statement.

UNI XINHUA RKM
Five people were killed and at least six others hospitalised following a shooting targeting a bank Monday in downtown Louisville, in the US state of Kentucky, according to police who said the assailant had been neutralized.

Police tweeted that calls had come in around 8:30 am (1230 GMT) for an "active aggressor" at the Old National Bank in Louisville, the largest city in the southern state, and that officers were on the scene in "minutes."

"Five people have been confirmed to have been killed inside. At least six were transported to University of Louisville hospital, including one officer with various injuries," a police spokesman told a press conference, adding he could not confirm the status of the injured.

Also Read | US teacher fired after having students write own obituaries ahead of active shooter drill

"There is no active danger to the public at this time," said the spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Paul L Humphrey.

There is no longer an active aggressor threat. The suspected shooter has been neutralized.  LMPD (@LMPD) April 10, 2023

"There is no longer an active aggressor threat. The suspected shooter has been neutralised," the police department confirmed on Twitter, while urging residents to stay clear of the area.

The incident triggered a massive police deployment outside the Old National bank building.

CNN reported that some people had been able to take refuge in the bank vault and lock themselves in -- contacting police from inside.

Fox affiliate WDRB cited a witness saying she heard multiple gunshots and breaking glass while in her car at an intersection near the site of the shooting.

"Gunfire erupted, like, right over my head," said the woman, who gave her name only as Debbie. "When I turned, I saw that one of the windows in the bank had been blown out," she added.

Also Read | 6 people wounded in shooting on South Carolina beach

Governor Andy Beshear tweeted that he was headed to the scene, adding: "Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville."

The United States, a country of around 330 million people, is awash with some 400 million guns, and deadly mass shootings are a regular occurrence.

Efforts to tighten gun controls have for years run up against opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of America's constitutional right to bear arms. The political paralysis endures despite widespread outrage over recurring shootings.

In the latest illustration of the deadlock, two Tennessee lawmakers were expelled from the state legislature last week after staging a floor protest calling for tougher gun control, in the wake of a deadly mass shooting at an elementary school in Nashville.

Monday's mass shooting in Louisville was the 146th of the year according to data from the Gun Violence Archive -- defined as incidents in which four or more people were shot or killed, excluding the assailant.
The Election Commission has claimed before the Supreme Court that it has actively taken steps for the decriminalisation of politics, and has also made recommendations for it but any further steps to effectively decriminalise politics would require legislative amendments, which is beyond its scope.

In a written response, the EC said in its "Proposed Electoral Reforms, 2016", the poll panel had reiterated its 2004 recommendation that persons charged with cognisable offences, which are punishable with imprisonment of at least five years, where charges have been framed and where the cases have been filed at least six months prior to the election, should be debarred from contesting elections.

The poll body's affidavit came in a PIL filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who sought a direction to debar the candidates against whom charges have been framed in cases involving serious offences.

Read | SC dismisses plea against Agnipath scheme

"It is sufficient to point out that it (EC) has been raising the issue of criminalisation of politics since 1998. In fact, the Election Commission of India sent a proposal to the Government of India for De-criminalisation of politics on 15.07.1998, which proposals were thereafter reiterated in its Proposed Electoral Reforms, published in July 2004 and December 2016 respectively," it said.

On Monday, a bench of Justices K M Joseph and B V Nagarathna gave the Centre four weeks time to file a response to the plea seeking a ban on persons against whom charges have been framed in serious offences like rape, murder kidnapping, extortion, bribery money laundering and disproportionate assets etc, from contesting elections.

On February 26, the court had given the Centre the final opportunity to file its reply to the PIL, while saying it is an important matter as the common man is affected by corruption.

The apex court had on September 28, 2022, issued notice to the Union government's Law and Justice and Home Ministries, and the Election Commission on the PIL to debar all those persons, against whom charges have been framed, from contesting election in accordance with the recommendations of the Law Commission's 244th report.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said India wants peace with all but will never compromise with any attempt to encroach on the country's land.

"Our policy is very clear. We want peace with everyone. But will make no compromise with any attempt to encroach an inch of our land. Respect to our army and border is the biggest priority of Narendra Modi government. Respect to our army and the border is a restpect to our nation," Shah said after inaugurating the Centre's "Vibrant Village" scheme at Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh's Anjaw district, situated close to India's border with China.

Shah spent the night at Kaho village in Kibithu circle in Anjaw district. Shah said Narendra Modi government made a change in its approach towards the bordering villagers in Arunachal Pradesh and now considers them as the first villages of the country. "Earlier these villages were considered as our last alleges," Shah said.

Also Read: China criticises Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh

"That's why between 2014 and 2023, 547km of border fencing work has been completed, over 1,100kms of roads constructed, 1057 floodlights installed and 468 border observation posts have been set up. Integrated border development projects have been initiated and Vibrant Village programme has been taken up to revamp infrastructure on the borders situated close to our international borders. For development in Arunachal Pradesh, we have taken up projects for 180 villages situated within five kilometers from our borders," Shah said.

Praising the army and the ITBP personnel deployed at the difficult posts on the border with China, the Home Ministes said, "today people in rest of the country can sleep in peace because of the sacrifice and bravery shown by our army and the ITBP personnel. No once can point their eyes on our land and since 1962, whoever tried to encroach on our land, had to go back. Those days are over," Shah said.

Shah virtually inaugurated the "Vibrant Village" progarmme under which border infrastructure in 2,966 villages in 19 districts on India's Northern borders with China would be developed. These villages are in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Laddakh. The Centre has sanctioned Rs. 4,800 crores for the next four years under the project, Shah said. A total of 662 villages would be covered in the first phase.

Shah said under the project, apart from providing roads, houses, electricity, schools and hospitals, livelihood support would also be a priority in order to check exodus of people from those villagers.

The Vibrant Village scheme has been launched days after China assigned Mandarin and Tibetan names to a few places in Arunachal Pradesh in order to reiterate its claim over the Northeastern state. India, however, was quick to reject such attempt and once against made it clear that Arunachal Pradesh is part and parcel of India.

On Monday, China objected to Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh. Apart from Shah, Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu, other ministers, several officials of the Union Home Ministry, besides others attended the function at Kibithu.
Upping his ante against Governor R N Ravi over pending bills, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday got a resolution passed in the Assembly urging the Union Government and President to prescribe a specific time limit to Governors to give assent to the bills passed by the legislature.

Contending that it doesnt bode well for a democracy that the power of signing a bill passed by the legislatures into law is vested with Governors, Stalin pushed for a Constitutional amendment to revoke powers vested with an appointed Governor to approve bills passed by the Assembly consisting of elected representatives.

Stalin also said he was forced by the Governor to move two resolutions against him this year  in January, the Chief Minister had moved a resolution to take on record only the text of the Governors customary address circulated among MLAs and not his oral speech which skipped several portions from the prepared script.

Read | India will prosper if funds flow to states doesn't falter, says Tamil Nadu CM Stalin

Hours after the resolution was passed, the Governor signed into law the bill banning online gambling, though 13 bills are still pending before the Raj Bhavan.

The resolution, which was passed with support from legislators belonging to the ruling DMK, its allies, and PMK amid a walkout by AIADMK on Monday, also said the controversial comments by Ravi in public forums on bills passed by the Assembly are not in accordance with the office he holds, the oath he took and interest of the State Administration.

Accusing the governor of functioning against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu by indefinitely withholding many bills passed by the Assembly, the resolution said Ravis public utterances belittle the dignity of this House and undermine the supremacy of the Legislature in a Parliamentary democracy.

this august House unanimously insists that the Union Government and the Hon'ble President should immediately issue appropriate instructions to the Governor to assent to the Bills passed by this Assembly within a specific period, the resolution moved by Stalin and passed by the House read.

The development came days after the Governor stoked a major row by saying that Raj Bhavan withholding a bill passed by the Assembly is as good as dead triggering a sharp reaction from Stalin who accused Ravi of not acting in clear contradiction to his oath of office and against the interests of the state.

Read | Tamil Nadu CM Stalin writes to Amit Shah to include Tamil in CRPF written test

In an all-out attack against the Governor, Stalin said Ravis action ensures that he is not ready to be friends with the people and government of Tamil Nadu while contending that the Governor should engage with the Government rather than debating administrative procedures in public.

The Governor, through his statements, dilutes the dignity of the House and the legislations passed for the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. He talks like a politician by forgetting that he is a governorMoreover, he criticises the government when the Prime Minister is due to visit the state or I plan a trip to Delhi to meet the PM, Stalin said.

I wont say that the Governor doesnt know the Constitution. But I would like to record here that his political allegiance has swallowed his allegiance to the ConstitutionI dont wish to convert the Assembly into a political forum by responding to the Governor's statement. But at the same time, I would like to say that if the Governor attempts to interfere in the functioning of the Assembly with political motives, we wont be a mute spectator, he added.

The government has drafted laws against NEET and on online rummy using the expertise of people like Justices (retired) A K Rajan and K Chandru, Stalin said, adding that people of Tamil Nadu arent fools to accept lame reasons cited by the Governor to stall these legislations.
Telangana governor's office on Monday told the Supreme Court that assent has been given to three Bills passed by the state legislature and 2 others have been reserved for consideration and assent of the President.

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that he has received a communication dated April 9 from the secretary to the governor of Telangana in regard to the position of the Bills, which were submitted to the governor for assent.

The bench took the letter on record and noted that the assents of governor were given for the Bills which include The Telangana Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, The Telangana Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and The Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

It noted that 2 Bills which were reserved for consideration and assent of the President are The University of Forestry Telangana Bill, 2022 and The Telangana Universities Common Recruitment Board Bill, 2022.

The bench recorded in its order that the Bills which are under active consideration of the governor are The Telangana State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2022, The Telangana Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and The Telangana Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

"The statement indicates that certain clarifications have been sought by the Governor from the State Government in regard to Telangana Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill 2023," the bench said in its order.

It added that it has been stated that the Azamabad Industrial Area (Termination and Regulation of Leases) (Amendment) Bill 2022 has not been submitted as yet by the Law Department to the governor for consideration and assent.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on April 24.

On March 27, the top court had deferred to April 10 the hearing on the Telangana government's plea seeking directions to the state governor to clear 10 Bills that have been passed by the assembly but are awaiting gubernatorial assent.

The top court was told by Mehta that he had some discussion with the governor on the issue and would make a statement on the next date of hearing.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the Telangana government, had said that in Madhya Pradesh, the governor grants assent to Bills within seven days while in Gujarat, Bills are cleared within a month.

Also Read: SC upholds dismissal of civil judge for pronouncing only operative part without preparing full judgement

On March 20, the top court sought the Centre's response on the plea filed by the state government.

It had clarified that the court will not issue notice to the office of governor but would like to see the reply of the Union of India on the state government's plea.

On March 14, the apex court agreed to hear a petition filed by the Telangana government seeking directions to the state governor to clear 10 pending Bills passed by legislative assembly but are awaiting gubernatorial assent.

The court had agreed to hear the plea, after Dave mentioned it for urgent listing, saying several Bills of public importance are stuck.

The state government has said in its petition it is constrained to move the apex court under Article 32 of the Constitution in view of a "constitutional impasse" created on account of refusal of the governor to act on several Bills passed by the state legislature.

It said Article 200 of the Constitution empowers the governor to either give assent to a Bill passed by the state assembly or to withhold the assent or reserve the Bill for consideration of the President.

"This power has to be exercised as soon as possible," it said.

The state government said several Bills passed by the assembly, including the Telangana Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, Telangana Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) Amendment Bill 2022 and Telangana Universities Common Recruitment Board Bill, 2022, are awaiting Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan's nod.

Soundararajan, a former Tamil Nadu BJP chief, is locked in a running feud with the BRS government in Telangana.
Priests of temples in the city especially those located along the Yamuna on Monday underwent a training programme on the use of eco-friendly materials in packaging of prasad and biodegradable materials in the making of idols.

Any attempt at rejuvenation of the river Yamuna will have to essentially involve the people of Delhi, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena said, addressing the priests at the NDMC convention centre here.

"Pujaris and purohits can play an important role in raising awareness among local communities," Saxena said, urging them to follow eco-friendly procedures for religious, cultural and spiritual functions.

Read | Delhi: Yamuna's pollution load has doubled since 2014

He also asked them to inspire and encourage people to actively participate in the cleaning of the Yamuna, a statement from the L-G's office said.

Asking the priests to play the role of educators and change-makers, the L-G said disposal of religious materials causes pollution in the Yamuna.

The training programme was held to explain the best practices that can help prevent pollution in the river. These included promoting the use of eco-friendly materials in religious offerings, discouraging the dumping of waste or plastic in the river, and educating people about waste management practices in temples and ashrams located on the banks of the river.

They were requested to play their part in raising awareness, promoting eco-friendly sustainable practices with local communities and other stakeholders and work in tandem with government agencies, the statement said.
Two weeks after the Tamil Nadu Assembly re-enacted the bill, Governor R N Ravi on Monday signed into law the legislation banning online gambling and regulating online games in the state, which will be published in the gazette immediately.

The Governor gave his assent to the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2022, on Monday afternoon, hours after the Assembly adopted a resolution against his action of sitting on several legislations.

As a positive reaction to the resolution, the Governor has signed the bill into law. The new law will be published in the gazette immediately, Chief Minister M K Stalin told the Assembly.

Read | Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi gets legal notice over his comments on Kudankulam protest

The Bill was sent to the Raj Bhavan in the last week of March after it was re-enacted by the Assembly following the Governor returning it on March 6 citing the states lack of competence in drafting such legislation.

The assent by the Governor to the bill came weeks after the Union Government told the Parliament that states possessed the power to draft laws on the subject. Union Minister for Broadcasting Anurag Thakur had on March 21 said the state governments possess the power to pass legislation on the issue as it comes under Section 34 of the 7th schedule of the Constitution.

In a statement, the All India Gaming Federation said it would challenge the new law in a court of law.

As the oldest and largest industry body, representing the most number of Indian MSME start-ups, we will challenge the constitutionality of the law, once the effective date is notified and have full faith that our judicial system will uphold the fundamental rights of the gaming platforms and their users, Ronald Landers, CEO, AIGF, said.

He argued that the law completely misunderstands technology and prohibits random number generators, which are an integral part of fairness for online gaming. This is disappointing as it disregards the six decades of established legal jurisprudence and also the recent judgment of the Madras HC which struck down a similar law, Landers said.

The Tamil Nadu government had criticized the Governor for not giving his assent to the bill for four months despite 44 people ending their lives after losing money to online gambling. While re-introducing the bill on March 23, Chief Minister M K Stalin said state governments have every right to draft laws to protect people and their welfare.

The bill, drafted following suggestions from a panel headed by Justice (retired) K Chandru, says no online games provider shall provide online gambling service or allow the playing of any online game of chance specified with money or other stakes or playing of any other online game in contravention of the regulations, in any form.

No person shall make or cause to make any advertisement in any media including electronic means of communication, in the State, which directly or indirectly promotes or induces any person to indulge in online gambling or play any online game of chance specified in the Schedule, with money or other stakes, the Bill read.
BJPs IT cell chief Amit Malviya on Sunday said Amul is not entering Karnataka, describing the talks about merger with Nandini as a misinformation campaign by Congress.

Amul is NOT entering Karnataka. Both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms, Malviya said in a series of tweets.

Also Read: Uproar over Amul bid to milk Bengaluru market

There is a reason why India doesnt TRUST Congress. They LIE! Latest being the misinformation campaign that Karnataka Milk Federation, which owns Nandini, is going to merge with Amul, Malviya said.

- Amul is NOT entering Karnataka

- Both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms

- KMFs turnover went up by 10,000 crore after BJP came to power in 2019. In 2022, turnover stood at 25,000 crore, of which 20,000 crore went back to farmers of Karnataka

3/n  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 9, 2023

According to Malviya, the BJP has done far more to strengthen KMF and make Nandini a global brand. KMFs turnover went up by Rs 10,000 crore after BJP came to power in 2019. In 2022, turnover stood at Rs 25,000 crore, of which Rs 20,000 crore went back to farmers of Karnataka, he said, adding that 15 per cent of KMFs sales are outside Karnataka and Nandini is exported to Singapore, UAE and many other countries.

Malviya claimed that Karnataka is a milk-surplus state under the BJP. Dairy farmers are doing very well. Congress, which is shedding crocodile tears for brand Nandini, opposed the anti-cow slaughter bill, approved of our Nandinis being slaughtered (sic), he said.
Amid backlash over Amul entering the Karnataka dairy market, Cooperation Minister S T Somashekar on Sunday clarified that there is no proposal to merge Nandini with its Gujarat counterpart.

"There's no proposal to merge Nandini and Amul, let alone the two making dairy products together," Somashekar told a news conference.

"Only those who don't know enough about the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) can say wrong things," Somashekar said, slamming the Opposition parties for politicising the Nandini-Amul issue.

"Nandini products are capable of facing competition from any brand, including Amul. There is no question of KMF being insecure. Since S M Krishna's time, KMF has been strong and profitable," Somashekar said, specifying that there is no artificial shortage of milk as alleged.

Also Read | Amul 'not entering' Karnataka: BJP IT chief

Somashekar pointed out that milk production usually drops in summer. "This is known to be a lean period, which marks the end of flush season. But Karnataka has 15 milk unions and all of them are profitable. They purchase milk from 25-26 lakh dairy farmers daily. This only shows how robust KMF is and its penetration at the grassroot level cant be matched by any brand. Hence, there is no threat of Nandini losing its business to its rivals, he said, adding that KMF does business worlwide.

Quoting Union Home & Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Somashekar said KMF would get technical support and cooperation from Amul. Somashekar asserted that Shah did not mean merger of both brands.

Somashekar said Amul will sell milk online in Karnataka at Rs 57 per litre. "Nandini milk sells at Rs 39 a litre. Nandini milk and dairy products are sent to Tamil Nadu and other states. We send ghee and cheese to Gujarat," Somashekar said.

The Yeshwantpur MLA even claimed that JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy is making an issue out of Amul to divert attention from the fight within his family over the Hassan ticket.

BJP general secretary Ashwathnarayana noted that KMF sells its products in 12 states. "Congress and JD(S) leaders are fuelling this misleading campaign only to hide internal squabbles within their own parties," he said.

Siddu targets PM

Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Nandini-Amul issue. "You have already stolen banks, ports and airports from Kannadigas. Are you now trying to steal Nandini (KMF) from us?" he said in a tweet.
Sigma Planning Corp lessened its position in Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE:GNW  Get Rating) by 8.1% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 89,433 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 7,872 shares during the period. Sigma Planning Corps holdings in Genworth Financial were worth $473,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in Genworth Financial by 60.7% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 62,634 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $237,000 after acquiring an additional 23,663 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC purchased a new position in Genworth Financial during the first quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Citigroup Inc. increased its stake in Genworth Financial by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 589,415 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,228,000 after buying an additional 29,834 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Genworth Financial by 58.2% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 78,974 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $299,000 after buying an additional 29,046 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Genworth Financial during the 1st quarter valued at $265,000. 75.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Genworth Financial Stock Up 4.5 %

Shares of GNW stock opened at $5.39 on Monday. Genworth Financial, Inc. has a 12 month low of $3.43 and a 12 month high of $6.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The firm has a market cap of $2.64 billion, a PE ratio of 4.53 and a beta of 1.03. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $5.60 and a 200-day moving average of $5.06.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Genworth Financial ( NYSE:GNW Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 6th. The financial services provider reported $0.33 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.19 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $1.90 billion during the quarter. Genworth Financial had a return on equity of 5.22% and a net margin of 8.11%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.32 EPS.

Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Genworth Financial in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

Insider Transactions at Genworth Financial

In other Genworth Financial news, CFO Daniel J. Iv Sheehan sold 250,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.06, for a total value of $1,515,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 1,132,023 shares in the company, valued at $6,860,059.38. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.99% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Genworth Financial Profile

(Get Rating)

Genworth Financial, Inc is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of insurance, wealth management, investment and financial solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Mortgage Insurance, Australia Mortgage Insurance, U.S. Life Insurance, and Runoff. The U.S. Mortgage Insurance segment offers mortgage insurance products predominantly insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GNW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE:GNW  Get Rating).

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Tehran, Apr 10 (UNI) Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday called on Muslim states to form a "united and consistent" front in support of the Palestinians against Israel.



In a phone conversation with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Raisi said Iran and Algeria share common stances on regional and international affairs, particularly the Palestine issue and the protection of the Palestinians' rights, according to a statement posted on the website of the Iranian president's office.



The Algerian president said he hoped that Palestine would be "liberated" from the Israelis through cooperation among Muslim states.



The phone conversation followed last week's escalation of tension along the Israeli borders with Lebanon and the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip. Militants from southern Lebanon and Gaza fired rockets at Israel, while Israel responded with airstrikes.

The latest round of escalation followed Israeli raids earlier last week at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, a flashpoint holy site in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli police clashed with dozens of Palestinian worshippers. The Israeli police said "dozens of law-breaking youths" attempted to barricade themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque "to incite riots."

UNI XINHUA RKM
New York State Teachers Retirement System cut its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC  Get Rating) by 2.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 246,630 shares of the railroad operators stock after selling 7,294 shares during the period. New York State Teachers Retirement System owned approximately 0.11% of Norfolk Southern worth $60,775,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the first quarter valued at about $30,000. Adirondack Trust Co. acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the third quarter worth about $31,000. HWG Holdings LP purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern during the third quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Newfound Research LLC acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the third quarter valued at about $39,000. 72.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

NSC has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Norfolk Southern from $245.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $253.00 to $244.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $272.00 to $269.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Argus downgraded Norfolk Southern from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $261.00 to $266.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. Fifteen 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, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $249.83.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

Norfolk Southern stock opened at $205.41 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.76. The company has a market cap of $50.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.78, a PEG ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.29. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 1 year low of $196.33 and a 1 year high of $276.65. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $221.47 and a 200 day moving average price of $232.51.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The railroad operator reported $3.42 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.41 by $0.01. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 24.98% and a net margin of 25.66%. The business had revenue of $3.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.20 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.12 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13.6 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 3rd were paid a $1.35 dividend. This is a positive change from Norfolk Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $1.24. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.63%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 2nd. Norfolk Southerns payout ratio is currently 38.85%.

Norfolk Southern Profile

(Get Rating)

Norfolk Southern Corp. is a transportation company, which engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods. The company also transports overseas freight through several Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports. Its services include property leases and sales, wire line or pipeline and fiber optics projects, access property, managing private crossings, promoting businesses with signboards, and natural resource management.

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Police have come under attack in the Creggan area of the city whilst present at the 1916 Commemoration Committee Easter Rising march.

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: "Our officers have come under attack in Creggan with petrol bombs and other objects thrown at their vehicle while in attendance at an un-notified Easter parade. No injuries have been reported at this time. We would appeal for calm."

Crowds gathered earlier this afternoon in Central Drive in preparation for the Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee Easter Rising march.

Police had said this event was un-notified to the Parades Commission and therefore would automatically commit criminal offences if it went ahead.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long has hit out at those responsible: Scenes of people born after the GFA attacking the police are utterly tragic," Ms Long said.

"They are being groomed by adults who have nothing to offer but misery and destruction. The people of Creggan deserve better. Solidarity with police.
Local level contact between women across the divide during the North's darkest days helped pave the way for the peace process, according to a a leading community worker.

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.

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 and 70s, and was recruited by the Quakers to work in Derry.

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 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.
A tea-rific new exhibition is to launch in the Tower Museum this Spring, looking at the heritage and history of the most-loved hot beverage in the country.

You, Me & Tea is a new social heritage project, developed by leading diversity charity ArtsEkta and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Filled with tea-tastic stories, memories and collections, it looks at the heritage of tea in Northern Ireland and the connections with China and India.

You, Me & Tea discovers the origins and history of tea and its journey to Ireland, as well as the story of past tea merchants and present tea suppliers.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Sandra Duffy welcomed the new exhibition, declaring her over-arching love of a hot cuppa.

We are a nation of tea-lovers, myself included, and this is lovely to see this heart-warming exhibition come to the Tower Museum for the Spring. Like a lot of us, I absolutely love a cup of tea, and I couldnt be without it.

"Its fascinating to learn about the origins and connections with China and India and how it ended up here in Ireland.

Id like to welcome the developers ArtsEkta to Derry and thank them for bringing this interesting exhibition here.

"Everyone loves tea and everyone will love to learn more about it. ArtsEkta do a fantastic job at brining communities together by creating projects that inspire audiences to engage with the diversity, tastes, rhythms and sights that make up the multicultural life here in Ireland.

The exhibition will be working with several community groups across Northern Ireland and will include an engagement programme of talks and workshops for visitors, the project looks at bringing the Chinese and Indian communities together as participants, artists, and volunteers to have a brew together and discuss all things tea related.

The You, Me & Tea exhibition will be hosted in The Tower Museum from the 19th April until 30th June 2023.
Air Ambulance Northern Ireland are calling on brave Derry individuals to take on their new and exciting abseil challenge.

Taking place on Sunday 11th June, the charities very first cliff abseil takes place at Fairhead, located just outside Ballycastle. Undoubtedly a more adventurous abseil, aimed at those individuals looking for a thrilling challenge this year.

Imagine hanging on to the cliff face taking in the superb views, whilst abseiling 90ft down to the ground and all for a worthwhile cause.

The charity Air Ambulance NI (AANI), in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides the one and only Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for Northern Ireland. The HEMS team attend patients who are seriously ill or injured, bringing emergency prehospital care direct to the casualty, with the aim of saving lives, brains and limbs.

Amy Henshaw, Regional Fundraising Coordinator for AANI had commented, We are very excited to be launching this amazing abseil, aimed at those from all over NI wanting to take on a challenge for the charity this year.

"Its a brand new abseil with a more adventurous element and we hope people can get involved whether you are an individual looking to take part, a group of friends, work colleagues or you and your family, we would love to hear from you. As a charity, we heavily rely on funds raised through people participating in our events.

"Currently, it costs 5,500 a day to keep the medical team in the air, delivering critical care to those who need it most. Therefore, we encourage you to get involved and sign up!

"Registration for this event is 40 and we hope those participating can raise a minimum of 100. I will be on hand to help you with your fundraising and everyone participating will get an official Air Ambulance NI T-shirt for their abseil.

Signing up is quick and easy, visit www.airambulanceni.org/upcoming-events/ to register online. Alternatively, you can contact info@airambulanceni.org.
It is a historic day with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement upon us.

For one Donegal man, Pat Doherty, it was the beginning of a road that, he believes, will eventually lead to a United Ireland.

The Carrigart native is as clear today as he was back on April 10, 1998, when it was signed that a United Ireland is the ultimate and only solution to the partition of this island.

The deal brought an end to 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles.

It's fair to say that since then the agreement has touched on aspects of life in Donegal but especially in Northern Ireland - from the political institutions, such as the power-sharing government, to Brexit and how it operates in that part of the UK.

Mr Doherty, the only Donegal person at the talks, says throughout the negotiations an end to the partition of Ireland, an end to the Union with Britain, and the construction of a new national democracy, a new republic on the island of Ireland and reconciliation between Orange and Green was always their main goal.

Mr Doherty was not only vice-president of Sinn Fein but had a pivotal role when it came to dealing with the British and Irish Governments because the Unionists and at times members of the SDLP would not speak to them.

He was also responsible for briefing the party and the media on each and every step of the talks as well as direct responsibility for prisoners and their ultimate release.

"As things moved on you had to relate to all the parties but the biggest political issue at the time was the state of Unionism, Mr Doherty said.

It was all over the place with in-fighting.

This is a huge pity because as we move forward to a United Ireland, people who now class themselves as Unionists will be part of that entity. That's a reality for them and a reality for us as well. You have to look at that in a very broad way and figure out what's required and deal with it."

The now 77-year-old former MLA and MP says he has thousands of stories from the days spent working on the agreement and the comings and going of the various party leaders and government ministers.

He added the loyalist parties the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) and the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) were always happy to talk when Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) or David Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) were not anxious to play ball.

Mr Doherty said the Irish Government's civil servants were "extraordinarily able" when it came to the negotiations and certainly played a big part in the successful outcome of the talks

Mr Doherty was also high in his praise for Fianna Fail Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Labour Party leader Tony Blair saying the chemistry they enjoyed and their straight-talking approach kept things moving at difficult times.

Pat Doherty with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness

He said so many of the Sinn Fein party members played key roles throughout the discussions and with their help guided by the late Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams ensured negotiations were always moving forward.

He added the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland George Mitchell was also crucial and his straight talking provided the framework for discussions and more importantly progress at so many levels.

But the agreement is still moving too slowly he says.

"I would like to see it working faster, the human rights aspect of it developed as well as the economic improvements for the north-west, particularly the development of the A5. It's nothing short of an international disgrace the way Donegal, Tyrone, Derry and Fermanagh have been neglected by both governments."

He says he hoped the anniversary and discussions around it will be a springboard for future development but is wary of the current state of the DUP.

"They have landed themselves in a contrary position but no matter how they ended up there they are there so how do they get out of it?"

But Mr Doherty has no doubt the reunification of Ireland is not far off.

"It is going to happen with dialogue and an understanding of Unionism, treating them properly and reassuring them they are going to be treated properly. It will not be the end of Unionist people it will be the end of Unionism."

Pat Doherty with Martin McGuinness

He is critical of the lack of work the Irish Government has put into getting ready for the event when it comes.

"I am glad I was part of the Good Friday Agreement process, he says. It was a unique experience. It's a nostalgic time looking back but I'm optimistically looking forward. there will be upsets, there will be challenges and ups and downs but Sinn Fein has come on extraordinarily well and it's looking good, north and south.

Big projects take a long time but there's light at the end of this tunnel, and a big bright light it is too.
A man is in a serious condition in hospital after he was kicked in the head a number of times during an attack in Belfast.

Police have appealed for information and witnesses to the assault in the Writers Square area of the city.

A PSNI spokesman said: Police observed an injured man lying on the ground in the area shortly before 11.40pm on Saturday, 8th April.

It was reported the man, who is aged in his 20s, was assaulted by an unknown man who kicked the victim in the face, making him fall to the ground.

While he was on the ground, the suspect then kicked the man a number of times to his head.

We are appealing for information and witnesses following a serious assault in the Writers Square area of north Belfast. The victim sustained injuries to his head as a result of the attack. pic.twitter.com/nzd9dIs1l1  Police North Belfast (@PSNIBelfastN) April 10, 2023

He also assaulted a woman who was in the area at the time, before making off from the scene.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries sustained to his head and remains in a serious condition.

We are keen to trace the identity of the suspect who has been described as aged in his 20s with black gelled-back hair.

He was wearing black skinny jeans, a denim jacket, a white T-shirt and trainers.

Our inquiries are ongoing and we would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information, including CCTV or other footage that could help our investigation, to contact police on 101 quoting reference 2059 of 08/04/23.
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MSI Modern 15 B7M-072IN Ryzen 5-7530U (2023) Price in India MSI Modern 15 B7M-072IN Ryzen 5-7530U (2023) Price In India Starts From Rs.50990 The best price of MSI Modern 15 B7M-072IN Ryzen 5-7530U (2023) is Rs.50990 on Amazon. Merchant Name Availablity Price Go to Store

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MSI Modern 15 B7M-072IN Ryzen 5-7530U (2023) Full Specifications Basic Information Model name : Modern 15 Launch date (global) : 10-04-2023 operating system (with version) : Windows 11 Home Display Resolution : 1920 x 1080 display size (in inches) : 15.6 Refresh Rate : 60 HzHz Connectivity connectivity : Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Memory ram included (in gb) : 16 GB ram type : DDR4 Physical Specifications laptop weight (in kgs) : 1.7 laptop dimension (in mm) : 359 x 241 x 19 Processor processor model name : AMD Ryzen 5-7530U clock speed : 4.5 GHz graphics processor : AMD Radeon Boost Clock Speed : 4.5 GHz Storage Storage drive type : SSD Storage drive capacity : 512 GB Power battery type : 3 Cell Sound Warranty And Manufacturer Info Details Of Pre-Installed Software

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Poco C51 was launched on April 7 and it is now available on Flipkart with introductory offers. It seems to be a rebranded Redmi A2 Plus which was launched in China and European markets in March. Here are the discount and price details of the Poco C51 on Flipkart:

Poco C51 on Flipkart

Poco C51 is available on Flipkart at a price of 7,799. However, interested buyers can get an additional discount of 5% cashback by making payment with a Flipkart Axis bank card. Poco C51 is available in two colour options that are Royal Blue and Power Black.

Poco C51 specifications

Poco C51 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G31 coupled with 4GB RAM along with 64GB storage and expandable storage up to 1TB. The smartphone runs on the Android 13 Go Edition operating system.

Poco C51 features a 6.52-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. It offers 400 nits on typical brightness.

This entry level smartphone comes with dual sensors on the back including an 8-megapixel primary camera along with 0.08-megapixel depth sensor. On the front, it has a 5-megapixel selfie shooter.

Poco C51 is also armed with a 5000mAh battery with 10-watt charging support.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.
The last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials, who tried Nazis for genocidal war crimes and was among the first outside witnesses to document the atrocities of Nazi labor and concentration camps, has died
iQOO, Indias fastest growing smartphone brand continues its quest and celebrates its third-year anniversary with exciting discounts and offers on its smartphones for the consumers in India in the coming weeks. Along with this the brand is also organizing an international fan meet and hosting the All Stars Cup on iQOO Esports YouTube channel. iQOO has carved a way for itself as a brand with a power packed portfolio of products that offers industry-best performance enabling the smartphones to offer unmatched performance in all tasks.

Some of iQOOs smartphones have earned immense response from the consumers which made them the highest selling 5G smartphones on Amazon on the sale day itself. Not just this, as per the 91 Mobiles Great Indian Smartphone Survey 2022; iQOO also remained on top position for two consecutive years 2021 - 2022 in customer satisfaction surpassing all other existing brands. This achievement is a testament of the brand's sheer dedication towards providing the best of tech and innovation to its consumers in India.

Sharing the excitement of iQOOs third year anniversary, Nipun Marya, Chief Executive Officer - iQOO said, When we commenced our journey three years back in India, we had a vision of providing the best of performance to our consumers. Keeping up with this quest of continuously providing meaningful and innovative products, offers and services, we are thrilled to announce all these exciting offers and opportunities to celebrate our three-year magical journey in India. This journey wouldnt have been possible without our consumers as their support and love have made us the No 1 brand in customer satisfaction consecutively for two years. We shall continue to focus on innovating future-ready technology that cater to the evolving needs of Indian consumers.

On this celebratory occasion of iQOO completing three years in India, there are some exciting surprises from the house of iQOO for the iQOO Fam/ community members:

iQOO All Stars Cup

iQOO All Stars Cup is a four day intense Esports battle where iQOO fans will be able to watch and enjoy the talent and gamesmanship of top teams in India including one team from iQOO Community battling it out to win the tournament. The iQOO All Stars Cup will be streamed on iQOO ESPORTS official YouTube channel starting today, 12PM till 9th April 2023. The prize money for the winners is INR 10,00,000 which will be distributed amongst the top three podium finishers and one top performer aka the MVP.

For this season, iQOO has provided a unique opportunity to the gaming enthusiasts of the community. An all exclusive iQOO Community team, QOOL Questers, will be participating in this season. The team comprises four iQOO Connect members who are avid players of the New State Mobile game.

International Fan Meet

To celebrate and share the excitement of three years of iQOO in India, the brand has announced an exciting contest along with giveaways on its official community forum - iQOO Connect for its fans. Top 18 winners will get once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of an international fan meet along with other iQOO give-aways.

Exciting Offers

In the coming weeks, consumers can avail anniversary discounts and offers on best selling iQOO smartphones with best price guarantee. The deals and offers will be revealed on Amazon.in soon.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.
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China's probe into Micron may benefit Samsung and SK Hynix

The Cyberspace Administration of China on March 31 said it launched an investigation into Micron's products in China on the grounds of "safeguarding supply chain security of critical information infrastructure," a move viewed as Beijing's retaliation against Washington's technological and strategic curb on China's development.

Though analysts hold different views on its impacts on Micron, many share the belief that the investigation may benefit Micron's South Korean competitors, such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, in China.

In a research note, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Paula Penkal said that the investigation could affect not just Micron's direct exposure to China, which accounts for 10.8% of its sales in fiscal 2022 (October 2021 to September 2022), but also customers who use its chips, spanning semiconductor, phone, and PC makers from Intel and Qualcomm to Apple and Dell. Penkal adds that this latest tit-for-tat in the China-US semiconductor trade war would likely be limited to direct sales initially, and may benefit Asian competitors Samsung and SK Hynix, which have manufacturing plants in China.

Seeking Alpha quoted Christopher Danely, an analyst at Citi, saying that China's probe is unlikely to impact Micron as the company's fundamentals are largely driven by the cyclical pattern of DRAM, and Samsung and SK Hynix are aligned with the US, not China. However, Danely believes that more curb and retaliative measures are expected from both sides.

Still, South China Morning Post quoted Hong Yanqing, a cybersecurity expert close to the Chinese government, saying that if Micron's products fail to pass the cybersecurity review, its customers in China will not be able to purchase Micron's products, even fined for previous purchases. According to Bloomberg terminal, Micron's China customers include Lenovo, Xiaomi, and ZTE.

South Korea, which saw its economy limp with chips slump for the past year, is watching the development of the investigation. Korea Times quoted a senior government official in South Korea saying that it is unlikely for China to apply any obvious retaliative measures against Samsung and SK Hynix as the duo contributes to China's efforts to increase its chip self-sufficiency. Samsung produces over 40% of its NAND flash in its Xi'an facility, and SK Hynix has production bases in Wuxi, Chongqing, and Dalian, all located in China. Furthermore, South China Morning Post quoted a Citic analysis saying that Samsung and SK Hynix could end up benefiting at Micron's expense.

Meanwhile, although the investigation against Micron may accelerate China's localization of memory products, memory buyers in China will have few choices other than Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix, as China-based memory manufacturers either cannot produce advanced memories or are under Washington's sanctions to acquire equipment to produce leading-edge products.

Micron's sales by geography (US$ million) Regions FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22 Sales 30,391 23,406 21,435 27,705 30,758 US 17,116 12,451 10,381 12,155 16,026 Taiwan 3,918 2,703 3,657 6,606 6,185 China 3,607 3,595 2,337 2,456 3,311 Japan 1,265 958 1,387 1,652 1,696 Hong Kong 1,761 1,614 1,792 2,582 1,665 Other Asia Pacific 1,458 1,032 1,157 1,420 1,223 Other 1,266 1,053 724 834 652

Source: Bloomberg, April 2023


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Fort Polk, LA (71446)

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Rain showers this morning with mostly cloudy conditions during the afternoon hours. High 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

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Some clouds. Slight chance of a shower late. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
by David J. Lobina

A provocative title, perhaps, but as the sort-of cognitive scientist that I am, I find most of the stuff that is published about Artificial Intelligence (sic) these days, especially in the popular press, enough to make one scream, so perhaps some contrarian views on the matter are not entirely uncalled for. And in any case, what the title of the post conveys is more or less correct, though to be more precise, and certainly less bombastic, the point I want to make is that it is really a moot question whether modern AI algorithms can be sentient or sapient.

So. What sort of coverage can make one scream, then? Anything these days, especially since the release of GPT-3, let alone ChatGPT (and God help us when GPT-4 comes out), the large language models (LLMs) so popular these days, which are ever so often claimed to have matched the linguistic, and even cognitive, skills of human beings. This is not a new claim, of course; in 2019 there were already articles out there arguing that AI had not only surpassed human performance on rule-based games like chess, which at the very highest level of play involve carrying out huge numbers of calculations, thereby constituting the right sort of task for a computer, but also in terms of human understanding.

The situation is much worse now, though. LLMs will spell doom for certain professions, it seems, including university lecturers; or at least it will bring an end to all those dodgy companies that provide essay-writing services to students for a fee, though in the process this might create an industry of AI tools to identify LLM-generated essays, a loop that is clearly vicious (and some scholars have started including ChatGPT as a contributing author in their publications!). LLMs have apparently made passing the Turing Test boring, and challenges from cognitive scientists regarding this or that property of human cognition to be modelled have been progressively met.[i] Indeed, some philosophers have even taken it for granted that the very existence of ChatGPT casts doubt on the validity of Noam Chomskys Universal Grammar hypothesis (Papineau, Im looking at you in the Comments sections here). We have even been told that ChatGPT can show a more developed moral sense than the current US Supreme Court. And of course the New York Times will publish rather hysterical pieces about LLMs every other week (with saner pieces about AI doom thrown in every so often too; see this a propos of the last point).

Nothing happens in a vacuum, however, and theres been plenty of pushback on many of these pronouncements  or, at the very least, more careful and sceptical evaluations of what LLMs do and are. The cognitive scientist Gary Marcus has been the most active when it comes to showing that, contrary to some of the claims referenced above, LLMs are inherently unreliable and dont actually exhibit many of the most common features of language and thought, such as systematicity and compositionality, let alone common sense, the understanding of context in conversation, or any of the many other unremarkable cognitive things we do on a daily basis. In a recent post with Ernest Davis, Marcus includes an LLM Errors Tracker and outlines some of the more egregious mistakes, including the manifestation of sexist and racist biases, simple errors when carrying out basic logical reasoning or indeed basic maths, in counting up to 4 (good luck claiming that LLMs pass the Turing Test; see here), and of course the fact that LLMs constantly make things up.

Much has in fact been made of the factual errors and fabrications LLMs come up with  some call them hallucinations, somewhat mistakenly, I think  and I have experienced this myself when I interacted with GPT-3 some time ago, as the algorithm invented academic papers, people, and meetings out of nowhere. Of more interest to me in my interaction with GPT-3, however, was the fact that the model clearly doesnt make any use of what linguists call knowledge of language, that body of information that underlies our linguistic abilities, as shown by its inability to react to the details of individual sentences like we do (this is also true of ChatGPT, or GPT3.5; see John Collinss comments in one of the links included supra). That is, LLMs know nothing about the meaning of words, for no semantic model is involved; the models do not put sentences together based on how sentences must be structured (i.e., in terms of syntax), a core property of language; and such models clearly are oblivious to any pragmatic consideration  as in the pragmatics of language, which includes the ability to track peoples intentions, keeping to the subject matter in accordance to the context, etc.[ii]

And this brings me to the point at the heart of the problem (well, my problem): in all the exalted conversation about LLMs there is a great disconnect between what the models come up with  their output  and the very nature of the models that reach such outputs. I am not referring to what is sometimes called the explainability of AI, an issue which is centred on an attempt to bridge the gap between the internal operations of the relevant AI models and the outputs they yield, with the view to improve the decisions of an algorithm that may well decide whether to grant you a loan or not (and with the view, moreover, to not be sued as well as to comply with some of the regulation on this very issue that the European Union is preparing; the Brussels effect and all that). No, I mean the more fundamental point of what modern AI models actually look like  that is, what such models are and do tout court.

AI is very often understood as a computational system that shows intelligent behaviour  for instance, complex behaviour conducive to reaching specific goals. So understood, classical AI models from the 1940s or so, and until the so-called AI Winter in the 1970s, for the most part involved symbol-manipulation systems. Such systems employed many of the constructs commonly found in formal logic and were, in fact, inspired by the theories of human cognition then (and still now) dominant (namely, the representational/computational paradigm of cognitive science).

There are, as a matter of fact, various approaches to AI, from logic- and knowledge-based ones to purely statistical methods involving Bayesian inference (after the Reverend Thomas Bayes, whose now widely-used theorem inspired such methods). Utterly dominant today, however, is the use of machine learning algorithms, and in particular deep learning methods. Indeed, by AI these days it is the artificial neural networks of such approaches that people have in mind, and hardly any of the other methods shown in the figure below.

Loosely based on the neurons of biological brains, though it does not constitute a theory of how the brain works, machine learning was first thought up in the 1950s but was given some proper impetus in the field of cognitive science in subsequent decades, where so-called connectionist networks (or c-nets), a predecessor of modern machine learning networks, were argued to be appropriate models of human cognition, from language and vision to much else.

In broad outline, machine learning is the study of algorithms that improve automatically through experience. Closely related to statistics and probability theory  in early years, in particular, to generalised linear models (i.e., regressions)  the aim of machine learning models is to find generalisable predictive patterns, whereas the aim of a regression model, for instance, is to draw population inferences from a sample. Somewhat less roughly, machine learning involves creating a model that has been trained on a set of data (the so-called training data), and from this trained model the method attempts to process additional data to make predictions (a training-then-inference cycle).

As mentioned, the method most commonly used is based on artificial neural networks (in short, NNs), which can be said to learn by considering the examples that it is inputted. Populations of neurons (or nodes) in such NNs communicate with each other, thereby implementing various connections (these connection are established by real numbers, for we are talking about a mathematical model at the end of the day). The output, that is to say, the intended outcome of the overall process (in effect, a set of neurons), is computed by some non-linear function of the sum of its inputs, and if there are multiple hidden layers mediating between the input and output neurons, then we are dealing with a deep learning model, as outlined in the figure below, though of course very roughly so.

In effect, NNs track the various correlations between inputs and outputs that the models find in the training dataset, and such pattern finding algorithms have proven to be very useful in all sort of tasks, such as language generation, image classification, etc. And hence, I suppose, the ubiquity of machine learning and deep learning, with an ever increasing number of use cases and applications out there. It is important to note, however, that even in those cases in which intelligent behaviour seems to be displayed by a machine learning network, all that the system is effecting is a correlation between an input and an output  that is, it finds statistical patterns in the data  with no understanding of the underlying cause of an event, and often manifesting no transparency as how the correlations were calculated (the lack of explainability mentioned earlier).

The overall picture certainly applies to LLMs such as ChatGPT. LLMs generate strings of elements such as words based on word combinations from the training dataset; the models do so by calculating so-called embeddings and binding relations (no need to get into this); and, thus, they are a sort of cut-and-paste tool, where every paraphrase is ultimately grounded on something a human once said or wrote (the training dataset)[iii]  in sum, ChatGPT is a text generator, a system that predicts the next word in the string that has been given as input. A very sophisticated auto-completion tool; no more, no less.[iv]

Coming back to the issue of the sentience and sapience of AI models (sic: machine learning models), two points are worth emphasising. Regarding sentience (and consciousness), and whatever exactly this slippery concept may turn out to be, what we do know about sentience is that it is dependent upon a specific neurobiology, that there is no reason to believe in any sort of substrate independence for sentience. As the philosopher Ned Block has aptly put it (I am combing two different tweets here, but let it pass):[v]

There is one obvious fact about the ONLY systems that we are SURE are sentient: their information processing is mainly based in electrochemical information flow in which electrical signals are converted to chemical signals (neurotransmitters) and back to electrical signalsIf fish are sentient, it is because of their neurobiology, not their facility in conversation.

In other words, no sentience with the wrong neural substrate, and sentience is not demonstrable through conversation, or a simulation of a conversation (via a computer terminal or not). And the same sort of story applies, mutatis mutandis, as my favourite philosopher used to say, to sapience, whatever that turns out to be too, for machine learning models carry out input-output correlations and human cognition is not like that. Linguistic knowledge, to stick to language, involves symbolic representations, be these in phonology or syntax, that combine with each other in structure-dependent ways  it is structured knowledge through and through. Thus, it is quite wrong-headed to ascribe to LLMs any kind of equivalence to basic features of our knowledge of language, let alone any sort of sapience, for the very simple reason that there is, quite literally, nothing cognitive in those networks. Much as in the case of sentience: no sapience with the wrong cognitive mechanisms (this is the mutatis mutandis bit).

The point about equivalence brings me to the figure of Zenon Pylyshyn, a prominent cognitive scientist who passed away last December, and a collaborator of Jerry Fodor on many of the issues I have touched upon in this blog since I started writing for 3 Quarks Daily. In his 1984 book, Computation and Cognition, a particularly influential work for me in my early years in academia, Pylyshyn draws a distinction that is quite relevant here. This is the distinction between the weak equivalence of two computational systems, and their strong equivalence. Weak equivalence obtains when two systems compute the same input-output function, or exhibit the same external behaviour, as in the Turing Test, effectively (see endnote i), whereas strong equivalence obtains when two computational systems go beyond this and accomplish weak equivalence by executing the same algorithm in the same architecture. Pylyshyn always insisted that cognitive scientists were in the business of establishing the strong equivalence of our models to human cognition, a lesson that modern AI engineers would do well to heed, as contemporary machine learning models can, at most, accomplish only weak equivalence to human cognition, no matter how much such models are eventually scaled up  it really is not a matter of size.[vi]

Why would it be otherwise, anyway? And why, perhaps more importantly, do so many people see sapience in what are effectively only input-output pairings, transmitted through entirely manufactured channels to boot? I can only speculate, but I would venture to suggest that there is projection of mentality here. Just as we regularly ascribe mental states such as beliefs, desires, and intentions to other people (and to animals), which allow us to explain and predict the behaviour of others (this is usually called folk psychology, a central part of Fodors account of thought that I have discussed so often in this blog), it may well be that this mental-ascription ability is being extended to artificial agents too, be these robots or algorithms. The problem is that in this case we are not at all justified in doing so, for it is not a cognitive agent we are dealing with, but a computing system that tracks patterns we humans have created in the past, and it doesnt even work, for we are not able to explain, let alone predict, the behaviour of any AI algorithm in this way (as some users of ChatGPT may have noticed, LLMs have no memory, and given that they are probabilistic systems, their processes start anew with each prompt and are thus liable to give different answers to the same questions, and constantly so).

There are a few more things to say about the topic, especially regarding the use of technology in general, some possible modifications and improvements of machine learning networks (see endnote vi), other applications such as the generation of art, and of course the ridiculousness of fantasies of AI doom, but it is a bit late in the day (literally!) and the post is already long enough. I will come back to these issues next month, and for the time being I will let you work out the meaning of all those sics I have included in the post.

[i] Unfortunately, but perhaps unsurprisingly, the way the Turing Test is usually discussed by the press or, for that matter, by experts in AI, has little to do with how Alan Turing saw things. As the entry on the Turing Test at the Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy website puts it:

The phrase The Turing Test is most properly used to refer to a proposal made by Turing (1950) as a way of dealing with the question whether machines can think. According to Turing, the question whether machines can think is itself too meaningless to deserve discussion (442). However, if we consider the more preciseand somehow relatedquestion whether a digital computer can do well in a certain kind of game that Turing describes (The Imitation Game), thenat least in Turings eyeswe do have a question that admits of precise discussion. Moreover, as we shall see, Turing himself thought that it would not be too long before we did have digital computers that could do well in the Imitation Game.

So, then, the Turing Test is really about whether a machine (these days, an algorithm) can play the Imitation Game, but such evidence can only provide indirect evidence, at best, on properties such as sentience and sapience. This is enough to make my point already, but I wish to spell this out properly in the main text. As an aside, in my experience of dealing with people from the AI sector as an analyst in recent years, very few people have actually read Turings 1950 paper, nor does anyone seem to know that it was published in a philosophy journal (Mind).

[ii] Needless to add, the case of LLMs has nothing to say about Chomskys Universal Grammar hypothesis.

[iii] It is commonplace in some quarters to dismiss machine learning as an exercise in curve fitting, by which it is meant the construction of a curve, or mathematical function, that best fits a series of data points, much as a regression does. The complaint about machine learning, traceable to Jadea Pearl, is possibly still a valid one, and it is certainly one of the reasons that AI models exhibit so many sexist and racist biases  these biases are in the training data and the models will find the relevant patterns.

[iv] To be more accurate, LLMs are large networks of matrix/tensor products, but they are not fed any semantics or facts about the world, truth considerations are not part of the training process, and they really are all about patterns of word/letter/sound co-occurrences. I should add that the NNs underlying the GPT models include attention mechanisms, layers that learn which parts of the data should be focused on during training in order to adjust the weights between words (or more accurately, word embedding; see here). Networks with such layers are called transformers, and thats why GPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer.

[v] And Im quoting from social media; let that pass too. At least it is not LinkedIn (sic).

[vi] Pylyshyn, along with Fodor, was a fierce critic of connectionist models of cognition (recall that c-nets are NNs, and thus basically machine learning models), and whilst they rejected such networks as appropriate models for cognition, they were nonetheless open to the possibility that these networks could constitute an account of how cognition was implemented in the brain; Im much more sceptical about this, but this is a topic for another time. It worth adding that Gary Marcus has argued in favour of hybrid machine learning models, that is to say models that include symbolic representations as well as a machine learning component, just as some prominent connectionists have done in the past, though this remains a no-no for many of the main AI players in the market (in some cases for ideological reasons, it seems to me; see here for some of the other ideas being floated around at present).
An Ovens boy is inspiring people to be brave this year, in aid of a cause thats close to his familys heart, writes CHRIS DUNNE

TWO-year-old Patrick Donohoe, from Ovens is a brave young man.

A Crumlin patient, Patrick was on hand with his brothers, James, aged nine, Sean, who is nearly eight, and Michael, aged three, to launch an exciting series of events, which include a 13,000ft skydive, an abseil from Croke Parks Hogan Stand, a 24-hour wilderness survival challenge and Hell and Back.

The events are part of the Dare to be Brave adventure series which will raise vital funds to support sick children and their families in Childrens Health Ireland (CHI), at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly.

Patricks mother, Michelle, is planning on taking the plunge.

I will definitely get involved, Michelle says.

What challenge will she take on for CHI?

Im not sure yet - but it will be one of the less challenging ones!

Crumlin is close to the familys hearts.

We built up a great relationship with Crumlin; we are very keen to give the hospital all the support we can. Crumlin is a great place, says Michelle.

Patrick is under the care of Dr Orla Franklin, his cardiologist in Crumlin. Dr Darragh Finn is his local Consultant Paediatrician in CUH and he links in with Crumlin. Patrick is a patient of CHI in Crumlin.

Patrick Donohoe launches Children's Health Foundation's Dare to be Brave adventure series.

Patrick was always in good hands.

Patrick got great care, says Michelle. Everyone has a connection with the childrens hospital. It touches a lot of hearts.

Patrick, a child with Down syndrome, was born on February 1, 2021, in CUMH. Michelles obstetrician was Professor John Higgins.

He had an underlying heart condition.

He looked perfect, says Michelle. Dad had a look in.

Its funny but I think newborn babies look like their dads at first, then they change, and their looks become more balanced, Michelle adds.

Now Patricks traits resemble both of us and his brothers.

Michelle looks back to when Patrick was born.

He was born with an underlying heart condition that required open-heart surgery in the first six months of his life.

How did Michelle and her husband, Brian, feel about that?

We took things as they came, we didnt dwell on things. We wanted to get him safely well step-by-step, says Michelle.

The cardiologist and the surgeon assessed him step-by-step. Our journey with Crumlin started well before Patricks arrival. By the time Patrick was born we had met with his cardiologist, Dr Orla Franklin, and her team a number of times. The nursing specialist arranged for us to visit Crumlin before Patricks birth. This allowed us to get to know the hospital, and in particular, The Heart Centre, where we would be spending some time over the coming months.

Patricks medical team were Dublin-based.

We had a close relationship with the team and with Crumlin, a centre of excellence, says Michelle.

Post-Covid, there was a lot of contact by phone.

Patrick was four weeks old when he had his first appointment. After that, he checked in every month with his team in Dublin.

The expectation was that he would have heart surgery around the 4-6 month mark. He had to be the right weight and he was assessed to determine at what stage he would be ready for surgery.

Patrick had his open heart surgery at just four months old, on May 24, 2021, and after a short stay, he was en route back to Cork to his big brothers, James, Sean, and Michael.

Were Michelle and Brian worried about their baby undergoing major heart surgery?

There was an element of worry, admits Michelle.

It was major surgery. We realised the surgery wasnt by choice; it was a necessity.

It was in Patricks interest to have the surgery. We had full confidence in his team.

Patrick bounced back to full health.

He recovered excellently, says Michelle. Patrick hasnt looked back since. He is in great health.

The boy makes his mark at home.

He is the life and soul of the household, says Michelle.

He mucks into the middle of them all. He bosses the others. Patrick gets away with most things because he is the youngest!

Michelle and Brian are full of praise for Crumlin Hospital.

We cant speak highly enough of Crumlin Hospital and the work that they do, says Michelle.

When you have personal experience, you appreciate the great work.

Post-surgery, it really touched me to see the amount of people touched by CHI hospitals, Crumlin, Tallaght and Temple Street, adds Michelle.

Ambassadors are important for the hospital, and it is important for them to have real-live people behind the Dare to be Brave campaign.

CHI came to us and said theyd love Patrick to be a patient ambassador for the campaign. Its all about encouraging people of all abilities to get out there and take on challenges for a worthy charity and raising much-needed funds for a very special place.

The Donohoes want to repay the kindnes.

It is the only way to give back and support the hospitals. Well do what we can to give back.

Patricks heart operation was a great success.

He has annual checks and thats it. We never looked back. We have no reason to look back.

Everyones health is important.

A personal experience puts things in perspective, says Michelle.

You get to see other peoples scenarios when you spend time with them.

Then you appreciate how important it is to help and support patients going through their own journeys. It is a humbling experience, adds Michelle.

The network of support at Crumlin is such a great help for families.

All the people at the hospital are incredible, says Michelle.

From the doctors, the nurses, the canteen people, the cleaners; the work they do is incredible. The do their work with care and grace. They are a very special group of people. So we are very keen to put the fundraising campaign out there and give people the opportunity or the chance to take on big or small challenges.

The Dare to be Brave challenge is a great way to raise funds for the CHI facilities. People need those vital services that the hospital provide now and in the future. It is down to all of us to support the charity.

Michelle, taking on a challenge herself, is roping other people in too.

I am down for two challenges, she says.

Family and friends are getting involved too.

MORE ABOUT DARE TO BE BRAVE

The bravery Patrick and his family showed was incredible and thats why the Childrens Health Foundation is daring you to be brave this summer to raise vital, life-saving funds for more children like Patrick.

Dare to be Brave events will take place between June and September and will provide participants with exciting once-in-a-lifetime experiences

June 29 and 30 - Skydive Challenge, Edenderry Co Offaly.

July 14 - 24 Hour Wilderness Survival Challenge, Glendalough Co. Wicklow

August 25 and September 16 - Croke Park Abseil Challenge.

September 30 - Hell and Back- Kilruddery House, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Participants can sign up to take part in all challenges or they can choose which of he challenges they want to take on throughout the summer.

Additionally, people can take on the challenges by themselves, or they can take part as a member of a team.

Why not dare your friends or colleagues to be brave with you?

ABOUT CHI HOSPITALS

Each year, hundreds of thousands of sick children cross the doors of CHI hospitals and urgent care centres at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly. For these children, the hospital can be a scary place, especially when they are unwell.

Every day, the children in CHI hospitals and urgent care centres summon an incredible amount of bravery and Childrens Health Foundation is committed to supporting them and the hospitals and urgent care centres to continue their vital and life-saving work.

Hugh Kane, Interim Chief Executive at Childrens Foundation, said: Taking part in our Dare to be Brave adventure series is a fantastic way to raise funds for sick children, whilst enjoying unique once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

We see brave children every day receive treatment in CHI hospitals and urgent care centres. By daring to be brave and taking part in this campaign, you will be supporting sick children, and I have no doubt your bravery will help save lives.

For more information, visit www.childrenshealth.ie/daretobebrave or email daretobebrave@childrenshealth.ie
Members of the public have been offered a fascinating insight into the nest of a barn owl at a derelict cottage in North Cork, thanks to discreetly placed cameras by BirdWatch Ireland.

The charity, established to protect birds and biodiversity, launched the livestream of the nest in recent days.

The conservation organisation has placed one camera in the roof space of an abandoned cottage in in Duhallow where the nest is and a second that focusses on the nest entrance.

High drama at the Barn Owl cottage nest last night! An intruder visited in the darkness, the lone female who was getting ready to lay the 3rd egg jumped to action to fend off the intruder! There is nothing like a mothers protective instincts!! Watch live: https://t.co/XlcTSEiQB0 pic.twitter.com/6S8mqpUJLo  BirdWatch Ireland (@BirdWatchIE) April 6, 2023

BirdWatch Ireland said barn owls have been nesting in this derelict cottage for many years.

The cameras, which the organisation says are discretely placed in the cottage, allow intimate views of the birds at and around the nest site.

The cameras were fitted under licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Key events since the livestream commenced include the first egg laid by the female on April 1, the second on April 3 and the third on April 6.

BirdWatch Ireland has reminded the public that barn owl sites should never be visited without a licence and without the necessary training and experience.

The livestream is available to watch on YouTube, however, those who decide to tune in have been warned that breeding season can be unpredictable.

Please be aware that this is a nest of wild barn owls, their breeding season can be unpredictable and tragedies can happen.

We have no control over what happens at this nest over the course of the breeding season and our policy is that we do not interfere with the nest, BirdWatch Ireland said.

At times there may be content which some viewers find upsetting and we advise caution in such circumstances.
BLACKPOOL Traders Group will present a plan for a new 25km greenway from Blackpool to Blarney, at a public meeting later this week in Cork city, despite opposition from a local environmental campaign group who say it will endanger local wildlife.

The greenway would run for a 350m stretch through Blackpool village, and cross the River Bride over a proposed culvert that has met with opposition from the Save Our Bride Otters (SOBO) group.

Mick Moriarty, proprietor of the famous Baldy Barber in William OBrien Street, is a spokesperson for the Blackpool Traders, which has about 25 members. Mr Moriarty said all are invited to the public meeting in the Glen Rover Hall on April 14.

A map by the Blackpool Traders Group showing the potential route of the proposed greenway from Blackpool to Blarney

Im 30 years waiting for Blackpool to be finished properly, said Mr Moriarty. I went to all the meetings long ago before the shopping centre was built. Then we got flooded in 2009. No one has flood insurance.

The traders want to see the flood defences addressed, and will work with the BusConnects plan to ensure residents and business people are satisfied.

We have 23 traders, and a lot of them have their family homes up against the banks, added Mr Moriarty. Without flood insurance, their futures will always remain in doubt.

Local councillors and TDs are invited to the open meeting at 7pm on Friday. Mr Moriarty said he was aware of the SOBO campaign, which does not want a culvert at Orchard Court over the River Bride, an important species habitat for otters according to SOBO.

The urban greenway would run out to Blarney eventually, and be built in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW).

Mr Moriarty has said his barber shop is open to all, and he is willing to talk to any concerned citizen about the impact the greenway may have.

In 2021, plans for a new flood relief scheme for Blackpool were approved costing 20m, which included a proposed 350m culvert over the river.

This scheme has been paused as the culvert has been at the centre of an unresolved legal objection by SOBO. Plans for the greenway to run over the culvert cannot be advanced until the culvert issue is resolved.

Well see what the OPW and the planners say, said Mr Moriarty.

Were making this proposal out to Blarney, and I believe the people in Blarney are delighted with it.

Mr Moriarty highlighted the closure of five pubs near the Baldy Barber in recent years.

We all fight for our area, he said.

Ive been flooded three times since the major flood a couple of years ago. I had to clean it all up and pay my own staff out of my own pocket. We were closed for three days.

The residents have to be looked after as well.

Other view: 'Blackpool deserves better'

SOBO spokesperson Chris Moody said it does not make sense to put the greenway over the river, and generally, greenways run alongside rivers.

SOBO advocates that the flooding problems in Blackpool can be solved by storing the waters upstream. Picture: Larry Cummins

Putting a greenway over a river is getting rid of a bit of nature, and replacing it with an artificial surface, he said. Its just ridiculous. The OPW plan for Blackpool is absolutely terrible, he added.

In Douglas we have stone clad walls and a park, and some would say even that it isnt the greatest solution but its a long way from culverting over the river.

I absolutely believe that Blackpool deserves much better than this. Our local politicians should be fighting for something far better and looking towards the future of Blackpool.

Flooding in Blackpool is complicated by many factors, including the fact there are two rivers, the Glen River and the River Bride. There are massive developments on floodplains above Blackpool, Mr Moody added.

We have to look at the causes properly. Sometimes the causes are unpleasant truths.

SOBO advocates that the flooding problems in Blackpool can be solved by storing the waters upstream.

Such engineering has already been achieved in Clonakilty, to reduce the height of water downstream. Residents there were unhappy with high walls in the town.

The idea is to contain the problem rather than drain it, said Mr Moody.

The current plan for Blackpool is to remove all of the restrictions that are upstream of Blackpool village.

A 200-year old twin arch bridge called Fitzs Boithrin, and another bridge further up, act as restrictions on the flow of water as it enters Blackpool.

The OPWs aim is to remove these impediments and flush the water through a culvert under Blackpool village, and install eight proposed surface water pumps to keep the water off the streets.

Two options were presented to the public: one was walls, and the other is the culvert plan, the preferred option from the get go.

Unfortunately, said Mr Moody, the community in Blackpool is divided, between the business people who are constantly flooded, and some environmentalists who have objected to the culvert.

There is a better solution for Blackpool that doesnt involve this massive construction, this massive disruption, this massive damage, that would suit everybody.

Mr Moody stated the OPW has made a massive mess in terms of its flood risk assessments. The flood scheme has been bulldozed ahead without proper consultation, he said.

The best solution for everybody is upstream storage, he added, claiming that the OPW had discussed this option, and that it was the cheapest.

However, this option was not taken up as the upstream storage was too far away and could be disrupted by storms.

What really matters is, does it reduce the level of flooding in Blackpool village? asked Mr Moody.

In their options report, upstream storage was deemed the most effective in terms of level reduction in Blackpool village.

Four options were available, including upstream storage, high walls through Orchard Court, the replacement of an existing culvert at Watercourse Road, and culverting.

SOBOs legal challenge has been submitted and Mr Moody said he is waiting to hear back on it, adding there has been very little feedback about anything.
COBH is expecting a boom in tourism this summer as more than 90 cruise liners visit the picturesque seaside town, with passengers also making trips to other parts of Cork, generating millions for the local economy.

Famous as the last port of call for the Titanic, Cobh is now often the first port of call for more than 100,000 tourists from Europe and North America. The first liner of the year, Ambience, is due to arrive just before noon today.

Cobh and Harbour Chamber president Johanna Murphy described the cruise ships as a game changer for tourism, creating a festival atmosphere in the streets, with visitors from far and wide filling bars, restaurants, and hotels, or taking the train to Cork city.

Between the passengers, crew, and the spectators who come to view the gigantic vessels, the population of Cobh can swell many times over on ship days.

Dozens of vessels, containing between 2,000 and 5,000 passengers each, will visit during this cruise season, which runs until late October.

The town comes alive and its like a festival down here any day a liner is in, Ms Murphy said.

[Cruises are] massive from a commerce perspective for our town and the region.

"The fact that the train runs every half an hour is fantastic.

The cruise liner industry is estimated to contribute 70m to the national economy and on average 14m per year to local economies such as Cork.

In 2022, the Port of Cork and Bantry Bay Port welcomed 90 cruise ships and more than 115,000 passengers, returning to nearly pre-pandemic levels.

A highlight of last years cruise season was the 331m-long MSC Virtuosa, one of the largest cruise ships in the world, which made its maiden call on September 29.

There were a total of 19 maiden cruise liner calls to Cork last season and the most frequent visitor was the Emerald Princess, which called to the port 13 times.

Ms Murphy said the type of visitor who arrives on a cruiser, tends to return on a normal holiday generating huge repeat tourism for Cork. Nearby Spike Island, and the Heritage Centre which tells the story of mass emigration to America, with its exhibition on the RMS Titanic, are huge attractions, said Ms Murphy.

A lot of Americans and Europeans come here. Anyone in Cobh will say, all the shops are busy when the liners come in.

The passenger and the crew are buying memorabilia, theyre buying shirts, trousers, dresses, added Ms Murphy.

Helen Murphy of the Cork Business Association said they are also expecting a strong summer season, after a few tough years during covid.

It really is looking to be a very bright and busy summer for Cork City, especially for the restaurants and cafes in town, with cruise ships coming into Cobh. I think there will be a lot of traffic through Cork Airport too.

I think we are going to see a lot of tourists in the city centre, and hopefully theyll be spending money in the bars and cafes and shops.
THE search is on for information on an enigmatic Cork character colloquially known as Charlie the Bogman.

Independent councillor in the citys South-Central ward, Paudie Dineen recently issued a social media appeal for information on the mysterious Leesider as he intends putting forward a submission for a new bridge connecting Grange to Tramore Valley Park to be named Charlies Bridge.

Youd have to be of a certain vintage to remember Charlie! I dont know his surname  thats why I put the request out on social media to try and get some more information on him  but Charlie used live in the bog which back in the day was adjacent to the landfill, Mr Dineen told The Echo.

He was like a wild man for want of a better word, but he was a quiet man. When we were young, wed see him walking into town with his dogs and his stick. Hed be in doing his bits in town and hed come back to the bog and swim in the water there and bathe himself.

The Grange Rd to Tramore Valley Park pedestrian and cycle link consists of a pedestrian and cycle path from the Grange Rd down the Valley and into the Tramore Valley Park via an overbridge over the N40. It is currently under construction with an expected completion date of September.

Last month, Cork City Council commenced a public consultation, inviting nominations for the naming of the new bridge. Elements of the bridge will be delivered to site over the coming weeks and its installation is planned for mid-April.

Mr Dineen said he believes it would be fitting to name the bridge after Charlie.

I think it would be very appropriate to name the new bridge after him because you could say he was the official owner of that area before anyone really knew it was there  long before Tramore Valley Park.

Mr Dineen is appealing for any information on Charlie to strengthen his submission to the council.

Someone somewhere must know something about him. Even if it was just his surname or when he passed away, he said.

The closing date for receipt of submissions is April 28 at 4pm. For details on how to make a submission see consult.corkcity.ie/en
A SOCIAL housing development that will provide new homes at unused, derelict, and vacant sites on Barrack Street  including the former Nancy Spains bar  is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The site was the subject of extensive local and national interest in 2021, when skeletal remains of six bodies were uncovered.

Cork City Council confirmed that the delivery of the new homes is programmed for the end of 2023.

A spokesperson said that the archaeological discoveries impacted on localised areas of the site in terms of programme effects, but that the contractor was able to progress works in other areas of the site to enable them to work towards the delivery of new homes for the end of 2023.

During the monitoring of ground reductions to the rear of the Barrack St facade of the former Nancy Spains pub, human skeletal remains were found just below the construction formation level in that area of the development.

Four of the six individuals were uncovered within a mass burial pit. Small fragments of bone taken from two of the skeletons to facilitate radiocarbon dating returned dates from the period between 1447 and 1636.

The City Council is awaiting the issue of the final specialist reports, at which point there may be new information that can be reported on, a council spokesperson said.

Cork City Council looks forward to the delivery of new homes on this site in 2023, in an important city centre location, whilst also remediating a number of long derelict sites with a high-quality and much-needed residential development.

Independent councillor Mick Finn welcomed the expected completion date of the new units.

It has taken a long time to get to this point, but its great to see the Barrack St housing will be completed by the end of the year and probably allocated in early 2024, he said.

Mr Finn said the residential development faced several obstacles but that when completed the much-needed housing will lift the street and breathe new life into a part of it that was derelict for years.

Elsewhere on the street, adjoining properties 118 and 119 are also primed for development after city councillors voted last November to sell the long-derelict buildings acquired by the local authority using compulsory purchase order powers in 2021.

Speaking at a council meeting last year, the city councils director of corporate affairs and international relations, Paul Moynihan, said the properties were deemed unsuitable to be developed as social housing by the councils housing directorate.

He said the purchaser, a business owner on Barrack St, had a track record of deliverability and had proposed a commercial use at lower level with residential above and that the redevelopment works at 118 and 119 would be another boost for Barrack St. Such housing will be great for local schools, clubs and businesses with new families moving in; its a bright chapter in the great history of Barrack St and long overdue, he said.
TWO bridges on the Macroom N22 bypass won the recent Irish Concrete Awards, where the structures were described as fine feats of engineering design and construction.

The bridges were awarded in the infrastructure category for the pre-cast concrete beams used over the Laney and Sullane rivers.

The 50m, pre-cast beams used in the North Cork bridges are the longest in Ireland and the UK.

The awards judges said:

The W19 beams of the Laney and Sullane river bridges are the longest in Ireland and the UK for both single and two-span, pre-stressed bridge beam structures at 50m and 98m, respectively. Both these achievements are fine feats of engineering design and construction, while pushing the boundaries in the use of prestress concrete.

The beams were designed and manufactured by Offaly firm Banagher Precast Concrete Limited.

We always said that we could design, manufacture and transport 50m beams, but up to now we never had a client brave enough, said Caroline Cavanagh of Banagher Precast.

Transport of the beams required a series of Garda-escorted, overnight journeys from Banagher, Co Offaly, to Macroom.

The 190km journey, which usually takes two-and-a-half hours, took 12.

Manoeuvring the beams, which are the same length as an Olympic swimming pool, was particularly difficult when passing through the Jack Lynch Tunnel, with a mere 200mm of headroom to spare.
THE president of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) has called on the Minister for Education to provide better pay and conditions for younger teachers to recruit and retain teaching staff.

INTO president John Driscoll is a native of Cork city and is deputy principal of Star of the Sea Primary School, Passage West. Mr Driscoll is attending a three-day teachers conference in Killarney.

Speaking to The Echo, he explained the cost-of-living crisis is having a huge impact on younger teachers entering the profession.

There are positions that have not been filled in schools, generally in areas of high pressure on rent - its a very difficult one to solve, he said.

There are teachers who could work in large urban areas, Dublin or Cork, but they cant afford to live there.

Mr Driscoll said there are schools with permanent positions available, which would have been seen a few years ago as prized positions, but younger teachers are voting with their feet and leaving for the Middle East or Australia, where a large chunk of their salaries will not be spent on rent or mortgages.

Theyre going for the lifestyle, the salary, he explained.

In the long-term they may return, but theyre putting that off. We need measures to attract them back into the system. If the salaries arent attractive enough, thats a problem.

Mr Driscoll also highlighted increased administration work for principals, and a lack of resources across the education system.

It takes a huge amount of time and effort and energy to complete applications, to pursue them, to get the right resources, he explained. There is a shortage of psychologists for schools, a shortage of speech and language therapists.

The INTO is also calling for improved supports for special needs education and schools in disadvantaged areas.
FINE Gaels dramatic slide in popularity according to an opinion poll on Sunday, showing them at an all-time low as the third largest party in the State behind Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail, must be seen as only a snapshot, according to a Fine Gael TD for Cork.

The Times Behaviour and Attitude poll put Sinn Fein at 37 per cent (+5), Fianna Fail at 21 per cent (+1), and Fine Gael at 15 per cent, (-8). If repeated in an election, this would be Fine Gaels worst result since its foundation in 1933.

Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central, Deputy Colm Burke, said any poll is a snapshot in time, but the average over the past four months paints a totally different picture.

A Red C poll was more consistent said Mr Burke, where it showed an increase or decrease of two or three per cent each time for each of the parties.

It is a snapshot in time. My view is that there is a lot of positive stuff happening. There are over 720,000 more people working now than there were ten years ago, he said.

Compared to 2008 and 2009, when there was unemployment of around 15 per cent, the country has come a long way, said Mr Burke. In total, over 305,000 new PPS numbers were issued last year.

When asked if the ending of the eviction ban was the main driver of discontent with the Government, Mr Burke said any house that is vacant is going to be either sold or will have offers on them immediately.

Mr Burke said he had encountered a constituent last week who had applied for a 50,000 home renewal grant from Cork City Council. They got approval from Revenue.

"They submitted their application over four months ago. Four months later, they still havent got a response back from City Council.

Asked if he still had confidence in Leo Varadkar as leader of Fine Gael, Mr Burke said, we have a job to do in relation to housing.

"There is no question about that. We have a difficulty in relation to delivering housing because we do not have the same number of people working in that area, as we had in 2000 to 2008. Then, Ireland had over 30,000 people in from Poland working in construction.

Weve gone from 230,000 people working in construction down to 170,000. A huge number of those working in construction are working in the commercial sector, like building factories and warehousing, he added.

Mr Burke said that Fine Gael has helped turn the economy around from a situation ten years ago when the national debt became so high, you couldnt even pay the interest on.

I am satisfied that we have brought stability.

To retain confidence in the economy, you need to show that the Government is not going to suddenly change policies, left, right and centre.

Mr Burke said the main issue now is how to deliver more houses in a shorter time frame, and to deal with logjams in planning applications.

Deputy Mayor of Cork County Council, Fianna Fail Cllr Deirdre OBrien, said there has to be more social and affordable housing, along with waste water treatment plants. Asked if she had full confidence in Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, Ms OBrien said she didnt see any alternative.

Deputy Mayor of Cork County Council, Fianna Fail Cllr Deirdre OBrien, said there has to be more social and affordable housing, along with waste water treatment plants. Asked if she had full confidence in Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, Ms OBrien said she didnt see any alternative.

Asked if she would be willing to go into coalition with Sinn Fein, Ms OBrien said she would like to see more transparency from Sinn Fein and would be very cautious before going into Government with them.

If the alternative was to support a coalition of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and others, Ms OBrien said its a hard call.
The 46th President of the United States of America (POTUS), Joe Biden will visit Ireland from April 12-15.

The opening day of the visit will primarily be concentrated in Louth from late afternoon into the late evening.

Biden will travel to Dublin on Wednesday, April 13 where he will visit Phoenix Park and Dublin South City Centre.

Thursday will primarily be concentrated in Mayo from early afternoon into the late evening.

Biden will arrive and depart at Dublin Airport, at various times over the course of the 4-day visit.

Normal operations will continue at Dublin Airport at all times, however travelling members of the public should allow additional time to arrive at the airport due to possible rolling road closures, particularly late Wednesday and early Friday.

The POTUS will arrive and depart at Ireland West Airport, on the afternoon and evening of Friday 14 April.

Normal operations will continue at Ireland West Airport at all times, however travelling members of the public should allow additional time to arrive at the airport due to possible rolling road closures.

In general, traffic restrictions for the visit will be kept to the minimum required and it is intended that any impact on the public will be localised and minimal.

However, the public can expect localised road closures to facilitate events and temporary rolling road closures to facilitate security escorts over the course of Bidens visit.

The following Traffic Management measures, for security reasons, are currently in place:

Monday April 10 - from 0700hrs Parking restrictions on Earlsfort Terrace, Leeson Street Lower, Hatch Street Lower, Castle Street and Ship Street (until Saturday April 15) The following Traffic Management measures, for security reasons, will be put in place:

Tuesday April 11  from 0700hrs Earlsfort Terrace closed to traffic, pedestrian access to businesses on Earlsfort Terrace via Hatch Street only (until Saturday April 15)

Phoenix Park will be closed to all access, traffic and pedestrians, from 5pm Wednesday April 12 5pm Thursday April 13 (arrangements are in place for local access ONLY)

Specific details on further local road closures, parking restrictions and traffic diversions for Louth, Dublin and Mayo will be published in the coming days.

Members of the Public travelling in the affected areas, Louth on April 12, Dublin (Phoenix Park/ South City Centre) April 12/13 and Mayo April 14 are be asked to plan their journeys during this period to ensure to leave enough time for possible traffic disruptions and to expect some localised delays.

An Garda Siochana has and continues to liaise with business and local residents in the key locations and will continue to communicate directly with them during the visit.
by John Allen Paulos

Despite many peoples apocalyptic response to ChatGPT, a great deal of caution and skepticism is in order. Some of it is philosophical, some of it practical and social. Let me begin with the former.

Whatever its usefulness, we naturally wonder whether CharGPT and its near relatives understand language and, more generally, whether they demonstrate real intelligence. The Chinese Room thought experiment, a classic argument put forward by philosopher John Searle in 1980, somewhat controversially maintains that the answer is No. It is a refinement of arguments of this sort that go back to Leibniz.

In his presentation of the argument (very roughly sketched here), Searle first assumes that research in artificial intelligence has, contrary to fact, already managed to design a computer program that seems to understand Chinese. Specifically, the computer responds to inputs of Chinese characters by following the programs humongous set of detailed instructions to generate outputs of other Chinese characters. Its assumed that the program is so good at producing appropriate responses that even Chinese speakers find it to be indistinguishable from a human Chinese speaker. In other words, the computer program passes the so-called Turing test, but does even it really understand Chinese?

The next step in Searles argument asks us to imagine a man completely innocent of the Chinese language in a closed room, perhaps sitting behind a large desk in it. He is supplied with an English language version of the same elaborate set of rules and protocols the computer program itself uses for correctly manipulating Chinese characters to answer questions put to it. Moreover, the man is directed to use these rules and protocols to respond to questions written in Chinese that are submitted to him through a mail slot in in the wall of the room. Someone outside the room would likely be quite impressed with the mans responses to the questions posed to him and what seems to be the mans understanding of Chinese. Yet all the man is doing is blindly following the same rules that govern the way the sequences of symbols in the questions should be responded to in order to yield answers. Clearly the man could process the Chinese questions and produce answers to them without any understanding any of the Chinese writing. Finally, Searle drops the mic by maintaining that both the man and the computer itself have no knowledge or understanding of Chinese.

So, does Searles experiment show that machine knowledge and intelligence are impossible? To answer that would require diving into a huge literature  extended analyses of tacit assumptions, nuances, special cases, not to mention definitions of consciousness and intentionality. We would need to understand exactly how meaning might arise from rules or, equivalently, how semantics might arise from syntax. We would need to understand how a machine could know or believe something. If its true, would the machine believe it, whatever that means, and if its false would the machine disbelieve it.

As noted, these are philosophical questions and dont necessarily undermine the transformative power and usefulness of ChatGPT. They do force us to consider whether it can truly be said to possess intelligence and consciousness or whether it is only an impressively sophisticated tool for processing and manipulating vast amounts of data in natural languages at lightning speed.

Of course, the vast amounts of data engorged from books, articles, websites, etcetera, that the machine learning is based upon present other more practical problems. For example, does this human data infect and pollute ChatGPTs responses with some of our worst traits? A rather simplistic illustration: Asked to complete man is to doctor as woman is to x, the x that is generated from the data might be nurse. Likewise, shopkeeper is to man as x is to woman, and x might turn out to be housewife. As Brian Christian observes in his book The Alignment Problem, there are many more serious problems baked almost invisibly into the voluminous data the machine learning is based upon. Some of these issues involve the criminal justice system, political systems, and other pillars of society.

The lack of human oversight in such systems should alarm people. Relevant is another thought experiment that should give pause to our headlong embrace of ChatGPT and AI in general. It is the so-called paperclip maximizer problem devised by philosopher Nick Bostrom, which illustrates that without human filters and oversight, employing algorithms and systems might easily result in catastrophic consequences.

Consider, for example, an artificial intelligence system designed to maximize paperclips. Seems innocuous enough, and system will do so, of course, but it may also work to increase its own intelligence to enable it to produce more and more paperclips. The system wouldnt necessarily value common sense or general intelligence but only focus myopically on whatever means it could develop to optimize its ability to produce more paperclips. Eventually, the system might conceivably go through an intelligence explosion that would result in the dwarfing of human intelligence. It would devise increasingly clever ways to maximize the number of paperclips, ultimately filling the whole planet and beyond with paperclips. Clearly, the future monomaniacal nature of such an algorithm innocently devised to maximize paperclips would not take into account human values, interests, and pursuits. It would be completely alien to us. This is, of course, only a thought experiment, but like all thought experiments, it is intended to stimulate thought. In this case, the thought is of the future perils of artificial intelligence.

The bottom line is that there are many such cautionary tocsins that should induce a wariness in us about the introduction and pervasive use ChatGPT and its descendants. We shouldnt mindlessly and immediately try to switch from a horse and carriage to a Porsche powered by artificial intelligence. If we do proceed so recklessly, our whole civilization may crash.

***

John Allen Paulos is a Professor of Mathematics at Temple University and the author of A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper, Innumeracy, and a new book, Whos Counting Uniting Numbers and Narratives with Stories from Pop Culture, Puzzles, Politics, and More. (the link to the Amazon page of the book.)
A WEST Cork man said he will fight Cork County Council before paying a 2024 invoice incurred for phoning emergency services to assist with local gorse fires.

David Roche was abroad when the caretaker of his property phoned the local fire brigade to warn of a nearby gorse fire raging through the local community.

The Sheeps Head local said the call was made out of a civic duty and that firefighters never entered his property.

Nevertheless, he emphasised that the 2,024 invoice left him both shocked and baffled. Mr Roche is calling for the invoice to be written off as an error following a strongly worded letter to Cork County Council. In it he rejected any financial responsibility for interventions made during the recent incident. Mr Roche also made reference to neighbours not faced with invoices despite making the same calls to emergency services.

Mr Roche is one of several West Cork residents to have received similar invoices in recent weeks.

The Southern Star recently reported on Goleen woman Brigit Eder who had an invoice of 2,400 reviewed and subsequently cleared. It is believed she may have been billed by Cork County Council in error.

Meanwhile, David said he fears the stress being experienced by others affected by the issue could undermine community spirit in the area.

Cork County Council are going the wrong way about promoting community spirit in a very lonely and underpopulated area. This only makes people afraid of behaving in a communal way. What emergency services need to be doing is finding out who started the fires and making them pay for it.

"This shouldnt be about prosecuting innocent people and harassing them with outlandish bills for what is essentially their civic duty. This is ridiculous and unwarranted. The invoices are shocking and beyond most peoples ability to pay.

Mr Roche said he is willing to fight Cork County Council.

They cannot bill you if you do not enter the property. One cannot be charged for a fire on the commonage. Im certainly not going down without a fight.

The West Cork resident isnt the only one defying the requests for payment.

Leo Bolger, who owns Bally Bia restaurant in Ballydehob, received a bill for a total of 6,116 after the Schull and Bantry Fire Brigades services were called to extinguish gorse fires in the area of Coomfarna, Durrus and Bantry on March 4 of this year. The local business owner had used large shovels to beat out the fire.

David said there may be other people privately struggling with invoices.

Not everyone is going to be able to fight this, he said.

There are people who will no doubt be intimidated by such an official letter and pay the money.

He expressed concern that people will refrain from calling emergency services in the event of future gorse fires.

How are people going to make these calls when they are afraid? he asked.

The Echo has contacted Cork County Council for comment.
A 79-year-old Cork grandfather, who is the sole carer for his profoundly disabled daughter, has said he feels humbled at the outpouring of support he and his daughter have received since he spoke with The Echo last week.

Billy Corcoran, a retired dock worker and Irish Defence Forces veteran from The Glen, cares for his 43-year-old daughter Amanda, who has cerebral palsy.

As a result of her condition, Amanda suffers from incontinence, with her bedclothes needing constant changing, and Mr Corcoran said their washing machine and drier are in non-stop use.

Mr Corcorans 27-year-old granddaughter, who recently had a baby, also lives in his house because, due to the housing crisis, she cannot get a place of her own.

Last week Mr Corcoran contacted The Echo after he said he had felt humiliated at the process of applying for a supplementary welfare payment to cover the cost of repairs to their drier, which had broken down.

He said he had found the Department of Social Protection staff unhelpful and the necessary forms to be over-complicated.

'BLOWN AWAY'

Mr Corcoran said he has been blown away by the response he has received in the days since he spoke to The Echo.

He was contacted by Thornhill Brothers in Skibbereen, who have told him they will this week supply and install a new drier, free of charge, a gesture Mr Corcoran said was incredibly generous.

Iona Appliances, which had fixed his original drier, have refunded Mr Corcoran the price of that repair, something he described as just amazing.

On Saturday, Andrew Kilgore, a Buttevant-based software engineer originally from Derry, contacted The Echo and drove to The Glen to give Mr Corcoran a gift voucher worth 500.

Describing Mr Kilgore as an absolute gentleman, Mr Corcoran said the gift voucher would cover the cost of a new washing machine, as their current device was on its last legs.

Billy Corcoran (79) is a former dock worker and a veteran of the Irish Defence Forces. He felt humiliated when he applied for a supplementary welfare payment to cover the cost of repairing a clothes drier. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe.

Mr Corcoran said he has felt overwhelmed at the support and kindness he and Amanda have received, with many carers getting in touch to say his words had resonated with them.

'UNEXPECTED'

It was a bit of an unexpected reaction but it really proved that there are still a lot of very decent people out there, he said.

It was really humbling. It was totally off the scale. I think it felt related to a lot of people out there struggling as well.

Mr Corcoran said carers in Ireland are taken for granted by the State, because the service they provide comes from love and necessity.

The forgotten people in Ireland are the carers. Being a carer totally takes over your life. You have no life. Its 24/7, its constant, he said.

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.

He said he was very fortunate in that he had two home helps who call in the morning and evening, and Enable Ireland take Amanda in the afternoon, but, he said, from 4pm every day he minds her.

Im okay, and Amanda is okay, she can get around in her wheelchair and she can talk to me and tell me what she needs. There are people that are a lot worse off than us, people that cant communicate, and that must just be devastating for them, he said.

There are people that are constantly living like that and what is Government doing for people? Not much, as far as I can see.

There was a big deal made there after Covid about giving 1,000 to people on the front line, and good luck to them, but what about 1,000 for carers? he asked.

Carers get nothing. The Department of Social Protection was asked for a comment.
IS there a drug problem in Cork? That was a question posed at a meeting held in the Metropole Hotel in Cork city back in 1983.

It was a meeting of the Cork Speakers Club, which was a kind of forerunner of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meetings weve become familiar with in recent times.

The Cork Examiner reported on that meeting, and it seems all the movers and shakers in the city were there, along with a panel of speakers with only one question to answer. Does Cork have a drugs problem?

While the answer was yes, the seriousness of the problem was a matter of divergence, and overall, the general impression was that alcoholism was a far more serious issue.

As far as the garda representative at the meeting was concerned, there was a growing drug abuse problem in Ireland, especially in Dublin, and while the problem could not be classed as alarming and was not out of hand, he agreed it did appear to be growing.

The Medical Council Research Board, an independent body, had found that the drug problem in Galway, Dublin and Cork was minimal, while the Southern Health Board had found it minimal and containable.

Professor R. J. Daly, from the Department of Psychiatry at UCC, and Clinical Director of the Southern Health Board, said Cork had a problem with the national panic about drugs and with the gross misinformation concerning the levels of illegal drug abuse and appropriate responses on the part of the community and health services.

He questioned the sources of this information on the levels of drug addiction, describing it as hot gossip.

Its easy to be critical in hindsight, but there was a limited understanding of the seriousness of the growing drugs problem back then.

You could argue that what was happening in other jurisdictions abroad, and in our own capital city, should have created more awareness, but there was one man at that meeting who was more informed than the others.

The then Lord Mayor of Cork, Mr John Dennehy, disagreed with previous speakers and suggested they were facing a very serious problem. He pointed out that at least six people had already died from drugs in the Cork area.

He was right to be concerned because we were heading into an epidemic. Dublin was awash with drugs and that scourge wasnt going to remain within the Pale.

When I went to Dublin in 1980 as a young member of An Garda Siochana, I was immediately struck by the extent of the illicit drug problem in the capital. The main criminal gang at that time controlled the heroin market. The stuff was everywhere.

Heroin was destroying communities to such an extent that President Patrick Hillery vowed to make the dangers of drug abuse the main focus of his second term of office when he was sworn in in 1983.

He said his background as a medical doctor made him acutely conscious of the problems of drug abuse and he intended to concentrate on that issue.

He planned to invite the various interest groups involved in fighting the problem of drug abuse to a meeting in order to forge closer links between the different bodies.

President Hillery wanted doctors, the gardai and social workers to meet him in Aras an Uachtarain to work out a strategy which would give them a common bond in combating the drugs problem in this country.

I dont know if that materialised or not, but it did show that he was progressive in his thinking. He obviously had an awareness that the drug situation was escalating and presented a serious risk to communities everywhere.

Fast forward 40 years to 2023 and we are still dealing with the issue.

As reported in The Echo, Chief Superintendent Tom Myers, speaking at a meeting of the Cork City Joint Policing Committee, addressed concerns regarding the visibility of drugs in the city centre.

He acknowledged that drug dealing in Cork city continues to represent a big challenge to gardai, and vowed to continue to target the individuals who are destroying our communities.

Chief Supt Myers accepted that drugs are in every corner of the city now.

Fianna Fail councillor Colm Kelleher said he witnessed open drug taking in the city centre on a Sunday afternoon on Patrick Street.

He has been steadfast in his support of a supervised injection centre (SIF) for Cork city and said his faith in the idea was further solidified following a recent visit to New York.

Mr Kelleher discovered a supervised injection facility in Rochester in Upstate New York, and since it was delivered, they have seen an 84-85% reduction in open drug use within their city.

Cork City Council chief executive Ann Doherty suggested that a meeting could be sought with the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Hildegarde Naughton, with a view to progressing the matter.

Back in 2011, through my involvement in community policing, I started a conversation around introducing a supervised injecting facility to Cork city. I gathered the main stakeholders together and we had a series of meetings.

Progress was slow because the topic was controversial. There were many potential pitfalls from a policing, political and health perspective, but we drove ahead.

In 2013, I went overseas with the United Nations and as far as I am aware, those meetings petered out.

There is no magic wand solution to the drug problem, but we can mitigate the effects with supervised injecting facilities.

A SIF is a clean, safe, healthcare environment where people can inject drugs under the supervision of trained health professionals, which will help to reduce HIV infection rates, overdose deaths, and drug-related prison convictions. They have been successful elsewhere.

Maybe its time to stop talking and move on to action.
Jonathan McCambridge and Rebecca Black, PA

Updated: 6.30pm

Scenes of violence against police during a dissident parade in Derry have been condemned by politicians across Ireland.

A number of missiles were hurled by young people at a PSNI Land Rover monitoring the parade in the Creggan area of the city on Easter Monday.

The parade, organised by the Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee, started in the Central Drive area when a number of masked men in paramilitary-style dress formed a colour party carrying the Irish flag and a host of republican flags.

As the parade progressed towards the City Cemetery, the police Land Rover came under attack, with masked youths throwing petrol bombs and firing fireworks before it drove off in flames.

The parade culminated at the republican plot in the cemetery, where speeches were heard.

One speaker described the event as respectful and dignified, paying homage to the revolutionary heroes of 1916 and all the republican dead.

A group throw petrol bombs at a PSNI vehicle in the Creggan area of Derry. Photo: PA Images

A PSNI spokesperson said: Our officers have come under attack in Creggan, with petrol bombs and other objects thrown at their vehicle while in attendance at an unnotified Easter parade.

No injuries have been reported at this time.

We would appeal for calm.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill described the violent scenes as deplorable.

She added: Twenty-five years on from the Good Friday Agreement this needless street disorder in Derry has no place in our society.

As political leaders we must stand united, appealing to all those concerned to end these attacks and refrain from further threats of violence, whether in Derry or North Down.

This type of illegal and anti-community activity is deplorable and out of step from wider community and public opinion.

Our focus is on the future and on the future of our young.

This society is moving forward and peace and stability will prevail.

Britain's Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he hoped the situation would quickly calm down.

It is very, very disappointing that people have gone ahead with a march that has not been notified to the police, he told the BBC.

Hopefully it will calm down very quickly and the police can get about their business because they are there to protect all communities across Northern Ireland.

Dissident Republicans parade in the Creggan area of Derry on Easter Monday. Photo: PA Images

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the senseless violence is the last thing the people of Derry want to see.

It was wrong 25 years ago and it is wrong now, he said.

The saddest part of this spectacle is that young people with no memory or experience of the violence of our past are being manipulated and abused by people with no vision for the future.

Those whipping our kids into a frenzy and sending them out to attack the police have nothing to offer the people of Derry and this city will continue to reject them.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton tweeted: Another clearly coordinated attack on the PSNI.

The parade was illegal from the outset. This reckless behaviour is an attempt to cause harm not only to PSNI officers but to our communities as well. There must be swift action to bring those responsible to justice.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said: Absolute wasters. Sent out to riot by men sitting in pubs acting the big lads.

Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong tweeted: Disgraceful. The actions of some who want to drag NI back to dark days is abhorrent.

Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney also tweeted his support for the PSNI.

So-called dissident republicans have nothing to offer our society, north or south, he said.

A tiny minority of thugs seeking headlines, wanting to take Northern Ireland backwards.

A PSNI on fire in Derry. Photo: PA Images

Last week, senior police warned of the potential for disorder at the event.

The PSNI's Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said the force received strong intelligence that dissidents were planning to launch terror attacks against officers on the bank holiday.

Police increased security measures in response to the parade.

Groups marched in west Belfast and other areas in Northern Ireland across the Easter weekend as part of an annual public marking of the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

Most parades were lawful and passed without incident.

However, police are investigating a masked colour party which led a parade in Falls Road in west Belfast organised by the Irish Republican Socialist Party on Sunday.

Parade participants were issued with warnings and footage was gathered by police, who will review it as part of an investigation into potential terrorism offences.
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.

A man swims in the sea by the city of Alicante, Spain on April 1, 2023, the day global ocean surface temperatures reached a record high. Marcos del Mazo / LightRocket via Getty Images

The global ocean surface temperature reached 21.1C (approximately 70F) in early April, the highest recorded ocean surface temperature since records began. The recorded high beat the previous highest ocean surface temperature of 21.0C, recorded in 2016.

The daily Sea Surface Temperature hit 21.1C on April 1 and remained there through April 6, as recorded by the Climate Reanalyzer, a tool from the University of Maines Climate Change Institute.

The current trajectory looks like its headed off the charts, smashing previous records, Matthew England, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales, told The Guardian.

While the previous few years, under La Nina conditions, saw slightly cooler sea surface temperatures, experts are now seeing heat rising up to the ocean surface. Global warming can further contribute to rising ocean temperatures, and globally, we are seeing an average of 0.32 F (0.18 C) warming per decade.

The record ocean surface temperatures could foreshadow El Nino conditions later in 2023. With these patterns, we could see more flooding around the Gulf Coast in the U.S. and in the southeastern part of the country. Warming ocean surface temperatures can also alter food webs and marine ecosystems.

In 2016, when the previous highest sea surface temperature was recorded, El Nino was occurring. This phenomenon typically happens when global temperatures are higher, and as The Washington Post reported, last month had a global average temperature about 0.92F higher than the normal temperature recorded for 1991 to 2020.

With La Nina, the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming are often subdued, making surface temperatures cooler.

The recent triple dip La Nina has come to an end. This prolonged period of cold was tamping down global mean surface temperatures despite the rise of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, said Mike McPhaden, a senior research scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as reported by The Guardian. Now that its over, we are likely seeing the climate change signal coming through loud and clear.

Warmer ocean surface temperatures may also mean more marine heatwaves, and the conditions leading to ocean warming may also lead to increasing temperatures on land. Researchers are already recording an unusually high amount of extreme marine heatwaves occurring at once. Rising temperatures and increasing heatwaves can lead to several negative consequences, from melting ice and increasing sea level rise to more severe storms and risks to marine life, including coral bleaching events.
Environmental and community groups in Ohio have filed a preliminary injunction to stop the leasing of public lands  including state parks  to the oil and gas industry.

Ohio HB 507, which redefines methane gas as green energy and requires state parks to lease their lands for fracking, went into effect on April 7. Originally an agricultural bill with its focus on poultry, the law was quickly expanded to include granting petrochemical, agricultural and fracking rights to industry.

The groups oppose the law on a constitutional basis, in addition to their objection to the obligatory leasing of public lands for fracking, a press release from Earthjustice and the Sierra Club said.

Earthjustice is representing Sierra Club, Ohio Valley Allies and Buckeye Environmental Network in the lawsuit. Attorneys from Earthjustice and Case Western Reserve University Environmental Law Clinic are representing the Ohio Environmental Council, along with the organizations own attorneys.

It is because of the grassroots efforts of Ohioans who were shocked at the underhanded way the legislators passed an illegal amendment during the last weeks of the General Assembly in 2022, that we are filing this lawsuit today, said Cheryl Johncox, board chairperson of the Buckeye Environmental Network, according to the press release. Ohioans love their parks and forest lands and will not tolerate lawmakers turning blind eyes to what will happen to the beauty and integrity of the lands that belong to the people. Oil and gas extraction will irrevocably and permanently harm our most treasured places in Ohio. We, the people, will not stand by and allow this to happen.

The unrelated, eleventh-hour additions to what was originally a poultry bill made their way through the chambers of the Ohio State Senate without discussion during a lame duck session. Over demands to veto the controversial bill, it was signed into law by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on January 6, 2023.

This law is nothing more than an illegitimate giveaway to the oil and gas industry, said Earthjustice attorney Megan Hunter in the press release. We will defend Ohios public lands from this unconstitutional attack. We will see the state in court.

State parks in Ohio are already being staked out by oil and gas companies, who have requested leases, which the bill takes away the states right to deny. The law doesnt even have any requirements for an auction to take place or for the leases to be given to the highest bidder. It just requires that the state grant the leases to any interested party that has financial assurances, insurance and has registered with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Governor DeWine has declared there will be no surface disruption on public lands, and the industry is claiming their operations can be done without impacting the surface. Yet HB 507 allows oil and gas companies to negotiate an agreement which allows for surface impacts, such as frack pads, pipelines, access roads, timber removal, and water usage on our public lands, said Jill Hunkler, executive director of Ohio Valley Allies, in the press release. This must not be allowed to occur. Is the short term monetary gain from fracking operations worth the destruction of our public lands and parks that consistently and significantly enrich our state budget? The answer is absolutely not.

Under the bill, residents of Ohio will not receive public notice on the specific lands that will be leased and will be denied opportunity for public comment.

We as Ohioans deserve to have our voices heard when the future of our state parks is on the line. The vitality of our public lands is essential to our own well-being, said Nathan Johnson, attorney and public lands director for the Ohio Environmental Council, in the press release. The OEC files this lawsuit today to defend Ohios best places from a dirty industry power grab.

The basis of the claim that the law is unconstitutional is that an Ohio state rule says each bill can only have one subject, which is clearly not the case with HB 507. Additionally, the states three considerations clause makes it clear that bills need to be brought up for consideration three times before they are voted upon. But the general assembly considered the bills final version  which contained the mandatory provision on leasing public lands  just once in each house.

This is a clear example of the Ohio legislature ignoring constitutional requirements that are in place to ensure Ohio citizens can participate in the legislative process, and if allowed to continue unchecked, could affect even more than Ohios cherished state parks and public lands, said Miranda Leppla, director of Case Western Reserve University Environmental Law Clinic, in the press release. The Case Western Environmental Law Clinic looks forward to holding the state accountable to the requirements of our democratic processes and protecting Ohio state lands for future generations.
by Mindy Clegg

In their oft-cited classic examination of the modern mass media, Manufacturing Consent, Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky described modern American news media thusly: The mass media serve as a system for communicating messages and symbols to the general populace. It is their function to amuse, entertain, and inform, and to inculcate individuals with the values, beliefs, and codes of behavior that will integrate them into the institutional structures of the larger society. In a world of concentrated wealth and major conflicts of class interest, to fulfill this role requires systematic propaganda.1 In other words, democratic states use privately-owned media as a means of social control. Private corporations own and operate media outlets and they work with the US government because the power of the state dovetailed with their own economic interests.

The groundwork for this state of affairs emerged out of intellectual discourse in the early days of mass media. In the wake of the first world war, prominent intellectuals like Walter Lippmann and Edward Bernays suggested a set of strategies for channeling democratic impulses expanding in the United States to better align with the wishes of the ruling classes.2 Such analysis was and continues to be necessary, as many are unaware of the very real pitfalls of corporate media in democratic societie. These systems are now often globalized which shape our understanding of the past and present that we must understand in hopes of changing them. But we must also wonder if the singular focus on these systems of control lead to the feelings of hopelessness that many of us feel about our institutions these days. As much as describing what dominates us feels cathartic, focusing only on the systems of control and not on resistance makes the problem seem insurmountable. I argue that we need to look for the cracks as much as describe the problem posed by corporate medi. Understanding the democratic alternatives within and outside of the mainstream production of popular culture can help us to see these cracks.

Books like Manufacturing Consent tend to treat American mass media as generally top-down propaganda operation that is relatively all-encompassing. Scholars often draw comparisons to the propaganda machines of Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union. In contrast with the United States media, the propaganda aspect of these governments were much more obvious. This makes sense, as these were state-run apparatuses, heavily invested in replicating their chosen ideological messages among their own citizenry and to a larger world. Nazi Germany gives us the most notorious case of state propaganda, given its role in the Holocaust. Developed by Joesph Goebbels, this sophisticated propaganda arm of the Nazi party justified mass violence and genocide in order to protect the German family (but in reality in service to the elites of the party, helping to keep them in power). The Nazi propaganda machine was relatively centralized and disciplined, spread out across the German media landscape of the early mass-media age.3 The Soviet Union also had a state-based, centralized body for shaping propaganda at home and abroad. This was a bit more of a diffuse, depending on the period, but the Glavit  or the General Directorate for the protection of state secrets in the press  functioned as the primary body responsible for propaganda. Historian of science in the Soviet Union Asif Siddiq pointed to five modes of censorship in the Soviet Union, which included self-censorship; editorial censorship..; censorship by Glavlit; punitive censorship by the political police such as the KGB; and overall ideological censorship as mandated by the Central Committee of the Communist Party. He notes that many scholars of Soviet or Russian censorship centers on institutional structures, though he argues that more nuance exists in English scholarship on the Soviet Union in recent years.4 Historian Kristin Roth-Ey noted that in the postwar period, the Soviet Union was participating in a larger shift being seen globally. She said that never had mass culture in such volume been so accessible to so many and so regularly. In the industrialized west, and in many new postcolonial states as well, governments turned their attention to print, film, and broadcasting as matters of state policy, essential to both national integration and international prestige.5 Mass media was a symbol of modernity for postwar nation building. The state in both cases played a majorthought not a singularrole in creating propaganda that shaped these countries. Both openly called their apparatuses propaganda rather than using some sort of euphemism.

But America was (and is) different, we are told. We had no department of propaganda, at least none labeled as suchbut we are told this by the very institutions that promote what we call the American way. The American state has indeed cultivated artists and the media for specific aims. During the second world war, numerous creatives who worked in popular culture participated in the wartime propaganda efforts. At his first job in the comics industry, Stan Lee drew Captain America punching Hitler in an overtly political storyline, aimed at drumming up wider support for US entry into the war. When he joined the US Army at 19, he was assigned to the job of playwright in the Signal Corps. Beloved author Dr. Seuss likewise used his artistic skills for the war effort, primarily via animation. Institutions funded and supported by the American government such as the Voice of America carried on pushing particular views about the United States into the Cold War. But, we are told, VOA only broadcast overseas and was an effort to counter Soviet propaganda about living in Americainformational in other words. In theory, that propaganda was not aimed at a domestic audienceunlike the evil empire of the Soviet Union.6 But was domestic American media really free of propaganda?

Historians in recent years turned to examining what Frances Stonor Saunders dubbed the Cultural Cold War, highlighting a new understanding of propaganda abroad and at home. Her path-breaking work illustrated how the CIA funded various kinds of cultural production abroad during the Cold War, which helped shape the nature of the output in a way that was favorable to US aims. 7 The Cold War mindset also shaped cultural production at home. The essays in the edited volume by Elaine McClarnand and Steve Goodson explored the myriad of ways cultural production was shaped by the Cold War.8 The CIA, charged with foreign intelligence gathering, also operated at home, Hugh Wilford argued.9 Hollywood partnered with the Museum of Modern Art and the CIA in order to promote the film industry and modernist art as quintessential American, according to Peter Decherney.10 Despite claims that the promotion of propaganda was solely for foreign consumption, the American public also received the same kind of cultural indoctrination.

A question that many of these works do not seem to address was the effectiveness of these propaganda campaigns or challenges to these institutions. More recently, historians have pushed for a more complicated understanding on the role mass media played in creating the modern nation-state during the Cold War era. Roth-Eys work provides one such example. She argued that the Communist party in the Soviet Union sought to build a counterpoint to American mass culture that the US government actively promoted during the Cold War. The Soviet government wanted to create an anti-mass cult culture for the masses as she phrased it. The government built a hierarchy of culture, a table of ranks, with distinctions between mass culture and authentic art. For the party elite, there was a major difference between cultural products and this more authentic art.11 Her work avoids some major pitfalls of many studies examining the role of culture during the Cold War. She seeks to focus not only those shaping the production of culture, arguing doing so can stunt historical analysis. Rather, she brings in the voices of the average Soviet citizen and works to illuminate their own experiences with Soviet mass culture.12 She also noted that if what helped bring down the Iron Curtain was the infiltration of American and British popular culture into the Soviet Union, that analysis is inadequate to fully understanding what actually happened at the end of the Soviet era.13 If the Soviet authorities lost a degree of control over how the public understood mass culture in the1970s and 1980s, that had less to do with individuals seeking to undermine the system from without, and more to do with size and scope of these industries and institutions. They were in part undermined by their own unwieldiness and the inability to dictate meaning to the Soviet public. She said that people found more spaces within [Soviet mass media] to pursue their own interests, as they defined them rather than how the party defined them.14 Roth-Ey argued for looking at the cracks in the mass media rather than just the intentions of officials. It cracks the solid veneer of the Soviet media empire.

Some have done the same work in the history of American media and culture. Cracks exist, all across the history of the veneer of the mass production of news and culture. This proved to be the case with the foreign programs and domestically. The United States actively promoted American culture abroad during the Cold War, including jazz, a genre of music already popular abroad. Starting in the late 1950s, the State Department sponsored jazz concerts around the world. However, as Penny Von Eschen argued, the artists sent abroad often had their own agendas that sometimes contradiction the message the US government hoped to send to foreign audiences.15 A domestic example was that of the Hollywood Ten who were blacklisted by the Hollywood establishment. Script writer Dalton Trumbo had used his scripts to promote his leftists political views. During the Cold War, he ended up on the Blacklist and was jailed when he refused to name names to Congress. But he kept working (under fake names) despite that and worked to eventually break the blacklist.16 Another example was the media during the Vietnam War. Herman and Chomsky characterized the criticism of the war by some in the news media late in the war as slippage which indicates that they view it as a deviation from the norm, but also more of a struggle between elites. Some in elite circles began to oppose the war, based on facts on the ground. This made it possible for some in the media to begin to criticize the war more broadly. Nothingin their viewhappens without elite consent in the American news media. Inconvenient facts of the failures in the war drove this split not any real opposition based on human rights.17 Despite the cracks, it still is an elite story. But as historians such as John McMillian have demonstrated, cracks were growing in the top-down media landscape during the 1960s for other reasons. Many young people were already turning to alternatives to the mainstream press. Critically, the underground press was built from the ground up, by active participants, often aimed at the local community. McMillian said that the reporters from the underground press lack[ed] any pretense of objectivity such as when they covered the infamous Altamont Concert.18 Later youth countercultures took note. As punk went underground, zines became one of the major modes of cultural information and communication among the translocal punk scene of the 1980s. Zines were locally focused but aware of the globalized nature of the hardcore. Punk became defined by do-it-yourself ethics, a democratic impulse whose practitioners understood as rejecting offerings of the corporate music industry opting instead for personal networking to sustain cultural production. By the early 1990s, the producers of the zines Maximum Rock-n-Roll and Profane Existence put together a collection of resources aimed at the maintenance of DIY networks of music production, Book Your Own Fuckin Life.19 Punk scenes were not just part of the cultural landscape in the capitalist west. Scenes thrived in the Communist bloc, such as in East Germany. They shared an embrace of DIY culture and community found in punk scenes in the capitalist west.20 These examples not only point to the existence of cracks within the veneer of mass culture, but to the ability of democratic culture to exist alongside and even challenge more corporate or state-run cultural institutions.

Democratic production of popular or mass culture can provide a needed alternative to more commercially produced offerings. Stories and the various ways in which we tell them are critical to our common humanity, which helps explains why they are such big business. They help us to understand both ourselves individually of course, but they also help us to construct society. Each era in history had ways of understanding itself via some variety of cultural production. In the era of mass production, popular culture can and should regain its older connotation  not commercially produced for a mass audience, but created by a community for a community, speaking about and for a community. Despite claims that mass media is inevitably anti-democratic, more democratically produced culture has long existed in tension with corporate or state-run mass media. They also can offer us an alternative that is more in line with our cultural needs rather than simply lining the pockets of those who run corporations.

Footnotes

1 Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky, Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, (New York: Pantheon Books, 1988), 1.

2 See Edward Bernays, Propaganda, (New York: Liveright publishing Co, 1928) and Walter Lippman, Public Opinion, (New York: Pelican Books, 1922).

3See for example, Robert Edwin Herzstein, The War that Hitler Won: Goebbels and the Nazi Media Campaign, (New York: Paragon House Publisher, 1987), and Horst JP Bergmeier and Rainer E. Lotz, Hitlers Airwaves: The Inside Story of Nazi Radio Broadcasting and Propagand Swing, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1997), among many others on this topic.

4 Asif Siddiqi, Soviet Secrecy: Toward a Social Map of Knowledge, The American Historical Review 126, no. 3, (September 2021): 1048-1050. He gives several extensive footnotes on the topic.

5 Kristin Roth-Ey, Moscow Prime Time: How the Soviet Union Built the Media Empire That Lost the Cultural Cold War, (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2011), 1-2.

6 See a discussion of that tension in Gerald Steibels preface to James L. Tyson, US International Broadcasting and National Security, (New York: Ramapo Press, 1983), v-viii.

7 Frances Stonor Saunders, The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters, (New York: The New Press, 1999).

8 Elaine McClarnand and Steve Goodson, The Impact of the Cold War on American Popular Culture, (The State University of West Georgia, 1999).

9 Hugh Wilford, The Mighty Wurlitzer: How the CIA Played America, (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2008).

10 Peter Decherney, Hollywood and the Cultural Elite: How the Movies Became American, (New York: Columbia University Press, 2005), 123-204.

11 Roth-Ey, Moscow Prime Time, 2-3.

12 Roth-Ey, Moscow Prime Time, 6.

13 Roth-Ey, Moscow Prime Time, 10.

14 Roth-Ey, Moscow Prime Time, 13.

15 Penny Von Eschen, Satchmo Blows Up the World: Jazz Ambassadors Play the Cold War, (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2004).

16 Bruce Cook, Trumbo: A Biography of the Oscar-Winning Screenwriter Who Broke the Hollywood Blacklist, (New York: Grand Central Publishing, 1977).

17 Herman and Chomsky, Manufacturing Consent, xiv.

18 John McMillian, Smoking Typewriters: The Sixties Underground Press and the Rise of Alternative Media in America, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), 2.

19 Book Your Own Fuckin Life: Do-It-Yourself Resource Guide, No. 1, 1992, 1.

20 Tim Mohr, Burning Down the Haus: Punk Rock, Revolution, and the Fall of the Berlin Wall, (New York: Algonquin Books, 2018).
by Mark Harvey

After we get back to our country, black clouds will rise and there will be plenty of rain. Corn will grow in abundance and everything [will] look happy. Barboncito, Navajo Leader, 1868

My idea of a fun evening is listening to the oral arguments of a contentious dispute that has reached the Supreme Court. As much as I disagree with some of the justices, I must admit that almost all of them are wickedly sharp at analyzing the issuesthe facts and the lawof every case that comes before them. I dont always get how they arrive at their final votes on cases that seem cut and dried before their probing inquiry. But most of them can flay a poorly presented argument with all the efficiency of a seasoned hunter field-dressing a kill.

So it was with the recent hearing on Arizona v. The Navajo Nation, heard before the court this year on March 20. At stake, in this case, is what responsibility the US government does or doesnt have in formally assessing the Navajo Nations need for water and then developing a plan to meet those needs. The brief on behalf of the Navajo people, Dine as they prefer to be called, puts the case in stark and unmistakable terms: This case is about this promise of water to this tribe under these treaties, signed after these particular negotiations reflecting this tribes understanding. A promise is a promise.

The promise referred to in the brief refers to a promise made about 150 years ago when the Dine signed a treaty in 1868 with the US Government to establish the Navajo Reservation as a permanent home where it sits today. The treaty is only seven pages long and it promises the Dine a permanent home in exchange for giving up their nomadic life, staying within the reservation boundaries, and allowing whites to build railways and forts throughout the reservation as they see fit. A lot of things were left outlike water rights.

Its hard to imagine that the Navajo signed the treaty with a clear understanding of what all it entailed. To begin, the negotiations involved two interpreters and three languages. The interpreter for the US Government spoke English and Spanish and the interpreter for the Dine spoke Spanish and Navajo. So the back-and-forth negotiations went from English to Spanish to Navajo, then Navajo to Spanish to English. On top of that, its impossible to believe that the men representing the Dine understood the juridical language not their own, the multiple hereins, thereons, hereafters sprinkled throughout that treaty signed on that fateful June day in Fort Sumpter, New Mexico Territory.

The Indian leaders who signed the treatyLittle Wolf, Sorrel Horse, The Man in the Sky, White Crow, and all the othersdid so under what had to have been extreme duress. Throughout the 1860s, the US government had marched thousands of Dine off of their ancestral lands to internment camps in Bosque Redondo near Fort Sumner in what is today New Mexico. All accounts of the camps in Bosque Redondo paint a picture of terrible living conditions and profound suffering.

The thousands of Dine removed and interned were desperate to get back to their lands and probably would have signed nearly any treaty to return home. The treaty makes mention of the right to farm on 160-acre plots within the reservation and even a hundred dollars worth of seeds and agricultural implements per family to get started. It also lists a fifteen-thousand-dollar grant from the US government for the nation to buy sheep and goats. But it makes no mention of water sources or water rights. Im not the best farmer in the world, but it seems to me that a treaty that encourages farming in what is a vast desert should say something about how to irrigate your corn or water your livestock. Something was lost in translation.

The Navajo Nation, a sprawling 17 million acres, covers parts of northeast Arizona, southern Utah, and western New Mexico. Its western boundary is defined by the Colorado River. The nation has a desertic climate, only receiving between 12 and 16 inches of water per year.

Today, in part from the 1868 treatys failure to include water in the deal, the Dine living on the Navajo Nation are perhaps the most water-starved people in the United States. Average water use per capita there is a meager seven gallons per dayless than a tenth of what an average American consumes. For perspective, an eight-minute shower uses about 20 gallons, and a load of laundry consumes between 25 and 40 gallons. Nearly a third of Dine households do not have running water.

Theres a chance that the Navajos would have had no standing whatsoever in this case were it not for the 1908 Supreme Court decision titled Winters v United States. At issue in the Winters case was whether Indians on the Fort Belknap reservation in Montana had water rights despite none being clearly listed in the 1888 treaty that created the reservation. The court concluded that because the intention behind creating reservations was to allow Indians self-sufficiency, water rights were implied in the treaties. Their reasoningfairly elementary, reallywas that to be self-sufficient, farmers or stock growers require water. So the justices concluded that water rights were implied in the creation of any reservation and that those rights had the seniority of the date the treaty was signed. Needless to say, the Winters decision gave tribes far more leverage in water disputes.

Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, a group called Western Water Users and the other parties that joined the lawsuit against the Navajo, are jealously protecting their water on the mainstream of the Colorado River. In their briefs and oral arguments they state that water rights on the Colorado River have long been settled and that if the Navajo win this case, it will threaten an already overextended water regime.

Unless youre in a news blackout, you probably know that the Colorado River is already oversubscribed by the seven western states that share its waters under an agreement written in 1922. There simply isnt enough water to grow cotton in Arizona, lettuce in California, casinos in Nevada, alfalfa in Utah, peaches in Colorado, supply drinking water in New Mexico, and good fishing in Wyoming. This past year, the various states fight to protect their water reached a war-footing quality as represented by the ever-so diplomatic headline in The Cowboy State Daily: Wyoming Getting Screwed in Colorado River Compact.

Whats vague about the case, at least to me, is if the Dine are actually asking for water rights directly from the main stem of the Colorado River or just an assessment by the federal government of the nations needs and then a plan to meet those needsagain based on an implied promise from the 1868 treaty. The attorneys for the Dine say they are not asking for a quantifiable volume of water yet, only a study and a plan. One of the petitioners trying to protect their rights on the Colorado River call this a procedural end-run and state If its lawsuit were successful, it would inevitably reduce the amount of water available to other users in Arizona, with cascading negative consequences for the stability of water rights in that state and elsewhere.

The heading on the courts order that lists the warring parties looks like one of those unfair battles in the 19th century between the US cavalry and a small poorly armed Indian tribe. It is the Navajo Nation, plaintiff, against the US Department of Interior, Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior, the United States Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs plus twelve very powerful intervenor defendants such as the State of Arizona, the Arizona Power Authority, and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

The lopsided battlefield and two of the parties fighting against the Dines quest for water illustrate the bizarre relationship between Indian Nations and the federal government. After all, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland is a member of the Laguna Nation so one might assume she would direct her agency to advocate for the Indians. And having the Bureau of Indian Affairs squarely against the Navajo Nation in a court of law is another example in a long line of cases where that agency acts more like the Bureau Against Indian Affairs.

I side with Indian nations on nearly every issue because what we have today in terms of tribal governance is still a vestige of the 19th century. When you look at what Indian nations can and cant do to advocate for their own interests, the word that comes to mind is paternalism. For the Indians do not own their land, the federal government owns their land and is meant to act as trustee. The reason a reservation is called a reservation is because the land has been reserved in a federal trust on behalf of the Indians. As trustee, the federal government is meant to have a fiduciary responsibility for the welfare of Indians. But in this case with precious water at stake, the federal government has an obvious conflict of interestensuring that its other major water users are not threatened. Its very strange to see various cases of The Bureau of Indian Affairs or the Department of the Interior to be fighting legal battles against Indians. Im not sure what a good analogy is, but what if your landlord was both in charge of keeping up maintenance on your house and also assigned to represent you in a court case if you claimed the roof was leaking?

I dont know what it takes to give the Indian nations back their autonomy and sovereignty and permanent homes that are truly home, but its a long, rocky journey fraught with every misstep available. Some tribes speak of the sanctity of the circle or the hoop and how if the hoop is broken, the culture is broken. We did our bloody utmost to break the hoop and did a pretty good job of it. Whether it was forced marches off ancestral lands, killing sixty million buffalo, or massacres of entire villages, our history with Indians is an ugly one. What is to answer for what DH Lawrence called hard and isolate souls of early American settlers? It could be our early migration, a desperate people moving westever westunder the urging of Horace Greeley and his like, poor pioneers believing the rain followed the plow, Mormons pushing push-carts across the Red Desert, and sodbusters building straw bale houses in the paths of Kansas tornados. Maybe it was the inhospitable plains, deserts with cruel winters and little water, the saltbush, the creosote bush, and the ephedra.

But there is an awesome fluidity in the affairs of humans that beleaguers our understanding of time and space. Archeologists suggest that the Dine are of Athabaskan ancestry out of Alaska and Canada and that they began to inhabit the American southwest in about 1,400 AD. They had some 450 years of living as nomads in the southwest before they were forced to march to Bosque Redondo by the American government. And its been about 150 years since the Dine signed a treaty under duress and juggled around in three different languages and a lot of strange treaty-speak to that March day a few weeks ago when the Dine were represented by one of the best attorneys in the country. Shay Dvoretzky, their lead counsel and a graduate of Yale Law School, has argued 17 Supreme Court cases prior to this one and is considered a top lawyer by his peers, law journals, and clients. The case presented by the Navajo is sophisticated, carefully structured, and since it passed muster in the ninth circuit and is now being heard by the Supreme Court, obviously has merit. Win or lose, the awesome efforts by the Navajo to get enough water to live beyond seven gallons per person per day shows a ferocious tenacity expressed over one and a half centuries.

Having listened to the oral arguments and read some of the briefs, I think this case is going to be a nail-biter. Optimistically I think Gorsuch will join Kagen, Sotomayor, and Jackson in support of the Dine. Thats only four of the nine justices. Of the remaining five justices, I think theres a slim chance Roberts will vote in favor of the Navajo too. But dont take my opinion to the bookies in Vegas. This one is hard to predict and Im probably wrong about Roberts. I do think Gorsuch has real compassion for the Indians based on his cross-examination of the solicitor general representing the federal parties. At one point, Gorsuch says with what sounds like anger, If youd just answer my question. Could I bring a good breach-of-contract claim for someone who promised me a permanent home, the right to conduct agriculture and raise animals, if it turns out its the Sahara Desert?

Gorsuch also joined Ginsberg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagen in McGirt v Oklahoma in 2020 and even wrote the majority opinion. That case was centered around whether McGirt, a member of the Seminole tribe and accused of a heinous sexual assault while on the Creek Nation, should be tried by the state of Oklahoma or the tribal courts along with the federal courts. At issue was whether the federal government had ever disestablished The Reservation of the Five Civilized Tribes (which would give the state of Oklahoma jurisdiction). The reservation makes up lands that cover half of eastern Oklahoma and even part of Tulsa. Gorsuch begins his opinion with, On the far end of the Trail of Tears was a promise. Forced to leave their ancestral lands in Georgia and Alabama, the Creek Nation received assurances that their new lands in the West would be secure forever. Later in his opinion, Gorsuch wrote, So its no matter how many other promises to a tribe the federal government has already broken. If Congress wishes to break the promise of a reservation, it must say so. Wham!

If youve lived long enough, youll realize that life doesnt move in the linear storybook progression that would be so much more comfortable, but that it can double back upon itself in strange dream-state ways. Some of these doubling backs happen in a lifetime, but others happen over the course of decades or hundreds of years and sometimes they involve entire nations and peoples. That a man of Punjabi descent is the prime minister of England today would have the upper class of England from the 19th century choking on their gin and tonics. That a black man with a Muslim name would one day be president of the United States would have the old Kentucky slaveholders, with their bloody lashes and their auction blocks, choking on county-distilled bourbon. Things havent come full circle yet for the Navajo people but their position before the Supreme Court with world-class representation and, what to me, seems like a sympathetic justice who otherwise votes with the most conservative decisions, brings hope. Hope that the Dine people will get enough water to fulfill the promise of a treaty signed long ago. Hope that the broken hoop can be made whole.
by David J. Lobina

The hype surrounding Large Language Models remains unbearable when it comes to the study of human cognition, no matter what I write in this Column about the issue  doesnt everyone read my posts? I certainly do sometimes.

Indeed, this is my fourth, successive post on the topic, having already made the points that Machine/Deep Learning approaches to Artificial Intelligence cannot be smart or sentient, that such approaches are not accounts of cognition anyway, and that when put to the test, LLMs dont actually behave like human beings at all (where? In order: here, here, and here).[i]

But, again, no matter. Some of the overall coverage on LLMs can certainly be ludicrous (a covenant so that future, sentient computer programs have their rights protected?), and even delirious (lets treat AI chatbots as we treat people, with radical love?), and this is without considering what some tech charlatans and politicians have said about these models. More to the point here, two recent articles from some cognitive scientists offer quite the bloated view regarding what LLMs can do and contribute to the study of language, and a discussion of where these scholars have gone wrong will, hopefully, make me sleep better at night.

One Pablo Contreras Kallens and two colleagues have it that LLMs constitute an existence proof (their choice of words) that the ability to produce grammatical language can be learned from exposure to data alone, without the need to postulate language-specific processes or even representations, with clear repercussions for cognitive science.[ii]

And one Steven Piantadosi, in a wide-ranging (and widely raging) book chapter, claims that LLMs refute Chomskys approach to language, and in toto no less, given that LLMs are bona fide (his choice of words) theories of language; these models have developed sui generis representations of key linguistic structures and dependencies, thereby capturing the basic dynamics of human language and constituting a clear victory for statistical learning in so doing (Contreras Kallens and co. get a tip of the hat here), and in any case Chomskyan accounts of language are not precise or formal enough, cannot be integrated with other fields of cognitive science, have not been empirically tested, and moreover(oh, piantala).[iii]

Piantadosis paper was posted on LingBuzz, a repository of linguistic papers, just last month, and soon after a couple of responses were posted there too, with some of the material discussed in these papers applying to the Contreras Kallens article too. This short response points out that we cannot conclude, from the apparent fact that LLMs correlate with human behaviour, that such models are ipso facto theories of human capacities, as this would be a case of inappropriate causality, unfortunately too common an occurrence in the field.[iv]

More tellingly, the linguist Roni Katzir, in a longer response, shows that LLMs cannot be said to have mastered the grammar of English, as they fail to detect some of the grammatical nuances that 12-year-olds and adults are unambiguously and effortlessly sensitive to  or said otherwise, that LLMs cannot be regarded as theories or models of human language because they do not capture some of the basic facts of our knowledge of language, in contrast to well-established theories in linguistics.

Katzir did so by providing ChatGPT with pairs of sentences and asking the chatbot to choose which sentence of each pair sounded better, just as I had done myself last month, obtaining a similar result  that is, the chatbot fails to correlate with human behaviour on various, uncontroversial judgements, and contrary to what the Contreras Kallens and Piantadosi papers both claim, the bot is certainly capable of producing ungrammatical sentences, even preferring ungrammatical sentences to grammatical ones in some cases  and reaching a similar conclusion  namely, that the chatbot doesnt demonstrate mastery of knowledge of language.[v]

I wouldnt want to exaggerate the significance of this approach, however; as stressed last month, I consider asking chatbots about the meaning of this or that sentence, or for grammatical judgements, to be quite absurd, for the simple reason that neither the chatbots nor the underlying LLMs have the right architecture to engage with such questions. A fortiori, some of the conclusions from the computational linguistics literature regarding what LLMs have learned about language, including hierarchical dependencies and the like, seem to me to be the result of projecting knowledge, and even mental states, to artificial networks that do not possess any of the relevant mental machinery, and on the basis of a methodology that rarely inspects an underlying LLM directly, in contrast to how connectionist networks from the 1980s and 90s were evaluated. Most scholars just ask the chatbots that sit on top of LLMs rather simple questions about this or that sentence, without probing too much  in this post, I briefly mentioned some of the relevant tests from the literature, which are very underwhelming  and this can only yield misleading views.

Still, it is hoped that the grammatical exercises Katzir and myself tested on ChatGPT  brief as both were, though somewhat more incisive than other tests from the literature  bring a bit of perspective to proceedings and perhaps even bring home the point that LLMs do not correlate with human behaviour on the linguistic front, not even in the weak sense of instantiating an input-output function (recall Pylyshyns revenge).

Some cognitive scientists really should know better, though. At one point in his long tirade (31 pages, plus 16 pages of references), Piantadosi brings up a recent New York Times piece by Chomsky and colleagues in which they argue that because of how LLMs work, they are unlikely to properly interpret sentences such as John is too stubborn to talk to, only for Piantadosi to make light of this argument (he and numerous people on Twitter, actually) by stating that ChatGPT does understand this particular sentence if you ask the chatbot what it means. Unfortunately, Piantadosi misses the actual point by failing to keep in mind that knowledge of language is structured and intricate, and that core principles capture various facts about language, not least how a given sentence can be interpreted across different structural contexts.[vi] Or as the philosopher John Collins aptly put it at the time:

The put-down is quite right, and clearly deserved  the chatbot does behave like Chomsky et al. had hypothesised  but the point I want to make in this occasion is a much more fundamental and basic one: whatever LLMs have learned and mastered is not a natural language. And I mean this literally and absolutely. So, what is a natural language, then?

A typical characterisation will describe natural language as a system of communication (and/or of thought), composed of a vocabulary and a grammar, the latter a construct that includes, or ought to include, various components, in particular syntax, semantics, and phonetics and phonology. Indeed, a common way to define a natural language in linguistics, and possibly one that can be traced back to Ancient Greece,[vii] is as a system that connects sound (or other externalisations of language, e.g., hand gestures or signs) and meaning  a thought-articulation pair, if you will (see the graphic heading this post, taken from this paper)  the connection between the two mediated by syntax. After all, phonological processes can only operate over a combination of words if syntax puts these words together, and the same goes for the semantic component in respect to the interpretation of a sentence.

Even though many scholars only have syntax in mind when talking of a grammar, it should be stressed that for a given sentence to be grammatical, all the components I have mentioned need to align. In fact, I do not know of any theory for which this is not true, regardless of differences in focus, deviant sentences, and special cases. For some theories, syntax sends structures to phonology and semantics for further operations, and in this sense the syntactic engine is said to be constrained by various conditions that phonology and semantics impose, whilst for other theories syntax, semantics, and phonology operate in parallel, with various linking points during a derivation.[viii] The overall picture yields all sorts of actual repercussions for the study of language (take note, Christiansen).

Consider some of the processes involved in how children acquire language, for instance. Children are sensitive to various phonological properties of the language or languages they are exposed to, basically from birth, and some of these features, such as intonation and stress, can help them identify categories such as determiners, work out where words start and end (in combination with some of the statistical patterns children can track), and even outline specific syntactic phrases (intonation can provide strong clues regarding when a syntactic phrase ends). Further, so-called semantic bootstrapping, according to which children can use semantic categories such as objects and actions as cues to syntactic categories such as nouns and verbs, respectively, can help children acquire the syntax of their language. And, in turn, so-called syntactic bootstrapping, which has it that children use syntactic frames to learn the meanings of words (a frame is like the argument structure that specifies that the verb to ask requires an agent doing the asking and a topic, or theme, to be asked about), can help children acquire the semantics of their language. E cosi via.

An intricate and systematic phenomenon, which results in an intricate and systematic knowledge of language, this state of affairs also applies, necessarily, to language comprehension, where intonation can help hearers resolve potential ambiguities in the input they receive during verbal communication, the meanings of words can activate potential follow-ups, canonical word orders can help predict what meaning is being communicated, e cosi via.[ix] But this is just to restate the fact that by the grammar of a language, linguists mean, at the very least, syntax, semantics, and phonology.[x]

Given these facts about natural language, it is not a little misguided to claim that LLMs produce grammatical language; at one point in their paper, in fact, Contreras Kallens et al. explicitly state that they are not claiming that LLMs understand language, and this betrays not an insignificant disconnect in the entire approach. Knowledge of language and language understanding go hand in hand in human cognition (recall the John Collins quote, supra), and if your theory of language doesnt account for how we understand language, covering most if not all intricacies, then you do not have a theory of language at all.[xi]

What language models produce is text, one word or token at a time, and for some rather specific purposes (engineering purposes, in fact), but it is actual humans who do the interpreting of the outputs these models produce and who identify them as meaningful and grammatical, though this really only makes sense from the perspective of the knowledge of language humans possess, and not from the viewpoint of what LLMs themselves do.

What Contreras Kallens et al. and Piantadosi mean by language cannot be a natural language, for no LLM has learned an actual natural language, but possibly, and Im only speculating here based on past experience, language as this notion is often understood in formal language theory (and computer science)  namely, as a system that produces well-formed strings of words. This is to reduce natural language to, as is often the case, string generation, and despite the decades-old protestation of myriad linguists that this is not all that relevant to the study of language, though it has certain uses (indeed, in LLMs, or in the speech recognisers Piantadosi mentions at the end of his paper; at least it ends with a good joke), this understanding of language is like a distant relative of natural language, at best, and more of a third cousin once removed than a brother, thus sharing rather little indeed.

What Contreas Kallens et al. should have claimed, thus, is that LLMs are an existence proof that the ability to produce human-like text can be achieved, not from exposure to data alone, but by exposing artificial networks that operate in parallel with loads and loads of attention layers to gigantic amounts data taken from the internet without attribution or consent, with little to no repercussions for cognitive science (and good luck to everyone claiming that natural language acquisition can be accounted for by exposure to data alone, and without language-specific processes or representations).

What Piantadosi should have written, then, is a very short chapter stating that LLMs are obviously not theories of language; such models certainly do not capture the basic dynamics of human language; they prove nothing regarding the statistical learning of natural languages; and they dont refute anyones linguistic theory, Chomskys or anyone elses (with a postscript confirming that the rest of the book has been put to the fire; Stephen Hero it wont be, I am sure, so no great loss here).

But the whole issue is moot, really. As I have stressed in this series of posts, in dealing with ChatGPT we are not evaluating the language model directly, which remains a closed system to outside researchers, in fact; we are probing the capabilities of the model via a chatbot that is adding quite a bit to the mix  the prompt engineering that directs the responses in a way that makes sense for a user, the filters that specify what a conversation or a story or a puzzle look like and how they ought to proceed, the reinforcement learning that aims at yielding appropriate and adequate responses, and possibly much more. A complex and impressive engineering feat, but clearly not a theoretical development to keep linguists (and cognitive scientists) honest.

[i] Once upon a time, I used to write about the role of common languages in fostering nationalist identities (including how Kiev has become Kyiv in the English-speaking world), the relationship between language and thought (including what James Joyce got wrong about the interior monologue, or inner speech), and Rudolf Rocker  much more interesting stuff.

[ii] One of the authors of the article (a letter-article, actually), Morten Christiansen, a well-known connectionist, must have been part of dozens of papers exhibiting the formulation I have just described (as pointed in a previous post, by the way, connectionist networks are old-fashioned LLMs). To wit: this connectionist network offers an alternative to this theory of language [a Chomskyan theory, more often than not] and this has clear implications for our theories of [insert topic here]. These papers would continue by describing networks that have been fed thousands of exemplars, oftentimes of infrequent structures that native speakers nonetheless master by early childhood, in order for the network to acquire a specific aspect of language, typically in isolation to other features of language, in contrast to how our knowledge of language is in fact organised. I read many of Christiansens papers during my PhD half a generation ago or thereabouts, and without fail I would lose interest at the bit that said was fed thousands of sentences during training.

[iii] Pianta la pianta e piantala, mala pianta; apparently the word piantadosi may derive from piantadoso, a word I didnt know and which means full of plants. More seriously, one dreads to think about what might follow Piantadosis chapter; is a new edition of The Anti-Chomsky Reader about to come out? A truly astonishing paper, terribly tendentious, and even deranged at times (citing Behme is bad enough, but airing Postals tantrums on LingBuzz is a bit much), I struggle to understand how someone as accomplished as Piantadosi  some of his work on Bayesian models of the language of thought, for instance, is excellent  could even consider making such a paper public at all  to my eyes, a quite embarrassing piece, and not a little humiliating. Starting with the passive-aggressive framing of Chomskys influence in linguistics in terms of privilege (arent we current with our vocabulary?), followed by page after page of citing all and any kind of paper that might be called upon for the cause, including studies that are not uncontroversial and have not gone uncontested in the literature (I can think of Evans & Levinsons papers on language universals, not to mention old Dan Everetts work on self-embedding), Piantadosi seems to be going the way of Geoffrey Pullum and Paul Postal  otherwise very good when attention to detail in methodology and analysis is required, but absolutely terrible when it comes to more conceptual stuff. One can only hope that he wont go full postal  embittered, not a little mad, and a contributor to a future edition of the Anti-Chomsky Reader.

[iv] A case I have often encountered has to do with claims that some neuroimaging evidence force us to re-evaluate well-established cognitive theories and principles  this article, for instance, argues that neuroimaging data challenges the notion that there is a critical period to learn a native language, given that the same neural substrate is activated during first and second language learning (more properly, the critical period hypothesis refers to the learning of a language tout court, though the general idea has also been applied to the difference in success and proficiency between learning a native language in infanthood and learning a second language in adulthood). But the principle that there is a critical period to learning a native language remains unchanged regardless of the neurological record  indeed, it remains a true fact of human development  and what needs to be established is why the neurological record is as it is given that there are reasons to believe it ought to be different (though the latter assumption needs to be taken with a grain of salt, considering that the fine-grained distinctions of many cognitive-science theories are not currently observable in the brain).

[v] I should add that in his paper Katzir surmises that pair examples from any textbook in linguistics would have worked in order to make the argument, and this is exactly the kind of data I used, which had furthermore been empirically corroborated. Katzir also does a good job of emphasising the difference between competence (knowledge of language) and performance (how this knowledge is put to use), as well as the distinction between theories of competence and theories of how language is acquired, where the latter domain usually allows for a family of processes and phenomena (e.g., statistical learning) that do not come under the purview of theories of competence per se.

[vi] It could have been worse, I guess. Emily Bender, she of stochastic parrot fame, didnt particularly cover herself in glory by pointing to the bad AI coverage of The New York Times (and to the papers supposed transphobia!) as a way to criticise Chomskys piece, as if there were any direct relationship between the article and ones personal views about the NYT, only to direct readers to a profile of hers in the New York Magazine  not so much a read this piece of mine instead, but read about meeee instead (the naked self-promotion, shes worse than me, or Dan Everett; well, maybe not the latter).

[vii] Claude Panaccioss Mental Language offers some background on this, in addition to the orbiting question of how language may relate to the language of thought.

[viii] A derivation is the linguists term for how a sentence is generated by the language system, internally; the production of language would be the actual uttering or gesturing (or else) involved in externalising language.

[ix] Learning a language and parsing a language are closely connected phenomena; Janet D. Fodor once wrote two papers on this, one called Parsing to Learn, the other Learning to Parse.

[x] As for the words of a language, it is more accurate to state that the primitives of grammar are lexical items  that is, bundles of syntactic, phonological, and semantic features. Not what your local LLM uses it, either, then.

[xi] It is worth noting that most people working with LLMs do not actually claim that these models constitute theories or accounts of natural language, but engineering tools.
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Experiential marketing has always been one of the favorite strategies of marketers to engage with their customers. With the advent of digital age, the methods of experiential marketing have changed drastically and so have the tools. Out-of-home (OOH) advertising industry seems to leverage this opportunity very well. The new-age outdoor advertisements never fail to amaze the audience and experiences attached to them are leaving a huge impact on the people.

Evolution of experiential marketing in OOH

Over the past few years, the use of OOH media has increased significantly. Various brands are looking for innovative ways to engage their audience and make a lasting impression.

Satya Satapathy, Founder, Creation Infoways, says, One of the major changes in experiential advertising in OOH has been the integration of technology. In the past years, experiential advertising relied on physical installations like billboards or large-scale displays. But, with the rise of digital technology, we have seen an increased use of interactive displays and augmented reality experiences in OOH advertising. This has allowed brands to create immersive experiences for their audience and make their message more engaging. Another significant change in experiential advertising in OOH has been the focus on personalization. Brands are now leveraging data and technology to deliver personalized experiences that resonate with their audience. This approach allows brands to create experiences that are tailored to the individual, increasing the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns.

Importance

One of the main reasons why experiential marketing has become so important in the OOH industry is that it allows brands to connect with their audience in a more personal way. By creating experiences that are tailored to the individual. Brands can establish a stronger emotional connection with their audience, which ultimately leads to greater brand loyalty.

Vishnu Telang, CEO, Khushi Advertising said, Experiential marketing, with the use of digital & technologies, has the capability to transform any mode of communication making it more engaging and interactive across consumer touch points. Thus, its importance becomes much more vital in the OOH scenario today.

Experiential marketing provides a way for brands to stand out in a crowded marketplace. With so many brands trying to get customers attention, it can be difficult to get noticed. However, by creating experiences that are unique and engaging, brands can cut through the noise and capture the attention of their audience, Satya added.

Key points for OOH

Sharing the key points that brands should keep in mind while using experiential marketing for OOH, Satapathy said, At first, OOH leaders should make sure that their experiential marketing campaigns are relevant to their brand and target audience. The experience should be aligned with the brand message and values, and it should resonate with the target audience. It is important to create an experience that is memorable and shareable, but at the same time be meaningful and relevant to the brand. Secondly, OOH leaders should consider the location of the experiential marketing campaign. The location should be carefully chosen to ensure that the experience is accessible to the target audience and that it is in a high-traffic area. The location should also be chosen based on the context of the campaign and the message that the brand is trying to convey.

Thirdly, OOH leaders should consider the metrics that will be used to measure the success of the experiential marketing campaign. Metrics such as foot traffic, social media engagement, and sales impact should be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign. To make a campaign successful, OOH leaders should keep in mind the relevance of the campaign, the location of the campaign, the use of technology, and the metrics used to measure success. By keeping this in mind, they can create successful campaigns that engage their target audience, increase brand awareness, and drive sales, he added.

According to Jayesh Yagnik, CEO, MOMS Outoor Media, We are in the out-of-home advertising industry, so its only natural to think out of the box if you want to break the clutter. Use technology to your advantage. Today, were seeing multiple digital screens coming up. With such infrastructural developments we have newer avenues to discover.

First and foremost come up with a unique idea, which can be implemented with the right use of technology to make an impact. In addition to this focus on sustainability while executing, Vishnu expressed.

Benefits

Experiential marketing provides a unique opportunity for brands to create memorable experiences for their target audience, and OOH provides the perfect platform for it.

Satapathy opined, Experiential marketing helps to create a buzz around the brand and increase its visibility in the market. By creating a memorable experience, brands can leave a lasting impression on their target audience, leading to increased brand awareness. Another benefit is stronger ROI. Experiential marketing can deliver a stronger return on investment (ROI) than traditional marketing methods. This is because it creates a more meaningful and memorable experience for the audience, leading to increased brand loyalty and higher sale.

For starters, experiential marketing helps us fulfill one of our primary objectives as an OOH media and that is building brand awareness. You are being seen and remembered when you create an experience for your customer. They may even actualize the thought and try your brand. Thats when you know youve made a mark in your customers mind, Jayesh explained.

Telang added, The biggest benefit is that the OOH media has enhanced its importance & relevance among marketers and features very prominently in most media plans.For Example, in our recent campaign of Oneplus 10T (5G), Movie Kantara, Hiranandani Real Estate, Wonder Masala and Flying Machine, the use of experiential marketing in their OOH communication has been prominent, be it 4DX technology in multiplex or motion technology clubbed with LED lights on billboards.

OOH in the era of AI

AI can completely transform the world of marketing; experiential marketing in OOH is no exception to this. According to Satapathy, these are the few changes that OOH industry can bring about with help of AI.

Personalized experiences: AI can help to create personalized experiences for individual consumers. By analyzing data such as consumer behavior, preferences, and interests, AI can create experiences that are tailored to the individual, leading to higher engagement and increased brand loyalty.

Real-time optimization: AI can enable real-time optimization of experiential marketing campaigns. By analyzing data such as foot traffic, social media engagement, and sales impact, AI can optimize campaigns on the fly, leading to stronger ROI.

More immersive experiences: AI can help to create more immersive experiences for the audience. For example, AI can be used to create interactive displays that respond to consumer behavior or to create augmented reality experiences that overlay digital content on the physical world.

Greater scalability: AI can help to scale experiential marketing campaigns more efficiently. For example, AI-powered chatbots can interact with consumers and provide them with information about the brand or the experience, freeing up staff to focus on creating more personalized experiences.

Improved measurement: AI can help to improve the measurement of experiential marketing campaigns. By analyzing data such as foot traffic, social media engagement, and sales impact, AI can provide more accurate and meaningful metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of campaigns.

Experts believe that we can expect to witness significant changes in experiential marketing in OOH with the advent of AI. From personalized experiences to real-time optimization, AI can enable marketers to create more engaging and effective campaigns that drive stronger ROI.
Monday, April 10, 2023

Larry Levine, the founder of Wall Street Prison Consultants and US Federal Court appointed Sentencing Mitigation Expert has recently been receiving a inquiries about what could happen to Donald Trump now that he has been indicted. While many people and news outlets are focused on the immediate consequences of a potential guilty plea or plea bargain, Levine stresses the long-term implications that should also be considered.

If Trump were to plead guilty or accept a plea deal in New York, he would be convicted of a felony and exposed to three or more criminal history points. This could be problematic if the federal government decides to charge him in the Classified documents scandal. Additionally, if Trump were to be convicted for vote tampering in Georgia, this would result in even more criminal history points.

While these convictions are state-level offenses, the US Sentencing Guidelines use past state convictions to calculate a defendant's criminal history score. As a result, Trump could be viewed as a habitual offender instead of a first-time offender. This could significantly impact his sentence length, as what might normally be a two-year sentence could be doubled or more.

It is important to note that criminal history points are not the only factor that judges consider when determining a sentence. However, they can play a significant role in the sentencing process. As such, Trump's criminal history could impact the severity of his sentence if he is convicted.

Furthermore, there is the potential for even more charges to be brought against Trump in the future. The ongoing investigations into his business practices and financial dealings could result in additional charges that would further impact his criminal history score and potential sentence length.

While it is unclear what will happen to Trump in the coming months, it is important to consider all potential outcomes and the long-term implications of any decisions he may make. A guilty plea or plea bargain may seem like a quick and easy solution in the moment, but it could have far-reaching consequences. As such, it is crucial for Trump and his legal team to carefully weigh their options and consider all potential outcomes before making any decisions.

In conclusion, the potential consequences of a guilty plea or plea bargain for Donald Trump extend far beyond the immediate ramifications. With the potential for additional charges and the impact on his criminal history score, Trump could be facing a much harsher sentence than he might initially expect. As such, it is important for him and his legal team to carefully consider their options and make informed decisions based on all available information.
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A TV ad urging San Antonians to reject Proposition A features a group of masked, gloved men shattering glass jewelry display cases with hammers  a preview of what the police union says will happen if voters approve the package of law enforcement reforms in the May 6 election.

Dont be duped. Prop A is not about pot, but keeping criminals out of jail, an edgy male voice warns viewers.

The ad centers on a provision of Prop A that would expand the San Antonio Police Departments current cite-and-release policy, which gives officers the flexibility to write citations for most low-level, nonviolent offenses, instead of making arrests.

Prop A also would write cite-and-release into the city charter, restricting officers ability to arrest suspects for crimes covered by the policy.

And in addition to decriminalizing marijuana and abortions, the measure would ban police chokeholds and no-knock warrants and create the position of city justice director.

But the San Antonio Police Officers Association and other opponents have largely zeroed in on its cite-and-release provision, which would add graffiti to the list of misdemeanors that police would be required to issue citations for rather than making arrests.

The unions campaign advertising and talking points, which have been largely adopted by business groups and Mayor Ron Nirenberg, are rooted in voters worries about rising crime in San Antonio and nationwide. Its effort to defeat Prop A also plays on the general lack of knowledge about cite-and-release.

READ MORE: Why Mayor Nirenberg opposes Prop A

A political action committee created by the SAPOA has brought in nearly $880,000 since the start of the year to campaign against the measure. At least one business-backed PAC is also raising money to fight Prop A.

Its supporters are working with far fewer dollars than their rivals. PACs formed to support the measure have raised about $103,000 in cash and in-kind contributions, according to recent campaign finance reports.

To flood an election with a bunch of money, misinformation and fear is always concerning and a little bit immoral because youre not necessarily giving voters a chance to get educated on all of the facts, said Ananda Tomas, executive director of Act 4 SA, a local police reform group that worked to put Prop A on the ballot.

What SAPD does now

The SAPD launched its cite-and-release policy in July 2019, in conjunction with the Bexar County District Attorneys Office. The policy, permissible under Texas law, allows police to issue citations for a handful of Class A and Class B misdemeanors. These charges carry a potential jail sentence of no more than one year.

Police Chief William McManus said he saw cite-and-release as a way to reduce the time officers spent arresting people for minor offenses, allowing them to respond to more serious crimes.

McManus decided to include six of the seven categories of crime that the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures says are eligible for cite-and-release. SAPDs policy includes:

Possession of 4 ounces or less of marijuana or synthetic marijuana

Criminal mischief causing loss of $100 or more but less than $750

Theft of property of $100 or more but less than $750

Theft of services of $100 or more but less than $750

Possession of contraband in a correctional facility

Driving with an invalid license

He left out Class A and B graffiti, charges that cover damages ranging from $100 to under $2,500, because he said graffiti was a major problem for area businesses, property owners and homeowners.

I would not backtrack on that, McManus said when asked whether he would consider adding graffiti to the policy.

Most of the citations issued since the program started have been for marijuana. In its third year, which ran from July 2021 to June 2022, 790 out of 1,402 citations, or 56 percent, were for marijuana possession of 2 ounces or less.

An additional 38 percent of the citations, or 534, were for property theft.

But officers still made a significant number of arrests for misdemeanors. Police detained 2,476 of the 3,878 people for offenses covered by the departments policy, or 64 percent, in its first year.

Officer discretion is a big part of the cite-and-release program, McManus said. That is what I supported cite-and-release based on: officer discretion.

Officers consider several factors when they decide whether to issue a citation or to make an arrest, the police chief said.

A primary one for me, if Im on the street, is does that individual need to be removed from the street via arrest in order to appropriately handle it? he said.

According to the departments procedure manual for misdemeanor citation release, officers shall select the least intrusive/severe method of enforcement that will stop existing criminal conduct, remove the imminent threat of violence or criminal contact (and) prevent persons from endangering themselves or others.

SAPDs annual reports indicate that police frequently chose arrest over citation when someone had outstanding arrest warrants or an arrest history or didn't have a photo ID.

Proposition A would amend the city charter to say that a citation, ticket or verbal warning, rather than arrest, shall be issued for individuals charged with any of the seven offense categories permitted under state law, in addition to Class C misdemeanors, except for public intoxication.

When someone is suspected of intoxication or appears to be suffering from a mental illness or addiction, the amendment would direct police to refer the suspect to appropriate medical and/or psychiatric services in lieu of arrest.

State law already allows police to give citations for Class C misdemeanors, which include leaving a child in a car and disorderly conduct. These charges are offenses that carry fines but no jail time.

SAPD spokesperson Sgt. Washington Moscoso said officers currently issue citations for almost all Class C misdemeanors.

Under Prop A, an officer could make an arrest only if a suspect failed to provide satisfactory evidence of personal identification, which the ballot language says could include a utility or rent bill, or, if it comes down to it, a credible verbal verification of a subjects identity and address.

An outstanding warrant for an offense not covered by the policy also would allow an officer to make an arrest, as would the suspect asking to be taken in.

READ MORE: San Antonio voters will decide a police-reform measure in May. Here's what you should know.

Tomas, of Act 4 SA, said these proposed changes would ensure that as many people as possible receive a citation. That opens up the possibility that their charges could be dismissed and they could avoid an arrest record.

We know that incarceration is a system that is actually feeding into poverty and therefore into crime, she told the Express-News Puro Politics podcast.

What the DA does now

Proposition A would have no bearing over how the DAs office manages its Cite and Release Diversion Program. It would still be up to an assistant district attorney to determine who is eligible to participate.

Assistant District Attorney Evan Myers makes that decision when someone shows up at the downtown Bexar County Reentry Center with a citation, which is a written notice to report to the center within 60 days to begin resolving the charge.

Not everyone with a citation can get into the program. One of the guidelines is that people with pending felony cases aren't eligible.

Nevertheless, Myers said he accepts most of the people who come in.

The first step for offenders is to meet with a public defender to go over the terms of the diversion program and sign a program contract.

Completing a class tailored to the specific charge and doing eight hours of community service are standard requirements. Not getting arrested while in the program is a must, as well as paying any restitution owed for stolen or damaged property.

Assistant Public Defender Britney Durham sees this step as an opportunity to alert people to the re-entry centers other resources. Someone cited for shoplifting food, for example, can speak with a social worker about food stamps or other government assistance.

Participants usually have 60 days to complete the program requirements. If successful, the DAs office agrees to drop the charge.

If they fail  or if someone doesnt show up at the center within 60 days of receiving a citation  an assistant district attorney files the case in court, prompting a judge to issue a summons or arrest warrant for the person.

Program participants have a 9.6 percent recidivism rate, which is the rate at which offenders break the law again, according to the DA's office. People booked into jail have a recidivism rate of about 38 percent, District Attorney Joe Gonzales wrote in an Express-News guest editorial last July.

The chance for people in the program to receive rehabilitation services immediately, rather than waiting months for their case to be heard by a judge, likely contributes to this low rate, said Emily Angulo, intake division chief for the DAs office.

It is very rewarding as a prosecutor to see individuals come in, get rehabilitated and not come back, Angulo said. Thats what we want, especially with these low-level offenses. We want them to get back on track with their life, hold down a job and not have the consequences that sometimes going the arrest route has for individuals with jobs.

An arrest record  even if it doesnt lead to a criminal conviction  can be a black mark against someone applying for a job, a school loan or an apartment.

Though the program can help offenders avoid the consequences of having a criminal record, that doesnt mean there are no consequences for them, Angulo said. Any penalties tied to the citation, such as community service and paying restitution, simply come sooner in the process, she said.

In addition to the low recidivism rate, Gonzales has touted the program as a way to cut down on the expense of booking people into jail ahead of their court hearings.

The DAs cite-and-release program has saved Bexar County $5.6 million since its 2019 inception, DA spokesperson Yudiann Guillen said.

Rising crime

SAPOA President Danny Diaz isnt shy about his dislike of SAPDs cite-and-release policy. A former member of SAPDs Special Weapons and Tactics, or SWAT, unit, he disagreed with McManus decision to implement it four years ago.

I saw what was going to happen in San Antonio, Diaz said. It was following whats going on across the country, and with that, I knew that crime was going to rise from the police officers standpoint.

Diaz frequently refers to West Coast cities such as San Francisco, Portland and Seattle as examples of places that have adopted reforms that he says inspired local organizers to put Prop A on the ballot.

Asked about the specific policies these cities adopted, he referred the Express-News to a public relations firm the union hired to help run its campaign against the ballot measure. The firm did not provide by deadline this information or requested studies or articles that connect the rise in crime in these cities to cite-and-release.

Closer to home, McManus said he didn't believe when he launched the policy that it would result in more crime because officers still had the discretion to make arrests for cite-and-release offenses.

The chief said he couldnt make that claim  that crime has risen in San Antonio because of SAPDs cite-and-release policy.

Overall crime increased about 10 percent from 2021 to 2022. The department is currently focusing its efforts on reducing violent crime, which includes murder, aggravated assault and robbery, which are all felony charges.

I think there are broader issues at play than cite-and-release, McManus said.

Diaz disagrees, saying the policy is big factor behind the citys upswing in crime.

By the statistics that were given to City Hall, its a proven fact  our statistics show that crime has risen, Diaz said, referring to 2022 crime statistics presented to a City Council committee in January. Motor vehicle theft from last year  36.6 percent has gone up.

Vehicle theft, however, is rarely deemed a minor crime for which a citation is sufficient. Anyone who steals a vehicle worth $2,500 or more typically would be facing a state felony charge. And if the cars value exceeds $30,000, police might tack on a third-degree felony theft charge.

The point thats being missed here is if you allow people to steal, and you continuously let them go with a verbal warning or a citation, what else are they going to try to do? Diaz said. At some point, somethings going to happen where theyre going to burglarize, and not steal, and you can tie it in to different types of offenses.

Clashing interpretations

City Attorney Andy Segovia maintains that San Antonio would not enforce the cite-and-release provision of Proposition A if voters approve it May 6 because the changes are inconsistent with Texas law. In other words, SAPDs cite-and-release policy would remain as is.

Act 4 SA's Tomas interprets state law differently. And she cites San Marcos as a city that has successfully enacted a measure similar to Prop A.

In 2020, the San Marcos City Council adopted an ordinance that requires officers to issue citations for most of the same crimes laid out in Prop As ballot language. That policy change came under fire from the San Marcos police union, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a staunch conservative, has yet to challenge it.

READ MORE: Why citizen-driven propositions are on the rise in San Antonio

The San Antonio city attorneys position hasnt calmed opponents.

If the City Council becomes more liberal after the next election, or any future election, council members could force the city attorney to change his or her tune, Diaz said.

If you have more individuals on City Council like Mario Bravo, Teri Castillo and Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and they get three more on there, they have six votes, he said, referring to the council representatives for Districts 1, 5 and 2, respectively. Combined, they represent parts of San Antonio's West, East and North sides and the inner city. They control the votes, and they can force officers to follow the proposition this way if this passes.

Among council incumbents who are seeking re-election in May, only Castillo and McKee-Rodriguez have expressed public support for Prop A. Bravo told the Express-News Editorial Board last week that he would not take a public position on the ballot measure.

The only thing Tomas and Diaz agree on is their concern about a change in city leadership.

But for her, the worry is that a future police chief or council could decide to do away with cite-and-release.

We are trying to make sure it stays permanent (by amending the charter) so no matter who our city leadership is, or what happens, we are still protecting our most vulnerable communities, Tomas said.
Property tax season in Bexar County is in full swing. The Bexar Appraisal District has begun mailing out Notices of Appraised Value. Youll get yours shortly if you havent already. Its an estimate of what your home is worth.

Broadly speaking, the higher the appraised value, the more youll owe in property taxes. If you think the appraisal district got it wrong and overvalued your home, not to worry: You can appeal. If youre successful, youll pay less in taxes.

Our last FAQ alerted you to the May 15 deadline to file an appeal (technically, a protest). In this one, we focus on the intricacies of the process.

Tax deadline: Dont miss this one

When you protest your valuation, you have to mind the details. One false move can cost you.

Theres one particular box you have to be sure to check.

What box is that?

Before we get there, lets review the basics. Take a look at your Notice of Appraised Value, or NOAV. Check that your name and address are right. Make sure the description of your property is correct, and that the notice lists all exemptions you qualify for, such as the General Residence Homestead Exemption (if the home is your primary residence, you qualify for this one).

Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

What if the appraised value seems too high?

Bingo, thats what a protest is for.

How do I file a protest?

Your NOAV has two sides. The back side is your Notice of Protest. Fill that out and submit it by mail or electronically.

Is it that simple?

By no means. As you complete the form, pay special attention to Section 3, Reason for Protest.

There are 12 possible reasons listed, and theyre all over the map. You can choose more than one. But be careful which one (s) you select. You have a lot riding on this decision.

As the NOAV says: Failure to select the box that corresponds to each reason for your protest may result in your inability to protest an issue that you want to pursue.

Property tax assistance: Heres a list of city-sponsored workshops

How do I protect myself?

Check the first box, the one for incorrect appraised (market) value and/or value is unequal compared with other properties.

Thats a mouthful, but it captures the reason youre appealing if you think your appraised value is too high. It gives you the widest latitude in contesting the districts valuation of your home.

Dont take our word for it. Heres what the Texas comptroller of public accounts says in a tip sheet on property taxes:

In the case of a typical residential property, checking incorrect appraised value and/or unequal appraisal will allow you to present the widest types of evidence and preserve your full appeal rights.

What else should I be on the lookout for?

Theres another box you should check if youre filing a protest. Its toward the bottom of the form and it says evidence requested. To make it easier to find, its in red. Checking this box ensures that the appraisal district will provide you the factual basis for its valuation of your home.

Once you know how the district arrived at a market value for your property, youre in a better position to challenge their estimate.

Whats the old saying? Knowledge is power.

Am I done?

Not yet. You cant just demand that your appraised value be reduced. You have to make a case based on the facts. You have to assemble evidence, such as repairs your home needs, engineering reports on your troubled foundation or sales of comparable properties. You can submit documents, photos and other evidence by hard copy or on a CD, thumb drive, or other portable electronic device.

Is the appraisal district willing to negotiate?

Yes, they are. You can request an informal conference with district staff to discuss your objections and see if theyll lower the valuation. Most protests over appraised value are resolved at this stage. All meetings are held by phone or teleconference.

What if we cant work it out?

Then your protest goes before the Appraisal Review Board.

Whats that?

It is a panel of citizens appointed by the local administrative judge for Bexar County, and its independent of the appraisal district. Hearings are held in person at the appraisal districts offices at 411 North Frio St., by phone or by Zoom. You and the district will each present your case. Then the board will decide.

One thing in your favor: The appraisal district bears the burden of proof.

How can I be sure the board will act impartially?

There are no guarantees, but there are rules. For instance, no one who does business with the appraisal district can serve on the Appraisal Review Board. Nor can anyone who is related by blood or marriage to an appraiser for the district.

The names of those serving on Bexar Countys Appraisal Review Board are a matter of public record. You can find the list here, along with further explanation of what the board does.

What if I dont like the boards decision?

You can appeal to state district court.

Any other advice?

If you ask for an informal conference, you should still file your Notice of Protest with the appraisal district. That way, you preserve your right to take your protest to the Appraisal Review Board in the event you cant negotiate a settlement informally.

And be sure to file your Notice of Protest by the deadline.

When is that?

May 15.

Where do I send the Notice of Protest?

Bexar Appraisal Review Board, P.O. Box 830248, San Antonio 78283-0248.

Wait, cant I take care of all this online?

Yes, and the appraisal district strongly encourages it.

With the districts eFile online appeals system, you can file your protest, submit evidence, receive the districts evidence, and accept or reject settlement offers without ever leaving home.

Youll have to register for the online system using your specially assigned owner ID and PIN. Both can be found on your Notice of Appraised Value, in the upper righthand corner, directly above the all-caps advisory that declares: THIS IS NOT A TAX BILL.

What if I have questions?

The appraisal district website is chock-full of information. Start with the Taxpayer Resources page. Good luck!
As Texas legislators continue debating the possible expansion of the state's medical marijuana program, many Texans already have prescriptions to use the drug legally, under certain conditions.

Eligible Texans suffering from specific ailments have been able to legally use medical marijuana since 2015 when the Compassionate Use Act was passed. The compassionate use program grants qualified physicians the ability to prescribe "low THC" cannabis to patients with certain medical conditions. Marijuana has multiple components, including Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, and THC, both of which can be used to fight pain. Products containing only CBD do not require a prescription, come in myriad delivery methods  such as oils, topical gels and pills  and can be sold anywhere from smoke shops and gas stations to specialty stores.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, however, is the portion of marijuana generally known to give some users a "high," which is why it is regulated by the state and requires a prescription based on medical need. Despite this side effect, medical marijuana patients are prescribed the drug for relief of their symptoms, including pain and muscle spasticity.

A House committee in late March unanimously approved the bill presented by state Rep. Stephanie Klick (R-North Richland Hills), which would boost the maximum allowable THC level in medical marijuana from 1 percent to 5 percent and allow the Department of State Health Services to add additional qualifying conditions.

Low THC is derived from the plant Cannabis Sativa L, according to the state's website. "All parts of the plant and any resulting compounds, salts, resins, oils and derivatives that contain no more than 0.5 percent by weight of THC are considered Low-THC," it says.

Medical use of these prescribed doses of low THC can only be swallowed, not smoked, according to current law.

Here's a list of the conditions that qualify a resident to be prescribed medical marijuana in Texas:

Other requirements needed to use cannabis in Texas

In addition to a diagnosis for one of the qualifying medical conditions, Texans also must meet a few more requirements to obtain a medical marijuana license, including:

Being a permanent resident of Texas

Having a physician registered with the compassionate care program prescribe the cannabis

Having a qualified physician decide whether the benefit of medical marijuana use outweighs the risk

There is no age limit for prescriptions, but patients under 18 might need a legal guardian.

The process of obtaining a prescription requires the physician to enter the patient's information into the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas. Once complete, the patient or legal guardian can go to any licensed dispensary to purchase medical marijuana. The patient or legal guardian must provide ID and the patient's last name, date of birth and the last five digits of his or her Social Security number, according to the state government's website.
A bankruptcy judge dismissed the Chapter 11 case of Legacy Lofts on St. Marys LLC on Monday after the townhouse developer failed to comply with court requirements.

It had filed for bankruptcy protection in December to stop a foreclosure on a portion the property along North St. Marys and East Euclid avenues where it built 19 townhouse units.

Since entering bankruptcy, Legacy Lofts had not filed monthly operating reports or paid quarterly fees as required, according to James Rose Jr., an attorney for the U.S.Trustees office. The office is part of the Justice Department and supervises the administration of Chapter 11 cases.

THE BANKRUPTCY: Legacy Lofts, company behind luxury townhouse development in San Antonios Tobin Hill, goes bankrupt

Legacy Lofts also failed to file a reorganization plan, Rose told Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Craig Gargotta during a Monday hearing. On March 20, Rose filed a motion to have the case dismissed or converted to a Chapter 7 liquidation.

Allen DeBard, Legacy Lofts' bankruptcy lawyer, did not oppose the motion to dismiss the case.

He told the judge there is a secured lender holding a first lien it contends is valued at about $7 million. The lien is on a small office building that represents Legacy Lofts' only remaining asset. All of the townhouses in the subdivision were sold prior to the bankruptcy.

The little office is all thats left, so we believe the bank has a lien on that and theres no equity in that property, DeBard said. We would prefer that the case be dismissed. Theres really nothing for a Chapter 7 trustee to do. It would incur another layer of fees, we think.

The judge agreed to dismiss the case.

The only lender listed in Legacy Lofts' bankruptcy schedules was BRMK Lending LLC, a Seattle-based specialty real estate finance company that had moved to foreclose on the office property Nov. 15 after making a nearly $7.6 million loan in 2018.

The bankruptcy forced a conversation between Legacy Lofts and the lender, a Legacy Lofts representative said. Negotiations are ongoing. BRMK Lending is a subsidiary of Broadmark Realty Capital Inc., a publicly traded lender.

Property records shows Legacy Lofts sold only three of the 19 units to individual buyers before completing two bulk sales to Mission-based Esaad LLC  including just days before the foreclosure notice was recorded.

Esaad closed on eight units Oct. 27 and another eight on Nov. 11, paying nearly $7.7 million for the 16 units  or an average of nearly $480,000 each, a bankruptcy document show.

One of the townhouses that was sold to an individual buyer for $570,400 for is currently listed for sale on Zillow for about $600,000.

PROBATE FIGHT: Family lawsuit threatens to ensure planned condo tower in Tobin Hill

Meanwhile, the judge last month gave the OK for litigation to proceed against Legacy Lofts in Bexar County Probate Court. Its bankruptcy filing had put a hold on litigation against it.

The property where Legacy Lofts was built had been owned by Alice Gonzales. She sold the property to Legacy Lofts in 2017. The companys CEO is Robert Melvin, the former head of San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside, a nonprofit promoting development.

Gonzales has since died, but two of her sons  Ernest and Lester Gonzales  have alleged that she had dementia at the time that the Tobin Hill property was transferred to Melvins company. Her other son, Anthony Gonzales, by means of a power of attorney from his mother, signed the deed on her behalf. His two brothers have challenged the validity of the power of attorney, court documents show.

Ernest and Lester Gonzales argue the property is owned by their mothers estate, and that their claims against the debtor and Melvin exceed $1.2 million.
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When writer Rebecca Makkai realized she would need a lot of names for characters in her buzzy new novel "I Have Some Questions for You," she turned to her readers.

Makkai, who is taking part in this year's San Antonio Book Festival, spread the word over social media that she would name one of the minor characters for anyone who bought a book from an independent bookseller on Amazon Prime Day and sent her a receipt. It worked. She got about 25 names and folded them into the book, eventually forgetting the source of some of them.

That occasionally causes a bit of disorientation when someone with one of those names responds to one of her posts: "I would have this moment of, oh, my gosh, am I going nuts? My characters are responding to me," she said in a telephone interview. "And then going, oh, no, this woman asked me to put her name in the book."

Makkai is one of more than 100 authors taking part in the 11th annual festival. It will take place in its usual home in and around the recently reopened Central Library and the UTSA Southwest Campus.

The day will include panel discussions, Q&As, book sales, signings, children's activities, a marketplace and food trucks.

On ExpressNews.com: Chicano writer Nephtali De Leon named city's newest poet laureate

San Antonio Book Festival What: More than 100 authors will take part in the annual celebration of literacy. It will include readings, panel discussions, activities for teens and children, book sales and food trucks. Lit Happens: This new storytelling event is aimed at ages 21 and up. It includes a Literary Aperitif featuring Jose Olivarez and Eddie Vega and a DJ set; and an installment of Texas Public Radio's "Worth Repeating" storytelling series, including Rebecca Makkai, Stephen Graham Jones, Mahogany L. Browne and Priscilla Oliveras. The evening starts at La Zona, 337 W. Commerce; then moves over a few feet to Texas Public Radio, 321 W. Commerce; and ends at Legacy Park, 103 W. Houston. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Free. Festival: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Central Library, 600 Soledad; and UTSA Southwest Campus, 300 Augusta St. Free. Details: The free festival is a rain-or-shine event. sabookfestival.org See More Collapse

Each year, the festival draws bigger and bigger names. This year, in the air-conditioned Russell Hill Rogers tent, the festival's biggest venue, readers can listen to a lineup that includes Makkai, Sandra Cisneros, Geraldine Brooks and Reza Aslan.

That aspect of the festival is important to executive director Lilly Gonzalez.

"I moved here from Chicago back in 2015, and I did feel like I was losing that a bit, because very high profile authors weren't making stops in San Antonio as often as they did in Chicago," Gonzalez said. "I wanted to be a part of changing that for San Antonio, and we're getting there.

"And its not just us, of course. Trinity (University) brings very high-profile authors to their programs. And now that we have Nowhere Bookshop, collectively, we're all working to make that change."

The free festival will kick off Friday night with Lit Happens, a new, adult-oriented event including cocktails, literary death matches and the latest installment in Texas Public Radio's "Worth Repeating" storytelling series.

The main event is Saturday. Those who can't be there in person can stream sessions in the Russell Hill Rogers Tent on the festival's YouTube channel and the sessions in the Texas Monthly tent on the festival's Facebook page.

Jane Smiley will be making her San Antonio Book Festival debut in the Texas Monthly Tent, where she will talk about her new book, "A Dangerous Business."

The novel is set in Monterey, California, in the 1850s. A young widow named Eliza goes to work in a brothel, where she gets her first taste of independence. She also strikes up a friendship with a woman who works at a brothel that caters to women. They both fall into the thrall of Edgar Allan Poe's detective writing, which helps spur them to try solving a few murders in town.

The fast-moving book is straightforward about sex and the ways that women prevent unwanted pregnancies, including a potion that Eliza takes early in the book. Those scenes evoke current battles on that front, and those 21st century issues were very much on Smiley's mind as she was writing.

She also thought about her great-grandmother's account of having given herself a couple of abortions in her youth.

"I was thinking of all the horrors that are taking place as a result of not being able to do that. It's enormous," she said in a telephone interview. "It seems like we are going back to the 19th century."

Smiley has been impacted by another culture wars skirmish. Her 1991 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "A Thousand Acres" was one of 25 books banned from libraries in an Idaho school district at the behest of the state legislature earlier this year. It also was banned in Katy, Texas, schools in 2012.

"From time to time, I'm asked to write about it. And I do," she said. "I really wanted 'Ten Days in the Hills' to be banned, because you make a lot more money from a banned book, actually. So I put in as much sex as I possibly could, but it wasn't banned."

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio 4th grader's 35,000-word novel available on Amazon

Makkai's book also reflects the roiling social landscape of the 21st century, including the widespread interest in true crime. It focuses on Bodie Kane, a film professor and podcaster who returns to the boarding school where she attended high school to teach a couple of short seminars. Her students in one class decide to revisit a murder that took place her senior year, a project that brings to mind the first season of "Serial" and similar real-life efforts to dig into cases in which there are questions about whether justice was done.

Bodie also gets caught up in a Twitter pile-on when her estranged husband is the subject of a #metoo-inspired performance piece by a young artist.

The book, which is on both the New York Times and Indie bestseller lists, has plainly struck a chord with readers.

"I think that Im getting into things a lot of people already want to talk about and have very conflicted feelings about that they might not feel comfortable expressing online or in conversation," she said.

This will be Makkai's first appearance at the book festival. She's a big fan of book festivals in general, because they're a chance to connect with colleagues and also to introduce herself and her work to readers who might not have otherwise picked up one of her books.

"For all of us, its just this great way to connect with people who have not read our work yet," she said.
The Boerne City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on the second of two fiercely debated transportation measures that city leaders say are key to mapping out the citys future.

Council members are scheduled to hold a second public hearing on a proposal to repeal and replace its existing thoroughfare plan  which is aimed at guiding how developers connect and pave roads between and in the housing developments springing up all around the city  followed by a vote on the measure. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Tuesdays meeting comes two weeks after the City Council approved the Boerne Mobility Master Plan, The council unanimously approved the Boerne Mobility Master Plan, which the city describes as a long-range plan that seeks to create a safer, more accessible and more efficient transportation network.

Boerne mobility plan: What residents can expect after transit plan passes

The Mobility Master Plan calls for addressing the citys worsening traffic issues by widening heavily trafficked roads; modifying problematic intersections, in some cases with roundabouts; building more sidewalks; and adding shared-use paths for bikes and pedestrians.

Growth- and transit-related issues have been hot-button topics for years in Boerne, which has been grappling with how to manage its rapid growth and development. The conflict between maintaining the city's character and dealing with its swift growth was at the heart of the debate over the mobility measures.

Boernes population grew 70 percent from 2010 to 2020 and now has close to 20,000 residents, according the U.S. Census Bureau, while Kendall County as a whole grew 33 percent during that same period and is nearing 50,000 residents.

City leaders say that with such growth a reality, a plan is needed to guide the development.

The push to revise the thoroughfare plan has created more controversy than the mobility plan, as residents say they fear it could lead to their property being seized through eminent domain proceedings.

Revisions to the thoroughfare plan are needed "to provide for future connectivity if development occurs... and to provide the ultimate function of roadways as arterials or collectors in the city's transportation network," according to documents posted on the city's website.

At an initial public hearing on the thoroughfare plan on April 3, residents filled the City Council chambers, and most who spoke during the hearing said they opposed the plan. Some speakers suggested council members are in favor of unfettered growth and need to do more to control it, while other repeated claims made on social media that the thoroughfare plan is an attempt to resurrect the Kendall Gateway Loop.

The loop was a widely criticized project that was proposed in a 2018 Texas Department of Transportation study. The initial plans had called for the road to cut through private properties in Kendall County.

At the April 3 public hearing, District 1 City Councilman Ty Wolosin, the city's mayor pro tem, disputed that notion and criticized what he called misinformation being posted on social media.

It's the right of everyone here to accept what they believe is correct, Wolosin said. It's very important to know this is not the gateway. Any notation of that by other people out there would be incorrect. No one here supports that.

Council members insisted that the thoroughfare plan does not signal intentions to take private property, and said the plan is a step toward making sure future developments are built in harmony with the citys existing roads.
Luanda  The Angolan Head of State, Joao Lourenco, on Monday congratulated Xi Jinping on his recent re-election as President of the People's Republic of China.

Xi Jinping was re-elected Friday for a third term as president of China, after the parliament unanimously voted for him to continue in office.

In the message, to which ANGOP has had access, President Joao Lourenco expressed congratulations to the Chinese President on behalf of the Angolan government as well as in his own behalf.

According to the Angolan Head of State, the reappointment of President Xi Jinping "to such a high Office" is the reaffirmation of the trust placed in him by the whole of Chinese society.

He said that the trust placed in him by the Chinese people was in recognition of the great role that President Xi Jinping has been playing in the construction of modern China, committed to expanding and consolidating the conquests achieved on an economic and social level.

President Lourenco expressed his full conviction that in this new mandate at the helm of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese statesman will pursue policies aimed at building a world of peace and security, in which a geostrategic balance is in force.

According to the Angolan Head of State, this is a geostrategic balance capable of guaranteeing global stability and the interaction of all the nations of our planet, in benefit of safeguarding the different interests of the peoples and nations of the world.

In the message, Joao Lourencos stresses that on this occasion, he expresses the Angolan government's certainty that relations of cooperation between the Republic of Angola and the People's Republic of China will continue to get closer and generate factors of development capable of creating significant reciprocal advantages and benefits.

In his letter to President Xi Jinping, the Angolan Head of State reiterated his wishes for many successes in carrying out his noble mission, as well as "much health and personal well-being".
Dr. Jan Patterson and Phyllis Clark Nichols have each endured their share of heartache.

Patterson, 66, is an infectious diseases physician and professor of medicine at UT Health San Antonio who provided expert advice and updates to the public throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She went through cancer and lost her son to suicide in 2012.

Nichols, 71, of Boerne, a seminary-trained spiritual author of a dozen books, is the primary caregiver for her husband of 36 years, who is going through his third bout with cancer.

The two women, longtime friends, collaborated on a book called "Breath for the Soul," which offers advice on how people can care for themselves while going through stress, anxiety, depression and grief, alone or in combination.

It explains how to find relief through breathing exercises, movement, nutrition, spirituality and mindfulness.

"Breath for the Soul" was published in November and is available in paperback and in digital format. Almost anyone can benefit from reading it, the authors said.

"Theres nobody that doesnt have to deal with stress and anxiety," Patterson said in an interview. "Many of us encounter depression during our lives. At one time or another, were all going to have to deal with grief. So I feel like this can apply to almost anyone. The more we experience life, the more we are likely to have to deal with these things."

Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

The 253-page, self-published book was conceived during the pandemic, when many people were isolated at home and struggling with loneliness or depression. Patterson and Nichols worked on it for nearly two years.

"We just said theres such a need for people to learn how to give care to themselves," Nichols said. "Right now, its never been more important.

"Our goal was to give people some simple, effective tools, some things they could do at home that dont cost money to help deal with their stress or anxiety, depression and grief."

In 2020, Patterson completed a fellowship in integrative medicine  which seeks to treat the entire patient through body, mind, spirit and soul, often with natural, non-invasive therapies  at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine in Arizona. She is now board-certified in the field, as she is in infectious diseases.

"Im all for conventional medicine. Im a cancer survivor ... so Im very grateful for that," Patterson said. But Ive just seen through the years that there are many times that we cant fully reach or fully treat a patient with just a pill or just a procedure, especially when theyre going through some of these difficulties in life.

"I would say that the medical field is becoming more and more open to these things," she said. For one thing, the younger patients now want these things  they want to be empowered to do things for themselves. So theyre looking for things that they can do and not just take a pill."

"Breath for the Soul" describes a variety of self-care tools, including spirituality, breathing techniques, physical activities to combat stress, anxiety, depression or grief, and healthy foods for people going through these hardships.

"The best news is that none of them require expensive medication, exercise equipment or a visit with your doctor," Patterson and Nichols write in the book. "They are all things you can do at home or even on a work break."

The book includes healthy recipes and lists "calming and sustaining foods," such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seafood and lean meats. "This kind of eating will lead to a calmer mind and a more durable emotional state," the authors write.

"Our mental health is so much a part of our physical health," Patterson said. "The body and the mind are just intertwined. Theres such a connection there that we can tap into. But you have to be aware of it and look for the things that you can do, that you can be empowered to do, to help take care of yourself.

Patterson discusses her 18-year-old son's suicide in the book, as well as her cancer diagnosis that followed six weeks later. She explains in detail how she coped with an "excruciatingly painful" loss for herself and her husband of 37 years, Dr. Tom Patterson, UT Health San Antonio's chief of infectious diseases.

"It just really made me want to make these (self-care tips) more accessible to people, to let people know about them: Hey, heres some simple, yet effective things you can do,'" Patterson said recently. "Theyre not expensive. Theyre things that empower you to help to care for yourself."

The ideas suggested in the book help give people some control over their lives, even if they are coping with a serious illness or other circumstances out of their control, Nichols said.

Her husband, artist and theologian Bill Nichols, 80, has been undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma. It is the third time he has battled cancer since 2012.

Spirituality has been an anchor for the couple during their cancer journey.

"I cannot imagine going through these experiences without my faith," Phyllis Clark Nicholas said. "This sense of being connected not only to God, but also to the family of faith, where we get a lot of encouragement and support. Theres a sense that Im never alone."

She and her husband walk outdoors every day, even when he doesn't feel well. These hills out here have become my sanctuary," she said of Boerne.

"I find that gratitude  I dont care how dark it is  theres always something for which to be grateful," she said. "Always, if you look. The byproduct of gratitude is joy. And I think those kinds of things really reach us in tender places when were grieving or when were anxious or sad."

Patterson said she tried to emphasize that readers can start by making small changes.

"Start with something simple," Patterson said. "Start with taking a walk. Take a walk three times a week. Or add one vegetable to what youre eating every day  or one fruit. Just clear your mind for five minutes, either at the beginning or the end of the day ... You don't have to do everything at once."
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently treated attendees of a news conference to an extra special treat  beaver nuggets.

But the move seemed to bewilder some, as people began questioning and searching online to satiate their curiosity: What are beaver nuggets?

Never tried the sweet treat and want to know more? First, don't follow the same train of thought as chicken nuggets  there are no deep-fried beaver parts here.

Beaver nuggets come from the beloved beaver-themed Buc-ees chain, which has some of the largest gas stations in the world, complete with a beaver logo adorning nearly every imaginable item the chain sells. Beaver nuggets are puffy, crunchy corn nuggets covered in brown sugar caramel coating, unique to the popular chain of gas stations and convenience stores.

BUSINESS: As Buc-ees marches into Virginia, residents express a mix of excitement and concern

And, as some chain enthusiasts may know, the chain wasn't even named for the actual animal. Buc-ee's got its name and logo from founder and CEO Arch Aplin II, whose childhood nickname was "Beaver," and who had a dog named Buck.

Not only do Texans love Buc-ee's so much that their obsession is now influencing paleontology, but the beaver nuggets are a standout selection in a store stocking thousands of products. The treats have long been foisted upon unsuspecting out-of-state visitors by beaver nugget evangelists, of which there is no shortage  apparently including DeSantis.

No surprise, then, that it's a bestseller, according to Texas Snax, and it might be difficult to stop after just one bag  which sells for $7.99.

Although some Texans may think of Buc-ee's as one of those Texas-only brands, (looking at you, H-E-B) it recently has expanded quite a bit throughout the southeast. There are a few in the Atlanta metro area and more are being built in the Golden Isles area of southeastern Georgia, near the Florida border.

And luckily for DeSantis, there have been a handful of Buc-ee's locations in Florida for several years.

You guys have got to try some, DeSantis said as he began throwing the bags into the crowd.

People stood up to catch them.

These things are kind of addicting, so I'm just saying, beware," he said.
The interim superintendent of Uvalde schools stopped short of finding fault in an unfortunate situation at Flores Elementary last week between a state trooper and the mother of a student killed in the May 24 shooting.

In a statement released over the weekend, Gary Patterson didnt take sides in the altercation captured on three cameras involving the still-unidentified Department of Public Safety trooper and Ana Coronado, whose daughter Maite Rodriguez was killed along with 18 other students and two teachers at Robb Elementary.

DPS confirmed Monday the trooper had been moved from the school but didnt say where he was reassigned.

What happens when emotions get out of control, decisions are made by both parties in the heat of the moment, and pushing, shoving, shouting, and removal occur? Patterson wrote in his letter. This happens.

RELATED: Painful and permanent, tattoos honor Uvalde victims and keep their memories alive

The incident occurred Wednesday at the elementary school during a national protest against the lack of action taken by the state and federal government to counter school shootings. Students Demand Action had called on kids nationwide to walk out.

Coronado wanted to check her son out of school to join the protest outside but was met by a trooper who pushed her out of the building for not following school protocol.

In the troopers body camera video, she emphasized that the children were protesting indoors, where nobody could see them.

This means something to me, she cried.

Patterson asked all sides to act more deliberately as the first anniversary of the shooting approaches, a time when anxiety, emotional stress, gun-related discussions, tension, media attention, and public interest will only increase. He noted that activities related to May 24th have already started in our community.

Now Playing: Edited excerpts of body camera video released by Texas Department of Public Safety show the exchange between Ana Cordero and an unidentified trooper at Flores Elementary in Uvalde. Cordero's daughter was killed in the Robb Elementary shooting last May, and the trooper had forcibly removed her from the building twice prior to her checking her son out of school to protest. Video: San Antonio Express-News

An increased amount of patience, planning, understanding, and commitment to our community is needed to avoid further incidents like those this past Wednesday, the statement continued.

He urged everyone to take a deep breath, step back, and handle things with kindness, mercy, and a deeper understanding of others.

In a statement issued by the DPS, the trooper said a group of protesters had gathered outside the main entrance of Flores Elementary on Wednesday, and they were peaceful and remained on the sidewalk.

I attempted to talk with (Coronado) but all she wanted to do is talk over me and start to get loud again, the trooper wrote. (Coronado) remained loud and emotional even after her son arrived and was outside. (Coronado) yelled out as she left, saying, When your daughter is murdered on school grounds, then you can talk to me, sir.

A DPS spokesman, Travis Considine, said Monday he could not comment on the incident because it remains under investigation by the agencys office of inspector general. Typically, he added, there is no timeline for a conclusion of its investigations.

State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who last week condemned the incident on Twitter as a disgrace and said it was no way to treat a grieving family, said he stood by his belief that the trooper used too much force when removing Coronado from the building. A San Antonio Democrat, he has emerged as a champion of families of the Robb Elementary victims and sponsored gun-control legislation this year in the Legislature, with 20 bills in the pipeline.

He noted that Coronado had bruises on her arms as a result of the encounter with the trooper.

I still think its excessive, Gutierrez said. I think that there has to be an understanding of the troopers that we have on the ground right now and a better understanding of whos who, a better understanding of the situation involved  its a particularly unique situation  and really to take a cue from Patterson, you have to understand that what this community is dealing with is vastly different from most.

Patterson, who replaced Uvaldes longtime superintendent, Hal Harrell, several months ago, wrote that he had reviewed all available school videos and the bodycam footage supplied by DPS following the incident and felt compelled to reply to the community questions about the event, as well as the local and national media interest.

It appears that we have a parent in distress with the intent to enter the school building in areas other than the office. A DPS Trooper assigned the unenviable task of preventing any unauthorized person from doing just that. Please remember there is no precedent in dealing with these levels of emotion, nor is there a planning map for de-escalating every incident that might present itself, he stated.

Patterson noted that since the shooting, all those entering school campuses know they must first check in at the office, get cleared and explain their reasons for being there.

Im concerned that many in our community may be so emotionally attached, or some whose political leanings may be so strong it will be hard to view the video objectively, he wrote. From a law enforcement perspective, how much is too much? What is the correct amount of reasonable force to remove someone from the building that is causing disruption and will not leave? What is the expectation for law enforcement?

From a parents perspective, they may ask why force was needed at all. Again, what is the expectation here for parents?

READ MORE: How Border Patrols firefight with Uvalde gunman went down  six takeaways

He asked people to put yourselves in our unique position, where we, as a district, support both sides of this particular situation and have to go the extra mile to support and try to understand the deep emotional distress of our parents while still expecting everyone to abide by the most simple, reasonable, and safest rules and policies.

We must also support our DPS Troopers and our police force in these most difficult of circumstances, he continued. No one can condone the excessive use of force. The debate here is whether or not the DPS Troopers actions were excessive, reasonable, and necessary, and were the parents actions excessive, reasonable, and necessary as well. I have received many opinions on both sides of this argument.

After asking what happens when people lose their cool, Patterson raised another question.

What happens when we have a higher level of patience, compliance with simple rules, respect for each other, take a deep breath, step back, and handle things with kindness, mercy, and a deeper understanding of each other? he wrote. Lets please find out.
Screenshot of HousingBaseSanAntonio.com

Affordable housing is just a few clicks away for San Antonians, thanks to a new website launched Monday morning.

At HousingBaseSanAntonio.com, low-income renters can search for places in their price range and find options near amenities like public transit, grocery stores, health clinics and social services. San Antonians can also look for places that accept Housing Choice Vouchers or that rent to people with previous evictions or certain criminal records.
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ROME (AP)  At least two migrants have died and about 20 others are missing after their boat sank over the weekend in the Mediterranean Sea between Tunisia and Italy, German aid group ResQship said on Monday. Meanwhile, Italian authorities said operations were under way to rescue about 1,200 people on two migrant ships intercepted off the country's shores.

ResQship said its rescuers reached the area of the wreck on Saturday and found about 25 people in the water, who said they had been there for two hours.

Our crew was able to recover 22 survivors and 2 deceased, the aid group tweeted, adding that survivors said about 20 people drowned. The groups ship, the Naditook the rescued migrants to the Italian island of Lampedusa.

We are angry. This is an unspeakable tragedy that could  and should  have been prevented by a humanitarian approach to migration instead of barb-wiring the European borders, ResQship said.

The Italian coast guard said Monday it was completing operations to rescue 800 migrants on a ship intercepted around 193 kilometers (120 miles) southeast of the Sicilian town of Syracuse.

The coast guard also said Monday that another boat with about 400 migrants on board has been intercepted around 273 kilometers (170 miles) off the Calabrian coast. It said the migrants were being taken off the boat onto a coast guard vessel and two merchant ships.

On Sunday night, humanitarian organization Alarm Phone had received a distress call from that migrants' boat, which had departed from Tobruk, Libya.

The organization said the 400 migrants managed to continue their journey and reached the shared search and rescue zone of Malta and Italy.

In the last few days, thousands of migrants have reached tiny Lampedusa, which lies about 150 kilometers (90 miles) from the Tunisian coast.

According to Interior Ministry figures, more than 28,000 migrants have arrived in Italy since the start of the year  almost four times the number over the same period in 2022.

However, that's much fewer than the hundreds of thousands who were rescued at sea a few years earlier.

Since it came to power six months ago, Giorgia Melonis right-wing coalition government, which includes anti-migrant League leader Matteo Salvini, has cracked down on humanitarian rescue boats operating in the central Mediterranean north of Libya.

___ Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
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Budgets are a delicate balancing act that require tough decisions.

Our trustees had to make one such decision when announcing San Antonio ISD will offer its employees the largest salary increase, in total dollars, in 25 years. This is cause for celebration, but to make it work, some members of our SAISD familia  including librarians, family and community engagement specialists, and counselors  may need to shift roles in the 2023-24 academic year.

This is the painful reality public school districts face. To be successful, we must demonstrate how much we value our educators. To survive, we must be sustainable.

More than half of the $20 million we are allotting to staff compensation next year will benefit teachers. Educators are responsible for shaping the minds of future community leaders and citizens, yet many remain underpaid. The average Texas teacher earns only slightly more than the hourly wage of some retail workers.

State legislators could help school districts address this disparity by tapping their unprecedented surplus this legislative session. They could elevate teachers salaries to be comparable to occupations of similar education and skill set.

We hope the state will prioritize this issue, but we at SAISD have decided to act now.

In school districts, we consider student enrollment projections to ensure each schools staffing allocation is appropriate for the number of students expected, while safeguarding the continuation of all required campus responsibilities. In SAISD, we developed an action plan that reflects our commitment to protecting our classrooms and instructional resources, promoting campus autonomy, recognizing that some students require more resources to succeed and reducing funding inequities driven by school size.

For instance, due to falling enrollment during the last 20 years, we have 52 percent more school space than our students need. Many of our schools have small student bodies, and since schools are staffed based on enrollment, in smaller schools we have to cut back on services. Faced with this challenge, this year we recommended new ways to deliver these services while working toward a balanced budget.

At some smaller campuses, principals had to make staffing adjustments. But we are committed to our staff throughout this transition. We are working closely with each affected individual to help find alternate positions within the district that match qualifications. Our goal is to retain all staff members and to honor their service to our district.

Decisions like this are never easy.

In light of the district's financial situation, we made significant cuts in order to afford our proposed $20 million staff compensation package. We have implemented a central office budget reduction totaling $16 million for the 2022-23 academic year, without touching campus resources, and we plan an additional $6.5 million central office reduction next year. Despite these tough choices, we remain committed to investing in the well-being of our staff and providing them with the compensation they deserve.

We see attaining a sustainable future by aligning resources to where students are, developing innovative ways to provide student and family services, and honoring the professionalism of campus leaders by allowing those closest to students to make decisions.

Our goal is to offer staff a compensation package that leads the regional market, while remaining within a sustainable budget. By implementing these principles, we believe we can create a stronger and more successful future for all our students.

Its a delicate balance, and its the right thing to do.

Jaime Aquino is the San Antonio ISD superintendent.
Many Americans fail at parenting not because we demand too much from our children but because we expect too little.

In the United States, the modern parent is too permissive and overly lenient. We make excuses for our kids shortcomings, brush aside their mistakes and bail them out when they get into trouble. If they get rejected by an elite college, we blame affirmative action. If they get hooked on opioids, we curse Mexico. We rarely hold our offspring accountable for what they say or how they act.

And now, parents appear eager to relieve their children of any responsibility for how their lives turn out. According to a new Wall Street Journal-NORC poll, most Americans are not confident their childrens lives will be better than their own. Even more troubling, they dont seem to think theres anything their kids can do to stop the slide.

The surveys other findings were just as grim. Stress levels are up while overall levels of happiness are plummeting. Many Americans are distressed about the U.S. economy, and that seems to be making them pessimistic about their childrens future.

In the poll, about 80 percent of respondents described the economy as not so good or poor. Nearly half said they expect the economic picture to get bleaker in the next year.

But for me the most troubling finding wasnt about the economy. It was about resignation. Too many parents seem to have given in to the idea that their children will not be as successful as they are.

Its an American tradition that every generation is expected to do better than the one that came before it. Thats what most parents assume will be the natural order of things.

It certainly was true in my case. Like other Mexican Americans who came of age in the 1950s, my parents worked in the fields of my native California. They went on to provide their children with a middle-class upbringing and gave us two things that served us well: a strong work ethic and an unflinching belief in the transformative power of education.

Im a believer. With two Harvard degrees, I have soft hands  a byproduct of pecking at keyboards all day. And Im paid more for one speaking engagement than my grandparents earned picking peaches for an entire year.

For more than three decades, NORC has asked Americans whether they believe that life for their childrens generation will be better than it has been for their own. This year, a record-high share of respondents  78 percent  said they dont feel confident that their childrens lives will be better.

Not surprisingly, the results vary according to race and ethnicity. White respondents are more likely than Black or Latino respondents to believe their children wont have better lives.

The poll didnt separate immigrants and natives. But everything we know from other surveys suggests that natives are more likely to see their lives and those of their children in a pessimistic light. Immigrants usually have a more optimistic outlook, even though they have to overcome more obstacles.

Frankly, I dont put much stock in these doomsday surveys. I remember polls from 30 years ago, when I was in my mid-20s, with similar conclusions. Every generation seems increasingly pessimistic about the next one.

What bothers me is that these kinds of polls leave people with the impression that something has gone wrong in America. Or they suggest that the government, or a specific political party, is at fault.

Thats nonsense. Where does the individual come in? No one asks: What mistakes are our children making?

Our children need to stop acting as if they are prisoners of forces beyond their control. And parents need to stop encouraging that kind of thinking.

Heres some of the advice Im giving my three teenagers.

 Take education seriously, and get all you can.

 Be willing to move to where the opportunities are.

 Marry well, because the wrong spouse will bring you down as surely as the right one will lift you up.

 Follow your passion, but choose a profession in demand.

 Never stop learning and challenging yourself.

 Be careful with money. Make sure you control it and it doesnt control you.

Our children will travel their own path, and the decisions they make along the way will determine where the road leads.

How many Americans still think this way? Lets see a survey about that.
Two years ago, Mario Bravo, a progressive and environmental activist, challenged three-term City Councilman Roberto Trevino for the seat in District 1.

It was a race of a talented challenger versus an experienced incumbent who had struggled to address homelessness in the district or move the needle on the Alamo plan.

We recommended Bravo, saying he would bring a fresh voice and policy understanding to the district, which includes most of downtown, the Alamo, Hemisfair Park and some of Brackenridge Park. Bravo, we wrote, had ideas about, making city government more transparent and accessible to residents, and he envisions a council that creates policy instead of simply rubber-stamping staffs proposals.

For the most part, Bravo has fulfilled those expectations. Under ordinary circumstances, this would warrant a recommendation for a second term.

But an extraordinary circumstance last year that Bravo brought upon himself makes it difficult for us to recommend him. As readers know, last September Bravo publicly berated District 7 City Councilwoman Ana Sandoval, his former romantic partner, for not supporting his plan to use $50 million in excess CPS Energy revenue to weatherize homes instead of disbursing a roughly $30 credit to individual households.

It was a proposal we were largely in line with.

Before a City Council session in September, Bravo approached Sandoval near the council dais and, in a shameful and nasty outburst, told her that her lack of support was why he had ended his relationship with her and why he didnt have children with her. Bravos continued verbal jabs during the meeting led to City Attorney Andy Segovia chastising him.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg suspended Bravo, temporarily, from his City Council committee assignments; an independent investigator determined his actions to be a violation of anti-harassment and violence in the workplace policies; and his council colleagues censured him and passed a no-confidence vote.

We called on Bravo to resign, citing the toxic working environment he created for Sandoval and questioning his effectiveness to work with other council members.

Earlier this year, Sandoval resigned from council for a new job at University Health. In a candidate recommendation meeting with this Editorial Board, Bravo apologized, spoke with immense regret and said he was receiving counseling.

We dont believe the outburst should define Bravo and hope it leads to personal growth and change. But he needs to continue to demonstrate personal change before we could recommend him again.

Instead, we recommend Jeremy Roberts, a corporate marketing executive and entrepreneur who, until recently, chaired the San Antonio Small Business Advisory Commission.

We think Roberts, who is also an adjunct professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio and is chair-elect of the American Red Cross-South Central Texas Area, offers much-needed business acumen for council. He demonstrated a strong understanding of city policies, and he offered a generally progressive viewpoint on issues.

He would give voice to small business concerns at City Hall, be generally supportive of economic development efforts and sympathetic to neighborhood concerns.

And here is one key difference between Bravo and Roberts: While Bravo would not state whether he supports Proposition A, the so-called justice charter proposition, Roberts was clear (and nuanced) in his opposition.

Voters look to their elected officials for guidance and leadership on complicated issues. That Bravo has distinguished himself as the only candidate we have met with who could not articulate a position on Proposition A is weak. Roberts said he supports much of whats in Proposition A, but struggled with how it could hurt small businesses and property owners.

Among the other candidates running, Sukh Kaur, an educational consultant, showed promise. Ernest Salinas, a former neighborhood association president, is also running. But Roberts distinguished himself with his policy understanding, business acumen and lack of baggage.
Re: A different perspective, Your Turn, April 3:

The conspiracy-filled rant about the description of those who support former President Donald Trump just shows the damage that Fox News and other right-wing media have caused.

The big question I always ask is, how people think all these institutions and agencies are somehow capable to conspire together at this level?

Have you ever tried to get a group of people to all believe the same thing?

Randy G Whitworth

Avoid history repeat

Re: Migrant arrests by citizens proposed in Texas, Front Page, March 31:

I was puzzled and pained to read that some Texas politicians are advocating citizen arrests of migrants. It seems we have not learned from those agonizing periods when neighbor was asked to turn in neighbor. Remember the McCarthy era? Nazi Germany?

We must refresh our history and avoid the agony of those shameful policies.

Susan Gehle Skaer

Mandate waiting period

Re: Military suicides declined, but work not done, Front Page, April 5:

A clinical psychologist and veteran is quoted in this story as saying a mandatory waiting period for obtaining guns has proven to be an effective way to reduce suicides in the military.

If Texas had a 10-day waiting period, the Uvalde shooter would have had to wait after the legal purchasing age of 18. He never would have had the weapons on May 24 and the school year would have ended.

If that is not enough evidence to change existing gun laws and add a mandatory waiting period, I dont know what is.

Jean Parreira, Boerne
A criminal defense lawyer retained by state Rep. Bryan Slaton, called rumors swirling about him "outrageous" in a brief statement released Monday.

Speculation has abounded in the last week regarding the Royse City Republican after he failed to show up to an important budget debate at which he was scheduled to present nearly three dozen amendments he wrote.

'TEXIT' BILL AUTHOR: Slaton's bill calls for advisory vote on Texas secession

We are aware of outrageous allegations circulating online by second-tier media that make false claims against Representative Slaton, said the attorney, Patrick Short. As a result, he has been advised to forward all inquiries in this matter  including any that may relate to a possible complaint to his legal counsel.

According to a complaint submitted to an investigative committee of the House, which was obtained by The Texas Tribune, a legislative staffer claimed Slaton had a potentially "inappropriate relationship with an intern after he invited her to his Austin apartment late at night and drank alcohol with her. The intern is under 21, the Tribune reported.

Short did not respond to a request for comment on the complaint.

Last week, as social media was abuzz regarding Slaton's whereabouts, Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, who chairs the House's General Investigating Committee, issued a statement without context saying the panel does not confirm or deny any ongoing investigations.

Neither Slaton nor members of his staff have responded to requests for comment. No one was in Slatons Capitol office when the House was last in session for the budget debate on Thursday, and the star-spangled frosted windows were papered over from the inside. Calls to the office went to voicemail.

The conservative firebrand and former minister from East Texas has garnered a reputation for pushing politically extreme, attention-grabbing bills, such as one calling for Texas to secede, and another providing tax cuts for straight couples with children. He has often locked horns with more moderate members of his party.

In the last two sessions, Slaton has helped lead a campaign to bar Democrats from chairing committees in the House, one of the top priorities of Texas GOP, to no avail. Hed argued that Democrats in the Legislature have more leverage and more power than they earn on Election Day. The speaker did nominate fewer Democrats this year, though its unclear if Slatons effort had anything to do with that choice.

Slaton has been known to cause a scene to make a political point, such as at the start of session when he and another staunch Republican stretched the typically mundane debate over House rules into several hours with a series of amendments that did not pass. One of Slatons, for example, would have required committee chairs to publicly declare whether they support Marxism.

After the 2021 session, Slaton was ranked the third-most conservative House member in an analysis by Mark Jones, a political science fellow at Rice University, based on his roll-call votes that year.
Qamar Ali Haji has been using skin-lightening products for four years. Initially she liked the change in her appearance but now the exposure to the chemicals in the products is taking a toll. She says she regrets it.

"I can't sit too long in the school, I cannot bear the heat, my cheeks turn red, and I cannot go into the kitchen," Haji said. "I cannot bear the slightest heat, I become boiled, there are ulcers on my legs, redness all over."

The 19-year-old student is one of a growing number of women in Somalia who use the skin-lightening products.

Locally known as "qasqas" or "mixture," the term reflects the combination of various skin-whitening products. Health advocates say using these products can cause dangerous side effects and lead to physical and mental health problems.

Somali officials and activists said the country's political upheavals and the war on the al-Shabab militant group are overshadowing socially driven health dangers like skin-whitening. Due to a lack of awareness, some people don't realize how dangerous these products can be.

The issue has attracted the attention of Amira Adawe, a leading activist with a master's degree in public health from Minnesota. Adawe has traveled to the Horn of Africa region multiple times in recent years as part of her research into the practice of skin-whitening.

She is the founder of Beautywell, an organization that has been addressing this issue in the United States.

Adawe said the skin-lightening products from Kenya and Somalia that she tested contained high levels of toxic chemicals like mercury, hydroquinone and lead.

Mercury, hydroquinone, steroids and lead are the four main chemicals found in skin-whitening products, according to Adawe. Mercury is a toxic heavy metal. Women who use skin-lightning products that contain mercury, can suffer neurological side effects, and develop depression and anxiety, Adawe added.

"We had a Somali woman in the state of Minnesota who actually lost her vision because of (the) neurological impact that came from the use of skin-lighting products containing mercury," she told Women's Square, a new VOA Somali program.

"Some people also develop diabetics because medically, skin-lightning products impact hormones ... which impacts the insulin in our body," she said.

Other health risks include hypertension, kidney problems, skin sensitivity and skin cancer as product users cannot tolerate any sunlight, Adawe said.

"Steroids can give them a lot of skin tenderness," she added.

There's also the possibility of a mother passing the toxicity to her baby if she is breastfeeding.

Skin-whitening is multibillion-dollar industry that targets women around the globe. Adawe says the practice is especially high in countries where regulations on toxic products are weak or nonexistent, like Somalia.

According to Adawe many people in Somalia are using skin-whitening products.

"I have done several focus group sessions, key informant interviews and surveyed two universities," she said. "In all these more than 140 women, girls and some men participated, and all of the women and girls were using. Some of the men were using."

The focus groups and interviews took place in Mogadishu and Hargeisa.

"Women that I interviewed ... in Somalia had kidney problems and other health issues like very (a) bad smell of fish odor, skin redness, skin ulcers, blue skin pigmentation, headache, severe wound healing problems and endocrinological problems," she said.

"All of these (health issues) are associated with the use of mercury, hydroquinone and steroids in skin-lightening products."

Adawe shared her work with Somali officials and explained the health issues associated with exposure to the toxic ingredients in skin-lightening products.

In Mogadishu she met female parliamentarians who promised to support legislation to regulate skin-lightening products with toxic chemicals. She also has been communicating with the Somali ministry of health to increase awareness of the problem and find strategies for regulating the toxic products.

Interim manager of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Farah Mohamed Sharawe was one of the officials who met Adawe last month. He admits the government has not researched skin-whitening products.

"The first action of my office is to register the importation of these medications, find out who is bringing [them] in, and give them license. The other action is widespread awareness about the harmful impacts of these medications. [To] prevent expanding of skin-whitening problems," he said.

Sharawe said the ministry agreed with Adawe on the need for research about the cosmetics coming into Somali and the amount of toxicity, if any, the products may contain.

"Conduct research into the compounds, check the level of mercury and other harmful elements, and then share ... [the] data with the public," he said. "This needs legislation, the Medicine and Food Safety Bill, which the Cabinet has passed. That legislation is important."

While the Medicine and Food Safety Bill has Cabinet approval, it won't become law until Parliament approves it.

Dr. Mamunur Rahman Malik, the World Health Organization representative for Somalia, also met Adawe.

"These are poisons which should never be allowed to come in. She is using science to understand the scope of this problem and address these problems which are harmful to public health. She is doing it without any fear," he said.

Malik said WHO is planning to set up a laboratory for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to test and identify contaminated products.

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"Within (the) next few months we will help them to have the ability to test these cosmetic products, food and any other imported products which pose (a) risk to (the) health of the population," he said.

Personal mission

The practice of whitening skin is personal to Adawe. She has faced discrimination because of her own dark skin color.

"At a very young age I had a little experience of colorism; as you know colorism, it's a cultural thing that happens all over the world because of skin color discrimination especially in countries that went through colonization and slavery," Adawe said.

"So at very young age I remember people always commenting on my skin color and so that stayed with me but also I have seen when I was growing up in Somalia and also growing up in the United States especially in Minnesota, many individuals that are using these products, whether it's relatives or friends or people that I came to know using these products and externally I could see how it was impacting their skin color."

She said she hopes to see the Somali government ban the toxic ingredients like mercury, lead and other chemicals found in some skin-lightening products and establish a regulatory system for the drugs and cosmetics.

Harun Maruf contributed to this report.
The HRDC partners with the Gallatin Valley Food Bank where they distribute food and host programs, such as the one day Spring for Food drive.
Fairfield, MT (59436)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. High around 60F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low around 35F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020, police departments across the country have come under intense scrutiny for excessive use of force, particularly for incidents involving Black suspects. George Floyd's murder is one of many in recent years that highlight the abuses of power that have been present in American law enforcement for centuries.

Police officers are often called to respond to dangerous and violent situations, and are issued service weapons to defend themselves and the public. More than 1,000 suspects are killed by law enforcement in the U.S. each year, and the majority of those killings are deemed to be justified by oversight officials.

Over the 10 years from 2013 to 2022, a reported 11,160 people were killed by police officers in the United States, according to Mapping Police Violence, a research collaborative that collects data on police killings across the nation. Adjusting for population, this comes out to around 3.4 police killings for every 100,000 people. However, the number of police killings in the last 10 years varies considerably from state to state.

In Montana, 65 police killings were reported from 2013 to 2022, or about 6.0 for every 100,000 residents, the seventh most among states. While there are a multitude of relevant factors to consider when deadly force is used, 38% of those killed by police (with available data) did not have a gun, and 41% were fleeing.

Among cases involving deadly use of force that are no longer pending further review, no officers were disciplined or charged with a crime.

All data related to police killings is from Mapping Police Violence, a research collaborative that collects data on police killings across the nation from the country's three largest comprehensive and impartial crowdsourced databases. Population- adjusted figures were calculated using five-year 2021 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Scottish oat growers will be offered LEAF Marque certification from this month as part of a recognition of sustainably farmed products.

Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) has announced that the global assurance scheme, LEAF Marque certification, will be offered to its members alongside the annual audit from April 2023.

Delivered through its sole certification body, Food Integrity Assurance (FIA), this can, if required, be carried out jointly with other farm assurance schemes to avoid duplication.

The move will likely be significant for the 100 plus Scottish farmers growing for Quaker Oats, who are working towards becoming LEAF-Marque certified.

The global assurance scheme recognises more sustainably farmed products, as part of a partnership between PepsiCo and LEAF.

Managing director of SQC, Teresa Dougall, said: "One of the key asks of our members is to minimise the time and pressure of audits.

"As part of this commitment to growers we are delighted to now be able to offer this service through FIA to streamline LEAF Marque audits into one assessment where possible.

LEAF Marque is widely used and, in some cases, required by large retailers. It demonstrates the robust environmental and business commitment of individual business through Integrated Farm Management.

This is a whole farm approach that includes soil and water management, pollution control, energy efficiency, landscape conservation and community engagement.

Phil Skentelbery, certification body manager for LEAF Marque said: We are delighted to be partnering with Scottish Quality Crops to deliver a more streamlined and joined up auditing process.

"We have a significant opportunity to deliver more sustainably grown oats to consumers, which will feed into the wider Scottish farming industries commitments towards reaching net zero and enhancing biodiversity.

John Hutcheson, an oat grower and one of the founding members of producer organisation Oat Co, said one hit audit was welcome.

Customers are increasingly seeking to illustrate their environmental commitments," he said.

"The certification is currently for oats, but with whisky distillers also looking at this, it could in time extend across all cereals.
Thousands of Environment Agency workers in England are to strike for four days later this month over 'endemic' low pay.

The latest action includes EA staff working on coastal sea defences, protecting rural areas from floods, tackling water pollution and waste crime.

The strike will commence on Friday 14 April until Monday morning 17 April, UNISON, one of the UK's largest trade unions, confirmed.

It said that "endemic low pay and uncompetitive wage rates" meant the Environment Agency was "struggling to hold on to experienced staff and recruit new employees".

This "staffing emergency" meant that EA's incident response and enforcement teams were "already too thinly stretched" to continue its work.

UNISON said the governments 'refusal' to allow the EA to improve the pay increase of 2% plus 345 given to staff in the autumn meant workers had "no alternative but to reluctantly strike again".

Where there is a threat to life or property from major incidents like flooding, EA officers will step in as emergency life and limb cover during the strike.

UNISON head of environment, Donna Rowe-Merriman said: "The government needs a properly staffed Environment Agency if natural habitats and water sources are to be protected.

"But with too few experts on its books, the agency cant possibly punish the polluters and keep everyone safe."

She added: Therese Coffey should stop ignoring the plight of these invaluable workers and start tackling the growing staffing problems at the Environment Agency.

Hourly rates are so low, some staff had to be given an emergency pay rise at the start of the week or their employer would have been in breach of minimum wage laws.

Its time the government called in the employer and the unions to settle this damaging dispute once and for all.

In January, more than 300 call-centre workers at the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) held a strike over pay.

The PCS, which represents workers employed by government departments, had asked for a 10% pay increase, better job security and no slashes to redundancy terms.

Earlier this month, a strike by 150 animal feed mill workers employed by manufacturer ABN was called off after they voted to accept a two year pay deal worth 13%.
The Carrosse d'Or will be awarded to Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cisse on 17 May in Cannes, at the opening of the Directors' Fortnight, the Society of Film Directors announced this week.

The Carrosse d'Or - in reference to a film by Jean Renoir - celebrates filmmakers for "the innovative qualities of their work, for their audacity and intransigence in staging and production".

Awarded every year since 2002, the recipient is selected by members of the Society of Film Directors, and presented at the opening ceremony of the Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des cineastes), this year on 17 May.

82 year-old Cisse succeeds the American Kelly Reichardt, distinguished last year, as well as other big names such as Jim Jarmusch, Martin Scorsese or Jane Campion, who have all won this award over the past two decades.

He is the first African filmmaker since the Senegalese Ousmane Sembene in 2005.

"Director, producer, screenwriter, operator, he has become in a 50 year career the symbol of a creative freedom, both poetic and political, which makes him a herald of his continent and a monument of cinema throughout the world," the SRF said in a press release on Wednesday.

Souleymane Cisse was born in Bamako and began his studies in Dakar, before leaving to study cinema in Moscow.

In 1975, he shot "Den Muso (La Jeune fille)", Mali's first feature-length fiction film in the Bambara language, banned by the authorities.

Long history with Cannes

Cisse won the Cannes Jury Prize in 1987 with "Yeelen" (The Light).

Twelve years later his film "Baara", about a student uprising, won the Golden Stallion of Yennenga, the highest award at the Fespaco pan-African film festival.

The film "Waati" (Time) was selected for Cannes in 1995, while "Oka" (Our House) was featured among the special screenings at Cannes in 2015.

Cisse is also founding president of the Union of Creators and Entrepreneurs of Cinema and Audiovisual of West Africa, supporting the development of an economically viable African audiovisual industry.

Last year, a documentary about him, directed by his daughter, Fatou Cisse, was screened out of competition in Cannes.

The Cannes Film Festival will take place this year from 16 to 27 May, with Swedish director Ruben Ostlund as president of the jury.
My seven things by author Lizzie Page

Author Lizzie Page

I I was a cat-person until my daughter started nagging for a dog. We got her soft-toy dogs, a robot dog, pictures of dogs, doggy-bingo, this went on for yearsbut she persisted! Finally, we got Lenny the cockapoo and he turned our world upside down. This will sound ridiculous but for me it shows how people can change. Ok, its just a small example, but I could never have imagined how life would be now. The power of change is a theme running through all my books.

2 My Mum died suddenly when I was 22 and she was a lovely Mum and it was a huge loss  and every time since then when something big happens to me, I feel that loss all over again: when I had my children, when I separated from first husband, when I married again, when I got an agent and when I got a publishing deal, when my children do well (or badly at something.) Now Im the same age as she was when she died. This is also weird. Some of my books deal with that grief especially The Wartime Nanny.

3 I lived in Japan for five years. Its a fascinating country and I made friends there with people from all over the world. I taught English and worked as a hostess. I love Japanese food but I will always hate Karaoke from the bottom of my heart. (I cant sing  I was thrown out the school choir for growling.

Id love to see my books in Japanese one day. (konnicihiwa!)It would be like coming full circle.

4. When I was a teenager I did all the jobs: Chemist, cinema usherette, (the era of: Look Whos Talking Too/War of the Roses) waitress, bingo-responder, (Not caller thats different), shoe shop, DIY shop, fruit picking, turkey farm, bakers, McDonalds customer service.

Why so many? I was not very good at any of them.

(Actually, I wasnt a bad waitress.)

I always wanted to write though.

5. I lived in Paris in my twenties. I thought I would be swanning around with the bohemians at Cafe de Flore. Instead, I was an under-qualified nanny  Jeune Fille Au Pair  chasing children around Carrefour. I still am a Paris fan, it was justParis was not a fan of me.

6 I never miss an episode of Portrait Artist of the Year. The rest of the family mock me about it but its my favourite. Its like a visual representation of creativity. You see the blank canvas- the blank page  and then the piece takes shape. I love how the artists have the same subject matter but each deal with it in very different ways  just like in books! Mind you, I have no desire to paint at all.

7. I studied politics and international studies at university. Have I used it in real life? Not really but you should hear me yell Utilitarianism or JS Mill, at University Challenge. If I could go back again, Id probably do similar or maybe twentieth century history or women and childrens history. I really do love all that.

Lizzie's latest compelling book 'The Children Left Behind' is out now

The Book

England, 1951. In the aftermath of World War Two, Claras orphanage is all these children have left. Can she keep them safe and help them to heal? A heart-warming and emotional story of love and loss.

Clara Newton has dedicated her life to taking care of orphans who have nobody in the world but her. From affectionate Gladys, who desperately misses her older brothers, to traumatised Florrie who longs for her father and refuses to eat, Clara loves each of the children like they are her own.

But even though she has opened her heart to so many little ones, when brown-eyed war hero Ivor asks her to marry him, Clara is afraid to take a chance on love. Would married life prevent her from dedicating herself completely to her orphans?

Clara is soon distracted from the troubles of her heart when her beloved orphanage comes under attack. Someone throws stones through the window, and a threatening message is chalked near the door. Why would anyone want to frighten innocent children? And as the attacks get worse, can Clara keep the orphans safe?

Desperate to protect the little ones in her care, Clara takes the children on a day out. Away from the orphanage, Clara hopes that she and the children will be able to put their worries behind them. But when a terrible accident happens, will they all make it out alive? And will it be too late for Clara to tell Ivor how she really feels?

An utterly tear-jerking, heart-warming and unforgettable historical novel, set in the aftermath of World War Two. Perfect for fans of Before We Were Yours, Diney Costeloe and The Orphan Sisters.

Author Bio

Lizzie Page loves reading ALL the books, and she's always loved reading the adventures of women in the past so it seemed natural to her to write historical fiction.

Lizzie lives with her family by the sea in South East England. And with her dog. How did she forget her dog? She enjoys traveling and lived in Japan for several years. Lizzie has had lots of different jobs from waitressing and teaching to admin and bingo-calling - but being a writer is her absolute favourite.

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizzie.page.75

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizziepagewrite

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizziepagewriter/

Author Bio

Lizzie Page loves reading ALL the books, and she's always loved reading the adventures of women in the past so it seemed natural to her to write historical fiction.

Lizzie lives with her family by the sea in South East England. And with her dog. How did she forget her dog? She enjoys traveling and lived in Japan for several years. Lizzie has had lots of different jobs from waitressing and teaching to admin and bingo-calling - but being a writer is her absolute favourite.

Book: The Children Left Behind (prev. An Orphan's Hope) Author: Lizzie PagePub Day: March 3rd 2023

Buy Links: https://geni.us/B0BPTKN4YCsocial
'Babe' star James Cromwell has helped save a piglet from the slaughterhouse.

The 83-year-old actor - who is a vocal animal rights advocate - teamed up with PETA to secure a brighter future for a baby pig in the US which was found "scraped, bruised and covered in mud" after falling from a meat truck taking it away to be fattened up for slaughter shortly before the Easter weekend (08.09.04.23).

The little creature has been named Babe after the actor's beloved 1995 film about a pig who learns to take on the duties of a sheep dog and Cromwell even got a chance to video chat with his new protege before Babe was transported to the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary in Pennsylvania.

In a clip posted on Twitter, he's heard telling the piglet: "Hello there, little man. I understand your name is Babe. I knew a pig named Babe. What a smart little pig she was. Bet you are too."

Cromwell wrote in the caption: "This sweet little guy is NOT Easter dinner. He jumped off a transport truck and will now be traveling to an animal sanctuary to live a peaceful life. Thatll do pig. Thatll do. "

He added in a statement released through animal rights organisation PETA: "Having had the privilege of witnessing and experiencing pigs intelligence and inquisitive personalities while filming the movie Babe changed my life and my way of eating, and so I jumped at the chance to save this real-life Babe.

"Every pig deserves to live in peace and joy at a sanctuary, choosing when to frolic, where to forage, and how to spend their time, yet few do."

The actor was previously named PETA's Person of the Year in 2022 after speaking out against the live export of pigs from Ireland, and pressuring Starbucks to end its vegan milk up-charge in the US.

Mimi Bekhechi, PETA's vice president for the UK, Europe, and Australia, praised the screen star for his campaigning, saying: "James Cromwell's compassion for all animals knows no bounds. "He's PETA's Person of the Year for playing a vital part in our hard-fought campaigns on behalf of animals whose abuse is kept hidden as they are confined to cages, exploited, and killed."
Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz celebrated their first wedding anniversary with a photo cake and flowers.

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz have marked their first wedding anniversary

The couple tied the knot at a lavish ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida on April 9, 2022 and they marked 12 months since the big day by returning to the Sunshine State to spend the day with Brooklyn's parents David and Victoria Beckham in Miami where they were presented with a special cake covered in pictures of the happy couple.

Brooklyn, 24, also gifted his 28-year-old wife with a huge bunch of flowers with a card that read: "Dear Nicola, I can't believe it's been a year since I married my best friend.

"This year has been the most amazing year with my absolute gorgeous wife ... I am so grateful for every single day I get to wake up next to you. Here's to many more years baby. I love you so much."

Brooklyn echoed the sentiment in a post on Instagram, sharing a picture of the pair kissing at an airport and writing: "1 year ago today I married my best friend xx I am the luckiest person to be able to call you my wife x you are my everything and I am the luckiest person on this earth to be able to wake up next to your gorgeous face every morning x heres to many more years baby xx I love you so so so much x heres to having as much fun when we are old as we are now young."

Nicola replied to his post, writing: "I love you soooo much!! This is so cute!!! I love being your wife."

The actress added in her own post: "I cant believe its been a year since I walked down the aisle. I love you so much baby. I love being your wife. I couldnt imagine my life without you. You are everything Ive ever dreamt of and Im so happy I get my life with you. Today was so amazing celebrating with our families! I hope everyone had a beautiful Easter! ... "
Sujatha Ramadorai, a renowned mathematician, has been awarded the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian awards, for her contributions to the field of mathematics. She is currently professor at the University of British Columbia, and prior to that she was teaching at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Sujatha earned her BSc at St. Joseph's College in Bangalore, through correspondence did M.Sc from Annamalai University. She later pursued her Doctorate at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, where she was given her PhD in 1992.



Throughout her career, Sujatha made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics, including algebraic theory of quadratic forms, arithmetic geometry, and study on subjects like elliptic curves. Sujatha and her husband established the Srinivasa Ramanujan Math Park, which is dedicated to mathematical education and is named in his honour.



In 2006, she became the first Indian to get the esteemed ICTP Ramanujan Prize. In 2004, she also received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, the highest honour given by the Indian government in the field of science. She also received the Krieger-Nelson Award in 2020 for her outstanding contributions to mathematical research.



Sujatha is a role model for scientists and mathematicians all across the world, and her contributions to mathematics will be honoured and appreciated for years to come.



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US imports of textiles and apparel have continued to decrease in value terms, falling by 13.01 per cent to $17.554 billion in the first two months of 2023, compared to $20.179 billion during the same period in 2022. China remains the largest supplier of textiles and clothing to the US, holding a 24 per cent market share, followed by Vietnam with a 14.97 per cent share.

In January-February 2023, the bulk of US textile imports consisted of apparel, amounting to $13.215 billion, while non-apparel imports accounted for $4.339 billion, according to the latest Major Shippers Report released by the US department of commerce. Both segments experienced a decline in inbound shipments. Apparel imports dropped by 11.86 per cent compared to the $14.994 billion traded in January-February 2022, while non-apparel imports fell by 16.31 per cent from $5.185 billion in the same period of the previous year.

US textile and apparel imports fell 13.01 per cent to $17.554 billion in the first 2 months of 2023. China remained the largest supplier, followed by Vietnam. Both apparel and non-apparel imports declined, with several countries among the top ten suppliers experiencing downward trends. Man-made fibre products accounted for the largest portion of imports.

Among the top ten apparel suppliers to the US, imports from Nicaragua and Bangladesh increased by 4.70 per cent and 2.30 per cent year-on-year, respectively. Imports from India also saw a slight uptick of 0.42 per cent. However, imports from China and Cambodia declined by 29.65 per cent and 26.05 per cent, respectively. The other five nations among the top ten experienced a downward trend.

In the non-apparel category, among the top ten suppliers, imports from Mexico grew by 11.98 per cent year-on-year, and those from Vietnam increased by 9.69 per cent. However, imports from the other eight countries, including China, Turkiye, and Canada, declined. Imports from China specifically dipped by 27.99 per cent.

During the period under review, US textile and apparel imports totalled $17.554 billion. Man-made fibre products accounted for $9.044 billion, while cotton products were valued at $7.350 billion. Wool products made up $533.113 million, and products from silk and vegetable fibres were worth $627.002 million.

In 2022, US imports of textiles and apparel continued to rise, reaching $132.201 billion, up from $113.938 billion in 2021. This increase followed a sharp decline in 2020 when the country's inbound shipments dropped to $89.596 billion, compared to imports of $111.033 billion in 2019.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
India and Bangladesh surpassed China in footwear supply to the US. In 2022, US footwear imports from China did not reach the levels achieved in 2018. However, imports from Bangladesh increased more than threefold, and imports from India soared by over 75 per cent in the last five years. Despite these changes, China remained the top footwear supplier by a significant margin.

US footwear imports from China were valued at $13.802 billion in 2022, higher than the 2021 figure of $11.242 billion. Imports peaked at $14.027 billion in 2018 but dropped to $13.224 billion in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to a steep decline in imports, falling to $8.264 billion, according to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro.

Nevertheless, US footwear imports from Bangladesh rapidly recovered after COVID-related disruptions in 2020. Imports fell to $144.167 million in 2020 from $156.293 million in 2019, but they surged to $266.312 million in 2021 and further rose to $431.662 million in 2022. The trade volume increased 3.31 times from $130.199 million in 2018.

India and Bangladesh outperformed China in supplying footwear to the US, with imports from Bangladesh increasing more than threefold and India's by over 75 per cent in the last five years. In 2022, US imports from China reached $13.802 billion, still making it the top supplier. However, both Bangladesh and India experienced significant growth after 2020.

Similarly, imports from India rose by 76.43 per cent to $771.672 million in 2022, up from $437.336 million in 2018. The shipments were recorded at $464.368 million in 2019, $300.614 million in 2020, $457.420 million in 2021, and $771.672 million in 2022, as per TexPro. Despite China's leading position in the trade, supplies from India and Bangladesh increased significantly.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
The European Union (EU) 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, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told President Xi Jinping at a recent trilateral meeting of China, France and the EU in Beijing. President Emmanuel Macron represented France.

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, the Commission president said.

The EU 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, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told President Xi Jinping recently. China expects the EU to develop a more independent and objective perception of China, Xi said.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

China hopes the EU will develop a more independent and objective perception of China and adopt a pragmatic and positive China policy, 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 revitalise mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, thus injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity, he was quoted as saying in an official Chinese government release.

Playing up the so-called democracy vs authoritarianism narrative and stoking a new Cold War will only bring division and confrontation to the world, he noted.

The two sides should build stable and trustworthy supply chains, and synergise the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Gateway strategy in support of sustained and stable economic growth in China and the EU, he said.

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, he added.

President Macron noted that the two sides should work with each other to stay away from the trap of economic decoupling and severing supply chains.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Anupamaa New Entry: Rupali Ganguly and Gaurav Khanna's hit daily soap has been successful in striking a chord with the audience. The makers have managed to keep them hooked on to their television sets with drama-packed episodes. While many shows have faced the axe due to low TRPs, Anupamaa is going strong since the past two-and-half-years now.

ANUPAMAA: MAAN SEPARATION TRACK UNDERWAY

Considering the buzz surrounding the show, the creative team has lined up new twists and turns. Anupamaa has become the talk of the town ever since MaAn got separated. Fans have not been able to digest the fact they decided to split after being head over heels in love with each other. Anuj Kapadia is miffed with Anupamaa as he believes that they were separated from their foster child Choti Anu because of her.

MaAn's separation over a misunderstanding has set several tongues wagging as the viewers believe that Anuj loved Anupamaa for the past twenty-six years and he should have acted maturely while dealing with the crisis.

NEW ENTRY IN ANUPAMAA

Amid the constant talk about MaAn's separation, the makers have reportedly planned a new entry in the show. Things are going to shake up in the populat daily soap as a new character will soon enter. If a report in a portal is to be believed, the casting team has roped in a child artist for the drama.

Mahi Soni, who has featured in several shows, will be seen entering Anupamaa. The details about her character have been kept under wraps, the report in Tellychakkar said. Interestingly, two actors including Mehul Nisar and Savita Prabhune have re-entered the show after the makers introduced the MaAn separation track.

Kanta and Bhavesh extended support to Anupamaa after Anuj Kapadia left their home and moved to Mumbai in search of Choti Anu. Will Mahi Soni play the role of a girl, whom Anupamaa will adopt? Only time will tell.

WHO IS MAHI SONI? ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ANUPAMAA STAR

Mahi Soni, who is a child artist, has worked in shows and daily soaps like Paramavatar Shri Krishna, Reem Shaikh-Sehban Azim starrer Tujhse Hai Raabta and Tenali Rama. The child prodigy participated in the popular reality show Super Dancer, which aired on Sony Entertainment Television.

Are you excited for a new entry in Anupamaa? Do share your thoughts with us @Filmibeat.
QINGDAO, China, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 9, the closing ceremony of the 2023 Qingdao Film and TV Week & the exhibition of the "Golden Seagull" film and TV honorary works were held in Qingdao West Coast New Area. At the event site, the results of the 2023 Qingdao Film and TV Week were released, and the "Golden Seagull" film and TV honorary works were recommended and displayed. All honors were released simultaneously.





As a grand event in the Qingdao film and TV industry, this session of Qingdao Film and TV is really fruitful with many highlights. Focusing on the four dimensions of technology, popularization, internationalization, and branding, and the theme of "New Technologies, New Vision, and New Film Capital", 19 activities were successfully held in five major units: "Filming the Future with Science", "Film Capital of the World", "Golden Key Startup Ventures Plan", "Sea Level Young Filmmaker Program", and "Golden Seagull".

More than 800 industry guests and over 500 film and TV industry giants gathered at the event; 11 key film and TV projects were signed and settled; the policy subsidies of 23.131 million yuan were cashed out; The "Qilu Hi Shooting" TV drama shooting and production online service project was officially launched; Qingdao Haifa Culture (Group) Co., Ltd., China Mobile Migu Company Gugu Studio, and Qingdao Film Academy reached a tripartite cooperation among the college and the enterprises in terms of industry, academia, and research. Shandong Province 5G High-tech Video Innovation and Entrepreneurship Community signed a contract, with 18 enterprises settling in. All these deepened industrial cooperation and policy support.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2050289/image1.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/2023-qingdao-film-and-tv-week-closed-successfully-in-qingdao-west-coast-new-area-301793016.html
* Says she's known for unparalleled compassion and philanthropy

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed condolence over the demise of Hajiya Rabi Aminu Dantata, wife of businessman, philanthropist and patriarch of the large Dantata family in Kano, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, saying she will be remembered for her unparalleled compassion and philanthropy.

The President, according to a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the deceased had a passion for service to the people.

"She was a celebrated philanthropist who loved to share all that she had. Her simple and compassionate life was an inspiration to all those around her".

He prayed to Allah to accept her good deeds and give strength to Alhaji Aminu to bear the loss.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2023) - Recently, RocketX has integrated XDC Network, the ethereum's scaling solution and largest blockchain networks, to offer its users the best rates on XRC20 swaps. The integration will allow RocketX's users to make cross-chain swaps between XDC and over 60+ supported blockchain networks. This is yet another milestone in the development of the blockchain ecosystem, which promises to revolutionize the way users transact and interact with digital assets, providing users with the ability to enjoy improved scalability on any EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) based DeFi applications. This means that transactions can be processed much faster, which has significantly improved the transactions per second (TPS) of DeFi applications. Additionally, the integration has also resulted in lower gas fees for users, which makes these applications more accessible to a broader audience. Overall, this integration has boosted Ethereum scalability and DeFi interoperability, allowing for a more efficient and streamlined experience for users.

RocketX has quickly become a go-to platform for cross-chain swaps, offering better rates than its competitors, thanks to its intelligent algorithms that consider parameters such as low gas fees, low slippage, and better swap rates. With the integration of XDC Network, users can now swap XDC (XRC20) with all leading blockchains without an intermediary.

"We're thrilled to welcome XinFin XDC network to the RocketX family. Our partnership accelerates onboarding for the next billion users to XDC Network, seamlessly transferring digital assets from 60+ blockchains to XDC Network through 1-click cross-chain swaps," said Davinder Singh, Co-founder, RocketX. Further he added, "This partnership represents a giant leap towards a more inclusive and decentralized future for all."

"We're excited that XDC Network has been integrated within RocketX so that its users can benefit from our enterprise-grade blockchain infrastructure," said Matthew Weisenthal, Director of Ecosystem Relations, XDC Network. "This integration represents an important step in our mission to drive the adoption of blockchain technology across a range of industries, and we look forward to working closely with RocketX as they work to deliver more innovative DeFi solutions to the XDC ecosystem."

About XinFin XDC Network



The XDC Network is an enterprise-grade, EVM-compatible blockchain network supporting interoperable smart contracts. A highly optimized, bespoke fork of Ethereum, the XDC Network reaches consensus through a delegated proof-of-stake (XDPoS) mechanism, which allows for two-second transaction time, near zero gas fees, and over 2,000 transactions per second (TPS). Secure, scalable, and highly-efficient, the XDC Network powers a wide range of novel blockchain use cases.

Find more information about XDC Network by visiting websites XDC.org | XinFin.org and follow us on our social medias: XDC Foundation Twitter | XinFin Twitter || Telegram || LinkedIn || Reddit || Facebook || Forum

About RocketX

RocketX is an advanced hybrid CEX & DEX aggregator that makes it easy to compare prices across 270+ exchanges to help traders with the best prices with every Swap while enjoying 100% ownership of their digital assets.

For dApps & institutions, we act as a middleware by simplifying access to global crypto liquidity via a single API for in-app crypto swaps with best prices and 1-click cross chain capabilities.

Value Proposition:

Seamless Interoperability Increased Liquidity Better Price Discovery Improved User Experience Lower Latency Enhanced Security on Crypto Swaps

We are on a mission to enhance interoperability between blockchains and drive mass adoption of crypto by simplifying access to all leading blockchains via single UI and API.

Website | Twitter | Telegram | Blog | LinkedIn | YouTube

Contact Details:

Adira@rocketx.exchange

Place: Dubai, UAE

Name: Adira B

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161775
CHARLOTTE, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / Stefan Gleason (the "Acquiror" or "Gleason") today announced that he is filing an early warning report in connection with his acquisition on the open market of additional shares of Electric Royalties Ltd. (TSXV:ELEC)(OTCQB:ELECF) ("Electric Royalties" or the "Company").

The Acquirer now beneficially owns or has control or direction over approximately 19.95% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares (on an as converted and partially diluted basis).

Stefan Gleason is a Charlotte-based entrepreneur who owns and leads several privately held businesses in the United States, including Money Metals Exchange LLC. Money Metals is one of the largest precious metals dealers and depositories in North America with 500,000 customers and approximately $1 billion in annual revenues.

"Electric Royalties already holds 21 royalties and several options across its nine target battery metals, with two royalties currently in production, one expected to begin production this quarter, and additional assets expected to begin producing cash flow in 2023 and 2024," said Gleason.

"I believe Electric Royalties offers an extremely compelling value proposition at its current market capitalization, as confirmed by independent analyst coverage. As the Company noted last week, roughly $520 million is being invested to advance these royalty assets at no cost to Electric Royalties, and I am confident the Company's management team can add additional cash-flowing royalties to the portfolio without issuing new shares," Gleason continued.

To that end, the Acquiror's family office, Gleason & Sons LLC, announced on January 25 it closed on a non-dilutive credit facility with an initial loan limit of C$2,000,000 to fund the Company's acquisition of new producing royalties, with additional credit capacity available to the Company if requested.

On April 6, 2023, Acquiror purchased 580,400 Company shares via the OTCQB (at a cost of C$220,552, or an average of $0.38 per share). Prior to April 6, the Acquiror held an aggregate of 17,791,633 Common Shares and 500,000 Warrant Shares, representing 19.335% of the issued and outstanding Shares on an as converted and partially diluted basis. After the purchases on April 6, the Acquiror held 18,372,033 Common Shares and 500,000 Warrant shares, or 19.949% of the issued and outstanding Shares on an as converted and partially diluted basis.

On December 5, 2022, the Acquiror previously filed a report under the early warning reporting rules of Canadian securities laws, disclosing that he beneficially owned or had control or direction over 16,011,593 Common Shares and 500,000 Warrant shares, at the time representing 17.547% of the Company's issued and outstanding Shares on an as converted and partially diluted basis. The Acquiror is filing this latest early warning report because he has now accumulated more than 2% of the Company's issued and outstanding Shares since his prior filing on December 5, 2022.

This early warning news release is issued under the early warning provisions of Canadian securities legislation, including National Instrument 62-104 - Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids and National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues. A copy of the Early Warning Report will be filed at www.sedar.com.

For further information, contact:

Stefan Gleason

Gleason & Sons LLC

15720 Brixham Hill Avenue, #205

Charlotte, NC 28277

Tel: 208-577-2230

Email: Stefan.Gleason@GleasonSons.com

http://www.gleasonsons.com/

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 anticipated future events are forward-looking statements. Although 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.

SOURCE: Gleason & Sons LLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748123/Principal-of-Major-US-Precious-Metals-Firm-Assumes-199-Stake-in-Electric-Royalties
Live Streamed & In-person Inclusive Ballet Comes to Cambridge April 22 & 23, 2023

BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / Abilities Dance, a nonprofit that uses dance to promote intersectional disability rights , presents the world premiere of "Intersections v2" show streaming live and in-person from the Multicultural Arts Center, 41 2nd Street, East Cambridge, Mass. Saturday April 22 & Sunday April 23, 2023. Created by an all-BIPOC artistic team, this production celebrates those living at the intersection of race and disability and their artistry and advocacy that has paved the way for many of us in each space and especially at the intersections to survive and thrive. As an inclusive ballet it redefines antiquated views around equity work and dance, showcasing the talents of a diverse, passionate company of performers. Tickets to "Intersections v2" are available now for both in person and virtual performances on Saturday April 22 & Sunday April 23, 2023, at 8pm ET. General admission for all shows is $35. Unlimited free tickets are available for financial equity.

Photography Credit: Jaypix

"We're honored to work with talented people who are committed to using dance to support intersectional disability justice and to dismantle inequalities," said Ellice Patterson, Abilities Dance Founder/Executive & Artistic Director and choreographer of "Intersections v2." "This performance is our work to influence culture and social justice movements."

Governor Maura Healey with Ellice Patterson, Abilities Dance Founder/Executive & Artistic Director

"Intersections v2" features a completely new score composed by Director of Music Andrew Choe and is performed with live music. The movement and music take into consideration the various identities of the honorees and dancers, meticulously crafted to accentuate the movements of all dancers of diverse identities within and outside of the disability community. This year's honorees are: Annie Segarra, Cheryl Cumings, Keith Jones, Pelenakeke Brown, Carrie Ann Lucas, Sandy Ho, and Keisha Greaves. For this show, Abilities Dance is also partnering with the Disability Policy Consortium to uplift MA bills affecting the disabled community to increase equity within our state. In addition, Easterseals Massachusetts is newly partnered with Abilities Dance to further amplify the organization's work. Easterseals Massachusetts provides essential programs and services to children and adults with disabilities throughout the state.

"We are proud to support the work of Abilities Dance Boston, using dance as a tool for intersectional disability rights in the Greater Boston area and beyond," said Desiree Forte, youth program manager, Easterseals Massachusetts. "In addition, we're here to help champion their legislative work to further the rights of people with disabilities."

Abilities Dance Boston seeks to disrupt antiquated ableist beliefs and disseminate the value of intersectional disability rights in Greater Boston and beyond. Its organizational goals are to build a better Boston by thinking of intersectional equity through a disabled lens. There is no such thing as a hierarchy of oppression, all forms of discrimination must be eliminated to work toward a truly equitable future.

Photography Credit: Jaypix

To maximize accessibility, audio descriptions will be provided (for blind/low-vision audiences), and captions and ASL interpretations will be provided (for deaf/hard of healing audiences). These will take a narrative form which complement the music. In an effort to be as accessible as possible, Abilities Dance Boston provides unlimited free tickets for live and live streamed audiences who can't afford to see its work, including that of the deaf and disabled community. Accessibility is important-all who want to see our work should have access.

General admission is $30, with unlimited free tickets to anyone who needs this option.

Tickets are available now for purchase at:

http://abilitiesdanceboston.org/events/intersectionsv2

Photography Credit: Jaypix

Media contact:

Ellice Patterson

ellice@abilitiesdanceboston.org

(781) 465-4032

About Abilities Dance

Abilities Dance is a Boston-based nonprofit using dance and art overall as a tool to promote intersectional disability rights in the greater Boston area and beyond. This program is supported by a grant from the Brookline Commission for the Arts, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a stage agency. This program is supported by a grant from the Cambridge Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a stage agency. This program is supported by a grant from the Cambridge Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a stage agency. Abilities Dance is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts through the New England Arts Resilience Fund, part of the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund, an initiative of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with major funding from the federal CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act from the National Endowment for the Arts. https://www.abilitiesdanceboston.org/

SOURCE: Abilities Dance Incorporated

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748062/Abilities-Dance-Presents-the-World-Premiere-of-Intersections-v2
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (OTCQB:CLSH)(CSE:CLSH), (the 'Company' or 'CLS'), a diversified cannabis company operating as Cannabis Life Sciences, today announced its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2023 ("Q3 2023"). All amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars.

Q3 2023 Financial & Operational Highlights

Net revenue for Q3 2023 was $5,437 million.

Dispensary revenue increased 6% to $ 3,529 million.

Production revenue decreased 15% to $1,908 million.

Gross profit for Q3 2023 was $3,019 million, or 56% of net revenue. Net loss for Q3 2023 was $1,030 million.

EBITDA for Q3 2023 was $505 thousand.

Outlook

A detailed discussion on Q3 2023 results presented by the Chairman and CEO of CLS Holdings USA, Inc., Mr. Andrew Glashow is available on the CLSH website: www.clsholdingsinc.com/ and on the CLSH YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/UgrIxetjX34.

Q3 2023 Financial Results

Three Months Ended

February 28, (In thousands) 2023 2022 YoY%

Change Net Revenue $ 5,437 $ 5,588 -3% Production Revenue $ 1,908 $ 2,255 -15% % of revenue Production 35% 40% Dispensary Revenue $ 3,529 $ 3,333 6% % of revenue 65% 60% Gross Profit $ 3,019 $ 2,887 5% Gross Margin 56% 52% Net Income $ (1,030) $ (997) -3% Net Income Attributable to

CLS $ (900) $ (992) 9% EBITDA $ 505 $ 101 402%

The Company's consolidated financial statements, as well as its accompanying management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") have been included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) as well as SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Please refer to the Company's MD&A for additional detail and discussion on the Company's results from operations.

Financial results are also available on the Company's website: https://www.clsholdingsinc.com/investors

About CLS Holdings USA, Inc.

CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (CLSH) is a diversified cannabis company that acts as an integrated cannabis producer and retailer through its Oasis Cannabis subsidiaries in Nevada and plans to expand to other states. CLS stands for "Cannabis Life Sciences," in recognition of the Company's patented proprietary method of extracting various cannabinoids from the marijuana plant and converting them into products with a higher level of quality and consistency. The Company's business model includes licensing operations, processing operations, processing facilities, sale of products, brand creation and consulting services. https://www.clsholdingsinc.com. Twitter: @CLSHoldingsUSA

Oasis Cannabis has operated a cannabis dispensary in the Las Vegas market since dispensaries first opened in Nevada in 2015 and has been recognized as one of the top marijuana retailers in the state. Its location within walking distance to the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas, in combination with its delivery service to residents, allows it to efficiently serve both locals and tourists in the Las Vegas area. In February 2019, it was named "Best Dispensary for Pot Pros" by Desert Companion Magazine. In August 2017, Oasis commenced wholesale offerings of cannabis in Nevada with the launch of its City Trees brand of cannabis concentrates and cannabis-infused products. http://oasiscannabis.com

Founded in 2017, City Trees is a Nevada-based cannabis cultivation, production and distribution company that offers a wide variety of products with consistent results. City Trees products are available in numerous dispensaries throughout the state of Nevada. https://citytrees.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and 'forward-looking statements' as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, the 'forward-looking statements'). These statements relate to, among other things, the impact of the COVID-19 virus on our business, the results of our initiatives to retain our employees and strengthen our relationships with our customers and community during the pandemic, the effect of our initiatives to expand market share and achieve growth, the expected development of our business and joint ventures, results of operations and financial performance, future liquidity, working capital and capital requirements, the effects of the additional dilution in our common stock that may occur as a result of the amendments to our convertible debentures, and anticipated future events. The continued spread of COVID-19 could have, and in some cases already has had, an adverse impact on our business, operations and financial results, including through disruptions in our cultivation and processing activities, supply chains and sales channels, and retail dispensary operations as well as a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as 'may,' 'might,' 'will,' 'should,' 'intends,' 'expects,' 'plans,' 'goals,' 'projects,' 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'estimates,' 'predicts,' 'potential,' or 'continue' or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, are uncertain and involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, levels of activity or performance to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity or performance. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they were made. These cautionary statements should be considered together with any written or oral forward-looking statements that we may issue in the future. Except as required by applicable law, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to reflect actual results, later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. See CLS Holdings USA filings with the SEC and on its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com for additional details.

Corporate Contact Information:

Andrew Glashow,

Chairman and CEO

Info@clsholdingsinc.com

888-260-7775

SOURCE: CLS Holdings USA, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748215/CLS-Reports-Fiscal-Third-Quarter-2023-Financial-Results
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSX.v:XIM)(FRA:1XMA)(OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") is pleased to announce that it has been requested to post an additional security deposit for reclamation at its Kenville Gold Mine project in southeastern BC.

Kenville Site (2023)

The Company has just received a letter from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low-Carbon Innovation (EMLI) formally requesting additional reclamation security bonding for the Kenville project. A top-up amount of $83,000 has been requested to bring the total security amount held to $103,800. A former permit on the property will be closed and all outstanding reclamation liability rolled into a single Mines Act Permit.

"We are pleased to have received the request to post additional reclamation security bonding for the Kenville Gold Mine project, as this signifies that permitting is finally close at hand. We are committed to fulfilling our reclamation obligations and look forward to moving forward with the project as soon as possible," States Anderson, CEO, of Ximen Mining Corp.

Photo of ore-type vein material from Kenville.

Reclamation bonding is the final step before the Mines Act permit is granted and the request for security signifies that permitting is finally close-in-hand for the Kenville Mine Project. The Company will be active as soon as the snow melts to build some required water management infrastructure and is anticipating breaking ground within months to start the mine project.

Photo of scooptram to be deployed at Kenville mine.

Technical disclosure in this news release has been approved by Dr. Mathew Ball, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and VP Exploration for Ximen Mining Corp.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Christopher R. Anderson"

Christopher R. Anderson,

President, CEO and Director

604 488-3900

Investor Relations: Sophy Cesar, 604-488-3900, ir@XimenMiningCorp.com

About Ximen Mining Corp.

Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen's two Gold projects, The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under an option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has also acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment.

Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the exercise of the Option by Ximen. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the possibility that the TSX Venture Exchange may not accept the proposed transaction in a timely manner, if at all. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Ximen Mining Corp

888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4 Tel: 604-488-3900

SOURCE: Ximen Mining Corp

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748273/Ximen-to-Post-Reclamation-Bond-for-Kenville-Gold-Mine-Nelson-BC
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / The best way to celebrate Gopher Tortoise Day is to ensure there are more gopher tortoises across their natural range in the southeast. The Forestland Stewards Partnership between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and International Paper, founded in 2013, provides conservation grants to restore and conserve gopher tortoise populations and longleaf habitat.

Helping gopher tortoises to thrive isn't just good news for tortoises; it also means good news for hundreds of other species that depend in big and small ways on the tortoise in its role as a keystone species. "They are called a 'keystone species' because more than 350 other animals - like owls, snakes, foxes, toads, skunks, and lizards - use gopher tortoise burrows to shelter from the heat, fires, and predators," says Kurt Buhlmann, Senior Research Associate at the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Gopher tortoises spend most of their lives in burrows that can be more than 20-feet long and eight-feet deep.

Forestland Stewards Partnership grants are helping gopher tortoises and their habitat by supporting collaboration between The Longleaf Alliance, the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. These organizations are augmenting and restoring gopher tortoise populations through a technique called "head-starting." About 350 eggs have been collected from wild populations to hatch in captivity. Hatchling tortoises are reared indoors for one year to achieve larger body sizes than would occur naturally, and thus become more resistant to predation. This gives tortoises a greater chance to survive, and eventually become subadults.

Head-starting increases survival

"Hatchling tortoises have naturally low survival in the wild. Raccoons, coyotes, and other predators often eat tortoise eggs and hatchlings, and mortality rates can be as high as 95%," says Lisa Lord, Conservation Programs Director at The Longleaf Alliance. "The head-started juveniles are about a year old - but the size of wild 3-to-4-year-olds - when released back into well-managed longleaf pine habitat. The juveniles are released in a 1.5-acre pen to minimize wandering, help establish fidelity to the site, and increase their chances of staying in the area when the pen walls are removed."

Gopher tortoise habitat covers the coastal plain from South Carolina through Florida to southeastern Louisiana, mostly in longleaf pine savanna habitats. The gopher tortoise is federally listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the western portion of its range (from Louisiana, east to the Mobile River in Alabama).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency responsible for assessing the potential listing of species as threatened or endangered under the ESA, issued a decision in October 2022 announcing that the eastern population of the gopher tortoise (east of the Mobile and Tombigbee rivers in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina) did not warrant federal listing as threatened. The agency cited the collective work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal agencies, state agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and private landowners to restore, maintain, and protect longleaf pine habitat and head-starting efforts like the one in South Carolina as contributing to their decision.

Private landowners help gopher tortoises by caring for longleaf pine habitats, including by using prescribed burning

Longleaf pine forests and savannas are fire-adapted, meaning they depend on periodic burning to thrive. They also make up one of North America's most biodiverse forest ecosystems and are home to countless rare species, especially when they have open canopies and diverse ground cover. Longleaf pine once covered an estimated 90 million acres across the southeast but now covers only about 5.2 million acres. The diminished forest is a significant contributor to the decline in gopher tortoise populations.

The decline in longleaf pine forests means the other critical piece supporting the head-start program is having enough restored longleaf habitat for the gopher tortoise to return to. More than 80% of potential tortoise habitat is privately owned, with the rest controlled by local, state, federal, or conservation organizations.

"We have educational and cost-sharing programs to help landowners restore and conserve the longleaf pine ecosystem, which also helps gopher tortoises. A big focus is teaching landowners to use prescribed burning, which also maintains the ground cover that tortoises need to thrive," Lord says.

The Longleaf Alliance's Longleaf Academy Program prepares private landowners and natural resource professionals to manage, restore, and enhance longleaf pine ecosystems through techniques like prescribed fire. The Academy Program includes Fire and Longleaf 201, a three-day course that teaches people how to maintain their longleaf stands with fire.

Coming together for the gopher tortoise

Improving and sustaining gopher tortoise populations takes a multi-faceted approach - from restoring and maintaining longleaf habitat with prescribed fire to giving young tortoises a head-start in the wild. The efforts of partners like The Longleaf Alliance to rally public agencies, private organizations and landowners around this important work is critical to ensuring the gopher tortoise and the many other species that live in the longleaf pine ecosystem can thrive.

Learn more about the Forestland Stewards Partnership and The Longleaf Alliance.

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global supplier of renewable fiber-based products. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable worldwide commerce, and pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal care products that promote health and wellness. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 38,000 colleagues globally. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2021 were $19.4 billion. See how we're building a better future for people, the planet, and our company at internationalpaper.com/Vision-2030.

A mature gopher tortoise (Photo credit: Lisa Lord).

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International Paper Company on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: International Paper Company

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-paper-company

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: International Paper Company

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748293/Its-Gopher-Tortoise-Day--National-Fish-and-Wildlife-Foundations-and-International-Papers-Forestland-Stewards-Partnership-Helps-The-Longleaf-Alliance-Give-Gopher-Tortoises-a-Head-Start
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / The World Health Organization (WHO) is celebrating its 75th anniversary on World Health Day, April 7. The day serves as an opportunity for us all to look back at public health successes that have improved quality of life in the last seven decades. The theme for the day is 'Health for All,' which focuses on envisioning and working towards a world where all people have good health for a fulfilling life in a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.

The WHO believes that the right to health is a basic human right, and that everyone must have access to the health services they need when and where they need them. At Viatris, we are equally passionate about access to health. Access at scale is the core of our mission of empowering people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life. Achieving global health equity requires a multi-faceted approach with many different stakeholders.

This year, we are highlighting a few of the many efforts we support to improve health equity:

The NCD Academy - a collective project unifying knowledge and resources powered by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and sponsored by Viatris, which provides healthcare professionals with easily accessible educational content around non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

- a collective project unifying knowledge and resources powered by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and sponsored by Viatris, which provides healthcare professionals with easily accessible educational content around non-communicable diseases (NCDs). ?We recently announced , alongside the ACC, the launch of a new course - Health Equities and Social Determinants of Health in NCDs, which will help to address the ever-present demand for achieving health equity for all. The course aims to educate and increase awareness of health inequities and provide support on how to address them.

, alongside the ACC, the launch of a new course - Health Equities and Social Determinants of Health in NCDs, which will help to address the ever-present demand for achieving health equity for all. The course aims to educate and increase awareness of health inequities and provide support on how to address them. The NCD Academy also covers many course topics spanning the most common NCDs. Unfortunately, in the wake of the pandemic, healthcare professionals' workloads are continuing to increase, contributing to rising rates of burnout. Their excessive workloads and administrative burdens, among others, are simultaneously impacting healthcare workers' ability to engage in continued education - a key tool in providing quality care to patients. The NCD Academy was created in response to this challenge. Learn more here .

. Health equity is a critical global issue that can affect every facet of healthcare. In this new study, researchers explore how health inequities have led to low rates of cancer screening in certain populations, and how different interventions to address this gap to date have yielded mixed results as interventions have not always been developed in collaboration with the people they target.

Join us in celebrating World Health Day as we all continue to contribute to achieving health equity for all.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Viatris on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Viatris

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/viatris

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Viatris

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748313/Our-Efforts-in-Working-Towards-Health-Equity-in-Recognition-of-World-Health-Day
HAIKOU, China, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from Hainan International Media Center (HIMC):

The 3rd China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE, or Hainan Expo) kicked off on April 10 in Haikou City, the capital of China's southernmost province, Hainan.





The 3rd CICPE, which ends on April 15, is playing host to 3,300 boutique consumer brands from 65 countries and regions from around the globe.

The guest of honor country, Italy, has brought 147 brands to this year's Expo. The Italy Pavilion, which occupies 1800m of floor space (roughly twice that of last year), is exhibiting products from Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Ducati, Panerai, and other top Italian brands.





One of the key events at this year's Expo, a grand product launch, will be held over two days on the 12th and 13th. 118 products and series from 28 renowned Chinese and international brands, including L'Oreal, Karcher, Carpigiani, Diageo, the Platinum Guild International, Huawei, and Dell, will make their debut, covering fashion, fragrances, jewelry, alcohol, high-end foods, electronics and biotech. Also included are lifestyle, art toys, traditional craft products, and bronze sculptures from China's Old Summer Palace (or "Yuanmingyuan" in Chinese), a first for the CICPE.

According to the organizing committee of the Expo, 2000 international buyers from 35 countries and regions, including France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, are at the Expo and are out in force seeking the best deals.

The CICPE, which enters its 3rd year this year, is China's first national-level international exhibition focused on premium consumer products and Asia's largest such exhibition.

Having been held in Hainan for two consecutive years, the Expo not only provides a trading platform for premium consumer products around the world, but also acts as a critical component of Hainan's construction of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics.

The past two years witnessed a number of enterprises from participating countries setting up stores, factories, and even headquarters in Hainan to capitalize on the policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port. Statistics show that brand names and leading companies from 52 countries, such as LVMH (France) and Richemont (Switzerland) have already established a presence in Hainan.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2050665/Aerial_view_Hainan_International_Convention_Exhibition_Center_venue_3rd_China.jpg

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Three years ago, SimplyRFiD and Frame Source Group set out to make the best inventory management system and transform the eyewear industry. Integrating 17 manufacturers into a seamless inventory ordering and management experience, 'AIMS' is now available and on-display at "The Exchange" -- the largest gathering of forward-thinking independent eye doctors in the world.

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / Vision Source's yearly gathering, "The Exchange," happens from April 19-22 in San Antonio. More than 3,000 independent optometrists and opticians gather to discover the latest advancements for their optical offices. The AIMS Eyewear Order Management System will be demoing the latest RFID-enabled system for eye doctors.

AIMS 2.0 Inventory Management Systems for Eyewear with RFID

See the AIMS 2.0 Inventory Management Systems for Eyewear with RFID on display at The Exchange 2023 in San Antonio

The AIMS system is powered by SimplyRFiD's Wave enterprise inventory system and optimized for eye doctors by the Frame Source Group. AIMS gives eye doctors the ability to compete with online and big-box retail by offering in-person try-ons, fast delivery, and a huge frame selection of 100,000 frames never before seen.

"Ever wonder why the frame you want or saw on a celebrity isn't there? Because 'best sellers' only last on the board for one day!" said Greg Smith, head of sales for Frame Source. "With AIMS, the best sellers go back on the board, and AIMS handles ordering a fresh frame directly from the manufacturer. With AIMS, the best frames are always in stock."

AIMS is directly integrated with 17 manufacturers sending stock levels and providing online ordering and drop shipping for optometrists.

Integrated Manufacturers:

A&A *

Charmant *

Design Eyewear

Eight to Eighty Eyewear *

Europa *

Iconyx *

Kenmark *

L'Amy *

Luxottica

Match Eyewear *

Modern Optical *

MODO *

Mondottica *

Morel *

Riserva/FSD *

Tura *

WestGroupe *

* offer same-day shipping on all frame orders

These manufacturers represent the top brands with more than 100,000 frame choices. Sample brands include Ann Taylor, Burberry, Chanel, Dolce, Oakley, Persol, Ralph Lauren, Ray-Ban, Riserva, SuperFlex and hundreds more.

At the Show

A hands-on demo is available to experience how RFID reduces inventory time from one day to one minute. In attendance will be Carl Brown, President of SimplyRFiD, and Greg Smith, head of sales for Frame Source Group. A virtual demo from last year's Exchange is on TikTok.

About SimplyRFiD

SimplyRFiD revolutionized RFID adoption with the introduction of the DoD Pro-Tag in 2007. Today, SimplyRFiD leads the retail RFID inventory market with Wave for iOS, the #1 app for counting retail inventory with RFID. SimplyRFiD's three software platforms - AIMS for Eyewear, Wave for Retail, and Wave Audit for Manufacturing - provide tools for retailers to adopt accurate inventory systems. SimplyRFiD's latest product, AI Kick-Start, enables retailers to deploy the latest RFID technology and experience faster growth.

About Frame Source Group

FrameSource Group was founded in 2019 to revolutionize eyewear order processing and management.

Contact Information

William Montalbo

Vice President, Marketing

william.montalbo@simplyrfid.com

+1 703.343.1689

Syd Brown

Social Media Manager

syd.brown@simplyrfid.com

+1 703.343.1689

SOURCE: SimplyRFiD

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748335/SimplyRFiD-Makers-of-AIMS-20-the-Only-Eyewear-Order-Management-System-Will-Present-at-The-Exchange-2023
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2023) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: VGANF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging food brands is pleased to announce that on April 6th it has signed a non-arms length binding LOI for the acquisition of 50% of KOA Natural Foods, a hand-crafted snack manufacturer based out of Ontario.

Manufacturer of hand-crafted snacks that are all natural, certified organic, non-GMO, & exceptionally delicious. Including snacks for every lifestyle including vegan, vegetarian, keto & gluten free.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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KOA Business Highlights

-For 2023, KOA's forecast is $2,300,000 EBITDA run rate for FY2023 and a gross revenue run rate of $7,900,000 CDN, with liabilities and loans totalling $1,980,000 CDN

-Over the past 2 years KOA has grown by over 30% year over year in revenue generation while maintaining over 30% gross margin in the production of its products.

-With a 10,000 square foot facility in Ontario that produces certified organic house brands, KOA also provides white-labeling services, and co-packing services to many North American brands.

-With over 3,000 retail distribution points KOA's products have been listed in many of Canada's largest retailers including Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaw, and Sobeys





KOA 1



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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"Today's news is transformational for our company. This single transaction accelerates both our revenue as well as our profitability while solidifying our division of emerging CPG brands. KOA will immediately benefit from leveraging our infrastructure as well as our shared resource pool to benefit from synergies that will accelerate their growth," said Sean Black, Chief Investment Officer of Happy Belly.

"KOA checks all the boxes for us when looking at M&A as they have great people, great food (product) and excellent operations and people (The 3 P's). Mariam and Javiera are the perfect partners for us. They are incredible female founders of a business in Canada that is growing at a steady revenue rate year over year so partnering with Happy Belly when our team has the experience, CPG bench strength and access to capital to support that growth was exactly what we built this company to do."

"This emerging brand now gives us the platform for future M&A in CPG to really benefit from synergies as we now have our own manufacturing facilities in Ontario & BC, global sales team, global distribution and existing global customer relationships. We look forward to continuing our strategic plan of disciplined Organic & Inorganic growth in 2023 & 2024. We would like to thank Mariam and Javiera for this opportunity to be their partner as well as their early financial backers FirePower Capital & Ilan Jacobson for supporting this transaction."



"With our board's experience working for CPG giants such as Ferrero Rocher and Mars, we have an in-depth understanding of what it takes to build a highly successful national and global brand. We intend to bring that discipline and roadmap of success to KOA Natural Foods under the Happy Belly umbrella," said Shawn Moniz, CEO of Happy Belly. "We intend to create a truly mainstream brand that in a short time will see 'KOA' synonymous as a household brand in Canadian cupboards and pantries coast to coast. Together, KOA and Happy Belly will further expand distribution across Canada, and into the United States with the first US purchase order expected in Q3 2023. In addition to KOA's branded product distribution, KOA has significant private label opportunities to further increase revenue and manufacturing efficiencies."

KOA Business Details



KOA Natural Foods Represents an Emerging Brand in the Canadian CPG Space

- With nearly a dozen KOA branded SKUs in the market today, both customer and retail reviews show excellent quality ratings yielding a strong base of customer satisfaction.

- Diversified retail distribution with over 3,000+ retailers across Canada carrying KOA branded products.

- KOA has demonstrated a strong degree of operational resilience; throughout the course of the pandemic, posting year over year growth and refined operational efficiency.

Women Led Profit-Focused Business

- Utilizing organizations across Canada that promote women-led entrepreneurship KOA has tapped into a growing segment of the Canadian economy to help grow KOA's brand presence, drive operational success, and increase the reach of the brand across Canada.

Robust Financial Profile & Gross Margin

- Continued positive growth throughout pandemic years as distribution requests and PO's increased to match the increased rate at which Canadian consumers purchased from grocery chains

- Operational efficiencies allowed for no increase in labour count in order to meet production demand.

- Focused on data intelligence to analyze demographic segmentation, conduct market area analysis, and determine traffic / competition access was key in KOA delivering success in its current and previous years.

- Gross margin has maintained a healthy +30% YoY for previous 2 years

- Highly visible pipeline for growth, with +45% retail and/or distributor growth projected over the next 12-18 months.

Management Supported by Happy Belly's Shared Resource Model and Shared Infrastructure Model for Accelerated Growth

- Happy Belly's current Board and management, having extensive experience across M&A and multi-national CPG businesses will continue to advise and support KOA Natural Foods with the growth of all SKUs of KOA's house brands.

- Management and Board's experience with Mars and Ferrero Rocher yields a track-record of success and experience in a wide variety of retail avenues, joining KOA's management to expand upon the depth and breadth of a combined management team.

Transaction Details



Happy Belly & KOA Natural Foods have entered into a binding LOI agreement that sets out the foundational terms for the acquisition of 50% of KOA Natural Foods by Happy Belly Food Group for the purpose of accelerated corporate growth and rapid strategic expansion of KOA Natural Food products.



This transaction is aligned with Happy Belly's long-term business strategy to grow into the leading consolidator of emerging foods brands.



Total purchase price is $1,750,000 CDN. No finders fee's are payable for this transaction.



Happy Belly has the exclusive right to purchase the remaining 50% of KOA Natural Foods at its optionality.



Investment into KOA Natural Foods

Post close of this transaction, Happy Belly will issue to KOA Natural Foods such number of common shares of Happy Belly equal in value to $500,000 (based on a 10-day VWAP). KOA Natural Foods is receiving the shares of Happy Belly Food Group and will be 50% owned by Happy Belly, and the other 50% owned by its founders and operators.



Happy Belly is also making available a PO financing credit facility to KOA Natural Foods to service incoming PO's already received by KOA and anticipated rapid growth of certain SKU's with distributors nearing completion in the near future.



Happy Belly will also make a capital investment into KOA upon close in the form of new equipment for expanded facility needs.





About KOA Natural Foods

"It all started as an idea on one of my morning jogs. I wanted to create a healthy snack with simple ingredients I could understand. And from that, Koa Natural Foods was born. I have a passion for healthy living, and I would love to share that passion with you. You deserve a life of health, prosperity, and love and I believe it all starts with how you treat your mind, body, and spirit," Mariam Ekram, co-founder, KOA Natural foods.

Our mission at KOA is to provide you with healthy and delicious snacks made with ethical and sustainable ingredients that encourage a healthier lifestyle and help improve your physical and mental well being.

Empowering Women Globally

Koa Natural Foods is a strong supporter of the Woman Empowering Women (WEW) initiative, which is an organization that aims to empower women through the emphasis on the importance of fitness, healthy eating and overall wellness.

Made in our Canadian Facility

Koa Natural Foods is a leading Canadian manufacturer of healthy delicious snacks that is committed to the quality of its products. Everything at our facility is made ethically and with love.



2019 Entrepreneur of the Year - Newmarket Chamber of Commerce

2019 Natural Nutrition Bronze Award - Lilo's Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

2020 Women of Excellence Finalist - Newmarket Chamber of Commerce

2020 Business Woman of the Year Nominee - Canadian SME Business Magazine

About Happy Belly Food Group

KOA 2



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Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: VGANF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a leading consolidator of emerging food brands.

Happy Belly Food Group

Shawn Moniz

Chief Executive Officer

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:

www: www.happybellyfg.com or email hello@happybellyfg.com

If you wish to contact us please call: (604) 737-2303



Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. 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, and include the future performance of LumberHeads Food Co. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedar.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161863
The Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, has pledged to support the Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, with farm equipment, accessories and grants to enhance economic growth.

The Minister made the pledge during a courtesy visit by the Acting. Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Christopher Eze and his team to his office in Abuja

Abubakar said agriculture is of great importance and cannot be separated from environmental sciences, pointing out that agriculture is no longer about food only but regarded as a business and indeed the bases of all other businesses.

He however, stated that most of the foreign exchange earnings, infrastructures before now had been raised courtesy of the agricultural sector of the economy.

He therefore assured that the Ministry would work with the University to boost the socio economic development of the country, promising to visit the University before the end of his tenure.

In his remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Services, Prof. Christopher Eze, commended the Minister and management staff for their laudable programmes and achievements.

He pointed out that the dwindling State Government resources and inadequate facilities had caused the University to operate with serious challenges and this explained their quest for assistance.
High Profile Conference Elevates Both FLYHT and Calgary in Aviation Industry

CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSXV:FLY)(OTCQX: FLYLF) (the "Company" or "FLYHT") today announced that it will host the Spring AEEC/IATA Electronic Flight Bag ("EFB") Users Forum in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on June 20-22, 2023.

The EFB Users Forum is a joint activity with AEEC/IATA that provides a unified forum for airlines, system integrators, hardware and software providers, regulators, and other interested parties to present and discuss topics of interest to the EFB user community. The EFB Users Forum attracts airlines, suppliers, and regulators to discuss operational and technical trends. Speakers are invited to share their experiences and exchange information to identify issues and their potential solutions. The Fall 2022 EFB Forum was held in Barcelona, Spain and hosted by Rockwell Collins.

"FLYHT is honored to host the upcoming semi-annual EFB Users Forum in Calgary, an emerging tech hub increasingly recognized for its innovation in the global aviation industry," said Kent Jacobs, President & Interim CEO of FLYHT. "We are excited to help put our hometown on the industry map and to showcase FLYHT's innovative solutions at the conference, engineered with a long-term vision of providing global 5G connectivity and cutting-edge application hosting."

Added Scott Chambers, VP, Sales & Marketing at FLYHT, "In hosting the Spring EFB Users Forum, FLYHT is taking the next step in garnering more visibility for our company and this dynamic city. We look forward to hosting hundreds of our industry peers this coming June."

"The Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) has revolutionized commercial aviation by bringing modern graphics and computing power to the flight deck. These new capabilities are saving air carriers millions of dollars every year through the introduction of highly specialized applications, increased operational efficiency, pilot productivity, and safety. The EFB Users Forum fosters open exchange of ideas and encourages regulator-operator-manufacturer engagement," said Peter Grau, Lead Principal Engineer at SAE-ITC's ARINC Industry Activities. "We anticipate a strong turnout in Calgary and are privileged to be hosted by FLYHT at this event."

The spring forum will take place at the Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre and will be preceded on June 20 by the EFB EXPO where EFB suppliers, system integrators, and others will have an opportunity to demonstrate their EFB products and services to the user community. For more information visit the https://aviation-ia.sae-itc.com/events/electronic-flight-bag-efb-users-forum.

About EFB Users Forum

The EFB Users Forum is a joint activity with IATA that enables airlines and other aircraft operators to state their preferences in the evolution of EFB hardware, software applications, and connectivity to the ground. This ensures operational benefit to the flight deck crew and the economic benefit to the airlines. Flight operations, information technology, engineering, and maintenance disciplines are represented among the participants of the EFB Users Forum.

About ARINC Industry Activities and SAE ITC

ARINC Industry Activities (ARINC IA?) is an SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (SAE ITC) program. ARINC IA consists of three committees working toward common goals in Engineering, Maintenance and Flight Simulation to benefit the aviation industry and flying public. More at: https://aviation-ia.sae-itc.com.

SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (SAE ITC) is an affiliate of SAE International. The SAE ITC team specializes in establishing and managing consortia by providing proven processes, tools and resources. ITC enables public, private, academic and government organizations to connect and collaborate in neutral, pre-competitive forums thus empowering the setting and implementation of strategic business improvements in highly engineered industries globally. More at: https://www.sae-itc.com/.

About FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

FLYHT provides airlines with Actionable Intelligence to transform operational insight into immediate, quantifiable action, and delivers industry leading solutions to improve aviation safety, efficiency, and profitability. This unique capability is driven by a suite of patented aircraft certified hardware products. These include AFIRS, an aircraft satcom/interface device that enables cockpit voice communications, real-time aircraft state analysis, and the transmission of aircraft data while inflight. The AFIRS Edge is a state-of-the-art 5G Wireless Quick Access Recorder (WQAR), Aircraft Interface Device (AID), and Aircraft Condition and Monitoring System (ACMS). The Edge can be interfaced with FLYHT's TAMDAR probe or the FLYHT-WVSS-II relative humidity sensor to deliver airborne weather and humidity data in real-time.

CrossConsense, FLYHT's wholly owned subsidiary, offers highly skilled services to the commercial aviation industry and provides preventative maintenance solutions. These include Aircraft Fleet View, a native application that gives a real-time view of airline fleet status; AviationDW, a managed data warehouse for enhanced business intelligence; and ACSIS, a visualization and predictive maintenance alerting tool.

FLYHT is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, and is an AS9100 Quality registered company.

CrossConsense, located in Frankfurt, Germany, is an ISO9001 certified operation. For more information, visit www.flyht.com.

Contact Information:

FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

Alana Forbes

Chief Financial Officer

403.291.7437

investors@flyht.com FNK IR LLC

Matt Chesler, CFA

Investor Relations

646.809.2183

flyht@fnkir.com Satichi Consulting Inc.

Daniel Kim

Corporate Development

416.728.5630

dkim@flyht.com

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SOURCE: FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748442/FLYHT-to-Host-Spring-2023-EFB-Users-Forum-in-Calgary
The Bollywood mafias dont want OTT are probably jealous of the OTTs success. Though many popular actors have joined the OTT bandwagon, Salman Khan prefers to stay away from it and is happily dating co-stars half his age on the big screen. Probably he understands that he is a total misfit when it comes to the crafts of the brilliant actors on the digital platform. He said all the vulgarity, nudity, gaali galauj should stop. Well, we can smell something burning.

One of the most misogynistic actors of Bollywood, who doesnt know how to treat women well 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 dont think that is right for security reasons. We dont need to do that You dont need to cross the boundary. 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.

Salman Khan should understand that for a typical Bollywood film, you really dont need to know how to act. In his recent interview with the press at the 68th Filmfare Awards 2023, the 57-year-old also opined that OTT content should be censored. It is amusing to hear Salman Khan giving lectures on what to watch and what should be censored. He pointed out that the content is now easily available on the phone and hence should have a check on it. The actor further asked the media whether they would like it if a 15-16-year-old child or a girl watches abusive or vulgar content on the phone.

In the press meeting, Salman Khan mentioned how people who did not get a lot of work in the film industry got it in the Television industry. He further added that those who are not getting work in the TV industry are now getting it on OTT. He also mentioned how some people think that OTT is cooler than Television and that he does not agree with it.

Salman Khan added that there should be censorship of the content. He said, I think the first one to start this off was Ram Gopal Varma, one of the first few to do that kind of stuff on OTT. After that people started watching it and I just think that I dont believe in that kind of content. I mean I have been here since 1989 and I have never done any of this kind of stuff so I just think that there should be a censor on OTT and all this vulgarity, nudity, gaali galoch (abusive words) should stop.

We guess Salman Khan is feeling insecure. Netizens also felt like it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

(With added inputs from agencies)
The adorable pictures and videos of Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas daughter, Malti Marie often go viral on social media. Lately, the actress has posted some of yet another cute pictures of munchkin. Priyanka shared glimpses of her Easter celebration with her daughter Malti Marie. In the photos, Malti can be seen wearing a t-shirt that reads Malti Maries first Easter and can be seen playing with Easter eggs. Priyanka, in her caption, wrote, Easter Sunday with some heart, nazar amulet, and folded hands emojis.

The first picture is of Malti holding Easter eggs with Priyanka standing behind her. In the second picture, Priyanka and Malti are wearing matching printed tops. Priyanka took a selfie in a mirror while holding Malti. The next picture shows Malti trying to eat a chocolate egg and playing with it. The last picture shows Malti playing on a sofa, while their two dogs, Gino and Panda, play outside on the lawn.

Have a look at these adorable pictures shared by the megastar here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)



The photos amassed a wide range of reactions from the users in the comment section. Some people pointed out that they cant see the full face of the baby. An account wrote, We really want to see the full baby face. Many users wished Priyanka and her little one a Happy Easter. People called the little one adorable.

Priyanka, her husband Nick and their daughter Malti had recently visited India for the opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai. The photos and videos of Priyanka and Nick from the event were going viral on social media. In one video, the couple was seen arriving hand in hand. They posed solo for photos and also with arms wrapped around each other.

Priyanka Chopra will be seen next in the web series Citadel, which will be released on Amazon Prime Video on 28 April this year. Priyanka will be seen alongside Richard Madden. Citadel is a spy-thriller show created by Josh Appelbaum and Bryan Oh. The actress will be playing the role of agent Nadia Sinh, while Richard will play the role of agent Mason Kane. Priyanka was last seen in the movie, The Matrix Resurrections in the role of Sati.

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India is hosting a special guest starting today for the next four days and it might have an impact on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Ukraines first deputy foreign minister Emine Dzhaparova has arrived in New Delhi today and will hold talks with officials from the Ministry of External Affairs.

As she commences her four-day visit, a first by an Ukrainian official since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, lets take a closer look at who she is and what is the agenda of her visit.

Who is Emine Dzhaparova?

Emine Dzhaparova currently serves as the First Deputy Foreign Minister in Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyys government. The 39-year-old was a journalist before entering politics. Between 2011 and 2015, she worked as the deputy editor-in-chief of Zaman news programme and a host of several other programs on the Crimean channel ATR. She also worked as a freelance journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

In 2015, she was appointed as an adviser to the minister of information policy on Crimea and since 10 June 2020 has been serving as the first deputy foreign minister of Ukraine. She is also the chairman of the national commission of Ukraine for UNESCO.

Dzhaparova also looks after the Ukrainian Institute  an important public institution that promotes Ukrainian culture globally and contributes to building a positive image of Ukraine abroad.

Whats on her India agenda?

Dzhaparova is the first official from Ukraine visiting India during the war, which has now entered Day 411. On her arrival, Dzhaparova tweeted that she was happy to be in the land that gave birth to many sages,saints and gurus.

The 39-year-old minister held talks with Sanjay Verma Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs on a wide range of subjects, including bilateral relations, views on the current situation in Ukraine and global issues of mutual interest.

After her meeting at South Block, she was quoted as saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modis policy of democracy, dialogue and diversity and no era of war is really important.

Moreover, she also asked that India be more pragmatic in securing its resources, including energy and defence equipment. This was in connection to New Delhis decision to purchase oil from Russia despite the Western nations sanctions. Incidentally, Indias imports of crude oil from Russia touched a new high of 1.64 million barrels per day in March and is now double of the purchases from Iraq  the nations traditional top oil supplier.

According to a report published by The Hindu, Dzhaparova also requested India for more humanitarian aid, which includes medical equipment and medicines and also energy equipment to repair damaged power infrastructure.

Speaking to the press outside South Block, she reiterated the role India could play in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, saying Supporting Ukraine is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru.

It is reported that she will also call on Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi and meet Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri. Additionally, the Ukrainian minister may extend an invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Kyiv.

The timing of Dzhaparovas meeting is also significant; her visit comes at a time when India holds the presidency of the G20. Kyiv is expecting an invite to the high table of the G20 summit.

Where does India stand on the war?

Since the war began a year ago in February, India has maintained a neutral stance on the issue, asking for both sides to engage in talks and diplomacy to iron out their differences.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to leaders of both countries  Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin  on multiple occasions and urged both sides to talk out their differences. In a phone conversation with Zelenskyy on 4 October last year, Modi had said there can be no military solution, and that India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts.

It was the same time that Modi on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan had told Putin todays era is not of war.

New Delhi has also been providing support to Ukraines humanitarian needs. However, it has stopped short of condemning Russia for the invasion and has also abstained from voting on resolutions pertaining to the Russia-Ukraine war passed by the United Nations and its varied bodies.

Also read: One Year of Russia-Ukraine War: How India emerged as a peacemaker, while Chinas neutrality became doubtful

In November last year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had visited Moscow and met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who also is the trade minister. It is said that during this visit, Jaishankar attempt at playing mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The US has said that they would welcome New Delhis attempts at brokering peace between the two warring nations with White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby saying in February, I think theres still time for Putin to stop the war. I think theres still time for it. PM Modi can convince; I will let PM Modi speak to whatever efforts hes willing to undertake. The US would welcome any effort that could lead to an end of hostilities in Ukraine.

An ORF report explains that India is best suited at being mediator owing to its non-alignment policy as well as having healthy relationships with both of the Great Powers most involved in the war: Russia and the US.

India has also emerged as the voice and conscience of the entire developing world.

It is left to be seen if Emine Dzhaparovas visit will make India change its stance on the war, but it clearly displays Indias increased role in the conflict.

With inputs from agencies

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The Dalai Lama is known to be a man of peace. However, the recent actions of the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people has caused a huge hue and cry, with some people calling him out and terming him disgusting, outrageous and creepy.

Tongue in cheek?

A video has emerged on social media showing the Dalai Lama kissing a child on his lips and then asking him to suck his tongue. According to a report published by News.com.au, the bizarre interaction took place last month during an event for Indias M3M Foundation.

The video shows the 87-year-old Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in Indias Dharamshala, addressing students and followers. A young boy then approaches the microphone and asks, Can I hug you?

The Buddhist monk then calls him on stage and first hugs him, followed by the boy giving him a kiss on the cheek. The video, which has now gone viral, shows the Dalai Lama planting a kiss on the boys lips. He is then seen sticking his tongue out as he asks the minor to suck it. Can you suck my tongue, he is heard asking the boy in the video.

Este video es escandaloso. El Dalai Lama besa en la boca a un nino que se le acerca. Los asistentes aplauden y se rien en lugar de condenar esta aberracion. La imagen es muy fuerte. Un viejo degenerado. pic.twitter.com/8diJ5R2hFI  Vicky Davila (@VickyDavilaH) April 9, 2023

The footage has sparked a flurry of reactions  ranging from outrage to defending the monk. Some have called the Dalai Lamas actions creepy, while his supporters insist that he was joking around with the boy.

Twitter user Joost Broekers wrote, So the Dalai Lama is kissing an Indian boy at a Buddhist event and even tries to touch his tongue. He actually says suck my tongue. Now why would he do that?

Another Twitter user Rafael Goldstone tweeted, Disgusting video emerges of Dalai Lama kissing little boy on the mouth and asking him to suck his tongue. These insidious false prophets are being exposed.

A third Twitter user Jas Oberoi wrote on the social media platform, What am I seeing? Is this Dalai Lama? Needs to be arrested for paedophilia. Disgusting.

Some Twitter users also called out the behaviour of the other people in the video who were seen smiling and clapping as the boy was kissed by the Dalai Lama. As one netizen wrote, But people there are smiling and clapping nor bemused by the act.

The Dalai Lama has responded to the outrage and his office has put out a statement apologising for his actions. "His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused."

The statement added, "His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident."

An unusual greeting?

In trying to defend the Dalai Lamas actions, some netizens said that the kiss may actually be a form of Tibetan greeting. In fact, sticking your tongue out is a way of greeting people in Tibet.

It has been a tradition since the 9th Century, the time of an unpopular king called Lang Darma, who was known for his black tongue. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and they feared that the cruel king would be reincarnated. Consequently, Tibetans greet one another by sticking out their tongues to show that they dont have black tongues and are not incarnations of the wicked king.

The traditional greeting is now a form of respect.

Also read: A new book on the Dalai Lama serves a glorious life story in bite-sized anecdotes

Dalai Lama, a man of controversies?

The 87-year-old Dalai Lama hasnt been free of controversies. The spiritual leader, who was recently in the news for naming a US-born Mongolian boy as the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche  the third highest rank in Tibetan Buddhism, has been mired in rows in the past too.

In 2019, the Dalai Lama was in the midst of a sexism scandal when he was interviewed by the BBC and reiterated his comments on a female successor. When asked about his successor, he had said his future successor can be a woman but must be very attractive or she would be of not much use. He also added that if she were not attractive, people, I think, prefer not see her that face.

He later apologised for his comments, with his office saying, His Holiness genuinely meant no offense and that hes deeply sorry that people have been hurt by what he said and offers his sincere apologies.

It sometimes happens that off the cuff remarks, which might be amusing in one cultural context, lose their humour in translation when brought into another, the office added.

In the same BBC interview, he also managed to anger human rights activists when he was asked about rising levels of African refugees and migrants entering Europe. The Buddhist monk said Europe should take them in and offer them education and training. But ultimately, the migrants should return to their own land with only a limited number allowed to stay on the continent.

With inputs from agencies

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Beijing: China has launched three days of military drills intended to intimidate self-ruled Taiwan after a US visit by Taipeis president Tsai Ing-wen angered Beijing.

Here are some key questions and answers about Chinas Joint Sword operation:

What are they doing?

The Chinese military has deployed ships, fighter jets and missiles in the sea around Taiwan to send a serious warning against Taiwan independence separatist forces, according to state media.

The drills, which began on Saturday, include patrols around the island and the rehearsal of simulated joint precision strikes against key targets as well as an encirclement and deterrence posture around Taiwan.

Dozens of J-18 and J-10C fighter jets have been deployed in the operation, alongside anti-submarine aircraft, according to the official CCTV.

China has also brought out its PHL-191 rocket launcher systems and YJ-12B land-based anti-ship missiles, the state-run Global Times reported.

Taiwans defence ministry said as many as nine Chinese warships had been detected around the island on Saturday.

What does China want?

Despite Taiwan having been ruled separately for more than 70 years, Chinas communist government considers the island as part of its territory, and has vowed to retake it one day.

Beijing bristles at any official contact between Taipei and foreign governments, including a recent trip by Tsai to the US, where she met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and a delegation of politicians from the Republican and Democratic parties.

Chinas foreign ministry said earlier this week it would take resolute and effective measures against the visit.

The ongoing exercises are part of a broader pattern of pressure targeting Taiwan, said Ja Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore.

But major visits enable Beijing to pin the blame on Taipei, Washington, or others, Chong told AFP.

Why now?

Tsai arrived in California on Tuesday, but Beijing waited to launch drills after her return to Taiwan.

The Chinese leadership has been in a delicate position this week with French president Emmanuel Macron and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen visiting the country and President Xi Jinping angling to warm up relations with Europe.

James Char, China researcher at Singapores Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, told AFP Beijing had likely waited for the departure of European dignitaries before it launched its show of force as Beijing has been trying to re-engage with the West.

Initiating military operations over Taiwan will be detrimental to this ongoing diplomatic overture, he said.

What other measures is Beijing taking?

China this week also announced new sanctions on Taipeis representative to the United States, as well as two US organisations, in retaliation for Tsais trip.

Beijing says it will ban Taiwans de facto ambassador to Washington, Hsiao Bi-Khim, from entering China, and has accused her of deliberately inciting cross-strait confrontation.

It has also blocked the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based conservative think tank, as well as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, from engaging in transactions and cooperation with Chinese entities for hosting Tsai this week.

How does this compare with previous drills?

Chinas response this weekend echoes its fury over a visit to Taipei last August by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

At the time, Beijing held live-fire military drills just a dozen miles off Taiwans shore in what state media called an effort to seal off Taiwan that lasted for around a week, while Chinese customs authorities suspended imports of fruit and fish from the island.

This time, Beijing is conducting live-fire drills off the coast of Chinas Fujian province, about 50 miles south of Taiwans Matsu Islands.

The latest drills seem not of the same scale as we saw during Pelosis visit, said Manoj Kewalramani, China expert at the Takshashila Institution in Bengaluru, India.

Kewalramani noted that Pelosis visit came in the run-up to Xis bid for a historic third term in power at last years 20th Communist Party Congress, and a visit by the House Speaker to what Beijing considered its own territory was on another level from Tsais recent US visit.

Chinas priorities may also have shifted slightly, according to Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at Taiwans Institute for National Defence and Security Research.

After a severe economic blow from three years of strict COVID rules, the restoration of air and sea routes around Taiwan this year is very important to neighbouring countries and Chinas own economic recovery, so the intensity of military drills should not increase again, Su told AFP.

Last years drills had disrupted shipping and air traffic in major shipping lanes around Taiwan.

Su said he believed the ongoing drills were internal propaganda aimed at countering domestic criticism that earlier Chinese actions were too weak.

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The forests of India are reverberating with the roar of the Royal Bengal Tiger. Once on the brink of extinction, the striped cat is now thriving. There are 3,167 tigers in the wild in the country, as per the fifth cycle of Indias Tiger Census released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 2018 Tiger Census released in July 2019 said that there were 2,967 tigers in the country. Thats a rise of 200 in the past four years.

The conservation efforts have paid off and India has every reason to be proud. Its now home to 70 per cent of the worlds wild tiger population, which stands at around 4,500, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The numbers are expected to go up steadily and with the rising population comes growing challenges.

The data does not tell the complete story  of man-animal conflict and territorial wars. Do Indias tiger reserves have enough space to accommodate the apex predator? And what if we face a problem of plenty?

As India celebrates 50 years of Project Tiger, we take a look at what the future holds for the big cats.

Saving the tiger

A century ago, there were an estimated more than 100,000 wild tigers across Asia. They were hunted as trophies and for parts of their body  nails, fur, whiskers, tails and bone. Their numbers started plummeting and the destruction of habitat as the human population boomed made matters worse.

Until the end of the 19th Century, India still had 40,000 tigers but rampant killing brought the numbers to a mere 1,411 in 1972. It was now or never if India needed to save its tigers. Thats when then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi stepped in. Tiger hunting was officially banned and the Wildlife Protection Act came into force in 1972.

A year on, Project Tiger was launched by the Centre on 1 April 1973 to conserve the beautiful big cat. In the same year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared the tiger an endangered species.

Launched at Uttarakhands Jim Corbett National Park, the programme dedicated to preserving the animal was started in nine tiger reserves in Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, covering over 14,000 sq km. Now it covers 53 such protected areas, spanning 75,800 sq km.

From 1,411 tigers in 1972 to 3,167 in 2022, Project Tiger has been a conservation success story that has caught the worlds attention. But as the number of tigers grows, so does Indias human population.

Back in 1971, the country had 547 million people. Today, India is home to 1.4 billion and is set to overtake China as the worlds most populous country. So what does that mean for tiger conservation?

A problem of plenty?

Over the years, tiger habitats have been encroached upon. Several villages have been relocated to make space for the animal. But its not enough.

Every reserve has a core zone and a buffer zone. While core zones have no human intervention, the buffers are the adjoining areas where nature is preserved alongside compatible human use of resources such as land and water. Often, villagers living on the periphery of the reserves graze their cattle in the buffer areas.

There has been a steady increase in population in the core areas. Tigers are solitary and territorial creatures. As their population increases and territories overlap, theres more conflict between the cats. Invariably, a dominant male drives out the weaker one. Where does the defeated one go? In search of new territory, sometimes to the buffer zones or stray into human landscapes.

But now even the buffer zones are seeing an explosion in the tiger population. There were 80 tigers in the buffer zones of six tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh. In Maharashtras Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, there is no dearth of tigers in the buffer areas. Karnatakas Bandipur and Nagarahole parks are in desperate need of increasing the buffer areas.

In 2019, Rajesh Gopal, former head of Project Tiger and the chief of Global Tiger Fund, the inter-governmental international body set up for the conservation of big cats in the wild, said that Indias tiger capacity is packed and the forests cannot hold any more tigers. How true is that?

Also read: Maya, Machli, Munna, naam toh suna hoga?: How Indias legendary tigers got their names

Man vs tiger

With more and more tigers in buffer zones, the chances of human-animal conflict increase. If cattle stray into tiger territory, it makes for easy prey and this often leaves the villagers angry and bitter. Though the forest department is quick to compensate for the loss of livestock, its not a full-proof solution.

Villagers poison the dead cattle and tigers who come back to eat their hunt fall prey to it. Three years ago, an adult tigress and her two cubs died after they drank from a water body which was poisoned in the Moharli range of Tadobas buffer. A similar case of revenge was reported from Goas Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, where a tigress and three cubs were killed.

In October 2022, a three-year-old male tiger, blamed for the death of nine people, was gunned down after a shoot-at-sight order at Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihars West Champaran region.

Assams Orang National Park has a small core area of 79 sq km and is struggling to cope with its rising big cat population. Incidents of tigers moving in and out of surrounding human habitation has become an everyday affair.

Attending to human-animal conflict takes almost 70% of our time and resources as a result of which other equally important conservation works get affected, said Ramesh Kumar, Director, Bandipur Tiger Reserve told The Hindu last July, adding that tigers are being increasingly sighted on the forest periphery and have to be captured or pushed back.

According to SP Yadav, head of Project Tiger and member secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), there are several tiger reserves where the tiger population has reached their carrying capacity like Corbett, Madhya Pradeshs Kanha, Pench, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Tadoba Andhari, and Rajasthans Ranthambhore. In Sundarbans too, the population is pushing the reserves carrying capacity. But there is a way forward.

At the same time, there are other tiger reserves which are low density and have the potential to accommodate more tigers. We need to actively manage our tiger population, Yadav added.

Also read: Explained: Why is India planning to send tigers to Cambodia?



Managing the tiger population

Managing tiger reserves is based on a scientific plan and every tiger reserve in the country has a long-term tiger strategy chalked out.

Theres plenty of empty tiger habitat in India  currently around 300,000 sq km of which only 90,000 is occupied by tigers, according to a report by India Today.

So, yes translocating some of the tigers within the country is a possibility. But its important to ensure that these locations have enough prey from the cats. Weaning tribal communities off bush meat and controlling militancy in these regions is also essential, the report points out.

There is scope to add another 1,000-1,500 tigers primarily in the forested habitats of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and North Eastern States of Arunachal, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Assam, YV Jhala, eminent conservationist and former dean of the Wildlife Institute of India, told IndiaToday.in.

Also read: The killing of man-eater of Champaran, Indias controversial hunter, and the complexities of tiger conservation

Maintaining tiger habitats

Saving the tiger is as much about saving its habitat. Unlike the leopard, the tiger is not too happy moving out of its territory but the increasing numbers are forcing it to do so. Hence conservationists including the Wildlife Insitute of India have emphasised the need to secure Critical Tiger Habitats. Tiger corridors that allow animals to move from one reserve to another are the key.

Jhala calls these corridors umbilical cords for the survival of tiger reserve populations, India Today reports.

Maintaining Critical Tiger Habitats, as also tiger corridors connecting various forests where it can move freely and avoid inbreeding, would place a tiger as a part of the holistic system, and not above it. In its essence, the approach entails supporting all life and not just the tiger, writes senior journalist Ajay Suri in ThePrint.

While habitats and corridors can and need to be created over time, it is not a one-stop solution.

A lot then depends on the people who share space with these predators. Beyond the generous compensation, the benefit of having enchanting wildlife in the neighbourhood is something that needs to be driven home. Tigers and the tourists they bring are a big source of revenue and if shared with locals, theyd not look at the tiger as the problem but as a resource.

As Indira Gandhi said 50 years ago: The tiger cannot be preserved in isolation.

With inputs from agencies

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For weeks after Russian troops forcibly removed Natalya Zhornyks teenage son from his school last autumn, she had no idea where he was or what had happened to him.

Then came a phone call.

Mom, come and get me, said her son, Artem, 15. He had remembered his mothers phone number and borrowed the school directors cell phone.

Zhornyk made him a promise: When the fighting calms down, I will come.

Artem and a dozen schoolmates had been loaded up by Russian troops and transferred to a school farther inside Russian-occupied Ukraine.

While Zhornyk, 31, was relieved to know where he was being held, reaching him would not be easy. They were on different sides of the front line of a full-blown war, and border crossings from Ukraine into Russian-occupied territory were closed.

But months later, when a neighbour brought back one of her sons schoolmates, she learned about a charity that was helping mothers bring their children home.

Since it is illegal for men of military age to leave Ukraine now, in March, Zhornyk and a group of women assisted by Save Ukraine completed a nerve-wracking, 3,000-mile journey through Poland, Belarus and Russia to gain entry to Russian-occupied territory in eastern Ukraine and Crimea to retrieve Artem and 15 other children.

Then they had to take another circuitous journey back. Come on, come on, urged Zhornyk as a cluster of children, laden with bags and suitcases, emerged hesitantly through the barriers at a border crossing from Belarus into Ukraine. She had crossed with her son just hours earlier and pushed forward impatiently to embrace the next group.

There are no words for all the emotions, Zhornyk said, describing her reunion with Artem. I was full of emotion, and nervous, nervous.

In the 13 months since the invasion, thousands of Ukrainian children have been displaced, moved or forcibly transferred to camps or institutions in Russia or Russian-controlled territory, in what Ukraine and rights advocates have condemned as war crimes.

The fate of those children has become a desperate tug of war between Ukraine and Russia and formed the basis of an arrest warrant issued last month by the International Criminal Court accusing President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Maria Lvova-Belova, his commissioner for childrens rights, of illegally transferring them.

Once under Russian control, the children are subject to reeducation, fostering and adoption by Russian families  practices that have touched a particular nerve even amid the carnage that has killed and displaced so many Ukrainians.

Ukrainian officials and human rights organisations have described these forced removals as a plan to steal a generation of Ukraines youth, turning them into loyal Russian citizens and eradicating Ukrainian culture to the point of committing genocide.

Also read: China wants to appear advocate of peace, help Russia in Ukraine simultaneously: US

Months of Fear and Anxiety

No one knows the full number of Ukrainian children who have been transferred to Russia or Russian-occupied Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has identified more than 19,000 children that it says have been forcibly transferred or deported, but those working on the issue say the real number is closer to 150,000.

Russia has defended its transfer of the children as a humanitarian effort to rescue them from the war zone, but it has refused to cooperate with Ukraine or international organisations in tracing many of them. After the ICC issued the arrest warrant for Lvova-Belova, she said that relatives were free to come and collect their children but that only 59 were waiting to go home  a claim that Ukrainian officials have dismissed as absurd.

For the thousands of children who have been transferred, some from broken homes and disadvantaged families, being away from home so long has been an ordeal. Some are in tears when they call home and cannot speak freely, their parents said.

The parents, already living through the trials of Russian occupation, displacement and bombardment, have had to endure months of anxiety, fearful that their children will be sent farther away or given up for adoption in Russia.

And then there is the guilt. Some sent their children to summer camps in the Crimean Peninsula, having been assured they would return in two weeks. Others simply yielded to pressure from officials and soldiers to let their children be taken. They all blamed themselves when they were not returned.

I felt completely lost. I gnawed away at myself, said Yulia Radzevilova, who brought her son, Maksym Marchenko, 12, home in March after he spent five months in a camp in Crimea. No one supported me. Family, parents, and friends started accusing me.

But other children were transferred without warning or, like Artem, just disappeared.

Artem had travelled to his school in Kupiansk on 7 September  just as Ukrainian troops were driving out Russias occupation  to retrieve documents he needed for college. No bus returned that day, so he remained overnight. The next day, Russian troops turned up and loaded him and other students into military trucks.

They were Russian, Artem said in an interview. In camouflage, with Kalashnikovs. He thought of fleeing over the back wall of the school, he said, but the teachers made sure all the children climbed on board.

When he did not return home, his mother tried to go to Kupiansk to find him but turned back under heavy shelling. For three weeks, there was no electricity or phone service in her village because of the fighting. With no word of his whereabouts, she registered him as missing with the police.

Then came Artems phone call. He said that he and his schoolmates, ages 7 to 17, had been taken to the town of Perevalsk, in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, where they were left in a boarding school.

He was only a few hours away by car but in a territory closed off by the war.

It was hard, she said, shaking her head, very hard.

Also read: Russia vs Ukraine or Father vs Son: Dad makes dummy tanks & planes for Russia, rebel son for Ukraine

Searching for a Child With Autism

Across the country in southern Ukraine, Olha Mazur faced an even more daunting search. Her son, Oleksandr Chugunov, 16  Sasha for short  lived in a residential school for disabled children in Oleshky, across the Dnieper River from the city of Kherson where she lived. Sasha is autistic and cannot talk, she said.

She last saw her son in the summer. Kherson was still occupied, and a Russian director had been placed in charge of his school. Then the bridge across the Dnieper was bombed, and she could no longer travel to see him. In November, she saw a list online naming him among children transferred to Crimea by the Russians.

She was relieved and worried at the same time. I am grateful that he is alive, she said, but the school never informed her what they were doing, and Sasha had no way to communicate with her.

Parents of children in a variety of summer camps and schools began learning through phone calls with their children that the schools would let them go home, but only if their parents came to collect them in person.

Few, if any, of the mothers had the wherewithal to manage such a trek. But there are several charity groups helping to do just that, and Zhornyk had heard about one, Save Ukraine.

Founded after Russian forces attacked in 2014, the group was created to move children and their families from occupied areas and places of intense fighting to shelters or new homes. After children became stranded in Russian-occupied territory last fall, the group began to organise rescue missions. The mothers set off on that 3,000-mile journey through Poland, Belarus and Russia and on to Russian-occupied Ukraine and Crimea.

They had to navigate hostile borders and police checks along the route, which included a flight from Belarus to Moscow, including nine hours of questioning from immigration officers at the airport. From Moscow, they drove more than 1,000 miles to Crimea. Zhornyk split off to go to Perevalsk for Artem. Then the whole group travelled back the way they came and back into Ukraine through Belarus.

Also read: Dumping the Dollar: Will a new BRICS currency replace the US currency for trade?

A Debilitating Experience

There were hugs and tears when the mothers and children arrived back in Ukraine last month  and some surprises.

The children were full of stories that went unsaid in phone calls home. Many of the teenagers were able to make daily calls home. Others, like Artem, had to beg to borrow someones phone. There were frequent punishments, as well as pressure to sing the Russian anthem, bullying and name-calling by other students, the children said.

There was also mounting stress: The children were told that if their parents did not collect them by this month, six months after their arrival, they would be sent to foster homes or put up for adoption.

He no longer had any hope that I would come, Radzevilova said of her son. Because I said I didnt know how; I didnt have the money.

Mazur was even more critical of Russian behaviour. Her autistic son had deteriorated in the time they were separated, she said.

He was never like this, she said. When he leaves the car, he is afraid of everything.

She worried for the other disabled children from Sashas original care home in Oleshky, some of whom were wheelchair-bound or bedridden. There was no record of where they went, she said, and she was haunted by the comment of a Russian administrator who told her the Ukrainian children had been cast away like kittens.

Of the 13 evacuated from the Kupiansk boarding school last September, only two have returned to Ukraine, including Artem. Another went to Poland. Four children moved to somewhere in Russia, possibly with their parents. Five children remained at the school in Perevalsk, including two girls in first grade. They were in class when Zhornyk collected her son; he left without saying goodbye.

Carlotta Gall and Oleksandr Chubko c.2023 The New York Times Company

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As the Ukraine war rages, Kyiv has accused Moscow of resorting to scorched-earth tactics in eastern Donetsks Bahkmut.

The enemy switched to so-called scorched earth tactics from Syria. It is destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery fire, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraines ground forces, said.

But what are scorched-earth tactics?

Lets take a closer look:

The scorched-earth policy refers to an army  usually on the retreat destroying anything an attacking enemy force could possibly use  from food to water, crops, and even the earth itself  as a resource.

According to the website, Journal of India scorched-earth tactics are used in an attempt to break the will of the enemy.

As per Study.com, the tactics themselves date back to ancient times.

Perhaps the first recorded example of such tactics comes from when ancient Scythia took on the Persian Empire of Darius the Great.

When Darius invaded ancient Scythia in 513, the Scythians began systematically destroying anything the invading forces could use to bolster themselves.

The Scythians, rather than give battle to the Persians, hid after destroying food and poisoning water bodies.

Another famous example in the ancient world was when Vercingetorix deployed this tactic against Roman general Julius Caesar in Gaul.

Vercingetorix, who would unite the myriad tribe of Gaul, would ultimately fail in his attempt to stymie Ceasar.

The American Civil War saw another notable example of scorched-earth tactics  employed by the North and Union General William T Sherman against the South.

This ploy, which is an example of the scorched-earth policy being deployed as an offensive weapon, is thought to have inflicted losses of around $100 million on South.

It is also thought to have crushed the Souths resolve to continue the conflict.

The Russian Army has previously used such tactics against the German army in 1915 and during the Second World War, as per Journals of India.

Maratha leader Chhatrapati Shivajis troops were also famed for employing this tactic  though historians say they were ordered to avoid killing civilians and despoiling holy sites.

In modern times, this term only entered the lexicon in 1937  when it was used to refer to the battles between China and Japan, as per Study.com.

There are four main principles behind this tactic:

The defenders must have much more familiarity with their terrain and must possess resources

They must have access to other resources

The enemy troops must not have enough supplies to survive

The devastation must be employed strategically

According to Journals of India website, the 1977 Geneva convention outlawed this strategy being aimed at civilians.

Russia pounds Bakhmut

Kyiv said the Russians were pounding Ukrainian positions around besieged Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region and other cities and towns with air strikes and artillery barrages.

The small city on the edge of a chunk of Russian-controlled territory in Donetsk has for months been the biggest battleground of the war, now in its second year.

The head of the Moscow-controlled part of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said Russian forces now held 75 per cent of the city.

Moscows military was also targeting the city of Avdiivka.

The Russians have turned Avdiivka into a total ruin, said Pavlo Kyrylenko, Donetsks regional governor, describing an air strike on Monday that destroyed a multi-storey building.

In total, around 1,800 people remain in Avdiivka, all of whom risk their lives every day.

As the battles ground on, US media outlet CNN reported that Ukraine had been forced to amend some military plans ahead of its long-anticipated counter-offensive because of the leak of U.S. documents.

US officials are trying to trace the source of the leak of dozens of secret documents. They detail an array of topics, including information on the Ukraine conflict, in which the United States has supplied Kyiv with huge amounts of weapons and led international condemnation of Moscows invasion.

Asked about the report, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said Kyivs strategic plans remained unchanged but that specific tactics were always subject to change.

The secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, told Reuters: The opinion of people who have nothing to do with this do not interest us The circle of people who possess information is extremely restricted.

Some national security experts and US officials say they suspect the leaker could be American, but they do not rule out pro-Russian actors.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the leak, but added: There is in fact a tendency to always blame everything on Russia. It is, in general, a disease.

With inputs from agencies
Amul is formally entering the markets in poll-bound Karnataka.

The announcement, nevertheless, seems to have angered the Kannadigas, who are fiercely opposing the action.

The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets its staple goods under the well-known brand name Amul, announced via Twitter on 5 April that it will deliver fresh milk and other goods to Bengaluru.

In a tweet, it announced, A new wave of freshness with milk and curd is coming to Bengaluru. More information coming soon.

A new wave of freshness with milk and curd is coming

to Bengaluru. More information coming soon. #LaunchAlert pic.twitter.com/q2SCGsmsFP  Amul.coop (@Amul_Coop) April 5, 2023

After the announcement, hashtags like #GobackAmul started trending on the micro-blogging site.

It is Amul vs Nandini

The criticism of Amul comes at a time when the state has its own regional brand, KMF, which markets milk and curd under the Nandini name in the state of Karnataka.

According to The Wire, the successful Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) is already meeting the states need for a variety of milk products through its flagship brand, Nandini.

KMF offers its products on demand outside of Karnataka in states including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, and Maharashtra in addition to Delhi.

Notably, Amul is already present in Karnataka as it has been selling ice creams in the state for a long time. Recently, it has also launched Kannada-language Facebook and Twitter profiles where it is providing complete product information.

Nonetheless, the locals criticised the companys choice to sell milk and curd in Bengaluru. By using hashtags like #AmulGoBack, #SaveKMF, #SaveNandini, and others, locals have requested that Amul products be boycotted.

As a show of opposition to Amul milk, Bengalurus hotels have also decided to only serve Nandini brand products, reported Livemint.

According to PC Rao, president of the Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association, all of the citys hotels have agreed to utilise solely Nandini goods in order to support regional farmers.

Many people are wondering why Amul, which is also a cooperative, is acquiring another cooperative.

The Wire quoted AS Premnath, a former managing director of the KMF, as saying that there is an unwritten agreement among milk federations that they should not compete with one another. Also, they promised not to encroach on other peoples market space.

The introduction of Amul into Karnataka will undermine the fundamental concept of cooperative milk societies, he argued, even if there are no restrictions on private corporations selling milk in any state.

Narasimha Murthy, the president of the Bengaluru Milk Union, predicted that if Amul begins selling its goods in the region, Nandini products will face serious competition.

Also read: An average cow produces 10.8 tonnes of milk a year. Now, comes Chinas cloned super cows which can give 18 tonnes

Congress vs BJP on Amuls entry into Bengaluru markets

After Amul announced its foray into the Bengaluru market, Congress and the BJP have been at odds.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai claimed the administration is clear on the Amul issue, despite accusations from the opposition Congress that the states dominant dairy brand, Nandini, is the target of a conspiracy by the BJP-controlled government.

According to ANI, accusing Congress of politicising Amuls entry to Karnataka, CM Bommai said, We have absolute clarity with regard to Amul. Nandini is a national brand. Its not restricted to Karnataka. We have popularised Nandini as a brand in other states as well, adding that not only has milk production increased in the state but incentives have also been given to the milk producers.

State Health Minister K Sudhakar also hit out at Congress and said, Nandini products are sold in other states and countries too and our Nandini brand is capable of facing any competition. Congress is doing politics in everything and shedding crocodile tears for farmers.

While speaking to reporters, Sudhakar said that Nandini products are the pride of the state. Slamming the previous government, he added that it is only the BJP that supported the local farmers and the brand.

Former CM BS Yeddyurappa for the first time gave a subsidy of 2 per litre to farmers. Now that is increased to 5. If any government has supported our farmers and Nandini the most it is the BJP government.

He further added that not just Amul, but already 16 to 18 different private and public sector brands are selling their milk products in the state, but Nandini, due to its high quality, remains the most preferred brand in the market.

So to say that Amul is a threat to Nandini is an insult to our home-grown brand, he added.

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar stated that Nandini was a better brand than Amul.

We want to protect our milk and our farmers. We already have Nandini which is a better brand than AmulWe dont need any Amulour water, our milk, and our soil is strong, Shivakumar told ANI.

On Friday, Siddaramaiah said, All the Kannadigas have to unanimously resist the usurpation of the KMF, which is built for the welfare of the farmers of the country. All Kannadigas should pledge not to buy Amul products.

The Congress leader further stated, In addition to language treason by the imposition of Hindi and land treason by trespassing within the state borders, now the BJP government is going to betray the farmers by shutting down Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which is the livelihood of millions of dairy farming families in the country.

Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Twitter said, Now there is a 3rd plot to finish the lifeline of Kannadigas Nandini. Plot-1: Merger of Nandini with Amul; Union Home Minister Amit Shahs statement. Plot-2: Print the Hindi word Dahi on curd.

The BJP on Sunday accused the Congress of unleashing a misinformation campaign over dairy cooperative Amuls presence in Karnataka and asserted that it has done far more than the opposition party to strengthen the Karnataka Milk Federation and its products are sold under the brand name Nandini.

Amul is NOT entering Karnataka. Both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms. KMFs turnover went up by (Rs) 10,000 crore after BJP came to power in 2019. In 2022, turnover stood at (Rs) 25,000 crore, of which (Rs) 20,000 crore went back to farmers of Karnataka, BJP IT department headed Amit Malviya tweeted.

Malviya said, There is a reason why India doesnt TRUST Congress. They LIE! Latest being the misinformation campaign that Karnataka Milk Federation, which owns Nandini, is going to merge with Amul. The BJP has done far more to strengthen KMF and make Nandini a global brand.

 Amul is NOT entering Karnataka

 Both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms

 KMFs turnover went up by 10,000 crore after BJP came to power in 2019. In 2022, turnover stood at 25,000 crore, of which 20,000 crore went back to farmers of Karnataka

3/n  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 9, 2023

Amit Shah on cooperation between Amul and KMF

The current debate began on 30 December 2022, when Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah visited Karnatakas Mandya district to dedicate a Rs 260 billion dairy project, according to Hindustan Times.

Then, he had requested Amul and KMF work together.

He had said, Amul and KMF can work together towards ensuring that there is a primary dairy in every village in Karnataka. KMF will get all the technical support and cooperation from Amul. If they work together, it will benefit the farmers all over the country. Amul and KMF have to work together to boost the cooperative dairy in Karnataka.

Shortage of milk in Karnataka

Amuls introduction into the Karnataka dairy market has coincided with a milk shortage, which often occurs during the summer due to a lack of green manure for the cows.

However, other people contend that the shortage was purposefully made because the states BJP administration wanted to make it easier for Gujarats Amul to sell in Karnataka, reported The Wire.

According to KMF representatives, the lumpy skin disease in cattle caused a milk supply problem. The states milk production decreased by 10 lakh litres per day in January of this year.

With inputs from agencies

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Wole Soyinka is being trolled by Peter Obi's supporters over the Nobel laureate's criticism of their conduct.

Former Kaduna Central District senator, Shehu Sani, and a former President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, Chukuwudi Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, have added their voices to the controversies over the positions of two of Nigeria's literature icons on contemporary natiinal political issues.

Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, had criticised the conduct of the supporters of the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, while Chimamanda Adichie had urged US President Joe Biden not to congratulate President-elect Bola Tinubu.

Mr Obi's supporters, known as the Obidients, have been up in arms against the literarature icon over his comments.

In an interview with Channels Television, Mr Soyinka said he told Mr Obi that if he lost the election, it would be his followers who lost it for him.

Since Mr Soyinka's comments, the Obidients have disparaged him on social media.

Mr Soyinka doubled down in a statement titled, "'Fascism on course."

In a related development on Thursday, another Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie, in her open letter to the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, alleged that the 2023 presidential election was marred by violence, ballot box snatching, voter intimidation, and other malpractices.

The letter attracted to Ms Adichie criticism from supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In his reaction, Mr Sani in a twitter post on Friday said the criticisms have made Messrs Soyinka and Chimamanda to be in the ring of Nigeria's political battle.

"The opposition supporters are going after Prof Wole Soyinka & the ruling party supporters are going after Chimamanda Adichie;The great literary giants are now in the ring of Nigeria's political battle.This is a positive development other African countries are not privileged to have."

The opposition supporters are going after Prof Wole Soyinka & the ruling party supporters are going after Chimamanda Adichie;The great literary giants are now in the ring of Nigeria's political battle.This is a positive dev. other African countries are not privileged to have.-- Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) April 7, 2023

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He also said, "In 2011, any northerner opposed to the ambition of Buhari was considered an infidel. After the elections, mobs resorted to violence and invaded the homes of members of the PDP and killed their family members & burned down their houses.If those were not fascists, Peter's guys are not."

In 2011,any northerner opposed to the ambition of Buhari was considered an infidel.After the elections,mobs resorted to violence & invaded the homes of members of the PDP & killed their family members & burned down their houses.If those were not fascists,Peter's guys are not.-- Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) April 7, 2023

But Charly boy, in a post on his Twitter page, went after Mr Soyinka, saying, "The kin respect I had for dis man, was almost the kind of respect I had for my stainless father, The Socrates of the Supreme Court. It has finally dawned on me that Soyinka can never be the man Chinua Achebe was."
Pappalpreet Singh has been arrested from Punjab.

The aide of radical preacher Amritpal Singh was arrested from Hoshiarpur in a Punjab Police operation that also involved its counter-intelligence wing.

Addressing the media, Punjab Police Inspector General (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said, He (Pappalpreet) is the main associate of Amritpal Singh. He has been arrested from Kathunangal area in Amritsar.

He said Pappalpreet has been detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) and that six other cases have also been registered against him.

But who is Pappalpreet?

Lets take a closer look:

Who is he?

As per The Times of India, Pappalpreet hails from Amritsars Marari.

Papalpreet is thought to be Amritpals mentor. Police say he has been in contact with Pakistans ISI.

Papalpreet has been working with Amritpal closely since he returned to India last year and took over the reins of Waris Punjab De, an organisation founded by actor Deep Sidhu, who died in a road accident in 2021.

Officials said Papalpreet Singh was taking instructions from the ISI to raise the bogey of Khalistan in Punjab and working to plunge the state into the dark days of terrorism.

As per The Quint, Pappalpreet, who is in his late 30s is from a family that works in agriculture.

He has a wife and a son, according to Indian Express.

He went to a convent school and has a PG diploma.

Pappalpreet turned to activist in his 20s.

There were two inciting incidents for this  that year, Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh Rajoana were handed death sentences in the assassination of chief minister Beant Singh and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh dressed up as Guru Gobind Singh.

Pappalpreet claimed to TV84 in 2016 the contrast between the two incidents made him turn to activist full-time, as per The Quint.

Pappalpreet joined Sikh Youth Front and also had ties to the Sikh Youth Federation Bhindrawals, as per FPJ.

He has also been protesting for Sikh prisoners who have been jailed since the early 1990s to be released.

According to Hindustan Times, Pappalpreet described himself as an Amritsar-based journalist for the website Punjab Shield.

The website is pro-Khalistani propaganda, as per the newspaper.

As per Indian Express, Pappalpreet has previously interviewed several ex-Sikh militants and their families in a capacity as a journalist.

A journalist told FPJ that Pappalpreet does not have mass support and he is not beholden to a specific ideology.

Troubles with law

He was first arrested in 2015 for his alleged links with the ISI for organizing the Sarbat Khalsa at Amritsars Cahaba village, according to The Times of India.

As per FPJ, Pappalpreet gained widespread attention after reading the chargesheet of Narain Singh Chaura against the then of Parkash Singh Badal regime.

Pappalpreet in his speech claimed Khalistan is the only solution.

He was again arrested next year for planning to hold the Sarbat Khalsa for the second time at Takht Damdama Sahib in Bathinda, as per The Times of India.

He is also a person of interest in the Anjala violence case, as per FPJ.

Pappalpreet also received an Income Tax notice asking for an explanation for him receiving 4.48 lakh in his account.

Pappalpreet has accused police of framing him in an attempt-to-murder running a campaign against drug smugglers in 2019, as per Indian Express.

Brains behind getaway

As per Hindustan Times, Pappalpreet is believed to be the brains behind Amritpals getaway from the police.

Police told PTI Papalpreet was seen driving a motorcycle with Amritpal riding pillion.

The two-wheeler was found deserted at Phillaur in Jalandhar.

They said it was on Papalpreets instructions that Amritpal changed his appearance from a radical Sikh preacher to an ordinary person and finally abandoned the motorcycle at a canal in Phillaur.

They said Papalpreet took the motorcycle arranged by Manpreet Singh and Gurdeep Singh, famously known as Manna and Deepa who run local gangs in the state, and escorted Amritpal to a gurdwara at Nangal Ambian village in Jalandhar where he changed his looks, put on a pink turban and black goggles before fleeing.

Amritpal and Pappalpreet had been on the run since 18 March when the Punjab Police launched a crackdown against the Khalistan sympathiser and his aides.

The radical preacher escaped the police net in Jalandhar district by switching vehicles and changing appearances.

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.

With inputs from agencies
The United States, it seems, has a documents problem; another WikiLeaks on its hands, others say. Over the past few days, the US is dealing with the blowback after a large cache of classified Pentagon documents  including maps, charts and photographs  surfaced on the internet.

The leak has led to the Justice Department carrying out an investigation, with Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh saying on Friday, We are aware of the reports of social media posts, and the Department is reviewing the matter.

We take a closer look at the leak  from whats been revealed, whos behind the leak and what happens next.

What leak?

Over the past few weeks, several classified documents, some even marked top secret, found their way on the internet. According to a researcher at Bellingcat, the online investigative group, the documents first appeared on the anonymous image board 4chan in March.

Since then, different documents, including maps, photographs and other sensitive data has been revealed on social media platforms such as Telegram and Twitter. A huge part of the documents are pertaining to the state of the Ukraine war, but theres also information about South Koreas hesitance to supply ammunition to Ukraine as well as the flourishing of the Wagner mercenary group across the world.

US officials have said that most of the documents that have surfaced online are real, with only some being altered. However, it is still unclear who has doctored the documents or the reason behind it.

The New York Times has reported that most officials believe that there is a strong likelihood that an American official leaked the information. However, investigations are still being carried out on whether it is actually a leak or a hack.

The Wall Street Journal reports that an approximate of 100 documents first appeared on a group on the Discord messaging platform. It reached a larger audience when a user reposted the documents to another group. From there, at least 10 files migrated to a much bigger community focused on the Minecraft computer game.

And last Wednesday, a Russian propaganda account on Telegram posted a crudely doctored version of one of the documents, alongside a few unedited ones.

Also read: One Year of Russia-Ukraine War: Will the conflict end in 2023?

Whats been revealed?

The intelligence leak is shaping up to be one of the most damaging in decades, officials said.

But what exactly has been revealed in the documents? The leaked documents offer a very tantalising and unique view of the Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022. The cache of documents reveal that Ukraine is suffering heavy losses in the war, especially in Bakhmut. It also outlines the critical shortages of air defense munitions.

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 mechanised vehicles. They also include details of expenditure rates for munitions under Ukraine military control, including the HIMARS rocket systems.

The leaked documents also reveal how deeply Russias security and intelligence services have been penetrated by the United States. The documents contain daily real-time warnings to US intelligence agencies on the timing of Moscows strikes and even its specific targets. This has enabled Washington to prepare Kyiv for the attacks and its defence.

The leaks also seem to indicate that the United States is also spying on Ukraines top military and political leaders. And the spying doesnt stop there. The leaked documents have also shown that Washington is spying on its allies  something that could hurt US diplomatically.

The leaked documents revealed that South Korea, a key ally of the US, is torn about supplying ammunition to Ukraine. This is because of its official policy of not providing lethal weapons to countries at war.

Theres also documents that reveal that the Mossad  Israels foreign intelligence service  had encouraged its staff and citizens to participate in anti-government protests that brought the country to a standstill earlier in March.

The documents also disclose that a hacking group under the guidance of Russias Federal Security Service might have compromised a Canadian gas pipeline in February.

The leaked documents also reveal the internal plans of the notorious Wagner mercenary group and also how its strengthening its presence across Africa and in Haiti. One of the disclosures is that Wagner sought to purchase arms from Turkey, a NATO ally.

In early February, Wagner personnel met with Turkish contacts to purchase weapons and equipment from Turkey for Vagners efforts in Mali and Ukraine, one report, as seen by the Washington Post, states, using a variation on the spelling of the groups name. The report further states that Malis interim president, Assimi Goita, had confirmed that Mali could acquire weapons from Turkey on Vagners behalf.

Is Russia behind the leak?

It is still unknown who is behind the leak. However, Ukraine was quick to point the finger at Russia, calling it a Russian information operation.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram that the leak is a Russian information operation and does not reveal Kyivs actual operational plans, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

However, some experts dont agree with this view. One Chinese expert on international security told the Global Times that the leak is unlikely caused by Russian intelligence agencies, because this does not make sense.

He said that if Russia had obtained the documents, it would not post them online as it would make Russia lose its source. Moreover, he noted that there is no reason for Moscow to let its enemies know that it has obtained this intelligence, because this will also make its enemies change plans, making the hard-won military intelligence useless.

How did other countries react?

Clearly, the leaks put the US in an awkward position. France, an ally of the US, on Saturday reacted to the leaks  which revealed that French soldiers were in Ukraine. There are no French forces engaged in operation in Ukraine, a spokesperson for the minister of the armed forces, Sebastien Lecornu, was quoted as saying. The documents cited do not come from the French armies. We do not comment on documents whose source is uncertain.

Even Israels Mossad reacted on Sunday, denying the information in the leaked documents, calling it mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever.

South Korea is also unhappy with the leak, with CNN reporting that officials plan to raise the issue with Washington.

With inputs from agencies

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Its the worlds oldest national broadcaster. The BBC completed 100 last year and has now been labelled a government-funded media organisation by Elon Muks Twitter. The British broadcaster is not pleased and is objecting to the tag on one of its main Twitter accounts.

So what changed? Why did Twitter add the label? And who really runs the BBC? We take a look.

Why has the BBC been branded as government-funded media?

Twitter has labelled one of BBCs accounts, which has 2.2 million followers, as government-funded media. However, the label has not been given to the networks other accounts like BBC World with 39.7 million followers and BBC Breaking News with 51.6 million followers.

The BBC account  @BBC  shares updates about TV programmes produced by the network, radio shows, podcasts and other non-news material.

The social media giant made the change to the official BBC account after adding a similar tag to the American media organisation NPR (National Public Radio).

Twitter had initially labelled NPR as state-affiliated media, a tag which is given to Russias network RT and Chinas Xinhua News Agency. However, it was changed to government-funded media after the backlash from the American broadcaster, which said it would not tweet from the account until the label existed. It was then changed to government-funded media.

According to Twitter, state-affiliated media outlets are organisations where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution.

NPR receives some funding from public institutions but the vast majority comes from sources such as corporate sponsorships and NPR membership fees, reports CNN.

Twitter, however, has not defined what it considers government-funded media, the tag that the official BBC handle still carries.

What is the BBC saying?

The BBC has objected to the label and is speaking to Twitter about the new designation on its @BBC account to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee, it said in a statement.

Also read: BBC and Bias: The Modi documentary, the prejudiced lens on India, and other controversies

How was the BBC formed?

The BBC was founded as the British Broadcasting Company on 18 October 1922. It was a private firm in which British manufacturers held shares.

It took to the airwaves for the first time on 14 November 1922, delivering short news bulletins and the weather. Hardly anyone took notice; only The Times wrote about the broadcasting organisation briefly on one of its inside pages.

In 1926, the BBC gained the attention of the UK public after it covered the general strike that year. Soon the Parliament committee recommended that the private company should be replaced by a public, Crown-chartered organisation. Thats when the BBC  British Broadcasting Corporation  as we know it came into being.

This meant that the organisation is ultimately answerable to British Parliament. However, it enjoys independence regarding its activities.

The BBC had a monopoly on television in the UK until 1954 and on radio until 1972.

The century-old media network is among the most commonly watched free-to-air channels today and is reportedly broadcast in 200 countries. While it is publicly funded, it operates under a Royal Charter.

What is the Royal Charter?

The Royal Charter is the constitutional basis of the BBC, which sets out its object, mission and public purposes. It states that the BBC should provide duly accurate and impartial news, current affairs and factual programming to build peoples understanding of all parts of the United Kingdom and of the wider world.

According to the Charter, the Corporation must be independent, particularly over editorial and creative decisions, the times and manner in which its output and services are supplied, and in the management of its affairs. It outlines the companys governance and regulatory arrangements, including the role and composition of the BBC Board.

Under the Royal Charter, which is granted by the ruling monarch, the company must obtain a licence from the British home secretary. The Charter must be renewed every 10 years. The current one began on 1 January 2017 and ends on 31 December 2027.

Until 2017, the BBC was regulated by the BBC Trust, a 12-member independent board headed by a chairman who was chosen by the British monarch to supervise daily operations, and a government-appointed regulatory authority, Ofcom. The Trust was abolished in 2016 after an independent review as it was found to be flawed.

Now the company is governed by the BBC Board and is regulated by Ofcom. The BBC Board appoints the director-general and other senior executives and issues reports on how it is meeting its public service remit. Four board members and the chair are appointed by the king on the recommendations of the government, but a large majority are named by the boards nominating committee, according to a report by The Independent.

The executive board oversees its everyday operations.

Who funds the BBC?

The broadcaster is predominantly funded by households in the UK through a licence fee, which is also required to watch non-BBC channels or live services. In 2022, the licence fee raised 3.8 billion for the Corporation, accounting for 71 per cent of its total income of 5.3 billion. The rest came from its commercial activities and grants, royalties and rental income, according to the BBC.

Every household in the UK has to pay the licence fee if they watch programmes shown on any TV channel, stream programmes on online services YouTube or Amazon Prime Video, or download or watch any BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.

In January last year, the government said that the broadcasters funding would be frozen until 2024  it will remain at 159 annually  and the licence fee will be abolished completely by 2027.

The BBC receives more than 90 million every year from the government to support the BBC World Service, which caters to audiences outside of the UK. It also makes money through its commercial subsidiaries like BBC Studios and advertising on services offered to non-UK audiences, the report says.

Does the UK government intervene?

No, the BBC is editorially independent of the government. In fact, the media network has been critical of lawmakers, especially the Conservative Party.

The BBC has been accused of having a liberal bias and has received backlash for being biased against former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher during her tenure. It has been slammed for its anti-Brexit coverage during the 2016 referendum.

But its not only the Tories who have been critical of the broadcaster. During the 2019 general elections, the BBC was accused of being partial toward Boris Johnson by supporters of Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour Party chief.

Also read: BBC documentary The Modi Question: Another salvo of bias, hateful propaganda and colonial hangover

BBC chairman Richard Sharp acknowledged last year that the company has a liberal bias. However, Sharp himself remains a controversial figure and is accused of failing to divulge his role in facilitating a loan to Johnson. Senior figures within the BBC believe that the chairman has seriously undermined the Corporations impartiality, reports The Guardian.

In January, the BBC was under fire over its documentary India: The Modi Question, which revisits the 2002 Gujarat riots when PM Narendra Modi was the states chief minister. The Indian government referred to the film as propaganda and accused the Corporation of having a colonial mindset. UK premier Rishi Sunak came out in Indias support and said he disagreed with the way the programme was portrayed.

With inputs from agencies

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The detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia on espionage charges marks an unusual throwback to the old Soviet tactics for handling foreign correspondents.

Authorities in Vladimir Putins Russia have increasingly used criminal charges against their own journalists as part of a increasing crackdown on free and independent media, as Jodie Ginsberg, the president of the Committee to Protect Journalists, has put it. But prosecutions of international journalists in Russia are still rare enough.

Indeed, media historians like myself have to reach back decades to recall similar incidents. History shows that when they do occur, arrests of foreign journalists over espionage charges tend to provoke a diplomatic tempest.

Tinker, tailor, soldier, journalist?

Take, for example, the Prague show trial of Associated Press reporter William Oatis at the height of the Cold War in 1951. The prosecution of Oatis on spying charges was choreographed to suit the Soviet authorities, but the only real issue was that Oatis talked with Czechs and didnt get government permission first.

Reporting is not espionage, The New York Times said in an editorial at the time. [Oatis] was doing what all good newspaper men do in countries whose governments have not chosen to crawl back into the dark recesses of pre-historic barbarism.

The case became a cause celebre from 1951 to 1953 and led to years of travel and trade embargoes between the US and Czechoslovakia, which was then strictly controlled by the Soviet Union.

When Oatis was finally released in 1953, the journalist emerged weak and tubercular, describing his prison experience as akin to being buried alive. Still he carried on reporting, returning to the US to cover the United Nations for decades before retiring.

Oatis case was perhaps the most famous during the Cold War, but it was far from the only one.

Other American journalists who were arrested in Soviet sweeps of countries behind the Iron Curtain included Oatis fellow Associated Press reporters Leonard Kirschen  arrested in 1950 in Romania and held in jail for a decade  and Endre Marton, who was arrested in Hungary in 1955 along with his wife, Ilona Marton, who worked for United Press.

They were released in 1956 and smuggled out of the country and into the US the following year. Dozens of reporters from other agencies and other Western countries were also expelled from Eastern Europe around this time.

The risks of reporting

Of course, arrest wasnt the only way to silence a reporter. Then  as now  theres a risk of violence and death.

Dozens of journalists were killed around the worlds hot conflicts in every year of the Cold War. With the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, attacks on journalists slowed down.

Nonetheless, the global death toll since 1992 stands at over 2,190, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. And in nearly eight out of 10 cases, the murderers go free.

Of those deaths, at least 12 have involved journalists covering the war in Ukraine, according to a March 2023 report by the human rights organisation Council of Europe.

As part of its crackdown on free and independent media, Russias forces have been particularly hostile to journalists on the front lines of Ukraine, the Council of Europe report noted.

Meanwhile, data from the Committee to Protect Journalists suggest an uptick in the number of Russian journalists being held behind bars. Of the 19 currently imprisoned, half were picked up by authorities after the invasion of Ukraine.

Journalists working in hostile nations or in war zones do so knowing the risk that death or imprisonment may be used as diplomatic leverage or as a warning to other journalists. It is part of the job.

Cover stories

Yet not all reporters or editors are innocent observers. It is true that over the years, American journalists have indeed worked with, or even for, the US government or intelligence services.

Several hundred, at least, worked closely with the CIA and other intelligence agencies during World War II and through the course of the Cold War, according to evidence that emerged during the Watergate era.

For many, the collaboration had laudable aims.

American journalist Virginia Hall used her credentials as a New York Post reporter to help the French resistance in World War II, guiding downed Allied airmen to safety in neutral countries and arranging weapons drops.

Her story was told in the book A Woman of No Importance. The Norwegian journalist Erling Espeland did similar work in World War II.

In some cases, like that of The New York Times Donald A Allan, American journalists transitioned from World War II reporting into work for intelligence agencies with relative ease. Allan quit the New York Times in 1952 and supposedly went to work for CBS and United Press. But later, he said that was nothing more than a cover for his work with the CIA.

In 1975, the US and Russia signed the Helsinki Final Act, starting a process of detente and trade normalisation, including guarantees of press freedom. Still, Western journalists were routinely harassed and detained in the Cold War Soviet Union.

In a case that resonates with that of Gershkovichs, in 1986 Nicholas Daniloff, the Moscow correspondent for US News & World Report, was arrested and detained on charges of espionage. He was later allowed to leave the Soviet Union.

A totalitarian tool

Most journalists today would reject the practice of being entangled with the work of the intelligence services. In 1996, Society of Professional Journalists President G Kelly Hawes rejected the use of American journalism as a cover for intelligence.

The public shouldnt have to fear speaking to the press, and journalists shouldnt have to fear for their safety, she said. Our integrity is compromised and our lives are endangered. That is wrong. And to be clear, Gershkovich and The Wall Street Journal have denied the espionage claims.

But to officials in an authoritarian government like that of Russia, journalists are not much different from spies. It is, after all, a reporters job to uncover uncomfortable truths, often hidden from the wider world.

Seen in that light, slapping a charge of espionage on a journalist is one of the more Orwellian tools in the authoritarian playbook.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Tabor: Edel Rodriguezs striking, at times controversial, illustrations of Donald Trump have graced the covers of major publications like Time and Der Spiegel  and with the indictment of the former president, the artist is back at it.

The Cuban Americans latest illustration set for the next edition of Time will run next week in the United States, but its already been released and shared millions of times.

It features a stark black background on which a fingerprint spirals outwards from the howling mouth of the Republican mogul.

Hes caught in a storm of his own making, Rodriguez says of Trump, speaking from his Victorian home in a bucolic corner of New Jersey.

The image is far from his most controversial: in early 2017, to criticise Trumps decree targeting immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, he published a cover with the German magazine Der Spiegel that showed the then-American president brandishing a knife and holding the bloody, decapitated head of the statue of liberty.

Anti-Trump demonstrators deployed the image at their rallies, but it triggered outrage from some politicians and opinion writers.

Responsibility versus neutrality

The 51-year-old artist who left Cuba as a child says his images are intended to stir something in viewers in the face of dangers to democracy.

Rodriguez also does not impose the duty of neutrality on himself.

I understand that you have to maintain a certain neutrality, he says, sitting among a smattering of his illustrations, including on the covers of The New Yorker and the French review America.

But you always have to ask yourself when is the neutrality going too far, and I felt that being neutral with Trump in 2016 was not the right thing to do, because I could see what was coming.

Rodriguez has depicted Trump like a meteor about to smash Earth, or a child sitting atop a missile with North Koreas Kim Jong Un.

And like other artists, he has also depicted Trump with symbols of the Ku Klux Klan, particularly when the 45th president failed to condemn white supremacist activists who attacked anti-racism demonstrators in Charlottesville in 2017.

Per Rodriguez, the 6 January, 2021, storming of the US Capitol building by Trump supporters lent credence to the notion that danger was brewing and neutrality was moot.

We were this close to a coup, he says.

Rodriguezs own story feeds his work: as a nine-year-old he fled Fidel Castros Cuba with his parents.

In a comic book to be published this fall, he recounts his experience with dictatorship and the Mariel boat lift of 1980 in which he migrated to Florida, which saw a mass exodus of Cubans.

Rodriguez feels that Trump brought out the worst in people, creating an image of the United States that contrasted with his own experience: I know how good the people in this country are, he says.

He says he draws inspiration from his family and Cuba but also the work of Picasso, Matisse, or Paul Klee.

In drawing Trump, he uses recurring visual codes, like orange skin, bright yellow hair, an open, yelling mouth, and a lack of eyes.

These covers that I create dont normalise (him) and they show him as who he is, Rodriguez said.

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On Sunday, a Saudi delegation visited Yemens capital of Sanaa to hold talks with the Houthi rebels.

The move brokered by Oman come as part of a wider international attempt to resolve the nine-year conflict that has wracked Yemen.

A Yemeni diplomat from The Gulf said officials were in Sanaa to discuss moving forward to create peace in Yemen.

But who are the Houthis? Whats the history of Yemens civil war? And what is the significance of the Saudi-Houthi talks?

Lets take a closer look:

Who are the Houthis?

As per Brookings, the Houthis themselves are Zaydi Shiites or Zaydiyyah  a minority within the minority Shiite community in the Islamic world.

The Zadiyyah are named after Zayd bin Ali  the great-grandson of Muhammads cousin.

Ali revolted against the Umayyad Empire in 740 and was martyred in the cause. His followers settled in north Yemen in the ninth century and battled to control Yemen for the next thousand years.

The Houthi movement has its origins in northern Yemen, as per Britannica.

It takes its name from Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi  a politician and political activist who founded the movement in the 1990s.

As per The Guardian, the Houthis slogan is God is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse on the Jews, victory to Islam.

The Houthis adopted this slogan after they were deeply radicalised in 2003  a result of George W Bushs invasion of Iraq, as per Brookings.

History of Yemens civil war

The seeds for Yemens civil war were sown in 2011 after unrest forced its long-time president Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down, according to BBC.

Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, Salehs second-in-command, was left facing both economic turmoil and threats from jihadists.

Also, his control over the army was far from assured.

The Houthis took advantage of this  seizing Yemens capital Sanaa in 2014.

Hadi, meanwhile, resigned and fled abroad.

Saudi Arabia found itself alarmed by this turn of events in the country with which it shares a 1,300-kilometre border.

What Riyadh feared most of all is that Yemen would become a catspaw for its great regional rival Tehran  which it says backs the rebels with both weapons and coin.

In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition backed by the West began making war on the Houthi insurgents. In September that year, Hadi took back his resignation and returned to Yemens temporary capital Aden.

In 2016, the UN attempted to hold peace talks between the warring factions, but failed.

That year, the Houthis and Saleh declared that a political council would be established to govern Sanaa and northern Yemen.

But in 2017, Saleh betrayed the Houthis and asked his followers to rise up against them. The Houthis killed Saleh and crushed his forces in just two days, as per CFR.

The remnants of Salehs troops then joined Saudi Arabia and launched a fresh offensive against the Houthis, as per BBC.

However, the fighting ended with a stalemate.

In 2021, the Houthis launched a fresh attack on Marib, the Yemen governments final stronghold in the north.

The year 2022 witnessed the fighting devolve into all out brutality.

The conflict has left tens of thousands dead and left 80 per cent of Yemens population dependent on humanitarian aid.

The United Nations has called the Yemen civil war the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.

Significance of talks

According to the BBC, it is possible that the wider rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia might be coming to an end  given the recently held talks between the two and the decision to re-establish diplomatic relations.

As per the piece, that decision seems to have created the impetus for a serious drive towards bringing the Yemeni civil war to an end.

Abdulghani al-Iryani of the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies, told Al Jazeera it is clear everyone on all sides of the conflict is tired of war.

Houthis are happy talking to Saudis in the absence of other Yemeni parties, and that is quite a risk. Yemen is now controlled by different armed groups, and they control certain revenue streams.

Ahmed Nagi, a Yemen expert at the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think-tank, said the Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement has given a boost to Saudi-Houthi negotiations, and that both sides are close to announcing the cease-fires renewal.

However, the second track of the Houthi-Saudi negotiations  a potential roadmap to reach a permanent settlement to the conflict  would be a major challenge when discussed by Yemeni parties, he said.

Each party has different interpretations and expectations, he said.

Given the complexities of the situation, it is hard to see progress on this track very soon.

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak said there were positive signals that a cease-fire deal would be announced, along with addressing other humanitarian and economic issues.

The (regional) circumstances are different, he told an Egyptian satellite channel Al-Qahera in an interview aired on Friday. It pushed towards achieving a solution.

Bin Mubarak, however, said there are many fundamental issues that Yemens warring sides need to address before reaching a settlement to the conflict.

Hans Grundberg, the UN envoy for Yemen, described the ongoing efforts, including the Saudi and Omani talks in Sanaa, as the closest Yemen has been to real progress towards lasting peace since the war began.

This is a moment to be seized and built on and a real opportunity to start an inclusive political process under UN auspices to sustainably end the conflict, he said.

With inputs from agencies

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New Delhi: An Air India flight to London returned to Delhi minutes after takeoff as a passenger caused physical harm to two of the cabin crew members and did not pay head to verbal and written warnings. The airline handed over the unruly passenger to the police before taking off to Heathrow.

In a statement, Air India said flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London Heathrow on April 10, 2023, returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board.

Passenger continued with unruly behaviour

Air India further said that the passenger did not pay heed to verbal and written warnings and continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members.

The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing, the statement added.

Brawl in Air India Delhi-London flight

The Air India flight took off from Delhi at 6.35 am on Monday and the brawl took place after some time forcing the plane to make a turn and come back to Delhi again.

FIR lodged

Air India informed that an FIR has been lodged with the police. Safety, security and dignity of all on board is important to us at Air India. We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight to depart for London this afternoon, the airline said.

Incidents of unruly passengers in Air India

The latest incident comes merely months after a drunk man allegedly urinated on a woman co-passenger onboard New York-Delhi Air India flight on November 26.

The Pee-Gate incident had sparked debate on passengers conduct, prompting airlines to issue tough guidelines to tackle unruly fliers.

Air India was fined Rs 30 lakh for failing to comply with rules in the urination case.

In March, a passenger of London-Mumbai Air India flight was caught smoking in the lavatory of the flight. The person was booked for unruly behaviour.

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Itanagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a two-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh starting Monday. He is scheduled to launch the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) in Kibithoo, a village along the India-China border, officials said.

During his first visit to the northeastern state as the home minister, Shah, on Monday, will inaugurate nine micro hydel projects constructed under the Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme in Kibithoo.

These electricity projects will empower people living in border villages, officials said.

He will also inaugurate Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) projects to augment infrastructure at Likabali (Arunachal Pradesh), Chapra (Bihar), Nooranad (Kerala) and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), the officials said.

Shah is slated to interact with ITBP personnel at Kibithoo in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The home minister will visit the Namti field on Tuesday and pay homage at the Walong war memorial.

The VVP is a centrally sponsored scheme under which 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting the northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development.

In the first phase, 662 villages, including 455 in Andhra Pradesh, have been identified for priority coverage.

(With inputs from PTI)

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New Delhi: India has started a programme to invest in infrastructure and villages along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in an effort to increase its military and administrative presence there amid rising tensions between the two most populous nations in the world.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah travelled to the sparsely populated north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh on Monday to launch the Vibrant Villages Programme, which aims to improve living conditions and job prospects in five states and territories of India that lie along the LAC with China.

The Indian Army and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) of China had engaged in a bloody hand-to-hand fight in Arunachal Pradesh last December, in which several soldiers from both sides had sustained injuries. After Modi visited the region in 2015, China summoned Indias ambassador to object, claiming that the entire disputed territory is part of Tibet, which is currently occupied by the Chinese.

For the third time, China has infuriated India by assigning standardised names in Mandarin and Tibetan to 11 locations in Arunachal Pradesh. In response, the Indian government declared the region to be an inalienable part of India last week and asserted that China will not be able to change the realities on the ground by providing its own innovative titles.

The Vibrant Villages Programme, which Amit Shah unveiled on Monday, will invest in projects at Kibithoo, a community just south of the Line of Actual Control, as both countries refer to the roughly 3,500km border, including electricity generation, drinking water connectivity, and other projects.

The programme is a continuation of Chinas broad, according to observers, xiaokang programme, which aims to create a moderately wealthy society, in part through reducing poverty.

In exchange for locals political fealty and support in border surveillance, Beijing builds settlements in rural areas close to India and other neighbouring nations in Tibet, according to analysts.

The development of border settlements is just one aspect of Beijings huge infrastructure drive in Tibet, where the country has also built highways, bridges, airports, and military bases, particularly close to India.

The Peoples Liberation Army has allegedly established a base close to Pangong Tso, a high-altitude lake where Chinese and Indian forces engaged in combat in 2020, according to a CSIS study published in November based on satellite images.

In 1962, India and China fought a conflict on their shared border. They came to an agreement on five peaceful cohabitation principles in 2005, which addressed some aspects of the border conflict.

However the issue has not been settled, and in 2020, further to the west, in the Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh, violent warfare broke out, resulting in at least 24 deaths of Indian and Chinese troops. Since then, Chinese troops have prevented their Indian counterparts from patrolling in two locations along the border.

According to China, Amit Shahs travel to Arunachal Pradesh has breached Chinese territorial integrity.

India has had trouble convincing people to settle in the mountainous Himalayan region along the LAC with China-occupied Tibet due to the regions harsh environment and lack of employment prospects in one of the worlds highest elevations.

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Itanagar: No one can encroach upon even a needle-tip of land of India, said Indias Home Minister Amit Shah in a fitting reply to China who renamed 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh last week which it calls Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet.

Earlier in the day, China opposed Shahs visit to the north-eastern state and said it violates Beijings territorial sovereignty and is not conducive to the peace and tranquillity of the border situation.

Today, we can proudly say that no one can encroach even a tip of a pins worth of our land because ITBP and Indian Army are present at our borders, Shah said in Kibithoo, a village along the India-China border, where he launched the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP).

Border areas first priority of Modi government

The Union Home Minister said border areas are first priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

Before 2014, the entire Northeast region was known as a disturbed region but in the last 9 years, because of PM Modis Look East policy, Northeast is now considered an area which contributes to the development of the country, Shah said.

He further said, The entire country can sleep peacefully in their homes today because our ITBP jawans and Army is working day and night on our borders. Today, we can proudly say that no one has the power to cast an evil eye on us.

The Home Minister paid homage to martyrs of 1962 India-China war in Kibithoo who fought with valour despite lacking in resources.

The Home Minister described Kibithoo as Indias first village and not last village.

Kibithoo is Indias first village and not the last village. Earlier when people visited here, they used to say, I had gone to the last village of the country, but today, Ill say that I visited the first village of India, he said.

Dont Miss: After China renamed 11 places in India, Home Minister Amit Shah on visit to Arunachal Pradesh; dragon cries foul

The Government of India, under the leadership of PM Modi, has approved the VVP with central components of Rs 4,800 crore, including Rs 2,500 crore exclusively for road connectivity for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26.

The VVP is a centrally sponsored scheme under which 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting the northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development.

In the first phase, 662 villages have been identified for priority coverage, which includes 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh.

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"Some political appointees and elected persons when they behave you will know clearly that they are high on drugs."

The Provost of the National Defence College, Centre for Strategic Research and Studies, Adam Ahmed, has backed the call for drug tests for all public office holders in the country.

Mr Ahmed made his position known while answering questions from journalists at the 6th Annual Ramadan lecture series and prayer for the nation, organised by the Ashraaf Islamic Foundation, on Saturday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the lecture was: 'Drug Abuse, Criminality and Insecurity in Nigeria: Toward a Collective Solution'.

He said: "Some political appointees and elected persons when they behave you will know clearly that they are high on drugs.

"And the same thing some technocrats and some security personnel, so it is widespread."

Mr Ahmed, who was the chairman of the occasion, said in Malaysia, the Philippines and some South American countries, politicians were tested before they were given power.

He added: "Not just that every person that is holding power including the military, security people are tested before they are given a very serious responsibility.

"Because leaders have a way of influencing followers. If they are known to misuse drugs, the tendency is that those that are behind them will also be involved.

"So, that is why I believe strongly that no one should be given any serious responsibility until the person is tested for drugs."

Mr Ahmed called on those that were responsible for drug legislation and administration of anti-drug use to be more proactive in tackling the incidences of drug abuse in the country.

He also emphasised the need for the government to identify various groups like the Ashraaf Islamic Foundation to spearhead the campaign against drug abuse in the country.

Mr Ahmed said: "Drug abuse in Nigeria and misuse of drugs by the people are worst than any kind of crime that we think.

"Because the bulk of the crime that is committed in this country can be traced to drug abuse or misuse of drugs, be it political, criminal, security even at home, social, economic, all can be linked to drug abuse.

"I think in the beginning, we never took the fight against drug abuse serious in this country.

"Yes, during the military, there were draconian laws which fortunately some people had even called such laws should be returned where drug pushers were killed.

"But then after that, we went through a period where everything goes as far as drug is concerned in this country."

According to him, the menace has almost engulfed all sectors, adding, "including all functionality of the society. So, it is a really sad situation."

He, however, commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other relevant agencies for their efforts in curtailing the menace of drug abuse in the country.

Earlier, the founder of the foundation, Sharafudeen Aliagan, said the objective of the event was to find a lasting solution to the rampant effects of drug abuse in society.

He said: " We have a lot of professionals, we have lots of academicians and many people who really know what is going on in the society.

"We put heads together having discovered what the menace of drug abuse is and it's rampant in the society.

"Drug abuse, criminality, insecurity we know that is exactly what is affecting us in the country, as we speak that is our major problem.

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"So, we feel that current affairs is very important that we discuss all our programmes.

" And when we discussed this and we are able to bring out the report to the government and the generality of Nigerians, there will be some high level of solutions to this menace."

According to Mr Aliagan, the foundation invited Muslims and non-Muslim professionals and academicians to brainstorm to find a lasting solution to the menace.

He said: "Because, those who are into kidnapping, insurgency and rubbery must have taken one of these intoxicants which help them to perpetrated their evil acts."

Also, Amina Bukola, the women leader of the Nasrul-Lahi-il Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), described the theme of the lecture as very topical and timely.
New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir Administration has put in motion the process of auctioning lithium mines and is likely to hire SBI Capital Markets Ltd as an advisor to the process by early next week.

According to a report in Livemint, We should be hiring SBI Caps as the transaction advisor within the next few days. The commercial auction of the rare earth minerals is a priority, as we would like to start mining as early as possible, said a senior officer in the J&K administration, seeking anonymity.

Why the discovery of lithium deposits is a big deal for India?

India has for the first time found reserves of lithium.

Approximately 5.9 million tonnes of lithium reserves were discovered in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district, according to the Ministry of Mines.

Geological Survey of India for the first time established Lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes in the Salal-Haimana area of the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Mines said.

It added that 51 mineral blocks including lithium and gold were handed over to respective state governments.

Of these 51 mineral blocks, five blocks pertain to gold and other blocks pertain to commodities like potash, molybdenum, base metals etc. spread across 11 states of Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, the ministry added.

Why is lithium important?

Lithium is a non-ferrous metal.

Discovered in 1817 by Johan August Arfvedson, it is one of the most in-demand minerals in the world.

It is toxic in nature and reacts vigorously with water.

Used in smartphones, mobile chargers, laptops, pacemakers, toys and clocks, lithium is also an important component in Electronic Vehicle batteries.

According to Moneycontrol, lithium has been given the nickname white gold due to its sheer widespread use.

The year 2022 witnessed lithium shortages with the supply unable to keep up with demand amid the increasing EV revolution.

As per Moneycontrol, the International Energy Agency says the planet could face lithium shortages by 2025.

Meanwhile, Australia has around 2.7 million tonnes of lithium resources, as per Moneycontrol.

Much of the worlds new supply of lithium comes from new sources such as Chinas lepidolite deposits  which come with their own new disruption potential, as per Reuters.

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See how your stars are going to be aligned this Monday, 10 April 2023. Aries will be able receive healing on a spiritual level today. Taurus should avoid social media. The bonds that Gemini have with their loved ones, are going to become stronger.

Cancer should try to set boundaries and focus on self-care. The universe is going to favour Leo. Virgo will be able to get rid of grief and become happier. Libra should talk nice to themselves and their loved ones. Todays cosmic climate will encourage Scorpio to follow their dreams. Sagittarius should try to boost their self-confidence. Capricorn will feel a sense of peace.

Lets have a look at how this Monday is going to unfold for you:

Aries (21 March  19 April): You will be able receive healing on a spiritual level today. Try to be in contact with the higher power, as you get guidance by doing it. Good vibes will surround you in the evening, encouraging you to dream big. You will see your popularity grow when you share your ideas. You will feel a shift later tonight that will encourage you to form connection with people.

Taurus (20 April  20 May): Avoiding social media can be beneficial to you today. The current cosmic climate is going to encourage you to understand yourself on a deeper level. Consider being optimistic this evening, as it would help you in getting rid of negative thought patterns. You will be surrounded by a thoughtful energy later tonight.

Gemini (21 May  20 June): Your bonds with your friends and family will be strengthened this morning. The people you care about, will elevate and inspire you. You will be able to increase your audience online in the evening. Make sure that you put out posts on social media, as this can digitally make your mark on society. You will be surrounded by a sweetness later tonight, that will bring love to you.

Cancer (21 June  22 July): Try to set boundaries and focus on self-care today. The current cosmic climate can offer you guidance towards a better future. You will be surrounded by a lucky and encouraging energy this evening. You will feel a shift later tonight, inspiring you to indulge in self-love.

Leo (23 July  22 August): The universe is going to favour you this morning. Embrace your spirituality and try to be generous to bring joy to yourself and people around you. Consider indulging in meditation in the evening, as your manifestation skills get enhanced. You will be surrounded by good vibes later tonight, that will increase your popularity in the coming weeks.

Virgo (23 August  22 September): You will be able to get rid of grief and become happier today. Dont hesitate to acknowledge your emotions, as doing so can allow you to get rid of negativity. You will be surrounded by an uplifting energy later tonight, that will allow you to find gratitude. You will also see benefits in your career throughout the next few weeks.

Libra (23 September  22 October): Talk nice to yourself and your loved ones this morning. The current cosmic climate will encourage you to stay motivated and motivate others. You will be surrounded by a sweet energy this evening, making it ideal to spend time with your significant other. This current cosmic climate is ideal for indulging in romance and self-care. You are going to feel a shift later tonight, that will bring luck to you.

Scorpio (23 October  21 November): Todays cosmic climate will encourage you to follow your dreams and ask you to take care of your emotional and physical needs. You will feel good vibes this evening, that will inspire you to indulge in wellness activities. Your relationships will become stronger tonight.

Sagittarius (22 November  21 December): Try to boost your self-confidence this morning. Todays vibes will allow you to feel proud of yourself when it comes to your creativity. You will be surrounded by an inspirational energy this evening, inspiring you to create new art. You are going to feel a shift later tonight, bringing excitement and sweetness to your life.

Capricorn (22 December  19 January): You will feel a sense of peace this morning. Embrace todays supportive vibes by nurturing your physical and mental well-being. Eat a home-cooked meal and spend time with your nearest and dearest in the evening. You are going to feel a shift later tonight, encouraging you to focus on living healthy.

Aquarius (20 January  18 February): You will be able to easily make new friends this morning. Dont be afraid to communicate with your connections as the day passes. Try to brainstorm new ideas this evening and adopt new thought patterns. You will feel an uplifting energy later tonight, allowing you to increase your confidence and creativity.

Pisces (19 February  20 March): Allow yourself to reward yourself for all the hard work you have done. You can have a fancy latte in the morning, or spend some quality time with your peers. You will be surrounded by good vibes in the evening, that will allow you to be in a generous mood. You will feel a shift later tonight, bringing love to your home in the coming weeks.

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Bhutans fifth King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, visited India earlier this month. The King paid a visit at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu, which concluded in a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tandi Dorji, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and other top officials from Bhutans royal government accompanied the king for the visit.

The Kings visits timing has become a topic of discussion. And rightfully so! PM Lotay Tsherings comments to a Belgian newspaper about resolving the Doklam tri-junction conflict tri-laterally, with Bhutan, India, and China as equal interlocutors, sparked outrage in New Delhi. He also indicated that he planned to complete boundary demarcation talks on disputed areas in the next one or two more meetings, and that a Chinese technical team will be visiting Bhutan soon.

While Bhutans Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji emphasised that Indias interests on the Doklam tri-junction will not be harmed or compromised by Bhutan and Chinas agreement for a three-step road map to resolve their outstanding border disputes, it has triggered significant concern in New Delhi.

At this moment, all countries around the world are witnessing great power competition. With the centre of geopolitics shifting to Asia-Pacific, there is little doubt that the South Asian region in general, and India in particular, would experience immense pressure from a rising China.

While India and Bhutan have a remarkable and long-standing bilateral relationship anchored on trust, openness, and mutual understanding, Chinas presence and growing influence in the region cannot be dismissed. There is now a slight churn in the tranquil waters as a result of Lotay Tsherings comments. They will undoubtedly have an impact on how India views its neighbours and intends to navigate the coming storm.

Despite the proximity, the number of high-level visits between the two countries continues to be rather disappointing. The Bhutanese King last visited PM Modi in September of last year, when he stopped over in Delhi on his way to attend British Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral. PM Modi and Bhutans Prime Minister Lotay Tshering have spoken frequently on the phone, but they last met in Thimphu for a bilateral meeting in August 2020.

Additionally, this is the first high-level meeting between the two leaders since Bhutan and Chinas boundary discussions made significant headway.

In a recent statement paralleled to Bhutan governments announcement of the Kings visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the visit was part of the long standing tradition of high-level exchanges between both countries, and that the leaders would review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and to further advance the close bilateral partnership, including economic and development cooperation.

Bhutan is clearly trapped in an increasingly precarious balancing act. The government intends to normalise and strengthen ties with two of its neighbours. Bhutan is also expecting for a swift resolution of Indo-China boundary disputes, as it seeks to press forward with the Doklam tri-junction situation.

Bhutan has been working tirelessly in recent years to resolve its boundary conflicts with its northern neighbour. Bhutan and China signed a three-step roadmap for accelerating talks to demarcate their land boundary in October 2021 after 24 rounds of talks.

The discussion focuses on two valleys to the north of Bhutan and the Doklam region to the west of Bhutan, which is close to the tri-junction with India and was the site of the confrontation between Indian and Chinese forces in 2017.

Fast forward to January 2023, when Bhutan and China met in Kunming and achieved a positive consensus on how to proceed with the talks. India has been especially wary of the possibility of a swap agreement between the two countries, which might jeopardise its security at the trijunction.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra arrived in Thimphu for bilateral talks three days after the Kunming discussions.

Bhutan has underlined that Doklam is a junction between India, China, and Bhutan, and that it is not up to Bhutan to solve the problem on its own accord. It has urged all three stakeholders to handle the issue collaboratively and, most importantly, as equals.

Bhutan is walking a tightrope, attempting to strike a balance between its two biggest trading partners and neighbours. It is clear that the Bhutanese administration, as well as its competent monarch, are quickly coming to the realisation that they must settle their disputed boundary while ensuring that bilateral ties with either of its neighbours does not deteriorate.

Bhutan is undoubtedly concerned about the deterioration of relations between India and China. While India has long-standing economic and cultural links with the country, financing hydropower project establishment and importing its energy, China also has substantial economic ties with Bhutan.

It is essential to acknowledge that international politics cannot be viewed solely through binary lenses. Its not only a case of winning or losing. Given the regional power dynamics, India needs to present itself as accommodating of Bhutans standpoint, rather than viewing the recent statements and actions as a loss for India and a win for China.

We must remember that India is closely involved in Bhutans cultural and economic development. There is no possibility for Bhutan and China to reach a bilateral agreement without engaging India. Even more so since the Doklam impasse, it is clear that the boundary conflict between Bhutan and China is not a bilateral one.

Bhutan, for its part, has acknowledged Indias concerns and assured it that Bhutan and Chinas endeavours will neither undermine nor compromise Indias interests at the Doklam tri-junction.

With the situation in eastern Ladakh having deteriorated in the last two years, the Bhutanese next door are undoubtedly keeping a close eye on developments. The presence of two regional, competing powers, and the ensuing balancing act of a smaller, regional nation, is a geopolitical reality, as unpleasant as that may be for New Delhi and Beijing. Bhutans actions are therefore entirely routine.

Despite this, recent events serve as a reminder that New Delhi must tread carefully in the coming years in order to position itself as a dependable, powerful power. Chinas influence over the region continues to increase and there is little doubt that it will resort to coercive diplomacy and arm-twisting its neighbours into handing over large swaths of land. It is imperative that India develops a strategy to counter this, as Chinas land-grabbing operations will have far-reaching consequences for the South Asian power landscape.

The author is presently associated with a premier think-tank in India, specialising in defence, security, and strategic studies. Her research interest and focuses of analysis are defence strategy, geo-economics, foreign affairs, and the implications of Chinese security developments on the region, especially India. Views expressed are personal.

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New Delhi: Government is provoking BNP to indulge in violence by obstructing peaceful programs, says party leader.

According to a report in the Dhaka Tribune, We had a sit-in programme at 550 thanas and upazilas on 8 April and it was obstructed by police almost everywhere. In Dhaka city, the program was not allowed to be held at almost all the designated places, said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

The BNP leader said their party has long been carrying out a movement for the restoration of democracy and peoples voting and other rights in a peaceful manner without responding to the provocation for violence.

Meanwhile, 20 Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) members were detained during a video conference with the partys acting chairman Tarique Rehman last week. The incident took place in Bangladeshs Comilla where Tarique Rahman was addressing the public virtually.

According to sources, The iftar mahfil was foiled after BNP men started clashing with police. Later additional police arrived and brought the situation under control.

When Tarique started delivering his speech, Inspector Tapan Bagchi, officer-in-charge of the Kandirpar police outpost, entered the town hall. At the time, a scuffle broke out between the police and BNP leaders and activists, said the sources.

Will not engage in any talks with PM Sheikh Hasina: BNP

Earlier in March, BNP hit out at Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina saying she does not keep her commitments.

BNP member Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, We will not engage in any talks with her. Why should we hold a dialogue with her when she does not keep her word? That is why we did not talk about dialogue for once.

Will never have talks with those who put BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in jail before the election in a false case for no reason, he added.

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One of the topmost legal authorities in the UK, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Law has warned that artificial intelligence chatbots might soon be grooming radicals to undertake terror attacks.

Jonathan Hall KC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Law and one of the most prominent lawyers in the UK has said that bots like ChatGPT could simply be taught, or even decide on their own, to disseminate terrorist ideology to weak extremists, adding that AI-enabled attacks are probably around the corner.

Also read: ChatGPT sued: Australian Mayor to sue OpenAI in worlds first defamation lawsuit against AI

Mr Hall also cautioned that if an extremist is nurtured by a chatbot to commit a terrorist atrocity, or if AI is used to provoke one, it may be impossible to convict anybody since Britains counter-terrorism legislation has not kept up with the new technology.

I believe it is very plausible that AI chatbots may be trained  or, worse, decide  to disseminate violent extremist ideas, Mr Hall added.

Terrorists are becoming techier

Terrorists are early tech adopters. Recent examples have involved the misuse of 3D-printed guns and cryptocurrency. Islamic State used drones on the battlefields of Syria. Next, cheap, AI-enabled drones, capable of delivering a deadly load or crashing into crowded places, perhaps operating in swarms, will surely be on the terrorist wish list.

But who will prosecute if ChatGPT starts inciting terrorism?Because the criminal legislation does not apply to machines, the AI groomer will avoid prosecution. Neither does it [the law] work consistently when accountability is shared by man and machine.

Mr Hall is concerned that chatbots will be a blessing to so-called lone-wolf terrorists, claiming that because an artificial companion is a boon to the lonely, it is likely that many of those arrested will be neurodivergent, possibly suffering from medical disorders, learning disabilities, or other conditions.

He warns that because terrorism follows life, when we move online as a society, terrorism moves online. Terrorists, he says, are early tech adopters, with recent instances being their misuse of 3D-printed guns and cryptocurrency.

The need to monitor chats on ChatGPT

Mr Hall stated that it is unknown how well firms that use AI, such as ChatGPT, monitor the millions of bot chats that take place every day, or if they inform organisations such as the FBI or the British Counter Terrorism Police to anything worrisome.

Although there is no evidence that AI bots have been used to train terrorists, there have been reports of them causing considerable harm. A Belgian father of two committed suicide after speaking with a bot named Eliza for six weeks about his concerns about climate change. A mayor in Australia has vowed to sue OpenAI, the developers of ChatGPT, after it erroneously claimed he was imprisoned for bribery.

Also read: Framed by AI: ChatGPT makes up a sexual harassment scandal, names real professor as accused

Only last weekend did it come to light that Jonathan Turley of George Washington University in the United States was falsely charged by ChatGPT of sexually assaulting a female student on a trip to Alaska that he did not take. The accusation was made to a colleague who was working on ChatGPT at the same university.

How AI can help governance, as well as make it challenging

The Science and Technology Committee of Parliament is now investigating AI and governance.

We realise there are hazards here, and we need to get the governance right, said its chair, Tory MP Greg Clark. There has been talk of young people being assisted in committing suicide and terrorists being effectively groomed on the internet. Given these dangers, it is critical that we maintain the same level of vigilance for automated non-human created information, he added

The problem with AI like ChatGPT is that it might strengthen a lone actor terrorist, since it would create an ideal foil for someone seeking understanding alone but fearful of communicating to others, says Raffaello Pantucci, a counter-terrorism expert at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

My opinion is that it is a bit difficult to blame the business, since I am not completely persuaded they are able to regulate the machine itself, Mr Pantucci said, when asked whether an AI company can be held accountable if a terrorist commits an attack after being groomed by a bot.

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Beijing: Weibo, the biggest microblogging site in China, has reportedly removed several accounts for promoting and advertising the Chinese military drills in Taiwan without the knowledge of authorities.

The site removed more than 100 accounts for trending posts under the hashtag Eastern Theatre Command, the region which covers six Chinese provinces including the Taiwan Strait.

Chinas People Liberation Army (PLA) launched a series of military drills in Taiwan over the weekend following the meeting between President Tsai-Ing-wens meeting with the US House speaker.

Soon after the drills were officially announced, the topic became trending on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.

The administrative account of Weibo said in a statement that they have deleted 104 accounts while five accounts have been muted for the next 15 to 30 days for violating the sites community guidelines.

During active inspections, the site found that a very small number of users were maliciously marketing and hyping up [their products] under the topic of Eastern Theatre Command through homogenisation means, undermining the ecological order of the network, Weibo said.

The term homogenisation refers to a form of marketing where users are spammed with content that is repeatedly posted under unrelated trending topics.

By using the means of homogenisation, many have attempted to deceive users with posts about celebrity gossip and commercial advertisement for products like cosmetics and electronics.

We call on all netizens to be vigilant, increase their mindfulness, and work with the site to maintain order on the network, warned Weibo.

Military drills in Taiwan

On Monday, China reached the third and last day of its military drills in Taiwan that were launched in retaliation to President Tsai-Ing-wens meeting with the US House speaker.

Over the weekend, Taiwan detected over 11 Chinese warships and 70 aircraft around the island. The exercises have sparked condemnation among Taipei and warnings from Washington.

These operations serve as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence and external forces and against their provocative activities, said Shi Yin, a PLA spokesman.

Naming the operation Joint Sword, the military drills included rehearsing an encirclement of Taiwan, according to the People Liberation Army (PLA).

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Beijing: On the third day of wargames surrounding the self-governing island, China simulated closing off Taiwan while the United States sent a naval destroyer into Beijing-claimed waters as a show of force.

In response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen visiting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would elicit a ferocious response, China started the exercises.

The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) of China claimed that the wargames involved closing Taiwan after two days of drills that simulated targeted attacks on the island and its encirclement.

According to the military, one of Chinas two aircraft carriers participated in todays exercise.

The USS Milius, a guided-missile destroyer, was sent through disputed areas of the South China Sea on Monday. The US had previously urged China to exercise prudence.

This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea, the US Navy said in a statement

The ship had travelled close to the Spratly Islands, which are an archipelago that China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei all claim as their own. 800 miles or roughly 1,300 km separate it from Taiwan.

China became even more irate after the Milius was sent out, accusing it of illegally intruding into its territorial waters.

Lin Ke-qiang, a 60-year-old cook who lives on Beigan island in Taiwans Matsu archipelago, which is visible from Chinas mainland, told AFP that he just did not want conflict.

We, common people, just want to live peaceful and stable lives, Lin said, adding Taiwans military was no match for Chinas.

If any war happens, now that their missiles are so advanced, theres no way our side could resist. This side will be levelled to the ground.

During a civil war that ended in 1949, China and Taiwan divided. China has promised to one day annex Taiwan and sees it as part of its territory.

The US has purposefully avoided saying whether it will militarily defend Taiwan. Yet, it has provided diplomatic assistance and sold Taipei weapons for decades to help assure its ability to defend itself.

McCarthy and Tsai met while McCarthy was returning home after a trip to two ally nations in Central America.

Following a visit to the island by McCarthys predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, in August of last year, China conducted its greatest display of force in years, deploying warships, missiles, and fighter jets all around Taiwan. McCarthy and Tsai met last week in the US as opposed to Taiwan.

This was seen as a compromise that would show support for Taiwan while preventing the escalation of hostilities with China. The most recent wargames, however, were started not long after Tsai returned to Taiwan, despite Chinas repeated warnings against any meeting.

These operations serve as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence and external forces and against their provocative activities, said Shi Yin, a PLA spokesman, said about Joint Sword.

In response to the exercises, Tsai promised to collaborate with the US and other like-minded countries in order to counter continuing authoritarian expansionism.

Live-fire training were scheduled to take place on Monday off the rocky Fujian province coast of China, which is 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the Matsu islands and 190 kilometres from Taipei.

The manoeuvres, according to the regional maritime authorities, will take place around Pingtan, a southeasterly island that is Chinas closest point to Taiwan, from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

A pilot claiming to have arrived in the northern part of Taiwan Island with missiles locked into place was seen in a video posted to the Eastern Theatre Commands official WeChat account on Monday.

A military officers whistle in another film with dramatic orchestral music causes soldiers to rush into position as a simulated onslaught on Taiwan is shown on screen.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) kicked off the first phase of Exercise Cope India 23 on Monday. The joint military exercise is being held at Air Force Stations Arjan Singh (Panagarh), Kalaikunda and Agra.

The exercise aims to enhance mutual understanding between the IAF and the USAF and share their best practices.

According to an official statement, the opening phase of the exercise will focus on air mobility and will involve transport aircraft and Special Forces from both air forces. Both sides will field the C-130J and C-17 aircraft, with the USAF operating an MC-130J as well. The exercise also includes the presence of Japanese Air Self Defence Force aircrew, who will participate in the capacity of observers.

IAF, USAF hold joint exercise after Covid-19 gap

The war games between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) are being held after a gap of four years since it had been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The last edition was held in 2019.

The Su-30MKI fighter aircraft will spearhead the IAF contingent which also features the LCA Tejas, IL-78 mid-air refuelers and air-borne early warning aircraft.

The US Air Force (USAF) contingent has flown in from the Pacific command of the US military and will field the F-15 fighter aircraft.

The Pacific command of the US military coordinates with India in the Indo-Pacific sector as both nations strive to counter growing Chinese influence in the region.

The US has also been trying to build closer military ties with India which has traditionally relied on Russia for defence equipment and weapons.

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New Delhi: Two prominent activists, Xu Zhiyong (50) and Ding Jiaxi (55), were sentenced to prison for subversion after more than three years in prison in China.

Ding Jiaxis wife Luo Shengchun tweeted that a court in Shandong province had sentenced him to 12 years in prison, and deprived him of political rights for three years, reported the BBC.

123  Luo Shengchun (@luoshch) April 10, 2023

Shengchun continued by saying that the second activist, Xu Zhiyong was jailed for 14 years. In June 2022, their trial behind closed doors lasted just one day. She lives in the United States. According to Reuters, she has pursued Jiaxis case with US State Department officials.

Xu and Ding were both arrested independently in 2019 and 2020 as part of a widespread campaign against legal activists.

Both are well-known members of the New Citizens Movement, which pushed for more openness regarding the wealth of government officials, and for the Chinese people to be able to exercise their civil rights as per the constitution, according to the BBC.

The pair was arrested for the first time in 2013 for their roles in protests in Beijing advocating for equal social and educational advantages for migrant workers.

They are among the most prominent dissidents to be arrested by Chinese authorities.

Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, said, The cruelly farcical convictions and sentences meted out to Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi show President Xi Jinpings unstinting hostility towards peaceful activism.

She added, Governments around the world should join in calling on the Chinese authorities to release the two lawyers immediately and unconditionally.

No criticism

Since Chinese President Xi Jinping took office in 2012, China has significantly cracked down on opposition. Hundreds of human rights lawyers were arrested and many were imprisoned in a string of arrests commonly known as 709 cases, alluding to a crackdown on 9 July, 2015, according to Reuters.

China dismisses criticism of its human rights record, claiming that it is a rule-of-law country and that imprisoned rights lawyers and activists are criminals who have breached the law.

People who organise, plan, or carry out the subversion of state power can face prison terms in China upto 10 to life behind bars, according to the South China Morning Post.

With inputs from agencies

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Kyiv, Ukraine: In a prisoner exchange, more than 200 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have returned home, the warring nations said on Monday.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, 106 Russian servicemen were freed from Ukrainian captivity as a result of a deal.

The chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Andriy Yermak, said that 100 Ukrainian inmates had been released by Russia.

No mention of middlemen was made in either announcement regarding the arrangement.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine more than a year ago, Kyiv and Moscow have sometimes exchanged prisoners.

We are returning 100 of our people, Yermak said on Telegram.

They are military people, sailors, border guards, national guardsmen.

Yermak said the exchange included troops who held out in Mariupol  the devastated port city captured by Russia last spring  and that some were seriously injured.

He called the exchange difficult and thanked officials for doing what may often seem impossible.

Yermak posted a video of women in uniform being greeted with flowers.

Moscow said it had returned 106 of its servicemen in exchange.

As a result of negotiations, 106 Russian soldiers were returned from territories under Kyiv control, the Russian defence ministry said.

It said they will be taken by plane to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation.

All those that were freed will be given the necessary medical and psychological help, the ministry added.

The previous Russian-Ukrainian prisoner exchange was last month. Authorities announced on 7 March that 130 Ukrainians were swapped for 90 Russian servicemen.

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The petitioners alleged that Mr Tinubu "corruptly induced" electoral officers to falsify results at local government and state collation centres in Rivers and 10 other states.

A political party, Action Peoples Party (APP), has accused Bola Tinubu of manipulating the 25 February presidential election to clinch Nigeria's presidency.

The petition is among the five separate petitions that various political parties and their presidential candidates have filed at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja to challenge the president-elect's victory.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported the four other petitions that the other petitioners filed in the court here, here, here, and here.

Mr Tinubu won the 25 February presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on 1 March.

In the hotly contested election, Mr Tinubu polled 8.8 million votes to beat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party's Peter Obi, who came second and third, respectively.

Atiku garnered 6,984,520 votes while Mr Obi won 6,101,533 votes. But both men and their political parties are challenging the outcome of the polls in court.

The APP presidential candidate, Nnadi Osita, polled 12,839 votes in the election.

In a bid to overturn Mr Tinubu's victory, the APP lodged its complaint at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja on 19 March.

Grounds for petition

The petitioner anchored its complaint on the basis that Mr Tinubu "corruptly induced" electoral officers at local government and state collation centres in "Kano, Kaduna, Imo, Rivers, Kebbi, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Osun, Kogi and Kwara states" with a view to alter the presidential election results in his favour.

The party alleged that "fictitious figures were ascribed to" Mr Tinubu "thereby giving him substantial lead and advantage in the various states."

Another issue the petitioner raised is vote-buying.

In the grounds of the petition, the petitioner said Mr Tinubu "engaged in monumental vote-buying and openly offered money and other gift items to voters in polling units spread across Kano, Kaduna, Imo, Rivers, Kebbi, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Osun, Kogi and Kwara states."

The petitioner further alleged that voters who turned down the president-elect's inducement "were refused from voting, thereby reducing the votes ordinarily accruing to" it.

The party accused INEC officials of looking away while over-voting was on at the polling units. It added that electoral officers in connivance with Mr Tinubu and APC agents, "falsified, altered and mutilated (election) results from the various polling units" in the eleven states mentioned above.

Citing instances of places where the presidential election could not hold due to violence, the petitioner alleged that votes were allocated to polling stations in Orlu, Orsu and Okigwe Local Government Areas of Imo State.

"Scores were later ascribed and credited to" to Mr Tinubu "in respect of Orlu, Orsu and Okigwe Local Government Areas of Imo State, where no election held."

Owing to the alleged widespread irregularities, the petitioner contended that Mr Tinubu should not have been "returned elected as the president-elect".

Violation of the Electoral Act

The petitioner also questioned the validity of the election on the basis of alleged non-compliance with the mandatory provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.

It argued that INEC "has a bounden statutory obligation to transmit all the results electronically and to upload same into the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV)..."

The APP further contended that the results of the 25 February presidential election were supposed to be transmitted directly from all polling units across Nigeria to the INEC IReV portal.

Instead of complying with the guidelines and regulations on electronic results transmission, the electoral umpire "failed to comply with the law and instead adopted an illegal process of manual collation and transmission of the election results."

In court filings, the petitioner said the collation and declaration of presidential results were based on "illegal allocation of votes and does not reflect the actual votes cast ...in Nigeria."

The party is equally challenging Mr Tinubu's victory on the basis that he was not elected by a majority of lawful votes cast at the election.

It argued that Mr Tinubu failed to secure the statutory 25 per cent of votes cast in two-thirds (24 states) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

"If the invalid votes ascribed to the 1st respondent (Mr Tinubu) as a result of corrupt practices, vote-buying, overvoting...and manipulation of election results, were taken away and deducted from the 8,794,726 votes, the 1st respondent would not have scored the majority of lawful votes at the election," the petitioner argued in its submissions.

Age, educational qualifications

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Mr Tinubu's age and educational qualifications are other grounds for the APP's petition.

"The 1st respondent knowingly failed, omitted and concealed to state those schools in his educational qualifications, which he earlier under oath in 1999 claimed to have attended and obtained relevant certificates from."

The party said Mr Tinubu's "under oath in his INEC Form CF001 in 1999, that he attended these schools (Government College, Obadan; Richard Daley College, Chicago, University of Chicago and Chicago State University) were all false and perturbed."

Prayers

The petitioner's lawyer, Emeka Ozoani, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged the court to overturn the president-elect's victory.

"That it may be determined that the declaration and return of the 1st respondent" by INEC "as the president-elect of ...Nigeria is invalid, null and void."

The petitioner asked the court to order a fresh presidential election.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Tinubu's victory is similarly being challenged by four other petitions by the Peoples Democratic Party, the Labour Party, the All Peoples Movement (APM) and the Action Alliance (AA) along with their respective presidential candidates.
Houston: An Indian-American surgeon and state legislator in the US state of Tennessee has accused an expelled Democrat lawmaker of racism after being called a brown face of white supremacy, according to a media report.

Dr Sabi Kumar, a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, said that Democrat Justin Jones called him a brown face of white supremacy during a speech in the House. According to Kumar, it was the first instance of racism he faced in his 53 years in the US, Fox News reported last week.

I am an immigrant, everybody knows. I have been in this country for 53 years, the 75-year-old legislator said in a speech in the House.

The Tennessee state legislature expelled two Democratic politicians, including Jones, who led a gun control protest that halted legislative proceedings last week. The Tennessee House of Representatives, dominated by the Republicans, have said the two lawmakers brought disorder and dishonour to the House.

In those 53 years in America, I have never encountered a racial slur. Im really not aware that any of that applies to me. I live a good life. Yet you on tape call me a brown face, Kumar said.

He said that Jones shoved his finger in his face and said Kumar, they will never accept you and added that the 27-year-old Democrat was intimidating enough that the sergeant-at-arms without my invitation came and intervened between them, the news portal, Mediaite reported.

In an interview with Fox News, Kumar said he was surprised at the incident. He added that these things should not happen, especially in a place where people are constantly guarding the values in such a way that discrimination and racism do not occur. Ive been here for 53 years, and Ive lived in Tennessee for 46 years, and people have been extremely kind to me, the Republican legislator added.

Kumar was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2014.

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Washington: As the United States contest the wrongful detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia, a look back at the detention of US nationals in the past decade brings to forefront the complex, more widespread, and more frequent situation the country faces overseas.

A recent survey by the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation revealed that the number of US nationals wrongfully detained increased by 175 per cent over the last decade, with Iran, China, Venezuela, Syria, and Russia accounting for 75 per cent of the total number of detainees.

From 20122022, an average of 11 US nationals were wrongfully detained each year. This number represents a 175 per cent increase from the average number of four US nationals detained each year from 20012011. Since 2012, the number of US nationals detained each year has varied from 7 to 17 US nationals per year, the report released in late 2022 states.

It states that since 2001, at least 177 US nationals were wrongfully detained by state actors, with approximately seven US nationals detainees detained per year. While 49 US nationals were wrongfully detained between 20012011, the number increased to 123 from 20122022.

The report states that there might be a possibility that this increase could be due to underreporting of state level hostagetakings from 20012011.

On the other hand, the number of US nationals, who continue to be wrongfully held by foreign governments has witnessed a drastic increase of 580 per cent over the last decade, as the the number of releases each year has not kept pace with the number of detentions, since 2012.

On an average, 34 US nationals were wrongfully held by foreign governments each year between 20122022, as per the report, which further mentioned, This number represents a 580 per cent increase from the average number of five US nationals held each year from 20012011. Since 2012, the number of releases each year has not kept pace with the number of detentions resulting in a cumulative increase in the number of US nationals who remained wrongfully held.

Countries with most detainees

The report by the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation states that over 60 per cent of the US nationals wrongfully detained abroad have been held by Iran, China, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria, or Russia  countries which have had strained or adversarial relations with the United States.

Detentions in Iran, China, Venezuela, Syria, and Russia account for 75 per cent of US nationals currently wrongfully detained, the 2022 report stated.

Out of all the countries, Iran has detained the most (almost 20 per cent) US citizens since 2001. With a long history of participating in the hostage-taking and detention of US and Western nationals, Iran has consistently used the tactic to try to gain leverage against Western countries, with one recently released research effort indicating that Iran has detained at least 66 foreign nationals since 2010, read the report.

Those at RISK

For almost 31 per cent of the US nationals, the primary driver seems to have been work, the report suggests. It added that 19 per cent of the US nationals kidnapped were engineers, technicians, or managers engaged in their work when kidnapped.

Further six per cent of US nationals were business people engaged in a variety of sectors, six percent contractors engaged in security work, transportation, or other work in support of the US government or United Nations.

Moreover, the report suggests that travel and studying overseas resulted in 19 per cent of the US nationals taken hostage; US-based aid workers, missionaries, and employees of non-governmental organizations made up 16 per cent of the American hostages; and journalists accounted for another 16 per cent.

Read the full report HERE

Evan Gershkovich  the latest wrongful detainee

On March 30, Russias Federal Security Service informed that it had detained the Wall Street Journal reporter in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and opened an espionage case against him for collecting state secrets about the military-industrial complex, The Guardian reported.

Gershkovich has formally been charged with espionage  a charge which he has denied and said he was working as a journalist.

Soon after the news of Gershkovichs detention came out, the top two leaders of the US Senate issued a rare bipartisan statement demanding his release. 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, wrote the Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, and the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell.

As per reports, Gershkovich is the first American journalist detained in Moscow on espionage charges since the end of the Cold War.

The US response to wrongful detention

The US had passed the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act in December 2020, and created a list of criteria for determining whether a US nationals detention abroad is considered wrongful.

Later on in July last year, the President Joe Biden-led administration, building on earlier executive order, issued Bolstering Efforts to Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained United States Nationals Home, which elevated wrongful detention cases to the same status as hostage cases, providing mechanisms for increased interagency coordination, support for families and information sharing, reports said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Washington, United States: According to the Justice Department, an Iranian-born American woman who contributed money to a scheme to abduct opposition Iranian-American activist Masih Alinejad has been given a four-year jail term.

In December, Niloufar Bahadorifar, 48, of Irvine, California, entered a plea of guilty to many offences, including conspiracy to break US sanctions by providing Iran with material support.

According to the Justice Department, US District Judge Ronnie Abrams sentenced Bahadorifar to four years in prison on Friday, followed by three years of supervised release.

Bahadorifar provided financial support to a brazen plot intended to kidnap an Iranian human rights activist living in the United States whom the Iranian government has sought to silence for years, US attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.

Bahadorifar was convicted of laundering money into the United States from Iran that was used to pay for private investigators to conduct surveillance of Alinejad on behalf of an alleged Iranian intelligence agent, Mahmoud Khazein.

Khazein and three other alleged Iranian agents are wanted by the FBI in connection with the suspected plot to kidnap Alinejad, who lives in New York, and take her back to Iran.

Bahadorifar was accused of making cash deposits of more than $476,100 into accounts in the United States since 2019, structuring most of the deposits in increments of less than $10,000 to avoid detection by the US financial authorities.

Bahadorifar was not accused of participating in the kidnapping conspiracy itself and her lawyers argued that she was an unwitting dupe.

The government of Iran has shown that it will take extreme measures to silence dissidents and critics around the world exercising their lawful rights, including through the use of violence on US soil, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said.

We hold accountable an individual who violated US sanctions by providing financial assistance that ultimately supported a failed kidnapping plot directed by the Iranian government.

Alinejad, who is known for her criticism of Irans clerical regime, including its requirement that women wear veils, was also the target of a separate Tehran-backed assassination plot, according to US authorities.

Iranian authorities have denied any involvement in the alleged plots targeting Alinejad.

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Jericho, Palestinian Territories: A Palestinian youngster and an Israeli-British mother died on Monday as a result of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after being shot in the West Bank, which also claimed the lives of her two kids.

Since last week, tensions have erupted into violence, resulting in violent riots, shootings, rocket attacks, and a car-ramming incident that have marred the time when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan falls in the middle of the Jewish Passover and the Christian Easter.

And on Monday, a number of ministers from the hard-right government of Israel participated in a heavily guarded Israeli settler protest march in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.

In the latest West Bank shooting, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian teenager and wounded two other people, the Palestinian health ministry said, during what the army described as a raid to arrest a terror suspect.

Mohammed Fayez Balhan, 15, died after being shot with live occupation (Israeli) bullets in the head, chest and abdomen, the ministry said, having earlier reported that two others were injured by Israeli bullets.

The Israeli army confirmed its forces were operating in the Aqabat Jaber camp, the site of previous deadly Israeli raids this year, near Jericho, where soldiers were seeking to apprehend a terror suspect.

The army said troops responded with live fire after suspects opened fire toward (soldiers), hurled explosive devices and Molotov cocktails.

They added that a suspect was taken in by security forces.

Clashes erupted when the army entered the camp and surrounded several houses, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. A Palestinian security official told AFP that five individuals were arrested during the raid.

The Palestinian armed movement Hamas which rules the Gaza Strip said it mourned the young martyr Balhan and praised those who are standing up to this arrogant enemy.

British-Israeli mother dies

The operation came as a Jerusalem hospital confirmed that a British-Israeli woman, Lucy (Leah) Dee, had died after being seriously injured in a shooting attack Friday in the West Bank that killed her two daughters, aged 16 and 20.

Their car came under fire in the Jordan Valley, where Jericho is also located. The families were residents of Efrat, an illegal Jewish settlement in the West Bank.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted: There can be no justification for the murder of Leah and her two daughters, Maia and Rina.

We will continue to work with the Israeli authorities to end this senseless violence, he added.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War and hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers live in Israeli-approved settlements there which are considered illegal under international law.

Hundreds of Israelis marched Monday in the north of the West Bank, pushing for state approval of an Israeli settler outpost.

Several government ministers  including Israels far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir  appeared at the march to Eviatar, whose residents agreed to leave in 2021 while officials examined their case.

Demonstrators of all ages waved Israeli flags as they rallied along closed-off roads.

Addressing the crowd, Ben-Gvir said The response to terror is to build settlements.

Rivka Katzir, a 74-year-old resident of Elkana, another West Bank settlement, told AFP The one solution for this problem is if we settle this place.

Surging violence

The latest surge in unrest comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced, late last month, a pause for dialogue on judicial reform legislation which split the nation and caused divisions in his government.

Violence has flared anew since Israeli police last Wednesday stormed the prayer hall of Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque  Islams third-holiest site  in a pre-dawn raid aimed at dislodging law-breaking youths and masked agitators they said had barricaded themselves inside.

The next day, more than 30 rockets were fired from Lebanese soil into Israel, an attack which the Israeli army blamed on Palestinian groups, saying it was most likely Hamas.

Israel then bombarded Gaza and southern Lebanon, targeting terror infrastructures that it said belonged to Hamas.

Late Friday an Italian tourist was killed and seven others wounded in a suspected car-ramming attack in Tel Aviv.

The Israeli army also said it launched strikes on targets in Syria Sunday morning after rockets fired from there landed in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The conflict has this year claimed the lives of at least 94 Palestinians, 19 Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian, according to an AFP count based on Israeli and Palestinian official sources.

These figures include, on the Palestinian side, combatants and civilians, including minors, and on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, including minors, and three members of the Arab minority.

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New Delhi: Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah formed a new government on Sunday.

According to a report in Anadolu, Sheikh Ahmed was reappointed prime minister by the crown prince in March, two months after his government resigned following a standoff with parliament.

The government formation came a few days after Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim appealed to the countrys rulers to intervene to resolve the crisis between parliament and the premier after the government failed to appear before the assembly, the report added.

Meanwhile, in March earlier this year, a Kuwaiti court annulled the results of a parliamentary election held last year, saying it would reinstate the previous slate of lawmakers elected in 2020.

The decision by Kuwaits Constitutional Court, reported by the state-run KUNA news agency, threw more chaos into the politics of this small, oil-rich nation on the Persian Gulf.

In its decision, the court cited discrepancies in the decree dissolving the 2020 parliament for its ruling.

Authorities did not immediately explain what this meant for Kuwaits parliament. Kuwait has the freest and most active assembly among the Gulf Arab states, but political power is still largely concentrated in the hands of the ruling Al Sabah family, which appoints the prime minister and Cabinet, and can dissolve the assembly at any time.

Kuwait, which borders Saudi Arabia and Iraq, has the worlds sixth-largest known oil reserves and hosts some 13,500 American troops.

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New Delhi: A leaked Pentagon paper circulating on social media claimed that a Russian fighter jet came dangerously close to shooting down an unarmed British spy plane over the Black Sea last year. On 29 September, the near-miss happened when the British surveillance jet flew off the Crimean coast.

Two Russian Su-27 fighter jets had intercepted the RC-135 in international airspace over the Black Sea, flying recklessly, with one plane coming within 15 feet of the British aircraft, according to UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace, who briefed about the incident to Parliaments House of Commons in October of last year, reported The Washington Post.

He also stated that one of the Russian jets released a missile at a distance, but he did not call the occurrence a near-missile launch and termed the missile firing as a technical malfunction.

We dont consider this a deliberate escalation by the Russians, our analysis would concur it was a malfunction, said Wallace, reported The Hill.

The Washington Post report claimed the near-miss was more dangerous than previously portrayed, particularly given the potential ramifications of a hypothetical Russian strike against a NATO member.

According to NATOs treaty, an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on the alliance as a whole.

Russia has demonstrated little inclination to extend the war beyond Ukraines borders, but a missile that fell in Poland prompted a short concern before the US and NATO assessed it was a faulty Ukrainian defensive weapon.

Another noteworthy revelation in the leaked Pentagon paper was the depletion of Ukraines air defences.

A secret document dated 23 February shows in detail how Ukraines S-300 air defence systems from the Soviet era will be depleted by 2 May if consumption continues at the current rate. However, it is unclear where Ukraines air defences are today or whether the usage rate has changed since then, according to The Washington Post.

Also Read: US officials scramble to unearth source of intel leak

The Biden administration has started an investigation into the papers.

Sabrina Singh, the deputy press secretary at the Pentagon, told the Times, We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the department is reviewing the matter.

With inputs from agencies

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Milan: A migrant boat carrying as many as 400 people went adrift on Sunday and is currently stuck between Greece and Malta, support service Alarm Phone has informed.

Someone from the boat, which departed from Tobruk, Libya, had made a distress call to Alarm Phone and informed that the vessel stayed adrift for a night. They also said that despite alerting authorities, no rescue operation was launched to retrieve the migrants.

Alarm Phone said the boat was now in the Maltese Search and Rescue area (SAR).

The migrant boat was found in the vicinity of two merchant ships, a German NGO Sea-Watch International said on Twitter.

It said the Maltese authorities had ordered the ships not to carry out a rescue and that one of them was just asked to supply it with fuel.

Alarm Phone said that the people in the boat required medical attention. The vessel was out of fuel and its lower deck was full of water, while the captain had left and there was nobody who could steer the boat, they added.

On Sunday, another German-based NGO called Resqship, said that over 20 migrants had died in a shipwreck in the Mediterrean.

It said on Twitter the NGO found 25 people in the water during a rescue operation, and its staff were able to recover 22 survivors and two bodies, although it was told about 20 other people had already drowned.

Last week 440 migrants were rescued off Malta after a complex 11-hour operation in stormy seas by the Geo Barents vessel of the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity.

At least 23 African migrants were missing and four died on Saturday after their two boats sank off Tunisia as they tried to reach Italy.

Fifty-three other migrants were saved by the coast guard off the Tunisian city of Sfax, two of whom remain in critical condition. Sfax court Judge Faouzi Masmoudi added that four bodies have also been recovered.

The Tunisian coast has become a frequent accident spot with dozens of migrants going missing and dying in repeating cases of drowning accidents.

More than 14,000 migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa have been rescued or intercepted n the first three months of the year while trying to cross into Europe, five times more than the figures of last year, the National Guard said.

With inputs from agencies

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Manila: No offensive actions will be allowed on Philippines military bases that have been opened up for US troops, President Ferdinand Marcos has warned.

Last week, Manila, the capital of the Philippines, announced four more locations for the US militarys use on top of the five that have already been agreed upon under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Marcos clarification comes after China cautioned that an expanded military deal between the Philippines and the US could endanger regional peace while accusing America of a zero-sum mentality.

The president said that Chinas reaction was not surprising and assured that the country is only shoring up its territorial defence.

He said, We will not allow our bases to be used for any offensive actions. This is only aimed at helping the Philippines whenever we need help.

If no one is attacking us, they need not worry because we will not fight them, he added.

The four new bases are located in the hotly contested region of the South China Sea.

Incidentally, the comments came amid Chinas military exercise in Taiwan.

What is the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement?

EDCA is an agreement between the Philippines and US that allows the latter to access a selected number of military bases on Filipino land on a rotational basis. The locations are nominated by the government of the Philippines.

Under EDCA terms, US is authorised to access facilities like runways, fuel storage, and military housing.

As mentioned before, both countries inked a deal to increase the number of military bases US can use. A statement released by EDCA read, The United States and the Philippines have stood shoulder-to-shoulder as friends and allies for more than seven decades, unwavering in our treaty commitments and our shared vision for a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous region.

President Marcos pro-US sentiment

The EDCA was initially stalled by former President Rodrigo Duterte, who favoured closer ties with China.

However, Marcos, who succeeded Duterte in June, has adopted a more US-friendly foreign policy and sought to accelerate the implementation of the EDCA.

Marcos has insisted he will not let Beijing trample on Manilas maritime rights.

With inputs from agencies

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Gunmen killed at least five soldiers protecting a convoy of gold miners in the remote north of Niger near Algeria border on Monday, AFP reported.

The armed assailants mingled with the convoy before opening fire on the military escorts on Sunday, AFP quoted a source as saying.

The soldiers chased the gunmen and fell into an ambush which left five dead, the source added.

The convoy was heading for the town of Arlit from the gold rush site of Tchibarakaten 450 km to the northeast where thousands of people have been drawn hoping to strike the precious metal.

A survivor of the attack told the Air Info online journal, based in the northern regional capital Agadez, that the assailants were heavily armed and laid an ambush.

Frequent attacks on gold miners

The journal reported that five more soldiers were wounded.

An elected local official told AFP that quantities of gold were probably carried off by the attackers who seem to have been well informed.

Attacks on gold miners have been frequent in the Agadez region where migrant, arms and drug trafficking is rife through Nigers vast swathes of desert bordering Libya and Algeria.

The impoverished Sahel country is grappling with a seven-year-old campaign by jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

With inputs from AFP

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Peshawar: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has carried out yet another attack on the Pakistan Army, blowing up a military vehicle with a roadside IED explosion that killed at least 2 soldiers.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)  also known as the Pakistani Taliban  has taken responsibility and claimed that eight Pakistan Army soldiers were killed in the attack which took place in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

A hand grenade attack on a police van on Saturday in the Swabi region of the province, which resulted in the death of one police officer and the injury of two others, was also blamed on the TTP.

Pakistan to launch operation as TTP increases attack

Since the militant TTP violated a cease-fire agreement with the government in November of last year, attacks on security forces in Pakistan have increased.

The government said on Friday that it will launch a significant anti-terrorist operation across the nation in the coming weeks to combat the surge of violence. The Prime Minister and senior military officers who make up the National Security Committee decided to restart the operation this month in accordance with a national action plan.

The strategy calls for the use of military and intelligence operations, the execution of militants, the establishment of special military tribunals, and the placement of anti-extremist forces in sensitive locations.

A prior counter-extremist strategy was introduced in 2014 following a Peshawar school shooting in which the TTP killed over 140 people, including 132 children.

Although Pakistans militant organisations  especially thse in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa  frequently collaborate with those in Afghanistan, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or the Pakistani Taliban are a distinct organisation from the Afghan Taliban which currently runs the government in Kabul.

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The adjustment in the date of the UTME was to accommodate some other major and critical national assignments.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a new date for the commencement of the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

The board disclosed this in a statement signed by its Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Fabian Benjamin, in Abuja on Sunday.

Mr Benjamin said the UTME which was earlier scheduled to commence on 29 April, would now start on 25 April

He also said the board would hold its rescheduled mock UTME on 18 April.

" It would be recalled that JAMB had earlier conducted its 2023 Mock-UTME on Thursday, March 30 in 725 centres across the country.

" However, the exercise ran into some technical hitches in some centres, thereby denying some candidates the opportunity to sit for the examination.

" The board's mock examination was designed for the purpose of testing its preparedness and that of its partners for the UTME as well as give prospective candidates the opportunity to have hands-on experience of the CBT test environment.

" It is, therefore, in order to give those candidates, who were unable to sit for the examination owing to no fault of theirs, the opportunity to take the examination that the mock examination had been rescheduled to hold on Tuesday, 18 April, he said.

He said that candidates who were present and screened for the examination but could not sit for it had been rescheduled to retake the mock examination on 18 April.

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Mr Benjamin, therefore, said the result of the candidates who successfully took the mock examination on 30 March, had been released.

He also said the board had brought forward the conduct of its 2023 UTME which was earlier scheduled to hold from Saturday, 29 April to Tuesday, 25 April

He said the adjustment in the date of the UTME was to accommodate some other major and critical national assignments.

" By so doing, the board hopes that no citizen will be denied the opportunity of exercising their civic responsibilities.

" It should be noted that the board does not have the liberty of shifting forward its examination as other public examinations are billed to commence their exercises in the early part of May 2023.

"Yet another factor is the need to accommodate those institutions with stable academic calendars to resume as scheduled," he added.

He said the board would continue to partner with relevant agencies of government to ensure that its candidates got the best.

He said the board also solicited the understanding of all as it delivered on its critical mandate.
New York, United States: On Monday, hundreds of pharmaceutical executives denounced a US court decision that outlawed a popular abortion drug, claiming that it threatens the creation of essential medicines in the country.

Over 400 CEOs, including Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and senior executives at Novartis, Biogen, and Merck, signed a statement denouncing the Texas federal court Matthew Kacsmaryks decision on Friday that may restrict access to mifepristone across the country.

The decision ignores decades of scientific evidence and legal precedent, said the letter slamming Kacsmaryks move to bar the drug 23 years after it was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Judge Kacsmaryks act of judicial interference has set a precedent for diminishing FDAs authority over drug approvals, and in so doing, creates uncertainty for the entire biopharma industry, it added.

The letter described a reliable FDA as essential to high-risk investments on new treatments.

Adding regulatory uncertainty to the already inherently risky work of discovering and developing new medicines will likely have the effect of reducing incentives for investment, endangering the innovation that characterizes our industry, the letter said.

Mifepristone has been used as part of a two-drug regimen by 5.6 million women since 2000.

But the drugs future has become the latest uncertainty in the wake of the US Supreme Courts June 2022 ruling outlawing national abortion rights.

Kacsmaryk, a conservative appointee of former president Donald Trump, said in his order that the FDA had used unsound reasoning at a time when it faced significant political pressure to greenlight the medication.

The US Justice Department on Monday asked a federal appeals court to freeze the ruling, writing that Kacsmaryks action would thwart FDAs scientific judgment and severely harm women.

At a briefing Monday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the ruling an attack on FDA authority that could open the floodgates for other medications to be targeted and denied to people who need them.

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London: An alarming number of British students have physically assaulted their teachers over the past year, a survey by a prominent teachers union has found.

A poll by the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) has revealed that almost half of UK teachers do not feel that the schools they work in have adequately protected them from assaults and that such schools have not implemented policies that monitor students behaviour effectively or are fit for purpose.

NASUWT recorded the responses of as many as 8,466 teachers across Britain. The survey shows that at least 14 per cent of the respondents reported that they have been subjected to verbal abuse by either their students or parents.

Horrifying cases of biting, kicking, punching, and slapping at the hands of pupils have surfaced in the survey. NASUWT members also said that testimonials by teachers also show how parents have screamed and shouted at teachers in public.

At least 22 per cent of teachers have been pushed, 19 per cent have been threatened to be killed and 58 per cent of teachers have been subjected to verbal abuse.

Student said he was going to stab me

While tales of verbal and physical abuse were most common, many teachers also said that students have threatened teachers to kill their families.

I regularly had a child that would throw chairs at me, and threaten to kill me and my family. Say he was going to stab me, said one teacher.

Another recalled, I was upskirted. I have had an unknown substance sprayed in my face. I have been verbally abused and shoved several times.

One teacher claimed that she had been spat at, swore at, pushed, punched and kicked. She also said that one of her students threatened to rape her.

Union flags concern over safety of teachers

NASUWT said that they are worried about how schools are failing their duties to protect teachers employed under them by either not completing risk assessments or seeing them as a paper exercise.

The union added that many in authoritative positions in schools are not given sufficient guidance in the completion of risk assessments for violent pupils.

No teacher should have to go to work expecting to suffer from physical or verbal abuse by pupils, said Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT.

He added, Employers have a statutory duty to carry out effective risk assessments  they cannot simply choose to ignore or underestimate the dangers of violent pupils.

A spokesperson from the Department of Education said, No teacher should feel unsafe or face violence in the workplace and we are taking action to improve pupils behaviour to ensure every school has a safe and respectable environment.

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Moscow: Two former officials of the Russian government have been sentenced to jail for 19 years after they threw Molotov cocktails at a town hall in Moscow to protest against Russias special military operation in Ukraine.

The prison term has become the heaviest punishment given for such an attack, of which there have been dozens since Russia began its military campaign in Ukraine.

Last year in October, Roman Nasriyev and Alexei Nuriyev, who used to work National Guard office, were arrested for an attack in the small town of Bakal in the southern Chelyabinsk region.

According to the Russian news agency TASS, the two men were accused of an act of terrorism. They had allegedly smashed a window in the town hall building and then threw several Molotov cocktails through it. However, there were no victims, and there was no major damage to the building.

Not budging from their stand, both Roman and Alexei accepted the charge of vandalism but denied acting as a terrorist.

I just wanted to show that, in our town, there were people opposed to mobilisation and the special military operation (in Ukraine), Nasriyev was quoted as saying during his trial by Zona Solidarnosti, a non-governmental organisation.

The two friends played in a rock band, Russian news agencies reported.

There have been dozens of similar attacks with Molotov cocktails against public buildings since Russia began its military campaign in Ukraine, but the charges have been less severe.

Russia has beefed up laws to silence voices opposed to the offensive.

Hundreds of activists or ordinary citizens who expressed their opposition have been fined or given prison sentences.
Moscow: Russian-backed official Denis Pushilin stated Monday that he had visited Bakhmut, implying that Russias forces had achieved substantial gains there.

The battle for Bakhmut has been the longest and bloodiest of Russias offensive, and the city has taken on enormous symbolic significance despite the analysts claiming that it has little strategic relevance.

Pushilin, the Russia-installed head of the eastern Ukrainian Donetsk region, uploaded a video of himself on Telegram in the seriously damaged city. Pushilin said, Here is our Artemovsk, according to AFP.

He added, It is being liberated by Wagnerites, in reference to the Wagner mercenary group spearheading Russias battle in the city.

Pushilin is wearing a camouflage helmet in the video, and destroyed buildings and ruins could be seen in the background behind. He appears to be standing in the central Svoboda square of the city.

The head of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, last week claimed the group had in a legal sense captured Bakhmut because he said it had taken control of city hall.

The Russian army made no such breakthroughs, and Ukraine has stated that it will continue to defend the city.

Several Russian war journalists have recently published footage from Bakhmut, indicating that Wagner has made substantial gains, according to AFP.

With inputs from agencies

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Beijing: China has reached the third and last day of its military drills in Taiwan that were launched in retaliation to President Tsai-Ing-wens meeting with the US House speaker.

Mondays exercises will include live-fire drills off the rocky coast of Chinas Fujian province, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the Matsu islands and 190 kilometres from Taipei.

These operations serve as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence and external forces and against their provocative activities, said Shi Yin, a PLA spokesman,

Over the weekend, Taiwan detected over 11 Chinese warships and 70 aircraft around the island. The exercises have sparked condemnation among Taipei and warnings from Washington.

Naming the operation Joint Sword, the military drills included rehearsing an encirclement of Taiwan, according to the People Liberation Army (PLA).

Chinas war efforts have also disturbed the day-to-day lives of common people in Taiwan with a 60-year-old chef named Lin Ke-qiang telling AFP that he simply did not want war.

He said, We, common people, just want to live peaceful and stable lives.

If any war happens, now that their missiles are so advanced, theres no way our side could resist. This side will be levelled to the ground, he added.

As per a report from Chinas state broadcaster CCTV, the drills conducted on Sunday had simulated joint precision strikes against key targets on Taiwan island and surrounding waters. It that forces continued to maintain the situation of closely encircling the island.

The air force also deployed dozens of aircraft to fly into the target airspace, and ground forces had carried out drills for multi-target precision strikes, the report added.

Denouncing the drills, President Tsai-Ing-wen said that she would collaborate with US and other allies in the face of continued authoritarian expansionism.

The de facto US embassy in Taiwan said in a statement that it is comfortable and confident that US possesses enough resources in the region and is capable of carrying out a peaceful resolution and stabilising the region amid a growing Chinese threat.

A spokesperson of the US embassy said earlier, We are monitoring Beijings actions closely. As we have said, there is no reason for Beijing to turn this transit  which was consistent with longstanding US practice and policy  into something it is not or use it as a pretext to overreact.

With inputs from agencies

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Moscow: With reports of Ukraine starting counterattack anytime soon against Russia spreading like fire and the West providing arms and ammunitions to the war-torn country to fight invaders, Moscow is engaged in training tank-killer groups to fight modern munition that Kyiv is getting.

Evgeny Arifulin, who heads a military training center located very close to Nizhny Novgorod in central Russia, said the order to create tank-killer groups was issued by Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.

Russias tank-killer

The groups are not just trained to hunt the tanks, but are also taught how to fire from artillery or operate various missile systems, Arifulin said.

The facility could instruct as many as 700 soldiers at a time, the official added.

With emphasise on tackling Western armour, Russian military are being taught about all the tanks, including American M1 Abrams, German Leopards, British Challengers and French Leclercs, Arifulin said.

We know all their strengths and weaknesses and train the personnel [to fight them], he said.

Who is training the Russian military?

The tank-hunter group members are being trained by veteran instructors, who have been part of several conflicts in recent decades, including the ongoing full-scale special military operation in Ukraine, Russian TV channel Zvezda reported.

These groups comprise only a small number of soldiers, who are mostly armed with anti-tank guided missile launchers and predominantly use reconnaissance drones, the report added.

Ukraine has already started receiving Western-made tanks. Last month, the German Ministry of Defence sent 18 Leopard 2 A6 tanks and ammunition as well as spare parts to Kyiv.

Russia has been persistently warning the West that shipments of arms to Ukraine make it a direct participant in the war. Commenting on tank deliveries to Ukraine, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said this armour would burn as the rest of it, and would not change the eventual outcome of the hostilities.

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Washington: Following a backlash, Twitter has now changed its stance and renamed the US radio network NPR government-funded instead of state-affiliated media.

Elon Musks social media network has also given that new title to the BBC, which is mostly funded by licence fees paid by British families. According to news reports, the BBC has reached out to Twitter for clarification.

The change happened quietly on Saturday night and comes after the network complained that the term state-affiliated was disparaging and inaccurate, according to AFP.

In protest, NPR stopped tweeting. In its updated Twitter bio, NPRs main account  which has more than 8.8 million followers  invited users to find us every other place where you read the news.

Last week, Twitter branded NPR in the same way that it labelled government-owned Chinese and Russian platforms.

NPR stopped tweeting in protest. NPRs main account, which has over 8.8 million followers, invited people to find us every other place where you read the news, reported AFP.

NPR CEO John Lansing said the decision by Twitter was unacceptable and the radios account has remained silent ever since.

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.

Musks 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.

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 sites 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.

NPR, one of Americas most respected news outlets, told AFP less than one percent of its operational budget comes from federal sources.

According to NPRs website, the majority of its funding comes from fees paid by member stations across the country, which are supported by individual donations and government subsidies.

With inputs from agencies

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New Delhi: Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russian air strikes on Orthodox Palm Sunday, including one that killed a father and daughter at their house in the city of Zaporizhzhia, reported Reuters.

The Ukrainian military reported Russian strikes and shelling across the front, with the most intense fighting being concentrated on two cities in the eastern Donetsk region: Bakhmut and Avdiivka. For months, Russian forces have besieged Bakhmut in the longest struggle in more than a year of conflict.

A 50-year-old man and his 11-year-old daughter were killed after Russian soldiers struck a residential building in Zaporizhzhia, reported Reuters.

A woman described as the victims wife and mother was retrieved from the rubble.

Zelenskyy said, This is how the terrorist state celebrates Palm Sunday. This is how Russia further isolates itself from the rest of the world.

He expressed hope that Palm Sunday next year will take place with peace and freedom for all our people.

The vast majority of Ukraines 41 million citizens are Orthodox Christians who will celebrate Easter in a week.

Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia, said Pope Francis. Notably, he has also been critical of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the destruction of a 70,000-tonne fuel stockpile near Zaporizhzhia. It further claimed that Russian soldiers destroyed Ukrainian army facilities in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk that included missiles, ammunition, and artillery, reported Reuters.

With inputs from agencies

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Washington, United States: The United States stepped up pressure on Russia on behalf of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on Monday. The US concluded that Russia had wrongfully detained Gershkovich and demanded his immediate release.

Russia has charged a US journalist with espionage for the first time since the Soviet period, and the State Departments formal decision regarding Gershkovich, who was brought into jail on 29 March, was made unusually quickly and demonstrated the importance given by Washington to the matter.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a determination that Evan Gershkovich is wrongfully detained by Russia, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said.

We call for the Russian Federation to immediately release Mr Gershkovich, Patel said in a statement.

Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlins continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth, Patel said.

There had been little doubt that the United States would reach the determination on Gershkovich, with Blinken telling reporters last week that he felt the detention was unjust.

But US officials said they were required to work through a legal process and show due diligence on the case.

In practical terms, the determination means that Gershkovichs detention will be handled by the US special envoy on hostage affairs, Roger Carstens, giving more resources to the case.

Gershkovich was detained in Yekaterinburg, some 1,800 kilometres (1,100 miles) east of Moscow. Russian news agencies said Friday he was charged with espionage, an allegation denied by Gershkovich and The Wall Street Journal and which the White House called ridiculous.

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The Anambra government had earlier claimed the woman was 'repatriated' from Delta State to Anambra State for engaging in street begging.

The Delta State Government has reacted to the report that it "deported" a beggar in the state to Anambra State.

An aide to the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, had said, in a statement on Friday, that the beggar was "repatriated" to the state from Delta State, south-south Nigeria.

The beggar, Ogochukwu Nwabude, a 32-year-old mother of one, was "repatriated" for allegedly constituting a nuisance in the state, the aide said in the statement.

Mrs Obinabo, the commissioner, was said to have assisted the woman with a "little token" to help start her start up a business, according to the statement.

Ms Nwabude hails from Nnewi, a community in Anambra State, south-east Nigeria.

Delta govt reacts

But the Delta State Government has refuted the report that it deported the woman from the state.

Olisa Ifeajika, the spokesperson to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, in a statement on Sunday, said the woman, who had a child with her, was begging for alms at Inter Bau Roundabout in Asaba, the state capital for two weeks.

Mr Ifeajika explained that some officials of the State's Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, after observing her for a period, conducted a check on her.

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He said the check revealed that she was "stable and of sound mind", but only needed financial help.

He added that the officials were moved by her condition which prompted the ministry to offer her some assistance, especially as she was with a baby, in line with standard procedure in handling such matters.

The ministry, consequently, "returned her" to its counterpart - Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Anambra State -- "for necessary support," according to the governor's spokesperson.

The measure was a "routine activity" on such cases, and often transpired among states in the country and the Federal Capital Territory, he said.

"Anambra State Government was grateful to its Delta counterpart for the effort and promptly began the process of assistance to the woman.

"The insinuations in some quarters that the woman was deported by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State Government are, therefore, uncharitable," Mr Ifeajika said.

"The Delta State Government acted in good faith and within the ambits of regulations, which Anambra State Government acknowledged with gratitude," he stated.

The spokesperson said other states of the country had been returning some indigenes of Delta State who were in similar conditions for assistance, pointing out that such action centres "on serious humanitarian service."

"What Delta State Government did was the routine procedure in rehabilitating persons of that nature and it is the standard practice among states in the country.

"We provided her with some assistance and returned her to her state of origin to ensure that she is properly re-integrated into the society," he said of the Anambra woman.
Washington: US officials have launched an investigation to pinpoint the source of a leak after highly classified documents containing intel raging from Ukraines air defenses to Israels Mossad spy agency surfaced online.

A few experts in US suspect that someone within the country leaked the documents in question owing to the nature of the information that touches upon topics like Ukraine, China, the Middle East and Africa.

Michael Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official told Reuters, The focus now is on this being a US leak, as many of the documents were only in US hands.

The possibility of a pro-Russian element behind the leak has not been ruled out by investigators. Officials say that if an external source is found to be behind the leak it would be one of the most serious security breaches the US would witness since the WikiLeaks case where more than 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables appeared on the platform.

After the leak was disclosed, Reuters reviewed Reuters has reviewed more than 50 documents labeled Secret and Top Secret that first appeared last month on social media websites, beginning with Discord and 4Chan. While some of the documents were posted weeks ago, their existence was first reported on Friday by the New York Times.

Although the authenticity of the documents could not be independently verified by Reuters, some of the details mentioned in them talked about battlefield casualty estimates from Ukraine that appeared to be altered in order to minimise the losses sustained by the Russian side. It is not clear why at least one is marked unclassified but includes top-secret information. Some documents are marked NOFORN, meaning they cannot be released to foreign nationals.

The possibility of doctoring the information on the documents to mislead investigators after they were leaked has also not been ruled out, said two US officials involved in the probe. They also warned that false information may have been disseminated to harm Americas security interests.

In a statement on Sunday, the Pentagon said it was reviewing the validity of the photographed documents that appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material.

The Pentagon has referred the issue to the Department of Justice, which has opened a criminal investigation.

Biden said last week, Classified war documents detailing secret American and NATO plans for building up the Ukrainian military ahead of a planned offensive against Russia were posted this week on social media channels.

With inputs from agencies

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Islamabad: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan praised Indias foreign policy, saying that Islamabad wanted to get cheap Russian crude oil just like India but was unable to do so since his administration was defeated in a no-confidence vote.

We wanted to get cheap Russian crude oil like India, but that could not happen because unfortunately, my government fell due to a no-confidence motion, he said in a video message, reported ANI.

Khan was the first Pakistani PM to visit Moscow in the past 23 years, but notably, he could not broker any deal that could give relief to the cash-strapped country.

Pakistan is reeling under the worst-ever economic crisis and Khan lamented over the fact that his country could also purchase Russian crude oil at a discounted rate that India enjoys despite the ongoing Ukraine war.

He also mentioned his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the clip.

Interestingly, this was not the first time when Khan acknowledged Indias achievements in terms of growing its economy and purchasing Russian oil despite Western pressure.

No other leader except Nawaz in the world has properties worth billions. Tell me about one country whose Premier or leader has billions worth of properties outside the country. Even in our neighbouring country, how many properties does PM Modi has outside India? he had said at a public gathering in September 2022, according to ANI.

Earlier in May 2022, Khan hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modis decision to purchase cheap oil from Russia despite pressure from the United States.

Despite being part of the Quad, India withstood US pressure and bought cheap oil from Russia to facilitate its people, tweeted Imran, adding, Our government was trying to achieve this through an independent foreign policy.

India is the worlds third-largest oil-consuming and importing nation. It imports 85 per cent of its crude oil needs. Ever since the war between Russia and Ukraine, the West and Europe imposed stringent sanctions on its energy. This resulted in Russias offering more discounts to its oldest ally, India.

Sanctions hit Russia signed an agreement with an Indian oil giant intending to boost the crude oil supply. According to the Russian news agency, TASS, Moscows top oil company Rosneft signed a deal with the Indian Oil Company to increase the supply of petroleum to India.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik in April 2023 claimed that the first-ever shipment of cheap oil from Russia would reach Pakistan next month, reported Geo News.

During an interview with a private news channel, the State Minister said that Islamabad has finalised the deal with Moscow, adding, The first shipment will reach next month through a cargo.

The deal, which has been in the making for months, could ease some of Pakistans fiscal trouble as the country, a net importer of energy, looked for ways to cut its oil import bill.

Malik said the government had already made progress in this regard and hoped to issue separate billing for the underprivileged and elite class, reported Geo News.

Last month, the sources told The News that the Petroleum Division was trying to procure Russian crude oil at around USD 50 per barrel, at least USD 10 per barrel below the price cap imposed by the G7 countries on the precious commodity being taken from Russia due to its war on Ukraine.

Officials, involved in the virtual talks with Russia, had shared that Moscow was more interested in completing all the prerequisites such as the mode of payment, shipping cost with premium, and insurance cost before signing the agreement with Pakistan, reported Geo News.

Talks have been ongoing between Pakistan and Russia since last year for the trade of oil which had remained a contentious issue in Pakistans politics.

Khan had repeatedly claimed that his government was ousted for pursuing an independent foreign policy, which would have allowed the country to buy oil at a discounted price from Russia, just like India.

With inputs from agencies

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Washington: The FBI is openly and actively recruiting Russians to share important information about the activities of their home countrys authorities. The bureau has turned to social media platforms  Facebook, Instagram and Google  where a voice speaking tells the listener that the FBI can change their future if they can provide the US with intelligence.

The video became viral within hours after dozens of classified Pentagon documents about the Russia-Ukraine war were leaked on social media platforms.

A report by Reuters quoted Ukrainian officials claiming that the leaked documents contained fictitious information and looked like a Russian disinformation campaign.

However, CNN report mentioned Pentagon officials admitting that the documents are real, but they seem to have been edited in some places.

FBI recruiting Russians for intelligence gathering

In a video circulating on Facebook and Twitter, Alan E. Kohler, Jr. Assistant Director, Counterintelligence Division can be heard saying: Do you want to change your future? The FBI values you. The FBI can help you. But only you have the power to take the first step.

The message is out loud & clear

The narrator minces no words in saying that the FBI is looking for spies, expats and anyone with information to counter the Kremlin. The social media program seems to have been launched in February in an attempt at encouraging Russians too turn away from the centres aggression after more than a year of war in Ukraine and tensions with the West.

In an interaction with Fox News, CIA Moscow station chief Dan Hoffman stated that the social media message was sharp and smart and that it may help the FBI and country prevail against Russian aggression.



However, not all agree

Former Defence Intelligence Agency intel officer for Russian Doctrine & Strategy Rebekah Koffler believes the video itself was flawed and said the narrators commentary did not always make sense, thus harming FBIs credibility.

While Koffler said that the FBI is trying to upgrade itself with modern times where youngsters are constantly glued to social media, it will need to properly vet all the callers it will now likely receive.

Meanwhile, the FBIs Washington field office has asked anyone with confidential information related to Russian intelligence to come forward.

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The victims have been given mass burial. All obstructions have been cleared. Enugu State Fire Service already extinguished the fire on the bus.

All 15 occupants of a Toyota bus were killed and burnt beyond recognition on Saturday when the bus had a head-on collision with a Mercedes truck on the Port Harcourt-Enugu Highway.

Spokesperson of the FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, an assistant corps marshal, confirmed the accident in a statement he issued on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Kazeem stated that the accident took place at the Enugu end of the highway at about 8.20 p.m.

"The victims have been given mass burial. All obstructions have been cleared. Enugu State Fire Service already extinguished the fire on the bus.

"The fatal crash is blameable on several factors including fatigue, which must have made one of the drivers sleep on the wheels," he stated.

Mr Kazeem quoted the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, as advising motorists to desist from night journeys to reduce fatalities from road crashes.

He added that Mr Biu noted that most fleet operators and other vehicle owners, including private vehicle owners addicted to night journeys, did so for selfish economic gains.

The FRSC boss observed that most night travellers indulge in the overloading of vehicles with passengers and goods.

"Travellers should plan their journeys for the daytime because when crashes occur away from FRSC rescue points, it is difficult to access help from other motorists at night," Mr Kazeem also quoted Biu as saying.

(NAN)
President Buhari says Bola Ajibola took his brilliance in law practice to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, "where he served meritoriously"

President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State have paid tributes to a former Judge of the International Court of Justice, Hague, Netherlands, Bola Ajibola, who died on Saturday at the age of 89 years.

The President also commiserated with the legal community in Nigeria and worldwide, noting that the outstanding lawyer and eminent jurist used his knowledge, intellect and talent to advocate for justice, fairness and equity in all his undertakings within and outside Nigeria.

"The legendary arbitrator was at different times, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (1984-1985), President, The World Association of Judges, Chairman, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and President, World Bank Administrative Tribunal among other notable accomplishments."

President Buhari noted that Mr Ajibola, having risen to the pinnacle of his career, took his brilliance in law practice to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, "where he served meritoriously between 1991 and 1994.

"His contributions to the development of our legal system cannot be overstated, serving as the Attorney General and Minister for Justice at a critical period in the nation's history. His patriotic inclinations, integrity and passion for service and advancement of humanity will continue to resonate after him."

Mr Buhari "sympathised with the government and people of Ogun State as they mourn their son and illustrious citizen for the educational and social development he brought to his community and environs."

Mr Obasanjo, who was at the residence of the deceased judge to commiserate with his widow and children, refused to speak with journalists.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the Ogun State governor, on his part, described the death of Mr Ajibola as a big loss to the judiciary.

"His legacies in the judiciary, philanthropy and the educational development of Nigeria would never be forgotten."

Mr Abiodun further commiserated with the Owu Royal Family of the late former Attorney-General of the Federation, his friend, Mr Obasanjo, as well as members of the Baptist Boys' High School Old Students Association.

He said: "The death of this illustrious son of Ogun State, a celebrated jurist and judicial activist, public intellectual and elder statesman, is a severe blow to all of us who knew him

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"Words cannot adequately convey my heartfelt sorrow over Papa's death, for he was a kind and beautiful soul who spread love to all who encountered him."

"He was a jewel of the Law Profession and an accomplished judicial officer of prodigious hue. Baba was a go-getter who delivered on any assignment committed to his hands because of his belief that service should always come first.

"Besides, he was a great religious influencer and philanthropist who established the faith-based Crescent University in his hometown, Abeokuta.

"He not only supported but funded some other altruistic projects and promoted research and scholarship through his establishment of an Islamic co-educational institution, Crescent University, in Nigeria in 2005, and he served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN). He was also the High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2002."
The Labour Party, which has been in existence for several years, became a major national opposition party last year when presidential aspirant Peter Obi joined its fold.

The 36 state chairpersons of the Labour Party (LP) and that of the FCT have called on a party member, Lamidi Apapa, and other aggrieved members to sheath their swords and resolve issues internally.

Mr Apapa had declared himself as the party's national chairman in the wake of a fresh legal crisis rocking the party and took over the national secretariat of the party.

In the wake of Mr Apapa's takeover of the secretariat, the INEC-recognised leadership of the Labour Party, led by Julius Abure, had accused the police of working with thugs to invade the party headquarters.

The opposition party had also accused Nigeria's ruling party, APC, of being behind the invasion and the crisis, an allegation the APC denied.

The Labour Party, which has been in existence for several years, became a major national opposition party last year when presidential aspirant Peter Obi joined its fold. Mr Obi, as Labour Party candidate, came third in the 25 February presidential election. He and the Labour Party are, however, challenging the result of the election in court.

The Communique

On Saturday, Rotimi Kehinde, chairperson of the Labour Party's Chairmen Forum read a communique after a meeting of the chairpersons in Abuja on Saturday in which they passed a vote of confidence in Mr Abure as national chairman.

Mr Kehinde said that the 36 state chairpersons as members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party met to review recent developments in the party.

"Few members of the National Working Committee (NWC), led by Comrade Lamidi and others declared themselves the new leaders of our party.

"The 36 chairmen resolved that Mr Abure remains the national chairman of LP and Comrade Lamidi's action is accordingly repudiated and cannot stand.

"He and the others in his group grossly violated the provision of our party's Constitution and took internal matters of the party to court without exhausting all the appropriate instituted channels of resolving disputes.

"They are by the dint of this communique directed to immediately effect withdrawal of the matter from court and return to the path of rectitude for due process," he said.

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Mr Kehinde said that the 36 chairpersons condemned the act by the small fraction of the NWC led by Mr Lamidi and others.

He added that the chairpersons were of the view that Mr Lamidi and others involved in the action did not appear to be appropriate members of LP as no member would destroy his own home.

"Those suspended by the party under the chairmanship of Abure remain suspended until the NEC decides otherwise.

"The 36 chairmen recommend that a NEC meeting should be called without further delay," he said.

Mr Kehinde added that the 36 chairpersons upheld that the NWC meeting held by Mr Lamidi was nullity.

According to him, any decision reached at the NWC meeting is of no legal effect.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an FCT Court on Wednesday restrained Mr Abure from parading himself as LP's chairman.

However, a state High Court that sat in Benin on the same day, restrained LP and all its members from any suspension of its national officers till the determination of a motion on notice.
Joined in the suit as Defendants are the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Lai Mohammed, minister of Information and Culture.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) have filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari, asking the court to "declare arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional the N5m fine imposed on Channels Television over a recent interview with the Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed."

Joined in the suit as Defendants are the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Lai Mohammed, minister of Information and Culture.

NBC had recently fined Channels Television N5 million over an interview with Datti Baba-Ahmed. The NBC alleged that the interview 'violated the NBC code.'

But in the suit number FHC/L/CS/616/2023 filed last week at the Federal High Court, Lagos, the plaintiffs are asking the court to determine "whether the NBC code used to impose a fine of N5m on Channels TV and the threat of 'higher sanctions' is not in inconsistent and incompatible with access to information and media freedom."

The plaintiffs are asking the court for "a declaration that the NBC code used by the NBC to impose a fine of N5m on Channels TV and the threat of 'higher sanctions' is arbitrary, unconstitutional and unlawful, as it violates the rights to a fair hearing, freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom."

The plaintiffs are seeking "an order setting aside the N5m fine for being inconsistent and incompatible with section 22, 36 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."

The plaintiffs are also seeking "an order directing and compelling the NBC to reverse its arbitrary and unlawful decision to impose a fine of N5m on Channels TV forthwith."

In the suit, the plaintiffs are arguing that: "the media has the task of distributing all varieties of information and opinion on matters of general interest and public interest."

The plaintiffs said, "Imposing any fine whatsoever without due process of law is arbitrary and unconstitutional, as it contravenes the fundamental principles of nemo judex in causa sua which literally means one cannot be a judge in his own cause and audi alteram partem which means no one should be condemned unheard."

The plaintiffs are also arguing that "The media plays an essential role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and access to information in a democratic society."

According to the plaintiffs: "The NBC Act and Broadcasting Code cannot and should not be used in a manner that is inconsistent and incompatible with plurality of voices, diversity of voices, non-discrimination, just demands of a democratic society, and the public interest."

The plaintiffs also said, "The fine is arbitrary and unlawful and would have a disproportionate and chilling effect on the work of other broadcast stations and journalists and Nigerians."

The suit filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by their lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Andrew Nwankwo, and Ms Blessing Ogwuche, read in part: "The grounds for imposing a fine of N5m on Channels TV fail to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality."

"Broadcasting is a means of exercising freedom of expression. Any restrictions on freedom of expression must meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality."

"The regulation of broadcasting must aspire to promote and expand the scope of the right to freedom of expression, not restrict it."

"Under the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party, freedom and diversity must be guiding principles in the regulation of broadcasting. The fine of N5m imposed on Channels TV is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with these principles."

"Article 19 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights establishes the right to freedom of opinion without interference. Article 19(2) establishes Nigeria's obligations to respect 'the right to freedom of expression,' which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information, regardless of frontiers."

"Under article 19(3), restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be 'provided by law', and necessary 'for respect of the rights or reputations of others' or 'for the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health and morals"'

"Although article 19(3) recognizes 'national security' as a legitimate aim, the Human Rights Committee has stressed 'the need to ensure that the invocation of national security is not used unjustifiably or arbitrarily to restrict freedom of expression and media freedom."

"The use of NBC Act and Code in this case would inadmissibly open the door to arbitrariness and would fundamentally restrict the freedom of expression that is an integral part of the public order protected by the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party."

"Arbitrarily imposing fines on media houses simply for carrying out their constitutional duties would both seriously undermine the rights of millions of Nigerians to express their thoughts, and their right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, in any medium they choose."

"Freedom of expression includes the public's right to receive, and the right of those who express themselves through a medium of communication, to impart the greatest possible diversity of information and ideas."

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"The right to freedom of expression is based on the right to establish or use a media outlet to exercise freedom of expression and on society's right to have access to a free, independent, and pluralistic media that allows for the most diverse information."

"The exercise of the right to freedom of expression through the media is a guarantee that is fundamental for advancing the collective deliberative process on public and democratic issues."

"The strengthening of the guarantee of freedom of expression is a precondition for the exercise of other human rights, as well as a precondition to the right to participation."

"Any regulation of the media must be evaluated according to the guidelines and directives imposed by the right to freedom of expression."

"The plaintiffs recognize the mandates of NBC to regulate broadcasting. However, the exercise of such mandates including imposing any fine must follow the thresholds and guidelines set by the right to freedom of expression and media freedom."

"The free circulation of ideas and news is not possible except in the context of a plurality of sources of information and media outlets. The lack of plurality in sources of information is a serious obstacle for the functioning of democracy."

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What sort of area does the search party discover on the mountaintop plateau in "Lost Continent" (1951)?



Answer: a lush prehistoric jungle



Once the search party reaches the plateau atop the mountain, they find a dense jungle, with steaming pools, cloaked in green mist, inhabited by dinosaurs. There is also a large field of uranium which is what affected the guidance systems on the atomic rocket and on the DC-3 search plane. Doctor Robert Phillips, played by Hugh Beaumont, says "You are looking at a kind of world that hasn't existed for millions of years."

2. Three of these titles are genuine, bona fide, for-real, professionally-produced and theatrically-released motion pictures from the 1950s. Which one is not?



Answer: Night of the Giant Worms



In "Attack of the Giant Leeches" (1959), the parasites mutate because of atomic radiation from Cape Canaveral. 1959's "The Giant Behemoth" is a radioactive Paleosaurus. The creature in "The Giant Claw" (1957) is an enormous bird from "an antimatter galaxy." There was a giant maggot in Roger Corman's "Galaxy of Terror" (1981), a ghost-eating sandworm in "Beetlejuice" (1988), and the Graboids in "Tremors" (1990- ).



But there was no "Night of the Giant Worms" in 1950s' cinema.

3. In the Spanish-language version of "The Aztec Mummy" ("La Momia Azteca") (1957), how is the mummy Popoca killed?



crushed in a cave-in inside the pyramid



In the denouement, the scientists pursuing the mummy Popoca go to the pyramid where a battle ensues. Oddly, the mummy cowers from the sight of a crucifix (thereby mixing movie metaphors). Dr. Sepulveda bravely gives up his own life by detonating dynamite which brings down the tomb onto both of them, apparently killing the mummy. Answer:In the denouement, the scientists pursuing the mummy Popoca go to the pyramid where a battle ensues. Oddly, the mummy cowers from the sight of a crucifix (thereby mixing movie metaphors). Dr. Sepulveda bravely gives up his own life by detonating dynamite which brings down the tomb onto both of them, apparently killing the mummy.

4. In what country was "The Blob" (1958) made?



Answer: US



"The Blob" was shot in several small communities around Valley Forge, Pennsylvania: Chester Springs, Downingtown, Phoenixville, and Royersford. Paramount Pictures distributed "The Blob" as a double feature with "I Married a Monster from Outer Space."

5. In "Teenagers from Outer Space" (1959), what happens between young alien Derek and Earth girl Betty Morgan?



Answer: They become romantic and kiss.



Derek, fleeing from his spaceship's crew, takes a room at the home of Betty Morgan and her grandpa. A relationship blooms between them and they kiss. Their romance is interrupted by a Gargon attack.

6. From what literary source was the script for "Them!" (1954) derived?



Answer: a short story by George Worthing Yates



George Worthing Yates was paid $25,000 for the right to adapt his short story into the motion picture "Them!" It was written as a story about giant ants in the subways under New York City. This was changed because the Los Angeles River was much closer to Hollywood. Russell Hughes attempted the screenplay which was completed by Ted Sherdman.



Thereafter, Yates became a prominent screenwriter for the genre: "Conquest of Space" (1955), "It Came from Beneath the Sea" (1955), "Earth vs. the Flying Saucers" (1956), "The Amazing Colossal Man" (1957), "Attack of the Puppet People" (1958), "Earth vs. the Spider" (1958), "The Flame Barrier" (1958), "Frankenstein 1970" (1958), "Space Master X-7" (1958), "War of the Colossal Beast" (1958), and "King Kong vs. Godzilla" (1962).

7. Why did Shirley Kilpatrick, playing the alien in "The Astounding She-Monster" (1957) walk backwards out of every room she entered face forward?



Answer: Her costume was ripped up the back.



Shirley Kilpatrick was buxom, well-endowed and shapely. She had worked as a stripper before taking up acting in films. On the first day of filming, the back of her skin-tight costume split open when she bent over forwards. They did not have a back-up garment; they did not have a costume mistress on set.



The shooting schedule was as tight as had been the leotard. So she was directed to walk backwards out of every scene into which she had walked frontwards.

8. For what is Kurt Neumann best known in the world of horror and science fiction movie making?



directing



Kurt Neumann (1908-1958) was a German who came to Hollywood to direct motion pictures. His penchant for science-fiction movies began with "Rocketship X-M" (1950). He also directed "Kronos" (1957), and "She-Devil" (1957), and "The Fly" (1958). He died of natural causes on 21 August 1958, just five weeks after the theatrical opening of "The Fly." Answer:Kurt Neumann (1908-1958) was a German who came to Hollywood to direct motion pictures. His penchant for science-fiction movies began with "Rocketship X-M" (1950). He also directed "Kronos" (1957), and "She-Devil" (1957), and "The Fly" (1958). He died of natural causes on 21 August 1958, just five weeks after the theatrical opening of "The Fly."

9. Where was "Beginning of the End" (1957) set?



Answer: Illinois



The first evidence of giant grasshoppers is in the farming countryside of Illinois where an entire community (Ludlow, Illinois) is wiped out by something unknown. Most strange is that there is no sign of a single person in this town of 150 people. And the local fields are naked, having been stripped of their crops by something.



The hungry grasshoppers, which have become carnivorous, head for Chicago where the Illinois National Guard prepares to fight a final battle.

10. Based on the results of the examination made by Dr. Arthur Carrington in "The Thing From Another World" (1951), which of the following best describes the alien?



Answer: vegetable



The scientists at the arctic station examine an arm ripped off the alien by one of the camp's dogs. They find that it is made of plant cells. Although the monster is animated, it has no nerves. It is able to regenerate lost parts. They conclude that it is an intelligent vegetable.

Source: Author FatherSteve This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor spanishliz before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
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Nairobi  President William Ruto's Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) chairperson, David Ndii, now says if things go bad, the government may be compelled to go for a handshake in the interest of the economic stability of the nation.

Taking on critics on Twitter, Ndii cited survival as one of the things that could see a second handshake at play in the future between president William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

"I have news for you. The first obligation of a government is survival and political stability. The more the dynasties foment destabilization the more we will have to spend on political capital. If push comes to shove, handshake is always an option," he tweeted.

Ndii further defended the appointment of chief administrative secretaries, stating that it was in the interest of national integration.

Ndii's statement comes against the backdrop of the government forming a team to represent it in the proposed bipartisan talks by President William Ruto.

Azimio la Umoja, one Kenya coalition, had Wednesday picked a team of hardliner legislators to represent the coalition's interests in parliament.

The statement by Ndii, who is considered a close ally to President William Ruto, could perhaps give a hint as to the extent to which the head of state could go in ensuring that the country is catapulted back to political stability.

Should this be the case, the political dynamics could steadily shift, with a section of Kenya Kwanza legislatures led by a Kikuyu Town member of parliament constantly repeating that there will be no handshake, a complete departure from the script economist David Ndii is reading from.
Nairobi  President William Ruto avoided a public statement of Sunday as he attended Easter Sunday at his home town of Eldoret with his press team only circulating still images.

Ruto joined a congregation at the African Inland Church (AIC) Fellowship.

His predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta whom Ruto-allied lawmakers have accused of supporting sabotage against government by opposition leader Raila Odinga equally kept off the press when he attended mass in Nyali, Mombasa.

Kenyatta who chauffeured himself avoided questions from a group of reporters as he drove away from mass at Saint Francis Catholic Church only acknowledging greetings as his security detail shielded him.

Odinga kept a low profile with his team sharing no schedule of public engagements.

The subdued political activity by the three leaders precede a week that could see the onset of a highly anticipated bi-partisan process in Parliament over the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

In a conspicuous departure from tradition, Ruto's church attendance was not streamed live on his Twitter handle neither did the State broadcaster, KBC, televise the church service.

State House later shared images of the President and his family attending the service, but shared no audio or video recordings.

In a tweet, the President shared a Bible verse on the resurrection of Jesus, saying, "And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power."

Violent demonstrations

Miles away in Mombasa, Kenyatta made his first public appearance since the invasion of his Northlands estate by goons on March 27 amid clashes pitting anti-government supporters against those affiliated to the ruling party.

Talks to address demands by the Kenyatta-backed Azimio Coalition led by Odinga were anticipated to begin in the coming days after the opposition named seven lawmakers to represent the alliance.

Ruto proposed the bi-partisan talks within Parliament on April 2 in a move that saw Odinga suspend down bi-weekly anti-government protests.

In a televised address to the nation the Head of State suggested that he was ready and willing to engage with Odinga on the reconstitution of IEBC through a bipartisan approach in Parliament.

Consequently, President Ruto asked Odinga to call off the planned anti-government protest scheduled for Monday.

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"I have carefully listened to the issues raised by my friend Raila Odinga. In times like this, it is not about who is right or who is wrong. Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak but it is also what it takes to sit down and listen," he said.

Odinga has been pushing for his involvement in the reconstitution of IEBC, insisting that President Ruto's administration must prioritize the electoral reforms.

He heeded to the president's call and suspended demos to pave way for the bi-partisan process.

Bi-partisan talks

On Thursday, Azimio named its 7-member team during the coalition's Parliamentary Group meeting held in Machakos to engage in the bipartisan parliamentary dialogue.

The nominees are Ledama Ole Kina (Narok), Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), Millie Odhiambo (Suba North), Enock Wambua (Kitui), Amina Mnyazi (Malindi), David Pkosing (Pokot South) and Otiende Amollo (Rarieda).

President has ruled out a 'handshake' similar to the March 2018 deal between Kenyatta and Odinga.

The Ruto affirmed that he will not get into any "unconstitutional" political arrangement with the opposition when asked on the prospect of a handshake.

"I want to tell you, there will be no handshake. But there will be an engagement in parliament on the issues that have been raised in parliament," he said while fielding question from the media in Kigali during a State Visit to Rwanda on April 4.
kacylee at 10-04-2023 07:18 AM (2 weeks ago) (f)

International UK-based Nigerian pastor, Apostle Tomi Arayomi, the founder of RIG Nation and Pioneer Church, United Kingdom, has recounted his ordeal in the hands of Nigerias secret police, Department of State Services (DSS).

International UK-based Nigerian pastor, Apostle Tomi Arayomi, the founder of RIG Nation and Pioneer Church, United Kingdom, has recounted his ordeal in the hands of Nigerias secret police, Department of State Services (DSS).

GISTMANIA reported days back that the sought-after prophet was detained by the DSS alongside his wife and his aide.



Apostle Arayomi started his narration by appreciating the public for their prayers and support during the ordeal.



Narrating his ordeal, Apostle Arayomi said that on Good Friday, they were picked up by DSS on arriving at Abuja to visit one of their branches.



He said that the armed secret, who was 6 in number, didnt identify themselves as DSS or any law enforcement agency.



He claimed that they were forced to surrender their mobile phones and enter the vehicles where they were taken at a considerable speed. They later learned that they were been driven to DSS HQ where their pictures were taken, fingerprints, and data collected, and locked inside a room with no knowledge of the grounds of their arrest.



The clergyman and his wife were later released following media and social media pressure. However, his aide remains in their custody.



Out of concern for his young children and wifes wellbeing, they made the unfortunate decision to leave Nigeria abruptly.



The statement reads in part: GISTMANIA reported days back that the sought-after prophet was detained by the DSS alongside his wife and his aide.Apostle Arayomi started his narration by appreciating the public for their prayers and support during the ordeal.Narrating his ordeal, Apostle Arayomi said that on Good Friday, they were picked up by DSS on arriving at Abuja to visit one of their branches.He said that the armed secret, who was 6 in number, didnt identify themselves as DSS or any law enforcement agency.He claimed that they were forced to surrender their mobile phones and enter the vehicles where they were taken at a considerable speed. They later learned that they were been driven to DSS HQ where their pictures were taken, fingerprints, and data collected, and locked inside a room with no knowledge of the grounds of their arrest.The clergyman and his wife were later released following media and social media pressure. However, his aide remains in their custody.Out of concern for his young children and wifes wellbeing, they made the unfortunate decision to leave Nigeria abruptly.The statement reads in part: Quote Tomiarayomi Prophetess Tahmar and I would like to express our gratitude for all your prayers and international support during Fridays ordeal with The DSS.



We can confirm that on Good Friday 7th April we arrived at Abuja to visit one of our branches when we were picked up by about 6 armed agents who did not identify themselves as DSS or any law enforcement agency.



My wife, myself, and my aide Emmanuel Ezerika were forced to surrender our mobile phones and enter the vehicles where we were taken at considerable speed to what we later learned were DSS HQ. The officers, some of who wore balaclavas were not immediately recognizable as DSS.



He also stated that DSS locked them without providing them with any information about the reason for their arrest after obtaining some of their personal information.



He continued: Our pictures were taken, fingerprints and data collected and we were locked inside a room with no real knowledge as to the grounds for our arrest. After a lengthy interrogation, it appears media and social media pressure forced DSS to release my wife and I.



My aide still remains under DSS custody and thus far, DSS has been elusive as to his exact whereabouts. We will not divulge the particulars of the investigation at this point as we are still awaiting the safe release of my aide.



Out of concern for my young children and my wifes well-being, we made the unfortunate decision to leave Nigeria abruptly. This decision did not come lightly but with considerable prayer and counsel from our board, trustees, colleagues in the ministry, and respective families.



I can confirm that we are safe and will continue to work and pray for a new Nigeria. We remain resolute that we will return to the Nation that we have grown to call our home but for now, we will continue to press, pray and give God no rest until Nigeria becomes a praise on the earth. We did not come to Nigeria under any illusion of comfort. We came to serve the Lord, fully aware of the danger



We want you to know that Tahmar and I remain strong and unwavering in our commitment to Nigeria and the many great leaders we have encountered during our time there. We want to thank every leader and friend who reached out, called, texted, and posted. We are so grateful. This is not goodbye. This is see you soon! In a new and better Nigeria, he added.



Apostle Arayomi and wife arrested by DSS



Recall that social media was thrown into a frenzy following the arrest of Apostle Arayomi and his wife.



The couple was arrested by the DSS for allegedly being on their watchlist for a public speech the cleric delivered.



They were arrested after disembarking from their 9 am Ibom Air flight from Lagos to the Federal Capital Territory on Friday.



Arayomis twin brother, Tobi Arayomi, disclosed the news on his Instagram page, @tobiarayomi.



According to Tobi, his brother was apprehended by DSS operatives over politics-related prophecies he made.



In an update, Tobi revealed that his brother and wife had been released, as he posted a photo with the couple.



@tomiarayomi and @tahmar.india are out. Thank you all for your prayers, Tobi posted on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tomi Arayomi (@tomiarayomi)

Post Reply I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia. Posted: at 10-04-2023 07:18 AM (2 weeks ago) | Addicted Hero
Samsung Restricting Use of ChatGPT for its Employees: Report News lekhaka -Anu Joy

Samsung employees inadvertently leaked confidential information while using ChatGPT at work, unaware of the fact that data shared with the app is used to train the model. This means that details shared with ChatGPT can even appear in response to other users.

How Samsung Employees Leaked Confidential Data

According to a report by The Economist Korea, there were at least three instances of employees accidentally leaking top-secret company details soon after Samsung permitted engineers to use ChatGPT at work.

The report states that on one occasion, an engineer used ChatGPT to check if the source code had any errors. In the second instance, an employee requested the app to optimize the code.

Another worker is said to have converted a previously recorded meeting into a document file. The employee then uploaded the content to ChatGPT and requested it to prepare the minutes of the meeting.

Samsung Allegedly Cracks Down on ChatGPT Usage

Samsung is reportedly investigating the issue. In the interim, the South Korean firm is said to have limited the length of ChatGPT messages to 1024 characters.

Samsung reportedly states in an internal memo to its employees, "If a similar accident occurs even after emergency information protection measures are taken, access to ChatGPT may be blocked on the company network." (translated from Korean)

The internal memo warns, "As soon as content is entered into ChatGPT, data is transmitted and stored to an external server, making it impossible for the company to retrieve it."

The report suggests that Samsung is planning to develop its own AI (Artificial Intelligence) service to prevent such data leaks. The tool will only be used by Samsung's employees.

Don't Trust ChatGPT to Keep Your Secrets

ChatGPT's data policy states that the data fed into the system is used to train its models, unless a user chooses to opt out. ChatGPT also asks users to refrain from sharing sensitive information in the chat since it is unable to purge specific conversations from the chat history.

Source

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ASUS ROG Phone 7 Design Revealed in Leaked Tenders Ahead of Launch News lekhaka -Subhrojit Mallick

The global launch of the ASUS ROG Phone 7 series is scheduled for April 13. Ahead of this launch, images and some specifications of it have been leaked online. ASUS will be launching two of its gaming smartphones, the ROG Phone 7 and 7 Pro in its upcoming launch, and possibly others in the series too.

Possible phones in the series are expected to be the basic ROG Phone 7 and a model a notch higher, the ROG Phone 7 Pro. There are rumors doing the rounds about a ROG Phone 7 Ultimate too.

Asus Rog Phone 7: Price and Specifications

The base model Asus ROG Phone 7 will be the bottom of the series of new gaming smartphones by the brand. A tipster has now revealed the possible price of this basic model. The Asus ROG Phone 7 according to tipster Yogesh Brar, will be within the range of 70,000 and 80,000 in India.

The tipster also revealed that the expected specifications of the phone include 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Further, another variation of the model with a 16GB + 512GB storage option will be available as well.

Previously leaked specs of the phone were also highlighted by the tipster. The phone is expected to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The handset will also boast a peak clock speed of 3.19GH. In addition to this, it will also have the SoC paired with an Adreno 740 GPU.

A curved back, three cameras, and a design similar to its predecessors are other expected features. Leaked designs show the right side to have a volume rocker and a power button.

The ROG Phone 7 is expected to come loaded with a 50MP Sony IMX766 main camera, a 13MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5MP macro sensor. The smartphone supporting 8K video recording is another rumored highlight. The selfie camera will offer a resolution of 32MP.

A 6000mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging will be part of the phone. Additionally, a big 6.78-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with support for a 165Hz refresh rate is a potential feature of the phone. The handset will likely also boast an in-display fingerprint scanner.

Launch of the ROG Phone 7 Series is Scheduled for April 13

The phones launched in this series will be successors of the ASUS Rog Phone 6. The launch of this series for both India and other markets is scheduled for April 13 Exact details of the gaming smartphones are expected to be officially revealed during the launch event.

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*Angry youths take over Otukpo-Oweto-Abuja road to protest carnage

The death toll in Wednesday's armed herdsmen attack on Umogidi village, Enetekpa Adoka district of Otukpo Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state has risen to 51.

This is just as angry youths of neighbouring Apa LGA where a traditional ruler in Ugbobi community and many others were equally murdered by the marauders, took over the busy Otukpo-Oweto-Abuja road to protest the carnage and to demand the intervention of the government.

The casualty figure in the Umogidi attack rose from the initial 46 to 51 after five more corpses were recovered from the besieged village between Thursday and Friday morning.

The increase in the death toll was confirmed by the Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Mr. Bako Ejeh who said after the initial 46, four more corpses were recovered yesterday while another corpse was found Friday morning.

The Chairman who lost his 33 year old son in the attack disclosed that a missing woman was also found alive Friday morning.

He said "luckily the woman who was missing initially was discovered alive this morning. But the death toll rose to 51 after one corpse was recovered this morning.

"The situation is however calm because security personnel have been sent in and there is no further problem. But we are appealing to government to come to our aid. Government should give us support so that we do not experience a repeat of the attack.

"This morning Governor Samuel Ortom sent his Deputy, Benson Abounu to come and commiserate with us and encourage us.

"The Federal Government must live to its responsibilities, we cannot fold our hands and watch these Fulani herdsmen come and take over our land. Everybody needs to rise up and nip it in the bud. We cannot understand where the country is headed.

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"Where do the Fulani want us to go, they cannot chase us out of our ancestral homes. My own son was also killed by the invaders, what is our sin?"

Meanwhile, one of the leaders in Apa LGA, Abba Ocholi who was trapped on the Otukpo-Oweto-Abuja when the youths of Apa LGA took over the busy road Friday morning said he had to abandon his car and made his way to his residence on foot.

He said "this morning our angry youths mounted a roadblock at Ugbokpo, Apa Local Government Headquarters. I ran into them and in fact I abandoned my vehicle there.

"All the vehicles from Abuja and those from the East were all trapped there and no one could move for several hours. But two teams of soldiers came in from Makurdi and the youths were prevailed upon to end the protest. So they finally agreed to vacate the road.

"It is unfortunate that Fulanis are doing this in our communities, there is no reason whatsoever for the killings.

Our people cannot go to the farms and they cannot do anything now, if they see anyone they kill and the government is not doing anything.

"If this does not stop the youths will not take it kindly even with our political leaders. They are killing and raping our women, it is terrible. Strangely, these Fulanis do not move with their wives, they only move with cows and guns. So it is a serious issue".

Contacted the Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Security Matters, Col. Paul Hemba(retd.) confirmed that security had been beefed up in the affected communities to ensure the restoration of peace and calm in the areas.
Oppo Reno 10 Pro Plus tipped to use Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, like the Reno 9 Pro Plus News oi -Carlsen Martin

Oppo is gearing up to launch new smartphones in its Reno series soon. The Oppo Reno 10 line-up is expected to make its debut in China sometime in April or May this year. However, ahead of its launch, several details about the Reno 10 Pro+ have been leaked by tipsters.

And the most recent leak comes from renowned Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station, who claims that the Oppo Reno 10 Pro+ will be powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. The Oppo Reno 10 series will succeed last year's Reno 9 series, although the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip has also been used on the top-end Reno 9 Pro Plus.

Oppo Reno 10 series launch timeline

The Oppo Reno 10 line-up is expected to bring three new smartphones into the fray including the Oppo Reno 10, Reno 10 Pro, and Reno 10 Pro+. While the Reno 10 series is expected to hit Chinese markets sometime next month, information is still scarce about a global launch.

It is worth noting that the Chinese smartphone maker is yet to launch the Oppo Reno 9 series in India. Additionally, there is no information about a global launch date for the Reno 9 series as well. So Oppo could skip the global launch of the Reno 9 series and introduce the Reno 10 series internationally sometime in Q3 2023.

Oppo Reno 10 Pro Plus Specifications (Expected)

Apart from the chipset, Digital Chat Station previously revealed that the Oppo Reno 10 Pro+ would sport a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 1.5K resolution (1220 x 2712 pixels). The tipster (via MySmartPrice) also noted that the phone would pack a 4,700 mAh dual-cell battery with 80W wired fast charging support.

For optics, the Reno 10 Pro+ is expected to use a 50 MP Sony IMX890 camera sensor at the helm of its triple-camera setup. The other two sensors will include an 8 MP Sony IMX355 ultrawide unit and a 64 MP periscope lens, which is rare in the premium mid-range space. On the front, the phone will likely use a 32 MP selfie camera.

Additionally, the main camera is expected to support OIS, while the phone will also feature the dedicated MariSilicon X NPU found on the flagship Find X series. Other aspects of the Reno 10 Pro+ include the LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. Moreover, the software side will be covered by Android 13 out of the box with ColorOS 13.1 on top.

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Amazfit GTR mini Review: Light as a Feather Reviews oi -Hrithik Rawat

On my hunt for a fitness tracker that's both accurate and aesthetically pleasing, I chanced upon the Amazfit GTR mini, the latest release from a brand that's known for its making affordable wearables. But how does it perform in the real world?

After having spent a few weeks with the GTR mini and putting it through a battery of our tests, it's time to share our findings with you. Let's dive in and see if this watch is worth your money!

Rating: 4.0 /5

PROS Premium Design

Lightweight

Accurate Health Tracking

Simple & Smooth UI/UX CONS No Mic/Speaker

No option to turn off display manually

Amazfit GTR Mini: Design

Let us begin with the watch's most expensive feature: the looks! The Amazfit GTR mini is elegantly crafted and looks aesthetic. The black and silver provide a feeling of modernity while preserving an attractive appearance. Granted, design is subjective, but I'm confident that this design would appeal to the masses.

The casing is constructed of stainless steel and is a cherry on top of the cake. The GTR mini features a single button which adds on to the minimalistic ideology, and is effective to turn on the display and toggle through the applications.

Amazfit GTR mini: Display

The 1.28" HD AMOLED display.on the Amazfit looks stunning. While the bezels on the Amazfit GTR mini are thick, the clarity is impeccable, and the 2.5D curved glass makes navigating a pleasure. At 326ppi, the screen is bright enough for both indoor and outdoor use.

There is also support for auto brightness, which automatically adjusts its brightness based on the ambient. The colors are vibrant, and the viewing angles are dynamic. Undoubtedly, the GTR mini has the finest display among smartwatches in this category.

Amazfit GTR Mini: Comfort & Durability

Amazfit certainly lives up to its name! The fit is undeniably amazing. The silicon strap feels pretty soft. Considering it's summer now, there was minor sweating and no signs of discomfort while wearing the watch for an extended period.

The glazed finish on the back, feels comfortable on the wrist, thanks to its featherweight lightness. I faced no issue with extended usage. In Fact, there were days when I went to take a shower and realized that I still had the Amazfit GTR on.

Amazfit GTR mini: Calling and Message Alerts

The mic and speakers are the only elements missing from this lovely jigsaw.

Yes, it does notify you of incoming calls. Sure, you can read and respond to the messages. However, talking through the smartwatch is not supported by the GTR mini.

Another feature that is missing is the ability to turn off the display. I would have preferred it if there was a way to switch off the display manually by double tapping the screen or the accessible button.

Amazfit GTR mini: No Phone, No Problem

One of my favorite features on Amazfit GTR Mini is the ability to monitor fitness without the need of a smartphone. The Amazfit GTR Mini's 5 Satellite Positioning System is capable of detecting accurate motions. This improves training sessions significantly because there is no need to carry an extra piece of technology to track information.

The flexibility of letting go of my smartphone to dive deeper and focus on the fitness session, whether on morning walks or the evening workout sessions, is priceless.

Amazfit GTR mini: Touch Response

The display feels just like a smartphone display, with a very responsive touch response. It is buttery smooth and has extremely low touch latency. There were no glitches or stutters in my regular usage.

I also installed games on the GTR mini using the Zepp App to test the touch sensitivity, and boy, was it accurate and immaculate.

Amazfit GTR mini: ZeppOS

The proprietary software Zepp OS 2.0 by Amazfit, like its GTR mini, is simple to use and understand. The overall impression is fluid. With a single swipe, you can get all of your health metrics and vital info. While the software is proprietary, there is an App Store within the Zepp App that lets you install numerous applications on the Amazfit GTR mini.

For the time being, the app possibilities are limited, but I'm certain that more apps will be released in the future. That being said, there's enough of an opportunity for me to personalize the watch to my tastes and preferences.

Amazfit GTR mini: Health

The health indicators are quite accurate. I also tested the watch's capacity to recognise a human subject for health purposes by wearing it on my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with and without the strap secured, and it informed me to wear the watch correctly on my wrist.

My personal favorite is the Stand Up Reminder; it has proven to be quite useful because my workday entails a lot of research and testing while sitting in a chair for hours and hours; the alert on the GTR mini in previous weeks, it notifies me to stand up straight and do some stretches for the good.

The second intriguing feature is one-tap measure, which measures health indicators in real time and displays the heart rate, stress level, and heart oxygen percentage. Furthermore, the watch displays all important tracking data such as sleep tracking, personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) score, battery percentage etc.

Amazfit GTR mini: Battery Life

The GTR mini lasted 6 days on a single charge based on my intensive usage with Bluetooth-ON, receiving a ton of Instagram WhatsApp alerts, practicing gym sessions alongside health and time monitoring.

While charging, it took over an hour and a half to reach 100%. The battery performance is top notch, considering it's got an AMOLED display.

Amazfit GTR mini: Verdict

Overall, the Amazfit GTR mini has attractive aesthetics, is slim and super-lightweight, the sensors are quite precise, UI/UX is intuitive, the battery life is excellent, and has an elegant display.

If you need a wristwatch to precisely track your health measurements and the freedom to go for exercises without having to carry your smartphone, the Amazfit GTR mini checks most of the boxes. Launched at the price Rs 10,999, the Amazfit GTR Mini won't fail to Amaze you!

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Mossad spurred Israelis to join mass protests against Netanyahu's reform plan: Leaked docs

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 09 April 2023 7:20 PM

Leaked documents have revealed that high-ranking officials within Mossad encouraged widespread protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's so-called judicial reforms among the spy agency's staff and the general public.

The documents, leaked from the Pentagon and obtained by the New York Times on Saturday, said that the leaders of Mossad had "advocated for Mossad officials and Israeli citizens to protest" the new Israeli cabinet's "proposed judicial reforms, including several explicit calls to action that decried" the Israeli regime.

The leaked documents, which contained the assessment of a direct intervention by Mossad into the Israeli political landscape, cited current and former Israeli intelligence officials as saying that the measure was taken while the spy agency's rules and longstanding tradition of nonpartisanship had precluded direct involvement by Mossad's leadership in a political crisis.

The assessment came out on March 1 on the same date that five former heads of Mossad came out against Netanyahu's controversial reform plan, and a week after Mossad chief David Barnea, who has remained reticent about the roiling protests, authorized low-ranking officials of the agency to participate in the protests.

Several hundred former Mossad employees, including five former chiefs, also signed a statement last month opposing the overhaul promoted by the Israeli cabinet.

However, Netanyahu's office rejected the claims raised in the leaked documents, saying in a statement on Sunday that the NYT report was "mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever."

The protests have been a weekly fixture since late December, when the Israeli prime minister announced his intention to implement the changes.

The alleged reforms, he claims, are meant to redraw the power balance between the regime's executive branch and the judiciary by preventing the Supreme Court from striking down the former's decisions. They also seek to give the lawmakers a bigger say in the committee that selects the judges.

Netanyahu's opponents see his cabinet's drive to pass the legislation on the so-called reforms as a threat to the Supreme Court's independence, describing it as a "legal coup."

They also accuse Netanyahu of trying to use the reforms to quash possible judgments against him as he is on trial in three corruption cases.

Late last month, overwhelmed by public pressure and dissenting political voices from inside the regime and outside, the premier finally announced a "pause" in the passage of the legislation through the Knesset.

The protests, however, show no sign of abating despite Netanyahu's suspension of the reform plan.





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Escalating violence in Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Statement

09 April 2023

Australia is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon.

During this time of Ramadan, Pesach and Easter, we call on all parties to immediately work to halt the violence, exercise restraint and restore calm.

Australia condemns unreservedly the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and recognises Israel's right to defend itself.

We are shocked by the horrifying news of deadly terror attacks in the West Bank and Tel Aviv and our thoughts go to the victims' families and the injured. Terrorism and violence against civilians can never be justified.

Australia calls on all parties to respect and protect the sanctity and status of Jerusalem's holy sites. Violence at Al Aqsa, including against worshippers, is reprehensible. Security operations must be proportionate and in accordance with international law.

Events in recent days are urgent reminders of the need for leaders to work together to foster the conditions necessary for tolerance and peace.



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Saudis meet with top Ansarullah officials in Yemen's Sana'a ahead of ceasefire talks

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 09 April 2023 9:51 AM

A Saudi delegation has reportedly met with a number of high-ranking officials from the Yemeni Ansarullah resistance movement in Sana'a as part of preparations for talks to reach a final ceasefire agreement to end the eight-year Saudi war.

Yemeni media outlets reported that the Saudi delegates arrived in Sana'a on Saturday evening and have held a meeting with Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a senior member of Yemen's Supreme Political Council, as well as some high-profile figures of the Sana'a-based National Salvation Government.

On Sunday, Yemeni media outlets published pictures of a Saudi official shaking hands with Houthi in Sana'a.

The outlets added that the faces of the high-ranking Saudi officials involved in the talks with Ansarullah officials have not been publicized at their request.

Meanwhile, an informed source, who asked not to be named, told Yemen's official news agency Saba that the Saudis are going to negotiate "the removal of the tight naval and air blockade on Yemen, and and end to the eight-year-long aggression, restoration of the Yemeni nation's rights, and the payment of civil servant salaries as well as a portion of oil and gas revenues" during talks with Mahdi al-Mashat, the chairman of the council.

Local news agencies said Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Saeed al-Jaber, who resides in the southern port city of Aden, arrived in Sana'a at the head of the Saudi delegation to meet with officials from the Ansarullah movement and the National Salvation Government, hours after the arrival of an Omani delegation.

Saba reported that Omani delegates arrived on Saturday "to discuss the latest developments in the ongoing negotiations in Muscat with the leadership in Sana'a."

"A delegation from Oman has arrived in Sana'a to hold talks" with Ansarullah's leaders "about the truce and the peace process," an unnamed source at Sana'a airport was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

The visit by Saudi officials to Sana'a is an indication of progress in Oman-mediated talks between the kingdom and the Ansarullah movement, which run in parallel to UN peace efforts.

It is also a sign that regional rifts are easing after Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic relations last month after years of estrangement.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of Ansarullah's political bureau told Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network late on Friday that "there is an understanding between Saudi Arabia and Yemen," without going into details.

He said that the understandings, as well as initiatives for peaceful settlement of the Yemen crisis, will be announced in two phases: One before Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, and the other at another time.

"We support any proposals and efforts by Saudi Arabia or other parties to pacify the Yemeni crisis and reach a comprehensive political resolution of the conflict," the senior Ansarullah official said.

On Friday, al-Mayadeen television news network, citing informed sources, reported that Saudi officials had recently held a closed-door meeting with the chairman and members of the so-called Yemeni presidential leadership council, which was established last April after the resignation of ex-president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, to inform them about a peace plan for Yemen.

Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman briefed the council on Riyadh's solution to end the crisis in Yemen, sources said, adding that the Saudis' vision is to renew the existing UN-brokered truce for a year in an understanding with the Sana'a government.

Riyadh will pledge to pay the salaries of public servants, open Hudaydah port, and help settle the currency problems of Yemen in exchange for Sana'a's acceptance of the truce, according to the report.

Saudi Arabia launched the bloody war against Yemen in March 2015 in collaboration with a number of its allies and with arms and logistics support from the US and several Western states to reinstall Hadi, who resigned from the presidency in late 2014 and later fled to Riyadh amid a political conflict with the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement.

The war objective was also to crush the Ansarullah movement, which has been running state affairs in the absence of an effective government in Yemen.

However, it has stopped well shy of all of its goals, despite killing tens of thousands of Yemenis and turning the entire country into the scene of the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

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South Africa-based Zimbabwean businessman Frank Buyanga Sadiqi has been hit with more criminal charges, by the South African government on top of the four he was charged with in December last year.

The flamboyant property mogul has been languishing in jail since last November after he was arrested by Interpol after an arrest warrant was issued against him by the Zimbabwean government.

After he was granted R150 000 bail in December last year, Buyanga was slapped with four more criminal charges.

His organisation Hamilton Foundation has said Buyanga was hit with threw more "concocted charges on top of the existing four.

His arrest followed a request for his extradition by Zimbabwe on allegations of having kidnapped his son.

In a statement, Hamilton Foundation said their patron is suffering for his political differences "with the existing Zimbabwean government which they have looped in their South African counterparts who are at loggerheads with him over an R600 million claim against SARS."

"All these issues have led to Mr Sadiqi being termed an undesirable person in South Africa, being tried for violating the laws which he abided to ever since he came to Africa.

"The 212 statements from home affairs officials are for the most part contradictory. It is our view that his prosecution is concocted and malicious at least. He has neither been granted bail nor started trial. Whenever he wants to advance his case, charges are added. Home affairs declared him a prohibited person whilst in incarceration on 28 November 2022 gave him the opportunity to appeal.

"The magistrate in the matter issued an instruction for him to attend the department of home affairs to be in line with the 10-day appeal but the Saps and correctional facilities denied him access to the department of home affairs.

"Our chairperson is on the Interpol red notice, he cannot travel, he has been declared an undesirable person by the South African government and they intend to deport him to Zimbabwe where it is clear he won't be afforded any right to a fair trial.

"This ultimately will seal his fate despite being a credible businessman both in Zimbabwe and South Africa having a significant asset base."

Buyanga is also reported to be unwell and in a sorry state.

Despite this, access to his doctor had been blocked.

"...His health is deteriorating, and his last appearance on the 10th of March 2023 he appeared a pale shadow of himself, he couldn't walk properly and was aided with a steel crutch despite notes indicating since the 7th of February 2023 that Mr Frank Buyanga Sadiqi is unwell and needs immediate medical attention.

It is said the prosecution undertook to have him seen by a regional state doctor and to have access to his personal doctor but nothing materialised.

"The ill-treatment and violation of his rights since the 10th of November 2022 to the present day is indescribable.

"No superlatives can express better the pain and suffering our patron has endured over concocted charges meant to destroy him as a person.

"The State machinery is at work and continues to frustrate his bail applications by piling up charges which do not make sense. The motive is thus clear: destroy Frank Buyanga Sadiqi by all means in order to satisfy the political demagogues who are behind his arrest," said the foundation.

They said Buyanga remains confident that he will win the battle nd be able to reunite with his children who are traumatised having witnessed him being handcuffed by armed men.

Buyanga has been embroiled in a bitter legal fight with his ex-girlfriend Chantelle Muteswa over custody of their minor child for years.

As the legal battle continues in South Africa, another one has been ongoing in Zimbabwe.

A magistrate who had issued a court order which resulted in his arrest made U-turn following a successful appeal.

In a nasty turn of events, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) appealed against the decision at the High Court and the case is still dragging.

The couple's fight resulted in a landmark ruling on custody of children born out of wedlock.

The new law in Zimbabwe is now that parents with children born out of wedlock should have equal access to their children.

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But the tussle between Buyanga and Muteswa remained unresolved.

Buyanga also accuses the first family of meddling with his personal issue because one of the president's sons was dating Muteswa.

His foundation also feels it unnecessary for two governments, Zimbabwe and South to interfere in his personal dispute which has no national interests.

"It is surprising that a domestic dispute between his estranged ex-girlfriend and our patron has led to South Africa and Zimbabwe Governments uniting to bring down a businessman over an issue that could easily be coordinated in the interests of everyone including the minor child," said Hamilton Foundation.

"The child is South African, born out of a naturalised South African mother and a father who is a British national and permanent resident of South Africa.

Seemingly no one is interested in investigating how Zimbabwe is fighting to return a child who is inherently South African.

The child at the centre of the controversy is now in the custody of his mother.
Two Islamic State Militants Killed By Forces Of Taliban-Led Afghan Government

By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi April 09, 2023

An operation on April 9 carried out by forces of the Taliban-led Afghan government killed two Islamic State (IS) fighters and took a third militant into custody during an operation in the country's southwest, a regional official said.

The raid on a hideout in Zaranj, capital of Nimroz Province, sparked a clash lasting 30 minutes between Taliban and IS militants, Habibullah Ilham, the province's information and culture director, told RFE/RL.

Two insurgents were killed in the operation and one was captured, Ilham said, adding that there were no casualties among the security forces and no civilians were harmed.

A video sent to Radio Azadi shows that Taliban forces first targeted a house and the clash then begins. A resident of the area, who did not want his name and voice used due to security problems, told Radio Azadi that the clash lasted for almost an hour and that heavy weapons were used.

The regional affiliate of the IS group -- known as the Islamic State-Khorasan -- has been the key rival of the Taliban-led government since the group seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021. The group recently increased its attacks, targeting both Taliban patrols and members of Afghanistan's Shi'ite minority.

Taliban forces have responded by carrying out military operations this month against the IS group in several provinces of Afghanistan. The Intelligence Department of the Taliban-led government previously claimed to have carried out operations similar to the one on April 9 in Mazar-e Sharif, Baghlan, and Nimroz.

The department announced on April 2 that in one of the operations it arrested an important member of the IS group in northern Afghanistan who was involved in the planning of several attacks.

Afghan security forces last week killed six members of the extremist group in Afghanistan's northern Balkh Province, a Taliban spokesman said on April 4.

But Atta Mohammad Noor, a member of the leadership of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, said that Taliban forces are hitting others in their efforts against IS.

One family, for example, claimed that eight civilians killed by the Taliban in the 7th district of Mazar-e Sharif on charges of rebellion and kidnapping were innocent.

Authorities are serious about ridding Afghanistan of Islamic State militants, deputy Afghan government spokesman Bilal Karimi told the AP.

"The Islamic State has no place in the country or among the people, nor does the Islamic emirate allow it," he said. "The number of [IS] fighters killed or arrested so far is in the hundreds, but there is no exact number."

The Taliban announces military operations against IS almost every day, although many officials, including Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahidand and the country's acting minister of foreign affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, say they do not consider IS to be a threat to Afghanistan.

The UN Security Council warned in March about the increase in the number of militants and the threat of IS in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Central Command has estimated that 2,250 IS militants are in Afghanistan and also has said that it is possible they would target American assets and those of their allies.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-islamic- state-khorasan-raid-taliban/32356118.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.

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Lebanon's Acting Prime Minister Says Country Not Involved in Airstrikes Against Israel

Sputnik News

20230409

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A preliminary investigation into the airstrikes conducted toward Israel has showed that the units that had launched the missiles were of non-Lebanese origin, the press office of Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Sunday.

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 Israel Defense Forces 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.

"The initial investigations conducted by the military have found that the missiles were launched ... by non-Lebanese units," Mikati's press service tweeted.

The prime minister said that Lebanon opposed any escalation and rejected the use of the country's territory for conducting operations aimed at destabilization of the situation in the region, as cited by the press service.

The press office added that the airstrikes conducted toward Israel were "a response to Israeli aggression" in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.

 Sputnik

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No: 94, 9 April 2023, Press Release Regarding the Anchoring of the US Attack Submarine USS San Juan at a Greek Cypriot Port and the Armament Activities of the Greek Cypriot Administration

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs

We strongly support the statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on the anchoring of a US attack submarine at a Greek Cypriot port and the armament activities of the Greek Cypriot Administration.

As we have repeatedly emphasized together with the TRNC, the steps taken by the US at the expense of disrupting the balance on the Island of Cyprus and encouraging the Greek Cypriot Administration's armament do not contribute in any way to regional stability or to a just, sustainable and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue.

We once again call on the US to reconsider these policies. We reiterate that Turkiye will continue to resolutely defend the rights and interests of the TRNC under all circumstances and conditions, within the framework of the responsibility stemming from our guarantor status.

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Upgraded F-16 rejoins 8th FW

Published April 9, 2023

By Capt. Kaylin P. Hankerson

8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) -- After receiving the first phase of one of the largest modernization efforts in U.S. Air Force F-16 program history, an upgraded F-16 Fighting Falcon rejoined the 8th Fighter Wing, April 4.

Wolf Pack tail no. 021 returned to 8th FW operations after about seven weeks away for maintenance, where the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Post Block Integration Team project, provided the aircraft with the first wave of 22 modifications designed to improve F-16 lethality to meet the needs of current and future operations.

Piloting WP 021 for its first operational flight back with the Wolf Pack, U.S. Air Force Col. John D. Caldwell, 8th FW vice commander, experienced firsthand what the updated systems brought to the platform.

"The upgraded equipment I flew with today greatly improved my situational awareness allowing me to receive and process information at a much faster rate than other F-16s in the past," Caldwell said. "The information was quick, reliable and presented on the new displays in a way that reduced my workload and improved effectiveness for all aspects of the flight."

The main feature of the PoBIT upgrade is the installation of the APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar with active electronically scanned array and the Center Display Unit-technology that ultimately gives the F-16 and its pilot a clearer vision of the threat picture to increase both the survivability and accuracy of the weapon system.

"The F-16 is planned to continue service into the 2040's, so this upgrade is critical to making sure we are keeping pace with the evolving threat environment," Caldwell said. "The main components that I interacted with today [the CDU and APG-83 SABR] are both critical pieces that work together to bring the F-16 closer to fifth-generation capabilities, which will keep the F-16 relevant to the fight."

Other notable upgrades to the platform's avionics from this round of PoBIT upgrades included a programmable data generator, new-generation electronic warfare capability, a communications suite upgrade and a modernized mission computer.

"The avionics upgrades allow pilots to take full advantage of the jet's advanced weapons and sensors, it is capable of providing high speed data and/or high-resolution video and ultimately aids the pilot in tactical decision making," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Michael C. Durham, 8th Operations Support Squadron weapons tactics officer. "The upgraded radar, specifically, allows us to track a greater number of targets at longer ranges in both cooperative and non-permissive environments while also improving the F-16's all-weather capabilities by adding synthetic aperture radar mapping for target nomination and engagement."

Durham, who took the lead on testing the jet's system upgrades upon its return to the Wolf Pack fleet, said the upgrades will expand the F-16's participation in future operations.

"These PoBIT upgrades play a large role in the future of F-16 support for combatant commanders across the area of operations," Durham said. "The survivability and lethality improvements these modifications provide factor into determining which conflicts the F-16 will participate in and in what capacity, which greatly expands our leaders' options in contingency planning to support national security objectives."

The aircraft was the first 7th Air Force F-16 to return to flight operations with PoBIT upgrades and, as the rest of the fleet follows suit, the modernization effort will improve the USAF's ability to safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific region and the stability of the Korean Peninsula.

"With regards to the Wolf Pack's 'Take the Fight North' mission, these upgrades primarily allow us to keep pace with near-peer threats, but also have a large hand in the deterrence mission," Caldwell said. "It will definitely be a part of the decision calculus for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, because the more lethal and survivable we can make our forces here on the peninsula, the more likely we are to deter aggression. The goal is to present a force so capable, that [the DPRK] decides, instead of pulling a trigger, to pick up the phone to talk. Of course, if deterrence breaks down, the modernization program will significantly improve our ability to defend South Korea and take the fight north, if necessary."

PoBIT upgrades for the F-16 fleet are being conducted in various phases over the next couple of years to provide the aircraft the necessary updates while ensuring operational requirements can still be met.

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China urges WHO not to descend to political tool of COVID-19 origins-tracing

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Apr 09, 2023 09:08 PM

China has urged World Health Organization (WHO) officials to return to science and fairness and not to be subject to or willing to descend to become a tool of politicization of certain countries, after some in the international organization smeared China for lacking transparency in sharing data about COVID-19 origins. Using twisted and incomplete pieces of evidence to slander China on the origins of COVID-19 will only undermine the international body's credibility and impair investigations on the virus said experts.

An epidemiologist close to China's COVID-19 origins-tracing task group told the Global Times that next stage of origins-tracing should concentrate on animals who are more prone to carry coronaviruses, such as bats. China has done abundant work on investigating virus-carrying animals for years, and now the onus falls on other countries who could be linked to the virus to undertake similar investigations, to hopefully shed light on where the virus came from.

At a press conference on Saturday, Chinese scientists discussed their latest findings in the origins-tracing of COVID-19, which showed that virus strains found in samples from the Huanan Seafood Market are more likely to have come from humans. Additionally, experts stated that no COVID-19 antibodies were detected in the blood of donors in Wuhan prior to the outbreak in December 2019.

The release of these findings came amid a new round of accusations from some WHO officials, who claimed that China had failed to disclose data on COVID-19 origins-tracing. In response, Zhou Lei, a researcher from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) said at Saturday's news conference that as a Chinese scientist who took part in the China-WHO joint origins-tracing mission in 2021, she is surprised at these remarks.

During the joint origins-tracing mission, Chinese scientists shared all data and information, including information of more than 76,000 early cases of possible and suspected COVID infections in Wuhan, Zhou said.

"We conducted in-depth joint analysis and research, and the results were collectively approved by the WHO and Chinese experts at that time," she said.

Zhou noted that the WHO is a very important organization, an authoritative professional body recognized by the international community, and its scientific nature, rigor and impartiality are beyond doubt.

"I think if such a presumptuous accusation is made, it is the WHO's credibility that risks being damaged," she said.

WHO's accusation came after researchers at the China CDC published a new COVID-19 analysis on samples collected at Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Market in the science journal Nature on April 5. Prior to the analysis' official publication, the related data was shared on the Global Initiative in Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) database, but was allegedly deleted later, prompting widespread speculation.

In an interview with the Global Times on Friday, Liu Jun, a researcher from the China CDC who is also a member of the WHO-China joint expert team, clarified the facts, saying that Chinese researchers and the GISAID database never deleted the data in question, and the data access links used for journal review have always been in existence.

Offering details of the origins-tracing research, according to genetic sequencing of over 1,300 samples collected at Huanan Seafood Market from January to March 2020, all animal samples, about 400, tested negative for COVID-19, said Tong Yigang, dean of College of Life Science and Technology of Beijing University of Chemical Technology and group leader of the Chinese Animals and Environment team of the WHO-China Joint Mission on SARS-CoV-2 origin study, at the Saturday conference.

The three strains of virus isolated from more than 900 environmental samples collected from the market were almost identical to the patients' virus sequence at that time, suggesting that these strains of virus likely came from humans, Tong said.

China tested stored sera from healthy blood donors prior to the emergence of COVID-19 cases in Wuhan, having tested 43,850 blood samples donated by 30,000 people, Zhou noted. The results showed that no antibodies linked to COVID-19 were detected in these blood donors from Wuhan before December 2019.

These results echo the common finding in the phase I of WHO-China joint origins-tracing mission that no early cases were detected locally in Wuhan prior to December 2019, she said.



Next step

The next most urgent task to figure out where the virus originated is to investigate animals. If we find certain animals are the carrier of the coronavirus, we can use molecular biology to identify if it was the origin, Tong told the Global Times on Sunday. He noted that bats are the closest target for the task.

However, such animals have not yet been found, said Tong. He explained that China has done abundant research and investigation on animals that carry viruses in the past years, so we have a clear picture of the situation in China. "Comparatively, some countries, especially Southeast Asian countries close to us have done very little in this regard, thus I believe such work should be done in their countries," Tong said.

His opinion is echoed by other renowned world-level epidemiologists. Peter Daszak, head of the New York-based EcoHealth Alliance and member of the China-WHO joint coronavirus origin mission, who went to Wuhan in 2021, told the Global Times previously that the next location for their investigation is Southeast Asia.

"There was a virus from Thailand close to SARS-CoV-2, and also Japan and Cambodia. Ecohealth Alliance is already starting our work in tracing their origins," Daszak said.

Speaking at the Saturday press conference, Zhou said that "we really really want the origins-tracing to be global tracing," and that hopefully scientists can cover all possible countries and areas to find the origin of the virus, instead of hyping and focusing on Wuhan.

"We hope that the WHO, the authorized and global institution, can truly organize the international scientific community to conduct the work with a scientific, rigorous and fair attitude to help the world find the proper answer," Zhou said.

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China obtains world's first high-yield industrial gas flow with commercial value in Cambrian shale dating back 540 million years

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 09, 2023 04:34 PM

China has unlocked a high-yield industrial gas flow with commercial value in the Cambrian shale dating back 540 million years. The development is a global first which holds strategic significance in promoting regional economic and social development and ensuring China's long term energy security.

The high-yield industrial gas flow was detected by PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company in a shale gas well in Neijiang, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, China Central Television (CCTV) reported Saturday night.

The well is reporting daily gas extraction of 738,000 cubic meters, according to the CCTV report.

The detection, which PetroChina calls a "strategic breakthrough," further solidifies the resource base and development confidence for realizing China's "shale revolution," and poses strategic significance in promoting regional economic and social development and ensuring China's energy security, according to PetroChina, media reported.

PetroChina began shale gas exploration in Cambrian shale in the Sichuan Basin as early as 2009. However, the commercial scale development has not yet been largely tapped due to the complex geological and engineering conditions such as old stratigraphic age, extreme underground depths, and many periods of tectonic evolution.

With the latest breakthrough, it is expected that a second shale gas field of "trillion-cubic-meter reserves and 10-billion-cubic meter production" could be built in China, providing high-quality clean energy supply to promote Chinese modernization, said He Xiao, general manager of PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company.

The first shale gas field of such scale was built in the Sichuan Basin, which has produced over 60 billion cubic meters of shale gas and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 100 million tons, He said.

Shale gas is a kind of natural gas, and its main component is methane. Compared with conventional oil and gas resources, shale gas is not only abundant, but also considered to be cleaner and more efficient.

Under the same conditions, the carbon dioxide produced by burning shale gas is only 67 percent of that of oil and 44 percent of that of coal, and it is mainly used for household supply, power generation, auto fuel and chemical production, with a wide range of applications, according to CCTV.

China's shale gas production in 2021 reached 22.7 million cubic meters and has grown annually at 21 percent since 2017, according to a report published by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) in 2022.

Under current technological conditions, China's shale gas production is expected to reach 30 billion cubic meters in 2025 and 35 to 40 billion cubic meters in 2030, CCTV reported.

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Western plot to cause Iran-IAEA rift backfired: Nuclear chief

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 9, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says a Western plot to use the UN nuclear watchdog to ramp up pressure against Iran has backfired, leading instead to increased cooperation between Tehran and the agency.

"The enemies were trying to use the capacity of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to put maximum pressure against Iran. But through sound policy and management, their plan to create confrontations between Iran and the agency turned into interactive relations," Mohammad Eslami told cabinet members on Sunday.

Iran and the IAEA have been in a dispute triggered in part by accusations from the Israeli regime and the United States against Tehran's peaceful nuclear activities.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi visited Tehran last month for high-level talks with Iranian officials, including with Eslami and President Ebrahim Raisi, in an effort to resolve the differences.

In a joint statement, the two sides agreed that bilateral interactions will continue in a spirit of collaboration and in full conformity with obligations under the comprehensive safeguards agreement.

"These meetings and interactions between Iran and the IAEA are still ongoing," Eslami said, adding that "The IAEA has confidence in Iran's nuclear program and would not have to worry about a lack of knowledge in this regard."

He pointed out that the maximum pressure campaign by the West has been aimed at forestalling Iran's nuclear progress. "However, they have no choice but to accept this reality that Iran is a nuclear power."

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Ditching US dollar to minimize West's economic dominance: Iran's Shamkhani

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 09 April 2023 4:38 PM

Iran's top security official says the move to reduce the use of dollar in regional and international transactions, joined by several countries, will minimize the West's dominance over the global economy.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani made the remarks in a meeting in Tehran on Sunday with Russia's State Council Secretary Igor Levitin, who is also a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He said the initiatives finalized between Iran and Russia in the sector of financial and banking exchanges aimed at funding joint projects are an "effective" paradigm for neutralizing the West's unlawful sanctions against the two countries.

The SNSC secretary hailed the promotion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation and emphasized the need to accelerate the implementation of joint economic projects.

He said the completion of the North-South Corridor and bolstering transit cooperation between the two countries are an important part of the joint projects.

Shamkhani said the two countries' incessant efforts would remove any obstacle in the way of the speedy implementation of this strategic project, which would play a determining role in changing the geometry of the transit of commodities in the region.

Once completed, the Rasht-Astara railway will reduce the time needed to transport cargo from Helsinki in Finland via Russia to Iran's southern ports on the Persian Gulf and on the Sea of Oman by 20 days.

Iran is seeking Russia's financial support for the project which is estimated to cost 800 million euros, according to latest estimates by the Iranian government.

The project could also lead to a major increase in cargo transportation from Russia to the Indian Ocean.

For his part, Levitin said Russia emphasizes the need to accelerate the implementation of joint projects, particularly in the transit sector, and is ready to invest in various economic sectors of Iran, including steel, oil and petrochemical industries.

In addition to the significant steps that have been taken to promote bilateral economic cooperation, the Russian official added, suitable grounds have been prepared to conclude a multilateral economic agreement and encourage other countries in the region to participate in profitable economic projects.

Levitin is in Tehran on a two-day visit to discuss ways to bolster economic cooperation with high-ranking Iranian officials.

During his last trip to Iran in January, Levitin visited a railway project in northern Iran amid talks between the two countries to secure the funding needed to complete the key North-South transportation link.

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Iran's IRGC Claims Successful 110-Pound Warhead Kamikaze Drone Test

Sputnik News

20230409

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has conducted successful tests of a high-precision long-range kamikaze drone equipped with a 50 kilogram (110 pound) warhead, the head of the IRGC's R&D department, gen. Ali Kouhestani, said on Sunday.

Kouhestani told state media that this drone was one of a series of kamikaze drones of the IRGC ground forces, which was developed and produced by young specialists.

The general specified that the UAV named Me'raj-532 has a piston engine, and its maximum range is 450 kilometers (280 miles). The maximum altitude of Me'raj-532 amounts to 12,000 feet and it can stay in the air for up to three hours, according to Kouhestani.

The drone can be launched from any light vehicle, a pick-up truck, for example, as photos published by the news outlet demonstrates.

Additionally, the IRGC officer said that his department is going to come up with more new drones to support operations of the Iranian ground forces.

A Sputnik

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Kremlin: West Overreacting to Russian Plan to Station Tactical Nukes in Belarus

Sputnik News

20230409

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKIY, Russia (Sputnik) - The West is overreacting to Russia's plans to build storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, while forgetting about the presence of US nuclear weapons in Europe, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.

"This is a very important topic now. We see a very unrestrained reaction from the collective West to the announcements made by [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin. The collective West is somehow not inclined to recall the issue of American nuclear weapons, which are based here in Europe, around our country, but in this case they are prone to react so hysterically to our plans to build storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus," Peskov told the Rossiya 1 broadcaster.

At the end of March, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russian tactical nuclear weapons would be station in Belarus in response to NATO deploying its weaponry close to Russia's borders.

"We agreed that - in this sense, [Belarusian President] Alexander Grigorievich [Lukashenko] is right when he says 'listen, we are your closest allies. Why do the Americans place nukes on their allies' territory?' They also engage, by the way, in the training of allies' pilots to use these weapons if necessary. We have agreed that if necessary, we will do the same thing, without violating our obligations - I would like to emphasize - without violating our international obligations on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons," Putin said.

"The United States has been doing this for decades. They have long placed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of allied countries, NATO countries, in Europe. In six states, if memory serves: Germany, Turkiye, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Greece. There are no nukes in Greece right now, but there is a storage facility," Putin added.

Kremlin stressed the fact that this move does not breach Russia's commitments to the non-proliferation since Moscow will retain control over the nukes. The storage sites for weapons are expected to be finished by July 1.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that he may also consider hosting Russian strategic nuclear weapons if deemed necessary for the protection of the country.

While the US State Department rushed to accuse Russia of undermining stability in Europe and damaging arms control, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov pointed out that such statements in the context of Russian-Belarusian nuclear arms cooperation are a "vivid example of hypocrisy" in US policy.

"U.S. officials have an extremely short memory. It is Washington that has long been systematically destroying the legal basis of bilateral relations in strategic sphere... As for Mr [Vedant] Patel's words regarding our President's statements on the Russian-Belarusian cooperation in the military-nuclear sphere, it is a vivid example of hypocrisy of the American politics," Antonov said.

The ambassador pointed out that Washington supports deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in five non-nuclear states, namely Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, and coordinates nuclear policy with the United Kingdom and France within NATO.

A Sputnik

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While in prison in Mangaung, Thabo Bester ran a business and even appeared by video link at an event.

Bid to Get Re-Arrested Fugitive Thabo Bester from Tanzania

A delegation from South Africa is travelling to Tanzania to bring back convicted "Facebook Rapist" and murderer Thabo Bester, who escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre last year, eNCA reports. Bester's jail cell was allegedly set alight and he was thought to have died. His partner, Dr Nandipha Magudumana was also arrested.

KwaZulu Natal Police, Taxi Associations to Meet Over Taxi Boss Deaths

Police and the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Sipho Emmanuel Hlomuka will meet with the taxi industry to address the recent surge in taxi-related violence in the province, reports IOL. Dozens of taxi owners have been gunned down in less than a month as rivalry between taxi associations intensifies. The meeting will finalise a peace agreement between the associations, while multiple murders connected to ongoing taxi feuds are under investigation by the police.

Hundreds of South Africans tie the Knot in Easter Mass Wedding

More than 800 couples participated in one of the biggest mass wedding ceremonies in South Africa since the Covid-19 pandemic, reports SABC News. The International Pentecost Holiness Church, which blesses polygamous unions, held the ceremony where wives wore colourful attire and first-time brides wore traditional white dresses. The church's mass nuptials occur three times a year, and the event was a respite from a long-standing row over the leadership of the church. Security was tight at the ceremony with armed guards and metal detectors to screen the congregation.

More South African news
Syrian air defense intercepts missiles fired by Zionists

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 9, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Syria's air defense has intercepted missiles fired by the Zionist regime targeting various regions of the Arab country, including the suburb of the capital Damascus.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported early Sunday that several explosions had happened in the vicinity of the Syrian capital.

Although SANA has not yet confirmed reports on the Zionist regime's attack on Damascus, but it merely said that the Syrian authorities had ordered a probe into the blasts.

Social media accounts run by resistant movements in the region said that the Syrian Army's air defense systems had confronted missiles fired by the Zionist from the occupied Golan Heights.

A Syrian official said on condition of anonymity that around 5 a.m. local time the Israeli enemy had fired some missiles from the Golan Heights, adding that the army's air defense systems intercepted the missiles which had targeted various regions.

According to the official, the attacks failed to inflict any material damage.

4208**9417**4261

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Netanyahu sent messages to Iran saying Israel didn't want to target IRGC advisors in Syria: Expert

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 09 April 2023 11:13 AM

A senior Iranian expert on regional issues says Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent multiple indirect messages to Iran saying the regime's military did not want to assassinate the two military advisers of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), who were killed in an Israeli airstrike near the Syrian capital Damascus last month.

"Netanyahu has sent messages through Jordanians, Egyptians, Qataris and the French that Israel had no intention whatsoever to strike the positions of Iran [inside Syria]," Sadullah Zarei said in an exclusive interview with state-run IRIB Ofogh television network broadcast on Saturday evening.

He added that the Israeli prime minister has even stated that the Tel Aviv regime "had planned to carry out a regular airstrike against a certain area [in Syria], and had earlier checked up that no Iranian military personnel was stationed in close proximity."

Zarei noted that Netanyahu has also underscored that "Israel did not want to kill the IRGC military advisors on purpose, and it was rather an accident."

The expert also said that Palestinian and Lebanese resistance forces have inflicted hefty losses on Israeli military forces and extremist Jewish settlers over the past few days, killing and injuring a large number of them in retaliatory attacks.

Zarei said fighters from the Axis of Resistance have fired barrages of rockets into Israeli-occupied lands in response to the martyrdom of Iranian advisors, violent raids on the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and Palestinian worshipers observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan, as well as the bombardment of several sites in Syria, the Gaza Strip, and southern Lebanon.

IRGC military advisors Milad Heidari and Meqdad Mehqani were martyred on March 31 aerial assaults conducted by Israel on the suburbs of Damascus.

Heidari, a 32-year-old father of two, was from Kurdistan Province. He was living in Tehran's Qarchak county. Mehqani, 31, later died of the wounds he sustained during the Israeli attack. He was from Golestan Province and had a two-year-old son.

Iran maintains an advisory mission in the Arab country, helping it in the face of foreign-backed terrorism. Back in 2017, the advisory assistance helped Syria vanquish the Takfiri terrorist group of Daesh.

Known as one of the main supporters of terrorist groups that have battled the government of President Bashar al-Assad since foreign-backed militancy erupted in Syria in early 2011, the Israeli regime frequently violates Syrian sovereignty and conducts attacks in the Arab country.

The targets usually include residential buildings. Military positions especially those of the Hezbollah resistance movement, which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists, are also frequently hit by Israeli strikes.

Israel largely remains silent about the attacks. Damascus has repeatedly complained to the UN over Israeli assaults, urging the Security Council to take action against Tel Aviv's crimes. The calls have, however, fallen on deaf ears.

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Syrian air defenses intercept Israeli missiles fired from Golan

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 09 April 2023 7:00 AM

Syria says its air defense units have confronted a missile attack launched by the Israeli army from the occupied Golan Heights targeting the Arab country's south.

Citing a military source, Syria's official SANA news agency, reported that the Israeli regime conducted the aerial assault at about 5 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Sunday.

Syrian air defenses "intercepted the aggression's missiles and shot down some of them," the source said, during that the Israeli raid caused some material damage.

The Israeli attack followed the firing of six rockets from southern Syria at the Tel Aviv-occupied Golan on Saturday night and early Sunday in two separate barrages.

The al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement, claimed responsibility for rocket launches on the Golan Heights, according to Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV channel.

The Israeli army announced artillery and drone strikes in southern Syria, targeting what it called the launchers that had been used to fire rockets.

Later, reports said Israel carried out additional airstrikes near the Syrian capital Damascus.

On Thursday, more than 30 rockets were fired toward the occupied territories from southern Lebanon, drawing Israeli strikes on what it called the sites linked to the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

The exchanges of fire came amid heightened tensions in the occupied lands after violent Israeli raids on the al-Aqsa Mosque in al-Quds, which caused outrage across the Muslim world.

Jordan warned of "catastrophic consequences" if Israeli forces were to storm the holy mosque again.

Should the Israeli police, "assault worshipers again... in preparation for major incursions into the mosque," it would, "push the situation towards more tension and violence, for which everyone will pay the price," Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sinan al-Majali said in a statement.

Israel "bears responsibility for the escalation in Jerusalem (al-Quds) and in all the occupied Palestinian territories and for the deterioration that will worsen if it does not stop its incursions into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque... and its terrorization of worshipers in these blessed days."

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Israeli Forces Respond to Rocket Fire From Syria - IDF

Sputnik News

20230409

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - Israel has opened artillery fire at Syrian territory in response to the rockets fired from Syria toward the Golan Heights, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

On Saturday, the IDF said that three rockets were launched from Syrian territory into Israel; one of the rockets crossed into Israeli territory and landed in the southern Golan Heights.

"In response to the rockets fired from Syria at Israel earlier today, IDF Artillery is currently striking in Syrian territory," the IDF said on Twitter late on Saturday night.

In an earlier statement on Telegram, the IDF said that sirens were sounding in northern Israel, in kibbutz Natur and moshav Avnei Eitan in the southern Golan Heights.

In 1981, the Israeli government essentially annexed Golan Heights after occupying the territory following the Six-Day War in 1967. The move was condemned by the United Nations. The United States recognized the territory as Israel's when former President Trump issued a presidential proclamation in 2019. The United States remains the only country to recognize Israel's claim to the area.

Current US President Joe Biden has said there are no current plans to rescind the proclamation.

A Sputnik

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Syrian Air Defenses Shoot Down Several Israeli Rockets

Sputnik News

20230409

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Syrian air defense systems have shot down several Israeli rockets in the south of the country, the Syrian Defense Ministry said.

Israel's shelling of Syria started at around 5:00 a.m. local time on Sunday (02:00 GMT) and resulted in some material damage, the defense ministry said on social media.

The Syrian air defense shot down some of the Israeli rockets, launched from the direction of Golan Heights at several locations in southern Syria, according to the defense ministry.

Earlier, a Syrian state broadcaster reported several explosions in the vicinity of Damascus overnight.

While the cause of the blasts was not specified, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had previously said that they were striking Syria with artillery in response to rockets fired from Syria at Israel.

On Saturday, the IDF said that three rockets were launched from Syria into Israel; with one of the rockets landing in the southern Golan Heights.

Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria during the Six-Day War in 1967, and has been in control of them since 1981 after passing the controversial Golan Heights Law. The status of the mountain plateau is considered one of the main sticking points in the Israeli-Syrian conflict.

A Sputnik

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35 Chinese warplanes cross Taiwan Strait median line: MND

ROC Central News Agency

04/09/2023 09:12 PM

Taipei, April 9 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said 35 Chinese military aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line Sunday, as drills launched in response to a meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen () and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy continued for a second day.

The planes were among 70 Chinese aircraft and 11 naval ships detected in the general vicinity of Taiwan as of 4 p.m. Sunday, the second of three planned days of PLA drills around the island, according to the MND.

Included in Sunday's sorties were Sukhoi SU-30 fighter jets, Shenyang J-10, J-11, J-15 and J-16D fighter jets, Y-8, Y-9, Y-20 transport aircraft, H-6K bomber aircraft, and KJ-500 airborne early warning and control planes, the MND said.

In response to the median line breaches and incursions into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), the MND said it had scrambled combat air and naval patrols to track Chinese military aircraft and warships as well as deployed defensive missile systems.



Graphic courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense Graphic courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense

The number of aircraft deployed by PLA near Taiwan on Sunday was slightly lower than the tallies seen a day ago but far higher than the daily tallies seen in recent weeks.

The ministry said the nation's armed forces were monitoring the situation and would remain on high alert to defend the country's sovereignty and national security.

Taiwan's armed forces are using combined intelligence and surveillance systems to monitor for signs of potential missile drills by the PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) in nearby waters, according to the MND.

In addition, the Air Force's Air Defense Artillery Command and the Army's 21st Artillery Command are conducting combat preparedness drills using Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon anti-aircraft guns and Avenger air defense systems, respectively, the MND said.

The PLA's ongoing drills are widely seen as a response to Tsai's meeting with McCarthy on April 5 (U.S. time) during a stopover in California at the tail end of her 10-day overseas trip to visit Taiwan's two allies in Central America, namely, Guatemala and Belize.

Tsai's meeting with McCarthy was the third between a Taiwanese leader and a sitting House speaker and the first on U.S. soil since the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Washington ended official diplomatic relations in 1979.

In August 2022, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Tsai in Taiwan, while then-Speaker Newt Gingrich met with then-President Lee Teng-hui () in Taipei in 1997.

Beijing, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory, protested the meeting between Tsai and McCarthy, warning that it would take "resolute measures" to protect Chinese sovereignty.

Last week, the PLA's Eastern Theater Command announced it would launch three days of exercises in the Taiwan Strait, as well as the sea and air regions to the north, south, and east of Taiwan from Saturday to Monday.

As part of the "Joint Sword" drill, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong () is on what is expected to be long-range training exercises about 200 nautical miles east of Taiwan.

Meanwhile, China's Fujian Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) has also announced that it will hold live-fire exercises in China's territorial waters near Luoyuan Bay in Fujian Province, which is located about 300 kilometers west of Taiwan, on Saturday, as well as April 11, 13, 15, 17 and 20 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The MSA also said a round of live-fire drills at Pingtan in Fujian from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, which is located 13 nautical miles south of Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands.

In response, the Cabinet-level Ocean Affairs Council on Sunday warned Taiwanese fishermen to avoid the area on Monday for safety reasons.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ASG

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China sends warplanes, warships near Taiwan as PLA drills enter 2nd day

ROC Central News Agency

04/09/2023 01:40 PM

Taipei, April 9 (CNA) The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) continued sending warplanes and warships to conduct drills around Taiwan on Sunday as its three-day, around-the-island exercises entered their second day, according to Taiwan's military.

The PLA's ongoing drills were launched on Saturday in response to President Tsai Ing-wen's () meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on April 5 (U.S. time) during a stopover in California at the tail end of her 10-day overseas trip to visit Taiwan's allies in Central America.

Among the Chinese military planes detected were an undisclosed number of Sukhoi SU-30 fighter jets, Shenyang J-11 and J-16D fighter jets, and KJ-500 airborne early warning and control planes, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a statement.

As of noon Sunday, a total of 31 warplanes and 9 warships either crossed the Taiwan Strait median line or flew into the southwestern part of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), the MND said, without providing any further breakdown of the routes.

The ministry said the nation's armed forces were monitoring the situation, and that they will remain on constant high alert while making every effort to defend the country's sovereignty and national security.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's armed forces are also keeping close tabs on the latest activities of the PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) through its joint intelligence and surveillance system, in case the PLA conducts live-fire rocket and missiles drills in nearby waters, the MND added.



Graphic courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense Graphic courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense

Tsai's meeting with McCarthy was the third time that a Taiwanese president had met with a U.S. House speaker since the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) and the United States ended official diplomatic relations in 1979.

The last time was when then U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022. The first such meeting occurred in 1997 when then House Speaker Newt Gingrich met with Taiwan's then President Lee Teng-hui () in Taipei.

The Tsai-McCarthy meet was the first such meeting on U.S. soil.

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.

Last week, the PLA's Eastern Theater Command announced the "Joint Sword" exercises in the Taiwan Strait, as well as the sea and air regions to the north, south, and east of Taiwan from Saturday to Monday.

According to China's state-run CCTV, the first day of the exercise focused on "testing the task force capabilities in seizing the control of the sea, air and information under the support of the joint combat system, as the forces simultaneously pushed forward to encircle the island, creating a suppressive situation in which the island is surrounded from all directions."

So far, the drills have been conducted in international waters or mainland China's territorial waters, not Taiwan's territorial waters.

As part of the drill, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong () is on what is expected to be long-range training exercises about 200 nautical miles east of Taiwan.

In addition to the PLA drills, China's Fujian Maritime Safety Administration has also announced that it will hold live-fire exercises in China's territorial waters near Luoyuan Bay in Fujian Province, which is located about 300 kilometers west of Taiwan, on Saturday, as well as next week on April 11, 13, 15, 17 and 20 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/cs

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PLA drills aimed at appeasing Chinese nationalists: Scholar

ROC Central News Agency

04/09/2023 08:40 PM

Taipei, April 9 (CNA) China's ongoing military exercises around Taiwan are aimed at appeasing nationalists in China who were upset by the meeting between Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen () and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Taiwanese scholar said Sunday.

Wang Chih-sheng (), secretary-general of the Association of Chinese Elite Leadership (), told media after a forum that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) drills had "a bigger bark than bite" and could be seen as propaganda targeting nationalists.

The PLA started three days of drills Saturday, combining "combat readiness patrol" maneuvers and "united sword" military exercises around Taiwan, in response to Tsai's meeting with McCarthy in California on April 5 (U.S. time) at the end of a 10-day overseas trip.

Wang said the live-fire drills took place mostly in waters off southeastern China's Fuzhou City and Pingtan County, and were rather routine and small-scale.

The scope of the drills fell far short of those launched in August 2022 that targeted six locations around the island after then-U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, he said.

Beijing appeared more restrained this time because it did not want to cause the same backlash from the international community that it received last August, he argued.

Chinese scholar Zhang Chi (), a national security associate professor with the National Defense University of PLA China, said, meanwhile, that the style of the ongoing drills could become a norm in the future, according to Ming Pao, a Chinese-language newspaper in Hong Kong.

Such a model features both "clear targets and flexible military deployments," Zhang was cited by the newspaper as saying.

Another highlight of the drills was the presence of China's newest aircraft carrier, the Shandong, in the Western Pacific Ocean for its first long-range training session, the report said.

It illustrated that China has significantly improved its combat capabilities in far sea operations, according to the newspaper.

(By Lee Ya-wen and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/ls



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Chinese Army Simulates Strikes on 'Key Targets' in Taiwan Amid Drills

Sputnik News

20230409

Oleg Burunov

The Chinese military announced that it would hold three-day air and naval military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around the island on Saturday morning. The drills kicked off shortly after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a visit to the US.

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted simulated precision strikes during the second day of its military drills around Taiwan on Sunday, Chinese state media has reported.

"Under the unified command of the theatre joint operations command center, multiple types of units carried out simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan island and the surrounding sea areas, and continue to maintain an offensive posture around the island," the media said.

A UK news outlet, in turn, cited an unnamed source as saying that China had been conducting simulated air and sea attacks on "foreign military targets" in the waters off Taiwan's southwestern coast.

"Taiwan is not their only target," the source claimed, calling the PLA's actions "very provocative."

The remarks came after the Taiwanese Defense Ministry said in a statement that it had detected at least 58 PLA aircraft and nine ships approaching Taiwan on Saturday. The ministry said they were paying particular attention to the PLA's Rocket Force which is in charge of China's land-based missile system.

"Regarding the movements of the Chinese communists' Rocket Force, the nation's military also has a close grasp through the joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system, and air defence forces remain on high alert," the statement pointed out.

The ministry reiterated that Taiwan's forces will "not escalate conflicts nor cause disputes" and would respond "appropriately" to China's drills.

This followed China announcing that its armed forces would be conducting military exercises from April 8-10 in the maritime area and airspace around Taiwan. According to Beijing, the drill is a warning to supporters of Taiwan's independence, as well as a measure to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China.

The war games come days after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other lawmakers in Los Angeles during a visit to the US on her way back from Guatemala and Belize.

This is the second time in less than a year that a US House speaker met with Tsai, causing increasing tensions between the US and the Taiwanese government on one hand, and China on the other. In August 2022, Tsai met with McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi when she traveled to Taipei. Beijing condemned that meeting and held similar military drills around the island.

The China-Taiwan tensions are also exacerbated by the US repeatedly sending warships and surveillance planes to the Taiwan Strait, with Beijing slamming such missions as provocations and portraying Washington as "a security risk creator in the region."

Although the US does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Washington has a representative office in Taipei and remains the island's biggest supplier of military hardware.

Beijing considers the island an integral part of the PRC, sticking to a policy of peaceful reunification under a "One-China - Two Systems" model.

Officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan severed all ties with mainland China in 1949 following the Chinese Civil War, in which Mao Zedong's communist forces of the People's Republic of China (PRC) defeated the Kuomintang nationalists and forced them to flee to the island.

With both the ROC and the PRC claiming the country's territory, the UN recognized the PRC as the one and only legal China in 1971.

A Sputnik

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Father And Daughter Among Ukrainian Civilians Killed In Weekend Russian Strikes

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 09, 2023

A 50-year-old man and his 11-year-old daughter were among at least five killed in weekend shelling by Russian forces in northeastern and southern regions of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials.

The father and daughter were killed in a Russian military strike overnight in the city of Zaporizhzhya in southeastern Ukraine as Russia's military offensive in the east showed no signs of a letup.

The Ukrainian State Emergency Service also reported that a 46-year-old woman, who it described as the wife and mother of the victims, was pulled from the wreckage.

Anatoliy Kurtev, the city council secretary, said one home was destroyed and several nearby buildings were damaged when two Russian missiles struck in the attack.

"The cursed Russian terrorists attacked Zaporizhzhya again and lost human lives," he wrote on Telegram.

In the northeastern region of Kharkiv, Governor Oleh Synyehubov said two men died on April 9 in shelling in Kupyansk, which remained under attack as Russian forces targeted residential areas with multiple-rocket launchers, Synyehubov said.

The regional governor of Zaporizhzhya said 18 communities were shelled on April 8, killing three people and wounding five. It was unclear whether the governor's assessment included the father and daughter killed in the city of Zaporizhzhya.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on April 9 that it had destroyed a depot containing 70,000 tons of fuel near Zaporizhzhya, as well as Ukrainian military warehouses in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhya regions.

The Ukrainian military's operational command in the north said its forces had destroyed a modern Russian radar station used to detect drones. There was no confirmation of the attack from the Russian side, and RFE/RL could not independently verify the claims.

The attacks came as Russian invading forces continued their offensive in eastern Ukraine, with Kyiv's military reporting its forces had repelled more than 50 attacks over the past day.

In a statement issued early on April 9, the Ukrainian General Staff said Russia's military continued to target the country's industrial east, focusing on the cities and towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka in the Donetsk region.

According to the General Staff, Russian forces launched 40 air strikes, four missile strikes, and 58 attacks from multiple-rocket launchers on various parts of Ukraine on April 8 and into the first part of April 9.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, has ordered his military to gain complete control of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson, areas he claims Russia has illegally annexed. Ukraine has indicated it will soon launch a counteroffensive to take back more territory.

In his daily address late on April 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy noted positive "movement towards NATO," pointing to new military aid for Ukraine as well as other signs of international support.

Zelenskiy referred to Lithuania proposing to invite Ukraine to become a member of NATO at the military alliance's summit in the capital, Vilnius, in July.

The Baltic country's parliament decided this week to seek an invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance at the summit scheduled for July 11-12.

Zelenskiy spoke hours after the head of a Ukrainian rescue organization said it had brought back 31 children from Russia, where they had been taken during the war.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on March 17 for Putin and Russian children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said this week it had been in contact with Lvova-Belova.

Quoted by the AP news agency, ICRC spokesman Jason Straziuso said the organization was in contact with Lvova-Belova "in line with its mandate to restore contact between separated families and facilitate reunification where feasible."

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-bakhmut- zaporizhzhya-strikes-casualties/32355820.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.

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The Ministry of Health has announced that King Faisal Hospital will start offering kidney transplants this year, making it the first hospital to introduce the practice in the country.

The development was expected to start in 2022, however, the hospital was still getting organised for the medical service.

Speaking to The New Times, Julien M. Niyingabira, Division Manager of Rwanda Health Communications Centre at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), revealed that Rwanda now has the required tools and medical specialists to perform kidney transplants.

The law that regulates the use of the human body, organs, tissues, cells and products of the human body for therapeutic, educational or scientific purposes was recently approved and published in the official journal.

This will allow the implementation of organ transplant surgery services in Rwanda, including kidney transplants.

Niyingabira emphasised that this law was one of the necessary steps for the procedure to be carried out.

According to the government, the move will help in achieving the national target to be a regional hub of medical services, and attract healthcare investors who may also set up other transplant centres.

Over the past eight years, the Government of Rwanda has referred close to 70 patients abroad for kidney transplants, which costs $12,000 (roughly Rwf12 million) per patient, totalling $840,000.

Kidney transplant is more advantageous and the first treatment for people with renal failure, said Dr Erhard Dufatanye, a consultant internist, Fellow in Nephrology, at King Faisal Hospital.

"People who get kidney dialysis service often wait for a kidney transplant," he said.

Dr Dufatanye added that kidney dialysis causes some complications to the patient, such as dizziness, loss of appetite, and cutting out particular meals.

"Kidney transplant is cheaper than being on dialysis. It makes you healthier, and survive than someone using kidney dialysis. A person on dialysis pays as they get the service (thrice a week) for an uncertain period of time, whereas a kidney transplant requires only medicine," he said.
'One or Two Shells Per Day': Ukrainian Troops Reportedly Hit by Acute Ammo Shortage

Sputnik News

20230409

Oleg Burunov

Some Ukraine troops are purportedly sent out into minefields in hope of obtaining abandoned projectiles to alleviate Kiev's shell shortage.

Ukraine is facing a critical ammunition shortage, forcing soldiers to ration artillery shells, a US newspaper has reported.

The newspaper pointed to an artillery platoon of the 59th Motorized Brigade stationed in eastern Ukraine, where Russia continues its special military operation.

According to the news outlet, while the platoon's soldiers earlier fired more than 20 or 30 shells per day with their Soviet-era howitzer D-30, currently, they "typically shoot one or two, or none at all."

The newspaper argued that the shell shortage forces some Kiev troops to wade through mined fields and forests to look for abandoned ammunition.

In addition, the newspaper claimed, some Ukrainian soldiers go to underground workshops where they purportedly use 3D printers in order to recycle unexploded ordinances and create alternative munitions.

The outlet also asserted that former republics of the USSR currently possess stocks of Soviet-standard 152mm and 122mm rounds, but that many of them "are hesitant to sell to Ukraine because of their ties with Russia."

"The United States has searched worldwide to round up stockpiles of Soviet artillery rounds, but deliveries can take months," the newspaper explained.

The claims came after Ukrainian Minister for Strategic Industries Alexander Kamyshin said earlier this week that Kiev and Warsaw have agreed to joint manufacture 125 mm tank shells during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent visit to Poland. The main goal of the Ukrainian Ministry for Strategic Industries is to increase ammunition production by efforts of Ukrainian companies and in partnership with foreign manufacturers, Kamyshin added.

Last week, the Biden administration launched an investigation into a reported leak of classified documents that details US and NATO plans for the Ukrainian military ahead of its purported counteroffensive against Russian forces this spring.

Karen Kwiatkowski, a retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel and former analyst for the US Department of Defense, told Sputnik that information about the number of weapons and munitions supplied by the West to Ukraine, which can be gleaned from some of the leaked slides, may also be of interest to Interpol and governments concerned with the influx of weapons on the black market that occurred amid the Ukrainian conflict.

Earlier in April, the Biden administration announced a new package of military assistance for Ukraine in the amount of $2.6 billion, which includes additional ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the Patriot air defense system.

On top of that, Washington is expected to spend $2.1 billion from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds to purchase additional air defense capabilities, as well as artillery and tank ammunition, mortar systems, rockets, and anti-armor systems for Kiev, according to the Pentagon press release.

This was preceded by separate developments in March, when Andrey Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president's office, stressed the need for speedy supplies of additional weapons and ammunition to Ukraine during his phone conversation with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

The US and its allies ramped up their military assistance to Kiev shortly after Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly warned that NATO countries "play with fire" by supplying arms to Kiev, which the Kremlin said adds to prolonging the Ukraine conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, for his part, underscored that any cargo with weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russian forces.

A Sputnik

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EU Military Circles Question Million-Munition Delivery to Ukraine: Reports

Sputnik News

20230409

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Military circles in Brussels are casting doubt on the European Union's plan to deliver 1 million 155-mm munitions to Ukraine within the next 12 months because, among other things, it may take more than a year to put together a batch that big, German news outlet reported on Sunday, citing sources.

The delivery plan is for Norway and 17 EU countries to send Ukraine a total 1 million munitions from their stocks and receive a compensation from the bloc, the newspaper reported. The EU will allocate 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) for the compensation and another 1 billion euros for the procurement of new munitions, the report said.

The plan is unlikely to go through, however, as 1 million munitions as an amount that is hard to be collected within one year, the newspaper said.

It added that the negotiations on the issue were difficult because the sides were focused on their "powers, vanity and national interests," with some of them advocating placing an order for artillery shells from the European Defence Agency, while others opposed to it and suggesting instead purchasing the artillery shells outside Europe.

Western countries have been supplying Kiev with various types of weapons systems, including air defense missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery and anti-aircraft guns, since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine.

Moscow repeatedly stressed that pumping Kiev's neo-Nazi regime with Western weapons has a detrimental effect on the crisis, extending the conflict and prolonging the suffering of Ukrainian people. Meanwhile, the Kremlin also made it crystal clear that any Western weapon on Ukrainian territory would be a legitimate target for the Russian forces.

A Sputnik

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Russian Military Creating Special Groups to Destroy Western Tanks in Ukraine

Sputnik News

20230409

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces have started creating special groups tasked by the defense ministry with destroying the tanks that Western countries supply to Kiev, the head of a combat training center, Yevgeny Arifulin, said on Sunday.

"This work is organized on the instructions of Deputy Defense Minister Col.-Gen. [Yunus-Bek] Yevkurov, who set the specific task of creating these groups. In accordance with his instructions, the head of the main department of combat training, Col.-Gen. [Ivan] Buvaltsev with his team has developed methodological recommendations and organized a methodology for implementation, and the combat training center is putting these measures into practice," Arifulin told Russian broadcaster.

He called the creation of the special groups "a great state systematic work."

"We know all their [Western tanks'] strengths and weaknesses and are preparing personnel ... Plus, tank crews are preparing here directly for a tank duel," he said.

Russian troops are studying, in particular, US tanks Abrams, German Leopard 2, French Leclerc and UK Challenger, according to Arifulin.

Western countries have been supplying Kiev regime with various types of weapons systems, including air defense missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery and anti-aircraft guns, since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev.

A Sputnik

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We must be sure that evil will lose, we must bring the defeat of evil closer, and we are bringing it closer - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

9 April 2023 - 21:30

Ukrainians!

Tonight, the Russian army shelled Zaporizhzhia with S-300 missiles.

They hit a house, an apartment building. Three people were inside. A man, a woman and a child - a girl, her name was Iryna, she would have turned 11 this year. She died. The man died too. My condolences... The woman is in critical condition, in the hospital, she is being provided with medical care.

This is how the terrorist state spends this Palm Sunday. This is how Russia puts itself in even greater isolation from the world, from humanity.

Every bright Christian holiday teaches us that we may not know how, but we must be sure that evil will lose. We have to believe. And we believe. We must bring the defeat of evil closer. And we are bringing it closer. And the world stands with us. Every month, every week, support is increased, the circle of those who support us, who support our grit and our faith in life, increases.

I thank everyone in the world who is with Ukraine now, who is with us in deed.

I thank all our people who are eliminating the consequences of Russian shelling and helping those who have suffered from terror. In Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv region, Chernihiv region, Sumy region, Dnipropetrovsk region, Kherson region, Donbas.

I am grateful to every rescuer and doctor, every nurse, every sapper, every policeman... All representatives of local authorities in cities and villages who help people. And volunteers.

And of course, I want to thank the warriors! Everyone who is currently in battle. Everyone who repels Russian evil. Everyone who destroys the occupiers - in battle and in their rear.

We are preparing for an active new week, in particular in our international activities, to strengthen the defense, to strengthen our warriors.

And based on the results of this week, I would like to especially celebrate the marines of the 35th and 36th separate brigades, warriors of the 55th artillery brigade... They are fighting in the Donetsk region. Efficiently. Thank you guys!

I thank the warriors of the assault company of the 783rd regiment of the State Special Transport Service, the warriors of the 5th separate assault brigade and the 80th separate airborne assault brigade for the active assault actions in Bakhmut and in the Bakhmut direction... Well done, guys!

Slovyansk direction - the 30th separate mechanized brigade... Also active assault actions. Thank you guys!

I thank the warriors of the 66th separate mechanized brigade and the 95th airborne assault brigade for their steadfastness and grit in the Lyman direction.

I am thankful to the intelligence units that are fighting in the hottest areas of the frontline!

Border guards of the Luhansk and Kramatorsk detachments, combined units of the Lviv, Donetsk, Mohyliv-Podilskyi and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi detachments... Thank you, guys!

Special forces, the 50th National Guard regiment... Thank you!

Zaporizhzhia direction - I will separately mention the warriors of the 39th anti-aircraft missile regiment. Well done, guys! Accuracy is the main thing.

And thank you to all the fighters of the Air Defense Forces and the Air Forces who reliably protect our sky!

Glory to all Ukrainian heroes! To everyone who is now in battle! To everyone who is currently in combat positions or fulfilling missions!

Eternal and bright memory to all those who gave their lives protecting the lives of Ukraine and Ukrainians!

May next year's Palm Sunday pass in peace and freedom for all our people!

May the sincere prayers for peace of all who celebrate Easter today be heard!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Latest in Ukraine: Russian Missiles Target Country's East

By VOA News April 09, 2023

Latest developments:

Two killed in Zaporizhzhia after a Russian airstrike hit a residential building in the southeastern Ukrainian city.

In his Easter Sunday message, Pope Francis invoked prayers for both the Ukrainian and Russian people. He also praised nations that help refugees.

Ukrainian photographer turns battle-ravaged bodies into works of art.

Two of Ukraine's provinces a Kharkiv in the northeast and Zaporizhzhia in the southeast a were hit by Russian missiles, rockets and artillery fire over the weekend, the Ukrainian military reported Sunday.

Oleksandr Prokudin, Kherson region governor, said Russian warplanes struck two communities late Sunday, but he said there were no immediate reports of casualties, according to The Associated Press.

Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that shelling in Kupiansk, a town formerly held by Russian forces before Ukraine took control last September, killed two men Sunday.

Later Sunday, Syniehubov said on Telegram the city remained under attack, and Russian forces were targeting residential areas with rocket launchers, the AP reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the Russian airstrikes that coincided with the observance of Orthodox Palm Sunday. The majority of Ukraine's 41 million people are Orthodox Christians who celebrate Easter on April 16.

"This is how the terrorist state marks Palm Sunday," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. "This is how Russia places itself in even greater isolation from the world."

Zelenskyy also attended an iftar, a dinner held during the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims, with Ukrainian Muslim soldiers, leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and representatives of the Muslim clergy.

The event took place on the territory of the Crimean Tatar cultural center Birlik in Kyiv region, his official website said.

Those at the iftar observed a moment of silence in memory of the soldiers who gave their lives defending the Ukrainian state and citizens, Zelenskyy's website said.

"May the holy Ramadan, despite the sadness and pain of war, be bright for you! May Iftar bring consolation to everyone in the world, in the Muslim community, no matter where you happen to be now. The big world Muslim community, every nation, every state can always rely on Ukraine because we have respect and solidarity," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.

Ukraine's military also reported Russian attacks and shelling throughout the front, with the heaviest fighting still focused on two cities in eastern Donetsk region a Bakhmut and Avdiivka. Russian forces have been besieging Bakhmut for months in the longest battle in more than a year of war, Reuters reported.

Western analysts have said Russian forces recently made it into the center of Bakhmut. They said seizing Bakhmut after more than eight months would give the Kremlin a badly wanted victory, Reuters reported.

The Russian army is moving elite units to Bakhmut, Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Eastern Group of Forces, told the AP Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry said Sunday it destroyed a depot containing 70,000 tons of fuel near the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, as well as Ukrainian military warehouses in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, Reuters reported.

Zaporizhzhia is home to Europe's largest nuclear power plant and one of four Ukrainian provinces parts of which Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed in September.

From a flower-adorned pulpit in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis prayed for both the Ukrainian and Russian people in his Easter Sunday message. Tens of thousands of faithful joined the 86-year-old pontiff to celebrate Christianity's most sacred day.

Francis delivered a blessing for troubled parts of the world. In his speech, he addressed the war in Ukraine, saying, "Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia.''

Since the beginning of the war the pope has prayed for the "martyred Ukrainians," but Ukrainian diplomats have criticized his soft stance toward the Russians and particularly Putin in his effort to not alienate Moscow.

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Latest in Ukraine: UK Says Russia Attempting to Normalize Illegal Annexation of Areas in Ukraine

By VOA News April 09, 2023

The British Defense Ministry said Sunday that having Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev deliver the main report at the recent full session of Russia's Security Council was an attempt to normalize the situation in the illegally annexed areas of Ukraine.

"In reality," the ministry said in the intelligence update posted on Twitter, "much of the area remains an active combat zone, subject to partisan attacks, and with extremely limited access to basic services for many citizens."

Russia's Security Council met last week for the first time since October 2022.

Following the return of 31 children to Ukraine, the head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, emphasized in a phone call Saturday with Amal Clooney, a prominent human rights lawyer, the importance of returning all the deported children to Ukraine.

Yermak and Clooney, co-founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice, discussed protecting the rights of Ukrainian children and holding Russia accountable for crimes committed against them, according to the official website of the president of Ukraine.

Clooney, who specializes in international criminal law and human rights issues, has addressed the U.N. Security Council calling for justice as evidence of the crimes and atrocities allegedly committed by the Russian military began emerging weeks after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

On behalf of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Yermak thanked Clooney.

"People in Ukraine know about your support and appreciate it a lot. Many people heard your speech and everything you said about the war and Ukrainians. This is extremely important indeed," Yermak said, according to the president's website.

Clooney reiterated her support for Ukraine and Ukrainians, adding that she and her foundation colleagues remain committed to their work to promote accountability and deliver justice for victims of international crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.

Kyiv says thousands taken

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.

Earlier Saturday, the head of a humanitarian group said 31 children were reunited with their families in Ukraine after what he described as was one of the group's most difficult operations to return children from Russia, where they had been taken during the war.

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 Ukraine's former commissioner for children's rights, told reporters no one in Russia was trying to find the children's 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.

Tatiana Vorozhko of VOA's Ukraine Service contributed to this report. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Dublin, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Pension Administration Software Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report By Component, By Deployment, By Type, By End User, By Regional Outlook and Forecast, 2022 - 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Pension Administration Software Market size is expected to reach $8.6 billion by 2028, rising at a market growth of 12.0% CAGR during the forecast period.



Expanding government programmes like automatic enrolment in defined benefit plans are projected to boost the use of software for managing pensions. Pension providers worldwide are feeling pressured to drastically modify their core pension systems as rules and regulations governing second and third pillar pension benefits continue to evolve in response to shifting demographics and economic situations. As a result, the adoption of pension administration software solutions is being driven by the rising need for pension compliance with governmental regulations.



A key part of administration is monitoring pensions and offering consumers improved pension plans. Additionally, it aids in producing accounting records as well as often bills and statements for the clients, which is another crucial component. Additionally, it helps to assure the data's accuracy and makes it simple to extract the appropriate data when needed for any reporting period, which cuts down on processing time. As a result, this is a key element increasing the market size for pension administration software.



The elderly and persons in old age are limited by technology. The duty of simplifying and processing the gathered data is made easier by technology or by exploiting the digital realm in several areas. But when working with an ageing population, technological utilisation might be problematic. The main reason is that older generations are less knowledgeable about or familiar with a cellphone's fundamental functions. Due of its simplicity, 'pen and paper medium'is typically favoured for dealing with any pension-related issues. Therefore, one job is leveraging technology to simplify the labour related to pensions, and another is introducing the concept to the elderly.



Component Outlook



Based on component, the pension administration software market is divided into solution and service segments. In 2021, the solution segment held the highest revenue share in the pension administration software market. This is related to the fact that by automating a number of manual operations and lowering the need for paper-based record keeping, pension administration software helps to increase productivity and save expenses. Pension administration software also helps governmental bodies provide more transparency and accountability to plan members by making it easier to monitor and report on plan activities.



Deployment Mode Outlook



Based on deployment mode, the pension administration software market is divided into on-premise and cloud. The on-premise segment witnessed the largest revenue share in the pension administration software market in 2021. Many businesses continue to choose on-premise solution implementation to maintain more control over all systems and data. Additionally, the on-premise deployment strategy gives enterprises greater control over the software's installation. In-house IT professionals must be hired by organisations in order to support and maintain on-premise systems, which guarantee that corporate data is managed and kept inside.



Type Outlook



Based on the type, the pension administration software market was divided into public pension and private pension. In 2021, the public pension segment dominated the pension administration software market with maximum revenue share. A defined benefit plan, which is offered to the workers and sponsored by an employer, is a public pension. These programmes' main objective is to provide employees retirement income. Depending on the kind of service it renders, it might be categorised as a non-profit organisation or a government entity that offers benefits in cash or in kind.



End-user Outlook



Based on the end user, the pension administration software market is segmented into Employers, pension plan administrators, government organisations, and others. The creation of pension benefit statements, service purchases, buy-backs, and individual and group benefit computations are all simplified by pension administration software. With customizable, plan-specific effective-dated business rules, its powerful functionality controls a wide variety of plans and choices to speed up everything from eligibility to the computation of retiree and alternative payee forms of payment. All these features reduce the workload for pension plan administrators which is rising the adoption of pension administration software in this segment.



Scope of the Study

By Component

Solution

Services

By Deployment

Cloud

On-premise

By Type

Public Pension

Private Pension

By End-user

Government Agencies

Pension Plan Administrators

Employers

Others

By Geography

North America

US

Canada

Mexico

Rest of North America

Europe

Germany

UK

France

Russia

Spain

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Singapore

Malaysia

Rest of Asia Pacific

LAMEA

Brazil

Argentina

UAE

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

Nigeria

Rest of LAMEA

Key Market Players

List of Companies Profiled in the Report:

Equiniti Group plc (Siris Capital Group LLC)

Civica (Camelia Investment Limited)

Capita plc.

Aon plc

Zellis Holdings Limited

Congruent Solutions, Inc.

Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc.

PensionSoft Corporation, LLC

Sagitec Solutions, LLC

TatvaSoft Software Development Company

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Market Scope & Methodology



Chapter 2. Market Overview



Chapter 3. Global Pension Administration Software Market by Component



Chapter 4. Global Pension Administration Software Market by Deployment



Chapter 5. Global Pension Administration Software Market by Type



Chapter 6. Global Pension Administration Software Market by End User



Chapter 7. Global Pension Administration Software Market by Region



Chapter 8. Company Profiles



Companies Mentioned

Equiniti Group plc (Siris Capital Group LLC)

Civica (Camelia Investment Limited)

Capita plc.

Aon plc

Zellis Holdings Limited

Congruent Solutions, Inc.

Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc.

PensionSoft Corporation, LLC

Sagitec Solutions, LLC

TatvaSoft Software Development Company

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cm4yng

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.

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New York (US), April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Resilient Flooring Market Overview

The MRFR analysis reports predict that the  Resilient Flooring Market Research Report, by Product, Region, and Application - Forecast Till 2030, the global market for Resilient Flooring is predicted to showcase considerable development over the assessment timeframe from 2022 to 2030 with a strong development rate of approximately 10%. The reports anticipate the market acquiring a valuation of around USD 73.34 billion by the end of 2030. As per the reports, the market was worth around USD 35.84 billion in 2020.

Market Scope

The global market for Resilient Flooring has recently displayed massive development. The main aspect causing a surge in the performance of the market is the key players investing a huge sum of money. The contractors of the residential and construction sites are performing new resilient flooring techniques. These products make the surface clean and smooth and are easy to maintain. Their power to resist moisture makes them an ideal choice for use in the bathroom and kitchen.



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Competitive Analysis

The listing of the prominent leaders across the global market for Resilient Flooring includes players such as:

NOX Corporation

IVC Group of Belgium

Shaw Floors of the United States

Amtico International Co. Ltd of the United Kingdom

Novalis of the United States

Mannington Mills Ltd of the United States

Milliken and Company of the United States

Unilin of Belgium

Nora of Germany

Mohawk Industries of the United States

Among others.



Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2030 USD 73.34 billion CAGR 10% (2022-2030) Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 20222030 Historical Data 2020 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Product Type and Application Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers Increasing construction of residential buildings



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Market USP Covered

Market Drivers

The global market for Resilient Flooring has displayed massive development in recent times. The main aspect causing a surge in the performance of the market is the key players investing a huge sum of money. The contractors of the residential and construction sites are performing new resilient flooring techniques. These products make the surface clean and smooth and are easy to maintain. Their power to resist moisture makes them an ideal choice for use in the bathroom and kitchen. The utilization of vinyl flooring is also projected to cover LEED ratings and has caused a major surge in market performance in the last few years.

Furthermore, the increasing urbanization and industrialization are projected to enhance the market performance over the coming years. Resilient Flooring has assisted in enhancing the infrastructural beauty of the house and performing several renovation activities, which have caused a rise in the market revenue share. Some renovation activities have emphasized the change in users' behavior. Implementing new luxury vinyl tiles has caused an escalation in demand for fiberglass vinyl sheets in the review period.

Market Restraints

On the other hand, certain aspects may impede the market's growth. The primary parameter restricting the market's growth is the stringent rules and regulations increase. Furthermore, the growth in the usage of resilient innovative flooring solutions is also projected to affect the development of the market over the assessment period. In addition, the volatility in the prices of raw materials is also projected to limit the performance of the market.



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COVID-19 Impact

Global industrial activities and business operations experienced a major setback given to the rise of the global health crisis in the form of COVID-19. The pandemic affected public health across nearly 225 countries, along with all industrial operations. All these situations led to the imposition of full or partial lockdowns across most regions worldwide. Subsequently, the industry operations were halted, and some businesses shut down. Given the sudden fall in demand for construction activities during the pandemic and the halt of most industrial operations, the Resilient Flooring market experienced many sudden & unexpected issues throughout the pandemic. On the contrary, now that the majority of the globe is being rapidly vaccinated and industrial operations are returning to normal, the market is predicted to witness a considerable expansion and recovery in revenue generation over the assessment period.

Segment Analysis

Among all the products, the luxury vinyl tiles segment is projected to secure the top position across the global market for resilient Flooring over the assessment era. The luxury vinyl tiles comprise several resistance to water, resistance towards scuff, and scratch and maintaining easily. It is considered the most common choice among the key players across the global market.

Among all the application areas, the residential segment is anticipated to ensure the top spot across the global market for resilient Flooring over the assessment era. The increase in population growth and the setting up of more residential buildings are the main parameters supporting the segment's growth.



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Regional Analysis

The global Resilient Flooring market is analyzed across five major geographies: North America, Latin America, the Middle East & Africa, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

The MRFR analysis reports suggesting that the Asia-Pacific region secured the maximum expansion across the global market for Resilient Flooring in 2019. The regional market covered around 34% of the share of the global market revenue. The main parameter supporting the growth of the regional market is the steady rise in the growth of the construction industry across some emerging nations such as South Korea, India, and China.

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Scaffolding Market by Type (Supported Scaffolding, Suspended Scaffolding and Rolling Scaffolding), By Material (Steel, Aluminum, Wood and Others), By Application (Construction Industry, Electrical Maintenance, Temporary Stage, Others) by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of World) - Global Forecast to 2030.

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About Market Research Future:

Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis 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.
NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to:



Life Storage, Inc. (NYSE: LSI)s sale to Extra Space Storage Inc. for 0.8950 Extra Space shares for each Life Storage share. At closing, Life Storage shareholders are expected to own approximately 35% of the combined company. If you are a Life Storage shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.

Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE: EXR)s merger with Life Storage, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Life Storage shareholders will receive 0.8950 of an Extra Space share for each Life Storage share they own. At closing, Extra Space shareholders are expected to own approximately 65% of the combined company. If you are an Extra Space shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.

Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options. Please call Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or email sadeh@halpersadeh.com or zhalper@halpersadeh.com.

Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Halper Sadeh LLC

Daniel Sadeh, Esq.

Zachary Halper, Esq.

(212) 763-0060

sadeh@halpersadeh.com

zhalper@halpersadeh.com

https://www.halpersadeh.com
BURLINGTON, Mass., April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Acronis, to its annual Storage 100 list in the Data Protection, Management, and Resilience category. This is the fourth consecutive year in which CRN has recognized Acronis as a leading IT data protection and data security vendor. The Storage 100 recognizes industry-leading storage vendors that provide transformative, channel-friendly products and services.



The companies chosen for this years Storage 100 list have been selected by CRN editors for their perseverance in pushing the boundaries of innovation through cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships.

"At Acronis, we are proud to be recognized as a leader in the Data Protection, Management, and Resilience category, said Alex Ruslyakov, Channel Chief at Acronis. We are committed to driving innovation and delivering leading solutions while constantly seeking new and better ways to secure and manage data. Our mission is to provide our dedicated partners and end users with the most comprehensive, efficient, and reliable solutions to protect their data.

The Storage 100 list is a valuable resource for solution providers looking for vendors that can support them in a complex storage market with industry-leading portfolios in areas such as data protection, management, and resilience; software-defined storage, and storage components. This years list represents the industry leaders of storage technology that can be used for on-premises or cloud deployments.

CRNs 2023 Storage 100 list recognizes the leading vendors that are delivering transformative advancements in storage technology and bringing modern solutions to customers and solution providers that are built for the future, said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. We are honored to recognize their contributions as the leading players in storage technology for 2023.

The CRN Storage 100 list will be featured in the April 2023 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.crn.com/storage100.

To learn about Acronis recognition on the CRN Security 100 list, check out the latest blog here or visit: https://www.acronis.com/en-us/blog/posts/acronis-honored-on-crns-storage-100-list-for-the-fourth-consecutive-year

About Acronis

Acronis unifies data protection and cybersecurity to deliver integrated, automated cyber protection that solves the safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security (SAPAS) challenges of the modern digital world. With flexible deployment models that fit the demands of service providers and IT professionals, Acronis provides superior cyber protection for data, applications, and systems with innovative next-generation antivirus, backup, disaster recovery, and endpoint protection management solutions powered by AI. With advanced anti-malware powered by cutting-edge machine intelligence and blockchain based data authentication technologies, Acronis protects any environment - from cloud to hybrid to on premises - at a low and predictable cost.

Acronis is a Swiss company, founded in Singapore. Celebrating two decades of innovation, Acronis has more than 2,000 employees in 45 locations. Acronis Cyber Protect solution is available in 26 languages in over 150 countries and is used by 18,000 service providers to protect over 750,000 businesses.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com

Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn , and Facebook.

 2023 The Channel Company, LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Channel Company Contact:

Natalie Lewis

The Channel Company

nlewis@thechannelcompany.com

Acronis Media Contact:

Karl Bateson

Karl.Bateson@acronis.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6ee54c25-6d6a-4fdd-b46a-f5c72296bc30
The Ministry of Health has announced that it has reduced the prices of dialysis for people with kidney diseases to make the service affordable for all.

Bills for kidney dialysis services have been reduced from Rwf160,000 to Rwf75,000, starting on April 1, for all patients in hospitals that provide the service.

Although the price has been reduced by more than half of the regular price, some Mutuelle de Sante users claim that it cannot cover the cost of kidney dialysis, as they pay 100 per cent for it.

Julien Niyingabira, the Division Manager of Rwanda Health Communications Centre at Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), told The New Times that the community health insurance--Mutuelle de Sante--users with acute kidney injury or chronic kidney diseases will have an extended period of time to get this service while waiting for a kidney transplant.

"Normally Mutuelle de Sante covers the cost of kidney dialysis for six weeks but there are discussions aiming to extend the period," he said.

Patients who need kidney dialysis services are treated at least three times a week, which increases the total cost.

In Rwanda, there are eight medical centres that provide kidney dialysis services, these are; King Faisal Hospital, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB), Rwanda Military Hospital, Rwamagana Hospital, Gihundwe Hospital, Gisenyi Hospital, and Kigali Dialysis Center - Africa Healthcare Network.

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Chronic kidney disease is the gradual loss of kidney function. Normally, the kidneys filter all the blood in the body every 30 minutes. They work hard to remove wastes, toxins, and excess fluid.

When chronic kidney failure reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes, and wastes can build up in the body and it cannot filter blood the way it should.

"High blood pressure and diabetes are the two most common causes of kidney failure. They can also become damaged from physical injury, diseases, or other disorders," experts reported.

The 2023 International Society of Nephrology - Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA) report, shows that from the approximately 850 million people affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide, people of every age and race are affected, and people from disadvantaged populations are at higher risk.

The report also reveals that the global burden of kidney failure remains significant, due to high treatment costs and extensive impacts on the health and well-being of people living with kidney disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that in the world, the kidney is the most donated organ, followed by the liver and the heart.
New York, US, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tea Market Overview

According to a Comprehensive Research Report by Market Research Future (MRFR),  Tea Market Information By Type, Form, Category, Distribution Channel, and Region- Forecast till 2030, From 2020 to 2027, the tea market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.60%. Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world and is made from Camellia sinensis plant leaves. The demand for the product is expected to increase because to growing knowledge of its advantages, which include enhancing the immune system, preserving bones and teeth, lowering the risk of kidney stones, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, and regulating blood cholesterol levels. By 2027, it is anticipated that the tea market would be worth roughly USD 28 billion.

Also, the market is predicted to increase favourably as organic tea gains in popularity. Manufacturers invest in R&D to raise the calibre and flavour of their goods in an effort to increase consumer appeal.

For customers seeking low-sugar beverages, Green Hills, for example, introduced Rum and Honey Flavour Herbal Tea. The product is alcohol-free and is rich in apple, licorice, cinnamon, and star anise, giving it a taste equal to alcohol.

The introduction of premium and unique blends is encouraged by rising consumer disposable income and willingness to spend more on various goods. To combat prevalent medical illnesses like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, they have included a variety of healthful components to their tea blends. Increasing usage in the cosmetics and beauty industries is anticipated to further propel market expansion. Moreover, a significant element promoting market expansion is the rising acceptability of tea as an alternative to aerated drinks, particularly among health-conscious customers. Tea is an excellent source of antioxidants and has no caffeine.

The demand for functional beverages among consumers has greatly increased due to the growing trend of healthy hydration and on-the-go nourishment. Large quantities of antioxidants included in green tea help to slow down the ageing process of cells and tissues and improve regular bodily processes. The market is expanding as a result of the rising demand for beverages that are nutrient-rich in order to lower the chance of developing certain health disorders. Increasing research and innovation initiatives to create new tea kinds, such as those that are pure, organic, organically flavoured, and ecologically friendly, also help market expansion. During the course of the forecast period, market growth is anticipated to be boosted by technological advancements used to create novel tea packaging.

A significant barrier to the growth of the tea market is the lack of understanding regarding correct farming techniques for growing this tea. The conversion of conventional agricultural techniques to more productive and sustainable ones typically require additional skill from tea farmers. However, this tea's production costs are substantially greater than those of traditional tea, which restrains the market's expansion. The certification procedure involved in the manufacture and selling of organic tea on the global market is highly expensive. Farmers are frequently discouraged from embracing organic farming because of the costs associated with certification and the three-year transition period.

The market's expansion is anticipated to be significantly constrained by the high price of green-type tea. The pricing of green tea continues to be a key issue for the tea business. The Asian nations of Japan, China, and India produce a significant amount of this type of tea.

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Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details 2027 Market Size 2027: 28 billion CAGR 4.60% (20202027) Base Year 2019 Forecast Period 20202027 Historical Data 2018 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Type, Form, Category, and Distribution Channel Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers Growing demand for functional beverages

Prominent players in the Tea Market research include

Bettys & Taylors Group Ltd.,

McLeod Russel,

Mighty Leaf Tea Company,

ITO EN Inc.,

The Republic of Tea,

Tazo Tea Company,

Numi Organic Tea,

Teavana,

Celestial Seasonings, Inc.,

Fukujuen,

Tea Market Segmentation

Production is typically constrained, and prices are raised due to farmers' lack of knowledge about safe agrochemical usage and proper farming techniques.

Due to the growing trend of natural, clean-label, organic, and healthy products, modern tea consumers actively seek for high-value specialty teas. Consumers want an authentic tea experience and are more knowledgeable about the different types and origins of tea. Manufacturers of creative tea blends, tastes, and ready-to-drink teas are required by the active search among millennials for healthy teas. The increased demand for organically grown tea would be strongly influenced by the growing awareness of the health benefits of this type of tea.

Green tea, black tea, oolong tea, herbal tea, and other types make up the type-based segmentation of the tea market. Due to a wide range of benefits, including antioxidant qualities that eliminate free radicals and reduce cell damage, the black tea category commanded a significant market share in 2020. Yet, due to a rise in people who are concerned about their health and fitness, green tea experienced the biggest growth.

Shape Insights

According to shape, the tea market is divided into loose leaf, tea bags, and other categories. Because to the convenience they provide over loose or differently packed tea, tea bags held the highest share of the global market in 2020. Brewing tea with tea bags is quite simple, and disposing of the empty tea bag is even simpler.

Nonetheless, due to the rising popularity of loose-leaf tea among consumers, this category experienced the quickest growth.

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Sector Insights

The organic and conventional segments of the worldwide market are separated based on category. Due to customers' increasing preference for organic tea, the organic category will rule the tea industry in 2020. Due to the increased consumption of conventional tea in Asia-Pacific nations, conventional was the category with the quickest growth.

Insights On Distribution Channels

The global market has been divided into store-based and non-store-based segments based on distribution channel. Due to the growth of online apps, the availability of discounts, and the simplicity of product delivery, the non-store-based sector had a significant market share in 2020. The store-based segment, however, drives the industry because it provides one-stop access to a variety of brands.

Regional Analysis

North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World are the several regions into which the tea market has been split. The largest share of the market was in North America. The region with the highest CAGR during the predicted period will be Asia-Pacific.

2020 saw North America take the majority of the market share thanks to new trends like the use of natural, secure, clean-label products. People in the area are starting to pay more attention to the safety and ethnic makeup of the healthful foods they choose to eat. Market expansion in North America is driven by the trend of functional organic beverages in the US and Canada. Throughout the projected period, the increased emphasis on creating and releasing cutting-edge organic tea variations in unique packaging is anticipated to fuel regional market expansion.

Due to rising discretionary expenditures among consumers in the region, Asia-Pacific held the second-largest market share in the global market in 2020. Consumer expenditure on healthy items has recently increased in nations including China, India, Japan, and Indonesia. The region's market is expanding mostly due to the rising demand for green tea and herbal tea to enhance beauty and health. Compared to traditional tea varieties, this tea is thought to be healthier. The market growth in Asia-Pacific has also been greatly aided by the region's brisk food and beverage industry expansion.

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Functional Tea Market Information By Type (Green Tea, Herbal Tea and Others), Form (Loose Leaves, Bags and Powder), Function (Immunity, Detox, Weight Loss, Gut & Digestive Health, Multifunctional and Others), Distribution Channel (Store-Based {Supermarkets & Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Specialty Stores and Others}, Non-Store-Based) and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World) - Forecast till 2030

Organic Tea Market Research Report Information By Type (Green, Black, and Others), By Form (Dried Leaf, Powder, and Others), By Distribution Channel (Store-Based and Non-Store Based), And By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And the 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.
Denver, Colorado, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- YES Communities Building Futures Scholarship Program increased the 2023 awards to $37,500 in scholarships for residents and team members children nationwide to nurture academic success.

Now in its fourth year of operation, the Building Futures Scholarship Program awards fifteen select recipients with $2,500 scholarships to pursue secondary education needs. Scholarship applicants are evaluated on their voluntary commitment to serving the local community, along with their academic achievements. The recipients are selected and announced in July.

Through a partnership with Arrupe Jesuit, one scholarship is awarded annually to a local Denver area student who earns class credit while working at YES through a work-study program.

It is immensely fulfilling to see the Building Futures program grow year after year. Im proud to help YES invest in the success of the next generation of students, said Jean Gonzales, Vice President of Human Resources at YES Communities.

Since the launch of the Building Futures Scholarship in 2020, the number of scholarships awarded has increased year after year to meet resident and team member demand. YES Communities remains committed to fueling education achievement of residents and team members children.

For future applicants, do not miss this opportunity. Take advantage of these opportunities because the people around you want to see you succeed, said Saray S., a winner of the 2022 Building Futures Scholarship.

The deadline for residents to apply is June 1, 2023. For more details, visit https://yescommunities.com/buildingfutures.

About YES Communities

YES Communities is a premier operator of manufactured housing communities and is based in Denver, Colorado. YES has been recognized as the Manufactured Housing Institute's "Community Operator of the Year" from 2009 to 2019.

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Miami, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), the largest homeschool advocacy group in the United States, will send two Spanish-speaking educational consultants, Karim Morato and Clarisa Loparo, along with HSLDA attorney Kevin Boden, to the second annual national Hispanic homeschool conference this spring. Taking place April 15, 2023, at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Miami Airport in Miami, Florida, Teach By Design 2023 (Educa Por Diseno 2023) is a national conference with programs for the whole family. The on-site conference will be conducted in Spanish and live-streamed for families around the world.

We are thrilled to participate in this conference for the second year by sending HSLDA Spanish-speaking staff, an attorney, and practical resources to support Hispanic homeschooling families, said HSLDA President Jim Mason.

Homes are the epicenter of education and home education puts parents back in their role as the first and primary educators of their children, said TransitionED co-founder Ana Maria Bagnuoli.

Hosted by TransitionED, the event will walk parents through topics including:

Home Education

Parental Rights

How to Start Homeschooling

Developing a Plan for High School

Homeschooling in Latin AmericaLegal Aspects

Registration for the conference can be found at: Educa por Diseno 2023 https://transitioneducation.mykajabi.com/2da-conferencia

About HSLDA

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is Americas largest and oldest homeschool advocacy group. Founded in 1983 with the mission to make homeschooling possible for all families, the organization has helped empower millions of homeschooling parents and students. As a membership organization for families homeschooling their children, HSLDA provides a myriad of resources from legal advice to educational consultants to support member families through every step of their homeschool journey. Learn more about HSLDA at https://hslda.org/

About TransitionED

Ricardo Bagnuoli and Ana Maria are the founders of TransitionED, an organization established in the United States in 2017 to train and equip Hispanic families to transform their homes into the best and first place of learning. Ana and Ricardo believe that education is a design and a tool to discover, nurture, and promote the purpose of life given by God for children in the home. https://www.transitioneducation.net/

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ValOre Metals Corp. (ValOre; TSXV: VO; OTCQB: KVLQF; Frankfurt: KEQ0, the Company) today announced the closing of a first tranche, in the amount of $2.918 million for 14,590,000 Units, of the previously announced (See ValOre news on April 5, 2023) non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of up to 17,500,000 (the "Units") at a price of CDN$0.20 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to CAD$3,500,000.



Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a Share) and one-half of one non-transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a Warrant). Each whole Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Share at an exercise price of CDN$0.30 per Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

With the Closing of this tranche of the Offering, ValOres Chairman & CEO, James Paterson has acquired 14,590,000 Units in the Offering and an aggregate shareholding of 31,296,333 (18.59%). Mr. Paterson shall not be entitled to exercise any Warrants of ValOre if this exercise would cause his aggregate shareholdings to exceed 20% of the Companys outstanding voting securities following the exercise of such Warrants, unless the shareholders of the Company have approved of Mr. Paterson becoming a Control Person (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange).

Participation of Mr. Paterson in the Offering would constitute a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). However, such participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the Units subscribed for, nor the consideration paid for the Units, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

No finders fees are payable on the Offering.

Closing of the Offering is subject to approval of the final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The securities issued under the Offering, and any Shares that may be issuable on exercise of any such securities, will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance of such securities.

About ValOre

ValOre Metals Corp. (TSXV: VO) is a Canadian company with a portfolio of highquality exploration projects. ValOres team aims to deploy capital and knowledge on projects which benefit from substantial prior investment by previous owners, existence of high-value mineralization on a large scale, and the possibility of adding tangible value through exploration, process improvement, and innovation.

The Pedra Branca Platinum Group Elements (PGE) Project comprises 52 exploration licenses covering a total area of 56,852 hectares (140,484 acres) in northeastern Brazil. At Pedra Branca, 7 distinct PGE+Au deposit areas host, in aggregate, a 2022 NI 43-101 inferred resource of 2.198 Moz 2PGE+Au contained in 63.6 Mt grading 1.08 g/t 2PGE+Au (CLICK HERE for news release dated March 24, 2022). All the currently known Pedra Branca inferred PGE resources are potentially open pittable.

ValOres Angilak Property in Nunavut Territory, Canada, hosts the Lac 50 Trend  a 2013 NI 43-101 inferred resource of 2,831,000 tonnes grading 0.69% U3O8, totaling 43.3 million pounds U3O8. For disclosure related to the inferred resource for the Lac 50 Trend uranium deposits, please CLICK HERE for ValOre's news release dated March 1, 2013.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Jim Paterson

James R. Paterson, Chairman and CEO

ValOre Metals Corp.

For further information about ValOre Metals Corp., or this news release, please visit our website at www.valoremetals.com or contact Investor Relations at 604.653.9464, or by email at contact@valoremetals.com.

ValOre Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit:

http://www.discoverygroup.ca/

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although ValOre believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events that may prove to be inaccurate. These factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information to ValOre. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. A number of important factors including those set forth in other public filings could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include: the Offering may not close on the terms and timing currently anticipated, or at all; the Offering (including use of proceeds) may not receive approval of the TSX Venture Exchange on the terms currently contemplated, or at all; the future operations of ValOre and economic factors. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release and, except as required by applicable law, ValOre does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ValOre undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of ValOre, or its financial or operating results or (as applicable), their securities.
VANCOUVER, April 10, 2023 - Endeavour Silver Corp. ("Endeavour" or the "Company") (NYSE: EXK; TSX: EDR) is pleased to report first quarter 2023 production of 1,623,545 silver ounces (oz) and 9,342 gold oz, for silver equivalent1 ("AgEq") production of 2.4 million oz.



"The year is off to a strong start. First quarter silver equivalent production increased by 18% compared to the same period last year, as Guanacevi's elevated silver grades continue to drive increased silver production," stated Dan Dickson, Chief Executive Officer. "Our operations team has continued to deliver safe production, consistently meeting or beating our plan. These results provide management with continued confidence to advance our development projects, knowing we have the capabilities and culture to deliver."

Q1 2023 Highlights

Guanacevi Continues to Deliver: Silver and gold production met plan with higher grades offset by throughput and recoveries comparable to Q1 2022. Extended scheduled maintenance including mill liner and concentrate filter cloth changes led to lower tonnage throughput in February. Throughput returned to planned levels in March and is expected to remain on plan for the remainder of the year.

Bolanitos' Performance Remains Steady: Strong silver production, resulting from silver grades comporable to Q1 2022 along with increased throughput, were offset by the impact of slightly lower gold production and lower gold grades.

Metal Sales and Inventories: Sold 1,667,408 oz silver and 9,126 oz gold during the quarter. Held 435,722 oz silver and 1,263 oz gold of bullion inventory and 35,347 oz silver and 503 oz gold in concentrate inventory at quarter end.

Published Inaugural Climate Report: Entitled "Our Climate Journey," highlighting the Company's approach to climate change and alignment with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) (see News Release dated March 9, 2023).

Construction Advances at the Terronera Project: Progress on development activities include onsite delivery of mobile mining equipment, procurement of major equipment, and assembly of initial project infrastructure such as the temporary mine maintenance shop and a permanent camp facility. Earthworks included site clearing, road upgrades and underground mine access development.

Financial Due Diligence Continues on Financing the Terronera Project: The Company intends to make a formal construction decision subject to completion of a financing package and receipt of additional amended permits in short order.

Q1 2023 Mine Operations

Consolidated silver production increased by 23% to 1,623,545 ounces in Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022, driven by a 27% increase in silver production at the Guanacevi mine and a 1% increase in silver production at the Bolanitos mine.

Gold production increased by 7% to 9,342 ounces as a 20% increase in gold production at the Guanacevi mine was offset by a 1% decrease in gold production at the Bolanitos mine.

Guanacevi throughput in Q1 2023 was 1% higher than Q1 2022 and silver grades and gold grades were 26% and 19% higher, respectively. Guanacevi throughput was slightly below plan with the majority of mining in the new higher grade El Curso orebody. Supplies of local third-party feed continued to supplement mine production, amounting to 11% of quarterly throughput and contributing to the higher grades.

Bolanitos Q1 2023 throughput was 4% higher than Q1 2022 with silver grades flat and gold grades 2% lower. Silver production was 1% higher while gold production decreased by 1% at the Bolanitos mine.

Production Highlights for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

Q1 2023 Highlights Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 2022 % Change Throughput (tonnes) 211,073 206,147 2% Silver ounces produced 1,623,545 1,314,955 23% Gold ounces produced 9,342 8,695 7% Payable silver ounces produced 1,608,212 1,303,540 23% Payable gold ounces produced 9,184 8,549 7% Silver equivalent ounces produced1 2,370,905 2,010,555 18% Silver ounces sold 1,667,408 1,717,768 (3%) Gold ounces sold 9,126 8,381 9%

Q1 2023 Production by Mine

Production Tonnes Tonnes Grade Grade Recovery Recovery Silver Gold by mine Processed per day Ag gpt* Au gpt* Ag % Au % Oz Oz Guanacevi 102,375 1,138 511 1.42 85.6% 89.6% 1,439,924 4,188 Bolanitos 108,698 1,208 61 1.70 86.1% 86.8% 183,621 5,154 Consolidated 211,073 2,346 279 1.56 85.7% 88.0% 1,623,545 9,342

*gpt = grams per tonne

Totals may not add up due to rounding

Qualified Person

Dale Mah, P.Geo., Vice President Corporate Development, a qualified person under NI 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information related to operations matters contained in this news release.

Q1 2023 Financial Results and Conference Call

The Company's Q1 2023 financial results will be released before markets open on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 and a telephone conference call will be held the same day at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET. To participate in the conference call, please dial the numbers below.

Date & Time: Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET Telephone: Toll-free in Canada and the US +1-800-319-4610 Local or International +1-604-638-5340 Please allow up to 10 minutes to be connected to the conference call. Replay: A replay of the conference call will be available by dialing (toll-free) +1-800-319-6413 in Canada and the US (toll-free) or +1-604-638-9010 outside of Canada and the US. The replay passcode is 0037#. The replay will also be available on the Company's website at www.edrsilver.com.

About Endeavour Silver - Endeavour Silver Corp. is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that operates two high-grade underground silver-gold mines in Mexico. Endeavour is currently advancing the Terronera mine project towards a construction decision, pending financing and final permits and exploring its portfolio of exploration and development projects in Mexico, Chile and the United States to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer. Our philosophy of corporate social integrity creates value for all stakeholders.

Contact Information

Galina Meleger, VP of Investor Relations

Toll free: (877) 685-9775

Tel: (604) 640-4804

Email: gmeleger@edrsilver.com

Website: www.edrsilver.com

Follow Endeavour Silver on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding the development and financing of the Terronera project, including anticipated decisions on construction and financing, estimation of mineral resources at Pitarrilla, prospects for Terronera, Pitarrilla and Parral, Endeavour's anticipated performance in 2023 including changes in mining operations and forecasts of production levels, anticipated production costs and all-in sustaining costs, and the timing and results of various activities. The Company does not intend to and does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, production levels, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include but are not limited to the ultimate impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on operations and results, changes in production and costs guidance, national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico; financial risks due to precious metals prices, operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Company's title to properties; as well as those factors described in the section "risk factors" contained in the Company's most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form filed with the S.E.C. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to: the continued operation of the Company's mining operations, availability of debt financing for the Terronera Project, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, mining operations will operate and the mining products will be completed in accordance with management's expectations and achieve their stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

1 Silver equivalent calculated using an 80:1 silver:gold ratio.


VANCOUVER, April 10, 2023 - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals" or the "Company"; (TSXV: DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE: 35D) announces that Defense Metals has joined the Vancouver-based Discovery Group led by Mr. John Robins and Mr. Jim Paterson. In addition, Mr. Dale Wallster has been appointed to the Company's board of directors.

John Robins, Co-Founder and Principal of Discovery Group commented:

"We are excited to welcome Defense Metals into Discovery Group. In my opinion, Defense represents a world-class opportunity in the rare earth / critical metals space. Viewed as being one of the highest grade deposits globally, and led by a strong management and technical team, Defense has all the attributes we look for in a Discovery Group company. The addition of Defense to our roster of companies, will round out the Discovery Group portfolio and will elevate the exposure of all our member companies, as we continue to educate and inform shareholders about market opportunities that exist with high quality junior mining explorers."

Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals commented:

"We are pleased to welcome Dale Wallster to the Board. He brings a wealth of mineral exploration and capital markets experience to Defense Metals and we look forward to working with him as we continue to advance the Wicheeda Rare Earth Elements project. The Company is also pleased to have joined Discovery Group, an alliance of public companies focused on the advancement of mineral exploration and mining projects with a proven track record of generating shareholder value. We look forward to a close working relationship with the team at Discovery Group."

Dale Wallster is a prospector and geologist with over 40 years' experience in North American mineral deposit exploration. As President and founder of Roughrider Uranium Corp., which was acquired by Hathor Exploration Ltd. in 2006, Dale and his team are widely credited for the discovery of Hathor's Roughrider deposit. In January of 2012 Rio Tinto plc acquired Hathor for CAD$650 million.

Mr. Wallster commented:

"In the recent explosion of strategic, geopolitical and investment interest in North American Critical Minerals, rare earth element companies represent the "Rodney Dangerfield" of the class; they are getting "no respect". Given their importance in the electrification of the world I expect this to change soon and Defense Metals, with its Wicheeda Project pre-feasibility study expected in 2024, is leading the pack."

About Discovery Group

Discovery Group is an alliance of public companies focused on the advancement of mineral exploration and mining projects with a proven track record of generating shareholder value through responsible, sustainable, and innovative development.

Founded in 2005 by John Robins and Jim Paterson, two respected entrepreneurs in the Canadian mining industry, Discovery Group has generated over $500M in direct and indirect expenditures resulting in over $2.6 billion in M&A activity, with the most recent success being the sale of Great Bear Resources Ltd. to Kinross Gold Corporation for $1.8 billion. For more information, visit www.discoverygroup.ca.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (B.C.), Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, Alberta, who is a director of Defense Metals and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About the Wicheeda REE Property

Defense Metals 100% owned, 4,262-hectare (~10,532-acre) Wicheeda Light REE property is located approximately 80 km northeast of the city of Prince George, British Columbia; population 77,000. The Wicheeda REE Project is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and is near infrastructure, including hydro power transmission lines and gas pipelines. The nearby Canadian National Railway and major highways allow easy access to the port facilities at Prince Rupert, the closest major North American port to Asia.

The 2021 Wicheeda REE Project Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report ("PEA") outlined a robust after-tax net present value (NPV@8%) of $517 million and an 18% IRR1. This PEA contemplated an open pit mining operation with a 1.75:1 (waste:mill feed) strip ratio providing a 1.8 Mtpa ("million tonnes per year") mill throughput producing an average of 25,423 tonnes REO annually over a 16 year mine life. A Phase 1 initial pit strip ratio of 0.63:1 (waste:mill feed) would yield rapid access to higher grade surface mineralization in year 1 and payback of $440 million initial capital within 5 years.

About Defense Metals Corp.

Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral deposits containing metals and elements commonly used in the electric power markets, defense industry, national security sector and in the production of green energy technologies, such as, rare earths magnets used in wind turbines and in permanent magnet motors for electric vehicles. Defense Metals owns 100% of the Wicheeda Light Rare Earth Element Deposit located near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Defense Metals Corp. trades in Canada under the symbol "DEFN" on the TSX Venture Exchange, in the United States, under "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D".

For further information, please contact:

Todd Hanas, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd.

Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: (778) 994 8072

Email: todd@blueskycorp.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to advancing the Wicheeda REE Project, the expected benefits and outcomes of working with the Discovery Group, completion of a PFS and the expected timelines, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the anticipated costs and expenditures, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration and metallurgical results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and development and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of personnel, materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate geological, metallurgical and engineering assumptions, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to, the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, loss of key employees, consultants, or directors, increase in costs, delayed results, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law.

______________________ 1 Independent Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project, British Columbia, Canada, dated January 6, 2022, with an effective date of November 7, 2021, and prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. is filed under Defense Metals Corp.'s Issuer Profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/defense-metals-joins-discovery-group-and-appoints-a-new-director-301792995.html

SOURCE Defense Metals Corp.
VANCOUVER, April 10, 2023 - ValOre Metals Corp. ("ValOre"; TSX?V: VO; OTCQB: KVLQF; Frankfurt: KEQ0, the "Company") today announced the closing of a first tranche, in the amount of $2.918 million for 14,590,000 Units, of the previously announced (See ValOre news on April 5, 2023) non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of up to 17,500,000 (the "Units") at a price of CDN$0.20 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to CAD$3,500,000.



Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Share") and one-half of one non-transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Share at an exercise price of CDN$0.30 per Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

With the Closing of this tranche of the Offering, ValOre's Chairman & CEO, James Paterson has acquired 14,590,000 Units in the Offering and an aggregate shareholding of 31,296,333 (18.59%). Mr. Paterson shall not be entitled to exercise any Warrants of ValOre if this exercise would cause his aggregate shareholdings to exceed 20% of the Company's outstanding voting securities following the exercise of such Warrants, unless the shareholders of the Company have approved of Mr. Paterson becoming a Control Person (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange).

Participation of Mr. Paterson in the Offering would constitute a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). However, such participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the Units subscribed for, nor the consideration paid for the Units, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

No finder's fees are payable on the Offering.

Closing of the Offering is subject to approval of the final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The securities issued under the Offering, and any Shares that may be issuable on exercise of any such securities, will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance of such securities.

About ValOre

ValOre Metals Corp. (TSX?V: VO) is a Canadian company with a portfolio of high?quality exploration projects. ValOre's team aims to deploy capital and knowledge on projects which benefit from substantial prior investment by previous owners, existence of high-value mineralization on a large scale, and the possibility of adding tangible value through exploration, process improvement, and innovation.

The Pedra Branca Platinum Group Elements (PGE) Project comprises 52 exploration licenses covering a total area of 56,852 hectares (140,484 acres) in northeastern Brazil. At Pedra Branca, 7 distinct PGE+Au deposit areas host, in aggregate, a 2022 NI 43-101 inferred resource of 2.198 Moz 2PGE+Au contained in 63.6 Mt grading 1.08 g/t 2PGE+Au (CLICK HERE for news release dated March 24, 2022). All the currently known Pedra Branca inferred PGE resources are potentially open pittable.

ValOre's Angilak Property in Nunavut Territory, Canada, hosts the Lac 50 Trend - a 2013 NI 43-101 inferred resource of 2,831,000 tonnes grading 0.69% U3O8, totaling 43.3 million pounds U3O8. For disclosure related to the inferred resource for the Lac 50 Trend uranium deposits, please CLICK HERE for ValOre's news release dated March 1, 2013.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Jim Paterson"

James R. Paterson, Chairman and CEO

ValOre Metals Corp.

For further information about ValOre Metals Corp., or this news release, please visit our website at www.valoremetals.com or contact Investor Relations at 604.653.9464, or by email at contact@valoremetals.com.

ValOre Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit:

http://www.discoverygroup.ca/

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although ValOre believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events that may prove to be inaccurate. These factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information to ValOre. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. A number of important factors including those set forth in other public filings could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include: the Offering may not close on the terms and timing currently anticipated, or at all; the Offering (including use of proceeds) may not receive approval of the TSX Venture Exchange on the terms currently contemplated, or at all; the future operations of ValOre and economic factors. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release and, except as required by applicable law, ValOre does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ValOre undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of ValOre, or its financial or operating results or (as applicable), their securities.
Bishop urges FG to fish out attackers

St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo in Ondo State yesterday reopened for service 10 months after the deadly attack on the church by gunmen.

Over 40 worshippers died in the June 5, 2022 attack by gunmen.

However, worshippers who defied fears to attend Easter Sunday service, expressed pleasure for the reopening of the church.

Addressing the congregants, the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Bishop Jude Arogundade, lamented the growing level of insecurity in the country.

Arogundade appealed to the government to ensure that the attackers were brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

The bishop prayed for the congregants, especially the injured and those that lost their relatives, promising that the church would not abandon them.

Some worshippers who were unable to control their emotions were seen weeping, while recalling the ugly incident.

Arogundade appreciated the Aids to the Church in Need, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and other donors for extending their help to the church.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he asked the church members to keep praying for those still suffering and in trauma as a result of the attack, stating that the church would continue to comfort those in pain.

He, however, solicited for more assistance from the federal government and the well-to-do in the society for the victims and the church.

"We are still waiting for the federal government. These are your citizens; let them know they belong to you. I have criticised you enough but if you do well, I will praise you.

"Some who have psychological issues are still many; but we believe that with our support and prayers they will return," he said.

Speaking on the reopening of the church, Mrs Jumoke Oyekorode, who lost her mother in the attack, said that the vacuum left by her mother was yet to be filled.

Oyekorode added that it was a good thing for her mother to have died in the church, and thanked God for the reopening of the church.

Also, Mrs Margaret Ata, a survivor of the attack said that she was happy to be back in the church, though as an amputee.

Ata, who lost her an eye and two legs as a result of injuries sustained in the attack, stated that two of her children were on scholarship.
World Anglican leaders are expected to meet in Rwanda during Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), a movement which describes itself as "a global family of authentic Anglicans standing together to retain and restore the Bible to the heart of the Anglican Communion."

It is associated with some 85 million Christians in the worldwide Anglican Communion spread across 40 regional churches, known as Provinces.

The New Times' Alice Kagina had a chat with Most Rev. Dr. Laurent Mbanda, Archbishop and Primate of Anglican Church of Rwanda, on the preparedness of the conference and the work of the Anglican church in serving Rwandans.

Below are the excerpts.

You have been in office for more than 5 years, following an extension, how has been your experience throughout all these years at the helm of the Anglican church?

After several years working in non-profit organizations in different countries, I came back to Rwanda working with Compassion as Africa Vice President. It was in 2010 that I was approached to consider serving the church full-time and I became a bishop of Shyira Diocese.

I eventually became an Archbishop and June of this year will mark five years serving in that position. Those years were exciting, challenging, and rewarding but also involved personal growth.

I thought that what I had learnt in my previous employment would serve me as an Archbishop but I had to de-learn and learn new approaches by trusting God more because of the size and demands of these responsibilities.

In my Archbishop charge, I took on five pillars of evangelism and discipleship, equipping leadership, early childhood development, financial literacy and accountability, and sustainability.

So with many ongoing projects, the House of Bishops met and decided to extend my term to 2026 so that I can finish what I started.

The Anglican church is involved in many projects in the country. What results have they yielded?

We established East African Christian College in 2021 in Masaka Sector, and today we have 800 students and as a result of our evangelism and discipleship program, we are seeing more people coming to church, for instance, when I joined Gasabo Diocese, we had 2,900 members and we have increased to over 6000 members. That is the same for many dioceses across the country.

Today, the Anglican church of Rwanda celebrates more than 600 ECDs and we have also introduced a tool for financial management for accountability purposes in our dioceses.

For sustainability, we have developed income-generating projects for the church including commercial buildings and apartments in Kibagabaga and Remera to finance our different programs and other projects as well.

All our dioceses are concerned with sustainability and are doing something about it.

Where does the Anglican church stand in terms of educating clergymen with theology degrees following the govt measure to close some churches because of lack of certification in the recent past?

When we built the university, the idea was to intervene in that sense. First of all, we require that all Anglican pastors have to finish high schools and theological education in order to be ordained, unfortunately, many who were serving didn't have that theological education.

Now that we have the university, we are offering degrees in theology and biblical studies, as well as post-graduate diplomas. We are setting up at all levels to train our clergy to meet the government's standards and this is open for other churches as well.

Rwanda will host GAFCON, tell us more about the meeting?

The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) is a movement geared towards keeping the Bible at the center of church and ministry, and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.

It started in 2008 and takes place every five years. The whole idea is to provide a platform for confessing Anglicans to fellowship and inspire each other, to be challenged to retain and restore the Bible to the heart of the Anglican Communion.

Our conference is themed "To whom shall we go" because there are all kinds of teachings all around us and we say, "we will go to Jesus" because he reconciles us with God. "We will go to the church" for the fellowship of believers, and finally "we will go to the world" and take the gospel of Jesus to people.

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We will host 1,400 registered participants from 55 countries and it is exciting for the church of Rwanda that we are also contributing to the MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions).

What role does the church have to play in the development of the country?

I think the church is the moral compass of society. It has an opportunity to serve in building a whole person, be it spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and socioeconomic wellbeing.

The question is how do we preach the gospel from a transformational approach. As a church of Rwanda we need to be part of the transformation that is happening. We need to be holistic in our ministry approach and delivery.

There shouldn't be stunted children in this country when we have the mothers' union in the Anglican church, when we have women and men that attend to the needs of their children. The church needs to get into home-grown solutions to pull people from this vicious cycle of poverty. I believe it is all about the change of mindsets and the scripture speaks to it beautifully in 2 Corinthians 5:17.
It has now been almost four years since Niki Lauda passed away. The three-time world champion was a wealthy man and his inherentance has not (yet) been shared yet. There are even two lawsuits pending, brought by Lauda's widow, media in Austria and Germany report.

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Sons Lukas (44) and Mathias (42) are from the first marriage to Marlene Knaus (67). Twins Mia and Max (13) are from the second marriage to Birgit. To avoid any dispute over inheritance, Lauda made sure early on that everything was properly arranged for his two families in case he died. Accordingly, Lauda set up a foundation.



Many expenses covered

Lauda's widow Birgit (44) is now suing this foundation, claiming some 20-30 million euros. This reports Kurier. Birgit wants this money, although the foundation already pays her a sum of 20,000 euros a month and covers all the costs of maintaining the two villas in Vienna and on Ibiza, including three cars. The salaries of the domestic staff, the children's school fees and holidays are also covered.



Court costs reportedly exceeded 300,000. Ms Lauda saw an application for legal aid rejected, but continues to litigate. The German newspaper Bild quotes a close friend of Niki Lauda as saying that "Niki would turn over in his grave". According to the newspaper, the rest of the family supports the division of the inheritance and is fighting Birgit's case in court.
Dalai Lama apologises after kissing boy and asking him to 'suck my tongue'

International News Apr - 10 - 2023 , 13:25

The Dalai Lama has apologised after footage emerged showing him kissing a young boy on the lips and asking him to "suck my tongue".

The Buddhist spiritual leader's office said he wanted to apologise to the boy and his family "for the hurt his words may have caused".

The Buddhist spiritual leader's office said the 87-year-old "often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way" but he "regrets the incident".

It said the 87-year-old "often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way" but he "regrets the incident".

The footage was taken from an event on 28 February when the Dalai Lama addressed a group of students at the Tsuglagkhang temple in Dharamshala, northern India.

In it, a young boy can be seen approaching a microphone and asking the Dalai Lama: "Can I hug you?"

The Nobel Peace Prize winner invites the boy on stage, saying "first here" and pointing to his cheek, which the boy kisses, before he says "then I think finally here also" and points to his lips.

He then pulls the boy's chin towards him and kisses the child on the lips.

Laughter and clapping can be heard on the video.

They then touch heads, before the Dalai Lama says "and suck my tongue" and sticks out his tongue.When the pair embrace later in the video the Dalai Lama tickles the young boy under the arms.

'He regrets the incident'

In a statement the Dalai Lama's office said: "A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug.

"His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused.

"His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident."

Sticking out one's tongue is a form of greeting in the Dalai Lama's native Tibet.

Previous controversy

It is not the first time the Dalai Lama has caused controversy.

In 2019 he apologised for saying if his successor were a woman "she should be more attractive".

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, was born in Tibet and has been living in India as a refugee since 1959 after he fled his home country following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
University of Ghana gave me Pharmacy because of B2 in English - Award-winning medical student

Kweku Zurek Apr - 10 - 2023 , 19:04

A recently graduated medical doctor, Dr Nathaniel Nii Cudjoe, has spoken about his journey to becoming an award-winning medical student at the University of Cape Coast's (UCC) 55th Congregation.

Dr Cudjoe revealed that he was unable to study medicine at the University of Ghana (UG) due to his grade in English, but he did not let that stop him from achieving his dream.

At the graduation ceremony, he was recognized for winning 16 out of 22 awards, including Best Clinical Student, Best Graduating Pre-Clinical Student, and Overall Performance.

Despite facing initial obstacles, Dr Cudjoe said his determination and discipline led him to fulfil his goal of becoming a medical doctor.

According to Dr Cudjoe, despite achieving seven 'A's and a B2 in the 2015 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), he was not granted entry into the Medicine programme at the University of Ghana.

Instead, he was offered a place in the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme which he studied for a year before moving to the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to pursue his dream of studying medicine.

"I had 7 'A's and a B2 after writing WASSCE in 2015, so I applied to Legon (UG) that year and I wasn't granted entry into Medicine, I was granted entry into Bachelor of Pharmacy," he said in a television interview on GTV. "So, I did Pharmacy for a year there and I moved on to UCC to read medicine".

Dr Cudjoe said he made the decision to transfer to UCC because he had a clear goal of becoming a medical doctor.

The accomplishments of Dr. Cudjoe have brought him fame, leading to debates and a deluge of congratulatory messages.
UNFPA presents equipment to fistula unit of Mercy Womens Catholic Hospital

Graphic.com.gh Health Apr - 10 - 2023 , 20:21

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has presented medical equipment to the Mercy Womens Catholic Hospital in Mankessim in the Central Region to support the hospitals work in repairing women with obstetric fistula.

The equipment will enable the Fistula Unit of the hospital to improve the lives of women who are experiencing the devastating childbirth injury, obstetric fistula, which causes incontinence of urine or faeces.

They include patient monitors, suction machines, microscopes, hospital beds, lockers, trolleys and bed sheets.

Dr Wilfred Ochan ( left) interacting with Ms Rose Mantey, acting Nursing Manager of the Mercy Women's Catholic Hospital during a tour of the fistula unit.

Partnership

In a brief statement before the donation, the Country Representative of UNFPA, Dr Wilfred Ochan stressed the need for increased partnership to support the provision of services for fistula victims.

He indicated that UNFPA has been supporting the National Obstetric Fistula Programme in various capacities, including providing financial support for surgical repairs of survivors, building the capacity of surgeons, equipping facilities, and engaging in advocacy on obstetric fistula.

However, he said, ending fistula requires a multi-faceted approach, including investments in health systems, education, and gender equality and this calls for partnerships.

According to him, about 1.8 per cent of every 1.000 births develops fistula but only 100 women are repaired in a year and called for surgical campaigns and outreaches to augment routine surgical repairs in order to clear the backlog of cases.

Dr Ochan further called for increased effort to upgrade the skills and expertise of surgeons in fistula repairs so as to reduce the current failure rate of surgery.

The donation of this equipment represents a significant investment in the health and well-being of women and girls living with obstetric fistula, and it is a tangible expression of our commitment to supporting the rights and restoring dignity of all women and girls, the UNFPA representative stated.

Dr Ochan also applauded the management and staff of Mercy Womens Hospital for their prodigious contribution to ending the plight of women with obstetric fistula in Ghana and beyond.

Fistula hub

The acting Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Silas Amponsah said the hospitals fistula unit caters for patients from all over the country with the majority from the northern parts of the country.

He appealed for support to enable the hospital to expand and upgrade the structure housing the unit so that more fistula patients can benefit from their services.

Dr. Joseph Langa Berko, a surgeon and a specialist at the hospital said that fistula repairs is largely successful with only 20 per cent failure rate, explaining that the failures may occur due to late reportage , severity of the fistula or when the patient is malnourished, in which case they do not heal very well.

He gave the assurance, however, that these cases undergo a second surgery to repair their fistula.

Financial assistance

The acting Nursing Manager of the hospital, Ms Rose Mantey indicated that the greatest challenge facing the unit was funding as fistula repair which costs about GHC5, 500 is offered free of charge to the women. This includes surgery, feeding and two weeks admission.

Currently the hospital has 25 women waiting to be repaired and we call them in as we receive funding from our benefactors, Ms Mantey added and appealed to corporate institutions and the public for support.
NDCs assertion on Bryan Acheampong's comment lacks substance - NPP

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Apr - 10 - 2023 , 19:08

The New Patriotic Party says a statement made by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, to the effect that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government will never hand over power to the NDC was a direct response to threats by leading members of the NDC.

According to the NPP, the NDCs assertion on Bryan Acheampongs comment lacks substance, adding that the NDC was deliberately twisting the comment.

"The NPP finds the NDC's statement not only ill-founded, hypocritical, illogical, and baseless, but also one that lacks contextual substance for the consumption of discerning Ghanaians who are not oblivious to the modus operandi of the main opposition party in deliberately putting diabolic and mischievous slant to an otherwise innocuous comment such as the comments made by the Member of Parliament, in furtherance of their selfish political interest," the NPP said.

Mr Acheampong, who is also the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Abetifi, during a rally to climax a health walk organised by the NPP at Kwahu in the Eastern Region on Saturday, April 8, 2023 said the NPP would never hand over power to the NDC.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture said the NPP would do anything within its means to retain power in the 2024 general election.

He said the NPP had what it takes to quell any form of ill conduct that the NDC might be planning to use to win the 2024 elections.

What Bryan Acheampong said

NDC will collapse - Bryan Acheampong

NDC's reaction and call for arrest

The NDC has described Mr Acheampongs statement as "treasonable" and called for his arrest.

As the political tradition that ushered in our nation's stable constitutional order, the NDC will do whatever it takes to resist the misrule and machination of the oppressor and thus protect and preserve our democracy, the party stated in a statement signed and issued by its General Secretary, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey.

We urge the Ghana Police Service to act with dispatch in this matter. We recall the alacrity with which it recently apprehended and charged the Suame Constituency Youth Organiser of the NDC for expressing views that were deemed to be inciteful, it said.

No one is in any doubt that the statement of Bryan Acheampong is even more incendiary and subversive. We ,therefore, expect the same level of speedy action from the Ghana Police Service in arresting Acheampong and bringing him to book, it said.

Read also: NDC demands Bryan Acheampong's arrest

NPPs rebuttal

However, supporting Mr Acheampongs comment in a statement signed and issued by the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Frimpong Kodua on Monday, the NPP described the NDC's statement as one that lacked contextual substance for the consumption of discerning Ghanaians.

The NPP considers the NDC's attack on Bryan Acheampong not only unwarranted but also attention seeking with an ill attempt to emotionally blackmail Ghanaians to court their support, it said.

It, therefore, assured Ghanaians of the partys resolve to guarantee the peace and security of the state by ensuring free, fair, and the most transparent elections in the 2024 general election to maintain the nation's enviable position as the bastion of democracy in Africa.

Meanwhile, the statement by Mr Acheampong has since received varied interpretations.

Among them is the MP for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, who has said Mr Acheampongs comment has been taken out of context and that what he meant was that the governing party was going to break the eight.

Attached below is a copy of the statement by the NPP

NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY REACTS TO NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS' ILL- FOUNDED ATTACK ON BRYAN ACHEAMPONG

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has sighted a flippant statement signed by the General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), on comments made by Bryan Acheampong, Member of Parliament for the Abetifi Constituency and Minister for Food and Agriculture while addressing some party supporters in the Eastern Region which the NDC describes as treasonable. The NPP finds the NDC's statement not only ill-founded, hypocritical, illogical, and baseless, but also one that lacks contextual substance for the consumption of the discerning Ghanaians who are not oblivious to the modus operandi of the main opposition party in deliberately putting diabolic and mischievous slant to an otherwise innocuous comment such as the comments made by the Member of Parliament, in furtherance of their selfish political interest. Since the NDC pretends not to appreciate and logically decode Bryan's message, we would once again educate them, just as we have done on many occasions. For the avoidance of doubt, Hon Bryan Acheampong, was responding to the NDC's perpetual flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, who had on many occasions described the 2024 general elections as one of "do or die" for the NDC. It is, in fact, a no secret that the NDC has always resorted to violence and intimidation against their opponents during the conduct of general elections, and this was summed up by their 2024 presumptive presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama. He has stated emphatically that: "NDC has revolutionary root, and that when it comes to unleashing violence, nobody can beat us [NDCJ in unleashing violence". Other leading members of the NDC, including Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Chairman of the Party, have made similar threatening and malicious comments. Indeed, following his election as National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah stated in his victory speech that, the NDC would fight the 2024 general elections to win a second Independence for Ghana, and that, they are prepared to sacrifice everything including lives for an NDC victory. It was in response to these myriad of reckless and treasonable comments from the NDC that Hon. Bryan Acheampong gave encouragement to supporters of the NPP, who may feel intimated by the many threats coming from the NDC, that, under no circumstance should they feel intimated because the NPP has men of courage who can rise to the defense of our democracy and the 1992 Constitution of the Republic as enshrined in Article 3 of the Constitution. Hon. Bryan, thereupon, proceeded to give NPP supporters a firm assurance that the Party [NPP] will not lose the 2024 general elections and hand power to the NDC but will do everything to retain power. Considering the steps being taken by the Akufo-Addo-led government to tackling Ghana's socioeconomic challenges, which have begun bearing positive dividends, and also by the conduct of the NPP since the advent of the Fourth Republic, Bryan Acheampong's comment can only be interpreted to mean that the NPP, just as it has done in the past, is determined to do everything legally possible to win the 2024 general elections. The NPP's track record of winning elections through free, fair, and transparent means is not in doubt at all. It is thus nerve-wracking to see the very persons who have over time made the worst of unguarded statements, and acted in a manner that has the potential to subvert the nation's democratic order and plunge the country into chaos and instability, to turn around and cry foul of a statement that seeks to energize the base of the NPP, give assurance of hope to party faithfuls and the Ghanaian citizenry. Ghanaians are fully awoken to such gimmicks by the NDC. The NPP considers the NDC's attack on Bryan Acheampong not only unwarranted but also attention seeking with an ill attempt to emotionally blackmail Ghanaians to court their support. From the foregoing, if anybody has to be arrested by the Police for treasonable comments, then certainly it is John Dramani Mahama for his continuous "Do or die for the NDC in reference to the 2024 general elections, and Asidedu Nketiah for his brazen proclamation that members of the NDC are willing to sacrifice their lives to win the 2024 elections. We wish to conclude by once again assuring the good people of this great nation that the NPP remains a peace-loving party and would not do anything to jeopardize the peace and security of the state. We hold the enviable title as the bastion of democracy in Ghana and on the African continent, and this, we intend to guard jealously. The 2024 general elections shall be free, fair, and the most transparent elections in the Fourth Republic, and by the grace of God, the NPP would emerge victors to continue our transformation agenda.

Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Provost, Federal College of Education, (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, Dr Ademola Azeez, has called for adequate remuneration for professionals in the education sector to stem brain drain.

Azeez, who made the call during an interaction with newsmen yesterday in Lagos, said that the current remuneration for education graduates was generally not encouraging.

He said that while some graduates of colleges of education were without jobs, those who managed to secure employment were underpaid and exploited.

"If you get to primary schools or junior secondary schools, I don't expect to find university graduates teaching there.

"It should be NCE graduates because they are trained for that purpose. That's what they are trained for; they have the temperament.

"As a PhD holder, you can't ask me to go and be teaching in primary school, I don't have the temperament.

"So, people working at that level are meant to be paid well because they are professionals.

"We need to be paying teachers and other professionals very well," he said.

On the ongoing projects by the college, Azeez said that the construction of the Technical Education workshop, initiated by his administration was about 90 per cent completion.

Others are the laboratories for the School of Science, particularly for Physics Education Department, Chemistry Education Department, Integrated Science, Biology and Computer Education.

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"We also initiated the construction of 500-capacity lecture theatre, the first of its kind in the college. It's been completed and has been handed over to us by the contractor.

"Similarly, we initiated the construction of infrastructure for Fine Arts and Agric Education departments in the School of Vocational Education. It's also 90 per cent completion.

"We were also able to initiate what I call Student Activity Centre, the first of its kind in the college, it's TETFund-funded which is completed now," he explained.

Meanwhile, the college provost said the establishment of the Entrepreneurship Education Department and Centre for Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship Development (CEVTED) was to equip students with practical vocational skills.

"It is a directorate on its own. What we do there is to make it compulsory for all our students to register for any entrepreneurial skill of their choice, which is different from the normal academic programme.

"Whether you are science or business education student, you must go to that centre to offer a course between 11a.m. and 1p.m., as all students leave their classrooms and go for that programme.

"They have been doing it, and they are in 300 level now. Many of them have been practising what they have learnt there and they are making money from it," Azeez said.
GREENWICH  Spring is definitely blooming in Greenwich, as daffodils decorate Bruce Park and the track around Havemeyer Fields to the delight of residents.

Nora Kayaloff, a 103-year-old resident at the assisted living facility The Mews, was out for a stroll with Nurse Assistant Maria Pera on April 6. Kayaloff says she likes to come to the track anytime the weather is nice.
Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media

GREENWICH  First Congregational Church of Greenwich held its 80th annual Sunrise Easter Service to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus through song and prayer as the sun rose upon the beach at Greenwich Point Park.
GREENWICH  The Board of Education has to make some big decisions about the size of the new Central Middle School building as the members will be voting about whether or not they want to go forward with the building committee's proposed square footage adjustments.

Last month, the building committee worked with professionals to reduce the gross square footage of the new middle school building from what it was in the original educational specifications. But there has been controversy about whether the original specifications were completely correct.

The original ed specs, which were approved in August and call for 88,300 square feet of learning space in a 115,311 square foot building, were prepared by the BOE and Construction Solutions Group. But SLAM Collaborative, the architects for the project, told the committee last month that the building size would need to be at least 135,000 square feet to factor in heating/cooling equipment, electrical closets and more.

The BOE can either approve/modify the building committee's recommended adjustments or adjust the original ed-specs so the building has a 65 percent net-to-gross ratio, which is the ratio between usable building space and total square footage. In the original ed specs, the ratio was 76.6 percent.

The BOE is hoping to make its decision before June 30, so Superintendent Toni Jones can submit the grant application to Connecticuts Office of School Construction Grants & Review to receive the reimbursement rate from the state. BOE members even agreed to create a sub-committee to help move along the process.

We cant miss this opportunity and weve got to get this done, said BOE Member Karen Kowalski at the Tuesday night meeting. So, as many meetings as it takes, lets do this.

Building Committee Chair Tony Turner said there are two options from a timeline standpoint to make the application: June 30, 2023, or June 30, 2024. He added that the projected reimbursement rate is 5 to 8 percent and that the application can take months to process at the state level.

At this point, we dont know which option will be exercised, but regardless, it has no bearing on the construction timeline, Turner said. The construction timeline is tied to the date of local funding approvals, first by the BET and then by the (Representative Town Meeting).

The project already passed through the BET, which voted to fund the project in 2024 at $67.5 million. It just has to be passed through the RTM during its budget decision day on May 8.

Ed spec controversy

The reason SLAM Collaborative has challenged the ed specs is that the company claims there is an inconsistency when it comes to the gross-up factor of the building.

Kemp Morhardt, principal architect at SLAM, said the gross-up factor is exterior wall thickness, all the interior partition wall thickness. It is bathrooms, mechanical spaces, electrical closets, (Individual Distribution Frame) rooms, all of that infrastructure space that makes the building work.

A statement in a memo about the ed specs was incorrect, according to SLAM, saying that it used the correct percentage but used incorrect language.

"The statement that says building core services (combined) with circulation should be in the range of 30 to 35 percent of the program area is not correct," Morhardt said. "Thats consistent with the math, but its not a correct statement."

The percentage is what we agree on, but it's not of the program area, its of the entire facility, SLAM Architect Amy Christmas added.

Ultimately, this inconsistency affected the overall size of the new building, according to SLAM.

There was a miscalculation. There was a math error and that the 115,000 square foot in the original ed specs really has to be (125,000 or 135,000) depending on what reductions that the building committee suggests and we accept. But this math error really is resulting in this (10,000) to 20,000 square foot increase in the design of the project," said BOE Member Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony, when summarizing what SLAM told the board.

However, Christopher Cykley from CSG, said he disagrees and that the ed specs are not intended for spatial layouts.

It is very important to also point out that the ed spec document is a programmatic space-need document, Cykley said. It is not a spatial layout document. So we go through and we say these classrooms need X, Y and Z, these offices need X, Y and Z, these rooms need an office, the nurses suite needs X exam rooms and so on and so forth. The ed spec process is not to put a spatial layout together. Thats where the architects come in.

Changes made by building committee

When talking to the BOE Tuesday night, Turner said "in his heart of hearts" the original ed specs would need some changes in order for the new school to be built appropriately. He came to the board with the building committee's changes to the ed specs, with many of them being Americans with Disabilities Act related, along with consulting with CMS Principal Tom Healy about educational needs in the school.

"At the end of the day, I personally believe, not speaking for the committee, but I think you've got to make some changes," Turner said. "Is it 1,000 square feet? I don't know. Is it 10,000? I don't know the answer to that, but I do think, and I'll say this as a citizen of 32 years in this town, at the end of the day, our community wants a building with quality education."

However, some BOE members expressed their nervousness about the changes made by the building committee when the committee reduced the square footage from 88,300 square feet of learning space to 81,544 square feet in a 125,452 square foot building.

"Our responsibility is to build a building that meets the programmatic and educational needs of our students," said Kowalski. "That's not what this is doing. This is cutting things to fit into a box, and to me that's very difficult to stomach."

Turner, in response, said when they went through the process of decreasing the building size, committee members used different perspectives including viewpoints from professionals, educators and parents.

One aspect of the size change that the BOE and Jones discussed was the auditorium size. The building committee voted in favor of reducing the proposed auditorium size from 550 seats  the capacity of the current building  to 250 seats. Lauren Rabin, a Board of Selectman member who is on the building committee, said the school would look to use larger venues, including Greenwich High School, for bigger scaled events.

But that comes with drawbacks.

"The other thing about this auditorium that Laura Newell (arts program coordinator) pointed out  that a lot of people do not realize the restrictions at (Greenwich High's performing arts center); so it's not like if (Healy) still wants to have his three drama performances or musicals, if you went to half the house, you're either asking the children to perform six times if you're going to allow the same number of people to see the show or if you were trying to book the PAC center, it would be almost impossible," Jones said.

While nothing got voted on Tuesday, Turner said that if the BOE goes forward with the committee's recommendations for the new school building, SLAM can go forward with coming up with a conceptual design and that would be completed in about two weeks. After that, the conceptual design will be given to Turner Construction company to come up with a project cost estimate, which will also take two weeks.

"The BET voted for Central Middle School to go forward and we've now spent almost two hours talking and we're still in the same place," Kowalski said. "I'm not saying that's a bad thing ... We have a deadline and we have to get this school done."
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Its well known that the prices of Android flagship fall pretty quickly after launch and were seeing just that this week. We also found offers for tablets for those wanting a larger screen. Use the links below to jump to your region:

USA

The Galaxy S23 series may be flying off the shelves, but that (thankfully) hasnt prevented price drops even this early in its life cycle. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is already down to $1,000 for the base 12/256GB unit, $200 off its MSRP. Similarly, the Galaxy S23+ is down $150 and is now close to the starting price of the vanilla model. Speaking of, the Galaxy S23 now goes for $700, $100 less than full price.

Heres something for people looking for a cheap 5G phone. The Moto G (2022) is half off, down to $200. And if Moto hadnt insisted on using an HD+ display, wed be recommending it with more enthusiasm. A OnePlus Nord N200 5G can be found for $240 and it does have an FHD+ display (plus 18W charging instead of 10W), but thats with only 64GB storage while the Motorola comes with 256GB (both have microSD slots). Plus, $40 is $40.

Next up, iPads at three different price points. The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) is the older model with an Apple M1 chipset rather than the M2 of the 2022 models. Still, iPadOS is not macOS so its hard to utilize the extra power. This model may cost a cool $1,000 but it comes with both Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity, plus a decent amount of storage (256GB).

For work/study from home, you can get the iPad Air (2022) instead, it costs half as much if you give up the LTE modem and drop to 64GB storage. It has the same M1 chipset, though, so the major difference between the two is the display  12.9 120Hz vs. 10.9 60Hz (not to mention brightness, HDR, etc. which are in favor of the pricier Pro). You could get LTE connectivity for $150 extra, but we would probably go for extra storage and use tethering from our phones if we need data on the go.

The vanilla iPad (2022) has the same screen as the Air, well, unless using the older Apple Pencil 1st gen instead of 2nd gen matters to you. The real reason for the $100 drop in price is the weaker chipset  not that wed ever call the Apple A14 weak, especially at $400. Again, LTE is an option, but $150 extra feels like too much.

Finally, while iPhones have gained satellite messaging abilities, its only for emergencies (you do get location sharing for friends, though). So a dedicated satellite messenger like the Garmin InReach Mini might still make sense if you like camping or need to head out into the wilderness for work.

UK

Which would you rather have? A Samsung Galaxy S21 FE with a Snapdragon 888 or a Galaxy S22 with an Exynos 2200? Were asking because both cost basically the same. The FE is the larger phone (6.4 vs. 6.1) and has the larger battery to match (4,500mAh vs. 3,700mAh), but the S22 has the better cameras. You can compare the FE to the S22+, though that one is pricier.

Instead of a former flagship, you can save some money and get a mid-ranger  the Oppo Reno8 Pro, for example. That one packs a large 6.7 120Hz AMOLED screen (FHD+) and a 4,500mAh battery with 80W fast charging (compared to 25W for the Galaxys). The phone is powered by the Dimensity 8100-Max chipset. Its 50MP 1/1.56 main camera lacks OIS and there is no zoom lens on board.

For 50 quid less you can have the Honor 70 with a Snapdragon 778G+. It has a much better ultra wide camera (50MP 120 vs. 8MP 112) and a different battery configuration, 4,800mAh with 66W charging (the endurance rating for both phones came out to exactly 100h). Note that the Honor 70 comes with half the storage, 128GB.

Another 50 down and we arrive at the Motorola Edge 30 Neo with a Snapdragon 695. We know that its no ones favorite, in part for its inability to record 4K video. The 64MP main camera has OIS, though, but the 13MP 120 ultra wide isnt as impressive. This phone is smaller with a 6.28 120Hz OLED display and a 4,020mAh battery with 68W charging (and 104h endurance rating).

Trim off another 50 and were looking at either a Galaxy M33 or a Moto G73. Both are 5G phones (using Exynos 1280 and Dimensity 930, respectively), both have mid-sized FHD+ screens, 120Hz LCDs, both have 50MP main cameras (sans OIS), both have 5,000mAh batteries with comparable charging rates (25W vs. 30W). There are some pros and cons for each phone, which you can see in a head to head comparison.

Another Samsung vs. Motorola showdown is the Galaxy A14 against the Moto G23. This is not as much of a fight as the Samsung has an FHD+ screen compared to Motos HD+ (both 90Hz LCDs), not to mention 5G connectivity. It lacks an ultra wide camera (the Moto has a 5MP unit) and is slow to charge its 5,000mAh battery (15W vs. 30W), but wed almost certainly pick it over the Motorola at the current prices.

If youre into VR, you may have watched the price fluctuations of the Meta Quest 2 with worry. The 128GB model is down to 350, 50 down from where it was in March this year.

Germany

Our weekly poll showed that the Samsung Galaxy A54 has potential, but most people were holding off for the reviews to come out. Ours is done (including our video review) and our conclusion was that that the A54 is a solid mid-ranger, though the MSRP was a bit high. Currently, the 8/256GB is down to 500, which is how much you would have paid for the 128GB model at launch. The price is still a bit high, perhaps, but its quickly getting to more palatable levels.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro is also a recent arrival in Europe and it looks quite competitive against the A54 if you put them head to head. The 8/128GB model is 100 less than the Samsung, the 8/256GB model costs the same (i.e. 500). You get a slightly larger display (6.67 vs. 6.4) and faster charging for the 5,000mAh battery (67W vs. 25W). Check out our review for more details (we also have a video review).

Next up is the battle of the Pocos. Both the Poco X5 Pro and the X4 GT cost 370. The former is a new model from February, the latter came out in June of last year. Youre looking at a Snapdragon 778G (X5 Pro) v.s. Dimensity 8100 (X4 GT), a 6.67 120Hz AMOLED vs. 6.6 144Hz IPS LCD, a 108MP vs. 64MP cameras and basically identical batteries with 5,000mAh or so capacity and 67W charging. Also, both phones launched with Android 12, though the newer model got MIUI 14 instead of v13.

One more Poco worth looking at is the X5. Its screen is similar to that of its Pro sibling (except with Gorilla Glass 3 instead of GG5), but you lose the 778G in favor of the Snapdragon 695. Also, the 108MP camera is swapped out for a basic 48MP module and the charge speed is reduced to 33W. Thats a lot of cutbacks, but the phone is 33% cheaper.

Lower down the price charts is the Moto G13. This is a sub-200 phone and it lacks 5G connectivity, an ultra wide camera and the 6.5 IPS LCD (90Hz) has only HD+ resolution. But the G13 is 33% cheaper than the Poco X5, so theres that as well.

India

Two 5G phones, both costing about the same  well, the Oppo A74 5G is 500 more than the Tecno Pova Neo 5G, but that's a tiny difference. The Pova is larger with a 6.8 screen and 6,000mAh battery (vs. 6.5 and 5,000mAh), plus it runs its screen at 120Hz instead of 90Hz. The chipsets on both are nothing to write home about (Dimensity 810 and Snapdragon 480), but the A74 has 2 extra gigs of RAM, both have 128GB of expandable storage. The Oppo also has an 8MP ultra wide camera vs. none on the Tecno.

Next up we looked at a couple of 10 tablets, both with 2,000 x 1,200px 10-bit screens. The Redmi Pad costs 1,500 more but it has a 90Hz panel (vs. 60Hz), the better chipset (Helio G99 vs. Snapdragon 680) and double the RAM (both have microSD slots), plus a slightly larger battery (both with 18W charging). We have reviewed both slates if you want to go into more details.

There is a sale on Sony headphones. We start off with over-ear models, the WH-1000XM4 and XM5 with a 7,000 price difference between them. The newer model has improved ANC, though were not sure it is worth the extra cash (especially since we had some complaints in our review).

If youre looking for TWS buds instead, you can have the Sony WF-1000XM4 or the LinkBuds S for 3,000 less. The LinkBuds are smaller and lighter, making them more comfortable. Both have ANC on board but the WF model has better drivers (5mm vs. 4mm).

Well wrap up with a huge but surprisingly cheap phone  the Tecno Pova 3 is under 10,000 and has a massive 6.9 display, a 90Hz IPS LCD with FHD+ resolution, and an equally massive 7,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging. Its not the fastest, but it is pretty fast for a sub-10,000 device. And it even has a 50MP main camera that can do 1440p video recording, plus niceties like a microSD slot, a 3.5mm jack and stereo speakers.
Former Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez is the president and CEO of Guam Visitors Bureau, Guam Permit Czar, and chairman of the Governors Economic Strategy Council. Send comments or questions to GVB at

communityrelations@visitguam.org.
France is set to build a memorial for victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The announcement comes after President Emmanuel Macron in 2021 recognised that his country bore responsibility in 1994 Rwanda genocide against the Tutsi.

The monument will be erected in Paris on the Left Bank of the river Seine not far from the foreign ministry, the French presidency said.

It will be across the water from another memorial to the victims of the mass killings of Armenians during World War I, which Yerevan and several Western states see as genocide.

The idea is "for the nation to pay its visible and permanent respects to the memory of the victims," the presidency said, adding that a call for tenders would be launched at the end of May.

Marcel Kabanda, president of the Ibuka France genocide survivor association, welcomed the announcement as "very important".

"It's the sign that France... recognises its history," he said.

"It's a gesture to appease memories between France and Rwanda, and to appease the hearts of survivors of the genocide."

In 2021, President Paul Kagame said that Rwanda and France are on the path to restore friendly ties with a series of events taking place in that direction.

After years of tensions, a commission of historians appointed by Macron in 2021 returned a damning indictment of France's role in the bloodshed.

It said France had been "blind" to preparations for the genocide and bore "serious and overwhelming" responsibility, findings the French government accepted.

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The commission found no proof, however, of French complicity in the bloodshed.

Vincent Duclert, who led the historians' commission, said the new memorial would allow "recognition of the extreme importance of the 1994 catastrophe" and highlight France's "responsibility".

New Rwanda-France ties built on truth

The newly restored ties between Rwanda and France are built on truth, Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Paul Kagame said in May 2021.

President Macron said that since 2017, the two countries have, despite the historical challenges that existed, worked together to revive bilateral ties, adding that significant progress has since been made.

Going forward he committed that France will accelerate the efforts to bring to justice fugitives responsible for the Genocide against the Tutsi who have found safe haven in France.

Over 40 fugitives are known to reside in the European Union.
The Archdiocese of Agana has committed to publishing on its website the names of priests and other clergies who were identified as child sexual abusers, and to allow survivors of clergy sexual assaults to tell their stories if they so desire.

These are among the archdioceses nonmonetary commitments as part of its court-approved bankruptcy exit plan, which also includes multimillion settlement payouts to more than 270 clergy abuse claimants.

Survivors led by Leo Tudela pushed for the inclusion in the bankruptcy exit plan of child protection protocols, which the archdiocese filed in court April 6.

The goal is to help protect minors from clergy abuses, following a deluge of claims by former altar boys, former Catholic school students and others that they were molested, abused or raped when they were minors. The claims, exceeding $1 billion, forced the archdiocese to file for bankruptcy in 2019.

The archdiocese said it will publicly announce and post on its website, www.archagana.org, the full and complete release of all child sexual abuse survivors from any confidentiality requirement in the sex abuse settlements that they previously signed as a condition of settlement with the archdiocese.

But no survivors identity may be released or revealed without his or her permission.

Meanwhile, there is a 23-point protocol that survivors worked on, including having the vicar general make a good faith effort to obtain from each clergy a signed and dated written statement affirming that they have not sexually abused any minor at any time.

The same written statement also would affirm they have no knowledge of any abuse of a minor by clergy that has not been reported to law enforcement or the archdiocese.

Any visiting priest given open-ended faculties to minister in the archdiocese will also be asked for this written statement.

But clergy are not supposed to disclose knowledge of sexual abuse of minors obtained during confession or when a person seeks religious or spiritual advice, aid, or comfort, according to the protocols.

Letters of apologyThe archdiocese also said it will send letters of apology to all plaintiffs.

Letters of apology will state that survivors were not at fault for the abuse. The Archbishop of Agana will personally sign the letters of apology, the archdiocese said.

Any survivor will be given a private conference with the archdiocese upon reasonable notice.

The child protection protocols and the archdioceses non-monetary commitments are in addition to the archdioceses existing policies and programs meant to protect minors from abuses, including those implemented during the term of former Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes.

The pope recently accepted Byrnes resignation after Byrnes went on an extended medical leave over a life-changing illness. The pope appointed Father Romeo Convocar as apostolic administrator, who will remain in this post until a new archbishop is named.

Dozens of former and deceased clergy have been named in sexual abuse cases involving minors, including former Archbishop Anthony Apuron, who was later convicted by a Vatican tribunal for sexual assault of multiple minors. The pope appointed Byrnes in 2016 to replace Apuron.

The archdiocese, under the protocols recently filed, shall remove photos and plaques honoring a clergy individually, from public display for each priest with a substantiated claim of sexual abuse of a minor.
The Office of Public Accountability uncovered problems with the approval process for Guam Department of Education overtime payments, according to an investigative audit released by OPA.

The problems involved overtime primarily awarded to employees of the Federal Programs Division.

Auditors found more than $640 thousand in questionable overtime payments, all of which were supposed to be reimbursed by federal funding for the COVID-19 response.

Because of the nature of the improprieties, reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Education was never requested, auditors stated in a report.

Problems

Problems included:

 Federal Programs Division employees incurred overtime hours almost a year prior to submitting plans and receiving approval for overtime worked.

 Payments of overtime from local funds shorted local appropriations.

 Exempt employees received overtime.

 There was a disparity in overtime payment received by the federal programs workers and the differential pay authorized by executive order for essential workers.

 Improper payments occurred because of an unauthorized certifier of funds.

The previous superintendent and previous deputy superintendent were aware of these issues as far back as July 2020, because concerned employees alerted them through an inter-office memorandum, auditors said.

Public Auditor Benjamin J. Cruz said the report raised serious concerns about the Guam Department of Educations approval process.

The unauthorized certifying officer was identified as the federal programs administrator, who not only certified funds, but was also the requestor for overtime, was the signatory for compliance with federal grants, and was the approver of overtime plans, Cruz said in a news release. There was a complete lack of segregation of duties as this one person signed for four different approvals, and was later identified a direct beneficiary having received the highest amount in OT and benefits paid out.

Cruz said the department has been working with federal officials on the matter, and he said a third-party fiduciary agent may have played a role in the breakdown of internal controls.

Judith Won Pat, the acting superintendent, said she concurred with the audit findings and will work with management to implement a corrective action plan.

In a news release issued by GDOE after the audit, Won Pat said the plan includes training to ensure greater accountability and reinforcing the role of the certifying officer in the approval process for overtime. She said the department is working on an automatic block in the payroll system for overtime payments to exempt employees.

She said the department will also seek the recovery of local funds that were paid to ineligible exempt employees for overtime and will work with the OPA and the Attorney Generals Office to examine the appropriate measures required to recover lost funds.

Disturbing findings

Sen. Chris Barnett said members of the legislature will be looking closely at the audits findings.

It is disturbing to know, according to the audit, employees reached out to GDOE leadership to inform them about some issues contained in the investigative audit. It looks like those concerns fell on deaf ears, Barnett said. I pray that wasnt part of an effort to turn a blind eye to these troubling matters.

The internal GDOE documents contained in the audit should have served as a major red flag to anyone who was paying attention. That this blatant abuse occurred at all makes me wonder if internal controls even existed, he said.
Lawmakers should consider a carrot-and-stick approach to get military contractors who might be skimping on their tax payments to pony up, Public Auditor Benjamin Cruz said.

An oversight hearing over collection deficiencies at the Department of Revenue and Taxation was cut short Monday, but Cruz did speak briefly with lawmakers about possible remedies.

A recently released audit found that GovGuam missed out on around $22 million in potential tax revenue from on-base contractors between fiscal year 2016 and fiscal 2020, though the total loss cant be accurately determined. Several contractors which received awards for work on Guam did not report any earnings or paid nothing in business privilege taxes to Rev and Tax, the audit found. Unverified tax exemption claims further complicate the picture.

The findings echo audits released in 2014 and 1997 which found similar issues with how military contractors on Guam are handled.

Cruz told senators allowing an amnesty, where interest and penalties on delinquent tax penalties are waived, could entice non-filing contractors.

A similar approach has been taken with Rev and Tax when GovGuam was short on cash in recent years.

After some discussion with the legislature, the department can be authorized to do an amnesty and just tell everybody, Were going to start doing audits and in 90 days, during this 90 days, if you come in and amend your returns for the last three or five years, well talk about whether or not well waive penalties and interest, Cruz said.

There was no way that an audit of every single contractor was feasible, but as few as one could scare others into filing, he added.

If we do an audit and find that you have been fraudulent in your filing, then not only will you not get a waiver on your penalty and your interest, but youll be made to pay immediately. And if not that, maybe even criminal action for their fraudulent action.

Despite the deficiencies, Rev and Tax did a good job collecting business privilege taxes with what they had, Cruz said.

Around nine individuals bring in over $400 million in BPT for GovGuam every year, he said, and deserved a commendation. The department needed more staff.

Rev and Tax Director Dafne Shimizu said her department was working closely with Cruz and the Office of Public Accountability to correct issues. But there was no BPT supervisor when she took the helm at the department in 2019, she said.

During the two-year period of the military contractor audit, I think we must have had three people in acting capacity, she said, and another needed to be hired.

Legislative Public Accountability chair Sen. Roy Quinata said the hearing would be recessed until April 19, after Rev and Tax gets past the April 14 tax filing deadline. More information about the military contractor audit, and an audit of sin taxes, will be provided.
Immigration enforcement is the topic of a capstone project at the University of Guam with a forum April 20.

The Criminal Justice Capstone for Fanomnakan 2023 will hold the discussion with Guams law enforcement agencies.

Guams Illegal Immigration Issue: Addressing Immigration Crimes as a U.S. Territory, will be held at 10 a.m. in Room 129 of the School of Business and Public Administration.

It will also be featured live on the Criminal Justice Capstones Instagram account (@lw480capstone).

The forum brings together the Triton community and Guams law enforcement agencies to address the issue of illegal immigrants entering Guam, whether immigrants are coming from the shore, air or other methods.

Illegal immigration to Guam became an issue in recent years, as boats carrying workers who overstayed work permits in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands began arriving here.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero sought help from federal officials, but she was told only limited help could be provided unless the immigrants were arriving at official ports of entry  the airport or the port.

Instead, the immigrants were coming on small private vessels and arriving on beaches and bays.

In response, the governor and various local enforcement agencies began working together to identify and prosecute people under local laws.

Panelists will include Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio, Attorney General Doug Moylan, Guam Police Department Chief Stephen Ignacio, Sen. Chris Barnett, Sen. Roy Quinata, Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas and immigration attorney Nelson Xu.

Discussions will include how many illegal immigrants come to Guam, how the island can address the issue and what regular people can do to help.
Letter: We need a hospital, but we also need transparency
Samsung revealed plans to significantly reduce memory chip output. This move comes as the company grapples with a concerning decline in operational profits. Estimates for Q1 2023 indicate a staggering 96% year-on-year decrease, marking Samsung's lowest profit performance in 14 years.

Operating profits plummeted from 14 trillion won to 600 billion won ($456 million) during this time frame. The main catalyst behind the shrinking margins is a dip in sales, attributed to a sluggish global economy and decreased spending on RAM and storage solutions by computer and server equipment manufacturers. The reduced demand for chips stems from the chip shortages experienced between 2020 and 2022.

Samsung announced last week that it would adjust its production capacity in light of the diminished demand. The company plans to notably scale back memory chip production, especially for those with guaranteed supply. South Korean industry analysts anticipate that Samsung's chip division will face substantial losses totaling billions of dollars in Q1 2023.

Samsung's decision to reduce production has sparked concerns about the company's strength in the face of intense competition from neighboring rivals and other manufacturers in the Southeast Asian region. The cutbacks may tarnish Samsung's reputation as a dominant force in the industry, particularly following recent announcements of significant expansions and investments in semiconductor manufacturing, backed by the South Korean government.

Other South Korea-based memory chip makers, such as SK Hynix and Micron, have experienced similar financial setbacks in recent quarters. Samsung is set to release detailed financial results later this month.






Rabat  Several personalities unanimously affirmed Sunday that the writer-journalist, the late Khalil Hachimi Idrissi, Director General of MAP, represents one of the most outstanding figures of Morocco's media and literary landscape, evoking the qualities of the deceased and his career marked by professionalism, abnegation and commitment.

Here follow the testimonies of leaders and actors in the political, cultural, media and artistic fields, collected on the sidelines of the funeral of the deceased which took place this Sunday at the Chouhada cemetery in Rabat:

- Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication:

"We lose today a great name of the national press who contributed to promoting the profession and was activated since his appointment in 2011 Director General of the Maghreb Arab Press Agency (MAP) to improve the performance of this strategic agency. The deceased was also a fervent patriot proud of Morocco's glorious history and very committed in his role to discover and promote the achievements of the Kingdom in all areas."

- Mustapha Baitas, Minister Delegate in charge of Relations with the Parliament, Government Spokesman:

"The national media landscape has just lost a great man known and recognized for his notable contributions in the field of the national press and also his career marked by commitment and responsibility. With his death, the country loses a great name of the national press".

- Ahmed Chaouki Benyoub, Interministerial Delegate for Human Rights:

"The late Khalil Hachimi Idrissi was a great journalist. I met him at the beginning of the 90s in a context marked by great changes in terms of democracy, human rights and the supremacy of the law. The deceased was impressive for his style, his spirit and his professional background. Of an extreme kindness, he was always present when it came to support the causes in favor of information and press."

- Mohamed Nabil Benabdellah, Secretary General of the Progress and Socialism Party (PPS), former Minister of Communication:

"Today we say farewell to a dear brother, a great friend and a fervent patriot. Since the early years of his youth, the late Khalil Hachimi Idrissi stood out for the quality of his writings and his relevant analyses in the field of the press, contributing also to launching many projects in favor of the promotion of the national press and holding high responsibilities including the general management of the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP).

The deceased, also a writer and poet, was respected for his professional and human qualities as well as his solid culture and his passion and knowledge of the arts."

- Noureddine Miftah, President of the Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Publishers (FMEJ):

"In addition to the fact that he was a close friend, the late Khalil Hachimi Idrissi is undoubtedly one of the promoters of the modern Moroccan press. The deceased was also a deeply sensitive poet and an outstanding editorialist.

Thanks to his strong personality and charisma, he succeeded in launching great projects, notably within the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP), which today stands out for the diversity of its products instead of the single traditional news story before.

Throughout his life, the deceased remained very attached to professionalism, fiercely defending the territorial integrity of the Kingdom and all major national causes. Despite his death, he will always remain among us."

- Younes Moujahid, President of the National Press Council (CNP):

"I knew the deceased at the time when he was editor-in-chief of the weekly "Maroc Hebdo International" before creating the daily "Aujourd'hui le Maroc" and then at his appointment to the general management of MAP. We had the opportunity to work together on several files when he was at the head of the Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Publishers, mainly on the subject of the necessary revisions to the Press and Publishing Code.

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The deceased was a great journalist with a vast culture. His death is a great loss for the Moroccan press."

- Mehdi Qotbi, President of the National Museums Foundation (FNM):

"Today I lose a friend, someone I knew for a very long time. I have always appreciated both his sharpness of mind, his immense culture and his simplicity. I confide in you with emotion that each time I had to write a text, he always took the time to correct me, it is the illustration of the greatness of men. Today, we lose a great professional of the press".

- Azzedine Hachimi Idrissi: Artist-painter and brother of the deceased:

"My brother was known and recognized for his nobility, his courage, his kindness, the excellence of his human relations and his professionalism. His leadership of the Moroccan Press Agency was marked by great advances. The deceased was also appreciated for his helpfulness, his generosity and his sense of friendship."




Haiti - Insecurity : 3 police officers fall under the murderous bullets of the Ti Makak gang





On Sunday April 9, 2023, three police officers from the Intervention Brigade, assigned to the Thomassin Sub-Commissioner, commune of Petion-ville, were caught in a deadly ambush by heavily armed individuals presumed to be members of the "Ti Makak" gang.



Pierre Paul son Dorcely (28th promotion), Nicolas Robinson (25th promotion) and Medeze Fortilien (26th promotion) were cowardly murdered, in Thomassin 32.



In this circumstance, the General Directorate of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) sends its sympathy to the families, relatives and colleagues of these police officers who are victims in the exercise of their functions.



Reaction from Prime Minister Henry :

"Our police brothers have today, once again, fallen under the murderous bullets of thugs without faith or law. We deplore these barbaric acts. To the families, to the brothers in arms of these valiant police victims, we send our sincere condolences and we assure them of our solidarity. We renew to the Haitian people our unshakable determination to do everything to achieve the creation of a climate of security and stability in the country which is too bruised and bereaved. We are not insensitive to this situation and we are working hard to find a lasting solution."



Reaction of the Ministry of Justice :

"The Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), deplores the alarmingly serious ambush against a police patrol in Thomassin 32 this Easter Sunday. The Ministry mourns and deplores the death of three police officers, three servants of the company and asks the colleagues, family and friends of the victims, custodians of State authority, to believe in its sincere condolences.



The MJSP wishes to reassure the National Police of Haiti (PNH), the grieving people and the general population that the Government and the High Command of the PNH are working together to ensure that law and tranquility reign. The Ministry asks the population to show lucidity and solidarity with the Police so that the exactions of the bandits cease and so that the country can enjoy a lasting climate of peace and security."



21 police officers died during the first 4 months of 2023, recalls the National Union of Haitian Police Officers (SYNAPOHA).



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - 220th of Toussaint Louverture : Speech at the Pantheon by Josue Dahomey, Ambassador of Haiti in Paris





Friday April 7, 2023, as part of the 220th anniversary of the death of Toussaint Louverture, the Ambassador of Haiti to France Josue Pierre Dahomey, delivered a vibrant speech that we invite you to read and share.



Speech by the Ambassador of Haiti :

"I would like, at the beginning of my remarks, to draw attention to the inscription appearing here in the Pantheon in memory of this genius of the 18th century, and on which one can read 'In memory of Toussaint Louverture, fighter of freedom, architect of the abolition of slavery. Haitian hero, died deported to Fort-de-Joux in 1803'.



Toussaint Louverture was obviously all of these things at the same time. But for us today it is much more than that. His journey, guided by a visceral attachment to the ideals of emancipation, and his keen sense of human dignity, still remain today a source of inspiration for inventing the future. And it is this point that I would like to highlight in my remarks for the occasion.



Indeed, he belonged to a generation of revolutionaries who changed the face of the world. He was in his time the link of filiation, so to speak, between the Haitian revolution and the French revolution, and it is rightly that he has been described as a black Jacobin.



Since then, the historiography of T. Louverture has not failed to insist on the triple dimension of his revolutionary action. Because, as everyone knows, his fight was anti-slavery, anti-racist and decolonial.



Impregnated with republican ideals, T. Louverture was the precursor of a movement called upon to shake down the barriers of racial discrimination in the world while being the first true hero of the postcolonial world.



Thus, to commemorate his memory today is to celebrate his attachment to the universal dimension of the values of freedom, equality and fraternity, values that remain dear to our two Republics, Haitian and French.



The Ideal of his fight is rooted in the philosophy of the Enlightenment. But, more than anything, what makes him an exceptional being is the very high idea he had of human dignity.



From this point of view, the life of Toussaint Louverture will have been a magnificent lesson in humanism. For although he was born into servitude, his condition as a slave did not alter his sense of human dignity. On the contrary. He knew how to rise, as he said himself, from slavery to take his 'flight in the region of the eagles'.



Moreover, even when he was at the height of his rise - as General-in-Chief of the army and then Governor of Santo Domingo - he never ceased to appeal to the right of humanity in favor of of his people. This is why we can say that it was under the impulse of the revolutionary action of T. Louverture that human rights reached their concrete dimension, beyond the borders of race, color, social conditions.



I would also like to take advantage of this well-deserved tribute to deliver a double message that will, I hope, articulate the past and the present.



The first message is to tell you that we are all heirs of T. Louverture. Our presence this April 7 at the Pantheon is not only intended to perpetuate the memory of this great man; But also and above all, to remember that we are all his heirs because his legacy is republican values.



The Louverturian heritage is freedom for all beyond borders and walls of all kinds; the Louverturian heritage is equal rights and equal conditions; it is also universal fraternity, a fraternity of peoples, which manifests itself today through Franco-Haitian friendship. In this sense, T. Louverture remains and remains for all of us a father and a benchmark.



I therefore welcome the high recognition that both countries accord to T. Louverture as a transcendent historical figure and hero of universal emancipation.



The second message refers to the current situation of the people of Toussaint Louverture in the Caribbean. Although they embodied the cause of freedom and equality with the highest dignity, the people of Toussaint Louverture, this pioneering black people in terms of the appropriation of republican values, today sees their cause oscillate between skepticism and despair.



But let me tell you that the Haitian cause should not be left to the vagaries of devastating circumstances.



This is why I call on the memory of Toussaint Louverture to urge Republican France to show more active solidarity in favor of the Haitian cause.



At this time, the Haitian cause is that of the protection and security of a dignified people, but prey to the blind violence of organized crime; it is that of rebuilding an economy in tatters, and eradicating extreme poverty; it is that of justice and the rehabilitation of institutions; that of political stability and a finally functional democracy in the country.



For the memory of Toussaint Louverture, erected here as a testament to our fraternal ties, for republican France and for Haiti  the first black republican people  I urge you to show solidarity with the Haitian cause.



My country is hostage of a long series of murderous conjunctures. The leaden screed of insecurity that is befalling Haitian society today should not leave us indifferent. Let us ensure that this ordeal does not lead to the agony of this country, Haiti, which has seen all freedoms flourish.



Thank you."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39259-haiti-pantheon-tribute-to-toussaint-louverture-call-to-emmanuel-macron.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-39254-icihaiti-cap-haitien-tribute-to-toussaint-louverture.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39250-haiti-220th-of-the-death-of-toussaint-louverture-ceremony-of-floral-offering-speech-pm.html

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Korean Movie | 2022

 Drama

Directed by Ka Sung-moon ()

Written by Ka Sung-moon ()

112min | Release date in South Korea: 2023/05

Started filming: 2021/08/16

Synopsis

Hye-jeong, lost her husband in an industrial accident, moves with her son to a new town apartment named 'Dream Palace', she purchased with the accident settlement fee.

However, a constructional defect occurs in the apartment and to earn the cost for the repairment, she promotes the discount sale of the apartment following the suggestion of Yong-min, who introduced her the apartment.

In the meantime, she reunites with Su-in, her colleague during the protest, and recommends her purchasing the apartment.
Published on 2023/04/10 | Source

New behind the scenes images added for the Korean drama "Duty After School" (2023).

Advertisement

Directed by Seong Yong-il

Written by Yoon Soo-I

Network: TVING

With Shin Hyun-soo, Kim Ki-hae, Lim Se-mi, Ahn Do-kyu, Kim Su-gyeom, Woo Min-kyu,...

10 episodes - Fri 16:00

Part 1 - 6 episodes: 2023/03/31

Part 2 - 4 episodes: 2023/04

When mysterious alien spheres start invading the world, high school students are called upon to join the world's first war against extraterrestrial forces.

Synopsis

Unidentified extraterritorial spheres take over the world. The Department of Defense, in a desperate bid to recruit more soldiers, offers college admission incentives to get 18-year-olds to sign up as part of the reserved forces. A High school's class of 2022 seniors sign up to become soldiers, and they soon become frontline fighters in the war.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2023/03/31 - 2023/04/__
Mr Ogba added, however, that there was still hope for the PDP because it is loved by the people.

A senator, Obinna Ogba (PDP-Ebonyi Central), said on Sunday that the party deservedly lost the 2023 general elections in the state because of mismanagement of affairs by its National Working Committee (NWC).

Mr Ogba told a news conference at his Nkalagu hometown in Ishielu Local Government Area that the NWC shot itself in the foot by the giving the governorship ticket to a "wrong candidate."

The senator, who lost the party's governorship ticket after a protracted legal tussle decided by the Supreme Court, cautioned that the NWC should not suspend any member.

"The fact remains that it is the NWC members who deserve to be suspended starting from the national chairman.

"The national chairman lost his polling booth, ward, local government area and state and the same thing applied to all the conspirators who offered tickets to whoever understood their language," he charged.

Mr Ogba added, however, that there was still hope for the PDP because it is loved by the people.

"What we need is the right leaders to manage the party's affairs because no party is stronger than the PDP.

"The Labour Party made strides during the elections, especially during the presidential election because it had mainly our former members who felt annoyed at the state of things in the PDP," he said.

He noted that PDP leaders supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for equity and fairness in the state's power rotation formula.

"Political parties are only avenues to get to various political destinations.

"Leaders of the PDP in Ebonyi made us to believe that the northern district should produce the next governor and I am happy that those I supported won their elections," Mr Ogba said.
By Tim Gardner

One of the North Carolinas most anticipated and highly-popular annual eventsthe Avery County Heritage Festival will be held this year on Saturday, June 24th on the Avery County/Newland Town Square, located across from the Avery County Court House in downtown Newland.

This is a family-oriented function and admission is free. It will start at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:00 p.m. Those attending can visit booths and vendors while tracing their ancestral roots in the county. Visitors can also view demonstrations of homesteading skills from pioneer days.

Nationally-renowned genealogists, artisans in a variety of media and traditional mountain musicians will gather on the square to collectively help celebrate Avery Countys history, which spans 112 years.

Those genealogists will come from all across Western North Carolina and join numerous local authors at the festival to share information from the past. Various books about Avery County, its personalities, happenings and events as well as others written by its natives or residents can be purchased at the festival.

Various arts and crafts vendors will offer their works for sale during the festival. Those will include: blacksmithing, quilting, wood turning, corn husk dolls and other related specialties.

Food and drink will also be available for purchase from various vendors.

The Avery County Cloggers will be featured at the festival. Additionally, Southern Gospel, bluegrass and country music will be performed.

Aneda Johnson, Director of the Avery County Historical Museum, sponsor of the Heritage Festival, said in a quote to High Country Press: Avery County has a rich cultural heritage that the festival highlights. Avery may be the youngest county in North Carolina, but our ancestors were here before this area was named Avery County. We look forward to sharing that with the visitors of the Heritage Festival.

The Avery County Historical Museum, located just a short distance from the Square will also be open for tours throughout the day as will the Linville Train Depot and Cabooseboth located adjacent to the historical museum.

The historical museum is housed in the original county jail. Located inside are exhibits highlighting military history, medical, sports, education, cultural themes relating to mountain music and dance and many other topics of Avery County interest.

Books related to Avery County can also be purchased at the historical museum.

Information about reserving a table or booth at the Heritage Festival and further details about it and the Avery County Historical Museum can be obtained in person at the Avery County Historical Society and Museum, 1829 Shultz Circle, Newland, NC 28657; by calling its office at (828) 733-7111; via email ([email protected]); logging onto its web site at: averycountymuseum.org; or on Averys Genealogy Societys Social Media Facebook page (facebook.com/AveryCountyGenealogySociety).

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A five-member panel of the Supreme Court on 24 March, said it made a mistake in a judgement it delivered in 2021, where it erroneously wrote the name of Victor Oye as APGA national chairman instead of that of Edozie Njoku.

The Supreme Court has directed Nigeria's electoral umpire, INEC, to act and recognise Edozie Njoku as the national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on 24 March, said it made a mistake in a judgement it delivered in 2021, where it erroneously wrote the name of Victor Oye as APGA national chairman instead of Mr Njoku's.

In its ruling delivered by Mohammed Lawal, the Supreme Court restated its power to review its judgement and correct such an "accidental error," when its attention was drawn to it.

Consequently, Mr Lawal ordered the removal of Mr Oye's name as the national chairman of APGA.

The ruling was a result of a request by Mr Njoku to have the error corrected.

He (Mr Njoku) had written INEC last week requesting it to recognise him as the party's national chairman based on the Supreme Court judgement.

Giving effect to the ruling

A certified true copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court ruling on the APGA leadership crisis between Messrs Njoku and Oye, who is also laying claim to the office, directed INEC to accord Mr Njoku recognition as APGA national chairman.

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The proof of service of the ruling dated 5 April was on a case between Jude Okeke and APGA & others, which was delivered by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court on 24 March.

A copy of the directive seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed the document was received by the Litigation and Prosecution department, INEC headquarters, Abuja, on 5 April by 3:54 p.m.

"I forward herewith for your information and necessary action, the order under the hand of the Honourable, the Chief Justice of Nigeria/Presiding Judge and the seal of the Court in respect of the above appeal.

"I also enclose herewith the certified copy of the order and the judgment of the Court" Zainab Garba, Registrar, Litigation, Supreme Court of Nigeria, stated.

This newspaper reported that the Supreme Court had on 24 March based on a request by Mr Njoku, amended its judgment delivered by Mary Peter Odili, now a retired justice of the apex court, on 9 May 2022.

In the ruling, the Supreme Court said "It is hereby ordered that the Appeal No. SC/CV/686/2021 set out on the face of the Judgment delivered by the (apex) Court on 14th October 2021 is to be corrected and replaced with Appeal No. SC/CV/687/2021.

"That the name of "Chief Victor Oye" mentioned and set out on page 13 of the Judgement delivered by the Court on the 14th October 2021 in Appeal No. SC/CV/687/2021 be deleted and replaced with the name "Edozie Njoku" so that the sentence on page 13 would now correctly read:

"It needs to be stated at this point that the dispute being who should be the Acting National Chairman of the 1st Respondent, APGA and whether the Chairman, Edozie Njoku was validly replaced are within the confines of the internal affairs of the 1st Respondent which is not Justiciable," the judgement said.
Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is bringing its Adult Field Course series back for 2023, offering participants the chance to explore Grandfather Mountain like never before and take a deeper dive into a variety of related topics. The series runs from May through September, with topics including bird behavior and species mapping, sketching the natural world, wildlife drawing, the spruce-fir forest, nature therapy, mindfulness, wood crafting and backpacking. (Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation)

LINVILLE, N.C.  Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is bringing its Adult Field Course series back for 2023, offering participants the chance to explore Grandfather Mountain like never before and take a deeper dive into a variety of related topics.

These courses allow attendees to examine specic aspects of the park ecosystem, as well as the natural history and cultural history of this region, through fun eld excursions, said John Caveny, director of conservation and education for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. Our course leaders are experts in their elds and include professors, naturalists, researchers, artisans and acclaimed artists.

The series runs from May through September, with topics including bird behavior and species mapping, sketching the natural world, wildlife drawing, the spruce-fir forest, nature therapy, mindfulness, wood crafting and backpacking. Each is limited to 20, or fewer, participants, so they fill up quickly.

Courses cost $60 per person (or $51 for members of Grandfather Mountains Bridge Club), plus tax, with registration required in advance at www.grandfather.com. The Introduction to Grandfather Mountain Backpacking in September is a multiday field course with a cost of $100 per person (or $85 for Bridge Club members), plus tax.

Many of the courses run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but all event times are outlined below. Bringing a bagged lunch is recommended for most field courses, although Mildreds Grill will be open to attendees.

Courses include:

The North Carolina Bird Atlas: Getting Started  May 13

Time: 8:15 a.m.  2 p.m. | Limited to 20 participants

The N.C. Bird Atlas (NCBA) is a five-year statewide community science project that will harness the power of thousands of volunteer birdwatchers to map the distribution and abundance of birds from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Outer Banks. These observations will give researchers a comprehensive picture of bird populations across the state. During this course, led by Lee Sherrill, mountain region science support specialist for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, and Andrew Rapp, a N.C. Bird Atlas technician, participants will learn the basics of the NCBA and then head outside to explore the area and put their newly learned atlas skills to use.

Tickets on sale now. To register or learn more, visit www.grandfather.com/event/nc-bird-atlas.

A Naturalists Sketchbook: Botanical Illustrating and Nature Journaling  May 20

Time: 10 a.m.  4 p.m. | Limited to 20 participants

The naturalists sketchbook is full of drawings and observations of the outdoors that bring moments in nature to life. The way a person arranges these drawings on a page, as well as the notes they take, can boost the storytelling quality of the sketches. Participants will learn basic observation and drawing techniques with pen, pencil and colored pencils. Course leader Preston Montague is an artist, educator and landscape architect who developed a passion for the natural world while growing up in the rural foothills of Virginia.

Tickets on sale now. To register or learn more, visit www.grandfather.com/event/naturalist-sketchbook.

A June 10 field course, titled Grandfathers Animals in Art: Wildlife Drawing, will have participants working in close proximity to Grandfathers wildlife in the Animal Habitats, using them as live models while learning to accurately draw their anatomy, posture and gestures. Kirby has been a full-time wildlife artist for over a decade and produces original oil paintings and drawings of deer, turkey, elk, sporting dogs and much more from his studio near Todd, N.C. (Photo Courtesy of Ryan Kirby)

Grandfathers Animals in Art: Wildlife Drawing  June 10

Time: 9:30 a.m.  4 p.m. | Limited to 15 participants

In this field course, the group will be working in close proximity to Grandfathers wildlife in the Animal Habitats, using them as live models while learning to accurately draw their anatomy, posture and gestures. The instructor, Ryan Kirby, will be working alongside participants, doing demonstrations and offering advice as the course progresses. Near the end of the day, the group will gather for a critique of the drawings (this is optional and only for those that would like critique) and a brief Q&A. Kirby has been a full-time wildlife artist for over a decade and produces original oil paintings and drawings of deer, turkey, elk, sporting dogs and much more from his studio near Todd, N.C.

Registration opens April 20. To learn more, visit www.grandfather.com/event/wildlife-drawing.

Exploring the Sky Island of the Southern Appalachians: The Spruce-Fir Forest  June 15

Time: 10 a.m.  4 p.m. | Limited to 20 participants

Join John Caveny, director of conservation and education for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, to explore, examine and discuss one of the most endangered forest types in the U.S., the spruce-fir forest. During this field course, participants will go off the beaten path to find some of the largest red spruce trees on the park property. Participants will learn about the forest ecology and wildlife and also assist Caveny in gathering scientific data to benefit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundations Natural Resource Management Program.

Registration opens April 20. To learn more, visit www.grandfather.com/event/spruce-fir-forest.

Nature and Forest Therapy at Grandfather Mountain  July 22

Time: 10 a.m.  1 p.m. | Limited to 20 participants

Join Dr. Mattie Decker, a certified forest therapy guide, for a relaxing stroll through the forest at Grandfathers Woods Walk. Eventgoers have an opportunity to focus on being present in the moment, deepening their connection with nature and community and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Decker is also a mindfulness teacher, a Zen practitioner, an Episcopal oblate and a retired professor of education.

Registration opens May 22. To learn more, visit www.grandfather.com/event/nature-and-forest-therapy.

On July 29, course leader Miranda Peterson Harton will share tools, tips and techniques that she uses to achieve profound health, healing and happiness, including yoga, meditation and outdoor mindfulness. The Movement and Mindfulness in the Mountains field course, though designed for beginners, is also open to individuals with more intermediate skills. (Photo Courtesy of Miranda Peterson Harton)

Movement and Mindfulness in the Mountains for More Health, Healing and Happiness  July 29

Time: 10 a.m.  4 p.m. | Limited to 20 participants

Course leader Miranda Peterson Harton will share tools, tips and techniques that she uses to achieve profound health, healing and happiness, including yoga, meditation and outdoor mindfulness. Though designed for beginners, students with more intermediate skills are encouraged to join. Peterson Harton is an RYT500 yoga teacher, hiker, mom, wife and entrepreneur based in Western North Carolina. After quitting corporate life in 2015, she took a sabbatical during which she did her first 200 hours of yoga teacher training in India, hiked around the world (including the Himalayas, Andes and Alps) and studied meditation with Buddhist monks in Thailand and Myanmar.

Registration opens May 29. To learn more, visit www.grandfather.com/event/movement-mindfulness.

Appalachian Woodcraft  Aug. 5

Time: 10 a.m.  4 p.m. | Limited to eight participants

This field course will examine the types of things the hardy settlers of the Appalachian Mountains made for themselves from the forests, as well as the tools they used to make them. The group will study chairs, bowls, spoons, tool handles and more. After taking a walk through the forest, which was the pioneers lumberyard, participants and course leader Jason Lonon will identify trees and some of their uses and then focus on a hands-on project. Lonon is an artisan and teacher who has taught welding, blacksmithing, woodcarving and other skills in a wide variety of settings, from the community college system to wilderness camps, over the years.

Registration opens June 5. To learn more, visit www.grandfather.com/event/appalachian-woodcraft.

Introduction to Grandfather Mountain Backpacking  Sept. 8-9

Time: 1 p.m. on Sept. 8  12 p.m. on Sept. 9, also includes a virtual pre-trip meeting Aug. 19 | Limited to eight participants

This Adult Field Course will give participants a chance to experience the wonders of Grandfather Mountain during the day and night by backpack-camping overnight at one of the primitive backcountry campsites on the mountain. Participants will gain experience in planning a trip and using backpacking gear, as well as learn about the unique ecosystems that make Grandfather Mountain so special. Course leader Eric Payne is the assistant director of outdoor adventure at East Tennessee State University, where he manages the Campus Recreation Outdoor Program.

Registration opens July 10. To learn more, visit www.grandfather.com/event/intro-to-backpacking.

For more information about the Adult Field Course program at Grandfather Mountain, visit www.grandfather.com/field-courses. To learn more about becoming a Bridge Club member, visit www.grandfather.com/bridge-club.

The nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com.

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According to a recent survey conducted by Suomen Yrittajat (Finnish Entrepreneurs), one-quarter of small and medium-sized businesses in Finland are planning to offer summer jobs. The findings of the survey are encouraging for young people seeking summer employment. The study suggests that companies are taking steps to prepare for the upcoming summer and plan to hire as many summer workers as in the previous two years.

Atte Rytkonen-Sandberg, a lawyer and expert at Suomen Yrittajat, recommends that employers should carefully and explicitly document their obligations regarding summer workers. The Yrittajagallup study also found that many employers are seeking advice on contractual issues, work hours, and pay rates. Companies are also exploring how best to hire and retain younger workers, taking into account their unique needs and interests.

The survey also revealed that the manufacturing industry is the most active in hiring summer workers, with 41 percent of small and medium-sized companies in the sector planning to recruit. The study also suggests that younger entrepreneurs are more likely to offer summer jobs, with those aged 18-39 being the most likely to take on summer workers. The size of the company also appears to play a role, with larger firms being more likely to offer summer jobs.

Although the percentage of businesses planning to hire summer workers has only increased slightly from the previous year, the trend is still encouraging for young people seeking work. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, only 17 percent of employers planned to hire summer workers. However, in 2021 and 2022, the figure increased to 23 percent, and this year it has increased to 24 percent. Therefore, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, the demand for summer workers is increasing.

The survey also offers ten tips for companies that are considering hiring summer workers. These include planning work tasks early, being transparent during the recruitment process, treating all applicants equally, and creating realistic work schedules. Companies should also be aware of labor laws and collective bargaining agreements that may impact summer workers' employment. In addition, they should provide a thorough orientation process and issue work certificates at the end of employment.

Overall, the Yrittajagallup survey provides promising news for young people looking for summer work in Finland. As the economy recovers and businesses reopen, employers are taking steps to support and employ the next generation of workers. With careful planning and attention to detail, companies can ensure a successful and productive summer for both themselves and their summer workers.

HT
Bowhunters honor Edwards as Legislator of the Year

David Whitmire presents Chuck Edwards with the 2022 Legislator of the Year Award for his work on behalf of the North Carolina Bowhunters Association when he served in the state Senate. [CONTRIBUTED]

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards recently was presented the 2022 Legislator of the Year Award by the North Carolina Bowhunters Association for his work in the North Carolina Senate to fund and support wildlife habitat research in North Carolinas national forests.



As a sportsman myself, Im honored to receive the N.C. Bowhunters Associations 2022 Legislator of the Year Award, Edwards said. I look forward to continuing to represent WNC hunters in Congress.

Bowhunters Association member David Whitmire, praised Edwardss responsiveness to his groups request.

He listened to our concerns about wildlife and initiated a study in validating those concerns, he said. The result was the hiring of two foresters to address the need  boots-on-the-ground action. Wildlife and wildlife advocates will benefit from this for many years.
Developer loses appeal of zoning board's decision on Crab Creek storage units

A Henderson County Superior Court judge this week rejected a landowner's appeal of a county zoning board decision in 2021 that denied a permit for a ministorage development in the Crab Creek community, members of the organization that fought the zoning application said.

Judge Peter Knight issued the order after a trial in which the zoning applicant, Matthew Cooke, asked the court to overturn the September 2021 decision by the Zoning Board of Adjustment that turned down the application to build 1,000 self-storage units on 9 acres on Crab Creek Road.

Rather than appeal, the landowner told the Lightning on Saturday that he plans to build a rental home development on the property.

The zoning board voted 5-0 to deny a special-use permit after hearing more than 11 hours of testimony and argument over three nights, saying in its order that traffic generated by the facility on the winding, narrow rural road would detrimentally affect the health, safety and welfare of the community and that the lack of fire hydrants and tight road configuration within the facility would make adequate fire protection unlikely or impossible. Cooke's attorney, Brian Gulden, filed the appeal the following month.

Fritz McPhail, one of the founders of the effort to defeat the storage units, said neighbors spent $90,000 in 2021 on legal fees, studies, expert witnesses and public relations to fight the effort before the zoning board and another $30,000 on the appeal in Superior Court. "If the developer appeals again, well need to come up with $20,000 more," he said.

McPhail said the threat to the rural character of Crab Creek is not the only example of a disruptive commercial use threatening rural residential communities, pointing out that five years ago Saluda homeowners rose up to defeat a proposed gun range off Macedonia Road and that Green River residents fought a hotel off Cabin Creek Road last year.

"Our rural communities are fair game for developers because local rules allow residential sprawl and inappropriate commercial growth across much of the county," he said. "County leaders are now finishing a 22-year Comprehensive Plan that could tighten these rules. Unfortunately, drafts of the plan show too little commitment to changing the status quo."

A native of Henderson County and retired commercial real estate investor who chairs the Crab Creek Preservation Society, McPhail urged residents to call on the Board of Commissioners to use the new comp plan to bar commercial uses in rural areas, preserve low-density residential zoning and create a conservation fund to preserve farmland.

Cooke, who owns Apple Valley Storage on Chimney Rock Road, said instead of appealing the Judge Knight's ruling to the N.C. Court of Appeals, he plans to build homes on the land.

"We have the bridge halfway built across the river," he said. "Its hard to just stop in the middle. Fritz put up a good fight and I like a good fight. I congratulate him. He won a battle.

"Im going to move forward with something that has a P in front of it, referring to a permitted use. He said he plans to construct 18 single-family homes on 10 acres of the site. I have my construction permit in my possession." He said he plans to rent a 21,700-square-foot existing building for commercial use.

"I have a number of options on the table and we havent decided which one were going to rent it to," he said. Its more sad that I think the storage facility would have been nice and clean and I think (opponents) couldnt see the forest for the trees. But that didnt happen so its adapt or die. Sometimes its better to just get over something and move on to the next step.

It was eye opening, he added, to live through process of government regulation and a Zoning Board of Adjustment case  which operates like a court case with sworn testimony, expert witnesses, examination and cross examination by lawyers. It really was a lesson for me which will pay dividends for years to come.
THAMES Water released raw sewage into rivers and waterways for almost 75,000 hours last year.

There were 8,014 spills, down from 14,713 in 2021, but the Environment Agency put the fall largely down to the drier weather, not action by the Reading-based water company.

Campaigners and environmental groups say releasing sewage poses a danger to human health and should stop.

Water companies release sewage when there is too much demand on their treatment works during rainy periods. The untreated effluent contains human waste, wet wipes and sanitary products, which pose a serious risk to the wildlife, swimmers and people who work on the river.

The Environment Agencys event duration monitoring data for 2022 shows that 480 Thames Water storm overflows have now been fitted with monitoring devices, up from 463 in 2021, and almost 62 per cent are now covered.

The average number of spills per storm overflow was 17 compared to 31.9 in 2021. The average duration of spills was nine hours, meaning the total duration of spills was 74,693. Nationally, the release of sewage by water companies was down by 19 per cent on the previous year.

John Leyland, executive director of the Environment Agency, said: The decrease in spills in 2022 is largely down to dry weather, not water company action.

We want to see quicker progress from water companies on reducing spills and acting on monitoring data.

We expect them to be fully across the detail of their networks and to maintain and invest in them to the high standard that the public expect and the regulator demands."

Jo Robb, South Oxfordshire District Councils river champion, said: Last summer was the driest summer on record, which is favourable for water companies.

When we have a high level of rainfall, there are sewage spills up and down the River Thames, which is a direct result of a lack of investment in infrastructure.

We need to see urgently real investment and penalties on water companies and their directors that dump raw sewage into waterways.

Laura Reineke, who is part of the open water swimming group Henley Mermaids, said: Theyre beginning to put things in place. Ofwat said there was a proposal of 1.6 billion from water companies to improve their infrastructure but no one has said who will be paying for it.

Thats the problem with all these proposals. Nothing has been put in place with any sort of guarantee. 1.6 billion will only play for 10,000 spills and last year there were 300,000 nationally.

I just think its too little too late. The chalk streams which feed the River Thames are already dying.

The Government has also removed the limit of fines put on water companies to empower the Environment Agency to impose on water companies.

Ofwat wants to reduce the surplus of overflows by 10,000 a year but last year it was at 300,000, which is an awfully low amount of surplus cut  it should be 100 per cent really.

Remenham Angling Society captain Andrew Crook called the number of sewage spills outrageous.

He said: As far as I understand, they are only allowed to on certain occasions when there has been extreme weather conditions, such as torrential rain and when they are operating close to full capacity. Where we are on our stretch of the river, touch wood, it seems to be fairly healthy but I do know there have been spills in the past locally and its not good for the river or for the environment.

Its not just boats that use the river, there are swimmers, paddleboarders  a whole network of users. You wouldnt want to swim in there after reading all the recent news about the water companies.

On Tuesday, the Government announced that wet wipes containing plastic will be banned from next year.

Wet wipes flushed down toilets cause 93 per cent of sewer blockages which cost around 100 million a year to clear up, according to Water UK. Around 90 per cent of wipes contained plastic in 2021.

Ms Reineke said: They should have been banned years ago.

Cllr Robb said: This is an important way of tackling microplastics and blockages in waterways. Its long overdue. People have been calling for this for years.

A Thames Water spokeswoman said: Were pleased to see the reduction of undiluted sewage discharges from our permitted sites in 2022. Some of this will have been driven by the dry weather and we know what matters most is stopping the need for the discharges as quickly as possible.

Thats why weve committed 1.6billion of investment in our sewage treatment works and sewers over the next two years.

This will help us to deliver our commitment to a 50 per cent reduction in the total annual duration of discharges across London and the Thames Valley by 2030 and within that an 80 per cent reduction in sensitive catchments.

We have started the 100 million upgrade of Mogden sewage treatment works and were currently increasing sewage treatment capacity at a number of our other sewage works to be completed by 2025.

Were also the first company to provide live alerts for all untreated discharges throughout our region and this near real-time data is available to customers as a map on our website and is also available through an open data platform for third parties, such as swimming and environmental groups.

We have a long way to go and we certainly cant do it on our own  but the ambition is clear.

 What do you think? Write to: Letters, Henley Standard, Caxton House, 1 Station Road, Henley or email letters

@henleystandard.co.uk
ITS hard to imagine that the red kite, so synonymous with the Chilterns, was once so endangered that it was on the verge of extinction in the UK.

Indeed, you dont have to venture far into the South Oxfordshire countryside before coming across this elegant bird soaring above on its long wings.

In the 19th century, relentless persecution of these scavengers led to as few as five pairs surviving and they were in Wales.

In 1989 the Nature Conservancy Council and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds launched a programme to reintroduce the red kite into England and Scotland.

Dr Michael Pienkowski, who chaired the project, has written a book, When the Kite Builds Why And How We Restored Red Kites Across Britain, about this conservation success story.

He says: The red kite had been common in medieval times. They appear a lot in Shakespeare and they were valued because they kept the streets and villages clean.

But attitudes changed in the 1600s. In common with all birds of prey, anything that appeared to be competing with people was exterminated.

There was strong pressure from the estates against anything with a hooked beak and talons as they saw them as a threat and were destroying them. The Victorians were impressive in industrialising this sort of thing.

Dr Pienkowski, a former chief ornithologist and assistant chief scientist at the Nature Conservancy Council, says that even as recently as the Seventies and Eighties there was a negative attitude towards conservation work.

He says: At the time there were three birds in Britain that were under threat, the white-tailed eagle, the corncrake and the red kite.

In the Eighties, the number of kites increased by 50 pairs but there was still a lot of illegal poisoning and those that were here were so inbred that there were health complications.

Kites were also declining in Europe so there was an international conservation reason for investigating the feasibility of restoring them and the book is really the story of that five-year exercise.

He admits that the team behind the project were learning as they went along.

There was no budget for species conservation so they relied on some helpful administrators who found some funding from research budgets. Dr Pienkowski sourced some red kite chicks from Europe but then had to convince estate owners here that it was safe to accept them.

He says: Initially, people were nervous about having the birds on their estates and we had to tell them that we were quite sure that they werent going to go for their pheasants or chicks.

Most things turned out the way we expected it to and soon the keepers and landowners found that we were right.

The Wormsley Estate, near Stokenchurch, was chosen as the most suitable estate to reintroduce the birds.

Dr Pienkowski, now 72, says: We had to choose an area to release that had a good mix of habitat, with open farmland for the birds to hunt and tall trees to nest and an area where keeping was responsible.

We also needed to have a degree of security and somewhere where they could be looked after once they had been released.

In 1989, 10 young kites were collected under special licence from nests in Sweden, transported to Denmark and then flown from Copenhagen to RAF Kinloss in north-east Scotland.

Six were reared in the Black Isle, near Inverness, and four were driven to Wormsley where they were joined by a bird hatched and reared from a rescued egg in Wales.

Dr Pienkowski says: We didnt want to damage the population we were getting the birds from and it was decided that we would take chicks from nests that had more than two chicks.

We aimed to collect them at one month old because they rely on the parent to begin with for warmth.

We were feeling our way a bit so we used the first year to establish our technique.

We built wooden cages and had different types of mesh with wooden stands inside and a platform to be a substitute nest.

Normally the chicks would have parents looking after them so all the feeding was done through a hatch as we had to keep away from them because we didnt want them dependent on humans for their food.

They didnt do much at first because they were just growing and as they got bigger they would start flying and moving along the wooden platform inside as they would on a branch.

The cages were 20ft long by 8ft wide and 8ft high so that gave them five to six metres to fly around and we could make sure that everything was working well and they could fly.

The quarantine period is 30 to 35 days from another country and that worked well for the period of time needed before they could fly.

All the young developed well and were released. They flew strongly, catching flying insects within a few hours of release. They eventually dispersed widely and were tracked using radio transmitters and wing tags.

Dr Pienkowski says: While most would fly straight out as we opened the door, some were more suspicious and would take a few minutes.

I remember one flew to the front perch, had a look round before deciding it wasnt for them and flew to the back perch but eventually flew out.

We would then set about monitoring them. We would put some food on the top of the cages to make sure that they could feed themselves and after a few days they would disperse to find food themselves.

They were very adept at catching insects in the air and earthworms on the ground and they would then disperse, which is natural.

We had numbers or letters on their wings and radio devices on their central tail feathers but you have to remember this was 35 years ago and the technology wasnt as good as it is now so we had problems with battery power.

The programme was not without its challenges in the early stages. In June 1990 five gamekeepers and two suppliers of poison were convicted after an English-released kite was found dead on the Welsh border. At least this created public interest in the project.

There was also a more important problem with the birds themselves.

Dr Pienkowski says: The birds had no problem being reared, flying or dispersing. Indeed, some of them were coming back when they were one year old.

But they didnt breed in that first year, although we know why. We had no means of determining the sex of the birds and every bird released at Wormsley was female  we couldnt have got it more wrong.

In May 1990, 11 young kites were imported from nests in Navarra, Spain, with the help of British Airways and its assisting nature conservation programme. They went to the Chilterns and were joined by two reared from rescued eggs in Wales. Nineteen others from Sweden went to the Black Isle.

Dr Pienkowski says: We had to go through all sorts of regulations. We wanted them in the passenger cabin because we didnt know how they would be in the hold so we had to get special permissions for that.

In the first flight from Spain we had all the cardboard boxes strapped into some seats in a Boeing 737 and we put leaflets on every seat to explain what we were doing and the pilot also gave an announcement.

In subsequent years they released between 10 and 20 red kites which bred and in 1994 the last batch was released at Wormsley.

In fact, the project had proved so successful that it could have been stopped earlier.

Dr Pienkowski, who lives in Peterborough with his wife Ann, a retired teacher, says: We know now that we could have stopped in 1992 as we would have had enough then but we didnt have the modelling available to know how well it was working.

In total, 93 were reared and released in the Black Isle from 1989 to 1993, all from Sweden. The same number were reared and released in the Chilterns from 1989 to 1994. These were the four from Sweden in 1989, a total of seven reared from rescued Welsh eggs and 82 from Spain.

There is nothing magic about 93  we were aiming at about 80 to 100 in each site and, by coincidence, ended on exactly the same number.

We dont know exactly how many there are now, which is the strength of the success, but across the UK we are looking at at least 10,000 kites, more than 10 per cent of the world population.

They did really well at Wormsley, where we saw the fastest increase and they did start breeding from one year old. They were also introduced in other areas, such as Durham, York and Northamptonshire.

Last year, for the first time, we returned some kites to Spain because their numbers have declined so it is nice to have returned the compliment.

 When The Kite Builds Why And How We Restored Red Kites Across Britain (35) is available from www.ukotcf.org.uk/books-for-sale/kite-book/
Nobody can stop us from approaching the election tribunal, says the APC candidate.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Plateau, Nentawe Yilwatda, said nobody could pressurise him against challenging the outcome of the 18 March governorship election at the tribunal.

Mr Yilwatda said this in a statement signed by Generation Next Campaign Council spokesperson, Shittu Bamayi, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos.

The governorship candidate advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stay away from him until the election petition tribunal completed its sittings in the state.

"A newspaper report and rumours have it that talks are on to stop the party from going to the tribunal.

"No amount of pressure would stop us from challenging the outcome of the March 18 governorship election.

"The Electoral Act of 2022 gives an aggrieved party the right to go to the tribunal where there is a perceived injustice or illegality during the election.

"It is therefore not out of place for us to proceed to the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the election in the face of glaring electoral malfeasance perpetrated on that fateful day," he said.

He emphasised that for the PDP to think that exerting unnecessary pressure and sending emissaries would make the APC withdraw the case from the tribunal, is just a fallacy.

According to him, no amount of sugar-coated promises and enticements would make the APC and its candidate betray the trust and confidence entrusted to them by the people of the state.

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Mr Yilwatda advised the PDP to concentrate on putting up its defence if at all it has any, rather than embarking on a wild goose chase, which at end of the day, would not yield any result.

He emphatically stated that the APC had harvested enough evidence and witnesses to present at the tribunal to prove that the governorship election was massively rigged in favour of the PDP.

But PDP Publicity Secretary, John Akans, described the allegations as unfounded and laughable.

Mr Akans said that his party won the election and was not afraid of meeting anyone challenging the outcome.

The publicity secretary said that his party and its governor-elect, Caleb Mutfwang, believed in the unity, peace and progress of Plateau.

According to him, it was on such premise that Mr Mutfwang extended an olive branch to those that contested against him.

"That magnanimity does not in any way amount to pressuring whoever wants to challenge the election to change his/her mind.

"We are not the ones that advised them to go to tribunal, why should we be the ones to pressurise them against continuing with their case?

"They claim that they have evidence to nullify the election, we have ours and we are ever ready to meet them at the tribunal," he stressed.

(NAN)
Nairobi  House Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah has added his voice on reports of salary delays in government confirming March salaries for lawmakers in the bicameral Parliament were delayed for about a week.

Ichung'wah, while reacting to comments by his minority counterpart who suggested payment of salaries was still pending, stated on Saturday that lawmakers in the National Assembly and the Senate received their salaries on April 5 and 6.

He spoke even as government remained tight-lipped to on the scale of a cash crunch said to have affected several departments in government as President William Ruto's administrations works to avert a debt crisis.

The Kikuyu Member of Parliament chided House Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi advising him to check his account and find better ways of managing his debts.

Debt distress

Ichung'wah sarcastically suggested personal debts had wiped out Wandayi's March salary.

"Maybe your salary was wiped out by personal debts like our national revenues are wiped out by that DEBT HOLE the handshake regime put us in," he added.

Ichung'wah appeared to confirm a fiscal crisis in government albeit blaming it on President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration which enjoyed the political support of opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Earlier in the day, economist David Ndii who chairs Ruto's Council of Economic Advisors confirmed that government was spending as much as 60 per cent of revenue on debt servicing.

Ndii said the National Treasury was grappling with "weekly maturities of domestic debt held by banks and pension funds", obligations he said commulatively added up to 80 per cent of debt service.

The closely-spaced maturity of domestic debt combined with unpaid subsidies under Kenyatta's administration, he said, had compounded the crisis.

Kenya debt to GDP ration had risen to a high of 69 per cent in 2022 before marginally declining to 67.6 per cent so far in 2023.

The opposition has however accused Ruto's administration which has cut subsidy spending as part of a plan to scale down on debt accumulation of being insensitive to the needs of the public.

Some wondered why, even after dropping subsidies, government was unable to meet its obligations on payment of salaries.

In his comments on government's liquidity situation, Wandayi had accused the Ruto administration of hiding from Kenyans the sad state of affairs that the country is in.

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Revenue audit

Wandayi called for an audit of the Kenya Revenue Authority's (KRA) revenue collection and management systems to root out pilferage which he cited as the cause of the crises.

He blamed "criminals at KRA are collecting and pocketing taxes as the incompetents at the National Treasury also skim off the revenue while failing to come up with sound policies for cash flow."

Wandayi said county governments were also struggling to pay salaries, a situation he said is posing a huge challenge to service delivery.

He suggested a parliamentary inquiry to interrogate the matter.

"We need to take a close look at the operations of individuals and systems at the National Treasury, the Central Bank of Kenya and the Kenya Revenue Authority and compel testimony and the production of documents with a view to establishing what has gone wrong," he said.

Wandayi blamed corruption, tribalism, nepotism, incompetence and theft at critical revenue collection points and what he described as wrong spending priorities.
In a newly released book penned by Uganda's first gorilla veterinarian Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, she hinted on the role that Rwanda had in her early days of getting into the profession.

ALSO READ: Treating mountain gorillas: The story of Dr. Julius Nziza

Kalema-Zikusoka, 53, is a celebrated gorilla vet who won the Whitley Gold Award in 2009, in addition to being named a United Nations Environment Programme's Champion of the Earth for Science and Innovation for her work with the One Health initiative in 2021.

Titled "Walking with Gorillas: The Journey of an African Wildlife Vet," the book tells the remarkable story of her animal-loving childhood to her career protecting endangered mountain gorillas and more wild animals.

It takes the reader on a journey with Kalema-Zikusoka, from her early days as a student in Uganda, enduring the assassination of her father during a military coup, to her veterinarian education in England to establishing the first veterinary department for the Ugandan government to founding Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), one of the first organizations in the world that enable people to coexist with wildlife through improving the health and wellbeing of both.

In one of the chapters, she says her first experience of treating wild gorillas was in Rwanda.

Having graduated from the U.K and returned to her native Uganda as a young wildlife vet in the 1990s, she was invited by Liz Macfie who was then the Uganda country director of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) to go with her to Rwanda to rescue an infant gorilla from a snare.

"Because Liz was living in Kabale, a six-hour drive from Kampala, I got on a public bus to meet her at their offices before we drove ten kilometers to Gatuna at the Uganda and Rwanda border," she narrates.

When she got to Kabale, Liz collected her from the bus station, and they crossed the border to Rwanda.

"These were the green undulating hills where the late Dr. Dian Fossey had set up a long-term study of the mountain gorillas. Though the director of the Office rwandais du tourisme et des parcs nationaux (ORTPN) mainly spoke French, I was able to pick up his comment that I looked too young to be a veterinary officer," she recollects.

They stayed in Kigali for that night. The following morning, they got up early and collected Dr. Tony Mudakikwa, a Rwandan vet who was working with the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP). After this, they headed to the wild to save the infant gorilla.

ALSO READ: Rwanda extends gorilla trekking promotional prices

"It was my first veterinary intervention with wild gorillas. I had been involved in treating captive animals at London Zoo, but not in the wild. When we got to the park headquarters at the base of the Volcano National Park, we gathered together some rangers, trackers, and porters to carry the veterinary equipment," she recounts.

The equipment included a dart pistol and blowpipe with carbon dioxide cartridges to power the pistol, pliers to cut the snare, and a vet kit containing thermometers, stethoscopes, darts, syringes, needles, anesthetic drugs, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics along with cotton balls, surgical kit, suture material, masks and gloves.

"We started to hike up the mountain. After one hour, we found the gorillas. Immediately the trackers started to make the comforting grunts with which I had become familiar in Bwindi. The Virunga mountain gorillas were slightly larger than the Bwindi mountain gorillas and more habituated, enabling us to get much closer."

"The trackers showed us the snared infant gorilla, about four years old, that had a rope cut into his lower arm, a devastating effect of poaching, even if the snare was not intended for the gorillas, but for duiker and bush pigs that people like to eat."

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Liz and Tony prepared the dart while Kalema-Zikusoka passed on to them the syringe and needle as well as the anesthetic drug that they had to use. They walked in single file toward the gorillas, with Liz and Tony leading the team.

They successfully accomplished the mission of rescuing the infant gorilla, despite the fact that it involved challenges like having to keep its protective family members away, while the treatment was being administered.

From such beginnings, Kalema-Zikusooka has gone on to be a top wildlife vet in Africa and with her experience, she is an asset for the mountain conservation efforts in the three countries where they are found - Rwanda, Uganda and the DR Congo.
India, 10th April, 2023: India ITME Society announces ITME AFRICA & M.E. 2023 - a unique and exclusive business event with the theme Prosperity through Textile Technology & Engineering. The 2nd edition ITME Africa & M.E. is to be held from 30th Nov  2nd December 2023, at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.

In ways, both subtle and obvious, textiles made our world. It is the right tool for livelihood, prosperity, and creativity for both genders across cultures and geography, weaving cultures, communities, and nations together. Thats the base for ITME Africa & M.E. 2023 - A signature event by the India ITME Society. Not just creating business, but harmony and prosperity together.

ITME Africa & M.E. 2023 is a catalyst striving to transform the textile industry of Africa & Middle East in the coming decades by opening up unlimited opportunities for business, sourcing, collaboration, and investment in the Textiles, Textile Engineering, Ancillary & Allied Industries.

Why Africa, Why Kenya?

Despite an enormous untapped potential for trade expansion with Africa & M.E, presently trade with these regions is limited to certain sectors only. There is enormous potential & opportunity and this is the right time and right phase.

India, today is the 2nd largest Textile industry globally and has a strong base in Textile engineering having indigenous companies as well as multinational manufacturing in India. Thus India is well-positioned as a partner to improve the production and export capacities of the emerging Textile Industry of Africa & M.E. With the growing importance of South-South cooperation, Indias expertise can be leveraged to build the textile industry in Africa through the sharing of knowledge and technology.

Along with promoting trade, and investment, creating a business-friendly environment and vibrant private sector, this exhibition focuses on working in partnership with the government, business community, and other stakeholders. This unique and exclusive business facilitator shall open up an entire continent of new opportunities facilitating business connections with Ethiopia, Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Jordan, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Djibouti, Eritrea, and other Countries in the Middle East.

With over 80 years of development and the fastest-growing economy with growing Textile Technology in the African continent, Kenya is on the right path to becoming Africas Textile and Apparel Hub. Kenya is a major country of the African Union & prominent member of AFTA, Nairobi, the capital of Kenya shall be the apt city to host this international business & technology event in December 2023, thus facilitating access to Textile Technology, Skill development opportunities, Technology transfer for the whole of the continent. With this, it shall strengthen its position as a pioneer in the modernization of its textile industry and position itself as a pivot for Textile technology upgradation for Africa & M.E focusing on new chapters such as

 Cotton Seed & Cotton Farming Technology & Equipment,

 Machinery related to Engineering Products,

 Home Textile Products

 Associated Goods and Services for Textile Industry

 Technical Information Services, Educational Research Institutes & COEs.

Online bookings open from 3rd April 2023 at 1300 hrs (IST), India ITME Society welcomes you to the 2nd Series of the strategic International business event ITME Africa & M.E. 2023.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
After the end of the BJP Chief Election Committee (CEC) meeting on Sunday, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai said that the party will announce the list of candidates for the assembly polls in a day or two. Karnataka Assembly polls: CM Bommai to contest from Shiggaon constituency

CM Bommai also announced that he is contesting from the Shiggaon constituency.

Also Read - Dissent brews in Congress over Karnataka candidates list

Talking to the media persons, Basavraj Bommai said, "We discussed the overall list for the Karnataka elections and probably we will sit again tomorrow. The list will be announced tomorrow or the day after that. I am contesting from the Shiggaon constituency".

Senior BJP leaders on Sunday attended the CEC meeting for the Karnataka Assembly elections scheduled to be held next month at the party headquarters in the national capital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP Chief JP Nadda, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi came to attend the meeting.

Earlier, on Saturday, Amit Shah held a meeting at BJP president Nadda's residence in the national capital to discuss and finalise the list of candidates for the May 10 polls.

Karnataka BJP president Nalinkumar Kateel, former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and other leaders were also present at Nadda's residence.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, the BJP emerged as the largest single party in the last Assembly elections, winning 104 seats, with the Congress winning 80 and the JD(S) 37 seats.

The elections for the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly will be held on May 10, and the counting of votes for the Assembly will be held on May 13.
Amid stiff competition between him and senior leader Siddaramiah for the chief ministerial post in the event of Congress winning the Assembly polls, Karnataka Congress unit president D K Shivakumar's attempts to bring AICC chief M Mallikarjun Kharge's name into the race, has raised eyebrows within party circles. Karnataka Cong chief backing Kharge for CM post sparks debate over Dalit at helm

Also Read - Congress MP's suspension gross insult, you chose to ignore: Kharge to Dhankhar

The KPCC chief's move to endorse Kharge, is being seen by some as an attempt by him to checkmate Siddaramaiahs prospects, by reigniting the debate on 'Dalit CM' and 'native versus migrant' within the party. Shivakumar's statements that he would "love" to work under Kharge if he becomes the Chief Minister and that there are voices within the party that "injustice" has happened to the veteran leader in the past, has got tongues wagging among many in the state Congress. However, he has maintained that the party's decision is final. "He (Kharge) is our senior leader and AICC President. He has not asked for it (CM post), Congress should come to power is his only desire. He is a senior leader and there are some voices that say that injustice has happened to him in the past," Shivakumar said in response to a question regarding bringing Kharge's name to the fore.

Speaking to reporters in Sringeri on Monday, he said, "we should abide by what the party says. Kharge is at the helm of the party. I will leave it to the party, Siddaramaiah and others too will abide by the party. The party is important." Both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are nursing chief ministerial ambitions in the event of the Congress coming to power and have often indulged in a game of political one upmanship. It all began with Shivakumar's reply to a question about him backing off from the race if Kharge wants to become the CM, saying that, "He (Kharge) is my leader, he is my AICC president, I would love to work under him. He is an asset to the state and the country...I will abide by the party's decision, he is 20 years senior to me.....I'm committed to his wish."

Later, while defending his statement, he said, "He (Kharge) is a senior, he is our AICC president, if we don't support him and his leadership, are we human? Party coming to power is important, not us." When questioned on Shivakumar's statements, Siddaramaiah on Sunday maintained, everyone will abide by the decision of the high command. According to party sources, Kharge lost out in the race to become Chief Ministers thrice -- in 1999 to S M Krishna, 2004 to N Dharam Singh and in 2013 to Siddaramaiah.

Some party functionaries believe the possibilities of Kharge returning to state politics are very limited, given the positions and responsibilities he holds. "He as AICC President has a bigger role to play in and ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, like leading the party and preparing it for elections and forging opposition unity, among others," a party functionary said. However, Shivakumar's statements regarding Kharge, a 80-year old leader from Dalit community, has once again triggered a debate in the Congress over "Dalit CM", with other senior leaders from the community like G Parameshwara and K H Muniyappa in the poll fray. Karnataka has never had a Dalit CM, and there has been pressure from a section within the Congress to consider this, as there are several capable leaders in the party from the community.

Throwing his hat into the ring, Parameshwara had recently said he is among the chief ministerial aspirants in the event of the party coming to power. Parameshwara was Deputy Chief Minister during Congress-JD(S) coalition government led by H D Kumaraswamy, and was the longest-serving KPCC chief (eight years); while Muniyappa is veteran party leader and seven-time MP from Kolar. Also, with Siddaramaiah having already been in the CM post once between 2013-18, there are voices within the Congress that someone "native" or "original" Congressman should be made the chief minister this time. Siddaramaiah had joined Congress in 2006 after being expelled from JD(S).
Annoyed by slow procurement and tardy lifting of wheat in most mandis in Haryana has left farmers a harried lot. The farmers in the Kaithal district held a protest alleging that their wheat was not being procured by government agencies on the minimum support price (MSP). (HT Photo)

With the harvesting of the wheat at its peak and arrivals picking up pace, there is a glut in most of the mandis across the state, with farmers grappling with not only poor procurement but slow lifting, which has created a space problem.

My wheat of four and a half acres was harvested two days ago but my artiya has asked me not to bring wheat in the mandi as there is no space and procurement is slow, said Krishan Lal, a farmer who had come to see the arrangements at Ladwa mandi in Kurukshetra district.

The farmers in the Kaithal district held a protest alleging that their wheat was not being procured by government agencies on the minimum support price (MSP).

Protesting under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni), the farmers blocked the Jind-Kaithal road. The protesting farmers alleged that their wheat was not being procured and they are being harassed by government officials. Later, following an assurance from the officials, the farmers ended the protest.

Khattar, Hooda and Dalal visit Gharaunda mandi

Gharaunda grain market in Karnal district witnessed back-to-back visits by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, agriculture minister JP Dalal, and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Dalal visited the Gharaunda grain market hours before Hoodas visit and gave instructions to the officials.

During his visit, Hooda expressed his displeasure over the slow procurement in the mandis and sought relaxation in the procurement norms.

Hooda alleged that due to the wrong policies of the government, the farmers are being victimized. Earlier, mustard growers had to sell their produce below the MSP and now the wheat farmers were facing problems in selling their produce on MSP. The intention of the government is clear the government wants to harass farmers in the name of an online portal, higher moisture content and discolouring of grains. The farmers have reported the loss to around 17 lakh acres due to rains, but to date, the governments committee had not collected the data of the damaged crops yet, Hooda said.

He demanded that a compensation of 25,000 to 50,000 per acre should be given to farmers for crop loss, and a bonus of 500 per quintal should also be given on the MSP.

He said that farmers should be given relaxation in the limit of broken grains, small grains, moisture, lustre loss and discolouring.

Will procure every single grain, says Dalal

Haryana agriculture minister JP Dalal, who also visited the Gharaunda grain market, said that the government will ensure that the farmers do not face any problems in selling their produce, and the payment will be disbursed into the bank accounts of farmers within 72 hours of procurement.

Over the allegations of poor procurement, the minister said that due to unseasonal rains, wheat arriving in the mandis has higher moisture content but the state government has requested the Central Government for relaxation in the rules, which have been accepted. and now the farmer will not face any problem in selling his crop.

As per the officials monitoring procurement operations out of the total 6 lakh MT wheat that arrived in the mandis of the state till Monday, 3.21 lakh MT has been procured on the MSP by the government agencies.

A few hours after Hoodas visit, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar also made a surprise visit to the Gharaunda grain market.

During the visit, the CM inspected the procurement operations and issued the required instructions to the officials to ensure hassle-free procurement of wheat. The CM said that around 10 to 20% loss has been reported due to rains and a special girdawari is underway. He said that the arrival of wheat in the mandis will also help to assess the crop damage.

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Tension prevailed at Sandal Kalan village in Haryanas Sonepat district on Monday, a day after a mob of 20 armed men allegedly attacked people offering prayers and vandalised a mosque. Tension prevailed at Sandal Kalan village in Haryanas Sonepat district on Monday, a day after a mob of 20 armed men allegedly attacked people offering prayers and vandalised a mosque. (Twitter)

Police said nine people were injured in the incident that took place around 9pm on Sunday when people were offering Ramzan prayers in the one-room mosque, built by community funding.

The armed men were residents of the same village, they said, adding the police have recovered CCTV footage of the area in which the attackers can be seen carrying bamboo sticks and roaming the streets freely.

Nine of the injured were admitted to civil hospital in Sonepat. Two of them were discharged after treatment and the remaining seven have been referred to Bhagat Phool Singh medical college for women at Khanpur Kalan in Sonepat.

Security was tightened in the village. Sonepat police commissioner B Satheesh Balan visited the village and said that an FIR has been registered against 18 accused by name and other unknown persons under various sections of the Indian penal code pertaining to hurting religious sentiments. 10 people have been arrested while six have been detained. An investigation is underway, he said.

Out of the 10 arrested, three accused- Punit, Sumit and Harbir have been taken on one-day remand after producing them in Sonepat court. Strict action will be taken against the accused and the security will be provided to the families of injured, until they ask to revoke it after restoration of peace. Nearly 70 cops have been deployed in the village to maintain peace and both the communities urged police to take strict measures against the accused persons and ensure that not a single innocent person faces police action, Balan added.

Balan said it was an unprovoked attack and there was no previous incident which would have caused tension between communities.

One of the injured, Sabir Ali, said the attackers suddenly barged into the mosque and started abusing them. Then, they attacked us with sticks and sharp-edged weapons. They did not spare women and children. This is an attempt to create a communal divide. We respect every religion and had never seen such an incident in the village earlier, he added.

Both communities hold panchayat

The members of both the communities conducted a panchayat on Monday evening and unanimously agreed to restore peace in the area and help police investigation so that accused get strict punishment and attempts to create communal violence foiled.

Second incident in Sonepat

This is the second incident in which Muslim men have been attacked on Sonepat. On March 31, the police had arrested five persons for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag atop a mosque in Sonepats Kharkhauda. The police had booked 15-20 persons after right-wing activists barged into the mosque and attacked Muslim men who were offering prayers. The incident occurred when the accused were taking out a procession on the occasion of Ram Navami.
A Nihang Sikh, part of the ongoing Quami Insaaf Morcha near YPS Chowk, was grievously injured after he was attacked by fellow Nihangs with swords following an altercation, near a park in Sector 52 on Saturday night. The victim, identified Babbar Singh alias Chanddi Nihang, 29, of Manimajra, has received a deep cut on his left wrist, besides two wounds on arm, due to the sword attack. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The victim, identified Babbar Singh alias Chanddi Nihang, 29, of Manimajra, has received a deep cut on his left wrist, besides two wounds on arm, due to the sword attack.

Police have arrested a Nihang Sikh and booked eight others for attempt-to-murder, rioting, unlawful assembly and criminal conspiracy. The accused have been identified as Nihang Mela Singh, 38, who is under arrest, and Fateh Singh, Jung Singh, Mor Singh, Rajput, Jassa, and three unidentified persons, who have been booked. As per the police, all nihangs involved in the clash are chakravarti (those who keep travelling and do not stay at a place).

Police said that the incident took place following a heated argument between Mela Singh and Babbar Singh. Both are friends and Mela Singh had accused the latter of not supporting him.

Mataur station house officer Gabbar Singh said that following the argument, Mela Singh and his accomplices opened attack on the victim and eventually cut his wrist with a sword.

After receiving information, police rushed to the spot and took the victim to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), where he underwent surgery. His statement was recorded on Sunday.

PGIMER sources, meanwhile, revealed that the victim fled the Advanced Trauma Centre but a cop posted at PGI police chowki insisted that he had only gone home to collect his clothes. It is pertinent to mention here that the hospital does not allow outside clothes in the surgery ward, as they provide sterilised dresses for patients.

The Quami Insaaf Morcha has been protesting at the YPS Chowk since the beginning of the year, demanding the release of Sikh prisoners.

Earlier, the body of Surjit Singh, a Nihang Sikh from Ludhiana, was found in one of the tents set up by the Morcha.
The leader of opposition in Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa, has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the claims made in a video put out by a Delhi female advocate involving her younger sister and Punjab advocate general, Vinod Ghai. The leader of opposition in Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa, in a letter to Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit, on Monday demanded that Vinod Ghai be removed as the states AG.

Bajwa, in a letter to Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit, on Monday demanded that Ghai be removed as the states AG.

The 30-minute video was put out on YouTube on Sunday afternoon by the Delhi lawyer, whose younger sister is an associate of Ghai for nearly four years.

She is not associated with the AG office but is one of the lawyers dealing with the private practice of Ghai.

In the video, the Delhi lawyer alleged that Ghai had an extramarital affair with her younger sister and that her family was being threatened as they are opposed to it. After the video was shared on social media, by Monday morning rumours started doing the rounds of Ghais resignation. However, the Punjab government, in a tweet in the afternoon, referring to one such online portal, said that it was fake news.

Bajwas letter stated that the Delhi advocate has made startling revelations regarding the conduct of the advocate general, which needs to be investigated.

(If true) these facts are not a mere commission of offence but also involve blatant and glaring acts of abuse of authority involving all sorts of shameful acts against a lady by intimidating her family, the letter claimed.

The Delhi lawyer, when contacted, admitted to putting out the video and said that so far, she has not taken it up with the police or authorities. After the video was put out, my sister contacted us and said that she has snapped all ties with Ghai. If at some point we feel threatened, we will fight it legally, the Delhi lawyer said.

Ghai and Delhi lawyers younger sister did not respond to repeated calls and messages.
Nairobi  Shujaa marked a six-point improvement at the Singapore Sevens this weekend, where they picked seven points after a 10th place finish, but it was still not enough to hoist them off the relegation zone.

The Kenya Sevens boys improved from the single point they picked from Hong Kong last weekend where they failed to win a single match.

They are still however perched at 13th in the standings with 37 points, 11 behind Spain, who beat them in the ninth place final in Singapore.

Against Spain, Nicolas Nieto and Jaimie Mata's twin tries, both converted by the latter had given Spain a 14-0 lead, before Alvin 'Buffa' Otieno drew one back with his 50th career try for Shujaa.

After the break, Manu Morena's try converted by Mata and Alejandro Laforgo's fourth for Spain put them in the steering wheel and not even Edmund Anya's try two minutes to time could engineer a comeback.

Shujaa had dropped to the ninth place play-off after losing all their pool matches. They had gone down 26-19 to France in their Pool C opener before losing narrowly 21-19 to USA in their second match. They were then beaten 33-17 by Uruguay.

They however redeemed themselves in the ninth place play-off when they beat Canada 28-14 in the quarter finals and then thrashing Japan 40-7 in the semis.

The next leg of the series will be in Toulouse, France, on May 12-14. This leg will be pivotal for Shujaa. They need to finish above 12th place to avoid the threat of playing the relegation play off.

However, they need to dig deep as they are 12 points away from 11th spot, currently occupied by Uruguay.

For the relegation criteria, the team ranked 15th at the end of the Toulouse leg, currently Japan, will be automatically relegated.

The teams ranked 12th, 13th and 14th at the end of Toulouse (Currently Spain, Kenya and Canada) will enter a four-team relegation play-off together with the Challenger Series 2023 winners heading into the 11th and final round of the Series in London.

The matches will be played on round robin format and the top two will play a final, with the winner surviving the chop while the other three are relegated.
Wheat purchase began on a slow note in Bathinda, the largest rabi-growing area of southwest Punjab, on Monday even as harvesting of the crop is yet to gain momentum in the region. on Monday, 60,000-tonne grain arrived in state mandis, which took the total arrivals to 82,000 tonnes. Procurement in the state started in 1,872 mandis on April 1. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

According to information gathered from different districts, most grain markets across the semi-arid region lacked much purchase activity on Monday. Officials attribute the delay in harvesting to unseasonal spells of rain and hope harvesting will scale up by this weekend.

Bathinda district mandi officer Gurvidner Singh said on the first day of purchase on Monday, 48-tonne wheat was procured by government agencies.

We have recorded an arrival of 1,919-tonne wheat at 232 mandis and temporary purchase yards in the district so far. As the days temperature has started rising, we expect harvesting to pick up in the next two to three days. All arrangements are in place for smooth purchase of the produce, he said.

Wheat grower Jagdev Singh from the districts Katar Singhwala village said on Monday, his crop recorded a moisture content of 11% that was within the optimum level despite untimely rain. Luckily, our region did not face much impact of weather. But farmers in several other parts of the state fear losses due to untimely showers, he said.

Muktsar chief agriculture officer (CAO) Gurpreet Singh said the district had hardly seen wheat harvesting and it may commence later this week.

Muktsar is among the worst-hit districts after the downpour and hailstorm. Crop loss assessment is underway, and exact loss of yield cant be predicted before girdawari, he added.

As per Punjab mandi board data, Muktsar recorded arrival of only 210-tonne wheat while less than 70-tonne wheat reached Moga mandis. In Ferozepur, farmers have brought only 900-tonne produce to mandis and Fazilka has reported arrival of about 900-tonne wheat.

Mansa district recorded an arrival of 8,200-tonne wheat whereas only 40 tonne were purchased. CAO Satpal Singh said the arrival trend indicated slow harvesting.

A central team visited Mansa on Sunday to collect samples. At this stage, the moisture content in unprocessed wheat may be higher due to the impact of rain and farmers should bring in dried crop, said the official.

Moga CAO Manjit Singh said the random moisture level of fresh stock was measured at 14% and farmers are being advised to keep wheat in the open to bring down moisture content.

Harvesting is going on at a slow pace as farms are drying up. As the region has witnessed bright days, we hope harvesting will gain momentum from this week, he added.

Meanwhile, on Monday, 60,000-tonne grain arrived in state mandis, which took the total arrivals to 82,000 tonnes. Procurement in the state started in 1,872 mandis on April 1. The arrivals in the current season are way behind the last years corresponding arrivals of 5.75-lakh tonne wheat. This season, rain, hailstorm and winds during the maturing stage damaged the crop and also delayed harvesting. The arrivals so far have been reported in Nawanshahr, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Muktsar, Faridkot, Moga, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar and Mohali mandis.
A thief decamped with 5 lakh in cash and gold ornaments from a house in Sunny Enclave, Kharar, on April 7. The house belonged to a doctor couple and a case was registered in the matter on Sunday. A case under Sections 380 and 454 at the Kharar Sadar police station on Sunday. (iStock)

Homeowner Dr Stalenpreet Singh said the incident was caught on CCTV cameras installed at the house. The thief was wearing a yellow t-shirt and entered the house by pushing the window AC in. The thief knew that my wife and I were not in the house, he added.

Kharar deputy superintendent of police Rupinderdeep said that the police have not ruled out the possibility of the thief being an insider and ensured that the case will be cracked soon.

A case under Sections 380 (theft) and 454 (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment) at the Kharar Sadar police station on Sunday.
Congress on Monday hit out at Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar SIngh Dhami over his land jihad comment and said that action against the encroachments should not be religion based while accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the state of setting a narrative to disturb the communal harmony for political gains. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami recently said that government will demolish all the mazars (tombs) and other structures illegally built in the state (Twitter Photo)

Addressing a function in Kaladhungi in Nainital on Friday, Dhami said the government has identified more than 1,000 places where such illegal structures have been built and it will demolish all the mazars (tombs) and other structures built illegally.

Also Read: Wont allow land jihad: Uttarakhand CM promises demolition of illegal mazars

We are not against anyone but we wont allow illegal encroachments, we wont allow land jehad to proceed here. The state government has identified around 1000 places where mazars and other structures have been illegally built. We will not allow appeasement of any kind here. We are going to stop appeasement, Dhami said on Friday.

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).

Slamming the BJP, state Congress chief Karan Mahara said, Such statements should not be given much attention. The BJP is trying to build a narrative of divisions between Hindus and Muslims before elections for political gains. In my view, the decades-old places of worship of all religions should be given recognition because there is the significance of Vanaprastha Ashram in Sanatan Dharma.

In Doiwala, there is a devi mandir on forest land. Can we demolish it? he asked.

Responding to this, BJP spokesperson Suresh Joshi said, The way the Congress and opposition parties are making statements about the state governments action against illegal encroachments is laughable. Their leaders say action should be taken against places of worship of all religions if they are illegally built on government land. In Devbhoomi, mazars cant be compared to temples. Its a land of temples and Gods.

Congress spokesperson Garima Mehra Dasauni said that the ruling BJP has been resorting to religious polarisation before elections for political gains since they have failed on every front. Encroachment is encroachment. Whether it is personal or institutional. It should be treated like that only, she added.

In December last year, the forest officials started a crackdown on illegal religious structures and demolished 15 tombs in the Dehradun forest division. According to senior forest officials, around 293 religious structures had come up in the protected forests.

The state government over the last two years has been acting tough on the encroachments over government land, conversions and demographic changes in the state.

In February this year, the state government announced the constitution of a three-member committee for surveying the madrasas operating in the state.

In September last year, CM Dhami said that the state government would survey the madrasas in the state. All kinds of things coming to the fore about madrasas from various parts of the state. So, a survey of the madrasas in the state is important. It will make the clear present status of the madrasas in the state.

Also Read: Will enact laws to prevent love jihad, land jihad, promises Amit Shah in Assam

In August last year, on the directions of the chief minister, Uttarakhand director general of police (DGP) Ashok Kumar directed all district police in-charges to identify people who are illegally occupying government/private land and buildings and take strict action against them.

In September 2021, expressing serious concerns over demographic changes in certain areas of the state and possible attempts to vitiate communal harmony in the state, the Uttarakhand government issued an order directing the state director general of police (DGP), all district magistrates and senior superintendents of police to constitute district level committees, prepare a list of outsiders with a criminal background and keep a tab on those involved in illegal land deals.

Uttarakhand has a 13.9% Muslim population as per the 2011 census, mainly in the Terai area. Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts have over 34% and 22% Muslim populations, respectively.
To improve connectivity between Delhi Universitys North Campus region and colonies located on the other end of the Najafgarh drain, the Public Works Department (PWD) plans to take up a bridge repair and redevelopment project for 10 bridges between Timarpur and Bharat Nagar. According to PWD officials, the bridges across the Najafgarh drain are old and are in need of urgent repair.

The infrastructure arm of the Delhi government has invited bids for the 9.7 crore project that is expected to be undertaken over the next eight months, a senior PWD official said. According to officials of the department, these bridges are old and in need of urgent repair. Two of these bridges are located along Timarpur where the Najafgarh drain flows into the Yamuna, one on Mall Road, two bridges along Maurice Nagar, one along Vijay Nagar, two around GT Road crossing near Shakti Nagar and two along the Bharat Nagar. The bridges are located along the 6-km stretch of the Najafgarh drain starting from Shastri Nagar and ending at Timarpur just ahead of Sur ghat. The repair and widening of these bridges will help the residents living in the surrounding neighbourhoods, a senior PWD official said.

The department will undertake re-carpeting of the bituminous surface, repair of sidewalls and incorporate design features to prevent any waterlogging. The bridge surfaces are worn out and the potholes are leading to disruption in traffic besides increasing chances of accidents. The repair work will also include the re-strengthening of the concrete structure and piers, the PWD official quoted above said.

The department also plans to dismantle existing expansion joints and replace them with new strip-seal joints. Expansion joints between concrete deck slabs are provided for thermal expansion and contraction of the decks as well for accommodating movements due to traffic on the bridge.

A second PWD official said that the repair work is expected to take around eight months as the department will have to make arrangements for the diversion of water around the piers and concrete structures under the water surface by installing sand bags and constantly pumping out excess water. Out of the ten crossings, four bridges carry large volumes of traffic at Mall road crossing, GT karnal road crossing, Swami Narayan Marg and Vijay Nagar marg. Most of the bridges on Najafgarh drain are 20 to 30 years old and they face structural wear and tear during the monsoon season when the water levels rise, the official added. The same stretch is also witnessing largescale clean up works under the Yamuna cleaning project along with beautification work of banks and bridges along its pathway.

The Najafgarh drain, also formerly referred to as Sahibi river, starts from Rajasthan and flows straight into the Yamuna via Najafgarh. The waterbody is also at the centre of governments plan to decongest the west Delhi belt. Last November, the Delhi government said that it intends to develop a 27km road between Chhawla and Basai Darapur along the drain at a cost of 350 crore.

Even though the project is in the nascent planning stages, the road is expected to benefit residents of hundreds of colonies including Punjabi Bagh, Paschim Vihar, Nilothi, Baprola, Kakrola, Najafgarh, Dwarka, Vikaspuri, Uttam Nagar, Janakpuri, Chhawla. The proposed 27km road is proposed to be linked to the Inner Ring Road at Basaidarapur, Outer Ring Road at Keshavpur, Pankha Road at Vikaspuri, Najafgarh Road at Kakrola, Dwarka Expressway and several important roads leading to the airport. The project to build a corridor along the Najafgarh drain was also floated in 2012 during the Congress government but it had been met with resistance from environmentalists.
More than 30% of primary schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) require major repair work, varying from fixing broken floors, exposed wall beams and leaking roofs to improving the condition of unhygienic washrooms and providing adequate classroom infrastructure, an assessment by the civic body has found. MCD operates 1,578 primary schools running from 1,185 building complexes, which cater to around 8.67 lakh children in multiple shifts. (HT PHOTO)

MCD operates 1,578 primary schools running from 1,185 building complexes, which cater to around 8.67 lakh children in multiple shifts.

Also read: MCD issues 30 directives to improve security at Delhi schools

According to the assessment by MCDs education department undertaken last year, around 368 sites are in need of major building repair ( 31.05%) and 198 buildings need minor repair work (16.7%).

Only around half of the buildings (51.05%) were found to be in good condition, said the MCD report which was submitted to Delhi government on April 4.

A bulk of the schools which are in need for urgent repair are located in South zone (59 schools). The remaining such sites are in central zone (53), Najafgarh (36 ), north Delhis Keshavpuram zone (35 schools) and Shahdara South zone (33 ) in east Delhi.

Also read: Arvind Kejriwal's extra classes assurance after BJP's mark sheet taunt

The civic body estimates that it will require around 102.4 crore for undertaking the major and minor repair works in the schools, while another 60 crore will be required for developing new buildings at 14 locations.

Municipal primary school teachers unions rue that the dilapidated school infrastructure, besides the absence of security guards and safety provisions. Kuldeep Khatri, who heads Shikshak Nyay Manch Nagar Nigam, one of the municipal teachers unions, said that the presence of such schools is much more widespread in outer areas of north Delhi.

Toilet complexes are terrible and unfit for use at many sites while iron rods are exposed and tiles are broken in classrooms. We have such schools in Rohini Sector-3, Sultanpuri C-6 and C-4, Pitampura. A complete audit should be carried out to assess the safety levels, as some of these schools are not very old, Khatri said.

A surprise inspection on Monday by education minister Atishi and Delhi mayor Shelly Oberoi found a primary school in a similar condition at Wazirabad village. The students in junior classes were found sitting on the floor, the principal was not present, the school was in extremely unhygienic condition with no drinking water, according to Oberoi.

A senior municipal corporation official said that the repair fund requirement has been presented before the Delhi government, while the civic body is also taking up regular maintenance work within limited financial resources. MCD also provides principals of the schools 75,000 to 1,25,000 annually for minor repairs. These funds were fully utilised last year, the official said.

Besides poor funds, a policy paralysis in the municipal body due to an unfinished inaugural meeting and the formation of standing committee being in limbo has also led to non-clearance of projects.

At present, MCD has CCTV cameras in 570 schools while policy proposal for installation of cameras in 615 others needs to be cleared by the standing committee. Another project to hire private security guards is waiting to be approved, the official cited above said. Last year, we identified 27 worst school buildings where special repair works are being carried out. The repair has been completed at 14 schools while it is under process at 11 locations, the official said, requesting anonymity.

During the inspection, it was found that children in one class are forced to sit on the floor as there are no desks available. In another classroom, half of the room is filled with old broken desks. The classroom floor was also broken, and there were mosquitoes breeding in one corner..., her office said in a tweet.

Education minister Atishi blamed the schools condition on the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party being in power in MCD for 15 years. The neglect shown towards the school is a reflection of the careless attitude towards the future of our children, she said.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that Atishi and Oberois criticism of the existing MCD school infrastructure is politically biased. Keeping in mind the financial constraints MCD was working under for the last eight years, the BJP did all they could to maintain MCD primary schools. MCD schools have a better pupil-teacher ratio than Delhi government schools. 90% MCD schools have well-ventilated buildings, digital classrooms with libraries, and they regularly provide books, stationary and mid-day meal to students, he said.

An MCD spokesperson did not comment on the matter.
Once the summer palace of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, Zafar Mahal in south Delhis Mehrauli is now a shadow of its glorious past. Though located only a few kilometres southwest of the Qutub Complex  a world heritage site  the palace, which is one of the last remnants of Mughal Indias architectural legacy in the Capital, is rapidly running to ruins. PREMIUM Zafar Mahal in south Delhis Mehrauli. (Photo by Vipin Kumar/ Hindustan Times)

Zafar Mahal, an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monument, was originally built by Shah Jahans grandson Akbar Shah II in 1820. It was expanded during Bahadur Shah Zafars reign, with new structures including a gateway built under him. Built using red sandstone and laid with marble, the gateway demonstrates features of the late Mughal architectural style with broad chajjas (balconies) and curved Bengali domes with alcoves on the inside. The main gateway is about 50 ft high and 12 ft wide, with a massive wooden door.

Zafar Mahal, an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monument

Maulvi Zafar Hasan, the ASI archaeologist who prepared the first list of monuments worthy of conservation in 1916, in his listing states that Bahadur Shah Zafar constructed the new gateway to facilitate the entrance of elephants.

A marble inscription at the entrance mentions its year of construction as 1264 in the Islamic calendar (1847-8 AD), along with an inscription that reads, When this high gate was strongly built as desired, the heart gave the date of its construction. May the door of Zafar (victory) remain standing. The rich history of the palace, however, is under threat, with the monument falling into disrepair. Over the years, huge sandstone slabs from the gateway have fallen off, while deep cracks run across its length. Several slabs from the ceiling of the gateway have also collapsed over time. Floral motifs on the marble portion of the gateway are broken in parts, while various parts of the gate have been vandalised with graffiti and other carvings. The interiors of the palace are a sorry sight, with plaster peeling off, broken ceilings, and caved-in stairs that have rendered some parts inaccessible. Other monuments and places of significance inside the larger palace complex also display signs of damage and decline. These include a graveyard, where several members of the royal Mughal family, such as those of Aurangzebs son Bahadur Shah I and 15th emperor Alamgir II are entombed. Praveen Singh, superintending archaeologist, ASI Delhi Circle, said he has taken serious note of the deteriorating condition of the complex and will look to repair it soon. I have asked the team to prepare an estimate and we will be directing necessary resources toward the monument. One estimate is in the works and others will be prepared. Serious efforts will be taken to fix the gaps, said Singh. Locating the structure can be a challenge for a first-time visitor  one must navigate through serpentine streets that lead up to the palace, which can only be spotted from close proximity. In the absence of signages, visitors end up relying on seeking directions from local residents, many of whom refer to Zafar Mahal as Sheesh Mahal, drawing from the belief that the structure used to once be adorned by mirrors.

It was originally built by Shah Jahans grandson Akbar Shah II in 1820

However, local residents themselves rarely visit the complex  people who drink and gamble in the area keep the families away.

Surekha, who goes by one name, said the monument is overrun with these anti-social elements. Drunkards and card players can be spotted on the premises on most days. Although guards are posted at the monument, they are not a deterrent against such people, she said. She said that despite falling under the ASIs watch, the complex has no facilities for visitors. The palace is a historical structure. It belonged to the countrys kings and should be maintained so that its historical legacy can be preserved for future generations, she added. Om Prakash, 76, who lives close to the monument, recalled that in the past, the palace would serve as the meeting point for local residents. In 1948, when we moved to Mehrauli, we used to spend most of our time here. Our houses were small so we took shelter inside the palace. We cooked food and even slept here, said Prakash. Over the years, portions of the monument collapsed but ASI did not pay serious attention. They undertook minor repairs once in a while, but they left major areas unattended. Stone slabs are missing at various places but they were never fixed, said Prakash. Jyoti Prakash, who has been living in the area for more than six decades, said, When I moved to Mehrauli after my marriage, Zafar Mahal used to have a lively atmosphere. In those days, electricity was rare. We would nap inside the palace or in the courtyard to ward off the heat. We would chop vegetables or knit sweaters to pass time, she said. Anil Kumar, who grew up in Mehrauli, said the monument has seen better days, when it was even used as a location for a movie. If the government were to spruce the palace up and promote it, more people would discover it. People should be given the incentive to visit it, otherwise it will be dead, he said.

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An undated video emerged online Monday in which a male student assaulted a female student on the campus of the Teerthanker Mahaveer University in the Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh. The incident - which erupted as the two were seated next to each other - was captured on camera. The disturbing incident was captured on video and has since been widely shared.

The video was posted on Twitter by a user identified as Manoj Sharma with this caption (translated from Hindi): "Boy thrashes medical student girl in university campus, slaps her one after the other. Before the fight, both the medical students were sitting together as seen in the viral video of Tirthankar Mahavir University campus of Thana Pakbada."

Hindustan Times cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video.

Also Read| Around 1 cr cases of crimes against women registered in last 5 years: Govt

Once the video surfaced, Moradabad Police took cognisance and replied to the tweeted clip, saying that the station house officer (SHO) at Pakbara had been directed to take the necessary action.

Pakbara Police Station SHO Manoj Kumar told Hindustan Times he does not, at this time, have any further information. However, a university official admitted that the incident did happen.

Meanwhile, many people have reacted to the video demanding action be taken.

"Will he become a doctor? Shame!" a user said.

Others made similar comments; one user recalled a scene from the Bollywood film 'Kabir Singh', in which actors Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani portrayed a similar incident. The scene had received widespread criticism for romanticising abusive behaviour in relationships.

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LUCKNOW The Varanasi and Agra discoms have invited fresh bids for the procurement of smart prepaid meters in three and two clusters, respectively, to facilitate participation of more suppliers in the bidding process so that a competitive price is found, said officials. The Lucknow discom, which was the first to cancel the smart meter tender in February, is yet to adopt the cluster route. It too has invited fresh bids but for the entire discoms and by dividing districts under it in clusters. (Pic for representation)

The Lucknow discom, which was the first to cancel the smart meter tender in February, is yet to adopt the cluster route. It too has invited fresh bids but for the entire discoms and by dividing districts under it in clusters.

In the meantime, the Meerut discom has finalised the smart meter tender to a Central government agency that was found to be the L1 (lowest one) bidder.

IntelliSmar, a government of India enterprise, has bagged the prepaid smart metering project tender in the Meerut discom after the price quoted by it in the bids was found to be the lowest and comparable with other states, UPPCL chairman M Devraj said.

Private companies too had participated in the tender process, he added.

He said after cancelling tenders due to higher price, Varanasi and Agra discoms had invited fresh bids in clusters. The lesser worth of tenders invited in clusters is expected to encourage participation of more companies in the bidding process.

Awarding smart meter tenders early is necessary for discoms to improve revenue collection and for consumers to get better services, he added.
Mumbai: On Tuesday, as Maharashtra celebrates the 196th birth anniversary of social reformer Jyotiba Phule, political parties with an eye on OBC voters are expected to pay fulsome tributes. However, a biopic planned on him by the government has not taken off even after 20 years. MAHARASHTRA CHIEF MINISTER VILASRAO DESHMUKH GARLANDING THE PORTRAIT OF MAHATMA JYOTIBA PHULE ON LATTER'S DEATH ANNIVERSARY AT A FUNCTION HELD IN MANATRALAYA,IN MUMBAI ON WEDNESDAY.ALSO SEEN WITH PICTURE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HOME KRIPA SHANKAR SINGH .HT PHOTO. HTPHOTO

The Congress-NCP government in 2003 had decided to bring out the biopic on the lines of the one on Dr B. R. Ambedkar. In the past two decades, all the four prominent parties in the state have been in power in different permutations and combinations but not one has taken the effort to make the movie a reality.

The Congress-NCP government had given the responsibility of the films production to the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) but the film could not start in 11 years till 2014, when the Congress-NCP lost power to the Shiv Sena-BJP. In 2016, the Shiv Sena-BJP government decided to take away the project from NFDC and floated tenders in 2018 to assign the task to a private production house.

The Fadnavis-led government handed over the responsibility of coordination and control of the Phule biopic project to the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR). An expert committee was formed to monitor the historical facts and other aspects of the script and actual production. In 2019 a company called Eloquence Media Pvt Ltd was selected to produce the biopic after the due procedure. But after the assembly election at the end of 2019, there was a change of power in Maharashtra and later in early 2020 the Covid-19 lockdown was declared. Since then, the project has not moved forward.

When asked about the delay in production, DGIPR officers said that the department had expedited the process and production would soon start. To speed up the film production process, we have recently disbursed the first instalment of remuneration to the production house, said Jayshree Bhoj, director-general of DGIPR. We have also sent a proposal to the government to form an expert fact-checking committee. Once it is appointed, the production will start.

Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who led the Congress-NCP government from 2010 to 2014, said, All governments from 2003 till now failed to complete the movie on Mahatma Phule on time. As far as my tenure as CM is concerned, this issue was not brought before me, maybe because at that time, the project was with NFDC. But still, I think we all are guilty in this matter. At least now the state government should correct the mistake.

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HEAD: The justice-seeker

Jyotiba Phule (1827-1890) was a great social reformer from Maharashtra in the 19th century. He founded the Satyashodhak Samaj for equal rights for people from the lower castes and worked on diverse issues of justice like the eradication of untouchability and womens education. Along with his wife, Savitribai Phule, he started the first school for girls in India (in Pune) in 1848. Later, he also opened a school for lower-caste students. He supported widow marriage and opened a home for pregnant women from the upper castes to ensure safe delivery.

Phule belonged to the Mali caste, which comes under the OBCs. He wrote a book on the exploitation of farmers and raised his voice for farmers rights and OBCs suppressed by the caste system. This made him an iconic figure for the OBCs.
Swabhiman Anchal, the 372 sq km area of Odishas Malkangiri district that became a theatre of Maoist violence between 2008 and 2021 with the area witnessing the killing of 101 civilians and 77 security personnel would now be a theatre of a different kind of shooting. Swabhiman Anchal, the 372 sq km area of Odishas Malkangiri district (HT Photo/Sourced)

Mythri Movie Makers, the Hyderabad-based film production company which produced the movie Pushpa-1 in 2021, announced that they will shoot a part of Pushpa-2, the sequel to Telugu superstar Allu Arjuns blockbuster film, in Swabhiman Anchal. The shooting will begin in May 2023.

Our senior production team comprising fight master, associate director and art director is satisfied after seeing the terrain of Swabhiman Anchal. Hantalguda, Saptadhara and Jhulapola are the locations which have been tentatively finalised for the filming of Pushpa-2, said P Venkateswara Rao, production manager, Mythri Movie Makers.

He added, We have taken permission from Malkangiri district collector and superintendent of police for shooting with drone cameras. We held a discussion with Border Security Force (BSF). Everyone was ready to cooperate in the shooting. If everything goes as per plan, the shooting could commence in May.

The team is on the location for groundwork, he said.

Pushpa-2 makers are scouting for a location, where the lorry could be seen chasing a jeep which they found in Hantalguda that saw tribal pushback against the Maoists fightback in January 2020.

Rao said about 150 to 200 people would be in Swabhiman Anchal for the shooting. However, it is not known if Allu Arjun, the main protagonist of the movie, would shoot in the region known for mountain ridges and isolated tribal habitats.

The Swabhiman Anchal was separated from mainland Odisha by the Balimela Reservoir built in the early 60s and had fallen off the development map for four decades. As Swabhiman Anchal was geographically nearer to Andhra Pradesh, Maoists made the area their base, making it impregnable for government officials.

Malkangiri became a major theatre of violence after 2008 an operation by the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh governments was launched.

Between 2008 and 2021, the district recorded 342 Maoist incidences with 101 civilians and 77 security personnel getting killed in the spiral of violence.

The Maoists suffered casualties too after the Greyhounds (police special forces unit) in October 2016 killed 30 Maoists, including several top commanders at Ramaguda village of Swabhiman Anchal.

On February 16, 2011, Maoists abducted R. Vineel Krishna, erstwhile collector of Malkangiri district, while he was on a visit to the area to oversee some development projects. They kept him hostage for nine days.

However, the senior changed after the Odisha government in July 2018 built a 910-metre-long bridge over river Gurupriya, one of the rivulets that feed into the mammoth Balimela reservoir, connecting mainland Malkangiri with the isolated villages.

The makers of Pushpa recently released the poster of the sequel along with a teaser video  Where is Pushpa?  on the eve of Allu Arjuns birthday.

Allu Arjun is seen dressed in a saree and wearing gold jewellery in the first-look poster of Pushpa: The Rule, the much-awaited sequel.

The movie is likely to be released in the Summer of 2024.
TANZANIA'S target of increas- ing the number of tourists to five million come 2025 is slowly but surely becoming a reality as the country continues to record an increase in number.

The development fol- lows the arrival of more than 240 tourists in the country on Thursday who are scheduled to visit Tarangire , Serengeti na- tional parks and Ngorong- oro conservation area.

As tourists continue to choose Tanzania as their best tourism destination, the latest report by the National Bureau of Statis- tics (NBS) indicates that Tanzania has recorded an increase of 48.8 per cent in tourist arrivals between January and February this year compared to the num- ber of visitors recorded in the same period in 2022.

Tanzania targets an in- crease in income from the sector to notch 6 billion US dollars (about 14tri/) from 5 million tourists come 2025, up from the current 1,527,230 arrivals and an income of 2.6 billion US dollars (about 5tri/-).

Damasi Mfugale, the Director General of the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), told the'Sunday News' on Saturday that, the visitors plan to stay for eight days and visit the national parks.

The Head of Government Communications in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, John Mapepele, said tourists from Israel will also visit Zanzibar to see the attractions. Mr Mapepele said the tourists have come for the Easter break and will use the opportunity to visit various tourist destinations, including cultural ones.

In addition, he said the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mohamed Mchengerwa, has also encouraged Tanzanians to visit various tourist attractions, especially during the Easter and Eid celebrations.

He said Mchengerwa has asked Tanzanians to realise that their country is blessed with good attractions for people to visit and see the heritage and wealth that the country is endowed with.

"By doing this, Tanzanians will cultivate a culture of respecting and loving their own resources, but more crucially, they will be boosting the economy of the nation by going on domestic vacations.

Compared to other places in the world, the costs to visit these areas are minimal," he noted.

According to Mapepele, Mchengerwa calls on Tanzanians to understand that the ministry, working with Wildlife Authority (TAWA), had previously delivered a tourist glass boat which equipped with a special lens that allowed individuals who couldn't swim to see a variety of aquatic wildlife.

He stated that in order to ensure that the effort is ben- eficial for both present and future generations, government officials from all the institutions under the ministry should collaborate with the locals who live close to the protected regions.

In another step, Mr Mapepele said that with the aim of expanding tourism attractions in various parts of the country, the government has moved two lions (Lucia and Rihana) from Arusha to the Ruhila wildlife park located in Songea in Ruvuma Region under TAWA.

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Acting Director of Economic Statistics, Daniel Msolwa, said on Friday that between January and February this year, the country received 290,896 tourists, equivalent to 48.8 per cent, compared to the 195,483 visitors who entered the country last year.

He said that out of the number, a total of 114,169 visitors, or 32 per cent, en- tered the country through Zanzibar.

Mr Msolwa said that the ever-increasing number of international visitors is at- tributed to various factors, including the lifting of Co- vid-19 lockdown by most countries and the continued government's effort to promote tourism attractions within and outside the country with Royal Tour documentary playing a major contributing role.

Msolwa said that the 263,934 international visitors, equivalent to 90.7 per cent visited Tanzania for leisure and holidays, while 16,307 visitors, equivalent to 5.6 per cent came to visit their friends and relatives.

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"Others were visitors in transit to other countries who were 6,035, equivalent to 2.1 per cent and 3,418 business visitors, equivalent to 1.2 per cent" he said.

He noted that the top six sources of Tanzania's tourism market from outside Africa were France with the highest number of 25,837, followed by Italy (18,556), the United States of America (16,567), Germany (15,705), Poland (12,369), and the United Kingdom (10,657).

"The top six source mar- kets from Africa were Kenya (29,615), Burundi (16,832), Rwanda (7,627), Malawi (6,563), Uganda (6,511), and South Africa (5,196)," he said. In addition, Msolwa said that in 2021, Tanzania received 922,692 tourists who brought the nation an income of 3,177.7 US dollars, while in 2022; a total of 1,454,920 tourists entered the country and brought in a total of 4,776.5 million US dollars.
Bihar cabinet on Monday approved the new teachers recruitment rules, clearing the decks for the long-pending recruitment of teachers in the state. The cabinet meeting was chaired by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. (PTI)

Under the new rules, the appointments would be made through a centralised process, unlike before when appointments were made through panchayatI raj institutions, leading to much controversy.

Under the new rules, the appointment of teachers will be through a commission, which will be appointed in due course, officials familiar with the matter said. It will receive roaster wise vacancy position by August 1 of each year.

Prior to 2005, Bihar carried out appointment of school teachers through Vidhyalay Seva Board. Now, the teachers will have separate district cadre and will be equivalent to the state government employees. In the higher secondary schools, there will be subject-wide cadres. There will be direct appointment on all posts of teachers in schools on two-year probation, which can be extended for another year in case of unsatisfactory performance.

The rules state that all those having qualified teachers eligibility tests organised by the Centre and the state and conforming to provisions laid down by the National Council for Teachers education (NCTE) and Rehabilitation Council of India (for teachers in special schools) would be eligible for appointment as teachers. Those appointed prior to 2012 and cleared Teachers Competency Test will, however, be exempted from TET criteria.

In the 2022-23 Budget, the Bihar government had announced to appoint 48,762 primary teachers, 5,886 physical education trainers, 44,193 teachers in secondary schools, 89,734 teachers in higher secondary schools and 7,360 computer teachers. However, the teacher aspirants have been agitating over delay in cabinet nod to new rules and advertisement of vacancies.

Earlier, chief minister Nitish Kumar had announced at Shiksha Diwas function in Patna that further recruitment of teachers would be made for schools, the modalities for which were being worked out, and the salary hike for teachers would also be ensured.

The cabinet nod means that the government could now advertise posts for recruitment of teachers in primary, secondary and higher secondary schools ahead of crucial parliamentary polls next year.

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Mock drills were conducted at about 123 healthcare facilities in Pune on Monday to assess preparedness for treating Covid-19 patients following a directive from the Union ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW), officials said adding that 2,204 out of a total 5,805 beds at these Covid-19 hospitals are already functional. After the spike in Covid-19 cases in India, the Union ministry of health and family welfare had announced nationwide mock drills on Monday and Tuesday to assess hospital preparedness. (Representative Image/PTI)

After the spike in Covid-19 cases in India, MoHFW had announced nationwide mock drills on Monday and Tuesday to assess hospital preparedness. Both public and private hospitals are part of the drills.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) said that the 123 hospitals, where mock drills were conducted, include 10 government and 113 private centres. The officials said they have found that 258 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds out of 764 are ready and 228 Ventilator beds out of 527 are functional. Also 987 Oxygen beds out of 3,005 and 731 Isolation beds out of 1,509 are functional.

We have 2,763 doctors and 7,221 nurses and our daily testing capacity is 956 currently. There are 848 Ayush doctors and 2,333 paramedical staff with 3.24 lakh Covid-19 testing kits available at these hospitals, said Dr Suryakant Devkar, assistant health officer, PMC.

The PMC officials said there is an adequate stock of medicines such as Doxycycline, Paracetamol, remdesivir, tocilizumab and methylprednisolone, amongst others.

The mock drill will help us check the operational readiness and help in filling gaps if any to strengthen healthcare facilities in the city. The prime focus of this exercise is availability of well equipped Covid-19 hospitals in the city with adequate capacity of isolation beds, Oxygen-supported beds, ICU beds and ventilator supported beds amongst others, besides the availability of doctors and well trained nurses, paramedics and healthcare workers, said Dr Devkar.

Due to the experience of past Covid-19 wave the team knows the challenges and how to tackle them. This will be an added benefit for us currently. But we hope no such situation is repeated in future. Also the Covid-19 patients that are reported currently very few require hospitalization. The numbers of deaths are meager in comparison to past waves, said Dr Bhagwan Pawar, health officer, PMC.
Pune district guardian minister Chandrakant Patil on Monday promised to call a meeting with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials to discuss old Wada issues in Pune, particularly around Shaniwarwada. Patil on Monday visited the old and dilapidated Wadas around Shaniwarwada (HT FILE PHOTO)

Patil on Monday visited the old and dilapidated Wadas around Shaniwarwada on Monday. Many citizens are unable to repair or renovate their homes due to ASI restrictions in a 100-metre radius of Shaniwarwada. Citizens have raised several concerns about not receiving permission from the PMC.

In light of this, Patil went to some of the old Wadas near Shaniwarwada on Monday.

After the visit to the Peth areas, Patil stated, According to primary sources, there is a court case involving an archaeological site. However, in this regard, the state government will consult with ASI officials in New Delhi. The state government is supportive of allowing repair work on buildings near archaeological sites in Pune. We will convene a meeting with ASI officials soon to try to resolve the issue.

The issue of old Wadas resurfaced during the recent by-election for the Kasba Assembly constituency. This constituency contains many old structures, which are in a need of conservation. Citizens raised the issue of old Wadas during the campaign. On Monday, Patil visited some of the areas surrounding Shaniwarwada.
Mock drills were conducted at 123 hospitals in Pune city on Monday to assess preparedness for treating Covid-19 patients following an advisory by the government. Mock drills were conducted at 123 hospitals in Pune city on Monday to assess preparedness for treating Covid-19 patients following an advisory by the government. (HT)

At these hospitals, which include 10 government and 113 private centres, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials said, 2,204 out of the total 5,805 beds are already functional. As many as 258 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds out of 764 are ready and 228 ventilator beds out of 527 ventilated beds are functional. Also, 987 oxygen beds out of 3,005 beds and 731 isolation beds out of 1,509 are functional, said officials.

We have 2,763 doctors and 7,221 nurses and our daily testing capacity is 956. There are 848 Ayush doctors and 2,333 paramedical staff with 3.24 lakh Covid-19 testing kits available at these hospitals, said, Dr Suryakant Devkar, assistant health officer of PMC.

After the spike in Covid-19 cases in India, the ministry of health announced nationwide mock drills on Monday and Tuesday to assess hospital preparedness. Both public and private hospitals are part of the drills.

PMC officials said there is an adequate stock of medicines such as doxycycline, paracetamol, remdesivir, tocilizumab and methylprednisolone, amongst others.

The mock drill will help us check the operational readiness and help in filling gaps if any to strengthen healthcare facilities in the city. The prime focus of this exercise is the availability of well-equipped Covid-19 hospitals in the city with adequate facilities and healthcare professionals, said Dr Devkar.

Dr Bhagwan Pawar, health officer of PMC, informed that the number of doctors and healthcare staff at the Covid-19 hospital can be increased. Currently, there are 1,770 doctors and 4,817 nurses in position and orientation. Similarly, 1,793 paramedical staff and 596 AYUSH doctors are oriented, he, informed. However, currently, none of the Covid-19 hospitals, public or private, has a triage area.

Now, only the private Covid-19 hospitals in the city have 258 ICU beds and 228 ventilator beds functional. In government facilities as many as 144 ICU beds are kept ready but are not yet functional. PMC has 68 ambulances ready and 3,101 functional oxygen cylinders and 77 functional oxygen storage tanks, said officials.

Dr Pawar, said, the healthcare facilities in the city have enough facilities and are well prepared to handle any crisis-like situation. Very few patients require hospitalisation in the current situation, he said.

Case count

Pune district reported 41 fresh Covid-19 and no deaths on Monday, out of which 18 were reported in Pune city, 12 in Pimpri-Chinchwad, 11 in Pune rural and Cantonment area. The district currently has 756 active Covid cases.

Maharashtra on Monday reported one death (Mumbai circle) and 328 new cases, taking the active Covid-19 cases in the state to 4,667 cases.
Internet services have been suspended and a curfew under Section 144 has been imposed till further orders in Jamshedpurs Shastri Nagar after the area witnessed stone pelting and arson by two groups on Sunday evening, police said on Monday. The incident happened in Jamshedpurs Shastri Nagar area under Kadma police station on Sunday evening. (PTI)

The Rapid Action Force and extra policemen have been deployed in the affected area even as the district administration said the situation was under control.

We brought the situation under control last night itself. Few persons have also been detained. As a precautionary measure, prohibitory orders have been out in place. Internet services have also been suspended. We will review the situation in the evening and a take call on restoring internet services accordingly, said Prabhat Kumar, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Jamshedpur.

The SSP, who himself alongwith around half a dozen policemen got injured while containing the rioters, underlined they have not received information of any civilian being injured in the violence.

Source said the violence erupted late Sunday evening after one group clashed with another group holding a meeting over a controversy after a polythene with flesh was found been tied to a Mahaviri Jhanda near a temple on Saturday evening.

Besides stone pelting, the rioters resorted to arson burning down around a dozen makeshift shops, besides damaging two wheelers and cars.

The first police response team was forced to retreat as they too were attacked. The district administration then rushed extra deployment from other police station and RAF personnel. Police had to open fire in air year gas shells to push back the rioters, a district administration official said.
Former chief minister and BJP leader BS Yediyurappa said that the first list of party candidates for upcoming assembly elections will be out today (Monday) by evening. He also told that the first list will have around 170 to 180 names in it. Karnataka elections: BJP's first list of candidates likely to be out today

Speaking to the reporters in New Delhi, Yediyurappa said, BJP will release its first list of about 170 to 180 candidates for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections this evening.

Also Read - Karnataka Assembly polls: CM Bommai to contest from Shiggaon constituency

On Sunday evening, BJPs Central Election Committee (CEC) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting at party headquarters in the national capital to zero in on the names of candidates for assembly election. Along with PM Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Pralhad Joshi, Rajnath Singh, BJP national president JP Nadda, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai and former CM Yediyurappa were also present in the CEC meeting.

Meanwhile, the Congress CEC too is likely to chair a meeting to allot the pending 58 tickets for assembly elections. The Congress has already released two lists in which the first list consisted of 124 names and the second one with 48 names. All eyes are on the Kolar seat, which is touted to be Siddaramaiahs second battlefield in upcoming elections. However, the party still maintains suspense on Kolars candidate.

The assembly elections in Karnataka will be held on May 10 and the results will be announced on May 13. All 224 constituencies will go to polls in a single go and the election battle will be majorly fought between the Congress, BJP and the Janata Dal(Secular)
This article contains major spoilers for My Home Hero Episode 2. Tetsuo, the ever-resourceful husband, has a plan. He needs to dispose of Nobuto's body, and he decides to do it by cooking it. Kasen, who is just as cool-headed and supportive as ever, listens intently as he explains his method. (Tezuka Productions)

From the moment the episode begins, it's clear that Tetsuo and Kasen are in deep trouble. They have successfully hidden the evidence of Nobuto's murder, but they have also piqued the interest of the yakuza. The couple is well aware that they need to be cautious and work together to avoid the attention of the dangerous organization.

A power couple in every sense: Tetsuo and Kasen's resourcefulness

Tetsuo, the ever-resourceful husband, has a plan. He needs to dispose of Nobuto's body, and he decides to do it by cooking it. Kasen, who is just as cool-headed and supportive as ever, listens intently as he explains his method. Her only concern is whether there is anything else she can do to help. It's clear that these two are a power couple in every sense of the word. (Also Read: The wait is over! Demon Slayer: KnY Swordsmith Village Arc premieres with a bang.

Genius deception: Tetsuo and Kasen's heist-like plan

The scene where they put up an entire act to fool the goons into thinking there's a third party involved is pure genius. It's almost like watching a heist movie as they work together to come up with the perfect plan to keep themselves safe. The goons may be ruthless, but they're no match for Tetsuo and Kasen's intelligence and quick thinking.

It's clear that Tetsuo is a fan of mystery novels, and his knowledge is helping him to stay one step ahead of the yakuza. He uses common household items to commit murder and make the body disappear. It's impressive to see how resourceful he can be under pressure. (Also Read: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury 2 Premieres with explosive action.

Kasen's sharp observation skills: Protecting her family

Kasen, meanwhile, is just as smart and observant as her husband. She quickly spots the goon who is posing as a property appraiser and discovers the listening device. It's clear that she is just as invested in protecting her family as Tetsuo is.

A Cliffhanger Ending: Tetsuo and Kasen's Fight Against the Yakuza Continues

The scene where they are attacked by the goons is intense, but it's clear that Tetsuo and Kasen are in this together. They have no doubt or hesitation at any point, and they work together seamlessly to defend themselves. The love and trust between them are palpable, and it's clear that they will do anything to protect each other and their daughter.

The ending of the episode is a cliffhanger, as Tetsuo and Kasen are captured by the yakuza. It's clear that they're facing a serious threat, but it's also clear that they won't give up without a fight. They're a force to be reckoned with, and it's exciting to see what they will do next.

Overall, My Home Hero - Episode 2 is a thrilling continuation of the story. It's clear that Tetsuo and Kasen are a powerful couple in every sense of the word. Their intelligence, resourcefulness, and love for each other make them a formidable team, and it's clear that they won't back down from a challenge. The episode leaves us on the edge of our seats, wondering what will happen next. It's a must-watch for anyone who loves a good thriller.
Amitabh Bachchan has resumed his Sunday routine of greeting fans outside his Mumbai home Jalsa after his injury. The veteran actor also wrote on his blog about his past decision to give up drinking and smoking together. He wrote about his personal choice, where he simply decided to cut both habits out of his life, once and for all. The actor shared that he hadn't touched either 'for years and years now'. (Also read: Amitabh Bachchan wears homemade sling as he meets fans at Jalsa first time since injury: They wait and watch) Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan shared that he dropped his smoking and drinking habits at one time many years ago.

Ruminating about his college days on his blog on Tumblr, Amitabh wrote on Sunday: "Practicals bring back memories of school, where the word or the expression was invariably referred to the practicals in the science labs... mixing elements, playing around with gadgetry in the physics lab the college routine in continuation and the site one fine day when the last paper for the Graduate degree was over to find some of the classmates celebrating with the pure alcohol, kept in the lab, for experiments and getting extremely sick... an act that taught a lesson very early towards the effects or rather the dis effects of the elixir..."

The veteran actor then moved on to his youth, when he participated in social drinking. He went on to say, "Yes there were a few other instances noticed, in school and in college, when this intoxicant played havoc due to its excess... and then when in job in the City of Joy (Kolkata), the natural curriculum seemed to be in line with that phrase social drinking... I shall not deny the consumption of it, but its reason or resolve in leaving for years and years now, I shall not deliberate... it is a personal choice and demeanour... yes I do not... but why the announce of it .."

Speaking about his decision to go cold turkey with both habits, Amitabh shared it was the best way to be rid of them. He added, "As is the case with the cigarette... in abundance in the years of free, and the sudden and immediate resolve to leave it.. and the way to leave is really quite simple... chuck that glass of the intoxicant, while in the middle of it and crush the ciggi (cigarette) on your lips at the same time and... sayonara (goodbye in Japanese)... the very best way to be in riddance not some part time exigencies to stop the use... its the removal of the cancer at once... done at the rush of a stroke... the more the dwindling, the greater the undesired habit of remaining .."

Amitabh is currently recuperating at home after an accident on the sets of the upcoming production Project K left him injured. He is expected to begin filming for the recently announced Section 84 with Diana Penty and Nimrat Kaur later this year.

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Sonam Kapoor gave a glimpse of her beautiful house in Delhi as she posted a couple of pictures of the interiors on Instagram. On Monday, the actor and her husband Anand Ahuja welcomed their son Vayu to their Delhi home. (Also read: Sonam Kapoor gives tour of grand NMACC museum, says she hasn't seen something like this. Watch) Sonam Kapoor posing with her husband Anand Ahuja, his brother Anant and mother Priya Ahuja.

Taking to Instagram, Sonam shared a couple of pictures which gave her fans a tour of her abode. She also shared a cute picture with son Vayu in dad Anand's arms, along with her in-laws; Anand's brother Anant and mother Priya Ahuja. In the caption, Sonam expressed her words of gratitude to the team of professionals that made Vayu's homecoming so beautiful and special, namely florist Karan, The Laddoo Wala and Indus Culinary. In the caption she wrote, "Welcoming our darling Vayu home to delhi @priya27ahuja @ase_msb @anandahuja #harishahuja With the help of exceptionally talented @__8.00am #karanflowerboy @theladdoowala @indusculinary PS this is not an ad or a barter post this is a thank you for a job exceptionally done and a nod of appreciation to a wonderful team of professionals!"

In one of the pictures, Sonam shared a glimpse of the dining table that was designed with banana leaves, different kinds of roses, and brown coconuts on the table. Another picture showed a bunch of lotus flowers along with bananas and green coconuts. A separate picture gave a glimpse of a huge chandelier spread across the dining room area with the roof made of glass, providing sunlight on the entire space. Sonam also took to her Instagram Stories to share detailed pictures of the floral setup at her Delhi abode, where the dining space was set up with beautiful arrangements of flowers and fruits in the middle, as the plates were set up on the side.

Reacting to the pictures, Sonam's mother Sunita Kapoor commented with heart emoticons. Many fans also commented on how aesthetically pleasing the design and floral arrangements looked together. one fan wrote, "Love the long vases with leaves." While another comment read, "Nice ! Love the amount of mogra buds !" Another fan wrote, "Absolutely beautiful."

A few weeks ago, Sonam had shared a glimpse of her London abode as celebrated her first Mother's Day in the UK with a lavish dinner party and posted some pictures of the celebrations on her Instagram. Sonam captioned the post, "Spending Mothering Sunday or (Mothers Day in the united kingdom) with my friends and ushering in the new season by decorating the house inspired by the colours of spring. Everything thats been done in the house in such spectacular style is by incredibly talented desis! Shout out to @theeventbuilders @grazing_girls and @ranipinkliving #mamasday #springcolours #blooms #mothersday (camera emoji) @moeez."

Sonam and Anand got married on May 8, 2018, after dating for several years. They welcomed their first child, a baby boy Vayu on August 20, 2022, in Mumbai. Sonam will be next seen in the upcoming film Blind directed by Shome Makhija, starring Purab Kohli, Vinay Pathak and Lillete Dubey in prominent roles.

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Nairobi  Over Thirty Nairobi County Cow milk value chain actors among them youth and women involved in milk business have benefited from a training on hygienic milk handling and processing course sponsored by the Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme( ASDSP 11) under the County Food,Agriculture and Forestry Sub Sector at Dairy Training Institute.

Edwin Kimani Wanjiku, a farmer from Mathare and Ruth Kamau from Kasarani are among the young farmers who benefited from the training. They are both involved in cow milk value chain.

Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme( ASDSP 11) is a project under the County Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sub Sector that seeks to transform crop, livestock and fishery production into commercially oriented enterprises that ensures sustainable food and nutrition security. Nairobi County is focusing on three priority areas namely; cow milk, broiler and kale for improved income, food and nutrition security in City County.

The four day training saw the stakeholders trained on hygienic milk production, handling and preservation, legal aspects of dairy business activities, milk testing and cleaning and maintenance of dairy equipment,milk cream seperation and treatment and also pasteurized milk processing, fermented milk and flavoured milk.

Participants also received training on butter, ice cream, yoghurt, mala,cheese and ghee processing.

The County Agricultural Sector Development Support Program Coordinator Mr. John Magu explained that the participants were selected from all the seventeen subcounties with an aim of equiping and empowering them with skills in milk handling and processing.

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Said Mr. Magu," Nairobi County is determined to capacity build and give skills to our youth so as to enable them better their dairy businesses hence increase their income as well give tips to those willing to venture into milk processing business. From here, We expect trainees to use the knowledge gained from the training to better themselves and train others."

Magu thanked His Exellency the Governor Sakaja Johnson for supporting the ASDSP project and ensuring that Nairobi farmers are well empowered in areas of food production and creation of job opportunities through Agribusiness.

Magu also thanked the County Executive incharge of Green Nairobi Ms Maureen Njeri and Chief Officer for Environment and Natural resources Mr Hibrahim Otieno, who is also acting Chief Officer Food,Agriculture and Forestry, whom he said have been in the forefront supporting ASDSP 11 projects to ensure that City farmers involved in kale, broiler and milk production across all the 85 wards improve their businesses and inturn increased income and create job opportunities

The County ASDSP Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Mr. Philemon Lagat encouraged the participants to focus on milk processing value chain, noting that it brings in quick profits.

The trainees expressed their gratitude to the County Government of Nairobi for sponsoring them and equiping them with knowlegde that will enable them improve and expand their milk bisinesses thus making more profits and and creating job opportunities.
Actor Kartik Aaryan and filmmaker Karan Johar are back making headlines, this time for burying the hatchet after their rumoured fallout that halted the production of Dostana 2. Kartik Aaryan and filmmaking Karan Johar met on Sunday

On Sunday, the two were spotted leaving the same building in Mumbai, which left everyone guessing if they had a meeting together. It comes nearly two years after their rumoured fallout, which apparently led to Aaryans exit from Dostana 2. A lot was said and written about their alleged fallout, but the two have maintained a silence and cordial relationship while in public.

This meeting, however, has made fans and everyone else wonder if they are collaborating for a new project, or resurrecting Dostana 2, though nothing about their collaboration has been announced yet.

A source confirms to us about the meeting, saying, They indeed had a meeting after a long time, and are ready to move on from the things that are being projected about their relationship. It was an hour-long meeting with lots of executives, but it is not yet clear if they are working together or not. Kartik left the office one hour after Karan left the premises. They are being very secretive about the details of the meeting inside.

Another insider, though happy about this new development, doesnt think that Kartik and Karan are ready to work with each other after what happened last time. However, only time will tell if things are being worked upon.

In fact, apart from the industry, the move has left the fans also excited. One of the fan wrote, When is the big announcement? Dostana 2? asked another one. Someone else also said, @karanjohar Please cast @kartikaaryan and @saraalikhan95 together. Were dying to see them together and only you can make this happen.

Back in 2019, Johar had announced Dostana 2, the filming of which got stalled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the production house was yet to resume filming, several reports about an alleged fallout between Aaryan and Johar started emerging. However, the two have been cordial when meeting each other at events.
Ramesh Talwar and Jaya Bachchan worked together on Yash Chopra's Silsilay (1981), where the former was the director's assistant. Years later the filmmaker and the actor reunited once again for another medium. Ramesh convinced her to tour abroad with him on two separate plays, Maa Retire Hoti Hai and Dr Mukta. The actor had initially been worried that she would 'flop' in her debut. But the filmmaker managed to assure her that they would have several days of rehearsals and they also managed to perform it in front of a small private audience before going on tour. (Also read: When Jaya Bachchan said she isn't 'chidchidi' but can't suffer stupidity) Ramesh Talwar and Jaya Bachchan acted together in the play Dr Mukta.

Ramesh, who has directed films like Doosara Aadmi (1977), Baseraa (1981) and Sahibaan (1993), acted alongside Jaya in Dr Mukta. In the play, she essays the role of a woman who has to hide many secrets from her family members. They even travelled abroad and performed the plays in the US. The filmmaker revealed that her fans in the US used to travel 300 miles to come and see her perform live. However, in most places, Jaya was reluctant to sign autographs for the fans but signed for them later.

The filmmaker recently told ETimes, The emotion with which Jaya ji used to do that role, used to have me worried that something might happen to her. She is a natural actor, so, I used to tell her, Dont take the role personally. Remember that youre only doing a play. She would take it well. But the only thing she wouldnt do was that she didnt sign autographs. People would come from everywhere to take an autograph. I would request her kindly. One of Jaya jis fans traveled 300 miles to come to see our play. Jaya ji told me, Dont tell me all of this. Talk about the play. But eventually, she gave her and others an autograph.

He also recalled how Jaya's staff helped him to arrange a meeting with her for the play, before she came on board. "I requested one of Jaya Jis staff members to get me a meeting with her. She called me for a meeting. I told her that she would have to rehearse for 40 days for the play. She told me that she had never done a play. "I shouldnt flop in the play", she had said. I assured her that we will rehearse for 40 days and stage the play in Mumbai before we go abroad. When the play was ready, I hosted one rehearsal in Bhaidas Hall, Vile Parle. Amitabh Bachchan along with her well-wishers, friends and family had come to see the play," he added.

Jaya turned 75 on April 9 and the veteran actor is coming back to films with Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani. She is also a Member of Parliament and has taken several acting breaks in her career.

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Capcom's Resident Evil 4 remake has been a huge success, recently hitting four million in sales in less than a month. Riding on that success, Capcom is now hoping that the upcoming animated film, Resident Evil: Death Island, will share in that triumph. And with the latest images, it's clear that the film will be a treat for fans. Japanese onesheet, along with a group shot featuring Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and Rebecca Chambers.

The new Japanese onesheet, along with a group shot featuring Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and Rebecca Chambers, has been released, giving a glimpse into what viewers can expect. Directed by Eiichiro Hasumi (Assassination Classroom) from a screenplay by Makoto Fukami (Psycho-Pass), the R-Rated Death Island is a sequel to Resident Evil: Vendetta.

In Death Island, D.S.O. agent Leon S. Kennedy is on a mission to rescue Dr. Antonio Taylor after he was kidnapped. Meanwhile, B.S.A.A. agent Chris Redfield is investigating a zombie outbreak in San Francisco. The only thing the victims have in common is that they all visited Alcatraz Island recently. Following that clue, Chris and his team head to the island, where a new horror awaits them.

The movie was announced back in February, and a new trailer will likely drop tomorrow. However, the release date isn't the only thing the poster reveals. If genuine, it also confirms that the movie will see all the major Resident Evil characters teaming up, including Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Rebecca Chambers. "The worst mission, the strongest team" is the poster's slogan.

Also read | Resident Evil 4 Mercenaries is available prior to its Global release

With Netflix's Resident Evil series cancelled and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City not getting a sequel, this animated film could be fans' only chance for a new Resident Evil movie for the time being. Resident Evil: Death Island is slated to be released on July 7 in Japan, with no word yet on the international release date.
BTS member Suga has released the track list for his upcoming first official solo album D-DAY. Taking to Twitter, BigHit Music shared a list of the tracks of the album. The tweet read, "Agust D, D-DAY tracklist." Suga's song Huh will feature BTS member J-Hope, while Snooze will have Ryuichi Sakamoto and The Roses Woosung. (Also Read | Suga to release first solo album D-DAY, BTS fans will be treated with intimate portrayal of his life as an artist) BTS' Suga will release his first-ever solo album D-Day this month.

As per the list, the album will consist of 10 tracks. Track 01. D-Day has been produced by Vincent 'Invincible' Watson, 2Live (Agust D, Vincent 'Invincible' Watson, 2Live); Track 02. Main Track has been produced by Agust D (Agust D); Track 03. Huh?! (feat J-Hope) has been produced by Agust D, El Capitxn (Agust D, El Capitxn, J-Hope); Track 04. Amygdala has been produced by El Capitxn (Agust D, El Capitxn); and Track 05. SDL has been produced by Agust D, El Capitxn (AgustD, El Capitxn).

The Track 06. People Pt2 (feat. IU) (pre-release track) has been produced by El Capitxn (Agust D, El Capitxn); Track 07. Polar Night has been produced by Agust D, El Capitxn (Agust D, El Capitxn); Track 08. Interlude: Dawn has been produced by AgustD, El Capitxn (Agust D, El Capitxn); Track 09. Snooze (ft. Ryuichi Sakamoto, Kim Woosung of The Rose) has been produced by El Capitxn (Agust D, El Capitxn, Ryuichi Sakamoto) and Track 10. Life Goes On has been produced by El Capitxn (Agust D, El Capitxn, Pdogg, RM, BLVSH, Chris James, Antonina Armato, J-Hope).

Reacting to the tweet, a BTS fan wrote, "Oh my God feat J-Hope." A comment read, "This is going to be amazing." Fans were also excited about the big names collaborating with Suga. "Some SOPE action is (fire). I see Namjoon's production value. Let's gooooo!!" said a Twitter. "I see a lot of big names here! That's so exciting!" another fan said. "This album is going to change everything," wrote a person. "Agust D and Woosung itll be an amazing song cant wait to hear it," read a tweet.

Earlier this month, BigHit Music made the announcement on the global fan forum Weverse. The official statement read, "Hello, This is BIGHIT MUSIC. BTS member SUGA is releasing his first official solo album, D-DAY. D-DAY marks the concluding chapter of a trilogy by SUGAs other moniker, Agust D, succeeding the previous mixtapes, Agust D and D-2. The album delves into the personal journey of SUGA as Agust D, offering an intimate portrayal of his life as an artist."

Suga will also hold a solo world tour, a first for any BTS member. His tour will begin in the US with two gigs at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York, on April 26 and 27. Suga will then play in New Jersey, Illinois, and California before wrapping up his US tour in Oakland on May 16 and 17. The tour will then travel to Asia, stopping in Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan. Suga previously produced solo mixtapes, including two under the alias Agust D.

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A new book has dropped some revelations about the royal family, especially regarding the ongoing feud between Prince Harry and his father King Charles, and Prince William. In royal correspondent Robert Jobsons book Our King, he reportedly throws light on the late Elizabeth II's relationship with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. She was reportedly mystified by the couples behaviour, when Harry and Meghan started criticising the royal family after stepping down from royal duties. (Also read: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle called toxic as former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern joins Prince William's project) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew. (File Photo)

Since Meghan and Harry announced in January 2020 that they would step down as senior working royals, the pair has been open about their life in the royal family. Since then, Harry and Meghan have appeared in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, where Harry had said he no longer wanted to feel trapped and controlled through fear both by the media and by the system itself. Since then, Prince Harry also released his much talked-about memoir Spare earlier this year.

In the new book, as reported by The Mirror, it has now been revealed that the late Queen was let down by the decision of the couple to step down from royal duties, and described it as a missed opportunity. The report shared an excerpt from Robert Jobson's new book, where he wrote, 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.

The report further quoted Robert Jobson as having written in his new book, "At that point, the Queen was frankly mystified by the couples 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.

Prince Harry and Meghan tied the knot in May 2018. They welcomed son Archie in May 2019, and daughter Lilibet in June 2021. They were recently seen in the Netflix docuseries, Harry and Meghan, which was released last year. The book, Our King, releases on April 13.

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Actor Dhanush, who was recently seen in Tamil-Telugu bilingual film Vaathi, is all set to reunite with director Mari Selvaraj for a yet-untitled Tamil project, which will also mark his return to production after seven years. Dhanush took to Twitter to make the announcement and fans called it the best reunion. Also read: Dhanushs bilingual film Vaathi grosses over 100 crore globally, actor reacts Dhanush will soon work with Mari Selvaraj.

Dhanush and Mari Selvaraj had previously worked together in Tamil action-drama Karnan (2021). In his tweet, Dhanush called the reunion a prestigious project for so many reasons. A prestigious project which is special for so many reasons. Om Namashivaya @mari_selvaraj@wunderbarfilms @zeestudiossouth (sic), Dhanush tweeted.

Fans expressed their excitement over the reunion of Dhanush and Mari. Some even called it the reunion of best duo. One Twitter user wrote, Karnan pair is back. Reunion of best duo (sic). Another user tweeted. Such an unexpected update. Madly excited for this reunion (sic).

Dhanush produced films under the banner of Wunderbar Films. His last outing as a producer was his 2018 Tamil film Maari 2, which was directed by Balaji Mohan. This project will be his 15th production venture.

Dhanush is currently busy with the shoot of his upcoming Tamil film, Captain Miller. The film marks his maiden collaboration with filmmaker Arun Matheswaran. Dhanush has been sporting long hair and a thick beard and mustache for this movie. Recently, a glimpse of Dhanushs look had got his fans really excited who showered with heart emojis.

Captioning his post Captain Miller, Dhanush shared the picture. In the picture, Dhanush can be seen with long hair and a thick beard and mustache. He can also be seen wearing shades.

Dhanushs last release Vaathi was a box-office success as the film grossed over 100 crore during its theatrical run. The film, set in the 1990s, featured Dhanush in the role of a professor who brings about a change with his ways of teaching. Directed by Venky Atluri, the film was simultaneously released in Tamil as well as Telugu. While it was titled Vaathi in Tamil, the Telugu version title was SIR.

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Actor Nayanthara along with her husband-filmmaker Vignesh Shivan visited the Kumbakonam temple a few days ago and performed a pooja on the occasion of Panguni Uthiram. A video clip has surfaced on social media, from their visit, in which Nayanthara can be seen threatening to break a persons phone who tries to film her. (Also Read | Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan seek blessings at Kumbakonam temple, perform pooja days after revealing sons' faces. Watch) Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan visit Kumbakonam temple.

After praying at the Kumbakonam temple, the couple visited Vignesh Shivans ancestral temple where the incident is said to have taken place. As the couple arrived to perform pooja, fans gathered to get a quick glimpse of Nayanthara. Some even started filming the couple.

In the clip, Nayanthara tells the person, "One more time (if you film) and Ill break your phone." After Nayanthara warns the fan, one of her staff members can be seen requesting the people gathered there to not take out their phones. For the visit, Nayanthara wore a white and blue outfit. Vignesh opted for a blue T-shirt, khaki pants and a white jacket.

Recently, Vignesh Shivn revealed the full names of his twin boys two days after his wife Nayanthara shared the same at an event in Chennai. Along with the names, Vignesh on Instagram also shared a glimpse of the twin boys who rested on Nayantharas chest. In his Instagram post, Vignesh revealed the names of his boys in English as well as Tamil.

Vignesh also wrote that the N in the name stands for Nayanthara, whom he described as the best mother in the world. #Uyir RudroNeel N Shivan #Ulag Daiwik N Shivan. N stands for the best mother in the world #Nayanthara. We are happy & proud to introduce our babies names, our blessings and happiness (sic).

Vignesh Shivn and Nayanthara got married in an intimate ceremony in Chennai last year on June 9. The wedding was attended by their families and a few close friends from the film fraternity. Four months after their wedding, Vignesh announced on Instagram that they have welcomed twin boys through surrogacy.

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Jackie Bonds, a contestant on Love Is Blind, claims that the show's editing made her look bad in the latest episodes that dropped last Friday. The episodes revealed that she went on a date with another man while engaged to Marshall Glaze. However, Bonds insists that creative editing was used to portray her as unfaithful. Jackie and Josh in Love is Blind.(Netflix)

Bonds alleges that she and Glaze had already broken up before she met Josh Demas, her former blind-pod flame, for coffee and a kiss. In a statement posted on Instagram, Bonds claimed that she was wearing different clothes and her hair was styled differently during the coffee shop date, which proved that the events were not in chronological order.

Despite her explanation, Love Is Blind fans took to social media to call her a liar and a cheater, doubting her version of events. Many noted that the editing couldn't have put certain words in her mouth, such as when she admitted to having chemistry with Demas.

Jackie Bonds has accused 'Love Is Blind' editors of misrepresenting her.(Netflix)

The truth behind the situation remains unclear, and fans may need to wait for the reunion show to find out what really happened. The show's hosts, Nick and Vanessa Lachey, have announced that the reunion will be streamed live, giving fans the chance to hear from the contestants themselves.

Also read | Spoiler alert! Did Jackie and Josh break the rules in Love is Blind season 4?

For now, Bonds remains under fire from fans who are questioning her trustworthiness and her commitment to Glaze. It seems that the drama from Love Is Blind will continue to unfold even after the show's season has ended.
Love Is Blind has always been a source of drama and scandal on the reality TV dating scene, with accusations of gaslighting and controlling behaviour often plaguing the show's male contestants. However, season 4 of the hit series has made one key improvement: it offers a refreshing portrayal of emotionally mature men. Zack Goytowski and Marshall Glaze in Love is Blind

From Marshall Glaze supporting Jackelina in Mexico to Zack Goytowski having open and candid conversations with Irina, the men on this season's Love Is Blind have shown us that emotionally mature men do exist. Their friendships are wholesome in a way that we're not used to seeing on our screens, with discussions about the value of vulnerability and healthy male bonding.

Of course, the men on this season are not without their faults, but the show's portrayal of male vulnerability is an important step in combatting toxic masculinity narratives that have overwhelmed the genre previously. The age of contestants this season may have played a factor in this shift, with the oldest contestants being 37 and 36, respectively, and the youngest being 27.

Also read | Bliss' chaotic journey in Love is Blind, from love triangle to finding true love

Overall, Love Is Blind season 4 provides positive representation of healthy relationship dynamics and opens the door to wider conversations about toxic behaviours. While not perfect, the emotionally mature men on this season's show offer a refreshing change from the toxic behaviours often seen on reality TV dating shows.
Gauri Khan met Seema Sajdeh, Maheep Kapoor and Bhavana Pandey, who were seen in the two seasons of Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives. On Sunday, they all came together at fashion designer Manish Malhotra's residence and posed for the paparazzi as they left. Gauri is an interior designer and wife of actor Shah Rukh Khan, Maheep is a jewellery designer and wife of actor Sanjay Kapoor, Bhavana is the wife of actor Chunky Panday and Seema is the ex-wife of actor Sohail Khan. Also read: Bollywood Wives meet Mindy Kaling in India, fans wonder about a cameo in Never Have I Ever. See pics Bhavana Pandey, Gauri Khan, Seema Sajdeh and Maheep Kapoor pose outside Manish Malhotra's house. (Varinder Chawla)

Gauri was in a printed white shirt, distressed denims and sports-shoe inspited heels. She had her hair tied in a neat bun. Maheep was in a black shirt and denims. Bhavana was in a black maxi dress, while Seema was in a white top and a blue skirt.

As a paparazzo account on Instagram shared a video of them posing at Manish's house, a fan asked in the comments section, Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives season 3 coming soon or what? The show has been renewed for season 3, but the release date is yet to be announced. A few people also noticed chappals and a plate kept in Gauri's car. Did anyone notice the chappals in her car?" wrote an Instagram user. Another commented, Noticed the plate.

Gauri had made a guest appearance in Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives season 1 which also had actor Neelam Kothari joining the girl gang of Maheep Kapoor, Bhavana Pandey and Seema Sajdeh. and Neelam Kothari. It aired on Netflix in 2020 and was followed by season 2 last year. Gauri was seen in the second season as well.

Last year, show producer Karan Johar penned a note in which he confessed that it was cringy but a guilty pleasure. As the second season was trending at that time, he wrote, So never thought there would come a day where these fabulous friends of mine would be trending globally! So, lets put it in perspective! Of course, its cringy! (And bingy) Of course its guilty pleasure viewing (pleasure is still pleasure). Of course, it may appear manicured and artificial (arent we all). Of course, its far from being intellectually stimulating (dont we need a break from that at times). But youve got to admit these girls have the sass and guts to put themselves out there knowing you may laugh at them!!!! I am super proud of them!! And love them dearly!!! You can troll baby troll but it wont stop them from Rock and Roll!!!! The show is being massively viewed and therein lies the validation! Thats what makes it fabulous.

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GOVERNMENT and various organizations this week came together in Harare for belated commemorations of International Epilepsy day and called on society to recognize the condition as a Disability.

The International Epilepsy Day, celebrated each year on the second Monday of February, is an opportunity to raise awareness of epilepsy, what it is, how it can be treated, and what is needed to bring treatment to all people who need it.

On 9 June 2021 President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the National Disability Policy which included persons with epilepsy.

Speaking during the celebrations held in Hatfield, government representative Christine Peta, Director Disability Affairs in the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare encouraged society to recognize people with epilepsy as disabled.

"The aim of the International Day is to raise awareness on epilepsy, thus helping health workers to diagnose epilepsy, and other stakeholders to deliberate and take action on the availability of medicines as well as undertake research into health and social care response to epilepsy, thus disability programming which includes epilepsy.

"Epilepsy is triggered by abnormal electrical discharge in the brain resulting in an involuntary change in body movement, function, sensation, awareness and behavior.

"Epilepsy is one of the major brain disorders worldwide and must be considered as one of the priorities in health care and social welfare."

She added that government had delegated officers in all provinces of Zimbabwe to cater for those living with disability.

"The Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare offers services to persons with disabilities, including persons with epilepsy, in all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe and both rural and urban areas," she said.
When I was looking for a resident of Great Nicobar to articulate their feelings about the Great Nicobar township and development project, I approached someone who had worked in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for over a decade before moving to Mumbai and continues to track the developments in the islands. But he couldnt think of anyone who would be able to articulate their concern about the project or explain its impact on the regions unique biodiversity. PREMIUM A 72,000-crore Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island at Andaman and Nicobar Islands project has been proposed by the Niti Aayog. (AP)

Sometimes I wish birds, animals and corals could speak. Unfortunately, there is no voice from Great Nicobar that can capture what this project will do to the Island and how its ramifications will be irreversible, he said over a phone call. This is mainly because the impact of the project will be mainly on endemic, rare wildlife, biodiversity and primitive tribes who do not interact with mainstream communities.

The 72,000-crore Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island at Andaman and Nicobar Islands project proposed by the Niti Ayog involves building an International Container Transhipment Terminal, the Greenfield International airport with a proposed capacity of handling 4,000 passengers, a township and area development as well as a 450 MVA gas and solar based-power plant over an extent of 16,610 hectares in the Great Nicobar Islands.

An area of 166.10 sq km is required for developmental activities in the first phase. This includes around 130.75 sq km of pristine tropical rainforests which are expected to be diverted for the project.

It has been embroiled in controversy ever since the Union environment ministrys expert appraisal committee (EAC) recommended it for grant of terms of reference (TOR) in May 2021. Grant of TOR is one of the first steps in the environmental clearance process and involves assessing the environmental impact of a project based on the scope and details disclosed by the applicant.

The EAC raised concerns about the site selection of the project, the minutes of its meetings dated April 5 and 6, 2021 revealed. The Committee notes that the site selection for the port component has been done keeping primarily the technical and financial viability in place. The environmental aspects were not given much weightage while selecting the site. The Island has a large number of endangered species including the Leatherback Turtle at Galathea Bay.

On January 27, 2022, the Andaman and Nicobar administration held a public hearing on the project at Campbell Bay which was attended by around 138 persons and was chaired by the deputy commissioner of Nicobar, Hari Kallikkat. The public hearing report made public by the Andaman and Nicobar Administrations Pollution Control Committee captured some of the main contentions surrounding the project. Thereafter, the EAC considered the project in its 293rd meeting held on March 24 and 25, 2022, as well as in its 297th meeting held exactly two months later. Based on the replies submitted to its queries, the EAC took a look at the proposal again in its 306th meeting held on August 22 and 23. It granted environmental clearance to the project on November 4. It was cleared with certain mitigation measures.

To preempt the possibility of massive impact on biodiversity and wildlife, the EAC said a conservation plan devised by the Wildlife Institute of India (WWI) will have to be implemented for 10 years. The conservation plan will have to be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 involves monitoring nesting of turtles, tracking their movements, identification of high use areas in the breeding sites and non-breeding regions, determining foraging areas, population genetic structure of leatherback turtles, and assessing vulnerability of turtle nesting beaches. Phase 2 of the conservation plan will develop site-specific actions for conservation of sea turtles.

In the case of the Nicobar Megapode, a ground-dwelling bird endemic to the region and extremely vulnerable to loss of habitat, coordinated and collaborative research will have better a outcome, the EAC concluded, adding that for crossing by arboreal animals and passage of snakes, crabs, crocodiles etc, safe wildlife corridors will be needed at eight locations along the eastern side of the island connecting forest and seashore through via-ducts in the north-south arterial road in the master plan.

WII recommended other mitigation measures, such as a series of Ecological Marker Buoys for every 200 m along the proposed extended breakwater line. Such an arrangement will clearly mark the AREA TO BE AVOIDED TO AID TURTLES, warn restriction of the navigational route, thereby neither ships nor boats can enter the TURTLE NESTING AREA.

These recommendations in fact suggest the enormous impact the project is likely to have on flora and fauna here.

The project was granted stage 1 forest clearance on October 27, 2022 for diversion of 130.75 sq km of rainforest. HT reported on November 28 last year that the loss of forests in Great Nicobar Island on the Bay of Bengal will be compensated by afforestation in Haryanas Aravallis. The Aravallis is over 2,400 km away in a different ecological zone from Great Nicobar, but rules allow for such remote compensatory afforestation.

In the meanwhile, Mumbai-based Conservation Action Trust and ecologist Ashish Kothari appealed in the National Green Tribunal against the environment and forest clearance granted to the project.

On April 3, the NGT constituted a high powered committee headed by the secretary, Union environment ministry to revisit the environmental clearance granted by the environment ministry to the Great Nicobar township and area development and other infrastructure projects involving an area of 16,610 ha in the ecologically fragile islands.

NGT issued this order on April 3 after several discrepancies were pointed out by appellants in the grant of forest and environment clearances. The NGT order added that further work on environmental clearance will not progress until the committees findings are submitted except for the work which may not be of irreversible nature. Legal experts and activists pointed out why NGTs order may not help Great Nicobar.

Debi Goenka, executive trustee of Conservation Action Trust, a non-profit working in the environment sector, said, Our concerns were not even heard before passing this order. The issues we have raised in our petition have also not been addressed. And more importantly, how can a subordinate authority headed by the secretary, environment revisit the EC granted by their own ministry? he asked. In the Great Nicobar plea, the NGT advices you to not take hypertechnical approach; asks one to be liberal towards developmental needs of the country; and set up a committee headed by the Secy of same Ministry which granted the permissions to review the EC, tweeted Debadityo Sinha, lead- climate and ecosystems, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, a Delhi-based think-tank. NGT was established to ensure executive permissions follow this and critically examine the decisions from an environmental perspective. It is unfortunate and painful to see the situation. Ive no reservation in saying that as an institution, NGT has lost its teeth! he added.

Dream development

The Centre believes that Great Nicobar will be ideal for large scale infrastructure development. Some of the reasons cited by the government include the need for a strong presence in the Indian Ocean Region to counter pressure built by foreign powers and to develop a new economic hub, improving connectivity with the Indian mainland and other global cities, and promoting sustainable tourism. The ICTT [International Container Transhipment Terminal] will allow India to participate in the regional and global maritime economy.

A mixed-use urban development in the vicinity of these major infrastructure works will also be necessary to support quality of life for the residents that will generate and enable growth in the various economic sectors over time. This will require the development of simultaneous primary and secondary urban infrastructure networks such as roads, public transport, energy and electrical power, as well as water, wastewater, and storm water facilities and services, which will form the skeleton of the proposed township master plan. It is estimated that after the project is fully implemented, it has the potential to generate around 128,558 jobs opportunities, the Centres contention in NGT stated.

Hard-sell, but too many variables

Andaman and Nicobar Administrations public hearing report which came out on January 3, 2023 states that members of the Tribal Council welcomed the project as it would generate ample employment and increase tourism activity in Great Nicobar. Great Nicobar-based Barnabas Manju, Chairman of the Tribal Council for example, said there will be no loss to tribal communities as they were relocated and settled in a Tsunami shelter seven kilometres away.

But the public hearing report is silent on the impact on Shompen people, a primitive tribal group and coastal dwelling community Nicobarese (ST) who have settlements in the area that is to be diverted and de-notified.

Around 81.74% of the island covers national parks, reserves and forests. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) said 15.02% of the forest land has to be diverted for the project. This includes 84.10 sq km of land under tribal reserved areas, inhabited by the Nicobarese and Shompen tribes with a population of 1,094 and 237 respectively. An area of 11.032 sq km of the tribal reserve also falls within revenue villages and is required to be de-notified. The administration has proposed to re-notify 45.23 sq km of land in Campbell Bay and Galathea National Parks and 31.73 sq km of land outside the project area de-notified in 1972 to compensate for the loss.

Shompens live in small groups in dense interior forests of the island and are entirely dependent on forest resources and sea products for their sustenance. They probably migrated into this area several hundred years ago from nearby Malaysian regions. The Mongoloid Shompen Tribe, about 219 in number, is living within the Biosphere Reserve. They are shy in nature and avoid contact with outsiders, according to a Zoological Society of India report published in 2021. The EAC has allayed fears on the impact on these primitive tribes by stating that the project will not disturb or displace any Shompen/Nicobari tribal or their habitation as there will be a clear demarcation of land so that there is no scope of conflict arising in future, and the habitat rights of the tribal persons will be recognised in the long run.

Not everyones convinced. The public hearing report enclosed 13 letters by experts, scientists, social scientists, and students that went deeper into what the project would do to the natural physical environment of the islands. For example, on January 18 last year Janki Andharia, professor and dean of Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies wrote to member secretary of ANPCC, VV Dinesh Kumar that the island lies on a major fault line and is also seismically active. Geological considerations become important in assessing disaster risks. While the draft EIA records the occurrence of earthquakes in this region at several places, a systematic risk assessment is missing in the draft EIA Report on the project, which merely states mechanisms for disaster response with a detailed scientific note on earthquake risk in Great Nicobar.

The Madras Naturalists Society (MNS), a 43-year old Chennai-based body of conservationists, pointed out several demerits of the EIA which prove that the site is in fact unsuitable for large scale infrastructure projects. For example, on the proposal for a new city, the EIA stated: The development is proposed outside the Campbell Bay National Park and Galathea National Park. On account of a permanent change from an age-old tropical rainforest to the power plant, the project is going to cause damage to dense forests in 39 Ha. Major negative impacts of the project on terrestrial Ecology and Biodiversity are the loss of a small patch of thick forest. However, compensatory afforestation as per the FC act has been proposed.

The MNS responded stating: Old rain forests will be permanently damaged and can never be replicated through compensatory afforestation as they are complete natural ecosystems with innumerable interdependent species with special climatic and soil requirements.

Kalpavriksh, an environmental organisation stated in their letter that there are significant scientific inaccuracies in the EIA along with many instances of incorrect, incomplete and inconsistent data. This is particularly important because Great Nicobar is a very unique island from an ecological point of view and is home also to two indigenous communities who have the highest protection accorded by the Indian constitution. The EIA report is insensitive to the needs of this unique ecological and social situation and allowing it to be the basis of the public hearing is a violation in letter and spirit of the Environment Protection Act, and of the very purpose of producing an EIA report, it said. Objections were also submitted by the Indian Anthropological Association, Association of Indian Primatologists and the Bombay Natural History Society among several others.

Greater Nicobar Island has tropical wet evergreen forests, mountain ranges reaching a height of nearly 650m above sea level, and coastal plains. There are 11 species of mammals, 32 species of birds, seven species of reptiles and four species of amphibians that are endemic including the Crab-eating Macaque, Nicobar Tree Shrew, Dugong, Nicobar Megapode, Serpent Eagle, salt-water crocodile, marine turtles and Reticulated Python. The region also has coral reefs with varied thicknesses and diversity. In a few areas, new coral recruits have also been seen. Along the coastal beaches of Nicobar Island, Leatherback and Olive Ridley turtles are known to nest.

For the natural world, the stakes are too high.
In the context of a high level of dissatisfaction with the delivery of government services in India, this paper traces the evolution of policy regarding key actors in this process frontline functionaries or street-level bureaucrats. Frontline functionaries form a special subset of the bureaucracy as they come in close contact with citizens, and negotiate government policy with specific citizen needs. The paper provides a historical background illustrating the continuity of colonial era ideas with the current policy regarding frontline functionaries, and also examines it against broader developments in policy and the administrative structure. The policy regarding frontline functionaries is scrutinised against their three roles: as government employees, as professionals or skilled workers in specific fields, and as workers serving the community. Colonial era

The paper shows that frontline functionaries, only loosely connected to the government before colonisation, subsequently became government employees, as the government sought to increase the efficiency of revenue collection from land and forests, and to maintain order. Because the colonial government minimized administrative costs, it paid frontline functionaries very poorly, placed them near the bottom of an extremely hierarchical bureaucratic structure and provided them with minimal promotion avenues. Frontline functionaries were not considered worthy of serious responsibility, expected to follow orders, had little education and training and were treated harshly by senior officials. Consequently, their performance was unsatisfactory. They were often corrupt and exploited the community.

The paper can be accessed by clicking here

https://cprindia.org/workingpapers/frontline-functionaries-in-india-the-absent-policy/

This paper has been authored by Rashmi Sharma from CPR.
The family of Shraddha Walkar, a 27-year-old woman who was killed and dismembered allegedly by her boyfriend Aaftab Poonawala, said that loopholes in the investigation have delayed the case proceedings. Speaking to news agency ANI, Vikas Walkar, Shraddha's father, also said the family of the accused are nowhere to be seen, alleging that they have been hidden somewhere. Shraddha Walkar was allegedly killed by her boyfriend Aaftab Poonawala at a flat in south Delhi in May last year (ANI Photo)(HT_PRINT)

His (Aftab) parents are yet not highlighted. I think they have been hidden somewhere. Where are they? I appeal to highlight them, Vikas Walkar said.

We want to perform her (Shraddha) last rites and I have appealed for her body parts.

He also demanded the death penalty for the accused and alleged that the crime was committed with full planning.

There are loopholes in the investigation and proceedings due to which the case is delayed. I have asked my lawyer to appeal for fast-track proceedings in the case, he added.

His remarks come on a day when a private television channel Aaj Tak was restrained from telecasting material related to the Shraddha Walkar murder case following an application by the Delhi police which complained that the channel might put out details of accused Aaftab Poonawalas narcoanalysis test.

The police argued that putting out a recording or transcript of the forensic examination would not only hurt the prosecutions case but also hurt the sentiments of the families of the accused and the victim.

Additional sessions judge Rakesh Kumar Singh told the police to serve a copy of its request on the television channel, underlining that the channel needed to be heard at length as well.

This court is of the view that till the next date, Aaj Tak news channel shall not utilize in any form any material related to FIR No. 659/2022, PS Mehrauli, the court said, noting that the release of sensitive information will have psychological repercussions on the accused and the victims family

According to the chargesheet filed in the case, Poonawala allegedly strangled his live-in partner, Walkar, on May 18 last year and sawed her body into several pieces, which he kept in a refrigerator for almost three weeks at his residence in south Delhi's Mehrauli.

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Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) received a major shot in the arm as the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced its recognition as a national party. On the other hand, Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Communist Party of India (CPI) lost their national party status in the latest set of decisions by the poll panel. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and NCP president Sharad Pawar.

NCP and AITC, however, will be recognized as state parties in Nagaland and Meghalaya, respectively. The Commission said that NCP and Trinamool Congress will be recognised as state parties in Nagaland and Meghalaya respectively based on their performance in the recently concluded assembly elections.

The Election Commission, in its order issued on Monday, also revoked the state party status of several political parties, including BRS in Telangana while Tipra Motha was granted the status of recognised state political party. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) was also a gainer in the poll panel's order as it was granted state party status in Nagaland.

List of political parties with national status:

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Indian National Congress (INC) Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) National People's Party (NPP); and Aam Aadmi Party

The Commission said the AAP has been named as a national party based on its electoral performance in four states: Delhi, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat. Reacting to the order, Kejriwal said becoming a national party in such a short time is nothing less than a miracle.

Crores of people of the country have taken us here. People expect a lot from us. Today people have given us this huge responsibility, he said in a tweet.

The poll panel also revoked the state party status granted to Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh, Bharatiya Rashtriya Sangh (BRS) in Andhra Pradesh, PDA in Manipur, PMK in Puducherry, RSP in West Bengal and MPC in Mizoram.

It also granted "recognised state political party" status to the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) in Nagaland, Voice of the People Party in Meghalaya and the Tipra Motha in Tripura.

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Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday expressed gratitude towards people after his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) gained the status of a national party. The AAP supremo called it nothing less than a miracle. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal will address a public gathering in Davangere on Saturday. (ANI)

National party in such a short time? This is nothing less than a miracle. many congratulations to all. Crores of people of the country have taken us here. People expect a lot from us. Today, these people have given us this huge responsibility. Lord, bless us to fulfill this responsibility well, Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj also hailed the national party status of AAP and said that it is a big thing. This would not have been possible without people's support. People are with us. We want God to give strength to Arvind Kejriwal to keep on moving forward, he told the news agency ANI.

The Election Commission said that AAP has been named as a national party based on its electoral performance in four states - Delhi, Goa, Punjab, and Gujarat. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party is currently in power in Delhi and Punjab.

Also read: Elitist: RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary disagrees with AAP's Degree Dikhao campaign

The EC also granted recognised state political party status to the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) in Nagaland, the Voice of the People Party in Meghalaya, and the Tipra Motha in Tripura.

Meanwhile, it withdrew the coveted status of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Communist Party of India (CPI). It also revoked the state party status granted to RLD in Uttar Pradesh, BRS in Andhra Pradesh, PDA in Manipur, PMK in Puducherry, RSP in West Bengal, and MPC in Mizoram.
New Delhi: Air Indias London bound flight from Delhi turned around a mere 15 minutes after taking off after a passenger hit a woman member of the crew, and pulled anothers hair. The passenger, identified as Jaskirat Singh, 25, from Punjabs Kapurthala, was handed over to the security personnel upon landing, and later arrested. In its statement, Air India called the safety, security, and dignity of all on board important and added the airline was providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers.

In a statement, Air India said the passenger did not heed verbal and written warnings and continued to be unruly. The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing, the airlines statement said.

The flight was rescheduled and departed for London at around 2.10pm with 225 passengers on board.

We have received a complaint in this regard and have arrested Jaskirat Singh, who was travelling with his parents to London. He is being interrogated and legal action will be taken accordingly, deputy commissioner of police (airport) Devesh Kumar Mahela said, adding that the passenger was later booked under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 336 (endangering life or personal safety of others), 354 (assaulting or using criminal force on a woman to outrage her modesty) and 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, and sections 22, 23 and 29 of Aircraft Rules 1937.

Medical examination of complainant and other crew members was also carried out, and results are awaited, he said.

According to policeofficials, Singh is a student and was travelling with his parents, who were also deboarded with him. The family has claimed that their son is mentally unstable, said one official who asked not to be named.

This is the latest in a series of incidents involving unruly passengers. Shankar Mishra, who was apparently inebriated, allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger on the Tata group-owned Air Indias November 26 New York-New Delhi flight. After Indias aviation regulator DGCA criticised the airlines handling of that issue and suspended the pilot, airlines have become punctilious about reporting such incidents, usually caused on international flights by inebriated passengers.

In its statement, Air India called the safety, security, and dignity of all on board important and added the airline was providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers.

According to Flightradar24, an internet based service that tracks aircraft movement on a real time basis, the flight had taken off at 6.35am and had to land back at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 6.52pm .

If Singh is found guilty, he could find himself on a no-fly list, either of the airline or across airlines. In Mishras case, Air India barred him from flights for four months.

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A Delhi-London Air India flight on Monday returned to Delhi after an unruly passenger had a brawl with crew members mid-air. The airline has lodged a complaint with the Delhi Airport Police on the incident and handed over the unruly passenger to the police, the news agency reported. The Air India flight took off from Delhi at 6.35am and the brawl took place after some time forcing the plane to make a turn and come back to Delhi again. Read | Captain went to: IAS officer slams Go First flight delay Air India's London-bound flight returns to Delhi after passenger hits cabin crew(HT_PRINT)

The Air India flight took an about-turn after an unruly passenger hit the cabin crew. (Flightradar24.com)

The flight returned to Delhi to deboard the unruly passenger who started creating troubles soon after the flight took off. The unruly passenger was deboarded at the airport and the flight took off for London.

Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London Heathrow on April 10, 2023 returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board. Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members. The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing," Air India said in a statement.

An FIR has also been lodged with the police. Safety, security and dignity of all on board is important to us at Air India. We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight to depart for London this afternoon, the statement read.

Last month, a passenger of a London to Mumbai Air India flight was caught smoking in the lavatory of the flight and was booked for unruly behaviour. Early this year, Air India was fined 30 lakh for failing to comply with rules in the November urination case. A passenger, Shankar Mishra, allegedly urinated on an elderly woman in a drunken state on a New York-New Delhi flight on November 26.

(With inputs from Bureau)

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A week after China renamed a piece of forest clearing north of Kibithoo in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh, Home Minister Amit Shah will be launching the Vibrant Villages Program at the same Kibithoo town today as part of Modi governments efforts to link all the border villages in states sharing Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Home Minister Amit Shah

The 4800 crore border village development plan which includes a 2500 crore component for road connectivity between 2023-2026 is designed to cement border defences through better roads and infrastructure and reversing the migration of locals from these towns. The migration of locals from these border villages has been noted with concern in Uttarakhand State which shares a 345 km boundary with Tibet under China and is the closest border to New Delhi.

The village program will not only link with border villages but also provide trans valley connectivity in states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Ladakh. Dove-tailed into this initiative is the Modi governments decision to raise seven more battalions of ITBP with 47 new outposts and 12 staging camps at the cost of 1800 crore to guard the India-Tibet border from any Chinese PLA transgressions.

It is quite evident that the ITBP with the exception of annual rest and recreation of some battalions will remain on heights above 15000 feet to guard the LAC, and work in synergy with the Indian Army, from Karakoram Pass in East Ladakh to Barahoti Plains in Uttarakhand to NathuLa in Sikkim to Zemithang, the last border village of Arunachal along the LAC.

The emerging big picture of Modi government strengthening border defences with the local support is a sea change from Indian position two decades ago when Indian Army and the Indian diplomatic establishment did not want border roads to be developed lest the PLA made a run towards the Indian hinterland.

While the legacy of 1962 war still haunts the Indian military and diplomatic establishment, the Modi government has decided to counter the challenge posed by China post May 2020 transgressions in East Ladakh. Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to the Walong War Memorial today will also send a message to China that new India has not forgotten the 1962 perfidy by Communist China.

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India will not allow anyone to take even an inch of land and border security is governments top priority, Union home minister Amit Shah said in Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh days after China renamed 11 places including mountain peaks, rivers and residential areas in the state, which it claims as South Tibet, further straining the bilateral ties between two countries, which have been locked in a standoff along the line of actual control in Ladakh since May 2020. Union home minister Amit Shah in Kibithoo, Arunachal Pradesh, on Monday. (PTI)

Shah also launched the 4800 crore Vibrant Villages programme from Kibithoo, the first village near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) overlooking Chinese posts in Arunachal Pradesh in what is seen as another message to Beijing.

The home minister asserted that besides the holistic development of border villages to stop migration of the locals to the cities, the army and the Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) will be provided with every facility they need to deal with any threat from across the border.

In February, the Union cabinet approved the induction of 9,400 more Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) troops in seven new border battalions that will serve along the LAC .

Those times are over when somebody could occupy our land. Today, nobody can have an evil eye on Indian territory and we will not allow anyone to take even an inch. Our biggest priority is border security and border infrastructure, Shah said during his first ever visit to the eastern end of Indias 3488 km long LAC .

New Delhi has already strongly rejected Chinas move to rename the places in Arunachal Pradesh saying the state has been an inalienable part of India.

China on Monday objected to Shahs visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying it violated Beijings territorial sovereignty and was not conducive to peace and tranquility along the border.

Shah blamed the Congress for ignoring border infrastructure and overall development of the north-east in its 12 terms in power, adding that Modi government had done more development work in its two terms.

Before 2014, the entire north east was seen as an area which had various problems including insurgency and alienation from the mainland. It was because of the laziness of the leaders in Delhi at that time. All this is ending today. North east is contributing to the growth of India. Insurgency has come down in the region. The violence has been reduced by 60%, there are 83% less civilians deaths and AFSPA has been removed from 70% of the region. It will be removed from entire north east as the situation further improves, Shah said, referring to the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act that gives the army immunity from prosecution in disturbed areas.

Welcomed by hundreds of people with the chants of Bharat Mata ki Jai , Shah arrived in Kibithoo on a two-day trip to launch the Vibrant Villages programme besides inaugurating nine hydropower projects. These projects will provide electricity to 25 villages and 11 establishments of the army and the ITBP.

The central scheme aims to develop villages in 46 border blocks of 19 districts in four states and one Union Territory  Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Ladakh  abutting the northern border. A fund of 4,800 crore has been allocated between 2022-23 and 2025-26 for the programme.

In the first phase of the scheme, 662 villages have been identified, including 455 in Arunachal Pradesh.

The programme was announced against the backdrop of the Chinese building model villages along the borders with India and Bhutan.

The home minister further said that the Vibrant Villages programme will be implemented in three stages: by carrying out development activities, building infrastructure such as hydro power projects, roads, bridges, education systems, mobile towers etc; stopping migration by providing employment to the locals so that they dont move out of the border villages; and regular monitoring of development work.

The output benchmark indicators have been created to oversee the Vibrant Villages programme status. I will personally monitor it and PM (Narendra) Modi is also watching the work being done at the border villages. I want to assure you (locals) that your village will have every facility; this is the responsibility of Modi government and Arunachal Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Shah said.

Speaking at the event, Khandu said India is not the same country it was in 1962, a reference to the Sino-Indian war of that year. This is not the same country of 1962. It is the country of Modi. It is the country of Shah. When the country celebrates the centenary in 2047, the north east will also have a major contribution in its growth story, Khandu said.

Amit Shah visited ITBP and army camps at Kibithoo and interacted with officers and jawans.

Kibithoo is the main border camp at Walong, which is known for the battle of Walong in 1962. The battle is considered to be one of the few glorious chapters for India in the 1962 war, where heavily outnumbered and outgunned Indian soldiers halted the Chinese war machine at Walong.
Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh's close aide Papalpreet Singh has been arrested on Monday from Amrtisar's Kathu Nangal area. Papalpreet Singh has been with the radical Sikh leader as he escaped the police dragnet on March 18 when Punjab Police launched a massive crackdown on Waris Punjab De. Amritpal and Papalpreet travelled together, changing vehicles, as they escaped the chase by the police. From Punjab, they fled to Haryana and probably to Delhi, as captured in CCTV footage, before they entered Punjab again. Papalpreet Singh (left) was with Amritpal Singh as they fled the police dragnet on March 18.

Punjab IGP Sukchain Singh Gill said that action will be taken against Papalpreet as per law.

The Punjab Police increased its vigil across Punjab ahead of Baisakhi celebrations and rumours that Amritpal Singh was about to surrender. Papalpreet's arrest brings the police closer to Amritpal Singh who is believed to be hiding in Punjab.

Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav visited Golden Temple on Monday and said the police will nab whosoever is wanted by the law and it is better that such people submit to the law. Amid reports that Amritpal might have taken shelter at a religious place, the director general of police said religious places should not be used for personal reasons. "Religious places should not be misused," he noted.

Who is Papalpreet Singh, a journalist, Amritpal Singh's mentor?

Papalpreet Singh is believed to be the most trusted aide of Amritpal Singh with ISI links. He mentored Amritpal as he took over the reins of Waris Punjab De after Deep Sidhu's death. Papalpreet was believed to be the mastermind of their escape.

By profession, Papalpreet is a journalist based out of Amritsar who runs the website "Punjab Shield", which is essentially a Khalistani propaganda site.

Papalpreet has been advising Amritpal on various issues. The first photos of Papalpreet were seen him driving a motorcycle with Amritpal riding pillion as they managed to escape. Papalpreet Singh was taking instructions from the ISI to raise the bogey of Khalistan in Punjab, officials said. It was on Papalpreet's instruction that Amritpal changed his appearance during their escape.

Papalpreet faces four criminal cases, including one under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and one for the Ajnala police station incident. Papalpreet was served an income tax notice to explain the source of 4.48 lakh credited into his account.

The Income Tax notice was recovered from the house of Baljeet Kaur at Shahabad in Kurukshetra in Haryana where Papalpreet and Amritpal had taken shelter on March 19 and 20 before fleeing from there after changing their looks and leaving behind the sacred "Shri Sahib", reports said.

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Nairobi  The government is set to conference a national conference in two weeks to discuss the implementation of reforms in the tea and coffee sub-sectors.

Speaking on Saturday when he visited and engaged coffee farmers in Mathira, his home constituency in Nyeri County where he has retreated to for the Easter holidays, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said the conference will firm up proposed reforms.

He the conference will bring together representatives of farmers from coffee-growing counties, Governors, Cabinet Secretaries for Trade, Agriculture, Cooperatives, lawmakers and members of the Coffee Exchange and Coffee Directorate among other relevant agencies.

"We have embarked on an elaborate strategy bringing the stakeholders together to find out the interventions required in terms of direct marketing of our tea and value addition," Gachagua said.

"The purpose is to agree on what needs to be done and the MPs and Senators will take it from there and come up with regulations and legislations to cushion farmers from middlemen," the Deputy President said.

According to the DP, with the revival plans being undertaken by the Kenya Kwanza administration in both of the two sub-sectors, farmers will soon begin to enjoy better returns once the revival initiatives take root.

Gachagua said his visit to the farmers was to get first-hand information on the challenges they were facing.

"We are visiting farmers to understand what ails the sector. There is less production because farmers are less motivated because of poor prices and exploitation by cartels," he said.

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"We must restore the glory of the coffee farmer. Personally, I was educated from proceeds from coffee. In the 1970s and 1980s, this crop had a lot of credibility."

Orthodox tea

He had earlier visited farmers affiliated to the Ragati Tea Factory.

He said the government was reining in on the cartels that have been taking advantage of tea farmers and coming in between the growers and consumers globally.

The Deputy President also challenged the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) to explore ways to process orthodox tea which he said fetches better prices internationally.

"We want to encourage our farmers to consider producing orthodox tea because it fetches better prices. We are in discussions with KTDA, Tea Board of Kenya and counties on how we can assist our KTDA factories so they can install a production line for orthodox tea which costs twice as much as the conventional tea," he noted.

Under Executive Order No. 1 of 2023, President William Ruto tasked his deputy to spearhead public sector reforms.

Gachagua has already hosted several discussions with smaller groups, including Parliamentary Caucus on Coffee and Tea Sub-Sector Reforms.

Anticipated conferences are expected to sum-up of the discussions towards final frameworks of implementing proposed reforms.
Mysuru/ Mandya: In the 2018 election, HD Deve Gowdas party got 26 seats from the region and the BJP bagged just 16, even as it swept across central and coastal Karnataka. (PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party office in a quiet corner of Subhasnagara in Mandya is getting a new coat of paint. Leaflets and campaign material have arrived in plastic packets. Workers are raring to go and hit the election trail in a region that is crucial for the party in the upcoming assembly polls.

Mandya, a part of the old Mysuru region that sends 64 lawmakers to the state assembly, contains the strongest belt of the Vokkaliga community. It is the stronghold of the Janata Dal (Secular), and the Congress is its closest competitor. In the 2018 election, HD Deve Gowdas party got 26 seats from the region and the BJP bagged just 16, even as it swept across central and coastal Karnataka. The Congress won in 22seats.

This time, the central leadership is directly handling the campaign in this area, said Harsha B, the BJPs district office secretary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Mandya on March 12 before he came to Mysuru on April 9 amid a rousing reception. In December, Union home minister Amit Shah visited Mysuru and Mandya to attend several events.

The BJP campaign in Karnataka is clearly being steered by the Prime Minister. In the 99 days of 2023, he is on his 8th visit to the state today, with events in Mysore and Chamrajanagar districts of Old Mysore region, tweeted Sandeep Shastri, national coordinator of the Lokniti Network, a collective of scholars and researchers.

The old Mysuru region is the largest electoral area in the state. It is crucial for JD (S)s relevance, Congresss prospects of returning to power and the BJPs hopes of dominating the Vokkaliga bastion.

A few kilometres from the rocky hills that gave Ramanagara its legacy as the shooting spot for Sholay, Congress candidate Iqbal Hussain counts on price rise and the Siddaramaiah governments (2013-18) ration scheme. The Congress has its own base in India. The Manmohan Singh government gave cooking gas for 450 only. The Siddaramaiah (as chief minister) gave 7kg rice per head with sugar and oil. Now, the BJP government gives only 5kg of rice, he said.

Nearby at a hardware store, some of Hussains supporters admit it will be a tough fight. The fight here has always been between the JD(S) and the Congress. The BJP was never in picture. But Modis campaign is a big issue, said local panchayat president Punith Kumar.

Chandrappa, a Congress supporter, agreed. The BJP is nowhere but if the PM spends more time in this region, no one can say what the result would be, he said. They talk about issues such as Pakistan, Hindutva.

Harsha also counts on social media, an area where the BJP has no stiff competition from rivals. If we get a good candidate, people will vote for us. In Mandya district, all seven seats belong to the JD(S). But people are knowledgeable now. They see TV and more importantly, they are glued to social media, he said.

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Nearly 70 people, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Abhay Singh, were arrested in Jamshedpur on Monday in connection with the violence that erupted over rumours about desecration of a religious flag on Sunday, police said. Shops were set ablaze in Jamshedpur on Sunday. (ANI)

The violence in Shastri Nagar area erupted late on Sunday after two groups clashed with one another over alleged desecration of the religious flag on Saturday evening. They pelted stones at one another, damaged vehicles and also set a dozen makeshift shops ablaze, police said.

Also read: Owaisi's khajur swipe at Nitish after police says Bihar violence well-planned

While prohibitory orders were imposed in the affected area and remained in place till the time of filing this report, internet services, which were suspended around Sunday midnight, were restored at 6.30pm on Monday.

We have arrested 68 people so far in connection with the violence, including BJP leader Abhay Singh. He is a named accused in the case and has been sent to judicial custody, East Singhbhum senior superintendent of police (SSP) Prabhat Kumar said.

The SSP also ruled out any desecration of a religious flag. During the course of investigation, it was established that nothing objectionable was tied to the pole carrying the flag as alleged by some people, he said.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders protested against Singhs arrest outside Bistupur police station.
In poll-bound Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s bid to retain power in the state will rest on curbing intra-party disputes and hard-selling pro-people initiatives of the union government to draw attention away from local issues that can cast a shadow on the partys performance people aware of the details said. Allegations of corruption and irregularities in work related to infrastructure development have emerged as a concern for the BS Bommai-headed government in the state. (PTI)

Though the party is upbeat about the delivery of promises by a double engine government, a term the BJP likes to use to indicate that the same party is in power in the state and the Centre, the people, all BJP leaders who asked not to be named, added that it is the Union governments initiatives that will be the centrepiece of the campaign in the run up to the May 10 election .

Allegations of corruption and irregularities in work related to infrastructure development have emerged as a concern for the BS Bommai-headed government in the state. Last month the Congress went all out to attack the state government for what it said were lapses in public works after the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway was flooded just days after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Flagging the issue, Congress lawmaker DK Suresh tweeted, Bangalore-Mysore Expressway is a nightmare. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi a week ago, this incomplete highway has become an inconvenience for the people.  8,500 crore has been spent on this road. Ramnagar and Mandya districts have come to a standstill due to this flooded highway.

A senior BJP leader said, that while the state governments work and policies will be part of the election pitch, the delivery of Modi government schemes will be a focus area.

The policies of the state government have resulted in Karnataka becoming a favoured destination for investments. At the Global Investors Meet in 2022, MoUs were signed for an investment of 9.8 lakh crore that is expected to generate 6 lakh jobs, but the party will advertise how the policies such as the Kisan Nidhi helped nearly 54 lakh farmers and the [Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan] Anna Yojana, has benefitted 4.34 crore (43.4 million) people from every section (in the state), the leader added.

The party gained electoral support from beneficiaries of central schemes in other state elections such as the recently concluded polls in three states in the North Eastern region, and in Karnataka too, it plans to reach out to the beneficiaries including the 34.66 lakh (3.466 million) households who provided low-cost cooking gas under the Ujjwala Scheme. More than 27 lakh (2.7 million) people have availed free medical treatment at a cost of 4,043 crore under Ayushman Bharat (the governments health insurance scheme), the leader said.

Given the outcome of the 2018 polls, when the BJP emerged the single-largest party, but could not muster the requisite numbers to form the government, the party is focused on ensuring that this time it crosses the halfway mark of 112.

To this end, the party high command is learnt to have issued a terse message to the state leaders to follow the instructions vis-a-vis the partys narrative, burying internal differences to put up a joint front against the Congress, a formidable challenger. Sangthan (organisation) is a big advantage for the BJP unlike the Congress. There is a vast network of booth workers, leaders across castes and regions and the unchallengeable leadership of Prime Minister Modi. The Congress is a divided house with many claimants to the top post. Being a disciplined party, we have asked our leaders not to work at cross purposes, said a second BJP leader who is based in Delhi.

The leader said in 2018, the partys performance was largely attributed to the state leaders scotching internal differences ahead of the election. Once the issue of leadership was decided, the leaders put their lot behind [BS] Yediyurappa. And just as it was done then, this time too, the party has balanced regional and caste aspirations and leaders such as CT Ravi, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Sobha Karandlaje, and B Sriramulu have been given responsibilities to ensure the party breaks the previous record.

Still, the partys list of candidates this time has been delayed primarily on account of these differences.

The central leadership has also stepped in to check Ravi, a national general secretary and MLA for commenting on Yediyurappas son Vijayendras candidature. After Ravi said Vijendra was not an automatic choice from Shikharipura and that the decision on candidates will not be taken in anyones kitchen, union home minister Amit Shah accepting a bouquet from Vijayendra at the former CMs residence was seen as a nod to his candidacy from the preferred seat.

In 2018, while the party leaderships approval for Yediyurappa was evident, the central leadership stepped in to ensure that other senior leaders such as the late Ananth Kumar and Sadananda Gowda who were then in the union cabinet were involved in the election process.

To a question on whether the partys reliance on the central leadership and the schemes will overcome anti- incumbency, especially when the Congress and the JDS have dragged local issues mainly corruption into the spotlight, the second leader said, In 2013 we won 40 seats. Political analysts said there is no traction for Modi in Karnataka and the BJP has slim chances of returning to power, but the results were different.

The delivery of schemes and the recent rejig in the quotas for various castes will help the BJP buck the trend of incumbent governments not getting re-elected, this person added. In last three decades there has been a trend of governments being changed every five years. But we are confident of returning with a bigger mandate.

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NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday opposed a petition in Supreme Court to debar candidates from elections against whom charges have been framed by courts in serious offences, underlining that defining serious offences will be a challenge and an order on framing charges can be challenged before a higher court. The petition was filed in the Supreme Court in 2020 (HT File Photo)

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay who filed a petition in 2020 that sought to debar persons from contesting elections against whom a court has framed charges in a serious offence. He also wanted the Election Commission of India to freeze symbols of political parties that field such candidates. The top court issued notices to the Centre and Election Commission in September last year.

The prayers in this petition are not maintainable. The presumption in criminal law is that you are innocent till proven guilty. The accused always has the liberty to challenge the framing of charges. If he fails, the legislative architecture allows many other chances, argued additional solicitor general (ASG) Sanjay Jain.

Further, the senior law officer said reasoned that every prosecuting agency seeks to persuade the court that the charges against the accused are serious. This expression serious offence can vary from one agency to another, he said.

The bench of justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna asked Jain if the government has examined the law commission report on the topic. We have to identify which are the serious offences. There is a Law Commission report on the disqualification of persons from contesting polls. Have you examined what the report says in this regard? the bench asked.

The Centre has been given four weeks to file its response. The bench will take up the case next on July 21.

The petitioner told the court that the petition is crucial to decriminalise politics and maintain the purity and integrity of the electoral process.

He referred to the law commissions report in 2014 that recommended disqualification of persons against whom charges have been framed at least one year before the date of scrutiny of nominations for an offence punishable with a sentence of five years or more.

In its response earlier, the Election Commission said that election symbols are political party-specific and not candidate-specific and hence the prayers sought by the petitioner are not within the powers of the poll panel.
The Congress on Monday said the Union government is trying to buy a Pegasus-type spying software called Cognyte at a cost of 986 crore, and alleged that it will be used to snoop on politicians, media, activists, and NGOs. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera (File Photo)

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera at a press conference on Monday said, Since Pegasus has become infamous, the government with minimum governance-maximum surveillance is looking for a new spyware in the market.

Also Read: Cong, CPI(M) target Kerala BJP over its Easter outreach

I understand that the ruling dispensation hates the opposition but they used spying software on their own ministers, Khera alleged.

He added, This countrys 2 spies do not trust anyone, not even the law and media. Thats why they are spending crores of taxpayers money for buying spy software and Israeli technology. They are doing this because the emperor fears that his hollow palace of lies might collapse from one of our truths.

The Congress leader went on to allege that the government uses the technology to spy on the opposition, journalists, judiciary, citizens and even on its own ministers.

Khera also highlighted how not many people knew about Cognyte but it worked similar to Pegasus and was less discussed among the media. However, a US law firm stated that Cognyte regularly targets journalists, opposition leaders and their families and uses unethical methods to furnish information about them, adding, the Norway Sovereign Wealth Fund had dumped Cognites stocks over irregularities.

Posing questions before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government, Khera said, We want to ask the government which ministry has been given the task to buy this Cognyte software and how much was spent on it. We also urge them to tell us on what rationale this software is being finalised about which very little information is known.

Also Read: Owaisi on Pilots fast: Congress, BJP two sides of same coin on corruption

Have some communication devices been purchased from Cognyte? If yes, which ministry bought it, and how much did it cost? Is there a new spyware idea to finalise? Has any ministry issued request for proposal? If yes, which ministry is it? asked Khera.

Cognytes webpage states that the Israeli software is a global leader in investigative analytics software that empowers governments and enterprises with Actionable Intelligence for a Safer World.
As Covid-19 cases surge in India, the ministry of health has announced nationwide mock drills on Monday and Tuesday to assess hospital preparedness. Both public and private facilities are set to take part in the drills.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya will visit AIIMS, Jhajjar on Monday to oversee the mock drill, officials said on Sunday.

Mandaviya held a meeting Friday to ask state health ministers to monitor the mock drills in their state hospitals. State and district health departments have also been urged to analyse the ability to tackle the rise in coronavirus infections.

In the virtual meeting, Mandaviya also emphasised on the need to identify emergency hotspots by checking trends of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases, increasing testing and vaccination, and ensuring readiness of hospital infrastructure.

Besides enhancing genome sequencing, 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and Covid-Appropriate Behaviour' continue to remain the response strategy.

Currently the World Health Organisation (WHO) is closely tracking a 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).

States and union territories were also requested to immediately increase the rate of testing from 100 tests per million as of the week ending April 7.

Covid infections 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, 3,038 on April 4, 4,435 on April 5, 5,335 on April 6 and 6,050 on April 7 and 6155 on April 8.

The overall active cases currently stand at 32,814, as of Sunday, with the daily positivity rate at 3.39 per cent, the Health Ministry stated in its release.
Nothing less than a miracle': Kejriwal as AAP earns national party status Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal addresses during a public meeting.(ANI )

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The Dalai Lama on Monday issued an apology to a minor boy and his family after a video of the 87-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader kissing the child surfaced on social media, sparking outrage. The Dalai Lama (REUTERS)

In a statement shared on his official website and Twitter handle, the Buddhist monk said he regretted the incident.

A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug. His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused, the statement by his private office said.

The incident occurred on February 28 at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamsala, where the spiritual leader and the Tibetan government-in-exile are based, when executives of a Gurugram-based real estate group and their families had an audience with the Dalai Lama after their annual convention in the Himachal Pradesh town, a witness said seeking anonymity.

In the video, which was widely shared on social media, the Dalai Lama can be seen inviting the boy to the platform where he was seated, and gesturing to his cheek, after which the child kissed him before giving him a hug.

The boy then asked if could kiss the Dalai Lama, following which the leader could be heard saying, You can also suck my tongue.

In the statement issued on Monday, the leaders office said, His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident.

This is not the first time the Dalai Lama has courted controversy. Four years ago, he issued an apology after outrage over his comments that if a woman were to take his position, she should be attractive.

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New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Monday revised, for the first time since 2018, the list of national and state political parties, granting national party status to the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and downgrading veteran politician Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Communist Party of India (CPI). AAPs national convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the EC decision was nothing less than a miracle, and credited people for the recognition (HT photo)

Review of the poll performance of AAP shows that in the general election to legislative assembly of Gujarat, AAP polled 12.92% of total vote, the Commission noted in its order. It has fulfilled the criteria of a state party in Gujarat and is already a recognised state party in Delhi, Goa and Punjab.

AAPs national convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the EC decision was nothing less than a miracle, and credited people for the recognition. Many congratulations to everyone. Crores of people from the country have brought us here. People expect a lot from us. Today the public has given us this huge responsibility. I pray to the God, to bless us to fulfil this responsibility with full dedication, he tweeted.

The national status gives a party several advantages such as a common party symbol across states, free airtime during elections on public broadcasters, and space for a party office in New Delhi.

According to the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, a political party is recognised as a national party if it fulfils any of the following three conditions: First, it secures at least 6% of votes polled in four or more states in Lok Sabha or assembly elections, and, in addition, have at least four members in the Lok Sabha. Second, it has at least 2% of the total Lok Sabha seats and its candidates come from not less than three states. Third, it is recognised as a state party in at least four states. AAP meets the third criteria.

AAP, founded in 2012, won the Punjab assembly elections early last year, and also won five seats in the Gujarat elections later.

Before Mondays change by ECI, there were eight registered national parties: the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, TMC, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist); NCP; and the National Peoples Party (NPP).

NCP lost its national party status because it no longer meets any of the three criteria; it is no longer a state party in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya, although it is now a state party in Nagaland.

A party is recognised as a state one if it meets any of five conditions. One, it gets at least 6% of the votes and wins at least two seats in the assembly election. Two, it gets at least 6% of the votes polled and has at least one MP in the Lok Sabha. Three, it has at least 3% of the votes or three MLAs in the assembly, whichever is more. Four, it has at least one Lok Sabha member for every 25 assembly members or any fraction thereof allotted to the state. Five, it has at least 8% of the total valid votes polled in the state in the previous election to the Lok Sabha or assembly in the state.

Mahesh Tapase, chief spokesperson of the NCP, said they will approach the EC to restore the partys national status. After making a careful submission to all the queries raised by the election commission, we see the order as a shock. We will again approach the commission with a representation to restore our national status.

Earlier, there were 58 recognised state parties in the country.

TMC has lost its national party status for similar reasons. It is now a party status in Bengal and Tripura. It is no longer a recognised state party in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Reacting to the development, TMCs Bengal unit vice president Jay Prakash Majumdar said: The TMC has been enjoying the status of a national party for quite a long period. The ECI from time to time comes up with yardsticks for the classification of national parties, regional parties, registered parties etc. We have to check what exactly has changed. The TMC had presented its case before the poll panel elaborately. Everyone knows how the ECI has lost its neutrality. We have to check what exactly happened and whether there was any influence of the ruling party.

CPI lost its status as a national party and as a state party in West Bengal and Odisha. The party remains a state party in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Manipur. CPI national secretary Binoy Biswam told news agency PTI: National recognition is of course important from a technical point of view. CPIs recognition is in the hearts of the toiling masses. It is built up with the blood, sweat and tears of the fighting people. The party will intensify its battle for democracy, secularism and socialism.

The Lok Janshakti party (Ram Vilas) has been recognised as a state party in Nagaland, the Voice of the Peoples Party in Meghalaya and the Tipra Motha Party in Tripura.

The Rashtriya Lok Dal in Uttar Pradesh, the Revolutionary Socialist Party in Bengal, and K Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtriya Samiti (previously, the Telangana Rashtriya Samithi) in Andhra Pradesh are no longer recognised as state parties in the above-mentioned states.
Twitter boss Elon Musk, who has the highest follower count on the social networking platform, has started following prime minister Narendra Modi, who is followed by 87.7 million people. PM Modi with Elon Musk (Image from Sep 2015/PIB)

The world's second-wealthiest person, who acquired Twitter in October last year and is followed by 134.3 million users, himself follows 195 individuals, one of whom is PM Modi.

Elon Musk has 134.3 million followers and he himself follows 195 people, including PM Modi.

A screenshot of the list of people followed by the Tesla CEO shows the name Narendra Modi.

PM Modi's name is there among Musk's Twitter followers (Twitter/Elon Musk)

PM Modi is, in fact, one of the few political leaders followed by Musk on Twitter; the billionaire also follows former US President Barack Obama, who was overtaken by Musk as the most followed person on the microblogging website.

On an official visit to the United States in Sep 2015, the prime minister had met Musk.

Netizens react

That Musk has started following Modi, soon went viral on Twitter. Taking a jibe at Rahul Gandhi and Congress, Twitter user Monty Rana said he hoped the party would not start asking Ye Modi-Musk ka rishta kya kehlata hai (What is the relationship between Modi and Musk)?

A person wondered if Tesla would be opening a factory in India.

In terms of Twitter followers, meanwhile, Musk and Obama are ahead of Justin Bieber at number 3, Katy Perry at 4, and Rihanna at 5. Cristiano Ronaldo (6), Taylor Swift (7), Lady Gaga (9), and YouTube (10) are also in the top 10. Number 8? Narendra Modi.

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Nairobi  Police in Laikipia have recovered 120 bags of government-subsidized fertilizer suspected to be destined for re-sale.

Police said Sunday that the recovery operation was conducted by officers drawn from Sipili and Nga'arua Police Stations who were acting on a tip off from members of public.

The fertilizer was recovered from Blessed Agrovet in Sipili Township.

"One motor vehicle make Isuzu Dmax which was used for transportation was impounded and detained at Sipili Police Station, while the exhibits are kept at Nga'arua Police Station," the National Police service said.

Two suspects identified as Francis Githiora, 41, and Sarah Murugi, 38, were arrested and detained at Sipili Police Station pending arraignment in court.
Former Telangana parliamentarian Ponguleti Srinivasulu Reddy and former minister Jupally Krishna Rao were on Monday suspended from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), a day after they attacked the party leadership over alleged suppression of democratic voices. K Chandrasekhar Rao. (PTI)

An official statement from the BRS central office said the decision to suspend them from the party was taken on the directions of party president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, for their anti-party activities.

On Sunday, Srinivasulu Reddy organised an Atmeeya Sammelanam (a congregation of close acquaintances) at Kothagudem town in Bhadradri Kothagudem district to take a dig at the BRS leadership for ignoring genuine party workers.

Reddy said that KCR was dreaming of becoming a chief minister for the third time but it would remain a dream.

Also read: PM Modi's speech in Hyderabad: Non cooperation from KCR govt | Top quotes

The meeting was attended by Krishna Rao, who represented Kollapur assembly constituency in Nagarkurnool district. He alleged that the chief minister was acting like a monarch, suppressing the democratic voices in the party.

I have sacrificed posts and positions in the Congress party and joined the BRS (formerly Telangana Rashtra Samithi) to fight for the separate statehood. But I was completely sidelined in the party. The people, who had voted for the BRS with high hopes, are now thoroughly disappointed, he said.

Rao said sarpanches were suffering from huge financial losses as the KCR government had failed to clear the pending bills. So was the case with irrigation contractors, whose bills were pending with the government for clearance, he said.

The former minister said those who questioned the autocratic rule of KCR were being harassed with police cases. KCR and his family members are looting the state, he alleged.

Reddy, who got elected from Khammam parliamentary constituency in 2014 on YSR Congress party ticket, shifted loyalties to the BRS. In 2019 general elections, however, he was denied the BRS ticket, which was given to his arch rival Nama Nageshwara Rao, who defected from Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Since then, Reddy was sulking and feeling completely sidelined. On January 18, when KCR addressed a huge rally of the BRS at Khammam, which was attended by several opposition leaders in the country, Reddy was not invited.

On the other hand, Rao has also been feeling neglected in the party, ever since he lost the assembly seat from Kollapur in 2018 elections. He lost to Congress candidate B Harshvardhan Reddy, who later defected to the BRS.

Senior BRS leader and state agriculture minister S Niranjan Reddy said the party had given a long rope to Srinivasulu Reddy and Krishna Rao to mend their ways, before suspending them from the party.

Party is supreme for anybody and no individual is above the party. The two leaders were suspended only after they crossed the party line and made serious comments against the party leadership which is not tolerable, the minister said.

He said both Srinivasulu Reddy and Krishna Rao had enjoyed prime positions in the party. Yet, they chose to criticise KCR and his leadership. They are speaking in the tone of opposition parties, Niranjan Reddy said.

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India has accused Britain of failing to condemn a Sikh extremist group that attacked the Indian high commission in London last month and stalled trade negotiations between the two countries, British daily The Times reported on Monday. Pro-Khalistan activists pulled down the Indian flag at the high commission in London during a protest on March 20. (PTI)

Pro-Khalistan activists pulled down the Indian flag at the high commission during a protest on March 20 and prompted the external affairs ministry in New Delhi to summon the senior-most British diplomat, deputy high commissioner Christina Scott, to lodge a protest.

The Times reported the UK government has condemned the attack, but the Indian government wants it to go further and publicly condemn the group.

It cited senior British government sources and said that India has disengaged from trade talks and made it clear that there would be no progress without a public condemnation of the Khalistan movement.

HT has reached out to the concerned Indian ministries for comments and this report will be updated when they respond.

Britain and India launched free trade agreement talks in New Delhi In January. They were expected to wrap up a deal by the end of the year to boost annual bilateral trade.

Britain has made the deal one of its post-Brexit priorities and said it could almost double British exports to India.

India last month said it expected the UK government to take immediate steps to identify, arrest and prosecute each one of those involved in the attack on the mission and to put in place stringent measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

Videos earlier showed a small group of pro-Khalistan activists protesting and shouting anti-India slogans outside the Indian mission. Several protestors carried the yellow and black Khalistan flag and some had posters calling for radical Sikh preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh to be freed.

The videos showed one of the protestors clambering onto a balcony and pulling down the Indian flag from a pole at the front of the high commission to cheers from the other men.

British policemen arrived on the scene and prevented the protestors from approaching an entrance of the Indian high commission.

The protests came as police in Punjab launched a hunt to arrest Amritpal Singh, who has been declared a fugitive and has been on the run.

There have been similar protests and acts of vandalism outside the Indian mission in London in recent years. The Indian side has also protested to the governments of Australia and Canada over the activities of pro-Khalistan activists and groups, including acts of vandalism at temples and the holding of a so-called Khalistan referendum by Sikhs For Justice, which is proscribed in India.
India on Monday recorded a marginal increase in the daily Covid-19 cases at 5,880 compared to the previous day. On Sunday, a total of 5,357 cases were reported. According to the health ministry data, the active infections stand at 35,199. College students and NGO members distribute masks among children at a programme in a slum, in Jammu, on Sunday. (PTI)

A total of 44,196,318 people have recuperated so far with the recovery rate rising to 98.74 percent. Meanwhile, the country witnessed 14 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the death tally to 53,09,79 deaths. The fatality rate stands at 1.19 percent.

India on Saturday reported 6,155 new Covid-19 cases, up from Friday's tally of 6,050 infections.

According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered so far under the nationwide inoculation drive.

With the rise in Covid-19 cases in India, the ministry of health has announced nationwide mock drills on Monday and Tuesday to assess hospital preparedness. Both public and private facilities are set to take part in the drills. Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya in a meeting on Friday directed states to ramp up genome testing.

On Sunday, Delhi's daily Covid tally climbed to 699, reported news agency ANI citing government data, according to which the total number of cases in the national capital was at 2,014,637. In the past 24 hours, the city logged as many as four related fatalities, with the overall death count rising to 26,540, as per the data.

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Indias first indigenous aircraft carrier  the INS Vikrant  was last month handed over a bell that was once installed on the first carrier with the same name, commissioned in 1961. The first INS Vikrant carrier (above) was decommissioned in 1997 and the new indigenous INS Vikrant was commissioned by Prime minister Narendra Modi in Kochi on September 2, 2022. (Twitter/INS Vikrant)

The bell had been placed on the original INS Vikrant for almost 36 years after India bought a British-origin aircraft carrier HMS Hercules and renamed it.

Now-retired Vice Admiral SN Ghormade decided to return the bell on March 22 to motivate Indias youth about the rich history of their ship and the Indian Navy. The first INS Vikrant carrier was decommissioned in 1997 and the bell was removed and placed at the designated residence of Indian Navy Vice Chief 5, Motilal Nehru Marg.

Navy officials believe that traditionally bells have played an important role on a warship and this special one has been part of a rich history as it was on the warship when it played a key role in enforcing the naval blockade of East Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971.

The warship was active during the wars fought by India against Pakistan and was deployed at key locations to further the security of the nation.

The new indigenous INS Vikrant was commissioned by Prime minister Narendra Modi in Kochi on September 2, 2022.
NEW DELHI: India and the UK on Monday dismissed a report that New Delhi had halted talks on a trade deal over violence during a pro-Khalistan protest in London, though people familiar with the matter said progress in the negotiations has been affected by a host of issues. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting on November 16, 2022 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. (REUTERS File Photo)

The people cited above described as baseless a report by The Times newspaper that the Indian side had suspended talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) over Britains failure to condemn a pro-Khalistan group involved in violent protests outside the Indian mission in London last month.

The Indian side reacted angrily to the protests in London, and British deputy high commissioner Christina Scott was summoned to the foreign ministry for registering a strong protest over actions taken by separatist and extremist elements against the Indian mission. The Indian side also reduced security for the UK high commission and the British envoys residence in Delhi.

Britain too dismissed the report on the halting of trade negotiations, with a spokesperson for the department for business and trade saying: Both the UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial FTA and concluded the latest round of trade talks last month.

British foreign minister James Cleverly has condemned the recent acts of violence at the Indian mission in London and the government is working with the Metropolitan Police to review security and make changes to ensure the safety of Indian staff, the spokesperson said.

However, the people cited above acknowledged the trade negotiations had run into rough weather following the change in the British governments leadership last year.

It is wrong to say that FTA negotiations with the UK have been halted. But at the same time, it is also true that the change of leadership in Britain has not been very encouraging for an early conclusion of the deal, one person said. He was referring to the exit of the Boris Johnson government last year.

After the change in leadership, the UK has attempted to bring up some issues that had been amicably settled, the people said. Britain is also pushing non-trade issues related to labour and the environment.

India has recently concluded an FTA with Australia while resolving a majority of trade issues in mutual interest and respecting sensitivities of both sides. Now, India and Australia are negotiating a comprehensive deal. This is the ideal way to move forward, the person said.

Both sides must respect sensitivities and popular sentiments. Success of any trade deal is dependent on acceptance by people. Besides economic cooperation, an amicable socio-political relationship is needed, he said.

The eighth round of India-UK trade talks were held during March 20-31. The next round is expected to be held in London later this month.

India and the UK had come close to finalising an FTA last year, and then commerce secretary BVR Subrahmanyam had said in September 3 the trade deal was very much on track. The two sides missed a deadline for finalising the deal by Diwali in October 2022, and the people believe several more rounds of talks will be needed to resolve thorny issues such as market access and mobility for professionals.

UK high commissioner Alex Ellis told HT last month that both sides were into the tough stuff and the hard bits in negotiations. We are down to core issues, where both countries would like to see a bit more opening of each others goods markets, looking at tariffs, some opening on the services side, he said.

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The Karnataka high court on Monday asked the Union government and social media company Twitter to come back with details about global legal approaches on how online posts are ordered to be blocked. The court questioned both the Centre and Twitter for not sharing or asking the reason for blocking of the 39 Twitter accounts. (Representative Photo)

The direction came as the court continued its hearing in Twitters challenge against the government to block 39 accounts, which the social media company has said was done in a manner that did not accord affected users the right to an appeal.

Justice Krishan S Dixit asked both the parties to clarify by Wednesday on how laws of other countries, including the United States of America, deal with giving reasons for why online content is blocked.

Also read: Centre orders blocking of tweets, YouTube videos on BBC documentary on PM Modi: Sources

How in other jurisdictions, whether disclosure of reason is treated as a matter of force or whether the government can withhold reasons? Whether any element of state sovereignty is involved in this? For example, a State does not disclose reasons why it refuses visa to you Secondly, how would US have treated if an Indian entity was before it that also needs to be examined, justice Dixit said.

The court questioned both the Centre and Twitter for not sharing or asking the reason for blocking of the 39 Twitter accounts.

As the judge enquired whether Twitter sought the reasons, advocate Manu Kulkarni, representing the company, told the court that besides an order of blocking the accounts, no further reasoning was given in written.

But on a specific query of the court to Twitters counsel whether he had solicited reasons for the impugned order from the Centre, he admitted: It was not done in so many words.

When the court asked the Centres counsel as to why it did not disclose the reasons, advocate Kumar MN said the reasons are mentioned in the notice that was issued to Twitter.

To this the court asked: Court wants to know what is so much an important thing which prevented the government from disclosing the reasons, when the section (69A) uses the word reasons to be recorded?

Noting that at a time when the whole world is moving towards transparency, the judge said: If it would have been regarding sovereignty etc, we would have understood. You called them for the meeting and you did not agree with the reasons given by them and passed the impugned order, is it not necessary for him to know why you do not agree with his reasons?

During the hearing, the court also sought to know from Twitters counsel whether they can claim fundamental rights under Article 19(1) and Article 21 since they are a foreign entity. To this, Twitters counsel told the court that the rights guaranteed under Article 14 would be available to foreign entities and foreigners as well.

The matter will continue for hearing on Wednesday.

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In a big breakthrough following a month-long manhunt, the Punjab Police on Monday arrested a key aide of fugitive radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh from Kathunangal village in Amritsar district. Punjab Police personnel amid a crackdown on Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh late last month. (Sameer Sehgal/ HT Photo)

Inspector General Sukhchain Singh Gill said Papalpreet Singh was arrested after multiple police teams carried out a special operation with assistance from the counter intelligence wing.

Our teams spearheaded the search operation for the past three days after receiving critical information about Papalpreets location, a senior police official said.

Also Read:Another Amritpal aide held for Ajnala violence

Papalpreet was last seen with Amritpal in Marnaian village of Hoshiarpur on March 28. Both managed to give law enforcement authorities a slip after returning to Punjab following a crackdown launched by Punjab Police on March 18. The police had also unearthed CCTV footage of him a while back.

A self-proclaimed independent journalist from Majitha in Amritsar, Papalpreet was running an independent website focussing on radical issues. He also handled Amritpals social media accounts and managed media for the pro-Khalistan leader.

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Punjab Police on Monday arrested Papalpreet Singh, a key aide of radical preacher Amritpal Singh, on charges of murder, kidnapping, as well as under the National Security Act (NSA), marking a major breakthrough in the three-week-long chase to nab the latter after he slipped past the authorities last month. Radical preacher Amritpal Singh's close aide Papalpreet Singh in police custody on Monday. (PTI)

Papalpreet, 42, is accused of helping Amritpal Singh escape the police crackdown and accompanying the fugitive. He was arrested from the Kathunangal area of Amritsar district, said police.

Papalpreet Singh was nabbed in Amritsar district this morning and detained under the National Security Act (NSA). He is wanted in six cases, Punjab Polices spokesperson and inspector general (headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said in a hurriedly convened press conference. He didnt elaborate other operational details and took no questions.

The six cases include the February 23 siege by thousands of Singhs supporters of a police station in Ajnala town, which forced the state government to free a key aide who was accused of abduction. The others including kidnapping and threatening people to arrange stay and travel when he was on run with Amritpal.

Papalpreet Singh is considered the most prominent among a string of aides who helped Amritpal Singh  the chief of Waris Punjab De who is accused of stoking separatism, spreading communal disharmony and attacking policemen  mount a dramatic escape from Mehatpur town on March 18, and then seek shelter in a nearby gurdwara, before absconding again. He was seen again with Amritpal near Hoshiarpur village on March 28, before vanishing again.

His arrest is considered important because police say he is the brain behind the rise of Amritpal Singh. Seven of Amritpals other aides are currently behind bars under the National Security Act but Papalpreet is the most significant arrest in the case yet.

Police said that Papalpreet may be moved to Assams Dibrugarh jail, where Amritpals other alleged aides are currently lodged.

His family members said he wasnt in contact with them since March 18. Papalpreets mother Mandhir Kaur said he was working as a media adviser to Amritpal. We want justice. He should not be tortured. We are with him, she said.

The IGP said the operation was conducted by Amritsar Rural Police. A senior police official said that Papalpreet was found to be active in the area in the past four-five days. It was a human intelligence-based operation planned at the Amritsar Rural police level, said the official, requesting anonymity.

Papalpreets native village of Marrari Kalan is nearly 10km away from where he was nabbed.

An engineering graduate, Papalpreet is considered to be Amritpals mentor and has allegedly been in contact with Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence, said a senior intelligence official. He was found to be active in many protests propelled by radical elements, said the officer.

Punjab Police also say that Papalpreet managed hideouts by using his contacts with two women in Patiala and a third in Haryanas Kurukshetra.

Amritpal Singh and his followers are facing seven first information reports across Punjab involving allegations of spreading communal disharmony, attempt to murder and attacking policemen. The most prominent among them is related to the February 23 Ajnala siege.

Singh, who has fashioned himself after radical leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, is linked to a larger conspiracy involving the Khalistani secessionist movement, with intelligence agencies saying he was fast radicalising young men in the border state. On March 29, he released some unverified audio and video clips, calling for a holy Sikh conclave.

The crackdown on Amritpal and his supporters began on March 18 when a police cavalcade intercepted his car near Mehatpur town when he was on his way to Bathinda to address a gathering. But Amritpal changed cars and managed to mount a dramatic escape on a motorcycle, halting for a short while at a local gurdwara before getting away with the help of two accomplices.
Maharashtra on Monday reported 328 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total cases to 79,97,130. The active caseload rose to 4,667. According to the state health bulletin, Mumbai has reported the highest number of cases with 228 infections, followed by 50 cases in Pune, 18 in Nagpur, 10 in Akola, eight in Latur, and five each in Nashik and Kolhapur. Maharashtra on Monday reported 328 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. (HT File)

The state witnessed one Covid-related death in the last 24 hours. The fatality rate in the state stands at 1.82 percent.

COVID-19 MOCKDRILL UPDATES

Meanwhile, a total of 247 patients recovered in the last 24 hours, with the recovery rate at 98.12 percent.

Earlier in the day, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) made the use of face masks mandatory for employees, patients, and visitors in all civic-run hospitals. The BMC in a release said that the step has been taken as a safety measure. It also appealed to citizens above 60 years of age to wear face masks as a precautionary measure though it is not mandatory for them.

This comes as the country is witnessing a spike in its daily Covid cases rapidly. On Monday, India saw a marginal increase in the daily infections at 5,880 compared to the previous day's 5,357 cases. According to the health ministry data, the active infections stood at 35,199.
In an escalation of its attack on Rahul Gandhi, the BJP said the Congress leader must explain who are the businessmen he meets and the purpose - based on an interview of former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad who alleged that Rahul Gandhi goes abroad and meets 'undesirable businessmen'. This comes after Rahul Gandhi's Adani tweet in which he mentioned the names of five former Congressmen including Ghulam Nabi Azad saying that these names are just BJP's tools to divert attention from Adani. Read | Rahul Gandhi's new photo has BJP, Cong warring on Twitter: Go eat there Rahul Gandhi's latest Adani tweet naming 5 former Congress leaders is at the centre of a new controversy.

Reacting to the Adani tweet in which his name has been dragged, Ghulam Nabi Azad told a news channel that it is shameful as he never had any association with any businessmen whereas the entire family (Gandhi) is associated with businessmen including him. "I have great respect for the family. I don't want to speak anything against the family. Otherwise, I would have given examples of where he would go and meet undesirable businessmen even outside the country," Ghulam Nabi Azad said.

Rahul Gandhi has been at the centre of a political row triggered by his Lok Sabha speech on Adani which got expunged in parts; for his UK speech; for his conviction in the 2019 Modi-surname case, disqualification from the Lok Sabha, for his Savarkar comment and now the 'Adani' tweet. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma whose name was also mentioned in that tweet said he will file a defamation suit against Rahul Gandhi for that tweet. "Whatever Rahul Gandhi has tweeted, it is a defamatory tweet. So once Prime Minister goes back from Assam we will respond to the tweet and definitely, there will be a defamation case in Guwahati," Himanta Biswa said.

Amid this, former J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad released his memoir 'Azaad' in which he categorised Congress as 'bloopers and bombast'. In several interviews, he criticised Rahul Gandhi and said it was for Rahul Gandhi that he and many leaders exited the party.

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VICE President Yemi Osinbajo, his wife, Dolapo; former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and a former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, among other dignitaries, yesterday, paid their last respects to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola.

After Janazah prayer, led by the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sheik Sa'dallah Bamgbola, the remains of Ajibola were interred within the sprawling Islamic Mission for Africa, IMA, premises, a centre he established decades ago, on Abiola Way area of Abeokuta.

He was my mentor--Osinbajo

Speaking at the occasion, Vice President Osinbajo expressed sadness over the death of Ajibola.

Osinbajo, in a chat with newsmen in Abeokuta, after Ajibola's burial, said his personal interaction with the late legal icon as Special Adviser would be indelible in his heart.

The VP said: "Prince Bola Ajibola was someone I worked with as a Special Adviser, when he was the Attorney-General of the Federation, and one thing he demonstrated was his belief for Nigeria, and that one could serve in the public domain with integrity. It's a great honor that I knew him and he mentored me."

He was passionate about education and law --Osoba

Also, former Ogun State governor, Olusegun Osoba, yesterday, described the late Prince Ajibola as a passionate personality, whose interest in education and law cannot be rivaled.

Osoba said: "Ajibola was a thorough prince of Egbaland, who believes in the legacies of our forefathers.

"He invested everything he had into education and law in Egbaland, Nigeria and the World as judge of the world court in The Hague. We will miss him."
At least two houses belonging to Muslims were allegedly set on fire in Uttar Pradeshs Meerut district on Monday after a Hindu man was reportedly shot dead on Sunday evening, police said. Representative Image (Satyabrata Tripathy/HT File Photo)

Four people have been arrested in connection with the murder. A huge posse of policemen have been deployed at Palda village, where the two incidents took place, to avoid any flare-up, police added.

Providing details, superintendent of police (rural) Kamlesh Bahadur said 24-year-old Vishu was allegedly shot dead by two motorcycle-borne men on Sunday evening.

His family alleged that he was murdered by some Muslim youngsters with whom he reportedly had an altercation during Holi, Bahadur said.

Also read: Totally planned conspiracy: Tejashwi Yadav on violence in Bihar

Tension erupted in the village on Monday morning when the deceaseds body arrived for the final rites after a post-mortem.

Speaking to news agency PTI, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rohit Singh Sajwan said that as 500-600 people arrived for Vishus funeral, three-four youngsters set fire to the houses of the people from the side of the accused, but the police present on the spot immediately chased them away.

Those who attempted arson will be identified and a case registered against them, he said.

The situation is under control. A senior policeman is camping in the village with a police team, Bahadur said.

A case has been registered against five people in connection with the murder, police said. While four people have been arrested, efforts are on to trace the fifth person.
ReadUnion Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari along with a 13-member Parliamentary committee on Monday reviewed the construction work of the strategic Zojila tunnel, which will provide all-weather connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Union minister Nitin Gadkari, J&K LG Manoj Sinha inspect the construction work of Asias longest bi-directional Zojila Tunnel, at Baltal, east of Srinagar.(Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times)

While terming the tunnel historic, the minister said that the project is part of a dream to connect the Kashmir valley with Kanyakumari.

The Union minister also announced that the Z-Morh tunnel, which connects Gagangir with Sonamarg and provides all-weather connectivity to the resort in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir, will be inaugurated in October this year.

"This is a historic and important tunnel in the history of India. The tunnel length is supposed to be the highest in Asia," Gadkari told reporters after inspecting the work on the site at an altitude of over 11,500 feet.

Also Read: Delhi- Dehradun 2 hrs, Haridwar in a blink with this new expressway: Details

The Union minister led a 13-member delegation of the Parliamentary consultative committee on the ministry.

The tunnel project  through the mighty Zojila Pass at an altitude of 11,578 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National highway  is of strategic importance as the highway remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall, cutting off the Ladakh region from Kashmir.

The single-tube Zojila tunnel  from Baltal, in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir, to Minimarg, in Drass town of Kargil district of Ladakh, is 13 km long with an approach road of 18 km.

Gadkari said the estimated cost of the project was 12,000 crore, but, after discussions with experts and international consultants for a year, its cost was brought down by 5,000 crore.

"This is the first time in the history of our country that we have a saving of 5,000 crore as far as the estimated cost is concerned. This is a very difficult task, the people are working here in minus 26 degrees," he said.

This is to be a state-of-art-project and with the cooperation of J-K LG Manoj Sinha and his administration, it will be very helpful for us, he said.

Laying out a roadmap for connecting several cities across the country, Gadkari said the Zojila tunnel is one of the important things of "our dream to connect Kashmir to Kanyakumari". This will be connectivity between north to south, he added.

He also applauded engineers and contractors, saying it is very difficult to work here.

The union minister said about 38 per cent of the work has been completed, and a part of the project will be inaugurated this year for providing relief to the people.

"With the permission of the prime minister, the LG, we want to try to inaugurate a part of the project because that will give relief to the people," he said.

According to Harpal Singh, Project Head of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd, which is constructing the project, the total length of the project from Sonamarg to Minimarg is 31 km. From Sonamarg to Baltal, it is 18 km, and then the main tunnel from Baltal to Minimarg is 13 km long. The work is going on at a rapid pace on both projects.

Gadkari said the project once completed would develop tourism in the area.

"The tourism in Kashmir will be increased 3-4 times and tourism is a sector which creates maximum employment avenues," he said.

"I have requested LG and JK government to plan resorts, and adventure sports, and just like Switzerland, we can develop a lot of things here, he said.

People are already coming here, Baba Amarnath road is here, so we can increase the tourism potential here, which will create more employment potential for the people of J-K. It will eradicate the poverty in Ladakh and J-K, the minister added.

He said former prime minister AB Vajpayee at the time of the Kargil war, visualised that we should have a good road between Ladakh and Srinagar.

"This is under the leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi that we have started this and we are hopeful that we will get this tunnel (completed) as early as possible," he said.

Asked about its significance in terms of defence forces on the Indo-China border, Gadkari said while he would not like to comment on the defence point of view, the project is very important because the previous war the country fought was Kargil, for which the tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity.

"So, this is the area we are going to develop and there will be no migration of the people and the most important thing is this will be the world attraction just like Switzerland and people from India and abroad will come here for tourism and it is going to increase the employment potential in this area which will be a great thing," he added.

To a question on developing airstrips near the country's borders, the minister said the government is working on 29 road-cum-airstrip projects, out of which nine have been completed.

"Somewhere, we need permission from the airforce, it is in the process. At the time of emergency, we can use those," he said.

Asked once the breakthrough of the tunnel is achieved, would the army be allowed to travel on the rough tunnel if need be, Gadkari said whatever has to be done at the time of emergency, it will be done at that time.

"In times of emergency and in the interest of the country, a result is achieved with positivity. There has not been a such need, and there is no possibility of such need, but, if there arises a need, then we will surely do what our defence forces say," the union minister said.

Later, the minister inspected the work progress on the Z-Morh tunnel, and announced it will be inaugurated in October this year. "We will inaugurate Z-Morh tunnel in October. This will help the people a great deal and also help increase tourism, and employment opportunities," Gadkari said.

During the event, JK LG Manoj Sinha requested the union minister that local youth be given more employment opportunities in the project. The minister assured Sinha that the contractor has been directed to provide maximum employment opportunities to the local youth.
Union Minister and senior BJP leader from Odisha Bishweswar Tudu sparked controversy over his remark that most of the officers appointed through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) are 'dacoits', news agency PTI reported. An alleged video of Bishweswar Tudu making the controversial comment surfaced online in which the minister of state of tribal affairs and Jal Shakti was addressing an event of a government school at Baliapal in Balasore district. The minister of state of tribal affairs and jal shkati Bishweswar Tudu. (Twitter)

While addressing the gathering, the minister said that a person accused of stealing a chicken can be punished but the mineral mafia cannot as the system protects them.

"I had an idea that those who are appointed through UPSC are the most knowledgeable persons and are always in high positions. But now I feel that most of those who have qualified from there perhaps are dacoits. I do not say 100 per cent, but many of them are dacoits", Bishweswar Tudu said.

He further asked, "Why our society is engulfed in corruption and injustice if such educated people are there?". He then replied to his own question and said, It is because of lack of morality in our education system. Lack of spiritual education and thoughts among us."

The UPSC recruits top government officers via conduction various rounds of exams and interviews.

(With inputs from PTI)
Gloves are off as former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad made sensational claims in his autobiography offering captivating accounts of his relationship with the members of the Gandhi family. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has termed Azad's claim about a meeting with Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi pure fiction and imagination and said the book should be publicised as such. Former MP Ghulam Nabi Azad during the release of his autobiography 'Azaad', in New Delhi, Wednesday, April 5, 2023.(PTI)

In his autobiography Azaad, published by Rupa, Azad said that Sonia Gandhi wanted him to oversee the change of guard in Assam after then Congress leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, with the majority of MLAs behind him, revolted against Tarun Gogoi. Azad said Sonia Gandhi asked him to visit Assam to "oversee the formal election of Himanta as the new leader" but Rahul Gandhi requested him to cancel the visit and, instead, meet him the next morning.

When we arrived at Rahuls residence we saw Tarun Gogoi and his son, Gaurav Gogoi, sitting with him. Rahul told us bluntly that there would be no change in leadership. We pointed out to him that Himanta had the majority of MLAs and would rebel and quit the party. Let him go, Rahul said. The meeting was over.

Reacting to Azad's claim, Gaurav Gogoi said, It has come to my notice through media reports that Ghulam Nabi Azad ji has made certain references to me and my late father regarding a meeting in Delhi. The story is pure fiction and imagination and the book should be publicised as such.

Azad, a former Congress stalwart, has also claimed in his new book that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had come to Delhi for talks with the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi, to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir in 2002, which was quickly dismissed by the PDP.

I think what Azad said does not add up to a very credible presentation of facts. Azad is reported to claim that he had 42 MLAs with him. Then why didn't he straight away go and stake the claim (to government formation), PDP leader Nayeem Akhtar told PTI.

"It's a narrative that Azad has presented. He has been the longest player at the national level, he has been quite an important player in national politics but our limited concern is about what has been reported in the press as part of this book related to the 2002 formation of the PDP-Congress ministry in the state.

How could a party with 16 members at number 3 in the table of seats blackmail Sonia Gandhi form a government with the chief minister (coming) from that party of 16? he asked.

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BJP and Congress are two sides of the same coin when it comes to corruption, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said on Monday, the eve of Congress leader and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot's proposed day-long fast against the state government's inaction in cases of alleged corruption, including those against BJP leader and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi (File Photo/ANI)

Also Read: Pilot takes on CM Gehlot again, will fast over graft

Rajasthan has a Congress government led by Pilot's arch-rival, Ashok Gehlot.

whether it's a Congress regime or a BJP one, both are two sides of the same coin. Both encouraged graft, and, therefore, a former deputy CM from the Congress will protest against his own party's government. What message does this send? This shows that neither party is serious about tackling corruption, said Owaisi in Hyderabad, according to ANI.

The Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad continued: About the Congress, we've been saying that instead of providing governance to the people of Rajasthan, it is doing such things.

Who am I to support him? He is a former deputy CM from his partyhe still harbours dreams of becoming chief minister, Owaisi remarked when asked if he would be supporting Sachin Pilot.

What did Sachin Pilot say?

In a press conference on Sunday, Pilot announced the day-long agitation. We raised the issue of corruption when we were in opposition, and promised to take action on coming to power. No action has been taken on the corruption in the Vasundhara Raje government, where being in the opposition, we promised that an inquiry would be conducted. Now, 6-7 months are left for the election, and we should take action before that, he said.

Also Read: BJP's advice to Rahul Gandhi as Sachin Pilot renews attack on Ashok Gehlot

The western state will hold assembly polls in November/December; in the last few assembly elections, the incumbent government, either BJP or Congress, has been voted out, and a new BJP/Congress regime voted in.

Pilot has been at loggerheads with Ashok Gehlot since December 2018, when the latter pipped the former to become chief minister after the grand old party's win over the saffron party. In 2020, Pilot, the then deputy CM and state Congress president, was sacked from both posts after leading a rebellion against the chief minister; he also failed to unseat the CM.

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All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday stepped up his attack on Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar after police said the communal violence during Ram Navami was well planned, asking why the state government was sleeping. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

Last time I talked about the incident, I had given a statement saying it was certainly pre-planned. When it was pre-planned why were you sleeping? Owaisi said, calling it a complete failure of the state government.

He also asked how the incident was repeated on April 1.

You gave permission for the procession, and in front of the police a madrassa was burnt and the police were mere spectators to it, Owaisi alleged.

After the violence, there is no talk of compensation nor suspension of policemen, instead, you are holding iftar parties and having fun eating khajur (dates), the AIMIM MP added.

On Sunday, Bihar Police said that it has unravelled the conspiracy that was hatched to orchestrate communal violence during Ram Navami, and arrested five people in connection to the case. The five arrested accused have been identified as Manish Kumar, Tushar Kumar Tanti, Dharmendra Mehta, Bhupendra Singh Rana, and Niranjan Pandey, the police added.

"Prima facie the violence during the Ram Navami procession of Bihar Sharif was well-planned. A WhatsApp group of 457 people was active before Ram Navami. In this, a conspiracy was being hatched through messages regarding Ram Navami. A separate FIR has been registered for this, which is being investigated by the Economic Offenses Research Team," Jitendra Singh Gawar, ADG, Headquarters, said.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) registered case no. 07/2023 against 15 persons under sections 153, 153 (A)(1)(a), 153 (A)(1)(b), 153 (A)(1)(c), 501 (1) (b), 501 (1) (c), 297, and 120 (B) of IPC and sections 66 and 66 (F) of IT Act, the police said.

"Based on all the evidence collected, proper investigation in the matter will be ensured," the police added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday strongly rebuked ex party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for targeting Rahul Gandhi and described his comments as a desperate bid to remain relevant. In a tweet, Ramesh launched a scathing attack stating Azad's comments on Congress leadership revealed his true character and loyalty to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh addressing a press conference in New Delhi.(ANI file)

Ramesh's comments come after Azad, in an interview, alleged Rahul Gandhi has ties with 'undesirable' businessmen. Speaking to Malayalam channel Asianet News, Azad, referring to the Gandhi family, said, "The entire family has associations with businessmen, including him (Rahul). I can give you 10 examples of where he would go even outside the country, to meet people who are undesirable businessmen."

With every passing day, Ghulam Nabi Azad falls to new depths to demonstrate his true character and his loyalty to Mr. Modi. His contemptible statements on the Congress leadership reflect his desperation to remain relevant. I can only say that he is PATHETIC, the Congress general secretary in-charge communications tweeted.

Also Read: After Azads remark, BJP asks Rahul Gandhi to reveal who he met abroad

Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned from Congress last year, citing a difference of opinion with Rahul Gandhi. In his recent interviews, he has been critical of the Congress party, claiming that it is still controlled by a "remote control" and accusing a "new coterie of inexperienced sycophants" of managing its affairs. In retaliation, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister has been receiving flak from Congress leaders who alleged he is closely working with the Bharatiya Janata Party to destabilise the Congress party.

Azad, who founded the Democratic Progressive Azad Party following his exit from Congress, was also slammed by his former party members for heaping praises on PM Modi recently.

Also Read: Continued in Cong for another 12 months: Himanta Biswa Sarma on Ghulam Nabi Azad's anecdote

In an interview to news agency ANI, Azad said, I must give credit to Modi. For what I did to him, he was too generous. As Leader of the Opposition I did not spare him on any issue be it Article 370 or CAA or hijab. I got some Bills totally failed but I must give him the credit that he behaved like a statesman, not taking revenge for that.

Rubbishing the allegation, he had said I don't want to expose and totally demolish Congress. I may have some differences with leadership, but I have no differences with Congress party or Congress ideology.

In response, senior Congress leaders, including Digvijay Singh and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot slammed their former collegue for his comments and using low level language against the Gandhi scion.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took to Twitter to share a video of people in Tamil Nadu's Salem enthusiastically welcoming the 'Vande Bharat Express'. In the video, the crowd can be seen showering flowers and raising slogans of "Bharat mata ki jai", which translates to "Long live mother India". Crowd on the platform were hailing and enjoying the arrival of the Vande Bharat train in Salem on Saturday.(source:Twitter/@pibchennai)

Also Read | Waah: PM Modi as student sings on newly-inaugurated Vande Bharat Express

PIB Tamil Nadu wing originally shared this video, in which the crowd on the platform hailing and enjoying the arrival of the Vande Bharat train at the station. Some individuals were spotted taking selfies with the train, while the atmosphere was filled with joy and excitement.

A spectacular welcome in Salem! Such enthusiasm is common in different places the Vande Bharat Express reaches, showing the deep pride among the people of India, PM Modi wrote.

The train will run along the Chennai-Coimbatore route.

The Vande Bharat train running along this route made its inaugural journey from Chennai central railway station on Saturday, after being flagged off by PM Modi. This was the first time the train had entered Salem Junction. Additionally, during his visit to Chennai, the Prime Minister also inaugurated a new terminal building at Chennai International Airport.

Also Read | Over one lakh passengers travel by Vande Bharat Express trains in a month

PM Modi said the Vande Bharat Express train will play a crucial role in connecting small businesses with customers. This marks the second Vande Bharat Express train that will operate from Chennai, following the Chennai-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express. With this train, the travel time between Chennai and Coimbatore is expected to be reduced by more than an hour, thus making the journey quicker and more efficient.

In February, PM Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat Express train from Mumbai to Solapur via Pune. Following this, he shared a tweet by "Central Railway" that showcased the traditional and rhythmic welcome that the train received in Pune. The post caught PM Modi's attention and he wrote, "Pune surely knows how to welcome in style!"

The latest inauguration of the Vande Bharat Express in Tamil Nadu marks the commencement of the train's operation on its thirteenth route across the country.

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Thiruvananthapuram Protest intensified in many areas of Palakkad and Thrissur districts on Monday over the move to relocate a rogue elephant nicknamed Arikomban from Idukki to Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary following the directive of the Kerala high court. Farmers protest against Kerala HCs decision to relocate a wild elephant to a tiger reserve, in Palakkad district on Monday. (HT File)

Last week, the court had ordered Arikomban, a 40-year-old elephant, which has been wreaking havoc in human settlements in Chinnakanal and Santhampara panchayats in Idukki district to be darted, radio-collared and trans-located in Parambikulam tiger reserve. Earlier, the court had blocked the forest departments move to make it a kumki (trainer) elephant after the intervention of animal activists. Later the HC-appointed expert committee had suggested that the elephant can be released Mutuvarachal area of the Parambikulam tiger reserve after tranquillising it in Idukki.

But many villages around the tiger reserve opposed the move vehemently saying troublemaking elephant notorious for many deaths and destruction of properties in Idukki will spell doom for them. Chalakudy MLA K Babu, many panchayat presidents and farmer outfits have also moved the high court against the decision of the expert committee. A 12-hour shutdown was called in Muthalamada panchayat in Palakkad against the move. Angry local people took out processions at several places and blocked roads in last two days.

It was a specialist in raiding human habitats and destroying properties and lives. We have no idea why is it being relocated to disturb our peace. Experts said the jumbos movement range is 40 kms and many villages will come under this range, said a local farmer P Velayudhan in Palakkad. People of six panchayats will be affected if it was relocated. We cannot accept such a risky proportion. We have already approached the court against it, said Nenmara MLA K Babu. Chalakudy MLA Saneesh Kumar also opposed the move. Fearing backlash from the court the forest department has been keeping a studied silence. The jumbo will be translocated to Parambikulam that is 150 kms away from Idukki.

Last month the HC had stayed the Operation Arikomban after the People for Animals and Walking Eye Foundation for Animal Advocacy approached the court saying the move to capture the elephant and making it a kumki through rigorous training was unscientific and cruel. They said human intervention and lack of food and water caused by encroachment were main reasons for elephant incursions and netting or capturing it was not a permanent solution. Later the court had constituted an expert committee that recommended relocation of the animal.

The jumbo was called Arikomban because it was fond of rice_ rice is ari and komban is a bull elephant in Malayalam. It earned enough notoriety after it raided many ration shops regularly for rice and two ration shops were later shifted to faraway places. Idukki residents said after shifting ration shops it started attacking houses for rice. They said it destroyed more than 60 houses and shops and trampled eight people to death in two years. In the affidavit given to the High Court forest department said it killed seven people and destroyed more than 30 buildings in last six months.
REAL losers of the 2023 Nigerian general elections are not the electorate who were deprived of their rights to freely choose candidates of their choice nor the first-timer youth who were disappointed by the Nigerian state nor the candidates who lost or won as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The biggest losers are President Muhammadu Buhari; INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu; President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and Nigeria as a political entity. Except for Bola Tinubu who carries the burden of legitimacy arising from what is perceived as a flawed process and total miniature votes garnered, the others will live with the scar and collective guilt slammed on the country by ethical deficit in the delivery process of the elections.

With general disenchantment over the conduct of the 2023 general elections by over 145,000 national and foreign observers deployed across the country, INEC failed to leave a split opinion on its capacity to conduct free, fair and credible elections, a development that will haunt Yakubu, Buhari and Nigeria for a long time to come. The exercise was not only a horrendous phenomenon on the psyche of Nigerians but a fleeting nightmare.

A consensus negative opinion on the flawed elections by the European Union, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS; the Commonwealth; the International Republican Institute, IRI; the National Democratic Institute, NDI; Joint Election Observation Mission, JEOM; four former African presidents, and Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), is an affirmation of global skepticism about Nigeria's reputation. They all concluded that the electoral process lacked transparency, which encouraged manipulations and undermined voters' confidence.

This trust deficit was also highlighted by Chatham House when it declared that INEC had learnt nothing from its past failures. Specifically, it said, "The INEC's performance and controversies over these results mean that the electoral reforms and lessons declared to have been learned were not fully applied and, as an electoral body, it was significantly less prepared than it claimed."

As a consequence of these opinions, President Buhari might have missed the opportunity to etch his name in gold over his failure to provide a secured and enabling environment for free, fair and credible elections. As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he failed to optimally use his offices, including effective deployment of the police, army, DSS, and other security agencies to protect voters during the elections.

Nigerians were mortified by horrendous images of election violations, and no rationalisation could justify such criminal acts. An election where about 27 persons were killed nationwide over violence, ballot snatching, thuggery, voters' suppression, ethnic bigotry, use of tribal gods and deities, even in the presence of security operatives in some instances, can only be a national shame.

Besides, whatever is left of Buhari's legacy might have been further weakened by the naira redesign and currency swap policy which brought untold hardship to citizens during the elections. Perhaps, the intention of the policy was to eliminate monetary inducement and vote-buying, unfortunately, Buhari and the Central Bank of Nigeria were outwitted by politicians through the use of extra-constitutional and procedural means to contrive and achieve sinister objectives.

For the INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu, there might be no second opportunity to redeem his character. With a budget of over N305 billion and other sundry support, he had no reasons to have failed. Yakubu gave assurances during both local and international events, including Chatham House, of his Commission's preparedness, pledging that with use of technology, including Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, results would be transmitted in real-time to INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV.

These assertions receded into irrelevance when INEC failed to comply with the Electoral Act and its own guidelines. The Electoral Act 2022, requires INEC to upload the elections of polling units in its portal as stipulated in Section 60 (5) and Clause 38 of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines.

Specifically, Clause 38 of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022 states: "Upon completion of all the Polling Unit voting and results, procedures, the Presiding Officer shall:-(i) Electronically transmit or transfer the result of the Polling Unit direct to the collation system as prescribed by the commission. (ii) Use BVAS to upload a scan of ES8A to INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, as prescribed by the commission. (iii) Take the BVAS and the original copy of each of the forms in tamper-evident envelope to the Registration Area/Ward Collation Officer, in the company of security agents. The polling agents may accompany the Presiding Officer to the RA/Ward Collation Centre."

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With non-compliance and deviation from these regulatory provisions, INEC opened the electoral process to manipulations, resulting in a lack of justice and fulfillment for voters.

These violations have exposed existential gaps in the capacity of INEC under Prof. Yakubu to deliver on a significant national assignment. This might cast aspersion on his reputation and capabilities. Indeed, this election is a minus for his profile, as no government or any serious organisation may want to entrust him with such responsibilities in future.

Unfortunately, the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, is a product of INEC's flawed process, and this has triggered a legitimacy challenge that is further fuelled by the lean number of votes secured at the election relative to total votes cast. Tinubu polled 8.87 million (the least by any presidential candidate since 1999), representing 36.61 per cent of total votes, and 10.08 per cent of all eligible voters. Out of approximately 93 million registered voters, only about 25 million, representing 28.63 percent, actually turned out to vote.
Jaipur: Sachin Pilots plan to hold a day-long fast is against partys interests, and amounts to anti-party activity, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, said on Monday, a day after Pilot attacked the Ashok Gehlot government. Congress leader Sachin Pilot.(ANI)

In a fresh salvo against his own partys government, Pilot on Sunday announced a day-long anshan (fast) on April 11 in Jaipur against alleged inaction of state authorities on corruption charges against the former regime led by Vasundhara Raje. The infighting could dent the prospects of the Congress government returning to power in the assembly elections due this year.

Sachin Pilots day-long fast tomorrow is against the party interests and is anti-party activity. If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed in the party forums instead of in the media and public. I have been an AICC in-charge for five months and Pilot ji has never discussed this issue with me. I am in touch with him and I still appeal for calm dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress party, Randhawa said in a statement tweeted by INC Sandesh, an official page of the Congress party .

Earlier in the day, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera also reacted to Pilots allegations, saying that a probe was ongoing against BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who is currently the water resources minister in the Union cabinet, related to the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam. Shekhawat has filed a defamation case against Gehlot.

It is wrong to say that a probe is not on, as an investigation is being carried out and if anyone has a complaint, he should bring it to the notice of the AICC in-charge, Khera said. Pilot had earlier led a rebellion against Gehlot in July 2020, which was resolved in Gehlots favour.

Khera refused to speak further on the issues raised by Pilot. The Congress has thrown its weight behind Gehlot and said his government has given the state a leadership position in governance in the country and it will seek a renewed mandate on the strength of its achievements as well as collective efforts of the organisation.

Kheras statement came a day after Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh backed Gehlot. The Congress government in Rajasthan has introduced many schemes and taken many initiatives that have helped the people, Ramesh said.

Due to the dedication and determination of the party organization in Rajasthan, the Bharat Jodo Yatra became a grand success in the state, Ramesh said. At the end of this year, on the basis of these historical achievements and our organizations collective efforts, the Congress will go among the people and ask for the mandate to serve again.

Speaking on the issue, Gehlot loyalist and state minister Ram Lal Jat said, It is better if discipline is maintained.

Taking to Twitter, Sandeep Choudhary, chairman of the states Wasteland and Pasture Development Board, said: Ghar ki baat, ghar mein honi chahiye (internal matters should be discussed internally) and not on roads. If Pilot has complaints he should speak to state Party incharge Sukhjinder Singh Randhwa or party chief (Mallikarjun) Kharge but by not doing so he is damaging the Congress and diverting from the fight against corruption by Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress government in Rajasthan seems to be divided into two factions, said BJPs Arjun Ram Meghwal, junior minister for parliamentary affairs and culture at the Centre. There is no development, governance is missing and the people are suffering, he said. I believe the people will teach them a lesson in the coming elections, Meghwal added.

Instead of making unfounded allegations against the previous BJP regime, Pilot should have demanded fair investigation in the cases of corruption that happened during the tenure of his government, leader of the opposition Rajendra Rathore said.

(With agency inputs)
Seven people were killed and at least 35 others sustained injuries after heavy rain and strong winds caused a tree to fall on a shed inside a temple premise, in Maharashtras Akola district, officials familiar with the matter said on Monday. The accident took place on Sunday evening when a large number of people gathered at the Babuji Maharaj Mandir in Paras village for evening prayers, police said. Rescue operation is underway, in Akola district. (PTI)

District collector Nima Arora said heavy rainfall combined with gusty winds and hail caused a 150-year-old neem tree to come crashing down on a tin shed under which around 50 devotees were standing during the aarti. The shed in turn collapsed on the devotees, killing three people on the spot while four other died during treatment, she added.

A huge crowd of local residents, along with Balapur inspector Anil Jumle, rushed to the spot and started the rescue operations. Among those rescued, 29 people are currently undergoing treatment at the Akola general hospital and Balapur government hospital, and five of them are said to be in critical condition, officials familiar with the matter said.

Also read: Indore temple mishap: Victims families allege delay in rescue op

The deceased have been identified as Uma Kharode (50), Parvatibai Sushir (55), Atul Asare (35), Murlidhar Umbarkhane (55) and Bhashkar Ambulkar (55), while the other two men are yet to be identified.

Chief minister Eknath Shinde expressed grief over the incident, and announced an ex gratia compensation of 4 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased while stating that the state government would bear expenses for treatment of the injured.

Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, too, offered his condolences. I pay my humble respects to them. We are constantly in touch with the district administration in this regard, he said, adding that he has ordered an investigation into the incident.

The government, he said, has also ordered a spot inspection of the losses due to the unseasonal rains in parts of the state. We have received a primary estimation of the losses and final estimation is under process, he added.

District collector Arora and the superintendent of police, Sandeep Ghuge, immediately visited the spot and are coordinating to ensure timely treatment of the injured. One of the injured, Diwakar Ingle (55), said he used to visit the temple every Sunday. Similarly, I went to the temple for aarti on Sunday...everything happened all of a sudden but the local residents helped us a lot. 
The Supreme Court will on April 14 hear a fresh plea by Varanasis Gyanvapi mosque management committee seeking appropriate arrangement for wuzu (ablution) during Ramzan prayers near the section in the complex where a Shivling was stated to have been found during a survey last year. Last May, the Supreme Court directed the local authority to ensure proper arrangements for wuzu at the mosque. (PTI)

Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said that a special bench, comprising himself and justices Surya Kant and PS Narasimha, will consider the request.

Senior counsel Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee that manages the Gyanvapi mosque, cited heavy rush during Ramzan as he requested for further arrangements for performing wuzu. Ahmadi, assisted by advocate Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi, pointed out that the previous court orders have already asked the district administration to ensure proper arrangements for wuzu and he was only seeking suitable implementation of these directives in view of Ramzan.

The top court is currently seized of a petition filed by the mosque committee in May, opposing the suit of five Hindu women who demanded an unhindered right to worship Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal, a shrine for goddess Parvati allegedly located behind the western wall of the mosque complex.

The committee claims the suit is barred by the provisions of the 1991 Act, which locks the position or religious identity of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947. The committee had appealed against the April 2022 order of the Allahabad high court allowing the survey.

By an order in May 2022, the top court protected the area where the Shivling was said to have been found after a Varanasi civil court allowed a videographic survey of the mosque complex adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The Hindu petitioners claimed the Shivling was found close to the wuzukhana, a small reservoir used by Muslim worshippers to perform ritual ablutions before offering namaz.

At the same time, the top court in last May allowed offering of namaz inside the mosque complex and directed the local administration to ensure proper arrangements for wuzu.

By its May order, the Supreme Court also transferred the suit filed by the Hindu women from the Varanasi civil judge to the district judge for deciding the mosque committees objections against the inquiry. It asked the district judge to first decide on the maintainability of the suit. Ascertainment of the religious character of a place may not be barred by the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the court observed on that day, as it refrained from interfering with the Gyanvapi mosque survey.

The Varanasi district judge rejected the mosque committees objections to maintainability on September 12, 2022, and decided to proceed with the suit. The committee has challenged this order before the Allahabad high court, which is yet to rule on the appeal.
Upping the ante against Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi, the state assembly on Monday adopted a resolution urging the Centre and the President to fix a time frame for governors to approve bills adopted by state assemblies. Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin. (ANI)

This comes in wake of Ravi telling aspiring civil servant last week in Chennai that the bills that are withheld should be considered almost dead. He was speaking on the Constitutional powers of the governor in a state.

The governor has been criticised by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the state for sitting on 20 bills approved by the state assembly since September 2021. He returned two bills to the House including the Undergraduate Medical Courses, 2021 Bill, which seeks to abolish the National-Eligibility-cum Entrance Test (NEET), last February for reconsideration. The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Games Bill, which seeks to ban online gambling, was returned in March as the governor contended the state assembly is not competent to frame a law on the subject.

There has been a clash between several non-BJP ruled state governments and governors over pending bills. Before Tamil Nadu, the governments of Kerala and West Bengal have written to the Centre on the governors not approving bills approved by the state assemblies.

On Monday, Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin moved a resolution in the House asking the Centre to advise the governor to give assent to pending bills with him in a time-bound manner.

Moving the resolution, Stalin launched a tirade against the governor, saying Ravi was not approving certain bills due to his whims and fancies. He also accused Ravi of converting the Raj Bhavan into a political Bhavan and accused him of being against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu.

The resolution, which also recorded the bills kept pending by the governor, was passed when the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was not present in the House. Earlier in the day, the E Palaniswami-led party walked out of the House over the law and order issue. The lone BJP member walked out when the DMK brought the resolution.

The ruling DMK-led Social Progressive Alliance had decided to hold a protest outside the Raj Bhawan against the governors remarks on April 14. The alliance in a statement said that the governor was trying to be a representative of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) combine. He is creating unnecessary tension, controversies and social upheaval in Tamil Nadu, the statement said.

As per the Constitutional arrangement, a Governor cannot reject a bill. He can send back a bill to the state government with his objection or observations. Once the assembly approves the bill for the second time, the governor can either give consent or forward the bill for Presidents consideration. However, the Constitution does not provide the time frame for the governor to decide on either of the two.

(With PTI inputs)
Telangana governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan has given consent to three bills, returned two to the state government and sent two others to the Centre for Presidential assent. This information was conveyed on Monday through the central government to the Supreme Court while it was hearing the arguments over a petition filed by the Telangana government. Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has given consent to three bills

Soundararajan took the decision on the bills on April 7, according to a Raj Bhavan official.

In her petition filed before the Supreme Court, filed on March 2 on behalf of Telangana government, chief secretary Santi Kumari had said the state was forced to seek the top courts intervention under Article 32 due to the frequent constitutional impasse created on account of the refusal of the governor to act on several bills passed by the state legislature since September 14, 2022.

The development comes nearly seven months after the state legislature passed at least 10 bills.

A division bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud deferred the case by two more weeks for further hearing.

While a Raj Bhavan spokesperson refused to comment on the issue as the issue is sub-judice, the Supreme Court order, as reviewed by HT, quoted Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta submitting to the court that the governor had approved three bills Telangana Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Telangana Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

Further, the governor reserved two bills for consideration and assent of the President of India. They are: The University of Forestry Telangana Bill, 2022 and The Telangana Universities Common Recruitment Board Bill, 2022.

The government withheld three other bills: the Telangana State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2022; the Telangana Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the Telangana Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation).

Tamilisai returned two other bills  the Telangana Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill 2023 and the Azamabad Industrial Area (Termination and Regulation of Leases) (Amendment) Bill 2022, back to the state government, raising certain objections, and asking the government to rectify the same.

Talking about the delay, the Raj Bhavan official quoted above said: The governor had sought clarification from the state government on these pending bills but did not receive satisfactory response. Hence, the delay in giving the consent.

Earlier, chief secretary Santi Kumari in the petition had highlighted Article 163 of the Constitution as per which the governor is required to exercise his/her functions or any of them in his/ her discretion only on the aid and advice of the council of ministers with the chief minister as its head.

Specifically with regard to the governors powers on dealing with bills, the state government pointed to Article 200 of the Constitution. The governor may assent or may withhold assent in which case the bill must be returned to the state legislature, she said.

If the bill is so returned, the Houses are required to reconsider accordingly and once passed with or without the amendments so suggested and presented to the governor for assent, the governor shall not withhold the assent, the state government argued.

Reacting to Tamilisais decision on the pending bills, senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader and state finance minister T Harish Rao said it was unfortunate that she had given consent to only three of the 10 pending bills, that too, only after the intervention of the Supreme Court.

She did not respond even after the minister concerned met her and explained the importance of bills. It is surprising that even the bill on formation of a forest university was not given the consent and sent to Presidential approval. This is nothing but playing with the future of the students, Rao said.

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Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has given his assent to a bill banning online gambling which was adopted in March by the state Assembly for a second time, official sources said on Monday. Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi.(HT_PRINT)

Also read: TN assembly passes resolution seeking time frame for governors to approve bills

The Governor has cleared the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, they said.

The bill was adopted again on March 23 by the Assembly after it was returned by Governor Ravi earlier.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology- Bombay (IIT-B), under which they will develop a touchless biometric capture system that people will be able to use anytime, anywhere. Representational Image

The Ministry of Electronics and IT announced the initiative in a statement on Monday.

Here is all you need to know about the facility:

(1.) Once developed and operational, the system will allow fingerprint authentication from home, and is expected to capture multiple fingerprints in one go.

(2.) It will achieve this by using a combination of signal/image processing and machine learning/deep learning, with mobile phones.

(3.) The facility will be available in addition to the existing facilities under the Aadhaar ecosystem.

(4.) The project will be developed by UIDAI in collaboration with IIT-B's National Centre of Excellence in Technology for Internal Security (NCETIS).

(5.) NCETIS, in turn, is a is a joint initiative by IIT Bombay and the Ministry of Electronics and IT, under the latter's flagship Digital India scheme.

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Ukraine is keen to enhance engagement with India, especially at the level of the Prime Minister and national security adviser, to find a resolution to the war triggered by Russias invasion, Ukrainian first deputy foreign minister Emine Dzhaparova said on Monday. MEA secretary (West) Sanjay Verma with first deputy minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova in New Delhi on Monday. (PTI)

Dzhaparova, who held talks on Monday with secretary (West) Sanjay Verma of the external affairs ministry, delivered to the Indian side a letter from President Volodymyr Zelensky seeking a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and inviting him to visit Ukraine.

I brought a letter signed by my president, we requested a phone conversation between our leaders. We invite Prime Minister [Modi] to pay a visit to Kyiv. We invite National Security Advisor, Mr [Ajit] Doval, to pay a visit to Kyiv and to talk to his counterpart Mr Andriy Yermak, she said in an interview.

The Ukrainian leadership wants Yermak and Doval to coordinate our bilateral track, especially on security issues.

Pointing to the Indian G20 presidencys motto of One Earth, One Family, One Future, Dzhaparova said this is absolutely the correct thing because everything is inter-connected and this is why we believe India should play a greater role.

Dzhaparova, who considers Sathya Sai Baba her spiritual guru and is the first Ukrainian leader to visit Delhi since the start of the war, said: We call India vishwaguru. Thats something that also puts us on a common path because we promote values...My visit here is with one clear goal  to make our dialogue more intensified.

In a reference to Indias long-standing security and strategic relations with Russia, Dzhaparova said Ukraine is not in the position of lecturing how India should do this or that. Its your domestic issue and we respect your domestic decisions, be it economy or military contracts or any other thing.

However, Dzhaparova referred to the turbulent geopolitical situation in Indias neighbourhood and said it will be pragmatic for India to diversify options with [regard to] military supplies and energy supplies, to be more pragmatic on the bilateral track, for example, with Ukraine.

She added, For example, National Security Adviser Doval has [visited] Moscow three times. So we think that in order to balance that, he might also come to Kyiv. This is what we call a pragmatic approach, because while there is a conversation with one side, there should be a conversation with another side.

Ukraine envisages a bigger engagement and greater involvement for India in efforts to end the war, though all negotiations should be based on Zelenskys 10-point peace plan, she said. During her meetings, Dzhaparova also sought equipment, technology and expertise from India for demining operations in Ukraine and raised the participation of Indian companies in the rebuilding of her country.

In the context of Indias G20 presidency, Dzhaparova said Ukraine believes it would be important to engage Ukrainian officials in the meetings of G20 [and] the September summit...President Zelensky might be invited and we actually consider and expect the invitation, probably online. She also raised the possibility of Ukraines speaker, Ruslan Stefanchuk, joining a parliament-level event to be hosted by India.

Responding to a question on Indian officials saying that the guest countries for this years G20 have been finalised and there are no plans to involve other nations, Dzhaparova said the situation is dynamic and there could be changes.

Nobody thought Ukraine would resist that long a year ago. A year ago, we didnt think we would have Patriot systems, Abrams tanks or HIMARS systems in Ukraine...This is why Im here, to...deliver the message that comes from Ukraine, to explain to the Indian people what is the reality on the ground, to explain that its about everyone, she said.

India has refrained from publicly criticising Russias invasion of Ukraine and it has not voted in favour of any resolution at UN bodies denouncing the aggression. The Indian side has consistently called for an end to hostilities and a return to dialogue, with Modi telling Putin last year that todays era is not of war. At the multilateral level, differences between G7 states and Russia on text to describe the Ukraine war have held up consensus at key G20 meetings hosted by India.

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An unruly male passenger hit a female member of the Air India crew and pulled another by her hair on a London-bound flight, forcing it to return to Delhi around 15 minutes after take-off on Monday morning. This was the latest in a series of incidents involving unruly passengers. (REUTERS)

In a statement, Air India said the passenger did not heed verbal and written warnings and continued with unruly behaviour, including physical harm to two of the cabin crew members. The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing.

The statement said the flight returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of the passenger. It added a First Information Report has also been lodged.

Air India called the safety, security, and dignity of all on board important and added the airline was providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers.

The flight has been rescheduled to depart for London on Monday afternoon.

This was the latest in a series of incidents involving unruly passengers. Shankar Mishra, who was apparently inebriated, allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger on the Tata group-owned Air Indias November 26 New York-New Delhi flight.

Air India was fined for its handling of Mishra. The licence of the pilot-in-command on the New York-New Delhi flight was also suspended for three months.

Air India subsequently acknowledged gaps in the airlines internal reporting and assured the relevant steps were being taken to address them. It said the airline was also strengthening crews awareness of and compliance with policies on the handling of incidents involving unruly passengers.

Air India de-rostered one pilot and four cabin crew as part of its probe and barred Mishra from flying for four months.

Amid criticism for its handling of Mishra, Air India also acknowledged that a second similar incident occurred in December on a Paris-Delhi flight.

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Two months after the US shot down a giant Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina, a top American military official on Monday said that the United States Air Force (USAF) shared some details of the incident, including how the airship was brought down and the tactical challenges involved, with several air forces, including the Indian Air Force (IAF). The huge, high-altitude Chinese balloon sailed across the US, drawing severe Pentagon accusations of spying and sending excited or alarmed Americans outside with binoculars.(AP)

The comments were made by General Kenneth S Wilsbach, the commander of Pacific Air Forces, who flagged concerns about China violating the sovereignty of other nations  a concern that India has repeatedly raised on global forums.

Certainly, we have had some dialogue on it (the balloon incident), said General Wilsbach, who is also the air component commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command.

He said that two US B-1 supersonic heavy bombers were set to take part in an air exercise in India for the first time.

We have had conversations on this with most of the air chiefs in the region. These werent public comments, but rather talks behind closed doors. We discussed the situation that occurred with us with the airship that crossed Alaska, Canada and the US, and how we went about dealing with it, he said.

The US believes that the Chinese balloon was spying on its military sites.

He said the US was happy to share with friendly air forces the lessons learnt from the incident, how the USAF shot the airship down, and the tactical challenges involved as it was flying very high and not moving that fast.

Wilsbach, who is currently on an official visit to India, said he was not open to sharing what information the US had gleaned from its analysis of the balloon debris, but stressed that any country that was violating the sovereignty of anothers airspace, and which was not abiding by international law, should be a cause for concern.

Also read: India, US special forces carry out wargames, focus on fighter aircraft ops amid China standoff

Days after it was shot down, the US concluded that the Chinese surveillance balloon was equipped with signals intelligence and monitoring capabilities, and was part of a Chinese fleet of surveillance balloons that conducted similar operations in more than 40 countries across five continents. China claimed the balloon was collecting meteorological data, and had strayed off course.

There have been some reports of Chinese balloon sightings in Indian airspace too.

We believe that your airspace here in India is your sovereign airspace, and you should decide who gets to fly in it, said Wilsbach.

And we have countries that dont necessarily agree with that, and they just decide they are going to violate your sovereignty and fly in it --- whether it is your airspace, or ours, or Canadas.

In February, HT reported that the US state department briefed Indian diplomats in Washington DC on the Chinese surveillance operation and alerted them that India was among the countries that are targets of Chinese surveillance.

Wilsbach indicated that violation of sovereign airspace could have dangerous consequences.

We should have discussions to encourage countries that do not abide by the rule of law to comply with international norms so that we dont have areas that could turn into a very big miscalculation. In this case, there was an unmanned vehicle, an airship of sorts. What if it is manned? There could be loss of lives, which would be terrible.

Wilsbach also elaborated on the cooperation between the USAF and IAF on a day the two sides kicked off Exercise Cope India 23 at the Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal, with the 11-day drills aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and sharing their best practices.

The general said apart from the participation of two B-1 heavy bombers, the bilateral exercise will involve four to six F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, two C-130J special operations aircraft, and a C-17 heavy-lifter. While the C-130Js and C-17 are already here for the drills, the US bombers and fighters are expected to land in India later this week.

We have had our B-1 bombers here twice for two Aero India, but this will really be the first time that they will be in India for an exercise. Its good because we have the opportunity not just to show the aircraft to the public, but now the crews will have the opportunity to be able to train with one another, and to incorporate the bombers into the exercise scenarios so that everybody has a chance to see how they would operate, Wilsbach said.

The exercise will help both air forces improve their tactics, techniques and procedures, he said.

On the significance of the bombers taking part in the exercise, Wilsbach said the B-1s are a unique platform, have extremely long range and can carry a myriad of weapons.

Cope India will be conducted across three bases in the country  Kalaikunda, Panagarh and Agra. Indian aircraft taking part in the drills include Sukhoi-30s, Rafales, Jaguars, light combat aircraft Tejas, C-17s and C-130Js, IAF officials said.

The first phase of the exercise commenced on Monday. This phase will focus on air mobility and will involve transport aircraft and special forces assets from both the air forces. Both will field the C-130J and C-17 aircraft...The exercise also includes the presence of Japanese Air Self Defense Force aircrew, who will participate in the capacity of observers, the IAF said in a statement.
Kisumu  The death toll from an accident in Migori town involving a tipper truck has risen to ten.

Police confirmed three more deaths in hospital after an initial single casualty raising the number of those who had succumbed to injuries in hospital to four.

Six people had died on the spot after a truck lost control and rammed into pedestrians.

Migori County Commander Mark Wanjala said the 7am accident plunged some people into River Migori and efforts to retrieve them were on going.

Eye witnesses said the driver of the truck lost control and rammed into pedestrians and boda boda riders who had parked their cycles by the roadside.

"Two people were thrown into the river, I witnessed that," an eye witness recounted.
Villagers in Palakkad and Thrissur districts on Monday intensified their protest against the move to relocate Arikomban, a rogue elephant, from Idukki to Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary following Kerala high courts order. The elephant had allegedly been foraging, and causing damage to the property in the human settlement areas for the past 16 months. Locals staged a sit-in protest in front of wildlife wardens office in Nemmara (HT Photo/Sourced)

The high court last week ordered that the 40-year-old jumbo, which has been wreaking havoc in human settlements in Chinnakanal and Santhampara panchayats in the Idukki district, to be darted, radio-collared and trans-located in Parambikulam tiger reserve based on the report filed by the high court-appointed expert panel on matters pertaining to the arising human-elephant conflict situations in the state.

Also Read: President Droupadi Murmu marks 30 years of Project Elephant at Kaziranga

Last month, the court blocked the forest departments plan to make the rogue jumbo a Kumki (captive trainer elephants) after the intervention of animal lovers. Later, the high court-appointed expert committee suggested that the elephant can be released into the Parambikulam tiger reserve after tranquillising.

However, many villages around the tiger reserve opposed the move saying the notorious elephant, claimed to be responsible for many deaths and destruction of properties in Idukki, will wreak havoc and spell doom for them.

Leading the protest, K Babu, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA, representing the Nenmara constituency, along with panchayat presidents, and farmer outfits moved the high court against the committees decision.

Meanwhile, the protestors observed a 12-hour shutdown in the Muthalamada panchayat in Palakkad. On Thursday and Friday, locals also staged a sit-in protest in front of the wildlife wardens office.

It was a specialist in raiding human habitats and destroying properties and lives. We have no idea why is it being relocated to disturb our peace. Experts said the jumbos movement range is 40 km and many villages will come under this range, said P Velayudhan, a Palakkad farmer.

People of six panchayats will be affected if it was relocated. We cannot accept such a risky proportion. We have already approached the court against it, said K Babu.

Last month, a division bench of chief justice S Manikumar and justice Murali Purushothaman of Kerala high court stayed Operation Arikomban after the People for Animals and Walking Eye Foundation for Animal Advocacy approached the court saying the move to capture the elephant and make it a Kumki through rigorous training was unscientific and cruel.

The foundation claimed that human intervention and lack of food and water caused by encroachment were the main reasons for elephant incursions and netting or capturing it was not a permanent solution.

Also Read: Protest in Idukki after operation to capture rogue elephant stayed by Kerala HC

Later, the high court constituted an expert committee that recommended the relocation of the animal.

The jumbo was called Arikomban due to its love for rice. In Malayalam, rice means ari and komban is a bull elephant. It earned enough notoriety after it raided many ration shops regularly for rice and two ration shops were later shifted to faraway places.

Idukki residents said after shifting ration shops it started attacking houses for rice. According to some, the elephant destroyed more than 60 houses and shops and trampled eight people to death in past two years. In an affidavit given to the high court by the first department, it said that the rogue elephant has killed seven people and destroyed more than 30 buildings in the last six months.
NEW DELHI: Ukraine is keen to step up political engagement with India, especially at the level of the prime minister and national security adviser, as part of efforts to find a resolution to the war triggered by Russias invasion, Ukrainian first deputy foreign minister Emine Dzhaparova said on Monday. The 39-year-old journalist-turned-politician, who considers Sathya Sai Baba as her spiritual guru, told HT in an interview that Ukraine envisages a greater role and greater involvement for India in efforts to end the war. Dzhaparova delivered a message from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that sought a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and invited him to visit Kyiv. Ukraine also wants a security dialogue between the NSAs of the two sides, she said. Edited excerpts: Emine Dzhaparova, first deputy foreign minister of Ukraine, said Ukraine envisages a greater role and greater involvement for India in efforts to end the war. (AP File Photo)

How serious are the concerns about Ukraines military preparedness, especially its air defence, as depicted in documents leaked on social media over the past few days?

Let us not be in a rush in making conclusions on this issue. Its always sensitive when any classified information becomes public. But I hope the damage would not be there when it comes to these materials, and I think this is not the right moment to comment on this issue because, like, let us wait and see.

How would you assess the fighting on the frontlines of the conflict?

The war, we dont call it a conflict. We call it a non-provoked war. The harshest battlefield is on the east, namely Bakhmut. We are preparing for the counter-offensive that might take place soon. We believe it will be an efficient counter-offensive and it will be crucial because if its efficient, then we might involve diplomatic efforts, even though and despite Russias messages [that it] is willing to have peace, its not. Russia is the country that invaded and attacked us. If it wanted to be a peaceful country, it would not attack Ukraine. So, this is a lie Russia has been feeding all of us with. The only thing and the only way we [can] actually put Russia on the table of negotiations is [gaining] a military advantage and tactical success on the battlefield. What I have to be clear about is Russia cannot achieve their military goals. Russias initial plan was to take control of Ukraine in a week or so. The group of negotiators from Russia who came to Belarus, they put the maps on the table and they said in a bold manner, Were going to kill you here, there and there. They pointed out spots where they were planning to kill the Ukrainian army and Ukrainians, but they failed to do so. They failed to occupy Moreover, Ukraine has been able to push back and [retake] thousands of square kilometres of occupied territories.

To cut a long story short, there is a clear possibility to resolve this war on a fair basis, because if its not resolved on a fair basis, if we again choose the language of appeasement, be sure it will be yet another step towards bigger war. Because the lesson from Crimea teaches us one very simple thing. If aggression is not stopped, it becomes bigger. If impunity is allowed, it becomes bigger, and apart from Putin, we have other countries who are watching closely how the international community would deal with the crimes that Russia has committed in Crimea, Ukraine and other occupied territories. And its a huge seduction for many countries. I think that impunity is crucial, and justice is crucial.

Ukraine has had almost unstinted support from Europe but countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America havent taken sides. Recently, your foreign minister said, War is a time when you have to make a choice. How do you look at the stand taken by countries in these regions?

Our minister is right  its always black and white when war is there, especially the war in Ukraine. We are sometimes shocked by the propaganda that Russia still tries to impose, saying Ukraine is a source of food insecurity, that it is because of Ukraine, the US and NATO, we have this war. But let me remind you that in 2014, when Russia attacked Ukraine, we didnt have the NATO issue in Ukraine. We were a neutral country. We didnt have an article in the Constitution about NATO or EU membership. So, I think its just yet another justification of their own crimes. Going back to the question about other countries, I think the main thing that might give you a sense [why] these countries are neutral is because they think that its distant geographically and physically.

Its like somewhere in Europe, like Europe was not empathetic enough when wars happened in our region, right? We understand this. With due respect to these countries, we see the repercussions of the war even in Africa with grain supplies, with energy supplies in Asia. Its an outcome of the war. But then the other issue, which is sometimes underestimated, is...the [issue of the] architecture of global security, which is totally ruined. Multilateralism is in crisis and we see that because we are dealing with a P5 country which is supposed to guarantee security not only to Ukraine but to all other countries, but instead, it is the biggest troublemaker in the world. So how can we feel secure? If someone thinks its not about this or that country, its not, unfortunately. Even Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi [and] the motto of the G20 presidency of One earth, one family, one future. Absolutely correct thing, because everything is interconnected and this is why we believe India should play a greater role.

A year after the invasion, how do you look at relations between Ukraine and India? How can India play a greater role?

This is why Im here, to bring our countries closer. Im not in the position of lecturing on how India should do this or that. Its your domestic issue and we respect your domestic decisions, be it economy or military contracts or any other thing. But why I am here is to actually speak about the reality in my country. When it comes to its ancient history of 1,500 years, Ukraine never attacked any other country. We never had a chauvinistic, imperialistic approach to expansionist policy, of attacking other neighbours and taking more and more territories, land grabbing. Its not about Ukraine. Its about the Russian way of dealing with their neighbours. We are a peace-loving country and the only thing that we wanted to live in is our own future. India knows what it means to fight for your own identity, your own independent future. You know this post-colonial thing is very accurate. The same is happening with us. Ukraine is only taking its real independence back, feeling who we are, what kind of nation we are, what do we want, what language do we want to speak. Thats obviously not the Russian language, because weve been forced to speak Russian for decades.

This is something that makes us very close to each other, and then the other thing is non-violent resistance. Mahatma Gandhi is a symbol for my country of this heritage, of the importance of fighting for peace. It should not be taken for granted. This is what we are trying to do.

And we call India Vishwaguru, thats something that also puts us on a common path because we promote values, this voice is a civilisational voice. My visit here is with one clear goal  to make our dialogue more intensified.

I have a special mission to deliver a message from my President, and I brought a letter signed by my president, we requested a phone conversation between our leaders. We invite Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] to pay a visit to Kyiv. We invite National Security Advisor, Mr Doval, to pay a visit to Kyiv and to talk to his counterpart Mr Andriy Yermak. Our leaders have entrusted both Yermak and Doval to coordinate our bilateral track, especially on security issues. So, its something that should bring our countries together.

Its been six months since Prime Minister Modi told President Putin that this is not the era of war. Things havent changed since then. Do you still think there is room for diplomacy and dialogue to end the war?

There is always room for diplomacy and dialogue. We never refuse to have dialogue and diplomacy. We welcome every effort that comes from third countries that are aimed at the resolution of the war. The only thing is that sometimes it might be tricky because we insist that the resolution of the war should be based on the peace formula of President Zelenskyy. These are 10 simple points that should be fundamental for any negotiations. We feel it is essential to follow [this formula]. When it comes to the greater engagement of India, especially with regard to the Presidency of G20, we think it would be important to engage Ukrainian officials in the meetings of G20 [and] the September summit...President Zelenskyy might be invited and we actually consider and expect the invitation, probably online, because my president is very restricted in his ability to travel. Then, there will be an event on the parliament-level, and our speaker, Ruslan Stefanchuk, can be a guest. I think that giving forums for discussion is really, really important because even though the focus is on economy, but what we see on the ground is that the economy suffers and instead of dealing with something that we all share as humanity, we have to deal with the war and its repercussions. So I think that the message that I bring would be heard.

The Indian side has said the guest countries for the G20 process have already been decided. Are you still hopeful that President Zelenskyy will get to address the G20 Summit as he did last year?

Things are dynamic. We dont live in a world that is like a stone. Its an ecosystem that consists of different parts. Its a very live organism that changes day by day. A year ago, we never thought we would have this support from the world. Nobody thought Ukraine would resist that long a year ago. A year ago, we didnt think we would have Patriot systems, Abrams tanks or HIMARS systems in Ukraine. A year ago, we never thought Russia would be expelled from the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, or the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. A year ago, we never thought Sweden and Finland would apply for NATO membership. This is what I mean, that sometimes something that we dont see as a perspective happens, and this is how it should be. This is why Im here, to kind of deliver the message that comes from Ukraine, to explain to the Indian people what is the reality on the ground, to explain that its about everyone. Its not something that happens in another part of the world, it has a direct impact because the country that invaded Ukraine is Russia.

What do you make of the peace plan proposed by China? What kind of a role do you think India could play in helping end the conflict?

In a diplomatic manner, [India could play] a greater role, bigger engagement and greater involvement in the attempt to resolve the war. The only thing as I said, and I really want to stress this  its important what would be the basis of this resolution of the war. Here, we should be synchronised because its important to know what is the will of the Ukrainian people. We cannot discuss Ukraine without Ukraine. We cannot discuss the fate of Ukraine with Russia. We should actually shape [things] for us, where the Ukrainian voice would be heard and the position of Ukrainian people would be taken into account.

When it comes to China, well, its not a peace plan. Its the position of China. Its a document that depicts the position of China on the war in Ukraine. There are some constructive elements within this document that we do share fully, but there are some sensitive issues. But I think that Ukraine has framed its own peace formula and, as I said, its President Zelenskyys 10-point plan. This is our vision. This is the base for any negotiations that might be performed by any of the leaders who is willing to play a greater role.

President Zelenskyy has said he unveiled the peace plan at the last G20 Summit and he wants it to be implemented during the current G20 presidency.

Yes, we are frank in saying this. Some things might happen, some things might not, but we think its a common responsibility. We strongly believe the resolution of this war is a common responsibility, again because of a P5 country aggression. Because by invading Ukraine, Russia shows to the whole world how one can behave and a bigger [country] attacks a smaller one and impunity is there, and Russia is allowed to do what its been doing in a very criminal way. It means no one can be secure. We live in a difficult geopolitical [situation]. India lives in a turbulent geopolitical [situation]. So I think for India, its very pragmatic to diversify options with [regard to] military supplies and energy supplies, to be more pragmatic on the bilateral track, for example, with Ukraine. For example, National Security Adviser Doval has been visiting Moscow three times. So we think that in order to balance that, he might also come to Kyiv. This is what we call a pragmatic approach because while there is a conversation with one side, there should be a conversation with another side.

Did you raise the issue of humanitarian and other aid during your meetings in New Delhi?

Yes, of course. We are very grateful to India for its readiness to provide humanitarian assistance. There are several projects that have now been discussed with India. But there are two more things that are new in our agenda. First is the demining process. Ukraine is the most polluted country in the world when it comes to the mining of land and sea. The territory covered by mines is as big as Gujarat. This will have long-term implications for demining, which could take decades. Its huge and we will have to demine. So, our request was to help with proper demining equipment, technologies and expertise. And then there is reconstruction and rebuilding. Its a matter not only of assistance that might be given, but also a matter of mutual interest because we invite big companies to reconstruct Ukraine, the bridges, roads, schools, kindergartens and hospitals. There are a bunch of infrastructure projects that have already been developed and will be [taken up] during a conference in London this summer that will be dedicated to recovery. The idea is not only about donating money when it comes to countries, but also involving big companies to reconstruct Ukraine.

What is the status of the Black Sea grain initiative and can India help in prolonging that arrangement?

It was a very essential step to have an agreement and to open up at least one port for the export of Ukrainian grain because our economy suffers a lot. Every month, we have a gap of $5 billion between our expenditure and income. Agriculture is one of the main sources of our economy. It suffered the most and we had to pursue new fields for exporting this grain and implementing our contracts. Prolonging this agreement for two months was important and essential, but I have to be clear that Russia has been exploiting it every time when the deadline comes closer. They try to get as much as possible in terms of their political benefits and ...making others talk to them. Its again a classic of Russian diplomacy. But what is important is that because of Turkeys efforts, namely the efforts of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan...and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, this grain deal happened and we believe it should be prolonged because its essential not only for the economy of Ukraine, but also for the food security of other countries.

Our foreign minister has said India played a role in conveying Ukraines concerns about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to the Russian side. Could you tell us more about these concerns and whether they have been fully addressed?

Its a source of permanent concern while Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is occupied by Russia. So our position is clear that it should be demilitarised and this is the only way we can secure the biggest nuclear plant in Europe, which is bigger than Chernobyl. That might lead us to a huge catastrophe. The missile attacks and shelling Of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant showed us Russia is very irresponsible with regards to this. The only way we can secure it...is to throw Russian troops out of Zaporizhzhia. But its not happening as of now. I think [till this is done], we will be in permanent stress and [have] permanent concerns about the possible developments there.

But weve been alerting the international community, saying this is something we always have to specifically deal with as a priority issue when it comes to the war. Many countries and Mr Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the IAEA also put in a lot of effort to have this situation controlled.

How many Indian students have gone back to Ukraine and what is their status?

We have approximately 2,000 Indian students in Ukraine, mostly in the western part and most of them in medical universities. We are proud of having Indian students because I think its the best we can be linked to each other, which is a human contact, which is a people-to-people contact. I think we will have more students after the resolution of the war but we really did our best to evacuate the students from Ukraine in a secure way. We used to have more than 20,000 Indian students. Within an academic mobility initiative formed by Ukraine, we have approximately 14,000 Indian students who have access to education. More importantly, these students can now join online classes and have the option to appear for a qualification or final exam in India without going back to Ukraine because its an issue of security. There is an obligation to pass this exam in Ukraine.

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A West Bengal Police report on clashes around Ram Navami in the state prima facie suggested that the violence was pre-planned, the Calcutta high court said on Monday, adding that a central agency might be better suited to probe the events that have ratcheted up communal tensions and stoked a political row. Violence erupted in West Bengals Hooghly district on April 2. (ANI)

The high courts comments came on a petition by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a federal probe into the violence that roiled three districts and left several people injured. A two-judge bench of the court, comprising acting chief justice TS Sivagnanam and justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, reserved its order on the plea.

The Howrah Police commissioner has filed a 54-page report, including annexures Your (states) reports prima facie show these (violence) were all pre-planned. There are allegations of stones being hurled from rooftops. Obviously it is not possible for anyone to take stones up to the rooftop within 10 to 15 minutes, the bench told senior advocate general SN Mookherjee who opposed the plea on the grounds that the state police were already probing the case.

The report proceeds on the line that the clash took place between two groups. There can be a third person who wants to take advantage of the situation. If that group is involved, then it requires investigation by a central agency. That is very difficult for the state police to find. Somebody would have set the fire, had set the ball rolling. Without a probe by a central agency, you cant identify that outside source, the bench added.

Both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP have accused one another of triggering the riots in Hooghly, Howrah and Uttar Dinajpur districts. Police have arrested 36 people so far in Howrah alone.

On March 31, leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari filed a plea in the high court, demanding a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The high court noted that swords, bottles, broken glasses and acid were used in the violence and internet services were restricted. This shows that it was large scale violence, the bench said.

Internet suspension usually takes place when there has been an external danger or infiltration etc. But for a religious procession, we dont understand why (internet was suspended), it added.

The court also took into account previous incidents of violence in the state during festivals and its subsequent intervention.

Within four to five months, eight orders have been issued related to religious processions. In 14 years, I have not seen so many orders in quick succession. Does it not reflect something? the bench, adding that none of the court orders had any effect on the riots that took place subsequently.

Mookherjee told the court that the state police was conducting a proper probe into the matter. He said that the participants of the Ram Navami procession were armed with lathis and swords that they were not permitted to carry. He also pointed out that members of the other community were also armed with weapons.

As far as there are allegations with regards to acts of bombing, etc and that some houses were set on fire as alleged by petitioner... (they) are totally baseless. Our report specifically deals with the allegations of bombs being used in the violence, he said.

During the hearing, Adhikaris counsel said: Earlier during Laxmi Puja in October 2022, violence broke out in a similar manner in Ekbalpore-Mominpur area in Kolkata. The police remained silent.

Violence broke out in Bengals Howrah district on March 30 during a Ram Navami procession as stones were allegedly pelted at the rally, injuring 10 people. Over the next three days, violence spilled to the North Dinajpur and Hooghly districts, where eight people were injured. The high court and the Union home ministry sought reports from the state authorities.

The development brought back memories of post-poll violence that roiled the state in the aftermath of the 2021 assembly elections. At the time, the BJP accused the ruling TMC of attacking people who had voted for the opposition, a charge refuted by the ruling party. The clashes claimed at least 14 lives, prompting the Calcutta high court to order and monitor a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of hiring goons from outside to trigger riots in the state , but the the BJP alleged Banerjee was the main culprit and had instructed local Trinamool Congress leaders to trigger riots.

On Monday too, Banerjee blamed the BJP for the violence. BJP workers were dancing with firearms. They went with bulldozers and tractors. Would someone tell me why firearms were taken to a religious procession? Outsiders were brought in from Munger (Bihar). There were so many firearms that had the police not acted tactfully, many would have been shot, she said.

A resident of Munger was among those arrested by Howrah police after photographs of him carrying a firearm surfaced.

Hitting back, senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha said: She (Banerjee) triggered the violence and police allowed it to spread and ensured it was a one-sided attack. Thats why she is very happy with the police. We are demanding a central probe. That would bring out the truth.
India will surpass China's population this month. Or maybe in July. Or, perhaps it's happened already? India is projected to see an explosion in its urban population in the coming decades.(AFP)

Demographers are unsure exactly when India will take the title as the most populous nation in the world because they're relying on estimates to make their best guess. But they know it's going to happen soon, if it hasn't occurred by now.

China has had the most people in the world since at least 1950, the year United Nations population data began. Both China and India have more than 1.4 billion people, and combined they make up more than a third of the world's 8 billion people.

Actually, there is no way we can know exactly when India will surpass China," said Bruno Schoumaker, a demographer at Universite catholique de Louvain in Belgium. There is some uncertainty, not only about Indias population, but also Chinas population."

Also Read: How healthy are India's 1.4 billion people?

STILL, WHEN IS IT HAPPENING?

Mathematical calculations from a range of surveys, as well as birth and death records, project that India will overtake China sometime in the middle of April. But demographers warn that it should be taken with a grain of salt since the numbers are fuzzy and could be revised.

It's a crude approximation, a best guess, said Patrick Gerland, chief of the population estimates and projections section at the U.N. in New York.

Not long ago, India wasn't expected to become most populous until later this decade. But the timing has been sped up by a drop in China's fertility rate, with families having fewer children.

HOW IS IT CALCULATED?

Demographers at the U.N. Population Division make estimates based on projections from a wide variety of data sources to get what they believe are the most up-to-date demographic numbers. The last update to the data used for these calculations for both India and China was July 2022, said Sara Hertog, a U.N. population affairs officer in New York.

The demographers then use a statistical technique to infer when India's population has surpassed that of China, according to Stuart Gietel-Basten, a professor at Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi.

The reality, of course, is that these estimates are just that, Gietel-Basten said. But at least they are based on a relatively solid and consistent methodology.

WHERE DO THE NUMBERS COME FROM?

The foundations of both nations' numbers are censuses, or head counts, conducted every decade.

China's last census was in 2020. Demographers used birth and death records, along with other administrative data, to calculate how the population has grown since then.

India's last census was in 2011. Its scheduled 2021 census was postponed by COVID-19. Without an actual door-to-door count for more than a decade, sample surveys have filled in the gaps to help demographers and India itself understand its population, said Alok Vajpeyi of the New Delhi-based non-government organization, Population Foundation of India.

Among the most important is the Sample Registration System, India's large-scale demographic survey that gathers data on such things as births, deaths, fertility and more.

Andrea Wojnar, the United Nations Population Fund's representative for India, said the agency is confident in the survey's numbers because it uses a very robust methodology.

WHY IS INDIA MOVING AHEAD?

China has an aging population with stagnant growth even after the government seven years ago retreated from a one-child policy, and just two years ago said couples could have three children.

India has a much younger population, a higher fertility rate and a decrease in infant mortality over the last three decades.

India has more babies born each year than in any other country, while China has joined many European countries in having more deaths each year than births, said Dudley Poston, Jr., an emeritus professor of sociology at Texas A&M University.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

There's more than bragging rights at stake over which nation is the world's most populous  there are social and economic consequences. In India, that means a growing labor force and growth that sparks economic activity. In China, that means fewer working-age adults able to support an aging population.

Once a country hits a low fertility level, it's often hard to recover population growth, even with changes in government policy to encourage more births, said Toshiko Kaneda, technical director of demographic research at the Population Reference Bureau in Washington.

Psychologically, it will be tough for China, especially given the rivalry in other areas between the two countries, Gietel-Basten said. It is a big moment in human history as the baton is passed to India."
The Punjab police in a joint operation arrested pro-Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh's aide Papalpreet Singh from the Amritsar Rural area on Monday. Our teams spearheaded a search operation for the past three days after we received key information about Papalpreets location in the Dasuya area. We have arrested him, a senior police official said. In another picture, Amritpal Singh and Papalpreet Singh can be seen sitting on a three-wheeler along with a bike.

Also read: Submit to process of law: Punjab DGP as Amritpal Singh continues to be on run

Amritpal and Papalpreet had been on the run since March 18 when the Punjab Police launched a crackdown against them. Singh and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempting to murder, attack on police personnel, and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

Here's all you need to know Papalpreet Singh:

Papalpreet Singh is considered to be Amritpal's most trusted aide and mentor, and was believed to be the mastermind behind his escape. He has reportedly advised Amritpal on several issues. According to reports, Papalpreet has allegedly been in contact with Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI - from where he was taking instructions to raise the bogey of Khalistan in Punjab. In 2015, he was arrested after the police linked him with the ISI. Papalpreet calls himself a journalist based out of Amritsar who reportedly runs a website Punjab Shield. The website is essentially a Khalistani propaganda site. Papalpreet is facing four criminal cases - including one under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and one for the Ajnala police station incident. As per reports, Papalpreet was also served an income tax notice to explain the source of  4.48 lakh credited into his account.
Sunny Leone and Daniel Weber's love story is straight out of a dream. Sunny and Daniel often keep sharing snippets from their personal diaries on their Instagram profiles and give us glimpses of their personal lives. Sunny and Daniel are also known for their sharp sense of dressing. Sunny is an absolute fashionista, and she keeps making her fans drool with snippets from her fashion diaries. From looking dapper in hoodies to showing us how to deck up perfectly for a festive evening with family, Sunny keeps giving us all kinds of fashion goals. Sunny and Daniel's twinning diaries are our absolute favourite. The couple ensures to deck up in the same colours when they step out of their home. Sunny Leone, Daniel Weber twin in black for anniversary(HT Photos/Varinder Chawla)

ALSO READ: When Sunny Leone says, cute jumper, she means this...

Sunny and Daniel celebrated their anniversary a day back. The actor was spotted with her husband in Juhu, Mumbai as they stepped out to visit a restaurant to celebrate their anniversary. The actor decked up in shades of black as she twinned with husband Daniel in casuals. The couple posed in comfy casuals as they smiled with all their hearts for the cameras. Sunny looked stunning as always in a black bodycon cropped top with a closed neckline and full sleeves, and further teamed it with a black pencil skirt. Showing off her toned midriff, Sunny posed for the cameras and looked pretty. Daniel, on the other hand, looked dapper in a black T-shirt with graphic prints and a pair of black trousers.

Sunny and Daniel posed for the cameras.(HT Photos/Varinder Chawla)

Sunny wrote the sweetest words for her husband in a special Instagram post. Sharing a monochrome picture of themselves, Sunny wrote, " Happy Anniversary to my one and only! I love you so much! Looking forward to the next chapter of our lives! We are just getting started."

Sunny, for the anniversary celebrations, wore her tresses into a clean bun and decked up in nude eyeshadow, black eyeliner, black kohl, mascara-laden eyelashes, drawn eyebrows, contoured cheeks and a shade of nude lipstick. Daniel accessorised his casual look in a black hat.

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It has been over a year since Russia invaded Ukraine and heralded the unmistakable return of geopolitics to the centre stage of international affairs. A year is long enough to assess the effectiveness of Indias response to the invasion and the developments that have followed in its train. In a democracy, the government of the day is a trustee of the countrys foreign policy, responsible for securing the latters interests. How has New Delhi fared on this count? PREMIUM A general view of Bakhmut, the site of heavy battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, April 9, 2023 (AP)

First, on the core question of taking a position on Russias invasion, New Delhi has made India sit on the fence. It has condemned civilian killings in the war and told Moscow that war in our times is an anachronism. But it has not forthrightly criticised Russia for what is a clear case of great power military aggression and violation of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity  two fundamental principles of international order that India has traditionally upheld. Second, it has taken advantage of the closing of the western market for Russia to expand its bilateral trade, especially in fuel imports at discounted rates, although the Indian consumer has yet to fully experience the gains.

The third element in New Delhis response has two parts, and both have to do with shaping narrative. As a counter to western expectations that India take a clear stance on the invasion, New Delhi has doubled down on its criticism of the West. Many in India feel pride at New Delhis frequent use of sharp words that call out western hypocrisy and insularity. Perhaps stemming from a decision to use foreign policy to generate national pride, this tactic has served to deflect attention away from international criticism of the regimes domestic policies. But wrapped within this stance is the view that the invasion and the war are the Wests problem. They are not. They centrally impinge on Indias core interests.

The other part of the narrative-shaping exercise has involved a quite dramatic resurgence of the Global South in New Delhis foreign policy discourse. Before the establishment warmed up to it last year, Global South was a term used in progressive academia to describe what during the Cold War period was called the Third World. It is an amorphous idea, not very substantive or coherent in terms of international politics. But it sounds good and is sufficiently vague for crafting narratives. Clubbed with Indias G20 presidency, the Global South idea has been used to generate the impression among citizenry that the big international issues of our times are sustainability, development and logistics, while geopolitics is a problem of the Global North.

Many in India see in New Delhis response an assertion of the traditional posture of non-alignment. Two of the goals of non-alignment were to enhance Indias security (or lessen its insecurity) and expand its strategic space. On both these scores, New Delhis policy has not yielded fruit. As illustrated by Xi Jinpings recent visit to Russia, Beijings leverage over Moscow has considerably increased in a context where China remains aggressive on Indias frontiers while India remains dependent on Russian military hardware to meet its security requirements. The math on this does not favour India.

Further, it had also been argued that Indias effective neutrality was aimed at positioning itself as a credible mediator between Russia and Ukraine. This writer has previously argued that India is, alongside Turkey and China, best placed to mediate in the war. Turkey was involved from the beginning. But if New Delhi was hoping to play mediator, Beijing just jumped the queue with two high-profile visits of Chinese leaders to Moscow in recent weeks, presenting a Chinese perspective on a potential political settlement to the conflict. The Chinese heft on the issue is now acknowledged by the Europeans, as confirmed by New Delhis good friend, Frances Emmanuel Macron.

Whether these outcomes constitute reversals can be debated, but they point to New Delhis limited leverage with Russia relative to China, when it comes to producing results favourable to Indias strategy and security, as also enhancing its international prestige. They once again reveal that India does not yet have the power to shape the contours of emerging geopolitics decisively to its advantage.

It is reasonable to wonder if it was the awareness of this problem that led New Delhi to shift the popular gaze and craft the narrative that our real interests lie in the Global South and not in the geopolitical North. If so, then it is a stratagem to escape accountability, but it is important for citizens to take note that geopolitics matters and if New Delhi does not play its cards well, it will ill serve Indias interests.

A healthy scepticism of the pride-producing rhetoric directed against the West is also required. For the rhetoric may be eroding the work done since the late-1990s by Indian governments to improve relations with the only global force whose interests align with Indias when it comes to the emboldening revisionism of Russia and China.

Atul Mishra teaches international politics at the Shiv Nadar Institution of EminenceThe views expressed are personal
After over 1,000 experts signed a letter calling for a six-month halt on research into artificial intelligence (AI), former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that the move will benefit Chinese competitors in the market. Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt has reacted to the letter seeking a pause on AI development. (File)

In an interview with Australian business paper the Australian Financial Review, (article under paywall) Schmidt said that concerns over speed of AI development should be monitored by tech companies, which can set benchmarks.

"I'm not in favour of a six-month pause because it will simply benefit China. China is very smart, they know what they are doing. We need to get our act together," Schmidt said.

The letter, signed by tech entrepreneurs like Twitter CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, stated that propaganda, fear of AI replacing humans and loss of jobs were the factors behind the demand for the pause.

Also read: OpenAI CEO eyes Japan expansion, meets PM Fumio Kishida

Stating his worry over the quick advancement of AI, he warned that the emergent behaviour as large language models get bigger will be difficult to comprehend. Schmidt opined that companies should refrain from producing advanced systems without lessening some of the harmful effects of their creations.

The ex-CEO of the search engine giant had earlier cautioned against the destroying capabilities of new AI systems that could produce bioweapons and influence politics.

He added that in the absence of stricter regulation by the industry, politicians would have to step in.

Since the launch of Microsoft-backed OpenAIs ChatGPT in November 2022, generative AI has caught on like wildfire with Google also introducing a rival - Bard chatbot.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, Google is planning to add AI features to its search engine as it battles intense competition from ChatGPT. Google chief executive officer (CEO) Sundar Pichai said that the new AI features will enhance the search engine's ability to answer queries and rejected the notion that chatbots are a threat to Google's search business.

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Sam Altman, co-founder and chief executive officer of OpenAI, said the organization is looking at opening a Japan office and expanding Japanese language services after meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO. (Reuters)

We hope to spend much more time and engage with the wonderful talent and build something great for the Japanese people, Altman told reporters in Tokyo Monday. It really is amazing to see the adoption of this technology in Japan.

OpenAI has set off a frenzy of interest in artificial intelligence technologies since unveiling its ChatGPT service in November. Microsoft Corp. agreed to pour $10 billion into the company and has integrated the technology into its Bing search engine. Google, the worlds leading search service, has responded with AI integrations of its own.

Also read: Italy blocks OpenAI's ChatGPT over privacy concerns

Altman said that he discussed the technologys potential with Kishida, and how to mitigate the downsides. They also talked about how to be thoughtful about the risks and how to make AI as good for people as we can make it.

Altman said OpenAI would work to make their models as good as possible in the Japanese language and for the Japanese culture.

Well be back soon, he said.
Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has asked politicians to unite Nigerians and desist from actions capable of dividing the country along ethnic and religious lines.

The governor spoke yesterday shortly after breaking Ramadan fast with the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III, in his palace in Auchi, Etsako West Local Governments of Edo State.

He said politicians should play key roles in delivering good governance, responsible leadership, holding people accountable when they have duties or responsibility to perform and giving hope to the people.

Obaseki stressed that leaders and especially politicians, should not engage in ethnic or religious politics but work hard to overcome the avalanche of challenges bedevilling the country in the interest of development.

He said, "Our presence here shows that we do not see any religious divide. We are Christians and are here to fellowship with Muslim leaders. Religion can't and should not be a basis to divide us as a people. We should understand that those playing the religious card are doing so for very selfish reasons.

"People of different faiths live in this country as one and interact as one. We do our businesses together as we don't ask for religion or ethnicity when we do our businesses in the marketplaces but rather trade and transact to get a fair deal out of that.

"When it comes to politics, we want to begin to emphasise our differences and divisions which are unreal. I agree with the elder statesman and former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that as leaders, we need to do more to unite people and get them to see that the issues in Nigeria are beyond ethnicity and religion.

"As citizens of the state and Nigeria, we must understand the presence of God in our affairs as a state and a nation at this point in time. It calls for sober reflection and prayers."
Riding a two-wheeler without a helmet can result in severe consequences, not just for the driver but also for the pillion rider. So when a Twitter user spotted two cops riding a scooty without helmets, he clicked their picture and shared it on his Twitter handle. The picture gained widespread attention, including Mumbai Traffic Police, who promised to take stern actions against the cops. This comes after police departments pan India regularly spread awareness about road safety through their social media handles. Mumbai cops riding on a scooty without helmets. (Twitter/@RahulB__007)

Also Read: Shilpa Shettys daughter Samisha applies ice on brother Viaans bump, calls him cute little baby

What if we travel like this?? Isnt this a traffic rule violation? @MumbaiPolice @mieknathshinde @Dev_Fadnavis, wrote Twitter user Rahul Barman while sharing a picture on the microblogging platform.

Take a look at the picture below:

Mumbai Traffic Police quickly responded to the tweet and asked Barman to share more information for necessary action. They wrote, Please provide the exact location for necessary action. To this, Barman replied, Eastern Express Highway (Dadar).

The police department then assured Barman that strict actions would be taken against the cops and that they had shared the details with the Matunga traffic division. We have shared this with a senior official of the Matunga traffic division for necessary stern actions, wrote Mumbai Traffic Police on Twitter.

Since being shared on April 8, the tweet has gained over 69,600 views. It also has more than 800 likes and several retweets. Many even took to the posts comments section to share their thoughts. Some even shared pictures of other cops riding two-wheelers without helmets.

Heres how people reacted to the photo:

An individual wrote, No wonder, instead of them catching the one riding beside them they choose to ignore. If we ride a scooter without a helmet, we get fine within a few hours on our registered mobile number, expressed another. A third added, You did a good job. A fifth commented, Everyone has to follow the rules.

Also Read: Artist uses AI to create historical images of Taj Mahals construction

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Potholes on roads pose a great danger to anyone driving or accidentally walking on it. So when a man in the UK noticed several potholes in his area, he devised a creative way for the authorities to take notice and fill them up. UK man fills potholes with toys. (Facebook/@ Brightlingsea -The Hole Picture)

According to BBC. 66-year-old Andy Conroy gathered toys from his grandchildren and charity shops to raise awareness about potholes in Brightlingsea in Essex. Conroy used these toys and put them in the middle of the pothole. He then would click pictures of them and share them on his Facebook page called Brightlingsea -The Hole Picture. With each picture, Conroy also shared an amusing story.

"I don't know if it will get the potholes fixed any quicker, but we're all having a good laugh about it. "People seem to be enjoying them," Conroy told BBC.

Check out some of his posts below:

His creative posts soon caught the attention of the Essex County Council, who recognized the urgency of the matter and took action to fix the potholes. A team of engineers from Essex County Council have worked non-stop through the night mending all our roads. In charge of the of the Highway Maintenance Department's operation was Phil MaCavity (known as 'Mac' to his friends). Earlier this morning, we chatted over a takeaway coffee and bacon roll. He said, 'We're all feeling a bit tired now after a long night, but we are really proud to have done this for the people of Brightlingsea. We have just a couple more holes to fill, but they will all be done by noon TODAY,' wrote Conroy on his Fcebook page.

These posts were shared just a few days ago. Since being posted, several people have liked and commented on these pictures.

Check out a few reactions below:

An individual wrote, "Just Brilliant!!" A second person posted, "Brilliant !! Well done, Andy." A third wrote, "I have just seen you on Look East, Andy. Brilliant idea. I will be following you on Facebook from now on. Many thanks."
How do you pronounce Zomato? Do you say zoMaato or do you prefer saying zoMaito? Whatever your answer is, the pronunciation of the companys name has become a topic of contention on Twitter. It all started after Zomatos CEO Deepinder Goyal addressed the company as zoMaato in his recent tweet. The food delivery platform soon corrected him, saying that it is called zoMaito. This zoMaato vs zoMaito debate garnered attention on social media, prompting Goyal to create a poll asking people to share how they pronounce the brands name. Do you pronounce Zomato as zoMaato or zoMaito?(Representational Image: Rubaitul Azad/unsplash )

Also Read: Mumbai cops face backlash for riding scooty without helmets

Hard to believe that no one was harmed in the making of this zoMaato ad. Alongside, he shared the hashtag #ZomatovsZomato, wrote Deepinder Goyal while sharing an advertisement on Twitter. The advertisement features a playful battle between those who support one pronunciation versus the other.

Take a look at Deepinder Goyals tweet here:

After Zomatos founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal referred to the company as zoMaato on Twitter, the official Zomato account playfully corrected him by saying, You dont know your company is called zoMaito. Goyal then left it up to the public to decide on the correct pronunciation by conducting a Twitter poll, giving them a choice between zoMaito and zoMaato.

Take a look at the tweets below:

The tweets were shared two days ago. Since being shared, they have received tons of likes and a plethora of comments. Several brands, too, dropped hilarious comments on Deepinder Goyals zoMaato vs zoMaito tweet.

Check out the reactions below:

An individual wrote, I order through Swiggy. JO-MAA-TO, posted another. A third commented, Maa has a lot of power, so always zoMaato!

Also Read: Shilpa Shettys daughter Samisha applies ice on brother Viaans bump, calls him cute little baby

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A vessel with around 400 people on board is adrift between Greece and Malta and is taking on water, support service Alarm Phone said on Sunday, after a sharp rise of migrant boats crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa. Representation visuals(REUTERS)

Alarm Phone said on Twitter they had received a call from the boat, which departed from Tobruk, in Libya, overnight and that they had informed authorities. But authorities had not launched a rescue operation so far, they added.

Alarm Phone said the boat was now in the Maltese Search and Rescue area (SAR).

Also read: Enough, we must: UK home secretary Suella Braverman on illegal migrants

German NGO Sea-Watch International said on its Twitter account it had found the boat with two merchant ships nearby.

It said the Maltese authorities had ordered the ships not to carry out a rescue and that one of them was just asked to supply it with fuel.

It was not immediately possible to reach Maltese authorities for comment.

Alarm Phone said people on board were panicking, with several of them requiring medical attention. The vessel was out of fuel and its lower deck was full of water, while the captain had left and there was nobody who could steer the boat, they said.

Another NGO, Germany's Resqship, said on Sunday at least 23 migrants died overnight in the Mediterranean in a separate shipwreck.

It said on Twitter the NGO found 25 people in the water during a rescue operation, and its staff were able to recover 22 survivors and two bodies, although it was told about 20 other people had already drowned.

Last week 440 migrants were rescued off Malta after a complex 11-hour operation in stormy seas by the Geo Barents vessel of the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity.

At least 23 African migrants were missing and four died on Saturday after their two boats sank off Tunisia as they tried to reach Italy.
China declared it had "successfully completed" three days of war games around Taiwan on Monday, after it deployed dozens of aircraft to launch simulated strikes and an aerial blockade of the self-ruled island. The Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese PLA successfully completed various tasks for the war-preparedness patrol around Taiwan island. (Representational Image)

Beijing held the exercises in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke a strong response.

Also Read | China military drills as intense as 2022: Taiwan's worrying assessment

After three days of drills, the Chinese military said it had "successfully completed" tasks related to its "Joint Sword" drills.

The exercise "comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat ability of multiple military branches under actual combat conditions", the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Eastern Command said in a statement.

The war games saw Beijing simulate targeted strikes on Taiwan and encirclement of the island, including "sealing" it off, and a state media report said dozens of planes had practised an "aerial blockade".

One of China's two aircraft carriers -- the Shandong -- also "participated in today's exercise", the military said.

The United States, which had repeatedly called for China to show restraint, on Monday sent the USS Milius guided-missile destroyer through contested parts of the South China Sea.

"This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea," the US Navy said in a statement.

It added that the vessel had passed near the Spratly Islands -- an archipelago claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. It is about 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from Taiwan.

The deployment of the Milius immediately triggered a condemnation from China, which said the vessel had "illegally intruded" into its territorial waters.

Separately, Beijing warned Monday that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were "mutually exclusive", blaming Taipei and unnamed "foreign forces" supporting it for the tensions.

"If we want to protect peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait we must firmly oppose any form of Taiwan independence separatism," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin warned.

Close Chinese ally Russia defended the drills, with a Kremlin spokesperson saying Beijing had a "sovereign right" to respond to what Moscow called "provocative acts".
Beijing: China on Monday ended three days of intense military drills around self-ruled Taiwan, encircling it with warships, deploying scores of fighter jets and, for the first time, simulating strikes on the island by the Shandong aircraft carrier-based war planes. A pilot is photographed operating an aircraft of the Air Force under the Eastern Theatre Command of Chinas People's Liberation Army (PLA) during a combat readiness patrol and Joint Sword exercises around Taiwan, at an undisclosed location. (REUTERS)

The drills were launched on April 8, a day after Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a 10-day visit to the Central American countries of Belize and Guatemala and a high-profile stopover in the US where she met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China claims democratically-run Taiwan as a breakaway region and resents official interaction between the island and a third country, terming it as interference in its internal affairs.

Taiwans government strongly objects to Chinas claims.

The Eastern Theatre Command successfully completed all tasks of its combat readiness patrols and exercises around the Taiwan island, Chinese official media said on Monday, adding that the command also carried out a ground strike mission around the island.

The Taiwanese defence ministry said on Monday that during the past 24 hours four J-15 fighter jets, which are based on the Shandong aircraft carrier, had crossed into the southeastern portion of the islands air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

As many as 70 PLA aircraft and 11 PLA warships were spotted around Taiwan by 6am on Monday, the Taiwanese defence ministry tweeted, adding its armed forces have monitored the situation and ...tasked its aircraft, navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities.

In Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry strongly criticised Tsais US visit and meetings, calling it secessionist acts. To maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, we must firmly oppose all forms of Taiwan independence secessionist acts, ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, according to state-controlled English news channel, CGTN, said at a media briefing.

Acts of Taiwan independence are incompatible with peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits as fire and water, Wang said.

PLA tracks US missile destroyer

Separately, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) monitored, tracked and maintained a high level of alert as the US Navys guided-missile destroyer USS Milius trespassed into Chinas territorial waters near Meiji Reef in the South China Sea (SCS) on Monday.

China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands and their surrounding waters in the South China Sea, Tian Junli, a spokesperson for the PLA Southern Theatre Command said in a statement.

On April 10, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands, consistent with international law, TJG Luka Bakic from the US 7th Fleet said in a statement.

China claims nearly the entire SCS but is locked in dispute over the ownership of islands and reefs with several maritime neighbours including Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia besides Vietnam and Taiwan

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Chinas military drills in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen transiting through the US are on par with the reaction seen by Beijing last year, Taiwans foreign minister said Monday, comments that come as the Peoples Liberation Army held a third day of exercises. A fishing boat sails past wind turbines north of Pingtan island, opposite Taiwan, in China.(AFP)

Read here: Taiwan detects 11 Chinese warships, 59 aircraft around island: Defence ministry

If you compare the two sets of military drills, I will say the one in August last year to be more intense, Taiwans Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said in an interview with Bloomberg News Monday, referring to Beijings entire response to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting the island.

So altogether, it was a more serious one at the time, but this time around, if you look at the intensity of their air threat, or naval threat against Taiwan, I think its similar to what we saw at the time.

Last summer, the PLA not only conducted air and sea exercises but also fired missiles over the island, launched cyber attacks and used economic coercion in response to Pelosis trip, Wu added.

Tsai last week transited the US and met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. She also received a US congressional delegation in Taipei over the weekend upon her return from the US. The Biden administration has urged China to refrain from increasing tensions and using the transit as a pretext to change the status quo in the strait.

Wu also criticized Beijing for finding excuses to launch military exercises and said the acts cannot be tolerated.

We need to prevent China from having the illusion that they can take Taiwan over quickly, he said. And therefore we need to speed up Taiwans preparedness and weve been doing that.

Read here: China simulated strikes against 'key targets on Taiwan': Report

The nationalist Global Times newspaper cited Zhao Xiaozhuo, a research fellow at the Academy of Military Sciences, as saying that the PLA is practicing targeting key military targets including airfields and other buildings during the drills.
China on Monday objected to home minister Amit Shahs ongoing visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying it violated Beijings territorial sovereignty and not conducive to peace and tranquiliity along the border. A general overview of Tawang town in northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. (AFP)

Beijing claims Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and objects to official visits to the state.

Chinas claim has been repeatedly dismissed by New Delhi which says the northeastern state is an integral part of India.

Shahs visit to the remote state  including to the strategic Kibithoo village near the Line of Actual Control (LAC)  comes in the backdrop of Beijing standardising names of 11 places including villages and mountain peaks in the state last week.

Responding to Shahs visit, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin said: Zangnan (South Tibet in Chinese) is Chinas territory.

The Indian officials visit to Zangnan violates Chinas territorial sovereignty, and is not conducive to the peace and tranquility of the border situation, Wang said.

China had strongly protested Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Arunachal Pradesh in February 2018, and President Ram Nath Kovinds visit to the state in November, 2017

The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and is firmly opposed to the Indian leaders visit to the disputed area, then spokesperson Geng Shuang was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency.

India and China have been locked in a standoff in Ladakh sector approaching three years, since early May 2020, sending bilateral ties plummeting to their worst in decades.

Both sides have deployed thousands of troops and heavy armament along the LAC.

A deadly clash at Galwan Valley in June 2020 left 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops dead  the first fatalities along the LAC since 1975.

India has been working on improving infrastructure along the disputed border with China, which has over the decades greatly developed its villages near the boundary with India.

During his visit Shah will launch the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), a central government scheme to develop villages along the LAC in a comprehensive manner. He is also expected to interact with ITBP personnel.

India last week rejected the renaming by China of places in Arunachal Pradesh with external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi saying in a statement: We have seen such reports. This is not the first time China has made such an attempt. We reject this outright.

It was the third time that China had unilaterally renamed places in Arunachal Pradesh, having done it in April, 2017, and in December 2021.

In 2017, the name changes were carried out on April 13, a day after Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama left Arunachal Pradesh following a high-profile nine-day high visit. Beijing calls the Dalai Lama a splittist, and says he wants to create an independent country of Tibet.

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China simulated "sealing off" Taiwan during the third day of drills around the island. Beijing said that it launched the exercises in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen last week meeting with US House speaker Kevin McCarthy. China had earlier warned that the encounter would provoke a furious response.

China-Taiwan Conflict: Chinese and Taiwanese flags are seen in this illustration.(Reuters)
Abuja  The Republic of Chad has ordered the German ambassador, Gordon Kricke, to leave the country owing to his "lack of respect for diplomatic customs".

In a terse statement at the weekend, the Chadian government asked Kricke, who has been serving as Germany's ambassador to Chad since 2021, to leave in 48 hours.

The country's communication ministry said: "this decision of the government is motivated by the discourteous attitude and the lack of respect for diplomatic customs". The ministry did not expand on the reasons it gave for Kricke's expulsion.

Kricke had criticised delays in holding elections after the 2021 coup and a ruling last year that would allow Mahamat Deby, the interim military leader, to run in elections in 2024, Reuters quoted Chadian government sources as saying.

Military leaders in the Central African country originally promised an 18-month transition to elections when Deby seized power after his father, President Idriss Deby, died.

In 2022, however, the military junta extended the timeline by two years, delaying elections until October 2024.

The decision sparked protests which saw the military using force to handle the riot. Dozens of civilians were killed.

The German embassy joined others, including the United States, in expressing concern over the delayed return to democracy in Chad.

Kricke has been in the role since July 2021. He has previously served as a diplomat in Niger, Angola and the Philippines. He was also a special representative for Germany in the unstable Sahel.

A government source told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that Kricke was seen as "interfering too much" in the governance of the country, and making divisive remarks. He had been warned on several occasions, the source added.

Military leaders in the Central African country originally promised an 18-month transition to elections when Deby seized power after his father, President Idriss Deby, was killed on the battlefield during a conflict with rebels, ending decades of authoritarian rule.

But last year, the military government extended the timeline by two years, delaying elections until October 2024, sparking protests in which dozens of civilians were killed, and worrying regional powers and the United States who have warned against extending military rule.

Many diplomats in the country, which borders Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Sudan, sharply criticised the violence.

The German embassy joined others, such as France, Spain and The Netherlands, in expressing its concern about the delayed return to democracy.
China simulated "sealing off" Taiwan during a third day of wargames around the self-ruled island on Monday, as the United States deployed a naval destroyer into Beijing-claimed waters in a show of force.

China said that its multiple batches of H-6K fighter jets carrying live ammunition, carried out multiple waves of simulated strikes on important targets on Taiwan. China launched the exercises in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen last week meeting US House speaker Kevin McCarthy, an encounter it had warned would provoke a furious response.
China simulated "sealing off" Taiwan during a third day of wargames around the self-ruled island on Monday, as the United States deployed a naval destroyer into Beijing-claimed waters in a show of force. An aircraft of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) takes part in military drills near Taiwan.(Reuters)

China launched the exercises in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen last week meeting US House speaker Kevin McCarthy, an encounter it had warned would provoke a furious response.

Read here: Taiwan detects 11 Chinese warships, 59 aircraft around island: Defence ministry

After two days of exercises that included simulating targeted strikes on Taiwan and encirclement of the island, the Chinese military said the wargames also included "sealing" it off.

One of China's two aircraft carriers also "participated in today's exercise," the military said.

The United States, which had repeatedly called for China to show restraint, on Monday sent the guided-missile destroyer the USS Milius through contested parts of the South China Sea.

"This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea," the US Navy said in a statement

It added the vessel had passed near the Spratly Islands -- an archipelago claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. It is about 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from Taiwan.

The deployment of the Milius immediately triggered more anger from China, which said the vessel had "illegally intruded" into its territorial waters.
A Chinese scientist claimed that the Covid-19 virus may have originated in humans negating the theory that the virus jumped from animals to humans at the Wuhan market. Tong Yigang of the Beijing University of Chemical Technology said that the genetic sequences of viral samples taken from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan were almost identical to those of patients infected with Covid which thereby suggests, according to him, that Covid may have originated from humans. Covid In Wuhan: The origins of the Sars-CoV-2 virus remains a mystery.(Reuters)

Read more: Twitter labels BBC government-funded media. It objects saying funded by'

Speaking at a press conference held by the Chinese State Council, Tong Yigang said that scientists took over 1,300 environmental and frozen animal samples from the Wuhan market between January 2020 and March 2020 following which they isolated three strains of the virus from the environmental samples.

The scientist also denied a recent study that suggested that racoon dogs were the origin of the Covid virus.

At the event, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researcher Zhou Lei said that the place where Covid was first discovered- Wuhan- might not have necessarily been the place where it originated.

Read more: Copies of Prince Harry's memoir smeared with blood to go on sale. Here's why

Scientists across the world have been long demanding data from China to understand the origins of Covid virus. Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) slammed China for not sharing enough data as WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, Without full access to the information that China has... 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," he said. If Beijing does provide the missing data we will know what happened or how it started, he added.

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Former US President Donald Trump accused his political opponents including "radical left Democrats" and Republicans in Name Only, of "dreaming endlessly of destroying" the US as he faces legal troubles. In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump wrote a message in all capital letters. Happy Easter to all, the former President wrote before launching into a scathing attack on his opponents. Donald Trump: Former US president Donald Trump holds a rally in Youngstown.(Reuters)

Read more: Twitter labels BBC government-funded media. It objects saying funded by'

INCLUDING THOSE THAT DREAM ENDLESSLY OF DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF DREAMING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE, THOSE THAT ARE SO INCOMPETENT THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT HAVING A BORDER AND POWERFUL WALL IS A GOOD THING, & HAVING VOTER I.D., ALL PAPER BALLOTS, & SAME DAY VOTING WILL QUICKLY END MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD, & TO ALL OF THOSE WEAK & PATHETIC RINOS, RADICAL LEFT DEMOCRATS, SOCIALISTS MARXISTS, & COMMUNISTS WHO ARE KILLING OUR NATION, Donald Trump wrote.

This comes as Donald Trump faced an indictment last week by a Manhattan grand jury for hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Although, Donald Trump pleaded not guilty during a historic appearance before a judge- a first for a US President to be charged with a crime- prosecutors state in a 34-count felony indictment that Donald Trump conspired to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election through the hush money payments.

Documents also include charges related to a payoff to a doorman who claimed to have a story about an out-of-wedlock child allegedly fathered by Donald Trump.

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Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan once again praised India's foreign policy saying that Islamabad "wanted to get cheap Russian crude oil just like India" but was not able to do so as his government collapsed. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. (AP)

Read more: Twitter labels BBC government-funded media. It objects saying funded by'

We wanted to get cheap Russian crude oil just like India but that could not happen as unfortunately, my government fell due to a no-confidence motion, Imran Khan said in a video message.

Amid severe economic crisis in Pakistan, Imran Khan said that he was upset that his country could not purchase Russian crude oil at a discounted rate. Imran Khan met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last year in February.

Watch: Massive midday avalanche in French Alps that killed 4 skiers

Earlier, Imran Khan had acknowledged India's growing economy saying, No other leader except Nawaz in the world has properties worth billions. Tell me about one country whose Premier or leader has billions worth of properties outside the country. Even in our neighbouring country, how many properties does PM Modi has outside India?

He also praised PM Narendra Modi's decision to purchase cheap oil from Russia saying, "Despite being part of the Quad, India withstood US pressure and bought cheap oil from Russia to facilitate its people. Our government was trying to achieve this through an independent foreign policy."

Meanwhile, Pakistan Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik claimed in April 2023 that the first-ever shipment of cheap oil from Russia would reach Pakistan next month. The minister said that the deal was finalised with Moscow, adding, The first shipment will reach next month through a cargo.

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Indian and Canadian negotiators have concluded their seventh rounds of discussions towards securing an Early Progress Trade Agreement or EPTA between the two countries. HT Image

India and Canadian officials said there was some progress during the four-day discussions in Ottawa last week, as the two teams lead by their chief negotiators met in the Canadian capital.

The meetings took place between Monday and Thursday last week. Some differences persist, officials said, but are not insurmountable.

The EPTA process commenced when Canadian Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Marg Ng visited New Delhi in March and held a Ministerial Dialogue on Trade & Investment with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on March 11 last year. The EPTA, if concluded, will be a transitional step towards the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA.

Both countries originally hoped to finalise the agreement within a year but that deadline has elapsed and they are targeting potential finalisation of the document this autumn.

Both nations have focused on strengthening trade ties recently. After Canadas minister of foreign affairs Melanie Joly met external affairs minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi this March, the latter tweeted the talks encompassed bilateral issues including, among other matters, trade, connectivity and people to people ties.

Joly told attendees at the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber or ICBC meet in New Delhi in March the economic potential contained in strengthening the Canada-India relationship cant be understated.

While negotiations will continue, overcoming key hurdles will depend on political will, and critical decisions could be made when Ng meets Goyal on the margins of the G20 Trade Ministers vertical in Jaipur in August.

According to Global Affairs Canada, in 2022, India was Canadas 10th-largest merchandise trade partner, and the relationship has been steadily growing. Two-way foreign direct investment between Canada and India amounted to CA$ 4.6 billion in 2021, with Canadian direct investment in India standing at CA$ 2.9 billion. In addition, Canadian portfolio and institutional investment into India reached CA$ 70 billion.

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Ukraine's deputy foreign minister on Monday said Kyiv wanted New Delhi to be more involved in helping resolve its conflict with Russia and has sought a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials. Emine Dzhaparova, Ukraines first deputy foreign affairs minister (Twitter Photo)

Emine Dzhaparova told broadcaster CNBC TV18 in an interview that Kyiv also expected India to invite Ukrainian officials to participate in G20 events and intensify political dialogue with Kyiv.

Also read: Russian forces surrendering at fast pace to save their lives: Ukraine official

India holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 this year and hosts a leaders summit in September. New Delhi has not been as critical of Moscow as others for its invasion of Ukraine and has even ramped up its buying of Russian oil - the lifeblood of its economy - while others have sought to buy less or ban it.

Dzhaparova, who is on a four-day visit to New Delhi, told the broadcaster: "We believe India should be engaged and involved in the Ukraine issue to a great extent".

"We believe intensification of political dialogue on the highest level is first step towards this big goal. My president is requesting a phone conversation with the Prime Minister. We are looking forward to welcome him in Kyiv one day," she said.

Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, she said India should be pragmatic in securing its resources, including energy and defence equipment, while warning against dependence on Russia.

India has sought a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine, while Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin in September that now is "not an era of war".

Also read: Minecraft Discord server breached: Leaks sensitive US documents on Ukraine war

India has also boosted its purchases of Russian oil, taking advantage of the deep discounts following a European ban on Russian oil imports.

Russia, like the Soviet Union before it, has been Indias main source of arms and defence equipment for decades and it has now displaced Iraq as India's top crude supplier as well.

"We only think it is crucial to diversify all of the resources, not only energy but also military resources," Dzhaparova said. "When you are dependent from Russia, they always use this blackmail instrument".

Dzhaparova will meet India's deputy national security adviser and a junior foreign minister during her visit and address a world affairs think tank.
Melania Trump is furious about her husband Donald Trump's alleged affairs but lives in an ivory tower of denial and uses her silence as a protective armour, a former aide said as per The Mirror after the ex-US President faced charges over hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Former US President Donald Trump seen with Melania Trump.(File)

Read more: Humans brought Covid to Wuhan market? Chinese scientist's shocking claim

Melania Trump did not accompany Donald Trump for the New York arraignment and was also not seen later when the former US President returned to Florida. Former aide Stephanie Wolkoff Winston said that Melania will never divorce him" though, despite the affairs.

Of course she knows about Donald's affairs, she knows everything. But her silence is her dignity," Stephanie Wolkoff Winston said.

She will stand by her husband, as she always does. I don't think Melania is humiliated by his affairs  but she is angry, she added.

Read more: Prince Harry's demands after Queen's death 'shocked' royal family, book claims

Donald Trump became the first former president in history to face criminal charges even though he denied all the charges.

Read more: Twitter labels BBC government-funded media. It objects saying funded by'

"Her silence is deliberate, it is her weapon of choice and her protective armour." Still she isn't leaving him. This is a transactional marriage, she knew what she was getting into when she married Donald. Her means of survival is to just act like it never happened," the ex-aide added.

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North Korea appears to be purposefully cutting a communication link with South Korea as it ratchets up tensions by testing new weapons and denouncing its neighbor as a puppet traitor for holding military drills with the US. Kim Jong Uns regime has pledged an unprecedented response to the drills and rolled out new weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes against the US and the two allies.(AP)

Watch | North Korean military refuses to answer South's calls; Kim tests second underwater nuclear drone

South Koreas Unification Ministry said Monday that North Korea failed to respond for a fourth straight day to regularly held calls on an inter-Korean liaison communications channel. The calls are normally held on weekdays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Were weighing the possibility of a unilateral cut-off by Pyongyang, spokesman Koo Byoung-sam told reporters at a news briefing. He added this is the first time since Oct. 2021 that all inter-Korean military lines or liaison calls have been stopped for more than a day.

Also Read | North Korea carried out nuclear-capable weapon test underwater: Report

The two Koreas, which are technically still at war, dont have regular phone service. They set up hotlines in 2018 after a series of summits aimed at decreasing tensions on their heavily armed border. But North Korea has previously shut the communications links in displays of anger.

I believe it is a part of its political-diplomatic response, a way of expressing its strong disgruntlement against the US and South Koreas joint exercises, said Go Myong-hyun, a senior fellow of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

Its unlikely a step toward escalation, but more of a tit-for-tat response against the joint military drills and much more elevated deterrence posture from South Korea and the US, Go said.

The US, Japan and South Korea this month held joint anti-submarine drills in waters off the South Korean island of Jeju. North Korea responded by warning that the US and its puppet state allies were bringing grave danger to themselves and saying its nuclear arsenal was ready to be used at any time to deter the war maniacs reckless moves.

Kim Jong Uns regime has pledged an unprecedented response to the drills and rolled out new weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes against the US and the two allies, which host the bulk of American troops in the region. That response also included a new undersea Haeil drone North Korea tested last month and this month that it said could deliver a radioactive tsunami  a claim doubted by South Koreas military.

All these military exercises of the enemy for demonstration clearly show that they are military actions for a preemptive attack which can not be looked on with folded arms any longer as they are waged after making a war of aggression against the DPRK a fait accompli, it said in a recent commentary in its biggest paper, Rodong Sinmun, referring to North Korea by its formal name.

The inter-Korean hotline was restored in July 2021, after being cut by North Korea for about a year in protest against South Korean activists who sent leaflets critical of Kims regime across the border by balloon. A few weeks later the lines were cut again for about two months in a show of anger from Pyongyang over joint military drills.

In June 2022, North Korean did not respond to a regular hotline call, apparently due to technical glitches caused by heavy rains.

The question then becomes whether this is a temporary protest and it restores communications after a certain time, as it has done in the past, or whether this is the first step toward a bigger policy change, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, regional issues manager at the Vienna-based Open Nuclear Network.

North Korea in recent weeks has issued two highly authoritative articles on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, which suggests they are at a major decision point with regard to foreign policy, said Lee, who worked as an analyst for the CIAs Open Source Enterprise for almost two decades.
In an Easter message highlighting hope, Pope Francis on Sunday invoked prayers for both the Ukrainian and Russian people, praised nations which welcome refugees and called on Israelis and Palestinians wracked by the latest surge in deadly violence to forge a climate of trust. Pope Francis delivers the Easter Urbi et Orbi blessing from the loggia of St. Peter's basilica overlooking St. Peter's square.(AFP)

Read here: After skipping Good Friday procession, Pope Francis returns to public eye

Francis, along with dozens of prelates and tens of thousands of faithful, celebrated Easter Mass in a flower-adorned St. Peters Square, affirming the Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead days after his crucifixion.

The 86-year-old pontiff topped the celebration with a traditional speech about troubled places in the world. Encouraging trust among individuals, peoples and nations," Francis said Easter's joy illumines the darkness and gloom in which, all too often, our world finds itself enveloped.

The pope's Easter message is known by its Latin name, Urbi et Orbi," which means to the city and the world.

Since Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022, Francis has repeatedly called for the fighting to end and sought prayers for the martyred Ukrainian people.

Ukrainian diplomats have complained that he hasn't come down hard enough in his statements on Russia and particularly Russian President Vladimir Putin as the Vatican tries to avoid alienating Moscow.

Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia,'' Francis implored God in his Easter speech, which he delivered while sitting in a chair on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica facing the square. Comfort the wounded and all those who have lost loved ones because of the war, and grant that prisoners may return safe and sound to their families."

He urged the international community to work to end the war in Ukraine and all conflict and bloodshed in the world, beginning with Syria, which still awaits peace.

Francis also prayed for those who lost loved ones in an earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey two months ago, claiming tens of thousands of lives.

With a renewal in deadly violence affecting both Israelis and Palestinians in recent days, Francis called for a "resumption of dialogue, in a climate of trust and reciprocal respect, between Israelis and Palestinians, so that peace may reign in the Holy City and in the entire region,'' a reference to Jerusalem.

But Francis also noted progress on some fronts.

Let us rejoice at the concrete signs of hope that reach us from so many countries, beginning with those that offers assistance and welcome to all fleeing war and poverty," he said, without naming any particular nations.

How to care for asylum-seekers, migrants and refugees, and whether to allow them entrance, is a raging political and social debate in much of Europe, as well in the United States and elsewhere.

Francis also prayed that national leaders ensure that no man or woman may encounter discrimination and that there would be full respect for human rights and democracy.

With migrants risking their lives in smugglers unseaworthy boats in hopes of reaching Europe, the pope lamented that Tunisia's people, particularly the young, struggle with social and economic hardship.

In the last two weeks, dozens have died or were left missing after attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Tunisia.

The pope included Lebanon and two African countries he visited this year - South Sudan and Congo - among the nations in need of ending divisions and building reconciliation.

Speaking about Haiti, he appealed to political actors and the international community to seek a definitive solution to the many problems that afflict that sorely tried people.

The bloody conflicts cited by Francis contrasted with a riot of bright colors lent by orange-red tulips, yellow sprays of forsythia and daffodils, hyacinths and other colorful seasonal flowers that decorated St. Peter's Square. The blooms were trucked in trucks from the Netherlands.

By the end of the pope's appearance, some 100,00 people had flocked to the square in time for the pontiff's speech, according to the Vatican's crowd count.

A canopy on the edge of steps on the square sheltered the pontiff, who was back in the public eye for the Mass 12 hours after a 2.25-hour long Easter vigil ceremony in St. Peters Basilica the night before.

Francis was hospitalized March 29-April 1 for treatment of bronchitis. Still recovering, he skipped the traditional Good Friday procession at Romes Colosseum due to unseasonably cold nighttime temperatures.

Read here: Pope Francis to skip Good Friday procession due to cold weather

Near the end of the more than two-hour-long Easter Sunday appearance, Francis seemed to run out of steam. His voice grew hoarse and he interrupted his speech at one point to cough.

He nonetheless made several laps through the square in the popemobile after the Mass, waving and smiling at cheering well-wishers.
A torrent of tributes poured in from prominent Nigerians in honour of one of Nigeria's foremost legal mights, a former president of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) 1984-1985, former High Commissioners to the United Kingdom, one time judge at the International Court of Justice at the Hague, and erstwhile Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola, who passed on yesterday at the age of 89. He was immediately buried in Abeokuta in line with Islamic rites.

Ajibola's death attracted many statements of condolence from far and near, while some paid their last respects to the deceased's family at his Abeokuta home.

Among prominent Nigerians, who paid tribute to the dead were President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, and President-elect Biola Tinubu.

Others included the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Senate President Ahmad Lawan; the chief mourner and governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and former Ogun State governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

Ajibola, who died in the early hours of yesterday following old age-related ailments, according to his family, was buried after Janazah prayer led by Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sheik Sa'dallah Bamgbola. His remains were interred within the sprawling Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA) premises, a centre he established decades ago on Abiola Way, in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Osinbajo, Obasanjo, Osoba, Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, were among those, who attended the burial in Abeokuta.

Buhari, while commiserating with the legal community in Nigeria and worldwide, noted in a release issued by his media adviser, Femi Adesina, that the outstanding lawyer and eminent jurist used his God-given knowledge, intellect, and talent to advocate for justice, fairness, and equity in all his undertakings within and outside Nigeria.

The president said the late Ajibola, having risen to the pinnacle of his career, took his brilliance in law practice to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, where he served between 1991 and 1994.

"His contributions to the development of our legal system cannot be overstated, serving as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice at a critical period in the nation's history," the president stated. "His patriotic inclinations, integrity and passion for service and advancement of humanity will continue to resonate after him," he added.

Buhari also sympathised with the government and people of Ogun State as they mourned the illustrious citizen for the educational and social development he brought to his community and environs. The president prayed the Almighty to grant Ajibola Aljannah.

Babangida, in a statement he personally signed, said, "I feel a deep sense of pain on hearing the news of the sudden demise of our former Attorney-General, Prince Bola Ajibola: a great Nigerian, an unimpeachable patriot, a sound legal mind, humanist, and a quintessential legal luminary of global reputation. His death, no doubt, marked the end of an eventful career of an exceptional Nigerian, whose love for country was total.

"As a government, when we tried to appoint Prince Ajibola as Attorney-General of the Federation, there were certain persons, who cautioned us against it, saying the late Prince was a controversial personality, who would give us a headache. I insisted that was the more reason why we should appoint him; with the hope that he would guide us on the path of law and reason, and not sentiments; which he did.

"As a true Nigerian patriot, throughout his service to the nation, he refused to receive a salary. He served our nation pro-bono. He was very passionate about the place of Nigeria in the comity of nations. There was never a day he asked to be paid his salaries during and/or after his meritorious service to the nation. Prince Bola Ajibola is an exceptional patriot of repute.

"At 89, he lived his full circle. His sound knowledge of law and the legal profession was legendary. He was a man with robust ideas about governance. He shaped the direction of our government and contributed in no small measure to deepening our body of laws. He was friendly, engaging, and selfless. He was a great mind whose love for country is remarkably worthy of emulation. I will personally miss this great Nigerian, who gave us a lot of ideas on how to lead our country."

Tinubu expressed sadness over Ajibola's demise, in a statement signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman. He sent his condolences to the family of the legal luminary and founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta.

The president-elect also acknowledged Ajibola's important contributions to Nigeria's political evolution and nation-building, legal profession, and international jurisprudence, saying, "I received the news of the passing, on Sunday, of Prince Bola Ajibola, SAN, at 89, with profound sadness.

"The former Nigerian Minister of Justice and leader of the Bar was an eminent statesman and legal icon, whose contributions to national progress and development will be written in gold.

"During his earthly sojourn, Prince Ajibola didn't just serve his country with his gift of extraordinary brilliance as a lawyer, he served the world as a judge of International Court of Justice in The Hague and Member of its Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)."

Osinbajo, who arrived the burial venue about 4.57pm, spoke with newsmen in Abeokuta and said his personal interaction with Ajibola as Special Adviser, would be indelible in his heart.

The vice president said, "Prince Bola Ajibola was someone I worked with as a special adviser, when he was federal attorney general and one thing he demonstrated was his belief in Nigeria, and that one could serve in the public domain with integrity.

"I am sad that he is no more. As Segun, his first born, has said, 'I am actually his first-born. It's a great honour that I knew him and he mentored me."

Abiodun ddescribed the Ajibola's death as a big loss to the judiciary, and said his legacies in the judiciary, philanthropy, and the educational development of Nigeria would never be forgotten.

The Ogun State governor commiserated with the Owu Royal Family, his friend, Obasanjo, and members of the Baptist Boys' High School Old Students Association. He said Ajibola's death was saddening, devastating, and the end of an era.

Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said, "The death of this illustrious son of Ogun State, a celebrated jurist and judicial activist, public intellectual and elder statesman, is a severe blow to all of us, who knew him.

"Words cannot adequately convey my heartfelt sorrow over Papa's death, for he was a kind and beautiful soul, who spread love to all who encountered him." Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)/Chairman, Presidential Transition Council (PTC), Mr Boss Mustapha, also reacted to the news of Ajibola's death on behalf of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

In a statement by Director, Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, the SGF chronicled Ajibola's contributions to the development of the legal profession, both locally and internationally. He described the deceased as a respectable judge who served at home as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as Judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, Netherlands, from 1999-1994.

Mustapha stated, "Ajibola also contributed to the development of Nigeria's educational sector as founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State. He was also a diplomat of repute, having served as Nigeria's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1999-2002.

"FEC condoles with the government and people of Ogun State, family and friends of the deceased, and prays to God to grant him Aljanah Firdaus."

Atiku, in a tribute he signed, said, "It is with a heart filled with pain, but with gratitude to the Almighty, that I share my condolences about the passing of Prince Bola Ajibola.

"Pain because there are only a few Nigerians, who grew in status to the heights of the Prince from a noble Egba family. I am happy in another way because, being a Muslim myself, I am certain that Prince Ajibola would, himself, have elected to make his passing in the glorious month of Ramadan."

The former vice president said there were many things to remember Ajibola for, adding, "That he was a doyen of the law profession and his accomplishments as a jurist of note is the most basic of the things that we shall tell of his memories. Of course, he did the country proud, when he served at the International Court of Justice at The Hague, as well as during his years of service as Nigeria's envoy to the United Kingdom.

"But what was spectacular about the late eminent jurist was how his values of forthrightness and candour, which, by the way, is emblematic of his Egba heritage, reflected in all other spheres of his earthly engagements.

"As a diplomat, jurist, educationist - or any other role that you may wish to describe the late Prince Bola Ajibola - what is consistent about his character is the overwhelming presence of rectitude and forbearance in every of his endeavours.

"Those two qualities of his personality are the secret codes to his achievements in life. I am sure that they are qualities that his family and friends will be proud of, and we should immortalise in memory of him.

"Prince Ajibola was always at peace with his Creator and fellow humans, when he was at this side of the divide, and the legacies of his lifetime should be a beacon that should call younger Nigerians to an exemplary life that he lived."

Lawan and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu, also condoled with the family of Ajibola.

Lawan described the late elder statesman as an erudite lawyer and international jurist, who left bold imprints on the study and practice of law both within and outside Nigeria. He noted that as former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and one time Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the late Ajibola impacted tremendously his legal profession and will not be forgotten.

Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, while commiserating with the government and people of Ogun State, extolled Ajibola's virtues. He stated that the late jurist was forthright, bold, courageous and patriotic.

Sanwo-Olu described Ajibola's death as a big loss to the legal profession, the education sector, Ogun State, and Nigeria as a whole, saying he served his country and the world meritoriously at different levels.

In a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu commended the ex-ICJ judge for his legacies, sacrifice and dedication to nation building and service to mankind.

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The governor praised Ajibola's contribution to the judiciary and education sector as a lawyer, World Court Judge, and founder of one of the foremost private universities in Nigeria, Crescent University, Abeokuta.

He stated, "On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, I want to express my sincere condolences to the family, friends and associates of Prince Bola Ajibola on the demise of our elder statesman and renowned jurist.

"Prince Ajibola lived a fulfilled life, having made positive impacts during his lifetime. The elderly and wise counsel of the jurist will be sorely missed, not only by his family, but the entire people of Owu Kingdom and Ogun State, where he played active roles in its development for many years before he passed on.

"I want to urge the late Prince Bola Ajibola's family, friends, judiciary and education sectors and the entire people of Owu Kingdom to immortalise the good name of the late lawyer and educationist. I pray that God will grant him eternal rest and give his immediate family, friends and the people of Ogun State the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss."

Osoba described the late Ajibola as a passionate personality, whose interest in education and law could not be rivalled. He noted that Ajibola had to sell almost all his properties to set up a university, when the burden to contribute to the development of education in the country was rife.

"Ajibola was a thorough prince of Egbaland, who believed in the legacies of our forefathers," Osoba said, adding, "He invested everything he had into education and law in Egbaland, Nigeria and the world as judge of the world court in The Hague. We will miss him."

Malami Mourns Ex-AGF Ajibola

Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, mourned the death of the former AGF, who served between 1985 and 1991. This was made known by Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

Malami said the death of late Prince Bola Ajibola created a huge vacuum in Nigeria's legal space. He added that as a patriotic citizen, the former AGF was a seasoned legal icon of international repute whose impact remained indelible in Nigerian history and beyond.

While praying God for the repose of the soul of the deceased, Malami also prayed that the Almighty grant the country, families of the late jurist, Ogun State and, indeed, the entire nation the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Malami prayed the Almighty Allah to grant Ajibola Jannatul Firdaus.
Stripping Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles was discussed at the highest level, a bombshell new book claims. The book Our King: Charles III by royal commentator Robert Jobson claimed that senior palace officials felt that Prince Harry had turned his back on his family following his and Meghan Markles exit from royal life in 2020. Prince Harry-Meghan Markle: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen.(AP)

Read more: All claims made by social climber Meghan Markle's half-sister against her

However, King Charles was not in favor of stripping his son and daughter-in-law of their titles, the book said.

A palace insider told Robert Jobson that many officials joked that Prince Harry was a victim of Stockholm syndrome" saying, There was a point when officials joked Harry was the victim of Stockholm syndrome, and he was Meghans hostage, but now most just feel Harry has turned his back on everything he has known."

Read more: King Charles' modest coronation plan: 3 crowns, gold carriage but this change

The fact is that Charles is deeply saddened by the widening gulf between him and his youngest son, and wishes he could see more of the Sussexes two children, the book claimed.

Without doubt, Harrys stream of complaints have threatened to upset the harmony of the new reign. Each TV interview to promote his autobiography has made the chances of healing the rift with his father seem less likely, it continued.

Ultimately, despite Charles enduring love for his son, he will come under increasing pressure if Harry continues to attack the monarchy. At that point, the King would have two options: put up with the spreading stain on his reign, or take action to limit its scope," the book said.

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Senior palace aides often joked that Prince Harry was a hostage of Meghan Markle, a new book claimed. Royal author Robert Jobson wrote in his new book Our King that jokes were made by palace aides about Prince Harry being a victim of Stockholm syndrome as they blamed Meghan Markle for the fallout of the Duke of Sussex with the royal family. Prince Harry-Meghan Markle: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are seen.(AP)

Read more: Copies of Prince Harry's memoir smeared with blood to go on sale. Here's why

But later, most of these officials changed their minds and understood that Prince Harry was the driving force in everything that happened, who turned his back on everything he has known. Some of them even called him Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor of Montecito.

A senior aide told the author, Some blame Meghan Markle for the fallout, ignoring the fact that Prince Harry seems to be the driving force in everything that happened. There was a point when officials joked Harry was the victim of Stockholm syndrome, and he was Meghans hostage, but now most just feel Harry has turned his back on everything he has known.

Read more: Stripping Harry, Meghan's titles discussed at highest level' but Charles

The book also claimed that the royal family was not happy when Prince Harry asked them if Meghan Markle could accompany him to Scotland following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. It did not go down well with the family, and they were all shocked by his behavior", the book claimed.

Owing to the rift, King Charles was saddened by the widening gulf between him and Prince Harry, the author added.

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Prince Harry made several demands when Queen Elizabeth died, all of which deeply shocked the royal family, a new book claimed. When the monarch fell ill, Prince Harry was in the UK to attend the WellChild Awards. From there, he he boarded a plane and flew to be at her bedside. But the Queen passed away before he was able to reach, it was earlier reported. Prince Harry On Royal Family: Britain's Prince Harry is seen. (AP)

Read more: Copies of Prince Harry's memoir smeared with blood to go on sale. Here's why

But a new book Our King: Charles III by royal commentator Robert Jobson claimed that Prince Harry wanted Meghan Markle to be allowed to travel with him and bid goodbye to Queen Elizabeth.

Prince William, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward  and Edward's wife Sophie, who had been very close to the Queen  arrived at Balmoral at about 5pm, almost two hours too late. As for Prince Harry, he didn't turn up until just before 8pm. Close sources said he had decided not to fly up to Scotland with his brother and uncles after a disagreement over his wife, Meghan," the book claimed.

Read more: Prince Harry hostage of Meghan Markle, palace aides thought but then

When Harry insisted that she should accompany him, it was his father who told him she couldn't come," it added.

Prince Harrys demands had not gone down well with the royal family who were shocked by his behaviour. In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry wrote, When the plane started to descend, I saw my mobile phone light up. It was a message from Meg: 'call me as soon as you read this'. I checked the BBC webpage. My grandmother had died. My father was the King. I put on a black tie, stepped off the plane into heavy drizzle.

I stayed in one place without moving, gazing at her for a long time, gathered strength and continued going forward," he continued, adding that he "whispered to her I hoped she was happy and that she was with grandpa".

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Copies of Prince Harry's memoir smeared with the blood of Afghan people are set to go on sale, Sky News reported quoting artist Andrei Molodkin who said that he has covered 25 copies of the tell-all with human blood. The copies will be put on display at a shop in Windsor marking protest over the Duke of Sussex's remarks about the number of Taliban fighters he killed in Afghanistan. Prince Harry Memoir Spare: Copies of Britain's Prince Harry's autobiography 'Spare' are displayed.(Reuters)

Read more: King Charles' modest coronation plan: 3 crowns, gold carriage but this change

The artist had earlier projected a sculpture filled with blood on to St Paul's Cathedral in London. He said that the blood donated for that artwork has now been used to create "alternative Spare" books for $10,000 (8,000) each. The money raised will be donated to Afghan charities, the artist said.

Andrei Molodkin said, "Prince Harry boasts of killing Taliban like they're baddies in a video game, 'otherising' human life then cashing in on the sorry tale to sell books about his drug binging, sexual exploits and killing conquests."

Read more: Stripping Harry, Meghan's titles discussed at highest level' but Charles

Prince Harry faced criticism for sharing in his memoir that he killed 25 Taliban fighters while serving with the British Army in Afghanistan. He wrote it "wasn't a number that gave me any satisfaction... but neither was it a number that made me feel ashamed".

While in the heat and fog of combat, I didn't think of those 25 as people. You can't kill people if you think of them as people. You can't really harm people if you think of them as people. They were chess pieces removed from the board, Bads taken away before they could kill Goods, Prince Harry wrote.

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Prince William was completely shocked seeing his brother Prince Harrys audacity to speak about his supposed feelings", royal expert and commentator Robert Jobson claimed in his new book Our King. The author also claimed that Queen Elizabeth II was mystified' by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to criticise the royal family after the couple stepped down from royal duties. Prince Harry: Britain's Prince William and Britain's Prince Harry are seen.(AP)

Read more: Prince Harry hostage of Meghan Markle, palace aides thought but then

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," royal expert Robert Jobson said.

Not only had Harry heavily implied to Oprah that a member of the family was racist, but hed had the gall to claim that his father and brother knew they were trapped in their royal roles," he added.

Both Charles and William had been extremely upset by Harrys arrogance, aghast at his lack of discretion and furious that hed had the audacity to speak about their supposed feelings," the royal commentator claimed.

Read more: Prince Harry's demands after Queen's death 'shocked' royal family, book claims

The book also claimed that Queen Elizabeth felt very let down by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step down from their royal duties.

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," the book claimed.

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The commander of the Ukrainian ground forces said on Monday that Russian troops had switched to "scorched earth" tactics in the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut and were destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery. Russia-Ukraine war: Ukrainian servicemen fire a self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops.(Reuters)

Read here: Two killed in Russian strike on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia: 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.

"The enemy switched to the so-called scorched earth tactics from Syria. It is destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery fire," said Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces.

Ukraine's defence of the city of Bakhmut continued, he said.

"The situation is difficult but controllable," he said in comments quoted by Ukraine's Media Military Centre.

He said Russian forces were bringing in special forces and airborne assault units to help their attack on the city as members of Russia's Wagner military group had become "exhausted".

Read here: Pope's message to the world on Easter: Help the beloved Ukrainian people

Reuters could not verify the battlefield account.
South Korea reported its first locally transmitted monkeypox case with which the total number of infections in the country rose to six. The patient was admitted to a hospital after which he was suspected of having contracted monkeypox, Yonhap News Agency reported. His samples were sent and the results came back positive, the report added. South Korea Monkeypox: Swab samples for monkeypox being tested. (Reuters)

Watch: Massive midday avalanche in French Alps that killed 4 skiers

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said as per the report that the person had no travel history. Unlike the previous five cases in the country, which were linked to overseas travel, the latest patient had not travelled abroad within the past three months, the KDCA said.

The patient had been experiencing symptoms since the end of March and had been in contact with others for several days, the authorities informed.

"A thorough epidemiological investigation is currently ongoing, and we will release necessary information as soon as it is ready," a KDCA official said.

Read more: Pak wanted to get 'cheap Russian crude oil like India': Imran Khans praise

South Korea recorded its first case of monkeypox in June 22 last year, while the fifth case was reported March 13 this year. The virus can cause fever, chills, rashes and lesions, among other symptoms althouth a KCDA official told Yonhap news agency that the risk of transmission of monkeypox was relatively low compared to Covid.

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Taiwan's foreign ministry condemned China on Monday for undermining "peace and stability" in the region after Beijing ended three days of war games around the self-ruled island. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.(Reuters)

China "wilfully uses military exercises to undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," the foreign ministry said, adding Taipei will maintain close links with the United States "to jointly deter authoritarian expansion".

Also Read | China stages live-fire drills for sealing off Taiwan: What we know so far

Taiwan's defence ministry said it detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around the island on Monday, after Beijing ended three-day military exercises.

"Although (China's) Eastern Theatre Command has announced the end of its exercise, the military will never relax its efforts to strengthen its combat readiness," the defence ministry said in a statement, adding that its tally of ships and aircraft was as of 6 pm (1000 GMT) on Monday.
A Toronto resident has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged hate-motivated incident at a mosque in the Greater Toronto Area or GTA. The accused was identified on Sunday as 28-year-old Sharan Karunakaran. Sharan Karunakaran. (Twitter)

According to a statement from York Regional Police or YRP, on April 6, around 6.55am, officers responded to a call related to a disturbance at a mosque in Markham, a town in the GTA.

Witnesses reported that a male suspect had attended in a vehicle and drove directly at one of the worshippers and yelled threats and religious slurs. The suspect drove dangerously in the parking lot before leaving the property, the statement said.

Members of the YRPs Hate Crime Unit attended the mosque to offer support to its members, it added.

He was identified and a warrant for his arrest was issued while efforts were made to locate him. Shortly after midnight, on April 7, members of YRP arrested the suspect in Toronto.

Karunakaran has been charged with uttering threats, assault with a weapon, and dangerous driving.

He has been held for a bail hearing and his next scheduled appearance is at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in the town of Newmarket on April 11. Investigators are concerned there may be other victims and police encourage them to come forward, the statement said.

In a statement on Sunday, Canadas housing and diversity and inclusion minister Ahmed Hussen said he was deeply saddened by the hate-motivated attack outside of the Islamic Society of Markham on April 6, during the holy month of Ramadan.

The rise of Islamophobia-motivated attacks is deeply concerning & we must stand up against it. We will not let hate win.

Mary Ng, another Canadian minister, also condemned the incident, tweeting, During Ramadan, mosques are places of community and peace - and everyone should feel safe in their place of worship. This violence and Islamophobia has no place in our communities or in Canada.

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The BBC objected to being labelled as government funded media on one of its Twitter accounts. The account which has 2.2 million followers, shares updates about BBC's television programmes, radio shows and podcasts and breaking news stories. Twitter BBC Controversy: The account which has 2.2 million followers.

Read more: Iranian women defying hijab law will face first warning, then court

The label links a page on Twitters help website which says state-affiliated media accounts are outlets where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution.

BBC said it is speaking to Twitter about the label to resolve this issue as soon as possible. Although other accounts of BBC, including BBC News (World) and BBC Breaking News, are not being labelled in the same way.

In a statement, the BBC said: We are speaking to Twitter to resolve this issue as soon as possible. The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee.

Read more: Donald Trump's secrets and tapes kept in infamous vault, ex-aide claims

Since 1927, the BBC has operated through a Royal Charter agreed with the UK government which says that the corporation must be independent over editorial and creative decisions, the times and manner in which its output and services are supplied, and in the management of its affairs.

BBC also put itself at odds with labelling of US National Public Radio (NPR). The social media company called the US public broadcaster as state-affiliated media, a label also used for Russias RT and Chinas Xinhua News. It was later changed to the government-funded media.

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The Minister of Tourism & Antiquities inaugurated on Saturday April 9, 2023 the international touring exhibition titled "Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs" at its 3rd stop in Paris, after its success in the preceding 2 USA stops, where its first stop was at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston, Texas, from November 20, 2021 to May 23, 2022, and the second one was at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, California, from August 20, 2022 to January 22, 2023.

The exhibition is scheduled to be held at the "Grand Halle De La Villette" in northeast Paris and will continue for five months, until September 17.

The exhibition is an opportunity to learn more about the life, reign and posterity of one of the greatest builders of Ancient Egypt.

The exhibition displays more than 180 unique and distinctive artefacts from the Egyptian Museum (Tahrir) collections, including sarcophagi, statues, gold and silverware, the restored funerary mask of Egyptian Pharaoh Amenemope, exceptional jewellery and furniture from the untouched tombs of the city of Tanis, etc.

Some of the artefacts are over 3,000 years old and are being exhibited for the first time outside Egypt.

The exhibition will not only showcase some of the most precious artifacts but will also allow people mesmerized by the ancient Egyptian civilization to discover the Abu Simbel Temple and Neferatri Temple through a unique virtual experiment made available by the exhibitors.

The inauguration was attended by Alaa Youssef, the Egyptian Ambassador to France, Amr Al-Qadi, the CEO of the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Promotion, Hussein Al-Sharif, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Air Cairo, one of the companies affiliated with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ahmed Ebeid, the Assistant Minister for Affairs of the Minister's Office Sector, Youmna Al-Bahar, the assistant Minister for Technical Affairs, and Amr Abdullah, the Supervisor of the General Department of International Relations and Agreements at the Ministry.

A large number of politicians, officials, public figures and representatives of the international media, especially the French ones, also attended.

Egyptian ambassador to France Alaa Youssef addressed French and international media at an international press conference in Paris, in which he expressed his pleasure at the organization of the exhibition in Paris, in which 181 distinguished Egyptian archaeological pieces will be displayed.

He also noted that the exhibition "Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs" will not only bring together distinct collections of historical Egyptian archaeological pieces, some of which are on display for the first time outside Egypt but will also allow lovers of the ancient pharaonic civilization to discover the Abu Simbel Temple and the Nefertari Cemetery through virtual reality.

He expressed his pleasure that the sarcophagus of Pharaoh Ramses II will be back on display in France after nearly half a century since it was first shown in Paris in 1976.

He said that featuring this sarcophagus is an exceptional matter and comes in recognition of the French scientists who repaired and treated the mummy of King Ramses II in 1976, and the crowning of the distinguished historical relations between the two countries in various fields.

He pointed out that 145,000 tickets were sold ahead of the official opening of the "Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs" exhibition in Paris before moving on to its next destination, Sydney, Australia, expecting the event to draw more visitors than King Tut exhibition that attracted 1.42 million visitors in 2019.

He explained that the exhibition will begin with displaying a film that presents impressive panoramic views, followed by a detailed exploration of the life of King Ramses, and the famous rediscovery in 1881 of a hidden cache in the Theban necropolis in which lay Ramses and several other royal mummies. The exhibition will also offer a virtual reality tour of the fabulous temple of Abu Simbel and the tomb of Nefertari.

The minister afterwards reviewed the ministry's general policies and the national strategy for the development of tourism in Egypt, reviewing the broad lines and the most prominent axes of this strategy represented in providing greater access to the Egyptian tourist destination and doubling the number of airline seats coming to Egypt in cooperation with civil aviation.

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Issa highlighted the various procedures and programs offered by the ministry for cooperation and encouragement of professional partnership with tour operators and local and international airlines, especially in light of the importance of their role in the tourism industry in Egypt and in a way that contributes to pushing more incoming tourist traffic to Egypt, including the aviation stimulus program, Joint marketing programs, and promotions.

He also spoke about the Grand Egyptian Museum that is set to be inaugurated in Egypt soon, saying that with its collection of nearly 180,000 pieces of ancient Egyptian treasures, GEM will be the largest museum for ancient artifacts worldwide.

He further invited the French to visit Egypt to get acquainted closely with its rich civilization, as well as to learn about its comprehensive development process and its promising future within the framework of the new Republic.
A public school teacher in the United States Florida was fired Saturday for assigning students to write their own obituaries before an active shooter drill in the campus. The psychology teacher Jeffery Keene was fired after the authorities termed his assignment inappropriate, but Keene stuck to his stand and said he did not regret giving the assignment to the 11th and 12th class students. US Police officers gather during the first large-scale active shooter drill undertaken by at a school.(REUTERS/ Representative image)

Terming it a psychology lesson, Kenne defended his decision to assign students to write their own obituaries as a way to help them understand what's truly important in life. He said he didnt mean to scare the students but wanted them to reflect on their values and priorities. "If they died 24 hours from now, what would they do differently than they did yesterday? And that's to get them to get rid of all the fluff and show them what's important in the world," the 63-year-old ex- teacher at the Dr. Phillips High School told The Guardian.

Also Read: 5 killed in Louisville downtown shooting, shooter dead, 6 hospitalised

Keene said he also put up a disclaimer at the bottom of the assignment, clarifying it was not meant to upset the students. It wasn't to say, 'You're going to die, and let's stress you out,'" he added.

Keenes employment as a probationary employee was terminated by the Orange County School District in Florida which issued a statement on the incident saying, Dr. Phillips High School families were informed that a teacher gave an inappropriate assignment about school violence. Administration immediately investigated and the probationary employee was terminated."

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Christians in Seychelles join others around the world to celebrate Easter on Sunday in their traditional ways, unlike these past three years when there were restrictions on gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In wishing believers a Happy Easter, the leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese, Bishop Alain Harel, and Archbishop James Wong of the Anglican Diocese, bring a message of hope for the resurrection of the social body of Seychelles and hope to face the uncertainties of the world.

Harel said on Good Friday, "Many of us were at the foot of the Cross, contemplating, with emotion, Jesus crucified, Jesus disfigured, Jesus drawn and quartered. We were also tempted to look away. This mutilated man, hanging on a cross, calls out to us, because it brings us back to a burning issue."

He said that the "crucifixion of Jesus reminds us of the suffering of so many Seychellois brothers and sisters alienated from their humanity by destructive forces. Yes, the crucifixion of Jesus continues through these 10,000 Seychellois enslaved to cocaine, crack and synthetic drugs."

The Roman Catholic Bishop spoke about the BBC programme that covered the scourge of drugs in Seychelles and how this dramatic documentary is playing out live in so many families, cantons, and even schools in Seychelles.

He said that many citizens move forward as if in a thick fog and find it difficult to distinguish between right and wrong, between what is permitted and what is forbidden, but even more so to give themselves a goal, an ideal in life.

Harel asked if like all the people went away after witnessing the killing of Jesus, "will we also be content to watch, as passive witnesses, what is happening in our society, even if it means beating our chests afterwards? In conscience, we cannot live in denial because it is the Seychellois society as a whole that is pierced, just like Jesus on the Cross."

He said that "this moral, health and demographic crisis should challenge us, disturb us and make us react and that God elicits our cooperation to free us from what shackles us, from what hurts us deeply - body and soul."

This can be done by "allowing ourselves to be accompanied and guided by the risen Jesus, let us look reality in the face with courage," said Harel.

He said every branch of the government and all institutions should have as their sole objective the common good of the Seychellois society.

"Thus, we are all called upon to pool our energies and our will to protect society from the scourges that affect us. [...] Families and all of us must better shoulder our responsibilities. To educate means to grow," he said.

"As we go through the desert following Jesus, let us go up to Golgotha. With and following Jesus, let us come out of our graves so that we may be freer, more united, and more fraternal. With and through the life-giving power of God, let us become what we are called to be, from before the foundation of the world, that is, sons and daughters of God through Jesus Christ. On this feast of Easter, let us pray to the Lord for the resurrection of the social body of Seychelles. This is our Hope," said Harel.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Wong said that the immeasurable power of God flowed into Jesus' dead body and raised Him from the dark tomb and there is no better news for us than this.

Wong spoke about the graffities on the walls and doors of two church buildings in Port Glaud and Anse Royale and ask believers to pray for God's forgiveness on those who wrote these words on these churches.

He said he believes in what Jurgen Moltmann, a professor of systematic theology, once wrote; "Totally without hope one cannot live. To live without hope is to cease to live."

"I believe there is a great deal of truth in those words. In the difficult and often confusing world in which we live today, hope, for many people, is something that seems to be in short supply. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that in a world of pain, grief and sorrow, of complex family relationships, of problems at work - alongside many other hardships of life causing sadness, loneliness and depression - hope, for many people, has died a death," said Wong.

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He added that hope is "one of the key Christian attributes and one of the most important gifts we can give to the world today. Nothing brings hope back to life like the resurrection of Jesus. The Easter message gives us hope in a bewildering world and hope to face the uncertainties of the future. This special day never arrives without its refreshing reminder that there is life beyond this one: True life, eternal life, glorious life."

"This hope can be with us in every moment of our life. Believe in the mighty power of God that defeats the enemy, changes circumstances, heals sick bodies and enables us to stand strong through the storms of life. And this power is available to us in unlimited supply. [...] My dear brethren, may the miracle of Easter bring you hope, peace, renewed faith, and comfort. God bless you, and may you have a beautiful Easter," said Wong.
- To reunite Boakai and Cummings

Former Maryland County Senator John Ballout has repeated his call for a united opposition to unseat the Weah-led government in the pending October presidential and legislative elections.

"I will join the united opposition taskforce and we will march to the UP [Unity Party], and ANC [Alternative National Congress] headquarters ... next Thursday to appeal to Ambassador Boakai and Cummings to unite and redeem this country," Ballout said Saturday, 8 April 2023.

Speaking at a press conference at a local hotel in Sinkor, suburb of Monrovia, Mr. Ballout pledged his financial and moral support to the united opposition taskforce.

Addressing members of the united opposition taskforce, the former Maryland County Senator said Liberia is in a dying position. As such, hee suggested that there is a need for the opposition to reunite to provide hope for the citizens of the country.

"We need to pick up those broken pieces, a process that begun since the civil war," said Mr. Morlu.

According to him, there has been countless efforts by well-meaning Liberians to see how the opposition bloc can reunite ahead of the October polls. Yet, Ballout said, the opposition bloc continues to put on a defying posture.

"We continue to see opposition arguing among themselves as to who is best suited, but they [are] forgetting to know that they are stabbing the country in the back with their actions," he lamented.

"There's a place and time to argue, debate, among others. There's also a time and place to unite, but so far we [have] been seeing the opposite," Mr. Ballout noted.

The former Senator stated that the citizens of Liberia are calling for unity within the opposition bloc with specific reference to Boakai and Cummings.

According to him, the vast majority of the citizens are calling on the opposition bloc to reunite and win the election in the first round.

He said this is the only ticket that can guarantee a first-round victory.

"The growth of Liberia isn't about mere slogans or popularity contest, instead, the rightful people that have the technical know-how to steer the affairs," said Ballout.

He noted that any forces that are opposing the call are dead wrong because there's only one formula, which he said is the Amb. Boakai and Mr. Cummings ticket.

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He described the Boakai-Cummings ticket as indispensable ticket that won the highest seats during the midterm election. He noted that it was the formula that disciplined the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) in Montserrado County.

"Today I want to announce that any ticket aside from the Boakai and Cummings ticket will be a complete disaster," Mr. Ballout warned.

He further warned the opposition against threading a very dangerous path, saying it has to stop.

"You can't call CDC government ineptitude while you refuse to come together as a united opposition in one accord to liberate this country that you claim to love," Ballout blasted at the opposition.

"We been on a six-year recess, we had a president who mandated all officials to declare their assets but today we have another president who [is] hesitant to declare his asset. We must all wake up," he noted.

Also speaking, Nuwoe C. Elliott, a representative of the Unity Party, called on Ambassador Boakai to see reason in collaborating with the ANC to move Liberia forward.

"I want to call on my political leader and party executives to ... form a united opposition ticket for the redemption of Liberia," said Nuwoe.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the United Opposition Task Force, Barti Nicholas Barti, said they will gather at the Unity Party headquarters on Broad Street in mass to appeal to Amb. Boakai to reunite with Cummings.

"We the citizens of this country who [are] desirous of the growth and development of Liberia have to come together and launch this passionate appeal to the opposition bloc," he said.
Nine family members including two children were on Friday afternoon killed in an accident involving a Toyota Alphard vehicle and a fuel truck.

According to ASP Faridah Nampiima, the traffic police spokesperson, the accident occurred at around 4pm at Kyoja Trading Centre along the Masaka-Mbarara highway on spot involving a Toyota Alphard registration number UBL 314C that was traveling from Kampala side heading to Mbarara and motor vehicle reg no SSD 327S/SSD 137Q that was from Mbarara/Kinoni town.

"Preliminary findings indicate that the alphard driver was at high speed and was keeping right, where he crashed head on with the fuel tanker killing nine people on spot who were passengers in the Alphard," Nampiima said.

She said the deceased included two children and seven adults all family members who were travelling in the Alphard whereas the driver of the fuel truck and the turn man sustained injuries and were rushed for treatment in Masaka referral hospital.

"More inquiries into the incident are underway and more details will be availed in due course but we want to take this opportunity to warn all motorists traveling to upcountry for Easter celebrations to drive carefully, avoid speeding, phone driving, drink driving and all other road indiscipline that result into accidents,"Nampiima said.
WASHINGTON  The Texas Public Policy Foundation has for years made a name for itself in Washington and Austin campaigning on conservative issues such as rolling back pollution laws and cutting government spending.

Now the Austin-based think tank is seeking to stop President Joe Bidens plans to develop an offshore wind industry in the United States through a lawsuit aimed at blocking what would be the first U.S. commercial-scale offshore wind farm, Vineyard Wind off the coast of Massachusetts.

Attorneys for the foundation, which has long advocated for oil and gas interests and is acting on behalf of a group of local fishing companies, are awaiting a decision from a federal judge in Massachusetts on their claim that plans to construct more than 60 wind turbines measuring more than 800 feet in height would disrupt both fishermen and the endangered North Atlantic right whales that congregate in the area.

The full effects of these offshore wind farms is not fully known, but what we know is concerning, Robert Henneke, the foundation's executive director, said in an interview. A federal court determination this is unlawful would set precedent that would apply to all the other projects that are in progress.

The developers of Vineyard Wind, Connecticut-based Avangrid and the Danish investment firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, declined to comment. They are set to begin construction shortly and could be generating power this summer. A spokesman for the American Clean Power Association, which represent offshore wind developers, said he was confident projects would withstand "legal scrutiny."

The current slate of U.S. offshore wind projects under construction and development are among the most carefully planned and analyzed infrastructure projects in U.S. history," he said.

More than a dozen offshore wind projects are under development along the East Coast as developers rush to take advantage of increased power rates offered for offshore wind farms in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey as they seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the Gulf of Mexico, the Department of Interior is expected to hold a lease sale for offshore wind development later this year.

But the industry is facing a series of lawsuits and opposition campaigns from a coalition of homeowners, fishermen and conservative groups that have long opposed efforts to shift the nation to clean energy. In addition to the Texas Public Policy Foundations lawsuit, the Delaware-based Caesar Rodney Institute, which describes itself as protecting individual liberty, has been campaigning against offshore wind projects in that state and in Virginia.

Opponents are seeking to replicate the multi-year campaign that sank earlier offshore wind projects in the United States. The Obama administration in 2010 approved construction of a $2.6 billion wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts named Cape Wind that was ultimately abandoned after years of legal fights.

It is a strategy that could prove more difficult this time around, with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management moving more cautiously than it did in the past, said Timothy Fox, an analyst with the Washington consulting firm Clearview Energy Partners.

(Cape Wind) certainly was a lesson for BOEM and the industry, he said. They knew they were going to be challenged, and so you say, do you want to do it quickly or do you want to do it right?

Muddying the waters is a recent surge in dead whales washing up on beaches along the East Coast, with some environmentalists and conservative activists pointing fingers at the new wind farms under construction.

A dozen mayors in New Jersey, along with a group of Republican congressmen, have called for a moratorium on construction, but so far scientists say there is no connection to the wind farms and that the deaths were more likely the result of increased cargo ship traffic.

No whale mortality has been attributed to offshore wind activities, a spokesperson for fisheries division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in January.

In its environmental assessment of the Vineyard Wind project in 2021, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said the developers agreed to take steps to limit any impact on whales, including not drilling into the sea floor during months when whale populations in New England are high.

The focus on marine life by conservative groups has drawn skepticism from environmental groups, who question whether their motivation is more about protecting fossil fuel companies' interests than whales.

The board of directors of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, for instance, includes a number of Texas oilmen, including Tim Dunn of CrownQuest Operating in Midland and Cody Campbell of Double Eagle Energy Holdings in Fort Worth.

Its just a cynical disinformation campaign, John Hocevar, director of Greenpeace USAs oceans campaign, commented. It doesnt seem to worry them that its not based in any kind of evidence.

Asked about the criticism, Henneke maintained the lawsuit was based on, the harm this project caused to our clients and lasting damage to oceans all around the United States.
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Rep. Dan Crenshaw has jumped on the #boycottbudlight bandwagon, but he made a critical mistake in the execution.

Some conservatives have been outspoken after Anheuser-Busch hired actress and transgender rights activist Dylan Mulvaney to promote Bud Light during the Final Four, with some voicing anti-trans bullet points and calling for a boycott.
Visiting Mi Tienda can be an overwhelming grocery store experience.

You'll catch a whiff of baked dough as you walk inside. Turn your head left from the stacks on stacks of sweet breads set dead center in the aisle, and colorful rows bomba and tres leches demand attention at the busy bakery.

A bit farther in, an employee mans a food cart, making gorditas and other street snacks. A massive grill nearby spits fire and smoke as rows of whole spatchcocked chickens cook behind a viewing glass.

Juan Alonso, regional vice president of H-E-B and Mi Tienda's south division, was keen to point out the authenticity of the store, from its products to the ingredients used in ready-made foods.

If you've never been, here are some things to know about Mi Tienda.

Now Playing: Mi Tienda is a vibrant grocery store with no shortage of delicious Mexican sweets, pastries, aguafrescas, snacks and other traditional fare. Video: Houston Chronicle

What is Mi Tienda?

The first Mi Tienda location opened along Pasadena's Spencer Highway in 2006. Alonso was part of the coterie of unnamed H-E-B thinkers and executives who came up the Mexican grocery brand as they watched Houston's growth start to mirror the changes in Texas' demographics.

In 2011, H-E-B expanded Mi Tienda to northeast Houston and doubled the size of the store from 48,000 square feet to 98,000. In an interview with former Houston Chronicle reporter David Kaplan, Alonso said the new store's layout was meant to mirror a small village.

The premise for both is the same: Mi Tienda offers regional Mexican fare and shopping experience along with standard H-E-B products.

Who shops there?

The demographics of the store are primarily Hispanic, but the products available reflect a diversity that goes beyond Mexico. Among the stacks of pan de elote and conchas at the entrance, you'll find other kinds of pan dulce from other parts of the southern continent, such as quesadilla Salvadorena.

According to Alonso, the pecking order of customers are Mexicans, Salvadorans and Hondurans. As for what attracts those three major groups, Alonso says it comes down to staffing and the environment. Every employee speaks Spanish, he said.

What does Mi Tienda have that H-E-B doesn't?

Part of a regional Mexican shopping experience means there are goods and services exclusive to Mi Tienda stores. A shop featuring agua frescas made in-house are available in the center of the store. You can also get free samples.

The panaderia carries more traditional tres leches cakes than the mainstream, commercial variety found in other supermarkets. In addition, the shelves are stocked with an immense variety of pan dulces and bolillos. It even sells mostachon, an upscale Mexican meringue cake.

Elsewhere, the meat markets feature varieties of seafood, chicken and beef that you can't find at your neighborhood H-E-B or Joe V's. At the carniceria, piles of Mexican cuts of beef are already marinated and ready for cooking, including aguayon, menudo and honeycomb tripe. Whole fish are also available on ice or salted and cured.

The cheese shop also carries regional cheeses from Mexico and Latin America. Queso panela is a bestseller alongside the typical queso fresco and cremas. The selection is vast.

But maybe more important than those is the tortilleria, where staff mill and process corn into scratch-made bags of masa, chips, pinwheels and corn tortillas. Behind the scenes, the industrial setup is daunting, but the recipe is simply corn, lime and water, Alonso said. The rest is just art.

"From a value perspective, we've got our masa out. Some people want to be a hero, and they want to start making tortillas and tamales from scratch. Other people are like, I have no time. We also carry pineapple and strawberry, and these are mainly for kids."

Mi Tienda has also devoted a small section of the store near the checkout to candy. Display shelves are stocked with regional sweets, including Lucas and other crystallized candies.

Are there similarities?

Mi Tienda carries much of the same products you'll find at your neighborhood H-E-B, including Hill Country Fare goods. The produce section favors some vegetables and fruits more than others, like Roma tomatoes and yuca, but the selection is comparable to other places.

You also can't miss the iconic Sushiya right next to the cocina.

Can I get Mi Tienda products outside of the store?

Some of the products at H-E-B and Joe V's can trace their origins to Mi Tienda, including tamales and baked goods. Those products carry Mi Tienda branding, so they're easy to recognize.

Alonso said there is a third location being planned, but whereabouts and other specifics have not yet been made public.
The spring season for the Gateway City began with some rainfall as many have noticed the Rio Grande's increase in its water supply.

According to data from the United States Geological Survey, the Rio Grande's water levels have risen by about four feet -- from a low reported at 2.3 feet gage height on March 29 to now a reported gage height of 6.53 feet as of April 8.

The water levels of the Rio Grande are rising and the water can already be seen close to the top of the soil levels on both the American and Mexican side of the border from The Outlet Shoppes at Laredo parking lot.

The river has risen, and it has risen partly because of the rain but more because of the releases that have been happening in the Amistad Reservoir over by Del Rio, which has caused the river to rise, said Martin Castro, the watershed science director for the Rio Grande International Study Center.

According to the Amistad Reservoir site, the reservoir was formed in 1969 by the construction of Amistad Dam. The dam and lake are managed jointly by the governments of the United States and Mexico through the International Boundary and Water Commission.

According to Castro, the amount the river has risen is not yet known, but the releases being done by the reservoir point to the U.S. and Mexico collectively releasing about 240 cubic meters per second of water as of Thursday, as the organization does not report during holidays.

Castro said this means that in Laredo the river is experiencing about 230 meters per second of flow through the downtown river.

However, Castro did state that the amount of releases do not qualify to quantify the crest of the Rio Grande. The science director said the crest of the river is not something that should alarm people who live or have businesses near the river downtown. He said the current flow of extra water being released is higher than normal, but it is not prone to cause major flooding. In fact, the release of the water levels is normal, as the river has entered its peak irrigation season which sees more agricultural growers using it to help grow produce.

Currently, this flow is not dangerous as high-level flooding is usually at much higher elevations and at much higher flow rates, Castro said. These river level increases were expected due to the releases from upstream. What would be worrisome is anything above 1,000 cubic meters per second.

Castro said something similar to what the Amistad Reservoir is doing to the Rio Grande in the Laredo sector can be seen in The Valley, as the Falcon International Reservoir -- which holds much of the reservoir water for the parts south of the lake -- is now releasing water as well. So there is more water for any irrigation systems needed along Mission, McAllen, Hidalgo and other border areas of The Valley.

To compensate for those releases coming out of that reservoir, as that level of the Falcon Reservoir does not go any lower, the releases that are happening at Amistad have to occur to augment the demand that is coming out of Falcon, Castro said.

Even though the Rio Grandes water levels are rising, he said this does not translate to the drought being over, as the water releases are just temporary and are done to substitute the water already being released downstream. He believes that sustainable rainfall like the one seen this week is needed in efforts to continue helping end the drought.

The drought is far from over, Castro said. We are in D3 (extreme drought), which is severe drought according to the Texas Drought Monitor. So no, the drought is far from over as we would have to see so much more sustained rainfall for longer periods of time to really get us out of this drought, so drought conditions are unfortunately going to continue this year. If we dont get any more significant rainfall later this year, we are going to be in trouble sometime next year when it comes to our reserves in our reservoirs.

He states that if rain totals do not continue to be sustainable then the reservoirs might not have even enough water to release, at least at todays volumes, to help the irrigation season of next year.

Castro also points out water conservation by people is key to reversing or at least mitigating the great effects of the drought seen in the area.

Water conservation is something that needs to be practiced year-round, and not just during the drought or dry days, Castro said. Many times, we tend to focus on water conservation when times are tough and there are water restrictions in place, but water conservation is something that we advocate strongly for, and it is something that has to be practiced all year.
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Sherry Guy feels certain her son, Kristofer, is watching over her as she works to honor his memory.

Kristofer Guy died at age 37 in 2015 while in military service in the U.S. Navy in Virginia. Sherry said he died of a heart attack due to an undiscovered heart condition.

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To honor his memory and help other moms just like her, Guy is a part of the newly chartered Greater Southeastern Texas Chapter of American Gold Star Mothers that offers membership to moms in Texas and Oklahoma.

Photo courtesy Margie Taylor

The group is getting its start in Montgomery County, but membership is open to any mother in Texas and Oklahoma who have had a child die during military service.

The Texas/Oklahoma Department is installing its first slate of officers at 11:30 a.m. April 29 at Honor Cafe, 103 N. Thompson Street, in downtown Conroe.

American Gold Star Mothers is a nonprofit organization of American mothers who lost their son or daughter while serving in the Armed Services.

Originally formed through a congressional charter in 1928 for mothers who lost a child during World War I, the name was created from the custom of hanging the banner of a service flag in a window  blue star for active military or gold if the service member lost their life while serving.

The charter was later expanded to those who lost a child during World War II, the Korean War and other conflicts.

Now it is open to all mothers regardless of cause of death and allows membership for mothers who have children missing in action. The national headquarters is in Washington, D.C.

A previous Houston-area chapter of the group disbanded several years ago and six Montgomery County area moms have come together to form the new chapter.

Husbands, children and parents of eligible American Gold Star Mothers are encouraged to join as associate members. The group is made of local chapters, which are part of the state level or departments.

The Greater Southeastern Texas Chapter has six officers including Sherry Guy of Splendora as president; Nancy Harrison, vice president from The Woodlands; Florence Holmes of Arp near Tyler will serve as second vice president; Margie Taylor of Conroe is secretary; Ana Hernandez of Splendora is treasurer; and Teresa Smitherman-Jarvis of Conroe is chaplain.

Each woman has a unique story about their military son.

Harrisons son, Michael Mahony was 22 and serving in the U.S. Air Force in England when he was in a motorcycle accident and died on Christmas Day 2018.

Holmes son, Chris Wiesepape, was in the U.S. Navy Reserves and was a Montgomery County Sheriffs Office deputy when he died at age 44 in 2011.

Taylors son, Joey Lenz, was 32 when he died in his sleep Feb. 1, 2022 at Fort Hood. He was serving in the U.S. Army. Today Taylor continues to advocate for legislation that will ensure more thorough physicals for soldiers as she believes his death was due to a undiscovered heart condition and being over prescribed medication.

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Hernandez son, Armando, was 20, when he died in June 2021 in an on-duty accident while serving in Okinawa. He was in the U.S. Marines.

Jarvis son, Brandon, was 21, and in the U.S. Army when he was killed in an attack in Mosul, Iraq on Oct. 31, 2001.

While they lost their sons in different circumstances and at different times, they now have a bond that forever ties them together and Taylor said that time is no marker on where theyre at with their grief.

Were all at different stages of grief, Guy said. We recognize when one of us is having a set back and were there for each other. If one of us stumbles the other five are right there.

After the installation at the end of the month, its their plan to support veterans and those in active military service.

Guy said she often meets people who dont know about the Gold Star Mothers organization, even people with military backgrounds.

I try to educate people every opportunity that I get, she said. Its important that people know were here.

Meetings will be every second Wednesday of the month at Honor Cafe in Conroe.

Visit GoldStarMoms.com for more.

Email guysherry@yahoo.com for additional information about the organization or meetings.
Houston is the second fastest-growing major metro area in the U.S., seeing its largest population increase in the past six years, according to a recent census analysis.

Between July 2021 and July 2022, the nine-county Houston metro area, which includes The Woodlands and Sugar Land, added 125,000 residents to its population. The region's population now stands at 7.34 million, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data conducted by the Greater Houston Partnership. Dallas-Fort Worth was the fastest-growing major metro area during the same period.

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The new figure, exceeding the 20-year average of 119,000 residents per year, signaled a recovery from the pandemic-induced growth slowdown, the Greater Houston Partnership report said. During 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic hindered population increases in the Houston area, leading to the lowest growth rates in the past two decades, with only about 75,000 people added each year.

"There was a sizeable uptick in population growth last year compared to the prior year's historically low increase," Kristie Wilder, a demographer with the Census Bureau's population division, previously told the Chronicle. "A rebound in net international migration, coupled with the largest year-over-year increase in total births since 2007, is behind this increase."

Two-thirds of Houston's population gains in 2022 resulted from new residents moving to the area, while the rest came from births surpassing deaths. The steady influx of foreign-born residents remains crucial for the region's growth, analysts at the Greater Houston Partnership found, with international migration contributing to more than one-third of the region's overall population rise.

A high net increase in migration typically signals a region's economic prosperity, the report said. In this regard, Houston stands out as an exception, as 12 of the nation's 20 largest metros saw more people moving out than in during 2022, exacerbating their population declines.

Houston performed exceptionally well last year, the Greater Houston Partnership report said. Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and St. Louis lost a combined 600,000 residents to outmigration last year. If not for births exceeding deaths in these metros, their overall population losses would have been even greater.

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Mayor Sylvester Turner emphasized the city's commitment to enhancing infrastructure and resilience, especially in response to severe weather challenges, in order to accommodate the growing population. He said the report underscores Houston's position as an ideal location to live, work and play, highlighting its many strengths and achievements.

"We are the most diverse city in the nation, the home of the Port of Houston, where we rank first in the U.S in foreign waterborne tonnage, the largest medical center in the world, have two world-class international airports, are the energy capital of the world and last year led every major city in violent crime reduction," Turner said. "And Houston is still more affordable than many, if not all, major cities on the East or West Coast. What's not to love?"

According to the report, the strong population upswing could help explain Houstons surge in jobs, housing demand, and traffic. In the 12 months ending July 1, 2022, the city saw an additional 176,000 jobs, 108,000 single-family homes, 21,000 apartment units and 280,000 vehicles, according to census data.

Houston now solidifies its position as the fifth most populated metro in the nation, trailing behind New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Analysts said that Houston is unlikely to surpass Dallas-Fort Worth in the near future  as the latter experienced the largest population increase last year  and might face pressure from Washington, D.C., which currently ranks sixth.

At current growth rates, the rankings of the 10 most populous metros are unlikely to shift anytime soon, the report said.

TEXAS POPULATION: Texas is now the only state other than California with a population of 30 million

Meanwhile, Texas, with six of the nations top 10 fastest-growing counties, saw the highest population increase of any state, with about 471,000 new residents in 2020. It has now joined California as the only two states in the nation with a population of more than 30 million.
Houston Chronicle

A woman has been accused in the death of a family member, telling investigators she accidentally shot him at a funeral in north Houston, officials said.

Queen Smith Jackson, 67, has been charged with manslaughter in connection to the shooting death of Erick Hubert, 22, Harris County court records show.
Several Houston-area higher education institutions are cautiously embracing ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence, despite concerns that the technology will facilitate plagiarism and thwart student learning.

No local colleges or universities to date have issued outright bans of the chatbot, which can generate mounds of text in answer to a users question. Most are leaving it up to faculty members to decide how they handle ChatGPT in their classrooms: Some instructors might forbid students from using the technology to help with essays and other assignments, but many have informed their institutions of plans to integrate it into coursework.

This is a tool. We cant just shut it down inside the classroom, said Niki Whiteside, assistant vice chancellor for instructional innovation and support at San Jacinto College. When (students) leave, or when they walk out of our buildings, theyre going to be faced with it, theyre going to have opportunities to use it. Really, it helps everyone if we can teach them how to use it appropriately and effectively.

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While AI has existed in various forms for decades, the advent of ChatGPT seemed to arrive quickly and without a manual for higher education institutions. Online think-pieces proliferated  one December article in The Atlantic boldly declared The College Essay is Dead  and administrators and professors convened to start tackling the issue.

At Rice University, professors feelings first skewed toward worry about supposed threats to essay writing, which have since ceded to overwhelming optimism about the learning opportunities that ChatGPT might provide, said First-Year Intensive Writing Seminar Director David Messmer.

For those that remain concerned about plagiarism, AI could force professors to rework their lesson plans for the better, he said.

New technologies dont make honest students into cheaters, Messmer said. What we need to be doing is what we should have always been doing. If we believe writing is important, we need to have assignments that illustrate to them why writing is important.

ChatGPT has its limitations, which developer OpenAI has acknowledged. The tool sometimes writes plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers, can require several tweaks to prompts before receiving the desired outcome and is often excessively verbose and overuses certain phrases, according to the company.

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At the University of Houston, mathematics professor Jeff Morgan said the tool only scored 50 percent on a recent midterm, in some cases missing easy questions and nailing harder ones. An upcoming assignment garnered similar results, and he said he plans to turn it on its head.



Morgan, who is also the universitys associate provost for education innovation and technology, said he is changing the assignment to provide both the questions and ChatGPTs answers to his students. He will then make the students analyze ChatGPTs responses and prove why they are or are not correct.

Theres reason for concern, but I think there are many more opportunities, Morgan said.

Here to stay

Universities and colleges are having ongoing conversations about the classroom response to AI, which officials said they expect will evolve. At UH, the ChatGPT User Group is a working group open to any faculty member at the university. Rice has held several panels on the issue.

Academic integrity policies will change at some, but not all, institutions. San Jacinto College and Houston Community College administrators said the schools will broaden their academic integrity policies to account for AI. The University of Houston and Lone Star College are also considering whether changes to their anti-plagiarism policies are necessary.

One of the biggest unanswered questions is how to monitor for plagiarism, since companies are still scrambling to develop tools that detect the use of ChatGPT. At UH, Morgan said faculty members can likely pick up on plagiarism based on the quality of work but still have to be careful of falsely accusing a student. And Messmer, at Rice, said ChatGPT can easily blur the lines on what is ones own work and what is a computers.

Lone Star College Chancellor Stephen Head said his institutions are prepared to use plagiarism checkers as theyre put in use for ChatGPT. The community college enrolls a large number of students online, meaning cheating while test-taking might be more of an issue than it would be on a campus.

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Students are going to have to know that if youre going online, then were going to be monitoring it, Head said. If youre going to be concerned about it, then maybe its not for you.

Head and Messmer agreed that any student who uses copy-and-paste responses from ChatGPT would be at a disadvantage in the long run. Communicating expectations  and the limitations and benefits of AI  is going to be essential, they said.

Writing is, in itself, a form of instruction, Messmer said. If youre not going through the process, youre going to miss out on a good learning opportunity.



Morgan said he hopes faculty members dont waste too much time worrying about plagiarism, especially since ChatGPT is going to be harnessed for positive purposes.

People were nervous about how instruction would change after the invention of the word processing machine or the personal calculator  but professors are still vital and students are still learning, he said.

Anything that anyone wants to learn, they can learn from books. And yet, theres this human connection that has been so essential in education, Morgan said. Were made for connection, and I think people will always be seeking out this connection.
Last spring, Dr. Judy Levison started to give her routine answer when a patient, who was 15 weeks pregnant, asked why she should receive a blood test that picks up certain fetal defects.

Some women simply want to prepare themselves, the longtime Houston obstetrician-gynecologist explained. For others, she said, certain abnormalities may cause them to consider abortion.

I suddenly get to the word abortion, and it was like Oh, huh, I cant really offer that in the state of Texas anymore, said Levison, noting that Texas already had implemented an abortion ban at six weeks. And my patients generally didnt have the means to go traveling to other states I just realized I was in this quandary, and I couldnt offer what I thought was right.

THE LAWSUIT: 5 women sue Texas, saying its abortion ban put themselves or their fetuses at risk

That moment was part of what caused Levison to partially retire last year and join fellow Houston OB-GYN Dr. Damla Karsan in publicly pushing back against the state's abortion restrictions, at a time when most doctors fear speaking out could jeopardize their livelihoods. The two doctors signed onto a lawsuit brought by five women who say they were denied abortions despite having dangerous or nonviable pregnancies. The plaintiffs are not asking to overturn the law, but rather to clarify when abortions legally can be provided.

The Center for Reproductive Rights, which backed the suit, said it is the first time pregnant women have taken legal action against bans enacted by Texas and at least 12 other states since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June.

After working in Houston for more than two decades, Levison and Karsan see the case as a chance to fight for colleagues and patients caught between legal penalties and ethical treatment.

A trailblazer in perinatal HIV treatment

A New Jersey native, Levison, 73, said the intense debate over womens rights in the 1970s helped spark her interest in womens health care.

She trained at Tufts University in Boston and for about 20 years practiced in Washington and California before joining the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine in 2000. She practiced as a general OB-GYN at the Harris Health System and largely treated patients in the systems Womens Program, which provides obstetric and gynecologic care for people living with HIV in the Houston area.

She did not know much about HIV when she chose the work, she said, but fell in love with the patients. She could learn about their diverse backgrounds  HIV means different things to different cultures  and it gave her a chance to speak Spanish most of the day.

Levison was promoted to the head of the Womens Program in 2002, and over time became a national leader in perinatal HIV treatment. She serves on a state panel that examines babies born with congenital syphilis and HIV, as well as a national body that provides guidance for clinicians treating patients who live with the virus.

Part of Levisons focus has been reducing the stigma around HIV. One of her successes at Harris Health was the organization of group prenatal care and education sessions, which gave pregnant patients with HIV a space to talk about contraception, postpartum depression, intimate partner violence and other common issues.

At the time, those group programs had not been widely adopted, said Dr. Anitra Beasley, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor who trained under Levison.

She was a trailblazer, Beasley said. When she started taking care of HIV pregnant patients, there were a few people here and there who were doing it, but not really. She was one of the early people who really said, This population needs dedicated providers.

EARLY WARNINGS: Overturning Roe v. Wade poses risk to women with complicated pregnancies, Houston OB-GYN warns

As an educator, Levison gained the trust of her students, including Dr. Elizabeth Kravitz, a former Baylor College of Medicine student and resident at the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Kravitz said she went to Levison around the time state lawmakers were considering the six-week abortion ban. She thought about leaving the state to continue her education as an OB-GYN, and Levison invited her over to her house to talk it through.

She emulates exactly the kind of doctor I want to be, Kravitz said. She manages to juggle being a very personable clinician to her patients, and a teacher, and has her hand in advocacy and public health.

Throughout Levisons career, she has managed patients, directly or indirectly, who experienced dangerous pregnancy complications, including premature rupture of membranes, in which a patients water breaks before labor begins, and conditions arising from high blood pressure or other pre-existing illnesses.

After Texas in September 2021 banned abortions after the presence of a fetal heartbeat, which usually starts around six weeks of pregnancy, Levison started hearing stories from colleagues at Texas Medical Center hospitals about how the laws were affecting treatment. In some cases, patients whose fetuses were not likely to survive had been forced to wait until the pregnancy ended on its own, rather than receive immediate care, she said.

Later, as the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade loomed, Levison penned a letter to Baylor leaders on behalf of herself and several colleagues, asking for more guidance on how to handle complex cases. Soon, she became part of a group of physicians that began sharing information and advising each other on treating pregnant patients in difficult situations.

She already had considered stepping away from clinical work for a variety of reasons, but the fear that had spread throughout the profession had become just one more reason, she said.

I said, I can't do it this way anymore.

Standing up for those who cant

It was a colleague who first asked Dr. Damla Karsan if she would be willing to be a plaintiff in this case. The person was not able to participate because she had ties to a public institution.

As a physician in private practice, Karsan, 52, knows she has more freedom to speak out than others.

My patients come first, Karsan said. Im not employed by a hospital or larger entity thats going to tell me I cant do this as an employee because its going to reflect on them. So, I think, one, its my character; two, its my situation.

Karsan, a Houston native, received her bachelors degree from Rice University, then completed medical school at Washington University and her residency at Duke University. She has been in private practice in Houston for almost 22 years, and opened her own practice, Comprehensive Womens Healthcare in southwest Houston, about five years ago.

She had known she wanted to be a doctor since she was 4 years old, inquiring as a kindergartner about their instruments and how they work. It was not until middle school when she hit puberty that she discovered an interest in womens health. In medical school, she started a program for reproductive health education in a school with one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the city of St. Louis.

From the very beginning, womens health and reproductive health has been a very central focus for me, Karsan said.

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Decades later, Karsan is a veteran health care provider in the community. Just the other day, she confirmed a pregnancy in a patient whom she delivered as a newborn, which her staff joked now makes her a granddoctor.

As the name of her practice says, Karsan takes a comprehensive approach in treating patients, and that always has included abortion care. The vagueness of the states emergency exception impacts me on a regular basis, she said.

These cases are so nuanced, Karsan said. I think the legislature is very ill-equipped to spell out these things because they dont have the experience, the medical knowledge, and theres no way you could spell out every single situation.

In one recent case, Karsan had a patient in her second trimester come into the emergency room with bleeding and blood clots with a high risk of hemorrhage. An ultrasound revealed the fetus had anencephaly, a birth defect in which parts of the brain and skull are missing  the same situation as two of the women joining Karsan in suing the state. Karsan's hands were tied, she said, because the patient had not started hemorrhaging.

She might choose, had the fetus been potentially viable long-term, to take the risk and watch and wait, but, you know, she's taking a risk for no potential benefit here, Karsan said.

In a similar case, another of Karsans patients, also in her second trimester, had a fetus with body-stalk anomaly, a rare and severe defect that is considered to be fatal. That patient did not have the means to fly somewhere to get an abortion, so the family ended up driving 14 hours to another state.

I mean, its just a tragic situation from the get-go, and now were abusing this family by making them jump through these hoops to get the care they need, she said. Those that dont have the wherewithal or the means to travel are going to end up carrying these pregnancies with the risk of diabetes and preeclampsia and hemorrhage, hysterectomy and possibly even death.

Its making women second-class citizens, she added. It boggles my mind that were at this point in 2023.

taylor.goldenstein@houstonchronicle.com

julian.gill@houstonchronicle.com
- As Bong County commits unflinching support to his presidential bid

Presidential hopeful Cllr. Taiwan Saye Gongloe has released a bombshell manifesto in his ten-count prescription to Liberia's age-old problems.

Over the weekend, the renowned Liberian Human Rights Lawyer said his political party's 'bombshell manifesto' intends to liberate Liberia from the trap of poverty, impunity, bad governance, abuse of power and unequal distribution of the country's resources.

The opposition leader told the people of Wolota clan, Kpaai District in Bong County, that he will liberate Liberia from the trap of poverty, greed and selfishness.

Bong citizens dance as they welcome Cllr. Gongloe

"I have [a] ten-point political manifesto or agenda for making Liberia better than it is. This will liberate Liberia from the trap of poverty, greed and selfishness," said Cllr. Gongloe Saturday, 8 April 2023.

Gongloe is among several opposition leaders seeking to replace incumbent President George Manneh Weah through the pools this October.

"However, because of time, I will talk about the basic four that will change Liberia [for] better, and they are so dear to my heart," he added.

He named education, heath, agriculture, [anti]-corruption, and road connectivity.

Wolota Clan, Kpaai District in Bong County was a center of attraction and a scene of excitement following the arrival of Cllr. Gongloe and his entourage in the town.

The youth, women, elders, and traditional dancers received Cllr. Gongloe and his team. They marched through the town for an indoor program.

The program was to present Cllr. Gongaloe to the people of Wolota Clan, Kpaai District, for an onward presentation to the entire Bong County.

The people needed to know his mission, vision and agenda for Liberia before he could be presented to Bong County as the next president, and what makes him the best presidential hopeful for the October 2023 elections.

Cllr. Gongloe was given a Kola nut, stick, and rice, among others, and he was rubbed with a chalk.

The traditional women, headed by Madam Mini Koko did the presentation. They said the presentation of the Kola nut represented their open-hearted welcome, and love for Cllr. Gongloe and his team.

He told the people that in Liberia, pregnant women, children and many others died from curable diseases because sometimes, there are no drugs at health facilities or there is no money to go to hospital.

Cllr. Gongloe further indicated that under his administration, pregnant women, children, old folks, and all Liberians will go to government health facilities free of charge. He said they will have better health services at government facilities than in private facilities.

"When I become President, government hospitals will be better than private hospitals and clinics," Gongloe vowed.

"I will do that by going to the health facility myself for treatment, and exercising monitoring and evaluation."

He promised that if there is no drugs, equipment and other things at the hospital, during his surprise visit and the government had appropriated that in the budget, he will call out the head of the entity and fire them.

Additionally, he said he will immediately turn the dismissed official over to the relevant authority for investigation.

As part of his political agenda for Liberia, Gongloe said he will ensure that every Liberian child will go to school free of charge from kindergarten to twelve grade.

"The government will provide all the textbooks, school fees, and everything. That is the free education we will provide."

Cllr. Gongloe noted that under his administration, he will make Liberia a corruption free country by ensuring that every government official accounts for their actions and bear the responsibility thereof.

"Under my administration, we will have a more robust corruption fight. People will be sent to jail and punished for their actions. Nobody will go free when they are caught in corruption," he promised.

"We will also ensure that there is road connectivity all across the country to boost the country's economy, transportation, and trade" he noted.

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Cllr. Gongloe explained that he will make sure that Liberia produces what they eat by ensuring that the government and the country to reduce the importation of rice from other countries.

He named Lofa, Grand Kru, Sinoe, River Gee, Maryland and Gbarpolu as economic counties. But Cllr. Gongloe noted that the road network is very bad in those counties and this is causing huge poverty, poor trading and death of sick citizens, especially pregnant women.

"We will solve that problem in our road connectivity road map. We will make sure that there is Public Work yard in all the counties to have the road maintained," Cllr. Gongloe stated.

" This program is the presentation of our son and nephew, Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe to the people of Wolota Clan, Kpaai District, Bong County," Jonathan Konkon, Town chief, and John Gboe, Chief Elder of Wolota clan told the locals.

"You are not a stranger here because you grew up here. This is your mother's home. We will stand by you and with you," they added.
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SpaceX is preparing to launch the worlds most powerful rocket next week from South Texas.

Elon Musk, the companys billionaire founder, said the rocket is ready to launch and just needs regulatory approval. The SpaceX website says the company is preparing to launch on Monday, April 17.

MORE MUSK NEWS: As Elon Musk reshapes rural Texas, is Bastrops Snailbrook the start of his next company town?

Musk is known to have overly optimistic timelines, but the rocket is stacked at the launch pad and appears ready to go. It is waiting on approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees all commercial rocket launches.

SpaceX has been developing the Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket in Boca Chica, an unincorporated area outside of Brownsville. Starship has taken several high-altitude test flights, but it has never launched atop the Super Heavy rocket.

During the test flight, the Super Heavy rocket and its 33 engines will push Starship away from Texas. Super Heavy will separate from Starship and land in the Gulf of Mexico, roughly 20 miles from shore. Starship will continue traveling around the Earth and is expected to land off the coast of Hawaii. It won't quite make a full lap of the planet.

This rocket is key to Musks vision of making humans multiplanetary. SpaceX is developing the rocket to carry humanity to Mars. Its also going to help NASA astronauts land on the moon.

The astronauts will launch to the moon in a NASA rocket and spacecraft. Starship will launch separately on the Super Heavy rocket. Both will travel to the moon, where astronauts will transfer into Starship to reach the lunar surface in the Artemis III mission scheduled for 2025.

This article has been updated with new information on the flight path.
Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

With its warm climate and endless things to do, travelers looking for a spring getaway have figured out what locals already know: Houston is the place to be.

The city ranked as the year's top spring travel destination by social media company Ayrshare, which based its results on TikTok views. It analyzed the number of hashtag views for each city on TikTok, as well as the average weather conditions from March to May. Houston had 4.8 billion views  more than twice the amount of the next closest contender, No. 2 Austin.
Brett Coomer/staff photographer

Monarch butterflies soon are expected to make their annual trek to the United States from Mexico. But this year, fewer are expected to pass through Texas  not because they will take a different route, but because there are significantly fewer of them, experts said.

Each winter, eastern migratory monarch butterflies from the U.S. and Canada make the daunting journey to the forests of Mexico, where they hibernate before making their return flight in the spring. This year, the World Wildlife Federation said reports showed a 22 percent decline in the monarch butterfly population, based on the number of acres the insects occupied in Mexico.
Before last week, the most famous Tennessee lawmaker ever to be expelled from office ended up in Texas. Unlike what happened in Tennessee last week, it was voters, not fellow lawmakers, who decided they didnt want David Crockett representing them in Congress anymore. His response is legendary: You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas.

Crockett had plans. In a letter to his daughter Margaret, he described Texas as a paradise. I am in hopes of making a fortune yet for myself and family, bad as my prospects have been, he wrote. Of course, fate had other plans for the king of the wild frontier.

State Reps. Justin Jones from Nashville and Justin Pearson from Memphis, the two Democratic lawmakers expelled from the Tennessee House by their Republican counterparts, could, like Crockett, decamp to Texas if they so desired  Tennessee-Texas ties have traditionally run deep  but theyd be moving to a state just as robustly red as the one theyd be leaving. Regardless, the two lawmakers have vowed to stay and fight. Nashvilles Metro Council voted Monday late afternoon in a 36-0 vote to return Jones to his seat. Pearsons vacant seat will be considered during a special meeting of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners in Memphis on Wednesday.

Jones, Pearson and a third Democrat, Gloria Johnson, faced expulsion, ostensibly for violating rules of decorum. They participated in a boisterous March 30 demonstration led by thousands of school children, teachers and parents demanding action from lawmakers in the wake of the deadly school shooting in Nashville two weeks ago. Johnson avoided expulsion by one vote.

Since House Speaker Cameron Sexton had the option of reprimanding, censuring or removing the three lawmakers from their respective legislative committees, something else must explain his intemperate response. We think we know what it is: GOP lawmakers in Tennessee have something against the name Justin (from the Latin derivative for just, virtuous.) Of the three lawmakers targeted, after all, it was the two Justins who were shown the door, while Gloria gets to stay.

Surely, its the name  too yuppy? too faddish?  although Johnson suggested that maybe, just maybe, its something else.

"I think it's pretty clear, the former Knoxville school teacher said shortly after the votes on expulsion. I'm 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.

One possible factor in her being spared is that Johnson did not use a megaphone in the assembly as Jones and Pearson did. That the two participated in anything like an "insurrection" as some Republicans have claimed, however, is ridiculous. They broke rules, not windows.

It's hard not to see the expulsion of Jones and Pearson through the lens of the state's difficult history. Johnson reminded reporters that just a few days earlier, during a discussion about bringing back firing squads as a crime-fighting tactic, a Republican legislator suggested bringing back lynching trees, as well. As now-former Rep. Pearson put it, shortly before the vote against him, They didnt like hearing from an uppity Negro. (Pearson and Jones are both in their 20s.)

Tennessee lawmakers can be just as obtuse as they want to be  or as long as voters allow them to be  but what must concern the rest of us is their potential for contagion. In Wisconsin, Montana, Idaho, North Carolina and other states where super-majorities enjoy super control in their legislatures, Lord Actons venerable dictum about the corruptive nature of absolute power holds. Thats why in Tennessee these days lawmakers are confident they can get away with smothering dissent and ignoring thousands of constituents concerned about gun violence. Thats why other state legislatures, taking advantage of extreme gerrymandering, have pushed for the most extreme anti-abortion measures, despite the will of the majority in most states.

Expulsion as a tool for wielding power could happen in Texas, where one party has enjoyed almost absolute control for nearly three decades. Fortunately, neither House Speaker Dade Phelan nor Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, both Republicans, command the super-majorities required to expel a member. (Phelan has always seemed like a reasonable fellow, but arm the lieutenant governor with a super-majority, and he might be tempted.) In 2013, when state Sen. Wendy Davis ran out the clock on anti-abortion legislation, some legislators may have encouraged the hollering from the gallery that disrupted proceedings but no one took over the lectern or was censured.

David Crockett, one of Patricks heroes, consigned his critics to hell. Raise it, we would suggest. Those teachers, students and parents marching on the Tennessee Capitol have the right idea. So do the Uvalde parents and students who have made their anguished voices heard in Austin. Theyre reminding the power-hungry that their appetite has limits. To paraphrase Ol Davy, theyre making sure theyre right, and then theyre going ahead.

This article was updated Monday afternoon to reflect the Nashville Metro Council's vote to reinstate Justin Jones.
Regarding What to know about ex-Prairie View President Ruth Simmons and her take on A&M's handling of the HBCU," (April 4): In this article it is stated that Simmons was inspired by the young people walking across the campus at Prairie View because this is what I was like at their age. She said that with the help she received in her life, she thought: How could I do less than to help these young people?"

Ruth Simmons went to Wheatley High School, which is the primary school that led Houston ISD to be under the supervision of the Texas Education Agency. Ruth Simmons must feel the urge to help the kids at Wheatley. Can the TEA please find a way for her to be a consultant at Wheatley? Show these kids how successful she has been as a Wheatley graduate and inspire them.

David C. Redford, Houston

Oblivious candidates

Regarding "Tony Buzbee, millionaire businessman and trial lawyer, is considering another run for Houston mayor," (April 5): In the next few months Houstonians are sure to become increasingly sensitive to the rising cost of living. Mortgage payments for homeowners, rent for apartment dwellers, food, power, water, medical care  all are on the rise, and none of the mayoral candidates seem to be speaking to voters feeling the cost pinch. Isnt that interesting?

Barry Klein, Houston

NPR

Regarding "NPR protests as Twitter calls it 'state-affiliated media,'" (April 5): I am one of many of NPR's "sustaining members" who contribute monthly to public radio and am outraged at Twitter's new description stating that NPR is government-funded and lacking editorial independence.

David Kelly, Spring
The Texas Senate has passed a bill inspired by Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law, but the Texas version goes further by banning discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in K-12, not just through third grade.

The policy was included in Senate Bill 8, which received more attention for another provision that would establish education savings accounts for parents to pull their kids out of public schools and receive state funds to instead enroll them in private schools. The bill was passed by Senate Republicans on Thursday, and it is a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

MORE ON SCHOOL CHOICE: Texas House votes to block school vouchers, clashing with governor, Texas Senate

The Florida law, known by its critics as "Don't Say Gay," drew national headlines when it was passed last year, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing to extend it to apply to students from fourth grade through high school.

Both the Texas and Florida measures are focused on classroom lessons about sexual orientation or gender identity, but civil liberties groups and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community say the goal of the policy is to create a chilling effect that halts any discussion of those issues at school.

"A school district, open-enrollment charter school, or district or charter school employee may not provide or allow a third party to provide instruction, guidance, activities or programming regarding sexual orientation or gender identity to students enrolled in prekindergarten through 12th grade," the Texas bill reads.

Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Conroe Republican and the author of the Texas bill, described his intent as "leaving those topics, those very sensitive, important topics  to be discussed between those students and their family. Not having it taught in schools, our public schools."

In an emailed statement, Sen. Jose Menendez, a San Antonio Democrat, described the measure as "even more extreme than Floridas Dont Say Gay bill which went into effect in 2022." He said he offered amendments to the bill but that they were voted down.

"Make no mistake, I believe teachers and parents are an integral priority to this state and to the education of our children. However, these bills extended far beyond the claim of a parents or teachers Bill of Rights and enact policies that will set back San Antonio and Texas schools as a whole. Provisions preventing instruction, guidance or activities on anything regarding LGBTQIA+ in K-12 cuts off safe spaces for our children to express themselves, especially considering other bills impacting them in this area this session," Menendez wrote.

Suicide is the second-most common cause of death among people ages 10 to 24 in the United States, and people who are LGBTQ are four times more likely to attempt suicide, according to the nonpartisan Trevor Project. "Some risk factors are linked to being gay or bisexual in a hostile environment and the effects that this has on mental health," notes the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nation's main public health agency.
Houston lawyer Paul Yetter stood at the podium in a Corpus Christi courtroom, quietly watching a federal judge tear apart his case, bit by bit.

U.S. District Judge Janis Jack didnt like his first witness. She didnt like his data. And she really didnt like that Yetter had entered exhibits into evidence that he might not use later, something she had explicitly ordered against.

I cannot believe you didn't follow my instructions, Jack said. I think we'll just dismiss this case altogether.

No, your Honor, Yetter answered. We tried 

The judge cut him off. Again.

TEXAS LEGISLATURE: State lawmakers want to spend $128 million to speed rollout of privatized foster care

It was the first day of trial in one of the highest-profile foster care lawsuits ever filed in the United States. Yetter had to prove that Texas foster kids were regularly being abused and neglected in a profoundly flawed system, and he had the evidence to do it.

Yet everything was going wrong.

With no time to panic, Yetter switched up the witnesses.

By day two, Jack had redirected her anger from Yetters tactics to the states treatment of foster kids. And it has remained there since.

A case and a cost

As it turned out, winning the case in 2015 was just another beginning. What followed has been a journey of victories and defeats, battles and detentes. Progress has been slow, and monitoring it has cost millions. Some conditions got worse.

Yetter, 64, is one of the few constants in this long-running saga. He has outlasted 10 commissioners appointed by two governors to head the two agencies that oversee foster care. He has weathered changing political winds and changing regimes. He knows every inch of this case and says hell see it through until the very end.

And finally, Yetter is seeing glimmers of hope.

In a recent report to the court, monitors overseeing state foster care progress were more encouraging than they have been in some time. Child Protective Services caseloads are lower. Investigations are more accurately identifying abusive situations and getting kids out of them.

No doubt, the system is still plagued with high turnover, overloaded employees, outdated technology and ever-changing leadership. But state officials are no longer openly opposing changes suggested by the judge, and Texas $33 billion surplus could inject an even bigger infusion of cash into foster care this year. A new child welfare commissioner came into office in January with a focus on speeding up the rollout of the states new privatization initiative.

Everyone agrees: Texas needs to prioritize its foster children. They just can't agree on how to get there.

We're happy that the state is cooperating now, but they haven't for a long time," Yetter said, "and so it's hard to say, 'OK, we'll trust you.'

Sandra Carpenter, whose Prairie View nonprofit works with former foster children going to college, testified in the trial about how the system regularly failed kids. She still sees the same problems she saw back then.

Without the lawsuit, Carpenter said, none of that would ever change.

Its super-important and it needs to go on, she said. As for Yetter, I respect him so much for not giving up on this and going back to court. I hope he keeps the torch alive. These kids have no voice.

ONE PLAINTIFF'S STORY: Former Texas foster child was bounced through 21 placements and separated from her little sister

But Republican state lawmakers are growing weary of the litigation. It costs too much, they say, and may even hinder the states efforts to create enough placements for foster children. They also blame the judge's orders for being too stringent and shutting down good providers.

Court-appointed monitors are charging about $1.5 million a month to check the child welfare departments work, totaling more than $40 million so far. The total cost of the lawsuit has been much higher, but the Department of Family and Protective Services would not provide that sum to Hearst Newspapers, which filed an open records request for the information nearly three months ago.

State Sen. Charles Perry, a Lubbock Republican who serves on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said the lawsuit began with good intentions and created a sense of urgency around foster care. It served its purpose. Now he finds it a hindrance.

I find it counterproductive to finding solutions, he said. The conflict of interest the judge has set up between it, and the court monitors, and us gives no incentive for court monitors to ever say the system is fixed.

Rick Perry was still governor when the lawsuit was filed, and Greg Abbott the attorney general. The last Harry Potter movie would soon hit theaters. Donald Trump was still hosting The Apprentice.

But on that first day of trial in that Corpus Christi courtroom, Yetter wasnt worried about the money, the appeals and the political pushback yet to come. All he wanted was to win. Thousands of Texas kids depended on it.

How it all began

Yetter wanted to fix something.

His law firm was doing well and the lawyers wanted to give back to the community. The question was how. It could be education or mental health. It had to be a broken state system, one that litigation could repair.

State systems werent his thing. Yetters cases usually involve energy, technology or complex corporate disputes.

But the El Paso native had been raised to see a world outside of his own. His father was a lawyer, a solo practitioner who took furniture and food when his clients couldnt pay him. Talk around the dinner table focused on helping people write wills or start businesses.

Richard Yetter passed along his unyielding optimism to Paul, the third of five children.

A light went on when Yetter's team saw a 2004 report by the Texas Comptroller that laid bare the horrors of an underfunded foster care system in which Jack later found that rape, abuse, psychotropic medication and instability are the norm.

Some children lived in therapeutic camps with only tarps to protect them from the wind and rain. Some were raped by older kids in the same facilities. Some died at the hands of their caregivers.

Yetter has seven sons. For him, there was never any choice but to jump in.

Hes the guy who lets toddlers play with a plastic Pennzoil race car he keeps in his office. He's the baby whisperer who goes from holding one child to the next at the annual office Halloween party filled with screaming kids, blaring music, clowns and chaos.

Paul has a soft spot in his heart for children and families, said Dori Goldman, a partner at Yetter Coleman who first flagged the foster care issue for the firm. I think these stories truly broke his heart.

As his team prepared to file suit, Texas foster care went into full crisis mode.

Gov. Perry demanded an emergency overhaul. Legislators gave Child Protective Services an extra $250 million, reorganized the department and ordered the privatization of some CPS functions. They hired 3,200 new investigative caseworkers, supervisors and clerical employees.

Yetter watched and waited. Maybe they would fix it.

Investigations and training did improve, advocates said. CPS developed better relationships with law enforcement.

But it wasnt enough. More investigators meant more kids being removed from their homes. More foster children bred the need for more foster homes, and there werent enough. Now hundreds of children were sleeping in CPS offices.

The state kept trying. And failing. For seven years.

Yetter was done watching and waiting. His team partnered with Childrens Rights, a New York-based group that files lawsuits against states across the country with flailing foster care systems. Other pro bono lawyers came on board.

M.D. vs. Perry was filed in 2011 on behalf of 12,000 children in the states long-term custody  a number that now hangs around 10,000.

STAFF GRAPHIC

Trish Virgil was one of the plaintiffs. During her time in the foster care system, she says she suffered physical and sexual abuse. She took seven different medications. She lived in 10 different foster placements.

Virgil wanted better for other kids. After leaving the system, she went to the state Capitol numerous times to testify about the perils she survived.

Eventually we stopped going to Austin, because nothing was really happening, which was irritating, Virgil said in a recent interview. It felt like we were talking to a brick wall.

From the beginning, Texas leaders attacked the lawsuit as a waste of time and money.

Texas foster children are safe, well-cared for and live in a system that is nationally recognized for finding thousands of loving, adoptive homes each year," Anne Heiligenstein, then the commissioner of DFPS, said in a statement.

It was the beginning of 12 years of denial and pushback from state officials.

They wanted the lawsuit dismissed. They lost that argument.

They said the case didnt qualify as a class action lawsuit. They lost that one, too.

And so, they headed to trial.

'54 placements'

On the surface, Yetter comes off as small: small voice, small frame, small hand gestures. Hes unassuming. He brown bags peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. He took the bus to work until the pandemic hit.

But Texas would come to see his relentless side during that trial. Step by step, he led witnesses into detailing failures in the system. And then, just to hammer home his points, hed repeat the worst of it.

She went through 54 placements in her time in CPS, a witness said of one child.

Fifty-four placements? Yetter repeated.

Fifty-four, the witness answered. I counted them.

The most heart wrenching testimony of the 10-day trial came from former foster children.

One said she had been sexually abused and beaten non-stop by foster parents, their children and other kids in the system. Another recalled being restrained, slammed to the floor and knocked out.

It took Judge Jack a year to render her ruling on the lawsuit. When word came of the decision, Yetter was working in his Houston office. Goldman, the firm lawyer who had pitched the case years earlier, told him the news.

Todd Yates, MBO / AP

We won, she said.

Yetter stared at her, pleased but unsurprised.

Oh, he answered. Thats good.

But that wasnt the end.

The state kept fighting in court. It won some battles, lost others. But, in the end, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals  one of the most conservative in the country  agreed that Texas had violated childrens rights and needed to work with Jack to fix them.

By then, Rick Perry had done the cha cha cha to God Bless Texas on "Dancing with the Stars" and served as U.S. Secretary of Energy. Abbott had become governor. The Harry Potter franchise had expanded to two Fantastic Beasts spinoffs. Trump had gone from reality television star to president of the United States.

Texas continued to resist, and Jack punished them for it. She hit them with $150,000 in fines, levied threats and issued new orders. Monitors regularly wrote scathing reports over ongoing problems, which escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, almost a decade after the suit was filed, Abbott issued an edict to his embattled agencies: Stop fighting.

The long haul

Jack sat in a Dallas courtroom in late January of this year, threatening to hold the state in contempt for not following her orders.

CPS wasnt making sure every foster child knew their legal rights. They didnt re-investigate serious allegations of abuse after court monitors raised red flags. They hadnt documented that all caseworkers were ensuring the safety of kids.

How many years have we had this order in place? Jack asked an assistant commissioner. And it was an immediate order.

I understand the urgency of it, Your Honor, and  .

Six years? Jack interrupted. Seven years?

Within an hour, Jack threatened state officials with contempt three times  a better day than usual.

Thats partly because monitors had recently praised the state in a report. Nearly all CPS caseworkers had a reasonable number of children under their watch. Investigations into abuse or neglect were more accurate. More employees had been trained before hitting the streets.

When the legislative session began, Yetter hired lobbyists to advocate for more money for foster care reform. The lobbyists were cumulatively paid $60,000 over several months, pulled from a $6 million trust in state-paid legal fees the pro-bono attorneys set aside for the children.

But after a Dallas Morning News story detailed the arrangement, GOP leaders blew up. Jack didnt like it either. She ordered the lawyers to reimburse those funds to the trust.

IN-DEPTH: Federal judge tells attorneys for foster children to stop using lawsuit funds for lobbying

Yetter complied. But he didnt apologize.

There are critical reforms waiting to be done, and all we hear from the state is 'We don't have the money,' Yetter said in a statement to the media. We'd prefer for the state to work cooperatively with us. But innocent children are still at risk."

With a bountiful surplus, the Legislature could fund foster care like never before. A key ask from the agency is new money for family or friends who take in foster children. DFPS also wants raises for staff, a top reason for recent turnover, especially in urban areas where costs are skyrocketing.

Virgil, the former foster child, was 25 when the lawsuit started. Now shes 34. Recovering from her childhood took a long time, she said. She had to learn how to keep a job, how to balance her checkbook, how to make ramen noodles.

Today she works with 3 and 4 year olds in a private school. She has her own apartment. She volunteers with a nonprofit that hosts a camp for foster children, some of whom struggle with the same issues she did.

I dont think CPS is going to act unless theres someone thats constantly there nagging them, Virgil said.

And so, Yetter is ready to do it again. He is waking up early in the mornings before work, sitting in his house, working on the case.

On Wednesday, he plans to be back in court with Jack, tackling Texas foster care  just like he has been dozens of times before, and how he expects to be again, for however long it takes.
Lawyers representing foster children in a long-running federal lawsuit have been ordered to immediately stop using funds awarded through the litigation to pay lobbyists they had hired to seek more money for the state's child welfare system.

BACKGROUND: Flood of 2,300 departing workers leaves Texas child welfare agency scrambling: Absolutely a crisis

The lawyers will have to pay back that money, which came from a $6 million trust the pro bono attorneys set aside for the children in the lawsuit, according to an email that federal court-appointed monitors sent to parties in the case Thursday.

The lobbyists are paid a total of $20,000 a month, said Kelly Darby, a spokesperson for the plaintiffs. It was not immediately clear how much they have already been paid.

The Judge directed us to advise the parties that she was not aware of reported lobbying efforts by plaintiffs on behalf of the children and those expenses are not an approved expenditure of the attorneys fees awards to the firms that have worked pro bono on this matter, the monitors wrote in an email obtained by the Houston Chronicle. Plaintiffs counsel advised the monitors today they will personally pay for these efforts.

Paul Yetter, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, plans to repay that money out of his pocket, Darby said.

The directive came a day after the Dallas Morning News first published details of the arrangement, which drew sharp rebukes from Republicans who have already criticized the lawsuit as too timely and expensive.

Apparently, the judge agrees that it is a bad look as well, said state Rep. James Frank, a Wichita Falls Republican who chairs the House Human Services Committee. I don't think it changes the very obvious fact that a lot of people are making a lot of money continuing this lawsuit.

The lobbyists had been directed to seek funding that would help the state meet the goals of the lawsuit, Darby said. That includes updating the states antiquated computer system and allocating more money for foster children living with relatives, she said.

Our only priority is protecting these children, Yetter said in a statement. For the past 12 years, the Texas law firms have worked for free. We put every dollar of our fees into a trust fund to benefit the children.

We had hoped to partner with the state agencies at the legislature to get the funding needed for a safe system, he added. There are critical reforms waiting to be done, and all we hear from the state is, 'We don't have the money.' We'd prefer for the state to work cooperatively with us. But innocent children are still at risk.

andrea.ball@houstonchronicle.com
Supposed mugshots of former President Donald Trump have circulated on social media for weeks, beginning after his March 18 Truth Social post announcing his impending arrest. In some pictures, hes wearing an orange or black jumpsuit; in others, he wears a suit and tie. Some images show him with hair; others show him bald.

None of them are real.

Thats because Trump took no mugshot. He turned himself in April 4 at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, where he was arraigned on 34 criminal charges of falsifying business records for hush money payments to adult film actor Stormy Daniels and others. Trump pleaded not guilty to all counts. He was fingerprinted. He was not handcuffed.

The fake mugshots have been shared on many platforms, including Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. They were created using artificial intelligence programs such as Midjourney, a generator that creates images from text prompts. PolitiFact previously debunked several photos shared in March that claimed to show Trump being taken into custody or in a mugshot.

Here are some of the fake mugshots that generated the most attention.

Roger Stone shared montage on Twitter

Shortly after Trumps arraignment, his longtime ally and former adviser Roger Stone tweeted a montage of four AI-generated mugshots. A graphic accompanying the photos said Donald Trump still did nothing wrong. Stone added the hashtag #Trump2024.

The fake mugshots show random numbers and letters in the background. In these images, Trump is seen wearing a lapel pin. In real life, photos show Trump did not wear a lapel pin to his arraignment.

Trumps campaign and others monetized fake image

According to a PolitiFact reporter who received the email, the former presidents 2024 campaign team included a fake mugshot in a donor call to action that read: Do you stand with President Trump, Friend? Please make a contribution of $47 or more to WIN in 2024  and well send you your very own NOT GUILTY T-Shirt for FREE.

The T-shirt showed a photo of Trump appearing to hold a placard  in the style of mugshots  that says President Donald J. Trump, 45-47, 04-04-2023. According to The New York Times, 45-47 refers to Trump serving as the 45th president and potentially becoming the future 47th president.

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who traveled with Trump to New York to protest his arraignment and flew back with him to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for his speech later that night, shared a link to buy the $36 T-Shirt on her social media pages.

President Trump is NOT GUILTY. He is the ONLY man fighting to Make America Great Again! Stand with Trump, she wrote.

Images shared on TikTok

TikTok had no shortage of fake Trump mugshots, including one posted March 21. It showed a screenshot of a Twitter post with Trump in an orange jumpsuit. We traced the tweet and found that it had been shared long before Trumps arraignment. Despite being fake, the images received thousands of interactions.

Some Democrats shared fake images

Trumps allies werent the only ones sharing the fake images. Jon Cooper, founding chairman of super political action committee The Democratic Coalition, tweeted an altered photo of Trump holding a placard in front of a height chart. Holy s---! I cant believe #Trumpmugshot isnt already a hashtag! Cooper wrote. Please retweet it far and wide  lets make #Trumpmugshot go viral!

Occupy Democrats, a liberal group with large social media followings, shared on Facebook a Twitter post that included one of the fake images and said: On a level from 1-10 how happy are you that Trump has been arrested? The Facebook post has received thousands of reactions and comments.

Sources
Tunis/Tunisia  Tunisian and Arab parties and organisations, in a joint statement issued Saturday condemned "the Zionist and criminal aggression" against the Palestinian people in Al-Aqsa Mosque, al Quds, the West Bank and Gaza.

The signatory parties and organisations, including the Al-Qotb Party (Tunisia), the Voie Democratique Travailiste (Morocco) and the Communist Party of Lebanon, also strongly condemned the silence and complicity of the "regimes of normalisation and betrayal that have submitted to world imperialism", as well as the inability of official international institutions, especially the United Nations.

The signatories praised the brave resistance of the Palestinian people inside the occupied territories and in other areas, including Lebanon, the statement said. They called for greater unity to defeat the aggression, liberate the land and people and end the occupation.

The signatories, including the Democratic Patriots' Unified Party (Tunisia), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Jordanian Popular Unity Democratic Party, called on all national forces in the Arab world to join the resistance and global mobilisation, to act swiftly and in all possible ways to support the Palestinian cause and to oppose normalisation, complicity and betrayal.

They also called for forming broad coalitions of countries in the region to support the Palestinian struggle and resist normalisation and to hold rallies in front of the Zionist and US embassies and the UN missions.

Among the parties and organisations that signed the declaration are: the Workers' Party (Tunisia), the Tastatii Movement (Mauritania), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Jordanian Democratic People's Party (Hashd), the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders and the Socialist Popular Alliance Party (Egypt).
The claim: Title 42 and other Trump-era holdovers are forcing migrants into dangerous, overcrowded conditions in Mexico.  U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro.

Castro, a San Antonio Democrat, made the claim in a March 28 tweet in reference to a fire in a migrant center that killed 39 immigrant men. Some of them were waiting for an appointment to apply for asylum in the U.S.; others were sent to Mexico after they reached the U.S. seeking entry.

PolitiFact rating: Mostly True. Experts say Castro is right. U.S. immigration policies influence conditions in northern Mexican border towns. More specifically, a Trump-era public health order  continued under Biden  has led to significant overcrowding in border cities and shelters as immigrants are sent back to Mexico without the option of applying for asylum in the U.S.

Discussion

In his tweet, Castro said the deadly fire in Ciudad Juarez should never have happened. He continued: The Biden admin needs to withdraw its asylum ban and work w/Mexico to protect migrants on both sides of the border.

He was referring to a proposed Biden administration rule that would limit immigrants ability to seek asylum at the southern U.S. border.

Experts said U.S. border policies have led to overcrowding in Mexico, but that Trump-era policies are not solely to blame. New policies from President Joe Biden have increased overcrowding; so have Mexican policies.

In way, you could blame all three: Trump, Biden and the Mexican authorities almost equally, said Howard Campbell, a cultural anthropologist at the University of Texas at El Paso.

ABOUT POLITIFACT PolitiFact is a fact-checking project to help you sort out fact from fiction in politics. Truth-O-Meter ratings are determined by a panel of three editors. The burden of proof is on the speaker, and PolitiFact rates statements based on the information known at the time the statement is made. See More Collapse

On the Mexican side, its been very, very chaotic and extremely dangerous for the migrants, Campbell said. The problem is that the Biden administration hasnt been a lot better.

A Castro spokesperson pointed to a series of articles detailing how the U.S. public health policy created overcrowding in Mexican border towns and boosted the number of migrants using smugglers to cross the border.

The Trump administration invoked Title 42 in March 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, authorizing Border Patrol agents to immediately turn back immigrants at border crossings without allowing them to seek asylum under immigration law.

Since then, officials have enforced the public health policy nearly 2.7 million times at the southern border. (This doesnt necessarily mean that 2.7 million people have been expelled under Title 42; some people are expelled multiple times after trying to cross the border on several occasions.)

The best way to describe it is bottleneck, said Dylan Corbett, executive director at the Hope Border Institute, an El Paso nonprofit that runs a humanitarian program for migrants in Ciudad Juarez. If you came here right now, and I took you around to the different facilities, youd see that theyre all full because people are waiting to be able to access asylum.

The Biden administrations stance on Title 42 has shifted. The president tried to rescind the policy in early 2021, but was blocked by federal courts. This year, Biden expanded the policy to include immigrants from countries that had previously been exempt, in part because of a parole program allowing temporary entrance into the U.S

Under a U.S.-Mexico agreement that began earlier this year, Mexico each month is taking up to 30,000 people who are expelled by the U.S. under Title 42. This agreement covers nationals of Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti.

Experts say people have rushed to northern Mexico towns to wait and see whether Title 42 will remain or be eliminated.

Title 42 is expected to end in May when the United States COVID-19 public health emergency expires.

The Biden administration created a parole program allowing immigrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba and Nicaragua to enter the U.S. legally and work for a two-year period. To apply for the program, migrants must use a phone app to schedule appointments with immigration officials at official ports of entry.

But limited appointment times and technical problems with the app have led to overcrowding in Mexican border towns as immigrants await their turns. Experts say migrant shelters are full, leaving migrants on the streets begging for money to stay at cheap hotels.

Corbett said that in January, when Biden visited El Paso, additional Mexican federal immigration enforcement agents arrived in Ciudad Juarez. He said this coincided with Mexicos agreement to take back 30,000 additional migrants each month.

This crackdown on the part of Mexico is a result of the U.S. putting pressure on Mexico to detain and deport people, Corbett said.
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Clark Art: Lecture on Displacement and the Opaque

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  On Friday, April 14 at 5:30 pm, the Clark Art Institute's Research and Academic Program hosts a talk by Joshua I. Cohen (City College of New York and CUNY Graduate Center), who examines African modernisms in the Francophone contexts of decolonization and the global Cold War.

The lecture looks at the practices of three Mande artists from Francophone West Africa: the Guinean poet, musician, dramatist, and choreographer Fodeba Keita (1921-1969); the Malian studio photographer Seydou Keita (1921-2001); and the Senegalese painter Souleymane Keita (1947-2014).

According to a press release:

Joshua I. Cohen is an associate professor of art history at The City College of New York. He specializes in twentieth-century francophone West Africa, southern Africa, and connections to Europe and the United States. His areas of research include African and "global" modernisms, discourses of "primitivism," racial identity, and "renaissance" in art, as well as national socialist cultural politics, West African ballet performance, postcolonial studies, and museum studies. His first book, The "Black Art" Renaissance: African Sculpture and Modernism across Continents, received honorable mention for the Modernist Studies Association First Book Prize. His writing has appeared in The Art Bulletin, African Arts, Journal of Black Studies, and publications from the Museum of Modern Art and the Centre Pompidou, among others. In 2020, he co-organized an international conference with Foad Torshizi and Vazira Zamindar, "Art History, Postcolonialism, and the Global Turn." His current book project, tentatively titled Art of the Opaque: African Modernisms, Decolonization, and the Cold War, is a critical study of modernism between Africa and its diaspora in the context of decolonization and the global Cold War.

Presented in person in the Clark's auditorium. Free, with a reception in the Manton Research Center's Reading Room starting at 5 pm. No registration is required.
Vermont Man Being Held on $250K Bail in Son's Death

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  A Vermont man accused in the death of his 3-year-old son following a weekend accident in Clarksburg pleaded not guilty on Monday morning to numerous charges.

Darrel Galorenzo, 35, of Readsboro was arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court on charges of manslaughter, reckless endangerment of a child, negligent operation of a motor vehicle (operating to endanger) and operating under the influence.

The defense requested $5,000 bail but Judge Janine Simonian set bail at District Attorney Timothy Shugrue's request of $250,000 cash. Galorenzo had been held by State Police at the Cheshire barracks on $100,000 bail since Saturday.

A pretrial conference will occur in Northern Berkshire District Court on May 8. Shugrue said the case will be presented to a grand jury.

Galorenzo was involved in a rollover motor vehicle accident about 2 a.m. on Saturday morning. The car he was in, a Volvo, smashed into a utility pole near 443 Middle Road. Police say he tried to flee the scene with his son and entered nearby Hudson Brook and lost the boy. The brook flows alongside Middle Road and the waters are currently high from snow melt.

The boy was found by searchers more than a half-mile away at about 2:20 p.m. A trooper and firefighters pulled the toddler from the brook and EMTs began immediate emergency first-aid on scene for drowning injuries. The child was pronounced dead at Berkshire Medical Center in North Adams.




Haiti - Lascahobas : A member of the Village de Dieu gang arrested





During an operation carried out on the night of Saturday April 8, 2023, in Lascahobas, a town located in the Center department, the police arrested Michel Mackenson (26 years old), a native of Petion-ville, residing in Desermithe .



Mackenson was a member of the gang led by "Kemperse" as it is known, before joining that of "Manno" of God's Village.



Note that Mackenson Michel had been deported by the Dominican authorities where he lived in an irregular migratory situation and had taken refuge in Lascahobas waiting to find a visa to return legally to the neighboring Nation.



IH/ iciHaiti






















iciHaiti - FLASH : Legal essay contest, Registration open for university students





As part of the commemoration of World Intellectual Property Day (April 26, 2023) which will take place around the theme "The impact of industrial property rights on SMEs", the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) informs the university student community that registration is open for the first edition of the annual essay contest.



The Industrial Property Legal Essay Contest is an annual exercise for university students in Haiti, aimed at encouraging them to reflect on the importance of industrial property rights in promoting innovation and creativity.



Guidelines:

Essays should be a minimum of 3 pages and a maximum of 5 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 font.

References must be properly cited in essays; all methods of citation in the legal field will be accepted.

The text submitted must be an original and unpublished product of the author and must be accompanied by the entry form.



Essays will be evaluated according to the following criteria:



Originality;



Theoretical or practical value;



Strong presentation and arguments from beginning to end of the text, including the intelligibility of the thesis;



Effectiveness of the organization and structure of the text, including the clarity of the introduction and conclusion;



Quality of writing, focusing on the fluidity and clarity of the text;



Creativity and convincing character.



In accordance with the rules of the competition, three essays chosen by a jury composed of 3 members will be rewarded.



1st Prize: 100,000.00 Gourdes + internship

2nd Prize: 75,000.00 Gourdes + internship

3rd Prize: 50,000.00 Gourdes + internship



The application form accompanied by the registration form must be sent by email to : daj@mci.gouv.ht,



Deadline : April 21, 2023



Download contest rules : https://mci.gouv.ht/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CRITERES-ET-ADMISSIBILITE-1.pdf



Download application form : https://mci.gouv.ht/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/FORMULAIRE-DE-CANDIDATURE-1.pdf for info (509) 29 15 1455 email : daj@mcl.gouv.ht



IH/ iciHaiti


















Kampala  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 prosecutor's 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 doesn't 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, it's not surprising at all. But we also need to know that, yes, she has been taken to court, [but] it's not time for rejoicing yet, because in the country where we are, we don't 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 you're 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."

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The Committee on Presidential Affairs in Uganda's 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, it's just a process. You see, the iron sheets scandal is, I would say, like a big elephant. So it's been decided that it be handled piecemeal. There are other cases filed for other suspects, which are still being investigated."
Accra  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."

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ghana Legal Affairs Conflict By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

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
Name: Amy OConnor

Company: Precisely

Job title: Chief data and information officer

Date started current role: September 2019

Location: Boston

As chief data and information officer, Amy O'Connor leads the global IT and cloud operations, data analytics, and information security teams responsible for delivering a world-class digital experience as Precisely continues its rapid growth in data integrity. O'Connor has extensive experience using data-driven approaches to align IT services with user needs. She is also a frequent speaker in the data management space, advocating for the benefits that organisations can gain by using a data-driven approach in their IT infrastructure. She has expertise in enterprise business applications, data engineering and data science, information security, employee productivity tools, and network and cloud management.

What was your first job? I began my career as a software engineer at Data General, one of the first minicomputer companies. During that time, I developed software for an embedded real-time operating system, including work on network device drivers. I still think back fondly on this experience, as it exposed me to the very basics of the inner workings of computer systems. I use this knowledge to this day when I think about performance, security, and availability of applications and services.

Did you always want to work in IT? While I didn't necessarily always aspire to work in IT, I always really wanted to work in roles that could affect change. Early on, I aspired to be a doctor, yet the sight of blood made me quite queasy. Then I realised I could take computers apart and put them back together. Over my career, the positive impact of technology on our lives has accelerated, and much of that impact is enabled by the increasing importance of IT. I feel blessed that my early career choices have led me down a path where I leverage technology and lead people to build and automate processes that have transformed businesses and lives.

What was your education? Do you hold any certifications? What are they? I earned degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Connecticut. I also gained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University. While I also have a Six Sigma certification in process improvement and an ITIL certification in IT service management, fundamentally I am a continuous learner who is always reading across a variety of topics from technology, to economics and emerging trends. I find that by listening intently, I learn from the people around me every day.

Explain your career path. Did you take any detours? If so, discuss. While I have always worked in IT, non-linear is a good way to describe my career path. After starting as a software engineer, I moved to consulting, then to IT programme management, strategy, marketing, and many other positions. In these roles, I had the fortune to work with many technologies, including networking, data, applications, consumer devices, data centres and so on. I have the experience sitting on both sides of the desk, as a buyer of IT as well as the seller of IT. I am thankful for all of the people I have met through my career who have made these experiences available. I have discovered that often stepping into a role that is not an obvious next step can result in the most rewarding experiences. This diverse path gives me a broad perspective and helps me every day with the opportunities and challenges I face in my current IT leadership role.

What business or technology initiatives will be most significant in driving IT investments in your organisation in the coming year? I have found that every successful IT initiative exists to produce, process, and utilise data. Which leads me to putting data initiatives at the core of every IT investment. At Precisely, we help businesses every day automate and accelerate confident decision-making based on trusted data. So, throughout our own digital transformation journey, we have depended on our own software to instil and maintain our culture of data integrity. We are a business that is well versed in M&A activity, so this has been essential in ensuring that the various business integrations have run smoothly. Through M&A, we bring great people and products to Precisely, and lots of data about how they ran their separate companies.

We are also continuously building stronger relationships with our customers and developing a clear view of operational data to run our business more efficiently and effectively, while ensuring that we are properly handling all the data for which we have fiduciary and privacy responsibilities. To achieve this, were consolidating systems of record for efficient operations, and maintaining a focused data culture so that we can trust our data and make more confident decisions.

What are the CEO's top priorities for you in the coming year? How do you plan to support the business with IT? With continued M&A activity (our most recent acquisition only just happened at the end of January!), our number one priority is to support the growth of the business through scalable and transformational ways. This means we heavily rely on our own data to tell us where we have inefficiencies, where we need to focus, and to transform the way we think and act. We will also continue to double-down on how we protect our data to ensure it is secured and used only in appropriate ways. I have a motto here at Precisely that I continue to advocate: information security is everyones job. Perhaps more important than these themes, is that we are vitally focused on the engagement of our people. Our talented workforce is our most important asset, and to ensure our people thrive here, we continue to focus on developing them and prioritising their needs.

Does the conventional CIO role include responsibilities it should not hold? Should the role have additional responsibilities it does not currently include? I think the CIO role needs to adapt to the business needs, these needs often change for different industries. You'll also find different needs depending on the maturity and size of the business.



In my case, I do play the traditional CIO role, and I lead the traditional IT team. But I also lead our data team as well as our information security team. Sometimes you see those teams structured separately, but for our business, it makes sense to bring them together. This is partly because we are growing so quickly, so we wanted to put the people responsible for processing and improving data, and doing first-level analysis and governance, in the same team as those who are responsible for operating the systems that secure our environment, and manage email systems, and so on. We find this aids collaboration, meaning we can keep up with the pace of the business.

I have recently taken responsibility for some critical business process improvement programmes. Our business processes, such as hire to retire and lead to cash, are automated, yet they are not as efficient as we would like. While its not typical for a CIO to lead business process improvement efforts, in our case, we are marrying our business folks very closely with our IT teams to better understand what business needs to scale and effectively automate process improvements.

Are you leading a digital transformation? If so, does it emphasise customer experience and revenue growth or operational efficiency? If both, how do you balance the two? In 2019, Preciselys IT systems could not accommodate a business with our growth potential. I was excited to join the Precisely team to lead the digital transformation needed to more than triple in size in a few years. I devised a strategy where we built out an entirely new enterprise applications landscape on best-in-class software as a service (SaaS) applications. We also developed our strategy around data centre consolidation, productivity tools standards, and our cloud approach. We developed and executed our information security plan, and during the past three years, we have had significant organic growth while acquiring multiple businesses.

We are a company that has long and strong relationships with our customers. Once they start using our products to improve the integrity of their data, they continue using them. Therefore, the data never stops and the need to improve that data never stops. First and foremost, our digital transformation was focused on customer experience and revenue growth. Now that we have those critical building blocks in place, we are shifting slightly to address issues in operational efficiency. We also have quite a bit of variability in some of our business processes, particularly given our fast growth through acquisition. This variability causes inefficiencies and frustration on behalf of our employees, which can lead to a degradation in customer satisfaction. This year, we initiated a few critical business process improvement programmes, with the aim towards digital transformation not only for processes, but also the experiences of our employees and customers.

Describe the maturity of your digital business. For example, do you have KPIs to quantify the value of IT? We have grown so quickly. Three years ago, our business was less than half the size it is today. So, we've been focused on literally building out an IT infrastructure and an IT organisation to support a business that's doubling in size every couple of years, in terms of both number of employees and revenue, acquiring companies every few months. So, I would have to say we've been focused on working to stay ahead of the growth curve of the business. Therefore, our IT KPI has been focused on keeping our business running smoothly during these changes and making sure our customers and employees are happy. Our KPIs today measure that business performance and employee engagement. While my primary focus continues to be on business KPIs as an indicator of IT impact, we are now embarking on the formalisation of more IT-specific KPIs using industry standards such as ITIL.

What does good culture fit look like in your organisation? How do you cultivate it? We have four core values that describe our company culture, which are openness, determination, individuality, and collaboration. By being open and collaborative, were sharing what we know with each other and figuring out the best way to solve problems. Individuality means having team members who each bring their own ideas and fresh perspectives to the table, embracing the notion that what makes us different makes us stronger. The final value that defines Precisely is determination, we have intensely smart employees who will always be able to solve someones problem, but its also about ensuring that were focused on doing whats best, and leaning on those other values of openness and collaboration to work together and figure out how to do it at scale.

One of the key ways I foster our culture is through IT meet-ups. These are bi-monthly sessions where we put the meeting in the hands of individual employees. I love these meet-ups  our IT folks explain what they are working on in their own terms, using demos of their work rather than formal status presentations. Its a great way to gain appreciation of the depth and breadth of peoples contributions as well as learning a bit about them personally and their approach to their work. As I express at the start of each meet-up session, this is my favourite meeting ever.

What roles or skills are you finding (or anticipate to be) the most difficult to fill? While every role in technology is difficult to fill right now because of high global demand, I always look for people with the right attitude and cultural fit, rather than a particular skill. We have a set of wonderful IT people who have been in the industry for a while and are eager to share their knowledge with new joiners. Consequently, many of our most productive employees are very early in their careers and are already making a tremendous impact on our business. As a business, we pride ourselves on our internal mobility programme, which actively supports employees if they want to develop by moving into other roles or teams. Therefore, I'm a little less concerned about finding the right skills in general. We are also fortunate with the talented people who have joined our team through acquisitions. Our eclectic mix of long-term employees, with recent graduates and talented acquirees, has granted us the privilege of a talented and engaged IT workforce.

With regards to specific skillsets, information security is an area where its increasingly challenging to find people who have all the necessary skills. This is because the threat environment keeps changing, and so do the solutions needed. However, it definitely seems that there arent enough people out there with specific InfoSec experience to fulfil demand, particularly as the threat of cyber security continues to increase. In cases like these, we augment our internal staff with third party firms that bring a level of specialty. This combination of internal employees and third-party specialists ensures we are meeting the needs of our business.
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Two prominent Chinese human rights lawyers were sentenced to prison for more than 10 years after a court found them guilty of subverting state power.

Xu Zhiyong, 50, and Ding Jiaxi, 55, were put on trial behind closed doors in June 2022 on charges of state subversion at a court in Linshu County in the northeastern province of Shandong.

Xu and Ding are prominent figures within the New Citizens Movement and have previously served prison sentences. Their movement, founded in 2010, demands greater transparency into the wealth of officials and advocates for citizens to exercise their rights as written in the constitution.

Ding has been handed a 12-year jail term and deprived of his political rights for three years, his wife Luo Shengchun tweeted.

Xu, a former lecturer at the Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications, was sentenced to prison for 14 years and similarly deprived of his political rights for four years.

The activists were separately detained in 2019 and 2020 as a part of Beijing's crackdown on dissent and activism.

"Their lawyers are forbidden from publishing court verdict documents and they do not dare to reveal where they were sentenced and under what charges," Ms Luo told Reuters.

"I will not let them put Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong in jail so easily," she added.

Lashing out at the Chinese authorities, Ms Luo tweeted: "You have the guts to set a sentence regardless of the facts, but you don't have the guts to announce the verdict to your family!"

The two had been held for more than three years, with Ding being taken by police in December 2019 for attending and organising an informal gathering in the southeastern city of Xiamen, where 20 other activists voiced their opinion on the state of China.

Then he was held incommunicado for almost six months while being routinely tortured to extract a confession, his lawyer Peng Jian told the court.

Xu, a close friend of Ding's, wrote a searing open letter calling for Chinese president Xi Jinping to resign due to his poor handling of the country's crisis. He was arrested in February 2020.

The men were accused of publishing seditious essays, producing an "illegal documentary" and holding training sessions for "non-violent colour revolution" between 2012 to 2013.

Human Rights Watch called the convictions "cruelly farcical" which shows the president's "unstinting hostility towards peaceful activism".

Their secret hearings were "riddled with procedural problems and allegations of mistreatment", the rights group added.

Governments around the world should join in calling on the Chinese authorities to release the two lawyers immediately and unconditionally," said Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at the rights watchdog.

Beijing has dramatically clamped down on dissent since Mr Xi's rise to power in 2012. Hundreds of rights lawyers were detained and dozens jailed in a series of arrests commonly known as "709" cases, referring to a crackdown on 9 July 2015.

China, however, has rejected criticism of a raft of human rights abuses, claiming that the jailed rights lawyers and activists were criminals who broke the law.
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China said it would continue its military drills around Taiwan on Monday as it flew dozens of airplanes toward the island in retaliation against the Taiwanese president's US visit.

The Chinese military began a three-day combat readiness patrol" around the self-governed island on Saturday, a day after Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen returned from her Central and North America visit.

Ms Tsai, during a stopover in the US, held talks with House speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Washington is one of the key allies of Taiwan in the West. A US congressional delegation also met with Ms Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

China has beefed up its military activities around the island in recent years, arguing that Taipei is obliged to reunite with Beijing, 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.

The island said it detected a total of 70 planes between 6am Sunday and 6am Monday, with half of them crossing the Taiwan Strait. Among the planes that crossed the median were 8 J-16 fighter jets, 4 J-1 fighters, 8 Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes, the Taiwanese defence ministry said.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday, where eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan. The island said in a statement it was approaching the situation from the perspective of "not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes".

Chinese state television on Monday said aircraft, including nuclear-capable H-6 bombers armed with live missiles, and warships staged drills to "form a multi-directional island-encompassing blockade situation".

"In the Taiwan Strait, the northwest and southwest of Taiwan and the waters east of Taiwan (Chinese forces) took the initiative to attack, giving full play to their performance advantages, flexibly manoeuvring to seize favourable positions, and advancing at high speed to deter opponents," the report said.

The Eastern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said the aircraft carrier, Shandong, also took part in combat patrols, and showed fighters taking off from its deck.

House speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen deliver statements (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Along with the combat readiness patrols, the Chinese military said it would hold live fire training in Luoyuan Bay in China's Fujian province opposite Taiwan.

China also responded to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Ms Tsais trip.

Washington said the US had consistently urged restraint and no change to the status quo, while the Pentagon said it too was monitoring events closely.

There is no reason for Beijing to turn this transit  which was consistent with longstanding US practice and policy  into something it is not or use it as pretext to overreact, a defence department spokesperson was quoted by AFP as saying.

Japan said the Shandong vessel conducted air operations in waters close to its Okinawa islands on Sunday.

Jet fighters and helicopters took off and landed on the carrier 120 times between Friday and Sunday, with the carrier, three other warships and a support vessel coming within 143 miles of Miyako island, the Japanese defence ministry said.

A jet fighter takes off from Chinas Shandong aircraft carrier, over Pacific Ocean waters (REUTERS)

Tokyo said it has been following Beijing's military drills around Taiwan "with great interest" as top officials from Japan and China met on Monday to discuss maritime concerns in the disputed waters.

"The importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only important for the security of Japan, but also for the stability of the international community as a whole," Japan's chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

China's military moves have been a concern for Tokyo, especially after Chinese missiles landed within Japan's exclusive economic zone last August when Beijing staged war games to protest then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei.

Meanwhile, the US Navy its guided-missile destroyer  USS Milius  conducted a navigational rights and freedoms mission in the disputed waters of the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands on Monday.

"At the conclusion of the operation, USS Milius exited the excessive claim area and continued operations in the South China Sea," a US Navy statement said. "This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms and lawful uses of the sea."

Beijing and Washington sparred over the movement of the USS Milius last month, which China said entered its territorial waters near the Paracel Islands.

While Washington has no position regarding the sovereignty of the territory, it has said it would regard any attempt by China to capture the islands as an attack on its ally.

The Chinese military in a statement said the destroyer's movements were followed and monitored by Beijing.
Addis Abeba  Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced early this morning that the government's decision to dissolve and reintegrate regional special forces into other security structures "will be implemented as planned, and it will be done so "even if" there is a price to be paid.

PM Abiy also cautioned thy the government will take "appropriate law enforcement measures" on those who are "deliberately playing a distractive role" against its implementations.

The Prime Minister weighed in on the matter a day after General Abebaw Tadesse, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) told state and Peru affiliated media that move to dissolve regional special forces was neither "to disarm", nor "to dismantle" them. Rather "to reorganize" and "to reform" the forces was a "matter of the constitution" whose works has been in the making for the last four years.

In a lengthy four pages statement the Prime Minister released through his social media accounts, PM Abiy explained that the decision was discussed amongst leaders and members of regional special forces in which it was made clear that

the process to dissolve and reintegrate special forces into "other security structures should be applied to all the special forces of the regions", and to the members "three options: to join the Defense forces, the Federal Police or the Regional Police.

He also said that "the issue is not disarmament, but that they will get more training and weapons" and be reintegrated into other security structures "where they can better serve the country."

The discussions have also identified challenge that "there will be elements that will arise to hinder this work" and to that options were put in pace "first by discussing and persuading" and "a law enforcement" to be applied "if there are actors who commit acts beyond this."

These remarks from PM Abiy came in the midst of ongoing protests in several cities and towns of the Amhara region after the official announcement on Thursday 06 April evening triggered a backlash in the region where protesters began taking to the streets since Friday.

The protesters in some places have also blockaded the movements of federal defense forces on Friday, whereas members of the region's special forces were leaving camps in protest, leading to the Amhara regional state government has to to issue a statement calling on the members of the special forces "to return to their respective camps or assigned workplaces and remain calm" while the ongoing "reorganization" works of regional special forces continues to take place.

The regional president Dr Yilkal Kefale repeated the state government's stand in a message broadcast on regional tv this morning. Dr Yilkal said that there is "no intention to disarm and disband" the special forces of the Amhara region in any particular way than other regions.

The president also admitted that "due to the information gap" some cities in the region are witnessing protest activities, and that there are "calls for strikes and restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles."

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He cautioned that such "unnecessary" steps are "destructive and destructive" and do not benefit anyone.

Both PM Abiy and the region's president echoed General Abebaw's assertion that the decision was jointly decided by all regional states and will implemented by all regional leaders. "Most regions do not have the economic capacity to manage an army, he said, adding that almost all regions "use the federal government's budget for their special forces."

Arrangements have also been put in place that from hereon regional states should only "strengthen their police forces and focus only on preventing crime and maintaining local peace," the PM said, adding that competition among regional states should not be based on building special forces "but on economic, social development and democratic culture."

"When there is an attack from any force, which threatens the borders, existence and sovereignty of the country, the defense army will take action."

He called on all "the relevant institutions and patriotic Ethiopians in general to cooperate with the implementation of the decision, taking into account the national significance and the lasting benefit it will bring."
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An Indian artist used artificial intelligence to create portraits of famous billionaires  from Elon Musk to Mukesh Ambani  imagining the worlds wealthiest people as poor.

Digital artist Gokul Pillai used artificial intelligence programme Midjourney to create portraits of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Mukesh Ambani as slumdog billionaires.

His portrayal of the Microsoft co-founder as a lanky old man standing bare-chested outside a shanty, wearing nothing but a grey colored loin cloth, was liked over 10,000 times.

Indian billionaire Ambani, in this alternative reality, is not dressed in his tweed suit but instead wearing an old, seemingly unwashed and oversized T-shirt and blue trousers, as he stood next to a garbage dump.

His post also featured the AI-generated image of Meta chief Zuckerberg in a dusty T-shirt and blue shorts standing in the middle of a slum, while American businessman Buffet is seen wearing a slightly dirty white T-shirt tucked into unzipped trousers.

This is epic, wrote a user.

Warren Buffet is looking rich here as well, said another.

Earlier this month, AI-generated images of Mr Zuckerberg walking the ramp in flashy Louis Vuitton clothes, flooded social media.

In March, AI enthusiast Jyo John Mulloor posted a series of images on Instagram portraying Game of Thrones characters Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, and Arya Stark in royal Indian attire.

"If George RR Martin has hired an Indian costume designer for Game of Thrones (sic)," he captioned.

An AI-generated image of Pope Francis looking stylish in a large white puffer coat also went viral on social media earlier last month, leaving viewers shocked.

Many social media users, including model Chrissy Teigen, expressed confusion over whether or not the fashionable photograph was real.

I thought the Popes puffer jacket was real and didnt give it a second thought. No way am I surviving the future of technology, wrote Teigen.

Another AI-generated image showing Mr Trump wearing an orange prison jumpsuit went viral amid the 34 felony charges brought against him for allegedly falsifying business records related to hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the run up to the 2016 presidential elections.

Fake images have sparked concern among lawmakers and experts who fear it could spread harmful disinformation.
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Four members of a right-wing group were arrested after they allegedly slaughtered cows to frame Muslim men as religious tensions continued to grip parts of India following the Hindu festival of Ram Navami.

Police in the northern Uttar Pradesh state arrested members of the All India Hindu Mahasabha in connection with a false complaint against four Muslim men, accusing them of slaughtering a cow last month, The Wire reported.

Uttar Pradesh has stringent laws against cow slaughter  considered sacred in the Hindu religion and punishable with imprisonment of a maximum of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 500,000.

Muslim men have been lynched by mobs in the past on the mere suspicion of killing of cows.

Several Indian states saw large-scale violence between Hindus and Muslims on the Hindu festival of Ram Navami on 30 March.

The conspiracy to implicate the Muslim men was allegedly hatched on the eve of the festival in the Gautam Nagar area of Agra city, Uttar Pradesh.

According to the police, the members of All India Hindu Mahasabha, including leader Jitendra Kumar, filed a police complaint alleging that he witnessed four Muslim men slaughtering a cow in the thickets near Gautam Nagar and were planning to sell the beef.

He accused locals Mohammad Rizwan and his three sons Nakeem, Vijju, and Shanu in the police complaint.

Hindu devotees participate in a religious procession to celebrate the Ram Navami festival in Mumbai (EPA)

A complaint was registered against Mr Rizwan and his three sons at Etmaddulah police station under sections of the UP Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act after the police found cow meat on the reported spot.

However, during the investigation it emerged that the Muslim men who were accused by the members of All India Hindu Mahasabha were innocent and were being implicated in the case due to a personal grudge.

The police found the spokesperson of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, Sanjay Jat, as allegedly the main conspirator.

The cow was slaughtered on the eve of Ram Navami to disturb social harmony. We had unconfirmed reports about such an incident but got conclusive evidence when they tried to implicate some innocent people, a police officer told Indian newspaper TheTelegraph.

Tensions have been simmering in Jamshedpurs Kadma area in Jharkhand, and in Biranpur area of Chhattisgarh where a 23-year-old man was killed following religious clashes over the weekend.

In Jamshedpur, a complaint was registered after violence erupted in Kadma on Sunday evening over the alleged desecration of a religious flag.

Mobs pelted bricks at each other and shops and vehicles were set ablaze after members of a local organisation found a piece of meat rolled into a religious flag.

Police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 which ban gathering of three or more people and shut down the internet across the town.

A video showed a fire blazing in Shastri Nagar and a mob gathered on the streets as clashes erupted between two sides.

Prabhat Kumar, special superintendent of police of Jamshedpur, said the situation was now under control.

Those who had gathered have been sent home. The force has been deployed in the entire area, a company of RAF (Rapid Action Force) is deployed. Some people have also been detained, he said.

Meanwhile, around 12 people were arrested after a man was killed and three police personnel were injured following a fight between teens that escalated to religious violence in Bemetara district of Chhattisgarh.

The police had to use force to control the situation after riots erupted and prohibitory orders were issued in the area on Saturday.

Tensions had been brewing in the area since January when a meeting was held over rising instances of interfaith marriages and Hindus were appealed to cut ties with members of the Muslim community.

On Monday, a fact-finding committee on the violation of human rights during Ram Navami riots in West Bengal said in its interim report that the riots were pre-planned, orchestrated and instigated.

Widespread violence and clashes erupted between Hindus and Muslims on Ram Navami festival on 30 March in West Bengal states Howrah and Hooghly area, leaving dozen of people injured. The clashes erupted as members of Hindu groups took out processions to mark the festival.
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Police in Indias Uttar Pradesh state are looking for a woman who was seen in a viral video firing celebratory shots during her wedding.

A video of the 23-year-old bride, identified as Ragini from Uttar Pradeshs Hathras district, was recorded by one of her relatives and uploaded on social media on Friday night, reported the Times of India.

The video shows the bride being handed a gun by an unidentified man.

She is then seen firing four shots in the air in a span of a few seconds while sitting on stage with the groom.

Authorities said that the bride is now absconding after a case was lodged against her for celebratory gun fire.

A case has been registered against Ragni, a resident of Hathras Junction area, under IPC (Indian Penal Code) section 25(9) (celebratory gunfire). Fearing arrest, she has absconded. We are on the look-out for her, station house officer of Hathras Junction, Girish Chand Gautam, said to the outlet.

We are also trying to identify the person who handed over the pistol to her.

While celebratory gunfire is common in several states in northern India, it is prohibited under Indian law.

Indian law says that anyone who uses a firearm in a rash or negligent manner or in celebratory gunfire, putting others in danger, could face a jail term or a fine or both.

In February a 35-year-old woman who had come as a guest to a wedding in Uttar Pradeshs Narwal district allegedly died after she was injured by gunshot wounds from celebratory firing, according to the Times of India.

In November a member of Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was arrested in Kanpur in connection with an apparent case of celebratory firing that led to the death of a bouncer at a wedding, reported Press Trust of India.
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Police in western Indias Maharashtra state charged two rap artists for anti-government songs that highlighted corruption by politicians and the plight of the common people.

A First Information Report (FIR), generally the first step in any police investigation in India, was filed against rapper Umesh Khade, who goes by the name Shambho on YouTube and has 374,000 followers.

The FIR in Mumbais Wadala was filed following a complaint by the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Mumbai police against Mr Khades song in Marathi language titled Janta bhongli keli (You made citizens naked) which became viral on social media, reported The Indian Express.

The song, which does not take any names, is about the sufferings of common people because of selfish politicians.

Sources told the outlet that a police team tracked down Mr Khade and produced him at the police station on Thursday night. He was later allowed to leave on the condition that he would join the police probe.

Mr Khade is believed to have said to the police that he had not named anyone in the song and only highlighted the plight of the people, the report added.

Police have charged him with sections including intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, promoting enmity, as well as publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form under the Information Technology Act 2000.

The action against Mr Khade came only days after police in Ambernath filed an FIR against another rapper Raj Mungase for a song that allegedly targeted the state chief minister Eknath Shindes faction of the ruling Shiv Sena.

Mr Mungase was picked up from Aurangabad by the police and brought to Ambernath in Thane district following a complaint filed by a Yuva Sena (youth wing of the Shiv Sena) core committee member.

The song titled Chor (thief) was uploaded on a YouTube channel called Bhimraj production and talks about corrupt politicians.

It opens with the lyrics Chor aale 50 khokhe gheun kiti bagha, chor aaleekdum okay houn, which translates to, Look, the thieves have come with Rs 50 crore (around 4.9m). Look, the thieves look all fine, reported The Wire.

While the song does not name any politician or party it hints at the allegations against Mr Shinde and the lawmakers of his government who broke away from the Shiv Sena last year and camped in resorts in Gujarat, Assam, and Goa which ultimately led to the division of the party into two factions and the collapse of the Congress, Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)s Mahavikas Aghadi government.

The breakaway faction subsequently aligned itself with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is currently in power in the state with Mr Shinde leading the coalition.

The breakaway lawmakers have been accused of taking bribes to jump camp which led to the downfall of the then chief minister Uddhav Thackerays government.

Mr Mungase has been charged with defamation, promoting enmity and insult to provoke breach of peace.

Following the action against Mr Khade over the weekend, opposition lawmaker from the NCP Jitendra Ahwad lashed out at the Shinde government.

There is nothing offensive in this song. He has not named anyone. He has spoken about his poverty in this song. Now if expressing your grievances is a crime, then arrest everyone who goes to work and vents their grievances on the train, he said in a tweet.

This is not a police state. We will not let freedom of expression in a democracy crush us like this. Leave Umesh Khade immediately, he added.

In another tweet, Mr Ahwad said that both the rappers were let down by the constitution.
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The tiger population in India has steadily grown to over 3,000 since the flagship conservation programme began five decades ago, showed the census data revealed by prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

According to the official figures, the numbers grew from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,167 by the end of last year.

The data revealed that the tigers in the country almost doubled in the last 17 years. While in 2006, the tiger count was at 1,411, it jumped to 1,706 in 2010.

The success of Project Tiger is a matter of pride not only for India but also for the world, said Mr Modi, during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.

Our country has not only conserved tigers but has also given them an ecosystem to flourish. India is a country which believes in the co-existence of economy and ecology. We are also the largest tiger range country in the world, said the prime minister as he visited the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in the poll-bound southern Indian state of Karnataka.

With the current count of over 3,000, India is home to more than 75 per cent of the global tiger population and their number is increasing by 6 per cent per annum, according to government figures.

File: Tigers are visible at the Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur, India on 12 April 2015 (AP)

India first launched Project Tiger under then-prime minister Indira Gandhi on 1 April 1973 after a census of the big cats found Indias tigers were fast going extinct through habitat loss, unregulated sport hunting, increased poaching, and retaliatory killing by people.

While it initially covered nine tiger reserves spread over 18,278 sq km, India now has 53 reserves covering more than 75,000 sq km (approximately 2.4 per cent of the countrys geographical area).

Former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi kickstarted Project Tiger at Corbett National Park on 1 April 1973 (Twitter/Jairam_Ramesh)

Its believed the tiger population was around 1,800 at the time, but experts widely consider that an overestimate due to imprecise counting methods in India until 2006.

The huge success and the increase in number of tigers proved how much the country thrives for saving our wildlife, said Mr Modi as he stressed on the significance of big cats in Hindu religious texts.

There is a mention of tigers in our mythological scriptures and even on historical carvings. They have been an important species in the ecosystem.

This handout photograph taken on 9 April 2023 and released by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB) shows Indias prime minister Narendra Modi taking photographs during his visit to the Bandipur and Mudumalai Tiger Reserves, in Karnataka state (PIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Tigers have disappeared in Bali and Java and Chinas tigers are likely extinct in the wild. The Sunda Island tiger, the other sub-species, is only found in Sumatra. Indias project to safeguard them has been praised as a success by many.

"Project Tiger hardly has a parallel in the world since a scheme of this scale and magnitude has not been so successful elsewhere," said additional director general of forests SP Yadav, who is in charge of Project Tiger.
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When a 2012 poll asked members of the public to name the Greatest Indian of all time, 20 million people voted for a top 10 that includes iconic names like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Sachin Tendulkar. But the man who topped the list (Mahatma Gandhi was excluded for fears he would render the exercise pointless) is one who many outside India might never have heard of: Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.

Ambedkars remarkable journey saw him start as out as a member of the formerly untouchable Dalit community, historically among the most oppressed in the Hindu system of caste, to become one of the founding fathers of independent Indias constitution.

This curiously bloodless tale of a freedom fighter whose life and legacy remain mired in controversy is the subject of a new book by the MP and author Shashi Tharoor, who has previously written a well-received bitesize biography of Nehru, Indias first prime minister.

Sitting down with The Independent in Delhi ahead of Dalit History Month  observed every April since 2011  Tharoor explains that he wanted to deliver a digestible version of Ambedkars story for the TikTok generation.

Theres an extraordinary mythologising of an individual who in his own lifetime was a figure of controversy and contention, who lost more elections than he won and [underwent] this transformation, says Tharoor. It struck me that he lived to the age of 65. I had this idea 65 years later as I thought, what a perfect moment to look back on his life.

Indian Congress party leader Shashi Tharoor on the first day of the winter session of the parliament in New Delhi (Getty )

Tharoors book is divided into two parts, with the first focussing on Ambedkars life as a revolutionary against the Hindu caste system into which he had been born on the lowest rung. To be born an untouchable in nineteenth-century India was to be consigned to the depths of human degradation, Tharoor explains in the first chapter.

Tharoor details the extraordinary challenges of Ambedkars early life, including his marriage aged just 15 to a nine-year-old girl, and that he went on to lose four of his children as poverty plagued his young family. Working his way up through the education system, Ambedkar saw the limitations imposed on him by caste discrimination when he was kicked out by a landlord and beaten by neighbours after they discovered he was from an untouchable background.

In the second part of the book, Tharoor recounts Ambedkars contributions to Indias independence movement, which saw him often ideologically at odds with and criticising Mahatma Gandhi, and his role in writing the nascent countrys constitution.

Tharoor also addresses the inevitable questions that will arise about his own suitability, as a man born into a privileged upper caste family, to be a chronicler of the great emancipator of Indias Dalits.

While Tharoor has written a book entitled Why I Am A Hindu about his pride for his religious identity, Ambedkar described Hindu society as a menace upon liberty, equality and fraternity. In 1956 he turned to Buddhism, calling it the most scientific religion.

I will not protest, as I once did, that I have grown up oblivious of caste, because I have since been schooled to accept that even caste-blindness is a reflection of privilege, Tharoor declares in a preliminary note in his book.

Expanding on this in an interview, he insists that caste finds no place in his interpretation and practice of Hinduism and Hindu belief. I have never practised the caste system, I have never believed in it and I never ask someone what their caste is when someone wants to come and apply for a job as my cook. I have never asked the caste of any of my cooks or anyone serving in my house and office, Tharoor says.

I was a child of the generation of nationalist parents who believed, like Nehru and Ambedkar, [that] you dont talk about caste. No caste was mentioned in my house when I was growing up as a child.

India banned caste discrimination in 1948, but stigma and divisions remain and the country continues to struggle to right the wrongs of historical inequality. Recent efforts in Seattle and California to enact their own specific bans on casteism have proved controversial, with some arguing that it singles out the Hindu community as having a particular issue with discrimination.

But those who have endured the ongoing oppression of the caste system question Tharoors argument that it does not exist in his version of Hinduism. If Tharoor says the caste system is not central to Hinduism, we need to ask him how he defines Hinduism. Are Sanskrit texts like theVedas, Dharma Shastras and Puranas a part of his idea of Hinduism? If yes, those texts are blatant in their endorsement of the caste system, says Tejas Harad, founder-editor of The Satyashodhak, a progressive magazine.

Many temples, such as the Jagannath temple in Odisha, even [today] do not allow Dalits to enter. Will Tharoor say that these temples are outside Hinduism? Is Hinduism without the caste system possible? Maybe. Does such a Hinduism exist right now? The answer is an emphatic no, says Harad.

The ongoing discrimination of Indians based on caste is revolting, Tharoor says. Even the process of caste consciousness  acknowledging the problematic existence of the caste system  began [with] politicians as a very useful element for political mobilisation they used caste to appeal to peoples identity and thereby win votes.

Has it changed fast enough, have we essentially annihilated caste as Ambedkar had sought? Clearly not, he says.

Aside from being a prolific author, Tharoors role as an MP for the opposition Congress party pits him against the present-day Hindu nationalist government of Narendra Modi. The most recent official crime figures indicated that, as of the end of 2021, more than 71,000 cases of caste-based crimes against Dalits were filed but still awaiting trial.

I am not happy with anything to do with the current administration. But on this issue, theyve been fairly cynical in their attempt to co-opt the Dalit vote just as theyve been cynical in their attempt to co-opt every caste interest in this country, says Tharoor.

I cant say that I can point to any specific, genuine accomplishment of this administration [for] Dalits. I have mentioned how the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) now celebrates Ambedkar Jayanti (birthday) but how essentially fraudulent it is to claim to embrace Ambedkar when they are denying, as it were, every single thing that hed said about Hindutva, Hinduism and Hindu Raj, he goes on.

If caste-based crimes are happening at such a high rate and the government is not doing enough for Dalits, as Tharoor argues, then what has progressed in the more than 66 years since Ambedkars death?

At the very least, he argues, Indian society is more aware and open to discussions of caste issues now than they were when Ambedkar died. Theyre more conscious now, he says.

Tharoors book B. R. Ambedkar: The Man Who Gave Hope to Indias Dispossessed will be published in hardback in May 2023
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A woman left with regret after travelling to Turkey for surgery to get the Instagram look has called on others to do their research.

Zara Edgar, 36, spent thousands of pounds in search of the perfect tummy, boobs bum and teeth. She says the ultimate goal was to look good in her bikini, but she now regrets her decision.

Zara, who is now living on the West Indian island of Grenada, flew out to Turkey with husband Igel Edgar, 39, last year. The trip was en route to their new life in Grenada in November, after the couple sold their home in Manchester.

They say they paid for a deal with a clinic which the couple had found on Instagram. This included the surgery and hotel stays for 11 nights, they said.

Zaras 6k surgery was done on the first day, and her 4,500 dental work four days later. The couple said Igels dental work also cost 4,500 and they spent another 1,000 on food during their stay.

Zara has no complaints about her boob increase, and says her teeth are bearable. But she says her stomach is still painful now and her bum isnt the size she wants it to be.

Igel also had tooth implants and veneers to improve his smile but is unhappy with the results.

Zara, who used to work as a bank clerk, said: "I was trying to get that Instagram look, where everything is perfect. But I'd never do that now - it's not worth it.

Just accept yourself the way you are. I wish I had. I regret this so much. I feel so upset about it. I wanted to feel good in my bikini.

Zara spent thousands of pounds on surgery (Zara Edgar / SWNS)

"Igel said I looked lovely before. I wish I'd believed him. My tummy feels like there's metal inside. It makes me so unhappy. Igel's implants were supposed to give him confidence, but he's more worried now than ever.

"I just want people to know not to do this, do as much research as you can. Don't trust Instagram as a platform for finding surgery... everything looks good on there.

"It might be cheaper to go abroad than the UK but its much much more important to care for your body than get anything cheap."

Zara says she contacted the company who told her the couple could come back as they have a 20-year guarantee.

The Turkish firm claim the couple paid less than 16,000 but would not confirm the total.

They also claim the couple did not make their final payment but would not say how much was owed, and claimed that the couple seemed happy when they left and could ask for help anytime.

The plastic surgery was a complicated operation, they said, adding that they have hundreds of patients.

SWNS
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As she puts the finishing touches to her habit, Sister Clarita, a Mexican immigrant living in Los Angeles, tells me that there are more than 3,000 LGBT+ nuns around the world. Theyre part of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an international network of activists who identify as secular nuns. From Sydney to Los Angeles to Huddersfield, these queer nuns swap crucifixes for Pride memorabilia as they get to work on their mission: to promote universal joy and remove any sense of shame felt within the LGBT+ community.

In the UK, official houses for the sisterhood exist in Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff, with more on the way in Glasgow and Bristol. Their modern take on nunneries allows sisters to take part in their mission alongside their ordinary lives  performing, attending protests, handing out free condoms and sexual health leaflets whenever and wherever is convenient. Theres something of the secular self in the nun and always something of the nun in our secular self, explains Sister Polly Amarosa, who in 2021 founded the Trans Pennine Travelling Sisters  a group of queer nuns who carry out their work along the Trans Pennine Trail.

But theyre not real nuns, I hear you say, as your eyes skim across the photos of sisters in drag. I admittedly thought the same when I first met Sister Polly, a trans man and radical feminist who spoke frankly and hilariously about BDSM and patriarchal pleasure. Surely nuns as we know them havent gone completely wild?

Were what the Catholic Church should be, or shouldve been 50 years ago, Sister Polly says. To become a sister, you go through a process that takes inspiration from the ordination process of the Catholic Church. Fully professed sisters start as aspirants, or someone who aspires to be a sister. After meeting with other sisters and talking about the kind of work youd like to do, you become a postulant  traditionally this means someone seeking entrance to a religious order. When youve performed acts of ministry or activism, your house will meet to decide whether to elevate you to a novice. And finally, after youve completed a formal ceremony to commit to the vows of the sisterhood  something called a vestition  you become a sister. Light work. Its about enabling LGBT+ people whove experienced the negative aspects of religion to have a symbolic system that blesses them, and helps them heal, Sister Polly says.

The idea of a queer, secular sisterhood began in late Seventies San Francisco. In a district presided over by Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office, queer men began wearing nun habits in protests. A few years later, groups of gay men in London wore habits to protest against the UK governments treatment of the Aids crisis.

Sister Polly tells me that the sisterhoods arrival in the UK is greatly contested  the Aids crisis meant that many of the original sisters died early, taking the British history of the sisterhood with them. There is speculation that a secular Australian nun brought the idea to London in 1991, but others swear they witnessed nuns protesting with the Gay Liberation Front in the Eighties.

Sainthoods are about honouring our heroes, not with ornaments of empire but with the love of our community

Whatever the truth, Mother Mandragora  who is known as Kell Farshea when theyre out of their habit and identifies as non-binary  first encountered the sisterhood in the Nineties while working as a press officer for Act Up, the grassroots political group founded to end the Aids pandemic. People didnt expect articulate, political analysis from gay men dressed as nuns, they tell me. It was an opportunity to put a different perspective into the public domain. It may look ridiculous, but no one can deny we were confrontational.

Their habits were an asset at times, too. Farshea remembers protesting outside of a private members club in the Eighties where notorious Conservative activist Mary Whitehouse was due to give a speech, and starting to chant when Whitehouse took to the stage. It was enough for the police to threaten them, before a passer-by shouted: Are you really going to arrest a nun? Farshea smiles at the memory  the police let them be. Being a sister gave me extra power in that situation. Life as a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence wasnt just fuelled by anger back then, either. It was extremely liberating, Farshea adds. It gave me an opportunity to explore aspects of femininity that were closed off to me at the time.

A key part of the sisterhoods mission is to grant sainthood to often unsung heroes in the LGBT+ community. One of the most memorable sainthoods, which Farshea attended, was that of the filmmaker, artist and gay rights activist Derek Jarman. Derek was a queer hero who was our first and most obvious choice for our saint, they tell me.

Last year in Huddersfield, Sister Polly sainted photographer Ajumu X, now Patron Saint of Darkrooms, for his boundary-crossing work capturing black, queer bodies. Though much of what the sisters do has a comedic or theatrical bent, often involving the houses best orator and a flurry of crude puns, sainting is far from a religious parody. Most times when we talk about LGBT+ people, theyre already dead, theyre in the past, Farshea says. Its about honouring our heroes, not with ornaments of empire but with the love of our community. Sainthood means the work, joy and resistance of queer icons becomes immortal.

Sister Fridge and Sister Belladonna of the London sisters at an anti-war protest (Gordon Rainsford and Denis Doran)

The nuns have also grown from an organisation largely oriented around cisgender gay men to one of enormous diversity. Sister Clarita is the first Mexican in the sisterhood, and there are now a lot more trans and non-binary sisters. Its especially important at a time in which the rights of trans people have become a target for lawmakers  a Scottish bill to streamline the process of changing gender was blocked in January 2023, and only a small number of American states arent currently introducing bills designed to restrict trans rights. The Trans Pennine Travelling Sisters recently attended a Trans Day of Visibility event organised by Trans Leeds, where they offered saintings and, importantly, a listening ear. Last year, they attended a protest in York opposing the governments decision not to ban conversion therapy for trans people, handing out tea bags and a note to say, Keep the T in LGBT. Plans to outlaw the practice have since been extended to include the trans community. Sisters in Los Angeles are also currently trying to improve political engagement, encouraging those traditionally isolated from the political sphere to vote in upcoming local elections.

Most significantly, though, the sisterhood embrace their position as role models. Novice Ann Ahmana Do Doo from the Glasgow mission tells me about a time she took part in a human library project at a primary school in Scotland. Children between eight and 10 could ask questions of people from different backgrounds whod been invited to the school. In her habit and makeup, Novice Ann spoke about the joy of existing how you wish to be. Over a decade later at Cardiff Pride, she heard someone shout her name. It was one of the same children shed spoken to years earlier, only now older and trans.

We hugged and cried a bit, she remembers. They were so happy. They found the joy that Id been speaking about. She says that what she aimed to do back then was provide someone with the skillset to identify what happiness is. Thats what we teach each other as nuns, and anybody we meet. It justified my existence. The fact I helped a human being develop in a direction that they chose, that they wanted, is why Ill probably do this for the rest of my life.
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For the royal familys first Easter since the passing of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Princess of Wales shied away from tradition with a bold fashion move.

The British royal family arrived at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle on Sunday 9 April ahead of the first Easter Sunday service of King Charles IIIs reign. The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at the chapel with their three children, all wearing coordinating blue outfits.

Prince George, nine, was seen looking dapper in a navy blue suit and tie, while his younger sister Princess Charlotte wore a navy blue overcoat with light blue tights underneath her floral dress from the British label, Rachel Riley.

The family outing was also the first time Prince Louis had attended the Easter service. To mark his debut, the four-year-old royal wore blue shorts and knee socks with a navy blue blazer and tie. Last year, only George and Charlotte were present at the Easter celebration.

Meanwhile, Princess Kate stunned in a cobalt blue Catherine Walker coat dress she previously wore to last years Commonwealth Day Service. She accessorised the blue look with a matching pillbox hat and handbag. However, it was her bold red manicure that turned heads.

Although women in the royal family are allowed to wear nail polish, theyve typically steered clear from colourful or distracting nail colours. While its not official royal protocol, the late Queen Elizabeth II allegedly preferred skin-tone shades for official events, with Essies neutral Ballet Slippers shade being her personal favourite.

Prince and Princess of Wales arrive with their three children at Windsor Castle on 9 April 2023 for Easter Sunday (Getty Images)

It needs to be skin-coloured so hot red and bright pink, for example, are not correct, especially for official occasions and particularly during mourning, etiquette and protocol consultant William Hanson told The Sun in 2022. So its either translucent or dusky pink  so that would basically be the colour of your nails so it looks natural.

Princess of Wales wears bold red nail colour for Easter service (Getty Images)

Shortly after she married into the royal family, Meghan Markle caused a stir when she donned black nail polish while attending the British Fashion Awards in December 2018. The Duchess of Sussex, who was pregnant with Prince Archie at the time, presented wedding dress designer Clare Waight Keller with the Womenswear Designer of the Year Award while wearing a Givenchy Haute Couture black dress and matching egglant-coloured nails.

This years Easter service was full of firsts for the royal family. Not only was it Prince Louis debut, but it was also the first since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. In less than one month, King Charles III will be coronated alongside his wife, Camilla, Queen Consort. The coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey in London.
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A royal author has claimed that both the late Queen and King Charles stopped taking phone calls from Prince Harry after he moved to California.

The Duke of Sussex stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to Montecito, California, with his wife Meghan Markle, but continued to stay in touch with his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Royal commentator Robert Jobson, author of a new book titled Our King Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed, has claimed that as relations between senior members of the royal family began to worsen, the late Queen and King Charles stopped taking Harrys phone calls altogether.

Jobson writes that Harry regularly phoned his grandmother from California until he kept trying to air his grievances.

In the end, [the late Queen] asked him to speak directly to his father instead, Jobson claimed.

In an extract from the book published by the MailOnline, the author writes that a source told him: Her Majesty found Prince Harrys calls quite difficult and wearisome. She didnt want to interfere in the father/son relationship and would urge him to speak to his father.

He alleges that Charles eventually stopped taking Harrys calls after his son swore at him and repeatedly asked for funds.

When the Queen asked Charles why he hadnt given in, he told her that he wasnt a bank, Jobson writes.

King Charles allegedly stopped taking Prince Harrys calls after the duke moved to California (Getty)

Jobson alleges that the Queen felt let down by Harrys decision to step back from his royal duties, and that she saw the departure of the Sussexes as a missed opportunity.

The Queen, however, apparently hoped her grandson would find peace and happiness in his new life.

Elsewhere in the book, Jobson writes that Royal aides allegedly described Prince Harry as Meghans hostage behind the couples back.

The author also claimed that the aides believed the Duke of Sussex had Stockholm syndrome  when victims empathise with their captors.

There was a point when officials joked Harry was the victim of Stockholm syndrome, and he was Meghans hostage, but now most just feel Harry has turned his back on everything he has known, Jobson wrote of the response to Harrys departure.

The Independent has contacted Buckingham Palace and representatives of the Sussexes for comment.
An All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant in the 2023 election, Adamu Garba, has urged the party's leadership to zone the Senate presidency to the North West.

Garba, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja weekend, said though a number of lawmakers-elect had declared interest in the Senate presidency, the coveted office requires a legislator with cognitive legislative and leadership experience to lead the parliament to make laws for the betterment of the citizenry.

He said, "The horse-trading and scheming is currently on as to who becomes the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly.

"If we take the Senate Presidency to the North-West, we will consolidate North-West much better and mainstream them and make every member of the North-West a continuous member of the APC, that would keep guaranteeing us victory in subsequent elections and the only one that has that capacity and competence is Senator Barau Jibrin."
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Royal aides allegedly described Prince Harry as Meghans hostage behind the couples back, according to an author of a new royal book.

Royal commentator Robert Jobson, author of a new book titled Our King Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed, claimed that the royal aides blamed Meghan Markle for Harry stepping back from his royal duties and moving to California in 2020.

Some blame Meghan Markle for the fallout, ignoring the fact that Harry seems to be the driving force in everything that happened, Jobson wrote.

The author also claimed that the aides believed the Duke of Sussex had Stockholm syndrome  when victims empathise with their captors.

There was a point when officials joked Harry was the victim of Stockholm syndrome, and he was Meghans hostage, but now most just feel Harry has turned his back on everything he has known.

The Independent has contacted Buckingham Palace and representatives of the Sussexes for comment.

It comes as Jobson also claimed that the Princess of Wales found a walkabout with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, to be one of the hardest things shes ever had to do.

On 10 September, Prince William and Kate Middleton walked alongside the Duke and Duchess of Sussex greeting well-wishers near Windsor Castle, nine days before the Queens funeral.

Royal aides called Harry Meghans hostage behind the couples back, author claims (Reuters)

Pictures of the four, wearing mourning attire, quickly made headlines at the time as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex held hands, marking their first engagement under their new titles after stepping back from royal duties.

Jobson wrote that while the four seemed amicable on the day, that wasnt the case. He said that, according to sources, the image of unity was an illusion.

In an extract from the book published by the MailOnline, he wrote: 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 shed ever had to do.

The relationship between Harry and senior members of the royal family are thought to have been fraught after the Duke of Sussex decided to officially step back from royal duties in 2020.

Relations are expected to have worsened after Harry published his tell-all memoir, Spare, in January. In it, Harry claimed that his brother once physically attacked him and had advised him against marrying Meghan. Harry also alleged there were several occasions when William and Kate were hostile towards his wife.

Ahead of King Charles IIIs coronation on 6 May, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have received an invitation to attend celebrations from the monarch. However, whether they will accept is still to be confirmed.

Reports have suggested that the Sussexes have tried to negotiate their appearance at the coronation, with The Times claiming that the couple wants a role for their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
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Queen Camilla will use an ivory sceptre during her and King Charles IIIs coronation ceremony in May, despite reports suggesting it might be avoided.

The ceremony traditionally features deeply symbolic objects that represent the royal duties and responsibilities of the new monarch and his wife.

It is understood that Camilla will hold a gold sceptre surmounted by a cross and a second staff made of ivory and topped by a dove during the coronation at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.

The ivory sceptre, which has been used by ever Queen Consort at previous coronations since 1685, is part of the crown jewels and regalia held in trust by the monarch for the nation.

They form part of the Royal Collection and have traditionally been held at the Tower of London, which is managed by Historic Royal Palaces.

But previous reports claimed that Camilla may choose to reject the traditional sceptre due to an anti-ivory campaign headed by the Prince of Wales.

Last August, Prince William hailed a landmark illegal wildlife trade sentencing that saw a man jailed for five years for conspiring to traffic millions of dollars worth of rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory.

Britain is at the forefront of global conservation efforts after the Ivory Act 2018 was brought in, from 6 June last year. The act is a near-total ban in the dealing with items containing elephant ivory.

But a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: As with any historical collection of its size, it is to be expected that the Royal Collection includes items that contain ivory as this reflected the taste at the time.

Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the Sovereigns Sceptre with Cross which will feature during the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey (PA)

It comes after the Palaces announcement that the Queen will wear Queen Marys crown for the ceremony, but the controversial Koh-i-noor diamond nor its replica will feature in the crown.

Kathryn Jones, senior curator of decorative arts at the Royal Collection, said of previous coronations: The Queen is also presented with two sceptres... this is again this symbol of temporal power  so with the cross.

The second sceptre, like the Kings sceptre, has the dove on the top, (and is) symbolic of equity and mercy. [With] this one the wings are folded, rather than spread, it has the same symbolism  so its the Holy Spirit.

Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the Sovereigns Sceptre with Cross which will feature during the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey (PA)

The ivory staff which Camilla will hold was made in 1685 for Queen Mary of Modena, wife of James II. She was the first Queen Consort to participate in a coronation ceremony following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

The original coronation regalia was destroyed by order of parliament after King Charles I was executed during the Civil War, which briefly led to a republic. It was melted down into gold coins, with the jewels sold.

Camillas coronation outfit will be designed by her friend Bruce Oldfield, who was a favourite designer of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

Traditionally, monarchs and their consorts have worn lavish robes for their coronation events, but whether or not Charles and Camilla will don robes remains in question as the monarch is understood to be opting for a more modern ceremony.

Additional reporting by Press Association
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The junior doctors strike will lead to caesarean births being cancelled, an increase in the number of mental health patients detained, and issues transferring the critically ill for urgent care, according to leaked NHS documents that show that the impact of the 96-hour walkout will reverberate through the NHS for months to come.

The action over pay, which begins on Tuesday, will compromise critical care and major trauma services, while there will even be a delay to funerals because doctors will not be available to issue death certificates.

Patients were warned on Monday to avoid risky behaviour and stay away from A&E if possible, while hospital bosses estimated that 350,000 routine operations were likely to be cancelled.

Hospitals are expecting as few as half the number of consultants to cover junior doctor shifts as during the previous strike, because of fatigue among staff and planned leave over the school holidays.

Internal predictions sent to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) last week also warned that low staffing levels in critical care services would affect clinical care for both adults and children, with patients not receiving medicines or assessments on time.

Have you been impacted by this story? email rebecca.thomas@independent.co.uk

There is particular concern over hospitals in the South West, which are experiencing worse staffing shortages along with an increase in demand from tourists.

On Monday, NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor urged the government and junior doctors unions to call in the Acas conciliation service in order to end their stalemate and avoid further catastrophic strikes.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Taylor said: Theres no point hiding the fact that there will be risks to patients, risks to patient safety, risks to patient dignity, as were not able to provide the kind of care that we want to.

He advised the public to use NHS services in the most responsible way you can, and to avoid risky behaviour of a sort that could result in a visit to A&E during the strike.

The health service has to meet high levels of demand, at the same time as making inroads into that huge backlog that built up before Covid, but then built up much more during Covid, he said.

Thats a tough thing to do at the best of times; its impossible to do when strikes are continuing.

The walkout begins on Tuesday and will last for 96 hours (PA Wire)

Junior doctors are set to walk out for 96 hours, with no exceptions applied to any services, including emergency care  although in a letter last week, NHS England said the British Medical Association (BMA) had agreed that, should a major incident occur, the NHS would be able to ask the union to send striking staff back to work.

The medical director of NHS England, Stephen Powis, has warned that the action will have unparalleled levels of disruption, with 350,000 operations expected to be cancelled according to the NHS Confederation, which represents hospital trusts. This is double the 175,000 appointments cancelled during the three-day strike in March.

The documents sent to the DHSC last week warned that there could be significant and widespread cancellations to outpatient services, including for people needing life-saving care, such as cancer appointments and chemotherapy. The effects are expected to outstrip by far the impact of the previous strike.

Mental health services are also expected to be more widely affected this time, with fewer doctors to carry out patient assessments on hospital wards. This could lead to unnecessary continued detentions under the Mental Health Act, according to the documents.

Junior doctors are looking for a 35 per cent pay rise (EPA)

There are also expected to be worse delays for mental health patients attending A&E, because of staff shortages. Even in normal circumstances, these patients can be left waiting for days in emergency departments.

With staffing focused on critical and emergency care, there are expected to be delays in doctors signing death certificates, leading to further delays in coroners services and funerals.

To try to minimise the impact of the four-day strike, NHS England is planning to move staff working in community care to emergency services.

During the last junior doctors strike, hospitals experienced the highest levels of emergency demand theyd seen this year.

Health secretary Steve Barclay says the demands of junior doctors are unrealistic (PA Wire)

A checklist sent by the BMA to the NHS for emergency situations includes questions about the pay rates hospitals have offered doctors.

According to the list, which has been seen by The Independent, hospitals are being forced to comply with minimum rates set by the BMA for consultant cover, which can be as high as 260 per hour.

The BMA has asked the government to address a 26 per cent real-terms pay cut to junior doctors wages since 2008-2009, which would require the government to sign off on a 35 per cent pay increase this year.

Health secretary Steve Barclay has described the demand as unrealistic, and said that the strikes had been planned to cause maximum disruption.

This demand is widely out of step with pay settlements in other parts of the public sector at a time of considerable economic pressure on our country, he wrote in The Sunday Telegraph. A salary hike of this size would see some junior doctors receiving more than an extra 20,000 a year, he said.

I recognise their hard work and dedication. But it is deeply disappointing that this industrial action has been timed by the British Medical Association Junior Doctors Committee to cause maximum disruption to both patients and other NHS staff.
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Just hours away from several of India's major tiger reserves in the southern city of Mysuru, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to announce Sunday how much the country's tiger population has recovered since its flagship conservation program began 50 years ago.

Protesters, meanwhile, will tell their own stories of how they have been displaced by such wildlife conservation projects over the last half-century.

Project Tiger began in 1973 after a census of the big cats found Indias tigers were fast going extinct through habitat loss, unregulated sport hunting, increased poaching and retaliatory killing by people. Laws attempted to address those issues, but the conservation model centered around creating protected reserves where ecosystems can function undisturbed by people.

Several Indigenous groups say the conservation strategies, deeply influenced by American environmentalism, meant uprooting numerous communities that had lived in the forests for millennia.

Members of several Indigenous or Adivasi groups  as Indigenous people are known in the country  set up the Nagarahole Adivasi Forest Rights Establishment Committee to protest evictions from their ancestral lands and seek a voice in how the forests are managed.

Nagarahole was one of the first forests to be brought under Project Tiger and our parents and grandparents were probably among the first to be forced out of the forests in the name of conservation, said J. A. Shivu, 27, who belongs to the Jenu Kuruba tribe. We have lost all rights to visit our lands, temples or even collect honey from the forests. How can we continue living like this?

The fewer than 40,000 Jenu Kuruba people are one of the 75 tribal groups that the Indian government classifies as particularly vulnerable. Jenu, which means honey in the southern Indian Kannada language, is the tribes primary source of livelihood as they collect it from beehives in the forests to sell. Adivasi communities like the Jenu Kurubas are among the poorest in India.

Experts say conservation policies that attempted to protect a pristine wilderness were influenced by prejudices against local communities.

The Indian government's tribal affairs ministry has repeatedly said it is working on Adivasi rights. Only about 1% of the more than 100 million Adivasis in India have been granted any rights over forest lands despite a government forest rights law, passed in 2006, that aimed to undo the historical injustice" for forest communities.

Their Indigenous lands are also being squeezed by climate change, with more frequent forest fires spurred by extreme heat and unpredictable rainfall.

India's tiger numbers, meanwhile, are ticking upwards: the country's 2,967 tigers account for more than 75% of the worlds wild tiger population. India has more tigers than its protected spaces can hold, with the cats also now living at the edge of cities and in sugarcane fields.

Tigers have disappeared in Bali and Java and Chinas tigers are likely extinct in the wild. The Sunda Island tiger, the other sub-species, is only found in Sumatra. India's project to safeguard them has been praised as a success by many.

Project Tiger hardly has a parallel in the world since a scheme of this scale and magnitude has not been so successful elsewhere, said SP Yadav, a senior Indian government official in charge of Project Tiger.

But critics say the social costs of fortress conservation  where forest departments protect wildlife and prevent local communities from entering forest regions  is high. Sharachchandra Lele, of the Bengaluru-based Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, said the conservation model is outdated.

"There are already successful examples of forests managed by local communities in collaboration with government officials and tiger numbers have actually increased even while people have benefited in these regions, he said.

Vidya Athreya, the director of Wildlife Conservation Society in India who has been studying the interactions between large cats and humans for the last two decades, agreed.

Traditionally we always put wildlife over people, Athreya said, adding that engaging with communities is the way forward for protecting wildlife in India.

Shivu, from the Jenu Kuruba tribe, wants to go back to a life where Indigenous communities and tigers lived together.

We consider them gods and us the custodians of these forests, he said.

___

Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi, India, contributed to this report.

___

Follow Sibi Arasu on Twitter at @sibi123

___

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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Police are searching for a man who indecently exposed himself and performed a sex act in public in north London.

Detectives have published an e-fit of a man they wish to identify and speak to in connection with the incident in Wood Green.

The man is alleged to have approached two women and a man in Haringey at around 9pm on Thursday.

He then proceeded to expose himself and perform a sex act in front of them, police said.

The suspect then followed the group for a short amount of time before eventually walking away, according to Scotland Yard. The incident took place at Pellat Grove.

PC Lara Ridolfo, from the Mets North Area Command, said: Offences like this one are extremely serious and can have a significant and lasting impact on victims.

I am grateful that the victims in this case came forward. Reporting crimes of this type is vital in order for us to identify and apprehend offenders.

Data released by the Met last September showed that the force charged more than 2,000 people with indecent exposure in the decade to 2020.

The suspect is alleged to have exposed himself and performed a sex act in front of three people in Wood Green (Metropolitan Police)

Freedom of information requests also showed that there were more than 5,000 cases investigated in which no suspect was identified between 2017 and 2021.

Last month, a victim of Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens said that Sarah Everards life could have been saved if police had acted on reports of him exposing himself in the days and months prior to him kidnapping, raping and murdering the 33-year-old in March 2021.

The police officer targeted women at a drive-through restaurant near his home, where he would order cheeseburgers and then expose himself at the serving window.

The incidents were reported to the Metropolitan Police on 28 February 2021, but Couzens was not arrested and abducted Ms Everard three days later.

Scotland Yard apologised last month for not arresting Couzens  who is already serving a whole-life order for murdering Everard  over those crimes, for which he was sentenced to 19 months in prison.

Those with information are asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting reference CAD 8272/02Mar. To remain 100 per cent anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 080 555 111.
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Petrol bombs have been thrown at police in Northern Ireland on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Police chiefs had earlier warned of strong intelligence indicating attacks would be attempted on officers during a parade on Monday, the day before US president Joe Biden arrives in Belfast for a four-day visit.

Footage on social media showed masked teenagers throwing petrol bombs at a police van in the Creggan area of Derry on Easter Monday.

Masked youths attack a police vehicle with petrol bombs in Derrys Creggan area (Getty)

Dissident republican youths at a road block (Getty)

The clip showed numerous projectiles hitting the vehicle  including the front side window  in quick succession and bursting into flames, as fire licked the petrol-soaked ground beneath. The van eventually proceeded to drive away, with one of its rear tyres aflame and its bodywork dented and blackened.

Separate footage showed masked individuals setting up roadblocks, also doused in petrol and flames, with police warning drivers of debris at a roundabout in Eastway, just west of the city centre.

Our officers have come under attack in Creggan with petrol bombs and other objects thrown at their vehicle while in attendance at an un-notified Easter parade, said a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesperson. No injuries have been reported at this time. We would appeal for calm.

The parade, which travelled to the City Cemetery, was led by a number of people in paramilitary-style dress and the route was lined with IRA flags adorned with the words Unfinished Revolution, the Belfast Telegraph reported.

The march culminated at the republican plot in the cemetery, where speeches were heard, with one speaker describing the event as respectful and dignified, paying homage to the revolutionary heroes of 1916 and all the republican dead.

The clashes have taken place on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (Getty Images)

Police had expected trouble (Getty Images)

The citys MP, Colum Eastwood of the SDLP, said the senseless violence is the last thing the people of Derry want to see, adding: It was wrong 25 years ago and it is wrong now.

The saddest part of this spectacle is that young people with no memory or experience of the violence of our past are being manipulated and abused by people with no vision for the future.

Those whipping our kids into a frenzy and sending them out to attack the police have nothing to offer the people of Derry and this city will continue to reject them.

Police had warned of the potential for terror attacks against police officers (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said: Absolute wasters. Sent out to riot by men sitting in pubs acting the big lads, while Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong tweeted: The actions of some who want to drag NI back to dark days is abhorrent.

On Friday assistant chief constable Bobby Singleton said the force has received strong intelligence that dissidents were planning to use the parade as cover to launch terror attacks against officers.

Most parades across Northern Ireland to mark the 1916 rebellion against British rule on Monday were lawful and passed without incident, but police were investigating the masked colour party which led a parade in Falls Road in west Belfast, with footage to be reviewed as part of a probe into potential terrorism offences.

Masked men in paramilitary-style dress formed a colour party carrying the Irish flag and a host of republican flags (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

A dissident republican is seen with petrol bombs as a police vehicle is attacked (Getty Images)

The PSNI has asked for 330 officers from different parts of the UK to assist with the massive security operation taking place during Mr Bidens visit this week, and had already activated Operation Inspire to boost the number of police boots on Northern Irelands streets  which chiefs said was a reflection of the quite difficult and exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in.

While police said there was no intelligence suggesting the Good Friday Agreement anniversary was a motivating factor in potential attacks by dissident republicans, a report on Sunday claimed a bomb plot to coincide with Mr Bidens visit had been foiled in Derry.

They were looking for parts to make a bomb, an anonymous source told the Belfast Telegraph. The belief is that the New IRA was planning some sort of attack to coincide with Bidens visit, similar to the mortar attack on the cops in Strabane last November.

A republican source told the paper that the groups leader Thomas Mellon, had demanded a spectacular way to eclipse Mr Bidens visit, but with all the PSNI raids and Brit searches its likely he will have to settle for a riot on Easter Monday.

MI5 and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre raised the terror threat level in the North of Ireland from substantial to severe in March, following the shooting of detective chief inspector John Caldwell the previous month.
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Four staff members at a shop in Northamptonshire have been hospitalised after being sprayed with a noxious substance.

The victims were attacked with the substance at around 2:40pm on Sunday afternoon in the store in Corby, according to Northamptonshire Police.

The altercation began when staff at the Welland Vale Road Co-op confronted two young males who were behaving suspiciously, police said.

One of the pair then produced an unknown substance and sprayed it at the four staff members before fleeing from the shop, it is alleged.

The staff members, three of whom are women, suffered reddening to the skin and blistering of the mouth.

Paramedics, firefighters and police were all called to the shop, and all four staff members were admitted to hospital for treatment, before later being discharged.

Police are carrying out forensic tests on the clothing to see if they can determine what the noxious substance was.

The force is also appealing for witnesses, with detectives actively seeking the arrest of an identified male.

View more

Attacks with noxious substances rose sharply to a peak in 2017 in the UK, at which point the country had one of the highest rates of attacks per person in the world.

Levels have since decreased, after the laws around the sale of sulphuric acid were tightened and tougher prison sentences for those carrying out attacks with such substances were brought in.

Earlier this month, Scotland Yard said it was investigating a string of burglaries in northwest London in which victims had been sprayed with a corrosive substace after masked men broke into their homes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101, quoting incident 233 of 09/04/2023.
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A former head of the British Army has backed The Independents campaign to stop the threatened deportation of an Afghan war veteran to Rwanda  saying the pilot is a special case for asylum.

Sir Richard Dannatt said there was a flaw in the government policy if Afghans who helped British forces could be deported in the crackdown on small boat crossings.

Clearly there is a flaw in evolving British policy, Lord Dannatt told The Independent. While the pressure is on to reduce small boat crossings, Afghans who have worked with the British, like this pilot, must be a special case.

Sir Richard Dannatt (right) in Afghanistan in 2007 (PA)

Lord Dannatt said the former Afghan force pilot  who fought against and had to flee the Taliban  should be eligible for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) refugee scheme.

The former chief of general staff added: Those in touch with him must advise him to apply for the Arap scheme and not take no for an answer. The Home Office should be passed his details in order to lift him out of the general mass of small boat illegal entrants.

His comments come after charities and MPs criticised the Arap scheme criteria  which states that applicants must have worked directly for the UK government  as being too narrow.

Data shows the scheme has rejected 18,946 Afghans, while just 3,399 have been found eligible. Sarah Fenby, of NGO Global Witness, said hundreds of Afghans who worked alongside British forces are being left behind and massively exposed.

The Afghan pilot  who flew dozens of missions against the Taliban and was praised by his US coalition forces supervisor as a patriot to his nation  claims he has been forgotten.

The Home Office has told him that evidence that he had travelled across Europe before reaching the UK could have consequences for whether your claim is admitted to the UK asylum system, adding: [The pilot] may also be removable to Rwanda.

The former Afghan force pilot fought against the Taliban (The Independent)

But the war veteran said that it had been impossible to make his way to Britain via an authorised scheme, adding: What safe and legal way was there after the fall of Afghanistan?

Former Tory cabinet minister David Davis said there must be a mechanism for looking at the asylum cases of the Afghan pilot and all those who helped British forces in Afghanistan  even if they crossed the Channel in a small boat.

Mr Davis told The Independent: We have a moral responsibility to people who are our allies. There must be a mechanism for looking at his case. There must a mechanism for considering people who put their life on the line.

The former SAS reservist added: It demonstrates we dont have a workable [asylum] policy at the moment. Until you have safe and legal routes its hazardous to do what the government is doing.

 Dominic Raab grilled on Independents Afghan pilot investigation during Today Show

Labours Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, said she had met Afghan military veterans who are now settled in her constituency who remain in limbo about their status in the UK.

Ms Morden said: We owe so much to the Afghan interpreters and military personnel who served alongside our armed forces.

The fact is that some of these men, who risked everything to work alongside the British Army, are having to resort to making treacherous journeys to get to the UK when the governments schemes should be supporting them and not delaying and rejecting them.

Former army captain Mike Crofts, who served two tours in Afghanistan, also backed the campaign  saying it highlighted the inadequacy of the existing refugee routes.

The Independent has launched a petition calling for the UK to support Afghan war heroes who served alongside Britain

The governments abandonment of Afghan soldiers who served the UK cause in Afghanistan is further indictment of a failed approach to immigration, he said.

Mr Crofts added: This case only serves to highlight the motivation behind many using boat crossings. The so-called legal routes into the UK exist only in name.

Rishi Sunak said he would make sure the Home Office has a look at the case of the Afghan pilot. But No 10 refused to comment on the case, or say whether Mr Sunak would respond to the letter the Afghan air force fighter wrote asking for help.

The Home Office has also refused to say whether it would consider removing the deportation threat while it considers his asylum claim  and continues to insist it cannot comment on the plight of an individual.

Labour leader Keir Starmer has said the treatment of the Afghan pilot was a disgrace, while Lord Alf Dubs  a child refugee who fled the Nazis before the Second World War  said the case was absolutely shocking.

Former Nato chief Lord Robertson and Gen Sir Richard Barrons, a former chief of joint operations who served in Afghanistan, are among the military figures urging the government to look into the pilots case.

Meanwhile, polling for The Independent from Savanta ComRes found just 23 per cent voters think the government is giving enough support to desperate Afghans trying to escape their home country after working with Britain.
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A mother has paid tribute to her teenage son who died swimming in a canal over the Easter weekend.

The 14-year-old, named locally as George Lund, was in the water with friends in the Stourton area of Leeds on Saturday afternoon when he got into difficulty.

His friends called the emergency services, and after a search of the canal the boy was pulled from the water about an hour and a half later. He was pronounced dead shortly after.

The heartbreaking note left at the scene by Georges mother (William Lailey/SWNS)

Georges devastated mother was among those to have left heartbreaking messages on the banks of the canal today, which is lined with floral tributes, cards and a teddy bear.

My precious baby boy, rest in eternal peace. Until we meet again. Mum loves you forever and always. Forever 14, her card read.

She was supported by relatives as she visited the lock near to where George died on Saturday afternoon.

I love and miss you so much my gorgeous baby boy. I just need you back, his mother also wrote on Facebook.

Another card left at the scene reads: Smudgey bum, words cant describe how much you will be missed. Love you lots, from Auntie Jam.

Tributes to the precious boy were left at the scene and on social media (William Lailey/SWNS)

A third read: George Thomas Robert Lee Lund, I am so lost without you, my heart is broken, I love you all around the world and back again.

Til we meet again. RIP.

Friends have also paid tribute to the lovely young man on social media.

One well-wisher wrote: He was only 14, found his first love and everything. He had his life ahead of him. Gone too soon.

Another wrote: Gone too soon. You were far too young and such a lovely young man. I hope youre at peace wherever you are watching over your family.

Cards and flowers have been left close to a rowing club and the city of Leeds sea cadets (William Lailey/SWNS)

A third added: Wonderful and very polite lad, will be sadly missed. RIP young man. Much love to his family and girlfriend at this sad time.

The tragedy came as Britons flocked to parks, beaches and beauty spots over the bank holiday weekend to enjoy the spring weather.

George was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of the emergency services (William Lailey/SWNS)

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: At 4.32pm on Saturday, police received a concern for safety report for a male in the canal by Thwaite Lane, Leeds. Emergency services attended and recovered a teenage male from the water.

He received medical attention at the scene, but was sadly pronounced deceased a short time later.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file has been prepared for the coroner.
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India has reportedly halted trade negotiations with Britain in response to a perceived lack of action from Rishi Sunaks government following protests at Indias embassy in London last month.

The Indian government was said to have disengaged from talks on a post-Brexit free trade agreement, which are at an advanced stage, until the British government issues a public condemnation of the Sikh separatist movement whose members vandalised the High Commission of India on Aldwych.

An unnamed UK government source was quoted by The Times as saying India [have] said they dont want to speak about trade, they dont want to do trade negotiations because they think its part of a wider problem of us not taking the attack against the Indian high commission and the wider Sikh separatist movement seriously.

Supporters of the Khalistan movement, which calls for the creation of a separate homeland for the Sikh community carved out of Indias Punjab state, pulled down the Indian flag and smashed windows during the protests earlier in March.

[The] Indians dont want to talk about trade until they get a very public demonstration of condemnation of Khalistan extremism in the UK, the source told The Times.

India has denied stalling the talks, with a government source telling The Independent that the report was baseless.

Similar protests to the one in London have taken place outside Indias embassies in the US and Canada in recent weeks.

They come as the Indian authorities have launched a huge manhunt to arrest the separatist leader Amritpal Singh in Punjab. New Delhi has summoned senior diplomats from the US, Britain, and Canada to complain and demand improved security at the Indian missions in their countries.

Following the London incident, the security barricades were removed from outside the British High Commission in Delhi and the high commissioners residence, in what was widely seen as tit-for-tat action.

Indian officials said at that time that "barricades placed on the pathway towards the commission that created hurdles for commutation have been removed".

A trade department spokesperson told The Times that the recent acts of violence were condemned and the authorities were working with the Metropolitan Police to review security and make changes to ensure the safety of its staff.

The British government had committed  first under Boris Johnson and then under Liz Truss  to reaching a trade deal with India by Diwali 2022, but negotiations were derailed by comments made by Suella Braverman about Indians overstaying their UK visas.

Since then a further setback for UK-India relations has come in the form of a critical BBC documentary that delved into prime minister Narendra Modis alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. Indias tax authorities later raided the BBCs offices in Delhi and Mumbai.

However, Indias commerce minister Piyush Goyal on 30 March insisted the trade talks were "going on very well" and that the issue of trade stands on its own legs.

According to UK government statistics, the UK-India bilateral trading relationship was worth 34bn in 2022  growing by 10bn year-on-year.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the countrys leading industry body, estimates an India-UK free trade deal could boost trade by a further 28bn a year by 2035 and increase wages across the UK by 3bn.
PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has commended the Rwandan government for economic and political advancement, 29 years after the 1994 genocide.

The Head of State made the remarks through the Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Dr Damas Ndumbaro who represented her in a commemoration to mark 29 years of genocide against the Tutsi held in Dar es Salaam.

She said the country under President Paul Kagame has also strengthened its rela- tions with the international community in an effort to ensure that the genocide never happens again.

Dr Ndumbaro said Rwanda is among the coun- tries with fast growing economy and their relation with other countries has also been strengthened, thus it should be recognised and respected.

"President Samia commends the government of Rwanda under President Kagame for its efforts to strengthen development sectors, further collaborating with the international com- munity to ensure that geno- cide does not repeat itself," Dr Ndumbaro said.

He noted that the killings that led to the loss of lives of at least one million people was against human rights and were crimes against humanity.

Dr Ndumbaro said that the media was among the the cause of the genocide calling upon the practitioners to execute their duties by abiding by ethics and avoid reporting information that could insti- gate chaos.

"The media was cited as one among the causes of the genocide, so I urge them not to be the cause of violence or to be an instigator of violence in society," he explained.

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Rwanda High Commissioner to Tanzania, Mr Charles Karamba said purpose of the annual commemorations was to provide awareness to the African people and the international community about the value of life and humanity, to renew Rwandans collective commitment to protect and uphold fundamental human rights.

Mr Karamba said he was pleased with the cooperation between the two countries and supported the efforts shown by the Tanzanian gov- ernment to strengthen the Rwandan economy.

"The Tanzanian govern- ment has been a catalyst in promoting the development in Rwanda as it helps in the development of the economy," he said.

Mr Karamba said there is a need for Tanzania-Rwanda to maintain relationship so as to can avoid the reoccurrence of genocide.

The Rwandan genocide was a mass slaughter of Tutsi and moderate Hutu in Rwanda during the Rwandan Civil War in 1994.

It was directed by members of the Hutu majority government between April 7 and mid-July of that year. Started by Hutu nationalists in the capital of Kigali, the genocide spread throughout the country with shocking speed and brutality, as ordinary citizens were incited by local officials and the Hutu Power government to take up arms against their neighbors. By the time the Tutsi led Rwandese Patriotic Front gained control of the country through a military offensive in early July, hundreds of thousands of Rwandans were dead and 2 million refugees (mainly Hutus) fled Rwanda, exacerbating what had already become a fully blown humanitarian crisis.
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A teenage boy has died after getting into difficulties in a canal while swimming with friends over the Easter weekend.

Police were called to the Stourton area of Leeds on Saturday afternoon along with other emergency services.

Officers and first responders searched the canal and pulled the 14-year-old from the water but he was pronounced dead a short time later despite their efforts.

The canal was searched and a boy - believed to be 14 years old - was pulled from the water but he was pronounced dead a short time later, officers said.

The boy was swimming close to a lock before he disappeared from view, sparking a search by his friends.

They called emergency services who found his body in the lock about an hour and a half later.

A police spokesperson said: At 4.32pm yesterday (Saturday), police received a concern for safety report for a male in the canal by Thwaite Lane, Leeds. Emergency services attended and recovered a teenage male from the water.

He received medical attention at the scene, but was sadly pronounced deceased a short time later. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file has been prepared for the coroner.

The UK experienced warmer weather across the Easter weekend which saw people seeking to enjoy outdoor spaces.

It comes after the Royal Life Society cautioned swimmers after at least 50 people died in drowning incidents in last summers UK heatwave.

Lee Heard, director of the RLSS, said there was a direct correlation between warm weather and an increase in the number of drownings.

Theres an inevitability around the warm weather and the number of people that drown. We dont want people to not go into water to enjoy and learn to swim, but the reason why so many people are drowning is there seems to be a lack of understanding of their ability to swim in open water.

The temperature of open water is significantly cooler than indoor pools, which can lead to cold water shock and less confident swimmers to panic and drown quickly, Mr Heard said.

More follows...
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US President Joe Biden has been very excited about visiting the island of Ireland for quite some time, a White House spokesman has said.

At a White House press briefing, national security council co-ordinator for strategic communications John Kirby outlined the presidents itinerary during his four-day trip, starting on Tuesday.

Mr Kirby said the US president will be greeted by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he arrives in Belfast and they will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Biden will then head to Ulster University to speak about the tremendous progress since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago

It will underscore the readiness of the United States to preserve those gains and support Northern Irelands vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities, he said.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Kirby added: Today, I think you all know is actually the 25th anniversary since the Belfast Good Friday Agreement was signed, ending decades of violence and bringing peace and stability to Northern Ireland.

President Biden cares deeply about Northern Ireland and has a long history of supporting peace and prosperity there.

As a US senator, Joe Biden was an advocate for how the United States could play a constructive role supporting peace,

After his speech at Ulster University, Mr Biden will travel to Co Louth, where his great-grandfather James Finegan was born.

The Finegan family lived there before they crossed the sea to begin a new life in America.

He will tour Carlingford Castle on Wednesday before spending the night in Dublin, said Mr Kirby.

He said Mr Biden will then meet Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday and take part in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell at the presidents official residence, Aras an Uachtarain.

Ireland is a key economic partner of the United States and the United States and Ireland are working closely together to make the global economy more fair White House spokesman

Following that ceremony, he will meet again with the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, whom the president just hosted here for St Patricks Day.

In both meetings, the president will discuss our close co-operation on the full range of shared global challenges.

He will then address a joint session of Irish parliament about US-Irish co-operation to advance democracy, peace, security and prosperity.

Mr Kirby said Mr Biden will attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday.

On Friday he will travel to Co Mayo for the culmination of the trip.

He will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit.

He will then speak at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.

Mr Kirby said the presidents great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827.

Those bricks were used to construct and support the great cathedral and help Edward afford to buy tickets for himself and for his family to sail to America decades later in 1851.

The president is very much looking forward to that trip and to celebrating the deep historic ties that our two countries and our two people continue to share.

Mr Kirby noted the shared connection between the US and Ireland.

As well as the shared deep history between the United States and Ireland, today one in 10 Americans claim Irish ancestry and Irish Americans are proudly represented in every facet of American life.

Ireland is a key economic partner of the United States and the United States and Ireland are working closely together to make the global economy more fair.

Ireland has been a key partner for 21st century challenges as well and the Irish Government has been strong supporters of Ukraine providing vital non-lethal assistance including medical supplies, body armour, and support for Ukraines electric grid, as well as their agriculture.

They have supported EU sanctions on Russia and the people of Ireland have generously welcomed nearly 80,000 Ukrainians offering refuge to those who were forced to flee their homes in search of safety.

Asked about recent violence in Northern Ireland, Mr Kirby said the president was grateful for the work that Northern Irelands security forces have done and continue to do to protect all communities.

Hes again very much looking forward to going to Belfast, he said.

As for security concerns, you know we dont ever talk about security requirements of protecting the president but the president is more than comfortable making this trip and hes very excited to do it, he added.

Asked about timing the visit while Northern Irelands institutions were suspended, Mr Kirby reiterated that the trip was timed for the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

An agreement that the president has a personal connection to and obviously is very, very proud to see this has really changed lives and livelihoods in Northern Ireland.
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A letter to the US attorney general has been signed by 35 parliamentarians calling for extradition proceedings to be dropped against Julian Assange on the fourth anniversary of his detention at Belmarsh prison.

Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds East, organised the letter, which has been given the support of MPs and members of the House of Lords from six parties.

They call on Merrick Garland to drop the proceedings, which date back to former US president Donald Trumps administration and, it is claimed, relate to Assanges role as a journalist and publisher in publishing evidence of war crimes, corruption and human rights abuses.

Assange is being held on remand as he challenges the High Courts ruling that he should be extradited to the US to face trial after leaking military documents.

Mr Burgon said: British parliamentarians are increasingly alarmed by the potential extradition of Julian Assange to the United States.

Any extradition would, in effect, be putting press freedom on trial. It would set a dangerous precedent for journalists and publishers around the world.

Four years on since Julian Assange was first detained in Belmarsh high-security prison, now is the right moment to draw a line under this outrageous prosecution initiated by the Trump administration, drop the charges against Julian Assange and allow him to return home to Australia.

Signatories include Conservative MP David Davis, Caroline Lucas of the Green Party, Jeremy Corbyn, Angus MacNeil of the Scottish National Party and Liz Saville-Roberts of Plaid Cymru.

The letter says: If Mr Assange were to be extradited to the United States, he faces a prison sentence of up to 175 years for his publishing work which was carried out in the United Kingdom and in partnership with globally leading news outlets.

This would clearly have a chilling impact on journalism and would set a dangerous precedent for other journalists and media organisations. It would also undermine the USs reputation on freedom of expression and the rule of law.
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First-time buyers have faced a nearly 500-a-month increase in mortgage bills due to soaring rates under Liz Trusss government, Labour research has found.

Monthly payments, based on the two-year fixed rate and average advance for those looking to get a mortgage for the first time, rose from 837 in January 2022 to 1,303 in December, according to the partys analysis.

Unfunded tax cuts in then-prime minister Ms Trusss mini-budget last September sent the value of the pound tumbling and drove up mortgage rates, although they have started to reduce in recent weeks.

The Tory mortgage penalty is devastating family finances, destroying dreams and holding back our economy Rachel Reeves

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves will repeat Labours pledge to help more first-time buyers onto the ladder when she visits a community bank in Brighton on Tuesday.

The plans include giving them first dibs on new-built homes, a mortgage guarantee scheme, and an end to entire developments being sold off-plan to overseas investors.

Labour, which is pitching itself as the party of home ownership in the run-up to the May local elections, would also reform planning and compulsory purchase rules to build more affordable homes.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Ms Reeves said: The Tory mortgage penalty is devastating family finances, destroying dreams and holding back our economy.

There is so much promise and potential in Britain, that we can unlock if we can have a government that will put working people first and get the economy growing.

That is what Labour will always do. Right now, wed be freezing council tax, funded by a proper windfall tax on oil and gas giants to help ease the cost-of-living crisis facing so many.

And as the party of home ownership, wed be putting in place a plan to help make those hopes of home ownership realised.
The governments prediction that its Brexit trade deal with Asia-Pacific countries will grow the economy by 0.08 per cent may be an overestimate, it has emerged.

Officials working on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) deal changed their usual approach to calculating the GDP figure and instead used a new model that generates larger estimated GDP impacts, according to the governments own documentation.

Trade secretary Kemi Badenoch last week responded to mockery of the low figure, which amounts to a 1.8bn economic boost, by saying her department's estimate was probably too low and ignored some benefits.
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Rishi Sunak has called for the swift return of power-sharing in Northern Ireland ahead of a visit by US president Joe Biden.

The prime minister said he was ready to "ensure the institutions are up and running again as soon as possible" ahead of meetings with Mr Biden.

The US head of state is due step off Airforce One on Tuesday evening, marking the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

The White House last week said the visit to Belfast would mark the tremendous progress since the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago and to underscore the readiness of the United States to support Northern Irelands vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities".

It comes after the UK government and EU managed to strike a deal to resolve deadlock over the Northern Ireland border.

But the territory is still without a government, as the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is refusing to drop a boycott of the devolved assembly at Stormont.

The DUP wants further changes to the agreement to eliminate barriers to trade across the Irish Sea.

Mr Biden is expected to make several stops north and south of the Irish border, including a visit to Dublin where ehe will address Irish parliamentarians and meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 / 50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 21 April 2023 A demonstrator wears a costume as people protest during the Extinction Rebellion's 'The Big One' event, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 20 April 2023 The funeral cortege of Paul OGrady travels through the village of Aldington, Kent ahead of his funeral at St Rumwolds Church PA UK news in pictures 19 April 2023 Georgia Harrison, who was a victim of revenge porn, at a demonstration organised by Refuge outside the Houses of Parliament, calling for a violence against women and girls code of practice to be added to the Online safety bill PA UK news in pictures 18 April 2023 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Tree Orchard at Alnwick Gardens in Alnwick, Northumberland Reuters UK news in pictures 17 April 2023 A pelican sits in St Jamess Park, London PA UK news in pictures 16 April 2023 People take part in the Nagar Kirtan procession through the city centre in Southampton, during Vaisakhi celebrations to mark the birth of the Khalsa and to celebrate the spring harvest and the solar new year PA UK news in pictures 15 April 2023 Former Chelsea players and fans show the Samaritans' 24-hour helpline number 116 123 on the back of their shirts during the launch of the TalkMoreThanFootball campaign from Three, during halftime of Chelsea v Brighton at Stamford Bridge, London PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2023 Protesters outside York Magistrates Court, where Patrick Thelwell is charged with threatening behaviour after eggs were thrown at King Charles III during his visit to York in November PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2023 British milliner Justin Smith, from J. Smith Esquire, with a crown he has created using 319 Scrabble tiles to mark Scrabble's 75th anniversary and King Charles III's coronation PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2023 US President Joe Biden delivers a speech on business development at Ulster University in Belfast AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 11 April 2023 People take part in a rally in Trafalgar Square in London, in support of striking NHS junior doctors, as the British Medical Association holds a 96-hour walkout in a dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 10 April 2023 Masked people attack a police vehicle with petrol bombs in Derrys Creggan area on on 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2023 People taking part in the annual procession in Glasgow as part of the Sikh Vaisakhi celebration to celebrate the Birth of the Sikh Nation PA UK news in pictures 8 April 2023 Visitors dressed in costumes during the Star Wars Celebration at the ExCel London in east London PA UK news in pictures 7 April 2023 Lorries queue to enter the Port of Dover in Dover, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 April 2023 Seating being erected on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, central London, ahead of King Charles IIIs Coronation. PA UK news in pictures 5 April 2023 Police officers stand guard outside the home of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow, Scotland Getty UK news in pictures 4 April 2023 Workers protest outside Google London HQ over the treatment of staff facing redundancies PA UK news in pictures 3 April 2023 Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union on the picket line outside the Passport Office in east London, as more than 1,000 members of the PCS working in passport offices in England, Scotland and Wales begin a five week strike as part of the civil service dispute PA UK news in pictures 2 April 2023 Coaches wait to enter the Port of Dover in Kent after extra sailings were run overnight to try and clear the backlog which has left passengers stuck in Easter traffic for hours PA UK news in pictures 1 April 2023 Waves crash against the lighthouse in Seaham Harbour, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 31 March 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Darlington Council leader Jonathan Dulston, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Darlington MP Peter Gibson in Firth Moor during a visit to Darlington, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 30 March 2023 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner travel by train to the launch of the Labour Party's campaign for the May local elections in Swindon PA UK news in pictures 29 March 2023 Newborn Grevys zebra Lola, who was born during the early hours of March 17 to 12-year-old mum, Akuna, at West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 28 March 2023 Drag Queen Dross poses during a media event launching the Eurovision EuroFestival programme, in Liverpool EPA UK news in pictures 27 March 2023 The new leader of the Scottish National Party and former Health Secretary Humza Yousaf speaks after he is announced at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland EPA UK news in pictures 26 March 2023 Caoimhe Dempsey throws her welly to the shore as Cambridge University board their boat prior to The Gemini Boat Race 2023 Getty UK news in pictures 24 March 2023 Brian Cox opens the London Stock Exchange to celebrate Succession Season 4, which premieres on streaming service NOW and Sky PA UK news in pictures 23 March 2023 The Milky Way core rises at 3am over Bamburgh Lighthouse in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 22 March 2023 Emergency teams attend the scene after a ship tipped over at the Leith dry dock in Edinburgh, Scotland Tomafc83 UK news in pictures 21 March 2023 Sir David Attenborough plants a tree, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, for The Queen's Green Canopy in Richmond Park with school children from across London PA UK news in pictures 20 March 2023 The Superlambanana sculpture outside the Avril Robarts Library of Liverpool John Moores University painted in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, ahead of the city hosting the Eurovision Song Contest PA UK news in pictures 19 March 2023 Undated hanBumblebee nectaring on pink cherry blossom at Sheringham Park in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 18 March 2023 Ugandas Husnah Kukundakwe in action during the Womens MC 50m Butterfly heats on day three of the Citi Para Swimming World Series at Ponds Forge, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 March 2023 The Prince and Princess of Wales laugh as they arrive for a visit to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards for the St Patricks Day Parade, at Mons Barracks in Aldershot PA UK news in pictures 16 March 2023 Actor Ed McVey, who plays the part of Prince William, on set in between filming scenes at the harbour for the next season of The Crown in St Andrews, Scotland PA UK news in pictures 15 March 2023 Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt gestures as he poses with the budget box at Downing Street in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 14 March 2023 Sir Dr. Brian May, musician, songwriter and animal Welfare Advocate, from Windlesham, is made a Knight Bachelor by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace PA UK news in pictures 13 March 2023 Demonstrators take part in a protest by junior doctors, amid a dispute with the government over pay, outside of Saint Thomas Hospital, in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 12 March 2023 A convoy of 374 Tractors make their way through Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire during the Knaresborough Tractor Run PA UK news in pictures 11 March 2023 A Dachshund miniature strides across the judging ring on day three of Crufts at the NEC Arena in Birmingham Getty UK news in pictures 10 March 2023 Cars are driven along a snow-covered road in Lever Causeway, near Birkenhead, north west England AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 March 2023 A woman walks past the Beatles statue in the snow at Pier Head in Liverpool as the Met Office has issued an amber warning for strong winds bringing blizzard conditions and up to 40cm of snow in some areas. 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Asked about the power sharing issue, Mr Varadkar told RTE's This Week programme."We're working towards having the institutions up and running in the next few months."

Mr Sunak meanwhile said: "While it is time to reflect on the solid progress we have made together, we must also recommit to redoubling our efforts on the promise made in 1998 and the agreements that followed."
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Emily Thornberry has defended a Labour attack advert aimed at Rishi Sunak, as Keir Starmer doubles down on the campaign despite backlash from his own MPs.

Labour released the social media campaign last week, accusing the prime minister of not wanting child sex abusers to go to jail, citing data showing thousands had avoided prison since 2010.

The approach caused outrage and critics pointed out that Sir Keir himself had sat on the sentencing council in 2012 when the relevant sentencing guidelines were produced, while Mr Sunak had not been in public life.

Labour is doubling down on attack strategy in wake of outcry over social media advert (Labour)

In tense exchanges on BBC Radio 4 Today shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry was told Mr Starmer had been a member of the body that set the existing rules that say not all such offenders should be locked up.

Pressed three times to say if Mr Starmer had objected when the decision was made she said she didnt know.

The figures highlighted by Labour cover the period since 2010, five years before Mr Sunak entered Parliament.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday Ms Thornberry said the adverts were based on "objective fact" and that Mr Sunak was in a position to change policy.

Interviewer Justin Webb pointed out that former director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Starmer, was a member of the sentencing council that set the guidelines in 2012 that he is now attacking Mr Sunak for.

After repeatedly trying to avoid answering Ms Thornberry said: I wasnt at the meeting and I dont know what you are talking about.

She came under further pressure after saying Labour would lock up all child sex offenders - but would not build more prisons.

When it was suggested that voters would see through Labours stance on the issue, Ms Thornberry denied it was contradictory stating: We are a party of optimism.

Ms Thornberry was also forced to admit she did not know what proportion of child sex offenders are jailed.

Emily Thornberry defended the attack ad (PA Archive)

Writing in the Daily Mail, Labour leader Sir Keir said he refused "to just stand by or avoid calling this what it is" regardless of how "squeamish" it made people feel.

The opposition is expected to launch more adverts attacking Mr Sunak, this time blaming him for "crashing the economy".

Critics within Labour have questioned the party's approach.

Former home secretary Lord David Blunkett called for the ad to be withdrawn, arguing that Labour is better than "gutter" politics.

And former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: "Nobody in Labour is squeamish about talking about crime and the failure of Conservative governments to ensure peoples safety but, if its to be a serious debate, personal smears and Daily Mail-style distortions shouldnt distract from stating the hard facts."

A new poll by Redfield and Wilton Strategies released on Monday reported the narrowest Labour lead since Rishi Sunak became prime minister.

The opposition are still 14 per cent ahead on 44% (-1) with the Conservatives on 30% (+2) and Liberal Democrats on 10% (-2).
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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.
Dodoma  EMPOWERMENT through Skills Programme (ESP) in partnership with Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) have signed an agreement with community-based organisation and folk development colleges to implement awareness raising on gender equality and human rights.

The agreements were signed over the weekend whereas the CBO attended a three days orientation workshop from there they will be trainers of trainers since they have the potential to transform the lives of men, women, boys, and girls in communities across the country.

Given their strategic position in the communities and their mandate for social change within the CICan Empowerment through Skills Program (ESP), CBO and folk development colleges they were provided with sustainable capacity building training on gender equality, human rights, leadership, governance and accountability. CiCan Senior technical advisor, Dr Alice Mumbi said the aim of the orientation workshop was to develop a shared understanding of ESP's Train-the-Trainer Resource Toolkit (ToT) whose modules are simple, interesting, and tailored to the needs of each district in terms of community awareness-raising and demography.

She mentioned some of the areas cov- ered in the toolkit as gender equality, human rights, psychosocial support and counseling, the principles of adult learn- ing and overarchingly, the importance of improved economic participation by women and adolescent girls in the country.

In her opening remarks, the assistant director of Folk Development Colleges in the ministry of education, science and technology, Ms Margaret Mussai, called upon the participants use the knowledge to transform the lives of women, men, youth and other community stakeholders through the critical work.

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After the workshop, CBO Trainers through the agreement signed will further cascade the community awareness raising sessions in their respective communities and institutions. Girls, women, men, boys, and other groups such as boda boda drivers, daladala drivers, traditional, political, and religious leaders, parents, and teenage moms are among the target demographics for increas- ing awareness and advocating for change.

The Empowerment through Skills Program is a seven-year program (2021- 2028) implemented by Colleges and Institutes Canada in close collaboration with Tanzania's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

The Empowerment through Skills Program is funded by the government of Canada (Global Affairs Canada and will strengthen alternative pathways to educa- tion, employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship for women and adolescent girls.

Working with 12 Folk Development Colleges (FDCs) and 12 Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in 12 communities across Tanzania, ESP aims to increase rates of participation among women and adolescent girls in skills training programs and improve access to business, skills, gender, and human rights training in their communities.

The Program will also expand oppor- tunities in the informal and formal sectors through post-training support to transition to employment or Self-employment.
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Ethnic and religious minorities in the UK are suffering strikingly high levels of abuse, according to a major survey into race equality.

The research by the universities of St Andrews, Manchester and Kings College London found more than one in three people from minority backgrounds have experienced racially motivated physical or verbal abuse.

Released this week in a book called Racism and Ethnic Inequality in a Time of Crisis, the two-year research  which has been seen by The Guardian  discovered widespread inequality and racial discrimination at work, education, housing and dealings with police.

The study was headed by Nissa Finney, professor of human geography at St Andrews, who said it proved racism was part of daily lives.

She said: The UK is immeasurably far from being a racially just society. The kinds of inequality we see in our study would not be there if we had a really just society.

More than 14,000 people from 21 ethnic groups  which included white British  were questioned for the Economic and Social Research Council-funded survey between February and October 2021.

Among the findings, the survey found more than a quarter of those from minority ethnic groups had experienced racial insults with almost one in three experiencing racism in a public place.

One in six reported suffering racism from neighbours while 17% had suffered damaged property in racist attacks.

Among minority ethnic and religious groups, one in six said they had been victims of racist physical assault prior to the coronavirus pandemic  a figure which increases to one in five Jewish people and more than one in three from Gypsy, Traveller and Roma respondents.

The kinds of inequality we see in our study would not be there if we had a really just society. Professor Nissa Finney

Other findings saw 29% of respondents from ethnic and religious minorities say they had experienced racial discrimination in both education and employment, almost a fifth reporting the same in the search for housing.

Discrimination in dealings with the police was reported by more than one in five of all respondents, but that soared to 43% among black Caribbean groups and more than one in three of those from Gypsy, Traveller and Roma groups.

Overcrowding housing and lack of outdoor space at home were also common responses in the survey.

It found 60% of Roma families lived in overcrowded conditions with a quarter of Pakistani and Arab people reporting the same.

Despite the stark findings of inequality, the survey found a sizeable majority of minority groups felt a strong sense of belonging to British society alongside a deep attachment to their ethnic identity.

That sense of belonging is reflected in higher levels of trust than white British people in Parliament and devolved governments, which were elevated during the pandemic when ethnic minorities had an increased chance of contracting Covid-19.

The survey found ethnic minority groups were more likely to experience bereavement related to Covid-19 while Chinese and Asian groups reported a rise in abuse during the pandemic.

And it also found a high degree of political engagement among ethnic minority groups.

Jewish respondents said they were more likely to vote Conservatives with Labour more popular among black African, black Caribbean and Pakistani groups and Liberal Democrats attracting support from Chinese and white Irish and eastern European groups.
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The significance of the historic Good Friday Agreement is to be remembered on Easter Monday as it reaches its 25th anniversary.

As part of the events marking the milestone, Ulster University has launched the programme 25@25, where 25 recent graduates will be chosen for training opportunities based on their commitment to Northern Irelands future.

The anniversary date comes after commemorative events took place on Good Friday, the holy day the landmark peace deal was agreed.

Victims and survivors of The Troubles watched the sunrise over a Co Down beach and a ceremony took place at Stormont Buildings, where architects of the agreement reflected on its significance.

The anniversary of the diplomatic achievement comes as the powersharing institutions it paved the way for 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 Protocol, Stormont has not returned.

Commenting on the anniversary, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised the bravery, perseverance, and political imagination of those who had taken difficult decisions on April 10 1998, as he encouraged Stormont to be revived.

While it is time to reflect on the solid progress we have made together, we must also recommit to redoubling our efforts on the promise made in 1998 and the agreements that followed, he said.

Speaking on Sunday, Irish premier Leo Varadkar said that he would intensify his engagement with Mr Sunak in a push to restore the powersharing institutions  based on a lesson he learned from the peace negotiations.

One thing Ive been struck by watching all the documentaries around the history of the Good Friday Agreement was the extent to which the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister had to be in lock-step, and now that we have the agreement on the protocol, I think its possible to do that, he said.

It comes after police in Northern Ireland warned of the potential for dissident republicans attacking officers in Londonderry on Easter Monday.

Senior detectives said strong intelligence had indicated that public disorder could be used to launch attacks on officers in the city  though they added they had no indication this was a result of the GFA anniversary.

The heightened security risk also comes a day before US President Joe Biden is to visit Belfast in a trip that is to focus on commemorating a quarter century of 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.
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Pressure on the school inspections system in England continues to mount as teachers called for the end of Ofsteds reign of terror.

A motion calling for Ofsted to be abolished was approved at the NASUWTs annual conference in Glasgow on Monday.

It joins the National Education Union (NEU) in calling for an immediate freeze of inspections to allow for full mental health assessments to be carried out on teachers and school leaders.

Union delegates told the conference they live and work in fear of inspections which rate schools in England between outstanding and inadequate.

It comes after the death of Ruth Perry, headteacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, who killed herself in January while awaiting an Ofsted report which downgraded her school from the highest rating to the lowest possible.

Gherie Wedeyesus, a teacher from Brent, north-west London, said: Its about time we said enough is enough. You cannot label a whole school including the leadership, educators and the pupils as one word  inadequate.

Lets put an end to this peddler of misery. Lets end this reign of terror and abolish Ofsted.

Meanwhile, proposer Martin Hudson, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, said: Ofsted is the scourge of the classroom and the destroyer of teachers.

He added: Theres a genuine and deep-seated fear of Ofsted amongst teachers and this is completely unacceptable.

Julie Parkin, of the same branch, said school leaders and teachers are placed under immeasurable pressure as they prepare for inspections.

Members are expected to remain in school until ridiculous hours of that night before in order to ensure everything is in place Julie Parkin

She said: Members are expected to remain in school until ridiculous hours of that night before in order to ensure everything is in place.

And thats without the months of preparation beforehand, even when those headteachers dont have those requirements of staff.

The members themselves are made to feel that they should be upholding their part in proceedings, feeling that they cant be seen to be letting the side down.

The fear of dropping grades to requires improvement or, worse, inadequate and special measures leads to an increasing workload.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has also indicated that it could take legal action against Ofsted following its failure to suspend inspections after Ms Perrys death.

Our inspectors are all former or current school leaders who fully understand the pressures of the role. We always want inspections to be constructive and collaborative, and in the vast majority of cases school leaders agree that they are Ofsted

The motion carried by the NASUWT union acknowledged that the perceived demands of Ofsted are the major contributor to the excessive workload and bureaucracy that blights the lives of teachers.

It instructed the unions national executive to work with other education unions to call for an immediate freeze and launch a campaign for the abolition of the inspections system in its current form, replacing it with a supportive framework.

An Ofsted spokesman declined to comment on the NASUWTs proposals, but said: Inspections are first and foremost for children and their parents  looking in depth at the quality of education, behaviour and how well, and safely, schools are run.

Our inspectors are all former or current school leaders who fully understand the pressures of the role. We always want inspections to be constructive and collaborative, and in the vast majority of cases school leaders agree that they are.

The watchdog also said it does not grade individual teachers or lessons, with the new inspection framework focusing on the curriculum and what children are learning.
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At least 800 couples walked down the aisle on Easter Sunday in one of the biggest mass wedding ceremonies in South Africa.

The International Pentecostal Holiness Church conducts mass nuptials three times a year, including Easter, in December, and during the churchs 1962 foundation celebrations in September.

The ceremony took place at the International Pentecostal Holiness Churchs Jerusalem congregation, 100km (62 miles) north of Johannesburg.

The church blesses polygamous unions, which are common in some African communities, and says are authorised by the Bible, reported Reuters.

With a membership of over three million, the church is one of the largest congregations in the country.

At the ceremony on Sunday current wives wore colourful attire, while first-time brides wore traditional white dresses.

Its a special day, I am very happy. I really, really appreciate this moment of being part of the Mahluku family. Its a great feeling, Lebogile Mamatela, 38, a government employee who became the second wife to the father of her child was quoted as saying.

Her new husband, Roto Mahluku, 40, joined the church and has three children with his first wife Ditopa Mahluku, who he married 16 years ago.

Mr Mahluku joined the church in 1993.

According to Ms Mahluku her husbands second marriage was fulfilling what God has created for us, fulfilling the scripture that says women will be leaning towards one man.

Sundays ceremony was held under tight security with armed guards and metal detectors being used to screen the congregation.

The celebration comes amid a leadership crisis that has embroiled the church.

The succession battle between three brothers began after the death in 2016 of the churchs leader, Glayton Modise.

According to local media reports a shoot-out took place at the church in 2018, two years after Modises death.

In 2020 five people died during a siege at another church of the congregation amid a feud between different factions.

A court last year dismissed the case against the 42 accused in the case.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Four people have been killed and at least nine others have been wounded in a shooting at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

The shooter died after exchanging gunfire with police at about 8.30am, Deputy Police Chief Paul Humphrey said on Monday, but he added that its unclear if the gunman, who appeared to be an employee, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or by gunfire from officers.

Mr Humphrey said at an 11am press conference that at approximately 8.30 this morning, Louisville MetroSafe received a report of shots fired and a possible active shooter at 333 East Main Street at the Old National Bank.

Within three minutes of being dispatched, officers arrived on scene and encountered the suspect almost immediately, still firing gun gunshots, he said. Officers exchanged gunshots with that suspect and ultimately the suspect did die at the scene. We're trying to confirm if the suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound or was killed by officers at this time.

At least two officers were shot during this exchange of gunfire, Mr Humphrey said. One is currently in surgery at University Louisville Hospital.

At least four more victims were confirmed to be deceased inside the location as well as eight that are now currently being treated at the University Hospital  two are critical, one of those being the officer, the deputy chief said.

He added that the processing of the scene would continue into the night.

WKLY reported later that nine people had been taken to hospital and that three had been able to leave.

Mr Humphrey said theres no active threat and that the shooter is believed to be a lone gunman, adding that he did have a connection to the bank.

Were trying to establish what their connection was to the business but it appears he was a previous employee, he said, later adding that he may have been currently employed at the bank in some form.

It is clear from the officers response that they absolutely saved people's lives. This is a tragic event. But it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened, he said.

Mayor Craig Greenberg told the press that I want everyone in the city to know that notwithstanding tragedies like today, multiple people are killed by gun violence. Notwithstanding tragedies when individuals are killed by gun violence, our community will continue to come together.

This photo provided by Reid Cornell shows police presence near the scene of a shooting in Louisville (AP)

We will find ways to love and support one another and the families and friends who have been directly impacted by these acts of gun violence. And we will come together as a community to work to prevent these horrific acts of gun violence from continuing here and around the state, he added.

LMPD made it to this scene in a matter of minutes after receiving the call and there is no doubt in my mind that their efforts saved lives and they put their own on the line, Governor Andy Beshear said.

He grew emotional when he spoke at the briefing, saying that he had a very close friend who didnt make it today, and I have another close friend who didnt either and one who's at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through.

So when we talk about praying, I hope people will for those that we are hoping can make it through the surgeries that they're going through. And then we've got to do what we have done these last three years after everything  We've got to wrap our arms around these families and everybody who needs it, Mr Beshear said.

Don't be afraid to get some help, he added. Our bodies and our minds are not meant to go through these types of tragedies and so I hope that all the brave officers that stepped into the line of fire that are worried about one of their fellow officers reach out for help when they need it.

This photo provided by Reid Cornell shows police presence near the scene of the shooting (AP)

I hope every one of those bank employees and folks in that building one that I know well and my [attorney general] campaign was out of that building. Virtually everyone in it, that's my bank. I hope that they will all reach out and get the help that they need, the governor said.

WLKY reported that the husband of an employee at Old National Bank received a call from his spouse from inside the vault during the active shooting.

I got a call from my wife panicking that she was locked in the vault, that there was an active shooter in the building and call 911. By the time I got a hold of 911, they were already aware of it, Caleb Goodlett told the local TV station.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks with police (via REUTERS)

I was approaching the scene right as the first officers were approaching the scene. No time wasted  they attempted to breach the building first. They were unsuccessful on the first breach. They backed off, pushed us back, he said. We got people out of their cars in the middle of the street. And then we saw another round go back into the building. We heard multiple shots and then everything got quiet.

Mr Goodlett said I've never been a part of this before.

You know, you watch the news. You see everything go down. You think of how you would handle this situation ... within your family. Me and her have had that conversation several times. Hit the panic button, go to the vault. Dont fight, don't do anything, lock yourself up, hide, and let it go, he said.

Two unnamed officials also told NBC News that the shooting is being investigated as a workplace violence situation by an employee who suffered from mental health issues.
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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear choked up during a press conference after a shooting at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky that left five people dead, including the shooter, and nine people wounded, including two officers.

The Democrat said he had a very close friend who didnt make it today, and I have another close friend who didnt either and one whos at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through.

Mr Beshear added during a second press briefing later on Monday that he had received incorrect information earlier in the day and that one of his friends had survived.

I'm grateful for an incredibly quick response, he said. From LMPD, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Louisville Fire and Rescue, Louisville Metro EMS, getting to this scene in three minutes. I'm convinced saved other people's lives and I know saved two other of my friends.

One I received incorrect information this morning I thought was gone. And I started to mourn and now I know he's okay. And one I got to see in the ER that while it's gonna take him a while to heal, it was so good to see my friend. See him there with his wife and know he is still with us, he added.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Beshear said, when we talk about praying, I hope people will for those that we are hoping can make it through the surgeries that theyre going through. And then weve got to do what we have done these last three years after everything  Weve got to wrap our arms around these families and everybody who needs it.

Dont be afraid to get some help, he added. Our bodies and our minds are not meant to go through these types of tragedies and so I hope that all the brave officers that stepped into the line of fire that are worried about one of their fellow officers reach out for help when they need it.

I hope every one of those bank employees and folks in that building, one that I know well and my [attorney general] campaign was out of that building. Virtually everyone in it, thats my bank. I hope that they will all reach out and get the help that they need, the governor said.

The shooter died after exchanging gunfire with police at about 8.30am, Deputy Police Chief Paul Humphrey said on Monday.

Mr Humphrey said at an 11am press conference that at approximately 8.30 this morning, Louisville MetroSafe received a report of shots fired and a possible active shooter at 333 East Main Street at the Old National Bank.

Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky, speaks during a news conference after a gunman opened fire at the Old National Bank building (Getty Images)

Within three minutes of being dispatched, officers arrived on scene and encountered the suspect almost immediately, still firing gun gunshots, he said. Officers exchanged gunshots with that suspect and ultimately the suspect did die at the scene.

At least two officers were shot during this exchange of gunfire, Mr Humphrey said. One is currently in surgery at University Louisville Hospital.

At least four more victims were confirmed to be deceased inside the location as well as eight that are now currently being treated at the University Hospital  two are critical, one of those being the officer, the deputy chief said.

He added that the processing of the scene would continue into the night.

WKLY reported later that nine people had been taken to hospital and that three had been able to leave.

Mr Humphrey said theres no active threat and that the shooter is believed to be a lone gunman, adding that he did have a connection to the bank.

Beshear speaks with police deploying at the scene of the shooting (via REUTERS)

Two unnamed officials also told NBC News that the shooting is being investigated as a workplace violence situation by an employee who suffered from mental health issues.
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One person has been killed and ten others were injured after a 13-year-old boy led a police chase in a stolen car.

Police officers in Woodland, California, spotted the vehicle being driven erratically on Saturday afternoon, the department said in a statement.

The driver did not follow commands by police to pull over, prompting a chase and ultimately crashing at an intersection. The minor rammed into two other vehicles causing them to catch fire.

The fire department and four ambulances responded to the scene. One woman was pronounced dead, according to NBC News.

The extent of the surviving victims injuries are unknown but a toddler was airlifted to hospital.

We were cleaning in our yard and just heard kind of a big bang, one resident told NBC.

Police believe the 13-year-old stole the vehicle from a family member. An investigation by the California Highway Patrol is now underway.

The teenager has not been identified.

Investigators have determined that the driver of the vehicle that the officer was following is a 13-year-old boy who was driving a stolen car, police said in a statement.

The Independent has reached out to the Woodland Police Department for comment.
 Close Bob Lee, former Square chief technology officer and Cash App founder, killed in San Francisco

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Cash app founder Bob Lee was allegedly stabbed following an argument about his suspected killers sister, according to court papers.

Nima Momeni, 38, is accused of stabbing the 43-year-old tech executive three times with a four-inch kitchen knife, including twice in the chest, the documents state, according to NBC News.

Prosecutors say that at some point during the incident, Mr Momenis sister sent a text to Lee, which stated, Just wanted to make sure your doing ok Cause know nima came wayyyyyy down hard on you.

Nima Momeni appeared in court for the first time on Friday after the case sparked a furious debate about public safety in San Francisco.

The suspect was wearing an orange sweatshirt and sweatpants as his sister and another woman held up their hands in the shape of a heart as the suspect smiled at them.

The facts will come out, whats basically in the press is inaccurate, Mr Momenis stand-in lawyer told the press.

In a press conference announcing Mr Momenis arrest for murder on Thursday, San Francisco officials confirmed that the two men knew each other but declined to provide details.

Lees family friend later told The San Francisco Chronicle that the two tech executives are thought to have known each other through Mr Momenis sister, who Lee had recently gotten to know.

The two men were hanging out together on the night of the fatal stabbing, the friend said.
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When does self-defence end and aggression begin? Does the right to bear arms apply to everyone, or just certain kinds of people in certain kinds of situations? Is a liberal protesters life as much as a conservative Army veterans? Who controls the local justice system?

These are some of the questions being raised by the case of Daniel Perry, a US Army sergeant who was found guilty on Friday of murdering Black Lives Matter demonstrator Garrett Foster, who was also armed, during 2020 racial justice protests in Austin.

Normally, a jury verdict, like the unanimous one in Austin on Friday, would be the end of things, but conservatives are pressuring Texas governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, to give Perry, 37, an unprecedented criminal pardon.

By all indications, Mr Abbott is ready to offer him one.

The governor wrote in a statement on Saturday he would sign off on a pardon, which first needs to be recommended by a state board, as soon as it hits my desk, praising Texas for having one of the strongest Stand Your Ground laws of self-defence that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney.

The proposal has been harshly criticised by some.

Austin-based state senator Sarah Eckhardt told the Texas Tribune a pardon would be a stunning and dangerous abrogation of the rule of law that will embolden more armed confrontations and inevitable tragedies.

Travis County district attorney Jose Garza, whose office prosecuted Perry, called the pardon promise deeply troubling.

In our legal system, a jury that gets to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent  not the Governor, Mr Garza said in a statement.

I might have to kill a few people on my way to work

On 25 July, 2020, Perry was working as an Uber driver in Austin, during a summer filled with numerous racial justice protests across US cities following the murder of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis smothered to death by police officers who knelt on his neck.

Booking photograph of Daniel Perry (Austin Police Department)

The month prior, Perry wrote on social media, I might have to kill a few people on my way to work, they are rioting outside my apartment complex.

Can you legally do so? a friend responded, according to evidence presented in court.

If they attack me or try to pull me out of my car then yes, the Army sergeant said.

On the night of 25 July, Perry, who admitted he had been texting and driving distractedly, ran a red light and drove into the thick of a crowd of Black Lives Matter demonstrators, nearly hitting Whitney Mitchell, a quadruple amputee.

Among the crowd was Mitchells husband, 28-year-old Garrett Foster, an Air Force veteran, who was openly and legally carrying an AK-47 rifle.

Witnesses say Foster, who was white, gestured with his gun for the Uber driver to move on.

According to video shown to the jury, Perry told police in a later interview, "I believe he was going to aim at me. I didnt want to give him a chance to aim at me.

Shaky video of the moment, captured by journalist Hiram Gilberto, shows the car in a crowd of people. Honking can heard. Someone nearby says, Everybody back up, then shots from Perrys .357 revolver ring out, as protesters scream and scatter.

 Gov. Abbott requests possible pardon for Daniel Perry

Foster was killed.

Perry fled the scene, then reported the incident to police, saying he shot in self-defence after a weapon was pointed at him, according to the Texas Tribune.

We will show them why we say dont mess with Texas

Perrys trial lasted two weeks, and jurors deliberated for 17 hours before reaching their verdict. The man could face up to life in prison at his sentencing, which might happen as soon as next week.

At trial, Perry, who is also white, claimed he was acting in self-defence.

The Army sergeant didnt testify during the trial, but his attorneys vowed to keep fighting his case.

He is devastated, his lawyer, Doug OConnell, said in a statement after the conviction. He spoke to me about his fears that he will never get to hug his Mother again. Hes also crushed that this conviction will end his Army service; he loves being a Soldier.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, argued Perry was out looking for confrontation. In addition to the June messages raised at trial, local reporting has uncovered other statements that seem to capture the sergeant talking about aggression.

In June 2020, then-president Donald Trump tweeted that protesters, anarchists, agitators, looters or lowlifes in Oklahoma wouldnt get the same kind of sympathy theyd find in more liberal states, and Perry responded with a tweet that read send them to Texas we will show them why we say dont mess with Texas.

But the decision by the jury wasnt the end of the case.

Police at the scene of the shooting (stephenspillman@me.com Stephen Spillman)

Conservative figures quickly latched onto Perrys story, lobbying for Governor Abbott to pardon him.

Kyle Rittenhouse, who became a right-wing influencer after shooting three people during a confrontation at a 2020 racial justice protest in Wisconsin, claimed Perry did nothing wrong.

We must hold these one sided prosecutors accountable, Mr Rittenhouse said, linking to an affidavit from a detective who claimed the case suffered from witness tampering.

(A judge dismissed those claims in 2021.)

On Fox News, Tucker Carlson railed against Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, who has received money from a George Soros-backed PAC, calling the conviction a legal atrocity.

Because in Austin, Texas, the justice system is overseen by a Soros funded DA, Perry was charged with murder for defending himself, the host said. It means that in the state of Texas, if you have the wrong politics, youre not allowed to defend yourself. 

This was clearly premeditated

Others argued the exact opposite of Carlson, that Garrett Foster was legally exercising his right to defend himself, and that Perry may be able to escape punishment for violating it.

This was clearly premeditated, his brother Ryan told the Austin Statesman. He (Perry) thought a lot about it and planned on doing it. ... He wanted to kill a protester and saw somebody exercising their Second Amendment right.

Critics said a pardon could set the wrong example.

Not only is this a not particularly sympathetic defendant, but the pardon sends a terrible message, Atlanta-based attorney Andrew Flesichman wrote in an opinion piece in the The Daily Beast. Provoking a fight to kill someone is ok, the pardon will, say, if the right kind of person is killed.

Soros prosecutors are evil

The debate over Perrys case is part of a larger push in Texas to limit the power of locally-elected prosecutors.

As part of Governor Abbotts message about the pardon, he made sure to mention his intention of reining in rogue District Attorneys, and the Texas Legislature is working on laws to achieve that goal.

On Wednesday, a bill passed the state senate, which would limit the ability of prosecutors to exercise discretion and avoid pursuing certain cases. Some local officials in liberal cities have indicated a willingness to avoid prosecuting violations of Texass near-total abortion ban or often dubious allegations of election fraud.

Its part of a larger narrative on the right criticising liberals for having political donors attempt to influence the justice system.

Conservative activist Mike Davis, for example, referred in a recent tweet to prosecutors elected with PAC money tied to George Soros as evil, subversive, dangerous Marxists who are cancerous tumors in states.

Of course, mingling money and judicial power is a feature across the political spectrum beyond Soros, including the Federalist Societys deep influence in remaking the federal judiciary and Supreme Court into a bastion of hard-right conservatism, or recent allegations that billionaire and GOP Harlan Crow lavished Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with luxury vacations.

Perry, if the Texas parole board recommends a pardon, could walk free in a matter of days, but the debate around guns, self-defence, and what justice means when these things collide, isnt going anywhere.
 Close Gunmans mother and co-workers call 911 during Louisville mass shooting

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The gunman behind the Louisville bank shooting will be tested posthumously for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), his father has said.

Connor Sturgeons family have said he suffered from mental health challenges but showed no warning signs of what he planned to do before he carried out the shooting at the Old National Bank on Monday.

Funeral arrangements were released on Thursday for most of the five bank employees killed in the massacre, with the first taking place for Tommy Elliott on Friday.

Chilling 911 calls have also been released of terrified bank employees reporting the shooting.

In one of the calls, a woman speaks in hushed tones as she says she is hiding in a closet from the gunman. Multiple gunshots ring out in the background as the dispatcher urges her to stay quiet.

Sturgeons mother also called 911 saying that her son currently has a gun and is heading toward the bank.
Morogoro  THE Minister for Natural R e s o u r c e s and Tourism, Mr Mohamed Mchengerwa, has directed the Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI) and the Tanzania Forest Service Agency (TFS), to join forces with the Office of the Vice -President (Union and Environment) to sensitise tree planting campaign in the country.

Minister Mchengerwa issued the directives to the two institutions in Morogoro during the inauguration of the 12th TAFORI Board of Directors, recently.

Mr Mchengerwa insisted that efforts must go hand in hand with teaching peo- ple on best ways of conserving the environment.

He said the statistics show that 469,420 hect- ares of forest are destroyed annually and hence, this raises the need for adapting various afforestation measures to curb the ongoing destruction of forests in the country.

"If every individual citi- zen, in urban or rural areas, can plant trees, it means we can have millions of new trees...come up with a framework which will motivate both, adults and even students to plant trees regu- larly to serve our environment ," he said.

Mr Mchengerwa noted that the main cause of deforestation in different parts of the country is encroachment in some for- est reserve for agriculture, livestock grazing, mining, settlements, cutting trees for cooking energy, lumbering timbers and construction poles.

To support the countrywide tree planting campaign, Mr Mchengerwa said that currently, there is a produce seedling to achieve the campaign for every Tanzanian to plant trees in their residential and working areas.

For her part, the TAFORI Board Chairperson, Professor Verdiana Masanja, insisted the ministry to inject more funds for financing research so as to have informed decisions which would lead to right intervention.

Professor Masanja urged the government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, to consider increasing the research budget to enable more research to be con- ducted, which would help to come up with scientific suggestions and methods to encourage more tree planting.
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The remains of an elderly American have been found in a shallow grave in a Mexico beach town.

Eighty-year-old Wilmer Trivett had been missing since 11 February, CBS News reported.

His body was found in a pit in the town of Todos Santos on the Baja California peninsula by cadaver dogs.

Mr Trivett was last seen camping in the region before his camper truck was found burned out on 23 February.

A brother and sister, who have not been named, have been arrested and charged with murder.

According to Baja California Sur prosecutor Daniel de la Rosa, the suspects were previously involved in a traffic accident with Mr Trivett.

Mr De la Rosa said that Mr Trivett paid them $2,500 before the suspects allegedly kidnapped him.

BNO News reported that the siblings decided the amount was not enough and allegedly killed Mr Trivett.

Months went by and this person was left with the feeling that it wasnt enough, Mr de la Rosa said, according to the station.

Then this person and his sister went to where the American was camping and kidnapped him, and then they took his life.

Wilmer Trivetts body was found in a shallow grave in Baja California Sur state (KCRA 3/ Screenshot)

In February, Mr Trivetts brother Rick Trivett told KCRA News that he had decided to visit Mexico for the first time since his wife passed away in 2019.

Mr Trivett and his wife had spent the last two decades travelling Mexico in their camper.

A very secluded area. There was nobody else around but him in his campsite, Rick Trivett told KCRA.

The United States advises American travellers to exercise extreme caution when visiting the state of Baja California Sur due to crime levels.

There are currently more than 500 Americans missing in Mexico, according to a report by The Washington Post.

Last month, four Americans were kidnapped when they crossed the Mexico border so one could have plastic surgery. Two were killed, while the survivors were rescued by Mexican authorities.
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Fox News has reached a settlement with a Venezuelan businessman who sued the right-wing network for making false claims about his involvement in the 2020 presidential election.

Court documents, filed in the Southern District of New York, show that the Rupert Murdoch-owned network and businessman Majed Khalil settled the defamation lawsuit on Saturday.

The terms of the settlement have not been released.

This matter has been resolved amicably by both sides, a spokesperson for Fox News said in a statement. We have no further comment.

Mr Khalil sued Fox News and one of its former hosts Lou Dobbs over statements made about him after Donald Trump lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.

Both on air and on Twitter, Mr Dobbs and Fox News guest and conspiracy theorist Sidney Powell had falsely accused Mr Khalil of playing a key role in rigging the election against Mr Trump.

In one tweet, Mr Dobbs urged his viewers to get familiar with Mr Khalil and three other individuals as the orchestrators of what he described as a cyber Pearl Harbor.

Multiple investigations  including by Mr Trump allies  uncovered no widespread fraud in the election.

Mr Dobbs was taken off air at the network in February 2021.

The settlement with Mr Khalil comes just days before jury selection is set to begin in a separate  and historic  $1.6bn defamation case brought against the right-wing network.

Dominion Voting Systems has accused Fox News of pushing pro-Trump conspiracy theories of voter fraud including claiming that its ballot counting technology rigged the 2020 presidential election against the one-term president.

Fox News reaches settlement with Venezuelan businessman in defamation lawsuit (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The voting machine company said the network recklessly disregarded the truth.

Fox News has denied the allegations and claimed the lawsuit threatens the First Amendment right.

Jury selection is set to begin on Thursday in the case with opening statements scheduled for 17 April.

The trial has already proven a major embarrassment for Fox News, with documents so far handed over as part of the lawsuit revealing that Fox News biggest hosts and right-wing figures privately dismissed Mr Trumps claims about the election being stolen in bombshell texts and emails  all the while pushing the conspiracies on air to their viewers.

However, this embarrassment looks set to escalate further as a judge ruled that some of the networks top executives and hosts could be called to testify in the trial.

The network did get one small win last week when the judge ruled that testimony about the January 6 Capitol riot cannot be included in the trial.

It is still possible that the two sides will reach a settlement before the case heads to trial.

Both sides had asked for a pretrial ruling in their favour but the judge instead decided the case should head to trial.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has caused outrage after saying that he will seek to pardon a US Army sergeant who was convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester during demonstrations against police brutality and racial injustice in 2020.

In a statement posted to Twitter, Gov Abbot said that he had asked the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to expedite a pardon for Daniel Perry.

The announcement came less than 24 hours after Perry was found guilty of fatally shooting 28-year-old Garrett Foster by a jury in Travis County on Friday.

Under Texass constitution, the governor can only issue a pardon on the recommendation of the board.

I look forward to approving the Boards pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk, Abbott said in the statement.

The Texas governor has come under intense pressure from Fox News and state lawmakers to pardon Perry.

Fox host Tucker Carlson covered Perrys conviction on his show on Friday, and said that he had invited Mr Abbott to discuss the conviction.

Apparently the State of Texas no longer recognises the right of self-defense, Mr Carlson said.

Less than a day later, Mr Abbott announced that he would seek to pardon Perry.

Texas has one of the strongest Stand Your Ground laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney, Mr Abbott said.

The move to rescind Perrys murder conviction drew widespread condemnation.

Daniel Perry was convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester in Austin in 2020 (Austin Police Department)

Absolutely insane, Democratic strategist, Sawyer Hackett, wrote on Twitter.

Here is Tucker Carlson last night shaming Greg Abbott for not pardoning Daniel Perry, who was convicted of murder yesterday for shooting a BLM protestor, Mr Hackett added. 24 hours later Abbott says hes working to pardon Perry. Unbelievable.

Political consultant Jamison Foser tweeted that any journalist who ever again refers to Greg Abbott (or any Republican who supports this pardon) as tough on crime is a propagandist on behalf of a political movement that intentionally uses violence and threats of violence to seize power.

Keith Boykin, a White House aide under Bill Clinton, wrote: Law and order is a lie. Its open season for racism in America.

Perry, 37, was working as an Uber driver in Austin, Texas on the night of the fatal shooting on 25 July 2020.

He drove his car into a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters and honked his horn, according to The Texas Tribune.

People hold up signs outside Austin Police Department after a vigil for Garrett Foster in July of 2020 (Getty Images)

Mr Foster, a 28-year-old Air Force veteran, was openly carrying an AK-47, which was legal under Texas law.

Perrys defense attorneys had claimed in court that the shooting was self-defense as the victim had approached his car, The Associated Press reported.

Prosecutors argued that Perry, who was also armed, could have left the scene before firing his revolver. Witnesses testified that Mr Foster never raised his rifle at Perry, according to AP.

The court heard that Perry had threatened to kill protesters in social media posts and messages to friends prior to the fatal shooting.

I might have to kill a few people on my way to work, they are rioting outside my apartment complex, Perry wrote to a friend in June 2020.
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In the middle of the night last summer, Jayland Walker was shot more than 40 times and killed by police during a traffic stop.

Nearly nine months later, the eight police officers who fired the shots will soon learn whether theyll be held accountable for the 25-year-old Black mans death in court.

A grand jury in Akron, Ohio, is set to meet this week to determine what charges, if any, should be filed in the case.

Walker was shot 46 times last June after an attempted traffic stop turned into a car and foot chase.

Though Walker was unarmed at the time of the shooting, police claim he fired a shot from his car just a few moments into the vehicle chase.

The 25-year-olds death sparked protests from hundreds of people for more than four days.

Now, the city is preparing for the grand jury to hear Walkers case and decide whether to bring an indictment.

Photos of Jayland Walker are seen at his funeral service (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Heres everything to know about the killing:

Shot 46 times

Around 2.30am on 26 June 2022, a police officer in New Franklin, Ohio, attempted to pull Walker over for a broken taillight and burnt-out licence plate bulb.

However, Walker continued to drive leading to an approximately three-minute-long vehicle chase up until the Akron city line.

Just after midnight on 27 June, Akron police attempted to stop Walker for a traffic violation on unspecified equipment failure. Walker continued to drive and another vehicle chase occurred.

According to officers, a firearm was discharged from Walkers vehicle.

As the vehicle slowed down, Walker fled from it on foot.

Police officers chased Walker but claimed that they perceived him to be a deadly threat and thus administered their firearms.

Eight officers shot and killed Mr Walker. He was pronounced dead at the scene with no firearm present. An autopsy later revealed Walker was shot 46 times.

 Ohio police release footage showing shooting of Jayland Walker

A kind soul with a great heart

Walkers family described him as a kind-hearted person who never got into trouble.

Tom Addie, Walkers uncle, described him as A kind soul with a great heart.

His aunt, Lajuana Walker Dawkins said in a press conference , Jayland was a sweet young man; he never caused any trouble.

After graduating from high school, Walker, who wrestled all his life, was thinking of going semi-pro.

Walkers sister, Jada, described her brother as one of a kind saying he was loyal, honest, and well-rounded.

Several weeks before his death, Walkers fiancee, Jaymeisha Beasley, died in a car crash. The couple had been dating since they were 15 years old and got engaged about a year before Walkers death.

Walkers family said he was heartbroken and going through a difficult time mourning the loss of his fiancee.

Robin Elerick, Walkers cousin, recalled times they would sit quietly holding hands and crying with each other shortly before Mr Walkers death.

A demand for accountability

Following the deadly shooting, Walkers grief-stricken family demanded accountability from the police.

Organisations including The King Center and NAACP released statements supporting Walkers familys call for accountability.

The NAACP also called for Justice Department to open a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting. The department responded by saying it was monitoring the case.

Community members peacefully protested in downtown Akron by holding signs and chanting, No justice, no peace.

Protests continued for more than four days with some demonstrations leading to the destruction of property. In response, the Akron mayor declared a state of emergency, implemented a curfew, and canceled 4th of July celebrations.

The eight officers, who have not been identified, were placed on paid administrative leave until 11 October 2022 when they were reinstated due to staffing concerns.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) led the investigation but turned it over to the office of the Ohio Attorney General who will present the case to the grand jury this week.
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A US court has upheld the right of public schools to force religious teachers to call transgender students by their chosen names and pronouns.

John Kluge, a former music teacher at Brownsburg High School outside Indianapolis, had sued his old employer for trampling on his freedom of belief by asking him to follow its anti-discrimination policy for trans pupils.

The school's principal initially allowed him to simply call students by their last names, but changed course after trans students said it made them feel hurt and singled out in front of their peers.

On Friday, the federal Court of Appeals ruled that carving out an exception for Mr Kluge created an "undue burden" on the school's mission to cater to all its students equally.

It said that Mr Kluge's behaviour had "resulted in students feeling disrespected, targeted, and dehumanised", causing "disruptions to the learning environment".

Brownsburg has demonstrated as a matter of law that the requested accommodation worked an undue burden on the schools educational mission by harming transgender students and negatively impacting the learning environment for transgender students, for other students in Kluges classes and in the school generally, and for faculty," the court wrote, according to the Associated Press.

Like most people, trans people typically experience stress or distress if persistently called by the wrong name in daily life, and many consider using their chosen name to be a basic component of respect.

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative Christian lobby group that has been representing Mr Kluge in court, said it would consider what to do next.

Congress passed Title VII to prevent employers from forcing workers to abandon their beliefs to keep their jobs, said ADF attorney Rory Gray.

In this case, Mr Kluge went out of his way to accommodate his students and treat them all with respect. The school district even permitted this accommodation before unlawfully punishing Mr Kluge for his religious beliefs.
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President Joe Biden and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should ignore a federal judges ruling to revoke approval of a widely used abortion drug, according to Democratic lawmakers, legal analysts and abortion rights advocates.

Hours after a Texas judge threatened to suspend the FDAs approval of mifepristone on 7 April, US Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told CNN that right-wing jurists have undermined their legitimacy through the deeply partisan and unfounded nature of such rulings.

It is up to the Biden administration... to choose whether or not to enforce such a ruling, she said.

Mifepristone is one of two drugs in a two-drug protocol for medication abortion, a procedure that accounts for more than half of all abortions nationwide. It was first approved by the FDA in 2000 for most abortions up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. A vast majority of US abortions occur before the 13th week.

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 authorisation 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 appealing the decision, which has been roundly condemned by the White House, major health organisations and health officials, abortion rights advocates and drug manufacturers.

Democratic senator Ron Wyden, the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the FDA, said in a statement that there is no way this decision has a basis in law.

It is instead rooted in conservatives dangerous and undemocratic takeover of our countrys institutions, he added. No matter what happens in seven days, I believe the [FDA] has the authority to ignore this ruling, which is why Im again calling on President Biden and the FDA to do just that.

His remarks echo a speech he delivered on the floor of the US Senate in February, condemning the judge as a partisan ideologue and anti-abortion zealot as he underscored the role of Congress with the FDA and the statute of limitations to challenges against it.

President Biden and the FDA must ignore it, he said in his speech. Dont give in to the courtwashing. Protect the fundamental rights and wellbeing of all women in America.The FDA should go on just as it has for the last 23 years since it first approved mifepristone.

Senator Ron Wyden (Getty Images)

The legal challenge mounted by an influential right-wing legal group, filed specifically in a district court that would likely produce a favourable ruling, tees up an appeal to the US Supreme Court, which now includes a conservative supermajority thanks to appointments from the former president, who has supported the years-long effort to radically reshape the federal judiciary with right-wing, anti-abortion judges.

The FDA, doctors and pharmacies can and must continue to dispense mifepristone like nothing has changed, Mr Wyden said.

If they dont, the consequences of banning the most common method of abortion in every single state will be devastating, he added.

Republican US Rep Nancy Mace, who has criticised her partys embrace of extreme anti-abortion proposals, also suggested that the FDA should ignore the ruling.

This is an issue that Republicans have been largely on the wrong side of, she told CNN on 10 April.

The decision should just be thrown out, quite frankly, she said.

Other top Democratic lawmakers have signalled their support for the Biden administrations appeal but have not endorsed any measures that could jeopardise that process or risk givinf future Republican administrations a precedent to undermine rulings against them.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra would not directly address whether he believes the FDA should ignore the ruling, but he said that everything is on the table for the administration to respond to the ruling.

We want the courts to overturn this reckless decision, he told CNN on 9 April. Everything is on the table. The president said that way back when the Dobbs decision came out. Every option is on the table.

GOP operate in complete contempt for the law until theyre in a position to shred Constitutional [and] human rights, Ms Ocasio-Cortez added on Twitter.

She invoked the term agency nonacquiescence, in which federal agencies neglecting to appeal and refusing to follow certain decisions, pointing to the GOPs response to a court order against Donald Trumps administration to fully restore Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the Obama-era programme to shield young immigrants from deportation after arriving in the US as children without legal protection.

The courts are now going rogue with rulings that no longer even pretend to respect precedent, jurisprudence, or limits to overreach, she added. They are long overdue for a check [and] balance. Not doing so paves a dangerous road of worsening abuse of power.

A separate ruling from a federal judge in Washington state on 7 April ruled that the FDA cannot change the status quo when it comes to mifepristones approval, setting up competing decisions involving a critical abortion drug used in more than half of all abortions in the US.

Eliminating or further reducing access to mifepristone will put the future of abortion care in the US at risk, as anti-abortion state lawmakers across the US have sought to increase restrictions on abortion or criminalise abortion care altogether in the wake of the Supreme Courts decision to revoke a constitutional right to abortion last year.

The conservative-majority courts decision in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization in June 2022 overturned the half-century precedent in Roe v Wade, which affirmed the constitutional right to seek an abortion.

Mr Biden condemned the Texas decision as the next big step toward the national ban on abortion that Republican elected officials have vowed to make law in America.

If this ruling were to stand, then there will be virtually no prescription, approved by the FDA, that would be safe from these kinds of political, ideological attacks, he said in a statement.

Vice president Kamala Harris said the decision not only threatens 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 story was initially published on 7 April and has been updated with developments
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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is calling out Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for being hypocritical in his statement where he defended himself about the many lavish gifts he received from a GOP megadonor.

Speaking with Dana Bash for State of the Union on CNN, Ms Ocasio-Cortez said Justice Thomas statement contradicts many of the facts on the ground and raises even more serious questions.

Justice Thomas released a statement in response to a recent ProPublica investigation that found Republican megadonor Harlan Crow had gifted the SCOTUS member luxurious trips for more than two decades.

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, Justice Thomas said in his statement.

For her part, Ms Ocasio-Cortez found Justice Thomas statement troubling, pointing out one detail that she believes makes the situation more problematic.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez said his statement stated that the reason and the rationale for this exemption was personal hospitality from an old friend and he said himself, in his statement, a friend of 25 years Justice Thomas has been on the Court for 30 years.

Justice Thomas was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1991 by former President George W Bush.

What he is admitting in his statement in an attempt to defend himself, is that he began this relationship with a billionaire and received these sorts of gifts after he was appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States -- I think that in and of itself indicates a very, very serious problem, Ms Ocasio-Cortez added.

The investigation from ProPublica revealed that Justice Thomas had accepted trips from Mr Crow aboard his superyacht, and taking Mr Crows private jet to places like Indonesia and New Zealand. He also joined Mr Crow on an annual trip to his Adirondacks resort.

Notably, Mr Crow is an influential GOP donor who has supported right-wing candidates and organisations.

Despite the luxurious vacations costing tens of thousands of dollars each, none of them appeared on Justice Thomas annual financial disclosures.

According to the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, justices must file annual financial disclosures of their income and their spouses income. Though, travel is considered personal hospitality which is not clearly defined.

In a statement from Mr Crow , he did not deny his hospitality to Justice Thomas and Mr Thomas wife, Virginia Ginni Thomas but said their time together was no different from the hospitality we have extended to our many other dear friends.

Last week, Ms Ocasio-Cortez called the revelations a cartoonish degree of corruption and called for Justice Thomas to be impeached.

Other lawmakers, like Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), called for an independent investigation of the Supreme Court.

Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) told MSNBC that the Senate Judiciary Committee is going to have hearings adding that Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts asking for an investigation.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez echoed Ms Hironos concerns, saying Chief Justice Roberts must now come forward and state if he allows, or is allowing this kind of very serious corruption to happen on this Court.
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When US television networks finally declared Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 election, the BBC broadcast a compilation of clips from Mr Bidens long political career, including his aborted presidential runs in 1987 and 2008, and his eight years as vice-president during the Obama administration.

Of that pastiche of videos, spanning multiple decades, one short clip set the internet ablaze: a years-old exchange with Nick Bryant, one of the British broadcasters New York-based correspondents.

When Mr Bryant asked Mr Biden if he could offer a quick word for the BBC, Mr Biden quickly replied: The BBC? No thanks  Im Irish!

The 46th US president is not the first Irishman to hold Americas highest office. Hes not even the first Irish-Catholic to do so. But in the 21st century, when the white ethnic enclaves and rivalries that once played a huge role in Americas political and civic life have largely fallen dormant in favour of a far more homogenised culture, he remains intensely proud of his ancestral roots in the Republic of Ireland, and has made references to his heritage a touchstone of his rhetorical style.

In his 2017 memoir, Promise Me, Dad, Mr Biden recounted an anecdote he often uses on the stump, in which he recalls his grandfather urging him to keep the faith.

In his public remarks, he often includes his grandmothers reply, in which she counters that he should spread the faith as well. But in his book, Mr Biden noted that his grandfather also told him: Remember the best drop of blood in you is Irish.

Bidens Irish roots run deep

According to the director of the Irish Family History Centre, Fiona Fitzsimmons, theres far more than a drop of Irish blood flowing through Mr Bidens veins.

She told USA Today that of Mr Bidens 16 great-grandparents, 10 were from Ireland. And while a number of US presidents  including Andrew Jackson, John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama  have traced at least some of their roots to the same island, the genealogist called the 46th US chief executive, whose family roots hail from County Derry and County Louth on Irelands east coast, probably ... the most Irish of all the presidents.

This week, that most Irish American president is set to make his first pilgrimage to his familys homeland since assuming office in 2021, with a planned four-day visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland. He last visited Ireland in 2017, a year after he had made an official visit as vice-president during the Obama administration.

US vice-president Joe Biden receives a hurl as a welcome gift from Irish prime minister Enda Kenny during a welcome ceremony at the Government Buildings in Dublin in 2016 (AFP via Getty)

Hell depart the White House on Tuesday morning, and will land in Belfast that evening. On Wednesday, he and UK prime minister Rishi Sunak will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. Hell then cross the border into Ireland for a three-day stay, including trips to the areas where his ancestors lived before emigrating to the US.

Because of the continuing dispute over customs checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, the Democratic Unionist Partys boycott of the power-sharing government, which was established under the Good Friday Agreement, remains in effect, meaning that Mr Biden will not be able to address that devolved legislature.

Instead, he will deliver an address at Ulster University to mark the quarter-century anniversary of the peace accords.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday that the presidents speech in Belfast would mark the tremendous progress since the signing of the Belfast Good Friday agreement 25 years ago, and that it would underscore the readiness of the United States to preserve those gains and support Northern Irelands vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities.

Mr Kirby said the president would also address a joint session of the Irish parliament in Dublin, where he will speak about US-Irish cooperation to advance democracy, peace, security and prosperity and the shared deep history between the United States and Ireland.

Today, one in 10 Americans claim Irish ancestry, and Irish Americans are proudly represented in every facet of American life. Ireland is a key economic partner of the United States, and the United States and Ireland are working closely together to make the global economy more fair, said Mr Kirby.

He added that Ireland has also been a key partner for 21st-century challenges, including through providing support for Ukraine, such as vital non-lethal assistance including medical supplies, body armour, and support for Ukraines electric grid, as well as their agriculture, and by welcoming nearly 80,000 Ukrainian refugees since Russia began its invasion last year.

Mr Bidens visit also comes just days after the Belfast Telegraph reported that the Northern Ireland police service had foiled a plot by the New Irish Republican Army  a republican paramilitary group that considers itself the successor of the infamous IRA, which disarmed after the 1998 peace accords  to set off a bomb in Derry during the presidents visit there.

Mr Kirby also said the president would attend a banquet at Dublin Castle, and that he would make stops in County Mayo, including a visit to the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres Family History Research Unit, as well as giving a speech at St Murdochs Cathedral. Mr Kirby noted that the presidents great-great-great-grandfather had sold 27,000 bricks for the construction of the cathedral in 1827  a transaction that would help pay for passage for him and his family to America more than two decades later.

The president is very much looking forward to that trip ... and to celebrating the deep historic ties that our two countries and our two peoples continue to share, he said.

A president who wears Ireland on his sleeve

Mr Bidens proud touting of his Irish roots has been a constantly recurring theme in his political oratory, dating back to his decades-long career as a US senator from Delaware.

On the campaign trail, and since becoming president, he has often spoken of his great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Blewitt, who left Ireland for the US in the 19th century during the Irish potato famine and later settled in Mr Bidens birthplace of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He has also mentioned his great-great-grandfather, Owen Finnegan, who emigrated to the US from Ireland during the same period.

The president peppers his public remarks, both prepared and off the cuff, with invocations of his Irish heritage, and sometimes alludes to negative stereotypes in a humorous way.

During one question-and-answer session with reporters, he responded to a query about tensions between the White House and West Virginia senator Joe Manchin over Mr Bidens Build Back Better domestic programme by claiming that some people think hes not Irish because he didnt hold a grudge against the conservative Democrat for stalling the legislation.

At a St Patricks Day event last month, alongside a fellow Irish-American, House speaker Kevin McCarthy, the president quipped that his Irish heritage could be in question because he doesnt have relatives in jail and is a teetotaller.

Im the only Irishman you ever met, though, thats never had a drink, so Im OK. Im really not Irish, he said.

Biden with Enda Kenny at the Government Buildings in Dublin in 2016 (AFP via Getty)

The president is also quite fond of quoting Irish poets  including a favourite, the late Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney  and has used references to his ancestry when addressing political matters and various conflicts both at home and abroad.

In January, he referenced his familys emigration from Ireland to the US during remarks he made alongside Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, as the two leaders discussed strategies for controlling irregular migration along the US-Mexico border.

All of you know, all of us in the United States are immigrants. And mine go all the way back to the Irish famine, he said.

During a speech in Jerusalem last year, the president compared the plight of the Irish under British rule to that of the Palestinians.

My family is Irish-American, and we have a long history ... not fundamentally unlike [that of] the Palestinian people, with Great Britain and their attitude toward Irish-Catholics over the years, for 400 years, he said.

And world leaders have in turn recognised Mr Bidens affinity with his ancestral home, with one  Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar  describing him as unmistakeably a son of Ireland during his traditional St Patricks Day visit to the White House last month.

President Biden, in your life story we see reflected the story of Ireland, he said.
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Bill Barr has said that he believes Donald Trump could face another criminal indictment  this time in connection to the classified documents found at the former presidents Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Mr Barr, who served as attorney general under the Trump administration, spoke out on Sunday following Mr Trumps indictment on criminal charges in New York.

Mr Trump pled not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records during his arraignment in Manhattan on Tuesday 4 April.

Manhattan DA Alvin Braggs office said that Mr Trump falsified the business records in order to conceal damaging information and unlawful activity from American voters before and after the 2016 election.

The charges are connected to hush money payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal who both alleged to have had affairs with Mr Trump.

In an interview on ABCs This Week on Sunday, Mr Barr said that he thinks Mr Trump is facing more legal trouble in the federal probe looking into his handling of classified documents than in the hush money case in New York.

Speaking about Mr Braggs case, Mr Barr said: I dont think it has any merit. I think it is transparently an abuse of prosecutorial power to accomplish a political end.

Id be most concerned about the documents at Mar-a-Lago. I think thats a serious potential case. I think they probably have some very good evidence.

Mr Barr mentioned the lengthy interaction between Mr Trump and the government when the former president resisted authorities attempts to get him to return classified files  prompting the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago last year.

I think he was jerking the government around and they subpoenaed it, and they tried to jawbone him into delivering the documents, Mr Barr said.

But the government is investigating the extent to which games were played and there was obstruction and keeping the documents from them.

Mr Barr pointed out the difference in Mr Trumps handling of classified documents compared to both his former vice president Mike Pence and Mr Biden, after classified documents were also found in their possession.

Former attorney general Bill Barr spoke out about Trumps investigations (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The former attorney general noted that Mr Pence and Mr Biden both informed the government immediately upon discovering the files, whereas Mr Trump attempted to hold on to them.

Before they found the documents in Bidens house and Vice President Pences house, my read was that they were going to indict [Mr Trump] and I still think theres a very good chance of that, he said.

I think it depends on how sensitive the documents were, but also what evidence they have of obstruction and games playing for the president and whether he directed people to lie or gave them information that was deceitful to pass on to the government.

As for the hush money case, Mr Barr said it may be a boon to Mr Trump in his 2024 presidential campaign  something which could actually also help the Democratic party.

The two-time attorney general said it may accomplish his purpose, which is to get into the middle of the Republican primary process and turn it into a circus.

And I think, ultimately, the savvy Democratic strategists know this is going to help Trump, and they want him to be the nominee because he is the weakest of the Republican candidates and the most likely to lose again to [President Joe] Biden, Mr Barr added.

Mr Trumps Truth Social attacks on Mr Bragg and the judge overseeing the hush money case in Manhattan could also land the former president with more problems, Mr Barr added.

I dont think its appropriate or wise. The president notoriously lacks self-control, and he frequently gets himself into trouble with these midnight tweets and other things, he said of Mr Trumps social media posts.

These are gratuitous comments and arent particularly helpful, he added.

Following Mr Barrs interview, Mr Trump took to Truth Social to hit out at his former attorney general.

Slovenly and pathetic Bill Barr, our COWARD former A.G., was on ABC FAKE NEWS this weekend making statements that he knows nothing about (he was long since gone from the White House, I wanted him out!) concerning the BOXES HOAX, a continuation of RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA, UKRAINE, UKRAINE, UKRAINE, the Mueller Witch Hunt, & more, he fumed on Monday morning.

While he correctly puts down the N.Y.D.A. case, he plays up the equally ridiculous BOXES HOAX, where Biden should have the problem, not me. Barr is a weak & angry RINO!

Aside from the New York hush money case, Mr Trump is currently at the centre of three criminal investigations.

Hes being investigated in connection to the insurrection on January 6 2021, the classified documents found in Florida, and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Mr Biden was the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state of Georgia since Bill Clinton in 1992.

Mr Trump has denied all wrongdoing in the cases.
OFFICIALS from China - Africa Development Fund ( CAD Fund) led by the Fund's Vice-President and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Mr Yu Zhuorui are are in the country to explore more business and investment opportunities.

Permanent Secretary in the President's Office (Investment and Trade), DrTausi Kida, over the weekend, held a brief meeting with the executives of the Fund.

The main objective of the meeting was to dis- cuss areas of investments where Tanzania can benefit more from CAD Fund through Chinese companies.

The Fund has already co- funded some projects in Tanzania including Maweni Limestone Limited, a cement manufacturer in Tanga, Star Time (Star Media (Tanzania) Limited and Sisal project in Morogoro. DrTausi urged the Fund's leadership to increase investments in Tanzania since the country has all the potential that Chinese companies can exploit by establishing investments.

The Permanent Secretary asked the Fund to think of investing in areas such as cashewnut value addition, wheat plantation, fertiliser manufacturing, renewable energy, transport infrastructure development such as roads and ports.

Other areas that the Fund could invest in include the construction of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), fish-eries in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and facilitation of Chinese investors to come and set up investments in already exiting industrial parks such as SINO TAN Industrial Parks, KAMAKA Industrial Park and the like.

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In response, Mr Yu Zhuorui appreciated the reforms carried out by the government, saying the Fund is analysingareas of invest-ment so that itcan encourage Chinese investors to come and invest in the country under the facilitation of the Fund.

The meeting was also attended by Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) Executive Director Gilead Teri who emphasized the importance of Chinse companies to come and invest in the country.

"The time to invest is now and the Centre is more will- ing and ready to support and facilitate all investors from China because Tanzania is ranked by various interna- tional institutions as the best investment destination in Africa," said Mr Teri.

CAD Fund is a Chinese private equity solely funded by China Development Bank, a Chinese government policy bank.

The objective of the Fund is to stimulate invest- ment in Africa by Chinese companies in different sectors including manufacturing, mining, agriculture, infrastructure, natural resources and other sectors.

CAD fund has set aside a budget amounting to US$10billions to be used for investments by Chinese companies in Africa.

The CAD Fund officials'visit in the country is the outcome of the visit conducted by President SamiaSuluhu Hassan in China in November 2022.
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Four people were killed and at least eight were wounded in a mass shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday, according to police.

Beyond the potential identity of the shooter, who died in an exchange of gunfire with police and is thought to be a former employee of the bank, officials have not released many details about the shooting, including what types of weapons were involved or how the individual obtained a gun in the first place.

What is known is that Kentucky has some of the least-strict gun laws in the US.

According to research Everytown for Gun Safety, an anti-gun violence advocacy group, the states laws are among the worst in the country.

Kentucky became one of the numerous permitless carry states in 2019.

The state also lacks a number of gun control measures considered standard for reducing gun violence, including safe storage, background checks for hand guns, assault weapons bans, and red flag laws allowing courts to seize guns from dangerous people, according to Everytown.

The lack of regulation is matched with a high rate of gun violence in Kentucky.

The state is ranked 13th in the US for firearm mortality, according to the CDC, passing states with far larger populations.

Lawmakers are continuing to push to loosen gun restrictions in the state.

Republicans and the National Rifle Association are backing a bill that would ban gun-free zones at Kentucky colleges and universities.

Minority leader Mitch McConnell, one of Kentuckys US senators, has received more than $1.2m in funding from the NRA throughout his political career, according to the Brady Campaign, a gun advocacy group.

As The Independent has reported, gun violence is often disproportionately concentrated in red states with lax gun laws.

Mississippi, Louisiana, Wyoming, Missouri, Alabama, and Alaska had the six highest per capita rates of gun deaths in 2020. These states also had the highest rates of gun ownership for the same period. In Mississippi, about half of adults live in a household with a gun.

Despite the deep support for gun ownership in Republican-controlled legislatures across the South, recent shootings may be turning a new political page.

Efforts from the Tennessee GOP to expel a group of Democratic lawmakers for engaging in a gun protest on the statehouse floor after the Nashville shooting have garnered nationwide criticism.
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President Joe Biden has called on Congress to take action in the wake of the deadly shooting in Louisville, Kentucky, and slammed Republicans for their inaction on gun control.

Five people were killed, including the gunman, and nine were injured during a Monday morning shooting at a building that houses an Old National Bank branch.

Once again, our nation is in mourning after a senseless act of gun violence. Jill and I are praying for those killed and injured in the tragic shooting in Louisville, and for the survivors who will carry grief and trauma for the rest of their lives, said the president in a statement.

He added: How many more Americans must die before Republicans in Congress will act to protect our communities? Its long past time that we require safe storage of firearms. Require background checks for all gun sales. Eliminate gun manufacturers immunity from liability. We can and must do these things now.

Mr Biden stated that most Americans wanted lawmakers in the US to act on commonsense gun safety reforms.

Instead, from Florida to North Carolina to the U.S. House of Representatives, weve watched Republican officials double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe. Its unconscionable, its reckless, and too many Americans are paying with their lives, he said.

Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence  Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today's shooting.



Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives.



When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?  President Biden (@POTUS) April 10, 2023

Officials say that the shooting took place at around 8.30am ET with officers responding to the scene within minutes and taking down the gunman.

Police say that the gunman did have a connection to the bank.

The shooting came two weeks after a gunman killed three children and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville.
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Melania Trump wished her four million Instagram and Twitter followers a Happy Easter on Sunday  breaking a month-long absence from social media.

The former first lady posted a photo of a pink rose along with the words: Happy Easter!

Ms Trump, 52, joined her husband Donald Trump for Easter brunch at Mar-a-Lago.

The couple received a standing ovation as they entered the ballroom at the former presidents private club in Palm Beach, Florida, images posted to social media showed.

Ms Trump was absent when the former president flew to New York last week for his arraignment on charges of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to the porn star, Stormy Daniels.

Nor did she attend a Tuesday night press conference that Mr Trump held at Mar-a-Lago on returning to Florida, where he thanked his children without mentioning his wife.

However Ms Trumps father, Viktor Knavs, sat in the front row between Mr Trumps two sons, Eric and Don Jr.

The Slovenian-born former model has not been seen in public since 30 March.

Ms Trumps former aide, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, told Page Six last week that the glaring absence did not signify that their marriage was breaking up.

Melania lives in an ivory tower of denial, Ms Winston Wolkoff said. Her silence is deliberate, it is her weapon of choice and her protective armour.

In his own Easter Sunday message on his social media site, Truth Social, Mr Trump wished the weak and pathetic RINOs and radical left Democrats a Happy Easter.

In a later post, without context, he wrote: World War III.

Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to alleged hush money payments to Ms Daniels, and two other people.
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City leaders in Nashville voted unanimously on Monday to reinstate former state representative Justin Jones, a Democratic lawmaker who was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday for joining in an anti-gun violence protest on the statehouse floor.

Mr Jones and his colleague Justin Pearson, both of whom are Black, were stripped of their House seats last weeks, following an effort from state Republicans that critics called an unprecedented abuse of power in Tennessee history.

Speaking to a crowd of supporters on Monday, Mr Jones decried the states plantation politics and criticised Tennessees Republican Speaker of the House, Cameron Sexton.

Representative Justin Jones reenters the House Chamber after being reinstated days after the Republican majority Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel two Democratic members, representatives Justin Pearson and him, for their roles in a gun control demonstration on the statehouse floor (REUTERS)

Mr Cameron Sexton, whether you reacknowledge the appointment or not, these people, the peoples voices, are the ultimate authority, Mr Jones said. My message to Cameron Sexton is thank you, because it has galvanised a nationwide movement.

The Nashville representative was sworn in on the state capitol steps, shortly after the vote from the Nashville Metropolitan Council.

Among the supporters of Mr Joness reinstatement was council member Delishia Porterfield, who previously ran against Mr Jones in the House Democratic primary for District 52.

The people made a choice and it was the right choice, she said during the council meeting on Monday.

Mr Pearsons vacant seat will be discussed on Wednesday in Memphis at a meeting of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

Commission Chairman Mickell Lowery has expressed disapproval with how the two Democrats were expelled.

The protests at the State Capitol by citizens recently impacted by the senseless deaths of three 9-year-old children and three adults entrusted with their care at their school was understandable given the fact that the gun laws in the State of Tennessee are becoming nearly non-existent, Commisioner Lowery said in a statement on Sunday. It is equally understandable that the leadership of the State House of Representatives felt a strong message had to be sent to those who transgressed the rules. However, I believe the expulsion of State Representative Justin Pearson was conducted in a hasty manner without consideration of other corrective action methods.

Observers said the expulsion vote broke with centuries-old norms in Tennessee and across the country, where lawmakers are usually only expelled after committing criminal offences.

No laws  local, state or federal  were broken here, Carrie Russell, a lecturer in political science and expert on Southern politics at Nashvilles Vanderbilt University, told The Independent.

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.

Gloria Johnson, a third lawmaker who was part of the floor protest, who is white, was able to retain her seat.

Despite vigorous, youth-led protests for more gun control following the Nashville school shooting, Tennessee Republicans have opposed any new forms of firearm restriction, instead opting to try and increase funding to school police officers.

As The Independent has reported, research suggests on-campus police do little to deter shootings.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to make his first public appearance in South Carolina, a state where votes will be critical if he launches an expected 2024 presidential bid.

State Sen. Josh Kimbrell told The Associated Press on Sunday that he would host DeSantis for an event on April 19 in Spartanburg, in South Carolina's heavily Republican Upstate.

DeSantis' first public visit to South Carolina, home of the leadoff presidential primary in the South, comes amid a brisk travel schedule during which the governor has taken his Florida Blueprint tour to Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan in recent weeks.

With an anticipated presidential bid in the offing, the travel has opened up an avenue for DeSantis to lay out some of his policy achievements in Florida, setting up possible contrasts with potential GOP rivals, including former President Donald Trump.

On Sunday, Kimbrell told the AP that he had been hoping to bring DeSantis to South Carolina for months now, arguing that politically savvy Republicans in the early voting state are accustomed to having multiple chances to get to know presidential candidates, in person.

Ive told everybody associated with his team, Youve got to get here early and often,'" said Kimbrell, who has already joined efforts with a political action committee urging DeSantis to get into the race. Ive tried to make it clear to them that, if you want to win, youve got to get here early. South Carolina for months has been hosting GOP candidates, including Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. There have also been trips from many of those anticipated to join the field, including former Vice President Mike Pence. Later this week, after a swing through Iowa and New Hampshire, Sen. Tim Scott returns home to South Carolina for a summit with donors, as he mulls a bid of his own.

While this would be DeSantis first public South Carolina event, he was in the state last year for a gubernatorial fundraiser. The event near Charleston was attended by some of Trumps top donors in the state.

To Kimbrell, who said he agrees with Trump on policy but not on the way he approached things personally, DeSantis is well-positioned to be a better alternative to Trump, but needs to start spending more time in South Carolina.

I believe that Ron DeSantis is as popular among my base as Trump is, Kimbrell said, of his heavily GOP district. But you cant just mail it in. He's going to have to press the flesh, roll his sleeves up, and get really serious.

___

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP
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The two Tennessee lawmakers expelled from their seats after joining a gun reform protest in the statehouse have vowed to run again when special elections are called.

Former state Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson joined protesters at the state capitol two weeks ago in the wake of a deadly mass shooting at a Nashville elementary school.

The Democrats, who are Black, and one white colleague became known as the Tennessee Three after Republican lawmakers mulled whether to expell them as punishment.

Resolutions expelling Mr Jones and Mr Pearson were passed on Thursday.

The white lawmaker, Gloria Johnson, was not expelled from the chamber. Republicans cited her supposedly lesser involvement in the demonstration but the disparity was widely condemned by Democrats on social media, including former President Barack Obama.

Mr Pearson and Mr Jones appeared on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday to discuss the possibility of being reappointed to their seats and running in a special election to finish the remainder of their terms.

The two could be reappointed by their respective county governments, the Nashville Metropolitan Council for Mr Jones, and the Shelby County Board of Commissioners for Mr Pearson.

I would be honoured to be reappointed to the seat, Mr Pearson told NBC.

Both lawmakers agreed that they would accept reappointments should they be extended, and would also run for the seat again once special elections were formally declared.

Politico reported on Sunday that Mr Pearson is likely to be reappointed by a vote from the Shelby Board of Commissioners in the coming days.

Mr Jones is also understood to be Nashville Metropolitan Councils top choice for an appointment to his old seat, according to the Associated Press.

State law requires that the local boards appoint individuals to hold the seats in question until a special election is held to determine who will serve the remainder of an ousted lawmakers two-year term.

Rep. Gloria Johnson said in a CNN interview last week that she believed her political survival was due to the colour of her skin.

I think [the reason is] pretty clear. Im a 60-year-old white woman and they are two young Black men, she said.

Mr Pearson said on Sunday that he had heard rumours alleging that Republicans in the statehouse were threatening members of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners in an effort to prevent his reappointment.

Ive already heard that people in the state legislature and in Nashville are actually threatening our Shelby County commissioners to not reappoint me, or theyre gonna take away funding in the governors budget for projects that the mayor and others have asked for, said Mr Pearson.

This is what folks really have to realize. The power structure in the state of Tennessee is always wielded against the minority party and people, he continued.

However Nashvilles mayor John Cooper tweeted that he was confident that the board would vote to reappoint the ousted Democratic lawmaker.

Should Mr Jones and Mr Pearson be readmitted, Tennessee state law states hat they cannot be punished by the legislature again for the same offence.

The three lawmakers met with Vice President Kamala Harris during her visit to Fisk University, a historically-Black college in Nashville, this past week. They also spoke with President Joe Biden on Friday.

Our country needs to take action on gun violence  to do that we need more voices like theirs speaking out, President Biden tweeted, accompanied by a photo of their video call.
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Donald Trump has resumed his attacks on Ron DeSantis after new polls showed him ahead of the Florida Governor - despite being charged with dozens of crimes this week.

The former president posted that his [p]olls are looking GREAT! and added that he hoped Republican LEADERS are watching this, on his social media site, Truth Social on Saturday.

Also, winning BIG against Hopeless Joe Biden - Hence the Democrats are rolling out their Fake Prosecutors, Mr Trump posted.

In the post, Mr Trump cited poll results which put him at 61 per cent in a hypothetical GOP primary matchup against Mr DeSantis, who was supposedly at 19 per cent in the same survey. However, it wasnt immediately clear to which specific poll to which the former president was referring, and whether it included other announced Republican candidates like former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Friday revealed that Mr Trump has 58 per cent support among likely GOP primary voters while Mr DeSantis (who has not announced his candidacy) has 21 per cent.

That gap has grown Mr Trumps criminal indictment. In a previous Reuters/Ipsos poll taken 31 March to 3 April, the former president sat at 48 per cent while Mr DeSantis sat at 19 per cent.

In a separate poll released by Marquette University on 30 March (before Mr Trumps arrest), the gap between the two Republicans is much smaller. Mr Trump held the support of just 40 per cent of GOP primary voters to Mr DeSantiss 35 per cent.

It lent some credence to Mr Trumps claim that GOP voters, especially undecideds, are rallying behind his candidacy in the wake of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs decision to charge him with 34 counts of falsifying business records. Mr Trump has plead not guilty.

Mr DeSantis is largely seen as the only Republican with a real shot at winning the 2024 nomination for president over Mr Trump.

On Sunday, Mr Trump reposted a comment from a supporter on Truth Social which claimed that Gov, DeSantiss only purpose in the 2024 GOP primary would be to hamstring Mr Trumps chances in the general election.

True, was a Paul Ryan disciple who voted to kill Social Security & decimate MediCare, added Mr Trump.
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The Federal Election Commission sent a letter ordering former president Donald Trump to comply with election law and file his financial disclosures after he missed the deadline, Raw Story reported.

Mr Trump had previously applied for and was granted two extensions to file his financial disclosures. But on 15 March, a lawyer for the former president, Derek Ross, requested another 30-day extension because of the complexities of his financial holdings.

The FEC rebuffed the request.

As no further extension of time is available, Mr. Trumps deadline for filing his personal financial disclosure report remains March 15, 2023, Linda Stevenson, the acting FEC general counsel wrote back on 16 March. Under section 104(d) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended, '[a]ny individual who files a report required to be filed under this title more than 30 days after [the due date, as extended] shall  pay a filing fee of $200.

All presidential candidates must file a financial disclosure. Such a filing would reveal information about his income, royalties, assets and debts. These disclosures include much fewer details than tax returns, which Mr Trump refused to release, and later led to Democrats filing a lawsuit to obtain.

Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, government affairs manager at the Project on Government Oversight, told Raw Story that the law serves as a poor deterrent given campaigns only have to pay a $200 fine.

As is true in other contexts, like the STOCK Act, when consequences are virtually nonexistent and punishment is nominal at best, the deterrent effect of these kinds of rules is minimal, he said, in reference to the law that is supposed to prohibit members of Congress trading stock using information they would be privy to in their capacity as elected officials.

A law without teeth to enforce it is an exercise in futility in most cases, even if we should be able to trust elected officials and political candidates to abide by them out of respect and propriety, he said.
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US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has said that a Texas court ruling blocking the abortion drug mifepristone could threaten other medications.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Mr Becerra said that the decision challenges the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) entire drug approval process and risks access to medicines including vaccines, insulin, and potential Alzheimer's treatments.

If a judge decides to substitute his preference, his personal opinion, for that of scientists and medical professionals, what drug isnt subject to some kind of legal challenge? said Mr Becerra on Sunday.

On Friday in Texas, US district judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that mifepristone's approval by the FDA, which happened more than twenty years ago, was improper and should be suspended with seven days' notice.

Within hours another district judge, in Washington state, ruled the opposite. The White House has vowed to challenge Judge Kacsmaryk's decision meaning the case will almost certainly go to the US Court of Appeals and perhaps to the conservative-dominated Supreme Court.

 AOC says FDA should ignore federal judge's ruling to revoke abortion drug approval

Mr Becerra also said on Sunday: "So we have to go to court, and for America's sake and for women's sake we have to prevail... I gotta believe that an appeals court, the Supreme Court, whatever court, understands that this ruling by this one judge overturns not just access to mifepristone but possibly any number of drugs."

Asked by CNN host Dana Bash whether the White House would be willing to ignore the ruling if defeated in a higher court, Mr Becerra said: "Everything is on the table. The President said that way back when the [Roe v Wade] decision came out. Every option is on the table."

Abortion pills have become a new front in the battle over abortion rights since the overturning of Roe v Wade last June. Nearly half of US states have banned or tightened access to abortion pills, according to Axios.

Conservative activists sued the FDA in November claiming that mail-order mifepristone violates the Comstock Act, a 150-year-old statute named after the 19th-century Christian crusader Anthony Comstock, which banned the sending "obscene" materials such as contraception, sex education books, pornography, and abortion drugs via the US postal system.

Though modern courts have consistently applied the law more narrowly, Judge Kacsmaryk who was appointed by former president Donald Trump and reportedly campaigned against gay marriage and transgender rights before joining the bench  held differently.
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The Taiwan Air Force scrambled jets amid military threats from China on Monday, 10 April, after president Tsai Ing-wens meeting with the speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy in California last week.

The meeting was seen as a show of democratic solidarity in defiance of threats from China.

China, which sees self-ruled Taiwan as its own, began military exercises on Saturday, a day after Tsai returned from the trip.

On Sunday, Chinas simulated precision strikes against Taiwan.

There was no sign of panic or disruption from the Chinese drills near Taiwan, with life continuing in Taiwan as normal.

It comes after then-US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last August, which prompted China to stage war games around Taiwan including firing missiles into waters close to the island.

Similar drills have not been announced this time.

As of 8am on Sunday, 70 Chinese aircraft, including Su-30 fighters and H-6 bombers, as well as 11 ships, were spotted around Taiwan, Taiwans defence ministry said.

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A new initiative will be launched by the Health Ministry for the early detection of tumors, according to Spokesman for the Health Ministry Hossam Abdel Ghaffar on Sunday 9/4/2023.

The initiative aims at lowering infection rates and reducing treatment costs, especially for late-stage patients.

The new initiative covers lung, prostate, cervical, and colon cancer, the spokesman told Sky News channel.

The new initiative will be launched within the coming few weeks after rehabilitating participating medical centers and teams, the spokesman said.

He denied there is any shortage in cancer medication, saying all needed drugs are available at medical centers and hospitals across the nation.

MENA
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At least five people have died and one person remains missing after a devastating avalanche southwest of Mont Blanc in the French Alps.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said the avalanche occurred in the middle of the day on the Armancette glacier on Easter Sunday.

Two of the victims were local tour guides, according to the deputy mayor Elisabeth Mollard.

The avalanche occurred on the Armanchette glacier on Easter Sunday (Reuters)

Emmanuel Coquand, spokesperson for the local authorities of Haute-Savoie, said the avalanche was extensive, covering an area of 1km by 500 metres at an altitude of 3,500 metres.

One eyewitness told France Television that the avalanche happened before her eyes while she was hiking in front of the Armancette glacier.

She said: I had put the phone in front of me but then I was looking with my eyes more than in the lens and suddenly there was a huge, huge, huge cloud that came down to the bottom, it split into two.

The glacier lies near the village and ski resort of Les Contamines-Montjoie.

Two of the victims of Sundays avalanche were local tour guides (Reuters)

Avalanches cause dozens of deaths each year in the alps. Earlier in the ski season, authorities urged caution due to a high risk of avalanches across the mountain range.

A total of 130 people were killed in avalanches over the 2020/2021 season, up from the 53 who died in 2019/200. The deaths mainly happened in France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Norway.

Last month, a British teenager died after being hit by an avalanche while on a ski tour in Switzerland.

The 18-year-old was killed on Tuesday 21 March after an avalanche struck in Meiringen resort, in the canton of Bern at around 4.25pm. The teenager was originally from England but had been living in Bern.
 Close Related: Putin visits Russian troops in Ukraines Kherson and Luhansk regions

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An ally of Russias president Vladimir Putin has warned that the world is probably on the verge of a new world war as the risks of a nuclear battle escalate.

The world is sick and quite probably is on the verge of a new world war, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev told a conference in Moscow.

He said such a new world war was not inevitable but that the risks of a nuclear confrontation were growing  and more serious than concerns about climate change.

It comes as Russia has started to use its new T-14 Armata battle tanks to fire on Ukrainian positions but they have not yet participated in direct assault operations, the RIA state news agency reported, quoting a source close to the matter.

Meanwhile, Ukraine accused Moscow of deploying the kind of war tactics used in Syria to level Bakhmut, as heavy fighting for control of the salt mining city continues.

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, Ukraines deputy defence minister Hanna Maylar said.
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The mother of two Israeli sisters killed in a gun attack in the occupied West Bank has died of her wounds, hospital officials have said.

Maia and Rina Dee, aged 20 and 15, who were also British citizens, were killed on Friday when their car was shot at by a suspected Palestinian gunman. Their mother was travelling with them and was critically wounded.

Authorities in Israel are still searching for the assailant.

Lucy Dee was severely injured during the attack in which two of her daughters were also killed ( Family handout)

Hundreds of people attended the funeral for the two sisters, as they were buried following an emotional ceremony in the Jewish settlement of Kfar Etzion on Sunday. Among the mourners was Israels national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

May we and no one else in the whole world ever know so much sorrow, said the victims father, Lee Dee, a rabbi at the Zait Ranaan synagogue in Efrat. Today the Jewish people have proven we are one, he added. A simple, quiet family is devastated. The whole country hurts.

His 48-year-old wife, Lucy, received surgery and had been in a critical condition in hospital since the attack in Jordan Valley.

Forty-eight-year-old Lucy Dee was evacuated by helicopter to Hadassah Ein Kerem in critical condition, where the teams fought for her life over the past few days, in the trauma unit, the operating room and the intensive care unit where she was treated, the hospital said in a statement reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Unfortunately, despite intensive and unceasing efforts, due to her fatal injury, the team had to determine her death today.

Rina and Maia Dee were killed in the West Bank on Friday (Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu/PA Wire )

Friends and family of Maia and Rina Dee carry a coffin during their funerals (Reuters/Nir Elias)

Her daughters were reportedly born in London, before the family moved to Israel in 2014, where they lived in the Efrat settlement, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem.

The three family members were among six people caught up in the attack as they travelled in one of three cars on their way to Tiberias in Galilee for a family holiday. The car crashed after being shot at, before being fired at again at close range, local media reported.

Mr Dee, who was in a car in front of them, told the BBC that he heard news of the attack without realising his own family were involved. He only found out when they did not answer their phones and he drove back to the scene, where he was shown his daughters ID card.

Tensions have soared and violence flared after an Israeli police raid on Palestinians last week at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, a site sacred in Judaism and Islam, ahead of the rare overlap of Passover and Ramadan.

The incident prompted militants in Lebanon, and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, to fire a barrage of rockets into Israel on Friday, which responded with strikes on sites allegedly linked to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza and southern Lebanon.

A 15-year-old boy named Mohammed Balhan was killed by Israeli fire near Jericho during an army raid at the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp on Monday, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Palestinian mourners cry after taking the last look at the body of Mohammad Balhan during his funeral on Monday (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

The army said it entered the camp to arrest a wanted Palestinian suspect, and claimed that residents opened fire and hurled explosives at the troops, who responded with live fire and hits were identified. It said the wanted suspect was arrested, and there were no Israeli casualties.

It came as thousands of ultranationalist Israelis  led by at least seven cabinet ministers  marched to Eviatar, an unauthorised settlement in the West Bank which was evacuated by the Israeli government in 2021, in a defiant signal that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to accelerate building on occupied lands.

Israeli settlers walk around the outpost of Eviatar on Monday (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Thousands of hardline settlers gather in Eviatar on Monday (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

In addition to the attack that killed Dee and her two daughters, a suspected car-ramming in Tel Aviv on Friday left an Italian tourist dead and seven others injured, including three Britons.

Following the attacks, Israel police commissioner Kobi Shabtai told all Israelis with firearms licences to start carrying their weapons.

Mr Netanyahu and Israels president Isaac Herzog both expressed their sympathy on Monday, with the former tweeting: On behalf of all the citizens of Israel, I send my heartfelt condolences to the Dee family on the death of the mother of the family, the late Leah (Lucy), who was murdered in the severe attack in the Bekaa last Friday, along with her two daughters Maya and the late Rina.

Mr Herzog said: I send my deepest condolences to the Dee family and pray that they will know no more sorrow. May her memory be blessed.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews, which said that Mr Dee had previously been rabbi at Radlett United Synagogue in Hertfordshire, said the communitys hearts go out to his family.

Our community, alongside Jewish communities around the world, mourns their loss. May their memories be for eternal blessing, the group said.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Hundreds of people attended the funeral for two British-Israeli sisters killed in a shooting on Friday in the occupied West Bank.

Maia Dee, 20, and Rina Dee, 15, were buried following an emotional ceremony in the Jewish settlement of Kfar Etzion on Sunday.

Among the mourners was Itamar Ben-Gvir, national security minister in Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus government.

The emotional service was held in the Jewish settlement of Kfar Etzion (AP)

Maia (left) and Rina Dee, were killed in a shooting in the West Bank (Family handout)

May we and no-one else in the whole world ever know so much sorrow. Amen, said the victims father, Lee Dee, a rabbi at the Zait Ranaan synagogue in Efrat, a Jewish settlement in the West Bank.

Today the Jewish people have proven we are one, he said. A simple, quiet family is devastated. The whole country hurts.

The two sisters 45-year-old mother was seriously wounded in the attack and remains in hospital in critical condition.

Violence flared this week after an Israeli police raid on Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, a site sacred in Judaism and Islam, ahead of the rare convergence of Passover and Ramadan.

The incident prompted militants in Lebanon, and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, to fire a barrage of rockets into Israel, in a move Israeli security experts have said that was likely approved by Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel followed with strikes on sites allegedly linked to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza and southern Lebanon.

Mourners join the funeral procession for the two sisters (AFP/Getty)

There was an outpouring of grief from mourners at the funeral (AP)

Late on Saturday and early on Sunday, militants in Syria took the rare step of firing rockets toward Israel and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. A Damascus-based Palestinian group loyal to the Syrian government claimed responsibility for the first of two rounds of rockets, saying it was retaliating for the Al-Aqsa raids.

Israel responded with artillery fire into the area of Syria from where the rockets were fired. Later, the military said Israeli fighter jets attacked Syrian army sites, including a compound of Syrias 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 on Saturday, telling Mr 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.

The whole country hurts the service was told (AFP/Getty)

Hundreds gathered to say goodbye (REUTERS)

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, Lebanons armed Shia movement, met Palestinian Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Lebanon, the group said on Sunday, and discussed the Al-Aqsa events.

Three people were also killed over the weekend in Palestinian attacks in Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Despite the tensions, Ramadan prayers and Jewish Passover visits at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound passed without incident on Sunday.

Small groups of Jewish visitors under heavy police guard walked through the mosque compound, known in Judaism as Temple Mount, as thousands of worshippers gathered for the Passover holiday's special "Priestly Blessing" at the Western Wall below.

Israeli soldiers on alert after a rocket launched from Syria landed nearby, in Golan Heights (EPA)

A view from the Mount of Olives shows a group of Jewish visitors on the Al-Aqsa compound on Sunday (Reuters)

The Israeli military said that in light of the security situation, it would extend a closure of crossing points to the West Bank and Gaza until 13 April, when Passover ends.

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.

Associated Press contributed to this report
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The BBC has objected to being labelled as government-funded media on one of its main social media accounts.

The broadcaster says it is speaking to the social media company about the designation on the BBC account.

It said in a statement: The BBC is, and always has been, independent.

We are funded by the British public through the licence fee.

The label links through to a page on Twitters help centre which says state-affiliated media are outlets where the government exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution.

That label was applied to US broadcaster NPRs Twitter handle, but it has been changed to government-funded media  the same as the BBC account.

The BBC has always maintained its impartiality and operates through a Royal Charter agreed with government, which says it must be independent.

Britons pay a 159 licence fee each year to fund the corporations output, which is set by government but paid by individual households.

While the BBC account, which has 2.2 million followers, has been given the label, much larger accounts associated with the corporations breaking news and sport output are not currently being described in the same way.

The account mainly tweets about BBC-produced TV programmes, radio shows, podcasts and other non-news material.

Twitter has been contacted for comment.
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Buckingham Palace has revealed an official emoji to celebrate the coronation.

The colourful cartoon motif depicts the 17th century jewelled solid gold St Edwards Crown with purple velvet cap  the regalia which will be used to crown the King on May 6.

It is the first emoji created for a British coronation, with the last crowning  Elizabeth IIs  taking place 70 years ago, before the invention of social media, mobile phones and even the internet.

The Palace said the image marking the weekend of coronation festivities will appear on Twitter from April 10 when the hashtags #Coronation, #CoronationConcert, #CoronationWeekend and #CoronationBigLunch are used.

The royal familys Platinum Jubilee emoji was a crown-wearing corgi called PJ.

The cartoon image of the cheerful dog  the late Queens favourite breed  appeared on the monarchys official Twitter account, with the message: Meet PJ the corgi, our Jubilee emoji!

Sporting a crown of purple and platinum  the colours of the Jubilee  PJ, with his tongue sticking out, appeared automatically on Twitter when users included Jubilee hashtags.
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A passenger reportedly caused physical harm to two cabin crew members on a London-bound Air India flight on Monday, forcing the captains to return to New Delhi and hand over the man to the police.

The Air India flight AI111  scheduled to leave for Londons Heathrow Airport from New Delhis Indira Gandhi international airport  returned to terminal three (T3) in Delhi after the passenger started behaving in an unruly manner within 15 minutes of takeoff, it was reported.

The passenger reportedly hit a cabin crew member and pulled their hair, according to the Hindustan Times.

Air India said that the London-bound flight returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board.

It added that the passenger did not heed the verbal and written warnings and instead continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members.

The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing, the statement said.

The flight initially took off from New Delhi at 6.35am and reports said that the passenger started creating trouble within 15 minutes of take off.

A police complaint has been filed against the man, whose identity was not revealed by the authorities.

Safety, security and dignity of all on board is important to us at Air India, the carrier said.

We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight to depart for London this afternoon.

The Air India plane was carrying around 225 passengers on board.

In January this year, Air India issued show cause notices to four cabin crew members and one pilot over the handling of an unruly passenger who urinated on an elderly woman while drunk on an international flight.

The Tata group-owned airline also grounded the staff, after facing widespread backlash following an incident on a flight from New York to Delhi, when a passenger, identified as Shankar Mishra, urinated on a female co-passenger.

The airline had earlier banned the man for 30 days, with social media users slamming it as not enough. A second similar incident occurred last month on a flight from Paris to Delhi when an inebriated passenger urinated on an empty seat.

Air India acknowledges that it could have handled these matters better, both in the air and on the ground and is committed to taking action, company chief executive officer Campbell Wilson said at the time.

Indias aviation regulator also imposed a fine of 30,000 on Air India and suspended the pilot in command.

In a separate incident, a busload of more than 50 passengers was left behind as the flight they were supposed to be on left the airport without them onboard.

In yet another bizarre incident on 24 January this year, passengers onboard an Indigo flight from Nagpur to Mumbai were shocked when one traveller attempted to remove the emergency exit cover mid-flight.

The Airbus A321neo was still airborne and on the approach for landing when the passenger in question tried to tamper with the cover.

The service from Bengaluru to Delhi, operated by Indian airline Go First, was due to depart at 6.20am on 9 January. But passengers reported on social media that, despite arriving on time for flight G8 116, they were left behind.

Earlier in February, an army personnel in India was booked for making a hoax bomb call to the police after he missed his second flight for the day.

Ajmeer Bhadraiah, 59, was to board an Indigo flight from the southern Indian city of Hyderabad that was on its way to Chennai. He was, however, denied entry for arriving late.
Sinn Fein's John Finucane criticised the DUP and the Irish government's ending of the eviction ban during a speech marking the 1916 Easter Rising on Sunday, 9 April.

The Belfast North MP praised the "international success story in peacemaking" of the Good Friday Agreement, which this Easter celebrates its 25th anniversary, as he called on the DUP to "recognise that they failed and get on with the business of representing those who elected them within the institutions [of the agreement]."

Mr Finucane also criticised the Irish government's "inhumane" decision to end a ban on rental evictions during winter months.

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The president of the USA walked down a street in a town in Northern Ireland to resounding cheers from a huge crowd high on excitement and emotion, as the worlds media jostled for pictures of the historic visit.

That was a quarter of a century ago, in September 1998. The president was Bill Clinton, and the town was Omagh, a place that was still in a state of grief and shock after a devastating bombing that had killed 29 people the month before.

It was a time of great foreboding in Northern Ireland. Those of us who were there in the aftermath of the horrific attack on 15 August recall the deep concern among its people that the Good Friday Agreement, which had been signed that year  ending 30 years of the Troubles, after the loss of 3,500 lives  might not survive what had taken place.

The Clinton administration had played a key part in brokering the deal. And the presidents visit to Omagh, alongside first lady Hillary Clinton, came with a strong message to all parties that the agreement must not be allowed to wither.

The strong backing from Washington  together with the unified stance of the British and Irish governments  ensured that the atrocity, carried out by dissident republicans, did not precipitate a spiral into widespread strife.

Joe Biden is now set to visit Northern Ireland to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. He recently went to Kyiv in an effort to underline the continued support of the US, and the West as a whole, for Ukraine in the war against Russia. His visit was highly significant, as well as symbolic.

The presidents presence in Belfast will be important in respect of the peace process, but also in relation to Britains relationship with the European Union, after the problems caused by the Northern Ireland protocol.

Biden, say US officials, will urge talks between the different political factions, in an effort to ensure stability at a time when MI5 has raised the terrorist threat level in Northern Ireland to severe. The police have warned that dissident republicans  with members of the New IRA being the main suspects  are plotting attacks.

The Omagh bombing is a grim reminder of what can happen if there is a return to the days of violence. Children who were shopping for school uniforms with their parents, with the new school year about to start, were among those killed and injured; a woman pregnant with twins was among the dead.

Many of the journalists who arrived at the scene of carnage that day helped the emergency services as best we could before turning to our work. Some wondered if the peace deal would have been shattered by the blast, and whether we would have to report on a new round of bombings and shootings.

In the event, the mayhem unified the communities. The victims included both Protestants and Catholics; the main political parties upheld the agreement, and republican and loyalist armed groups maintained their ceasefire.

The US administration expressed concern when loyalist anger over the Northern Ireland protocol led to several nights of rioting two years ago. There were further expressions of concern when the protocol threatened to ignite a trade war between the UK and European Union.

During the G7 summit that was taking place in Cornwall at the time, diplomats said Biden had forcefully addressed the Northern Ireland crisis when he talked to Boris Johnson. They said he had emphasised Americas firm commitment to the Northern Ireland protocol, along with his view that it was fundamental to maintaining peace.

Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, held that the protocol was critical to ensuring that the spirit, promise and future of the Good Friday Agreement is protected, adding: The presidents message is [that] whatever way they find to proceed must at its core fundamentally protect the gains of the Good Friday Agreement and not imperil that.

Biden has often proclaimed his Irish heritage, including in a video released just after he won the presidential election. When a BBC journalist shouted, Mr Biden, a fast phrase for the BBC? the president replied, The BBC? before saying with a broad smile, Im Irish.

The clip, which went viral, was regarded as an affirmation of the affection Biden has for his familys roots in County Mayo, and also as a signal that he did not intend to neglect the northern part of the island of Ireland. He subsequently spelt out that a post-Brexit trade deal between the US and the UK must be contingent upon respect for the agreement and preventing the hard border.

Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal for Northern Ireland, the Windsor Framework, has now been formally signed off, and the trade problems arising from the protocol have now been put to rest. There is no effective government in place for Northern Ireland, however, following the decision of the Democratic Unionist Party, which opposes the Windsor Framework, to withdraw from the power-sharing administration.

Nevertheless, the landmark anniversary of the peace deal comes with a sense of problems being resolved, rather than unending crisis. Sunak is expected to announce the hosting of a Northern Ireland investment summit in September, and to urge the participation of US companies. Biden is expected to stress his unstinting commitment to the effort to maintain stability.

Things would have been different if Johnson had continued in Downing Street. The former prime minister was among the 29 MPs who voted against the Windsor Framework in the Commons.

The UKs Conservative governments have paid a price in their relationship with the Biden administration, after cosying up to Donald Trump when he was in the White House. British diplomatic sources say it was difficult to get ministers visiting Washington to even meet with Democrats. At the same time, a steady stream of Brexiteers headed across the Atlantic to pay their homage to the US president.

Things also became personal between the Democratic Party and Johnson. Bidens distaste for the former prime ministers actions is reported to have been expressed in private, but even in public, Biden has called him the physical and emotional clone of Donald Trump.

The Conservative right accused Democratic politicians of interfering in British politics in relation to both Brexit and Northern Ireland: Barack Obamas warning that the UK risked going to the back of the queue for a trade deal with the US if it chose to leave the European Union was held up as a prime example.

Johnson claimed that Obamas attitude to Britain was based on his part-Kenyan heritage and ancestral dislike of the British empire. Tommy Vietor, a former national security spokesperson for Obama, in his response to a congratulatory message sent by Johnson to Biden after the latter became president, called Johnson a shapeshifting creep, adding: We will never forget your racist comments about Obama and slavish devotion to Trump.

US and UK officials insist that the special relationship is back on track, especially given the closeness with which the two countries have worked in support of Ukraine. Sunaks efforts to repair Britains relations with the European Union are also appreciated in Washington. And there is agreement that the US will continue to take a close interest in Northern Ireland.

For many in Northern Ireland, the involvement of the US is a strong and positive factor in keeping the peace. For Brendan OMaloney, who I met in Omagh on the day of the bombing, the memory of Clintons visit to the town is still vivid. I remember him laying the wreath in Market Street; he had tears in his eyes. They were real tears... he really understood the suffering which had taken place, he said.

OMaloney was hurt by flying glass in the blast; his 14-year-old niece was seriously injured. We were glad Bill Clinton came then, and we are glad that he and Joe Biden are here now, he added. It shows that there is a real effort not to go back to those terrible days.
Tunis/Tunisia  The National Salvation Front Sunday held a rally outside the Municipal Theatre in Tunis to call for unifying opposition parties and releasing those jailed among its members.

Front leader Nejib Chebbi told reporters there is need to bring parties sitting in the opposition bench together. It is also imperative to "foster a dialogue in which the Tunisian General Labour Union, the Tunisian League of Human Rights, the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights and the Bar Association take part in a bid to address the political and economic crisis."

Chebbi also called for "agreeing on a roadmap likely to mobilise hundrends of thousands of Tunisians."

National unity is the only way out of the economic and financial crisis, Chebbi further said. The President of the Republic, he added, shut down all avenues for Tunisia to leverage external resources. The country will be unable to pay its debts over the next years.

Front member and Ennahdha leader Riadh Chaibi said the different rallies staged to demand the release of those jailed in the plot against the State case and the resumption of the political process after the "putsch" will continue until these demands are met and freedoms restored.

"All political formations share the Front's stance against the exceptional measures announced by President Kais Saied on July 25,2021," he said.

It is important to close ranks to keep defending the Revolution's achievements and chart a way out of the economic crisis which may isolate the country, said Front member Ajmi Lourimi.
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Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, one of the most powerful people in the country, has been implicated in a grotesque corruption scandal. Last week ProPublica reported that Thomas has for decades gone on luxury vacations paid for by real-estate billionaire and Republican donor Harlan Crow. Crow is well-known for his efforts to push US courts to the right.

Thomas has not heard cases directly involving Crow, but he has heard cases involving the real estate industry. Hes also heard cases involving briefs from the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. Crow sits on its board.

Thomas allowing himself to appear compromised strikes at the heart of US democracy and makes a travesty of justice in this country. If the wealthy can wine and dine Supreme Court justices, what hope do ordinary people have of a fair hearing? Are we ruled by laws or by oligarchs? No one elected Harlan Crow to anything. Why should he get unlimited access to influence Clarence Thomas?

Thats why its imperative for President Joe Biden to immediately announce a review of all cases involving Thomas and identify ones in which there are egregious conflicts of interest. The administration should then consider refusing to enforce those decisions.

Thomas did not disclose his trips; in an unconvincing response, the justice said he was not required to do so. But the fact is, theres little to no oversight of the Supreme Court. Justices are supposed to behave ethically, but they dont have to, and there are few methods to make them. A federal panel of justices dismissed 83 ethics complaints against Brett Kavanaugh when he was elevated to the Supreme Court, because theres simply no mechanism for holding Supreme Court justices accountable in any way.

Some progressive lawmakers have called for Thomas to resign. He should, but he wont, because theres no way to make him. Similarly, some Democrats in Congress have said they want to introduce impeachment articles. But in a Republican controlled House, the chances of impeachment are zilch, and also zero.

There are a couple ways to keep the pressure on Thomas though. The Democratic-controlled Senate could launch an investigationthe Judiciary committee has said it is planning to try to pass ethics rules for the Supreme Court.

The swiftest way to keep pressure on Thomas, and to ensure actual accountability, though, is for Biden to review and evaluate all court decisions in which Thomas was involved.

A federal investigation into Thomass decisions would be valuable in itself. Which judgements exactly involved AEI amicus briefs? Which decisions directly affected Crows real estate interests? Where was Thomas the swing vote? A list of such cases would clarify the extent of the corruption of the judiciary. It would provide concrete examples of instances in which a radical right wing billionaires interests may plausibly have affected the everyday lives of Americans. It would keep pressure on Thomas and on Chief Justice John Roberts to address this ongoing problem on the court.

But, once we know which cases precisely Thomas has compromised, Biden could go further.

Progressives have been pointing out for some time that the executive branch has some discretion to refuse to enforce lawless orders. This week, Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both argued that Biden should ignore US district judge Matthew Kacsmaryk. Kacsmaryk decided, with no precedent or basis in law, that he had the power to overrule the FDA and ban abortion drug mifepristone.

There is no way this decision has a basis in law, Wyden said. He added that the FDA has the authority to ignore this ruling, which is why Im again calling on President Biden and the FDA to do just that.

The logic here also applies to any Supreme Court cases in which Thomas was compromised by flagrant conflict of interest. Upholding corrupt rulingsor rulings which have the appearance of corruptiondoesnt advance the rule of law. It undermines it. The Constitution demands due process for all. The relationship between Crow and Thomas makes it impossible to be sure that we are all equal before the law . The executive branch is failing in its duty if it enforces decisions so tainted with the appearance of corruption.

Refusing to enforce compromised decisions would also put pressure on Thomas to recuse himself in future cases, and might even push him to resign. Currently, he has no reason not to simply stay put and continue to push his and, some might think, Crows ideological agenda. But if he knows that his ethical failures could undermine his power, his incentives change. He would be forced to recognize that his behavior could damage his cause, and the cause of his billionaire benefactor. So maybe he would change his behavior.

Biden is cautious, however. He and many other Democrats fear pursuing such an aggressive policy. They dont want to delegitimize the court; they dont want to precipitate a Constitutional crisis.

But the court is already delegitimized, and we already have a Constitutional crisis. Right-wing oligarchs are openly tossing money in the direction of justices. Right-wing ideologues masquerading as justices are lawlessly tossing out decades of law and effectively abrogating the executive branch. Rule by robed theocrats isnt democracy. Its tyranny. Its time for Biden and the Democrats to deploy some checks and balances and restore the rule of law. Clarence Thomas has mangled it long enough.
In the space of just one week, the influential American news and opinion outlet Foreign Policy published no less than six pieces demanding US and Western policymakers confront China more forcefully on human rights, shipping, finance, climate change, quantum computing, and microchips.

Just in case anyone missed the point, another called on Washington to create an economic war council to add a financial component to the military posture against China.

A new cold war is being thrust upon the world  one that could shape lives and nations for decades to come.
Will my payments be affected? Everything you need to know about the new rules for leasing entitlements
Meet the self-taught engineer solving some of the biggest challenges faced by farmers in Ireland

Albert ONeills lack of formal training in engineering hasnt stopped him devising a host of labour-saving devices on his family dairy farm. He explains why he is focusing on inventions to help farmers establish clover

Innovation: Albert ONeill of Ballyheather Engineering with some of his inventions on his family farm outside Strabane, Co Tyrone. Photos: Niall Hurson

Niall Hurson Mon 10 Apr 2023 at 08:25
Richard Hackett: If youre banking on normal weather, you are in the wrong profession

If the weather was compliant all the time, we wouldnt be needed at all. All our food could be organised by some computer programmer sitting on a beanbag with their laptop

Battling the weather: Flood damage to a winter barley crop in Co Carlow. Photo: Roger Jones

Richard Hackett Mon 10 Apr 2023 at 08:24
The operator of Dublin airport, DAA, has issued an effective hands-off notice to Fingal County Council over the regulation of aviation safety and security at the airport.

Planning consultants for DAA, Coakley ONeill Town Planning, have rebuked the council during the course of an appeal against conditions attached to the council green light for DAAs 200m tunnel plan for the airport.

The airport operator is appealing to An Bord Pleanala against five conditions attached by the council to the permission for the critical airfield operational safety project that involves the construction of an underpass under cross-wind runway 16/34.

In the appeal, Coakley ONeill Town Planning state that of particular concern are two conditions that inappropriately assign regulatory responsibility in matters of aviation safety and security to the planning authority and should be removed from the final grant of permission as a matter of priority.

The Cork-based planning consultancy contends that a planning authority is not equipped with the resources or technical knowledge to approve specific safety aspects of the airport.

Inappropriately assigning this responsibility to a planning authority would result in unnecessary risk in the event of an incident, they said.

The appeal states that in taking this appeal, DAA hopes to set a positive planning precedent to which the council will have regard in future assessment of applications relating to the airfield at Dublin Airport  and not just the underpass application.

The appeal states: This issue has arisen consistently in the recent past and a clear determination is now required to provide clarity to all parties concerned.

While well intentioned, it is inappropriate for the planning authority with no regulatory role or technical experience in aviation safety, to stray into this highly regulated area," the consultants say.

In its third party appeal, Ryanair claim that if the project is allowed to proceed it will contribute towards an excessively high per-passenger price cap and will damage the recovery of Irish aviation.

In the appeal by planning consultant Ray Ryan of BMA Planning, it states Ryanair believes that the underpass project is unnecessary because vehicular access between the eastern and western aprons of the airport is possible to achieve at surface level.

The appeal contends that the business case for the spending of over 200m on this project has not been made.
Aircraft lessors had to terminate their Russia contracts due to sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images

Irish aircraft owners cant expect to be covered by insurance contracts for billions of euro worth of planes trapped in Russia as a result of war and sanctions, one of the insurance sectors most senior figures has said.

The founder of insurance brokerage Howden has claimed insurers will go bust if forced to bear losses associated with the war in Ukraine.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph newspaper David Howden, says his industry cannot be expected to cover the cost of war.

The high profile intervention comes as aircraft owners based here have lined up billions of euro of legal actions against insurers who they claim have reneged on contracts to cover losses related to the loss of aircraft now trapped in Russia.

Damage as a result of wars is not traditionally insurable in most cases, but that generally applies to physical loss rather than the situation many Irish leasing company companies find themselves in  where planes are undamaged but out of reach.

In his interview Mr Howden suggested that if losses did fall on insurers they would be forced to seeking government bailouts, a risk policymakers in the UK in particular will be wary of given the concentration of insurers there.

"The insurance market cannot be a systemic backstop for a war between the UK and Russia. And it's not designed to be. No policies cover it. Otherwise, if we covered it all, it would actually end up with the government anyway, we'd all go bankrupt."

Russian authorities seized 500 commercial aircraft owned by western leasing companies shortly after the outbreak of war against Ukraine.

Irish aircraft lessors are the biggest class of owners. So far, firms including AerCap, Avolon, Carlisle Aviation, Deep Sky Leasing and SMBC Aviation have launched legal actions against insurers, as well as against Russian operators, in a bid to recoup losses.

None of the cases, taken mostly at courts in Dublin and London, have been decided and the stakes are huge. The combined insurance claims are reckoned to run to around 10bn.

Insurers who could face an impact from the Irish claims include AIG, Lloyds Insurance, Swiss Re International, Chubb European Group, Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers (Europe) SAS, Convex Insurance, US-owned Liberty Corporate Capital and specialist insurer Fidelis.

Without commenting on specific cases, Mr Howden says insurers are legitimately refusing to pay under the terms of certain types of cover.

"War has never been something that insurance has been there to cover," he said.

Destruction and loss caused by war is not covered "because there is not enough capital in the insurance market to pay for it", he says.

The same principle would mean losses as a result of cyber attacks by hostile states, he said.

Thats a tough sell given the difficulties of determining whether a hack is state-sponsored or criminal even when it might originate in a country like Russia or North Korea.

Clarity around definitions in standard contracts and the ability to buy add-on cover for state-sponsored cyber losses would help, Mr Howden said.

As one of Europe's biggest brokers, Howden is not on the hook for losses, although it does have an influential voice in the industry.
Fifty years ago his controversial debut novel was a literary sensation. So how does it hold up?

When Martin Amiss debut The Rachel Papers was published, 50 years ago this year, it was a literary and cultural sensation, won the Somerset Maugham Award, and spawned a lot of copycat novels that were very male, very London, very brattish, and certainly havent stood the test of time.
The Hollywood actor faces two charges of involuntary manslaughter over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021.

Alec Baldwin will not have to appear in court in person for his preliminary hearing next month, after a US judge granted a motion to waive his appearance (PA)

Alec Baldwin will not have to appear in court in person for a preliminary hearing after a US judge granted a motion to waive his appearance.

The Hollywood actor faces two charges of involuntary manslaughter over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021.

During the two-week preliminary hearing, due to begin on May 3, it will be decided whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.

A waiver of appearance was filed by Baldwin and his legal team, and approved by judge Mary Marlowe Sommer on Monday.

The Hollywood actor faces two charges of involuntary manslaughter over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021 (Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office/PA)

I understand that I am charged with the following offence or offences under the law of the State of New Mexico: Involuntary Manslaughter  in two alternatives, the filing read.

I understand that I am entitled to personally appear before the court at every stage of the criminal proceedings.

After reading and understanding the above, I request that the court permit me to waive a personal appearance in court for the following proceedings: preliminary hearing.

It comes after Santa Fes district attorney, Mary Carmack-Altwies, said she would step aside from the case in order to focus on broader public safety needs in New Mexico.

Ms Carmack-Altwies also announced the appointment of lawyers Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to serve as new special prosecutors in the case, following the stepping down of Andrea Reeb.
Ballina woman Christina Forde outside her restaurant, Cupan Ceoil, ahead of Joe Biden's visit to Co Mayo later this week. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Dublins Phoenix Park will close completely from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit of US president Joe Biden.

The closure will continue on Thursday and will play havoc with commuter traffic.

A OPW spokeswoman said: The closure will be from Wednesday 5pm to Thursday 5pm.

"Access for essential staff working in the park will be provided but there will be no access to the public for 24-hour period.

Thousands of vehicles and bikes use the park every day, and it is a main artery from the city centre to north-western suburbs including Blanchardstown, Castleknock and Clonsilla. Dublin Zoo will also be affected.

There had been partial closures, not a complete public exclusion, for the visits of other US presidents.

The Ukraine war situation is understood to be behind the unprecedented move to close the entire park.

The 5pm closure will make the return-leg of the rush hour more chaotic and there are likely to be longer journey times because vehicles will be displaced on to the Navan Road.

The same security concerns are believed to lie behind a decision that Mr Biden will use a helicopter to visit Carlingford, Co Louth, rather than taking a motorcade from Belfast through south Armagh and what was known as Bandit Country during the Troubles.

On Thursday, Mr Biden will visit his Irish counterpart, Michael D Higgins, at Aras an Uachtarain, and then address both Houses of the Oireachtas at Leinster House.

He will later be hosted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at a banquet at Farmleigh House, the state guesthouse, which is connected to Phoenix Park, although lying just outside the walls.

On Friday evening, Mr Biden will be in Co Mayo and address crowds outside St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.

The event is free and open to the public. Anyone wishing to attend should register online at ie.usembassy.gov.

Many details on Mr Bidens schedule of events, overnight arrangements and transportation are still being restricted for security reasons but will be announced soon.

One indication of the security climate is that Irish journalists who normally work in Leinster House will have to undergo Covid antigen tests at Dublin Castle before being bussed back into the parliamentary campus.

Mr Varadkar said yesterday he thought it was going to be very good visit.

Certainly, from our point of view, its an opportunity to cement relations between the US and Ireland, even though theyve probably never been better, he told RTE radio.

Our political relationship, and our economic, cultural and family ties are really strong and enduring.

Certainly, since President John F Kennedy there hasnt been as Irish an American president as Joe Biden, and were really looking forward to welcoming him home.

Mr Varadkar said the visit required a lot of co-ordination, which had included contact with the UK government due to Mr Bidens visit to the North, where he will meet UK prime minister Rishi Sunak.
opinion

The push for longer paternity leave speaks to how kin networks locally and around Africa have broken down in the demographic, sociological and economic changes that characterise modern society

But given the level of development in much of Africa, instituting paternity leave may not be quite so simple. Before we see why, however, let us start from the beginning.

The kin networks are extended family institutions in many African communities that provide a social security system, including for child care. You might still find such networks in rural areas.

When a child is born, for example, members of the extended family such as mothers-in-law or sisters-in-law and even neighbours assist in caring for the newborn baby and the nursing mother.

They share the emotional and physical burden that a nursing mother goes through during the early period of childrearing.

This however doesn't tend to work very well nowadays, especially in urban settings. This is not only because many in the towns are disconnected from their extended families but the demands of employment mean that people are tied to their work in the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

But the real issue is unpaid work, where mothers, including working mothers, for example, are left to run the home and take care of the children including the newborns, often with little support from the fathers.

Our governments are, of course, seized of this fact. Except that while maternity leave for women is up to 12 weeks or more, paternity leave for new fathers is between one and five days in the vast majority of countries in the continent.

Those with longer include Zambia with seven days paternity leave, and ten days in Cameroon, South Africa and Seychelles. In Burkina Faso, the leave is 20 days.

In the East African Community, the leave is three days in Tanzania, two days in DR Congo and four days each in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. In Kenya and South Sudan, the leave is two weeks.

Aside from the benefits the advocates of longer paternity leave cite such as fathers supporting both mother and infant at their most vulnerable, studies show the provision of paternity leave can improve women's chances in paid employment.

One example of this is where it may change employer attitudes. For instance, if a particular position requires investment in job training, employers have been known to discriminate against women, anticipating frequent absence due to childbirth and child-rearing activities.

However, if paternity leave allows men to spend more time outside employment, assuming considerable uptake of paternity leave, this may limit discrimination against women.

If there are clear benefits, what are the barriers?

To take the case of Rwanda, men advocates cite, among others, maternal "gate-keeping" as an important barrier to the involvement of men in caregiving activities.

Another is the limited policy and legislative environment and the primacy of a patriarchal culture that dictates the division of labour between mothers and fathers.

In concrete terms, to quote one often-cited study by Action Aid Rwanda, women in rural areas spend up to 7 hours a day on unpaid care work while men do around 1 to 3 hours a day.

The lopsidedness of this division of labour clearly needs to be addressed.

However, it may seem that paternity leave as a possible solution is not quite so simple.

Take the example of Uganda, as described in an analysis under the global policy forum OECD. The four days of paternity leave, as per Ugandan law, apply to the formal sector which employs less than 8 per cent of the working-age population. This in effect means it covers only a small population of employed fathers.

Furthermore, and this is not just in Uganda but in countries in the region and across Africa, there are no institutions to enforce the leave.

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The other concern similar to that expressed by the Rwandan advocates, the four days are too short to lead to care equality.

In Uganda, however, most men in the formal sector rarely use them.

Also, as in Rwanda, there is limited awareness of the need for and entitlement to paternity leave.

The Uganda situation is reflective of much of Africa. Thus the analysis concludes that paternity leave for economies with high informality and institutional gaps in enforcement is unrealistic.

Therefore, African governments, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, should invest in the supply side of gender-sensitive infrastructure to ease the care work burden.

Such infrastructure includes early childhood development centres, play parks, public transport with priority areas for mothers and fathers with children and breastfeeding centres.

These should be affordable, accessible and non-discriminatory. In the long term, they might do more for gender parity than paternity leave.
Courts

Former League of Ireland footballer and two others jailed after moving almost 200,000 in criminal cash
A man (20) has been refused bail after he was charged with false imprisonment of his petrified ex-partner and her sister, whom he is alleged to have locked inside their Dublin home at knifepoint.
Former League of Ireland footballer and two others jailed after moving almost 200,000 in criminal cash
Children are to have a stronger role in developing policies affecting them at school under a new specialised unit set up in the Department of Education.

The Student Participation Unit will be based on what is known as the Lundy Model, regarded as the international standard for childrens participation in policy-making.

It was established as one of the key actions of the departments updated anti-bullying action plan Cinealtas  the Irish for kindness  the implementation of which is now beginning.

Cinealtas is dedicated to preventing bullying and addressing the phenomenon wherever it surfaces. It aims to end cyber bullying, racist bullying, gender identity bullying, sexual harassment and other forms of bullying in schools.

The plan is centred on a child-rights-based approach and provides a roadmap for how the whole education community and society can work together to prevent and address bullying in schools.

Cinealtas commits to 61 actions over five years, including a 5m pilot programme of in-school counselling supports for primary pupils, starting in the autumn, details of which are currently being finalised.

It also includes updated anti-bullying procedures for schools, also due in the autumn, which will have guidance on recording alleged incidents of bullying behaviour.

Among the other measures will be an updated curriculum and training for staff to enhance their skills in preventing and addressing bullying, racism, sexism, sexual harassment and to promote equity, diversity, inclusion and well-being.

Education Minister Norma Foley said she was keenly aware of the harm that experiencing bullying of any type can cause children and young people and said she was fully committed to implementing the actions in Cinealtas.

The department already consults with children on a range of issues and the Student Participation Unit will take this engagement to a new level, not only around bullying, but other school-related matters.

An expert group has been established to advise the department on how best the Student Participation Unit can work. The group will be chaired by Professor Laura Lundy, Professor of Education Law and Childrens Rights at Queens University, who developed the Lundy Model.
The Government should pay for the flights home of teachers who will return to fill a vacancy in a primary or post-primary school, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) has said.

INTO general secretary John Boyles bring them home call comes amid an unprecedented shortage of teachers available to schools in Ireland, which is causing grave concern in education circles.

At the same time, thousands of Irish-trained teachers are working in the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and other countries.

Many were driven by a sense of adventure or a different lifestyle, but the housing crisis and the lure of better salaries abroad, often tax-free, are key factors.

Mr Boyle told the Irish Independent: We need to roll out the green carpet and welcome teachers from Ireland, who are working abroad, back home.

Commenting ahead of the INTO annual conference, he also said Education Minister Norma Foley should engage in a direct dialogue with Irish teachers living and working overseas.

Other countries have routinely visited Ireland in recent years with recruitment drives incentivising our highly trained teachers to emigrate.

It is beyond time for our Government to proactively counter the ongoing brain drain, he said.

As well as paying for flights home, he called for a range of other incentives to entice Irish-trained teachers back.

On salary, he said their teaching abroad should be recognised and they should get incremental credit for every day worked outside of Ireland.

There should also be funded courses and flexible timeframes for those who need to reach the required standard of Irish to teach in a primary school.

The INTO general secretary is also urging the restoration of assistant principals posts in primary and special schools and a continuation of efforts to reduce Irish class sizes to EU levels. We must do everything in our power to provide a pathway home for Irish teachers during the ongoing teacher supply crisis, he said.

The teacher recruitment and retention crisis, as well as pay levels and workload, will be dominant themes across all three teacher union annual conferences this week.

The INTO conference starts today while the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) conferences kick off tomorrow.

Ms Foley is due to speak at all three conferences and will hear, first hand, the concerns and anger of union leaders on key issues affecting the profession.

Mr Boyles call for the minister and her officials to be proactive in attracting teachers home is shared by Paul Crone, director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), which represents post-primary school leaders.

Mr Crone recalled how a previous drive in 2019, when he was head of schools with City of Dublin Education and Training Board, yielded positive results. At the time, then education minister Joe McHugh travelled to the Middle East and met Irish teachers working there.

Mr Crone said he had been plaguing the Department of Education on the matter. We need our teachers abroad to come back home and we need to actively pursue this, he added.

He said schools were currently advertising positions for next year. We will know very soon whether or not the supply of teachers is standing up. If it emerges that schools are short of staff, it is not too late to go abroad to recruit.

As we speak, recruitment agencies from the UK and Middle East are going after our teachers. Our principals [are] trying to nail down the teachers they have, he said.

A voluntary organisation called Turas Abhaile has been working for a number of years connecting Irish teachers abroad with jobs at home, via its website, and, at any one point, there are about 200-250 teachers registered on it.

But people familiar with its work say it needs official support, so it can improve staffing and so engage better with Irish teachers abroad with a view to encouraging them to come home.

Many post-primary schools cant even fill permanent jobs or recruit staff for long-term substitution, such as maternity leave. In the primary sector, the main problem is substitution, both short-term, and long-term.

However, there are also vacancies for year-long fixed-term posts and some permanent positions, which was seldom seen before.

A recent ASTI survey found that almost half of second-level schools have teaching vacancies, three in four received no applications for an advertised post or posts in the current year and four in five employed a non-qualified teacher.

The unpalatable choices forced on some schools include dropping subjects, grouping higher- and ordinary-level pupils together and merging classes.

Recruitment and retention problems are most acute in Dublin, where the lack of accommodation or the cost of accommodation has left teachers unable to afford to either rent or buy.
The scene where two young teenagers died after the car they were in crashed near Headford, Co Galway. Two other teens were injured and in a serious condition in hospital. (Photo: Ray Ryan)

Flowers left at the scene on the L6127 in Headford, where two teenagers lost their lives

People leave flowers at the scene on the L6127 in Headford, where two teenagers lost their lives

Tributes have been paid after the death of a young teenage boy (15) and girl (14) in a horror crash in Galway in the early hours of this morning.

The young boy and girl were among four teens, aged between 13 and 15, who were travelling in a car when it left the road and hit a tree on a narrow stretch of road at Pollacullaire off the N84 Headford to Ballinrobe road. The incident occurred around 5.45am.

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene. The remaining three teenagers were taken to University Hospital Galway, where the girl was later pronounced dead. Two others, a 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, are both in hospital, with the girl understood to be in a serious condition.

All four teenagers are students at Presentation College in Headford.

Fine Gael councillor for Headford, Andrew Reddington said a dark cloud had descended over the area as the community mourns two children.

He told Independent.ie: We are all thinking of the two families who have lost their beloved children. A dark cloud has descended on the entire community of Headford.

"Everyone is thinking of the families of the young people who died this morning and we are praying for those who are in the hospital.

"We will come together as a community to support the families, but we ask that everyone respect the families who are grieving the loss of their children.

Chairperson of the schools board of management, Cllr. Mary Hoade, said the town is shocked by the accident.

She said the school's board of management is meeting to implement a critical incident plan.

I am just on my way into the school as the critical incident plan is being implemented. The area is shocked and deeply saddened by the accident.

It is dreadful what has happened and our thoughts and prayers are with the families involved. It is unbelievable, she said.

The school wrote to the parents of students earlier to break the news and offer support.

The school will open tomorrow from 11am to 2pm to give students, particularly those who were classmates of the victims, a chance to be supported through the tragedy.

There will be staff members and psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service in attendance for "anyone who needs support in this terribly tragic and confusing time".

A letter to parents from school management said: "Over the course of the coming days, please keep a close eye on your child and allow them to express their feelings without criticism. We anticipate the next few days will be difficult for everyone and we will be available as a supportive community, as needed.

Parents were also advised to monitor their child's social media activity in the coming days and reinforce "the need to be extremely sensitive and careful about what they post".

Meanwhile, people have been posting on social media to express their heartbreak and offer their prayers and support to the bereaved families.

An utter tragedy, God rest their souls and those left behind, one woman wrote.

Such sad news for their families. May they rest in peace, a man posted.

Another contributor said her thoughts and prayers (were) with the parents, of the young people, their families and friends.

She added that she was also praying for those involved, who have woken up today to this horrific news".

Another mourner added: May they RIP. Sad for their families this Easter.

The scene near Headford, Co Galway. (Photo: Ray Ryan)

The scene near Headford, Co Galway (Photo: Ray Ryan)

The Catholic Primate of All Ireland, Eamon Martin also expressed his sadness at the loss of life.

"Our hearts and our prayers really go out to the families impacted this evening," he told RTE's Drivetime programme.

"Were thinking about them in our prayers this evening."

Garda technical experts conducted a detailed examination of the crash site earlier today while diversions remained in place.

Detectives have appealed for any witnesses to the collision to come forward.

Any road users who may have camera footage and were travelling on the L6127 at Glennagarraun, Ballyfruit in Headford between 5:30am and 6am are asked to make the footage available to gardai.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Tuam Garda Station on 093 70840, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Fresh allegations of abuse relate to incidents in the 1980sOne victim says he woke up in the middle of the night and was being abused by a superiorIt follows 26 allegations of sexual abuse of female members of the Defence Forces

Two army superiors allegedly waged a campaign of sexual abuse against male recruits at a Defence Forces training base. The young soldiers are alleged to have been plied with alcohol before being sexually assaulted and even raped.

One victim demanded the historical abuse of male Defence Forces personnel now be included in the garda inquiry into sexual predators announced by Commissioner Drew Harris in the wake of the Women of Honour revelations.

A total of 26 allegations of sexual assault of female members of the Defence Forces are currently being investigated by gardai.

A second male victim, who spoke to the Irish Independent, said two non-commissioned officers (NCOs) at one training camp in Munster targeted teenage boys throughout the 1970s and 80s.

A retired Defence Forces officer said he was aware of the allegations levelled by one victim and found them to be credible. The two NCOs involved, both of whom are now dead, suffered from serious alcohol problems and were regarded with suspicion by some senior officers.

Both retired from the Defence Forces with full pensions, but one had such a poor service record he was denied full military honours.

The allegations mirror similar complaints made about the targeting of teenage recruits at the Curragh Camp in Kildare by different NCOs in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Kildare gardai investigated the Curragh abuse allegations, but indicated they appeared to have been opportunistic rather than systematic.

One alleged victim said he believed there were dozens of male teenagers who fell prey to the two NCOs over their years involved in recruit training in the south.

These men have been trapped in a living hell since their teenage years because of what was done to them, and how they were bullied and frightened into remaining silent about wrongs done to them, said the man.

He said he was abused in the early 1980s at a Defence Forces training base in the south of the country.

My family had a great association with the Army and I was very proud to join. I thought it was the greatest career you could have  I was serving my country and my father was proud to see me wear the uniform, he said.

However, having joined in one Munster county, the man was sent to a base in another for training, and was quickly targeted by one of the NCOs at the centre of the allegations.

It was early in 1982 and I was asleep in my billet with the other recruits, said the man, adding that he woke up during the night in what I would call a dream-like state and realised someone was touching him inappropriately.

He said he realised it was the senior NCO responsible for his training.

I told him to f**k off, but he looked at me and said, You like that, dont you? I was knocked for six.

The man said he was then targeted in a further four sexual assaults over the next 18 months and was warned not to speak about it. He said he was terrified of the consequences of informing senior officers of what had happened.

The man said recruits were warned they risked their careers, promotion, overseas deployments and even being branded as gay by their colleagues.

One of the final alleged attacks on the trainee soldier took place in a single bedroom he had specifically asked for, going to sleep only after locking the door for his own safety.

However, he did not realise the NCO had keys to all the private bedrooms in the accommodation block.

I went to my platoon officer and told him I wanted to leave, said the man. I didnt tell him precisely what had happened because I was afraid and did not think I would be believed. He told me I was making the biggest mistake of my life.

This was Ireland in the 1980s. There was a recession and I would be leaving a good army job and going back into civilian life without any skills or training.

Later, he suffered a breakdown in the wake of what was done to him and, at one point, tried to take his own life.

He recovered, however, and served his full term in the Defence Forces before retiring with a full pension and military honours over a decade ago.

In 2010-11, he said he contacted the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and gardai regarding the abuse he suffered.

This followed a period of counselling from 2007 when he tried to face up to what had been done to him.

I was told I wanted to retire with a clear conscience about what was done to me. I think that was probably true. I was in absolute fear, thats why I hid it for so long, he said.

The man is convinced the alleged activities of the two NCOs must have been widely known.

A garda investigation was launched, but no prosecution was sanctioned because of the passage of time and the medical condition of the two NCOs at the centre of the claims.

Both men were questioned, but by that time the pair were at an advanced age and suffering from a range of medical conditions including advanced alcoholism and coronary heart disease. They died a short time later without having faced charges.

The first victims allegations are similar to the abuse complaint of a second recruit who went through the same training base in the 1980s.

He was invited to a gathering one evening near the base, which was attended by one of the NCOs during training, and said he was plied with alcohol before passing out.

When he awoke, he was in pain and realised he had been subjected to a serious sexual assault. I was told [by the NCO] to keep my mouth shut and that I would be looked after in terms of a cushy job and any overseas service that I wanted.

The man never lodged a formal complaint about what had happened to either the Defence Forces or the gardai.

But it destroyed me  I was broken inside, he said. How the hell do you live with knowing what was done to you? They were pure evil.

One of the victims said one of the NCOs involved was also alleged to have sexually assaulted a third teenage recruit during a Unifil deployment to Lebanon in the early 1980s. However, this man did not want to speak about the incident.

A Defence Forces spokesperson said they do not comment on individual cases.

The Defence Forces welcomes the establishment of the new unit set up by An Garda Siochana to investigate sexual assaults in the Defence Forces and fully supports this initiative, the spokesperson said.

The 26 cases that have been reported to An Garda Siochana  years before the publication of the Independent Review Group  span a period from the 1960s.

The Defence Forces Military Police Corps have themselves referred a number of these cases to An Garda Siochana and they stand ready to assist if required at any stage, the spokesperson said.

In relation to serving and retired members of the Defence Forces, the spokesperson said a number of supports are in place. These include an independent and external confidential contact person (CCP) with Raiseaconcern; Inspire, which is a 24/7 confidential counselling service; a personnel support service (PSS) for serving members; and a chaplaincy service.

The PSS officer and occupational social worker network in each brigade/formation supports serving personnel and their families in times of crisis and general difficulty.

Services include provision of a wide range of information and advice, stress management, counselling and referral to specialist assistance.

Those affected by sexual crimes are urged to contact the Garda National Protective Services Bureau.

However, one source said the latest allegations of abuse underlined the need for the law to be changed to include personal responsibility for offenders.

Where victims or injured parties take a civil suit it is always against the Department of Defence, Ireland and the Attorney General, said the source.

It is now time to consider bringing forward legislation where predators and bullies end up having their gratuity and pension deducted to pay compensation for their bad behaviour. Why should it be left to taxpayers to foot the entire bill?

Gardai confirmed a complaint was received in 2010-11 and an investigation carried out. No one was ever charged.
A landlord who evicted tenants from a building after claiming he was selling up but then rented out the apartments on Airbnb has a history of carrying out unlawful evictions and keeping deposits.
Biden to spend night in Co Louth and visit Knock Shrine in Co Mayo

US President Joe Biden has been "very excited" about visiting the island of Ireland for "quite some time", a White House spokesman has said.

At a White House press briefing, national security council co-ordinator for strategic communications John Kirby outlined the president's itinerary during his four-day trip, starting on Tuesday.

Mr Kirby said Mr Biden will be greeted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he arrives in Belfast and they will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Biden will then head to Ulster University to speak about the "tremendous progress" since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago.

"It will underscore the readiness of the United States to preserve those gains and support Northern Ireland's vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities," he said.

Mr Kirby added: "Today, I think you all know is actually the 25th anniversary since the Belfast Good Friday Agreement was signed, ending decades of violence and bringing peace and stability to Northern Ireland.

"President Biden cares deeply about Northern Ireland and has a long history of supporting peace and prosperity there.

"As a US senator, Joe Biden was an advocate for how the United States could play a constructive role supporting peace."

After his speech at Ulster University, Mr Biden will travel to Co Louth, where his great-grandfather James Finegan was born.

"The Finegan family lived there before they crossed the sea to begin a new life in America."

He will tour Carlingford Castle  better known as King Johns Castle  on Wednesday before spending the night in Louth, said Mr Kirby.

He said Mr Biden will then meet President Michael D Higgins on Thursday and take part in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell at Aras an Uachtarain.

"Following that ceremony, he will meet again with the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, whom the president just hosted here for St Patrick's Day.

"In both meetings, the president will discuss our close co-operation on the full range of shared global challenges.

"He will then address a joint session of Irish parliament about US-Irish co-operation to advance democracy, peace, security and prosperity."

Mr Kirby said Mr Biden will attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday.

On Friday he will travel to Co Mayo for the culmination of the trip.

"He will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centre's family history research unit."

He will then speak at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina.

Mr Kirby said the president's great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827.

"Those bricks were used to construct and support the great cathedral and help Edward afford to buy tickets for himself and for his family to sail to America decades later in 1851.

"The president is very much looking forward to that trip and to celebrating the deep historic ties that our two countries and our two people continue to share."

Mr Kirby noted the shared connection between the US and Ireland.

"As well as the shared deep history between the United States and Ireland, today one in 10 Americans claim Irish ancestry and Irish Americans are proudly represented in every facet of American life.

"Ireland is a key economic partner of the United States and the United States and Ireland are working closely together to make the global economy more fair.

"Ireland has been a key partner for 21st century challenges as well and the Irish Government has been strong supporters of Ukraine providing vital non-lethal assistance including medical supplies, body armour, and support for Ukraine's electric grid, as well as their agriculture.

"They have supported EU sanctions on Russia and the people of Ireland have generously welcomed nearly 80,000 Ukrainians offering refuge to those who were forced to flee their homes in search of safety."

Asked about recent violence in Northern Ireland, Mr Kirby said Mr Biden was grateful for the work that Northern Ireland's security forces have done and "continue to do to protect all communities".

"He's again very much looking forward to going to Belfast," he said.

Asked about timing the visit while Northern Ireland's institutions were suspended, Mr Kirby reiterated that the trip was timed for the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

"An agreement that the president has a personal connection to and obviously is very, very proud to see this has really changed lives and livelihoods in Northern Ireland."
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Sunday 9/4/2023 made a phone call with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen.

During the phone conversation, the foreign minister stressed Egypt's support for the efforts exerted by the UN envoy to reach a comprehensive political settlement to the Syrian crisis, in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254, said Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid.

Shoukry said Egypt gives high priority to restoring Syria's security and stability and eradicating terrorism, as well as ending all forms of foreign intervention in the country.

The spokesman noted that the two sides discussed how to alleviate the Syrian people's suffering.

The pair agreed to maintain consultation and coordination in the next period, where the UN envoy expressed his appreciation of Egypt's endeavors and its continued backing of the UN efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis.

MENA
As the eviction ban lifts, tenants arent the only ones who fear being shown the door

Lifting of the eviction ban that many in Fine Gael never wanted in the first place could yet be coalitions downfall

From far left, Paschal Donohoe, Leo Varadkar, Micheal Martin and Darragh OBrien

Hugh O'Connell Sun 9 Apr 2023 at 03:30
Good Friday changed NI for the better, no matter what some say

I have a feeling that before this month is out there will be a weariness in the coverage of the Good Friday Agreement 25 years on, but there are still things that remain to be said.
Warning on eve of Biden visit

Northern Irelands peace is fragile, Londons Northern Ireland Secretary has warned amid dissident republican threats of a terrorist attack before US president Joe Bidens visit this week.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph today Chris Heaton-Harris said that peace on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement could not be taken for granted because of republicans who wanted to drag it back to dark old days of The Troubles.

The US president arrives in the North late tomorrow evening and after talks with British prime minister Rishi Sunak, Mr Biden will mark the anniversary with a speech on Wednesday in Belfast.

The visit will be seen as a significant endorsement of the Brexit deal negotiated by Mr Sunak in February.

Last night Mr Sunak said it was the beginning of a new chapter for Northern Ireland.

He urged the parties  including the dissenting DUP  to restore the power-sharing government at Stormont, saying: There is work to be done.

The anniversary events are at the centre of the biggest police operation for a decade in Northern Ireland after police chiefs warned they had strong intelligence that dissident republicans are plotting to launch terrorist attacks on police.

The terrorism threat level for Northern Ireland was raised from substantial to severe last month, meaning an attack is judged to be highly likely, ahead of Easter parades.

It followed the attempted murder of a senior detective in a shooting blamed on the new IRA.

Over the weekend a major search operation across Derry by counter-terrorism police was linked to a planned bomb plot.

Police also launched an investigation after some members of an Irish Republican Socialist Parade wore masks, a potential breach of terrorism laws that ban clothing associated with proscribed organisations.

Mr Heaton-Harris said recent events had demonstrated there was a small number of people who want to drag us all back to the dark old days.

Its a stark reminder of the fragility of peace, he said.

The peace provided by the (Good Friday) Agreement must never be taken for granted, it marked the beginning of a journey to build the best Northern Ireland.

Mr Heaton-Harris also expressed his frustration at the failure to restore the power-sharing government  currently blocked by the DUPs opposition to the Windsor Framework.

He said the absence of a functioning government was simply not good enough for the 1.9 million people in Northern Ireland.

Mr Sunak said Mr Bidens visit demonstrated the international support for the Good Friday Agreement but said all political leaders needed to redouble our efforts on the promise made in 1998.

He said the agreement was a powerfully rare example of people doing the previously unthinkable to create a better future for Northern Ireland, the BBC reported.
Pope Francis has prayed on Easter Monday for lasting peace in Ireland as he marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Today is exactly 25 years since the historic agreement was signed.

Addressing thousands of pilgrims gathered in St Paters Square, the 86-year-old pontiff said the agreement had brought about an end to the violence in Northern Ireland.

Today I remember the 25th anniversary of the so-called Good Friday or Belfast Agreement which brought an end to the violence in Northern Ireland, he said.

In a spirit of gratitude, I pray to the God of peace that what has been maintained over those years may continue to offer peace and harmony to all the men and women of Ireland.

Responding to todays message of solidarity, the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, said the Pope has shown great interest in our peace process and is always anxious to be kept up to date with developments.

I am confident that his prayerful thoughts today will be welcomed by all people of goodwill.

Recalling the Pontiffs visit to Dublin in 2018, Dr Martin said Pope Francis encouraged us to persevere in the work of peace and reconciliation. He acknowledged on that occasion the huge efforts that had been made to reach the agreement and to find a peaceful settlement to end the conflict here which he said had caused such untold pain to everyone.

He said the Argentine has often spoken about the importance of reconciliation in the world and about being willing to break down barriers by crossing the road to the other side in the spirit of the good samaritan.

He noted that in his Easter Sunday Urbi et Orbi message to the city and to the world the Pope had encouraged everyone to pursue the paths of peace and fraternity and had drawn attention to the awful impact of war and violence in so many troubled parts of the world today.

The Derry-born prelate, who grew up during the Troubles, said he was always struck by the way Pope Francis draws out the horrific consequences of conflict, especially on families, children, and communities, and how violence drives displacement of peoples, forced migration, social and economic hardship and humanitarian crises.

As we mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement today, Pope Francis would want us to redouble our efforts at finding solutions to our ongoing problems and to work earnestly at restoring relationships here in order to bring deeper healing and reconciliation on this island, and between these islands, the Archbishop of Armagh said.

In a message to mark the 25th anniversary of the historic agreement today, church leaders across Northern Ireland issued a joint message emphasising that the signing of the agreement was not the end of the journey to peace in Northern Ireland but marked simply the first faltering steps down a very long road to a new, brighter, and shared future.
Two men have been charged as part of an investigation into the theft of multiple high value vehicles across the country.

The two, aged in their late 20s and mid 40s, were arrested in Conna, Co Cork, following the attempted theft of a high value vehicle in the area on Wednesday, April 5.

They were detained at Garda Stations in Cork but the man in his 20s has since been charged and appeared in court where he was remanded in custody at Fermoy District Court on Friday, April 14.

The man in his 40s has also been charged and is expected to appear before a special sitting of Mallow District Court at 5pm on Monday, April 10.
When Suzanne McCleans daughter Rosabel passed away suddenly at the age of 16 months, the familys world was upended, but they found peace in setting up a charity fund for other bereaved parents in need of support

Even when I look at photos now of her, I see something in her that I dont see in any of my other children, or in general. Suzanne McClean is talking about her daughter Rosabel, who died aged 16 months, in April 2017. Kind of a softness, or something almost angelic. I mean, I know we glorify people after they die a little bit, it can be very easy to do that. But really, even when she was alive, there was just something about Rosabel; it was almost like she was too good be true. And in the end, thats how it unfolded.
A campaign has been launched to help an Irish teen diagnosed with a rare form of cancer to secure the special treatment she needs which is only available in the Netherlands.

Katelyn Bracken (17), from Farranree, in Cork, was diagnosed in 2020 with a rare form of cancer called paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma.

This is an exceptionally rare form of cancer where tumours form on the carotid artery, along nerve pathways and in the endocrine system, usually in the head and neck.

However, they can also develop in the torso.

Katelyn underwent treatment for the condition but, last September, was told the cancer had returned after she complained of pain in the area where it was first diagnosed.

Last month, Katelyn was told that a number of tumours had been identified by scans - but these were inoperable because of their number and their location.

Several of the tumours are in critical areas so ordinary surgery is not possible.

However, a specialised form of treatment for the condition was developed in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

The North Presentation student has inspired everyone with the courage and determination she has displayed in battling her condition.

Her father, Stephen, admitted they were devastated with the diagnosis last autumn - but are determined to do everything possible to help and support Katelyn in her fight for health.

Mr Bracken said his family were left speechless by the fundraiser which has been backed by local schools, GAA clubs and community groups.

"It has been absolutely overwhelming," he said.

"To see how kind and generous people have been - it is unbelievable."

Mr Bracken said everyone has been inspired by Katelyn's courage and how she faces each new challenge with such determination.

To ensure Katelyn receives the treatment she desperately needs, her family are now prepared to move to the Netherlands to allow her to attend the Rotterdam hospital involved.

However, friends, neighbours and family have now rallied to their aid given the enormous costs that the family now faces.

Friend Ber Brady launched a special GoFundMe campaign for Katelyn's family to help them defray the costs they face.

"Their costs will accumulate quickly between accommodation, meals, etc. While they are in Rotterdam, Katelyns younger siblings, Danielle and Kaiden, will be looked after by family here in Cork," she said.

"We are trying to make life a little easier financially for Katelyn and her family while they go through this again. Any help will be massively appreciated."

A special GoFundMe campaign was launched with the aim of raising 50,000.

Incredibly, in the space of just four days the campaign had almost reached one third of its goal with over 13,000 donated by 80 supporters.
The heartbroken family of a Romanian mother-of-four stabbed to death in Limerick are now hoping to repatriate her remains.

Geila Ibram (27) suffered fatal injuries after being stabbed multiple times in a frenzied attack in an apartment off the Dock Road in Limerick last Tuesday.

A 26-year-old Afghan national, Habib Shamel, was charged with her murder before Belfast Magistrates last Saturday.

He had been arrested in the Malone area of south Belfast on Thursday after travelling by bus from Limerick to Northern Ireland.

Shamel - who arrived in Ireland in October 2020 - was remanded in custody and will appear again before a Northern Ireland court on May 2.

He had been living over recent months in the mid-west and had claimed asylum status.

Gardai and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are closely liaising over the ongoing investigation.

PSNI and gardai described the fatal attack as "frenzied and vicious" - with a PSNI detective telling the Belfast court, as the prosecution opposed bail, that the defendant was "a "volatile and dangerous human being, with a real danger of reoffending".

Ms Ibram is from the Tulcea area of Dubruja in Romania.

She had travelled to Ireland only three weeks before her death in a bid to support her children and family in Romania.

Gardai conducted a detailed three day examination of the scene off the Dock Road with an intensive search for the murder weapon involved.

Relatives of Ms Ibram have now visited Limerick and viewed her remains at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

They are now considering her funeral arrangements and are hoping to repatriate her remains to Romania.

Limerick community leaders now want to show their support for the family - and to highlight local disgust at violence directed towards women.

A special candlelit vigil will be staged in Limerick tomorrow evening with all encouraged to attend.

The vigil aims to show support for the Ibram family and the Romanian community as well as demonstrating a public rejection of all forms of gender based violence in Irish society.

It will take place at 5.30pm at Steamboat Quay in Limerick city centre.

One of the organisers of the vigil, councillor Elisa O'Donovan, said "the tightknit Limerick community wanted to pay its respects (to Geila)."

She added that recent violent attacks against women had horrified all of Irish society.

"I am numbed that this extreme violence against women is becoming so frequent in our lives...to die (as Geila did) in such violent and horrific circumstances is unthinkable."

Gardai have again appealed for anyone who witnessed or heard anything suspicious off the Dock Road in Limerick at lunchtime on Tuesday (April 4) to contact them.

CCTV security camera footage has played a central role in the garda investigation.
Before retiring as a TD, Gerry Adams said in a podcast interview: 'I have never had any intention, I dont have any intention and never will have any intention of running for that position.'

The wrong signatory of the Good Friday Agreement keeps being asked if hell run for president. Bertie Ahern continues to toy with the public as to his intentions. But he is from a party whose days of dominating the race for Aras an Uachtarain are past. Once the 25th anniversary applause fades, its questionable if the Fianna Fail leadership will want to be associated with him.
Library staff have recently been issued guidelines on how to deal with protesters targeting and sometimes removing LGBTQ+ books aimed at children and young people. But in our world of social media and Pornhub and Netflix and the whole world wide web in our teenagers pockets, banning or censoring books is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi directed the government to accelerate the implementation of major projects in the sectors of agriculture, irrigation and food production in the wake of the grave global challenges that emerged in the past years.

Sisi's directives came during his meeting on Sunday 9/4/2023 with Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli, Agriculture Minister El Sayed El Quseir, Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam, Director General of the Armed Forces' National Service Projects Organization (NSPO) Major General Walid Abul Magd and Chairman of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority Ahmed Azazi, said Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmi.

The spokesman noted that the meeting took up progress made in national projects to reclaim desert lands nationwide.

The President was briefed on efforts exerted by the different authorities with regard to projects aimed at increasing agricultural lands in Egypt, including the land reclamation projects in the areas of East Owainat, Toshka, Sinai, Upper Egypt and the New Delta.

MENA
To all concerned, please help us not to be subjected to photos of US president Joe Biden in pubs, breweries or distilleries on his visit here. Alcohol brands get enough free publicity.

Were inundated with endless studies and reports that seem to go nowhere. Its time for real action, and breaking this tradition would be a great start.

Please, please dont allow the visit to become soaked in alcohol.

Gerry Hickey, Baggot Street, Dublin 2

Read more Joe Bidens interest in our country is about as remote as his Co Mayo ancestry



Good luck, Billy  Listowel is sure to have Dolly good time

Billy Keane is, once again, doing Trojan work for charity in his native Listowel, even if he doesnt know that a blouse has the buttons on the wearers left.

However, thats a small fault in a good man (Dear Dolly Parton, we love you in Listowel, where everyone takes inspiration from your music, Irish Independent, April 8).

I wont be competing on DollyDay  my visage would be an insult to the beautiful Dolly (especially if shes there in person on Billys invitation) because my olfactory organ has a Grecian bend. You see, 60 years ago a civic-minded male headbutted me because he claimed I had been using unparliamentary language in the presence of females.

I have no doubt that, thanks to Billy and the team, June 24 will be another record- breaking day in Irelands culture capital.

Mattie Lennon, Blessington, Co Wicklow



Blueshirts on the warpath amid talk of SF/FF coalition

One could hardly blame Fine Gael for its continual attacks on Sinn Fein, particularly since Bertie Ahern and various political commentators have forecast Fianna Fails future may be as the junior partner in a Sinn Fein-led government.

This partnership would be acceptable to the grassroots of Fianna Fail, but not to all its members, as the grassroots realise they and Sinn Fein have come from the same gene pool and those members would be more comfortable supporting Sinn Fein than backing the Blueshirts.

It is in Fine Gaels interest to do all it can to damage this future partnership as it realises that when it happens it will do irreparable damage to Fine Gael far into the future, unless it can cobble together a coalition consisting not just of Labour but an array of other parties that would be very unstable.

In the last number of years, Fine Gael has been fortunate that Fianna Fail had a leader who was able to ignore its grassroots origins, unlike previous leaders including Sean Lemass, Charles Haughey and Bertie Ahern.

Hugh Duffy, Cleggan, Co Galway

Read more Good Friday Agreement still provides proven template for ending conflicts



Comparing Famine era with present-day Ireland is wrong

Recent commentators have compared Ireland in the present day to the conditions during the Famine. It is a narrative that has had fairly widespread coverage lately.

The present situation shows an Ireland after 100 years of self-government, which is less than perfect, but it has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world and nearly full employment.

In Famine times, after centuries of colonial misrule, most of the population were on the verge of starvation, and when the potato plague hit, a million people died.

To put it mildly, comparing the present day to conditions during the Famine is not appropriate.

Anthony Leavy, Sutton, Dublin 13

Why relax face-mask use if new Covid variant is rising?

The Thursday edition of the Irish Independent carried an article by Eilish ORegan headlined Latest Covid variant is spreading rapidly.

The Friday edition carried an article by the same journalist entitled Hospitals to take big step away from pandemic era as face mask rules relaxed. Could the health minister maybe explain to me what Im missing here?

New Covid variant spreading  mask-wearing in hospitals to be relaxed?

Des Butler, Julianstown, Co Meath



Yet another cruel attack on Palestinians by Israeli army

Israeli soldiers raids on Al Aqsa mosque, the third holiest shrine in Islam, and their attacks on worshippers are deplorable.

Palestinians have endured hunger, starvation and systematic violence. Their mere survival and endurance in the face of cruelty is remarkable and their voices must be amplified on the global stage if we really want never again to carry its weight.

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob, London
More than 100 luxury vessels expected to dock in Cobh during 2023

The Ambience docks in Cobh, the first cruise liner to dock in Cork this year. Over a 100 luxury vessels are expected to dock in Cork this year.

The first cruise liner of this years tourist season has docked in Cobh in the port of Cork, prompting a welcome from local tourism representative groups.

The Ambience docked by the quay in Cobh with an estimated 1792 passengers on board.

The flagship of the Ambassador cruise holiday liner fleet, the luxury ship has sailed all over the world and welcomed thousands of passengers on board before its most recent upgrade in 2022.

Earlier this year, the Port of Cork Company (PoCC) announced its Cruise Liner Schedule for 2023 which expects approximately 100 vessels this year, an increase from 90 calls last year, highlighting a steady recovery to pre-pandemic levels.

The cruise industry is estimated to be worth 70 million to the national economy, with approximately 14 million contributed to local economics, such as Cork. PoCCs cruise berth in Cobh is Irelands only dedicated cruise berth.

The Chief Commercial Officer of the Port of Cork Company, Conor Mowlds, said that the cruise sector played a significant role in the growth and development of tourism and hospitality in Ireland and particularly in Cork.

"We were delighted to commence the 2023 cruise season with our first liner arriving in Cobh this Easter weekend, marking the beginning of a busy year for the port and for the local cruise liner, tourism and hospitality industries.

According to Johanna Murphy, Cobh and Harbour Chamber of Commerce President, said the town was delighted to welcome cruise passengers and the crews back to Cobh and the local harbour community and described the impact on the local economy and atmosphere as positive.

We look forward to all of the passengers and crew that will visit over the coming months, she said.

The Ambience is scheduled to depart Cobh at 7pm on Monday and the next liner, the Silhouettte is expected to dock on Saturday, April 30.

The Port of Cork is the worlds second-largest natural harbour and a key international trade gateway. It is the key seaport in the south of Ireland and is one of the three Ports of National Significance (Tier 1) as designated by National Ports Policy.

The National Ports Policy mandates Tier 1 Ports to lead the response in meeting Irelands future port capacity requirements. In this capacity, the port is also central to the national economic growth given that national ports handle approximately 90% of all imported and exported tonnage in Ireland.

As a multi-model port it is only one of two ports in Ireland to service all six shipping modes - lift on/ lift off, roll-on/ roll-off, liquid bulk, dry bulk, break bulk and cruise.

The Port of Cork Company (PoCC) is a commercial semi-state company responsible for the broad range of commercial running of Cork harbour as well as the navigation and berthage in the port.

In 2021, the Ports of Cork and Bantry reported a total consolidated traffic throughput of 10.6 million tonnes in line with 2020. The PoCCs direct workforce is 150 staff, however, it supports thousands of jobs through indirect employment through warehouses, hauliers and shipping agents.
Manager of Cable O'Leary's in Ballinskelliss Tony Donnelly is recruiting staff for the hotel in the picturesque part of Kerry offering free accommodation and a change of lifestyle

A Kerry hotel has launched a recruitment drive with a difference by offering free accommodation for staff who want to live and work in a remote and beautiful area of the county

Cable OLearys Hotel in picturesque Ballinskelligs said the jobs in the well-known hotel offer opportunity to break with the rat race, and to live and work in one of the worlds most beautiful locations.

Manager of Cable OLearys Hotel Tony Donnelly says that the hotel has decided to get creative and offer more than just a job but also a new way of living.

Like everyone in hospitality, we have been struggling to attract staff because of full employment in the sector. As a result, weve decided to get creative and improve our offering in the hope of luring the best talent to one of the most beautiful places on the island. Not only will they receive a good wage and on-the-job training, we will also be able to provide them with accommodation and connect them with the local community so they can benefit from the full range of activities that local people already enjoy. The jobs are ideally suited to those who want to take a break from the rat race, and spend some time in an idyllic part of County Kerry.

The ten bedroom hotel - located next to the famous Ballinskelligs Beach - is recruiting for a number of roles, including chef, senior bar staff and serving staff. The roles pay more than the going rate in the sector, and include the offer of free accommodation to successful applicants.

Cable OLearys is a well known hostelry along the Wild Atlantic Way, and is named after a famous Ballinskelligs man who was once responsible for connecting Europe to the world as Superintendent for the transatlantic telecoms cable.

The roles are ideally suited to people with experience in the hospitality sector, who are looking for a change in pace away from the high pressure and high cost of urban living. The successful candidates will have numerous pursuits on their doorsteps including surfing, watersports and trips to the Skellig Islands made famous more recently by their appearance in the Star Wars franchise

The area around Ballinskelligs has recently won international praise and recognition for being Irelands first Hope Spot, identifying it as a place of important natural beauty and putting it on a list with the likes of the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Islands.

The new chef will be charged with creating a menu befitting the location, drawing from the vast array of quality produce produced on the land and in the sea off County Kerry. Cable OLearys already works with a number of local food and beverage suppliers, supporting other jobs around the Skellig peninsula.

The new roles are open to those already living in Ireland, and to those who would like to move to Ireland to pursue a career in hospitality. Some require an immediate start, while others will come on stream ahead of the start of the busy summer season. For more information, and to apply for the any of the roles advertised, please emailcableolearysKY@gmail.com.
Canon Thomas Finnegans revelation at Mass shook the congregation of boarders of the college fifty years ago including John Kelly who recounts the events

The last Saturday before the Easter holidays in 1973 was Eurovision night. The 18th annual mega TV event was coming from Luxembourg and was a somewhat more significant occasion in the early seventies than it became in later decades.
I long for the day humans are clever enough to invent a time machine that can send us back to a time when life didnt seem so complicated.

Im wondering is it just I who has a problem with websites and many other aspects of modern communications? To be honest I have a sneaky feeling that I am not alone when it comes to getting frustrated with the world of touch tone technology.
The Air Corps helicopter getting set for take off at Tomhaggard this afternoon following a serious road traffic collision.

A man aged in his 30s was airlifted to Tallaght University Hospital with substantial injuries this afternoon, following a horror crash on a rural Wexford road.

The two vehicle collision took place near the entrance to Bargy Castle, Tomhaggard, Co Wexford, just after 2 p.m. this afternoon.

The incident saw a collision between a car and a van and the driver of the van is understood to have suffered serious, albeit non-life threatening injuries.

A major emergency response was required with two ambulances, an advanced paramedic, Wexford Fire Service and gardai all in attendance.

Having administered some medical aid at the roadside, the decision was taken to seek the assistance of the Air Corps 112 helicopter to lift the man, understood to be local, to hospital in Dublin immediately.

Meanwhile, the driver of the other vehicle was rushed to University Hospital Waterford for treatment.
Model Olamide Obadina with fashion designer Rion Hannora at the Trinity Fashion Show held in EPIC, Dublin

It was an epic week for emerging designer Rion Hannora.

She began by picking up one of five RDS Craft Awards and scooped the fashion category.

Using part of her 10,000 prize to open a studio at the Om Diva Atelier on Dublins Drury Street, the Cork woman wrapped the week up by taking part in the annual Trinity Fashion Society show, alongside established designers including Claire Garvey, Laoise Carey and Magee 1866.

Rions process involved a creative collaboration where graffiti-met-fashion-at-a-party.

Her designs were made up in cotton canvas, which she pinned on a wall at a party and invited the guests to spray paint it.

There was about 30 metres of unbleached, raw canvas. I put out lots of colours, including neons and fluorescent paints, she said.

I liked that I was putting my trust in everyone who was there, and having to stand back and let people go for it was exciting.

She then used a special industrial machine to sew through the painted fabric.

The graduate of Limerick School of Art and Design said: I was inspired by garments from the Baroque era.

I love the excessiveness and volume that women wore around that time, but a lot of the time they were nearly breaking ribs so they could fit into their pieces.

That goes against every- thing that I do. I take a more feminist approach in my designs, so a lot of my pieces would be 100pc adjustable so they can be adjusted to how you are feeling on that day.

The annual Trinity Fashion Society show took place at the EPIC Museum in Dublins Docklands on Friday night.

Entitled Transcendence: The EPIC Journey of Fashion, the event took inspiration from the journey of Irish fashion and the global fusion of ideas, featuring a diverse range of styles and designs from emerging and established Irish designers.

Established in 2009, the society has become the largest fashion grouping in Ireland.

It is one of the largest societies at Trinity College, with a social media following of over 9,000 and monthly online impressions of more than 315,000 on Instagram.

Ryan Byrne, a law student and chairperson of the society, said: Each year, the Trinity Fashion Society aims to provide a platform for fashion-forward students to express their creativity and talent.

The annual fashion show is not just a display of clothing, but a celebration of the passion, hard work and dedication of the participating students.

Through these events, students develop teamwork, organisational skills and confidence, showcasing the vibrant and innovative community at Trinity College Dublin.

The shows models were drawn from the colleges student community.

Workshops were given in advance by committee member and second-year global business student Ola Obadina, who is an up-and-coming model signed to the Not Another management model agency.
Thabo Bester in 2012 on a TV camera screen in the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town, where he appeared in connection with murder. Photo: AP

A South African convicted murderer who faked his death to escape from prison has been arrested in Tanzania following a two-week manhunt.

South African officials will begin to extradite Thabo Bester (35), dubbed the Facebook Rapist because he used the social media platform to lure at least two women he was convicted of raping. He was also found guilty of killing one.

Bester was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012, and it was reported last May that he died in a fire in his prison cell.

However, reports surfaced of him being seen in Johannesburg, and an investigation using DNA showed the body found burned beyond recognition in the cell was not his.

Two weeks ago, police said they were chasing Bester, and last week they raided a luxurious home he was believed to have been renting in a posh Johannesburg suburb.

Bester was apprehended with his partner, Nandipha Magudumana, a well-known celebrity doctor, along with a Mozambican national who is believed to have helped them to cross borders and evade law enforcement authorities.

They were found with several fake passports that were unstamped at the time of their arrest, 10km from the Kenyan border.

Authorities have now started the process to extradite them back to South Africa, where they are expected to face several charges.

An official delegation from South Africa, comprising senior officials from the police and the department of justice and correctional services, will depart for Tanzania, justice minister Ronald Lamola said.

The South African news outlet GroundUp reported that for nearly a year after his prison escape, Bester had lived a lavish lifestyle with Magudumana in Johannesburgs upmarket Hyde Park suburb.

While in prison, Bester used a laptop he had for studies to run an event and production company, GroundUp said.

At one point he addressed a conference from his prison cell, telling attendees he was speaking from the US.

His escape from prison has raised questions about the possible involvement of officials.

At least three have been fired from the Mangaung Correctional Centre from where Bester escaped, according to local reports.
China sent several dozen warplanes and 11 warships towards Taiwan

Chinas military sent several dozen warplanes and warships toward Taiwan in a large-scale exercise that simulated sealing off the island in response to its presidents trip to the US.

The Chinese military earlier had announced three-day combat readiness patrols which it called Joint Sword, as a warning to Taiwan, a self-ruled island which China claims as its own.

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the island's democratic government encourages Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Chinas ruling Communist Party says would lead to war.

The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the ruling party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

Military analysts suggest that in the event of a war, China may block sea and air traffic around Taiwan, preventing the United States, Japan or other nations from intervening or sending supplies to help the island defend itself.

China's latest military actions follow President Tsai Ing-wens delicate diplomatic mission to shore up Taiwan's dwindling alliances in Central America and boost its US support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. A US congressional delegation also met with Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

China responded to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsais US trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

On Monday morning, the Chinese People's Liberation Army said its Shandong aircraft carrier for the first time was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan.

It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off the deck of the ship, according to a post from the PLA's Eastern Command on Weibo, the social media platform.

State broadcaster CCTV, citing the PLA, said the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan as well as "waves of simulated strikes" at important targets on the island.

Between 6am Sunday and 6am Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwans Ministry of National Defense.

Among the planes that crossed the median were 8 J-16 fighter jets, 4 J-1 fighters, 8 Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes.

Later Monday morning, Taiwan's defense ministry reported another 59 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday, where eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the island's Defense Ministry.

The ministry said in a statement it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as on its own navy vessels.

In addition to combat readiness patrols, China's People's Liberation Army would hold live fire training in Luoyuan Bay in China's Fujian province opposite Taiwan, the local Maritime Authority announced over the weekend.

Chinas military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent toward the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities.

One of the US representatives who attended the meeting with Tsai last week said Saturday the US must take seriously the threat China posed to Taiwan.

Republican Mike Gallagher, chairman of the US House Select Committee on China, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island governments defenses, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan
The meeting of Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen and the US speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, which is said to have provoked the Chinese military drills. Photo: Reuters

Nearly 20 Chinese and Taiwanese warships were engaged in a stand-off yesterday as Beijing conducted mock strikes on key targets in response to the leader of Taiwans visit to the US.

China, which claims the island is its territory, began three days of exercises around the island on Saturday, after Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen returned from Los Angeles where she met Kevin McCarthy, the speaker of the House of Representatives.

China views such meetings as a provocation and warned Mr McCarthy not to repeat disastrous past mistakes by meeting Ms Tsai.

About 10 Chinese and 10 Taiwanese ships were involved in the stand-off as China simulated missile attacks on foreign military targets off Taiwans south-west coast.

Taiwan is not their only target, its source said. Its very provocative.

The US, like most countries, does not recognise Taiwan as a state but opposes a Chinese takeover.

Chinese state television said the Peoples Liberation Army had simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan island and the surrounding sea areas, while maintaining an offensive posture around the island.

Taiwans defence ministry said it had yesterday spotted 70 Chinese fighters and bombers and 11 ships around Taiwan.

A similar number of aircraft crossed the median line that serves as an unofficial barrier between the two sides on Saturday, it added.

Taiwan, which has been on high alert, said its forces would maintain solid combat readiness, while making sure not to escalate conflict.

The AFP news agency said Mirage 2000 fighter jets scrambled at Hsinchu air force base in northern Taiwan and three boats from Taiwans elite Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit had patrolled the Matsu Islands yesterday.

China is using Ms Tsais US visit as an excuse to carry out military exercises, which have seriously damaged regional peace, stability and security, the defence ministry claimed.

The military will respond with a calm, rational and serious attitude, and will stand guard and monitor in accordance with the principles of not escalating nor provoking disputes to defend national sovereignty and national security, it said.

In August, Ms Tsai met Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker, in Taipei. Rankled by that, China conducted nearly a week of military drills around Taiwan that included firing missiles over the island.

Meanwhile, French president Emmanuel Macron has urged Europe not to be a follower of the Washington agenda when it comes to tensions with China over Taiwan.

The French president made the remarks while returning to Paris from a three-day state visit to China last week.

The question Europeans need to answer is the following: is it in our interest to accelerate [a crisis] in Taiwan? No, Mr Macron said.

The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the US agenda and a Chinese overreaction.

He said European nations need to wake up and must strive not to become entangled in crises that are not ours.

Mr Macrons statement is likely to irritate the US, which has promised to help Taiwan defend itself in the event of a conflict.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation El Sayed el Quseir followed up on the availability of animal feed, maize and soybean in the local market.

During a meeting, held on Sunday 9/4/2023 in the presence of Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) Hassan Abdullah, Quseir briefed the premier on a report about the animal feed quantities needed over the period ahead.

The minister asserted that local markets must have adequate supply of animal feed to fulfill the needs poultry farms, help drive feed prices down, promote local production of poultry and egg, and avoid price hikes.

At the conclusion of the meeting, it has been agreed that the banking sector should embark on a set of urgent measures to secure the hard currency needed for boosting animal feed supply in local markets, while speeding up customs clearance procedures for inbound maize, soybean and animal feed shipments.

MENA
The decision to fire Yoav Gallant set off a wave of spontaneous mass protests.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday retracted his decision to fire his defence minister over criticism of the governments contentious plan to overhaul the judiciary.

In a televised speech, Mr Netanyahu said that Yoav Gallant is staying in his post.

I decided to put the differences we had behind us, he said.

Mr Netanyahu announced late last month that Mr Gallant was fired.

The decision set off a wave of spontaneous mass protests and a general strike that threatened to paralyse the country, forcing the Israeli leader to suspend his divisive plan to overhaul the judicial system.

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Mr Netanyahu said: Gallant remains in his position and we will continue to work together for the security of the citizens of Israel.

In a tweet showing himself sitting next to Mr Netanyahu, Mr Gallant wrote: We continue together with full strength, for Israels security.

Mr Netanyahu had never sent Mr Gallant a formal termination letter. As of Monday, Mr Gallant, whose criticism of Mr Netanyahus planned judicial changes led to his dismissal, was still in the job.

In recent days, Mr Gallant was seen taking part in Israeli government meetings discussing tensions in Jerusalem that escalated last week and the wider violence they sparked in the region.

Even in the last few days we worked together and stood together around the clock on all fronts in the face of the security challenges, Mr Netanyahu said.

Days after Mr Netanyahu announced Gallants firing, an Israeli police raid at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site triggered rocket fire at Israel on multiple fronts.

Israel responded with airstrikes and artillery fire at rocket launch sites and accused Hamas and Palestinian militant groups of being behind the attacks.

The judiciary crisis and other issues including his indictment on corruption charges in 2019 have distracted Mr Netanyahu from his traditional focus on security and diplomacy, and many Israelis were concerned about the prospects of a vacant defence minister post.

After Wednesdays police raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third holiest shrine in Islam that is also the most sacred to Jews, rockets were fired on northern Israel from Lebanon, Syria and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

The escalation came at a time of rare convergence of Muslim, Jewish and Christian holidays.
The actions follow President Tsai Ing-wens diplomatic mission to shore up Taiwans dwindling alliances in Central America and boost US support.

China sent several dozen warplanes and 11 warships towards Taiwan in retaliation for a meeting between the US House of Representatives speaker and Taiwans president, Taiwans Defence Ministry said (CCTV/AP)

Chinas military has declared it is ready to fight after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan.

The exercises, that simulated sealing off the island, followed the Taiwanese presidents trip to the US last week.

The combat readiness patrols named Joint Sword were meant as a warning to self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own, Chinas military said earlier.

The theatres troops are ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts, it said on Monday.

The exercises were similar to ones conducted by China last August, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan in retaliation for then-US Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan, but have been smaller and less disruptive.

Military experts say the exercises serve both as intimidation and as an opportunity for Chinese troops to practise sealing off Taiwan by blocking sea and air traffic, an important strategic option the Chinese military might pursue in the event it uses military force to take Taiwan.

The Chinese actions follow President Tsai Ing-wens delicate mission to shore up Taiwans dwindling diplomatic alliances in Central America and boost its US support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

A US congressional delegation also met with Ms Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

China responded immediately to the meeting with Mr McCarthy by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Ms Tsais US trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

China wants to use any increase of diplomatic interactions between the US and Taiwan as an excuse to train its military, said Kuo Yu-jen, a defence studies expert and director of the Institute for National Policy Research in Taiwan.

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the islands democratic government encourages Taiwanese people who want formal independence, a step Chinas ruling Communist Party says would lead to war.

The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the Communist Party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

After Ms Pelosi visited Taiwan, China conducted missiles strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan, while also sending warships and war planes over the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

It also fired missiles over the island itself which landed in Japans exclusive economic zone, in a significant escalation.

The live-fire exercises disrupted flights and shipping in one of the busiest shipping lanes for global trade. This time, shipping and maritime traffic have largely continued as normal.

The exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting 200 flights by Chinese warplanes in the past three days.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), said the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan as well as waves of simulated strikes at important targets on the island.

On Monday, the PLA said its Shandong aircraft carrier was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan for the first time. It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off from the deck of the ship in a post on Weibo, the social media platform.

The appearance of the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean suggests that it could be used to prevent foreign militaries from coming to help Taiwan, said Han Gan-ming, a research fellow at the government-backed Institute for National Defence and Security Research.

In the future if theres a similar military manoeuvre, then Taiwan will have to face it alone, Mr Han said.

Between 6am Sunday and 6am Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwans Ministry of National Defence.

Among the planes that crossed the median were eight J-16 fighter jets, four J-1 fighters, eight Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes. Taiwan also tracked J-15 fighter jets, which are paired with the Shandong aircraft carrier.

Later on Monday morning, Taiwans Defence Ministry reported another 59 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday in which eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the islands Defence Ministry. It said in a statement that it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as from its own navy vessels.

Chinas military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent towards the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities.

The military activity has increased a notch since Ms Pelosis visit, with Chinese PLA fighter jets regularly flying over the middle boundary line. Experts say PLA navy vessels regularly navigate the waters off Taiwans north-eastern coast.

Meanwhile, to the south in the South China Sea, the US 7th Fleet said its missile destroyer USS Milius sailed by Mischief Reef in a freedom of navigation operation. China has built an artificial island on the sea feature to stake its claim to the disputed territory.

China said the US illegally trespassed into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government, according to a statement from the Chinese militarys southern command.
Former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she would 'fully co-operate' with the police investigation into her party's finances. Photo: Jane Barlow

A luxury campervan has reportedly been seized from the mother-in-law of former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon by police investigating the partys finances.

The vehicle was taken from a house in Fife belonging to Margaret Murrell, the 92-year-old mother of Ms Sturgeons husband, Peter Murrell.

The seizure took place at the same time police searched the home of Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell.

The same model of campervan can sell for about 125,000.

Mr Murrell, the partys former chief executive, was arrested last Wednesday by police investigating the spending of around 600,000 (683,000) earmarked for an independence campaign. He was released later that day pending further investigation.

As well as Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeons home near Glasgow, Police Scotland officers also searched the SNPs headquarters in Edinburgh and removed boxes of items.

The continuing investigation has been described by SNP president Mike Russell as the partys biggest crisis in 50 years.

Read more Police search Nicola Sturgeons house as husband is arrested in SNP probe

On Saturday, Ms Sturgeon spoke publicly for the first time since her husbands arrest, addressing reporters outside her home.

In a short statement, she said the last few days had been obviously difficult and quite traumatic at times and that she would fully co-operate with the police investigation.

She said Mr Murrell was home but not able to say anything about his arrest while the inquiry continued.

Again, thats not necessarily a matter of choice. Thats just the nature of this, she added.

The MSP said she intended to get on with life and my job, as you would expect me to.

Earlier, it emerged the accountancy firm that had audited the SNPs books for more than a decade had resigned. Johnston Carmichael informed the party of the decision before Mr Murrells arrest.

The partys treasurer is now seeking another auditor in order to comply with Electoral Commission rules. Police Scotland said their investigations were ongoing.

An SNP spokesman said: It would not be appropriate to comment on any live police investigation.

The SNP has been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross claimed it was absurd for Ms Sturgeon to say her decision to step down was not connected to the police investigation.

He told the GB News channel yesterday: For her to somehow suggest and continue to suggest it had nothing to do with this ongoing inquiry I think is frankly absurd.

Weve now seen the incredible sight of someone who has just been first minister inside a house when the police came to arrest her husband.

Now, obviously, thats an ongoing live police inquiry and I cant go much further into it, but we have all seen the house being taped off.

He said reports of the campervan being removed are incredible and the story was deeply damaging for Scotland.
Mayor of southern French city says an explosion most likely cause, but too early to confirm

Narrow city streets and fires are hampering rescue efforts at collapsed building in Marseille. Photo: AP

More than 100 firefighters were working against the clock last night to extinguish flames deep within debris to save up to up to eight people buried after a building collapsed in the French city of Marseille.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said at least four people were known to live in the collapsed building and as many as right may have been there, though persistent flames and fears of further collapse prevented rescuers from being able to search for victims almost a day after the explosion.

We cannot intervene in a very classic way, Mr Darmanin said during a visit to the site, about 11 hours after the five-storey building collapsed shortly before 1am yesterday.

He said the fire was burning a few metres under the mounds of debris and that both water and foam represented a danger to victims survival.

It was not known whether anyone was killed, or what triggered the blast, Mr Darmanin said.

Firefighters, with the help of urban rescue experts, worked through the night and all day yesterday in a slow race against time.

The delicate operation aimed to keep firefighters safe, prevent further harm to people potentially trapped in the rubble and not compromise vulnerable buildings nearby.

About 30 buildings in the area had been evacuated, Mr Darmanin said.

We heard an explosion ... a very strong explosion which made us jump, and thats it, said Marie Ciret, who was among those evacuated.

We looked outside the window at what was happening. We saw smoke, stones, and people running.

The building that collapsed is located on a narrow street in the centre of Marseille, adding to the difficulties for firefighters and rescuers.

Mayor Benoit Payan said an explosion was the probable cause of the collapse but later admitted no conclusions can be drawn without an investigation.
Alla Yatsentiuk hugs her 14-year-old son Danylo after he was returned to Ukraine with 30 other children. Photo: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

More than 30 Ukrainian children abducted by Russian officials during the war have been reunited with their families, after suffering terrible conditions during captivity including living with rats and cockroaches.

Dasha Rakk (13) and her twin sister were among them. Last year, they were sent from their home in Kherson, then occupied by Russia, to a summer camp in Crimea, which was seized from Ukraine in 2014.

She clutched her mother as she described the despair they felt when they were told that they would not be going home any time soon.

When they first told us we will stay longer, we all started crying, she said. They said we will be adopted, that we will get guardians.

Dasha was among 31 children reunited with their parents from Belarus into Kyiv at the weekend at the end of a complex rescue mission coordinated by charity, Save Ukraine.

Mothers carrying flowers were waiting on the pavement for the nondescript bus to arrive. Many wept as the doors opened and children piled out. They hugged their young sons and daughters and stroked their hair, seemingly not daring to relax their grip.

The rescue operation crossed four borders and involved multiple meetings with obstructive Russian officials.

Dashas mother Natalia said she had travelled via Poland, Belarus and Moscow to reach her children in Crimea, where she signed various documents that secured their places on the rescue missions bus back to Ukraine.

She described the joy of rescuing her daughters but also the distress of not being able to bring every abducted child back home to Ukraine.

It was heartbreaking to look at children left behind who were crying behind the fence, she said.

Mykola Kuleba, the Ukrainian childrens ombudsman and the rescue mission leader, said that it was essential to bring the children home and save them from often appalling living conditions.

There were kids who changed their locations five times in five months, some children say that they were living with rats and cockroaches, he said.

Those stories have been echoed by children rescued in previous missions by Save Ukraine. We were treated like animals. We were closed in a separate building, said Vitaly, one such boy.

Mr Kuleba said the rescue operation had been complicated because Russian officials had tried to stop them by intimidating staff and children on the bus with a 13-hour interrogation by Russias FSB security services and a staged report by journalists from the Kremlins Russia-1 TV station.

But thanks to our joint efforts, we can now experience the incredible emotions of reuniting families after long separations and seeing tears of joy on the faces of young Ukrainians, he said.

Ukraine has estimated that Russian forces have abducted 19,500 children since Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion in February last year, with the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant against the president for his involvement.

Parents living in areas captured by Russian forces were persuaded that sending their children to Russia, where many Ukrainians have strong links, was the sensible option during the war but when they tried to find their sons and daughters again, they were obstructed.

The children are told that their parents have disowned them and they are then sent to re-education camps where they are indoctrinated with the Kremlins world view before being sent to Russian families to be adopted.
Edward Snowden, a former contractor for the National Security Agency, fled the US after revealing how America spied on its own citizens and foreign allies.

An American intelligence document that claims Mossad supported major recent anti-government protests in Israel is false and absurd, the spy agency said.

But the fallout from a massive leak of Pentagon papers continued to reverberate among Washingtons allies yesterday.

According to the US documents, classified as top secret, the Israeli intelligence agency advocated for Mossad officials and Israeli citizens to protest [at] the new Israeli governments proposed judicial reforms, including several explicit calls to action that decried the Israeli government.

However, the allegations were vehemently denied by Mossad in a statement issued by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The publication in the American press is completely false and absurd, the statement said.

Mossad and its senior officials have not and do not encourage Mossad employees to attend anti-government demonstrations, nor any other political demonstrations and events, a spokesman said.

The claims were contained in signals intelligence  intercepted communications  reports in a trove of more than 100 Pentagon documents that have emerged online in the past month.

The Pentagon and the US Justice Department said it was investigating the leaks, regarded as the most serious to hit Washington since Edward Snowden 10 years ago. Back in 2013, Snowden, a former contractor for the National Security Agency, fled the US after revealing how America spied on its own citizens and foreign allies.

The latest leak revealed America had been spying on allies as well as enemies around the world and has caused huge embarrassment in Washington. South Korea has also been mentioned and it said yesterday it plans to raise the issue with the US.

The documents show that Washington was intercepting communications around whether Seoul would help supply weapons to Ukraine. South Korea had agreed to sell artillery shells to the US to help replenish its stockpile  but on condition the end user should be the American military. The batch of papers is dominated by an assessment of the military situation in Ukraine but other documents also relate to Iran and China. Some of the documents contain inaccuracies, raising questions about their authenticity.

It is very important to remember that in recent decades, the Russian special services most successful operations have been taking place in Photoshop, said Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraines military intelligence.

( Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2023)
Mahdi al-Mashat is head of the Houthi supreme political council. Photo: Getty

Saudi officials flew to Yemens capital for talks with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels as part of international efforts to find a settlement to Yemens nine-year conflict.

Saudi Arabias delegation, chaired by the kingdoms ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber, will hold talks with Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthis supreme political council, which runs rebel-held areas in Yemen.

An Omani delegation will also join the talks.

Mohammed al-Bukaiti, a Houthi leader, said on Twitter that Saudi and Omani officials would discuss ways to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.

He said achieving an honourable peace between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia would be a triumph for both parties, and urged all sides to take steps to preserve a peaceful atmosphere and prepare to turn the page of the past.

Hans Grundberg, the UN envoy for Yemen, described the ongoing efforts, including the Saudi and Omani talks in Sanaa, as the closest Yemen has been to real progress towards lasting peace since the war began.

This is a moment to be seized and built on and a real opportunity to start an inclusive political process under UN auspices to sustainably end the conflict, he said.

The talks in Sanaa are part of international efforts led by Oman to settle Yemens conflict, which began in 2014.

That is when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of the countrys north, ousting the internationally recognised government that fled to the south and then into exile in Saudi Arabia.

The Houthi move prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene months later in a bid to restore the internationally recognised government to power.

The conflict has in recent years turned into a regional proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis reached a draft deal last month to revive a ceasefire that expired in October.

The deal is meant to usher in a return to Yemeni political talks, according to Saudi and Yemeni officials.

They said the Saudi-Houthi understandings include a six-month truce with a cessation of all military activities across Yemen.

The Houthis have committed to coming to the table with other Yemeni parties to negotiate a political settlement to the conflict, they said.

However, observers cautioned not to expect too much.

Ahmed Nagi, a Yemen expert at the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank, said Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement has given a boost to Saudi-Houthi negotiations, and that both sides are close to announcing the ceasefires renewal.

However, the second track of the negotiations  a potential road map to a permanent settlement to the conflict  would be a major challenge when discussed by Yemeni parties.

Each party has different interpretations and expectations, he said.

Given the complexities of the situation, it is hard to see progress on this track very soon.
A relative mourns during the funeral of a Palestinian who was killed by Israeli troops during clashes, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Photo: Mohammed Torokman/Reuters

A sister of the two British-Israeli women throws herself on the bodies. Photo: AP

A funeral was held yesterday for the two British-Israeli sisters gunned down by an alleged Palestinian attacker amid soaring tensions on the same day as Israel conducted its second round of cross-border retaliatory strikes.

Teenagers packed the prayer hall for the burial of the two young women  aged 20 and 15  in Kfar Ezion settlement in the West Bank.

Sobbing, their two surviving sisters collapsed over the bodies of Maya and Rina when they were brought out. Their father, Rabbi Leo Dee, leaned in for one final embrace.

How will I explain to Lucy what has happened to our two precious kids, Maia and Rina, when she wakes up from her coma? Rabbi Dee said.

Their mother, Lucianne (48), is still fighting for her life after she underwent surgery to remove bullets from her neck and spine.

A manhunt was immediately launched for the gunmen and other suspects who fled the scene but they remained at large last night.

The sisters deaths came amid soaring tensions in the region that have, so far, seen an exchange of fire on Israels border with Syria.

Also, six rockets were fired at the Golan Heights from Syrian territory on Saturday night, according to the Israeli military. Early yesterday morning, Israel responded by sending a drone to hit the rocket launchers in southern Syria. A few hours later, it sent fighter jets to hit additional targets of the Syrian government army near the capital Damascus.

Three of the rockets had fallen inside Israeli territory, according to the army. One was intercepted by the Iron Dome defence system, while two others fell short and landed in Syria and Jordan.

While no group has publicly taken responsibility for the rocket attack, the Hizbollah-affiliated newspaper Al Mayadeen said that Palestinian militia Liwa Al Quds had claimed the attack. The report said they had vowed to respond seriously to any Israeli retaliation.

The cross-border rocket fire and consequential airstrikes came just two days after 34 rockets were fired at Israel from Lebanon in the biggest single attack since the 2006 Lebanon war.

The Israelis have pinned the attack from Lebanon on Palestinian militia Hamas.

Hassan Nasrallah, the Hizbollah chief, met with Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas political bureau and his deputy Saleh Al Arouri in Lebanon on Saturday, a spokesman for the terror organisationsaid.

In a statement, they said that the delegations discussed the readiness of the axis of resistance and the co-operation of its parties in confronting the escalations that have been brought by Israel in Al Aqsa mosque, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Hizbollah, Irans biggest proxy force in the region and Lebanons largest political might, has an iron grip over the south of Lebanon and while they denied involvement in Thursdays rocket attack into Israel, it is highly likely Hamas received tacit approval.

The meeting is another indication of newly-growing cooperation between the two groups. The religious differences between the two Iran-backed militias, who follow different sects of Islam, have caused a cooling of relations in recent years as they supported different sides of the Syrian war.

A relative mourns during the funeral of a Palestinian who was killed by Israeli troops during clashes, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Photo: Mohammed Torokman/Reuters

The pair do have the same modus operandi though: an inherent opposition to Israel and its occupation of Palestine.

The sharp escalation in tensions, which has brought the region dangerously close to fresh conflict, was sparked by Israeli forces raiding Al Aqsa mosque twice on Wednesday during the holy month of Ramadan. Jordan, who has custodianship of the holy site, on Saturday warned that there would be catastrophic consequences if the mosque is raided again.

At the mosque yesterday, hundreds of Palestinians performed prayers as part of observances during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Hundreds of Jews also visited the Al-Aqsa compound under heavy police guard, to whistles and religious chants from Palestinians protesting at their presence.

As the security situation nosedived, Palestinian militant group Lions Den yesterday announced they had killed a traitor, while the Palestinian human rights commission announced the killing of a man accused of spying for Israel.

Meanwhile, the US has deployed a submarine capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk missiles to the region as a precaution.( Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2023)
A displaced Mother and Child at Selam Camii Camp in Hatay following the recent deadly earthquake in Turkey during a UNICEF Ireland Field Mission there.

Sakir Celik and his wife Yasmin El Cerrah with their children Hasan (3) and Selva (6) displaced from Sanliurfa at Orhanli Camp in Hatay following the recent deadly earthquake in Turkey.

Young children take cover in the shade at Selam Camii Camp in Hatay following the recent deadly earthquake in Turkey during a UNICEF Ireland Field Mission there.

Huda Tarsuslu Toluca , an English and Arabic Teacher at a Unicef supported learning space with her class at Orhanli Camp in Hatay following February's deadly earthquake in Turkey.

Orhanli refugee camp sits on the outskirts of the southern Turkish city of Hatay, and in it reside thousands of people who have nothing left except hope and time.

Hatay was an area more populous than Dublin in early February, but now it resembles a soup of the raw materials required to build a city that have been blended by the ferocious power of the earth.

In Hatays once thriving market district of cafes, shops and homes, the debris-strewn streets are lined with piles of twisted steel beams and crumbled brick.

The belongings of the living and the dead are scattered among the rubble in a cruel mosaic of a natural disaster, and the early April heat makes the hint of concrete dust hang in the air.

The region was devastated in February by a powerful earthquake that killed more than 56,000 people, left 2.5 million homeless and millions more in need of humanitarian aid.

In a refugee camp on the grounds of a university in Kahramanmaras, a mother who lost three young children in the disaster runs a clothes bank almost 24/7 to support those around her, but also as a means to forget for a while and not be left alone with the thoughts of the deaths of her family.

Young children take cover in the shade at Selam Camii Camp in Hatay following the recent deadly earthquake in Turkey during a UNICEF Ireland Field Mission there.

Teacher Huda Tarsuslu Yolcu gives English lessons to some of the 1,000 children who attend class in tents in Orhanli camp.

Her son is eight, and she begins crying as she explains that his teacher died in the earthquake, but she cant bring herself to tell him the truth. She has told him he has gone to live in another part of Turkey, and when her son asks to call him, she says he lost his phone in the quake.

This is just one story of heartbreak, she says as she wipes away her tears. There are millions of these stories.

Sister and brother Selva (6) and Hasan Celik (3) are playing around their mother, Yasmin, in the camp as she recounts the terror of a five-hour bare-hands search through the rubble of their apartment building looking for her children.

Luckily, Selva and Hasan were found alive and relatively unscathed and are in good spirits, but the psychological scars will remain for a long time.

Yasmin said the earthquake hit so quickly she didnt even have time to grab her children from their room before they became lost in the dust and destruction.

Sakir Celik and his wife Yasmin El Cerrah with their children Hasan (3) and Selva (6) displaced from Sanliurfa at Orhanli Camp in Hatay following the recent deadly earthquake in Turkey.

I had just tucked my children into bed and locked the bedroom door, so when it happened I could not get to them because the door was locked. They were then lost underneath the rubble for five hours and it was absolutely terrifying, said Yasmin, who is a Syrian refugee.

Many of the survivors who spoke with the Irish Independent said that, initially, it felt like a thunderstorm had hit, but they soon realised the earth was shifting violently beneath their feet and destroying everything around them.

One woman recalled how she ran for her life from her apartment building and said the doorway was no longer where it should have been, such was the violence of the shaking.

The earthquake caused destruction over an area larger than Germany and levelled nearly 200,000 buildings. The true death toll will not be known for some time as the thousands of tremors following the main earthquakes have made rescue efforts precarious.

Many people in the region live in high-rise apartment blocks. Those buildings that havent collapsed could come crashing down in the next minor tremor.

A significant population of the affected region in Turkey are either Syrian refugees fleeing war or have fled the region to live with family and friends in other parts of Turkey. This renders any official number of missing people incalculable for now.

The first earthquake that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6 registered 7.8 on the Richter scale, the most powerful earthquake to strike Turkey since 1939. It was quickly followed by a 7.7 quake.

Downtown Hatay city centre following the recent deadly earthquake in Turkey. Photo by Steve Humphreys 2nd April 2023.

Combine this with the heavily-populated area in which it struck and the quakes shallow depth, plus the fact it hit at around 4am when most people were asleep and it clear it was a recipe for disaster.

While the Richter scale measures the magnitude of the earthquake, the Mercalli intensity scale measures the violence of the shaking and the damage levels on the surface.

The scale ranges from one to 12, one being the lowest intensity and 12 being the highest. The earthquake in Turkey was 12 and designated extreme.

This is applied to earthquakes in which structures are destroyed, the ground itself is torn and cracked and other natural disasters, such as landslides or tsunamis, are initiated.

Damage is total. Waves are seen on ground surfaces. Lines of sight and level are distorted. Objects are thrown upward into the air, is the description given to this intensity.

Damage is total is the most succinct way of describing what the 16 million affected people faced that night.

One of the largest humanitarian efforts in the world is now under way in the region. At the start, teams were focused on rescue efforts for the thousands trapped under the rubble. More than 120,000 people were also injured, putting the regions hospital system under severe pressure.

A displaced Mother and Child at Selam Camii Camp in Hatay following the recent deadly earthquake in Turkey during a UNICEF Ireland Field Mission there.

Many were rescued alive days after the quakes, some having gone a week without food or water as they were trapped under the rubble.

Unicef staff in Turkey told the Irish Independent of a young boy they met who was pulled alive from the rubble holding his pet bird after more than 120 hours alone in the darkness.

The UNs relief agency, along with its other charitable partners in the region, has done monumental work in the past eight weeks.

Volunteers have tended to more than 2.5 million children who are in need of clothing, food, clean water, medical attention, vaccination and, crucially, psychological and psychosocial support.

Psychosocial help is as important for the children as food or air to breathe. It is our number one focus, said Sema Hosta, the head of Unicef Turkeys communications.

There are counselling sessions available for the children affected by the disaster to train them to recognise negative emotions following the earthquake and how to deal with them.

We ask the children to describe how they are feeling when they are happy and where in their body they feel it. We do the same when they are feeling sad. It helps them to identify and process the emotions, Ms Hosta said.

Nowhere was the psychological trauma to children more evident than in the village of Incirli, near the epicentre of the earthquake, to the north-west of the city of Gaziantep.

Incirli was fortunate in that none of its residents were killed, but the lasting effects are still being felt.

The villagers are all too aware of their lucky escape, as just kilometres up the road more than 600 people died in one village that was on the fault line.

The children have told their parents and school principal they are too afraid to go into big buildings any more, so they are now being taught in tents in the schools playground.

While the initial earthquakes sparked terror in all who felt their effects, the thousands of tremors felt afterwards have served to keep those who have remained in the region in a constant state of fear of what could happen again at any moment.

Most of the teachers in that school have not returned to work yet as they lived in nearby Nurdagi city, which was almost wiped off the map, so parents and government ministry volunteers are now taking lessons while teachers can find somewhere new to live.

The earthquakes affected the lives of nearly four million schoolchildren, including 350,000 refugee and migrant children.

Nearly 1.5 million have resumed their education in earthquake-affected areas, with 250,000 going to classes after relocating elsewhere. However, many others have not yet regained full access to learning, with formal schooling in the most affected provinces still reopening.

In Kahramanmaras, a city comparable in size to Dublin, children were seen sifting through the rubble of apartment buildings, looking for their belongings. An elderly woman sat on a chair overlooking a vast chasm that once contained the foundation of her apartment block as diggers gathered rubble.

Tents lined the roads throughout an area that spans hundreds of kilometres. While thousands live in structured settlements, others have refused to leave their patch of land and instead put up government-issued tarpaulin tents where their homes once stood.

This tented sprawl speckles the mountainous landscape of the region, revealing the widespread effects of an earthquake that is believed to be the second-most expensive ever in terms of damage, at over 100bn.

Unicef has launched an appeal to cover the 180m it needs to provide humanitarian assistance to the nine million people in desperate need in Turkey alone.

Some aid has also made its way to Syria, where the effect of the earthquake is not fully known, given the flimsy nature of the information available from the Assad regime. The reality is that nobody but those on the ground in Aleppo and other areas in northern Syria know the true extent of the damage and suffering.

Unicef Ireland executive director Peter Power said families, and children in particular, have been traumatised by what they have been through in the past two months.

The extent of the devastation is enormous, it really is hard to comprehend, said Mr Power.

Nine million people, almost double the population of Ireland, are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. The equivalent of almost half the population of Ireland, 2.3 million people, are living in tented accommodation.

The figures are just enormous here and its clear this is going to require a very coordinated response to this. Unicef will be playing its part, providing humanitarian aid to families and children for months, and perhaps years to come.

As the dust settles on this tragedy and people try to return to normality, their sadness and grief are turning to anger and frustration.

The random nature of the destruction of some buildings while others sustained only minor damage is likely to be a bone of contention for a great number of residents.

Many of the most affected cities including Hatay, Kahramanmaras and Nurdagi are on or near the East Anatolian fault line, which has experienced four earthquakes in the past 25 years.

This has left many wondering why construction standards seem to be so low in the region.

The Turkish justice ministry has arrested more than 200 people for alleged poor building practices after identifying more than 600 suspects. Many of those 600 died in the earthquake.

Experts have been warning for years that corruption within the industry has led to unsafe building practices. Many of the collapsed buildings were pancaked  when storeys compress and collapse one after the other from the top down. Total collapses like these are usually avoided in well-constructed buildings, even after a powerful earthquake.

During a recent visit to the region, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan sought to lay the blame for the extent of the disaster largely on fate, saying: Such things have always happened. Its part of destinys plan.

With an election next month and more than a sixth of the population directly affected by the earthquake, many of them blaming the government for poor regulations leading to excess destruction, Erdogan may be about to experience destinys plan for himself.

Unicef has set a fundraising goal of 180m, and so far has reached only 30pc of its target. If you wish to donate to the earthquake appeal, you can do so at Unicef.ie
Police respond to the shooting at Richneck Elementary School, in Newport News, Virginia. Photo: Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP

A grand jury in Virginia has indicted the mother of a six-year-old boy who shot his teacher on charges of child neglect and failing to secure her handgun in the family's home.

A grand jury sitting in Newport News charged the boy's 25-year-old mother with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor charge of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm, Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn said in a news release.

The Associated Press is not naming the mother to shield the identity of her son.

The boy shot first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner on January 6 inside her classroom at Richneck Elementary School.

Police said the boys mother legally purchased the gun. Her attorney, James Ellenson, has said the gun was secured on a top shelf in her closet and had a trigger lock.

Ellenson said on Monday that his client plans to turn herself in later this week. He did not comment on the indictments, which were first reported by the Daily Press.

The decision to charge the boy's mother is the latest development to cascade from the shooting in this shipbuilding city of about 185,000 people near the Chesapeake Bay.

Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues, Gwynn said.

He said his office has petitioned the court to empanel a special grand jury to continue an investigation into any security issues that may have contributed to the shooting.

The safety and security of Newport News students is of utmost importance. The Special Grand Jury will investigate to determine whether additional charges against additional persons are justified by the facts and the law, Gwynn said.

Virginia's law on felony child neglect says any parent, guardian or other person responsible for the care of a child whose willful act or omission in the care of such child was so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life is guilty of a Class 6 felony. The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The misdemeanour charge says it is against Virginia law to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of 14. That charge is punishable by a maximum of one year in jail.

Police Chief Steve Drew has repeatedly characterised the shooting as intentional. He said there was no warning and no struggle before the child pointed the gun at Zwerner and fired one round, striking her in the hand and chest.

Zwerner (25), hustled her pupils out of the classroom before being rushed to the hospital, where she stayed for nearly two weeks.

Ellenson told the Associated Press in January that he understood the gun was in the womans closet on a shelf well over 6ft high and had a trigger lock that required a key.

The family said in the wake of the shooting that the boy has an acute disability and was under a care plan that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day. The week of the shooting was the first when a parent was not in class with him, the family said.

The family said in the days after the shooting that the child was placed under hospital care and receiving the treatment he needs.

The shooting also unleashed a torrent of criticism about school administrators.

Days after the shooting, school officials revealed that administrators at Richneck Elementary had suspected the child may have had a weapon before the shooting occurred. But they didn't find it despite searching his backpack.

At a subsequent school board meeting, parents and teachers lambasted administrators for what they called a misguided emphasis on attendance over the safety of children and staff. They said students who assaulted classmates and staff often faced few consequences, while the shooting of Zwerner could have been prevented if not for a toxic environment in which teachers concerns were ignored.

In a lawsuit filed last week seeking $40m in damages, Zwerner's attorneys accused school officials of gross negligence and of ignoring multiple warnings from teachers and other school employees the day of the shooting that the boy was armed and in a violent mood.

In the lawsuit, Zwerners attorneys said all of the defendants knew the boy had a history of random violence at school and at home, including an episode the year before when he strangled and choked his kindergarten teacher.

The school board in Newport News fired the district's superintendent, while Richneck's assistant principal resigned from the school division. The elementary school's principal is still employed by the district but no longer holds that position.

Richneck also installed metal detectors before it reopened on January 30, three weeks after the shooting occurred.
"Stand up so that we kill the Inkotanyi and exterminate them; look at the person's height and his physical appearance. Just look at his small nose and then break it." This kind of instruction wouldn't be broadcast on standard radio stations, not even perhaps in the thick of civil unrest. But at Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), tensions had been particularly raw. It's evident that journalists were losing sight of their moral obligation and sense of ethics.

The theater play 'Hate Radio' is based on the story of RTLM hate speech during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and was created and directed by artistes under the IIPM Production, a German production company, along with their local co-production firm "Isaano Group".

The story begins as a portrait of four seemingly ordinary journalists working in a radio studio, but it quickly turns grim when the grisly details of RTLM's involvement in the slaughter come to light. The First Lady of Rwanda, Jeannette Kagame, praised the play for demonstrating "the destructive power of hate speech" and it was met with universal appreciation.

An engaged crowd watched the event unfold on a stage with a brightly lit glass cage in the middle of the space. This glass cage doubles as a radio studio and is well equipped. The walls are decorated with photo frames that we presume depict Hutu government figures and possibly the RTLM founders. Tables are littered with beer bottles and munchies, which the journalists occasionally gorge on. In addition to the journalists, the play also features an army uniformed man who lurks around and says very little.

With bracing shouts and restless circling that comes from a man who wants nothing more than to witness the extermination of the Tutsis, Diogene Ntarindwa, also known as his stage name Atome, brings Habimana Kantano's rage and frustration to operatic heights. In 1994, Kantano insisted on equating the Inkotanyi with the Tutsi and used their physical traits as a selection criteria for Tutsi to be used in violent acts. Hate speech that was broadcast both before and during the Genocide called Tutsis "inyenzi" (cockroaches) and gave orders to murder them.

Seeing the channel report death tolls as if they were weather variations and encouraging the murderers to continue was horrifying. With Kinyarwanda reggae, shock jocks, and hip hop, RTLM introduced talk radio to Rwanda. The station was the sole privately owned alternative to government programming in the nation. On the dial, however, it was also next to Radio Rwanda, and at night, when Radio Rwanda stopped broadcasting for the day, RTLM took over the official frequency. Many Rwandans believed that the government station had merely changed formats, which helped the upstart station's Tutsi-hating broadcasts appear more credible.

Valerie Bemeriki is another journalist for RTLM. Pilipili Bwanga, a Belgian citizen with Congolese ancestry, gives the role a confiding intensity. She portrays a woman who supported acts of violence against other women, including rape. Bwanga believed that her participation in this initiative was crucial due to her conviction that the history of her country, the DRC, and Rwanda are quite similar.

The New Times prodded Bwanga about her immersion into the life and mind of Valerie's character. "That was incredibly challenging. Given that she is real (and not a fictional character), I must appear more credible. It demanded so much of me that I have trouble sleeping," Bwanga remarked in an interview after the play had rounded up.

"She was so powerful and effective that I was compelled to participate rather than watch from the sidelines," she added.

Sebastien Foucault, playing the part of French journalist Georges Ruggiu and Eric Ngangare, portraying a radio DJ who entertains hate speech, among others, are other performers in this play.

A number of young people in their 20s spoke movingly about the play. "Something that crossed my mind while Kantano was acting is that, 'we should currently live in a paradise country. Imagine if, given his enthusiasm, he had been advocating ideas that can help a nation be built, such as promoting inclusivity, togetherness, and peace.'," said Samuel Nduwayezu, a nursing student and the founder of the Heza initiative, a group of young people and university students working to advance maternal and child health in Rwanda. Nduwayezu, 24, participated along with other young leaders from other groups, particularly "We Got Your Back Rwanda".

King Ngabo, a 27-year-old who divides his time between owning an African Arts Center and cafe called Ingabo Corner and being a creative artist, claimed that Hate Radio reiterated the extent to which art can be used to control and devastate a community.

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"I am now reminded of my duty to inform others, share true stories, and spread love through my talent," he stated. He uses this as an opportunity to thank everyone who helped make the play a reality for the generation that was born after the Genocide.

The elephant in the room, though, is much more significant. During an interactive session with the cast following the performance, Guy Nestor Itoua, the DRC Ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Rwanda, made a point of highlighting the resurgence of hate speech. "The youth are the ones who should learn from what we just saw. On social media sites today, information spreads more quickly," he said. "I beseech the youth to stand around yesterday's symbolic light that was lit by President Paul Kagame and the First Lady, Mrs. Jeannette Kagame -- the flame that was kindled in honor of unity and rejuvenation to declare never again," he concluded.

The play was superbly performed but incredibly depressing, and viewers may discover that their personal threshold for trauma is repeatedly put to the test. I'm certain mine was.
Palestinian teen killed by Israeli forces in West BankIsraeli mother succumbs to injuries after car shooting attack

A growing wave of unrest between Israelis and Palestinians claimed two more lives on Monday.

A Palestinian teen was killed during a military raid in the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said, while hospital officials said the mother of two Israeli sisters killed last week in their car by a suspected Palestinian gunman died of her injuries.

It comes as a poll showed plummeting support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party amid a divisive plan to rein in the Supreme Court's power

The poll, for Channel 13 News, showed Likud would lose more than a third of its seats if an election were held now, and Netanyahu would fail to gain a majority with his hard-right coalition partners.

In a sign of Israel's fracturing political faultlines, thousands of Israelis marched towards Evyatar, an evacuated outpost in the West Bank, in support of the expansion of settlements.

Israeli-Palestinian violence has surged this year, with frequent military raids and violence by Israeli settlers amid a spate of Palestinian attacks. More than 90 Palestinians and at least 19 Israelis and foreigners have been killed since January.

Tensions have risen following Israeli police raids on the Al-Aqsa mosque compound last week, which triggered rocket attacks on Israel that were met with Israeli strikes in Gaza, south Lebanon and Syria.

The Palestinian health ministry said 15-year-old Mohammad Balhan sustained gunshot wounds to his head, chest and abdomen after an Israeli raid near the occupied West Bank city of Jericho.

The Israeli military said in a statement that its forces operated in the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp, adjacent to Jericho, to apprehend Palestinians suspected in involvement in attacks against Israelis.

The military said that during the raid suspects opened fire and hurled explosives at its forces, who responded with live fire and hit some of the suspects, but no soldiers were wounded.

An eyewitness said he saw some people hurling rocks at the military after they raided the camp.

"I had just left my house when I saw military forces and people throwing stones," said Fayez Balhan, the teenager's father.

After carrying another wounded person to an ambulance, the father noticed a young man lying on the ground, who turned out to be his son, he told Reuters.

The Palestinian Prisoners Association said the Israeli military arrested at least two people during the raid.

"We urge the world to hold this (Israeli) government accountable for its crimes," Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said at the start of the weekly government session.

Separately, hospital officials said the mother of two Israeli sisters who were killed last week in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank had died of her wounds.

Lucy Dee (48) succumbed to her wounds, Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital said in a statement.

Her daughters Maia (20) and Rina Dee (15) were killed on Friday when their car was shot at by a suspected Palestinian gunman. Israeli forces are still trying to track the assailant down.

In a separate part of the West Bank, thousands of Israelis, including government ministers, marched towards Evyatar waving Israeli flags and chanting religious slogans and songs as a Palestinian counter-protest was held nearby.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said 191 Palestinians were injured by Israeli security forces.

"Now they understand why I have been pushing for the establishment of a national guard," far-right security chief Itamar Ben-Gvir said at the demonstration.

Ben-Gvir, a hardline Jewish settler, joined Netanyahu's coalition with an expanded law-and-order portfolio including a beefed-up national guard for use mainly in Arab communities hit by crime and rioting.

Netanyahu agreed to bring Ben-Gvir's initiative for cabinet approval after the security chief backed Netanyahu's pause of the judicial overhaul proposal, which has triggered nationwide street protests.

Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza with East Jerusalem as its capital - territories Israel captured in a 1967 war.

US-sponsored statehood talks have been stalled since 2014 while Jewish settlements have expanded, developments which Palestinians say have undermined the chances of a viable state being established.
Pixabay

Interestingly, several nations in the world are currently struggling to stay carbon neutral and Bhutan is setting an example to these countries.

The country emits 2.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, and the vast forests that cover nearly three-quarters of the country absorb more than four million tons. The countrys constitution mandates that forest cover be maintained at no less than 60 per cent. The nation with a population of nearly 8 lakh citizens harbours one of the 10 most biodiverse regions in the world, reports The Bhutan Live.

But all this doesnt mean the Himalayan country remains untouched by climate change. Due to the increase in temperature, people living here are vulnerable to landslides and flooding due to glacial lake outbursts. His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has warned that conservation must remain an active commitment in the years ahead.

Tourism remains one of the important industries here and Bhutan adopted sustainable tourism even when most countries were not even talking or thinking about it.

Bhutans noble policy of high-value, low-volume tourism has existed since we started welcoming guests to our country in 1974. But its intent and spirit were watered down over the years, without us even realizing it, Dr. Lotay Tshering, the Honourable Prime Minister of Bhutan in one of his speeches last year when the country opened itself to the tourists again after the pandemic, told the news portal.

We must also ensure that we are a high-value society, one that is infused with sincerity, integrity and principles, where people must always live in safe communities, among serene environments and derive comfort from the finest facilities, continued H.E. Dr. Lotay. Typically, high value is understood as exclusive high-end products and extravagant recreational facilities. But that is not Bhutan. And low volume doesnt mean limiting the number of visitors. We will appreciate everyone who visits us to treasure our values, while we also learn as much from them, he continued.
Image Credit: UNI

New Delhi/UNI: India recorded a single-day jump of 5,880 fresh Covid-19 cases during the last 24 hours, taking the active caseload to 35,199 according to the Union Health Ministry on Monday.

The toll has risen to 5,30,979 with 12 more deaths- four each reported from Delhi and Himachal Pradesh, and one each from Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

As many as 205 patients recovered from the disease during the past 24 hours. The total number of people who have recuperated from the disease is 4.41 crore (4,41,96,318).

The recovery rate currently stands at 98.73 percent.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 6.91 percent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 3.67 percent.

Meanwhile, 92.28 cr Total Tests have been conducted so far; 85,076 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours as per Ministry data.

Meanwhile, Delhi on Sunday logged 699 fresh Covid-19 cases with a positivity rate of 21.15 percent, according to data shared by the city governments health department.

Amid rising Covid-19 cases, a nationwide mock drill to take stock of hospital preparedness will be held on April 10 and 11 in which both public and private facilities are expected to participate.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will also visit AIIMS, Jhajjar on Monday to oversee the mock drill.
Image: Unsplash

New Delhi: All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), the apex institute of Ayurveda in India, an Autonomous Institute under the Ministry of AYUSH recently hosted a walkthrough on Saturday for the 'Working Group of C20 on Integrated Holistic Health' here.

A large group of over 400 delegates participated in the event and the institute showcased how an integrated approach to health care can be effectively implemented, reports ANI.

AIIA signed an MoU with the University of Amrita Vishwa Vidhyapeetham for cooperation and collaboration in the field of Research and Academics in Ayurveda. The MoU was signed by Prof. Tanuja Nesari, Director, AIIA, Ministry of Ayush and Prem Kumar Vasudevan Nair, the Provost, Medical Sciences at Kochi campus of Amrita Vishwa Vidhyapeetham, the news agency reported.

AIIA already has MoUs with the European Academy of Ayurveda, Bernstein, Germany; Western Sydney University, Australia; Graz Medical University, Austria; College of Medical, UK; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

On this occasion, Prof Dr Tanuja Neasri, was quoted as saying by ANI: We are happy to co-host the C20 delegates at AIIA, a tertiary care set-up under the Ministry of Ayush. We are honoured to showcase AIIA as a model of integration and holistic healthcare in Ayurveda.

As it is envisioned as health for all, so through this message for holistic healthcare the strength of the Ayush system through MOA should be integrated into the mainstream of medicines for people-centric wellbeing, she added.
Image: UNI

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday emphasized that it is ready to tackle any Covid situation that may arise in near future.

Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a mock drill conducted at JawaharLal Nehru Memorial (JLNM) Hospital in Srinagar on Monday Secretary Health and Medical Education Bhupinder Kumar, said that the government is prepared to tackle any Covid situation that may come in the future .

He said, the rate of covid-19 cases are appearing in Jammu and Kashmir but not seen any increase in daily hospitalization.

Today all over the country a mock drill was conducted to see the preparedness to tackle the rising Covid-19 cases and to assess the preparedness if any sort of emergency arises in case of hospitalizations of the patients.

He said an exercise was being conducted all over Jammu and Kashmir today including JLNM Hospital to assess the functioning of oxygen plants, oxygen beds and availability of medicines besides testing kits.

He said we are prepared to tackle any situation that may come in the near future.

He said if there are any shortcomings which we will see during this mock drill will be fulfilled in the shortest possible time.

Kumar said that the symptoms being reported among the patients at present are not as severe as were seen in the past Delta variants of covid cases which were prevalent in the community.

He said the testing guidelines already exist there and if anybody has influenza or respiratory distress must report to hospital and get tested for Covid.

There are sufficient arrangements for covid test facilities in Jammu and Kashmir. He said over the last ten day the testing facilities have also been increased and intensified.

Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a spike in the Covid cases during the past over one week and authorities in Kashmir valley on April 3 had directed all Chief Medical Officers to increase the rate of Covid-19 testing and establish Flu clinics at all health institutions.

(With UNI inputs)
Image: Unsplash

On April 8, 2023, the Assam Police arrested three active suspects linked to the banned Islamist radical Popular Front of India (PFI) and its student wing, Campus Front of India (CFI), from the Barpeta District of Assam. The arrestees were identified as PFI state secretary Zakir Hussain, PFI cadre Abu Sama, and CFI National Treasurer Shahidul Islam. INR 150,000 in cash, four mobile phones and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) leaflets, were recovered from them.

Reports claim that, after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) ban on PFI on September 27, 2022, its members joined SDPI and were very active in Karnataka, where State Assembly polls are scheduled to be held on May 10, 2023. The SDPI, reports indicate, is planning to contest at least 100 seats out of the 224 in the Karnataka State Assembly.

On March 18, 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Mohammad Irshad in Phulwarisharif, Patna District, Bihar PFI case.

The case pertains to involvement of accused/suspected persons, associated with the PFI, in unlawful and anti-national activities, who had assembled in the Phulwarisharif area of Patna.

The case was initially registered as a First Information report (FIR) on July 12, 2022 at Police Station Phulwarisharif and was re-registered by the NIA on July 22, 2022. Mohammad Irshad is the 13th person to be arrested in this case.

On March 4, 2023, Thufail M. H., the Kodagu District Head of PFI Service Team (Hit Team) and former PFI District Secretary of Kodagu District, Karnataka, was arrested by the NIA from his hideout in the Amaruthahalli area of Bengaluru City, Karnataka.

Tufail was wanted for the murder of Praveen Nettaru, member of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Nettaru was murdered by PFI cadres in July 2022 in the Bellare village of Sullia Taluk (revenue unit) in the Dakshina Kannada District.

In January 2023, the NIA filed charge-sheets in the case against 20 accused, before the NIA Special Court, Bengaluru, including six absconding accused. Thufail M. H. had played a significant role in PFI's larger conspiracy to murder leaders of a particular community.

He also provided shelter and safe harbor at the Ashiyana residency in Koppa Village, Mysuru District, to the three assailants in this case, who had recced and then hacked Nettaru to death.

In 2022, over 277 PFI cadres were arrested. While the NIA arrested 60, different State Police Forces arrested over 217 PFI cadres, including over 174 on September 27, the day on which the PFI was banned.

Between September 28 and December 31, 2022, different State Police Forces arrested at least 13 PFI cadres, while the NIA arrested 11. In 2023, at least 16 PFI cadres have been arrested  six by the NIA and 10 by different State Police Forces (data till April 9). It is pertinent to recall here that the NIA is investigating 19 PFI-linked cases and, till April 9, 2023, the Agency has charge-sheeted 105 accused in these cases.

While declaring the ban on the outfit, on September 27, 2022, the UMHA observed,

The Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been found to be involved in serious offences, including terrorism and its financing, targeted gruesome killings, disregarding the constitutional set up of the country, disturbing public order etc. which are prejudicial to the integrity, security and sovereignty of the country.

On March 21, 2022, the Tribunal, constituted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), confirmed the UMHAs September 27, 2022, notification declaring the PFI as an unlawful association and banning it for five years. PFI, a radical Islamist group, was formed in 2006.

Trans-border Islamist terrorist groups, mainly the Bangladesh-based Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansar al-Islam/Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), constitute another security challenge. According to the SATP database, at least 12 cadres/associates of these two outfits were arrested in 2022. In 2023, another five cadres have already been arrested.

On March 4, 2023, the special branch of the Assam Police arrested five people, including a Bangladesh national, Saiful Islam alias Haroon Rashid alias Mohammed Suman, for their alleged links with Ansar al-Islam.

They were arrested from Barpeta, Howly and Kalgachia, all in Barpeta District. Saiful Islam had illegally entered India and was working as a teacher in the Dhakalipara masjid. Saiful Islam had successfully indoctrinated and motivated four others to join the module, with a view to develop the Barpeta District of Assam as a base for jihadi work and activities of Al-Qaeda and its related organisations.

Reports indicate that Ansar al-Islam was planning to form three major units in India  Madu (cadres having basic training on jihad and propagating ideology); Ikhwan (recruiters and fund raisers, not directly working under Ansar al-Islams aegis) and Tafia Jamaat (the senior-most leaders/final decision makers), primarily based in Mazahir Uloom Madrassa in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Global Islamic terror outfits  Islamic State and Al-Qaeda  despite having failed to carry out any significant attack since their entry into India, continue with their efforts. At least two Islamic State cadres were arrested in 2022. Seven Islamic State cadres have already been arrested in 2023.

Most recently, on January 10, 2023, the NIA arrested two Islamic State operatives  Mazin Abdul Rahman and Nadeem Ahmed K.A from Karnataka.

Earlier, on January 5, 2023, two Islamic State operatives  Reshaan Thajuddin Sheikh and Huzair Farhan  had been arrested in Karnataka.

All four were arrested in connection with the Shivamogga Islamic State Conspiracy Case, a plot hatched by the accused, Syed Yasin and Maaz Muneer Ahmed (both arrested) and Shariq (absconding).

Investigations revealed that Maaz Muneer Ahmed had radicalised and recruited Mazin Abdul Rahman, while Syed Yasin radicalized and recruited Nadeem K.A. for terrorist activities of the Islamic State in India. Reshaan Thajuddin was radicalised by Maaz Muneer Ahmed. Reshaan Thajuddin Sheikh and Huzair Farhan Baig received funds from their Islamic State handlers through Crypto-wallets.

The accused explored targets and attempted/committed acts of sabotage/arson, as part of the larger conspiracy to further the activities of the Islamic State. Further investigations in the case are in progress.

Meanwhile, on January 23, 2023, the Islamic State released the first edition of its new magazine Seerat ul-Haq. The six-page inaugural issue of this anti-India propaganda magazine, targets Indian Muslim political leaders and groups.

Al-Qaeda has also continued with its efforts to establish a network and to provoke violence, in India. On August 30, 2022, the Assam Police arrested an Al-Qaeda in the Indian Sub-continent (AQIS) terrorist, Amzad Ajmal Hussain, from Guwahati, for his efforts to spread the AQIS network in the area. Further, on May 2, 2022, As Sahab Media Subcontinent, the media wing of AQIS, released a message in Hindi, Gujarati and Arabic, on the occasion Eid-ut-Fitr. The message advocated that Muslims of the subcontinent follow path of jihad to establish Sharia law in the Subcontinent.

Meanwhile, four fatalities were recorded in violence linked to Islamist terrorism in India (outside Jammu and Kashmir, J&K) in 2022. There was no such fatality in 2021. This is the highest number of fatalities recorded in a year in such violence since 2016, when there were 13 such fatalities, including 11 terrorists. The four fatalities in 2022 included the following:

June 21: Umesh Pralhadrao Kolhe was killed in Amravati (Maharashtra) while he was returning to his home. According to the NIA, the incident was part of a larger conspiracy by a group to strike terror amongst a section of people, and to promote enmity on the grounds of religion, which could culminate in a terrorist act.

June 28, 2022: Kanhaiya Lal Telli, a tailor was killed in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The two accused who had inflicted multiple injuries to the victim with sharp weapons had also circulated a video of the criminal act on social media, claiming responsibility for the murder in order to trigger panic and strike terror among the masses across the country, according to the NIA.

October 23: An LPG cylinder exploded inside a Maruti 800 in front of the Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil temple at Eswaran Kovil Street, Ukkadam, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. One person was killed and a shop was damaged. Investigations determined that the person killed was the owner of the car Jamesha Mubeen, a resident of Ukkadam. Several bomb-making materials were subsequently recovered from his house. The Police disclosed that Mubeen had planned to set off the blast in the centre of the city, but backed off after seeing the checkpoint. According to preliminary investigations, after taking bayath/oath to the Islamic State, Mubeen was planning to carry out a suicide attack and cause extensive damage to symbols and monuments of a particular religious faith, with the intention of striking terror among a particular community.

A 21-year-old man was beheaded in Delhi on December 14-15, 2022, and a 37-second video of the killing was sent by the killers to their Pakistan-based handler, Sohail. The incident came to light on January 14, 2023, when the Delhi Police recovered two hand grenades and a man's dismembered body, following the interrogation of two terrorist suspects, identified as Jagjit Singh alias Jagga, and Naushad, who had been arrested on January 12, 2023.

In between, on November 19, 2022, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast took place in a moving auto rickshaw near a bus stop in front of Rohan Square Apartments in Mangaluru City, Karnataka, injuring two persons. Investigations found that one of the injured was the main accused, Mohammed Shariq, a resident of Shivamogga District, Karnataka, and he was carrying the IED in a pressure cooker with the intention to kill others. The driver was also injured in the blast. According to the Police, Shariq was "inspired by ISIS terror group" and used the Dark Web to contact his handlers.

Meanwhile, on April 2, 2023, a suspect splashed an inflammable liquid on his co-passenger inside D1 compartment when Alappuzha-Kannur Express train reached the Korapuzha railway bridge after crossing Kozhikode city, Kerala, and set him on a fire resulting in burn injuries to at least eight persons. Three passengers, including a child and woman, were killed after they jumped out of the train to escape the fire. Though the suspect then managed to escape, he was later arrested on April 5 from Ratnagiri District in Maharashtra and was identified as Shahrukh Saifi, a Delhi resident. The NIA in its preliminary report to the UMHA has said that the act of arson may have been a terror attack.

As is evident, these violent incidents were carried out by elements who had been radicalized in the recent past and were not trained terrorists, or members of established outfits such as, inter alia, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), and the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)/Indian Mujahideen (IM), working under the aegis of Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The last such violent incident recorded outside J&K involving cadres of an established Islamist terrorist formation was on October 31, 2016, when the Anti-Terrorist Squad of Madhya Pradesh Police killed eight suspected SIMI cadres in Bhopal. One Policeman was also killed. The last major incident (resulting in three or more fatalities) was reported way back on October 27, 2013, when eight people were killed and another 63 injured in six serial bomb blasts near Gandhi Maidan, the venue of the then BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's rally in Patna. Later, in 2021, an NIA court convicted nine SIMI cadres for the blasts.

J&K, of course, remains the epicentre of the Pakistan-backed Islamist terrorist movement in India, though terrorist activities have substantially been contained. Indeed, after reaching a high of 4,011 in 2001, overall fatalities registered a continuous decline in successive years till 2012, when they touched a low of 121. Since then, fatalities have maintained a cyclical trend, declining for two consecutive years in 2021 (274 fatalities) and 2022 (253 fatalities). There were 321 fatalities in 2020. Overall fatalities remained in four digits for 17 years, between 1990 and 2006. In 2023, till April 9, J&K has recorded 18 fatalities, including eight civilians, one trooper and nine terrorists.

While the Security Forces have succeeded in reducing the threat from Pakistans terrorist proxies, both in J&K and across the rest of the country, the proliferation of the politics of polarization is creating new opportunities for radical Islamist elements, mobilized or inspired by terrorist groups, to create an environment of insecurity. While it is imperative for the government to take all necessary measures to counter radicalization, this is a challenge within an environment where divisive politics continues to pay ample electoral dividends.
PIB

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a two-day tour to Arunachal Pradesh starting from Monday.

On the first day of his visit, Shah will launch the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) at Kibithu in Anjaw district, bordering Tibet autonomous region, as per itinerary issued by the Home Ministry.

The Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the VVP with central components of Rs 4,800 crore including Rs 2,500 crore exclusively for road connectivity for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26.

The VVP is a centrally sponsored scheme under which 2967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and UT of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development,

In the first phase, 662 villages have been identified for priority on coverage, which includes 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh, the statement said.

The VPP will help in improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages and encourage people to stay in their native locations thereby reversing the outmigration from these villages and adding to security of the border.

The District Administration with the help of appropriate mechanisms at block and panchayat level will prepare Action Plans for identified village to ensure 100 per cent saturation of central and state schemes.

The focus areas of interventions identified for development of villages include road connectivity, drinking water, electricity including solar and wind energy, mobile and internet connectivity, tourist centers, multi-purpose centers and healthcare infrastructure and wellness centers.

Shah will also inaugurate nine Micro Hydel Projects of Arunachal Pradesh government constructed under the Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme at Kibithu.

These electricity projects will empower people living in border villages, the Home Minister said.

Shah will also inaugurate Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) projects to augment infrastructure at Likabali (Arunachal Pradesh), Chapra (Bihar), Nooranad (Kerala) and Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

He will also interact with ITBP personnel at Kibithu.

An exhibition of the products made by women members of Self-Help Groups of border districts will also be organised.

On April 11, Shah will visit Namti field and pay homage at the Walong War Memorial.

The visit of the HM comes days after the China renamed 11 places in the frontier state.

The Minister of External Affairs in a statement had said, " Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India.Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality."

Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,080 km border with Tibet.

(With UNI inputs)
Image Credit: PIB

New Delhi/London/UNI: India has disengaged from the trade talks with the UK over Britains failure to condemn pro-Khalistani activists who vandalised the Indian High Commission last month, reports said.

According to The Times and Bloomberg, the Indian government has made it clear to the UK that there would be no progress in the FTA negotiations without a public condemnation of the Khalistan movement.

While the UK government had condemned the March 19 attack on the Indian High Commission, the Indian government wants it to publicly condemn the Khalistani group, the reports said.

Senior British government sources are quoted as saying that the Indian government has disengaged from trade talks and made it clear that there would be no progress without a public condemnation of the Khalistan movement.

On March 19, late on Sunday evening, India had summoned the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi to convey its strong protest after some Khalistani activists had removed the Indian flag from outside the Indian High Commission in London.

India had also demanded an explanation for the complete absence of British security that allowed the Khalistani elements to enter the Indian High Commission premises.

In a statement, India had said it finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK.

India also demanded that the perpetrators be immediately arrested and prosecuted and stringent measures be put in place to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Videos on social media showed a group of Khalistani supporters shout pro-Khalistan slogans, and one person clambering on the verandah of the Indian High Commission and removing the Indian flag, to cheering and shouting of Khalistani slogans by the crowd.

The India-UK FTA was progressing well. The two sides had concluded the seventh round of the free trade agreement (FTA) talks in February, and the eighth round of FTA negotiations were due from March 20-24 in hybrid mode.

In the February talks, technical discussions were held across 11 policy areas over 43 separate sessions. They included detailed draft treaty text discussions in these policy areas.

The February session was conducted in hybrid fashion, with a number of Indian officials travelling to London for negotiations and others attending virtually.

The India-UK FTA negotiations cover 26 policy areas. The negotiators had closed discussions on 13 of them, and the trade ministers of both sides had met in December 2022, and January this year to take stock of the progress.

India accounts for 1.7 percent of total UK exports and India was the 12th largest export market for the UK in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2022.

The UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch also expressed optimism about business and export trade prospects with India, saying: Indias growing economy and middle class represent an enormous opportunity for enterprising UK companies looking for new markets.

Key issues for India-UK FTA negotiators include liquor, automobiles, intellectual property, and mobility of students and professionals.
Luanda  Angolan minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Maria do Rosario Braganca Friday highlighted the progress achieved by the sector over the last 21 years, but she acknowledged that the schooling rate was still not satisfactory.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the second National Forum of University Students of Angola, the minister noted that the current rate of schooling and higher education is low.

"We are working to raise the schooling rate, approximately, of the mark that the African Union establishes in its Agenda 2063, in order to achieve the gross enrolment rate of 50 percent," she said.

The official also said that the achievement of peace in 2002 enabled the state to build more university infrastructure and to increase public and private higher education institutions across the country.

Six years later, she said, higher education institutions in Angola had risen from five to 13, the lecturers from 988 to 3,128 and students from 12,566 to 87,196.

Official figures indicate that, by 2011, there were 38 higher education institutions across the country and at least 140,000 students were registered.

Despite the growth recorded so far, she said, the Angolan government remained committed to expand the higher education in the country.

The president of the Council of the National Movement of University Youth of Angola (MNJUA), Jose Sequeira, said the organisation was aware of the social and political dynamics underway in the country, considering it appropriate to strengthen the movement's position, within the scope of the strategic partnership with the Angolan State, within the student community.

Under the motto"Think Angola, University youth a solid base for sustainable development", the event was attended by students from the country's 18 provinces. LIN/ART
Image: PIB

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari today inspected Zojila Tunnel, Asia's longest tunnel to establish all-weather connectivity for Ladakh and an important project implemented in Jammu and Kashmir with the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha and members of Parliament of Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Road Transport and Highways.

19 tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 25000 crore.

Under this, the construction of 13.14 km long tunnel and approach road at a cost of Rs 6800 crore is in progress in Zojila. It is a 7.57 m high horseshoe-shaped single-tube, 2-lane tunnel, which will pass under the Zojila Pass in the Himalayas between Ganderbal in Kashmir and Drass town in Kargil district of Ladakh.

The project includes a Smart Tunnel (SCADA) system, which has been constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method.

It is equipped with facilities like CCTV, radio control, uninterrupted power supply, ventilation. The use of modern technology in this project has saved the Government of India more than 5000 crore rupees.

Under the Zojila Tunnel project,the main Zojila tunnel of 13,153 meters with 4 culverts of total length of 810 meters, 4 Nilgrar tunnels of total length of 4,821 meters, 8 cut and covers of total length of 2,350 meters and three 500 meters, 391 meters and 220 meters of vertical ventilation shaft are proposed. So far 28% work of Zojila Tunnel has been completed.

With the construction of this tunnel, there will be all-weather connectivity for Ladakh.

Curently, the average travel time to cross the Zojila Pass sometimes takes three hours, after the completion of this tunnel the travel time will come down to 20 minutes.

The reduction in travel time will ultimately result in fuel savings.

The terrain near Zojila Pass is extremely inhospitable, with many fatal accidents taking place here every year. After the completion of Zojila Tunnel, the chances of accidents will be zero.

This tunnel will provide year-round connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, which will be extremely important for the development of Ladakh, promotion of tourism, free movement of local goods and movement of Indian armed forces in case of emergency.
Image Credit: Facebook/Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of inciting violence in the state during and after the Ram Navami celebrations.

She made the remarks on a day when the Bengal police prevented a six-member fact-finding team, including former Patna High Court Chief Justice Narasimha Reddy, from visiting Hooghly district, which recently witnessed communal clashes surrounding Ram Navami celebrations.

Speaking to reporters Banerjee said all those who incited violence were outsiders and belonged to Bihar's Munger.

"All the accused, who incited violence in Howrah on Ram Navami, were from outside Bengal, some from Munger in Bihar. People from Bengal stay together, they dont do danga. The police hadnt given permission for their rally," she said.

Banerjee said the organisers had informed the police said that they would take out the procession during lunch hours, but the "BJP intentionally and deliberately took out the rally during the time of namaz to incite people".

Slamming the BJP for brandishing firearms in the rally, Banerjee said: "What was the need for BJP workers to carry out a procession with firearms? Why were those in the procession dancing with arms? What was the need of taking out rallies with bulldozers and tractors?"

Speaking on the role of Bengal police, the Chief Minister said: "There was absolutely no foul play by our police forces. The police, in a very tactful manner, tried to end the violence and control the situation. Now that the situation has been bought under control, BJP is sending a fact-finding team to further incite violence."

On the fact-finding team visiting Bengal to probe the Ram Navami clashes in the state, Banerjee said, "The BJP leaders are busy sending Fact-Finding Teams, Human Rights Team, Children Rights Team, Women Rights Team and what not. They are telling the media to parrot only BJPs narrative and are busy spreading fake news."

"Who are these fact-finding teams? What do they do?" asked the visibly angry chief minister.

Howrah, West Bengal | A six-member fact-finding team led by former Patna High Court Chief Justice Narasimha Reddy was stopped by the police from visiting the violence-hit Hooghly district.



They (police) are saying that CrPC section 144 has been imposed but nothing is here. They pic.twitter.com/x91fECGkd4  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2023

"Even today, fake news regarding Keoratala Mahasashan is being spread. I will ask the police to probe the matter and bring the accused to the booking. There is a law regarding the spreading of fake news," she said.

On April 2, a clash broke out between BJP supporters during a Shobha Yatra (religious procession) in Hooghly, West Bengal.

The following day, April 3, there was another incident of stone-pelting in Rishra town, leading to the suspension of all suburban and long-distance express train services to and from Rishra railway station by the Eastern Railway.
UNI

Jammu and Kashmir is flourishing and moving towards scaling new heights.

The whooping budget of Rs 1,18,500 crore for the Union Territory for the financial year 2023-24 has special focus on employment generation, women empowerment and social inclusion.

It has something for every section of the society.

After August 5, 2019when the Centre abrogated J&Ks so-called special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territoriesthe Himalayan region has witnessed fast paced development from Lakhanpur in Jammu to Uri in North Kashmir.

The government has taken everyone along by implementing PM Modis slogan of sab ka saath, sab ka vikas.

Development deficit which J&K witnessed due to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for three long decades has been addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi led regime in three years.

J&K moving fast on the path of development and prosperity has created unrest in Pakistan occupied Kashmir as Islamabad has never shown any inclination towards developing the region.

Unrest brews in PoK

Jammu and Kashmir is counting investment proposals and the employment avenues that have been created while denizens of PoK, Gilgit and Baltistan are even struggling to get basic amenities.

They are keenly watching how J&K has transformed into a vibrant region and has emerged as the tourism capital of India. Parts of Kashmir that were illegally occupied by Pakistan Army and tribal raiders in 1947 continue to reel under poverty, illiteracy and zero economic growth.

Rulers in Pakistan have failed to explore the tourism potential of the region. Instead, Islamabad and its Army have turned PoK into a breeding ground for terrorists as a maximum of the terror training camps are based in the region.

Islamabad has been exploiting hydel resources of PoK for meeting its own requirements, whereas the people of the occupied Kashmir get electricity only for 6 to 8 hours.

There are no employment avenues in PoK due to the education system being in doldrums and Islamabad not doing anything to promote self employment. Natives have to travel to bigger cities of Pakistan to take up menial jobs like labourers and waiters to feed their families.

In Jammu and Kashmir power outages are minimal and in the next five years the Union Territory is all set to witness an increase in aggregate power generation capacity by 5186 megawatts as 21 hydropower projects are being developed.

Besides providing government jobs to the J&K people, the administration has created lakhs of self employment opportunities for the youth.

They are being provided with the requisite financial support to set up their ventures and live their lives in a dignified manner in their own homeland.

In PoK the number of school drop outs has swelled as very few students reach the colleges and universities.

In J&K education sector has thrived with colleges and universities producing brilliant achievers.

Hundreds of students from different states come to J&K to pursue their educational goals, while the number of outside students taking admission in the colleges and varsities of PoK is negligible.

Muzaffarabad, capital of PoK, can in no way match the twin capitals of J&K i.e. Srinagar and Jammu.

The capital cities of J&K have witnessed massive development and are business hubs where money worth crores is transacted every day.

Malls, shopping centers and developed roads are the emblems of development, while Muzaffarabad has nothing to show. Islamabad and the local puppet government have failed to develop the beautiful city nestled in the Himalayas.

The impact of Pakistan plunging into an economic crisis has further devastated the denizens of PoK.

For them life has become more difficult as the prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed. To manage two square meals in a day has become a Herculean task for them. The growing unrest in PoK is becoming visible with each passing day. Denizens of PoK are looking towards J&K and are cursing the day when their area was annexed by tribal raiders and Pakistan Army.

They are hitting the streets regularly to seek freedom from Islamabads tyrannical rule.

They are openly expressing their desire to get liberated with J&K.

Pakistan Army and other security agencies are making every possible attempt to silence the voices of dissent by using force and committing human rights violations. But the PoK people are losing patience.

They are hoping that India would come for their rescue and free their region from the clutches of Pakistan.

Indian leadership has also dropped many hints about reclaiming PoK back from Pakistan.

Maharaja Hari Singh, a visionary leader

Pertinently, when the tribal raiders invaded Kashmir in October 1947, the then ruler of J&K late Maharaja Hari Singh preferred India over Pakistan and independence. He signed the instrument of accession following which the Indian Army landed in Kashmir and pushed back the raiders.

Time has proven that the late Maharaja was a visionary leader as his decision helped the people of J&K to live dignified lives and achieve their goals.

The late Maharaja didnt surrender to tribal raiders and the soldiers of Pakistan Army who after intruding into Kashmir went on a looting spree and committed gross human rights violations, including mass rapes.

History stands testimony to the fact that people of Kashmir had fought the raiders valiantly and didnt allow them to succeed in their machinations.

The Indian Army landing in Kashmir led to raiders beating a retreat and moving back to Pakistan but unfortunately a little portion of J&K which Pakistan calls Azad Kashmir was forcibly occupied by the neighbouring country.

People of so-called Azad Kashmir were turned into slaves by Pakistan rulers and exploited to hilt.

After 1947 Pakistan fought three conventional wars with India to snatch Kashmir but its Army couldnt match the skills of the Indian Army and had to bite the dust in every war which it fought.

The proxy war that Pakistan had started in 1990 by sending terrorists into J&K is almost over as terrorism in the region is on its last legs.

PoK citizens raising a banner of revolt against Islamabads rule is an indication that the thin line dividing two parts of Jammu and Kashmir is set to get erased.
Image Credit: IBNS File

New Delhi/UNI: Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana is set for his solo US tour in July where he is expected to enthral audiences in eight American cities with his incredible musical talent.

Ayushmann, who is known as the bonafide actor artiste of India, will be seen touring Dallas, San Jose, Seattle, Washington DC, New Jersey, Atlanta, Orlando, Chicago in USA, as well as Toronto in Canada in July and August this year!

Ayushmann, who has delivered several hit songs like Paani Da Rang, is proud to be representing Hindi music to audiences in North America.

Music has enabled me to connect with countless people and I constantly look forward to my live concerts because I get to experience this connection first hand. Im grateful that the world has come out of the debilitating pandemic and we are again doing things that are community experiences.

"I was missing my live concerts because as an entertainer, I only look to spread joy through my films and music. I felt that was taken away from me, the actor said in a statement.

Ayushmann adds, Im in a much happier headspace now that I can travel and sing and do these concerts and see the smiles on peoples faces! I cant wait for my US tour. I cant wait to be in these cities.

"Im always proud to represent Hindi music to audiences globally and I hope people will enjoy what we have in store for them.

On the film front, Ayushmann will be seen in the much-awaited Dream Girl 2 which releases on July 7.
Pixabay

Quetta: At least two policemen died when unknown men attacked Killi Spine area of Pakistan's Quetta region on Sunday, media reports said.

The policemen, who belonged to the Eagle Squad, were patrolling on a motorcycle when the assailants opened indiscriminate fire, leaving three injured. One of the assailants was killed while the other managed to escape as cops returned fire, reports Dawn News.

The injured people were rushed to hospital where two of them later succumbed to their wounds.

The martyred policemen were identified as constables Abdul Jabbar and Jalaat Khan, the newspaper reported.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Image: Pixabay

Police in Pakistan's Chiniot City police have registered a case against 11 people, including a revenue patwari, for embezzling 8,000 flour bags, media reports said on Monday.

The police have booked patwari Omair Nawaz, civil defence official Iqbal, Mulsim Flour Mills employee Zeeshan Ali, Mulazim Hussain, Amjad Hussain, Farooq Azam, Munawar Hussain, Fakhar Imam, Shaukat Ali, Sarfraz Ahmad, and Manzar Abbas on the application of assistant commissioner offices clerk Muhammad Hassan, reports Dawn News.

According to the FIR lodged at the city police station under Sections 420 and 408 of the Pakistan Penal Code, some fake tokens were caught at a flour distribution point at the Government Islamia College, Chiniot, the Pakistani newspaper reported.

An investigation revealed that Omair Nawaz was in charge of the record of tokens being issued to recipients of bags.

He confessed to embezzling 7,000 to 8,000 tokens, resulting in a loss to the national exchequer to the tune of Rs5 million to Rs6 million.

Police have also arrested four people, and raids are on to arrest the remaining people.
Image: UNI

Islamabad: Two policemen and one militant were killed in firing by unknown militants in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Sunday night, a police statement said on Monday.

The incident happened in the provincial capital of Quetta where the militants attacked "Eagle Squad," a police squad that patrols on bikes across the city.

According to the statement, the squad was on routine patrolling duty when it was attacked, and in a retaliatory attack, one militant was also killed.

The accomplices of the slain attacker fled the scene, and a search operation is underway, the statement added.

Two policemen were also injured in the attack and had been shifted to a nearby hospital.

No group has claimed the attack yet.

Balochistan is Pakistan's biggest but most impoverished province, secessionist forces have been battling the Pakistani forces against exploitation of the province's resources, disappearances of dissenters and excesses by the Pakistan Army.

(With UNI inputs)
Image: Unsplash

Quetta: Back-to-back remote-controlled blasts, which occurred close to an under-construction watchtower in the Khost town of Harnai district of Pakistan on Friday, left at least one person dead, media reports said.

The man was critically injured in the first blast and later died of his wounds. When labours working nearby gathered around the explosion site, another blast occurred, though no loss of life was reported, reports Dawn News.

Officials told Dawn News unidentified miscreants used an improvised explosive device (IED) for the blasts.

The IED was planted close to the under-construction watchtower, a Levies official told Dawn News, adding that a civilian, identified as Zhobs resident Muhammad Usman, lost his life after being critically injured.

Security officials and coal miners working in a nearby field rushed to the spot following the blasts.

It seems the miscreants detonated both IEDs with a remote control, a Levies official told Dawn News, adding that an investigation into the incident was underway.
Representational image from Wallpaper Cave

Islamabad: The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch separatist groups of Pakistan are using arms that the US forces had left behind while leaving Afghanistan in 2021, media reports said.

When the United States pulled out its forces from Afghanistan in 2021, it left behind around $7 billion worth of military equipment and weapons, including firearms, communications gear, and even armored vehicles, reports Radio Free Europe.

The terrorist groups reportedly got access to a vast chest of weapons after the fall of the West-backed Afghanistan government.

Since the Taliban takeover, some of the American military gear and weapons have turned up in neighboring Pakistan, where they have been used by armed groups, according to experts and security officials, reports Radio Free Europe.

Observers told Radio Free Europe that the influx of U.S. weapons has boosted the military capabilities of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group and ethnic Baluch separatist groups that are waging insurgencies against the government in Pakistan, which has witnessed a surge in violence over the past two years.

"These weapons have added to the lethality of such groups," said Asfandyar Mir, a senior analyst at the United States Institute of Peace, adding that a "robust and in many ways growing black market" for U.S. weapons is thriving in Pakistan.

Experts say armed groups have obtained advanced U.S. weapons and equipment like M16 machine guns and M4 assault rifles, night-vision goggles, and military communication gear.

Abdul Sayed, a Sweden-based researcher who tracks the TTP, told Radio Free Europe that the group's access to sophisticated combat weapons has had a "terrifying" impact, especially on the lesser-equipped police force, in Pakistan.

A police officer in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has borne the brunt of the TTP attacks, told RFE/RL that they were sitting ducks for militants.

"The fact is that they can see us in the dark while we can't. That gives the terrorists an enormous advantage," said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Interestingly, TTP's attacks in Pakistan have increased ever since the Taliban took control over Kabul in 2021.
Image: pixabay

Washington: The administration of US President Joe Biden plans to involve hundreds of influencers on various social media platforms, including China's TikTok, to support his reelection campaign in the 2024 presidential race, Axios reported on Monday.

Biden, who is yet to announce his bid for reelection, is expected to lean on hundreds of influencers to increase his popularity among young voters and effectively counter former President Donald Trump's active social media campaign if he becomes the Republican nominee, according to the outlet.

The Biden administration would particularly rely on support of TikTok users, despite the current debate on the app's ban in the US due to its alleged ties to the Chinese government, Axios added.

"We're trying to reach young people, but also moms who use different platforms to get information and climate activists and people whose main way of getting information is digital," Biden's Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O'Malley Dillon was quoted as saying.

Over the past weeks TikTok has been under the strict scrutiny of US lawmakers over concerns that the company can collect personal data of 150 million users in the US and hand it over to the Chinese government. In early March, the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs approved a bill that will allow the US government to ban TikTok or any other foreign app if they are believed to be a threat to national security.

On March 23, the US House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing to hear testimony from TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, whom US lawmakers questioned about the platform's data privacy practices and alleged ties to the Chinese government.

Chew noted TikTok's efforts to safeguard US user data and denied claims that the platform colluded with the Chinese government. However, US lawmakers still expressed skepticism about Chew's statements and called for a ban.

(With UNI inputs)
Luanda  Angola and Cuba updated sector-related conventions, agreements and understanding memorandums, within the framework of the XV Session of the Inter-governmental Commission for Economic and Technical-Scientific Cooperation, held on the 6th and 7th of this month, in Havana, Cuba.

Following the technical meetings, two new important memorandums of understanding were reached and signed within the scope of bilateral cooperation, which specifically covered the sectors of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as Youth and Sports.

Additionally, the parties pointed out the ways to streamline the implementation of agreements, conventions and memorandums that are already in force and for the preparation of others in the most diversified domains, notably the sectors of Finance, Health and Justice.

Action plans and goals were also defined for attracting foreign direct investment in the two countries, with a view to deepening business ties under the direct AIPEX's monitoring, on the Angolan side, and PROCUBA, on the Cuban side.

The Minister of State and Head of Civil Affairs Office to the President of the Republic, Adao de Almeida, headed the Angolan delegation that evaluated the terms of strengthening bilateral cooperation with the Cuban delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister, Ricardo Cabrisas Ruz.

The two delegations generally assessed the course of bilateral cooperation, highlighting the advances registered in issues of common interest and importance in the several fields and planning the cooperation actions to be implemented in upcoming periods.

On the sidelines of the technical meetings, the minister Adao de Almeida carried out an intense work agenda that included high-level audiences with the Cuban authorities.

Adao de Almeida met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, Manuel Marrero Cruz, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Parrilla, and the Minister of Economy, Alejandro Gil.

The Angolan delegation includes the Angolan ambassador to Cuba Maria Candida Teixeira, the Secretaries of State for International Cooperation Domingos Vieira Lopes, for National Defence Jose Maria de Lima, for Finance and Treasury Ottoniel dos Santos, for Higher Education Eugenio da Silva, for the Hospital Area Leonardo Europe, as well as the AIPEX's President Francisco Lello. VM
In Florida's (U.S.) Sarasota Police Department, Sergeant Schafer undoubtedly knows how to make the world a safer place for both people and animals. He had no idea that he would be acting as a mother goose to a flock of ducks in need when he awoke at the "quack" of dawn on Tuesday.

Here's what he did. The video of the incident is now making rounds on social media, have a look here.

Cop helps a flock of ducks cross the road safely

The ducks needed to get to the pond at Payne Park, but they needed some assistance to do so. These feathered friends were in a bit of a pickle. People everywhere were moved to see the footage that came from a body camera. The video demonstrates how a police officer assists a mother duck and her young ones and leads them to safety. The clip has the potential to turn your heart into a puddle.

They were fortunate that Sergeant Schafer was investigating. He was able to give the ducks a safe escort, ensuring that they arrived at their destination without any problems, according to a Facebook post from the Sarasota Police Department.

FaceBook Screengrab

These ducks managed to reach the pond without a single feather being disturbed thanks to Sergeant Schafer. The post read, Theres no such thing as a typical day as a Sarasota Police officer! When Sergeant Schafer woke up at the quack of dawn on Tuesday, we dont think he planned to give a flock of ducks a police escort to the pond at Payne Park. Its okay, he was able to wing it! Next time, he will have to put it on their bill.



Internet users praised the cop for his kind deed

No good deed goes unpunished, of course. Internet users responded favourably to Sergeant Schafer's bravery in a big way. After all, you don't often see a policeman leading a group of ducks to safety. Many people thanked the dependable policeman for not only bringing the feathered friends to safety but also for making them happy.



A lady wrote, "Yay!! That is adorable!!! So sweet. Very cute post too. What a great save. Thank you Sergeant Schafer at Sarasota Police Department for taking care of them."



FaceBook Screengrab

Another added, "To serve and protect. Great job brother. But what do you know about herding cattle other than watching Yellowstone?"



A man joked, "Just coming to say its time for a snack at the cafe in the park."

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
The Judge had accused the government of interfering in the judicial process after a government amendment
As of June, Greeks will be able to apply for a subsidy to turn their apartment building into a 'smart' one, Digital Governance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis said in an interview on Sunday.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) in Abuja to dismiss petitions filed by three opposition parties challenging the victory of its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the just concluded election.

The Party, according to News Agency of Nigeria, urged the tribunal to discountenance the petitions, in three separate responses filed at PEPCs Secretariat, Sunday night, by Thomas Ojo, a member of the APCs legal team led by Lateef Fagbemi, in Abuja.

The three political parties; Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Action Peoples Party (APP) had, in separate petitions, challenged the emergence of Tinubu as president-elect.

AA, in the petition, sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, Tinubu and Hamza Al-Mustapha, its factional presidential candidate and former chief security officer to late Sani Abacha.

But APP dragged Tinubu, APC and INEC to court as 1st to 3rd respondents respectively.

In the suits, marked CA/PEPC/01/2023, CA/PEPC/04/2023 and CA/PEPC/02/2023, AA and its presidential candidate, APM and APP are respectively challenging the outcome of the presidential election on the grounds of alleged substantial non-compliance with the electoral laws as well as the INEC guidelines.

While AA claimed that its candidate, Solomon-David Okanigbuan, was excluded from the presidential poll, based on which the election should be voided, the APM is contending that Tinubu was not qualified to contest the election on the grounds of the alleged double nomination of his vice-presidential candidate.

READ ALSO: Wole Soyinka Should Debate Chimamanda, Not Datti  Atikus Camp

APM is also questioning Tinubus candidacy on the grounds of the substitution of the initial placeholder, Kabir Masari, with Kashim Shettima, APCs vice president-elect.

The APP on its part claimed that Tinubu was, at the time of the election, not qualified to contest the poll by virtue of the provisions of Sections 131(c) and 142 of the Constitution and Section 35 of the Electoral Act 2022.

Responding, the APC faulted the claim by the AA that its presidential candidate was excluded from the election, arguing that its known candidate, Al-Mustapha, participated in the election.

It stated that contrary to AAs claim, Tinubu was duly elected and returned as the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having won the majority of lawful votes cast in the said election devoid of corrupt practices or vices and in substantial compliance with the provisions of Electoral Act 2022 (as amended).

It argued that the ground on which the AA brought its petition is not meritorious and facts in support of same are not availing to validate the petitioners claims and/or purported right to present the instant petition.

The APC added that Okanigbuan, listed as the 2nd petitioner is not AAs validly nominated and sponsored candidate to contest the presidential elections.

APC also argued that as against AAs claim, INEC (listed as the 1st respondent) did not unlawfully exclude Okanigbuans name because he was never the lawfully nominated and sponsored candidate of the petitioner, which did not submit his name to INEC as its candidate for the election.

According to APC, there is no evidence that the AA conducted a valid primary from which Okanigbuan emerged as a candidate, noting that Al-mustapha was the actual candidate of the AA, who was recognised by INEC.

The APC stated that Okanigbuan was not nominated and sponsored by the AA as its candidate to contest the presidential elections, adding that the party was not and could not have been excluded from the election as it participated in the presidential election with the 4th respondent (Al-mustapha) as its candidate, who participated in the election and scored 14,542 votes.

READ ALSO: Arewa Youths Name James Faleke As Preferred Choice For Tinubus Chief Of Staff

In its notice of preliminary objection, the APC questioned the competence of the petition, noting that it was based solely on pre-election issues.

For an election petition to be competent, it must complain against the return and/or election of the winner of the disputed election.

The instant petition is neither challenging and/or questioning the election of the 2nd and/or 3rd respondent (APC/Tinubu).

The petition as presently constituted amounts to a pre-election matter of nomination and sponsorship of candidate(s).

The crux of the petition being the nomination and sponsorship of the 1st petitioners candidate is statute barred, having not been commenced within the mandatory 14 days provided for under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999;

Issues of nomination, sponsorship and exclusion of candidates for an election are issues that precede the conduct of an election and are pre-election matters that cannot be raised of canvased before an electiont tribunal.

Facts in support of the petition speak to intra party issues, pre-election disputes and administrative actions of INEC triable by Federal High Court under Section 285 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered by the 4th Alteration Act and outside the original jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal being a Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, it said.

Also, the APC in its reply, prayed the tribunal to dismiss APMs petition.

The Party in its preliminary objection equally filed on Sunday, argued that the petitioner (APM) alone in the absence of its sponsored candidate cannot benefit and did not have any special interest in the election or return of the 3rd respondent (Tinubu) as the winner of the election.

The APC queried the legal capacity of the party to challenge the mode it adopted in nominating its candidate.

The APC argued that since the APM was not a member of the party, it did not know how it becomes the petitioners business how it nominates its candidates.

The petitioner does not fall under the category of persons that can challenge the internal working operation of the 2nd respondent (APC) regarding the nomination and sponsorship of the 2nd respondents candidates for the election.

The APC equally faulted the competence of the petition by the APP, arguing that the grounds on which it was founded is not sustainable.

It described the petition as frivolous and an attempt to waste the courts time.

Recall that the presidential candidates of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)s counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, are also challenging the election.

Tinubu and Shettima, the vice president-elect, are, however, within time to respond to all the petitions.

Based on provisions of the law, a respondent has within 21 days to reply to a petition after a service.
The spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, has backed the chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Itse Sagay, who slammed Labour Party (LP) supporters, over social media bullying against Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka.

Information Nigeria had reported that Sagay while fielding questions on a Channels Televisions Politics Today on Sunday night condemned the attack on Soyinkas personality.

According to Sagay, an election is not won by social media insults and the LP supporters cannot use outbursts of anger to determine how the country is ruled

He warned that Peter Obis supporters should desist from online bullying and re-strategize for the 2027 election, or else it will affect their chances to win the hearts of people as they may suffer the same fate.

His words: I have watched the interview with Professor Soyinka, and I accept his view totally that you cannot use vehement and outbursts of anger to control how this country is to be ruled. You cannot say it must be me or body else, and I certainly accept all Soyinkas views, I have seen the insults being poured on him on social media, and this is the point that we are making, we wont win an election by insults on social media.

READ ALSO: 2023 Election, Nigerias Best So Far  Says Itse Sagay

You just put people off the next time you come, it would be concluded that you are not fit to rule or be in a ruling party, because they would think that is how you are going to terrorize the country. So what is been done by members of the Labour Party is contrary to the interest of the Labour Party in the future.

I expect them as you people that they should start planning so that they can do their best and the party can do its best the possibility of winning is always there instead of abusing and threatening everyone on social media. They will continue to suffer the same fate, Im afraid.

In response, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, via Twitter on Monday, commended Itse Sagay, saying the LP supporters will see the full result of online bullying in the next election.

Finally, some voices of reason. They will see the full result in the next 4 years! he tweeted.
Onje Gye-Wado, a former deputy governor of Nasarawa State, recently abducted, has regained freedom after a ransom of N4 million was paid.

Information Nigeria had reported that unknown gunmen in the early hours of Friday, kidnapped the former deputy governor.

The gunmen abducted the politician from his residence in Gwagi village of Wamba Local Government Area.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel, confirming the development in a press release, said the assailants forcefully broke into Gye-Wados residence.

The abductors reached out to Gye-Wados family on phone to make a demand of N70 million for his release but the family negotiated from N2 million and later N3.5 million, eventually paying N4 million before he was released.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Abduct Former Deputy Governor Of Nasarawa

The kidnappers collected the ransom near Mada Hills Secondary School in Akwanga, with 200 naira recharge card, after which he was freed from their den close to Angwan chiyawa, close to those hills between Akwanga and Nasarawa Eggon, a family source told Daily Trust.

Gye-Wado was however taken back to the Palace of the paramount ruler of Wamba, Oriye Rindre, Lawal Musa Nagogo, upon his release.

Also confirming the release via a text message was a former NUJ chairman and former commissioner of information in the State, Dogo Shamma.

To God be the Glory Prof. Onje, has finally been released from the hands of kidnappers just now, Shamma said.
Lamidi Apapa has insisted he remains the acting National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), adding that enjoys the support of the partys presidential candidate Peter Obis followers better known as Obidients.

The deputy national chairman (south) had last week declared himself as the LP national chairman following a fresh legal battle in the party. In the wake of the development, Labour Party state chairmen in the 36 states of the federation disowned the factional leadership, throwing its weight behind Julius Abure as the partys leader.

But Apapa maintained he is the acting national chairman of the party.

As of today, I am the acting national chairman of the party, he said when he appeared on Channels Televisions Sunday Politics.

While many accused him of being sponsored by opponents to destroy the party, the LP chieftain refuted the claims. He said as a foundational member of the LP, he wont do such.

That is not true. Nobody is sponsoring me, Apapa maintained.

For anybody to now say I want to run down the party, that is a lie, the LP chieftain added.

READ MORE: Labour Party Crisis Deepens As Third Person Lays Claim To National Chairmanship

He says since a court had ordered four national officers of the party including Abure to stop parading themselves as such, his move is in the right direction.

Now, if that has happened, what else? The next person should take over, he said, noting that seven members of the LP National Working Committee (NWC) voted for him as the acting chairman of the party.

Although some of the partys supporters have faulted him for the move, Apapa says he enjoys the backing of Obis growing support base called Obidients.

I think so, he said when asked if Obis supporters are behind him. When you say Obidients side, are they not Nigerians?

When queried further if he is conversant with the Obidient movement, some of whom have criticised his action, he claimed those ones are acting out of ignorance.

Let me tell you if they know what transpired, they will know they are acting out of ignorance, he said.
Senior pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Paul Enenche has said the current happenings in Nigeria, indicate that the country is currently experiencing a dreadful phase.

According to him, anyone who believes the country is in its best days is either demon-possessed, a pathological liar, or demented and should not be taken seriously.

Enenche said this during the Easter Sunday celebration at the churchs headquarters, Glory Dome, in Abuja.

READ ALSO: Thread Softly With ObiDattis Arrest, Prosecution Threat  C&S Church

He said, anybody who tells you now that this country is where it should be and what it should be is a pathological hypocritical liar or a demonized demented mad devil.

Only those kinds of people will see evil and call it good. Will see disaster and call it progress.

The cleric however called for prayers from congregants, stressing that the country must regain its lost glory soon.
A 20-year-old Nigerian woman and four other migrants have been arrested by security forces in Libya for allegedly running a prostitution ring in Hawari area of Benghazi, Libya.

The tweet read, CID in Benghazi dismantled a prostitution ring and arrested in Hawari area 4 undocumented #migrants incl. woman of Nigerian nationality. The 20-year-old female was being sold by her pimp for 50 LYD (ca. 10 USD) per customer.

READ MORE: 26 Children, 125 Adult Libyan Returnees Arrive Lagos

All referred to the Public Prosecutors Office for legal action.

Meanwhile, the arrested suspects have been handed over to the Public Prosecutions office for legal action.
Festus Keyamo, the chief spokesman for the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, has said Obidients, the supporters of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are mentally weak.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria who disclosed this in a post via Twitter on Monday, said Obidients threw all sorts of trash and insults at the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other candidates, during the campaigns.

According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) took all the insults with equanimity and responded to all jabs.

He added that Obi supporters made memes, skits, and caricatured the images of opponents and had fun until their candidate lost the February 25 polls.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment asserted that now that the heat has turned on them and their candidate, they have obviously cracked with many losing their heads.

Keyamo furthered that Obi supporters are cursing and swearing at every perceived enemy as a result of the avalanche of criticisms from unlikely quarters in the last few days.

READ ALSO: No Concrete Evidence To Warrant Datti Baba-Ahmeds Arrest Yet  Ex-DSS Director, Ejiofor

He, however, urged the reasonable ones who are patriots amongst the Obi supporters to quickly exit that ignoble bubble and join hands with the incoming administration to move Nigeria forward.

He wrote: It is evident that the so-called Obidients are MENTALLY WEAK. They threw all sorts of trash at other candidates, including ours, during the campaigns and we took it with equanimity and responded to all such jabs.

They made memes, skits and caricatured the images of opponents and had fun until the reality check of Feb. 25th. But now that the heat has turned on them and their hero in the last few days or weeks, they have obviously cracked with many losing their heads.

Just one audio sent them into a pitiful tailspin with close aides confirming and denying the audio all at the same time like a ragtag army.

And with the avalanche of criticisms from unlikely quarters in the last few days, they have completely lost it. They are cursing and swearing at every perceived enemy and are beginning to sound forlorn. It is evidence of a weak mentality.

But I have good news for them: it is time for the reasonable ones who are patriots amongst them to quickly exit that ignoble bubble and join hands with the in-coming administration to move this country forward. Anything short of that would be tantamount to continuously living in bondage!
Johannesburg,  South Africa's justice minister has expressed shock after a court in the United Arab Emirates refused to extradite two brothers from the wealthy Gupta family.

The Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola said he was dismayed to learn this week that a United Arab Emirates court held an extradition hearing for Atul and Rajesh Gupta in February. The court denied Pretoria's request, but South Africa was only informed now.

The Indian-born siblings were close friends of former President Jacob Zuma and are suspected of using that connection to influence Cabinet appointments and win lucrative government contracts -- a scandal that's become known here as "state capture."

Zuma is facing charges in a separate corruption case. He and the Guptas deny all allegations.

The Guptas fled South Africa in 2018. They were arrested in the UAE last year on South Africa's request.

Lamola says South Africa will appeal the court's decision, which the UAE court denied on a technicality.

The court said the charge of money laundering related to crimes committed in the UAE as well as South Africa, meaning the UAE has jurisdiction to prosecute it. The court also found the arrest warrant relating to the charge of fraud and corruption had been canceled, which the Justice Ministry called "inexplicable."

"This level of noncooperation is highly unprecedented in the arena of extradition requests," the Justice Ministry statement said.

"South Africans would be justified to believe that they are being denied justice," the statement continued, adding the denial flies "in the face of the assurances given by the Emirati authorities that our requests meet their requirements."

It's unclear if the Guptas are still in the UAE, after recent media reports that they were spotted in Switzerland.
The Adamawa State Police Command, in collaboration with hunters, killed a suspected kidnapper and rescued two victims in the Toungo Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.

The Police spokesperson, Suleiman Nguroje, stated in Yola on Monday that it was one of the successes of the polices collaborative strategies to end kidnapping, robbery, cattle rustling, and unlawful possession of firearms.

One kidnapper was neutralised when he and his gang arrived at a spot to receive N2million ransom demanded from relatives of the kidnapped victims.

READ ALSO: Kidnapper Killed As Police Rescue Two Abductees In Lagos

The suspected kidnappers sighted our men around the area and engaged them in a gun duel so as to escape arrest.

One of them was neutralised while others escaped with bullet wounds, he stated.

Nguroje added that the two victims, Suleiman Abdullahi, 23, and Ruwa Buba, 11, residents of Mayo Sumsum Village in Toungo LGA, were rescued unhurt.

He stated that the Commissioner of Police in Adamawa, Afolabi Babatola, commended operatives of Toungo Divisional Police Office and the hunters for their gallantry.

Babatola directed the joint operations team to track down fleeing members of the kidnap gang to ensure that they did not re-group anywhere in the state.

The police commissioner charged residents to always inform the police of the whereabouts of criminals, especially those found with bullet wounds, Nguroje stated.
No fewer than four persons were today crushed to death in an accident, which occurred in ljoka area, in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

An eyewitness said that the victims were crushed to death by a yet-to-be-identified yahoo boy

According to him The Yahoo boy was driving a Toyota car along the road and suddenly skidded off its lane to crush the victims who were on commercial motorcycles also known as Okada.

Immediately the accident happened some sympathizers who rushed to rescue the victims and the driver, later found some fetish items inside the drivers vehicle, raising suspision that he is a yahoo boy.

READ MORE: Ondo Man Attacks Doctor, Nurse With Cutlass Over Sons Death

Angered by their discovery in the car, the sympathizers descended on the driver and beat him to a point of comatose.

For the timely intervention of the men of the state police command, who arrived at the scene, the driver and his vehicle would have been set ablaze by the mob following what they discovered in his vehicle.

The Police officer, who rescued the driver from the mob, declined comment.

The deceased was later taken to the state hospital mortuary while those injured were treated at the same hospitals.

But one of the policemen later informed the vanguard newspaper that the driver was taken to the state police command headquarters for questioning.

Weve to rescue the suspect from the mob, thank God we arrived at the scene on time, they wouldve killed the boy.

He has been detained at the state police headquarters in Akure. Our detectives would be questioning him.

The state police spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, could not be reached for further comment.
Prophet Solomon Alao, Supreme Head of the Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Unification Church of Nigeria, has on Sunday warned the federal government against the arrest of Labour Partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.

The clergyman in his Easter message, stated that the president Muhammadu Buhari-led administration should thread softly, stressing that arresting Peter Obi or Datti would heat up the polity.

He further urged the government to be careful over how it engages the opposition parties and their presidential candidates, adding that instead of threatening the opposition with treason, the government should reassure they would get justice in court.

The Federal Government must tread softly in dealing with Obi and Datti and stop the threat of arresting and prosecuting them for treason. If they do that, I can see the scenario of 1964 playing out again, and that will be very devastating for the country, he said.

READ ALSO: Obi-Datti Inviting Insurrection, Actions Treasonable  FG Cautions

We have not seen enough persuasion and conviction from the government and the ruling party to convince the opposition parties and their candidates that they will not interfere in the judicial process, and this is the time to do that.

The Supreme head, called on Peter Obi to warn his supporters to watch their utterances and what they post on social media and stop creating enemies for him.

He said his supporters, popularly known as Obidients, should know there is a limit to political agitation in a democratic setting.

Advising president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be magnanimous in victory, he said, They should realise that the campaign is over and start handling reactions as people who are ready to govern all Nigerians, irrespective of their sentiments.
Low-code and no-code platforms are used to build applications, websites, mobile apps, forms, dashboards, data pipelines, and integrations. No-code platforms help business users, sometimes termed citizen developers, to migrate from spreadsheets, extend beyond email collaborations, and transition from manual task execution to using tools and automations across departments. Low-code platforms are usually for technologists and provide ways to deliver and support software with little or no coding.

You have to remember low code is just a fancy term for abstraction. We are abstracting away non-essential elements in order to simplify the user experience, says Gordon Allott, President and CEO of K3.

Low- and no-code platform providers have continued to invest beyond applications and automation into other emerging areas. Last year, I wrote about low-code enabling machine learning. Since then, a growing number of tools and platforms are enabling AI capabilities.

The lines are blurring between business workflow platforms, AI tools, and low- and no-code platforms. More low- and-no code platforms are interfacing with AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities, while some AI tools are building in no-code capabilities.

How product companies and analysts categorize technologies is far less important than what people can do with them. I searched for examples of businesses using low- and no-code technologies to deploy ML and AI capabilities. I also asked tech executives how they use low-code or no-code AI tools.

AI capabilities in SaaS tools

If you want to use AI to help generate or review editorial content, the list of tools includes ChatGPT, Jasper.ai, and many other AI content tools. There are AI video creation tools, image recognition software, and many platforms to build chatbots.

Rishi Bhargava, CEO and founder of Descope, shares one example using Descript, an AI tool for videos. Descript has used AI to change the entire video editing paradigm. By targeting people who are comfortable working on online documents, which is pretty much all of us, Descript has opened the door for someone who has never edited videos before to pick it up quickly.

A growing number of SaaS tools have AI capabilities, but most arent no-code. While they perform an AI-enabled business function or workflow, tools targeting business users without a programmatic capability dont classify as no-code.

AI in no-code workflow tools

One area where theres a history of AI and no-code usage is extracting information from documents. This procedure often requires a mix of data processing, machine learning, and workflow automation.

NLP Lab, a no-code text annotation tool by John Snow Labs, is used in healthcare to embed the knowledge of clinical specialists into machine learning models. In one example, doctors worked to create clinically accurate definitions of tumor characteristics trained from pathology reports.

David Talby, CTO of John Snow Labs, told me about the underlying technology. The enterprise-grade natural language processing (NLP) tools are no-code, meaning users can assemble high-quality training data, train models, and deploy them in production without writing a single line of code. The end-to-end platform can be used by domain expertsnurses, doctors, lawyers, accountants, investors, and moreto extract meaningful facts from documents or images automatically, further democratizing AI for all.

Low-code integrations with ML

As AI tools are plugging in no-code capabilities, the no-code and low-code platforms are doing the reverse: adding easy ways to experiment with AI and bring machine learning models to production use cases.

Microsofts AI Builder service, part of the Power Platform, has more than 10 prebuilt AI models, including text recognition, entity extractions, and sentiment analysis. Microsoft recently announced a GitHub copilot integration that should help low-code developers request, review, and integrate AI-generated coding examples.

Kin Lane, chief evangelist at Postman, comments, Products such as the Microsoft Power Platform have coined the concept of fusion development, allowing low-code and code-first developers and IT pros to collaborate on enterprise-wide applications. Fusion development teams are the solution to scaling out the low-code tech solutions via ML experts and AI models for form detections, invoice data extraction, and object detection.

One example is AI at the Zoo, a fun application built with Microsoft PowerApp and Lobe to detect animals such as tigers, zebras, and pandas at the zoo. Unfortunately, this example showcases one of the issues with low-code integrations, as Microsoft recently announced the deprecation of the AI Builder image classification model by Lobe.

A commercial example is Ardent Mills using AI Builder in its baking lab to detect bread or grains that need flagging for further evaluation. Another example is the international energy company Equinor using AI Builder to increase the efficiency and automation of counting tubular goods.

Microsoft Power Platform isnt the only low-code platform with AI capabilities and commercial use cases. Ricoh used OutSystems to build an intelligent process automation service for claims management. Zurich UK used Mendix to develop FaceQuote, an application that calculates a monthly premium for prospective life insurance customers by soliciting a selfie.

Low-code AI search and IoT

Businesses are also finding opportunities to build AI and ML capabilities in SaaS, business, and technology platforms with low- and no-code capabilities.

For example, low-code AI search can help developers integrate data sources, build customer and employee-facing search apps, and leverage AI and machine learning capabilities. Even tech companies are using low-code platforms to accelerate AI use cases. For example, using AI search, Salesforce achieved a 90% self-help success rate, and Dell achieved a three-times improvement in its employee satisfaction score.

Arturo Garcia, CEO of DNAMIC, shared a different example of Twitter using Googles AutoML. He said, We think about AI and automation as massive blocks of technology that enable companies to build faster and more assertively. It caught our attention that the Twitter team leveraged Googles low-code machine learning capabilities to suggest Twitter Spaces for users to discuss topics they were interested in.

Marty Sprinzen, co-founder and CEO of Vantiq, says, Low code is enabling the use of AI technologies in areas that may not have technical expertise. Smart farms, for example, use AI to monitor animal welfare and ensure they operate within regulatory boundaries.

Connecting thousands of sensors with IoT platforms and machine learning capabilities used to be a complex engineering project. Low-code platforms are helping more businesses to use IoT and AI, including smart building, manufacturing, and agriculture use cases. In one example, a low-code IoT and real-time data processing platform connected with edge devices helps improve worker safety and food quality assurance.

IoT and search are two examples of SaaS with low-code or no-code development options and AI capabilities. Many CRM, CMS, e-commerce, and other SaaS platforms have AI and low coding options.

Conclusion

As more businesses look to experiment with AI, they will seek development options that accelerate delivery and reduce the required expertise. Tools that integrate AI capabilities with no-code and low-code development options will be a desirable approach, especially for businesses that dont have expert data scientists and software developers on staff.
Doctors offices are dealing with a workforce shortage and still catching up with patients who missed visits during the pandemic. Read more

This week, I got an earful from one of my patients who had a difficult time getting in to see me for her annual exam. She said that my online schedule had no appointment availability for months, but she did not leave a voice or portal message about her concerns. After calling first thing in the morning for several days, she was finally able to get in due to a cancellation.

If you have tried to make an appointment with your primary care clinician recently, you have likely encountered similar difficulty. Doctors offices are dealing with a workforce shortage, still catching up with patients who missed visits during the pandemic and, on top of all that, evolving the way they work as a team.

As a primary care physician, Id like to offer a few insider tips for getting that appointment booked:

Be open to seeing another provider on your care team. Many primary care practices now function in care teams. This means that doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other clinical staff work more closely to manage each patients care. If the clinician you usually see is not available, another team member can fill in. Leave a voicemail or web portal message if you cannot get through on the phone  and be specific about your request. A triage nurse can review and discuss your concern with your clinician to see if it may be addressed safely over the phone or portal, with a visit as a next step or back-up plan. Although portal messages are often first seen and acted on by a nurse or other clinical staff, your clinician will always carefully evaluate your message, too. Consider different ways of scheduling your appointment. Primary care practices often have an online scheduling option, where you can make an appointment on the practice website or through the patient portal. Keep in mind that the online schedule may not reflect all of your clinicians appointment availability. If you dont see what you want online, try calling or messaging the office to check on other options. Try same-day scheduling. Practices may reserve a few appointment slots for each clinician for patients who need to be seen the day they reach out. These slots are intended primarily for those with acute problems, such as a possible infection or injury, but may sometimes be used for less urgent matters. Calling right when the office opens will give you the best chance of getting in that day, although a nurse will probably first ask you some questions to determine if emergency or urgent care is more appropriate for your concern. Schedule your next routine appointment before you leave the office on the day youre in for care. That way youll secure an appointment on your clinicians calendar in advance, before it fills up. Ask about a virtual-first appointment. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how video visits can be an excellent option for connecting with your clinician or care team. Your practice may offer virtual appointments as a convenience, or as a way to improve access to care when the in-person appointment schedule is constrained.

Despite challenges with staffing, primary care practices are offering many creative options to improve access to care. As with all aspects of your health, it is important to be your own advocate by learning everything you can about how your primary care office works. Practice websites can be very informative. Learn all you can from your clinician and staff when you are in for your visit. Being well informed about your care team and health coverage is a vital but too-often-overlooked part of preventive healthcare.

Jeffrey Millstein is an internist and regional medical director for Penn Primary Care.
Rendering of the cans for the Cooper River 100 pilsner brewed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the park in 2023, to be launched for the start of the Dad Vail Regatta, which is being held on Cooper River Lake this year. The beer is made by Double Nickel Brewing Co. of Pennsauken. Read more

Camden County officials were brewing up ideas earlier this year to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Cooper River Park when one bubbled to the top: Beer.

County Commissioner Jonathan L. Young Sr. rode a lift last week with Double Nickel Brewing Co.s brewmaster Rob Fox to the peak of a two-story steel tank to start the process of a commemorative local craft beer by pouring in a bag of saaz hops, one ingredient of the Cooper River 100 blend  a clear, light pilsner with a hint of lemon.

The beer will launch May 11 in time for the start of the Dad Vail Regatta weekend. The annual collegiate rowing competition is being held this year at the Cooper River Park as the Schuylkill National Racecourse in Philly awaits dredging.

The 347-acre Cooper River Park runs through Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, and Haddon Township, with the 2.5-mile long Cooper River Lake as its centerpiece.

A beer for regattas, operas

The beer will be brewed, canned, and shipped from Double Nickel off Routes 73 and 130 in Pennsauken. It will be sold throughout the race weekend, one of 100 events scheduled for the park this year, said Frank Filipek Jr., the countys director of events. Filipek said the county has plans for multiple regattas, an opera night, a wine festival, movie nights, and lots of concerts, including Hanson, a pop act that had a number one song in 1997, MMMBop.

Dan Keashen, a county spokesperson, said the idea was to craft a beer with nice, clean lines to celebrate with through the summer. The beer will be available for sale at local liquor stores, as well as at Double Nickel.

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When the idea was first getting thrown around, we were 100% on board, said Brian Needham, a cofounder of the popular brewery that opened in 2015. Needham, whos from Haddonfield, and all original partners of Double Nickel grew up in Camden County.

So it only made sense, Needham said.

Needham described the beer as a summer pilsner, similar to a shandy, with 5% alcohol by volume.

Its an easy drinking beer, he said. We wanted something that had a nice mass appeal, something thats a good, crisp, approachable beer for warmer months.

Double Nickel will start with an initial brew of 30 barrels, or about 930 gallons.

Needham said the brewery also designed the art for the label, which features rowers, a sailboat, a runner, and a picnic  all typical uses for the park.

Cooper River Park has been a staple here in Camden County for decades, and its history deserves to be recognized and celebrated, said Louis Cappelli Jr., director of the Camden County Commission.

A park with a long history

Parts of Cooper River Park have recently been renovated as part of the countys $100 million Parks Alive 2025 plan, which officials say is the biggest overhaul of the countys park system since it was envisioned a century ago. The Jack Curtis Stadium track and field has been modernized and improvements made to playground, pavilion, and picnic areas. But the park still boasts original fieldstone retaining walls and other structures.

The park exists largely due to business leaders in post-World War I Camden who proposed a system of parks and parkways to spur growth and create a rival to Philadelphia. Victor Talking Machine Co. president Eldridge Johnson and others who were involved in or supported the Greater Camden Movement were inspired in part by the City Beautiful Movement, which advocated construction of parks and other public amenities.

In 1922, the start of work on what is now the Benjamin Franklin Bridge between Camden and Philadelphia further energized the parks effort, and in 1923 the county hired the esteemed landscape architect Charles Wellford Leavitt Jr., who was born in Riverton, to create designs.

Leavitts vision of a tree-lined parkway along the Cooper River in Camden came to naught  instead, it became Admiral Wilson Boulevard  and he was abruptly terminated by the county in 1927. Though the county began building the park, it was reluctant to continue spending during the Great Depression.

County voters approved a $350,000 bond referendum in 1931, and by 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal programs such as the Civil Works Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps provided money and labor to continue work at Cooper River Park.

Construction was finished in 1940, and the resulting park and its lake realized the essence of Leavitts vision, said Kevin Cook, who coauthored the 2014 book Along the Cooper River.

Its admirable, the clairvoyance of people at that time. They saw the future, said Cook, who lives in Cherry Hill. Its just incredible foresight, and were reaping the benefits today of their vision from more than 100 years ago.
Marie Cole and Jess Loflin, owners of the new Grocery Outlet at 1801 N. American St. in Philadelphia. Read more

Theres nothing in Jess Loflins and Marie Coles backgrounds that would make you think they would wind up owning a West Kensington grocery store.

Both were born far from a silver spoon. Cole, 57, in Raymond, Wash., a rural logging and fishing town, and Loflin, 42, in a small border town in New Mexico.

Neither worked in a grocery.

Cole spent decades working for large chain restaurants, becoming increasingly burned out. Loflin, whose eclectic background includes career stints as a farrier and managing large call centers, was becoming increasingly disenchanted. Both were ready to try something new.

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I was tired of making millions for other companies, Cole said.

When Cole answered what she thought was a job ad for Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, she discovered it was actually a solicitation for new owner-operators. Grocery Outlet is a growing chain of bargain supermarkets that started on the West Coast in 1946 and is expanding on the East Coast.

Cole asked Loflin whether they should take the plunge, and Loflin responded, Lets do it.

And with that, the partners  in business and in life  endured months of intense corporate training, then drove eight days across country with their three dogs, to open Philadelphias fifth Grocery Outlet, on American Street.

We decided it was a good place because the area needed good work and affordable food, Cole said of the location. We opened 3-23-23. I know that date better than my wedding anniversary.

Savings come to Philly

Grocery Outlet, based in Emeryville, Calif. is opening about 35 stores each year. Each is operated by an independent owner. The company started expanding into Pennsylvania in 2012, and the first city-based store opened in Mount Airy in 2021.

Last year, a Grocery Outlet opened in the citys Sharswood section, anchoring a new $52 million Philadelphia Housing Authority development on Ridge Avenue, providing the North Philadelphia neighborhood with its first supermarket since the 1960s and a new source of employment.

 READ MORE: Grocery Outlet opens in North Philadelphia, first business to open in new PHA development

The supermarket chains strategy of buying name-brand manufacturers excess inventory and seasonal closeouts and then selling at a steep discount has made it one of the fastest-growing discounters in the country, according to industry journals.

Sisters Sherrel Lubin and Callena Sutton were packing their car full of groceries after a recent shopping trip. Lubin, who usually shops at Walmart, said she has to feed a family of five for a month. According to the USDA, a family of four could spend almost $1,000 per month on groceries today, whereas two years ago the bill would have been about $300 less.

I spent less than $400 when usually I would spend $600 to $700, Lubin said.

It was Lubins first time at Grocery Outlet, but Sutton has visited stores throughout the city. Honestly, the deals are a bargain, the people are nice, and they bag. My sister and I [work as] Instacarters, and I can tell you, nobody bags anymore, Sutton said.

Anija Davis was excited about the savings. I usually spend $150, and my total bill was $122, Davis said. Usually an Acme shopper, Davis went into the market curious about the new store that is within walking distance of her home.

We have shoppers come in and ask us Are these the real prices?  Cole said.

A store on a mission

Loflin said the store also allows the couple to engage with their social mission activities, including providing healthy food in a food desert and good jobs with a living wage. They also want to get more involved in LGBTQ events, youth employment, and literacy issues. New Mexico had the lowest educational level in the country when I was there, Loflin said.

At their stores grand opening, Loflin and Cole donated $1,000 each to The Sunday LOVE Project, a food pantry, and Norris Square Community Alliance, a community development corporation.

They said they have taken a substantial financial risk to open the store, but they are convinced that food is a secure business and American Street is a booming residential location. They are also getting in on the ground floor of Grocery Outlets East Coast expansion.

In the meantime, the couple is excited about their adopted hometowns art, food, people, culture, music, diversity, and, most importantly, acceptance. And after four moves in the 10 years they have been together, they predict Philadelphia may just be the place they put down their roots for good.
Inside a bright red shipping container inside Love Park, a collective of artists is trying to get Philadelphians interested in one of the driest civic processes in our city: the annual budget.

You may be tempted to stop reading here, but thats exactly the challenge that the artists are trying to tackle.

The budget, while it seems very boring, is incredibly interesting because our lives really depend on it in the city, said Phoebe Bachman, a Philly-based artist running the Peoples Budget Office with the Mural Arts Coalition through May 20.

Visitors who drop by the shipping container  which opened Friday and is plopped between the long flower beds at Love Park  can attend artist-run workshops on budget issues, like funding for libraries, schools, and criminal justice reform. They can access research material to brush up on their knowledge of how the city operates, and even watch live city council budget hearings.

The intent is to make a boring process more transparent  through engaging art.

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Whether thats the public transportation youre taking to work, or the potholes that youre driving and biking over  or the after-school program or pool and library you visit, its all integrated into our lives, Bachman said. So its really important for folks to have that kind of civic awareness and understanding of how the budget operates.

This is the third iteration of Mural Arts annual public art budget workshops, launched in 2021 as a response to the previous years Black Lives Matter protests, where questions about police funding and the departments role in the city dominated the public conversation.

During the 2021 and 2022 budget hearings, artists hung up wheat-paste posters around the city and hosted teach-ins across the city to help Philadelphians imagine a city budget that prioritized supporting residents instead of punishing them.

Artists-in-residence at this years installation will hold panels with Philadelphia public school students. Theyll collect testimony from residents around the city about how they use public libraries  some of the last free common spaces in the city  and turn those responses into art prints. Theyll create posters supporting alternatives to incarceration and ways to reduce the harms of gun violence and drug use.

At the shipping container, a poet will set up an old-fashioned typewriter where visitors can bang out their ideas for a cleaner city  on paper made with flower seeds. Participants can take these home and plant them.

Most critically, the artists say, city residents can share their own concerns about what our city should be prioritizing. Street sweeping has been popular among visitors so far, said Bachman. So have shelter for the homeless, better after-school programs, and more public art.

Part of this is to provide a transparency to the budget, Bachman said. And the other part is to provide creative opportunity for folks to really say what they want to see funded  to prompt those questions and conversations.

Information about The Peoples Budget can be found at: https://www.muralarts.org/artworks/a-peoples-budget/
Memorial posters on display during the second annual Youth Led March Against Gun Violence outside of the Municipal Services Building in Philadelphia, Pa. on Sunday, April 2, 2023. The march was hosted by the Beloved Care Project and Forget Me Knot. Read more

Update: The District Attorneys Office says the gun that killed Joseph Lighty at the Walnut-Locust Broad Street Line station was his own illegal ghost gun. Preliminary information from witnesses to the incident suggest that Lighty instigated the argument with Phillip Riddick, who appears to be a homeless person, according to the DAO.

Even on a cool Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia, two heated arguments ended in shots fired and lives lost. Argument was the motive that the Philadelphia Police Department ascribed to homicides in West Philadelphia and a Broad Street Line SEPTA station in Center City.

 READ MORE: Man fatally shot on Broad Street Line platform in Center City

Around 1 p.m. Saturday, Nevaughn Beasley was shot and killed, allegedly by his neighbor, on the 1400 block of North 54th Street in West Philadelphia. The 50-year-old attempted to park his red SUV near his home when, police say, Rasheed Morrison approached him.

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The two exchanged words, Beasley left his car, and the argument continued. At some point, 29-year-old Morrison allegedly reversed his car into the front bumper of Beasleys SUV.

Police say that led to a physical altercation that ended when Morrison shot Beasley in the chest.

Beasley was pronounced dead at Lankenau Medical Center. Morrison was taken into custody and charged with murder, possessing an instrument of crime, and criminal conspiracy.

Less than two hours later, at the SEPTA Walnut-Locust Station, Joseph Lighty was killed after an argument that started on Broad Street, police said. The 21-year-old from Hawthorne and suspect Phillip Riddick, a 36-year-old from North Philadelphia, were involved in an animated conversation that escalated into an argument and fight, according to police.

The argument continued all the way down to the northbound Broad Street Line subway platform, where police say Riddicks gun discharged and a bullet struck Lighty in the leg.

 READ MORE: How to put on a tourniquet and stop someone from bleeding to death

Officers took Lighty to Jefferson Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Riddick was arrested by SEPTA police. He was charged with absconding for his failure to show up in court in an unrelated case, police said. Murder charges are pending further investigation.

Untreated trauma leads to violence

Crime is a top priority for residents of the city, a Lenfest Institute poll of voters ahead of the mayoral election found. So far this year, 109 people have been killed in Philadelphia, police data as of April 8 show. That is a 15% reduction compared to this date last year.

Last Sunday, children and teens marched down Market Street to protest gun violence.

The trauma is leading our kids and our young people out here to commit these crimes, said Mecca Robinson of Forget Me Not Youth Services, which offers transitional housing and programs for children, who attended last weekends event. Its not just trauma, its untreated trauma.

 READ MORE: Can widespread trauma therapy prevent gun violence? This community leader says yes.

People who experienced trauma and are under stress have a harder time regulating emotions when they feel threatened or that one of their boundarys has been violated, said Sandra Bloom, a psychiatrist and professor at Drexel Universitys School of Public Health.

We go from zero to 10, Bloom said. Thats when, if you have a gun, and your finger is on the gun, youre more likely to use it.

While both of Saturdays homicides are still under investigation, Bloom said that she wouldnt be surprised if the original cause of the argument behind many violent incidents is minor.

There are techniques to help people identify their triggers and regulate their emotions, for example Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that helps people slow down their thinking when they are upset.

Most people are not taught how to manage emotions, Bloom said. Theyre just taught what you should or shouldnt do. That doesnt help you. "
Graduates of Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School applaud their parents at the end of the ceremony in 2018. The school is a private Catholic college preparatory school funded by philanthropists and business leaders for underserved children of all faiths. Read more

As President Joe Biden unveiled his 2024 budget plan in Philadelphia last month, Pennsylvanians are looking for relief from rising costs of living, while donors and charities are hard at work supporting the most vulnerable in our communities. Yet a recent study finds Pennsylvanias regulatory burden on charities might be hampering them from helping those who need it most.

In the 50 State Index of Charity Regulations, Pennsylvania comes in last, meaning it is the most burdensome place in the country for charities to operate. The door prize for this ranking is grim: Pennsylvania is home to fewer charities than other states relative to the size of the states economy.

Specifically, Pennsylvania has less than 60 charities per $1 billion in state GDP  this compares with 76 charities per $1 billion in state GDP for the top five states with the least burdensome regulatory environment, according to the study.

Pennsylvania could foster a healthier landscape for charities to flourish by removing policy obstacles and red tape that divert charitable funds from reaching those in need.

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The Keystone State is home to over 6,000 charitable foundations and roughly 38,000 charities serving communities across the state. Supporting this thriving charitable community, Pennsylvanians generously give around $6.5 billion in charitable donations each year.

For example, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School is a private Catholic college preparatory school funded by philanthropists and business leaders for underserved children of all faiths. With 518 students enrolled, the school provides a weekly work-study program and boasts a 100% college acceptance rate.

The success of the states charitable sector comes in spite of Pennsylvania having the most burdensome regulatory system for charities among the 50 states. Imagine how many additional charitable success stories Pennsylvania might have and how disadvantaged communities could be better served if the state adopted a friendlier regulatory environment.

Pennsylvania imposes charitable registration fees that are 10 times larger than neighboring New York, and only two other states in the country have higher registration fees. The state also fails to allow its generous residents to deduct charitable donations from their state income taxes, and charitable organizations must opt in for exemption from state corporate income tax.

In addition to high start-up costs for charities, Pennsylvania has the highest burden of annual filing requirements at a cost of $257 per year. Pennsylvania is also one of roughly half of all states that requires an independent audit above a modest threshold. Audits of nonprofit organizations typically cost between $10,000 and $20,000  not a small sum for a charity.

One of the few positive marks the study credits Pennsylvania with is exempting charities from the state sales tax. However, this exemption requires a complicated application process and only applies to organizations that meet the state definition of purely public charities.

Pennsylvanias policymakers should take a look at these onerous regulatory burdens placed on crucial charities. Rather than a race-to-the-bottom approach of imposing more red tape on charities, learning from the regulatory approach of states with lower burdens would bolster the charitable sector in Pennsylvania.

State policymakers could lower these regulatory burdens by examining the regulatory environment in neighboring Delaware, which doesnt mandate registration requirements at the state level, as such requirements duplicate federal requirements. Delaware also has no additional filing requirements, while Pennsylvania has the most burdensome. These filings take up more resources and time that charities could otherwise dedicate to advancing their missions.

To prevent an increase in burdensome regulations, policymakers in Pennsylvania could consider requiring legislative approval of new regulatory requirements that raise costs for charities and foundations in the state. By lowering the high costs and hurdles charitable organizations face, charities and foundations can continue to focus efforts on advancing their missions and serving communities in need.

Jack Salmon is the director of policy and government affairs at Philanthropy Roundtable.
Johannesburg  Last month, French journalist Olivier Dubois, who was held hostage in Mali for over a year, was finally released, but foreign and local journalists working in the Sahel tell VOA that press freedoms continue to be eroded in the region, making it more dangerous for those reporters who are still working.

In the past decade, five journalists have been killed and six have gone missing in the Sahel, a vast, semiarid region of western and north-central Africa that stretches along the Sahara desert's southern rim from Senegal to Eritrea.

In 2013, French journalists Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon were kidnapped and killed by an armed insurgent group in Mali; in 2021, two Spanish journalists, David Beriain and cameraman Roberto Fraile, were attacked and killed by a terrorist group in Burkina Faso; in 2018, Malian journalist Birama Toure disappeared and likely died following torture by Mali's intelligence agency, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Home to numerous violent Islamist extremists, the region suffers from political instability and sometimes regular coups, including two in Mali and Burkina Faso and one in Chad since 2020.

In some Sahel countries, journalists are persecuted by armed Islamist factions and ruling military juntas alike -- the former abducting or killing reporters, the latter restricting press freedoms or conducting arbitrary arrests.

"We have seen the trends that after taking power, the military juntas have not hesitated to reshape the media landscape in order to better serve their interests," said Sadibou Marong, sub-Saharan Africa director at Reporters Without Borders, which this week published a new report on the region. "This has been the case in Mali and Burkina Faso, where local broadcasting of several French media outlets has been suspended."

While the release of Dubois after 711 days in captivity -- the 48-year-old French freelancer had been held by al-Qaida-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin -- is cause for celebration, Marong said threats to reporters covering the region are growing.

Contacted by VOA, Dubois' wife, Deborah, said her husband, who was freed at the end of March, is not currently giving interviews.

An editor who has worked with Dubois, Sonia Delesalle-Stolper, told VOA the French newspaper she works for has been affected by the unrest across the Sahel.

"It's been quite challenging over the last two years for Liberation and our coverage of the Sahel," said Delesalle-Stolper, the newspaper's chief foreign editor. "First of all, we had our correspondent in Mali, Olivier Dubois, who was taken hostage in April 2021 and has just been freed over the last two weeks ... and the other correspondent who worked afterwards in Mali has decided recently to come back to France, because it has become too dangerous and there are too many threats towards freedom of press."

Things aren't much better in neighboring Burkina Faso, she added, noting that Liberation and Le Monde each saw a correspondent expelled from the country in recent days after publishing content perceived by leaders of its military junta as critical of the government.

"So it has become very difficult for the foreign press and Liberation, but as well for the press who have been working locally in Burkina, who are still there, and have more and more difficulties to cover what's going on," Delesalle-Stolper said.

Although Dubois has been freed, other local reporters who have been abducted haven't been heard from since, the Reporters Without Borders report said. Among them are Malian radio journalist Moussa M'Bana Dicko, who was kidnapped in 2021, and Hamadoun Nialibouly, abducted in Mali in 2020.

Not in the field

Benin-based freelance journalist Flore Nobime says working in her country is also becoming more fraught.

"It is becoming more and more difficult for journalists to travel to the northern border areas of Benin to work because of the insecurity that now prevails there," she told VOA. "We fear armed groups -- and, on the other hand, it can turn into a nightmare when we come across the defense and security forces."

Nobime was detained along with a Dutch reporter last year while reporting from the country's northern region. Both were accused of espionage, and the foreign journalist was deported.

With so many restrictions on movement and threats to security, some journalists are opting to cover large parts of the Sahel from the various capitals or even from abroad.

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Since last year, Mali has permanently suspended Radio France International (RFI) and France24, while Burkina Faso has banned their broadcasts.

David Bache, who worked in Mali as RFI's correspondent for some four years, has been unable to acquire a Malian visa or press accreditation since early last year -- prior to the RFI ban.

"It's more difficult for the Malian colleagues who are in the country," he told VOA. "The journalists who used to work for our broadcasts, for Radio France International and who were based in Mali, some of them have traveled and are now in another country.

"One of them is now in Senegal," he added, "and other people are still in Mali but don't work for us anymore because it's too dangerous for them."

In Mali itself, according to an RSF report, numerous local radio stations have been shuttered, reflecting a similar trend in Burkina Faso.

Bache says he uses his large network of contacts to continue reporting on Mali from Paris, but that it's always better to be on the ground.

For many Sahel reporters, though, that remains too difficult and risky at the moment.
The top reason people with kids move out of Philadelphia isnt because of crime or jobs  its because of the schools. That means the young and upwardly mobile  the middle-class taxpayers who would fund schools and government  are leaving.

Heres one sensible way to stop that: Give every family with school-age kids living in the Philadelphia School District cash to go to the schools they want to attend. You dont even need to pass laws to make that happen  the legislature already provided that opportunity to school districts.

Passed in 2012, a Pennsylvania law provides a way out for students who attend a school that isnt meeting their needs. The law authorizes school boards to provide scholarships using state funds for students in the district to attend other public and non-public schools.

Of course, this solution relies on school boards and administrators putting the needs of the students over their own. Administrators, too often beholden to powerful government unions, have a tight grip on the money and are weary to relinquish any of it to the rightful owners: the children.

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But the mayor can change that. In Philadelphia, the mayor elects the citys school board  the body with the power to create these scholarship programs. A new mayor can free thousands of students from failing schools simply by appointing a new school board that will finally put students first by providing scholarships.

Research shows that scholarship programs exert competitive pressure on school districts, forcing them to improve. A 2022 EdChoice report found that 25 out of 28 studies concluded that school choice programs had a positive effect on public school students test scores.

School districts would still retain much of the almost $20,000 per student they receive in funding  even for students that leave on scholarships. A 2022 study of Ohios scholarship program found no negative impact on school districts per-student expenditures.

Imagine using funds in a way that helps children improve both public and private school outcomes, rather than pouring money into the Philadelphia School District with zero results or accountability.

The School District is home to nearly 140 of the states low-achieving schools  or public schools that rank in the bottom 15% based on performance metrics. According to the latest statewide scores, 70% of Philadelphia eighth graders were not proficient in language arts and 90% were not proficient in math. Philadelphias achievement results are among the lowest compared with other big-city districts nationally.

According to a recent poll, around two-thirds of city residents agree that Philadelphia is heading in the wrong direction, and theres strong consensus  especially in communities of color  that improving schools should be a top priority for elected officials.

We need a strong mayoral candidate who will finally hold all schools, administrators, and most importantly, a new school board, accountable to their first responsibility of putting student needs first.

Proposed legislation in the state Capitol would target education funding directly to students and families in the most underserved, underperforming schools. Introduced and passed by the Pennsylvania House last year, the Lifeline Scholarship program would give families in low-achieving schools around $7,000 of public funding to pay for educational expenses like tuition, homeschool curriculum, and tutoring. The program has bipartisan support, with even Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro backing the proposal.

Another legislative solution is to expand the states economically disadvantaged schools fund, which provides supplemental tax credit scholarships to low-income students. Students who qualify attend a school where at least 51% of the students receive scholarships from the Education Improvement Tax Credit or Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Programs. Economically disadvantaged school scholarships give these students access to better schools and a better future.

Our elected officials in Harrisburg have options on the table that will benefit all of Pennsylvanias kids  but right here in Philadelphia, we dont need to wait for legislative fixes. We just need a strong mayor to finally put our kids first.
April 10, 2023: Eastern State Penitentiary, a former prison turned museum. It closed in 1971 and had been abandoned for decades. The National Historic Landmark has since been turned into a place where the historic preservation, interpretation, and public programs move visitors to engage in dialogue and deepen the national conversation about criminal justice. Read more

When it opened in 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary was the most famous and expensive prison in the world. Today the long-abandoned and crumbling cell blocks and empty guard towers are not preserved for tourists to make selfies and ruin porn, but to interpret the legacy of American criminal justice reform. A prison system that today incarcerates more people than any other in the world had its roots here.

Before Eastern State, most prisons were just crowded and dirty pens where people - adults and children - accused of everything from petty theft to murder, were held while awaiting their court date. My colleague Samantha Melamed wrote last year that the use of incarceration as punishment, rather than merely a means of pre-trial detention, was born out of Philadelphia Quaker ideals  proposed as an alternative to public humiliations and corporal punishment.

I was there last week for the graduation of the citys first Carpentry Academy, a program in partnership with the Carpenters union, local businesses and Eastern State to give women and people of color a pathway to hard-to-get union apprenticeships. Participants were introduced to the construction industry with paid, hands-on-the-job training and experience, including work on restoration projects at Eastern State. Their story will be coming out this week.

The windows in the working public restrooms were broken during the decades when Eastern State was a heavily vandalized, decaying eyesore. Like the rest of the prison, the restrooms have been safely and securely preserved for visitors. Heres an alternative version of this weeks photo:

I wrote here last week about the 25th anniversary of my weekly photo column in the legacy print version of the newspaper. Yesterday the Sunday paper published a selection of twelve black and white images from the over 1400 that have run in that space in The Inquirers local news section.

Here are the most recent, in color:

 SEE MORE: Archived columns and Twenty years of a photo column
Sen. Bob Casey is seeking a fourth term, bringing unmatched name recognition in Pennsylvania politics to his party's defense of a seat in a presidential battleground state. Read more

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey announced Monday that he is running for reelection, setting the stage for another pivotal U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania.

Last years Senate contest between Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz was the most competitive and expensive in the country. Casey will bring the power of incumbency to the race, which is likely to be a closely watched contest given the high stakes for both parties in the narrowly divided Senate.

Im running for re-election because with so much on the line for Pennsylvanias working families, I want to keep delivering results for Pennsylvania, Casey said in a statement. Theres still more work to cut through the gridlock, stand up to powerful corporate special interests, and make the lives of hardworking Pennsylvanians a little bit easier. I wont back down from any fight for communities and families across our Commonwealth.

Casey, the longest-serving Democratic senator in Pennsylvania history, is in his third term. Hes successfully won six statewide elections and is a known political name in the state, albeit one with a more subdued personality.

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Caseys casual, self-effacing style was on display in his announcement on Twitter, where he posed with a homemade map of Pennsylvania set up on an easel. (He gained some local Twitter fame in 2020 for breaking down the states political math).

The map is back, and Im not done yet, he said on Twitter.

At least two Republicans have expressed interest in challenging Casey.

Dave McCormick, who narrowly lost to Mehmet Oz in the GOP Senate primary last year, has indicated he wants to run. McCormick was a visible presence at Decembers Pennsylvania Society gathering of political insiders in New York, and hes made several appearances since the release of his book, Superpower in Peril. Hes scheduled to speak at an event in Philadelphia on Wednesday with top state GOP leaders.

McCormick in a statement Monday blamed Casey along with President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for fentanyl overdoses and Philadelphias high murder rate and said the states energy policies cost Pennsylvania jobs.

A vote for Casey is a vote for Biden and Schumer, McCormick said. Hes a Washington insider and not a leader we can count on to deliver a better future for our great commonwealth.

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, who was badly beaten by Gov. Josh Shapiro in his gubernatorial bid last year, has also expressed interest in the seat.

What do you do with a movement of 2.2 million? Mastriano told Politico. Were keeping it alive.

Casey has not faced a tight election despite the narrowly divided state.

He had a little more than $3 million in his campaign account at the end of 2022, according to federal filings. Fetterman raised more than $76 million during his competitive 2022 race.

Casey hired Tiernan Donohue to be his campaign manager. Donohue managed Pennsylvania Democrat Val Arkooshs unsuccessful bid for the Senate in 2022 and previously worked for Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kellys campaign.

Democrats heralded Caseys announcement, noting his successful track record in the state.

Pennsylvanians have elected Senator Casey three times because they know that he always fights for our working families, said Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Sharif Street. Hes spent his life fighting for the dignity of a livable wage and has been a defender of Pennsylvanias hardworking people. ... The Pennsylvania Democrats are ready to fight for our Senator and cannot wait to see him re-elected next fall.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee blasted Casey, whose brother is a lobbyist, accusing him of shady self dealing and selling his votes out to the highest bidder. Caseys office has said he abides by Senate ethics rules regarding family members who work as lobbyists.

Pennsylvania GOP chair Lawrence Tabas accused Casey of putting his own interests above those of his constituents. Im confident that the Republican nominee will demonstrate to voters across the Commonwealth that its time to send Casey back to Scranton, Tabas said.

Casey on Monday attended an event where White House officials announced increased funding for broadband in the state. Democrats have already pointed to the infrastructure bill and improvements it funded as legislation they hope to run on across the country.
The dark money era of Philadelphia politics has officially begun.

An outside spending group that has raised millions to boost mayoral candidate Jeff Brown is the first political organization to play a significant role in a Philly mayors race with most of its money coming from undisclosed donors.

With more money behind him than all but one of his rivals in this years crowded Democratic primary field, Brown has become a top contender. About half of that cash came from For a Better Philadelphia, a political action committee whose backers are almost entirely unknown to the public.

In a major escalation in the controversies over the money behind Browns candidacy, the Philadelphia Board of Ethics on Monday sued For a Better Philadelphia, alleging that Brown illegally coordinated with the group by soliciting donations for it and seeking what would be a record $162,000 in fines. The board, however, is not contesting the groups right to keep donors secret so long as it follows other campaign finance laws.

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 READ MORE: The Philadelphia Board of Ethics just sued a super PAC supporting Jeff Brown for mayor

Anonymous funding is already commonplace in campaigns for federal office, but its introduction into a Philadelphia mayors race raises new ethical quandaries for city government  especially if a candidate with dark money backing becomes mayor. And some fear that the success of the group backing Brown will lead to anonymous money becoming a regular part of Philly politics.

If someone were to win public office with the help of a dark money super PAC, the voters will never know where the big checks came from, but their elected official will, said Patrick Christmas, policy director of the good government group Committee of Seventy. Its disturbing to see this amount of campaign money hidden from the public and seemingly spent early to avoid the current disclosure rules.

Christmas said dark money would make it impossible to determine whether the mayor were using his or her office to benefit a political backer, which would be a conflict of interest, if the public didnt know who helped get the person elected.

Brown, a ShopRite proprietor who has opened stores in underserved neighborhoods, is running as a City Hall outsider and compassionate businessman. He said that record should assure voters that he will stay true to his principles regardless of who backs his campaign.

 READ MORE: Sign up for The Inquirer's newsletter on the Philadelphia mayor's race.

Ive been accountable to the people of Philadelphia for my entire career  in everything Ive done, Brown said in a statement. Unlike some, it didnt start when I decided to run for office. The idea that I would change is a lie.

For a Better Philadelphia is a super PAC, which is a political action committee that can raise unlimited amounts of money but is prohibited from coordinating with candidates.

Super PACs for the first time played a major role in Philadelphia during the 2015 mayors race, when Jim Kenney defeated State Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D., Philadelphia). Kenney was backed by super PACs that got money from labor unions, and Williams benefited from a group funded by a trio of Main Line billionaires who supported his efforts to promote school choice.

There are several other super PACs in this years race, with groups also lining up to support candidates Cherelle Parker, Rebecca Rhynhart, and Helen Gym. But all of those groups have so far disclosed their backers.

Only Browns For a Better Philadelphia is keeping its donors secret by funneling 96% of its money through three nonprofits  and its allowed to do so thanks to a loophole in campaign finance law.

Dan Siegel, a consultant for the PAC, confirmed that the group does not plan to reveal who is funding the nonprofits behind it.

For a Better Philadelphia has and intends to continue complying with all government regulations concerning the use of [nonprofit] money, he said.

Asked whether the PAC would go beyond the requirements and disclose its backers, Siegel said no.

The largest chunk of dark money came from a nonprofit that is also named For a Better Philadelphia and has given the PAC about $2.5 million. David Maser, a lawyer who helped form the nonprofit, did not respond to requests for comment.

Neither did Craig Varoga, who works with the two other nonprofits, preexisting groups based in Washington called Patriot Majority USA and Maps USA. They have given the PAC $500,000. In its court filing Monday, the ethics board alleged that even the $500,000 that came from the two D.C.-based nonprofits originated with the For a Better Philadelphia nonprofit before passing through those groups.

Phillys campaign finance rules would have required all three groups to file a report revealing their donors if those contributions were made within 50 days of the May 16 primary. But because the deposits came in last year, well in advance of that threshold, there is no law requiring the nonprofits to provide transparency about their backers.

While the pro-Brown super PAC is the first dark money group to make a play in a mayors race, Philly has had another notable dalliance with anonymous political funding. Philadelphia 3.0, a super PAC that focuses on Council races, made waves in the 2015 and 2019 elections for backing challengers to entrenched incumbents in part by using money that was passed through a nonprofit with the same name.

Council strengthened the disclosure rules in response to Philadelphia 3.0s activities, and the group revealed some of its donors during the 2019 cycle. But last year, it took in more than $317,000 from its related nonprofit and can spend that on this years Council races without revealing donors.

Browns opponents in the mayors race are attacking him for benefiting from anonymous donors. A spokesperson for former City Councilmember Allan Domb, a real estate magnate who has given his own mayoral campaign a staggering $7 million of his own money, said the pro-Brown super PAC has made an unprecedented attempt to bring the worst of D.C. dark money politics to Philadelphia.

Jeff Brown owes it to the people of Philadelphia to disclose his secret donors, what promises he made to them behind closed doors, and why his campaign is under ethics investigation, Domb spokesperson Jared Leopold said in a statement.

Brown shot back, saying it reeks of hypocrisy that I would be criticized by a man who is trying to buy an election and criticizing Dombs ads showing him driving through potholes and promising to fix them.

When he had the opportunity to address potholes in the City Council, he did nothing about them, Brown said of Domb. Just like he would do nothing for the city if he were elected mayor.

For a Better Philadelphia has raised $3.1 million in total, including some contributions from donors who are not hiding their identities. It had $256,000 in the bank as of two weeks ago, according to its last campaign finance report.

But it appears have ended its efforts to influence voters in the mayors race. A judge on Monday ordered the super PAC and the nonprofit to cease making expenditures related to the mayors race until at least April 24, when the ethics boards lawsuit will receive a full hearing.

The PAC had already stopped reserving airtime for TV ads after spending big early in the race to boost voters awareness of Brown.

We executed a strategy with the intent of leveling the playing field for an outsider, first-time candidate, Siegel said. We are glad to see a race where an outsider has a chance to bring change to the city of Philadelphia.

Dark money has been rampant in federal elections ever since the U.S. Supreme Court unleashed the floodgates of political spending for corporations and super-wealthy individuals through such decisions as Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in 2010.

The introduction of dark money into a Philadelphia mayors race by Browns PAC may mean that Philly politics will now follow a similar path, said former Councilmember Maria Quinones Sanchez, who dropped out of the mayors race on Sunday because she could not keep up with the pace of fundraising by Brown, Domb, and other candidates.

After this election, particularly if Jeff gets away with the way hes structured this, anybody can buy themselves a Council, anybody can buy themselves a mayor, Quinones Sanchez said.

Staff writer Chris Brennan contributed to this article.
Jeff Brown announces that he is running for mayor on Nov. 16, 2022. Read more

The Philadelphia Board of Ethics on Monday sued a super PAC and a nonprofit supporting Jeff Browns Democratic primary bid for mayor.

The board accused Brown and the two entities, which are both called For A Better Philadelphia, of illegally coordinating fundraising efforts that brought in more than $2.4 million.

The board called that coordination a violation of the citys campaign finance limits.

Where did the campaign finance limits come from?

Philadelphia City Council passed legislation that became law in 2004, creating limits on how much money individuals and political action committees can contribute to candidates seeking local offices in the city.

Those limits do not apply to campaigns for state office, like representative or senator in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Federal elections for Congress or the presidency have their own set limits.

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The local limits, originally set to $2,500 for individuals and $10,000 for PACs, were first applied in a primary election for mayor in 2007. That came after a legal challenge. A Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge rejected the limits in late 2006 but the state Commonwealth Court reinstated them just six weeks before the 2007 primary. The state Supreme Court later affirmed that ruling.

What are the limits now?

The limits have increased over time and were set to be $3,100 for individuals and $12,600 for PACs this year. But the campaign finance law has a millionaires provision that doubles the limits when a self-funding candidate gives their campaign $250,000 or more. Former Councilmember Alan Domb triggered that provision in January, doubling the limits to $6,200 and $25,000. Domb has, as of the end of March, now given $7 million to his campaign. Brown has given his campaign $1 million as of the end of March.

Are there different rules for super PACs?

Yes. A 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling allows political action committees to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money for independent expenditures to influence elections as long as they dont coordinate with candidates or campaigns.

These are now known as super PACs, and these types of committees have raised and spent more than the candidates running for mayor in 2015 and 2019.

Under certain circumstances, super PACs can raise money from nonprofits that dont have to disclose the names of their donors, creating a source of so-called dark money with mysterious origins.

Who enforces Philadelphia election law?

The Philadelphia Board of Ethics, in its current configuration, was established in 2006 after voters approved an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter. The city has had a Board of Ethics in one form or another, with more limited authority, since 1962. The current board is an independent agency with five members appointed to five-year terms by the mayor and approved by City Council.

The board looks into potential violations of campaign finance law based on complaints, referrals from other agencies, or by initiating investigations itself.

The boards staff conducts investigations and releases the results, usually accompanied by a fine or other penalty for the candidate or political action committee that drew scrutiny. Those results typically come months or even longer after the election has ended. It is unusual for the board to take public action before an election.

What happens next with the case against Brown?

A judge on Monday issued a temporary injunction, prohibiting the super PAC and nonprofit from spending money to influence the May 16 primary for mayor, at least until another hearing on the issue is held in two weeks. The board is seeking a $162,000 fine for the super PAC and nonprofit, which would be a record penalty for the agency if that amount is approved.
Eight mayoral candidates at a forum in January. From left are grocery store owner Jeff Brown; retired Municipal Court Judge James DeLeon; former City Councilmembers Maria Quinones Sanchez, Derek Green, Helen Gym, Allan Domb, and Cherelle Parker; and former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart. Read more

Philadelphias mayoral race has already drawn millions in fundraising. And half of it has come from outside the city.

Campaigns have already raised more than $17 million. Of that, $8 million comes from the candidates themselves. But an Inquirer analysis shows that of the $9.3 million given by actual donors:

About half of the money, at least $4.4 million, comes from donors in Philadelphia. Roughly another quarter, at least $2.5 million, comes from donors elsewhere in the region. The remainder, at least $2.1 million, comes from donors outside the area. A small fraction, under $100,000, came from small donations that campaigns dont have to disclose, so the addresses of those donors are unknown.

That isnt to say that most donors live outside of Philadelphia. Its likely that Philly donors make up the majority of contributors to several campaigns. But since contributions from donors giving under $50 arent reported individually, it wasnt possible to know how many donors there were in total or where they all lived. And while the number of donors can be a measure of enthusiasm or breadth of support, the amount of dollars raised is a better measure of the resources candidates bring to bear.

Some candidates have relied more than others on money from outside Philadelphia, according to campaign finance data from January 2022 through the end of March. Thats as the bulk of everyones cash has come from big donors, wherever those donors happen to live.

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And in the case of Jeff Brown, a lot of them dont live in the city. The businessman collected less than one-third of his money from donors in Philadelphia, the lowest share of any candidate.

Brown has a national profile from the positive work hes done and as a national leader on combating poverty, said campaign spokesperson Kyle Anderson. The longtime ShopRite proprietor has made much of his campaign pitch about his work opening grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods.

 READ MORE: What recent fundraising tells us about the state of the Philly mayors race, in five charts

In addition to the broad support hes received in Philadelphia, hes also supported by people who recognize that he would be exactly what Philadelphia needs  a transformational leader, Anderson said.

The biggest share of Browns money (excluding his own $1.04 million contribution) came from the suburbs.

In contrast with Brown, former City Councilmember Cherelle Parker and ex-City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart both collected two-thirds of their money from city donors, the highest share among the candidates as the race enters its final stretch before the May 16 Democratic primary.

More than the rest of the field, Helen Gym and Derek Green, both former City Council members, have raised money from donors outside the region entirely. Gym in particular has a national profile as a leading voice in the progressive movement, and has significant financial support from the American Federation of Teachers, which is headquartered in Washington. Over one-third of her money comes from donors outside the region.

 READ MORE: Big money is flooding into the Philly mayors election. Heres how its shaping the race.

But donors are also funneling money through super PACs, the independent expenditure groups that can raise and spend much more freely than the campaigns themselves. Theyve already raised nearly $5 million, with more sure to come.

And even though super PACs do disclose their contributors, who those donors really are can be pretty unclear. The super PAC supporting Brown, for example, is almost entirely financed by nonprofits whose sources of funding are unknown.

Other super PACs have a mix of local and national funding. A new super PAC backing Rebecca Rhynhart is funded by Philadelphia billionaire Richard Vague. Another group backing Helen Gym has received the bulk of its funding from the AFT. A super PAC boosting Parker relies on support largely from building-trades unions.
The submissions of the Excellence Awardees are then forwarded to an independent judging panel who score each submission according to the criteria. The judging panel is insurance industry leaders and senior representatives who are well known and respected within the industry. Every effort is made to ensure their judgements are impartial, balanced, incisive and fair. Scores are aggregated to produce a single winner in each category.
Commencing a joint venture in 2018 and sustaining four years of exponential growth;

Implementing both London Line Slips and executing an Australian binder with one of the largest insurers in the world;

Being an account manager for ASX-listed clients;

Developing and launching a policy wording into the insurance market; and

Managing the largest franchise group in Australasia, including over 3,500 franchisees.

When asked about his career goals, Kapoor said: My plan is to keep learning and growing. I love and respect this industry as it has given me so much. I fully intend to continue to participate in its growth and development and to keep giving back to the insurance community at large.
Commenting on the milestone, BAIS CEO David Hampton (pictured, right) said: Technology has evolved beyond all recognition over the past 30 years, and the pace of change continues to increase. It is a testament to the dedication, talent, and hard work of the BAIS team, many of whom have been with the business over 15 years, that we remain the insurance system of choice for large numbers of underwriting agencies, brokers, and other insurance organisations.
Eries investment in health and wellbeing programs shows how much we care about our employees and their families, said Erie benefits analyst MaryAnn Marchant, who coordinates several of the companys health and wellbeing programs. Its our culture of caring that keeps us motivated to listen to our employees, explore new offerings and always strive to be an excellent and innovative partner in their health and wellbeing.
Luanda  Sonangol has announced plans for the opening of opportunities to expand exports of the oil by-products in the Southern African market, after the completion of refineries under construction in the country.

The chairman of the Sonangol Executive Committee, Joaquim Kiteculo, said that the expansion of the market started in 2020, when South Africa began to dismantle the first four refineries that existed in the country.

The process of dismantlement of refineries is still in progress in that country, at a time it plans to dismantle six more refineries, which will force the South Africa to resort to import oil derivatives.

Angola predicts a total processing capacity of 425,000 barrels of refined oil per day, with the implementation of the Cabinda, Soyo, Lobito and Luanda refineries, the last of which is already operational, after it was expanded and its production capacity increased.

Kiteculo told the radio programme Ngol, run by the national oil company, that of the 425,000 barrels of refined products to be processed, 225,000 barrels would be for domestic consumption and 200,000 to be reserved for export, particularly to the Southern African region , covering countries such as Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Botswana, Tanzania and Namibia, countries where fuel is not subsidised.

Ongoing work

The Soyo refinery, whose total investment is estimated at US$3.5 billion, is due to be concluded in 2025, when it will start processing 100,000 barrels of oil per day.

The Cabinda refinery, with capacity to process 30,000 barrels per day, the first phase of construction work is due to be concluded in December of this year.

The Lobito refinery, with five proposals for investment, plans to process over 200,000 barrels of oil per day, and is the largest of the three under construction.NE/AC
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HAMDEN, Conn. (AP)  A Connecticut woman who was seriously injured when a police officer opened fire on her and her boyfriend as they sat in a car unarmed has settled a lawsuit over the shooting for about $1.1 million.

Stephanie Washington was struck four times when Hamden officer Devin Eaton fired 13 bullets at the stopped car in New Haven on April 16, 2019, according to her lawsuit and a prosecutors investigation that found the shooting unjustified. She suffered multiple injuries, including spine and hip area fractures, a graze wound to her forehead and enduring trauma, the lawsuit said.

The shooting sparked several protests. Eaton, who resigned from the force last year, was charged with felony assault, pleaded no contest and was sentenced to probation and community service  punishment that also drew criticism from Washington and her supporters for being too lenient.

Eaton and the town of Hamden, two of several defendants in the federal court lawsuit, did not admit liability in the settlement, which was first reported Wednesday by the New Haven Register after it obtained a copy through a public records request.

Im glad that its been resolved, Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett told the Register.

Phone and email messages seeking comment were left for Washington, her lawyer and Eatons attorney Wednesday.

Eaton stopped the couples car in New Haven because it matched the description of a car linked to a reported attempted robbery in Hamden, police said. Washingtons boyfriend, Paul Witherspoon III, was driving and Washington was in the passenger seat.

Eatons body-camera video showed Witherspoon starting to exit the car and appearing to raise his hands when Eaton begins shooting. Witherspoon then quickly got back into the vehicle. He was not injured. Eaton believed Witherspoon had a gun, officials said.

A Yale University officer, Terrance Pollock, fired his gun three times at the car. A prosecutor found his shooting to be justified because he believed Eaton and Witherspoon were exchanging gunfire. Pollock suffered a graze wound from a bullet fired by Eaton, officials said.

Advocates including the state NAACP and local clergy protested the shooting. Washington, Witherspoon, Eaton and Pollock are Black.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Connecticut
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While the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore has long touted its transparency in publishing the names of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse, a report released this week by the Maryland attorney generals office raises questions about whether the churchs list is incomplete.

Following the reports long-awaited release Wednesday, victims and advocates called on the Baltimore archbishop to address discrepancies  their latest demand for transparency in a decades long fight to expose the churchs coverup tactics.

They also celebrated a major step toward potential legal recourse: state legislation passed Wednesday that would eliminate the existing statute of limitations on civil litigation against institutions like the archdiocese in cases of child sexual abuse. Similar proposals failed in recent years, but the attorney generals investigation brought renewed attention to the issue this legislative session. The bill has been sent to Gov. Wes Moore, who has said he supports it.

The report reveals the scope of over eight decades of abuse and coverup within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. More than 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the archdiocese sexually abused over 600 children and often escaped accountability, the investigation found.

The report also names 39 people who arent included on the archdioceses list, which officials first published in 2002 and have continued to update since.

The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, said in a statement Wednesday that some omissions might be understandable, but called for the archbishop to err on the side of being more transparent for the sake of victims and others.

The archdiocese acknowledged the discrepancies in a statement Thursday, saying none of the 39 people are currently serving in ministry in the Baltimore area, and at least 33 have died. Archdiocese spokesperson Christian Kendzierski said most didnt make the list because they are laypeople, including deacons and teachers; they were never assigned to ministry in the Archdiocese of Baltimore; or they were first accused posthumously and received only a single, uncorroborated allegation.

Kendzierski said the archdiocese is reviewing its list in light of the Attorney Generals report and expects to add more names soon. The report recommended expanding the list to include non-priests, which officials are also reviewing.

When Cardinal William Keeler released the Baltimore list in 2002, his decision earned the diocese a reputation for transparency at a time when the nationwide scope of wrongdoing remained largely unexposed. But years later, a Pennsylvania grand jury accused Keeler himself of covering up abuse allegations in the 1980s.

While Baltimore was among the first, other dioceses across the country have published similar lists in the years since.

But theres always the concern that even credibly accused people have been left off these lists, said Terence McKiernan, president of BishopAccountability.org, which tracks clergy abuse nationwide. Now, in Baltimore, we have confirmation thats what was happening.

Several of the clergy members not on the churchs list had been asked to leave the ministry, according to the report. In some cases, church officials engaged in mediation or agreed to financial settlements with victims  actions that suggest the allegations were considered credible, McKiernan said.

For example, one victim repeatedly contacted church officials in the late 1990s and early 2000s to report abuse he experienced in the 1930s at the hands of Father Alphonsus Figlewski, who would take altar boys on Baltimores streetcars and touch them inappropriately, according to the report. The diocese ultimately engaged in mediation and reached a settlement, the report says  but Figlewski was never listed as a credibly accused priest.

One of the church officials who reviewed the case, Father Michael Kolodziej, was himself later accused of abuse and included on the list.

They talk about being transparent, but its time for this diocese to take responsibility, said David Lorenz, director of the Maryland Chapter of SNAP.

Lorenz and others advocated strongly for the legislation passed Wednesday to eliminate the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits.

Currently, victims of child sex abuse in Maryland cant sue after they turn 38. The bill, if signed into law by Moore, would eliminate the age limit and allow for retroactive lawsuits. However, the measure includes a provision that would pause lawsuits until the Supreme Court of Maryland can determine whether its constitutional.

The Maryland Catholic Conference, which represents the three dioceses serving Maryland, opposed the measure, contending it was unconstitutional to open an unlimited retroactive window for civil cases.

While there is clearly no financial compensation that can ever rectify the harm done to a survivor of sexual abuse, the devastating impact that the retroactive window provision will potentially have by exposing public and private institutions  and the communities they serve  to unsubstantiated claims of abuse, cannot be ignored, the group said in written testimony.

Several other states have passed similar legislation in recent years, and in some cases, the resulting lawsuits have driven dioceses into bankruptcy. Just last month, the Diocese of Albany sought bankruptcy protection amid a deluge of lawsuits following a 2019 law change in New York that allowed more people to sue.

Barry Salzman, a New York attorney who has represented numerous victims of church sex abuse pro bono in recent years, said the Maryland legislation is unique in entirely eliminating a statute of limitations.

I see this as another jurisdiction coming on the right side of things, he said. It would be a dramatic change.

Associated Press reporter Brian Witte contributed to this report from Annapolis. Sarah Brumfield contributed from Silver Spring.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Church
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Three former executives of a company that makes machines that test lead levels in humans deliberately concealed a problem with the devices that produced falsely low results for tens of thousands of children, federal prosecutors in Boston said last week.

The children, as well as pregnant people and others, faced serious health risks because of the inaccurate test results, prosecutors said.

Amy Winslow, Reba Daoust, and Mohammad Hossein Maleknia  all former executives at Magellan Diagnostics Inc.  were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud an agency of the U.S., and introduction of misbranded medical devices into interstate commerce with intent to defraud and mislead, according to the U.S. attorneys office in Boston.

Winslow, 51, of Needham, is the former CEO; Maleknia, 64, of Bonita Springs, Florida, is the former chief operating officer; and Daoust, 66, of Amesbury, is the former director of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs.

We allege that these defendants deceived customers and the Federal Drug Administration about the reliability of medical tests that detected lead levels, U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said in a statement. By doing so, we assert that they endangered the health and lives of incredibly vulnerable victims.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no safe level of lead in the blood, Rollins said.

Children can be exposed to lead through old paint, contaminated dust and drinking water that passes through lead pipes. The metal accumulates in the body, and at high levels, it can damage organs and cause seizures. Even at lower levels, it can harm brain development and lead to attention and behavior problems.

BJ Trach, an attorney for Winslow, called the charges misguided.

She did not commit any crimes, and this prosecution, inexplicably initiated so many years after the events at issue, should never have been brought, he said in a statement. We look forward to Amy having her day in court, and we are confident she will be vindicated.

He called her an effective leader through difficult times who left the company amicably five years ago.

An email was left with an attorney for Daoust. No attorney was listed for Maleknia in court records.

The devices in question, marketed under the names LeadCare Ultra, LeadCare II and LeadCare Plus, tested lead levels through blood draws or fingersticks and accounted for more than half of all blood lead tests conducted in the U.S. from 2013 through 2017, prosecutors said.

The three former executives knew of the problem as far back as 2013 but released the products to the market without informing customers or the FDA, prosecutors said.

We believe these executives knew about this malfunction for years but failed to come clean to their customers and the FDA about it in order to boost their companys bottom line, said Joseph Bonavolonta, head of the FBIs Boston office.

One reason was because Winslow and Maleknia thought a possible sale of Magellan would be jeopardized if the malfunction were known, prosecutors said. Magellan, based in Billerica, Massachusetts, was acquired by Meridian Bioscience Inc. for $66 million in 2016, and only then did the defendants notify customers and the FDA about the problem, prosecutors said.

Winslow received a bonus of approximately $2 million, and Maleknia received a bonus of about $448,000 from the sale.

The FDA issued a recall of the faulty products.

Cincinnati-based Meridian in a statement Wednesday said it has cooperated with investigators, is involved in settlement discussions with the Justice Department and that the company itself has not been charged.

The companys current line of LeadCare products have been cleared by the FDA and remain available for clinical use, the company said.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Russia on Friday threatened to bypass the UN-brokered grain deal unless obstacles to its agricultural exports were removed, while talks in Turkey agreed removing barriers was a necessary condition to extending the agreement beyond next month.

The Black Sea grain deal, first signed last July and twice renewed, is an attempt by the United Nations to ease a food crisis that predated the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but has been made worse by the most deadly war in Europe since World War Two.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attending talks in Ankara said he and Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed a failure to implement the terms of the deal.

He said Russia could work outside it if Western countries maintain what he said were obstacles to agricultural exports that were getting tougher.

The deal ensures safe passage of grains and other commodities from Ukrainian ports despite a Russian naval blockade.

Lavrov said that if the West did not want to be honest about what UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had sought to do with the deal, then Ukraine would have to use land and river routes to export.

And we will work, if necessary, outside the framework of this initiative. We have the opportunity to do this with Turkey, with Qatar  the presidents discussed relevant plans, Lavrov said.

Russia Resisted Longer Extension

Last month, Russia said it would extend the deal for another 60 days even though the UN, Ukraine and Turkey had pushed for a repeat 120-day rollover.

Alongside Lavrov, Cavusoglu told a news conference that Turkey was committed to extending the deal beyond mid-May.

We attach importance to the continuation of the agreementnot only for Russia and Ukraines grain and fertilizer exports, but also for stopping the world food crisis, Cavusoglu said.

We also agree that the obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizer should be removed. Issues need to be addressed for the grain deal to be extended further, he said.

Russia and Ukraine are two of the most important producers of agricultural commodities in the world, and major players in the wheat, barley, maize, rapeseed, rapeseed oil, sunflower seed and sunflower oil markets. Russia is also dominant on the fertilizer market.

More than 27 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs have been exported from Ukraine aboard 881 outbound vessels since the Black Sea Grain Initiative began in August, official data shows.

Lavrov said the two top diplomats discussed the grain deal, a potential gas hub in Turkey, the conflict in Syria, and Ukraine.

NATO-member Turkey has positioned itself as an intermediary between Kyiv and Moscow in the 13-month conflict, brokering with the UN the only significant diplomatic breakthrough so far.

Facilitating Russias food and fertilizer shipments is a central aspect of the package deal.

While Russian food and fertilizer exports are not under sweeping Western sanctions, Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance industries are a barrier.

Lavrov said that Russian grain and fertilizer exports were affected by a lack of access to insurance and to the SWIFT financial messaging system.

(Additional reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun in Istanbul; writing by Jonathan Spicer; editing by Daren Butler and Barbara Lewis)

Photograph: A boat with Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and U.N. officials heads to the Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni, to check if the grain shipment is in accordance with a crucial agreement signed last month by Moscow and Kyiv, at an inspection area in the Black Sea off the coast of Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Topics Agencies Russia
Giants of the orange juice trade in Brazil have become defendants in a class-action lawsuit seeking $2.5 billion in damages over an alleged scheme to fix prices between 1999 and 2006, a prosecutor told Reuters.

Federal Prosecutor Karen Kahn said the Sao Paulo Court of Justice will hear claims in a lawsuit filed against firms including Citrosuco, Cutrale and Louis Dreyfus Co (LDC), which account for most of the worlds orange juice output.

Citrus growers alleged that the companies formed a cartel to keep prices low for their fruit. Brazils antitrust regulator Cade investigated, and in 2016, the watchdog and companies reached an agreement for a payment of 301 million reais to settle the case.

The class-action lawsuit was filed by the prosecutors in March, more than 20 years after the first accusations were made.

Prosecutors are seeking 12.7 billion reais ($2.51 billion) in damages, exceeding annual revenue from orange juice exports in the 2021/2022 season, which totaled $1.62 billion.

The suit seeks reparation from the companies that prosecutors say dominated almost 80% of domestic orange juice production, excluding around 75% of the small and medium-sized firms in the segment in Sao Paulo state alone.

In the lawsuit, prosecutors alleged the goal of the cartel was to cause a steep drop in fruit prices, inflicting losses on the farmers and consumers.

Louis Dreyfus Co. said it was not officially notified of the lawsuit and denied wrongdoing, saying it complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates.

Citrosuco told Reuters it has not been notified about the lawsuit and would not comment.

Cutrale did not comment immediately. Cargill declined to comment at this time.

The claims also implicate Cargill, which sold operations to Cutrale and Citrosuco in 2004, and Citrovita, which merged with Citrosuco in a deal approved by regulators in 2011, according to the prosecutor.

(Reporting by Ricardo Brito; writing by Peter Frontini; editing by Ana Mano, Leslie Adler and David Gregorio)

Photograph: Brazil orange plantations. Photo credit: Bigstock

Topics Lawsuits
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 states 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 its 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 hes 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 wouldnt 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.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Kansas
While working the overnight sanitation shift at an Ohio food processing plant, a 29-year-old temporary worker  on the job just nine months  suffered critical injuries after falling into an industrial blender he was cleaning and became caught in the rotating paddle augers. The workers injuries led to a leg amputation.

Responding to the employers report of the Oct. 12, 2022, injury, investigators with the U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined the host employer, Zwanenberg Food Group USA Inc., did not train sanitation workers to lockout the equipment prior to cleaning, exposing them to moving machine parts. OSHA cited the plant for similar violations less than two weeks before the injury.

OSHA proposed $1.9 million in penalties after citing 11 willful, four serious, one repeat and one other-than-serious violations, most involving required machine safety procedures that isolate energy to prevent movement during cleaning and maintenance. The agency placed Zwanenberg in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program in 2017.

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 OSHA Regional Administrator Bill Donovan in Chicago. 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.

The agency also found Zwanenberg failed to verify changes to the lockout/tagout procedures, retrain workers when changes occurred, periodically test the procedures and correct deviations. Trip hazards, electrical safe work procedures, lack of eye protection and personal protective equipment assessments were also noted.

OSHAs regional emphasis program for the food manufacturing industry specifically addresses common hazards found in these facilities, explained OSHA Area Director Ken Montgomery in Cincinnati. By following OSHA and industry-recognized safety standards, employers can prevent injuries like the one that occurred here.

OSHA cited Zwanenberg Food Group USA in 2017, and on Sept. 30, 2022, for violations of machine safety procedures and other hazards. The company has contested the most recent violations.

Based in Cincinnati, Zwanenberg Food Group USA is a subsidiary of Holland-based Zwanenberg Food Group, founded in 1875. The privately held food company has 12 production facilities in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the U.S.. Zwanenbergs product line includes cooked ham, chili, luncheon meat, soups, stew, corned beef hash and pastas marketed under the Vietti, Southgate, Halal and other private label brands. The company employs about 175 workers at the Cincinnati facility.

Topics Ohio
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Reported demise of the independent insurance agency as a sales and distribution channel have been greatly exaggerated. Over the course of a decade or more of predictions about the growth of the direct-to-consumer models, independent agents continue to thrive and generate the lions share of revenue in Life & Annuities (L&A) and the Property and Casualty (P&C) space. In fact, the independent agency still places 50% of L&A policies and 62% of all P&C insurance in the U.S., according to data from the Insurance Information Institute and the Big I Market Share Report.

While the resilience of the agency model in insurance shouldnt surprise industry stalwarts, the legacy relationship-driven agent/carrier business model does present operational challenges for carriers aspiring to modernize. Among these is developing a more predictive, data-led approach to relationship management.

Within their confines, carriers have started breaking down data silos and looking across the organization to identify emerging growth opportunities and mitigate underperforming assets. Whether its integrating insights from aerial imaging technologies or using telematics and smart home technologies to improve underwriting accuracy or extracting intelligence from customer service interactions or tracking patterns of sales activity to optimize customer experience. Nowadays, insurers are getting increasingly sophisticated about data-led transformation. Once the aperture is expanded to include the wildly unstructured world of local agency networks, things tend to get a little less precise.

Transforming the Legacy Carrier/Agency Relationship

In most cases, the agency relationship management model is very static, i.e., once a sales partnership is formed and a specific agent, or team of agents, is assigned to the carrier, nothing really changes. Carriers may have a rough idea of who their top producers are, but they may also have dozens of contracts with agencies that generate very little value and remain vastly underutilized.

Thats a costly strategic knowledge gap that may exist. On average, a top performing independent agent can generate $500,000 or more per year in sales for a carrier. Compound that across a universe of roughly 2.2 million agents across the U.S., and it becomes clear why finding a better way to proactively manage agency relationships should be a priority.

The good news is that data-led transformation no longer needs to stop at the carrier walls. With todays cloud-enabled analytic capabilities, it is possible for carriers to truly gain a granular, 360-degree view of their agent relationships and, in turn, those agents relationships with their customers and use that intelligence to proactively manage the strategic relationships.

Creating a Data-Driven Golden Profile

For example, in a recent digital transformation project that EXL developed with one of the nations largest L&A carriers, we were able to create a golden profile of all agency relationships, including individual agents and clients with regional demographic and economic information, that can be monitored, and enriched over time. By applying this consistent, rules-based framework, that tracks agent volumes, types of volume, client profiles and market penetration, weve been able to help the carrier identify segments of agents most likely to produce, which are falling short of their potential and those at risk.

The newly developed advisor intelligence  enables the carrier to personalize and nurture key relationships, reignite those that have been underperforming and optimize resourcing on the dormant accounts. Most importantly, this capability allows clients to explore ROI maximizing opportunities through better targeting and marketing personalization. In the long-term, the client expects the data driven capabilities to drive economic benefits and customer experience and increase the Net Promoter Score by 2-3%.

Insurance is one of those rare global and hyperlocal industries requiring a comprehensive, enterprise-wide view of key metrics and a highly personalized, customer-centric view of Main Street. Until recently, connecting those dots in a centralized manner to better anticipate how a single-customer event can ripple across the larger organization was just not feasible. Today, it is the key to unlocking new growth from old sources.

Topics Trends InsurTech Pricing Trends Data Driven
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 citys 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, Fridays 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 forces 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 citys 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.

Fridays filing did not site examples of unjustified, deadly police gunfire, such as the post-Katrina shootings that left four dead at the citys 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 officers use of a Taser on an unarmed man who had his hands raised and was wanted only for a municipal summons.

The police departments 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 citys 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.

Fridays filing by the Justice Department comes as Morgan and Cantrells 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 wouldnt 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 Morgans order. The citys motion repeatedly refers to next weeks 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 Morgans order regarding the meeting on a temporary hold. The panel ordered the Justice Department to respond to the citys motion by noon Monday.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement
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The practice of insurance companies revising independent adjusters damage reports may be as widespread in Louisiana as it is in Florida, according to adjusters and a plaintiffs attorney who has filed a lawsuit over it.

They changed my estimate completely. I couldnt believe it, said Joseph Lahatte Jr., an independent claims adjuster who was hired by United Property & Casualty Insurance Co. to work a homeowners claim in south Louisiana after Hurricane Ida.

Lahattes initial estimate for a home in Cut Off, Louisiana, in the low-lying area south of New Orleans, showed $182,137 in damage, mostly from wind. With depreciation, the actual cash value was $178,551. That estimate, produced with the widely used Xactimate software, was submitted to UPC in September 2021. A few weeks later, UPC sent the homeowners another estimate, showing the damage was worth $35,830 after depreciation.

I stopped working for UPC after that, Lahatte told Insurance Journal last week.

Both estimates, on UPC letterhead, include Lahattes name. The one-page introductory wording is identical. We completed an estimate of repair for covered damages to your property. Please note, depreciation may be applied to your estimate, the reports note.

Both of the Landrys estimates were provided to Insurance Journal by Kirk Guidry, a Baton Rouge attorney who represents the homeowners, Raymond and Tuyen Landry. The differing reports came to light after Lahatte, during his initial inspection, verbally told the Landrys that the home was almost a total loss and that his estimate would show that. When the Landrys received the final estimate from UPC, they were shocked and called Lahatte with questions, Guidry and Lahatte explained. Outraged, Lahatte printed his initial estimate and provided it to the family.

The family then asked a UPC representative about the huge discrepancy. But all they (the UPC representative) said was, How did you get the field adjusters report?' said Guidry, who is with the Due, Guidry, Piedrahita and Andrews law firm.

The homeowners filed a lawsuit against UPC in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, charging that UPCs final estimate was unreasonably low and extremely unfair and that United was not acting in good faith. UPC removed the case to federal court. The suit has been placed on hold, essentially, because St. Petersburg, Florida-based UPC has been deemed insolvent and is in liquidation.

The Landrys will likely see at least part of their claim paid by the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association.

Uniteds chairman and CEO, Dan Peed, declined to comment about the allegations.

Lahatte, a former lawyer, and other adjusters said that UPC has long had a reputation for undercutting field adjusters reports. A federal lawsuit was filed in Florida in 2022, charging that UPC had engaged in racketeering by routinely instructing its desk adjusters to reduce estimates, and text messages to adjusters reflected that. That suit was dismissed by a federal judge who found that state courts, by law, should handle insurance regulation issues. A Florida lawyer in the case has said that the plaintiffs are considering renewing the suit at the state level.

Adjusters have said that other insurers and claims adjusting firms hired by insurers have taken similar claims-cutting actions for years  in Louisiana, Florida and other states.

Weve seen the same thing from other companies, said Mark Vinson, a Louisiana-based independent adjuster who works claims around the Southeast.

He and Ben Mandell, another independent adjuster, said that insurers and claims adjusting firms have sometimes changed the numbers on price lists for materials and labor. While all the needed work is shown on the final estimate, the costs have been drastically reduced, they said.

Vinson and Mandell were two of three adjusters who spoke out about the practice at the Florida Legislature in December, sparking a controversy that has been widely reported by the Florida news media. The adjusters said that some insurance carriers have repeatedly altered their estimates but left the field adjusters names on them, an action they and some Florida officials have said amounts to fraud.

Florida regulators have announced they are now investigating the alleged fraud. Vinson and Mandell said they had spoken with investigators from the Florida Department of Financial Services.

My hope is that well get some arrests, Mandell said. If Trump can be arrested, then someone in this business can be arrested, too, he added, referring to the recent New York indictment and arrest of former U.S. President Donald Trump on business-fraud charges.

A bill now moving through the Florida Legislature would prohibit insurers from altering field adjusters reports without including a list of changes, who made the changes, and why. The Florida Senates Banking and Insurance Committee approved the Insurer Accountability Act last week by a vote of 8-0. Its now in the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee.

One Florida insurance carrier has denied ever altering field adjusters reports. Others in the industry have said that insurers may choose to legitimately revise estimates due to policy exclusions, cause of damage, depreciation and other reasons.

Questions About Adjusters License

A few insurance industry advocates have also questioned the motives and the backgrounds of the independent adjusters whove made the allegations. And critics are likely to question Lahattes veracity and the legitimacy of his work on the Landry claim.

Records show that Lahatte, who lives in Metairie, had his Louisiana adjusters license revoked in 2016 for failing to disclose that he had a previous professional license suspended. The Louisiana Department of Insurance, in records provided to Insurance Journal, noted that Lahatte was suspended from the practice of law in 2003 over allegations of commingling and converting third-party funds.

His probationary status was revoked in 2006 for failure to comply with the terms of his probation, the LDI and Louisiana Bar documents show. In 2012, formal charges were filed, alleging that Lahatte had engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. In lieu of disciplinary proceedings by the Bar, Lahatte resigned his law license. The state Supreme Court agreed and permanently revoked his license.

I didnt reveal some things that I felt were not related to adjusting, Lahatte said last week.

In 2019, Lahatte voluntarily surrendered his Mississippi adjusters license, records show.

When asked if he had worked the 2021 Landry claim without a Louisiana license, Lahatte said he had obtained an emergency license at that time. A Louisiana insurance department official and a records request, however, indicated that no other records regarding Lahattes license could be found since the 2016 revocation.

It is still cancelled, said a representative with the LDIs producer licensing section.

Guidry, the attorney for the Louisiana homeowners, said he was unaware that Lahattes license had been revoked.

Lahatte, who was driving a school bus last week, said he hopes to have his Louisiana adjusters license reinstated at some point, and that he is now licensed in Florida. Florida DFS records show that Lahatte held a non-resident adjuster license from 2013 to 2019, and an emergency license from 2019 to 2020. The emergency license was renewed in 2022 and is still active.

A Canadian software company now has an app that its founder said would help prevent insurers from altering adjusters reports. RocketPlan would post adjusters reports in real time and would allow all interested parties to see them, along with insurance companies final estimates, explained Joe Tolzmann, CEO of the startup insurtech.

The app uses blockchain technology, making it almost impossible to hack or fabricate data and documents, he said. The app also can be connected to sensors showing moisture levels in water-damaged parts of buildings.

The trick, of course, would be to get carriers to use the software and to allow policyholders to access it.

Were negotiating deals with a couple of insurance carriers now, Tolzmann said last month.

Top photo: Aiden Locobon, left, and Rogelio Paredes look through the remnants of their familys home destroyed by Hurricane Ida, Sept. 4, 2021, in Dulac, Louisiana. Homes across south Louisiana were damaged by the storm. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Topics Lawsuits Catastrophe Natural Disasters Louisiana Hurricane
Kakata  In continuation of the Elections and Democracy Activity (EDA), UMOVEMENT in partnership with Democracy International began two days of Training of Trainers workshop for master trainers on the National Curriculum on Citizenship Education.

The objective of the training is to train Teacher Training Institutes and Universities Deans and Master Trainers in content knowledge and training skills to effectively train teachers to deliver the National Civics Curriculum and Textbooks within public primary schools and improve civic curriculum, textbook knowledge, and teaching skills among school administrators and teachers to enhance students' civic skills, attitudes, and behaviors.

The opening of the training was graced by officials of the Ministry of Education (Assistant MinisterGayflor Y. Washington - Teacher Education and Assistant Minister Felicia Sackey Doe-Sumah - Basic & Secondary Education), Democracy International (Ms. Varnetta J. Freeman - Civic Education Program Officer) and USAID Liberia(Michael Johannes - Education Team Lead).

Mr. Johannes termed the training as being fantastic, and really professional, with encouraging comments, questions, and feedback from the participants. He was also delighted that the facilitators discussed elections and how it is tied to civics education.

While the two officials of the Ministry of Education extended thanks and appreciation to the great people of the United States for making funding available for the implementation of the EDA project to improve civic knowledge and a sense of duty, Mrs. Doe-Sumah praised UMOVEMENT for the professionalism demonstrated over the years in its collaboration with the Ministry.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Liberia Education By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

In conclusion, they pledged the government's continuous commitment to the sustainability of the project and admonished participants to make use of knowledge gained from the training and casket suchtraining within their various institutions of learning.

Speaking earlier the CEO of UMOVEMENT Sir Urias W. Brooks, Jr postulated that the goal of the training is to support the Ministry of Education in the rollout of Liberia's civic education curriculum in Teacher Training Institutes and Universities, focusingon sustaining civic education in public primary schools.

Key topics covered - teaching methodologies and how to ensure that students are learning critical thinking skills and actively learning the materials, and Citizenship Education competencies - on values, rights, skills, and family on how to build positive citizens, respect for the rule of law, and a sense of belonging.

Participants were drawn from the University of Liberia, Cuttington Junior College, AfricanMethodist Episcopal University, African Methodist Episcopal Zion University, Adventist University of West Africa, Stella Maris Polytechnic, Wesleyan College of Liberia, Notre Dame University College, Center for Education Services in Liberia University College, Carver Christian University, Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, Liberia Cooperative Standard Education School System, Kakata Rural Teacher Training Institute, and Zorzor Rural Teacher Training.

DI/UMOVEMENT multiyear Elections and Democracy Activity (EDA), funded by USAID, aims to help Liberia overcome the most serious threats to its democracy and foster inclusive, sustainable democratic political development.
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An analysis that was the basis of a highly criticized recommendation from Floridas surgeon general cautioning young men against getting the COVID-19 vaccine omitted information that showed catching the virus could increase the risk of a cardiac-related death much more than getting the mRNA shot, according to drafts of the analysis obtained by the Tampa Bay Times.

The nonbinding recommendation made by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo last fall ran counter to the advice provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ladapo, a Harvard-trained medical doctor who was appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021 to head the Florida Department of Health, has drawn intense scrutiny over his shared resistance with the Republican governor to COVID-19 mandates for vaccines and masks and other health policies endorsed by the federal government.

The early drafts of the analysis obtained by the Times through a records request showed that catching COVID-19 could increase the chances of a cardiac-related death much more than getting the vaccine, but that information was missing from the final version put out by the Florida Department of Health last October.

Ladapo said that the risk of men ages 18 to 39 having cardiac complications outweighed the benefits of getting the mRNA vaccine.

Matt Hitchings, an infectious disease epidemiologist and professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida, told the Times that it seems that sections of the analysis were omitted because they did not fit the narrative the surgeon general wanted to push.

This is a grave violation of research integrity, Hitchings said. (The vaccine) has done a lot to advance the health of people of Florida and hes encouraging people to mistrust it.

In a statement on Twitter posted Saturday in response to the Times story, Ladapo said, Its not only unfortunate that COVID has corrupted scientists ability to think clearly about epidemiology but also sad that people rush to defend a vaccine that has shown increased cardiovascular risk in multiple studies.

Last year, Ladapo released guidance recommending against vaccinations for healthy children, contradicting federal public health leaders whose advice says all kids should get the shots. In response, the American Academy of Pediatrics and its Florida chapter issued written statements reiterating support for vaccinating eligible children age 5 and older against COVID-19.

DeSantis, who is contemplating a run for the GOP presidential nomination, also has requested that a grand jury be convened to investigate any wrongdoing with respect to the COVID-19 vaccines. DeSantis request argues that pharmaceutical companies had a financial interest in creating a climate in which people believed that getting a coronavirus vaccine would ensure they couldnt spread the virus to others.

The Florida Supreme Court agreed to the request last December.

Top photo: Lapado (AP Photo/Brendan Farrington, File)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida
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The bodies of two men and two women have been recovered following a small plane crash just off Floridas Gulf Coast, police said Thursday.

The plane had just taken off from Venice Airport when it crashed into the Gulf of Mexico west of the citys fishing pier just after 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Venice police said in a news conference.

Several people on the pier saw the plane crash and called 911, Venice police Capt. Andy Leisenring said. In addition video footage from the airport and the pier will be reviewed and turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board, which is conducting an investigation, he said.

Leisenring said police were unable to deploy a dive team until we had daylight.  The plane  a Piper PA-32R  was spotted just before noon under about 23 feet of water, he said. Crews also found the bodies of the two female passengers.

Authorities identified the victims as William Jeffrey Lumpkin, 64, who was piloting the plane, Patricia Lumpkin, 68, Ricky Joe Beaver, 60, and Elizabeth Anne Beaver, 57. The Lumpkins were from Fishers, Indiana, and the Beavers were from Noblesville, Indiana. The four were the only passengers of the plane, police said.

Leisenring said the two couples left St. Petersburg and flew to Venice around 5 p.m. Wednesday. They parked the plane at the airport and had dinner with friends at a restaurant on the pier. They returned to the airport after 9 p.m. and crashed shortly after 9:30 p.m.

Crews from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Sarasota Sheriffs Office and the U.S. Coast Guard were continuing to search the debris field Thursday morning.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been notified.

Venice is about 58 miles (93 kilometers) south of St. Petersburg on Floridas Gulf Coast.

A family of three  a couple and their daughter  died in a similar crash off Venice in December.

Leisenring called it unusual to have two plane crashes occur in that short period of time but said it was too early to conclude whether or not there was a connection between them.

Photo: A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter hovers over two law enforcement boats near the Venice Fishing Pier, April 6, 2023, as crews search a debris field after the crash. (Mike Lang/Sarasota Herald-Tribune via AP)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida Numbers
A legal battle over a dress code for bikini baristas at coffee stands is ending after a city north of Seattle agreed to pay $500,000 to the owner and employees who sued over it six years ago.

The Everett City Council voted unanimously last week to authorize Mayor Cassie Franklin to sign the settlement agreement with Jovanna Edge and employees, The Daily Herald reported.

Plaintiffs had been seeking more than $3 million in damages and attorney fees.

Under the agreement, the city will keep most of its rules for probationary licensing of coffee stands and other quick-service business but will no longer dictate that baristas wear at least tank tops and shorts.

Instead the city will align dress code rules with an existing lewd conduct standard that makes it a crime to publicly expose too much of ones private parts. Another provision mandates that business owners post materials for employees with information on how to seek help if they are being trafficked or otherwise exploited.

I am glad were for the baristas and against the people who are trying to get them to do things they dont want to do, City Council member Liz Vogeli said after the vote.

The settlement may end the saga that started in 2009 when the city said it received complaints prompting investigations that revealed some stands were selling sex shows and sex acts and allowing customers to physically touch the baristas. Four people were arrested and prosecuted.

In 2013 two espresso stand owners were arrested on accusations of promoting prostitution and exploitation of a minor, as well as a Snohomish County sheriffs sergeant for tipping off baristas about undercover officers in exchange for sexual favors. The sergeant resigned, and the owners were convicted.

The city in 2017 created the dress code ordinance requiring employees, owners and operators of quick service facilities from coffee stands to fast-food restaurants to wear clothing that covers the upper and lower body or face fines.

Edge, the owner of Everett bikini barista stand Hillbilly Hotties, and employees Natalie Bjerke, Matteson Hernandez, Leah Humphrey, Amelia Powell and Liberty Ziska filed a legal complaint arguing that the ordinance violated their First Amendment rights.

Some countries make you wear lots of clothing because of their religious beliefs, Hernandez wrote. But America is different because you can wear what you want to wear. I wear what Im comfortable with and others can wear what they are comfortable with.

The case has seen various rulings in the courts, but in October a U.S. District Court judge found the dress code ordinance unconstitutional.

Ramerman told the council the city could appeal but a defeat would lead to a much higher tab than the $500,000. The city has spent nearly $400,000 defending the ordinance.

The settlement still gives us our best tool to require stand owners to make sure their employees are not engaging in illegal conduct, the city attorney said.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Washington
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 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 wasnt 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 boards 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. Im 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 marijuanas 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.

Washingtons 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 Washingtons 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.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Washington
Vancouver, British Columbia - April 10, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire, Mining / Metals / Green Energy Stock news) Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals" or the "Company") (TSX-V:DEFN / OTCQB:DFMTF/ 35D: FSE) announces that Defense Metals has joined the Vancouver-based Discovery Group led by Mr. John Robins and Mr. Jim Paterson. In addition, Mr. Dale Wallster has been appointed to the Company's board of directors.

John Robins, Co-Founder and Principal of Discovery Group commented:

"We are excited to welcome Defense Metals into Discovery Group. In my opinion, Defense represents a world-class opportunity in the rare earth / critical metals space. Viewed as being one of the highest grade deposits globally, and led by a strong management and technical team, Defense has all the attributes we look for in a Discovery Group company. The addition of Defense to our roster of companies, will round out the Discovery Group portfolio and will elevate the exposure of all our member companies, as we continue to educate and inform shareholders about market opportunities that exist with high quality junior mining explorers."

Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals commented:

"We are pleased to welcome Dale Wallster to the Board. He brings a wealth of mineral exploration and capital markets experience to Defense Metals and we look forward to working with him as we continue to advance the Wicheeda Rare Earth Elements project. The Company is also pleased to have joined Discovery Group, an alliance of public companies focused on the advancement of mineral exploration and mining projects with a proven track record of generating shareholder value. We look forward to a close working relationship with the team at Discovery Group."

Dale Wallster is a prospector and geologist with over 40 years' experience in North American mineral deposit exploration. As President and founder of Roughrider Uranium Corp., which was acquired by Hathor Exploration Limited in 2006, Dale and his team are widely credited for the discovery of Hathor's Roughrider deposit. In January of 2012 Rio Tinto plc acquired Hathor for CAD$650 million.

Mr. Wallster commented:

"In the recent explosion of strategic, geopolitical and investment interest in North American Critical Minerals, rare earth element companies represent the "Rodney Dangerfield" of the class; they are getting "no respect". Given their importance in the electrification of the world I expect this to change soon and Defense Metals, with its Wicheeda Project pre-feasibility study expected in 2024, is leading the pack."

About Discovery Group

Discovery Group is an alliance of public companies focused on the advancement of mineral exploration and mining projects with a proven track record of generating shareholder value through responsible, sustainable, and innovative development.

Founded in 2005 by John Robins and Jim Paterson, two respected entrepreneurs in the Canadian mining industry, Discovery Group has generated over $500M in direct and indirect expenditures resulting in over $2.6 billion in M&A activity, with the most recent success being the sale of Great Bear Resources Ltd. to Kinross Gold Corporation for $1.8 billion. For more information, visit www.discoverygroup.ca.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (B.C.), Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, Alberta, who is a director of Defense Metals and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About the Wicheeda REE Property

Defense Metals 100% owned, 4,262-hectare (~10,532-acre) Wicheeda Light REE property is located approximately 80 km northeast of the city of Prince George, British Columbia; population 77,000. The Wicheeda REE Project is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and is near infrastructure, including hydro power transmission lines and gas pipelines. The nearby Canadian National Railway and major highways allow easy access to the port facilities at Prince Rupert, the closest major North American port to Asia.

The 2021 Wicheeda REE Project Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report ("PEA") outlined a robust after-tax net present value (NPV@8%) of $517 million and an 18% IRR1. This PEA contemplated an open pit mining operation with a 1.75:1 (waste:mill feed) strip ratio providing a 1.8 Mtpa ("million tonnes per year") mill throughput producing an average of 25,423 tonnes REO annually over a 16 year mine life. A Phase 1 initial pit strip ratio of 0.63:1 (waste:mill feed) would yield rapid access to higher grade surface mineralization in year 1 and payback of $440 million initial capital within 5 years.

About Defense Metals Corp.

Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral deposits containing metals and elements commonly used in the electric power markets, defense industry, national security sector and in the production of green energy technologies, such as, rare earths magnets used in wind turbines and in permanent magnet motors for electric vehicles. Defense Metals owns 100% of the Wicheeda Light Rare Earth Element Deposit located near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Defense Metals Corp. trades in Canada under the symbol "DEFN" on the TSX Venture Exchange, in the United States, under "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D".

For further information, please contact:

Todd Hanas, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd.

Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: (778) 994 8072

Email: todd@blueskycorp.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to advancing the Wicheeda REE Project, the expected benefits and outcomes of working with the Discovery Group, completion of a PFS and the expected timelines, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the anticipated costs and expenditures, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration and metallurgical results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and development and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of personnel, materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate geological, metallurgical and engineering assumptions, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to, the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, loss of key employees, consultants, or directors, increase in costs, delayed results, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law.

Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure this DEFN news is a paid news release on investorideas.com - learn more about costs and services https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/

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Source: Bill Newman

April 10, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The oil and gas company working in Egypt is set to spud T100 in mid-2023 with stabilized flow rates in Q4 of this year, according to a Research Capital report.

TAG Oil Ltd. (TAO:TSX.V; TAOIF:OTCQX) is expected to begin fracture stimulation in the BED 1-7 vertical well of the Abu Roash "F" reservoirs in the Badr Oil Field, with initial flow rates anticipated to commence in late April 2023, according to Market Analyst Bill Newman, in a March 30, 2023 research note.

The company focuses on oil and gas exploration, drilling, and development in the Middle East and has invested its capital in a promising section of Egypt.

While the TAG is still completing an active exploration program of the land, Newman points out that "During recompletion operations, oil from the ARF was recovered to surface and the formation was close to original reservoir pressures."

Review of Results

Newman presented the key points of TAG Oil's latest reports.

The company has multiple catalysts coming up in 2023 with the expectation of BED-7 vertical well flow test results coming in late April. TAG Oil also anticipates the spud of T100, the company's horizontal well - sometime in the summer of 2023 and plans to release the results of this test in Q4 of this year.

Recompletion operations by the company included the installation of a new well head on the initial site, removal of outdated production tubing, and isolation of previously drilled zones of the Abu Roash "F" formations. Newman notes that "the BED 1-7 well previously tested up to 418 bbl/d, unstimulated, and produced 20,000 barrels over a one-year period."

TAG intends to release the initial flow-back results of the upper third of the pay zone in late April.

Potential Risks

Despite initial promising drill results, Newman maintains the company as a Speculative Buy, with a target price of CA$1.35 due to a few main risks.

The first potential issue is that, while Tag has conducted a detailed analysis of the drilling zone, there is yet to be a guarantee of the commerciality of the shale oil play. In the financial sector of the company, there is also a possibility that the company may run into issues scaling up production to the necessary level to work independently, as it is currently running on working capital.

As an international company working out of Egypt, TAG must also take on the risk of fluctuations in international currency as well as the political risks of working in a foreign nation whose laws can change at any time. Egypt extensively regulates foreign drilling operations and can interrupt production activities while enacting pricing, tax, and royalty changes and implementing export restrictions. TAG's success will greatly rely on the Egyptian Government's goodwill.

Structure and Predictions

TAG Oil is working with capital from previously held assets located in both New Zealand and Australia, holding 2.5% and 3% royalty rates with each respectively.

Newman's research report shares recent rating and target price information as well as current market data on the company:

Rating: Speculative Buy

Price: CA$0.61, with a 52-week range of CA$0.79-CA$0.20

Price Target: CA$1.35

Market Cap: CA$94.60 million

Projected Return: 121.31%

The company carries an enterprise value of CA$70.6 million and a net debt of CA$24 million. TAG Oil's share structure breaks down to 155 million basic shares and 169.9 million fully diluted shares.

Disclosures:

1) Cori Rupe wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: TAG Oil Ltd. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. As of the date of this article, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports has a consulting relationship with: None. Please click here for more information.

3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy.

4) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of TAG Oil Ltd., a company mentioned in this article.

Disclosures for Research Capital Corp., Tag Oil Ltd., March 30, 2023

Analyst Certification I, Bill Newman, CFA, certify the views expressed in this report were formed by my review of relevant company data and industry investigation, and accurately reflect my opinion about the investment merits of the securities mentioned in the report. I also certify that my compensation is not related to specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.

Research Capital Corporation publishes research and investment recommendations for the use of its clients. Information regarding our categories of recommendations, quarterly summaries of the percentage of our recommendations which fall into each category and our policies regarding the release of our research reports is available at www.researchcapital.com or may be requested by contacting the analyst. Each analyst of Research Capital Corporation whose name appears in this report hereby certifies that (i) the recommendations and opinions expressed in this research report accurately reflect the analyst's personal views and (ii) no part of the research analyst's compensation was or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific conclusions or recommendations expressed in this research report.

Relevant Disclosures Applicable to Companies Under Coverage: Relevant disclosures required under IIROC Rule 3400 applicable to companies under coverage discussed in this research report are available on our website at www.researchcapital.ca.

General Disclosures:The opinions, estimates and projections contained in all Research Reports published by Research Capital Corporation ("RCC") are those of RCC as of the date of publication and are subject to change without notice. RCC makes every effort to ensure that the contents have been compiled or derived from sources believed to be reliable and that contain information and opinions that are accurate and complete; RCC makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, in respect thereof, takes no responsibility for any errors and omissions which may be contained therein and accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss arising from any use of or reliance on its Research Reports or its contents. Information may be available to RCC that is not contained therein. Research Reports disseminated by RCC are not a solicitation to buy or sell. All securities not available in all jurisdictions.

Company Specific Disclosures: Within the past 12 months, Research Capital has provided investment banking services to the issuer.

Potential Conflicts of Interest: All Research Capital Corporation ("RCC") Analysts are compensated based in part on the overall revenues of RCC, a portion of which are generated by investment banking activities. RCC may have had, or seek to have, an investment banking relationship with companies mentioned in this report. RCC and/or its officers, directors and employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell securities mentioned in our Research Reports as principal or agent. RCC makes every effort possible to avoid conflicts of interest, however readers should assume that a conflict might exist, and therefore not rely solely on this report when evaluating whether or not to buy or sell the securities of subject companies.

RC USA INC.: Information about Research Capital Corporation's Rating System, the distribution of our research to clients and the percentage of recommendations which are in each of our rating categories is available on our website at www.researchcapital.com. The information contained in this report has been drawn from sources believed to be reliable but its accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed, nor in providing it does Research Capital Corporation assume any responsibility or liability. Research Capital Corporation its directors, officers and other employees may, from time to time, have positions in the securities mentioned herein. Contents of this report cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of Research Capital Corporation. US Institutional Clients - Research Capital USA Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Research Capital Corporation, accepts responsibility for the contents of this report subject to the terms and limitations set out above. US firms or institutions receiving this report should effect transactions in securities discussed in the report through Research Capital USA Inc., a Broker - Dealer registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

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Source: Katie Lachapelle

April 10, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) While this is a positive development in the Canadian producer's longstanding tax dispute with the Canada Revenue Agency, the amount is only 39% of the total at issue, noted a Canaccord Genuity report.

Cameco Corp. (CCO:TSX; CCJ:NYSE) is to get a tax refund of about US$300 million (US$300M) from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), which is the partial resolution of an ongoing dispute that began in 2008, reported Canaccord Genuity analyst Katie Lachapelle in a March 27 research note.

The analyst explained that the CRA revised certain tax assessments imposed on and remitted by the Canadian uranium producer for the years 2007 through 2013. This resulted in a credit owed to Cameco and the now-pending refund, to be issued in cash (US$89M) and letters of credit (US$211M). When it will happen is unknown.

A Favorable Sign

Lachapelle highlighted that US$300M is only 39% of the amount Cameco disputes, but the refund is an encouraging development.

"We believe the receipt of this US$300M million is a positive indicator for the long-running dispute with the CRA and suggests it is likely that Cameco will be successful in recovering the full amount," Lachapelle commented.

About US$480M remain, which, the analyst noted, pertain to "a transfer pricing adjustment of US$3.25 billion for the 2007 through 2013 tax years related to the sale of Canadian-produced uranium by [Cameco's] foreign subsidiary."

Buy Rating Maintained

Canaccord Genuity has a Buy rating and a CA$48 per share price target on Cameco, the current share price of which is about CA$33.06.

Disclosures:

1) Doresa Banning wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. As of the date of this article, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports has a consulting relationship with: None. Please click here for more information.

3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.

As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Cameco Corp, .a company mentioned in this article.

Disclosures For Canaccord Genuity, Cameco Corp., March 27, 2023

Analyst Certification Each authoring analyst of Canaccord Genuity whose name appears on the front page of this research hereby certifies that (i) the recommendations and opinions expressed in this research accurately reflect the authoring analyst's personal, independent and objective views about any and all of the designated investments or relevant issuers discussed herein that are within such authoring analyst's coverage universe and (ii) no part of the authoring analyst's compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed by the authoring analyst in the research, and (iii) to the best of the authoring analyst's knowledge, she/he is not in receipt of material non-public information about the issuer. Analysts employed outside the US are not registered as research analysts with FINRA. These analysts may not be associated persons of Canaccord Genuity LLC and therefore may not be subject to the FINRA Rule 2241 and NYSE Rule 472 restrictions on communications with a subject company, public appearances and trading securities held by a research analyst account.

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General Disclaimers See "Required Company-Specific Disclosures" above for any of the following disclosures required as to companies referred to in this report: manager or co-manager roles; 1% or other ownership; compensation for certain services; types of client relationships; research analyst conflicts; managed/co-managed public offerings in prior periods; directorships; market making in equity securities and related derivatives. For reports identified above as compendium reports, the foregoing required company-specific disclosures can be found in a hyperlink located in the section labeled, "Compendium Reports." "Canaccord Genuity" is the business name used by certain wholly owned subsidiaries of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc., including Canaccord Genuity LLC, Canaccord Genuity Limited, Canaccord Genuity Corp., and Canaccord Genuity (Australia) Limited, an affiliated company that is 80%-owned by Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. The authoring analysts who are responsible for the preparation of this research are employed by Canaccord Genuity Corp. a Canadian broker-dealer with principal offices located in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, or Canaccord Genuity LLC, a US broker-dealer with principal offices located in New York, Boston, San Francisco and Houston, or Canaccord Genuity Limited., a UK broker-dealer with principal offices located in London (UK) and Dublin (Ireland), or Canaccord Genuity (Australia) Limited, an Australian broker-dealer with principal offices located in Sydney and Melbourne. The authoring analysts who are responsible for the preparation of this research have received (or will receive) compensation based upon (among other factors) the Investment Banking revenues and general profits of Canaccord Genuity. However, such authoring analysts have not received, and will not receive, compensation that is directly based upon or linked to one or more specific Investment Banking activities, or to recommendations contained in the research. Some regulators require that a firm must establish, implement and make available a policy for managing conflicts of interest arising as a result of publication or distribution of research. This research has been prepared in accordance with Canaccord Genuity's policy on managing conflicts of interest, and information barriers or firewalls have been used where appropriate. Canaccord Genuity's policy is available upon request. The information contained in this research has been compiled by Canaccord Genuity from sources believed to be reliable, but (with the exception of the information about Canaccord Genuity) no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Canaccord Genuity, its affiliated companies or any other person as to its fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness. Canaccord Genuity has not independently verified the facts, assumptions, and estimates contained herein. All estimates, opinions and other information contained in this research constitute Canaccord Genuity's judgement as of the date of this research, are subject to change without notice and are provided in good faith but without legal responsibility or liability. From time to time, Canaccord Genuity salespeople, traders, and other professionals provide oral or written market commentary or trading strategies to our clients and our principal trading desk that reflect opinions that are contrary to the opinions expressed in this research. Canaccord Genuity's affiliates, principal trading desk, and investing businesses also from time to time make investment decisions that are inconsistent with the recommendations or views expressed in this research. This research is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any designated investments discussed herein in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation would be prohibited. As a result, the designated investments discussed in this research may not be eligible for sale in some jurisdictions. This research is not, and under no circumstances should be construed as, a solicitation to act as a securities broker or dealer in any jurisdiction by any person or company that is not legally permitted to carry on the business of a securities broker or dealer in that jurisdiction. This material is prepared for general circulation to clients and does not have regard to the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. Investors should obtain advice based on their own individual circumstances before making an investment decision. To the fullest extent permitted by law, none of Canaccord Genuity, its affiliated companies or any other person accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from or relating to any use of the information contained in this research.

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Source: Streetwise Reports

April 10, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Lion One Metals Ltd. starts mining near-surface, high-grade gold bearing mineralization at a recently discovered lode at its Tuvatu project in Fiji.

Lion One Metals Ltd. (LIO:TSX.V; LOMLF:OTCQX; LLO:ASX; LY1:FSE) has begun mining near-surface, high-grade gold bearing mineralization at a recently discovered lode at its Tuvatu project in Fiji.

Miners have made 14 cuts for an estimated 475 tonnes of material for the company's inventory stockpile, which will be the initial feed for its processing facility there, which is under construction.

In a December research note, ROTH Capital Partners analyst Mike Niehuser noted that the company also discovered another mineralized zone to the east of the URA1 gold lode.

"The combination of discovering distal mineralization, with the reorientation of the north-to-south lodes, may lead to the realization of a larger mineralized gold system open to expansion," Niehuser wrote.

In February, Lion One noted that samples from the first cut taken from the lode averaged 14 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au).

ROTH has a Buy rating and a CA$2.50 per share target price on the stock, which would be more than triple Tuesday's price of CA$0.84 per share.

Technical analyst Clive Maund of CliveMaund.com noted in December as well that the stock looked like a "good value" then at CA$0.79.

"Anyone holding should stay long," he said at the time. "This is a good point at which to make fresh purchases."

The Catalyst: Analog to Another Rich Fiji Mine

When Lion One's mining lease at the project was extended last year through February 2035, Niehuser called Tuvatu "one of the highest-grade gold mines in the world."

"We believe that Tuvatu is competitive with Fiji's Vatukoula, which has operated for over 85 years," Niehuser wrote. "The granting of the Tuvatu Mining Lease (SML 62) de-risks the project, making it attractive to major mining companies."

Vatukoula, which means "gold rock" in Fijian, shares the same geological setting, an alkaline-epithermal gold deposit, as Tuvatu. Operated by Vatukoula Gold Mines, it has a resource of 3.8 million ounces (Moz) Au.

Tuvatu is on the island of Viti Levu in the archipelago nation. A September 2020 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) outlined an indicated resource of 1,007,000 tonnes grading 8.48 g/t Au for 274,600 ounces Au and an inferred resource of 1,325,000 tonnes grading 9 g/t Au for 384,000 Koz Au. The study used a cut-off grade of 3 g/t Au.



Source: Lion One Metals Ltd.

Pictures released by Lion One (left) show visible gold in samples collected from the new lode.

Lion One President and Chief Executive Officer Walter Berukoff founded Miramar Mining, which developed the 10 Moz Hope Bay gold project in Canada's Arctic. He sold Miramar to Newmont in 2007 in an all-cash deal worth CA$1.5 billion, a deal that came on the heels of him and his team selling Northern Orion Resources to Yamana Gold for a little more than CA$1 billion.

Niehuser said Tuvatu's neighborhood in the Navilawa Caldera is hard to beat.

"Beyond Tuvatu, given early exploration results within the Navilawa Caldera, we believe that there is the potential for an additional three to four Tuvatu-like prospects" in the area, Niehuser wrote.

Looking Ahead to 2023

The processing plant is expected to begin production as early as the second half of this year.

Lion One plans to operate at an initial production capacity of 300 tonnes per day for the first 18 months before increasing capacity to 500 tonnes per day in mid-2025. Initial mining will focus on the near-surface resource while advancing underground development.

The drilling campaign this year will be focused on grade control of the near-term production blocks, identifying separate mineralized systems within the greater Navilawa caldera, and completing geophysical surveys to delineate further drill targets, the company said.

The new lode was found 75 meters into the development's decline and was defined by underground mapping, chip-channel sampling, and diamond drilling.

Lion One is using airleg mining at Tuvatu, allowing the company to deliver low-cost tonnage at minimum mining widths of 1.8 meters and a rate of advancement of 4 meters per day.

The mineralization mined at Tuvatu so far represents the first modern extraction from the deposit, Lion One said.

Ownership and Share Structure

About 14% of the company is held by insiders, about 6% by institutions, about 20% by other investors, and about 60% is retail.

The CEO Berukoff owns about 11.8% or 20.9 million shares, according to Reuters. Franklin Advisers Inc. owns 4.27% or 7.56 million shares.

Lion One's market cap is CA$148.59 million with 176.9 million shares outstanding, 155.66 million of the free-floating. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$1.66 and CA$0.59.

Disclosures:

1) Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC. He or members of his household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He or members of his household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Lion One Metals Ltd. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

3) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

4) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.

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It used to be said that the only certainties were death and taxes. While most of us still die only once, the view now is that much higher taxes are inevitable.

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has echoed last years Commission on Taxation and Social Welfare that higher taxes are needed to future-proof the Irish public finances. In a different context, the Economic and Social Research Institute hinted that taxes might need to rise sooner rather than later to reduce the risk that the Irish economy might overheat.

So, whether the problem is judged to be too much money in the economy today or not enough tomorrow, the solution seems to be higher taxes. It is quite possible that the Irish economy will need higher taxes in the future to deal with complex issues such as climate change and ageing, but it is not inevitable and it could be costly.

More importantly, I worry that higher taxes is emerging as the reflex remedy for all manner of ills. Although this is not the aim of recent analysis, the risk is that, softened up by expert commentary proclaiming the inevitability of higher taxation, it becomes the default option when we fail to properly manage public spending and/or adequately address other economic and social failings.

Pressures for higher public spending are clearly growing. But could some of these be met by offsetting cuts or increased efficiencies in other spending? Will we have higher taxes because we wont raise the pension age, focus more on private-funded pensions, or manage health spend more efficiently? If so, we will need ever-increasing tax levels as public spending rises inexorably as a share of the economy.

Read More McGrath raises possibility of ending 150m levy on banks

Implicit in some recent commentary is the view that the level of taxation is simply a residual to ensure preferred levels of public spending can be sustained and/or the level of economic activity controlled. This mirrors the view of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIVs finance minister, that "the art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing.

Is there a risk that we pass a tipping point on taxes? For a small economy like Irelands, taxation policy is central to our capacity to sustain economic activity on this island.

The Exchequer returns last week suggested that we are at a sweet spot in terms of taxes and economic activity. Taxes arent onerous by international standards, but given Irelands size, location and relatively high consumer prices, wages, and house prices, some element of domestic costs would need to be comparatively low.

There is a point at which materially higher tax rates would reduce rather than raise the amount of tax revenues collected. It would be unfortunate to discover that point by mechanically moving beyond it. We need to move away from a one-dimensional discussion of taxation.

For example, I personally, would favour notably higher taxes on property that are focussed on dampening demand, and which are then partly offset by lower taxes on income. And we also need to pay much more attention on how a range of carbon taxes can contribute to a sustainable Ireland.

More difficult discussions lie ahead on how to pay increasing pension costs. Again personally, I have problems with the idea of simply placing extra taxes on work, effectively to fund leisure, particularly as the physical and financial capacity to enjoy older age varies so widely.

Read More Revenue sees 90% property tax compliance as warning letters sent to those yet to pay

Separately, if overheating risks now coincide with cost-of-living struggles, tax measures might be better directed towards boosting the effective supply of land and labour rather than reducing spending power.

The strength seen in the March tax returns suggested that, for some time to come, recommendations of higher taxation may be ignored. Indeed, a far more threatening prospect in coming years is that Government surpluses become far too big to handle properly, either politically or economically, and are simply squandered.

As I have noted previously in these pages, we cant ignore the need to deal with pressing problems in infrastructure and climate change, and simply hide the money away in long-term funds.

If, or when, we have a major downturn, we will again resort to looking for the fastest feasible way to raise taxes. It would be so much better if we could have an early and adult discussion linking the range of choices on public spending and taxes with the sort of future Irish economy and society these are likely to produce.
Dear Stephen,

I am a tillage farmer and also have some cattle. I have decided to take on two employees to assist me particularly with the summer season. What legal obligations will I have potentially as an employer?

Dear Reader,

Employment Law is governed in Ireland by a number of different Acts.

I would advise that you prepare Contracts of Employment which set out the terms of the employment as agreed between the parties in respect of pay, hours, notice periods, holidays, pension and sick pay entitlements and grievance procedures in the event of a dispute.

Under Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994-2012, at a minimum, employers are obliged to furnish employees with a statement of their main terms and conditions of their employment which would include pay, notice periods, terms of sick pay and leave, and the statement should also specify the period of notice which the employee must give and is entitled to receive to terminate the employment.

Contracts of Employment can be for a fixed or an indefinite period and employers should be aware of Unfair Dismissal Legislation in this respect. In order to bring an unfair dismissal claim in Ireland, you need to have at least 12 months of continuous service.

It is advisable when issuing a statement of terms or an employment contract that this should be provided together with an Employee Handbook containing additional information including any company policies.

Examples of such procedures would include disciplinary procedures and IT and Social Media usage. Employers should also be aware of the Organization of Working Time Act 1997 which requires employers to provide rest breaks to employees.

In respect of holidays, there are ten public holidays and typically, employees are entitled to a minimum of 20 days of holidays per year when they are working full-time.

You should have a grievance procedure in place. It is advisable to have a separate policy dealing with this that can be included in the Employee Handbook annexed to the Contract of Employment.

A grievance procedure normally deals with the employer's procedures in the event of a dispute between the employer and employee. It is important to keep records, correspondence and documents throughout the complaint procedure.

Employers should be aware of Health and Safety obligations to employees. There is a duty to identify hazards at work. This is normally dealt with in a written document called a risk assessment which provides an evaluation of risks and dangers attached to specific tasks.

There is an obligation to put in place a Safety Statement, which sets out how the health, safety and welfare of employees is to be secured. It is important that employees are fully trained in respect of tasks they engage in and in respect of health and safety procedures. It is recommended that protective equipment is provided to employees where necessary and members of staff are first aid trained.

The Workplace Relations Commission was established on October 1, 2015, and is an independent Statutory Body.

The commission was established by The Workplace Relations Act, 2015 and replaces a number of existing bodies such as the Labour Relations Commission and the Equality Tribunal.

Common complaints that are brought to The Workplace Relations Commission are unfair dismissal and employment and equality complaints. Employees who want to make a complaint or refer a dispute can do so by filling out an Application which is available on the commission's website workplacerelations.ie.

It may be worth engaging a solicitor who could assist you with drafting the appropriate employment contracts and policies to ensure they comply with Irish employment legislation.

Stephen Coppinger, is a solicitor practising at Walsh & Partners Solicitors, 17 South Mall, Cork, and 88 Main Street, Midleton, Co Cork. Walsh & Partners also specialises in personal injury claims, conveyancing, probate, and family law.

Email: info@walshandpartners.ie

Web: www.walshandpartners.ie
blog

In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) built the Autan Barden Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in Abayi, Nasarawa "B" Ward. It was handed over to the Chanchaga Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State and started operations in 2016.

Aishatu M. Tukur, the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the PHC facility, said that when she was appointed as the OIC, in addition to lacking water and electricity, she saw that the facility lacked a laboratory and an injection room. "We had to use my office as a lab and injection room because the patients needed privacy," she said, adding that when there was a large turnout of patients, they had to convert the toilet into a makeshift injection room.

However, service delivery at the facility has gotten a lot better since the facility started receiving funds from the federal government's Basic Health Care Provision Funds (BHCPF) in 2021. According to the OIC, the BHCPF has enabled them to establish a laboratory and injection room, and has provided essential amenities such as electricity, water, cold chain equipment, and a drug shelf at the dispensary. They have also fixed some windows and put up two signboards to let the community know about the PHC. "We now have more turnout than before because women feel more confident about our facility and the services we render," the OIC added.

The facility offers antenatal care (ANC), immunisation, family planning, accidents and emergencies, health education, community mobilisation, and HIV/AIDS services.

The secretary of the Ward Health Development Committee (WHDC) in the PHC, Yahaya Aliyu, said they visit and sensitise communities on the benefits of the BHCPF. He added that the awareness campaigns have improved attendance at the facility because of the subsidised price of drugs.

Corroborating the OIC, Aliyu said that there has been an improvement in service delivery. In appreciation of the BHCPF, he encouraged the people of the ward to continue to visit the PHC for medical care.

There is no doubt that if PHCs continue to have access to and properly utilise the BHCPF, like Autan Barde PHC, it will accelerate Nigeria's progress towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC)
While a number of recent dog attacks on sheep have grabbed the headlines, a far more deadly killing spree by pets in Ireland goes almost entirely unreported.

While we may think of them as cuddly and adorable, cats  both domestic and feral  are the ultimate natural-born killers, finely tuned by evolution with the agility, stealth and hunting instinct to wreak havoc on wildlife on a huge scale.

Globally, one in seven of all modern bird, mammal, and reptile extinctions are directly attributable to free-ranging cats on islands, according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

A study in the United States estimated that cats kill between 1.44 billion birds annually, with two-thirds of these kills attributed to un-owned or feral cats. A recent UK report found cats responsible for killing between 160270 million small animals a year, a quarter of which were birds, but these are likely to be significant underestimates.

A pandemic craze for buying cats, along with cat videos on social media has seen a significant increase in their overall numbers. Its reckoned there are around 750,000 cats in Ireland and 12 million in Britain. And some owners who tired of their new cats after lockdown ended simply dumped them, leading to a rise in feral cat populations.

And, with the nesting season once again underway, this time of year young birds just learning to fledge offer easy pickings for cats.

There are few hard numbers on the likely toll taken by cats on Irish wildlife, but assuming the ratios are similar to Britain, they probably dispatch around 22 animals each annually, bringing the expected Irish death toll of birds and small mammals at the claws of cats to more than 16 million a year.

The State of the Worlds Birds report published last year identified that 63% of Irish bird species are in serious decline  a figure significantly worse than the global average. Predation by cats is by no means the most serious threat they face, but it is especially acute in urban and suburban areas, where birds would otherwise escape from ongoing habitat loss, hedgerow clearances, and pesticide usage in many parts of rural Ireland.

A number of local authorities across Australia last year moved to introduce bans on cats being allowed to roam after dark. Cat owners face fines of $200 if their animals stray into council-owned bushland, but moves are also being considered to extend the ban to footpaths, roads, and verges, unless the cat is on a leash.

Australia has an acute problem with feral cats, with each one reckoned to kill on average 740 wild animals a year. Every day in Australia, domestic and feral cats kill around two million reptiles, three million mammals, and a million marsupials, as well as an unspecified number of birds.

Its reckoned there are around 750,000 cats in Ireland

While to their owners they can be a loving companion, once set loose, cats are a dangerous invasive species that need to be closely supervised. A program to trap and neuter feral cats (which are then released back into the wild) is also underway in Australia.

The kiwi, New Zealands famous flightless bird, is especially vulnerable to feral cats, rats, and weasels. The New Zealand government spends tens of millions of dollars annually clearing invasive species from its many small islands. Since Europeans first landed in both Australia and New Zealand, a wave of invasive species that accompanied them, from cats and rats to rabbits, have triggered waves of extinctions of vulnerable native species. Undoing even some of the damage is a Herculean task.

Last August the German town of Walldorf ordered all residents to lock their cats indoors throughout the summer for the next three years, in a last-gasp bid to save the ground-nesting crested lark, of which only three breeding pairs remain in the district. Owners face a 500 fine if their cat is caught outdoors; if it kills an endangered lark, the fine rises to a whopping 50,000.

While there are no indications as yet that Irish authorities are prepared to consider such draconian steps to curb killer kitties, there are some practical steps cat owners can take to greatly reduce the risks to wildlife:

The most effective is a dusk-till-dawn curfew, as both cats and birds are most active at these times of the day.

The evidence on attaching a bell to your cats collar is inconclusive. An alternative is to fit your cat with a colourful bib, which will help alert birds to its presence.

Simply playing with your cat for at least 10 minutes a day has been shown in studies to reduce its urge to hunt.

Some research also suggests feeding pet cats with a diet that includes meat-derived protein may help dampen the primal instincts of these pint-sized killing machines.

 John Gibbons is an environmental journalist and commentator
Rishi Sunak has stressed the bravery and compromise exhibited by the leaders who secured the Good Friday Agreement as he called for powersharing to swiftly return to Northern Ireland.

On the 25th anniversary of the peace deal, the British prime minister celebrated the difficult decisions taken and political imagination displayed to end the Troubles.

So we must get on with the business of governance, he said in a statement on Monday, ahead of talks to get Stormont running again intensifying.

He will host US president Joe Biden in Northern Ireland to commemorate the event, which takes place despite the assembly key to the deal still not sitting.

While it is time to reflect on the solid progress we have made together, we must also recommit to redoubling our efforts on the promise made in 1998 and the agreements that followed

The peace brought by the treaty also remains fragile, with the terror threat having been raised amid warnings of possible attacks on police.

Mr Sunak said there is a need to recommit to redoubling our efforts to deliver on the promise made when the deal was signed on April 10 1998.

Reflecting on the beginning of a new chapter, Mr Sunak said the agreement continues to enjoy huge international support, as demonstrated by Mr Bidens visit.

As we look forward, we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership  showing bravery, perseverance, and political imagination, he said.

We commemorate those who are no longer with us and the many who lost their lives by trying to prevent violence and protect the innocent.

And we give thanks to them as we reflect on the new generations that have grown up and continue to grow in a world in which peace and prosperity has prevailed.

While it is time to reflect on the solid progress we have made together, we must also recommit to redoubling our efforts on the promise made in 1998 and the agreements that followed.

That vision, he said, is of economic opportunity, prosperity, and stability.

We stand ready to work with our partners in the Irish government and the local parties to ensure that the institutions are up and running again as soon as possible

So we must get on with the business of governance, Mr Sunak continued.

My mission, duty and responsibility as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is to deliver for people in Northern Ireland.

We stand ready to work with our partners in the Irish government and the local parties to ensure that the institutions are up and running again as soon as possible.

There is work to be done.

But Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said no-one could put a timeline on when powersharing would be back up and running.

He told BBC Radio 4s Westminster Hour: Anybody who is predicting a date by which the executive would go back in Northern Ireland would be someone who can also sell you a four-leaf clover. No one knows  deadlines are deadly in Northern Ireland term.

British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said Northern Ireland is standing at another crossroads 25 years after the agreement that he said represents the very best of what our politics can achieve, the triumph of hope over division, of peace over strife and of prosperity over conflict.

With political stalemate at Stormont and a period of difficult Anglo-Irish relations, we must use the spirit and the trust built by the architects of the Good Friday Agreement to push us forward to another 25 years of peace and prosperity, he said.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has warned of the potential of dissident republicans launching attacks on police officers in Derry on Easter Monday.

MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

We're working towards having the institutions up and running in the next few months

Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has insisted the political vacuum in the nation caused by his partys refusal to re-enter Stormont is not to blame.

In February last year the DUP withdrew its support for the powersharing institutions formed by the Good Friday Agreement as it protests against post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he will be intensifying talks with Mr Sunak in the coming weeks to try to get Stormont running again.

Were working towards having the institutions up and running in the next few months, he told RTEs This Week programme.

Mr Sunak will meet Mr Biden off Air Force One when he arrives on Tuesday evening.

US President Joe Biden is visiting Northern Ireland this week (Niall Carson/PA)

The president will take part in events on Wednesday, before heading to the Republic of Ireland, where he will visit Dublin, Co Louth and Co Mayo.
The cost of living must be the main focus in pay talks this year for public service unions, the president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has warned.

Kevin Callinan made the remarks as he addressed delegates of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) as the unions annual congress got underway in Killarney on Monday. Mr Callinan is the general secretary of Forsa trade union and chairs the ICTUs Public Services Committee (PSC).

The current public service pay agreement, Building Momentum, expires at the end of 2023. Talks on a successor agreement are expected to take place in the coming months.

Unions were clear that last years Building Momentum review did not fully compensate for the rate of inflation, which averaged 8% over 2022, he added.

Last October, a review clause of Building Momentum saw a new agreement endorsed by all unions affiliated to and associated with ICTU of 6.5% across two years.

On Monday, Mr Callinan said: When workers were weighing up the terms, they were mindful of government statements of intent to introduce various measures, including budgetary tax changes.

Weve already made it clear to government and employers if these supports are withdrawn and if prices remain elevated  as they surely will  the shortfall will have to be made good in wage bargaining across the economy.

During the upcoming pay talks, unions will concentrate on a number of key cost-of-living issues, including the need to make good the shortfall in pay against inflation during the remaining term of the current pay agreement, Mr Callinan told the conference.

This will be in addition to factoring in the effect of the cessation of Government cost-of-living measures and supports, and in anticipation of cost-of-living projections over the period of any proposed agreement, he added.

Read More Union warns of increasing burnout among teachers

The relatively recent advent of inflation has led the European Central Bank (ECB) to identify excessive company profits as a bigger driver of inflation than wage demand, Mr Callinan said.

Many commentators are quick to try to dampen down wage demands with talk of a wage-price spiral. Working people can see through those arguments, particularly when they are exposed to obvious price-gouging.

To be clear, there can be no sustainable case for wage moderation while inflation continues to be driven by excessive company profits, neither in the public or private sector.

Meanwhile, poorly resourced public services and inadequate infrastructure are holding back the potential of the Irish economy, Mr Callinan told the conference. He added that it is also causing real hardship for many who can't access housing, essential healthcare or affordable childcare.

Effective social dialogue can counter the kind of populism seen with the recent upsurge in anti-immigrant commentary, he said.

It can help to replace short-term thinking with long-term planning, designed to meet the multiple challenges of our times and allowing the country to move forward more united, provided that the social dialogue is based on adequate levels of social protection, collective bargaining as the norm, and quality public services."
A Garda investigation is underway after a prisoners ear was bitten off during a violent assault in Cork prison.

The attack is believed to have occurred sometime between 9.30pm and 10.30pm on Easter Sunday evening, when it is believed one inmate attacked his cellmate.

The victim was subjected to a vicious beating before his attacker apparently bit off one of his ears.

The alarm was raised immediately, and prison officers rushed to the cell. They found the victim of the attack with serious head and facial injuries, and rendered immediate first aid on the scene while waiting for emergency services.

HSE paramedics arrived a short time later and the injured inmate was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital for treatment.

It is understood that the victim of the assault underwent surgery on Monday in an effort to reattach the severed ear but that such was the extent of the injuries, the procedure was unsuccessful.

His condition has been described as stable, but his injuries are said to be lifechanging.

Garda scenes of crime investigators visited the prison on Monday morning to conduct a forensic examination of the area where the assault took place.

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) said in a statement that it was aware of an incident in Cork Prison on Sunday evening and confirmed that gardai had been informed and that a Garda investigation is underway.

Therefore the Irish Prison Service cannot comment on ongoing investigations, a spokesman said.

The IPS refused to comment any further on any other aspect of the incident, to provide any other details, or to confirm whether it has launched its own internal investigation into the incident.

In a statement, gardai said they were aware of an incident which took place at Cork Prison, Cork City, on April 9, 2023. Enquiries are ongoing. But they also declined to provide any further information on the incident.

The Irish Prison Officers Association was not available for comment on Monday.
THERE has been an increase in the number of holiday homes, hostels, and B&Bs in Munster that are accommodating a significant number of Ukrainians, new data has shown.

The cost of contracts between the State and private providers ranges from 16,500 up to 7.8m, according to documents covering the final three months of 2022.

The data, obtained by the Irish Examiner, shows just 16 contracts account for over 39m for quarter four of 2022.

Seventeen contracts above 1m were awarded to providers in Cork, Donegal, Kilkenny, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Limerick, Tipperary and Westmeath.

The price agreed between a hotel and the State in documentation provided by the Department of Integration outlines the amount awarded, on condition the provider upholds their part of the deal.

In Munster alone, there are over 30 contracts, mostly for B&Bs and hostels, including:

In Cork, UGP Buttevant Ltd received a contract worth 1m for The Convent in Buttevant;

In Clare, UGP Buttevant Ltd also received 950,998 for Shannon Town Centre;

In Clare, Sleepzone Ltd received 748,800 for the Burren Hostel;

In Kerry, Dingle Hospitality Ltd received 886,275 for the Dingle Harbour Lodge;

In Kerry, Lough Currane Holiday Homes received 692,640 for Lough Currane Holiday Homes;

In Waterford, Murach Group was awarded 678,900 for Gracedieu Manor;

TV presenter and wedding organiser Peter Franc Kelly, who in 2020 purchased an old convent, also has a contract for Quarter 4 to house Ukrainians in the building in Rosscarbery. Documents show the contract for Weddings by Franc Ltd at 603,200. He also held a contract worth 622,440 in Q3;

In Limerick, Sonas Hostels Kilfinane Ltd received a contract for 300,600 for Ballyhoura Luxury Hostel;

In Tipperary, The Arch Accommodation B&B have a contract for 146,790.

In other parts of the country, some hotels received over 1.2m for their services, including:

In Kilkenny, Benton Finance and Real Estate Consultancy Ltd for Troysgate House;

In Mayo, Downhill Inn Ltd for Downhill Inn;

In Donegal, CLR Enterprise Private Ltd for Bayview Hotel.

The Government has admitted that it will have to continue to use hotels in the medium-to-long term due to the lack of available space and challenges facing them in terms of sourcing new areas for reception centres.

A senior source has said a number of hotels that have been providing accommodation to Ukrainians have decided not to renew their contracts or have only offered to provide some rooms.

This will result in an extremely challenging time ahead for the State to secure more shelter.

The source said the number of Ukrainians arriving in Ireland has stabilised recently. However, this can fluctuate depending on a number of factors and there is no expectation that the numbers arriving will begin to decrease.

A spokesperson for the Department of Tourism has acknowledged the reduction in available accommodation for tourists has led to concerns about the impact on businesses that rely on a thriving tourism industry, such as restaurants and cafes.

The department is in contact with Failte Ireland and is working to get an analysis of available data to identify with greater accuracy those towns or areas that are most impacted.

Officials are working on ramping up the use of retrofitted office buildings across the country where some Ukrainians can be expected to be placed.

In recent days, an Oireachtas committee on tourism heard that almost a third of all registered tourism stock outside Dublin is now contracted to the State.

TDs were told the use of tourist accommodation for housing Ukrainians and people seeking international protection could cost non-accommodation tourism providers more than 1.1bn in lost revenue this year.

It comes following reports that the Department of Integration has offered lower rates to hotels and other providers under new contracts.

Fine Gaels Martin Conway has said the manner in which new contracts are being offered is a take it or leave it offer.

The Clare senator said it was penny-pinching and condemned the decision given the providers dug the Government out of a hole.

However, a senior source said renewed contracts would be lower due to the State moving to a bed-only service for Ukrainians as the phasing out of free meals began late last year.

The Government recently made the decision to standardise rates and terms across all accommodation provided to Ukrainians.

Roderic OGorman said a questionnaire to providers seeking their intentions as to plans for the renewal of contracts or otherwise has been circulated. Picture:Gareth Chaney/Collins

Under the new contracts, adult guests must contribute 10 per day for food, while the contribution for children is 5 per day.

The rates are calculated on a per-adult and per-child basis, with the highest rate paid for a single adult, and lower rates paid for supplementary adults and children.

The department said the goal is to ensure the best value possible for the tax-payer, by maximising the accommodation it is possible to provide within the current budget.

The new policy has been put into effect to ensure consistency and equity in the rates being offered and the Department said they believe these are fair and sustainable rates based on location and type of accommodation offered.

Integration Minister Roderic OGorman has also said that the department is in ongoing negotiations with a significant number of hotels that have previously been accommodating Ukrainians on a full-board basis.

He said a questionnaire to providers seeking their intentions as to plans for the renewal of contracts or otherwise has been circulated.

Ireland is now accommodating over 83,390 people between those fleeing Ukraine and international protection applicants. This includes over 63,090 Ukrainians who have sought accommodation from the State and over 20,300 international protection applicants currently housed by the international protection accommodation service (IPAS).

The Department of Integration is obliged to publish a list of contracts formally signed off each quarter that have been awarded under a special EU derogation that permits the department to enter into contracts in the context of the Ukraine accommodation crisis without going to formal tender.

However, the department said no similar obligation exists to publish the same information for international protection accommodation.

Last week, the Cabinet committee on Ukraine was told a total of 1,228 beds will be lost from the system in mid-April due to hotels deciding not to renew contracts to accommodate asylum seekers, not from Ukraine.

A source said it has become harder to source accommodation for asylum seekers due to protests at properties.

The transit hub at Citywest also remains closed to new arrivals, as it is currently oversubscribed.

Over 450 asylum seekers currently have not been provided State accommodation on arrival into Ireland.

The Irish Examiner also understands the State is facing up to 87 legal challenges by those seeking asylum here who were not provided with accommodation.

It is estimated that around 29 asylum seekers are arriving in Ireland every day.

A Department of Justice spokesperson confirmed there were 15,240 applications pending by asylum seekers up to March 31.

There were an additional 1,084 appeals pending at the International Protection Appeals Tribunal on April, 5th.

As of March 26, there are over 20,200 people accommodated by IPAS compared to 10,000 at this time last year.
The HSE has spent just under 900,000 providing private security for a Cork building which was valued at just 630,000 three years ago, it has emerged.

Millfield House in Blackpool, formerly a 24-hour mental health facility, has been the subject of a private security detail since May of 2019. Since that date the security arrangement has cost the HSE 897,843, with the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 proving especially expensive at an average of 273,000 per annum.

The security detail, provided by specialist Dublin firm Bidvest Noonan, arose from anti-social behaviour and a large fire in the unit across from Millfield House, the HSE told Green TD Neasa Hourigan, with the fire having required the evacuation of the centres residents.

Millfield House has been vacant of live-in patients since April 2020, when residents moved to a rented facility at Garnish House in Cork city in order to match social distancing requirements necessitated by the pandemic.

The HSE has since claimed that the building remained utilised in a limited way during the pandemic for staff office space and to hold day programmes. Garnish House, meanwhile, has been rented at a cost of more than 43,000 per month since April 2020.

As of last September, some 1.7m had been spent on rent and cleaning costs for the building, with then HSE chief officer for Cork/Kerry Michael Fitzgerald telling the Public Accounts Committee late last year that Garnish House would be vacated by the first quarter of 2023. That vacation has not happened yet.

It emerged at the same time that the HSEs national estates executive had initially refused to sanction the Garnish rental due to it not representing value for money.

Read More Cork mental health facility residents unhappy at lack of communication from HSE

The HSE had first earmarked Millfield House for sale as part of its 2021 capital plan, with a newly purchased building, Glenwood House in Carrigaline, posited as its replacement.

Despite at least 1.25m having been spent on Glenwood House between its January 2021 purchase and subsequent refurbishment, it has yet to open its doors, with a decision on retention planning permission for the building yet to have been delivered by An Bord Pleanala.

HSE estates was first advised two months prior to Glenwoods purchase in November 2020 that retention planning permission would be needed to convert it from a B&B to a medical facility.

Despite Cork County Council issuing an enforcement notice to the HSE regarding the need for retention, no planning application was made until March of 2022, 14 months later.

The new security figures for Millfield House, meanwhile, show that the HSE has spent 43% more than the building is actually worth on providing security for it in just four years.

The HSE had not responded at the time of publication to a request for comment as to why Millfield House had never been sold despite having no residents for three years, nor as to how much it pays in security costs.

Glenwood House, meanwhile, has also in its time been put forward as a replacement facility for the residents of the Owenacurra mental health centre in Midleton, which has been earmarked for closure since June 2021, due to no longer being fit for purpose in the HSEs estimation.

Owenacurra remains open nearly two years later, after a concerted local campaign against its closure  however only six of its 20 residents remain in situ.
Some 500 people marched up a winding country road to mark the centenary of the death of Irish republican Liam Lynch at his home under sloping mountains near Anglesborough, Co Limerick.

The Chief of Staff of the anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army was shot 100 years ago while on a secret mission in the Knockmealdown Mountains in Tipperary.

His death effectively ended the civil war as weeks later, IRA units were ordered to cease operations under his successor, Frank Aiken.

Change is made and history happens because people rise to challenges, rise to the occasion and meet the needs of their people, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said at the commemoration.

The landscape of Ireland is imprinted with the legends and legacy of our revolutionary patriots. Those who took on the might of the British Empire and who fought with great honour for the freedom of Ireland and her people. For the Republic.

Ms McDonald said that Lynchs dream of an Irish Republic has never been closer.

Together we will realise the Irish Republic in our time. Now is the time to write the next chapter  the reunification of our country.

I believe that the Unity Referendums provided for by the Good Friday Agreement will happen in this decade.

It is therefore vital that the Irish government establishes a Citizens Assembly to advance an inclusive, all of society national conversation, vital that government plans and prepares for peaceful, democratic constitutional change. To prepare for Irish Unity.

'Lament'

She said that Mr Lynch lamented the bitter and bloody civil war and he had worked hard to avoid a split in the Republican movement.

But he viewed the Treaty as a betrayal of the Republic.

Mr Lynch refused to see the dream of the Republic traded for a partitioned, conservative Ireland in which working people were kept down and impoverished, where equality would be denied, and the status quo maintained, Ms McDonald said.

When Free State bullets pierced the body of Liam Lynch, on that faithful morning, 100 years ago, they pierced the heart of the resistance.

A few short weeks later, the order was given for Republican volunteers to dump arms and to stand down. The fight for the Republic was laid low.

Good Friday Agreement

Today also marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and Ms McDonald called for all parties in the North to draw on that spirit that drove the Good Friday Agreement and Liam Lynch and to make things better for future generations.

Thanks to courageous peacemakers, an entire generation has grown up free of conflict.

Todays political leaders owe it to a new generation to recapture the spirit and determination of 1998.

We owe it to our young people to make progress happen.

The true test of political leadership is to make things better for our children. It is a test to which we must all rise.

We need decisions, we need Government, and we need the DUP to respect the result of the last election and to come back into the executive with the rest of us and lets make politics work for everyone.

Kieran Edwards attended the commemoration to remember Mr Lynch and his own grand uncle, Joseph Murphy, who died in Cork Gaol after 76 days of hunger strike on October 25, 1920.

He died on hunger strike on the same day as Terence McSweeney," Mr Edwards said.

In July 1920, 140 prisoners were ordered off huger strike, but Joseph Murphy and Liam Lynchs good friend Michael Fitzgerald refused. They spent their last 67 days in a cell together.

Terence McSweeney joined their hunger strike and died on Brixton Prison.

Its fantastic to come here today to remember. These people died for their beliefs. Padraig Pearse said it was a blood sacrifice.

'Politics is the only way forward'

But Mr Edwards said that people should not have to die for their beliefs and politics rather than bloodshed was a better vehicle for change.

There is a better way. Communication has to be very important and back then, there was no communication. Politics is the only way forward, we dont want to see people killed anymore.

Lelia Beechinor said that she was attending the commemoration to support Ms McDonald, who she believes will soon become Irelands first female Taoiseach.

I think shes a very practical woman and her time has come, she said.

Zuzana Sourkova from the Czech Republic attended the event to learn more about Irish history and to pay respects to Mr Lynch who died for his country.

People like Liam Lynch shouldnt be forgotten, they sacrificed their life for the people and for the country and they should be remembered.
A current condemnation deployed by the larger political parties is populist. Its an interesting dismissal because it means nothing to the people being warned off voting, particularly for Sinn Fein and People before Profit. Its not that clear, it would appear, to the people who use it, either. The general intent seems to be to suggest that populists are shallow, unqualified panderers to public opinion.

Nobody in Ireland is afraid of populists. Lots of people are afraid of Sinn Fein for being Sinn Fein, but not particularly as populists. Rich people are very afraid of Sinn Fein, despite recent charm offensives, and quite like Eoin O Broin withdrawing his public approval of the visual of gardai at a Famine eviction.

They like that, not particularly because theyre mad about An Garda Siochana, but because it speaks to the boss lads in Belfast pointing out to O Broin that what might have been a clever move 10 years ago doesnt look so clever at a time when the party is going mainstream and unthreatening.

Whereas Simon Harris and Patrick ODonovan successfully led the campaign against O Broin, the populism issue is having problems growing up to be a worthwhile campaign.

It gets thrown into radio interviews  and, oddly enough, is rarely challenged in those interviews, perhaps because political interviewers know their listeners never rise to it.

Its never been part of the Irish lexicon and is much more an American tradition, although even in the US, among the insults tossed at Donald Trump, populist has never been that frequent.

'The People No  a brief history of anti-populism', one of the books by Thomas Frank on the subject. File picture

Arguably, the best definition of populism is to be found in Abraham Lincolns 1863 Gettysburg address, that marvellous oratorical miniature wherein he promised that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Populism is all about the will of the people as opposed to whatever elites are in power at any given time.

Fear of ordinary people According to Thomas Frank, who has written more than one book on the topic, fear of populism in the US derives from an anxiety that the ordinary people are getting above themselves: moving beyond control. He maintains that populism is the word that comes to the lips of the respectable and the highly educated when they perceive the global system going haywire. Populism, for them, is a one-word evocation of the logic of the mob; it is the people as a great rampaging beast. What has happened, the thinkers of the Beltway and the C-Suite tell us, is that the common folk have declared independence from experts and along the way from reality itself "This imagined struggle of expert versus populist has a fundamental, almost biblical flavour. "It is a battle of order against chaos, education against ignorance, mind against appetite, enlightenment against bigotry, health against disease. From TED talk and red carpet, the call rings forth: Democracy must be controlled before it ruins our democratic way of life. Before Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders upended US politics, Barack Obama put together an administration peopled by the brightest and best, many of them from academia, but some also from organisations devoted to improving the world. The Democrats had once been close to the working class, had fought for the marginalised  and retained the trailing conviction that this was what they were still doing, just as people who rose up from poverty retain the doubtful conviction that they understand current poverty. The Democrats never abandoned their belief that they were the best party for the poor. However, with which that belief regnant, they developed in parallel an elitist approach to the management of democracy, which, according to Frank, holds that public policy should be made by a consensus of elites rather than by the emotional and deluded people. It regards mass protest movements as outbreaks of irrationality. Marginalised people, it assumes, are marginalised for a reason. The critical thing in a system like ours, it maintains, is to allow members of the professional political class to find consensus quietly, harmoniously, and without too much interference from subaltern groups.

That viewpoint has generated recent echoes in this country from left-wing politicians who believe the industrial peace delivered by Bertie Aherns social partnership model emasculated the trade unions while calcifying the grip on power of right-wing elites.

The wave of pensions protests across France is a populist movement in that it's people expressing what they want. Picture: Michel Euler/AP

The populism accusation isnt confined to the US. The stay side of the British commentariat, post-Brexit, tended to regard Boris Johnsons Conservatives as headbanging populists who had grievously misled the innocent British voters with their promises to make the NHS rich beyond the dreams of avarice. (This criticism may be true, but also portrays British voters as gullible gobshites.)

In France, the same accusation is being made against the protesters who have effectively gone to war with president Macron to defend the pension age. Its populist in that what were seeing through the smoke of the petrol bombs is a movement in which ordinary citizens demand what they want.

It would be foolish to regard the Parisian situation as an outpouring of unjustified resentment by coddled French millennials led by demagogues. Foolish because that was exactly what Hillary Clinton did in her disastrous campaign for the presidency. While there can be no doubt that external interference influenced the failure of her campaign, neither can it be doubted that she represented the apotheosis of the drift of the Democratic Party away from organised labour into a party of experts, of technocrats, of white-collar professionals who admired fancy college degrees but had little interest in working-class solidarity.

Hillary Clinton insulted those who supported Donald Trump by calling them deplorables. They were uneducated, unsuccessful, unsupportive of liberal policies and  worst of all  were falling for Trump. She also displayed a pleasing continuum of insult by suggesting that Bernie Sanders wasnt liked by anybody, to which his growing, rolling popularity gave the lie.

US senator and former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders displays populism red in tooth and claw. File picture: John Locher/AP

Bernie Sanders managed to establish that he had damn-all respect for elites and experts and wanted to hear the voices of the unheard, of the people. He did it while eschewing big corporate donations (not that big corporations were actually falling over themselves to stuff dollars into his famous mittens) on the basis that if you take their money, you end up muting any opposition you feel towards their policies.

Pointing out that Edward Teller, the physicist, had, in the 1950s, warned about the inevitability of the greenhouse effect leading to tragic climate change, he further pointed out that corporate America continued fossil fuel use, asking: What happened to the CEOs who betrayed the American people and the global community?

Were they fired from their jobs? Were they condemned by pundits on cable television and the editorial boards of major newspapers? Were they prosecuted? Did they go to jail for their crimes? Nope. Not at all. Not a one of them.

Theres populism, red in tooth and claw. Easy to understand. Condemn it at your peril.
"Curriculum overload", investment in special education, as well as pay and conditions are all set to be discussed this week as thousands of teachers meet for their annual union conferences.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI), and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) are holding their annual Easter congresses, with Forsas education division also set to meet on Thursday and Friday.

In previous years, the pandemic and dealing with its fallout dominated the agendas, but the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Teaching vacancies

This year, vacant teaching posts and the ongoing struggle to recruit substitutes are expected to once again feature prominently.

An issue that has been years in the making, the problem of teacher shortages is now being exacerbated by the twin crises of cost of living and housing availability.

There is also a feeling after the pandemic that teachers are voting with their feet, and that many recent graduates are emigrating to the Middle East for work soon after they finish college.

In December, the TUI found that six out of 10 post-primary schools had open vacancies for teachers.

A further seven out of 10 schools said they had previously advertised jobs that not a single person had applied for.

The union pointed to the cost of accommodation, particularly in cases where a school could not offer full hours to a new recruit.

Not much seems to have improved since December. More recent research published by the ASTI last week found vacancies in almost half of all secondary schools across the country.

These vacancies are further compounded by shortages in the amount of substitute teachers available. A further nine out of 10 schools reported situations where no substitute cover was available to fill teacher absences due to sick leave and other short-term absences.

While staff shortages have resulted in bigger workloads for teachers, they also directly impact students  80% of principals reported employing at least one unqualified teacher to meet the needs of students.

Vacancies also mean that special education teachers are often reassigned to mainstream classes.

Both the ASTI and the TUI have argued that full contracts should be provided to teachers from their initial appointment, and both of the unions have also called for better pay and conditions.

Substitute cover

Delegates attending the INTO conference in Killarney are also expected to debate a motion demanding full substitute cover for all approved teacher absences.

Not many would have expected the scale of the education sectors response to the Ukrainian crisis. More than 15,200 students have now been enrolled in Irish schools since the onset of war last year.

Two speakers from the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine  the countrys major organisation of education workers and students  are expected to address the INTO on Tuesday.

Class size

Class sizes are also set to crop up in conversations and debates across the week.

While subsequent budgets have seen a focus on reducing the overall average class size at primary level, which exceeds the EU average, unions will now call for that same attention for post-primary and third level.

The ASTI is to hear calls for it to enter negotiations with the Department of Education to reduce class sizes to 24 in all subjects across the board, with the current limit of 20 for home economics to remain in place.

Meanwhile, the TUI, which also represents teaching staff in further education and training colleges and centres and technological universities and institutes of technology, argues that the failure to address a funding crisis at third level continues to have a significant negative impact.

This results in larger class sizes and less access to laboratories, equipment, materials, libraries, and tutorials.

While there has been work to reduce class sizes at primary level, Ireland still remains on the larger side, at almost 23 to the EU average of 20.

The INTO is expected to call for a further reduction, as well as a maximum of 15 junior students to one teacher, and 18:1 in senior classes, in the most disadvantaged schools.

Senior-cycle reform

Senior-cycle reform is also expected to be discussed this week.

The ASTI will debate what it sees as a lack of consultation with teachers unions prior to announcements and proposed changes to exam arrangements.

The union has a longstanding policy that the State exams should be externally assessed, while the proposed reforms include plans to introduce some form of teacher-based assessment.

The ASTI is also expected to debate a motion calling for the Easter and mid-term breaks and weekends to not be used for the sitting of State Examinations.

Forsa conference

Forsas education division will hold its annual conference Thursday and Friday.

The union represents 18,000 education workers, including special needs assistants (SNAs), school secretaries, caretakers, school completion officers, and admin staff in Education and Training Boards.

Topics to be debated include a motion on assault leave for SNAs, as well as calls for clarity on how children with additional needs can access SNA support.

The conference is also expected to hear calls for an end to chaotic policymaking by Government, as well as a panel discussion on establishing better progression for students with additional needs.
The signing of the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago today was met with hope and optimism in Northern Ireland which bore the deep physical and psychological scars of decades of conflict.

Although that sense of hope and optimism may have dimmed over the years, we should always remain attentive to why the agreement was needed.

We should also take lessons from 1998, and not underestimate how difficult and challenging political and constitutional change can be.

Lest we forget, the Troubles claimed more than 3,700 lives in Northern Ireland. Many thousands more were maimed, injured, and suffered psychological trauma.

Everyday life during that period was curtailed by an ominous and lingering atmosphere of fear and insecurity. Many chose to leave  unable and unwilling to live their lives under the shadow of paramilitary violence and political dysfunction.

The economy suffered too. Paramilitary violence destroyed infrastructure, property, businesses, and homes.

The absence of stability meant that Northern Ireland was economically stagnant for decades, and socio-economically disadvantaged communities bore the brunt of the economic failure.

Divided communities

The violence and its myriad effects divided communities. Division and segregation became hallmarks of Northern Ireland society.

Children were educated separately. Families lived in housing estates that were split along religious lines.

And so-called peace walls  physical markers of division  pockmarked Northern Irelands urban landscapes.

General repairs are carried out on one of Belfast oldest 'peace walls' between Finn Square on the Falls Road and Boundary Street on the Shankill Road. Picture: PA

The Good Friday Agreement confronted this troubled history of death, destruction, and despair. It was a brave and earnest effort on the part of all sides to address historical differences and to fashion new political arrangements acceptable to all.

It is by no means a perfect document, but the agreement offered a better way forward based on a historic compromise between competing unionist and nationalist identities.

Its provisions were grounded in the principle of consent.

It respected and accommodated opposing political aspirations and created power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and introduced new political mechanisms to ensure cross-community consensus.

It formalised links between North and South through the establishment of the North-South Ministerial Council. It created the British-Irish Council, which recognised the important bonds across these islands.

These new and novel institutions gave equal voice and representation to all political traditions in Northern Ireland. In addition to its institutional innovations, the agreement contained important policy proposals.

These propositions were arguably the most difficult aspect for the people of Northern Ireland to contend with and contemplate.

Policing and prisoner release

The agreement included plans to reform Northern Irelands predominantly Protestant police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

Catholics and nationalists favoured reform (if not disbandment). They were deeply hostile to a police service they viewed as discredited and discriminatory. In contrast, Protestants and unionists saw the RUC as a guardian and protector.

Many from within that community had families and loved ones who had served, and in some cases given their lives in the course of their duties. Supporting and sanctioning reform of policing represented a highly emotive and difficult decision.

Graffiti on a wall in West Belfast in 1999. Picture: PA

The agreement also contained the early-release scheme for some prisoners.

This provision allowed many paramilitary prisoners to walk free just two years after the agreement was signed. Men and women who had committed the worst atrocities during the Troubles had their sentences cut short and their freedom restored.

For all communities in Northern Ireland, this was the bitterest of pills to swallow.

The decision to vote for the Good Friday Agreement meant parking profound personal loss in the hope that such a sacrifice would deliver peace and stability.

On a remarkable turnout of 81%, the people of Northern Ireland voted 71% in favour of adopting the agreement.

But make no mistake about it, for those who chose to support it, the Good Friday Agreement involved the hardest and sometimes most heartbreaking of choices and compromises.

That decision by the electorate to vote yes in 1998 has, for the most part, delivered peace in Northern Ireland.

The awful and unrelenting violence of yesteryear is no more. Northern Ireland is a safer place, a better place, a more prosperous place.

Families and communities have been spared the tragedies which earlier generations had to endure. Lives have been saved.

Unstable institutions

But we should not be blind to the fact that the Good Friday Agreement has not delivered on all that it promised.

The institutions it created are vulnerable to crises, and have been suspended or collapsed for about one-third of the period since their creation.

It has been all too easy for one party or a single community to pull the plug and plunge Northern Ireland into stalemate and instability.

The configuration of Northern Irelands political party system is also different today from what it was in 1998.

Unionism no longer dominates. Nationalist representation has increased. The proportion of those who support neither nationalist nor unionist political parties is larger than it ever was. No single group or community commands an outright majority.

The institutions and mechanisms of the agreement do not fully accommodate this changing voter landscape.

True reconciliation?

The ultimate ambition of any peace process is the achievement of reconciliation between opposing communities. It is a hugely challenging and difficult aspiration. It involves confronting and overcoming generations of suspicion, mistrust, and even hatred.

In Northern Ireland, the agreement has not delivered true reconciliation.

The power-sharing political institutions are not currently operating.

Education and public housing remain heavily segregated. The peace walls  which so divide communities  still number over 100. Political disagreements on Brexit, the Protocol, and the Windsor Framework have been paralysing.

Efforts to achieve a more peaceful and stable future for Northern Ireland started with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement on April 10, 1998.

However, over a period of 25 years, the process of implementing and operationalising the words and spirit of the document has been exceptionally challenging.

Political and constitutional change is difficult and demanding. It means leaving behind a past with which many were comfortable.

It asks that we reconsider some of our long-held attachments to aspects of our State and society. It prompts us to think deeply about our identities and how to accommodate difference. It necessarily requires immense compromise, sacrifice, and courage.

Northern Ireland shows us how vitally important it is to make that journey, but also how hard it can be to walk that road.

Dr Mary C Murphy

Dr Mary C. Murphy is a senior lecturer in politics at University College Cork and an expert on Northern Ireland politics. Her most recent book, co-authored with Jonathan Evershed, is 'A Troubled Constitutional Future: Northern Ireland after Brexit' (Agenda 2022).
press release

On Wednesday 5 April, MONUSCO police launched two training courses for twenty Congolese police officers in the town of Beni. For ten days, two groups of ten police officers will be trained respectively on the direction of investigations and the management of crime scenes. For UNPOL officials in Beni, the aim is to help these twenty police officers to conduct effective investigations and to know how to behave at crime scenes in order to facilitate the work of justice against impunity.

Major John Kitalebe Lutete joined the military prosecution service in 2010. He has been working at the military prosecutor's office in Beni for seven years, investigating crimes committed in the town. He is one of the twenty people trained.

"This training will help us to know how to conduct an investigation in the field because Beni is a very complex area. Many crimes are recorded," says the judicial police inspector.

While this part of the country is still plagued by the activism of armed groups, responsible for the massacres of civilians, Major John Kitalebe said that this training is very useful for investigators whose job is to collect evidence to allow the justice system to do its job properly.

"Confession is not evidence"

Among the trainers is Commissaire Principal Israel Mumbere Mutoto, commander of the Mbau police. This Congolese police officer insists that in matters of crime "the criminal's confession is no longer the most important evidence". It is therefore the responsibility of the investigators to look for material evidence in order to help the judges to decide on the basis of objective elements. This is the importance of the training organised by UNPOL.

"The technical police use current technological means to collect evidence that will make it possible to determine the perpetrator of the crime," explains the chief commissioner.

In front of the police trainees, he insists that one of the things an investigator should not do is "contaminate the crime scene": "He should not rush to the crime scene without taking precautions. He should take the precaution of not touching anything for fear of leaving his fingerprints".

For him, it is necessary that similar trainings are organised regularly. "We would like to upgrade officers who are called upon to conduct investigations at crime scenes so that they make the best use of technology in this context," he said.

Sharing experience

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Present at the launch of these two training courses, the deputy head of the MONUSCO office in Beni notes that the UN police has some expertise that it must share with the Congolese police.

"The usefulness of strengthening the capacities of the Congolese police is an element of MONUSCO's mandate," Abdourahamane Ganda recalled, before continuing: "We have a police force that has a lot of expertise that comes from different countries. It would be useful to share this experience with the Congolese defence and security forces. In all the discussions, the Congolese authorities express the need to strengthen the capacities of its police and army."

The twenty participants in these two training sessions will, in turn, train their colleagues. "The main objective is to strengthen the professional capacities of our partners from the police and the military auditorate," said Amadou Barry, head of the unit for the fight against organised crime.

For him, at the end of the ten days of training, the participants will be able to record offences, search for criminals, gather evidence and bring the perpetrators before the competent courts.

These two trainings are part of a series of nine trainings that will be organised by UNPOL throughout this year in Beni. A total of 147 police officers are taking part in these training sessions. The aim is to strengthen the operational capacities of the Congolese police to enable them to carry out their mission effectively.
Thousands of Israelis led by at least seven Cabinet ministers marched to an evacuated West Bank settlement on Monday, in a defiant signal that Israels most right-wing government in history is determined to accelerate settlement building on occupied lands despite international opposition.

The march took place as the Palestinian Health Ministry said a 15-year-old boy was killed by Israeli fire during an army raid in the occupied West Bank.

The march posed a new test for Israels security forces after days of unrest fuelled by tensions over a contested holy site in Jerusalem.

Israeli police and army forces were being deployed to the northern West Bank  the scene of frequent tensions in recent months  to secure the march, which came after days of fighting in Jerusalem and along Israels northern and southern fronts.

People march to the outpost of Eviatar in the West Bank (Ariel Schalit/AP)

The planned demonstration added to the already combustible atmosphere in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank that has accompanied the overlapping of major Jewish and Muslim holy days.

Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians over the Jerusalem shrine have reached fever pitch in recent weeks.

The Israeli army said its troops were operating in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp next to Jericho in the West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 15-year-old Mohammed Balhan was killed by army fire.

The army said it entered the camp to arrest a wanted Palestinian suspect. It said residents opened fire and hurled explosives at the troops, who responded with live fire and hits were identified. It said the wanted suspect was arrested, and there were no Israeli casualties.

The march to Eviatar, an unauthorised settlement outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by the Israeli government in 2021, was being led by hard-line ultranationalist Jewish settlers. Organisers are calling for the settlements reestablishment and legalisation.

Speaking at the march, national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that we are here to say that the Israeli nation is strong and that we are here and will remain here.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads the most religious and ultranationalist government in Israels history. Several members of his Cabinet, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir  both West Bank settlers  and at least 20 members of Knesset were expected to take part in the march.

Visits to Eviatar were officially banned by the military after its evacuation, but that prohibition has been loosely enforced in recent months.

People are marching to Eviatar, an unauthorised settlement outpost in the northern West Bank (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Israeli army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht said the military approved Mondays march, saying it would be highly monitored and highly protected.

Ohad Tal, a politician with the Religious Zionist party, said there was no reason in the world to cancel the march.

We need to send a message  the message that we dont intend to concede and we are here to stay, he told Army Radio.

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have soared following last weeks police raid on Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The hilltop shrine is the emotional ground zero of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

For Jews, it is known as the Temple Mount, their faiths holiest site and the place where two temples stood in antiquity. For Muslims, it is known as the Noble Sanctuary, home of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

Dozens of Jewish visitors entered the site on Monday escorted by Israeli police for a second consecutive day.

These tours by religious and nationalist Jews have increased in size and frequency in recent years, raising fears by Palestinians that Israel may partition the site.

An Israeli soldier guards a march to the outpost of Eviatar (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Israel insists it has no intention of changing the longstanding arrangement that permits Jewish visits, but not worship, at the Muslim-administered shrine.

Last week, Palestinians barricaded themselves inside Al-Aqsa 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 Ramadan.

Police removed them by force, detaining hundreds and leaving dozens injured.

The violence at the shrine was followed by rocket fire by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, southern Lebanon, and Syria starting on Wednesday, and Israeli air strikes targeting those areas.

Recent days have also seen Palestinian attacks that killed two Israelis and an Italian tourist.

Palestinian attacks have killed at least 19 people in Israel since the start of the year, including one soldier.

More than 90 Palestinians 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.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Middle East war. It has built dozens of settlements in the territory that are now home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers.

Most of the international community considers Israels West Bank settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians.

The Palestinians seek the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem for their future independent state.

Benjamin Netanyahus government has made settlement expansion a top priority.
More than 200 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have returned home in a prisoner swap, the warring countries said.

Russias Defence Ministry said 106 Russian soldiers were released from Ukrainian custody as part of an agreement with Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys chief of staff, said that Russia freed 100 Ukrainian prisoners.

Neither announcement mentioned whether any intermediaries were involved in the agreement.

Damaged houses in Bakhmut, the site of heavy battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region of Ukraine (AP/Libkos)

Some of the Ukrainian soldiers have severe injuries and illnesses, Mr Yermak said in a statement published on Telegram.

He added that the latest of the sporadic prisoner swaps in the war that started in February 2022 was not an easy one. He did not elaborate.

Ukraines Co-ordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War alleged that almost half of the 80 men and 20 women soldiers who returned home have serious injuries, illnesses or have been tortured. It presented no evidence for its claims.

According to Ukrainian news reports, one of the women prisoners is Valeriia Karpilenko, a border guard who had helped defend Mariupols Azovstal steel plant.

Last May, she married a Ukrainian soldier in the steel plants basement while Russian forces surrounded the complex. Her husband was killed three days later.

The freed Russians were being flown on military transport planes to Moscow for medical treatment and rehabilitation, the Defence Ministry said.

The front line in Bakhmut, Ukraine (Libkos/AP)

Such exchanges represent one of the few areas of co-operation between Ukraine and Russia. The two sides have returned hundreds of each others soldiers, as well as the bodies of fallen troops, since the war began.

Meanwhile, Ukraines presidential office said at least six civilians were wounded in the latest Russian shelling.

Separately, Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian forces struck a power plant and residential buildings in the eastern province.

The Russians also shelled nine border villages in the provinces of Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv.

Ukraines deputy prime minister, Iryna Vereshchuk, said in televised remarks that the country has nearly seven million internally displaced people, including about one million children.

Most of them have abandoned their homes in the east and the south to move to safer locations in central and western Ukraine.
Features Traditional Rituals on Hold as Junta Troops Ravage Myanmars Buddhist Heartland

Relatives hold gold-colored parasols over children taking part in a Shinbyu parade in Myinkabar Village, Mandalay Region in March 2017. / AFP

Myanmar people are not only experiencing loss of life as their houses are torched and the military goes on killing sprees, but have also been forced to halt some important traditional and religious rituals due to the regimes violence in their communities.

One of the most significant rituals to have been halted is the Shinbyu novitiation ceremony. Shinbyu is a Burmese term meaning initiating into the Theravada Buddhist order as a novice, marking the monastic ordination of a boy under the age of 20. It is one of the centuries-old traditional rituals all Myanmar Buddhist parents are supposed to organize for their male children.

Ko Zarni Hein has been waiting for the day of his only sons Shinbyu novitiation ceremony for nearly three years. The 39-year-old and his wife dearly want to fulfil their most important duty as parents, but the military coup has thwarted their ambition.

He is an Agricultural Department staff member who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) after the military coup and lives in a village in Sagaings Yinmabin Township, where the regime launched air strikes twice last year, leaving more than two dozen people dead.

Currently, their family and other villagers are living in fear of the junta troops violence. Therefore, he doesnt want his son to go through the novitiation ceremony, although his son is 11 years old.

His intention was to make a large donation with a hsaing waing (traditional Burmese orchestra), because his grandparents made such a donation many years ago. However, he dropped the plan after junta boss Min Aung Hlaing staged the coup.

I can no longer hold the Shinbyu because of the deaths, the burning, and the destruction caused by the military in our region, Ko Zarni Hein told The Irrawaddy.

The experience of Ko Zarni Hein reflects the current situation of the residents of the Anyar region (or Upper Myanmar), which comprises Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe, where the majority of Myanmar Buddhists live.

Anyar residents havent been able to celebrate the Shinbyu novitiation ceremony because they have suffered immeasurable losses due to the regimes arson campaigns, as the areas are anti-regime strongholds.

Tens of thousands of Anyar residents have lost everythingincluding houses, crops, looms and agricultural machinesin the regimes raids and arson attacks during the two years since the military seized power in 2021.

According to independent researchers Data for Myanmar, over 57,183 houses in the Anyar region have been burned down by junta forces. This is 94 percent of the total number of civilian houses that have been burned down nationwide. Sagaing Region has suffered the most in Anyar, with 47,778 civilian homes torched as of the end of February 2023.

A season without Ah-lhu

Ah-lhu is the common local term for Shinbyu in Upper Myanmar.

An Ah-lhu ceremony typically involves a large food donation to the community and offerings to monks or the monastery where the freshly novitiated boys have to study religious scriptures as novice monks.

Generally, Myanmar people hold the ceremonies in March and April, coinciding with Myanmars traditional new year holiday. Families that send their sons to monasteries are very proud of their achievement because the Shinbyu ceremony is considered one of the greatest merit-making Buddhist rituals in Myanmar.

Ah-lhu in Upper Myanmar is famous because the Anyar people celebrate it magnificently with traditional music and dance. It demonstrates the locals sense of community spirit, as residents collect rice and vegetables in advance for use in Ah-lhu months before. They share the tasks for a month beforehand and all the villagers divide the work among them, like preparing feasts for guests and monks, and decorating the venue.

The villagers enjoy themselves starting about a month before the celebration, said U Myat Sein, a resident of Yinmabin Township.

He said that before the seizure of power, the Ayar region was filled with donations and the sound of Byawtraditional ceremonial music, often played with ceremonial drums called Sidaw.

Its been a long time since the sound of the Byaw and Sidaw were heard in Anyar, said the 57-year-old teacher.

Catastrophe for Anyar residents

Ma Tin Sein from Magwe Regions Myaing Township said the Anyar people arent able to enjoy seasonal festivals or make religious donations because their lives have been destroyed by junta troops.

The woman in her 30s, a mother of two children, has been living in the forest for a year due to the junta raids and frequent arson attacks. Her village in northern Myaing Township has suffered arson attacks twice, with around a hundred houses burned to ashes, including her own.

We cant do religious donations like Ah-lhu anymore because we have been forced to flee, Ma Tin Sein told The Irrawaddy.

Not only the residents but also the monks have suffered due to regime arson attacks and violence, according to a monk from a village in Ayardaw Township of Sagaing Region. His native village suffered two regime arson attacks and almost all the housesaround a thousandwere burned down.

The residents arent able to donate daily meals for monks. So, the monks are cooking for themselves. Before the military coup, there were at least a dozen Shinbyu novitiation ceremonies in his village a year. However, his village and other nearby villages in Ayardaw Township that have been raided by junta troops are as silent as cemeteries, according to the monk.

Even residents who are rich enough to hold a large Shinbyu novitiation ceremony cant do it because of the frequent raids by junta troops, the monk told The Irrawaddy.

A senior monk in his 50s in Yinmabin Township said Myanmar Buddhist people are usually never reluctant to make donations, but currently they are facing the most difficult time of their lives and are just trying to survive a dark era.

Villages were burned, and the villagers had to flee, so they could no longer donate, the senior monk told The Irrawaddy.

Something positive in dark times

The above Anyar residents said that they have learned to rely on each other as they endure the regimes violence. The villagers help and take care of each other and are ready to share everything they have after suffering regime raids and arson campaigns.

U Kyaw Moe, a resident of Pale Township in Sagaing Region, said that unlike people in other regions and states, the Anyar people had rarely experienced military troops atrocities before the military coup. Now, if a home is torched somewhere, they feel like their own house is being burned down.

If a village is torched, other villages are ready to share food, water and cattle feed. That is the profit we have gained from this time, U Kyaw Moe told The Irrawaddy.

The return of Byaw, Sidaw to Anyar

Many residents from Anyar region resist the repression of the military and hope that they will be able to celebrate making a large donation one day after the peoples revolution has succeeded.

A 29-year-old woman from Mandalay Regions Myingyan Township said the revolutionary spirit of the Anyar people is still strong, although the regime has destroyed their lives with its scorched earth campaign.

Many have already determined that they will not celebrate the Shinbyu novitiation as long as the military regime rules in Myanmar, a Myingyan resident told The Irrawaddy.

U Kyaw Moe said that while some have held Shinbyu on a very small scale, elaborate donation ceremonies have not been performed because residents want to show their respect for the losses of other people by keeping quiet even during the festival season.

Ko Zarni Hein from Yinmabin continues to wait for a time when the peoples revolution has succeeded in order to hold a Shinbyu novitiation ceremony for his son.

His voice cracked with emotion as he explained his determination. He added that he doesnt mind waiting, even if his son grows old enough to get married.

I will make a big donation after we win.
Burma Myanmar Junta Increases Military Budget to US$2.7 Billion

Myanmars regime troops at Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw on March 27. / AFP

Myanmars junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has approved a military budget of more than 5.6 trillion kyats (around US$2.7 billion) for the 2023-24 fiscal year, which begins this month, up from 3.7 trillion kyats last year.

Min Aung Hlaing promised to crush the resistance movement during his Armed Forces Day speech on March 27.

The junta has approved an overall budget of nearly 20 trillion kyats.

Last year, the military budget totaled over 4 trillion kyats as Min Aung Hlaing added more than 440 billion kyats in December.

Education has a budget of 2 trillion kyats and health just over 800 billion kyats. Electricity has been allocated over 680 billion kyats as regular power cuts continue to blight peoples lives.

Min Aung Hlaing has urged the public to save energy, fuel and cooking oil.

The regime, however, said over 1.1 trillion kyats will be spent outside the budget supplying electricity to Yangon.

Myanmars military previously had to seek parliamentary approval for the defense budget from the now-ousted National League for Democracy government.

While the regime manufactures some weapons, it imports more sophisticated arms from China and Russia. Recently deputy junta chief Soe Win called on soldiers to make better use of their weapons.

The regime is engaged in fierce fighting in Myawaddy Township on the Thai border in Karen State.

The junta boss has vowed to take crush the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) and allied resistance groups and ethnic armed organizations.

The NUG said in January that 2023 will be the crucial year for the revolution.

The regime is fighting a multi-front war and admits it only controls around half the country.
Burma Shwe Kokko Crime Hub Attacked for Funding Myanmar Junta: KTLA

Shwe Kokko new city in Myawaddy, Karen State. / Shwe Kokko

The Kaw Thoo Lei Army (KTLA) said it is attacking Shwe Kokko in Karen States Myawaddy Township because the joint venture between the junta-affiliated Border Guard Force (BGF) and shady Chinese tycoons to run the casino town is harming the state.

A Facebook statement issued on Friday and signed by KTLA headquarters explained that the ethnic Karen armed group is attacking Shwe Kokko because the new city is a hub of drugs and sex-trafficking that funds the military regime with dirty money. It states that ethnic women are being trafficked for prostitution in the city, while foreign citizens are recruited as online scammers under false pretenses.

The statement, which quickly went viral, also urged people in Shwe Kokko to leave the battle zone. More than 10,000 people have reportedly fled the area over the past few days as fighting intensifies.

The KTLA was formed in July 2022 and is led by Brigadier General Saw Nedah Mya, who split from the Karen National Union (KNU), the oldest ethnic armed group in Myanmar. The KTLA has been fighting the regime alongside other resistance forces in Karen State.

When contacted by The Irrawaddy, Brig-Gen Saw Nedah Mya said he was too busy to comment. A source close to the KTLA confirmed that the statement was issued by KTLA headquarters. He said junta troops and allied Karen resistance forces were still fighting around Myawaddy but declined to provide details about the clashes.

The Lion Battalion Commando of the KTLA said on Thursday that allied resistance forces had attacked junta and BGF troops in Hteewapalaw and Hteekawhtaw villages in Myawaddy Township near the Thai border and occupied five outposts. More than 80 junta soldiers were reportedly killed in the fighting. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify casualties.

Known as China Town, the Shwe Kokko project is a US$15-billion collaboration between the BGF led by Colonel Saw Chit Thu, and the Hong Kong-registered Yatai International Holding Group. Launched in 2018, the project is located west of the Moei River which separates Thailand and Myanmar, some 16 kilometers north of the border town of Myawaddy.

Fighting erupted in the area after three members of the Lion Battalion were arrested by Thai authorities and handed over to the BGF on April 1.

According to sources from the front line, renegade members of the BGF and Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council (KNU/KLNA-PC), and troops under the KNU are fighting alongside the KTLA. The KNU/KNLA-PC is a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and has engaged in peace talks with the current regime.

Fighting continued in the area on Saturday, and Chinese people in Shwe Kokko are evacuating to Thailands Mae Sot, according to Myawaddy residents.

A Myawaddy local who asked for anonymity confirmed that Chinese nationals were fleeing the new city: Some have fled to a nearby village. Some have fled to Mae Sot. I dont know how many have fled. I think they are concerned that they might be attacked too as they have ties to the BGF, the resident told the Irrawaddy.

Despite the fighting, some restaurants and casinos remain open in the city. The Shwe Kokko market however is temporarily closed, according to a local source who requested anonymity.

Around 8,000 people have fled to the Moei River near Mae Sot because of the fighting. Thai authorities have allowed displaced people to take shelter at five temporary camps along the Moei River, according to volunteers helping displaced people.

Mo Min Thway Thit from Nwe Oo Yeik Myone charity, which is helping displaced people, said the majority are children and elderly individuals who are in need of food.

Myawaddy residents believe the fighting will continue, and allied Karen resistance forces have also warned people not to travel along Myawaddy-Kawkareik road until April 21.

A Myawaddy resident told The Irrawaddy: The regime has tightened security in Myawaddy because of reports that [resistance forces] will attack the town on April 9 or 10.
Ethnic Issues Myanmars Civilian Govt Seeks Closer Ties With Arakan Army on 14th Anniversary

Arakan Army chief General Tun Myat Naing attends a cadet graduation ceremony in Kachins Laiza Township, where the armed groups headquarters is situated. / Arakan Army Info Desk

Myanmars National Unity Government (NUG) on Monday congratulated Rakhine States Arakan Army on its 14th anniversary and called for closer collaboration to establish a federal union.

Formed in 2009, the AA has been fighting the Myanmar military in Rakhine State since 2015 for self-determination for the Rakhine or Arakan community. It has the support of the Rakhine population and was inflicting huge casualties on regime troops in Rakhine and Paletwa Township in neighboring Chin State until an informal ceasefire was agreed in late 2020. The AA has since set up its own administration and judiciary across much of Rakhine State.

However, fighting resumed between the two sides in August 2022. A temporary ceasefire was agreed in November but tensions between the regime and the AA remain high.

In a written message to AA chief Major-General Tun Myat Naing, NUG Acting President Duwa Lashi La expressed his appreciation for the AAs contributions to the Arakan people in their fight for self-determination over the past 14 years.

Formed after the coup, the NUG, largely made up of elected lawmakers from the ousted National League for Democracy government and their ethnic minority allies, has the wide support of Myanmars people, who recognize it as their legitimate government. Some NUG officials are operating outside Myanmar and working to achieve diplomatic recognition for the NUG, while others operate inside the country.

On this important anniversary, we wish to work together to establish a federal union where the Arakan people have the right to self-determination and the right to create their own destiny, Duwa Lashi La said.

In a letter replying to the NUG president on the same day, AA chief Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing said he was delighted to receive the congratulatory message and referred to Duwa Lashi La as Dear Mr. President.

In a separate message to the AA, the NUGs Defense Ministry expressed its deep respect for the Arakan martyrs and locals who have given their lives to the revolution or lost limbs, property, and homes.

The ministry acknowledged the AAs stand with the oppressed in the anti-regime movement nationwide following the coup and its support for the revolutionary forces.

Major ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) like the Karen National Liberation Army and Kachin Independence Army have formal alliances and fight with the NUGs armed wing, the peoples defense forces (PDFs). The AA has supported the PDFs with training and weapons.

In its message, the NUG defense ministry expressed hope that the Arakan Army would be able to implement its national and political aspirations.

We must come together and try to advance our struggle and defeat the common enemy, the military regime, the NUG defense ministry said.

A local political observer said that the NUG messages on the anniversary of the AAs founding clearly indicate the civilian government is inviting the AA to work with them.

However, the observer added that this outcome was unlikely because although the NUG and the AA are both determined to defeat the military dictatorship, the AA has made clear that it wants to be independent and will not follow Burmese leadership.

Other AA allies sending messages on the 14th anniversary of its formation included the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and other armed organizations such as the Student Armed Force (SAF), Chin National Organization, Peoples Revolution Alliance (Magway), Peoples Defense Force-Mandalay, and the Burma Peoples Liberation Army-BPLA also sent messages on the 14th anniversary of the AAs formation.

The MNDAA and TNLA, which make up the Three Brotherhood Alliance with the Arakan Army, said the brotherhood must work with other organizations fighting the regime to free the country from military rule. They said they would stand united with the AA and continue to fight.
War Against the Junta Eighteen Myanmar Junta Soldiers Killed: Tanintharyi Resistance

The Royal Peacock Column during training. / Royal Peacock Column

Eighteen junta soldiers were killed by resistance fighters in Tanintharyi Township, southern Myanmar, on Sunday, according to the media.

Three Tanintharyi Region resistance groups killed eight regime soldiers near Kanto village on Sunday morning, according to the Myeik District Peoples Defense Force (PDF), which coordinated the attack.

It said there were no resistance casualties. Regime forces had burned houses in the village on Saturday.

Ambushes with landmines were reported by the media against regime troops and convoys in the area last week.

More than 500 residents from five villages, including Kanto, have recently fled their homes, Dawei Watch reported, quoting villagers.

On Sunday fighting was reported near Thein Khun village, also in Tanintharyi Township, when four resistance groups, including the Kaw Thoo Lei Army, attacked regime forces, according to Myeik PDF that joined the attack.

Ten regime soldiers were killed and no resistance casualties were reported.

The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.

Regime forces shelled Thae Phyu village after the fighting, damaging a church, the resistance group said.

Junta forces also destroyed three houses in the village, Myieik PDF told the media.

Fighting erupted in Tanintharyi Township on March 28.

Resistance groups urged residents to avoid Pyidaungsu Road in the township due to the threat of further clashes.
War Against the Junta Eleven Chin Civilians Killed in Myanmar Regime Airstrikes

Webula in Chin State.

Eleven civilians were killed and many injured by Myanmar regime airstrikes on Falam Township in Chin State on Monday after the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) seized a police station, according to Chin resistance forces.

The CNDF raided the Varr village outpost, where about 30 police officers were stationed, below Falam town on Monday morning. The station was torched after the raid.

Seven police officers and several weapons were captured, according to Salai Htet Ni, the Chin National Armys (CNA) spokesman.

Some police officers were killed during the clash but we dont know the details, he told The Irrawaddy.

Six regime airstrikes followed on Webula town, about 30km from Falam.

The Chin National Organization said 11 civilians were killed and many injured, including at a school.

The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.

Salai Htet Ni said the regime is dependent on air power since its ground forces have lost control in Chin State, where martial law is imposed in seven out of nine townships.

Martial law does not affect us. The killings continue regardless. We are very sorry for the peoples suffering, he said.

Regime fighters also attacked a CNA base but there were no casualties, according to Salai Htet Ni.

A regime airstrike killed eight civilians, including two children, on March 30 in Kwarpho village, Thantlang Township. Airstrikes in January on Camp Victoria, the CNA headquarters, killed five Chin resistance fighters and injured many others.
War Against the Junta Nearly 90 Myanmar Junta Forces Killed in Four Days of Resistance Attacks

Thaton PDF forces during an operation in Mon State / TPDF

At least 89 Myanmar junta troops as well as six resistance fighters were killed in clashes over the last four days as Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) stepped up attacks on regime targets across the country.

Incidents were reported in Tanintharyi, Yangon, Magwe, Mandalay and Sagaing regions and Mon State.

The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and EAOs.

Some military casualties could not be independently verified.

Eighteen junta soldiers killed in clashes in Tanintharyi

A total of 18 soldiers were killed in two clashes with combined resistance groups in Tanintharyi Township, Tanintharyi Region on Sunday, said Myeik District PDF Battalion 2, which joined the attacks.

The combined PDF groups clashed with regime forces near Thein Khun Village in the township at around 1 p.m. on Sunday, killing 10 junta troops.

Earlier that morning, eight soldiers were killed in a separate clash with the combined PDF groups near Kan To Village in the township.

Eleven junta troops killed in resistance ambushes in Mandalay



Troops of PDF, KIA and ABSDF during a raid on Lal Gyi military checkpoint in Mogok Township on April 7 / Momeik District PDF

At least 11 junta soldiers were killed and over a dozen soldiers injured in Mogok Township, Mandalay Region last Friday when combined resistance groups including the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) attacked regime forces, said Momeik District PDF, which joined the attacks.

First, the resistance groups raided the military camp and police bases at the Lal Gyi military checkpoint on the Mogok-Pyin Oo Lwin Highway in Mogok Township at 7:40 a.m. last Friday. In the raid, seven regime forces were killed and seven others injured.

Separately that morning, resistance forces ambushed a military convoy carrying reinforcements near a village on the Mokok-Mai Lon Highway while they were traveling to the Lal Gyi military checkpoint, which was also being attacked by resistance forces.

In the ambush, four soldiers were killed and five others injured, Momeik District PDF claimed.

14 junta soldiers, two PDF fighters killed in clashes in Mandalay

At least 14 regime troops as well as two resistance fighters were killed during clashes in Natogyi Township, Mandalay Region on Saturday, said Natogyi Peoples Defense Force, which is also Myingyan District PDF Battalion 4 of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG).

At 2 a.m. Saturday morning, six PDF groups clashed with 30 regime forces who were returning to their base after raiding forests on a mountain in the township.

The combined PDF forces also used land mines to ambush a military convoy of reinforcements travelling to the clash sites. Two weapons were seized from the regime forces, said Natogyi PDF.

Regime forces repeatedly bombed in Mandalay



Resistance drones drop bombs on regime targets in Kyaukse Lay Village in Madaya Township on April 7. / Nat Soe Underground Resistance Group

Many regime forces are thought to have been killed or injured in Madaya Township, Mandalay Region last Friday when three PDF groups repeatedly conducted drone strikes and mine ambushes against 50 regime troops who were planning to set up a base in Kyaukse Lay Village, said Nat Soe Underground Resistance Group, which joined the attacks.

On March 23, the regime forces beheaded resistance member Ko Win Htay in the village. The PDFs attack on regime forces was in response to the murder of Ko Win Htay, the PDF group said.

Military column ambushed in Sagaing

At least three junta soldiers were killed and eight others injured in Budalin Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday when combined resistance groups ambushed a military column of 70 troops burning villages, said Student Armed Force, which joined the attack.

All resistance forces retreated from the ambush site without casualties, though regime forces used a large number of heavy explosives.

Military bases bombed in Sagaing

PDF drones drop bombs during an attack on a military base and pro-regime village in Sagaing Township on April 7. / Unicorn Guerrilla Force

Local PDF group Unicorn Guerrilla Force said it and five other PDF groups used drones to drop bombs on a military battalion and a regime camp in a pro-junta village in Sagaing Township, Sagaing Region last Friday.

However, military casualties were unknown.

Three pro-regime militia members killed in land mine ambush in Sagaing

Three pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members were killed in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday when at least 10 local resistance groups jointly used land mines to ambush a pro-militia group from the pro-regime village of Myin See, said Bo Japan Gyi PDF group, which joined the ambush.

The military group was ambushed while traveling in a vehicle to other villages. The body of a killed militia member and weapons were dumped out of the fleeing vehicle, the PDF group said.

Military detachment ambushed in Sagaing

Many regime forces are believed to have been killed or injured in Depayin Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday when resistance group Freedom Revolution Force conducted several attacks including three mine attacks against a military column of 90 troops heading to a village, the PDF group said.

Heavy clashes erupt in upper Sagaing

More than 40 regime forces and four resistance fighters were killed during two days of intense clashes last Thursday and Friday in Indaw Township, upper Sagaing Region, said Indaw Revolution, the media wing of local resistance groups.

On April 6, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Kachin Regional PDF group jointly ambushed 100 regime forces heading to Maw Taik Village in the township, killing around 30 regime forces. Two KIA troops and a PDF fighter were also killed.

Fierce fighting continued near a village in the area on April 7. Ten more regime forces and a PDF fighter were killed, said Indaw Revolution.

Military weapons factory bombed in Magwe

The resistance group Peoples Revolution Alliance (PRA) and two other PDF groups used improvised rocket launchers to fire two 107-mm artillery rounds at the No. 10 military weapons factory in Minhla Township, Magwe Region last Friday.

The factory produces rockets and bombs for use by tanks, aircraft and artillery.

In the attack, some factory buildings were burned and regime forces were thought to have been killed or injured, the group claimed.

Police station bombed in Yangon

The Kayan Peoples Defense Force claimed it used an 81-mm bomb to attack the police station in the town of Kayan, Yangon Region on Sunday evening. The bomb landed in the compound of the police station.

However, details of the damage and casualties were unknown.

Military checkpoint bombed by resistance drones in Mon

Two officers of the junta-allied Border Guard Force (BGF) were killed and some others injured in Belin Township, Mon State on Sunday when six resistance groups including the Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), used a drone to drop bombs on a BGF checkpoint, said Thaton PDF, which joined the drone strikes.
Michele Estevez, founder, and president of Michele & Associates Community Association Management arrived in the US from San Felipe, Chile, accompanied only by a strong desire to succeed.

Her first job was at a Richards store in Miami. Her first foray into the property management business came working with a unique remodeling concept in New York.

While today, Michele & Associates is one of the most successful and respected woman-owned property management company, the start was anything but glamorous.

Would you believe that her firs first contract was for a whopping $100 / month?

That was back in 1991. I attended a board meeting of the Townhouses on Grapetree and the place was a mess. I made a pitch to take over managing the property and got it.

My first office was like a fish tank, recalls Michele. The owners of the then Cape Florida Villas would walk by and started to notice a change and one day asked Michele who was managing the place, and that became her second break.

Many other properties follow, from Mar Azul, eventually reaching 30 condominimums. Explaining her success and competitive advantage, Michele says is simple: its me and Im here.

She explains that she could grow more but has downsized on purpose as to not sacrifice quality or her ability to personally oversee the properties and remain close to her customers. This business continues to change and will get more challenging.

Also, remaining small allows her to pursue her other passion  to give back and partake in what she calls humanitarian efforts. You have to give to receive, explains Michele who has served as a Key Biscayne Councilmember and remains a political force and leader on the island.

Michele is the proud Mom of 2 boys who dabbled in the family business. They both reside in Orlando and are very proud of what Ive accomplished as Im of how successful they are.

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.
The November 2021 restitution of 26 art works stolen by French colonists from the Kingdom of Dahomey, in present-day Benin, was celebrated as a model. But these treasures that Benin's people should finally be able to admire again have been put back in boxes, stored at the presidential residence. And the museum in Ouidah, which was supposed to exhibit them for three years, is not ready.

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 Ouidah's 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.

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.

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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.
Monday, Apr 10th, 2023 (11:18 am) - Score 3,024

A recent update to the Companies House records for broadband ISP Trooli, which was rolling out a new gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across parts of England and recently became the subject of various takeover talks, has confirmed that a new company called Agnar UK Infrastructure Ltd has taken significant control (75%+) of the business.

Just to recap. Trooli was previously supported by an investment of 30m from the Connecting Europe Broadband Fund (Cube Infrastructure Managers) and 5m from NatWest. But this was given a boost in 2021 by a new 67.5m debt facility agreement via a consortium of commercial lenders, facilitated by the CEBF (here).

The operator had been busy building their new full fibre network to serve a sizeable number of towns and villages in Derbyshire, Kent, East Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire and Suffolk. The initial goal had been to reach 400,000 premises across around 300 towns and villages by Dec 2022, but the last figure we had was 275,000 passed in August 2022 and even that seems a little high (but we think they are closer to 200k in Ready for Service terms).

However, in order to keep going, Trooli needed more money, which is something that they had struggled to secure. Questions also surround how much take-up their network had been able to generate. In short, the operator has recently become the subject of intense speculation around the possibility of an equity sale, merger, or takeover by a rival provider.

Most recently, the FT reported that Paris-headquartered Vauban Infrastructure Partners and Axione, a Vauban-backed company, were in discussions to acquire Trooli too. The latest official update on Companies House, which was spotted by one of our readers (here), reveals that a brand-new company called Agnar UK Infrastructure Ltd has now officially taken control of the business. Agnar UK has two French directors, both of which are connected to Vauban partners. All Troolis original UK Directors have now resigned.

Exact details of the agreement have not yet been revealed, although some previous reports suggested that Troolis network could be worth around 100m. Similarly, it is unclear whether the providers original ambition, which saw them aiming to reach 1 million UK premises by the end of 2024, is still intact. But given that Troolis build phase has been somewhat paused for a few months, and such things can be tricky to restart, then the providers ambitions may face some delay.

We have reached out to Trooli for a comment, but given that its Easter, we dont expect to hear back immediately.
Tuesday, Apr 11th, 2023 (12:01 am) - Score 2,400

The UK government (DSIT) has today announced that, as part of the new Wireless Infrastructure Strategy (WIS), they have set out an ambition to blanket the country with the fastest, most reliable wireless coverage available  with the plan being for all populated areas to be covered by standalone 5G (5G-plus) by 2030. The update also includes support for satellite broadband in rural areas and more trials of flexi permits.

Historically, the government has always been a bit weak on their targets for 5G mobile. The Conservatives 2017 manifesto promised to have the majority of the population covered by a 5G signal by 2027, which was nonsensically downgraded to 2030 in the Levelling Up Plan (here). We say this because a majority is anything over 50%, which is a very low bar that commercial operators like EE and Three UK have long since met.

NOTE: 77% of the UKs population already has access to basic 5G from one provider and this is predicted to hit 99% come 2030, but Standalone 5G is a different animal.

At present, existing 5G networks in the UK tend to use Non-Standalone (NSA) hardware and systems, which can still deliver impressive mobile broadband download speeds. But at the same time, they are often hobbled by some dependence upon existing 4G services.

The way to solve this is by moving toward a pure end-to-end 5G network (SA), which will also deliver improvements such as ultra-low latency times (fast), better upload speeds, network slicing capabilities, better support for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, increased reliability and security. O2 (VMO2), EE (BT) and Vodafone are already progressing with trials of this upgrade (example), but its a complex and economically tedious upgrade to get right.

In order to support this, the Government has today announced a new investment package worth almost 150 million, with up to 100 million to put the UK at the forefront of future research (focused on 6G mobile R&D), and 40m to boost 5G tech take-up. The announcement also commits 8m to delivering high-speed broadband (they dont define that) for up to 35,000 of the UKs most remote properties.

Under the new scheme, homes and businesses in the most remote areas that are unable to be connected to gigabit-capable broadband will be given funding to link them up to satellites orbiting the globe, giving them a broadband connection that will be up to ten times faster than what is currently available to them. Hopefully this also supports new LEO networks, such as Starlink and possibly OneWeb. But the monthly rentals for Starlink are still too expensive for many people and were still waiting to see what sort of solutions OneWeb can deliver to communities.

Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan, said: Our Wireless Infrastructure Strategy sets out our plan to ensure everyone, no matter where they live, can reap the benefits of improved connectivity. We are doing this by ensuring all populated areas in the UK will be served by what I call 5G-plus technology by 2030. We are also committing 8m to provide satellite connectivity for our most remote communities so that no one is left behind. We are also supporting long term economic growth in the UK with a 40m fund to encourage innovative 5G investment across the private and public sector. This will help industries transform at a time when the ways we communicate, work and do business are on the precipice of significant evolution. This package of measures turbocharges our progress towards becoming a science and tech superpower with a substantial initial investment in the future of telecoms. We want to ensure that 6G is developed to meet the needs of people and businesses right across the UK and bolster our international competitiveness throughout the economy.

Howard Watson, BT Group Chief Security and Networks Officer, said: We welcome the new ambition being set for nationwide standalone 5G. Meeting this goal can only be delivered if significant new private sector investment is unlocked, which will require delivery of ambitious policy reform. We look forward to working with Government to tackle the important issues set out in this Strategy, in particular modernising net neutrality rules to ensure content providers are incentivised to use networks efficiently.

To help the mass adoption of 5G across the country, the strategy further sets out a clear pro-investment framework for mobile network operators by driving down deployment costs and improving demand. The Government has also reconfirmed that there is no magic number of mobile operators, whilst noting all decisions on consolidation are for the Competition and Markets Authority (this could perhaps be taken as a hint that they may allow Three UK to merge with Vodafone).

In addition, the Government are also putting in place new plans to speed up the deployment of faster internet connectivity through work with the local authorities and the telecoms industry, which is a reference to further trial the use of flexible permits for roadworks to install fibre in several areas. At present, operators have to obtain a permit for each street where works take place, which creates a significant administrative burden.
April 7, 2023



Nearly two decades after its discovery, an animal that roamed ancient Idaho will be the Gem States official dinosaur thanks to the efforts of an Idaho State University professor.

With Governor Brad Littles signature on March 31, Oryctodomeus was given the title of State Dinosaur. One of those championing Oryctodomeus was L.J. Krumenacker, adjunct professor of geosciences at ISU and affiliate curator at the Idaho Museum of Natural History. Krumenacker and Joel Waltons class of fourth graders at Ucon Elementary started their push for the designation in 2022 by enlisting the help of Senator Kevin Cook of Idaho Falls to sponsor a bill and writing letters to state senators and representatives asking for their support on the upcoming measure. Senate Bill 1127 was introduced on February 27 and on March 10 Krumenacker and co. attended the bills hearing before the Senate State Affairs Committee to plead their case. After snagging a Do Pass recommendation from the committee, SB 1127 sailed through the Senate and House before receiving the Governors approval.

This process has been a great review for me to see how the legislative process works and to be able to help some great students see this process in action and succeed with a special goal, said Krumenacker. The best part has been seeing all the students excited and enthused. I love to see students excited about science like that.

Back in 2004, Krumenacker was one of the first paleontologists to discover remains of the prehistoric critter that lived nearly 100 million years ago. Checking in at about the same size as a golden retriever with a seven-foot tail, Orcyctodomeus is only found in Southeast Idaho and Southwest Montana.

Knowing anything about dinosaur social lives is rare, and Oryctodromeus is special since we know it lived in family groups and raised its kids in these groups that sheltered in burrows, explains Krumenacker. It is something any family can relate to.

Oryctodomeus will officially join the ranks of just over a dozen Idaho State Emblems on July 1. They include the State Flower (Syringa), State Fruit (huckleberry), State Fish (cutthroat trout), and more. In 1988, the legislature named The Hagerman Horse as Idahos state fossil.

I see this as a recognition of the importance of science to our future and our way of life, Krumenacker said. Sure, dinosaurs are just a small part of our much broader, awesome universe, but having this as a state symbol will certainly inspire future scientists and educators in multiple disciplines. It is worth it if even one person goes into education or science because of this.

Oryctodomeus christening is another milestone in a busy couple of years or so for Krumenacker. Last summer, he published his findings on the first tyrannosaur found in Idaho and had a prehistoric crustacean named after him. Then, in late 2021, a paper he co-authored was published in Nature that detailed how quickly life bounced back after the Permian mass extinction.

My next non-Orycto project is describing two new species of crocodiles. These will be the first crocodylian fossils to be named from Idaho, said Krumenacker. Additionally, my students and I are cleaning a skeleton of a large, armored dinosaur from Idaho which is also looking to be a new species. Recently, I started a full-time position as a geology and biology instructor at the College of Eastern Idaho. We are working to build the Geology program and hope to set up a paleontology lab where local students can participate in active research projects. Im excited for what the future holds.

More on ISUs Department of Geosciences can be found at isu.edu/geosciences.
Tunis/Tunisia  The National Blood Transfusion Center, the Ministry of Health, and components of civil society supporting blood donation celebrated the National Blood Donation Day by honoring a group of donors at a ceremony held in the City of Culture in the capital.

Tunisia needs 750 blood donors daily and 270,000 donors annually to cover its needs of blood required during surgeries and medication and to save patients and those injured in accidents, especially with the high rate of medication and demand for treatment among Tunisians, Slama Hmida, Director of the National Center for Blood Transfusion, said on the occasion.

He added that the efforts made to provide the needs of blood banks and hospitals were stepped up in 2022 by securing 241,000 donors compared to the year 2021, where the number of donors was 217,900, an increase of 10%.

However, Tunisia needs 270,000 blood donors annually, meaning that the shortfall in the needs of donors is estimated at 30,000 donors, said the official in charge of the national centre for blood donation.

He added that the desired goal of public health is to cover the shortage and achieve greater regularity in the blood donation of individuals to all Tunisians and those who need it in general, not just family members.

The director of the center indicated that voluntary blood donation represents only 21% of the total donors, and regular donation does not exceed 8% of the donors.

This needs to be changed through concerted efforts between associations, civil society, the state and the media to increase the number of volunteers, deepen the spirit of volunteerism and ensure highest percentage of regularity, he added.

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Health Ali Mrabet, executives of public structures and civil associations supporting blood donation and transfusion and dozens of volunteers, donors and families of beneficiaries of blood transfusion.

During the ceremony, symbolic certificates were awarded to many multiple blood donors.
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.
Mombasa, Kenya  Gobonamang Kgetho has a deep affection for Africa's largest inland delta, the Okavango. It is his home.

The water and wildlife-rich land is fed by rivers in the Angolan highlands that flow into northern Botswana before draining into Namibia's Kalahari Desert sands. Several Indigenous and local communities and a vast array of species, including African elephants, black rhinos and cheetahs, live among the vibrant marshlands. Much of the surrounding region is also teeming with wildlife.

Fisher Kgetho hails from Botswana's Wayei community and relies on his pole and dug-out canoe to skirt around the marshes looking for fish. But things have changed in recent years -- in the delta and across the country.

"The fish sizes have shrunk and stocks are declining," Kgetho, whose life and livelihood depends on the health of the ecosystem, told The Associated Press. "The rivers draining into the delta have less volumes of water."

Drilling for oil exploration, as well as human-caused climate change leading to more erratic rainfall patterns and water abstraction and diversion for development and commercial agriculture, has altered the landscape that Kgetho and so many other people and wildlife species, rely on.

The delta's defenders are now hoping to block at least one of those threats -- oil exploration.

A planned hearing by Namibia's environment ministry will consider revoking the drilling license of Canadian oil and gas firm Reconnaissance Energy. Local communities and environmental groups claimed that land was bulldozed and cut through, damaging lands and polluting water sources, without the permission of local communities.

Kgetho worries that rivers in his region are drying up because of "overuse by the extractive industries, including oil exploration activities upstream."

In a written statement, ReconAfrica, the firm's African arm, said it safeguards water resources through "regular monitoring and reporting on hydrological data to the appropriate local, regional and national water authorities" and is "applying rigorous safety and environmental protection standards."

The statement went on to say that it has held over 700 community consultations in Namibia and will continue to engage with communities in the country and in Botswana.

The company has been drilling in the area since 2021 but is yet to find a productive well. The hearing was originally scheduled for Monday but has been postponed until further notice. The drilling license is currently set to last until 2025, with ReconAfrica previously having been granted a three-year extension.

Locals have persisted with legal avenues but have had little luck. In a separate case, Namibia's high court postponed a decision on whether local communities should pay up for filing a case opposing the company's actions.

The court previously threw out the urgent appeal made by local people to stop the Canadian firm's drilling activities. It's now deciding whether the government's legal fees should be covered by the plaintiffs or waived. A new date for the decision is set for May.

The Namibian energy minister, Tom Alweendo, has maintained the country's right to explore for oil, saying that European countries and the U.S. do it too. Alweendo supports the African Union's goal of using both renewable and non-renewable energy to meet growing demand.

There are similar fears of deterioration across Botswana and the wider region. Much of the country's diverse ecosystem has been under threat from various development plans. Nearby Chobe National Park, for example, has seen a decline in river quality partly due to its burgeoning tourism industry, a study found.

In the Cuvette-Centrale basin in Congo, a dense and ecologically thriving forest that's home to the largest population of lowland gorillas, sections of the peatlands -- the continent's largest -- went up for oil and gas auction last year.

The Congolese government said the auctioning process "is in line" with development plans and government programs and it will stick to stringent international standards.

Environmentalists are not convinced.

Wes Sechrest, chief scientist of environmental organization Rewild, said that protecting areas "that have robust and healthy wildlife populations" like the Okavango Delta, "are a big part of the solution to the interconnected climate and biodiversity crises we're facing."

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The peatlands also serve as a carbon sink, storing large amounts of gas that would otherwise heat up the atmosphere.

Sechrest added that "local communities are going to bear the heaviest costs of oil exploration" and "deserve to be properly consulted about any extractive industry projects, including the many likely environmental damages and decide if those projects are acceptable to them."

Steve Boyes, who led the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project that mapped the delta, said researchers now have even more data to support the need to maintain the wetlands.

Aided by Kgetho and other locals whose "traditional wisdom and knowledge" led them through the bogs, Boyes and a team of 57 other scientists were able to detail around 1,600 square kilometers of peatlands.

"These large-scale systems that have the ability to sequester tons of carbon are our long-term resilience plan," said Boyes.

For Kgetho, whose journey with the scientists was made into a documentary released earlier this year, there are more immediate reasons to defend the Okavango.

"We must protect the delta," Kgetho said. "It is our livelihood."
press release

Responding to the conviction and sentencing of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere after she was accused of "publishing falsehoods" for a video she posted on Twitter alleging that a police officer had killed a baby, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for East and Southern Africa, Flavia Mwangovya said:

The conviction of Fadzayi Mahere is a travesty of justice as it is based on a law that is no longer existent in ZimbabweFlavia Mwangovya, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for East and Southern Africa

"The conviction of Fadzayi Mahere is a travesty of justice as it is based on a law that is no longer existent in Zimbabwe and applied to silence dissent. The legal provision that was used to convict Mahere was declared void by the Constitutional Court in 2014. The High Court confirmed this in another case in 2021. The Magistrate Court in this case should have taken note of the decisions of the upper courts and acquitted Mahere.

"The conviction and sentencing demonstrate the extent to which authorities are willing to go to muzzle critical voices and supress the right to freedom of expression. The authorities are sending a clear message that there is no space for exercising the right to freedom of expression in Zimbabwe."

Zimbabwean authorities must quash this sentence and stop using the courts to target and harass individuals exercising their right to freedom of expression both online and offlineFlavia Mwangovya

"Zimbabwean authorities must quash the sentence and stop using the courts to target and harass individuals exercising their right to freedom of expression both online and offline."

Background

Fadzayi Mahare was convicted on 5 April 2023. Mahere was charged under section 31 of the Criminal Law Reform and Codification Act with "publishing or communicating falsehoods" after she posted on Twitter a viral video of a woman tussling with a police officer with a motionless baby in her hands in January 2021. She was arrested and detained for seven days before being granted bail by a Harare magistrate.

Mahere was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of $500 USD for publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state.

Mahere was acquitted of the preferred charge brought by the prosecution of "promoting and inciting public violence" and convicted her only of the alternative charge of communicating false statements.
-Sup. Kamba appeals to Media for thorough investigation

Lofa County Superintendent William Tamba Kamba has cautioned local media platforms in Liberia to investigate the recent ban on FGM.

The County Superintendent believes that it is not his responsibility to investigate and identify those who are violating the law at their local bushes in the county but calls on the media to help the government investigate and identify violators.

"The FGM is a law that was signed by representatives from the 15 counties, so what's the question? I think the Press need to take the responsibility to help the administration and government to investigate and identify those who are violating the law because every county was represented." he said adding "So, as far as I'm concerned, FGM is not being practiced at our respective counties."

He made the statement responding to a question from our assigned reporter Thursday, April 7, 2023, at MICAT's regular briefing on Capital bypass.

In Liberia, the practice of FGM date back many centuries. Strong taboos surrounding the practice and associated Sande secret societies make tackling the practice challenging.

On her last day in office in 2018, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf signed an executive order on the Domestic Violence Bill to ban FGM on girls under 18 years old. However, the ban expired on February 2019.

The temporary ban on FGM was not as effective as initially anticipated during its one-year existence as a law. This was mainly due to a lack of knowledge of the existence of the ban and a lack of coordinated multi-sectoral implementation by state agencies.

With the Executive Order already in existence, the number of Sande bushes in Liberia increased drastically with the practice extending to 11 counties from the previous 10.

Other than the temporary ban on FGM, there has never been any solid attempt at making FGM illegal in Liberia. The few cases that have gone through the justice system have been covered under Section 242 of the Penal Code which speaks to malicious and unlawful injuries towards another person by cutting off or otherwise depriving him or her of any of the members of his body, finding a person guilty of a felony. This is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Additionally, the punishments included rehabilitation and fines which are determined on a case-by-case basis -- none of which deterred practicing communities.

Traditional leaders have significant power and influence over the Liberian community and often over policymakers. Once girls reach age 18, they will face immense pressure to undergo FGM to remain in the community.

In July 2011, the members of the politically influential Sande secret society who had kidnapped and forcibly subjected Ruth to FGM were sentenced to three years imprisonment; however, they appealed the judgment and were released on bail.

In March 2017, 16-year-old Zaye Doe died in the Tappita area in the Sande bush during forced mutilation. The traditional leaders (Zoes) subjected Zaye and 25 more girls to FGM despite the government ban on Sande Secret Society operations, including FGM at the time.

Also On 28 September 2021, Parker's 15-year-old daughter was abducted by traditional leaders in Liberia, known as the zoes, and taken from Mount Barclay, a town near the capital Monrovia, to the Sande Bush. There, she was forcibly initiated into the zoes' secret society. For these women, initiation includes female genital mutilation (FGM).

The National traditional council and the Government of Liberia, along with the UN Women's Goodwill Ambassador for the abolishment of FGM in Africa, during her visit to Liberia in 2022, conducted a ritual event to end FGM practice in all parts of Liberia.

Dukureh, a survivor of FGM and child marriage, visited the country from November 19-27 to support the government's efforts to put an end to the inhumane practices against women and girls. And through her effort, FGM was finally abolished on Monday, February 6, 2023.

The final abolishment of FGM practices in Liberia was in fulfillment of Dukurehs commitment made at the end of a consultative meeting among traditional leaders held in Ganta, Nimba County in 2019.

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Meanwhile, when Lofa County Superintendent William Tamba Kamba was quizzed on whether the traditional people of the county are coping with the recent ban, the superintendent instead cautioned local media platforms in Liberia to thoroughly investigate to see for themselves if the ban on FGM is working at the county level, adding that as far as he's concern FGM is not being practiced at their respective counties.

In Liberia, superintendents are considered the chief administrative officer of a county, and their primary responsibility is to oversee and coordinate the day-to-day administration and management of the county. The superintendent is appointed by the president and serves as the president's representative in the county.

However, it comes as a suppressed that the superintendent who also works closely with other county officials, including the county legislative caucus, county development superintendents, and county council to ensure effective governance and service delivery to county residents, says it is not his responsibility to know whether the traditional leaders in the counties are coping with the ban or not.
President George Weah issued Executive Order #117 mandating all appointed officials of the government aspiring to contest elective positions in the impending October 10, 2023, Presidential and Legislative Elections to resign on or before April 7, 2023.

According to the Executive Order, the president's action was per the amended Sections 5.2 and 10.2 of the 2014 Code of Conduct enacted, approved, and printed in handbills on December 29, 2022.

In March 2014, Liberia's legislature passed a National Code of Conduct (CoC) for all public officials and employees of the Government of Liberia. In 2022, the Liberian Legislature amended certain portions of the 2014 Code of Conduct, particularly Part V, sections 5.2 under Political Participation and Part-X 10.2 under Declaration and Registration of Personal Interests, Assets and Performance/Financial Bonds because those provisions were too high and unreasonable.

Before the amendment, section 5.2 states, "Wherein, any person in the category stated in section 5.1 herein above desires to canvass or contest for an elective public position, the following shall apply; a) Any Minister, Deputy Minister, Director-General, Managing Director and Superintendent appointed by the President pursuant to Article 56 (a) of the Constitution and a Managing Director appointed by a Board of Directors, who desires to contest for elective public office shall resign said post at least two (2) years prior to the date of such public elections."

In the revised portion of the code of conduct, Section 5.2 to be precise, public officers who wish to contest elections now have one year instead of two to resign before the next election. The amended portion states: "all officials appointed by the President, including all cabinet ministers, deputy, and assistant cabinet ministers, ambassadors, ministers consuls, superintendents of counties and other Government officials, both military and civilian, appointed by the President pursuant to Article 56(a) of the 1986 Constitution, and any managing director, deputy managing director, assistant managing director of a corporation owned by the Government of Liberia, any commissioner, deputy and assistant commissioner of any commission established by the Legislature, and any official of the Government who negotiates and executes contracts, procures goods and services, and/or manages assets for and on behalf of the Government of Liberia, who desires to canvass or contest for an elective public office within the Government of Liberia shall resign his or her position one (1) year before the date on which the election for the post for which he/she intends to contest."

Breaking it down, section 5.2 bars presidential appointees from actively participating in the presidential and legislative elections as a candidate without resigning one (1) year before the election date for the position for which he/she intends to contest.

Why did the president of Liberia wait eight months before the legislative and presidential elections before issuing an Executive Order? Why are political appointees who have the ambition of contesting didn't resign one (1) year before the election? Is President Weah in violation of the laws of Liberia he was sworn to uphold and protect?

The premise of section 5.2 of the code of conduct in my view is deeply rooted in the most often-quoted idiom of one eating his cake and then seeking to have it back when the said cake has been absorbed into his system and is undergoing the process of digestion so that it can never be recovered forever. It is a world of one option for the presidential appointees, either to retain their current office or to seek elective office, but certainly, they cannot combine both.

A simple analysis is where a person has been appointed by the President as a Minister for one of many government ministries and she/he desires to be a member of the House of Senate or House of Representatives through the election and yet she/he wants to retain his position as a member of the executive whilst jostling to join the legislature. Liberia does not run a parliamentary system of government whereby the executive and the legislature coalesce together. It is called separation of powers. How will it feel, for instance, for a sitting Minister or head of Autonomous Agencies to seek to participate in any elective office either as a President, Senator, or representative, without first resigning his/her position as a member of the Executive? If the political appointee who seeks elective office is satisfied with his/her office, then why seek to jettison it?

In Liberia, presidential appointees are paid one form of emolument or allowance or the other by the government, with specific responsibilities to perform. Thus, even apart from the conflict of retaining an executive position and seeking elective office, how does a person occupying a political office abandon his responsibilities for which he is being paid to embark upon campaigns at the expense of the people? What justification can we give for retaining a person on the payroll of the government who already has his eyes on another assignment?

We must sanitize the electoral space to remove all vestiges of manipulation and land mines. It is not in our best interest for those that we pay to perform certain duties to abscond from their sacred responsibilities to actualize their ambitions to seek elective office. They owe us the duty of fairness to surrender our mandate granted to them through their appointments should they aspire to contest any election.

Section 5.2 of the Code of Conduct should be obeyed. It protects the electorate. The said provision has not precluded presidential appointees from becoming a member of a political party or voting in general elections. It only precludes them from contesting as a candidate in presidential and legislative elections without resigning one year before the election. Moreso, a presidential appointee does not hold the office as of right, but at the pleasure of the Chief Executive. Also, it is pertinent to state that most of these presidential appointees have ended up using their offices to intimidate political opponents of their principals during elections in a bid to retain their jobs.

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Moreso, the Section of the Code of Conduct was designed to create a level playing ground for all aspirants during national elections. It is instructive to note that the Section does not in any way undermine the rights of political appointees to hold office or participate in national elections. Therefore, the National Election Commission (NEC) must adhere to the code of conduct by not certifying presidential appointees who have not "resigned his or her position one (1) year before the date on which the election for the post for which he/she intends to contest" not eight (8) months before the date of the election or else we may soon have in our hands a ridiculous situation whereby the Chairman of NEC or even the Governor of Central Bank of Liberia may seek to contest election whilst still holding on to their appointments. I rest my case.
An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo
At least two migrants have died and approximately 20 others are missing after their ship sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Tunisia and Italy, as reported by German aid group ResQship to AFP on Sunday.

Stefan Seyfert from ResQship stated that the groups ship, Nadir, rescued 22 individuals and brought them to the Italian island of Lampedusa.

The boat went down overnight from Saturday to Sunday. Those saved include both men, women, and children from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Mali, according to Ingo Werth, Nadirs captain.

The boats crew also recovered the corpses of two men, among those saved was a pregnant woman. According to Seyfert, around 40 migrants were present on the boat when it departed from Sfax, Tunisia. He stated,

We did everything we could to save more people but didnt manage to, and acknowledged the good cooperation with the Italian coastguard. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, nine women were among the survivors, while 18 of them are missing.

The migrants purportedly paid 3,000 Tunisian dinars (around $980) for passage on the vessel. ResQship informed Twitter earlier on Sunday that they arrived at the scene of the accident when the migrants had already been swimming for around two hours.

They stated that they had saved 22 people and retrieved two bodies. This is an unspeakable tragedy that could and should have been prevented by a humanitarian approach to migration instead of barb-wiring the European borders, the group remarked.

Thousands of migrants have arrived on Lampedusa in the previous few days, which is only around 150 kilometers (90 miles) from the Tunisian coast.

This is the most recent in a series of disasters in the Mediterranean Sea, where dozens of migrants attempting the crossing have drowned or had to be rescued from insufficient vessels.

They are increasingly becoming a jumping-off point for West Africans, Sudanese, and others trying to reach safety and better lives in Europe.

Italy has been complaining for a while about the number of migrants arriving on its land.

According to figures provided by the interior ministry, more than 14,000 migrants have arrived in Italy since the beginning of the year, compared to 5,300 during the same period in 2022 and 4,300 who arrived last year.
The 25th anniversary of the 1998 Good Friday peace accords in Northern Ireland is being commemorated on Monday.

However, the province is currently facing political dysfunction and security concerns, which could overshadow the historic occasion.

No large public events are scheduled for the day itself, but both British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden will arrive on Tuesday to launch several days of high-profile commemorations.

The peace deal reshaped the territory after pro-Irish nationalist and pro-UK unionist leaders reached an unlikely consensus on April 10, 1998, following extended negotiations.

The Good Friday Agreement, brokered by Washington and ratified by governments in Dublin and London, ended three decades of terrible sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland and intermittent terrorist attacks on mainland Britain, which killed over 3,500 people.

Since then, Northern Ireland has struggled to build on the gains made towards peace, with post-Brexit trade arrangements leading to political instability and a rise in violence by dissident republicans.

Despite this, the upcoming events will reflect on Northern Irelands transformation since the 1998 peace deal.

British and US leaders will attend a commemorative conference at Queens University and host a gala dinner to honour the anniversary.

The following week, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will host a three-day conference starting April 17. However, the focus will inevitably be drawn to Northern Irelands current challenges.
China has announced that its fighter jets carried out simulated strikes on Taiwan on Monday, with live ammunition, in an ongoing military exercise that involved the Shandong aircraft carrier.

The US Navy, meanwhile, stated that it sailed its guided-missile destroyer through waters claimed by China in the South China Sea, in a freedom of navigation operation.

The Chinese militarys Eastern Theatre Command remarked that multiple batches of H-6K fighters carrying live ammunition carried out multiple waves of simulated strikes on important targets on Taiwan Island and noted that the Shandong participated in todays exercise.

China conducted simulated strikes on Taiwan with live ammunition in a military exercise involving their aircraft carrier. The US Navy sailed a guided-missile destroyer through waters claimed by China in the South China Sea. Chinas Eastern Theatre Command stated that multiple fighter jets carried out simulated strikes on Taiwan with live ammunition.

The Taiwan defence ministry observed 59 Chinese military planes near Taiwan on the third day of Chinas military drills.

It stated that 39 of those crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered Taiwans air defence zones.

The USS Milius sailed about 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from where Chinese fighter jets and warships were carrying out their military drills.

The war games followed a meeting last week between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy outside Los Angeles.

The exercises prompted disapproval from Taipei and calls for restraint from Washington, which said it was monitoring Beijings actions closely.
Ukraines armed forces are preparing for a counter-offensive to reclaim the territory currently occupied by Russia.

Alongside the military, civilian administrations in exile are also making plans for their return. s correspondent Gulliver Cragg met with the exiled mayor of Melitopol, the city that is currently acting as the capital of the Russian-occupied area of Zaporizhzhia region. But, according to the mayor, not for long.

In an exclusive interview with in Kyiv, the exiled mayor Ivan Fedorov revealed the main task of his administration when they return to Melitopol: After our soldiers de-occupy our city, we as a team have to make it livable again as quickly as possible. He added that Russian soldiers typically take everything when they leave, from ambulances to police cars to medical equipment.

Although Ukrainian officials are not revealing when or where a counter-offensive may occur, Fedorov stated that Russian soldiers occupying his city are growing increasingly nervous:

They are starting to panic and as a result they are increasing the pressure on our residents.

Fedorov also stressed the importance of evacuating as many civilians as possible before the counter-offensive to help the Ukrainian military.
A shooting at a bank in the downtown area of Louisville has claimed the lives of at least four individuals and injured eight others, according to the police. The suspect responsible for the shooting was also found dead.

This shooting marks the 15th occurrence of such mass tragedies in the United States this year, and comes two weeks following an event in which a former student killed three adults and three schoolchildren at a Christian school situated in Nashville.

The police exchanged gunshots with the shooter inside the Old National Bank, with Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey informing reporters that police arrived while gunshots were still being fired. It is unclear if the shooter committed suicide or was shot dead by the responding officers.

Humphrey said that the shooter appeared to have a previous connection to the bank and was likely a former employee.

At least eight individuals, two of whom are police officers, were being treated at the hospital for injuries, with one of the police officers being in critical condition.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who had lost acquaintances in the shooting, expressed his condolences to the families affected by the shooting on social media.

This marks the second tragedy that the Governor has been personally affected by, having also witnessed first-hand the devastating tornadoes that occurred in Kentucky last year, which had struck his fathers hometown.

Deputy Chief Humphrey commended the heroic actions taken by the responding officers, saying that their prompt response had undoubtedly resulted in saving lives.

During the past 100 days, there have been 15 mass shootings, making this year the most dangerous for gun violence since 2009. However, the years with the most mass shootings were in 2019 and 2022, with 45 and 42 incidents respectively.
Search for Intelligence Breach Source in US Regarding War Plans of Ukraine

US officials are searching for the source of a security breach as highly classified documents were allegedly leaked over the past few weeks on social media platforms.

Showing war-sensitive details on Ukraines military defences as the embattled nation prepares to launch a counteroffensive against Russian forces, the documents drew international scrutiny while alarming the Pentagon.

Heavily publicised in an article published by the New York Times last week, the leak of allegedly highly confidential documents over the past month has sent the USsecurity community into a frenzy as it seeks to identify the source of the breach.

The US national security community is grappling with fallout from the release of dozens of secret documents, including the impact on sensitive information-sharing within the government and ties with other countries, two US officials said on condition of anonymity.

Detailing Ukraines militaryvulnerabilities and strategic plans, the documents also contain information on US allies including Israel, South Korea and Turkey.

Ukraine on Friday said its president and top security officials had met to discuss ways to prevent future leaks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office on Sunday labeled one of the documents, which purportedly revealed that one of the countrtys intelligence agencies encouraaged recent protests against Netanyahus judicial reform, as mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever.

Meanwhile a South Korean presidential official said the country plansto discuss issues raised with Washington.

Although the release of documents appears to be the most serious public leak of classified information in years, US officials say it so far does not reach the scale and scope of the 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables that appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2013.

According to several national security experts and US officials, the source of the leak could be American, considering the breadth of topics covered by the documents. A pro-Russiansource, however, has not been ruled out.

The two US officials said the Pentagon is examining procedures governing how widely some of the most sensitive US secrets are shared.

Some of the documents, one of the officials said, would most likely have been available to thousands of people with US and allied government security clearances despite being highly sensitive, as the information directly affected those countries.

The Pentagon has needed to curtail the unbridled access to some of the most sensitive intel when theyve (got) no justifiable reason to have it, one of the officials said, pointing to the high number of people that have access to the documents.

The Pentagon said in a statement on Sunday that it was reviewing the validity of the photographed documents that appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material.

An interagency effort aimed at assessing the impact that the photographed documents could have onUS national security as well as that of US allies, a standard procedure known as damage assessment for leaks of classified information, has also been launched, it said.

The issue has also beenreferred to the Department of Justice, which has opened a criminal investigation.

Meanwhile, the possibility of the documents having been doctored to mislead investigators as to their origin or to disseminate false information that may harm US security interests has not been ruled out, the officials said.

Former senior CIA undercover officer Daniel Hoffman said it was highly likely that Russian operatives posted documents related to Ukraine as part of a Russian disinformation operation, citing Moscows intelligences agencies past activities.

Such operations meant to sow confusion, if not discord, among Russias adversaries were a classic practice of Russian spy services to leak authentic documents in which they have inserted false information, he said.

When asked about allegations that Russia may have been responsible, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that I cannot comment on this in any way. You and I know that there is in fact a tendency to always blame everything on Russia. It is, in general, a disease.

Asked about the idea that Washington had spied on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Peskov, who called the leaks quite interesting, said that could not be ruled out.

But the fact that the United States has been spying on various heads of state, especially in European capitals, for a long time now, has come up repeatedly, causing various scandalous situations, he said.

Reuters
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Oakland, Ca. (Feature; Special to Informed Comment)  The demonstration on the floor of the Tennessee Legislature on March 30 was not an insurrection, such as occurred on January 6. It was a passionate political protest, driven by raw emotions in the wake of another AR-15 massacre at a local school on March 27. The demonstration spilled over from the lawn of the Tennessee Capitol Building into the chamber. Thats where the comparison stops. The same sort of people who enabled January 6, and called it a normal tourist visit, have responded with unlawful demands for expulsion, over a breach of decorum. Tennessee Republicans have a history of giving their own members a pass for actual offenses, such as sexual abuse of minors.

Yet, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton argued that the breach was an insurrection. The Republican supermajority is concealing, behind this red herring that they are now now Trumpians, resorting to racist scapegoating to score political points.

The expulsions may conflict with the SCOTUS precedent, established when the court reversed the decision of the Georgia state assembly to expel Julian Bond for endorsing a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee statement charging the United States with contravening international law in Vietnam. The expulsion also violates the Home Rule Amendment, Article XI, Section 9 of the Tennessee Constitution.

Article continues after bonus IC video

NBC News: Ousted Tennessee state lawmakers fight to reclaim their seats

Justin Jones (Nashville), Justin Pearson (Memphis) and Gloria Johnson (Knoxville) knowingly violated the rules of decorum and expected to be sanctioned, proportional to their offenses. They used their standing to articulate the depth of outrage towards those lawmakers who ignore the consequences of the gun violence epidemic, and profit from it. In an act of brazen partisan retribution, Jones was ousted by a vote of 72-25, while Pearson went down 69-26 vote. Johnson was sanctioned, but not expelled, which she attributed to racism, as the speeches by Republicans had strong racist overtones.

The three state reps joined protesters outside the Capitol on March 30, demanding that lawmakers pass gun-control legislation. Then they brought the House session to a halt, shouting, No action, no peace, as Pearson spoke on the floor through a megaphone and chanted Enough is enough! about gun violence. Jones held a sign that read, Protect kids, not guns. Republicans reacted with their usual echo chamber about using a tragedy to score political points, and the now is not the time refrain. Pearson and Jones were told, Dont elevate yourself above the victims of the tragedy, whose bodies arent even yet in the ground. So, this is also about the stranglehold the NRA has on the Republican Party, as it has gained strength from voter suppression and gerrymandering nationwide.

Rural white Republicans are trying to override the will of the voters in three urban districts, and to further erode Democratic representation. Theyre punishing their colleagues and three cities over objections to their refusal to enact effective gun legislation after the Nashville shootings and using this charade to avoid a gun control bill.

Inadvertently, Republicans have catapulted the state reps to national prominence, and elicited a forceful backlash of objection and ridicule from a broad political spectrum, including some National Republican leaders. Objectors include Congressional Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), who represents urban Memphis, and served 24 years in the State Senate. If we put together his various statements on the issue, they go like this: As a former state Senator and current Member of Congress, I understand the need for compliance with rules in a legislative body. But . . . expelling Members Justin Pearson, Gloria Johnson and Justin Jones will result in the disenfranchisement of their constituents in Memphis, Knoxville and Nashville who voted for them, and result in the unnecessary expense of primary and general elections. . . the heightened emotions prompted by the horrific Covenant School shootings should be a mitigating factor in any disciplinary response. . . The three Democratic Members did violate the rules of decorum, however I believe expulsion to be too extreme a consequence. The passion that motivated the breach of decorum, should mitigate any discipline.

The Tennessee ACLU said, Trying to expel three lawmakers without due process for amplifying the voices of their constituents in a peaceful, non-violent manner undermines democracy . . . Instead of rushing to expel members for expressing their ethical convictions about crucial social issues, House leadership should turn to solving the real challenges facing our state.

This is the rawest form of election interference, a racist, unconstitutional, extra-legislative power play, which dictates to hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans that they cant choose Reps. Jones and Pearson, their duly elected state legislators. Over 200,000 voters are disenfranchised by this action. Victor Ashe, a former Knoxville mayor, state legislator and an ambassador under the Bush administration said, The violations of House rules, dont rise even remotely to the level of expulsion. But party elder statesmen such as Ashe dont hold sway in Trumps party; his ownership was confirmed by the ugly language and implications of these actions. But the legal reaction has yet to unfold.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / iMetal Resources Inc. (TSX.V:IMR) (OTC PINK:ADTFF) (FRANKFURT:A7V) ("iMetal" or the "Company") announces that it has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Placement") for gross proceeds of $1,281,250, in connection with the closing of the Placement, the Company issued 2,000,000 Quebec flow-through units (each, a "Quebec Unit") to one subscriber resident in the Province of Quebec on March 31, 2023 and 3,125,000 flow-through units (each, a "FT Unit") to subscribers resident in the rest of Canada on April 6, 2023. The FT Units and Quebec Units were both offered at a price of $0.25 per FT Unit and Quebec Unit.

Each Quebec Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant exercisable to acquire an additional common share at a price of $0.35 until March 31, 2025 (each, a "Quebec Warrant").

Each FT Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant exercisable to acquire an additional common share at a price of $0.30 until April 6, 2025 (each, a "Warrant").

The common shares forming part of the Quebec Units and the FT Units will qualify as flow-through shares within the meaning of Subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Proceeds from the Placement will be used by the Company to incur qualifying expenditures related to the Company's properties provided that the proceeds from sale of the Quebec Units will only be used on projects located in the Province of Quebec.

In connection with completion of the Placement, the Company paid $45,000 and issued 120,000 Quebec Warrants and 60,000 Warrants to certain arm's length third parties who assisted by introducing subscribers to the Company. The securities issued in connection with the Quebec Units are subject to a statutory hold period until August 1, 2023, and the securities issued in connection with the FT Units are subject to a statutory hold period until August 7, 2023, all in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Placement included a subscription from an insider of the Company for an aggregate of 125,000 FT Units. This participation by the insider constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Policy 5.9 of the TSX Venture Exchange and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). For this transaction, the Company has relied on the exemption from the formal valuation requirements contained in Section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 and has relied on the exemption from the minority shareholder requirements contained in Section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101.

About iMetal Resources Inc.

iMetal is a Canadian based junior exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its portfolio of resource properties in Ontario and Quebec. One of its Flagship properties Gowganda West, is an exploration-stage gold project that borders the Juby Deposit and is located within the Shining Tree Camp area in the southern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt about 100 km south-southeast of the Timmins Gold Camp. The 665-hectare Kerrs Gold deposit comprises a series of gold-bearing pyritized quartz vein replacement breccias with a 2011 historic resource, 90 kilometres ENE of Timmins. The 220-hectare Ghost Mountain property, 42 kilometres NE of Kirkland Lake, lies 5 kilometres W of Agnico Eagle's Holt and Holloway Mine.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Saf Dhillon

President & CEO

iMetal Resources Inc.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel. (604-484-3031)

Suite 550, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2V6.

https://imetalresources.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. 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 forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration, variations in results of mineralization, relationships with local communities, market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Riley Gold Corp. (TSX.V: RLYG) (OTCQB: RLYGF) (Riley Gold or the Company) is pleased to announce that Dr. Thomas (Tom) Patton and Mr. John Schaff have been appointed to the Board of Directors (BOD) of the Company.

Dr. Tom Patton (Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc., P. Geo.) has spent his entire career in the exploration industry as a field geologist, consultant, and executive at both junior and senior mining companies. He held senior positions at Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration and Kennecott, where he served as Senior Vice President of Exploration & Business Development. As the President and COO of Western Silver Corp., Tom led the exploration team that discovered the Penasquito silver-gold-lead-zinc deposit in Zacatecas, Mexico. Subsequent to the discovery, Glamis Gold bought Western Silver for US$1.2B in February 2006 and shortly thereafter was acquired by Goldcorp in August 2006 for US$8.6B The Penasquito Mine is currently Mexicos largest producer of both gold and silver.

Tom is currently a Director and Co-Chairman of Lion Copper & Gold (formerly Quaterra Resources, Inc.). He is a Member of the Society of Economic Geologists and the American Institute of Mining & Metallurgical Engineers. He graduated from the University of Washington with M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees.

Mr. John Schaff (B.Sc.) has worked for over 30 years in the exploration industry for both junior and senior mining companies. John has actively participated in numerous discoveries including Kennecott's Gemfield, Midway, and Castle Au deposits in Nevada and the Whistler Cu-Au deposit in Alaska; Rio Tinto's Eagle Cu-Ni deposit in Michigan, the Tamarack Cu-Ni deposit in Minnesota, and the Diavik Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories, Canada; and Noranda's Lynne VMS deposit in Wisconsin. Mr. Schaffs experience also includes having worked with Coeur Mining, where as Exploration Manager he was an integral part in the discovery of the C-Horst deposit located in the highly active Bare Mountain Mining District near Beatty, Nevada. In 1987 John received his Bachelor of Science (Geology) from Bemidji State University, Bemidji, Minnesota. John is currently working as the Vice-President Exploration for Avidian Gold.

We are excited to welcome Tom and John to the Riley Gold team and look forward to their contribution to the success of the Company. Both are well respected experienced professionals in the mining sector including Nevada, where Riley Gold has its Pipeline West Clipper and Tokop gold projects, commented Todd Hilditch, President and Director.

Additional changes to the Companys BOD include: Mr. William Lamb transitioning to (Non- Executive) Chairman of the Board of Directors from Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors; and Bryan McKenzie, current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Director stepping down as a Director while maintaining his position as CFO. The Company thanks Mr. McKenzie for his valued contribution as a board member as well as his continued involvement.

Stock Option Grant:

The Company also announces that, pursuant to its stock option plan and subject to regulatory acceptance, it has granted an aggregate total of 650,000 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, and consultants of the Company, subject to certain vesting provisions. These options will be exercisable at a price of $0.21 per common share and will expire on April 6, 2028.

About Riley Gold Corp.

Riley Gold is an exploration and development company focused in Nevada, USA. The Companys primary focus is on its two cornerstone assets: the Pipeline West/Clipper Project located in the Battle Mountain Eureka Trend (within the Cortez District) and the Tokop Gold Project located within the Walker Lane Trend. Riley Golds founders and leadership team have a proven track record of maximizing shareholder value during each phase of the mining life cycle: exploration, development, and production.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Todd Hilditch

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (604) 443-3831

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.
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 18, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scottie Resources Corp. (Scottie or the Company) (TSXV: SCOT) is pleased to announce that it has closed a second tranche of its... Read More
Thirty-one children have been brought back to Ukraine after being illegally taken to Russia from territories annexed by Moscow, a charity said Saturday.

"Today we are welcoming home 31 more children who have been illegally taken by Russians from occupied territories," Mykola Kuleba, head of the Save Ukraine charity, wrote on social media.

The children had been taken from the pro-Western country's northeastern region of Kharkiv and the southern region of Kherson, said Save Ukraine, which fights what it says are illegal deportations of Ukrainian children to Russian-controlled territory.

On Friday, the charity said the children and their relatives had crossed the border into Kyiv-controlled territory.

According to footage released Friday, the children, who carried suitcases and bags, crossed the border on foot and later boarded a bus to continue their journey.

Kuleba praised the "heroic mothers" who had travelled to retrieve their children in what it called the "most difficult" of the charity's rescue missions to date.

More than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the invasion launched on February 24, 2022, according to Kyiv, with many allegedly placed in institutions and foster homes.

Russia denies the allegations, saying instead it has saved Ukrainian children from the horrors of the war.

Last month, the International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.

The Hague-based court also issued a warrant against Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights, on similar charges.
Thirty-one children have been brought back to Ukraine after being illegally taken to Russia from territories occupied by Moscow, a charity said Saturday.

"Today we are welcoming home 31 more children who have been illegally taken by Russians from occupied territories," Mykola Kuleba, head of the Save Ukraine charity, wrote on social media.

The children had been taken from the pro-Western country's northeastern region of Kharkiv and the southern region of Kherson, said Save Ukraine, which fights what it says are illegal deportations of Ukrainian children.

On Friday, the charity said the children and their relatives had crossed the border into Kyiv-controlled territory.

According to footage released Friday, the children, who carried suitcases and bags, crossed the border on foot and later boarded a bus to continue their journey.

Kuleba praised the "heroic mothers" who had travelled to retrieve their children in what he called the "most difficult" of the charity's rescue missions to date.

One elderly woman who was supposed to bring home two grandchildren had died from "stress", Kuleba added.

Writing on Facebook, he said the Ukrainian relatives had been subjected to a "13-hour interrogation" by Russia's FSB security service.

More than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the invasion launched on February 24, 2022, according to Kyiv, with many allegedly placed in institutions and foster homes.

Russia denies the allegations, saying instead it has saved Ukrainian children from the horrors of the war.

Last month, the International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.

The Hague-based court also issued a warrant against Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights, on similar charges.
The last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials, who secured guilty verdicts from 22 Nazis and dedicated his life to fighting international injustice, has died at age 103, his son told AFP Saturday.

Benjamin Ferencz, an American who at age 27 and with no prior trial experience served as one of the trials' chief prosecutors, would go on to later battle for compensation and the return of stolen goods to victims and survivors of the Holocaust.

He died peacefully in his sleep of natural causes Friday evening at an assisted living facility in Boynton Beach, Florida, his son Donald Ferencz said.

The younger Ferencz told AFP that if his father were to have given a last statement, he was sure it would have been "law not war."

Throughout much of his life, Ferencz advocated for the creation of an international criminal court -- a dream that finally came to fruition with the establishment of the Hague-based ICC in 2002.

The Nuremberg trials set up in Germany in 1945 after World War II laid the foundation for a global criminal justice system for those accused of humankind's worst atrocities.

"Ben's unwavering pursuit of a more peaceful and just world spanned almost eight decades and forever shaped how we respond to humanity's worst crimes," said Sara Bloomfield, director of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.

During the Nuremberg trials, Ferencz was tasked with prosecuting leaders of the Einsatzgruppen, special mobile killing units that were responsible for the murder of more than a million people, especially Jews and particularly via mass shootings. Among the 22 Nazis that he convicted, four were executed.

Ferencz was born in Eastern Europe in 1920, just before his Jewish parents moved the family to the United States. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1943 and served in the US Army during World War II, including working for the army's war crimes branch in which he traveled to newly liberated concentration camps to gather evidence of the atrocities committed inside.

"Camps like Buchenwald, Mauthausen, and Dachau are vividly imprinted in my mind's eye. Even today, when I close my eyes, I witness a deadly vision I can never forget," the Holocaust Memorial Museum quoted him as saying.

The ICC has stood as the world's only permanent, independent court for violations like genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for more than two decades.
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed vowed Sunday to dismantle regional forces established by some states, warning that law enforcement measures would be taken against any "destructive" opposition.

The initiative first announced on Thursday aims to integrate such forces, which were set up unilaterally by some states, into the federal army, regional police or civilian life.

These forces have sparked controversy in the past, particularly during the brutal Tigray war, with security officials operating in Amhara region accused of severe human rights abuses.

Ethiopia's constitution allows its 11 states, drawn up along linguistic and cultural lines, to operate their own regional police forces.

But over the last 15 years, some states have gradually established separate forces, acting outside these constitutional constraints.

In a statement published on his Twitter account on Sunday, Abiy said "Ethiopia had encountered difficulties... in relation to regional special forces," pointing out the existence of illegal checkpoints, smuggling and banditry.

Regional forces and local militias bolstered support for federal troops in their two-year war against Tigrayan rebels, until a peace deal was signed in November 2022, angering some Amhara residents who have a long history of border disputes with Tigray.

Reports of localised unrest have also emerged in Amhara where regional forces have begun to disarm, with Abiy saying the government would "try to convince and explain (the decision) to those who oppose without understanding."

"Law enforcement measures will be taken against those who play deliberate destructive roles," he warned.

"This decision will be implemented even (if we have to) pay a price, for the sake of Ethiopia's... unity and for the people's peace."

Since war erupted in northern Ethiopia in November 2020, Amhara forces and local militias known as Fano have occupied western Tigray, an area claimed by Amhara and Tigray, which remains inaccessible to journalists.

Following a visit to Ethiopia last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Amhara forces had committed "ethnic cleansing" by forcibly transferring people out of western Tigray.

All parties to the conflict have been accused of possible war crimes by UN investigators.

The war began when Abiy sent troops into Tigray after accusing the TPLF, once the dominant party in Ethiopia, of attacking army bases.
"Taxi Driver 2" episode 14 delivered yet another heart-stopping moment as Lee Je Hoon, who plays the beloved anti-hero Kim Do Gi, continues his intense mission against the Black Sun.

Based on the web novel "The Deluxe Taxi," the weekend drama returns with the Rainbow Taxi team continuing their service to victims by providing them protection and taking revenge against their perpetrators.

'Taxi Driver 2' Episode 14 Viewership

After hitting an all-time high, "Taxi Driver 2" episode 14 broke through the highest viewership rating after hitting 22.4 percent. As mentioned in a report, Nielsen Korea recorded an average nationwide rating of 18.3 percent while 19.4 percent in the metropolitan area.

With this, the action crime series continues to rank first in all viewership rating indicators across all programs broadcast over the past weeks.

'Taxi Driver 2' Episode 14 Recap

"Taxi Driver 2" Episode 14 began with Kim Do Gi handing out the concrete evidence that would lead to Black Sun's downfall.

After his team saved him from a near-death experience, KimDo Gi found the evidence left by the police detective who investigated Black Sun's illegal activities. He was the journalist's friend who witnessed the collaboration of the syndicate and the police.

"Taxi Driver 2" episode 14 showed how the detective was killed and made it as if he died of suicide. With the piece of evidence, Kim Do Gi set out another plan with the help of the journalist.

Upon hearing the recording, they figured out that it included a secret message that only the journalist knew. He was able to decode it and found the logs used for switching illegal substances.

The Rainbow Taxi team brought this to the media, while the court sentenced the Black Sun operators including the police helped them with the switching.

On the other hand, On Ha Joon was shocked that Kim Do Gi was alive and the one who exposed the Black Sun's activities.

The Black Sun boss, known as the Bishop, is on the verge of killing On Ha Joon but begged him with a promise that he would kill Kim Do Gi.

However, in the last scene, the Bishop disguised himself as a client hinting at an intense retaliation.

The Rainbow Taxi chairman Jang received a call in what could be the Bishop. The scene followed with Kim Do Gi inside the deluxe taxi with the Bishop at the passenger seat.

'Taxi Driver 2' Episode 15 Release Date

With Lee Je Hoon's drama on its final week, things get more intense as the Raibow Taxi team meets the Bishop.

"Taxi Driver 2" Episode 15 is scheule to air on April 14, via SBS while global viewers culd watch it through Viu TV, Wavve and Viki.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
In a recent interview, Shin Ye Eun talked about the massive changes in her life that she experienced after starring in the smash hit drama "The Glory."

The rising actress also shared an intriguing anecdote involving Hallyu superstar Song Hye Kyo who led the Netflix revenge drama. Keep on reading.

Shin Ye Eun Praised For Down To Earth Personality

One month since the release of "The Glory" Part 2, Shin Ye Eun dished out her honest feelings for the drama.

On April 10, the up-and-coming star made a special appearance at KBS Cool FM Park Myung Soo's Radio Show, thanking the viewers for their intense support for "The Glory."

In the blockbuster series, Shin Ye Eun took on the role of young Park Yeon Jin, a perpetrator of school violence. The older counterpart of the character was played by Lim Ji Yeon.

The 25-year-old star enjoyed massive success and recognition for her impressively realistic performance. In her interview with Park Myung Soo, the actress opened up about the hate that she experienced after "The Glory."

According to Shin Ye Eun, she lost almost thousands of followers on Instagram after the series as there are some viewers who hated her due to her role.

However, the young actress chooses to look at the bright side and still remains appreciative, considering the feedback as a "compliment" for her effective acting.

When asked about the changes she noticed in her life, Shin Ye Eun shared that many people recognize her now as an actress. She humbly said that she didn't expect her to be "so successful."

To give back to her fans, Shin Ye Eun promised to return with greater works that will capture her versatility and strength as a star.

Shin Ye Eun Reveals How She Made Song Hye Kyo Cry

In the interview with Park Myung Soo, Shin Ye Eun talked about her friendship with her fellow "The Glory" stars.

Like their adult counterparts, the young kids of the Netflix series including Jung Ji So, who played Song Hye Kyo's Moon Dong Eun, would gather to have dinner together despite their busy schedules.

According to Shin Ye Eun, she and the rest of the cast created a special bond through the work. The actress also shared an anecdote about Song Hye Kyo.

Although she didn't have a two shot scene with the veteran actress, Shin Ye Eun still managed to make the other cry.

She said, "Song Hye Kyo sunbae (senior) and I didn't have scenes together but she complimented me in an interview. I'm very grateful [to be recognized by her]."

When they saw one another for the first time, Song Hye Kyo shared that she "cried because of anger," referring to Shin Ye Eun and Jung Ji So's bullying scenes.

Shin Ye Eun fangirled, saying that it was the "best compliment" she has ever received in her entire acting career.

ALSO READ: Yoon Chan Young To Play Gangster In Brand New Drama With Lee Seo Jin

As she takes on new challenges, Shin Ye Eun promises to do her best to become as great as Song Hye Kyo when it comes to acting.

On the other hand, Shin Ye Eun currently stars as a guesthouse owner in the SBS TV series "The Secret Romantic Guesthouse" with Kang Hoon, Ryeoun and Jung Gun Joo.

It airs every Monday and Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. KST. Catch the teaser here:

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
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In November 2022, revisions to the United States Pharmacopeias (USP) General Chapter <797>, a standard for sterile pharmaceutical compounding  defined as the process of combining, admixing, diluting, pooling, reconstituting, repackaging, or otherwise altering a drug product or bulk drug substance to create a sterile medication  were published. USP <797> plays a major role in guiding regulatory bodies and accrediting organizations on sterile compounding. USPs 2022 revisions to USP <797> were a significant step forward for patient safety and quality of care. These changes included a clear distinction between the administration of medication and compounding, and effectively ended the one-hour rule, a restrictive standard stating that all immediate-use sterile products must be administered within one hour after the start of preparation. This standard was clinically burdensome as it limited the flexibility and timing with which anesthesiologists and other health care professionals could prepare medications before administration and streamline workflows. Within this revised guidance, USP made it clear that administration is officially outside the scope of USP <797>. Altogether, the revisions will resolve confusion and workflow disruptions health care professionals have faced for years.

The USP chapters are published annually by the United States Pharmacopeial Convention, a scientific nonprofit organization that sets standards for the identity, purity, manufacturing, and handling of medications that are recognized worldwide. USP chapters numbered below 1,000 represent mandated standards. To maintain compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), facilities, physicians, pharmacists, and other health care providers are required to meet the standards of those USP chapters. USP has no enforcement role.

Ahead of the USP <797> revisions last year, many health care providers were concerned about how regulatory and accreditation bodies would govern the pre-spiking of intravenous (IV) fluid bags, an important patient safety issue related to clinical workflows and physicians and other professionals ability to fully prepare for patient care. TJC addressed this issue shortly after the publication of USPs revised guidance, with a statement clarifying that the pre-spiking of IV bags also falls outside the scope of USP <797>. TJCs statement, which aligned with USPs Frequently Asked Questions on USP <797>, made clear that its surveys of health care facilities will evaluate compliance with local policy on this IV spiking issue. In addition, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) published the Statement on Intravenous Fluid Bag Spiking. The statement asserted that based on existing evidence, spiking I.V. fluid bags and using them within 24 hours for surgery/procedure appears to be an appropriate and safe practice. Both the ASA statement and revisions from USP <797> will contribute to easing clinical burdens, reducing waste, and streamlining workflows in the perioperative environment, while maintaining utmost patient safety.

The USP <797> revisions reflect nearly two decades of advocacy from ASA and numerous other medical specialty societies and patient safety organizations. The result of this persistent advocacy was a set of national standards that allows health care professionals more flexibility in the administration of medications. These changes allow health care professionals to more seamlessly prepare for emergency situations by having medications ready ahead of time. The revised standards ultimately enable more efficient preparations and safer care for patients.

Where can health care professionals go from here?

TJC has stated that their surveyors approach to USP <797>, the administration of medications, and the spiking of IV bags will solely evaluate compliance with local/institution policy. Health care professionals should advise their department chairs and facility administrators to develop clear policies that support patient safety and clinical workflows. Those facility leaders may consider appointing task forces or advisory committees to advance the development of these policies. Health care professionals should also engage with hospital administrators, pharmacy, infection control, and other stakeholders to review and update their protocols. According to TJC, those relevant protocols should be based on specific manufacturer instructions, evidence-based guidelines, and applicable state laws and regulations.

With the issues of USP <797> now settled, the health care community has an opportunity to implement a renewed focus on continuing education for medication safety and the proper handling, preparation, and administration of medications, emphasizing patient safety and safety quality of care.

Elizabeth Rebello is an anesthesiologist.
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In a recent posting, The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools, the author concluded that climate change is here and undeniable and, based on her experience of wildfires, that the cataclysmic consequences are already upon us.

Many would disagree, including Nobel Prize-winning physicist Dr. Ivar Giaever who, on resigning from the American Physical Society (APS) in protest, wrote: In the APS it is OK to discuss whether the mass of the proton changes over time and how a multi-universe behaves, but the evidence of global warming is incontrovertible?

Lets examine the fundamental tenets of climate change to see if it is really undeniable.

1. Global warming. Some scientists do not agree that the planet is warming. For those that do, the rate of warming has not met with predictions, a serious blow to the cause, and a foundational failure that casts serious aspersions upon any other forecasts.

2. Global warming is anthropogenic in origin. Such causation can never be proven; it is inferred based on correlations, for example, between temperature and atmospheric CO2 but, as we all know, the association is not necessarily causation. Examples of this can be found on the website spurious correlations.

3. Global warming is due to releasing CO2 into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels. There is no question that humans have caused an increase in atmospheric CO2 levels. However, some dispute CO2 as the chief greenhouse gas, and others have argued that the CO2 effect is already at its maximum, so further rises are inconsequential.

4. Global warming will result in changes to the Earth and its weather that will be seriously detrimental to mankind. Many people believe that global warming has already resulted in adverse climate change, encouraged by the media, which delights in oxymoronic statements such as: This is the worst  since 1922 and is the result of climate change. This never questions whether the mechanism of the historical event might be responsible for the contemporary one. Every unusual weather event is automatically ascribed to climate change.

The data do not support the idea that calamity is already upon us. A March 2023 Congressional Research Service report states that U.S. wildfires have decreased slightly over the last 30 years.

Short-term predictions for events such as the rise in sea level, mass deaths of polar bears, the vanishing of the arctic, the snow on Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the glaciers of Montana, etc., have been woefully inaccurate. Lady Libertys feet remain well clear of the water.

Regretfully, the climate change movement has been hijacked by apocalypticists, who warn that failure to take immediate drastic action will result in death and destruction.

Such warnings are nothing new. The Competitive Enterprise Institutes website lists some 40 catastrophic predictions made over 50 years by climate and allied experts, including ice ages, famine, and population extinction; none materialized. Remember how we would all fry due to the hole in the ozone layer and then dissolve in acid rain?

The writings of climate change advocate Michael Shellenberger and Bjorn Lomborg argue that apocalyptic events are unlikely to happen, probable adverse consequences of climate change are a long way off, and the cries of the Prophets of Imminent Doom are causing harm to the cause.

5. Global warming and the apocalypse can be reversed by reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. The likelihood of humans reducing CO2 levels seems slim with current strategies, particularly using wind and solar to generate electricity. More promising approaches, such as nuclear energy, have been illogically ignored.

Finally, an alternative view is that global warming and rising CO2 levels might bring benefit rather than harm, one endorsed by Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore (who also does not support the anthropogenic origins of global warming). Frozen regions of the Earth would become available to agriculture and prospecting. Elsewhere longer growing seasons would increase agricultural yield. Indeed, the number of trees on the planet has already increased due to growth in areas now made hospitable by global warming,

Human CO2 production may have saved the planet as historic levels fell close to those that would not support plant growth. A study in the journal Nature Climate Change in 2016 showed that a quarter to half of Earths vegetated lands has shown significant greening over the last 35 years, largely due to rising levels of atmospheric CO2, an increase in leaves on plants and trees equivalent in area to two times the continental United States. Greening has also been shown to mitigate global warming, an important consideration if, as some believe, the current level of CO2 already provides maximum greenhouse effect, thus supporting a further increase in CO2 levels rather than a reduction.

In medicine, we require a high standard of evidence before adopting a practice. The current evidence for climate change may meet the standard of lay folk, politicians, and others with a vested interest, but it should not meet ours. Climate change should no more be introduced into medicine at this time than acupuncture or ayurvedic medicine. As with these, more evidence is required.

Martin C. Young is a pediatric endocrinologist.
When peer review goes wrong: the impact on physicians civil and constitutional rights [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

Join us for this episode with guest Farid Gharagozloo, a cardiothoracic surgeon, as we discuss the unintended consequences of the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 (HCQIA). While the act was designed to protect public health and safety by enhancing the peer review process and providing a national repository for reported information regarding medical malpractice payments and adverse actions involving physicians, it has resulted in the deprivation of civil and constitutional rights for physicians. The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) reporting provision violates the Constitutions fifth, eighth, ninth, and tenth amendments. There is a dire need for legal action and a corresponding insurance product to reclaim the constitutional rights for all physicians. Join us as we shed light on these egregious violations of physicians civil and constitutional rights.

Farid Gharagozloo is a cardiothoracic surgeon, professor of surgery, and surgeon-in-chief at the Institute For Advanced Thoracic Surgery, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, and UCF Lake Nona Hospital.

He shares his story and discusses the KevinMD article, Unintended consequences of Health Care Quality Improvement Act: a violation of physicians civil and constitutional rights.

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.

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By Ambrose Musasizi

Health authorities in Kyotera district have come up with a budget of Shs2 billion to facilitate a sensitisation campaign against Marburg which was confirmed in neigbouring Tanzania last month.

Since March 17, Uganda has been on high alert after the Tanzanian government confirmed an outbreak of Marburg in the Kagera region, with eight cases, claiming five lives.

According to Dr. Edward Muwanga, the Kyotera District Health Officer (DHO), the required funds will be used to purchase protective equipment for the health workers and the community, train health workers, routine monitoring of the ongoing activities and putting up a temporary isolation unit.

When we get such epidemic threats in a district, we take such issues to be national, especially for a district like Kyotera which is at the border. We, therefore, expect the Ministry of Health and other partners like the World Health Organisation, Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP), to come in and help us before the situation worsens, he said in an interview on Easter Sunday

Dr. Muwanga said when Health Minister Dr. Ruth Aceng visited Mutukula border on March 25, it was agreed that an isolation unit be put up at Mutukula Health Centre III to help in dealing with any identified cases or suspects.

Its good that immediately after Tanzania confirmed an outbreak of Marburg in an area which is just 84 km away from our border, the Minister of Health visited Mutukula border with some experts who advised us on what to do before the deadly virus knocks on our door , he said.

Dr. Aceng while in Mutukula emphasized the risk communication and community engagement pillar during an epidemic as the essential one before the country registers any case.

Mr. Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health spokesperson said the Ministrys top management is yet to discuss the proposed budget.

We are keenly following whatever is going on in Kyotera and other districts near the Uganda-Tanzania border. The issue of the budget and all they need in prevention and sensitisation of masses is going to be discussed and we shall release a report later on what will have been decided, he said.

Kyotera Resident District Commissioner, Mr. Apollo Mugume who also heads the district response team on Marburg , said security has been tightened at the Mutukula border to prevent unnecessary movements of people on either side of the border.

Many people dodge the gazetted border point and use our porous routes, but security is also key in preventing these movements because these people come into the country without being screened, he said.

Marburg virus begins abruptly with high fever, severe headache, and severe malaise. Severe watery diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea and voting can begin on the third day.
A section of patients has requested health workers to ease access to medical health data.

Mr. Jovan Kanyike, a businessman who said he is a client of one the hospitals in Kampala, told KFM that whereas it is so easy for medical personnel to get information from patients, it was so hard for the latter to access health information when need arises.

Mr. Kanyike revealed that he almost lost a new job opportunity, after failing to access his health data on time from a health facility where he had been receiving medical care.

I was in the process of getting a new job and one of the requirements was to present documents about my health. I went to the hospital where I had been receiving treatment and asked for my health data. They asked me why I needed my health data they were like, for what, come back after tomorrow. It took me almost two weeks to access the information. It was really a struggle, he said.

Ms. Naigaga Madina, another patient, her experience was not any different. Ms. Naigaga said that after treating her son for Malaria at a certain health facility without any improvement, she took him to another health facility. She said that on arrival at the new facility, the doctor requested for a medical form from the facility where her son had been receiving treatment. Unfortunately, she was not able to access the information from that facility when she returned to request for it.

When I went back to ask for a medical form, they kept telling me to be patient until I gave up, Ms. Naigaga said.

The Executive Director of Engendering Gender International Uganda, ( EGIU), Ms. Salome Atim said having access to personal health data by patients is critical for better decision-making when seeking health care else, yet it was still a huddle to get hold of their data, due to bureaucracy and other reasons not known to patients.

When you go to hospitals or big clinics, they open a file for you. Every time you fall sick, information about your health is recorded there. However, this information is not relayed back to the owner. In more developed countries, patients can request and receive detailed digital information about their diagnosis, treatment, and appointments on email. That way, they are empowered to manage their health better, Ms. Atim said.

Hospitals should be in position to avail to patients with details about what they are suffering from, the kind of medication they are receiving, expected side effects, and the duration of treatment. In case of an operation, an explanation of the ailment and the need for operation, including a caesarean birth should be available, she explained further.

Ms. Atim explained that if patients health information is not kept a secret, they would be in position to share it with other health service providers, especially when they relocate to new places.

She said important information such as blood group, adverse reactions to particular medicines, complicated pregnancies, and heart disease among others can save a life or minimize suffering.

She noted that whereas it is good for patients to provide adequate health data to the medical workers for better management, it is equally important for health workers and facilities to give this data to their clients when they need it, to better manage themselves as well.

A person living with HIV for example, will need their detailed health data so that they can share with a new service provider when they relocate to another place or country. That way, the medical workers get to know the medication that works, what has failed, and why, Ms. Atim said.

She said that currently, her organization in partnership with the Kenya AIDs NGOs Consortium (CANCO) is promoting a campaign dubbed, My Data, Our Health, to help citizens know and enjoy their right to access their health information.

My Data, My Health, is a global campaign aimed at galvanizing action on health data and exploring questions of how to ensure that personal health data can be used to improve health for all, while up-holding digital rights.

According to Ugandas Access to Information Act, every citizen has a right of access to information and records in the possession of the State or any public body, except where the release of information is likely to prejudice the security or sovereignty of the State or interfere with the right of privacy of any other person.

Ms. Atim also revealed that sometimes, this right is abused by people who secretly access information regarding other peoples health without their consent.

We have heard cases where spouses and in-laws of women living with HIV have gone behind their backs and obtained information about their HIV status and general sexual and reproductive health information. This is wrong, she said.

Dr. Okwaro Obuku, a Senior Technical Advisor, Data and Policy at Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) said it is in accordance with the law for the patients to access information about their health, from health facilities where they receive care.

Dr. Obuku however noted that some hospitals may prefer to provide a summary report, while others may provide a photocopy of the patients records.

He also said that sometimes, hospitals find it risky to share certain information for fear of incurring what he termed as expensive costs, in Incase they are sued by a patient.
Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) activist Sam Mugumya speaks to Patrick Kamara about his detention in DRC on the KFM HotSeat show.

In 2014, Sam Mugumya was arrested under unclear circumstances and later confined at Ndolo prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Eight years later, he was released from jail on October 21, 2022.

Listen to the show below;
The president of the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) party, Joseph Kabuleta, has urged Ugandans not to stop demanding for iron sheets accountability despite minister Goretti Kitutus ongoing trial.

Last week the Karamoja Minister, Mary Gorreti Kitutu was remanded to Luzira prison by Anti- Corruption Court for allegedly diverting iron sheets meant for the Karamoja community empowerment programme.

Justice Joan Aciro charged the minister and her brother with 6 counts including causing loss of public property and conspiracy to defraud which they denied.

Speaking to KFM Kabuleta said Ugandans should not lose guard because of the ministers incarceration since she is likely to be released on bail and the case might not be heard again.

He thus urges Ugandans to continue pressing the government to ensure that all stolen items are recovered.
At least seven Makerere University students have been arrested on allegations of organising unlawful press conference near the institution.

The group that included two guild aspirants, who were disqualified last week, have been rounded up at Emerald hotel, Kampala today.

Ms Margaret Nattabi and Mr Sulaiman Namwoza, are the guild aspirants who were kicked out of the guild race last week by the Chairperson Electoral commission over staging a presidential debate at Mitchell hall known as Kimeza that resulted into a scuffle which left a one Robert Sserunjogi, a student from the college of natural sciences, hospitalised at University Hospital.

The Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango, has confirmed that seven Makerere University students, one female and six males, are detained at Wandegeya Police Station on charges of holding an illegal assembly. Read more
Strengths Of the cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap, the best performer for the week was Solar, rising 56.33%.



Bitcoin trended toward the high end of its recent range of around $28,000 this week, while Dogecoin continued to benefit from Elon Musk's flirtation with the meme token. Bitcoin rose by as much as 3.1% on Tuesday, its first session higher in three, writes Bloomberg.



MicroStrategy bought 1,045 Bitcoin for $29.3 million between March 24 and April 4, reports Bloomberg. As of April 4, the company held roughly 140,000 Bitcoins in total. Weaknesses Of the cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap, the worst performing for the week was Mask Network, down 12.54%.



Paxful, an Africa-focused Bitcoin trading platform, is suspending its operations, the company's co-founder, Ray Youssef said in statement, citing key staff departures and growing regulatory challenges, writes Bloomberg.



Cryptocurrency exchange BAM Trading Services, and its identity-verification vendor Jumio Corp, must face a proposed class action, reports Bloomberg. The lawsuit alleges the exchange collected account holders' facial geometry in violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. Opportunities OpenSea has launched a new platform catering to the needs of advanced collectors as it seeks to stay competitive amid new market entrants. One of the key features of the new platform is the live cross-marketplace data function that allows collectors to track user and collection activity across various NFT trading venues, writes Bloomberg.



On-chain analysis indicates that Mechanism Capital's Andrew Kang purchased an additional 1.51 million Arbitrum tokens at $1.23 with approximately 1.85 million USDC. Another Arbitrum whale withdrew 5.85 million tokens from the exchange, worth approximately $21.5 million at current prices.



Singapore banks are working with the city-state's authorities to set uniform standards on screening potential customers from the crypto and digital assets sectors, writes Bloomberg. Threats Tether Holdings doesn't have direct access to the U.S. banking system, explains Bloomberg, but for a while it found at least one pathway through Signature Bank. Tether instructed crypto clients to pay for its stablecoins by sending dollars to its Bahamas-based banking partner Capital Union Bank via Signature's Signet payments platform.



The overwhelming majority of cryptocurrency owners aren't paying taxes on their holdings, according to a study by a Swedish tech company. Globally, just 0.53% of cryptocurrency investors declared their cryptocurrency activity to their local tax authorities in 2022, writes Bloomberg.



Jane Street Group, Tower Research Capital, and Radix Trading are the three unidentified trading firms cited as VIP clients of Binance Holdings in a top U.S. regulators lawsuit against the cryptocurrency exchange. The CFTC last week accused Binance of sham compliance with U.S. derivatives regulations including to keep Americans of the exchange as promised, writes Bloomberg. By Frank E. Holmes Contributing to kitco.com Follow @bulldogholmes www.goldnewsletter.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
April 10, 2023 - The government's first superseding indictment of alleged fraudster Samuel Bankman-Fried, filed at the end of February, attracted only passing attention. But while it broke no new legal ground, the new indictment was a major achievement for the prosecution, providing a blueprint for a highly aggressive strategy for trial. It was followed by a second superseding indictment, adding a bribery-related count, filed at the end of March.

Of course, ambitious trial plans, even government plans, often go awry in the execution. The real point of the daunting new indictments may be to deter Bankman-Fried and his counsel from even testing the government's case at trial. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty and denied all charges.

The second indictment added four new counts to the eight counts in the original December 2022 indictment and fine-tuned some legal theories, but the main claims of criminal liability against Bankman-Fried remain the same. He is alleged to have committed fraud upon customers of his global cryptocurrency exchange FTX by misappropriating customer deposits to pay debts of his crypto hedge fund Alameda Research ("Alameda") and fund his own investments; fraud upon Alameda lenders by disseminating false and misleading information as to the financial condition of Alameda; fraud upon FTX investors by disseminating false and misleading information as to the financial condition of FTX and its relationship to Alameda; and fraud upon the Federal Election Commission by making unlawful political contributions to candidates of both political parties.

The government's latest indictment alleges, in a 13th count, that Bankman-Fried conspired to bribe Chinese government officials with a $40 million payment in order to unfreeze certain cryptocurrency accounts that had been frozen.

On top of this legal scaffolding, the prosecutors have overlaid a detailed 25-page narrative of alleged facts. They have produced a "speaking" indictment, laying out how Bankman-Fried, belying his self-styled image as the genial "savior of the cryptocurrency industry," not only violated federal anti-fraud statutes but built multiple deceptions into his business operations to conceal his schemes and, as FTX began to sink in late 2022, repeatedly misled customers and investors with false reassurances as to FTX and Alameda. In the government's telling, the defendant's unlawful conduct was the outgrowth of a pattern of personal hypocrisy and dishonesty.

For example, since no bank would do business with a cryptocurrency firm without extensive due diligence, Bankman-Fried allegedly overcame the fact that FTX had no dedicated bank accounts for holding customer deposits first by surreptitiously using Alameda's proprietary trading accounts, and then by inventing a purely fictitious Alameda trading customer, North Dimension. After an unsuspecting bank agreed to open an account for North Dimension, which was controlled by Alameda, Bankman-Fried used it for the improper transfer and deposit of FTX customer funds.

According to the second indictment, Bankman-Fried concealed his massive misappropriation of customer funds through the creation of "secret loopholes" in the computer code that powered FTX's trading platform. These loopholes allowed Alameda to run up a multibillion-dollar negative balance on FTX loans that the defendant knew Alameda could not repay. He also required co-conspirators at times to communicate using encrypted messaging platforms that self-deleted, hampering later efforts to uncover his suspected crimes. Small wonder Bankman-Fried reassured his associates that the auditors who worked on FTX's audited financial statements for investors would never be able to untangle his schemes.

As if to further advertise the strength of its claims at trial, the government has also gone out of its way to highlight that the sources for many of its allegations are Bankman-Fried's own associates and co-conspirators, known or believed to be prosecution witnesses. Prominent among them is Caroline Ellison, whom Bankman-Fried installed as a co-CEO of Alameda, and who helped to misappropriate deposits and give false and misleading information to Alameda creditors.

The second indictment even summarizes a discussion Bankman-Fried supposedly had with an FTX "in-house attorney" regarding a bogus explanation concocted for Alameda's astronomical borrowings. Even though the attorney allegedly dismissed the explanation as incorrect, Bankman-Fried went on to embrace it publicly. Reading this conversation in the pages of the indictment may have been calculated to send a chill up the defense's spine.

At trial, Bankman-Fried and his attorneys will have an opportunity to challenge the government's apparently extensive proof. The new indictments are meant in part to dissuade them from doing so, and they could well succeed.

Kevin J. O'Brien is a regular contributing columnist on trial practice for Reuters Legal News and Westlaw Today.
TAIPEI, April 10 (Reuters) - Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC (2330.TW) said on Monday it is communicating with Washington about its "guidance" for a law designed to boost U.S. semiconductor manufacturing that has sparked concerns about subsidy criteria.

Conditions for subsidies include sharing excess profit with the U.S. government, and industry sources have said the application process itself could expose confidential corporate strategy.

"We can confirm that we are communicating with the U.S. government about the CHIPS ACT guidance," TSMC, the world's leading contract chipmaker, said in a short emailed statement.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol also said last month that the criteria are worrying companies like Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) and SK Hynix Inc (000660.KS).

Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua told reporters on Monday that TSMC was specifically talking to the United States about the details of the subsidies.

"The Taiwan government and industry have a very close understanding (of what is going on) and hope that the details of the relevant subsidy legislation will not affect industrial cooperation between the two sides and costs for industry-related construction," she said.

The U.S. Commerce Department told Reuters that it will protect confidential business information and expects "upside sharing" will only happen in instances where projects significantly exceed projected cash flow.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) is investing $40 billion in a new plant in the western U.S. state of Arizona, supporting Washington's plans for more chip-making at home.

Details of expected subsidies for the plant have not been disclosed.

The subsidies would come from a $52 billion pool of research and manufacturing funds earmarked under the CHIPS Act.

The U.S. Department of Commerce said last month it will protect confidential business information and expects that the requirement to share excess profit will only occur when projects significantly exceed projected cash flow.
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(Kitco News) - Bitcoin miners have become the latest focal point in the ongoing surge in activity related to the regulation of the cryptocurrency ecosystem in the U.S., as several states have recently proposed legislation to guard the nascent industry against government interference.

In Arkansas, Republican state Senator Joshua Bryant proposed the Data Centers Act of 2023, which seeks to protect miners from discriminatory regulations and taxes with clearer guidelines. The Act recognizes that data centers create jobs, pay taxes, and provide general economic value to local communities.

The bill was proposed on March 30 and has already been approved by both the Arkansas House of Representatives and Senate. It now awaits the approval and signature from the governor of Arkansas before it becomes official law.

According to the text of the bill, digital asset miners are required to pay applicable taxes and government fees in acceptable forms of currency and operate in a manner that causes no stress on an electric public utilitys generation capabilities or transmission network.

The legislation will also grant crypto miners the same rights as data centers, stating, A local government shall not impose a different requirement for a digital asset mining business than is applicable to any requirement for a data center.

The Arkansas initiative follows a similar move in Montana, where the state Senate recently passed a bill designed to protect crypto miners operating within the state.

Included in the text of the bill is a proposal to protect both individual and commercial miners in Montana against discriminatory laws by shielding them from taxes on digital assets used as a means of payment. It also looks to allow individuals who operate crypto miners out of their homes to continue to do so as long as they use less than 1 megawatt of energy annually and do not violate existing noise bylaws.

The bill also seeks to eliminate any energy rate classification that discriminates against home crypto mining and digital asset businesses.

The State of Mississippi is also working on similar legislation. On February 8, the Mississippi State Senate passed the Mississippi Digital Asset Mining Act, which legalized home digital asset mining and the operation of mining businesses in areas zoned for industrial use.

Additionally, the bill also prohibits limiting noise from home mining beyond existing limits, imposing requirements on miners beyond those locally applied to data centers, or changing the zoning of a mining center without proper notification and an opportunity to appeal.

The Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities, has also been prohibited from imposing discriminatory rates on mining businesses and exempts home and business miners from money transmitter status.

There is currently a companion bill under consideration in the Mississippi House of Representatives.

Headwinds for crypto miners

Meanwhile, the state of Texas has opted to move in the opposite direction based on recently passed legislation by its Senate Committee on Business and Commerce, which looks to remove incentives for miners operating under the states crypto-friendly regulatory environment.

On April 4, the committee voted 10-0 to move forward with Senate Bill 1751, which would amend sections of Texas utilities and tax code to add restrictions for crypto mining facilities.

Based on the text of the bill, the demand response program that provides compensation for load reductions during times of grid strain is open to crypto mining facilities only if the anticipated demand for all facilities of that type participating in the program is less than 10 percent of the total load required by all loads in the program.

Certain crypto mining firms would also not receive an abatement on state taxes for participation in the program starting in September.

According to Dennis Porter, the CEO of the Satoshi Action Fund and a Bitcoin mining advocate, the new bill would eliminate incentives for miners to create jobs in rural communities and caps the amount that miners can participate in certain grid balancing programs.

Texas has been one of the most open states when it comes to blockchain technology and cryptocurrency mining, but the recent struggles of its electricity grid to deal with intense changes in weather have led lawmakers to emphasize the importance of ensuring reliable energy transmission to retail consumers during emergencies.

Curiously, this latest bill stands in opposition to one introduced before the Texas legislature in March which was designed to attract more Bitcoin-related businesses to the state by legally protecting the rights of Bitcoin holders, miners, and developers.

According to the text of the bill, Bitcoin miners would be free to engage in mining without restrictions from any law or resolution and to seek out any form of energy for securing the Bitcoin network.

At the federal level, crypto miners could soon be subject to a 30% tax on electricity costs based on the text of the budget proposal introduced by President Joe Biden on March 9 aimed at reducing mining activity.

According to the supplementary budget explainer paper released by the Department of the Treasury, Any firm using computing resources, whether owned by the firm or leased from others, to mine digital assets would be subject to an excise tax equal to 30 percent of the costs of electricity used in digital asset mining.

All firms that engage in digital asset mining will be required to report the amount and type of electricity used and the value of that electricity if purchased externally. Firms that produce or acquire power off-grid, for example by using the output of a particular electricity generating plant, would be subject to an excise tax equal to 30 percent of estimated electricity costs, the budget proposal said.

If passed, the proposal would be effective for all taxable years beginning after December 31. The excise tax would be phased in over three years at a rate of 10 percent in the first year, 20 percent in the second, and 30 percent for every year thereafter.
(Adds quotes, context) By Marco Aquino LIMA, April 10 (Reuters) - Peru expects to produce 2.8 million tonnes of copper this year, a senior official said on Monday, representing an almost 15% jump from 2022, in a bright spot for the Andean nation's top export. Peru, the world's no. 2 copper producer, saw output affected since December following anti-government protests and road blockades spurred by the ouster and jailing of former President Pedro Castillo. The mining sector is now "working as normal," Energy and Mines Minister Oscar Vera told reporters after providing the new forecast. A Reuters analysis in early March showed that major copper mines were cranking up. The country mined some 2.44 million tonnes of copper last year, according to ministry data. Vera added officials are also working to reduce approval times for mining projects, from about two years to about six months. "We hope to reach that goal by the end of the year," he said.

Through this year and next, around $7 billion in mining investments is expected, Vera said, including the expansion of the Altamina copper mine, Teck Resources' Zafranal project and Newmont Corp's Yanacocha Sulfuros project.

Vera added that he expects to approve lithium exploration projects permissions "in the coming months." "We've spoken with potential investors from Canada and as a country we're interested in industrializing another mineral," said Vera, referring to lithium, the key rechargeable battery metal. In August, the government formed a working group to oversee development of the ultra-light metal.

Just one lithium exploration project is currently ongoing, in southern Puno region near the border with Bolivia.

Canada's Plateau Energy Metals, which operates the project, has estimated that some 4.7 million tonnes of lithium carbonate lie in the Falchani rock deposits.

Neighbors Chile, Argentina and Bolivia form a so-called "lithium triangle" believed to hold major deposits of the metal in sprawling salt flats. (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle, Mark Porter and Richard Chang)

Reuters Messaging: david.aliregarcia.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
A man is tested for Covid-19 at a free testing site in downtown Washington, DC, on January 10, 2022. Three years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Americans' views of the disease's impact have stagnated into a complex set of mixed feelings, recent polling suggests, with few believing that the pandemic has ended but most also saying that their lives had returned mostly -- if not entirely -- to normal.
Daniel Perry, 35, was convicted of murder for fatally shooting a man who approached his car at a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Austin, Texas.
StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Argo Group International (NYSE:ARGO  Get Rating) in a report issued on Friday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock.

Several other research firms have also issued reports on ARGO. Compass Point lowered shares of Argo Group International from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $30.00 price target for the company. in a report on Monday, March 13th. Raymond James lowered shares of Argo Group International from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 28th.

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Argo Group International Stock Performance

Shares of Argo Group International stock opened at $29.54 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $1.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.56 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Argo Group International has a twelve month low of $19.00 and a twelve month high of $45.26. The companys fifty day moving average is $29.14 and its 200 day moving average is $27.70.

Institutional Trading of Argo Group International

Argo Group International ( NYSE:ARGO Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The company reported ($2.69) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($1.62) by ($1.07). Argo Group International had a negative net margin of 9.98% and a positive return on equity of 0.06%. The company had revenue of $379.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $504.90 million. Sell-side analysts forecast that Argo Group International will post 2.85 EPS for the current year.

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Argo Group International by 14.8% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 28,947 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,195,000 after buying an additional 3,735 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in Argo Group International by 1.0% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,194,998 shares of the companys stock valued at $90,610,000 after acquiring an additional 21,380 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Argo Group International by 0.9% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,237,969 shares of the companys stock valued at $133,663,000 after acquiring an additional 28,602 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Argo Group International by 56.7% during the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 45,888 shares of the companys stock worth $1,894,000 after purchasing an additional 16,602 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Argo Group International by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 373,460 shares of the companys stock worth $15,417,000 after purchasing an additional 7,648 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.92% of the companys stock.

About Argo Group International

(Get Rating)

Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. engages in the provision of underwriting property and casualty insurance and reinsurance products. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Operations, International Operations, and Run-off Lines. The U.S. Operations segment include distribution through retail, wholesale, and managing general brokers/agents in the specialty insurance market.

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Berger Financial Group Inc grew its holdings in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Get Rating) by 1.8% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 79,033 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,418 shares during the quarter. Berger Financial Group Incs holdings in Aflac were worth $5,686,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in AFL. Panagora Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Aflac by 36.2% in the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 23,941 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,542,000 after purchasing an additional 6,369 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its stake in shares of Aflac by 6.8% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 17,268 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,112,000 after buying an additional 1,102 shares in the last quarter. Aviva PLC raised its holdings in shares of Aflac by 0.7% in the first quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 210,634 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,563,000 after buying an additional 1,503 shares during the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in Aflac during the 1st quarter worth about $428,000. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in Aflac by 7.3% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,142 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $396,000 after acquiring an additional 417 shares in the last quarter. 66.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Aflac Stock Up 0.2 %

AFL stock traded up $0.11 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $64.67. 533,069 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,683,655. The firm has a market cap of $39.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.83, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.93. Aflac Incorporated has a 1-year low of $52.07 and a 1-year high of $74.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a current ratio of 0.06. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $66.75 and its 200 day simple moving average is $67.20.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Aflac ( NYSE:AFL Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The financial services provider reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $4.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.49 billion. Aflac had a return on equity of 13.69% and a net margin of 21.54%. The companys revenue was down 26.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.28 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 5.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Aflac from $74.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 30th. 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. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Aflac from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Aflac in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Aflac from $62.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, January 6th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $71.75.

Insider Transactions at Aflac

In other Aflac news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.45, for a total transaction of $32,225.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 19,269 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,241,887.05. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Aflac news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.45, for a total transaction of $32,225.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 19,269 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,241,887.05. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Masatoshi Koide sold 19,291 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.36, for a total value of $1,357,314.76. Following the sale, the director now owns 87,598 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,163,395.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.90% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Aflac Company Profile

(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.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AFL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Get Rating).

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Berenberg Bank restated their buy rating on shares of Empiric Student Property (LON:ESP  Get Rating) in a research report released on Thursday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has a GBX 115 ($1.43) price objective on the stock.

Separately, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Empiric Student Property from GBX 97 ($1.20) to GBX 100 ($1.24) and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st.

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Empiric Student Property Stock Up 3.0 %

ESP stock opened at GBX 91.40 ($1.14) on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 87.34 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 86.17. Empiric Student Property has a twelve month low of GBX 74 ($0.92) and a twelve month high of GBX 103.80 ($1.29). The firm has a market capitalization of 551.46 million, a PE ratio of 830.91, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 55.34.

Empiric Student Property Increases Dividend

Insider Buying and Selling at Empiric Student Property

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 30th will be given a dividend of GBX 0.88 ($0.01) per share. This represents a yield of 1.04%. This is a boost from Empiric Student Propertys previous dividend of $0.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. Empiric Student Propertys payout ratio is presently 3,636.36%.

In related news, insider Alice Avis bought 53,600 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 16th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 86 ($1.07) per share, with a total value of 46,096 ($57,247.89). Insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock.

Empiric Student Property Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Empiric Student Property plc is a leading provider and operator of modern, predominantly direct-let, premium student accommodation located in high-demand university towns and cities across the UK. Investing in both operating and development assets, Empiric is a fully integrated operational student property business focused on premium studio-led accommodation managed through its Hello Student operating platform, that is attractive to affluent growing student segments.

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Cromwell Property Group (OTC:CMWCF  Get Rating) is one of 331 publicly-traded companies in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Cromwell Property Group to similar companies based on the strength of its earnings, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation and institutional ownership.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

66.8% of shares of all Real Estate Investment Trusts companies are held by institutional investors. 7.0% of shares of all Real Estate Investment Trusts companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

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Profitability

This table compares Cromwell Property Group and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Cromwell Property Group N/A N/A N/A Cromwell Property Group Competitors 11.99% 0.28% 2.22%

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Cromwell Property Group 0 0 0 0 N/A Cromwell Property Group Competitors 2491 12374 13592 314 2.41

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Cromwell Property Group and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

As a group, Real Estate Investment Trusts companies have a potential upside of 20.26%. Given Cromwell Property Groups rivals higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Cromwell Property Group has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals.

Dividends

Cromwell Property Group pays an annual dividend of $0.02 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Cromwell Property Group pays out 18.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Real Estate Investment Trusts companies pay a dividend yield of 4.7% and pay out 145.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Cromwell Property Group and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Cromwell Property Group N/A N/A 6.03 Cromwell Property Group Competitors $908.10 million $160.11 million 13.26

Cromwell Property Groups rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Cromwell Property Group. Cromwell Property Group 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

Cromwell Property Group rivals beat Cromwell Property Group on 9 of the 10 factors compared.

About Cromwell Property Group

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Cromwell Property Group (ASX:CMW) is a diversified real estate investor and manager with operations on three continents and a global investor base. As at 30 June 2020, Cromwell had a market capitalisation of $2.4 billion, a direct property investment portfolio valued at $3.0 billion and total assets under management of $11.5 billion across Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

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Pimco Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund (NYSEMKT:PDO  Get Rating) declared a monthly dividend on Wednesday, April 5th, investing.com reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.1279 per share on Monday, May 1st. This represents a $1.53 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.09%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 12th.

Pimco Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund Stock Performance

Shares of PDO stock opened at $12.70 on Monday. The companys fifty day moving average is $13.30 and its 200-day moving average is $13.58.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pimco Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Morgan Stanley raised its position in shares of Pimco Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,972,239 shares of the companys stock valued at $76,266,000 after purchasing an additional 295,214 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG increased its holdings in shares of Pimco Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund by 254.5% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 3,548,677 shares of the companys stock valued at $60,292,000 after purchasing an additional 2,547,606 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in Pimco Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund by 19.9% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,172,165 shares of the companys stock valued at $19,915,000 after buying an additional 194,264 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in Pimco Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund by 180.4% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,121,233 shares of the companys stock worth $19,050,000 after buying an additional 721,407 shares during the period. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC raised its position in Pimco Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 436,362 shares of the companys stock worth $7,413,000 after buying an additional 2,779 shares during the last quarter. 9.43% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Pimco Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund

Yuma Energy, Inc, formerly Pyramid Oil Company (Pyramid), is engaged in the business of exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas. It acquires interests in land and producing properties through acquisition and lease, on which it drills and/or operates crude oil or natural gas wells.

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Versor Investments LP decreased its position in Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH  Get Rating) by 16.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,871 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,331 shares during the period. Versor Investments LPs holdings in Molina Healthcare were worth $2,269,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Private Trust Co. NA acquired a new stake in shares of Molina Healthcare in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV boosted its position in shares of Molina Healthcare by 64.3% during the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 92 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare during the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. purchased a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare in the 1st quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, Accurate Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. 94.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Molina Healthcare

In other Molina Healthcare news, Director Daniel Cooperman sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.77, for a total transaction of $1,383,850.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 4,944 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,368,350.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Molina Healthcare Trading Up 0.1 %

NYSE MOH traded up $0.35 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $285.92. 32,451 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 522,874. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.66 billion, a PE ratio of 21.08, a PEG ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a current ratio of 1.47. Molina Healthcare, Inc. has a 1-year low of $249.78 and a 1-year high of $374.00. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $282.23 and its 200 day simple moving average is $313.44.

Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 8th. The company reported $4.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.06 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $8.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.87 billion. Molina Healthcare had a return on equity of 36.05% and a net margin of 2.48%. The businesss revenue was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.88 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Molina Healthcare, Inc. will post 19.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have weighed in on MOH shares. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Molina Healthcare from $400.00 to $375.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Molina Healthcare from $360.00 to $348.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Molina Healthcare from $307.00 to $282.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 21st. StockNews.com cut Molina Healthcare from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $400.00 to $380.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $356.36.

Molina Healthcare Profile

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Molina Healthcare, Inc engages in the provision of health care services. It operates through the following segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and Other. The company was founded by C. David Molina in 1980 and is headquartered in Long Beach, CA.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MOH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH  Get Rating).

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Versor Investments LP lifted its position in shares of Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI  Get Rating) by 543.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 575,000 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 485,615 shares during the period. Albertsons Companies accounts for approximately 1.0% of Versor Investments LPs portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Versor Investments LP owned approximately 0.11% of Albertsons Companies worth $11,926,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Neuberger Berman Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Albertsons Companies by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 9,453 shares of the companys stock valued at $235,000 after buying an additional 492 shares during the period. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in Albertsons Companies by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,993 shares of the companys stock worth $298,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in Albertsons Companies by 1.2% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 56,578 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,881,000 after buying an additional 688 shares during the period. Towle & Co lifted its position in Albertsons Companies by 3.2% during the third quarter. Towle & Co now owns 22,820 shares of the companys stock valued at $567,000 after buying an additional 700 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co grew its stake in Albertsons Companies by 8.0% during the third quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 10,135 shares of the companys stock worth $252,000 after buying an additional 750 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.58% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CAO Robert Bruce Larson sold 30,000 shares of Albertsons Companies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.01, for a total value of $630,300.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 50,241 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,055,563.41. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, CAO Robert Bruce Larson sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.01, for a total value of $630,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 50,241 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,055,563.41. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Omer Gajial sold 36,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.05, for a total transaction of $757,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 25,140 shares in the company, valued at $529,197. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Albertsons Companies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ACI traded up $0.11 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $21.16. 457,671 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,891,746. The company has a market cap of $11.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.70, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.66, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $20.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $21.49. Albertsons Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $19.14 and a 52 week high of $35.54.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 10th. The company reported $0.82 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.63 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $18.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.50 billion. Albertsons Companies had a return on equity of 60.71% and a net margin of 2.16%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Albertsons Companies, Inc. will post 3.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Albertsons Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 26th were issued a dividend of $0.12 per share. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.27%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 25th. Albertsons Companiess payout ratio is 19.83%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on ACI. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Albertsons Companies from $30.00 to $22.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 4th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $25.00 target price on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on Albertsons Companies from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 12th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reissued a market perform rating and set a $27.25 target price on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $27.77.

Albertsons Companies Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Albertsons Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of food and drug stores in the United States. The company's food and drug retail stores offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy, fuel, and other items and services. It also manufactures and processes food products for sale in stores.

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Steve Garbacz is executive editor for KPC Media and editor of The News Sun. As there are 1.3 guns for every American, the four-county area probably contains about 269,000 guns. Feel safe? Email him at sgarbacz@kpcmedia.com.
LE SSERAFIM has uploaded the trailer for their upcoming first full album 'UNFORGIVEN," increasing anticipation for their comeback. However, the trailer received mixed reactions for THIS reason.

What happened?

LE SSERAFIM's 'UNFORGIVEN' Album Trailer Draws Mixed Reactions Due to Use of Japanese Language

On April 9, rookie monster LE SSERAFIM has uploaded "Burn the Bridge," the first teaser for album "UNFORGIVEN."

The video showed LE SSERAFIM members through a flawless cinematography, which transitioned from stylish aesthetics to futuristic concepts. It also contained a hint of fantasy elements, which delighted everyone's eyes.

While LE SSERAFIM already has everyone's attention with their first full-length album, they definitely secured everyone's hearts with this brand new trailer. In a forum, fans praised the video's quality and its production.

"I freaking liked it though? The quality is crazy and I'm freaking looking forward to it." "The music they use in their intro tracks for the albums is so my style and I feel like it fits their aesthetic so much."

However, some netizens were thrown off guard by the trailer, leading it to receive mixed reactions. During the trailer's 0:25 mark, LE SSERAFIM Sakura started the dialogue in Japanese, which surprised many.

Netizens wondered why LE SSERAFIM would begin the trailer with a Japanese introduction, despite it being a Korean comeback. Moreover, some pointed out how the trailer's first scene resembled the Japanese flag, since it showed a pool of blood on a white-tiled floor.

Read their comments below:

"I thought that it was blood in the first scene, but I can understand why it could look like a Japanese flag." "I think that it would've been better if they started the trailer in Korean." "The fact that they started with Japanese kinda makes them look like a Japanese group." "I've always enjoyed their music and I hope that they would drop the Japanese in their teasers. They are K-pop idols so why use Japanese?" "No but what's with the Japanese? It turns me off right away. I'd rather them use English first."

FEARNOTs Defend LE SSERAFIM From 'Unnecessary' Complaints

Meanwhile, LE SSERAFIM's fandom FEARNOTs took over the discussion, and backed up the group from the negativity.

They expressed frustration over internet users who complained about the use of Japanese language. Fans stated the group is multi-lingual, and would ultimately sing the song in Korean.

Some were also frustrated with them for preferring the English language, but not Japanese. Others claimed how K-pop agencies use a group's multi-cultural roots to expand the music market on certain countries the members are affiliated with.

Fans commented:

"They will be singing the song in Korean ultimately so who cares? The group itself is multi-lingual." "They have Japanese members. Not allowing them to talk in their mother language for their album is weird." "It's a well made trailer. About language, why IS IT okay if they use English but complain when they use Japanese?" "They are triggered with Japanese but okay with the amount of English used in K-pop song LOL." "I'm glad they're using Japanese and English even if they're using it to increase the market there."

What do you think of the situation?

Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: LE SSERAFIM Was Asked About Kim Garam's Departure- Here's How They Responded

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Israel Monte
New Delhi [India], April 10 (ANI): Neogen Chemicals, a leading manufacturer of Bromine and Lithium-based specialty chemicals, on Monday said it signed an agreement with Japan-based MU Ionic Solutions Corporation (MUIS).

Neogen will have an installed capacity of upto 30,000 tonne per annum, helping meet the growing demand of lithium-ion cell manufacturers in India, according to the terms of the agreement filed by the company to stock exchanges.

Also Read | Kerala Shocker: Man Murders Wife After Quarrel Over Sex, Escapes With Her Gold Ornaments in Malappuram; Arrested.

Neogen will obtain the license from MUIS for "proprietary and confidential manufacturing technology" for making electrolyte solutions at its manufacturing facility in India.

MU Ionic Solutions (MUIS) is a joint venture between Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) and UBE Corporation and is a group company of The Mitsubishi Chemical Group (the group) a Japanese conglomerate.

Also Read | EV Sale: Electric Two-Wheeler Sales in India Rise Over Two-and-Half Fold to 8,46,976 Units in 2022-23.

The group is one of the global leaders in electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries with a strong track record of 30 years and has 5 electrolyte manufacturing plants located in Japan, the US, the UK and China.

"The group's 3-decade-long electrolyte manufacturing experience will be extremely beneficial for Neogen to build a robust global quality and safety standards approved electrolyte plant in India. With this arrangement, we will be the first Indian company to have a proven global technology, to manufacture electrolytes at scale for lithium-ion batteries," said Harin Kanani, Managing Director at Neogen Chemicals. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chandigarh, April 10: Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of fugitive Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh, has been arrested under the National Security Act (NSA), Punjab's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill said on Monday.

The senior cop said that the associate of Waris Punjab De chief was arrested from Amritsar's Kathu Nangal area. "Papalpreet Singh, the main associate of Amritpal Singh has been arrested by Amritsar Rural Police from the Kathu Nangal area. The arrest has been made under the National Security Act. Apart from this, he is also wanted in six cases," Gill said, adding that action against him will be taken as per law. Amritpal Singh's Aide Papalpreet Singh Arrested by Punjab Police From Hoshiarpur: Reports.

Papalpreet was seen with Amritpal Singh in several photos, which surfaced since the duo escaped the State police's dragnet. On March 30, 'Waris Punjab De' chief and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh surfaced in a new video and said he was not "a fugitive" and would soon "appear in front of the world". Punjab Police Crackdown on Amritpal Singh: Four Arrested Aides of 'Waris Punjab De' Chief Brought to Assam's Dibrugarh (Watch Video).

Amritpal Singh said those who think that he has run away or left friends, "get that thing out of your mind". Earlier on March 18, Punjab Police launched an operation against Amritpal and his aides.

The Punjab Police had earlier, expressed doubts about Amritpal entering the Delhi border using any vehicle other than a bus. Following the input, Delhi Police went on alert mode and are trying to track Amritpal's movements. 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.

(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 10 (PTI) Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Monday took a swipe at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after his Ayodhya visit, saying "conspirators, opportunists and backstabbers" cannot carry forward the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray.

Shiv Sena leader Shinde on Sunday made his maiden visit to Ayodhya after becoming the chief minister in June last year. He was accompanied to the temple town in Uttar Pradesh by thousands of Shiv Sainiks.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Horror: Suspecting Illicit Affair, Man Strangles Wife To Death, Chops Body Into Pieces in Gonda.

In a tweet, Sibal said, "Shinde in Ayodhya: Lord Ram chose: Sacrifice, the path of truth, rectitude. Balasaheb also imbibed those attributes.

"Conspirators, opportunists, backstabbers cannot carry forward the legacy of Balasaheb," the former Union minister said, attacking Shinde.

Also Read | Bride Runs Away After Video of Celebratory Firing on Wedding Day Goes Viral in Uttar Pradeshs Hathras.

The Maharashtra chief minister on Sunday said the ideology of his party and that of the BJP is the same and they will unfurl the saffron flag all over the state next year.

"Our party's role is clear. The Shiv Sena has an alliance with the BJP. Our ideology, which is Hindutva, is the same. We will go to our state with new energy from Ayodhya and serve the people. In 2024, the Shiv Sena and the BJP's 'bhagva' (saffron flag) will be unfurled in the entire state," he said while addressing a press conference in Ayodhya.

The Lok Sabha election as well as the Maharashtra Assembly polls are due next year.

Shinde's coup against Uddhav Thackeray split the Shiv Sena last year and toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Thackeray.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Shillong, Apr 10 (PTI) Assam Rifles Director General Lt Gen PC Nair has asked all the commanders of the force to be ever vigilant in the volatile and dynamic environment under which the force operates in the North East region ensuring the security and well-being of the people.

He also focused on improving the operational and administrative efficiency of the force to make it capable of carrying out its task in the North East.

Also Read | Marathi Actress Deepali Sayed Accuses Her Former Aide of Death Threats, Running a Slur Campaign and Accusing Her of Mafia Links.

Be ever vigilant of the volatile and dynamic environment under which the force operates. The Assam Rifles has always identified itself with the people of the North East and ensured their security and well-being, Lt Gen Nair said while addressing a Commanders' conference of the force.

During the conference held here on April 8 and 9, the DG complimented the formation and unit commanders for ensuring peace and tranquillity in their respective areas of responsibility.

Also Read | 7th Pay Commission DA Hike News: Bihar Cabinet Approves Rules for Hiring School Teachers, 4% Dearness Allowance Hike.

According to the AR spokesperson, the emphasis of the conference was on further improving operational and administrative efficiency by drawing lessons from the past.

Nair also released a compendium titled 1962 The Great Himalayan War of Valour, Glory, Sacrifice highlighting the role of Assam Rifles on the front lines in the 1962 War.

The AR lost 143 soldiers in the 1962 war and the force was awarded five Vir Chakras, five Kirti Chakras, two Shaurya Chakras and two Sena Medals during the 1962 War.

A special screening of the film - Assam Rifles Through the Ages - was also held.

The film depicted the rich history, culture and contribution made by the Assam Rifles in the North Eastern Region since its inception as well as its role in the Counter Insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and the deployment of troops in various UN Missions.

As part of the conference, outstanding sportspersons of the AR were also felicitated.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 10 (ANI): Several workers of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike were detained by police in Bengaluru during a protest organized by them over Amul's entry into the state.

The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike workers protested amid heavy sloganeering and were seen destroying Amul-made products.

Also Read | Sonipat Mosque Attack: 10 Held for Vandalising Masjid, Thrashing People Offering Namaz in Haryana Village.

Amul had recently announced that it will sell dairy products in Bengaluru following which Opposition Congress and the JD(U) expressed their protest.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai who is in the national capital called out Congress and JD(S) for doing politics over the Amul issue at the elections.

Also Read | Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: DK Shivakumar Backing Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for CM Post Sparks Debate Over Dalit at Helm.

"Nandini is a very good brand of our State...Congress and JD(S) doing politics at the time of elections," said Bommai.

Earlier in the day, Congress Karnataka chief D K Shivakumar visited a Nandini Milk parlour in the Hassan amid the ongoing charges and counter-charges between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress and JD(S) over Amul's announcement of foraying into the Karnataka market.

Shivakumar expressed support for Karnataka's homegrown milk brand Nandini, which he claimed is better that that of the Gujarat-based dairy cooperative Amul.

He was seen buying and consuming Nandini products.

"We already have Nandini which is a better brand than Amul...We don't need any Amul...our water, our milk, and our soil is strong," Shivakumar told ANI.

"In Karnataka, it's a question of our farmer's rights. More than 70 lakh farmers produce milk and give it to Nandini. Gujarat's Amul is also by farmers. But it's not right to push Amul forward and Nandini back. Their (BJP) government has not provided any help to farmers. We have to save our product and our farmers," Shivakumar said.

The Congress leader said that the ruling BJP government had "raised the prices of all dairy products and they haven't done any help to farmers. In between, we are in the situation where we can't sell milk."

Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) had hit out at the Congress for running a "misinformation campaign."

BJP state general secretary Ravi Kumar stated that Nandini is on the number two position in India ever since BJP came to power in Karnataka.

"Nandini is on the number two position in the whole country, so in the coming days, we will also export to different countries, this is our idea. Nandini products are supplied in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Nandini's milk is also used to make laddoos in Tirupati temple," added Ravi Kumar.

BJP state general secretary Aswathnarayan said that former chief ministers Siddaramaiah of the Congress and HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) along with some others like DK Shivakumar had been over the past few days spreading misinformation and "hulla gulla."

BJP leader Amit Malviya had on Sunday tweeted, "There is a reason why India doesn't TRUST Congress. They LIE! Latest being the misinformation campaign that Karnataka Milk Federation, which owns Nandini, is going to merge with Amul. Here are the facts - BJP has done far more to strengthen KMF and make Nandini a global brand," tweeted BJP leader Amit Malviya.

Malviya in a series of tweets clarified that Amul will not be entering Karnataka and both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms.

"Amul is NOT entering Karnataka - Both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms - KMF's turnover went up by 10,000 crore after BJP came to power in 2019. In 2022, turnover stood at 25,000 crore, of which 20,000 crore went back to farmers of Karnataka," he Tweeted.

His statement comes on the heels of Karnataka Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader Siddaramaiah's tweet on Sunday that the State's milk product was affected since the day union cooperative minister Amit Shah spoke about the possibility of a merger between the Karnataka Milk Federation and Amul.

"KMF is the nation's second-largest milk cooperative - KMF has depots in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. 15 per cent of KMF's total sales is outside Karnataka - Nandini is exported to Singapore, UAE and many other countries - Amul and KMF are NOT merging," tweeted Malviya.

Malviya further stated that under the BJP government, Karnataka has become a milk-surplus state and that the dairy farms are doing very well. "Under the BJP, Karnataka is a milk surplus state. Dairy farmers are doing very well. - Congress, which is shedding crocodile tears for brand Nandini, opposed the anti-cow slaughter bill, approved of our nandinis being slaughtered - BJP plans to make Nandini a bigger brand," he 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)
Mumbai, Apr 10 (PTI) Mock drills to assess the COVID preparedness of government-run hospitals across Maharashtra were carried out on Monday, officials said here.

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The mock drills, which will also continue on Tuesday, were being conducted after the Union government recently asked states to review the preparedness of the health infrastructure amid a rise in COVID-19 cases across the country over the past few days.

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At Mumbai's JJ Hospital, among the biggest medical facilities in the state, one mock drill was held at the OPD and another in the wards, during which medicine stock, X-ray machinery, oxygen supply and personnel deployment etc were checked, an official said.

In Pune, a mock drill was conducted in Sassoon General Hospital, during which facilities like ventilators, oxygen, ambulances, test apparatus, availability of PPE kits and masks were checked.

"Currently, 117 oxygenated beds are available for COVID-19 treatment. We have adequate personnel, including doctors and nurses, as well as medicine stock," an official said in Pune, where 41 cases were detected on Monday.

Incidentally, at COVID-19 review meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on April 7, it was observed that Maharashtra was among the three states with 10 or more districts having positivity rate (cases per 100 tests) of more than 10 per cent.

On April 7, the addition to the tally was 926, the highest for the state in 2023.

As on Sunday, Maharashtra's tally is 81,49,929 and the death toll stands at 1,48,459.

(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 10 (ANI): A 40-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping a four-year-child, said Delhi police on Sunday.

The accused has been identified as Ram Prakash, a resident of JJ Colony, Sector 16-A Dwarka.

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According to the police, the mother of a four-year-old child registered a complaint against her neighbour for raping her daughter. On the basis of the complaint, the accused has been arrested.

A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) has also been registered against the accused, added the police.

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Further investigation into the matter is underway.

Earlier this week, a 27-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl in a closed MCD school and was identified by his yellow shirt, said Delhi police.

The accused was identified as Monu and he is married, added the police.

According to the police, the officials were able to apprehend the accused by identifying him from the yellow shirt he was wearing while he allegedly committed the crime.

Detailing the incident, the police said, "The victim's parents work as contractual labourers at the school and the family stayed at the school, which was closed for a few days and the incident occurred on Tuesday when the victim's parents were not at the school."

"On Tuesday, the parents left the school to collect their wages. The 16-year-old victim and her 18-year-old elder sister were alone. Around 11.30 am, a man broke into the school and first committed a robbery. Later he picked up a knife from the kitchen and assaulted the 16-year-old minor girl sexually at knifepoint," added the police.

Further, informing about the investigation, the police said that they have filed an FIR of rape and robbery on a complaint lodged by the victim's parents.

"While investigating, the minor girl informed that the accused was wearing a yellow shirt. A blurred picture of the accused in a yellow shirt was found on CCTV footage which helped us to identify and arrest the accused," said the police.

Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jhajjar, April 10: A man allegedly killed his wife and two kids, and then died by suicide in Haryana's Jhajjar, the police said on Monday. Officials said that the incident happened in Madana Khurd village under Dujana police station during wee hours on Monday.

According to the police, prima facia it seems that the man first killed his wife, daughter and son by strangulating them and later hanged himself. Police have found marks on the deceased's neck and on their head as well. Ghaziabad Shocker: Man Shoots Dead Girlfriend, Dies by Suicide Later.

The man used to work at a factory. His daughter is a class-11 student in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, and his son was studying in class-9.

SHO Sunil Kumar said, "We received information at around 8 PM that four people were found dead in a house. A police team reached the spot and recovered the dead bodies and sent them for post-mortem. Later, an Forensic Science Laboratory team was also called on for detailed investigation and to collect shreds of evidence." 'Nobody Should Be Blamed for My Actions': Mumbai Man Murders Wife, Dies by Suicide Later Over Repayment of Loans.

"A case has been registered on the statement of the deceased's brother and an investigation is going on," the SHO said.

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New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) India is a global leader and can help in addressing key global challenges and promoting peace, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova said on Monday and invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year that 'today's era is not of war'.

After briefing Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sanjay Verma on the ground situation in Ukraine, Dzhaparova said she updated the Indian side on Ukraine's efforts to fight Russia's "unprovoked aggression" and invited New Delhi to join President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace formula and the grain initiative.

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Dzhaparova said it is important to have India on board.

At the same time, she also said that Ukraine is not in a position to instruct India on its economic relations with other countries, in an apparent reference to New Delhi's energy ties with Moscow.

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Dzhaparova's visit to India is the first from Ukraine after Russia began its invasion of the east European country on February 24 last year.

Replying to a question during a brief interaction with reporters after meeting Verma, Dzhaparova described India as a global leader and a 'Vishwaguru' which can play a role in addressing global challenges.

"I think India is a global player. It is really a 'Vishwaguru' of the world. We are feeling the pain by actually fighting for the values. This is about justice.

"Rusia is questioning the very existence of my country. In our history of 1,500 years, Ukraine never attacked any country," she said.

"We never have this imperialistic and chauvinistic attitude towards our neighbours. We are victims of the unprovoked neo-colonial war. There is a need to promote peace and justice as your prime minister in Samarkand also said that 'it is not an era of war'. Would we support this? Purely and fully," she said.

The Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister, referring to Russia, said, "Unfortunately, we have a country which questions the existence of other countries."

"On the question of India's involvement -- as a leader of the global south as a country holding the G20 presidency, we hope that India will be involved and engaged in global issues and challenges, economic challenges, energy challenges and nuclear challenges to a great extent," Dzhaparova said.

In his bilateral meeting with Putin in Uzbekistan on September 16 in the Uzbek city of Samarkand, Modi said, "Today's era is not of war" and nudged the Russian leader to end the conflict.

She also noted that an invitation to PM Modi to visit Ukraine is already there and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will also extend the same to the Indian leader.

Asked about India's economic ties with Russia, especially in the energy field, she said, "We are not in the position of instructing India in their economic ties with other countries...

"I think that India should be pragmatic in diversifying the energy resources, in diversifying military contracts, in diversifying political interaction."

At the same time, Dzhaparova noted that "what we see in my country when you are dependent on Russia, they will always use this blackmail instrument."

Dzhaparova described her meeting with Verma as a "great" one and that the talks focused on a wide agenda of bilateral track including digital transformation.

On the situation in her country, she said it is "quite difficult", adding around 10,000 civilians were killed.

"I think it was an important conversation and I hope that our political dialogue will be much more intensified," she said.

In a tweet, Verma said he and the visiting dignitary discussed bilateral engagements and cooperation going forward.

"Pleasure to receive Ukrainian Deputy FM @EmineDzheppar. Perspectives shared. Discussed bilateral engagements and cooperation going forward. Wishing her a good trip. Her first as DFM, but a country she is familiar with," he said.

On her part, Dzhaparova said: "Updated on Ukraine's efforts to fight russian unprovoked aggression. Invited India to join President Zelenskyy's PeaceFormula & GrainFromUkraine initiative. Important to have India on board."

Zelenskyy put forward the ten-point "peace plan" for ending the conflict that included punishing those responsible for the war crimes, withdrawing all Russian troops from Ukraine, and restoring his country's territorial integrity.

Under the plan, he also called for ensuring energy security, food security, and nuclear safety, adding a document confirming the end of the war should be signed by the parties when all the "anti-war measures" are implemented.

Following its invasion of Ukraine, Russia blocked maritime access to the Ukrainian ports that resulted in a total halt in the export of millions of tons of grains from that country, triggering a global food crisis.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], April 10 (ANI): A group of people belonging to 'Rajak' community called off their protest demanding to be included in SC category after Bhopal Member of Parliament (MP) Pragya Singh Thakur's assurance on Monday.

They were staging the protest in a park located at Second Stop area in the state capital Bhopal from Sunday (April 9).

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After the agitation got over, Thakur interacted with the media persons. She said, "I told them (Rajak Community people) that they should be included in the SC category in the entire state. I have raised the issue in the Parliament as well. I consider their demands as justified. I will also talk to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan that he should also take cognizance into the matter."

Reacting to the RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark about Vishwa Guru, the MP said, "When we step with the basic mantra 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' so what was, will remain the same. It means that India was a Vishwa Guru, India is a Vishwa Guru and will remain the Vishwa Guru."

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"India has always been giving knowledge, no one else in the world has such great sanskars (Secrament). Has any country said Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (means world is one family)? The one who takes everyone along is the Vishwa Guru; no one can destroy him," she added.

Talking about the controversial remark of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on the dressing sense of women, Thakur said, "It is the scenario of the society. Vijayvargiya would have said. But definitely no one stays in favour of obscenity and indecency, as much as nudity nowadays girls and women have started to call themselves models."

"There is the film industry, where this disgusting work has been done. Nowadays it is being considered as modernisation. There should be a little control on it because it is absolutely true as soon as they come out in short clothes, irrespective of whether it is men or women, everyone's vision reaches there. Be the centre of attraction with your creativity and personality, not with nudity," she added.

Besides, the BJP MP also reacted to protest over not playing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat program in a few Madrasas in Uttar Pradesh. She said, "Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of the country. What he has said is for the country, he does not say it for his personal matters, so his words should be listened to."

When one stays here, eats here, takes facilities here, then will someone else listen to the words of the Prime Minister? He will speak in this country. Madrasas are in India, the work that will be done in India will be done under our Prime Minister only, she 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)
Gorakhpur(Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 10 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that triple engine government is a must for uninterrupted, rapid development of the state and prosperity of its people, appealing to people to start preparing the strategy for making lotus bloom in both municipal elections and the parliamentary elections, which will be held in 2024.

Inaugurating and laying foundation stone of 258 development projects worth Rs 1046 crore at Hindustan Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited Ground, CM Yogi said, "The country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scaling new heights and has emerged as an ideal nation for the world where heritage is respected, benefits of welfare schemes reach every poor and needy, and farmers, youth and women are all empowered while there is fool-proof internal and border security."

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A total of 56 development projects worth Rs 333.85 crore were inaugurated whereas foundation stone of 202 development works worth Rs 711.81 crore was laid on the occasion. The projects include mini stadium, roads, flyovers, educational institutes and hospitals.

CM Yogi said, "In Uttar Pradesh also development is taking place in every field. Infrastructure has improved by leaps and bounds in the state in the last six years. No criminal can walk today with his head held high. Mafias and gangsters are getting the treatment they deserve under law."

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"Gorakhpur is connected with four and six lane roads, has good electricity supply and also has AIIMS and good institutes. Welfare schemes are reaching the poor and needy. The venue of today's programme at the fertiliser factory is the same factory that was shut down in 1990. Today, it is running to its full capacity," he added.

CM said, "The development being witnessed in Gorakhpur today suggests that this could have happened earlier also, but there was lack of will on the part of the then government."

CM Yogi remarked, "Before 2017, there was riot in the state every two-three days. No businessman, no daughter and no village was safe. Land mafia, sand mafia and organised gangs were operating freely. Besides, there was widespread corruption in government schemes and people were deprived of its benefits."

According to the Chief Minister, today every poor family was getting at least Rs 1.5 lakh from the government under different schemes.

"In urban and rural areas, people are getting Rs 2.5 lakh and 1.20 lakh respectively for housing and Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 for toilets, in addition to 90 days of wages", he informed.

Hitting out at previous governments, CM Yogi said, "They indulged in caste politics right since independence, damaging the interests of the state and denying even the basic needs to the people."

He said, "They exploited people in the name of giving tablets and smartphones whereas his government has distributed already 20 lakh so far and was planning to distribute altogether two crore tablets and smartphones."

CM Yogi also mentioned the reopening of Pipraich Sugar Mill, setting up of Ayush University and beautification of Ramgarh Lake. He said, "Today not only Bhojpuri films, but also Hindi and other languages films are being shot in the city."

"Gorakhpur was witnessing rapid development because all the nine assembly seats have been won by the BJP and the party workers are also heading the municipal bodies," he added.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister honoured the beneficiaries of Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana, One District One Product Scheme, PM Swanidhi Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department and PM Agricultural Irrigation Scheme etc.

Among those present were Ravikishan Shukla (MP), Fisheries Minister Dr Sanjay Nishad, Kamlesh Paswan, Mahendrapal Singh (MLA), District Panchayat President Sadhna Singh and BJP State Vice President and MLC Dr Dharmendra Singh. (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 10 (ANI): Congress Karnataka chief D K Shivakumar on Monday visited a Nandini Milk parlour in the Hassan amid the ongoing charges and counter-charges between ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress and JD(S) over Amul's announcement of foraying into the Karnataka market.

Shivakumar expressed support for Karnataka's homegrown milk brand Nandini, which he claimed is better that that of the Gujarat-based dairy cooperative Amul. He was seeing buying and consuming Nandini products

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"We already have Nandini which is a better brand than Amul...We don't need any Amul...our water, our milk, and our soil is strong," Shivakumar told ANI.

"In Karnataka, it's a question of our farmer's rights. More than 70 lakh farmers produce milk and give it to Nandini. Gujarat's Amul is also by farmers. But it's not right to push Amul forward and Nandini back. Their (BJP) government has not provided any help to farmers. We have to save our product and our farmers," Shivakumar said.

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The Congress leader said that the ruling BJP government had "raised the prices of all dairy products and they haven't done any help to farmers. In between we are in the situation where we can't sell milk."

Meanwhile, Police detained workers of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike in Bengaluru, who protested over Amul's entry into the State.

Amul had recently announced that it will sell dairy products in Bengaluru following which Opposition Congress and the JD(U) expressed their protest.

Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has hit out at the Congress for running a "misinformation campaign." State BJP general secretary Ravi Kumar stated that Nandini is on number two position in India ever since BJP came to power in Karnataka.

"Nandini is on number two position in the whole country, so in the coming days, we will also export to different countries, this is our idea. Nandini products are supplied in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Nandini's milk is also used to make laddoos in Tirupati temple," added Ravi Kumar.

BJP state general secretary Aswathnarayan said that fomer chief ministers Siddaramaiah of the Congress and HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) along with some others like DK Shivakumar had been over the past few days spreading misinformation and "hulla gulla."

BJP leader Amit Malviya had on Sunday tweeted, "There is a reason why India doesn't TRUST Congress. They LIE! Latest being the misinformation campaign that Karnataka Milk Federation, which owns Nandini, is going to merge with Amul. Here are the facts - BJP has done far more to strengthen KMF and make Nandini a global brand," tweeted BJP leader Amit Malviya.

Malviya in a series of tweets clarified that Amul will not be entering Karnataka and both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms.

"Amul is NOT entering Karnataka - Both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms - KMF's turnover went up by 10,000 crore after BJP came to power in 2019. In 2022, turnover stood at 25,000 crore, of which 20,000 crore went back to farmers of Karnataka," he Tweeted.

His statement comes on the heels of Karnataka Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader Siddaramaiah tweet on Sunday that the State's milk product was affected since the day union cooperative minister Amit Shah spoke about the possibility of a merger between the Karnataka Milk Federation and Amul.

"KMF is nation's second largest milk cooperative - KMF has depots in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. 15 per cent of KMF's total sales is outside Karnataka - Nandini is exported to Singapore, UAE and many other countries - Amul and KMF are NOT merging," tweeted Malviya.

https://twitter.com/amitmalviya/status/1645092186864889856

Malviya further stated that under the BJP government, Karnataka has become a milk surplus state and that the dairy farms are doing very well. "Under the BJP, Karnataka is a milk surplus state. Dairy farmers are doing very well. - Congress, which is shedding crocodile tears for brand Nandini, opposed the anti-cow slaughter bill, approved of our nandinis being slaughtered - BJP plans to make Nandini a bigger brand," he tweeted. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday granted four weeks to the Centre to file its reply to a plea seeking debarment of those against whom charges have been framed in serious offences from contesting elections.

A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna also said the Union government first needed to identify what constituted serious offences.

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Noting that the Centre has not filed its response in the matter the bench asked Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain to do the needful.

First you need to identify what are serious offences. It has to be defined. We will have it in July, the bench said.

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The apex court had on September 28 last year issued notices to the Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Election Commission on a plea filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay on the issue.

Besides debarring people against whom charges have been framed in criminal cases, the petition, filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey, has also sought direction to the Centre and the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take steps to restrain such candidates as those put on trial for serious offences from contesting elections.

The PIL claimed that despite recommendations of the Law Commission and the court's earlier directions, the Centre and the ECI have not taken steps towards that.

The plea said out of 539 winners of the Lok Sabha election in 2019, as many as 233 (43 per cent) declared criminal cases against themselves.

Highlighting the statistics from the report of NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, the petition said there was an increase of 109 per cent in the number of MPs with declared serious criminal cases since 2009, with one MP declaring 204 criminal cases against himself including those related to culpable homicide, house trespass, robbery, criminal intimidation, etc.

"What is alarming is that the percentage of candidates with criminal antecedents and their chances of winning have actually increased rapidly over the years. Criminals who earlier used to help politicians win elections in the hope of getting favours, appear to have cut out the middle-man in favour of entering politics themselves.

"Political parties, in turn, have become steadily more reliant on criminals as candidates 'self-finance' their own elections in an era where election contests have become phenomenally expensive, but also because candidates with criminal antecedents are more likely to win than clean candidates, the petition said.

It said political parties are competing with each other in a race to the bottom because they cannot afford to leave their competitors free to recruit criminals.

The injury caused to people is large because the criminalisation of politics is at an extreme level and political parties are still setting up candidates with serious criminal antecedents. Therefore, voters find it difficult to cast their vote freely and fairly though it is their fundamental right, guaranteed under Article 19, it said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], April 10 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday rejected Qamar Ghani Usmani's plea challenging the Gujarat High Court order which refused his plea seeking statutory bail in a murder case in Gujarat's Dhandhuka.

A bench of justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar rejected the appeal filed by Usmani against the Gujarat High Court order.

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The court said, "The appellant (Usmani) is not entitled to the benefit of statutory/default bail. Under the circumstances, the present appeals deserve to be dismissed and are accordingly dismissed."

However, the court said that it will be open for the accused to pray for regular bail which may be considered in accordance with the law and on its own merits.

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Qamar Ghani Usmani has challenged the Gujarat High Court order dated September 23, 2022, which has dismissed his appeals and refused to release him on statutory bail (default bail) under Section 167(2) of the CrPC.

Qamar Ghani Usmani was arrested on January 29, 2022. The 90 days period as providedunder Section 167 of the CrPC, therefore, was to expire on April 29, 2022.

However, on April 22, 2022, the Investigating Officer prayed for an extension of time to complete the investigation which came to be granted by the Trial Court by granting an extension of 30 days period. The accused came to be informed about the extension on April 23, 2022.

On May 22, 2022, the Investigating Officer again prayed for further extension, which was allowed in the presence of the accused.

Qamar Ghani Usmani moved an application seeking default bail on May 10, 2022, on the ground that at the time when the first extension was granted on April 22, 2022, the same was not in his presence and therefore, the first extension was bad in law and therefore, he has right to get the default bail. Trial Court rejected his appeal.

He moved High Court which also rejected his appeals. He thereafter moved the top court against the Gujarat High Court order.

The top court noted that extensions granted by the trial Court are not challenged and at the time when the default bail application was made on May 10, 2022, there was already an extension and even thereafter, also there was a second extension which was in presence of the accused and thereafter, when the chargesheet has been filed within the period of extension, the accused is not entitled to be released on statutory/default bail as prayed.

"Therefore, in the facts and circumstances of the case, we are in agreement with the ultimate conclusion reached by the High Court denying the statutory/default bail to the accused," the top court 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)
Banihal/Jammu, Apr 10 (PTI) The traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was suspended on Monday following shooting stones from a hillock overlooking the strategic road in Ramban district, officials said.

The road was blocked at Chamalwas, five km ahead of Banihal town, around 9.45 am, the officials said.

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The restoration work on the highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, has not started yet, they said, adding the road clearance agency has moved its men and machinery to clear the debris.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Golaghat (Assam), [India], April 10 (ANI): A group of women under the banner of Akhil Bhartiya Marwari Mahila Sammelan have set up a library in the middle of a park in Assam's Golaghat district to inculcate the culture of book reading among youths of the state.

In this modern digital age, where teenagers can be seen importing time on social media, these women have come up with a unique initiative to revive the book-reading culture.

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Nowadays students resort to the Internet and Google for information on various state-level exams.

As a part of its initiative, Akhil Bharatiya Marwari Mahila Sammelan, Assam unit has recently set up a library in the middle of a park at Sankardev Udyan in Golaghat town where people can read books after strolling in the park.

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Namita Jalan of Akhil Bhartiya Marwari Mahila Sammelan told ANI that the library has a collection of around 200 books available in English, Assamese and Hindi Language and expressed gratitude to the Golaghat Municipality Board for providing space to open the library," Jalan said.

"We noticed people of all age groups strolling in the park in the morning and evening. So we thought they could read books when we will open a library here," She added.

"Finally, we opened a library," Namita Jalan said, adding that people have appreciated the initiative. We are getting a good response from the locals," She said.

Nikita Rajbongshi, a student, who had come for a walk during the morning time applauded the initiative.

"There is immense literature available in the library. Books are available for people of all age groups. Books are available in English, Assamese and Hindi Languages. Storybooks are also available for children," she 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)
Srinagar, Apr 10 (PTI) Union Minister for Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday said the dream of having a highway from Kashmir to Kanyakumari will be realised by the beginning of the next year.

"Kashmir to Kanyakumari road was a dream for us. From Rohtang to Ladakh, four tunnels will be constructed. From Leh, we will come to Kargil and join Zojila and Z-Morh tunnels.

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"A new road will reduce distance between Delhi and Chennai by 1,312 kilometres. This dream will come true by the start of 2024," Gadkari told reporters here.

The minister was in the union territory to attend the second meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Road Transport and Highways.

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Gadkari said when the BJP government was formed at the Centre in 2014, we prepared a roadmap for road infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Since then we have undertaken projects worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore in Jammu and Kashmir Once these projects are complete, the tourist footfall to Jammu and Kashmir will increase by four times. People go to Switzerland, our J&K is more beautiful," Gadkari said.

The minister said Jammu and Kashmir administration has identified 13 acres of land for creating roadside facilities for tourists.

"The tourism increase will lead to job creation for locals. In the coming few years, we will take the road network of Jammu and Kashmir to American standards," he added.

In an announcement focusing pilgrimage tourism, Gadkari announced plans for construction of a tunnel between Sheshnag and Panjtarni on the Amarnath yatra route which, he claimed, will reduce the yatra time from the current three days to just nine hours.

"A 110 kilometre road from Khanabal to Panjtarni will be constructed for the ease of Amarnath yatris at a cost of Rs 5,300 crore. The DPR for 73 km stretch from Khanabal to Chandanwari will be done in July 2023.

"The DPR for 37 km stretch from Chandanwari to Baltal via Panjtarni at a cost of Rs 3,500 will be done in October this year. A 10.8 kilometre-long tunnel will be constructed between Sheshnag and Panjtarni," the minister said.

According to the minister, Srinagar Ring Road (from Galander in Pulwama district to Ganderbal district), which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 4,660 crore, will ease the traffic congestion and pollution in the city.

Further, the minister made the announcement of construction of a tunnel at Pir Ki Gali on Mughal Road, connecting Poonch in Jammu region to Shopian in the Valley.

"The Rs 6,000 crore project includes Rs 5,000 crore tunnel at Pir ki Gali, which comprises the construction of an all weather road," he said.

He gave details of the ongoing road projects in the union territory, saying it will reduce the travel time on most routes.

"Tunneling on Jammu-Srinagar corridor has reduced the distance by nearly 20 per cent. The travel time has already been reduced to 5.5 hours (between Jammu and Srinagar). It can be reduced further by two hours once the ongoing works on remaining five tunnels are complete," he added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, Apr 10 (PTI) Specialty chemicals manufacturers Neogen Chemicals (Neogen) on Monday said it has signed an agreement with MU Ionic Solutions Corporation, Japan, to acquire manufacturing technology license for electrolytes in India.

MU Ionic Solutions (MUIS) is a joint venture between Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) and UBE Corporation, and is a group company of The Mitsubishi Chemical Group, a Japanese conglomerate.

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As per the terms of the agreement, Neogen will obtain the license from MUIS for proprietary and confidential manufacturing technology for making Neogen's electrolyte solutions at its manufacturing facility in India with a maximum installed capacity of up to 30,000 tonne per annum.

These electrolytes will be targeted by Neogen to meet the growing demand of lithium-ion cell manufacturers in India.

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"Initially we had evaluated a capex of Rs 450 crore with our own technology for an installed capacity of 10,000 tonne per annum. With this agreement, we now have the capability to go up to 30,000 tonne per annum," Neogen Chemicals Managing Director Harin Kanani told reporters.

Now the company has to evaluate in how many phases it will reach this 30,000 tonne capacity per annum and look into the difference between the technology of both the companies and then see what will be the capex required, he stated.

The company expects to set up a commercial plant with this technology license for electrolytes in Gujarat by 2025-26, Kanani said.

Currently, the company operates out of its three manufacturing facilities located in Mahape in Maharashtra and Dahej SEZ, Bharuch as well as Karakhadi, Vadodara in Gujarat.

Neogen's revenue for 2022-23 is estimated at Rs 650-700 crore.

"With our technology, we have estimated 10,000 tonne of business and Rs 1,000-1,200 crore revenue by FY26-FY27. Now with this announcement, we will again have to revisit capex and also have to revise our revenue guidance along with it," he noted.

(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 10 (AP) UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised the bravery of political leaders who struck the Good Friday peace accord 25 years ago Monday, as he urged Northern Ireland's current politicians to return to work.

While the peace deal largely brought an end to 30 years of hostilities, the Northern Ireland Assembly has been in limbo for more than a year since the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest new post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.

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Sunak discussed the importance of compromise in reaching the April 10, 1998 peace deal and called for redoubling efforts toward economic opportunity, prosperity, and stability.

It is a promise we must continue to fulfill, he said. So we must get on with the business of governance.

Also Read | Pakistan: Remittances Sent by Pakistani Expats Reach USD 2.5 Billion in March, Says Central Bank.

Sunak is set to greet U.S. President Joe Biden when he arrives Tuesday night in Belfast for a four-day visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland. The White House said Biden would mark the progress since the agreement was struck and underscore Northern Ireland's economic potential.

The U.S.-brokered deal got Irish republican and British loyalist paramilitary groups to lay down their arms, largely ending the violence known as the Troubles that claimed 3,600 lives. It also ended direct British rule and set up a power-sharing government for Northern Ireland.

As we look forward, we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership  showing bravery, perseverance, and political imagination," Sunak said. We commemorate those who are no longer with us and the many who lost their lives by trying to prevent violence and protect the innocent."

While an entire generation has grown up without the regular fear of violence, divisions remain over the conflict's legacy. Occasional attacks by dissidents led U.K. authorities last month to raise Northern Ireland's terrorism threat level to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

Police had warned that officers could be attacked in an Easter Monday parade  for which official permission had not been granted  in Londonderry by Irish republican dissidents who opposed the Good Friday Agreement.

During the otherwise peaceful demonstration in the Creggan neighborhood, a group of youths in hoods and black face masks threw fire bombs, rocks and bottles at a police Land Rover.

Police said no officers were injured and no arrests were reported.

With the Troubles legacy in the backdrop, Britain's exit from the European Union has created newer political tensions over trade issues.

British unionist politicians left Northern Ireland's 1.9 million people without a functioning administration when they walked out of the power-sharing Belfast government a year ago to protest customs checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. imposed after Brexit, which they say undermine the region's place in the United Kingdom.

Last month the U.K. and the EU signed an agreement, known as the Windsor Framework, that aims to eliminate many of the checks while maintaining an open border between the north and its EU neighbor the Republic of Ireland  a key pillar of the peace process.

But the Democratic Unionist Party refuses to return to government because it says the deal leaves some EU laws in place in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he couldn't put a timeline on when power-sharing would be back up and running.

Anybody who is predicting a date by which the executive would go back in Northern Ireland would be someone who can also sell you a four-leaf clover, he told BBC Radio 4.

Irish premier Leo Varadkar said he would work with Sunak to help restore the Belfast government, saying he learned from the Good Friday agreement that the two leaders need to be in lock-step.

What we know from history is that Northern Ireland only really works when the two governments work hand in hand, he told RTE, Ireland's national public media service. (AP)

(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 10 (PTI) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived here to attend the annual spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank and lead the G-20 countries in a series of intense interactions over a host of issues facing the world.

Sitharaman, who is leading a high-powered delegation, is scheduled to kick off her public engagements on Monday from the prestigious Peterson Institute for International Economics by speaking on resilience and growth of the Indian economy and interacting with the think-tank community.

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Among key engagements of the finance minister here include, spring Meetings of International Monetary Fund and the World Bank; hosting the Second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under India's G20 Presidency and G20-related side events; World Bank Development Committee and IMF Committee Plenaries, interaction with global economists and think-tanks, bilateral engagements and interaction with global business leaders and investors in roundtables.

Sitharaman is scheduled to address the Indian diaspora here on Saturday at a reception hosted in her honour by India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

Also Read | Pakistan: Remittances Sent by Pakistani Expats Reach USD 2.5 Billion in March, Says Central Bank.

The focus of her various sessions related to G-20 will be to deliberate on issues such as addressing food and energy insecurity, managing global debt vulnerabilities, strengthening Multilateral Development Banks, mobilising finance for climate action, advancing financial inclusion, and accelerating progress on International Tax and Financial Sector issues.

The meeting will take stock of the progress made on outcomes envisaged under India's G20 Finance Track agenda, the finance ministry said in a media release.

Sitharaman is likely to meet Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to discuss issues of mutual interest.

During the visit, a meeting of the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable will be co-chaired by India, IMF, and the World Bank on April 12, to discuss the current global debt landscape and ways to address existing challenges in debt restructuring.

On April 14, a high-level seminar on Macro-financial implications of Crypto assets will be held to review the macro-financial implications of Crypto Assets and discuss policies to leverage benefits and contain risks.

Sitharaman will also meet the G20 Expert Group on strengthening MDBs on April 15, 2023, to discuss the need for an updated MDBs ecosystem for the 21st century towards financing sustainable development goals and transboundary challenges.

In between her hectic schedule here in Washington DC, she is likely to find some time to go to the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for her interaction with the scientist community there. Even on her last trip here, she had gone to the National Science Foundation headquarters in Alexandria to get a firsthand experience of the research and work being done by the US in the field of science and technology.

As the country's finance minister, Sitharaman believes that for India to be a developed nation by 2047, a goal set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it needs to invest massively in the field of science and technology, especially in critical and cutting-edge technologies.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad, Apr 10 (PTI) A joint session of Pakistan's Parliament on Monday passed a resolution demanding the holding of an election of the national and provincial assemblies on the same day "to save the country".

The resolutions were moved after the Supreme Court last week ordered the election in Punjab province on May 14, leading to further political polarisation in the country.

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The resolutions emphasised the significance of appointing neutral caretaker set-ups to ensure impartiality and fairness during the elections.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Abbasi and Senator Kamran Murtaza moved two identical resolutions, calling for holding general elections of all the assemblies simultaneously across the country.

Also Read | Pakistan: Remittances Sent by Pakistani Expats Reach USD 2.5 Billion in March, Says Central Bank.

The resolutions also argued that holding separate elections in Punjab, the largest federating unit with over 50 per cent of the National Assembly seats, would inevitably impact the outcome of general elections to the National Assembly seats in Punjab.

It emphasised that any such move could potentially marginalise the smaller provinces' role in the federation.

The lawmakers belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged a token walkout after the resolutions were moved.

They also chanted: Hold elections and save the country.

The issue of the election has taken centre stage in Pakistani politics as former prime minister Imran Khan has been pushing for timely elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

The Supreme Court last week ordered the government to provide Rs 21 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by April 10 to enable it to organise polls.

Elections are due to be held on May 14 in Punjab but the date for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections has not been decided as yet.

The government had rejected the decision by the Supreme Court on provincial elections but in a Cabinet meeting on Sunday decided to seek approval from Parliament for funds.

Pakistan is in danger of defaulting on its debt, with an IMF bailout programme stalled since November, while a bruising political battle is raging between the government and former prime minister Khan.

The cash-strapped nation is in dire need of funds with its foreign exchange reserves hovering around USD 4.2 billion which provides barely one month of import cover.

(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, Apr 10 (AP) A federal judge wants to know if ex-President Donald Trump plans to attend a New York trial this month resulting from a columnist's claims that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.

Judge Lewis A. Kaplan issued an order Monday directing parties in the case to notify him by April 20 whether they will be present throughout the trial, scheduled to start April 25 in Manhattan federal court.

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A writer, E. Jean Carroll, sued Trump in November, saying he raped her in early 1996 after a chance meeting at the Bergdorf Goodman department store. He has repeatedly and emphatically denied it in language sure to be highlighted for a jury that will decide whether the rape occurred and if Trump defamed Carroll with his comments.

The rape claims were made immediately after a temporary state law took effect allowing adult rape victims to sue their abusers, even if attacks happened decades ago.

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Trump's lawyers did not respond Monday to requests for comment on Kaplan's order.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan, no relation to the judge, said Carroll intends to be present for the entire trial.

In his order, the judge asked each party to notify him in writing whether he or she intends to attend the entire trial. If not, he asked to be told what dates and times each individual will be absent.

The judge said the order was not to be construed to suggest whether either side is obliged to be present throughout the trial or what legal consequences could result from a decision not be present the entire time.

The judge was likely interested in learning exactly when Trump might be in court because of the special security arrangements that would be required for a Secret Service-protected former president who is campaigning for a second term in office.

Last week, Trump arrived in a motorcade for a New York state court arraignment on a 34-count felony indictment charging him with repeatedly breaking the law in a quest to silence women who claimed they had extramarital affairs with him years before his successful campaign for the presidency on the Republican ticket in 2016.

In October, Trump underwent a videotaped deposition in which he was questioned about Carroll's claims, which were first made publicly in a 2019 memoir by the former longtime Elle magazine columnist.

In the deposition, Trump was dismissive of Carroll's claims, saying: Physically she's not my type.

Even if Trump decides not to attend the trial, it is likely that significant portions of his deposition will be watched by the jury.

In recent weeks, the judge has denied requests by Trump's lawyers to exclude testimony from two women who made sexual abuse claims against Trump in circumstances similar to those alleged by Carroll and from two individuals who worked at the department store at the time the rape allegedly occurred.

He also has ruled that jurors can hear misogynistic remarks Trump made about women in 2005 on an Access Hollywood tape. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington [US], April 10 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday (local time) reached Washington to attend the 2023 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund and other G20 meetings.

She was received by Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Sitharaman is on a week-long visit to the US.

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The Union Finance Minister will be attending meetings with Finance Ministers and Central Bankers from across the world. The meeting is scheduled to take place today at IMF Headquarters in Washington.

Sitharaman and Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das will also jointly chair the 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, FMCBG meeting on April 12.

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Around 350 delegates from G20 members, 13 invitee countries, and various international and regional organisations will participate in the meeting.

They will engage in multilateral discussions centred around a broad spectrum of pressing global issues. During the meeting, the focus will be on issues such as addressing food and energy insecurity, managing global debt vulnerabilities, strengthening Multilateral Development Banks, mobilising finance for climate action and accelerating progress on International Tax and Financial Sector issues.

The Finance Ministry said the meeting will take stock of the progress made on outcomes envisaged under India's G20 Finance Track agenda.

The 2nd G20 FMCBG meeting will advance efforts towards the preparation of G20 India Finance Track deliverables for the 3rd G20 FMCBG meeting to be held at Gandhinagar in Gujarat in July this year.

These meetings are expected to provide informed Finance Track contributions to the Leaders Declaration set for adoption in the New Delhi Summit in September 2023.

The 2nd G20 FMCBG meeting will comprise of three sessions - global economy and international financial architecture; sustainable finance, financial sector and financial inclusion; and international taxation.

"The focus of these sessions will be to deliberate on issues such as addressing food & energy insecurity, managing global debt vulnerabilities, strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), mobilising finance for climate action, advancing financial inclusion, and accelerating progress on International Tax and Financial Sector issues. The meeting will take stock of the progress made on outcomes envisaged under India's G20 Finance Track agenda," an official release earlier said.

In a high-level meeting on Tuesday, the Finance Minister will meet the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Further, a meeting of the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable will be co-chaired by India, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank on April 12, 2023, to discuss the current global debt landscape and ways to address existing challenges in debt restructuring.

"On April 14, 2023, a high-level seminar on "Macro-financial implications of Crypto assets" will be held to review the macro-financial implications of Crypto Assets and discuss policies to leverage benefits and contain risks. Smt. Sitharaman will also meet the G20 Expert Group on strengthening MDBs on April 15, 2023, to discuss the need for an updated MDBs ecosystem for the 21st century towards financing sustainable development goals and transboundary challenges," the release 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)
El gobierno regional y los gobiernos locales de Piura cuentan con un Presupuesto Institucional Modificado (PIM) para "Reduccion de la vulnerabilidad y atencion de emergencias por desastres" de mas S/94 millones. Sin embargo, a la fecha el avance de ejecucion del PIM es de 13%. pic.twitter.com/8wBwLtIXEv
The Vice President further exemplified the role of Homoeopathy in combating covid-19 and said, "Homoeopathy played a significant role in combating pandemic". India is termed as 'Pharmacy of the World, and the credit goes to quality assurance commitment of India." He said.
Mumbai, April 10: Park authorities in South Texas' Rio Grande Valley were left stumped by a strange-looking critter that has been spotted there recently. Officials at the park are attempting to identify the mystery animal seen on a game camera. Texas Parks and Wildlife employees who work at the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park even released a picture of the animal on Facebook and asked the users to if they can identify it.

Captured on game camera - a mystery animal lurking in the Rio Grande Valley! 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? Regardless, it's thrilling to see such an incredible animal in its natural habitat", read the caption of the post which has now gone viral on social media. Watch: Strange 'Alien-Like' Creature Spotted In Sydney Streets After Heavy Rainfall, Biologists Left Puzzled!

"We'll keep you updated as we continue to investigate this mystery. Have you ever captured a mysterious animal on camera? Share your story in the comments, and let us know what you think this animal is, it continued.

It further added, Photo of an animal walking at night. Trail Cam photo donated to us by a park visitor.

'Mystery Animal Found in South Texas Park

Officials from the park revealed what they thought it might be after making several guesses saying, Wow, this photo has got a lot of attention! We agree with most of the comments that this is very likely an American Badger (not to be confused with the Honey Badger that lives in Africa and Asia and is rumored to not care very much). Strange Fish With Bird-Like Feathers Captured Swimming in Pacific Ocean; Viral Video of The Weird Black Marine Creature is Absolutely Terrifying.

To clarify, this photo was taken by a park visitor and we do not have an exact location where this photo was taken, except it was indeed in the RGV. While American Badgers are not commonly seen in the valley (partly due to their nocturnal behavior), this is part of their natural range, they added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 10, 2023 12:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Numerous miracles have occurred in various parts of Latin America throughout the Roman Catholic Church's long existence.

Even in the modern era, Catholics can look back on these miraculous occurrences and be reminded that there is more to life than what can be grasped by the five senses.

4 Amazing Miracles in Latin America Recognized by the Vatican

Many Latin American families have a deep-rooted belief in Catholic doctrine, particularly praying for God's intercession. Sometimes, their requests are granted through miracles or given as "miraculous gifts."

The belief in miracles is still prevalent among Catholics today in Latin America, even though they have been unable to explain these supernatural events. So, here are some of the most well-known Catholic miracles in Latin America recognized by the Vatican.

Argentina

On the evening of August 18, 1996, Father Alejandro Pezet performed Mass in the Church of Santa Maria y Caballito Almagro in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

A woman approached him after he finished giving out Holy Communion to inform him that she had discovered a discarded host on a candlestick at the rear of the Church.

The "host" is the bread destined to receive Eucharistic Consecration. Pezet went where he was told and discovered the tainted host. Since he could not eat it, he stored it in the Blessed Sacrament's tabernacle along with a container of water.

When he opened the Tabernacle on August 26, he was astonished that the host had become a bloody substance. Then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, was notified, and he ordered a professional photograph of the host to be taken.

The pictures were captured on September 6. The photos clearly show that the host, which became a piece of bloodied flesh, had grown remarkably in size.

The host remained in the tabernacle undisturbed for several years while the entire affair was kept under wraps. Pope Francis chose to have the host scientifically tested as there was no noticeable decay even though no preservation was made.

On October 5, 1999, scientist Dr. Ricardo Castanon collected a fragment of the bloody piece in the presence of the Cardinal's agents and sent it to New York for study. Castanon did not want the research team to be biased, so he kept quiet about the host's details.

Dr. Frederic Zugiba, a renowned forensic pathologist, was one of the scientists, and he concluded that the substance was real human flesh and blood.

READ NEXT: Lenten Season in Latin America

Mexico

A retreat was hosted in October 2006 by a church in the Chilpancingo-Chilapa Diocese in Mexico. Two priests and a religious sister were giving out bread during Holy Communion in a Mass when the host she held started to discharge reddish liquid.

Bishop Alejo Zavala Castro also asked Dr. Ricardo Castanon and his team, who researched the "miracle" in Argentina, to conduct scientific research on the substance.

In 2013, the study found that "the reddish substance analyzed corresponds to blood in which there are hemoglobin and DNA of human origin." The blood type is found to be "AB."

Venezuela

In a Mass near the Finca Marian Shrine in Betania, Venezuela, a priest split the host into four pieces and consumed one piece. Shortly after, one of the remaining pieces showed a red spot due to a red fluid.

After a series of tests and research, the red patch was proven to be an AB type of blood taken from a living heart. It was also determined that the priest's blood was incompatible with the blood found in the host.

The miraculous host is currently on display at the Augustinian Recollects convent of the Sacred Heart nuns in Los Teques.

Peru

A Catholic miracle in Eten, Peru involves the appearance of a visible image of the host. On the night of June 2, 1649, an image of a child with thick shoulder-length brown curls appeared in a host that was seen by Fr. Jerome Silva when he was about to replace the monstrance in the tabernacle.

The rest of the people present at that time also saw it, and they all agreed it was an image of the child Jesus Christ. The second appearance took place on July 22 of the same year.

The child Jesus appeared again in the host, dressed in a "purple tunic" over a shirt that covered his chest like in the custom of the South American Indians, "to demonstrate his love" for the Mochicas in Eten.

During the 15-minute apparition, people also saw three small white hearts in the host, believed to symbolize the Holy Trinity or the three equally divine "persons."

Thousands of people still attend the yearly celebration honoring the "miraculous child" in Eten, Peru.

READ MORE: New Miracle in Mexico? Catholic Church's Monstrance Palpitates Like a 'Beating Heart'

This is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 3 Scientifically Proven Eucharistic Miracles - Form Catholic 365
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that it would pardon Daniel Perry, who was guilty of shooting a protester to death, as soon as a request reached his desk.

Abbott made the announcement Saturday on Twitter with one million followers. It comes after Abbott faces a growing push from national conservatives to act urgently to revert the conviction, according to Austin American-Statesman.

Among the famous personalities calling for the pardon include Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted in the deaths of two Wisconsin protesters in 2020.

Abbott said the law in Texas allows the governor to "request the Board of Pardons and Paroles" to identify whether a person should be granted a pardon.

The Republican governor added in his statement that he has made a request and ordered the Board to "expedite its review." Former Texas State Representative Jonathan Stickland replied to Abbott's tweet and said, "Thank you."

Abbott's announcement garnered mixed reactions from both leadership figures and the public.

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Tevas Governor Greg Abbott Daniel Perry Pardon

Former White House aide and political commentator Keith Boykin reacted to Greg Abbott's statement to pardon Daniel Perry, saying that the law enforcement agent posted on Facebook that he might "kill a few people on my way to work."

Daniel Perry posted on Facebook that he might kill a few people on my way to work, got in his car, ran a red light, drove into a Black Lives Matter protest, and shot & killed a protester because he felt threatened. And Greg Abbott plans to pardon him. https://t.co/swO4NWaFj4  Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 9, 2023

Boykin noted that Perry got in his car, ran a red light, and drove into a Black Lives Matter protest.

The former White House official added that Perry shot and killed a protester as he felt "threatened."

Twitter account Anonymous Operations tweeted that the party of "law and order and social responsibility" in the state of Texas will pardon a murderer.

The party of "law and order" and "social responsibility" in #Texas is going to pardon a murderer.. because murderer killed a #BLM protester. A murderer who bragged on social media before committing the murder about how much he wanted to kill protesters#GregAbbott @GregAbbott_TX pic.twitter.com/TcSPOrqrtm  Anonymous Operations (@AnonOpsSE) April 9, 2023

The account then uploaded a photo of Abbot with the message, "The number one threat to the lives and health of the citizens of Texas."

Reporter Ryan Autullo tweeted that Abbott is a former justice on the Texas Supreme Court.

Keep in mind Gov. Greg Abbott is a former justice on the Texas Supreme Court.



Absolutely remarkable that he requested a pardon for Daniel Perry without reviewing evidence.



12 people took an oath to be fair and impartial and agreed on guilt. Abbott says he knows better than them  Ryan Autullo (@AutulloAAS) April 8, 2023

A Twitter user with the name "ANTITRUMPTEXAN" tweeted that the state has officially become a "banana republic(an)."

Texas has officially become a banana republic(an).



Greg Abbott says he will pardon convicted murderer Daniel Perry just 24 hours after the verdict.



Governors should not be issuing pardons to murderers based on politics. https://t.co/yIAzt5CTeU  ANTITRUMPTEXAN (@GROWUPREPUBLIC1) April 8, 2023

The Twitter user added that governors should not be "issuing pardons and murderers based on politics."

Who Is Daniel Perry?

Daniel Perry is an Army sergeant working as an Uber driver in Austin on the night of July 25, 2020, when he ran a red light at an intersection downtown and drove into the protest of Black Lives Matter before stopping.

USA Today reported that the protester who died was Garrett Foster. He was carrying an AK-47 rifle and was among a group of protesters approaching Perry's car.

Perry told police that the BLM protester allegedly threatened him by raising the barrel of his rifle at him. So, he shot Foster five times with a .357 revolver through his car window before he drove away.

The convicted murderer's team argued that Foster acted in self-defense, while prosecutors maintained that Perry instigated what happened.

READ MORE: Texas, Arizona Keep Sending Buses of Migrants to Washington; DC Mayor Devotes $10 Million to Help

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Gov. Greg Abbott Requests Board of Pardons and Paroles Review Daniel Perry Murder Case - From WFAA




Former Attorney General Bill Barr has slammed his former boss, Donald Trump, as a weak candidate in the 2024 presidential election, predicting that the former president will ultimately lose to his successor, Joe Biden.

Despite being indicted criminally last week, Trump still has the right to run for the White House next year. However, Barr believed that Trump would only lose to Biden.

Barr noted that Democrats know this and will use it to their advantage, so the former attorney general made a bold prediction.

"I think ultimately the savvy Democratic strategists know [the Manhattan District Attorney's Office probe] is going to help Trump, and they want him to be the nominee because he is the weakest of the Republican candidates, the most likely to lose again to Biden," Barr told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday.

When asked about whether Trump will be convicted and sent to prison, the former Trump administration official noted that he does not think anything will happen "before a nomination is made and even perhaps" until the 2024 election.

He added: "This stuff is going to drag out through '24, and it's going to stymie and disrupt the whole Republican primary process."

Barr said he also thinks it will gravely weaken the former president as far as the general election is concerned.

"He's already, I think, a weak candidate that would lose, but I think this sort of assures it," he noted.

READ NEXT: Tucker Carlson, Who 'Passionately Hates' Donald Trump, Gets Exclusive Interview With Him

Bill Barr Says DOJ Could Have Very Strong Case of Obstruction of Justice Against Donald Trump

As for the Mar-a-Lago documents case, Bill Barr noted that Donald Trump played "games" with federal investigators as they sought to retrieve the documents from his Florida estate. Barr noted that this could amount to obstruction of justice.

"I think that's a serious potential case. I think they probably have some very good evidence there," the former Attorney General said in the interview, as USA Today reported.

The man who once headed the Trump administration's Justice Department admitted that the former president had no right to claim those documents he hid in Mar-a-Lago.

"He had no claim to those documents, especially the classified documents. It belonged to the government," Barr said. "I think he was jerking the government around."

He added that Trump is now being investigated on what extent he kept those classified documents and to what extent he obstructed its investigation, saying he thinks there is a "serious potential case" and that the current Justice Department probably has some good evidence to back it up.

Bill Barr Thinks DOJ Has Better Case vs. Donald Trump Than Manhattan DA

As for the special counsel tasked to investigate the various federal crimes that Donald Trump might have committed, Bill Barr praised him, saying that Jack Smith was a "very dogged, aggressive prosecutor who will get to the bottom of what happened."

Barr said he believes the classified documents case has more merit than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's hush money payments case, criticizing Trump's indictment.

He slammed the Manhattan District Attorney's office and accused Bragg of using his power to "accomplish a political end."

"The president, unfortunately, has a penchant for engaging in reckless and self-destructive behavior that brings these kinds of things on him," Barr added, saying he was not surprised that his former boss is now facing a myriad of legal troubles, Newsweek reported.

READ MORE: Matt Gaetz Caught Pushing Chinese Propaganda

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Legal Issues 'Will Greatly Weaken Donald Trump' in the General Election: Bill Barr l This Week - From ABC News
Two of the most prominent MAGA personalities are feuding right now. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has blasted far-right activist Laura Loomer after it was reported that she might join the Trump campaign.

According to Yahoo! News, the Georgia House Republican called Loomer "mentally unstable" and a "documented liar" who "can not be trusted."

The two MAGA personalities used to praise each other publicly, but that has since changed as both women have recently been in a very public catfight.

Greene even put out a statement on Twitter condemning the possible hiring of Loomer to work on the 2024 presidential campaign of former President Donald Trump.

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

READ NEXT: Marjorie Taylor Greene and George Santos Flee Protesters in New York

When Did the Beef Between Marjorie Taylor Greene and Laura Loomer Begin?

Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is known for her conspiracy theories, warned the Trump campaign that Laura Loomer "loves" Nick Fuentes.

Fuentes is another far-right activist and a white supremacist who Donald Trump had a controversial dinner with at his Mar-a-Lago club along with Kanye West in November. Trump received criticisms after his dinner with him.

According to The Hill, the feud between Greene and Loomer may have had something to do with the Georgia Republican supporting Kevin McCarthy's bid for House speaker earlier this year.

Greene said Loomer, who called herself a "proud Islamophobe," attacked her for supporting McCarthy and not endorsing Loomer in her most recent congressional campaign.

Loomer was one of the many MAGA Republicans who failed to secure a House seat during last year's midterm elections.

Loomer has been very vocal in criticizing Greene, once tweeting that the Georgia congresswoman is "Benedict Arnold in drag."

Who Is Laura Loomer and Did Donald Trump Really Want Her to Join His Campaign?

According to the New York Times, Laura Loomer is an infamous anti-Muslim activist who is very public about sharing her views and even got a Twitter ban because of it.

Reports said Donald Trump recently told aides that he wanted to have Loomer on his campaign team. The former president reportedly met Loomer during his post-arrest speech last week in Mar-a-Lago as the far-right MAGA activist was in attendance.

However, several aides to the former president have warned him that hiring her would cause a massive backlash given her incendiary comments against Muslims.

Trump has also reportedly received backlash from some of his most loyal supporters. That may have forced the former president to reconsider hiring her as a high-ranking campaign official said they would no longer hire Loomer.

Loomer then told The New York Times on Friday said, "Out of respect for President Trump, I'm not going to comment on private conversations that I had with the president."

She added: "The president knows I have always been a Trump loyalist and that I'm committed to helping him win re-election in 2024. He likes me very much. And it's a shame that he's 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."

READ MORE: Stormy Daniels Net Worth: How Rich Is the Controversial Porn Star Who Could Send an Ex-President to Jail?

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WATCH: MAGA Influencers THREATEN and TURN ON Marjorie Taylor Greene and Texas Paul Can't Stop Laughing - From MeidasTouch
Pope Francis called for prayers for people in Ukraine and Russia during the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

The pope also lauded nations that welcomed refugees and called on Israelis and Palestinians affected by the latest deadly violence to create a "climate of trust," according to NPR.

The Easter Sunday message of the pope was "Urbi et Orbi" in Latin, which means "to the city and the world."

Syria and Turkey were also included in the prayers of Francis, especially those who lost their loved ones in an earthquake two months ago.

The Catholic church leader has repeatedly called for the end of the fighting and sought prayers for the "martyred" Ukrainian people since the start of the invasion in February 2022.

Francis also prayed for national leaders to ensure "that no man or woman" may face any discrimination" with full respect for human rights and democracy. Lebanon, South Sudan, and Congo were also mentioned in the prayers of the pope.

READ NEXT: Russia's Vladimir Putin Says 'Colombia Is a Promising Partner' as He Courts Latin America in the Midst of Ukraine War

Pope Francis on Ukraine-Russia War

Pope Francis also prayed for help for "beloved Ukrainian people" towards their journey to peace while imploring God to shed "the light of Easter" on the people of Russia.

According to Ukraine's General Staff of the Armed Forces, Russian forces launched 40 airstrikes between Saturday and Sunday mornings, four of those being missile strikes and 58 attacks from multiple-rocket launchers on different parts of Ukraine.

Al Jazeera reported that the Russian attacks were centered in the Donetsk province. The pope has earlier made statements about the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Francis said in March that several interests are involved in the ongoing war in Ukraine, not just Russia.

The pope went on to say that the conflict was triggered by the "imperial interests" of empires from elsewhere, not just the Russian empire, Reuters reported.

Francis then expressed readiness to talk to the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, to call for peace.

Ukraine-Russia War

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Russia during his nightly speech for the deadly attack reported overnight.

Zelenskyy noted that it was how the "terrorist state" celebrated this year's Easter Sunday. At least two people were killed when Russia struck the southern city of Zaporizhzhia overnight.

The casualties were reported to be s 50-year-old man and his 11-year-old daughter after the strikes partially destroyed a residential building. CNN reported that rescuers also managed to pull out a 46-year-old woman stuck under the rubble.

Meanwhile, farmers in central and eastern Europe protested this week against the effect of cheap Ukrainian grain imports, with its undercut domestic prices.

The Ukrainian grain's low price has also caused some complaints from local producers, saying they cannot compete with such cost. The producers then asked the European Commission for compensation.

Zelenskyy also delivered an Eastern Sunday message, congratulating Ukrainians and all Christians who are celebrating the event.

The Ukrainian president said that despite the difference in religions, the people in Ukraine "share the same belief in freedom."

READ MORE: Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelensky Says if Pres. Joe Biden Acted Sooner 'There Would Be No War'

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WATCH: Pope Francis Prays for Ukrainians and Russians at Easter Mass - From NBC News
Donald Trump has sent new waves of criticism toward U.S. President Joe Biden's administration and called it the "worst in history."

Trump's remarks came after the White House released reports last week blaming the former president's administration for the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021, according to Daily Mail.

The former president facing charges wrote that the "totally corrupt Biden Disinformation Administration" is now pinning the blame for the chaotic exit from Afghanistan.

He then went on to say that the Biden administration is always "blaming someone else for their mistakes and blunders."

Trump's verbal tirade against Biden's White House was included in his heated Easter Sunday message, wherein he also claimed that the United States "will end up in World War III" with the current people in charge, whom he described as "vicious, but very stupid."

In February, House Republicans called for the release of the details and information surrounding the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021.

Republican Rep. James Comer wrote in a letter that the American public deserves the answers, adding that the "ongoing obstruction" of the probe is unacceptable.

READ NEXT: Pentagon Ramping Up Efforts to Evacuate Family Members of U.S. Service Members Still Trapped in Afghanistan

White House's Report on Afghanistan Withdrawal

Last Thursday, the U.S. government released its report on the Afghanistan withdrawal, which largely blamed Trump and his administration.

The report noted that Biden was "severely constrained" by the decisions of the former president, as reported by The Guardian.

The National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, said that Biden received a depleted operation in Afghanistan, which was crippled by Trump when it comes to U.S. response.

The report also noted that it was the mistake of an "overly optimistic intelligence community assessment" regarding the fighting capability of the Afghan army.

The White House said that they prioritized evacuations when faced with a "degrading security situation."

ABC News Go reported that the summary of the report also noted that the Biden administration "could have done a better job" when it comes to sharing the risks involved in the insurgency's return to power.

Kirby said that the current administration still believes that the ending of the Afghanistan withdrawal was "the right decision."

Afghanistan Withdrawal

By August 2021, the Taliban has taken back the country, with Afghan officials fleeing.

Intelligence assessments did not project such a quick collapse of the Afghan government, with U.S. officials earlier claiming that Kabul could yield within six to 12 months after U.S. withdrawal, as detailed by The Washington Post.

When the Taliban took over, they vowed that women under their rule would be treated equally.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid assured the internal community amid their comeback, saying there would be "no discrimination" against women in Afghanistan and that women will be treated fairly "within the frameworks" that they currently have.

However, United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner noted that women have been wholly banned from public office and judiciary, with girls required to follow a strict dress code to travel.

READ MORE: 2 Afghan Refugees Staying in Wisconsin Arrested for Trying to Rape Child, Strangle Woman

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WATCH: Trump blasts Afghanistan withdrawal as worst military defeat ever - from Daily Mail


King Charles had an agreement with his eldest son Prince William to never meet Prince Harry alone again after the Oprah interview, according to a new book.

The revelation comes in a new book, entitled "Our King: Charles III-The Man and The Monarch Revealed." It was written by Robert Jobson, according to the Daily Mail.

Senior royals agreed that "dramatic steps" are required to be taken after claims of racism and mistreatment came from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their March 2021 Oprah interview.

It was reported that the two felt and decided that the duke "could no longer be trusted" and could no longer meet with him alone due to fears that the conversations would be remembered differently.

On top of the Oprah interview, Harry's most-bought memoir "Spare" also caused tension among his family.

It was reported that Prince William was the "most upset" member of the royal family by the claims laid out in Harry's memoir.

READ NEXT: Meghan Markle Feels 'Excluded' as Palace 'Is Only Fighting for Prince Harry' to Attend King Charles III Coronation

Prince William and Prince Harry Relationship

The gap in the relationship between the brothers widened when Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, announced that they would be stepping back from their senior royal duties. Sources noted that William "was blindsided" by the decision of the two.

Cosmopolitan reported that a joint statement from two parties noted that the stories about the princes' strained relationship were false.

A source said, despite the denials, that William "is so tired and done with the drama of it all," referring to his brother's decision to step away from the royal life.

William was also reportedly unhappy after Harry and Markle signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Netflix.

In March 2021, the Sussexes opened up about their lives as royals during an Oprah interview.

Prince Harry took it as an opportunity to clear his relationship with his brother, saying that he loves William and that they have been "to hell together," but right now, they are on "different paths."

It is not yet known if the two will see each other once again at their father's coronation.

King Charles's Coronation

More than 850 community representatives and key workers are being invited to the coronation in acknowledgment of their work.

The invitees include 450 recipients of British Empire medals. It will also include 400 young people from organizations chosen by the King and Queen, as detailed by CNN.

Aside from changes in the processional routes, carriages, and coronation regalia, there will also be a new emoji designed to mark the celebrations. It will be based on St. Edward's Crown and will be used on Twitter.

Meanwhile, King Charles recently agreed to cooperate with an independent study looking at the British monarchy and its ties to the slave trade in the 17th and 18th centuries.

BBC noted that the study is done by the University of Manchester with Historic Royal Palaces, with Buckingham Palace saying that Charles looks at the matter "profoundly seriously."

READ MORE: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Royal Titles Could Be 'In Danger' With New Monarch as King Charles - Royal Expert

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WATCH: King Charles and Prince William made decision to 'never meet Harry alone' following Oprah interview - from Sky News Australia


Three teenagers were killed in rural Marion County, Florida, around March 30, and Florida authorities said that they had arrested the third suspect on Saturday, according to Fox News.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office and the United States Marshals Service assisted in the arrest of 16-year-old Tahj Brewton on Saturday evening, just south of Groveland, Florida, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Brewton was detained on outstanding warrants related to carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault, auto theft, evading or attempting to evade law enforcement, and tampering with an electronic monitoring device, according to a Facebook post from the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Another Florida teen, 17, and a 12-year-old were arrested; the day before Brewton was taken into custody regarding the triple homicide. Brewton was at large at that time.

The three juvenile criminals "fled the scene but left a lot of evidence in their wake," according to Marion County Sheriff Billy Wood.

READ NEXT: Florida Teen, 12-Year-Old Boy Arrested Following Fatal Shooting of 3 Teens

Florida Fatal Shooting Suspects and Victims Were Associated with a Gang

The suspects knew each of the victims, and all of them were connected to a gang in one way or another, Woods told reporters, claiming that the gang was responsible for a series of burglaries and robberies, per NY Daily News.

"Basically, in simple terms, there is no honor among thieves," Woods said. "At some point, these three individuals turned on our three victims and murdered them."

Officials have only been able to positively identify one victim, 16-year-old Layla Silvernail, who was found with a gunshot wound on the side of a road in Ocklawaha on the evening of March 30.

She was taken to the hospital immediately but sadly passed away there.

The body of a 17-year-old boy who had been shot was found nearby the following morning, said Woods.

The third body was a 16-year-old Camille Quarles, discovered Saturday after investigators spotted Silvernail's car half submerged in the water close to the Malauka Loop. Quarles was inside the trunk.

Suspects Admit the Florida Fatal Shootings

The detained Florida teen suspects admitted to shooting Quarles inside the car, said Woods, adding that they obtained the firearms from car thefts but did not elaborate on how many were used in the murders, The Daily Mail reported.

"We have nothing to say that it was any rivalry or anything to such that cause," Wood said about the suspects' motive.

Woods claimed that the three young boys' purported killings were a mess and that they had scattered evidence all over the area.

Fears that a serial killer was at large in the small town of Ocklawaha were initially generated by the proximity of the victim's remains, but authorities quickly dispelled those rumors.

After the gruesome finds, police initiated an immediate investigation and called the killings an "isolated incident."

Due to their family exercising their right under Marsy's Law, which permits crime victims or their families to request that their names be hidden from public records, the third victim's identity has not been made public since Silvernail and Quarles were identified as the victims.

It was eventually determined that the unnamed victim had been wearing all black and had a black mask over his face when he was discovered dead.

A Florida student claims she discovered the body of a 17-year-old kid sprawled on the side of a dirt road early on Friday morning while running to catch the school bus.

READ MORE: Missing Minnesota Mother Vanished Under 'Suspicious' Circumstances

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WATCH: 'Armed and dangerous': $10k reward for teen wanted in murder of 3 Florida teens - From FOX 35 Orlando
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan has met with Ali Shamkhani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran.

Grigoryan and Shamkhani discussed the regional security situation over a luncheon.

The sides also discussed the Armenian-Iranian bilateral relations agenda and prospect of development, Grigoryans office said in a readout.
Two Wisconsin police officers and the suspect were killed in a shootout during a traffic check on Saturday.

The shooting started around 3:38 p.m. local time when an officer from the Chetek Police Department stopped a car in Cameron, as stated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

The state agency confirmed the deaths of a Chetek police officer and a Cameron, Wisconsin police officer, according to CNN.

The statement added that the driver involved was taken to a hospital and was later declared dead.

The identities of the officers and the third individual in the traffic stop shooting remain unknown. The authorities have not commented on the circumstances that led to the traffic check or the subsequent shooting.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating the event involving two Wisconsin police officers. The department's Division of Criminal Investigation is still looking into the data and figuring out what happened, according to a news release, stating that the Barron County District Attorney will take over the investigation afterward.

READ NEXT: Milwaukee Police Officer Dead After Shootout With Teen Robbery Suspect

Death of Wisconsin Police Officers Mourned by Nearby Police Departments

Wisconsin State Patrol, the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, and a DCI Crime Response specialist are all helping in the investigation, headed by the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation.

Nearby Wisconsin police departments have all voiced their astonishment and sadness at the deaths of the cops, NY Post noted.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Cameron and Chetek Police Departments," said the Barron County Sheriff's Office statement.

"We are with heavy hearts as we've heard about the loss of 2 officers in Barron County," the Oconto Police Department wrote on Facebook after learning of the tragedy, adding that the officers' friends, family, and the communities they protected are in their thoughts and prayers.

The Hudson Police Department tweeted their condolences, saying, "It is with heavy hearts we send our thoughts and prayers to the Village of Cameron Police Department, the City of Chetek Police Department, the Barron County community, and the families of two officers lost in the line of duty today."

Recent Shooting Marked the Second and Third Wisconsin Police Who Died on Duty

This would be the second and third Wisconsin police officer deaths in the line of duty this year, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, a website that keeps track of such deaths nationwide, per Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Meanwhile, there were no Wisconsin police officers killed in the line of duty in 2022.

Wisconsin police Peter Jerving, from Milwaukee, who died this year, was shot and murdered just two months earlier while attempting to make an arrest. Jerving has been in the service for four years.

Jerving and the fleeing suspect, Terrell Thompson, were killed in the ensuing exchange of gunfire between multiple police officers and the Thompson.

The suspect died at the scene, while the wounded Wisconsin police died in the hospital.

"Milwaukee, our hearts are heavy. Milwaukee Police Department hearts are heavy. My heart is heavy," Police Chief Jeffrey Norman noted.

He said that one of their finest officers put on the uniform and the badge went on to work and sacrificed himself to protect the community.

"Milwaukee, we need your prayers. We need your support," he concluded.

READ MORE: Taylor Swift Breakup

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WATCH: 2 Wisconsin police officers killed in traffic stop shooting - From KELOLAND News
The California Highway Patrol reported that a 5-year-old girl was shot and murdered on a Bay Area motorway at around 7 pm on Saturday, per ABC News.

The I-880 shooting that killed the California girl is just one of two recorded shootings in the area, said Santa Cruz police.

Santa Cruz County authorities arrested three individuals, adding that they pulled over a vehicle at 9:30 pm on suspicion that the driver was engaged in the shootings.

"The vehicle did not yield, and a pursuit was initiated," police said. "During the pursuit on Hwy 17, officers observed the vehicle's occupants discarding a firearm from the car. The suspect driver stopped a short distance later."

The police said they found the gun that had been tossed from the car afterward.

READ NEXT: California Toddler Dies in Exorcism Ritual

California Girl and Family Went Out for Dinner When Fatal I-880 Shooting Happened

The California girl, Eliyanah Crisostomo, and her family were going to the Milpitas Outback Steakhouse, according to their friends.

They were driving along I-880 when a car drew up alongside them and opened fire. Eliyanah was killed within 30 seconds after the third shot hit her, according to ABC 7.

The California Highway Patrol's dispatch from the scene can be heard on Broadcastify audio.

"I have a person who just drove up on me. A person has gunshot wounds. Southbound 880, south of Dixon Landing," said a dispatch member.

The California girl is counting down the days until her birthday on April 21 and looks forward to Easter.

California Police Investigate Another Shooting in Fremont Boulevard

California Police in Fremont are searching for a shooter who confronted a pedestrian Saturday night and opened fire, KRON 4 reports.

The pedestrian escaped unharmed and ran into the neighborhood, where he hid until police located him.

The incident started on Saturday at 6:37 pm in the 37000 block of Fremont Boulevard.

The altercation and subsequent shooting of the pedestrian occurred after the suspect car had drawn up to the victim on foot.

The car quickly fled the crime, and the vehicle and its passenger remained unidentified.

Major Crimes Task Force detectives from the Fremont Police Department are investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, A pursuit on Highway 17 began after police say they spotted a car they believe was involved in the shooting in Fremont.

Both the CHP and the police in Scotts Valley were able to apprehend the fugitives.

A gun allegedly thrown from the vehicle was found by the Scotts Valley police K9 unit near the Mount Hermon exit, according to the authorities.

The three suspects arrested may have ties to the fatal I-880 shooting in which the California girl was killed, according to authorities.

Police are also investigating whether this gunshot is related to the one in Fremont.

The Santa Cruz and Fremont police departments have not yet released any information on whether the three suspects were involved in the gunshot that occurred on the interstate. They stated that they anticipate having further details regarding this case by Monday, said FOX 2.

READ MORE: Two Wisconsin Police Officers, Suspect Killed Following a Traffic Stop Shooting

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WATCH: 5-year-old shot, killed in Interstate 880 shooting - From KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. Two bodies have been found after an explosion flattened a four-storey apartment building in the southern French city of Marseille.

Six people remained unaccounted for and rescue efforts were ongoing, the BBC reported citing local authorities.

The blast occurred in the La Plaine neighbourhood at 00:49 local time on Sunday (23:49 BST on Saturday).

The cause remains unclear, but investigators are looking into the possibility of a gas leak.

Five people from neighbouring buildings sustained minor injuries in the explosion and around 200 people had to be evacuated from their homes. Two nearby blocks partially collapsed a few hours later without causing any additional injuries.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter that he was "thinking of those affected and their loved ones" and thanked the emergency workers for their efforts.

Mayor of Marseille Benoit Payan said rescuers remained "determined" to find people alive. "Hope must hold us," he said.

Deputy Mayor Yannick Ohanessian told reporters at the scene that "several witnesses have reached us this morning to say there was a suspicious smell of gas".
At the top o the morning on Monday, the Celtic Cultural Alliance announced that its biggest annual event, the Celtic Classic, would be going partially cashless.

Food and beverage vendors at the annual Bethlehem festival will only be utilizing credit, debit or other accepted electronic payments, a news release from the CCA stated. However, the 40-plus Celtic retail merchants will also still accept cash. The festival will also sell gift cards that can be bought with cash to use elsewhere at the festival.

According to the release, there will be plenty of promotion for the move to a largely cashless operation in order to inform as many people as possible in advance of the Historic Downtown Bethlehem festival. Gift cards and beverage tokens will be purchasable in advance of the festival starting in the summer.

The 36th annual Celtic Classic is scheduled for Sept. 22 to Sept. 24.

We have received requests from vendors to consider this while watching cash receipts drop each year as compared to electronic payments, said Jayne Ann Recker, the executive director of the CCA. In our decision-making process, we observed other events and venues make the change with great success. Since the pandemic, people have come to expect it. It will mean faster lines, giving everyone more time to enjoy what the Celtic Classic has to offer.

Other events and venues around the Lehigh Valley have found success in varying degrees of cashless operations, including Dorney Park, Coca-Cola Park and Musikfest.

The CCA also noted in the release that much more information on the Celtic Classic, including the lineup of performances, will be announced next month. More information on the festival can be found on its website, celticfest.org.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com.
Leitrim Animal Welfare is "currently experiencing a high volume of dogs needing to be surrendered."

The dog shelter with a no kill policy said while it usually deals with a large number of surrenders, more and more people are giving up their pets due to the housing crisis on a frequent basis.

Leitrim Animal Warden Megan Gaffney said, "Dogs have been a huge part of Irish family life for thousands of years and this is still prevalent today. Yet Irish society is incompatible for integrating dogs and animals in to every day life. For instance, allowing dogs to enter shops, chemists, libraries etc is not permitted or accepted and now with the housing crisis, the majority of landlords will not accept pets in the home.

"This is a crucial element within the housing crisis that is harmful in more ways than one. Animal lovers are not getting equal access to housing over a family that has no pets. Evictions and moving homes in general is a difficult process to undertake and mental health plays a huge factor for both the animal and humans alike. Animal companions can be very therapeutic and help people overcome life's daily struggles, just by purely caring for another sentient being.

With the housing crisis, it is having a domino effect to an already under funded and heavily constrained sector of society, that being animal welfare.

"If Irish society as well as landlords could accept this already common way of life, by having animal companions. This would alleviate the pressure from animal welfare organisations and already struggling families. When dogs are surrendered to pounds/shelters, they usually spend the majority of their time sitting with deep depression. Unable to eat, exercise or relax properly. awaiting for their family to return and bring them home. Making the decision to surrender ones pet is a very tough and heartbreaking position to be in as most families would consider their pets as family, the same way they would view their own child."

Leitrim Animal Welfare have come up with a way to help both families and their pets to stay together and more importantly, obtain good mental health. Our Animal Warden Megan has started writing personalised letters to landlords for those facing a tough decision to surrender their pets.

If you find yourself in this situation and are in need of a personalised letter, you can do so by emailing Megan at leitrimanimalwarden@gmail.com.
Sligo's Lough Gill Brewery is celebrating after receiving six accolades for its beers at one of the world's best-known international beer competitions, held in France.

The brewerys products were put to the test at the 14th Concours International de Lyon which is attended by more than 1,200 tasters from around the world with 60 beer-tasting categories. The event, in Frances self-styled home of gastronomy and taste, showcases the best products in the world also features judging categories for spirits and dairy products.

The Concours International de Lyon promises an exacting evaluation of beers across multiple criteria. The competition received 10,588 samples from 51 countries. After a strict judging process, Lough Gill Brewery last week took away six of the 11 awards which this year went to Irish breweries.

The awards for Lough Gill brands were:

- Dark Majik (Stout - Imperial Stout) - Gold

- Pain and Perfection (Speciality Beer  Sour Beer) Gold

- Spear (Speciality Beer- Wood & Barrel Aged) - Gold

- Ogham (Speciality Beer - Wood & Barrel Aged) - Gold

- Andersons (Amber & Red Ale  Red Ale)- Silver

- Full Power (Ale  Strong-Extra Special Bitter)- Silver

Commenting on the awards, James Ward, founder of Lough Gill Brewery said: We are thrilled to have won so many awards at this prestigious competition; its really great to see our beers receive this type of international recognition. Competitions such as this are a great way to create new relationships with international distributors, customers and consumers and these awards really help us forge bonds with our export partners in France and beyond."
An Irish harpist is on a mission to break her own Guinness World Record  this time on Mount Kilimanjaro  alongside a woman with cystic fibrosis who hopes to encourage others with the condition to achieve the impossible.

Siobhan Brady is to travel to Tanzania on July 17 with a team of roughly 19 others, as she attempts to break a Guinness World Record (GWR) for the highest altitude harp performance on Mount Kilimanjaros summit  a record she previously achieved in 2018 at Singla Pass, India, at more than 16,000ft.

The upcoming challenge was inspired by late fellow musician Desmond Gentle, whom Ms Brady achieved the 2018 GWR with, alongside another British woman called Anna Ray.

Back in 2018, I went to London for a harp competition and was introduced to Desmond Gentle who ran a piano shop in Camden Market, the 24-year-old who lives in Limerick, Ireland, said.

He had done the deepest concert in a salt mine in Romania and was planning on doing the highest concert with a piano and he wanted me to come with a harp as a back-up because a piano could be easily broken.

Then 10 days after we came back from India, Desmond died from thrombosis at the age of 69  but the week before he died, he said he wanted to do this on Kilimanjaro, so were doing it in his memory.

While on the seven-day hike, two 10kg harps will be carried by team members, in case one gets damaged, and while Ms Brady will be the only performer, the others on the team will be able to get a participation GWR if they reach the top.

Funds for the upcoming challenge are to go to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and for Caroline Heffernan, a patient advocate at the charity, she wanted to do more than just support the cause through words of appreciation.

To be honest, it was a no-brainer deciding to actually take part in the climb because Im a firm believer that if something is offered to you and is in any way within you capabilities, do it and so I did, the 52-year-old who lives in Galway told PA.

Ms Heffernan  who has lived with cystic fibrosis (CF) since the age of 13  also wanted to encourage younger people with CF to try and achieve the seemingly impossible.

My mum and dad were told that I would not live until I was 20 and here I am, she said.

Even if I have to crawl on all fours, I will do my best to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro, but I know it may not happen.

I want the younger generation of people with cystic fibrosis to know that  even if youre given a diagnosis or youre given a life expectancy  its not tattooed on your arm or anywhere else on your body.

Its okay to try and go out and achieve the impossible and have the gumption to stand up and say, lets have a go.

Ms Heffernan said training can sometimes be reminiscent to the movie Groundhog Day.

I can train really well and then get a setback and have to try again, so its a bit like the movie Groundhog Day.

The team have regularly taken part in monthly hikes organised by their fitness trainer and photographer Stephen Lappin over the course of 18 months, where they try to scale as many mountains as they can.

When asked if they have trained using harps, Ms Heffernan quipped: We have both said from the very beginning that we are not carrying any harps.

Im carrying my backpack and after that well see how high we can go.

Ms Brady added: We have a fake harp, which some team members bring up a lot of the time.

Weve brought the harp up Carrauntoohil, the highest mountain in Ireland.

Ed Sheerans song Little Bird is to be played by Ms Brady when the team reach the summit  a song and artist close to a woman who died from cystic fibrosis in 2014 called Triona Priestley.

Ms Heffernan, who met Ms Priestleys mother Bernie, said: When [Triona] was sick in hospital and before she passed away, she used to write letters to Ed Sheeran, not necessarily expecting replies, but she got a few.

Trionas friends were all texting and trying to get the attention of Ed Sheeran when she was in hospital and the phone rang and Colm (Trionas brother) answered it.

It was Ed and he sang Little Bird which was her favourite song and after the song was finished, the doctor put the stethoscope to her chest and said shes passed.

Ms Heffernan said it was important for Ms Priestleys memory to also be honoured as part of the climb as she always wanted CF to stand for cure found.

Ms Heffernan has been granted permission by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, to recite his poem The Prophets Are Weeping at the summit, something Mr Gentle did in 2018.

Having raised over 37,000 euro (32,000) out of their 100,000 euro (87,500) target so far, the pair hope more will continue to support their slightly crazy challenge.

Pascale Harvie, president and general manager at JustGiving, said: This challenge reflects on every level the difficulties that people with cystic fibrosis face every day.

Im in awe of Siobhan, Caroline and their teams commitment to raise vital funds for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. They are an inspiration to us all.

The challenge is part of the charitys 65 Roses Day campaign, which takes place on April 14, and encourages people to do something involving the number 65, whether it be eating 65 Easter eggs or walking 65 steps.

65 roses comes from the way children often pronounce cystic fibrosis.

The fundraising link can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Highest-Harp
New ezPaycheck Accommodates CA Businesses with Simplified State and Federal Tax Calculations





The latest 2023 ezPaycheck payroll software accommodates California business owners and accountants with state and federal tax calculation features. Download and test drive today at no risk or obligation at halfpricesoft.com.

LOS ANGELES, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- California business owners and accountants are switching to e zPaycheck payroll software 2023 for the new flexible and simple CA state and federal tax calculations feature. Halfpricesoft.com released the new version for larger companies attempting to save money in the current economic climate. For only 139.00 per calendar year, customers can print unlimited checks for unlimited companies at one flat rate. Learn more at https://www.halfpricesoft.com/california-payroll-software.asp.

ezPaycheck software is designed to automate the paycheck process in an effort to reduce the time spent on running payroll. The software's graphical interface leads users step-by-step through setting up employee information, importing data, calculating payroll - including calculation of federal, state and local taxes; deductions for Medicare, insurance and 401(k) plans; and printing paychecks. Potential customers can download and try this software with no obligation and no cost at https://www.halfpricesoft.com/index.asp

"California businesses are switching to the latest ezPaycheck payroll software for seamless state and federal tax calculations." said Dr. Ge, the Founder of Halfpricesoft.com,

Businesses get unique features in the latest release of ezPaycheck payroll software:

Increased security by processing, in-house

Prints vendor checks for bill pay and other necessary business expenses.

Supports daily, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly payroll periods. Features report functions, print functions, and pay stub functions.

Automatically calculates Federal Withholding Tax, Social Security, Medicare Tax and Employer Unemployment Taxes.

I ncludes built-in tax tables for all 50 states and the District of Columbia .

. Easily calculates differential pay

Prints miscellaneous checks as well as payroll calculation checks.

Prints payroll checks on blank computer checks or preprinted checks.

Creates and maintains payroll for multiple companies, and does it simultaneously.

Prints Tax Forms 940, 941, W2 and W3 (Please note, preprinted red forms required for Copy A W2 and W3).

Supports multiple accounts at no additional charge.

Supports network access (additional cost)

Priced at $139 (per calendar year for a single installation), ezPaycheck payroll software is affordable for any size business. Customers seeking a way to simplify payroll processing with more accuracy to start the no obligation 30-day test drive today at https://www.halfpricesoft.com/index.asp

Halfpricesoft.com is a leading provider of small business software, including online and desktop payroll software, online employee attendance tracking software, accounting software, in-house business and personal check printing software, W2, software, 1099 software, Accounting software, 1095 form software and ezACH direct deposit software. Software from halfpricesoft.com is trusted by thousands of customers and will help small Business owners simplify payroll processing and streamline business management.

Media Contact

T. Bernard, halfpricesoft.com, 502-259-0936, [email protected]

Twitter

SOURCE Halfpricesoft.com

10 april 2023 at 04:00

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C-Strategies Inc. Founder, President And CEO Becky Carroll Receives 2023 PRNEWS Top Women Award





Carroll recognized as an Industry Champion alongside influential women across the country

CHICAGO, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- C-Strategies Inc. Founder, President and CEO Becky Carroll has been awarded the prestigious 2023 PRNEWS Top Women Award in the Industry Champions category, a recognition of her work as one of Chicago's top communications and public relations specialists. The women included in this annual list were selected due to their ability to leverage communications to meet their organization's goals, whether that's leading a brand out of a crisis, breaking into new markets, engaging a new audience, or mentoring colleagues.

?C-Strategies is dedicated to working with clients that make Chicago and Illinois a better place to live and work, and I am incredibly grateful to lead a team that is equally as committed to this mission,? said Becky Carroll, Founder, President and CEO of C-Strategies. ?It's an honor to be recognized alongside so many other influential women in the public relations space, and I look forward to continuing to grow our efforts to connect, engage, and persuade on behalf of our clients.?

Carroll has decades of experience managing clients through frontpage crises, elevating thought leadership profiles, leading and executing event planning, and securing impactful media coverage across mainstream, trade and hyper-local media. She has served as a top advisor to private and public sector executives from Chicago City Hall and the Illinois Office of the Governor, to Fortune 500 companies and some of Chicago's most prominent nonprofits. As a lifelong resident of Chicago, Carroll's connections to the Chicago and Illinois media and public affairs landscape run deep, providing her clients an unrivaled ability to influence public opinion through access to reporters, columnists, and editorial boards writing about issues that dominate headlines.

The award recognizes Carroll's strategic leadership in growing C-Strategies to new heights since 2015. As CEO, she oversees business development and strategic goals of the firm, while taking a hands-on approach to developing client strategy and setting the culture. Carroll plays an instrumental role in every C-Strategies business decision, from pitching and landing new clients, to expanding scopes of work and executing deliverables. Her client recruitment has been carefully curated to include those who are serving historically underrepresented and underinvested communities, coupled with corporations and advocacy organizations who are investing in Chicago, Illinois and other states to expand economic development, growth and jobs.

For the full list of honorees, visit the PRNEWS website.

About C-Strategies

C-Strategies is a strategic communications and public affairs firm whose leadership has served on the front lines of major public policy, advocacy and political campaigns in Chicago and Illinois for two decades. Employing results-driven tactics and utilizing its networks to build strategic plans, guide public opinion and manage through crises, C-Strategies brings passion and veteran experience to help clients meet business goals, turn big ideas into action and get things done. Learn more at https://www.cstrategies.com/.

###

Media Contact

Caroline Brooks, C-Strategies Inc, 1 9012167657, [email protected], cstrategies.com

SOURCE C-Strategies Inc

10 april 2023 at 09:00

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YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office Bujar Osmani will visit Armenia this week, the OSCE announced Monday.

Osmani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, will visit Armenia as part of a South Caucasus trip.

He will visit Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on 10-13 April for meetings with government officials and other stakeholders.

Meetings with parliamentarians, civil society representatives and other interlocutors will take place as well.

According to a press release issued by the OSCE, "the trip will focus on strengthening the co-operation between the OSCE, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, addressing existing security challenges and promoting peace and stability through dialogue in the South Caucasus region."
North Peak Signs Letter of Intent to Acquire Prospect Mountain Mine Complex in Silver-Gold-Lead District of Eureka, Nevada





www.northpeakresources.com

TSX Venture: NPR

CALGARY, AB, April 10, 2023 /CNW/ - North Peak Resources Ltd. (TSXV: NPR) (the "Company" or "North Peak") announces execution of a non-binding letter of intent (the "LOI") dated March 8, 2023 with Solarljos LLC and Gullsil LLC of Nevada (the "Erickson Entities") for the acquisition of the Prospect Mountain Mine complex in the Eureka district of Nevada (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition involves the issuance of 8 million common shares of the Company in two phases - an initial tranche of 5 million shares to acquire an 80% interest in the property, and at the Company's discretion, an additional 3 million shares to acquire the remaining 20% interest. Described below are additional economic considerations to the Acquisition, which would be an arm's length transaction.

"The dual gold and base metal geologic systems and historic mining at the Prospect Mountain Mine complex offers the possibility of finding the high-grade mineralization and reserves that would be required for profitable surface or underground mining given today's capex and opex costs," said Brian Hinchcliffe, North Peak's CEO. "As the long-time owners of Prospect Mountain through the Erickson Entities, Ty Erickson and Ari Erickson were seeking a group experienced in re-vitalizing former mining complexes with modern exploration and we look forward to executing precisely those programs in the exciting Eureka district."

The Prospect Mountain Mine complex is over 1,700 acres of high elevation lands with an underground infrastructure consisting of 4 shaft complexes and some 11 miles of tunnels where mining operations date back to 1872. The property's historic production areas sit on the western side of the Jackson fault and are approximately 3 km's south of the Ruby Hill Mine complex. Recorded historic production from the Prospect Ridge group of mines (which includes the Prospect Mountain Mine complex) through to 1956 was over 100,000 tons with some shipments averaging approximately 2.8 oz per ton gold, 56 oz per ton silver and 13% lead (source: The Eureka Mining District, Nevada, Geological Survey Professional Paper 406, 1962 by Thomas B. Nolan, page 68).

The Acquisition

The LOI outlines how the Company and the Erickson Entities will work exclusively towards the execution of a binding, definitive agreement in respect of the Acquisition and sets out a strategy by which the Acquisition has been de-risked to the greatest extent possible for both parties, as it is proposed that both the Company and the Erickson Entities will have certain return and reversion rights (see below for further information).

The LOI gives the parties until June 6, 2023 to complete due diligence, determine the final structure of the Acquisition (based on advice from legal, tax and professional advisors and in accordance with applicable corporate, tax and securities laws) and to enter into a binding, definitive agreement.

It is proposed that the following consideration be paid by the Company in connection with the Acquisition:

8 million common shares of the Company issued to the Erickson Entities (the " Consideration Shares "), to be issued in two tranches;





"), to be issued in two tranches; cash payments of US$385,000 in total per year, for each of the first three (3) years following completion of the Acquisition;





in total per year, for each of the first three (3) years following completion of the Acquisition; the issuance of 340,000 common share purchase warrants to those persons designated by the Erickson Entities, which such warrants to be issued and priced in accordance with the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange; and





a 1% NSR royalty on production from the Prospect Mountain Mine complex.

The Erickson Entities will be entitled to nominate one director to the Board of Directors of the Company at the closing of the Acquisition.

It is also proposed that the Company undertake a commitment to use commercially reasonable efforts to complete a minimum three (3) year exploration program at the Prospect Mountain Mine complex where expenditures will total no less than US$1 million per year (the "Exploration Programs").

In addition, it is proposed that the Erickson Entities will have a right of reversion in the event the Exploration Programs are not completed within the agreed deadlines, which if exercised would result in the return of the Prospect Mountain Mine complex and related assets to the Erickson Entities, who would in turn return the Consideration Shares issued to that time, to the Company. Likewise, it is proposed that the Company would have the right to return its interest in the Prospect Mountain Mine complex to the Erickson Entities, with the Consideration Shares issued to that time being returned to the Company in such instance.

The structure of the Acquisition currently being contemplated is a joint venture structure where the Company acquires an initial 80% interest in the joint venture (and therefore the Prospect Mountain Mine complex) by issuing an initial tranche of 5 million Consideration Shares to the Erickson Entities and the Erickson Entities holding a carried 20% interest. In this structure, the Company would have three years to decide to acquire the carried 20% interest held by the Erickson Entities by issuing a second tranche of 3 million Consideration Shares to the Erickson Entities, the result of which being that 8 million Consideration Shares, in aggregate, will have been issued to the Erickson Entities pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition.

The Acquisition would be subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.

Mr. Mike Sutton, P.Geo., a director of the Company, is the Qualified Person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, who reviewed and approved scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. The Qualified Person has not reviewed the mineral tenure, nor independently verified the legal status and ownership of the Prospect Mountain Mine complex or any underlying property agreements.

Investors are cautioned that there can be no assurance that the parties to the LOI will come to agreement and execute a binding, definitive agreement or that the Acquisition will be completed as proposed, or at all. In addition, the Company can give no assurances at this time that the Prospect Mountain Mine complex will contain the high-grade mineralization and reserves that would be required for any profitable surface or underground mining or will fulfil the Company's business development goals described herein. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.

The Company will issue additional press releases related to execution of definitive documentation in respect of the Acquisition and other material information as it becomes available.

About North Peak

The Company is a Canadian based gold exploration and development company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NPR". The Company is focused on acquiring historic sites, with low cost producing gold and other metals properties, with near term production potential and 8+ year mine life in the northern hemisphere.

Website: www.northpeakresources.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to those that address the ability of the parties to the LOI come to definitive terms and negotiate and execution of definitive documentation in respect of the Acquisition, the structure of the Acquisition, the ability to receive applicable approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable governmental authorities for the Acquisition, the ability to complete the Exploration Programs as proposed and on the timelines suggested, estimates of mineralization from drilling and the potential for minerals and/or mineral resources and reserves, and regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Prospect Mountain Mine complex and the Company, including with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company that may be described herein. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, accuracy of assay results, geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services, future operating costs, and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the period ended September 30, 2022 available at www.sedar.com , many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE North Peak Resources Ltd.

10 april 2023 at 09:00

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RIGID Constructors Pushes Fundraising Over $1 Million for the Gonzales Area Foundation





The Gonzales Gala raised donations for the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Gonzales, LA.

LAFAYETTE, LA / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / On April 1, RIGID Constructors raised over $25,000 for the Gonzales Area Foundation at a fundraising event at The Great River Road Museum in Gonzales, Louisiana. The funds will go to the local Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center to further cancer care in Ascension Parish.

Rigid Constructors with the Gonzales Area Foundation Gala Chair, DeEtte DeArmond

"It was an honor to help contribute to a great cause and help raise funding for Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Gonzales," RIGID Constructors COO Mickey Suire said. During the live auction, Suire and RIGID Constructors bid on multiple items, with the last winning bid pushing the Gonzales Area Foundation over their announced goal to surpass its cumulative $1 million mark for the Cancer Center.

"It never ceases to amaze me how people in the community always come through each year," DeEtte De Armond, Gonzales Area Foundation founder and advisory board member, and the gala chair, said. "We are so grateful for RIGID Constructors' generous donation that allowed us to surpass our goal of $1 million in funds raised to support excellent cancer care right here in our community."

"RIGID Constructors is proud to have supported the Gonzales Area Foundation, and Mary Bird Perkins in their fight against cancer," said RIGID Constructors CEO Cody Fortier, whose family has been directly affected by cancer. "I look forward to personally speaking with Dr. Fontenot, Ph.D., MBA, president and CEO, Mary Bird Perkins, about the expansion of Mary Bird Perkins into the Acadiana region."

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center recently announced a new location in Opelousas, Louisiana, part of RIGID Constructors' service area.

"Generous supporters, such as RIGID Constructors and the Gonzales Area Foundation, provide the funds necessary to offer the highest level of community cancer care in rural areas," said Fontenot. We are bringing critical services to where people live, so they can continue to surround themselves with their families and other support systems that help immensely during a cancer journey. Thanks to donors powering our efforts in communities such as Gonzales, Opelousas, and others, Mary Bird Perkins is bringing our renowned cancer services and experts to these underserved locations and saving lives."

On Jan. 9, Opelousas General Health System (OGHS) and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center announced their partnership and are now accepting patients at the hospital's south campus in St. Landry Parish. With this partnership, Acadiana patients now have convenient access to Louisiana's largest team of cancer care specialists through the Cancer Center.

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is Louisiana's leading cancer care organization, caring for more patients each year than any other facility in the region. With strategic hospital and physician partnerships, as well as stand-alone Cancer Center locations, Mary Bird Perkins delivers on its mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer for residents, providing state-of-the-art treatments and unparalleled collaborative, comprehensive cancer services.

About RIGID Constructors

RIGID Constructors is a Louisiana-based, privately held construction company that started with the idea that innovation and technology are key components in providing first-class construction services and developing strong client relationships. We are committed to providing safe and quality service to our client base located throughout the Gulf Coast Region of the United States. RIGID Constructors provides Heavy Civil and Marine construction services to our clients in both the public and private sectors.

Additional Links

Related Images

Rigid Constructors with the Gonzales Area Foundation Gala Chair, DeEtte DeArmond Rigid Constructors attending the GAF Gonzales Gala

Contact Information:

Tim Fanguy

Director of Human Resources

[email protected]

(337) 446-4900

SOURCE: RIGID Constructors

10 april 2023 at 09:00

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Penetron System Proves Versatility - and Effectiveness - for Parque do Pontal Project in Brazil





The inauguration of the Parque do Pontal Tower in October 2022 coincided with the celebrations of Porto Alegre's 250th anniversary of the city's founding in 1772. The Penetron System of crystalline concrete waterproofing products was specified to waterproof and protect the below-grade concrete structures of the new multi-use complex from the high groundwater levels due to the nearby Guaiba River.

EAST SETAUKET, N.Y., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --The inauguration of the Parque do Pontal Tower in October 2022 coincided with the celebrations of Porto Alegre's 250th anniversary of the city's founding in 1772. The Penetron System of crystalline concrete waterproofing products was specified to waterproof and protect the below-grade concrete structures of the new multi-use complex from the high groundwater levels due to the nearby Guaiba River.

The capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil's southernmost state, Porto Alegre has a population of over 1.5 million inhabitants. The city lies on the eastern bank of the Guaiba Lake, where five rivers converge to form the Lagoa dos Patos, a giant freshwater lagoon, which is an important alluvial port as well as a key industrial and commercial center of Brazil.

A greenfield development on the banks of the Guaiba River in Porto Alegre, Brazil, the Parque do Pontal Tower is a mixed-use complex that combines an office tower with a hotel. The complex also comprises a shopping center, event center, retail shops, fitness club, and medical and childcare facilities.

Designed by Guilherme Takeda, the project's architect, the Parque do Pontal has numerous sustainability features, with an international certification (AQUA-HQE) that meets global sustainability requirements.

"Already during the planning phase of the project, Penetron Brazil was asked by the project developer, Melnick and Engenhosul, to provide an optimal concrete waterproofing solution," adds Claudio Neves Ourives, CEO and Managing Partner of Penetron Brazil. "Because of the proximity of the adjacent Guaiba River and the high-water table encountered at the construction site, the builder required an especially durable and reliable waterproofing solution."

The Penetron System of crystalline concrete waterproofing products was specified to protect the below-grade concrete structures ? situated 65 m (20 feet) below the water table ? from the site's high hydrostatic pressure. Over 20,000 m2 of PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete was used for the basement and parking structures. PENEBAR SW (45 and 55) Type A swellable waterstop tape and PENEBAR PRIMER were used to seal the concrete joints.

"Thanks to the performance of the Penetron System and the continuous self-healing of any hairline cracks in the concrete, the work at the Parque do Pontal was completed on schedule," concludes Claudio Neves Ourives. "Both the developer and builder were very happy with the results!"

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

10 april 2023 at 12:30

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InvestigationThe Turkish army is continuing its ruthless struggle against the Kurdistan Workers' Party on its neighbor's soil while taking advantage of political divisions and the Iraqi government's weakness to station troops and deploy drones in Iraqi Kurdistan.

On the ridge of Kur A Zhor, a mountain overlooking the town of Chiladzi in the heart of Iraqi Kurdistan, the threatening outlines of Turkish outposts loom large. The emergence of these military installations in the spring of 2022 undermined all hopes for peace in this agricultural region of Duhok province. Until a few years ago, these hilly landscapes dotted with rivers were popular with Iraqi tourists seeking to escape the scorching heat. But the ruthless war between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters is gaining ground.

On June 19, 2020, a Turkish drone dropped a deadly charge on the edge of the town. Three villagers who had gone on a picnic after their day's work  Azad Mahdi, Moukhlis Adam and Deman Omar  were killed in their car as they crossed a PKK checkpoint. Today, the inhabitants of Chiladzi are within range of the Turkish soldiers posted on the heights. The town and its neighboring hamlets are now cut off from the land that stretches north to the Turkish border, some 30 km away as the crow flies. The area has been emptied of its population, which is no longer allowed to enter.

"In the past, they used to fight on the border. The PKK is coming toward us, the Turks are chasing them and they are getting closer every day," said Rizgav Obeid, Chiladzi's mayor. In this part of the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq, where Masoud Barzani's party (Kurdistan Democratic Party, KDP) and its powerful intelligence service reign supreme, inhabitants choose their words carefully before assigning blame. "There are no winners or losers, only two foreign parties occupying our country," lamented Barzani, himself an elected member of the KDP. "We want them to withdraw, but how can a small region like ours impose its will on Turkey?"

Carte blanche

In Erbil, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has given the Turkish army carte blanche to hunt down the PKK separatists, labeled terrorists by Ankara but also by the United States and the European Union, and who have established rear bases in northern Iraq. This policy has enabled the region to strengthen its economy, being heavily dependent on the oil it exports via Turkey. The KRG does not publish its production figures, but experts estimate it at around 440,000 barrels per day, most of which is intended for export.

Turkey has increased its military presence in northern Iraq, where it now has 87 outposts, up from 29 in 2019

In Baghdad, the Iraqi state had authorized Turkish incursions into a 5-kilometer-wide strip inside its borders as early as 1983, during Saddam Hussein's rule. Weakened by internal divisions since the 2003 US invasion and by the war waged against the Islamic State (IS) group from 2014 to 2017, the federal government adopted a wait-and-see approach in the face of repeated infringements on its sovereignty. Taking advantage of these vulnerabilities, Turkey has increased its military presence in the country, where it has now established 87 outposts, up from 29 in 2019, according to estimates published by Reuters on January 31. Dohuk province, which shares the longest stretch of border with Turkey, is the province harboring the largest number of these outposts. It is also where civilians are most exposed to collateral damage from Ankara's increasingly brutal operations against its arch-enemy.

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A woman accused of being a member of the Islamic State organization stands between her lawyers as she awaits the start of her trial at the Higher Regional Court in Hamburg, Germany, May 19, 2022. MARKUS SCHOLZ / AFP

Most European countries have found themselves confronted with the issue of female jihadists returning from Syria, where they joined the ranks of the Islamic State organization (IS). Responses in addressing the matter, however, vary greatly from one country to another. France, which has the largest contingent of jihadists who moved to the Iraqi-Syrian zone (1,490, including 963 men and 527 women) and of returnees (217 men and 150 women), employs one of the continent's most repressive judicial approaches. Since 2016, the mere fact of having joined the so-called caliphate has made it possible for suspects to earn a 30-year prison sentence for "criminal terrorist conspiracy."

In Europe, one country has stood out for its radical approach in dealing with the issue: the United Kingdom (UK), which implements a policy of widescale territorial exclusion by stripping citizenship from or expelling those of its citizens who joined IS. "The United Kingdom has in many cases opted for an administrative response over the legal route," said researcher Constance Wilhelm-Olympiou, who is writing a dissertation on the security and legal response in France and the UK concerning returnees.

"It is interesting to note the extent to which the approaches used by France and the United Kingdom differ when confronting a similar threat, through comparable institutions," said the researcher. "France deals with the problem by trying to contain it via the judicial system. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, has chosen exclusion."

In the UK, 214 instances of 'deprivation of citizenship'

According to official data the researcher compiled, 214 Britons have been stripped of their citizenship since 2012 for "threats to national security," with a spike in 2017. The public data does not detail the proportion of women implicated. But the highest-profile cases  like that of Shamima Begum, a young British woman of Bangladeshi origin who left for Syria at the age of 15 and whose loss of citizenship was confirmed on February 22  have all involved women.

In France, returnees are systematically investigated for a potential indictment. Recourse to the administrative route exists but remains the exception. Since 2015, there have been 23 cases of stripped citizenship, one-tenth of the number in the UK. Of these, only nine (all of which were for men) occurred following a stay in the Iraqi-Syrian zone, per the Interior Ministry. Only one woman, of Turkish origin, was affected by this measure in January, but it was after a conviction for a planned attack and not for having joined the IS.

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AN ART therapy studio was launched by Novas Ireland and Cook Medical in Limerick.

Funds were raised by employees of the medical device company to build and renovate the studio for the charity which tends to people with intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities who are experiencing homelessness.

Speaking at the launch, CEO of Novas, Una Deasy, said: We are absolutely delighted with the art studio. Art has always been important to our residents and now they have a dedicated space that is easily accessible and will really enrich their experience here."

We are so grateful to Cook Medical for making this new studio a reality. Without their support for the last four years, it would not have been possible. As well as donating the money to purchase and renovate this studio, they have been personally invested in the project and have made the process so collaborative, she added.

Also at the launch was Mayor of Limerick, Francis Foley, who officially opened the studio alongside Una and executive vice president for EMEA and managing director of Cook Medical Europe, Bill Doherty.

Were so glad to see the results of our partnership with Novas coming to life. I would like to thank our employees and the staff at Novas for their passion and dedication in making this partnership so successful. We hope the art space will be enjoyed by the residents of Brother Russell House for years to come, Bill explained.
RESIDENTS of a forgotten Limerick village have expressed their disgust over the authorised dumping of raw sewage into the River Funshion.

The small village of Kilbehenny located in one of the most South-Eastern parts of County Limerick on the Cork border has been dealing with the disposal of raw sewage into the River Funshion for decades.

Maurice Walse, a member of the Kilbehenny Sewerage Action Group (KSAG), said that the constant dumping of sewage is leaving the small village to decay and in months where the river is low rats are entering the sewerage pipes along the river and into peoples homes.

Kilbehenny village does not have a public sewage treatment plant or a modern sewerage network.

Houses in Kilbehenny are primarily served by treatment plants with the exclusion of the main street, where sewage is dumped into the local river.

We haven't been able to develop our village over it. It's gone on too long and we need a solution.

A public meeting will be held in Kilbehenny Hall onFriday night, April 28. Members of the public, Uisce Eireann and local authories have been invited.

A spokesperon for Uisce Eireann said: As there is no public wastewater infrastructure in Kilbehenny village, Uisce Eireann currently has no remit in the area.

Should Kilbehenny be included, or otherwise receive funding for the provision of infrastructure, Uisce Eireann will work with local authorities to identify and implement an appropriate solution.
FOR their annual walk, Pieta is inviting people to join them for the most important sunrise of the year.

In a bid to raise funds for suicide prevention, the annual fundraising event, Darkness Into Light, will take place on Saturday, May 6 at 4:15am.

Supported by Electric Ireland, the fundraising event was launched by Limerick Olympian and presenter, Greg OShea and RTE 2FM broadcaster Jennifer Zamparelli on March 29.

To make a difference, Greg OShea has invited people to join him this May.

Speaking of the initiative, Greg commented: I am delighted to be an ambassador for Darkness Into Light, such an important event in the calendar each year. Sadly, suicide is a real problem in Ireland, and signing up for this event can help make a real difference in peoples lives by helping Pieta to continue providing their invaluable services.

According to him, we all have a role to play. Join me and many others as we walk together towards the most important sunrise of the year; we all have a role to play in tackling suicide, and simply signing up and taking part makes such a difference in supporting the work that Pieta does every day of the year.

Each year, the walk provides an opportunity for people to connect with their local community, but also to bring hope to those who have been impacted by suicide.

Now in its 15th year, the walk is expected to bring together more than 100,000 people across 200 locations for the most important sunrise of the year.

Pietas National Community Fund Manager, Tom McEvoy, said they were proud to be hosting the event again this year in Limerick.

We have a centre in Mungret, where we offer therapy free of charge to everybody coming to use our services. So darkness into light is really part of the funding that we need to continue rolling out our services to everybody in the region.

Further information via darknessintolight.ie

Speaking of the sunrise walk, he commented: It takes us through a five kilometre route right through the city, passing many iconic buildings that will be lit up in yellow.

There are many lovely aspects to the walk because when people are walking, they often share stories of why they came along to the event. Last year, in Limerick alone, 8,000 people walked the streets. Its just amazing to see that volume increase, and were hoping for a huge turnout this year again, he concluded.
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From supply chain hiccups to chip shortages, and high raw material costs to workforce crises at plants, the pandemic threw a range of challenges to the automotive industry. The just-concluded fiscal year marked the first full year with some sense of normalcy. But even as retail sales of passenger vehicles hit a record high, two-wheeler sales stayed below that in the pre-covid year of 2019-20, showed data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). The sales surge in the festival season in October and November, too, didnt meet expectations fully. Here are the highlights from auto sales in 2022-23:

K-Shaped Recovery

AUTO SALES grew by a strong 21% in 2022-23, with most segments rising by double digits due to base effect. But at 22.2 million, overall sales were still lower than in 2019-20, the last pre-covid year, showed a Mint analysis of the transport ministrys vehicle registration database. Only four-wheelers and tractors recorded a rebound when compared to 2019-20.

A total of 3.5 million four-wheelers were registered, up from 2.8 million four years ago. But two-wheelers, which serve the large middle-class population, were down 16% from 2019-20, or an average annual decline of nearly 6%, offering yet another symptom of unequal recovery across economic classes. This segment was the big drag on the overall figure since it accounts for nearly three-fourths of all vehicles sold in India. (That share, in fact, has declined dramatically, from 78% to 72% in four years.)

Meanwhile, tractor sales, a leading indicator of the rural economy, crossed 2019-20 levels.

States Show

THE RECOVERY is in the slow lane across the country. In 2022-23, only 10 of the 34 states and Union territories that are tracked by the Centres Vahan database recorded a full recovery to the 2019-20 levels, a state-level analysis showed.

Among major markets, only Assam, Delhi, Maharashtra and Karnataka recorded a growth in vehicle sales between 2019-20 and 2022-23. The average annual growth in the three intervening years was in the range of 0-3% in these states. (Nationally, the annualized growth was a negative 3.2% during the period.) Only Ladakh and Manipur reported more than 10% annual growth.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal were among the laggard states, with sales declining the most, by an annual 7% to 11% from pre-pandemic levels. Gujarat, among the most industrialized states of India, saw sales remain somewhat flat since 2019-20.

Electric Mobility

THE BIG success story of 2022-23 was electric vehicle (EV) segment. A record 1.1 million EVs were sold in the year, thanks to quicker adoption and growing EV-friendly infrastructure, supported by the governments subsidy scheme. The two-wheelers segment primarily drove the EV sales growth in 2022-23, accounting for more than 60% of the 1.1 million vehicles bought. This was nearly 2.8 times the sales reported in 2021-22, and 27 times the levels seen in 2019-20. Three-wheelers accounted for more than one-third of total sales, while the rest, including four-wheelers and electric buses, accounted for 4% of total sales. The mix across segments has changed in the past few years: in 2018-19, just 19% of all EV registrations were two-wheelers, and 79% were three-wheelers. EVs accounted for only 5.3% of all vehicle registrations, but this was the largest share ever.

Sustainable Transit

THREE-WHEELER category, which dominates short-distance public transportation, increased by 85% year-on-year to nearly 768,000 sales in 2022-23. Electrification in this category reached 52%, driven primarily by e-rickshaw segment, the FADA annual report released last week said, attributing it to the availability of finance, as well as alternative fuels and government subsidies.

Nearly 375,000 e-rickshaws were registered during the year, a 114% increase from the previous fiscal year. Uttar Pradesh had the most registrations, with Bihar and Assam a distant second and third, respectively. However, adjusted for population, Chandigarh and Assam added the most e-rickshaws last fiscal, followed by Delhi and Uttarakhand. North Indian states such as Punjab and Haryana also saw high adoption of e-rickshaws. However, big state economies such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and West Bengal added fewer than 50 e-rickshaws per million population, Mint calculations show.

Market Shifts

THE PANDEMIC has resulted in significant changes in consumer habits and behaviour. Preferences for affordable personal mobility have boosted sales for the entry-level vehicle category, while high-end vehicles have also seen increased demand. As a result of the shifts in consumption patterns, the market share has shifted too for Indias top five auto companies in the passenger vehicles segment.

According to FADA report, Maruti Suzukis market share is on a slow decline, falling from around 48% in 2019-20 to 41% in 2022-23. Still, it maintains its top position by far. Home-grown auto major Tata Motors has increased its market share from nearly 6% in 2019-20 to 13%. But in terms of ranking, the firm had the third largest market share, falling just short of Hyundai Motors, which, too, has lost market share from 17% to less than 15%. Kia Motors has gained from 2.3% in 2019-20 to 6.4%.
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. Prosecutor-General Anna Vardapetyan has officially asked the Armenian parliament to allow her to bring criminal charges against Member of Parliament Mher Sahakyan for allegedly assaulting another Member of Parliament during a committee session on March 31.

Sahakyan, an opposition MP representing the Hayastan faction, is accused of physically attacking MP Vladimir Vardanyan (Civil Contract), the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on State-Legal Affairs, during a session of the committee. Vardanyan suffered minor injuries, according to prosecutors.

In a statement released Monday, prosecutors said that Sahakyans alleged actions amount to disorderly conduct/infliction of minor bodily injuries under article 297, paragraph 1 and article 171, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code.

Law enforcement agencies can institute criminal proceedings against a legislator only if parliament gives consent.

Sahakyan claims self-defense.

He claims that during the meeting Vardanyan was about to assault him and that he hit him to avoid getting punched. Vardanyan has denied this version of events and said that Sahakyan made an unprovoked attack.
Bajaj Auto has announced that it has successfully completed the transfer of Triumph India's sales and marekting operations. The announcement comes after three years when the duo announced a strategic partnership in 2020.

In a regulatory filing today, Bajaj Auto said "This launches the next phase of the partnership, effective from April 1st, 2023, where all the current 15 Triumph Motorcycle dealerships will be managed by Bajaj Auto."

Bajaj Auto and Triumph India entered into a partnership in 2020 where they announced to jointly collaborate to create a new range of mid-sized Triumph Motorcycles in the country. To be manufactured at Bajaj's Chakan plant, these mid-size Triumph Motorcycles will be available by this year.

"The Triumph dealers will join this family as the fifth exclusive retail channel within a network of over 6000 dealers and sub-dealers across Bajajs brand portfolio in India. All the existing Triumph dealerships will remain exclusive to the brand and continue to provide a high customer experience in line with Triumphs global standards," the company said in a press note.

Rakesh Sharma, Executive Director - Bajaj Auto, said,  We will also leverage our formidable distribution network to rapidly expand the exclusive Triumph stores in India in preparation for the soon-to-be-launched, exciting new motorcycles."

Paul Stroud, Chief Commercial Officer Triumph Motorcycles Ltd said: This is an important partnership for Triumph which continues to progress very well. The Triumph dealer network has been great business partners for Triumph, they have achieved many great results with Triumph Motorcycles here in India."

Earlier today, the company reported 2 per cent decline in total sales at 2,91,567 units in March as against 2,97,188 in the same month last year. In a statement, Bajaj Auto said that the total domestic sales grew 47 per cent at 1,86,522 units last month from 1,26,752 in March 2022.

Exports stood at 1,05,045 units as compared to 1,70,436 units in the year-ago month, down 38 per cent.

Overall two-wheeler sales were at 2,47,002 units as against 2,56,324 units in the same month a year ago, down 4 per cent, the company said.

Commercial vehicles sales were up 9 per cent at 44,565 units last month, compared to 40,864 units in March 2022.

Bajaj Auto said, in fiscal year 2022-23, its total sales declined 9 per cent to 39,27,857 units from 43,08,433 units in 2021-22.

(With input from agencies)
Drugmaker Cipla stock rose by a per cent on Monday after it has signed a perpetual license agreement with Switzerland-based Novartis Pharma AG to manufacture and market Galvus and Galvus combination brands which are used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

The company's scrip was trading 1.04 per cent up at 902 on BSE.

Cipla will manufacture and market Novartis Pharma AG's Galvus and Galvus combination brands from January 1, 2026.

Cipla Limited has signed a perpetual license agreement with Novartis Pharma AG (Switzerland) on 10th April 2023 to manufacture and market Galvus and Galvus combination brands, used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes from 1st January 2026," said Cipla in its regulatory filing.

Cipla informed that the agreement is subject to satisfaction of certain conditions precedent. The company will however continue to market and distribute Galvus branded products.

In the oral diabetic medication category, Galvus is one of the leading brands in the Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP4) space. The medicine is expected to contribute significantly to Ciplas portfolio in the diabetes care continuum space with the drugs reported sale of 268 cr, as per IQVIA MAT February 2023.

Cipla Ltd reported 9.93 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to 800.96 crore for the quarter ended December 2022. This is against a net profit of 728.60 crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal.

The revenue from operations of Cipla rose by 5.2 per cent to 5,730.08 as against 5,442.86 in the corresponding quarter last fiscal.

On a sequential basis, the consolidated net profit was up by 1.52 per cent from 788.90 crore in the September quarter.

The earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) grew 14.3 per cent on year to 1,407.56 crore, as against 1,231 crore, while the margins expanded by 170 bps to 24.2 per cent.

The shares of Cipla were trading 1.04 per cent, while it touched intraday high of 904.05 on BSE.
New Delhi: JioCinema, owned by Viacom18 and the digital media rights holder of the Tata IPL 2023, has claimed that 23 sponsors signed up for advertising on the platform in the first week of the tournament. These were: co-presenting sponsor Dream11; Reliance Industries-owned JioMart and Ajio; PhonePe, Tiago EV, Appy Fizz, ET Money, Castrol, TVS, Oreo, Bingo chips, Sting, Haier, RuPay, Louis Philippe Jeans, Amazon, Rapido, among others.

JioCinema also said that the average time spent per viewer per match touched 57 minutes during the weekend, up about 60% compared to last seasons first weekend and that this sustained in the first week.

Viacom18 Sports CEO Anil Jayaraj said, Brands greater precision, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility than television advertising. This is why we are convinced that we will have more and more advertisers shifting advertisers focus and budgets towards digital."

The platform said it was streaming the Indian Premier League (IPL) for free in 2023 and that the number of views in the first week were at about 375 crore. The first weekend had about 147 crore viewers. The opening match had a concurrency of 1.6 crore. In addition, it said, the app had over 2.5 crore downloads.

The Reliance Industries-controlled broadcast network outbid rival Disney Star to pick up the five-year digital rights of the league with a bid amount of 23,757.5 crore, while the latter retained TV rights for 23,575 crore.

Meanwhile, TAM Sports, a division of TAM Media, has claimed that there were about 25 categories that advertised on television, with about 35 advertisers in total and about 60 brands in the first week of the league. The company said it took into account only commercial advertising on television, with only live matches and did not include pre-, mid- and post-match programmes.

It said the count of channels during IPL16 are five more than last years 20. The top categories on television were e-commerce gaming with 20% of the share, pan masala companies with 14%, aerated soft drinks, mobile service providers and FMCG companies for their biscuit brands. Pan masala companies have doubled their advertising this year to 14%, while e-commerce gaming companies have increased marginally from last years 17% to 20% this year.
Manipal Hospitals, backed by Singapore state investor Temasek, is close to acquiring Kerala-based hospital chain KIMS Health for 3,500-4,000 crore, two people familiar with the development said. Manipal intends to buy the stake held by True North, which invested $200 million in KIMS Group in March 2017.

Discussions are in advanced stages, and an announcement is expected soon, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity. Founded in 2002, KIMS, short for Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences, is a network of hospitals offering quaternary care in India and the Middle East.

The founders of the company are also looking to exit through the deal. It is likely to be a complete sale," one of the two people cited above said. The founders are led by founder chairman and managing director Dr. M.I. Sahadulla. The stake sale comes after KIMS deferred plans for a public market listing after the stock markets turned volatile.

On Monday, Singapore state investor Temasek announced the acquisition of a 41% stake in Manipal Health for $2 billion, raising its stake to 59%. The deal values the 7,700-bed hospital chain at 40,000-42,000 crore. After the deal, Manipal Group will hold 30% of the hospital chain, while TPG to re-invest in an 11% stake through its new fund, TPG Asia VIII. With the transaction, TPG, which has sold its Manipal stake to Temasek, has made a 10x return from its seven-year-old investment.

According to a May 2021 rating statement by ICRA, as on 31 March 2021, Condis India Healthcare Private Pvt. Ltd (a vehicle for True North) holds a 61.06% stake in KHML, and the remaining 38.94% stake is held by individual shareholders. The latest stakeholding by True North could not be ascertained.

Manipal Hospitals has beaten bids from other strategic and financial investors such as Blackstone, Temaseks Sheares and Max. If the deal goes through, this will be Manipal Groups third acquisition after AMRI Hospitals and Columbia Asia.

KIMS Health and True North did not respond to emailed queries. Manipal Group founder and managing director Ranjan Pai declined to comment.

Manipal Hospitals has taken a pole position in the deal," the second person quoted above added.

The KIMS Health website says it has 2,000 beds across cities such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam and Perinthalmanna in Kerala. It also has a presence in Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.. It operates two medical centres and one nursing college in Thiruvananthapuram.

KIMS Health earned 519.1 crore in revenue in FY21 against 667.3 crore in FY20, and a profit after tax of 172 crore in FY21, as per its annual report.

After the AMRI acquisition is approved, the total number of beds for Manipal Group will cross 9,000, and if KIMS is also integrated, the combined entity will be Indias largest hospital chain, with more than 10,500 beds, ahead of Apollo Group.
Singaporean state-owned conglomerate Temasek on 10 April announced that it has signed a definitive agreements to acquire an additional 41 per cent stake in Manipal Health Enterprises (MHE).

Following the closing of the transaction, Manipal Group will hold about 30 per cent of MHE. While, Temasek's Sheares Healthcare Group will retain its existing 18 per cent stake.

As per details, global alternative asset management firm TPG will fully exit, but it will hold an interest of 11 per cent in MHE, through its new Asia fund - TPG Asia VIII. Also, National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) will exit its holding from MHE.

ALSO READ: Temasek unit takes control of Manipal

"Since our investment in 2015, we have witnessed Manipals transformational journey of becoming one of the largest, best-managed and patient-centric healthcare networks in India. By re-investing through our new Asia fund  TPG Asia VIII, we look forward to continuing to support Manipals mission of bridging the quality healthcare infrastructure gap in the country," TPG Capital Asia Co-Managing Partner Puneet Bhatia said.

TPG Capital Asia has developed a strong track record in the healthcare sector and its growing healthcare portfolio includes Sai Life Sciences, Pathology Asia, Columbia Asia, iNova, Novotech, Kangji and Dingdang Health.

NIIF, through its Strategic Opportunities Fund (SOF), is pleased to have played an important role during the growth journey of Manipal Hospitals. The company demonstrated exceptional performance and following our investment, it successfully executed a transformational acquisition that catapulted Manipal Hospitals to become a segment leader in the Indian healthcare services space. We made this investment when elective procedures and medical tourism were at a standstill due to the pandemic, and the timing of recovery was uncertain. Our investment in Manipal is a good example of SOFs strategy to invest in high-growth businesses which can become market leaders in India," NIIF's CIO Padmanabh Sinha said.

Headquartered in Bengaluru, Manipal Hospitals chain currently serves over 5 million patients a year through its network of 29 hospitals.
Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings on Monday acquired a 41% stake in Bangalore-based Manipal Hospitals, taking its shareholding to 59%. Temasek owned an 18% stake in the company through its Sheares Healthcare platform. As a part of the transaction, private equity firm TPG made a partial exit. It will retain an 11% stake in Manipal, by rolling over the remaining stake from TPG Asia VI to another vehicle TPG Asia VIII. In an interview, Dr. Ranjan Pai, the chairman of the Manipal Group, which holds a 30% stake in Manipal Hospitals, said he expects to close one more acquisition in FY24, but may not opt for a public listing immediately. The group is expected to invest $50 million in UNext, its higher education learning platform in FY24 and may also explore capital raising for its health insurance platform. Edited excerpts:

Now that Temasek has taken control, what is the next step for Manipal Hospital?

Manipal Hospitals will continue to grow. We are not exiting, and still have a significant stake. We have brought in long-term investors, as patient capital is required in this industry. We also had to give a partial exit to TPG, which is how the process started. When Temasek wanted to increase its shareholding, as they wanted to invest more in healthcare in India, we had a perfect combination.

Will Temasek run the business?

Manipal Hospitals has always been a board-managed company and that will continue. We will not change what has worked for us. (Dilip Jose is the chief executive officer). Manipal Education and Medical Group (promoters) have only been involved in acquisitions and some fundraising. Everyone, including our investors, will play a role.

What is the outlay for acquisition Manipal Hospitals is looking at for FY24 ?

In FY24, we will have another 3,000-4,000 crore for acquisitions. This excludes our deal to acquire AMRI Hospitals.

Where will the money for acquisitions come from?

Mainly from the balance sheet, but there may also be some borrowing.

Do you need to plug some gaps?

Given that India needs a lot more hospitals, we are looking at taking over any hospital, upgrade the infrastructure and put in more state-of-the-art equipment and strengthen the clinical programmes. We are not really focused on any particular region, as every region requires health care. We normally go for general specialty.

Will acquisitions such as that of Care Hospitals also be of interest to Manipal?

At this time, we have our hands full. I do not know if we can look at Care Hospitals.

When will Manipal consider a public list, given the earlier timeline of 24-36 months?

We will look at an IPO when the time is right. The timeline may get pushed but we will explore from time to time.

Can you give us a sense of Manipals FY23 growth?

Without any acquisitions, we should grow our topline by 15%.

Promoters have cashed out over a 20% stake through this deal. Is the plan to invest in other areas?

A part of the reason was to pare down some debt, and to get into new areas. But at this point, honestly, the main reason was to also get the right long-term partners for our healthcare business. With Temasek, we found someone who can look at healthcare for the next 10-20 years. We are also not looking at divesting anything more in healthcare. We will look to invest back in healthcare (through Manipal) at a later date.

What new areas will the group be invest in?

We already have an edtech startup UNext, where we want to invest $50 million in FY24. We will also invest in our health insurance platform ManipalCigna Health Insurance. We may look at external capital for our health insurance platform.

Either we bring external investors on board or both Manipal and Cigna will invest further. Right now, it is a 51:49 joint venture.

Will you raise external capital for the insurance business?

We have not decided about it but it is always good to have a different perspective that PE brings to the table. At Manipal Group, we have done well with PE partners. Over the past 15-17 years, we have seen so many rounds of private equity investments with good exits. It has benefited both. We have a good track record with PE and partnering with them to help us also improve our business. We are exploring all options,

Would you be looking to invest more behind your stem cell business (Stempeutics) that you have been building with Cipla?

We already have another investor for Stempeutics. There are two products that were just launched and look promising. We might look at doing a fundraise in the future, when we begin our trials in the US. But for now, in FY 24, we are not looking at it.

How do you see the growth come about in the diagnostics business?

That is under Manipal hospitals and it continues to grow well.

You mentioned that some of the money raised through the secondary stake sale will go towards paring debt. Can you elaborate on that?

We have in the past raised debt for investing in our other businesses, some of them for hospitals, some of them for the education one. We had bought out some of our private equity investments in the past from that (using debt).

Outside of education, would you be looking at investing anything?

We will selectively look at hospitals across the country.

What are the inorganic growth opportunities you would be looking at?

Our inorganic growth plans would likely be limited to 3000-4000 crore unless we find and honestly, if we have the appetite to do more. We will continue to grow but who knows if theres a good opportunity that comes up and all parties are okay.

There has been some commentary on the high valuation at which the Temasek deal has been done at 40,000 crore- 42,000 crore. What do you have to say?

I dont want to comment on the valuations, but I think its been a fair value. Temasek has already been invested in this unit for the last five to six years. So, I think theyve got comfort on governance standards and the growth pipeline we have. So, I think its a fair valuation, per se.

Are you looking at investing more in the startup ecosystem, in areas outside of education and healthcare?

We have invested a lot in the Indian startup ecosystem. We believe in that. The kind of quality of entrepreneurs that are coming out of the Indian ecosystem is very, very promising and yes, we will look at continuing to invest in the ecosystem,

Would that be through funds or direct investments?

So, we do have some investments in funds but now we will do this directly.

How have your investments as an angel investor in startups performed?

They have done really well. We were invested in Byjus, Pharmeasy among others where we have now exited. There are some more investments in companies such as Incred which we are excited about.

Would you be looking at investing more in Incred?

Right now it is well capitalised, I think.

Have the valuations in the startup ecosystem cooled off?

Valuations are much more attractive right now in the startup ecosystem. They have definitely come off a bit. But like I said, these are cycles and yeah, it is attractive. Its important for the ecosystem not only to continue to invest in something for people to invest in the ecosystem, because you need the following rounds, right, you need the next round for the company to survive. So, I hope that its not too long a winter, and people will come back.
MUMBAI : Pocket HRMS, India's best smHRt HRMS (HR Management Software), has announced the launch of their mission Bharat 2.0 to enable SMEs in India to digitalize their complete HRMS, Payroll system and related compliances with intuitive and easy-to-use HR software over WhatsApp messaging platform in regional Indian languages.

"The ABC of Indian SME according to me stands for Aspiration, Budgeting and Compliances," states Jitendra Somani, CEO of Pocket HRMS.

"We highly value the tremendous aspirations of Indian SMEs and want to help them embark on their journey by supporting them with budgeting and compliances, which consumes a major chunk of their valuable time," Somani said.

"We have recently signed a strategic partnership with Fi Money to provide end-to-end Payroll, HRMS, Digital Banking, simplified Salary Credit, along with Financial Wellness Free of cost, taking care of budgetary constraints and challenges of SMEs as well as Startup businesses," explains Somani.

"We have also launched a dedicated Compliance Portal that will help SMEs and Startup companies in growth phase to automate generation of various Payroll-related compliances, including regional reporting requirements related to Central Acts such as PF, ESIC as well as state level acts of Professional Tax, Labour Acts, reports under Shops and Establishment Act, and others, directly without manual preparation of such reports using spreadsheets," Somani further added.

"We believe in simplification of technology for businesses so that they can focus on their core business rather than struggle with technical complications," adds Kumar Siddhartha, MD for Pocket HRMS.

"Imagine receiving your pay slip in your regional language, or a factory supervisor approving leave request of an employee by clicking a button in their WhatsApp Messenger, rather than logging on to complex employee self-service portals, or struggling with the hassle of downloading apps from the App Store or Play Store," Siddhartha said.

"With such simplification, we want to empower employers and enable employees of Indian SME businesses to harness the power of modern technology by streamlining and automating their processes related to people and human resource management," concludes Kumar Siddhartha.

"Bharat has already experienced digitalization 1.0 with adaption of internet banking, digital payment experience, online shopping, electronic service related to various government sites, and more. Now, we are ready for the Digital 2.0 experience which will enable us to modernize workforce management, skilling and wellbeing of our employees using digital medium instead of paper-based attendance system or spreadsheet-based pay calculations and manual deposits of wages," Somani concluded.

Sujith Narayanan, CEO of Fi Money said, "Amidst the evolving world, salary accounts must adapt to meet the ever-growing needs of working professionals. With Pocket HRMS, we are proud to deliver a seamless salary management experience for SMEs that integrates the best of both money and employee management, providing unparalleled solutions to the modern workforce."

Some core features of Pocket HRMS:

- Complete Payroll and HRMS functions from Hire-to-Retire

- Skill Management, Training, Evaluation and Performance Appraisals

- WhatsApp Integration for Notification and Approval workflow

- Ecosystem of Partner Network to include additional HR services like BGV, Neo Banking, R&R, etc.
NEW DELHI : Five states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Telangana are the front-runners in the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22, the Ministry of Power said on Monday.

These states are leading with a score more than 60 points on various parameters under SEEI to assess state-level energy efficiency initiatives.

Union Power Minister R K Singh on Monday launched the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22 report.

Meanwhile, four states Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra and Punjab are in the achiever category with a score between 50 and 60.

Further, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Chandigarh are the top-performing states in their respective state groups.

According to the report, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh showed the most improvement since the last index.

The index developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory body under the Ministry of Power, in association with Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE), assesses, the annual progress of states and UTs in energy efficiency implementation, for FY 2020-21 and 2021-22. SEEI 2021-22 has an updated framework of 50 indicators aligned with national priorities," it said.

Speaking on the occasion, Singh said, As we transition to a low-carbon economy, it is crucial to ensure sustainable development with energy transition that ensures no one is left behind. Periodic tracking of states energy efficiency progress and outcomes is essential to contribute effectively to the nations climate commitments."

Director General, BEE said, India is committed to achieving NDC goals and transitioning to a net-zero economy by 2070. This requires collaboration between central and state governments, judicious resource allocation, policy alignment, and regular progress tracking.

The SEEI tracks progress in managing states and Indias energy footprint, driving energy efficiency policies and programmes at the state and local level, he added.
Air India on Monday turned around its AI 111 Delhi-London flight due to an 'unruly' passenger onboard. The flight returned to the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi as there was an unruly male passenger onboard. According to an airline official the passenger had a fight with flight crew members in mid-air.

After the report, Air India informed the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing. The airline has also lodged an FIR against the passenger. "Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London today returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board. Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members. The passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing. An FIR has also been lodged with the police," the Tata Group's airline told the media.

The said passenger is currently at the Delhi Airport, news agency ANI reported. The flight had around 225 passengers.

The unruly passenger was deboarded at the airport and later the flight took off for London Heathrow.

In recent times, there have been multiple cases of unruly air passenger behaviour, including incidents of a male passenger allegedly urinating on a female co-passenger and people found smoking in the lavatory of flights.

Therefore, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken strict action in these incidents, and the airlines concerned had also imposed a flying ban on the passengers concerned.

Recently, the DGCA chief said that airlines are empowered to take action against passengers indulging in unruly behaviour on flights.

In January, the DGCA penalised Tata Group-owned Air India twice related to incidents of unruly passenger behaviour.

On January 24, the regulator imposed a fine of 10 lakh on the airline for not reporting two incidents of unruly passenger behaviour onboard a Paris-New Delhi flight on December 6, 2022.

On January 20, the watchdog slapped a penalty of 30 lakh on Air India as well as suspended the license of the pilot-in-command of the New York-Delhi flight in which a person allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger on November 26, 2022.

In connection with the incident, a fine of 3 lakh was also imposed on Air India's Director of in-flight services for failing to discharge her duties.

A total of 143 passengers have been put on the 'no Fly List' since 2017.
With opposition parties latching on the Amul vs Nandini row in the poll-bound Karnataka and the leaders of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party(BJP) making statements that the Amul is not entering the state, the proposition to not enter Karnataka is more of economics than politics.

The political slugfest began after Gujarat-based cooperative society Amul tweeted: "A new wave of freshness with milk and curd is coming to Bengaluru. More information coming soon. #LaunchAlert. From Kengeri to Whitefield, wishing everyone a Taaza day."

In another tweet, the dairy brand said, The #Amul family is bringing in some Taaza into #Bengaluru city. More updates coming in soon. #LaunchAlert. Taaza arriving soon in Bengaluru."

#WATCH | "Nandini is a very good brand of our State...Congress and JD(S) doing politics at the time of elections": Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/DnJf0SEgdL  ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2023

The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) Ltd may find it hard to get a foothold in Karnataka as Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Limited (KMF) which is the second largest dairy co-operative amongst the dairy cooperatives in the country and in South India it stands first in terms of procurement as well as sales. The KMF which sells milk under the Nandini brand is one of the cheapest milk in the country. A comparison shows that consumers purchasing one litre of toned milk have to shell out 39 in Bengaluru whereas for Amul sells one litre of toned milk for 52 in Gujarat and 54 in Delhi.

A litre of full cream milk costs 66 in Delhi and 64 in Gujaratwhile the the Nandini brand full cream mil costs  24 for 450 ml and 50 for 900 ml. A kg of curd under the Nandini brand is available for 47 per kg whereas it costs around 67 for per kg of curd under Amul. KMF is able to supply milk at a such low price as it gets subsidies from the government. The Karnataka government has given around 12,00 crore incentives annually according to reports.

KMF has 16 Milk Unions covering all the districts of the State which procure milk from Primary Dairy Cooperative Societies(DCS) and distribute milk to the consumers in various Towns/Cities/Rural markets in Karnataka.

Amul's move is being seen by many, especially opposition parties, as a threat to KMF's famed dairy brand 'Nandini'. They also see it as an attempt to trample upon KMF, amid a narrative around its merger with Amul. "Is your purpose of coming to Karnataka to give to Karnataka or to loot from Karnataka? You have already stolen banks, ports and airports from Kannadigas. Are you now trying to steal Nandini (KMF) from us?" Siddaramaiah asked.

Karnataka Dairy Development Cooperation(KDDC), the first ever World Bank/ International Development Agency funded Dairy Development Program in the country started in Karnataka on co-operative lines with the organisation of Village Level Dairy Co-operatives in 1974.

The AMUL pattern of dairy co-operatives started functioning in Karnataka from 1974-75 with the financial assistance from World Bank/IDA, Operation Flood II & III. The Anand Pattern three tier organisation structure  Dairy Cooperative Societies at the village level, District Milk Unions at the District level to take care of the procurement, processing and marketing of milk and provide technical input services for enhancing milk production at producers level and Federation at the state level to co-ordinate the growth of the sector in the State, are resolutely and harmoniously working hand-in-hand in creating self-sustaining rural economy based on cooperative dairying. KMF is one of the few federations in the country, who have converted dairying from a subsidiary occupation into an industry.
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Monday on the 31st anniversary of the massacre of Armenians in Maragha.

Below is the full statement.

31 years ago, on April 10, 1992, the Azerbaijani armed forces carried out a preplanned brutal massacre of the peaceful population of the Armenian settlement of Maragha in Martakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh, as a result of which the settlement with a population of about 5,000 was completely subjected to ethnic cleansing, more than 50 civilians were brutally killed and as many were taken captive. This data has been documented in the reports of the human rights organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The fates of many hostages have not been clarified to this day, and they are considered to have been forcibly disappeared.

The Maragha massacre was a continuation of the organised pogroms of Armenians in Sumgait, Kirovabad and Baku and one of the manifestations of mass crimes committed by the Azerbaijani authorities on the grounds of national identity. The preplanned crimes against the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, war crimes, their impunity and glorification became part of Azerbaijan's systemic policy and took on new manifestations during Azerbaijan's aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in April 2016 and on a larger scale during the 44-day war of 2020 as a result of which tens of thousands of Armenians were displaced also from Hadrut, Shushi and surrounding regions.

It is no coincidence that not only the Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh during 1988-1991 have never had the opportunity to return to their homes and exercise their rights, including managing their private property, but also nowadays, Azerbaijan violates the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, disrupting the return of displaced persons and refugees to Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions, which should be carried out under the supervision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Moreover, violating the norms of international law and the international obligations, nowadays the official Baku is populating with Azerbaijanis the Armenian settlements fallen under its control, the homes of Armenians, for example in the Armenian village of Talish.

It is also noteworthy that, grossly violating the decisions of authoritative international courts, Azerbaijan openly continues to desecrate, vandalise and destroy the Armenian religious, historical and cultural monuments and sanctuaries, having the aim to completely erase the Armenian trace from the territories that are under its control. At the same time, the hate speech towards the Armenians continues at the highest level. These actions have already been repeatedly condemned by international institutions.

31 years after the Maragha massacre, already for around four months Azerbaijan has been illegally blocking the Lachin corridor connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with the rest of the world. The deliberate creation of a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, the periodic violations of the ceasefire and the aggressive actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, the consistent targeting and terrorising of the peaceful population prove once again that Azerbaijan's goal is to subject Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing.

Today we pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Maragha massacre. In order to further prevent such crimes, we once again emphasise the urgency of taking the active steps by the international community, including by using the available international mechanisms.

The Republic of Armenia reaffirms its commitment to the establishment of lasting and comprehensive peace and security in the region, which is possible by Azerbaijan's refusal of the maximalist and aggressive policy and by the search for fair solutions to the existing problems.
Good news for residents of Chennai and Bengaluru as several city transportation departments have been working diligently to provide a hassle-free transportation system.

As per media reports, one of the developments is the construction of a state-of-the-art, Wi-Fi-enabled bus terminal in Kuthambakkam, Chennai, which is set to open in August this year.

This terminal is expected to enhance the commuting experience for the public and represents a significant step towards modernizing transportation infrastructure in the region.

The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (Cumta) has recommended that the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) extend its services to the upcoming high-tech bus terminal in Kuthambakkam, which is currently 70% complete.

This move is expected to improve accessibility for citizens in the area, particularly for those travelling to and from Bengaluru, as the proposed metro station in Poonamalee is only a few kilometres away.

As per the CMRL service should be extended to the upcoming high-tech bus terminal in Kuthambakkam. The officials have indicated that they will be sending an official letter to the relevant authorities regarding this matter.

The Kuthambakkam bus terminal, located in Thirumazhisai, is expected to commence operations in August of this year. Spanning 25 acres, this high-tech terminal will comprise 70 government bus bays and 30 private service bays. These buses will provide transportation services to several western cities, including Krishnagiri and Bangalore.

The Kuthambakkam bus terminal, a 340 crore rupee project, boasts an impressive range of facilities and amenities for the public. These include a comprehensive CCTV network, food courts, internet connectivity, multi-level parking facilities for over 1,680 two-wheelers and 235 four-wheelers, drinking water facilities, passenger lifts, and escalators.
Days after a renaming bid that drew sharp criticism, China has now been left fuming over Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh. A foreign ministry spokesperson from the other country insisted that Shah's visit to a 'Chinese territory' had violating Beijing's territorial sovereignty

Zangnan is China's territory. The Indian official's visit to Zangnan violates China's territorial sovereignty, and is not conducive to the peace and tranquility of the border situation," spokesperson Wang Wenbin asserted.

Home Minister Amit Shah is slated to visit the northeastern state on Sunday afternoon. He will be attending various events and interacting with ITBP personnel in the border village of Kibithoo. Shah will also launch the Vibrant Villages Programme in the area.

#WATCH | Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Dibrugarh, Assam, today. He was received by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.



HM Shah will will launch Vibrant Villages Programme in Kibithoo today, a border village in Arunachal Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/5fRtUq1uye  ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2023

The entire country can sleep peacefully in their homes today because our ITBP jawans and Army is working day and night on our borders. Today, we can proudly say that no one has the power to cast an evil eye on us," the union minister said during an address in Kibithoo.

(With inputs from agencies)
A Chinese scientist has claimed that Covid-19 may have originated from humans. A Beijing University-based scientist found a similarity between genetic sequences of viral samples taken from Wuhan's seafood market and patients infected with coronavirus, suggesting that Covid may have originated from humans. Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Market was considered the ground zero site of the pandemic so far.

In a report by CNN, Tong Yigang of the Beijing University of Chemical Technology said more than 1,300 environmental and frozen animal samples had been taken at the market between January 2020 and March 2020, and researchers had isolated three strains of virus from the environmental samples.

Tongo also said there are not enough pieces of evidence to back up recent studies that had suggested raccoon dogs were the origin of the Covid-19 virus.

Another Chinese scientist Zhou Lei called for global scientific collaboration in tracing the origins of the virus, saying that the site where Covid-19 was first discovered was not necessarily where it originated.

China has received a barrage of criticism for blocking international investigations into the origins of the Covid-19 virus. Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it still did not have key data from China about the beginnings of the Covid outbreak. The UN Health body stated that a lack of disclosure the head of its program on emerging diseases said was "simply inexcusable".

World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently (local time) said that the organization will continue pushing until it finds an answer to how the COVID-19 pandemic started, following a report suggesting it had abandoned the search.

Ghebreyesus in January spoke with Minister Ma Xiaowei, director of China's National Health Commission about the Covid-19 situation in the country and sought deeper cooperation on the origins of the pandemic.

However, China has reiterated that it was always transparent and cooperative in sharing the data with the WHO.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, debates have constantly reemerged over the origin of the Covid-19 virus. Last month an assessment by the US Department of Energy stated that Covid reemerged because of an accident in a laboratory. But the US agency also marked it as a low confidence" determination.

However, Chinese scientists have refuted the lab leak theory, saying it is extremely unlikely."
NEW DELHI : Every citizen must dedicate one hour of the day towards his/her own health, for healthy individuals are key to ensuring the progress of the nation, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Monday.

During the inauguration of the Scientific Convention on World Homoepathy Day at Vigyan Bhawan, the vice president noted that homoepathy, with its rich history spanning two centuries, is being nurtured in our country and has become a significant factor to our health apparatus in recent years.

Homoeopathy is connected to nature, and the World Health Organisation has recognised it as the second largest and fastest growing system of medicine in the world," he added.

Dhankhar emphasized that healthcare goes beyond medical treatment to encompass an individuals physical, mental and emotional well-being, as well as a communitys social and economic environment.

He expressed concern about the extent of stress prevalent in todays society, often triggered by competitiveness. We must develop a culture to eradicate stress and tension," he said.

He called attention to the fact that no foreign dignitary or foreign national on a visit to India, is ever found decrying or criticizing his/her own nation.

We must take pride in our scientists and health warriors, believe in our own talent, and put country above political creed when visiting other nations," he underlined.

The one-day Scientific Convention was organized by Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy under Ministry of AYUSH to celebrate the occasion of the World Homoeopathy Day. The theme of the convention was Homoeoparivar  Sarvajan Swasthya, One Health, One Family".
India has reportedly halted trade talks with the United Kingdom over attacks at the Indian embassy. According to a report by The Times, India will not continue the trade talks until the UK government condemns Khalistani group--a Sikh extremist group that attacked the Indian embassy in March in London.

The Times report added that to restart the negotiation, the UK home office is planning to crack down on the Sikh extremists and supporters of Khalistani movement.

Relations between the UK and India have soured recently after the Indian High Commission was vandalised and the Indian tax sleuths conducted I-T raids at British Broadcasting Corp (BBC) headquarters following a controversial documentary made by the British media channel on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A trade deal with India has long been a prized goal for the British government, which wants to cut tariffs and open opportunities for UK services in India.

Separately, Security arrangements in Bathinda have been stepped up security ahead of Baisakhi celebrations in Punjab, following an unverified video of Khalistani preacher and 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh urging followers to spread the word for the big congregation on Baisakhi to discuss issues before the Sikh community.

Additional Director General of Police, Surinder Pal Singh Parmar, said the security arrangement is a positive message that the situation is normal in Punjab.

Earlier, the fugitive Khalistan leader purportedly appeared in a new video saying he was not "a fugitive" and will soon "appear in front of the world".

Amritpal has been on the run since March 18, the day Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt for him. He has been declared fugitive by the cops.

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.
Dozens of classified American Defence Department documents about the war in Ukraine have been recently leaked on the internet. The documents include maps, charts, and photographs, some of which are marked as "top secret."

These documents provide detailed accounts of the war in Ukraine, including the casualties suffered by both sides, military vulnerabilities, and what their relative strengths are likely to be when Ukraine decides to launch its much-anticipated spring offensive.

Pentagon officials have confirmed that the documents are real, and some of them are as much as six weeks old, as cited by BBC. The documents reveal information about the training and equipment being provided to Ukraine as it puts together a dozen new brigades for an offensive that could begin within weeks.

Although much of the information in the documents is familiar, there is a lot more of it, and it is all in one place. For example, casualty figures for both Russia and Ukraine have been estimated, with the Pentagon saying it has "low confidence" in the figures due to gaps in information and deliberate attempts to mislead.

Who leaked the documents?

It is not clear who leaked the documents or why, but they were first seen on a messaging platform popular with gamers in early March. Ukraine has expressed concern about the sensitive material being leaked at such a critical moment, as the spring offensive could represent a make-or-break moment for the Zelensky government to alter dynamics on the battlefield and set conditions for peace talks later.

In Kyiv, officials have spoken about a possible disinformation campaign by Russia, while other military bloggers have suggested that it is all part of a Western plot to mislead Russian commanders. However, there is nothing in the documents leaked so far that points to the direction or thrust of Ukraine's counter-offensive.
The Amul-Nandini controversy continued to gain momentum on Monday, with members of a pro-Kannada organisation staging protests in Bengaluru. The Gujarat based dairy cooperative's potential entry into Karanataka has also turned into a political slugfest ahead of the state assembly elections. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has called out Congress and JD(S) for doing politics over the issue ahead of polls.

Members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike were detained by police amid heavy sloganeering. The protesters staged a demonstration against the other company and were even seen destroying Amul-made products.

The dairy giant had recently sparked outrage after hinting at plans to enter Karnataka in the near future. The Opposition Congress and JD(S) have vehemently protested the move, highlighting claims about a merger between the two companies. Meanwhile the BJP-led administration has hit out at the Congress for running a "misinformation campaign."

ALSO READ: Mint Explainer: Parties milk Amul-vs-Nandini controversy for Karnataka elections

As the political back-and-forth continues, Congress Karnataka chief D K Shivakumar visited a Nandini Milk parlour in the Hassan on Monday. Voicing support for the local brand, he purchased and consumed Nandini products in the store.

"We already have Nandini which is a better brand than Amul...We don't need any Amul...our water, our milk, and our soil is strong," Shivakumar told ANI.

As he put it, this was a question of farmers' rights in Karnataka. "More than 70 lakh farmers produce milk and give it to Nandini. Gujarat's Amul is also by farmers. But it's not right to push Amul forward and Nandini back. Their (BJP) government has not provided any help to farmers. We have to save our product and our farmers," he said.

The Congress leader also said that the ruling BJP government had raised the prices of all dairy products and they haven't done any help to farmers. In between we are in the situation where we can't sell milk."

(With inputs from agencies)
With the cases of Covid-19 rising rapidly in the country, the Union Health Ministry has decided to conduct a nationwide mock drill on 10 and 11 April to check the preparedness of both public and private health facilities to deal with booming cases of the virus.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will oversee the mock drills in AIIMS, Jhajjar and he requested the state health ministers to oversee the Covid mock drills in the respective states.

Nationwide mock drills to check Covid-19 preparedness:

In a review meeting on 7 April, Mandaviya asked the state health ministers to review the district administration's and health officials' preparedness on 8 and 9 April.

During the meeting, the health minister stressed the need to identify emergency hotspots by monitoring trends of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases.

The minister further laid emphasis on ramping up testing and vaccination against the virus and ensuring the readiness of hospital infrastructure. Mandaviya also stressed increasing awareness around Covid appropriate behavior.

The country has seen a sudden increase in the cases of the Covid-19 virus and as of 9 April, the active cases of the virus in the country have crossed 32,000.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is closely tracking a 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 prevalence of XBB.1.16 has witnessed a jump from 21.6% in February to 35.8% in March, but the level of hospitalization or mortality has not seen a significant change, a statement from the health ministry informed.

Omicron and its sub-variants remain the most prevalent among the rising cases and for now don't have disease severity or immune escape capabilities.

During the review meeting, Mandaviya also observed that the average test per million of 23 states is below the national average.

States and union territories were requested to increase the number of tests and also focus of improving the rate of RT-PCR tests.

The health minister said that the five-fold strategy of 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and adherence to Covid-Appropriate Behaviour' continues to remain in place for Covid management irrespective of the discovery of new variants.
In a meeting held last Thursday in Beijing, the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian respectively, marked their first diplomatic encounter in seven years by signing an agreement to restore diplomatic ties and end hostilities between their nations.

During their historic meeting, the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, discussed several key matters pertaining to the restoration of diplomatic relations between their nations.

According to media reports, the recent agreement brokered by China between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two countries with a long history of hostility, has the potential to create a domino effect throughout the Middle East.

The resolution of tensions between these two countries may positively impact other nations in the region, such as Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, where Saudi Arabia and Iran have historically supported opposing sides.

This agreement could play a significant role in stabilizing the region and promoting greater cooperation and diplomacy among nations, ANI reported.

China's involvement in the Saudi-Iran agreement is being perceived as a significant step towards establishing its diplomatic and strategic influence in the Middle East.

This growing role of China in the region has caused concern for the United States, which is witnessing a decline in its own economic and soft power in the region.

The recent diplomatic breakthrough between Saudi Arabia and Iran has raised hopes that the long-standing conflict in Yemen may finally come to an end. This conflict has been fueled by opposing support from Iran for the Houthi rebels, while Saudi Arabia has backed the internationally recognized government.

The war has resulted in the deaths of over 233,000 people and has left around five million people at risk of famine. Additionally, a cholera outbreak has affected over one million people.

In 2022, the United Nations brokered a ceasefire in Yemen, which has been mostly observed by the opposing sides.

With the recent agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, under which both nations have committed to ending their involvement in the Yemeni conflict, the ceasefire is expected to become permanent.

The recent diplomatic agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran has brought some relief to the Saudi government, which has been struggling with missile and drone attacks by Houthi rebels against its oil installations.

The government expects that with the end of the Yemeni conflict, these attacks will stop and it will no longer need to invest billions of dollars in advanced air defense systems.

The recent diplomatic breakthrough between Saudi Arabia and Iran is a significant achievement for Iran, which has been isolated from the international community for several years.

The fact that Iran was able to restore diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, one of its main adversaries in the Middle East, without any prior agreement on its nuclear program is a major diplomatic victory.

Hussein Ibish, of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, points out that the accord "for Iran represents a successful effort of trying to push back against regional isolation without major changes to its policies, which adversaries like Saudi Arabia had previously been demanding."

The diplomatic breakthrough between Saudi Arabia and Iran is likely to have a significant impact on the situation in Syria. For several years, Saudi Arabia has been a major supporter of anti-government forces in Syria, while Iran has backed the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Currently, pro-Iranian militias continue to control several Syrian provinces.

The change in Saudi Arabia's policy on Syria can be attributed to the military support provided by Russia to the Assad regime, which made it clear that the regime would not be toppled. As a result, Saudi Arabia stopped supporting the insurgents and is now discussing the possibility of Syria rejoining the Arab League.

Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian armed group, has been a powerful force in Lebanon for several years, exerting significant influence over the country's military and political affairs.

It has evolved into a hybrid terrorist organization that occasionally engages in battles with Israel while simultaneously providing social welfare to thousands of citizens affected by Lebanon's severe economic crisis.

Lebanese politics have been broadly split for years between Hezbollah and a pro-Saudi coalition.

Lebanon has been in the midst of an economic crisis for several months, with no clear end in sight.

The country is without a president and a fully empowered cabinet, and political parties on opposing sides have been unable to reach agreements on key issues facing the nation.

Lebanon's political paralysis has been ongoing for many months, with no resolution in sight. However, the recent restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran has raised hopes that this could change.

Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, hailed the development as "historic" and called on Lebanese politicians to take note and move quickly to elect a new president.

In the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the toppling of Saddam Hussein's government, various militias with links to Tehran joined the newly reconstituted Iraqi Army. In 2014, when the Islamic State advanced into northern Iraq, Iran provided technical assistance to the Iraqi government and sent troops to fight against ISIL, while also providing weapons to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

In 2020, there was a slight improvement in relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and the two countries reopened a border crossing. The recent agreement brokered by China is expected to further improve relations between Tehran, Riyadh, and Baghdad.

The recent restoration of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran has diminished the possibility of an Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia, thus removing the powerful incentive for Riyadh to consider strengthening ties with Israel.

The Chinese-brokered deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran is not welcomed by the United States, which sees its overall Middle East strategy as being undermined.

A State Department spokesman, commenting on the Riyadh- Tehran accord, said, "If this dialogue leads to concrete action by Iran to curb its destabilizing activities in the region, including the proliferation of dangerous weapons, then of course, we would welcome that."

The US is coming to the realization that the possibility of Saudi Arabia and Israel establishing diplomatic relations is unlikely, given the recent restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

(With inputs from agencies)
For the second time in less than a year, China is holding large-scale military drills in the Taiwan straits. With Beijing claiming Taiwan as part of its territory, the prospects of a military conflict have begun to loom large. Mint breaks this down:

How would a military conflict play out?

Much of the analysis around a conflict between China and Taiwan is speculative. But there are two scenarios that have attracted attention. One, a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, which could begin with cyber attacks to disorient Taiwans defence. This would be followed by prolonged bombardment of the island, which in turn would be followed by Chinese boots on Taiwans soil. The second scenario involves a blockade of Taiwan by Beijings formidable navy. By cutting Taiwan off from its trade route and imports of arms and other essential goods, China would hope to force Taiwan into surrender.

Is a China-Taiwan conflict likely?

This question has absorbed military analysts and policymakers. China has not renounced the use of force in enforcing its territorial claim on Taiwan. While analysts argue that China lacks the political will and military capability to take Taiwan, senior US military commanders have voiced fears of an impending conflict. Admiral Phil Davidson, a former chief of the US Indo-Pacific Command, warned that China would try to attack Taiwan in 2027. More recently, US Air Force General Mike Minihan sent alarm bells ringing by stating that a crisis over Taiwan could erupt within the next two years.

Who would the likely players in a conflict be?

Besides China and Taiwan, the US would almost certainly participate. Despite its policy of strategic ambiguity", observers believe Washington would have to defend Taiwan. Senior figures in Japan have indicated that their country will have to get involved to check Chinese designs. It is unclear whether South Korea, a formal US treaty ally, will participate.

What would be the economic impact?

Any military action by China to take Taiwan would have profound consequences for the global economy. The Rhodium Group, an economic consultancy, indicated that a Chinese blockade of Taiwan would cost the global economy upwards of $2 trillion. Taiwan is the worlds 16th largest trading economy which manufactures more than 90% of the worlds most advanced semiconductors. Then theres the economic cost of sanctions on China by the West. This also doesnt include the cost of a full-scale invasion by China.

How would India be affected?

The conflict over Ukraine, which is a country with far less systemic importance to the global economy than Taiwan, has been a severe shock. Global growth rates have fallen, energy prices have risen and the World Bank has warned of a lost decade" for growth. All of these have implications for Indias ambitions for economic growth, energy transition and poverty reduction. A Chinese invasion of Taiwan, followed by a US and Japanese response, could be much worse for the Indian economy.
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani military on Monday reported that it lost contact with two of its servicemen in the direction of Nakhijevan.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense said that the two servicemen got lost because of "low visibility and bad weather" conditions.

It added that necessary actions are being taken to find the troops.
Officials have reported that following the explosion and collapse of a building near Marseille's port in France early on Sunday, eight people are currently missing.

Associated Press reported that over 100 firefighters worked against a ticking clock to extinguish flames deep within the rubble of the five-story building, but more than 17 hours later the situation is not yet stabilized," Marseille Prosecutor Dominique Laurens said at an evening news conference.

After the collapse of a building in Marseille, France earlier on Sunday, officials initially estimated that between four and ten people may have been trapped. However, according to recent reports, eight people are currently missing, and there is a possibility of a ninth person unaccounted for in a nearby building.

Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan said two buildings that share walls with the one that collapsed were partially brought down before one later caved in, another complication in the search and rescue operation. The buildings were among the evacuated structures.

We cannot intervene in a very classic way," Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said during a morning visit to the site. He said the fire was burning a few meters under the mounds of debris and that both water and foam represent a danger to victims survival.

Drones and probes have been used to examine the scene for signs of life. The burning debris was too hot for dogs in the firefighters' canine team to work until Sunday afternoon, though smoke still bothered them, the prosecutor said.

According to the prosecutor, an investigation has been initiated for involuntary injury following the collapse. The possibility of a gas explosion is being examined as one of the potential causes of the disaster.

The flames weren't pink. They were blue," Payan said.

Firefighters, with the help of urban rescue experts, worked through the night and all day Sunday in a slow race against time. The delicate operation aimed to keep firefighters safe, prevent further harm to people potentially trapped in the rubble and not compromise vulnerable buildings nearby, already partially collapsed. Some 30 buildings in the area were evacuated, Darmanin said.

Lauren, the prosecutor, said that firefighters are really in a complicated situation, dangerous for them." Work is progressing but with safety precautions, she said.

We heard an explosion ... a very strong explosion which made us jump, and that's it," said Marie Ciret, who was among those evacuated. We looked outside the window at what was happening. We saw smoke, stones, and people running."

The building that collapsed is located on a narrow street less than a kilometre (a half-mile) from Marseille's iconic old port, adding to an array of difficulties for firefighters and rescue workers. The prosecutor said the building and those next door are not at all substandard buildings."

Robots were reportedly being deployed. A crane was brought in to clear rubble and firefighters were at one point seen in TV video hosing parts of the debris from a window in a nearby apartment as plumes of smoke rose skyward.

Were trying to drown the fire while preserving the lives of eventual victims under the rubble," Lionel Mathieu, commander of the Marseille fire brigade, said during a televised briefing.

Firefighters are gauging minute by minute the best way to put out the fire," Payan, the mayor, said.

We must prepare ourselves to have victims," he said grimly.

The collapsed building is located in an old quarter in the center of Frances second-largest city. The noise from the explosion resounded in other neighbourhoods. Nearby streets were blocked off.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne expressed their sympathies for the people affected by the building collapse and thanks to the firefighters.

In 2018, two buildings in the center of Marseille collapsed, killing eight people. Those buildings were poorly maintained  not the case with the building that collapsed Sunday after an explosion, the interior minister said.
Hinting at the close diplomatic ties between India and Russia, Ukraine's deputy foreign minister on Monday said India should be pragmatic in securing its resources, including energy and defence equipment.

"We are not in the position of instructing India in their economic ties with other countries. We only think it is crucial to diversify all of the resources, not only energy but also military resources," Emine Dzhaparova commented on the close ties between the two countries.

#WATCH | "India should be pragmatic in diversifying its energy resources, military contracts & political interactions. PM Modi's policy of democracy, dialogue&diversity & "no era of war" & strategic application is really important: Ukraine's Dy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova pic.twitter.com/cOJkB7ZojD  ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2023

The minister also highly praised the Indian prime minister, saying, Modi's policy of democracy, dialogue and diversity and "no era of war" and strategic application is really important"

Emine Dzhaparova arrived in New Delhi on Monday for a four-day visit, marking the first official visit of the East European country since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in February of the previous year. During her visit, Dzhaparova held talks with India's Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Sanjay Verma, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi, as well as meeting with Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri.

Taking to her official Twitter handle, Dzhaparavo stated, Happy to visit -the land that gave birth to many sages,saints&gurus. Today, #India wants to be the Vishwaguru, the global teacher and arbiter. In our case, we've got a very clear picture aggressor against innocent victim. Supporting is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru."

Happy to visit -the land that gave birth to many sages,saints&gurus. Today, #India wants to be the Vishwaguru,the global teacher and arbiter. In our case, weve got a very clear picture:aggressor against innocent victim.Supporting is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru.  Emine Dzheppar (@EmineDzheppar) April 10, 2023

The visit was an opportunity for both countries to discuss bilateral relations and exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine and global issues of mutual interest. The MEA stated that the talks were productive, and both sides expressed a desire to strengthen ties and cooperation.

India and Ukraine have historically maintained good relations, with India recognizing Ukraine's independence in 1991 and establishing diplomatic relations in 1992. The two countries have cooperated in various fields, including trade, defence, and culture.

(With inputs from agencies)
After an uproar for labeling the US radio network NPR as state-affiliated media and government funded', Elon Musk's Twitter has backtracked and applied that new label to the BBC, which is funded predominantly by British households paying a license fee.

Britain's beloved national broadcaster has now reached out to Twitter for clarification, according to a report published by AFP.

The change in how Twitter refers to Washington-based National Public Radio happened quietly overnight Saturday. This comes after the network complained that the term state-affiliated was disparaging and inaccurate.

Last week, Twitter branded NPR in the same way as government-owned Chinese and Russian platforms. In protest, NPR stopped tweeting. 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.

Responding to the remarks, NPR CEO John Lansing said that the decision by Twitter was unacceptable and the radio's account has remained silent ever since.

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, AFP reported.

This 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, mainly 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.

For years, Elon Musk has 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.

However, 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," the Twitter chief wrote to NPR.

The NPR's website stated that the bulk of its budget comes from fees paid by member stations throughout the United States, 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.

(With AFP inputs)
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan lauded India's foreign policy and said that Islamabad wanted to get cheap Russian crude oil like India, however, it was not able to do so as his government collapsed in a no-confidence motion, according to the news agency ANI.

Addressing the nation in a video message, he said, "We wanted to get cheap Russian crude oil just like India but that could not happen as unfortunately, my government fell due to a no-confidence motion."

He lamented over the fact that crisis-hit Pakistan could also purchase Russian crude oil at a discounted rate that India enjoys despite the ongoing Ukraine war.

Interestingly, this was not the first time when Khan acknowledged India's achievements in terms of growing its economy and purchasing Russian oil despite Western pressure.

In May 2022, Imran Khan hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to purchase cheap oil from Russia despite pressure from the United States.

India is the world's third-largest oil-consuming and importing nation. It imports 85% of its crude oil needs. Ever since the war between Russia and Ukraine, the West and Europe imposed stringent sanctions on its energy. This resulted in Russia's offering more discounts to its oldest ally, India.

Sanctions hit Russia signed an agreement with an Indian oil giant intending to boost the crude oil supply. According to the Russian news agency, TASS, Moscow's top oil company Rosneft signed a deal with the Indian Oil Company to increase the supply of petroleum to India.

The deal, which has been in the making for months, could ease some of Pakistan's fiscal trouble as the country, a net importer of energy, looked for ways to cut its oil import bill.

Talks have been ongoing between Pakistan and Russia since last year for the trade of oil which had remained a contentious issue in Pakistan's politics, ANI reported.

Former prime minister Imran Khan had repeatedly claimed that his government was ousted for pursuing an "independent foreign policy," which would have allowed the country to buy oil at a discounted price from Russia, just like India.

(With ANI inputs)
Pakistan's finance minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar canceled his visit to Washington for spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank due to the prevailing political and constitutional situation in the cash-strapped country.

Dar was scheduled to attend the meetings on April 10 and see top IMF officials and multilateral creditors in a bid to secure stalled funding that the South Asian country desperately needs to avert a balance-of-payments crisis.

Around 350 delegates from G20 members, 13 invitee countries, and various international and regional organizations will participate in the meeting.

Pakistan has been negotiating with the IMF since early February to secure $1.1 billion in funding as part of a $6.5 billion rescue program agreed in 2019.

The minister on Saturday held a press conference to explain the main reason behind the cancelation of his visit to IMF and World Bank spring meetings.

Why Pakistan's finance minister canceled his visit to Washington? A look at

Addressing a press conference on April 8, Dar stated that he canceled his visit to Washington for IMF and World Bank meetings due to the prevailing political turmoil in the country. He explained that the decision to cancel the visit was taken under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

This came after a political and constitutional crisis emerged following the decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in a case regarding the Punjab polls and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The top court had directed the government to ensure the provision of 21 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) before April 10, 2023, to finalize the preparations for the Punjab polls.

The minister said he was attending meetings with a team of senior officials from Pakistan, including the Governor State Bank of Pakistan, the Secretary of Finance, the Secretary Economic Affairs Division, and other authorities concerned, according to a report published by pkrevenue.

Dar also expressed the hope that a staff-level agreement would be finalized with the IMF after the confirmation, and the federal government has already completed its work.
The World Bank will push to resolve the mounting debt problems of poor countries and along with the International Monetary Fund will present concrete proposals to address some of the biggest restructuring roadblocks at this weeks Spring Meetings.

The ideas will be introduced at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable, a meeting led by the Bretton Woods institutions and Group of 20 chair India in Washington, D.C., President David Malpass said in a blog post on Sunday.

One proposal is to share the joint World Bank-IMF debt sustainability analysis for nations with all creditors involved in discussions at the same time, with increased transparency and information sharing helping to calculate the size of debt relief needs, Malpass said. China, the biggest sovereign creditor to developing nations, has raised questions about the institutions assumptions, slowing the process.

Restructuring also would be accelerated and strengthened by creating clear timelines for steps including the formation of creditor committees, the provision of financing assurances and the signing of the actual restructuring agreements, Malpass said. Suspending debt service payments at the start of the process also would give incentives for reaching a deal and protect debt repayment ability, he said.

On individual country cases, Malpass said the Zambia official creditor committee, led by China and France, plans to meet the week of April 16, and that hes looking for a good outcome." On Ghana, he said the advance of technical meetings is a positive sign, and highlighted the need for faster progress on Ethiopia.

With the debt crisis growing larger, we must approach the meetings in the week ahead with resolve and urgency," Malpass said. Now is the time for all parties to turn words into action."

More than half of the worlds low-income countries are at high risk of debt distress or already in it, and several have defaulted. But despite the G-20 largest economies having agreed in 2020 to a plan called the Common Framework to smooth the process of restructuring loans that governments could no longer afford to service or repay, not a single nation has actually gotten relief under it so far.

Delays have partly stemmed from disagreements between the rich countries that have traditionally guided sovereign debt restructurings and China, which is now a major international creditor. Beijing has indicated that it would be more equitable if loans made by the World Bank, where the US is the largest shareholder, are included in any restructuring. The institutions have resisted the demand, along with many developed nations, most vocally the US.The institutions have resisted the demand, along with many developed nations, most vocally the US.
It was a seemingly innocuous announcement about a well-known Indian brand entering a new domestic market. But the reaction that Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) got for its decision to launch its Amul brand of products in Karnataka was beyond its imagination.

Opposition parties in the poll-bound state kicked up a storm, portraying the move as an attempt to destroy Nandini, a brand of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). They claim that Amuls entry will destroy the states 25 lakh milk farmers. Caught on the back foot, the BJP-led state government has tried to allay fears while accusing the opposition of politicising the issue ahead of elections, which are due on May 10. Mint takes a closer look at the controversy.

The announcement: On April 5, GCMMF tweeted that it would soon launch Amul in Karnataka. A new wave of freshness with milk and curd is coming to Bengaluru #launchAlert," the tweet read.

The reaction: The announcement triggered strong reactions both online and offline. Retaliatory hashtags #SaveNandini and #GoBackAmul soon began trending. Sensing an opportunity, opposition parties in the state  the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular), joined in.

You have already stolen banks, ports and airports from Kannadigas. Are you trying to steal Nandini (KMF) from us?" Congress leader Siddaramaiah asked in a tweet addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy voiced his concern about how Amuls entry would affect KMFs business and the livelihood of thousands of dairy farmers in the state. He added that it is an accepted practice for state co-operatives to not enter other states that have their own co-operatives. Nandini, he said, had not forayed into Gujarat for the same reason.

Another Congress leader, DK Shivakumar, accused the BJP of trying to hijack the Nandini brand. Kannadigas will never sell their self-respect," he added.

State governments response: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has made it clear that Amul will not be prevented from entering Karnataka, pointing out that Nandini products are sold in other states, too. The government, he added, would take steps to help Nandini compete with Amul in the open market.

What triggered the controversy? There is no smoke without fire. The fear over Nandinis future lies in an earlier statement of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who said GCMMF and KMF would work together to set up primary dairies in all villages in Karnataka. Many saw this as an attempt to merge GCMMF and KMF. Despite denials by the state government, this fear persists.

How big is KMF? KMF is the second-largest dairy co-operative in the country after GCMMF. Its turnover is estimated at around 20,000 crore. Its network spans 22,000 villages, 24 lakh milk producers, and 14,000 co-operative societies, which procure 84 lakh kg of milk every day.

What is GCMMFs stand? GCMMF has clarified that it plans to sell its products only on e-commerce platforms in Karnataka and has no plans to enter the general market. But few believe it.

The politics: Milk producers are spread across 120 Assembly seats in Mandya, Mysuru, Ramanagara, Kolar and Devangere regions of the state. Their support could change the outcome in many semi-urban and rural seats. Opposition parties are hoping that the controversy will translate into more votes for them. Sensing this, the BJP has repeatedly denied any merger plans. We will send Nandini to other states. We want to develop Nandini products like Gujarat did for Amul," said ST Somashekar, state minister for co-operation, hoping to win back the farmers.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot will sit on a day-long fast to press for action, in a sign of escalating tussle in the party's state unit ahead of assembly polls. after alleging that the Ashok Gehlot-led government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the BJP rule in Rajasthan.

Addressing a press conference, on Sunday, Sachin Pilot said, "The Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government had come to power with a huge majority. Throughout the tenure, we (Congress) attacked the government regarding the BJP's policies. But, the strongest point of criticism against the credibility of the government was regarding the issue of corruption under its tenure".

"We played the role of a responsible opposition and highlighted every corruption-related issue that came to the fore. The public also resonated with us, and as a result, BJP lost power in the state," he added.

Pilot further said that Congress had promised to investigate all the alleged corruption cases under the Vasundhara Raje government.

Without referring to Sachin Pilot's demand, the Congress issued a statement in Delhi that its government with Ashok Gehlot as chief minister has implemented schemes that have benefited people and the party will seek a renewed mandate later this year "on the strength of these landmark achievements and the collective efforts of our organisation".

"No action was taken (by the Gehlot government) on the corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje government. While in the Opposition, we promised an inquiry into the mines scam of 45,000 crore," Pilot said at a press conference at his residence here, announcing a hunger strike on Tuesday.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of state Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said it was "not appropriate" for Pilot to hold a press conference in this manner and that he should have raised the issue with him first.

The move by former deputy chief minister Pilot to open the new front against Gehlot amid the factional fighting is seen as an attempt to pressure the high command to resolve the leadership issue ahead of the year-end polls.

He said he wrote to Gehlot last year on March 28 and November 2 on the issue but did not get any answer to his letters.

With six seven months left for the elections, the opponents can spread an illusion that there is some collusion. Therefore, action will have to be taken soon so that the Congress workers feel that there is no difference between our words and actions," he said.

After Sachin Pilot fired a fresh salvo at the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of state Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Sunday said it was "not appropriate" for Pilot to hold a press conference in this manner and he should have raised the issue with him first.

Randhawa, who was made AICC in-charge of Rajasthan last December, said he had had more than 20 meetings with Pilot since taking over but the former deputy chief minister had not raised the corruption issue with him.
WASHINGTON : A key SpaceX Starship Super Heavy rocket launch test now is likely to take place later this month rather than sometime this week, the space company's CEO Elon Musk said on Monday.

SpaceX envisions Starship as a fully reusable transportation system to carry astronauts and cargo to Earth orbit, the moon, Mars and beyond. The rocket is scheduled to lift off from SpaceX's Starbase facilities at Boca Chica in South Texas in the first launch of the company's fully stacked 394-foot (120-meter) tall Starship rocket system. Fully stacked means all its parts are assembled, with the upper stage sitting atop the booster.

"Starship launch trending towards near the end of third week of April," Musk wrote on Twitter a day after stating that it was ready for launch and "awaiting regulatory approval."

A planning notice posted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on April 4 said the launch's primary expected date was for Monday, but listed backup dates as Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Musk said last week Starship would be ready to launch this week.

The FAA on Monday issued a revised notice that said the launch could now happen April 17.

SpaceX must still get a launch license from the FAA for what is expected to be its first orbital flight test from Boca Chica. One key hurdle remains - completion of a federal environmental compliance review.

The Starship rocket system consists of a Starship rocket sitting atop a "Super Heavy" first stage booster with 33 rocket engines. The plan is to deploy the Starship second stage into space, where it would complete a full orbit of Earth before re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down off the coast of Hawaii. The plan also would be for the Super Heavy booster to land in Texas near the launch site.
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenian authorities arrested an Azerbaijani soldier on April 10 in the territory of Armenia, the Ministry of Defense said.

The Azerbaijani serviceman was found and arrested in the territory of Armenia in between 01:00-02:00, April 10.

The Azerbaijani serviceman has said that another serviceman was with him.

The Armenian defense ministry said they are now searching for the other soldier.

The Azeri defense ministry earlier reported that two of its servicemen got lost in low visibility and bad weather.
Apple Inc.'s personal computer sales experienced a significant setback in the first quarter of 2023, with a decline of 40.5%. This decline is indicative of the ongoing struggle that PC manufacturers face in dealing with an excess of unsold inventory.

According to IDC's latest report, the combined shipments of all PC makers suffered a significant 29% drop to 56.9 million units in the first quarter of 2023. This decline brings shipments below the levels of early 2019, as the surge in demand due to remote work during the pandemic has dissipated. The market leaders, including Lenovo Group Ltd., Dell Technologies Inc., and HP Inc., experienced declines of over 24%, with Lenovo and Dell both seeing drops of over 30%. Even Asustek Computer Inc., which rounded out the top 5, experienced a significant decline of 30.3%. The slowdown in PC shipments appears to be a widespread issue affecting all major brands in the industry.

The slowdown in consumer spending over the past year has led to double-digit declines in smartphone shipments and an accumulating glut among the worlds foremost memory chip suppliers. Samsung Electronics Co., which provides memory for portable devices as well as desktop and laptop PCs, last week said its cutting memory production after reporting its slimmest profit since the 2009 financial crisis.

Though channel inventory has depleted in the last few months, its still well above the healthy four to six week range," said Jitesh Ubrani, IDC research manager. Even with heavy discounting, channels and PC makers can expect elevated inventory to persist into the middle of the year and potentially into the third quarter."

A silver lining is that the cooling demand is giving manufacturers the time and room to make changes as many factories begin to explore production options outside China," IDC said in the report. Apple is gradually diversifying the geography of its manufacturing base as brewing tensions between Washington and Beijing threaten to disrupt its carefully orchestrated supply chain.

(With inputs from Bloomberg)
The birth of Jesus Christ is commemorated by millions of people around the world with Christmas celebrations on Dec. 25. Yet, most scholars agree that he wasn't born on that day, or even in the year A.D. 1.

Why is Jesus' birthday celebrated on December 25?

Researchers have speculated that the Roman Catholic Church chose Dec. 25 because it ties in with the winter solstice and Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to the Roman deity Saturn. The church could also co-opt this popular pagan festival, as well as the winter celebration of other pagan religions, by choosing this day to celebrate Jesus' birthday, according to scholar Ignacio L. Gotz in his book " Jesus the Jew: Reality, Politics, and Myth-A Personal Encounter (opens in new tab) (Christian Faith Publishing, 2019).

However, nobody really knows exactly when Jesus was born.

Related: Why does Christianity have so many denominations?

The Death of King Herod

Some scholars believe that he was born between 6 B.C. and 4 B.C., based partly on the biblical story of King Herod the Great . In an attempt to kill Jesus, the king allegedly ordered the death of all male infants under the age of 2 who lived in the vicinity of Bethlehem, an event known as the Massacre of the Innocents. This occurred shortly before Herod's own demise, a date which is still disputed. However, most scholars, including Peter Richardson and Amy Marie Fisher in their book " Herod: King of the Jews and Friend of the Romans: Second edition (opens in new tab)" (Routledge, 2018), follow the date used by Roman historians, who believed that Herod died in 4 B.C.

But historians disagree about Herod's actual year of death, and many have argued that the mass infanticide is nothing more than a legend. In his book " Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth (opens in new tab)" (Random House, 2013), biblical scholar and author Reza Aslan wrote that Herod's massacre was "an event for which there exists not a shred of corroborating evidence in any chronicle or history of the time whether Jewish, Christian, or Roman."

The Star of Bethlehem

Other scholars have attempted to correlate the " Star of Bethlehem ," which supposedly heralded Jesus' birth, with actual astronomical events to pinpoint his birth year. For example, in a 1991 article in the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society (opens in new tab), astronomer Colin Humphreys proposed that the fabled star was actually a slow-moving comet, which Chinese observers recorded in 5 B.C. However, Humphreys theory has since been debunked.

Related: Could the Christmas Star actually be the Star of Bethlehem?

The month of Jesus' birth has also been a point of debate, with one theory suggesting that the Star of Bethlehem may have been Venus and Jupiter coming together to form a bright light in the sky, a rare event that occured in June of 2 B.C. Another possibility is a similar conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter, which occurred in October of 7 B.C.



There has also been speculation that Jesus was a spring baby. Gotz suggests that Jesus could have been born "in the late spring of the year because pregnancies began in the fall after the harvests were in and there was enough money for a wedding feast."

Related Mysteries

Where did Satan come from?

Was Jesus a real person?

Was the 'forbidden fruit' in the Garden of Eden really an apple?
Twitter and its billionaire owner, Elon Musk, have backed off a controversial description of NPR as "state-affiliated media," relabeling the news organization's social media account as "government funded."

The change, quietly made by the San Francisco-based company late Saturday, follows complaints from NPR and others that Twitter's designation of NPR's account as "state-affiliated" last week was an effort by Musk to disparage the Washington-based news organization. The state-affiliated label has traditionally been used by Twitter to describe government-run propaganda outlets, such as Russia's Sputnik and RT and the Chinese Communist Party's People's Daily.

In addition to its unsavory connotation, the label appears to have been inconsistently applied. Several news organizations that receive government funding, as NPR does, have not been so labeled by Twitter.

NPR chief executive John Lansing formally protested the designation, saying NPR's news operations are overseen by independent journalists and not by government officials. In response to Twitter's unilateral decision to add the description, NPR declined to tweet and changed its Twitter bio to say that it was an "independent" news organization.

NPR didn't respond to a request for comment Sunday. Twitter responded to an email seeking comment with a poop emoji, its automated response to all press inquiries.

The "government funded" label appears to be a new one for Twitter, representing a kind of compromise from Twitter's previous labeling. On Saturday, it began placing the "government funded" brand on other news outlets that receive some state support, including PBS, BBC and Voice of America. But the designation doesn't appear on Twitter accounts run by other such organizations, such as Canada's CBC News.

The change in designation for NPR follows Musk's admission that he actually didn't understand the news organization's relationship to the government when he ordered NPR to be designated as state-affiliated.

In an email exchange with an NPR reporter on Thursday, Musk acknowledged that he was unclear about NPR's relationship with the government when the platform affixed the state-affiliated label. Told by the reporter that NPR receives only about 1 percent of its annual revenue from the federal government, Musk replied: "Well, then we should fix" the designation.

He asked, "What's the breakdown of NPR annual funding?"

NPR then provided Musk with details of its finances, which show that about 40 percent of its revenue comes from sponsorships and about 30 percent from programming fees paid by local public radio stations. (These stations, in turn, typically receive state and federal funds and use them to finance their operations, as well as pay for NPR-produced programs.)

Musk also referred to state-controlled broadcasters and said "it sounds like" NPR fell into a different category.

"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.

That comment appears to mark a shift from Musk's position on Wednesday, when he tweeted that the description "seems accurate" after Twitter designated NPR as state-affiliated.

Under Twitter's own rules - which previously had explicitly exempted NPR from the state-affiliated tag - the label is applied when the state "exercises control" over the organization's editorial operations.

Since Musk assumed control of Twitter in a $44 billion deal, he has taken a confrontational stance with journalists. In December, he banned about a dozen of them, including reporters from The Washington Post and the New York Times, for tweeting about a controversy involving a Twitter account that had tracked his private jet travel.
Courtesy/U.S. Border Patrol

A man was arrested for guiding two migrants into the country, according to the arrest affidavit.

Cesar Adolfo Manriques-Salazar was arrested on the charges of transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport the migrants.
Courtesy/Facebook

The Laredo Police Department announced Sunday, April 9 it is investigating a video circulating on social media featuring juveniles explicitly dancing on top of a police vehicle as the crowd from a large party was dispersed.

According to LPD, the incident occurred at approximately 10:09 p.m. on Saturday, April 8 when a call was received about loud music in the 1400 block of Doctora Eva Perez Lane.
Three men landed behind bars for bypassing the Interstate 35 checkpoint using the west access road to smuggle three migrants, according to an arrest affidavit.

George Fields, Patrick French and Isaiah Washington were arrested on the charges of transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport migrants.

At about 4:25 p.m. April 3, a gray sedan was seen driving north on the west access road of Interstate 35. Agents observed the rear of the sedan riding low to the ground with the trunk door moving up and down.

Agents followed the sedan on the access road. The sedan then drove under the mile marker 32 underpass near a fuel station. When agents attempted to stop the vehicle, the sedan stopped at the fuel stations gas pumps and then sped off north, authorities said.

The Encinal Police Department assisted in the pursuit. Authorities said the sedan stopped on mile marker 44. Agents identified the driver as Washington, and the passengers as Fields and French. Three other passengers were determined to be migrants, the affidavit states.

One migrant was in the back seat while the other two migrants were riding inside the unlatched trunk. Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrived to take over the investigation. Washington, Fields and French agreed to provide a post-arrest interview.

Washington admitted he was hired to pick up migrants for $15,000. He used a cellphone to receive calls and instructions of where to pick up migrants at a convenience store, according to court documents.

Washingtons cellphone showed text messages with Fields (discussing) the smuggling operation needed a driver and it was an easy way to make money, states the affidavit.

Fields cellphone showed text messages with the smuggling organizer talking about staying at a hotel in Laredo, picking up the migrants at a convenience store, hiding the migrants in the trunk of the sedan and taking the route to drive, authorities said.

Frenchs cellphone showed text messages with his girlfriend. He texted he was trying to pick up some Mexican for $15,000, according to court documents.
Webb County Commissioners Court will meet Tuesday to discuss various issues including the submission of different grants that will benefit pre-trial services and a juvenile drug treatment court program.

An item on the agenda establishes discussion and possible action to authorize Pre-Trial Services to submit a 2023-24 multi-year grant application to the Texas Commission on Indigent Defense.

"Webb County has implemented a weekend magistrate process at the jail," the agenda states. "The Pre-Trial Services Department has been delegated to take charge of the manpower needed to support the appointment of attorneys to indigent offenders that qualify at the front-end to the magistrate process during the weekend. This hinders our limited staff during the regular normal business hours of operation to provide effective, efficient and adequate services to indigent clients."

According to the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, pre-trial services is a term used to describe a larger process that may encompass assessments of arrestees, recommendations regarding release in light of such assessments and supervision of individuals released on bond.

This is the third year of the multi-year grant to be requested to fund the existing weekend indigent defense coordinator.

A job posted on Webb County Careers says that the weekend indigent defense coordinator is responsible for interviewing and identifying indigent persons arrested and in custody during the weekend. Qualifying indigent persons shall be appointed attorneys during the weekend magistrate process and allowed to have indigency considered as a factor in establishing reasonable bail.

Webb County must provide a cash match of 60% ($13,561.20) for the total project costs of $22,602.

Another item set for discussion on Tuesday is the approval to submit a grant for OJJDP juvenile drug treatment court programs grant in an amount estimated at $750,000 for a period of 48 months to create and enhance juvenile drug treatment court programs for youth in the justice system with substance use disorders.

The objectives of this program are to improve access and availability of adolescent (and family when appropriate) substance use disorder treatment services to a larger number of clients, increase the number of individuals served and/or propose enhancements to improve the quality of treatment services by adding workforce development strategies, evidence-based treatment approaches or new treatment services to address unmet or emerging trends.

This grant does require a 25% cash or in-kind match and, thus, will have no impact on the general fund if approved.

Through the application Webb County Court-at-Law II will submit to contribute the 25% of total grant funds through an in-kind match.

"This grant will allow Webb County Court-at-Law II to provide assistance to juveniles by continuing judicial supervision over juveniles, and other individuals under the jurisdiction of the court, with substance abuse problems who are not violent offenders," it states in the agenda.

Commissioners will also discuss a training grant for the Webb County Volunteer Fire Department; a professional services agreement for the provision of temporary Locum-Tenens/Forensic Pathology/Medical Examiner Services for a term of 12 days at the daily rate of $2,500 per day; and to authorize the purchase of one Tru-Narc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer to instantly identify illicit substances in the field and reduce the need for officers to handle potentially lethal narcotics, among other items.
HOUSTON (AP)  A Houston man declared innocent in 2021 after being convicted in a fatal stabbing and serving seven years in prison has been charged with murder in the shooting a fellow motorist, police said.

Lydell Grant, 46, is accused of killing Edwin Arevalo, 33, following a minor traffic collision Thursday night, Houston police said. Police said Grant got out of his vehicle, shot Arevalo and then fled.

Grant was the taken into custody Friday after a warrant was issued for his arrest, police said. He remained jailed Sunday on $1 million bond. The attorney for Grant listed in court records in this case could not immediately be reached on Sunday.

In 2012, Grant was convicted of killing 28-year-old Aaron Scheerhoorn, who was stabbed outside a Houston bar in 2010. Six eyewitnesses to the stabbing had testified against Grant at trial.

But Grant was was declared innocent in May 2021 by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals after a new analysis of DNA found on the victims fingernails pointed to Grants innocence. He had served seven years of a life sentence when he was freed on bond in 2019 to await the appeals courts decision.

In 2019, police arrested Jermarico Carter for Scheerhoorns killing. Carter, who was tracked down in Atlanta, confessed to the killing. He pleaded guilty to murder in 2022 and was sent to prison.

The Innocence Project of Texas, which had worked to get Grant exonerated, said in a statement that it couldn't comment on the specifics of the incident on Thursday, which the group noted is an ongoing investigation. The group said its thoughts and and sympathies go out to the victims family.
Republican Rep. Matt Schaefer, from Tyler, an area in east Texas near the Louisiana border, introduced House Bill 20, a border security bill to repel and arrest migrants crossing the Mexico border, which is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, April 12.

The bill was recently featured in Human Right Watch and described as a vigilante bill similar to a wild wild west comeback and an extreme proposed bill to cause concern.

"Operation Lone Star and Texas new immigration proposals are extreme among states in the U.S. and among countries in the world," Bob Libal told Human Rights Watch, adding that "giving Texas police power to vigilantes is dangerous."

The bill would act as an in-state border protection unit that would allow officers of the unit to have the authority to arrest, detain and deter individuals crossing the border illegally, including non-deadly force. The unit would also allow civilians without a felony to join the unit.

"Within the State of Texas, officers of the unit may, to the extent consistent with the Constitution and federal law, arrest, detain, and deter individuals crossing the border illegally, including with the use of non-deadly force," a portion of HB 20 reads. Adding, that "officers will have immunity from criminal and civil liability for any actions taken."

The bill states that a "Unit Chief" would be hired for the leadership role that would solely answer to the governor and act as a means to detour illegal migrants from bringing in opioids and fentanyl into the country along with derailing migrants from destroying homeowner property along the border counties.

The unit would also oversee the construction and maintenance of the "wall" and other physical barriers planned to be built along the border with Mexico "to enhance safety and security." In addition, the bill would also claim authority for Texas to deny entry on public health grounds similar to Title 42.

The bill would create a third-degree felony charge of criminal trespass with a minimum $10,000 fine.

"No matter how hard leadership may want to stop immigration it's not going to stop," Chelsie Kramer, the Texas organizer for the American Immigration Council told the Texas Tribune. "Instead, we should be looking for ways to use the population coming to the U.S. to bolster our economy."

Rep. Matt Schaefer was contacted for comment on the bill on April 3; as of April 10, he has yet to respond.
SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett

No one is immune to the crispy, brown sugar caramel-coated goodness of a Buc-ee's beaver nugget. Not even Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. During a recent press conference, the Republican leader handed out bags of the Texas-based gas station chain's popular crunchy corn treats to an enthusiastic audience.

"You guys have got to try some," he said as he tossed them out one by one, some people standing up from their seats to catch them. "Try it and tell me if you like it. These things are kind of addicting, so I'm just saying, beware."
Chinese carmaker Chery unveiled its electrification ambition on Friday as it steps up efforts to explore the increasingly popular sector in the world's largest vehicle market.

Gao Xinhua, executive vice-president of the Anhui province-based carmaker, said this year it will launch a platform for hybrids and another for electric vehicles as well as a slew of cutting-edge technologies including those for its batteries and the carmaker's own operating system.

Chery's high-end Exeed marque released an NEV product line called Sterra, which it said will cover models from sedans to SUVs and MPVs. The models will be available in both electric versions and range-extending ones.

The carmaker also unveiled its third-generation hybrid technology. The dedicated powertrain features a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that generates a maximum output of 115 kW and a top torque of 220 Nm.

The third-generation technology allows vehicles to sprint from zero to 100 km/hour in 4.6 seconds, said Chery.

Four models featuring the technology were showcased on Friday. Li Xueyong, vice-president of Chery, said it will launch at least 20 models using its latest hybrid technology from 2023 to 2024.

Chery also unveiled its standalone NEV brand, called iCar, at the same event. Details about the brand and its models are expected to be explained on April 16, said the carmaker.

China has been the world's largest market for NEVs. There were 6.89 million electric cars and plug-in hybrids were sold, up 93.4 percent year-on-year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The figure is expected to reach 9 million by the end of this year.
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Shamkhani, during his meeting with Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan, reiterated Tehrans opposition to geographical changes in the Caucasus, according to an Iranian government readout reported by Press TV.

Shamkhani said that tensions and conflicts in the Caucasus region would not serve the interests of any country.

"Any geographical change in the South Caucasus region is a tension-building measure, which will play into the hands of the enemies of regional security and stability," Press TV quoted Shamkhani as saying at the meeting with his Armenian counterpart.

Iran's top security official added that continuous dialogue and interaction must replace any "hard approach" to ending regional challenges.

Shamkhani added that the Caucasus region is going through a sensitive period, and expressed hope that Armenia and Azerbaijan will be able to overcome the existing tensions through self-restraint and prudence.

He mentioned development of cooperation and interaction with neighbors as an unchanging principle of Iran's foreign policy and a priority for the incumbent Iranian administration.

"[Maintaining] good-neighborly relations and making a joint endeavor for the settlement of the regional challenges through peaceful means are among the Islamic Republic's most important pieces of advice to all [regional] parties," Shamkhani added.

Armen Grigoryan said Iran played an "important role" in the development of relations among South Caucasus countries and also in protecting the regional security.

Grigoryan lauded Iran's "very effective" role in the realization of regional peace and stability, emphasizing that dialogue and interaction among countries constitute the only way of resolving the existing regional crises and preventing further tension and conflicts, according to Press TV.

According to Iran Front Page, Grigoryan congratulated Tehran on its recent normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.

Grigoryans office said in a readout that during the meeting with Shamkhani they discussed the regional security situation and bilateral relations.
Suzanne Cordeiro/Getty Images

When you have a chance to see Taylor Swift perform live, you don't just "Shake It Off." At least, that's the explanation one Texas mom offered her daughter's first-grade teacher. Karen Vladeckan Austin-based legal recruiter and, more importantly, a major Swiftiewas excited to take her daughter to Swift's Eras Tour show in Houston and wanted give the school a heads-up about the upcoming absence on April 24.

Although Vladeck intended to keep the message simple and straightforward, she told Francesca Gariano from Today.com, inspiration struck. In an email with the subject line that said, "It's Me, Hi, I'm the Problem, It's Me," she crafted a clever message laden with some of Swift's most popular lyrics.
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BOHOYAVLENKA, Ukraine (AP)  In a small village in eastern Ukraine the sounds of war echo in the distance while 10-year old Khrystyna Ksenofontova plays. She pets the neighborhood cats, paints and, like everyone else here, hopes the fighting will end soon.

The small village of Bohoyavlenka, in Donetsk province, lies 20 kilometers (13 miles) from the active front line. Khrystynas days are spent scrounging the bits of childhood she still can. Her family refuses to evacuate and lives under a cloud of constant shelling. She wears headphones to block out the booms of the explosions.

(I feel) fear, trembling, she says. The explosions resound at night most of the time, she says, brushing aside her sandy blond hair. But sometimes they come in the morning, too.

Her mother, Yulia, and grandmother chose not to leave the village, which had a pre-war population of 1,400, after her father died from a brain injury suffered in an attack that destroyed one of their homes. They prefer to bear the brunt of the war in their hometown rather than be displaced and penniless, Yulia says.

Its a common story along the dozens of towns and villages that span the 1,000-kilometer (more than 600-mile) front line in eastern Ukraine. Despite the severity of the fighting, many families have refused to leave their homes, rejecting evacuation attempts and choosing to risk their lives under bombardment. Aid groups concentrate on delivering food and supplying heating to these areas, where supplies are difficult to access.

The majority of those who stay are the elderly, many of whom rarely ventured outside their homes before the war. It is increasingly rare to find families with young children choosing to live so close to combat lines.

But Khrystyna still finds moments of delight amid the devastation.

In the basement, a litter of kittens was recently born. Picking up two, she smiles as their newborn eyes struggle to adjust to the light. She dreams of being a veterinarian.

All her friends have gone. The child finds ways to occupy her time by studying  when the power is on she studies online  and taking care of the cats.

Her grandmother  the mother of Khrystyna's dead father  weeps, praying for normalcy to return to their lives.

Yulia strategizes ways to gather food to last the week. Sometimes the family travels to a nearby town where the supermarkets are still open. The shops, hospitals and schools in their village closed several months ago.

Like many residents in the area, her husband was a coal miner. Before the war he worked in the nearby hilltop town of Vuhledar, which has been the site of fierce fighting for months with Ukrainian forces still holding the town.

Yulia fears a much anticipated Russian counteroffensive expected in the spring will finally push them to leave. But where? She doesnt know. She wishes she could see her mother in Russian-occupied Crimea, but that is impossible now.

Everyone is worried about it (the potential counteroffensive), she said. Who knows, anything could happen.

While she speaks, a distant boom thunders. She brushes it off. It's normal.
Students from UNC Asheville and Cherokee language instructor, enrolled member of the EBCI and fluent speaker Gilliam Jackson, gave a presentation on their experience in the classroom.
Photo Above: (Seated from Left to Right): Patrick Marshall, Prototype Model Maker Apprentice; Bryan Hafley, Industrial Maintenance Repairer Apprentice; Courtney Walters, Industrial Maintenance Repairer Apprentice; Tre Cannon, Industrial Maintenance Repairer Apprentice; Dakota Webb, Industrial Maintenance Repairer Apprentice; Canaan Bennett, Industrial Maintenance Repairer Apprentice (Standing from Left to Right): Laila Malta, Whirlpool Senior HR Manager; Jeff Jones, Whirlpool Senior Director of Operations/Production; Mike Mahoney, Whirlpool SR Manager Engineering; Steve Playl, Assistant Commissioner TN Labor & Workforce Development; John Squires, Cleveland State Community College Vice President of Workforce Development, Institutional Research, Advancement, and Communications; Kevin Brooks, Mayor of City of Cleveland; Michele Holt, Executive Director Southeast TN Local Workforce Development Board; Jennifer Thacker, Lead East Regional Apprenticeship Director; Jessica Barnett, East Regional Apprenticeship Director; Holly Free-Ollard, State of TN Apprenticeship Director; Gary Davis, Mayor of Bradley County; Tim Kober, Whirlpool Engineering Manager for Maintenance & Tooling; Darlene Ownbey, Whirlpool Senior Analyst Training/People Development; Mike Griffin, Director of Cleveland Chamber & CSCC Foundation Chair; Wesley Glover, Whirlpool Model Shop Supervisor; and Heather Brown, Cleveland State Director of Workforce Development.
How safe is the abortion pill compared with other common drugs
A patient prepares to take mifepristone, the first pill given in a medical abortion, at Women's Reproductive Clinic of New Mexico in Santa Teresa on January 13.
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. Benjamin Ferencz, the last surviving prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials in Germany that brought Nazi war criminals to justice after WWII, a human rights activist and Honorary Co-Chair of the Selection Committee of the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity has died at the age of 103.

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative released a statement on the passing of Ferencz on April 10.

Aurora mourns the death of Benjamin Ferencz, world famous peace and human rights activist who joined the Selection Committee of the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity as its Honorary Co-Chair in 2019. The well-known Romanian-born American lawyer, who was promoting the establishment of an international rule of law for many years, was a global ambassador of the Aurora Prize. He will be dearly missed by Auroras community.

Benjamin Ferencz was the last of the investigators who had worked to hold the Nazis accountable for the crimes committed during World War II and acted as Chief Prosecutor for the US Army at the Einsatzgruppen Trial held in Nuremberg, Germany. He dedicated his life to fighting for human rights and global peace, making it his mission to promote the establishment of an international rule of law.

During his career he has defended human decency and our common humanity against persecution and genocide, and his persistent efforts to secure justice for the victims of crimes against humanity will always be remembered. He made our world a better place, and his absence will be felt across the globe, but his legacy remains alive.

Aurora offers our heartfelt condolences to Benjamin Ferenczs family, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative said.
Community, Charity & Cause

By Chris Boyle Published: April 10 2023

Anthony Vecchio has contributed significantly to the success of the Sachem North High School wrestling team.

Front row (L to R): Kimberly Vecchio (mother), Anthony Vecchio, Tony Vecchio (father), Deputy Supervisor Dan Panico; Town Clerk Kevin LaValle and Councilman Michael Loguercio. Back row (L to R): Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich; Councilwoman Jane Bonner; Supervisor Ed Romaine and Councilman Neil Foley. Photo Credit: Town of Brookhaven

At a recent Town Board meeting, Deputy Supervisor Dan Panico honored Sachem East High School wrestler, Anthony Vecchio for his achievements in the sport.

Anthony has contributed significantly to the success of the Sachem North High School wrestling team, earning 48 wins in just two years, with 38 coming by pin, and leading the team in pins with 22 for the 2022-2023 season.

The Deputy Supervisor spoke highly of Anthony, saying that his outstanding achievements make him a true asset to Sachem North High School. He also commended Anthony for his hard work and wished him continued success.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: April 10 2023

Carlos Portillo ordered the murder of 19-year-old Julio Cesar Espantzay-Gonzales in the Massapequa Preserve.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a high-ranking MS-13 member was sentenced today to 25 years to life in prison for his role in the January 2017 murder of a teenager in the Massapequa Preserve because he was a perceived enemy of the gang.

Carlos Portillo, a/k/a Solitario and Pikachu, 28, was convicted on January 26, 2023, after a jury trial of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony). He was sentenced today before Judge Helene Gugerty to 25 years to life in prison. The trial lasted approximately one week and the jury deliberated for approximately three hours.

Carlos Portillo, as a high-ranking member of the Indios Locos Salvatrucha clique of MS-13, orchestrated the execution of 19-year-old Julio Cesar Espantzay-Gonzales, providing weapons to murder him and sealing his fate, said DA Donnelly. The young man was brutally killed because he wore the wrong color around gang members. My prosecutors, working alongside the Nassau County Police Department and New York City Police Department, were able to hold this defendant accountable for his crimes and we will continue to use our combined resources to rid Nassau County of this dangerous gang.

Co-defendants Kevin Granados-Coreas, Antonio Cullal and Raul Ponce have previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the murder of Espantzay-Gonzales. Coreas, A/K/A Lonely, was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison, Cullal, A/K/A Duke, was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison, and Ponce, A/K/A Shadow, was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison.

The cases against co-defendants Roberto Abrego Reyes, Gerson Stanley Juarez, and Laura Campos are pending.

DA Donnelly said that, according to the indictment, in January 2017, seven gang members allegedly planned the murder of 19-year-old Julio Cesar Espantzay-Gonzales, a perceived enemy of MS-13.

The victim allegedly wore the wrong color when invited to a known gang location prior to his murder.

According to the indictment, Granados-Coreas allegedly told Abrego-Reyes, Portillo and Cullal that Espantzay-Gonzales was an enemy of the gang. Abrego-Reyes, as the alleged leader of the Indios Locos Salvatrucha (ILS) clique of MS-13, gave the order to Portillo  the second-in-command of the clique  that Espantzay-Gonzales must be killed.

Portillo organized the gang members, instructed them on how and where to kill Espantzay-Gonzales, and provided them with a car, a gun and a machete.

Espantzay-Gonzales was lured to the Massapequa Preserve on January 28, 2017, with promises of sex and marijuana. To lure him to the preserve, one of the gang members allegedly pretended to befriend him.

Once inside the preserve, Granados-Coreas, Cullal, Ponce, and Juarez allegedly hacked Espantzay-Gonzales to death with a machete. The 19-year-old was also shot in the face. The victims body was left under tree branches, leaves, and other brush.

Campos allegedly drove the defendants to and from the murder scene.

Espantzay-Gonzaless body was discovered on March 23, 2017, by a man walking his dog in the preserve.

Portillo was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Departments Homicide Squad in July 2017.

Deputy Bureau Chief Katie Zizza of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau and Deputy Bureau Chief Daryl Levy of the Homicide Bureau are prosecuting this case. The defendant is represented by Joseph LoPiccolo, Esq.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: April 10 2023

We must save our suburbs from this ill-conceived plan, said Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino.

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino joined with his partners in Nassau County government, Supervisor Jen DeSena of North Hempstead and Supervisor Don Clavin of Hempstead, as well as Oyster Bay Town Clerk Rich LaMarca and Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato, to demand that State lawmakers eliminate the State Housing Plan to flood suburbs and single-family home neighbors with thousands of new apartments. This latest proposal by Governor Hochul  seemingly a repeat of last years plan to turn suburban neighborhoods into overcrowded urban centers  would result in high density housing flooding every community, as well as spot zoning in which large scale apartment buildings could pop up next to single-family homes.

We must save our suburbs from this ill-conceived plan as it would overcrowd classrooms, greatly increase traffic and cars parked on our streets, strain emergency services and threaten the environment. We join together to protect our most precious resource  our water supply, which is under attack by this latest plan of overdevelopment, said Supervisor Saladino. When it comes to the environment, the largest plume in any sole-source aquifer in the United States sits under our land in the Town of Oyster Bay. Over a billion dollars are already needed to clean up the plume, and even more is needed for our water districts to keep ensuring that our drinking water is safe at the tap. Over a billion dollars are also needed to upgrade our sewage and septic systems which are already near capacity, with many seeping into the ground. Our only landfill in Brookhaven is on the verge of permanent closure, and a garbage crisis looms for the current population as waste will need to be trucked off Long Island and no solution exists. For these reasons and a host of others, we demand that State lawmakers eliminate the Governors Housing Mandate.

The three Town Supervisors joined local district officials to voice their concerns of how the Governors urbanization plan would negatively impact the environment, traffic, parking, emergency services, police protection, local utilities and schools. They also asked the public to join them in contacting state officials to demand that this proposal not move forward.

To help have their voices heard against this proposal, residents can visit www.oysterbaytown.com/sos and sign the petition telling state representatives their opposition to the plan.
Community, Charity & Cause

By Chris Boyle Published: April 10 2023

HFLIs scheduled flight on Saturday, April 29, 2023, will take 47 United States Veterans to visit their military memorials, meet with service branch representatives, commiserate with fellow Veterans and exchange stories.

Honor Flight Long Island (HFLI), the iconic volunteer-run Veterans organization, is proud to announce resumption of regularly scheduled bi-annual flights to Washington, D.C., after two years of pandemic related restrictions. HFLIs scheduled flight on Saturday, April 29, 2023, will take 47 United States Veterans to visit their military memorials, meet with service branch representatives, commiserate with fellow Veterans and exchange stories. Honor Flights mission is to honor fellow Long Islanders who served in the United States Armed Forces to preserve our freedoms, by providing free, one-day trips so Veterans can visit D.C.

According to Bill Jones, HFLI President, West Point 1972 Graduate and U.S. Army Veteran, This special flight includes 38 Vietnam War Veterans who will receive long overdue recognition and thanks for their service, Jones said. Theyll be accompanied on this flight by two World War II Veterans and seven Korean War Veterans. What this flight really represents is a Big Hug to all our Veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters, who make such flights possible, Jones added. (Editors: See attached Excel file on Veteran backgrounds and contact Bill Jones for additional quotations at (631) 276-8825 or ddbeach5@gmail.com.)

Thanks to HFLI, these 47 Veterans will take a free, early-morning Southwest flight to Washington, D.C. Departing from Islip MacArthur Airport at 6:05 a.m., Veterans and their Guardians will visit World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery for a Changing of the Guard, the Air Force Memorial and Iwo Jima Memorial. They return to Islip later that evening at 10:25 p.m. for a rousing welcome by the Nassau County Fire Fighters Pipe and Drum Band, plus thunderous applause from hundreds of family and supporters!

HFLI is accepting applications from Veterans of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. Long Island Veterans are encouraged to sign up by going to the website, www.honorflightlongisland.org. Its important to submit an application, as that will insure placement on our list. Veterans fly for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island. They are accompanied by Guardians, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400 (tax deductible) to offset their travel costs. If there is no family member to act as a Guardian, Honor Flight has volunteers ready to step up for the privilege of escorting our heroes to their memorials. Questions can be answered by calling Jamie Bowden at (631) 702-2423 or by emailing Jamie at JBowden@southamptontownny.gov .

About Honor Flight Network

The Honor Flight Network was formed in 2005 with a mission of honoring our nations World War II Veterans by flying them to visit the Washington, D.C. WWII Memorial dedicated in 2004. The Honor Flight Network is currently comprised of over 130 hubs throughout the country dedicated to carrying out the Honor Flight mission. In addition to WWII Veterans, the organization now transports those who served in the Korean War, Vietnam War, later conflicts and in special cases of terminal illness or injury, Veterans from more recent service eras. Since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has taken more than 250,000 Veterans to Washington, D.C. For more information, visit honorflight.org
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: April 10 2023

Arts Education Leader, Fundraiser and Program Developer Erika S. Floreska Chosen.

Long Island Childrens Museum announced that Erika S. Floreska has been named President of the accredited museum following a rigorous national search. Floreska, succeeds President Suzanne LeBlanc, who is retiring after 17 years in the role. Floreska will step into her new position effective June 3.

LICM Board Chair Scott Burman announced the selection, noting Erika Floreska stood out from an impressive list of candidates during our national search. She has the vision, enthusiasm and commitment to build on the Museums 30-year history and identify new opportunities to support the children, schools and communities Long Island Childrens Museum serves.

Moving Forward

I am excited and energized to take on this leadership role at LICM, said Floreska. I look forward to building on the Museums long-standing commitment to serving all of Long Islands diverse communities, and ensuring the Museum continues to be an inclusive and welcoming, educational and playful environment for all who want to visit. LICM is a gathering space for people across the region to explore, play, wonder, and create, she said. No doubt during these turbulent times, we all need more of that, especially our children. I believe the Museum is poised to serve our community in deeper and broader ways; building on the strong foundation we have, and Im thrilled to have this opportunity to lead LICM into the future.

Commitment is Personal

Floreskas connection with the Childrens Museum began 18 years ago when her family became Museum members, shortly after moving to Baldwin. She sought out places in her new community that were welcoming environments for her family.

We found a home at LICM; a place where we could always come and see smiling and supportive faces. It was a place that we were excited to share with friends and family from out of town, she said. For many years, she attended LICM, hosted birthday parties for her kids, and attended special events creating special memories that last to today. Three years ago, she chose to join the leadership staff at the Museum. It was a conscious career decision, she explains. I wanted to give back to the community where my husband and I raised our children.

Career highlights

Throughout her 30-year career Erika Floreska has contributed to moving the mission forward at some of New Yorks most vibrant cultural institutions including Bloomingdale School of Music, Tectonic Theater Project and Jazz at Lincoln Center before joining Long Island Childrens Museum as Director of Development in 2020.

While the first day on a new job is always memorable, Floreskas was truly unforgettable, coinciding with the Childrens Museums forced COVID-19 closure.

She instantly won the respect of board and staff members as she assumed a strategic role in producing the museums first virtual benefit, surpassing the goal by more than 10% raising $660,000. During her three-year tenure at LICM, she has co-created and led a strategic effort to deepen long-standing relationships with foundations and corporations and establish new sponsorship opportunities. Shes worked to develop new and expanded individual giving opportunities, all resulting in over a 20% increase in contributed income, helping return the Museum to financial health through the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Executive Director of the Bloomingdale School of Music, she led a strategic turnaround of a 55-year-old community institution to ensure the mission of access to high-quality music instruction for all. She established a relationship-based individual giving program securing its first major planned gift for more than $3M.

As Executive Director of Tectonic Theater Project, she produced critically recognized productions that amplify the voices of underrepresented communities, including The Laramie Project Cycle at Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Tallest Tree in the Forest at KC Rep, LaJolla Playhouse, Arena Stage, DC, and Taper Forum in LA, as well as Square Peg Round Hole about life on the autism spectrum. She also hired their first full-time Education Director expanding education workshops and secured a publishing deal for a book outlining the Tectonic method for developing plays, Moment Work.

During her 14 years as Director of Education at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Floreska worked closely with Artistic Director, Wynton Marsalis, and was responsible for the direction of education programs that had local, national, and international reach. These included Essentially Ellington, the countrys leading high-school jazz band program, the Middle School Jazz Academy, an innovative approach to teaching instrumental jazz, WeBop, a highly successful program for toddlers and caregivers designed with experts at Teachers College  Columbia, and Jazz for Young People  a concert series hosted by Wynton Marsalis.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, she traces her commitment to arts and education service to growing up in a family filled with musicians and educators. She is a passionate advocate for music education and a professional musician, holding two degrees in Flute Performance from the College of Wooster, and the University of Michigan. Additionally, she is a Certified Fund Raising Executive. Erika lives in Baldwin, NY with her husband, and her musical children, a college sophomore and freshman.

About the Long Island Childrens Museum ( www.licm.org

The mission of Long Island Childrens Museum is to connect all our communities children, and those who care for them, to a life of wonder, imagination and exploration. At LICM, children discover their passions and their relationship to the world we share. The 40,000-square-foot museum welcomes nearly 275,000 children and adults annually. The private, not-for-profit institution chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, offers museum-based educational programs and cultural experiences, as well as an extensive community outreach program offered in schools, libraries and youth centers across Long Island. Additionally, the Childrens Museum operates the historic Nunleys Carousel in association with Nassau County, one of three intact Stein & Goldstein carousels still in existence.
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. The new Ambassador of India to Armenia Nilakshi Saha Sinha has presented her credentials to President Vahagn Khachaturyan.

President Khachaturyan congratulated the ambassador on assuming office and wished her all the best, the presidents office said in a readout.

Relations with India are very important to Armenia. Its no coincidence that shortly after independence Armenia and India established diplomatic relations. During these years, our relations developed dynamically in all areas, political, economic and cultural. I am sure that through joint work we will achieve new success, because there is great willingness from both sides. This is noticeable in the intensity of our relations especially in the last six months, the Armenian president said.

Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha thanked for the warm reception and conveyed President of India Droupadi Murmus warm greetings. As you mentioned, we have rather active partnership in a number of directions, political, economic and cultural, and as you emphasized, a deepening of these relations is noticed in the recent period. I can assure you that I will do my best during my tenure in order for the relations to further deepen and encompass a greater circle, the Indian ambassador said.

During the meeting issues relating to the sectors of the Armenian-Indian cooperation were discussed. The need for continuously fulfilling the great potential for partnership between Armenia and India in trade, political, educational and cultural areas was underscored. In this context, the importance of launching direct flights between Armenia and India, development of parliamentary diplomacy and high-level mutual visits were emphasized.

President Khachaturyan discussed regional realities and presented details on the humanitarian crisis resulting from the blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.

Both sides attached importance to strengthening the existing cooperation in international platforms and joint work around agenda items.
The euphoria after the announcement that Spain would finally accept UK driving licences has fallen on deaf ears because the deal is not valid in Crown Dependencies such as the Channel Islands.

"Jersey licences are not legal in Spain and we cannot exchange them for a Spanish one without taking theory and practical tests, said Kerr Cameron, who lives in Murcia and recently wrote to the Jersey Evening Post to raise the issue.

Tristen Dodd, the governments head of transport, told the newspaper: Although Jersey accepts licences from many EU and EEA jurisdictions, this is not always reciprocated. It is appreciated that this is a frustrating situation, but work is continuing, with the support of the UK government and colleagues in our External Relations team, to include Jersey and the other Crown Dependencies in the agreement.

Spain and Britain signed a landmark deal earlier this year after months of negotiations under which British licences could be exchanged for Spanish ones.
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. The new Ambassador of India to Armenia Nilakshi Saha Sinha presented the copy of her credentials to Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on April 10.

FM Mirzoyan congratulated the newly appointed Ambassador on assuming office and wished her good luck in fulfilling her important mission, the foreign ministry said in a readout.

FM Mirzoyan and Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha discussed the prospects of development of the multi-layered relations between Armenia and India and exchanged views on the ways for realizing the ambitious bilateral agenda.

Both sides were pleased to note the growing dynamics in the political dialogue between Armenia and India, to which the bilateral high-ranking visits and the active and productive partnership in international platforms contributed to.

The Armenian Foreign Minister and the Indian Ambassador expressed readiness to take joint steps in the direction of maximally utilizing the potential in various areas between Armenia and India, including in trade-economic and business ties, as well as scientific-educational sectors. In this context they noted that the centuries-old friendly relations between the two peoples are also conducive for the further development of the interstate partnership.

Regional and international security issues were also discussed. FM Mirzoyan presented to the Indian Ambassador the Armenian sides vision of the Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and appreciated Indias stance.

Speaking about the humanitarian challenges in Nagorno Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, FM Mirzoyan emphasized the imperative of the implementation of the February 22 ruling by the International Court of Justice, eliminating the blockade without preconditions and preventing Bakus actions aimed at subjecting the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh to ethnic cleansing. In this context the importance of practical steps by stakeholder partners and international organizations in regional stability was highlighted.

The United Nations highest court  the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to take all steps at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The Lachin Corridor has been blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022.
International Womens Day has been celebrated for the past 115 years. Ever since the first women marched in New York City to express their desire for equality in the workplace, it has been an important day to celebrate womankinds achievements and raise awareness for gender parity. Many companies, including snacks manufacturer Mondelez Philippines, celebrate International Womens Day during the month of March to recognize women leaders within the organization who inspire and empower others to achieve their full potential.

Mondelez Philippines works hard to ensure that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or collectively called DEI, are observed and enacted within its ranks. Guided by its Purpose, Mission, and Values, the Company strives to champion DEI not only for its colleagues and culture, but also for the communities where they are present. It is DEI which lies at the center of its celebration of International Womens Day, together with the Companys belief that it is diversity which strengthens it, and drives its innovation and growth.

Mondelez Philippines IWD 2023

Ahead of the Curve

In Mondelez Philippines, 59 percent of its leaders are women, which is above the local standards. The representation of women in leadership positions is one of the indicators that the Company measures itself against to ensure DEI is not only a byword, but a reality.

We are the makers of Oreo and Cadbury, brands which have power to give joy, uplift, and inspire acts of generosity. With such iconic brands under our watch, we feel a responsibility to take a stand in issues that matter, and one of these is DEI, says Aleli Arcilla, vice president and managing director of Mondelez Philippines. Aleli herself has marked a milestone for the Company as the first woman and Filipino leader of the operations in the Philippines in almost 15 years. DEI is her personal story and mission, one which she harnesses to create a culture of belonging and advancement for everyone in the Company, regardless of gender.

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Aleli Arcilla Mondelez International

DEI felt in Mondelez

Im proud to be a woman working in Mondelez Philippines because even as I was starting out in the Company, I always had strong and capable female leaders to look up to, with most of the commercial leadership roles filled by women. Ive also witnessed firsthand how the Company has nurtured and developed very capable, driven and kind-hearted women talents who are now holding key leadership positions in the organization, says Kristine Enriquez, senior marketing manager for the biscuits category of Mondelez Philippines. Her experience is not only related to the culture in the Philippines however, as DEI is a priority everywhere the Company is present.

Shine Rodriguez is the talent acquisition kead for Southeast Asia of Mondelez International. Based in the Philippines but supporting six different countries in the region, she can attest to the importance that the Company gives to DEI. We walk the talk when it comes to Diversity and Women Empowerment, she adds. Celebrating women in the Company does not only happen during March. Neither is it just written in pretty posters. We live and breathe it every single day. Felt in our ways of working, celebrated in our culture and measured in our KPIs.

Shine Rodriguez

The initiatives and avenues available for women to be heard and seen are not always grand events, but rather everyday opportunities. The company does a good job fostering a nurturing and joyful culture, and psychological safety, says Bianca Baluyut-Lazo, a manager in the companys sales function. I am offered multiple forums to speak my mind, via 1:1s, coffee chats, and daily meetings. If you have an idea, share it  it can be imperfect or just a work-in-progress. We are allowed to be courageous and to provide a balanced perspective.

Manufacturing companies like Mondelez Philippines are typically male-dominated workplaces due the nature of their business. This does not mean that DEI takes a back seat though. In fact, as shared by Kathy Camon, a manager within the Manufacturing department, being a woman is never a hindrance but rather an asset. She relates, Mondelez Philippines value of treating everyone with care and integrity regardless of your race, gender, or age helps me to navigate a male-dominated function. My voice is always heard and taken into consideration especially in critical decisions, in order for us to produce our well-loved cheese and cheese spread products like Eden and Cheez Whiz.

bianca baluyut lazo

Michelle Santillan, marketing head of the company says: We choose to believe that we are stronger through our diverse, inclusive and connected community. In Mondelez Philippines, women are given the same opportunities for advancement as everyone else in the Company and this allows women to break boundaries and fulfill their potential.

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Instability in the Taiwan Strait caused by Chinese military drills will have a great impact on Philippine security, an expert on security said Monday.

We are hosting American military facilities and if the US decides to use these military facilities to act in any military contingencies in Taiwan, then surely the Philippines will be a target of possible Chinas military action also, said Rommel Banlaoi, president of the Philippine Society for Intelligence and Security Studies, on ANCs Headstart TV program.

Banlaoi said the Philippines must pay serious attention to the developments in Taiwan Strait, focusing on the need to avoid military conflict and promote the peaceful management of ongoing tensions there.

China launched the military drills on Saturday, in what it called a stern warning to the self-ruled islands government, after Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen met with the US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

As this developed, Senator Christopher Go urged the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to put preemptive measures in place for the welfare of Filipino workers in Taiwan.

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We must always be proactive and think ahead when it comes to the welfare of our fellow Filipinos abroad, Go said.

In light of recent events, we must take steps to ensure their safety and well-being, including preemptive measures like alternative livelihoods and repatriation plans, he added.

There are nearly 150,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan, according to the DMW.

On Sunday, the Department of National Defense insisted that the proposed four military sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States will not threaten the countrys sovereignty  despite potentially drawing the country into a conflict with China over Taiwan, a US ally.

In a statement, the DND reiterated that the agreed locations for the new EDCA sites were by invitation of the Philippines and are by no means unhampered or unimpeded.

But the Defense department remained silent over Chinas military drills around Taiwan, even as opposition lawmakers voiced concern over two of the EDCA sites being placed in Luzon near Taiwan, just 400 kilometers away to the north.

Defense analysts said the US would use the sites to deter Chinas advance into Taiwan.

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PINGTAN, ChinaChina simulated sealing off Taiwan during a third day of wargames around the self-ruled island on Monday, as the United States deployed a naval destroyer into Beijing-claimed waters in a show of force.

China launched the exercises in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke a furious response.

After two days of exercises that included simulating targeted strikes on Taiwan and encirclement of the island, the Chinese military said the wargames also included sealing it off, and a state media report said dozens of planes had practiced an aerial blockade.

CHINESE CARRIER. This handout photo taken on April 9 and released by Japans Ministry of Defense on April 10 shows a fighter plane taking off from the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong in the Pacific Ocean south of Okinawa prefecture, on the third day of Chinas military drills around Taiwan. AFP

One of Chinas two aircraft carriers  the Shandong  also participated in todays exercise, the military added.

The United States, which had repeatedly called for China to show restraint, on Monday sent the USS Milius guided-missile destroyer through contested parts of the South China Sea.

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This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea, the US Navy said in a statement.

It added that the vessel had passed near the Spratly Islands  an archipelago claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. It is about 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from Taiwan.

The deployment of the Milius immediately triggered more anger from China, which said the vessel had illegally intruded into its territorial waters.

And Beijing warned Monday that Taiwan independence and cross-strait peace were mutually exclusive, blaming Taipei and unnamed foreign forces supporting it for the tensions.

If we want to protect peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, we must firmly oppose any form of Taiwan independence separatism, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin warned.

Meanwhile, Japan said on Monday it had scrambled jets in recent days as Chinese planes landed and took off from the Shandong.

No war

On Beigan island, part of Taiwans Matsu archipelago that is within sight of Chinas mainland, 60-year-old chef Lin Ke-qiang told AFP he simply did not want war.

We, common people, just want to live peaceful and stable lives, Lin said, adding that Taiwans military was no match for Chinas.

If any war happens, now that their missiles are so advanced, theres no way our side could resist. This side will be levelled to the ground.

China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949. China views democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day.

The United States has been deliberately ambiguous on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily.

But for decades it has sold weapons to Taipei to help ensure its self-defense and offered political support.

Tsai met McCarthy outside Los Angeles on her way home from a visit to two allied countries in Central America.

In August last year, China deployed warships, missiles, and fighter jets around Taiwan in its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island by McCarthys predecessor, Nancy Pelosi.

Tsai meeting with McCarthy in the United States rather than in Taiwan, was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for the island but avoid inflaming tensions with Beijing.

But China had repeatedly warned against any meeting and began the latest wargames soon after Tsai returned to Taiwan.

These operations serve as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence and external forces and against their provocative activities, Shi Yin, a PLA spokesman, said about Joint Sword.

Tsai responded to the drills by pledging to work with the US and other like-minded countries in the face of continued authoritarian expansionism.

Live-fire exercises

The exercises on Monday were set to include live-fire drills off the rocky coast of Chinas Fujian province, about 80 kilometres south of the Matsu islands and 190 kilometres from Taipei.

The local maritime authority said the exercises would be held between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm around Pingtan, a southeastern island that is Chinas nearest point to Taiwan.

AFP journalists on Pingtan did not see any immediate military activity in an offshore area on Monday.

A video published Monday to the Chinese Eastern Theatre Commands official WeChat account showed a pilot saying he had arrived near the northern part of Taiwan Island, with missiles locked into place.

In another video with dramatic orchestral accompaniment, an officers piercing whistle sends military personnel running into position as a simulated barrage on Taiwan unfolds on screen.

Japan said Monday it had scrambled jets in recent days as Chinese fighter planes landed and took off from an aircraft carrier deployed near southern Japan and Taiwan.

In a statement, Japans joint staff said it had observed the Shandong and several other Chinese naval vessels in the area south of Miyako island since Friday.

It listed the Kuznetsov-class Shandong, along with a Luyang III-class missile destroyer, a Jiangkai II-class frigate and a Fuyu-class fast combat support ship.

The vessels were spotted between 230 and 430 kilometres (140 and 270 miles) south of Miyako Island, in the far south of Japan, the statement said.

We confirmed approximately 120 landings and departures on the Chinese navys Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Shandong, 80 times by fighter aircraft and 40 times by helicopters, the statement said.

Japanese forces mobilised two escort groups to surveil the Chinese vessels and Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets scrambled in response to the landing and take-off of the fighter jets on board the Shandong, the statement added.

Tokyo first confirmed the three vessels were moving in areas near southern Japans Okinawa region last Thursday.

The defense ministry said it was the first time it had confirmed the Shandongs operation in the Pacific Ocean through first-hand surveillance.

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As voters head to the polls Sunday for the fifth time in two years, the optimism felt by many of the demonstrators has proved short-lived

By Diana Simeonova

Bulgarians took to the streets in 2020 in the biggest protests since the end of communism, aiming to push out longtime premier Boyko Borisov who was mired in corruption claims.

Hoping it would be a first step to cleaning up public life, the protesters unleashed a spiral of elections.

As voters head to the polls Sunday for the fifth time in two years, the optimism felt by many of the demonstrators has proved short-lived.

The pessimists

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Despite his frustration with the system, construction engineer Konstantin Varbenov, 57, said he would absolutely vote again.

Even so, he sees little chance of a stable government to end the string of interim cabinets appointed by pro-Russian President Rumen Radev, himself the target of recent protests.

We are disappointed mainly by the fact that the people dont know what they want They like to be beaten on the head, to be stolen from, said Varbenov, referring to the continued support for Borisovs conservative GERB party, which protesters accuse of graft.

I dont know what awaits us, he shrugged, lamenting the rise of pro-Russian ultra-nationalists in the Balkan nation with historically close ties to Moscow.

His two sons have already moved abroad, part of an exodus from the EU member by those seeking a better life. Bulgaria has lost 1.5 million people in two decades.

Social researcher Aleksandra Kirova, 41, is so disillusioned she is not even planning to vote anymore.

The political market offers products that dont taste good to me, she said wryly. I cant think of any party that has a vision of what Bulgaria should look like in five, 10 or 20 years.

The optimists

Puppet theater director Mila Kolarova, 42, and her partner Vladimir Vasilev, 45, have not lost their spirit of resistance since AFP talked to them on the 100th day of the 2020 revolution, recently taking part in protests against Radev.

I am more of an optimist I think that we are moving in the right direction even if slowly and the hard way. Once woken up, people wont calm down easily, Kolarova said.

She has pinned her hopes on a new coalition of anti-corruption parties, We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria, to bring out voters against Borisovs GERB.

Vasilev said the couple would continue to push for change no matter the result.

Its like love, once you fall in love nobody can convince you that this is not going to work, he said.

Despite their tiredness, we will fight as long as we have to, Kolarova added.

Niya Gicheva, a 45-year-old lawyer, attended all 116 days of the protests, which she called an awakening.

But she said it had been awfully hard to remain optimistic since.

Unfortunately, the unity of the protests did not transfer into political life the participants divided, she said.

Real change has begun and it will happen, but too slowly and painfully Its a process, she said.

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MANISTEE COUNTY  Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter No. 1 is known for its support of veterans causes in Manistee County and beyond.

The nonprofit motorcycle club is continuing that tradition by recently donating over $13,650 to support veterans organizations and programs.

We really like helping our veterans as part of our mission  it means the world to us, said John Stocki, Rolling Thunder vice president.

On April 3, Rolling Thunder continued its support of local veterans organizations including Disabled American Veterans Salt City Chapter No. 43, Veterans of Foreign Wars Walsh Post No. 4499, American Legion Post No. 10 and the Manistee County Veterans Endowment Fund.

The fund, which is operated by the Manistee County Community Foundation, will utilize the $2,000 donation to provide emergency financial support for local veterans.

We will use the monies to support the emergency unmet needs for veterans and their families, said Manistee County Community Foundation executive director, Laura Heintzelman. This fund is special in that it fills gaps when other sources of support are unable to help.

Heintzelman said that donations from Rolling Thunder were essential for the veterans endowment fund.

"We're grateful to be able to help in the ways that we can, but we could not do it without all of you," she told Rolling Thunder members on April 3.

Rolling Thunder treasurer Bob Zielesch said the group donates to over a dozen other veterans causes.

These include 22 to None, Michigan Veteran Homes D.J. Jacobetti, Paws for Vets, Disabled American Veterans Inland Lakes Chapter No. 39, Reining Liberty Ranch, Miss Sawyers Kids With a Cause care package program, Union Veterans Council, Veterans serving Veterans and the Cadillac, Kaleva and Lake City honor guards.

Rolling Thunder raises funds at events throughout the year, including its annual Thunder at the River motorcycle rally which is typically held each year in July.

Rolling Thunder is a nonprofit organization; all members volunteer their time. According to its Facebook profile, the chapter's major mission is to publicize prisoners of war, missing in action issues and to educate the general public.

"We are committed to helping American veterans from all wars," reads part of the chapter's description section.

Further information on the organization is available at the website rollingthundermichigan1.com.
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LANSING  Step out onto your front porch and count how many state flags you see flying in the wind.

For many Michigan residents, the answer is likely zero, even at homes that proudly display the U.S. flag or a flag affiliated with their favorite college sports team.

Thats a problem, according to state Rep. Phil Skaggs, D-East Grand Rapids  and one that he hopes can be addressed with a new design.

Michigan is a unique and special state, and we need to have a flag that itself is unique and special so that we can rally behind it, Skaggs said. A good flag with strong symbolism thats meaningful to people creates a common sense of purpose. Thats something that we need in Michigan right now.

The heart of the issue is that there is nothing that makes the current flag  which consists of the state coat of arms set against a plain blue background  stand out, Skaggs said.

The current flag harkens back to 150 years ago when most state flags were simply what are called SOB flags: seal-on-a-bedsheet, Skaggs said. The seal on our flag makes sense as a seal, when its on a piece of paper or a podium, but it doesnt make sense as a flag thats flying at a distance.

Michigans coat of arms dates back to 1835, according to the Michigan Department of State, and features a shield held by an elk and a moose. It includes the Latin phrases Tuebor, meaning I will defend, and Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice, meaning If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you. It also includes the national motto e pluribus unum which means out of many, one.

Skaggs intends to introduce a bill at the end of April to coincide with the current flags anniversary.

It would create a commission to create a design for the Legislature to vote on after taking public input and working with design experts.

There are five characteristics of a good flag, according to a 16-page guide: Good Flag, Bad Flag. The guide pulls from the expertise of 20 vexillologists (people who study flags) and vexillographers (people who design flags).

Those five elements are:

Simplicity, with the flag being simple enough for an elementary school child to draw it from memory;

Using only a few colors, preferably two or three that contrast with each other;

Including meaningful symbolism through images, colors and patterns;

Not using lettering or seals; and

Being distinctive enough to stand out from other state flags.

The flags of the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Togo and South Africa follow these rules, Skagg said.

People often dont feel a sense of connection to the flag or view it as something they identify with, as evidenced by the lack of residents embracing the current design, Skaggs said.

One of the ways that you can tell the flag lacks meaningfulness for Michigan citizens is that you rarely see it flown at a house, or on someones backpack, or their water bottle, he said. If you go to Chicago, you see that Chicago city flag everywhere, and it creates an incredible sense of civic pride. We just dont see that in Michigan with our current flag.

Skaggs said other states with ineffective flags are also beginning to change. Illinois, Massachusetts and Minnesota all have active or planned legislation to change the design of their state flags.

And Utah recently approved a new flag design, which Skaggs said changes it from a very basic seal-on-a-bedsheet flag to one that really has meaningful symbolism for that state.

It features a jagged white ribbon in the middle, representing snowy mountains, cutting into red rocks at the bottom and a blue sky at the top. In the center, there is a beehive (Utah is known as the beehive state) inside a hexagon, and it also includes a guiding star to represent Utahs tribal nations.
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. The delegation led by Lyon Mayor Gregory Doucet was hosted at Yerevan City Hall on April 10.

Acting Mayor of Yerevan Levon Hovhannisyan, Deputy Mayor Tigran Avinyan, Deputy Mayor Suren Grigoryan, Yerevan City Councils My Step faction leader Armen Galjyan, Prosperous Armenia faction leader Mikayel Manrikyan and Luys faction leader Davit Khajakyan participated in the enlarged-format meeting.

Acting Mayor Levon Hovhannisyan thanked Doucet for accepting the invitation to pay an official visit to Yerevan. Hovhannisyan said that Doucets visit will intensify the expansion of partnership between the two cities and implementation of joint programs.

The Armenian-French relations are on the highest level. We attach great importance to our collegial and friendly relations with Lyon, and I think we can already begin to work on the next three-year agreement and have concrete partnership in transport, traffic management and urban development areas, as well as in culture, tourism, education and other sectors, Hovhannisyan said.

Deputy Mayor Tigran Avinyan attached importance to the friendly ties between the two countries and cities and pointed out the implementation of two projects which will be of key importance in the prospect of partnership between Yerevan and Lyon.

The accumulation of the best experience is a wonderful opportunity for developing a competitive generation. The youth are our future and our future managers, thus I attach great importance to youth exchange programs. The Yerevan Project company and Lyon City Hall had developed the Kond Reconstruction Project. Today we have an opportunity to realize this project, by preserving the colour of the historic district and reconstructing it, Avinyan said.

Doucet thanked for the invitation and warm reception and said that Lyon attaches special importance to enhancing its relations with Yerevan and expressed confidence that his visit will enable to outline and define the sequence of steps for moving forward.

Healthy city, prosperous life and responsible economy  these are the important challenges that our cities must to overcome. I am sure that we will be able to realize these projects outlined in the circle of partnership between Yerevan and Lyon by uniting our efforts. This is my first visit to Yerevan, and I am happy to be involved in further strengthening and developing the ties between the two cities, the Mayor of Lyon said.

The sides also exchanged views on the development of the next three-year partnership program.
The comrades of the International Marxist Tendency are following with enormous interest and sympathy the Socialist Movement in the Basque Country, which promotes the emergence of a mass communist movement, and defends the international character of socialism. We publish here a brief article on the characteristics of this extraordinary occurrence, and its current development.

Read in Spanish and Basque |

Despite the apparent lack of protests due to the pandemic, a process of radicalisation has been underway in the Spanish State. In the Basque Country, mobilisations proceed with force, or have regained force especially this last year. On 29 January, massive demonstrations were held against the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie", convened by Gazte Koordinadora Sozialista (GKS, Young Socialist Organisation), which brought together more than 7,000 young communists in Bilbao and Pamplona.

The Mugimendu Sozialista (Socialist Movement, MS) in the Basque Country groups together several organisations that position themselves against the current democratic movement (meaning the official wing of the Basque left), which prioritises the well-being and improvement of the conditions of the upper-middle-class. In fact, one of these radical organisations, GKS, emerged at a moment when the Basque left began to consolidate itself as an institutional party, with influence in Spanish state politics. At this key juncture, and together with the impoverishment caused by the capitalist crisis, class consciousness and interest in socialism have been revived. It is precisely in this context that we have seen the rise of this politically independent working-class movement, which has an internationalist perspective, and a clear and common goal: the building of a socialist state.

This process of transformation is ultimately due to the capitalist crisis, accelerated by the pandemic in these past few years. Initially, the pandemic saw the restriction of the labour movement through punitive and social control measures. But in parallel to this, an underlying process was underway that has been radicalising the population. This is on the brink of expressing itself through social eruptions. Some symptoms of this are the 29 January protest by GKS, and this year's 8 March Women's Day protest. With the emergence of groups such as GKS, UIB, ITAIA and the Kontseilu Sozialistak (Socialist Councils), we have seen a process of mobilisation and agitation in different areas and sectors of Basque society, including amongst the youth, on university campuses, among women, in the workplaces, etc.

Despite the apparent lack of protests due to the pandemic, a process of radicalisation has been underway in the Spanish State. In the Basque Country, mobilisations have regained force especially this last year / Image: GKS

This is a response to the need to organise as a class and to confront increasingly serious attacks by the ruling class on the proletariat, as well as violations of basic rights. Over the past 12 months, we have seen great examples of the gathering fightback, with militants winning a physical office for student organisation at the Faculty of Psychology in San Sebastian last year, and at the Faculty of Education in Vitoria just a month ago. This demonstrates the importance of organising as a class, and the potential for real victories on this basis.

Another remarkable fact is the creation of platforms such as Itaia and Kontseilu, which spread in each region and unify respectively the struggle of working women, and workers as a whole. These platforms highlight, on the one hand, the orientation of the struggle for the emancipation of women along working-class lines, which represents a break with the prevailing trend of bourgeois feminism. On the other hand, they underline the increasingly militant class struggle methods in the labour movement. In the demonstration of last 3 March (the anniversary of the 1976 massacre of striking workers in Vitoria by the Franco regime), the Kontseilu of Vitoria organised together with GKS to form a socialist bloc, assembling large number of militants and sympathisers.

However, the most visible and massive mobilisation of the MS was 29 January, both in Bilbao and in Pamplona, under very bold slogans: Against the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie", and denouncing the economic and political offensive of the bourgeoisie. These slogans attracted more than 7,000 people, mostly young, who are suffering the consequences of the system.

They rightly describe the worsening of living conditions for the workers, which has exacerbated the unequal distribution of wealth to the benefit of the bourgeoisie. Additionally, they are reacting to the suppression of fundamental rights and political freedoms, hand in hand with an increase in social control through restrictions, police repression and the criminalisation of the youth. Moreover, no political party, including those on the left, has been able to respond to the needs of the population. Indeed, GKS calls these left parties out for having been accomplices in or promoters of measures that they have later hypocritically denounced.

Therefore, it is clear that the present struggle is not aimed at merely improving the system, but that GKS and the MS are fighting to overcome the capitalist system itself, which has proved incapable of resolving the burning issues affecting workers and youth. Indeed, it is the source of these issues. In this regard, GKS stresses the need to organise independently of bourgeois institutional politics and to direct the struggle of the working class towards the construction of the socialist state. The MS actively seeks and applies a socialist perspective to its agitation and activity.

The International Marxist Tendency shares this perspective. It is essential that the working class is organised with the aim of overthrowing the capitalist system that increasingly shows its inability to improve our living conditions. The alternative to the present system must be socialism, which puts the needs of the working class above capitalist profits. We must assemble on the principle of working-class unity to fight for the building of a socialist system. We must extend this struggle to other territories, taking as an example the effectiveness of the MSs struggle in the Basque Country. Let us confront the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie and fight for socialism!
For some, Mel King was a mentor. For others, he was an organizing partner fighting in the trenches. And for everyone else, King was a larger-than-life figure known throughout the community.

But in whatever capacity you knew Mel King, you were touched by his presence and by his legacy, said the Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Bostons chief of environment, energy, and open space, at a Monday afternoon wreath-laying ceremony outside of City Hall. ... His legacy touched us all. City Hall, this crowd would not look like it does if it were not for the legacy of Mel King. And so many of us stand here knowing that we stand on the shoulders of a giant.

King, a longtime civil rights activist in Boston who was the first Black man to reach a Boston general mayoral contest, died on March 28 at 94. At the City Hall ceremony, Mayor Michelle Wu declared Tuesday, April 11, a citywide day of remembrance and celebration for the life and legacy of King.

He served in the Legislature for nearly 10 years before he went on to compete against Ray Flynn in the 1983 Boston mayoral election. For many, the election was a test for the city, which had undergone years of strife following the court-ordered desegregation of the public schools in the mid-1970s.

But instead of reigniting the discord, the race had the opposite effect, being seen as respectful, even friendly at times.

It has been a difficult burden for those who knew and loved King over the last few days to not only sit in shock at the news that he has transitioned and ascended but to pull ourselves together and work to create some of these spaces for the whole community to be together, Wu said to a crowd of over 100 people.

Wu said she found herself at Kings brunch table many years ago  wanting to find some sense of camaraderie and belonging and community in a very difficult time in my own familys life.

And for a few precious hours, over those little fruit cups with all the diced-up fruit, I was able to be nourished alongside people from all walks of life in the community at that regular Sunday brunch at Mel Kings house, Wu said. And walking out of that space, I had a sense then that it was much more than nutrition and sustenance for the body, but a feeling that I was now plugged in and connected and wrapped up in this sense of love that only Mel King could create.

A public viewing and visitation is scheduled for King on Monday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Union United Methodist Church in Boston. A funeral is planned at the church starting at 12 p.m. Tuesday, which Boston city officials plan to livestream.

Great in life, King is sufficiently enlarged and remembered in his passing, said Segun Idowu, Bostons chief of economic opportunity and inclusion.

There was a poet who said that we marveled at home life places in our vehicles, and certainly we are grateful to Mr. Mel King for all that he contributed and all that he did for us and with us on lifes journey, Idowu said.

City Council President Ed Flynn said King was not only a giant for what he accomplished in life but the passion that he held for his community in the South End and Roxbury.

We know that he was instrumental in the creation of Tent City, a housing development that provides affordable housing to hundreds of residents in the South End and the Back Bay, Flynn said.

Materials from the Associated Press were used in this report.
Phillip Eng, the former head of the Long Island Rail Road, started as general manager of the MBTA Monday morning, taking over a troubled transit agency with a pledge to restore service, fix aging tracks and speed up trains.

The Healey administration announced Engs arrival last month, with Gov. Maura Healey admitting it was the most important appointment she has made yet. With public perception of the MBTA at a low, Engs every move will be scrutinized.

Standing outside of Park Street Station, Eng said riders who have lost faith in the MBTA need to stay tuned.

If we lose faith, then why even try, he said. The real thing is you have to believe. You have to have a vision. And we do. I know that people have too. The ones Ive been speaking to know we can turn it around. Im going to demonstrate that we can turn it around.

The MBTA leader started his job at the transit agency a year after Robinson Lalin was dragged to death at a Red Line station after his arm got caught while exiting a train door. His death was part of what sparked a federal safety inspection that has since led to a range of mandates the MBTA must comply with at the risk of losing federal funding.

A range of safety failures and chaotic events soon followed.

An Orange Line train caught fire while crossing the Mystic River in July 2022, prompting one passenger to jump off a bridge into the water. Two Green Line trains crashed in June 2022 after one driver did not stop at a red light.

Operators lost control of multiple trains, and in some cases, trains started moving without operators on board. Multiple trains derailed.

More recently, trains have slowed down on every line as a result of speed restrictions. An MBTA dashboard last updated Monday showed nearly a quarter of the entire system is under some sort of speed restriction, with the Blue Line fairing the worst.

Eng, who the Healey administration has pitched as a seasoned transit official with experience turning around distressed agencies, said officials are going to talk about issues at the MBTA openly.

Were going to talk about how were going to turn it around as well, he said. Because once they start to hear the plan, and we put that plan on paper, publicly share it, people will see that we have a strategy. And then youll start to see meaningful improvements.

The Federal Transit Administration has already forced the MTBA to respond on paper to eight broad areas of concern. They include staff training, safety communications, how information is managed, track maintenance and others.

Those orders came after a monthslong investigation and a highly critical 90-page report that found the MBTA put too much emphasis on investments into long-term projects rather than daily operations. That focus, the federal government said, fueled many of the safety problems at the agency.

The FTA also pointed to hiring troubles and a lack of employees to run full service. After the federal report was released, the MBTA reduced service across the system.

A Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation report released last week reached many of the same conclusions. Without an influx of new employees, the MBTA will not be able to elevate service levels, fix deteriorated infrastructure and focus on new major projects, the report found.

Analysts said the MBTA needs to hire 2,800 workers in the next 12 months to safely and reliably operate and maintain its core system. That number factors in about 1,000 expected departures during the remainder of the current fiscal year.

The transit agency plans to offer a $7,500 sign-on bonus as an incentive for people to apply for jobs, including bus operators, rail repairers, track laborers, streetcar operators, subway train operators, service technicians and fuelers.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Eng said he plans to speak with the MBTAs chief administrative officer and human resources team about hiring needs.

Were going to be very aggressive, he said. ... When you look at the big number, it seems almost insurmountable. But when you start to say, how many people do we need to bring on every month? How many people do we need? And if you have a month where its short, then the next month, you just push a little harder. It can be done.
Boston University police assured the campus community that its confident that theres no threat to the school after receiving two calls warning of an active shooter at different ends of the campus on Sunday.

Police issued an alert at 8 p.m. that said they received two calls, one about an active shooter at 855 Commonwealth Ave., where the College of Fine Arts is, and at the admissions office at 233 Bay State Road.

BU ALERT: Two calls for an active shooter have been received by BU Police in the area of 855 Commonwealth Ave and 233 Bay State Road. Nothing has been discovered at this time, but there is a heavy police presence in these areas. An update will be sent out https://t.co/aYeRP2ObDK  BU Police Department (@BUPolice) April 10, 2023

Nothing has been discovered at this time, but there is a heavy police presence in these areas, the first alert said. An update will be sent out when we have more information.

Within the next half hour, another alert said not to call campus police for updates. Before 9 p.m., a final update said that while an investigation is still underway police were confident that there is no threat to our community. Officers will continue to be vigilant and on scene.

Boston University police added that swatting incidents, where someone calls to falsely report that theres an active shooter in the area and draw a massive police presence, have been occurring nationally and cause a great deal of anxiety.

BU ALERT: A short time ago, BUPD received several calls for an active shooter situation at multiple locations. Although we are still investigating, at this time we are confident that there is no threat to our community. Officers will continue to be vigil https://t.co/CxKsg4N5oh  BU Police Department (@BUPolice) April 10, 2023

Multiple swatting incidents have caused controversy and stirred worry across several schools in Massachusetts. Multiple high schools were put on lockdown in February due to swatting along with several schools in March following the Nashville shooting.

On April 3, a swatting incident at Harvard University led to four Black students being removed from their dormitory at gunpoint by campus police following a search at Leverett House.

Student and alumni organizations, including the Harvard Black Alumni Society, condemned what happened and demanded full transparency from campus police in answering why the search was conducted as it was.
The past three years has represented a challenging time for the restaurant industry. Big chains and mom-and-pop operations alike had to adjust to lockdowns, contactless delivery, labor shortages, and supply chain challenges; for many food service businesses the mantra of those difficult times became evolve or die.

Even though a sense of normalcy has seeped back into everyday life, the forces that the pandemic unleashed continue to impact the industry, as illustrated in the actions two major chains have taken over the past several weeks.

Chicago-based McDonalds Corp, the nations largest burger chain, earlier this year announced an initiative its calling Accelerating the Organization, an initiative the companys leadership describes as an effort to make the company more efficient. The centerpiece of the initiative was a series of corporate staff layoffs, which were completed last week.

The layoffs came despite strong sales and earning numbers over the last several years; McDonalds leadership is clearly committed to becoming leaner through support staff downsizing. Since 2017 the chain has reduced its corporate headcount by about 80,000, cuts achieved by selling company-owned stores to franchisees as well as shedding headquarters staff. This months round of layoffs will further increase the number of employees shed.

Glendale, California-based IHOP has reacted to lingering pandemic-induced challenges by rolling out what it is calling the largest menu evolution in its 65-plus-year history. Available nationwide the menu reset is focused on the chains core items as part of an effort to make in-store operations more efficient.

The rework means a shift away the from frequent multi-item limited-time offerings that had long been a part of IHOPs menu strategy.

The headline news in this menu reset is the re-introduction of Eggs Benedict, which are being offered in four versions: a Classic, a Spicy Poblano topped with hot peppers and shredded beef, a Pesto Veggie variation, and a version made with bacon and a Bourbon bacon jam.

IHOPs steakburger sandwiches have been reformulated and upgraded, while Fresh Berry Salad and Chopped Chicken salads represent new long-term menu additions. The sweet and savory crepes the chain began promoting earlier this year have also been afforded permanent status.

Even with the new items debuting as a part of this rework, IHOPs menu remains about 15% smaller than it was pre-pandemic. The menu rework also reflects a shift in focus toward takeout and delivery, with many of the new items having been deliberately made more portable in nature.

IHOPs leadership says it plans to invest in technology and training going forward to maintain this menu evolution.

Side Dishes

Hanna Devines Restaurant in Ware is partnering with Greenfield-based Comical Mystery Tour to present a dinner-theater mystery evening on April 17.

The event will start at 6:30 p.m. with dinner; the menu leads off with a starter of sausage & kale soup. Three main course options are offered; they include shrimp over roasted garlic risotto, seared chicken, or beef stroganoff. Dessert is to be triple chocolate mousse.

The dramatic production, a library-themed murder mystery entitled Luck of the Irissssssshhh, provides opportunities for the audience to get involved in the sleuthing.

More information on the evening can be had by calling 413-277-0707.

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Springfields hometown restaurant brand, Friendlys, is celebrating the Easter season with the Bunny Conehead Sundae. The sundae incorporates a split banana topped with vanilla ice cream, pound cake cubes, cherries, blue marshmallow sauce, and whipped cream all arranged in a bunny head shape.

The Bunny Conehead Sundae It will be available in participating shops through April 30.

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The Student Prince Cafe and Fort Restaurant in Springfield is hosting a Compass Box Scotch Tasting Dinner on April 19, starting at 6 p.m.

As well as incorporating tastes of five different Compass Box Scotch varieties, the dinner will begin with first and second courses of baked brie and pork belly, respectively, then proceed on to a third course of mussels in white wine cream. The main course is to be a skirt steak street taco, and sticky toffee pudding will be offered for dessert.

Tickets are $80 and can be purchased online at studentprince.com. Call the restaurant at 413-734-7475 for more details.

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On April 15 the Brass Rail Meeting House in Southwick will be presenting the Brass Rail Supper Club, a night of dinner and dancing.

The evening will begin with a cocktail hour from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A three-course dinner will follow, with entree selections including Bella Blue Sirloin, Noras Chicken, and Bourbon Soy Salmon.

Live music for dancing and listening pleasure will be offered from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Tickets are $74.95 per person plus service fees and taxes. Reservations can be made online at brassrailmeetinghouse.com; call 413-569-9685 for more information.

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Khans Food and Drinks in Springfield will be celebrating their grand opening on Saturday, April 15, starting at noon.

The menu at Khans, which is located at 1333 Boston Road, includes entrees like churrasco (grilled skirt steak), salmon, and grilled chicken breast as well as gourmet hamburgers made with a triple mix of ground brisket, sirloin, and ribs.

The restaurant will operate Tuesday through Sunday, opening at noon and doing business until late evening. Khans answers at 413-391-7291.

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Atkins Farms Country Market in Amherst will be holding its monthly Tastings at the Loft on Saturday, April 15, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Tastings are no-charge events at which Atkins Farms presents samplings of various wines, beers, and ciders; complimentary light snacks are also provided.

Those participating in the tasting events can also take advantage of special pricing on the beverage items being showcased.

Atkins Farms Country Market answers at 413-253-9528.

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The Hardwick Vineyard & Winery, in conjunction with Wine Down Events, will be presenting a Flights & Bites Wine Pairing on April 21 starting at 6 p.m.

Conducted by wine educator Missa Capozzo, the event will incorporate five wines from Hardwicks list of bottlings with a variety of cheese, herb, and jam combinations. Pairing examples include a dry Riesling with cream cheese and red pepper jelly and a Hardwick Red with a sharp cheddar, fig jam, and thyme.

Capozzo will use the pairing to illustrate the fundamentals of matching food and wine.

Tickets, which are available at Eventbrite.com, are $49 plus a convenience fee.

The Hardwick Vineyard & Winery can be reached at 413- 967-7763.

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Villa Napoletana in East Longmeadow will be presenting a Brunch & Bubbly Buffet on Sunday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In addition to savoring the restaurants upscale brunch spread, which includes hand-carved meats, made-to-order omelets, fresh waffles, classic breakfast offerings, and a selection of luncheon-style dishes, adults attending will get a complimentary 187 ML bottle of Prosecco to enjoy with brunch.

Reservations are strongly encouraged, and they can be made by calling 413-732-9300.

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On Wednesday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m., OConnells Irish Pub & Grill on Chicopee Street in Chicopee will be collaborating with Vanished Valley Brewing Company to create a Vanished Valley Brewing Company Beer Dinner.

Contact OConnells at 413-437-8181 for more details.

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Its to be a hops meets hemp occasion as Skyline Beer Company of Westfield hosts a 4:20 Beer Dinner on Sunday, April 16, at 3:30 p.m.

Cannabis Connection of Westfield is co-sponsoring the event, which will feature a menu of munchie-inspired food items for the four-course dinner.

Tickets are priced at $60 and may be ordered by calling Skyline at 413-378-3333.

Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community Colleges hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. Criminal proceedings were initiated in the Vayots Dzor Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee regarding the case of an apparent attempt to commit violence against the Prime Minister of Armenia, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Investigative Committee.

According to the report, a 47-year-old woman approached the intersection of the newly built 8th, 14th and Central streets of the Malishka settlement. The latter, disobeying the legal demands repeatedly presented by the police officers and ignoring their exhortations, at around 14:40 in the yard of a private house in the Malishka settlement, tried to commit violence against Nikol Pashinyan, that is, intentionally threw the umbrella she had with her is in the direction of the Prime Minister.

The woman has been arrested. A criminal proceeding has been initiated.
A 13-year-old girl was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries following a crash in a Middleton residential driveway Monday afternoon.

Police told NECN reporters that Middleton authorities responded to a crash involving a Toyota Prius in a driveway on Meadowlark Farm Lane at around 2:30 p.m.

A 13-year-old girl was injured in the crash and was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.

One officer who rushed to help the victim suffered a minor ankle injury that also needed treatment, according to a WHDH report.

The driver in the crash was not injured, according to authorities.

Police are actively investigating the situation and no charges have been filed. There has been no update on the 13-year-olds condition as of 5:30 Monday afternoon.
A shooting at a bank building in downtown Louisville on Monday morning killed five people and wounded at least six others, police said. The suspected shooter was also dead, police said.

Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey told reporters officers who arrived on the scene encountered active gunshots still being fired inside the location at that time.

The shooter was confirmed to be dead on the scene, Humphrey said. We do not know exactly the circumstances of his death at this time.

Witnesses who left the building told Louisville station WHAS-TV they heard gunfire inside the building.

Numerous police vehicles were seen on television footage. WHAS reporters said they saw people being taken from the scene in ambulances.

In a tweet, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he was heading to the scene.

Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville, Beshear said.

The FBI said its agents were also responding to the shooting.

The shooting happened in a building on East Main Street that houses the Old National Bank not far from the Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.
OConnells Irish Pub & Grill is hosting a benefit with live music, raffles, food and drinks for Chicopee man Joey Lucia, who was severely injured when a car full of teens crashed through his house in March.

Its for Joey! the Facebook post detailing the benefit read.

As most of you know, tragedy struck Joe Lucia in March. OConnells Irish Pub and friends want to help with medical and living expenses Joe may need now and in the future, the post read.

The benefit is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m., and will feature an evening of great food, great drinks, live music, and raffle prizes as we help to raise funds for our good friend Joe Lucia, the post stated.

OConnells is located at 733 Chicopee St. in Chicopee. The post for Lucias benefit stated it will feature live music from Two Way Tie, and thanked David Orth and Frankie Cummings for donating their talents. The pub also thanked Vanish Valley Brewing Co. for their donation!

We are all rooting for you, Joey! the post said.

Lucia ended up under piles of debris and on top of the hood of the car when it crashed through his living room wall at 2:45 a.m. on March 25. The car had been speeding, police said, carrying teens aged 19, 18, 17 and 13 and was evading a police stop when it hit Lucias house on Montgomery Street.

DaVant Byrd, the 13-year-old boy and seventh grade Holyoke student inside the car, was killed in the crash. The other occupants escaped the vehicle with minor injuries, police said, but Byrd was unable to get out of the car before it was engulfed in flames.

Lucia was brought to Baystate Hospital for a variety of severe injuries. Peter Lucia, Joeys brother, who was upstairs in the home at the time of the crash, said Joey had a brain bleed, multiple broken ribs and had to have his spleen removed.

Baystate said Lucia was still in critical condition as of Friday, March 31. At that time, he was being treated in the Heart and Vascular Critical Care unit of the hospital.

Lucias home, located at 1084 Montgomery St., appeared to be a total loss from the crash and resulting fire. Images from the scene and a video showed almost the entire right side of the home, along with the front, charred and blackened from the flames. A gaping hole where the car entered the home showed the entire living room, and has since been boarded up.

A GoFundMe created by Krista Osbourne for Lucias medical and life expenses has raised almost $21,000 of its $50,000 goal as of Monday, April 10.

Police have not charged anyone in connection with crash as of April 10.
A car crashed into a Worthington Street home on the evening of Easter Sunday, according to Springfield Fire Captain Drew Piemonte.

There were no serious injuries and officials did not have information on the cause of the crash, Piemonte said.

The crash took place at 5:30 p.m. at 801 Worthington St.

Read more: Police say drunken teen crashed car into cemetery smashing 19 headstones

The vehicle crashed into the fence and stopped at the front of the foundation, according to Springfield Police Department spokesman Ryan Walsh. WWLP reported the car damaged the front stairs of the home, in addition to the fence.

Walsh said the driver was a woman and was taken to Baystate Medical Center for evaluation for non-life-threatening injuries.

A tow truck arrived and towed the vehicle, the WWLP reported.

The crash remains under investigation, Walsh said.
A Vermont man charged with manslaughter in the drowning of his 2-year-old son, whose body was found in a Clarksburg brook after the man ran from the scene of a crash, pleaded not guilty to the charges in court Monday.

Darel A. Galorenzo, 35, of Readsboro, Vermont pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, reckless endangerment of a child, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and operating under the influence in connection with the Saturday morning drowning of his 2-year-old son.

Galorenzo stands accused of getting into a crash intoxicated and losing his son while running from the scene. The boy was then found with drowning injuries in Hudson Brook and later pronounced dead at a hospital, Massachusetts State Police said.

The Vermont man is currently being held on $100,000 cash bail.

The father of a 2-year-old boy has been charged with manslaughter and child endangerment after the toddler died in a brook in Clarksburg while the man was allegedly fleeing the scene of a car crash Saturday, April 8, 2023, according to Massachusetts State Police. An aerial picture of the area near the brook is seen here. (Google Maps)

Shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday, state police responded to a single-car crash on Middle Road in Clarksburg. Minutes after arriving at the crash, police learned that a toddler, who was inside the 2015 Subaru Crosstrek when it crashed, was missing an unaccounted for.

Police found the toddlers father Galorenzo around the Hudson Brook water but were unable to locate the child.

First responders immediately began searching for the boy inside the Hudson Brook and found him in an area of the body of water close to 150 Middle Road around 2:20 a.m., a statement read.

The toddler was recovered by a trooper and firefighters, and EMTs tried giving him first aid for his drowning injuries. He was later pronounced dead at Berkshire Medical Center in North Adams, according to State Police.

Galorenzo, who police said was acting like he was intoxicated, was also taken to Berkshire Medical Center to be evaluated while under the guard of police. After he was examined and discharged, a trooper took him to the Cheshire State Police barracks to be arrested, authorities said.

The Vermont man is due back in court at a later date.
A fire began at a church in Cambridge a few hours after it held its Easter worship service.

Cambridge Fire Department reported the fire at the church around 5:55 p.m. Sunday. The church, located at 311 Broadway, had had a worship service at 10 a.m., according to the website. It was also live streamed.

The fire department said the building was vacant at the time of the fire.

Multiple streets were also closed as of about 7 a.m. Monday. This includes Broadway from Inman to Columbia, Prospect from Harvard St. to St. Marys and Tremont from Hampshire to Broadway.

Please avoid the area, the fire department wrote.

Read more: Dead body found by dog walker on side of road in Cohasset

Faith Lutheran Church is a congregation of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, according to the churchs website. It also is the home of Faith Kitchen, which through a partnership with Temple Beth Shalom has been cooking, serving, and sharing great meals for nearly twelve years.
AMHERST  Another search is underway to hire a new middle school principal. One finalist took another job instead and the remaining candidate withdrew from consideration.

Amherst-Pelham Regional Superintendent Michael Morris said finalist Tanya Brodd, a superintendent in Arizona, accepted another position and advised the district of that just before a scheduled community forum.

This left Gabrielle Jackson as the sole finalist. She is a Springfield principal with an emergency state license for this role. After participating in the forum, Morris said the district invited Jackson to make a site visit to the middle school.

So the community could offer their thoughts about her candidacy with an open mind after meeting her in person, Morris said in a statement Friday. She declined that offer.

The current middle school principal, Diego Sharon, hired July 1, 2020, is departing.

In a community message Friday, Morris said the district asked for comments after Jacksons community forum. He said it came to light that people solicited negative comments about Jackson after the forum.

Regardless of whether they thought she was excellent in the public interview or even if they did not actually watch the interview, Morris said.

Those calls for negative comments appeared to have an effect, the superintendent said.

The results of the survey shifted after these communications went out, although the results still showed more responses in favor of Ms. Jacksons candidacy than those who expressed opposition, he wrote.
For more than six decades, Coca-Colas bottling plant in Northampton has been a reliable water and sewer customer for the city.

The 455,000-square-foot beverage facility alone represents about a quarter of the citys water use and a fifth of its sewer use.

But the sun is setting on the companys time in Northampton. The bottling plant  Northamptons largest industrial facility  is expected to shutter by the end of this year, eliminating more than 300 local jobs and gutting the city of its largest water and sewer revenue source, city officials say.

This is financially devastating, Northampton Public Works Director Donna LaScaleia said at a City Council meeting on March 30.

Of the roughly $7 million Northampton takes in annually in water system revenue, Coca-Cola accounts for about $1.6 million. Out of the more than $6 million the city collects in sewer revenue, more than $1 million comes from Coke, LaScaleia said.

A plan to address the lost income is expected to come before the city council Thursday night after a council subcommittee gave its stamp of approval last week.

The proposal would significantly increase water and sewer costs for residents and businesses, across the board, in order to keep the city utilities budget balanced when the Coca-Cola plant closes.

The average Northampton homeowner would see their baseline water charge jump from about $15 each quarter of the year to about $47. Sewer rates, which did not previously have a base charge, will now have a quarterly charge of about $29 for the standard home. The added costs will be more for businesses that use more water.

This increase is high, theres no question about it, City Councilor Marianne LaBarge said at the March 30 council meeting.

Its very sobering, Councilor Rachel Maiore said.

A truck leaves the Coca Cola bottling plant at 45 Industrial Drive, Northampton, Aug. 5, 2021. (Don Treeger / The Republican).

With the citys largest water and sewer customer evidently months away from departure, the utility rate increases are essential, LaScaleia said.

Northamptons utilities are a closed financial system, she said. It is entirely user funded  and expenses must be paid for in revenue.

What happened to Coca-Cola in Northampton?

Coca-Cola first informed Northampton leaders in August 2021 of its plans to shutter the bottling plant, which in recent years has produced noncarbonated products, including Powerade and Vitamin Water.

The company said it did not make this decision lightly and was grateful to have had the opportunity to have been a part of the Northampton community.

After initially setting the plants closure for spring 2023, Coca-Cola said in February it would keep the facility open through the end of this year.

The company said in 2020 that it was cutting 2,200 jobs globally as it restructured and ended production of some beverage brands, according to the food industry news site Food Dive. A Coca-Cola bottling plant in American Canyon, California, is also slated for closure.

Some indicators suggest the company could already be winding down operations in Northampton.

The plant typically uses 15 to 20 million gallons of water each month. In February, Coca-Cola used less than 13 million gallons, LaScaleia said. In December, the city billed the company $110,000 for its sewer use. Recently, the monthly bill fell to around $70,000, she said.

Im seeing declining usage, LaScaleia said. Whether thats them starting to slow down or they had a slow month, its very difficult to tell.

Pedestrians walk along Main Street in downtown Northampton. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

In addition to its water and sewer usage, Coca-Cola pays more than $300,000 annually in property taxes. The company will still own the building and contribute taxes, even if bottling operations close down.

Northamptons infrastructure projects

The plants departure  about a decade after Coca-Cola sunk $50 million into an expansion project at the facility that created 100 jobs  comes as Northampton is eying multiple essential infrastructure projects.

LaScaleia said four projects planned for the next five years will cost about $26 million.

Among them is a flood control project on the dams at Ryan Reservoir and West Whately Reservoir to prevent overtopping as intense storms grow more frequent in a warming climate, LaScaleia said. Another project will replace key water mains installed as far back as 1871.

The cost of doing business

In recent years, LaScaleia has kept the city public works budget level, and Northampton has not seen water or sewer rate increase in four of the last seven years  a feat of remarkable fiscal management, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said.

But even if Coca-Cola stayed in Northampton, the increasing costs of electricity, propane, gasoline and other resources essential to the public works department mean the city would still need to increase water and sewer rates this year.

We have an obligation that if you turn on your faucet, water comes out, LaScaleia said.

The rate at which Northampton residents and businesses are charged for their actual water and sewer use would not change under the proposed plan.

Instead, to compensate for Coca-Colas looming departure, the city is considering increasing the base charges that customers pay each quarter to use the water and sewer system.

For most homeowners, the added costs will total about $240 a year. For businesses and other larger organizations, the increases could range from about $350 a year for a restaurant or cafe to nearly $10,000 a year for a hospital, school or hotel.

The base charge increases can be waived for some homeowners, either through the states Community Preservation Act or under the 41C property tax exemption, officials said.

But some councilors worried that Northamptons renters would not qualify for the exemptions.

City Councilor Alex Jarrett said he was concerned the proposed water and sewer rate system was essentially creating this carve out for people who own their homes and live in their homes.

At a City Council Finance Committee meeting last week, city officials said they were exploring programs that would also provide financial relief to renters.

Scairra said Northamptons state legislators, Sen. Jo Comerford and Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, were working with city leadership to address Cokes nearing departure. She also said Gov. Maura Healey had been briefed on the situation and that city officials had met with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Economic Development Sec. Yvonne Hao and other state leaders.

The priority is to assist the more than 300 employees affected by the exit, followed closely by the need to help the city identify and attract a new tenant for this unique facility, Comerford and Sabadosa said in a joint statement read to the city council. Every elected official representing Northampton is actively engaged in a sincere effort to minimize the impact of this grave challenge to the city of Northamptons economy.
A Brockton man received his sentence in court on Friday for his role in the 2020 death of a 25-year-old man named Manuel Duarte.

Takari Elliot, 31, was sentenced to three to five years in state prison followed by two years of probation, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruzs office said Monday. He pleaded guilty to one count each of manslaughter and attempted assault and battery by discharge of a firearm.

Read more: Angel Cordova of Worcester sentenced for conspiring to distribute cocaine

Elliot was arrested on March 6, 2021, several months after Duarte was found shot in the head and body on Oct. 13 near 94 Belmont Ave. in Brockton, MassLive previously reported. Brockton authorities and Massachusetts State Police investigated. They obtained arrest warrants to charge Elliot and 32-year-old Marvin Veiga with murder.

Veiga continued to be on the run after Elliot was arrested. He was eventually placed on the states Most Wanted list in connection with Duartes death.

Read more: Worcester man charged in Sunday shooting on Dorchester Street

On the morning of April 24, 2021, Veiga was shot and killed by a Metro Nashville, Tennessee Police Department officer during a traffic stop after Veiga advanced on the officer and carried butcher knives in both hands, MassLive previously reported.

Marvin Veiga Jr. was wanted on a murder charge in Massachusetts.

Metro Nashville police released body cam footage that played out the encounter with Veiga, who was the passenger in a Mercedes sedan. The footage shows an officer asking Veiga, What are you doing? after he stepped out of the car with the knives.

Read more: Police say 2 calls claiming active shooter at Boston University are hoaxes

Veiga attempted to enter the officers vehicle before charging at the officer, who back-peddled and said, Dude, what are you doing? Drop the knife. I dont want to shoot you. He then fired three shots before Veiga fell to the ground. He later died.
House Democrats will unveil a tax relief and reform bill Tuesday with plans to bring it forward for a vote later in the week, Speaker Ron Mariano said Monday.

Mariano told reporters House leaders will make their proposal public on Tuesday and then bring it to the floor for a vote during a formal session planned for Thursday, bookending the rollout of the House Ways and Means Committee fiscal year 2024 budget bill.

He provided few details about the forthcoming package, saying only that it will be based on a lot of the things that we had talked about last year when lawmakers initially approved a suite of tax code changes and then backed away from the topic.

Everything is on the table, Mariano repeated when pressed on specific policies.

The Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing on Gov. Maura Healeys tax relief bill, but has not made a recommendation on the nearly $1 billion in tax policy measures proposed by the new governor.

The timing of the vote on Thursday means it will occur after House Democrats release their fiscal 2024 budget, which may need to account for tax relief measures. Mariano has also talked about spreading proposed tax relief out over multiple years.
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office Bujar Osmani will visit Armenia this week, the OSCE announced Monday.

April 10, 2023, 11:07 OSCE Chairman-in-Office to visit Armenia as part of regional trip

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 10 , ARTSAKHPRESS: Osmani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, will visit Armenia as part of a South Caucasus trip.

He will visit Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on 10-13 April for meetings with government officials and other stakeholders.

Meetings with parliamentarians, civil society representatives and other interlocutors will take place as well.

According to a press release issued by the OSCE, "the trip will focus on strengthening the co-operation between the OSCE, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, addressing existing security challenges and promoting peace and stability through dialogue in the South Caucasus region."
A Worcester man who was arrested as part of a federal investigation in 2019 received his sentence on Friday for conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine.

Angel Cordova, 39, was sentenced to five years in prison and four years of supervised release, according to United States Attorney Rachael Rollins office. Cordova previously pleaded guilty in December 2021.

Read more: Police say 2 calls claiming active shooter at Boston University are hoaxes

Cordova conspired with Junior Melendez, Juan Rodriguez, Antoine Mack, Kevin Jean and Carlos Richards to buy significant quantities of powder cocaine, convert some of that powder cocaine into crack cocaine and distribute powder and crack cocaine in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Rollins office said.

Investigators, including the Worcester Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said they identified over 4 kilograms of cocaine that Melendez either purchased or sold, including over 300 grams of cocaine seized in New Hampshire.

In March 2021, investigators obtained a search warrant to begin intercepting information and calls from Melendez cell phone, MassLive previously reported. Melendez was caught while speaking to others about drug deals and planning a home invasion, investigators said.

Melendez was also leader of the Massachusetts chapter of the Almighty Vice Lords gang, authorities said.

Melendez previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 156 months in prison, Rollins office said. Rodriguez and Jean were convicted after a jury trial and sentenced to 52 months and 40 months in prison, respectively. Mack pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 54 months in prison. Richards remains a fugitive.
Travelers will soon be able to fly directly from Worcester to two different locations in Florida.

JetBlue will add daily, year-round service from Worcester Regional Airport to Orlando International Airport starting June 15, the airline announced Monday. JetBlue previously offered service from Worcester to Orlando, but the flights were discontinued during the pandemic.

That was always a very popular destination out of here, obviously, making it very convenient for folks in Central Massachusetts to travel directly to Orlando, said Robin Hayes, CEO of JetBlue, during a press conference at the airport. Weve been expanding our network in Orlando to a number of other Caribbean and Latin America markets, so its also going to extend and expand on connecting options through Orlando.

Read more: Worcester Regional Airport celebrates one millionth passenger

In addition, starting Jan. 4, 2024, JetBlue will begin offering seasonal service to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, to coincide with Red Sox spring training season. Service to Fort Myers will start at twice per week, but the airline will begin offering daily flights in mid-February.

Hayes said JetBlue will also stop using Embraer 190 planes, which seat 100 people, for Worcester flights, instead opting for Airbus 320 planes, which seat 162.

Gov. Maura Healey, who made her first visit as governor to the airport for the announcement, said that the new flights will benefit not just those in Worcester and Central Massachusetts, but throughout the state.

I think it took me less time to get here today from my house that it might have taken me to get to Logan (International Airport in Boston), Healey said. Whether youre going to check out spring training or looking to fly away for vacation or leisure, this will be a place through which so many people come.

Healey added that the expansion of service at the airport was reflective of the economic development happening in the Greater Worcester area.

Worcester Regional Airport, known as ORH, originally opened in 1946. It was purchased by Massport in 2010 and reopened in 2013. Prior to the acquisition, there had been discussions in the city of closing the airport and replacing it with a racetrack or casino on the property.

They all talked about the fact that there was no future here, said Congressman Jim McGovern, who advocated at the time to keep the airport open, at the press conference on Monday. We knew that investing in this airport would spur economic growth for our city, region and state. In 2013, JetBlue took a chance on Worcester ... and has been an incredible partner for this community.

Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce President Tim Murray said on a survey conducted in 2020 about the airport, 94% of respondents said they were likely or very likely to fly out of Worcester Regional Airport if there were flights going where they wanted to go.

Currently, the airport offers five daily nonstop flights from JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Delta and American Airlines both offer one flight to New York, while JetBlue offers two to New York and one to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

When the new JetBlue service begins, the airline will offer daily flights leaving Worcester for Orlando at 2:40 p.m., and arriving in Worcester from Orlando at 11:05 a.m. Fort Myers flights will leave Worcester at 4:06 p.m. and arrive in the city at 12:21 p.m.

Tickets to Orlando are on sale now, starting at $34 for a limited time.

In honor of the new service to Fort Meyers, the Worcester Red Sox will give away round-trip tickets from Worcester for a family of four to go to spring training next year at an upcoming home game.
Kyle Curley pleaded not guilty Monday to charges hes facing in connection with the killing of Erica Lara, who was found dead in 2021 in the Kelley Square apartment they shared in Worcester.

Curley, 32, pleaded not guilty in Worcester Superior Court to charges of first-degree murder, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and intimidating a witness.

He was ordered held without bail due to the nature of the charges against him.

Read more: Kyle Curley indicted in 2021 killing of Worcester woman found dead in apartment

A grand jury indicted Curley on the charges on March 24 after he was initially arraigned in Worcester District Court on Dec. 9, 2022.

Worcester police found Laras body on June 29, 2021 after a death was reported.

In court documents, police detectives claim Curley assaulted Lara, who he was dating, after he discovered what he believed was proof she was cheating on him.

Read more: Worcester man charged in Sunday shooting on Dorchester Street

He had assaulted her so badly, police say, that out of fear she would go to the police he continued his attack with such violence and over a prolonged period that there was a high likelihood of serious harm or death.

The attack caused Lara to have a brain bleed which led to her death. Curley did not attempt to help Lara, according to police, and fled to California following the attack.

Curley already had a pending criminal case against him regarding an assault and battery against Lara, and there had been an open warrant out for his arrest at the time of the attack, according to police.

If Lara had not died following the attack, she would have been a witness in that criminal proceeding, police said.

Lara, who was 29 at the time of her death, was a mother of two daughters, according to her obituary.

Erica was known for her huge heart and bubbly personality, her obituary reads. Erica was loving, caring, and would give the world to anyone who needed it, even when she didnt have anything herself to give.

While Lara did not have an easy life and fought many demons, her family wrote that she remained strong and gave it her all through every obstacle.

Curley is due back in court on June 12.

Editors Note: A previous version of this story misstated that police said Curley fled to Florida. Curley fled to California, according to police.
About 20 minutes after police found a man with a gunshot wound in an SUV near Dorchester Street in Worcester Sunday, they found another gunshot victim with injuries to his right leg and face, according to prosecutors.

Izaiha Quintal, the second gunshot victim, told police he had been shot while walking to the store on Ingleside Avenue, Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Scanlon said in Worcester District Court Monday. But police said there was no ShotSpotter Activation on that street and no ballistic or other evidence was found at or near the area where Quintal said he was shot.

Video evidence of the April 9 Dorchester Street shooting indicates two shooters were involved, according to Scanlon, one of whom police believe is Quintal.
Kiev has reconsidered its military plans after classified documents of the Pentagon and the US intelligence community were leaked on the Internet, a source close to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky told CNN.

April 10, 2023, 12:28 Ukraine tweaks its military plans over leaked Pentagon documents  TV

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 10 , ARTSAKHPRESS: According to the TV channel, Ukraine has already altered "some of its military plans" because of the leaked documents, which also gave estimates of the Kiev regimes combat potential. CNN did not dwell on the changes or their scale.

The documents expose the extent of US spying on its allies and foes, CNN said. A number of US officials fear the release could compromise foreign relationships.

Earlier, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said that the US Defense Department was assessing the validity of the allegedly classified documents. Washington is "assessing the impact those photographed documents could have on US national security" and on the countrys "allies and partners" through an interagency effort, Singh said.

The documents which appeared on the Internet may have been doctored, Reuters said. The documents reveal US and NATO plans to build up Ukrainian forces before a counteroffensive. An array of materials revealing information about schedules for the supply of weapons, the number of troops and battalions was posted on Twitter and Telegram. The leak is seen as one of the biggest breaches of secret data since more than 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables were released through WikiLeaks in 2013.
The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Monday on the 31st anniversary of the massacre of Armenians in Maragha.

April 10, 2023, 12:01 Azerbaijan's goal is to subject Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing  Armenian MFA statement on Maragha massacre anniversary

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 10 , ARTSAKHPRESS: Below is the full statement.

31 years ago, on April 10, 1992, the Azerbaijani armed forces carried out a preplanned brutal massacre of the peaceful population of the Armenian settlement of Maragha in Martakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh, as a result of which the settlement with a population of about 5,000 was completely subjected to ethnic cleansing, more than 50 civilians were brutally killed and as many were taken captive. This data has been documented in the reports of the human rights organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The fates of many hostages have not been clarified to this day, and they are considered to have been forcibly disappeared.

The Maragha massacre was a continuation of the organised pogroms of Armenians in Sumgait, Kirovabad and Baku and one of the manifestations of mass crimes committed by the Azerbaijani authorities on the grounds of national identity. The preplanned crimes against the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, war crimes, their impunity and glorification became part of Azerbaijan's systemic policy and took on new manifestations during Azerbaijan's aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in April 2016 and on a larger scale during the 44-day war of 2020 as a result of which tens of thousands of Armenians were displaced also from Hadrut, Shushi and surrounding regions.

It is no coincidence that not only the Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh during 1988-1991 have never had the opportunity to return to their homes and exercise their rights, including managing their private property, but also nowadays, Azerbaijan violates the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, disrupting the return of displaced persons and refugees to Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions, which should be carried out under the supervision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Moreover, violating the norms of international law and the international obligations, nowadays the official Baku is populating with Azerbaijanis the Armenian settlements fallen under its control, the homes of Armenians, for example in the Armenian village of Talish.

It is also noteworthy that, grossly violating the decisions of authoritative international courts, Azerbaijan openly continues to desecrate, vandalise and destroy the Armenian religious, historical and cultural monuments and sanctuaries, having the aim to completely erase the Armenian trace from the territories that are under its control. At the same time, the hate speech towards the Armenians continues at the highest level. These actions have already been repeatedly condemned by international institutions.

31 years after the Maragha massacre, already for around four months Azerbaijan has been illegally blocking the Lachin corridor connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with the rest of the world. The deliberate creation of a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, the periodic violations of the ceasefire and the aggressive actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, the consistent targeting and terrorising of the peaceful population prove once again that Azerbaijan's goal is to subject Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing.

Today we pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Maragha massacre. In order to further prevent such crimes, we once again emphasise the urgency of taking the active steps by the international community, including by using the available international mechanisms.

The Republic of Armenia reaffirms its commitment to the establishment of lasting and comprehensive peace and security in the region, which is possible by Azerbaijan's refusal of the maximalist and aggressive policy and by the search for fair solutions to the existing problems.
If youre a dog owner, you might be pretty impressed with yourself  and your favorite four-legged pal  if he or she nails commands like sit
India Cancer Treatment Drugs Market Research Report, the most recent study from MarkNtel Advisors, facilitates stakeholders with crucial information on regional and markets. By providing useful information on market insights, definitions, classifications, manufacturing operations, development plans, and investments, this research aims to obtain an in-depth understanding of the market under study. The study also examines how recent trends and events have influenced India Cancer Treatment Drugss consumer prices, growth rates, and market share. Also, it pinpoints an overview of the sector, a thorough study of current market trends and changes, and projections for local growth. So, large organizations adapt to modern trends and technological breakthroughs.

India Cancer Treatment Drugs Market Report Overview 

Ongoing Trends: The Central Government is strengthening the Tertiary Care of Cancer Scheme to improve the resources available for tertiary cancer care. Under the program, 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centers (TCCCs) have so far received approval. Up until now, six institutions have been set up in Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. The 33 other institutes are in various phases of development. For sounder care, therapies and medications are required, and thus advancing tertiary care is expected to shape the industry in the coming years.

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Report Coverage Details Study Period Historical Data: 2018-21 Base Year: 2022 Forecast Period: 2023-28 CAGR (2023-2028) 12.2% Region Covered North, East, West, South Key Companies Profiled Amgen, Astellas Pharma Inc., AstraZeneca , Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Cipla, F. Hoffmann- La- Roche, Merck KGaA, Natco Pharma, Novartis AG, Pfizer Unit Denominations USD Million/Billion

Industry Driving Factor: Cancer treatment has been one of the main focal areas of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in order to protect the beneficiaries from the catastrophic costs of cancer treatment. The delivery of services under the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers (AB-HWCs) includes screening for three common malignancies, including oral, breast, and cervical cancers and other common non-communicable diseases.

Along similar lines, The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), which is part of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, released a list of 390 non-scheduled anti-cancer medications in 2019 with MRP reductions of up to 87%. This action helped 22 lakh cancer patients in the nation and would save consumers about Rs. 800 crores annually. Following a decade of caution and organic growth, Indian pharmaceutical businesses are currently on an acquisition binge. And cancer medications seem to be their primary focus, thus driving the drug industry in the long run.

Available Opportunity for Player: The government has made numerous efforts to encourage Ayurveda research and the development of cancer therapies. The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), a government-established independent organization, has conducted research on cancer as well as work on drug development and the documentation of medical procedures, including the creation of AYUSH QOL2C to enhance the quality of life for those with the disease. Thus, Ayurveda-based medications are likely to present lucrative prospects for the industry contenders in the coming years.

Report Table of Content

Introduction Product Definition Research Process Glossary Market Segmentation Executive Summary Expert Verbatim- Interview Excerpts of industry experts Impact of COVID-19 on Indias Cancer Treatment Drugs Market India Cancer Treatment Drugs Market Outlook, 2018-2028F

Continue TOC

Geographical Dividation: The India Cancer Treatment Drugs Market is divided across four regions: 

North West South East

Competitive Environment as stated by the Research Report On India Cancer Treatment Drugs Market

Market data for the India Cancer Treatment Drugs industry focuses on competing companies, analyzing their financials, reach, revenue, and potential in new markets. The analysis also reviews company strengths and weaknesses and aims to highlight areas of dominance in regions and market segments. Each rival undergoes individual examination to understand better how they achieve a competitive edge. The key companies profiled in the research report include: 

 Amgen

 Astellas Pharma Inc.

 AstraZeneca

 Bayer

 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

 Cipla

 F. Hoffmann- La- Roche

 Merck KGaA

 Natco Pharma

 Novartis AG

 Pfizer

Since the research report comprehends data from historical years (2018-21) and the base year to provide estimations of the forecast period (2023-28) altogether, the market players strategize and proceed with informed perspectives to yield larger profit margins in the coming years.

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Some of the Latest Market Investments and Development By Industry Leaders 

In August 2022, AstraZeneca India, a pharmaceutical company, announced that the Drugs Controller General of India had given the go-ahead to commercialize its medication for breast cancer treatment, Lynparza (Olaparib), as a monotherapy. Lynparza is the first and only approved medicine targeting BRCA (Breast Cancer gene) mutations in early-stage breast cancer.

Market Segmentation as per the Research Report On India Cancer Treatment Drugs Market

The industry, taking into consideration, is robust and highly fragmented. Owing to this, our analyst classified the India Cancer Treatment Drugs Market into first and second level segments, enabling the stakeholders to gain actionable insights over numerous components of the market. Further, the market is broadly divided into the following segments,

Market Division Based On: By Treatment Type

Chemotherapy

Targeted Therapy

Immunotherapy

Hormonal Therapy

Other Treatment Types

Market Division Based On: By Drug Class

Cytotoxic Drugs

Targeted Drugs

Hormonal Drugs

Others

Market Division Based On: By Type

Blood Cancer

Breast Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Cervical Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Gastrointestinal Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer

Non-Hodgkins Cancer

Respiratory/ Lung Cancer

Stomach Cancer

Other Cancers

Market Division Based On: By End-Users

Hospitals

Specialty Clinics

Cancer and Radiation Therapy Centers

The segmentation section discusses the prominent components of the market that has either dominated the market in terms of revenue or sales, among others.

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Besides our already made TOC, MarkNtel Advisors offer customization on reports, suiting clients or investors needs. To avail of the exciting offers and customized services, visit the official website & get personalized reports entailing all the relevant aspects in a comprehensive, unbiased, accurate, & reliable manner. In order to ensure the timely and impeccably curated delivery of content, visit the website today!

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Our specialization in niche industries & emerging geographies allows our clients to formulate their strategies in a much more informed way and entail parameters like Go-to-Market (GTM), product development, feasibility analysis, project scoping, market segmentation, competitive benchmarking, market sizing & forecasting, & trend analysis, among others, for 15 diverse industrial verticals.

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Hybrid Operating Room Market Research Report, the most recent study from MarkNtel Advisors, facilitates stakeholders with crucial information on regional and markets. By providing useful information on market insights, definitions, classifications, manufacturing operations, development plans, and investments, this research aims to obtain an in-depth understanding of the market under study. The study also examines how recent trends and events have influenced Hybrid Operating Rooms consumer prices, growth rates, and market share. Also, it pinpoints an overview of the sector, a thorough study of current market trends and changes, and projections for local growth. So, large organizations adapt to modern trends and technological breakthroughs.

Possible Growth Restraint: The unavailability of skilled professionals like surgeons, entwined with the high cost associated with the deployment of Hybrid ORs attributed to advanced technology, especially in small hospitals might restrain the fledged market growth.

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Report Coverage Details Study Period Historical Data: 2017-20 Base Year: 2021 Forecast Period: 2022-27 CAGR (2022-2027) 11.50% Regions Covered North America: USA, Canada, Mexico South America: Brazil, Rest of South America Europe: The UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific: China, India, Japan, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific Middle East & Africa Key Companies Profiled Alvo, General Electric Company, Getinge AB, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc, IMRIS, Mizuho Corporation, Medical Illumination, NDS Surgical Imaging, Koninklijke Philips N.V., STERIS plc, Stryker Corporation, Siemens AG, Skytron LLC, Canon Inc., Siemens AG Unit Denominations USD Million/Billion

Besides, challenges associated with equipment integration, capital expense, vendor coordination, space & workflow requirements, & radiation safety, among others, might also reduce the growth trajectory of the industry in the coming years.

Report Table of Content

Introduction Product Definition Research Process Assumptions Market Segmentation Executive Summary Impact of COVID-19 on Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Trends & Insights Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Dynamics Drivers Challenges Impact Analysis Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Regulations & Policy By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Hotspots & Opportunities Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Patent Analysis Global Hybrid Operating Room Market Outlook, 2017-2027

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Geographical Dividation: The Hybrid Operating Room Market is divided across the five regions: 

North America South America Europe The Middle East & Africa Asia Pacific

Here, North America dominated the market with the largest share in recent years and is set to prevail in the same trend during the forecast period. This growth is driven by the massive investments in the healthcare industry by the governments of different countries like the US & Canada in the region, demonstrating an escalation in the establishment of hybrid OR to cater to the medical needs of the rising patient inflow, making the region a healthcare hub.

Competitive Environment as stated by the Research Report On Hybrid Operating Room Market

Market data for the Hybrid Operating Room industry focuses on competing companies, analyzing their financials, reach, revenue, and potential in new markets. The analysis also reviews company strengths and weaknesses and aims to highlight areas of dominance in regions and market segments. Each rival undergoes individual examination to understand better how they achieve a competitive edge. The key companies profiled in the research report include: 

 Alvo

 General Electric Company

 Getinge AB

 Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc

 IMRIS

 Mizuho Corporation

 Medical Illumination

 NDS Surgical Imaging

 Koninklijke Philips N.V.

 STERIS plc

 Stryker Corporation

 Siemens AG

 Skytron LLC

 Canon Inc.

 Siemens AG

Since the research report comprehends data from historical years (2017-20) and the base year to provide estimations of the forecast period (2022-27) altogether, the market players strategize and proceed with informed perspectives to yield larger profit margins in the coming years.

Get Connect with Our Analyst For Any Questions and Further Discussion About the Study  Schedule a Call Now For Free

Some of the Latest Market Investments and Development By Industry Leaders 

In June 2021 , renowned player, Getinge announced its release of an Artificial Intelligence-based OR management system called Torin in the US to improve hospital efficiency & manage schedules for surgical procedures.

, renowned player, announced its release of an Artificial Intelligence-based OR management system called Torin in the US to improve hospital efficiency & manage schedules for surgical procedures. Back in September 2020, WakeMed partnered for a decade with prominent player Siemens Healthineers to present itself as a hub for new initiatives in the existing imaging & cardiovascular programs. WakeMed shall use advanced robotics & imaging equipment for cardiovascular care in a world-class hybrid operating room.

Market Segmentation as per the Research Report On Hybrid Operating Room Market

The industry, taken into consideration, is robust and highly fragmented. Owing to this, our analyst classified the Hybrid Operating Room Market into first and second level segments, enabling the stakeholders to gain actionable insights over numerous components of the market. Further, the market is broadly divided into the following segments,

Market Division Based On: By Component

Intraoperative Diagnostic Imaging Systems Angiography Systems MRI Systems CT Scanners Others

Operating Room Fixtures Operating Tables Operating Room Lights Surgical Booms Radiation Shields

Surgical Instruments

Audiovisual Display Systems and Tools

Others

Market Division Based On: By Application

Cardiovascular

Neurosurgical

Thoracic

Orthopedic

Others

Market Division Based On: By End User

Hospitals and Surgical Centers

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

The segmentation section discusses the prominent components of the market that has either dominated the market in terms of revenue or sales, among others.

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Besides our already made TOC, MarkNtel Advisors offer customization on reports, suiting clients or investors needs. To avail of the exciting offers and customized services, visit the official website & get personalized reports entailing all the relevant aspects in a comprehensive, unbiased, accurate, & reliable manner. In order to ensure the timely and impeccably curated delivery of content, visit the website today!

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About Us

We are a leading research, consulting, & data analytics firm that provides an extensive range of strategic reports on diverse industry verticals. We deliver data to a substantial & varied client base, including multinational corporations, financial institutions, governments, & individuals, among others.

Our specialization in niche industries & emerging geographies allows our clients to formulate their strategies in a much more informed way and entail parameters like Go-to-Market (GTM), product development, feasibility analysis, project scoping, market segmentation, competitive benchmarking, market sizing & forecasting, & trend analysis, among others, for 15 diverse industrial verticals.

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Phone  +1 628 895 8081, +91 120 4278433

Email: sales@marknteladvisors.com

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Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment Market Research Report, the most recent study from MarkNtel Advisors, facilitates stakeholders with crucial information on regional markets. By providing useful information on market insights, definitions, classifications, manufacturing operations, development plans, and investments, this research aims to obtain an in-depth understanding of the market under study. The study also examines how recent trends and events have influenced Haptic Feedback Surgical Environments consumer prices, growth rates, and market share. Also, it pinpoints an overview of the sector, a thorough study of current market trends and changes, and projections for local growth. So, large organizations adapt to modern trends and technological breakthroughs.

Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment Market Report Overview 

Ongoing Trends: The consistent research & development (R&D) in haptic technology to provide better feedback to the user has been a major trend that uplifts the adoption of this technology. Several manufacturers that provide robotic-assisted surgery equipment have emerged with technology that provides a mix of both haptic feedback & visual feedback signals. These dual-purpose devices escalate the surgical performance along with the overall training procedure as it enhances the accuracy & precision of the medical procedures.

Additionally, several companies such as Vicarious Surgical, Inc., Orbsurgical Ltd., and others are working on improving haptic devices & technology as well as integrating it into various surgical tools such as gloves, VR surgical devices, etc. For instance:

In 2018, a patent was assigned to Stuart Schecter LLC for its operating device for a minimally invasive hand-held surgical instrument integrated with the haptic feedback device.

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Report Coverage Details Study Period Historical Data: 2017-20 Base Year: 2021 Forecast Period: 2022-27 CAGR (2022-2027) 14.6% Regions Covered North America: The US, Canada, Mexico South America: Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Europe: The UK, Germany, France, Italy, Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific: China, Japan, South Korea, India, Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa: UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Rest of Middle East & Africa Key Companies Profiled 3D Systems Corporation, Force Dimension, Haption S.A., OrbSurgical Limited, Moog Inc., Others Unit Denominations USD Million/Billion

Industry Driving Factor: The escalated deployment of haptic technology in medical simulators & surgical robots benefits several healthcare procedures by enriching the tactile experience, along with audio & visual experience. Additionally, the deployment of haptic feedback in exoskeletal devices, advanced prosthetics, etc., enhances the user experience as they provide tangible feedback. The haptic feedback also helps the medical simulators to add a sense of touch when the user interacts in the virtual environment.

Available Opportunity: Using vibrotactile feedback over force feedback is projected to open up a market opportunity in the following years, owing to its higher sensitivity. Several researchers have approved that the vibrotactile feedback system is more effective due to the production of desired sensitivity, which decreases the risk during surgical procedures. Additionally, training medical practitioners through a vibrotactile feedback mechanism help to improve overall performance, as it immediately generates feedback, even at minor errors.

Report Table of Content

Market Segmentation Introduction Product Definition Research Process Assumptions Executive Summary Global Haptic Feedback Technology Industry Outlook Evolution of Technology Working Principle of Devices Future Scope Haptic Technology in Healthcare Sector Global Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment Market Trends & Insights Global Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment Market Dynamics Growth Drivers Challenges Global Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment Market Hotspot & Opportunities Global Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment Market Policies & Regulations Global Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment Market Patents Landscape Global Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment Market Outlook, 2017-2027F

Continue TOC

Geographical Dividation: The Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment Market is divided across the five regions: 

North America South America Europe The Middle East & Africa Asia Pacific

Of all the regions across the globe, North America accounted for the largest share of the Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment market during the past period, owing to its technological advancements that offer innovative solutions to the healthcare sector. North America was the early adopter of technological solutions like robotic surgeries, and the presence of most of the major companies assisted it to the acquire a major share of the market.

Competitive Environment as stated by the Research Report On Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment Market

Market data for the Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment industry focuses on competing companies, analyzing their financials, reach, revenue, and potential in new markets. The analysis also reviews company strengths and weaknesses and aims to highlight areas of dominance in regions and market segments. Each rival undergoes individual examination to understand better how they achieve a competitive edge. The key companies profiled in the research report include: 

 3D Systems Corporation

 Force Dimension

 Haption S.A.

 OrbSurgical Limited

 Moog Inc.

Since the research report comprehends data from historical years (2017-20) and the base year to provide estimations of the forecast period (2022-27) altogether, the market players strategize and proceed with informed perspectives to yield larger profit margins in the coming years.

Get Connect with Our Analyst For Any Questions and Further Discussion About the Study  Schedule a Call Now For Free

Market Segmentation as per the Research Report On Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment Market

The industry, taking into consideration, is robust and highly fragmented. Owing to this, our analyst classified the Haptic Feedback Surgical Environment Market into first and second-level segments, enabling the stakeholders to gain actionable insights over numerous components of the market. Further, the market is broadly divided into the following segments,

Market Division Based On: By Application

Haptic-Enabled Surgical Robotic Systems

Haptic-Enabled Medical Simulators

The segmentation section discusses the prominent components of the market that has either dominated the market in terms of revenue or sales, among others.

Checkout Our Other Study

Services Offered by Markntel Advisors

Besides our already made TOC, MarkNtel Advisors offer customization on reports, suiting clients or investors needs. To avail of the exciting offers and customized services, visit the official website & get personalized reports entailing all the relevant aspects in a comprehensive, unbiased, accurate, & reliable manner. In order to ensure the timely and impeccably curated delivery of content, visit the website today!

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PARIS, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Myrtille Bouvret, a French ceramic designer, posted pictures of a porcelain sculpture she made recently and shared the creative inspiration with her fans on Instagram. It has been six years since Bouvret completed her study at Jingdezhen Ceramic University (JCU) in China and started running a design studio in the southwestern French city of Limoges, widely known for its porcelain. "It is my trips to the porcelain capitals of the two countries that continually inspire me," she said. Jingdezhen, located in east China's Jiangxi Province, has been dedicated to the craft for over 1,800 years. In 2010, it forged a pair of sister cities with Limoges, in which porcelains produced have been sold across Europe. Bouvret is among droves of ceramic artists and overseas students who rushed to Jingdezhen, after an international ceramic studio was jointly established by the JCU and Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Art de Limoges (ENSA Limoges) in 2011. "I admire the craftsmen in Jingdezhen who inherit thousands of years of porcelain-making technique," she said. Hundreds of ceramic artworks have been created by the studio. Among these, two sets of ceramic lampposts, designed and made by French and Chinese students at the end of 2018, are the most special. Reading "Thank you Jingdezhen and loving Limoges," the two lampposts have borne witness to the cultural exchanges between the two countries. Now, one lamppost is standing on the street of Limoges while the other is on display at the exhibition hall of the studio. Zhou Lei, one of the co-creators, would always think about how to combine the modern western creation concept with the traditional Chinese skills while studying in the two places. "I want to integrate the ancient charm of blue and white porcelain with western aesthetics, let them break with tradition and go global," he said. As early as the 18th century, the "dual formula" of kaolin -- a soft white mineral named after the village in China -- and porcelain stone was transmitted from Jingdezhen to France, playing a key role in the development of the porcelain-making industry in France. Exchanges on ceramics between the two countries are mutually beneficial, said Weng Yanjun, director of Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum, adding that colored enamel porcelain is a type of porcelain integrating the Western material and Chinese traditional technique. While studying at the JCU, Bouvret once interned at Wanglong Ceramics Co.Ltd in Jingdezhen, where overseas designers are involved in the design of the products. A saucer she designed there was favored by a Michelin star chef in France and then used as a utensil for holding foie gras. "The cooperation with craftsmen in Jingdezhen has inspired me a lot," said Norman Trapman, a French designer, who holds teleconferences with the craftsmen once a week. At an exhibition held in Milan, Italy, earlier this year, a set of Celadon spa items including a bathtub and a hand sink, designed by Trapman, has brought the company international orders. "The transnational exchanges and cooperation have helped us gain traction in the international market," said Yu Wanglong, general manager of the company.
Few holidays can compare with Easter in its profusion of curious traditions that families look forward to each early spring. And few southern 
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, April 10, 2023

Fox News has settled a defamation lawsuit with Venezuelan businessman Majed Khalil.

Khalil's $250-million suit charged that after the 2020 election, Lou Dobbs, a Fox News host at the time, falsely accused Khalil and three other Venezuelans of participating in a non-existent scheme to rig or fix the election against Donald Trump.

Dobbs accused Khalil of being a "liaison with Hezbollah" who had helped lead an "electoral 9-11," and called the election a cyber Pearl Harbor.

The parties sent a letter to U.S. District Judge Louis Stanton in Manhattan on Saturday stating that they had reached a confidential agreement resolving the lawsuit and expect to file a joint stipulation of dismissal next week.

On Sunday, Fox released a statement saying the matter has been resolved amicably by both sides, adding that Fox would have no further comment.

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Fox cancelled Dobbs show in February 2021, one day after the Smartmatic voting systems company filed a $2.7-billion defamation suit against Dobbs, fellow Fox anchors Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro, Fox News, Fox Corp and Trump lawyers Rudi Giuliani and Sidney Powell for accusing Smartmatic of engaging in election fraud.

The separate, $1.6-billion defamation case brought by Dominion Voting  set to begin jury selection this week  has generated ample headlines due to the release of deposed statements from Fox Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch and emails among Murdoch and other Fox executives discussing their coverage of the election.

But the larger Smartmatic case has also been proceeding, despite Foxs efforts to get it dismissed. On March 8, the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan ruled that Smartmatics case could proceed against Fox News, Bartiromo, Dobbs and Giuliani.

Smartmatics lawsuit accuses the Fox hosts and guests of broadcasting more than 100 false statements, including claiming that the company helped rig election counts in six battleground states, and shared its technology with Dominion for fraudulent purposes. Smartmatic has stated that it participated only in Los Angeles county vote counting, and did not share its technology with rival Dominion.

The lawsuit also charges Fox with falsely describing Smartmatic as having been founded in Venezuela at the behest of dictators. The company was actually founded by Antonio Mugica and Roger Pinate in 2000 in Boca Raton, to help address the states compromised elections system following the hanging chads mess that resulted in the Supreme Court deciding the election, according to press reports.

As with the Dominion case, Smartmatic would have to prove actual malice  that Fox knew it was airing lies, or showed reckless disregard for the truth  to win.

In his March ruling, New York Supreme Court justice David Cohen stated that Fox News at a minimum had turned a blind eye to a litany of outrageous claims about Smartmatic, and that the plaintiffs had pleaded facts sufficient to allow a jury to infer that Fox News acted with actual malice.

In all of the defamation actions, Fox has argued that the lawsuits are without legal merit because Fox was engaging in First Amendment-protected coverage of news. Fox also asserts that the lawsuits threaten to undermine crucial protections for journalism and freedom of the press.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, April 10, 2023

Baidu, the Chinese tech giant and largest competitor to Google Search, sued Apple and several app developers to stop the flood of fake bot apps of Ernie, the company's artificial intelligence-based chatbot.

Ernie (Enhanced Representation through Knowledge Integration) bot apps have been appearing in the App Store, Apples store for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and other content for Apple products. A search of the App Store by Reuters on Saturday found at least four fake Ernie bot apps were still available.

The document, filed Friday in Beijing Haidian People's Court, aims to force Apple to take down the fake apps and stop app creators from offering the apps in its store. The company also posted a photograph of its court filing, according to Reuters.

Until our company's official announcement, any Ernie app you see from App Store or other stores are fake," the statement via the official "Baidu AI" WeChat account reads, according to Apple Insider.

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Ernie, Baidus artificial intelligence-powered chatbot, code is only accessible to users who apply for access.

Baidu created Ernie as an AI chatbot similar to ChatGPT and Google Bard. The companys chief Executive Officer Robin Li introduced the chatbot earlier this year and said it would merge the technology into its search engine. The chatbot was developed in 2019 in an effort to improve search query results on Baidus search engine

Baidu in 2019 developed Ernie as a deep-learning model. The company has since developed dozens of similar deep-learning models and extended its capabilities to include image and art generation, similar to those of OpenAIs Dall-E.
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, April 10, 2023

The most ironic part of Twitter's move to label objectively world class news media outlets like America's NPR (National Public Radio) and the U.K.'s BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) as "government funded media," is that using the same standards, the label would also apply to Twitter.

Governments routinely spend money with Twitter to advertise, promote tweets, license its data, and now subscribe to its badges, making them a part of Twitter's funding.

I don't have access to stats on what the U.S. government currently spends on Twitter, but Canada spends more than $3 million annually on the social media platform, according to a report by the CBC, which ironically is not among the national news organizations currently labeled as government-funded media by Twitter even though the CBC derives more than two-thirds of its annual budget from Canadian government funding.

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NPR, by contrast, derives less than 16% of its budget from U.S. government funding, about the same percentage it derives from corporations. Its biggest source is people like me, and hopefully you. You know, the "public" in the P in NPR. According to its most recent filing, NPR derives 43% of its annual budget from individuals.

So if Twitter wants to slap a label on NPR's Twitter account, "public-funded media" would actually be a more accurate and honest one.

If not, then the government funded media label might as well be applied to Twitter itself.

I mean, Twitter's not just deriving its funding from Western governments like the U.S. or Canada.

One of its biggest sources is China, which is kind of ironic, because -- you know -- TikTok.


COVID-19 Advice for The Public: Getting Vaccinated

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Even though uptake of the updated booster shot in Canada has also been relatively low, additional doses would be beneficial. Emerging data also show that those who get the bivalent booster shot are better protected against hospitalization and death, especially among older individuals.Among people aged 65 to 79 years, the updated booster had one-tenth the risk of being hospitalized compared with those who are unvaccinated, and roughly half the risk of being hospitalized compared with those who have not received the bivalent booster.Even among younger adults, the updated booster had one-sixth the chance of being hospitalized than unvaccinated people, and roughly half the chance of being hospitalized compared with vaccinated people who had not gotten the updated booster.Those who aged 65 to 79 got the updated booster was about one-tenth as likely to die from COVID-19 compared with unvaccinated people. They were roughly half as likely to die compared with vaccinated people who had not received the updated booster.Even with the termination of COVID-19 emergency declarations, vaccinating those most at risk remains a key focus moving forward  particularly as the disease continues to kill thousands of people a week worldwide.Still, there appears to be booster fatigue , even in highly vaccinated areas. A recent analysis showed only 40% of California-eligible residents get an updated booster as of March 31.By comparison, about 73% of Californians completed their primary vaccination series, and 61% of vaccinated residents have gotten at least one booster shot. Some residents, especially those boosted recently, may have been unclear that the latest shot was formulated differently, or felt they didn't need it. Although booster rates are not hopeful, it is significant that a large majority of several highly populated areas did complete the primary vaccination series.Source: Medindia
Its been nine years in the making, but Kroflueldar, the debut studio album from Icelandic Black Metal band Altari is finally upon us and what a unique and fascinating listen it is too. Kroflueldar, meaning electric fires, is named after a series of eruptions that happened at Krafla in Iceland in 1975 over a coincidentally nine-year period of seismic activity, resulting in over twenty-four eruptions in the area.

Altari  Kroflueldar (Svart Records)

Release Date: 14 April 2023

Words: Jools Green

Kroflueldar is a seven-track, thirty-five-minute offering that brings something very different to Black Metal to such an extent its hard to define. Such is its avant-garde nature, which for me, is its biggest charm.

Even the psychedelic-style album cover, created by guitarist K.R.Gumundsson, which represents the overall scenario of storms and lava when a volcano erupts, is decidedly atypical of a Black Metal artwork.

Everything about this well-considered, well-created and well-delivered album challenges the ideas and boundaries of the genre, and I love that. You also get a very strong mental image created by the overall sound of this release, of the very bleak turbulent landscape of Iceland as a whole, and thats very Black Metal.

Many of the influences behind the release help shape it into the very different listen that it is, such as having its sound foundations in the classic eras of early Judas Priest. Bands such as Blue Oyster Cult, Interpol and Killing Joke were a big inspiration for us as well for the use of clean guitars as the sound for leads, guitarist and vocalist O..Gujonsson explains. I expressed a desire to find some balance between the overdriven rhythm and melodic yet clean leads. These bands helped us find that.

He continues, saying the intention was an overall desire for us to get away from the sound that has been a gateway for others here in the scene, something in which they have succeeded, thereby creating an album that is very different.

I love the otherworldly feel of the distant drums and haunting pipes at the start of the opening piece Kroflueldar, building into dark, haunting riffs that ebb and rise into a dark, doomy soundscape, with vocals that push through, ranging from raw and rasping to cleaner and haunting, a magnificently dark atmospheric and evocative piece.

An eerie opening soundscape and a scream expand into a blackened groove on Djaknahrollur, with a psychedelic, Hawkwind-esque undercurrent that builds and comes to the fore midway, dropping back to a blackened groove, but that psychedelic element remains.

Leurblokufjandinn has the discordant quality of Voivod in the way melody and disharmony are melded, with very acidic rasping vocals all incorporated into a darker core, a superbly mesmerising piece.

Syruluur is as eerie as it gets, largely thanks to the vocals of Gya Margret, which add a delicate and misty, brooding atmosphere as her voice becomes entwined in the equally eerie and subtle guitar and drum work. In contrast, Hin Eina Sanna is haunting, deceptively complex and topped with pounding rhythms and cavernous vocals and a psychedelic undercurrent, an overwhelmingly all-encompassing beast of a track.

Vitisvilltur is so eerily dark and thought-provoking part of my mind expected it, on first listen, to suddenly rip forth, leaving me on tenterhooks for its duration. But instead, it stayed on the same tantalisingly eerie, engagingly convoluted path throughout. But even though I was expecting a more brutal route to be carved by this track, it didnt disappoint.

The final piece, Grafarogn, delivers one last dose of dark hypnotic Black Metal, the vocals acidic, ripping through the haunting repeat melody. The one other impressive aspect across the release I havent mentioned is the drum work. Its subtly complex, unpredictable yet fluid and very jazz-like, but with a unique album like this, youd expect the drum work to be equally beyond the norm.

Kroflueldar definitely puts a unique twist on Icelandic Black Metal. Give it a listen, and you wont be disappointed. It should certainly be of interest to fans of Craft, Deathspell Omega, Blut Aus Nord Misyrming and Sinmara.
Essential aged care, child care, hospitality, postal and freight workers are being priced out of the rental market across Australia with the average employee forced to spend around two thirds of their income on housing.

Since March 2020, workers on award wages had lost an average of six hours from their weekly income to rent increases, according to a new report produced by the Everybody's Home campaign.

This amounts to 37 days worth of wages every year, but child care, hospitality and meat-packing workers are losing at least 40 days worth.

The report found nurses, cleaners, aged care and postal workers were among those hit hardest by the rental crisis, spending most of their pay on housing costs.

Findings showed rising rents meant essential workers in single households were likely to be in serious financial stress, while those in coupled homes were probably financially dependent on their partner's income.

Based on the average cost of rentals in capital cities, the report found full-time workers on the lowest award wage would be left with around $20 a day after paying rent.

Meat packers and hospitality staff in capital cities are spending more than 80 per cent of their earnings just on rent.

Queensland has become one of the least affordable states for renters with the highest paid essential workers spending at least half of their incomes on rent.

In NSW and Victoria there were no affordable regions for essential workers earning award wages.

Everybody's Home spokeswoman Maiy Azize said workers in essential industries were the backbone of Australian communities, yet more and more were being pushed into serious rental stress.

"Virtually no region in Australia is affordable for our aged care workers, early childhood carers, cleaners, nurses and many other essential workers we rely on," she said.

"Our tax system is rigged against renters, driving up the cost of rent for millions of Australians and on top of that (there is) a huge shortfall of social homes for people who can't afford rent."

Story continues

Everybody's Home was established by a coalition of 400 housing, homelessness and welfare organisations.

The campaign is calling on the federal government to start building 25,000 social homes every year to help with the shortfall, funded by winding back tax concessions for investors and landlords.

The Albanese government has proposed a package of housing reforms which includes a $10 billion housing future fund to finance the construction of 30,000 social and affordable rental homes over five years.

But the proposal faces a parliamentary challenge from the Greens and crossbenchers who want greater investment to meet existing housing challenges.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Athens, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, in the context of the latter's visit to Greece.

The two Ministers will have a one-on-one meeting at approximately 14.15, followed by expanded talks between the two delegations.

Joint statements to the press will take place at approximately 15.30.

Discussions are expected to focus on further strengthening the two countries' strategic relations in a wide range of areas such as the economy, investments, energy, and climate change mitigation.

Furthermore, they are expected to cover international and regional developments of mutual interest, including developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya, and the Middle East, as well as European Union - Egypt relations and regional cooperation schemes.


















US policymakers say they are open to sending American troops to defend Taiwan with the island nation reportedly encircled by Chinese warships as the country carries out aggressive military drills.

China's military simulated precision strikes against Taiwan in a second day of drills around the island on Sunday (local time), with the island's defence ministry reporting multiple air force incursions, and declaring it was monitoring China's missile forces.

Taiwan officials said they detected 70 Chinese aircraft and 11 warships around the island.

A Taiwan Air Force F-16 aircraft prepares for take off in Hualien, Taiwan on April 9 amid Chinese drills around the island. Source: Reuters

China, which claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory, began the three days of exercises around the island on Saturday, the day after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a brief visit to the United States.

Chinese state television reported that the combat readiness patrols and drills around Taiwan were continuing, as its state media spruiked the show of force.

"Under the unified command of the theatre joint operations command centre, multiple types of units carried out simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan island and the surrounding sea areas, and continue to maintain an offensive posture around the island," it said.

The Chinese military's Eastern Theatre Command put out a short animation of the simulated attacks on its WeChat account, showing missiles fired from land, sea and air into Taiwan with two of them exploding in flames as they hit their targets.

A source familiar with the security situation in the region told Reuters that China had been conducting simulated air and sea attacks on "foreign military targets" in the waters off Taiwan's southwestern coast.

"Taiwan is not their only target," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media. "It's very provocative."

Story continues

The Taiwan Defence Ministry said they were paying particular attention to the People's Liberation Army's Rocket Force which is in charge of China's land-based missile system.

An animation released by China shows conventional missiles and long-range rocket launchers on land, warplanes in the air and warships at sea simultaneously attacking Taiwan. PLA Eastern Theater Command

Republicans 'open' to sending US troops to Taiwan

It comes as US House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul said sending US troops was "on the table" if China made a move on the democratic island of 23 million people.

"If communist China invaded Taiwan, it would certainly be on the table and something that would be discussed by Congress and with the American people," the Texas Republican told Fox News.

"Are they prepared to do this? Is Taiwan worth it? I can argue for a lot of reasons why it is."

Those words were echoed by senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham who on Sunday (local time) told the same network he was "open" to sending US troops to Taiwan, saying the country's policy of "strategic ambiguity" was not working.

"Yes, Id be very much open to using US forces to defend Taiwan, because its in our national security interest to do so," he said.

with Reuters

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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CHRISTIANA, Del. (AP)  Authorities are searching for three suspects in a shooting at a Delaware mall over the weekend that wounded three people and led to an evacuation.

According to the state police, the three suspects confronted an 18-year-old man as he was leaving the Christiana Mall's food court shortly after 6:30 p.m. Saturday and began to assault him. Two friends of the victim began fighting with them, and one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fired multiple rounds. The original target of the attack and a 16-year-old friend were each shot by three rounds in the torso and lower extremities. The three suspects, described as in their late teens, then fled.
Spring is here, and with it comes a bloom of terrific reading.

Starting with a good cozy mystery, Jessie Q. Sutantos Vera Wongs Unsolicited Advice For Murderers introduces readers to 60-year-old widow Vera Wong, owner of Vera Wangs Famous Tea House (which is neither famous nor owned by designer Vera Wang) in San Franciscos Chinatown.

Vera begins each day at 4:30 a.m. texting her son asking him why is he is not up yet, as he has a whole world to conquer. Upon returning home for her daily morning walk, Vera discovers the dead body of a man in her tea house.

When the police arrive, Vera is disappointed in their lack of concern that the man was murdered. She takes it upon herself to find the killer, and she narrows the suspects to four people: the mans widow, his brother, a woman who claims to be a true crime podcaster, and a man who claims to be a reporter.

Vera speaks her mind freely, and what she says is often hilarious and sometimes inappropriate. I hope we see more of Vera Wong in subsequent books, although I do take exception that the author refers to the 60-year-old Vera as elderly."

Another lighthearted read is Annabel Monaghans Nora Goes Off Script. Nora is a thirtysomething woman who makes a living writing scripts for Hallmark-type romance movies.

Her latest script, "The Tea House" (yes, another tea house), is a departure, a movie based on her own life after her husband deserts her and their two young children. This movie is a big budget affair, starring the famous movie star Leo Vance.

The movie is filming some scenes at her home in upstate New York, and Leo and company have camped out on her lawn. She finds Leo sitting in her kitchen doing her daily newspaper crossword and befriending her children.

When Leo decides he need a break from Hollywood, he moves into Noras tea house and ingratiates himself into her small town and Noras life. Nora and Leo begin a romance, and just when Nora feels like she and Leo could be something permanent, he has to go back to Hollywood, but he promises he will be back.

Leo doesnt come back, and Nora writes another script about Leo and their broken romance that becomes a hit. Can they find their way back to each other? Nora Goes Off Script is charming and sweet, a lovely story that I admit made me tear up at the end (in a good way).

Spring is good for historical fiction readers. Maisie Dobbs fans expect a new book in Jacqueline Winspears popular series every March, but this year Winspear give us a new character in her novel The White Lady.

Elinor White is a mysterious woman who lives in small grace-and-favor home gifted to her by the British government for her service during World War II. She keeps to herself in the small rural area she lives in outside London.

Elinor reluctantly becomes involved in her neighbors lives when she discovers the young father is trying to break free of his notorious crime family.

As teenagers, Elinor and her sister were recruited as resistance spies in Belgium during World War I. After they move to England with their mother, Elinor ends up working for the British government during World War II due to her previous experience.

Winspear creates another fascinating and fully realized character in Elinor White, and it will be interesting to see if we get more of Elinor in the future. Maybe her path crosses with Maisie Dobbs?

Lauren Willigs newest historical fiction, Two Wars and A Wedding, takes a character from last years Band of Sisters and shares her story before her World War I adventures.

Betsy Hayes travels to Athens in 1896 intending to work on an archeology excavation. She is told that women are not allowed to participate in digs, and when war breaks out between Greece and Turkey, Betsy becomes a nurse.

After she sees the horrors of war up close, she gives up nursing but is drawn back in when her friend Ava travels to Cuba during the Spanish-American War with the Red Cross as a nurse. Betsy wants to save Ava and offers to take her place.

Once again, Willig brings these characters to vivid life, and anyone who thinks that women are the weaker sex are quickly disavowed of that notion reading her riveting and thoroughly researched historical novels.

If you read BOOK: Vera Wongs Unsolicited Advice For Murderers By Jessie Q. Sutanto GRADE: A PUBLISHER: Berkley COST: Trade paperback, $17 LENGTH: 352 pages BOOK: Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan GRADE: A+ PUBLISHER: Putnam COST: Trade paperback, $17 LENGTH: 304 pages BOOK: The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear GRADE: A PUBLISHER: Harper COST: Hardcover, $30 LENGTH: 336 pages BOOK: Two Weddings and A War by Lauren Willig GRADE: A+ PUBLISHER: William Morrow COST: Hardcover, $32 LENGTH: 435 pages
BIG RAPIDS  With artificial intelligence on the rise, new software like OpenAIs ChatGPT being used in academic spheres is posing challenges for educators with whether to incorporate or discourage its usage.

ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that allows a user to generate original text, was launched by OpenAI in November.

The software allows a user to ask it questions and, through prompts, it can create poems, songs and essays.

Since its launch, some educators in high schools and universities have seen an increase in students using the software to complete papers and assist in doing other assignments.

At Ferris State University, educators in many departments are considering how AI software may be used to educate and inform instead of cheat.

Mari Kermit-Canfield, coordinator of research services and professor of library and instructional services at FSU, said she sees the potential to make AI a useful tool in higher education.

I will say we've all been interacting with a little AI for a while, Kermit-Canfield said. (ChatGPT) is very confident, and it definitely has its own style. (We) need to use it to help through the hard parts that are part of the creative process that needs to emerge from the brain.

"With papers Ive seen made with (ChatGPT), it was obvious that the student hadn't learned anything by having it just pump out the paper for them. The student hadn't read the materials, they hadn't ingested the topic, they hadn't synthesized that information and created something new.

According to a Pew Research study conducted in February 2023 that explored public views on nine specific AI applications currently in use, or in the advanced stages of development, results showed that among Americans who are aware of AI programs that can write content like ChatGPT, a relatively small share (16%) describe this as a major advance while 28% call it a minor advance. The largest share (45%) responded it is not an advance at all.

OpenAI, ChatGPT is powered by a sophisticated algorithm called a large language model. Its algorithms are fed with massive amounts of textual data, which then allow them to respond to prompts in a realistic, human-like fashion, a computational system known as natural language processing.

Generative artificial intelligence has already shown a diverse range of applications including creating art, reproducing elements of video production, simulating human actors and voices, and other knowledge, economy and creative industry-based roles.

'AN EVOLVING CONVERSATION'

Jessica Haist, a high school English teacher at Big Rapids Public Schools, said her department is actively addressing the use of the software.

We were made aware of it around Christmastime that we had students that were using it, Haist said. Since then, we have as an English department, had several conversations about it. We are trying to put a block on it so (students) cant use it at school. It definitely has become quite a big deal.

I think that where we're seeing it the most is when the kids have a short turnaround on a writing assignment, she said. It's easy to put the prompt in and get a response that looks pretty good. Where we're still able to see with the kids that have used it is writing styles are very different than what we're used to seeing from those students, so that's usually your first red flag.

The department and its teachers also watch for the time it takes students to write essays and assignments in Google classroom. If a student finishes a longer essay in a much shorter time frame, it can also be a red flag for ChatGPT use.

Some programs the Big Rapids Public Schools English department has been exploring are designed to detect the probability that a student has used a software like ChatGPT on an assignment using analyzation.

Having students put pencil to paper when doing assignments has been the simplest way to curb usage of the software, Haist said.

We have to find a balance, I think, and maybe go a little bit backward to take that away from them at times, Haist said. Because it's new, we're all kind of figuring it out as we go. One of the things we've talked about is using it as examples in writing and citations. Analyzing a prompt and asking questions to help with understanding. It's just going to be an evolving conversation.

In the Ferris State University e-learning department, interim director Andrew Peterson has been exploring the capabilities of the ChatGPS software.

According to Peterson, his research has shown that the software has an impressive capacity.

It kind of became more of a rabbit hole of trying to stump the computer, Peterson said. I guess the one I had the most fun with is having it do poetry, I had it write an ode to coffee in the style of Dr. Seuss. What I've heard from a lot of the students and the faculty, the initial thing is just (getting) a first draft, a structure with (ChatGPT).

After countless hours spent exploring the program, Peterson said he is also versed in how to tell if a student utilized software to complete an assignment.

The algorithm tends to create a similar structure, especially when creating a longer prompt.

The immediate concern is, this is cheating, Peterson said. I really wish that students would see how blatantly obvious it is that as soon as you've read your fifth paper there's a very obvious structure for this. If they actually used it as a tool, it's insanely valuable and they could get some subtle nuances that they didn't think about, and it can really kind of strengthen their writing and research skills.

'THE VALUE OF KNOWING'

Though relatively new, ChatGPT is already facing new competitors including Google, which has released a ChatGPT competitor named Bard. Facebooks Meta has also announced its own chatbot the LLaMA.

ChatGPT was widely popular in its inception, garnering 1 million users in its first week alone and garnering 10 million queries a day, according to OpenAI.

Both Peterson and Kermit-Canfield believe programs like ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence programs are here to stay in the education world.

I'll caution that this is the very beginning, Kermit-Canfield said, I don't think we have any idea what this is really going to look like, and I don't think each faculty member will be using the same (software) I'll be using.

"Early adoption and teaching inclusively is really important. If you treat it like it's forbidden, it will be like junk food. You try to keep it away, it becomes sneaky. Teach carefully and also teach that your learning is valuable. You're the person who's learning and becoming smarter is the most important thing that you can do.

Peterson said he believes there is importance in students seeing the value in the content they are learning and the assignments they are doing. ChatGPT and programs like it take away from that learning process that is necessary for academic understanding in some cases.

There's kind of some intrinsic extrinsic motivation there with learning, Peterson said. If students see the value of knowing something, they're much more likely to want to know it. You want to be able to make assignments that are meaningful to your student population. As assignments become more meaningful, it's much harder to cheat on them because you do want to produce this thing that has (real) use and there are learning opportunities.

Put more of the emphasis on trying to engage the student in the content, rather than just having them produce something, he said. If AI can produce something all the time, every time, then the production isn't where the values are.
Habitat for Humanity and Consumers Energy are teaming up to raise funds statewide to stabilize housing in Michigan communities.

Consumers Energy is offering affiliates $100,000 in match funds  every $2 raised in the campaign receives an additional $1 of match money.

"We need your help to meet our $25,000 goal and receive these match funds," reads a news release from Manistee County Habitat for Humanity.

The local group "has been building homes, handicap assessable ramps and hope in Michigan for 26 years and understands critical need for safe, affordable housing."

The Power of Home  Michigan campaign is an opportunity to raise funds to "fuel the vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live."

Manistee County Habitat for Humanity plans to build 10 energy efficient homes with property donated by Morton Salt for residents at 60% to 120% area median income.

"We are focusing on the missing middle: teachers, firefighters, law enforcement, manufacturing and health care workers. This is your neighbor, your relative and the average hard working Manistee County resident," said Amy Wojciechowski, Manistee County Habitat for Humanity board member.

In January 2022, Manistee County Habitat for Humanity announced the acquisition of 5.5 acres of vacant land that was owned by Morton Salt in Filer Township. There are no structures on the property, located in two sections  one on 15th Street near Mack Park and the second with frontage on Merkey Road.

Manistee County Land Bank Chair Rachel Nelson said in 2022 that Habitat projects are an asset for a community in need of housing.

Workforce housing is desperately needed in Manistee County, Nelson said in an emailed statement to the News Advocate. Habitat does a great job of collaborating to get things done and making the most out of opportunities that present themselves.

Manistee County Habitat for Humanity is asking for help to meet its goal to receive the match funds. Donation can be made online at classy.org/team/490374.

In order to receive the Consumers Energy match, all donations must be made through the online giving platform, which opened April 10.

For more information about the local Habitat group, email Habitat.manistee.county@gmail.com.
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Midland resident Chad Chichester was just reacting to a situation in front of him  and hes glad that he was able to make a difference.

Chichester has been awarded a Carnegie Medal for heroism one year after pulling Sanford resident Karleigh Zmikly out of a burning all-terrain vehicle in Gladwin County. The Carnegie Medal is considered North Americas highest civilian honor for heroism.

Its very humbling, Chichester said of the award. In the moment, you just react. You dont make decisions; you just react with the information you have right in front of you and you do what makes sense.

Every year, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, awards the Carnegie Medal to individuals from the United States and Canada who risk themselves to an extraordinary degree saving or attempting to save the lives of others. Chichester is one of 15 individuals being awarded a Carnegie Medal in the first quarter of 2023. He is the only Michigander. This medal has been awarded to 10,355 people since its inception in 1904.

Zmikly was a passenger in an ATV that her boyfriend, Carter Bean, was driving on an off-road trail on the morning of Sunday, April 3, 2022, in northern Gladwin County near the community of Meredith.

Chichester and his wife, Jen, were riding the same trail in their own ATV, or side-by-side, while their son, Zac, was riding a dirt bike. Zac Chichester and Bean are best friends who graduated from Dow High School together, and this extended group often did activities together.

I couldnt believe what had just happened," Chad Chichester recalled. "This was just a leisurely Sunday ride.

He explained that both side-by-sides went over a berm, then reached a paved road and turned around to retrace their route back to their cars. Chad and Jen Chichester went back over the berm and Bean and Zmikly followed suit, with Zac Chichester close by.

But Chichester said that where Bean and Zmikly crossed the berm, it was somewhat taller and steeper. When their machine reached the bottom of the berm, its nose hit the ground and it flipped over, rotated 180 degrees and flipped on its side on the drivers door.

Chichester said Bean had been driving responsibly and the vehicle was probably only going between 5 and 8 miles per hour.

These things are designed to flip over. We werent necessarily concerned about injuries, Chichester said. We started undoing our harnesses. Thats when it just burst into flames.

Taking action

All three Chichesters ran up to Bean and Zmiklys side-by-side, and Zac was able to tear off the back part of the plastic roof so that Bean could climb out of the machine.

Chad Chichester saw Zmikly, who is 5-foot-1, reaching her arms through the passenger window and seeming to be trying to find a footbold in order to climb out.

Chichester said he grabbed Zmiklys arms close to her armpits and tried to pull her out of the machine, but the gloves he was wearing melted from the intense heat of the fire.

It was like having two handfuls of grease and trying to pick her up, he said.

So Chichester was able to shake the gloves off of his hands, reach back through the flames and pull Zmikly out of the side-by-side.

Chichester and the other three in the group then helped Zmikly roll on the ground to extinguish the flames on her, which was a difficult process because it was a gas fire, Chichester explained.

When those flames had been extinguished, Chad and Jen Chichester both called 911 on their phones, but Chad had no feeling in his burned fingers. Bean and Zmikly both had severe burns.

Jen was able to talk to a 911 dispatcher briefly but then got disconnected because of the remote area where they were. She ran down the road with her phone, trying to get a better connection, and as some residents came out to offer help, she asked one of them to call 911 from their house to make sure that the dispatcher had gotten the right location.

We did not have time to waste, Jen Chichester said.

Meanwhile, Chad and Zac Chichester realized that given the heat of the fire, they had to move Zmikly further away from the burning side-by-side to keep her safe. They ended up moving her twice as the ATV continued to burn.

It was also apparent that Bean and Zmikly were going into shock. A nearby resident brought a bucket of water and blankets to the site of the accident, and the others used the blankets to cover Bean and Zmikly.

Eventually, an ambulance arrived to take Zmikly out to the trailhead, where a helicopter could land to take her to the Hurley Medical Center burn unit in Flint.

When Chad Chichester was contacted by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission late last summer, he and Jen had never heard of it before.

I still have no idea how they heard about the accident, Chad Chichester said.

One year later

One year after the accident, Bean and Zmikly continue to progress in their recovery, and to support each other.

Theyre doing great, Jen Chichester said. They told us it takes a couple of years before you can have a full recovery of muscles and nerves and skin. Carter and Karleigh are still having different surgeries.

The Chichesters say the experience has made them more grateful for life and for simple things.

There are so many things we just take for granted, even just the simple things of getting up and going about your merry way, Chad said. We were very fortunate to be together that day, to be physically and emotionally close. If we would have been 50 yards away instead of 20 yards away when the fire started, were probably having a different conversation.
Photo provided/Michigan State Police Third District

A 16-year-old boy missing for six days was located Saturday morning near the Michigan and Ohio border.

The Dryden Township Police Department announced Saturday that Nathan John Baughman was found in "good health" by Monroe County Sheriff's Office deputies. He is in the process of being reunited with his family, according to a press release.
Jennifer Yakey-Ault/Getty Images

HEBRON  Fire crews were battling a brush fire in town for hours on Sunday, officials say.

The Hebron Fire Department said it was called to Stone House around 5:15 p.m. to respond to a brush fire that also involved some outbuildings. It said the blaze took about four hours to put out and secure, with crews returning to their headquarters at about 9:15 p.m.
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MIDDLETOWN  Several longtime teachers, including the union president, beseeched school leaders earlier this month to address major concerns about working conditions, including alleged verbal abuse from students.

In fact, 46-year middle school American history teacher, coach and Student Council adviser John Geary said the situation is dire: Beman Middle School is in crisis.

You've heard the anguish from my colleagues, their frustration and fears," he told Board of Education members during their April meeting. Never in my career have I had so many staff members come into my room, close the door, and openly cry for the way they're being treated throughout the school day."

Educators said they've also witnessed students bullying one another.

A number of the six individuals who spoke during public comment praised administrators for their work, but stressed they need much more support to ensure students succeed.

Teacher Nicole McGillicuddy, who has worked as an educator for 27 years, is a sixth-grade language arts teacher at Beman. She said teachers deal with disrespect on a daily basis.

Middletown Federation of Teachers President Janice Pawlak asked board members to send a message to the community against abusive language or abusive actions," she said, adding that, despite programs addressing the issue, students are struggling socially, emotionally and academically.

Superintendent of Schools Alberto Vazquez-Matos sent a letter to parents Monday saying that, days before the April 4 meeting, he, education board Chairwoman Deborah Cain and all Beman staff met to discuss the concerns.

He assured them that administrators are also working with the union on the matter.

However, to be clear, disciplinary interventions must promote learning and be fair to both staff and students, the schools chief said, referencing an April 3 letter to the community.

My top priority as your superintendent is ensuring that our schools are places where all feel safe, seen and supported. We value and respect every employee and their commitment to our students, and will continue to partner with the MFT, with teachers, other staff members and with parents to maintain a safe and productive school environment, he wrote.

"We have great schools and great programs," Pawlak said. "We need to focus with the same intensity on developing programs for the most vulnerable students as well. It is not a pretty conversation, and one that many people in academia and politics will shy away from, but we need to have it for the sake of all of our students.

Geary, who has been with the district since 1976, said the schools have lost quality educators and he expects more to leave by the end of the academic year.

Students and families fear what is going on, he said, pointing to youth writing letters to staff apologizing for the conduct of their peers and the feeling of hopelessness to change it."

... As I tell my students every day, 'we are better than this, Geary said.

McGillicuddy, also a member of the school board in her hometown, said that when she started teaching, the schools were at the forefront of educational excellence. They were the model district for all Connecticut towns.

Nearly three decades later, she said, the district is "not in a good place."

McGillicutty, a single parent, also asked the board to pay teachers more, with a salary that meets the cost of living for next year.

"It is appalling that you approved a 1.3 percent cost of living increase in an economy with an 8 percent cost of living, she said.

The situation has become so bad, she said, many teachers have to get a second job to pay their bills. You hired multiple directors making six figures that I am sure do not deal with disrespect I deal on daily basis.

She asked the board to support Beman Principal Raymond Byron, who is trying to make the middle school a better place for all. "Without him, many teachers would probably be looking for another positions outside this district," McGillicutty said.

"We always had the latest and greatest of everything," Beman teacher and 27-year educator Jane Carluccio said. "There wasn't anything too expensive or too new that wasn't tried in order to help all students be successful."

The problem, said Carluccio, who is retiring six years early because of conditions, isnt necessarily higher pay or working closer to home, but the toll this has taken on teachers  The environment here is so stressful it is impossible not to take it home.

Parent Christine Gasstrom said she was compelled to address the board after hearing from teachers. "Though I've been hearing it all year, it's still shocking," she said. ... We've got to full stop and check what the heck.

The school community needs heroes right now, Geary said. You don't need a superhero cape to swoop to our rescue. Now is the hour. Lock arms with us. We are in this together.

For information, visit middletownschools.org.
City

 Darrell L. Best, 55, 12 Chestnut St., Apt. 3, Auburn, was charged April 4 with first-degree falsifying business records and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

 Edward A. Simpson, 49, 40 Cayuga St., Auburn, was charged April 4 with fourth-degree criminal mischief.

 Donald R. Flynn, 51, 13 Rock Ave., Auburn, was charged April 5 with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and possession of a mislabeled dangerous drug.

 Ryan S. Kelsey, 32, 55 Grant Ave., Auburn, was charged April 5 with second-degree criminal contempt.

 Steven T. Short, 41, transient, Auburn, was charged April 6 with second-degree burglary and petit larceny.

 Richard J. David, 45, 21 Kensington Ave., Auburn, was charged April 6 with first-degree criminal contempt, aggravated family offense and second-degree criminal contempt.

 Austin M. Molina-Alonzo, 4 VanPatten St., Auburn, was charged April 6 with second-degree menacing and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

 Bethany C. Terrell, 37, 201 Hoefler St., Apt. 4, Syracuse, was charged April 6 with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

 Justin T. Gervais, 27, transient, Auburn, was charged April 6 with petit larceny.

 Anthony Malik Colon, 25, 6557 Mullen Drive, Aurelius, was charged April 7 with second-degree criminal contempt.

 Sean F. Curtis, 38, 19 McMaster St., Auburn, was charged April 7 with fourth-degree criminal mischief.

 Joseph Erwin Nichols, 29, 66 Osborne St., Auburn, was charged April 7 with fourth-degree criminal mischief.

 Randall Grant Blaisdell, 56, 6 Spring St., Upper Apt., Auburn, was charged April 7 with possession of imitation controlled substances.

 Emerson James Murphy, 22, 3104 Burris Road, Vestal, was charged April 8 with driving while intoxicated-first offense and operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of at least .08%.

 Shawn M. Saunders, 40, 10 McMaster St., Auburn, was charged April 8 with second-degree assault and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

 Anthony M. Kelly, 37, 174 Genesee St., Auburn, was charged April 8 with fourth-degree criminal mischief.

 Avery Lamb, 50, 107 Waterford Loop, Apt. 105, Staunton, Virginia, was charged April 9 with driving while intoxicated-first offense, aggravated driving while intoxicated and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

County

 William J. Walts, 60, 1002 Route 14, Fulton, was charged April 4 with driving while intoxicated first offense and aggravated driving while intoxicated.

 Amberlyn F. Custer, 18, 98 King St., Port Byron, was charged April 4 with third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle.

 Allan M. Laury, 29, 2709 Erie Drive, Room 11, Weedsport, was charged April 9 with petit larceny.

State

 Christopher M. Willis, 25, Jordan, was charged April 6 with endangering the welfare of a child.

 Allan M. Laury, 29, Weedsport, was charged April 8 with petit larceny.

 Rebecca A. Ferry, 36, Schenectady, was charged April 9 with second-degree introducing prison contraband.

 Melissia A. Hirsh, 40, Weedsport, was charged April 9 with second-degree introducing prison contraband.
Fort Rucker, the Army's aviation post located in Dale County, Alabama, is set to be renamed Fort Novosel on Monday, according to the service. The new name honors Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Novosel Sr., a Medal of Honor recipient who flew unguarded medical evacuation missions into heavily fortified enemy territory in Vietnam 15 times, saving the lives of 29 men.

Between two tours in Vietnam, Novosel is credited with flying 2,543 extraction missions, rescuing more than 5,500 troops in one of the most dangerous jobs during the war -- medevac pilot -- a position that, according to the Army, left one-third of those who accepted the assignment as casualties themselves.

The new designation of the Army post is part of the Pentagon-wide push to rename bases that previously honored the Confederacy. Fort Rucker was named for Confederate officer Edmund Rucker, once a cavalry commander under Nathan Bedford Forrest. Forrest went on to help found the Klu Klux Klan after the Civil War.

Read Next: 'Noble Act of Service': Soldier Stops Domestic Violence Assault Outside of Army Recruiting Office

The post is one of nine Army installations being renamed under the Defense Department's Naming Commission.

As detailed in the Naming Commission's final report, Rucker served as a conscription officer for the Confederacy and "forced Americans who wanted no part in the conflict to take up arms against the United States or risk harsh retribution."

Service leaders hailed Novosel as the "perfect choice" for a new name.

"Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel Sr. epitomizes what an Army aviation soldier should be," said Maj. Gen. Michael C. McCurry, the post's commanding general. "His legacy of courage under fire in support of soldiers on the ground is what we train for and expect of our soldiers.

"It is an honor for the Home of Army aviation to bear his name," he added.

In 1941, Novosel joined the military at 18, but there was a problem. At 5'3", he was one-eighth inch too short to join the service. He passed all of the other flight requirements, according to the Army, and came to face the flight surgeon, a final and potentially career-ending authority.

"The doctor told him to stand, looked him over and asked his age," an Army press release read. "After his answer of 18, the doctor made a decision that would reverberate through Army aviation for decades to come, and responded with, 'Will you promise me you'll grow another eighth of an inch?' and signed off on the paperwork after an affirmative response."

Novosel served in the Pacific Theater of World War II, where he not only flew combat missions as a B-29 aircraft commander, but also learned how to drive a car for the first time -- a Jeep, the Army said. Novosel served in combat during the Korean War, as well.

At the dawn of the Vietnam War, Novosel was a 42-year-old lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve. When the war kicked off, he volunteered for active duty, resigned his commission and joined the Army as a helicopter pilot.

It was here that Novosel's legend would be cemented in aviation legend for decades to come.

On Oct. 2, 1969, Novosel was notified of a unit of pinned-down South Vietnamese soldiers in Kien Tuong Province. Because of the urgency of the mission, Novosel forwent his gunship accompaniment, opting to fly his lightly armored medevac helicopter into heavy enemy fire.

He repeatedly exposed his aircraft to draw enemy fire away from the pinned troops, with rounds peppering his helicopter, disabling speed gauges, and hitting his rotors and radios.

"Other problems also exacerbated the situation: Since the troops on the ground did not speak English and were unable to communicate by radio," a press release said, "Novosel had to fly low and circle as he searched for them by eye, further exposing himself to fire."

Novosel was wounded himself during the operation.

On half a dozen occasions, enemy fire caused Novosel to withdraw. Each time, he returned to the battlefield to save those on the ground.

"Eighteen hours had passed since he started the day," the Army said. "Novosel was 47 years old. His aircraft was damaged and his body was battered, but he had saved 29 men."

After receiving the Medal of Honor in 1971, Novosel continued to serve until 1984. He was inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame in 1975 and, before the turn of the millennium, he published an autobiography "Dustoff: The Memoir of an Army Aviator."

Novosel died in April 2006 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full honors.

-- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence.

Related: Here's When Army Bases Honoring the Confederacy Will Shed Their Old Names
TAIPEI, Taiwan  Chinas military sent several dozen warplanes and warships toward Taiwan in a large-scale exercise that simulated sealing off the island in response to its presidents trip to the U.S.

The Chinese military earlier had announced three-day combat readiness patrols which it called Joint Sword, as a warning to Taiwan, a self-ruled island which China claims as its own. Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the island's democratic government encourages Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Chinas ruling Communist Party says would lead to war.

The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the ruling party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary. Military analysts suggest that in the event of a war, China may block sea and air traffic around Taiwan, preventing the United States, Japan or other nations from intervening or sending supplies to help the island defend itself.

China's latest military actions follow President Tsai Ing-wens delicate diplomatic mission to shore up Taiwan's dwindling alliances in Central America and boost its U.S. support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. A U.S. congressional delegation also met with Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

China responded to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsais U.S. trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

On Monday morning, the Chinese People's Liberation Army said its Shandong aircraft carrier for the first time was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan. It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off the deck of the ship, according to a post from the PLA's Eastern Command on Weibo, the social media platform.

State broadcaster CCTV, citing the PLA, said the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan as well as "waves of simulated strikes" at important targets on the island.

Between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwans Ministry of National Defense. Among the planes that crossed the median were 8 J-16 fighter jets, 4 J-1 fighters, 8 Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes.

Later Monday morning, Taiwan's defense ministry reported another 59 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday, where eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the island's Defense Ministry. The ministry said in a statement it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as on its own navy vessels.

Chinas military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent toward the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities.

In addition to combat readiness patrols, Chinas PLA would hold live fire training in Luoyuan Bay in Chinas Fujian province opposite Taiwan, the local Maritime Authority announced over the weekend.

Meanwhile, to the south in the South China Sea, the U.S. 7th Fleet said its missile destroyer USS Milius sailed by Mischief Reef in a freedom of navigation operation. China had built an artificial island on the sea feature to stake its claim to the disputed territory.

China said the U.S. illegally trespassed" into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government, according to a statement from the Chinese military's southern command.

One of the U.S. representatives who attended the meeting with Tsai last week said Saturday the U.S. must take seriously the threat China posed to Taiwan. Republican Mike Gallagher, chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on China, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island governments defenses, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan.
A former Green Beret who was part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was found guilty of multiple weapon charges, including illegal possession of fragmentation grenades.

Jeremy Brown, 47, of Tampa, Florida, was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison after federal agents discovered some 8,000 rounds of ammunition in his possession, along with two explosive grenades, an unregistered rifle modified to have a short barrel, and an unregistered sawed-off shotgun, according to court documents.

There are generally more legal restrictions on short-barrel weapons. Short rifles are used in some military units because they're lighter and easier to wield in close quarters.

Read Next: The Threat from Extremist Groups Is Growing. Service Members and Vets Are Getting Sucked into the Violence.

Brown was part of the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia group that played a key role in the insurrection on Capitol Hill. Its members were among the first to breach the building at the direction of then-President Donald Trump in a violent attempt to keep him in power after he lost the election. Some 112 Capitol Police officers were injured during the violence, including one who lost an eye and scores of others who suffered traumatic brain injuries, broken bones and post-traumatic stress disorder. Two officers later died by suicide in the aftermath of the insurrection, while another had a heart attack.

Brown's trial for his role in the insurrection is ongoing. While he was not part of the tactical stack of Oath Keepers that effectively led rioters into the Capitol, he did help stock the militia's weapons cache at a nearby hotel in Virginia -- part of the group's follow-on plans for an insurgency to keep Trump in office.

After his arrest on charges related to trespassing on Capitol grounds, Brown launched a bid for Florida's District 62 state House seat as a Republican. He ran the campaign from his jail cell and lost by nearly 40 points in the heavily blue district.

Brown served in the Army from 1992 to 2012, serving as a Special Forces communications sergeant. He had multiple deployments, including Colombia in 2004, Afghanistan in 2005 and 2011, and Iraq in 2007 and 2009. He retired as a master sergeant, according to Army records. He served with the 1st, 7th and 5th Special Forces Groups.

After Brown left the Army, he struggled in civilian life, according to court documents. He was diagnosed with depression and frequently expressed suicidal ideation. In 2019, he was involuntarily held for a mental health evaluation.

Brown was seemingly infatuated with a showdown with law enforcement and a civil war -- a common thread in far-right ideology. On the front door of his home, he taped a note for federal law enforcement.

"Re-read your oath. You are being used as a pawn by the enemies of this Republica and your Liberties," the note said. "If you don't care and say to yourself 'I'm just following orders' then Go F--- Yourself. P.S. Better bring a bigger tactical package."

When police raided his home, they also discovered multiple stacks of cash and military manuals, including one for training snipers.

"I'm now preparing to train, advise, assist and lead resistance elements during the coming (in progress) collapse of America  a WAR will come to your front door. If you are not prepared, I suggest you start now," Brown wrote in a social media message, according to court records.

There is no evidence veterans or service members are more or less likely to be radicalized or fall into extremist behavior. However, there is a long pattern of people with military backgrounds being at the center of far-right organizations or domestic terror attacks. Those groups, including the Oath Keepers, actively recruit service members and veterans for the inherent social credibility they bring to movements and tactical training.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Trading on Patriotism: How Extremist Groups Target and Radicalize Veterans
There had been a time when Oleg was excited to get behind the wheel of the tank. A sardonic 25-year-old, he's been serving as a driver around the front lines of the war in eastern Ukraine since almost the beginning of Russia's invasion last year.

But the novelty is long gone. The tank, a T-64 made in 1983, is older than he is -- a relic of Ukraine's Soviet past. Its engine needs at least 20 minutes to warm up from a cold start, and for every day of hard combat, it needs a day of maintenance. Its ancient optics mean the crew can't fight at night.

Worst of all, it's just plain slow.

"Driving one of these is like driving an old car. It's an old Mercedes," said a rather bored-looking Oleg, who gave only his first name in accordance with Ukrainian military policy. "I'm tired of it. I want something that goes faster."

He may soon get his wish. He and the rest of the T-64's crew, along with their comrades in other armored brigades, are impatiently waiting for the arrival of more modern tanks promised by Ukraine's allies in the West -- equipment the country says it needs as the spearhead of its spring counteroffensive.

Kyiv had been clamoring for advanced battle tanks since last year, but the U.S. and other NATO countries delayed for months while debating whether providing them would provoke a Russian escalation, just as they had hesitated over long-range artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems -- all of which they now supply.

Britain broke the logjam, promising 14 Challenger 2 tanks in January that have since arrived in Ukraine. Late last month, Germany delivered 18 Leopard 2 tanks, adding to Poland's contribution of 14 so far; eventually the number of Leopard 2s will reach 100, along with at least 100 older Leopard 1s from Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and possibly Belgium.

Stryker infantry fighting vehicles and Cougar mine-resistant vehicles from the United States have also been in place since March, while the biggest plum of all, U.S.-made Abrams tanks -- including refurbished M1A1 tanks and newer M1A2 models -- will arrive in fall.

"Even a year ago, no one could have thought that the support of partners would be so powerful," Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov wrote on Facebook late last month, adding that the Challenger 2 was "more comfortable than a Rolls-Royce."

"Everything has changed this year. Ukraine changed the world."

Kyiv is banking on the new hardware to turn the tide in a conflict that has been bogged down through the winter, with the tanks promising to be a significant upgrade compared with the Soviet-era materiel the Ukrainians possess or the newer Russian tanks they'll face. The Western tanks have better armor, longer range, a faster firing rate and superior sighting systems. They're also considered to be more maneuverable.

The foreign-supplied tanks have taken on the status of near-mythical creatures, with observers poring over social media in the hope of catching a glimpse of them in the Donbas, the eastern Ukrainian heartland where the fighting is at its fiercest.

They're rumored to have already arrived there, and to have been disguised to look like Ukraine's Soviet-era arsenal. Some surmise that the Ukrainian armed forces' new media policy restricting journalists' access to military units is about keeping the tanks' location a secret ahead of the counteroffensive.

The static combat of the cold weather season has resulted in irregular action for tank driver Oleg and his crew mates. Their T-64 -- nicknamed "Buhay," or "Bull," after its commander, an affable 32-year-old named Serhei -- sat by the roadside one morning in the bitter cold, a heavy snowfall covering the dark-green plates on the tank's exterior with a sprinkling of white.

Just a few miles away lies Bakhmut, the eastern city that has been all but obliterated in the obsessive, months-long effort by Russian forces to capture it, though some outside military analysts question its strategic value. The Russians now surround Bakhmut from three sides, and in recent days appear to have escalated their assault, Ukrainian soldiers say.

The off-and-on fighting of the winter -- and the need to conserve ammunition -- meant that the Buhay's crew was firing less than half the amount they'd used during the summer offensives.

"Sometimes we'll stay here all day without going to shoot at all," said Danylo, the 25-year-old gunner.

"We eat in the tank, sleep in the tank, we read," Danylo added, dipping down into Buhay's interior and emerging with a Ukrainian copy of "A Clash of Kings," the second book in the "Game of Thrones" series.

The shortage of shells meant Danylo couldn't fire his gun from a distance as he would an artillery piece, the round arcing in a parabola. Instead, the Buhay would have to bear down and fire directly at Russian fortifications.

"Sometimes we're less than 150 feet away," he said. "Straight shot."

How the Western tanks fare against their Russian counterparts will be closely scrutinized. The last major similar matchup was during the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War, when U.S. Abrams and British Challenger tanks squared off against Iraqi Soviet T-55s, T-64s and T-72s to devastating effect.

"They would take 10 shots from a T-72, whereas one shot from Western tanks would take out a T-72," said Col. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former commander of the British Royal Tank Regiment who saw action in that conflict.

He expects Western tanks to be a combat multiplier. Backed by artillery, drone and air support, they will probably take the lead in punching through enemy lines.

By most accounts, those lines are much-depleted. Russia, relying on antiquated tactics that had military experts questioning whether tanks have a place in modern warfare, has as of last week lost more than 1,900 tanks -- including more than 500 captured -- and more than 2,000 fighting vehicles, according to Oryx, a blog that tracks Russian armored losses through visual confirmation from open sources. Rather than fielding its new, much-vaunted T-14 Armata tank, Moscow has been forced to rely on T-55s designed in the 1950s -- older than many of the soldiers' parents -- because of equipment shortages.

Another foe besetting both Ukrainian and Russian forces is a more elemental force -- the mud that follows winter's end, transforming wide swaths of the front line into swamps of brown ooze.

"It reaches up to here sometimes," said Denis, 37, another tank driver near Bakhmut, putting his hand up to his waist. Beside him, the Buhay -- he operates a similar vehicle -- sported thick patches of mud on its tracks and sides. Visitors found their boots sucked down into the mire, emerging with a thick layer on the sole that became heavier with every step.

Denis complained that even tanks could lose up to three-quarters of their speed when traversing muddy terrain, making them easy prey for infantry armed with Kornets, Russian anti-tank guided weapons.

"That's our biggest problem. When we see one in battle, it's us or them," Denis said.

Both the Leopard and Challenger have higher ground clearance, said De Bretton-Gordon, making them less likely to get stuck. The Ukrainians have been training for months in England, Poland and elsewhere in preparation for the new vehicles' arrival. It's part of a larger effort to integrate the grab bag of Western weapons that NATO countries have provided for the counteroffensive.

De Bretton-Gordon expects the Russians to fare poorly.

"They're fighting a First World War, where human mass is their tactic," he said. "It didn't work in 1914. And it's certainly not going to work in 2023."

Recent days have seen the Russians use that tactic multiple times a day in the battle for Bakhmut, according to several Ukrainian soldiers, with mercenaries from the private Wagner military contracting group leading the charge as shock troops to smash the line, while regular troops come behind them to mop up. The maneuver is vicious, and costly, but effective.

One recent morning, the Buhay's crew was sent on a mission to bust Russian fortifications in the countryside areas near the only highway the Ukrainians can use to enter Bakhmut -- or beat a hasty retreat.

"You always have fear before battle, but when it starts you feel nothing, you do your job, you're just doing what you need to do," Danylo said.

Before the invasion, he was working in a factory in another country assembling Nespresso machines. War brought him back to Ukraine. He and his crew mates have been fighting in the Donbas since March last year, in Kharkiv, Severo-donetsk and Lysychansk. ("That was a meat grinder," Danylo said.)

When it's all over, he won't go work in a factory again. He plans to open a coffee shop in the city of Kryvyi Rih.

In the meantime, he was focused on the hunt -- so much so that it made everything else background noise.

"The other day a 152-millimeter artillery round landed not 15 feet from the tank. We barely felt it," he said.

A drone video of the fortification-busting mission shows farmland cratered by shelling into a Swiss-cheese landscape. Smoke envelops a Russian bunker hit by the Ukrainians; the Buhay, hiding near a copse, is somehow spared from bombardment by enemy forces. Flames belch out of its turret as Danylo fires a shot at the bunker that finds its target; he takes aim and lands another shot neatly beside the first one.

By noon, the crew was back at base. It had been quick work, but there would be little downtime.

"We'll rest after we win," Danylo said.

This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.

 2023 Los Angeles Times.

Visit latimes.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A station commander at a local Army recruiting office didn't think twice to jump into action when he saw an assault just outside the office.

Sgt. First Commander Christopher Logan, a former military police officer, hopes to inspire others to step up in times of need after his heroic actions helped a teen girl to safety.

Logan works as a recruiter at the U.S. Army Recruiting Office in Evans. Before the assault this past month, he never expected his military background in defense would come in handy in his current role.

At 11:30 a.m., March 16, Evans police responded to a domestic violence assault in the 3200 block of 23rd Avenue, according to Officer Fernando Miramontes. There, officers contacted a restaurant employee who overheard a juvenile male and female arguing in the front lobby. The two engaged in a "shoving match" before the male dragged her out and across the parking lot toward the U.S. Army Recruiting Office.

Several employees at the office, including Logan, witnessed the male place the victim in a headlock and hit her in the face. When Logan saw the distress on the girl's face, he and another employee immediately jumped into action to intervene.

"Act quickly was the first part," Logan said. "It just felt really good to help in that situation."

Logan placed himself between the two teenagers. The boy pushed and threatened Logan as he kept them separated. Eventually, Logan and another employee escorted the victim back to her job.

"If Christopher did not intervene, it is unknown what would have happened to the victim that day," Miramontes said.

For 12 years, Logan served as military police and was deployed several times to Iraq and Afghanistan. There were times throughout his military career when he felt he didn't act quickly enough or didn't intervene when he should have. This time around -- when he caught a glimpse of the assault between the juveniles -- he knew he needed to do something right away.

"SFC Logan sprang into action to protect and defend just like he has always been trained," Army Recruiter Ryan Grant said.

The decision to assist didn't just stem from a military background, Logan said. Helping out is how he was raised. Logan grew up in a small town in Montana where everyone looked out for one another.

"I think Sgt. Christopher did a noble act of service for the victim and to society," Miramontes said. "His selflessness to intervene and quick thinking potentially saved a life and stopped an act of violence toward another person."

Logan wishes more people would help out in those types of situations, with an understanding there are dangerous situations where bystanders should not intervene to avoid further injury or escalation.

But there are times when altercations can be avoided or de-escalated if someone steps up, he said.

"The smallest thing could change somebody's life forever, and I just wish more people would actually take advantage of that," Logan said.

The victim's parents personally thanked Logan for getting their daughter to safety. Logan often didn't hear from people appreciating his work during his time as a military police officer. Now, he appreciates the opportunity to see people's gratitude for his past and current actions.

"Thank you for your service," Miramontes said about Logan. "Thank you for stopping an act of violence toward women. Also, thank you for being a fearless leader by restoring faith in humanity by standing up against violence."

(c) 2023 the Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Colo.)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Updated at 12:21 p.m. Eastern, April 11

Officials at an Air Force base in North Dakota are investigating graffiti that included profanity, swastikas and a racial slur spray-painted on the garage doors of a base housing unit.

Video taken of the graffiti began circulating online late last week and was verified by Minot Air Force Base officials. It shows black spray paint covering two white garage doors, as well as some parts of the unit's driveway.

The 5th Security Forces Squadron was notified of the incident early April 1, Maj. Jhanelle Haag, spokeswoman for Minot Air Force Base, told Military.com. As of Monday afternoon, the graffiti was still being investigated and a suspect had not yet been identified, she added.

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One of the residents of the duplex is MacKenzy Rutledge, a former service member, mother and the wife of Airman 1st Class Justin Rutledge. She said her garage door was hit with the majority of the graffiti.

MacKenzy Rutledge told Military.com in an interview Monday evening that she left her house and drove her car to the base gas station around 2 a.m. She estimated that she was gone for no more than 30 minutes. When she pulled back into the driveway, her headlights illuminated the new black spray paint across the garage doors.

"I was like, 'Wow, OK, well, this is not what I expected to come back home to,'" she said. "Knowing that somebody is willing to come and target us specifically, kind of makes me worried about being here still."

The Rutledge family is white, but MacKenzy told Military.com the neighbor they share the duplex with is a Black service member. Some of the language spray-painted, including the letters "GDK" -- a potential reference to a Midwestern gang that has a presence in a state where she grew up, make her believe her family was singled out.

Col. Dan Hoadley, commander of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot, said that the installation has a zero-tolerance policy for vandalism and discrimination.

"Let me be abundantly clear that Minot Air Force Base has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind," Hoadley said in a statement provided to Military.com. "This type of behavior is abhorrent, unacceptable, and does not align with our Air Force core values."

The Ward County Sheriff's Department and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation are also assisting in the case.

No other similar incidents have been reported in the past year, according to a base spokesman. Officials declined to say whether the families whose unit was spray-painted have been moved or will move because of the incident.

The Rutledge family's garage door was initially painted white by base engineers, but it didn't cover up the black spray paint, so the door was replaced altogether. Their neighbors are waiting on their door to be replaced as well.

MacKenzy Rutledge said she has been happy with the base commander's response to the incident.

"Our 5th Security Forces team is engaged and investigating the matter so that appropriate action can be taken," Hoadley said in his statement. "I have also engaged personally with the affected families to make sure we are taking care of their needs."

MacKenzy Rutledge is waiting for approval from the privatized housing company to move to a different home, but she is still wary of safety at Minot Air Force Base as a whole and has considered moving away.

"Now that I'm seeing all of this going on, do I really want to still live here?" she said. "If they won't relocate us to a different base, I was considering just moving back home with my family for now until they can find us something."

Minot is located about 130 miles north of Bismarck, North Dakota. The rural military installation has a population of 12,000 people, including roughly 5,500 active-duty and reserve members, according to base officials.

The sprawling 5,000-acre base is the only installation in the service that operates two legs of the nuclear triad, housing the 5th Bomb Wing's B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers and the 91st Missile Wing's Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The graffiti marks the latest incident to make headlines out of Minot.

In late February, Col. Gregory Mayer, the commander of the 5th Mission Support Group, and Maj. Jonathan Welch, the commander of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, as well as four subordinates were fired from their jobs.

A defense official, who spoke to Military.com on condition of anonymity to speak about the incident, said the service members were not fired for any improper personal conduct but rather due to concerns regarding a failed safety inspection.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from Rutledge.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: Nuclear Base Fired 6 Service Members Over Failed Safety Inspection, Defense Official Says
Thule Air Base in Greenland, the Pentagon's northernmost military installation, has been renamed to better reflect the culture of the region, as well as its affiliation with the Space Force.

During an April 6 ceremony in Greenland, officials unveiled a new sign renaming Thule as Pituffik Space Base. Pituffik is the traditional Greenlandic name for the former settlement where the base was built.

"This renaming represents our wish to celebrate and acknowledge the rich cultural heritage of Greenland and its people and how important they are to the sustainment of this installation against the harsh environment north of the Arctic Circle," Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said during the ceremony.

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In the early 1900s, explorers named a trading post in the area Thule, a reference to Ultima Thule -- the ancient Roman and Greek term for the northernmost location in existence.

The base's renaming comes after a history of major disturbances connected to the base.

Pituffik is the name of the Greenland settlement, located approximately 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle on the northwestern coast, where native inhabitants lived. They were forced to relocate to another area when the air base was being built on their ground in 1951.

The base's new name also shows that the Space Force will likely mirror the Air Force tradition of calling overseas locations "air bases" instead of "Air Force bases," as it does domestic installations.

In 1968, a B-52 Stratofortress carrying four thermonuclear bombs crashed, and the detonation of the payload widely contaminated large areas of sea ice.

Of the some 56,000 people who call Greenland home, approximately 88% identify as Greenlandic Inuit or Kalaallit, according to the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs.

Renaming the base appears to be an effort to restore goodwill with the community.

"May this base renaming serve as an opportunity for us here at Pituffik Space Base to reaffirm our commitment to that friendship and serve as a reminder of our special bond for many years to come," Col. Brian Capps, Pituffik Space Base and 821st Space Base Group commander, said during the ceremony.

In 2020, Thule Air Base, as it was known then, was placed under the command of the newly created Space Force. It supports missile warning and defense, as well as space surveillance missions with the 12th Space Warning Squadron and the 23rd Space Operations Squadron.

Last December, late night talk show host and comedian Stephen Colbert visited the installation for a series called "Red, White & Greenland." He spoke with Space Force leaders, took questions from Guardians and even sang karaoke alongside country artist Sturgill Simpson at a bar near the base.

The pivot to the new Pituffik moniker comes amid a Pentagon-wide effort to rename bases, ships and buildings that honor the Confederacy. The Army has started renaming bases that for decades have honored Confederate rebels. It most recently renamed Virginia's Fort Pickett to Fort Barfoot, and Alabama's Fort Rucker to Fort Novosel.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: Here's When Army Bases Honoring the Confederacy Will Shed Their Old Names
Six months ago, I offered a mixed review of the new New York State Thruway rest stops.

The main takeaway: While the food options improved, these new facilities lacked space, especially in a critical area (restrooms). It is an observation shared by many  that you feel cramped walking into one of the first few rest stops that reopened last year.

It is important to remember that these rest stops will not be the same size. There will be several that will be similar in size as Chittenango, Indian Castle and Junius Ponds. But there are others that will be larger.

Enter Clifton Springs.

The Clifton Springs Service Area reopened in March. At 20,145 square feet, it is the largest rest stop of the five that have been rebuilt since July 2021.

The larger building allows Clifton Springs to host a handful of restaurants, including Chick-fil-A and Shake Shack. (Chick-fil-A is closed Sundays.) Starbucks is open and Auntie Anne's will have a location at the rest stop.

What's noticeable as you walk inside is the space. At Junius Ponds, you have similar restaurant offerings (Shake Shack and Starbucks) but not a lot of room to roam. If there are lines at either restaurant (or both), they can cause traffic jams in the main walkway.

Clifton Springs does not have that problem. It has the feel of a food court at a mall. The restaurants are off to the side with plenty of space to walk to the convenience store, which is located at the back of the rest stop, or the restroom. There are also plenty of spots where you can sit and eat your meal or take a break from a long drive. At the smaller rest stops, there is limited seating.

This difference in space is on display in the restrooms. The restrooms at Clifton Springs are what you would expect out of a rest stop. There are plenty of stalls and urinals (in the men's room) to choose from and you don't feel crammed in the restroom like you do at the smaller service areas.

It makes you wonder: Why can't the others be like Clifton Springs?

Thruway officials have previously said that foot traffic data and other factors were used to determine the size of the new rest stops. They believe that once all of the rest stops are rebuilt and open to the public, space will become less of an issue, or a nonissue.

We won't know for a while whether that's true or not. What's clear, though, is that bigger is better. Clifton Springs offers the same amenities as the smaller rest stops. The major difference is the space. When you stop at Clifton Springs, there are more sitting areas and more space to roam. As you walk toward the bathrooms, you aren't shoulder-to-shoulder with the person walking past you in the hallway.

Clifton Springs is better equipped to handle holiday travelers, larger weekend crowds and if a tour bus or two make a stop. It's hard to argue against historical data, but it's also difficult to dispute that these larger rest stops provide a better experience for the traveling public.
DETROIT -- A 20-year-old Detroit man is facing charges of second-degree killing/torturing an animal and a charge of abandoning/cruelty to one animal after he allegedly buried his dog alive. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Jacob Kasper several months ago in connection with a Sept. 30, 2022 incident at home in the 1700 block of Evans Street, but police did not arrest him until April 7.

Kasper was not in custody when the charges were filed and police were unable to arrest him until recently.

Police were called to the home around 6:07 p.m. for reports of a dog that was buried alive. When police arrived they made contact with Kasper and took the dog into custody, however the dog was put down the following day due to the severity of the injuries.

Dogs are living and breathing beings. Dogs should be attended to even if they are sick and especially if they have been abused. No living being should ever be buried alive in lieu of proper medical or other standard care. This is not rocket science, Worthy said.

Kasper was given a $5,000 personal recognizance and is due back in court on April 13 for a probable cause conference.

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HOLLY, MI  Veterans will have a chance to go off-road for free at one of Michigans scramble areas next month.

On Saturday, May 20, Holly Oaks ORV Park, 14551 Shields Road in Holly, will offer Veterans Off-Road Day. The park entry fee will be waived (ORV license and trail permit are still required).

During the event, veterans can bring their own ORV or can take rides with volunteers. The event also includes a food truck, music, veterans service organizations and more.

Registration is required and can be completed online here.

The park is one of six state scramble areas. It was designed by off-road enthusiasts and built and shaped from former sand and gravel mines, features 4x4 trails, single-track trails, steep hills, water crossings, rock crawls and other elements.

Visit Oakland County Parks to learn operating hours, features, requirements and more.

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UPDATE: A shooting at a bank building in downtown Louisville on Monday morning killed five people and wounded at least six others, police said. The suspected shooter was also dead, police said.

UPDATE: Police in Louisville say the suspected shooter has been neutralized after shooting at bank building.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Police are reporting multiple casualties as they respond to a shooting in a bank building in downtown Louisville.

The Louisville Metro Police Department said Monday on Twitter there was an ongoing situation and asked people to avoid the area. There are multiple casualties, police said in the tweet. Police described it as an active aggressor.

Witnesses who left the building told WHAS-TV they heard gunfire inside the building.

Numerous police vehicles were seen on television footage. WHAS reporters said they saw people being taken from the scene in ambulances.

In a tweet, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he was heading to the scene.

Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville, Beshear said.

The FBI said its agents were also responding to the shooting.

The shooting happened in a building on East Main Street that houses the Old National Bank not far from the Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Ann Arbor native Will Ellsworth has been named a finalist for the Truman Scholarship, one of the nations most prestigious and competitive scholarship for aspiring public service leaders.

Ellsworth, a junior at Claremont McKenna College, in Claremont, California, is one of a record five Truman finalists announced for the college. He is a graduate of Greenhills School in Ann Arbor.

Truman Scholars demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector, and academic excellence. Scholars will be announced on April 19.

Ellsworth, who studies psychology and public policy, said he is committed to changing Americas culture of punitiveness fueling mass incarceration, the school-to-prison nexus and the criminalization of mental illness.

His goal upon graduation, Ellsworth said, is to reduce incarceration while also increasing public safety and bettering the experiences of victims through the criminal justice system. Research thus far demonstrates that those goals can all be met simultaneously.

At Claremont McKenna College, Ellsworth conducts research in the Psychology, Law, and Policy lab, focusing on psychopathology in criminal-legal contexts.

As a volunteer with the Prison Education Project, he developed PEPs new American Civics course and is leading a team of instructors to teach the course to incarcerated juveniles in the spring of 2023.

Ellsworth previously interned in the Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office and for the Washington D.C. office of U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor.

After graduation, Ellsworth hopes to pursue a juris doctor degree, focusing on criminal law. He hopes to return home to Michigan and serve as a prosecutor driven by the goal of diverting people from prison and the criminal justice system.

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YPSILANTI, MI -- Hope Clinic has been offering free healthcare to uninsured and under-insured residents of Washtenaw County for more than 40 years. Now, with help from $50,000 grant, the clinic hopes to offer more dental care to those currently facing a lack of insurance.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates 5.1% of those living in Washtenaw County are without health insurance, making it difficult to access basic dental services. Hope Clinic intends to use this new grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to fill that gap, expand its capacity by 40% and tackle an existing waitlist of 150+ patients, officials said.

The $50,000 grant is part of a longstanding relationship between Hope Clinic in Ypsilanti and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, which has contributed nearly $700,000 to the clinic since 2005.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigans incredibly generous gifts and longstanding relationship with Hope Clinic makes dental care available to countless in our community who would otherwise suffer without, said Doug Campbell, Hope Clinic CEO.

The clinics breadth of services spanning primary, behavioral, emergency dental and supportive services  what Hope deems whole-person care  speaks to its goal in ensuring everyone is cared for, regardless of the cost, Pam Yager, director of Social Mission at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, said.

Hope Clinic patient Jeanne Campbell is a testament to this goal, saying the clinics services completely turned around her oral health after she experienced tooth breakage and failing beginning in 2019.

Campbell, a voice and piano teacher in the Northville, Plymoth and Ann Arbor areas, said the high-profile nature of her job made it so her missing teeth were a constant insecurity for her.

I was always getting my picture taken or running a recital. My smile was my passport in a way. And to have that go away and not really know how it was gonna be fixed was a very hopeless feeling, Campbell said.

As someone insured under Medicare, which does not provide dental coverage, Campbell found the clinic by searching for free dental services near her hometown of South Lyon.

Campbell said she was able to book an appointment right away. And the staff at Hope Clinic was so friendly and encouraging. I just couldnt believe it.

They have changed my life and I am eternally grateful for them. And I feel as if every person there is my personal friend. I have become so close to everyone there. I love them, Campbell said.

Those interested can learn more about Hope Clinic here.

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ANN ARBOR, MI -- Attorneys representing the University of Michigan and striking graduate students faced off at an evidentiary hearing in the Washtenaw County Trial Court on Monday, April 10.
FLINT, MI -- The Kareem Mohammed Grant that appeared before a Genesee County Circuit Court judge Monday looked vastly different than the one who committed the 1991 crime that led him to being in court.

Appearing before Judge Mark W. Latchana Monday, April 10, for sentencing on one count of manslaughter, Grant sat in a wheelchair.

He was dressed in black slacks with black dress shoes, a light-colored blazer, and he wore a light blue face mask over his mouth and nose.

When addressed by the court, his voice barely could be characterized as more than a whisper. He answered with one-word responses of Yes, and No.

But Grant in years past was one of three people accused in a high-profile murder case in Flint -- one of a 46-year-old woman who worked for the Girl Scouts.

Police alleged Grant and his then girlfriend, Gabrielle Houston, had hired a man named Khalifah Boyd to kill Houstons mother, Ida Houston, for the money she apparently had on her as the treasurer of a local bowling league.

Boyd has never been charged in connection with the crime. Genesee County prosecutors on Monday did not immediately respond when asked whether they would pursue charges against Boyd.

Gabrielle Houston died late last year, just ahead of trial.

The lone defendant, Latchana sentenced Grant to 24 months probation and one year in jail -- with credit for time served. His tether was removed because it was something Latchana said wouldnt make the community any safer.

This ends what I think I would describe as a long, challenging, drawn out case that stems from 1991, Latchana said before sentencing Grant. I think that all the parties can agree that the most culpable person with regards to the death of (Ida Houston) is Gabrielle Houston, who passed away toward the end of last year and that ultimately led to this plea agreement being reached and resolving the case.

Mr. Grant has acknowledged his responsibility with regard to the death of Ms. Houston, albeit to a lesser extent than Gabrielle Houston, the judge added.

Related: Plea reached in 30-year-old Flint homicide case

Ida Houston lived with her daughter and a sister at the time of her death, according to past MLive reports.

She was found with multiple gunshot wounds on Dec. 20, 1991, in the foyer of her home in the 5700 block of Winthrop Boulevard, near Dupont Street and Pierson Road. She was later pronounced deceased at Hurley Medical Center.

Police have said she had returned home at 11:20 p.m. from the Northwest Bowling Alley and a suspect was seen fleeing on foot from the back of the house.

In a news release at the time of the fatal shooting, police said Houston appeared to have been the victim of a robbery. Authorities later identified her life insurance policy, of which Gabrielle Houston was listed as a beneficiary, as the motive.

A third person connected to the case, Khalifah Boyd, previously admitted to fatally shooting her after being hired by Gabrielle Houston and Grant.

Read more: 30-year-old Flint homicide case delayed after one of two suspects dies

Ida Houston was a widow who worked for the Girl Scouts in Genesee County and attended Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. She was the treasurer of her bowling league and was carrying league money on the night she was killed.

The family previously told the Journal that Houstons purse was taken from her the night she was shot.

Boyd later testified he received $2,000 for the murder, as well as $4,000 worth of cocaine.

Flint police previously said the charges against Grant and Gabrielle Houston, who were in a relationship at the time of the murder, also allege they were involved in a botched October 1991 attempt to kill Ida Houston.

Gabrielle Houston and Grant were charged in August 2017 with first-degree premeditated murder, felony firearm, and armed robbery.

However, Gabrielle Elaine Houston died on Oct. 19, 2022, at Ascension Genesys hospital in Grand Blanc Township. She was 52.

Her health had been deteriorating for some time which led to her trial being pushed back at least once in 2022, according to past MLive reports.

More: 30-year-old Flint murder case delayed due to defendants deteriorating health, trial preparations

Grant in February pleaded no contest to one count of manslaughter in the 1991 death.

In exchange for the plea, Genesee County prosecutors dismissed the 11 other felonies, including first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder, conspiracy to commit felony murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, and six counts of felony firearm.

The deal included a sentence agreement stipulating that Grant not serve more than one year of jail for the offense and that he be given credit for time served in jail.

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FLINT, MI  The University of Michigan-Flint now has 14 gender-inclusive bathrooms across its downtown Flint campus.

The gender-inclusive restrooms were added after advocacy groups of students, faculty and staff requested them, according to a news release from UM-Flint.

Samara Hough, director of UM-Flints Center for Gender and Sexuality, said adding these options shows that the university is taking the concerns of students seriously.

We know from research that school settings can be one of the more hostile environments for LGBTQIA+ students in that they face higher rates of harassment compared to cisgender, heterosexual individuals, Hough said.

In addition to the bathrooms, one gender-neutral locker room was also opened in the Recreation Center.

Gender-inclusive bathrooms were requested in 2021 by a group of students. It prompted the Center for Gender and Sexuality staff to look into options for making inclusive restrooms available to the student population.

They are located in the following buildings: French Hall, UM-Flint Theater, Murchie Science Building, Northbank Center, Recreation Center (locker room), Riverfront Conference Center and the University Center.

We want to ensure that all students on our campus are able to study and live authentically without judgment regardless of their gender identity, Hough said. We want to create an environment of home and belonging at UM-Flint.

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$57.5 million bond proposal would build new Lake Fenton early childhood education center

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Genesee Intermediate School District appoints new member to board of education
IONIA, MI -- A man who told police he accidentally shot an 83-year-old Right to Life volunteer has pleaded no contest to three charges.

Richard Harvey, 75, pleaded no contest Monday, April 10 to felonious assault, careless discharge of a weapon causing injury and reckless use of a firearm.

A sentencing date will be set at a later time.

During an earlier hearing, testimony showed that Harvey told police he was trying to knock a clipboard out of the hands of Joan Jacobson when the gun went off.

Jacobson was shot in the shoulder.

Jacobson stopped at the Harvey residence on Sept. 20, 2022 to canvass about Proposal 3, a now-passed initiative intended to guarantee the right to abortion in Michigan.

Harvey told police he was in a barn and heard arguing when he came out. He had a .22-caliber rifle and used it to knock the clipboard, later telling other media he thought Jacobson might strike his wife.

Jacobson has said she argued with the wife but was leaving when she was shot. She recovered from the injury.
" " This New Hampshire vanity license plate reads "Last Bug," fitting for the back of a VW "bug." Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Back in 1900, there were just 4,192 motor vehicles in the U.S. But every year, the number of cars was skyrocketing (by 1908, it would reach 63,500). As automobiles grew in popularity, eventually replacing the horse and buggy, state governments needed a way to keep tabs on vehicles. The simple license plate was the solution, with a few letters and numbers stamped into a thin metal sheet to designate a car to its owner.

"New York became the first state to require owners to register their motor vehicles with the state," says Ian Lang, senior car advice editor at Bumper.com via email. "The New York legislature required vehicle registration on April 25, 1901, followed by California later that year. New York's first plates were homemade, bearing only the owner's initials without any numbers. It was Massachusetts that actually issued its first license plates in 1903."

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These were the first instances of car registration in the U.S., but France beat them to the punch, with motor vehicle tags issued as early as 1893. In fact, all the way back in 1783, King Louis XVI mandated that carriage drivers in Paris have metal plates with their names and addresses fixed on their carriages.

"By 1918, license plates had been issued by all 48 contiguous states," says Lang. These plates were made out of either leather or metal and were not very standardized from state to state. "It was common for early plates to have just the state's name or abbreviation, a registration number, and, more often than not, the year."

" " This California car from the early 1920s is equipped with a license plate. American Stock/Getty Images

Initially, license plates were issued to last the life of the vehicle, says Lang, but by the 1920s, registration renewal became a thing. "During this time, states began experimenting with different methods of creating license plates. Typically, the front of the registration card [plate] would have the registration number in large, centered numbers while the back would have the abbreviated name of the state and a two- or four-digit year of validity."

Around the 1950s, license plate size and materials began to be standardized to what we see today. After 1956, all American, as well as Canadian plates measured exactly 6 by 12 inches (15 by 30 centimeters). In 1954, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) was also introduced as a reliable method of tying registration documents to a particular car.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  West Michigan residents can now text a free, confidential hotline if they are in experiencing a mental health crisis and need immediate support or intervention.

The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigans be nice. program has launched a new mental health crisis text line in partnership with nonprofit organization Crisis Text Line, the foundation announced in a April 10 news release.

Texting nice to 741741 will connect users to a trained volunteer crisis counselor who can provide high-quality, text-based mental health support and crisis intervention. The services are free, anonymous and available 24/7, the release said.

The new hotline is part of an effort to increase mental health intervention services during the spring months, when suicide rates typically rise, according to the release. Suicide rates increase in April, May and June, the release said.

Spring can be a difficult time for those struggling with their mental health, the release said. Its important we are vigilant and supportive when we notice someone showing concerning changes.

According to the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, a change in someones behavior, physical appearance, or psyche that lasts more than two weeks could be a sign of a developing mental health concern. There is a list of symptoms associated with anxiety and depression on the foundations website.

The Mental Health Foundations be nice. program is an upstream mental health and suicide prevention program with a four-step action plan. The plan encourages people to challenge themselves and others to seek appropriate professional help when they notice mental health changes or concerns. Nice stands for notice, invite, challenge, and empower, according to the website.

The be nice. program is a K-12 systematic approach to behavioral and mental health education and awareness. School administrators and staff spoke about how programming impacts their school culture in a 2022 Youtube video found here.

The foundation encourages people to think of the crisis text line as a friend who is there whenever they need them, the release said. Talking it out is a great way to put a situation into perspective and help cope with negative feelings or thoughts.

Only a small percentage of individuals who text the line is experiencing a life-threatening crisis, the release said. Most users are looking for someone to help talk them through a negative experience or current problem theyre facing.

While the text hotline is anonymous, the Mental Health Foundation will be using data from the hotline to gain insight on what kinds of issues people are dealing with. The keyword nice will be used by the organization to track the topics and concerns that users are facing, the release said.

These insights will help keep our education materials relevant, the release said. Its our goal to help as many individuals as possible with our mental health action plan, be nice., and a part of how we do this is by staying up on current trends, stressors, and issues our communities are experiencing.

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JACKSON COUNTY, MI  The historic grounds of Michigans first state prison may one day be home to a weekly gathering of farmers and artists looking to sell their wares.

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners is considering a proposal from the County Parks Department to fix up several old and unused buildings on the high stone-walled grounds of the historic Jackson Prison, 100 Armory Court, and converting the space into a farmers market.

The proposal was set to be discussed at the commissioners April 4 board study session, but was postponed due to multiple commissioners needing to leave the session for pending appointments.

The proposal will be added to the agenda and discussed at the next study session May 2, County Administrator Mike Overton said.

The old prison, which was active from 1838 to 1934, was acquired in the early 2000s by The Enterprise Group which constructed the Armory Arts Apartments just east of the Jackson County Fairgrounds/Keeley Park.

After deciding not to develop the property further beyond the apartments, the remaining land was taken over by the county in 2019, with a vision to preserve it, according to the proposal from Parks Director Kyle Lewis.

A farmers market there would create place for farmers, businesses, artists and entertainers that will start as a small venue and potentially grow larger as the site develops, according to the proposal.

Additionally, as the prison is part of the statewide trail network, it could give trail users a place to stop and enjoy while passing through Jackson County.

Much of the now county-owned property on the old prison grounds has been used for parking during the annual Jackson County Fair.

Beyond those open parcels, there is a warehouse/garage building and a former cafeteria building, which park staff believes could be fixed up to host the weekly farmers market on Saturdays.

The buildings would need some renovations, including roof and bathroom repairs. Costs of the repairs are unknown at this time as the County Facilities Department is still reviewing bids from contractors for the proposal.

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KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI  St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite had a blood alcohol level of .252 after he rear-ended a vehicle in February, new records show.

Lillywhite, 47, is accused of driving while intoxicated, causing a crash around 2:20 a.m. on Feb. 26. He allegedly 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, according to a Michigan State Police report.

He is expected to be arraigned April 24 on one misdemeanor count each of operating while intoxicated and carrying a concealed weapon while under the influence of alcohol, in Kalamazoo County District Court. The charges were authorized April 6, by the Kalamazoo County Prosecutors Office.

Related: Arraignment delayed 2 weeks for Michigan sheriff accused of operating while intoxicated

Lillywhite, elected sheriff in February 2020, was extremely intoxicated, and denied being the driver, according to a probable cause affidavit. He was staggering while walking and had bloodshot eyes, among other signs, per the affidavit.

Lillywhites attorney did not return a request for comment at the time of publication.

A blood draw showed Lillywhite had a blood alcohol content of .252, which is more than three times the legal limit for driving in Michigan, which is .08.

The Michigan State Police investigation found Lillywhite was driving, likely without headlights, according to witnesses, when he rear-ended the other vehicle, causing it to roll multiple times, according to MSP report obtained by MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Related: Sheriff accused of drunk driving was going 96 mph before crash, police report says

The side and front end of the SUV that St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite was allegedly driving while Feb. 26, 2023, causing a crash on U.S. 131. This is a screenshot of body camera footage from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office.

Lillywhites sheriff 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.

Analysis of the cars computer software shows the front seat belts were not in use when the crash happened, the report said. It also showed brakes were not applied before impact.

Lillywhite was taken to jail the day of the crash and released.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.

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VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI  The plan to bring a new high-voltage power line to Van Buren County is on pause after residents spoke out against it.

Consumers Energy proposed building a new 20-mile high-voltage power line, which would start in Almena Township near Mattawan, go west past Paw Paw and end at the Lawrence-Crandall Business Centre.

Related: Proposed 20-mile high-voltage power line sparks outrage in Southwest Michigan

The Van Buren County Board of Commissioners, Paw Paw Township Board of Trustees and Almena Township Board of Trustees all passed resolutions in opposition of the route.

We will be immediately pausing all field activities associated with the proposed route, a letter from Consumers to the community said. We will continue to evaluate and explore routes to deliver power to the Lawrence area.

Lawrence-Crandall Business Centre is home to multiple businesses, but the one getting public attention is 305 Farms, a cannabis grow and processing facility. Residents and local officials have said the power line is mainly to benefit the marijuana business, but Consumers denies that.

305 Farms thought the new power lines were being built through a partnership with Consumers and American Electric Power (AEP), said one of 305 Farms largest shareholders, Jan Verleur. However, those conversations had stopped.

Now, Consumers is restarting discussions with AEP about partnering, the letter said.

The goal is to find a safe route that minimizes the environmental and aesthetic impacts, the letter said. High-voltage lines require all vegetation to be cleared from ground to sky within 40 feet on both sides of the poles, documents show. Trees within 80 feet on both sides may also be removed or trimmed.

Residents raised numerous concerns about the impact of those clearances. The power line is supposed to run through the Cody Cresta Vineyard & Winery, destroying the views from the patio, founder David Butkovich said Van Buren County board meeting. Those views helped the winery be named one of the top hidden gems in the U.S.

Consumers Energy has now paused this proposed route for a high-voltage power line in a 20-mile route from Almena Township to the Lawrence-Crandall Business Park.

Consumers has rejected less intrusive routes for the power line, (e.g. adjacent to the I-94 corridor or along the existing line) and opted for route that will burden Van Buren County residents in the short term, but also affect residential home values and trees and vegetation for years to come, the Van Buren resolution said.

As next steps are determined, Consumers said communications with residents and those impacted will be prioritized. The company said it wants to create a better relationship with residents.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.

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A man suspected of breaking and entering in Pennfield Township was arrested after attempting to flee from police Saturday.

Deputies were dispatched to a breaking and entering in progress in the 200 block of Hopkins Street on Saturday, April 8, according to a Facebook post from the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office.

When deputies arrived, they could hear someone inside of a vacant residence. When deputies made contact with the suspect, a 25-year-old Battle Creek man, he fled from the residence northbound into Bailer Park Apartments.

The suspect was contained in a perimeter with the assistance of Springfield City deputies, Battle Creek Police Department and Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch, the post read.

Deputies on scene were alerted by citizens that the suspect was attempting to break into a vehicle on the property and was taken into custody. He was lodged at the Calhoun County Jail without further incident.

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SAGINAW, MI  Two Saginaw men accused of holding two others captive as they brutalized and robbed them have been deemed psychologically fit for trial.

Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens presided over competency hearings for codefendants Mitchell J. Ballard and Jontorrion L. Reed, 21, on March 15 and 29, respectively. Jurrens ruled both men are competent to participate in future court proceedings.

Jurrens based his rulings on reports from the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti, where he had ordered Ballard and Reed to undergo evaluations on Jan. 17.

Ballard and Reed are each charged with armed robbery and assault with intent to cause great bodily harm. The duo have two 17-year-old female codefendants, Mykia M. Dawkins and Graceeana M. Granger, who are charged as adults with two counts of armed robbery, four counts of felony firearm, and single counts of unlawful imprisonment and assault with intent to cause great bodily harm.

The matter began Jan. 5, when a 17-year-old male went to Reed and Ballards residence in the 600 block of South Granger Street on Saginaws West Side to hang out with the two older men, according to Saginaw Police Detective Sgt. Matthew Gerow. Though the teen had considered the older men his friends, they pulled a handgun and demanded his shoes and cellphone.

Dawkins and Granger were also present in the house and joined Ballard and Reed in shaving the teens head, whipping him with charging cords, and burning him with wire hangers, Gerow said. They would not let him leave and kept him in the residence overnight, he added.

The next afternoon, a 20-year-old man rode his skateboard to the same house, also looking to hang out with Ballard and Reed, Gerow said. He arrived to find the teen still held captive. Ballard, Reed, Dawkins, and Granger proceeded to put him through a similar ordeal as they made the teen endure, Gerow said.

At one point, Ballard, Reed, Granger, and Dawkins took turns holding a handgun to both males heads and forced them to take turns hitting each other, Gerow said. The two captives eventually began devising a plan to break free and seek help.

Just before 7 p.m. on Jan. 6, the older of the two captives saw the flashing red and blue lights of a police vehicle in the midst of a nearby traffic stop. He jumped through a window and ran to the police car, encountering a Saginaw police sergeant.

As the man told the sergeant what hed endured, Granger and Dawkins exited the residence and began walking away with the teen captive. The man who broke free pointed them out to the sergeant, with Dawkins taking off running, Gerow said.

As the sergeant detained Granger, who did not flee, a Saginaw police officer responded to the scene with K9 Krixus and began tracking the one who ran. They soon found Dawkins and detained her, also finding a handgun in her path that matched the victims description of the firearm used against them, Gerow said.

Police obtained a search warrant for the Granger Street residence and arrested the four suspects. Inside the home, officers found multiple items of evidence corroborating the victims version of events, Gerow said.

The quartets cases are set for pre-examination conferences before Judge Jurrens the morning of April 18.

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SAGINAW, MI  When George Barrett yells, Eagle!, seemingly the entire third floor of the Michigan Cardiovascular Institute stands at attention.

The 86-year-old man for years has been a regular attendee at cardio rehabilitation classes hosted in the riverside medical facility sometimes known by its shorthand name, MCVI. But, for about the last half-year, the Zilwaukee man also has served as the programs unofficial monitor of an eye-opening act of nature  the building and maintenance of a bald eagles nest, to be precise  playing out within view of the room hosting those classes.

Look, there; you can see an eagle head popping up from the nest, Barrett said one recent Thursday morning in early April while holding a pair of binoculars tight to his face. See it?

On this particular day, it was a calm announcement. Other days, the presence of multiple eagles can illicit a more excited declaration from Barrett, startling other program members and interrupting their exercise regiments on the third floors exercise equipment.

Its never an unwelcomed alert, say his peers in the program. Watching the eagles nest develop  and waiting for a first viewing of the babies likely raised there  has become an unplanned mental health supplement to the physical therapy practiced as part of the cardio rehabilitation.

It tends to get everyone in here excited, when theres a sighting, said Jason Weigle, coordinator of the Ascension St. Marys cardiac rehabilitation program since it launched at the Michigan Cardiovascular Institute in 2007.

Attendees of the program werent nature-watching amateurs before someone first spotted the nest last fall. Windows spanning the western wall of the programs third-floor room provide a nearly 180-degree view of the riverside environment outside the building. The vista includes the Saginaw River and a considerable patch of wooded area on the other side of the waterway.

Over the years, attendees of the program spotted deer, beavers, foxes, geese, ducks and other critters traversing the opposite shoreline, which sits about 500 yards south of the Genesee Avenue Bridge. Weigle keeps a book, The Encyclopedia of North American Birds, handy on his desk for occasions when attendees are curious about a sighting. He stations a pair of binoculars not far from the book.

The presence of the eagles nest, though, added considerable buzz to the programs nature-watching activities, Weigle said. While eagles were spotted outside those windows prior to last fall, the nest now makes such an activity a regular occurrence.

The nest rests near the top of a 90-foot-tall tree. With the leaves yet to return to the branches, onlookers can spot the den from almost a half-mile away. Attendees of Weigles program arent the only people in the loop about the den. About 300 yards south of the nest, crews working at the site of the Saginaw United High School construction site keep an eye on the sight too.

From the vantage point of the Michigan Cardiovascular Institute building, the nest sits about 300 yards to the west. Its within range of the naked eye, but binoculars are necessary to provide a detailed viewing.

Weve been watching since we saw the eagles would fly in with the sticks, Weigle said. It just got bigger and bigger over time, to the point now, where two eagles can sit in it at the same time.

Seeing directly into the nest isnt possible from the third-floor room. But the eagles are large enough that onlookers can spot the heads of the adult birds positioned inside the nest.

There are theories about what is happening behind the brush. Barrett said, after reading up on the species, hes convinced there are eggs that either recently hatched or could hatch any day now. Because eagles dont leave the nest until they are ready to fly, it could be months before onlookers spy any fledglings raised there, Barrett said.

The intrigue and mystery, though, is enough to turn the eagle-watching activity into one of the most fulfilling elements of the cardiovascular rehabilitation, Weigle said.

About 50 people participate in a series of weekly classes for the program, he said. On a busy day, about a dozen people at a time engage in the physical therapy. Exercise bikes and light weight-lifting equipment line the inside of the room.

Most of the programs attendees are closer to Barretts age, although some participants are in their 30s, Weigle said. All of them are either survivors of heart-related health emergencies or were diagnosed with an ailment involving the vital organ.

Barrett, for example, is on his third pacemaker, he said. About one year ago, surgeons cut the sinoatrial node in his heart, which left the retired state lottery official entirely dependent on the man-made device to provide him a heartbeat.

The cardiovascular rehabilitation program keeps healthy the hearts of Barrett and his colleagues. Watching the eagles build a life across the river keeps him and his colleagues fulfilled in a different manner.

Its an added little bonus to what we do here, Weigle said.

These are folks that maybe dont love exercise, but they come in here and can have some social time with other folks they can relate to. Watching this eagles nest helps to add to the excitement. For some, it brings some enjoyment to (exercising), which maybe they arent always thrilled about.

Binoculars werent necessary the day last year when Barrett spotted nine eagles on or near the nest. It was a spectacle that the programs participants still talk about now, months later.

They call me Eagle Eye because, you know, Im constantly looking for them, Barrett said. Theyre just beautiful creatures, and I cant wait to see what theyre doing next.

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SAGINAW, MI  Across 10 days last spring, three vacant buildings erupted in flames within a half-mile of each other in downtown Saginaw. Investigators developed a suspect in the third blaze, a homeless man with a history of setting fires.

Now, that suspect has accepted a plea deal, one which could see him avoiding prison time.

Paul M. Corba, 64, in February appeared before Saginaw County Circuit Judge Andre R. Borrello and pleaded no contest to third-degree arson, the lone count he faced. He also pleaded as a fourth-time habitual offender, increasing the normally 10-year felony to life in prison.

However, Corbas advisory sentencing guidelines range from five to 46 months. Borrello also indicated he would likely sentence Corba to local incarceration rather than send him to a state prison.

A condition of Corbas plea is that he pay an estimated $20,000 in restitution.

Corbas conviction stems from a fire that occurred the night of May 29 within a vacant, two-story commercial building at 700 Lapeer Ave. The structure had last been sold in August 1999 and had an assessed value of $9,400.

Evidence at the scene led police to develop Corba as a suspect. They arrested him June 5.

Saginaw Fire Marshal Derron Suchodolski said investigators suspect Corba was responsible for two prior fires.

The first fire occurred about 11 a.m. on May 19 at 800 E. Genesee Ave., formerly Straight Gate Ministries. A three-story commercial brick building, it had been vacant for some time, with most of its windows and doors boarded up. It had an assessed value of $11,700, according to county property records.

The second fire occurred May 20 at a two-story house at 115 N. Fifth Ave. The house was vacant and had been owned by the Saginaw County Land Bank since 2019, as was the building at 800 E. Genesee Ave.

No injuries, either to firefighters or civilians, were suffered in any of the three conflagrations.

Michigan Department of Corrections records indicate Corba in June 2019 was sentenced to three years probation on a conviction of attempted fourth-degree arson. The MDOC discharged him as a probation violator in November 2021.

Saginaw had 193 structure fires in 2022 and has had 46 as of April 10 of this year. Of those combined 239 structure fires, 16 were ruled to have been intentionally set, said Fire Marshal Suchodolski.

Corba remains in jail as of April 10, with Judge Borrello set to sentence him at 1:30 p.m. on May 3.

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Growing up, Morghane McAnelly played with her dads model cars. This summer shell work on the life-size version during her software engineering internship at Ford.

McAnelly, 21, is among Michigans first cohort of EV Scholars, students who are interested in joining Michigans growing electric vehicle and mobility sector.

The state announced a $10,000 scholarship would be waiting post-grad for students who accept job offers as electric engineers or software developers at 15 Michigan companies partnering with the state. To cash in, students must agree to stay in state for a full year, boosting Michigans tech talent pool.

Students in tech fields at Michigan State University, University of Michigan and Michigan Technological University were offered to join the scholarship program. Since announcing EV Scholars on March 2, the state has received applications from 298 students.

The state identified four key roles making up 65% of job openings in the auto industry: electrical engineer, software developer, first-line supervisors and assembly.

The scholarships  $10,000 to the first 350 graduates who accept jobs, in addition to $5,000 for internships  are funded through Michigan Economic Development Corporations Talent Action Program.

The Talent Action Program is focused on supporting the electrification of Michigans core industry, said Kerry Ebersole Singh, Chief Talent Solutions & Engagement Officer.

Its been a priority to safeguard not only the heritage weve seen over the 100-plus years here in the state, but also looking forward to continue our global leadership in the industry, she said.

Related: $10K scholarships offered for students who join Michigans electric vehicle sector

The overall goal to keep gearheads and tech nerds in Michigan builds off of that Motor City legacy.

McAnelly, a junior at Michigan State University, learned her love of cars from her father, an area sales manager for then-Chrysler. They bonded over test driving new models and visiting car shows together in metro Detroit.

Despite the family allegiance to a different Big Three company, McAnelly decided at 13 her dream car was a Ford Mustang.

Entering college she saw automotive as more of a hobby than a career. At MSU she set herself on a pre-law track specializing in technology law. But a research paper on electric vehicles changed her course.

I realized that I wanted to be the person who actually created the product instead of representing the companies or people who created the product, she said.

Her introduction to computer sciences class got her hooked on the satisfaction of problem solving through code and cemented the switch to a computer science degree.

Women only make up 20% of computer science and 22% of engineering undergraduate degrees in the U.S., according to a National Science Foundation 2019 report.

Similarly, women comprise 23.6% of the auto industry as of 2019, according to U.S. International Trade Commission.

Growing up, McAnelly said her dad was her automotive role model. Now, shes looking to be a role model for future generations.

I want to show girls that you can do this and if you like STEM or you think you want to try it, you should, she said. I just wanted to show representation of women in this field because I feel like we need to still see that.

Dee Paulson, 21, seen here at software development company Creative Mines in Hancock, is part of Michigan's first cohort of EV Scholars. Michigan is offering a $10,000 scholarship post-grad for students who accept electrical engineering or software development jobs at a Michigan company. (Photo Courtesy of Creative Mines)

Up north, at Michigan Technological University, Dee Paulson always identified as a tech nerd.

In high school she attended the Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center and chose Michigan Tech to pursue their love of programming. She currently works at Creative Mines, a software development company in Hancock.

The EV Scholars program gives Paulson, 21, the financial boost to start their career. When she graduates next year she hopes to pair with an EV Scholars company and cash in the $10,000 scholarship to immediately halve their student loans.

Paulson knows their degree in computer science is valuable and that she could apply it in nearly any sector. But the scholarship narrowed their field of view, she said.

Before EV Scholars, my answer to the question, where are you looking to work? was anywhere in the United States, she said. Now, no other out-of-state job offer could match what the EV Scholars program is doing.

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Jennifer Torres.

This article is part of State of Health , a series about how Michigan communities are rising to address health challenges. It is made possible with funding from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund Research has shown that birthing people who use a birth doula are less likely to need drugs used to augment labor contractions, request pain medication, or have a cesarean birth  and more likely to consider childbirth a positive experience."We ... know that having a doula improves the birth experience," says Jennifer Torres, manager of the Michigan Public Health Institute Office of Women's Health and Birth Equity. "Doulas are a really important support for birthing people in navigating the medical maternity system."Doula support has been shown to improve outcomes around vaginal birth, duration of labor, infection rates, use of analgesics, and Apgar scores , which score how well babies are doing at one and five minutes after birth. With positive outcomes like these, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has been bolstering support for Michigan doulas through its Doula Initiative . The initiative's first step was to expand Michigans Medicaid program to cover doula services for pregnant people starting in January 2023."The coverage is still somewhat limited, but at least it makes doulas a lot more accessible to more people who need that support," Torres says. "I think this is a really important change and I'm really happy to see it happening in our state."The Doula Initiative also is launching an online doula registry , where pregnant folks can find a doula in their area who accepts Medicaid clients. Its Doula Advisory Council promotes equitable access to doula services across the state and works to expand the doula workforce. And MDHHS is also encouraging more Michiganders to become certified doulas through approved programs listed on its website and by offering resources to existing doulas, including continuing education opportunities.Shonte' Terhune-Smith is a doula health educator, lactation consultant, and birth doula practicing in Genesee County through her own small business, You Overcoming Lactation Obstacles (YOLO). She believes that Medicaid coverage of doula services will open doors for people who previously found doulas financially out of reach."I feel like it will definitely impact those birth outcomes for families of color, especially if they are able to get the support that they need," Terhune-Smith says. "With a doula, women are more empowered during their birthing process. They're more informed about the choices that are available to them. There's someone there that's outside of the health system that can support them in their decision making."While the doulas role doubles down during labor, most doulas establish a relationship with the families they serve during the pregnancy. They get to know the family, establish what the family expects from the birth experience, and lay a foundation of support that carries through the birthing process. When the birthing parent goes into labor, the doula stays by their side, suggests positions to labor more effectively in, makes the parent physically comfortable, and offers vital emotional support."Doulas make sure that the laboring person is heard, remind the laboring person of what her plans or hopes are, and provide advocacy for those preferences and how to best support them," says Joanne Bailey, director of Nurse Midwifery Service at Michigan Medicine . "Doulas definitely do not have a medical role. And that's wonderful. There are midwives, doctors, and nurses who are assessing and managing labor. The doulas role is support for the laboring person and their family or support people."Making doulas available to more Black and Indigenous families can help reduce racial disparities in pregnancy and birth outcomes, which continue to be glaring. The March of Dimes' most recently compiled data relates that Michigans Black babies were nearly three times as likely to die during their first year of life than white babies. In addition, three times as many Black mothers in Michigan died from pregnancy-related causes than white mothers.For birthing parents classified as socially disadvantaged and at higher risk for poor birth outcomes , those who had doulas throughout their pregnancies were four times less likely to have a low-birth-weight baby, two times less likely to experience a birth complication, and much more likely to initiate breastfeeding. Having a doula during pregnancy and labor even provides benefits after the birth, as birthing parents with doulas are less likely to experience postpartum depression and anxiety "Having Medicaid reimburse doulas is essential to reducing some of our disparities," Bailey says. "The way that hospitals are set up, it's very hard for pregnant families to develop a relationship with the people that will be caring for them during labor and birth. If the doula is there, that is a familiar person who knows them, at least a little, and can help them navigate through the medical system."While Michigan doulas are thrilled that more pregnant people will have access to doulas thanks to the state's expansion of Medicaid coverage, they have also taken issue with the low reimbursement rates that Medicaid currently offers. These low rates are discouraging many doulas from accepting Medicaid clients and prompting others to limit the number of Medicaid clients they take on, as the reimbursements do not cover their costs of doing business."The feedback from the doula community is that the reimbursement rates are low," Torres says. "Theyre not really high enough for it to be a sustainable source of income for doulas. When reimbursement rates are low, it limits the impact because it limits the number of people who will register as providers."Terhune-Smith has received grant funding in the past that allowed her to accept clients who could not afford a doula. To date, she has not signed up to accept Medicaid clients."You have to think about all of the other things a doula has to cover, like being able to pay your backup doula. I do more than just two prenatal check-ups and I'm more than available after a birth, as well," she says. "Are people really getting paid for what they offer? Well, I think that's something that has to be looked into."Terhune-Smith also worries that heavier client loads may cause doula burnout."There will probably be an increased number of families that sign up for doula services," she says. "As much as families have to be selective about who they pick to be their doula, I believe doulas also have to be equally selective about how much they take on."She also has concerns about hospital systems offering doulas to patients with Medicaid. Traditionally, doulas effectiveness has come about because they work for and advocate for the birthing family, not for the health system."As community doulas, we need to think about where this is going to take us," Terhune-Smith says. "I believe families need to be able to trust that the doulas in their communities are doing what's best for them as the family. Even though this is a great opportunity for our families, I still feel like doulas need to come from within the community."Torres hopes that as more Medicaid parents choose to enlist a doula, the data will not only reveal better health outcomes for parents and babies but also show cost savings for hospital systems. C-sections cost approximately $3,000 to $4,000 more than vaginal births. Costs of caring for a low-birth-weight baby in the NICU can be several thousand dollars a day."One of the potential benefits is that as we get more of the data about outcomes for people who use a doula through the Medicaid program, then that will show that not only does this have improved outcomes, but it also has cost savings," Torres says. "Then we might get more of the private payers on board. That would be great."At any rate, Medicaid coverage for doula services is a giant step forward in providing little Michiganders a better start at a healthier, happier, and more equitable life."When I come on duty and hear that people have their doulas with them, I know they're getting all the support that they need," Bailey says. "I know I have a great partner and that we're working towards helping the family have the absolute best experience possible  for mom and baby to be healthy, but also for it to be a really positive experience."
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.

NIO announces subscription price of NOP+'s official version

Chinese new energy vehicle startup NIO announced on Apr. 10 via its WeChat account the free trial of NOP+ Beta will end on Jun. 30, 2023, and starting from Jul. 1, NOP+ will be upgraded to the official version with a subscription price of 380 yuan per month.

NIO ET7; photo credit: NIO

GAC Honda to export right-hand drive Odyssey to Japan

The Sino-Japanese joint venture GAC Honda recently announced it will begin its complete vehicle export business in 2023. The right-hand drive Odyssey MPVs manufactured at GAC Hondas factory in Zengcheng district, Guangzhou city will be exported to Japan in the second half of this year, and then will be sold locally by Honda Motor.

Geely Holding, Shandong Hi-speed Group forge strategic partnership

On April 7, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and Shandong Hi-speed Group signed an agreement to step up strategic cooperation on the charging and battery swapping standards for new energy vehicles (NEVs) and relevant technology R&D.

FAW's Hongqi introduces HMP hybrid electric vehicle platform

On April 8, FAW Groups wholly-owned premium auto brand Hongqi launched the hybrid HQ Modular Platform (HMP) under the "Flagship" superstructure, showcasing the latest and cutting-edge achievements of the brand in the new energy vehicle field.

Tesla to build Megapack plant in Shanghai

U.S. electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Tesla Inc. announced on Sunday it will build a new mega factory in Shanghai, which will focus on manufacturing the companys energy storage product Megapack.

Hongjing Drive partners with SemiDrive for mass-produced L2 ADAS solution

On April 10, Chinese commercial vehicle autonomous driving solution developer Hongjing Drive announced its strategic partnership with chip supplier SemiDrive.
The government of Ghana has come under criticism for allowing security agencies to take millions of Ghana cedis from unemployed youth every year, even though the institutions cannot absorb the number of applicants. This has led to accusations of robbery and exploitation of Ghana's youth by the very government that should be protecting their interests.

Bright Botchway, a prominent social commentator, former Regional Youth organizer, and Youth activist /Feminist advocate has spoken out against this practice, noting that it is unfair and unjust to take money from unemployed youth for forms that will ultimately lead to nowhere. He argues that the government is aware of the limited opportunities available in these institutions and should not be selling forms to unemployed youth knowing that they cannot be absorbed into these agencies.

The government has defended the practice, stating that the fees charged for the forms are necessary to offset the cost of the application process. However, this argument has been met with skepticism, with many questioning the high cost of these forms and the lack of transparency in the selection process.

The issue of unemployment in Ghana is a serious one, with many young people struggling to find meaningful work despite their qualifications and skills. The government has a responsibility to address this issue and create opportunities for the country's youth, rather than exploiting them for financial gain.

One potential solution to this problem is for the government to invest in programs that will help young people gain skills and experience that will make them more competitive in the job market. This could include vocational training programs, apprenticeships, and internship opportunities in both the public and private sectors.

Another solution is to increase transparency in the selection process for these institutions, ensuring that there is a level playing field for all applicants, regardless of their financial status or political connections. This will help to restore trust in the government and its institutions and give young people hope for a better future.

However, the practice of allowing security agencies to take millions from unemployed youth is a cause for concern in Ghana. It is a clear indication of the government's failure to provide adequate opportunities for the country's youth and the need for urgent action to address this issue. The government must take steps to invest in programs that will help young people gain skills and experience and ensure that the selection process for these institutions is fair and transparent.
French President Emmanuel Macron says that Europe should have its own strategic autonomy and "avoid the trap to be caught in the crises which are not ours," referring to Taiwan, which is at the core of the current China-US crisis. Currently China is holding massive war games in the vicinity of Taiwan as retaliation of a meeting between Taiwan's President and the US Speaker of the House.

Macron, in an interview on Sunday with French economic daily Les Echos, expresses his believe that China's main preoccupation is the current confrontation with the United States, particularly over Taiwan, and that China sees Europe as a pawn in the conflict.

However, he emphasizes the importance of European unity while not following the U.S. or China's agendas. "Europe must establish its own interests and move at its own pace, and not become a vassal of either power," he says.

"The Chinese are also concerned about their unity, and from their point of view, Taiwan is a component of that. It is important to understand how they think," according to Macron.

Macron returned from a four-day trip to Beijing and Guangzhou on Saturday, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He was accompanied by a trade delegation that included 60 CEOs of France's largest companies. His remarks are a far cry from the increasingly harsh China criticism employed by the US.

The publication of Les Echos' interview with the French president coincides with massive exercises by the Chinese navy in the close vicinity of Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing regards as a province which it wants to incorporate under Communist rule.

"Serious warning"

On Saturday, just hours after Macron left China, Chinese fighter jets and warships started the "Joint Sword" war games, a three-day operation which includes rehearsing an encirclement of Taiwan.

According to the Peoples Liberation Army Daily, the official newspaper of China's defence forces, the "Joint Sword" exercises serve as a "serious warning" against " the collusion and provocation of 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and provocative external forces" and appear to be a direct reaction to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy.

Tsai made a stopover in California on Thursday after visiting Guatemala and Belize, two of only 13 countries that still maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei. Beijing generally frowns upon "informal" meetings between Taiwanese leaders and politicians of Western countries that have formally recognised Taiwan as "inseparable part of China."

"Authoritarian expansionism"

In a lengthy editorial, the Peoples Liberation Army Daily accuses Taiwan of undermining Beijing's reunification plans, while "relying on the United States to seek independence."

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen denounced the drills, pledging to work with "the US and other like-minded countries" in the face of "continued authoritarian expansionism".

In Washington, a State Department spokesperson said the United States had "consistently urged restraint and no change to the status quo", but noted it had ample resources to fulfill its security commitments in Asia.

The United States has been deliberately ambiguous on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily, although for decades it has sold weapons to Taipei to help ensure its self-defence.

Taipei's defence ministry said it had detected 11 Chinese warships and 70 aircraft around Taiwan on Sunday.

Exercises on Monday will include live-fire drills off the rocky coast of China's Fujian province, about 80 km south of Taiwan's Matsu Islands and 190 km from Taipei.

(With agencies)
Mr James Agalga, MP for Builsa North and Ranking Member of Parliament's Committee on Defence and Interior has called for the arrest of Mr Bryan Acheampong over recent comments that the ruling NPP will use every means to retain power in 2024.

Speaking at a health walk in Mpraeso on April 8, Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi, stated that "we will show NDC that we have the men if they want to do intimidate, harass us or do anything foolish during the 2024 elections...

It will not happen that we will hand over power to NDC. We'll use any means for NPP to stay in power.

In a statement, Agalga described Acheampong's comments as "ominous" and a "direct and grave threat to Ghanas democracy."

He called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to "arrest Bryan Acheampong and cause his prosecution for engaging in conduct that has the potential to undermine the peace and security of our country."

Agalga argued that Acheampong's statement suggests the NPP is "hell-bent on subverting the will of the Ghanaian people in order to perpetuate their stay in power even when they lose the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections."

According to him, it indicates the NPP is "prepared to use violence to disrupt the impending elections if it becomes apparent that it will lose."

The NDC lawmaker pointed to past instances of election-related violence linked to the NPP, including the killing of eight Ghanaians during the 2020 elections.

"The disruption of the Ayawaso West -Wuogon by-election by hoodlums associated with the NPP is still fresh in our minds," he cited.

While condemning Mr Acheampong's comments, Agalga said "the NDC shall not leave any stone unturned to ensure that Ghanas current democratic dispensation which was birthed by it in 1992 is safeguarded even in the face of intimidation and adversity."

In a full speech addressing the matter, the NDC MP wrote:

My attention has been drawn to a statement made by Hon Bryan Acheampong, the MP for Abetifi and Minister for Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the 8th of April, 2023 which statement is captured in a video that has been widely shared on social media.

The crux of the statement is that the NPP as a political party will never hand over political power to the NDC and will do anything possible to retain power in 2024.

If one unpacks Bryan Acheampongs statement, two irresistible conclusions will be arrived at; First, the NPP is hell-bent on subverting the will of the Ghanaian people in order to perpetuate their stay in power even when they lose the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections which are almost certain given its abysmal performance in government and the pain, suffering, and hardship they have inflicted upon Ghanaians.

Secondly, the NPP is prepared to use violence to disrupt the impending elections if it becomes apparent that it will lose.

The conclusions drawn from Bryan Acheampongs ominous statement are manifested in the overall conduct of Akufo Ados governments approach to issues bordering on the impartiality and credibility of the Electoral Commission moving into the 2024 elections.

The recent appointment by President Akufo Ado of Dr. Peter Appiahene, Hajia Salina Ahmed Tijani, and Rev. Ofori Boateng who are known activists of the NPP are consistent with Bryan Acheampongs effusion.

Again, the propensity of the NPP to use violence to disrupt elections is echoed in Bryan Acheampongs statement.

The disruption of the Ayawaso West -Wuogon by-election by hoodlums associated with the NPP is still fresh in our minds.

We were not surprised at all that the Emile Short Commission of Inquiry implicated Bryan Acheampong in its findings and recommendations.

The killing of eight( 8) Ghanaians during the conduct of the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections by NPP thugs who infiltrated the security services through back door recruitment in order to manipulate and subvert the will of the electorate as was seen in the Techiman North constituency cannot be forgotten.

In view of the above, the dishonorable conduct of Bryan Acheampong poses a direct and grave threat to Ghanas democracy and for this reason, he must be held accountable.

Consequently, we entreat the Inspector General of Police to as a matter of urgency arrest Bryan Acheampong and cause his prosecution for engaging in conduct that has the potential to undermine the peace and security of our country.

Whilst unequivocally condemning Bryan Acheampong for his unguarded statement, we wish to send a clear message to him and people of his ilk that the NDC shall not leave any stone unturned to ensure that Ghanas current democratic dispensation which was birthed by it in 1992 is safeguarded even in the face of intimidation and adversity.

Signed:

Hon James Agalga

Ranking, Committee on Defense and Interior
Dennis Miracles Aboagye, NPP Communicator

10.04.2023 LISTEN

Presidential staffer and communications team member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dennis Miracle Aboagye, has responded to recent criticism at the NPP.

He defended Abetifi MP, Bryan Acheampong who stated that the party would not hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking to party members after a health walk through the streets of Mpraeso on April 8, Mr, Acheampong stressed that the NPP would not succumb to any intimidation from the NDC.

He added that the party would use any means necessary to stay in power.

We will show NDC that we have the men if they want to do intimidate, harass us or do anything foolish during the 2024 elections...It will not happen that we will hand over power to NDC. We'll use any means for NPP to stay in power, he said.

His statement has led to heightened criticism, with some calling for the IGP to invite him for questioning.

In response to the criticism, Mr. Aboagye, who is also a former Akuapem North DCE, tweeted on April 9, stating that "Bullies don't like people who stand up for themselves."

He went on to suggest that the opposition is taking its supporters on an emotional rollercoaster. He added that NDC followers are not able to make their own judgments.

He noted in his tweet by saying "What a chore, being a member of the NDC," adding a tired emoji to highlight his point that NDC members suffer every day.

Bullies dont like people who stand up for themselves. . Once again, they take their members on an emotional roller coaster and of course their followers wont and watch, read and make their own judgement. What a chore, being a member of the NDC, he emphasised.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has admonished politicians to adopt Christlike features into their political life.

The former President said the trappings of political office can make one feel immortal, hence, the need for Christian politicians to embed the features of Jesus Christ into their political life to help them navigate their stay in office.

The NDC presidential candidate hopeful made the comments when he joined the Holy Hill Assemblies of God Church at Circle on Easter Sunday to worship.

God has blessed me, he has guided my steps, any possible office, the politics of this office I have occupied, I have been a deputy minister, I have been a minister, I have been a member of parliament for three terms, I have been a vice president and ultimately I have been the president of the Republic of Ghana.

Wherever you go, you get soldiers lined, welcome parades, you inspect guards of honour, the band is playing and often what it does is, it gives you a sense of immortality, if you are used to the trappings of office, you will think that you will never step out of the office and so what I say to Christian politicians is we take christlike features into the work we do as politicians.

By Citi Newsroom
Northern Ireland this week commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement, signed on 10 April 1998. The deal brought an end to more than 30 years of conflict over British rule of the Irish province.

Three decades of violence between Northern Ireland's nationalist and unionist communities ended with the Good Friday Agreement, signed 25 years ago.

The agreement was signed on 10 April 1998, between the then-prime ministers of Britain and Ireland, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern.

Eight political parties and militant groups also signed the document, the result of months of negotiations chaired by US senator George Mitchell.

Violence between mostly Catholic republicans on one side and mainly Protestant unionists on the other had left a "deep and profoundly regrettable legacy of suffering" the document acknowledges.

More than 3,500 people died in the violence.

"We firmly dedicate ourselves to the achievement of reconciliation, tolerance, and mutual trust, and to the protection and vindication of the human rights of all."

The declaration committed participants to "partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis of relationships" and to the use of "exclusively democratic and peaceful means" to achieve their political objectives.

The border and Brexit

The agreement has little to say about border arrangements between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The text promised to develop "normalisation of security arrangements and practices", including the "removal of security installations" and "other measures appropriate to and compatible with a normal peaceful society".

This created an invisible border between north and south, satisfying republicans who wanted a united Ireland, and unionists who wished Northern Ireland to stay British.

However, since Britain and Northern Ireland withdrew from the European Union, there has been the problem of enforcing EU and UK customs rules between the neighbouring states.

Any return of a hard border has been seen as a violation of the Good Friday Agreement obligations.

Residents on both sides of the border say any physical infrastructure on the frontier would reintroduce an actual divide, and potentially fuel fresh violence.

Shadowy political structures

The agreement provided for an elected 108-member assembly in Belfast, with responsibility for finance, economic development, health, education, welfare, environment and agriculture. Other responsibilities would remain with London.

The assembly is led by a first minister and deputy first minister with a power-sharing balance between unionists and nationalists.

If both positions are not occupied, the executive cannot function. This has been the case for the past year after pro-UK unionists walked out over their opposition to post-Brexit trade arrangements.

The agreement also set up a North/South Ministerial Council, bringing together assembly members and their counterparts in Dublin on issues of "mutual interest".
Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be sworn in as president of the country on 29 May 2023. That's if the courts uphold his election victory.

Tinubu won the highly contested 25 February presidential election with 37% of the total votes. At least two leading opposition candidates have filed separate legal challenges to the election results.

The new president will face many challenges, chief of which is insecurity. Multiple armed conflicts, high levels of organised crime and worsening food insecurity persist around the country.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that some three million Nigerians have been internally displaced by insecurity. The country's geographical regions are associated with distinct ethnicities and religions. Each has experienced different forms of insecurity:

farmer-herder conflicts in the country's middle belt

insurgency in the north-east

banditry in the north-west

separatist violence in the south-east.

We have published work on communal conflict in Northern Nigeria, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Kenya and have worked in community development. Based on the lead author's work on conflict in Nigeria, we are of the view that Tinubu's presidency could increase tensions in central and south-east Nigeria, while reducing violence in the north.

Our research indicates that Nigeria's sociopolitical environment is characterised by strong patronage networks. And that ethnic and religious identities strongly overlap and reinforce political cleavage. The perceived exclusion of one religion or ethnic group can fuel tensions that quickly turn into a violent ethno-religious crisis.

Tinubu's unprecedented choice of a fellow Muslim as vice-president is likely to increase ethnic and religious tensions in the north-central zone. Allegations of discrimination against Igbos in Lagos could spur Biafra-related activism and violence in the south-east.

His promises to create more employment opportunities and establish civilian neighbourhood watch groups hold potential for reducing the Boko Haram conflict and banditry in the north-east and north-west.

In the north-central region, Tinubu's presidency will likely face more communal conflicts between farmers and herders. These have long interlinked with ethnic and religious tensions.

The drivers of violence

Tinubu, a Muslim from the south-west, won the election alongside another Muslim from the north-east. Thus the new administration is a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Since 1999, all past administrations have semi-officially shared power in religious and ethnic terms to manage sectarian sentiment. Nigeria is a secular country with almost equal Muslim and Christian populations.

The Christian Association of Nigeria denounced the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Religious mobilisation was evident throughout the campaign.

Tinubu received the most votes and met the constitutional requirement of at least 25% of the vote in 25 of Nigeria's 36 states. This indicates a nationwide appeal. But the Muslim-Muslim perception may increase religious polarisation. It may undermine the new government's ability to address the causes and consequences of communal violence.

In the south-east region, the Indigenous People of Biafra will likely continue to agitate for independence. The separatist group has been protesting the marginalisation of the ethnic Igbo population.

The presidential candidate Peter Obi , an Igbo, enjoys a massive youth following in southern Nigeria. Numerous Igbo elders and Obi's allies dissuaded the group from attempting to sabotage the election.

But Obi's third-place finish, amid the electoral body's logistical challenges , allegations of voter suppression and ethnic profiling of Igbos in Lagos, will likely increase Biafra-related activism and violence.

During the campaign, Tinubu pledged to negotiate with Indigenous People of Biafra. In contrast, Buhari had treated it as a terrorist group.

In the north-east region, Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa are expected to challenge Tinubu's administration. They previously challenged Buhari's and Goodluck Jonathan's.

Tinubu's manifesto frames the insurgency as a security problem spawned by a socioeconomic crisis. It outlines the need to create jobs and revamp the nation's security architecture. But his policy document is silent on reintegrating Boko Haram members into society.

In 2013, Tinubu sparked controversy when he advocated amnesty for Boko Haram members. Two years later, the Buhari administration set up  Operation Safe Corridor  for those who surrendered. The military claims the programme has reduced Boko Haram's fighting force.

A recent survey shows that people appear to be more receptive to the return of former insurgents than previously thought. Tinubu's vice-president-elect, Kashim Shettima, has previously called for amnesty  so Tinubu will likely continue the programme.

Finally, in the north-west, militias known as bandits continue kidnapping for ransom, stealing cattle and killing people. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Events Dataset, bandits killed more than 2,600 civilians in 2021. This is a staggering increase compared with 2020. Bandits have no stated political aim.

The conflict began as a land dispute between Hausa farmers and Fulani herders. It has been partly linked to the impact of climate change. In January 2022, Buhari (a Fulani) banned the militias as terrorist groups and deployed the military.

Since then, military air raids have repeatedly killed civilians instead of militants.

Contrary to Buhari's approach, Tinubu called for engagement with violence-affected communities. His policy document emphasises using civilian neighbourhood watch groups to address banditry. Whether these groups will be limited to non-violent conflict resolution or engage in armed vigilantism is unclear.

Armed vigilantes may increase violence, as research on civilian defence militias in the Boko Haram conflict indicates.

Way forward

The new administration faces enormous challenges in addressing widespread armed conflict and deep societal divisions.

Lawmaking and law enforcement are critical to dealing with the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty and unemployment. It's also important to have ethnic and religious balance in the appointment of crucial security positions.

This could reduce tensions and make dialogue possible, particularly with community leaders and religious associations.

Jana Krause receives funding from the European Research Council's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under grant number 852816 for the project 'Resilience Building: Social Resilience, Gendered Dynamics, and Local Peace in Protracted Conflicts.'

Imrana Buba's doctoral research is supported by the same grant from the European Research Council's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program (852816; PI: Jana Krause).

By Jana Krause, Professor of Political Science , University of Oslo And

Imrana Buba, PhD Candidate in Political Science, University of Oslo
Attacking is the best form of defense, and for many decades in African politics, failed and unpopular governments have chosen to use violence as their only means of maintaining power. If caution is not exercised, Ghana will experience the same violence because after the NPP government's abysmal performance and corruption, which have paralyzed the nation, an NPP politician by the name of Bryan Acheampong, has already started a new cycle of remarks that have the potential to incite violence.

The NPP politician, who is also the Abetifi Constituency's Member of Parliament, claimed that "the NPP is not ready to hand over power to the NDC." We must question ourselves, as responsible adults, "Why are Africans on the Black Continent always at odds with one another? A similar comment was made a few weeks ago by an NDC youth organizer, who was afterward detained by Inspector General of Police George Dampare, whilst Mr. Acheampong is still free and Dampare believes he is doing a good job.



The statement "NPP will not hand over power" poses a threat not only to the NDC but also to the security of the entire country. Bryan Acheampong's statement will be seen as treason in other countries, where it will result in immediate incarceration. The entire world is now keeping an eye on George Dampare; if he detained an NDC youth organizer for a related infraction, Acheampong should also be detained right away. Photo credit: Ghana media

Crime and rampant corruption have flooded the nation's shores under this particular regime led by the tyrant Akufo Addo. Ghana is gradually disintegrating as a country because it appears as though crime is permitted with impunity under Ghana's constitution. Imagine the state of a nation where the president has engaged in all criminal activity, such as murder, extensive corruption, and illegal mining and since the authorities were appointed by Akufo Addo, the law cannot bring charges against the president.



The current Ghanaian politics resemble a Mafia underground clan fighting for existence and the situation is extremely worrisome because everyone fears for his life under the administration of President Akufo Addo, who claims to be leading a democratic government and since their tribe is more important to them than the country, there are ineffective, egocentric, narrow-minded, vicious, corrupt, and selfish NPP leaders, such as Bryan Acheampong, destroying our country.

Let's sit down and reason together, in 2016, the NDC government lost power despite functioning remarkably well compared to this appalling NPP administration because Ghanaians were persuaded by Akufo Addo's sugar-coated tongue that John Mahama was corrupt and incompetent. Why is Acheampong acting in such a manner while neither Mahama nor the NDC politicians made a fuss or threatened to withhold power from the NPP before losing the presidential election?

Anyone can sense the fear, anxiety, and uncertainty that have overtaken the whole NPP government. Because the International Monetary Fund is still in talks with the government about a financial rescue, Mr. Acheampong's offensive remarks to Ghanaians shouldn't come as a surprise to them. The NPP is aware that they have already lost the 2024 elections, thus Bryan Acheampong acted out of fear, however; such foolish utterances would not be accepted in a peaceful nation like Ghana.



Bryan Acheampong has made a statement that any wise politician would not have made because since power belongs to the people, they elect the president and the politicians to represent them. However, he has made it clear to Ghanaians that the NPP will rig the elections to maintain its hold on power. It's unfortunate for him because he has expressed his violent nature in front of Ghanaians and foreign diplomats serving their countries in the nation.

Since the failed NPP administration has made it clear that it will not cede power, if there is electoral violence in 2024, the International Criminal Court has the authority to extradite Bryan Acheampong to The Hague to stand trial. The Abetifi Constituency MP will not be exempt from the long-term repercussions of negative words since they will always be there. Bryan Acheampong would have been arrested by now for inciting violence in Europe or America.

Why are these crimes happening in our beloved Ghana when there are qualified journalists who could report honestly on these issues? Despite claiming to be a skilled journalist, Paul Adom-Otchere doesn't find anything wrong with what Bryan Acheampong said. He continues to support and defend all of the NPP government's criminal activity. These are some of the issues that have led to the targeting and murder of some innocent journalists. In all honesty, if Adom-Otchere is to practice this type of journalism he does in another nation, he would have been killed a long time ago.



Nevertheless, he is free to continue his biased journalism because everything has its place. Yesterday, Akufo Addo promised to do everything in his power to ensure that the NPP retains power in 2024 and today, Bryan Acheampong has added his voice, saying, "The NPP is not ready to hand over power. I will remind them that people that choose violence as a means of oppression and power, also die by violence, and more importantly, that the International Criminal Court is waiting to prosecute them.
Indias health ministry is conducting mock drills to check the preparedness of hospitals to deal with rising Covid-19 cases.

The drills are being held on Monday and Tuesday across the country.

Indias active case count is relatively low but experts are urging caution to stop further spread of the disease.

The country saw a deadly second wave in 2021 and the government came under criticism as many hospitals ran out of oxygen and critical care beds.

India recorded close to 6,000 new cases on Sunday, government data shows. The active case count was 35,000.

The surge in number is largely driven by XBB.1.16, which is an omicron subvariant. The WHO has said it was watching the subvariant and the spread in India.

Experts say its not known to be lethal.

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, Maria Van Kerkhove, WHOs COVID-19 technical lead, recently said.

Many cities in India have seen a sharp rise in cases in recent weeks, but the surge has not led to an increase in hospital admissions.

Both public and private hospitals are participating in the mock drills, which are being supervised by Indias health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and other state health ministers.

In an online meeting held on 7 April, Mr Mandaviya had also asked health officials to identify emergency hotspots by tracking cases related to respiratory illnesses and he also advised them to increase testing and vaccination for Covid-19.

He also stressed the need for increasing awareness about Covid-appropriate behaviour like wearing masks in public places.

Meanwhile, some states have made it mandatory to wear masks in public and are urging citizens to follow Covid-19 safety protocols.

India was on alert in December as well due to a surge in Covid-19 cases in neighbouring China, and had stepped up surveillance.
The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Sulemana Braimah has lambasted the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong over his comments regarding the handing over of power in the event the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) loses the 2024 general election.

Speaking to followers of the NPP on Saturday, April 8, at the end of a health walk through the principal streets of Mpraeso, the new Minister for Food and Agriculture warned that if the NDC tries to do anything "foolish" in the next general election, the NPP will show them they have the men.

We will show NDC that we have the men if they want to do intimidate, harass us or do anything foolish during the 2024 elections.

It will not happen that we will hand over power to NDC. We'll use any means for NPP to stay in power, Bryan Acheampong said.

Reacting to the comments in a social media post, Sulemana Braimah described it as senseless incitement.

The Media Foundation for West Africa boss further urges Ghanaians to remain peaceful and refuse to be incited by any politician.

Senseless incitement. The will of the people is what shall always prevail, not the will of hooligans. Fellow Ghanaians, let's remain peaceful. Refuse to be incited. Democracy is about the will and power of the people, Sulemana Braimah said in a post on Twitter.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China's passenger vehicle (PV) retail sales amounted to 1.587 million units in Mar. 2023, edging up 0.3% from the previous year, while also jumping 14.3% from the previous month, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

For clarity, the passenger vehicles hereby refer to the cars, SUVs, and MPVs locally produced on the Chinese mainland.

PV retail sales in March were relatively weak, which resulted from consumers stronger wait-and-see mood led by such factors as weak demands and market price confusion, said the CPCA. In terms of the weekly trend, PV sales were pretty low in the first two weeks of last month, and the overall market gradually recovered in late Mar.

For the first quarter of this year, Chinas PV market posted a 13.4% year-on-year decrease in year-to-date sales, which amounted to roughly 4.261 million units. The decline was partly attributed to this year's Spring Festival being the earliest in this century, and consumers growing wait-and-see sentiment spurred by stimulus policies, sales promotions, etc.

There were around 270,000 luxury PVs retailed across China last month, representing a 17% year-on-year growth and a 35% month-on-month jump. The luxury car market has gradually strengthened as the shortage of high-end cars caused by the chip supply constraints last year has waned.

Chinese indigenous PV brands recorded a combined retail sales volume of roughly 770,000 units in Mar., which was 2% and 9% more than that of the year-ago and month-ago periods, respectively.

The CPCA's data show that China's local brands accounted for 48.8% of the country's total PV retail volume last month, 0.7 percentage points higher than the prior-year level.

With about 540,000 PVs delivered in Mar., mainstream joint ventures in China faced a 9% decline from a year earlier, but posted an 11% growth from the previous month.

Among the top 10 automakers by Mar. PV retail sales in China, BYD still ranked highest in terms of both sales volume and the year-on-year growth. Besides, Tesla ranked sixth with its retail sales of China-made vehicles rising 16.6% from a year earlier to 770,000 units last month. BMW Brilliance was also included in the top 10 rankings.

China's monthly PV wholesale volume reached 1.987 million units in Mar., rising 9.3% and 22.9% compared to both the prior-year and prior-month periods.

Chinas local automakers saw their PV wholesales total 1.05 million units in Mar., which jumped 20% and 22% from the previous year and previous month, respectively. In the same period, the PV wholesale volume of mainstreams joint ventures reached around 640,000 units, growing 24% month over month, but shrinking 12% year over year.

There were about 290,000 luxury PVs sold across the Chinese mainland last month through wholesale, representing a 33% jump over a year earlier and a 17% growth over a month ago.

With regard to the PV wholesale volume in Mar., BYD still outshone other automakers with a wholesale volume of around 206,000 units. Among the top 10 automakers, BYD, FAW-Volkswagen, Changan Auto (self-owned PV brands), Chery Auto, Geely Auto, Tesla, and SAIC Motor PV all gained a year-on-year rise.

As for production performance, Chinas locally-produced PV output amounted to 2.079 million units last month, growing 13.8% and 24.9% from a year earlier and a month earlier, respectively.

According to the data compiled by the CPCA, China's passenger vehicle export volume (including complete vehicles and CKDs) reached roughly 290,000 units in Mar., zooming up 172% from the prior-year period, while also growing 15% from the previous month.

In the Jan.-Mar. period, China exported a total of 78,000 passenger vehicles (+90% YoY), 24% of which were contributed by new energy vehicles.
I may at least take pride in having written nine articles about George Dampare, the Inspector General of Police. I have frequently established beyond a shadow of a doubt that the inspector general of police encourages crime within the NPP administration. Dampare has not prosecuted crimes committed by the NPP administration or the president since he was appointed by Akufo Addo.

After the brutal murder of NPP politician J. B. Danquah-Edu, I also stated in one of my articles entitled Ghana's IGP, George Dampare, and the president, Akufo Addo, are complicit in a murder they are trying to cover up, and therefore, the inspector general of police can't follow the case. Both the murder cases of the NPP politician and journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale, have been swept under the carpet to be a cold case.



Many Ghanaians are dissatisfied with the Inspector General of Police, George Damapare. He is unable to handle crimes committed under the Akufo Addo administration for two reasons: one, he was appointed by the president, and second, he has been implicated in a murder crime.

With the little experience I have of the quality of police services provided to the general population in Europe, I know that Dampare is deceiving himself and as the IGP seeks to win over the trust of Ghanaians as a good police chief, he doesn't strike me as a trustworthy police officer. George Dampare, Godfred Dame, and Kwasi Anin-Yeboah are in fact to blame for the criminality that has engulfed Ghana under the NPP administration.



The president continues to misuse his position and authority by denigrating Ghanaians, participating in rampant corruption, and committing crimes with impunity. Some NPP politicians and pastors, such as Bryan Acheampong and Victor Kusi Boateng, have used this as an opening to perpetrate crimes with impunity. How long will such acts go unpunished in our country?

Razak Avoliya, a youth organizer for the NDC, was heavily criticized in February of this year after saying in an interview that he was preparing for the youth in his district to arm themselves for the 2024 elections. As a result of his remarks, he was detained by Inspector General of Police George Dampare. The NPP asserts that if the NDC truly opposes violence, it should "expel the Suame youth organizer."

I want to know if the NPP has made any attempts to expel Bryan Acheampong, and I also want to know what George Dampare has been doing since the NPP politician made this menacing statement that might easily result in bloodshed in such a peaceful country as Ghana.
10.04.2023 LISTEN

Founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe has described as irresponsible the comments by Bryan Acheampong insisting that the ruling party will never hand over power to the National Democratic Congress.

Speaking to followers of the NPP on Saturday, April 8, at the end of a health walk through the principal streets of Mpraeso, the new Minister for Food and Agriculture warned that if the NDC tries to do anything "foolish" in the next general election, the NPP will show them they have the men to face them.

We will show NDC that we have the men if they want to do intimidate, harass us or do anything foolish during the 2024 elections.

It will not happen that we will hand over power to NDC. We'll use any means for NPP to stay in power, Bryan Acheampong said.

Concerned about such comments coming from a government official, Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe has issued a press release to condemn his actions.

In his release, he warned that the statement by Bryan Acheampong can lead this nation into destruction beyond the one the Akufo Addo government has caused.

He admonishes the Abetifi MP to immediately retract his statement and apologise to Ghanaians.

I advise Mr. Bryan Acheampong to as a matter of urgency, withdraw and render an unqualified apology to the good people of Ghana for making such destructive, unlawful, unguided, unnecessary and unintelligent political statement. Our time is for sound argument on bread-and-butter issues, not hooliganism, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe said in his release.

Read the full release below:

PRESS RELEASE

10-04-2023

BRYAN ACHEAMPONG; THE IRRESPONSIBLE CABINET MINISTER

The tantrums over the weekend in Kwahu by Mr. Bryan Acheampong, a supposed member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a one-time National Security Operative who has recently been confirmed by parliament of Ghana as the Minister for Agriculture is unfortunate and in bad taste.

I am writing as an elderly citizen of Ghana and a founding members of the New Patriotic Party who cannot sit down unconcerned in the face of such destructive political statement by some recalcitrant elements in the political class. Without doubt, the statement by Bryan Acheampong can lead this nation into destruction beyond the extent the Akufo Addo government has caused.

The statement made recently by Mr. Bryan Acheampong during the NPP Unity Walk at Kwahu on the 8th of April 2023 is not only irresponsible, but also violent and destructive; a statement that is senseless and uncalled for. For Mr. Bryan Acheampong, a cabinet minister of the Republic of Ghana, to have said that the NPP government will not hand over power to the NDC even if the opposition wins, and that whichever way we will employ to ensure NPP stays in power beyond 2024, we will employ, is not only directed at the NDC, but it is a dangerous threat to our democracy and the 1992 constitution.

I will like to assure Mr. Bryan Acheampong that some of us will not sit down unperturbed as he seeks to press the destructive button of the 4th Republic. And we are resolved in our determination.

Since the removal of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghanas first president in 1966, this nation has never known peace politically and economically. We have had series of coup detat. The political class comes in for a period and the military takes over. A situation which has retarded our development rather than help it. This has gone on since 1966 until finally through the blood and sweat of gallant soldiers and civilians alike, we had a constitutional rule in 1992.

Mr. Bryan Acheampong with all the properties he has acquired from the Kwahu range to the Akuapem range are known. The question is, can he honestly account for these numerous properties with independent enquiry? Bryan Acheampongs indiscipline and violent tendency has reached legendary levels and it is about time the President and the NPP leadership called him to sanity. Failure to do that will further injure the party and lead it to a total collapse.

Some of us in the NPP will not sit down unconcerned for such irresponsible behaviors alien to the NPP and inimical to national development to continue. Development is what our country greatly requires now, and as a cabinet minister that is what Bryan Acheampong should address on political platforms such as it was offered him last Saturday.

In conclusion, I advise Mr. Bryan Acheampong to as a matter of urgency, withdraw and render an unqualified apology to the good people of Ghana for making such destructive, unlawful, unguided, unnecessary and unintelligent political statement. Our time is for sound argument on bread-and-butter issues, not hooliganism. Thank you.

Signed

Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe
Professor James Owusu, the Chief Executive of the Leyden Educational Consultancy, UK, has advocated reforms in the Ghanaian education system to instil 21st Century skills in the youth to help solve emerging societal problems.

He bemoaned the rote learning system in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Ghana, which purportedly produced substandard graduates and dragged development.

The result was the overreliance on the West for solutions to local problems, a situation, he noted, must change.

Prof Owusu made the call at the second Postgraduate graduation ceremony of the UK-USA Universities partnership research programme for Global Education and Training on Project Design and Community Development in Cape Coast.

The programme, among other things, seeks to empower the youth to maximise their potential for community development in the face of emerging sophisticated problems.

Eight graduates were conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Entrepreneurship degree.

We should not be dependent on Western skills and technocrats coming to tell us what to do, he said.

We should get to the point where we can say to ourselves that our young graduates can make an impact in our local communities. not only solving problems but using local materials, tools and stuff to enhance development.

The Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO) and its local partners, the Centre for Learning and Community Development (CLCD) are executing the project across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Prof Owusu said it was the responsibility of every PhD holder to solve problems, adding: If you hold a PhD and you cannot solve problems, then there is a question mark with your PhD.

With your wide range of skills based on your research programmes, these skills should be used to solve problems within our local communities.

Let us support our local communities with our skills.

The high poverty rate in Sub-Sahara Africa, with Ghana no exception, was attributable to the lack of relevant skills, whereas the lack of creativity and innovation had become a major challenge, Prof Owusu said.

He expressed worry over the very low literacy rate in Ghana, and noted that only 38 per cent of children up to age 12 could read and write.

Dr Jonathan Mensah Akyeampong, General Manager, Administration and Human Resources, SSNIT, stressed the need for graduates to use their skills to create employment to minimise the unemployment rate in West Africa.

He said the project was committed to high academic quality and was working to make higher education more accessible.

We must be problem solvers as you go home into your communities, he said and assured the graduates that the partners were ready to support any venture they went into.

Prof Samuel Amoa-Mensa, the Country Director of CLCD-SAWBO for Sub-Sahara Africa, encouraged citizens to contact the project to benefit from the various programmes.

That, he said, would enable them to acquire the relevant entrepreneurial skills to employ themselves and others.

Very soon, I am going to train about 20 young people in dressmaking for free. The world is changing and you should change with it.

GNA
The Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah has stressed that the party has no plans to cause any disruptions during the 2024 general elections.

In a post on social media commenting on a video where former President John Dramani Mahama insists that the next election will be a do-or-die affair, Richard Ahiagbah said the NPP plans to play by the rules as it did since 1992.

He noted in his post on Twitter that government plans to see to it that the 2024 general election is not only free but fair as well.

As Democrats, the NPP has played by the rules since 1992 and we intend to continue. It is our opponent who is proud and touting its revolutionary roots, that needs to tone down and play by the rules. 2024 will be free & fair, Richard Ahiagbah said in his Twitter post.

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abetifi Constituency, Bryan Acheampong has declared that the NPP will never hand over power to the NDC.

Speaking to followers of the NPP on Saturday, April 8, at the end of a health walk through the principal streets of Mpraeso, the new Minister for Food and Agriculture warned that if the NDC tries to do anything "foolish" in the next general election, the NPP will show them they have the men to face them.

We will show NDC that we have the men if they want to do intimidate, harass us or do anything foolish during the 2024 elections.

It will not happen that we will hand over power to NDC. We'll use any means for NPP to stay in power, Bryan Acheampong said.

These comments have not gone down well with a lot of Ghanaians.

A founding member of the NPP, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe is one of the people who have hit out at Bryan Acheampong.

He has advised the Minister of Food and Agriculture to retract the statements and apologise to Ghanaians.
Security forces in the South American overseas territory of French Guiana have arrested a man suspected of having killed a member of the gendarme police force, according to the local prosecutor's office.

The 20-year-old man was arrested by members of the same unit, the GIGN, and taken into custody on Saturday in connection with last month's shooting, Yves Le Clair, the prosecutor for Cayenne, the capital of the overseas territory, told the AFP news agency.

The suspect, a Brazilian, was arrested after having indicated that he was ready to surrender, Le Clair added.

He is under provisional arrest since Sunday and will be transferred to the French Carribbean island of Martinique.

The slain police officer, 35-year-old Arnaud Blanc, was part of a joint operation with the French army against illegal gold mining when he was shot dead on 25 March.

Investigators' preliminary findings suggest the suspect is a member of a gang involved in illegal gold mining.

French authorities fear the illegal gold extraction is a major source of pollution affecting sensitive water systems.

Lucrative, dangerous and damaging

Last year, French authorities carried out more than 1,000 patrols in the Guiana forest against illegal gold mining operations, seizing 59 kilograms of mercury and five kilograms of gold, according to a report from local authorities.

Local mining operators say 10 tonnes of gold are illegally extracted from French Guiana each year by unauthorised gold miners known locally as "garimpeiros". The business is lucrative, but dangerous and very damaging to the environment.

Mercury is used to coagulate the tiny grains of gold washed out of the soil. A powerful neurotoxin, the waste mercury contaminates plants, fish and ground water, making its way into the human food chain.

The miners also indiscriminately destroy forest cover, exposing the soil to rapid erosion.

French Guiana is one of several overseas territories which remain part of France and which continue to be administered from Paris.
10.04.2023 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament for Abetifi, who doubles as the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Bryan Acheampong has come under heavy criticism over remarks that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will never hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He said this when he addressed the NPP party faithful at Mpreaso in Kwahu in the Eastern Region after a walk dubbed 'Walk to Build A Better Ghana' that was attended by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

The former Minister of State in Charge of National Security stated that the NPP will do everything possible to remain in power.

NDC party will collapse. If the NDC dares to use threats, Violence and foolishness in the 2024 election we will let them know we have the men. We will show them that we have the men. We have the men![He screamed to emphasize]. It will never happen that we the NPP will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remain in government at all cost.

Ghanaian blogger, digital marketer and political activist, Boga Ali Hashim has described as 'unsavoury' remarks by Mr Acheampong.

According to him, the MP's comments are "highly condemnable" and must be treated with a pinch of salt.

"Wow! Unpacking what the honourable MP said, in simple terms, I find his remarks repugnant, seditious, highly condemnable and must not be taken with a pinch of salt," he stated.

He believes that the comments "are only to disrupt the long-standing peace and stability in the country."

The celebrated blogger added that some senior politicians who have since condemned Hon. Bryan Acheampong's statement be commended citing a founding member of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe.

Read Boga Ali Hashim's full statement he made on Facebook below:

"HON. BRYAN ACHEAMPONG'S UNSAVORY REMARKS MUST BE CONDEMNED BY ALL

I am certain that many of you have chanced on this already-gone-viral video of Member of Parliament for Abetifi, who doubles as the Minister for Food and Agriculture, HON. BRYAN ACHEAMPONG addressing NPP party faithful during 'a unity walk' in Kwahu on Saturday, April 8.

In his speech, Hon. Acheampong fervently expressed that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will use whatever means necessary to remain in power in the 2024 general election and that they will never hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2025.

He warned that if the NDC tries to do anything 'foolish' in the next general election, the NPP will show them they have the men to face them.

WOW! Unpacking what the honourable MP said, in simple terms, I find his remarks repugnant, seditious, highly condemnable and must not be taken with a pinch of salt.

Not mincing words, what HON. BRYAN ACHEAMPONG said is only to disrupt the long-standing peace and stability in the country and must be condemned by all.

I couldn't agree more with NDC's HON. JAMES AGALIGA, in his press release, said "The NPP is hell-bent on subverting the will of the Ghanaian people to perpetuate their stay in power even when they lose the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, which is almost certain given its abysmal performance in government and the pain, suffering and hardship they have inflicted upon Ghanaians.

Secondly, the NPP is prepared to use violence to disrupt the impending elections if it becomes apparent that it will lose."

I think we should as well-meaning Ghanaians strongly condemn such impunity and brazen acts of violence which undermine Ghanas hard-earned peace and democracy.

And as an aspiring politician, who believes in the democracy, peace and stability of our dear country, I hereby add my voice to the call for the apprehension of the Member of Parliament to at least serve as a deterrent against incendiary and vitriolic speeches creeping into our day-to-day political activities.

The trajectory of our POLITICS must be revised.

That said, I think certain statesmen primarily the founding member of the NPP, Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe who've boldly denounced HON. BRYAN'S unfortunate comments must greatly be commended.

Additionally, from where I am standing, clergies, civil societies, traditional leaders, and even the leadership and rank and file of the NPP must by now demur against as well... but, ah well.

Let me conclude by adding that Ghana as a pillar of stability in the subregion, must not become complacent. We must call on all (most especially, politicians) to avoid the use of inflammatory language that could further increase tensions.

May ALLAH continue to grant our dear nation, GHANA, PEACE, UNITY and STABILITY.

Lastly, I pray that ALLAH accepts the FAST of every Muslim and grants us the STRENGTH to climax this spiritual exercise fruitfully.

Best regards. Wassalamu Alaikum!
10.04.2023 LISTEN

Bangladesh, Japan, and India will hold a meeting in Tripura on 11-12 April to put in place connectivity initiatives to harness the commercial potential of the region.

Asian Confluence, a think tank based out of North East India, in collaboration with India's foreign ministry, is organising the event. It will be attended by deputy foreign ministers of Bangladesh and India along with the chief minister of Tripura and the Japanese envoy to India, reports the Economic Times.

Japan is investing in Northeast India and Bangladesh including the deep-sea port at Matarbari that will connect the landlocked region with the Bay of Bengal.

Asian Confluence recently conducted a study that suggested both Northeast India and Bangladesh need to scale up their multi-modal connectivity, which would not only help the region to raise its competitiveness but also narrow the development gaps in the region.

The study suggested in parallel, both entities should work together to bring synergy in trade facilitation and build express corridors for the transshipment and transit of goods from the Northeast Region to the Chattogram Port.

Creation of industrial value chains to create a win-win situation for all stakeholders in India and Bangladesh and Japanese companies in the region, the study added.

It was also suggested to establish the Japan-Northeast India Chamber of Commerce to promote Japanese investment in NE India, and a Northeast India India-Bangladesh-Japan CEO Forum so that it can provide the required business leadership.

However, Bangladesh is an important country in the Indo-Pacific region. It is also a country in which Japan is investing in a big way. Tokyo is involved in many projects in the country, including the Matarbari Port.

Japan and Bangladesh have had close ties ever since Tokyo recognized the People's Republic of Bangladesh on February 10, 1972. It was soon after the new country had declared its independence.

In neighboring areas, Japan has made significant investments in Northeast India. In fact, because of the region's strategic location, Japan is the only country which has been allowed to invest in Northeast India in a big way. Northeast India shares borders with Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

All of these factors played a role in designing one of the signature initiatives of Japanese foreign policy, the "free and open Indo-Pacific" vision. While this was conceived by Shinzo Abe, the former Japanese prime minister, it has been continued by successive administrations since then. As part of the same, Japan has been working to ensure that a rules-based order is maintained in the Indo-Pacific region.

Although Japan has been one of the closest development partners of Bangladesh since its birth, it has been outsmarted by China in recent times. Especially after the launch of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which Bangladesh has signed on to.

It was in June 2018 that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed loan agreements in the amount of 2.65 billion JPY ($19.65 million USD) with the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Their purpose was to provide for the development of the Matarbari Port in Bangladesh. Tokyo is also involved in the Dhaka mass rapid transport network as part of its development assistance to the country.

While unveiling "free and open indo Pacific" new policy" Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida said recently "the Northeast India, surrounded by land, still has unexploited economic potential.

Viewing Bangladesh and other areas to the south as a single economic zone, Japan will build Bengal-Northeast India industrial value chain concept in cooperation with India and Bangladesh to foster the growth of the entire region.

Japan and India have already formed an Act East forum to take up projects in Bangladesh and other countries. Visiting Japan PM has elaborated on the policy while giving lecture in Indian Council of World Affairs at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday. Before giving lecture Japan PM had a bilateral meeting with PM Narendra Modi.

He said that Japan is working with India to bring stability in South Asia region. He also said Japan has already formed an economic study group with Bangladesh to forge an economic partnership as Bangladesh is graduating from least developed country to developing nation.

Japan PM said "The waters that connect Japan and the Pacific Island countries have no borders. The Pacific Islands region is exposed to many challenges such as rising sea levels due to climate change, infectious diseases such as COVID-19, and natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions."

Giving an idea of cooperation PM Japan said," In a post-Covid-19 world, digital connectivity is also increasingly vital. We will promote reliable digital technology including Open RAN, and develop information infrastructure including submarine cable laying projects. We will also cooperate in the materialization of smart cities utilizing digital technology. We believe that there is a great potential to utilize Japanese technology and India's strength in the IT field, as well as to provide support for infrastructure development through Japanese ODA. "

Japan will be focusing on the development of Matarbari Port in Bangladesh as part of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's new Free and Open Indo-Pacific plan. It will be part of Tokyo's larger infrastructure development efforts in the Bay of Bengal and Northeast India with a focus on "multilayer connectivity" as laid out in the plan.

Japan recently unveiled its new vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) which includes integrated development of Northeast India and Bangladesh as part of a broader Bay of Bengal community.

Calling India an indispensable partner, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida outlined his new Indo-Pacific strategy during a policy speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), immediately after a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kishida listed three important regionsSoutheast Asia, South Asia and the Pacific Islandswhere multi-layered connectivity could overcome vulnerabilities and boost economic growth.

The Northeast India, which is surrounded by land, still has unexploited economic potential. Viewing Bangladesh and other areas to the south as a single economic zone, we will promote the Bay of Bengal-Northeast India industrial value chain concept in cooperation with India and Bangladesh to foster the growth of the entire region, said the Japanese PM.

Briefing a small media group, Noriyuki Shikata, Cabinet Secretary for Public Affairs said that right now Northeast India and Bangladesh were on Tokyos radar. Myanmar will reappear in the frame once the political situation in Naypyidaw eases.

During his address, PM Kishida stressed that Japan has already launched a Joint Study Group on the possibility of an Economic Partnership Agreement with Bangladesh.

Shikata pointed out that landlocked Bhutan could also be included in the broader Bay of Bengal initiative, though the focus right now was on the Northeast India-Bangladesh connect.

Prime Minister Kishidas vision especially focused on emerging economies and developing countries in the Indo-Pacific region, including the far-flung island territories, vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters in the Pacific.

To fulfill Kishidas vision of transparent and inclusive development of the region, Tokyo will mobilise US $75 billion in public and private funds in the Indo-Pacific region by 2030.

With Chinas engagement diplomacy as the subtext, the Japanese will focus on fair development finance on building quality infrastructure development, including undersea cables to far-flung island territories.

Kishida cited the critical situation in Sri Lanka and insisted on rules to prevent opaque and unfair development finance which are necessary for nations to grow autonomously and sustainably. It is essential that Sri Lankas debt restructuring advances in a fair and transparent manner, the Japanese premier observed. He also stressed that Tokyo will closely collaborate with India in the South Asian region.

Analysts point out that Japan appears to be exploring deeper cooperation with India in South Asia as a major step before a broader engagement with New Delhi can unfurl in other geographies including the Middle East and Africa.

I believe that Japan and India are in an extremely unique position in the current international relations and, furthermore, in the history of the world, said the Japanese PM in his address.

Kishida chose India to make the significant announcement as it was here that Japans longest-serving Prime Minister, the late Shinzo Abe, delivered his famous The Confluence of Two Seas speech in the Indian Parliament in August 2007 and came up with the concept of the Indo-Pacific for the first time.

Promising that Japan will spare no efforts to cooperate with India for the success of the G20, Kishida said both countries have a great responsibility for maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

Now, the moot question is whether it is possible to link up Japan's investments in Bangladesh and Northeast India? Options available for consideration should be reviewed before the question of whether Japanese investments in the two areas are compatible. what is the nature of goods that are going to be transported from Bangladesh to India? These could include textiles, fish products and produce from outside Bangladesh that would be offloaded in Matarbari. The present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is friendly towards India and Japan. the infrastructure would have to be built out. It would be challenging to link Bangladesh and Northeast India with existing roadways. Besides, the railway connectivity is poor due to a host of factors. On the other hand, India can also join hands with Japan to develop railway connectivity between the two, both in Bangladesh and on the Northeast India side of the border.
10.04.2023 LISTEN

This is not a What-Do-You-Know quiz, but if you think you know Accra, here are three questions to ponder as you enjoy your Easter break: (1) what is the link between South Odorkor and Oxford Street?

Similarly, (2) what do Been To, Nkatie Burger and Gravel Pit have in common? And, (3) is there any relationship between Libya and Washington; or New England and Zanzibar?

I wont keep you in any more suspense, particularly if youre not an Accra dweller and especially if you havent seen, or taken the trouble to study the Load Management Schedule that the Electricity Company of Ghana announced ahead of that exercise. Thankfully, it ended last Friday, April 7, having commenced on Thursday, March 30.

Apparently, the regional groups covered under the schedule were: Accra, Volta, Ashanti, Tema, Western, Eastern and Central. Affected suburbs were grouped under A, B, C, and D; and the outage was from 6p.m. to 11 p.m.

The quiz questions above were evoked particularly by the baffling ECG Accra groupings. But also of special interest were the curious, bewildering appellations or accepted nicknames of some of the capitals suburbs! Conceivably, some might have started as humorous nicknames and then became so popular that the city authorities formalised or adopted them.

A typical example is Accras bustling Oxford Street, a name undoubtedly copied from the famous street in London, reputed to be Europes busiest shopping road.

Unlike previous power management or load shedding schedules, it appears the ECG didnt publish this 2023 one in the daily newspapers, but it was widely circulated online. Maybe ECG management thought that because of the high numbers of online disciples, it made more economic sense to use the Internet this time.

Noticeably, not all of Ghanas 16 regions were listed on the schedule. Perhaps those left out were lucky to escape the planned load shedding though, reportedly, some of them have been experiencing outages just the same  mostly unannounced, it seems.

Nevertheless, there had been advance notice. In a joint news release dated March 30, 2023, the Ghana Grid Company and the Electricity Company of Ghana had announced that due to the maintenance works being carried out by the Ghana National Gas Company at the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant, gas supply for generation has been affected.

Consequently, there will be a generation capacity shortfall (which) will reduce total power supply for distribution by ECG until Friday 7th April, 2023. There will be minimal interruption in power supply to some ECG customers, the release said.

I was left in no doubt about which group my street was under when, with admirable military precision, at 6 p.m. that day our power went off. What was less admirable was that instead of 11 p.m. our power was restored not at 11 p.m. on the dot, but at about 11. 30 p.m. Still, we were elated that our electricity was back.

From our own harrowing experiences in Ghana, one can fully appreciate the impact of blackouts on others: General misery! Economic losses! Little wonder that last month the Government of South Africa was compelled to appoint a Minister to solve their devastating power generation problems.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement that the new electricity minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, is to focus solely on dealing with the crippling power cuts.

Anyway, in the quiz above are some of the clusters I found quite strange. For instance, given the vast distance between South Odorkor and Oxford Street, how can both be served by the same ECG sub-stations? I had been under the assumption that electricity sub-stations would be serving neighbouring communities or areas.

Furthermore, the names themselves prompted more questions. What could be the story behind a tag like Been-To for a suburb name? And was Nkatie Burger named after a factory where that honey-roasted groundnut snack is made  or that snack is popular with the inhabitants? Was Gravel Pit, originally a construction site or a location where gravel was extracted?

The names also underscore the almost national fixation with copycat practices, including place names. But perhaps areas with names like Libya, Washington and Israel got those descriptions because the first notable settlers there had lived in those countries or cities before.

Also featured in the Accra groups are a myriad of fascinating names connoting possible extraordinary, hidden histories, including: Fair Heaven, Hebron, Wiaborman and Niagara. Above all, the timetable also demonstrated Ghanaians sense of humour, through quaint place names. Some examples, from Accra Group A: Seven Days, Wele, Borkorbokor, Amelia, Maame Nkran, Mayera, Bayere Junction and Yomo Specs.

Of course the whimsically named Maye Hot (meaning Im feeling the heat/Im in hot water), and Kojo Sardine, are two of the well- known ones that provoke questions, or laughter, but what about the countless other odd names? Why on earth Ability, Abotsie Hanya and Parks and Shops?!

I confess that although I have lived in the national capital almost all my life, its only thanks to the ECG Management Schedule that I now know that the city has places identified by such peculiar names as: Ghana Flag; American Flag, School Junction, Massalatsi, Little Roses, Agyeman, Obaahemaa and Sawmill.

And what about equally perplexing names like: Akatsi Abor, Special Drink, Bantsi Asi, Akoshie Junction, Konka, Red Top, Rush, Fulani, Bohye and Langba? Surely, behind those weird names there must be some enthralling tales waiting to be unearthed!

Of course one shouldnt overlook the fact that its not only the Ghanaians sense of humour that the unusual, hilarious names illustrate. Seemingly, some suggest caution or even offer guidance; others sound philosophical.

How else can one interpret the designation of places with Akan sounding names like Fankyeneko (meaning, take salt along); or Mempeasem (I dont want trouble); and Obeyeyie (it shall be well)?

To me, the creativity behind many of these captivating place names is worthy of applause. Their ingenuity has certainly captured my attention!

[email protected]
10.04.2023 LISTEN

2024 presidential hopeful, Kofi Koranteng has highlighted the need to absorb the new Artificial Intelligence into Ghana's curriculum as part of the teaching syllabus to catch up with global education.

His comment was in response to a question as to whether he will support the introduction of AI in education when he takes the mantle as the next first gentleman of the land.

The vociferous aspirant asserted the introduction of AI will help automate certain tasks in governance and provide real-time insights and solutions.

AI can help organizations make faster and more informed decisions. This can be particularly valuable in high-stakes environments, where decisions must be made quickly and accurately to prevent costly errors or save lives. This will help to cut down the oversize government to ten ministers with nine cabinet ministers in my government," he stated.

Mr. Koranteng shared his visions on education, youth empowerment, leadership, and entrepreneurship with some selected tertiary students in a virtual meeting via Google Meet organized by Ghana Universities Journal.

Mr. Koranteng thanked the leadership of the Ghana Universities Journal for putting up such a platform for students to elaborate on the national agenda.

I'm grateful to the leadership for such initiative, this is truly what we must invest into, the future is in your hands, and must take our destiny into our hands and take control of our future," he stated.

He assured his government will prioritize and empower the youth to take an active role in leadership and governance.

Ghana Universities Journal is a group of tertiary students grouped on social media platforms to engage industry players, stakeholders, and government and offer constructive criticism and solutions to impact the generation.
Rescue workers on Monday recovered a fourth body from the rubble of a collapsed apartment building in the southern French port city of Marseille. Four people remain unaccounted for.

More than 24 hours after an explosion at the building, where residents reported a strong smell of gas, dozens of civil defence staff and sniffer dogs worked among the debris as a fire still smouldered.

"Four bodies have been found," Housing Minister Olivier Klein said, at the site of the accident.

The deputy mayor of the Mediterranean port city, Yannick Ohanessian, said rescue workers still had hope of finding survivors.

"Until the very end, we will believe it is possible, even if chances become slimmer with every passing hour," he said.

Lionel Mathieu, the commander of the city's fire department, said his team was waging a "battle against time".

"The fire has not reached all parts of the building, so there is hope," he said.

The fire at the site has made it difficult for trained police dogs to detect more victims or survivors.

Strong smell of gas

The cause of the explosion is still to be determined, but investigators are looking at the possibility it was the result of a gas leak.

Residents in neighbouring buildings reported a "strong smell of gas".

Ohanessian said several witnesses had reported "a suspicious smell of gas".

Two buildings next to the destroyed property were severely damaged, with one collapsing later in the day without injuring any rescuers.

Almost 200 residents were evacuated from surrounding buildings.

The city provided some emergency shelter, and the local community also sprang into action to help coordinate housing and aid for those made homeless.

Shadows of 2018

In 2018, eight people were killed in Marseille when two dilapidated buildings in the working-class district of Noailles caved in.

That disaster cast a harsh light on the city's housing standards, with aid groups saying 40,000 people were living in shoddy structures.

Marseille authorities on Sunday appeared to rule out structural issues in the latest collapse.

"There was no danger notice for this building, and it is not in a neighbourhood identified as having substandard housing," said Christophe Mirmand, prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhone region.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On April 10, Chinese commercial vehicle autonomous driving solution developer Hongjing Drive announced its strategic partnership with chip supplier SemiDrive.



Photo credit: SemiDrive

Under the cooperation, Hongjing Drive's L2 product line will be equipped with SemiDrive's high-performance and highly reliable E3 series microcontroller unit (MCU), which will upgrade Hongjing Drives existing intelligent camera "smart cam" integrated machine products, and provide customers with a more competitive L2 mass-produced intelligent driving solution.

Based on its technology advantages in full-stack independent R&D, Hongjing Drive has completed deep adaptation development on SemiDrive's E3 series MCU through its advanced software algorithm, as well as system and hardware design capabilities. Both parties have fully leveraged their respective technical advantages to achieve optimal performance and cost.

SemiDrives E3 series product is based on ARM Cortex-R5F, with functional safety level reaching ASIL D, temperature level supporting AEC-Q100 Grade 1, CPU clock speed up to 800MHz, and up to six CPU cores.

The E3 series can fully meet Hongjing Drive's high requirements for performance and reliability in ADAS. Based on the E3 series, the autonomous driving company's smart cam integrated machine and L2 intelligent driving assistance system products will be powered with higher performance and lower supply chain risks, providing excellent localized support for customers and responding to client needs more quickly.

Currently, Hongjing Drive has been appointed as the supplier for a total of 25 models from SAIC Motor, Great Wall Motor, Chery, JAC Group, BYD, HOZON Auto, and others.
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said that the statement that was issued by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) reacting to the comment by Agric Minister Bryan Acheampong was not only ill-founded, hypocritical, illogical, and baseless, but also one that lacks contextual substance for the consumption of the discerning Ghanaians.

The NPP said Ghanaians are not oblivious to the modus operandi of the main opposition party in deliberately putting diabolic and mischievous slant to otherwise innocuous comments of the Member of Parliament in furtherance of their selfish political interest.

This comes after the General Secretary of the NDC Fifi Kwetey said that the comment by Bryan Acheampong was is a treasonable comment.

Bryan Acheampong had assured members of the NPP that the economy would bounce back.

He said the government was working to secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Hopefully, he said, by June this year the deal will be closed, a situation that will lead to the resurgence of the economy.

Speaking to members of the NPP in Kwahu after a health walk on Saturday, April 8, the Abetifi Lawmaker said NDC party will collapse. If the NDC dares to use threats, Violence and foolishness in the 2024 election we will let them know we have the men. We will show them that we have the men. We have the men.

It will never happen that we the NPP will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remain in government at all cost.

The former Minister of State in Charge of National Security added Now with the way things are changing the economy will bounce back again, I am telling you that we are going to come around that curve and we are going to win the 2024 elections hands down.

But a statement issued by Mr Fifi Kwetey responding to him said The NDC condemns this utterly reckless and treasonable comment in no uncertain terms. We note that Bryan Acheampong is the latest of high-ranking officials of the NPP to make such brazen statement that reveals the party's deep-seated determination to subvert Ghana's democratic order.

At an NPP delegates conference in Kumasi in 2021, President Akufo-Addo expressed his determination to hand over to an NPP Government in 2025. This eerily reminds everyone of the Nana Addo led desperate attempts to steal the 2008 elections in the strongroom of the electoral commission and other attempts by his desperate party to put dead bodies in water bodies in the Volta region all with a view to subverting the will of the people in that critical election.

The NPP also in a statement issued by its General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong said The NPP finds the NDC's statement not only ill-founded, hypocritical, illogical, and baseless, but also one that lacks contextual substance for the consumption of the discerning Ghanaians who are not oblivious to the modus operandi of the main opposition party in deliberately putting diabolic and mischievous slant to an otherwise innocuous comments of the Member of Parliament in furtherance of their selfish political interest.

Since the NDC pretends not to appreciate and logically decode Bryan's message, we would once again educate them, just as we have done on many occasions. For the avoidance of doubt, Hon Bryan Acheampong, was responding to the NDC's perpetual flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, who had on many occasions described the 2024 general elections as one of do or die for the NDC. It is, in fact, a no secret that the NDC has always resorted to violence and intimidation against their opponents during the conduct of general elections, and this was summed up by their 2024 presumptive presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama. He has stated emphatically that: NDC has revolutionary root, and that when it comes to unleashing violence, nobody can beat us [NDC] in unleashing violence.

Other leading members of the NDC, including Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the national chairman of the Party, have made similar threatening and malicious comments. Indeed, following his election as National Chairman, Asiedu Nketiah stated in his victory speech that, the NDC would fight the 2024 general elections to win a second independence for Ghana, and that, they are prepared to sacrifice everything including their lives for an NDC victory.

It was was in response to this myriad of reckless and treasonable comments from the NDC that Hon. Bryan Acheampong gave encouragement to supporters of the NPP, who may feel intimated by the many threats coming from the NDC, that, under no circumstance should they feel intimated because the NPP has men of courage who can rise to the defense of our democracy and the 1992 Constitution of the Republic as enshrined in Article 3 of the Constitution.

Hon. Bryan, thereupon, proceeded to give NPP supporters a firm assurance that the Party [NPP] will not lose the 2024 general elections and hand power to the NDC but will do everything to retain power. Considering the steps being taken by the Akufo-Addo-led government to tackling Ghana's socioeconomic challenges, which have begun bearing positive dividends, and also by the conduct of the NPP since the advent of the Fourth Republic, Bryan Acheampong's comment can only be interpreted to mean that the NPP, just as it has done in the past, is determined to do everything legally possible to win the 2024 general elections. The NPP's track record of winning elections through free, fair, and transparent means is not in doubt at all.

It is thus nerve-wracking to see the very persons who have over time made the worst of unguarded statements, and acted in a manner that has the potential to subvert the nation's democratic order and plunge the country into chaos and instability, to turn around and cry foul of a statement that seeks to energize the base of the NPP, give assurance of hope to party faithfuls and the Ghanaian citizenry. Ghanaians are fully awoken to such gimmicks by the NDC.

The NPP considers the NDC's attack on Bryan Acheampong not only unwarranted but also attention-seeking with an ill attempt to emotionally blackmail Ghanaians to court their support.

From the foregoing, if anybody has to be arrested by the Police for treasonable comments, then certainly it is John Dramani Mahama for his continuous Do or die for the NDC  in reference to the 2024 general elections, and Asidedu Nketiah for his brazen proclamation that members of the NDC are willing to sacrifice their lives to win the 2024 elections.

We wish to conclude by once again assuring the good people of this great nation that the NPP remains a peace-loving party and would not do anything to jeopardize the peace and security of the state. We hold the enviable title as the bastion of democracy in Ghana and on the African continent, and this, we intend to guard jealously. The 2024 general elections shall be free, fair, and the most transparent elections in the Fourth Republic, and by the grace of God, the NPP would emerge victors to continue our transformation agenda.

-3news.com
10.04.2023 LISTEN

The Director of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development Dennis Mircales Aboagye explained that the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong's recent comment on 2024 elections was a reply to the violent threats of former President John Dramani Mahama.

Mahama has been lately beating war drums in addition to preaching violence.

According to Miracles, persons who are criticizing Bryan Acheampong hate people who stand up for themselves.

In a tweet, he said Your candidate threatens and preaches violence and touts your revolutionary [email protected] replies and says IF you try violence, you won't have your way and you are screaming. What were u thinking? Political Bullies, They hate people who stand up for themselves.

On his recent campaign tour, former President Mahama says the 2024 elections is going to be no playground for any political party as the NDC would be ready boot for boot.

Reaching out to delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Dormaa East on Monday, March 13 as part of his campaign to be elected flagbearer of the NDC, he urged supporters of the party to be extra vigilant in the next general election to ensure victory for the party.

Open your eyes at the polling stations like eagle eyes, he said.

We know that you all have children who have been educated, we want you to release them to us so that we train them five times before we vote. This 2024 election is not a joke, it is boot to boot, it is do-or-die he added.

This follows attempts by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) seeking to criminalise comments made by Bryan Acheampong for saying that the NPP would not hand over power to the NDC.

Bryan Acheampong had assured members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the economy will bounce back.

He said the government is working to secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Hopefully, he said, by June this year the deal will be closed, a situation that will lead to the resurgence of the economy.

Speaking to members of the NPP in Kwahu after a health walk on Saturday, April 8, the Abetifi Lawmaker said NDC party will collapse. If the NDC dares to use threats, violence and foolishness in the 2024 election we will let them know we have the men. We will show them that we have the men. We have the men.

It will never happen that we the NPP will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remain in government at all cost.

The former Minister of State at the Ministry of National Security added Now with the way things are changing the economy will bounce back again, I am telling you that we are going to come around that curve and we are going to win the 2024 elections hands down.

The General Secretary of the NDC Fifi Kwetey said that the comment is treasonable.

He said in a statement that The NDC condemns this utterly reckless and treasonable comment in no uncertain terms. We note that Bryan Acheampong is the latest of high-ranking officials of the NPP to make such brazen statement that reveals the party's deep-seated determination to subvert Ghana's democratic order.

At an NPP delegates conference in Kumasi in 2021, President Akufo-Addo expressed his determination to hand over to an NPP Government in 2025. This eerily reminds everyone of the Nana Addo led desperate attempts to steal the 2008 elections in the strongroom of the electoral commission and other attempts by his desperate party to put dead bodies in water bodies in the Volta region all with a view to subverting the will of the people in that critical election.

-DGN online
Communist party leaders in South Africa on Monday paid tribute to their former general secretary Chris Hani who was murdered on 10 April 1993 in Johannesburg by a Polish-born rightwing extremist.

The 50-year-old was shot dead as he got out of his car in front of his home in the suburb of Boksburg.

His 15-year-old daughter, Nomakhwezi, witnessed the assault.

Janusz Walus was convicted of the killing and sentenced to life in prison.

Former Conservative party MP, Clive Derby-Lewis, was also jailed for life for conspiracy to murder.

Commemorations to the former anti-apartheid campaigner at a ceremony in Boksburg came as the South African Communist Party (SACP) renewed calls for a fresh investigation into Hani's death.

SACP general secretary, Solly Mapaila, told the French news aency AFP: There were many factors that were not properly investigated. We need to know the truth.

Mapaila added that an online petition calling for a new inquest had garnered more than 20,000 signatures.

On Monday, during a memorial service for Hani at the Thomas Nkobi Memorial Park in Boksburg, Mapaila said: "As long as we are gathered here, Chris will never die."

Hailing the former leader of the ANC's military wing, Mapaila added: "Chris lived and died for socialism. He lived and died for the upliftment of the poor and the unemployed. He lived and died for the working class."

Hani's widow, Limpho, told the service her family still had questions about the attack.

No closure

I don't have closure, she added. That is why I am wearing black today. Until such time the truth comes out I am in mourning for life.

At the time of the trial it emerged that Walus and Derby-Lewis had hoped to provoke racial conflict with the killing.

And though the attack led to protests and rioting in black townships, the ANC boss Nelson Mandela appeared on national television to appeal for calm.

His intervention helped to defuse tensions and pave the way towards South Africa's first multi-racial elections in 1994.

Derby-Lewis was released in 2015 on medical parole and died of lung cancer in 2016, aged 80.

Walus was freed on parole last December.

The democratic government, which my husband died for, has betrayed Chris and his family by releasing his assassin, Limpho Hani added.

The killer is free. And the opportunity for full truth on the wide conspiracy of Chris Hani's assassination is now buried and lost completely.
10.04.2023 LISTEN

The New Patriotic Party has said "if anybody has to be arrested by the police for treasonable comments, then certainly it is John Dramani Mahama" for his continuous 'do or die for the NDC' comment in reference to the 2024 general elections, and the Chairman of the main opposition National Democratic Congress, Mr Johnson Asidedu Nketia, "for his brazen proclamation that members of the NDC are willing to sacrifice their lives to win the 2024 elections."

Defending Abetifi MP Bryan Acheampong's recent comment that the party will not hand over power to the NDC in the 2024 elections, the NPP, in a statement signed by General Secretary Frimpong Kodua, said the NDC's call for Mr Acheampong's arrest was hypocritical.

The party said the NDC, whose presumptive flag bearer John Mahama and general secretary have made worse statements in the past, is just quoting Mr Acheampong oit of context for political capital.

Read the NPP's full statement below in response to a call by the NDC to the IGP to arrest Mr Bryan Acheampong:

For Immediate Release

April 10, 2023

NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY REACTS TO NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS' ILLFOUNDED ATTACK ON BRYAN ACHEAMPONG

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has sighted a flippant statement signed by the General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), on comments made by Bryan Acheampong, Member of Parliament for the Abetifi Constituency and Minister for Food and Agriculture while addressing some party supporters in the Eastern Region which the NDC describes as treasonable.

The NPP finds the NDC's statement not only ill- founded, hypocritical, illogical, and baseless, but also one that lacks contextual substance for the consumption of the discerning Ghanaians who are not oblivious to the modus operandi of the main opposition party in deliberately putting diabolic and mischievous slant to an otherwise innocuous comments such as the comments made by the Member of Parliament, in furtherance of their selfish political interest.

Since the NDC pretends not to appreciate and logically decode Bryan's message, we would once again educate them, just as we have done on many occasions. For the avoidance of doubt, Hon Bryan Acheampong, was responding to the NDC'S perpetual flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, who had on many occasions described the 2024 general elections as one of "do or die" for the NDC. It is, in fact, a no secret that the NDC has always resorted to violence and intimidation against their opponents during the conduct of general elections, and this was summed up by their 2024 presumptive presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama. He has stated emphatically that:

"NDC has revolutionary root, and that when it comes to unleashing violence, nobody can beat us [NDC] in unleashing violence".

Other leading members of the NDC, including Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Chairman of the Party, have made similar threatening and malicious comments. Indeed, following his election as National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah stated in his victory speech that, the NDC would fight the 2024 general elections to win a second Independence for Ghana, and that, they are prepared to sacrifice everything including lives for an NDC victory.

It was in response to these myriad of reckless and treasonable comments from the NDC that Hon. Bryan Acheampong gave encouragement to supporters of the NPP, who may feel intimated by the

many threats coming from the NDC, that, under no circumstance should they feel intimated because the NPP has men of courage who can rise to the defense of our democracy and the 1992 Constitution of the Republic as enshrined in Article 3 of the Constitution.

Hon. Bryan, thereupon, proceeded to give NPP supporters a firm assurance that the Party [NPP] will not lose the 2024 general elections and hand power to the NDC but will do everything to retain power. Considering the steps being taken by the Akufo-Addo-led government to tackling Ghana' s socioeconomic challenges, which have begun bearing positive dividends, and also by the conduct of the NPP since the advent of the Fourth Republic, Bryan Acheampong's comment can only be interpreted to mean that the NPP, just as it has done in the past, is determined to do everything legally possible to win the 2024 general elections. The NPP's track record of winning elections through free, fair, and transparent means is not in doubt at all.

It is thus nerve-wracking to see the very persons who have over time made the worst of unguarded statements, and acted in a manner that has the potential to subvert the nation's democratic order and plunge the country into chaos and instability, to turn around and cry foul of a statement that seeks to energize the base ofthe NPP, give assurance of hope to party faithfuls and the Ghanaian citizenry. Ghanaians are fully awoken to such gimmicks by the NDC.

The NPP considers the NDC's attack on Bryan Acheampong not only unwarranted but also attention seeking with an ill attempt to emotionally blackmail Ghanaians to court their support.

From the foregoing, if anybody has to be arrested by the Police for treasonable comments, then certainly it is John Dramani Mahama for his continuous "Do or die for the NDC " in reference to the 2024 general elections, and Asidedu Nketiah for his brazen proclamation that members of the NDC are willing to sacrifice their lives to win the 2024 elections.

We wish to conclude by once again assuring the good people of this great nation that the NPP remains a peace-loving party and would not do anything to jeopardize the peace and security of the state. We hold the enviable title as the bastion of democracy in Ghana and on the African continent, and this, we intend to guard jealously. The 2024 general elections shall be free, fair, and the most transparent elections in the Fourth Republic, and by the grace of God, the NPP would emerge victors to continue our transformation agenda.

Thank you

Signed,

JUSTIN KODUA FRIMPONG

GENERAL SECRETARY

Source: classfmonline.com
Gunmen have killed five Niger army troops protecting a convoy of gold miners in the remote north of the country near Algeria, a security source told AFP on Monday.

The armed assailants mingled with the convoy before opening fire on the military escorts on Sunday, the source said.

The soldiers chased the gunmen and "fell into an ambush which left five dead", the source said.

The convoy was heading for the town of Arlit from the gold rush site of Tchibarakaten 450 kilometres (280 miles) to the northeast where thousands of people have been drawn hoping to strike the precious metal.

A survivor of the attack told the Air Info online journal, based in the northern regional capital Agadez, that the assailants were "heavily armed" and laid an ambush.

The journal reported that five more soldiers were wounded.

An elected local official told AFP that "quantities of gold were probably carried off" by the attackers who "seem to have been well informed".

Attacks on gold miners have been frequent in the Agadez region where migrant, arms and drug trafficking is rife through Niger's vast swathes of desert bordering Libya and Algeria.

The impoverished Sahel country is grappling with a seven-year-old campaign by jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating) had its target price cut by Barclays from $211.00 to $205.00 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. They currently have an underweight rating on the industrial products companys stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on ITW. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Citigroup upped their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $232.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. UBS Group boosted their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $210.00 to $238.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 15th. Finally, Vertical Research downgraded shares of Illinois Tool Works from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their target price for the company from $240.00 to $220.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $224.57.

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Illinois Tool Works Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ITW opened at $227.70 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $69.41 billion, a PE ratio of 23.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 1.10. Illinois Tool Works has a 52 week low of $173.52 and a 52 week high of $253.37. The firms fifty day moving average is $235.61 and its 200-day moving average is $221.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.41.

Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement

Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.34 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.60 by ($0.26). The company had revenue of $3.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 87.15% and a net margin of 19.04%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.95 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Illinois Tool Works will post 9.53 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 13th. Investors 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 dividend yield of 2.30%. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is 53.58%.

Insider Activity at Illinois Tool Works

In related news, CEO Ernest Scott Santi sold 235,656 shares of the firms 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 213,538 shares of the companys stock, valued at $52,592,274.02. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Illinois Tool Works news, CEO Ernest Scott Santi sold 235,656 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.29, for a total value of $58,039,716.24. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 213,538 shares of the companys stock, valued at $52,592,274.02. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Vice Chairman Christopher A. Oherlihy sold 60,137 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.26, for a total value of $14,809,337.62. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 40,072 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,868,130.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.78% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 9,666 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,024,000 after acquiring an additional 348 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 9,070 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,899,000 after purchasing an additional 368 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 54.7% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,859 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $599,000 after purchasing an additional 1,011 shares during the period. Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 9.9% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,407 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $504,000 after buying an additional 217 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd increased its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 70.7% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 746 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $156,000 after buying an additional 309 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.83% of the companys stock.

About Illinois Tool Works

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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.

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Byrne Asset Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) by 18.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,190 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 275 shares during the quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLCs holdings in Waste Management were worth $187,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Waste Management by 2.8% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 36,984,227 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $5,925,244,000 after acquiring an additional 1,016,798 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in shares of Waste Management by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 30,982,963 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $4,963,780,000 after purchasing an additional 154,917 shares during the period. Amundi grew its stake in Waste Management by 18.8% during the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 3,194,558 shares of the business services providers stock worth $482,604,000 after buying an additional 504,966 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc increased its position in Waste Management by 2.7% during the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 3,080,916 shares of the business services providers stock worth $471,319,000 after buying an additional 81,547 shares during the period. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec lifted its stake in Waste Management by 21.5% in the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 2,605,293 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $417,394,000 after buying an additional 461,425 shares during the last quarter. 78.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Waste Management Price Performance

Waste Management stock traded down $1.03 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $162.63. The companys stock had a trading volume of 214,597 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,858,880. The firm has a market capitalization of $66.15 billion, a PE ratio of 30.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.51 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 stocks 50 day simple moving average is $153.86 and its 200 day simple moving average is $157.66. 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 Increases Dividend

Waste Management ( NYSE:WM Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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). Waste Management had a net margin of 11.36% and a return on equity of 32.91%. The company had revenue of $4.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.97 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.26 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.72%. This is a boost from Waste Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio is currently 51.95%.

Insider Activity at Waste Management

In other Waste Management news, SVP Tara J. Hemmer sold 7,515 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total value of $1,164,825.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 46,542 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,214,010. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Waste Management news, SVP Tara J. Hemmer sold 7,515 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total value of $1,164,825.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 46,542 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,214,010. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total transaction of $120,888.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at $787,283.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 30,961 shares of company stock valued at $4,796,057 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently commented on WM. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Waste Management from $158.00 to $167.00 in a research report on Thursday. Raymond James reduced their target price on shares of Waste Management from $167.00 to $166.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 6th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Waste Management in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. They issued an outperform rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on Waste Management from $157.00 to $151.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Waste Management from $179.00 to $181.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $173.27.

Waste Management Company Profile

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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.

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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).

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StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA  Get Rating) in a report issued on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the basic materials companys stock.

China Green Agriculture Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of CGA stock opened at $4.06 on Thursday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $4.14 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a current ratio of 2.73. China Green Agriculture has a 1-year low of $3.90 and a 1-year high of $10.60.

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Institutional Trading of China Green Agriculture

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in China Green Agriculture stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in China Green Agriculture, Inc. (NYSE:CGA  Get Rating) by 67.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 19,051 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,700 shares during the quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned about 0.22% of China Green Agriculture worth $192,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. 0.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About China Green Agriculture

China Green Agriculture, Inc engages in the research, development, production, and sale of various types of fertilizers and agricultural products. It operates through the following segments: Jinong, Gufeng, and Yuxing. The Jinong segment includes fertilizer products, with focus on humic acid-based compound fertilizer.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of China Jinmao Holdings Group (OTC:FRSHY  Get Rating) from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, The Fly reports.

China Jinmao Holdings Group Trading Down 5.4 %

Shares of China Jinmao Holdings Group stock opened at $15.37 on Thursday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $15.37 and its 200-day simple moving average is $15.37. China Jinmao Holdings Group has a twelve month low of $15.37 and a twelve month high of $16.24.

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China Jinmao Holdings Group Company Profile

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China Jinmao Holdings Group Limited, an investment holding company, operates in real estate and hotel businesses in Mainland China. It operates in four segments: City and Property Development, Commercial Leasing and Retail Operations, Hotel Operations, and Others. The City and Property Development segment develops city complexes and properties, as well as develops land.

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Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. (NYSE:ASR  Get Rating)s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $313.95 and last traded at $312.69, with a volume of 9449 shares. The stock had previously closed at $302.12.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ASR has been the subject of several research reports. 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. from $215.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

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Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. Price Performance

The firms 50-day moving average is $287.82 and its 200-day moving average is $255.70. The company has a quick ratio of 3.70, a current ratio of 3.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The company has a market capitalization of $9.36 billion, a PE ratio of 18.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.04 and a beta of 1.08.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. ( NYSE:ASR Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The transportation company reported $4.34 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 return on equity of 21.49% and a net margin of 40.06%. The business had revenue of $369.64 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $364.55 million. Equities analysts predict that Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. will post 16.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. US Bancorp DE increased its stake in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 7.1% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 766 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $170,000 after buying an additional 51 shares during the period. Addison Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 25.6% during the third quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 265 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 55.7% during the third quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 151 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Formidable Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 2.3% in the third quarter. Formidable Asset Management LLC now owns 2,573 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $505,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Toroso Investments LLC increased its holdings in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 2,573 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $505,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 15.66% of the companys stock.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. Company Profile

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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.

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Marmathan Tirmur helps his bride Gulihan Zangabili arrange ornaments on her hands at their new home in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 20, 2023.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu) URUMQI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- "Happy wedding!" A rousing cheer burst out at a distinctive wedding ceremony featuring ethnic Tajik traditions, where Gulihan Zangabili and her better half tied the knot. Lasting for three days, the vibrant and joyful event at Fumin Village brought vigor and happiness to the villagers living on the Pamir Plateau, in the far west of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. For the 25-year-old ethnic Tajik bride and her groom Marmathan Tirmur, having fallen in love more than three years ago, a traditional wedding ceremony was at the top of their to-do list. "Now our standards of living allow us to choose many ways to perform our wedding, but we still prefer to do so with such a traditional ceremony," said the groom. Inscribed on the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008, the wedding customs of the Tajik ethnic group maintain unique traditions and are always described as festivals of music, dance and food to showcase the resplendent newlyweds and their propitious marriage. Last month, without a hair out of place, Gulihan Zangabili, dressed head to toe in traditional costume and adorned in a red and white veil, married Marmathan Tirmur, describing the wedding as a dream realized. During the wedding, the traditional costume-clad groom had his face painted with traditional facial makeup and adorned with over sixty white dots, symbolizing good luck. Throughout the wedding festivities, the couple's loved ones congregated from nearby villages to join in the celebration. Some of them played traditional Tajik musical instruments, such as the eagle flute and tambourine, and performed inspiring festive dances, while others lent their hands to prepare local specialties, including naan bread and pilaf. Furthermore, the event's long-lasting atmosphere of joy, harmony and warmth, which fills every moment and leaves every participant thoroughly immersed and captivated, draws not only locals but also tourists from across the country to the small village, to share joy and happiness together. "The wedding is really special and lively, and we are lucky to see such an impressive ethnic wedding in Xinjiang," said a tourist surnamed Huang, from Beijing, dazzled by the splendid ceremony. However, Sultanbagim Yiblayim, 61, Gulihan Zangabili's mother-in-law, could never imagine the booming popularity of their traditions and ballooning tourism. "When I got married, it took me about seven days to get to my husband's house in another village on horseback. This seems inconceivable today." Nowadays, automobiles have replaced horses as the most common means of transportation for the villagers. The road network between the villages and the counties is also well-appointed, and it takes less than 20 minutes to drive from Fumin Village to the county seat of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County. A relative applies makeup around the eyes of the groom Marmathan Tirmur before the wedding in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 19, 2023.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu) While enjoying the convenience of modern life, ethnic Tajik people also choose to stick to some traditions. Gulihan Zangabili's family bought a brand-new washing machine and a refrigerator for the couple as wedding gifts, along with handmade embroidery works, decorated with patterns such as fire and sun, which represent ethnic Tajik people's love for nature. According to the data of the local rural revitalization bureau, the local government in 2017 started to implement the Tatikuli relocation project, helping more than 1,400 farmers and herdsmen in five townships of the county to move into new houses near the county seat from remote mountainous areas. "Because of the continuous progress of rural revitalization work, the quality of life of the villagers has been greatly improved compared with before," said Elken Yusain, head of the bureau. Brimming with bliss, Marmathan Tirmur told Xinhua that because of the opportunity created by this project, his wife moved from her birthplace, a small and remote village in the mountains, to Fumin Village in 2018, and that's when the two met each other. "Thanks to the relocation policy, we were given more opportunities than we would have had otherwise," he said. "If it weren't for relocation, it would have been very difficult for the couple to meet, let alone make such a good marriage," said Zangabili Mainik, the bride's father.
Shenzhen (Gasgoo)- Today, Chinas new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD unveiled the BYD DiSus Intelligent Body Control System, a full-stack self-developed system dedicated to NEVs.

Photo credit: BYD

Last month, the Shenzhen-based company said it would soon release an all-new technology system named "Yun Nian", which is the Chinese name for the DiSus system.

BYD thus becomes the first Chinese automobile manufacturer to own the intelligent vehicle body control technology throughout. At the launching event, Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD, described the new system as the Chinese own intelligent body control system.



The DiSus Intelligent Body Control System portfolio includes three systems, namely the Intelligent Damping Body Control System (DiSus-C), the Intelligent Air Body Control System (DiSus-A), and the Intelligent Hydraulic Body Control System (DiSus-P).

With all these new systems, BYD aims to offer better driving experience for vehicles, from compact ones to luxury ones. According to the automaker, the BYD DiSus System can ensure the vehicle is agile and effectively compatible in most driving scenarios, minimizing the risk of vehicle rollover and reducing the displacement of occupants during high-speed cornering, full-throttle acceleration, or emergency braking.

The DiSus-A will be first equipped by the Denza N7 while the Yangwang U8 will be the first model to have the DiSus-P. Meanwhile, numerous models including the BYD HAN, the BYD TANG and some Denza Models, will be equipped with the DiSus-C via over-the-air update.

Earlier this year, the automaker launched its high-end auto brand Yangwang and two production models from the new brand, the U8 and the U9.

Photo credit: BYD





At the end of the event, BYD also showcased a dancing Yangwang U9. Thanks to the DiSus-X system, the vehicle can not only dance, but also jump and drive with only three wheels. However, the automaker revealed little information about the DiSus-X system.
MGT Capital Investments (OTCMKTS:MGTI  Get Rating) and Beyond Commerce (OTCMKTS:BYOC  Get Rating) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and valuation.

Profitability

This table compares MGT Capital Investments and Beyond Commerces net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets MGT Capital Investments -2,045.69% N/A -755.96% Beyond Commerce -32.60% N/A -25.70%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for MGT Capital Investments and Beyond Commerce, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score MGT Capital Investments 0 0 0 0 N/A Beyond Commerce 0 0 0 0 N/A

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares MGT Capital Investments and Beyond Commerces revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio MGT Capital Investments $810,000.00 5.36 -$1.54 million N/A N/A Beyond Commerce $4.05 million 0.81 -$9.16 million N/A N/A

MGT Capital Investments has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Beyond Commerce.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

0.0% of MGT Capital Investments shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.8% of MGT Capital Investments shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.0% of Beyond Commerce shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

MGT Capital Investments has a beta of 2.8, meaning that its share price is 180% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Beyond Commerce has a beta of 0.38, meaning that its share price is 62% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

MGT Capital Investments beats Beyond Commerce on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About MGT Capital Investments

(Get Rating)

MGT Capital Investments, Inc. engages in cryptocurrency mining business. It solves complex mathematical problems using custom designed and programmed application-specific integrated circuit computers. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Raleigh, NC.

About Beyond Commerce

(Get Rating)

Beyond Commerce, Inc. operates as a provider of internet marketing analytics, technologies and services. Its focus is to develop, acquire, and deploy disruptive strategic software technology and market-changing business models through organic growth and acquisitions. The firm portfolio of companies includes: Service 800 and PathUX. The company was founded on January 12, 2006 and is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV.

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iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF (BATS:PICK  Get Rating)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $41.56 and last traded at $41.61, with a volume of 138887 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $41.32.

iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF Stock Up 0.7 %

The company has a 50 day moving average of $42.96 and a 200 day moving average of $41.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.48 and a beta of 1.17.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Sentinus LLC increased its stake in iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Sentinus LLC now owns 27,629 shares of the companys stock worth $1,092,000 after buying an additional 280 shares during the period. Family Firm Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF by 2.0% during the third quarter. Family Firm Inc. now owns 34,152 shares of the companys stock worth $1,162,000 after acquiring an additional 675 shares during the last quarter. Greenline Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF by 69.4% in the third quarter. Greenline Partners LLC now owns 1,680 shares of the companys stock worth $57,000 after acquiring an additional 688 shares in the last quarter. Credit Suisse AG boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF by 12.7% in the third quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 28,457 shares of the companys stock valued at $968,000 after purchasing an additional 3,201 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Leuthold Group LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF by 37.9% in the third quarter. Leuthold Group LLC now owns 16,507 shares of the companys stock valued at $562,000 after purchasing an additional 4,538 shares during the last quarter.

iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF (PICK) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in materials equity. The fund tracks a market-cap-weighted index of global metals mining, extraction or production firms, excluding gold and silver mining firms. PICK was launched on Jan 31, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Kelt Exploration (TSE:KEL  Get Rating) was upgraded by analysts at Scotiabank from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note issued on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has a C$8.50 price target on the oil and gas exploration companys stock, up from their previous price target of C$7.50. Scotiabanks price objective would indicate a potential upside of 64.41% from the companys current price.

A number of other research firms have also commented on KEL. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on Kelt Exploration from C$7.50 to C$7.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. CIBC lowered their price objective on shares of Kelt Exploration from C$9.00 to C$7.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. Stifel Firstegy reiterated a buy rating on shares of Kelt Exploration in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Kelt Exploration from C$6.50 to C$7.00 in a report on Monday, March 6th. Finally, Raymond James downgraded Kelt Exploration from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from C$7.00 to C$6.00 in a report on Monday, January 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$7.85.

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Kelt Exploration Price Performance

Shares of TSE KEL traded up C$0.45 during midday trading on Monday, reaching C$5.17. 1,006,388 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 563,224. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is C$4.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$5.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 1.28. Kelt Exploration has a 12 month low of C$4.29 and a 12 month high of C$8.32. The firm has a market cap of C$992.69 million, a PE ratio of 5.98 and a beta of 2.38.

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About Kelt Exploration

In other news, Director David John Wilson bought 57,300 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of C$4.65 per share, for a total transaction of C$266,445.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 19,240,040 shares in the company, valued at C$89,466,186. In other news, Senior Officer Bruce Douglas Gigg sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$4.45, for a total transaction of C$66,750.00. Also, Director David John Wilson purchased 57,300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of C$4.65 per share, with a total value of C$266,445.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 19,240,040 shares of the companys stock, valued at C$89,466,186. Insiders own 16.01% of the companys stock.

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Kelt Exploration Ltd., an oil and gas company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas resources primarily in northwestern Alberta and northeastern British Columbia, Canada. The company markets its crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production primarily to third party marketing companies.

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Parnassus Investments LLC decreased its position in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) by 0.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,857,980 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 42,918 shares during the period. Waste Management comprises approximately 1.9% of Parnassus Investments LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. Parnassus Investments LLC owned 1.18% of Waste Management worth $762,120,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in Waste Management by 9.1% in the 3rd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 254,407 shares of the business services providers stock worth $40,759,000 after purchasing an additional 21,213 shares in the last quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC lifted its stake in shares of Waste Management by 10.3% in the 3rd 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 during the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Waste Management by 16.4% during the 3rd 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. Douglas Lane & Associates LLC lifted its position 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 acquiring an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. Finally, RMB Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Waste Management by 9.1% during the 2nd quarter. RMB Capital Management LLC now owns 3,865 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $591,000 after purchasing an additional 323 shares during the last quarter. 78.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In related news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on 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 owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at $787,283.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total value of $31,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 64,317 shares in the company, valued at $9,969,135. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total transaction of $120,888.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at $787,283.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 30,961 shares of company stock valued at $4,796,057 over the last ninety days. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Waste Management Stock Performance

Waste Management stock traded down $0.72 on Monday, reaching $162.94. 159,528 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,857,054. The stock has a market cap of $66.28 billion, a PE ratio of 30.36, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.73. Waste Management, Inc. has a twelve month low of $138.89 and a twelve month high of $175.98. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $153.86 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $157.66. 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 (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) last announced 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). Waste Management had a return on equity of 32.91% and a net margin of 11.36%. The business had revenue of $4.94 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.97 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.26 EPS. Waste Managements revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6 EPS for the current year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a $0.70 dividend. This is an increase from Waste Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.95%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WM has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on 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. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Waste Management from $158.00 to $167.00 in a research report on Thursday. Raymond James dropped their price target on shares of Waste Management from $167.00 to $166.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price objective 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. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Waste Management currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $173.27.

Waste Management Company Profile

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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.

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Veolia Environnement SA (OTCMKTS:VEOEY  Get Rating) shares are scheduled to split on Wednesday, April 12th. The 2-1 split was announced on Wednesday, April 12th. The newly created shares will be distributed to shareholders after the closing bell on Wednesday, April 12th.

Veolia Environnement Price Performance

Veolia Environnement stock opened at $31.49 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $29.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $26.48. Veolia Environnement has a twelve month low of $18.39 and a twelve month high of $31.84.

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Veolia Environnement Company Profile

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Veolia Environnement SA engages in the management of water supplies and distribution systems and provides waste management services. It operates through the following business segments: Water, Environmental Services, and Energy Services. The Water segment integrates drinking water and waste water activities such as water distribution, water and waste water treatment, industrial process water, and manufacture of water treatment equipment and systems.

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Nearly six years after work on the 2.5km-long Ejipura-Kendriya Sadan flyover in startup hub Koramangala commenced, it's still just a row of bare pillars. The flyover is nowhere in sight and the concrete structures have been drawing mocking 'Stonehenge' comparisons. The bustling city, home to tech and startups, is paradoxically also the land of apathetic infrastructure and a slew of unfinished flyovers, rail over bridges and underpasses. Much blame for this can be rightfully put on a lack of political will as well as poor coordination among multiple agencies. Techie residence areas like Bellandur and Mahadevapura, which were brought into the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) fold fairly recently in 2007, have a skeletal public infrastructure. In summer, these areas struggle with water shortage and have to rely heavily on tankers. During rains, even a brief spell can drown these places completely. The biggest challenge in Bengaluru is mobility, former Infosys director and industry veteran TV Mohandas Pai told Moneycontrol. For instance, the missing 2-km link between Byappanahalli and KR Pura has hampered the utilisation of Whitefield Metro. This was due to the poor coordination between Bengaluru Metro and South Western Railway (SWR). The state government should constitute a high-level committee, monitor projects on a weekly basis and complete them in the next six-12 months. Until old pending projects are completed, no new projects should be announced, he said. The bustling city, home to tech and start-ups is paradoxically also the land of apathetic infrastructure and a slew of unfinished flyovers, rail over bridges and underpasses. Koramangala: A flyover to nowhere In 2017, the BBMP laid the foundation stone for the 2.4-km-long flyover from the Kendriya Sadan junction to the Ejipura Main Road junction in Koramangala. The tender for the construction of the flyover was invited in 2014 and a work order for the project was awarded to Simplex Infrastructures at a cost of Rs 203 crore in May 2017. According to BBMP officials, work was supposed to be completed in 30 months by November 2019. However, there was no progress despite an extended deadline of December 2020 reportedly due to the financial crisis of Kolkata-based Simplex . BBMP has already paid Rs 72 crore to the contractor. Of the 81 pillars for the elevated corridor, only 67 have been built so far. Even the high court pulled up BBMP for failing to come up with a deadline for the project. Following this, BBMP terminated the contract with Simplex in March 2022. Incredibly disappointed by the defacement of one of Bengaluru's most iconic antiquity sites. Tourists from across the country (and globe) flock to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site commonly known as Ejipura Stonehenge, but forget to bring their litter with them when they go. pic.twitter.com/EIAei8THNf  Caleb Friesen (@caleb_friesen2) March 17, 2023 BBMP officials said they floated the fourth tender worth Rs 144 crore to complete the pending project. BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath told Moneycontrol that two firms participated in the tender. "Of the two, one qualified in the technical bid. We will need to open financial bids but we won't be able to issue work orders till the election model code of conduct is in place. The flyover, according to BBMP staff, was conceived with signal-free movement in mind. However, experts say that even if it is completed, it is unlikely to reduce congestion, and could instead choke the Intermediate Ring Road and Hosur Road. This is #koramangalaflyover one of bengaluru's favourite monuments, It has stood the test of time from ages, Now it has started to take care of city's construction debris underneath,please visit here to once @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/slwh9ILTRt  Karthik Venugopal (@karthik1115) April 7, 2023 Muralidhar Rao, a resident of Koramangala since 2005, said, The flyover work has narrowed down the width of the carriageway. Construction debris and garbage are being dumped under the incomplete structure and causing a nuisance to residents and commuters. Residents had requested the improvement of feeder bus connectivity but it was ignored. Panathur-Balagere Road: Techies nightmare Panathur-Balagere Road is a nightmare for techies who frequent Kadubeesanahalli (near Marathahalli) on Outer Ring Road (ORR) and Varthur near Whitefield. In fact, there has been a long-pending demand to widen the railway underbridge and S-Cross Road in Panathur. South Western Railway in May 2022 had said widening of Panathur RUB with two new vents will be completed by March 2023. However, SWR has so far completed only one vent and BBMP is yet to complete the approach road. Sources said the plan is to widen S-Cross from the existing one-lane of 4-metre width to 12 metres. Video shows the shocking and miserable Civic Apathy in detail for commuters passing by Famous #PanathurSCross pic.twitter.com/Zh0DztxLNx  CITIZEN VOICE #WIDEN S-Cross# (@SaveNammaPBC) January 10, 2023 Residents complain about severe daily bottlenecks and incessant flooding during rains. In fact, so dire is the situation that even school children joined in the protests for the widening of Balagere and Panathur Road. The protest came after school students were stranded in traffic for more than two-and-a-half hours last year. A candlelight protest was also held in the area and residents urged the Prime Minister via social media to visit the area. We are all waiting for s cross widening @ArvindLBJP . https://t.co/uAxLLABEsc pic.twitter.com/DUZ0ey971O  #NamoBhakth stuck at panathur S cross from 6 years (@HarishT49682722) February 25, 2023 Clement Jayakumar, Secretary, Mahadevapura MLAs Task Force (Mobility), said, We need to acquire 55 properties for the 300-metre S-cross Road widening. A total of Rs 16 crore has been sanctioned for the project. The land acquisition process has started but it will take more than six months for the process to be completed. Once it is done, demolishing of properties and road widening and relaying work will be done in three months. For Panathur RUB, work on one vent has been completed but the approach road is yet to be ready because of the delay in land acquisition from BBMP. Once it is over, work on the second vent will also begin, he said. Election No Election pain of S cross continued.. pic.twitter.com/mJoRE0swAv  Namma Balagere - Stuck at Pananthur RUB (@BalagereConnect) April 4, 2023 Traffic jams at 26 level crossings In Bengaluru, there are 26 manually operated level crossings including six on the Banaswadi-Hebbal section, three on Carmelaram-Byappanahalli and the remaining on sections like Hebbal-Yeswantpur, Channasandra-Yelahanka, Kengeri-KSR Bengaluru City and KSR Bengaluru City -Yeswantpur. This means there is at least a 10-15 minute-traffic jam every time a train passes through. Traffic congestion is only bound to increase as Railways is planning to increase train services. At Carmelaram level crossing gate, motorists who use the route to reach Sarjapur Road, ORR, Varthur and Gunjur are hassled by the lengthy wait. A demand for a railway over bridge has been pending for the past few years. According to an SWR official, an over bridge at Carmelaram has been sanctioned but BBMP is yet to acquire the land. Reminder 456#ROBKarmelaramLC132 Be mindful that Reminders are going daily till work starts.Enuf of waiting. Fund was approved,4 years have gone and counting, Only poll promise bt no work on ground.Pls wake up.Pls do not confuse with your processes,no excuse pls  carmelaramunites (@carmelaramunite) June 5, 2022 In Jakkur in north Bengaluru, work on a 500-metre rail overbridge began in 2012 but there has been no progress since 2014, forcing residents to take long detours. BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath said work was delayed due to the lack of land. Of the 48 properties, 38 have been acquired and the remaining will be acquired soon, he said. @CMofKarnataka @BLRSmartCity @BBMPCOMM @BSYBJP @PiyushGoyalOffc @BangaloreMirror @TOIBengaluru ,a half constructed ROB at Jakkur, shows the capabilities of our ministers who are good at starting projects for votebank and waste tax payers money by deserting it later,pathetic!! pic.twitter.com/B7GYmwHFHC  Mohan (@Mohan_sri99) October 27, 2020 At Kaggadasapura in east Bengaluru, SWR sanctioned a bridge over the railway crossing in 2012 but the project is yet to take off, after more than a decade. This is causing severe hardship to motorists in CV Raman Nagar and neighbouring Mahadevapura. When will you construct ROB/RUB at Kaggadasapura railway crossing? The residents here are suffering on a daily basis because of your inaction. Promised in 2021 yet no action on the ground even in 2023. https://t.co/hkQqcZnz3n  Rahul (@Rahul_Targaryen) March 16, 2023 Daily traffic jam at Kaggadasapura railway gate causing school children stuck for hours in bus , request honarable elected members for ROB at Kaggadasapura @CMofKarnataka @DVSadanandGowda @mla_raghu @BABasavaraja  nprasannakumar (@nprasannakumar) July 1, 2022 Sanjeev Dyamannavar, a rail activist said, "In 2018-2019, there was a proposal to eliminate all level crossings with rail over/under bridges in Bengaluru but there has been no progress. In places like Jakkur, Kengeri and Karmeleram, residents are forced to wait at level crossings. With Railways taking up doubling and quadrupling work and suburban rail projects, more train movements are a certainty which means more waiting time for road users. Railways is also finding it difficult to increase the speed of trains due to the level crossings. Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan told Moneycontrol, I have already raised the matter of eliminating all railway level crossings with ROB/RUB in Bengaluru, in Parliament. Also, I have been following up on the issue with concerned authorities for the past two years. There are multiple hurdles and many departments involved but we are working on this. Peripheral Ring Road remains on paper The citys most ambitious Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) was proposed in 2007 to ease traffic congestion, particularly in the citys outskirts. The project, which is being implemented by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) under Public-Private Partnership model on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis, has made little progress so far. The 74-km PRR is supposed to be an eight-lane access-controlled expressway linking Tumakuru Road and Hosur Road via Hesaraghatta Road, Doddaballapur Road, Ballari Road, Hennur Road, Old Madras Road, Hoskote Road and Sarjapur Road. We recently received the Union environment committees nod for the project. It will be on track after the elections. PRR project has a deadline of December 2027, a BDA official. However, the initial projects cost has already jumped from Rs 3,000 crore to a whopping Rs 21,091 crore. BDA floated a tender for the project twice in 2022, however, no bidder showed up. Held a meeting with Infrastructure Development Department officials & discussed Industries departments role in implementing Bengaluru-Mysuru & Hubballi-Belagavi High Speed Rail projects and issues related to implementation of Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/ieI3aSekUg  Dr. Murugesh R Nirani (@NiraniMurugesh) September 3, 2021 Pruthvin Reddy, an infrastructure enthusiast, said, "This project will benefit areas like Yelahanka and Mahadevapura. But chances of PRR taking off in its current form is slim because of a steep increase in land acquisition costs. Many contractors expressed interest in the project and demanded additional toll plazas and an extension of the toll-collection period. The government will have to take quick decisions on these demands, otherwise, firms may not participate in the tender since the project may not be financially feasible for them anymore. Even if the project takes off, the per-km toll fee is likely to be more than the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway. Note to readers: This is the third article in a series on Bengaluru ahead of Karnataka polls on May 10 Also Read: Pothole capital and land of forever dug-up roads Also Read: Why Indias tech hub just cannot manage rain
The BJP accused the Congress of unleashing a "misinformation campaign" over dairy cooperative Amul's presence in Karnataka and asserted that it has done far more than the opposition party to strengthen the Karnataka Milk Federation and its products sold under the brand name Nandini. "Amul is NOT entering Karnataka. Both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms. KMF's turnover went up by (Rs) 10,000 crore after BJP came to power in 2019. In 2022, turnover stood at (Rs) 25,000 crore, of which (Rs) 20,000 crore went back to farmers of Karnataka," BJP IT department headed Amit Malviya tweeted. His tweets came after Congress leader Siddaramaiah took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi following Amul's announcement of its plans to sell milk and curd in the Bengaluru market. With Modi visiting the state on Sunday, the former Karnataka chief minister asked if the purpose of his trip was "to loot the state". Malviya said, "There is a reason why India doesn't TRUST Congress. They LIE! Latest being the misinformation campaign that Karnataka Milk Federation, which owns Nandini, is going to merge with Amul." The BJP has done far more to strengthen KMF and make Nandini a global brand. KMF is the nation's second largest milk cooperative and has depots in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. The BJP leader said, "15 per cent of KMF's total sales is outside Karnataka. Nandini is exported to Singapore, UAE and many other countries. Amul and KMF are NOT merging." He also claimed that Amul, owned by Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation, is not entering Karnataka and that both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms. He added, "Under the BJP, Karnataka is a milk surplus state. Dairy farmers are doing very well. Congress, which is shedding crocodile tears for brand Nandini, opposed the anti-cow slaughter bill, approved of our nandinis being slaughtered. BJP plans to make Nandini a bigger brand."
The BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) held an over three-hour meeting on Sunday to finalise the party's candidates for the Karnataka assembly polls scheduled for May 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and other members of the CEC were joined by senior party leaders, including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, from the state as they deliberated on the names of probable candidates. Bommai said after the meeting that PM Modi has given some "directions" and the candidates' names will be announced either on Monday or Tuesday. Senior party leaders have been holding talks for a couple of days to winnow down the list of probables before the CEC takes a final call. The BJP, which aims to come back to power again in the southern state, has set a target of winning at least 150 of the 224 seats. The party's main rival is the Congress which has also expressed confidence about coming back to power in the state.

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Some ground reports from Karnataka suggest, given the political mood, an edge to the Congress party. Not only is there visible dissatisfaction against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government which had to change its Chief Minister mid-way, the party does not seem to be united with a clear divide manifesting between the current CM Basavaraj Bommai and ex-CM BS Yediyurappa. Not that there is no factional fight within the Congress. There are two clear camps within the Congress, one led by former CM Siddaramaiah and another by state Congress unit chief DK Shivakumar. A Karnataka Conundrum The reasons for at least a dominant showing by the Congress are the following: Despite defeat in the 2018 and 2008 assembly elections, the Congress not only enjoyed a much larger electoral support, its support base is also much broader compared to its rivals, the BJP and the JD(S), in both geographical terms as well as social groups. Even a minor swing in favour of the Congress in 2023 compared to its 2018 voteshare can give a majority to the Congress party. Given the political mood, this may be possible, and does not seem impossible. During the last four assembly elections held in Karnataka (2004, 2008, 2013 and 2018), Congress polled more votes than the BJP though it trailed behind the BJP in terms of number of seats won during the 2004, 2008 and 2018 assembly elections. During the 2018 assembly elections, Congress polled 38.1 percent votes, nearly two percentage points more compared to BJPs 36.2 percent votes, but Congress won only 80 seats while BJP ended up winning 104 assembly seats. The verdict of the 2008 Assembly election was also on similar lines. The BJP polled 33.9 percent votes while Congress polled 34.8 percent votes, but BJP won 110 assembly seats while Congress got restricted to only 80 seats. During the 2004 assembly elections BJP polled 28.3 percent votes and won 79 assembly seats while Congress polled 35.3 percent votes but won only 65 assembly seats. The 2013 assembly election was the only election when Congress with 36.6 percent votes managed to win 122 seats when BJP got restricted to 19.9 percent votes and 40 seats. Geography And Politics If any political party manages to get more than one third of the votes in any triangular contest, the party stands a good chance of winning the election. By this logic, Congress should have won all the Assembly elections held in Karnataka during the last two decades as Congress polled more votes compared to its rivals in all the assembly elections held since 2004. But Congress had been in a disadvantageous position with regard to votes-to-seats conversion while this has favoured the BJP. It is because the BJPs vote share has remained concentrated heavily in three regions of Karnataka: Mumbai Karnataka, coastal Karnataka and central Karnataka, giving BJP big victories in these regions. The JD(S) has sizeable presence only in the southern Karnataka region but Congress votes are widely spread out in all the regions of Karnataka. While this has been to the disadvantage of the Congress, it could also have a positive impact. A minor swing (four percent) of votes in favour of the Congress, away from BJP and JD(S) can give a majority of seats to the Congress party in 2023. Congresss Rainbow Coalition The Congress support base is also much broader compared to the BJP and JD(S), seen in terms of its support amongst various communities of voters in Karnataka. Findings from the survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS during the 2018 Assembly election indicate, 51 percent of Dalits, 67 percent of the Muslims, 42 percent of Adivasi voters, 50 percent of Christians, and 36 percent of Other OBC castes voted for the Congress in 2018. Even amongst the upper castes, 35 percent voted for the Congress while amongst the Vokkaligas 28 percent voted for it. The Lingayats went en-bloc to the BJP (60 percent) but even amongst them 21 percent voted for the Congress. Even if Congress failed to win the 2008 and 2018 assembly election, it enjoyed the support of a rainbow coalition, the kind of support which bolstered the Congress in many other states. Though the colours of that rainbow coalition of Congress have faded in many states, it still remains shining in Karnataka. It is important to note that Dalits are 19.5 percent of the state population, Muslims are (14 percent) Adivasi (5 percent), and Christians (2 percent). All these communities constitute roughly 38-40 percent of the states population. The Congress also has a reasonably good support base amongst the Other OBC castes who constitute nearly 16 percent of the states population and also get a chunk of Vokkaliga votes. The BJP remains popular amongst the upper caste voters but Congress has not lagged far behind and has always managed to attract sizeable number of upper castes voters. The Vokkaligas vote en-bloc for the JD(S) but Congress also enjoys some support amongst them. The Congress still maintains a rainbow coalition in terms of its support base and given dissatisfaction amongst the voters, one could expect some shift amongst sections of voters towards Congress, giving the party a decisive edge in the 2023 assembly election. Sanjay Kumar is a Professor at Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS). He is also a Political Analyst. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Multilateral funding agency ADB on Monday said it proposes to subscribe non-convertible debentures worth Rs 150 crore of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL), to enhance Delhi's power distribution through grid enhancements. Besides, Asian Development Bank (ADB) agreed to provide USD 2 million grant to partially finance the purchase and integration of a pilot battery energy storage system (BESS), a statement by Manila-based funding institution said. The senior secured financing will be used to commission a new 66/11-kilovolt grid, augment and expand transformers, substations, feeder lines, and switching stations, install smart meters, and replace obsolete electrical equipment and meters, it said. The 10-megawatt-hour (MWh) BESS is South Asia's first grid-scaled energy storage project at the distribution transformer level, it said. It will enable electricity to be stored and delivered on demand, reducing grid instability, and providing the flexibility to integrate intermittent solar and wind energy resources, it said. The grant to finance the BESS is provided by Goldman Sachs and Bloomberg Philanthropies' Climate Innovation and Development Fund (CIDF) and administered by ADB, it added. "Power distribution is a crucial link in the electricity supply chain, and at times one of the most vulnerable. Mainstreaming a battery energy storage system at the distribution transformer level will better integrate renewable energy sources and contribute to a more disaster-resilient power distribution system for Delhi," said ADB's Director General for Private Sector Operations Suzanne Gaboury. As Asia's Climate Bank, ADB supports India's climate goals through innovative technologies and the catalyzing of private capital to finance green projects, Gaboury said. The BESS plays a crucial role in building a resilient grid and paves the way for a future-ready power distribution network. In 2022, the power ministry targeted battery storage capacity of 4 per cent of total electricity consumption by 2030. To reach that goal, India would need a total battery energy storage capacity of 182 gigawatt-hours by 2030. ADB's financing through CIDF for the pilot BESS will provide proof of concept and lessons learned by TPDDL to implement a planned additional 50 MWh of BESS capacity. TPDDL is the distribution arm of Tata Power. Launched in September 2021, CIDF is a blended finance facility managed by ADB, established with an initial USD 25 million philanthropic commitment from Bloomberg Philanthropies and Goldman Sachs, it said. The fund has the potential to unlock up to USD 500 million in private sector and governmental investments in support of sustainable low-carbon economic development and help catalyze a clean energy transition in South and Southeast Asia, it added.
DELAWARECherry.tv on Monday announced it has signed adult star Jessica Ryan as its newest brand ambassador.



Cherry.tv CEO Paul Ashworth remarked, "Jessica is an accomplished performer in the adult industry and her passion for connecting with her fans in a safe, respectful environment aligns perfectly with our values. We believe that her experience and enthusiasm will significantly contribute to our platform.



As Jessica explains, "I am ready for a new chapter as I am no longer exploring. While I am getting ready to produce for my own website CultofJess.com, sexting and phone sex are super hot, I want more. Utilizing the intimacy of camming as a conduit, I want to share the love and experience that I have found with my sexuality, and with a company that has already provided a sense of community before even signing on as an ambassador."

Jessica is particularly excited to connect with her fans through Cherry.tvs gaming elements. "I have really wanted to connect with my fans in that capacity, Ryan said. Sure, Twitch has sounded fun, but the idea of having to anticipate my account being harassed due to my involvement in adult has always been a deterrent. I am looking forward to being an ambassador on a platform that is a safe place to have fun and encourage others through my sexual expression."

Jessica's first show as a Cherry.tv brand ambassador will be on April 14th at 7 p.m. PDT.
Canadian investor Brookfield has agreed to invest $1 billion in Avaada Ventures in what will be its largest clean energy bet in the country. Recently, a formal agreement was signed between Brookfield and entrepreneur Vineet Mittal - founder of the Avaada group, and the first tranche of $400 million has been disbursed, according to a report by The Economic Times. The remaining $600 million will be disbursed based on performance-linked milestones as projects scale up. Avaada Ventures is the holding company of the group. Funds raised from Brookfield will be used for the group's solar cell or module manufacturing and green ammonia plans, and scaling up its renewable energy generation capacity. Also Read: Avaada Energy gets 421 MW solar project from Damodar Valley Corporation Avaada is also negotiating with existing investor, Thailand's state-owned utility PTT, to deploy another $300 million. In July 2021, PTT invested $454 million in Avaada Energy, the solar arm of the Avaada Group, and holds a 43 percent stake in the unit, the report added. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. Avaada Energy had commissioned solar projects to the tune of 2,937 MW by April 30, 2022, and has a pipeline of about 1,526 MW, as per a report by credit rating agency IndiaRatings. The group's cell or module plans include a state-of-the-art facility with an annual production capacity of 5 GW, expected to become operational in 2023. Avaada intends to scale up its capacity to 10 GW by 2030, along with backward integration into polysilicon, ingots and wafers. Brookfield's billion-dollar cheque for Avaada comes at a time when renewable and energy transition investments are gaining importance for private equity investors. Brookfield is one of the largest investors in renewable power and climate transition assets, with approximately 24,000 MW of generating capacity worldwide, and $1 billion in assets under management in renewables in India as of September 2022, according to the report.
Following a recent decline in the stock price, Goldman Sachs has upgraded its rating on Bandhan Bank from 'neutral' to 'buy'. The brokerage firm sees this correction as an opportunity, as it has made the stock's valuations more attractive. The stock has declined nearly 22 percent since October 2022 and fallen 11 percent since the start 2023. "We believe that after this correction and with the stock trading at eight times FY24 EPS, 1.4 times FY24 BVPS and four times FY24 PPOP with improving and normalising ROA/ROEs in FY24, valuation now looks attractive," Goldman said in its report. Goldman Sachs is optimistic about Bandhan Bank's future prospects, expecting the bank to emerge from its earnings cut cycle soon. The brokerage firm predicts that the bank will experience an increase in return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) over the fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Goldman Sachs sees several factors driving Bandhan Bank's compelling valuation post-correction. First, the bank's microfinance institution (MFI) portfolio has demonstrated an improvement in collection efficiency, reaching 98.5 percent in March 2024. Second, the bank's provision coverage has increased to around 80% due to the recovery from selling the MFI portfolio twice and recoveries from the guarantee fund. These developments have raised confidence in the MFI-cycle bottoming out at Bandhan Bank. Third, these factors are leading to an improvement in loan loss provisions (LLP) and operating profits, resulting in a decline in LLP from 98 percent in FY22 to around 30 percent in FY24/FY25. This is expected to drive the return on assets (ROAs) to approximately 3 percent and the return on equity (ROEs) to around 20%+. Goldman Sachs has lowered Bandhan Bank's target price to Rs269/share from Rs315/share, but still sees an upside of 30 percent driven by its target valuation multiple of 11x 12-month forward earnings. "While we cut FY23/FY24/FY25 earnings by 14 percent/15 percent/1 percent mainly on lower margins, we see provisioning cost bottoming out in FY23 and therefore expect earnings cuts to also stabilize as loan growth picks up in FY24/FY25 driven by an improved demand in microfinance/SME loans as well as an increase in lending rates on the core portfolio", Goldman report added. According to Goldman, Bandhan is poised to reap multiple benefits in the coming years. First, it is expected to benefit from a favorable credit cycle in Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). Additionally, the bank's efforts towards diversification over the last few years are likely to pay off. This is evidenced by the increasing proportion of individual loans in the MFI book, which has risen from 10% in the third quarter of FY21 to 32 percent in 3QFY23. Moreover, the non-MFI book's share has also increased from 33 percent in FY21 to 46 percent in 3QFY23. Furthermore, the bank is expanding into new geographies, such as Telangana in South India. "While we continue to monitor the banks progress on diversification of its loan portfolio, stabilisation of management team as well as clarity on succession planning, we believe the bank is still well positioned to deliver strong ROAs / ROEs of 2.3 percent/19 percent, respectively, over FY23-25, coupled with loan growth of 18 percent CAGR as the MFI / commercial retail businesses recover and current valuations provide a strong buying opportunity," the Goldman report added.
GAIL Gas Limited announced a reduction in prices of domestic piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) in line with the new gas pricing mechanism. The city gas distribution company, a subsidiary of GAIL (India), reduced domestic PNG prices by Rs 7 per SCM (standard cubic meter) in Bengaluru and Dakshin Kannada and Rs 6 per SCM in all its other geographical areas. The new effective Domestic PNG prices is Rs 52.50 per SCM in Dewas, Meerut, Sonipat, Taj Trapezium Zone, Raisen, Mirzapur, Dhanbad, Adityapur and Rourkela and Rs 51.50 per SCM for Bengaluru & Dakshin Kannada, the company said in a press release. GAIL said it is steering its pricing mechanism in line with the new domestic gas pricing guidelines and passing on its benefits to the customers. The government on April 6 approved a new set of guidelines for fixing domestic natural gas prices. According to the new guidelines, domestic gas prices will now have a floor of $4 per MMBTU (metric million British thermal unit) and a ceiling of $6.5 per MMBTU. Under the old pricing mechanism, the domestic natural gas price was $8.57 per MMBTU, higher than the ceiling under the new formula. GAIL said the new pricing mechanism will accelerate the expansion of CNG & PNG as a preferred fuel, and will also contribute to reducing the carbon footprint. GAIL also reduced CNG prices by Rs 7 per kg in Karnataka and Sonipat and Rs 6 per kg in rest of its geographical areas. The CNG prices are Rs 85 per kg for Meerut & Sonipat; Rs 92 per Kg for Dewas, Taj Trapezium Zone & Dehradun; Rs.82.50 per kg for Bengaluru & Dakshin Kannada; Rs 87 per kg for Mirzapur, Rs 91 per kg for Raisen, Dhanbad, Adityapur, Puri and Rourkela.
Gateway Distriparks is betting big on its railway operations and plans to spend Rs 180 crore on two inland container depots by FY25. The company, which operates five ICDs and five container freight stations in India, plans to acquire two more ICDs in the range of Rs 90 crore each or buy land and construct two ICDs, Ishaan Gupta and brother Samvid Gupta, both joint managing directors, told Moneycontrol in an interview. It does not plan to invest further in its container freight stations. They said Gateway Distriparks is no longer interested in bidding for the governments stake in Container Corporation of India (CONCOR). Edited excerpts: The government is betting on the railways to reduce cargo logistical costs in India. What are the biggest bottlenecks it faces? Samvid Gupta: The adoption of Indian Railways for the movement of cargo in India will be a slow and gradual process. Every year we expect the Indian Railways market share to increase 1.5-2 percent incrementally. The shift of cargo movement from bulk trucking to containers, which is expected in the next few years, will help in shifting cargo from roads to railways. Ishaan Gupta: The development of infrastructure is the biggest bottleneck that the government still needs to address in its aim to increase the market share of Indian Railways in the cargo segment. While the government has announced plans for more dedicated freight corridors the timeline for when these will come up is very unclear. The development of highways will also help boost the movement of goods through railways as railway networks can be used to travel large distances and the final part of the journey can be done by roads. The development of the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway is one such example. Trains don't need a dedicated line to Jaipur if the distance between Delhi and Jaipur can be done in a few hours by road. The development of infrastructure around ports also needs to be addressed by the government If the supporting infrastructure around ports is developed, this will enable easier transportation of containers in the country and will help increase the market share of railways in cargo movement. The industry is structured in such a way that more transportation happens in bulk right now. So if the infrastructure is available, then automatically service providers will come in and that will increase containerised transportation. Containerisation levels in India are much lower than where they should be. Samvid Gupta: Some policy changes are also required. Right now, Indian Railways charges companies on the basis of the type of container and the weight of the container, rather than per train. One more thing that could possibly help is privatisation of locomotives. Factory-stuffed containers meant for Jawaharlal Nehru Port now need to be stored in the Centralised Parking Plaza instead of container freight stations. How has this policy affected your business? Ishaan Gupta: The policy implemented by the customs department at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust is not a national policy and we don't expect other ports in India to implement this policy. Samvid Gupta: The idea behind this policy was to improve operations at JNPT. There is a specific segment that the policy is targeting. It is meant for export buffer containers. When you approach the JNPT port, there are five terminals - NhavaSheva Free Port Terminals, Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal, APM Terminals, Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal and the Nhava Sheva (India) Gateway Terminal. When approaching the terminals, there is a common point with a U-turn where traffic used to be congested, so in order to avoid congestion at that point, they used the common ground as a place from where all cargo will get dispatched. Their thinking was that all cargo moves through this location so it will save cost and save time for the end exporter. But it hasn't worked out, unfortunately. In terms of our business, the export buffer containers segment was contributing about 2,000 containers a month for us. It's down to about 300-400 containers per month. It's a bit unfair what has happened actually, that the port has mandated that all such buffer containers should go to this Central Parking Plaza, which is run by one private party. It's kind of killing competition rather than having free pricing. The entire Container Freight Station Association of India is against it. It's been a year and six months since the amalgamation of Gateway Distriparks and Gateway Rail Freight. What advantages are there in your operational efficiencies? Ishaan Gupta: A big chunk of our customers are shipping lines, for both container freight stations and ICDs. With the amalgamation of Gateway Distriparks with Gateway Rail Freight onto one platform, we can give them volume discount schemes and we can offer them 11 terminals on one platform. Our customers are happier that in one platform we can service them in multiple locations. That has helped us the most. Samvid Gupta: We have better negotiating power with our vendors as well and the amalgamation helped strengthen our balance sheet, which has helped us negotiate better rates with banks. The amalgamation also helped us pay off private equity firm Blackstone. In 2019 we had acquired the entire stake held by Blackstone in its subsidiary Gateway Rail Freight for Rs 850 crore. So with the combined cash flow, using both the rail and CFS cash flows, it was much easier to pay back and we prepaid it well ahead of time. What are your top line and EBITDA margin targets for FY24? And what are your capital expenditure plans? Samvid Gupta: Last year, we had given a guidance of 18-19 percent growth in our top line. In FY24, we will look at 12 percent. Our EBITDA is likely to come out to around Rs 400 crore in FY23. In FY24, we expect growth in our EBITDA, especially after the addition of Kashipur ICD. We have set aside Rs 500 crore as capital expenditure to be used by FY25. Out of that, Rs 200 crore has already been used till now. Last year, you acquired a new ICD in Kashipur and announced plans to construct an ICD in Jaipur. Are you phasing out the CFS business? Ishaan Gupta: We are in the market to acquire two more ICDs by 2025 in the range of Rs 90 crore each. We will either acquire land and construct two ICDs or acquire them. Our plan is to focus more on our ICD business. We are not reducing our CFS business. We had one CFS terminal on a 15-year contract from the Punjab government. That ended and we did not bid for renewal. In fact, no one else also did because the pricing didn't make sense. And then we sold one smaller CFS, which we had in Chennai, out of the two. Samvid Gupta: The Krishnapatnam CFS is also something we plan to monetise in the future as Krishnapatnam Port changed from a containerised port to mainly a bulk terminal. But going ahead, we're staying stable. If we ever find a good value, if someone wants to buy it, then we would be happy to look at that. But in terms of new expansion, we will not be expanding in CFS. The government is working on new warehousing standards. Are you awaiting these norms before expanding business under Snowman Logistics? Ishaan Gupta: No. So for cold storage, we're going with our normal path, but what we are actively looking at is an asset-light model of dry warehousing. There are some customers who need very specialised handling and you don't earn just the warehouse rental, you do the operations also, and then there is a good return. We have four dedicated warehouses for Amazon. We just started with Dow Chemicals in Snowman. We plan to focus mostly on the pharma, quick service restaurant, and fast-moving consumer goods segments when it comes to Snowman. During COVID-19, as pharma companies got greater exposure to Snowman Logistics when transporting vaccines, our proportion of pharma has gone up. Samvid Gupta: We are considering setting up a dedicated warehouse for our pharma segment, which we will lease out to a pharma company and provide logistics to the location. Ishaan Gupta: Furthermore, we are seeing fast growth in our quick-service restaurant business and we have a lot of potential because we can offer this to most of our customers. But we just started this. It has now been less than two quarters. We're going to take a call in this financial year who next to target. Samvid Gupta: So end to end all the way till the store. So that's the model for Snowman going forward, which we will expand in a big way. And on a revenue percentage, it'll become the biggest segment going forward. International players are looking to expand in the logistics industry in India. Are you looking to partner any of them? Ishaan Gupta: We are interested in partnering with international players but in a different model, where we own the warehouses and provide dedicated services. Samvid Gupta: We have partnered with Amazon to provide specialised warehousing for its Amazon Fresh service in tier II-tier III cities. But we have seen that this segment has seen a bit of a slowdown after the emergence of 10-minute delivery service. The government is expected to invite EoIs for CONCOR very soon. Are you still looking to bid to acquire CONCOR? Ishaan Gupta: Not actively The size of the investment (to acquire CONCOR) is not something that our balance sheet will support. So, there were some funds that were interested in buying CONCOR and having us do the operations with a minority stake. But as of now, even those funds are no longer interested because the commercials don't make sense anymore. Samvid Gupta: The long-term land leasing policy cleared by the Cabinet last year makes it very hard to balance the valuations of CONCOR. Last year, the Cabinet approved a new policy allowing the leasing of Indian Railways' land to set up cargo-related activities for as much as 35 years (from the existing five years) at a land licensing fee (LLF) of 1.5 percent of the market value of land, which will escalate by 6 percent annually. In January, CONCOR's Managing Director V Kalyana Rama said that the company is not eager to move 26 terminals it runs on land leased from Indian Railways to the new liberal licensing policy. CONCOR currently runs 61 ICDs, of which it pays land licensing fee for 26 terminals because they are built on land leased from Indian Railways. The government has started beta testing the Unified Logistics Interface Platform, which was proposed under the National Logistics Policy. Have you been using any of the datasets available on the platform? Ishaan Gupta: We registered on it, but as of now, we're not seeing anyone actively using the platform to get business. So we'll continue to see how it goes. But right now I think it's a slow start. Samvid Gupta: It's like a limited beta test kind of thing. So not too many parties have signed up for it. The information is also very less. Shipping container rates have been volatile in the past year. How has this affected trade volumes and what are the expectations now? Ishaan Gupta: It will continue to be low because the supply side has really increased. Firstly, demand in different pockets in the world has gone down. But shipping lines have placed very large orders for containers, for vessels and those are now getting delivered. So there will be an oversupply. And I think freight rates will remain low, which is, at least for our customers. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, airlines have increased cargo handling facilities. Are you handling any of their warehousing facilities? Ishaan Gupta: In Snowman, very little. We're working with SpiceJet. We had started with COVID vaccines, where we do the Indian part and they do the air part. But other than that, not so much because their parcel size is quite small. It's not even one container.
With robust growth in advances and deposits, and improvement in the non-performing assets (NPAs), Indian banks are poised towards growth for the fiscal year (FY) 2023-24, experts said. After the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) crisis and the subsequent domino effect in Europe with the sale of Credit Suisse, experts said that risks coming out of the global banking crisis will not hit Indian banks as they are well placed to manage the risks. Deposit and lending rates have brought in growth for banks. We further expect that the asset quality alongside overall growth will improve for Indian banks, said Saurabh Bhalerao, associate director, BFSI, Care Ratings. Loan and deposit growth Several private and public sector banks in their March 2023 quarter ending results preview showed robust loan and deposit growth. Also read: HDFC Bank Q4 update: Advances up 16.9%, deposits 20.8% The countrys largest private sector bank, HDFC Bank, showed a growth of 16.9 percent in advances and 20.8 percent in deposits from the year-ago period. Bandhan Banks advances aggregated to around Rs 1.09 lakh crore as on March 31, 2023, marking a growth of around 9.8 percent from the corresponding quarter last year. The lenders deposits stood at Rs 1.08 lakh crore at the end of the 2022-2023, 12.2 percent higher than Rs 96,311 crore as on March 31, 2022. Among the public sector lenders, Bank of Maharashtras gross advances for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, were up nearly 30 percent to Rs 1.75 lakh crore, from Rs 1.35 lakh crore in the year-ago period. The lenders total deposits for the March quarter stood at Rs 2.34 lakh crore, a rise of 15.7 percent year-on-year against Rs 2 lakh crore. Bhalerao highlighted that in the advances side, overall, public sector banks (PSBs) will outperform private sector peers. A few big private sector banks will surely produce stronger numbers than some PSBs, Bhalerao added. On the deposits side, Emkay Research said that the war for deposits will intensify further to match the credit growth. Also read: Bank of Maharashtra Q4 update: Gross advances up 29.6% YoY; deposits rise 15.7% Deposit growth has picked up from the numbers recorded in November 2022. But a 10.3% year-on-year growth compared to a stronger credit growth is a lingering concern for the sector. We expect the war for deposits to intensify, as banks that have built a strong liability franchisee over the years will gain low-cost deposit market share, Emkay Research said in a report. Record-low NPA NPAs of Indian banks have seen a record decline in the past few years. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its Trend and Progress of Banking in India report for 2021-22 said that NPAs declined sequentially to 5 percent as of September 2022 from 9 percent in 2017-18, mainly due to lower slippages, strong recoveries and write-offs. Earlier in March 2023, minister of state for finance Bhagwat Karad in the Lok Sabha said that the asset quality of PSBs has improved significantly with the gross NPA ratio declining from a peak of 14.6 percent in March 2018 to 5.53 percent in December 2022. Major banking reforms undertaken by the government over the last eight years addressed credit discipline, responsible lending and improved governance, besides adoption of technology, amalgamation of banks, and maintaining general confidence of bankers, Karad said. Experts said that banks will continue to improve their asset quality with no major danger from fresh slippages. We will see banks improving asset quality in the March 2023 quarter and further in the April-June 2023 quarter. The Covid-19 effect is waning now and. hence, the chances for fresh slippages will not be major, said Jindal Haria, associate director, India Ratings and Research. Going ahead, India Ratings in a report in March said that the gross NPA ratio of banks is expected to improve to 3.3 percent in the current fiscal year from 4.2 percent in FY23. Private banks gross NPA ratio is seen improving to 2 percent in FY24 from 2.5 percent in FY23, and public sector banks improving to 4.1 percent from 5.2 percent. This incorporates the effect of the GNPA write-off trend that the banking system is witnessing, the ratings agency said. How will banks manage global risks? The fall of SVB and Signature Bank in the US and the sale of Credit Suisse, a major global bank, led to a global banking crisis. But this, experts said, will not affect Indian banks. Also read: MC Interview | No impact from global banking crises in India, says UCO Bank MD & CEO Soma Sankara Prasad In an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol, the managing director and chief executive officer of UCO Bank, Soma Sankara Prasad, said that Indian banks are largely insulated as they mostly depend on retail deposits. I don't think theres any impact from recent banking crises globally as Indian banks depend to the extent of 90 to 95 percent on retail deposits. These are all small depositors spread all over the country, said Prasad. Haria also highlighted that there are no major issues with Indian banks compared to their global counterparts. There are no major global headwinds affecting Indian banks due to the global crisis, said Haria.
The Union Cabinets nod on April 6 to Kirit Parikh Committees recommendations for the pricing of natural gas helped shares of gas companies climb higher on April 10. At 9:45 am, shares of Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL), Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL), Gujarat Gas, Adani Total Gas and GAIL India were trading 1-5 percent higher on the BSE. The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved revised domestic gas pricing guidelines. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said in a press briefing that domestic gas pricing will now be linked to imported crude pricing and would be decided at 10 percent of the Indian crude basket and will be revised on a monthly basis. At present, gas prices are decided on a six-monthly basis and 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 with a time lag of a quarter. Domestic gas prices are currently at $8.57 per mmBtu as of April 1, with the adoption of the new pricing mechanism, gas prices are expected to see an immediate cut. Catch up on all LIVE stock market updates here The government had constituted the Kirit Parikh Committee to look into the gas pricing mechanism, as Administered Price Mechanism (APM) prices had risen to $8.6 per mmBtu in the October 2022- March 2023 period, making CNG costlier than dirtier alternative fuels in few cities, Motilal Oswal Financial Services said. Post the development, CGD companies have announced a cut in CNG and PNG prices over the weekend. Analysts believe this could help city gas distribution companies ramp up volumes going ahead. While the recommendations will help CGDs (city gas distributors) reduce their input costs in the near term, we do not expect margin accretion for CGDs as the benefit is expected to be passed on to consumers. Moreover, the implementation of the floor price will increase the gas cost for CGDs in the long run, as under the previous gas pricing regime, APM gas prices were higher than $4 per mmBtu in only three out 16 periods due to high weightage of cheap Henry Hub gas, it added. Read more | Titan remains preferred discretionary buy after a glittering Q4 update Motilal Oswal has retained its sell rating on IGL as the threat posed by EVs to the long-term growth potential of the company poses a huge risk to its valuation. It has a buy call on MGL due to its attractive valuations while Gujarat Gas remains its preferred pick among CGDs owing to its higher industrial exposure. After the new gas pricing formula is announced, CLSA has a buy recommendation on IGL, MGL and GAIL India. Despite the price cuts, calculations suggest attractive spot unit margin for MGL and IGL, it said while adding that the discount of against Diesel has risen to 30 percent which brings back pricing power. Jefferies has maintained IGL as its top pick with a target price of Rs 540 and has a hold rating on MGL and GAIL shares and underperform stance on Gujarat Gas. The foreign brokerage firm sees city gas companies benefiting from feedstock cost relief. GAIL gets Rs 1,100 crore annualised saving in LPG feedstock cost, Jefferies said. The brokerage firm has upgraded FY24 EBITDA estimates for IGL, MGL and Gujarat Gas by 20 percent, 19 percent and 6 percent, respectively.
The market remained in positive terrain for six days in a row, though it was highly volatile session on April 10. Auto, technology, metal and oil & gas stocks supported the market, whereas selling was seen in banking & financial services, and FMCG stocks. The BSE Sensex gained 13.54 points to close at 59,847, while the Nifty50 closed above the 17,600-mark for the first time since March 8, rising 25 points to 17,624 and formed small bodied bearish candle with long upper shadow on the daily charts, indicating selling pressure at higher levels. "This pattern indicates a tiredness of bulls at the crucial hurdle of 17,600-17,700 levels, which are opening downside gap of March 10 and down sloping trendline, connected from the top of December 2022. This pattern could be a minor setback for bulls for the short term," said Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities. Hence, he feels there is a possibility of minor downward correction from the highs, but the short-term trend of Nifty remains positive. "The presence of crucial overhead resistance and an emergence of minor weakness from the highs could indicate further consolidation or minor downward correction for the Nifty from near 17,650-17,700 levels in the coming sessions. Any dips from here could be a buying opportunity and immediate support is at 17,510 levels," Nagaraj said. The broader markets also extended gains, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices climbing 0.4 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades: Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks in this article are the aggregates of three-month data and not just the current month. Key support and resistance levels on Nifty The pivot charts indicate that the Nifty may get support at 17,602, followed by 17,579 and 17,543. If the index advances, 17,675 is the initial key resistance level to watch out for, followed by 17,698 and 17,735. Nifty Bank The Bank Nifty saw some profit booking after having a run up in previous seven consecutive sessions. The index fell 206 points to 40,835 and formed bearish candlestick pattern on the daily timeframe. "The index if fails to sustain above the level of 41,200, we can witness some profit booking towards 40,600-40,500 levels. The upper resistance if taken out will lead to further short covering towards the 42,000 level," Kunal Shah, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities said. The Bank Nifty may take support at 40,743, followed by 40,646 and 40,488. Key resistance levels are expected to be 41,058, then 41,156, and 41,313. Call options data On the weekly options front, the maximum Call open interest (OI) was at 18,000 strike, with 98.24 lakh contracts, which is expected to be a crucial level for the Nifty in the coming sessions. This was followed by 17,700 strike, comprising 87.86 lakh contracts, and 17,600 strike, with more than 59.36 lakh contracts. Call writing was seen at 17,700 strike, which added 56.26 lakh contracts, followed by 18,000 strike, which accumulated 38.85 lakh contracts, and 17,800 strike which added 26.75 lakh contracts. Call unwinding was at 18,300 strike, which shed 5.05 lakh contracts, followed by 18,200 strike, which shed 3.31 lakh contracts, and then 18,400 strike, which shed 2.16 lakh contracts. Put option data The maximum Put open interest was at 17,600 strike, with 73.55 lakh contracts, which is expected to act as support in the coming session. This was followed by the 17,500 strike, comprising 64.38 lakh contracts, and the 17,400 strike where there were 53.14 lakh contracts. Put writing was seen at 17,600 strike, which added 39.44 lakh contracts, followed by 17,400 strike, which added 21.21 lakh contracts, and 17,500 strike, which added 17.29 lakh contracts. We have seen Put unwinding at 16,600 strike, which shed 6.62 lakh contracts, followed by 16,700 strike, which shed 6.01 lakh contracts, and 16,800 strike, which shed 2.73 lakh contracts. Stocks with a high delivery percentage A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in the stock. The highest delivery was seen in Alkem Laboratories, SRF, Bosch, Bata India, and Abbott India, among others. 67 stocks see a long build-up An increase in open interest (OI) and price typically indicates a build-up of long positions. Based on the OI percentage, 67 stocks, including Tata Motors, Godrej Properties, ONGC, City Union Bank, and Chambal Fertilizers, saw long build-ups. 17 stocks see long unwinding A decline in OI and price generally indicates a long unwinding. Based on the OI percentage, 17 stocks, including M&M Financial Services, Cholamandalam Investment, HDFC, IndusInd Bank, and HDFC Bank, saw a long unwinding. 48 stocks see a short build-up An increase in OI along with a price decrease indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on the OI percentage, 48 stocks, including Voltas, Gujarat Gas, Havells India, Bosch, and Jubilant Foodworks, saw a short buildup. 60 stocks see short-covering A decrease in OI along with a price increase is an indication of short-covering. Based on the OI percentage, 60 stocks were on the short-covering list. These included Indraprastha Gas, Honeywell Automation, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals, Titan Company, and Jindal Steel & Power. Bulk deals (For more bulk deals, click here) Investors' meetings on April 11 Stocks in the news Delta Corp: The gaming and hospitality corporation will be in focus ahead of its March FY23 quarter earnings. The company will also consider dividend, if any. State Bank of India: The country's largest lender said its Executive Committee of the Central Board will be meeting on April 18 to consider the long term fund raising in single or multiple tranches of up to $2 billion, through a public offer and/or private placement of senior unsecured notes in US dollar or any other convertible foreign currency during FY24. IRB Infrastructure Developers: The highway construction company has recorded toll collection at Rs 369.9 crore for the month of March 2023, growing 20.6 percent over toll collection of Rs 306.6 crore in same month last year. The growth was 5.2 percent compared to February 2023. Vedanta: The billionaire Anil Agarwal-owned company is going to consider issuance of NCDs (non-convertible debentures) on a private placement basis on April 13. In addition, the Supreme Court has permitted Vedanta to carry out the activities at copper smelter plant at Chennai's Thoothukodi for its upkeep, after considering the report of the High Powered Expert Committee and recommendations of the state government. Bank of Baroda: The total business of the public sector lender crossed Rs 21 lakh crore milestone, rising 16.8 percent YoY to Rs 21.77 lakh crore in the quarter ended March FY23. Total advances grew by 19 percent YoY and 5.4 percent QoQ to Rs 9.74 lakh crore as of March 2023, and deposits rose by 15.1 percent YoY and 4.7 percent QoQ to Rs 12.04 lakh crore. Shilpa Medicare: The pharma company has received final approval from US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its ANDA, Apremilast tablets, which are available in 10 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg strengths. The drug is used for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis. Apremilast is a generic equivalent of reference listed drug OTEZLA of Celgene. Schaeffler India: The ball and rolling bearing manufacturer will trade ex-dividend with effect from April 11. The company has announced final dividend of Rs 24 per share. Fund Flow FII and DII data Foreign institutional investors (FII) bought shares worth Rs 882.52 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DII) purchased shares worth Rs 351.50 crore on April 10, National Stock Exchange's provisional data showed. Stocks under F&O ban on NSE The National Stock Exchange has not added any stock to its F&O ban list for April 11. 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.
For companies to offer group health, personal accident and term insurance to employees is standard practice. The company bears the cost and all eligible staff are covered from the day they join. This insurance is spelt out in offer letters and sometimes counted as a part of the total compensation. While it is all to the good, employers need to do more. They need to think deeply about the risks employees face and how they can mitigate those risks. Before company chiefs panic about the cost involved, let me reassure them that this does not have to be a cost for the company yet can result in a material financial savings for employees. Also read: How to optimise premium for a personal health insurance when an employer-sponsored plan exists A one-size-fits-all approach doesnt always work Staff have very different risks and insurance requirements and companies cannot pursue a one-size-fits-all approach. Some employees have dependent parents. Some have spouses with sufficient insurance cover. Some are married with children, others are married but without children or are single. Some own cars whereas others use public transport. The way to address these diverse requirements is to offer a bouquet of optional covers that employees select based on their specific needs and pay for themselves, perhaps through the payroll. A company is well placed to procure insurance on behalf of employees because it can buy in bulk and leverage its current broker or insurer relationships to buy cost-effectively. In most cases, individuals will never be able to purchase the insurance that companies can buy. There are three kinds of voluntary insurance for companies to consider: (a) group health insurance for parent and the extended family, (b) enhancements to the core group health insurance (c) other insurance, such as motor, personal accident and OPD covers. Group health insurance for parents is the most sought after, for good reason. Seniors struggle to buy individual insurance due to chronic illnesses. Consequently, the premium loading and decline rates for senior citizen health insurance is high. Also, many seniors find it difficult to coordinate the medical tests needed. Once insurance is bought, claim rejection rates are relatively high because of pre-existing conditions. The group insurance that companies buy for parents addresses these issues. Medical tests are waived off and pre-existing conditions covered immediately. Also read: How much health insurance do you need? Insurance for parents Several companies are keen to offer parental insurance for employees on a voluntary basis. Employees are mostly expected to pay for their parents insurance, perhaps with some limited subsidy by the employer. A good parental cover can cost about Rs 25,000 per life per year. This may be similar in terms of price to individual insurance but is far more effective and usable. To buy parental covers you must work with experienced brokers. There are just a handful of insurers that will issue parental insurance because claims are high. Employees with parents not in good health are most likely to buy these covers. This results in anti-selection. A good intermediary addresses anti-selection by ensuring high enrolment. The intermediary will clearly communicate the value proposition to staff. The second type of voluntary cover is the flexibility to enhance the core group health insurance offered by the employer. This enhancement may be in the sum assured or in covering immediate family in addition to just the employee. This concept has not been explored enough. Most companies fix the benefits for employees and leave no scope for customisation. They should allow changes in the core cover and charge employees the cost for such changes. For example, if a company has standard cover of Rs 3 lakh it may allow employees to enhance this to Rs 5 lakh on payment of an additional charge. Or, if just an employee is insured then they could consider adding a spouse and children, at a cost. Also read: Why the claim experience differs between individual and group health plans Not just health, but your car and house, too Finally, most employees need much more insurance than just health cover. They will buy this insurance personally and may not strike the best deals or get the best insurance. A good employer can address this by offering a bouquet of curated insurance to staff on excellent terms. Consider motor insurance. The employer could pre-negotiate the best discounts and give employees access to a portal where they can easily renew motor insurance, on better terms than they would get individually. Employers can also set-up group retail products for employees. Examples include personal accident, hospital cash and OPD insurance. In personal accident insurance, the company can negotiate a Rs 15 lakh cover for Rs 500 whereas the employee would pay thrice as much on his/her own. New-age insurance, such as cyber liability cover, can also be sold on such platforms. The voluntary benefits do not always have to be insurance-based. A good company will encourage employees to undergo annual health checkups. The price advantage here is also material. A full diagnostic panel that costs Rs 5,000 in a large hospital can be done for Rs 1,500 if negotiated by the company. With such a price difference, employees willing to be tested will increase. Companies need to look at employee risks and their insurance requirements comprehensively. Some covers such as employee health and term insurance are essential. But then employees should also have the flexibility to finetune their base insurance and cover other dependents. Good companies will then leverage their product knowledge and negotiating ability to help employees buy other insurance and medical services. This will not cost the company but will result in significant employee welfare and an unmatchable employee proposition. And no doubt lead to better employee retention and loyalty. Also read: New IRDAI rules: Insurance commissions to stay high, but backdoor incentives to agents could cease; insurance penetration to deepen
The Central government Central Advisory Committee (CAC) is considering a proposal to strengthen the Real Estate Regulatory Act (RERA), 2016, by way of an amendment in order to improve the process of executing recovery warrants issued to developers for not handing over possession of homes to buyers. Recovery warrants are issued by the regulator when developers fail to compensate homebuyers for delays in handing over their flats. The warrants are sent to collectors who are tasked with attaching their property and can auction them to recover the dues. Execution of recovery warrants issued by RERA regulatory authorities across states is facing several issues. We are working on a proposal that will be submitted to the Central government for amendment or improvise the current provisions to make RERA stronger for execution of recovery warrants, said Ajoy Mehta, Member of CAC and chairman of the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA). The committee is working on ways to empower RERA in this regard, said Mehta. We are planning some mechanism to give more powers under the existing provisions and are also considering a proposal on some form of amendment, he said. Currently, the recovery process gets hampered by issues such as claims on the title or ownership of the property and, in many cases, there is ongoing litigation. Mehta also spoke to Moneycontrol about other aspects of RERA. Mechanism required The need for a mechanism to execute the recovery warrants was emphasised at a meeting of a sub-committee constituted by Central Advisory Council on November 2, 2022, under the chairmanship of the secretary of the ministry of housing and urban affairs. Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Regulatory Authority expressed his concern about the non-compliance of orders passed by RERA. He suggested that some recovery mechanism may be included in RERA, the minutes of the meeting showed. The Central Advisory Council (CAC) was set up by the Central government for the effective implementation of the real estate law in the country. Recovery rate in Maharashtra According to MahaRERA, recovery warrants for about Rs 625 crore were issued against real estate developers in Maharashtra for violations of RERA. Of them, 20 to 30 percent have been executed and the rest are under process. We want to ensure that the recovery ratio improves, Mehta said. Our role is to issue the warrants. It is the state government's administration that must execute the warrant. Recently, we sent reminders to the administration for execution of the recovery warrants and are following it up. Also read: Five years of MahaRERA: Authority issues recovery warrants for over Rs 717 crore against developers, disposes of more than 11,000 complaints Disruption in real estate sector Mehta said RERA has disrupted the real estate sector and made a group of powerful people accountable. Now, we can say that everyone has been brought to an equal stage where homebuyers and developers have the exact same information about a particular project, he said. Wider RERA compliance According to MahaRERA, more than 50 percent of project registrations and complaints are from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. MahaRERA is working on increasing awareness in smaller cities and towns in the state. We are trying to ensure penetration of RERA compliance in tier two cities and tier three towns and ensure RERA does not remain a Mumbai and Pune thing. We are getting registrations and complaints from small towns and this is proof that the compliance level is increasing, Mehta said. The regulator has registered 40,192 projects in Maharashtra and has resolved 14,000 out of 20,000 complaints, as of March 2023. Inclusion of redevelopment projects Currently, RERA covers new projects or construction that has started on empty land. There have been calls for the act to also cover the redevelopment of old buildings. As of now, redevelopment projects are not covered under the ambit of RERA, and it depends on the state government if they want to do that," Mehta said. Financial institutions Another aspect is whether financial institutions should be covered by RERA. Apart from the funds deposited by buyers, money for real estate projects comes from loans or advances from financial institutions. Mehta said MahaRERA is helping financial institutions, developers, and homebuyers by trying to ensure there are no stalled projects. Currently, financial institutions are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities and Exchange Board of India, he said. Non-compliance notices Mehta explained the rationale of issuing notices to developers for non-compliance with regard to providing details of finances and other aspects of a project. We are going on a case-by-case basis and are expecting developers to comply and ensure that they upload and give all details about their project, Mehta said. My aim is not to punish or penalise someone, but to get the project moving. The purpose of the homebuyer is solved only when he gets his or her flat or possession of the property they have purchased. Also read: Real Estate projects to get QR code to empower homebuyers, says MahaRERA On grading real estate developers The Bombay High Court, while hearing a case relating to a stalled real estate project in Mumbai on February 3, asked the state government whether MahaRERA could rate or classify developers so that people could make better and informed decisions when choosing a project. Legal experts told Moneycontrol that grading developers and projects is possible and the RERA Act empowers the authorities to do so. However, Mehta said he would not comment on the matter, considering it is sub judice.
Revolt Motors, the first homegrown startup to venture into the electric motorcycle segment, is drawing up plans to export vehicles under its new management. This was revealed by Anjali Rattan Nashier, Business Chairperson, RattanIndia Enterprises, which took over the Gurgaon-based EV startup in January for an undisclosed sum. RattanIndia already hired a dedicated team for international markets. While the majority of the companys focus will remain on the domestic market, it has garnered quite a few enquiries for its battery-powered motorcycles in Latin America, the ASEAN region, as well African and European markets. We are starting deliveries outside India very soon and will begin with Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. We have received enquiries for our product from Africa, Latin America and India lookalike markets. In the long term, we expect exports to account for 30 percent of total sales, said Nashier, in an exclusive interaction with Moneycontrol. With this move, Revolt will become the first such two-wheeler manufacturer to sell an electric motorcycle built in India for global markets. Internal combustion engine vehicle makers such as Hero MotoCorp, TVS Motor Company, Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India (HMSI), Bajaj Auto and Yamaha India, etc., make sizeable shipments of their petrol-driven motorcycles to overseas markets. Asked about the rationale for the overseas ambitions, Nashier said, Many of the countries that I had mentioned are already selling electric scooters but dont have (electric) bikes. So, I have an advantage in taking my bike internationally. Also, once you start selling in small batches, there will be a demand created for electric motorcycles. As for selling products in evolved markets such as the US, Europe or Japan, she maintained, Plans are definitely there but I cannot declare where exactly I am going. We are working on the costing of that country in the whole ecosystem. Currently, Revolt Motors sells the RV400, which is Rs. 1.24 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and has a claimed range of 150 km per charge. Available in a single variant, it is equipped with a 3.24 KWh battery, which takes 4.5 Hours to get fully charged. The lower-spec version RV300 was phased out last year. Taking over the reins Last year, Rattan India Enterprises had announced that it would acquire a 100 percent stake in electric motorcycle maker Revolt Motors. More than a year before that, in April 2021, the flagship company of the Rattan India Group had announced that it was investing Rs 150 crore in the e-motorcycle maker, founded by mobile handset maker Micromaxs co-founder Rahul Sharma, for a 43 percent stake in the company. With the recent takeover, Rattan India also gets a readymade facility at Manesar, which has an installed capacity of 120,000 units per annum. We are sitting on a 10,000-unit orderbook which we need to deliver. But we would still like to gain a toehold in overseas markets and once (e-motorcycle) volumes pick up there, we will expand aggressively, added Nashier. While Revolt is looking to completely utilise the existing Manesar facility in the current financial year, it is looking at setting up two gigafactories in the medium term that will have a combined output of 30 lakh units per annum. The company, however, didnt share either the fundraising or investment plans for the new facilities. Expansion plans Revolt Motors current production at Manesar is 7,000 units per month which is expandable to 10,000 units a month. The next factory will be either at Manesar (in Haryana) or Bhiwadi (in Rajasthan), with a larger production capacity, and come on stream by next fiscal year. Thereafter, it will set up a facility in South India as part of the next phase of expansion. Talking about the expansion plans, Nashier revealed, There is pent-up demand from both northern and southern parts of the country. Hence, we want to have a facility in both the regions to cater to the demand there. The production lines will be automated and the output will be flexible, as per market demand. However, she maintained, once the second and third facilities were established, it could shut down the existing plant at Manesar, which was established by the previous management, under Sharma. Revolt, citing a Deloitte report, states that E2W are estimated to account for 80 percent of the total two-wheeler market (including ICE vehicles) by 2030. The Indian EV market, valued at $3 billion in 2022, is expected to grow to $114 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 67 percent, said Rattan India, citing the same report. It may be recalled that Revolt Motors was founded by Rahul Sharma in 2017 and commenced sales in 2019. As per data available on Vahan, the company sold 480 units in 2019 (October, November and December), 2,098 units in 2020, 4,704 units in 2021 and 14,915 units in 2022. This year, it has sold 1,329 units. Sub-Rs 1 lakh e-motorcycle planned While the company is planning to expand output of the RV400, plans are also afoot to launch a product that will be slotted below it and priced under Rs 1 lakh. There will also be another e-bike positioned above the RV400 and priced at around Rs. 2.5 lakh. Talking about the product line, Nashier said, While we intend to remain a motorcycle specialist, we will not rely on a single product. Our upcoming e-motorcycle, which will be positioned below the RV400, will look to disrupt the 100-125cc segment. There will also be a variant for delivery boys who want to ride on motorcycles rather than on scooters. It was recently reported by Moneycontrol that Gujarat-based startup Matter is also working on an electric model to take on 100-125cc commuter bikes. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), motorcycles with engine capacity above 75cc but less than or equal to 125cc saw a minor increase in sales volumes in the domestic market to 47,61,791 units during the April-February FY23 period from 45,58,268 units during the corresponding period a year earlier. For motorcycles with engine capacities above 110cc but less than or equal to 125cc, the numbers went up to 25,31,162 units during April-January FY23 from 20,00,311 units in the same period last year. In February, sales of commuter segment motorbikes more than 75cc but less than 100cc went up from 3,39,206 units to 3,78,586 units. In the more than 100cc but less than 125cc segment, sales went down from 1,71,171 units to 1,47,348 units.
That the US Energy Department recently suggested that a "lab leak" in China was the likely cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on a new intelligence report that the United States has declined to share, has prompted the World Health Organization to press China for "more access and transparency".

In doing so, the WHO has chosen to overlook the fact that its experts have carried out two field researches on the origins of the virus in China following the outbreak of the pandemic about three years ago. These are the only two researches of their kind done anywhere in the world so far. The conclusion that was reached was the "lab leak" theory was "extremely unlikely".

Science is obviously now taking a back seat as the world health body is letting the US politicize both it and the issue.

The WHO should not forget the fierce pressure that conclusion subjected it to from Washington after it was published, as the US openly questioned the WHO's impartiality and professionalism.

The US' withdrawal from the WHO and its subsequent suspension of its funding to it during the Donald Trump administration  irrespective of the influence that would have on the global fight against the virus at a time when the WHO was playing a key role in supporting the least developed countries to deal with the pandemic  expose the true concerns of the US.

Washington has never put people's well-being first but instead speculated on the COVID-19 pandemic for its domestic politics and international geopolitical game.

Although it rejoined the WHO shortly after the Joe Biden administration took office, the US has continued to try and blame the pandemic on China. That is because doing so has proved to be the easiest way to help Washington ease the domestic pressure on it for its flawed response to the pandemic that has resulted in the highest numbers of infections and deaths from COVID-19, and divert attention from the many clues that have pointed to the US military's Fort Detrick Biological Laboratory being the most likely source of a lab leak.

The WHO should be urging the US for greater access and transparency concerning the Fort Detrick lab.

As the news conference on the subject Beijing held on Saturday shows, China has been one of the most cooperative and biggest contributors to the virus origins tracing undertakings, a scientific mission it has always said must be kept immune to the US' shortsighted attempts to politicize and weaponize it.

The readiness with which China has shared its data and information related to the work with the WHO and the international scientific circle as a whole, and the cooperation it provided the WHO's field research teams are in stark contrast with the US' own furtive practices and dodging of its responsibilities.

It is ridiculous that the WHO has chosen to continue to allow itself to be misled by a country that has put its intelligence community in charge of a matter of science, and irresponsible politicians in charge of crucial posts of public health communications, while its scientists are sidelined, muffled, dismissed and attacked.
The domestic gas price mechanism unveiled by the government last week is likely to be beneficial for upstream companies such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL), according to analysts. The new regime, administered price mechanism (APM), reflects the adoption of some of the key recommendations made by the Kirit Parikh Panel, set to decide the deregulation of gas prices in India. The domestic gas pricing will be linked with the imported crude pricing and would be at 10 percent of the Indian crude basket. It will be revised on a monthly basis. Catch all the market action on our live blog The formula for the new gas pricing mechanism will include a floor and ceiling at $4 and $6.5. The ceiling will be kept in force for the next two years. The new mechanism is positive for ONGC/OIL as the floor price is higher than their cost of production, vis-a-vis selling gas at much lower realization than the production cost for a long time in the older regime, Motilal Oswal Financial Services said in a report. At 10.24am, the ONGC stock was 2.9 percent higher at Rs 155.05 per share from the previous close on the BSE. The stock price of OIL was at Rs 255.45 apiece, up 0.8 percent on the BSE. Experts also said that the new gas pricing mechanism is a significant positive for producers as it removes a multi-decade overhang on long-term returns. The provision for a 20 percent premium over the APM price for gas produced from new wells or interventions in existing wells will further incentivise ONGC and OIL to make additional investments to increase production from ageing legacy fields, analysts said. ONGC and OIL had been petitioning the government for a floor price over the past few years as they were selling gas at a loss when prices sustained below the cost of production. According to the government, the earlier system based on these gas hubs had a significant time lag and high volatility and, therefore, the need for this rationalisation and reform was felt. Over the last three years, the stock of ONGC has given a return of nearly 100 percent. However, in the last one year, it shed nearly 10 percent. 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.
Shares of real estate developer Sobha opened over 4 percent higher on April 10 after the company said that it has achieved its highest-ever quarterly sales value at Rs 1,463 crore, up 3 percent from the last quarter and 32 percent over the last year. This comes just weeks after Income Tax department sleuths raided the companys offices in Bengaluru and Chennai. At 9:30 am, the stock was quoting at Rs 465 on the NSE, higher by over 3 percent. It is currently trading 13 percent higher than its 52-week low level hit on March 29. Follow our live blog for all the market action The company also said that it has clocked highest ever annual sales of Rs 5,198 crore, with an average price realisation of Rs 9,200 per square feet. It launched nine residential projects with total saleable area of 3.96 million sq ft and started operations in two new cities  Trivandrum and Hyderabad during FY23. While the Q4 update has propelled the stock higher, Sobha's offices as well as its factories making wood, aluminium, and concrete products were searched by tax sleuths last month. In January, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had cancelled the Occupancy Certificate of a 2,000-unit Sobha City apartment alleging that the builder had submitted a fake no objection Certificate of the Fire Department. Prior to that in December, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had attached Sobha's land assets in Kerala worth 201 crore rupees under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). Also Read: RBI Policy meet: These sectors and stocks will be in focus as RBI brings smiles all around Nuvama Institutional Equities has a 'buy' rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 646. "We await clarity on the ongoing regulatory/legal issues, and believe their resolution will be a key variable," the firm said. "Revival in housing demand coupled with Sobhas focus on cash flows and geographical expansion should hold it in good stead," it added. The company's net debt to equity ratio reduced to 0.72 in Q3 FY23 from 0.77 in Q2 FY23. The stock got a boost on April 6 after the RBI announced a pause on rate hike. This means a pause in rising home loan rates and thats a big positive for the real estate sector. As per Trendlyne data, Sobha has an average target of Rs 788, which represents an upside of 70 percent. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has on April 10 approved a bill to ban online gambling, including online rummy and poker with stakes in the state, dealing a blow to the nascent but fast-growing skill gaming sector. This move comes a few weeks after the Tamil Nadu cabinet, led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, had once again passed a bill to prohibit these games in the state on March 23. Governor RN Ravi had returned the previous bill on March 8 mentioning that the state government had no legislative competence to frame the bill. Meanwhile, The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had notified new gaming-related amendments to the IT Act 2021 on April 6, that will allow multiple self-regulatory organisations (SROs) to determine whether a real-money game, where the transfer of money is involved, is permitted to operate in India or not. South India is a particularly important market for skill-based games such as Rummy, which has a significant penetration in these states, industry executives have previously told Moneycontrol. Roland Landers, CEO of All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), a skill-gaming focused industry body, said they will challenge the constitutionality of this law, once the effective date is notified. What this law in effect does is treat and conflates games of skill as gambling and games of chance. The law also completely misunderstand technology and prohibits random number generators, which are an integral part of fairness for online gaming" Landers said. Landers also mentioned that the law disregards the six decades of established legal jurisprudence and the recent judgment of the Madras HC which struck down a similar law. "The Central Government has anyway notified the online games rules, and as we have said the Central Government has the rightful mandate under the Indian Constitution to regulate online gaming." he said. Another skill-gaming industry body E-Gaming Federation also said they are examining the legislation and shall be taking "appropriate action based on legal advice in due course of time" "The legislation passed by the TN legislature incorrectly categorizes Rummy and Poker as a game of chance. The legal jurisprudence in this regard set by the Supreme Court of India and several High Courts, clearly stipulates that games like Poker and Rummy are games of skill" said Malay Kumar Shukla, Secretary, E-Gaming Federation. Shukla also mentioned that games of skill are protected under Article 19(1)(g) and are different from gambling activities. "The fact that rummy and poker games are listed for prohibition as games of chance or gambling under this new legislation runs contrary to the decision of the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court" he said. New online gambling law MK Stalin, who took office as Tamil Nadu chief minister in May 2021, had set up a five-member committee led by retired Justice K Chandru to analyse the negative effects of these games and make recommendations for a new law prohibiting "online gambling games" on June 10, 2022. In its report submitted on June 27, the committee had classified online gaming into two types: one with minimal or negligible randomness factor and another having random event or count generators which are pseudo random and are addictively designed. It had recommended to regulate the former and ban the latter. The government stated that it also solicited feedback from seventeen stakeholders including representatives from the online gaming industry, think tanks, political parties, players association and social activists as well as the general public via email in order to draft the ordinance with advice from the state law ministry. On September 26, a draft ordinance was presented to the state cabinet for approval. As per the ordinance, the state will establish an authority called Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority that will have powers to regulate online games, issue registrations and oversee the functioning of local online gaming providers, identify games of chance for suspension, and resolve any grievances or complaints received against any gaming provider. The authority will have a chairperson who is an officer, retired from a post not below the rank of Chief Secretary, and four members, including an officer, who has retired from a post not below the rank of Inspector General of Police, an expert in the field of Information Technology, an eminent psychologist and an expert in the field of online gaming. The ordinance was first passed in Tamil Nadu assembly in September 2022, following which it was promulgated with the governor's approval in October 2022. After this, the state assembly passed the online gambling bill called the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2022, and sent it for the governor's assent. However, the governor returned the bill five months later. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is hearing a petition by the Tamil Nadu government challenging a Madras High Court decision that overturned the previous AIADMK-led government's November 2020 ban on online games involving the transfer of money. In an order issued on August 3, 2021, the state high court declared it unconstitutional. On September 9, the Supreme Court issued notice to all of the petition's respondents, including skill-based gaming companies Junglee Games, Play Games24x7, Head Digital Works, and industry body All India Gaming Federation, giving them four weeks to file their responses. Since then, the Supreme Court has added a similar petition by the Karnataka government to the matter. The case is still pending with the apex court.
It's the largest deal ever by a private equity fund in the bustling Indian healthcare sector. Singapore's Temasek has taken a giant stride in the segment by upping its stake and becoming the controlling shareholder in Manipal Hospitals by shelling out around Rs 16,000 crore in a mega transaction valuing the top pan-India hospital chain at Rs 40,000 crore to Rs 42,000 crore. Why did the promoter group, the Pai family, cede control to an existing shareholder like Temasek ? Will Temask and Manipal Group consolidate their domestic portfolio of hospital assets? When is the eagerly awaited mega IPO likely to be floated? What is the status of other hospital assets on the M&A radar of Manipal Hospitals? The man of the moment, Dr Ranjan Pai, Chairman of Manipal Group, answers all these questions and much more in an exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol's Ashwin Mohan, in his first interview with the media post the announcement of the landmark deal. Excerpts from the interview: Manipal Hospitals as an entity came into existence in 1991 with the launch of a 650-bed flagship hospital at Old Airport Road, Bangalore. And today it has more than 8,000 beds across 29 hospitals. Some 32 years on, you have ceded control to Temasek. How does it feel now after having been in the driver's seat all these years? What was the trigger behind the selloff? My father, Dr Ramdas Pai, Chairman Emeritus of Manipal Hospitals (MHE), established the first Hospital in Bangalore in 1991, with the vision to provide world class healthcare in India. Over the last 32 years, Manipal has grown from strength to strength, and spread all across India. As far as ceding control, we have always run all our companies separating management from ownership. Manipal Hospitals has always been a board run company with a high quality management and going forward it will continue in the same way. A position of majority has not influenced the governance of MHE so far and it will not in the future either. Why did you choose to go ahead with an existing investor like Temasek, instead of as compared to an external investor and what are the synergies between both of you? Temasek has been an investor in Manipal Hospitals for over 6 years and they have been a good partner in our growth. They have in the past spoken about building a larger platform and for some reason or the other it couldnt happen. Then last year again they spoke to me about deepening the relationship and told me about their vision to stay invested in healthcare in India over a long period of time. Given the nature of our business which needs long term patient capital and the fact that they already were existing investors, we decided to go ahead with them. While there were several other investors interested, I felt that the familiarity that Temasek has with MHE over the last 6 years and the aligned values demonstrated over this period are very relevant considerations too. Your listed peers Apollo Hospitals and Max Healthcare have a m-cap of around Rs 60, 500 crores and Rs 43, 000 crores respectively. As an unlisted entity, we understand from our sources that you have managed to strike a deal at a valuation of Rs 40,000 crs to Rs 42,000 crs. What are the multiples here and are you satisfied with the premium offered? Transaction valuation has not been disclosed but Temaseks entry valuation is reflective of the long term potential of the healthcare services segment in India. Going ahead, based on terms and conditions, does Temasek have the option of further increasing its stake in Manipal Hospitals of around 60 percent post this deal? Well Manipal Group would not want to sell more than this as we believe in the long term potential of this platform. Also, their idea is to have diversified, like minded investors that can help the platform grow. All of us (Temasek, TPG and Manipal) are excited about the future prospects of the company and would want to continue to invest in building the platform. How does the board composition of Manipal Hospitals change post this transaction and how many board seats does Temasek get? Will there be a new chairman in place of Dr Sudarshan Ballal? The board composition changes with Temasek having majority. But like in the past, we havent had any diverging views and we have always carried all stakeholders along. I am sure this will continue going forward too. And Dr Sudarshan Ballal will continue as the Chairman of the Board. Apart from Dr. Ballal being the Chairman, we will have Dilip continuing as the CEO and driving operations along with the current management team. At a net level, there is no change at the management level and even at shareholder level the 3 shareholders are equally committed to building it out over the long term, despite Temasek having stepped up in shareholding. In the past few years, Manipal Hospitals has been on a consolidation drive by acquiring Columbia Asia Hospitals and Vikram Hospitals. What is the status of your talks with Emami Group to acquire AMRI hospitals? Yes, those acquisitions have gone well and we will continue to look for good assets. AMRI hospitals agreements are signed and we are waiting for some CPs to be completed. You are a strong player in the south and KIMS Kerala's India hospital business which is backed by private equity firm True North is up for grabs? Would this opportunity tempt you? No comments Can you give us a timeline for the much-anticipated public market debut of Manipal Hospitals? Is it likely to happen in FY 24 or FY 25 or will the IPO happen beyond that? It will happen at the right time, no exact timelines set. Keeping in mind that Temasek owned Sheares is a common investor with a majority stake in both hospital chains, is there a possibility of a merger in the near future between Manipal Hospitals and Kolkata based Medica Synergie? No discussions regarding this have happened at this point in time. How are occupancy levels currently in Manipal Hospitals and do you think Indian hospitals are now adequately equipped to deal with the challenges of a potential fourth wave of Covid-19 considering a recent rise in cases? Occupancy levels are good, mid 60s for us. Yes Indian hospitals are very well equipped to rise to the challenge. A word of caution that no healthcare system in the world can handle the pressures of a pandemic that we saw in 2020 and 2021. The public must take precautions. What are some of the M&A trends that you expect in the coming months in the Indian hospitals , diagnostics and med-tech space? Are private equity funds going to take the lead as in the past and sign large cheques? I think consolidation will continue in the healthcare space. A lot more private equity funds will continue to invest large checks in the space and new infra will also be created. Med tech is still in its infancy but going ahead that maybe another area of opportunity. We see consolidation as net positive for all the stakeholders in the sector. Larger hospital players are able to acquire regional assets and add lot of value in form of expanding clinical programs, standardisation of clinical protocols and upgrading medical infrastructure, thereby providing quality healthcare services over the longer period. Apart from acquisitions, we will continue to pursue greenfield expansion for our growth and are we looking to add few greenfield assets over the next 2-3 years.
Coffee lovers and their doctors have long wondered whether a jolt of java can affect the heart. New research suggests that drinking caffeinated coffee did not significantly affect one kind of heart hiccup that can feel like a skipped beat. But it did signal a slight increase in another type of irregular heartbeat in people who drank more than one cup per day. And it found that people tend to walk more and sleep less on the days they drank coffee. Also read: How to keep your heart healthy, according to experts Coffee is one of the most common beverages in the world. In the US, two-thirds of Americans drink coffee every day, more than bottled water, tea or tap water, according to the National Coffee Association, a trade group. Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant, which is widely regarded as safe for healthy adults at about 400mg per day, or roughly the equivalent of four or five cups brewed at home. Coffee has been associated with multiple health benefits and even a lower risk of dying, based on large studies that observed participants' behaviour. Despite research that has shown moderate coffee consumption doesn't raise the risk of heart rhythm problems, some professional medical societies still caution against consuming caffeine. Also read: Warning Signs Of A Heart Attack The latest research The experiment: Researchers outfitted 100 healthy volunteers with gadgets that continuously monitored their heart function, daily steps, sleep patterns and blood sugar. The volunteers, who were mostly younger than 40, were sent daily text messages over two weeks instructing them to drink or avoid caffeinated coffee on certain days. The results were reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. This type of study, which directly measures the biological effects of drinking or not drinking caffeinated coffee in the same people, is rare and provides a dense array of data points, said study co-author Dr. Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who specializes in treating heart arrhythmias. Also read: Know your heart to save your heart The findings: Researchers found that drinking caffeinated coffee did not result in more daily episodes of extra heartbeats, known as premature atrial contractions. These extra beats that begin in the hearts upper chambers are common and typically dont cause problems. But they have been shown to predict a potentially dangerous heart condition called atrial fibrillation. They also found slight evidence of another kind of irregular heartbeat that comes from the lower heart chambers, called premature ventricular contractions. Such beats are also common and not usually serious, but they have been associated with a higher risk of heart failure. The researchers found more of these early beats in people on the days they drank coffee, but only in those who drank two or more cups per day. The volunteers logged about 1,000 more steps per day on the days they drank coffee, and they slept about 36 minutes less, the study found. There was almost no difference in blood sugar levels. One interesting result: People with genetic variants that make them break down caffeine faster experienced less of a sleep deficit, while folks with variants that lead them to metabolize caffeine more slowly lost more sleep. What it means for you Because the study was performed in a small number of people over a short period of time, the results don't necessarily apply to the general population, said Dr. Dave Kao, a cardiologist and health data expert at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study. However, the study is consistent with others that have found coffee is safe and it offers a rare controlled evaluation of caffeine's effect, Kao added. Co-author Marcus cautions that the effects of drinking coffee can vary from person to person. He said he advises his patients with heart arrhythmias to experiment on their own to see how caffeine affects them. "They're often delighted to get the good news that it's OK to try coffee and drink coffee," he said.
Billionaire Gautam Adani's group has listed out details of the $2.87 billion stake sales in group firms since 2019 and how $2.55 billion of this was ploughed back into business, as it looked to counter Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim of Rs 20,000 crore coming in to the conglomerate through 'shell companies'. While investors such as Abu Dhabi-based global strategic investment company, International Holding Company PJSC (IHC) invested $2.593 billion in group firms such as Adani Enterprise Ltd and Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), promoters sold stake in Adani Total Gas Ltd and AGEL to raise $2.783 billion. "These funds were reinvested by promoter entities to support the growth of new business and in portfolio companies such as Adani Enterprises Ltd, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, Adani Transmission Ltd and Adani Power Ltd," the group said. The statement was issued rebutting reports in an international publication, which apparently was the basis of Gandhi's statement late last month questioning how "Rs 20,000 crore suddenly arrived in Adani's shell companies." "We understand the competitive race to tear down Adani can be alluring. But we are fully compliant with securities laws and are not obscuring promoter ownership and financing," it said. Adani said promoters in January 2021 raised $2 billion through the sale of 20 per cent stake in renewable energy firm, AGEL to French giant TotalEnergies. Prior to that, they had sold a 37.4 per cent stake in city gas arm, Adani Total Gas Ltd to the same French firm for $783 million. Adani said the funds came from sale of stake in Adani Total Gas. Also, they weren't obscure entities because they are promoter held. TotalEnergies bought overseas investment vehicles of the promoters to make some of those investments. And the funds so received overseas were ploughed back into group entities, which is now being termed by some as investment by 'shell companies'. "These funds were reinvested by promoter entities to support the growth of new business," the statement said. "The promoter entities have had substantial holdings in Adani companies, which have increased over time. It is through the timely use of funds received through the sale of equity that these entities have been able to increase their investments." All the transactions were publicly disclosed in stock exchange filings, it said. Also, "the Adani family deployed its returns from the secondary sale to make additional purchases of AGEL equity and to provide support to AGEL via a shareholder loan and other securities - all also in the public domain," it said. The rapid, debt-fuelled growth of Adani group was in January called in to questioning by a US short-seller Hindenburg Research which alleged that accounting fraud and use of a labyrinthine network of mostly Mauritius-based shell companies to route funds into India to manipulate share prices of the group's seven listed companies or make their balance sheets look healthier. While Adani group had denied all, which strenuously denied Hindenburg's allegations, opposition parties and their leaders including Gandhi have been quick to seize on the allegations to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demand inquiries into Adani's foreign connections. Adani said it had publicly disclosed all details and reportage on the investment of funds into group companies that had incorrectly mixed primary and secondary investment. "The facts are easily available and transparent. They are available through relevant securities regulatory filings that were made at the time and are a matter of public record," it said, adding the "misleading narrative" has become a "regrettable" political issue.
April 2023 seems far removed from August 2021, when the Taliban came to power for a second time in Afghanistan. The naysayers had written off India with dire forebodings  the Islamic crescent was at Indias frontiers; expect ISI-backed Taliban terrorists to wage a full-scale battle in Kashmir; it would be curtains for Indias development initiative in a country torn apart by war and civil strife, and Pakistans star would rise as a double-edged weapon to be unleashed against its old rival. How quickly geopolitics changes. From being an outcast in Afghanistan, India, which was kept out of the Doha-based tripartite talks between the US, Pakistan and Taliban in 2020, has bounced back. In February, the government allocated Rs 200 crore in aid to Afghanistan in its Union Budget for 2023. Last month, India announced a new, additional supply of 20,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan at the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group. The group consists of India and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In October 2021, India proposed to send 50,000 MT of wheat by road via Pakistan. However, India was able to send only 40,000 MT of wheat in time allowed by Pakistan, which did not extend the period. Not unilateral India used to send supplies to Afghanistan through Irans Chabahar port. None of this was unilateral. The request for assistance came from the new regime in Kabul. In December 2022, Talibans Minister for Urban Development, Hamdullah Nomani, held talks with members of an Indian technical team in Kabul where he called for renewal of Indian projects, invited investment in New Kabul Town, raised visa issues and urged more scholarships. In August last year, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the Talibans foreign ministry spokesman, wrote on Twitter: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan welcomes Indias step to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Kabul. Besides ensuring security, we will pay close attention to the immunity of the diplomats and cooperate well in endeavors. Interestingly, New Delhi has yet to officially recognise the regime in Kabul. Ashok Sajjanhar, former Indian ambassador to Kazakhstan, Sweden and Latvia, said India has adopted a step-by-step approach. In August 2021, we had closed our four consulates. But the Taliban has been requesting India to come back, while New Delhi was being guided by Talibans past history like attacks on Indian stakeholders. Now we have sent out some people there, mostly technical staff, basically to oversee the allocation of our aid, like some 20,000 tonnes of wheat that was routed through Chabahar. We are also engaging with the Afghans on medicines and vaccines, he told Moneycontrol. After the US military withdrew in August 2021 and the Afghanistan government fell, the Talibans return had thrown Indias diplomatic position into uncertainty. The power-sharing arrangement of the new regime that took over was seen as beneficial to Islamabad, without whose active support it was unlikely that Taliban leaders could have negotiated the Doha Agreement, signed with the US. Pakistan crisis Indias small steps towards establishing a working relationship with the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan administration is in contrast to the position New Delhi took during the Talibans previous stint in power from 1996 to 2001, when it did not maintain a diplomatic mission in the country. A combination of geopolitical and strategic concerns has triggered this development. The Taliban has changed tack as Pakistan grapples with a political crisis after Imran Khan was removed from the prime ministers office in April, and hostilities between the countries have increased. As in the past, the Taliban rejected the legitimacy of the Durand Line, the 2,670-km international land border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It also targeted Pakistanis working on the construction of a border fence. The Talibans protection of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistan Taliban, is adding to tensions. It is an umbrella organisation of armed militant groups. On November 28, the TTP ended its five-month ceasefire with the Pakistan government  brokered by the Afghanistan Taliban  and announced that its fighters would resume attacks. The internal upheaval in Pakistan and the diminished impact of the US and Russia in the region have prompted India to play its diplomatic card with care, using its soft power to its advantage. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Talibans chief of political office, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, a former cadet of the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, had requested a meeting with the Indian ambassador to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, in Doha in August 2021. In May 2022, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said Indias Afghanistan strategy would be determined by its unique history of cooperation with the Afghan people. The Afghans trust just once force in the world, that is India. They distrust the Pakistanis, who were celebrating the arrival of the Taliban in August 2021. They have little faith in the US, former Indian ambassador Deepak Vohra told Moneycontrol. Why should the Taliban fight in Kashmir? They have no problem with India. Naturally now, Afghanistan is asking India to continue its projects in their country. The Afghans have never recognised the Durand Line and have turned down Pakistans attempts to form an Islamic front. Before the Taliban takeover, India had become Afghanistans biggest regional donor over the past two decades, having committed about $3 billion toward humanitarian assistance, infrastructure development, and capacity building of various state institutions. Both the Afghans and the international community have acknowledged Indias developmental role, and whats important, want more of it. Sajjanhar, however, issued a word of caution. Frankly, India cannot afford to let its guard down. The Jaish and the Lashkar are still around; while the ceasefire with Pakistan is holding, Islamabad probably knows that it would not pay to up the ante just yet with India, given the background of Balakot and Pulwama. Also, we havent seen much of the likes of Masood Azhar and Hafeez Saeed, who can be activated easily by the Pakistan deep state or its army when it is needed, he said. It is a piece of sound advice.
Pro-Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh's close aide Papalpreet Singh was arrested from Hoshiarpur in an operation conducted by Punjab Police and its counter-intelligence unit, news agency PTI reported on April 10 citing officials. According to reports, Papalpreet, 38, is considered the brain behind Amritpal's escape from the police dragnet. The radical preacher Amritpal Singh 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 last month. 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. Punjab Police have been on a high alert since Amritpal Singh escaped their net in Jalandhar. This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates

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Former defence minister AK Antony's son Anil Antony's exit may not be a big loss for the Congress for he was no rooted leader who had risen through the ranks, but it certainly is indicative of the growing restlessness among the scions of prominent political families over their future. Team Rahuls Disintegration Prior to Anil Antony, some of the much-feted 'Gen-Next' of the Congress and close aides of Rahul Gandhi such as Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada and RPN Singh had jumped ship to explore opportunities even in ideologically opposite political turf. Sushmita Dev, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Ashok Tanwar and Jaiveer Shergill had also left in search of better career prospects in politics. These young leaders were convinced that the revival of the Congress is not possible in the foreseeable future. They clearly lacked faith in the leadership of Rahul Gandhi who was otherwise instrumental in their exceptional rise in the Congress. The nationwide Bharat Jodo Yatra has brought about a major change in Rahul Gandhi's image and perception, but that doesn't mean the exodus will stop. That will happen only when the Congress starts winning elections. A victory in Karnataka will enthuse the Congress cadre and its supporters ahead of the assembly elections in five states, billed as semi-finals, before the grand finale in 2024. Kharge Versus Rahuls Coterie For now, Rahul Gandhi has completely disassociated from organisational matters. He hardly meets party leaders and workers. In fact, he directs them to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge if they want to talk about organisational changes. However, the coterie around him continues to rule the roost and dominate the party affairs to the extent of undermining Kharge's authority as the party boss. The continued interference of Rahul Gandhi's Man Friday and Congress general secretary in-charge of organisation KC Venugopal in party matters appears to have rubbed Kharge the wrong way. Many Congress leaders and workers are unhappy with Venugopal over his style of functioning and the way he controls access to Rahul Gandhi. It is well-known in Congress circles that the emergence of the group of 23 dissenters, known as G-23, was largely due to centralisation of power with Venugopal. To ensure Kharge's writ runs large in the Congress and dispel the notion that he is merely a puppet or a rubber stamp, Rahul Gandhi needs to rein in Venugopal. An ongoing tussle between Kharge and Venugopal is also said to be the main reason for the delay in the much-awaited organisational reshuffle and constitution of the new Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body, given that it is over a month now since the three-day 85th plenary session was held in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur in February last week. The session ratified Kharge's election as the Congress president and paved the way for him to carry out the reshuffle exercise in the party. Anti-Corruption Obsession That said, Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra also helped the Congress party to reconnect with the masses. As a result, the Adani issue, especially in the context of investing public money in the group, raised by Gandhi is getting good traction for the party, particularly among the middle class and in rural areas. Congress leaders want to keep the focus on this issue till the Lok Sabha elections next year. According to them, Rahul Gandhi's harping on who had invested Rs 20,000 crore in alleged shell companies of the Adani Group was resonating with the people across the country. Perhaps the Congress was of the same opinion in the Rafale case before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the fighter jet deal with France. But It Flopped In 2019 The slogan Chowkidar Chor Hai (Watchman is a thief) was his main campaign plank in the 2018 assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The Congress partys victory over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in these three states encouraged Rahul Gandhi to take the slogan to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. However, the BJP launched a slogan Main Bhi Chowkidar (I am a watchman too) to counter Rahul Gandhis jibe at Modi. The then Congress president was going all guns blazing till he, in the middle of the high-voltage campaigning, tendered an apology to the Supreme Court for his remarks that the apex court had agreed with his comment Chowkidar Chor Hai, in the alleged corruption in the Rafale deal. The impression among the people was that Rahul Gandhi had apologised for his remarks that there was alleged corruption in the Rafale deal. The BJP used it effectively to its advantage. This was followed by a terror attack at Pulwama in Kashmir on February 14, 2019. At least 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in the deadly attack carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Twelve days later, on February 26, India responded with air strikes on JeM terror camps in Balakot across the Line of Control (LoC). The rest, as they say, is history. Aurangzeb Naqshbandi is a senior journalist who has been covering the Congress for 15 years, and is currently associated with Pixstory. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
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No two people are the same. So when it comes to health care, shouldnt each path of treatment be unique?

Treating illnesses with a cookie-cutter approach is not ideal. Fortunately, that isnt the case for patients of Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic, a practice that embraces personalized therapies tailored to each patient.

In its 30-plus years of operation, patients visiting the Billings-based Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic have benefited from holistic treatment. The clinic closely looks at the patients lab results, family history and physical symptoms, as well as the mental, emotional, environmental, social and spiritual factors that could affect their health.

We are like your old-fashioned family doctor. Our relationships are very important. We spend a lot of time with patients, said Margaret Beeson, licensed naturopathic doctor and the clinics founder. The biggest issue is trying to understand the cause of illness instead of treating symptoms. Thats why we are not treating the symptoms of headaches, for instance. People have different reasons for having headaches.

A different approach

The concept of naturopathic medicine is more than a century old. Beeson began her training in the field after working in health care settings as a nurse and Navy medic/physician assistant.

The comprehensive approach to treatment that is at the heart of the naturopathic philosophy appealed to Beeson when she began training in the field, and she has made it a bedrock of her practice.

One example of what that looks like in practice: the time investment providers make when working with patients. In conventional medicine, the doctor-patient relationship has become increasingly transactional, particularly for physicians who are under pressure who juggle a lot of patients. At YNC, doctors take time to get to know the patient and understand their malady.

We are detectives, Beeson said. We take an in-depth look at a patient's medical history and ask questions about their health that arent commonly asked. This allows us to determine what a condition actually looks like. It takes time and is more productive in the long run.

Attentive listening and thorough physical examinations

The clinic puts an emphasis on what patients say and their health history, but it also focuses on the lost art of the physical exam. Beeson recounted the story of a recent physical exam in which she discovered a tumor in the patients abdomen. The condition had been overlooked by other types of health care providers.

The approach is like a three-legged stool, Beeson said. You have what they tell you, lab tests and the physical exams, and oftentimes I find that physical exams can change the trajectory of what treatment options I recommend for a patient.

Treatment across the spectrum of care

YNC, for many of its patients, functions as a primary care provider. But the conditions it treats extend well beyond the common cold. Long-term conditions such as heart disease, cancer and chronic pain can benefit from a naturopathic approach.

We see patients from birth to 100 years old, Beeson said. We are like your family doctor.

The investment that providers at YNC make in their patients, Beeson said, gives them a unique vantage point on the care.

We treat generationally, Beeson said. We have a lot of parents, grandparents, kids and grandkids. Being a family practice gives us such unique context with people.

Click here to learn more about Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic.

This content is provided for informational purposes only by the advertiser and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Please consult your health care provider for medical advice. Any views, thoughts or opinions in this paid post belong solely to the advertiser and do not represent the views of Brand Ave. Studios or its parent company.

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The chatbot or the conversational artificial intelligence (AI) market is expected to reach a staggering value of $4 billion by 2030. Major players like OpenAI, Google, and Snapchat are in the race to introduce better and more sophisticated chatbots to capture this market. Whenever technology is revolutionary, it becomes crucial to understand how governments would respond to it. Around the globe, different governments have taken different approaches towards ChatGPT. Some countries are taking steps to regulate high-risk artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT, while some are trying to integrate its services into their governance structure. In a recent letter, tech mogul Elon Musk and others urged for stricter regulatory measures, and on the same day, the United Kingdom outlined its approach to AI regulation, aiming to balance innovation and legislation. Meanwhile, the European Union is also negotiating the passage of broad AI rules. Italy's privacy watchdog, the Italian Data Protection Authority (IDPA), has temporarily banned ChatGPT due to a data breach and concerns about using personal data to train the chatbot. ChatGPT is also not available in China. Instead, they have their own version called the Ernie chatbot, made by the Chinese company Baidu. Other countries and regions where ChatGPT is not available are Russia, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and Hong Kong. Indias Middle Path India seems to have adopted Madhyam Marg (the middle path) towards novel technologies such as ChatGPT. The approach avoids extreme reactions like enthusiastically promoting or banning the platform altogether. During the India Global Forum Annual Summit, Indias information technology and electronics minister Ashwini Vaishnaw hinted at a potential major announcement, fueling speculation about the government's plans and a possible Indian version of ChatGPT. Industry experts believe that the Indian government may integrate generative or conversational AI into citizen services, such as the Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG), which could simplify the application process for or availing various government services. The ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) is reportedly developing an AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot to help Indian farmers learn about government schemes. India is also using ChatGPT to develop two critical projects: democratising school education in vernacular languages and spreading awareness about government schemes. An open letter similar to those by Musk and Steve Wozniak has also been written in India. In this letter, Zohos Sridhar Vembu, iSPIRTs Sharad Sharma and former NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar mentioned how powerful AI tools could potentially create catastrophic consequences for humanity. Sridhar also highlighted the potentially disastrous economic implications that can result from AI-led job losses. Meanwhile, OpenAI has started accepting subscriptions for ChatGPT Plus, including GPT-4, at $20 per month. Indian authorities do not yet have a stance on either of the developments, but it will be interesting to see how they react, as it might set precedence for disruptive technologies in the future. ChatGPTs Human-like Responses The rise of ChatGPT is causing quite a stir in the world of education. In India, there are approximately 15 lakh schools and 46,000 colleges. Students have quickly adopted ChatGPT for their homework, and many worry that this could lead to a decline in critical thinking. Unsurprisingly, many schools and colleges have called for banning ChatGPT. One of the main concerns is the possibility of ChatGPT spreading disinformation and providing inaccurate answers. Since ChatGPT was trained on data from around the world, it has also inherited some of the biases present in society. This resulted in some troubling responses that discriminate against various groups of people. There have been instances where users were able to manipulate the security layer of the application just by conversing with it and getting information on banned topics like sourcing weapons. OpenAI is working to address these issues, but much more must be done before ChatGPT can be considered entirely safe. The rush to release advanced AI tools could have serious consequences. A serious concern is the unbelievable human-likeness of GPT-4. OpenAI says that the model cannot think but only responds based on the question put to it. As an advanced self-learning model, it is at least theoretically possible for GPT-4 to learn how to simulate thinking. A future where such an AI model can perform as equally well or better than humans can make humans redundant, especially for certain kinds of jobs. In a more ominous possibility, if this AI model were to be hacked or turned rogue, there could be issues ranging from impersonation to gaslighting. The Road Ahead For India India does not have a standalone law on data protection - personal or non-personal. Personal data usage is regulated under the Information Technology (IT) Act of 2000, and this framework needs to be revised to protect personal data. India introduced the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 in Lok Sabha in December 2019, drafted on the recommendations of Justice BN Srikrishna Committee, but withdrew it in August 2022. Subsequently, MeitY released the Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2022 for public feedback in November 2022. Currently, the Italian watchdog has banned ChatGPT and is investigating whether it complied with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), which governs how companies can use, process and store Italian citizens' data. India, too, should pass the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill to protect the data of its citizens. Further, India must work towards an AI policy that prioritises openness and transparency and discourages tech monopolies. Also, due attention must be given to upskilling the masses to offset the potential job losses. As a startup, OpenAI has done its job well in the technological disruption arena. Governments worldwide must provide a proper regulatory framework to streamline, regularise, acclimatise and protect their citizens from the disruption caused. The potential risks posed by powerful AI systems are too significant to ignore, and the world needs to ensure these systems are safe before their development continues. Despite the concerns, the chatbot market continues to thrive. Nothing is stopping the rise of these intelligent machines. Can they build a metaverse? Or solve global warming? Or make humans dumb? Only time will tell. Anurag Wasnik is Innovation Lead - Atal Innovation Mission at NITI Aayog. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Dear Reader, The Panorama newsletter is sent to Moneycontrol Pro subscribers on market days. It offers easy access to stories published on Moneycontrol Pro and gives a little extra by setting out a context or an event or trend that investors should keep track of. The earnings season is upon us. Indias corporate bosses will suit up to present their quarterly report cards to investors. The parade of large-cap earnings will be kicked off on April 12 by the information technology sector (both TCS and Infosys will detail their January-March performance). Report cards are of past performance, but what investors want is a peek into the future. Answers will be sought on whether Indias IT sector will be able to weather the global slowdown even as it grapples with the outcome of the bank collapses in the US. The prospects for IT are still bright as our column points out here. Demand for their services will continue to remain decent and client spending is expected to grow 5.5 percent in 2023, not far from the 5 percent seen last year. The past quarters performance wont have sparks, given the banking troubles in key client markets, but it wont be dire as our sector preview points out. Understandably, Indias IT chief executives wont be giving out offer letters like they used to in the past, as our column goes on to say. IT jobs wont come so easy, as a cloud of subdued global growth hovers above. Indeed, growth is becoming a sticking point, something that markets believe would force trigger-happy central banks to pause. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has already done so, pausing on its rate hiking cycle in last weeks meeting. But unlike other countries, Indias growth prospects have not been dented. In fact, the RBI has increased its gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection for FY24 a bit to 6.5 percent. This is more optimistic than private forecasters and the World Bank. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has been historically more sanguine than the RBI, will release its projections later today. The RBIs Monetary Policy Report, that accompanies its policy twice a year states that growth would be supported by rural demand, infrastructure spending and private investment. The only domestic uncertainty seems to be consumption. Consumption demand has not impressed economists, with many pointing to pressures on discretionary demand. That means sectors such as consumer durables, automobiles and retail could see tough times ahead. That said, early-bird quarterly snapshots provided by some companies suggest that demand has not reduced. In fact, the RBIs consumer confidence survey shows Indians are willing to indulge in non-essential spending over the next one year. Indeed, the central banks surveys present a glossy outlook for both households and industry. That means Indias corporate chief executives should give at best an exuberant outlook and at worst a fair one for their businesses. Of course, the exuberance is not expected to be uniform across different sectors and some pockets of the economy have faced a tougher environment. For instance, agrochemical firms could see slower sales growth in calendar 2023 as pointed out in our column here. We will know more about the financial health of companies in the coming weeks as quarterly performance and accompanying statements unfold. Investors will use it to tweak earnings expectations and as a result, stock valuations could change. Investing insights from our research team Discovery Series: Krsnaa Diagnostics -- Multiple catalysts at work Mphasis: Does the price correction present an opportunity? Titan Company: Yet another shining performance Dabur India: Whats ailing this FMCG major? What else are we reading? The Eastern Window: How to stop Myanmar from acting as Chinas spying arm Chart of the Day: Global food inflation moderates further SEBI pushes for responsible messaging by advisors and analysts Ruchir Sharma: Why Americas big companies keep getting bigger (republished from the FT) Can Congress recover amid restless scions, Rahul Gandhis risky political bets, and Mallikarjun Kharges weak hand? What Roubini and Acharya have got wrong about Indias industrial policy and growth of conglomerates Indias tech hub cant deal with SVB fallout if its stuck in traffic Artificial Intelligence: Is it time for a complete, global moratorium on AI development? Technical Picks: AB Capital, Guar gum, DLF, Bajaj Finance, Wipro and USD-INR (These are published every trading day before markets open and can be read on the app) Aparna Iyer Moneycontrol Pro
Holding business summits has become a common theme across states, particularly during the last 15-20 years. There are no surprises, therefore, that the northeastern states would also look forward to tapping this opportunity. Assam and Tripura made a beginning in this direction in 2018 and 2021, respectively. This year, all eight states under the North Eastern Council (NEC) will jointly hold the North East Global Investor Summit tentatively in September. Considering the dramatic improvement in infrastructure over the last decade and the huge state sector investments in energy, it is indeed time for the region to strive for private investments. However, there are concerns if the smaller states will go out shopping with adequate preparations. The Union government is aware of the challenge. Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) minister G Kishan Reddy already sounded an alarm in this regard. Learn From Sikkim The primary problem lies in planning or paucity of it. From an industrialised Gujarat to the emerging Odisha or Uttar Pradesh, the success of an investment summit is directly linked to the preparations made to woo investors. It is indeed a point to ponder that with its political clout, brand image and rich experience in attracting investment, Gujarat takes two years to organise a business summit. In comparison, the ball for the North East summit was set rolling in February, with an aim to hold it in May. The timeline was later revised to September. Remember that the region barely saw private investment beyond the peripheries of Assam and Sikkim. Assam attracted investment, mostly in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), in the last decade, riding on the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), 2007 that offered heavy capital subsidy, interest subsidy and tax breaks. NEIIP was discontinued in 2017. The incentives to the existing investors will be withdrawn in 2027. The state now has the tall task to attract investment on merit. The Himanta Biswa Sarma government is gearing up to meet the challenge. The summit is a shot in the arm for Sikkim to showcase its awe-inspiring transformation over the last two decades. This tiny border state of less than seven lakh people is Indias newest hydropower and pharmaceutical hub. It had also attracted investments in food processing and breweries. That was over and above a thriving tourism sector. According to the Reserve Bank of India, as of 2019-20, nearly 57 percent of Sikkims gross state domestic product (GSDP), at current prices, was contributed by industry vis-a-vis 28 percent in Assam, 43 percent in Gujarat and 26 percent in the country. Gangtok doesnt feature in Indias summit map. A focused approach and business facilitation held the key to Sikkims success. In neighbouring West Bengal, prized investments suffered due to land disputes but summits became an annual event. The result is evident. According to RBI, industry contributed 21 percent of Bengals GSDP in 2019-20, less than the national average. Get The Basics Correct Investment rides on the ecosystem. The smaller states in the northeast can learn a lot from each others experience to get the basics right. If land availability is a problem in the country, it is a bigger problem in the northeast due to abysmally poor land records and high tribal holding, with due restrictions on the access of such land to non-tribals. Roughly 70 percent of land in Manipur is in tribal areas. Strictly speaking, it is also the only disturbed state in the northeast due to the presence of a large number of outlaw groups which didnt join peace negotiations. However, the non-tribal Meitei community that dominates the Imphal valley is highly enterprising. The start-up revolution is prominent in this state. There are dedicated angel funds as well. Manipur was a pioneer to introduce pre-paid electricity meters and improve the power supply scenario. Private enterprise converted Imphal into Indias newest health tourism hub, catering to patients from Myanmar. Compare this with Mizoram, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh. The 90 percent tribal state has been peaceful since the mid-1980s. But, resistance to change held back their progress. Non-tribals constitute 70 percent of the population in Tripura which is surrounded by Bangladesh. The political scenario has been the least volatile. Land records are distinctly better. India is making huge investments in Tripura for intra-regional and cross-country connectivity. Agartala airport has been upgraded to international status. BharatNet optic fibre mission and internet gateway through Bangladesh ensured quality digital backbone up to the gram panchayat level. But the state is barely optimising its potential. They allotted a tiny 15-acre space for industrial activities at the Sabroom border where an international rail-road terminal is coming up for access to the Chittagong seaport in Bangladesh. Tourism Needs Overhaul According to the Union tourism ministry, over one lakh foreign tourists visited Tripura in 2018. This is the largest such inflow in the region. These are Bangladeshis, who use Tripura as a transit state to reach other Indian destinations. Considering Bangladesh is the largest source of medical tourists to India, Tripura had the opportunity to attract investment in private healthcare, retail and hospitality. But that didnt happen. Poor data doesnt help the cause. Union government says, over four lakh domestic tourists visit Tripura. This is one-third of the traffic to Meghalaya. In reality, tourism is a nearly forgotten chapter in the state. Tripura is no exception in its neglect of tourism. Sikkim and Meghalaya apart, the entire region failed to tap the potential. With its huge share of forests and mountains and easy connectivity, Assam attracts only 37,000 foreign tourists. This includes oil and gas professionals. Meghalaya is crumbling under the pressure of cheap volume tourism. The state received only 18,000 foreign tourists in 2018, as against 71,000 in Sikkim. Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram barely exist on the tourism map. Arunachal was out of bounds for many years due to a paucity of logistics and travel restrictions. This state is now showing maximum interest in turning the corner. Land is a contentious issue in Arunachal due to community ownership and the involvement of multiple agencies. But they are keen to solve this tangle by acquiring land for the investor. This is indeed the solution that the region should offer. Tamil Nadu came up quickly on the industry map in the 1990s by offering fully developed land, on demand. Meghalaya has already adopted a similar strategy. But its implementation suffers. Assam Should Shine In all probability, the summit will be a major opportunity for Assam while most smaller states might end up as travellers. Over the last decade, Guwahati emerged as the regional logistics hub and received some investments, outside the scope of NEIIP, in pharmaceuticals. The city also has a decent population of start-ups. The task ahead is to make the investment flow stronger. The state has little footprint in IT. The post-COVID trend of the IT industry to open shops in smaller cities might help Guwahati. Pratim Ranjan Bose is an independent columnist, researcher, and consultant. His Twitter handle is @pratimbose. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Much to the chagrin of so-called experts, the Indian economy is estimated to grow at 7 percent in 2022-23 and at 6.5 percent in 2023-24. Private consumption and public investment are the two key drivers at the moment; leading indicators suggest that private investment will pick up in the near future. A sense of balance is getting restored in the industrial growth rate too. During 2020-21, COVID-affected industrial growth was negative, from a low base it grew at 10.3 percent in 2021-22 and is estimated to grow at 4.1 percent in 2022-23. Some steps have already been taken to restore Indian industrial growth to a higher trajectory. The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme is one such measure. The basic purpose is to move industrial growth into a higher plane based on domestic demand, export potential and China Plus One opportunities. In recent months, commentaries on the Indian economy by Nouriel Roubini and Viral Acharya (Brooking Institution presentation) have captured media attention. Two major suggestions made are (i) reduction in the concentration of economic power, Acharya goes further and prescribes the dismantling of the five big conglomerates e.g., Reliance, Tata, Adani, Bharati and Birla; (ii) reduction in import tariffs and thereby bring down protectionism across all sectors. Regulating Competition The issue of concentration of economic power, one thought, had got a decent burial after the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Act of 1969 was replaced by the Competition Act of 2002 and its subsequent amendments. The implicit purpose of the Competition Act is to foster economic growth through better regulation. From the concentration of economic power and dominance, the focus has shifted to the abuse of dominance and how competition can get adversely affected. In the MRTP Act of 1969, an undertaking could get penalised because of market share, size, etc., (Section 2(d) of MRTP Act). This has changed, after all in a liberalised economy, economies of scale and scope are of prime importance. The current focus is discriminatory or exploitative behaviour in the market. This could include entry prevention, predatory pricing, cartelisation and price fixing, restrictive access to certain goods and services (including digital platforms), control of input and output channels, etc. Neither Acharya nor Roubini to date have provided any case-based evidence to back their assertions about the anti-competitive behaviour of the big five conglomerates. Dismantling of large conglomerates in the West or Japan has been spurred by capital market proddings and the business groups endogenous requirements of better operational efficiency, higher growth and profitability. Why should a democratic government get involved in a breakup process, as suggested, is not clear. Particularly, when regulators handling competition have not come up with any evidence relating to abuse of dominance. This is a very different situation from what Korean chaebols got into since the late nineties. Product Differentiation Acharya asserts that there is a causal relationship between markup and market power; the big five conglomerates with supposedly higher market power can push up markups. The analysis has been done presumably at the National Industrial Classification (NIC) three-digit product level; For example, 271 in NIC is manufacture of basic iron and steel. The average price and markup here would depend on product mix, quality and services. There is little linkage with market concentration or market power of the big five. He also suggests that higher markups feed into the wholesale price index which creates a high-cost economy. Interestingly, in mobile telephony and related services, two conglomerates from the big five have an overwhelming presence. Yet, voice and data service rates did come down, after the entry of Jio in September 2016. Further, the econometric relationships that he presents indicate the R-square values are quite low. This makes one wonder whether the variables which have been missed out are more important in explaining variations in markup. In fact, in most of the estimates, the mean effect of variables left out is quite significant. Tariff-industrial Policy Link Acharya as well as Roubini takes on Indian policymakers in the area of higher tariff rates compared to the applied tariff rates of other emerging economies. For a competitive economy, there has to be an implicit linkage between tariff rates and its overall industrial policy. This often puts policymakers in a catch-22 situation and one has to actively seek out bypasses and detours. When an industrial development process focuses on linking up with the global supply chain, then goods (many of which could be intermediate in nature) have to cross borders several times. Even if there is a small duty, the cumulative effect would be quite high. A plain vanilla reduction of rates in one country wont help, it is better to have vendors located in a Free Trade Agreement or a Regional Trading Agreement block such that the tariff rate can be nil. Secondly, PLI schemes are a part of our implicit industrial policy. There are many reasons for PLI schemes such as quick growth in output and employment, geopolitical security in the case of critical items like drones and active pharmaceutical ingredients and genuine export growth, etc. Higher tariff rates in these and related categories provide a protective bubble. Which industries are to be selected for PLI and which firms; how long this protective bubble should be there are parts of a learning by doing process. From the names of companies which have been selected for PLIs, it appears that there is a mix of both Indian and foreign companies, the firms also belong to various turnover and asset categories, not just big five conglomerates. In fact, the selection of champions under the PLI scheme has little to do with the big five. Finally, the development of genuine competitiveness in the Indian economy would entail bringing down the cost of financing, infrastructure and logistics and skilled labour, removing capital and technology constraints and improving physical and soft infrastructure, etc. Along with a long-term vision, the country also needs a short-term survival strategy. The PLI scheme and higher applied tariff appear to be integral parts of this survival strategy. Siddhartha Roy is the former Economic Advisor of the Tata Group. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on April 10 granted national party status to the Aam Aadmi Party and derecognized three existing national parties - All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Communist Party of India (CPI). The decision was taken after reviewing the performance of both national and state political parties during the two general election cycles in 2014 and 2019, as well as 21 state assembly elections. According to an ECI official, the three national parties were provided sufficient time to participate in more state assembly elections to maintain their status. Last week, the Karnataka High Court directed Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar to issue an order before April 13, announcing national party status for the Aam Aadmi Party, which currently governs two states, Delhi and Punjab. With the removal of the AITC, NCP, and CPI, only six parties will now be recognized as national parties: AAP, BJP, Congress, National Peoples Party, CPM, and BSP. What does it mean for AAP? The Aam Adami Party (AAP) has recently been granted national party status, which means that it now has a presence in multiple states across India. This new status comes with a range of benefits, including access to public broadcasting airtime for election campaigns, office space, and membership of consultative committees within the government. To be recognized as a national party, a political party must fulfill certain criteria laid out by the Election Commission of India (ECI). These include being recognized in at least four states, polling at least six percent of the total valid votes in any four or more states in Lok Sabha or assembly elections, and having at least four members of parliament. The AAP met all of these requirements after the Gujarat Assembly elections in December 2022, where it won five seats with a 12.9 percent vote share. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the party, which was formed ten years ago. Reacting to the news, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed his gratitude to the people of India and called it a "miracle". He acknowledged the great responsibility that comes with being a national party and stated that the party is committed to fulfilling the expectations of the people. Overall, this development is a significant achievement for the AAP, as it now has access to more resources and opportunities to promote its policies and ideologies. It remains to be seen how this new status will impact the party's future growth and success. Deregistering of parties? If a political party loses its status as a national party, it can no longer contest elections using a common symbol across the country. According to the rules of the Election Commission of India (ECI), these three national parties will only be able to use their election symbol in states where they are recognized as a state party. Furthermore, the party would lose certain privileges and benefits that are exclusively available to national parties, such as free airtime and the right to field candidates in more constituencies than other parties in elections. The ECI rules stipulate that the national and state party status of political parties must be reviewed every ten years.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday alleged that the Ashok Gehlot-led government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the BJP rule in Rajasthan and announced a day-long fast to press for action, in a sign of escalating tussle in the party's state unit ahead of assembly polls. Without referring to Pilot's demand, the Congress issued a statement in Delhi that its government with Ashok Gehlot as chief minister has implemented schemes that have benefited people and the party will seek a renewed mandate later this year "on the strength of these landmark achievements and the collective efforts of our organisation". All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of state Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said it was "not appropriate" for Pilot to hold a press conference in this manner and that he should have raised the issue with him first. The move by former deputy chief minister Pilot to open the new front against Gehlot amid the factional fighting is seen as an attempt to pressure the high command to resolve the leadership issue ahead of the year-end polls. "No action was taken (by the Gehlot government) on the corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje government. While in the Opposition, we promised an inquiry into the mines scam of Rs 45,000 crore," Pilot said at a press conference at his residence here, announcing a hunger strike on Tuesday. He said he wrote to Gehlot last year on March 28 and November 2 on the issue but did not get any answer to his letters. "With six seven months left for the elections, the opponents can spread an illusion that there is some collusion. Therefore, action will have to be taken soon so that the Congress workers feel that there is no difference between our words and actions," he said. He also showed videos of statements of Gehlot in the Assembly and outside in which he had levelled corruption allegations against the previous BJP government. He said he will observe a day-long fast at Shaheed Smarak on April 11, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule who was from the Saini community to which Gehlot belongs. Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads over the post of the chief minister ever since the Congress formed the government in Rajasthan in December 2018. The opposition BJP said that Pilot should also demand an investigation into the alleged corruption during the Congress government's tenure. Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said in a statement that the infighting between the chief minister and his former deputy has increased to such an extent that now Pilot will sit on hunger strike against his own government. While a section of Congress leaders supported Pilot's demand, others claimed it would inflict great harm to the party in the upcoming election, particularly when it is working on a strategy to repeat its government in the state. In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Congress government in Rajasthan with Ashok Gehlot as CM has implemented a large number of schemes and taken many new initiatives that have impacted the people profoundly. "This has given the state a leadership position in governance in our country. The Bharat Jodo Yatra in Rajasthan was an outstanding success made possible by the dedication and determination of the party organisation in the state," he said. "Later in the year, the Congress will seek a renewed mandate from the people on the strength of these landmark achievements and the collective efforts of our organisation," Ramesh said. Randhawa, who was made AICC in-charge of Rajasthan last December, said he had had more than 20 meetings with Pilot since taking over but the former deputy chief minister had not raised the corruption issue with him. "We have talked about various issues but he did not raise this issue, and then going straight to the press...saying that we are not acting on corruption...," Randhawa told PTI. "We have acted against Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, he has even filed for defamation against the CM. The second thing is that what we have done in Rajasthan, steps like waiving loans of farmers, on electricity bills, subsidy on cylinders, bringing back old pension scheme, he (Pilot) should have talked about that and then added that now we have to take action against corruption," the AICC in-charge of state said. "But this was not appropriate," he added. Randhawa said he would go to Jaipur on Tuesday and talk to both Pilot and Gehlot about the issue. In July 2020, Pilot and a section of party MLAs rebelled openly, demanding a leadership change in the state. It led to a one-month-long political crisis that ended after assurance by the party high command to look into the issues raised by Pilot. The former deputy chief minister said Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had given him the responsibility of the party in the state and he, along with other leaders, had opposed the wrong policies of the then BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje. He said the Congress as a responsible Opposition had raised the issue of corruption because of which the BJP was voted out of power. He said the state government has a 'zero tolerance' policy for corruption and to further strengthen it, transparent and effective action should have been taken. "Now six-seven months are left for the election, the opponents can spread confusion that there is some collusion," Pilot said. He said that he never called for any malicious action but the credibility that the Congress had built as the opposition party has to be maintained. "Ashok Gehlot and I had made allegations together. How will we know it is true until there is a fair investigation. If it comes out in the investigation that no one was guilty, we will accept that Gehlot ji and I were liars. "But until a case is registered, how will people believe that the allegations made by us are true or false," Pilot said. He said that it was one of the suggestions he had given to the party high command. Pilot has been often, though in a subtle manner, demanding the party leadership to take action on issues raised by him. Following the revolt by Pilot and 18 other MLAs in 2020, Gehlot used terms like 'Gaddar', 'Nakara', 'Nikamma' for his former deputy and accused him of being involved with the BJP leaders in a conspiracy to topple the Congress government. A few days before Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Rajasthan from Madhya Pradesh, Gehlot had again targeted Pilot, calling him 'Gaddar' in an interview with a news channel in November last year. Pilot responded to it, saying it was not his upbringing to use such language. Pilot's demand to order a probe and take action in the alleged mining scam during the previous BJP government and other corruption allegations was supported by state cabinet minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas. Khachariyawas was the Jaipur Congress president when Pilot was the PCC chief and used to be at the forefront with him in raising the corruption issue. He was in the Pilot camp but during Pilot's revolt against Gehlot in 2020, Khachariyawas switched to the Gehlot camp. He said whatever Pilot has pointed out is right, and action against corruption should be taken. "Sachin Pilot is an asset for the party and Rahul Gandhi has said this... I would also speak to the chief minister and say that we should take action," Khachariyawas said. Another Congress leader said Pilot's announcement was also a 'kind of revolt' against Gehlot and this would certainly harm the party. "At a time when the Congress government is leaving no stone unturned to retain power in the upcoming elections, Pilot's announcement to sit on 'Anshan' will definitely send a wrong message among the masses. This should be avoided," the Congress leader said. Pilot supporters said issues raised by the leader before the party high command have not been addressed so far, which has left him disappointed. They said that the party workers wanted Pilot to be the chief minister. "Pilot had a major contribution in bringing Congress to power in 2018. As the PCC chief, he worked hard to revive the party and because of him, the party got a majority of seats in eastern Rajasthan but he was not given the rightful share in the government," a Pilot supporter claimed.
In a dig at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Sunday said that one should not be boastful about one's degree and some people remain illiterate despite being educated in IIT. Saxena was asked about Kejriwal's comments targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his educational qualifications and questioning the genuineness of his degrees. "I have heard the comments made by the honourable chief minister in the Assembly. One should never be boastful about their degree. A degree is only a receipt of education but real education lies in your knowledge and behaviour. "I have seen the kind behaviour exhibited over the last few days. It has been proved how some people remain illiterate despite being educated in IIT," the LG said. The Delhi chief minister, who has studied at IIT, and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have launched a fresh attack on the issue since the Gujarat High Court recently quashed a seven-year-old order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) that had asked the Gujarat University to provide information on Modi's degree to Kejriwal. The HC also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the AAP chief, who was the RTI applicant in the matter. Reacting to Saxena's remarks, AAP leader and Delhi Education Minister Atishi accused him of raising questions on prestigious institutions like IITs and said the LG and BJP leaders should also show their degrees. She also announced the launch of the party's 'Degree Dikhao' campaign. "IITs are considered to be the most prestigious institutions in India and across the world...people who studied from there are leading several companies across the world. It is really sad that today questions are being raised on the degree of IIT too. LG too should come forward and share his degree with the public. In fact, he should ask the BJP leaders to also show their degrees," she said at a press conference. AAP national spokesperson and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj also hit out at the LG for saying that an educational degree is just a receipt. He said the LG's statement proves that he believes that the prime minister does not have a genuine degree. "It was the magnanimity of our chief minister that he did not say anything to you (LG) until now despite you trying to take the credit for the work done by Delhi government. But today the LG said that there is no need for an IIT degree, a degree is just a receipt for money spent. I wonder how many secretaries, principal secretaries, and joint secretaries of the LG are without degrees. Why keep degree holders when people without degrees are walking on the street?" he asked. Earlier in the day, LG Saxena visited the supplementary drain in Wazirabad and reviewed the Yamuna cleaning work. "We are cleaning Yamuna banks in a mission mode. We will clean the 22 km stretch by June 30," he said. "We are not working for credit but to give clean Yamuna to the people," he said when asked about the criticism of the AAP government. However, Delhi minister Bharadwaj accused the LG of claiming credit for the work done by the city government to clean the Yamuna. Addressing a press conference, the minister also spoke of various initiatives taken by his government to clean the Yamuna. "His job is not to visit drains but various police stations that come under him. There are 350 police stations in Delhi. He should visit them. But he visits drains where work is going on and claims credit for the work being done by the government," the minister said. "Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has never raised the issue but this has been happening," Bharadwaj added. Later, Bharadwaj, in a tweet, also highlighted the importance of an engineer like Kejriwal. In a tweet, the LG said, "Also visited Sur Ghat and appreciated the makeover carried out by DDA. Instructed for water quality in the bathing area to be monitored regularly and kept at optimum." Quotetweeting, Bharadwaj said, "Pls don't mind sir @LtGovDelhi. The plants have been installed even with their plastic pouch, making mockery of this scientific process. The water will be purified only if their roots flow in water. It's a waste of money. That's why u need Engineers like @ArvindKejriwal."
The unruly passenger on board the Air India Delhi-London flight who created a ruckus mid-air and forced it to return to the national capital tried to open an aircraft door and assaulted two crew members as they tried to stop him, police said here. Jaskirat Singh, aged 25, verbally abused the crew members and hit one of them on the neck causing her to fall on the floor. He then pulled her by the hair and hit another crew member on her face, they said. Singh had to be restrained with the help of other crew members and passengers, and the aircraft was brought back to Delhi about three hours after its departure. He was deboarded and subsequently detained by police, a police official said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Airport) Devesh Kumar Mahla said Singh, who studied till Class 12, was asked why he acted the way he did, to which he replied "Mann kharab tha (I was upset..)". Jaskirat Singh, who hails from Punjab's Kapurthala, and his father were going abroad for the first time. After landing in London, they had plans to fly to Canada to visit Singh's sister, police said. Mahla said police have received a complaint and detained Jaskirat Singh, and the matter is being investigated. He said a case has been registered under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and relevant provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. According to police officials, Air India flight AI-111 took off from Delhi to London at 6.35 am. After about an hour, Singh was spotted trying to open an aircraft door. A crew member, along with a colleague, tried to stop him but he threatened to hit them and used "unparliamentary language", the police officials said, citing the complaint received from a cabin supervisor of the airline. He suddenly turned violent and attacked both the crew members, according to the complaint. Medical examinations of the complainant and the other crew member were carried out at the Medanta Medical Centre, Indira Gandhi International Airport, police said. The accused will also undergo a medical examination to ascertain if he was under the influence of alcohol, Mahla added. According to Air India, the passenger was handed over to the security personnel after the flight landed at the Delhi airport. "Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour, including causing physical harm to two cabin crew members," the airline said in a statement.
With more than 30,000 guests from 42 countries, including royal families from Qatar, a pandal bigger than the sets of magnum opus 'Baahubali', and a bride dripping in diamonds -- billionaire B Ravi Pillai left no stone unturned at his daughter's wedding. Touted to be Kerala's richest man, the 69-year-old founder of RP Group of Companies is worth $3.4 billion. And it was in 2015 that he organised one of the most magnificent displays of wealth as his daughter Dr Arathi Ravi Pillai married Dr Adithya Vishnu at Kollam's Asramam grounds. While the groom arrived at the venue in a huge chariot, the bride arrived dressed in a red silk saree designed by Manish Malhotra and diamond jewellery which included a choker, layered neckpieces, waistband, armbands, bangles, and headgear, Times Now reported. B Ravi Pillai's Arathi Pillai and Adithya Vishnu Rs 55 crore wedding has larger set than #Baahubali #Kerala , Crore pic.twitter.com/iUCm5C663p  Just a regular guy interested in Tech (@jobinindia) November 27, 2015 The wedding was attended by celebrities from the film and business industries such as superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty, and CEOs of Samsung and the Japan Gas Corporation. The event also featured Bharatanatyam performances by actors Manju Warrier and Shobhana. Another dance performance featured 400 dancers on stage, as per a Times Now report. Guests were served Kerala sadya in dining halls that could accommodate up to 7,000 people at a time. Commenting on the lavishness of the wedding B Ravi Pillai reportedly said that it was his way of attracting tourists to Kerala, but this isn't the industrialist's only grand display of wealth. Last year, he became the first Indian to own an Airbus H145 helicopter worth Rs 100 crore. Pillai flew in it on the choppers maiden flight to one of his 5-star hotels.
Burleigh County commissioners are considering asking state regulators to hold off on deciding on a permit for a regional carbon dioxide pipeline until updated federal rules for such projects are in place.

The commission last week reviewed a draft letter to the state Public Service Commission that cites the need to "protect the health, welfare and safety of the people of Burleigh County." A decision on whether to send the letter is likely to be made at the April 17 commission meeting.

Commissioners recently adopted two ordinances related to Summit Carbon Solution's planned Midwest Carbon Express pipeline, which would transport climate-warming CO2 emissions from dozens of ethanol plants in five Midwestern states to North Dakotas Oliver County for permanent storage underground.

The pipeline would cross Burleigh County to the north of Bismarck. Some landowners worry about their safety should the pipeline rupture. A newly approved county safety ordinance requires companies building hazardous liquid pipelines to submit emergency plans to local officials. New zoning regulations require companies building pipelines for hazardous liquids to obtain a special county permit and follow certain rules.

Summit touts the overall safety record of pipelines and notes that a CO2 pipeline has existed in western North Dakota for more than 20 years, transporting carbon dioxide from the Great Plains Synfuels Plant in Beulah to oil fields in Canada. Summit officials recently told commissioners that CO2 pipelines are safe, and that federal regulation makes local ordinances unnecessary.

The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is updating safety regulations for CO2 pipelines, including requirements related to emergency preparedness and response. The effort comes in the wake of a CO2 pipeline rupture in Satartia, Mississippi, in 2020, that prompted the evacuation of hundreds of people and sent dozens of people to the hospital. The pipeline was operated by Denbury Gulf Coast Pipelines.

Summit maintains that by federal pipeline safety standards, only one person was injured in that incident.

Burleigh County's draft letter to the three-member PSC states that the county "has determined that its newly passed zoning ordinance may need to be revised when PHMSA releases its updated standards for CO2 pipelines." It goes on to ask that the commission "postpone any final determination relating to the issuance of a permit for any CO2 pipeline under consideration until PHMSA updates its standards for CO2 pipelines."

PSC Chair Randy Christmann declined to comment to the Tribune on whether the commission would consider such a request, citing the open case. He did say, "We will always give appropriate consideration to information that is presented to us."

Summit in a statement to the Tribune reiterated its stance that "thousands of miles of CO2 pipelines" in the U.S. have operated safely for decades.

"The unfortunate events in Satartia, Mississippi, resulted in PHMSA issuing a Notice of Probable Violation, a Proposed Civil Penalty, and a Proposed Compliance Order outlining noncompliance with multiple existing regulations," the company said. "Furthermore, issues outlined by PHMSA in its Failure Investigation Report that led to the incident are being addressed by Summit Carbon Solutions in the planning, design, construction, and operations of our proposed pipeline project."

Burleigh County commissioners had considered imposing their own moratorium but decided instead on drafting the letter to the PSC. The state commission will permit the pipeline's route throughout North Dakota. The North Dakota Industrial Commission will permit the CO2 disposal site.

County State's Attorney Julie Lawyer told the County Commission last week that passing a moratorium regarding a regulated industry is unlawful and unenforceable.

The zoning ordinance also will be reconsidered at the next commission meeting to address fees assessed with the special use permit.

The PSC is holding several public hearings around the state on the pipeline. Hearings have already been held in Bismarck and Gwinner. Upcoming hearings are Tuesday in Wahpeton, May 9 in Linton and June 2 in Bismarck.
Elon Musk, Twitter head and the most followed person on the micro-blogging site, has begun to follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The development has caught everybody's attention because Musk has more than 134 million followers, but he follows only 195 accounts. Elon Musk just followed Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on Twitter. @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/ibOQBedX6Y  DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) April 10, 2023 Other notable people of Indian origin who Elon Musk follows include UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. PM Modi had met Elon Musk at his Tesla office in California in 2015 to get a feel on what could drive automobiles in the future. The Prime Minister was driven around the facility in a battery-powered cart after which he also posed for some photos standing next to a gleaming red car manufactured by Musk. "Thanks Elon Musk for showing me around at Tesla Motors. Enjoyed the discussion on how battery technology can help farmers," PM Narendra Modi tweeted with a few photos with the Tesla owner. Thanks @elonmusk for showing me around at @TeslaMotors.Enjoyed discussion on how battery technology can help farmers pic.twitter.com/r2YuSPPlty  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 27, 2015 Musk later said, "Prime Minister Modi and I talked about electricity generation and how there are ways to skip ahead with it as with cellphones." The meeting focused on adapting and obtaining Teslas Powerwall invention for India, namely a long-term storage device for solar energy which could bring energy to hitherto un-serviced areas of India, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said. Read more: Welcome to 'Titter': Elon Musk vs Twitter HQ landlord over company sign
The Supreme Court has granted permission to Vedanta to carry out maintenance work at its closed Sterlite plant in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. The decision was made based on the report of a High Powered Committee (HPC) formed by the government of Tamil Nadu to inspect the structural and civil safety of the plant. The HPC inspected the plant in July 2022 and recommended certain maintenance activities be undertaken to upkeep the plant. On March 6 2023, the Additional Chief Secretary of the State Government wrote to the District Collector, Tuticorin district and asked the collector to proceed with certain upkeep activities such as removing gypsum, maintaining secured landfill facility among others. The Supreme Court relied on the HPC's report and subsequent communication by the collector and granted permission to Vedanta to carry out the maintenance activities. The collector however recommended against carrying out activities such as undertaking civil and structural safety integrity assessment study in the plant premise and removal, transportation of equipments. The SC asked Tamil Nadu to consider these aspects and inform the court by the next date of hearing. In response to the court's decision, Vedanta stated that they have faith in the judiciary and the State and that the measures taken will be in the best interest of the public, the environment, and the larger economic agenda. Background of the case: In 2018, the Tamil Nadu government ordered the closure of Sterlite Copper, located in coastal Tamil Nadu, which was responsible for producing over 400,000 tonnes of copper annually and accounted for 40 percent of India's copper output. The plant employed 5,000 people directly and 25,000 indirectly. The closure came after violent protests against the plant resulted in 13 deaths due to police firing. The government cited the violation of environmental norms as the reason for the closure. Vedanta, the parent company of Sterlite Copper, challenged the government's decision, and the National Green Tribunal allowed the plant to reopen, finding the closure to be disproportionate. However, the Supreme Court overturned this decision and directed Vedanta to approach the Madras High Court for any interim relief. Neither the Madras High Court nor the Supreme Court has allowed the plant to reopen. Vedanta has filed a plea seeking periodic access to the plant to carry out essential maintenance work. The company is urgently seeking a hearing, citing the steep deterioration of the plant and its structures.
Entrepreneurship in India can be a tricky business with numerous risks involved that could derail a rookie investor even before he began taking strides towards success. One such entrepreneur who has risen up the ranks and built a brand to be proud of is OYO Rooms founder and CEO Ritesh Agarwal. In a Twitter video, Agarwal felt that several young entrepreneurs give up too early. He captioned the video by advicing young entrepreneurs to not give up early in their journeys and remain determined and perseverant in their journeys. "Most valuable traits for any young entrepreneur. I feel way too many young entrepreneurs give up too early saying that the big incumbent will hurt me. I feel that if you are at it, we overestimate the perseverance of incumbents. The ability for a new company to be able to make a dent is much higher if they are perseverant," Agarwal said in the video. Most valuable trait for a young entrepreneur? Do not give up too early in your journey Determination and perseverance always pays off. pic.twitter.com/UTyQmJPRal  Ritesh Agarwal (@riteshagar) April 10, 2023 Last month, Agarwal got married to Geetansha Sood in New Delhi. The wedding reception saw several high-profile names in attendance with the likes of SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son , Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma, among others. A few days after Agarwal got married, his father died after reportedly falling from the 20th floor of a building. Also Read: OYO's Ritesh Agarwal touches the feet of Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son
A cardiologist from Bengaluru has spoken out against the low salary that MBBS doctors receive while being expected to take care of patients for free and beyond working hours. Dr Deepak Krishnamurthy, senior interventional cardiologist at Sakra World Hospital, said that the starting salary for most doctors is about Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 while engineers earn Rs 15-20 lakh per annum. But, people expect doctors to save lives and not care about the money while celebrating the high salaries that engineers earn. "The starting salary after MBBS is as low as Rs 10-20K per month. Nowhere to the tune of 15-20lakh per annum being spoken here for post Btech! How does this society feel so comfortable advising a life-saving doctor to live for ideals and not look for money, while gloating at engineer salaries?" Dr Krishnamurthy tweeted with an article announcing that a Bengaluru college has been charging Rs 64 lakh as fees for a seat in computer science engineering. Have you ever seen such positive news about fees in a medical college being high? Or about doctors earning good salary? The starting salary after MBBS is as low as 10-20k per month. Nowhere to the tune of 15-20lakh per annum being spoken here for post Btech! How does this pic.twitter.com/fSzRYUKCAL  Dr Deepak Krishnamurthy (@DrDeepakKrishn1) April 9, 2023 "People act like doctors could take those ideals to a grocery shop and encash them. Or that a doctor could pay kids' fees with blessings. Like the whole world needs food and clothes and stuff but the doctor doesn't need them!" Dr Krishnamurthy wrote adding that often he had also had to face patients on weekends because they did not have the time to consult a doctor during weekends. "Every industry can make unlimited profits including killer cigarette and alcohol manufacturers but not doctors and hospitals! Someone writing some inconsequential code is entitled to make more money and fly business class while the doctors have no such right whatsoever," he added. Read more: This IIM student hired by Microsoft will get a salary of Rs 64.61 lakh The cardiologist from Bengaluru also said that people understand what doctors go through only when their own kids take up medicine. "Ninty nine percent of people do not understand or even try to do so." "This society will only become great when they understand the importance of doctors, health care workers, teachers, and armed forces. And pay them what they are due without cribbing," Dr Krishnamurthy said. The Bengaluru doctor's outburst comes days after a neurologist from Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad also pointed out in a viral tweet that he used to receive a salary of Rs 9,000 even about 10 years after completing his MBBS.
In a humorous yet clever move, Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, has found a solution to a dispute with his San Francisco landlord over the company's sign. According to Musk's tweet, the landlord insisted that the sign must remain as "Twitter" and the letter "W" cannot be removed. In response, Musk and his team at the San Francisco headquarters of Twitter decided to paint the background colour of the sign, effectively masking the letter "W" without actually removing it. Musk tweeted a photo of the new signboard, which clearly shows the letter "W" blending seamlessly into the background colour. Our landlord at SF HQ says were legally required to keep sign as Twitter & cannot remove w, so we painted it background color. Problem solved! Musk tweeted. He followed it up with: They tried to muffle our titter. They tried to muffle our titter  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 10, 2023 The tweet quickly went viral, garnering over 21 million views, and many Twitter users applauded Musk's witty solution to the problem. The move has also sparked a debate over the legality of such actions and the extent to which landlords can dictate the appearance of their tenants' signs. This is not the first time Elon Musk has caused a stir on Twitter. The billionaire entrepreneur is known for his quirky and sometimes controversial tweets, which have often landed him in hot water with regulators and investors. However, this time, his tweet has been met with widespread approval. Read: Slumdog billionaires: AI artist reimagines worlds wealthiest as the poorest I feel like you really badly want to make a NSFW version of Twitter/Titter, one user wrote. Elon always out smarting, Tesla Owners Silicon Valley tweeted. Whos Tittering now https://t.co/BgWiTNXovi  ALX (@alx) April 10, 2023 Change your company name to Titter. I dare you! wrote a user. Musk's move also highlights the importance of creativity and innovation in the corporate world, even in seemingly trivial matters like the appearance of a company's sign.
Tesla Inc. will build a large new battery factory in Shanghai, further cementing Chinas place at the top of the global energy storage supply chain. The US electric car pioneer will manufacture its Megapack large-scale energy-storage unit in the new facility, which adds to its factory for EVs in Shanghai. The company led by Elon Musk, who is said to have visited China last weekend, made the announcement at a signing ceremony for the project in Shanghai on Sunday. Tom Zhu, Teslas senior vice president of automotive, and Shanghai government officials including Vice Mayor Wu Qing attended, with Tesla Vice President Tao Lin signing the contract. Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year and the plant will commence production in the second quarter of 2024, the company said in a statement. Tesla opening Megapack factory in Shanghai to supplement output of Megapack factory in California https://t.co/hDpqoyNeOx  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2023 China already had more than 1,400 gigawatt-hours of battery manufacturing capacity, with another 6,000 gigawatt-hours under construction or announced. The US has the second-biggest pipeline of about 1,000 gigawatt-hours of capacity, but the vast majority of that has yet to be built. Unlike most battery production, which mainly goes to the electric vehicle market, the Megapack factory will build cells for grid-scale energy storage, a much smaller sector. There were about 19.3 gigawatt-hours of installed stationary battery storage at the end of 2020, according to the International Energy Agency. Thats likely to grow to more than 150 gigawatt-hours by 2026. Musk, however, has a much grander vision for the sector, expecting storage to pair with renewable energy to do much of the heavy lifting in decarbonizing electricity and greening industrial sectors. Teslas master plan forecasts about 46,200 gigwatt-hours of stationary battery storage need to be installed in the next 20 years. The Megapack is intended as a massive battery to help stabilize energy grids, with the company saying each unit can store enough energy to power an average of 3,600 homes for one hour. The new factory will initially produce 10,000 Megapacks every year, equal to around 40 gigawatt-hours of energy storage, and the products will be sold worldwide. Red Carpet Shares of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., the worlds biggest maker of batteries for electric cars and a supplier to Tesla, were little changed in China trading Monday. China, home to rising global electric vehicle star BYD Co., is an extremely important market for Tesla. Its existing car factory on the outskirts of Shanghai, which the US firm owns outright, produced almost 711,000 cars last year, or 52% of its worldwide output  even with production being disrupted by the Chinas now-abandoned Covid Zero policy. Authorities rolled out the red carpet to help Musk set up Teslas first plant outside the US in early 2019, and Shanghai government officials assisted the company with resuming production in a timely manner after pandemic-related disruptions. Musks time operating in China hasnt been entirely smooth, however. An expansion of the Shanghai EV plant was delayed over data concerns about Teslas connections to Musks internet-from-space initiative Starlink, people familiar with the matter said earlier this year, days after angry Tesla owners swarmed showrooms in China to complain about missing out on another round of price cuts. Tesla cars also were banned from Chinese military complexes and housing compounds in early 2021 over concerns about sensitive data being collected by cameras built into the vehicles. Washington Tensions Musk said on an earnings call in January that China is the most competitive auto market. Hes made similar comments before, including during an online forum in September 2021, when he said he had a great deal of respect for the many Chinese automakers. Teslas deepening China investment also comes at a time of brewing tensions between Beijing and Washington. Firms including Apple Inc. have been rethinking production in the nation amid heightened tensions with the US over everything from an alleged Chinese spy balloon being shot down over American skies to Beijings partnership with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Even so, other international names are doubling down on China, with Frances Airbus SE recently announced plans to double its production capacity in the country for one of its top-selling jets. 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 last week.
North Dakota lawmakers have revived an effort to increase the states interstate highway speed limit from 75 mph to 80 mph.

Gov. Doug Burgum last month rejected such a proposal  House Bill 1475  a veto the state House of Representatives sustained.

But now after Burgum has signed a bill for primary enforcement of seat belt usage, supporters of an 80 mph speed limit might have a better chance of getting the governor on board.

The House in a 66-24 vote Monday passed an amended version of Senate Bill 2168 by Sen. Dean Rummel, R-Dickinson, which largely relates to updating speeding fines, and now contains the 80 mph proposal. The bill goes back to the Senate for concurrence with the amendments.

Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, told the House that the bill wouldnt undermine the seat belt law Burgum signed, but in fact it builds on top of that.

The bill would assess fines to adult passengers for not wearing a seat belt, as well as to the driver for any unbelted minors. Drivers currently pay the fines for all unbelted passengers. The bill also would restrict civil liability for the use or nonuse of a seat belt.

There are two interstates in North Dakota  I-94 running east and west across the south, including through Bismarck-Mandan, and I-29 running north and south through the eastern Red River Valley.

Koppelman told the House in February in regards to HB 1475 that the state Department of Transportation would retain the ability to adjust the speed limit in areas of concern, such as curves and the scenic Badlands section near Medora, and could work with cities to determine the speed limit where interstates go through urban areas and the highway speeds are reduced. Koppelman has unsuccessfully proposed an 80 mph bill several other times.

Burgums veto cited his administrations Vision Zero initiative to reduce traffic deaths, and the states absence of a primary enforcement law for seat belt use. He has since signed Rummels Senate Bill 2362 for such a law, which will take effect Aug. 1.

That law will require all occupants of a vehicle to wear a seat belt, not just those in front seats. Law enforcement officers could issue citations as a primary offense. Not wearing a seat belt is a secondary offense, meaning officers can cite the offense only after another traffic infraction.

Burgum called a primary seat belt law a reasonable and responsible means of mitigating the increased risk of a higher speed limit.

In the absence of a primary seat belt law, I am unable to support the heightened risk of an increased speed limit on interstates, he wrote in his veto message on 1475.

Koppelman told the House that 2168 promotes several of the key elements of safety under Vision Zero while at the same time it does increase the speed limit and it improves on the seat belt law we already passed.
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.
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JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday reversed his decision to fire his defense minister over criticism of the governments contentious plan to overhaul the judiciary.

In a live press conference, Netanyahu said that Yoav Gallant is staying at his post.

I decided to put the differences we had behind us, he said. Gallant remains in his position and we will continue to work together for the security of the citizens of Israel.

In a tweet showing himself sitting next to Netanyahu, Gallant wrote: We continue together with full strength, for Israels security.

Netanyahu announced late last month that Gallant was fired. The decision set off a wave of spontaneous mass protests and a general strike that threatened to paralyze the country, forcing the Israeli leader to suspend his divisive plan to overhaul the judicial system.

Netanyahu never sent Gallant a formal termination letter. As of Monday, Gallant  whose criticism of Netanyahus planned judicial changes led to his dismissal  was still on the job. Gallants aides said it was business-as-usual at the Defense Ministry.

In recent days, Gallant was seen taking part in Israeli government meetings discussing tensions in Jerusalem that escalated last week and the wider violence they sparked in the region.

Even in the last few days we worked together and stood together around the clock on all fronts in the face of the security challenges, Netanyahu said.

Days after Netanyahu announced Gallant's firing, an Israeli police raid at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site triggered rocket fire at Israel on multiple fronts. Israel responded with airstrikes and artillery fire at rocket launch sites and accused Hamas and Palestinian militant groups of being behind the attacks.

The judiciary crisis and other issues including his indictment on corruption charges in 2019 have distracted Netanyahu from his traditional focus on security and diplomacy, and many Israelis were concerned about the prospects of a vacant defense minister post.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of Israelis took part in the 14th straight week of protests against the planned judicial overhaul. Organizers say the plan would diminish Israels national security by roiling the military and weakening the country in the eyes of its enemies. They also say that Netanyahu has a conflict of interest at a time when he is on trial. Netanyahus supporters say the plan is needed to rein in the powers of unelected judges.

After Wednesdays police raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound  the third holiest shrine in Islam that is also the most sacred to Jews  rockets were fired on northern Israel from Lebanon, Syria and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

The escalation came at a time of rare convergence of Muslim, Jewish and Christian holidays.
The North Dakota House of Representatives on Monday overrode Gov. Doug Burgum's veto of a bill dealing with lawmaker voting procedures.

House Bill 1463 by Rep. Todd Porter, R-Mandan, would exempt the Legislature from holding recorded roll call votes on nonprocedural votes for consideration of amendments to legislation.

The House voted unanimously, sending the bill to the Senate to vote on overriding Burgum's veto. The Senate had previously passed the bill, 44-2, far more than what is needed to override a veto.

Burgum on Friday said the bill "would allow the Legislature to adopt far-reaching amendments affecting the central policy or fiscal impact of a bill without affording the public the accountability of a recorded roll call vote."

A recorded roll call vote is visualized by the House and Senate tally boards that light up lawmakers' names green or red as to whether they voted for or against a question, respectively.

Porter on Monday told the House "there is far more transparency than there ever has been," citing the Legislature's livestreaming of committee meetings and floor sessions.

Voice votes "on noncontroversial amendments help expedite the process" during a time-limited legislative session, he said.

"Many appropriation bills will have 20 or more small amendments combined into the final amendment. Calling the roll for 23 members on the Appropriations Committee 20 or more times while trying to wrap up a session takes considerable time," Porter said.
Cast member Jeremy Renner arrives for the screening of Marvel Studios' "Hawkeye" at Curzon Hoxton in London, Britain Nov. 11, 2021.
Staff Reporter

Richelle obtained a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications from the Far Eastern University in Manila, the Philippines. She was a junior reporter for Marianas Variety from 2009 to 2010, and from 2014 to 2015. In the Maldives, she worked as a news reporter and marketing executive. In her free time, shes a painter, pianist, and mom baker.
Journal-Courier

VIRGINIA  The Cass County Board is scheduled to meet in regular session at 7 p.m. today at 100 E. Springfield St.

Among the items on the agenda are:
Journal-Courier

Jacksonville City Council is scheduled to meet in regular session by 7 p.m. today at the Municipal Building, 200 W. Douglas Ave.

The meeting will follow a 6 p.m. workshop. It will be live-streamed on the city's website, jacksonvilleil.gov.
BLUFFS  Village board members are turning attention to the months ahead.

The village is renting two 30-yard Dumpsters from Jennings Bros. of Mount Sterling for a community cleanup. The event will take place before the village picnic, which is scheduled for Aug. 19.

The Dumpsters will cost $700 each. Board members said they will be monitored this year to ensure items are not placed in them that are not allowed.

Plans are also progressing for the village's farmers' markets that will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday from June 6 through July 25. Board members are discussing ways to draw more people to the weekly events, including having free food and shaved ice. There will be events for children, such as a Home Depot workshop for them to build their own race cars on June 13 and tie-dye bandanas July 25. There will be music at some events, including a performance by Mike Anderson on July 18.

Mayor Linda Sapp said there are still free spots available for vendors.

In other business, the board members approved a Motor Fuel Tax Resolution that gives the village access to an estimated $46,666 to improve streets.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration named Mike Brennan, who was supervising hurricane forecasters during one of the busiest times for storms hitting America, as the new director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Brennan, who started Monday, had been branch chief since 2018 for the center's hurricane specialist unit, which writes warnings and forecasts for the public. He spent 2022 as the center's acting deputy director. During those last five years, 18 hurricanes have hit the United States, eight of them major.
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Illinois State Police are on the scene of downed power poles and lines on U.S. 67 in Morgan County.

The road is closed from Kochs Lane to the Cass County line, police said at 10:20 a.m.
Getty Images/iStockphoto

A community forum to discuss homelessness in Morgan County has been scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College Ave.

The Community Summit on Homelessness is sponsored by Jacksonville Memorial Hospital and the local Continuum of Care. The forum will focus on the growing problem of homelessness in the county and what is being done to address it.
North Dakota's state auditor would have to report regularly to state lawmakers about his billing practices and communication with audited entities under a bill the state Senate passed Monday.

The bill marks the latest scrap between lawmakers and State Auditor Josh Gallion, who have sparred this session over the audit fees his office charges to local governments. One city auditor said the fees can strain small communities. Lawmakers also have decried how Gallion publicizes audit findings.

House Bill 1508 by Rep. Emily O'Brien, R-Grand Forks, passed in a 35-10 Senate vote and goes back to the state House of Representatives for concurrence with amendments.

O'Brien said she brought the bill to cap audit fees after she probed concerns of increases and discrepancies in various costs. Gallion has disputed that his office's billing "is getting out of hand."

The bill initially sought to cap audit fees for local governments at one-one-thousandth of a percent of their annual operating budget, and sought retroactive reimbursement from the state auditor for audit fees charged to North Dakota colleges and universities since July 2021.

Those components "will be discussed in appropriate budgets coming further," Rep. Mike Brandenburg, R-Edgeley, told the House in February.

Senate changes

The Senate removed a provision of the bill requiring audits performed by the state auditor to be reviewed and approved by a certified public accountant.

The bill also requires the state auditor to report quarterly to the Legislature's audit review committee about his communication processes with audited entities, billing practices, information on completed audits, and audit schedule.

Gallion told the Tribune the proposed reporting requirements seem to be "a reasonable solution." His office already provides reports of state agencies' audits to the panel.

The bill also adds an optional 2023-24 interim legislative study for lawmakers to look into the process for validating signatures submitted on local and statewide petitions, and options to improve the validation process, including voter registration. Potential findings and recommendations would go to the 2025 Legislature.

Sen. Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, said the auditor's office "does not have a source to compare signatures to with their petition audits, and neither do many other departments, so we thought this might be a good area to study."

Gallion said his office "would look forward to participating in" the proposed study. Not all agencies have the same resources as the secretary of state to review petition signatures, he said. His office receives citizen petitions requesting audits.

Gallion's office has "developed some internal procedures based on a lot of what the secretary of state's office does," and has worked with the secretary's office to "incorporate some of those procedures, but we don't have access to the same databases and lists and information that they have" to review petitions, he said.

"If there's a better way to do it, that's where we are interested in assisting and learning, ourselves," Gallion told the Tribune.

O'Brien told the Tribune the Senate amendments water down the intent of her bill, which she expects to go to a House-Senate conference committee to reconcile differences.

She said she had proposed Senate amendments to mirror industry practices, which she didn't consider to be "overreaching."

Refund

The proposed 2023-25 budget for Gallion's office includes $24,358 for refunding local governments "whose audit fees exceeded 1 percent of their revenues."

Sen. Robert Erbele, R-Lehr, told the Tribune that money is for about five entities, including the Gwinner Rural Fire Protection District and Killdeer Area Ambulance.

Audits of the two organizations have been at the center of House Bill 1508's discussion this session.
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VATICAN CITY (AP)  In an Easter message highlighting hope, Pope Francis on Sunday invoked prayers for both the Ukrainian and Russian people, praised nations which welcome refugees and called on Israelis and Palestinians wracked by the latest surge in deadly violence to forge a climate of trust.

Francis, along with dozens of prelates and tens of thousands of faithful, celebrated Easter Mass in a flower-adorned St. Peters Square, affirming the Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead days after his crucifixion.

The 86-year-old pontiff topped the celebration with a traditional speech about troubled places in the world. Encouraging trust among individuals, peoples and nations," Francis said Easter's joy illumines the darkness and gloom in which, all too often, our world finds itself enveloped.

The pope's Easter message is known by its Latin name, Urbi et Orbi," which means to the city and the world.

Since Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022, Francis has repeatedly called for the fighting to end and sought prayers for the martyred Ukrainian people.

Ukrainian diplomats have complained that he hasn't come down hard enough in his statements on Russia and particularly Russian President Vladimir Putin as the Vatican tries to avoid alienating Moscow.

Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia,'' Francis implored God in his Easter speech, which he delivered while sitting in a chair on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica facing the square. Comfort the wounded and all those who have lost loved ones because of the war, and grant that prisoners may return safe and sound to their families."

He urged the international community to work to end the war in Ukraine and all conflict and bloodshed in the world, beginning with Syria, which still awaits peace.

Francis also prayed for those who lost loved ones in an earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey two months ago, claiming tens of thousands of lives.

With a renewal in deadly violence affecting both Israelis and Palestinians in recent days, Francis called for a "resumption of dialogue, in a climate of trust and reciprocal respect, between Israelis and Palestinians, so that peace may reign in the Holy City and in the entire region,'' a reference to Jerusalem.

But Francis also noted progress on some fronts.

Let us rejoice at the concrete signs of hope that reach us from so many countries, beginning with those that offers assistance and welcome to all fleeing war and poverty," he said, without naming any particular nations.

How to care for asylum-seekers, migrants and refugees, and whether to allow them entrance, is a raging political and social debate in much of Europe, as well in the United States and elsewhere.

Francis also prayed that national leaders ensure that no man or woman may encounter discrimination and that there would be full respect for human rights and democracy.

With migrants risking their lives in smugglers unseaworthy boats in hopes of reaching Europe, the pope lamented that Tunisia's people, particularly the young, struggle with social and economic hardship.

In the last two weeks, dozens have died or were left missing after attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Tunisia.

The pope included Lebanon and two African countries he visited this year - South Sudan and Congo - among the nations in need of ending divisions and building reconciliation.

Speaking about Haiti, he appealed to political actors and the international community to seek a definitive solution to the many problems that afflict that sorely tried people.

The bloody conflicts cited by Francis contrasted with a riot of bright colors lent by orange-red tulips, yellow sprays of forsythia and daffodils, hyacinths and other colorful seasonal flowers that decorated St. Peter's Square. The blooms were trucked in trucks from the Netherlands.

By the end of the pope's appearance, some 100,00 people had flocked to the square in time for the pontiff's speech, according to the Vatican's crowd count.

A canopy on the edge of steps on the square sheltered the pontiff, who was back in the public eye for the Mass 12 hours after a 2.25-hour long Easter vigil ceremony in St. Peters Basilica the night before.

Francis was hospitalized March 29-April 1 for treatment of bronchitis. Still recovering, he skipped the traditional Good Friday procession at Romes Colosseum due to unseasonably cold nighttime temperatures.

Near the end of the more than two-hour-long Easter Sunday appearance, Francis seemed to run out of steam. His voice grew hoarse and he interrupted his speech at one point to cough.

He nonetheless made several laps through the square in the popemobile after the Mass, waving and smiling at cheering well-wishers.
The Patel Firm compiled a list of things to do when you've suffered a personal injury using various news and legal sources.
Proposed ballot measures to water down the term limits North Dakota voters approved last year and to give the Legislature more days to meet annually failed in the state Senate on Monday.

Last year, 63% of voters approved Measure 1 for term limits of eight cumulative years each in the House and the Senate. The governor cannot be elected to more than two four-year terms.

Term limits are not retroactive, meaning the service of current officeholders does not count against them.

Term limits

The Senate on Monday killed House Concurrent Resolution 3019 by Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, in a 5-41 vote.

The measure sought to impose term limits of 12 consecutive years each in the House and Senate, with at least a four-year break before those lawmakers could run to serve again for another 12 consecutive years. Members who completed serving partial terms would be eligible to serve 12 more consecutive years, under the legislation.

The same limits would have applied to all elected executive branch officials, such as the attorney general and secretary of state. Kaspers measure sought to repeal the 2022 term limits voters approved.

The state House of Representatives had approved the resolution, 63-29.

Opponents in the Senate said the measure is premature and would go against what voters passed in 2022.

Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton, unsuccessfully proposed a floor amendment to remove the governor, lieutenant governor and state lawmakers from the measure, what he called a good compromising amendment to not insult our voters but to continue on with the term limits for our other officeholders.

Sen. Judy Estenson, R-Warwick, said the measure isnt insulting the intelligence of the electorate, but is a modification for voters to determine. Had the Legislature passed the measure it would have gone to voters next year.

The 2022 measures language bars the Legislature from proposing amendments to alter or repeal the term limits; only citizens are able to do so. Kasper, who was first elected in 2000, has said he would love to have this in court, calling the 2022 measure flawed and unconstitutional.

Lawmakers are set to study the impact of the 2022 term limits in the 2023-24 interim period, including whether to provide more educational opportunities for lawmakers, whether to increase the number of Legislative Council policy staff, and whether to hold annual sessions.

Session days

The Senate voted unanimously to kill Kaspers House Concurrent Resolution 3020, which sought to give the Legislature more days to meet in optional annual sessions. The Legislature currently meets every two years for up to 80 days.

The resolutions House-passed version would have given the Legislature 100 days for meeting every two years, with an additional 20 days if approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the House and Senate. Days to reconvene and reconsider a governors veto wouldnt count.

The House had approved the resolution, 74-18.

The Senate Workforce Development Committee amended the measure to extend an annual session by 10 days, if approved by a two-thirds vote of both chambers, but with a base of 80 business days every two years for the Legislature to meet in regular session.

The committee had given the resolution a unanimous do not pass recommendation. Sen. Mike Wobbema, R-Valley City, said the measure should come after potential, future adjustments to term limits.

The Senate panel felt that this step should not be at the front end of this process, he said.

Right now the Legislature could have annual sessions, but would have only 80 days every two years to do so. The 2021 Legislature used 76 days.

Kasper has said he brought the resolution to enable more experience for new lawmakers in the term limits era.
China military ready to fight after drills near Taiwan View Photo

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Chinas military declared Monday it is ready to fight after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island in response to the Taiwanese presidents trip to the U.S. last week.

The combat readiness patrols named Joint Sword were meant as a warning to self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own, Chinas military said earlier.

The theaters troops are ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts, it said Monday.

The exercises were similar to ones conducted by China last August, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan in retaliation for then-Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan, but have been smaller and less disruptive.

Military experts say the exercises serve both as intimidation and as an opportunity for Chinese troops to practice sealing off Taiwan by blocking sea and air traffic, an important strategic option the Chinese military might pursue in the event it uses military force to take Taiwan.

The Chinese actions follow President Tsai Ing-wens delicate mission to shore up Taiwans dwindling diplomatic alliances in Central America and boost its U.S. support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. A U.S. congressional delegation also met with Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated the position of President Joe Bidens administration that Tsais transit through the U.S. and the congressional visit to Taiwan were not out of the norm. Tsai transited through the United States six times between 2016 and 2019.

There was no reason to react in any way militarily, he said. Theres no reason for tensions across the Taiwan Strait to devolve into any kind of conflict.

China responded immediately to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsais U.S. trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

China wants to use any increase of diplomatic interactions between the U.S. and Taiwan as an excuse to train its military, said Kuo Yu-jen, a defense studies expert and director of the Institute for National Policy Research in Taiwan.

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the islands democratic government encourages Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Chinas ruling Communist Party says would lead to war. The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the Communist Party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

After Pelosi visited Taiwan, China conducted missiles strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan, while also sending warships and war planes over the median line of the Taiwan Strait. It also fired missiles over the island itself which landed in Japans exclusive economic zone, in a significant escalation.

The live-fire exercises disrupted flights and shipping in one of the busiest shipping lanes for global trade. This time, shipping and maritime traffic have largely continued as normal, Kuo said.

The exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting more than 200 flights by Chinese warplanes in the past three days. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the Peoples Liberation Army, said the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan as well as waves of simulated strikes at important targets on the island.

On Monday, the PLA said its Shandong aircraft carrier was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan for the first time. It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off the deck of the ship in a post on Weibo, the social media platform.

The appearance of the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean suggests that it could be used to prevent foreign militaries from coming to help Taiwan, said Han Gan-ming, a research fellow at the government-backed Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

In the future if theres a similar military maneuver, then Taiwan will have to face it alone, Han said.

Between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwans Ministry of National Defense. Among the planes that crossed the median were eight J-16 fighter jets, four J-1 fighters, eight Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes. Taiwan also tracked J-15 fighter jets, which are paired with the Shandong aircraft carrier.

By Monday evening, Taiwans defense ministry reported another 91 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets, early warning aircraft and military transport planes.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday in which eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the islands Defense Ministry. It said in a statement that it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as from its own navy vessels.

Chinas military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent toward the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities. The military activity has increased a notch since Pelosis visit, with Chinese PLA fighter jets regularly flying over the middle boundary line. Experts say PLA navy vessels regularly navigate the waters off Taiwans northeastern coast.

Meanwhile, to the south in the South China Sea, the U.S. 7th Fleet said its missile destroyer USS Milius sailed by Mischief Reef in a freedom of navigation operation. China has built an artificial island on the sea feature to stake its claim to the disputed territory.

China said the U.S. illegally trespassed into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government, according to a statement from the Chinese militarys southern command.

Outside of the military maneuvers, Kuo said he was worried about the announcements from Fujians Maritime Safety Administration from last week, when it said it would conduct on-site inspections of cargo ships and working vessels in the Taiwan Strait as part of a patrol exercise.

First theyll target ships traveling between the Strait, then they will target any international ship, he said. Gradually this will become the de facto new status quo.

One of the U.S. representatives who attended the meeting with Tsai last week said Saturday the U.S. must take seriously the threat China poses to Taiwan. Republican Mike Gallagher, chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on China, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island governments defenses, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan.

By HUIZHONG WU

Associated Press
Downtown Sonora Flooding View Photo

Sonora, CA  Anyone who had damage at their primary residence in Tuolumne County from storm events beginning on February 21 is encouraged to register with FEMA.

We reported earlier that President Joe Biden has signed a federal disaster declaration for the county to assist local residents impacted.

It covers the high winds, snow storms, and flooding, that occurred around March 11.

FEMA spokesperson Chad Bowman says, If you believe you have suffered damage, and have contacted your insurance, we advise that you register for FEMA Assistance. The reason is that if you do not register, you will not qualify. If you do register, you may qualify. We want everybody to have an opportunity to potentially qualify for some type of assistance.

Assistance will primarily help those who are uninsured and underinsured.

FEMA is also working to coordinate recovery centers/events with Tuolumne County OES so that residents can drop by, register, and ask questions. The dates and times have not yet been finalized. In the meantime, people impacted can also register at federalassistance.gov.
Tuolumne County Health Department View Photo

Sonora, CA Tuolumne County Public Health is currently in the process of developing a new Community Health Needs Assessment and is seeking feedback from residents in the area. The public health department conducts this study every five years, with the aim of developing a Health Improvement Plan for the community. The survey takes only 30-60 seconds to complete and will be available online until the end of April. The results of the Community Needs Assessment will be available by June, and the Community Health Improvement Plan will be completed by December. This community health assessment is a way to gain insight into health needs, community issues, and factors in the county that affect health resources and services.

The Tuolumne County Public Health Department is eager to hear from residents and prioritize health issues that need attention in the next few years. A link to the survey can be found here.
OCALA, Fla. (AP)  A 16-year-old boy wanted as part of an investigation into the killings of three teenagers in central Florida was captured by authorities, days after another teenager and a 12-year-old were charged in the deaths.

The teen was arrested Saturday by U.S. marshals in Groveland, Florida, located 30 miles west of Orlando. He is facing charges of carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault, grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer and tampering with an electronic monitoring device, the Marion County Sheriffs Office said in a statement.

The two suspects previously in custody were charged with first-degree murder last week. Prosecutors are reviewing the case to determine whether the suspects will be charged as adults. The Associated Press does not publish the names of juveniles unless they have been charged with adult crimes.

The shooting suspects and victims were all in a vehicle belonging to 16-year-old Layla Silvernail at the time of the killings, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said at a news conference last week. Authorities say Silvernail was killed, but they have not released the names of the other two victims, a 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy.

Woods said everyone in the vehicle was involved in gangs and the three who died were in there of their own free will.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP)  Southern Californias San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said it experienced a network disruption to its electronic systems last week and has referred the problem to the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.

The sheriffs department said the problem occurred Friday, but officials declined to explain what the disruption entailed. The disruption has not impacted the agencys operations, the department said in a statement Saturday.

Upon discovering this incident, the County immediately secured the network and began working with our information technology staff and third-party forensic specialists to investigate the incident, the statement said.

It was not immediately clear whether there had been a cyberattack against the sheriffs department. FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller said Sunday that the bureau was assisting in the investigation, but did not offer details.

Other county networks operate separately from the sheriffs department, county spokesperson David Wert told the Southern California News Group. Those networks have not been affected by Fridays disruption, Wert said.
South Texas authorities said Thursday that a murder warrant has been issued for a Mission man wanted in the shooting death of the son of a Mexican singer.

Police are looking for 21-year-old Ricardo "Richie" Sanchez in connection with the Saturday shooting of Trigo Figueroa at a bull ring near Alton. Figueroa, 27, was shot in the head while trying to control a crowd after a concert by his father, Joan Sebastian.

Figueroa and an associate, Antonio Navarro, were holding back a crowd of invited guests while Sebastian signed autographs. Witnesses told investigators that Sanchez was with two other men, whom investigators are working to identify, Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said. Navarro was pistol whipped.

Trevino said the suspect didn't appear to know the victims.

"We don't believe the shooting had to do with anything in the past," Trevino said in a story in Friday's edition of The (McAllen) Monitor. "We believe the three got upset because they were insulted in public and they were drunk."

Sanchez is a U.S. citizen who may be driving a mid-1990s white, 4-door BMW with Mexican license plates, Trevino said.

Sebastian, whose real name is Jose Manuel Figueroa, is a multiple Latin Grammy Award-winning singing cowboy who often performs on horseback. He also performed in the Spanish-language soap opera "Tu u Yo."

His latest hit song, "Mas Alla del Sol," was No. 5 on last week's Soundscan "Hot Latin Songs" chart.

Alton is about five miles northwest of McAllen.
SOUTHINGTON  After a month-long closure, Renaldos Apizza and Catering plans to reopen next week with the classic, original menu.

Kevin Bleau, a former manager, is once again running the restaurant at 350 Queen St. for owner Shawn Daigle.

Its back to the way it was, measurements, ingredients, Bleau said. People (will) see that the quality is back, the original flavor is back.

He said a previous manager started changing the recipes and ingredients, leading to customer complaints. Bleau had been manager until about a year and a half ago when he left for another job. During his absence, he was getting calls from customers questioning why the food didnt taste as good, he said.

Renaldos Pizza

The restaurant was started by Renaldo Riccitelli, a former carpenter, in the 1970s. He sold the business in 2001 to Chris Quiroga and Eddie Adamses. At the time, it was located at 378 N. Main St. A fire in 2016 shuttered the building and later Quiroga moved the business to Queen Street.

Quiroga left the business and his partner, Daigle, is now the owner. Daigle is also the owner of El Sombrero, a Mexican restaurant at 151 Queen St.

Bleau said Daigle and he still have Renaldos original recipes and are keeping to them.

Renaldos is always known for pizza: old fashioned, meatball and the eggplant, Bleau said. And pepper biscuits, but were still working on that.

Rebuilding a restaurant and reputation

Bleau said he and Daigle have had to replace kitchen equipment and will open with a limited menu on April 13. Theyre sticking to the classics, pizza, grinders, salad and calzones until customers are established again.

The change to recipes also led to complaints about the food, something theyre also working to repair. While working on the restaurant, Bleau has said hes given out samples to people whove stopped by unaware that they were closed.

Ive had people walk in and Ive handed out slices, he said. They cant wait. Four or five people a day walk in.

Customers talked highly of the original food, although some had trepidation about the recent closure and management changes.

If I wanted the old-fashioned pizza thats that only place wed get it from, said Alyssa Joan. She asked Bleau about the reopening and he invited her to come to the store and to try the pizza before the opening.

Merger plans withEl Sombrero

When Quiroga was an owner of Renaldos, he and Daigle considered merging the two restaurants and working from the 151 Queen St. location. Some plans were formulated in 2019 but never acted on.

Bleau said the pandemic put that idea on the back burner but that theres been talk recently of reviving the

plan.

They have blueprints and stuff drawn up to do the rebuild, Bleau said. They have everything mapped out and done already, but as they were trying to get contractors to come in and give estimates, thats when COVID hit.

jbuchanan@record-journal.com203-317-2230Twitter: @JBuchananRJ
Community-listening shaped the Record-Journal's Latino Communities Reporting Lab from the beginning. As the Lab marks its two-year anniversary, the Record-Journal recently released both a listening playbook documenting the listening process and the results of a year-long community survey.

The Latino Communities Reporting Lab Listening Playbook for Actionable News Strategies serves as a blueprint for other media companies nationwide looking to better understand their own audiences. The community survey results will continue to guide the Labs own local news strategies and may also help other community organizations.

In 2021, the Latino Lab was selected among 18 media organizations in the U.S. to receive funding for projects as part of Google News Initiatives 2021 Innovation Challenge. With the funding, the Lab launched a yearlong, in-depth listening, engagement and data gathering project.

The grant was very important because I think that part of the mission and part of the goal is to really listen to the community, listen to what they want, to see what they feel, but also how we could improve, said Adriana Rodriguez, executive director at the Spanish Community of Wallingford. Rodriguez, who is also on the Labs Community Advisory Board, has been a key advisor to the Lab since it was launched in March 2021. SCOW also translates several Latino Lab stories into Spanish.

For the project, the company collaborated with DataHaven, a nonprofit organization in New Haven, to conduct a survey in the local community. The purpose of the survey was to understand what type of news coverage the local Latino community felt was being excluded or underrepresented.

With DataHaven, the Latino Lab organized a survey that asked the community what type of news they needed, where they get their news from, how much trust they have in local news, and what the organization could do better as their local news provider.

The mission statement of the Latino Lab includes amplifying the voices of the local Latino community. Thirty-six percent of the total population in Meriden and 13% of the population in Wallingford identify as Latino or Hispanic. In the school systems, about 59% of students in Meriden and 19.4% of students in Wallingford are Latino.

Throughout the past year, the Latino Lab has been out in the community gathering survey data at local businesses and at events such as the Meriden Puerto Rican Festival, Meriden Daffodil Festival, Wallingford's 350th + 2 Jubilee, and more. Collecting surveys was a team effort of the Latino Lab, its Community Advisory Board members, and the local Latino community.

I see the Lab team out and about in the community and a number of different events. I think that they do a great job at making sure that they're represented at a variety of different types of events, said Marisol Rodriguez, diversity & inclusion officer at Liberty Bank.

Between April 4, 2022 and Jan. 3, 2023, the process garnered more than 2,000 survey responses  867 in English and 1,176 in Spanish.

After concluding the survey gathering process, DataHaven compiled a report analyzing all those responses.

Of the people who responded to the survey, 17% were under age 30, 48% were between 30-49, and 355 were 50 or older; 56% were women; 46% said local news covers issues important to them, 45% trusted sources of news about their community, and 32% said local news reflects their beliefs and values.

Overall, respondents had high levels of trust in local and national news sources, and slightly lower trust in social media news. Despite this, Facebook is commonly listed as a preferred news source, though it is unclear whether respondents are following specific news companies or relying on news from friends, family, or news aggregators/social media algorithms.

The top-ranking topics for respondents were health, education, music/arts/culture, local events, and sports. Men had a strong preference for politics while women preferred news about community resources.

About 40% of respondents overall preferred bilingual news content. A small percentage of students preferred news in Spanish only.

About 46% of respondents said local news covers issues that are important to them, 45% trusted sources of news about their community, and 32% said local news reflects their beliefs and values.

Survey respondents could also provide written feedback. Based on those community responses, the Latino Lab has already started reporting on some of the topics suggested by the community and will continue to integrate the suggestions into its regular news coverage.

There is nothing more effective than truly understanding the community that youre looking to serve. It helps break down the stereotypes. It helps to understand who we are, and it just gives a beautiful perspective about the tapestry of our community that is growing so much in our area and that, in a few years, it will be probably a majority in the demographics,  said Maria Campos-Harlow, United Way of Meriden and Wallingford executive director.

Listening Playbook for Actionable News Strategies

In addition to the survey, the Latino Lab also released the Listening Playbook for Actionable News Strategies, which detailed the initial process of listening to the community that led to forming the Latino Communities Reporting Lab.

The Latino Communities Reporting Lab has been successful because it is grounded in community listening. We are fortunate to have so many community members who provided feedback, helped us build the vision, and continue to provide ongoing feedback so we can provide trusted local news and information that our community wants and needs, said Record-Journal Publisher & Executive Vice President Liz White Notarangelo. The Record-Journal is thrilled to do this important work with and for our community.

Carlos Virgen Cruz, part-time lecturer for the Journalism Department at the University of Connecticut and Assistant Managing Editor for Audience Development at The Day newspaper of New London, said its important for newsrooms to represent their audiences.

There is a big opportunity to grow a relationship with the Latino communities and there's an opportunity for newsrooms to have those communities generate a habit of seeing themselves in the newspaper, he said. If you don't see yourself in the newspaper on a daily basis, or regularly, then why would you pay to read the newspaper?

Its important to respond to the needs of those communities that for a long time have been ignored, he added.

As an instructor, Virgen says that it is important for young journalists to come out of college with knowledge on diverse reporting. They should come out with that seed planted in their mind that they need to make an effort to seek diverse voices, he said.
This is Up and Down, where we give a brief thumbs up or thumbs down on the issues from the past week.

Up

The University of Mary in Bismarck is among three North Dakota schools approved so far to take part in a new teacher apprenticeship initiative. It aims to address a teacher shortage in the state. The paraprofessional-to-teacher initiative gives prospective educators an opportunity while they earn their college degrees to have their tuition paid while they also gain classroom teaching experience under a mentors supervision. The shortage of educators is a national problem, and it's good to see North Dakota trying a new way to address it. The effort was funded initially with federal COVID-19 emergency funds, and the state is now pursuing a federal Labor Department grant. A bill in the Legislature would provide more money. Helping to educate kids is always a good use of taxpayer dollars.

Down

The future of North Dakota's largest coal-fired power plant is once again cloudy. Rainbow Energy Marketing Corp. last year bought Coal Creek Station and saved it from being closed by its previous owner, Minnesota-based Great River Energy. That led to a huge sigh of relief on the part of local and state officials. But now the plant is in a battle with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which is proposing to deny a permit related to disposal of byproduct coal ash. Officials say an EPA denial would mean an existing facility at Coal Creek would have to be rebuilt -- and that would shut down the plant for about three years. The EPA is looking out for the environment -- and that's a good thing. But North Dakotas Department of Environmental Quality has already signed off on the plant's coal ash liner modifications, after conducting a series of tests. Let's hope state and federal environmental officials can get on the same page, and end the uncertainty.

Up

The North Dakota Senate has killed legislation that would have forbidden big game baiting bans. That's a good outcome, given the rise of chronic wasting disease in deer in the state. North Dakota Game and Fish Department staff say baiting congregates deer, and that contributes to the spread of disease. Some people question that, and supporters of the legislation said baiting is a way to keep youth interested in hunting and to allow the opportunity for people with physical limitations. Those are noble intentions, but weak arguments. Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston, probably put it best when he said the bill shows a lack of trust and respect for Game and Fish staff. In his words: We pay to hire the best staff with the best knowledge.

Down

The city of Williston is reeling after four local students died in two separate vehicle crashes on the same night last week. The victims were ages 12, 13, 15 and 17. Two boys died in a pickup truck crash with a train, and two girls died when the vehicle in which they were riding crashed amid light snow and icy road conditions. The Williston Basin School District mobilized its crisis team, and the Police Department offered its resources. One thing about tragedies -- they tend to bring communities together. Williston Mayor Howard Klug said, "We will get through this together, because that's what Williston does. We are a strong community, and we band together to support each other, and that's what we're going to do."
A historic building in the Texas Hill Country will soon undergo a massive transformation with the goal of becoming a public destination. By the end of it, the project should become a new place for residents to hang out and relax in downtown New Braunfels.

On Wednesday, November 16, the former New Braunfels Producers Co-Op and it's nearly 2.5 acres is being repurposed into a multi-use development called Co-Op Marketplace, according to a news release. The Co-Op Marketplace is expected to open in fall 2024.

Photo Courtesy of Mogas and Gonzalez Associated Architects

The property will have restaurants, bars, coffee shops, retail, open space, a stage for live music, and a splash pad, according to the release. The marketplace will fit into the current agricultural buildings, which includes transforming the 65 foot tall grain silo into the west entrance. A "pedestrian haven" will have over an acre of outdoor space that has a splash pad, 4,000 square-foot of artificial turf, seating, and shade

Photo Courtesy of Mogas and Gonzalez Associated Architects

"This is a very exciting project to be involved with and it has evolved a lot along the way while still holding true to what my dad and his partners originally envisioned by bringing something unique to downtown New Braunfels that the community can enjoy," said Krauses Cafe and Biergarten Owner Chris Snider in the release.

Photo Courtesy of Mogas and Gonzalez Associated Architects

His father, Ron Snider came up with the idea for Co-Op Marketplace before he passed away. Snider's partners include attorney Mike Myers and real estate developer Fred Heimer, now with Carol and Chris Snider, who's family helped with contributing with the growth of downtown New Braunfels. Mogas and Gonzalez Associated Architects, based in San Antonio, is going to help in the marketplace development, according to the release.

Photo Courtesy of Mogas and Gonzalez Associated Architects

"Mogas and Gonzalez Associated Architects has worked closely with the owners' vision to repurpose and recycle the existing and historically designated agrarian Co-Op structures to craft a campus of indoor and outdoor spaces that invite the city and its visitors to relax, dine, and celebrate right in the heart of Downtown New Braunfels," said Mogas and Gonzalez Architects Principal Richard Mogas in the release.

Photo Courtesy of Mogas and Gonzalez Associated Architects

The Co-Op Marketplace will have more than 25,000 square-feet of indoor space that will be used for retail and culinary tenants. It will also be a big-box store alternative for the area. The property will also have a medley of larger restaurants and retail stores that will focus on unique and high quality of artisanal, and regional food. It will also serve as a venue for the New Braunfels Farmers Market, according to the release.

Photo by Chris Snider

The Co-Op Marketplace will be located at 210 S. Castell Ave., New Braunfels, TX 78130.

Photo Courtesy of Mogas and Gonzalez Associated Architects
Although the Alamo City has hesitated to root for him given his role as a self-described villain, a San Antonio participant on Netflixs hit series Love Is Blind has a happy ending after all. Bartise Bowden, who appeared on the shows third season and made it all the way to the altar before shocking fans by telling fiancee Nancy Rodriguez I do not, is now a father.

Bowden, who was raised in San Antonio and was a star basketball player at Marshall High School, proved that hes a bit of a player off-the-court as well. In an Instagram post shared Friday, April 7, Bowden introduced his followers to his son, showing off a series of photos with the baby.

Mightve been the villain on tv [sic], but Im gonna be the hero for him, he wrote in the caption. In the fourth photo, Bowden can be seen standing in front of a television holding his son, whose name he did not share, while the latest season of Love Is Blind plays on the screen.

In addition to not sharing many details of his first child, Bowden did not share any information about the mother of his child.

We went from zaddy on screen to daddy in real life, he said in an Instagram story shared Friday, aligning with his on-screen confessions in which he praised his looks.

During his time on Love Is Blind, season three of which focused on Dallas-area singles ready for marriage and searching for deeper connections, Bowden was engaged to Nancy Rodriguez, the lone Latina to be part of a couple and make it to the altar. Bowden gained a bad reputation with fans of the show as he admitted to Rodriguez that he was attracted to another participant, Raven Ross, who he had dated during the pods-era of the experiment.

It was during the shows reunion episode, however, that Bowden crossed past the point of no return. Rodriguez, who was ready to marry the University of Texas at Dallas alum despite his consistent remarks about not being attracted to her, called him out at the reunion, with support from the other female participants, for hooking up with a woman only three days after their wedding ceremony.

Bowden denied that he moved on that quickly and instead defended his post-altar decisions, which includes appearing on another Netflix dating show. The San Antonio native also appeared in Perfect Match, in which singles from different Netflix reality series attempt to make genuine connections in hopes of finding true love and winning an all-expenses paid, week-long vacation.

I dont think my sex life is anybodys business here. Especially after we decided to cut ties, he told Rodriguez and the rest of the cast during the drama-filled episode. The timing of it, I can see it being wrong and Im sorry for that. But I dont feel comfortable talking about my sex life with everybody here.

Congratulations to the proud papa!
Two friends from San Antonio decided to take their passion for sneaker culture and turn it into a business. Now they're in the expansion phase.

The friends  Raymond Garcia, 28, and James Velez, 28  will be opening Countdown SA sneaker shop in Alamo Ranch on Saturday, April 15, two years after launching on Blanco Road.

We could have stayed comfortable at the shop were at now, but we knew we wanted to take San Antonio to higher expectations, Garcia said. Our new shop will do that by setting up those expectations on how a shop should look.

Nate Rodriguez

The grand opening for the new location at 11185 Westwood Loop will feature giveaways and a live DJ, according to an Instagram post.

Countdown SA, which started in September 2021, sells sneakers and vintage apparel, catering to customers who want not just shoes, but high-end, rare, or collectible sneakers.

Its been a dope journey and now were getting to open up our new location for everyone, Velez said. Were passionate about the culture and its only made us excited to do what we do everyday.

The two had been mutual friends and watched one another grow up over the years. After Garcias return from serving seven years in the U.S. Air Force as military police, he reconnected with Velez to approach him about opening a sneaker store together.

James is a big (sneaker) collector and Im a big reseller, so we thought why not put our two brains together and open up a sneaker store, Garcia explained. We didnt really know each other on a personal level, but we decided to take that leap of faith.

Courtesy of Raymond Garcia

For Velez, it was a no-brainer for them to pair up to open Countdown SA. Velez has been a collector for as long as he can remember, collecting the most exclusive shoes that are only issued to players to the most sought-out limited pairs.

The resell market has exploded within the last two years, Velez said. We just saw the potential in making money that way because San Antonio really can't get their hands on certain shoes. You cant just walk into a mall and go get what we have.

While the COVID-19 pandemic put a strain on certain businesses, the sneaker industry wasnt one of them. According to Cowen Equity Research, the global industry was valued at $100 billion in 2019, with the resale market at $6 billion and is expected to increase.

For sneaker shop co-owners, like Garcia and Velez, San Antonio is behind in the sneaker industry compared to other cities like Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

Those cities may have multiple shops throughout their city, but theres only a handful of us here in San Antonio," Velez said. "The more shops, the better. Were in no competition with anybody. If anything, our competition is GOAT and StockX, were really just trying to put San Antonio on the map.

Although there have been some bumping of heads along the way, the duo has no regrets taking a risk on another in establishing Countdown SA to what it is today.

Like Nike says, just do it, Garcia said. Weve really helped each other along the way and it has paid off.

Not only can guests purchase sneakers and clothing at Countdown SA, but the shop is also a safe space for the community to meet up to do a transaction.

You can come in and do a sneaker deal in our shop as weve got surveillance and experts around that are knowledgeable in releases and can legit check shoes, Velez said. Small resellers that are selling in the streets are only boosting the culture and were not here to knock on anybody, were just here to help out where we can.

After eight months of searching for a larger location, Alamo Ranch was the first place to take a chance on Countdown SA. Opening along Westwood Loop, the co-owners said it is the perfect spot due to there not being a lot of similar sneaker shops in the area.

Were aiming for a brighter, bigger, and more elegant shopping experience unlike no other, Garcia said. Alamo Ranch is constantly busy and feels like a whole other city of its own so we wanted to take our shop to the next level.

Countdown SAs current hours are noon to 7 p.m. Sunday through Saturday. More information can be found on the shops Instagram page @countdownsa_.

Find it: 11185 Westwood Loop, San Antonio, TX 78253
Big Bend National Park

Nature enthusiasts, a new discovery has been made at the largest national park in Texas. A historic 95-year-old rock wall has appeared at Big Bend National Park due to a series of high-water events earlier this summer, according to the National Park Service.

In a Facebook post on Monday, December 19, Big Bend notified its followers about the rock wall that had been buried under sand for decades. The sturdy rock wall was built during the heyday of the Hot Springs resort, which was operated by J.O. Langford and his family in the early 1900s. Langford bought the area to create the Hot Springs resort, hoping to seek relief from malaria.
An internal complaint filed against state Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, alleges that he was engaging in a potentially inappropriate relationship with an intern. The complaint came after an incident where Slaton and the staffer met up at his Austin apartment last weekend.

The complaint, obtained by The Texas Tribune, was reported to the House General Investigating Committee by a legislative staffer. The account in the complaint was also corroborated by another source who works in the Capitol who had direct knowledge of the incident.

Slaton allegedly called the intern after 10 p.m. on March 31 inviting her to his Austin condo, the complaint said.

A source with direct knowledge of the incident told the Tribune that Slaton drank alcohol with the intern, who was under 21.

Slaton, who was in the Capitol on Monday, declined to answer questions and referred to a statement put out earlier in the day by a criminal defense attorney he has retained.

A representative for the intern said she has been advised by the House committee not to comment.

Patrick Short, the attorney for Slaton, issued a statement Monday morning saying his firm is representing Slaton over a complaint, but provided few details. "We are aware of outrageous claims circulating online by second-tier media that make false claims against Representative Slaton, Short said. "As a result, he has been advised to forward all inquiries in this matterincluding any that may relate to a possible complaintto his legal counsel."

Short did not identify the specific claims  or media  he was referring to, and he declined to comment further when reached by the Tribune.

The Rockwall-based lawyer's website says he has "over 30 years of legal experience representing clients in East and North Texas in personal injury, wrongful death, criminal defense, and select civil litigation cases."

House Speaker Dade Phelan said in a statement that his office would be looking into the matter.

The Texas House does not tolerate misconduct or other inappropriate behaviors and takes all allegations related to these issues seriously. I expect this matter to be addressed in a swift and thorough manner under the rules governing our chamber for the 88th Legislature and all applicable standards of conduct, he said.

The Capitol has been abuzz about Slatons whereabouts after he missed one of the most important days of the session Thursday, when the House debated the budget. It was even more eyebrow-raising because the conservative rabble-rouser had proposed 27 amendments to the budget. Slaton was the only absence when the roll call was called Thursday morning.

As speculation grew about Slaton during the budget debate Thursday, the chairman of the General Investigating Committee, Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, issued a statement saying the panel does not comment on any investigations it undertakes, including statements confirming or denying the existence of any ongoing investigation.

Slaton has been married to his current wife since 2017, and filed for divorce in April 2022, according to court filings. They agreed to cease the divorce in November. He is known as one of the farthest-right members of the Texas House and a thorn in the side of his partys leadership. He was first elected in 2021, defeating a longtime Republican incumbent he criticized as too moderate.

Slaton is especially known for his stridently anti-LGBTQ views. Last year, he called for a blanket ban on minors at drag shows, saying it was necessary to protect children from perverted adults." He has also proposed giving property tax cuts to straight, married couples  but not LGBTQ couples or those who have previously been divorced  based on the number of children they have.

Earlier this year, Slaton also filed a bill that would allow for a referendum on Texas secession from the United States during the states next general election, despite most experts agreeing such a move would be illegal.

Robert Downen and Joshua Fechter contributed to this report.
No race is going uncontested on a packed ballot that has 56 candidates for City Council, including mayor, and a charter that seeks to decriminalize marijuana and low-level misdemeanors at the municipal level. All 10 City Council seats and the mayor's position will be voted on in the San Antonio general election on May 6, two of which are guaranteed to introduce new faces on the dais this year.

Local police and justice reform group Act4SA collected enough signatures in February to get the San Antonio Justice Charter onto the May 6 ballot. The charter's stated goal is to reduce "the city's contribution to mass incarceration," "mitigate racially discriminatory law enforcement practices," and "save scarce public resources for greater public needs."

Prop A would do so by curbing city resources for arrests related to abortions, except in limited circumstances. The San Antonio Police Department would also be prohibited from issuing citations or making arrests for low-level marijuana possession, except in limited circumstances.

It would also have the city adopt a cite-and-release policy for low-level, nonviolent misdemeanors, such as: Class B misdemeanor theft of service under $750; Class B misdemeanor contraband in a correctional facility; Class A and B misdemeanor graffiti under $2,500 in damage; Class B misdemeanor criminal mischief under $750; and all Class C misdemeanors. The exception to Class C misdemeanors is public intoxication.

With cite-and-release, people must still appear in court for crimes they are cited for.

Prop A would also ban police from using no-knock warrants, or participating in no-knock warrants served by other law enforcement agencies. SAPD would also be barred from using chokeholds in all instances.

If passed, the proposition will also bar police from using the smell of marijuana as probable cause for a search and create a new position within the city known as a justice director.

Ananda Tomas, executive director for Act4SA, responded to claims that Prop A would let criminals run rampant and ignore victims of crime by saying that citations for low-level misdemeanors still gives judges the ability to decide on necessary punishment for those crimes. However, Mayor Ron Nirenberg recently stated his opposition to the ballot item.

Click here for an explainer on Proposition A.

Read the ballot language for Prop A below in English and Spanish.



A link to the full sample ballot can be found further below.

Nirenberg runs for a final term

Mayor Ron Nirenberg announced his run for re-election in early February, seeking to fulfill what would be his fourth and final possible term if he is re-elected in May. In his 2019 race, he faced competition from Greg Brockhouse, who landed 45% of the vote and took the race into a runoff. Nirenberg won his second term in that runoff with 61% of the vote against 12 other candidates.

Brockhouse didn't return this year and the pool is lighter with only nine candidates, including Nirenberg. There are return candidates from the 2021 mayoral race, like local business owner Ray Adam Basaldua, retired teacher Gary Allen, and Navy veteran Michael Idrogo. These candidates received less than 2% of the vote in 2021, according to Bexar County voting results.

City Council races

All San Antonio City Council races are contested. Most incumbents are running for re-election, including District 2's Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 5's Teri Castillo, the first term council members that won their seats in 2021. McKee-Rodriguez faces nine other candidates running for the District 2 seat. Local businessperson Denise Gutierrez-Homer, who ran for mayor in 2021, is running against McKee-Rodriguez this year. Castillo faces two opponents.

Clayton Perry's seat

District 10's seat is one that will bring a new face to City Council after Councilman Clayton Perry chose not to run for re-election following DWI and hit-and-run charges. There are seven people looking to fill the District 10 seat, including attorney Marc Whyte, the current zoning commissioner. Whyte has already won the endorsement of seven former District 10 council members, according to the Express-News.

Filling Ana Sandoval's shoes

Carlos Javier Sanchez /Contributor

Former District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval stepped down from her seat in mid-January to take a job with University Health. Sandoval was as vocal an advocate for environmental issues as she was for housing. Rosie Castro is currently filling Sandoval's seat for an interim period.

District 7 has five candidates, including small business owner and software engineer Dan Rossiter who worked at the Southwest Research Institute for 10 years, according to his website. He will face Marina Alderete Gavito, who is the executive director of SA Digital Connects, an organization that works to bridge the digital divide in low-income areas in Bexar County.

Bravo runs for re-election

District 1 incumbent Mario Bravo is running for re-election after a year embroiled in controversy. In November 2022, he was censured by City Council because of a public outburst against former Councilwoman Sandoval in September 2022. His office also faced public backlash from businesses on the St. Mary's Strip and nearby residents that wanted to close residential streets to public parking during certain hours.

Those St. Mary's business owners, along with customers and employees, are also upset over ongoing street construction blocking access to their businesses. Bravo faces eight opponents, including marketing consultant Jeremy Roberts, who also serves as a member of the Airport Advisory Commission and chair of the citys Small Business Advisory Commission.

When can I vote?

The general election is on May 6, but early voting runs April 24 to May 2. See the full sample ballot here. A list of early voting locations can be found here.
Tax season is upon us. With the filing deadline just around the corner, there are a few things you should know before gather up all your receipts, W-2s, file your income tax return.

The IRS officially began accepting tax returns on Monday, January 23. Before tax season began, the IRS predicted they would receive more than 168 million tax filings this year with the majority turned in prior to the Tuesday, April 18 deadline. Last year tax season ended on Monday, April 18, and as a result of this year's calendar people got an extra three days to file.

Free ways to file your taxes in San Antonio

There are several ways to go about filing your taxes and a few of them are free of charge depending on your income. One of the primary ways to file your taxes online is through the IRS. If your yearly take home is $73,000 or less, you qualify to file your federal tax return for free through their guided tax preparation software, which includes answering simple questions to determine your refund or how much you owe.

In addition to going straight to the source, you can file your taxes with free editions of tax preparation software from two of the most well-known tax companies  H&R Block and TurboTax. While both providers offer free filings, the tax categories are limited and is best for simple returns. Those with more complicated filings such as people who own their own businesses can file with some of their upgraded options for a small fee.

San Antonio also hosts its own free income tax assistance program for those who make $55,000 or less through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). The IRS-sponsored program was created to benefit families needing assistance with certain tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) by utilizing community volunteers to help prepare the filings. Last year ,VITA volunteers helped put together over 22,000 tax returns for San Antonio residents, according to the VITA website. See below for a map to your nearest VITA location.

Individuals or families needing these services should provide proof of identification, including drivers licenses and social security cards, along with income statements such as a W-2. To calculate yearly expenses should bring copies of documents like medical bills and mortgage interest (1098 form). Those qualified to receive tax credits should also come with letters supporting rights to claim them.

How soon can I get my income tax return after filing?

There is a little bit of a wait to receive your refund if you're entitled to one. The U.S. government estimates refunds are usually distributed within 21 days if you filed online.

Filers can check the status of their tax return by visiting the Where's My Refund section on the IRS website.

What do I do if I need an extension?

If more time is needed to compete your federal tax return there is a way to request an extension, according to the IRS. However, it must be by the Tax Day filing deadline. Tax extensions vary in timeframe but those seeking them may be able to request one for up to six months. For those who requested extensions the filing deadline is October 16.
There is peace between the United States Army and the Sioux Nations. Only now gold has been found in Montana, the and easiest road cuts through their lands. With the fever striking whites pushing west, the army established a military outpost on Sioux lands inflaming tensions even further. Legendary frontiersman Jim Bridger (Van Heflin), his friend Beckworth (Jackie Oakie), and Bridgers Cheyenne companion Monahseetah (Susan Cabot) are stationed at the fort as scouts. Friendly to the Sioux, its the hope of Colonel Carrington (Preston Foster) that Bridger can mediate before disaster strikes. But with the prejudiced hot-headed Lieutenant Dancy (Alex Nicol) leading the troops, any chance for peace is likely to end in gunfire.

There was a time when the Western was the most popular genre of the day. Cheap and relatively easy to produce, Hollywood could simply redress an old set, swap some hats and gunbelts on the cast, cook up a new sixty-page script and youd have a new product ready to film. While there were a number of classics that highlight the genre, a lot of them were churn-and-burn fillers simply made to fill up theater screens and put butts in seats. 1951s Tomahawk wasnt done on the cheap, but it doesnt rise to the level of classic either. Directed by genre veteran George Sherman, the films loosely historical setting and events give some weight to the film, but a number of paint-by-number tropes hobble this films best efforts.

Van Heflin was no stranger to the dusty trails and delivers a commanding level-headed portrayal of the legendary frontiersman Jim Bridger. I dont know a ton about the man, Ive only read about him in passing with some side mentions as possibly being involved with the Hugh Glass incident and then advising the fateful route for the Donner Party. So I dont know if any of this film is accurate to him at all, but it helps ground the story. Not Heflins best Western, but he does hold the film strong.

A weakness of the film is Alex Nicols Lt. Dancy as your stereotypical villain. This isnt a fault of the actor, Nicol plays it with menace and you love hating him, but hes also incredibly one-note. It leaves you to simply wait for the inevitable big showdown between Bridger and Dancy. Thankfully when it comes its a fine final battle with a justified comeuppance.

Another weak spot for the film is screen beauty, Yvonne De Carlo. As the beautiful waylaid entertainer Julie Madden, she offers little to the plot other than good looks. Playing the obvious love interest her character might not quite be so one-note as to be annoying, but her presence doesnt really add anything to the film were not already getting from other characters. She stands as a pseudo-love interest with an empathetic ear, but thats about all shes given to work with.

The best asset of the film is shooting on location in the Black Hills area of South Dakota. So many Westerns were content to shoot on studio backlots and recycled sets, the rolling high hills and mountains made this little show scenic and beautiful to look at. The scenery is so beautiful that when Heflin and De Carlo have a post-action scene heart-to-heart, its painfully obvious they dashed over to a studio soundstage set for this intimate moment.

At just over 80 minutes, Tomahawk is an entertaining and earnest Western. Far from a genre classic, its still a fine adventure. With a respectable portrayal of the Sioux tribes, its a film that at least meant well - even if Susan Cabot was the furthest from being a Cheyenne maiden (for a very sad read, look up her lifes story). With a little stronger script and stronger characters and a little more robust runtime, this film probably could have been a grand entry. As it stands its an entertaining film, and better than average for the time period.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

Tomahawk rides its way onto Blu-ray thanks to Kino Lorber Studio Classics. Pressed on a Region A BD-25 disc, the disc is housed in a standard case. The disc loads to a static image main menu with traditional navigation options.
Lambert here: This is from Late March, but I think its good to have all these three cases, from Canada, the United States, and Greece  all gathered together in a single post, with the blame cannons correctly positioned.

By Justin Mikulka, a research fellow at New Consensus. Prior to joining New Consensus in October 2021, Justin reported for DeSmog, where he began in 2014. Justin has a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University.. Originally posted at DeSmog.

p>On February 25, Greece experienced its deadliest rail disaster ever when a freight train ran headlong into a passenger train coming towards it on the same track, killing 57 people. This tragic accident, near the city of Larissa, occurred just weeks after the East Palestine, Ohio rail disaster, and while the outcomes are different, the root cause is the same: corporate greed and deregulation.

While two trains colliding on the same tracks might seem unfathomable to Americans, it shouldnt be. A similar accident occurred in Texas in 2016, a year after the U.S. rail industry refused to meet a Congressionally mandated deadline for installing a safety system called positive train control, which would have prevented the accident.

Threatened with a rail shutdown, Congress buckled and gave the industry an extra three years to install the safety system, with the option for an extension until the end of 2020. On December 29, 2020, the Federal Railroad Administration announced that positive train control was finally installed on all of the required rail lines.

As DeSmog has reported, the U.S. rail industry has lobbied against the requirement to install positive train control since 1970. In fact, one rail lobbyist received an award for being part of a successful push for a congressional agreement to extend a deadline for automated trains on most of the nations railways. The National Transportation Safety Board first recommended positive train control in 1970 after two Penn Central commuter trains collided head-on near Darien, Connecticut, the previous year. Four people were killed and 43 were injured.

The Greek rail system was supposed to have installed modern safety technologies like positive train control three years ago but instead followed the path of the U.S. rail industry and delayed the installation. Meanwhile, in response to Greeces government debt crisis, international financiers and the European Commission for years have pushed the nation toward deregulation and privatization.

During the March 9 U.S. Senate hearings on rail safety, we learned Norfolk Southern, the rail company responsible for the East Palestine disaster, cut a third of its employees between 2002 and 2020. In January 2020, the Washington Post reported how Wall Street cheered on large staff cuts at Norfolk Southern. While the company was cutting staff, Norfolk Southern executives were receiving bonuses which incentivized running longer trains.

The Greek rail system was privatized in 2017, when Trainose, the state rail company operator in Greece, sold the rail line to an Italian company which reduced employee headcount to 800, down from 6,000 in 2010.

These two recent accidents also echo the root causes of the deadly 2013 Canadian oil train disaster that took 47 lives in Lac-Megantic, Quebec. A Canadian columnist described it as a corporate crime. DeSmog documented how corporate cost-cutting led to the disaster.

In Canada, the engineer of the oil train involved in the Lac-Megantic accident was criminally charged and held responsible. In Greece, the station master, who advised one of the trains involved to Pass the red signal, was arrested and, if convicted, faces a long prison term. The New York Times reported that other rail employees explained these red warning lights were always red because of years of technical failures and employees instead used walkie-talkies to advise trains on risks.

As James K. Galbraith, an economist at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote of the Greek station masters arrest, How convenient that there is someone to blame.

Galbraith also points the finger at the Greek governments choice to protect corporate profits over the public, even as the nations railway system failed to maintain basic safety equipment. In America, rail lobbyists get awards for doing just that  and here too, the public pays the price.
When the orthodox media depicts the Pentagon as in an uproar about now two leaks of sets of official-looking documents, and tries to spin it that they show how much dirt weve gotten on Russia, its not a good look. There are too many admissions against interest (which oddly no one has denied) like the generally depleted state of Ukraines military, which as we discussed was evident even in the first batch.

In case youve been enjoying the holiday weekend by taking a news break, well start with the New York Times to set the stage. Again, recall the New York Times was the first MSM outlet to discuss that what turned out to be the first of (so far) two groups of Pentagon slides, focused on Ukraine preparedness, had made their way to a Russian Telegram account. Some had argued that the first set was a US or Russian psyop, but the authenticity of jargon and the amount of unflattering information argued against it. The second batch extends beyond Ukraine and is perceived to be damaging to US interests.

Mind you, as many war-watchers have pointed out, these revelations dont appear likely to have much impact on the too-widely-anticipated Ukraine offensive. While the level of detail is tantalizing, the broad findings, like Ukraines air defenses have been depleted and are only going to get worse, were evident via open sources. Yet some of the claims are bizarre, like 97% of Russias forces being committed to Ukraine. Recall UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that in February, and appeared to be retailing Ukraine propaganda then. Did Wallace get that factoid from these documents?

Nevertheless, this breach will make the US clamp down on distribution of sensitive information, which wont be helpful so close to the launch of the expected counter-offensive.

From the Grey Lady on Saturday, after the second lot got traction:

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. Early Friday, senior national security officials dealing with the initial leak, which was first reported by The New York Times, said a new worry had arisen: Was that information the only intelligence that was leaked? By Friday afternoon, they had their answer. Even as officials at the Pentagon and national security agencies were investigating the source of documents that had appeared on Twitter and on Telegram, another surfaced on 4chan, an anonymous, fringe message board. The 4chan document is a map that purports to show the status of the war in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the scene of a fierce, monthslong battle. But the leaked documents appear to go well beyond highly classified material on Ukraine war plans. Security analysts who have reviewed the documents tumbling onto social media sites say the increasing trove also includes sensitive briefing slides on China, the Indo-Pacific military theater, the Middle East and terrorism.

Lets stop here. At least one slide in this second group bore the label Secret/NoForn, which means distribution is limited to US citizens. That would seem to rule out our notion, based on the first batch (widely distributed among US allies, including Ukraine) that a Ukrainian unhappy with how the war is being conducted could have been behind the leak. This marking suggests these documents came from a Pentagon source, which could include contractors.

The Times chest-thumping about being the first to take up the story is likely to create confusion about the timetable. Some of these documents had been on the Internet for over a month, but oddly only in limited circulation. The Washington Post describes when they apparently went public:

Photographs of at least several dozen pages of highly classified documents, which looked to have been printed and then folded together into a packet, were shared on Feb. 28 and March 2 on Discord, a chat platform popular with gamers. The documents were shared by a user to a server called Wow Mao.

I hate having to cite Bellingcat, but perhaps someone in the intel state tossed some bread crumbs over the fence to help bolster their credibility. From the Wall Street Journal:

Some experts who have studied the documents are doubtful the breach is part of a Russian disinformation campaign. Aric Toler, head of research and training at the Bellingcat investigative consortium.said Saturday that he had traced the original source of the posting to a small group of users called Thug Shaker Central on Discord. Hundreds of files were posted there in January, February and March. Later, some of these documents were reposted by users to a bigger group, uniting fans of the Minecraft game. The original group has since been wiped clean, as was the much bigger document trove. I really doubt this is some Russian op, so theres a good chance only a few internet weirdos saw the hundreds of documents, said Eliot Higgins, the founder of Bellingcat. Its really only something youd find if you were terminally online.. The U.S. is considering a range of possibilities over how the breach occurred, including that someone with top-secret security clearance leaked the information or that U.S. intelligence systems were hacked, U.S. officials said Saturday. Because the documents appear to be images of printed presentation slides, the investigation will likely focus on that possible method of transferring them from a classified system. Classified documents can only be printed on approved systems, which can be tracked.

OK, so documents were leaked in a way so that almost no one saw them???? The point of a leak is normally to have things seen. So is the idea here that the data breach was the result of a geek manhood competition and someone outside the inner circle noticed or decided to toss some of the records over to Russian Telegram?1

In addition, as Lambert pointed out, The fact that Bellingcat is claiming that only a few in the gaming community saw the information early on should be taken to mean only a few thousand.

Regarding the printed presentation slides, see these images from Twitter as examples:

Um, those images sure do look folded. The Journal describes how Reality Winner and Terry Albury each were caught by having printouts successfully tracked to them. Albury also took snapshots of screen images. I would assume the powers that be would look into the possibility that photos were manipulated to create the appearance of having been folded.

The Washington Post reassures us that they are hot on the trail of the bad guys:

The Post identified the user that shared the images in February and March who, according to a review of previous social media posts, is based in southern California. A Twitter account using the same handle and avatar image as the Discord account wrote on Friday they had found some info from a now banned server and passed it on. A man who answered the door at a house registered to the Discord users father on Friday evening declined to comment. Im not talking to anyone, he said, closing the door of the familys home at the edge of a cul-de-sac. About three miles away, at a townhouse registered to the users mother, a knock at the door went unanswered. The parents did not respond to calls or messages.

Note the story quotes one official as saying all the documents appear to be a single tranche, which would reinforce the idea that there might be a single actor, despite their being discovered by the officialdom in a two-step process.

For now, the fact of the leaks appears to be more serious than their content. From the Washington Post:

According to one defense official, many of the documents seem to have been prepared over the winter for Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other senior military officials, but they were available to other U.S. personnel and contract employees with the requisite security clearances. The documents describe intelligence activities at the National Security Agency, the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, law enforcement agencies and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)  arguably the most secretive intelligence agency in the government, responsible for a multibillion dollar constellation of spy satellites.

Both the New York Times and the Washington Post pushed the idea that the expose also showed US prowess in spying on Russia. For instance, the Post described how the Wagner Group, which recall is not part of the Russian government, was trying to buy arms in Turkey and Mali. Mercs buying arms! Shocker! It also mentions Wagner having plans to recruit from prisons. Um, thats so well known its been widely criticized, even as Wagnerites who finished their six month commitment have been photographed returning to Russia as free men. The GRU was reported as planning a propaganda in Africa. The US also supposedly unearthed Russian plans to shell Ukraine troops in two locations on a certain date. Perhaps, but that sound like an option (what if Ukraine changed its force disposition?) as opposed to something more like an order.

Nevertheless, the Washington Post did say in its headline that the US was spying on allies too. Here that means Israel, the UK, and South Korea.

And what about the Ukraine revelations?

Both the Times and the Post ran articles on the degraded state of Ukraines air defenses. Neither piece fesses up to the fact that that old S300 system that Ukraine inherited (and presumably was kept fairly up to date through the Maidan coup) is better than anything the West has. War porn fans already have seen ample evidence that Ukraines air defenses are weakened and will only get worse. For instance, Russia has been able to send in slow drones of late and theys been largely unmolested.

Nevertheless, the horror! First the Times in Leaked Documents Suggest Ukrainian Air Defense Is in Peril if Not Reinforced:

For more than a year, Ukrainian air defenses, reinforced by Western weaponry, have kept Russian planes at bay. But without a huge influx of munitions, Ukraines entire air defense network, weakened by repeated barrages from Russian drones and missiles, could fracture Stocks of missiles for Soviet-era S-300 and Buk air defense systems, which make up 89 percent of Ukraines protection against most fighter aircraft and some bombers, were projected to be fully depleted by May 3 and mid-April, according to one of the leaked documents. The document, which was issued on Feb. 28, based the assessment on consumption rates at the time. It is not clear if those rates have changed. The same document assessed that Ukrainian air defenses designed to protect troops on the front line, where much of Russias air power is concentrated, will be completely reduced by May 23, resulting in strains on the air defense network deeper into Ukrainian territory.

These dates explain the sense of urgency about launching the Ukraine counteroffensive. The article mentions that the Russian missile attacks on Ukraine electrical and other infrastructure have worn down Ukraines air defense capacity.

On the expenditure of air defense targeting air attacks, it would seem to be an obvious move from Russia, for both practical and psychological reasons, to launch another series of big missile and drone attacks on the launch of the Ukraine counter-offensive.

As for air defenses designed to defend troops on the front line Im not sure what that means, since Russia has overwhelmingly been using artillery (although in fairness of late has added glide bombs, which do have the punch to destroy buildings and other sturdier fortifications). Is this maneuver warfare thinking, that Russia would be doing big arrow attacks (which require air support) were it not for Ukraines air defense? Or would Russia indeed make much heavier use of drones and planes against the Ukraine line of contact?

Additional tidbits from the Post in Leaked documents warn of weaknesses in Ukraines defenses:

One chart contained in the leak shows the burn rate of Ukrainian air defense projectiles and specifies the time frames for depletion, predicting that SA-11 systems will be out of commission by April 13, U.S.-made NASAMs by April 15, and SA-8s by May. On another chart, the prediction that particular types of ammunition will run dry suggests that Ukrainian defenders should prioritize their efforts by targeting Russian jets and helicopters but hold fire on smaller threats such as drones.

The Times also described how officials were upset about the revelation of equipment levels and force concentration:

The documents on Ukraines military appear as photographs of charts of anticipated weapons deliveries, troop and battalion strengths, and other plans. Pentagon officials acknowledge that they are legitimate Defense Department documents, but the copies appear to have been altered in certain parts from their original format. The modified versions, for example, overstate American estimates of Ukrainian war dead and underestimate estimates of Russian troops killed.

In the Brave New World of ISR, its likely Russia knew all of this, although perhaps not always in the same level of detail. Recall TASS just identified that only 21% of the recently promised tanks had been delivered to Ukraine.all from public documents. Dima at Military Summary daily shows maps that include Ukraine deployments. With satellite and drone surveillance, Russia likely has a good guesstime, outside urban settings like Bakhmut, how far below full strength these units are. And if I recall correctly, this information was as of early March, so now stale. Nevertheless, Russia could look at its intel as of then and see if it had systematic errors it could address.

Finally, the Post claimed that the Pentagon was worried the leak exposed the workings of cutting edge tools:

For instance, a Feb. 23 overview of fighting in Ukraines Donbas region forecasts a grinding campaign of attrition by Russia that is likely heading toward a stalemate, thwarting Moscows goal to capture the entire region in 2023. That confident statement, which is printed in boldface type, is supported by information obtained from NRO-collected and commercial imagery, a new generation of infrared satellites, signals intelligence and liaison reporting, a reference to intelligence from a friendly government, about the high rate of Russian artillery fire, mounting troop losses and the militarys inability to make significant territorial gains over the past seven months. The fact that the United States bases its assessments on many sources is no secret. But U.S. officials said these more detailed disclosures could help Moscow thwart some avenues for collecting information. For example, the Feb. 23 battlefield document names one of its sources as LAPIS time-series video. Officials familiar with the technology described it as an advanced satellite system that allows for better imaging of objects on the ground and that could now be more susceptible to Russian jamming or interference. They indicated that LAPIS was among the more closely guarded capabilities in the U.S. intelligence arsenal.

This is all over my pay grade, but the discussion of LAPIS assumes that Russia hasnt discerned that the US has something like that. As Andrei Martyanov has regularly said, Russias forces are fully networked, which means among other things lots of real time data collection. Perhaps its an artifact of a very incomplete description of what LAPIS is and does, but a time series video sound retrospective, even if recent and therefore less useful than real time.

More important, good intel becomes less useful when filtered through prior beliefs. As we can see above, the US cant get over its idea that Russia is out to acquire territory, and not first and foremost destroy Ukraines (and now NATOs) ability to wage war. The articles contain denigrating asides about how Russia has conducted the war. One senses that this isnt mere media messaging but is well internalized among US and NATO decision-makers. That sort of under-estimation has worked out very well for Russia. And the very solidly build echo chamber in the Beltway means its likely to continue.

_____

1 Im now getting sucked into way way too much speculation but perhaps someone who though he was at risk decided that if the documents got into circulation in Russia, the usual Everything is Putins fault would apply.
Researchers use artificial intelligence to hunt for human intelligence

(Nanowerk News) The brain is a wonderful, mysterious thing: three pounds of soft gelatinous tissue through which we interact with the world, generate ideas and construct meaning and representation. Understanding where and how this happens has long been among neurosciences fundamental goals.

In recent years researchers have turned to artificial intelligence to make sense of brain activity as measured by fMRI, turning AI models on the data in an effort to understand, with increasing specificity, what people are thinking and what those thoughts look like in their brains. An interdisciplinary team at UC Santa Barbara is among those pushing those boundaries, with a method that applies deep learning to fMRI data to create complex reconstructions of what the study subjects were seeing.

There are several projects that try to translate fMRI signals into images, mostly because neuroscientists want to understand how brains process visual information, said Sikun Lin, the lead author of a paper that appeared in a recent NeurIPS conference in November 2022 ("Mind Reader: Reconstructing complex images from brain activities").

According to Lin, UCSB computer science professor Ambuj Singh and cognitive neuroscientist Thomas Sprague, the resulting images generated by this study are both photorealistic and accurately reflect the original ground truth images. They noted that previous reconstructions didnt create images with the same level of fidelity.

Key to their approach is that in addition to images, a layer of information is added through textual descriptions, a move that Lin said was made to add data to train their deep learning model. Building on a publicly available dataset, they used CLIP (Contrastive Language-Image Pre-training) to encode objective, high-quality text descriptions that pair with the observed images, and then mapped the fMRI data of those observed images on to the CLIP space. From there they used the output from the mapping models as conditions to train a generative model to reconstruct the image.

The resulting reconstructions came remarkably close to the original images viewed by the subjects  closer, in fact, than any previous attempt to reconstruct images from fMRI data. Studies that have followed, including a notable one ("High-resolution image reconstruction with latent diffusion models from human brain activity") from Japan, have outlined methods for efficiently manipulating limited data into clear images.

Comparisons between previous works and our pipeline. We are using the recent NSD dataset that involves more complex scenes. However, for comparison purposes, we choose four similar images from NSD, each containing a single object "plane", and show our reconstructions from fMRI signals in fig. b. Image reconstruction results from fMRI by our pipeline. Four ground truth images are green framed. (Image: Singh et al.)

Whats more, the study revealed insight into an important aspect of human intelligence: semantics.

One of the main gists of this paper is that visual processes are inherently semantic, Lin said. According to the paper, the brain is naturally multimodal, that is, we use multiple modes of information at different levels to gain meaning from a visual scene, such as what is salient, or the relationships between objects in the scene. Using a visual representation only might make it more difficult to reconstruct the image, Lin continued, but using a semantic representation like CLIP that incorporates text such as the description of the image, is more coherent with how the brain processes information.

The science in this is whether the structure of the models can tell you something about how the brain works, Singh added. And thats what we are hoping to try to find. In another experiment, for instance, the researchers found that the fMRI brain signals encoded a lot of redundant information  so much that even after masking more than 80% of the fMRI signal, the resulting 1020% contained enough data to reconstruct an image within the same category as the original image, even though they didnt feed any image information into the signal reconstruction pipeline (they were working solely from fMRI data).

This work represents a true paradigm shift in the accuracy and clarity of image reconstruction methods, Sprague said. Previous work focused on extremely simplistic stimuli, because our modeling approaches were much simpler. Now, with these new image reconstruction methods in hand, we can advance the experiments we conduct in cognitive computational neuroscience toward using naturalistic, realistic stimuli without sacrificing our ability to generate clear conclusions.

At the moment, the reconstruction of brain data into true images continues to be labor intensive and out of reach of ordinary use, not to mention the fact that each model is specific to the person whose brain generated the fMRI data. But it doesnt stop the researchers from musing on the implications of being able to decode what a person is thinking, right down to the layers of meaning that are hyper specific to each mind.

What I find exciting about this project is whether it might be possible to preserve the cognitive state of a person, and see how these states so uniquely define them, Singh said. According to Sprague, these methods would allow neuroscientists to conduct further studies measuring how brains change their representations of stimuli  including in representations of robust, complicated scenes  across changes in tasks. This is a critical development that will answer fundamental questions about how brains represent information during dynamic cognitive tasks, including those requiring attention, memory and decision-making, he said.

One of the areas they are now exploring is finding out what and how much is shared between brains so AI models can be constructed without having to start from zero each time.
When we last caught up with thoughtful songwriter and dynamic rock n roll frontman Ron Gallo in early 2021, he was just about to release Peacemeal. It is an album-length reflection on strange and difficult times he encountered  even before COVID turned most peoples lives inside out. Gallo gave Scene contributor Charlie Zaillian the full background, but the highlights include Gallo and fellow musician Chiara DAnzieri getting married in her native Italy in 2019; because of visa issues, Gallo was barred from the country and forced to return to his then-home in Nashville shortly thereafter, where he wrote and recorded most of Peacemeal all by himself. Ultimately, DAnzieri joined him here and made some contributions to that album as well. But by the time of its release in early 2021, theyd pulled up stakes and settled in Philadelphia, where Gallo grew up and spent the early part of his career before coming to Nashville circa 2015.

Though the pandemic isnt over, the quarantine phase is fading into memory. Meanwhile, all manner of serious issues have been exacerbated, while others that have been there for a long time have taken a prominent place in the public discourse. While its a good thing that more people are paying attention to major social, political and economic problems  and the underlying systemic issues that are ultimately responsible for many of them  the stress can be overwhelming. These are some of the concerns driving Gallos new LP Foreground Music  his first for Kill Rock Stars  which features DAnzieri and drummer Josh Friedman. Gall is also about to publish his first book; titled Social Meteor, its a kind of behind-the-scenes look into his brain, a peek at the thoughts he cataloged as he wrote the songs that became Foreground Music.

Gallos tour will bring him back to Nashville, where hell play Tuesday, April 11, at The Basement East, with support from The Weird Sisters and John Roseboro. Ahead of the show, I caught up with Gallo by phone. Our interview has been edited for length and clarity.

You and Chiara have been back in Philadelphia for a couple of years now. Have you been able to spend some time there between tour dates? Whats it like?

I'm from Philly, so I'm sort of used to what Philadelphia is. And then the move from Nashville was a bit impulsive. You know, it was pandemic-brain, and feeling isolated and far from family. So it was just sort of impulsive  gravitate towards comforts. But now that the dust is settled a bit, we're kind of like, Philadelphia, I forgot what Philadelphia is. You know, it's a chaotic, dirty, gritty, angry city. And it's just funny: Coming back here, I think it played a huge role in making this new album. I don't know if I could have made this album anywhere else. I think maybe were missing Nashville a bit. [Laughs] 

It gets very real, very fast here, and I like that about it. But I also think that, you know, everyone's a little bit on-edge here. And I think what that did was  it kind of got me back to the place that I originally started making music from, which is a pretty frustrated-with-humanity observational stance on the things that I think we  as a collective humanity  are kind of struggling with. So being here feels [like] that, for sure. This is where I lived when I made the first album Heavy Meta  I feel like this is almost a full-circle moment, because I'm back to that creative space. I think it's more difficult to live in, but maybe it makes for a better contribution creatively.  When you're more comfortable, and you're in your little bubble, it's hard to sometimes see some of those things.

Over the past decade or so, it got progressively easier to insulate yourself in that social bubble. But then theres been COVID, amid many other major things going on since the pandemic started, that have broken those bubbles open a bit for some folks.

Of course. And it's interesting too, because Nashville is having no shortage of, you know, hugely infuriating issues politically and socially right now. And when I think of Nashville, it's like, you think of it as a nice, kind, warm place, but to see these things happening there  it's just, it's crazy. But I guess that's the state of the world. [Editors note: We spoke April 4, after the Covenant School shooting but before Republicans in the state House of Representatives ousted two of the three members it sought to expel for leading anti-gun protests.]

Turning to the record: Foreground Music is more of a collaborative effort than Peacemeal. Were there some things that you carried over from working mostly by yourself on that previous album?

The biggest thing was just a little bit of self-belief, which I'd lacked before in terms of recording. I always came from a standpoint of: I need other people to make a convincing recording, I don't even trust myself at all. And Peacemeal is the beginning of, like: No, I can do this. I can record stuff at home, I can produce stuff at home. I'll learn, I'm gonna teach myself. And I have plenty of time to do it. And then with this record, it was great to be able to do that again, with a little bit more confidence in it and like a little bit more skill.

One of the thematic threads running through Foreground Music is the havoc wrought by capitalism and commercialism. In San Benedetto, you visit a place in Italy where it seems like theyve got their priorities figured out. Yet you didnt just drop out and move there  youre singing to us about it. Has making music become a natural part of the way you process and explore ideas?

Definitely  I mean, using it therapeutically. Especially with everything going on, and just my own internal general state of anxiety and fear and all these things that are rooted in things happening in the outside world. The way that it all feels, sometimes  life in 2023 with constant connection, hearing about all the insane shit thats going on all the time. And then, like, being able to step back and process that music has been the biggest thing to be able to make sense of it all.

With that song specifically, it comes from being able to spend time over in Italy, which I've been very fortunate to be able to do because of Chiara. And basically just seeing the impact of going there and experiencing that lifestyle, that culture, the way that people live  you know, a much bigger general sense of peace that's not driven by the insane, capitalistic, constant burnout of productivity. Like, seeing a place that is structured in a different way. And then, coming back here, it just is like: Whoa, we are doing shit all wrong. Because I was just over here, and I saw the way these people are doing it. And then I came back, and it makes us just look like a bunch of psychos  just spiraling in to complete crumble. [Getting] that perspective, to shine a light on what it is to live in America, I guess. Something about becoming aware of it, its eye-opening.

I think it's kind of like what we were saying earlier: Seeing it gives you a way to start to work through it. That's what this record is all about, is pointing out all the shit that I think is fucked up and frustrating and putting it out there.  And then that is a way to, like, deal with it better, or find a way to laugh at it.

Another theme that stands out in Foreground Music is the sort of dance we do with nostalgia. Buying into it wholeheartedly, always looking backward, is something you do at your peril. But also, as you sing about in Yucca Valley Marshalls, memories can be comforting in times of cosmic-scale loneliness.

I guess that is the dance.  It's so weird. I don't know if it's just me and, like, there's something wrong with me. But it's just interesting to have. Like, for example, today: It's a beautiful day. It's the first sign of spring in Philly, the sun's out and its warm. And then you could just, like, see something really fucked-up walking down the street. Or just have an intrusive thought or an anxious thought. It's just so funny  they're like, these two completely different things that are always right there, at all times.

Its all part of the process of trying to live on Earth.

Which no one knows how to do, I guess. There's no guidebook.  It's a mystery.

Is there a point when you see yourself doing something that isnt music?

It's actually something that I've thought a lot about.  For a long time, it was like tunnel vision on music. But one big thing is, I just finished my first book, and I printed it. And I actually have it in boxes downstairs, and I'm gonna bring it on tour. And something about holding the book in my hand  when I got them a week ago, it was kind of a revelation. Like, Whoa, I've made albums before and held them, but this is kind of a different thing. When I was working on doing some of the writing for it, I felt a joy around that kind of work that maybe music [gives me] sometimes, but hasn't been that way in a while. So the long-form answer to the question is that I'm pretty excited about having a book, and I want to make a lot more of them. This one, it specifically coincides with the record, but I'm pretty pumped on having that outlet as well.  And with music  I don't know, I mean, give it five more years now, and I'll just disappear, maybe.

And who knows, if you do decide to disappear from the music world for a while, whatever you do might then inspire you to make more music.

It can always change. I think ultimately it's just about going with whatever feels good. From a musical standpoint, to get back on tour  there's just something about that, that doesn't really match anything else. Especially when you get into rooms with people, you're like, Ah, this is why we do this. This is worth all of the shit that you have to go through. You know, when you have those moments with people in a room, and it's just, Yes. So that's enough to keep you going. I think. As long as people show up.
(Natural News) The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) plans to sue Amazon over allegations the company illegally collected and used childrens data via its Alexa-powered smart speakers, according to reports by Politico and Bloomberg.

(Article by Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D. republished from ChildrensHealthDefense.org)

Citing individuals familiar with the issue, the two media outlets said the FTC recommended filing a complaint against Amazon on the basis that the collection of data from children under age 13 violated the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA).

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) may file the lawsuit on the FTCs behalf as early as next month, Bloomberg reported.

The FTC is obligated to first refer its complaint to the DOJs civil division, which will then have 45 days to bring a case, according to Politico. If the DOJ declines to sue, the FTC can then opt to proceed on its own.

This potential lawsuit comes four years after several advocacy organizations, including the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (now known as Fairplay) and the Center for Digital Democracy, filed a complaint with the FTC against Amazon, citing two products: the Echo Dot Kids Edition and FreeTime (since rebranded Kids+).

The news also comes amid a push by the FTC to target Big Tech firms for a range of alleged anti-competitive practices.

According to the 2019 complaint, Amazon held onto voice recordings indefinitely and also kept childrens personal data  even after users attempted to delete it.

The groups also claimed Amazon did not properly inform parents regarding the exact information it collected from children, did not include a privacy policy and did not verify that it had parental permission to collect data.

Following the submission of the complaint in 2019, Amazon claimed the two products in question were compliant with COPPA, Bloomberg reported.

COPPA penalties are limited to slightly over $50,000 per violation. However, each affected user is legally considered a separate violation, meaning the total fine against Amazon could be significantly higher.

FTC Chair Lina Khan, in remarks made last week, said existing law prohibits firms from conditioning access to certain services on endless collection of data, adding that the law includes substantive limitations on when firms can be collecting data.

Khan has developed a reputation as a Big Tech skeptic. In 2017, she published a legal paper in the Yale Law Journal characterizing Amazon as a modern monopolist whose market power required addressing.

The paper referred to an antitrust paradox, wherein Amazon has been able to amass significant market power, attaining an anticompetitive position even as it uses its logistical advantages to provide consumers with lower prices.

The paper argued in favor of restoring traditional antitrust and competition policy or applying common carrier obligations and duties traditionally required of telecommunications, transport and pipeline companies.

Amazon has taken issue with Khan in the past. In 2021, the company filed a petition with the FTC arguing that Khan should be recused from investigations involving Amazon, due to her past criticisms of the company.

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports, the FTC has not publicly responded to the petition, and similar, previous attempts by Facebook also failed.

Other FTC actions involving childrens privacy and COPPA violations have included cases against YouTube and Alphabet Inc., Googles parent company, in 2019, and also in 2019, against Musical.ly, the precursor to TikTok, owned by ByteDance Ltd.

And in December 2022, $520 million in fines were levied against Epic Games, creator of Fortnite, under COPPA.

Amazon possibly facing multiple federal antitrust lawsuits

According to a Feb. 3 WSJ report, the FTC was preparing a potential antitrust lawsuit against Amazon that would be filed in the coming months.

The same report stated:

The commission in recent years has been examining Amazon practices including whether it favors its own products over competitors on its platforms and how it treats outside sellers on Amazon.com, according to some of the people familiar with the matter.

The FTC also has been scrutinizing the companys Amazon Prime subscription services bundling practices.

A March 20 Politico report stated that one of the issues on the FTCs radar is Amazons $1.7 billion acquisition of iRobot  maker of Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners  in August 2022.

According to Politico, the FTC is still investigating the deal, and there is a sentiment within the agency that Amazon  the leading online retailer in the U.S. market  should not be allowed to purchase the largest manufacturer of a popular product sold via its platform.

This sentiment is based on concerns Amazon will favor Roomba over competing brands, withhold Roomba from competing retailers, and that acquiring iRobot will add to Amazons control in the connected home devices market, raise privacy risks and increase the companys control over consumer data.

According to Politico, Amazon has been largely unresponsive to the FTCs investigation so far, refusing to turn over information requested by the agency.

Amazons iRobot acquisition isnt the only line of inquiry the FTC is pursuing against the company, Politico reported. Other potential legal actions may include:

A wide-ranging antitrust case against Amazons retail operations, including the companys practice of bundling services through its Prime subscription platform and its use of competitor data to out-muscle rival retailers.

A case against an alleged dark pattern  referring to the difficulty consumers report in unsubscribing from Amazon services such as Prime, as well as claims that consumers have been tricked into subscribing to more expensive subscription services than they intended.

A deceptive advertising investigation into the companys Amazon Choice label, which it applies to some products in its online marketplace, based on allegations that Amazon may apply this label on a pay-to-play basis and use that to promote the placement of products in search results.

Privacy investigations into Amazons Ring camera and security system business, for which FTC staff have previously recommended the agency file a lawsuit.

Fox News reported Wednesday that the FTC also is looking into becoming a regulator and overseer of artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

Amazon has become a key player in the AI field, with a March 27 story in the WSJ reporting that it and other Big Tech companies are increasingly promoting AI as a central component of their cloud computing businesses.

Cloud computing businesses, namely those of Amazon and Microsoft, are under scrutiny by U.K. telecommunications regulator Ofcom for possible antitrust violations, CNN reported Wednesday.

TechCrunch reported Tuesday that Amazon is investing in an incubator for generative AI startups around the world, while CNBC reported on March 28 that Amazon sellers are increasingly turning to the popular AI tool ChatGPT to write product listings.

In reference to potential FTC actions against Amazon, the WSJs Feb. 3 report stated, The timing of any case remains in flux and the agency may opt not to proceed.

However, Politico reported that the FTC is under immense pressure to bring a successful antitrust case against Amazon after allowing two large-scale acquisitions by the company to proceed.

This includes Amazons $8.5 billion purchase of MGM Studios in March 2022, and its $3.9 billion acquisition of primary care provider One Medical in July 2022. The latter deal closed on Feb. 22.

According to Politico, the FTC investigated Amazons One Medical purchase and found evidence of anticompetitive behavior, including ending its Amazon Care medical service and purchasing One Medical instead.

However, the FTC allowed the deal to proceed because it was seen as too hard of a case to win, in part because it would be too challenging to define exactly what market Amazon was monopolizing.

The FTC faces difficulties with cases against Big Tech companies in part because they control all the data that enforcers need to build a case, Politico reported.

This issue was the topic of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in March by Amanda Lewis, an attorney and partner with Cuneo, Gilbert and Laduca, who previously worked with the FTC.

In a June 2020 research paper published in the First Monday journal, a team of technology and communication researchers found, Big global tech firms often have treasure troves of data, perhaps greater than most of the nation state governments.

Such data are hidden from public view, the researchers said, characterizing this as troubling, on the basis that algorithms are increasingly used to make consequential decisions with high stakes implications on peoples lives.

Amazon has claimed the FTC, in investigating issues such as allegations of anticompetitive behavior involving Amazon Prime, is making excessive and unreasonable demands on founder Jeff Bezos and the companys executives, who were subpoenaed. The FTC has mostly rejected these claims.

Amazon has previously reached a $60 million settlement in an FTC lawsuit that claimed the company illegally withheld tips from some delivery drivers.

The company has also faced scrutiny from overseas regulators. In December 2022, the EU and Amazon settled two antitrust cases related to allegations regarding the companys treatment of third-party sellers using its platform.

As part of the settlement, Amazon agreed to give third-party sellers an equal shot at being selected as the default option in Amazons Buy Box service and to qualify for its Prime shipping program. The company also agreed to abstain from using nonpublic data about sellers on its marketplace to compete against them in the EU.

However, Amazon was not fined as part of this settlement.

In January, Amazon was fined $60,269 by the U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for workplace safety violations that compromised worker health, including placing them at higher risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Amazon also faces state-level antitrust suits.

In December 2022, the District of Columbia filed an antitrust suit regarding Amazon Flex, a delivery service offered by the company. According to the lawsuit, the company encouraged consumers to tip its delivery drivers, claiming the entire amount would go to those drivers. However, it is alleged that the tips were used to subsidize wages.

Previously, in September 2022, California filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, alleging that Amazon penalizes sellers for listing products at lower prices on competing websites. Upon discovering this, the lawsuit claims, Amazon would often remove the Buy Now and Add to Cart buttons from that products listing on its platform.

A bid by Amazon to dismiss the California lawsuit was rejected by a court on Friday.

Other Big Tech companies under FTC scrutiny

The FTC and other arms of the federal government have, in recent years, increased their pursuit of Big Tech companies on the basis of both antitrust and consumer protection laws, Bloomberg reported.

In 2020, a 449-page report by the House Antitrust Subcommittee, to which Khan was a contributor, focused on Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta, finding that Amazon had monopoly power over sellers on its site, bullied its retail partners and improperly used seller data in order to compete with its rivals.

The FTC sued Facebook in 2020, accusing the company of purchasing and then freezing out small startups. According to the WSJ, the case is still pending.

More broadly, the FTC has placed corporate data collection practices under scrutiny in recent years. This included a still-pending 2022 settlement against WW International, Inc., formerly known as Weight Watchers, for improperly collecting and storing childrens data.

CNET reported that these settlements have helped raise awareness of the amount of data collected and stored by household devices and apps, including the options available to adjust settings to increase user privacy.

The DOJ has also filed two antitrust lawsuits against Alphabet Inc.  one in January based on allegations the company is monopolizing digital advertising, and a 2020 lawsuit alleging the company engaged in unlawful exclusionary practices to maintain its search business dominance.

Alphabet, Inc. has reportedly stacked its legal team with former DOJ employees as it prepares to fight those cases.

In turn, the FTC is preparing an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, based on a long-running investigation over allegations the company abused its market power to stifle competitors and smaller tech firms.

Politico reported these actions  including the pursuit of lawsuits against Amazon  began in 2019 under the tenure of former FTC Chair Joseph Simons, a Republican. Such actions have since continued under Khan.

And in December 2022, the FTC filed a lawsuit to block Microsofts $69 billion purchase of video game developer Activision Blizzard, alleging that the deal would place the company in a position to suppress competitors to its Xbox gaming platform.

Not all such efforts have been successful, however.

In February 2022, for instance, the FTC withdrew its pursuit of an action against Facebook regarding the companys acquisition of virtual reality content producer Within.

Eleanor Fox, LL.B., a law professor emeritus at New York University and antitrust expert, told The Defender that this recent defeat isnt likely to deter the FTC from pursuing similar actions, including against Amazon. She said:

The FTCs loss regarding Meta Within is not likely to deter them. They have a vision, they want to carry it forward, they want to incorporate it in their litigation efforts, and they will pursue it.

Read more at: ChildrensHealthDefense.org
(Natural News) Chicago residents had enough of Mayor Lori Lightfoot after her tumultuous years as the citys first openly gay black chief executive, because they hated her policies that made them less safe.

But on Tuesday, when residents went to the polls, they chose to replace her with a candidate cut from the exact same left-wing extremist cloth.

Gone was her toxic attitude. Her flippant dismissal of the citys many crises. Her dismal record on crime. And her destruction of police morale, said a Wireports op-ed discussing her ousting. She was an absolute failure by any measure. From the beginning, she was more interested in imposing a progressive vision and an equity agenda on Chicago than enacting the many reforms the city needed.

So Chicagoans kicked out Lightfoot. Change was possible, the op-ed continued.

However, what the people of Chicago elected on April 4 was someone who was more radical and completely contrary to what the city requires, the writers noted.

To decrease Chicagos high homicide rate, the city required a new mayor who would confront Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxxs reluctance to prosecute violent offenders. A mayor who would oppose Judge Tim Evans agenda of reducing incarceration. A mayor who would be willing to close the revolving door of the criminal justice system, they said.

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson wont do any of that. Instead, look for him to embrace the policies of Foxx and Evans. In his own words, hes for defunding the police and defends looting as an outbreak of incredible frustration and anguish tied to a failed racist system,' they wrote. Watch for police morale to fall further, for criminals to be emboldened and for crime to continue to spike in Chicago.

Similarly, to improve Chicagos poor educational outcomes, including the fact that only 1 in 20 black students in Chicago Public Schools can perform math at their grade level, the city needed a mayor who prioritizes math and reading proficiency and values educational excellence, merit, and achievement. However, Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union do not fit the bill. Johnson has advocated for eliminating standards, reducing homework, and minimizing test preparation, all in the name of rebelling against the structure. Johnsons focus on equity over excellence will also have detrimental effects on the education of children in Chicago, opined the authors.

Watch for student outcomes to worsen as standards are removed, they said.

Chicago required a new mayor who would improve the economic climate and make the city affordable by expanding the tax base instead of increasing the tax rate. The city also needed a leader who would attract companies to the area rather than blaming them for social problems.

New Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson blames the citys poverty and crime on corporations not paying enough taxes. Chicago gets everything it deserves with this one. Voters had a chance, and they said, Hey, lets get someone even crazier than Lori Lightfoot. pic.twitter.com/Oie8ne5sFp  Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) April 6, 2023

However, Johnson has promised to focus on businesses and the wealthy to fund his social programs, which could lead to further outflow of business and finance leaders like Ken Griffin and Citadel, and Boeing, who have already left. This could cause significant harm to the citys economy, the authors continued.

Here in Chicago, the public is in crisis right now [with] the violence on the streets, families suffering for so many shootings that are going on, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez told Fox & Friends host Ainsley Earhardt on Tuesday as the polls opened across the city.

I really believe that the public safety plan that Paul Vallas has in place, to me, reflects who I am and what I believe in. I believe he has the plan to address it [crime] and, right now, the other candidate  all hes [Johnson] ever talked about is defunding the police, and I really believe that our police need more resources, Martinez added.

Well, Chicagoans  a majority of them, anyway  are likely going to be disappointed in Johnson as mayor if hes going to be as bad as predicted. But as was the case with electing Lightfoot, they wont have anyone to blame but themselves.

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

Wirepoints.org
(Natural News) The University of Florida has created a radical diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) bureaucracy that promotes racial and political preferences in faculty hiring, encourages white employees to engage with a twelve-step program called Racists Anonymous, and maintains racially segregated scholarship programs that violate federal civil rights law.

(Article by Christopher F. Rufo republished from City-Journal.org)

I have obtained a cache of internal documents via Sunshine Law records requests revealing the stunning scope, scale, and radicalism of UFs diversity and inclusion programs. Officially, the university has reported to Governor Ron DeSantis that it hosts 31 DEI initiatives at a cost of $5 million per year. But these figures dont capture the extent of the universitys rapidly growing DEI complex. In reality, DEI is not a series of standalone programs but an ideology that has been embedded in virtually every department on campus. (In an email, a University of Florida spokesman declined to answer specific questions about UFs DEI bureaucracy and claimed that the university is not indoctrinating.)

These changes happened quickly. Following the death of George Floyd in May 2020, UF leaders rolled out a massive number of diversity-focused initiatives. In July 2020, chief diversity officer Antonio Farias organized a university-wide plan for antiracism measures, which included mandatory diversity training for all students, faculty, and staff; an entire academic year focused on the Black experience, racism and inequity; a presidential task force to explore the universitys racist past; recommendations for renaming buildings, removing monuments, and banning historic racist imagery; and a host of programs, speakers, workshops, and town halls dedicated to racialist ideology.

The programs quickly spread. Under chief diversity officer Marsha McGriff, who replaced Farias in December 2021, DEI blitzed through the university administration. According to internal documents, McGriffs three-year plan included the creation of an institutional equity and inclusion blueprint, the expansion of a university-wide DEI infrastructure, and the deployment of DEI cadres to each division, school, and college, to monitor and enforce DEI ideology at every level of the bureaucracy. As part of this program, the embedded cadres were tasked with conducting loyalty surveys, with questionnaires asking faculty and staff to rate their agreement with statements evaluating their units commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, financial support for DEI, and trainings on unconscious bias and micro-aggressions.

The institutional equity and inclusion blueprint has already had a major impact. Slides from a presentation on UFs six-month DEI inventory study, conducted by Damon Williams, a strategist for diversity leadership retained by the university, would appear to show that UF has created 1,018 separate DEI initiatives (slide 55). Williamss preliminary survey suggests that the process of ideological capture has spread throughout the universitys departments and divisions: 73 percent have a DEI committee and DEI officer; 70 percent espoused commitment to DEI; 53 percent have a DEI strategic plan; and 30 percent have DEI in annual reports and use DEI in performance review.

One area of focus for the DEI bureaucrats is to forcibly recompose the racial demographics of the professoriate. In 2021, DEI officials administered a survey to measure affirmative action efforts in faculty hiring and to question departments about their commitment to DEI-style hiring. The list of favored practices included specific formal training in diversity, equity, and inclusion, advertising through organizations formed around DEI identity, retaining an equity specialist to advise search committees, explicit race-based recruiting of individuals from historically underrepresented groups, and measuring current workforce demographics against targets and benchmarks.

The message from the top is not hard to decipher: departments must stack the deck in favor of racial minorities and use racial identity, rather than pure academic merit, as a key qualification in faculty hiring. And the administration will be watchingDEI bureaucrats are maintaining a spreadsheet of departments and faculty that comply with these practices and those that do not.

In addition, UFs Human Resources department has established an inclusive hiring hub that offers trainings, guidelines, and an official Inclusive Hiring Badge in support of race-based hiring. As part of this initiative, faculty are encouraged to submit to racial training programs and participate in racially segregated conversation groups, or affinity groups. The universitys official inclusive hiring rubric explicitly prioritizes commitments to DEI ideology as part of the faculty hiring process, elevating commitment to diversity as one of the key competencies for job candidates. Other recommendations include a mandatory statement on diversity and inclusion, which, in practice, serves as a political loyalty test.

How does the HR bureaucracy view white faculty and staff? With derision. In a multi-day training program called Connected by UF, for example, the HR department and gender studies professor Trysh Travis lectured employees about their white privilege, white fragility, and the unearned advantages of whiteness. These supposed aspects of white racial identity, according to Travis, require diagnosis and follow-up to achieve a cure. As part of their personal journey, white participants were encouraged to engage with a twelve-step program called Racists Anonymous and internalize a series of mantras, including: We admit our collective history is rooted in white supremacy; I have come to admit that I am powerless over my addiction to racism; I believe that only a power greater than me can restore me in my humanness to the non-racist creature as God designed me to be. The ultimate goal? According to one featured resource: the abolition of whiteness.

The UF Counseling & Wellness Center has also become a hotbed of racial ideology. In 2021, the counseling department held a training program, Healing and Transforming Racial Trauma in the Counseling Field, that was designed, in the words of speaker Sandra Kim, to dismantle white supremacy, patriarchy, [and] exploitive capitalism, which are based on pathological whiteness.

The event resembled something of an intersectionality competition, with presentersall professional-class academics, therapists, and consultantstaking turns positioning themselves with multi-hyphenated oppressed identities and claiming complex ancestral traumas. They translated the basic narrative of critical race theory into therapeutic terms, arguing that counselors must practice intersectionality-oriented care that transforms the personal into the politicaland demand an overturning of societys basic structures. While whites might have an individual identity, explained UF counseling professor Ana Puig, minorities have a collectivistic identity and, therefore, healing personal trauma is only possible through political liberation.

Today, Counseling & Wellness Center continues to use psychotherapy as a vehicle for ideology. Administrators and therapists hold racially segregated group-therapy sessionsalways organized with a political valenceand promote resources from the activist organization Academics for Black Survival and Wellness, which accuses whites of white terrorism and encourages blacks to perform black resistance. In this program, one presenter argues that whites are guilty of physical repression, beatings, whippings, police brutalization, racial programs, [and] psychological torture. Another claims that the culture of academia itself is an oppressive environment that also perpetuates the institutionalized effects of white terror.

The objective is not academic scholarship, but Marxist activism: We got to save life in the universe from these capitalists in America. Theyre out to destroy every damn thing. So thats the mission.

UFs descent into race-based ideology affects student programs, too. Scholarships and other opportunities have turned into something resembling a spoils system, punishing members of the oppressor class and rewarding members of the oppressed class. The university administers and promotes a range of scholarships that explicitly prohibit whites, and sometimes Asians, from applying. The UF/Santa Fe College Faculty Development Project, Minority Teacher Education Scholarship, and McKnight Doctoral Fellowship, to name a few, all prohibit white students from submitting applications, with the latter also excluding Asian students. These racially segregated programs violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but as DEI ideology has become ubiquitous in higher education, administrators have grown accustomed to violating the law with little consequence.

Fortunately, legislators in Tallahassee have taken notice. House Republicans have proposed legislation that would eliminate DEI programming at all Florida public universities. They need to recognize, though, that DEI has embedded itself in every department, program, and initiative. It will take continued vigilance and aggressive enforcement to root out DEI and restore academic excellence as the guiding light of Floridas public university system.

Read more at: City-Journal.org
(Natural News) Dr. Eric Nepute and attorney Tom Renz believe that House Bill (HB) 1169  which advocates for truth and transparency  wont pass in the Missouri House of Representatives. This is because both Democrats and Republicans in name only (RINOs), the latter heeding advice by lobbyists, will shoot it down.

The two shared their thoughts on the matter during the April 4 episode of Real Talk with Dr. Eric Nepute on Brighteon.TV. Renz began by expounding on the two-page legislation introduced by State Rep. Holly Jones. According to him, HB 1169 seeks to amend Chapter 196 of the Missouri Revised Statutes by adding three new sections related to required disclosures for certain products.

It requires anything that has gene-therapy qualities be labeled gene-therapy product and get information about how it can shed or transmit, the attorney said. [This should be done for] any product that acts as a medical intervention, like a drug or a vaccine that youd be given informed consent.

If approved, the amendment would apply to any entity that produces, sells or distributes a product that can infect an individual with a disease or expose an individual to genetically modified material. These include, but are not limited to vaccines, gene therapies, drugs and medical interventions.

Entities would also be required to provide all information related to the ways in which individuals who did not directly obtain or use such product may be exposed to the product or a component of the product.

Lastly, any entity described in the above provision shall provide the information requested as soon as reasonably practicable, but at least within 21 days after receipt of the written request.

Nepute: HB 1169 opponents taking marching orders from ag lobbyists

While the Lawfare with Tom Renz host stressed that the Democratic state representatives would obviously oppose the bill, the problem lies with the fact that the Cave State is a RINO state. He named four GOP state lawmakers most likely to vote against HB 1169: State Reps. Dave Hinman, Jeff Farnan, Mike Haffner and Dane Diehl. Incidentally, all four are on the Missouri House Emerging Issues Committee.

Nepute told Renz that he went to speak with the said congressmen to find out why they are opposing the bill. The St. Louis chiropractor got a shocking response: He was told to reach out to the agriculture lobbyists.

Theyre getting their marching orders from the lobbyists, Nepute said, pointing out that some of the state lawmakers think that HB 1169 was too broad. The chiropractor recalled asking what particular item in the bill could be too broad, if they are any proposed changes in its working and how could the bill be fixed.

Nepute said: Every single one of them that are voting no said, I dont really have an answer for that. Usually, I get my talking point and I can walk away.

Renz reacted to Neputes remarks: This is absolute gobbledygook. Its two pages, it just says If youre screwing with my genes or providing a medical intervention, you got to disclose it. You [have got to] give me informed consent. Thats not too broad.

Watch the full April 4 episode of Real Talk with Dr. Eric Nepute featuring Tom Renz below. Catch new episodes of the program every Thursday at 2-3 p.m. and Saturday at 9-10 a.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

50 groups target Bill Gates on farming and technology: You are part of creating the very problem you name.

Bill Gates quietly pushing globalist-backed FAKE MEAT by investing in companies that manufacture it.

Nearly 2 in 10 cows injected with mRNA vaccine DIE almost instantly.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

House.MO.gov [PDF]
Elon Musk has decided to play games with the Twitter headquarters lease in San Francisco. Looking for ways around building signage obligations to service an immature joke, Musk has painted over the "W" on Twitter's sign.

Initially, Musk attempted to cover Twitter's "W" with a tarp. When the building's landlord pointed out that Twitter's lease disallows signage other than the company name, Musk sought to camouflage the W otherwise. I guess this demonstrates the "hardcore" work ethic Musk demands of his employees, he will go to any length for a bad joke.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1645266104351178752

Good grief.

Gizmodo:
(Natural News) Nineteen-year-old William Whitworth, a biological male who now identifies as Lilly, is the latest deranged transgender to plot the murder of children at his alma mater.

According to the 18th Judicial District Attorneys office, Whitworth is facing murder charges following an investigation into threats involving schools in Colorado Springs Academy District 20.

The Elbert County Sheriffs Office (ECSO) arrested and formally charged Whitworth with criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree (two counts), criminal mischief, menacing, and interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions.

Whitworth attended school in Colorado Springs Academy District 20 between 2014 and 2016, a spokesperson from the district told local media. He attended both in-person and at the districts Homeschool Academy.

The confused young mans story made headlines after ECSO dispatchers responded to a disturbance in incorporated Elbert County on March 31, 2023, at 7:18 p.m. Dispatch reported that:

 Sister just made a violent approach to Reporting Party (RP)

 Sister threatened to shoot up a school

 Sister has ever anger issues

 Sister made comments day before yesterday referencing school shooting

All such mentions of sister are referring to Whitworth, who self-identifies as a female due to LGBT trans programming.

(Related: Whitworths story is eerily similar to that of Nashville trans shooter Audrey Hale.)

Why are so many transgenders all of a sudden plotting school shootings?

Upon gaining entry into the home, police officers discovered someone inside who was very upset and punched holes inside the walls. That person was Lilly, who uses she and her pronouns rather than the he and him pronouns that match his biological sex.

While trying to interview Whitworth, officers noted that he appeared to be very drowsy and could not stay awake, nodding off as officers asked him if he planned to shoot up a school. Whitworth did respond in the affirmative to the questioning, suggesting that he was, in fact, planning to shoot up Timberview Middle School in District 20 for no specific reason.

For a month or two, Whitworth had been planning the ambush, complete with a layout of the school, active firearm preparation, and the creation of a manifesto. Investigators found this manifesto, as well as a dry-erase board with floor plans of the school and a list of names in a notebook.

Officers also claim to have found a copy of The Communist Manifesto inside Whitworths home, along with writings inside about ways I want to die. As for the manifesto, it reportedly contained details such as:

 A list of firearms and how to 3D print them

 Detailed lists of individual names to be slaughtered

 Information detailing how to create improvised explosive devices

 The finalization of locations, including Timberview Middle School, Prairie Hills Elementary School, and Pine Creek High School

Another notebook contained a shrine, of sorts, to other past mass shooters, serial killers, politicians, and entertainers, along with commentary on each of them. Below is a list of names as reported in the affidavit:

 Eric and Dylan: Losers

 Adam Lanza: To [sic] smart

 Isreal [sic] Keyes: Degenerate

 Lauren Southern: Pathetic

 Vaush: Terrorist

 Donald J. Trump: Con-mam [sic]

 Bad cops: Useless garbage

 Stockholm, Name: Liam K.

According to reports, a preliminary hearing for Whitworth is scheduled for May 5, 2023. His bond is currently set at $75,000.

Unfortunately, when its a criminal case, theres very little we can say. It doesnt belong to us; it belongs to the DAs office. But what we can do is share the information that were allowed to do and reassure our families that were doing all of the right things, said ASD20 Chief Communication Officer Allison Cortez about these developments.

The latest news about trans shootings and other trans threats against American society can be found at Transhumanism.news.

Sources for this article include:

KRDO.com

NaturalNews.com

Fox21News.com
(Natural News) A new law has been signed into effect in Idaho making it a crime for doctors to give children gender-affirming operations or medications.

The new law was signed by Idaho Governor Brad Little and is known as the Vulnerable Child Protection Act. It states that healthcare professionals who knowingly perform operations or give children medications such as puberty blockers to affirm the childs perception of the childs sex if that perception is inconsistent with the childs biological sex could face felony charges and up to 10 years in prison.

The law also explicitly lists surgeries that involve genital mutilation and sterilization that are banned in the state for those under the age of 18. These include phalloplasty, vaginoplasty and mastectomy. In addition, children may not be supplied with puberty blockers or any other type of medication that can cause infertility, even if it is temporary, or profound morphologic changes.

An exception will only be made for children who are born with a genetic disorder related to sex development that can be medically verified. This might include, for example, those who lack sex steroid hormone production or the traditional sex chromosome structure.

The bill was passed by the Idaho Senate in a 22-12 vote and passed the House in a 58-12 vote. It goes into effect on January 1, 2024.

In a statement to lawmakers, Governor Little wrote: In signing this bill, I recognize our society plays a role in protecting minors from surgeries or treatments that can irreversibly damage their healthy bodies. However, as policymakers we should take great caution whenever we consider allowing the government to interfere with loving parents and their decisions about what is best for their children.

Indiana governor signs a similar bill into law

A similar bill was recently signed in Indiana by Republican Governor Eric Holcomb. Under the new legislation, which goes into effect on July 1, physicians and other healthcare providers who give minors gender-affirming care such as transitioning surgery, hormone therapy or puberty blockers will be subjected to discipline by regulatory boards.

In a statement, Holcomb expressed his belief that these medical interventions are only appropriate in adulthood given their irreversible nature but said that mental healthcare for such individuals could be useful.

Permanent gender-changing surgeries with lifelong impacts and medically prescribed preparation for such a transition should occur as an adult, not as a minor. There has and will continue to be debate within the medical community about the best ways to provide physical and mental health care for adolescents who are struggling with their own gender identity, and it is important that we recognize and understand those struggles are real, he noted.

Opponents claim that the bill, which is clearly aimed at protecting children, will cause them harm instead and may even increase suicide rates among teenagers. However, in the most comprehensive follow-up study that is currently available, extending across three decades in Sweden, a country known for supporting transgender people, the suicide rate of individuals who had subjected themselves to sex reassignment surgery climbed to 20 times that seen in comparable peers 10 to 15 years after their operation.

According to neurologists, the rational part of the human brain is not fully developed until around age 25. This means that teenagers are not in a good position to make highly risky and irreversible life-changing medical decisions that involve mutilating their bodies and damaging their chances of reproducing, potentially setting themselves up for a lifetime of regret. For those who are struggling to accept themselves, therapy can often provide relief without putting their life in danger.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Heritage.org

Edition.CNN.com

URMC.Rochester.edu
(Natural News) There is much debate over whether or not the administration of messenger RNA (mRNA) Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines in meat animals will in any way affect the quality of the meat. The establishment is suggesting that fully vaccinated meat is just as safe as natural meat, but what does the science say?

On Jan. 31, 2022, MIT News published a piece revealing that RNA vaccines deliver therapies for gastrointestinal disease straight through the stomach and intestines. This would imply that the drugs distribute into the body, including in muscle tissue.

The article is very straightforward, and our readers are encouraged to read through it for themselves to see what MIT had to say versus what the government and media are now saying in defense of mRNA vaccine administration in meat animals.

(Related: Check out our earlier coverage about the introduction of mRNA vaccines for livestock, and what you can do to try to avoid buying contaminated meat.)

Does mRNA persist like many believe, or does it degrade like the government claims?

The general public is now wide awake about the threat of mRNA, and many who deliberately avoided taking the mRNA jabs during the pandemic worry that the food they are eating might vaccinate them without their knowledge and consent.

One meat producer, Alderspring Ranch and Organic Beef Matters, responded to inquiries it has been receiving lately about the use of mRNA vaccines in meat cattle. Here is what Glenn Elzinga of Alderspring Ranch had to say:

When researching this subject, I found it very clear that no company is yet offering mRNA animal vaccines on the open market. First of all, no one drug company has laid claim to be the first to produce it, or put methodologies in place that would allow for mass production. Second, I found many articles (some very recent) stating that the grant process is still ongoing. In other words, animal pharmaceutical production companies are just now getting money to explore the new technology for all classes of livestock.

This is somewhat reassuring, but what about in the future when mRNA vaccines become commercially available for American livestock? Elzinga says it is still unknown if mRNA will transfer into the meat that people eat. The government says no, of course, but the government is known to lie.

More than likely, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) will require at least a 30-day delay period between the last use of the drug and the slaughter of the animal, the idea being that the mRNA will no longer be persistent after that time.

Most mRNA research indicates that denaturing of the genetic material occurs within several days of vaccination, Elzinga argues. If it so happens that somehow mRNA material remains intact through ingestion, most scientists argue that mRNA is fairly fragile and would not survive the acidic environment of the stomach.

To be clear, Elzinga is against the use of mRNA in animals. He says he has no interest in or plans to eat mRNA vaccinated animal products.

Simply put, I will not eat them, he writes.

Unfortunately for the average consumer, not every meat producer raises animals naturally and organically like Alderspring Ranch does. And since animal vaccines, as well as human vaccines, all seem to be moving in the direction or mRNA, chances are that in the future all commercial meat will be contaminated with it to some degree  which is why it is important to source clean, pasture-raised meat and animal products from places like Alderspring Ranch, or a ranch near you, as opposed to buying it conventionally from the grocery store.

More related news about the threat of mRNA poisoning in the American food supply can be found at Frankenfood.news.

Sources for this article include:

MIT.edu

NaturalNews.com

Alderspring.com
(Natural News) The RESTRICT ACT, if passed, will allow the US government to seize any computer of any American who questions authority, narratives, elections, pandemics, vaccines, pharmaceutical drugs, climate change, or genetically modified food. This is what is written into the so-called Anti-TikTok bill, and the Democrats in Washington DC, led by the Chinese Communist Party, dont want any Americans to realize this is the final nail in the coffin of the Republic we all once knew as a free country.

The RESTRICT ACT means the US government can call any American a domestic terrorist and put them in prison indefinitely for just allegedly thinking about questioning any given narrative, meaning fake news on TV will communicate the new government rules, laws, and mandates as complete communist propaganda that can never be criticized again. If anyone dares challenge the corrupt Biden Regime, their automobiles computer, especially a self-driving one, can be seized at any moment and controlled in order to mitigate risk that you may be a domestic terrorist driving around with explosives and planning to bomb something, somewhere, maybe.

If AI (artificial intelligence) runs an algorithm on social media, for example, that adds up several memes someone posted about falsified election ballots by dead people and illegal immigrants, and the likelihood of the person committing a hate crime (could be anything, even just name calling) seems high, then the FBI will be informed, and they will raid the persons house at dawn, seize all of their assets, their children, their food, their guns, their home, and it can all be based on quasi-AI.

Restrict Act allows US government to imprison anyone for anything at anytime for any reason they want, as long as they say you are countering their narrative

Do you have any cryptocurrency? If you are suspected of being a conservative, republican, patriot, or dedicated American, your money can be shut off, like a faucet, at any moment. Any cryptocurrency you have, even if encrypted, will be hacked by government goons who seize your computer and smart devices. This is written in specific and expressed language in the RESTRICT ACT.

Every realm of communication will be run by the tyrannical regime, including all e-commerce, all technology, all online retail, and all payment technology. Get it? That means they can shut down any business anywhere anytime for any reason they come up with, real or fabricated. Its a shut-down-first, ask-questions-later style communist manifesto. Action will be taken. These insane new laws will NEVER be lifted until a complete revolution rises up and overthrows the dictatorship of the globalist cabal (world mafia).

It would govern all information and transactions in nearly every realm of communication, technology, and industrialization, including the following:

(A) artificial intelligence and machine learning;

(B) quantum key distribution;

(C) quantum communications;

(D) quantum computing;

(E) post-quantum cryptography;

(F) autonomous systems;

(G) advanced robotics;

(H) biotechnology;

(I) synthetic biology;

(J) computational biology; and

(K) e-commerce technology and services, including any electronic techniques for accomplishing business transactions, online retail, internet-enabled logistics, internet-enabled payment technology, and online marketplaces.

In other words, the RESTRICT ACT allows the government to seize the domain names, assets, computers, e-commerce, etc., of anyone who opposes the governments position on anything. That means if you post something on social media that counters the climate change hoax, for instance, the US government, under the RESTRICT ACT, could seize control of the computer in your car and steer you into oncoming traffic, off the side of a cliff, or into a brick wall, all in the name of mitigating risk to the USA and ensuring national security!

Keep your truth news in check by adding Preparedness.news to your favorites list and tuning in daily for updates on real news about surviving and thriving in the face of CCP-led US government tyranny.

Sources for this article include:

Censored.news

GovTrack.us

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The Lone Star State is preparing to take yet another step to ensure Texans have a stable future as the U.S. economy continues to crater under the current Biden regime and the spend-a-holics on both sides of the aisle in Congress.

Proposed bills in the Texas House and Senate aim to establish a state-issued, gold-backed digital currency, providing an alternative option for individuals to conduct business with sound money.

The move would not only challenge the Federal Reserves monopoly on money but also create a potential rival to the central bank digital currency (CBDC). If the legislation passes, Texas would join a handful of US states that have taken steps to establish sound money alternatives to the US dollar, the currency info site SchiffGold.com reported.

Senate Bill 2334 (SB2334) was introduced by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R) on March 10, with a companion House Bill 4903 (HB4903) introduced by Rep. Mark Dorazio (R) on the same day. The proposed bills mandate that the state comptroller establishes a digital currency, backed by gold and redeemable in cash or gold, and creates a mechanism to use this currency in daily transactions, the sites report notes further.

In establishing the digital currency the comptroller shall establish a means to ensure that a person who holds the digital currency may readily transfer or assign the digital currency to any other person by electronic means, states the legislation.

The state would hold gold backing the currency in trust on behalf of the digital currency holders, the site reported.

The trustee shall maintain enough gold to provide for the redemption in gold of all units of the digital currency that have been issued and are not yet redeemed for money or gold, the legislation notes further.

Individuals in Texas would have the option to purchase digital currency from the state, which would then use the funds to purchase gold to be held in a secure vault like the Texas Bullion Depository. This gold-backed digital currency would be fully redeemable for cash or gold and could be used in everyday transactions.

A state-issued, gold-backed digital currency would provide an alternative for individuals and businesses to avoid a central bank digital currency (CBDC). Digital currencies are virtual banknotes or coins held in a digital wallet on a computer or smartphone.

Unlike peer-to-peer electronic cash such as Bitcoin, the value of a CBDC is backed and controlled by the government, similar to traditional fiat currency. The push for a CBDC stems from the war on cash which seeks to eliminate cash and allow the government to track and potentially control consumer spending.

A gold-backed digital currency would offer an alternative and potentially undermine the Federal Reserves monopoly on money, which appears to be the point Texas lawmakers are trying to make since the state has been stockpiling gold for years.

Nigeria is already trying to get people to accept its CBDC (with a great deal of resistance), and China, India, and the US have all launched pilot programs to test CBDCs, the SchiffGold report noted, adding a warning:

Imagine if there was no cash. It would be impossible to hide even the smallest transaction from the governments eyes. Something as simple as your morning trip to Starbucks wouldnt be a secret from government officials. As Bloomberg put it in an article published when China launched a digital yuan pilot program in 2020, digital currency offers Chinas authorities a degree of control never possible with physical money.

The government could even turn off an individuals ability to make purchases. Economist Thorsten Polleit outlined the potential for Big Brother-like government control with the advent of a digital euro in an article published by the Mises Wire. As he put it, the path to becoming a surveillance state regime will accelerate considerably if and when a digital currency is issued.

The creation of a state-issued gold-backed digital currency would create currency competition with Federal Reserve notes and undermine the Feds monopoly on money. It would also provide an alternative if the Federal Reserve implements a central bank digital currency, SchiffGold noted.

Sources include:

SchiffGold.com

NaturalNews.com

Mises.org
(Natural News) Controversy has erupted over a proposed plan in Toronto to decriminalize all drugs, including fentanyl and crack  including for children.

Not to be confused with legalization, decriminalization in this context merely means that those caught personally using a controlled substance, no matter their age, would no longer be arrested and imprisoned for drug crimes in Toronto.

The City of Toronto is asking the federal government of Canada to grant Health Canada an exemption for all controlled substance use within its jurisdiction. The entire province of British Columbia already did something similar last year, though that decriminalization plan does not apply to minors.

A report from the Toronto government states that decriminalization should be offered to all people in Toronto, including youth  no exceptions.

Under the plan, young people would no longer face criminal penalties for personal use of hard drugs. Instead, they would be offered rehabilitation and other health-based treatment programs, which would prevent them from becoming criminals within the existing criminal justice-based legal framework for drug use.

Criminalization does not effectively deter youth substance use, the report states. The data show that youth in Toronto between the ages of 12 and 17 use unregulated drugs and are vulnerable to the same harms associated with criminalization as adults.

(Related: Back in 2010, Christian Coalition founder and Republican candidate for president Pat Robertson, also of the 700 Club, likewise expressed support for decriminalization, stating that he does not believe young people should be arrested and imprisoned for using controlled substances.)

Decriminalization isnt legalization

Just to be clear, Torontos decriminalization plan would not apply to child care facilities, airports, or schools, all of which would still be off-limits for personal hard drug use. It should also be noted that producers, distributors, and dealers of hard drugs would still face criminal penalties under the decriminalization plan.

The Toronto Drug Strategy, or TDS, is described by the city as a comprehensive drug strategy for the City of Toronto based on four integrated parts  prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement.

All four parts are needed to effectively reduce the harms of alcohol and other drug use, the city says.

The plan includes a comprehensive set of actions designed to prevent and respond to overdoses. It further combines the knowledge and expertise of people who use drugs, their family and friends, and people working in the field with best practices to ensure that the right kind of help is given to addicts in need.

Again, the goal of such a program is not to encourage drug use, nor to legalize it. All decriminalization does is stop the criminal justice system from getting involved when a person is merely caught using a controlled substance. It aims to help a drug-addicted person find the help he or she needs to overcome a drug habit, rather than just throwing the person in prison to incur a criminal record.

A public health approach to drugs shifts addressing substance use away from the criminal justice system, the City of Toronto says. A public health approach enhances policies and laws that prevent, reduce and respond to the potential health harms associated with substances, while promoting overall well-being and respecting human rights.

Decriminalization is the removal of the criminal offence for the possession of drugs for personal use. There are many models of decriminalization used in other jurisdictions (e.g., models that use administrative penalties, fines, or involuntary treatment to replace criminalization). Torontos model of decriminalization does not replace criminalization with any alternative penalties.

The City of Toronto maintains that its decriminalization approach fully accounts for varying drug use patterns and the unpredictability of the toxic and contaminated supply, especially for those individuals who are most vulnerable to the harms of criminalization.

More related news can be found at Liberty.news.

Sources for this article include:

GreatGameIndia.com

NaturalNews.com

Toronto.ca
(Natural News) Yesterday, news broke that President Donald Trump could be indicted as soon as next week as a result of charges stemming from payments made to Stormy Daniels to keep an alleged affair between her and Trump quiet. Only hours ago, President Trump announced on his Truth Social account that he would be arrested on Tuesday.

(Article by Patty McMurray republished from 100PercentFedUp.com)

Do you remember when former President Bill Clinton paid Paula Jones $850,000 to go away? Do you remember the FBI raiding his lawyers office? Well, thats because the former happened and the latter did not.

In 1994, a former law clerk, Paula Jones, filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Little Rock, Arkansas, against President Bill Clinton for sexual harassment and defamation while he was the governor of Arkansas. In her suit, Jones asked for $700,000 in damages.

On November 13, 1998, President Clinton reached an out-of-court settlement with Jones for $850,000, putting an end to a lengthy four 1/2-year battle between Americas most accused serial sexual assault President and Jones. Why would President Clinton give Jones $150,000 MORE than what she asked for in her lawsuit? We will never know because Americas dishonest media didnt care. The corporate media, like the Clintons, just wanted the Jones case to go away, as Bill Clinton was in the initial stages of his impeachment trial over his repugnant affair with a young, 19-year-old White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.

While all of this was going on, there was no raid of Clintons attorneys offices. Despite multiple accusations of SEXUAL ASSAULT by women, including Jones, Clintons friend Kathleen E. Wiley and, of course, Juanita Broaddericks very credible accusation that she was raped by Bill Clinton. Yet, curiously, there were no threats of Bill Clintons arrest His attorney at the time was Robert S. Bennett.

As per a 1998 Washington Post article: President Clinton reached an out-of-court settlement with Paula Jones yesterday, agreeing to pay her $850,000 to drop the sexual harassment lawsuit that led to the worst political crisis of his career and only the third presidential impeachment inquiry in American history.

After more than 4 1/2 years of scorched-earth legal warfare, Clinton and Jones brought a sudden end to the case with a four-page deal in which he acknowledged no wrongdoing and offered no apology. The agreement, which will be filed with a federal appeals court considering whether the lawsuit should go forward, requires the president to pay within 60 days.

Robert S. Bennett, Clintons chief attorney in the case, said the president still insists Joness allegations of a crude proposition in a Little Rock hotel suite seven years ago are baseless but agreed to make the payment in the interest of finally putting the matter behind him.

The president has decided he is not prepared to spend one more hour on this matter, Bennett said. It is clear that the American people want their president and Congress to focus on the problems that they were elected to solve. This is a step in that direction.

The settlement foreclosed the possibility that Clintons personal life would be reopened for public inspection at a sensational trial had the lawsuit dismissed in April been reinstated, as many lawyers involved believed it would be. It also may help the presidents allies defend him against independent counsel Kenneth W. Starrs allegations that he lied and obstructed justice during the case while providing a new opportunity for the White House to cut a separate deal with Congress to drop impeachment proceedings.

Just hours before the settlement was inked yesterday, Starr sent new evidence to the House Judiciary Committee stemming from a witness in the Jones case, Kathleen E. Willey, who also accused Clinton of an unwelcome sexual advance.

So where did the funds for the $850,000 (hush money) payment to Paula Jones come from?

NYTs reports  Clinton Administration officials said a check for $850,000, the amount agreed to in November to settle the case, was being sent by overnight mail to Ms. Jones and her lawyers. The officials, who asked that their names not be used, said that a little more than half of the money, $475,000, came from an insurance policy against civil liability the President held with Chubb Group Insurance. Most, if not all, of the remainder, was withdrawn from a blind trust in the name of Mrs. Clinton, which officials said last year had assets of slightly more than $1 million. A blind trust that is in Mr. Clintons name was reported in financial disclosure forms last year to have less than $100,000 in assets. A White House official said that although the trusts were in separate names, they were, in effect, joint accounts.

So, if Hillary Clinton only reported that she had less than $100,000 in assets, where did the additional $279,000+ come from? Does anyone even care?

In an interview with Newsmax, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani reminds everyone of how easily Bill Clinton escaped having his disgusting behavior revealed by paying off Jones. He also swears Stormy Daniels is lying.

Read more at: 100PercentFedUp.com
(Natural News) The co-founder of the mobile payment service Cash App was killed in a stabbing incident in San Francisco.

The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) identified the victim as 43-year-old Bob Lee. According to law enforcement, Lee was attacked in the early morning of April 4 near Rincon Hill and the Bay Bridge. SFPD officers who responded to a report of a crime found an unconscious Lee suffering from stab wounds.

Officers called for medics who transported Lee to a nearby hospital, stated a police report. Unfortunately, the Cash App co-founder succumbed to his injuries and died. He left behind his wife Krista and their two children.

The SFPD said its homicide detail is investigating at the moment, and no arrests have been made in the case as of writing.

Prior to his death, Lee had been the incumbent chief product officer of MobileCoin. He also served as the first chief technology officer of digital payment company Square, which was established by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. During the 2000s, Lee worked at Google and assisted in the development of the Android mobile operating system.

There is no place for this kind of violent crime against anyone in our city, SFPD Chief Bill 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.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed also denounced Lees fatal stabbing in a statement to ABC News. She wrote that the Cash App founders death marks a horrible tragedy and that law enforcement is actively investigating what happened and will share details as soon as they can.

Musk questions violent crime in the City by the Bay

The New York Post reported that several bystanders turned a blind eye to Lee despite his obvious injuries, as captured by surveillance footage.

He initially walked up to a parked car that had its hazard lights on to ask for help, and even lifted his shirt to show the driver his wounds. However, the cars driver sped away as Lee collapsed to the ground. He staggered over to a nearby apartment building before collapsing a second time, but the front desk and lobby were devoid of people.

The Cash App co-founder fumbled with his phone, until the headlights of a passing car rushed in front of the building. He mustered enough strength to raise one arm and jump back on his feet in an attempt to flag down the car, but his efforts were in vain as the driver likewise sped away.

He then called 911 and yelled to dispatchers about his stabbing. SFPD officers then found him unconscious.

According to Lees friend and mixed martial artist Jake Shields, the Cash App co-founder was stabbed while walking. He was in the good part of the city and appeared to have been targeted in a random mugging/attack, Shields tweeted.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk spoke out against the violent crime in the city that claimed Lees life. He responded to Shields tweet: Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately. Musk also asked San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins if the City by the Bay was taking stronger action to incarcerate repeat offenders.

Watch Gabor Gabe Zolna talk about the arrest of the suspect responsible for the March 22 stabbing in Daytona, Florida below.

This video is from the zolnareport.com channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FBI report: Over twice as many people killed with knives or other cutting instruments compared to rifles.

Guns save the day after stabbing spree at gun-free California college leaves 5 injured.

Nashville Christian school shooter becomes second transgender biological female killer in recent years.

Sources include:

NBCBayArea.com

ABCNews.go.com

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Dr. Steven Hotze has blasted groomers disguised as public school teachers for indoctrinating the youth into participating in immoral and perverted activities.

The teachers are grooming the children in the schools to participate in perverted, immoral activities, he said during the April 3 episode of The Dr. Hotze Report on Brighteon.TV. He also lamented the fact that the younger generations have been diluted by pornography  thanks to classroom teachers.

Hotze stressed that the concept of gender fluidity is absurd, denouncing how it has become a social contagion and the in thing to do.

I believe its a satanic delusion, he said. You cant change that the chromosomes are set and fixed. You cant believe that youre a dog and identify as a dog. It doesnt make you a dog any more than if youre a man you go Im a woman. Youre no more a woman than the man on the moon.

Hotze also recalled the castigation he received from Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) over his remarks that doctors performing gender surgeries are pedophiles and perverts. According to the New Jersey senator, Hotze should not be doing this as he does not know if they really merit the label.

In response, the Texas physician said these doctors deserve the labels because they are sexualizing children.

If a man cuts off his penis, takes female hormones and dresses up like a woman and you dont consider that perversion, help me understand what perversion is in your eyes, Hotze told Menendez. I happen to believe anybody that commits child molestation  [should be charged with] a capital offense. (Related: Survey: 43% of Americans think acceptance of transgenderism has gone too far.)

Allan Parker shares major court victories with Hotze

Hotze discussed with his guest, Justice Foundation President Allan Parker, several court victories for freedom and liberty. The Justice Foundation is a nonprofit that seeks to protect the fundamental freedoms and rights essential to the preservation of American society by providing free legal services.

According to Parker, opportunities to turn America around have been emerging in the courts  serving as an encouragement for the people to continue to repent and return to God. He told Hotze: God gave us some major court victories that are essential for the Christian constitutional republic.

Parker recalled that on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government giving parents money to send their children to any school but Christian ones constituted religious discrimination and a denial of free exercise. According to [the U.S.] second President John Adams, our republic is only suited for religious and moral people  and you can only get religion and morality in your school.

The Justice Foundation president also discussed gun rights, highlighting the importance of the Second Amendment. The right to keep and bear arms has been under attack from leftists who are demanding gun control following the March 27 school shooting at Nashville, Tennessee. It is the right of the people to bear arms and keep arms in their homes, said Parker.

Lastly, he discussed the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling, which took away the constitutional right to abortion. It led to the overturn of the Roe v. Wade ruling after almost 50 years and paved the way for individuals U.S. states to ban abortion.

At least now, weve stopped fueling some of the demonic power that comes from the shedding of innocent blood, Parker told Hotze. The demons are being weakened because at least 14 or 15 states have banned abortion.

Visit Evil.news for more stories about transgenderism and abortion.

Watch the full April 3 episode of The Dr. Hotze Report with Justice Foundation President Allan Parker below. Catch new episodes of the program every Monday at 5-6 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

Nashville shooting aftermath: Anti-gun and pro-transgender activists storm state capitol buildings.

Dr. Steven Hotze testifies before Texas State Senate on bills protecting children from transgenderism  Brighteon.TV

Transgender HHS official confirms that Biden fully supports child mutilations.

Biden refuses to address harrowing Nashville shooting in live report, blabs about ice cream and kids instead.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Founders.Archives.gov
(Natural News) Just about 60 years ago, secret clinical tests were run on pregnant women in Australia that left their children with horrific birth defects. The women were used like guinea pigs, given a morning sickness drug called thalidomide (Distaval), and their babies were born with miniature arms, legs, hands, feet, and some deformed faces and private parts. The women were given the dangerous drug before any tests whatsoever had been done on pregnant laboratory animals to determine if thalidomide could harm the fetuses, according to official documentation. Records show the drug went public (by prescription and over-the-counter) in 1960, and was marketed with brochures bragging about its exceptional safety. Imagine that.

Today, theres a different grand experiment going on with children and teens, and many are winding up with horrific deformations, genital mutilations, dysfunctional excretory organs, fertility issues, libido malfunction, scars. These gender-bender surgery victims often suffer from post-surgery depression, anxiety, and some commit suicide. According to the Gender Mapping Project, there are more than 200 gender-bender clinics in America that prey on children, looking to make tens of thousands of dollars off experimental, dangerous surgery to pretend theyve changed a childs gender.

Castration surgery, castration drugs, hormone pills, puberty blockers, and top and bottom surgery can all cause cancer, deformations, severe depression

Many surgeons who perform gender-bender surgeries are trying to play God, and its all about the money, because the aftereffects for youth are quite destructive, permanent, and often disabling. Is it not already bad enough that some babies are unfortunately born with birth defects, missing fingers, or genitals, or have a cleft lip?

We dont need Big Pharma running drug trials on pregnant women where the drugs give their babies horrific deformations the child will suffer with his/her whole life. And we certainly dont need doctors playing God and surgically removing a boys penis because he wants to pretend hes a girl, or some surgeons removing a girls breasts and clitoris to build a fake penis, sometimes leaving her infertile, scarred for life, and living in regret forever, just because she wanted to pretend she was a boy for a little while.

The whole transgender and gender fluid movement has spun totally out of control. Its not really about cross-dressing or just being gay anymore, its all about coercing children and teens to be perverted, think about sex and sexuality all day, and then go under the knife and drugs to transform into something they are NOT.

The severely deformed children of Thalidomide compared to the mutilated children of the gender affirmation nation

As the Obama and Biden Regimes influence America to become a communist country that denounces belief in God, turns everyone into broke drug addicts, and convinces everyone that sex-thinking is all-important 24/7/365, we are witnessing thousands of deformed children and teens who fell for the gender affirmation movement of gender dysphoria and trans-crazed mania that has infested America.

The aftermath of the Thalidomide scandal did not just fade away or end with compensation for the victims. Those kids are/were deformed for life, just like the gender-bender surgery victims are today. Think its not an experiment? It is. Now, instead of malformed limbs, they have deformed genitalia, huge scars where their breasts were, fake penises that dont work, a fake clitoris that has no feeling, and regrets that dont go away with medication or reverse surgery.

Its silent shock, like the Thalidomide horrors, and thousands of victims are well aware they made a huge mistake, or were conned into it by brainwashing adults and twisted social media propaganda. Now many of them are suing the surgeons that performed these gender-bender mutilation surgeries.

From Big Pharma to Woke Culture  Take a look at the Thalidomide kids

Now compare them to the child, teen, and young adult victims of gender mutilation woke culture surgeries

Tune your internet to Gender.news for updates on millions of American youth considering gender-bender surgery they will most likely regret forever.

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

LifeSiteNews.com
"As a part of her top-down, bottom-up audit of victim assistance, Attorney General Bird is carefully evaluating whether this is an appropriate use of public funds," Bird Press Secretary Alyssa Brouillet said in a statement. "Until that review is complete, payment of these pending claims will be delayed."

Victim advocates were caught off guard by the pause. Ruth Richardson, CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said in a statement that the move was "deplorable and reprehensible."
(Natural News) It is now a crime for doctors in the state of Idaho to perform any gender affirming procedures on underage children.

Gov. Brad Little signed a bill into law this week that criminalizes the administration of surgical procedures and pharmaceutical drugs on children  this includes puberty blockers.

Dubbed the Vulnerable Child Protection Act, the legislation provisions that any doctor or health professional caught engaging in the transgender mutilation of children be charged with a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Medical workers who knowingly perform surgeries or provide pharmaceutical drugs to children in order to affirm the childs perception of the childs sex if that perception is inconsistent with the childs biological sex will be found guilty of felony crimes.

(Related: Idaho is one of the first states that ended the Wuhan coronavirus [Covid-19] emergency once it was determined that the entire thing was a scam.)

Idaho Democrats say prohibition of child mutilation will lead to more suicides

The bill specifically prohibits a host of surgeries that mutilate the genitals of and sterilize children under the age of 18. These include irreversible procedures like a mastectomy, a phalloplasty, and a vaginoplasty.

It also prohibits the administration or supplying of puberty blockers and other gender-bender drugs that induce profound morphologic changes or transient or permanent infertility in children.

The only exception to the bill is when a child is born with a medically verifiable genetic disorder of sex development. This includes a child who does not have a normal sex chromosome structure or that is lacking in sex steroid hormone production.

All but five Senate Republicans in Idaho voted in favor of the bill, while only one House Republican voted against it.

In signing this bill, I recognize our society plays a role in protecting minors from surgeries or treatments that can irreversibly damage their healthy bodies, wrote Little in a letter to Idahos House speaker.

However, as policymakers we should take great caution whenever we consider allowing the government to interfere with loving parents and their decisions about what is best for their children.

The bill is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

In response to the bills passage, Democrat opponents are trying to claim that more children will commit suicide because they can no longer have their bodies mutilated to become transgender.

Governor Little just signed away the rights of loving parents to access the medical care they choose for their children, whined state Rep. Lauren Necochea, who believes that wrecking childrens bodies has been proven to reduce suicidality, anxiety, and depression among transgender youth.

Nevertheless, this action sends a cruel message to our transgender youth, she added, threatening a legal challenge to strike down the bill. Its a dark day for Idaho and history will not look kindly on the Republican lawmakers who enacted this legislation.

Numerous other red states are seeking to pass similar laws to criminalize the body butchering of children in the name of LGBT affirmation. These include Kansas, Texas, and Wyoming, all of which are considering bills right now that bear almost the exact same language as the one that was just signed into law in Idaho.

To all you very stupid leftists: cutting someones genitals off is NOT healthcare, one commenter wrote in response to the news. Its mutilation.

Maybe you need a good psychiatrist. Thats healthcare. But you DONT need a surgeon  until youre 18. Then, if you want to screw with your body and your hormones, go right ahead.

More related news about the fight against the LGBT destruction of children can be found at Transhumanism.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) These seemingly small concessions that Western countries like the UK make are strategic wins in Islams more significant battle to conquer non-Muslim countries.

(Article by Amy Mek republished from RairFoundation.com)

The Islamization of Great Britain is on full display in Central Londons iconic West End which has been decorated for the first time to mark the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Countries across the Middle East, from Turkey to Iran celebrated the news in their media.

The Muslim holiday is expected to begin on Wednesday 22 March, although it could come a day later if the moon isnt sighted, and end on Friday 21 April.

Londons Coventry Street, which connects two of the citys busiest squares  Piccadilly and Leicester Square has been illuminated with the message Happy Ramadan along with lights depicting crescent moons and stars and traditional lanterns known as fanoos which are commonly used to decorate streets across the Middle East for the fasting month.

These seemingly small concessions that Western countries like the UK make are strategic wins in Islams more significant battle to conquer non-Muslim countries.

Londons Coventry Street is illuminated with lights for Ramadan as Muslims prepare for the upcoming holy month. Muslims make up around 14% of the population in London, according to 2019 statistics pic.twitter.com/1XsaebNPyo  TRT World (@trtworld) March 18, 2023

This is London ?? Welcoming #Ramadan with Ramadan Lights founded by Aisha Desai is a great initiative by the @MayorofLondon sponsored by the @AzizFndn#Ramadan1444 #Ramadan2023 ????? ????? pic.twitter.com/Fjx6OVqFFg  Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) March 17, 2023

Happy Ramadan lights in Central London. pic.twitter.com/RBKh2LvQCb  HADIYA (@Hadiiya_H) March 17, 2023

Happy Ramadan from London.

Previously we could only see the Christmas lights in London.

The time is changing. pic.twitter.com/QlvhyEGf6N  Zulfiqar Ahmed ? (@ZulfiqarAhmed69) March 18, 2023

The historic decorations come days after the Royal Mint, the UKs oldest company and official maker of coins, announced that it had issued a 20 gram, gold-bullion minted bar depicting the Kaaba in Islams holiest site in Makkah.

Isamized UK

As reported previously at RAIR Foundation USA, here is the situation today in major British cities and boroughs. The total population is listed on the left, with the Islamic percentage in parentheses:

Birmingham, population 1,149,000: (29.9%)

Leeds, 792,000: (7.8%)

Sheffield: 584,000: (10.3%)

Bradford: 536,000 (30.5%)

Manchester: 553,000 (22.3%)

Bristol: 467,000 (6.7%)

Cardiff: 357,000 (9.3%)

Leicester: 357,000 (23.5%)

Nottingham: 331,000 (12.2%)

Newcastle: 315,000 (10.3%)

Blackburn with Darwen: 148,000 (35%)

Fenland: 101,000 (12.2 %)

Luton: 218,000 (32.9%)

Slough: 164,000 (29.4% )

Watford: 96,000 (13%)

Pendle: 91,000 (26%)

Oldham: 237,000 (24.3%)

Rochdale: 211,000 (18.8%)

Kirklees: 438,000 (19%)

Barking and Dagenham: 211,000 (24.4%)

Brent: 331,000 (21.4%)

Newham: 352,000 (34.8%)

Redbridge: 303,000 (31.3%)

Tower Hamlets: 319,000 (39.9%)

Westminster: 261,000 (20%)

And now let us imagine these cities in 10, 20, 30 years. The Muslim total population in Britain is estimated to be 13 million by 2050. According to Ed Husain, one of the leading Muslim intellectuals in the United Kingdom:

With almost five million Muslims, there are thousands of new buildings with domes and minarets and in the decades ahead, mosques are predicted to mushroom across the whole land.

Nothing to worry about. Half of the mosques in the UK are affiliated with the Deobandi movement, adhering to the same Hanafi school of law that created the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Soon, half of Birminghams population will also be Muslim. There were 301,000 Muslims in Birmingham in 2018, making up 27% of the local population, wrote the Birmingham Mail in 2019. The number of Muslims has risen by 21% from 249,000 in 2011. The same newspaper noted that Muslim children in the city now outnumber Christian ones.

Read more at: RairFoundation.com
Monday, April 10, 2023 by: Ethan Huff Tags: badhealth , COVID , fat , lifestyle , loneliness , Long-COVID , obesity , Sick , Study , Unexplained This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author

(Natural News) New peer-reviewed research published in Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open has found that people who claim to be suffering from long covid are often just unhealthy, out of shape, and generally miserable people.

The prospective cohort study tracked hundreds of Norwegian young people between the ages of 12 and 25 who were never hospitalized for covid, but who underwent extensive examinations after first being tested for it, and who were evaluated a second time six months after that.

Researchers from Norway, Sweden, Great Britain, China, and Australia all participated in the analysis, which determined that there is very little difference between those who become infected with covid and those who do not become infected in terms of suffering a post-covid-19 condition (PCC), this being the international name for long covid.

The prevalence rate of PCC was found to be roughly the same for both the infected and non-infected group participants, 49 percent and 47 percent of whom, respectively, reported PCC symptoms. The mean age for both groups was about 18.

PCC was not associated with biological markers specific to viral infection, but with initial symptom severity, the paper reveals, citing this as the strongest risk factor. There are also psychosocial factors, the paper further found, including low physical activity and loneliness.

The severity of PCC in the non-infected was found to be dependent on certain personality traits, meaning it has nothing to do with any actual disease and everything to do with the way a person thinks and behaves.

(Related: Another study published last summer by the National Institutes of Health [NIH] similarly found that long covid is a myth  it does not exist.)

One flawed paper based on a faulty questionnaire is how the myth of long covid came to be

Slate recently conducted a review on long covid, citing various retrospective cohort studies. This review found that long covid symptoms are much less common, durable, or severe than typically portrayed by federal officials and other covid extremists.

It turns out that symptoms of PCC often have absolutely nothing to do with an actual covid infection, and are merely bad personality traits coupled with an unhealthy lifestyle.

Keep in mind that at one time long covid was being declared by the authorities as being a mass disabling event, despite not actually being a real thing. Science journalist Jeff Wise blames an early and influential study out of Washington state for causing that manufactured scare campaign.

The paper estimated a 30 percent increase in the rate of persistent symptoms based on a questionnaire that was sent to adult covid patients three-to-nine months after becoming infected.

As you may already know, survey-based approaches like this are often flawed due to selection bias and the documentation of symptoms that occurred before or during infection, not after.

None of this stopped the so-called Solve Long COVID Initiative from running with the up to 30 percent figure this study produced based on the flawed questionnaire. Still to this day, some people, mostly on the left, insist that long covid is real because they want to believe it is real.

Back in August, the Solve Long COVID Initiative produced a propaganda video featuring elderly people, young adults, and children suffering from long covid, which it described as a physical disorder that causes crippling fatigue that may last a lifetime.

The Solve Long COVID Initiative is supported by Elizabeth Unger, chief of chronic viral diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who appeared in a recent webinar the group held last week.

To learn more about why covid was a sham from the very beginning, visit Plague.info.

Sources for this article include:

JustTheNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Liz Harrington, press secretary for former President Donald Trump, believes her boss is a threat to the evil that is waging war against and conducting a controlled demolition of America.

She expressed this belief during her appearance on the April 3 episode of the Brighteon.TV program Right now with Ann Vandersteel. Harrington, who became Trumps personal spokeswoman in June 2021, insisted that her boss was wrongfully accused and was totally innocent of any crime. She told Vandersteel that she was heartbroken not only for Trump, but also for the U.S. as it means the country is now passing a point of no return.

According to Trumps spokeswoman, the destructive forces and corrupt ruling class carrying out Americas controlled demolition believe they have no other choice but to attack the former president.

As Ive been processing it and just thinking about it all, I really see the desperation in it, said Harrington. It means they are so desperate. They cant allow him and the American people to rule themselves, and [its] what this is really about. (Related: Evidence mounts that DA Braggs indictment of Trump is pure political persecution.)

She ultimately remarked that these actions are going to backfire very mightily on these evil people who are waging war against this country.

Harrington also told Vandersteel that the elites are threatened by Trump because he has the support of the American people by means of the Make America Great Again movement. In the end, she assured that both Trump and We The People will emerge much stronger; truth will prevail; and Trumps political persecution will be the beginning of a real turning point in the American nation.

Indictment solidifies Trumps official Republican nomination for 2024

Vandersteel agreed with her guest, adding that the indictment by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg basically solidified Trump as the official Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential elections.

The Steel Truth and The Zelenko Report host also asked Harrington about the possible gag order to be placed on Trump and how it would turn out when brought to court. In response, the former spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee said she believes the gag isnt going to work and will backfire as well.

Harrington also remarked that the leading presidential candidates for both the Republican and Democratic parties cannot be subjected to a gag order as it is unconstitutional. She added that trying to prevent the former president from speaking means suppressing the speech of at least 100 million Americans backing him.

She ultimately mentioned that Trump absolutely committed no crime, and any claims of such are absurd. Even the Federal Election Commission had stated that the former president committed no violation. Moreover, Harrington said state prosecutors cannot bring forth an alleged federal crime even though federal prosecutors have passed up on it.

Harrington went on to say that Trumps legal team is going to fight to change the venue because there is clear corruption in the New York City court where they are bringing the sham charges.

Follow Trump.news for more news about former President Donald Trump.

Watch the April 3 episode of Right Now with Ann Vandersteel below. Right Now with Ann Vandersteel airs weekdays at 8-8:30 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

THE WAR FOR TRUTH: Trump supporter and commentator Wayne Allyn Root goes toe-to-toe with Australian morning show over former presidents indictment.

Trump indictment shows that power-crazed Democrats are INCOMPATIBLE with human society.

Alex Jones: Trump INDICTMENT a historic milestone for America  but not in a good way.

Manhattan DA may push judge to impose a gag order on Trump so he cant defend himself in public

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Independent.co.uk
(Natural News) Just to give you an idea of how egregiously Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is miscarrying justice while he spends all his time trying to lock away President Donald Trump for alleged money crimes involving porn star Stormy Daniels, take a look at these criminals who committed actual felony crimes but were set free, in some cases repeatedly, by Bragg.

As revealed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams back in August, these criminals committed nearly 500 crimes in the Big Apple  and a shocking 60 percent of them are still roaming free, thanks to Braggs soft-on-crime approach for everyone other than Trump.

One of the criminals is named Harold Gooding, 53, who has been arrested more than 70 separate times just for theft. He has also been taken into custody more than 100 times.

The 53-year-old already has 15 convictions to his name, as well as 14 failures to show in court following his prolific crime spree, reports the Daily Mail Online.

He has rocketed to number one on the NYPDs list for repeat offenders following his torrent of thefts  He has more than 70 arrests just for theft alone.

(Related: Check out this episode of Lawfare with Tom Renz, which exposes Braggs corrupt political witch hunt against Trump.)

Braggs woke laws have made New York City streets more dangerous

Another criminal that Bragg let roam free because he is too busy going after Trump is 41-year-old Michelle Kelley, who confessed to authorities that she is a professional booster.

Yall are stopping my hustle, Kelley told police following her 97th arrest.

Like Gooding, Kelley loves to rob Target stores around Manhattan, though she made sure to keep her crimes limited to petit larceny, which is a non-jailable offense thanks to the passage of a 2020 leniency law imposed by Bragg.

She was finally held on $5,000 bail after her 101st arrest for second-degree assault after she allegedly kicked, bit, scratched and spit on two NYPD officers on July 30 during an attempt to swipe paper towels from a Duane Reade in Harlem, reports explain.

Thirty-year-old William Rolon is another criminal with a lengthy rap sheet about which Bragg could not care less. Rolon has been committing crimes in New York City for 30 years  and many of his were likewise dropped to petit larceny, thanks to Braggs woke laws.

Career criminal William Rolon had 30 years of crimes under his belt when he decided to steal $2,000 worth of medication from a Duane Reade in January 2022, reports explain. He allegedly filled a plastic garbage bag with medicine and other items inside a Lower East Side store.

A female manager approached the career criminal before she saw him brandish a pocket knife. He was charged with first-degree robbery and criminal weapons possession but had the robbery charge dropped to two counts of petit larceny, a misdemeanor.

James Pringle, another prominent NYC criminal, has been arrested a total of 167 times, as of this writing. One of the Big Apples most prolific criminals, Pringle has joked in the past that, thanks to Braggs woke laws, he has been able to amass frequent flier miles with all of his repeated crimes.

Back in February 2022, a judge stated that it would take me all day to go through this rap sheet, referring to Pringles ongoing crime sprees that will only continue to pile up because Bragg is too busy trying to throw Trump in jail.

Then there is Rodney Johnson, who has been arrested 90 times and gone to prison twice, only to just last week be let out on bail for $1. Again, all police resources must be spent on getting Trump in the slammer.

The latest news about the political witch hunt against Trump can be found at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com
The remote and icy north of Siberia's Yakutia Republic has become famous for the discovery of Ice Age mammal remains within its thick permafrost deposits.

Completely buried carcasses that have shrunken and dried up to a natural mummified state have been discovered in some cases.

Such discoveries can assist experts in answering major questions about extinct species, the conditions under which they lived, and their relationships to other species, both living and extinct.

Here are 5 of the most popular prehistoric creatures discovered while preserved in the frozen depths of Siberia.

Woolly Rhino baby

This woolly rhino baby, named Sasha by the man who discovered it, was the first of its kind to be discovered.

It's unclear whether it's male or female, but the size of its horns suggests it had been weaned by the time it died. It roamed the vast steppe, a dry, cold region stretching from Spain to Siberia.

Lion or lynx

The golden fur of the cub is matted with mud but otherwise undamaged. Her teeth, skin, soft tissue, and organs are all mummified but undamaged.

Her claws are still sharp enough to prick the finger of one of the scientists studying this remarkable - and unprecedented - permafrost-preserved specimen after 28,000 years.

The Siberian Simba, nicknamed Sparta, was one of two baby cave lions discovered in 2017 and 2018 by mammoth tusk hunters on the banks of the Semyuelyakh River in Russia's Far East by mammoth tusk hunters.

Also Read: 6 Animals That Can Freeze Themselves and Come Back to Life!

Frozen lark

The bird was discovered buried and frozen in permafrost near the village of Belaya Gora in north-eastern Siberia by local fossil ivory hunters, who then passed it on to a team of experts for testing, including Nicolas Dussex and Love Dalen from the Swedish Museum of Natural History.

According to a paper published Friday in the journal Communications Biology, radiocarbon dating revealed the bird lived approximately 46,000 years ago, and genetic analysis identified it as a horned lark (Eremophila alpestris).

According to Dalen, research has revealed that the bird may be an ancestor of two subspecies of larks that are still alive today, one in northern Russia and the other on the Mongolian steppe.

Cave Bear

The perfectly preserved remains of an Ice Age cave bear have been discovered in the Russian Arctic, marking the first time the species' soft tissues have been discovered intact.

Reindeer herders on the Lyakhovsky Islands, part of the New Siberian islands archipelago in Russia's Far North, made the incredible discovery.

The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) is a prehistoric species or subspecies that lived in Eurasia during the Middle and Late Pleistocene periods and went extinct around 15,000 years ago, according to the team. According to preliminary estimates, the bear is between 22,000 and 39,500 years old.

Frozen foal

A two-month-old horse (opens in new tab) that died between 30,000 and 40,000 years ago made its way to a Siberian crater 100 meters (328 feet) below the surface.

The young horse stood nearly 1 m (3 feet) tall in life, and its hooves are still intact, as are tiny hairs visible inside the foal's nostrils.

Related article: Arizona Man Accused of Freezing Almost 200 Animals Inside a Garage Freezer
Tornado alerts help communities prepare for possible tornado outbreaks. Tornadoes could result in a life-threatening situation.

Knowing what you should do during severe tornado outbreaks would be helpful to prepare and avoid potential casualties and injuries.

In a recent report, ABC News and AccuWeather reported that tornado outbreaks occurred in parts of the United States, especially in the South.

The tornado outbreaks in about nine states caused significant damage to properties and lives.

The report said the tornado hit parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Indiana and Arkansas.

Tornado watch and warnings

Weather agencies report for possible tornado watches and warnings, helping communities and residents to become aware.

The National Weather Service (NWS) explained the difference between tornado outbreaks and warnings.

According to NWS, a tornado watch is issued to indicate a possible tornado in the watch area, meaning there could be a suspected tornado.

The advisory added that acting early before tornado outbreaks would be helpful to anticipate the potential impact on communities or houses.

On the other hand, the weather advisory showed that a tornado warning requires immediate action for communities and homeowners.

Tornado warnings also occur when a tornado is sighted in the area. The weather advisory warned of possible tornado danger, bringing impact on lives and property.

Tornado preparedness

As some parts of the United States began to experience a big temperature warm-up due to the spring season, tornadoes could still become concerning.

Tornado preparedness is essential to prevent the loss of lives and properties. Preparedness would be key for homes to anticipate the possible aftermath of tornado outbreaks.

NWS added to avoid windows and cover your heads from potential flying debris during tornado outbreaks.

Emergency plan

Moreover, the American Red Cross explained important tornado safety tips for homeowners and motorists.

American Red Cross emphasized that homeowners should have an emergency plan by knowing of safe locations they could hide during tornado outbreaks.

Furthermore, homeowners should ensure that they keep updated with the Weather.

Keeping multiple sources of news information would be helpful to alert for possible tornado watches and warnings.

Also Read: U.S. Weather Forecast: Isolated Tornadoes Likely to Hit South, Midwest

Before possible tornadoes, homeowners should also check their homes for potential damage and repairs.

It is important to secure fragile and hazardous materials.

Preparing emergency kits during tornado outbreaks

Emergency tornado kits are also essential during tornado outbreaks.

The challenging weather conditions could result in prolonged power outages.

Emergency kits could become a life-saver during severe weather events like tornado outbreaks.

The emergency kits should include the following:

Battery-powered radio

Battery-powered flashlights

Extra batteries

Medicine kits

Bottled water

Non-perishable goods

Blankets

Important documents in a sealed envelope

Weather forecasts noted that tornado outbreaks are also possible this April as the spring season comes near.

Homeowners and communities should keep alert for possible isolated tornadoes this April, especially in the South.

Related Article: U.S. Weather Forecast: Pacific Moisture Plume to Unload Snow, and Rain in Parts of California, Washington This Week

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
Pet dogs nowadays can be found in many households worldwide and have a track record of providing warmth and companionship to its owners. Some household dogs also have the capability to be the family's playmate, guard, and can serve as an emotional support animal to other people with psycho-emotional problems. It is for this reason that dogs have been called as man's best friend.

However, the recurring theme about our relationship with dogs is not always the case. In fact, there are instances different types of dogs or dog breeds are known for attacking and injuring their owners and other members of the general public. In worst cases, our canine pets also have a record of killing humans, either through provoked or unprovoked attacks.

Animal behaviorists and other experts have pointed out that the tendency for violence also depends on a dog's breed, in addition to other factors like history of upbringing, surrounding environment, and even social skills. Yet, one defining factor that explains why dogs are wild and sometimes violent is standing out among the rest; they are descendants of wolves.

Still, the safest pet dogs nowadays can be immediately identified through their breeds, notably the well-known French bulldog, golden retriever, and Labrador retriever. In addition, there are other dog breeds on the list worthy of mentioning.

Safest Pet Dog Breeds

According to The Scotsman newspaper, the breed Newfoundland follows the French bulldog on the top of the list due to their famous connotation as the "nanny dog." Their intimidating look is far from their behavior of being gentle to people, especially with children. Further on the list is the cavalier king Charles spaniel, boxer, Bernese Mountain dog, and whippet.

Meanwhile, the American Kennel Club puts the Labrador retriever in the no. 1 spot of the safest pet dog breeds. It is followed by the bulldog, beagle, pug, Irish setter, Brussels griffon, Newfoundland, French bulldog, and collie, being at the bottom list but is still a safe dog.

Also Read: Dogs are More Than Just Pets - Here's the Proof

Feral Nature

Dogs are still wild animals which still has a semblance of being feral by nature following their domestication by humans thousands of years ago.

Based on previous studies, scientists used DNA and fossil evidence to estimate that such domestication occurred approximately 15,000 to 40,000 years ago, as cited by the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance on its website.

The said timeframe is evidently long since research shows that it took multiple generations for genetic mutations to take place, combined with dog mating with the same or different type of breeds. It is for this reason that experts warn that one should not be complacent that pet dogs are safe in an absolute manner.

In March 2023, a Pennsylvania woman named Kristin Potter, 38, died after her neighbor's dogs attacked her while she attempted to feed the canines while their owner was away, CBS News reported.

Related Article: Your Pet Dog May Get Jealous By Imagining You With Another Pet
Giant cows once existed and hunted by ancient humans at an archaeological site located in what is now the east bank of the Upper Jordan River in modern-day Israel, according to new studies.

The researchers determined our ancestors approximately 60,000 years ago used a unique hunting technique to kill giant cattle in the area, highlighting signs of knowledge and strategy when it comes to hunting for food.

The cattle being used as a subject in the studies is already extinct.

However, the findings suggested that the ancient hunters consumed their meat but not without a challenge.

Using a combination of multi-purpose stone tools and strategic ambushes at close-range, the inhabitants were able to successfully capture and kill the animals.

Giant Cow Hunting Technique

In the two studies published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports in February and Scientific Reports in January, investigations at Nahal Mahanayeem Outlet (NMO) revealed animal bones and stone tools were left behind by the ancient inhabitants, which helped the researchers to arrive at their conclusion.

Initially, the time when giant cow hunting technique was used the Jordan River did not yet exist, instead it was once a body of water called the Paleo-Hula Lake.

NMO is special since it is an open-air site whose historic secrets were covered by sediments, which allowed to preserve the life of the site's occupants, early hunters who butchered and processed the giant cows as they hunted nearby, according to Israel's Tel-Hai College Professor Gonen Sharon who told Newsweek.

Also Read: Bones of Mysterious 'Giant Cloud Rats' Discovered in a Cave in Philippines

Big-Game Hunting

The February study focused on the big-game hunting technique which occurred specifically during the late Middle Paleolithic period in the Levant, wherein impact fracture analysis of pointed artifacts demonstrated the power and usage of low-velocity weapons.

In addition, the research paper found disadvantaging or ambush hunting strategies were used during the big-game hunting at NMO.

Despite the findings, it is not clear if such particular method was also used elsewhere in the world during the said period.

Meanwhile, the January study focused on the use of butchering knives and hafting process at the same location.

Here, the paper acknowledged of the limited knowledge about tool use and hafting in open-air sites during the Middle Paleolithic.

The findings are comparatively novel to the long-held notion that human behavior and subsistence strategies (hunting techniques) in the Levantine Middle Paleolithic originate from long sequences in caves and rock shelters.

Spear Hunting Technique

The discovery of the hunting techniques at NMO in Israel is significant since it did not involve the common method of spear-throwing to incapacitate or kill an animal in the open field.

However, the NMO inhabitants also exhibited other common traits while hunting, such as being patient while planning for an ambush and sticking stones to wooden material to improve the weapon.

According to the Smithsonian Institution, early humans created wooden spears and used them to kill large animals, which includes cattle, by at least 500,000 years ago.

Related Article: Cow Poop Could Be the Answer to Global Warming Problems
UK weather is seeing a transition from sunny weather to a rainy one after the late hours of Easter Sunday on April 9, according to UK weather authorities, who issued a yellow weather warning for rain and wind for the week ahead.

The warning highlights the occurrence of rainfall and windy conditions in the southwestern portions of the UK, causing potential widespread flooding and other weather-related hazards.

UK Yellow Weather Warning

The UK's Meteorological Office (Met Office) issued the yellow warning for Tuesday and Wednesday, April 11 and April 12 and provided the following risks of disruption to travel like public transport and infrastructures such as in utility services:

some trips are likely to be delayed for road, rail, and ferry transport

some bus and trains services are probably going to be affected, with some trips possibly taking longer than an average journey time

delays are likely for high-sided vehicles during travel along exposed routes and bridges

short-term power outages and loss of some other services are possible

surf or large waves could affect coastal routes, coastal communities, and sea fronts

In particular, areas between Belfast, Northern Ireland and Cardiff, Wales are at risk from the wet and windy conditions anticipated in the coming days.

Also Read: UK Weather Forecast: Spring Will Finally Arrive This Week as Temperatures Rise According to Met Office

UV Levels Rise

The warning was issued by weather forecasters as ultraviolet (UV) levels have risen on Sunday, which saw temperatures reaching 16 degrees Celsius in some areas.

The Met Office previously urged people not to underestimate the power of our Sun, with UV levels as strong as the late summer season, increasing the risk of sunburn on Sunday, as cited by Sky News.

The UK weather agency compared April's Sun can be as strong as those of in late August, affecting areas such as London, Edinburgh, Exeter, and Leeds.

However, Sunday's warm weather will be followed by unsettled conditions on Easter Monday and for the rest of the week, the warning stated.

An estimated 2 billion British holidaymakers are believed to have travelled internationally during the Easter bank holiday, according to the ABTA, as cited by Sky News.

However, travelers could face travel disruptions due to the inclement weather when they return to the UK.

Potential Disruptions and Damage

Like previous weather events, strong winds could result downed trees and power lines.

Coastal flooding or erosion is also possible as the wind could push water from the Atlantic coast into coastal communities.

Weather events in the UK such as heavy rain and strong winds affect areas that are already vulnerable to coastal flooding.

In 2022, WION news reported approximately 500,000 properties in the UK are at risk of coastal erosion.

This makes coastal houses at risk in the coming years, as reported by experts in recent years.

Risk of turbulence from powerful winds and reduced visibility from heavy rain could also lead to the cancellation, delay, or diversion of UK flights.

Related Article: UK Weather Forecast: Strong Winds Likely to Unleash This Week That Could Affect Travel Commutes
As expected, the U.S. saw another mass shooting today, this time at Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky. At least five people were killed, including the shooter and two friends of Gov. Andy Beshear, who choked up as he spoke about the shooting at a press conference today.

"This is awful," Beshear said before taking a few moments to keep his composure in check. "I have a very close friend who didn't make it today, and I have another close friend who didn't, either, and one who is at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through." (See post below, posted by NBC Bay Area.)

At least eight other people were hospitalized with injuries, two in critical injuries, including a police officer, according to The New York Times. The shooter seems to have acted alone and may have been a former employee of the bank.

In neighboring Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee also lost a friend two weeks ago to the Nashville elementary school shooting that killed three children and three adults, including the shooter. Both governors made sure to ask for thoughts and prayers. Gun control, however, will most likely remain off the table.

UPDATE: Of the five people killed in a shooting at a Louisville bank, one was the shooter and another was a friend of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. A police officer was among the eight wounded, officials say. https://t.co/L7kFZatEFy pic.twitter.com/tNRlEv7rSi  NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) April 10, 2023

From The New York Times:

Paul Humphrey, the deputy chief of the Louisville Metro Police Department, said that the police received calls around 8:30 a.m. about a shooting at Old National Bank and when they arrived on the scene, "they encountered the suspect almost immediately, still firing gunshots."  The police did not give a motive for the shooting, but they said that the gunman had a connection to the bank and may have been a current or former employee. "We believe this is a lone gunman involved in this that did have a connection to the bank," Chief Humphrey said at a news conference.

Front page thumbnail image: NBC Bay Area
If theres one big lesson about internet availability, it might be coming from Ukraine, where more than a year of Russian attacks have failed to bring down the network.

According to a study by ThousandEyes, which is part of Cisco, the repeated attempts to disrupt access to key Ukrainian web sites have occasionally succeeded, but only for short periods.

The most effective defensive strategy proved to be hosting content on global providers infrastructure, which demonstrated the most resilience overall, according to ThousandEyes Ukraine Internet Analysis  March 2023.

Network-level disruptions were negligible, and the application-layer security in place for most of these sites allowed targeted blocking of traffic (e.g., Russia locations), while enabling the sites to remain largely available to legitimate users, the study said.

ThousandEyes found two other hosting optionsregional providers outside Ukraine and hosting within Ukraineto be less resilient.

To gather data between February 2022 to March 2023, ThousandEyes monitored scores of Ukraine banking, government, and media web sites from vantage points in Kyiv and Kharkiv in Ukraine, Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia, and from others around the world.

Connecting to the sites web servers to check on their availability and how well the pages were able to load revealed the health of the sites from a network and application perspective, according to Angelique Medina, Head of Internet Intelligence, Cisco ThousandEyes.

It also revealed actions Ukraine network administrators were taking to make their sites less susceptible to disruption. For example, in the weeks leading up to the war, some of these sites  the banking sites in particular  started migrating their content to global providers. Then the war started, and we saw many more in the following weeks, Medina said.

Those global providers are difficult to overwhelm via DDoS assault at a network layer because they are very distributed, so ThousandEyes didnt typically see behavior indicating that the sites being monitored were unavailable due to network issues, she said.

The global providers also had resources to defend against application-layer attacks, which are more difficult to block. Those included filtering out illegitimate traffic using web-application firewalls and validating visitors to the sites to ensure they werent bots, Medina said.

That wasnt the case for sites being hosted within Ukraine, where network-related issues were more common. ThousandEyes would observe high levels of packet loss indicating that a site was using BGP to black-hole all traffic headed toward the site, sometimes for days at a time. So there were a lot of issues with traffic loss, for example, but we didnt really see that kind of behavior for sites that were globally hosted, or globally delivered, if you will, Medina said.

The entities in Ukraine were also blocking traffic originating in Russia at the ThousandEyes observation points in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

In the case of sites hosted by regional providers that lack a global footprint, availability was greater than that of sites hosted in-country but less than that of the global providers. Regional hosting providers can leverage a combination of application-layer and network-layer protections against cyber-attacks but may be vulnerable to high-volume attacks when a targeted site is hosted in a single data center, the ThousandEyes analysis said.

There were instances when the vantage point ThousandEyes used in Kharkiv couldnt reach any sites at all for a few days due to infrastructure problems on the ground. We were effectively told that was due to some shelling, but then the connection was restored, and there was no issue, Medina said.

ThousandEyes also observed efforts within Russia to block certain traffic from reaching users within the country. In one case, apparently by mistake, a network configuration at a Russian ISP resulted in hijacking traffic destined for Twitter, Medina said. Thats an example that all organizations should be mindful of, especially when political conditions might result in intentional BGP hijacking.

Bad actors could steer traffic either toward sites they control or effectively make an organization unavailable to the internet. So its important to have an understanding of how traffic is routed across the internet and how to protect it along the way. I think a lot of organizations dont really think about their traffic in flight, Medina said.
A woman in Tacoma, Washington was infected with tuberculosis and instead of isolating and accepting treatment, she hopped on a public bus and hit an area casino. Now, a judge has issued a civil arrest warrant and authorized police to detain her. From Yahoo! News:

The woman has reportedly refused to take medication and follow protective guidelines despite the efforts of her own family members and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

An officer with the Pierce County Corrections Bureau surveilled the woman's home last month and saw a city bus drop her off at a casino, according to court documents.

She reportedly has not been seen at her home since, and members of her family have not responded to inquiries from the police.

"We have worked with family and community members for more than a year to do everything we can to persuade this woman to take her medication to protect herself and our community," the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said in a statement.
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: With waterlogging remaining a major concern, Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das on Sunday said a major drainage revamp work will be taken up in 2023-24 to address the urban deluge crisis. Presenting BMCs report card on completion of the newly elected councils one-year term, the mayor said projects to construct 122 new tertiary drains with a total length of around 22 km will be taken up at an investment of Rs 45.70 crore while retaining wall for a length of 1,720 metres will be taken up in 10 primary drains at an investment of Rs 21.50 crore. Proposals in this regard have been placed with the government, she said

Mayor Sulochana Das speaks while presenting

BMCs report card on Sunday

The mayor also spoke on the waterlogging crisis near Iskcon temple in Nayapalli and said that a team comprising experts from the state government and Centre are trying to find a solution to the waterlogging problem in the area by rectifying the fault in the design. She said a total of 312 new projects have already been taken up in the last year for the development of a drainage system in the Capital at an investment of Rs 77.18 crore, while 34 drains have also been renovated at an expenditure of Rs 3.76 crore.

Barricading along with signage has been done at 34 identified locations to prevent accidents and efforts are on to cover all open drains in the city at the earliest, Das said. She said BMC has constructed 772 new roads and paver blocks having a length of 282.03 km in the last one year. Besides, it has also planned to take up 576 new roads in the current financial year.Of 15,915 grievances received through Bhubaneswar Operation Centre (1929), e-mail, social media, Jansunanis and mobile in last one year, Das said 14,641 have been resolved, clocking 91.99 per cent success rate.

Municipal commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange said women SHG members have completed many projects including 399 rain water harvesting structures, 31 roadside open air gyms, 27 gyms in existing parks, 34 playgrounds, 43 mini parks, six vending zones and 26 walking and jogging tracks.The BMC has tried to infuse technology, sincerity and peoples participation in improving sanitation. As a result, waste collection has increased from 600 TPD to 804 TPD in the last one year, he said.

BHUBANESWAR: With waterlogging remaining a major concern, Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das on Sunday said a major drainage revamp work will be taken up in 2023-24 to address the urban deluge crisis. Presenting BMCs report card on completion of the newly elected councils one-year term, the mayor said projects to construct 122 new tertiary drains with a total length of around 22 km will be taken up at an investment of Rs 45.70 crore while retaining wall for a length of 1,720 metres will be taken up in 10 primary drains at an investment of Rs 21.50 crore. Proposals in this regard have been placed with the government, she said Mayor Sulochana Das speaks while presenting BMCs report card on SundayThe mayor also spoke on the waterlogging crisis near Iskcon temple in Nayapalli and said that a team comprising experts from the state government and Centre are trying to find a solution to the waterlogging problem in the area by rectifying the fault in the design. She said a total of 312 new projects have already been taken up in the last year for the development of a drainage system in the Capital at an investment of Rs 77.18 crore, while 34 drains have also been renovated at an expenditure of Rs 3.76 crore. Barricading along with signage has been done at 34 identified locations to prevent accidents and efforts are on to cover all open drains in the city at the earliest, Das said. She said BMC has constructed 772 new roads and paver blocks having a length of 282.03 km in the last one year. Besides, it has also planned to take up 576 new roads in the current financial year.Of 15,915 grievances received through Bhubaneswar Operation Centre (1929), e-mail, social media, Jansunanis and mobile in last one year, Das said 14,641 have been resolved, clocking 91.99 per cent success rate.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Municipal commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange said women SHG members have completed many projects including 399 rain water harvesting structures, 31 roadside open air gyms, 27 gyms in existing parks, 34 playgrounds, 43 mini parks, six vending zones and 26 walking and jogging tracks.The BMC has tried to infuse technology, sincerity and peoples participation in improving sanitation. As a result, waste collection has increased from 600 TPD to 804 TPD in the last one year, he said.
Subashini Vijayakumar By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Wardens of Adi Dravidar Welfare hostels across the city have alleged that they are being forced to buy substandard vegetables and groceries from recently opened cooperative consumer stores.

Wardens who defy the oral diktat and buy groceries from other cooperative societies are being targeted by the officials, they further alleged.

There are 28 hostels, including the school hostel, run by the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department in the city, which house nearly 3,500 students. The government provides Rs 1,100 as feeding charges for college students and Rs 1,000 for school students per month. Under government order 759 of 1989, the groceries and vegetables for these hostels should be brought from cooperative societies and cooperative vegetable producers only.

If there has to be uniform procurement, there should be a tender process. While wardens were buying groceries from reputed societies like Triplicane Urban Co-operative Society (TUCS), they were asked to buy from particular consumer cooperative stores nearly a year ago, said a functionary of Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Wardens Association.

The products are of substandard quality and weigh less than the billed quantity. Many of the wardens were also asked to purchase from the stores even when they were not registered, he alleged. The wardens said while the feeding charges fixed by the government are not enough to provide quality food, this issue only makes matters worse.

We recently met the Adi Dravidar Welfare director and gave a letter stating that we are forced to buy substandard products. He asked us to buy from TUCS or nearby cooperative societies. Following this, persons associated with the particular cooperative stores started threatening the wardens stating that they are close to the ministers, said a warden on conditions of anonymity.

When contacted, officials at the cooperatives department said the outlet in question was registered about four months ago, and they are yet to appoint an administrator. Senior officials at the Adi Dravidar department said the wardens had brought the issue to their notice, and they were told to buy from the cooperatives they deemed fit as there was no uniform procurement.

CHENNAI: Wardens of Adi Dravidar Welfare hostels across the city have alleged that they are being forced to buy substandard vegetables and groceries from recently opened cooperative consumer stores. Wardens who defy the oral diktat and buy groceries from other cooperative societies are being targeted by the officials, they further alleged. There are 28 hostels, including the school hostel, run by the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department in the city, which house nearly 3,500 students. The government provides Rs 1,100 as feeding charges for college students and Rs 1,000 for school students per month. Under government order 759 of 1989, the groceries and vegetables for these hostels should be brought from cooperative societies and cooperative vegetable producers only. If there has to be uniform procurement, there should be a tender process. While wardens were buying groceries from reputed societies like Triplicane Urban Co-operative Society (TUCS), they were asked to buy from particular consumer cooperative stores nearly a year ago, said a functionary of Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Wardens Association.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The products are of substandard quality and weigh less than the billed quantity. Many of the wardens were also asked to purchase from the stores even when they were not registered, he alleged. The wardens said while the feeding charges fixed by the government are not enough to provide quality food, this issue only makes matters worse. We recently met the Adi Dravidar Welfare director and gave a letter stating that we are forced to buy substandard products. He asked us to buy from TUCS or nearby cooperative societies. Following this, persons associated with the particular cooperative stores started threatening the wardens stating that they are close to the ministers, said a warden on conditions of anonymity. When contacted, officials at the cooperatives department said the outlet in question was registered about four months ago, and they are yet to appoint an administrator. Senior officials at the Adi Dravidar department said the wardens had brought the issue to their notice, and they were told to buy from the cooperatives they deemed fit as there was no uniform procurement.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The excise department registered seven cases and arrested 10 people during 31 raids in the district on Saturday. Two youngsters were arrested from Balanagar near All Saints College while they were smuggling 25 grams of MDMA. The arrested Nohan Robert and Ajith are residents of Puthenthope and were involved in similar offences in the past, excise sources said.

The sleuths said they recovered an air pistol and pellets from the two. The sleuths added that the two were part of a racket that supplied the contraband in Shanghumugham, All Saints, Veli, Valiyathura and other coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram city.

In another incident, an excise team arrested two more men from Naruvamoodu, who were into drug peddling. Nandu, of Naruvamoodu, and Manu, of Neyyattinkara, were arrested. The excise said the two were vital cogs of a drug racket that peddled narcotics among users in Pravachambalam, Pamamcode and Estate Road.

From Kattakkada, the excise arrested two people, who were carrying ganja for sale. Unmesh Raj, of Thoongampara, was arrested while carrying 30 grams of ganja. In another incident, Sreeraj, of Kallikadu, was arrested for possessing 20 grams of ganja.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The excise department registered seven cases and arrested 10 people during 31 raids in the district on Saturday. Two youngsters were arrested from Balanagar near All Saints College while they were smuggling 25 grams of MDMA. The arrested Nohan Robert and Ajith are residents of Puthenthope and were involved in similar offences in the past, excise sources said. The sleuths said they recovered an air pistol and pellets from the two. The sleuths added that the two were part of a racket that supplied the contraband in Shanghumugham, All Saints, Veli, Valiyathura and other coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram city. In another incident, an excise team arrested two more men from Naruvamoodu, who were into drug peddling. Nandu, of Naruvamoodu, and Manu, of Neyyattinkara, were arrested. The excise said the two were vital cogs of a drug racket that peddled narcotics among users in Pravachambalam, Pamamcode and Estate Road. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); From Kattakkada, the excise arrested two people, who were carrying ganja for sale. Unmesh Raj, of Thoongampara, was arrested while carrying 30 grams of ganja. In another incident, Sreeraj, of Kallikadu, was arrested for possessing 20 grams of ganja.
Kartik Bhardwaj By

Express News Service

Nostalgia is arresting. The present is tormenting, the future is fidgety, but the past is ever so calming. We always look for the good old days in the days gone by. This otherworldliness, the dim yellow lights, the red trams, the vintage cars, and the marquee theatres, bring alive the world of Jubilee, a new series by Vikramaditya Motwane and Soumik Sen. It is a box of chocolates for film lovers, you never know what youre gonna get.

1947. Not a simpler time. India is breathing in the fresh air of freedom mixed with the fumes of Partition. Movie mogul Srikant Roy (Prosenjit Chatterjee), the owner of the countrys biggest studio, Roy Talkies, wants his upcoming star Jamshed Khan (Nandish Singh Sandhu) back in Bombay. He has run away to Lucknow with Sumitra Kumari (Aditi Rao Hydari), the better half of both Srikant and Roy Talkies. The lovebirds wish to fly away to Karachi. Srikant isnt pleased as this hampers his plans to launch Jamshed as Roy Talkies' biggest star, Madan Kumar. He employs his minion, the servile Binod Das (Aparshakti Khurana), to escort them back to Bombay. Things, however, dont go as per the plan. There is a car accident. Jamshed is lynched by a mob during the riots. Binod becomes the new Madan Kumar.

If you are a film history buff, you will draw parallels between the plotline and the tale of Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai who established Bombay Talkies in 1934. Devika eloped with her co-actor Najam-Ul-Hassan during the shooting of Jeevan Naiya (1936). She eventually returned and the film was reshot with a new star, a lab assistant at Bombay Talkies, Kumudlal Ganguly, better known as Ashok Kumar. Although, I hope the similarities end here.

Jubilees strengths lie in weaving a plot around the myths and legends of the film world. It almost becomes a game for the audience to spot whos who. Aparshaktis Binod has Ashok Kumar-like origins but on-screen he acts with restraint like Manoj Kumar. Aspiring director Jay Khanna (Sidhant Gupta) has a street-hustler charm like Dev Anand. His first directorial is also called Taxi Driver, a namesake of Anands 1954 film. Srikant Roys introductory shot, where he enters the gates of Roy Talkies in his luxurious car, reminded me of Guru Dutts entry scene in Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959). The dialogue is sometimes ominous, sometimes tongue-in-cheek. A minister, when shown that songs can be shot with freer visuals on pre-recorded music, surmises Songs are supposed to be heard, nobody cares how they look. The same minister later assures his Russian cronies, Dont worry, films will come under the government soon.

When it comes to performances, Aparshakti reigns supreme. He implodes with psychological turmoil, speaks plainly, and seems like he is always on the lookout for an abyss to scream into. Sidhant Gupta as the hustler Jay is a bit raw but what he lacks in experience he covers up in sincerity. Nandish Singh Sandhu and Prosenjit Chatterjee have a looming presence over the series. Aditi Rao Hydari looks dreamy as a yesteryear heroine but her expressions are one-note at times. Wamiqa Gabbi scores as the courtesan, mistress and aspiring actress Niloufer Qureshi. Ram Kapoor is affable as the money-minded financer Shamsher Walia.

The series boasts impeccable production design. Production designers Aparna Sud and Mukund Gupta have built the dream world of 1940s Bombay in soft hues and vibrant colours with consistency. Pratik Shahs cinematography grabs the despondency of a refugee camp and the dazzle of elite clubs with finesse. The plot, however, wears thin after some time. The central contention of whether leaving a man to die is the same as murdering him loses heat. Atul Sabharwals screenplay seems too sure of its beats and soon starts going haywire. Jubilee rushes at some bits and feels indulgent in others. The world it builds has the grand beauty of cinemascope but when it comes to the narrative, the reel runs out, too fast, too soon.

Jubilee

Cast:Prosenjit Chatterjee, Wamiqa Gabbi, Aparshakti Khurana, Aditi Rao Hydari, Ram Kapoor, Sidhant Gupta, Nandish Singh Sandhu and Shweta Basu Prasad

Created by:Vikramaditya Motwane and Soumik Sen

Written by: Atul Sabharwal

Streaming on: Prime Video

Rating: 3/5

Nostalgia is arresting. The present is tormenting, the future is fidgety, but the past is ever so calming. We always look for the good old days in the days gone by. This otherworldliness, the dim yellow lights, the red trams, the vintage cars, and the marquee theatres, bring alive the world of Jubilee, a new series by Vikramaditya Motwane and Soumik Sen. It is a box of chocolates for film lovers, you never know what youre gonna get. 1947. Not a simpler time. India is breathing in the fresh air of freedom mixed with the fumes of Partition. Movie mogul Srikant Roy (Prosenjit Chatterjee), the owner of the countrys biggest studio, Roy Talkies, wants his upcoming star Jamshed Khan (Nandish Singh Sandhu) back in Bombay. He has run away to Lucknow with Sumitra Kumari (Aditi Rao Hydari), the better half of both Srikant and Roy Talkies. The lovebirds wish to fly away to Karachi. Srikant isnt pleased as this hampers his plans to launch Jamshed as Roy Talkies' biggest star, Madan Kumar. He employs his minion, the servile Binod Das (Aparshakti Khurana), to escort them back to Bombay. Things, however, dont go as per the plan. There is a car accident. Jamshed is lynched by a mob during the riots. Binod becomes the new Madan Kumar. If you are a film history buff, you will draw parallels between the plotline and the tale of Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai who established Bombay Talkies in 1934. Devika eloped with her co-actor Najam-Ul-Hassan during the shooting of Jeevan Naiya (1936). She eventually returned and the film was reshot with a new star, a lab assistant at Bombay Talkies, Kumudlal Ganguly, better known as Ashok Kumar. Although, I hope the similarities end here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Jubilees strengths lie in weaving a plot around the myths and legends of the film world. It almost becomes a game for the audience to spot whos who. Aparshaktis Binod has Ashok Kumar-like origins but on-screen he acts with restraint like Manoj Kumar. Aspiring director Jay Khanna (Sidhant Gupta) has a street-hustler charm like Dev Anand. His first directorial is also called Taxi Driver, a namesake of Anands 1954 film. Srikant Roys introductory shot, where he enters the gates of Roy Talkies in his luxurious car, reminded me of Guru Dutts entry scene in Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959). The dialogue is sometimes ominous, sometimes tongue-in-cheek. A minister, when shown that songs can be shot with freer visuals on pre-recorded music, surmises Songs are supposed to be heard, nobody cares how they look. The same minister later assures his Russian cronies, Dont worry, films will come under the government soon. When it comes to performances, Aparshakti reigns supreme. He implodes with psychological turmoil, speaks plainly, and seems like he is always on the lookout for an abyss to scream into. Sidhant Gupta as the hustler Jay is a bit raw but what he lacks in experience he covers up in sincerity. Nandish Singh Sandhu and Prosenjit Chatterjee have a looming presence over the series. Aditi Rao Hydari looks dreamy as a yesteryear heroine but her expressions are one-note at times. Wamiqa Gabbi scores as the courtesan, mistress and aspiring actress Niloufer Qureshi. Ram Kapoor is affable as the money-minded financer Shamsher Walia. The series boasts impeccable production design. Production designers Aparna Sud and Mukund Gupta have built the dream world of 1940s Bombay in soft hues and vibrant colours with consistency. Pratik Shahs cinematography grabs the despondency of a refugee camp and the dazzle of elite clubs with finesse. The plot, however, wears thin after some time. The central contention of whether leaving a man to die is the same as murdering him loses heat. Atul Sabharwals screenplay seems too sure of its beats and soon starts going haywire. Jubilee rushes at some bits and feels indulgent in others. The world it builds has the grand beauty of cinemascope but when it comes to the narrative, the reel runs out, too fast, too soon. Jubilee Cast:Prosenjit Chatterjee, Wamiqa Gabbi, Aparshakti Khurana, Aditi Rao Hydari, Ram Kapoor, Sidhant Gupta, Nandish Singh Sandhu and Shweta Basu Prasad Created by:Vikramaditya Motwane and Soumik Sen Written by: Atul Sabharwal Streaming on: Prime Video Rating: 3/5
What to know about the week ahead

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center's P3 Center will host UPLIFTING Black Maternal Health from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Niagara Falls Train Station, 825 Depot Ave., to recognize Black Maternal Health Week.

The public event aims to raise awareness about the disproportionate maternal health disparities affecting Black mothers.

The free event features keynote speaker Fatima Mathews, founder of Strong Heart 2 Soul, who will lead a discussion on cardiac health, and plenary speaker Dr. Davina Moss, founder and president of Positive Direction and Associates, who will discuss maternal mental health.

The event will also include community-based doula panel discussions, yoga, healing art, and an optional paid tour of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center. A complimentary lunch will be provided by event sponsor Williamson Funeral Home.

In early December, The Buffalo News brought you the story of E. Brooke Lerner, a University at Buffalo emergency medicine researcher who was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and, working with the National Association of EMS Physicians, established the E. Brooke Lerner Research Fund so her work lives on.

Friends of Lerner are raising money for that research fund and are having their first event from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Tewksbury Lodge, 249 Ohio St. in Buffalo. Tickets are $50 per person, which includes two drinks, food and music. Visit Eventbrite for tickets.

Niagara University invites the public to a discussion Tuesday of how Black American women have shaped U.S. democracy by Dr. Martha Jones, professor of history at Johns Hopkins University and author of Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All. The presentation takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Golisano Room 101.

SUNY Fredonia Public Astronomy Nights at the Kelly Family Observatory will resume Tuesday. Anyone from the campus and surrounding communities can attend public stargazing and telescope viewing sessions every Tuesday starting at 8 p.m. in April, 9 p.m. in May, 10 p.m. in June and July, 9 p.m. in August, and 8 p.m. in September and October.

Visitors will experience a guided night sky tour and have the opportunity to view celestial objects through a telescope. Reservations are required, as a maximum of 30 people can attend due to space limitations in the rooftop observatory, which is located on the roof of the Science Center on campus.

Organizers note that the sessions are dependent on clear skies and are subject to cancellation. Go online for details on how to enter the observatory and make a reservation, at fredonia.edu/academics/colleges-schools/college-liberal-arts-sciences/physics/fredonia-public-astronomy-nights.

Buffalo State University is hosting Kimberly Jenkins, founder, director, and principal researcher of the Fashion and Race Database, to share her expertise on inclusion and social justice concerns in the fashion industry at 6 p.m. Thursday at Buffalo States LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center.

A question-and-answer session will follow. Jenkins' talk is free and open to the public.

The Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimers Association will hold a two-part brunch-and-learn educational series this Saturday and the next for people who have been diagnosed with memory loss, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or early stage dementia, and their loved ones.

The free classes, Living with Early Stage Dementia or Memory Loss, will be held 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on April 15 and 22 at the Delavan Grider Community Center, 877 East Delavan Ave., Buffalo. Brunch will be served both days.

The two-part series will allow people to ask questions, learn more about the diagnosis and discover the many resources available to them in a comfortable and confidential setting. Pre-registration is required and can be done by calling 716.626.0600, extension 313.

The program is funded through Dobrak & Fial Funds administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. For more information about Alzheimers disease or other dementias, call 800-272-3900 or visit alz.org.

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.

The first retail cannabis licenses were awarded in Western New York.

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.

A federal appeals court judge lifted the injunction barring legal cannabis retail licenses from being issued in Western New York. What's next?

Buffalo Niagara was front and center as senators grilled former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz on its union stance.

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.

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Avinash Ramachandran By

Express News Service

We had earlier reported that Nilesh Krishnaa, an erstwhile assistant of Shankar, is making his directorial debut with Nayantharas milestone 75th film. Letting in on the writing process that began in 2019, Nilesh says, I had Nayanthara maam in mind while writing the film. I narrated the script to her in August 2021. We were supposed to start filming by July 2022, but due to some scheduling conflicts, we finally started shooting this March.

Tentatively titled Lady Superstar 75, Nilesh shares that this will be completely different from what the actor has done so far. Nayan maam has done thrillers, horror films, and action films too. This film will be a family entertainer that has an inspirational story at the centre of it all, says Nilesh, who is planning to finish the other schedules in Chennai and Trichy. Apart from Nayanthara, the film stars her Raja Rani co-stars Jai and Sathyaraj, and Yaaradi Nee Mohini co-actor Karthik Kumar. Talking about the interesting casting of Lady Superstar 75, Nilesh says, Sathyaraj sir was my first and only choice for a role.

Incidentally, when I narrated the script to Nayan maam she actually asked if I had Sathyaraj sir in mind. Discussing the casting of Jai, another Raja Rani alumni, Nilesh shares that he initially wanted the actor to play the role that is now being played by Karthik Kumar. The toughest role to crack was Karthiks character because we wanted someone who was familiar yet away from the big screen.

We looked at a lot of options, and it was Nayan maam who asked me to wait till I found the right actor, says Nilesh, adding, Similarly, it was Nayan maam, who thought Jai was the right choice. We knew the Raja Rani nostalgia would be high, so I rewrote the character arc to ensure this pairing would feel fresh even if it has already been seen in another film. With other experienced actors like Achyuth Kumar, Sachu, and Renuka as part of the cast, Nilesh admits that it felt surreal to shoot with them.

To see them say the lines I wrote was a very special feeling. A stalwart like Sathyaraj sir used to address me as director sir and both him and Nayan maam were so accommodating to a debut director like me. The collective experience of the actors made my life easy and I could concentrate on other aspects of the film, says Nilesh, who reveals that the scale of the project went up by multiple notches with the technical team of the film. While the music is composed by S Thaman, the cinematography is by Sathyan Sooryan.

When pointed out that this film is so unlike anything Sathyan Sooryan has done so far, Nilesh agrees, and says, He is ruling the roost in Telugu and Tamil, and is fresh off the success of Dasara. I wanted a rich and glossy look, and in fact, I hardly have night scenes in the film. I have known for him a long time now, and he is not someone who shies away from challenges. I believe he found this film to be a challenge, and the strength of the story did the rest.

We had earlier reported that Nilesh Krishnaa, an erstwhile assistant of Shankar, is making his directorial debut with Nayantharas milestone 75th film. Letting in on the writing process that began in 2019, Nilesh says, I had Nayanthara maam in mind while writing the film. I narrated the script to her in August 2021. We were supposed to start filming by July 2022, but due to some scheduling conflicts, we finally started shooting this March. Tentatively titled Lady Superstar 75, Nilesh shares that this will be completely different from what the actor has done so far. Nayan maam has done thrillers, horror films, and action films too. This film will be a family entertainer that has an inspirational story at the centre of it all, says Nilesh, who is planning to finish the other schedules in Chennai and Trichy. Apart from Nayanthara, the film stars her Raja Rani co-stars Jai and Sathyaraj, and Yaaradi Nee Mohini co-actor Karthik Kumar. Talking about the interesting casting of Lady Superstar 75, Nilesh says, Sathyaraj sir was my first and only choice for a role. Incidentally, when I narrated the script to Nayan maam she actually asked if I had Sathyaraj sir in mind. Discussing the casting of Jai, another Raja Rani alumni, Nilesh shares that he initially wanted the actor to play the role that is now being played by Karthik Kumar. The toughest role to crack was Karthiks character because we wanted someone who was familiar yet away from the big screen.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); We looked at a lot of options, and it was Nayan maam who asked me to wait till I found the right actor, says Nilesh, adding, Similarly, it was Nayan maam, who thought Jai was the right choice. We knew the Raja Rani nostalgia would be high, so I rewrote the character arc to ensure this pairing would feel fresh even if it has already been seen in another film. With other experienced actors like Achyuth Kumar, Sachu, and Renuka as part of the cast, Nilesh admits that it felt surreal to shoot with them. To see them say the lines I wrote was a very special feeling. A stalwart like Sathyaraj sir used to address me as director sir and both him and Nayan maam were so accommodating to a debut director like me. The collective experience of the actors made my life easy and I could concentrate on other aspects of the film, says Nilesh, who reveals that the scale of the project went up by multiple notches with the technical team of the film. While the music is composed by S Thaman, the cinematography is by Sathyan Sooryan. When pointed out that this film is so unlike anything Sathyan Sooryan has done so far, Nilesh agrees, and says, He is ruling the roost in Telugu and Tamil, and is fresh off the success of Dasara. I wanted a rich and glossy look, and in fact, I hardly have night scenes in the film. I have known for him a long time now, and he is not someone who shies away from challenges. I believe he found this film to be a challenge, and the strength of the story did the rest.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: A Class X student was killed, and 19 students and a bus conductor were injured after an old peepal tree fell on them at a school here on Friday.

The Chandigarh administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, asking for the report to be submitted in one weeks time.

The incident took place at Carmel Convent School in Sector 9 where a tree, said to be around 250 years old, fell during the recess. The injured were rushed to PGIMER, where 16-year-old Heerakshi was declared brought dead.

A statement issued by the school read, The condition of the bus conductor, Sheela, and a student of Class X-C, Ishita, is serious and they have been referred to PGIMER. The rest of the children are out of danger.

The Chandigarh administration has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

Also another committee of officials from the Municipal Corporation, forest department, and horticulture wing has been constituted to visit education institutions and inspect the trees in and around the premises to avoid such incidents in the future.

CHANDIGARH: A Class X student was killed, and 19 students and a bus conductor were injured after an old peepal tree fell on them at a school here on Friday. The Chandigarh administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, asking for the report to be submitted in one weeks time. The incident took place at Carmel Convent School in Sector 9 where a tree, said to be around 250 years old, fell during the recess. The injured were rushed to PGIMER, where 16-year-old Heerakshi was declared brought dead.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A statement issued by the school read, The condition of the bus conductor, Sheela, and a student of Class X-C, Ishita, is serious and they have been referred to PGIMER. The rest of the children are out of danger. The Chandigarh administration has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. Also another committee of officials from the Municipal Corporation, forest department, and horticulture wing has been constituted to visit education institutions and inspect the trees in and around the premises to avoid such incidents in the future.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: Several Congress leaders from Jammu and Kashmir on Monday hit out at Ghulam Nabi Azad over his tirade against Rahul Gandhi, saying he should have also spoken about the four decades of power he enjoyed due to the Nehru-Gandhi family.

"Azad's criticism is a manifestation of treachery and the highest form of ungratefulness towards the Nehru-Gandhi family on his part. Former Congress LOP in Rajya Sabha should also have counted 'out of turn' promotions, favours and positions both (official and organisational) he enjoyed during his four decades in power due to Nehru-Gandhi family's blessings and trust reposed in him," Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Saifuddin Soz and Tariq Hameed Karra said in a joint statement here.

They were reacting to Azad's interviews appearing on different media channels in the backdrop of his book launch event in Delhi recently.

"Hailing from a remote area of Doda district, Azad was recommended by late Mufti Mohd Sayeed to Madam Indira Gandhi, who made him a youth leader without any political background or fan following.

"Then he (Azad) was rewarded with party ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Maharashtra where Madam Gandhi herself campaigned and ensured his victory by a thumping majority, with the result he made his entry in Lok Sabha for the first time.

"Since then, the Nehru-Gandhi family, whom Azad is now targeting, made a sea of opportunities available for him. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha many times, subsequently made the Union minister a number of times without facing elections, which he should also count while speaking on the Gandhi family," the statement stated.

Azad had recently said that Rahul Gandhi was the primary reason why he and many others were no longer in the Congress and claimed that one has to be "spineless" to remain in the grand old party.

He further claimed that it was not in the hands of Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi or even Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to ensure his return to the party fold even if they wanted.

The Congress leaders said Azad was defaming the party to create confusion among the masses in view of the Gandhi scion's constructive role and the appreciation he was receiving for "fighting the battle against crony capitalism and organized loot of the nation's wealth on the part of the Narendra Modi government".

SRINAGAR: Several Congress leaders from Jammu and Kashmir on Monday hit out at Ghulam Nabi Azad over his tirade against Rahul Gandhi, saying he should have also spoken about the four decades of power he enjoyed due to the Nehru-Gandhi family. "Azad's criticism is a manifestation of treachery and the highest form of ungratefulness towards the Nehru-Gandhi family on his part. Former Congress LOP in Rajya Sabha should also have counted 'out of turn' promotions, favours and positions both (official and organisational) he enjoyed during his four decades in power due to Nehru-Gandhi family's blessings and trust reposed in him," Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Saifuddin Soz and Tariq Hameed Karra said in a joint statement here. They were reacting to Azad's interviews appearing on different media channels in the backdrop of his book launch event in Delhi recently.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Hailing from a remote area of Doda district, Azad was recommended by late Mufti Mohd Sayeed to Madam Indira Gandhi, who made him a youth leader without any political background or fan following. "Then he (Azad) was rewarded with party ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Maharashtra where Madam Gandhi herself campaigned and ensured his victory by a thumping majority, with the result he made his entry in Lok Sabha for the first time. "Since then, the Nehru-Gandhi family, whom Azad is now targeting, made a sea of opportunities available for him. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha many times, subsequently made the Union minister a number of times without facing elections, which he should also count while speaking on the Gandhi family," the statement stated. Azad had recently said that Rahul Gandhi was the primary reason why he and many others were no longer in the Congress and claimed that one has to be "spineless" to remain in the grand old party. He further claimed that it was not in the hands of Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi or even Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to ensure his return to the party fold even if they wanted. The Congress leaders said Azad was defaming the party to create confusion among the masses in view of the Gandhi scion's constructive role and the appreciation he was receiving for "fighting the battle against crony capitalism and organized loot of the nation's wealth on the part of the Narendra Modi government".
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri appeared before the Delhi High Court on Monday and tendered an unconditional apology in connection with a criminal contempt case over his alleged remarks against a judge of the court.

Accepting his apology, a bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Vikas Mahajan discharged Agnihotri of the contempt charge and cautioned him to remain careful in the future.

"In view of the circumstances that Vivek Agnihotri stated that he has utmost respect for the institution of judiciary and did not intend to wilfully offend the majesty of this court, the notice to show cause issued to him is hereby recalled. Vivek Agnihotri stands discharged as the alleged contemnor," the bench said.

Agnihotri appeared before the court in pursuance of its earlier direction.

In 2018, the filmmaker had put out tweets alleging bias against Justice S Muralidhar, who was then a judge of the Delhi High Court and is currently the chief justice of the Orissa High Court, as he had released rights activist Gautam Navlakha from house arrest in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case.

Subsequently, contempt of court proceedings were initiated against Agnihotri and others by the high court.

On December 6 last year, the court asked the filmmaker to "show remorse in person" after he tendered an unconditional apology through an affidavit.

"We are asking him (Agnihotri) to remain present because he is the alleged contemnor. Does he have any difficulty in appearing before this court? He has to be present and show remorse in person," the court had said.

The lawyer appearing for another alleged contemnor, Anand Ranganathan, assured the court that he would remain present before it on May 24, the next date of hearing in the case.

Senior advocate Arvind Nigam, who is assisting the court in the matter as an amicus curiae, had earlier informed that Ranganathan has made a tweet in relation to the contempt proceedings that he would go down fighting.

The court had initiated the contempt proceedings in the present case on its own after receiving a letter from senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao.

The contempt proceedings were also initiated against Swaminathan Gurumurthy, the editor of the Chennai-based weekly, "Thuglak", for his tweets against the judge. The proceedings against Gurumurthy were subsequently closed in October 2019.

Rao, in his letter, had stated that the tweets were a deliberate attempt to attack a high court judge.

Earlier, the court had directed two social media platforms to block the weblinks to an offending article levelling scandalous allegations against the judge.

NEW DELHI: Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri appeared before the Delhi High Court on Monday and tendered an unconditional apology in connection with a criminal contempt case over his alleged remarks against a judge of the court. Accepting his apology, a bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Vikas Mahajan discharged Agnihotri of the contempt charge and cautioned him to remain careful in the future. "In view of the circumstances that Vivek Agnihotri stated that he has utmost respect for the institution of judiciary and did not intend to wilfully offend the majesty of this court, the notice to show cause issued to him is hereby recalled. Vivek Agnihotri stands discharged as the alleged contemnor," the bench said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Agnihotri appeared before the court in pursuance of its earlier direction. In 2018, the filmmaker had put out tweets alleging bias against Justice S Muralidhar, who was then a judge of the Delhi High Court and is currently the chief justice of the Orissa High Court, as he had released rights activist Gautam Navlakha from house arrest in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case. Subsequently, contempt of court proceedings were initiated against Agnihotri and others by the high court. On December 6 last year, the court asked the filmmaker to "show remorse in person" after he tendered an unconditional apology through an affidavit. "We are asking him (Agnihotri) to remain present because he is the alleged contemnor. Does he have any difficulty in appearing before this court? He has to be present and show remorse in person," the court had said. The lawyer appearing for another alleged contemnor, Anand Ranganathan, assured the court that he would remain present before it on May 24, the next date of hearing in the case. Senior advocate Arvind Nigam, who is assisting the court in the matter as an amicus curiae, had earlier informed that Ranganathan has made a tweet in relation to the contempt proceedings that he would go down fighting. The court had initiated the contempt proceedings in the present case on its own after receiving a letter from senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao. The contempt proceedings were also initiated against Swaminathan Gurumurthy, the editor of the Chennai-based weekly, "Thuglak", for his tweets against the judge. The proceedings against Gurumurthy were subsequently closed in October 2019. Rao, in his letter, had stated that the tweets were a deliberate attempt to attack a high court judge. Earlier, the court had directed two social media platforms to block the weblinks to an offending article levelling scandalous allegations against the judge.
Amit Mukherjee By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India will achieve a 20-gigawatt capacity of nuclear power generation by 2030, a major milestone that will place the nation as the third largest producer of atomic energy in the world after the USA and France, said Union Minister of State (independent charge) for science & technology Jitendra Singh.

The minister made these remarks while holding a review meeting with a group of senior scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), in Mumbai. Singh said as per the targets laid down by the atomic energy department, India is set to achieve 20 GW capacity of nuclear power generation by 2030.

WATCH |





Singh mentioned that the credit for this rapid stride goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who for the first time after independence took the decision of approving 10 reactors in a single order and allowed nuclear installations to be developed under joint ventures with PSUs.

As a result, today India is the sixth largest in the world in the number of reactors that are functional and second largest in the total number of reactors including those under construction. The minister also said that nearly 9 per cent share of electricity is likely to be contributed from Indias nuclear sources by the year 2047 upon countrys 100 years of independence and that this would help in achieving net zero target by 2070.

NEW DELHI: India will achieve a 20-gigawatt capacity of nuclear power generation by 2030, a major milestone that will place the nation as the third largest producer of atomic energy in the world after the USA and France, said Union Minister of State (independent charge) for science & technology Jitendra Singh. The minister made these remarks while holding a review meeting with a group of senior scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), in Mumbai. Singh said as per the targets laid down by the atomic energy department, India is set to achieve 20 GW capacity of nuclear power generation by 2030. WATCH | googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Singh mentioned that the credit for this rapid stride goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who for the first time after independence took the decision of approving 10 reactors in a single order and allowed nuclear installations to be developed under joint ventures with PSUs. As a result, today India is the sixth largest in the world in the number of reactors that are functional and second largest in the total number of reactors including those under construction. The minister also said that nearly 9 per cent share of electricity is likely to be contributed from Indias nuclear sources by the year 2047 upon countrys 100 years of independence and that this would help in achieving net zero target by 2070.
Shruti Kakkar By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: CJI DY Chandrachud after swearing in as the 50th CJI on November 9, 2022 had said that serving the ordinary citizens was his priority. While promising reforms in the registry and judicial process, he had said, My work, not words, will speak.

Justice, according to the CJI, has never been a sovereign function but an essential service provided to citizens, and the judicial reforms that have been introduced by him after taking charge speak volumes of his commitment to ensuring access to justice to common man in its truest sense.

To reach out to the citizens in the language that they follow and understand, the Supreme Court (SC) under CJI DY Chandrachuds aegis had released on 74th Republic Day over 1,000 rulings translated in thirteen Indian languages  Assamese, Garo, Hindi, Kannada, Khasi, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. This was also introduced for Indianising the Indian judiciary.

To ensure transparency in the collegiums decision for recommending names for judges, the collegium led by him, in a pathbreaking move, commenced uploading detailed resolutions on SCs website so that people are aware about who has been selected, why and the yearsticks that have been applied for such recommendation.

CJI DY Chandrachud had launched a free text portal or search engine  eSCR (Supreme Court Reports) the official publication of SC as a tribute to the nation. It will cater to the needs of young lawyers who cannot afford taking private subscriptions of various portals providing database of rulings. While introducing the eSCR and making available more than 34,055 judgments published since 1950 onwards, It includes the facility of searching judgments based on various parameters such as phrase, words, all words, name of the Hon. Judge, Bench strength, volume, citation, date of decision, etc in eSCR.

By employing artificial intelligence (AI) and high-tech tools, CJI to make SC court of record, increase its accountability as a part of judicial institution and with an aim to help lawyers and students from law colleges also introduced live transcripts of constitution bench proceedings. CJIs commitment to accessibility and disability rights also resulted in him constituting SC committee on accessibility headed by Justice SR Bhat. The committee has been tasked with conducting accessibility audits of SC premises and its functioning, releasing questionnaires for persons with disabilities who visit SC, assess the nature and extent of the problems they face and prepare reports containing results.

With a view to point out discrimination against women in society, legal profession and language employed in the legal discourse, CJI had also unveiled the ongoing exercise of creating a legal glossary consisting list of words and terms that should be refrained by judges in their judgements and proceedings before the court.

NEW DELHI: CJI DY Chandrachud after swearing in as the 50th CJI on November 9, 2022 had said that serving the ordinary citizens was his priority. While promising reforms in the registry and judicial process, he had said, My work, not words, will speak. Justice, according to the CJI, has never been a sovereign function but an essential service provided to citizens, and the judicial reforms that have been introduced by him after taking charge speak volumes of his commitment to ensuring access to justice to common man in its truest sense. To reach out to the citizens in the language that they follow and understand, the Supreme Court (SC) under CJI DY Chandrachuds aegis had released on 74th Republic Day over 1,000 rulings translated in thirteen Indian languages  Assamese, Garo, Hindi, Kannada, Khasi, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. This was also introduced for Indianising the Indian judiciary. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); To ensure transparency in the collegiums decision for recommending names for judges, the collegium led by him, in a pathbreaking move, commenced uploading detailed resolutions on SCs website so that people are aware about who has been selected, why and the yearsticks that have been applied for such recommendation. CJI DY Chandrachud had launched a free text portal or search engine  eSCR (Supreme Court Reports) the official publication of SC as a tribute to the nation. It will cater to the needs of young lawyers who cannot afford taking private subscriptions of various portals providing database of rulings. While introducing the eSCR and making available more than 34,055 judgments published since 1950 onwards, It includes the facility of searching judgments based on various parameters such as phrase, words, all words, name of the Hon. Judge, Bench strength, volume, citation, date of decision, etc in eSCR. By employing artificial intelligence (AI) and high-tech tools, CJI to make SC court of record, increase its accountability as a part of judicial institution and with an aim to help lawyers and students from law colleges also introduced live transcripts of constitution bench proceedings. CJIs commitment to accessibility and disability rights also resulted in him constituting SC committee on accessibility headed by Justice SR Bhat. The committee has been tasked with conducting accessibility audits of SC premises and its functioning, releasing questionnaires for persons with disabilities who visit SC, assess the nature and extent of the problems they face and prepare reports containing results. With a view to point out discrimination against women in society, legal profession and language employed in the legal discourse, CJI had also unveiled the ongoing exercise of creating a legal glossary consisting list of words and terms that should be refrained by judges in their judgements and proceedings before the court.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Addressing a gathering from near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, Union home minister Amit Shah said nobody can encroach upon the land of India.

Today the entire country can sleep peacefully because of the bravery and sacrifices of our ITBP and Army jawans. It is because of them that nobody can cast an evil eye on us or encroach upon even a needle or nail-tip of our land, he said.

Villagers living near the LAC are considered the first line of defence and the Centre is trying to prevent their outmigration through the implementation of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), said Shah.

He launched the programme at Kibithoo, the first village of India, in Arunachal Pradesh. This connectivity and infrastructure development-oriented programme is expected to improve the quality of life of people living in villages near the LAC and strengthen border security.

ALSO READ: After India objects to China renaming places in Arunachal, Beijing claims 'sovereignty' over region

The VVP would be implemented in the four states of Arunachal, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and in the Union territory of Ladakh. Altogether, 2,967 villages will be covered under it.

Ten years ago, there was a concern that the border villages were getting empty but Prime Minister Narendra Modiji ensured their development, said Shah after launching the programme.

He felt that people would not stop deserting the villages unless they were developed.

The Arunachal government and the Centre will take care of the well-being of the villagers. We will fulfil all their basic needs. We will take the banks there, help the people open bank accounts, provide electricity, LPG, drinking water, employment and build toilets. These villages will be connected digitally and physically with the rest of Arunachal and the country, the Union home minister declared.

ALSO READ | 'We reject this outright': India slams Chinas renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh

Stating that the Centre will complete all of these within the next three years, he said environmental and energy security would also be ensured while tourism would be promoted and local culture and language preserved.

(Arunachals) Deputy Chief Minister (Chowna Mein) said due to development of connectivity, the declining populations of villages are now increasing. I will personally monitor the affected villages. We will develop infrastructure. We want to ensure that the villages have access to facilities that we have in the cities, Shah said.

He said the VVP had been prepared in an integrated and coordinated manner and it would be implemented on a mission mode.

Two years ago, the MLAs in Arunachal, representing constituencies bordering China, had formed a forum to thwart the outmigration of villagers. The lack of livelihood opportunities is one of the main reasons behind outmigration. The state has some villages on the border completely abandoned by the villagers.

GUWAHATI: Addressing a gathering from near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, Union home minister Amit Shah said nobody can encroach upon the land of India. Today the entire country can sleep peacefully because of the bravery and sacrifices of our ITBP and Army jawans. It is because of them that nobody can cast an evil eye on us or encroach upon even a needle or nail-tip of our land, he said. Villagers living near the LAC are considered the first line of defence and the Centre is trying to prevent their outmigration through the implementation of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), said Shah.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He launched the programme at Kibithoo, the first village of India, in Arunachal Pradesh. This connectivity and infrastructure development-oriented programme is expected to improve the quality of life of people living in villages near the LAC and strengthen border security. ALSO READ: After India objects to China renaming places in Arunachal, Beijing claims 'sovereignty' over region The VVP would be implemented in the four states of Arunachal, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and in the Union territory of Ladakh. Altogether, 2,967 villages will be covered under it. Ten years ago, there was a concern that the border villages were getting empty but Prime Minister Narendra Modiji ensured their development, said Shah after launching the programme. He felt that people would not stop deserting the villages unless they were developed. The Arunachal government and the Centre will take care of the well-being of the villagers. We will fulfil all their basic needs. We will take the banks there, help the people open bank accounts, provide electricity, LPG, drinking water, employment and build toilets. These villages will be connected digitally and physically with the rest of Arunachal and the country, the Union home minister declared. ALSO READ | 'We reject this outright': India slams Chinas renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh Stating that the Centre will complete all of these within the next three years, he said environmental and energy security would also be ensured while tourism would be promoted and local culture and language preserved. (Arunachals) Deputy Chief Minister (Chowna Mein) said due to development of connectivity, the declining populations of villages are now increasing. I will personally monitor the affected villages. We will develop infrastructure. We want to ensure that the villages have access to facilities that we have in the cities, Shah said. He said the VVP had been prepared in an integrated and coordinated manner and it would be implemented on a mission mode. Two years ago, the MLAs in Arunachal, representing constituencies bordering China, had formed a forum to thwart the outmigration of villagers. The lack of livelihood opportunities is one of the main reasons behind outmigration. The state has some villages on the border completely abandoned by the villagers.
By PTI

MUMBAI: An apex body of psychiatrists in India has said members of the LGBTQA community should be treated like all citizens of the country and have access to marriage, adoption, education, employment, property rights and healthcare.

There is no evidence to indicate that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and asexual (LGBTQA) individuals cannot partake in any of the above, and discrimination that prevents the above may lead to mental health issues, the Guruguram-headquartered Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) said in a statement issued on April 3.

It said that in 2018, the IPS had supported the decriminalisation of homosexuality and those from the LGBTQA spectrum under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code as well as stated that these are variants of normal sexuality, not deviant and certainly not an illness.

"The IPS would like to reiterate that these individuals be treated like all citizens of the country, and once a citizen (they) can enjoy all civil rights like education, employment, housing, income, government or military service, access to healthcare, property rights, marriage, adoption, survivorship benefits, to name a few," it said.

"There is no evidence to indicate that individuals on the LGBTQA spectrum cannot partake any of the above. On the contrary, discrimination which prevents the above may lead to mental health issues," the pyschiatric society said.

The IPS is very cognisant that a child adopted into a same-gendered family may face challenges, stigma and or discrimination along the way.

It is imperative that once legalised, such parents of the LGBTQA spectrum bring up their children in gender neutral, unbiased environment, it said.

It is also of utmost importance, that the family, community, school and society, in general, are sensitised to protect and promote the development of such a child, and prevent stigma and discrimination at any cost, the IPS added.

MUMBAI: An apex body of psychiatrists in India has said members of the LGBTQA community should be treated like all citizens of the country and have access to marriage, adoption, education, employment, property rights and healthcare. There is no evidence to indicate that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and asexual (LGBTQA) individuals cannot partake in any of the above, and discrimination that prevents the above may lead to mental health issues, the Guruguram-headquartered Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) said in a statement issued on April 3. It said that in 2018, the IPS had supported the decriminalisation of homosexuality and those from the LGBTQA spectrum under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code as well as stated that these are variants of normal sexuality, not deviant and certainly not an illness.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The IPS would like to reiterate that these individuals be treated like all citizens of the country, and once a citizen (they) can enjoy all civil rights like education, employment, housing, income, government or military service, access to healthcare, property rights, marriage, adoption, survivorship benefits, to name a few," it said. "There is no evidence to indicate that individuals on the LGBTQA spectrum cannot partake any of the above. On the contrary, discrimination which prevents the above may lead to mental health issues," the pyschiatric society said. The IPS is very cognisant that a child adopted into a same-gendered family may face challenges, stigma and or discrimination along the way. It is imperative that once legalised, such parents of the LGBTQA spectrum bring up their children in gender neutral, unbiased environment, it said. It is also of utmost importance, that the family, community, school and society, in general, are sensitised to protect and promote the development of such a child, and prevent stigma and discrimination at any cost, the IPS added.
Pronab Mondal By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: Peasants of Alipurduar are facing a bizarre problem  rhinos are frequently raiding their corn fields. The one-horned animals have no interest in the grain, but they rub their skin against the rough edges of the leaves to get some relief from itching, leaving the plants damaged.

The trouble started a fortnight ago at Chilapata, a pocket in the Alipurduar district where agriculture is is the main source of income. Seeing damaged corn plants in the mornings, farmers decided to keep overnight surveillance.

While keeping a watch, we found rhinos entering fields. Initially, we thought the animals would eat the corn. But we were surprised when noticed they smashed the plants by rubbing their skin and walked out of the area without eating the product, said Abu Alam, one of the affected farmers.

Alam said the farmers tried to drive away by shouting and pelting stones. But it did not prove effective. Fearing attack, we did not dare to go close to them and the rhinos were least troubled by our strategy to driving them out, he said.

Taher Ali, another farmer, said he spent his life chasing away elephants from the fields. But we never experienced such incident caused by rhinos. It is a question of our bread and butter. I request the forest department to find out an immediate solution so that we can save our product which is still left unaffected, he said.

Rajendra Jakhar, the chief conservator of forests (wildlife), north, said chasing away rhinos by pelting stones can be very dangerous. After being hit by stones, if the animals start attacking the farmers, it can be deadly. We tried to make the farmers understand about the consequences, but our efforts proved futile, he explained. Forest department officials said elephants and rhinos rub their skin against the trunks of large trees to get relief. So, rhinos are following the same practice in corn fields, said an official.

KOLKATA: Peasants of Alipurduar are facing a bizarre problem  rhinos are frequently raiding their corn fields. The one-horned animals have no interest in the grain, but they rub their skin against the rough edges of the leaves to get some relief from itching, leaving the plants damaged. The trouble started a fortnight ago at Chilapata, a pocket in the Alipurduar district where agriculture is is the main source of income. Seeing damaged corn plants in the mornings, farmers decided to keep overnight surveillance. While keeping a watch, we found rhinos entering fields. Initially, we thought the animals would eat the corn. But we were surprised when noticed they smashed the plants by rubbing their skin and walked out of the area without eating the product, said Abu Alam, one of the affected farmers.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Alam said the farmers tried to drive away by shouting and pelting stones. But it did not prove effective. Fearing attack, we did not dare to go close to them and the rhinos were least troubled by our strategy to driving them out, he said. Taher Ali, another farmer, said he spent his life chasing away elephants from the fields. But we never experienced such incident caused by rhinos. It is a question of our bread and butter. I request the forest department to find out an immediate solution so that we can save our product which is still left unaffected, he said. Rajendra Jakhar, the chief conservator of forests (wildlife), north, said chasing away rhinos by pelting stones can be very dangerous. After being hit by stones, if the animals start attacking the farmers, it can be deadly. We tried to make the farmers understand about the consequences, but our efforts proved futile, he explained. Forest department officials said elephants and rhinos rub their skin against the trunks of large trees to get relief. So, rhinos are following the same practice in corn fields, said an official.
C P Surendran By

Last week, the excision of passages in an NCERT textbook about Mahatma Gandhis politics appeasing Muslims, or banning RSS soon after Nathuram Godses assassination of the Mahatma, made much noise. The RSS was banned thrice in its history. The first time was soon after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, then during the Emergency, and again, for the third time, after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992. These facts would not go away because a paragraph or two in a textbook is removed. The information is everywhere.

A day later, this issue was overtaken by the SCs lifting of the government ban on MediaOne, a TV channel owned by Keralas Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited. The ban was punishment for its broadcasting news and views that compromised national security. But the government could not clearly define what constituted a breach of national security.

The same day, perhaps to balance it all out, the SC dismissed a joint petition by the Opposition that accused the BJP-led NDA government of misusing the CBI and ED to suppress dissenting views, a free speech concern.

The Madhyamam case inspired much media celebration. One view that resonated the more was R Jagannathans (The Times of India, April 7, 2023), which argued for the need for clear free speech guidelines independent of the biases of the judges of the moment:

The SC must not leave it to individual judges and specific cases to decide the law, which can only result in contradictory guidelines on free speech. It is time to constitute a full bench of seven or nine judges to review all free speech judgments (or those curtailing them) of the past, both at the apex court level and the high court. On the face of it, this sounds like a reasonable proposal. It is not, as we will see in a moment.

In the same week, a Bollywood star, Salman Khan, said at a function that vulgarity, nudity, and abusive language on OTT platforms must stop. According to reports, he said: 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.

Those familiar with Bollywoods inner workings know that many politically sensitive topics are already self-censored out of existence. Indeed, if you have the budget, mythological action dramas are preferred. In movies with lower budgets, heroes and heroines are traditionally Hindu characters that are portrayed in a positive light. Incorrect stories are shelved. Salman Khans suggestions can be seen as asking for censorship. He is not likely to think it is a question of censorship, though; he probably thinks he knows what the Indian sensibility is all about, having made many successful, if anodyne, movies.

And that is the reason why Jagannathans argument for a full bench looking into free speech guidelines is unlikely to work. Because it is not about a formula. It is about the sensibility of a people.

Salman Khans India is not, say, the sensibility of a great filmmaker like Saeed Mirza, or Sudhir Mishra. (In fact, in a recent informal conversation with me, Mishra said he was considering making a movie on Mahatma Gandhi. A very different Gandhi, Mishra said. Be careful, I said. Nothing will happen, woh mera Gandhi hai, Mishra said, I will do what I please. Oh, well, we will see.)

Whether it is NCERT textbooks, TV news censorship, OTT/movie space, or a weaponised Press Information Bureau, the problem we are looking at is not so much about free speech and censorship as a nations spirit that shapes it.

Our present sensibility, as manifested by the dispensation in power, is to think of history as essentially what can be left out of a narrative so we feel good. It is a kind of victimhood from which a kinship, a folk-spirit, a sense of unity might be forged. We are still talking about the perceived wrongs of the past to such an extent that our sense of time/history has been warped: we are preoccupied with ancient and medieval India than of the future. And history could be deceptive. Consider Eliots lines:

Think now/History has many cunning passages, contrived corridors/And issues, deceives with whispering ambitions/Guides us by vanities. Think now/She gives when our attention is distracted/And what she gives, gives with such supple confusions/That the giving famishes the craving.

We could go back in Hindu Indias history and find in its myths, scriptures, and temples a sensibility of freedom, imagination and thought that Abrahamic religions, for instance, lack.

Indeed, in which other religion can you deny god and still be a good Hindu human being? Buddhism and Jainism, fundamentally nastik offshoots of Hinduism, went against the core of Hinduism as understood then. That is how open Hinduism really is at one level. But we have now devolved into some Victorian Press Information Bureau version of it.

And, so, we tend to define free speech (Article 19 of the Constitution) in terms of not what can be said but what can offend us. We look at the thought in terms of the victimhood that can be sourced from it, a prescriptive formula for a free speech that preferably offends none, neither the government in power nor the language and gender-sensitive progressives. This happens not to be in consonance with the spirit of the argumentative Indian.

A court can never sort this matter conclusively, simply because free speech is not prescription-bound. The court can, at best, pronounce judgments on individual cases. For what is at stake is an abstract sensibility, the spirit of a people sharing a history of thought. Not the Supreme Court, but a people formulate itif only we focus on ideas, not smash the offensive skulls that grow them.

C P Surendran is a poet, novelist, and screenplay writer. His latest novel is One Love and the Many Lives of Osip B

(cpsurendran@gmail.com)

Last week, the excision of passages in an NCERT textbook about Mahatma Gandhis politics appeasing Muslims, or banning RSS soon after Nathuram Godses assassination of the Mahatma, made much noise. The RSS was banned thrice in its history. The first time was soon after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, then during the Emergency, and again, for the third time, after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992. These facts would not go away because a paragraph or two in a textbook is removed. The information is everywhere. A day later, this issue was overtaken by the SCs lifting of the government ban on MediaOne, a TV channel owned by Keralas Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited. The ban was punishment for its broadcasting news and views that compromised national security. But the government could not clearly define what constituted a breach of national security. The same day, perhaps to balance it all out, the SC dismissed a joint petition by the Opposition that accused the BJP-led NDA government of misusing the CBI and ED to suppress dissenting views, a free speech concern.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Madhyamam case inspired much media celebration. One view that resonated the more was R Jagannathans (The Times of India, April 7, 2023), which argued for the need for clear free speech guidelines independent of the biases of the judges of the moment: The SC must not leave it to individual judges and specific cases to decide the law, which can only result in contradictory guidelines on free speech. It is time to constitute a full bench of seven or nine judges to review all free speech judgments (or those curtailing them) of the past, both at the apex court level and the high court. On the face of it, this sounds like a reasonable proposal. It is not, as we will see in a moment. In the same week, a Bollywood star, Salman Khan, said at a function that vulgarity, nudity, and abusive language on OTT platforms must stop. According to reports, he said: 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. Those familiar with Bollywoods inner workings know that many politically sensitive topics are already self-censored out of existence. Indeed, if you have the budget, mythological action dramas are preferred. In movies with lower budgets, heroes and heroines are traditionally Hindu characters that are portrayed in a positive light. Incorrect stories are shelved. Salman Khans suggestions can be seen as asking for censorship. He is not likely to think it is a question of censorship, though; he probably thinks he knows what the Indian sensibility is all about, having made many successful, if anodyne, movies. And that is the reason why Jagannathans argument for a full bench looking into free speech guidelines is unlikely to work. Because it is not about a formula. It is about the sensibility of a people. Salman Khans India is not, say, the sensibility of a great filmmaker like Saeed Mirza, or Sudhir Mishra. (In fact, in a recent informal conversation with me, Mishra said he was considering making a movie on Mahatma Gandhi. A very different Gandhi, Mishra said. Be careful, I said. Nothing will happen, woh mera Gandhi hai, Mishra said, I will do what I please. Oh, well, we will see.) Whether it is NCERT textbooks, TV news censorship, OTT/movie space, or a weaponised Press Information Bureau, the problem we are looking at is not so much about free speech and censorship as a nations spirit that shapes it. Our present sensibility, as manifested by the dispensation in power, is to think of history as essentially what can be left out of a narrative so we feel good. It is a kind of victimhood from which a kinship, a folk-spirit, a sense of unity might be forged. We are still talking about the perceived wrongs of the past to such an extent that our sense of time/history has been warped: we are preoccupied with ancient and medieval India than of the future. And history could be deceptive. Consider Eliots lines: Think now/History has many cunning passages, contrived corridors/And issues, deceives with whispering ambitions/Guides us by vanities. Think now/She gives when our attention is distracted/And what she gives, gives with such supple confusions/That the giving famishes the craving. We could go back in Hindu Indias history and find in its myths, scriptures, and temples a sensibility of freedom, imagination and thought that Abrahamic religions, for instance, lack. Indeed, in which other religion can you deny god and still be a good Hindu human being? Buddhism and Jainism, fundamentally nastik offshoots of Hinduism, went against the core of Hinduism as understood then. That is how open Hinduism really is at one level. But we have now devolved into some Victorian Press Information Bureau version of it. And, so, we tend to define free speech (Article 19 of the Constitution) in terms of not what can be said but what can offend us. We look at the thought in terms of the victimhood that can be sourced from it, a prescriptive formula for a free speech that preferably offends none, neither the government in power nor the language and gender-sensitive progressives. This happens not to be in consonance with the spirit of the argumentative Indian. A court can never sort this matter conclusively, simply because free speech is not prescription-bound. The court can, at best, pronounce judgments on individual cases. For what is at stake is an abstract sensibility, the spirit of a people sharing a history of thought. Not the Supreme Court, but a people formulate itif only we focus on ideas, not smash the offensive skulls that grow them. C P Surendran is a poet, novelist, and screenplay writer. His latest novel is One Love and the Many Lives of Osip B (cpsurendran@gmail.com)
The Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimers Association is holding a free two-part series of classes to provide information for people who have been diagnosed with memory loss, mild cognitive impairment or early stage dementia, and their loved ones.

The classes at 10:30 a.m. next Saturday and April 22 will take place in the Delavan-Grider Community Center, 877 E. Delavan Ave. Brunch will be served at both sessions.

Pre-registration is required. To sign up, call 716-626-0600, ext. 313.

Maggie Concannon Meyers, care and support manager for the WNY Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association notes that "this two-part series will allow people to ask questions, learn more about the diagnosis, and discover the many resources available to them, in a comfortable and confidential setting."
Harish Bijoor By

On April 5, 2023, Amul tweeted an innocuous message. It was entering Bengaluru to supply milk and curd. The city would be able to savour its products, initially delivered through e-commerce and quick commerce channels. An innocent message by a brand making its expansion plans overt.

In any other circumstance, or possibly at any other point of time, this would have been a simple announcement of brand intent that consumers would respond to with the usual degree of boredom new brand launches today tend to cause. But not this one. By the time you read this, a lot of noise and fracas has ensued in the last seven days. This proposed entry of milk and curd has riled the milk of human kindness in a lot of people and organisations, and they have gotten very vocal about it.

Let me start with the timing of this noise and fracas for a start. Karnataka is in the midst of an election campaign. This is a summer of discontent, of high proportion. Add malcontent to it. Four parties are fighting it out to be the dominant force of the future in the state. The BJP wants to hold on to its ruling party status, the Congress wants to snatch it back, the JD(S) wants to grab its basic number of seats (enough to make it a kingmaker if the need arises), and the AAP is making a tentative entry into the state and definitely wants to score on a vote-share basis at least.

As of today, there is a motivated clarion call from the opposition parties in Karnataka to ban the entry of Amul into the state. There is a call for a farmers protest. There is widespread discussion among Opposition parties of this being a conspiracy theory of the Central government to achieve a future merger of GCMMF (Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation) and the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which is the owner of the popular brand Nandini. At the macro-level, the conspiracy theory, by and large, talks of the local getting subsumed into the national in every sphere of life. The now subsumed banks of Karnataka, the imposition of Hindi (including the debate on semantics of whether it is curd or dahi), and the lead up to the current conspiracy theory of Amul eventually gobbling up KMF, are all parts of active political debate, noise, passion and election firepower today. Milk and curd are active ingredients for this debate right now.

Members of pro-Kannada organisation 'Kannada Rakshana Vedike' stage a protest amid reports claiming the entry of Amul products in Karnataka market, in Bengaluru, on April 10, 2023. (Photo | Shashidhar Byrappa, EPS)

And since the category is all about small farmers and their interests, the debate deepens and widens. Milk is an election issue today. Rotti, Battey, Maney and Haalu (Roti, kapdaa, makaan and doodh in Kannada).

Let me rise above the politics of it all for now, and examine the issue with a bit of neutral sanity. The KMF is a co-operative body, just as the GCMMF (owner of brand Amul) is. Both these successful enterprises have catered to the needs and wants of dairy farmers and consumers in India alike. While GCMMF is a Rs 72,000 crore behemoth, Nandini churns a turnover of Rs 25,000 crore annually.

The dairy industry today, thanks to the vision of Dr Verghese Kurien, the father of the dairy industry in India, is a thriving business that links deep-end farm productivity of milk to the last-mile and the front-end consumption of milk in our cities and small towns. India is a veritable nation of co-operative milk marketing federations.

The point to ideate then is whether India needs just one milk marketing federationor should it have many? Is there efficiency and meaning in that model? Or for that matter, should all the Indian milk marketing federations operate under the umbrella of the GCMMF and its brands, with Amul in the lead? Should the model of One India, One tax replicate itself across this category as wellOne India, One Milk?

In this very (currently theoretical) thought of combining the co-operative interests of the country into one big effort lies a big debate. India is a federal democratic republic. We are certainly a union of states. Every state has its differences, starting with language, food, economic interests, and lots more. The very meaning of the early co-operative movement in the country meant the cobbling together of local interests and efficiencies to create businesses for the locals. This included businesses in finance, milk, sugar, consumer, housing, and a plethora of other local interests that needed to be protected and promoted. In such a scenario, one is bound to face rebellion and dissent when the interest of the local is seen to be disturbed. And this is the exact point where the Amul curd has hit the fan.

There are two points to remember. From a brand perspective, there is nothing to debate here at all. Nandini products from KMF are today available in neutral terrains such as Mumbai, Goa, Nagpur, Hyderabad and Chennai. All brands must have the liberty to criss-cross terrains. It is possible that Nandini is not yet in Anand, but this does not mean that Amul milk must not enter Bengaluru. Point two then.

From the cooperative dairy farmers point of view, however, the view looks different. There is insecurity. The milk procurement centers of KMF procure the output of the udder from the districts of Bengaluru, Kolar, Tumakuru and Mandya. In the future, will Bengaluru drink milk from far away rather than nearby? And must it? Is there sense in it? Well, pricing has a way of sorting this debate out. Typically, a local product from KMF will be cheaper than a non-local product from Amul. Simple. Let the consumer decide. But then, there are emotions attached to all of this. And that is a dragon difficult to tame. And that is the exact dragon that many are trying to tame today in a politically heated Karnataka.

When I first met Dr Kurien in Anand at the GCMMF office many decades ago, I still remember his one strong comment. He told me: Amul is not a brand, it is a movement. The more the movement spread, the more the prosperity for Indians in the dairy sector at large.

The movement has certainly spread far and wide. In many ways, the current raging debate in Karnataka is making brand Amul out to be a behemoth milk MNC, and Nandini the smaller co-operative brand fighting to hold on to its share of businessand importantly, its share of pride.

Life has indeed come full circle for GCMMF the co-operative. It started small. It became big. Very big. It is now seen to threaten the small. Touche!

Harish Bijoor

Brand Guru and Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc

(harishbijoor@hotmail.com)

On April 5, 2023, Amul tweeted an innocuous message. It was entering Bengaluru to supply milk and curd. The city would be able to savour its products, initially delivered through e-commerce and quick commerce channels. An innocent message by a brand making its expansion plans overt. In any other circumstance, or possibly at any other point of time, this would have been a simple announcement of brand intent that consumers would respond to with the usual degree of boredom new brand launches today tend to cause. But not this one. By the time you read this, a lot of noise and fracas has ensued in the last seven days. This proposed entry of milk and curd has riled the milk of human kindness in a lot of people and organisations, and they have gotten very vocal about it. Let me start with the timing of this noise and fracas for a start. Karnataka is in the midst of an election campaign. This is a summer of discontent, of high proportion. Add malcontent to it. Four parties are fighting it out to be the dominant force of the future in the state. The BJP wants to hold on to its ruling party status, the Congress wants to snatch it back, the JD(S) wants to grab its basic number of seats (enough to make it a kingmaker if the need arises), and the AAP is making a tentative entry into the state and definitely wants to score on a vote-share basis at least.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As of today, there is a motivated clarion call from the opposition parties in Karnataka to ban the entry of Amul into the state. There is a call for a farmers protest. There is widespread discussion among Opposition parties of this being a conspiracy theory of the Central government to achieve a future merger of GCMMF (Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation) and the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which is the owner of the popular brand Nandini. At the macro-level, the conspiracy theory, by and large, talks of the local getting subsumed into the national in every sphere of life. The now subsumed banks of Karnataka, the imposition of Hindi (including the debate on semantics of whether it is curd or dahi), and the lead up to the current conspiracy theory of Amul eventually gobbling up KMF, are all parts of active political debate, noise, passion and election firepower today. Milk and curd are active ingredients for this debate right now. Members of pro-Kannada organisation 'Kannada Rakshana Vedike' stage a protest amid reports claiming the entry of Amul products in Karnataka market, in Bengaluru, on April 10, 2023. (Photo | Shashidhar Byrappa, EPS) And since the category is all about small farmers and their interests, the debate deepens and widens. Milk is an election issue today. Rotti, Battey, Maney and Haalu (Roti, kapdaa, makaan and doodh in Kannada). Let me rise above the politics of it all for now, and examine the issue with a bit of neutral sanity. The KMF is a co-operative body, just as the GCMMF (owner of brand Amul) is. Both these successful enterprises have catered to the needs and wants of dairy farmers and consumers in India alike. While GCMMF is a Rs 72,000 crore behemoth, Nandini churns a turnover of Rs 25,000 crore annually. The dairy industry today, thanks to the vision of Dr Verghese Kurien, the father of the dairy industry in India, is a thriving business that links deep-end farm productivity of milk to the last-mile and the front-end consumption of milk in our cities and small towns. India is a veritable nation of co-operative milk marketing federations. The point to ideate then is whether India needs just one milk marketing federationor should it have many? Is there efficiency and meaning in that model? Or for that matter, should all the Indian milk marketing federations operate under the umbrella of the GCMMF and its brands, with Amul in the lead? Should the model of One India, One tax replicate itself across this category as wellOne India, One Milk? In this very (currently theoretical) thought of combining the co-operative interests of the country into one big effort lies a big debate. India is a federal democratic republic. We are certainly a union of states. Every state has its differences, starting with language, food, economic interests, and lots more. The very meaning of the early co-operative movement in the country meant the cobbling together of local interests and efficiencies to create businesses for the locals. This included businesses in finance, milk, sugar, consumer, housing, and a plethora of other local interests that needed to be protected and promoted. In such a scenario, one is bound to face rebellion and dissent when the interest of the local is seen to be disturbed. And this is the exact point where the Amul curd has hit the fan. There are two points to remember. From a brand perspective, there is nothing to debate here at all. Nandini products from KMF are today available in neutral terrains such as Mumbai, Goa, Nagpur, Hyderabad and Chennai. All brands must have the liberty to criss-cross terrains. It is possible that Nandini is not yet in Anand, but this does not mean that Amul milk must not enter Bengaluru. Point two then. From the cooperative dairy farmers point of view, however, the view looks different. There is insecurity. The milk procurement centers of KMF procure the output of the udder from the districts of Bengaluru, Kolar, Tumakuru and Mandya. In the future, will Bengaluru drink milk from far away rather than nearby? And must it? Is there sense in it? Well, pricing has a way of sorting this debate out. Typically, a local product from KMF will be cheaper than a non-local product from Amul. Simple. Let the consumer decide. But then, there are emotions attached to all of this. And that is a dragon difficult to tame. And that is the exact dragon that many are trying to tame today in a politically heated Karnataka. When I first met Dr Kurien in Anand at the GCMMF office many decades ago, I still remember his one strong comment. He told me: Amul is not a brand, it is a movement. The more the movement spread, the more the prosperity for Indians in the dairy sector at large. The movement has certainly spread far and wide. In many ways, the current raging debate in Karnataka is making brand Amul out to be a behemoth milk MNC, and Nandini the smaller co-operative brand fighting to hold on to its share of businessand importantly, its share of pride. Life has indeed come full circle for GCMMF the co-operative. It started small. It became big. Very big. It is now seen to threaten the small. Touche! Harish Bijoor Brand Guru and Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc (harishbijoor@hotmail.com)
Devaraj B Hirehalli By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Congress party, which has announced its second list of 42 candidates, is facing rebellion from those who have not been given tickets. They are likely to make it tough for the partys official candidates in over 12 assembly constituencies in the May 10 elections.

JDS is likely to benefit from this rebellion as it has approached many of them and is likely to field them as its candidates. Either they win as JDS nominees or mar the chances of Congress candidates as they are considered formidable candidates. BJP may also benefit from them, according to political pundits.

For instance in Chitradurga, former MLC Raghu Achar was approached by JDS MLC TA Saravana on Friday. Achar is likely to join JDS on April 14. The Congress has given a ticket to actor Doddannas son-in-law KC Veerendra (Pappy), who was defeated as JDS candidate in the 2018 elections. Another aspirant from the same constituency SK Basavaraj has been denied a Congress ticket.

In Kadur, former MLA YSV Datta, who quit JDS and joined Congress, has not been given a ticket.

Datta will hold a meeting of his supporters on Sunday to decide his next course of action. He may go back to JDS, a source told TNIE. It depends on CLP leader Siddaramaiahs talks with Datta on how the Congress will accommodate him in the party, the source added.

In Dattas case, an audio in which he had predicted that KPCC president DK Shivakumar is unlikely to become CM if the Congress comes back to power may have spoiled his chances. The Congress has given a ticket to KS Anand, a Kuruba, who was defeated in the last elections.

Cong to blame for rebellion in party?

Congress has received a jolt in the home turf of former DCM G Parameshwara with veteran leader S Shafi Ahmed quitting. His son-in-law and former MLA Rafeek Ahmed, who was defeated in the 2018 polls, has been denied a ticket. Parameshwara preferred a political novice, Iqbal Ahmed, for Tumakuru. A decade ago when Parameshwara was all set to become KPCC chief, Shafi went against him writing to the then AICC president Sonia Gandhi not to elevate him, which cost Rafeek dear, sources said.

In Kalghatgi, former minister Santhosh L Lad has been preferred over Nagaraj Chebbi, who may rebel.

In Belur, Congress selected B Shivaram over Rajashekar. Likewise in Savadatti, Vishwas Vasanth Vaidya is facing rebellion from Soudabha Chopra. In Gokak, Ashok Kadadi is facing rebellion from Ashok Pujary. In Kittur, DB Inamdar, who sought a ticket for his son or daughter-in-law, may work against Babasaheb Patil, Laxmi Hebbalkars lieutenant.

In Yadgir, Chinnareddy Patil is Congress official candidate. But former minister AB Malaka Reddys daughter Anuraga may contest against him. The Congress can alone be blamed for the rebellion in the party. It had asked all aspirants to apply for tickets by depositing Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5,000 as application fees.

BENGALURU: The Congress party, which has announced its second list of 42 candidates, is facing rebellion from those who have not been given tickets. They are likely to make it tough for the partys official candidates in over 12 assembly constituencies in the May 10 elections. JDS is likely to benefit from this rebellion as it has approached many of them and is likely to field them as its candidates. Either they win as JDS nominees or mar the chances of Congress candidates as they are considered formidable candidates. BJP may also benefit from them, according to political pundits. For instance in Chitradurga, former MLC Raghu Achar was approached by JDS MLC TA Saravana on Friday. Achar is likely to join JDS on April 14. The Congress has given a ticket to actor Doddannas son-in-law KC Veerendra (Pappy), who was defeated as JDS candidate in the 2018 elections. Another aspirant from the same constituency SK Basavaraj has been denied a Congress ticket.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In Kadur, former MLA YSV Datta, who quit JDS and joined Congress, has not been given a ticket. Datta will hold a meeting of his supporters on Sunday to decide his next course of action. He may go back to JDS, a source told TNIE. It depends on CLP leader Siddaramaiahs talks with Datta on how the Congress will accommodate him in the party, the source added. In Dattas case, an audio in which he had predicted that KPCC president DK Shivakumar is unlikely to become CM if the Congress comes back to power may have spoiled his chances. The Congress has given a ticket to KS Anand, a Kuruba, who was defeated in the last elections. Cong to blame for rebellion in party? Congress has received a jolt in the home turf of former DCM G Parameshwara with veteran leader S Shafi Ahmed quitting. His son-in-law and former MLA Rafeek Ahmed, who was defeated in the 2018 polls, has been denied a ticket. Parameshwara preferred a political novice, Iqbal Ahmed, for Tumakuru. A decade ago when Parameshwara was all set to become KPCC chief, Shafi went against him writing to the then AICC president Sonia Gandhi not to elevate him, which cost Rafeek dear, sources said. In Kalghatgi, former minister Santhosh L Lad has been preferred over Nagaraj Chebbi, who may rebel. In Belur, Congress selected B Shivaram over Rajashekar. Likewise in Savadatti, Vishwas Vasanth Vaidya is facing rebellion from Soudabha Chopra. In Gokak, Ashok Kadadi is facing rebellion from Ashok Pujary. In Kittur, DB Inamdar, who sought a ticket for his son or daughter-in-law, may work against Babasaheb Patil, Laxmi Hebbalkars lieutenant. In Yadgir, Chinnareddy Patil is Congress official candidate. But former minister AB Malaka Reddys daughter Anuraga may contest against him. The Congress can alone be blamed for the rebellion in the party. It had asked all aspirants to apply for tickets by depositing Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5,000 as application fees.
Devaraj B Hirehalli By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: In a better late than never decision, the Congress, in back-to-back appointments to its organisational setup, appointed two SC (Left) members to placate the community, which was by and large leaning towards the ruling BJP government.

Former Chitradurga LS member B N Chandrappa was appointed KPCC working president, a day after the Grand Old Party (GOP) appointed another community member, HP Sudham Das, a former Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer from Kanakapura, as co-chairperson of the campaign committee, in the run-up to the May 10 assembly polls.

Both the appointments were apparently made to placate the community, which was sidelined in the partys organisation for decades, and also because Chandrappa was denied a ticket to contest the assembly polls. The BJPs last cabinet meeting, led by CM Basavaraj Bommai, had decided to categorise SC quota and allocated 6 per cent to the community. It was widely welcomed by the community as its struggle for internal quota within SC category got a breakthrough.

The decision to appoint Chandrappa with immediate effect, following AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharges instruction, came after the demise of KPCC working president R Dhruvanarayana.

Chandrappa (68) was Chitradurga Lok Sabha MP (2014-2019) and a member of the parliamentary standing committee on chemicals and fertilisers, and the agriculture consultative committee.

Originally from Chikkamagaluru district, he was elected Zilla Parishad member (1986-91) and went on to become vice-president (1991-1992) with state ministers rank. Chandrappa also served as Lidkar chairman from 2001-03 in the SM Krishna regime.

Lidkar, now Dr Babu Jagjivan Ram Leather Industries Development Corporation Ltd., was established for the development of the leather industry in Karnataka, and to implement welfare schemes for Dalits, especially cobblers.

BENGALURU: In a better late than never decision, the Congress, in back-to-back appointments to its organisational setup, appointed two SC (Left) members to placate the community, which was by and large leaning towards the ruling BJP government. Former Chitradurga LS member B N Chandrappa was appointed KPCC working president, a day after the Grand Old Party (GOP) appointed another community member, HP Sudham Das, a former Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer from Kanakapura, as co-chairperson of the campaign committee, in the run-up to the May 10 assembly polls. Both the appointments were apparently made to placate the community, which was sidelined in the partys organisation for decades, and also because Chandrappa was denied a ticket to contest the assembly polls. The BJPs last cabinet meeting, led by CM Basavaraj Bommai, had decided to categorise SC quota and allocated 6 per cent to the community. It was widely welcomed by the community as its struggle for internal quota within SC category got a breakthrough. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The decision to appoint Chandrappa with immediate effect, following AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharges instruction, came after the demise of KPCC working president R Dhruvanarayana. Chandrappa (68) was Chitradurga Lok Sabha MP (2014-2019) and a member of the parliamentary standing committee on chemicals and fertilisers, and the agriculture consultative committee. Originally from Chikkamagaluru district, he was elected Zilla Parishad member (1986-91) and went on to become vice-president (1991-1992) with state ministers rank. Chandrappa also served as Lidkar chairman from 2001-03 in the SM Krishna regime. Lidkar, now Dr Babu Jagjivan Ram Leather Industries Development Corporation Ltd., was established for the development of the leather industry in Karnataka, and to implement welfare schemes for Dalits, especially cobblers.
Ashwini M Sripad By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: BJP seems to be focusing on giving tickets to newcomers in many constituencies in the May 10 state Assembly elections. Following the Gujarat model, the party may drop at least 25 sitting MLAs, sources said. In Gujarat, ahead of the December 2022 elections, the party had denied tickets to around 40 sitting legislators.

What may be driving the BJP decision in Karnataka is the prediction by various surveys by political parties and non-political organisations that the state could face a fractured mandate. In a last-ditch effort, the party could be drawing up new strategies to cross the magic figure of 113 seats and form the government, and fielding new faces is one of them.

The party held the Central Election Committee meeting in New Delhi on Saturday and Sunday, and it was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi among others.

The party is likely to announce the list on Monday and already, and candidates for 80-85 seats have been finalised, sources within the party said. BJP is considering giving tickets to young and new faces in some Assembly constituencies across the state. In Gujarat, the majority of the newcomers fielded in over 40 seats won. It was earlier thought that the Gujarat model may not work in Karnataka. But with various surveys indicating that the party might get less than 100 seats, experts and party seniors are suggesting changes in at least a few constituencies, where anti-incumbency prevails. This is an attempt to retain those seats, said a senior BJP leader, requesting anonymity.

Interestingly, party workers on the ground are excited about new faces being introduced to contest the polls. We talk of BJP being a cadre-based party. Some of our MLAs, in spite of crossing 70 years and serving as ministers, still want to contest elections. We will be happy if tickets are given to party workers who are working on the ground, said a party worker, who wished not to be named.

Sources in BJP pointed out that when Modi became chief minister of Gujarat he was 50 years old, and when HD Deve Gowda became leader of the opposition, he was 39 years old. There is a need to groom youngsters, sources said.

BENGALURU: BJP seems to be focusing on giving tickets to newcomers in many constituencies in the May 10 state Assembly elections. Following the Gujarat model, the party may drop at least 25 sitting MLAs, sources said. In Gujarat, ahead of the December 2022 elections, the party had denied tickets to around 40 sitting legislators. What may be driving the BJP decision in Karnataka is the prediction by various surveys by political parties and non-political organisations that the state could face a fractured mandate. In a last-ditch effort, the party could be drawing up new strategies to cross the magic figure of 113 seats and form the government, and fielding new faces is one of them. The party held the Central Election Committee meeting in New Delhi on Saturday and Sunday, and it was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi among others.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The party is likely to announce the list on Monday and already, and candidates for 80-85 seats have been finalised, sources within the party said. BJP is considering giving tickets to young and new faces in some Assembly constituencies across the state. In Gujarat, the majority of the newcomers fielded in over 40 seats won. It was earlier thought that the Gujarat model may not work in Karnataka. But with various surveys indicating that the party might get less than 100 seats, experts and party seniors are suggesting changes in at least a few constituencies, where anti-incumbency prevails. This is an attempt to retain those seats, said a senior BJP leader, requesting anonymity. Interestingly, party workers on the ground are excited about new faces being introduced to contest the polls. We talk of BJP being a cadre-based party. Some of our MLAs, in spite of crossing 70 years and serving as ministers, still want to contest elections. We will be happy if tickets are given to party workers who are working on the ground, said a party worker, who wished not to be named. Sources in BJP pointed out that when Modi became chief minister of Gujarat he was 50 years old, and when HD Deve Gowda became leader of the opposition, he was 39 years old. There is a need to groom youngsters, sources said.
By Express News Service

Dubai, one of the most expensive cities to drink in the world, recently abolished its tax on alcohol sales in a move to help the Gulf emirate retain its edge amid growing competition in the region. According to sources, the hefty 30% tax and the fee for the license that individuals needed to buy alcohol were scrapped.

The development comes in the wake of the opening up of the economy and the loosening of regulations by its neighbouring countries to lure more tourists and businesses to their future-ready cities. The alcohol tax was introduced in June 2021 to help Dubai diversify its income sources and tide over the economic challenges brought in by Covid.

It applies to the sale of alcoholic beverages in hotels, restaurants, and shops; and is estimated to bring an additional USD 200 million to the governments coffers annually. Tax or no tax, Dubai is one of the worlds most sought-after party destinations.

Over 4.3K solo women from India for Hajj

In a bold and groundbreaking move, over 4,300 Indian women have applied to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage without the traditional requirement of a male guardian. The development comes in the wake of an order by the Saudi Arabian government, which abolished the mandatory male escort rule for women seeking to undertake the annual Islamic pilgrimage.

Riyadh smarter than Paris, Berlin

In a dazzling rise, Riyadh outshines Paris, Berlin, and Madrid in global Smart City rankings. Vaulting from 55th in 2019 to 30th, Riyadh is the third-highest Arab city, while Abu Dhabi and Dubai lead the Arab waltz at 13th and 17th. A siren call for quality of life, the index exposes the dearth of American and African cities in the top 20. The top-ranked city is Zurich in Switzerland, followed by Olso in Norway, and Canberra in Australia.

Starting today, we bring you every Monday a weekly round-up of happenings in West Asia

Kuwait mulls cap on expats

The Kuwait government grapples with a pressing demographic challenge as a swelling expat population strains public resources and infrastructure. A recent advisory report underscores the need for a recalibration of this demographic equation. It advocates reducing the influx of unskilled expats while enhancing the quality of those employed. It proposes nationality quotas, capping the expat count at 25% of Kuwaitis.

Iran installs cameras to trace, penalise unveiled women

To quell the rising tide of women rejecting the compulsory dress code, Iran has begun installing cameras in public to identify and penalise them. The police statement reveals that once unveiled women are identified, a text message will be sent to them detailing the likely consequence of their actions.

Number plate sold for Rs 122 cr

A car number plate P7 was sold for a whopping AED 55 million (aproximately Rs122.6 crore), a Guinness World Record, at The Most Noble Number charity auction on Saturday in Dubai. The proceeds will go to the 1 Billion Meals Endowment campaign, launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to create solutions to fight hunger and malnutrition in underprivileged communities.

Dubai, one of the most expensive cities to drink in the world, recently abolished its tax on alcohol sales in a move to help the Gulf emirate retain its edge amid growing competition in the region. According to sources, the hefty 30% tax and the fee for the license that individuals needed to buy alcohol were scrapped. The development comes in the wake of the opening up of the economy and the loosening of regulations by its neighbouring countries to lure more tourists and businesses to their future-ready cities. The alcohol tax was introduced in June 2021 to help Dubai diversify its income sources and tide over the economic challenges brought in by Covid. It applies to the sale of alcoholic beverages in hotels, restaurants, and shops; and is estimated to bring an additional USD 200 million to the governments coffers annually. Tax or no tax, Dubai is one of the worlds most sought-after party destinations. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Over 4.3K solo women from India for Hajj In a bold and groundbreaking move, over 4,300 Indian women have applied to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage without the traditional requirement of a male guardian. The development comes in the wake of an order by the Saudi Arabian government, which abolished the mandatory male escort rule for women seeking to undertake the annual Islamic pilgrimage. Riyadh smarter than Paris, Berlin In a dazzling rise, Riyadh outshines Paris, Berlin, and Madrid in global Smart City rankings. Vaulting from 55th in 2019 to 30th, Riyadh is the third-highest Arab city, while Abu Dhabi and Dubai lead the Arab waltz at 13th and 17th. A siren call for quality of life, the index exposes the dearth of American and African cities in the top 20. The top-ranked city is Zurich in Switzerland, followed by Olso in Norway, and Canberra in Australia. Starting today, we bring you every Monday a weekly round-up of happenings in West Asia Kuwait mulls cap on expats The Kuwait government grapples with a pressing demographic challenge as a swelling expat population strains public resources and infrastructure. A recent advisory report underscores the need for a recalibration of this demographic equation. It advocates reducing the influx of unskilled expats while enhancing the quality of those employed. It proposes nationality quotas, capping the expat count at 25% of Kuwaitis. Iran installs cameras to trace, penalise unveiled women To quell the rising tide of women rejecting the compulsory dress code, Iran has begun installing cameras in public to identify and penalise them. The police statement reveals that once unveiled women are identified, a text message will be sent to them detailing the likely consequence of their actions. Number plate sold for Rs 122 cr A car number plate P7 was sold for a whopping AED 55 million (aproximately Rs122.6 crore), a Guinness World Record, at The Most Noble Number charity auction on Saturday in Dubai. The proceeds will go to the 1 Billion Meals Endowment campaign, launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to create solutions to fight hunger and malnutrition in underprivileged communities.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: With demand rising for Kerala vegetables in West Asian and European markets, exporters have urged the government to set up cold storage facilities and accredited testing laboratories near international airports. Kerala Exporters Forum secretary Munshid Ali said there is a demand for traditional Kerala veggies in countries with fairly good South Indian populations.

There is good demand for Kerala veggies in the Gulf, Europe and the USA. But we need to get better air connectivity. Currently we are exporting vegetables through Dubai and it takes 16 hours for the flight to reach the US. However, Sri Lankan Airlines flight through Colombo can reach America in 11 hours. If we get more flights on this route it will be beneficial, said Munshid Ali.

The exporters have been protesting against the high freight charges imposed by airline operators and the 18% GST imposed on air freight by the Centre. We are unable to compete with countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka who are dumping their products at cheap rates in the international market, he said.

The Exporters Forum has urged the government to provide cold storage, export inspection agency and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accredited testing labs near airports to ensure the quality of vegetables. The exporters in Kerala are now depending on accredited labs in Bengaluru and Chennai. If the facility is available in the state, it will be a great relief for them, he said.

Meanwhile, the School of Health Sciences under the Calicut University has come forward to establish a testing lab on its campus, only 7 km away from the Calicut airport. The varsity needs Rs 1.5 crore to establish the lab and efforts are being made to seek financial support from the state government. The Forum has urged the Kochi airport authorities to provide cold storage facility.

We are currently depending on the Malayali population in the Gulf, Europe and the US. Apart from ensuring quality, we have to deliver the products with modern packaging that ensures its freshness. The government should ensure implementation of the packaging standards approved by the Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), said K B Exports managing director K B Rafeeq.

Vegetable export by air from Kerala (in tonnes)

January

Tvm airport: 827.6

Kochi: 1,570

Kozhikode: 1,228

February

Tvm: 857.5

Kochi: 1,667.8

Kozhikode: 1,067.8

March

Tvm: 1,101.6

Kochi: 2,059.7

Kozhikode: 1,261

KOCHI: With demand rising for Kerala vegetables in West Asian and European markets, exporters have urged the government to set up cold storage facilities and accredited testing laboratories near international airports. Kerala Exporters Forum secretary Munshid Ali said there is a demand for traditional Kerala veggies in countries with fairly good South Indian populations. There is good demand for Kerala veggies in the Gulf, Europe and the USA. But we need to get better air connectivity. Currently we are exporting vegetables through Dubai and it takes 16 hours for the flight to reach the US. However, Sri Lankan Airlines flight through Colombo can reach America in 11 hours. If we get more flights on this route it will be beneficial, said Munshid Ali. The exporters have been protesting against the high freight charges imposed by airline operators and the 18% GST imposed on air freight by the Centre. We are unable to compete with countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka who are dumping their products at cheap rates in the international market, he said. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Exporters Forum has urged the government to provide cold storage, export inspection agency and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accredited testing labs near airports to ensure the quality of vegetables. The exporters in Kerala are now depending on accredited labs in Bengaluru and Chennai. If the facility is available in the state, it will be a great relief for them, he said. Meanwhile, the School of Health Sciences under the Calicut University has come forward to establish a testing lab on its campus, only 7 km away from the Calicut airport. The varsity needs Rs 1.5 crore to establish the lab and efforts are being made to seek financial support from the state government. The Forum has urged the Kochi airport authorities to provide cold storage facility. We are currently depending on the Malayali population in the Gulf, Europe and the US. Apart from ensuring quality, we have to deliver the products with modern packaging that ensures its freshness. The government should ensure implementation of the packaging standards approved by the Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), said K B Exports managing director K B Rafeeq. Vegetable export by air from Kerala (in tonnes) January Tvm airport: 827.6 Kochi: 1,570 Kozhikode: 1,228 February Tvm: 857.5 Kochi: 1,667.8 Kozhikode: 1,067.8 March Tvm: 1,101.6 Kochi: 2,059.7 Kozhikode: 1,261
Manoj Viswanathan By

Express News Service

KOCHI: While the national tiger census has brought cheers registering a 6.74%, increase in the population across the country, the situation in Western Ghats, including Kerala, paints a grim picture. According to the data released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, the number of tigers in Western Ghats has declined from 981 in 2018 to 824 in 2022, registering a decline of 157 in numbers.

The situation is particularly alarming in Kerala as there is a sharp decline in Wayanad Sanctuary, the biggest tiger habitat in Kerala, and Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. The silver lining is the healthy habitat in Periyar Tiger Reserve, where there has been a marginal increase in population.

As per the census data, the tiger count has gone up from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,167 in 2022. Despite being one of the eight biodiversity hotspots in the world, the tiger population declined in the Western Ghats due to human intervention and developmental activities.

While tiger populations within protected areas have either remained stable or increased, tiger occupancy outside of these regions has significantly decreased in areas, such as the Wayanad landscape. A decrease in tiger occupancy was also observed beyond the protected area border of Anamalai-Parambikulam complex. Although tiger populations in the Periyar landscape have remained stable, tiger occupancy outside of Periyar has decreased, says the report.

However, Periyar Tiger Reserve retained the first rank in Management Effectiveness Evaluation with a score of 94.38 while Parambikulam secured the 18th rank with a score of 84.09 among the 51 tiger reserves.

Various parameters including habitat quality, species protection, effective control of illegal activities like poaching, prey base and conservation activities were considered for the ranking. The tiger population in Periyar Tiger Reserve has remained stable and there is a slight increase also. The PTR has connectivity to Meghamalai and Srivilliputhur. We have been able to protect the habitat in a healthy way, said PTR Field Director P P Pramod.

The tiger is a territorial animal and apart from habitat degradation, intense internal fights can also cause a decline in population. The census data has proved the arguments regarding over-population of tiger in Kerala forests wrong. The issues regarding degradation of habitat need to be addressed, said conservation activist M N Jayachandran.

The government should release the sanctuary-wise data regarding tiger population to clear doubts regarding the decline in tiger population. Even if the claim is accepted, the tiger population in Wayanad Sanctuary is still high. The territory of a tiger extends to 20 sq km and Wayanad which houses around 150 tigers can hold only 20 tigers. Tiger attacks in Wayanad are a reality and we need concrete steps to protect the lives of people living in forest fringe areas, said Kerala Independent Farmers Association (KIFA) chairman Alex Ozhukayil.

KOCHI: While the national tiger census has brought cheers registering a 6.74%, increase in the population across the country, the situation in Western Ghats, including Kerala, paints a grim picture. According to the data released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, the number of tigers in Western Ghats has declined from 981 in 2018 to 824 in 2022, registering a decline of 157 in numbers. The situation is particularly alarming in Kerala as there is a sharp decline in Wayanad Sanctuary, the biggest tiger habitat in Kerala, and Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. The silver lining is the healthy habitat in Periyar Tiger Reserve, where there has been a marginal increase in population. As per the census data, the tiger count has gone up from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,167 in 2022. Despite being one of the eight biodiversity hotspots in the world, the tiger population declined in the Western Ghats due to human intervention and developmental activities.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While tiger populations within protected areas have either remained stable or increased, tiger occupancy outside of these regions has significantly decreased in areas, such as the Wayanad landscape. A decrease in tiger occupancy was also observed beyond the protected area border of Anamalai-Parambikulam complex. Although tiger populations in the Periyar landscape have remained stable, tiger occupancy outside of Periyar has decreased, says the report. However, Periyar Tiger Reserve retained the first rank in Management Effectiveness Evaluation with a score of 94.38 while Parambikulam secured the 18th rank with a score of 84.09 among the 51 tiger reserves. Various parameters including habitat quality, species protection, effective control of illegal activities like poaching, prey base and conservation activities were considered for the ranking. The tiger population in Periyar Tiger Reserve has remained stable and there is a slight increase also. The PTR has connectivity to Meghamalai and Srivilliputhur. We have been able to protect the habitat in a healthy way, said PTR Field Director P P Pramod. The tiger is a territorial animal and apart from habitat degradation, intense internal fights can also cause a decline in population. The census data has proved the arguments regarding over-population of tiger in Kerala forests wrong. The issues regarding degradation of habitat need to be addressed, said conservation activist M N Jayachandran. The government should release the sanctuary-wise data regarding tiger population to clear doubts regarding the decline in tiger population. Even if the claim is accepted, the tiger population in Wayanad Sanctuary is still high. The territory of a tiger extends to 20 sq km and Wayanad which houses around 150 tigers can hold only 20 tigers. Tiger attacks in Wayanad are a reality and we need concrete steps to protect the lives of people living in forest fringe areas, said Kerala Independent Farmers Association (KIFA) chairman Alex Ozhukayil.
Jeyalakshmi Ramanujam By

Express News Service

MADURAI: Both UG and PG Psychology students of Madurai Kamaraj University formally lodged a joint complaint against department head C Karuppaiah stating that he verbally and sexually harassed male and female students. The letter was submitted to MKU Vice Chancellor J Kumar and Registrar (i/c) M Sadasivam recently.



In the complaint copy accessed by TNIE, the students said Karuppaiah makes remarks with sexual overtones to girl students. They accused him of pointing at some lean women students and saying "Nowadays, boys like thin girls. If you post your photos in a matrimonial column, you will get guys immediately." The students said they have audio and video evidence of the teacher making such remarks.



The letter also claims that Karuppaiah threatened the students when they sought amenities such as electric lamps and mosquito liquidators for their classrooms. "When we raised the issue to the HoD, he didn't respond. Students collected the amount from their peers for the facilities. There were no sufficient teachers to handle all the subjects in the department. When we raised the issue, Karuppaiah threatened us and asked the students to join some other educational institution. Unhygienic toilets led to two girls suffering from Urinary Tract Infection and classrooms had to be cleaned by the students," the letter stated.



TNIE spoke to a few women and men following the complaints. A student, on the request of anonymity, said they were overlooking the verbal and sexual abuse until he 'purposely delayed' issuing internal marks. "When one of our classmates questioned him over the delay by citing varsity circular, he used abusive words against the student. One guest lecturer, Maheswari, framed charges against the classmate and forced us to sign against him. But, the students denied. Karuppaiah also reduced the marks of the students," he added.



Another student said Karuppiah calls female students to his room and tries to sexually harass them. "He asks the size of students' undergarments. One time, in the open classroom, he asked us to search the meaning of the word 'erection'. The students were shocked to see the search result leading to a porn website. Despite belonging to the SC community, he shows discrimination against the community students," they added.



Speaking to TNIE, Professor and HoD C Karuppaiah refuted the charges levelled against him and said MKU authorities had assured to fulfil the demand for facilities, before hanging up the call and switching off his mobile.



Responding to the issue, MKU Vice Chancellor J Kumar said he was aware of the charges. "The Internal Complaints Committee has been revamped now and inquiry will begin in the coming week. We will take appropriate action based on the report," he added.

MADURAI: Both UG and PG Psychology students of Madurai Kamaraj University formally lodged a joint complaint against department head C Karuppaiah stating that he verbally and sexually harassed male and female students. The letter was submitted to MKU Vice Chancellor J Kumar and Registrar (i/c) M Sadasivam recently. In the complaint copy accessed by TNIE, the students said Karuppaiah makes remarks with sexual overtones to girl students. They accused him of pointing at some lean women students and saying "Nowadays, boys like thin girls. If you post your photos in a matrimonial column, you will get guys immediately." The students said they have audio and video evidence of the teacher making such remarks. The letter also claims that Karuppaiah threatened the students when they sought amenities such as electric lamps and mosquito liquidators for their classrooms. "When we raised the issue to the HoD, he didn't respond. Students collected the amount from their peers for the facilities. There were no sufficient teachers to handle all the subjects in the department. When we raised the issue, Karuppaiah threatened us and asked the students to join some other educational institution. Unhygienic toilets led to two girls suffering from Urinary Tract Infection and classrooms had to be cleaned by the students," the letter stated. TNIE spoke to a few women and men following the complaints. A student, on the request of anonymity, said they were overlooking the verbal and sexual abuse until he 'purposely delayed' issuing internal marks. "When one of our classmates questioned him over the delay by citing varsity circular, he used abusive words against the student. One guest lecturer, Maheswari, framed charges against the classmate and forced us to sign against him. But, the students denied. Karuppaiah also reduced the marks of the students," he added. Another student said Karuppiah calls female students to his room and tries to sexually harass them. "He asks the size of students' undergarments. One time, in the open classroom, he asked us to search the meaning of the word 'erection'. The students were shocked to see the search result leading to a porn website. Despite belonging to the SC community, he shows discrimination against the community students," they added. Speaking to TNIE, Professor and HoD C Karuppaiah refuted the charges levelled against him and said MKU authorities had assured to fulfil the demand for facilities, before hanging up the call and switching off his mobile. Responding to the issue, MKU Vice Chancellor J Kumar said he was aware of the charges. "The Internal Complaints Committee has been revamped now and inquiry will begin in the coming week. We will take appropriate action based on the report," he added.
T Muruganandham By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Amid pressure piling up, Governor RN Ravi finally gave in and accorded his assent to the online gambling ban Bill. The governor's decision came shortly after the state assembly passed a resolution demanding Centre's intervention over the governor delaying giving his assent to the bills.

According to Article 200 of the Constitution, the governor has no other option but to give his assent to a Bill when it is sent by the state assembly for the second time.

It may be recalled that after a gap of 141 days, the governor returned the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2022 on March 6 along with a note about his reservations over the Bill particularly questioning the legislative competence of the State Assembly to enact such legislation. This evoked strong criticisms from the State Law Minister S Regupathy and leaders of other political parties.

The Chief Minister said the State Assembly indeed has the competence to enact such legislation and that the Madras High Court had already affirmed this point.

CHENNAI: Amid pressure piling up, Governor RN Ravi finally gave in and accorded his assent to the online gambling ban Bill. The governor's decision came shortly after the state assembly passed a resolution demanding Centre's intervention over the governor delaying giving his assent to the bills. According to Article 200 of the Constitution, the governor has no other option but to give his assent to a Bill when it is sent by the state assembly for the second time. It may be recalled that after a gap of 141 days, the governor returned the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2022 on March 6 along with a note about his reservations over the Bill particularly questioning the legislative competence of the State Assembly to enact such legislation. This evoked strong criticisms from the State Law Minister S Regupathy and leaders of other political parties. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Chief Minister said the State Assembly indeed has the competence to enact such legislation and that the Madras High Court had already affirmed this point.
By IANS

CHENNAI: Dalit outfits in Tamil Nadu have demanded a CBI inquiry into the horrific caste atrocity in Vengaivayal in Pudukottai district.

It may be recalled that human feces were found in the overhead tank supplying drinking water to the Dalit families in the village.

The incident happened in December 2022. The Dalits have said that "it was a clear case of upper caste people insulting them".

R. Selvanathan, President, Ambedkar Study Forum, a think tank on Dalit studies, based out of Tiruchi while speaking to IANS said, "The mixing of human excreta in drinking water is a clear message to the Dalit community. The message, as per I could decode, is that the Dalits are still much much lower in strata to the upper castes and the middle caste communities and they need not aspire to try and come up in life."

He said that the Ambedkar Study Forum and other like-minded organisations would conduct protest marches in Pudukottai demanding a CBI probe.

MS Sulekhamani, a Dalit woman activist associated with the Centre for Dalit Studies and Thoughts, based out of Chennai while speaking to IANS said, "The Dalits are treated meanly in several internal parts of Tamil Nadu and the Vengavayal incident is a classic example. If the CB-CID of the Tamil Nadu Police is not able to crack the case that took place as early as December 2022, then what is the point in continuing with them, let the CBI conduct a comprehensive investigation. Why is the government shying away? Any powerful vote bank at stake?"

She said that Dalit movements are forming a network and would conduct protest marches in Pudukottai if the government does not immediately order a CBI investigation into the matter.

Even the VCK wants an immediate solution to the matter and to bring the culprits to book. The VCK had also called upon the demolition of the contaminated overhead water tank which was standing as a symbol of oppression.

ALSO READ | No 'Munnetram' for Dalits in Dravida land: Revisiting Vengaivayal case after 100 days

CHENNAI: Dalit outfits in Tamil Nadu have demanded a CBI inquiry into the horrific caste atrocity in Vengaivayal in Pudukottai district. It may be recalled that human feces were found in the overhead tank supplying drinking water to the Dalit families in the village. The incident happened in December 2022. The Dalits have said that "it was a clear case of upper caste people insulting them".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); R. Selvanathan, President, Ambedkar Study Forum, a think tank on Dalit studies, based out of Tiruchi while speaking to IANS said, "The mixing of human excreta in drinking water is a clear message to the Dalit community. The message, as per I could decode, is that the Dalits are still much much lower in strata to the upper castes and the middle caste communities and they need not aspire to try and come up in life." He said that the Ambedkar Study Forum and other like-minded organisations would conduct protest marches in Pudukottai demanding a CBI probe. MS Sulekhamani, a Dalit woman activist associated with the Centre for Dalit Studies and Thoughts, based out of Chennai while speaking to IANS said, "The Dalits are treated meanly in several internal parts of Tamil Nadu and the Vengavayal incident is a classic example. If the CB-CID of the Tamil Nadu Police is not able to crack the case that took place as early as December 2022, then what is the point in continuing with them, let the CBI conduct a comprehensive investigation. Why is the government shying away? Any powerful vote bank at stake?" She said that Dalit movements are forming a network and would conduct protest marches in Pudukottai if the government does not immediately order a CBI investigation into the matter. Even the VCK wants an immediate solution to the matter and to bring the culprits to book. The VCK had also called upon the demolition of the contaminated overhead water tank which was standing as a symbol of oppression. ALSO READ | No 'Munnetram' for Dalits in Dravida land: Revisiting Vengaivayal case after 100 days
I have generally accepted the scholarly guidance from leading climate scientists, atmospheric chemists and physicists that the window on steering us away from the worst case scenarios of global warming impacts is narrowing, but has not yet closed.

The goal of not surpassing a global mean temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial temperatures is becoming more unlikely to fulfill. Fossil fuel use and our agricultural technologies along with greenhouse gas feedback mechanisms triggered by human activity-caused warming are making the closing of that window more likely, though not yet certain. For a brief refresher on the irrefutable evidence of human-linked warming, here is a short read from the climate scientists at NASA.

Ask Don Paul: Could climate change end life on Earth? "Before I go any further discussing Earths eventual deadly climate fate (in the distant future but sooner than you may have heard), we have to look first at the basics of what turned Venus into a lifeless furnace," Paul writes.

Here are the most likely impacts from the warming.

On the other hand, some leading climate scientists, such as Michael Mann, still hold out some hope for mitigation of the worst effects, with the proviso that we begin moving more aggressively away from fossil fuels and from some of the ways we grow food and raise livestock. Mann, who has often been criticized by non-scientist warming climate deniers, wrote this on Facebook concerning doomism: I have to say that I am not a fan of this sort of doomist framing. It is important to be up front about the risks of unmitigated climate change, and I frequently criticize those who understate the risks. But there is also a danger in overstating the science in a way that presents the problem as unsolvable, and feeds a sense of doom, inevitability and hopelessness.

Some new and potentially more pessimistic possibilities crossed my eyes in a personal essay by Cambridge professor emeritus Michael Edgeworth McIntyre, in the publication Physics Today. McIntyre's expertise is in fluid dynamics, a physical science that is very much a part of meteorology and climate science modeling. He begins with a premise that can hardly be denied: Arguably, the climate problem is by far the most complex of all the problems confronting humanity today. While writers like me try to streamline those complexities for the reader, McIntyre points out that the reality is the climate problem involves human behavior, global-scale atmospheric and oceanic circulations down to the scale of cyclones, thunderstorms, forest canopies, soil, phytoplankton, bacteria and even further down to molecular isotopes. This is only a partial list of the many variables involved.

McIntyre and fluid dynamics demonstrate that even ice sheets flow and melt or shatter in dauntingly complex ways, which elude accurate modeling. Many climate scientists try to put aside some of the smaller scale complexities, viewing them as less important in the big picture. Climate models, which continue to improve, are designed to blot out the noise of individual storms and short-lived weather patterns to determine the broader nature of the big picture. By necessity, they are not high-resolution models, such as the meteorological models we use to detail placement and intensity of lake effect snow bands or thunderstorms.

The climate models since the 1980s have done a good job of painting the big picture, although they have often underestimated the rate of warming, rising sea levels and climate-related weather extremes. Overall, the pace of global warming on land and in the oceans has been relatively well-predicted in these models, if understated.

But McIntyre points out there is an abundance of paleoclimate data developed from sediment and ice cores going back hundreds of thousands of years of more rapid-fire past changes, which would be much less likely to show up in current climate modeling.

Ask Don Paul: Has the Western megadrought ended? "While water supply problems in the far west have improved tremendously, the interior of the West and the critical Colorado River Basin remain in crisis," writes Don Paul.

Such evidence conclusively shows there have been past warmings in the North Atlantic of as much as 10 degrees Celsius. In some cases, McIntyre says such warmings took only a few years to occur, which are nearly instantaneous from a climate-system perspective.

Some of these rapid changes are related, in particular, to reductions in Nordic sea ice between Scandinavia and Greenland. The paleoclimate data show in detail that these warmings have progressed with incredible speed before human activity was a factor, and was also tied to natural greenhouse gas increases in carbon dioxide and methane. Today, it is humanitys drastic increase in greenhouse gas output since the industrial revolution at play, not natural forcing. The rate of carbon dioxide increases since 1750 is unparalleled in the last 850,000 years.

McIntyre and some of his colleagues have concerns that climate models lack the detailed resolution to pick up on these rapid warmings in time scale or detail. There may be tipping points that the models will miss in the near future, even as weather extremes continue to amplify and multiply. These tipping points are apart from the broad and dangerous path for the Earths climate already underway.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: The Telangana government has announced its intention to submit an expression of interest (EoI) for the acquisition of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam, commonly referred to as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), located in Andhra Pradesh. The deadline for submission of the EoI is April 15 at 3 pm. Sources said the State government has decided in principle to proceed with the submission of the EoI.

The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has been vocal in its opposition to the privatisation of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, particularly the proposed privatisation of VSP in the neighbouring State of Andhra Pradesh.

Sources have revealed that officials from the Telangana government are planning to visit the VSP in the next few days. The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), in which Telangana holds a 51 per cent stake, and the Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation (TSMDC), are both being considered as potential entities to submit the EoI for the steel plant, according to the sources.

It is worth noting that on March 27, the Union government invited EoIs from private companies and steel manufacturers to provide working capital and purchase the products of the VSP. However, BRS leaders saw this EoI as the first step towards privatising the plant.

Telangana IT & Industries Minister KT Rama Rao has already written an open letter to the Centre urging them not to privatise the VSP. His plea has received tremendous support from the employees of VSP as well.

Against this backdrop, the Telangana government has decided to submit an EoI for the VSP also procure its products for infrastructure projects in the State. Sources have indicated that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao recently held a meeting with officials to discuss the VSP and instructed them to proceed with the submission of the EoI.

As a result, higher officials from Telangana are expected to travel to Visakhapatnam in the next one or two days to review the conditions set out for the EoI, the products of the VSP, and other financial considerations.

Through this decision to submit the EoI, the BRS aims to convey a clear message across the country that it opposes the privatisation of PSUs and the policies of the Modi government. It is also expected to help the BRS expand its reach in other States.

It is worth recalling that recently, former joint director of the CBI, VV Lakshminarayana, took to Twitter to say that either the AP or Telangana government should submit the EoI for VSP. However, as of now, the AP government has only requested the Centre not to privatise the VSP and has no plans to submit the EoI. The BRS governments decision to submit the EoI may help it expand its base in AP, but it could also put the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government in an awkward position.

While the VSP is a loss-making plant, it possesses 22,000 acres of land, which has a market value of approximately `1 lakh crore. With the available land, the VSP could expand its production capacity to 10 million tonnes per year. Even if the SCCL were to acquire stakes in the VSP, the crucial question is whether it would be economically viable for the Telangana government or not.

The VSP does not have captive mines, and the Telangana government would have to compete with private players in the auction to obtain the necessary raw materials for the VSP. Regardless of whether the Telangana government succeeds in its mission, its decision to submit the EoI will undoubtedly spark a political debate in the Telugu states.

KCR met officials

 After the Centre invited EoIs to provide working capital and purchase VSPs products, the BRS, seeing it as the first step towards the sale of plant, decided to write to the Centre against privatisation

 KCR recently met officials to discuss the VSP and told them to proceed with the EoI submission

HYDERABAD: The Telangana government has announced its intention to submit an expression of interest (EoI) for the acquisition of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam, commonly referred to as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), located in Andhra Pradesh. The deadline for submission of the EoI is April 15 at 3 pm. Sources said the State government has decided in principle to proceed with the submission of the EoI. The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has been vocal in its opposition to the privatisation of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, particularly the proposed privatisation of VSP in the neighbouring State of Andhra Pradesh. Sources have revealed that officials from the Telangana government are planning to visit the VSP in the next few days. The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), in which Telangana holds a 51 per cent stake, and the Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation (TSMDC), are both being considered as potential entities to submit the EoI for the steel plant, according to the sources.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It is worth noting that on March 27, the Union government invited EoIs from private companies and steel manufacturers to provide working capital and purchase the products of the VSP. However, BRS leaders saw this EoI as the first step towards privatising the plant. Telangana IT & Industries Minister KT Rama Rao has already written an open letter to the Centre urging them not to privatise the VSP. His plea has received tremendous support from the employees of VSP as well. Against this backdrop, the Telangana government has decided to submit an EoI for the VSP also procure its products for infrastructure projects in the State. Sources have indicated that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao recently held a meeting with officials to discuss the VSP and instructed them to proceed with the submission of the EoI. As a result, higher officials from Telangana are expected to travel to Visakhapatnam in the next one or two days to review the conditions set out for the EoI, the products of the VSP, and other financial considerations. Through this decision to submit the EoI, the BRS aims to convey a clear message across the country that it opposes the privatisation of PSUs and the policies of the Modi government. It is also expected to help the BRS expand its reach in other States. It is worth recalling that recently, former joint director of the CBI, VV Lakshminarayana, took to Twitter to say that either the AP or Telangana government should submit the EoI for VSP. However, as of now, the AP government has only requested the Centre not to privatise the VSP and has no plans to submit the EoI. The BRS governments decision to submit the EoI may help it expand its base in AP, but it could also put the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government in an awkward position. While the VSP is a loss-making plant, it possesses 22,000 acres of land, which has a market value of approximately `1 lakh crore. With the available land, the VSP could expand its production capacity to 10 million tonnes per year. Even if the SCCL were to acquire stakes in the VSP, the crucial question is whether it would be economically viable for the Telangana government or not. The VSP does not have captive mines, and the Telangana government would have to compete with private players in the auction to obtain the necessary raw materials for the VSP. Regardless of whether the Telangana government succeeds in its mission, its decision to submit the EoI will undoubtedly spark a political debate in the Telugu states. KCR met officials  After the Centre invited EoIs to provide working capital and purchase VSPs products, the BRS, seeing it as the first step towards the sale of plant, decided to write to the Centre against privatisation  KCR recently met officials to discuss the VSP and told them to proceed with the EoI submission
By AFP

MARSEILLE: Rescue workers on Monday recovered a fourth body from the rubble of a collapsed apartment in France's Marseille, a cabinet minister said, as firefighters raced against the clock to find four people still missing.

More than 24 hours after a suspected explosion at the building, where residents reported a strong smell of gas, dozens of civil defence staff and sniffer dogs worked among the debris as a fire still smouldered.

"Four bodies have been found," Housing Minister Olivier Klein said, at the site of the accident.

But the deputy mayor of the Mediterranean port city, Yannick Ohanessian, said rescue workers still had hope of finding survivors.

"Until the very end, we will believe it is possible -- even if chances become slimmer with every passing hour," he said.

Lionel Mathieu, the commander of the city's fire department, said his team was waging a "battle against time".

"The fire has not reached all parts (of the building), so there is hope," he said.

The fire at the site has made it hard for the dogs to detect more victims or survivors.

'Strong gas odour'

On Sunday, before the discovery of the bodies, local prosecutor Dominique Laurens told reporters that eight people "were not responding to phone calls".

Five people in a neighbouring building sustained minor injuries in the blast and collapse, which occurred around 12:40 am on Sunday (2240 GMT Saturday).

The cause of the explosion is still to be determined, but investigators are looking at the possibility it was the result of a gas leak.

Saveria Mosnier, who lives on a street near the site in the La Plaine neighbourhood, said she was sleeping when a "huge blast... shook the room".

"I was shocked awake as if I had been dreaming," she told AFP.

"We very quickly smelled a strong gas odour that hung around, we could still smell it this morning."

Ohanessian, the deputy mayor, said several witnesses had reported "a suspicious smell of gas".

Two buildings next to the destroyed property were severely damaged, with one collapsing later in the day without injuring any rescuers.

An excavator clears debris on the scene where a building collapsed, in Marseille, southern France, April 10, 2023. (Photo | AP)

Evacuation

Almost 200 residents were evacuated from surrounding buildings.

The city provided some emergency shelter, and the local community also sprang into action to help coordinate housing and aid for them.

"A lot of families in the neighbourhood are afraid," said Arnaud Dupleix, the president of a parents' association at the nearby Tivoli elementary school.

A ninth person living in a neighbouring building had also been feared missing, but has since been in touch with relatives, the prosecutor's office said.

In 2018, eight people were killed in Marseille when two dilapidated buildings in the working-class district of Noailles caved in.

That disaster cast a harsh light on the city's housing standards, with aid groups saying 40,000 people were living in shoddy structures.

But authorities on Sunday appeared to rule out structural issues in the latest collapse.

"There was no danger notice for this building, and it is not in a neighbourhood identified as having substandard housing," said Christophe Mirmand, prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhone region.

MARSEILLE: Rescue workers on Monday recovered a fourth body from the rubble of a collapsed apartment in France's Marseille, a cabinet minister said, as firefighters raced against the clock to find four people still missing. More than 24 hours after a suspected explosion at the building, where residents reported a strong smell of gas, dozens of civil defence staff and sniffer dogs worked among the debris as a fire still smouldered. "Four bodies have been found," Housing Minister Olivier Klein said, at the site of the accident.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); But the deputy mayor of the Mediterranean port city, Yannick Ohanessian, said rescue workers still had hope of finding survivors. "Until the very end, we will believe it is possible -- even if chances become slimmer with every passing hour," he said. Lionel Mathieu, the commander of the city's fire department, said his team was waging a "battle against time". "The fire has not reached all parts (of the building), so there is hope," he said. The fire at the site has made it hard for the dogs to detect more victims or survivors. Marseille. (@aurelien1335) pic.twitter.com/xJmFFnIzCH  AlertesInfos (@AlertesInfos) April 8, 2023 'Strong gas odour' On Sunday, before the discovery of the bodies, local prosecutor Dominique Laurens told reporters that eight people "were not responding to phone calls". Five people in a neighbouring building sustained minor injuries in the blast and collapse, which occurred around 12:40 am on Sunday (2240 GMT Saturday). The cause of the explosion is still to be determined, but investigators are looking at the possibility it was the result of a gas leak. Saveria Mosnier, who lives on a street near the site in the La Plaine neighbourhood, said she was sleeping when a "huge blast... shook the room". "I was shocked awake as if I had been dreaming," she told AFP. "We very quickly smelled a strong gas odour that hung around, we could still smell it this morning." Ohanessian, the deputy mayor, said several witnesses had reported "a suspicious smell of gas". Two buildings next to the destroyed property were severely damaged, with one collapsing later in the day without injuring any rescuers. An excavator clears debris on the scene where a building collapsed, in Marseille, southern France, April 10, 2023. (Photo | AP) Evacuation Almost 200 residents were evacuated from surrounding buildings. The city provided some emergency shelter, and the local community also sprang into action to help coordinate housing and aid for them. "A lot of families in the neighbourhood are afraid," said Arnaud Dupleix, the president of a parents' association at the nearby Tivoli elementary school. A ninth person living in a neighbouring building had also been feared missing, but has since been in touch with relatives, the prosecutor's office said. In 2018, eight people were killed in Marseille when two dilapidated buildings in the working-class district of Noailles caved in. That disaster cast a harsh light on the city's housing standards, with aid groups saying 40,000 people were living in shoddy structures. But authorities on Sunday appeared to rule out structural issues in the latest collapse. "There was no danger notice for this building, and it is not in a neighbourhood identified as having substandard housing," said Christophe Mirmand, prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhone region.
By PTI

TORONTO: In a suspected hate-motivated incident, a 28-year-old Indian-origin man has been arrested by the Canadian police on the charges of yelling threats and religious slurs at worshippers and for dangerous driving at a mosque in Ontario city, according to a media report.

Sharan Karunakaran was taken into custody in Toronto on Friday night following a call for a disturbance at the mosque on Denison Street in Markham, Ontario, the CTV News reported on Sunday.

Witnesses reported that Karunakaran attended the mosque in a vehicle and drove directly at one of the worshippers, yelling threats and religious slurs.

The suspect drove dangerously in the parking lot before leaving the property, a police official was quoted as saying in the report.

Investigators have charged a suspect with several criminal offences after a suspected hate-motivated incident at a mosque in the City of Markham, York Regional Police said in a statement.

Karunakaran has been charged with one count of uttering threats, one count of assault with a weapon, and one count of dangerous driving.

The charges have not been proven in court, the report said.

Members of the Hate Crime Unit attended the mosque to offer support to its members, police said.

His next court appearance is scheduled for April 11.

On Saturday, local Member of Parliament and Federal Trade Minister Mary Ng said she was "deeply disturbed" to learn of the alleged attack.

"Deeply disturbed to hear of the violent hate crimes and racist behaviour at the Islamic Society of Markham. To Muslims in Markham and Canada, I stand with you," she said in a tweet.

TORONTO: In a suspected hate-motivated incident, a 28-year-old Indian-origin man has been arrested by the Canadian police on the charges of yelling threats and religious slurs at worshippers and for dangerous driving at a mosque in Ontario city, according to a media report. Sharan Karunakaran was taken into custody in Toronto on Friday night following a call for a disturbance at the mosque on Denison Street in Markham, Ontario, the CTV News reported on Sunday. Witnesses reported that Karunakaran attended the mosque in a vehicle and drove directly at one of the worshippers, yelling threats and religious slurs.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The suspect drove dangerously in the parking lot before leaving the property, a police official was quoted as saying in the report. Investigators have charged a suspect with several criminal offences after a suspected hate-motivated incident at a mosque in the City of Markham, York Regional Police said in a statement. Karunakaran has been charged with one count of uttering threats, one count of assault with a weapon, and one count of dangerous driving. The charges have not been proven in court, the report said. Members of the Hate Crime Unit attended the mosque to offer support to its members, police said. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 11. On Saturday, local Member of Parliament and Federal Trade Minister Mary Ng said she was "deeply disturbed" to learn of the alleged attack. "Deeply disturbed to hear of the violent hate crimes and racist behaviour at the Islamic Society of Markham. To Muslims in Markham and Canada, I stand with you," she said in a tweet.
By PTI

SINGAPORE: An Indian-origin man has died after he was pushed in the chest by another man and fell down a flight of stairs outside a shopping mall in Singapore.

Thevandran Shanmugam, 34, fell backwards down the stairs at Concorde Shopping Mall on Orchard Road last month.

He sustained multiple fractures to his skull and was taken to a hospital, reported The Straits Times newspaper on Friday.

He was cremated at Mandai Crematorium on Friday evening, it said.

Muhammed Azfary Abdul Kaha, 27, who pushed Shanmugam, was charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt a day after the incident.

It was not mentioned in court documents if the two men knew each other before the incident.

The incident allegedly happened outside a popular nightspot at Concorde Shopping Mall which houses several bars and nightclubs on Orchard Road.

The nightclub on Friday refuted claims that Shanmugam had visited its premises in the morning on the day he was attacked.

Urging people not to speculate, Club Rumours extended its condolences to the Shanmugam family and said it was "extremely sad and sorry for their loss".

If convicted, Azfary could be jailed for up to 10 years, as well as caned or fined.

According to court documents, Azfary had allegedly committed the offence while under a remission order after being jailed for other offences.

If convicted, he can face an additional jail term of up to 178 days, according to the report.

A remission order is issued to allow an inmate to spend a portion of his sentence outside of jail.

SINGAPORE: An Indian-origin man has died after he was pushed in the chest by another man and fell down a flight of stairs outside a shopping mall in Singapore. Thevandran Shanmugam, 34, fell backwards down the stairs at Concorde Shopping Mall on Orchard Road last month. He sustained multiple fractures to his skull and was taken to a hospital, reported The Straits Times newspaper on Friday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He was cremated at Mandai Crematorium on Friday evening, it said. Muhammed Azfary Abdul Kaha, 27, who pushed Shanmugam, was charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt a day after the incident. It was not mentioned in court documents if the two men knew each other before the incident. The incident allegedly happened outside a popular nightspot at Concorde Shopping Mall which houses several bars and nightclubs on Orchard Road. The nightclub on Friday refuted claims that Shanmugam had visited its premises in the morning on the day he was attacked. Urging people not to speculate, Club Rumours extended its condolences to the Shanmugam family and said it was "extremely sad and sorry for their loss". If convicted, Azfary could be jailed for up to 10 years, as well as caned or fined. According to court documents, Azfary had allegedly committed the offence while under a remission order after being jailed for other offences. If convicted, he can face an additional jail term of up to 178 days, according to the report. A remission order is issued to allow an inmate to spend a portion of his sentence outside of jail.
By PTI

HOUSTON: A missing 6-year-old boy from Texas, whose parents fled to India from the US and face felony charges of abandoning and endangering their child, is believed to be dead, a top police official has said.

Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez, who has special needs, was last seen in November shortly after his twin sisters were born in October last year.

Everman Police Chief Craig Spencer said on Thursday that the search for the missing boy is now a death investigation and they are attempting to locate and recover his body.

"We currently have active felony warrants for the arrest of the mother Cindy Rodriguez Singh and Arshdeep Singh for abandoning and endangering a child, which is a second-degree felony," Spencer said at a press conference.

"We want these fugitives arrested and extradited to the United States so that we can seek answers for the disappearance of Noel," he said.

Noel was one of ten children to Cindy, 37.

Three siblings reportedly lived with grandparents, while Noel and the others lived with their mother in squalor in a shed in Everman, a suburb of Fort Worth.

Singh, the boy's Indian-origin stepfather, also lived in the filthy shack.

The search for Noel began after the Texas Department of Family Services asked on March 20 that police in Everman conduct a welfare check, Everman police have said.

On March 22, Noel's mother, Cindy, her husband and six children got on a plane and travelled to India, Spencer said, adding Noel was not with them, NBC News quoted police as saying.

Authorities have issued warrants for the arrest of Cindy and her husband Singh on felony charges of abandoning and endangering a child.

They are trying for the extradition of the couple from India, where they fled in March, days after police began investigating an anonymous tip that Noel had been missing since November.

"We are working with our federal partners and they are engaged with us.They're on the case working side by side.As we get more information, we will update," the police said.

"We rely on our relationship with international agencies. When they have information to share back with us, they'll obviously communicate that with us, but they're working on it, " Spencer said in response to a question on status update with the Indian government.

He said the circumstantial evidence, paired with interviews and work that has eliminated all other possibilities, has led police to believe that Noel is dead.

Investigators came to the conclusion that Noel was likely dead after disproving multiple lies regarding his whereabouts told by Cindy.

The lies include that the boy was in Mexico with his biological father or aunt and that he had been sold to a stranger at a local grocery fiesta market parking lot.

"However, thanks to technology interviews, search warrants and the assistance of authorities in Mexico, investigators verified each one of these claims.

Throughout the investigation, we learned that Cindy had been known to be abusive and neglectful," Spencer said.

He said investigators learned through interviews that Cindy referred to Noel as "evil, possessed or having a demon in him" and believed he would harm the twins.

"Relatives and witnesses stated that food and water were often withheld from Noel because Cindy did not like changing Noel's dirty diapers. A relative even witnessed Cindy strike Noel in the face with keys because he drank water," he said.

When Noel was last seen, he was described as "appearing unhealthy and malnourished," Spencer said.

Authorities previously disclosed Noel was born prematurely and had several physical disabilities and developmental disorders.

They also described his mother as having an "extensive criminal history" and explained she was the subject of a previous investigation by Child Protective Services, the New York Post reported.

The pair are believed to have fled to Singh's home country of India before the warrants were issued, it said.

The City of Everman plans to hold a candlelight vigil for Noel at 8:30 pm on Monday at the Everman Civic Center.

On November 1 last year, Cindy obtained passport photographs of all the children living with her except for Noel.

The next day, she applied for passports for herself and all six of the children except for Noel.

Investigators continue to work tirelessly to comb through all of the electronic data and other information that has been obtained through a multitude of search warrants.

"We have not located any information that would suggest the child has been sold for traffic. We have additionally been able to disprove stories that Noel was given to other family members," Spencer said.

"Although the course of this investigation has changed our commitments, we will continue to fight for Noel," he asserted.

The following steps in the investigation will be to try to determine possible locations to search for the boy's remains.

"We are engaging with several experts and highly qualified organisations to assist us in this venture.Some organised searches have already begun and are expected to continue in the coming days," Spencer said.

The couple lived mostly in a converted shed in the backyard of their home on Wisteria Drive.

Noel and some of his siblings mostly stayed in bedrooms in the main house, according to homeowner Charles Parson.

Investigators thoroughly searched the property, including digging under a concrete patio that Cindy paid to have installed.

But the search has not led to evidence of Noel's location, police said.

HOUSTON: A missing 6-year-old boy from Texas, whose parents fled to India from the US and face felony charges of abandoning and endangering their child, is believed to be dead, a top police official has said. Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez, who has special needs, was last seen in November shortly after his twin sisters were born in October last year. Everman Police Chief Craig Spencer said on Thursday that the search for the missing boy is now a death investigation and they are attempting to locate and recover his body.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "We currently have active felony warrants for the arrest of the mother Cindy Rodriguez Singh and Arshdeep Singh for abandoning and endangering a child, which is a second-degree felony," Spencer said at a press conference. "We want these fugitives arrested and extradited to the United States so that we can seek answers for the disappearance of Noel," he said. Noel was one of ten children to Cindy, 37. Three siblings reportedly lived with grandparents, while Noel and the others lived with their mother in squalor in a shed in Everman, a suburb of Fort Worth. Singh, the boy's Indian-origin stepfather, also lived in the filthy shack. The search for Noel began after the Texas Department of Family Services asked on March 20 that police in Everman conduct a welfare check, Everman police have said. On March 22, Noel's mother, Cindy, her husband and six children got on a plane and travelled to India, Spencer said, adding Noel was not with them, NBC News quoted police as saying. Authorities have issued warrants for the arrest of Cindy and her husband Singh on felony charges of abandoning and endangering a child. They are trying for the extradition of the couple from India, where they fled in March, days after police began investigating an anonymous tip that Noel had been missing since November. "We are working with our federal partners and they are engaged with us.They're on the case working side by side.As we get more information, we will update," the police said. "We rely on our relationship with international agencies. When they have information to share back with us, they'll obviously communicate that with us, but they're working on it, " Spencer said in response to a question on status update with the Indian government. He said the circumstantial evidence, paired with interviews and work that has eliminated all other possibilities, has led police to believe that Noel is dead. Investigators came to the conclusion that Noel was likely dead after disproving multiple lies regarding his whereabouts told by Cindy. The lies include that the boy was in Mexico with his biological father or aunt and that he had been sold to a stranger at a local grocery fiesta market parking lot. "However, thanks to technology interviews, search warrants and the assistance of authorities in Mexico, investigators verified each one of these claims. Throughout the investigation, we learned that Cindy had been known to be abusive and neglectful," Spencer said. He said investigators learned through interviews that Cindy referred to Noel as "evil, possessed or having a demon in him" and believed he would harm the twins. "Relatives and witnesses stated that food and water were often withheld from Noel because Cindy did not like changing Noel's dirty diapers. A relative even witnessed Cindy strike Noel in the face with keys because he drank water," he said. When Noel was last seen, he was described as "appearing unhealthy and malnourished," Spencer said. Authorities previously disclosed Noel was born prematurely and had several physical disabilities and developmental disorders. They also described his mother as having an "extensive criminal history" and explained she was the subject of a previous investigation by Child Protective Services, the New York Post reported. The pair are believed to have fled to Singh's home country of India before the warrants were issued, it said. The City of Everman plans to hold a candlelight vigil for Noel at 8:30 pm on Monday at the Everman Civic Center. On November 1 last year, Cindy obtained passport photographs of all the children living with her except for Noel. The next day, she applied for passports for herself and all six of the children except for Noel. Investigators continue to work tirelessly to comb through all of the electronic data and other information that has been obtained through a multitude of search warrants. "We have not located any information that would suggest the child has been sold for traffic. We have additionally been able to disprove stories that Noel was given to other family members," Spencer said. "Although the course of this investigation has changed our commitments, we will continue to fight for Noel," he asserted. The following steps in the investigation will be to try to determine possible locations to search for the boy's remains. "We are engaging with several experts and highly qualified organisations to assist us in this venture.Some organised searches have already begun and are expected to continue in the coming days," Spencer said. The couple lived mostly in a converted shed in the backyard of their home on Wisteria Drive. Noel and some of his siblings mostly stayed in bedrooms in the main house, according to homeowner Charles Parson. Investigators thoroughly searched the property, including digging under a concrete patio that Cindy paid to have installed. But the search has not led to evidence of Noel's location, police said.
By Online Desk

The US has been spying on President Zelensky, fearing Kyiv might start striking Russia's territory if Washington provides Ukraine with long-range missiles, one of the recently leaked documents reveals, Kyiv Post reports.

CNN has reviewed 53 leaked classified Pentagon documents appearing to detail, among other things, Ukraines combat capabilities, its potential vulnerabilities, and NATOs broad efforts to help repel Russias invasion, the report said.

One of the revealed documents appeared to be the US intelligence report, allegedly revealing intercepted Zelensky's conversations with military and defense officials using signals intelligence.

According to a CNN publication, a source close to Zelensky said that the US spying on Zelensky was not surprising for the President. Still, Ukrainian officials are deeply frustrated about the leak, Kyiv Post reported.

Thus, during one of those meetings in late February, Ukraine's President suggested striking Russian deployment locations in Russias Rostov Oblast using combat drones since Ukraine does not have long-range missiles capable of reaching that far.

The intelligence could explain the US's unwillingness to provide Ukraine with long-range missile systems due to fears that Kyiv will use them for strikes inside Russia. But Ukraine has promised not to use weapons provided by the United States for this, the report added.

The US has been spying on President Zelensky, fearing Kyiv might start striking Russia's territory if Washington provides Ukraine with long-range missiles, one of the recently leaked documents reveals, Kyiv Post reports. CNN has reviewed 53 leaked classified Pentagon documents appearing to detail, among other things, Ukraines combat capabilities, its potential vulnerabilities, and NATOs broad efforts to help repel Russias invasion, the report said. One of the revealed documents appeared to be the US intelligence report, allegedly revealing intercepted Zelensky's conversations with military and defense officials using signals intelligence.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to a CNN publication, a source close to Zelensky said that the US spying on Zelensky was not surprising for the President. Still, Ukrainian officials are deeply frustrated about the leak, Kyiv Post reported. Thus, during one of those meetings in late February, Ukraine's President suggested striking Russian deployment locations in Russias Rostov Oblast using combat drones since Ukraine does not have long-range missiles capable of reaching that far. The intelligence could explain the US's unwillingness to provide Ukraine with long-range missile systems due to fears that Kyiv will use them for strikes inside Russia. But Ukraine has promised not to use weapons provided by the United States for this, the report added.
A Cheektowaga man will spend 8 years in prison followed by six years of post-release supervision in connection with a pair of carjacking incidents last year.

Prosecutors said 18-year-old Josue Lubala could have faced a maximum of 40 years in prison when he was sentenced Thursday by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case.

Lubala pleaded guilty to robbery and kidnapping charges related to the carjacking incidents that happened in September at Cheektowaga Town Park, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office.

According to law enforcement officials, Lubala was armed with a knife when he abducted a woman and her 2-year-old child by forcing her into the passenger seat of her vehicle as she was about to leave Cheektowaga Town Park near Harlem Road and Greenleaf Lane about 10:45 a.m. Sept. 13, 2022. The victim was approached by Lubala as she was about to leave the park.

Lubala then drove to Wick Street where he allowed the woman and toddler to get out of the car before he drove off in the stolen vehicle, prosecutors alleged.

The following day, around 9:27 a.m., accosted a second woman as she was was sitting in the front passenger seat of her vehicle in the parking lot near the Alexander Community Center at Cheektowaga Town Park, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Lubala entered through the drivers side of the vehicle and attempted to kidnap the woman by threatening her with a knife. Instead she jumped from the vehicle and ran for help. A witness to the incident called 911 and, after a brief chase, Cheektowaga police arrested Lubala on Walden Avenue.

Lubala pleaded guilty March 2 to all the felony counts in the indictment against him, including one count of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree kidnapping, one count of second-degree attempted kidnapping and one count of first-degree attempted robbery.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Peter M. Pinelli of the Felony Trials Bureau.
UGC cautions Class 12 students against fake univs; says no to higher studies in Pak

New Delhi, April 9: Ahead of college admissions, University Grants Commission (UGC) has warned students against unrecognised or 'fake' institutions operating in the country.

UGC cautions Class 12 students against fake univs; says no to higher studies in Pak

In the last two years, the UGC has identified 27 such 'fake' higher educational institutions in the country.With the admission process around the corner, students across the country have been asked to beware of educational institutions that are not established as per the UGC Act but offer degrees in contravention of stated provisions. According to Union Education Ministry, the degrees provided by such institutions will not be valid for further studies or jobs.Recently, the UGC detected two unrecognised institutions and is likely to soon release a fresh list of such institutions.According to a recent notice issued by the UGC, the 'Open International University for Alternative Medicines' and the 'National Board of Alternative Medicines' are running courses in violation of the UGC Act 1956.The UGC appealed to students across the country not to take admission in these institutions as their degrees will not be valid for further education or job.Earlier, the UGC had also issued a similar notice against the All India Institute of Public and Physical Health Science, a higher educational institution in Delhi. The UGC in its notice advised students not to take admission in "self-styled" institutes.The UGC from time to time releases lists of such unrecognised colleges, universities and institutes to make students aware of institutions, which are fraudulently offering degree courses. It also keeps an eye on such self-styled institutions in the interest of students.Last year, the UGC identified about 24 such higher educational institutions and declared the degrees awarded by them "invalid and fake".According to the UGC, students should thoroughly examine it before taking admission in higher educational institutions. Students and parents should make sure that the concerned educational institution is recognised by the UGC. These educational institutions can be verified on the UGC website.Significantly, the UGC and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), which promotes technical education in India, have also issued a warning against the educational institutions of Pakistan.In this joint advisory issued for Indian students, it was said that Indian students should not take admission in any college or educational institution in Pakistan. According to the UGC, students pursuing education in Pakistan will not be eligible to get jobs and higher education in India.UGC and AICTE have said that Indian students should not go to Pakistan for higher education. An Indian student going to Pakistan to pursue technical education, higher education or any other course will not be able to take admission in India for further studies or jobs.IANS09 April 2023

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PM Modi to attend Bihu celebration in Assam on April 14, inaugurate several projects: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati, April 9: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday shared the details of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the state and informed that the PM would be attending the mega Bihu celebration which is scheduled to be held in Guwahati on April 14.

PM Modi to attend Bihu celebration in Assam on April 14, inaugurate several projects: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

"Assam will witness a historical moment on April 14 as more than 11,000 boys and girls will participate in Bihu which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will witness. Prime Minister's presence will boost the morale of the people of Assam because we consider Bihu as the lifeline of Assam. The program will be unique and one of its kind and the people of Assam are looking forward to it", said CM Sarma.Listing down the several programs scheduled for PM Modi's visit CM Sarma said, "PM Modi will launch several programs from AIIMS Guwahati. One hospital will be built on the IIT Guwahati premises. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of an institute and will attend the closing ceremony of the Platinum Jubilee celebration of Gauhati High Court at Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati.""PM Modi will attend the programme at Sarusajai Stadium. He will inaugurate the newly installed Assam Petro Chemicals Limited 500 project TPD Methanol at Namrup, costing Rs 1,709 crores. He will lay the foundation stone of another bridge connecting Palasbari-Sualkuchi on the Brahmaputra river, costing Rs 3,170 crore," CM informed further.President Draupadi Murmu on Saturday visited Assam and took a sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft at Tezpur Air Force Station. The President was also briefed during her visit on the aircraft's operational capabilities and the Indian Air Force (IAF).ANI09 April 2023

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Tensions escalate as China simulates strikes on targets in Taiwan

Taipei, April 9: Beijing performed simulated coordinated precision strikes on important targets in Taiwan on the second day of the drills, adding to the ongoing tense situation between Taiwan and China, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday.

Tensions escalate as China simulates 'strikes on targets in Taiwan'

The drills kickstarted on Saturday (April 8) right after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen returned from the US where she met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a meeting to which China strictly showed opposition to.Al Jazeera reported that the declaration was made on Sunday as Taiwan's defence ministry said that it had discovered numerous Chinese air force sorties and was keeping an eye on Beijing's missile forces.Taiwan on Saturday tracked 71 Chinese military aircraft and nine naval ships by 4 pm, reported Taiwan News.The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said that it included 45 planes which either crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) from the southwest.This comes after Beijing announced three days of military exercises around Taiwan on Friday, the day after President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei from Los Angeles, where she met with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.Meanwhile, Taiwan also lodged a protest against Chinese military drills around Taiwan, saying that the country would not yield to threats.Taking to Twitter, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said, "#Taiwan is our homeland, and no matter where we go or what we encounter, she is always charming and beautiful. Every story on this land is etched in our memories. We, #ROCArmedForces, are fighting with all our heart to defend our homeland and to protect our home together."Taiwan has never been governed by the Chinese Communist Party, but Beijing claims it is part of its territory and seeks "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan.Tensions between China and Taiwan escalated after the US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi travelled to the breakaway country in August last year. China raised objections to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.ANI09 April 2023

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Technology must be used as medium for public welfare, countrys growth: Yogi Adityanath

Gorakhpur, April 9: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has emphasised on the importance of the use of technology in education and said it should be used as a medium for public welfare and the country's growth.

Technology must be used as medium for public welfare, country's growth: Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh CM made these remarks after the inauguration of Delhi Public School (DPS) at Gorakhpur.He said that when the whole world was battered by the Covid pandemic, India came up with the new National Education Policy, which opens doors of possibilities for educational institutions. He said it is the responsibility of educational institutions to also inform students about government schemes that can help them achieve their goals.The Chief Minister also said that DPS Pro Vice Chairman Vishal Singh has expressed his desire to open its branches in Kushinagar, Maharajganj and Siddharthnagar."These three are border districts and the government will extend all possible cooperation if good institutions come forward to set up their branches here," he remarked.ANI09 April 2023

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Will fight to defend, protect home together: Taiwan Defence Ministry

Taipei, April 9: Taiwan will fight to defend and protect the home together, the country's National Defence Ministry said as it detected multiple China aircraft encircling the island country.

'Will fight to defend, protect home together: Taiwan Defence Ministry

Taking to Twitter, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said, "#Taiwan is our homeland, and no matter where we go or what we encounter, she is always charming and beautiful. Every story on this land is etched in our memories. We, #ROCArmedForces, are fighting with all our heart to defend our homeland and to protect our home together."Earlier on Sunday, Taiwan tracked 71 Chinese military aircraft, and 9 naval ships by 6 am. It looks like China started its second day of the drills around Taiwan."45 of the detected aircraft(SU-30*8, J-11*4, J-10*16, J-16*10, TB-001 UCAV, Y-9EW, Y-8 ASW, H-6K*2, Y-20, KJ-500) had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated," the Ministry said.China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, began three days of military exercises around the island on Saturday, the day after President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei from Los Angeles, where she met with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.The ministry also issued a photo taken from the Cheng Kung-class Chang Chien missile frigate showing Navy officers monitoring the movements of China's Ma'anshan frigate, reported Taiwan News.The military said it tasked aircraft in Combat Air Patrols (CAP) and naval vessels while deploying land-based air defence missile systems to monitor the activities of the Chinese military ships and aircraft.The MND, while accusing China of causing regional insecurity and instability, said the armed forces would increase their vigilance and readiness, but would stay away from provocations and raising tension, reported Taiwan News.Taiwan lodged a protest against Chinese military drills around Taiwan, saying that the country would not yield to threats.ANI09 April 2023

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Nirmala Sitharaman arrives in US for a week-long official visit; Heres itinerary

New York, April 9: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived in the US on Sunday for a week-long official visit.

Nirmala Sitharaman arrives in US for a week-long official visit; Here's itinerary

Consul General of India in New York Randhir Jaiswal received Finance Minister Sitharaman at the airport.Later today, Sitharaman will depart for Washington.During her stay, Sitharaman will be attending the 2023 Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), along with G20 meetings, Investor/ Bilateral meetings, and other associated meetings.The Spring Meetings will be attended by Finance Ministers and Central Bankers from across the world.The Indian delegation will also comprise of officials from the Ministry of Finance and Reserve Bank of India.Finance Minister Sitharaman and RBI Shaktikanta Das will jointly chair the 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting during Wednesday-Thursday. Around 350 delegates from G20 members, 13 invitee countries, and various international and regional organisations will participate and engage in multilateral discussions.The 2nd G20 FMCBG meeting will comprise of three sessions - global economy and international financial architecture; sustainable finance, financial sector and financial inclusion; and international taxation."The focus of these sessions will be to deliberate on issues such as addressing food and energy insecurity, managing global debt vulnerabilities, strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), mobilising finance for climate action, advancing financial inclusion, and accelerating progress on International Tax and Financial Sector issues. The meeting will take stock of the progress made on outcomes envisaged under India's G20 Finance Track agenda," an official release earlier said.The 2nd G20 FMCBG meeting will advance efforts towards the preparation of G20 India Finance Track deliverables for the 3rd G20 FMCBG meeting to be held in Gandhinagar, India, in July 2023. These meetings are expected to provide informed Finance Track contributions to the Leaders Declaration set for adoption in the New Delhi Summit in September 2023.On the sidelines of the Spring Annual Meetings, the Finance Minister will have bilateral engagements with her respective counterparts from G20 countries and Heads of other delegations, including major international organisations, to discuss issues and areas of mutual interest and cooperation under India's G20 Presidency.In a high-level meeting on Tuesday, the Finance Minister will meet the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to discuss issues of mutual interest.Further, a meeting of the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable will be co-chaired by India, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank on April 12, 2023, to discuss the current global debt landscape and ways to address existing challenges in debt restructuring."On April 14, 2023, a high-level seminar on "Macro-financial implications of Crypto assets" will be held to review the macro-financial implications of Crypto Assets and discuss policies to leverage benefits and contain risks. Smt. Sitharaman will also meet the G20 Expert Group on strengthening MDBs on April 15, 2023, to discuss the need for an updated MDBs ecosystem for the 21st century towards financing sustainable development goals and transboundary challenges," the release said.ANI09 April 2023

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BJPs CEC meets to finalise names of Karnataka candidates

New Delhi, April 9: With a month left for the Karnataka Assembly elections, the BJP's Central Election Commission met at the party headquarters here on Sunday to finalise name of the candidates.

BJP's CEC meets to finalise names of Karnataka candidates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah, party President J.P. Nadda, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai, senior party leader B.S. Yediyurappa and other state leaders arrived at BJP headquarters for the meeting.As per top sources, the CEC meet is to finalise the names of the candidates, and there could be major changes in the last list as political requirements. A list with names of maximum candidates could be out on Monday.Earlier on Saturday, Shah held a meeting at Nadda's residence to discuss and finalise the list of candidates for the May 10 polls.IANS10 April 2023

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Casey William Milbrand's Ellicott Street mural Greetings from Buffalo has been celebrated as a symbol of Buffalo's tourism and a made-for-Instagram backdrop.

But nearly seven years after the mural's creation, Milbrand faces criticism for sending invoices to businesses and institutions requesting sums from $5,000 to $180,000 for alleged copyright infringement. In two of these letters and invoices shared with The Buffalo News, Milbrand includes screenshots that show images of his murals used in businesses' marketing, promotional and branding materials without attribution to the artist.

If organizations do not meet the asking price within 10 days, the documents read, the invoice offer is moot and Milbrand writes that he will contact his attorney. Because Greetings from Buffalo is protected by federal copyright  a copy of which he also includes in the letter  Milbrand could through U.S. Copyright Law pursue up to $30,000 for each infringement and $150,000 for each if he can prove his work was intentionally reproduced for profit.

New 'Greetings from Buffalo' mural appears on Ellicott Street Get your selfie-sticks ready, Buffalo. Theres a new mural in town, and it is almost ready to compete for your Instagram-fueled affections. Casey William Milbrand expects to complete his picture-postcard mural on the south wall of the Washington Market at 461 Ellicott St. this week. The piece, funded with $6,500 in crowd-sourced donations, practically glows with Buffalo pride. It depicts a

The News has confirmed that since 2021, Roswell Park, the University at Buffalo, 43North, Welcome 716 and Buffalo Bike Tours have all received invoices from Milbrand alleging copyright infringement. The invoice sent to UB asked for $180,000, confirmed university spokesperson John Della Contrada, who said UB removed the images immediately from its website and photo archives. The university had no further comment due to ongoing litigation, he said. Milbrand is a 2003 UB graduate, according to the school's website.

Greetings from Buffalo has "become the go-to place for tourists and residents alike who are looking for the perfect selfie to show off their Buffalove," reads a blurb on the artist's website. Milbrand said Tuesday that copyrighting protects his artistic rights while emphasizing the community value of his work.

"Beyond my own art, I want to inspire other Buffalo-based artists and artists across the country how to value themselves, how to respect themselves, and most importantly, how to protect their work as working professionals," Milbrand said in a statement. "Copyrighting every single mural design is necessary if you want to be a professional artist."

Some of the targets of Milbrand's invoices  and even some who originally supported his endeavor  have spoken against the method the artist employs and the funds he demands to protect his copyright.

"This was meant to be a city beautification project," said Jason Rothschild, vice president for Signature Development, which owns the building adorned with the Greetings from Buffalo mural. "We offered that wall up free of charge to the artist."

Rothschild said he is weighing options on the future of the mural.

"It's antithetical to the idea of community," said Marc Moscato, owner of Buffalo Bike Tours and a target of Milbrand's invoicing.

Two small businesses impacted

Moscato, who describes his bike tour business as a "side hustle," said he never corresponded with Milbrand before receiving a letter from Casey Milbrand Design Inc. last Monday.

The letter included five screenshots from Moscato's business website, BuffaloBikeTours.com, a few of which showed bicycle riders posing in front of the Greetings from Buffalo mural, including one with a "Book Now" link for his guided history tour. Moscato said he did not know Milbrand's artwork was copyrighted.

The invoice attached to the letter requested $5,000. Moscato said Wednesday that the amount is greater than his tours' total revenue from last year, and that the image of the riders in front of Milbrand's mural represents a "Kodak moment" from one of about a dozen stops along the history tour. Moscato said he has removed the images from his website and no longer plans to stop at Milbrand's mural on the tour.

"It's bizarre behavior," said Moscato of Milbrand's approach. "It's not how I'd conduct myself or my business."

Moscato said he holds a master's degree in arts administration and stressed that he believes artists should be fairly compensated for their work. He wished Milbrand would have called him or even sent a cease-and-desist order to give Moscato a chance to remedy the situation by means other than paying $5,000.

"That more than anything else is the upsetting thing," Moscato said.

After he posted from his personal Facebook account asking for advice on how to respond to the invoice, Moscato said he received an email from Stuart B. Shapiro, Milbrand's attorney, threatening a defamation suit.

North Buffalo's mural renaissance continues with 'Lookin' Good' Casey William Milbrand, the artist who launched a thousand Instagram selfies and wedding proposals with his photogenic Greetings From Buffalo mural on Ellicott Street, is at it again. Milbrands new mural, a blast of bold color and 70s-era typography, on the side of CRAVing Restaurant at 1472 Hertel Ave., will bear a simple message about the surrounding neighborhood in lower-case

Justin DeLuca, president of Welcome 716, which produces a hotel guide and website, confirmed his business was billed by Milbrand for $80,000 on Dec. 3. The invoice alleged Welcome 716 used the artist's murals in promotions and advertising. DeLuca declined to speak in detail about the situation, but he said the issue represents a significant burden to his business.

Neither Moscato nor DeLuca said they received a cease-and-desist order prior to being invoiced.

Asked how he would respond to angry business representatives to whom he has alleged copyright infringement, Milbrand pointed to his growth as a professional artist.

"As an artist you must become an expert on things you never dreamed of," he said. "Copyrighting, licensing, contract negotiations, project management, proposal writing and project fundraising are all new skills that I learned from teaching myself how to run my own art business. My mural designs have raised thousands of dollars for the community beyond the painting of my murals."

Milbrand explained that, in working with promotional site Step Out Buffalo, his Greetings from Buffalo design raised $25,000 for five nonprofits to deal with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, while the design for his Lookin' Good mural on Hertel raised $5,000 for the Pride Center of WNY and MOCHA Center. The artist said he also donated the design for his Let Hope Shine Through mural to Family Promise of WNY, raising about $2,000 toward the organization's emergency homeless shelter.

Attorney: Lack of public knowledge about copyright law

When organizations don't comply with his financial requests for alleged infringement, Milbrand has been willing to take them to court. Shapiro, his attorney, has filed legal complaints alleging copyright infringement in U.S. District Court for Milbrand at least twice, against Roswell Park in 2021 and 43North last month.

A Roswell Park spokesperson confirmed this week that the cancer center settled for a "modest amount" out of court, and legal documents show Milbrand voluntarily dismissed the case last April. The case against 43North, a business startup incubator, is active, however, and Shapiro declined to share specifics.

The Kenmore-based attorney said he is also an instructor at SUNY Fredonia, where he teaches copyright and intellectual property law. Shapiro said he advises students, if faced with a notice of copyright infringement, to apologize, acknowledge compensation for the work is needed and suggest a reasonable counteroffer to the amount invoiced. He said there's a lack of public knowledge about copyright law.

In a notice of copyright infringement, the initial approach is up to the artist, Shapiro explained. Some may send a cease-and-desist order, which usually requires removal of all reproductions among other remedies, while other artists may request direct compensation in an amount they believe to be appropriate.

If an infringement case reaches court, U.S. Copyright Law dictates a range of $200 to $150,000 in statutory damages can be awarded for each infringement, depending largely on whether the infringer knowingly reproduced copyrighted material for profit. A court can cancel damages if the reproduction is deemed fair use, a hot topic in a U.S. Supreme Court case involving Andy Warhol's artwork of musical artist Prince.

Mural a 'source of community pride'

Visit Buffalo Niagara was "thrilled" by the idea of Milbrand's Greetings from Buffalo mural in 2016. The tourism organization supported Milbrand's crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the downtown project, which received $4,640 total from 70 donors.

"Murals are a big part of an engaging urban landscape and Caseys contribution is sure to make downtown Buffalo an even more stimulating experience for visitors  one were sure theyll share with friends and family via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter," read Visit Buffalo Niagara's statement in 2016. "If you want to be a part of the New Buffalo we urge you to make a contribution to Caseys Indiegogo campaign."

Visit Buffalo Niagara's tune has recently changed.

Visit Buffalo Niagara respects the right of artists and creatives to protect their intellectual property," said Patrick Kaler, president and CEO of the tourism bureau, in a statement. "That said, we regret that the Greetings from Buffalo mural has become a source of dispute and hard feelings after being so warmly embraced by the community who helped to make it happen."

Kaler noted that the mural was "conceived of as a goodwill gesture intended to welcome locals and visitors to downtown Buffalo."

"The fact that it is now the subject of legal action is entirely contrary to the spirit and intent of the mural and why Visit Buffalo Niagara helped facilitate its creation in the first place," Kaler continued. "We hope that any disputes over the mural will be settled amicably and that it once again becomes a source of community pride."

Joel P. Feroleto, Buffalo Common Council representative for the Delaware District, expressed concern about potential ramifications for public art in Buffalo.

"I've worked with several local artists and had wonderful experiences," Feroleto said Thursday, citing previous collaborations with Philip Burke, Chuck Tingley and Eduardo Kobra. "I hope this doesn't deter building owners from allowing public art projects on their properties in the future."

Aaron Ott, curator of public art for the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, commissioned Shark Girl, the Freedom Wall and several other projects as part of the gallery's Public Art Initiative with Erie County and the City of Buffalo. He said his organization has not worked with Milbrand and is not involved in the disputes. For public works commissioned by Albright-Knox, the gallery's website dedicates an entire section to clarify copyrights and usage.

Art on the go: Walk by, drive by, enjoy new outdoor displays In recent weeks, families went on neighborhood hunts for rainbows and teddy bears. Beginning May 10, theres a new hunt in town: a walking/driving tour of works displayed by local artists outside of homes and two galleries. Installations are mostly in Buffalo but also Snyder, Tonawanda, Kenmore and West Falls. The event, Proximity: In Search of Signs of Life

"We believe that public art is inherently for public enjoyment," Ott said in a statement. "We and the artists we work with expect and celebrate public engagement with the artworks. We do not believe that threatening unnecessary litigation and monetary demands is aligned with the spirit of public art."

The backlash has not deterred Milbrand.

"I love that as a creator I get to choose what uses work for my corporation and the highest good as I see fit," Milbrand said. "Every day I wake up I am filled with joy because I get to create from the purest place in my heart and I love what I do."
IPL 2023: Rinku Singhs five sixes help Kolkata pull off an unimaginable heist against Gujarat

Ahmedabad, April 9: With five balls left in the final over, Kolkata Knight Riders needed 28 runs, with a victory for Gujarat Titans looking imminent, especially after stand-in captain Rashid Khan took a hat-trick.

IPL 2023: Rinku Singh's five sixes help Kolkata pull off an unimaginable heist against Gujarat

But Rinku Singh smashed five successive sixes on the last five balls off Yash Dayal to complete an improbable heist in the history of IPL and give Kolkata a memorable three-wicket victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium.Fifties from B Sai Sudharsan and Vijay Shankar, including him smashing Lockie Ferguson and Shardul Thakur for five sixes and two fours in the 19th and 20 overs, yielding 45 runs overall, took Gujarat to 204/4 in 20 overs.In reply, Venkatesh Iyer smashed 83 off 40 balls and shared a 100-run partnership off 55 balls with captain Nitish Rana to take Kolkata to victory. But 'ashid's hat-trick in the 17th overturned the game in G'jarat's favour before Rinku brought in another twist through his unbeaten 48 in a jaw-dropping display of strokeplay to seal a Kolkata win.Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell to a short ball from Mohammed Shami in the third over, with short leg holding on to the catch and avoiding a collision with substitute keeper KS Bharat. Josh Little sent back N Jagadeesan in the fourth over by having him pull straight to deep square leg.Iyer, coming in as an impact player for Suyash Sharma, got off the mark with an upper cut over the third man for six. Every shot coming from his bat was finely middled - like the punch off Shami, executing a deft shot off Alzarri Joseph and pulling off Dayal to hit a boundary each in the last three overs of power-play.After the field restrictions were lifted, Iyer pulled Dayal for a four and six in the seventh over. In the next over, Rana pulled and cut off Alzarri Joseph for two sixes. Rashid brought himself on in the ninth over, but Iyer slog-swept him for six, followed by Rana pulling for four more in the 11th over.In the next over, Iyer reached his fifty in 26 balls by flicking Dayal past short fine leg for four, followed by hitting a brace of sixes over square leg and long-off. Boundaries continued to flow as Rana brought out the sweep and reverse-sweep against Rashid. But Joseph broke the century-partnership in the 16th over as Rana chipped straight to mid-off.Iyer continued to keep Kolkata in the hunt, hitting Little for two fours in the 15th over, before ending the over with a clean swing over long-off for six. His blistering knock came to an end in the next over when he holed out to long-on off Joseph.The crowd suddenly found its noise back and that got louder in the 17th over when Rashid had Andre Russell caught behind off an inside edge, Sunil Narine caught at deep mid-wicket and trapped Shardul Thakur lbw with a googly to complete a sensational hat-trick.But Rinku had other ideas - hitting Little straight down the ground for six and pulling him through square leg for four in the 19th over. With 29 needed off the final over, Rinku feasted on poor balls from Dayal by smashing a hat-trick of sixes over wide long-off, backward square leg and long-off. He then hit successive sixes over long-on fence to give Kolkata an unimaginable victory.Earlier, Sudharsan smashed his second successive half-century of the tournament through 53 off 38 balls while Shankar slammed a sensational 63 not out off just 24 balls to take Gujarat above 200.Wriddhiman Saha fell in a bid to go big against Narine, top-edged a slog sweep, and Jagadeesan running backwards to take a brilliant over-the-shoulder catch. While Sudharsan got off the mark with a late cut against Narine for four, Shubman Gill was pristine in successive driven fours off Varun Chakaravarthy.The duo took to attacking the spinners in their 67-run stand - Gill used his feet to loft for boundaries, while Sudharsan was superb in holding his shape and dancing down the pitch for his lofted shots.Gill tried to loft off Narine in the 12th over but holed out to long-on. Abhinav Manohar began his promotion to number four by hitting a hat-trick of fours off Umesh, but his innings was cut short by a deceptive googly from Suyash, which spun back to beat his inside edge and crashed into the stumps.Sudharsan pulled Thakur through mid-wicket for four, before getting his fifty in 34 balls. But in the 18th over, he holed out to long-off against Narine. With the score at 158/4 in 18 overs, Shankar provided for the finishing touch, as a top-edge on his pull went for six.He followed it up by flaying a wide delivery over the short third man for four and ended the 25-run over of Ferguson with a clean loft over long-off for six. Shankar notched up his fifty in 21 balls with a hat-trick of sixes off Thakur through pull, loft and slog in the final over, to take Gujarat above 200, which turned out to b' insufficient in front of Rinku's unforgettable heist.Brief scores Gujarat Titans 204/4 in 20 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 53, Vijay Shankar 63 not out; Sunil Narine 3-33, Suyash Sharma 1-35) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 207/7 in 20 overs (Venkatesh Iyer 83, Rinku Singh 48 not out; Rashid Khan 3-37, Alzarri Joseph 2-27) by three wicketsIANS10 April 2023

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Mumbai: BMC repairs pipe in Tansa Water channel

Mumbai, April 9: Damage in the pipes of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was repaired on a war footing in the Tansa reservoir pipeline on Sunday, informed BMC.

Mumbai: BMC repairs pipe in Tansa Water channel

The hole was reported in the Tansa Water channel on Saturday around 330 pm which affected the water supply of the areas of the 'K East' division and Dharavi of 'G North' division, as per the release.21-inch-long section of the main Tansa water channel was damaged and repair work started when a 2-inch-diameter hole was found, said BMC.BMC workers and engineers immediately started repair work on the damaged pipeline, which was repaired around 400 am on Sunday.BMC Commissioner Iqbal Chahal congratulated the department workers and engineers for completing the repair work in record time.Tansa Water channel services resume at 630 am on Sunday.ANI10 April 2023

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Happiest moment in my life, Differently-abled BJP worker on selfie with PM Modi

Chennai, April 9: A differently-abled BJP worker on Sunday expressed gratitude after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a selfie with him in Chennai, and regarded it as the 'happiest moment' of his life.

Happiest moment in my life, Differently-abled BJP worker on selfie with PM Modi

"Like a father, brother Prime Minister Modi took a selfie with me on my phone when I asked him 'Can we take a selfie'," said Manikandan, a BJP worker from Tamil Nadu's Erode, who met Prime Minister Modi in Chennai on Saturday.Prime Minister Modi ended his Chennai visit by meeting Manikandan. Later, PM Modi posted a picture with Manikandan in which he could be seen taking a selfie."A special selfie. In Chennai I met Thiru S. Manikandan. He is a proud BJP Tamil Nadu Karyakarta from Erode, serving as a booth president. A person with disability, he runs his own shop and the most motivating aspect is - he gives a substantial part of his daily profits to BJP," said PM Modi in his tweet."I feel very proud of being a Karyakarta in a Party where we have people like Thiru S. Manikandan. His life journey is inspiring and equally inspiring his commitment to our Party and our ideology. My best wishes to him for his future endeavours," PM Modi added in his tweet.Meanwhile, Manikandan said his meeting with PM was the happiest moment in his life."I got the opportunity to meet PM Modi. BJP State President Annamalai is the reason for this. Yesterday I met PM Modi then I was so happy. PM asked me my name and then I said my name and saluted PM Modi," Manikandan said while speaking to ANI."BJP General Secretary Keshava Vinayagam explained my work for the party to PM Modi. PM Modi was also so happy and encouraged me by touching my shoulders" he added."I asked PM Modi, 'Take a selfie'. Immediately he just took my phone and took selfies with me like father and brother would do to us. The PM also asked me to work and the future is waiting for me. I think this is credit for my work for the party. I will work on my side to make Modi as PM and in 2026 Annamalai as Tamil Nadu CM. I convey my wishes to all BJP leaders who support me" Manikandan added.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated developmental projects worth Rs 5,200 crores in Tamil Nadu's Chennai and said that the government's work culture and vision have made its achievements possible.ANI10 April 2023

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J-K: Indian Army foils major infiltration bid along LoC

Poonch, April 9: The Army on Sunday foiled a major infiltration bid in the Poonch sector along the Line of Control (LoC), the Defence PRO informed through a statement.

J-K: Indian Army foils major infiltration bid along LoC

According to the statement, on the intervening night of April 8-9, Army troops posted on the LoC, in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, detected suspicious movements of some individuals."The individuals were challenged by Indian Army troops on their own side of LoC, close to the fence. On being intercepted, in the ensuing operations, one dead body has been seen and the other intruders ran into the forest area," the defence statement added.The area where the suspected infiltrators were sighted was cordoned off and a manhunt was launched, the statement added.The statement did not say if the body of the suspected infiltrator had been retrieved.Previously, in March, the Army, in a joint operation with Jammu and Kashmir Police, foiled an infiltration bid along the LoC in the Tangdhar sector and neutralised a terrorist."Based on credible inputs received from intelligence agencies, regarding likely infiltration of terrorists, several ambushes were laid in Tangdhar sector in the intervening night of March 23-24," a defence release said.More than 200 rounds of AK rifles rounds, three magazines, two China-made grenades and medicines, and food items were recovered from the spot."A detailed search of the area was carried out at first light, which led to the recovery of one body of a terrorist with an AK series rifle. In addition, a bag was also recovered with varied war-like stores, taking the total recovery to 03 x AK rifles and six magazines. Apart from this, more than 200 rounds of AK rifles rounds, 03 x Pistols along with 03 x magazines, 02 x Chinese type grenades and miscellanies items including medicines, food items etc were recovered," the Army added in its statement.ANI10 April 2023

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Mangoes expected to be cheaper in TN this season

Chennai, April 10: With a good yield in the Salem orchards this season, the price of mangoes is likely to fall in comparison to the previous season when the rates of the fruit were much high.

Mangoes expected to be cheaper in TN this season

Jayapal of the Salem mango traders association told IANS The price of mangoes is likely to fall by a minimum of 10 per cent. There is a good crop this season from the Salem orchards and the fruit will flood the Tamil Nadu market by mid-April leading to fall in prices.Several varieties of mangoes like Salem Bangalora, Senthoora, Imampasand and the highly variety of the South Indian Alphonsa will also flood the market at the same time.Mango farmers in Salem, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts are cultivating another North Indian variety, Kesar, in addition to the above mentioned one.Other than a good crop, farmers are also expecting an extended season this year due to the flowering patterns.Presently, the Salem market is sending 20 tonnes of mangoes per day to various parts of Tamil Nadu. In the coming days, the number will touch 100 tonnes a day and this will be a good season for both the farmers as well as consumers, Jayapal told IANS.Mangoes harvested in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri are mainly used for pulp production, while Salem mangoes are the most sought after ones.The farmers in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts will commence mango pulp production from April 14 -- 'Chithirai Thirunal' day which is considered an auspicious day for commencing any new venture.Even as there is a huge demand for mangoes in the export market, the wholesale traders are not interested as they are not able to cater to even the domestic market.IANS10 April 2023

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Israel facing challenging security situation on several fronts: PM Netanyahu

Jerusalem, April 9: Israel is in the midst of a challenging security situation that is complicated on several fronts, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the heads of Gaza border communities in a Sunday afternoon call, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Israel facing challenging security situation on several fronts: PM Netanyahu

In the call, Netanyahu stressed the final word has not yet been said, promising the local council heads, whose residents last week suffered barrages of rockets from the Gaza Strip, that issues with protective infrastructure in the area will be addressed.The past weekend has seen a worrying rise in the amount of terror-based crime across Israel, with 23 terror incidents recorded throughout the weekend, Maariv reported. This is in contrast to four incidents recorded last weekend, the Jerusalem Post reported.In addition, the IDF conducted airstrikes in the Damascus area early Sunday morning after six rockets were fired in two waves toward the Golan Heights overnight, following earlier waves of rockets from Lebanon and the Strip.Israel can't compromise on settlers' security, West Bank council heads tell Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.Israel's government must not compromise on the security of Israelis in settlements across the West Bank, 14 heads of local councils in the Judea and Samaria region told Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a Saturday evening discussion, the Jerusalem Post reported."We will not allow compromising on the security of 500,000 residents," the Yesha council members said."Now is the time to increase settlement across Judea and Samaria, including taking actual, immediate steps" to achieve that, they told Smotrich.Smotrich agreed to several demands made by the local council heads, including the establishment of checkpoints near settlements, the launch of an operation to collect stolen weaponry used by terrorist organizations and actions to improve the infrastructure and construction of settlements.ANI10 April 2023

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Anil Kapoor works out in -110 degrees, says it is time for Sexy at 60

Mumbai, April 10: Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, known to be one of the fittest actors of his generation, is often lauded by the audience for his youthful looks at the age of 66. The actor once again left the audience stunned when he worked out in subzero temperature.

Anil Kapoor works out in -110 degrees, says it is time for 'Sexy at 60'

The 'Parinda' actor recently posted videos in which he was seen working out in minus 110 degree Celcius with the help of an oxygen mask.Anil is currently busy with his next film 'Fighter' which also stars Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Akshay Oberoi, and he is not leaving any stone unturned to achieve the desired fitness levels for the film since it's an action film and demands a lot physically from actors.In the video, Anil Kapoor is seen undergoing cryotherapy. He can be seen working out shirtless in an enclosed area with temperatures that are unfathomable. In the second video, the actor also showed a thumbs-up sign while jumping and jogging. He wrote in the caption "Naughty at 40 ka time gaya...its time to be Sexy at 60...#fightermodeon."Soon after Anil posted the video, members of the film fraternity and his fans flooded the comments section with appreciation for the actor's dedication and single point focus to excel at such an age.Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma, who was recently seen in 'Zwigato', wrote "Wah wah wah. mujhe b karna hai."Actress Tisca Chopra commented 'Wow."A fan wrote "Did I just read -110 or I need to get my eyes checked."IANS10 April 2023

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Over 2,800 Indian Sikh pilgrims reach Pakistan for Baisakhi

Lahore, April 9: More than 2,800 Sikh pilgrims from India reached Lahore via the Wagah border to attend the annual Baisakhi festival starting on Sunday, Geo News reported.

Over 2,800 Indian Sikh pilgrims reach Pakistan for Baisakhi

As per the details, the Sikh pilgrims will participate in the main event at Gurdwara Panja Sahib Hasan Abdal on April 14. During the visit, the pilgrims will visit Dera Sahib, Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib.Evacuee Trust Property Board Additional Secretary Rana Shahid welcomed the Sikh brothers and said, "All arrangements related to clean drinking water, clean washrooms, trains, sitting arrangements and security have been made available for the Sikh yatrees," Geo News wrote quoting a private news channel."After attending the main ceremony at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib (Hasanabdal), the pilgrims would also visit Nankana Sahib and other places", he added.A Sikh delegate commented that they were very happy to come to Pakistan as its people give a message of brotherhood by promoting peace in the subcontinent."The arrangements made by the Pakistan government for us are impressive," another delegate said.Sikh pilgrims will leave for India on April 18 after performing religious rituals.It should be remembered that every year, a large number of Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to participate in various religious festivals and events.On the occasion of Baisakhi celebrations, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi issued 2,856 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual festival scheduled to be held in Pakistan from April 9 to 18.The issuance of visas is covered under the framework of the 'Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974'.ANI10 April 2023

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joined his fellow Republicans in their attacks on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who presented evidence against former President Donald Trump to a grand jury, which indicted Trump. Trump faces 34 felony counts, and is accused of falsifying business records as a way to protect his presidential aspirations.

Bragg used his office to "impose a political agenda on society at the expense of the rule of law and public safety," DeSantis said at a recent news conference. "He has downgraded over 50% of the felonies to misdemeanors."

Braggs approach to running the District Attorneys Office has been the target of Republican criticism since he took office in January 2022. The case against Trump has increased GOP attacks on Bragg, a former federal prosecutor from Harlem.

We wondered if DeSantis was correct, if more than 50% of felonies in Manhattan were downgraded to misdemeanors.

Data posted on the district attorneys website shows how the office handled arrests over the years.

Felonies are more serious charges, and can lead to more than one year in jail. Misdemeanors are lesser charges, and carry a penalty of up to a year in jail.

In 2022, there were 15,710 felony arrests reviewed by Manhattan prosecutors, and the office declined to prosecute 1,225 of them, or 7.8%. Of the felony cases that survived the review process, 52% were downgraded to a misdemeanor, 7% were downgraded to a lower-level felony, 8% were upgraded to a different felony, 33% were an equivalent felony, and in .1% of cases, or just 12 cases, the charge was downgraded to a violation. The data does not indicate why prosecutors changed the charges, though experts told us this practice is not unusual.

Under Bragg, prosecutors downgraded a greater share of felony charges to misdemeanors than in recent history in Manhattan. In 2021, under his predecessor, 47% of felonies were downgraded to misdemeanors. In 2020, with the city under the strain of Covid quarantines and related judicial delays, that figure was 35%. It was 39% in 2019 and 40% in 2018. Data from 2023 show that so far, 54% of felonies have been downgraded to misdemeanors.

But in the recent past, before Bragg took over, the rates of downgrading felonies to misdemeanors were higher in other New York City boroughs. Similar state data compiled by the Data Collaborative for Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice show that in 2021, the most recent year available, three other boroughs had higher rates: 56% in the Bronx, 57% in Brooklyn and 59% in Queens. This data, which could have included a different set of cases, showed that in Manhattan in 2021, the rate was 52%.

A prosecutors decision to downgrade or upgrade a charge after an arrest is common, because they have more complete information than a police officer does at the time of an arrest, said Jullian Harris-Calvin, director for Greater Justice New York, part of the Vera Institute of Justice, which calls for an end to mass incarceration. While a police officer has to make a decision in the moment, a prosecutor can take a longer view of the situation and weigh the evidence available to them and think through how they can build a case, Harris-Calvin said.

Other experts agreed.

"Law enforcement must establish probable cause to effectuate an arrest, but prosecutors are likely applying the higher standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt to determine what charges they may be able to prove at trial," said Krystal Rodriguez, policy director at the Data Collaborative for Justice.

There are other factors as well, said Hannah Meyers, a fellow and director of policing and public safety at the conservative Manhattan Institute. A state discovery law from 2019 burdened prosecutors, leading to increases in dismissal of cases, as well as other outcomes, including downgrading charges, she said. The law requires prosecutors to share their evidence with defense attorneys in a speedy fashion  within 20 days if a defendant is in jail  or risk having the case dismissed, though extensions are granted. The law was in response to situations where defendants and their lawyers were not aware of all of the evidence that would be used against them.

Bragg has also brought his own priorities to the office, which perhaps can be attributed to the increase in the percentage of felonies that were downgraded to misdemeanors in 2022, Meyers said.

Braggs critics think he should be tougher on people accused of crimes. His approach is not a surprise to anyone  he campaigned on promises to reform prosecutions. But soon after taking office, he came under fire for a memo in which he said that over-incarceration does not make the city safer, and that jail should be reserved for offenders who commit truly violent acts.

Following sharp criticism from elected officials, police and small businesses, Bragg issued another memo a month later, in which he changed some of the earlier memos language. For instance, he said that commercial robberies at knifepoint or with another weapon that could cause physical harm should be prosecuted as felonies.

Braggs approach takes into account what he says is an over-incarceration in his borough. Manhattan incarcerated a greater share of its residents than the citys other boroughs by a wide margin. On Jan. 3, 2022, of every 100,000 residents, Queens had 40 incarcerated, Brooklyn had 44, Staten Island had 51, the Bronx had 78 and Manhattan had 106.

Braggs spokesperson pointed us to historical data on the district attorneys website but otherwise declined to comment.

DeSantiss spokesperson did not return a request for information.

Our ruling

DeSantis claimed that Bragg has downgraded "over 50% of the felonies to misdemeanors."

Data from Braggs website confirms that 52% of felonies that were screened by prosecutors were downgraded to misdemeanors in 2022, the first year Bragg was in office. Data from 2023 show that so far, 54% of felonies have been downgraded to misdemeanors.

Experts said that downgrading charges is a common practice, and that it was done more often in three of New Yorks other boroughs, according to state data from 2021.

We rate this claim True.
Lebanon rockets to Israel indicate growing Hamas-Hezbollah Cooperation

Jerusalem, April 9: Israel accused Hamas, a Palestinian militia, of firing rockets into Israel from Lebanon, underscoring its deepening ties with Hezbollah, the dominant Lebanese militia, The New York Times reported.

Lebanon rockets to Israel indicate growing Hamas-Hezbollah Cooperation

When an unusually heavy rocket barrage hit Israel from Lebanon this week, it was the latest reminder of a long-running enmity between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militia that dominates Lebanon's southern borderlands.But it also added a new and portentous dimension to the conflict, according to analysts and military officials, it reflected a growing partnership between Hezbollah and Hamas, the hard-line Palestinian militia that the Israeli military accused of orchestrating the rocket strikes, likely with Hezbollah's blessing, The New York Times reported.Hamas, a political, social and military movement founded in 1987, has run the Gaza Strip since 2007, after seizing it from the mainstream Palestinian leadership. It has since fought regular wars with Israel, often firing rockets at southern Israel from Gaza.Hamas fighters have also carried out shooting and bomb attacks inside the occupied West Bank and Israel, which, like the United States, considers it a terrorist organization and maintains a blockade on Gaza, The New York Times reported.Now, Hamas is accused of armed activity in a fourth arena, Hezbollah's strongholds in southern Lebanon.Hamas praised but did not formally claim responsibility for the rocket strikes from Lebanon on Thursday, launched after Israeli police raids at the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem earlier this week.A spokesman for the group, Basem Naim, declined to comment when asked about it.But the Israeli military announced that Hamas operatives, possibly working with another militia, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, had fired rockets from near the southern Lebanese city of Tyre. The area houses thousands of Palestinian exiles whose forebears fled there during the wars surrounding the founding of Israel in 1948, The New York Times reported.The suspected involvement of Hamas reflects its strengthened bond with Hezbollah and Hezbollah's sponsor, Iran, both of which oppose Israel's existence. The warming of those ties followed a period of cooler relations a decade ago when the groups backed different sides in the Syrian civil war.Hamas, a Sunni Muslim group, backed the Sunni militias rebelling against the government, while Iran and Hezbollah, both Shia movements, sided with the Syrian government.But last year, Hamas mended its ties with Damascus, and in a hint of renewed coordination, fighters in a government-controlled part of Syria fired short bursts of rockets toward Israel early Sunday, prompting Israel to briefly return fire.The rocket fire from Lebanon also suggests that Hamas is trying to find a way of maintaining its conflict with Israel without causing further harm to its stronghold in Gaza. Hamas's repeated wars with Israel over the past two decades led to Israeli strikes that ruined large parts of the territory and killed thousands of Palestinians, The New York Times reported.By firing on Israel from Lebanon, experts say that Hamas can deflect attention from Gaza, lessening the likelihood of a major Israeli retaliation in the territory. While Israel did respond to the rockets from Lebanon by briefly bombing Hamas infrastructure in Gaza as well as southern Lebanon, the Israeli strikes were kept away from major urban centres and caused no reported injuries.A senior Hamas official in Lebanon played down the idea that the group had recently strengthened its presence in Lebanon. Osama Hamdan, a longtime Hamas leader in Lebanon, said in a phone interview that relations with Hezbollah had always been warm, and declined to talk about Hamas's military capabilities in Lebanon.Analysts and Israeli officials contend that Hamas has become closer to Hezbollah in recent years and more active in Lebanon, a process that accelerated after the election in October 2017 of Saleh al-Arouri as deputy chairman of Hamas's political bureau, The New York Times reported.Later that month, Arouri began to strengthen ties with both Iran and Hezbollah, visiting Tehran to meet the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. A few days later, he met publicly with the head of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, and discussed how their movements could work together, according to Palestinian news reports from the time.Arouri soon began to expand Hamas's paramilitary infrastructure in Lebanon, but not necessarily with Hezbollah's full awareness, according to two intelligence officials briefed on the matter, speaking anonymously to comply with the protocol.Soon after, in January 2018, Israel unsuccessfully tried to assassinate one of Arouri's principal lieutenants in Lebanon with a car bomb, the officials said.Hamas's cooperation with Hezbollah compounds a growing sense of peril along the Israel-Lebanon border. Since fighting a full-scale war in 2006, both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided another major confrontation along the border, keeping cross-border fire and infiltration to a minimum. The most direct confrontations between the two sides have instead taken place in Syria, where Israel regularly strikes Hezbollah-linked targets, The New York Times reported.But in recent weeks, Hezbollah has appeared less afraid of a wider armed confrontation. Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, recently said that he believed Israel was close to collapse, referring to a political crisis in Israel over a proposed judicial overhaul that has widened splits in Israeli society, The New York Times reported.In the 1970s and 1980s, earlier generations of Palestinian fighters used Lebanon as a launchpad for attacks on Israel, prompting Israel to occupy parts of southern Lebanon between 1982 and 2000, a move that was widely regarded as disastrous. Israel briefly invaded again in 2006 during its war with Hezbollah, which had filled the power vacuum left by Israel when it withdrew six years earlier.ANI10 April 2023

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Kiara Advani shares unseen pictures with brother Mishaal from her wedding

Mumbai, April 10: Actor Kiara Advani dropped an unseen picture with brother Mishaal Advani from her wedding day to mark the occasion of Siblings Day.

Kiara Advani shares unseen pictures with brother Mishaal from her wedding

Taking to Instagram, Kiara shared pictures captured on her special day with her brother.Sharing the pictures, she wrote, "Happy Siblings Day."In the first picture, Kiara is seen giving a hug to Mishaal from behind during her Mehendi ceremony.The next pictures are from the wedding day. Before she took pheras with her beau Sidharth Malhotra.The picture is all about the sister and brother bond.After the photos were posted, the fans and family members dropped in their comments.Kiara's mother Genevieve Advani wrote, "My two babies. always be there for each other. Love, protect and support each other. forever thankful to God for you'll. God bless you Aali Mishu."One of the users wrote, "awww this is so cute."Kiara and Sidharth tied the knot in an intimate ceremony on February 7 at Suryagarh Palace in Rajasthan. The two apparently fell in love while shooting for 'Shershaah', which was released in 2021.Talking about Kiara's work projects, she is currently shooting with Kartik Aaryan in 'SatyaPrem Ki Katha'.Helmed by Sameer Vidhwans, and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film is all set to hit the theatres on June 29, 2023.Kiara will also be seen sharing screen space with Ram Charan in 'Game Changer'.ANI10 April 2023

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China kicks off live drills near Taiwan in response to Tsais visit to US

Beijing, April 10: China has started the third day of live-free drills near Taiwan in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's recent visit to the United States, Al Jazeera reported.

China kicks off live drills near Taiwan in response to Tsai's visit to US

Chinese fighter jets and warships conducted simulated strikes on Taiwan during the weekend. Beijing's actions sparked protests by Taiwan. Beijing's drills on Monday are expected to include live-fire exercises off of China's Fujian province, located only about 80km (50 miles) south of Taiwan's Matsu islands, as per Al Jazeera report.Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence on Monday detected 70 Chinese military aircraft and 11 naval ships around Taiwan and its armed forces were monitoring the situation to respond to these activities.In a tweet, Taiwan's Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said, "70 PLA aircraft and 11 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities."It further said, "35 of the detected aircraft(SU-30*8, J-11*4, J-10*6, J-16*8, TB-001 UCAV, Y-9EW, Y-8 ASW, J-15*4, CH-4 UCAV, KJ-500 AEW and C) had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest and southeast ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated."China began three-day military drills around Taiwan called "Joint Sword" after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as per the Al Jazeera report.On Saturday, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), said that the PLA Eastern Theater Command launched a "combat readiness security patrol" around Taiwan and carried out "Joint Sword" exercise, which will last from April 8-10, according to the statement.Meanwhile, Taiwan lodged a protest against Chinese military drills around Taiwan, saying that the country would not yield to threats. In a statement, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence called Taiwan as their "homeland."Taking to its official Twitter handle, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said, "#Taiwan is our homeland, and no matter where we go or what we encounter, she is always charming and beautiful. Every story on this land is etched in our memories. We, #ROCArmedForces, are fighting with all our heart to defend our homeland and to protect our home together."Tensions between China and Taiwan escalated after the then US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi travelled to the island in August last year. China raised objections to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.ANI10 April 2023

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Gujarat Home Minister inaugurates JITO Ratnamani Hostel, first common hostel for 4 Jain communities in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, April 10 (ANI/NewsReach): The importance of education in shaping the future of a nation cannot be overstated. Recognizing the need for quality accommodation for students in the Jain community, JITO Ahmedabad Education Trust took up the challenge of building the first-ever common hostel for 4 Jain communities in Ahmedabad. The hostel, named JITO Ratnamani Hostel, was inaugurated at Swastik Char Rasta, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad by Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi and Torrent Group Chairman Shri Sudhir Mehta, in the presence of JITO Gujarat and JITO Apeksh Team members.

Gujarat Home Minister inaugurates JITO Ratnamani Hostel, first common hostel for 4 Jain communities in Ahmedabad

Prakash Sanghvi, Chairman of JITO Ahmedabad Education Trust, stated, "This common hostel is the first of its kind to encompass all the four pillars of Jain society. It is a home away from home for students who are building their future and need the best facilities to live, learn, and grow. We believe that every student deserves the best facilities to build their future, and our hostels are designed to meet their needs."JITO Ratnamani Hostel is located in the heart of Ahmedabad and offers a range of modern facilities, including complete in-room facilities, Wi-Fi, 24x7 security, gym, dining commons, and low-energy active systems and passive design facilities. The hostel also provides a well-stocked library for students to focus on their academic pursuits.Rishabh Patel, Project Convener of JITO Ratnamani Hostel, said, "We hope this facility will be a ray of hope for students and inspire them to pursue their dreams with dedication and commitment."The inauguration of JITO Ratnamani Hostel was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi and Torrent Group Chairman Shri Sudhir Mehta, and marks a significant milestone in providing quality accommodation for students from the Jain community in Ahmedabad. This initiative by JITO Ahmedabad Education Trust reflects its commitment to promoting education and empowering students with the best facilities to build a bright future.This story has been provided by NewsReach. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsReach)ANI10 April 2023

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HM Amit Shah to visit Arunachal Pradesh on April 10

Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh), April 9: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Sunday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Arunachal Pradesh on April 10.

HM Amit Shah to visit Arunachal Pradesh on April 10

"Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Kibithu in Anjaw district on Monday and Tuesday where he will be launching the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' (VVP). Kibithu in Anjaw district on Monday," the press release said."The VVP is a centrally sponsored scheme wherein 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting the northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development. With Arunachal Pradesh having the longest international northern border state will benefit the most," it added.CM Pema Khandu reached Mechukha on Saturday and also addressed the 1st Prime Minister Youth Camp and Cycle rally."CM Khandu congratulated the Department of Secondary Education, the district administration and the NCC for organizing the first-ever five-day Prime Minister Youth Camp and Cycle Rally at picturesque Mechukha Valley, he expressed optimism that it would offer a wonderful platform to promote cultural and inter-tribe bonding," it mentioned."This gives opportunities to our youth to get acquainted with various tribes of the state and their rich culture and traditions," CM Khandu said on the occasion."Chief Minister Pema Khandu has expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the Tato to Mechukha 2-lane highway in the Shi-Yomi district and said that the state government has taken up the matter seriously," it mentioned.Chief Minister held several meetings with the district administration, senior leaders, panchayat leaders as well as party workers of the district, who have all expressed concern over the abysmal progress of the road in the region.On this occasion, he also informed that he has taken up the matter with the Commander BRTF, which is executing the project and assured the people that the Commander himself is serious about it."CM Khandu said that very soon the BRTF Commander will initiate formalities in accordance with the agreement signed with the contractors keeping in top priority the timely completion of the project," the press release mentioned."The Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister mentioned that the contractor who got this package sub-let the same to some other contractor, who in turn further sub-let it down the line. This is not the way to execute a project of such importance," it said.CM Khandu also inaugurated several projects including the Civil Terminal Building at the Mechukha airstrip. The foundation stones were also laid for 4 projects including the District Secretariat at Tato.State Assembly Speaker PD Sona, Education Minister Taba Tedir and legislators Laisam Simai, Zignu Namchoom, Kento Jini and Jekke Tako were present at the occasion.ANI10 April 2023

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Health concerns loom aging population in Vietnam

Hanoi, April 10: With the average number of healthy years for Vietnamese citizens hovering at just 64, health concerns loom large for the aging population, local media reported on Monday.

Health concerns loom aging population in Vietnam

Research by the Institute of Population, Health and Development shows that 62.3 per cent of elderly people in Vietnam have high blood pressure, and only 86.3 per cent have access to healthcare services, Xinhua news agency reported citing the local media.The research also reveals that 67 per cent of the elderly have poor health.On average, an elderly person has three diseases that need monitoring and medical care.It is forecasted that in 2049, the number of elderly people needing medical support will increase by 2.5 times compared to the current level of 4 million people.Pham Thang, head of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, said health care for the elderly is an urgent need while medical services for the elderly in the country are still limited.He added that the system of nursing homes and social protection centres is still limited in quantity and quality.The number of elderly people in Vietnam has continuously increased rapidly in recent years.There are about 11.4 million elderly people, accounting for 11.86 per cent of the population.The Southeast Asian country officially entered the aging population phase in 2011, six years faster than previous forecasts.IANS10 April 2023

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Covid threat: BMC advises senior citizens to mask up, must in hospitals

Mumbai, April 10: Cracking the whip, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has advised all senior citizens to start wearing face masks in public and made it compulsory for all civic hospital employees, patients and visitors, a top official said here on Monday.

Covid threat: BMC advises senior citizens to mask up, must in hospitals

The move comes in the wake of a possibility of a huge spike in cases in May, as per Central forecast, said BMC Commissioner I.S. Chahal, after a major review meeting of the Covid-19 situation in Mumbai.Chahal has instructed that while seniors aged above 60 are urged to wear masks while stepping out in public places, it will be mandatory for all in civic hospitals.The meeting also decided to make central procurement of all requirements like face masks, PPE kits, gloves, medicines and other medical supplies for all civic hospitals to ensure there are no shortages.The BMC will start testing in a big way to enable early detection of Covid-19 cases, with the collaboration of private labs.Keeping in view the possibility of increased patients and hospitalisation, the BMC has stressed the need for more intensive care units, functional medical oxygen plants with proper audit of the demand-supply of the hospitals.As in the past Covid-19 waves, the civic chief has ordered all Ward War Rooms for patient management, ensure they are functional with all necessary manpower and systems to tackle any eventuality.All civic employees are advised to use masks, at least when they come in contact with the public, and politely request the people also to follow suit.Civic and private hospitals must conduct mock drills to determine their Covid management preparedness, all private hospitals are required to equip their entire systems geared to tackle the next wave.Patients scheduled for surgeries must be tested for Covid-19 in all hospitals and if they are found positive, the operation should be postponed, unless its an emergency surgery.The meeting was attended by Chahal, Additional Municipal Commissioners Ashwini Bhide, Ashish Sharma, P. Velrasu, Sanjeev Kumar, Joint Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners and other heads of departments.IANS10 April 2023

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Up to 10 people trapped under rubble after building collapses in Frances Marseille

Marseille, April 9: Around four to ten people are believed to be trapped under rubble in the southern French port city of Marseille after a building collapsed early on Sunday, according to French authorities, CNN reported.

Up to 10 people trapped under rubble after building collapses in France's Marseille

According to Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan, the cause of the collapse is believed to be a violent explosion that occurred at around 1230 am local time. Further investigations are ongoing.As per rescuers, eighty people have already been rescued, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told BFM that efforts are being made on the ground, rubble is being removed before the fire can be fully put out.Darmanin said rescuers are also concerned about firefighting water endangering the lives of any buried survivors.Local residents said there was an explosion, with lots of dust and a smell of gas in the air."It was exhausting and completely insane. I saw an avalanche of people panicking in the street and then I started running like crazy," an unnamed witness told BFM, CNN reported.Approximately thirty of the surrounding buildings have also been evacuated, according to Darmanin.French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said that his thoughts were with those impacted. "Thoughts with Marseille, where a building on rue Tivoli collapsed last night. I am thinking of those affected and their loved ones. An investigation is continuing with significant resources deployed. Thank you to the firefighters and rescuers mobilized," he said.A fund of 100,000 euros (USD 110,000) has been provided to help the victims of the blast, according to the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, with the money coming from regional authorities, BFMTV reported.BFMTV also reports that the Marseille prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into "unintentional injuries."Marseille has suffered such incidents before. In 2018, CNN reported on the collapse of several buildings in the city's Noailles district, which killed at least four people.ANI10 April 2023

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Researchers find new epigenetic vulnerability of acute myeloid leukemia

Houston, April 10: Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a blood cancer that causes an uncontrollable buildup of white blood cells. Due to the poor outcomes of this disease, researchers all over the world have been looking for new ways to treat AML while still allowing normal blood development to occur.

Researchers find new epigenetic vulnerability of acute myeloid leukemia

In the journal Cancer Research, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and other institutions describe a new vulnerability of this cancer that can be targeted with a class of experimental drugs. These drugs target the SWI/SNF protein complex, which is used by many cells to make DNA more open and accessible. DNA accessibility has a significant impact on gene expression by regulating the cell's epigenetic state.The authors show that drugs inhibiting SWI/SNF induce a profound therapeutic response in AML cell lines, animal models and human AML samples. In animals, this strategy caused rapid regression of the cancer within days. When authors compared their findings against AML cells to normal blood cells, they found that the drug targeting SWI/SNF caused specific changes to blood development. However, these side effects were manageable and quickly reversed after drug treatment. The results support further investigations on the use of this approach for AML."Our project set out to better understand a vulnerability in AML that could be exploited to treat the disease," said corresponding author, Dr. H. Courtney Hodges, assistant professor of molecular and cellular biology and member of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor.In the course of the study, the scientists also discovered important mechanisms related to SWI/SNF. "We found that AML cells hijack a gene regulation program that involves SWI/SNF and another protein called PU.1. This program is normally used to make healthy white blood cells," said first author Courtney Chambers, a graduate student in the Hodges lab."Think of each cell's DNA as a huge labyrinth with many doors behind which are genes that contain instructions on how to make proteins," Hodges explained. "Most of these doors do not lead to genes of interest to a blood cell, so these cells need a way to know which doors lead to the specific genes they need. Here is where PU.1 plays a role.""We found that PU.1 flags the doors that lead to genes of interest to certain blood cells," said Chambers. "In the case of AML cells, these flags mark genes that promote growth of AML, called oncogenes. PU.1 tags the doors but cannot open them, so SWI/SNF comes along."SWI/SNF is a protein complex that mediates access to DNA. After PU.1 tags a site of interest, SWI/SNF steps in and opens that door allowing expression of the oncogenes that sustain AML. The team found that some AML samples are much more dependent on this mechanism than normal blood cells.Importantly, the researchers also discovered that drugs that block SWI/SNF's ability to open the door to gene activation in AML halt tumor growth by interfering with the expression of these oncogenes."It was very exciting to see how effective SWI/SNF inhibitors were to treat AML in animal models," Chambers said. "The effect was much more profound than we had expected.""AML is typically very hard to treat. The rapid tumor regression we saw in response to SWI/SNF inhibitors has encouraged us to continue our research into similar vulnerabilities of AML and other cancers," Hodges said.ANI11 April 2023

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Supporting Ukraine is only right choice for true Vishwaguru: Ukraine First Deputy Foreign Minister

New Delhi, April 10: Supporting Ukraine is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister, Emine Dzhaparova who arrived in India on Monday.

Supporting Ukraine is only right choice for true Vishwaguru: Ukraine First Deputy Foreign Minister

Dzhaparova tweeted, "Happy to visit India -the land that gave birth to many sages, saints and gurus. Today, #India wants to be the Vishwaguru, the global teacher and arbiter. In our case, we've got a very clear picture aggressor against innocent victim. Supporting Ukraine is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru."During her four-day visit, Dzhaparova will hold talks with Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Sanjay Verma, during which both sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations, exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine and global issues of mutual interest.It is pertinent to mention that this is the first official visit of the East European country since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year.The Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister will also call on Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi and meet with Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri during the visit, according to the external affairs ministry.Prime Minister Narendra Modi has maintained that Russia- Ukraine conflict can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and that "India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts."He has spoken to both Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladamir Putin several times since the start of the conflict.Earlier, while holding a press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, PM Modi said, "From the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, India has clarified that this dispute can only be resolved through dialogues and diplomacy. And India is fully ready to contribute to any peace process."In September 2022, during the bilateral meeting with the Russian President on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand, PM Modi said, "Today's era isn't of war" while emphasising the need to find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers."Today's era isn't of war and I have spoken to you about it on the call. Today we'll get the opportunity to talk about how can we progress on the path of peace. India-Russia has stayed together with each other for several decades," the Prime Minister said."We spoke on the phone several times about India-Russia bilateral relations and also on various issues. We should find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. I want to thank Russia and Ukraine for helping us to evacuate our students from Ukraine," he added.ANI11 April 2023

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The New York State Legislature is again considering legalizing physician-assisted suicide. Advocates claim it is a needed option for patients suffering at the end of life. But helping patients end their own lives is no answer.

Oregon provides our most extensive data on assisted suicide, back to 1998. The most frequent reasons cited are: less able to engage in enjoyable activities, loss of autonomy, loss of dignity, losing control of bodily functions and being a burden to others. Pain is a distant sixth. So it is not about pain. It is about personal losses.

Pain can be controlled. A prominent Buffalo anesthesiologist told me, I can control anyones severe pain. But they have to accept they may die sooner from my treatment. And that is ethically OK. To die sooner as an unintended secondary effect of necessary pain treatment, even treatment to the point of unconsciousness, is ethical.

What is not ethical is intentionally ending the patients life, even if the patient requests and ingests the dose.

Why? Because terminal illness and its suffering do not justify killing, even oneself. Intentional death then becomes a treatment, and the reasons and ways to use it expand. Look at Oregons House Bill 3337 (2015), Senate Bill 893 (2017) and House Bill 2232 (2019). In 2022, Oregon removed the residency requirement for assisted suicide. Vermont has also. There is indeed a slippery slope.

Yes, Canada is far down that slope. They kill 10,000 patients a year now. They need not be terminal. Almost all die by a doctors infusion: direct euthanasia. U.S. states are following, just more slowly.

The organization Compassion and Choices promotes assisted suicide but disclaims euthanasia. But it cannot stop euthanasia, once assisted suicide is legal. Its safeguards, such as terminal illness and self-ingestion, will be deemed barriers to treatment. As one assisted suicide advocate wrote in The Buffalo News, Suffering is something to be defined by each patient. So how long can society refuse the patient who is no-terminal or cannot self-ingest, but says his suffering warrants intentional death?

Self-defined suffering eventually becomes the only criterion. Any other criteria are deemed barriers and oppressive. And then, shown so frighteningly in Canada, those with illness-related disability, dependence and isolation, who exist on the margins of society due to inadequate medical and social supports, increasingly turn to intentional death out of grinding despair. Government and assisted suicide advocates state that the problem of supporting them is solved.

Western medicine has rejected intentional death for 2500 years. We need that guardrail. The trajectory of intentional death in assisted suicide states is far from settled. New York is wise to reject assisted suicide. It is bad medicine for patients, families and society.

Dr. Stanley L. Bukowski is an internist based in Alden.
Kerala facing acute shortage of food grains, kerosene: State Civil Supplies Minister

New Delhi, April 9: Kerala Food and Civil Supplies Minister GR Anil on Sunday said that the state is presently facing an acute shortage of flour and rice.

Kerala facing acute shortage of food grains, kerosene: State Civil Supplies Minister

Talking to ANI, Minister Anil said, "At present, the state is getting 14.25 lakh flour and rice every year, whereas the state needs about 16.5 metric tonnes. This has resulted in its shortage for some time now."Minister further said that he will be meeting Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal in this regard and will demand to increase the quantity of food grains provided to the State."Apart from this, the state is also facing a huge shortage of kerosene, for which we had sought an appointment with Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri", the Minister told ANI.He further added, "In 2022 and 23, the Central Government had allotted 15,512 kilo litres of kerosene subsidy to Kerala and 7160 kilo litres of non-subsidy. But this year the government has reduced the subsidy in the state due to which the state is facing a shortage of kerosene.""Our demand is that 25,000 kilo litres of kerosene non-subsidy be given per year to the State and 6480 kilo litres of kerosene as a quarterly subsidy", Minister Anil added.ANI11 April 2023

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Taiwan tracks 70 Chinese military aircraft, 11 naval ships around country

Taipei, April 10: Taiwan's Defence Ministry detected 70 Chinese military aircraft and 11 naval ships around Taiwan by 6 am on Monday and its armed forces were monitoring the situation to respond to these activities.

Taiwan tracks 70 Chinese military aircraft, 11 naval ships around country

"70 PLA aircraft and 11 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities," Taiwan's Defence Ministry said in a tweet."35 of the detected aircraft(SU-30*8, J-11*4, J-10*6, J-16*8, TB-001 UCAV, Y-9EW, Y-8 ASW, J-15*4, CH-4 UCAV, KJ-500 AEW and C) had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest and southeast ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated," it added.China entered the third day of the drills, which kickstarted on Saturday (April 8), right after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen returned from the US where she met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a meeting to which China strictly showed opposition.Al Jazeera reported that the declaration was made on Sunday as Taiwan's defence ministry said that it had discovered numerous Chinese air force sorties and was keeping an eye on Beijing's missile forces.Taiwan, on Sunday, tracked 71 Chinese military aircraft, and 9 naval ships by 6 am. "45 of the detected aircraft(SU-30*8, J-11*4, J-10*16, J-16*10, TB-001 UCAV, Y-9EW, Y-8 ASW, H-6K*2, Y-20, KJ-500) had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated," the Ministry said.China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, began three days of military exercises around the island on Saturday, the day after President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei from Los Angeles, where she met with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.Meanwhile, Taiwan also lodged a protest against Chinese military drills around Taiwan, saying that the country would not yield to threats.Taking to Twitter, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said, "#Taiwan is our homeland, and no matter where we go or what we encounter, she is always charming and beautiful. Every story on this land is etched in our memories. We, #ROCArmedForces, are fighting with all our heart to defend our homeland and to protect our home together."Tensions between China and Taiwan escalated after the US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi travelled to the country in August last year. China raised objections to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.This time, Taiwan retaliated by sending aircraft, naval boats, and land-based missiles to observe PLA planes and ships.ANI11 April 2023

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Conserving big cats, habitats can secure some of the most important natural ecosystems on Earth: Bhupendra Yadav

New Delhi, April 10: Union Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday said conserving big cats and their habitats can secure some of the most important natural ecosystems on Earth leading to natural climate change adaptation, water, and food security for millions of people, and provide livelihood and sustenance to forest communities.

Conserving big cats, habitats can secure some of the most important natural ecosystems on Earth: Bhupendra Yadav

In the mega international event held at Mysuru, Karnataka, to commemorate 50 years of Project Tiger, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) for the conservation of seven big cats namely Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma.India has a long-standing experience on the tiger agenda and conservation of other big cats like lions, snow leopards, and leopards, now the translocation of the Cheetah to bring an extinct big cat back to its natural habitat.As per the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, "The alliance aims to reach out to 97 range countries covering the natural habitats of Tiger, Lion, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, and Cheetah. IBCA would further strengthen global cooperation and efforts to conserve the wild denizens, especially the big cats."Chairing the Ministerial session on the global status of big cat conservation Bhupender Yadav said, "Conserving big cats and their habitats can secure some of the most important natural ecosystems on Earth leading to natural climate change adaptation, water, and food security for millions of people, and provide livelihood and sustenance to forest communities.""The Alliance will strengthen global efforts and partnerships on big cat conservation, while evolving a platform for convergence of knowledge and best practices, supporting existing species-specific inter-governmental platforms, while also providing direct support to recovery efforts in potential range habitats," the minister added.Yadav said, "With big cats as mascots for sustainable development and livelihood security, India and the big cat range countries can usher in major efforts on environmental resilience and climate change mitigation, while paving a future where natural ecosystems continue to thrive, and gain centrality in economic and development policies in the Amrit Kaal."The Ministers of Big Cat Range countries acknowledged and appreciated the leadership of India in big cat conservation and praised the efforts of the Prime Minister, the Union Minister and senior forest officials of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.The Ministers of Big Cat Range Countries made the remarks on the momentous event of the launch of the International Big Cat Alliance by PM Modi.Forest Minister of Bhutan in his eloquent speech accepted the leadership of India in guiding them. His passing remarks like may Goddess Chamundi shower her blessings on all of the forest fraternity and his words Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, aur Sabka Prayas in Hindi reverberated in the hall.The Forest Minister of Bangladesh praised India for helping in their conservation efforts to save their pride which is Sundermani and Chittagong tigers.Cambodia was enthusiastic about getting tigers from India and rehabilitating them in their Cardamom Hills and their Sripok Wildlife Sanctuary. He also spoke about the re-introduction plan prepared by them.Minister, of Wildlife, Tourism and Culture Government of Kenya, through her video message, lauded the help rendered by the Government of India and the Indian Forest Service, in formulating the protocols, and good managerial practices, in the conduct and evaluating of Census results of wild animals especially Lions in her country.Minister, Nepal, accepted the leadership of India in the field of wildlife conservation and offered all support to the alliance.Ethiopian Forest Minister without mincing words expressed his greatest satisfaction in being a part of an endeavour to save big cats all around the world.Royal Highness the Regent of Pahang was all praise for India's efforts and wanted assistance in the recovery of the tiger population in Malaysia. Besides this Ministers and heads of delegations of Suriname, Armenia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Vietnam, Thailand and Lao also expressed their appreciation for the said initiative.Bhupender Yadav acknowledging the overwhelming support promised to work on modalities to take the launch of IBCA forward and thanked everyone for their participation.ANI11 April 2023

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Narayan Seva Sansthans Award Ceremony; Anupam Kher felicitated 55 inspirational personalities

New Delhi, April 10: The International Award-2023 distribution ceremony of the pioneer Narayan Seva Sansthan in the social sector took place at Siri Fort Auditorium, Delhi. Bollywood actor Anupam Kher honored prominent social workers in the country at the event. Anupam was present as the chief guest in this award ceremony. He presented trophies, shawls, and certificates to 55 inspiring personalities who have made a special contribution to the Narayan Modular Artificial Limbs Services run by Sansthan.

Narayan Seva Sansthan's Award Ceremony; Anupam Kher felicitated 55 inspirational personalities

Kamlesh Agarwal of Delhi was honored with the Diamond Award. Jai Shiv Trading Company of Alwar (Rajasthan), Pawan Kumar Pannalal of Hisar Haryana, Badri Kishan Vyas of Jodhpur Rajasthan, Pinky Goel, Pradeep Bedi, Saroj, and K.K. Mishra, Praveen Kumar Gautam of Delhi, Pawan Kumar from Dibrugarh Assam, Akhilesh Joshi from Gujarat Baroda, Manju Tyagi from Ahmedabad, Panchkula Haryana's Pandit Ram Kishan and Lakshmi Devi, Girdharilal Mishra from Ghaziabad Uttar Pradesh and Ramesh Adlakha from Noida were honored with a gold award. At the same time, 21 philanthropists from Delhi, 2 from Punjab, 6 from Haryana, 8 from Uttar Pradesh, 1-1 from Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Bihar were also felicitated.Chief Guest Anupam Kher praised the work and efforts being done by Narayan Seva Sansthan to change the Vulnerable face of society. He said that it is a boon of nature to have a family of such donors to make society happy. With such a noble deed, the lives of thousands and lakhs of differently-abled people will gain momentum. Relationships in Divyang families will be filled with love and harmony.President of Narayan Seva Sansthan, Prashant Agarwal said that the Sansthan organizes such an award ceremony every year, in which personalities full of sacrifice-service-compassion are rewarded for their commendable cooperation. So that other people in society also think of coming forward for the downtrodden, differently-abled, and marginalized people.Over the years, while rehabilitating people with disabilities, Sansthan has closely seen the miseries of a large number of Divyangs who have lost their limbs in accidents. It was then thought that large camps should be organized and around 3500 amputees would be benefitted from modular prostheses and restart their stalled life. To fulfill this goal, we approached strong and affluent gentlemen of society. These social workers present today understood the pain and suffering of people with disabilities and fulfilled the resolution of the organization in just 60 days. For which we consider it our pride to honor them.Welcoming all the award winners, the Sansthan President said that Narayan Seva Sansthan was started by his father Padmashree Kailash 'Manav', and mother Kamla Devi in the year 1985. The Sansthan has so far done free surgeries for more than 4,35,000 specially-abled people. The high-quality, light weighted Narayana limbs manufactured by the Sansthan have been fitted to more than 35,000 individuals with disabilities who were rendered limbless due to amputation of their arms and legs in an accident. Not only this, about 1 lakh families were saved from starvation even in Corona. We are providing accommodation, food, medicine, and treatment facilities to about 3 to 4 thousand Divyangs and their families daily. The organization has helped 15 million people directly or indirectly. This is the power for the organization to work with satisfaction and service. Sansthan Director Vandana Agarwal joined in thanking the guests, award winners, and their families.This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)ANI11 April 2023

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News / National

by Staff reporter

As the manufacturing sector continues to increase production driven by favourable policies introduced by the Second Republic, Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Senegal James Maridadi has decided to help the firms seek new markets in West Africa.The move is expected to help Zimbabwe generate more foreign currency and create more employment opportunities as the new markets will require more products.Recently, Ambassador Maridadi held a roadshow in Dakar, Senegal, promoting Mazoe, a unique local product.A number of Senegalese people, and even foreigners, appreciated the test of the product, in a development that is expected to open a new market for the product.Said Ambassador Maridadi: "Now that Covid-19 restrictions have been somewhat relaxed; the Embassy is going all out to bring some uniquely Zimbabwean products to this small, but exciting West African market boasting a total population of just under 60 million predominantly French speakers."Senegal is the natural point of entry as its capital, Dakar, is slowly but surely becoming the connection hub of the region."In addition to Senegal, the Embassy of Zimbabwe also has Mali, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde under its purview."French is the official language in all these countries although the Gambia, a former British colony with a population of about two million people, also has English as an official language."Ambassador Maridadi said it was worth noting that part from being French speakers, both Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau have Portuguese and English as official languages although Portuguese and Cryol (an African dialect of Portuguese) are learnt at home.Cape Verde's population is slightly above 500 000 whilst that of Guinea Bissau is about 1,5 million, making them reasonable markets for Zimbabwean products.Ambassador Maridadi said an exhibition of Mazoe was mounted at Sea Plaza, which is Dakar's biggest and most prestigious shopping mall."Shoppers had the rare opportunity to sample one of Africa's finest products, and the result was beyond expectations."It's not called Mazoe Orange Crush for nothing and it did not originate from 30km north of Harare under the jurisdiction of Chief Negomo for no reason."This buttresses the argument that the juice should have been registered and protected as a Geographical Indication also known as Appellations of Origin. Mazoe Orange is uniquely Zimbabwean in exactly the same measure that Champagne is uniquely French," said Ambassador Maridadi.He said the Senegal market "has been provoked" and if the initial market reaction is anything to go by, then West Africa could be a huge destination for Mazoe Orange crush.The move is expected to help Zimbabwe generate more foreign currency and create more employment opportunities as the new markets will require more products."Next we are taking Zimbabwe tea and cigarettes," said Ambassador Maridadi.Most local companies have increased production and their products now make 80 percent of those found on supermarket shelves.This has seen more people being employed, in keeping with President Mnangagwa's promise made towards the 2018 elections of creating more jobs.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Steady light rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 58F. SW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Scattered frost possible. Low 31F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Controversial Zanu-PF politician and businessman Pedzisai 'Scott' Sakupwanya has been named as one of the country's biggest gold barons by ambassador-at-large Uebert Angel who features prominently in a corruption busting documentary by Qatar based news network Al Jazeera.In a snippet of the fourth and final instalment of the Gold Mafia' investigative documentary, Angel boasts that Sakupawanya is a bigger gold dealer than Ewan MacMillan."MacMillan doesn't control nothing. This (Sakupwanya) was his worker cleaning his car."He is the number one now in Zimbabwe," says Angel.MacMillan also features the documentary.Angel also shows undercover journalists posing as criminals images of Sakupwanya flaunting his US$5 million cash and some gold bars on June 29, 2020."He's right there, he's in his house, sleeping on five million US dollars," says the United Kingdom based preacher.Sakupwanya, Zanu-PF's aspiring parliamentary candidate for Mabvuku, is also believed to be a front for some corrupt political elites.In a report last year, privately owned Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) fingered Sakupwanya as the mastermind of gold-related illicit financial flows that cost the country US$157 million per month and approximately US$1.9 billion per year.Sakupwanya's Better Brands Jewellery (BBJ) and other gold dealers operating in Mazowe and Penhalonga were accused of buying gold and delivering less than 50% to Fidelity Printers and Refiners while smuggling the rest to other countries.
What is rheumatic disease?

How do rheumatic diseases affect reproductive health?

Guidance for the management of reproductive health in rheumatic patients

References

Further reading

Evaluating the reproductive health of people with rheumatic disease is imperative because it might affect their fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Most healthy women face tremendous physical and emotional anxiety during pregnancy, and women with rheumatic disease face even more challenges. Clinicians have observed an increased risk of negative pregnancy outcomes, such as prolonged hospitalizations, pre-eclampsia, and maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity in this group of patients.

Image Credit: GaudiLab/Shutterstock.com

What is rheumatic disease?

Rheumatic diseases are inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that could influence the immune system to attack the bodys muscles, bones, and joints. These diseases commonly affect tendons, muscles, joints, bones, and ligaments. They can also affect vital organs, such as the lungs, nervous system, heart, kidneys, eyes, and skin.

Arthritis is the most common type of rheumatic disease that affects joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition where the bodys immune system attacks healthy cells and causes inflammation and swelling pain in several joints simultaneously. Other types of rheumatic diseases include gout, lupus, and fibromyalgia.

According to a recent report by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 19 million US adults suffer from severe joint pain, which affects their daily activities. Genetic factors play an important role in the incidence of rheumatic disease. The risk of this disease increases with age.

How do rheumatic diseases affect reproductive health?

The rheumatology community has highlighted the reproductive health concerns of women with these diseases. As stated above, severe negative pregnancy outcomes have been observed in women with rheumatic disease. There is scarce evidence regarding how rheumatologists address reproductive health issues with their patients, particularly among adolescents and young adults (AYAs).

Rheumatic diseases affect different aspects of life, including sexual health, through physical and physiological manifestations. Some men with RA suffer high levels of fatigue, erectile dysfunction, and pain. Further, decreased fertility has been observed in most women with rheumatic disease. Several factors, such as therapy, impaired sexual function, and personal choices, are associated with decreased fertility in men and women with rheumatic disease.

Image Credit: SeventyFour/Shutterstock.com

The rate of infertility was higher in women with RA during their childbearing years. Premature ovarian failure was observed in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly those under cyclophosphamide.

Patients with rheumatic diseases may be under teratogenic medications, such as leflunomide, mycophenolate mofetil, and methotrexate, which can increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Two other drugs used to treat rheumatic disease, namely, cyclophosphamide and sulfasalazine, have also been linked with reduced fertility. Cyclophosphamide has been seen to cause impairment of fertility in both genders, while sulfasalazine only affects men.

An improvement in reproductive health can be achieved by comprehensive counseling and effective treatment for rheumatic disease. A survey study indicated that around 40% of women with SLE were not using contraception. The underuse of contraception among patients with rheumatic diseases also increased the mortality and morbidity rate in this population. Most participants in this survey stated that they never received any counseling regarding maintaining reproductive health.

Another US-based survey documented that around 60% of women with inflammatory arthritis avoided pregnancy due to anxieties associated with this disease. Clinicians cautioned against pregnancy in women with rheumatic disease and encouraged the use of conception during periods of disease quiescence. These patients were strongly advised to use pregnancy-compatible medications.

Guidance for the management of reproductive health in rheumatic patients

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has recently published the first clinical evidence-based guidelines for the management of reproductive health in adults with rheumatic disease.

ACR guidance clearly mentions that all women with rheumatic diseases must use effective contraception. Intrauterine devices are commonly recommended for all women with rheumatic disease. However, the choice of contraceptive is considerably more complex for those with SLE. This is because of increased disease activity in SLE patients, particularly those with renal problems and under estrogen-containing contraceptives. Clinical studies have shown that oral contraceptives are safe and effective in this group without any prominent increase in disease activity.

Reproductive Health and Rheumatology Patients Play

The ACR also provided guidance for the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), which include gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), frozen embryo transfer (FET), and zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT). Patients with uncomplicated rheumatic disease can use ART, provided the medications for rheumatic disease can be taken during pregnancy. Further, these patients should be negative for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Patients with active disease or positive for aPL antibodies are not advised to use ART.

The main challenges associated with the clinical management of pregnant women with rheumatic diseases have been associated with incomplete information related to medication safety, especially for new medicines. ACR emphasized the importance of an integrated patient management system that includes rheumatologists, gynecologists, reproductive endocrinologists, and obstetricians. This could substantially support women of reproductive age with rheumatic disease to plan pregnancy effectively.

References
The American College of Cardiology will host the annual Advancing the Cardiovascular Care of the Oncology Patient course on April 14-16, 2023, in Washington, DC. The course is intended for all members of the interprofessional care team-;including cardiologists, oncologists, pharmacists and nurses-;and aims to equip the global cardio-oncology community with the tools they need to improve patient care.

Ana Barac, MD, PhD, FACC, and Bonnie Ky, MD, MSCE, FACC, will serve as co-directors for the course, which will be available both in-person and online. The course will bring together clinicians and researchers from across the globe to share emerging strategies and best practices for managing the cardiovascular health of cancer patients.

I am proud to say that the ACC course has set the standards for cardio-oncology education, including joint presentations of oncologists and cardiologists modeling real-life patient care and collaboration across CV and oncology teams. This year, our theme is collaboration and innovation through science and for our patients. I am very excited about the first-ever joint sessions with the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology that are a testament of the commitment of our professional societies to collaborate and address the gaps that exist across specialties." Ana Barac, MD, PhD, FACC

Can't miss sessions:

Pharmacology Essentials for Cardio-Oncology Practice

How to Build and Grow a Cardio-Oncology Program

The Global Burden and Significance of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular Disparities in Cancer Patients and Survivors: Strategies to Implement Inclusive, Equitable Care

Physical Activity Interventions in Our Cancer Patients and Survivors: Why, When, and How?

Posters

The following abstract titles are a selection of posters being presented during the conference. All ACC Advancing the Cardiovascular Care of the Oncology Patients posters and abstracts are embargoed until Friday, April 14, 2023, at 9 a.m. ET.

Racial Disparities in Cardiotoxicity Following Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Assessment of Detectable Atherosclerosis on Computed Tomography Imaging in Breast Cancer Patients Entering Treatment

Prevalence of Statin Use and Dyslipidemia Screening for Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention in Patients with Cancer

SGLT2 Inhibitors are Associated with a Lower Risk of Malnutrition and Cachexia in Patients with Heart Failure Receiving Anthracycline Treatment

If members of the media would like to receive embargoed copies of these abstracts or register for media access to the conference, contact ACC Associate Director for Media Relations Katie Glenn at [email protected]

Content from Advancing the Cardiovascular Care of the Oncology Patient will become available on ACC Anywhere one week after the conclusion of the course. ACC Anywhere is the all-new, comprehensive library of ACC's live and virtual education content. For media access, please reach out to ACC media staff.
Eighteen months after April Adcox learned she had skin cancer, she finally returned to Charleston's Medical University of South Carolina last May to seek treatment.

By then, the reddish area along her hairline had grown from a 2-inch circle to cover nearly her entire forehead. It oozed fluid and was painful.

"Honestly, I was just waiting on it to kill me, because I thought that's what was going to have to happen," said the 41-year-old mother of three, who lives in Easley, South Carolina.

Adcox had first met with physicians at the academic medical center in late 2020, after a biopsy diagnosed basal cell carcinoma. The operation to remove the cancer would require several physicians, she was told, including a neurosurgeon, because of how close it was to her brain.

But Adcox was uninsured. She had lost her automotive plant job in the early days of the pandemic, and at the time of her diagnosis was equally panicked about the complex surgery and the prospect of a hefty bill. Instead of proceeding with treatment, she attempted to camouflage the expanding cancerous area for more than a year with hats and long bangs.

If Adcox had developed breast or cervical cancer, she likely would have qualified for insurance coverage under a federal law that extends Medicaid eligibility to lower-income patients diagnosed with those two malignancies. For female patients with other types of cancer, as well as pretty much all male patients, the options are scant, especially in South Carolina and the 11 other states that haven't yet implemented Medicaid expansion, according to cancer physicians and health policy experts who study access to care.

In the face of potentially daunting bills, uninsured adults sometimes delay care, which can result in worse survival outcomes, research shows. The odds of patients getting insurance to help cover the cost of treatment play out a bit like a game of roulette, depending upon where they live and what type of cancer they have.

"It is very random  that's, I think, the heartbreaking part about it," said Dr. Evan Graboyes, a head and neck surgeon and one of Adcox's physicians. "Whether you live or die from cancer shouldn't really be related to what state you live in."

The Affordable Care Act gave states the option to expand Medicaid eligibility and cover more people. Shortly after the law passed, just 2.6% of adults ages 18 to 64 with a new cancer diagnosis lacked insurance in Medicaid expansion states versus 7.8% in nonexpansion states, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology in 2018. Researchers at the American Cancer Society, who conducted the analysis, estimate that about 30,000 uninsured people are diagnosed with cancer each year.

But in all states, lower-income uninsured patients with breast or cervical cancer may have another route for coverage, even if they don't otherwise qualify for Medicaid. Adults with cancer detected through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program can enroll in Medicaid for the duration of their cancer treatment, as a result of advocacy efforts and federal legislation that started more than three decades ago.

In 2019, 43,549 breast and cervical cancer patients were enrolled, according to a Government Accountability Office report published in 2020.

"If you're lucky to be diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, you're good," said Dr. Fumiko Chino, a radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, who studies cancer treatment access and affordability. "But otherwise, you may have some significant obstacles."

The total amount billed to the insurer during the year following a cancer diagnosis can be steep. For instance, costs in 2016 averaged $168,730 for lung cancer and $137,663 for colorectal cancer, according to a 2022 study that calculated insurance claims for several common malignancies diagnosed in privately insured patients.

Since uninsured adults can struggle to afford preventive care, their cancer may not be identified until it's more advanced, making it costlier for the patient and the health system, said Robin Yabroff, an author of the study in JAMA Oncology and a scientific vice president at the American Cancer Society.

Patients who can't get financial assistance through a safety-net facility sometimes rack up medical debt, use credit cards, or launch fundraising efforts though online sites, Yabroff said. "We hear stories of people who mortgage their homes to pay for cancer treatment."

Cancer patients can purchase insurance through the ACA health insurance marketplace. But they often must wait until the regular enrollment period near the end of the year, and those health plans don't become effective until the start of the next calendar year.

That's because the federal law was designed to encourage people to sign up when they are healthy, which helps control costs, said MaryBeth Musumeci, an associate teaching professor of health policy and management at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. If a new diagnosis were a qualifying event for new coverage, she said, "then it would incentivize people to stay uninsured while they were healthy and they didn't think they really were going to need coverage."

Meanwhile, the on-ramp to Medicaid coverage for lower-income patients with breast and cervical cancer is a story of successful advocacy, dating to a 1990 law that created the national breast and cervical screening program. Mammography started to be widely recommended in the 1980s, and advocacy groups pushed to reach more underserved individuals, said Katie McMahon, a policy principal at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the organization's advocacy arm.

But research showed that some uninsured adults struggled to get care for those cancers detected through the screening program, McMahon said. A 2000 law allowed states to extend Medicaid to them, and by 2008 all 50 states and the District of Columbia had done so, according to the 2020 GAO report.

For other cancer patients, one of the remaining avenues to coverage, according to Chino, is to qualify for disability through the Social Security Administration, after which they can apply for Medicaid. The federal agency has a lengthy list of criteria for cancer patients. It also has a Compassionate Allowances program, which offers faster reviews for patients with certain serious medical conditions, including advanced or aggressive cancers.

Although the rules vary, many patients don't qualify until their disease has spread or the cancer requires at least a year of intense treatment, Chino said. That presents an inherent catch-22 for people who are uninsured but have curable types of cancer, she said.

"To qualify for Medicaid, I have to wait for my cancer to be incurable," she said, "which is very depressing."

For example, the Compassionate Allowances program doesn't list basal cell carcinoma, and it covers head and neck cancer only if it has spread elsewhere in the body or can't be removed surgically.

Adcox said that before her 12-hour operation last June, her financial assistance application with the Medical University of South Carolina was still pending. Someone from the hospital, she recalled, estimated the bill would be $176,000 and asked how much Adcox could put down. She cobbled together $700 with the help of loved ones.

But she did qualify for financial assistance and hasn't received any bills, except from an outside lab services provider. "It's over," Adcox said. She's since undergone radiation and will have more reconstructive surgeries. But she's cancer-free. "It didn't kill me. It didn't kill me."

Still, not everyone finds a safety net.

Brian Becker, of El Paso, Texas, was uninsured and not working when he learned he had chronic myelogenous leukemia in summer 2021, said Stephanie Gamboa, his ex-wife and the mother of their young daughter. His cancer physician required an upfront payment, she said, and it took several months to borrow enough money.

He started chemotherapy the following year, and over months lost weight and became weaker, returning to the emergency room with infections and worsening kidney function, Gamboa said. The last time their daughter saw her father, "he couldn't get out of bed. He was literally skin and bones," Gamboa said.

Becker started the process to request disability benefits. The text he sent Gamboa, which she shared with KHN, stated that review of his application began in June 2022 and was expected to take six months.

The denial letter, dated Feb. 4, 2023, arrived more than a month after Becker's death in December at age 32. It read in part: "Based on a review of your medical conditions, you do not qualify for benefits on this claim."
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Clinical Microbiology and Infection Journal highlights the protective effect of male circumcision on the prevalence, incidence, and clearance of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in males and their female sexual partners.

Study: Association between male circumcision and human papillomavirus infection in males and females: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Image Credit: KTStockphotos/Shutterstock.com

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection globally. While low-risk HPV types are associated with genital warts, high-risk HPV types are considered major causative factors for cervical cancer.

Male circumcision is known to have protective effects against many sexually transmitted infections and sexual activity-related conditions.

Many studies have found a link between male circumcision and reduced risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, herpes simplex virus type 2 infection, syphilis, genital ulcer, chancroid, and candidiasis.

In this systematic review, scientists have provided a detailed overview of the association between male circumcision and the risk of HPV infection in males and their female sexual partners. The review also explores whether the protective effects of circumcision vary between different penile sites.

Study design

The scientists searched various scientific documentation databases and included observational and experimental studies reporting the effect of male circumcision on the prevalence, incidence, and clearance of HPV infection in males and their female sexual partners.

Regarding study definitions, prevalence refers to the presence of an HPV infection at any timepoints; incidence refers to the presence of an HPV infection absent at a previous time point; and clearance refers to the absence of a previously-present HPV infection.

For the risk of bias assessment, the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool were used for observational studies and randomized trials, respectively.

Important observations

The initial screening of databases led to the identification of 1,409 studies, of which 32 studies, including 25 unique study populations, were finally included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. These studies were published between 2002 and 2022.

Among selected studies, 17 were cross-sectional, ten compared two groups cross-sectionally, and five were randomized clinical trials.

In these studies, samples for HPV infection detection and genotyping were collected from different sites in males, including the urethra, foreskin, glans and/or corona, shaft, scrotum, and perianal area. In females, the samples were taken from the cervix and vagina.

Prevalence of HPV infection

The prevalence of HPV infection among all participants at baseline ranged from 8.7% to 69.8%. 21 studies reported the association between circumcision and HPV infection prevalence in males.

According to the study estimates, circumcision significantly reduced the risk of HPV infections at both glans and shaft. The highest protective effect of circumcision was observed at the glans, irrespective of the viral types (low-risk and high-risk HPV types).

Incidence of HPV infection

The association between circumcision and HPV infection incidence in males was reported by nine studies. Similar to the prevalence findings, circumcision significantly reduced the risk of incident HPV infection at the glans. This association remained unchanged when stratified by low-risk and high-risk HPV types.

Clearance of HPV infection

The association between circumcision and HPV infection clearance in males was reported by seven studies.

In these studies, circumcision significantly increased both the rate and risk of HPV infection clearance at the glans. This occurred irrespective of the types of HPV (low-risk or high-risk).

HPV infection outcomes in females

A total of six studies investigated the association between male circumcision and HPV infection outcomes in female partners of circumcised males. In these studies, circumcision significantly reduced the risk of prevalent high-risk HPV infections and the incidence rate of high-risk HPV infections in female partners.

A similar but non-significant trend was also reported for prevalent infections and the incidence rate of low-risk HPV infections.

Significance

This systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that male circumcision has significant protective effects against the prevalence, incidence, and clearance of HPV infections at the glans penis.

Circumcision also protects female partners of circumcised males against contracting HPV infection.

As mentioned in the article, circumcision is believed to protect against sexually transmitted infections by changing keratinization and the local immune environment of the penis.

The current systematic review suggests that male circumcision might act as a potential preventive intervention, especially in regions where HPV-related cancers are highly prevalent, and anti-HPV vaccination is not available.
The extra federal money comes through an obscure, complicated mechanism called "directed payments"  available only for states that hire health insurers to deliver services for Medicaid.

It's not Medicaid expansion, which Georgia Republican leaders have rejected. Instead, the state Department of Community Health is using an under-the-radar Medicaid funding opportunity that has been rapidly taken up by more than 35 states  including most of the states that have expanded the government insurance program.

Emanuel Medical Center in rural Georgia racks up more than $350,000 a month in losses providing health care for low-income and uninsured patients. But a new state funding proposal could significantly reduce those deficits, not just for the 66-bed Swainsboro facility but for most rural hospitals in Georgia, according to state Medicaid officials.

In 2020, these special funding streams, which are approved by federal health officials, sent more than $25 billion to states, according to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), which advises Congress.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, when asked for an updated total, referred KHN to individual states for their spending figures. "CMS has not publicly published total spending related to state directed payments,'' said agency spokesperson Bruce Alexander.

But the Government Accountability Office, Congress' watchdog agency, and MACPAC say federal health officials should do more to monitor directed payments and evaluate whether states meet the program's goals, which include improved access and quality of care. More transparency is needed, these agencies said.

A MACPAC report last year found that fewer than 25% of directed payment plans running for at least a year had evaluations available for review.

Federal health officials "are getting a lot of questions" on directed payments from GAO and MACPAC, said Debra Lipson, a senior fellow at consulting firm Mathematica, which has studied the issue. "It's a lot of money."

CMS hasn't yet released reports on quality metrics for the program, Lipson added.

Alexander, the CMS spokesperson, said the agency "takes our role in oversight and transparency seriously, and we are working collaboratively with our federal and state partners to improve our oversight and transparency" of directed payments.

Medicaid is the government health insurance program for low-income and disabled patients. It's jointly financed by the states and the federal government.

CMS launched the directed payments program in 2016. Georgia officials estimated the state will net $1 billion in federal funds this fiscal year for hospitals and other medical providers through its directed payment programs.

California estimates it brought in more than $6 billion just last year in new federal funds through directed payments. Arizona received $4.3 billion between 2018 and 2022. Florida netted more than $1 billion over a 12-month period ending in September.

This special Medicaid funding may indirectly help patients by strengthening financial stability for hospitals, along with offering the potential for capital improvements from the added cash infusions.

But patient advocates and Democratic lawmakers in Georgia said providing insurance coverage for the medical needs of the uninsured by adopting Medicaid expansion is more urgent. Hospitals, like Emanuel Medical Center, would benefit from Medicaid reimbursements for patients who now often rack up unpaid bills for care.

The uninsured "are not going to get preventive care, and that drives up health care costs," said state Sen. Elena Parent, an Atlanta-area Democrat. "The state should have expanded Medicaid."

That expansion is not going to happen in Georgia in the short run, as Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is set to launch new limits on Medicaid enrollment for low-income adults, with work requirements attached.

Under directed payments, added funding for hospitals and other Medicaid medical providers flows through different avenues, including minimum fees for services, a general reimbursement increase, and pay hikes based on quality of care.

Payments are based on the volume of services delivered. If one hospital served more Medicaid patients than another, its reimbursements would be higher, Lipson said.

"CMS initially was surprised by the volume of states' directed payment proposals," said Lipson. Some states have 25 or more, she added. They must be renewed annually. Often states finance their portion through hospital assessments or money transferred from public funds, such as hospital authorities, county governments, and state agencies.

Georgia has five such directed payment plans. Their goals include boosting Medicaid pay for hospitals and doctors, strengthening the health care workforce, and improving health outcomes and equity, said Caylee Noggle, commissioner of the state Department of Community Health, which runs Medicaid in Georgia.

Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, a large safety-net provider, said it expects to gain $139 million across four of the Georgia programs.

"It's a tremendous benefit for us," said Ryan Loke, Grady's chief health policy officer. "Without this money, Grady would be in a lot worse position."

Grady is seeing more Medicaid and uninsured patients who formerly used nearby Atlanta Medical Center, which closed last year.

State Sen. Ben Watson, a physician and Savannah-area Republican, pointed out that such safety-net hospitals, which serve a large portion of people who lack health coverage, are getting higher pay through Medicaid directed payments, thus helping them cover some losses.

Georgia plans to use these funding streams as a base for extending extra help to rural hospitals.

With the extra payments, Grady and other hospitals will approach or reach their normal funding limit for hospitals that serve a "disproportionate share" of indigent patients. The state would take about $100 million of this excess money and send it to rural hospitals.

The Georgia Hospital Association said the directed payment money is helpful but won't cover costs of charity care for the uninsured.

"They're not looking at [hospitals'] bad debt," said Anna Adams, an executive with the group. "An insured patient is a healthier patient. We'd love to see as many people covered as possible."

Officials at rural hospitals in Georgia, meanwhile, are looking forward to the projected boost in Medicaid funds.

"It's going to put cash in the coffers of rural hospitals that are struggling," said Jimmy Lewis, CEO of HomeTown Health, an association of rural hospitals in the state.

Damien Scott, CEO of Emanuel Medical Center, said he's "cautiously optimistic" about the coming allocation. On his wish list: attracting a pediatrician to his county  it has none currently  and gaining the space to move the hospital's lone MRI machine from a truck into the hospital building.

As it is, he said, "we struggle every month for our survival."
FILE PHOTO: Logo of Teck Resuurces at Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto

By Clara Denina and Mrinalika Roy

(Reuters) -Canada's Teck Resources on Monday reinforced its rejection of an unsolicited $22.5 billion bid from Glencore, saying the implied value was "an illusion" and telling shareholders its restructuring plan was the only viable option.

Glencore's offer, made public on April 3, includes a plan to simultaneously spin off the companies' thermal and steelmaking coal businesses and rebrand the remaining company as GlenTeck.

Teck Chief Executive Jonathan Price told shareholders that more value could be unlocked through a proposed restructuring in which the Vancouver-based miner would spin off its steelmaking coal unit to focus on copper and other industrial metals.

A shareholder vote on Teck's plan is scheduled for April 26. If it passes, the separation process will then take 7-8 weeks to complete.

"A vote against the separation is a vote to maintain the status quo at Teck, and there is no path that includes Glencore acquiring Teck," Price said.

"The modest implied premium in the Glencore-rejected proposal is an illusion," he added. "Scale and diversification do not create value if the quality of the business is contaminated."

Teck said its board has rejected the offer as Glencore did not present a coherent plan for its proposed coal company.

Analysts had last week seen room for an higher offer from Glencore to sway Teck shareholders in its favour.

Glencore boss Gary Nagle called it a "very compelling all-share offer," representing a 20% premium to Teck's closing stock price on March 26, when the bid was made privately.

"This is not just about price," Price said on Monday. "We also see serious structural flaws in the proposal that Glencore has put forward, and we believe that (it) would destroy value for Teck shareholders, and that it has significant execution risks."

The structural flaws would include having an oil marketing business within the base metals vehicle and exposing its shareholders to a big thermal coal business, Teck said last week.

Story continues

Price said that there are significant opportunities to create synergies between Glencore and Teck without the need for an acquisition or corporate transaction.

In its merger bid, Glencore said there were operational synergies that would improve efficiency and reduce costs between some copper assets, including Teck's Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 (QB2) and Glencore's partly owned Collahuasi mine in Chile.

"The QB2/Collahuasi situation is one example where there could be sharing of infrastructure or optimisation on future expansions...the engagement so far with Glencore has been somewhat disappointing on their side," Price told Reuters on Monday.

Price also said Teck sees synergies and improvements to be made between Glencore's McArthur River zinc operation in Australia and Teck's Trail smelter and refinery in British Columbia.

(Reporting by Mrinalika Roy and Clara Denina; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Pratima Desai and Barbara Lewis)
In a recent study published in the Nature Journal, researchers surveyed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the Huanan seafood market (HSM).

Study: Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 at the Huanan Seafood Market. Image Credit: VladimirKrupenkin/Shutterstock.com

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases were first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019 as pneumonia of unknown etiology (PUE).

The early cases were mostly associated with the HSM in Wuhan, which sold a variety of animal meats, live animals, and exotic seafood.

The HSM is suspected to be the origin of the COVID-19 outbreak. Some scientists suggest that bats from Asian countries such as China, Japan, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia may be the original SARS-CoV-2 source due to their high similarity with certain coronaviruses found in these bats. It is currently unclear if another animal played a role in transmitting the virus from bats to humans.

About the study

In the present study, researchers assessed the findings of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in the HSM market, Wuhan.

The HSM is situated in Wuhan's downtown area, in the Jianghan District. The market covers an area of over 50,000 square meters and has 678 closely situated stalls in a highly congested environment.

The market is divided into two areas: the West and East Zones. The West Zone is where seafood and animals are primarily sold, while the East Zone is where livestock meat is sold.

Ten stalls selling domesticated wildlife were noted among the 678 stalls located in the market. These stalls were situated in the West Zone's southwestern side and the East Zone's northwestern region.

In late December 2019, 10 animal stalls sold animals or animal products. The traded animals included avian species, snakes, badgers, Sika deer, bamboo rats, rabbits, hedgehogs, porcupines, giant salamanders, Siamese crocodiles, and bay crocodiles.

Live snakes, crocodiles, and salamanders were among the animals traded. Between January 1, 2020, and March 2, 2020, a comprehensive collection of 923 environmental samples from various regions in and around the HSM market, and 457 animal samples, such as dead animals in freezers and refrigerators, stray animals and their excrement, were gathered. A few stray animals were sampled till March 30.

The examination of the overground drainage pathway found in the HSM revealed that the wastewater from the overground drainage flowed into the underground drainage within the market and eventually into the wells located on the market's edge.

Human upper respiratory excreta and animal waste would be combined in the overground drainage. The study aimed to test for live viruses in the HSM by inoculating 27 SARS-CoV-2-positive environmental samples obtained on January 1, 2020, into cell lines such as Vero E6 and Huh7.5 cells.

Results

923 environmental samples were collected within and around the HSM, with 73 testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 using real-time polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR). This resulted in a positivity rate of 7.9%. The RT-PCR cycle threshold (CT) values varied between 23.9 and 41.7. Out of 828 samples from the HSM, 64 tested positive.

The majority of SARS-CoV-2-positive specimens collected in the HSM were found in the West Zone, specifically on streets numbered one to eight, where 71.4% of positive specimens were detected. Five out of 14 samples from HSM-related warehouses tested positive. This could indicate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the market in the early period of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Three out of 51 sewerage well samples from the surrounding regions outside the HSM tested positive. On January 22, 2020, 30 environmental samples were obtained from Dongxihu Market in Wuhan. Among them, a floor surface swab termed Env_0601 tested positive.

Almost 24 out of 110 samples obtained from market sewers or sewerage wells tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. The market's four sewerage wells also tested positive. The data indicated that the virus might have been transmitted within the market through contaminated sewage from infected people or animals.

After three days of inoculation, sample Env_0313 induced cytopathic effects (CPE) on Vero E6 cells. CPE was observed on Huh7.5 cells five days after inoculation. Virus particles were observed in both the supernatant as well as cells of Vero E6 five days after inoculation. Coronavirus morphology was observed in negative-stained viral particles and ultra-thin cultured cell sections.

Samples Env_0354 and Env_0313 were obtained from stalls housing COVID-19-positive patients. Live SARS-CoV-2 consisting of high titers were found in the environment of the HSM through successful virus isolation from original samples having low CT values.

Conclusion

The study findings showed that SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and live virus were found in environmental samples obtained from the HSM West Zone.

The researchers believe that the market's high proportion of visitors may have amplified the transmission of the virus, leading to several COVID-19 infection clusters within the early stages of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived in Washington to attend the annual spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank and lead the G-20 countries in a series of intense interactions over a host of issues facing the world.

Sitharaman, who is leading a high-powered delegation, is scheduled to kick off her public engagements on Monday from the prestigious Peterson Institute for International Economics by speaking on resilience and growth of the Indian economy and interacting with the think-tank community.

Among key engagements of the finance minister here include, spring Meetings of International Monetary Fund and the World Bank; hosting the Second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under Indias G20 Presidency and G20-related side events; World Bank Development Committee and IMF Committee Plenaries, interaction with global economists and think-tanks, bilateral engagements and interaction with global business leaders and investors in roundtables.

Sitharaman is scheduled to address the Indian diaspora here on Saturday at a reception hosted in her honour by Indias Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

The focus of her various sessions related to G-20 will be to deliberate on issues such as addressing food and energy insecurity, managing global debt vulnerabilities, strengthening Multilateral Development Banks, mobilising finance for climate action, advancing financial inclusion, and accelerating progress on International Tax and Financial Sector issues.

The meeting will take stock of the progress made on outcomes envisaged under Indias G20 Finance Track agenda, the finance ministry said in a media release.

Sitharaman is likely to meet Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to discuss issues of mutual interest.

During the visit, a meeting of the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable will be co-chaired by India, IMF, and the World Bank on April 12, to discuss the current global debt landscape and ways to address existing challenges in debt restructuring.

On April 14, a high-level seminar on Macro-financial implications of Crypto assets will be held to review the macro-financial implications of Crypto Assets and discuss policies to leverage benefits and contain risks.

Sitharaman will also meet the G20 Expert Group on strengthening MDBs on April 15, 2023, to discuss the need for an updated MDBs ecosystem for the 21st century towards financing sustainable development goals and transboundary challenges.

In between her hectic schedule here in Washington DC, she is likely to find some time to go to the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for her interaction with the scientist community there. Even on her last trip here, she had gone to the National Science Foundation headquarters in Alexandria to get a firsthand experience of the research and work being done by the US in the field of science and technology.

As the countrys finance minister, Sitharaman believes that for India to be a developed nation by 2047, a goal set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it needs to invest massively in the field of science and technology, especially in critical and cutting-edge technologies.

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The Income Tax Department has filed an appeal against the National Company Law Tribunal approving Suraksha Groups bid to buy Jaypee Infratech Ltd (JIL) under the insolvency resolution process.

Sources said the I-T Department has filed the petition before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) against the NCLT order regarding certain claims.

The department did not make any plea when the case was being heard by the NCLTs Delhi bench and the latest move is surprising, the sources added.

According to the sources, the plea is expected to come up for hearing before the appellate tribunal next week.

The departments petition is the fourth plea filed by an entity against the NCLT order passed on March 7.

Also Read: Still Dont Know About Exemptions, Deductions Under Old And New Income Tax Regimes? Check Here

Last month, Jaiprakash Associates Ltd and its promoter Manoj Gaur approached NCLAT against the NCLT order relating to the distribution of Rs 750 crore in the Jaypee Infratech matter.

The amount was deposited with the Supreme Court registry by Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL), the erstwhile promoter of JIL, which has been going through insolvency proceedings since August 2017.

Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has also moved NCLAT as its claims for additional compensation payable to the farmers and others, were rejected by the NCLT while approving the resolution plan of Suraksha Group.

On March 7, the NCLT approved the Mumbai-based Suraksha Group bid to acquire JIL and complete around 20,000 flats across various projects in Noida and Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

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The investment scenario in India is constantly evolving. Contrary to traditional investment approaches such as stocks, real estate, fixed deposits (FDs), etc., investors are exploring new-age investment channels that present a range of opportunities.

The Indian mutual fund industry AUM has reached Rs 39.46 lakh crore as on February 28, 2023, from Rs 8.14 lakh crore as on Feb 28, 2013, a massive five-fold rise in the decade. Additionally, the AUM of passive funds grew at a rate of 57 per cent between 2017 and 2022, wherein the number of passive funds in India grew from 84 to 228.

Also, the asset under management (AUM) of Nifty 50 ETF touched Rs 5 lakh crore in 2022. The multi-fold increase in the ETF and Indian MF industry highlights the increasing paradigm shift of Indian investors from traditional to more developed investment channels. ETFs and mutual funds help investors diversify portfolios, mitigate risks, and earn increased return on investment (ROI).

ETFs vs Mutual Fund

ETFs and mutual funds are investment vehicles that allow potential investors to pool their funds together for investments in different industries. Both these instruments have their own resemblances and differences.

Diversification Across Sectors and Industries

The ultimate goal of MFs and ETFs is to allow investors to diversify their portfolios by investing in a range of assets across different industries and sectors. Rather than investing in one particular sector, these investment vehicles enable investors to mitigate risk by investing across different industries.

Cost-Efficiency

Secondly, both mutual funds and ETFs typically offer cost-efficient ways for investors to access portfolios with optimal transaction costs and fees compared to buying individual stocks and bonds.

Expense Ratios

ETFs have lower expense ratios than mutual funds as ETFs generally have fewer operational charges associated with them. And ETFs can be purchased in single units, while mutual funds often have minimum investment requirements.

The expense ratio, i.e., operating expenses divided by the average assets of the funds, is much lower for ETFs. It ranges between 2-5 basis points (0.02-0.05 per cent). In contrast, the total expense ratio of mutual funds in India ranges between 0.80 per cent and 2 per cent due to higher management fees and transaction costs.

Transparency

ETFs and MFs also provide investors with information about their holdings on a regular basis. This level of transparency allows investors to see exactly what assets are held in the fund and the weightings of each holding.

Balancing ETFs with Mutual Funds in your Investment Portfolio

ETFs are structured as a basket of securities that trade like stocks on stock exchanges, and their prices fluctuate throughout the trading day, whereas mutual fund prices are calculated at the end of the trading day based on the underlying assets net asset value (NAV).

Tax Efficiency

ETFs are generally more tax-efficient, as they tend to have much lower turnover, which can result in lower taxes for investors. Thus, ETFs can avoid taxes generated from turnover. On the hind side, due to the purchase and redemption activities of most mutual funds due to active investment style, the capital gain distribution is higher. Resultantly, the taxable amount of capital gains are borne by investors at an appreciated price.

Active, Passive Management of Funds

Mutual funds can provide more active management and customization, as fund managers have the ability to buy and sell securities within the fund without being restricted by the liquidity or the mechanics of the ETF structure.

ETFs replicate the performance of the benchmark index. Thus, investment in ETFs enables investors to leverage a passive investment style with an aim to match the market performance.

Depending on the goals, objectives, risk tolerance, and preferences of the investor, a balanced portfolio of ETFs and mutual funds can fetch investors lucrative returns at lower operating costs. However, it is important to consider the fees, expenses, tax implications, etc., of MFs and ETFs before investing, as there are numerous investment vehicles to choose from.

The Way Forward

Overall, ETFs and MFs can be valuable tools for Indian investors looking to diversify their portfolios, reduce costs, and achieve a more targeted asset allocation. The adoption and growing popularity of these investment instruments has been on a massive scale in developed markets like the US and have resulted in cost-effective and diversified investing by US investors. Considering their success in the US, the ground is ripe for developing economies like India.

However, robust mechanisms, proper ETF and MF infrastructure, product awareness, and technological solutions are needed for seamless access to ETFs in India. Going forward, artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge technological advancements can enhance greater investing experience and can be a big part of Indian investors portfolios when it comes to ETF investments.

(The author is co-founder of financial technology platform ETF Junction)

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Putting a smile on someones face brings genuine happiness and this viral video is proof of it. An artist on Instagram has made it his passion to make random strangers elated with his creative artwork. Using his sketching prowess, the man namely Sohan VK draws people who he meets on the way and gifts them his impromptu creation. One of them included an ink sketch of a staff member at a local ice cream shop. The artist did not fail to share the reaction of the young worker after receiving the gift, thereby sending the internet into a massive meltdown.

The video began with visuals of the staff member busy delivering a customers order when it camera frame moves to the instant sketch prepared by the artist. After the finishing touch, he handed over the drawing page to the worker who was relaxing on a chair. At first, the boy appears to be confused but when his attention falls on the sketch, he smiles instantly. The beautiful moment was set against the backdrop of a mellow musical rendition of Phir Kabhi. Melting moments the artists captioned the video while making a reference to the ice cream shop. Watch the clip here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sohan VK (@artofsohan)

The video has already amassed over 8.9 million views on Instagram, leaving a barrage of users complimenting the artists. A user wrote, An artists life can be difficult but you have found the right way to gain happiness with your work. Many highlighted the young workers reaction, His smile is priceless, wrote one. Another pointed, That happiness in his eyes. One more joined, Look at his innocent face. Meanwhile, a user called it, Pure happiness its priceless.

A section of the internet was left utterly emotional, one stated, Dont know why I got tears in my eyes. Another explained, Unexpected gifts are Always special. Hats off bro for making him happy. Meanwhile, many also theorized that the young worker could have been sad, Lots of emotions hide in his smile, said one. Another agreed, Some hidden pain in his eyes.

Notably, the Instagram artists profile is filled with similar heart-warming reaction videos. His artworks have garnered him the following of over thirty-eight people on the social media platform.

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Tying the knot with your beloved is always special. Its a vow to live with each other till eternity, taking care of each other in times of need and being the biggest support system of one another. But not all marriages are destined to work out, owing to several issues. But you will be shocked to learn that one such unhappy marriage forced a man to take his own life. A resident of Chinas Beijing city, Su Xiangmao died by suicide after his wife, Zhai Xinxin, extorted an exorbitant amount of 10 million yuan (around 11.92 Crore) from his husband, during their brief marriage spell.

According to the South China Morning Post, Beijing IT company entrepreneur Su Xiangmao jumped to his death from a tall building. Su, in a suicide letter, claimed that he was forced to take the extreme step owing to his extremely vicious former wife Zhai Xinxin". The suicide note was later published by Sus brother on social media.

In 2018, Sus family filed a lawsuit against Zhai, demanding the court transfer of any assets given to Zhai by Su. Sus family also pleaded with the court to pass an order to return any cash he may have given her.

43-year-old Su met Zhai via an online dating app in Beijing in March 2017. Zhai was six years older than Su. After a brief period of dating the duo got married on June 7. But within just two months, cracks developed in their marriage, and the pair separated on July 18. Soon after that, Su committed suicide on September 7.

Reports claim that Zhai had one condition before she decided to marry Su. She asked Su to deposit an amount of 5,0000 yuan every day in her bank account till their marriage. Upon further investigation, the Chaoyang District Court in Beijing asserted that Zhai bought a car, jewellery, and over 3 million yuan in cash during their 110 days of the relationship, coursing between their first encounter and divorce.

The court ordered Zhai to return a set of Cartier rings and necklaces worth 320,000 Yuan, an expensive Tesla car worth 1,000,000 Yuan, and a total of 1.87 Million Yuan in cash payments that Zhai received from Su. Although Zhai claimed that they were betrothal gifts, the court dismissed her claims.

The WeChat messages revealed inside the court premises indicated that Zhail had pestered Su to deposit 50000 yuan as means to win her heart, till the date of their marriage. Zhai coerced Su into signing a divorce settlement that included promises to buy her a Sanya apartment on the tropical island of Hainan in southern China and to give her 10 million yuan in compensation.

Su provided Zhai with the apartment, sent 6.6 million yuan to her bank account, and offered her an IOU for the remaining 3.4 million yuan after they reached an agreement. The agreement was revoked after the court found out that Zhai had forced Su into signing it. Zhai was ordered to restore the 6.6 million yuan to Sus family as well as give up ownership of the Beijing home and the Sanya apartment after the court ruled that Zhais extortion had contributed to Sus death.

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Nine-year-old Cesar Paredes enters the bullring impeccably dressed in his traditional Venezuelan bullfighters suit, pink cape neatly folded over one arm, to the ovation of an enthusiastic crowd. He may be small, but he has big dreams of becoming a matador. Paredes is one of 17 children aged six to 14  one of them a girl  learning the tricks of the bullfighting trade at a torero school in Merida, a city in the Venezuelan Andes where the tradition persists despite protests by animal rights campaigners.

One day I want to leave (the ring) through the big door as a great bullfighter," the boy told AFP.

It is in Cesars blood: his older brother is a bullfighter and their pursuit is encouraged by their mother, an avid fan of the controversial pastime.

Bullfighting is an income generator for Merida, with continued high attendance despite a long-running economic crisis that has severely diluted Venezuelans purchasing power and caused a mass exodus.

Look brave

Cesar and his classmates are taken through their paces by retired torero Mauro Pereira, 73, who gives three-hour classes outside of school time.

The pupils learn the correct posture and how to extend their arms as they swish the cape in the direction of the bull.

They take turns playing the animal, pretending to charge with fake horns.

The children also learn how to look brave" as they confront the bull, and how to bend their knees in a fall in order to get up again quickly and avoid being trampled.

We cant hesitate, we have to be determined and also have to show respect," said Leonardo Rangel, a 14-year-old among Pereiras pupils.

When you start, you dont win from the get-go. It happens step by step. You have to practice to be good," he told AFP.

We want to fight

In February, Pereiras pupils attended an inter-school bullfighting contest in Merida.

But they had to leave disappointed.

An order from a local court prohibited minors from taking part in the event, or even being near bullfights in which older trainee matadors participated.

The children shouted We want to fight!, but they would not let them," lamented Maritza Arias, Cesars mother.

It was very painful to have them removed from the stands."

The boy was allowed only to take part in a presentation of matador skills, without a bull anywhere near.

I am very proud to see my children in this, when things go well it becomes a discipline, it is art for me," says Arias, 47.

Killing of a living being

But just as the love for bullfighting endures in parts of Venezuela, so does opposition to it.

Parliament is examining a law against animal abuse that could outlaw the practice.

As the law currently stands, it is up to municipalities to regulate events involving animals. Cities like Caracas and Maracaibo have banned bullfighting.

I criticize those who go to a bullring to witness the killing of a living being," said Johan Sanchez, co-director of the Napda Foundation which campaigns against the practice.

We have to educate future generations to save" the bulls, he added.

But for Pereira, bullfighting is part of a culture thousands of years old."

The fighting bull was created to die with honor and bravery in a bullring," he argued.

Seven countries apart from Venezuela still allow bullfighting: France, Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador and Peru, sometimes with restrictions.

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Colette Maze has been playing piano for more than a century, and is still drawing thousands of fans on social media. Born in June 1914, before the outbreak of World War I and when one of her favourite composers, Claude Debussy, was still alive, the French pianist practices four hours a day and is about to release her seventh album, 108 Years of Piano".

From her apartment overlooking the Seine river in Paris, Maze moves cautiously between the three pianos in her living room, but retains a youthful enthusiasm.

Me? Im young," she says with a smile.

Age is not something Im interested in. There are people who are forever young, amazed by everything, and then there are people who dont care about anything and never loved anything, even their man  can you imagine?" she adds.

Piano is my life

Maze was a piano teacher for much of her life, and it was only after turning 100 that she started building a significant fanbase  through her Facebook page.

Many are inspired by her continuing good health and refusal to give up the traditional French pleasures of wine, cheese and chocolate.

She gives people strength  thats why she has such crazy success," said her son, journalist Fabrice Maze, adding with pride that she is one of the few people over 100 releasing albums.

She still remembers the sound of Big Bertha", the huge cannon used by the German army during World War I, but most of her memories revolve around her instrument.

When I was little, I suffered from asthma and my mother would play violin with my piano teacher  it would calm me," she says.

Piano is my life, my friend. I need to feel it and hear it," she adds, before offering a rendition of Debussys Reflections in the Water".

Maze began playing at five, and despite reluctance from her parents, she won a place at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris with teachers including the renowned Alfred Cortot.

Cortot was known for a method of relaxing all the muscles of the body  which Maze credits with sparing her from arthritis.

The other secret to her youth? I did a lot of dancing," she says. I need to feel my muscles, my abdominals, my thighs, my arms. All that must be alive."

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Zomatos recent ad campaign comes with a creative twist and its got Twitter talking. The point of contention? The pronunciation of the brand name: ZoMaito vs ZoMaato. Which way do you pronounce it? In a hilariously unhinged ad, people are shown taking up arms and tearing each other apart over the pronunciation. CEO Deepinder Goyal also started a Twitter poll asking people which way they pronounce the brands name.

While Goyal himself is Team ZoMaato, Zomatos official Twitter handle replied to his tweet, writing, hard to believe that you dont know your company is called zoMaito." Twitter, of course, is waging war over it as well. Moreover, people have been praising the creativity of the campaign.

hard to believe that you don't know your company is called zoMaito zomato (@zomato) April 8, 2023

Zomato posted a video on their twitter yesterday, and people love it. Why? Because we've all been there. It's relatable. It's funny. It's accurate. Check for yourself https://t.co/0wzerez9NX  Shweta Moghe (@shwetam99) April 9, 2023

What an incredible ad. So many levels to how brilliant this is. Well done. https://t.co/DGOrdRTozF Praveen Gopal Krishnan (@peegeekay) April 8, 2023

This is clever advertising as it gets you thinking and talking as to how you pronounce the word. In the process, brand name has been repeated over 3 dozen times. Does make you recall and remember it. https://t.co/3u4LEaYAIn  Tejas Mehta (@itejasmehta) April 9, 2023

Banger ad by ZoMaito https://t.co/rDmMnDI8eh   | Khadoos Jasoos (@_MaahiWay_) April 9, 2023

Very creative!#India do vote, I really want to know what is it called https://t.co/r7UynLfC52 Prabal Singh (@PrblSing) April 8, 2023

Zomato recently also cashed in on the Desi paparazzis hilarious antics at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) launch. It was attended by a host of international celebrities like Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Gigi Hadid, Zendaya and Tom Holland. The paparazzi mispronounced their names in endearing ways, spoke to them in Marathi and gave them creative nicknames. Alluding to that, Zomato posted a photo of two coffee cups labelled Jhendaya" and Tom Homecoming".

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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.

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.

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.

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C-Level View | Feature

Anywhere Learning Happens: The eduroam Global WiFi Access Service

A conversation with eduroam community leaders Saira Hasnain and Brett Bieber

"Anywhere a student is learning, we can get them connected to eduroam." Brett Bieber, chair, Internet2 eduroam-US advisory committee

As the eduroam WiFi access service grows globally, so does its capacity to serve the changing needs of the research and education community.

Why does ubiquity matter? CT asked Brett Bieber, the assistant vice president of Client Services for Information Technology Services at the University of Nebraska and chair of the Internet2 eduroam-US advisory committee; and Saira Hasnain, the associate vice president and deputy chief information officer at the University of Florida and an Internet2 eduroam-US advisory committee member. Here, these two eduroam-US community leaders tell us why and how eduroam is working to be anywhere students are learning.

Mary Grush: Let's start by asking, what is eduroam?

Brett Bieber: It's a global WiFi roaming service that allows educators, researchers, and students to connect seamlessly and securely through any of its participating sites.

Grush: and, it's worldwide?

Bieber: Yes, eduroam originated in Europe in 2002, arrived in the U.S. by 2009, and, with a long lineage of partnerships and collaboration among technology organizations it has matured over the years into a large, reliable network access service available to educators and researchers around the world.

So, to give a couple quick examples of its use, eduroam is of great value to us at the University of Nebraska when we need to provide connectivity for our faculty who are traveling, even internationally; or, we may have distant collaborators  e.g., researchers or students  who need to connect with each other over the Internet to accomplish their work.

Using eduroam simply eliminates most of the IT complexities and obstacles for educators, researchers, and even students who may be working remotely or under the challenging conditions we've just described. In fact, once your device has been configured for the first time, eduroam will always securely authenticate and log you instantly onto the Internet, making connections very easy: You just open your laptop or device, and you are connected!

Grush: Besides remote connectivity, could eduroam services also be used locally, for more general campus applications?

Bieber: Yes! As a matter of fact, for the University of Nebraska System we provision all students, faculty, and staff with eduroam, right from the start, universally  we are "eduroam native" and that is the primary SSID we broadcast. We've committed to eduroam service for all  not just for our traveling researchers or remote users. So we're prepared for change and a future with eduroam. I think that's also the case at Saira's institution, the University of Florida is that the case, Saira?

We are "eduroam native" and that is the primary SSID we broadcast. We've committed to eduroam service for all.

Saira Hasnain: Yes, eduroam is our primary SSID. We, too, are eduroam native, for all our campus users. And I can give you some examples of use cases and projects that leverage eduroam to benefit both our campus users as well as other agencies or entities  such as libraries, museums, municipal public spaces, and other nonprofit interests within the region. In fact, at the University of Florida we are expanding our user experience to leverage very innovative uses of eduroam, including various forms of outreach to our surrounding communities.

Grush: So, just to verify how all this works: Internet2 is maintaining the eduroam access service in the U.S., for its membership and for other research and education-related entities that choose to become eduroam subscribers; while in other countries or territories, internationally, institutions and organizations obtain eduroam access services through roaming operators in their own region. Then all this comes together on a global scale.
Read more

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Anna University has issued the final answer key for the Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET) 2023 today, April 11. Candidates can download it from the official website at tancet.annauniv.edu. The final answer key will help candidates calculate their scores. To access the TANCET 2023 final answer key, students will have to log in using their respective email addresses and password. To note, final results are yet to be declared. The Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test was conducted on March 25 and March 26 at several exam centres.

The National Testing Agency has reopened the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2023 registration window today, April 11. NTA is giving another chance to those aspirants who missed applying for the NEET UG 2023 exam. Candidates can go to the official website of NTA at neet.nta.nic.in and complete the registration process. The last date to apply for the exam is April 13. Earlier, the last date to apply was 6 April.

Know all the education-related news here.

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The Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has extended the registration deadline for admission to undergraduate programmes through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG) 2023 till April 12. Earlier, the last date to apply was April 10. The university extended the deadline after receiving requests from a large number of students. Candidates can apply for Jamia UG programmes on the official website at jmicoe.in.

On request of a large number of students, the vice chancellor, JMI, has very kindly approved extension in the last date of registration to U.G. programmes of the university whose entrance test will be conducted by CUET for the academic session 2023-24 from 10.4.2023 to 12.4.2023. The applicants who wish to register may visit JMI examination website, i.e, www.jmicoe.in, reads the official notice.

Jamia Millia Islamia Admissions 2023: How to Apply

Step 1: Go to Jamia Millia Islamia official page

Step 2: Click on the UG registration link

Step 3: Register yourself, fill up the form

Step 4: Pay the application fees

Step 5: Submit and download the form for further use

Jamia Millia Islamia is conducting admissions via CUET 2023 for a total of 15 programmes. This includes BA (Hons) (Turkish Lang and Literature) (Hons) Sanskrit, BA (Hons) French and Francophone Studies, BA (Hons) Spanish and Latin American Studies, BA (Hons) History, BA (Hons) Hindi, BA (Hons) Urdu, BA (Hons) Korean Language, BA (Hons) Persian, BSc Biotechnology, BVoc (Solar Energy), BSc (Hons) Physics, BSc (Hons) Chemistry, BSc (Hons) Applied Mathematics and BA (Hons) Economics.

The varsity had earlier written to the University Grants Commission (UGC), informing it that it will implement CUET-UG in all courses from the academic year 2024-25 as it requires sufficient time to change admission rules. The UGC introduced the CUET last year for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), however, did not adopt the CUET for all its undergraduate and postgraduate courses. CUET UG 2023 will be held from May 21 to 31.

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Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has released the result of UPPSC PCS 2022. In the exam, BSA Kumar Gaurav of Shahjahanpur has made it to the top 10 and received 5th rank in the UPPSC PCS exam.

His life has always been full of ups and downs. He earlier turned down the job of Assistant Commandant in CRPF. After rejecting this job, his next three years were very difficult. He made many efforts to get a job but did not get success. However, he did not give up and kept trying.

Kumar Gaurav is a resident of Umri Bhawani village in Ambedkarnagar district. His fathers name is Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, who is a retired Village Development Officer (VDO) and his mother Shakuntala Devi is a homemaker. Gaurav did his schooling from the village. Later he did his intermediate from Indaipur Inter College and graduated from Allahabad University. He then completed his post-graduation from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Read | UPPSC PCS 2022 Final Result Released at uppsc.up.nic.in, 8 Out of Top 10 Are Women

In the year 2016, when Kumar Gaurav was doing PhD in Hindi Literature from Delhi University (DU), he was selected as Assistant Commandant in CRPF. But he rejected the job to complete his studies. For the next three years he kept working hard to grab a government job but he had no luck. Finally, after three years, he was selected for the post of Naib Tehsildar. PCS result came before Gaurav joined the post of Naib Tehsildar. After the results, he left the post of Naib Tehsildar and accepted the post of BSA in Shahjahanpur.

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) declared the Combined State or Upper Subordinate Services Examination 2022 final results on April 8, 2023. The top-10 list of the UPPSC PCS 2022 exam features eight women. Divya Sikarwar of Agra came first, while Pratiksha Pandey from Lucknow and Namrata Singh of Bulandshahr secured second and third positions respectively.

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The UP Board Class 10, and 12 results for 2023 are anticipated to be released soon by the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP). There has been no official word as of yet, but reports indicate that the UP board high school and intermediate results 2023 would be released by April 16. Students who took the UP Board exam in 2023 will be able to access their results on the boards official website, upmsp.edu.in, and upresults.nic.in, once the results are released.

The evaluation process was slated to conclude on April 1, however, it was completed on March 31, and therefore results are expected to be announced soon. The Uttar Pradesh board exams for classes 10 and 12 began on February 16. The Class 10 examinations concluded on March 3, while the Class 12 exams concluded on March 4.

UP Board Results 2023: Passing Marks, Compartment Exams

In order to pass the UP board exams in 2023, students must get a minimum of 33 per cent . Students receiving failing grades in one or more subjects in the Uttar Pradesh Board exam can take the compartment exams.

The UP Board will provide a chance for students who are unsatisfied with their marks in class 10 and 12 exams to apply for a scrutiny of their answer papers. The board will release the notification for scrutiny concurrently with the announcement of the board examination results. Students who wish to put in a request for scrutiny must pay the application fee within the time frame specified in the notification to be eligible for scrutiny.

The final stages of preparation for the exam results announcement are almost complete. In order to evaluate around 3.19 crore student answer sheets, the UPMSP appointed 1,43,933 examiners this year. Both the Class 10 and Class 12 candidates answer sheets totaled roughly 1.86 crore and 1.33 crore, respectively. This year, 58,85,745 students enrolled for the Uttar Pradesh Board High School (Class 10) and Intermediate (Class 12) exams. In total, 31,16,487 students enrolled for high school, while 27,69,258 enrolled for the intermediate exam.

Read all the Latest Education News here
The politics behind Amul versus Nandini, Karnatakas local dairy brand, is fake and Congress is using it to fuel its election campaign, said BJP MP Tejasvi Surya.

In an exclusive interview to News18, Surya said the opposition had to manufacture fake and non-existent issues as it was frustrated over the possibility of losing the upcoming polls on May 10.

If you have a problem with Amul, then you should also have problems with brands like Arokya, Heritage from Tamil Nadu, Thirumala, and Dodla from Andhra Pradesh. Why only target Amul? People of Karnataka clearly know that it is not love for Nandini but their hate towards Amul as it is from Gujarat; and Amit Shah and Narendra Modi are from Gujarat, the MP from Bengaluru South said.

He also pointed out that Amul was a brand operating and selling products for decades in Karnataka and, unlike allegations made by the opposition, it was not a conspiracy to bring Amul into Karnataka. He also asked leader of opposition Siddaramaiah to be answerable to the people of Karnataka as to what he had done to improve the growth and health of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), whose products are sold under the name Nandini.

What is the Controversy?

The politics over milk has taken over headlines in the poll-bound state with Amul versus Nandini being made an election issue, especially by Congress and JD(S). The genesis of this controversy was a statement made by Union home minister Amit Shah in December 2022 while he was inaugurating a mega-dairy unit of KMF in Mandya.

He had said: Amul and KMF will work together towards ensuring there is a primary dairy in every village of the state. In 47 years, Karnataka has progressed in the dairy sector and the turnover has increased by Rs 4 crore to Rs 25,000 crore during the same period. Amul and KMF have to work together to boost the cooperative dairy in Karnataka.

The issue spiralled into a full-blown controversy last week when Amuls official Twitter handle posted a series of social media posters  The #Amul family brings in some Taaza into #Bengaluru city. More updates coming in soon. #LaunchAlert.

This was quickly picked on by social media and Karnataka politicians, who began using hashtags like #GoBackAmul and #SaveNandini in protest. Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah tweeted appealing to Kannadigas to boycott the Amul brand and support Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which is the livelihood of millions of dairy farming families in the country.

Also hopping onto the Amul versus Nandini bandwagon was HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S), who said Amul is holding the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and the farmers in a stranglehold. Kanandiagas should rebel against Amul, Kumaraswamy said.

Surya said the josh in the BJP was high as the election approached, but the MP also said the BJP and the cadre were unaffected by the unfounded allegations of corruption against the Basavaraj Bommai-led government.

He said the Congress had no locus standi to make allegations when their top leadership (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi) and others, including their state unit president, were out on bail on corruption charges.

The Congress has been running this campaign of corruption for the past 30 to 40 months. Why have they not approached any institution like the courts, the Lokayukta, or bodies like the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) to prove their case? Why are they getting into this spit-and-run, hit-and-run campaign? he questioned.

He further said in politics perception mattered a lot and the Congress should look within before pointing a finger at the BJP when it comes to corruption.

Many ministers in the erstwhile Siddaramaiah government face serious allegations of corruption, be it their involvement in sand mafia, mining mafia in the Old Mysore region, real estate mafia in the Kempegowda, Arkavathy layouts or the allegation of a close associate of Siddaramaiah swindling around Rs 200 to 250 crore belonging to the SC, ST and OBC hostels; this is the kind of burden the Congress has in Karnataka, Surya said.

Asked if former CM and veteran BS Yediyurappa faced jail on corruption charges, Surya said he had been exonerated by the courts, including the Supreme Court. These are not charges that withstood the test in the court of law, he said.

Modi Wave in Karnataka

Asked about how the state BJP was hoping to cash in on the Modi wave with the prime minister planning a series of public meetings and rallies here, Surya said his campaign visit will boost the morale of karyakartas and also impress the electorate to vote in favour of the saffron camp.

It will also bring a new sense of hope to the voters that the upcoming government in Karnataka will deliver on the promises made, just like the PM has been delivering at the Centre; the PM also made a fervent call to the people asking them to vote in favour of a full majority, stable BJP government. I am sure the people will pay heed to his appeal, he added.

Muslim Reservation Row

On the decision to scrap 4% backward classes quota to Muslims and reallot it to the dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, Surya said what the BJP did was correct a constitutional anomaly.

Calling the reservation for Muslims unconstitutional, set in motion by the Congress and JD(S), he said it was a move solely to cater to their vote bank. He also said he was confident that the request by Karnataka to the Centre to consider the new amendment under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, so that it is protected from judicial scrutiny, will be passed smoothly.

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar recently made a statement that if his party was voted to power, it will reverse the decision on scrapping the Muslim quota.

He (Shivakumar) must clarify from whom he will snatch away this 4 percent reservation to give it back to the Muslims. Will he take it from the Vokkaligas, Lingayats, or other Hindu OBC castes? The Hindu OBCs are asking him a pertinent and important question which OBC castes quota will he take away to give to the Muslims? the MP asked.

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With Karnataka Assembly elections inching closer, the political row over Amuls entry into the southern states market has escalated. While the Opposition is attacking the ruling BJP for allegedly destroying the states cooperative society -Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), the BJP government has defended the move and said Amul will pose no threat to Nandinis supremacy in the state.

Labelling the move as Gujarat intrusion into Karnataka, the states former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition, Siddaramaiah, took to Twitter to launch an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the possibility of KMF and Amul merger".

With the entry of Gujarats Amul into our state the demand for Nandini will further fall and the storage of KMF will further decrease. Why are you trying to hurt the farmers whose main source of Income is dairy farming Mr. Narendra Modiji? read the tweet (sic).

States milk production is affected since the day union cooperative minister @AmitShah spoke about the possibility of KMF & Amul merger.What is your role in this, Mr @narendramodi?#SaveNandini#AnswerMadiModi  Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 9, 2023

Siddaramaiah further alleged that the products of Karnatakas brand Nandini started fast disappearing from the market, and are being replaced by Amul, right after Home Minister Shah pitched the idea of Amul and KMFs merger. The Congress leader called it an unusual development taking place in Karnataka.

Meanwhile, Congress state chief DK Shivakumar paid a visit to Nandini Milk parlour in Hassan to extend his support to the states brand and back the farmers contributing to KMF. He also bought several Nandini products from the booth.

Im not asking you to stop, I do agree its an open market but we must save our farmers. Let there be Amul, but you must save our farmers. Our farmers are sacrificing and selling it at a cheaper price even though they sustain losses, said Shivakumar who was seen sipping Nandini buttermilk in front of the shop.

However, BJP hit back at the Congress over Amul versus Nandini row and said the Opposition party is creating the whole political brouhaha over the issue for their political benefit in the upcoming election, as the KMF cannot be destroyed and no other brand can compete with Nandini

Already milk from eight states is being sold in Karnataka. There are discussions that milk from Gujarat will also be sold here. Our Nandini brand has grown to an extent where no one can compete with us. A total of 74 Lakh litres milk is produced here. Amul or if any other product enters Karnataka, there will be no problem because of them to Nandhini. For their political reasons, the Opposition parties are doing this and our farmers must understand this, said Minister of social welfare and Justice, Kota Srinivas Pujari.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has also defended his governments move and said in comparison to the time of the Congress government in the state, the market of this brand has doubled now.

Nandini will become the number one brand in the country but there should be no politics surrounding Amul. Nandini products are being sold in other states and all steps will be taken to overtake Amul in the competitive market, said Bommai speaking on the issue.

Amuls entry into the Karnataka market met with strong opposition from various associations in Karnataka. While the Bengaluru Hotel Association called for the boycott of Amul products and vowed to use only Nandini products, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staged protests in Bengaluru over the issue.

The pro-Kannada organisation also protested at Mysore Bank circle by destroying Amil products to express their outrage.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday held multiple rounds of meetings to finalise a list of its candidates for the Karnataka Assembly polls. However, it all went in vain as the leaders could not reach a consensus, sources said.

Surprisingly, when Karnatakas top BJP leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, veteran BS Yediyurappa was not present in that meeting. As soon as the meeting was over, Yediyurappa reached the venue to meet Shah separately.

Soon after this meeting, BJP leaders reached BJP National President JP Naddas residence without Yediyurappa. The former CM met Nadda later separately.

According to sources, Yediyurappa is adamant about the number of seats and is not ready to soften his stand. Some top ministers of the Karnataka government are asking for tickets for their sons or family members while some have asked to change their constituencies.

The MLAs, who switched to the BJP from Congress and Janata Dal (S) who do not get tickets, may go back.

Shah, who visited Arunachal Pradesh today, will return to Delhi tomorrow and is likely to chair another meeting with the Karnataka core group before finalizing the candidate list.

Meanwhile, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said the party has noted and will take of suggestions given by Yediyurappa.

BS Yediyurappa was there for three days in two meetings under the leadership of JP Nadda ji. He was also present at the Parliamentary board meeting. Whatever last-minute suggestions he gave, it has been noted and well take care of it," ANI quoted Bommai as saying.

We had an in-depth discussion over all 224 constituencies. We also sat and discussed the roadmap for campaigning in the entire state and we got a blueprint ready. Were going to have a very systematic and scientific campaign this time," he added.

Elections to the 224-member assembly will take place on May 10 and the nomination process will begin on April 13.

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Malayalam actor Arjun Ashokan is all set for his upcoming film Khajuraaho Dreams. Directed by Manoj Vaasudev, Saregama Malayalam unveiled its teaser yesterday (April 9). Within a day, the teaser generated a phenomenal response with more than 1,00,000 views. There is another thing which makes this teaser unique  a reference to Dulquer Salmans film Charlie. Cine buffs wonder what Charlies got to do with Khajuraaho Dreams storyline. The teaser didnt divulge Khajuraaho Dreams release date and it is in the post-production stage right now. The teaser shows how some friends, with a common love for travel, go on a bike journey. They decide to go from Kochi to Khajuraaho via Wayanad, Mysore, Hubli and Nashik.

Apart from the praises, Khajuraaho Dreams teaser has received some criticism as well. One of the users commented that despite a stellar cast, the teaser is filled with loopholes. Another commented that there was nothing in the trailer, which can prompt the audience to look forward to Khajuraaho Dreams. A user also wrote that whenever a trailer for a Malayalam film releases, the audience praises it a lot. However, once the film is released, the reality turns out to be the opposite. According to this user, 99% of Malayalam films are utter flops and this film seems very similar.

Besides Khajuraaho Dreams, Arjun last essayed a key role in the film Thuramukham. Directed by Rajeev Ravi, Arjun played the role of Hamza in this film who is afraid to support workers unions. Hamza never verbally expresses it but the audience watching the film can sense it. Fans loved his acting and felt that he brilliantly showed the dilemma of a man who supports a cause. However, he is afraid of revealing that support publically. Thuramukham revolved around the storyline of protests against the Chappa system. This system used to be practised in the Cochin harbour during the 1950s.

Read all the Latest Showsha News here
Can there be a Cannes sans controversy? No way. If starlets dropped their tops on the Cannes beachfront and hugged hunky heroes, a legendary director told a crowded media conference soon after his movie was screened that he was a Nazi sympathiser. It was Lars Von Trier, the enfant terrible of European cinema. Half the world rose in protest and the Festival had to quickly ask him to leave the city. But the following year, the Festival said he was welcome again!

This year, Maiwenn, the French actress and director  whose film, Jeanne du Barry, is opening the Festival on May 16  has been accused of assault by a French journalist. Edwy Plenel, editor-in-chief of Mediapart, an online investigative newspaper, has filed a complaint with the police. He said he was dining at a restaurant in a fancy Paris locality when she grabbed him by his hair and spit on his face. The incident left Plenel traumatized, reported the news outlet AFP.

Although, Mediapart has not done  at least so far  any investigative reports on Maiwenn, the paper has had many stories on her former husband, French director Luc Bessons sexual assault allegations. One of them concerned Dutch actress Sand Van Roy, who said she was raped by him. But the case was dropped.

Interestingly, Maiwenn, who has never agreed with the #MeToo movement, cast Johnny Depp to play the lead in her Cannes opener. He was then in the middle of a legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard.

Maiwenn plays a poor commoner in Jeanne du Barry, who later became French King Louis XVs lover. Depp essays the kings part. The film also stars Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud, Pierre Richard, Pascal Greggory and India Hair. The trailer was released around the same time as the incident was reported. As reported by People magazine, the official synopsis of the film reads, Jeanne Vaubernier, a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, uses her intelligence and allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one."

She becomes the favorite of King Louis XV, who, unaware of her status as a courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life. They fall madly in love. Against all propriety and etiquette, Jeanne moves to Versailles, where her arrival scandalizes the court," it added.

Read all the Latest Showsha News here
Lokesh Kanagaraj and Vijays much-anticipated film Leo shooting is proceeding at a brisk pace. The films Kashmir schedule has been wrapped and the crew has moved to Chennai. The makers plan to conclude shooting by May and release the film on October 19. Cine buffs are looking forward to this venture as Lokesh and Vijays previous film Master was a blockbuster success. Now, there is another reason to wait for Leo. According to reports, Dhanush has been roped in to play a cameo. The actor will reportedly shoot for 15 days at Prasad Lab, Saligramam, Chennai. No official announcement has been made regarding this but it is expected to be made soon. There are some rumours that Dhanushs character will be similar to Suriyas role Rolex in Vikram.

Many social media users felt that this news was fake and asked for the source. One of them even asked news portals sharing this news to tell it to Dhanush as well.

Inform dhanush Sagar (@RolexSagar) April 8, 2023

Not only Dhanush but it is also expected that Suriya (as Rolex) and Kamal Haasan (Vikram) will be roped in for cameo performances. Fahadh Faasil (Agent Amar) and Karthi (Dilli) can also perform cameo roles in Leo. Reportedly, Leos crew will move to Hyderabad for shooting the climax sequence in Ramoji Film City. Vijay will play the role of an aged gangster in Leo and Trisha will essay the female lead. Sanjay Dutt, Gautham Menon, Arjun Sarja, Mysskin, Mansoor Ali Khan and others will essay supporting roles. Anirudh Ravichander is on board for rendering the music. Cinematography is handled by Manoj Paramahamsa. A mega-budget film, Leo will release in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi languages.

Not much is known about Leos storyline, but it is expected to revolve around drugs. Movie buffs also felt that Leo is a part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe. However, in an interview, Lokesh clarified that Leo is going to be a stand-alone film. Despite the clarification, some of the audience strongly feel that Leo is connected to LCU.

Read all the Latest Showsha News here
Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test 2023 (APICET 2023) https://career.webindia123.com/career/dates_and_events/entrance/manage/integrated-common-entrance-test-icet.htm Details of Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test 2023 (APICET 2023) 2023-3-22 2023-4-19 https://career.webindia123.com/career/images/exams.png India India Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test 2023 (APICET 2023) Management

APICET 2023 - For Admission to MBA and MCA Courses

Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test 2023 (APICET 2023) Category : Management Admissions 2023 Published : On March 22, 2023 By Webindia123 Editor

( Conducted By Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati on behalf of APSCHE )

Important Dates

Date of Commencement of Submission of Online Application 20th March 2023 Last date for submission of Online Application without late fee 19th April 2023 Last date for submission of Online Application with a Late fee of Rs. 1000/ + Registration fee 26th April 2023 Start of Downloading Hall Tickets 20th May Onwards Date of APICET-2023 Examination 24th and 25th May 2023 Announcement of Preliminary Key 26th May 2023 Last Date for Submission of objections on Preliminary Key 28th May 2023 Announcement of Final Key and APICET-2023 Results -

Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test (APICET-2023) is conducted by Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati on behalf of A.P. State Council of Higher Education for admission into the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Computer Applications (MCA) programmes in University colleges and their affiliated colleges for the academic year 22 (as per G.O. Ms. No. 25, dt: 19.03.2004 & G.O.Ms.No.108, Higher Education Department, dated 30-7-2005 and its amendments).

Eligible candidates may submit their applications through online mode by paying the application registration and processing fee of Rs. 550/- through A.P. online centres/ payment gateway (Credit card / Debit card / Net banking). The detailed information regarding the eligibility, syllabus and model Question paper, Test centres, related instructions and procedures for online submission of applications are available on the website. www.sche.ap.gov.in/icet

Eligibility:

The candidates should be Indian Nationals and should satisfy local/non-local status requirements laid down in the Andhra Pradesh Educational Institutions (Regulations of Admission) Order, 1974 as amended.

The candidates shall satisfy the rules of the concerned universities where they take admission.

The candidates seeking admission

- should have studied and passed 3 year Degree course in any faculty conducted by the Universities or its equivalent Degree Examination in 10 + 2 + 3 pattern as recognized by U.G.C (University Grants Commission). For recognized universities please log on to http://www.ugc.ac.in/recog_College.aspx

For degrees / universities permitted by distance education bureau, please log on to http://www.ugc.ac.in/deb and follow the link Recognition information.

- MBA: Degree of 3 years duration from any recognized University or its equivalent with Mathematics as one of the subjects at 10th class level.

- MCA: Degree of 3 years duration with Mathematics as one of the subject at Intermediate or Degree level.

Note: (Candidate who passed all the subjects of the three years of any Degree course in one sitting is not eligible for admission into MBA or MCA Course

- should have studied and passed 3 year Degree course in any faculty conducted by the Universities or its equivalent Degree Examination in 10 + 2 + 3 pattern as recognized by U.G.C (University Grants Commission). For recognized universities please log on to http://www.ugc.ac.in/recog_College.aspx For degrees / universities permitted by distance education bureau, please log on to http://www.ugc.ac.in/deb and follow the link Recognition information. - Degree of 3 years duration from any recognized University or its equivalent with Mathematics as one of the subjects at 10th class level. - Degree of 3 years duration with Mathematics as one of the subject at Intermediate or Degree level. Note: (Candidate who passed all the subjects of the three years of any Degree course in one sitting is not eligible for admission into MBA or MCA Course Candidate with aggregate marks of 50% (45% in case of reserved categories) are alone are eligible to take admission through ICET as per the latest AICTE Approval Process Handbook 2022.

Candidates shall fulfil the eligibility criteria laid down in relevant Government Orders in vogue at the time of admissions.

The qualifying Degree obtained by Distance Mode Program should have recognition by Joint Committee of UGC, AICTE and DEC/DEB

The candidates who are appearing for the final year degree examination shall also be eligible to appear for APICET-2023

How to Appy for APICET 2023

The candidates who satisfy eligibility criteria stated above can apply for APICET-2023 through an online application in the web site www.icet.co.in .

APICET is designed to measure the candidate's ability to think systematically, to use the verbal and mathematical skills and to assess his/her aptitude for admission into MBA/MCA programme. The Test emphasizes accuracy. Therefore, the candidate is required to go through the instructions carefully. This is an objective type test and the questions are of multiple choice. Out of the given options, the candidate has to choose the correct answer. If the Candidate gives more than one answer to any question, such answers will be ignored while awarding marks.

The test is scheduled to be conducted in the following centers and the candidate can choose centers listed in any two districts.

District Locations Anantapur Anantapur, Gooty, Hindupur Chittoor Chittoor , Madanapalle , Puttur , Tirupati East Godavari Kakinada , Rajahmundry, Amalapuram Guntur Bapatla , Guntur , Narasaraopeta Hyderabad LB Nagar Krishna Gudlavalleru ,Kanchikacherla ,Mylavaram ,Vijayawada, Machilipatnam Kurnool Kurnool, Nandyal Prakasam Chirala, Markapuram, Ongole Sri Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore Gudur, Kavali, Nellore Srikakulam Rajam, Srikakulam, Tekkali Visakhapatnam Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Anandapuram, Gajuvaka Vizianagaram Bobbili, Vizianagaram West Godavari Bhimavaram, Eluru, Narasapuram, Tadepalligudem YSR Kadapa Kadapa, Proddatur, Rajampeta

However, Convener reserves the right to allot candidates to any other center(s) in unavoidable circumstances.

The test will be conducted on 24-05-2022 and 25-05-2023 .

Medium of Test: English only for Section-C and English & Telugu for Section-A & Section-B of the question paper .

More Details can be available from the institute website.

Contact Details Address : The convener,

APICET - 2021

First Floor, New MBA Building, Sri Venkateswara University,

Tirupati- 517502, Chittoor District,

Andhra Pradesh Phone : 0877-2248488 Fax : - Mobile : 9490803157 E-mail : Contact I Website : www.icet.co.in

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Comments and Discussions
The shooting of Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan-starrer Indian 2 is underway at a brisk pace. After a short schedule in Taiwan, Kamal Haasan and the team are now headed to South Africa for the next leg of the film. The latest actor to join the sets of the Shankar directorial is Kalidas Jayaram. The young actor joined the team in Taiwan and shared the same news on social media platforms. The Instagram post shared by the actor shows him smiling as he stands beside Kamal Haasan.

Kalidas Jayaram looks dapper in his casual outfit in which he donned a black v-neck t-shirt paired with bottle green cargo pants and on the other hand, the Vikram actor looks dapper in a grey sweatshirt paired with grey joggers. Both the actors can be seen smiling as they posed for the lens.

The caption of the post read: Taiwan wrap, Indian 2

Check the post here:

Kalidas who has featured in 16 films so far will be collaborating with Kamal for the third time. They earlier were seen together in Meen Kuzhambum Mann Paanaiyum and Vikram.

Earlier, he shared a picture without a caption of himself along with director Shankar. They both look handsome as they donned shades of black for the day.

Kamal Haasan has been flooded with pictures from Taiwan on his Instagram timeline. He added a picture of himself looking at his watch while waiting at an airport. He wrote in the caption, Indian in transit 2 Taiwan!

He also added a picture of himself being mesmerised by the Dadaocheng Theatre in Taiwan. Glad live theatre lives in Taiwan, he said in the caption.

In 2020, Indian 2s shooting was halted after a crane accident led to the deaths of three crew members and injuries to 10 others.

Earlier, it was reported that music composer Anirudh Ravichander sought permission from AR Rahman to re-use parts of the musical score from the film Indian which was released in 1996.

Indian 2, a sequel to the 1996 classic of the same name, features Kamal Haasan in the role of an aged freedom fighter who decides to wage a war against corruption.

The film has a stellar star cast along with Kalidas and Kamal Haasan, including Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Gulshan Grover, Siddharth, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Samuthirakani, Bobby Simhaa, Jayaprakash, Delhi Ganesh, Jayaprakash, Guru Somasundaram, Manobala and Vennela Kishore in significant roles.

It is said that the team is aiming to have a Diwali release and the dubbing of the film is said to be most likely to be completed by July.

Read all the Latest Showsha News here
Superstar Mohanlal recently added another luxurious car to his impressive collection. He bought a new striking Range Rover Autobiography reportedly for over Rs 3 crore. Photos of the actor receiving his brand-new car have been circulating on social media. One of the pictures captures Mohanlal and his wife Suchitra standing in front of their brand-new vehicle, holding a bouquet and posing for the camera. The caption also read, New Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 V8 delivered to Mega Star Mohanlal. Take a look at the stunning photos below:

The new version is available in five variants, equipped with either a 2997cc diesel engine or a petrol engine with automatic transmission. The available engine options include 2996cc, 2997cc, 2998cc, 4367cc, and 4395cc. The vehicle features an electric air suspension with dynamic response, as well as a twin turbocharger. To enhance driving comfort, it comes with adjustable steering, front and rear power windows, and a power boot. Safety features include front and rear parking sensors and an electronic active differential with torque vectoring for safe braking. Additionally, it features a three-zone automatic climate control system to ensure passenger comfort.

Mohanlal has a wide collection of sporty cars and it is sure to impress any enthusiast in the field. He reportedly owns a Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes Benz GL350, Toyota Vellfire, and Lamborghini Urus. Interestingly, all of the cars he owns are reportedly white in colour.

Meanwhile, on the work front, the actor was last seen in Shaji Kailas directorial film Alone alongside Annie and Baiju in pivotal roles. Mohanlal will next be seen in Jeethu Josephs upcoming film Ram. The movie also stars Samyuktha Menon and Trisha Krishnan in lead roles. The film will centre around the endeavours of the R&AW to locate Ram Mohan, a former agent and spy of the organization who turned renegade and vanished. The R&AW requires his cognitive and physical capabilities to confront 'Bael,' a terrorist organization that possesses nuclear weapons in its weaponry, capable of annihilating an entire country. The project is currently in its production stage and is expected for a 2023 release. Post that, he will also be seen in Vysakhs Untitled AMMA Project.

Read all the Latest Showsha News here
The Telugu film industry gathered to felicitate the Oscar-winning team of RRR on Sunday night in Hyderabad. The SS Rajamouli film brought home the Academy Award for Best Song for Naatu-Naatu. On this occasion, Telugu producer Allu Aravind expressed his happiness about the award. He said that the Oscar has been a dream for him and the country, and SS Rajamoulis team has made the impossible possible for everyone.

He even mentioned that he had gone to the US about 10 years ago and had gone to the venue where the Oscars were held. Then it felt like it was impossible for them to win an Oscar and that it would just be a dream. But now, the dream has been fulfilled by Rajamouli, Keeravani, Chandra Bose, Ram Charan, and NTR. He also added that they have made the whole country proud, and seeing them on the stage filled his stomach. The award has proven the abilities of the Telugu film industry. He said that the whole world knows MM Keeravani now, and the level that he has achieved has been truly magnificent. Lastly, he thanked the RRR team for putting Telugu cinema at the top. He said that he felt proud that he had produced Magadheera, which was directed by Rajamouli.

The noted writer Paruchuri Gopalkrishna also thanked the producer of the film, DVV Danayya. He said that he felt happy with the success of the film. He also felt happy that the writer of the film, Vijayendra Prasad, director Rajamouli, music director MM Keeravani, lyricist Sai Madhav Burra, and producer Chandra Bose are all members of the writer community.

RRR was directed by SS Rajamouli and starred Ram Charan Teja and NTR Jr in the lead. The film also had Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt in prominent roles. The song Naatu-Naatu won the Oscar award in the Best Song category. The music of the film was given by MM Keeravani, and the lyrics were by Chandra Bose. Earlier, the film also won a Golden Globe for the best original score for the song Natu-Natu.

Read all the Latest Showsha News here
The power couple Ram Charan and Upasana Konidela are on cloud nine these days as they are expecting their first child. The RRR actor, who is currently on paternity leave, jetted off to the Maldives with his beloved for their babymoon on April 8. Known for his down-to-earth personality, Ram shares a good equation with many celebrities from the film fraternity. Proving his humility once again, Ram Charan and Upasana gifted Telugu actor Manchu Manoj with a remarkable showpiece following Manchus marriage with Bhuma Mounika Reddy.

Manoj got hitched to Bhuma on March 3. The wedding was a private affair with only the actors close friends and family members attending the ceremony. He is believed to share a close bond with Ram and according to Filmi Beat, the Current Theega actor attended Ram Charans 38th birthday bash, held at Chiranjeevis residence in Hyderabad. He was also accompanied by his newlywed wife Bhuma.

Ram Charan, who was also invited to Manchu Manojs wedding, could not attend the ceremony. But, as a token of love, he and his wife gifted the newlyweds a luxurious marble showpiece of a couple. Dropping a couple of pictures of the gift on his social media handles, Manchu Manoj thanked Ram and Upsana for their sweet gesture. He wrote, Surprise gifts like these are Thank you to the sweet couple Ram Charan & Upasana Konidela for the lovely gestureLove you Mr & Mrs Mithrama.

Cant wait to meet you guys after your trip from Maldives, have an amazing time. Much love from M & M, the actor concluded, adding a bunch of heart and smiley emojis. The first picture captured the wrapped-up present, kept on a table, accompanied by a bouquet.

The second picture displayed the adorable showpiece of the bride and groom, dressed in white, leaning in for a kiss. The figurines appeared to be floating on a cloud-shaped, shiny white marble. As per Filmi Beat, the showpiece was priced at an exorbitant rate of Rs 70,500.

Speaking of Manchu Manoj, the 39-year-old is currently busy with his upcoming film What The Fish. Helmed by Varun Korukunda, the film is billed to be a dark comedy. It is slated to hit the big screens in August. Meanwhile, Ram Charan has collaborated with filmmaker S Shankar for a political action thriller titled Game Changer.

Read all the Latest Showsha News here
The Dalai Lama on Monday apologised to a boy, his family and friends for the hurt his words may have caused", after a video clip purportedly showing the Tibetan spiritual head asking him to suck his tongue sparked a row.

In the two-minute-five-second video, the Dalai Lama also asked the child to look at those good human beings who create peace, and happiness and not follow those who kill other people". Read more on this here

The statement, issued on Monday, said A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug. His Holiness wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused." His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident," it said.

What Was the Controversy?

A video of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama seen kissing a child on the lips and subsequently requesting the child to suck his tongue" had sparked an outcry online.

In a widely circulated video, the Dalai Lama is shown kissing the lips of a boy who approached him to pay his respects. During the encounter, the Buddhist monk extends his tongue and requests the boy to suck it". The Dalai Lama can be heard asking, Can you suck my tongue?" in the viral footage. Read more on this

While social media users largely condemned the action, while pointing to his past controversies, some said it was within Tibetan culture to stick ones tongue out as a way of greeting.

What Does Tibetan Culture Say About the Action?

In traditional Tibetan culture, sticking out ones tongue is a show of respect or agreement and was frequently done as a greeting, as per a report by the Institute of East Asian Studies, UC Berkeley. According to Tibetan tradition, a terrible ninth-century Tibetan ruler had a black tongue, thus people put their tongues out to demonstrate that they are not like him (and are not his reincarnation).

In the film Seven Years in Tibet," Brad Pitts character sees a group of Tibetans who all stick out their tongues at him at the same time. Although no explanation is provided, this custom has a lengthy history, as explained by an LA Times report.

Lang Darma, a wicked 9th century Tibetan monarch, was described to have a black tongue. Tibetans, who are Buddhists, believe in reincarnation and were concerned that the king might be reborn. As a result, Tibetans have greeted one another for generations by putting out their tongues, proving that they do not have black tongues, are not guilty of wicked actions, and are not avatars of the malicious king.

When Tibetans meet nowadays, they briefly stretch their tongues as a greeting. They do not extend their tongues as far or as long as depicted in the film, the report says, adding that they would never, ever stretch their tongues out as a group. Sticking out ones tongue is used to convey agreement as well as a greeting, and in recent years, this gesture has grown into a sign of respect.

However, social media users have also pointed out that the greeting says nothing about sucking the tongue and that the child looked uncomfortable in the clip.

Dalai Lamas Past Controversies

During an interview with the BBC in 2019, the Dalai Lama stated that if a woman succeeds him, she should be more attractive." This remark infuriated people.

If a female Dalai Lama comes, she should be more attractive," the Dalai Lama joked to the BBC. According to the BBC, he then created a twisted face and stated that if a female Dalai Lama looked a certain way, then people, I think, prefer not to see that face."

When asked if this could be regarded as objectifying in comparison to a persons intrinsic value, the Dalai Lama said, I think both."

In the same year, the Dalai Lama sparked outrage when he remarked of immigrants, Europe belongs to the Europeans." The Dalai Lama also stated that refugees should return to their home countries during a seminar in Malmo, Sweden.

Receive them, help them, educate them but they should eventually develop their own country," the 83-year-old remarked of refugees. The Dalai Lama stated in August 2018 that India and Pakistan would have remained unified if Mahatma Gandhis ambition for Muhammad Ali Jinnah to become Indias first prime minister had come true.

The Dalai Lama went on to say that Jawaharlal Nehrus self-centered attitude" was the reason Muhammad Ali Jinnah was unable to be nominated Prime Minister of India.

With inputs from PTI

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While the Twitter emoji based on the crown King Charles III will wear at his coronation might be grabbing major attention, what one may not know about are the famous and historic regalia around the landmark ceremony.

These are the priceless and historic artefacts used in coronation celebrations since mediaeval times, and they comprise the spectacular Crown Jewels collection held at the Tower of London, as per a report by Hello! othey will once again take central stage at Westminster Abbey when King Charles III and his Queen Consort Camilla are crowned there.

While the majority of these spectacular and glittering pieces of regalia are based on objects and customs dating back to the 10th century, all but one of the original mediaeval artefacts were destroyed by the authorities following King Charles Is execution in 1649. However, in 1661, his son King Charles II designed brilliant new regalia that is still in use today, the report says.

Lets take a look at some of these prized items and their histories:

St Edwards Crown

The St Edwards Crown is a solid gold crown used at the moment of crowning during the coronation ceremony, according to the Royal Collection Trust. It weighs 2.07 kg and is decorated with rubies, amethysts and sapphires.

It was made for the Coronation of Charles II in 1661 as a replacement for the medieval crown melted down in 1649, after the execution of Charles I. The lost medieval crown dated back to the 11th century and belonged to the royal saint, Edward the Confessor.

St Edwards Crown was last used for crowning Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

The crown has a very simple structure," historian Anna Keay told the Court Jeweller in a report, with a sequence of 22-carat gold components (the headband, the crosses and fleur-de-lys and arches") joined together in 1661 to form the pieces fundamental frame. The settings for the jewels were then fixed through this frame from behind," Keay says. A gold collar kept each gem in place, and the stones were set in clusters encircled by white enamel mounts in the shape of acanthus leaves." Inside the crown, which has an ermine-trimmed base, is a velvet hat.

The crown stands twelve inches tall and weighs five pounds. It is set with 444 precious and semi-precious gemstones. Amethysts, aquamarines, garnets, peridots, rubies, sapphires, spinels, tourmalines, topazes, and zircons are among them. When the crown was created shortly after the Restoration, it was agreed to rent the gemstones used in the crown jewels at coronations, then remove and return them practically immediately. (Some historians believe this was a cost-cutting measure.) However, all of the diamonds set in the crown are now permanently set in the piece, the report explains.

Imperial State Crown

The Imperial State Crown was created for King George VIs Coronation in 1937, replacing a crown created for Queen Victoria.

The crown is encrusted with 2,868 diamonds and numerous notable jewels, as per the Royal Collection Trust.

It features St. Edwards Sapphire, which Edward the Confessor is claimed to have worn in a ring. The Cullinan II diamond, the second largest cut from the enormous Cullinan Diamond, is also included in the crown. The Cullinan Diamond is the worlds biggest diamond.

The monarch wears the Imperial State Crown as he leaves Westminster Abbey following the coronation ceremony.

Sovereigns Sceptre with Cross

The Sovereigns Sceptre was created for Charles IIs coronation in 1661 and has been used at every coronation thereafter, the Royal Collection Trust reports.

The exquisite Cullinan I diamond, the worlds largest colourless cut diamond, is set in the Sceptre.

Garrard, the Crown Jeweller, put the diamond in the Sovereigns Sceptre in 1911. Because the diamond is so enormous, the Sceptre had to be reinforced to support its weight.

About the Cullinan Diamond

The Cullinan Diamond, at 3,106 carats, is still the largest gem-quality uncut diamond ever discovered. A replica stone was sent by ship to the mining companys London sales representative, while the genuine stone was despatched by ordinary parcel post, watched by detectives. Both made it safely, says a report by Historic Royal Palaces.

The stone was acquired by the Transvaal government and given to King Edward VII. The gift symbolised the healing relationship between Britain and South Africa following the South African Wars (also known as the Anglo-Boer Wars), which lasted from 1899 to 1902.

The massive uncut stone was cut into nine big stones and 96 smaller brilliants. Three polishers worked 14-hour days for eight months to complete the nine largest stones. Cullinan I and Cullinan II were the names given to the two largest stones. They are set in the 1661 Sovereigns Sceptre with Cross and the 1937 Imperial State Crown front band.

Sovereigns Orb

The monarchs power is represented by the Sovereigns Orb. With its cross positioned on a globe, it represents the Christian world. The gold Orb weighs 1.32kg and is set with emeralds, rubies, sapphires, diamonds, and pearls.

The Orb is put in the monarchs right hand during the coronation rite. It is then put on the high altar before the crowning ceremony.

Ampulla and Spoon

The Ampulla is used at the most serious part of the coronation process, when the Archbishop of Canterbury anoints the King with holy oil. The eagle-shaped ampulla, fashioned in 1661 from gold donated by Royal Goldsmith Robert Vyner, features a small aperture in the beak" for pouring oil into the Coronation Spoon. To fill the eagles head with oil, one has to unscrew it.

The design is based on an earlier, smaller cup, which was based on a 14th Century tale in which the Virgin Mary appeared to St Thomas a Becket and gifted him with a golden eagle and a vial of oil for anointing future English kings, according to Hello!

And the 12th-century Coronation Spoon is the oldest item in the Coronation Regalia. It is the sole item of royal goldsmiths work from that century to have survived. The spoon is used to anoint the monarch with holy oil during the coronation process.

Queen Marys Crown

The magnificent Crown of Queen Mary is studded with 2,200 diamonds. The crown was created for Queen Marys Coronation in 1911.

The crown for the 1911 Coronation featured three huge diamonds: the Koh-i-nur, Cullinan III, and Cullinan IV. These were eventually replaced by crystal counterparts.

For the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, the crown will be reset with Cullinan III, IV, and V diamonds, explains the Royal Collection Trust.

The Swords

The custom of holding three swords pointed skyward, each signifying a kingly virtue, dates back to Richard the Lionhearts coronation in 1189. The current Sword of Spiritual Justice, Sword of Temporal Justice, and Sword of Mercy - commonly known as The Curtana - were crafted for Charles Is coronation in 1626 and are among the few articles of regalia to have survived the Civil War, explains Hello! in its report.

There is also the Sword of State, which was forged about 1678 for Charles II. Since his reign, it has been utilised for ceremonial purposes, notably the late Queens investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969.

What Happened to the Older Crown Jewels

In the mid-seventeenth century, the medieval Crown Jewels were sold or destroyed.

At the end of the English Civil War in 1649, Charles I was executed, and Parliament sold objects from the Royal Collection to pay the new administration. Jewels were sold, and silver and gold goods were melted down and made into coins, the RCT report says.

The monarchy was restored by 1660, and Charles II commissioned the fabrication of new regalia for his Coronation in 1661. These constitute a significant percentage of the Crown Jewels that can be seen today.

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Pro-Khalistani leader and radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singhs close aide Papalpreet has been arrested from Amritsar, in an operation conducted by Punjab Polices counter-intelligence special Cell.

Meanwhile, Amritpal Singh continues to be on the run. Both Amritpal and Papalpreet were recently spotted in the latest pictures that went viral on social media. Both appeared relaxed, with Amritpal Singh seen wearing a jacket, a maroon turban and sunglasses and holding a beverage can.

Papalpreet is said to be Amritpal Singhs mentor. He was allegedly in contact with Pakistans spy agency ISI, reports earlier said.

Punjab Police had earlier revealed that Amritpal Singh and Papalpreet Singh were allegedly harboured by a woman, Baljit Kaur, at her home in Shahabad in Haryanas Kurukshetra district on March 19.

Before that, the duo allegedly stayed at another woman, Balbir Kaurs residence in Patialas Hargobind Nagar on the same day for five to six hours.

Police had also recovered CCTV footage purportedly showing Amritpal, dressed in a jacket and trousers and speaking on a mobile phone in Patiala.

In the footage, the Waris Punjab De chief could also be seen holding a bag with a white cloth covering his face. Papalpreet could also be seen in the footage. In a second footage from the same spot, a sunglass-wearing Amritpal could be seen speaking on the phone while walking on the street.

Fugitive Amritpal Singh has been on the run ever since Punjab Police launched a crackdown against him and members of his Waris Punjab De.

The radical preacher escaped the police crackdown in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances. He is believed to be possessing multiple passports with different identities.

Amritpal 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

Read all the Latest India News here
Amid a spike in Covid cases in several parts of the country, a nationwide drill will take place in both public and private hospitals across India on Monday and Tuesday (April 10 & 11). Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will visit AIIMS, Jhajjar on April 10 to oversee the mock drill.

On Monday, India recorded 5,880 new cases of Covid 19 in the last 24 hours. With this, the active caseload rose to 35,199.

Besides, Maharashtra saw a 45% spike in Covid cases in a span of 24 hours on Sunday. The state reported 788 fresh Covid-19 cases and one death, significantly more than the 542 fresh cases reported on Saturday, as per state health department data.

Here are key Covid-related updates:

India has reported 5,880 fresh cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. The active case tally of India now stands at 35,199.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday held some factors like relaxation of Covid appropriate behaviour, low testing rate, and the emergence of a new variant responsible for a surge in cases.

As part of the mock drill, state health ministers will be required to visit hospitals and oversee them. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had also advised them to review the preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9, a PTI report said.

Mandaviya recently held a meeting with state health ministers, and principal and additional chief secretaries held virtually. He had stressed the need to identify 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.

With the new case additions, the cumulative tally of cases in Maharashtra was raised to 81,49,929 and the death toll to 1,48,459. Mumbai city recorded 211 fresh cases on Sunday, making it the sixth consecutive day that the city saw 200 plus infections.

Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variants. However, most of the assigned variants have little or no significant transmissibility, disease severity or immune escape, the healthy ministry had said in a statement.

The national capital on Sunday logged 699 fresh Covid cases with a positivity rate of 21.15 per cent, according to data shared by the city governments health department. Four people suffering from the virus died in the city. With the fresh cases, Delhis Covid tally rose to 20,14,637.

Irrespective of the new variants, the five-fold strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and adherence to Covid-Appropriate Behaviour continues to remain the tested strategy for Covid management, Mandaviya had said in the meeting.

Earlier, states and union territories were advised to increase the share of RT-PCR in tests and to expeditiously increase the rate of testing from 100 tests per million as on the week ending April 7.

Read all the Latest India News here
Acting on the instructions of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, a two-day countrywide mock drill began on Monday to check Covid preparedness of hospitals and state of medical infrastructure, even as India reported 5,880 new cases in the past 24 hours.

The active caseload in the country currently stands at 35,199, while the daily positivity rate is 6.91%. Mandaviya, in a meeting with states and union territories on Friday, asked the authorities to be vigilant.

ALSO READ | Centre Asks States to Stay Alert As Covid-19 Cases Cross 6000-mark, Conduct Mock Drills

The SoPs for Covid mock drill given to states mentioned that it needs to look into every aspect  from the entry of the patient into the hospital, screening, to ICU beds and medication.

In the last meeting, the states had assured that they would work with the Centre for effective prevention and management of Covid-19. They informed that they are maintaining vigil and are reviewing the present situation. The states also assured they will hold a mock drill for readiness of hospital infrastructure across both public and private health facilities on 10th and 11th April, 2023.

Mock drill for covid 19 preparations was done at ABVIMS DR RML HOSPITAL new delhi. Honourable MOHFW DR MANSUKH MADAVIYA along with MS/ director Dr ajay shukla inspected all arrangements and valuable inputs were shared. pic.twitter.com/vLLDjs3OWs @RML Hospital, New Delhi (@RMLHDelhi) April 10, 2023

MANDAVIYAs VISIT

Mandaviya went for the Covid mock drill review at RML hospital in the National Capital. Earlier, he was supposed to visit AIIMS Jhajjar, which was later cancelled.

AIIMS Jhajjar Director Sushma Bhatnagar told CNN-News18, The aim is to fill in the gaps in case we are missing anything while preparing for Covid-19. With rising cases, we want to ensure we are well-prepared. There are about 25 ICU beds in the hospital for Covid patients, and depending on the situation we will increase the capacity. We want to highlight that there is no need to panic, but we need to be vigilant.

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. https://t.co/VdHazObxTS  Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) April 7, 2023

STATUS CHECK

Around eight states are reporting a high number of Covid cases in India, with 10 or more districts seeing more than 10% positivity in Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi, and over five districts reporting more than 5% positivity in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Haryana.

In the last meeting, Mandaviya had stressed on the importance of enhancing public awareness campaigns regarding Covid-appropriate behaviour. He requested all state health ministers to monitor and review the 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.

Read all the Latest India News here
West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose paid a surprise visit to Calcutta University on Monday morning soon after returning from Delhi. And he was back a couple of hours later.

Surprised to see the governor, who is also the chancellor of the university, the students, teachers, and office staff spontaneously gathered to greet him around 11.50am. Sources said Bose did not take offence to the fact that neither the vice chancellor nor the registrar had come to office.

He had discussions with those present, understood their problems, and offered immediate redressal for their grievances. For instance, a girl student raised the issue that the sanitary napkin vending machine on the premises had broken down. Bose immediately sanctioned four of these machines.

During the interaction with deans, professors, and teachers, they brought up the point of lack of opportunity to improve their faculty and pursue upgrading of knowledge, which is necessary for teaching. Many of the bright teachers get invited for lectures and presentations abroad but they are not able to go because of little financial support.

The governor sanctioned Rs 5 lakh to help brilliant teachers get international exposure. The money can be utilised to fill up what he called critical gaps in their financial packages.

Since the governor had to administer the oath of office to the state chief information commissioner, he returned to Raj Bhavan for some time, but promptly came back and addressed a gathering of 153 principals who were present to discuss the implementation of the National Education Policy.

In his impromptu speech, he quoted decisions of various educational reforms commissions, as well as from Aristotle, Shakespeare, the Bhagavad Gita, and gave an impressive account of the educational system in India  past, present, and future.

Bose also spent time with workers and other members of the staff and found instant solutions to their problems.

When the students sought opportunities to develop their talents in arts and sports, the governor promised an art festival for them. He also declared his intention to create the Governors Golden Group by selecting what he called the best and the brightest among the students. That group will be given all support to further their education.

According to sources, the teachers, students, workers, and staff including the vice chancellor all said that this is a governor with a difference: one who makes things happen.

State education minister Bratya Basu though said that the governors action of seeking reports from universities is illegal.

Read all the Latest India News here
Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET - 2023) https://career.webindia123.com/career/dates_and_events/entrance/manage/symbiosis-entrance-test-set.htm Details of Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET - 2023) 2023-3-6 2023-4-12 https://career.webindia123.com/career/images/exams.png India India Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET - 2023) Management

Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET - 2023)

Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET - 2023) Category : Management Admissions 2023 Published : On March 6, 2023 By Webindia123 Editor

Important Dates

Registration start date January 25, 2023 (Tuesday) Registration close April 12, 2023 (Wednesday) Payment close April 12, 2023 (Wednesday) Admit card will be live April 22 and 28, 2023 Symbiosis Entrance Test May 06, 2023 (Saturday) Law (SLAT) 9:00 am to 10:00 am SET (General) 11:30 am to 12:30 pm Engineering (SITEEE) 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm SET Result May 24, 2023 (Wednesday)

Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) : Introduction

The Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) is a common test for the admission process at the undergraduate institutes of Symbiosis International University (SIU) established under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956 vide notification No.F.9.12/2001 U.3 of the Govt. of India. In the year 2002, there were 3 constituent institutes of SIU. Subsequently ten more institutes of Symbiosis have been brought under the ambit of the Symbiosis International University vide notification No.F.9.12/2006-U.3 (A).

Symbiosis is known for quality education and offers an array of undergraduate programmes in Law, Management, Computer Studies, Health Sciences, Design, Media & Communication, Economics, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Culinary Arts.

SET(General) is a mandatory computer based test (CBT) for the admission process for undergraduate programmes at the following Symbiosis institutes:-

Symbiosis Institute of Computers Studies and Research - [SICSR] Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies - [SCMS] - Pune Symbiosis Center for Media & Communication - [SCMC]- Pune Symbiosis School of Economics -[SSE]- Pune Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies - [SCMS] - Noida Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies - [SCMS] -Nagpur Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies - [SCMS] - Bengaluru Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies - [SCMS] - Hyderabad Symbiosis Statistical Institute - [SSI] - Pune Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts - [SSLA] - Pune :- (International Baccalaureate (IB) students are exempt from SET)

Note : However, SET is not mandatory for courses conducted by the following institutes.

Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS), Pune

Symbiosis College of Nursing (SCON), Pune

Symbiosis Visual Arts and Photography (SSVAP) Formerly Symbiosis School of Photography (SSP)

Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune (SID)

Symbiosis School of Planning, Architecture and Design (SSPAD), Nagpur

Symbiosis School of Culinary Arts (SSCA), Pune

Symbiosis Medical College for Women (SMCW), Pune

Note: Please visit the respective institute website, for further details for admission to the above Non -SET institutes.

Law Entrance (SLAT)

Candidates aspiring to join B.A LL.B(Hons) /B.B.A LL.B (Hons) /B.A LL.B. /B.B.A LL.B in the institutes given below, has to appear for computer based test (CBT) known as Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT)

Symbiosis Law School - [SLS] - Hyderabad

Symbiosis Law School - [SLS] - Pune

Symbiosis Law School - [SLS] - Noida

Symbiosis Law School - [SLS] - Nagpur

Engineering Entrance (SITEEE)

Candidates who wants to join B.Tech programmes has to appear for computer based test (CBT) known as SIT Engineering Entrance Exam (SITEEE). The Symbiosis Institute of Technology (SIT) also admits students through JEE Main conducted at the national level / MHT-CET/ other state level entrance test. For Engineering, if a candidate applies to seek admission on the basis of test other than SITEEE, he/she need not register for SITEEE; rather he/she may apply directly to the following institutes at Pune and Nagpur through the institute website. (https://www.sitpune.edu.in/ and https://sitnagpur.edu.in/ )

Symbiosis Institute of Technology [SIT] - Pune

Symbiosis Institute of Technology [SIT] - Nagpur

Candidate should note that SET is only the first step. Each Symbiosis institute has its independent selection process.

Test Structure : (Source: Symbiosis Website)

Entrance Test Date Examination Pattern No of Questions Marks May 06, 2023 (Saturday)

09.00 AM to 10.00 AM Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT) Logical Reasoning 12 12 Legal Reasoning 12 12 Analytical Reasoning 12 12 Reading Comprehension 12 12 General Knowledge 12 12 Total 60 60 May 06, 2022 (Saturday)

11.30 AM to 12.30 PM Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) General English 16 16 Quantitative 16 16 General Awareness 16 16 Analytical & Logical Reasoning 12 12 Total 60 60 May 14, 2023 (Sunday)

02.00 PM to 03.00 PM SIT Engineering Entrance Exam (SITEEE) Physics 15 30 Chemistry 15 30 Mathematics 30 60 Total 60 120

The SET General -2023 has 4 different papers:- General English (16 Questions- 16 Marks), Quantitative (16 Questions- 16 Marks), General Awareness (16 Questions- 16 Marks), Analytical and Logical Reasoning (12 Questions- 12 Marks)

The test will be conducted from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.

A candidate may take more than one paper. However, he/she will have to choose one paper from the morning session and one paper from the afternoon session. Candidates are advised to make this decision at the time of their online registration.

There is no negative marks for wrong answers.

Short Listing And Selection Process :

Admissions to the select programmes at SIU are strictly based on merit, assessment of individual performance in the respective Entrance Test for Undergraduate Studies and other processes prescribed by the University. Short Listing For Personal Interaction (PI) and Writing Ability Test (WAT) OR Studio Test (ST) and Personal Interaction (PI):

Candidates will be shortlisted for PI-WAT/ST-PI based on their respective Entrance Test marks, minimum 50 Marks. Please check the respective institute website for information and dates of PI-WAT/ST-PI.

Disclaimer: It is mandatory to attend all components / tests of PI-WAT/ST-PI to be eligible for admission to any UG programmes. Only candidates who attend all components / tests of selection process (PI-WAT/ST-PI) shall be considered as eligible for generation of merit / wait / reject list. Candidates who remain absent for any one of the component / test will be considered as ineligible for selection process of UG degree programmes of SIU.

More Details can be available from the institute website.

Contact Details Address : Symbiosis International University,

Symbiosis Test Secretariat

Gram: Lavale, Tal: Mulshi, Dist: Pune - 412115 Phone : 020-61936226/27 Mobile : 18001032420 E-mail : Contact I Website : www.set-test.org

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah embarked on a two-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Monday where he will launch the Vibrant Villages Programme in Kibithoo, a village along the India-China border. The visit is a significant geo-political statement as well given Beijings recent provocative move to rename parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

Notably, this would also be Amit Shahs first visit to Arunachal Pradesh as Union Home Minister. As part of the engagements, Shah will also inaugurate nine micro-hydel projects of the state government constructed under the Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme in Kibithoo.

He will also inaugurate Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) projects to augment infrastructure at Likabali (Arunachal Pradesh), Chapra (Bihar), Nooranad (Kerala) and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), a Home Ministry statement has said. Shah will interact with ITBP personnel at Kibithoo in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh.

On April 11, he will visit Namti field and pay homage at the Walong war memorial.

Eye on China

Beijing had last week announced Chinese names for 11 more places in Arunachal Pradesh which the neighbouring country claims as southern part of Tibet. India strongly rejected the move, asserting that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and assigning invented" names does not alter this reality.

This is not the first time China has made such an attempt. We reject this outright Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

This was the third batch of standardised geographical names for Arunachal Pradesh issued by Chinas civil affairs ministry. The first batch of the standardised names of six places in Arunachal Pradesh was released in 2017 and the second batch of 15 places was issued in 2021. The official names of the 11 places were released on Sunday by Chinas ministry of civil affairs.

It also gave precise coordinates, including two land areas, two residential areas, five mountain peaks and two rivers, and listed the category of places names and their subordinate administrative districts, Chinese state-run Global Times reported.

Chinas renaming of the places in Arunachal Pradesh came in the midst of the lingering eastern Ladakh border standoff that began in May 2020. Following the standoff, India bolstered its overall military preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Arunachal Pradesh sector as well.

Last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh remained very fragile" and is quite dangerous" in military assessment because of close deployments of troops of both sides in some pockets, though substantial" progress has been made in the disengagement process in many areas.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a nearly three-year-long confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement of troops from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

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The External Affairs Ministry on Monday termed as baseless a report in Britains The Times and denied that India had disengaged" from trade talks with the UK over alleged failure to condemn the Sikh extremist group that attacked the Indian High Commission in London last month.

The incident occurred on March 19, when protesters with Khalistan banners staged a demonstration at the High Commission and took down an Indian flag from the buildings first floor balcony to denounce recent police action in Punjab.

Indians dont want to talk about trade until they get a very public demonstration of condemnation of Khalistan extremism in the UK," the The Times report had quoted a British government source as saying.

While India denied the report, the UK Department for Business & Trade said both countries remain committed to trade talks. Both the UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial FTA and concluded the latest round of trade talks last month," a spokesperson said.

The Foreign Secretary has condemned the recent acts of violence at the Indian High Commission, and we are working with the Metropolitan Police to review security and make changes to ensure the safety of its staff, the statement added.

Round 8 of trade talks between the UK and India took place from March 20 to March 31. Sources said the next round of official negotiations is likely to take place from April 24 in London.

India had last month said it expects to see action against the perpetrators of vandalism at its missions abroad and hoped the host governments would prosecute those involved in these incidents instead of holding out assurances. At the weekly briefing on March 24, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi had also said that New Delhi expects the host governments to take measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Indian missions in London, British Columbia, and San Francisco were vandalised allegedly by pro-Khalistan activists following the police action against radical preacher Amritpal Singh in Punjab.

On March 19, supporters of the Khalistan movement pulled down the Indian flag at the countrys high commission in London and smashed the buildings window in a show of anger against the move to arrest Amritpal Singh, who remains elusive.

Indias External Affairs Minister had denounced the incident and summoned the UKs deputy high commissioner in New Delhi to protest what it called the breach of security at the embassy in London.

On March 22, police removed temporary security barricades outside the British High Commission in New Delhi, news agency PTI had reported.

The supporters of the Khalistan movement also vandalised the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on March 20.

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Indias Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has said that Khalsa is a uniting and not a dividing force, days after instances of violence at the Indian missions by a small group of pro-Khalistan supporters.

Sandhu, who comes from an illustrious Sikh family, made the remarks on Saturday at an event where he was presented with the prestigious Sikh Hero Award from Sikhs of America along with several other eminent Sikh Americans.

Khalsa, which was created on the Baisakhi day, by Guru Gobind Singh is a uniting and not a dividing force, Sandhu said in his keynote address at the event, which was attended by eminent Sikh Americans from across the country.

The Khalsa tradition was initiated in 1699 by the tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh.

The important concepts and fundamentals in the Sikh religion and history include universality, unity, equality, honest living, seva, meditation, peace of mind, and harmony between people, he said.

The Khalsa flag  which flies at the Akal Takht and Nishan Sahibs  is a flag of unity, peace and universal love, the Indian diplomat said, asserting that Sikhism is a religion of inclusion, brotherhood, love, equality and dive We must keep these cardinal virtues in mind and not what a couple of mischievous characters spin using virtual media, Singh said in an apparent reference to the instances of violence by a small group of separatists in the US, Canada, UK and Australia.

In his speech, Sandhu shared with the Sikh diaspora the rise of India and some of the key accomplishments of the country in key sectors of economy, digitisation, health and entrepreneurship.

In such a scenario, Punjab and the youth in Punjab need to be connected with the economic, financial, tech and digital revolution happening in India, Sandhu said.

The government, people and in particular the youth must take advantage of the expanding partnership with the US in various fields that Prime Minister Modi and President Biden are trying to put in place, he said.

Noting that youth and their parents are spending millions of dollars for sending their children to the US and Canada, Sandhu said the New Education Policy that has been put in place, and the efforts of the Prime Minister will ensure that such education is available in India as well as Punjab.

Delighted to receive Hero Award from Sikhs of America. Spoke about imp tenets of Sikhism: seva, brotherhood, equality, inclusion & honesty, Sandhu said in a tweet after the event. Highlighted the strengthening of US India partnership and tech and infra transformation taking place in India and huge opportunities for the youth, he tweeted.

In his welcome address, Jasdip Singh Jassee, chairman of Sikhs of America highlighted the role played by awardees in their respective fields. He said that violence has no place in the community.

Others who received the prestigious Sikh Hero Award included entrepreneur and philanthropist Darshan Singh Dhaliwal; Gurbir Singh Grewal, former New Jersey Attorney General; former Hoboken Mayor Ravi Singh Bhalla, and entrepreneur Manraj Singh Kahlon. Slain Sikh police officer Sandeep Dhaliwal was presented the award posthumously.

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A London-bound Air India flight from Delhi returned to Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday after an unruly passenger had a brawl with crew members mid-air.

Air India Delhi-London (AI-111) flight turns around mid-air due to an unruly passenger who caused physical harm to two of the cabin crew members, the airline said in a statement.

The passenger was handed over to the airport security personnel upon landing, and the airline has also lodged a complaint with the Delhi Airport Police on the incident.

Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London Heathrow on April 10, 2023, returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board," an Air India spokesperson said.

Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members. The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing," it added.

The statement further said that the airline is providing all possible support to the affected crew members and expressed regrets for the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight to depart for London this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the police said they have received the complaint and will take action on it.

Airlines have witnessed many such incidents of unruly behaviour by some air passengers in the last few months.

Last week, a drunk flyer on board an Indigo flight from Delhi to Bengaluru tried to open the flap of the emergency doors. Subsequently, the matter was reported to the concerned agencies and appropriate action was initiated.

During the end of March, two passengers travelling on an Indigo flight from Dubai to Mumbai continued consuming alcohol onboard despite multiple warnings from the crew. They verbally abused the crew and co-passengers.

In order to deal withnunruly behaviour, DGCA has issued CAR, Section 3- Air Transport, Series M, and Part VI titled Handling of unruly/ disruptive passengers.

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The youth of today are all a part of the rat race. After completing their education, they are inclined to settle for a well-paid job. While a majority of us are content with having a 9-5 job, others are eager to take the road less travelled. Walking along similar lines, Prasad Save, with his unconventional outlook on life, has started the initiative of cultivating orchids in Maharashtras Palghar district. Paddy cultivation in Palghar is already one of the most prominent agricultural practices followed in the state. Now, Prasad seems to be keen on launching an alternative approach to agriculture through orchid cultivation for the first time in Palghar.

Prasad who belongs to Maharashtras Ketkhadi village in Dahanu Taluka has completed his education in automobile engineering. Although he was well-educated in the field of automobile engineering, Prasad chose to follow in the footsteps of his uncle and take up the responsibility of flower farming. For Prasad, the business venture was quite risky as before him, no one grew flowers in Palghar.

Even after assessing all the risk factors, Prasad decided to cultivate orchid plants on his three-and-a-half-acre land because if the plan worked accordingly, it would earn him a high profit. He even put up shed nets to grow them. Initially, Prasad visited various places in India, including Goa, Delhi, and Kolkata to inspect orchid farms and learn about the nitty-gritty of orchid cultivation.

Prasad used to import orchid plants from Bangkok. Starting in 2019, Prasad has planted over 40,000 orchid plants so far. Presently, the engineer-turned-farmer has grown almost one and a half lakh orchid flower plants in his three-and-a-half-acre land. Prasad has claimed that his orchid business is running well, incurring enough profit.

According to Prasad, although he has to spend enough money for the cultivation of orchids, once they are sown, a hefty cash revenue flows into his bank account, enough to last for six to seven years. Prasad further revealed that each orchid stick is priced between Rs 20 - Rs 25. Every month, nearly 50 - 60 thousand of these sticks are bought by consumers. This results in Prasad earning lakhs of rupees, monthly.

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The Madras High Court recently ruled that in the absence of any recommendation from the Medical Council of India or from the AYUSH department, no medical practitioner is entitled to run a clinic anywhere in Tamil Nadu.

The bench of Justice M Dhandapani was dealing with a bunch of pleas filed by persons who had completed Diploma in Community Medical Service and Essential Drugs which is a two years course.

The petitioners had moved the high court alleging that the state authorities were interfering with the petitioners practice in the field of Community Medical Service and Essential Drugs.

The petitioners had said they were entitled to run Primary Health Care Clinics in rural areas. The petitioners had submitted that never pose themselves as doctors and were practicing only in the field of Community Medical Service and Essential Drugs, therefore, there was no impediment whatsoever in carrying out such practice.

The pleas were, however, opposed by the respondent authorities. The Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submitted that if the petitioners are entitled to run a clinic, they must make an application under the Tamil Nadu Clinical Establishments (Regulation) Act, 1997 and obtain permission for establishing a clinic.

In the absence of any permission, the petitioners are not entitled to run a clinic either in the rural areas or anywhere in Tamil Nadu, the Additional Government Pleader contended.

The government counsel further asserted that unless the Medical Council of India or the AYUSH Department approve the qualification of the petitioners, they are not entitled to practice and run a clinic.

The court also took into consideration the relevant provisions of the Tamil Nadu Clinical Establishments (Regulations) Rules, 2018.

The court underscored that as per the Rules of 2018, Registered Medical Practitioner means a person who possesses any of the government recognised medical qualification and who has been enrolled in the register of the respective Council or any other statutory body recognised by the Tamil Nadu government.

And doctor means a Registered Medical Practitioner offering consultations or treatment under Allopathy or AYUSH, court highlighted.

Therefore, while dismissing the bunch of pleas, the court held that in the absence of any recommendation from the MCI or from the AYUSH Department, the petitioners were not entitled to run a clinic as they were claiming.

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Union home minister Amit Shah reached Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, a week after China unilaterally gave Chinese names to places in the state, while he delivered a stern message to the northern neighbour. As part of the Vibrant Villages Programme, he also inaugurated infrastructure projects in Kibithoo, the easternmost tip of India.

We want peace with all, we dont want war. But no one can encroach on even an inch of our territory," said Shah, addressing a gathering. He will also be spending the night in Kibithoo, about one kilometre away from the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

China had renamed parts of the Kibithoo forest last week and reacted sternly on Monday. Zangnan is Chinas territory. The Indian officials visit to Zangnan violates Chinas territorial sovereignty, and is not conducive to the peace and tranquillity of the border situation," Reuters quoted Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin saying in response to a question on the visit.

Zangnan is the name given by China to parts of Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as South Tibet and therefore Chinese territory.

The union home minister, however, was unphased. His programme included not just infrastructural projects in Kibithoo but also a visit to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) post on the LAC and interaction with the personnel deployed there. It is one of the remotest locations. Patrolling these areas is also difficult since there was no night halt infrastructure till the government approved 47 border outposts in February this year," an ITBP official told News18.

Twelve staging camps to enable patrolling parties to halt at night, seven new battalions, and a sector headquarters at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore were approved by the cabinet committee on security (CCS) earlier this year. The home ministers visit soon after this decision is meant to give a message about Indias plans along the LAC, which has seen recent disputes with China both in Ladakh (Galwan) and Arunachal Pradesh (Yangtze).

Shahs visit is meant to give an infrastructure boost to these remote areas of Arunachal. The Vibrant Villages Programme will help in improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages and encourage people to stay in their native locations, thereby reversing the outmigration from these villages and adding to the security of the border," an MHA official said.

A total of 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts on the northern border in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and the union territory of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development under the Vibrant Villages Programme. The scheme is meant to provide natives of these remote areas with livelihood by encouraging local produce, way of life, and tourism from mainland India.

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The Ram Navami violence in West Bengal was planned and the police were not neutral, the fact-finding committee headed by former Chief Justice Narsimha Reddy said on Monday, even as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rubbished their claims.

Speaking to News18, Reddy said, The riots, which erupted on the occasion of Ram Navami on March 30 and continued in its aftermath, were pre-planned and orchestrated. We will meet the Governor and will submit our report to the agencies concerned.

WB CM Mamata Banerjee, during an inauguration function, came down heavily on the committee, saying, What is fact-finding? Who are they? The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is busy sending fact-finding teams, human rights team, children rights team, women rights team and what not.

Standing by the WB police, she said, All the accused who incited violence in Howrah on Ram Navami were from outside Bengal. The police hadnt given permission for their rally. In the meeting with the police officials, the organisers had said that they would take out the procession during lunch hours, but the BJP intentionally took out the rally during the time of namaz.

The CM said: What was the need for the BJP workers to carry out the procession with firearms? All the men who were part of the rally were from outside Bengal, some from Munger in Bihar. People from Bengal stay together, they dont do danga, they are cultured people.

Even as the verdict on handing over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is still to be out, a war of words was seen in the court, too, between the lawyer of BJPs Suvendhu Adhikary and Advocate General.

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Shraddha Walkars father Vikas Walkar on Monday expressed concerns about loopholes" in the investigation into his daughters murder allegedly by her live-in partner Aaftab Poonawala and called for authorities to focus on the accuseds parents, who he believes are being kept hidden."

Speaking to ANI, he expressed concerns that Aaftabs parents have not been mentioned yet, His (Aftab) parents are yet not highlighted. I think they have been hidden somewhere. Where are they? I appeal to highlight them."

We need to perform the last rites for Shraddha and I have requested her body parts," he added.

#WATCH | His (Aftab) parents are yet not highlighted. I think they have been hidden somewhere. Where are they? I appeal to highlight themWe want to perform her (Shraddha) last rituals & I have appealed for her body parts: Vikas Walker, father of Shraddha Walker pic.twitter.com/8PPkONzVa2 ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2023

He further said Aaftab should be given the death penalty and loopholes in the probe and proceedings are delaying the case. He ( Aftab Poonawalla) should be given the death penalty. He is guilty. He committed this crime with full planning. There are loopholes in the investigation and proceedings due to which the case is delayed," he said.

He further said that he has asked his lawyer to appeal for fast-track proceedings in the case.

Walkars father had earlier urged for a fast-track court to hear the murder case in a time-bound manner, emphasising the interest of justice. His lawyer, Seema Kushwaha, had said she planned to file a petition in the Delhi High Court for expedited proceedings.

Vikas, who filed the complaint, expressed his inability to perform his daughters last rites due to the body parts being held as evidence.

The chargesheet filed in the case accuses Aaftab Amin Poonawala of allegedly murdered his live-in partner Walkar by strangling her on May 18 last year. Poonawala then dismembered her body and stored the pieces in a refrigerator for nearly three weeks at his residence in Mehrauli in south Delhi.

During the arguments regarding the charges last month, the prosecution played an audio clip from the Practo app, which was used by the accused and the victim to book a session with a psychologist.

In the clip, Walkar could be heard saying, whenever I start ranting about my anger, if he is somewhere around, anywhere in Vasai (near Mumbai), anywhere around me in thiscity, he will find me, he will hunt me down, he will try to kill me, thats the problem."

The clip continued with Walkar stating: I dont know (how) many times he tried to kill me  this is not the first time he tried to kill me The way he grabbed my neck, I blacked out. I was unable to breathe for 30 seconds Thankfully I was able to defend myself by pulling his hair."

The audio recordings were also played in the court earlier today during the hearing an application moved by the Delhi Police regarding issuing orders to Aaj Tak" and other media channels not to telecast any material regarding the FIR in the case.

Link court of Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Kumar Singh said it was brought to the courts notice that Aaj Tak" is contemplating telecasting certain recordings or transcript of the narco-analysis test and from the Practo app, and the prosecution has claimed that it would not only be damaging for the case, but would also impact the accused and the victims family.

The judge also noted the submissions made by Chief Public Prosecutor Vinod Sharma and Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad that recordings and transcripts have already been made part of the court records and in such circumstances, no party or person can utilise anything related to a court record without the courts permission.

The judge, however, underlined that he was taking a prima facie view" and a detailed hearing would be given to the parties.

(With inputs from PTI)

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On the run with fugitive Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh since March 18, his close aide Papalpreet Singh, who was arrested from Punjab on Monday, has given details of how they managed to escape the police for so long.

A top source in Punjab Police said, Papalpreet said they went to Haryana, Patiala, Delhi and Pilibhit and back to Haryana and Punjab. He confessed to arranging for all hideouts. He said they used to travel by cars and buses or take lifts.

ALSO READ | Uncovering The Man behind Amritpals Escape  Papalpreet | Exclusive

Balbir Kaur in Patiala and Baljit Kaur in Shahbad who helped the duo were also personal contacts of Papalpreet, said the source, adding, Even Kulwinder Kaur in Delhi was known to Papalpreet. The duo was also in touch with a Sikh preacher, Joga Singh, in Pilibhit.

According to Papalpreet, they were running to escape police torture. He said at one stage, they wanted to surrender, said the source. Papalpreet has accepted that all videos and pictures in public domain belong to them, the source said.

WHERE IS AMRITPAL?

Papalpreet has told investigators that he doesnt have contact details of Amritpal Singh, said the source.

According to him, Amritpal is in Punjab. They separated after the raids last week, the source said, adding, He said he is ready to cooperate fully.

Addressing the media, Punjab Police Inspector General (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said, He (Papalpreet) is the main associate of Amritpal Singh. He has been arrested from Kathunangal area in Amritsar. Papalpreet has been detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) and six other cases have also been registered against him.

Papalpreet is considered to be Amritpals mentor and has allegedly been in contact with Pakistans ISI. Gill said further legal action will be taken against Papalpreet.

CCTV FOOTAGE FROM DERA

The arrest comes days after a CCTV footage made the rounds on social media in which Papalpreet could be seen at a dera (place for religious congregation) in a village in Hoshiarpur.

The footage is said to be of March 29, a day after a team of the counter intelligence wing chased an Innova car from Phagwara to Hoshiarpur after the police suspected that the fugitive and his aides could be in that vehicle. The dera, seen in the footage, is in Tanauli village, which is located just two to three kilometers away from Marnaian village in Hoshiarpur, where the police had launched a massive search operation in search of the suspects.

ALSO READ | We Fled to Escape Police Torture, Says Arrested Amritpal Aide Papalpreet: Intel Sources | Exclusive

It is believed that both Papalpreet and Amritpal could have separated in Hoshiarpur, following the police chase of their vehicle. Many pictures of the duo had surfaced on social media. In one such footage, both of them were seen wearing masks while roaming around a street in Delhi. A picture of them looking relaxed and Amritpal holding a beverage can was also seen.

Amritpal 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.

With PTI Inputs

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Womens History Month came to a close last week, but its important to keep the stories of the women who make Connecticut wonderful in mind. There are so many incredible female-owned and/or operated businesses across the state  here are a few highlights:

Tailoring Plus

100 Elm St., Cheshire

When Silvana Pannone had a fresh start after immigrating to the United States from Italy, she knew her tailoring skills could pave the way to her success. Now after launching her own business, Tailoring Plus, over 25 years ago, Pannone has become a Cheshire staple for many. Known as a dedicated, hard-working tailor and storyteller, the central Connecticut community can always count on Tailoring Plus to provide seamless (pun intended) alterations for any occasion.

Reboot Eco

131 River Rd., Middletown

The Reboot Eco origin story is one of a true trailblazer: when Yasemin Ugurlu couldnt find a sustainable shop that was affordable and accessible to her needs and those of the central Connecticut community, she decided to create the brand of her dreams. An environmental entrepreneur, Ugurlu created her zero-waste and refill shops to offer alternatives to inspire eco-conscious change at any level. The Reboot Eco refill stations offer bulk alternatives for typical household cleaning products, and the shops are stocked with low-waste alternatives to help the average person integrate sustainability into their lifestyle. Visit Yasemin in either of her locations, in Middletown (address above) or in Chester (at 1 North Main St.).

Leslie K, LLC, Hair Salon

247 So. Broad St., Meriden

Leslie Kogut graduated from H. C. Wilcox Technical High Schools Hairdressing and Cosmetology program and hit the ground running in pursuing her passion. She opened Leslie K Hair and Nail Salon to operate as a family-friendly space that offers various beauty services to the greater Connecticut community. The all-female staff has undergone rigorous training and certification in order to provide customers with the best service possible. A Meriden gem for over 15 years, the Leskie K team has earned themselves a name through their expansive services, friendly staff, and philanthropic commitment to bettering the community they serve.

Dawg House Bar & Grill

999 Broad St., Meriden

For folks looking for a friendly local watering hole with great food and great company, Dawg House has become the place to go! Opened by mother-daughter team of Louise and Bianca Jacques in 2017, Dawg House Bar & Grill aims to pay homage to the best parts of the bars past while also adding their own personal flair. Once known as Quality Time under different ownership, the women rebranded and reopened the bar and restaurant with a goal of keeping the spirit of the space alive while also making things interesting as they learn and adapt to the challenges and joys they face every day. To catch a game in HD, enjoy a unique draft, or make new friends, head on down to Dawg House.

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Behind every business lives a story. Behind every women-owned business is the story of a person who was brave enough to start something and never look back, despite doubt and uncertainty. When you support a women-owned business, you support a dreamers dream, so get out there and show some love to Connecticuts great female leaders ASAP!
NATIONAL SAFE MOTHERHOOD DAY 2023: National Safe Motherhood Day is observed every year on 11th April in India. The day aims to create awareness about the maternal healthcare services available and to ensure that every woman has access to safe and quality healthcare during and after pregnancy. Celebrating National Safe Motherhood Day is not just a one-day event but a continuous effort to improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality.

NATIONAL SAFE MOTHERHOOD DAY: HISTORY

National Safe Motherhood Day was first observed in India in 2003, on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi, the wife of Mahatma Gandhi, who dedicated her life to the welfare of women and children. This day was declared as National Safe Motherhood Day by the government to promote maternal health and reduce maternal mortality.

NATIONAL SAFE MOTHERHOOD DAY: SIGNIFICANCE

The significance of National Safe Motherhood Day is to create awareness about the importance of maternal health and the need for proper medical care during and after pregnancy. It is a reminder to the government and society to prioritize the health and well-being of mothers and their babies.

Maternal mortality remains a major challenge in India, with many women dying from preventable causes related to childbirth. National Safe Motherhood Day highlights the importance of providing access to quality maternal healthcare services and addressing the social, economic, and cultural factors that contribute to maternal mortality.

NATIONAL SAFE MOTHERHOOD DAY 2023: THEME

The theme for National Safe Motherhood Day 2023 in India has not been announced yet. However, the focus is expected to be on promoting maternal health and reducing maternal mortality through awareness campaigns, education, and advocacy for better healthcare services.

The theme will likely highlight the need for collaboration between the government, healthcare providers, and civil society to ensure that every woman has access to safe and quality maternal healthcare.

NATIONAL SAFE MOTHERHOOD DAY 2023: CELEBRATION

Spread Awareness

One of the most important ways to celebrate National Safe Motherhood Day is by creating awareness about the need for proper maternal healthcare services. This can be done by organizing events and campaigns to educate people about the importance of maternal health and the ways in which they can contribute to improving it. Organize Health Camps

Health camps can be organized in rural and remote areas to provide access to medical facilities for pregnant women. These camps can offer free check-ups, counseling, and support services for women and their families. Provide Support To Pregnant Women

Individuals and organizations can offer support to pregnant women in their communities. This could include providing nutritious food, transportation to medical appointments, and emotional support during pregnancy and after childbirth. Advocate For Better Maternal Healthcare

Advocacy can be a powerful tool in promoting maternal healthcare. You can write to your elected representatives and urge them to prioritize maternal healthcare and allocate sufficient resources for it. Share Stories Of Successful Maternal Healthcare

Sharing success stories of maternal healthcare can inspire others and create a positive impact. You can share stories of women who have received proper medical care during pregnancy and childbirth and how it has benefitted them and their families. Organize Events

You can organize events such as seminars, conferences, and workshops to discuss maternal health issues and strategies to improve it. These events can bring together experts, healthcare providers, policymakers, and community members to exchange ideas and knowledge.

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Veteran politician Ghulam Nabi Azads recently released autobiography titled Azaad goes much beyond targeting Rahul Gandhi. The former Congress leader ingeniously attempts to show Indira and Sonia Gandhi, too, in a rather poor light while sprinkling praise upon them in generalisations. While the politician-turned-author is entitled to have his subjective interpretation, some of his real-life bete noire such as Ahmed Patel, Ambika Soni, M L Fotedar etc, escape the attention and scrutiny that the Gandhis ensure. The writer smartly uses silence and fleeting references as effective tools to paint Indira and Sonia in a certain light.

Sample this: On page 46, Azad writes about his struggle to comprehend the reality of Sanjay Gandhis death. The rift between Indira ji and Sanjays widow Maneka left me disconsolate. I was torn between my loyalty towards Indira ji and regard for the family of my leader, friend and guide, Sanjay, whom I loved dearly. But there were people who exploited the divide for their gains, without caring for the sensitivity of the situation. Who were these people who had gained? Azad deftly abstains from giving in words evidence of any such facts.

However, flip through the next page, and the politician is back in the chapter, Rajiv the reluctant politician. This was July 1980, barely forty days since Sanjays death in an air crash. Azad was heading the Indian Youth Congress. He recalls having been summoned by Indira to the Prime Ministers Office at the South Bloc. Two senior ministers  Pranab Mukherjee and P Shiv Shankar  are asked to leave on account of Azads arrival. Indira then takes out a few newspapers and places before Azad who quotes the conversation in verbatim. She Asked, What did you see?

Nothing unusual, I replied.

Did you not notice the news item which said that Maneka had attended a tree plantation programme along with a few other Congress leaders? It is not even 40 days since Sanjays death and she is already attending events. How could she do it!

Azad then remembers vividly quoting Indira verbatim after 43 years, Do you not think Rajiv should join politics? Azads admission in his memoirs is that he had never given a thought to it but told Indira then and there that it would be a good idea if Rajiv was to join politics. A few lines later, Azad draws comfort of sorts in being, the first person in whom she [Indira] had confided her wish to have Rajiv enter politics. The subheading, The Bring Rajiv Plan has a willing and dutiful Azad mobilising all support for Indiras elder sons formal entry into politics.

Was Sonia Gandhi using Rahul Gandhi and others to play politics with fellow party persons?

Azad makes this a serious charge against Sonia Gandhi, not so much in words but in substance, how the Congress matriarch Sonia Gandhi was using her politician son Rahul to checkmate party veterans and aspirants alike.

My friend and political analyst Rajesh Singh who had assisted Azad in making Azaad [memoirs] insists that the positive impression of Sonia Gandhis leadership skills and Sonia giving him [Azad] and other seniors a patient hearing, consultation etc are deceptive. Read between the lines and you will notice that Azad has not really absolved her, Singh told me pointing at three specific instances from the book.

In a reference to Himanta Biswa Sarma quitting the Congress party, Azad gives details of the reported headcount after the 2011 Assembly polls. Azad claims that he was asked by the then AICC chief and UPA chairperson to convey to the then Congress Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to quit in favour of Sarma. She asked me to go to Assam to oversee the formal election of Himanta as the new leader, Azad writes adding, Rahul who had not been in the loop of deliberations so far, telephoned me with a request to cancel the visit to Assam.

When Azad informed Sonia Gandhi about Rahuls stand and reported his comment to let Sarma go quit the Congress, Sonia appeared upset but accepted her sons decision. Azad successfully conveys the unsaid of how the mothers affection for the son coloured her judgement and the ability to enforce her own decision.

In another instance, Azad goes on to describe how Harish Rawat was checkmated by N D Tiwari. In 2002, Rawat did the heavy lifting of the election campaign but when the Congress won, veteran Tiwari was chosen as the chief minister. Azad claims Rawat had the support of the majority of party MLAs and when he discussed the issue of the matter of chief ministership with Sonia, she gave him a go-ahead to pick Rawat.

Next, Azad is asked to see Tiwari. Azad conveyed to Tiwari that Rawat could be becoming the chief minister. Tiwari kept mum but when Azad returned to Sonia, she said Tiwari had called her up and insisted on becoming the chief minister, and she had accepted his demand.

Without getting overtly negative towards Sonia, Azad, in his memoirs, terms the 2009 verdict or the UPAs return to power as a contribution of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh than Sonia. Oddly, Azad remained critical of her act of renunciation in 2004 when Sonia had declined the office of the prime minister. According to Azad, she should not have renounced it.

There is another nugget pertaining to N T Ramarao. If one goes by Azads account, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) would not have come into existence had Indira Gandhi, in 1981, accepted NTRs request to get a Rajya Sabha. This was the time actress Nargis, nominated from Presidential quota, had died and NTR wanted to get the honour. NTRs son-in-law Chandrababu Naidu routed the request through Azad but Indira did not oblige. NTR refurbished a 1940 Chevrolet convertible that he called Chaitanya Ratham (chariot of awakening) and mobilised the entire state of undivided Andhra Pradesh, bringing tinsel-world techniques to politics.

The writer is a Visiting Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. A well-known political analyst, he has written several books, including 24 Akbar Road and Sonia: A Biography. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication.

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As part of its syllabus rationalisation process last year, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) deleted various elements of the syllabus from its class 12 textbooks, citing overlapping and irrelevant reasons, including teachings on Mughal courts, and it stirred a hornets nest, goading for an objective debate on the subject. NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani clarified that chapters on the Mughals have not been dropped from CBSE books and said, Its a lie. Chapters on the Mughals have not been dropped. There was a rationalisation process last year due to COVID; there was pressure on students everywhere, the NCERT director told ANI.

While the chapters on the Timuridspopularly and, as a matter of fact, wrongly glorified as Mughalshavent been expunged in toto as falsely sensationalised and propelled by a select clique, and that too, globally, the moot point remains the need to prospect and retell the Mughal history of medieval India, and this time, matter-of-factly. This may pique the interest of and affront many eminent historians, but the time is ripe to divest the long-stuck bandages off the colonial past and the mindset where Indian history has been written by foreigners, painting us in a poor light. That mindset laid the foundation of the historiography for the Marxist historians in independent India, who picked up cues from that.

The NCERT head further added that expert committees appraised the books from standards 612. They recommended that if this chapter is dropped, it wont affect the knowledge of the children, and an unnecessary burden can be removed The debate is unnecessary. Those who dont know can check the textbooks, Saklani noted. Thats the bone of contention for a legion of individuals and disparate sections, including the writer himself. The Gen-Z generation and posterityunbeknownst of their genesis, their civilisational journey and struggle with the Abrahamic invaders, and the resistance put up by their ancestorsneed to be educated with this rousing history.

The Muslim invasions of the Indian subcontinent began in 1000 A.D. and lasted for several centuries with the invasion of India by Mahmud of Ghazni. Nadir Shah erected a mountain out of the skulls of Hindus he murdered in Delhi alone. After Babur conquered Rana Sanga in 1527, he constructed towers of Hindu skulls at Khanua, and performed the same at Chanderi after conquering the fort. After capturing Chittorgarh in 1568, Akbar ordered the wholesale extermination of 30,000 Hindus. Bahmani sultans in central India (13471528) killed a hundred thousand (100,000) Hindus, which they set as a minimum goal whenever they felt like punishing the Hindus; and they were only a third-rank provincial dynasty, writes Indologist Dr Koenraad Elst in his telling article Was There an Islamic Genocide of Hindus? Col. James Tod, the British historian, writes, Akbar measured his success by the quantity of cordons (janeu) taken from the necks of the slain Hindus. And 74 and a half muns is the amount recorded. A mun is 40 kilos. So, 2980 kilos were the weight of the threads of Janeus on the Hindus killed on that dark day.

From available historical and contemporary eyewitness reports, we have extensive literary evidence of the worlds biggest holocaust. Historians and biographers of Indias invading armies and later rulers have left extensive chronicles of the atrocities they performed in their day-to-day contacts with Hindus. These contemporary panegyric records are overweening, gloating, and glorifying the monstrous crimes committed, and the genocide of tens of millions of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains, as well as mass rapes of women. The destruction of thousands of ancient Hindu and Buddhist temples and libraries has been well documented and provides solid proof of the worlds largest holocaust. To cite a few out of the plethora of first-hand sources available:

The Afghan ruler, Mahmud al-Ghazni, invaded India no less than 17 times between 1001 and 1026 AD. The book Tarikh-i-Yamini, written by his secretary, documents several episodes of his bloody military campaigns. The blood of the infidels flowed so copiously [at the Indian city of Thanesar] that the stream was discoloured, notwithstanding its purity, and people were unable to drink it The infidels deserted the fort and tried to cross the foaming river. but many of them were slain, taken, or drowned. Nearly fifty thousand men were killed.

The Persian historian, Wassaf, writes in his book Tazjiyat-ul-Amsar wa Tajriyat-ul-Asar that Alauddin Khilji (an Afghan of Turkish origin and second ruler of the Khilji Dynasty in India, 12951316 AD) once asked his spiritual advisor (or Qazi) as to what Islamic law was prescribed for the Hindus. The Qazi replied: Hindus are like mud; if silver is demanded from them, they must, with the greatest humility, offer gold. If a Muslim desires to spit into a Hindus mouth, the Hindu should open it wide for the purpose. God created the Hindus to be slaves of the Mohammedans. The Prophet hath ordained that if the Hindus do not accept Islam, they should be imprisoned, tortured, and finally put to death, and their property confiscated.

The Mughal emperor Babur (who ruled India from 15261530 AD), writing in his memoirs called the Baburnama, wrote: In AH 934 (2538 C.E.), I attacked Chanderi and by the grace of Allah captured it in a few hours. We got the infidels slaughtered, and the place that had been Darul-Harb (a nation of non-Muslims) for years was made into Darul-Islam (a Muslim nation). In Baburs own words, in a poem about killing Hindus (from the Baburnama), he wrote: For the sake of Islam, I became a wanderer; I battled infidels and Hindus;

I determined to become a martyr; thank God I became a killer of non-Muslims!

The atrocities of the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan (who ruled India between 1628 and 1658 AD) are mentioned in the contemporary records called Badshah Nama, Qazinivi, and Badshah Nama, Lahori, and it goes on to state: When Shuja was appointed as governor of Kabul, he carried on a ruthless war in the Hindu territory beyond the Indus triad The sword of Islam yielded a rich crop of converts. Most of the women burned themselves to death (to save their honour). Those captured were distributed among Muslim mansabdars (noblemen).

American historian Will Durant rightly argued in his 1935 book, The Story of Civilization: Our Oriental Heritage (page 459): The Mohammedan conquest of India is probably the bloodiest story in history. The Islamic historians and scholars have recorded with great glee and pride the slaughters of Hindus, forced conversions, abductions of Hindu women and children to slave markets, and the destruction of temples carried out by the warriors of Islam between 800 A.D. and 1700 A.D. Millions of Hindus were converted to Islam by sword during this period.

The first point to be accentuated, if not to ponder upon, is the presence of profuse documentation and historic accounts, yet obscurity in the national consciousness. Secondly, what is the motivation of the vested lobby to espouse the barbaric Mughals and tout them as the torchbearers of Bhartiya culture? Thirdly, why a dire need to create an equivalence of the modern-day Bhartiya Muslims with the gory Timurids when the distinction is palpably clear? It is paradoxical for the flagbearers of pseudo-secularism to bat for the grisly butchers called the Mughals, all the while claiming their secular credentials. This is where this writer differs with his erudite editor friend when the latter opines, NCERT Mughal Saga Exposes Indias Eminent Historians And Their Subterfuge, for this may turn out to be a classic case of too late, too little. This nation needs to know that more than 40,000 temples were razed during the Islamic invasion of Bharat.

Aabhas Maldahiyar writes in an article, Borrowing references from Fatawa Alamgiri to project Mughal history should be the last thing anyone should do, for the book had nothing more than contempt for the kafirs. The writing on the wall says that time is propitious for the government of the day to muse on the topic of austere course correction in the wrongly prescribed civilisational saga before things get vague and muddied by the scope of time and the sly left hand of Marxism, while being buoyant of further and prompt changes, before its too late!

Yuvraj Pokharna is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets with @pokharnaprince. Views expressed are personal.

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If you are looking for an international destination, the revival of the Trans Bhutan Trail is reason enough for you to visit this beautiful mountain state. (Photo: Shutterstock)
During his two-day visit to West Bengal, union home minister Amit Shah is likely to come to Siuri city of Bibhum district for a public meeting on April 14. Bharatiya Janata Party insiders say that Shahs visit to the state will focus on the panchayat polls to be held this year, which are being seen as a bellwether for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Sources say Amit Shah is expected to do more than 12 rallies in West Bengal ahead of the general elections.

The senior BJP leaders first rally is in Birbhum, at a time when the Trinamool Congresss heavyweight district chief Anubrata Mondal is behind bars. The BJP sees it as a good opportunity to spread its influence here.

We are very excited that Amit Shah ji will come just before the Bengali New Year. Birbhum is very important as far as Bengal politics is concerned. That is why Shah coming here is very significant for us, a party leader told News18.

The panchayat elections are likely to be held in May and both sides are gearing up to hit the ground running.

TMCs Jay Prakash Majumdar said, Let him (Shah) come. The more he visits, the more their votes will go down."

The BJP is focusing on a booth sashaktikaran (strengthening) programme and has also planned a special drive for farmers.

Sources say Shah during his visit will also underscore the violence in West Bengal around Ram Navami.

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With Sachin Pilot firm on holding a fast to press his party-led government in Rajasthan for action against graft, the Congress Monday night issued a stern warning to him and said any such action on his part would amount to anti-party activity.

Sources close to Pilot said he would go ahead with his daylong fast on Tuesday to press for action against corruption during the previous BJP government in Rajasthan.

Taking strong objection to the proposed dharna by Pilot, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the state Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said any such protest against its government clearly amounts to anti-party activity and goes against the partys interest.

Pilot on Sunday alleged that the Ashok Gehlot-led government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the BJP rule in Rajasthan and announced his plan to hold a day-long fast on April 11 to press for action.

The move by Pilot to open a new front against Gehlot amid the factional fighting is seen as an attempt to pressure the party high command to resolve the leadership issue ahead of the year-end polls.

Randhawa said he talked to Pilot during the day and told him to raise issues at party platforms instead of going public against its own government.

Pilots day-long fast is against the partys interests. If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed in party forums instead of in the media and public, Randhawa said in a statement.

Randhawa said he has been an AICC in-charge for the last five months and Pilot never discussed the issue with him.

This is clear anti-party activity. I am in touch with him and I still appeal for calm dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress, Randhawa said.

I personally called Sachin Pilot and asked him to raise such matters at party platforms instead of going public like this, he told PTI when asked if he had discussed Pilots proposed fast with him.

Randhawa said any such action or fast is not justified and all matters should be raised within the party platforms and not publicly like this.

He said the two letters Pilot was referring to for action against graft by the previous Vasundhara Raje government have never been raised before him despite several talks and discussions.

Sources close to Pilot said both he and Randhawa spoke over the phone but the AICC in-charge of the state had not asked the former deputy chief minister to call off the fast.

They said his fight is against graft under the Vasundhara Raje regime and not targeted at anyone else.

The sources close to the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister also said that while Rahul Gandhi was fighting on the Adani issue of alleged corruption, likewise Pilot was taking up the issue to hold the previous Raje dispensation accountable.

Sources said Pilot claimed that he would sit on a maun vrat and not speak against the government.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera sought to downplay Pilots remarks and said it is wrong to say that the Ashok Gehlot dispensation is not acting against graft.

He said a probe against senior BJP leader from Rajasthan Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is on in the Sanjeevani scam and the Union minister has also filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Gehlot.

A probe is underway on how the BJP conspired to topple our elected government in Rajasthan and tried to buy our MLAs, he told reporters here when asked about Pilots remarks that the Congress government in Rajasthan was not against graft cases during the previous BJP government in the state.

It is wrong to say that a probe is not on, as an investigation is being carried out and if anyone has a complaint, he should bring it to the notice of the AICC in-charge, Khera said.

The Congress spokesperson also said that more information will come out in the next few months on the probe against Shekhawat and every aspect of the conspiracy to topple the Congress government in Rajasthan is being probed.

A Rajasthan cabinet minister on Monday asked the party workers to not give support to those who are trying to sabotage the work done by the Ashok Gehlot government.

No MLA or minister is expected to join Pilot during the fast but thousands of his supporters from various parts of the state are likely to come to Shaheed Smarak here where he will be sitting on the fast on Tuesday.

Without naming anyone, Revenue Minister Ramlal Jat said that those in the race to the chief minister post should think that it is the party high command who made Gehlot the chief minister of Rajasthan.

The Congress earlier threw its weight behind Gehlot and said that its government has implemented schemes that have benefited people and the party will seek a renewed mandate later this year on the strength of these landmark achievements and the collective efforts of our organisation.

In a statement on Sunday, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Congress government in Rajasthan with Ashok Gehlot as CM has implemented a large number of schemes and taken many new initiatives that have impacted the people profoundly.

This has given the state a leadership position in governance in our country. The Bharat Jodo Yatra in Rajasthan was an outstanding success made possible by the dedication and determination of the party organisation in the state, he said.

Later in the year, the Congress will seek a renewed mandate from the people on the strength of these landmark achievements and the collective efforts of our organisation, Ramesh said.

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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that he will sue Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for defamation over his tweet linking him to the Adani Group.

I am busy currently with preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the state, so I do not want to respond to it now. But after PM Modis departure, I will take necessary action and will file a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi," Sarma said at a press conference.

But not now, I dont want to talk about politics, because we want to celebrate Bihu," the Assam Chief Minister added.

Sarmas statement came a day after the Congress leader took to Twitter to take a swipe at certain leaders who left the Congress in the past few years. Gandhi mentioned Assam Chief Ministers name in the post, while also continuing his attack on the government regarding the Adani issue.

Apart from Sarma, Gandhi also mentioned Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Anil K Antony in the tweet.

Speaking further, Sarma further took a jibe at Arvind Kejriwal and said he is still waiting for a meeting with the Delhi Chief Minister. He said he wanted to ask his Delhi counterpart about how he come up with the false unemployment data of Assam.

I want to demystify how 12 lakh employment is possible where sanctioned staff in Delhi government is only 1.5 lakh. I also want to ask him if the Assam government has a sanctioned staff of 4 lakhs, how can I give appointments to 12 lakh people? So I have to unravel that mystery. He shouldnt say at the end of the day that these are private company jobs," Sarma said.

He is saying there are 50 lakh unemployed people in Assam when he doesnt have the slightest idea that the total population of Assam is not even 50 lakh. Before saying something these people should at least do some homework. He thinks we are fools," the Chief Minister added.

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The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking to declare the Congress manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as unfair and against the Model Code of Conduct, terming it as misconceived".

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala said the plea is devoid of any merit.

On February 14, 2020, the top court had deferred the hearing on the plea after it was informed that one of the co-petitioners in the case has not been permitted by the Registry to argue in person.

The plea filed by Adarsh Kumar Agrawal and Dr Seema Jain has sought directions to declare the manifesto of the Congress as unfair and against the model code of conduct" and take appropriate action against the party in accordance with law.

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The standoff between the Tamil Nadu Government and the Governor snowballed on Monday after the state Assembly adopted a resolution moved by Chief Minister MK Stalin urging the Centre and President Droupadi Murmu to issue instructions to the RN Ravi to grant assent to Bills within a specific period.

Opposition AIADMK was not present when the resolution was moved as the K Palaniswami-led party had earlier staged a walkout on a different issue, while the BJP voted against it.

In order to establish the legislative power of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu and refrain Honourable Governor from continuing to act against the interests of the people of Tamil Nadu and thereby tarnishing the principles of democracy and the sovereignty of this august Legislative Assembly, this august House unanimously insists that the Union Government and the Honourable President should immediately take appropriate instructions to the Governor to give assent to the Bills passed by this Assembly within a specific period." the resolution stated.

The resolution added that the Governors acts are against the Constitution and the controversial comments made by RN Ravi in a public forum about the Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and sent for assent, are not in accordance with the office he holds, the oath he took and interest of the State Administration.

Besides, it is against the Constitution.." it stated.

After tabling the Bill, Chief Minister MK Stalin said, Governor RN Ravi should come with an open mind and discuss with the Tamil Nadu government instead of commenting on public platforms."

He (Governor) is functioning like a politician. He has turned Raj Bhavan into Political Bhavan. Governor is making such statements only when Prime Minister Modi visits Tamil Nadu or when I visit Delhi," the Chief Minister added.

Stalin also alleged that Governor Ravi is withholding the Bills as per his wish and giving false information.

Meanwhile, the Governor last week said that withholding Bills doesnt mean that he is holding them.

Withholding has been defined by the Supreme Court as a bill that falls through, the bill is dead. It(Withholding) is a decent language used instead of the word reject. When you say withhold, the Bill is dead," Ravi had said.

The ongoing tussle between the state government and Governor is expected to escalate with the DMK-led secular front all set to protest against Ravi outside the Raj Bhavan on April 12.

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Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati, on Monday, announced that her party would not give a ticket to Atiq Ahmads wife Shaista Parveen in the upcoming Mayor polls in Uttar Pradesh.

She also quashed speculations that the BSP could give a ticket to Zainab, wife of Arshad, Atiqs brother.

Speaking to reporters, Mayawati said that the decision to let Shaista remain in the party would be taken after her arrest.

The BSP President also added that she would prefer that the urban body polls are held through ballot papers.

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CAMERON  Police officers and family members from Chetek and Cameron gathered early Monday to pay their respects as the bodies of their fallen colleagues were transported from Barron County to Minnesota for autopsies.

On Saturday, Chetek Police Department officer Emily Breidenbach and Cameron Police Department officer Hunter Scheel were killed during a traffic stop that escalated into a shootout.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, which is investigating the incident, identified the driver of the vehicle as Glenn D. Perry, 50. Perry was transported from the scene by ambulance to a hospital where he later died.

The bodies of Breidenbach and Sheel were taken to Minnesota for autopsies as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.

Camryn Gosdeck shared on Facebook: It is with a heavy heart to share that my love, my soulmate, and my best friend made the ultimate sacrifice doing exactly what he was meant to do, help others. Hunter Timothy Scheel meant so much to so many people and left anyone he encountered with a laugh and a smile.

Gosdeck said Scheel also served in the Army National Guard and volunteered to serve in Afghanistan.

I am absolutely heartbroken and never knew I could feel such an immense pain as having my other half ripped from me. My heart hurts for him, for his family and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him, Gosdeck said. Please keep Hunter and the Chetek officer and their families in your thoughts and prayers. Please thank your first responders and veterans when you see them. Please hug your loved ones tight. And please show kindness in every encounter you have.

Emily Breidenbach was engaged to be married and was the daughter of former Chetek Police Chief Robert Breidenbach. Chetek Police Chief Ron Ambrozaitis said Breidenbach was the departments K9 therapy dog handler and had been with the force since 2019.

Our love and condolences go out to both families and all those with whom they served, Ambrozaitis said. We, as a law enforcement family, will do everything possible to continue to provide support and comfort to Hunter and Emilys families. They will be missed by everyone.

Many in Pardeeville may remember former Police Chief Robert Breidenbach, the Pardeeville Fire Department wrote on Facebook. Our thoughts are with the Breidenbach family, the family of the other fallen officer involved, and all of our law enforcement brothers and sisters who put it all on the line everyday they wear the uniform.

Emily Ann Ive known you since you were ten when my pops (Tim) married your mom. You have always been a shining beckon of light, Karen Yonke posted on Facebook. You have always lived life with such adventure and treated everyone around you with dignity and respect. From the silly vibrant 10-year-old to the girl who made a stand in high school to shave her head to the beautiful woman you were. You will be remembered and thought of daily. Every time I hear a bike pass my house I will remember. Mama Sue and all who know Emily, I am truly sorry for all of our loss.

Authorities said Perry, the suspect in the vehicle, had a warrant for his arrest and police had received a report about concerning behavior. According to online court records, he had a limited criminal history. He was convicted of two misdemeanor cases from 2020 in Barron County involving disorderly conduct. His most recent address was listed as New Auburn.

According to a DOJ press release, at 3:38 p.m. Saturday, Breidenbach stopped a vehicle in the village of Cameron and gunfire was exchanged. Breidenbach and Scheel both were hit by gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect from the incident was taken to a hospital, where they later died.

The location of the shooting on County Highway SS is the main road between Cameron and Chetek.

DCI is leading the investigation and is assisted by the Barron County Sheriffs Office, Rusk County Sheriffs Office, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin State Crime Lab.

DCI will provide reports to the Barron County district attorney for review at the conclusion of its investigation.

IN PHOTOS: Cameron and Chetek mourn the loss of two police officers Cameron scene 1 Cameron scene 2 Cameron scene 3 Cameron scene 4 Chetek Police Department 1 Chetek Police Department 2 Chetek Police Department 3 Memorial Chetek Police Department Barron County Sheriff vehicle Memorial Chetek Police Department 2 Cameron water tower
Chinese artificial intelligence company SenseTime on Monday introduced an AI-powered chatbot called SenseChat. Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Xu Li took the stage to demonstrate the large AI model SenseNova and a user-facing chatbot called SenseChat.

SenseChat is based on the companys big AI model SenseNova, said its CEO and co-founder Xu Li. Xu showed off how SenseChat could tell a story about a cat catching fish, with multiple rounds of questions and responses.

Then he demonstrated how the bot could help with writing computer code, taking in layman-level questions in English or Chinese and then translating them into a workable product, Bloomberg reported.

According to the report, he said that now human programmers do about 80 per cent of the work in AI development, but in the future, it will be reversed so that AI can handle 80 per cent of the effort while humans take on 20 per cent of the work to direct and polish.

The AI model can also help double-check, translate and revise code, the report said.

SenseTime is a Hong Kong-headquartered artificial intelligence company with offices in China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Macau, Malaysia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

Last Month, China slammed ChatGPT, the AI-driven chatbot by Microsoft-owned OpenAI that has become a rage, saying it is spreading US government misinformation" and directing Internet companies not to use it in their applications.

Chinese regulators told Tencent and Ant Group, the fintech affiliate of Alibaba Group, not to offer ChatGPT services to the public, Nikkei Asia reported.

There is a growing alarm in Beijing over the AI-powered chatbots uncensored replies to user queries. Tencent and Ant Group have been instructed not to utilise ChatGPT either directly or via third parties", said the report.

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Pakistani political outfits from both sides of the aisle doubt that the new anti-terror operation launched by the Pakistani government and the army will lead to concrete results.

An ally of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs coalition government, the National Democratic Movement (NDM), said the government has lost the trust of the people and even if several hundred such operations are launched, it will be hard for the government to win back the trust of the people.

They have lost public trust. People dont believe them any more even if they launch 100 military operations against militants, NDMs Mohsin Dawar was quoted as saying by news agency the Dawn.

Dawar said the government will have completely changed its policy towards the Taliban. The government supports the Afghan Taliban, who support the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Dawar said.

Dawar also pointed out that the sham policy of good Taliban, bad Taliban led to rise in terrorism in the country and until the country does not address the root cause of terrorism, Afghan policy and Project Taliban and correct the mistakes committed between 2007 to 2014, the anti-terror operations will not yield any results.

The government and the army last week reaffirmed that they will eliminate terror threats and launch the National Action Plan (NAP) within 15 days to eliminate terrorists coming in from Afghanistan.

Pakistan is walking a tightrope with respect to the situation in Afghanistan as the Taliban leadership has not shown keenness in reigning in the TTP despite Pakistan doing the Afghanistan Taliban leaderships bidding in international forums.

The TTP has mounted several attacks on police, armed forces and civilians and more than hundred have died in the recent months due to suicide attacks, car bomb blasts and ambushes targeting security personnel.

Aimal Wali Khan, provincial president of the Awami National Party (ANP), demanded that Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi, the former prime minister Imran Khan, former KP chief minister Mahmood Khan, former spymaster Faiz Hameed and former KP cabinet member Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif be arrested and said they have acted as facilitators of the TTP, allowing them to reenter Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The facilitators should be brought to justice before any decision on a fresh military offensive against militants, Khan was quoted as saying by the Dawn.

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A high school teacher in the US state of Florida has been fired after he assigned students to write their own obituaries ahead of an active shooter drill.

The Orange County School District said in a statement seen by news media that a teacher gave an inappropriate assignment about school violence (and) has been terminated." It provided no further detail.

Jeffrey Keene, a veteran teacher who was hired at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando in January, told a local Fox subsidiary that he was dismissed without explanation.

An apparent copy of the assignment posted by Keene on Facebook shows that he had asked his upper grade students to imagine, as part of a psychology lesson, that today was your last day alive" and write their own death notices.

He further asked students to think about why the United States is having so many mass shootings," and to consider what kind of positive actions can we take to decrease the number of mass shootings?'"

A disclaimer at the bottom of the assignment says it is in no way" intended to upset anyone, though Keene said some students apparently complained to school counselors.

Keene, 63, told Fox that his challenge to students was to get rid of all the fluff and show them whats important in the world."

If you cant talk real to (the students), then whats happening in this environment?" Keene asked. In my mind, Ive done nothing wrong."

He told Fox that he planned to appeal the decision, though as a probationary teacher not yet a member of the teachers union he has less leverage to do so.

Orlando was the site of one of the countrys deadliest mass shootings  the June 2016 assault by a 29-year-old gunman at the Pulse nightclub that killed 49 people.

One of the worst US school shootings occurred a few hours drive south, in the Miami suburb of Parkland, when a 19-year-old shooter killed 17 people in 2018.

Gun violence  and what to do about it  is a deeply divisive issue in the United States. Two state legislators in Tennessee were recently expelled from the assembly after interrupting debate to demand gun control measures.

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The Taiwanese government said 59 Chinese aircraft crossed the Taiwan Straits median line on Monday and entered the nations air defence zone. China is running a three-day war game dubbed Operation Joint Sword where they are rehearsing an encirclement of Taiwan. Monday is the last day of Operation Joint Sword, the Peoples Liberation Armys (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command said.

The nations defence ministry said that it detected 11 Chinese warships around the island.

#BREAKING Taiwan detects 11 Chinese warships, 59 aircraft around island: defence ministry pic.twitter.com/zHpaJBwgpa AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 10, 2023

The independence of Taiwan is under threat as China wants to reunify its neighbour with the motherland and views the democratic, self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory, vowing to take it one day, by force if necessary.

WATCH: A computer generated animation by the PLA Eastern Theater Command shows its mock joint precision strikes on the island of Taiwan on Sunday pic.twitter.com/mbjfxsPRcz Global Times (@globaltimesnews) April 9, 2023

The Operation Joint Sword is a retaliatory response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other US lawmakers. She also visited Latin American nations seeking support but her allies in the lower half of the Americas are dwindling as they have traditionally held close ties with Beijing.

VIDEO: PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted mock attacks on key targets around Taiwan island on Sun, the 2nd day of its island encirclement patrols and joint drills pic.twitter.com/agsoufjaf0 Global Times (@globaltimesnews) April 9, 2023

On Saturday and Sunday, a combined total of 125 aircraft and 11 Chinese warships were spotted across the island. The AFP citing its own data said that Saturdays incursions were highest this year.

China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan in its largest show of force in years in August last year after McCarthys predecessor, Democrat veteran leader Nancy Pelosi visited the island and met President Tsai.

Tsai returned to Taiwan on Friday after her Latin America and US trips.

During the drills, China showed off a wide array of military equipment and weapons. The Chinese PLA used state-of-the-art J-16s, built by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and J-10C fighter jets.

The J-16s are capable of carrying both close- and long-range missiles and were previously used to enter Taiwans air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

It has also deployed warships and frigates and sent the Type 052C destroyer and the Type 054A frigate to the Taiwan Strait and also carried out simulations of an invasion using YJ-12B land-based anti-ship missiles and DF-11 and DF-15 short-range conventional ballistic missiles.

The YJ-12B land-based anti-ship missiles have a range of 460 kilometres and are able to carry both nuclear and conventional warheads, according to the US-based Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance.

The Global Times and other state-run media outlets have taken an adversarial tone towards Taiwan but have placed the blame on the US through its editorials and coverage.

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China ended three days of military drills around Taiwan on Monday saying they had tested integrated military capabilities under actual combat conditions, having practised precision strikes and blockading the island that Beijing views as its own.

Beijing announced the drills on Saturday, after Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring the democratically-governed island under Beijings control. Taiwans government strongly disputes Chinas claims and has denounced the drills.

The Chinese military said it had successfully completed" the exercises and comprehensively tested" the capabilities of multiple units under actual combat conditions.

The troops in the theatre are ready to fight all the time and can fight at any time, resolutely crushing any form of Taiwan independence separatism and foreign interference," the Eastern Theatre Command of the Peoples Liberation Army said in a statement.

Chinese state television said earlier on Monday that aircraft, including nuclear-capable H-6 bombers armed with live missiles, and warships staged drills to form a multi-directional island-encompassing blockade situation".

The Eastern Theatre Command said the Shandong aircraft carrier had also taken part in combat patrols, and it showed fighters taking off from its deck.

Taiwan has been tracking the Shandong since last week in the Pacific Ocean.

Taiwans defence ministry published a map on Monday of the previous 24 hours of Chinese air force activities, showing four carrier-based Chinese J-15 fighters operating over the Pacific Ocean to Taiwans east.

The ministry said that as of mid-morning on Monday it had spotted 59 military aircraft and 11 ships around Taiwan, and that the Shandong carrier group was conducting drills in the Western Pacific.

JAPANESE CONCERN

The Shandong conducted air operations in waters close to Japans Okinawan islands on Sunday, Japans defence ministry said on Monday.

Jet fighters and helicopters took off and landed on the carrier 120 times over Friday to Sunday, with the carrier, three other warships and a support vessel coming within 230 kilometres (143 miles) of Japans Miyako island, the defence ministry said.

Japan has been following Chinas military drills around Taiwan with great interest", a top government spokesperson said on Monday.

Japan has long worried about Chinas military activities in the area given how close southern Japanese islands are to Taiwan.

The southern Japanese island of Okinawa hosts a major U.S. air force base, and last August when China staged war games to protest the visit of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei, Chinese missiles landed within Japans exclusive economic zone.

The European Union also expressed concern on Monday, saying Taiwans status should not be changed by force as any escalation, accident or use of force there would have huge global implications.

The United States has said it is watching Chinas drills closely.

GRAPHIC: Chinese military aircraft entering Taiwans air defence identification zone.

LOCK ON THE TARGET

Chinas military simulated precision strikes against Taiwan in the second day of drills around the island on Sunday.

The Eastern Theatre Command on Monday released a short video on its WeChat account showing an H-6 bomber flying in what it said was the skies north of Taiwan.

The missiles are in good condition," an unidentified voice says, as the video shows images from the cockpit.

Start the fire control radar, lock on the target," another voice says, showing images of a missile under the aircrafts wing.

It then shows a pilot readying the fire control button for what it describes as a simulated attack, and then pressing the button, though it did not show any missiles being fired.

Taiwans military has repeatedly said it will respond calmly to Chinas drills and not provoke conflict.

The defence ministry separately released pictures on Monday of mobile launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship missiles at an undisclosed location, as well as missile-armed fast attack boats at sea.

Reuters reporters at the Cape Maobitou park in Pingtung county on Taiwans southern tip saw Hsiung Feng launchers deployed near a scenic spot on Monday, as soldiers stood guard and tourists watched and posed for pictures.

Life in Taiwan has continued normally with no signs of panic or disruption, and civilian flights operating as usual.

Most normal people probably arent afraid, with the main reason being that everyone thinks that China will certainly not start a war," said retiree and former soldier Tang Pao-hsiung, 78.

Taiwans stock market brushed off the tension, with the benchmark index closing up 0.3% on Monday.

However, Chinas blue-chip CSI300 Index fell 0.5%, while the Shanghai Composite Index dipped 0.4% as the drills curbed investors risk appetite.

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China simulated sealing off" Taiwan during a third day of wargames around the self-ruled island on Monday, as the United States deployed a naval destroyer into Beijing-claimed waters in a show of force.

China launched the exercises in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke a furious response.

After two days of exercises that included simulating targeted strikes on Taiwan and encirclement of the island, the Chinese military said the wargames also included sealing" it off, and a state media report said dozens of planes had practised an aerial blockade".

One of Chinas two aircraft carriers  the Shandong  also participated in todays exercise", the military added.

The United States, which had repeatedly called for China to show restraint, on Monday sent the USS Milius guided-missile destroyer through contested parts of the South China Sea.

This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea," the US Navy said in a statement.

It added that the vessel had passed near the Spratly Islands  an archipelago claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. It is about 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from Taiwan.

The deployment of the Milius immediately triggered more anger from China, which said the vessel had illegally intruded" into its territorial waters.

And Beijing warned Monday that Taiwan independence and cross-strait peace were mutually exclusive", blaming Taipei and unnamed foreign forces" supporting it for the tensions.

If we want to protect peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait we must firmly oppose any form of Taiwan independence separatism," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin warned.

Meanwhile, Japan said on Monday it had scrambled jets in recent days as Chinese planes landed and took off from the Shandong.

No war

On Beigan island, part of Taiwans Matsu archipelago that is within sight of Chinas mainland, 60-year-old chef Lin Ke-qiang told AFP he simply did not want war.

We, common people, just want to live peaceful and stable lives," Lin said, adding that Taiwans military was no match for Chinas.

If any war happens, now that their missiles are so advanced, theres no way our side could resist. This side will be levelled to the ground."

China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949. China views democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day.

The United States has been deliberately ambiguous on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily.

But for decades it has sold weapons to Taipei to help ensure its self-defence, and offered political support.

Tsai met McCarthy outside Los Angeles on her way home from a visit with two allied countries in Central America.

In August last year, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan in its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island by McCarthys predecessor, Nancy Pelosi.

Tsai meeting with McCarthy in the United States rather than in Taiwan, was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for the island but avoid inflaming tensions with Beijing.

But China had repeatedly warned against any meeting, and began the latest wargames soon after Tsai returned to Taiwan.

These operations serve as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence and external forces and against their provocative activities," Shi Yin, a PLA spokesman, said about Joint Sword".

Tsai responded to the drills by pledging to work with the US and other like-minded countries" in the face of continued authoritarian expansionism".

Live-fire exercises

The exercises on Monday were set to include live-fire drills off the rocky coast of Chinas Fujian province, about 80 kilometres south of the Matsu islands and 190 kilometres from Taipei.

The local maritime authority said the exercises would be held between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm around Pingtan, a southeastern island that is Chinas nearest point to Taiwan.

AFP journalists on Pingtan did not see any immediate military activity in an offshore area on Monday.

A video published Monday to the Chinese Eastern Theatre Commands official WeChat account showed a pilot saying he had arrived near the northern part of Taiwan Island", with missiles locked into place".

In another video with dramatic orchestral accompaniment, an officers piercing whistle sends military personnel running into position as a simulated barrage on Taiwan unfolds on screen.

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In a bizarre set of events in China, a man was sentenced to prison this week after a court found him guilty of scaring to death 1,100 chickens belonging to his neighbour.

The incident happened after the man, reported by his surname Gu, was having a feud with his neighbour, Zhong, after the latter cut down his trees without permission in April last year, CNN reported.

The feud intensified after which Gu sneaked into neighbour Zhongs chicken farm during the night on more than one occasion.

According to the report, Gu used flashlight which caused panic among the flock after which the birds crowded into a corner in fear and hundreds of them died in the ensuing crush.

When Gu trespassed into the neighbours property, 500 chickens died after being crushed. He was arrested and forced to pay a fine of 3,000 yuan ($436) to the neighbour making his resentment towards Zhong even more intense.

But the fine didnt made him deter and he continued to seek revenge from the neighbour. He went to Zhongs property for a second time and killed his 640 chickens.

The Hengyang court on Tuesday sentenced that Gu had intentionally caused property loss to Zhong. The authorities ruled that 1,100 dead chickens were estimated to be worth a total of 13,840 yuan ($2,015).

He was sentenced to serve six months in prison with one year of probation, a sentence it said took into account the remorse Gu had shown for his crime.

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With just over two weeks remaining for the holy month of Ramadan to end, the highly anticipated long weekend with Eid Al-Fitr festivity is approaching.

The holiday, celebrated after the holy month of Ramadan in the Hijri calendar, will also mark a long weekend of 2023. It is likely to start from Thursday, April 20 to Sunday, April 23.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has also announced that the Eid Al-Fitr 2023 holiday will begin on Thursday (April 13), corresponding to the 22nd of Ramadan.

According to a report in Saudi Gazette, Eid Al-Fitr is expected to begin on Friday, April 21. However, the exact date of Eid will be confirmed after the sighting of the moon.

The country also announced that the classes will resume after the Eid holiday on April 26, corresponding to the 6th day of the Islamic month of Shawwal.

The report added that the academic year of 1444 AH of the Islamic calendar, which began in August 2022 and lasted for 185 school days, ends on June 22.

Other Middle Eastern countries including Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates will also celebrate the Eid Al-Fitr holidays from April 21 and ending on April 23.

Meanwhile, a massive surge in demand for air travel during the holiday is expected, with fares increasing by 100 percent just ahead of the long weekend.

A report in Khaleej Times said that inquiries and bookings for travel have already started, with budget destinations like Georgia and Azerbaijan selling out quickly.

Eid comes after Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed as a time of fasting, spiritual reflection, devotion and increased charity.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (EAM) on Monday called on Uganda President Yoweri Museveni and discussed possible cooperation in areas like trade, infrastructure, energy and defense.

Meeting with President Museveni is part of a three-day visit to the East African country. During the talks, Jaishankar conveyed personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and appreciated his guidance on furthering long-standing ties between the two countries.

Privileged to call on President @KagutaMuseveni of Uganda at his farm in Rwakitura. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Appreciated his guidance on furthering our traditional and long-standing ties, Jaishankar tweeted.

Privileged to call on President @KagutaMuseveni of Uganda at his farm in Rwakitura. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi.Appreciated his guidance on furthering our traditional and long-standing ties. pic.twitter.com/3eIn8q6Swt  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 10, 2023

Discussed cooperation in trade & investment, infrastructure, energy, defense, health, digital and agricultural domains. Congratulated Uganda on assuming the chairship of the NAM and affirmed our strong coordination at multilateral forums including the United Nations," Jaishankar said in another tweet.

Jaishankar is on a two-nation visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10-15 to strengthen Indias strong bilateral relations with these two countries. The external affairs minister is on a trip to Uganda from April 10-12, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

In a tweet, President Museveni said issues of mutual interest were discussed and both of them agreed to cooperate in the areas of agriculture, defense, and security.

I hosted @DrSJaishankar, Indias Minister of External Affairs at my home in Rwakitura this afternoon. We discussed issues of mutual interest and agreed to cooperate in the areas of agriculture, ICT, defense and security, development of the pathogenic economy, etc. I welcome him," Ugandas President tweeted.

I hosted @DrSJaishankar , Indias Minister of External Affairs at my home in Rwakitura this afternoon.We discussed issues of mutual interest and agreed to cooperate in the areas of agriculture, ICT, defense & security, development of the pathogenic economy, etc.I welcome him. pic.twitter.com/GMRr4LzbUe Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) April 10, 2023

During the visit, he will hold delegation-level talks with his counterpart Foreign Minister General Jeje Odongo, call on the countrys leadership and meet other Ministers.

Minister Jaishankar will also inaugurate the transit campus of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Jinja.

A bilateral MoU between the Government of India and Government of Uganda, on setting up of the first-ever campus of NFSU outside India, is likely to be signed during the visit," MEA said in an earlier press release.

EAM will participate in the ground-breaking ceremony of a solar-powered water supply project in Uganda. He will also address the trade and business community of Uganda and have an interaction with the Indian diaspora.

After concluding his Uganda visit, Jaishankar will visit Mozambique from April 13-15. This will be the first visit by an External Affairs Minister of India to the Republic of Mozambique since 2010.

During the visit, EAM will call on top leadership and also co-chair the 5th Session of the Joint Commission Meeting with Mozambican Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo.

He is also expected to meet several other Ministers and representatives of the Assembly of Mozambique. EAM will also interact with the Indian diaspora based in Mozambique.

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Senior Japanese and Chinese officials met on Monday to discuss maritime concerns in disputed waters in the East China Sea as Beijing conducted wargames around Taiwan.

Part of a regular round of talks that began in 2012, the meeting comes as Chinese warplanes and warships simulated strikes against Taiwan after President Tsai Ing-wen visited the United States and met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Ahead of the talks, Hong Liang, the chief of the Chinese delegation, said he was seeking co-operation in the maritime area with Japan, and expected an in-depth conversation with his counterparts.

A top spokesperson of the Japanese government said Japan had been following Chinas drills around Taiwan consistently and with great interest.

The importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only important for the security of Japan, but also for the stability of the international community as a whole, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

Beijing, which considers Taiwan a part of China, regards meetings between senior US and Taiwanese officials as interference in its internal affairs.

It has not ruled out using force to bring what it views as a rogue province under its control.

Hong Liang, the Chinese official, is director-general of boundary and ocean affairs in the foreign ministry, while Japans side is being led by Takehiro Funakoshi, its director-general of Asian and Oceanian Affairs.

At the last meeting in November, Hong criticised Tokyo for commenting on Chinas activity in the Taiwan Strait separating the island from the mainland.

He also asked Japan to pull its ships back from the seas around islands in the East China Sea claimed by both countries.

The coast guard ships of both nations regularly confront each other in the waters around the Japanese-controlled islands, known in Japan as the Senkaku and in China as the Diaoyu.

While the United States has no position regarding the sovereignty of the territory, it has said it would regard any attempt by China to capture the islands as an attack on its ally.

Last month, China and Japan set up a military hotline to help defuse any air and sea incidents in the contested waters.

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CAMERON  An outpouring of sympathy and support from residents and law enforcement has flowed toward Cameron and Chetek as news spread that two local police officers and a suspect were killed in a shootout that began with a traffic stop Saturday afternoon.

We just found out this morning. Just totally shocked, Chetek resident Mary Berg said Sunday. (We) just feel heartbroken for the families. Totally heartbroken. Hopefully we can heal as a community. Its terrible.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident.

According to a DOJ press release, at 3:38 p.m. Saturday an officer from the Chetek Police Department stopped a vehicle in the village of Cameron and gunfire was exchanged. One Chetek police officer and one Cameron police officer were pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect from the incident was taken to a hospital, where they later died.

None of the names of those involved have been released. The Wisconsin DOJ did not immediately respond to an email from The Chippewa Herald seeking additional information.

The location of the shooting on County Highway SS is familiar to most local residents as the main road between Cameron and Chetek. Firefighters from the Cameron Area Fire District were at the scene Sunday spraying down the highway with water.

Chetek City County President Scott Bachowski said he knew the police officer who was killed, but could not release her name.

She was truly truly a wonderful woman, and someone the community and the kids in the community are really going to miss, Bachowski said.

A makeshift memorial with flowers and a candle had been set up Sunday in a snowbank at the Chetek Police Department.

Residents said the officers were well-loved and will be missed.

They were just too young. Great people, said Ashley Elledge from Cameron. A lot of people in this area are very heartbroken.

The Barron County Sheriffs Department shared its condolences as well.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Cameron and Chetek Police Departments, the Barron County Sheriffs Department said on Facebook.

Friends and family from out of town visiting for the Easter holiday expressed dismay about the situation.

Im not from around here, but its horrible. I really appreciate all police officers, anyone who is protecting the public. And its terrible. And Im sorry, but this is a political thing  we need to have greater enforcement of our gun laws, Rosann Froehle of Center City Minnesota. My condolences to the families. It is terrible.

Gov. Tony Evers offered support and sympathy in a Twitter post on Sunday.

Our hearts are heavy for the Chetek and Cameron police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty yesterday. Kathy and I are praying for the officers families, colleagues, and the Barron County community mourning this tragic loss, Evers wrote.

I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss today of two officers, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a tweet late Saturday. I am thinking of their families and the Chetek and Cameron Police Departments at this incredibly difficult time.

DCI is leading the investigation and is assisted by the Barron County Sheriffs Office, Rusk County Sheriffs Office, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin State Crime Lab.

DCI will provide reports to the Barron County district attorney for review at the conclusion of its investigation.

Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes said in a Facebook post: My heart goes out to the City of Chetek and Village of Cameron. Two police officers were killed in the line of duty. If you thought you seen me in Chetek on patrol today, you did. Good neighbors help out in your time of need.

Rest easy officers, we have your watch from here.

IN PHOTOS: Cameron and Chetek mourn the loss of two police officers Cameron scene 1 Cameron scene 2 Cameron scene 3 Cameron scene 4 Chetek Police Department 1 Chetek Police Department 2 Chetek Police Department 3 Memorial Chetek Police Department Barron County Sheriff vehicle Memorial Chetek Police Department 2 Cameron water tower
French President Emmanuel Macron has caused a stir by saying Europe has no interest in accelerating the conflict in Taiwan and should become a third pole independent of both Washington and Beijing.

Political actors on both sides of the Atlantic criticised the presidents position as being too accommodating of China, just as it carries out military drills around Taiwan.

In an interview with French newspaper Les Echos and Politico during his three-day visit to China last week, Macron said the worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and adapt to the American rhythm or a Chinese overreaction.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwans government strongly objects to Chinas claims.

German MP for the Bundestags foreign committee Norbert Roettgen said in a tweet that Macron had managed to turn his China trip into a PR coup for Xi and a foreign policy disaster for Europe. He added that the French president was increasingly isolating himself in Europe.

In a video posted on Twitter, U.S. senator Marco Rubio drew parallels with the conflict in Ukraine  on which Macron hopes to enlist the help of China.

If Europe doesnt pick sides between the U.S. and China over Taiwan, then maybe we shouldnt be picking sides either [on Ukraine], the Republican senator said.

Pascal Confavreux, spokesperson for the French embassy in the United States, said that Macrons comments had been overinterpreted.

The US is our ally with whom we share our values, he said on Twitter.

The Elysee did not respond to requests for comment.

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Nepal Police on Monday said it was on alert regarding the possible entry of Amritpal Singh, days after the fugitive radical preacher was put on the countrys surveillance list.

We have received no information about the entry of Amritpal into Nepal," Poshraj Pokharaj Pokharel, spokesperson for Nepal Police, said when asked to comment on the local media reports about the entry of the radical preacher into the country.

Nepal Police were on alert, the spokesperson said.

He also said that there is no truth in reports about the entry of the Indian security personnel into the country to trace the pro-Khalistan preacher.

India is reported to have told Nepal to remain on alert on the possible entry of Amritpal into Nepal.

The Nepal Police have said that Amritpal has not entered Nepal until now.

Singh, who is said to be possessing multiple passports with different identities, has been on the run since March 18 when the police launched a crackdown against him.

The elusive preacher gave the police the slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in Punjabs Jalandhar district.

Amritpal Singhs close aide Papalpreet Singh was nabbed in Amritsar district and detained under the National Security Act, police said on Monday.

Nepals Department of Immigration last month put Singh on its surveillance list following a request from the Indian Embassy here, officials said.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML lawmaker Raghuji Panta has said that the open border between Nepal and India has become a safe haven for criminals and asked the government to control it.

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North Korea has not responded to the regularly scheduled inter-Korean calls for the third consecutive day, raising concerns amid ongoing military tensions in the Korean peninsula.

North Korea officials were unresponsive to the regular phone communication between the two sides on Sunday after the calls on the military line went unanswered on the previous two days, Bloomberg reported citing a report in Yonhap News.

The two rival nations hold phone calls twice a day through the two lines during a week for logistical and diplomatic purposes, while the military channel is used on weekends.

South Korea defense ministry officials said they reached out to Pyongyang through the military hotline at 9 am on Sunday but the calls went unanswered, the report said.

This comes as North Korea tested another underwater nuclear attack drone, in response to South Korean and United States military drills. In recent weeks, North Korea has tested what state media have described as an underwater nuclear-capable drone, and also carried out the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

This month, the US and South Korean militaries will also hold their largest joint drills in five years.

The report further said the North Koreas lack of response to the daily calls might be a precursor to further military exercise by the Kim Jong Un regime.

North Korea and South Korea are technically still at war as the two sides have not reached any peace agreement after the Korean War, that ended in 1953.

Earlier in August 2017, Pyongyang did not respond to South Koreas request for inter-Korean military talks just days before it launched a ballistic missile that flew over Japan.

The hotline between the two nations was restored in July 2021, after being ignored for about a year by the North in protest of Seoul activists leaflet campaigns critical of North.

However, the unresponsive calls have not always resulted in elevated tensions. Earlier in June last year, North Korean did not respond to a regular hotline call due to technical glitches.

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Ukraines First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova, who is currently in India, said that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the eastern Europe country, and New Delhi to be more involved in its conflict with Russia.

Talking to CNBC-TV18, Dzhaparova said, President Zelensky has requested for a phone call for PM Modi. We are inviting PM Modi to visit Kyiv.

She emphasized that Ukraine wants India to be more involved in helping resolving the conflict with Kremlin. We believe India should be engaged and involved in the Ukraine issue to a great extent," she added.

Dzhaparova highlighted that Ukraine wants greater political dialogue with India on its ongoing war with Russia.

Dzaparova also urged India to invite Zelenskyy for the G20 Leaders Summit in September and requested the participation of Ukrainian officials in other G20 platforms this year, she told CNBC-TV18.

Dzhaparova is on a four-day visit to India, the first official visit from the East European country since the Russian invasion began last year.

Dzhaparova on Monday said her country is a victim of unprovoked and neo-colonial war launched by its neighbour Russia.

Happy to visit -the land that gave birth to many sages,saints&gurus. Today, #India wants to be the Vishwaguru,the global teacher and arbiter. In our case, weve got a very clear picture:aggressor against innocent victim.Supporting is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru. Emine Dzheppar (@EmineDzheppar) April 10, 2023

She met with Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), Union ministry of external affairs and updated him regarding Ukraines efforts to fight against Russia. She added that she invited India to join Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskys Peace Formula and Grain from Ukraine initiative. Important to have India on Board, Emine said.

Pleasure to receive Ukrainian Deputy FM Emine Dzheppar. Perspectives shared. Discussed bilateral engagements and cooperation going forward. Wishing her a good trip. Her first as DFM, but a country she is familiar with," Verma tweeted.

Pleased to have a meeting with Secretary (West) MFA @SanjayVermalFS  in New Delhi. Updated on #Ukraines efforts to fight #russian unprovoked aggression. Invited  to join President Zelenskyys #PeaceFormula & #GrainFromUkraine initiative. Important to have #India on board. pic.twitter.com/v8ere2Mwex Emine Dzheppar (@EmineDzheppar) April 10, 2023

In our history of 1,500 years, Ukraine never attacked any country. We never had chauvinistic or imperialist attitude towards our neighbours. We are the victims of an unprovoked, neo-colonial war, Emine said.

Emine said that Ukraine supports and welcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modis comments on the conflict where he told Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2022 SCO Summit in Uzbekistans Samarkand that this is not an era of war.

Previous phone calls with PM Modi

Since the war began in Ukraine, Prime Minister Modi has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Zelenskyy a number of times.

In a phone conversation with President Zelenskyy on October 4 last year, Modi said there can be no military solution" and that India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts.

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A chopper belonging to the private helicopter service provider Heli Everest that had gone out of contact on Sunday morning was found crashed in West Central Nepals Dhaulagiri, without any casualty as the pilot and the lone passenger onboard were rescued, officials said.

The chopper, which flew at 11.1 am on Sunday, had gone out of contact after it was hit by strong winds. According to Phurwa Sherpa of Heli Everest, the wreckage of the helicopter was located at 12:40 pm, and the pilot was safely rescued and transported to Kathmandu for medical treatment.

The chopper was flown by Priya Adhikari, the only female helicoptor pilot of Nepal. The pilot and a Nepali Sherpa passenger who were on board the chopper have been rescued from the site unhurt. They were flown to Kathmandu after first aid treatment, he said.

The chopper was carrying goods for Italian mountaineers around Dhaulagiri base camp, when the accident occurred.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has formed a committee to investigate into the incident.

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Four people including two policemen and a minor girl died after an explosion near a police vehicle struck Pakistans Quetta on Monday. According to news agency GeoTV, the blast was reported from the citys Shahrah-e-Iqbal area.

The report also said 15 people were also injured in the blast. Several vehicles and motorcycles in the area have been damaged due to the blast. The injured were shifted to the nearby Civil Hospital.

We have received four bodies and eight injured so far in Civil Hospital, Wasim Baig, spokesman for the Quetta hospital told news outlet Reuters.

The police officers also told Reuters that the attack targeted the vehicle of the acting superintendent of police investigations. The vehicle was parked in Quettas Kandahari Bazar.

Senior police official Shafqat Cheema told Reuters that initial reports showed an improvised explosive device was planted in a motorcycle. The motorcycle was parked behind the officers vehicle. They said that three to four kilos of explosives were used in the blast.

No one has claimed responsibility for Mondays blasts.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the blast in Balochistans capital city with prayers for those who died in the incident and offered condolences to their families.

In February, at least five people were injured in a blast in Pakistans Quetta. The banned militant outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the blast that occurred at Quetta Police Lines Area.

The February blasts also targeted police officers.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has increased its attacks on Pakistans police and armed forces. In January, the TTP carried out a suicide bomb blast in a mosque situated in heavily secured area in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar. The blasts occurred in the citys Police Lines area and led to the deaths of over 90 people and injured over 100 people. The January blasts also targeted the security personnel.

The Pakistani Taliban also laid siege on the Karachi police headquarters in February. It took responsibility for the attacks and said the suicide mission aimed to take control of the police station and eliminate top officers. Three police officers and one civilian died in the incident.

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The recent war games orchestrated by China are muted attempts to warn Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen that Chinese President Xi Jinping will not tolerate US and Taiwan strengthening ties while it tries to paint itself as a global peacemaker.

A report by the Wall Street Journal pointed out that Chinas response in the form of Operation Joint Sword to Tsai Ing-wens meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the Californian Republican, came only after French President Emmanuel Macron ended his state visit to China.

Macron and European Union chief Ursula von Der Leyen concluded their trip to China last week.

They met Chinese President Xi Jinping and urged him to influence Russia to end its so-called military operation in Ukraine. China also wooed Macron and der Leyen with a state dinner in its attempt to shift France towards Beijing.

During Tsais trip to the US, the Chinese lieutenants also hosted the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran for a meeting building on the diplomatic detente brokered last month in Beijing between the two West Asian nations that took Washington by surprise.

The Wall Street Journal in its report also pointed out that the Operation Joint Sword war drills are muted in nature when compared to the war drills China carried out around Taiwan following former US House Speaker and Californian Democrat Nancy Pelosis visit to Taipei.

It also pointed out that China wants to retain its image of being a global peacemaker after it helped broker the peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran and also showed active interest as emerging as a peacemaker between Russia and Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron also appeared to acknowledge that Beijing can play an active role in ending the war last week.

I know I can count on you to bring back Russia to reason and everyone back to the negotiating table, Macron told Xi Jinping, the Guardian.

The Wall Street Journal also pointed out that the severity of the war games around Taiwan launched this weekend increased only after the West Asian minister, Macron and der Leyen left Beijing.

It also pointed out that Beijing did not react as expected to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman and Texas Republican Michael McCauls visit to Taipei.

It should also be noted that Beijing also welcomed Tsai Ing-wens predecessor and rival Ma Ying-jeou to China for a high-profile visitthe first by a former Taiwanese president.

China does not want to stir anti-China emotions in Taiwan as the island-nation readies for general elections and there is no clear frontrunner, signalling that it will a tight race.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal report also claimed after analysing Chinese social media that its war games received mixed response from the Chinese people.

It cited that when Hu Xijin, veteran journalist from Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times, tweeted about the impact of the war games some were quick to point out that these were made to appease the Chinese people.

China says democratic, self-governing Taiwan is part of China and it will be reunified with the Motherland if needed, by force and has warned US and other nations against forging diplomatic relations with Taipei.

China has launched Operation Joint Sword, a three-day war drill around the self-governed Taiwan, as a retaliatory response to Tsais visit to the US and Latin America.

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Putting pressure on the Pakistans government to hold elections, former prime minister and current Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said his supporters will begin demonstrations on the streets.

Khan alleged some people wanted to remove me from the path. These people wanted to kill me like Murtaza Bhutto (Pakistani politician). They were afraid that if I was put in jail, my popularity would increase, so they wanted to kill me, he said.

While issuing White Paper on the completion of one year of the fall of his PTI government, Khan said he had earlier alleged that America was behind his downfall, but it was the current Pakistan government who conspired against him.

He also said as the foreign funding case against him is over, so would be the Tosha Khana case.

Dawn reported that a journalist had inquired about the gifts received by the former PM, but his government denied to give any information under the Right to Information law. Trouble started when the coalition government by PML-N filed a case against Khan for not disclosing the information on gifts after the case was filed by the journalist in August 2022.

Meanwhile, Khan praised Indias foreign policy and said Pakistan wanted cheap Russian crude oil just like India but was not able to do so as his government collapsed.

We wanted to get cheap Russian crude oil just like India but that could not happen as unfortunately, my government fell due to a no-confidence motion, Imran Khan said in a video message.

Pakistan Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik, however, said in April that the first-ever shipment of cheap oil from Russia would reach Pakistan next month. The minister said the deal was finalised with Moscow, adding, The first shipment will reach next month through a cargo.

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UN human rights chief Volker Turk said Monday he was very concerned" after China sentenced two prominent human rights lawyers to more than a decade in jail.

Xu Zhiyong and fellow campaigner Ding Jiaxi were convicted of subversion of state power" following closed-door trials.

Both were leading figures in the New Citizens Movement, a civil rights group that called for constitutional reform and criticised government corruption.

I am very concerned that two prominent human rights defenders in China -Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong  have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, at variance with international human rights law standards," Turk said in a statement.

Human rights law requires that people not be prosecuted or otherwise punished for voicing their criticism of government policies," he added.

It also requires respect for fair trial and due process rights, and proper investigations into any allegations of ill-treatment."

Xu, who called for President Xi Jinping to step down over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, was jailed for 14 years following a closed-door trial in east Chinas Shandong province, Human Rights Watch said.

Ding was jailed for 12 years and deprived of political rights for three years", his wife Luo Shengchun told AFP, referring to a punishment in China that bars the convicted from holding public office.

Observers have regularly raised concerns about due process in China, where the courts have a conviction rate of about 99 percent.

I will follow up on these cases with the authorities," said Turk.

It is important that steps are taken to ensure that other human rights defenders are not targeted for exercising their human rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly."

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The United States on Monday determined that Russia had wrongfully detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and urged his immediate release, stepping up pressure on his behalf.

The formal decision by the State Department on Gershkovich, who was taken into custody on March 29, was unusually swift and indicated the seriousness attached by Washington to the case, the first time Moscow has accused a US journalist of espionage since the Soviet era.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a determination that Evan Gershkovich is wrongfully detained by Russia," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said.

We call for the Russian Federation to immediately release Mr. Gershkovich," Patel said in a statement."

Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlins continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth," Patel said.

There had been little doubt that the United States would reach the determination on Gershkovich, with Blinken telling reporters last week that he felt the detention was unjust.

But US officials said they were required to work through a legal process and show due diligence on the case.

In practical terms, the determination means that Gershkovichs detention will be handled by the US special envoy on hostage affairs, Roger Carstens, giving more resources to the case.

Gershkovich was detained in Yekaterinburg, some 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) east of Moscow. Russian news agencies said Friday he was charged with espionage, an allegation denied by Gershkovich and The Wall Street Journal and which the White House called ridiculous."

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Top 50 EMS Companies Surpassed $457B in Revenue Published: 10 April 2023 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes

NEVADA CITY, CA  The top 50 EMS companies in the world accounted for $457 billion in revenue in 2022  an increase of $40 billion from 2021, according to a report from Manufacturing Market Insider.

Top 50 sales expanded dramatically from the previous year, exceeding the growth of the OEM market by more than double.

In recent years, Top 50 expansion has received a boost from EMS giant Foxconn because of its size and strong growth rate. This year, Foxconns revenue depressed the total industry growth by only expanding 0.6% in 2022. Industry participants cannot expect the companys revenue to continue to expand at double-digit rates, as these large numbers are difficult to sustain compared to those of Tier 2-4 suppliers, which have grown rapidly over the last few years due to acquisitions.

An example of this was Pegatron who experienced negative growth in 2022 of -0.2%. But better results were reported by Wistron, which achieved 7.1% revenue growth, along with Jabil, which experienced 15.1% revenue growth, moving it into a third-place position in the industry. As far as the fastest growing companies, GPV Group ranked in first place with YoY growth of 65.1%, followed closely by Kitron with growth of 56.3%, Kaga Electronics with growth of 55.6%, and DBG with 43.9% growth.

Overall, the APAC region accounted for around 77.6% of the Top 50 EMS revenue, the Americas represented 20.4% of revenue, and the EMEA region constituted 23.1%, mainly due to extensive activity in acquisitions. It took a minimum of $444 million in sales to make the Top 50  an increase of $12 million in revenue.

For 2022, the top 10 accounted for 89% of Top 50 sales, down from 92.8% in 2021, still illustrating that the EMS industry remains top-heavy. The bottom 40 together produced an excellent 12.2% growth rate, increasing from $44.5 billion in 2021 to a reported $50 billion in 2022.

MMI tabulates its ranking information through an annual survey of over 100 of the largest EMS companies worldwide.
UPDATE

Apr 10, 2023 2:13 PM CDT

An autopsy has determined that actor Frank Vallelonga Jr. died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl and cocaine before his body was dumped on a sidewalk in the Bronx last year, according to a New York City medical examiner. Police said they suspected an overdose when the 60-year-old, who played his real-life uncle in Green Book, was found dead in an industrial area on Nov. 28, the New York Daily News. A man charged with concealment of a corpse told police that he "didn't know the guy at all." Steven Smith said Vallelonga was already dead when a woman called Pam told him the man had overdosed in a vehicle and asked for help getting rid of the body.

Dec 2, 2022 3:45 PM CST

Police in the Bronx are investigating the death of 60-year-old actor Frank Vallelongabest known for playing his real-life uncle in the Oscar-winning film Green Book. Officers found the body of Vallelonga outside a sheet-metal factory early Monday, per the Hollywood Reporter. He had suffered no obvious trauma, say police. Surveillance video led police to arrest 35-year-old Steven Smith, who was allegedly seen dumping Vallelonga's body at the scene after pulling it from a vehicle, reports the New York Times.

Smith, who has been charged with concealment of a corpse, told police that Vallelonga had overdosed but that he didn't know him. The criminal complaint says a woman he identified as "Pam" approached him and told him someone had OD'd in the car, and "I went to the car and drove off." He admitted disposing of the body, per the Times. Smith is due back in court next month, and the Legal Aid Society, which is representing him, says he was not involved in the actor's death.

Vallelonga is the son of the late actor Tony Lip, whose real name was Frank Vallelonga. The 2018 movie Green Book recounts how Lip, in real life, drove Black pianist Don Shirley around the South in the early 1960s. In the film, Frank Vallelonga Jr. portrayed his own uncle, Rudy Vallelonga. The screenplay was co-written by Frank Jr.'s brother Nick, who shared an Oscar for best original screenplay. The film itself won the best-picture award. Vallelonga Jr. also appeared in the independent film The Birthday Cake and on the TV series The Neighborhood, per Variety. (Read more Bronx stories.)
The state of Nebraska is suing a Lincoln company it contracted with for architectural and engineering services on a 25,000-square-foot addition to the Eastern Nebraska Veterans' Home.

In a lawsuit filed this week in Lincoln, Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Erik Fern said The Schemmer Associates Inc. provided architectural and engineering services on a $9.4 million expansion of the Eastern Nebraska Veterans' Home in Bellevue.

State officials kicked off the project with a groundbreaking ceremony a year ago.

Seven months later, Fern said, they discovered the addition encroached onto a transmission line easement held by the Omaha Public Power District.

He said the addition, built to drawings prepared by architects and engineers employed by Lincoln-based Schemmer, cannot be removed from OPPD's transmission easement "without complete demolition of the structure at a significant cost and waste."

Instead, OPPD now must move its transmission lines away from the addition.

Fern said the state currently is negotiating with OPPD. He said the preliminary expected cost of moving the transmission lines is $929,000 and the overall cost of completion could exceed $1.5 million, which the state is seeking.

The lawsuit names Shane Larsen, the principal architect on the project, and Matthew Sutton, the principal engineer, as defendants, in addition to the firm.

Fern said that in late October, Perry Reid Construction, which was doing the work, discovered an electrical charge bleeding from OPPD transmission lines adjacent to the addition into areas where electricity was supposed to be inactive and notified the states project manager.

He said the state contacted Schemmer about the issue, then Schemmer contacted OPPD.

Fern alleged that an investigation determined the architectural drawings had incorrectly plotted the location of OPPDs transmission line easement.

The company now is accused of breaching its duty of care to the state.

Officials from Schemmer didn't return an email request for comment Friday afternoon.

The 25,000-square-foot addition is expected to add a net 24 beds at the facility, which currently has 101 residents and a capacity of 120, according to the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs.

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On Friday, a jury unanimously convicted a Texas man of murder in the fatal shooting of an armed protester at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020. Less than a day later, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he will sign a pardon for that man "as soon as it hits my desk." Daniel Perry, a sergeant in the US Army, was working as an Uber driver when he ran a red light and drove into the protest in Austin; some protesters say he nearly ran them down. Garrett Foster, who was carrying an AK-47, approached Perry's car along with other protesters and Perry shot him five times through the window and then drove away, the Austin American-Statesman reports. Perry claims Foster pointed his rifle at him and Perry fired in self-defense, but as the Austin Chronicle reports, that claim was refuted during the trial by multiple witnesses who say Foster did not raise the gun's barrel.

Prosecutors also displayed text messages and social media posts from Perry endorsing violence against protesters. "I might have to kill a few people on my way to work, they are rioting outside my apartment complex," he said in one text. He also pondered the idea of claiming self-defense in such a scenario, which is what he ended up doing after killing Foster. And while the jury did not agree, many on the right came to Perry's defense and issued frantic calls for Abbott to pardon him if he was convicted. "Texas has one of the strongest Stand your ground laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or progressive district attorney," Abbott said on Twitter, adding that he has requested the Board of Pardons and Paroles to expedite a review of whether Foster should be granted a pardon. He expects a pardon to be recommended, and says he will sign. (Read more Texas stories.)
Saudi officials were in Yemen's capital Sunday for talks with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as part of international efforts to find a settlement to Yemens nine-year conflict, officials said. Saudi Arabias delegation, chaired by the kingdoms ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber, will hold talks with with Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthis supreme political council, which runs rebel-held areas in Yemen, according to the Houthi-run SABA news agency. An Omani delegation, which arrived in Sanaa on Saturday, will also join the talks, the agency reported, citing an unidentified source, per the AP.

Mohammed al-Bukaiti, a Houthi leader, said on Twitter that Saudi and Omani officials would discuss ways to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region. He said achieving an honorable peace between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia would be "a triumph for both parties, and urged all sides to take steps to preserve a peaceful atmosphere and prepare to turn the page of the past. There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia. The office of the UN envoy for Yemen didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The talks in Sanaa are part of international efforts led by Oman to settle Yemens conflict, which began in 2014. That's when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of the countrys north, ousting the internationally recognized government that fled to the south and then into exile in Saudi Arabia. The Houthi move prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene months later in a bid to restore the internationally recognized government to power. The conflict has in recent years turned into a regional proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia and the Houthis reached a draft deal last month to revive a cease-fire that expired in October. The deal is meant to usher in a return to Yemeni political talks, according to Saudi and Yemeni officials.

They said the Saudi-Houthi understandings include a six-month truce with a cessation of all military activities across Yemen. The Houthis have committed to coming to the table with other Yemeni parties to negotiate a political settlement to the conflict, they said. The United Nations is meant to facilitate the political negotiations, they added. Both parties also agreed to further ease restrictions by the Saudi-led coalition on Sanaas airport and the Houthi-controlled Red Sea ports in Hodeida, the officials said. The Houthis would lift their yearslong blockade on Taiz, Yemens third largest city which is held by government forces, they said.

(Read more Yemen stories.)
Two Democratic lawmakers who were expelled by Republican colleagues in Tennessee say they want to be reappointed, then elected back to their seats following their ouster for a protest on the House floor urging passage of gun-control measures. Nashville's metro council is likely to reappoint Justin Jones to the seat during a specially called meeting Monday, the AP reports. The Shelby County Commission plans to announce soon when it will meet to fill the vacancy left by Justin Pearson's expulsion. Likewise, commissioners can reinstall Pearson, who is from Memphis. Both former lawmakers told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that they want to return to their positions as lawmakers. Special elections for the seats, which have yet to be set, will follow in the coming months.

The expulsions have made Tennessee a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy. The former lawmakers have quickly drawn prominent supporters. President Biden spoke with them, and Vice President Kamala Harris visited them in Nashville. "This attack against us is hurting all people in our state," Jones said Sunday. "You know, even though it is disproportionately impacting Black and Brown communities, this is hurting poor white people. Their attack on democracy hurts all of us." In separate votes on Thursday, the GOP supermajority expelled Jones and Pearson, both of whom are Black, in a move leaving about 140,000 voters in primarily Black districts in Nashville and Memphis with no representation in the House.

A third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, was spared expulsion by a one-vote margin. Johnson is white, spurring outcry at the differing outcomes for the three lawmakers. She's suggested race was likely a factor on why Jones and Pearson were ousted but not her, telling reporters it might have to do with the color of our skin." Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton said Friday that's a "false narrative." Pearson said the statehouse has been a "toxic work environment." He noted the scrutiny he received for wearing a black dashikia tunic-like garment that originated in west Africafor session, rather than a suit and tie. "It's about us not belonging in the institution because they are afraid of the changes that are happening in our society, and the voices that are being elevated," Pearson said on Meet the Press.

(Read more Tennessee stories.)
As Los Angeles police officers chased a carjacking suspect Friday, a puppy that had been placed in a designer bag was suddenly tossed from the car windowand somehow survived the ordeal. Officers started chasing a Chevy Avalanche around noon; the driver was wanted in connection with a March 26 attempted murder and carjacking, Fox 11 reports. During the chase, the Chevy hit another vehicle. About an hour into the pursuit, the Chevy slowed and two female passengers fled on foot while the driver abandoned the Chevy to get in another vehicle that had apparently been waiting for him, CBS LA reports.

It was during the second leg of the chase that the puppy was tossed from the window. LAPD officers rescued the dog, and it's currently in the care of South LA Animal Services pending "an investigation into the abandonment concern," the LAPD PIO tweeted. Ultimately, the getaway vehicle stopped in a residential area and both the original suspect and the female driver of the second vehicle ran. The male soon surrendered and both were taken into custody. Gustavo Alvarez, 27, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and carjacking; Lynette Moreno, 27, was arrested on suspicion of arranging for the getaway vehicle; Michelle Zamudio, 25, was arrested on suspicion of evading for allegedly driving the getaway vehicle. (Read more Los Angeles stories.)
The news about the Great Salt Lake in January was about as grim as it gets: Scientists warned the saltwater lake in Utah might disappear altogether in five years, thanks to a combination of drought and heavy water usage. Now, the author of that same dire warning sounds a little more optimistic. "This year's snowpack is nothing short of miraculous," Brigham Young University ecologist Ben Abbott tells the Washington Post. "After so many years of drought, this definitely feels like an answer to prayers." As the Salt Lake Tribune reports, the lake has risen 3 feet since hitting a record low in Novemberit rose to 4,191.5 feet above sea level last week, up from the low mark of 4,188.5 feet.

What's more, that rise is a result of snow and rain falling directly into the lake"before the true snow runoff has begun," notes the Tribune. Meaning, the lake is certain to rise even more, perhaps starting this week as warmer temperatures cause snow to melt. Putting the celebration in context, Abbott also tells the Post that the lake still sits 6 feet below "the minimum acceptable elevation for the lake's ecological and economic health." But at least the level is going up for a change, instead of down.

More context from Candice Hasenyager, director of the Utah Division of Water Resources: "It's important to note that it will take much more than one above-average winter to fully replenish the lake's water levels and address our long-term challenges," she says, referring to looming decisions on water conservation and management. Meanwhile, the Hill reports that another high-profile lake, Nevada's Lake Mead, also is seeing levels rise in defiance of earlier projections. (Read more Great Salt Lake stories.)
Fox News has settled a defamation case involving former host Lou Dobbs and his allegations of a rigged 2020 election. Lawyers for the network and Venezuelan businessman Majed Khalil informed a federal judge in New York over the weekend that they had settled the case, reports the Hill. No financial details were released. As the New York Times notes, the settlement comes days before jury selection is scheduled to begin in a bigger defamation case against the networkone in which Dominion Voting Systems is suing for $1.6 billion, alleging that Fox hosts knowingly spread false claims that the company flipped the election for Joe Biden.

In the case involving Khalil, he sued after Dobbs accused him on social media in December 2020 of being the "effective COO" of the scheme to steal the election. That same day, attorney Sidney Powell went on Dobbs' show and said Khalili designed and developed rigged voting machines as part of the scheme. Fox canceled Dobbs' show in February 2021. Deadline sees the Khalil case as "a bit of a sidelight" to the bigger case that gets under way this week. This matter has been resolved amicably by both sides, a Fox News rep said in a statement, per the Los Angeles Times. (Emails show that prominent Fox hosts privately mocked claims that the election was stolen.)
Tensions between the US and China over Taiwan continue to ratchet up. The latest example came over the weekend when GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham said he is "very much open to using US forces to defend Taiwan, because it is in our national security interest to do so," per the Hill. The senator spoke on Fox News Sunday, days after Taiwan's president angered China by visiting the US and meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other lawmakers. Graham predicted that China would test the US with a blockade of Taiwan as early as this year, per Politico, comparing President Xi Jinping with Vladimir Putin as an aggressor.

I would up our game, Graham said. If you dont up your game now, you are going to have a war. Among his specific suggestions on that front: I would increase training and get the F-16s they need in Taiwan," he said. "I would move war forces to South Korea and Japan. I would put nuclear-tipped cruise missiles on all of our submarines all over the world." All of which has French President Emanuel Macron advising Europe to stay out of this looming fight.

The paradox would be that, overcome with panic, we believe we are just Americas followers, Macron told Politico. The question Europeans need to answer  is it in our interest to accelerate [a crisis] on Taiwan? No. The worse thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the US agenda and a Chinese overreaction." In that interview and others, Macron is pushing for what he terms "strategic autonomy" for Europe, per Deutsche Welle, which the outlet defines as "an independent foreign policy," one that is beholden to neither the US nor China. (Macron just wrapped up a visit to Beijing.)
Creepy or "playful?" The Dalia Lama is apologizing after video emerged of him asking a small boy to "suck his tongue" during a public greeting, reports Reuters. His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras, reads a statement from the office of the 87-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader. It adds that he "regrets" the moment in northern India and "wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused, per CNN. The incident happened in February when the Dalai Lama visited the city of Dharamshala.

The boy first asks if he can hug the Dalai Lama. Here is the description of what happened next, via the BBC:

"The leader motions to his cheek, saying 'first here' and the boy kisses his cheek and gives him a hug. Then, while holding the boy's hand, the Dalai Lama motions to his lips and says 'I think here also,' and kisses the boy on the lips. The leader then puts his forehead to that of the boy's, before sticking out his tongue, saying 'and suck my tongue.' As some people laugh, the boy sticks his tongue out before withdrawing a little, as does the Dalai Lama." You can see part of the moment here.

After that, the Dalai Lama counsels the boy to look to "good human beings who create peace and happiness." The BBC adds some context, noting that "sticking one's tongue out can be a form of greeting in Tibet." But a rights group in India wasn't accepting that explanation. Some news refers to Tibetan culture about showing tongue, but this video is certainly not about any cultural expression and even if it is, such cultural expressions are not acceptable," the group Haq tells CNN in a statement. (Read more Dalai Lama stories.)
Some Washington state criminals have apparently been watching a little too much Ocean's Eleven. As KOMO reports, police are still searching for burglars who burgled their way into an Apple Store in a most unusual way. The culprits cut through the bathroom wall of Seattle Coffee Gear in Alderwood Mall in Lynwood, making their way into the neighboring Apple Store through a 24-by-18-inch hole, and making their way out with some $500,000 in merchandise, per SFGate. "Approximately 436 iPhones in total were taken out of the back, says a Lynwood Police Department rep "In total about $500,000 worth of merchandise was stolen and thats iPhones, iPads, Apple watches." The burglary occurred after 7pm on April 2, when the store was closed.

"Our front door was locked. They pried our front door open," says Seattle Coffee Gear Regional Manager Eric Marks. "Im surprised we were the conduit for them to get to the Apple store. I had no clue we were so close or adjacent to them." The store has replaced locks and estimates about $1,800 in damages. Police say the burglary appeared to be pretty well-organized; they're still investigating, no fingerprints were left, and they haven't made any arrests. (Read more Apple Store stories.)
A woman has sent up a red flag and is now lobbying for stronger laws in Malaysia around the sale of a toxic fish after her elderly parents ate some of it for lunch and died. Authorities in the state of Johor say that Lim Siew Guan and her husband, Ng Chuan Sing, both in their 80s, had purchased at least two puffer fish from a vendor on March 25, reports CNN. Lim is said to have fried the fish up that very same day for a meal, and he and his wife consumed it. Just minutes afterward, Lim began to have "breathing difficulties and shivers," authorities say. Her husband soon started showing similar signs of distress, and one of the couple's sons, who lives locally, rushed them to a hospital, where they ended up in the ICU, their daughter, Ng Ai Lee, tells the Star.

Lim died that night. Ng says she and another brother weren't able to get to their mother before she passed away, despite rushing to the hospital as soon as they heard the news, per Insider. Their father, meanwhile, held on for eight days in a coma, before finally succumbing to his own injuries on Saturday, she says. Now, Ng is demanding stricter laws in Malaysia regarding the poisonous creature, which she says her father hadn't heard of when he picked it up from the vendor. "My parents have been buying fish from the same fishmonger for many years, so my father did not think twice about it," she recently told the Star. "He would not have knowingly bought something so deadly to eat and put their lives in danger."

CNN notes that the puffer fish, called "fugu" in Japanese, has become an in-demand delicacy at high-end restaurants not only in Japan, but also in other nations such as South Korea and Singapore. This despite the fact that, unless the fish is extremely carefully prepared by chefs who train for years, its potent poison, called tetrodotoxin, can cause tingling around the mouth and dizziness in less-extreme cases, and convulsions, respiratory paralysis, and death in the worst. In Malaysia, it's illegal to sell puffer fish meat; offenders could see a fine of up to $2,300 and a maximum prison sentence of two years. "Those responsible for their deaths should be held accountable under the law, and I hope the authorities will speed up investigations," Ng said Sunday. (Read more puffer fish stories.)
Information is from police reports and may be incomplete depending on the status of an investigation. Phone numbers are nonemergency.
Senate Democrats might have a tough time retaining control of the chamber in next year's election, but Pennsylvania's Sen. Bob Casey has taken some of the pressure off. The 62-year-old announced Monday that he will seek a fourth term, the Washington Post reports. "Folks, Im running for re-election," he tweeted. "Theres still more work to do to cut through the gridlock, stand up to powerful special interests, and make the lives of hardworking Pennsylvanians easier. ... Im not done yet." Casey underwent surgery for prostate cancer earlier this year and declined to say last month whether he would seek another term, the Hill reports.

Casey, who defeated Republican challenger Lou Barletta by 13 points in 2018, is not expected to face a serious primary challenge, per the Post. Potential GOP challengers this time around include former hedge fund CEO David McCormick, who narrowly lost to Dr. Mehmet Oz in the Republican primary for Pennsylvania's other seat, now held by Sen. John Fetterman. "Im thinking about it, obviously," McCormick tells CNN. Other battleground states where Democrats will be defending seats next year include Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin. (Read more Bob Casey stories.)
Former Attorney General Bill Barr criticized Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's case against Donald Trump over the weekendbut not in a way that pleased the former president. Barr told ABC's This Week on Sunday that Bragg's case lacks merit, but others, including the federal classified records case, could be more justified. Barr also said Democratic strategists are aware that the Manhattan case could help Trump, "and they want him to be the nominee because he is the weakest of the Republican candidates, the most likely to lose again to Biden," Fox reports. He described Bragg's hush-money case as "transparently an abuse of prosecutorial power to accomplish a political end."

Barr said his former boss "has a penchant for engaging in reckless and self-destructive behavior" and could face federal indictments in both the documents case and the Capitol attack, the Guardian reports. "Hes dug himself a hole on the documents, and also on the January 6 stuff," Barr said. "That was reckless behavior that was destined to end up being investigated. So it doesnt surprise me that he has all these legal problems." Barr also criticized Trump's attacks on the Manhattan judge and others involved in the case, saying the former president "notoriously lacks self-control and he frequently gets himself into trouble."

Trump fired back at Barr in a post on his Truth Social network, Mediaite reports. "Slovenly and pathetic Bill Barr, our COWARD former A.G., was on ABC FAKE NEWS this weekend making statements that he knows nothing about," Trump wrote. "While he correctly puts down the N.Y.D.A. case, he plays up the equally ridiculous BOXES HOAX, where Biden should have the problem, not me. Barr is a weak & angry RINO!" Trump added. (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
Chinas military declared Monday it is "ready to fight" after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island in response to the Taiwanese presidents trip to the US last week. The "combat readiness patrols named Joint Sword were meant as a warning to self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own, China's military said earlier. "The theaters troops are ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of 'Taiwan independence' and foreign interference attempts," it said Monday. The Chinese actions follow President Tsai Ing-wens delicate mission to shore up Taiwan's dwindling diplomatic alliances in Central America and boost its US support, a trip capped with a meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The exercises were similar to ones conducted by China last August, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan in retaliation for then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, but have been smaller and less disruptive. The live-fire exercises disrupted flights and shipping in one of the busiest shipping lanes for global trade. This time, shipping and maritime traffic have largely continued as normal, says Kuo Yu-jen, a defense studies expert and director of the Institute for National Policy Research in Taiwan. Military experts say the exercises serve both as intimidation and as an opportunity for Chinese troops to practice sealing off Taiwan by blocking sea and air traffic, an important strategic option the Chinese military might pursue in the event it uses military force to take Taiwan, the AP reports.

The exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting more than 200 flights by Chinese warplanes in the past three days. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the Peoples Liberation Army, said the exercises are "simulating the joint sealing off" of Taiwan as well as "waves of simulated strikes" at important targets on the island. On Monday, the PLA said its Shandong aircraft carrier was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan for the first time. The appearance of the carrier suggests that it could be used to prevent foreign militaries from coming to help Taiwan, said Han Gan-ming, a research fellow at the government-backed Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

Meanwhile, to the south in the South China Sea, the US 7th Fleet said its missile destroyer USS Milius sailed by Mischief Reef in a freedom of navigation operation. China has built an artificial island on the sea feature to stake its claim to the disputed territory. China said the US illegally trespassed" into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government, according to a statement from the Chinese military's southern command. (Read more China stories.)
UPDATE

Apr 10, 2023 8:54 PM CDT

A fifth victim has died in Monday's Louisville bank shooting. Police have identified her as Deanna Eckert, 57, NBC News reports. Eight others were injured, including three who remain in critical condition.

Apr 10, 2023 4:30 PM CDT

The man who opened fire inside a bank in Louisville on Monday morning, killing four people, has been identified as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon. The gunman, who livestreamed the shooting, was killed in an exchange of fire with officers who arrived as shots were still being fired at the Old National Bank, Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said at a press conference. "The suspect shot at officers," the chief said, per the AP. "We then returned fire and stopped that threat." Of the livestreamed footage, she said, "We're hopeful that we can have that incident removed, that footage removed."

The Louisville Courier Journal reports that according to a LinkedIn page, Sturgeon was an intern at the bank before starting a full-time position in June 2021. Police identified the victims as Josh Barrick, 40; Tommy Elliott, 63; Jim Tutt, 64; and Juliana Farmer, 57. University of Louisville Hospital spokeswoman Heather Fountaine said nine people were wounded, including two police officers. She said one officer, a 26-year-old who graduated from the police academy on March 31, was shot in the head and is in critical condition.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said at a press conference that two close friends were killed in the shooting and a third was among the injured. Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad," he said, per NBC. "Hes one of the people I talked to most in the world and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend." Politico notes that a friend of Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's wife, Maria, was killed in the Nashville mass shooting two weeks ago. (Read more Louisville stories.)
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 39F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. Low 16F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
A Shippensburg woman was charged with homicide after a fatal shooting in Shippensburg Borough Sunday evening.

Pennsylvania State Police said Breanna Elizabeth Black, 33, was taken into custody after Shippensburg Police were called to the 100 block of South Prince Street for a shooting at 8:39 p.m. Sunday.

Police said Shippensburg officers discovered Beth Ann Schwartz, 48, with a gunshot wound. She was transported to Chambersburg Hospital before being flown to York Hospital, where she died.

Police encountered Black and identified her as the possible shooter, taking her into custody without incident.

State Police took over the investigation, and they said they learned that Schwartz and Black knew each other and had a verbal altercation before the shooting.

Police said there are no additional suspects nor persons of interest in the case, and they believe there is no danger to the community.

Black is in Cumberland County Prison pending arraignment Monday.

Police ask anyone with information about the case to contact them at 717-249-2121.
Agencies | Riyadh

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi has condemned Israels escalations in Jerusalem and repeated attacks by Israeli soldiers on Al Aqsa Mosque.

Albudaiwi criticised the violation of the sanctity of Al Aqsa and the lack of respect of Israeli forces during Ramadan. He said that Israeli aggression during the holy month and the continuation of the incursions at the mosque were a violation of the sanctities of the holy sites.

The GCC official called on the international community to protect Palestinian civilians and stop Israeli attempts to change Jerusalems legal character, demographic composition and arrangements for the Islamic holy place.

The GCC has detailed violations by Israeli forces, including harassment, assault and expulsion of worshipers, as well as the closing of the Ibrahimi Mosque. Albudaiwi said such acts were a provocation to Muslims around the world, an assault on the legal status of holy places, a violation of historically agreed status quo arrangements and a serious breach of international law and UN resolutions.

He added that the ongoing brutal attacks were an alarming turning point for which the Israeli government bears all responsibility. The statement came days after Albudaiwi condemned the actions of Israeli settlers storming of Al Aqsa Mosque on March 29, under the protection of Israeli soldiers. He said that such actions during Ramadan constituted a dangerous escalation, a flagrant violation of international law and a violation of the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem.
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DANBURY  The city is moving forward with negotiations to acquire the Happy Trails Farm property for open space.

Ed and Lucy Prybylski, owners of the 102-year-old horse farm on 36 Mountainville Road, have offered to sell the 16-acre property to the city for a negotiable $1.75 million.

It's a deal the City Council wants Danbury to consider. Council members voted unanimously at their April 4 meeting to allow the mayor and city attorneys to negotiate for the property.

Paul Rotello, Democratic minority leader, said the acquisition would be potential asset to the city because it could allow Rogers and Tarrywile parks to be expanded.

It connects Rogers Park to the Nature Center and its just a quick jump across the street to Tarrywile (Park), Rotello said. You are really looking at an urban park that goes from Main St. almost to Ridgefield.

Not only is that extraordinary for Danbury there is no other city in the state of Connecticut that has anything approaching that. It will be huge. It will be the largest urban park in Connecticut by far. I think its going to be another asset the city of Danbury can use to attract workers and businesses from out of state.

At an ad hoc council meeting last month, among the potential uses suggested for the city were expanding the nearby parks, keeping the horse farm, holding educational programs for youth (farming, horticulture and forestry), and offering older educational usage by partnering with Western Connecticut States science department and vet-tech program.

At the most recent meeting Councilman Duane Perkins got confirmation from Mayor Dean Esposito that once appraisals of the property were done, and a verified amount for the property determined, the next step would be to send it to another ad hoc meeting for review.

The farm has been in the Prybylski family since 1921. Ed and Lucy Prybylski has owned it for 37 years, purchasing it from Ed Prybylskis parents and turning it into a 16-acre horse farm that has space to board as many as 42 horses.

Sale terms would include a five-year lease-back plan that would allow the couple to keep running the farm for another four to five years.

There is no real downside to this, Rotello said. We have to send it out, do some research and there will be a lot of discussion moving forward. Over the years Rogers Park has provided itself as a repository for dearly needed facilities like a large middle school, a public works building and subsidized housing.

They did soak up some area of the park and by acquiring this parcel, which I happen to support at the price that was mentioned, it will go a long way to restoring that acreage that was lost to those buildings.
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QUETTA, Pakistan (AP)  Two roadside bombs hours apart targeted police vehicles in volatile southwestern Pakistan on Monday killing at least four people and wounding 22, mostly civilian pedestrians, a government spokesperson said.

The first attack in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, killed two police officers and two civilians. Hours later, another bomb in the city went off near a police vehicle, wounding four people, police said.

In a statement, the outlawed Baluchistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the first attack. The BLA, which was designated a terrorist group by the United States in 2019, said its fighters targeted the vehicle of a police officer who was behind the arrest of members of the group.

Although such attacks are common, t he Pakistani Taliban have also stepped up assaults on troops and police across Pakistan since November, when they ended a monthslong cease-fire with the government.

Pakistan has been battling an insurgency in Baluchistan for more than a decade, with separatists in the province demanding complete autonomy or a larger share of the provinces gas and mineral resources.

Monday's attack in Quetta comes days after Pakistan said its top intelligence agency arrested Gulzar Imam, who is also known by the name Shambay, and was the militant founder and leader of another banned group, the Baluch Nationalist Army. The BNA is an umbrella group for Baluch insurgents formed after two main insurgent groups merged: The Baluch Republican Army and United Baluch Army.

In separate statements, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Baluchistan chief minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo condemned the attack. They asked authorities to provide the best possible medical care to the wounded.

The Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, have claimed previous such attacks in Baluchistan and elsewhere. The militant group is separate from, but allied with, the Afghan Taliban.

The latest attack comes a day after the TTP shot and killed two police officers in Quetta. One of the assailants was also killed when police returned fire after coming under attack in the city Sunday night.
The sun was shining on this year's For MadCo Easter Block Party, held Saturday in downtown Fredericktown.

The free community event was put together by Calvary Church with support from several local businesses, including Madison County Service Coordination, which allowed the use of the parking lot.
Chinas PLAs Eastern Theater Command announced the end of a large military exercise today. Taiwans R.O.C. Armed Forces will continue to keep a close watch on PLAs movements 24/7 and act accordingly.

On Monday, Chinas Navy had 11 ships and 70 PLA aircraft near Taiwan and about 35 of the planes crossed the median line (halfway point) of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwans self-declared Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Yesterday, eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, 45 of which entered the ADIZ, the islands Ministry of Defense said.

Both China and Taiwan have ships and planes in the area.

35 of the detected aircraft(SU-30*8, J-11*4, J-10*6, J-16*8, TB-001 UCAV, Y-9EW, Y-8 ASW, J-15*4, CH-4 UCAV, KJ-500 AEW&C) had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwans southwest and southeast ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated.   Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.  (@MoNDefense) April 10, 2023

70 PLA aircraft and 11 vessels were detected by 16:00(UTC+8) April 9th. 35 of the detected aircraft had crossed northern, central, and southern median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered our southwest ADIZ. pic.twitter.com/PitgcyfjPI   Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.  (@MoNDefense) April 9, 2023

#ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and tasked our assets to respond these provocative activities.   Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.  (@MoNDefense) April 9, 2023

Air defense units of #ROCArmedForces remain on high alert for contingencies, steadfastly maintaining their posts 24/7, showing that we can and we will defend our skies. And we will never give up our beliefs. pic.twitter.com/cLXbVrcblE   Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.  (@MoNDefense) April 10, 2023

91 PLA aircraft and 12 vessels were detected by 18:00(UTC+8) on April 10th. 54 of the detected aircraft had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered our SW & SE ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and tasked our assets to respond. pic.twitter.com/iFjSCq9gJX   Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.  (@MoNDefense) April 10, 2023

70 PLA aircraft and 11 vessels were detected by 16:00(UTC+8) April 9th. 35 of the detected aircraft had crossed northern, central, and southern median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered our southwest ADIZ. pic.twitter.com/PitgcyfjPI   Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.  (@MoNDefense) April 9, 2023

Nextbigfuture Military Analysis of Taiwan VS China

Taiwan is an island with mostly mountains. Taiwans bases and defenses are built into the Mountains. Large conventional missiles and bombs cannot penetrate more about 3 meters.

Bombers carrying 2000-pound or heavier bombs will be slower moving and will need to have air defenses mostly destroyed to be deployed. Mountains are hard rock. This means they would be on the low end of these crater sizes for hitting dirt or rock targets. Usually the diameter of a crater is about 5 to 7 times more than the depth. A 12-meter-wide crater hitting rock would be about 2 meters deep.

The PL12 and PL7 missiles in Chinas fighter planes are for shooting down other planes and bombers. China would need to use heavy bombs in their H-6 and other bombers. Chinas bombs are mainly up to 1000 lbs and some 2000 lb bombs with freefall, laser or GPS guidance.

Chinas H-6K bomber can carry one 30 feet long, weighs 21,600 pounds large bomb similar to the US MOAB. It would be a slow-moving bomber trying to drop one big bomb at a time.

Any air campaign to degrade Taiwans defenses would take weeks. The world stock markets would crash on the first day of true hostilities of actual fighting or blockade. Hundreds of missiles and bombs would explode against the dirt and rock and do NOTHING to the planes and missiles in the caves.
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The latest high-profile shooting in the United States happened Tuesday in Bowdoin, Maine, where four people were killed in a home and three others were wounded by gunfire on a busy highway in a neighboring community. An inmate released a few days earlier from a Maine prison was charged with the killings.

The shooting is the 17th mass killing of the year in the U.S. in which four or more people were killed other than the perpetrator, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

Other notable episodes of gun violence in the past year:

DADEVILLE, ALABAMA

Four young people died and 32 others were wounded by gunfire at a girl's Sweet Sixteen birthday party in Dadeville on April 15. Police arrested two teenagers on murder charges.

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

An employee of the Old National Bank in Louisville killed five people and wounded eight others inside the bank with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle while livestreaming the attack on April 10. Police fatally shot the gunman.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Three students and three adults were killed inside The Covenant School in Nashville on March 27. The suspect, a former student, was killed by police.

HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA

A farmworker killed seven people in back-to-back shootings in a case of workplace violence at two Northern California mushroom farms on Jan. 23. A suspect is facing charges.

MONTEREY PARK, CALIFORNIA

A 72-year-old man killed 11 and wounded nine in a shooting at a Lunar New Year dance in Monterey Park on Jan. 21. The suspect later died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA

The manager at a Walmart in Chesapeake killed six and wounded six during an employee meeting on Nov. 22, 2022. Police say the suspect shot himself.

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO

Five people were killed and 17 wounded when a 22-year-old gunman allegedly opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle inside a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs on Nov. 19. The suspect, who was subdued by patrons, is awaiting trial.

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

A 15-year-old boy allegedly killed five people and wounded two more in a shooting in Raleigh on Oct. 13. The suspect eluded officers for hours before he was cornered in a home and arrested.

HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS

Seven people were killed and at least 30 wounded when a gunman on a rooftop opened fire on an Independence Day parade on July 4 in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. A suspect is awaiting trial.

PHILADELPHIA

Three people died and 11 others were wounded June 4 on a Philadelphia busy block during a melee that began with a fistfight and was followed by random gunfire. Two men are in custody in two of the deaths; other people have also been arrested in connection with the melee.

TULSA, OKLAHOMA

A gunman killed his surgeon and three other people at a medical office June 1. The shooter killed himself as police arrived.

UVALDE, TEXAS

An 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School on May 24 in the deadliest school shooting in nearly a decade. More than 15 other people were wounded. Law enforcement killed the attacker.

LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA

One person was killed and five others wounded on May 15 after a man opened fire on Taiwanese parishioners in Southern California. Authorities have said the gunman was motivated by hatred for Taiwan. He has been charged with murder and other counts.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK

A white supremacist opened fire on May 14 at a supermarket in a predominantly Black neighborhood, killing 10 people and wounding others. The shooter pleaded guilty to murder and other charges and was sentenced to life in prison.
BLOOMFIELD  Staff at the Bloomfield Early Childhood Learning Center neglected students and did not complete background checks or professional development, according to records obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

Bloomfield Mayor Danielle Wong announced BELCs closure on Feb. 28 following a failed health inspection by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood. Bloomfield subcontracts BELC from the state and the 20 slots at BELC were state-subsidized.

Records from the OECs Jan. 9 and Jan. 10 unannounced inspection details a series of issues involving staff members, including one instance of neglect that was not reported to the state, the report shows.

The building was not up to date with fire, lead and health inspections, several of which expired about two years ago, according to the report.

The state-subsidized slots held by BELC students have been redistributed among other child care centers in town.

At the time of the closure, Bloomfield officials, including members of the Town Council, were unaware of the extent of the concerns and said they had not seen the full OEC report obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media Group weeks later.

A spokesperson for the town released a statement in response to questions about how the municipality was keeping tabs on BELC and how officials will ensure a situation like this does not occur in the future.

"Enhanced staffing is being requested to meet both current and expanded service demands of the department is critical to the successful management of the CDC (Child Day Care) contract and continued quality response/service to our neighbors," the statement reads.

Multiple concerns identified

When an inspector, Dianna Wassenhove, arrived to BELC on Rockwell Avenue, she asked for the person in charge and they stated they do not have one, according to the report.

The inspector asked the head teacher for the Background Checks Information System (BCIS) reports, but no one at the facility had access to them, the report stated. Wassenhove was then able to pull up the reports on her tablet.

The roster showed staff with no background check and who were no longer employed, the report stated.

On that day, the head teacher, Linda Thornton signed a document indicating she understood that four staff were not fingerprinted as required.

Thornton could not be reached for comment.

Thornton told Wassenhove that the Board of Directors for BELC asked the staff to focus on the financial issues plaguing the center rather than the procedural ones, according to the report.

A second staff member said the center did not have enough money to survive the end of February 2023, the report stated.

At a Feb. 22, 2022, meeting of the Bloomfield Town Council Finance Subcommittee, the town heard a presentation from the BELC Board of Directors about financial challenges facing the center. The council voted to forgive past due tax payments and interest owed by BELC.

Joe Suggs, a member of the Board of Directors, could not be reached for comment.

While going through files at the center, Wassenhove came across a report from Nov. 15, 2022. During lunchtime, a few students were seated eating oranges, according to the report. The report was written by a teacher whose name was redacted in the summary. One student began to play with the orange peels and put them in their mouth, the report stated. One teacher became upset and took the plate away from the student even though they were not done eating, according to the report.

The actions and name of the teacher were redacted in the report, but the summary described the student as frightened, as the teacher became increasingly angry when another staff member, who wrote the report, asked her to let the student continuing eating their lunch.

The author of the report said the other teacher raised their voice and followed the author of the report until she began feeling fearful. The author of the report recalled picking up the classroom phone to call for help and using her phone to record the other teacher, who was still upset.

As the teacher was placing the call, a third teacher entered the room and was able to deescalate the situation, according to the report.

The report details Wassenhove asking Thornton if the state Department of Children and Families was notified as the other teachers are mandated reporters. Thornton replied that DCF was not notified and no staff were disciplined, the report stated.

In the report, Wassenhove referred to the incident as neglect. A second attached note dated Jan. 9, acknowledges a teacher left after lunch on Nov. 15 and did not return.

Inspection reveals children left unattended

Wassenhove returned to BELC to complete the inspection at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 10. While the inspector was in the room, a child walked in slowly, unaccompanied by an adult.

I went into the hallway and saw no one in the hall, Wassenhove wrote in the report. The teacher called the classroom next door to inquire, and they told her they were over and had to send the child over to her. The teacher explained that he was alone and that could not happen. The staff on the other end started to give the teacher a hard time and the teacher hung up the phone.

Wassenhove had two specialists accompany them for this portion of the inspection. They observed two students standing alone, according to the report.

We looked around the room and saw no teacher, the report stated. A few moments later, a teacher came into the room from a small coat and bathroom area. We spoke with her about leaving the children unattended and she stated she didnt because she could see them through the two-way mirrored window.

Wassenhove and one of the specialists examined the mirror to see what was visible.

We could only see our own reflections and the reflection of toys on the shelf behind us, the report read. We could not see anything in the classroom where the two children were.

Missed inspections and other issues

The rest of the report detailed missing professional developments, background checks and building and health inspections required by law.

The last health inspection was conducted in March 2020. The fire marshal certificate expired in August 2021, and the food service license expired in December 2022, according to the report. The report also shows a lead test that expired in January 2020.

Aimee Krauss, director of health at the West Hartford- Bloomfield Health District, said the local health department inspects day care centers every two years and the district inspected BELC in January of this year.

The Blue Hills Fire Marshal Jim Simone and the Bloomfield Building Department did not respond to requests for comment.

No professional development was conducted in 2022, and files showed at least six staff with no new-staff orientation, the report stated.

The report details chemicals unlocked in a supply closet, large tree limbs and trash on the playground and three rooms removed from capacity, one because of a sewage flood.

Before his recent departure, Town Manager Stanley Hawthorne shifted oversight of the child care program from the Finance Department to the Social and Youth Services Department.

"Due to the closing of Bloomfield Early Learning Center (BELC), the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) requires a much stronger oversight of the Child Day Care (CDC) contract by the Town that will require both additional resources and the appropriate training of staff," a spokesperson for Bloomfield said.

In his Feb. 23 town manager's report, Hawthorne stated he would recommend "enhanced staffing" for the Social and Youth Services Department now tasked with oversight.
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Hunched in a hoodie against the cold April morning, Lou Perrotti leads the way past a staff only gate in an unassuming corner of the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, R.I. The sounds of the morning zoo goers, mostly families with young children, are distant and muffled.

Perrotti is the longtime director of conservation programs for the zoo, responsible for several captive breeding programs for threatened species. Perrotti has extensive experience breeding endangered insects and reptiles.

Its fun, though. I love a challenge, said Perrotti. Everyone wants to work with the sexy bears and wolves and pandas. Not a lot of people are champions for the little stuff. The stuff that runs the ecosystem.

One project of his is surprisingly tricky: getting the New England cottontail to breed consistently in captivity. New England cottontails are a threatened and declining species of rabbit, the regions only endemic mammal species.

As Perotti enters, he reminds everyone to be quiet.

Everybody says, 'Oh, theyre rabbits. They must breed like wildfire,' Perrotti said. They dont know theyre difficult.

As he gestures at the straw lined pens, big round eyes peer back at him. Wild-caught rabbits freeze in the corners, little brown loaves holding their breath.

We had a record number of births, but a lot of kit loss, so were trying to mitigate it with larger birthing pens. Perrotti explained that female rabbits in the wild leave their young alone most of the time because they dont want to attract predators. We feel that they might be too close to their babies here, its a hypothesis but it makes sense, he said.

Rabbits are prey. Food to a host of larger species, they rely on stealth, speed and keen senses to avoid being eaten. To a rabbit, Perrotti and the veterinary staff are predators. And Perrotti wants to keep it that way. The staff are hands off with the rabbits to maintain their wild instincts. The goal is conservation, not domestication or sport.

We release in areas that are closed to hunting, Perrotti said. I put my foot down in the beginning that we will not put all this effort into raising these rabbits just to be undone.

The vanishing cottontail

The captive New England cottontail breeding program is just one arm of an interstate effort to save the species. All across New England, people are fighting against an invisible extinction happening in plain sight. Connecticuts only native rabbit has dramatically declined since the 1930s. It was once found across all of New England. Now the population is scattered and fragmented.

Rural western Connecticut, Cape Cod, and the scrublands between Old Lyme and South Kingston, R.I., are the largest remaining strongholds of the New England cottontail. Scattered populations exist near Portland, Maine, and Nashua, N.H.

On top of habitat fragmentation, a hemorrhagic rabbit disease has been slowly making its way through the United States.

The concern is that it would literally spread like wildfire, said Chadwick Rittenhouse, professor of environmental conservation at UConn. We could potentially lose over a very short period of time  a year, two years  all rabbits in the state.

It seems counterintuitive that a rabbit species could be threatened with extinction. When something has a lot of babies it breeds like rabbits. Female rabbits can give birth to multiple litters a season.

More than that, you can see rabbits all the time in urban and suburban areas. Its hard to believe they could become extinct.

The rabbit imposter

But the thing is, the rabbits you see are probably not New England cottontails. Theyre close imposters, the Eastern cottontails. At a glance, the two species are indistinguishable. Theyre basically the same color and size. Good luck getting close enough to inspect minor differences in ear fur coloration or get a DNA sample.

We know competition between the two species is a factor, said William Cassidy, wildlife biologist for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. But what that competition is, is a little unclear at this time.

The big differences between the two species are in habitat and behavior. Eastern cottontails are flexible generalists. Their home range extends from west of the Hudson River across America into Canada, Mexico and the north coast of South America. Thats a broad environmental range. Eastern cottontails also tend to use more open habitats, which is why you see them chewing clover on suburban lawns.

In contrast, the New England cottontail is a shy specialist. They depend on thickets, young forest and scrubland with lots of dense plant cover for food and shelter. They tend not to leave cover at all. In experiments where New England cottontails were offered food in exposed areas, they chose to remain in cover rather than eating.

They likely evolved to suit the thick scrub around rivers and coastlines. Forests along major rivers tend to be culled by flooding. New England has a lot of scrubby coastlines. Prior to European colonization, indigenous peoples also maintained a patchwork of meadows as part of field rotation and firewood harvesting.

'They're pinched on two sides'

After European colonization and widespread deforestation, New England cottontails still had enough young forest and thicket habitat to persist. But the 1930s brought something new: competition.

Because New England cottontails are shy and elusive, theyre not as easy or fun to hunt. In the 1930s, hunting clubs brought Eastern cottontails across the Hudson River into New England. The Eastern cottontails quickly spread over the landscape.

Excuse the bad pun but their population has grown by leaps and bounds, Rittenhouse said.

This coincided with a shift in land use in New England. Farming went by the wayside, moving west and south. Forests began to regrow over abandoned fields. Now, in 2023, those forests are mature. Thickets, scrub and young forest are few and far between.

The New England Cottontail is facing a two-part existential threat in the form of habitat loss and competition from a more adaptable species. About 10 years ago, wildlife managers and ecologists intervened to try to prevent them from becoming endangered or extinct.

Theyre getting pinched by competition from Eastern cottontails," Rittenhouse said. And theyre getting pinched with these broader landscape changes  theyre losing habitat as trees grow older.

The captive breeding program at Roger Williams was started as a hedge against endangered species status. New England cottontails are caught in stable habitat in Connecticut and Massachusetts and bred.

Weaned rabbit kits are released in suitable habitat far from their competitors. Rhode Island conservation officials established a New England cottontail reservoir on Patience Island, where they are safe from habitat loss and competition. Adult rabbits from this island and the breeding program are transferred to habitat in Maine and New Hampshire. Since the programs inception, 3,400 young rabbits have been introduced to the wild.

Were looking at some other islands in Narragansett Bay. Were looking at Dutch Island," said Dylan Ferreira, principal wildlife biologist for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. The idea is to be redundant. Small populations, Ferreira explained, are very vulnerable. It doesnt take much for a small population to become extinct.

Its not just about rabbits

New Englands many scrub, thicket and early forest species are facing threats to their existence like those facing the cottontail. As the forests mature these habitats disappear, taking with them wildflowers, insects, reptiles, and birds. The shifts from a landscape of diverse habitats to more homogenous forests broken up by roads and urban areas have been detrimental for our local biodiversity. Milan Bull, the senior director of science and conservation for the Connecticut Audubon Society, told CT Insider that this was part of why the society tried to maintain diverse habitats on their sanctuaries.

We call it rabbitat, Bull said. Whats good for the rabbits is good for this whole suite of birds that are declining rapidly across the state. Thats why were so involved.

But unlike birds, who can fly to find new habitat, the New England cottontail doesnt travel far. They have limited home ranges and need about 10 acres of land to thrive.

Wildlife managers between Connecticut and Rhode Island are also trying to build habitat connectivity, maintaining corridors of early forest and thicket between known Eastern cottontail hotspots near the border.

This can often be challenging. Much of the forestland in these two states is privately held and many landowners are hesitant to allow for regular cutting to open up the forest.

Lets face it, how many landowners are in possession of property in excess of 10 acres within a kilometer of where we have a New England cottontail population that are amenable to doing some clear-cutting or intensive habitat management on their property? Cassidy, at the Connecticut DEEP, said. It feels like weve used our pool of willing candidates.

Without these rabbits, the native plant communities of New England lose a species that they have co-evolved with, that historically was in high abundance. Its like taking a load-baring beam out of an old house. The house might stay standing, or structural stress might build up unseen, causing something to break.

How that break might happen is unclear. Cassidy said that prior to the decline of the species nobody had thought to study the dynamics of how Eastern cottontails moved and lived on the landscape.

Its like losing maple syrup or Mount Washington; it's an iconic species, Cassidy said. But how does that loss look on the landscape? I cant say I know for sure.

Meanwhile, theres still a lot were learning about the New England cottontail. Perrotti at Roger Williams Zoo is gearing up for a new breeding season with expanded birthing hutches and more shelter for rabbits. He leans on a large plastic bin in a small yard. If all goes well, this spot will be full of rabbit-friendly birthing pens in the coming years.

Perrotti smiles. All his rabbits get vaccinated for rabbit hemorrhagic fever and genetically fingerprinted. He knows that hes responsible for generations of rabbits on the landscape. Every year they try to release more and to track them to make sure they survive. He raises them with the knowledge that many of them will be eaten.

We expect it, Perrotti said. They breed like they breed because they die like they die. That makes this all challenging, losing a percentage of our hard work to natural processes.
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TOKYO (AP)  Temperatures are rising in Japan and summer is coming fast.

Cherry blossoms are blooming sooner than ever before, chiffon-pink thats traditionally heralded spring for the nation popping up just two weeks into March.

In Osaka, temperatures soared to 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) on March 22, a record for that time of year. Tottori, in the southwest, hit 25.8 C (78 F) on the same day, the highest in 140 years, according to climatologist Maximiliano Herrera. Tottoris temperatures usually hover around 12 C (54 F) in March.

With thermometers already shooting upward and fossil fuel use that feeds climate change still creeping up around the world, Japan is set for another sweltering summer and is at growing risk of flooding and landslides. The nation is scrambling to protect communities from warming and has pledged to slash emissions, but in the short term the worsening weather remains a threat.

The risks from climate change are right before us, said Yasuaki Hijioka, deputy director of the Center for Climate Change Adaptation at the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba, northeast of Tokyo.

You can in principle try escaping from a flood. But heat affects such a wide area, there is almost no escape. Everyone is affected.

Japan is already prone to natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons. Secure infrastructure has kept people safe for the most part. But climate change means communities are often caught off guard because the systems were engineered for the weather conditions of the past.

If youre pushing the electrical grid that was designed for the 20th century into a new century of warming and heat extremes, then you are going to have to consider whether your energy system and your health care system are really designed for a warming planet, said Kim Cobb, director of The Institute at Brown for Environment and Society.

More people are getting sick because of heat stroke.

Last year, more than 200 temperature records were broken in cities across the nation, sending energy grid to near-capacity and over 71,000 people to hospital for heatstroke through the months of May to September. Patients were mostly elderly but a fair number of children and middle-aged adults were also hospitalized, according to government figures. Eighty people died.

The warming weather can also hold more moisture, adding flooding and landslides to the summer forecast, something that Japan has also seen with growing frequency.

In 2019, bullet trains were partially submerged in flooding from Typhoon Hagibis. Homes and highways were caught in landslides. Flooded tunnels trapped people and cars. Dams couldn't withstand the surprisingly heavy rainfall.

Hijiokas research is focused on flood management, such as diverting water from swelling rivers upstream into rice paddies and ponds to drain to avert flooding.

To prevent deaths from heatstroke, a proposed law would designate certain buildings in communities, such as air-conditioned libraries, as shelters. That kind of law on the national level is new in Japan.

Despite the country's advanced economy, some people cannot afford air conditioning, especially in areas not accustomed to the heat. Schools in northern Japan, such as in Nagano, have installed air conditioning because of the extreme heat in recent years.

"More people have been dying from heatstroke than from river flooding in Japan, said Hijioka. We need to view climate change as a natural disaster.

Michio Kawamiya, director of the Research Center for Environmental Modeling and Application, and his team research Japans higher temperatures and how they affect people.

Among their findings: Since 1953, cherry blossoms have bloomed on average one day sooner every decade. Maple leaves have changed color 2.8 days slower per decade. The risk of typhoons has gone up and the amount of snowfall has declined, even as the threat of heavy snowfall remains.

Japan has made some headway in curbing the amount of fossil fuels it spews, but it's still the world's sixth-highest emitter. After the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, the country shut down nuclear generation, and, fatefully for the climate, invested in new coal plants as well as imported oil and gas to keep its grid running. Nuclear plants have gradually restarted since then.

On the positive side, its excellent public mass-transit transportation has kept gas-guzzling cars off roads, lowering the country's carbon footprint. Some Japanese people have been turning their air conditioning off to save energy, but that has health implications, as it comes precisely at a time when heat has been reaching dangerously high levels.

The country has already worked so hard to conserve energy by reducing demand that doing more has often been compared to wringing water out of a totally dry rag, Kawamiya said in an interview at his office in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo.

Still, critics say Japan could be doing more to boost renewable energy use, such as solar and wind power. The government plans for renewables to make up over a third of the country's power supply by 2030 and to phase out coal use sometime in the 2040s.

Japan is also part of the Group of Seven leading economies that pledged to be largely free of fossil fuels for electricity by 2035.

Since Fukushima, Japan has kept most of the nations 50-some nuclear reactors offline, in response to public opinion thats turned against the technology. Nuclear power is considered a clean energy as it doesnt emit greenhouse gases, but it does produce radioactive waste.

About 10 reactors are up and running, 24 reactors are being decommissioned. What Japan will eventually decide on nuclear power remains unclear.

Hijioka, who believes Japan lags in the shift toward renewable energy, said he was frustrated by policymakers who he said have dragged their feet on dealing with climate change, but are pushing a return to nuclear.

Despite its potential to curb planet-warming emissions, skepticism remains among some climate experts about turning to nuclear power due to costs and timescales of projects compared to how quickly and cheaply an equivalent amount of renewable energy can come online. There are also concerns among the public.

Its utterly irresponsible, when we think about the next generation," Hijioka said. "We may be old, and we may die so it might not matter. But what about our children?

___

Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

___

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
There are days when the work can be overwhelming, when meeting the needs of the refugee community can seem daunting; stories of trauma, major housing shortages, lack of resources  each can contribute to the sense of being overwhelmed.

Often, theres great relief and joy when those seeking safety in our community find a home, a sense of belonging, and a realization that someone is doing their best to meet their needs. Those whom we serve often move on to independence by working hard, giving back to the community, becoming employers, and building good community relations. The Fort Erie Multicultural Centre and its staff, with funding from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, United Way Niagara, and Fort Erie Gaming, continue to do the hard work of meeting the needs of the refugee community in Fort Erie and beyond.

In recent months, there has been an increase in news coverage surrounding refugees, the Safe Third Country Agreement, and the intricate policies and procedures involved. At FEMC, our focus is to ensure that amid all this, there are timely, efficient, and helpful services being delivered to assist refugee claimants through the process. As changes take place in government structure and policies, Martha Mason, co-executive director of FEMC says, we are compelled to do what we can to show compassion within the rule of the law. Showing compassion, finding ways to work within the existing barriers of the system, and working with other community partners are three key spokes of the settlement service sector in Fort Erie.

Mason believes striving toward better working relationships between government, non-profit organizations, and the local community will not only help educate the community on what is really happening in refugee resettlement, but will also continue to build bridges to enable a stronger Fort Erie community. The three groups working together have the power to alleviate much of the tension and misinformation that surrounds the refugee movement. Where there is information sharing, there is knowledge; where there is communication, there is wisdom; and where there is a meeting of the person, there is compassion.

Fort Erie has shown often it is a community of compassion along with being welcoming and friendly. Let us continue to show those attributes by assisting the local refugee community. FEMC welcomes those who wish to donate small household appliances and furnishings, clothing, or who wish to volunteer and become a conversation partner or friend to those newly arriving in Fort Erie.

Perhaps the most pressing need and best way for some in our community to help is to work with FEMC in providing safe and affordable housing for refugees and the many others in our community in need of housing.

If you are interested in volunteering, donating, or providing house, please contact FEMC at 905-871-3641. We thank those in the community who have worked with FEMC over the years to provide housing, who have volunteered their time and skills to our organization, and to those who will do so in the future.

Rosemary Legge is a volunteer with the Fort Erie Multicultural Centre. She can be reached at rosemary.legge@gmail.com.

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EDMONTONAlberta Premier Danielle Smith will face an ethics investigation in the wake of a leaked phone call she had with a controversial street pastor just weeks before he was to face a criminal trial.

The premier was recently contacted by the ethics commissioner, who is undertaking an investigation into whether or not the premier has interfered with the administration of justice in relation to a COVID prosecution, her office said in a statement Monday.

The premier welcomes this investigation, is fully co-operating with the commissioner, and is confident this examination will confirm there has been no such interference.

The temperature has been steadily rising for Smith as her own comments about speaking to Crown prosecutors about cases, news stories and the widely panned phone call have been rolled out in recent weeks.

In just under eight weeks Albertans will vote in a general election that polls have indicated will be a neck-and-neck battle between Smiths UCP and Rachel Notleys NDP.

The Alberta NDP released a recording of the phone call now potentially subject to the ethics probe late last month. In it, Smith and pastor Art Pawlowski discuss his case. The NDP also contacted the ethics commissioner, asking for an investigation to be launched, and has been demanding an independent investigation.

Irfan Sabir, the NDP justice critic, doubled down on that demand Monday, saying that an independent investigation would have a broader scope than the ethics commissioner and could determine if other laws had been compromised. The NDP asked the ethics commissioner to explore if the Conflicts of Interest Act had been broken by Smith.

The foundation of our justice system has been shaken and Albertans deserve full answers on what happened here before they cast their vote in May, he said at a news conference.

Pawlowski faced several charges, including mischief, for allegedly inciting people to block public property during the Coutts, Alta., border blockade, where protesters decried COVID-19 restrictions and snarled cross-border traffic for days last year. The trial is over, but the judge hasnt delivered a verdict.

The 11-minute call  which happened in January, just weeks before Pawlowskis criminal trial  has been slammed by critics who say a sitting premier should not be talking to individuals about their criminal cases.

Pawlowski was also charged with breaching a release order and with wilfully damaging or destroying essential infrastructure  an offence under the Alberta Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.

In her phone call with the Calgary pastor  who has protested against the LGBTQ community and was a prolific critic of COVID restrictions  Smith tells him shes talking to justice officials almost weekly about COVID-related cases.

She maintains throughout the call that it is inappropriate for her to intervene in cases before the courts, but pledges to make inquiries on his behalf regarding Crown strategy in his situation.

When Pawlowski complains of a document dump he was subjected to in the case, Smith commiserates with him.

Smith has offered various explanations for the phone call. The most recent came over the weekend when she said on her weekly radio call-in program that she did it in the context of Pawlowsky leading a political party, namely the Alberta Independence Party. (He no longer leads that party after a parting of ways over differences in values.)

Smith also said during the weekend show that Pawlowski held extreme views she disagreed with.

But in January, when speaking with him, she told the pastor shed been watching your public advocacy for many years so its nice to connect with you.

According to Smiths latest explanation, the issue of his case came up during the call. She campaigned on looking into amnesty for non-violent COVID-related charges when she ran to become leader of the UCP.

Smith maintains that there was no wrongdoing.

In January, Smith indicated she was talking to Crown prosecutors about COVID-related cases, but later she clarified that she was just talking to justice officials, including Justice Minister Tyler Shandro.

CBC News then published a story in January alleging that staff in her office emailed Crown prosecutors to criticize their assessment of Coutts-related charges. A subsequent public service search turned up no such emails and Smith had lawyers send a notice of defamation to the CBC, asking it to retract the story. The public broadcaster has stood by its reporting.

With files from The Canadian Press

Clarification  April 10, 2023: This article has been updated to clarify that the premier's office said Smith was being investigated over a COVID prosecution but did not specify which one.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  More than 200 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have returned home in a prisoner swap, the warring countries said Monday.

Russias Defense Ministry said 106 Russian soldiers were released from Ukrainian custody as part of an agreement with Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys chief of staff, said that Russia freed 100 Ukrainian prisoners.

Neither announcement mentioned whether any intermediaries were involved in the agreement.

Some of the Ukrainian soldiers have severe injuries and illnesses, Yermak said in a statement published on Telegram.

He added that the latest of the sporadic prisoner swaps in the war that started in February 2022 was not an easy one. He did not elaborate.

Ukraines Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War alleged that almost half of the 80 men and 20 women soldiers who returned home have serious injuries, illnesses or have been tortured. It presented no evidence for its claims.

According to Ukrainian news reports, one of the women prisoners is Valeriia Karpilenko, a border guard who had helped defend Mariupols Azovstal steel plant. Last May, she married a Ukrainian soldier in the steel plants basement while Russian forces surrounded the complex. Her husband was killed three days later.

The freed Russians were being flown on military transport planes to Moscow for medical treatment and rehabilitation, the Defense Ministry said.

Such exchanges represent one of the few areas of cooperation between Ukraine and Russia. The two sides have returned hundreds of each others soldiers, as well as the bodies of fallen troops, since the war began.

Meanwhile, Ukraines presidential office said at least six civilians were wounded in the latest Russian shelling.

Separately, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian forces struck a power plant and residential buildings in the eastern province.

The Russians also shelled nine border villages in the provinces of Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv.

Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in televised remarks that the country has nearly seven million internally displaced people, including about one million children.

Most of them have abandoned their homes in the east and the south to move to safer locations in central and western Ukraine.

___ Associated Press Writer Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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The Farmington School District has announced a partnership with The Little Learners Academy beginning in August. Little Learners Academy, also known as the Little Learners Spectrum Center, Inc., is a not-for-profit early childhood corporation offering an all-inclusive program for ages zero to five.

Little Learners Academy will be housed in the new FHS Career Academy and is will open this fall. In addition, students enrolled in the CDA (Child Development Associate) program at the FHS Career Academy will work alongside the staff of Little Learners at the facility.

Little Learners is all-inclusive and has an early childhood special needs program and therapy and diagnostic services for students enrolled in their program. Children in the program will have access to A SpecGym and Village, Reggio-Emilia-inspired activities, and a nature-based curriculum.

There are 50 spots available for their children of Farmington School District employees and they will qualify for a special discounted rate of up to 50% off the tuition rate.

Speaking about the school districts partnership with Little Learners Academy, Superintendent Matthew Ruble said, This is an amazing opportunity for our students and the staff of the Farmington R-7 School District. Not only will our students be able to gain real-world experience on our campus, but we will also provide staff members with a top-notch early childhood program for their children at a substantially discounted rate.

The award-winning Little Learners Academy is now accepting new and current student enrollments for Fall 2023. For more information regarding enrollment, call 573-915-5075 or contact via email at office@tllspectrumcenter.com.
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus chief of staff, Katie Telford, will appear before a parliamentary committee on Friday.

The Prime Ministers Office says Telford will testify at the procedure and House affairs committee on the issue of foreign interference in Canadian elections.

The office says an exact time has not been scheduled.

Telford agreed to meet with the committee last month, but not before the Liberals launched a filibuster that spanned several meetings in an attempt to keep her from appearing.

At the time, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh had said his party would back a Conservative motion to call Telford to testify if the government didnt voluntarily agree.

The committee has been studying foreign election interference following recent media reports that allege China tried to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 elections.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023.

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Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Akwa Ibom North-West Senator-Elect, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has dismissed as false reports that he had quit the race for the Senate Presidency in the forthcoming 10th Senate, saying he is still in the contest.

Media reports, on Monday, said that the former Akwa Ibom State two-term governor and former minority leader of the Senate might drop his Senate Presidency ambition for a ministerial appointment in the cabinet of the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Akpabio was one of the seven presidential aspirants who stepped down for Tinubu at the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential primaries.

Picking holes in the withdrawal from the Senate Presidency race report, Akpabio said it was the blackmailers' handiwork.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Jackson Udom, the Senator-elect said: Please, tell them that the story is complete falsehood and blackmail cooked and served from the pit of hell. These tissues of lies lack substance and only exist in the minds of its purveyors and backers.




Bandits operating in Zamfara and Katsina States who abducted 85 women and children in Wanzamai community of Tsafe local government area in Zamfara State have finally agreed to collect N20,000 from each of the victims amounting to N1.7 million.





The bandits also demanded that military operatives deployed to Wanzamai village should be relocated to another axis, vowing that they would continue to kidnap if the military personnel were not removed.





A native resident of the area, Ahmed Usman told DAILY POST through a telephone interview that the bandits sent a message that they would collect only N20.000 from each of the 85 victims as ransom considering their economic challenges.





The terrorists had earlier made a demand of N50 million for the kidnapped victims to regain their freedom. The 85 kidnapped victims are mostly women and children who went to the forest to get fire woods last Friday





Usman explained that after a series of negotiations, the bandits reduced the ransom to N20,000 for each victim as they came to understand that, they are all from poor families.





They also asked us to inform the appropriate authorities that they would continue to attack the village if the soldiers continue to remain in the area.





According to Usman, the families of the kidnapped victims were currently trying to pay the money, lamenting that, many of them have to sell their belongings to raise the amount.





He said his sisters daughter was among those that were kidnapped, pointing out that the family has launched an appeal fund to raise the amount and save the girl.





Usman further explained that the kidnap of the 85 people was a reprisal attack by the bandits whose people were killed in a raid by the military last Thursday.





There was an attack on the bandits camp by the military last Thursday where some bandits were killed.





The people of the village were told not to go to the forest last Friday because of the fear that the bandits might attack them but unfortunately some women and children did not heed the warning.





They went to the forest to get fire woods not knowing that the bandits were hiding there and they were all abducted.





He noted that two of the kidnapped victims were able to escape, while one was killed by the bandits




President Muhammadu Buhari is billed to depart the country on Tuesday on an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

In a statement on Monday, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, said the trip which would last for eight days is Buharis last visit to the kingdom as president.

Shehu said while in Saudi Arabia, the president would perform lesser hajj.

President Muhammadu Buhari will travel to Saudi Arabia on an official visit from Tuesday, April 11th to 19th on his last trip to the Kingdom as President, during which he will perform Umrah, the Lesser Pilgrimage, he said.

He will be accompanied by his aides.

Buhari, who will complete his second term in office, was first elected in 2015 after running against former president Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan had conceded defeat before the final tally was concluded.

Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, is expected to be sworn in on May 29, though some opposition parties are challenging his victory at the just concluded general election.




The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has debunked viral information on social media that it is currently recruiting through a dubious EFCC recruitment 2023/2024 application portal dated April 7, 2023.





The commission stated that the fraudsters, who are yet to begin the process, nevertheless, went further to provide a link on how to apply, and urged members of the public to share to other WhatsApp groups to help others.





This was disclosed on the Commissions website on Monday.





It added that the fraudsters mischievously added career to the Commissions Website address to read www.efcc.gov.ng/career, giving semblance to the genuineness of their schemes.





While warning members of the public not to be deceived, it not note that the information shared on social media is fake.





It added that information about the commissions activities, including job openings, can be obtained from its official website, www.efcc.gov.ng.





The attention of the EFCC, has been drawn to some information circulating in the social media, inviting unsuspecting applicants to submit applications through a dubious EFCC Recruitment 2023/2024 Application Portal dated 7th April, 2023.





The Commission wishes to notify the public that it is currently not recruiting. Any information to the contrary circulating in the social media is false and the handiwork of mischief makers aimed at defrauding hapless job seekers, part of the statement read.
Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has allegedly mocked supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi.

An Easter message by the governor, which was posted on his Facebook timeline, had wished Anambra people a happy Easter celebration but added that a headless mob killed Christ because of their emotions, which collided with the truth embodied by Christ.

Soludo had in a piece written in November 2022 described Obis supporters as a headless mob, fueling the insinuation that the use of the words again in todays Easter message may have been in mockery of Obis supporters known as OBIdients.

The comments had fuelled anger among OBIdients who reacted by attacking Soludo in the comment section of his post on Facebook.

The message posted by the governor on his timeline read: Christ is risen, hallelujah! Our Lord brought the inconvenient truth about salvation.

The headless mob mocked, condemned and crucified Him. Some 2000 years after, the truth, embodied in the risen Christ and His message of salvation and eternity, still endures.

History teaches us and the experience of our Lord confirms that whenever strong fleeting emotions collide with the truth, emotions triumph temporarily but ultimately the truth prevails.

May the resurrection power encourage all those with the wisdom and courage to stand up for the inconvenient truth at all times. Truth will always prevail. In the end, no history book has ever been written in honour of the emotive critics or the headless mob.

May Anambra and Nigeria always win. Happy Easter to us all!




Matthew Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, has asked Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, to prioritise the security of Nigerians when he assumes office on May 29.

In a statement on Sunday, the cleric said the mission to revive the minds of citizens is urgent as it will reposition the country on the path to greatness.

I am hopeful that you will appreciate that the most urgent task facing our nation is not infrastructure or the usual cheap talk about dividends of democracy. These are important but first, keep us alive because only the living can enjoy infrastructure, Kukah said.

He also asked Tinubu to eliminate chains of ethnic and religious bigotry and to recover the country from the men of darkness.

For now, the most urgent mission is to start a psychological journey of making Nigerians feel whole again, of creating a large tent of opportunity and hope for us all, of expanding the frontiers of our collective freedom, of cutting off the chains of ethnicity and religious bigotry, of helping us recover from the feeling of collective rape by those who imported the men of darkness that destroyed our country, of recovering our country and placing us on the path to our greatness, of exorcising the ghost of nepotism and religious bigotry, the cleric said.

Kukah called on the youths to embrace peace following the protests that trailed the outcome of the elections in the country.

He noted that the youths had a right to be angry but asked them to transform it to a motivation to legally seek justice.
Edwin Clark, an Ijaw national leader and convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), says Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, should be prosecuted for spreading fake news against Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).

On April 4, speaking in Washington DC during an engagement with some international media organisations, Mohammed warned Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed, his running mate, against inciting violence over the outcome of the election.

Baba-Ahmed had said in an interview with Channels Television that Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, did not meet the constitutional requirements to become Nigerias president.

He said Tinubu failed to fulfill the requirements stipulated for election to the office of the president and asked the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) not to swear him in as president.





His statement received backlash from prominent Nigerians, including Wole Soyinka, the Nobel laureate, but Mohammed took the criticism of the remark to an international level.

Reacting to this in a statement on Monday, Clark said the minister of information misused the office to commit an illegitimate act.

He called on the attorney general of the nation to undertake thorough investigation of the activities of Mohammed and charge him to court for constituting himself as mastermind and disseminator of fake news.

Clark added that the discovery of a plot of an interim government aimed at overthrowing the federal government was malicious and untrue.

Like I said, Lai Mohammed did not base his information on any credible intelligence report from the state agencies, but on propaganda and falsity. Therefore, I am of the opinion that he should be charged for spreading unhealthy information and fake news against an innocent Nigerian who is very prominent and has proven his worth in the country. Lai Mohammed used the exalted position of the office of the nations ministry of information to commit this perfidy, he said.

As Lai Mohammed knows well, most Nigerians today are very keen observers of what is going on in the country. We have also continued to watch and closely watch actions, inactions, and utterances by the key political actors and their close associates. It is therefore totally unacceptable that a minister in charge of a sensitive government department as dissemination of information should constitute himself to become the purveyor of false information, innuendos, and even fake news.

It is clear therefore that the minister of information has constituted himself to become the mastermind and disseminator of fake news. This leaves us with no option than to call on the attorney general of the nation to undertake thorough investigation of the activities of the minister and charge him to court.

It is criminal, unpatriotic, and wicked for anyone to draw the name of Peter Obi who fully participated in the 2023 presidential election and who has gone to court to express his dissatisfaction with the outcome of the presidential election and his popularity which has spread to all part of the country as a wildfire has no doubt caused a great embarrassment to the federal government.

What is being alleged as a discovery of a plot to overthrow the federal government by DSS is malicious and untrue.




Former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Professor Onje Gye-Wado has been released four days after his abduction.





The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ramham Nansel, confirmed this to newsmen on Monday morning.





It was reported that gunmen kidnapped Gye-Wado in Rinza village, Wamba Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.





Earlier, his adductors reportedly demanded N70 million for his release.





The Police did not confirm whether the ransom was paid, but sources said his family members paid about N4 million to secure his freedom.
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), says his supporters should bear the attacks they receive as a sacrifice for a new Nigeria.

In a series of tweets on Monday, Obi said he and Datti Baba-Ahmed, his running mate, are pained that their supporters, popularly known as Obidients, are being attacked because they choose to stand by them.

even from some of those we long regarded as civic leaders and conscience of our nation. Please bear such attacks as the sacrifices that we are all required to make in order to create a New Nigeria, where justice, equity, fairness, love and prosperity shall reign.  Peter Obi (@PeterObi) April 10, 2023

The former governor of Anambra said the alleged plot to demarket the Obidient movement would fail.

Datti and I are painfully mindful that for the mere reason of being OBIdient, most of you have suffered vituperations, physical attacks, loss of rights and privileges, hateful trolls, indignities and vexatious fighting words, even from some of those we long regarded as civic leaders and conscience of our nation, he tweeted.

Please bear such attacks as the sacrifices that we are all required to make in order to create a new Nigeria, where justice, equity, fairness, love and prosperity shall reign.

Be assured that Datti and I are with you, and that the ongoing unfortunate orchestrated efforts to demarket and delegitimize the OBIdient Movement will fail. We are fully structured and have remained focused and steadfast in addressing the ills in our nation.

While underpinning the supremacy of our Constitution and imperatives of the rule of law. Do not relent; and do not be lured into unnecessary conflicts. Be assured that in the fullness of time, our mission to rescue Nigeria from those engaged in state capture will come to fruition.

Obi said he and Baba-Ahmed are using all lawful and peaceful means to reclaim their mandate to create a new Nigeria.

Therefore, in all your actions and inactions, I continue to implore you to be law-abiding, respectful and peaceful, he said.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) congratulates Tyler Goodale of Doniphan for swiping the second state record fish of 2023 with an 11-ounce flier he caught March 26 from Duck Creek Conservation Area using the pole-and-line method. Goodale actually caught two record-worthy fliers that day, both identical in weight and length.

The previous Missouri record flier was a 10-ounce fish caught from a private pond back in 1991.

Fliers are a species of conservation concern in Missouri. Largest populations are found at Duck Creek Conservation Area and nearby Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, where extensive areas of standing-water habitat remain. Fliers prefer quiet, clear bodies of water with little current and considerable aquatic vegetation and mud bottom.

MDC staff verified the fishes weight using a certified scale in Wappapello.

This is the second state record Goodale has reeled in from Duck Creek Conservation Area. He caught a 5-pound, 4-ounce spotted sucker at Duck Creek in 2020 that also happens to be the current world record.

Learn more about fliers from MDCs online Field Guide at https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/flier.

Missouri state record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Alternative methods include: trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, jug line, gig, bow, crossbow, underwater spearfishing, snagging, snaring, grabbing, or atlatl. For more information on state record fish, visit http://bit.ly/2efq1vl.




Operatives of the Nasarawa Police Command have arrested Salisu Buhari, one of the inmates of Kuje Correctional Centre who escaped from the facility during the July 2022 jailbreak.





DSP Ramhan Nansel, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday in Lafia.





Nansel said that Buhari was arrested with his friend Zubairu Ali for allegedly snatching a motorcycle in the state.





On April 6, at about 10:00 p.m., police operatives attached to Nassarawa Division arrested the fugitive and one other for motorcycle theft.





Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are responsible for most motorcycle snatching and theft in Nasarawa LGA and its environs.





Upon interrogation, Salisu Buhari confessed to having escaped from Kuje Correctional Centre when the facility was attacked last year.





The escapee said he linked up with his crony after escaping from the facility and went into the criminal venture, the spokesperson for the police added.





He said that the state Commissioner of Police Maiyaki Muhammed-Baba had ordered the case transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia, for an exhaustive investigation.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has prayed the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) in Abuja to dismiss petitions filed by three opposition parties challenging the victory of its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in the February 25 election.

The APC called on the tribunal to discountenance the petitions in three separate responses filed at PEPCs Secretariat, Sunday night by Thomas Ojo, a member of the partys legal team led by Lateef Fagbemi, in Abuja.

NAN reports that the three political parties: Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM), had, in separate petitions, challenged the emergence of Tinubu as Nigerias President-elect.

AA, in the petition, sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu, APC and Hamza Al-Mustapha, its factional presidential candidate and former CSO to late General Sani Abacha.

APM, in its petition, joined Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, INEC, APC and Kabir Masari, who stood as a vice-presidential placeholder during the primaries before he was substituted with Shettima.

APP dragged INEC, APC and Tinubu to court as respondents.

In the suits, marked CA/PEPC/01/2023, CA/PEPC/04/2023 and CA/PEPC/02/2023, AA, APM and APP are respectively challenging the result of the presidential poll on the grounds of alleged substantial non-compliance with the electoral laws of Nigeria, as well as the INEC guidelines.

Responding, the APC faulted the claims by the political parties.

Meanwhile, the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) s counterpart, Peter Obi, are also challenging the election outcome.

Tinubu and Shettima, the Vice-President-elect, are, however, within time to respond to all the petitions by the political parties.

However, based on provisions of the law, a respondent has twenty-one days to reply to a petition after a service.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Youths and Sport, Obinna Ogba (PDP, Ebonyi Central), has explained the reason the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, failed in the just concluded election. He said Atiku Abubakar should have allowed an Igbo man to fly the flag of the Party as the presidential candidate.

According to him: The National Working Committee, NWC, deserves to be suspended, starting from the national chairman who lost his booth, ward and state. All the conspirators who gave tickets to those who understood their languages lost.

Our presidential candidate (Atiku Abubakar) had no business contesting the election. It could have been left for an Igbo man. Even the presidential candidate (Atiku) is battling to reclaim his state.

He said further: The people love PDP. It is just the management of the party. No other party is as strong as the PDP. Labour Party surprised many people with their exploits, but it was [only] in the presidential election. Those in Labour Party are those who are angry at what is happening in our party, he stated.

Ogba, a PDP governorship aspirant in Ebonyi State, noted that the 9th Senate will commence the amendment of the Electoral Act to pave way for all elections to hold in one day.

He made this known while speaking with newsmen in his hometown of Nkalagu community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

He further said: Before we wind up at the National Assembly, I will be among those who will support an amendment to the Electoral Act to make all elections [to] be held in one day. This will save costs and lives. If one has three or more ballot papers, he can cast his vote.

According to him, he will use his valedictory speech to tell Nigerians some blunt truths.

I will tell Nigerians that it will take a long time for us to be one. We should not deceive ourselves. Anyone telling you that Igbos have been forgiven after the Civil War is deceiving himself. It will take us a lot of time to speak our minds in this country, to avoid being witch-hunted or killed. There is no freedom of speech, he stated.

In a related development, Ogba applauded the founding fathers of Ebonyi State for zoning the governorship position to Ebonyi North senatorial zone, adding that the emergence of Francis Nwifuru of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the governor-elect is a divine arrangement.

Whether we like it or not, Ebonyi is our state. Political parties are just vehicles to get to our destination. The leaders of the state decided that the north zone should produce the governor. The NWC of PDP for reasons best known to them shot itself in the foot. It decided to give the ticket to the incumbent governors cousin.

He urged the people of the state to give maximum support to the incoming government, saying of Francis Nwifuru: He is a young man with potential. Administrations are different. It is not easy to preside over the House of Assembly for eight years. Nwifuru has got experience. He knows the state in and out.

Senator Ogba called on the governor-elect to focus more on the empowerment of the masses to alleviate poverty in the state.
UPDATE: Rutgers University to continue classes Monday amid unprecedented professor strike

Shortly after three Rutgers University unions representing 9,000 professors, part-time lecturers, and graduate student workers announced a strike Sunday night that could disrupt classes at the states largest public university, Gov. Phil Murphy called for both sides to meet in his office at the Statehouse in Trenton on Monday to seek a resolution to the historic impasse.

Rutgers University is one of the nations premier institutions of higher learning. I am calling the university and union bargaining committees to meet in my office tomorrow to have a productive dialogue, Murphy said in a statement.

The announcement came as more than 67,000 students on Rutgers New Brunswick-Piscataway, Newark, and Camden campuses will be affected by what could be one of the largest faculty walkouts in U.S. higher education history.

The world-class educators, students, and staff of Rutgers University have my word that these parties will negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement that is fair for all parties, Murphy said.

Its the first faculty strike at Rutgers since the schools founding in 1766.

The walkout is expected to disrupt the majority of in-person and online classes as students head into their last few weeks of the spring semester before finals and commencement next month.

Picket lines will go up on all three Rutgers campuses at 9 a.m. Monday, union officials said.

To say that this is deeply disappointing would be an understatement, especially given that just two days ago, both sides agreed in good faith to the appointment of a mediator to help us reach agreements, Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway said in a statement Sunday night. In the interests of our more than 67,000 students, many of whom are mere weeks away from graduation, we have posted guidelines for students, as well as for faculty and staff, about what to know during a strike.

More coverage:

NJ Advance Media staff writer Kelly Heyboer contributed to this post.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
While Rutgers University classes officially continued as scheduled Monday despite a strike by 9,000 professors, graduate students, and part-time lecturers, the reality for students caught in the middle of the bitter contract dispute reflected the chaos of some cancellations and a mixed bag of communication.

I just came from the business school and its usually packed on Monday in the morning, Rutgers-Newark Business School student Asad Saeed told NJ Advance Media. This morning theres almost nobody in that building. Theres just like one or two classes going on.

Though there is no official tally of how many classes were canceled Monday, students joining protesting faculty members shared a range of experiences that seemed specific to each individual class or instructor.

MORE: Rutgers faculty votes to strike: What you need to know about historic walkout.

Saeed, along with fellow Rutgers-Newark Business School seniors Nidhish Somarouthu and Mihir Patel, each had at least one class canceled. They said students have stayed home, either because of cancellations or to support the striking unions.

Omer Abdelwahab, 21, of Wyckoff, lives on campus, but has friends who commute to classes. The uncertainty of cancellations has been a particularly challenging for them, he said.

I went to a class in the morning, had class, and then it wasnt until five minutes before the next class was scheduled that they told us it was canceled, Abdelwahab said. So it was sort of frustrating, especially for commuters who commute a long distance. It sort of felt like the professors didnt really know what was happening, which I dont fault them for considering all this was happening really quickly.

Some professors have made classes virtual for the remainder of the semester, students said. The last scheduled day of classes for the spring semester is May 1. Final exams are slated to run from May 4 to 10.

My classes throughout the week have been sending things today saying we dont know how long this (is) going to last, said Julianne Varga, 21, a junior majoring in public health.

She said she supports the strike and a better contract for professors, but has concerns about this continuing through finals.

Especially because one of my classes, our final is worth 30-35% of our grade, Varga said. So its kind of a big deal if we dont have it. Nobody knows whats going to happen. But they cant not have a contract for eight months and expect everyone to be fine with it.

Some students received a standard message from professors about class cancellations, said Aishwarya Sabharwal, 21, a sophomore from Watchung.

I found out the first class was cancelled by emailing the professor. They hadnt sent anything out, Sabharwal said. For the other one, we got a big message from our professor. Theres a standard one that everyones been sending out, so just that copy-pasted.

Catherine Swanstrom, 20, a junior from Verona, was on her way to a class on Monday, unsure if it would be held.

I didnt see anything. Im assuming it is happening, Swanstrom said. I didnt really think she was going to cancel classes. Its my organic chemistry class, so we cant afford to miss class. We have a standardized final. Its not made by the professors. So we need to learn that stuff to do well on the final. But if class wasnt going on, Id just go home.

Collegiate life largely hummed along on College Avenue in New Brunswick as students hopped on and off buses, backpacks loaded and headphones on. For some, the picket line was a novelty to gawk at. Dozens of students stopped to take photos of the growing protest, while others took the chance to sunbathe on the grassy area across the road and watch.

Some professors were more upfront that others about negations, Eva Marsters, a junior, said as she walked along College Avenue with her twin sister.

Students with more vocal professors would pass along information to those less in the know, so everyone knew a strike was a real possibility, even if they didnt know the specifics of what was a stake, Marsters said.

Marsters said all her classes were canceled on Monday, and she wont be doing any work or attending any classes until an agreement was reached.

Demilade Adeoti, a freshman business major, went to her economic class Monday morning, but she was one of only a few students there.

I didnt think strike would happen, but here we are, Adeoti said.

Sophomore Abiel Ghebre said he has already had an exam canceled and while he supports the strike, hes concerned about how the semester will be resolved for students.

I do think that as a student, though, we definitely still need the points and grades, he said. Im interested in how theyre going to make it fair for everybody.

Some students joined the instructors on the picket lines in a show of support.

I think its really important that we all come out, said Mallory Olwig, a second-year law student who joined protesters in Newark. Im really really glad that my professors canceled today.

In New Brunswick, the picket line on College Avenue was more than 400 feet long Monday morning and getting consistently larger. Some of the people marching had been there for several hours and were receiving support from drivers honking horns as they passed.

Some of those on strike had their children with them. The kids were drawing strike messages on the sidewalk in chalk.

Some student said they stand with strikers.

This deal the unions are proposing will benefit everyone as a whole for the future, said freshman Jakob Pender, a freshman who was out picketing on College Avenue early Monday. Its super important. Theres a reason why after 257 years today is the first day were on strike.

Pender, who was wearing a union T-shirt, said he has a job on campus but its a non-union position.

The three striking unions, which have been working without a contract since July 1, are: Rutgers AAUP-AFT, which represents full-time faculty, graduate workers, postdoctoral associates, and some counselors; the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union, which represents part-time lecturers; and the AAUP-BHSNJ, which includes faculty in the biomedical and health sciences at Rutgers medical, dental, nursing, and public health schools.

Faculty members at the medical and other health sciences schools will continue performing essential research and patient care, but will curtail duties that will not impact patient health and safety, the union said.

Some of Rutgers other large unions said its workers will stay on the job, even if the faculty are on strike.

The Union of Rutgers AdministratorsAFT, which represents administrative and professional employees, said last week that it will not ask its members to walk off their jobs in a sympathy strike with the faculty. But the union said its members can show support by walking in picket lines and attending rallies outside of work hours.

The sides were expected to meet with Gov. Phil Murphy at the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton on Monday afternoon.

MORE COVERAGE:

Rutgers strike sends professors to picket lines chanting RU listening? We are picketing.

Why is Rutgers on strike? Heres what the union says it is asking, and what Rutgers is offering.

Rutgers strike: Gov. Murphy gets involved in talks, wants to lock the door until theres a settlement

Rutgers strike: Faculty, students rally across 3 campuses as talks continue in Trenton

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Mold contamination on two floors of Jersey Citys East District police headquarters Downtown has forced police officers and staff there into rented trailers and another facility.

The front desk and patrol staff of the East precinct, located at 207 Seventh St. between Erie and Grove streets, are currently working out of two new trailers at the public safety building on Marin Boulevard while the basement and first floor of the building are remediated, city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said.

The district covers all of Downtown and the Communipaw neighborhood.

A vendor has already been hired to remove mold, according to the resolution on the city council agenda for Wednesday. Some units will be working out of the public safety building on Marin Boulevard, Wallace-Scalcione said.

The city council will also be voting on ratifying a $108,864 contract to New York state-based Nadler Modular Structures for the trailers. Wallace-Scalcione said its important that the trailers are easily accessible to the public.

The city had already planned for the East District to move out of the three-story stone building that is more than a century old. A new East headquarters is under construction, Wallace-Scalcione said. It is believed the new station will be part of a development project at 16th and Coles streets.

When asked about returning to the Seventh Street building at the City Council caucus Monday, city Office of Emergency Management Director Greg Kierce said it will cost $300,000 to remediate the mold condition and another $1.5 million to make repairs that caused the condition in the first place.

Councilman Rich Boggiano, a former city police officer, said its only mold.

If you remember years ago I worked there in the second precinct and we had a mold condition there and nobody gave a darn and nobody ever got sick and there was never a problem, said Boggiano, who later said he fears that the city will sell the historic building to a developer.

Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association Second Vice President James Wood said that the mold hazards and associated health risk have not been communicated to the officers exposed or us.

We appreciate that the city is taking steps to relocate East District officers to a temporary structure until their new facility is opened the near future, he said.
New York Waterway is seeking Hoboken Planning Board approval to bring barges, temporary structures and electric wiring to the Union Dry Dock site it will be leasing for up to five years for ferry maintenance.

The waterfront property that Hoboken plans to eventually transform into a park will undergo renovations for the trans-Hudson ferry company to intermediately use it for ferry maintenance and storage, according to documents submitted to the planning board.

New York Waterway (NYWW) intends to erect utility poles and lights and an eight-foot-high chain link fence that will separate the part of the property NYWW is leasing from a portion the city will use. It will also bring in storage containers, dumpsters and a trailer with bathrooms and lockers, according to a site plan map.

According to the lease contract, NYWW is also responsible for removal of the improvements constructed or installed at the site.

Fencing will be provided as an interim remedial measure and to ensure that operations area (is) shielded from public view and to provide security, the application says.

The heftier barge will sit between the sites two most northern piers and will be 72 feet by 243 feet. A smaller 33 feet by 120 feet barge will be positioned below the third pier at the southern end of the property.

New lighting will be installed on the piers and extension cables will connect the utility poles to the travel barge.

The company also plans to renovate and use an existing office building and utility building on the property, a NYWW spokesperson said.

There may be up to 45 employees on the site at a given time, the spokesperson said.

The planning board intends to review the application for completeness at a Tuesday meeting.

We look forward to meeting with the Planning Board to discuss our plans for occupying Union Dry Dock, consistent with our lease, the company spokesperson said.

The city agreed to lease back the land to NYWW after using eminent domain to acquire the property to transform it into the last piece of what will be a contiguous city-long waterfront park.

The lease allows NYWW to store about 20 boats at the site overnight and operate on them between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

The city, meanwhile, is both designing the park and reconfiguring the street it will border, Sinatra Drive, to add a protected bike lane.

NYWWs lease includes a $4,573 monthly rate for the first three years and the possibility of staying an extra two if the site it has been planning to build out in Weehawken for boat repairs is not completed. At that point, the monthly rate would increase to $9,146.

But it is unclear if Weehawken will ever be an option for the modernized ferry maintenance facility that NYWW has been dreaming of building for years.

Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner has said he opposes the concept, and in March, the township council approved a measure that will explore the possibility of using eminent domain to capture the property NYWW has for years used for ferry maintenance near Pershing Road.
Anthony Vainieri, the chairman of the Hudson County Board of Commissioners, will announce his resignation from the board at Thursdays meeting, multiple sources told The Jersey Journal.

The move was not unexpected, since the three-term commissioner for District 8  representing North Bergen and most of Secaucus  is running for a commissioner seat in the North Bergen municipal election in May, and the state years ago outlawed dual office-holding.
EDITORS NOTE: Interested in the business and networking side of cannabis? NJ Cannabis Insider is hosting a cannabis business networking event on May 18 . Tickets are limited.

How do you compete with a lobbying firm controlled by one of Gov. Phil Murphys closest allies and friends?

For Precious Osagie-Erese, co-founder of an East Orange small cannabis company applying for a license to run a retail store and delivery business, its rallying her community for support. In New Jersey, before a cannabis business is fully licensed it must get local approval with their host municipality  which can be a separate approval process with different rules from the states regulatory entity.

At the upcoming Monday East Orange City Council meeting, Osagie-Erese has called for residents and other cannabis advocates to challenge what they say could be a backdoor deal hiding in plain sight.

We have been championing a safe and equitable New Jersey cannabis industry with an intentional focus to build and support our hometown, Osagie-Erese said in a released statement.

Multiple applicants in East Orange, including Osagie-Erese, have brought up concerns city leaders are being influenced by one of the states most dominant power brokers, State Democratic Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones Jr., through his lobbying firm 1868 Public Affairs, which is representing an applicant in the citys selection process.

Jones, an East Orange resident, is also chairman of the Essex County Democratic Committee and the East Orange Democratic Municipal Committee Chairman. As chair of those multiple committees, Jones was instrumental in garnering local, county and state support for Murphys re-election.

The municipality has enough spots to accommodate most of the cannabis companies vying for a space in East Orange. But the way in which the businesses have been zoned, some applicants may inevitably be pushed out due to proposed stores being too close to one another.

Were supposed to be supporting social equity in cannabis, Osagie-Erese said. Those merits arent as important as politics and thats the problem in and of itself  thats whats heartbreaking.

Dan Smith, a senior associate for Jones lobbying firm 1868 Public Affairs, has been serving as the representative for applicant Nimbus Holdings LLC.

There has been no undue political influence on behalf of Nimbus at any point as they have been treated the same as the other applicant every step of the way and have presented a strong application for consideration, Smith said.

Jones did not respond to a request for comment.

We have a strong application and have gone through the process step by step, just like every other applicant, said Nimbus Holdings Chief Compliance Officer Sukhjit Mangat. We believe the process in East Orange has been fair and equitable and we hope to be successful based on the strength of our application.

Another applicant who declined to share their name for fear of retribution also questioned the fairness of the selection process based on Smith and the lobbying firms ties to the Democratic chair.

If youre in those positions, I would think you would have to recuse yourself  thats crazy that these guys are playing ball like this, they said.

Multiple East Orange council members were called and the one who did pick up, Councilman Christopher Awe of the 2nd Ward, claimed he had no prior knowledge of Smiths connection to 1868 Public Affairs and said he still believed in the fairness of the process.

Theres no conflict, he said.

East Orange and the state Democratic Party shouldnt tolerate even the appearance that a powerful political leader could give this company an upper hand, said Jason Williams, an associate professor of Justice Studies at Montclair State University.

Its a clear conflict, he said. Even if it looks like a conflict of interest, its in the interest of the public for a person to recuse, to step down. The fact that they dont see that ... it says that in order to participate in the political process you have to open yourself up to corruption.

Murphy and the state law promised New Jerseyans a fair process to becoming business owners, putting a priority on those harmed by the War on Drugs.

Murphys office declined to comment.

East Orange is a majority Black city in Essex County and in New Jersey, residents can be three times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than their white counterparts.

According to an ACLU report, in 2016, East Orange was also one of the municipalities that ranked the highest in the state for civil asset forfeiture. An analysis of the data by NJ Advance Media showed how nearly half of the states seizing of money, cars and other property was drug-related.

Roll Up Life, which was founded six years ago by Osagie-Erese and business partner Tiyahnn Bryant, cannot be approved for a license to sell or distribute cannabis by the state that says it wants to heal the harm from the War on Drugs until it has a municipalitys blessings.

Belinda Jackson, an East Orange resident since the 1970s, said she hasnt gone to a council meeting in years but would show up to support Osagie-Erese and other applicants who had brought up the same concerns.

Im going to go on behalf of her, Im going to support this young woman in her efforts and Im going to encourage her and her generation of people to get ready for their battle, she said. Im going to teach them everything that I possibly know.

Jelani Gibson is content lead for NJ Cannabis Insider. He may be reached at jgibson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jelanigibson1 and on LinkedIn.
The man accused of stabbing a Paterson imam during morning prayers at a city mosque Sunday morning told police he wanted to kill the man over religious differences, court documents show.

Serif Zorba, 32, was subdued by congregants at the Omar Mosque after he allegedly attacked 65-year-old Imam Sayed Elnakib at the Getty Avenue house of worship, authorities said.
A former dog trainer in Orange County has pleaded guilty in an animal cruelty case tried with assistance from the Virginia attorney generals office.

Attorney General Jason Miyares on Friday announced the prosecution in Orange County Circuit Court of 62-year-old Shawn Deehan.

Deehan is the former owner of the Perfect Dog, what was described as a K9 training facility in the county that appeared on authorities radar in 2021.

Deehan pleaded guilty on March 30 in the case to two felony animal cruelty charges and five misdemeanors of failure of a boarding establishment to provide adequate care for animals at the site, according to a release from Miyares office. Deehan pleaded not guilty at arraignment two years ago.

Im proud of the work of the Orange County Sheriffs Office, the Fairfaxs Animal Protection Police and my offices animal law unit, Miyares said in a statement. Animal cruelty and violence will not be tolerated in Virginia.

In March of 2021, a German Shepherd puppy was picked up from Deehans facility, just east of Raccoon Ford, after the owner received a tip the puppy was in bad shape, according to authorities.

The owner took the puppy to a veterinarian in Fairfax County, who contacted the Fairfax Animal Protection Police, who referred the case to the Orange County Sheriffs Office, according to Fridays announcement. The puppy, Scout, ultimately had to be put down due to trauma from being kept in a crate for hours on end, according to the statement.

Upon an investigation of the property in Orange County, deputies found 12 dogs in crates and kennels standing in urine and feces with no bedding.

In court on Thursday, Deehan was sentenced to five years, with four years and six months suspended. He is to serve the six-month jail term under house arrest. He was sentenced to 12 months with 12 months suspended on the misdemeanor charges.

Deehan was barred from owning, possessing, caring or training dogs for the rest of his life, according to the attorney generals office.

He was additionally ordered to pay almost $100,000 in restitution to the dogs owners and the Orange County Animal Shelter, which has taken care of his dogs for two years. Deehan surrendered his six dogs to the shelter and they will be adopted by police units, Miyares said.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Michelle Welch assisted with the local prosecution of the case.
Why does the richest nation in the world still have so many people living in poverty? One in every nine people in America is officially poor, and one in eight children  why do we tolerate this much suffering amid so much wealth?

The reasons are many, Princeton sociologist Matthew Desmond says, but heres a big one: Because the rest of us benefit from it. We are capitalizing off their misery in ways that we may or may not realize. In his new book, Poverty, by America, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author argues that ending poverty wont just require new policies and renewed political movements; it will require the better-off among us to understand our shared complicity in the deprivation of millions of people in this country.

Desmond spoke with Deputy Editorial Page Editor Julie OConnor about how the fortunate profit from the existence of poverty and why he believes that understanding this is key to finding a solution. Below is a transcript, edited for brevity.

Q. Your last book, Evicted, was partly inspired by your own familys experience of being foreclosed on when you were young. What compelled you to write this new book?

A. When I was living in Milwaukee researching my last book, I saw a kind of poverty that I had never seen before. I saw grandmas living without heat in the winter, I spent time with families whose landlords refused to fix their plumbing and so their sewer would back up into the bathroom. And seeing them experience that kind of miserable, grinding poverty really compelled me to ask this question: Why? Why is there so much poverty in this land of abundance?

Q. You show how the U.S. spends big on social programs, second only to France. But a huge portion of that goes to the well-off  like the home mortgage deduction, which costs more than Sen. Cory Bookers baby bonds proposal that would lift most children in America out of poverty. What are some other ways that we subsidize affluence?

A. The mortgage interest deduction is just one of a ton of tax breaks that accrue, often to the wealthiest Americans. If you add up all the tax breaks that happen every year, we spend about $1.8 trillion dollars on this  thats twice as much as we spend on the military, for example.

And if you combine all the tax breaks we get with social insurance programs and means-tested programs like food stamps, the top 20% of Americans on average  the average family in that income bracket  gets about $35,000 from the government every year, but families in the bottom 20% only get about $25,000. Thats a 40% difference. So its an incredibly lopsided welfare state, where were doing a lot more to subsidize affluence than we are to fight poverty.

Matthew Desmond, Princeton sociologist and author of the new book "Poverty, by America"(File photo | Barron Bixler)

Q. You also say we could just about fill the entire poverty gap in America if the richest among us simply paid all the taxes that they owed. Can you explain?

A. Sure. Last year, the head of the IRS testified that tax evasion by wealthy families and corporations cost the government about $1 trillion a year now, just a colossal sum. And a recent study showed that if the richest families in America just paid what they owed  so dont pay higher taxes, just stop evading taxes by offshore accounting and other tax evasion strategies that have become part and parcel to the American way of life for very privileged Americans  if those folks, the top 1%, just paid what they owed, we would have an additional $175 billion a year. Thats a big number. So what would that do?

You could reestablish the extended child tax credit that cut child poverty almost in half during COVID with that amount, and still have money left over. You could double our investment in affordable housing with that amount and still have money left over. And you could basically pull everyone below the poverty line right above it with $175 billion. Youre a little short, but not too much. And so, it really shows that at least the country has the resources to address this problem. And we know how to do it. The hard part is the political will.

Q. How else do the rest of us profit off of poverty?

A. Well, we tolerate incredible, unrelenting amounts of exploitation in the labor market, in the housing market, and in the financial market. Maybe lets just talk about financial markets and get our hands around that. So, every day, my estimate is $61 million dollars are charged to poor families in terms of overdraft fees, check cashing fees, and payday loan interest: $61 million a day, an incredibly high amount. Who benefits from that? Payday loan companies and banks do, but many of us who are just normal bankers also do, because we have free checking accounts. But it turns out that those accounts arent free, theyre subsidized by overdraft fees levied on the poorest bankers in America.

Or think about labor exploitation. Many of us consume the cheap goods and services the working poor produce. Those of us invested in the stock market often profit when we see our savings going up and up, even when those savings sometimes come at the cost of a human sacrifice, by really tolerating low wages out there. So, I think the book is calling for all of us to kind of examine our lives and recognize how were connected to the problem and connected to the solution.

Q. You place a significant amount of weight on individual behavior like deciding to shop at unionized businesses or welcome affordable housing in your neighborhood and diversity in your schools. But how much do you think individual actions can really change things?

A. I think that what you mean by that question is, what about big structural change?

Q. Thats right.

A. Yeah, so I think the book really tries to question that division between individual change and structural change. And Ive become very wary of absolving theories of poverty, and some structural theories of it are very absolving  like, if only Congress would get its act together; if only the very rich would pay their taxes.

To move those big policies, we need to build a political will, and to do that we need to start taking individual responsibility in our own lives too. And so, I do call for deeper investments in poverty eradication. I do call for a renewing of social movements. But in some ways, I think those things are intimately connected and require all of us to keep pushing from the bottom. Thats what building the political will is.

Take something like segregation, which is a structural problem, right? Its conditioned by laws and history, and thats very structural. But that structure is upheld by many of us showing up at zoning board meetings and saying, No, I dont want this in my community. Or No, I refuse to vote yes on this affordable housing proposal. So thats not a structural thing. The structures arent making us do that, right? Thats an individual choice. And so, I think that individual action and the structural change often go hand in glove.

Q. Do you think people have the will to follow the recommendations in your book?

A. I gave a talk on this book in Nashville, TN, and someone drove 10 hours to be there. I gave a talk in LA a few days ago, and someone flew from Milwaukee. I think there are quite a lot of Americans that are really eager for this conversation. I think we, as a country, are ready to take serious action on poverty.

And the book makes the case that, look, if were going to make deep investments in eradicating poverty  and when I say eradicating, Im not playing. I want to end poverty in America  the way to do that is for the richest among us to take less from the government. But I think what we get in that movement, in that rebalancing, is a freer, happier, fairer country. And I think a lot of us are eager for that deal. A lot of us feel complicit and unsettled by all this poverty in our midst. It drags us all down. If youd like to, we could talk about poverty abolitionism.

Q. Yeah, what does that mean?

A. Poverty abolitionism shares with other abolitionist movements, like the movement to abolish slavery or the prison, the conviction that poverty isnt a minor social ill or something we have to live with, but is an abomination. It also shares with other abolitionist movements the belief that profiting from someone elses pain diminishes all, corrupts us all. And so, a poverty abolitionist tries to divest from scarcity  in our consumer choices and our investment decisions, we push for a government that really flexes, does much more to alleviate and end poverty. We hate exploitation, even if we benefit from it, and we turn away from segregation and opportunity hoarding. The idea is, its both a political and a personal project. Its about who we vote for, what on the ballot gets us excited, the social movements we join up. But its also about questions we should ask throughout our families, our communities and our schools.

Q. It seems like your book is a call to action on that front.

A. I hope so. We need action. There is so much terrible poverty in this land of abundance, and thats just shameless.

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As reported by NJ Advance Media, applications for concealed carry permits in New Jersey dramatically increased after the U.S. Supreme Court decided in 2022 that it was unconstitutional for states, including New Jersey, to require an applicant for a concealed carry handgun permit to show a justifiable need for the weapon.

While this decision was clearly a victory for gun advocates, research shows that when gun laws are relaxed, gun deaths increase.

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A good example is found in Missouri, which, in 2007, removed a requirement to obtain a permit to purchase a handgun. In 2017, it also stopped requiring permits for concealed carry. According to a 2021 study by the Kansas City Star, the states firearms death rate since 2007 had increased 58% by 2019. John Hopkins researchers determined that from 49 to 68 additional firearms deaths each year in Missouri resulted from the new law in the 10 years following its passage.

Scott Bach, head of the New Jersey Association of Rifle and Pistol Clubs, was quoted in the story about the jump in carry permit requests resulting from pent-up demand. He may be rejoicing over the expected increase in club members being able to carry their Glocks around with them, but the price for the Supreme Courts 2022 decision will be paid by the rest of us in the form of increased gun deaths.

Robert Checchio, Dunellen

Selective memory about banana republics

Tom Scotts recent letter characterizing the indictment of former President Donald Trump as a third-world banana republic tactic struck me as amusing due to its clear basis in selective memory.

While I am against using the criminal justice system to punish political enemies, isnt that exactly what Trump did while in the White House, and what he continues to call for? Wasnt it he who demanded that journalists who had the audacity to write non-complimentary articles about him be banned or even jailed?

What about the investigative hearings run by House Judiciary Committee Chairman, R-Ohio, that is trying to use congressional power and federal law enforcement agencies to not only go after enemies of the Republican Party, but also interfere in the New York state criminal case involving Trump? That same congressman is now calling for defunding the U.S. Justice Department and the FBI because they conducted investigations on Trump.

So, now its the Republicans want to defund the police? Didnt they throw a fit when some on the extreme left called for that same ridiculous action?

Both sides suffer from selective memory at best, and utter hypocrisy at worst. Its time for Congress to get back to work doing the job we sent them to Washington to do, and for all of us to take a few steps toward the center.

Fred Hoth, Middlesex

Which medication gets banned next?

For your consideration: The ruling of a federal court judge in Texas who agreed to suspend government approval of the abortion drug mifepristone has superseded a decision made over 20 years ago by the Food and Drug Administration that the medication was safe and effective.

Will judges now also be making decisions about the legality of other drugs, like Viagra, that are also FDA-approved?

Im not holding my breath on that one, but it does beg the question, doesnt it?

Dianne Douthat, Wayne

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By Julio Mendez

Judges in America are under attack. Threats and acts of violence against judges and their families are exponentially increasing across the United States.

Politicization, contested elections, the pandemic, extreme political views, and easy access to personal information all contribute to the problem. Political leaders undermining judges to advance their political point of view adds fuel to the fire.

According to a 2018 National Judicial College survey, more than 90% of the 787 of judges sampled reported that threats and attacks are impacting their judicial independence.

The undermining of the judicial branch and concerns about the safety of judges is so troubling that U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts dedicated his 2022 end-of-the-year message to draw attention to the trend.

Judges perform an essential role in society upholding the rule of law and safeguarding democracy. Serving as a judge is a hard job, and it is becoming increasingly dangerous.

Retired Wisconsin Judge John Roemer was killed in his own home in June 2022 by a former litigant that he had sentenced 15 years earlier. Also in June of 2022, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was targeted for possible assassination. An assailant armed with a gun and knife was apprehended close to his home.

In July 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas, was targeted at her northern New Jersey home. Tragically, her son was killed and her husband was seriously injured by a gunman. Judge Salas has become a national voice championing measures to protect judges.

Judges and their families are much more vulnerable in their homes. According to security expert John Muffler, a former U.S. Marshal, almost all the incidents take place at the homes of judges.

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Nathan Hall, a court consultant with the National Center for State Courts, put it this way: It doesnt take a genius to figure out the easiest place to get someone is not in a hardened courthouse facility.

In New Jersey and across the nation, there are rarely any security details for trial judges outside of the courthouse. Only when they are the subject of a direct threat.

With the expansion of virtual court proceedings, the home of a judge is an extension of the courthouse. Much more needs to be done to enhance security outside the courthouse.

Judges must be active participants in their own security and survival. For example, having a vanity license plate is a bulls eye for a possible attack.

Keeping a low profile, protecting personal information, taking steps to secure their homes, discussing security with their families, coordinating with local law enforcement and becoming aware of surroundings are all key elements of safety.

It is much more than just reacting to a threat; in most instances, there is no advance notice.

Taking steps to prevent assailants from obtaining judges personal information from the internet and public sources is vital. The goal is to make it as difficult as possible for attackers harboring a twisted idea for vengeance against judges from planning their evil acts.

The dark web is an unrelenting source of private information.

Judge Salass advocacy led to the passage of Daniels Law, named after her son. The law protects judges private information and prohibits publishing judges personal information.

Daniels Law is a critical positive step. It is now enacted in New Jersey as well as federal law. Providing federal grants and funding is the next critical step.

Court administrators responsible for securing the courthouse and protecting judges need to regularly update security planning, provide training, coordinate with local law enforcement and dedicate more resources to judicial security.

New Jerseys Judiciary security policy requires meaningful security meetings for all courts and security standards for facilities. New Jersey has also established a model reporting system for the collection and analysis of incident data to proactively address threats against judges.

Conducting a home security audit is important, but more is needed. More dedicated law enforcement for judicial security at the state level is needed.

To advance this important conversation, the Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University is hosting an online forum, A Threat to Judges  and Judicial Independence, on April 12 at 3 p.m.

Judge Salas will be the keynote speaker. A panel of nationally recognized judicial security experts will explore current trends, discuss recommendations, and provide take-away pointers for judges and court systems, including improvements to threat assessment programs and collection and sharing of data.

Protecting judges and their families enhances judicial independence. And that protects democracy.

Julio Mendez, retired Assignment Judge for the Atlantic-Cape May Vicinage, is a senior contributing analyst for the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University. To view the April 12 online judge safety forum, click here.

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A Paterson man is charged with attempted murder and related weapons charges for allegedly stabbing an imam during morning prayers at a mosque in the city Sunday morning, the Passaic County Prosecutors Office announced.

Worshippers had subdued Serif Zorba, 32, by the time Paterson and New Jersey State Police officers arrived at the Omar Mosque Sunday, shortly after 5:30 a.m., the office said.

Zorba is charged with attacking the 65-year-old victim, who suffered non-life threatening knife wounds, the prosecutors office said.

Police previously identified the imam as Sayed Elnakib. He was taken to a hospital in the city for treatment.

The prosecutors office gave no motive or theories behind the crime at the mosque on Getty Avenue.

Zorba is currently incarcerated in the Passaic County jail awaiting a Superior Court appearance.

The stabbing occurred a day after the discovery of an act of vandalism at the Dr. Hani Awadallah School in Paterson. A vandal defaced the allah part of the Awadallahs name. Allah means God in Arabic.

Awadallah was a leader in Patersons Arab-American community who taught lessons in heritage and culture at a Paterson school. He passed away in 2012.

The state Attorney Generals Office said Sunday it was aware of that incident and said it was coordinating with the prosecutors office on the investigation.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
A massage parlor in North Jersey has been accused of selling sexual services, resulting in the arrests of two women on prostitution charges, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said.

Tokyo Foot Spa in Woodland Park was offering commercial sexual services, officials said. Detectives searched the business April 5 and seized $11,652 in cash, suspected to be proceeds of the illegal activity, authorities said.

A 50-year-old and 57-year-old woman were charged with third-degree conspiracy to promote prostitution and engaging in prostitution, a disorderly persons offense, prosecutors said.
Gov. Phil Murphy referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a pig Monday after New Jersey native and The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was recently detained in Russia on espionage charges.

Murphy, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany, has been an outspoken critic of Putin for more than a year, since Russia invaded Ukraine. He has referred to Putin as a thug and regularly wears a Ukrainian flag pin on the lapel of his suits.
An impasse over salaries and benefits drove Rutgers Universitys teaching unions to the picket lines Monday, in the first faculty strike since the state university was founded in 1766.

The rights of adjunct professors  who teach 30% of Rutgers undergraduate classes, union leaders say  and graduate student workers have taken center stage in the intense negotiations leading up to the strike that began 9 a.m. Monday, according to the unions.

The unions are demanding a livable wage for graduate and post-doctoral workers and adjunct professors and more robust pay increases overall for the 9,000 members, including full-timers, who teach the 67,000 students enrolled at the public institution across the New Brunswick, Camden, and Newark campuses.

A livable wage in New Jersey is $17.81 an hour for a single person and $39.65 an hour for an adult with one child, according to the Living Wage Calculator created by MIT and cited by the union leadership.

53 Striking Rutgers Faculty Picket on the Rutgers Newark Campus

The three striking unions are the Rutgers AAUP-AFT, which represents full-time faculty, graduate workers, postdoctoral associates, and some counselors; the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union, which represents part-time lecturers; and the AAUP-BHSNJ, which includes faculty in the biomedical and health sciences at Rutgers medical, dental, nursing, and public health schools.

According to 2021-22 data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the average full-time assistant professor earned $83,573 at Rutgers New Brunswick; an associate professor earned $106,031 and the average professor earned $161,340 annually.

Alan Maass, a spokesman for Rutgers AAUP-AFT, said these figures represent full-time faculty, who are not the focus of the contract impasse.

This contract campaign has centered raising up adjunct faculty, who are paid per class, and graduate workers, who make just over $30,000 a year. Those are the salaries were most concerned with raising, Maass wrote in an email.

Most Rutgers adjunct professors earn between $5,799 and $7,234 per course each semester, depending on how long they have taught at Rutgers, according to their previous contract.

Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway told the university community in a post on the university website that the school had offered to increase salaries for full-time faculty members, teaching assistants and graduate assistants by 12% by 2025, including a 3% lump-sum payment to all the faculty unions over the first two years of the new contract, the president said.

9 Rutgers University faculty unions declare a strike

Rutgers also proposed an approximately 20% increase in pay for adjuncts, who are compensated according to how many credits they teach each semester, and offered similar raises for postdoctoral fellows, according to Holloways comments last week.

A university spokesperson did not immediate respond to request for more information about the universitys latest proposals.

Heres a summary of what the unions want and what university officials have offered.

For full-time faculty:

The unions are seeking:

A 5% raise in the first year; a 3% raise in each of the first two years of the contract, plus a 2% lump sum payment in the first year and 1% lump sum in the second year and a 2.75% increase in the third and fourth years, according to the unions.

The universitys latest offer: A 12% across-the-board salary increase by July 1, 2025, according to Holloways announcement on the university website Sunday. Additionally, we have proposed 3 percent in lump-sum payments to all the faculty unions to be paid out over the first two years of the new contract, according to his statement.

For graduate workers:

The unions are seeking: A 37.6% increase in the minimum salary for teaching assistants and graduate assistants over four years with an immediate raise of 23.2% in the first year, according to the unions.

The universitys latest offer: No wage increase until the third and fourth years of the contract, according to the unions.

For post-doctoral associates:

The unions are seeking: An immediate increase in the postdoc minimum salary to $69,000 a year with 5% raises each of the next three years.

The universitys latest offer: Raising the minimum salary by more than 20 percent over the contract period.

No wage increase until the third and fourth years of the contract, with an across-the-board raise regardless of length of service, according to the unions.

For teaching assistants and graduate assistants:

The unions are seeking: Five years of guaranteed funding for all teaching assistants and graduate assistants paid for by the administration; an additional one-year appointment for TAs and GAs unable to complete their degree due to pandemic delays; include graduate fellows in the bargaining unit with TA/GAs, with the same compensation and benefits.

The universitys latest offer: Holloways latest statement was not specific, saying TAs and GAs would receive a commitment to multi-year university support...We believe these improvements will support our graduate students through their doctoral programs.

The unions described this offer as a rejection of all substantial proposals.

For adjunct faculty:

The unions want: Non-tenure track, part-time lecturers must be paid on a fractional basis, based on the number of credits taught each semester, so they are paid equally for doing equal work and given the same job security and benefits as full-timers. Unions describe the universitys position as having rejected all substantial proposals.

The universitys latest offer: According to Holloway, the university has offered 20 percent raise in the per-credit salary rate for part-time lecturers and for winter/summer instructors over the four years of the contract.

Contract language on raises:

The unions are seeking: Delete language that says raises may be canceled subject to a fiscal emergency.

The universitys latest offer: Pledge to not declare a fiscal emergency within the first two years of the contract and raise the standard of evidence necessary to declare an emergency, according to the unions.

Holloway said in a statement Sunday night he found the decision to strike deeply disappointing...especially given that just two days ago, both sides agreed in good faith to the appointment of a mediator to help us reach agreements.

The unions have been without a new contract since July. Negotiations began 10 months ago.

The university is exchanging proposals on wages and other areas for both faculty and staff and is making offers and responding to counter offers in good faith, according to Holloways statement. We have held more than 100 bargaining sessions with our faculty and staff unions and will continue to meet until we reach comprehensive agreements on mandatorily negotiable issues, including compensation, that are fair, reasonable, and responsible.

Minutes after the strike was announced Sunday night, Gov. Phil Murphy called for both sides to meet Monday in his office at the Statehouse. They are scheduled to meet at noon.

All classes were scheduled to meet on Monday, according to an announcement from Rutgers.

MORE COVERAGE:

Rutgers strike sends professors to picket lines chanting RU listening? We are picketing.

Rutgers strike: Gov. Murphy gets involved in talks, wants to lock the door until theres a settlement

Rutgers students caught in strike chaos as some classes continue without professors

Rutgers strike: Faculty, students rally across 3 campuses as talks continue in Trenton

NJ Advance Media staff writers Kelly Heyboer and Tina Kelley contributed to this report.

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Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio.
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A grand jury on Monday indicted the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his first grade teacher at a Newport News school three months ago.

Deja Nicole Taylor, 25, was charged with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child.

Prosecutors have asked a Circuit Court judge to impanel a special grand jury to continue the investigation into any security issues that may have contributed to this shooting. This could include looking at Richneck administrators, the school system and anyone else. Such a probe could take months  and could lead to more indictments.

The commonwealths attorneys office said the special grand jurys investigation will continue as long as necessary to determine whether others are criminally responsible for the shooting of Jan. 6.

The criminal charges come after a thorough investigation by Newport News Police Department and this office, the Newport News Commonwealths Attorneys Office said in a news release Monday afternoon, saying the facts and the law support charging Deja Taylor with the two offenses.

Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues, Commonwealths Attorney Howard Gwynn said in the release.

The news that a 6-year-old student shot his teacher during class at Richneck made headlines across the country and the world.

As the boy sat at his desk in his first grade classroom that day, he suddenly pulled a gun out of his front hoodie pocket, pointed it at his teacher  seated at a reading table less than 10 feet away  and fired a single round, authorities have said.

The bullet went through Zwerners left hand, which she held up as the boy opened fire, and then struck her in the upper chest and shoulder, where it remains today. Police have called the shooting an intentional act.

Zwerner, of York County, managed to shuttle 18 students out of the first grade classroom before seeking help at a school office.

Police Chief Steve Drew later said the boy used his mothers handgun, a Taurus 9mm. She legally purchased the firearm in York County, and the boy brought it to school in his backpack.

Police turned over their case file to Gwynn in late February. The file included several binders of interviews and other documents, surveillance footage from the school and body camera footage from responding officers.

It was not clear what police detectives had recommended in terms of charges.

Gwynn has ruled out charging the 6-year-old, saying he is too young to have formed the criminal intent necessary. But the prosecutors office has looked into the case  and possible charges against others  for the past six weeks.

On Monday morning, prosecutors took their case to a seven-member Newport News Circuit Court grand jury, seeking direct indictments against Taylor.

The grand jury, which meets in private, returned two true bills, indicting Taylor on one felony and one misdemeanor count. Unlike regular trial juries that in Virginia have to be unanimous, grand juries act on majority rule.

Under the Virginia code section used to charge Taylor with felony child neglect, the grand jury contends she had shown a reckless disregard for the lives of others.

Any parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the care of a child under the age of 18 whose willful act or omission in the care of such child was so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life is guilty of a Class 6 felony, the statute says.

That is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The grand jury also indicted Taylor  at the prosecutions request  on the misdemeanor charge of allowing access to firearms by children.

That charge can be brought even if the child was not hurt. The count is punishable by a year behind bars, bringing the potential jail time against Taylor to six years.

Taylors defense attorney, James Ellenson, said his client strongly maintains she kept the gun secured by a trigger lock, a mechanism that prevents the weapon from being fired.

The handgun was stored on the top shelf of a bedroom closet, and Taylor does not how the boy gained access to the gun on the day of the shooting, Ellenson said.

Zwerner earlier this month filed a $40 million lawsuit against the Newport News School Board, asserting that administrators failed to keep the school safe.
Marielle Songy told us about the Green Fairy's allure and mystery, bans around the spirit, and her favorite absinthe drinks in New Orleans.
A New Orleans police officer shot in the head in the line of duty more than two years ago died Sunday from that injury, the St. Tammany Parish coroner confirmed.

Trevor Abney, 34, died Sunday night in his Slidell-area home of complications from the cerebral gunshot wound. For more than two years, the decorated police officer, firefighter, Army veteran, husband and father lived with a .40-caliber, full metal jacket bullet lodged in his brain.

"That's not just pure luck," Abney told WWL-TV in 2021. "For it to wiggle its way around all that and not cause massive hemorrhaging, there's something else going on there. So I've definitely been doing a lot more praying that I did before."

The ambush

Abney was one of two officers wounded in an Oct. 30, 2020 ambush by a French Quarter pedicab passenger. He and fellow NOPD officer Brooke Duncan IV were driving a police cruiser on St. Philip Street near Royal Street when Donnell Linwood Hassell, 47, a visitor to New Orleans, opened fire with a .40-caliber handgun, seemingly without provocation.

Duncan sustained cuts to his arm when the cruiser's windshield shattered, and Abney was shot below his left eye. Though the bullet remained lodged in his brain and blinded him in that eye, Abney was discharged from the hospital five days after sustaining the life-threatening injury.
Virginia State Police are investigating a Friday night wreck in the Gum Spring area of Louisa County that left one dead.

Police said on Monday they responded to a reported two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Cross Country Road and J and R Drive at 8:15 p.m.

According to police reports, 62-year-old Elise Laverne Mills of Gum Spring was driving a 2004 Chrysler Crossfire traveling south on Cross Country Road when she crossed the double solid line into the northbound lane. She reportedly then struck a 2006 Dodge Caravan drive by 46-year-old Steven Andrew Jarvis of Mineral head on.

Mills died on the scene, she was not wearing a seatbelt, Virginia State Police said in a Monday statement. Jarvis suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt.

Police said Mills was intoxicated at the time of the collision and alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in the collision.

This crash remains under investigation, police said.
The Pearl River darter may not be returning to its namesake river anytime soon, but the endangered fish now has a fighting chance in nearby waterways.

Last week, the federal government protected 524 miles of river in 13 Mississippi counties that make up the Pearl and Pascagoula River basins, capping decades of lawsuits and lobbying by environmental groups.

Dams and pollution have hammered these tiny fish, but theyre still clinging to survival in these key rivers, said Will Harlan of the Center for Biological Diversity, a group that sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2021 for what it called the agencys failure to designate critical habitat for the bottom-dwelling fish years after the agency added it to the list of protected wildlife under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The newly protected areas require any federally funded or permitted project to consult with Fish and Wildlife to make sure the darters habitat isnt harmed. Efforts to reintroduce and recover several darter populations could be spurred by the new protections, Harlan said.

Measuring less than three inches long, the snub-nosed darter typically hides among river bottom rocks to pounce on insects and tiny crustaceans. Found only in the fresh waters of east Louisiana and Mississippi, its already-limited range has shrunk by about half in recent decades.
Insurance commissioner Jim Donelon is retiring this year, and lawmakers are considering making the position appointed rather than elected.
Harry Hurst Middle School in St. Charles Parish is home to the globally recognized service-learning program "Wetland Watchers" which is supported by Shell. Emma (left) and Holly (right) recently helped spread awareness of Louisianas diverse environment at the 2023 Louisiana Sportsman Show.
Downtown Gary has gotten a new coat of paint.

The Paint Gary Public Art initiative is seeking to enliven the Steel City's downtown with a splash of color and by preserving a notable sculpture it hopes to kindle new public appreciation for.

Paint Gary is working to conserve the outdoor Richard Hunt sculpture at the Adam Benjamin Jr. Metro Center at Gateway Park. It also brought in artists to paint three more murals to make the downtown more aesthetically appealing.

Artists Zach Medler of Lafayette and Nick Fury of Chicago painted at Gateway Park and the historic Union Station. They replaced murals that suffered damage from the weather and other environmental conditions.

Paint Gary founder Lauren M. Pacheco, a Miller-based artist who co-chairs the Chicago Humanities Festival, said it was always the plan to freshen up the public art where needed every few years.

"Rotating artists was always a critical component of the public art initiative," she said. "I invited Zach and Nick to create site-specific murals responding to the built environment and community in which it resides.

Paint Gary worked with the city to paint large colorful murals on abandoned buildings around the city, particularly in the downtown area. It brought in artists from all over the world, including Mac Blackout, Gaia, Kelly Knaga, Sentrock, and Heart & Bone sign-painting collective.

The project has curated many murals along Broadway, stretching from Union Station and the adjoining Gateway Park south toward Midtown at 11th and Broadway Street.

It whitewashed viaduct walls along Broadway near the Indiana Toll Road ramps to make room for the new murals.

We can all agree that public art production cultivates positive community impact contributing to social cohesion, economic growth, public health and belonging," Pacheco said. "Paint Gary could not achieve these goals without the support of amazing and talented artists.

Paint Gary has aimed to revitalize Gary by installing public art pieces meant to add more visual appeal, brighten blighted properties and draw visitors to see the large-scale outdoor artwork. It's brought in more than 30 artists to do pieces that are often graffiti-inspired and strive to be thought-provoking.

Pacheco said the hope was to encourage people to explore downtown Gary "culminating in a self-guided walkable and bike-friendly tour that encourages people to explore their local surroundings."

The latest pieces include Medler's "Untitled," celebrating native plants like goldenrod, bonesets, asters and Joe Pye weed; and "Get Free," which pays homage to the flying geese quilt pattern and evokes how people escaping slavery observed geese on their northern spring migration as a signal or directional compass. It's intended to deliver a powerful message of solidarity, she said.

Fury's "Last Train to Harlem" depicts a Chicago Transit Authority train car in the Harlem Avenue Yards at night, where the interior lights shine through the window.

Paint Gary also is working this year to convert Hunt's "Interchange" sculpture that the city commissioned in 1985 at the Metro Center, which was designed by the prominent African-American architect Wendell Campbell.

Campbell also designed the Genesis Convention Center, the Gary Community Mental Health Center (now known as Edgewater Health) and several notable Chicago buildings: Trinity United Church, the Metcalf Federal Building and the DuSable Museum of African American History.

The sculpture is outside the Metro Center, where visitors take trains and buses to destinations across the Region, the city of Chicago and beyond.

Interchange is an impressive vertical welded stainless-steel sculpture complimented by an additional Hunt commission, Dune Growth, found inside the Adam Benjamin Jr. Metro Transit Center," Pacheco said. "Dune Growth is particularly curious and interesting because of its integration into the architecture of the building extending above and below a set of stairs. Its so a part of the built environment that you might almost miss it.

Hunt's almost-40-year-old sculpture is "one of Garys most prominent and significant public art pieces, she said.

Paint Gary is in a unique position to serve as caretaker of the Hunt sculpture and develop a plan to ensure its long-term preservation," she said. "Ive become deeply concerned about the work of art and its decades-long exposure to the elements and potential damage from lack of regular inspection and maintenance.

"Knowing the 88-year-old sculptor is still living and working in Chicago, I spoke with Hunt's studio in December to discuss ways to address caring for the outdoor installation. I look forward to creating a responsible conservation action plan with the guidance of the Richard Hunt Studio and hope to receive the support of the city administration and the GPTC in seeing that his work is reintroduced to Gary citizens as an important cultural asset.

She invites the public to become active in Paint Gary, including by supporting efforts to preserve Hunt's public works.

It might seem like the Richard Hunt artworks are Garys best-kept secret," she said. "This is just another example of Garys remarkable cultural heritage.

For more information, email steelstudiogary@gmail.com or visit destinationgary.com.
Pulpits across America this Easter Sunday are sure to be filled with pastors preaching the longtime adage that God may not be there when you want Him, but Hes always on time. If theyre in need of a witness, Teyana Taylor would surely testify.

I just have random, random times of the day that I just have to stop and give thanks and give praise because this is everything I prayed for. And I had really long conversations with God and Him making me understand that the wait was not punishment; it was preparation, explained the A Thousand and One actor.

A Thousand and One, the grand jury prize winner at Sundance this year, is A.V. Rockwells debt feature film. It follows a young New York City woman named Inez (Taylor) and her 6-year-old son, Terry, played by three actors at different ages, following her release from Rikers Island jail in 1994.

Inez takes her child from foster care without permission, and the movie tracks their ups, downs and hardships living in a tough and changing New York without much help, all while keep a low profile. But as Terry nears high school graduation, an explosive secret threatens to upend his entire world  and his relationship with his mom.

Known for her fashion, choreography and crafting R&B hits like Gonna Love Me (Remix)Maybe and Morning, Taylor, a former Ye (Kanye West) collaborator, shockingly announced her retirement from music in 2021 after feeling unappreciated by the industry. With all the acclaim and attention, it might be unimaginable to think of anyone else in the lead role, but she was far from a shoo-in, with only small roles or guest TV and film credits.

If you see something of me, and Im in a dance movie or Im in a singing movie, its like, OK, well, we know that. But can she deliver? Can she really deliver a character like Inez, someone so near and dear to (Rockwells) heart?' So, its like she gave me the chance, said Taylor.

A New York native from Jamaica, Queens, Rockwell grew up loving films by fellow New Yorkers Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese. After studying filmmaking at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, she cut her teeth on short films.

What got me up every day that I worked on this movie for the years that I did is how I wanted to reach people, heal people, connect people to each other. So, this signifies all of that and Im very, very thankful for it, said Rockwell, who also wrote the film.

A Thousand and One is far from a feel-good, happy ending story. Early on, Inez struggles to take care of Terry as well as herself  a daily battle of barely making ends meet. Its a reality Black women face each day: being treated as if they are invisible and left to figure it all out without assistance. Protect Black women wasnt the rallying cry it is today when Rockwell wrote the film, but she shared the same sentiment.

We spend so much of our lives fighting and protecting for everyone, but whos fighting for us?" said Rockwell. "Whos there for us in the ways that we want to feel unconditionally loved and supported and uplifted? And I think that we may have superhero-like qualities, but were still human beings. And I think that I wanted to use Inezs journey to speak to that.

Perhaps the most dynamic character in the film is the city itself. At times, the line between documentary and feature film seems blurred. As the movie travels through the mid-'90s into the early 2000s, Rockwell chronicles a rapidly changing New York during the Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg mayorships, accented by interspersing real audio clips and speeches. The film highlights how Black and brown citizens bore the brunt of the transition, including the controversial stop and frisk law, police brutality and gentrification.

The changing of neighborhoods is a microcosm of whats happened around the country in recent years to longtime Black areas in major cities like Houston, post-Karina New Orleans, Brooklyn and Detroit. The films title is based on the Harlem apartment number where much of Inez and Terrys life takes place.

It was important to celebrate what makes Harlem unique, in addition to just celebrating what makes New York unique because I think that so much of this movie is about protecting that as well  protecting what is sacred. And I think Harlem is a neighborhood that means something, not only to New Yorkers, but to Black identity and heritage in general, said Rockwell.

Taylor is currently in the early stages of prepping to star in Dionne Warwicks biopic, handpicked by the legendary songstress herself. She also says making music again isnt out of the question, stating its still her first love.

But she refuses to be boxed-in, likening her creativity to a Glade Plugin  you can plug her into any room and it will fill with air  acting is her current focus. She hopes the message of the film highlights Black women and children, among the worlds most invisible and forgotten, saying she can relate.

At the end of it all, were Black women and were fighting to be heard and fighting to be seen, invited to be appreciated," said Taylor. "Ive had a lot of the same fights that Inez had: feeling invisible, feeling unappreciated, feeling unheard, feeling unseen.

She adds: "I was able to channel all of that emotion and all of that hurt and all that pain into this woman. So, not only did she give me all of her, I gave her all of me.
Lent is over.

No more giving anything up. No more fish fries at churches or Knights of Columbus halls. No more meat-free Fridays.

Polish-Americans will mark the end of Lent with Dyngus Day on Monday. Polish-American Catholics celebrate the holiday the day after Easter with rich foods and free-flowing beer.

It's a big event in South Bend, where many politicians run around town to make appearances. It's also often observed at Polish restaurants in the Region, such as Cavalier Inn in Hammond, and widely celebrated in Michigan City and LaPorte, which has a popular bar crawl every year.

The St. Joseph's Young Men's Society at 2001 Franklin St. in Michigan City will celebrate the "Best Monday of the Year" from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday. The Polish-Catholic social club, which dates to 1906, will have live polka music. The Eddie Wojcik Tribune Band will play some of his popular old-country polkas.

It will also have $2 shots and $15 dinners with Polish sausage, sauerkraut, kluski noodles, pierogi, green beans, and bread and butter. It will offer Polish dinners until they run out.

Dyngus Day in LaPorte will celebrate its 36th year. Buses will shuttle revelers between bars, where barhoppers can pick up commemorative buttons.

Participating bars include Casey's Lanes at 810 Colfax Ave., Monty's at 1004 Lincolnway, Dick's Bar at 912 Lincolnway, Burger Bar at 821 E. Lincolnway, PRCU Club Rooms at 620 Bach St., JJ's at 332 Park St., PNA Club Rooms at 306 Park St., Hilltop at 502 Pulaski St., Mickey's at 501 Tipton St., Thirsty's at 201 Washington St., and Ringers at 311 Washington St.

They will all offer Polish cuisine, including kluski noodles, Polish sausage, kraut, kielbasa, cabbage rolls and brats.
Thirteen percent.

This was the pathetic percentage of voter turnout in Lake County last year for the midterm elections. Of the 364,925 registered voters in the Regions most populous and powerful county, only 46,293 cast ballots last May.

Pretty dismal, said Donna Catalano, community development director at the Legacy Foundation.

Voter turnout for municipal elections this year is predicted to be lower than even that paltry figure.

We are working hard to try and change that, Catalano said.

Legacy Foundations civic engagement program, Rise NWI, is a largely unknown source for nonpartisan education related to local government and opportunities to become civically engaged within our community. Through training and resources, the program empowers residents to act on their civic-mindedness in the voting booth. Our next opportunity is the May 2 primary.

Todays column is a crash-course reminder about the voting process. Obviously the Region could use one.

Our 411Vote website has all the information that voters and candidates need, said Barbara Schilling, president of the League of Women Voters of the Calumet Area.

Rise NWI offers Vote 411, a nonpartisan program with an award-winning website launched in 2006 by the League of Women Voters education fund.

Its very user-friendly, said Schilling, co-president of the League of Women Voters state board.

The site offers a variety of resources: absentee-ballot information, ballot-measure information, early voting options, election dates, factual data on candidates in various federal, state and local races.

You can also find general information on such topics as how to watch debates with a critical eye, ID requirements, polling place locations, voter qualifications and voting machines.

Municipal elections decide whats going on in the backyard of our region, Catalano said.

An important component of Vote411 is the polling place locator, which enables users to type in their address and retrieve poll location for their voting precinct.

The League has found that this is among the most sought-after information in the immediate days leading up to, and on, Election Day, Schilling said.

Just punch in your address and everything comes up, Catalano said.

Older voters are more likely to use the information on the site, and younger voters are more likely to access it. The organizations challenge is to bridge the gap between these two demographics of voters while educating and informing both.

Its a domino effect from the voting booth to the rest of your community and Northwest Indiana, Catalano said.

Voters tend to have stronger social connections, leading to greater quality of life and longevity. Census surveys suggest that regular voters are, compared with voters who participate less frequently, more strongly connected with their neighbors and family members. They also are more likely to discuss political issues with family, according to the organizations literature.

We also encourage candidates to complete the profile on the website, Schilling said.

Last year we hosted a school board candidate information session, teaching candidates how to run for school board, Catalano said.

The candidate surveys provide insight to voters on which positions are up for election in their community, along with the candidates they will be seeing on their ballot.

Its free publicity, Schilling said.

Both women hosted a booth at last weeks Gary mayoral debate at a church in the city. On April 24, they will have a presence at the Lake Station mayoral debate. (For more information on Rise NWI, contact Catalano at dcatalano@legacyfdn.org or 219-736-1880.)

As a refresher for new or uninformed voters, Indiana has an open primary system. This means any registered voter can cast a ballot in the Democratic or Republican primary regardless of previous voting history. In Indiana, your voter registration is not connected to a specific party, meaning you never have to formally affiliate yourself with one.

Primary elections determine which candidate will represent each political party in November's general election. By participating in the primary, you help decide which candidates should be nominated by each political party to run in the general election.

This may seem like simple math to longtime voters, but youd be surprised how many readers contact me with these basic questions as an election day approaches.

We empower local residents to be strong advocates for improved quality of life in NWI, the Rise NWI site states.

On May 2 we can surely do better than 13% to also improve the quality of civic life in Northwest Indiana.
VALPARAISO  A civil lawsuit identifies Porter County resident Arthur H. Schmidt III as the driver responsible for the Nov. 8 crash in Portage that left a 24-year-old Chesterton teacher dead and others injured.

One of those injured, Andrew Larr, filed suit against Schmidt and Larr's car insurance company, seeking to invoke his uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, according to the litigation filed on his behalf by Porter County-based attorney Jesse Harper.

The suit names Schmidt as the driver who was speeding southbound on Willowcreek Road when he disregarded the traffic light at Lute Road and collided with vehicles driven by Larr and others.

Portage Police Chief Mike Candiano previously said that his department received numerous questions regarding the identity of the drivers in the deadly crash and has been accused on social media of withholding the information for various reasons.

"As with any crime or potential crime, we do not release names of suspects/participants until the investigation is complete and charges are filed or in the event there is an immediate threat to the community," he said.

The suit seeks punitive damages from Schmidt and says Schmidt was an underinsured driver. Larr is thus seeking money from Progressive Southeastern Insurance Co. through the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann is working to determine which charges, if any, to file in the crash that killed Lauren Thompson.

Germann referred Monday to the investigation as "fairly complex. For sure we have not closed the case, and it is still an open investigation."

Portage police Lt. Rob Maynard announced in early January that the department had completed its investigation into the crash after interviewing witnesses, reconstructing the crash scene, processing evidence and reviewing video footage.

Police also executed search warrants for the computer data systems in the driver's car.

After the crash, Schmidt was taken to a Chicago hospital for treatment of severe injuries. Maynard said police were initially unable to speak to him because of his medical condition and he reportedly later refused to talk to police without an attorney present.

In addition, the prosecutor's office had not received much cooperation from the hospital.

Thompson, an eighth-grade English teacher at Chesterton Middle School, was in her GMC SUV stopped behind two cars at a red light around 5:45 p.m. Nov. 8 near the intersection of Willowcreek and Lute when a Cadillac smashed into her vehicle from behind.

The speed of the Cadillac caused Thompson's vehicle and two cars in front of her to slide through the intersection and onto the south side of Lute Road, police said. Six vehicles were involved in the crash.

In the aftermath of this initial collision, three other vehicles that were traveling on Lute Road or northbound Willowcreek were struck in secondary collisions with the first three vehicles, Maynard said. One of these involved vehicles flipped onto its roof and another vehicle came to rest on top of the Cadillac.

Thompson was reportedly dead when police arrived.
Indiana high school students set to graduate next year, and their parents, will be required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

State lawmakers recently gave final approval to legislation mandating that every high school senior attending a public, charter or voucher-accepting private school fill out and submit the FAFSA before April 15, beginning in the 2023-24 school year.

Senate Enrolled Act 167 was approved 45-3 by the Senate and 84-9 in the House. It will become law once it's signed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Advocates for the measure said FAFSA is the key for unlocking upwards of $150 billion a year in federal grants, work-study assistance, student loans, state-based financial aid, institutional scholarships and other financial assistance for students interested in continuing their education beyond high school.

"The reality is, Hoosier students miss out on millions of dollars in financial aid each year by failing to file the FAFSA," said Chris Lowery, Indiana's higher education commissioner.

Specifically, Lowery said, Indiana students could have obtained $65 million in Pell Grants in 2021 and $69 million in Pell Grants in 2022  money for college that does not have to be paid back  that instead went unclaimed because they did not submit the form.

"With this legislation, our state has a wonderful opportunity to leverage, frankly, Hoosier dollars that are sent to Washington, D.C., for the betterment of individuals, a well-qualified workforce, stronger communities, and it'll mean more individuals in occupations like teaching, and nursing, and machining, and engineering, and a variety of areas," he said.

In fact, Lowery noted that Indiana's FAFSA completion rate, along with its college-going rate, have declined since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020  especially among males, low-income students and minorities  with potentially significant implications for Indiana's workforce and the state as a whole.

"The decline in FAFSA filings has not been felt equally across the state, to be clear. Schools with higher free and reduced-cost lunch rates, rural schools, and schools with higher populations of students of color are bearing the brunt of this decline," he said.

Eight states, including Illinois, have similar FAFSA filing mandates for their high school seniors.

Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, a sponsor of the proposal, said she's not big on government mandates, but this one just makes sense because she constantly finds that Hoosiers don't realize how much financial assistance is available for a college education.

"I talk to kids regularly in my district who say, 'You know, I would have liked to have gone to college, but I knew my family didn't have the money to help me, and I just didn't want to try on my own'," Leising said.

"We really need to encourage folks to go on to higher education, and a lot of it is financially driven."

There are no penalties attached to failing to fulfill the FAFSA mandate. A student's parent also can opt-out simply by submitting a signed waiver stating that the parent and student understand what the FAFSA is and they decline to complete it.

"It's not a requirement for graduation. If their parents fail to do it, it does not hold their student back," said Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, chairman of the House Education Committee.

Region sponsors of the legislation were Sens. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, and Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago.

Gallery: Get to know the state symbols of Indiana State Aircraft: Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt State Bird: Cardinal State Flag State Flower: Peony State Fossil: Mastodon State Gun: Grouseland Rifle State Insect: Say's Firefly State Language: English State Motto: "Crossroads of America" State Nickname: The Hoosier State State Pie: Sugar Cream Pie (unofficial) State Poem: "Indiana" State River: Wabash State Seal State Snack: Indiana-Grown Popcorn State Song: "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" State Stone: Limestone State Tree: Tulip tree
GRIFFITH  With property tax bills on the rise, the Town Council is urging residents, especially senior citizens, to claim all deductions they are entitled to.

"As the tax bills are arriving in the mailboxes, we wanted to immediately address some concerns we have heard from our residents," said Council President Rick Ryfa, R-3rd.

A major factor driving the bills upward is an increase in assessed value.

"State law requires that all properties be assessed at what is considered the fair-market value," Ryfa said Tuesday at a council meeting.

To arrive at this, communities are given a general reassessment about every five years in which properties are examined more thoroughly, Ryfa said, adding that a process called "trending" is used in the intervening years.

Last year, the town was given a general reassessment, and those valuations were used to calculate the property taxes payable in 2023.

He suggested that property owners look at Table 3 on their tax bills to see a comparison of rates for 2022 and 2023.

"The town portion of the tax bill saw a rate reduction from about $1.25 to 97 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. With the big increase in market value of homes, it was just a matter of time before the assessments caught up with the property values."

In this light, Ryfa said, homeowners should ensure that they are taking all of the allowable property tax deductions.

A big deduction to check on is the Senior Property Tax Deduction for homeowners 65 and older.

"I spoke with Lake County Treasurer John Petalas today and he stressed the importance of anyone eligible for the 65-and-over deduction to go to the county and file for it," Ryfa said. "It's a very large deduction now."

Along with that age requirement, the assessed valuation must be less than $240,000 and annual income cannot exceed $30,000 for single homeowners or $40,000 for joint ownership.

Ryfa added that a bill under consideration by the Indiana General Assembly that, if ultimately passed, would raise the annual income limit for the senior deduction.

The bill would give "more of our citizens an opportunity to save significant dollars on their property taxes," he said.

Griffith's housing market has exploded, with more than 1,100 homes sold in the past five years  meaning that 1 in 5 has had a new homeowner.

Ryfa said the property tax conversation will continue at the next council meeting April 18, when the board hopes to have more information.
The Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department spent hours away from their families on Easter battling a brush fire.

Crews fought to control a fire near homes in unincorporated Porter County. An unattended fire spread into the woods in Liberty Township around 12:45 p.m.

"Liberty Fire was called to respond to extinguish the fire, resulting in approximately 6 acres of scorched surface fuels, a mix of leaves and short brush," spokesman Matthew Wineland said.

Fire crews from the all-volunteer department serving Liberty and Jackson townships in the Chesterton, Valparaiso and Westville areas had to hike into the woods with water packs to fight the blaze.

"Smoke could be seen across Meridian Road and later north as winds changed," he said. "Fire crews had to manage a steep terrain that led down to a nearby creek."

Crews from Washington Township and South Haven were called to help put out the fire.

No injuries were reported. But the fire could have been prevented, Wineland said.

"As a reminder, Indiana state statue does not allow for open burning in Porter County," he said. "Residents and property owners may only burn for recreational purposes and they must be contained and always attended."

PHOTOS: On the Via Crucis in Valparaiso
A Griffith man led Gary police on a high-speed chase Friday that ended in a crash just over the border in Illinois, according to police.

The driver struck a pursuing Gary squad car and nearly ran down a Gary officer before hitting a tree in Lansing.

Officers stopped a blue Toyota Scion and a red Chevy Camaro that appeared to be racing in the 3100 block of Harrison Street in the Glen Park area, police spokesman Samuel Roberts said.

"The chase began after officers discovered the driver, 30-year-old Carlos Estrada-Barcenas, had a Lake County felony warrant for battery. When officers attempted to take the driver into custody, Estrada-Barcenas sped off, almost striking one of the officers, who was outside their vehicle."

The chase continued through Gary to Burr Street, which the driver took to hop on westbound Interstate 94. He eluded police for more than nine miles, crossing the state line.

"Estrada-Barcenas led Gary police on a pursuit into Illinois, exiting at Torrence Ave. in Lansing and through a shopping plaza," Roberts said. "Estrada-Barcenas continued fleeing from the pursuing officers and led them into Calumet City, then back into Lansing, where he attempted an evasive maneuver and struck a pursuing Gary police car."

The police car sustained minor damage.

"Estrada-Barcenas continued to flee and sped through an intersection where he lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree," Roberts said. He was extracted from his vehicle by Lansing Fire Services and transported to a Chicago trauma center for treatment of injuries.

In addition to the felony warrant, Estrada-Barcenas faces charges for fleeing from police. The driver of the Camaro had a valid license and was given a warning.
Hes well known in the U.K. as being able to play all sorts of parts, though most people wouldnt necessarily know him as a comic actor, Armstrong said.

While Tom began Succession largely on the fringes, I knew this role would be significant and important, Armstrong said. As the series went on, the writers played to Macfadyens antic comic skills and ability to show Toms poignant vulnerability in quieter moments.

In a show thats about power and its manifestations, Matthew is very good at playing a character who is the crux of a number of different power relationships, Armstrong said. Hes good at showing Toms willingness to shape and adjust his personality to fit into the power structure. (As Macfadyen explained recently on The Tonight Show, one way he does this is by raising and lowering the pitch of Toms voice depending on who else is in the scene.)

Macfadyen, 48, was born in England but raised abroad, including for several years in Jakarta, Indonesia, because of his fathers job in the oil business. He went to boarding school back home, skipped college and enrolled instead at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After graduation, he toured internationally in the Cheek by Jowl theater ensemble, performing in plays like The Duchess of Malfi and A Midsummer Nights Dream.

He had a breakthrough when he was cast as Hareton Earnshaw in the 1998 British TV adaptation of Wuthering Heights, followed quickly by a two-part BBC film, Warriors, in which he played a U.N. peacekeeper in Bosnia. He has worked steadily since. You just get a momentum, he said.
Here are three collectors who have their own takes on the situation.

Discretion Prevails

Ive always had a preference for dress watches, said Robin Wong, 44, who lives in Singapore and started collecting in 2012. As the saying goes, You need a Rolex, and that was also part of my journey in the initial phase. But very soon  I think in the years 2014 to 2017  I went towards lesser known or less appreciated pieces.

A recent addition to his collection of about 20 watches, made in late 2022 at a watch shop in Singapore, was a 41-millimeter rose gold Moritz Grossmann Hamatic Ref. MG-002302. The company, he said, is a relatively young revival brand from Germany.

And as for the watch: When I turned it to see the back, I thought, This is a movement Ive never seen before, he said, referring to its pendulum hammer.

Mr. Wong, who works in media technology, said he preferred what he called non-hype watches like his Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Nonantieme and Piaget Polo Skeleton because he dislikes having his timepieces recognized in public or on social media. I would get comments such as, Oh, you have a Daytona. Is that real or fake? Did you buy it at an authorized dealer? Can you help me get one? he said. If I wear a JLC, nobody asks me that.

Watches have always had a deep meaning for Mr. Wong. His father, who died when he was 14, also loved them and gave him an automatic Seiko when he was 10. I asked if I needed to change the battery, but he explained to me why its better to have an automatic or a mechanical watch, he said.
Never a one-size-fits-all cocktail, a successful dirty martini hinges on the drinkers preferences, from base spirit to brine to garnish.

Choose Your Base

An inherently strong drink, the martinis dirty variation can be made like its cleaner sibling: with all vodka, all gin or by splitting the two spirits down the middle and opting for a half-gin, half-vodka dirty martini. If youre looking for something marginally less boozy, try a 50/50 martini made with gin and vermouth.

Ms. Marshall often reaches for blanc vermouth to create a slightly richer drink. Opt for dry vermouth to stick closest to the traditional. Or skip the vermouth entirely and let the brine do all the dirty work.

Choose Your Brine

Attention to quality is one reason the dirty martini has cleaned up its reputation. While many bartenders now make their own brines, store-bought options include high-quality olive brines (packed with olives themselves) and stand-alone alternatives from companies such as Filthy or Dirty Sue. Try several to figure out what you like.

Or look beyond olive brine entirely. Ms. Marshall likes to swap in the brine from cornichons. It already has the same build, what youre looking for and what your palate wants, she said. Brines from pickled jalapenos, pickled tomatoes and preserved lemons also work. To take the argument perhaps too far, if dirtying a drink means adding brines and their pickled garnish counterparts, an argument can be made that the Bloody Mary is one dirty drink indeed.
China began three days of military exercises around Taiwan on Saturday in what it called a stern warning, after the islands president, Tsai Ing-wen, met earlier in the week with Speaker Kevin McCarthy, in a show of Taiwanese-U.S. solidarity.

The Peoples Liberation Army said it was holding air and sea combat readiness patrols and drills on all four sides of Taiwan, including the strait between the island and China, in what appeared to be a concerted burst of retaliation over that meeting, in California on Wednesday.

The authorities also announced a live-fire exercise on waters near Pingtan, an island just off the Chinese coast facing Taiwan. Additionally, Taiwans defense ministry said that as of Saturday afternoon China had sent 71 military aircraft into the skies around the island, including 45 that crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait, an informal boundary between the two sides. That was a jump from the usual number of such sorties.

This is a stern warning against the collusion and provocations of the Taiwanese independence separatist forces and external forces, Col. Shi Yi said in a statement announcing the sea and air drills. He was speaking on behalf of the Chinese militarys Eastern Theater Command, which oversees the region encompassing Taiwan.
Gender Alert: for better media coverage of femicides in Cuba Should the murder of a woman always be classified as a femicide? Two activists answered this and other questions for DIARIO DE CUBA.

In the face of the femicides occurring in Cuba and the state?s negligent response to them, translating into a recent lack of coverage by the state press, and an absence of statistics, civil society organizations have taken on the task of bringing these murders of women to light. In this task of awareness-raising, the independent press has filled the void created by the regime?s, but this coverage has not been free of biases and deficiencies.

This is the opinion of the Cuban Alliance for Inclusion (ACI), which at the end of March presented an online "Gender Alert," which its creators define as "a tool that seeks to publicize the need to promote journalism with a gender perspective, driven by gender editors who manage to question the traditional narratives used in the media, which, often unintentionally, reflect biases when talking about the bodies of women and girls in stories, such that they revictimize, discriminate and stigmatize the victims of femicide."

Among the signs of bias identified by the members of ACI when analyzing the news on femicides in the Cuban independent press in 2022 are the absence of the term "femicide" in headlines, which, in the opinion of the authors of the alert, "perpetuates gender inequalities and conceals the problem of gender-based violence;" the mention of the victim's status as mother in headlines, which, in the opinion of the members of ACI ?depersonifies? the murdered woman by reducing her to her a symbol of motherhood; and the use of violent language that "pedagogizes cruelty and contributes nothing, since it fosters sociocultural narratives of male violence."

Also criticized is the inclusion in some stories of causes such as alcoholism, which may serve as a pretext or justification for femicide, as well as the use, for example, of images of women lying on the ground to complement the story.

DIARIO DE CUBA spoke with two of the members of ACI charged with carrying out this work.

"The Cuban Alliance for Inclusion, as its name implies, is an alliance formed by women from different spheres, all with the same purpose: to prevent gender violence in Cuba," explained Sara Cuba.

"We have been creating actions and educational strategies in line with our purpose, and one of these actions, which, in turn, is an educational tool, is the Gender Alert."

"All women can ensure that our rights are recognized, regardless of our professions," added Zelandia de la Cardidad Perez Abreu.

Although femicide is defined as "the murder of a woman because she is a woman," a concern that arises related to the requirement to use the term in headlines is the risk of imposing a linguistic impoverishment, as this would not be possible to use synonyms such as "murder."

In this regard, both members of ACI clarify that the purpose of the Alert is educational and they never make demands of Cuban independent media.

"We aim to unite voices and ideas for the prevention of violence against women, and sometimes the media, without realizing it, revictimizes women," Sara explained.

"We have seen how the terms homicide, feminicide and murder are used indiscriminately, and this can confuse readers; it is very important that the term 'feminicide' be used at all times  so that readers associate it with violence against women," she argued.

Zelandia wants Cuba's independent media to be "on a par with the press in other countries."

"That's why we propose that there be a violence editor who knows about this and uses the right gender language," she said. "I'll give you an example: an actor who killed his wife. In many media outlets they only talked about the actor, and that he had committed suicide after the femicide. Many did not even mention the name of the victim. The focus of the story is lost when what is highlighted is that he was an actor. By spotlighting the aggressor, we are deviating attention from the act committed, from the seriousness of a femicide."

Another criticism levelled by the Alert is that several femicides in 2022 in Cuba did not receive coverage. Independent journalists on the island work, however, do operate in a situation of illegality that often prevents them from conducting thorough investigations.

"We do not reproach the independent press. Without their participation, we would never be able to achieve the common goal of bringing attention to the existence of femicides in Cuba," says Sara Cuba.

"We recognize that the press, as well as all activists who defend human rights, are in a state of vulnerability to state violence and repression. We recognize that they are the ones who have taken on the task of highlighting gender violence on the island, in the absence of a government that does not intend to publish figures on femicides, much less recognize them. What this analysis seeks is journalism with a gender perspective."

"We seek an alliance that raises awareness of gender violence and averts common biases that revictimize women," Sara stressed.

The activists argued that, in their view, the stabbing of a woman during an attempted robbery should be presented as a femicide. Does this mean that the murder of a woman should always be classified as a femicide?

"In this case we say it is a femicide because it falls within the scope of the concept. First, a femicide is committed by a man in a situation of unequal power. For women, being on the street exposes them to a situation of vulnerability," Sara reasoned.

"Second, we speak of femicide because it denotes hatred or contempt for women and their bodies, a situation that is evident from the stab wounds that caused the victim?s death. And, finally, we speak of femicide in this case because the victim's body was left exposed on a public road, where this man committed the femicide," she concluded.

But, what if the woman is the victim of her female partner, or the wife of a lover, or the mistress of her husband? Are we dealing with a femicide when a woman is killed by another woman?

In Zelandia's opinion, the answer is yes: "A woman's body is being assaulted, even if the aggressor is another woman. If the victim filed a complaint for harassment or threats, and was ignored, it is a femicide, because the state is failing to fulfill its responsibility, and becomes an accomplice. When there is no support by the state, it is a femicide," she concluded.
That was an abrupt end to such a titanic character. What did you think of how Logan died?

Well, they had to end it somehow, and it was Jesses choice. Ive said it before, and Ill say it again, the problem with a lot of television, particularly American television, is it goes past its sell-by date. And the great thing about Jesse and the writers is they wouldnt do that. It was difficult for them because it wasnt easy to bring this to an end. And I think Jesse found it sad  at the premiere, somebody shouted out, Well, if it was so sad, why did you do it? But I think there are lots of reasons for Jesse finishing it. And I applaud the fact that he did that. It was courageous because everybody loves the show. Always leave the party when its at its height, not when its going down.

The Irish goodbye is a tradition in my family, so I can respect that.

I just think thats what makes the show. You think about Game of Thrones, when they didnt know what they were doing at the end, and they had an ending which was not really satisfactory. And the audience was furious. The audience [for Succession] might be furious; they might miss Logan and say, Oh, what are you doing killing off one of the most interesting characters? But its fine by me. Im doing a lot of other stuff. Im going back to the theater. Im going to hopefully direct my first movie in my grand old age. And Im doing Long Days Journey Into Night in London [in spring 2024]. So I know what Im going to be doing probably till next summer.

What do you think about Logans death as a plot driver? It immediately changes the stakes, right?

It does change the stakes. The main protagonist is gone. And the kids are having to deal with it, or not. I think its going to be hard next week for a lot of the audience because theyre going to miss Logan. And I dont think thats a bad thing  I think thats actually quite a good thing.

Logan was coming to a rest point anyway. He realized that his children were never going to be  hes got that great line when he says, I love you, but youre not serious people. And I think that is so fundamental. The whole premise is really about entitlement and the rich and the fact that hes plowed this particular furrow. And the consequences of that plowing are these kids and how [expletive] up they are, not necessarily because of him, but because of the wealth. They all suffer from entitlement in one form or another. And they behave like entitled spoiled brats a lot of the time.
Fox News and one of its former hosts, Lou Dobbs, have settled a defamation suit with a Venezuelan businessman whom the network linked to voting-system fraud in the 2020 election.

In a letter filed on Saturday to a federal judge in the Southern District of New York, the parties said they had reached a confidential settlement, although they did not disclose the terms.

This matter has been resolved amicably by both sides, a spokesperson for Fox News said in an email. We have no further comment.

The settlement was disclosed days before jury selection this week in a major defamation case that Fox News is defending. That case, a $1.6 billion lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems, says that Fox News lied about voter fraud in the 2020 election, and that Fox hosts and guests repeatedly made false claims about Dominion machines and their supposed role in a plot to steal the election from President Donald J. Trump.
As World Bank shareholders gather in Washington for their annual spring meeting on Monday, the global institution appears to be on the brink of significant change.

World leaders, led by President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, along with a constellation of academics and development experts want the bank to do more to help poor countries grappling with climate change. The bank has set out its own vision for transformation, in response to calls for action from the United States and others. Major shareholders have approved some initial reforms, including agreements to let the bank lend more money and attract more private investment.

At the center of the discussions will be Ajay Banga, who is widely expected to be confirmed as president of the bank in the coming weeks. When he takes over this summer, he will face high expectations and urgent questions about whether the bank will change its lending model, whether it will seek more money from shareholders and how he will direct the bank to address issues including poverty, global warming and the war in Ukraine.

Hell get a honeymoon, but he better use that honeymoon well, said Mark Malloch-Brown, the president of the Open Societie Foundations and a former vice president of the World Bank. These institutions do not change quickly.
The community member, Sikander Khan, said that the attack took place just after morning prayers began, when a man leaped forward and stabbed Mr. Elnakib repeatedly.

Mr. Khan, a Paterson city employee who is co-chairman of the Muslim caucus of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, said that Mr. Elnakib underwent surgery and was in stable condition but that he had liver damage.

Mr. Khan said the attacker, who had been to the mosque to worship before, was unknown to other congregants and was not an active member.

Nobody really knew him, Mr. Khan said. We dont know what the motive behind his action is.

He would come in and kind of sit isolated away from everyone else and didnt really communicate with anyone, Mr. Khan added. Were extremely baffled and confused about why he would do such a thing. Our prayers are with the imam and his family and wish him quick recovery.
It is the freshness of the secret and top secret documents, and the hints they hold for operations to come, that make these disclosures particularly damaging, administration officials say. On Sunday, Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said U.S. officials had notified congressional committees of the leak and referred the matter to the Justice Department, which had opened an investigation.

The 100-plus pages of slides and briefing documents leave no doubt about how deeply enmeshed the United States is in the day-to-day conduct of the war, providing the precise intelligence and logistics that help explain Ukraines success thus far. While President Biden has barred American troops from firing directly on Russian targets, and blocked sending weapons that could reach deep into Russian territory, the documents make clear that a year into the invasion, the United States is heavily entangled in almost everything else.

It is providing detailed targeting data. It is coordinating the long, complex logistical train that delivers weapons to the Ukrainians. And as a Feb. 22 document makes clear, American officials are planning ahead for a year in which the battle for the Donbas is likely heading toward a stalemate that will frustrate Vladimir V. Putins goal of capturing the region  and Ukraines goal of expelling the invaders.

One senior Western intelligence official summed up the disclosures as a nightmare. Dmitri Alperovitch, the Russia-born chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator, who is best known for pioneering work in cybersecurity, said on Sunday that he feared there were a number of ways this can be damaging. He said that included the possibility that Russian intelligence is able to use the pages, spread out over Twitter and Telegram, to figure out how we are collecting the plans of the G.R.U., Russias military intelligence service, and the movement of military units.

In fact, the documents released so far are a brief snapshot of how the United States viewed the war in Ukraine. Many pages seem to come right out of the briefing books circulating among the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and in a few cases updates from the C.I.A.s operations center. They are a combination of the current order of battle and  perhaps most valuable to Russian military planners  American projections of where the air defenses being rushed into Ukraine could be located next month.
MARSEILLE, France  Eight people were missing after the building they lived in collapsed in an explosion early Sunday near the port of Marseille, leaving mounds of burning debris that were hampering rescue operations, officials said.

More than 100 firefighters worked through the day to extinguish flames deep within the rubble of the five-story building, but more than 17 hours later the situation was not yet stabilized, the Marseille prosecutor, Dominique Laurens, said at a news conference on Sunday evening.

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear. Ms. Laurens said a gas explosion was a possibility.

The building that collapsed was on a narrow street in central Marseille, less than half a mile from the citys iconic old port. Some 30 buildings in the area were evacuated, said Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who visited the site.
Despite her popular acclaim, many critics found her work too literal.

Reviewing a 1995 performance of Spotted Owl in The Times in 1995, Jennifer Dunning praised Ms. Mullers sleekly dramatic staging but critiqued it as a message dance. In a 2004 Times review, Jack Anderson praised the Sufi-inspired Ecstatic Poems as flesh and spirit united and theatrically lush, but felt that another piece, A Candle at Both Ends, lacked subtlety.

A sought-after teacher and mentor, Ms. Muller led workshops in creativity, nonverbal communication and choreography around the world. Dancers clamored to learn her movement method, the Muller Polarity Technique. Informed by Eastern philosophies, Polarity was based on ideas of rising and falling, gravity and lightness, and a yin-yang flow of energy that freed dancers to move expressively, as opposed to in conformity with codified steps. Everyone wanted to dance like that, said Mr. Pilafian. The classes were full all the time.

Image Apart from her choreography, Ms. Muller was renowned for her expressiveness and balletic modern style as a dancer. Credit... Tom Caravaglia, via Jennifer Muller/The Works

Jennifer Muller was born on Oct. 16, 1944, in Yonkers, N.Y., and grew up there and elsewhere in Westchester County. Her mother, Lynette (Heldman) Muller taught eighth and ninth grades at the Halsted School in Yonkers, where she also produced theater and dance productions. Her father, Donald Muller, directed television shows such as Baretta and Dynasty under the name Don Medford.

The couple divorced when Ms. Muller was a toddler, and her first memory of meeting her father was at age 25, when he attended one of her performances in Los Angeles. She never married and has no immediate survivors.

Ms. Muller attended Halsted and began her dance training there. At 15 she debuted with the Pearl Lang Dance Company. She studied at the Connecticut College School of Dance, the Metropolitan School of Ballet and Ballet Arts and the Juilliard Preparatory School.
As Shilansky rose to power, his vociferous criticism of efforts to play German composers, and his passionate arguments that even speaking the German language could cause tremendous harm, never wavered. But whatever he knew about the Heifetz attack he took to the grave.

FOR ME, THE ATTACK on Heifetz became less a mystery to solve than a thorny emotional and political journey to the heart of Israels founding, a reminder of its contradictions and aspirations. For Heifetz, it was simpler.

He just thought it was a stupid thing this man did, Ayke Agus, the author of Heifetz as I Knew Him and a close friend, said in an interview. He would tell anybody who called him up for an interview that he didnt like to mix politics and music.

Anna Lou Dehavenon, the widow of pianist William Kapell, told Heifetzs biographer John A. Maltese about meeting Heifetz for dinner in Paris during his 1953 tour. I said to Jascha, What has happened to your hand? And, of course, he didnt want to talk about it.

Heifetz remained an active supporter of Israel. He visited a final time in 1970 for a five-week tour with the cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. Upon meeting prime minister Golda Meir, Heifetz handed her a check for about $25,000 and told her to do with it as she sees fit.

This trip may have been more harmonious because of another decision Heifetz made: Early drafts of his recital programs included a Strauss piece, but he chose not to play it.
Only in our literature have we allowed ourselves to enjoy words in a sensual way, he added. You think of the great poets right through the era, thats the only place where we have let go of the tight corsets and collars.

Before he had any idea of the concept, Hough knew that he was gay. Later, he learned what the word homosexual meant: I thought, How disgusting is that! And then two seconds later, I thought, Hey, wait a minute, thats me!

His adolescence was full with contradictions about sexuality, particularly as he converted to Catholicism. Later, his route to self-acceptance came through celibacy. A busy professional life after his Naumburg win helped distract him, though he was tormented by the constant possibility of guilt  mainly through unconscious thoughts, like sex dreams. This was my scrupulous theological line on overdrive, really, he said, but it was distressing, I have to say, many times in my life.

Houghs parents  loving of him, but not especially of each other  contained similar conflicting multitudes. His father, a member of the now-defunct Liberal Party, was anti-Europe but not aligned with the political rights position on the issue, was prudish and chivalrous around women yet also a serial adulterer. He was just outside of every box that you could imagine, Hough said, in the most interesting way.

His mother was irrepressible. Despite saying that she was solely attracted to men before her death, there were so many clues along the way, Hough said. Maybe she was part of a kind of sexual fluidity before it was known as that; maybe she enjoyed physical affection with women without feeling the need to say, Im a lesbian.

At 10, Hough enrolled at Chethams School of Music in Manchester. What followed was a dark period for him (he suffered a nervous breakdown) and the school (some of his teachers would later go to prison for child abuse), before he moved to the Royal Northern College of Music, where something sparked into life.
Myriam Ullens, a pastry chef who married a billionaire Belgian aristocrat and turned his fortune into a globe-spanning source of philanthropy, was fatally shot on March 29 in Ohain, a village in the Walloon Brabant province of central Belgium. She was 70.

Her stepson Nicolas Ullens presented himself to the local police and said he had killed Ms. Ullens, the province prosecutors office said. The authorities seized a handgun from him and proceeded to the home of Ms. Ullens and her husband, Guy Ullens, where they found her dead in a Volkswagen and Mr. Ullens beside her, in a state of shock, with a wounded leg.

According to the prosecutors statement, Nicolas attributed his actions to a family fight over money and said that moments before he shot his stepmother he had been arguing with her and his father at their home and had been asked to leave. He was being held in jail and has been charged with premeditated murder and violating weapons laws, the prosecutors office said.

Ms. Ullenss death was a sordid end to a life that had seemed like a fairy tale, or at least a fairy tale in the age of global capitalism.
FORT NOVOSEL- With the flick of the ceremonial Huey helicopter cyclic control stick, signs bearing the name Fort Novosel were simultaneously unveiled at each of the entrances to the Home of Army Aviation Monday morning.

Members of the Novosel family, Wiregrass elected officials, and civic leaders gathered with active duty and military retirees at Veterans Park here as Fort Rucker became the first active-duty Army installation to be renamed as part of a 2021 National Defense Authorization Acts Renaming Commissions recommendation to change the names of military installations named for Confederate soldiers.

The Virginia National Guard post formerly known as Fort Pickett was renamed Fort Barfoot after Tech. Sgt. Van T. Barfoot on March 24, making the Home of Army Aviations name change the first at an active Army installation.

An incredible man, a dedicated American, a committed soldier, a preeminent army aviator, is how United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel Commanding General Maj. Gen. Michael McCurry described the late Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel Sr., a Medal of Honor recipient and veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War during his 44 years of service.

Born in Etna, Pennsylvania, the son of Croatian immigrants, Novosel enlisted in the Army-Air Corps at the age of 19, months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, McCurry said. Novosel later joined the Air Force Reserve and was ultimately promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. After a stint as a civilian, Novosel joined the Army as a warrant officer aviator and served his first tour in Vietnam flying medevac helicopters Dustoffwith the 283rd Medical Detachment. His second tour in Vietnam was with the 82nd Medical Detachment. During that war, Novosel flew 2,543 missions and extracted 5,589 wounded personnel, among them his own son Michael J. Novosel Jr. The following week, Michael Jr. returned the favor by extracting his father after he was shot down, McCurry said.

When he retired in 1985, Novosel was the last WWII veteran on active flying status. He had accumulated 12,400 military flying hours, including 2,038 in combat.

As a son of immigrants who rose to be a legend in Army aviation, his story is the American Dream, McCurry said about Novosel. He is very definition of an American serving his nation and from today forward, his name will be synonymous with Army aviation.

It is not lost on me that I will be the last senior commander of Fort Rucker, McCurry said. However, this post is more than a name. Its a community where Americans from all over the country come to become aviation soldiers, warrant officers, and aviators, and all are accepted by the welcoming people of the Wiregrass.

The bonds between the Army and the surrounding community are strong and the relationship we have strengthens every day. Its a partnership of love between the people of the Wiregrass and those on this post. Its a common love for country, the love you show our soldiers, and the love that grows in our hearts for you.

Fort Novosel is where future soldiers will come to turn their dreams of becoming aviators and leaders into reality and it is fitting that we are re-designating the post after a true hero with impeccable character, McCurry said. The relationship between this post and this community will continue to grow and from this day forward, CW4 Novosels name will be the first thing our soldiers and aspiring aviators see when they drive on to this post and his name will be the last thing they see when they are handed their graduation certificate and leave to serve our nation and uphold the sacred trust with the soldier on the ground.

The ceremony included a ceremonial flyover of a UH-1 Medevac helicopter in Novosels honor was provided by the Ozark-based Friends of Army Aviation. a nonprofit public education organization dedicated to presenting the Army Aviation story through displays of legacy Army aircraft.

At the ceremony, the Novosel family presented their fathers medal of honor to McCurry who in turn presented the medal to the U.S. Army Aviation Museum to display. My father would be humbled and honored. My father was a patriot. The medal really belongs to the post, said John Novosel, who, along with his sisters Jeanee Vinyard and Patty Clevinger, presented the medal to McCurry. It was an easy decision, said Clevinger.

Vinyard agreed. My father loved the military, she said. He always told us that when he passed away, he just wanted said of him, I was a good soldier.

Other military installation to be renamed include Fort Benning, Georgia, to be renamed Fort Moore after Lt. Gen. Hal and Julia Moore; Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to be renamed Fort Liberty after the value of liberty; Fort Gordon, Georgia, to be renamed Fort Eisenhower after General of the Army Dwight Eisenhower; Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, to be renamed Fort Walker after Dr. Mary Walker; Fort Hood, Texas, to be renamed Fort Cavazos after Gen. Richard Cavazos; Fort Lee, Virginia, to be renamed Fort Gregg-Adams after Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams; and Fort Polk, Louisiana, to be renamed Fort Johnson after Sgt. William Henry Johnson.
It was noon on Nov. 10, 1938, when Nazi officers came to the door of William Bergmans Munich home, arrested him for being a Jew and shipped him off to the Dachau concentration camp, about a 30-minute drive away.

Also taken from the home that day was a 19th-century kiddush cup typically used to sanctify the Sabbath and Jewish holidays.

After five months, Bergman, a metallurgist, managed to escape the camp by bribing its guards. He went to England and Montreal, where he lived and worked until his death in 1986.

But the cup was not seen again by his family until this February when his son, Steven Bergman, a retired sales executive in Maryland, received a package in the mail from a curator at a museum in Munich.
MINOR NOTES, Volume 1 | Edited by Joshua Bennett and Jesse McCarthy

Literary reputations, like stocks, are always in ascent or decline. You can place bets, at Ladbrokes in London, on the Nobel and Booker Prizes, though its impossible to place an early wager on a writers career unless you own a publishing house (or have a phenomenal bookie).

It used to be that if you were out of print and out of fashion, you and your heirs were also out of luck. But who would have predicted that this still-young century would be such a furious era of literary recovery, revival and reclamation? That the polishing of hidden gems would occupy so many?

The reissues keep coming: from the New York Review Books, a spinoff of the literary magazine; McNally Editions, the publishing arm of McNally Jackson bookstores in New York; the feminist press Persephone; Faber Editions; and the granddaddy of them all, the Library of America, to name only a few. Other publishers have regularly done this kind of work for decades.

Critics and scholars, like crate-diving disc jockeys, have always made rediscoveries. But there is more churn now, and its good for the literary ecology. The books are like dried flowers, revived in bowls of water.
Chinas military show around Taiwan

China sent record numbers of military aircraft, naval ships and an aircraft carrier near Taiwan yesterday on the final day of military exercises. The spectacle capped three days of drills designed to put pressure on the self-governed island.

On Monday alone, Taiwan said that 91 Chinese military aircraft had flown into its Air Defense Identification Zone, a buffer thats broader than Taiwans sovereign airspace. That number marked the highest daily total of such Chinese sorties since 2020, when Taiwan began regularly releasing the data. The previous high was 71, set in December and again on Saturday.

A first with fighter jets: During the exercises, Chinese J-15 jets took off from the Shandong aircraft carrier deployed near Taiwans east coast. The flights appeared to mark the first time that these fighter jets have been tracked entering Taiwans zone, an analyst said.

China deployed the Shandong to reinforce the countrys claim that it could surround and encircle Taiwan, a Taiwan-based researcher said: That is to say that it can do it on our east coast as well as our west coast.
When the Chinese government announced last month that it would fully reopen its borders to foreign travelers, the news came as a jolt of relief to the millions of Chinese immigrants overseas who have been separated from their relatives since 2020.

But a flood of visitors has yet to arrive. Many people are struggling to even book a plane ticket, stymied by high prices and a lack of direct flights.

Liu Wei, 62, who lives in San Diego, recently spent hours at a local travel agency filling out a pile of paperwork to obtain a long-term visa to China. After searching for weeks for a flight, she bought a ticket for later this month to reunite with her sisters in the northeastern port city of Dalian. Round-trip business-class tickets from San Diego to Dalian cost between $6,000 and $10,000, she said, double what she typically paid before the pandemic.

I miss the choice and the freedom to go back and forth, said Ms. Liu, who used to visit China every summer. Its been such a tragedy for us to not be able to go back to our own country.
I was, in fact, a Disney kid. When I was 8, my father took a job working for Disneyland Paris, which was not in Paris at all, but in Chessy, about 20 miles east of the city. This was the early 1990s, during the renaissance years for Disney animation  the years of Aladdin, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast.

Before the park officially opened, my family stayed in each of the American-themed hotels for a couple of nights, eating at all of the restaurants and answering detailed questionnaires about each meal. Id never been to the United States, and without any understanding of these foods and their origins, I ate black bean soup and tortilla chips at the Santa Fe-themed hotel, and oysters Rockefeller in a replica of the Rainbow Room in the New York-themed hotel.

I could have lived on the parks warm caramel popcorn, the smell of which was pumped into the air at several key points in the park, and which I can accurately conjure now, if I take a deep enough breath. It wouldnt be an exaggeration to say that my first Oreo milkshake  from Annettes Diner in Disney Village, where most of the servers worked on roller skates  shifted the course of my life.

I dont usually say all that, though, because it sounds absurd. And did I really enjoy the food, or did the exhaustion and frustration of the theme park put me in such an emotionally fragile place that I clung to the pleasures of a milkshake? Theres no way to know what effect a few years of extremely high Disney doses had on me.

The brands culinary reference points can be just as vivid and enduring as its characters and stories. Chad Wright and Venessa Hinojosa-Wright met in 2009 while they were working at Disney World. They were later married there, and put Disneys sweet potato pancakes on their wedding brunch menu.
A federal judges ruling to revoke the Food and Drug Administrations longstanding approval of the abortion pill mifepristone poses threats to the U.S. governments regulatory authority that could go far beyond one drug, legal experts say.

The decision by a Texas judge appears to be the first time a court has moved toward ordering removal of an approved drug from the market over the objection of the F.D.A.

If the initial ruling, a preliminary injunction issued on Friday, withstood appeals, it could open the door to lawsuits to contest approvals or regulatory decisions related to other medications. And if upheld, the Texas decision would shake the very framework of the pharmaceutical industrys reliance on the F.D.A.s pathways for developing new drugs, legal experts said.

This is a frontal assault on the legitimacy of the F.D.A. and their discretion to make science-based decisions and gold standard approval processes, said Lawrence O. Gostin, director of the ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. It ultimately takes us on an extraordinarily dangerous path for F.D.A. as an agency, and for science-based public health decision-making more broadly.
The pharmaceutical industry plunged into a legal showdown over the abortion pill mifepristone on Monday, issuing a scorching condemnation of a ruling by a federal judge that invalidated the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the drug and calling for the decision to be reversed.

The statement was signed by more than 400 leaders of some of the drug and biotech industrys most prominent investment firms and companies, none of which make mifepristone, the first pill in the two-drug medication abortion regimen. It shows that the reach of this case stretches far beyond abortion. Unlike Roe v. Wade and other past landmark abortion lawsuits, this one could challenge the foundation of the regulatory system for all medicines in the United States.

If courts can overturn drug approvals without regard for science or evidence, or for the complexity required to fully vet the safety and efficacy of new drugs, any medicine is at risk for the same outcome as mifepristone, said the statement.

Also on Monday, the Justice Department filed a motion asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to stay the ruling by Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas until the departments appeal of the case could be heard. Judge Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee who has written critically of Roe v. Wade, had issued only a seven-day stay of his ruling to allow the government a chance to appeal.
The word careen has appeared in 11 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Sept. 29 in Where the Wall of Death Is a Way of Life by Allie Conti:

The few dozen people who shuffled inside the tent cheered for Bobby Frankenstein, a 26-year-old newcomer from Buffalo, who rode a motorcycle around a wooden silo about 26 feet in diameter. Centripetal force kept him pinned to the wall. The crowd cheered appreciatively, many of them watching through the screens of their smartphones. Then into the bowl went Johnny Dare, a bald and muscular Englishman, also in his 60s. He rode a Harley-Davidson dirt bike and continually jerked the wheel of his bike to make it seem as if he was about to careen into the audience. By the time the two men were chasing each other inside the motordrome for the finale  whats known as the cannonball pursuit  the audience seemed divided. While the adults were plainly enthralled, a little boy in a ball cap was plugging his ears. A girl with a long braid fell to the ground and hugged her mothers ankles.

Daily Word Challenge

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If you want a better idea of how careen can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.
ALBANY, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new, left-leaning nominee to lead New Yorks highest court, bringing one of Albanys most divisive intraparty clashes closer to a resolution nearly two months after state lawmakers rejected the governors original choice.

Ms. Hochul, a Democrat, said on Monday that she would nominate Rowan D. Wilson, an associate judge who already serves on the states highest court, the Court of Appeals, to lead it as chief judge. Ms. Hochul simultaneously announced a second nominee to fill the vacancy that would be created by Judge Wilsons elevation: Caitlin J. Halligan, a private lawyer who previously served as New York State solicitor general.

The nominees must be confirmed by the Democratic-controlled State Senate, which earlier this year blocked Ms. Hochuls initial choice for chief judge, Justice Hector D. LaSalle, because of concerns that he was too conservative. The conflict pitted the governor against her own party as lawmakers rejected a chief judge nominee for the first time ever in New York, delivering an extraordinary blow against Ms. Hochul at the outset of her first full term.

The chief judge not only weighs in on matters that reach the Court of Appeals, but also administers the court systems 16,000 employees and $3 billion budget.
Outreach workers fanned out six days a week across barbershops and laundromats. They pitched the program at 500 community events. They called 130,000 families to address concerns they may have had about preschool. They spent afternoons knocking door-to-door at public housing complexes, and held pop-up fairs at homeless shelters.

Looking to build on the success of pre-K, the city widened its goal in 2017, aiming to expand the initiative to 3-year-olds and starting off in a handful of neighborhoods.

Several years later, after the pandemic devastated the early childhood sector, causing day care providers and preschools to close in droves, families became desperate for affordable child care. The city now has plenty of it: almost 130,000 free and low-cost prekindergarten seats for 3- and 4-year-olds.

But nearly 30,000 of those seats remain empty. And Mayor Eric Adamss administration has shelved plans to further grow the program for 3-year-olds, cutting $567 million budgeted for an expansion and arguing that the previous administration was more focused on numbers than needs.

One reason for the vacancies is likely a decline in the number of children in the city. But elected officials and preschool leaders say the gaps would be less dramatic if officials had ramped up their efforts to find and encourage the parents of children like Maylin to apply.
TROY  Close to 100 educators will visit Troy University this week to discuss various aspects of international education during the Alabama Association of International Educators 2023 Conference.

The one-day event will take place on April 13 and participants will attend sessions on topics such as international enrollment and recruitment, orientation, building internationalization, study abroad and exchange programs, international partnerships, and the latest updates on immigration laws.

The Alabama Association of International Educators (AAIE) seeks to foster global connections by welcoming international students and scholars from around the world, as well as encouraging education abroad.

I hope that all attendees will learn a lot and have a lot of new information and ideas to take back to their colleges and universities, said Maria Frigge, AAIE Chair and Dean of International Student Services at Troy University. This is such an important conference for networking and professional development.

The 2023 conference is sponsored by Armstrong Law, LLC, International Education Evaluations, Advantage Design Group, Study Alabama, and Troy University Dining Services.

Nearly 950,000 international students were enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education during the 2021-2022 academic year. U.S. International education has an annual impact of almost $50 billion on the U.S. economy and an annual impact of approximately $330 million to Alabamas economy.

Long a leader in international education, Troy University was recognized last November by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey for playing a major leadership role in international education. Students from more than 60 countries are represented at the Troy Campus.
Three unions representing an estimated 9,000 full- and part-time faculty members at Rutgers University went on strike on Monday for the first time in the schools 257-year history, bringing classes and research at New Jerseys flagship public university to a halt.

The strike, which will affect roughly 67,000 students across the state, comes after nearly a year of unsuccessful bargaining between union representatives and university officials. The unions said on Sunday that the two sides remained far apart on several issues, including a pay increase and the rights of untenured adjunct faculty members and graduate workers.

We intend for this new contract to be transformative, especially for our lowest-paid and most vulnerable members, Rebecca Givan, the president of one of the unions, Rutgers A.A.U.P.-A.F.T., which represents full-time faculty members, graduate workers, postdoctoral associates and counselors, said in a statement.

Ms. Givan said union proposals that included a significant raise and the promise of job security for adjunct professors were exactly the ones that the administration has resisted most.
President Biden and Bill Clinton will be among a bevy of Irish, British and American leaders traveling to Belfast to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the April 10, 1998, signing of the Good Friday Agreement. The landmark peace accord ended the 30 years of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles.

The deal, in which American mediators played a central role, is worthy of celebration. It won a Nobel Peace Prize for two negotiators from Northern Ireland, and it stands as a paradigm for resolving seemingly intractable sectarian conflicts. Political violence has been relatively rare on the Irish island since it was signed: The border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, once pockmarked with watchtowers and roadblocks, is almost undetectable, and downtown Belfast, a battlefield during the Troubles, could now be the hip center of any European capital. Public opinion in both North and South overwhelmingly supports the agreement.

But the old sectarian differences fester. Despite surveys that consistently indicate support for integration, Protestants and Catholics still live largely apart. Even if they are no longer fighting, their schools and neighborhoods remain mostly segregated.

The problems have become more complicated since Britain opted out of the European Union in 2016, leaving Northern Ireland in limbo. The Assembly and Executive that comprise the power-sharing government, one of the primary products of the Good Friday Agreement, have not been functioning for months because of the main unionist partys dissatisfaction with the final Brexit trading arrangements.
Next, I guess, Thomas will be suggesting that the only acceptable form of birth control is the rhythm method. Much about him, from his judicial goals to his behavior, is a scandal. Lets not forget that hes the one who was confirmed despite the compelling testimony of Anita Hill about his wretched comments.

Any chance of getting him tossed off the court, huh? Huh?

Bret: Sorry, but the only scandal I see here is that the luxury trips dont square with Justice Thomass self-portrait as a guy who likes to drive his R.V. around the country, spending nights in Walmart parking lots. Until last month, there was no rule requiring justices to disclose this kind of information about vacations with wealthy friends, assuming those friends didnt have business before the court. Which makes the idea of trying to toss him off the court a nonstarter, not to mention a bad precedent lest some liberal justices turn out to have rich and generous friends, too.

Of course, I say all this as someone whos generally a fan of Justice Thomas, even if Im not as conservative as he is. If people want to criticize him, it should be for his votes, not his vacations.

Gail: I admit my call for a Thomas-toss was probably rhetorical. But intensely felt. Ive been bitter ever since Mitch McConnell sat on that Supreme Court opening to keep Barack Obama from having a chance to fill it.

Bret: Totally agree. Id sooner toss out McConnell than Thomas.

Gail: And while we cant punish Thomas for his spouses misbehavior, Ginni Thomass very, very public attempts to get the last presidential election overturned are themselves quite a scandal.
A federal judge in Texas has taken a shocking and irresponsible action: invalidating the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone, a medication used safely by hundreds of thousands of women each year to help terminate pregnancies as part of a two-pill regimen. For what appears to be the first time, a court has invalidated an agency drug approval  an approval that was based on extensive review of scientific evidence, earned the unanimous support of outside experts and retains, after two decades, the full backing of major professional medical organizations.

The decision is so stunning that it is reasonable to ask whether courts should have any role in reviewing the F.D.A.s scientific decision-making at all. In fact, judges do have an important job: protecting the ability of the agency to use science and expert judgment to support the health of the American people. The Texas decision is a perversion of this role and, by undermining the F.D.A., represents a threat to the safety of millions of Americans.

Theres a name for the day of the week when the F.D.A. finds itself in court: Monday. Also, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Sometimes the weekends, too. The agencys large stable of dedicated attorneys defends its actions on a multitude of issues. These include routine administrative matters such as whether the agency moved too fast or too slow on a generic drug approval or whether the agency has missed regulatory deadlines.

More consequential cases challenge whether the agency has the authority under statutes or the Constitution to address serious threats. For example, the Supreme Court struck down the agencys initial attempt to regulate the marketing of tobacco products, leading Congress to later pass legislation permitting the agency to move forward. To the chagrin of many public health advocates, an expanding constitutional doctrine of corporate speech has led courts to limit the actions that the F.D.A. can take to protect the public.
To the Editor:

Thank you for the excellent and comprehensive Opinion guest essay The Solution to Our Worker Shortage Isnt Child Labor, by Terri Gerstein (March 29).

The increase in child labor violations has been going on for more than a decade and is attributable in large measure to the decrease in federal and state labor department funding for enforcement and to the notion that child labor is a thing of the past.

Until that changes, the situation will not change, and millions of children will be vulnerable to exploitation and workplace abuse.

That is a sad and real 21st-century problem that brings us back more than 100 years to the days when factories and workplaces were filled with children. We must act quickly to prevent this situation from expanding. Time is of the essence and children are at risk; public attention and political action are essential.
If youre a billionaire with a palatial boat, theres only one thing to do in mid-May: Chart your course for Istanbul and join your fellow elites for an Oscars-style ceremony honoring the builders, designers and owners of the worlds most luxurious vessels, many of them over 200 feet long.

The nominations for the World Superyacht Awards were all delivered in 2022, and the largest contenders are essentially floating sea mansions, complete with amenities like glass elevators, glass-sided pools, Turkish baths and all-teak decks. The 223-foot Nebula, owned by the WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum, comes with an air-conditioned helicopter hangar.

I hate to be a wet blanket, but the ceremony in Istanbul is disgraceful. Owning or operating a superyacht is probably the most harmful thing an individual can do to the climate. If were serious about avoiding climate chaos, we need to tax, or at the very least shame, these resource-hoarding behemoths out of existence. In fact, taking on the carbon aristocracy, and their most emissions-intensive modes of travel and leisure, may be the best chance we have to improve our collective climate morale and increase our appetite for personal sacrifice, from individual behavior changes to sweeping policy mandates.

On an individual basis, the superrich pollute far more than the rest of us, and travel is one of the biggest parts of that footprint. Take, for instance, Rising Sun, the 454-foot, 82-room megaship owned by the DreamWorks co-founder David Geffen. According to a 2021 analysis in the journal Sustainability, the diesel fuel powering Mr. Geffens boating habit spews an estimated 16,320 tons of carbon-dioxide-equivalent gases into the atmosphere annually, almost 800 times what the average American generates in a year.
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is in a trap of his own devising. His path to the Republican presidential nomination depends on convincing Donald Trumps base that he represents a more committed and disciplined version of the former president, that he shares their populist grievances and aims only to execute the Trump agenda with greater forcefulness and skill. But it also depends on convincing a G.O.P. elite grown weary of Mr. Trumps erratic bombast (not to mention electoral losses and legal jeopardy) that he, Mr. DeSantis, represents a more responsible alternative: shrewd where Mr. Trump is reckless; bookish where Mr. Trump is philistine; scrupulous, cunning and detail-oriented where Mr. Trump is impetuous and easily bored. In short, to the base, Mr. DeSantis must be more Trump than Trump, and to the donors, less.

Thus far, Mr. DeSantis has had greater success with party elites. By pairing aggressive stances on the culture wars with free-market economics and an appeal to his own competence and expertise, Mr. DeSantis has managed to corral key Republican megadonors, Murdoch media empire executives and conservative thought leaders from National Review to the Claremont Institute. He polls considerably higher than Mr. Trump with wealthy, college-educated, city- and suburb-dwelling Republicans. Mr. Trump, meanwhile, retains his grip on blue-collar, less educated and rural conservatives. For the G.O.P., the primary fight has begun to tell an all-too-familiar story: Its the elites vs. the rabble.

Mr. Trump, for his part, appears to have taken notice of this incipient class divide (and perhaps of the dearth of billionaires rushing to his aid). In the past few weeks, he has skewered Mr. DeSantis as a tool for globalist plutocrats and the Republican old guard. Since his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury, Mr. Trump has sought to further solidify his status as the indispensable peoples champion, attacked on all sides by a conspiracy of liberal elites. While donors and operatives may prefer a more housebroken populism, it is Mr. Trumps surmise that large parts of the base still want the real thing, warts and all.

If his wager pays off, it will be a sign not just of his continued dominance over the Republican Party but also of something deeper: an ongoing revolt against the best and brightest, the notion that only certain people, with certain talents, credentials and subject matter expertise, are capable of governing.
Pang Pha is an elephant of discriminating taste. Offer her a yellow or green banana and she will hoover it up whole, peel and all. Proffer a brown banana, and she is likely to turn her long nose up at it, casually tossing it aside.

But give this Asian elephant, who lives at the Berlin Zoo, a yellow banana speckled with brown, and she might do what none of her pachyderm companions do: peel it. She will snap the banana in half with the tip of her trunk and then shake the fruit until the fleshy interior slides out. Then shell devour the pulp, leaving the peel behind.

Its quite skillful, said Michael Brecht, a neuroscientist at Humboldt University of Berlin and one of the authors of a new paper on Pang Phas ability to peel that was published on Monday in the journal Current Biology. She clearly optimized the behavior.

Dr. Brecht and his colleagues suspect that Pang Pha, who was raised at the zoo, developed her method after watching her caretakers peel the fruit for her.
From pocket-stretching smartphones to wall-hogging TVs, Americans have often asked: How much screen is too much?

The question has come to todays gadget-stuffed cars, whose increasingly colossal screens are splitting opinions among designers, car buyers and industry critics. These do-it-all touch screens, the nerve centers of many new cars, have sparked a backlash because of their size, as well as the clunky interfaces that may take eyes off the road.

I think weve reached Peak Screen, said Klaus Busse, Maseratis head of design, who previously led design for Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia. Screens have their right of existence  they do a lot of things better than physical switches. Its just been pushed a little too far.

Beyond having ergonomic and safety concerns, some luxury designers object on aesthetic grounds. To them, screens just arent sexy or luxurious.
More than a decade ago, lawyers were singled out as an endangered occupational species, their livelihoods at risk from advances in artificial intelligence.

But the doomsayers got ahead of themselves. While clever software has taken over some of the toil of legal work  searching, reviewing and mining mountains of legal documents for nuggets of useful information  employment in the legal profession has grown faster than the American work force as a whole.

Today, a new A.I. threat looms, and lawyers may feel a bit of deja vu. There are warnings that ChatGPT-style software, with its humanlike language fluency, could take over much of legal work. The new A.I. has its flaws, notably its proclivity to make things up, including fake legal citations. But proponents insist those are teething defects in a nascent technology  and fixable.

Will the pessimists finally be right?

Law is seen as the lucrative profession perhaps most at risk from the recent advances in A.I. because lawyers are essentially word merchants. And the new technology can recognize and analyze words and generate text in an instant. It seems ready and able to perform tasks that are the bread and butter of lawyers.
Australia experienced a slight decrease in job advertisements of 0.6 per cent in March compared to the previous month of February.

Despite this, employers were met with an increase in applicants applying for job vacancies. This is a positive trend indicating that job seekers are actively looking for new opportunities in the job market.

However, when compared to the same month in the previous year, the job postings in March decreased significantly by 15.7 per cent. This indicates a continued reduction in job availability in Australia over the past year, possibly due to various factors such as the pandemic and economic instability.

According to the latest report by employment marketplace SEEK, the decrease in job ads in March was mainly driven by the Hospitality and Tourism sector, which saw a decrease of 5.5 per cent in job postings. Following closely behind was the accounting sector, with a decrease of 2.2 per cent in job postings.

The sharp decline in job postings within these sectors points to the ongoing challenges and uncertainties facing the Australian job market, particularly in industries that are heavily impacted by pandemic-related restrictions. However, the increase in job applicants presents a glimmer of hope for job seekers, indicating a level of resilience in the workforce.

Employers will need to remain adaptable and innovative in their recruitment strategies to attract and retain the best talent in this competitive job market.

Kendra Banks, Managing Director ANZ at SEEK, commented on the state of the job market in Australia, noting that job ad volumes fell slightly in March.

Banks attributed this decline mainly to drops in Sydney and Melbourne but highlighted that job ads in regional areas actually rose in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.

Despite the dip in job ads, Banks noted that job ad volumes remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. She pointed out that workers are particularly in demand in the Education & Training, Trades & Services, and Healthcare & Medical industries.

We expect to see the year-on-year comparisons decline further as we are now comparing against the peak of 2022s Great Job Boom, Banks said.

This indicates that the job market in Australia may continue to face challenges in the coming months. However, there is a glimmer of hope, as applications per job ad rose 4.0 per cent in February, gradually moving closer to pre-pandemic levels.

This suggests that job seekers are becoming more active in their search for new opportunities, which could potentially lead to a more dynamic job market.

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A lawsuit filed on Monday by several former Twitter executives said they had personally spent more than $1 million on legal expenses related to shareholder lawsuits and several government investigations, including an inquiry by the Justice Department.

The nature of the Justice Department inquiry, and whether it is active, was unclear. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware Chancery Court, did not offer other details.

Last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission began investigating Elon Musks purchases of Twitter shares and whether they were properly disclosed. Twitter is also under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, which is scrutinizing the companys privacy practices.

The Justice Department has aided the F.T.C. with past investigations into Twitter. In 2022, the agency joined the F.T.C. in a $150 million fine against Twitter over misleading users about how it treated their personal data. The Justice Department also often assists the S.E.C. in criminal investigations.
The story of Englands medieval Jewish communities, she said, has never been thought important enough by mainstream academia, if you like, to be included as part of that narrative. This galls her: You cannot talk about the medieval English economy without talking about the Jewish community, she said. Its ludicrous to have them excluded from this history.

Jews most likely started visiting Britain in ancient times, but it wasnt until William the Conqueror enticed some to come over from Normandy after his victory at Hastings in 1066 that Jewish communities took root on English soil. William needed capital to subdue the country and build its economy; Jews had it. To encourage them, William offered special protections. They would be the kings men, answerable only to the sovereign. Harming them would be an offense against the crown. They could, if need be, take shelter in any royal castle, including the Tower of London.

Their first English century was fairly harmonious. Initially, the relationship between the Jews and the Christians was pretty good, John Rayne-Davis, a historian in Yorkshire, told me. They used to drink in one anothers houses and fraternize and such.

Medieval Englands Jews didnt just work in finance. Some would be selling wine, food, cheese, Marcus Roberts, the director of J-Trails, an Anglo-Jewish heritage organization, explained. There was one Jew who was a ladder maker. There was one Jew in Essex who had a very successful business selling firewood. But there were also Jewish men-at-arms. Jewish scholarship flourished in medieval England, sometimes in cooperation with Christian theologians. Jews and Christians lived side by side. Some intermarried.

But as the decades passed, Jews special status and relative prosperity  and the fact that a lot of people owed them money  bred resentment. An increasingly antisemitic Vatican, and a concurrent rise in Christian religious fervor, only raised tensions. There were more pogroms. At the same time, successive monarchs rolled back Jews rights and protections and wrung ever more money out of them  not just through loans but also special taxes, extortion and appropriation  to fund their own lavish lifestyles and undertake pet projects, like waging wars and building castles, churches and other landmarks like Westminster Abbey.
A shelter-in-place order for residents in the Tacoma, Wash., region was lifted on Monday, two days after a fishing vessel caught fire in the Puget Sound area, sending thick smoke into the air and diverting maritime traffic, the authorities said.

The vessel, Kodiak Enterprise, caught fire early on Saturday while moored at Trident Seafoods in the Hylebos Waterway near Tacoma, a port city in Washington State. Firefighters were still working to put out the fire on the vessel, Travis Magee, a spokesman for the United States Coast Guard, said early on Monday.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, he said. The Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement on Sunday that the fire had moved throughout the 232-foot ship and was last reported about 100 feet from the vessels Freon tanks. The vessel was reported to have an estimated 55,000 gallons of diesel and 19,000 pounds of Freon, a noncombustible gas commonly used as a refrigerant. The Tacoma Fire Department had told residents of northeast Tacoma, and the neighborhoods of Browns Point and Dash Point, to remain indoors.

While it appears that most of the flammable material onboard has burned, it is likely that smoke will continue to be visible throughout the day, the fire department said on Monday.
For weeks, Mississippis overwhelmingly white and Republican Legislature has had an often heated debate over the relationship with its overwhelmingly Black and Democratic capital city, one that reflects the national differences over race and politics writ large.

The debate is over. Unsurprisingly, the differences remain.

On the final day of March, the Legislature sent Gov. Tate Reeves new legislation imposing a state-controlled police force and a second court system within the boundaries of Jackson, the troubled capital city of 150,000 that is the center of Black political power in the state. Nearly four in 10 Mississippians are Black, making it the state with the highest percentage of Black residents in the country. More than eight in 10 Jackson residents are.

The legislation, a compromise version of bills that the State House and Senate first passed last month, won final approval in votes that fell almost completely along racial and party lines. No Democrats supported the measures; only one of the 54 Black lawmakers in the Legislature, a political independent, did.

From the beginning, the Republicans who wrote the legislation and shepherded it to final passage insisted that they had not sought to usurp the authority of the citys leaders, but rather wanted to help them battle a ferocious crime problem. Democrats  in particular, the 53 Black Democrats  called it a partisan power grab aimed at the Black political leadership in Jackson.
WASHINGTON  President Biden on Monday said he was planning on seeking re-election next year but was not ready to launch his campaign yet.

Mr. Bidens 2024 plans have for months been the subject of speculation, with top aides quietly making plans to build out a campaign. But the president has yet to make a final decision.

At the White House Easter egg roll, Al Roker of NBC News asked Mr. Biden if he planned on being in the White House after 2024.
While some documents were doctored, those revisions appear to have been made later. Officials have acknowledged that many of the documents are genuine, and they were initially posted on the internet without alterations.

Determining a motive might be difficult in part because the classified material highlighted weaknesses in the militaries of both Ukraine and Russia, and could potentially damage Americas ability to collect information in the future.

It is possible, former officials said, that the motivation might not have been overtly political, but those questions will be answered only as the investigation continues.

The intelligence materials appear to have been first photographed and then uploaded online, a kind of sloppy procedure that suggests the person leaking the documents probably took few steps to conceal the IP addresses used or the date stamps from photographs, said Javed Ali, a former senior U.S. counterterrorism official who held intelligence roles at the F.B.I., the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

A senior U.S. official said hundreds, if not thousands, of military and other U.S. government officials have the security clearances needed to gain access to the documents.
NASHVILLE  Justin Jones, one of the two Black Democrats expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives for leading a gun control protest on the House floor, was sworn back in to his seat on Monday in a swift rebuke to the states Republican supermajority.

Within an hour of the Metropolitan Nashville Council unanimously voting to temporarily appoint Mr. Jones back to the seat, the young lawmaker had returned to take his place in the Republican-controlled legislature that overwhelmingly voted to expel him just four days earlier.

After leading hundreds of supporters on a march from the council meeting, Mr. Jones took his oath of office on the steps of the State Capitol, now empowered with a national platform and the backing of Democrats across the state and the country. The moment came two weeks after the mass shooting at a Christian school in Nashville that prompted Mr. Jones and two other Democrats to protest in the House chamber.

No expulsion, no attempt to silence us will stop us, but it will only galvanize and strengthen our movement, Mr. Jones said in his first formal remarks.
Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump asked a federal appeals court on Monday to narrow the scope of the testimony that former Vice President Mike Pence has to give a grand jury investigating Mr. Trumps efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The request to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to reverse a lower courts decision ordering Mr. Pence to testify was the latest attempt by Mr. Trumps legal team to keep witnesses close to him from divulging information to prosecutors in the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith.

Mr. Pence has always been a potentially important witness in the election inquiry into Mr. Trump because of the conversations he took part in at the White House in the weeks preceding the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. During that time, Mr. Trump repeatedly pressed him to use his ceremonial role overseeing the congressional count of Electoral College votes to block or delay certification of his defeat.

Prosecutors have been trying to get Mr. Pence to talk about Mr. Trumps demands for months  first in requests by the Justice Department for an interview and then through a grand jury subpoena issued by Mr. Smith, who inherited the inquiry into Mr. Trumps attempts to stay in power.
BEIJING  Two of Chinas most prominent human rights lawyers were sentenced on Monday to 14 years and 12 years in prison, some of the lengthiest such sentences in recent years and an indication of how the space for expression has evaporated under Chinas leader, Xi Jinping.

The lawyers, Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi, had been charged with subversion for promoting what they called a New Citizens Movement, which encouraged ordinary Chinese to exercise the rights such as free speech guaranteed by the countrys Constitution, at least in theory. They had been detained after organizing a gathering of about 20 lawyers and activists in the seaside city of Xiamen in 2019, where they discussed their plans to work toward those goals, and about the future of the human rights movement in China broadly.

In his decade as Chinas top leader, Mr. Xi has worked, largely successfully, to crush any vestiges of dissent. He has targeted not only human rights activists but also business tycoons, intellectuals and members of the party elite, some of whom have been sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison. He has expanded online censorship and demanded loyalty from media outlets.

Human Rights Watch, the international advocacy group, denounced the latest sentences as cruelly farcical and called for the mens immediate release. Mr. Xu and Mr. Ding were tried in secret, and the sentences handed down by a court in eastern Shandong Province were not publicly announced, but were confirmed by Mr. Dings wife, Luo Shengchun, who also goes by Sophie.
China sent record numbers of military aircraft, as well as naval ships and an aircraft carrier, near Taiwan on Monday in the final day of military exercises choreographed to raise pressure on the island while stopping short of an escalation that could set off a conflict.

China has said the three days of drills were retaliation against a visit by President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan to the United States last week and her meeting with Kevin McCarthy, the speaker of the House of Representatives. Beijing claims Taiwan, a self-governed democracy, as its territory, and opposes such exchanges with the islands leaders.

China has also seized the opportunity to use the drills to signal that Taiwan would be vulnerable if Beijing ever set out to claim the island by force, and that Washington could not be trusted to step into such a conflict.
If there is a positive about the recent spate of data privacy breaches, it is that they reared their heads at the right time in terms of the latest budgetary expenditure.

On the surface, at least, cyber awareness and resilience received their due focus.

The Federal Government committed $12.6 million of its 2022 budget to combat scams and online fraud, with the bulk ($9.9 million) going towards a National Anti-Scam Centre, to be administered by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

At a grassroots level, cyber safety was also addressed with $6 million over three years for the rollout of digital literacy and online safety-awareness programs for school children. $31 million will also be invested in the Australian Public Service cyber hubs pilot, with the overriding aim of improving the cyber defence of government agencies. Ultimately, four cyber hubs will deliver cyber-security capabilities to Commonwealth entities.

Concerning cyber landscape

While its promising to see recognition for cyber in the updated federal budget, theres still a long way to go in achieving a strong national security posture.

Mimecasts 2022 State of Ransomware Readiness report found that 70 per cent of Australian cybersecurity leaders say the number of cyberattacks against their company has increased since last year.

Alarmingly, 20 per cent of respondents in Australia say they sustained six or more ransomware attacks in the past year  higher than any other country/region surveyed.

The impact and frequency of ransomware attacks are increasingly troubling at a local level. One in five Australian companies has sustained six or more ransomware attacks in the past year  more than any other country surveyed, including Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Nordics, Singapore, South Africa, UAE, UK and US.

As noted in the report, 57 per cent of Australians (compared to 55 per cent globally) believe cyberattacks will bring down part of the critical national infrastructure in Australia, such as utilities, banks, and transport networks, in the next two years.

When you consider the exorbitant costs of ransomware attacks on individual businesses, this area of cybersecurity is ripe for development.

The report findings also concluded that 20 per cent of businesses had been asked to pay between $500,000 and $999,999 for their wrongfully gained information to be returned, with the total cost of the ransomware attack between $50,000 to $99,999 for the one-in-five affected businesses  and $1-2 million for 13 per cent of those surveyed.

The business implications of ransomware attacks and economic costs must incite a regulatory mindset of digging deeper in terms of realistic cyber spending.

Additional findings from The State of Ransomware Readiness report 2022 include:

Up to 40 per cent of organisations have experienced significant downtime because of ransomware attacks, an increase of seven per cent on last year

30 per cent say it would take one to two days to return to normal business practice after an attack

33 per cent, say they could only withhold two to five days before sustaining significant financial loss and reputational damage.

41 per cent of organisations have experienced a loss in revenue due to a ransomware attack in the past 12 months

53 per cent are concerned that their cyber insurance will refuse to pay out for ransoms in the future

What businesses can do to mitigate risk

So, what cyber-awareness measures can be put in place? 46 per cent of respondents believe the most effective measure to reduce ransomware attacks is to train employees on recognising email threats. This highlights the need for company-wide awareness and accountability.

This necessity is compounded by 67 per cent of respondents saying end users werent adequately trained on security awareness; 63 per cent maintain backups of files in the cloud or on-site to combat cyberattacks; and 51 per cent say that growing media coverage of ransomware attacks is causing increased pressure to prepare.

Further investment and initiatives are required to help reduce these figures. Developing cyber resilience requires time, planning, budget and resources  and simply cant remain an afterthought.

Information is power in terms of understanding and combating potential ransomware attacks.

Ensure all employees are regularly educated in best cybersecurity practices and are aware of their responsibilities  dont let this lie solely with the IT department

Board members should also lead by example  if theyre not keeping up to date with the latest advice or regulations, why should their employees?

Though there is more to be done from the government, businesses and employees, the recent cyber security governance principles released by the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, as well as the governments proposal to increase fines for serious or repeated privacy breaches, are a step in the right direction.

While the jury is still out on Australias cybersecurity strategy, businesses should feel comfort from the fact that cybercrime is firmly in the crosshairs of the government with its own cabinet role, and were likely to see more support  and responsibilities  moving forward.

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The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, apologized on Monday after a video surfaced online showing him kissing a boy on the lips at a public event earlier this year and then saying to the child, Suck my tongue.

In the video, which was taken in February in the hill town of Dharamsala, in northern India, the Buddhist leader, 87, speaks briefly to the boy in front of an audience before kissing him and then pulling him close to his outstretched tongue.

The apology issued by the Dalai Lamas office said only that the boy, who was not identified, had asked the spiritual leader if he could give him a hug, making no reference to the kiss or the extended tongue. It said that the Dalai Lamas actions had been lighthearted.

His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident, his office said, adding that the Dalai Lama wished to apologize for the hurt his words may have caused.
When President Biden visits his familys ancestral home in Ireland this week, he will walk a path trod by many American presidents  a joyful, politically uncomplicated journey that mixes shamrock-sprinkled nostalgia with odes to the enduring bond between the Irish and Americans.

But first, Mr. Biden must pick his way through Northern Ireland, where the political landscape is rockier and the memories darker.

That is particularly true for a president who is a proud son of the Emerald Isle, fond of quoting poets like Yeats and Seamus Heaney, and occasionally his own great-grandfather, Edward Francis Blewitt, whose poems are suffused with Irish republican sentiment. Being Irish has shaped my entire life, Mr. Biden once said.

In Belfast, the president will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. The accord is a cherished diplomatic legacy of another Democratic president, Bill Clinton  one that showcased his skill as a mediator between the nationalists, who seek a united Ireland, and the unionists, who want to remain part of the United Kingdom.
The Italian Coast Guard said on Monday that it had dispatched rescue operations for two overcrowded boats, carrying a total of about 1,200 migrants, in the Mediterranean Sea, capping a busy few days for the service and fueling concern about the volume of people attempting the dangerous crossing from Africa to Europe.

Since Friday, the Italian authorities said that they had rescued about 2,000 people from boats that had found themselves in distress  not counting the two operations announced on Monday  as rough seas made the journey particularly perilous.

Organizations monitoring such crossings have raised concerns about the high number of migrants fleeing war and poverty who are risking the journey across the Mediterranean. Calls have increased for Europe as a whole to find a more coherent way of dealing with the arrivals and to devote more resources to the problem.

With different countries enacting a patchwork of responses, migrant-rights advocates say that lives are being put in danger.
Twenty-five years ago, Britain and Ireland signed the Good Friday Agreement, ending decades of bloodshed known as the Troubles. At the stroke of a pen, Northern Ireland became one of the worlds most ambitious experiments in how to reconcile a deeply divided society.

Even now, remnants of separation between Protestant and Catholic Northern Ireland linger: the barriers between neighborhoods known as peace walls; murals with images of Queen Elizabeth II or Irish republican heroes; the Union Jacks and Irish tricolors that flutter from lampposts.

But more and more, these are relics. As it commemorates a quarter-century of peace, Northern Ireland is searching for its place as part of both the United Kingdom and the island of Ireland, seeking to turn ancient divisions into a formula for future prosperity.
WARSAW  Poland and Ukraine have found what they say is a solution to an influx of Ukrainian grain that has infuriated Polish farmers, an issue that cast a shadow over the two neighbors close military and political cooperation against Russia.

Anger among Polish farmers over what they see as a threat to their livelihoods from Ukraine had been growing for weeks and last week prompted Polands beleaguered agriculture minister to resign. He quit shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine arrived in Warsaw, the Polish capital, for a visit that he said showed that relations between the two neighbors, often strained in the past, had never been better.

Poland, Romania and Hungary, all of which border Ukraine and are members of the European Union, have struggled with a glut of grain and other Ukrainian agricultural products since last year, when the bloc lifted tariffs on goods from Ukraine and initiated a program to facilitate the flow of Ukrainian grain by truck, train and boat into the union for delivery to countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Instead of being moved outside the European bloc, much of the grain and agricultural products stayed in Europe after demand eased elsewhere following a resumption of some grain shipments from Ukraine through the Black Sea, which had stopped for a time after Russia blocked and bombed Ukrainian ports at the start of its full-scale invasion in February last year.
Russian forces are using scorched earth tactics in their attempt to capture the battered city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, using airstrikes and artillery fire to destroy any buildings and positions held by the citys Ukrainian defenders, the commander of Ukraines ground forces said Monday.

Ukrainian forces are under severe pressure in the city, which is already mostly in ruins, as fires sweep through buildings and soldiers fight in fierce, block-by-block combat. In recent weeks, Russia has advanced in villages to the north and south of Bakhmut and fought fierce battles in the city center itself. But after visiting one of the hottest areas of the front line in Bakhmut, the Ukrainian commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, said that while the situation is difficult for Kyivs forces, it remains under control.

The enemy has switched to so-called Syrian scorched-earth tactics, he said, according to a statement from the Ukrainian militarys media center, referring to Russias intervention in that countrys civil war. They are destroying buildings and positions with airstrikes and artillery fire. The defense of Bakhmut continues. The situation is difficult, but under control, he said. The commander visited the city on Sunday, the statement said.

Russia has been a dominant military force in Syria since 2015, when President Vladimir V. Putin sent several thousand Russian troops and aircraft into the country, destroying towns and cities with airstrikes and turning the tide of the Syrian civil war in the Assad regimes favor.
Finding them has become a well-practiced art for Ukrainian soldiers. Areas dense with trip wires, for example, will often have a dead animal nearby, as animals set them off while roaming in the forest.

In fact, Ukrainian forces were alerted by a dead dog and a dead goat to the presence of booby traps in a thicket of brush and dry grass near a former Russian position, said the commander of a de-mining team sent to clear them. He asked to be identified only by his name and rank, Lieutenant Oleh, in keeping with Ukrainian military rules.

There were lots of tricks here, Lieutenant Oleh said of the minefield.

The soldiers probed the ground with fiberglass rods  lest a metal instrument trip an electrically triggered mine intended to kill de-miners. The hand grenade rigged to a trip wire had been found earlier by colleagues before soldiers returned to detonate it safely, as it was too dangerous to defuse.

The team, operating outside Lyman, which was liberated from Russian forces last fall, found one booby trap with a trick to fool de-mining teams, a common occurrence. In this instance, it was a claymore mine  an explosive that sprays shrapnel toward its targets  that had a trip wire.

The Russians had stretched an electrical cable nearby, hinting it could also be set off remotely by a spotter. But the wire ended nearby in the grass, unconnected to any detonator. It was just a ruse to slow the de-mining work by forcing them to trace the cable.

The thicket near the position on the outskirts of a village was also rigged with jumping mines, what American soldiers in World War II called Bouncing Betties. When triggered by a footfall or trip wire, they burst a few feet into the air, then detonate in a spray of shrapnel.
The State Department on Monday said that Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter arrested in Russia last month and charged with espionage, was wrongfully detained, a designation that indicates that the U.S. government sees him as the equivalent of a political hostage and reflects its belief that the charges are fabricated.

Mr. Gershkovich, 31, a son of Soviet Jewish emigres, was detained on March 29 in the city of Yekaterinburg while he was on a reporting trip, and put under formal arrest in Moscow. He was formally charged with espionage on Friday, and is being held in Moscows Lefortovo prison. Russia has provided no evidence for the charge, and the U.S. government and The Wall Street Journal have vehemently denied the accusation of spying.

According to Russian news agencies, an appeal challenging the arrest has been filed, and a hearing had been scheduled on April 18. President Biden, the State Department and Senate leaders have called for Mr. Gershkovichs immediate release.

More than 50 American citizens are listed as wrongfully detained in adversarial countries, including China, Russia, Iran and Venezuela.
JERUSALEM  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel announced on Monday night that he had reversed his decision to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, 15 days after Mr. Gallant was nominally dismissed for criticizing the pace of the governments contentious plan to overhaul Israels justice system.

Mr. Netanyahu had never formally confirmed Mr. Gallants ouster, which set off widespread unrest and led the government to suspend its judicial plan until the summer. But the announced reversal came amid a wider effort within Israel to project a sense of unity at a time of deep social division and upheaval, and amid fears that Israels enemies had been emboldened by the instability created by the judicial plan.

Gallant will remain in his position and we will continue to work together for the security of the citizens of Israel, Mr. Netanyahu said in a speech broadcast live on prime-time television. He added, There were disagreements between us, even serious disagreements on some issues, but I decided to leave the disagreements behind us.

Mr. Gallant was technically fired on March 26, a day after he said the governments plan to limit the influence of the Supreme Court had provoked disquiet within the military he oversees, and that it was endangering Israels national security.
Follow the latest news on the leak of classified documents.

Leak or hack? Information or disinformation? A coup for Russia or a ploy by the United States?

For days after U.S. intelligence documents were found circulating on social media, some marked top secret, questions have swirled about how dozens of pages from Pentagon briefings became public, and how much stock to put in them.

The federal authorities have made their first arrest in the case, taking into custody a young national guardsman who, they say, first posted the documents online.

Here is what we know about the leak.

Where did the materials come from?

Federal investigators on Thursday arrested Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old air national guardsman from Massachusetts. The airman was the leader of a small online gaming chat group where a cache of the documents first appeared.
Apax Holdings chairman Nguyen Ngoc Thuy (C) speaks to students' parents at a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on April 10, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Le

A meeting between representatives of English teaching center Apax Leaders and parents ended prematurely in disorder as the venue manager shut the place down due to security concerns.

Nguyen Ngoc Thuy, chairman of the parent company Apax Holdings, and CEO Nguyen Anh Tuan, had scheduled a meeting with 700 parents on Sunday at a hotel in District 10 to discuss tuition refunds and the reopening of centers.

Due to the large number of attendees, the meeting was divided into two sessions, the first from 2 p.m. to 4.15 p.m, and the second from 4.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Speaking to around 300 parents at the first session, Thuy apologized for the situation that Apax Leaders is in and promised to reopen centers in southern Vietnam.

He also reiterated his commitment to refund parents who have paid tuition fees in advance. The refunds will run from June until April 2023.

Apax Holdings CEO Nguyen Anh Tuan speaks with students' parents at a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on April 10, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Le

Some parents, however, disagreed with the plan as they do not want to wait until next year to get their money back.

"Is there anyone here who does not have to borrow from banks or family to pay the tuition?" Thuy Quynh, a mother, asked Thuy, saying that she did not agree with the repayment plan.

Other parents joined her and said they disagreed with the payment plan. The venue atmosphere then became intense.

At around 5.30 p.m. a hotel employee came in the middle of the room and said that the meeting had been closed early due to security concerns. Lights and air-conditioner systems were then turned off.

The parents started to show their anger and surrounded Thuy and Tuan, demanding to be paid back.

Tuan then had to go downstairs and meet with hundreds of parents who were prepared to join the second session, which had been canceled by the hotel.

Both Tuan and Thuy continued to speak with parents at the hotel. At 5 p.m., the parents started to leave.

"I came here to see what Apax Leaders will due with the money they owe me, but nothing came out of it," said Hong Phuong, a parent.

Apax Leaders had earlier identified 1,350 students who have not completed all the lessons that they had paid for.

The chain had over 16,000 students in the south when it shut down.

Starting in September last year many parents in HCMC, Dak Lak, Da Nang, and other places began to complain about the teaching quality and accused the chain of "running away" with their money.

It had 120 centers nationwide at one point, its website says. By last month it had only one center in HCMC operating, but as of Sunday the company had reduced the number to just three.

Apax Leaders said it was facing difficulties including a lack of cash flows due to the Covid-lockdown-enforced closure of its centers over the last few years.

Its students claimed the teaching quality had deteriorated, teachers and other staff said they had not received their salaries for months and creditors said they had not been paid interest for. Many parents who had paid up to VND200 million in advanced tuition to the company are now demanding a refund.
The defection of a Democratic state lawmaker to the Republican Party in North Carolina upended the states politics last week, giving the G.O.P. veto-proof majorities in both chambers.

But in switching parties, Tricia Cotham joined a long list of politicians, including 
Plans have been unveiled for Joe Biden's trip to Ireland this week. He will be in Ireland from April 12 to April 15.

On April 12, the visit will primarily be concentrated in Co. Louth from late afternoon into the late evening.



On April 13 the visit will be concentrated throughout the day in the Phoenix Park and Dublin South City Centre.



On April 14 the visit will primarily be concentrated in Co. Mayo from early afternoon into the late evening.



He will arrive and depart at Dublin Airport, at various times over the course of the 4-day visit. Normal operations will continue at Dublin Airport at all times, however travelling members of the public should allow additional time to arrive at the airport due to possible rolling road closures, particularly late Wednesday and early Friday.



He will arrive and depart at Ireland West Airport, on the afternoon and evening of Friday, April 14. Normal operations will continue at Ireland West Airport at all times, however travelling members of the public should allow additional time to arrive at the airport due to possible rolling road closures.



Gardai say that, in general, traffic restrictions for the visit will be kept to the minimum required and it is intended that any impact on the public will be localised and minimal. However, the public can expect localised road closures to facilitate events and temporary rolling road closures to facilitate security escorts over the course of the visit in the locations above.



Gardai say the following Traffic Management measures, for security reasons, are currently in place:



Monday 10th April - from 0700hrs Parking restrictions on Earlsfort Terrace, Leeson Street Lower, Hatch Street Lower, Castle Street and Ship Street (until Saturday 15th April)



The following Traffic Management measures, for security reasons, will be put in place:



Tuesday 11th April  from 0700hrs Earlsfort Terrace closed to traffic, pedestrian access to businesses on Earlsfort Terrace via Hatch Street only (until Saturday 15th April)



Wednesday 12th/ Thursday 13th April  Phoenix Park will be closed to all access, traffic and pedestrians, from 5pm Wednesday 12th  5pm Thursday 13th (arrangements are in place for local access ONLY)



Specific details on further local road closures, parking restrictions and traffic diversions for Louth, Dublin and Mayo will be published in the coming days.

An Garda Siochana says it is working to ensure that the nature and scale of our policing and security operation continues to be proportionate to the need to protect everyones safety.



The objective is to continue to share as much information with the public where necessary as soon as we are in a position to do so.



Gardai ask members of the public to heed the advice and instructions of Gardai and we thank them for their continuing co-operation.



Members of the Public travelling in the affected areas, Louth 12th April, Dublin (Phoenix Park/ South City Centre) 12th /13th April and Mayo 14th April are be asked to plan their journeys during this period to ensure to leave enough time for possible traffic disruptions and to expect some localised delays.



An Garda Siochana has and continues to liaise with business and local residents in the key locations and will continue to communicate directly with them during the visit.



An Garda Siochana continues to engage with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and Public Transport Providers to minimise disruption to the Public Transport Network.



Operational plans are subject to change for security and operational reasons. Real-time updates will be provided, where appropriate by the Garda Press Office on various platforms
G.C Food Companys aloe vera processing plant in the central province of Ninh Thuan has a capacity of 35,000 tons of fresh leaves a year. Photo courtesy of G.C Food Company

Nguyen Van Thu, chairman of G.C Food Company, said the firm would take advantage of trade deals to increase aloe vera exports to South Korea and Japan.

Speaking at the companys annual general meeting on March 7, the man dubbed Mr Aloe Vera, said the target is to capture 15-20% of the South Korean and Japanese markets in the next three years.

G.C Food now has a market share of 8% in South Korea and 9% in Japan. Thailand is the largest supplier of aloe vera products to the two with a share of some 40%.

According to Thu, Thai firms have more modern technology and so are marginally better in terms of product diversity. Due to bigger output and the better development of supporting industries, especially packaging, their prices are 10-15% lower than that of Vietnamese products, he said.

But Vietnamese aloe vera processors can compete with their Thai rivals in terms of quality, he said.

G.C Food plans to expand its aloe vera growing area to 500 hectares by 2025 to increase output to 40,000-45,000 tons of finished products a year.

It also plans to launch more products made from aloe vera such as drinking water and cosmetics. "Vietnamese agricultural products benefit greatly from preferential tax rates thanks to free trade agreements with South Korea and Japan, while Thailand does not," Thu said.

Japan and South Korea consume a variety of drinks, milk and other foods containing aloe vera. South Korea itself exports aloe vera beverages to North America and Europe. Thus it needs an average of 30,000 tons of products a year. The demand in Japan is for 15,000 tons.

G.C Food is a leading aloe vera producer in Vietnam with an annual output of 12,000-15,000 tons and a presence in 20 countries around the world.

G.C Food said it is the only company in Vietnam to sells products to big brands such as OKF, the worlds leading aloe vera juice producer, Lotte, the fifth largest, and Morinaga, Japans second largest dairy firm.



G.C Food plans to enter new markets in the Middle East, China and Europe. Eastern Europe is expected to account for 15-20% of its total revenues starting this year.

Last years sales of VND433 billion are expected to double by 2025. Its pre-tax profits were VND35 billion.

Also last year G.C. Food listed on the UpCOM stock market.
CM Stalin's strategy targets to achieve a trillion-dollar economy

Chennai

oi-Oneindia English Desk

Chennai: Tamilnadu's roadmap to achieve a trillion-dollar economy to be ready in the next six months. Since M.K. Stalin took over the government, the goal is to accelerate Tamilnadu's economy to be a trillion-dollar economy. More than a promise, Tamilnadu Chief Minister is working strenuously to realise the vision of a 1 trillion dollar economy.

In the last 14 months, Tamilnadu had attracted nearly 2 lakh crore in investments. Tamilnadu government signed nearly 60 MOUs worth 1,25,244 crore in the last investors meet organised in July 2022. This created more than 3 lakh employment opportunities in Tamilnadu. Recently CM Stalin unveiled the state's ethanol blending policy. In his tweet, CM stated, "Three policies including the ethanol policy were unveiled. To revolutionise the Industrial sector of the state, the State government formulated 10 new policies as per the requirements of the Industrial people. Tamilnadu will achieve the 1 trillion dollar economy soon".

Ethanol blending policy:

CM Stalin unveiled the MSME Trade and Investment Promotion Bureau prepared 'Tamilnadu Ethanol Policy 2023', 'Tamil Nadu City Gas Distribution Policy 2023', 'Tamil Nadu Logistics Policy & Integrated Logistics Plan 2023' and 'Special Scheme for tech textiles'. Last year the Tamilnadu government organised the 14th Indian Science Entrepreneurs Trade Association conference in Chennai. CM Stalin who presided over the event stated, "Tamilnadu is an advanced state in terms of education and technology. Of the top 100 educational institutions in the Nation, 30 institutions are in Tamilnadu. Tamilnadu is on track to achieve a 1 trillion dollar economy by 2030".

Dubai tour attracted 2,600 crore policy:

This Government is highly confident to venture into new innovative business ideas. In the same way, the State government is also encouraging new business ventures with new ideas and technologies. When CM Stalin visited Dubai, the Tamilnadu government signed 5 MOUs worthy of 2,600 crores. And the state government is all set to devise the road map to achieve the 1 trillion dollar economy within the next 6 months. Tamilnadu Infrastructure development board had chosen Boston Consulting Group to aid in identifying key requirements and quantifying the impact on natural resources and climate.

Boston to devise the route map:

Tamilnadu is the second-largest economic state in the nation. Also, Tamilnadu has the third highest GDP per capita. It is the most urbanised and industrialised state with a strong manufacturing industry and a larger service sector. Tamilnadu is also the third largest exporting state with over 9% of India's exports. India is rising to be a 5 trillion dollar economy. And Tamilnadu is contributing more to the nation in achieving the 5 trillion dollar economy goal.

1 trillion dollar economy in 2030:

CM Stalin pledged to raise Tamilnadu's economy to be a 1 trillion dollar economy by 2030. The Tamilnadu government is planning to raise the current growth rate substantially with a significant increase in the investment rate along with improving the State's infrastructure. Tamilnadu Infrastructure development board had chosen Boston Consulting Group to aid in identifying key requirements and quantifying the impact on natural resources and climate.

The aim is to build an economic baseline to understand the current pain points, future opportunities and aspirations. The consultant company will be devising the roadmap for Tamilnadu to achieve its target of a 1 trillion dollar economy.

SWOT analysis:

A SWOT analysis of all the sectors in the state will be made to identify the potential sectors and prioritise the sectors with their GDPs and job targets till 2030. The company will also benchmark the economic growth of five or six countries which have been successful in different fields like industries, agriculture and service sectors.

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 19:07 [IST]
Fact Check: Is Tata Group constructing Central Vista for Re 1?

Fact Check

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

A post has gone viral with the claim that the Tata Group has decided to build the new Parliament building in 17 months and a cost of just one Rupee to Indian government.

The claim also states that this is being done as a gift to the nation. The post has gone viral several times since Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the new Parliament building last month.

On checking, we found that this claim is misleading. Tata Group is in fact constructing the Parliament building, but not at the cost of Re 1. It is in fact charging the government Rs 1,250 crore. The government has also announced that the Parliament building will be readying 2022, but added that some portions of the building are still under construction.

The Tata Group was awarded the contract to construct the new Parliament building at a cost of Rs 861.9 crore in September 2020. The Central Public Works Department had opened the financial bidding for construction of the new building.

We also found a report by the Hindustan Times published on August 4 2021 which said that a budget had already been spent on the new parliament projects. The report also said that the revised estimated cost for the new Parliament building was Rs 971 crore.

We also came across an NDTV report that said that the cost of the new Parliament building had shot up by 29 per cent. It also said that the the construction would now cost Rs 1,250 crore.

If one looks at the official statement on the government website it says that the tendered cost for the new building is Rs 862 crore. It also added the expenditure incurred for the building and Central Vista Avenue and said that the cost is at Rs 195 crore.

The construction of the new building began on January 23 2Screenshot 2023-04-10 at 8.54.13 AM.png021 and the government has announced a deadline of November 2022. It however added that the work on the new building would continue for another few months.

A written response was also given by the government in the Lok Sabha. The reply said that the estimated cost of the new Parliament building is Rs 971 crore and it is estimated to be completed by October 2022.

Going by all these reports, it is clear that the Tata Group is not constructing the new Parliament building at a cost of Rs 1 is false.

Fact Check Claim Tata Group is constructing new Parliament building at a cost of Re 1. Conclusion The claims is false and the new building is being constructed at a cost of over Rs 1.250 crore. Rating False Raise your request for FACT CHECKING. Mail us at [email protected]
OPINION: Pak judiciary in the dock

Feature

lekhaka-R C Ganjoo

The status of Pakistan is on the altar of sacrifice when both the giants of democracy - the judiciary as well as the executive - have taken off the gloves to demonstrate their respective authority.

The Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan with a three-member Bench in its order said that the Election Commission of Pakistan's postponement of elections to the Punjab Assembly was "unconstitutional". The court announced May 14 as the new polling date instead of Oct 8.

The Supreme Court order irked the coalition government of PDM and brought a Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023, in the parliament. Unfortunately, Pakistan President Arif Alvi on April 8 returned the Bill to the parliament for reconsideration in order to meet the scrutiny about its validity (if assailed in a court of law).

The judgment and the President's dissent note to the Bill further unnerved the ruling coalition government and thus changed Pakistan's political and judicial landscape. A section of judges in the apex court, a coalition ruling leader, a section of the bar association and the Army ganged up against the highest court of the country.

OPINION: Pakistan in constitutional crisis

Lawyers' bodies are divided in an ongoing constitutional crisis as KP Bar Council has demanded Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial's resignation while Supreme Court Bar Association representatives belonging to professional groups, reiterated their support to the CJP. This Bar Association stands with the Supreme Court of Pakistan in upholding the rule of law and the Constitution, said Muytedir Akhtar Shabbir, Secretary, Supreme Court Bar Association.

In a hard-hitting statement, the federal government challenged the three-member Bench verdict and demanded a hearing by the Full Bench. The federal Law Minister also warned that the verdict would aggravate the current political crisis.

PML-N head Nawaz Sharif from London on the verdict in the election delay case demanded the immediate resignation of CJP Justice Bandial. But, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) distanced itself from the government's demand of seeking resignation from Justice Bandial and clarified that the demand as well as moving a reference was not of the entire coalition government but the PML-N alone.

The political observers describe the current political and judicial chaos as a virtual declaration of war against the top court, and pit the two institutions of the State against each other, with disastrous consequences. It would intensify the clash of institutions and deepen the constitutional crisis, bringing the country closer to a systemic collapse.

On the other hand, the military leadership is not in favour of early or scattered elections, with the Defence Ministry asserting that the armed forces would not be available for poll security duties because of the security situation. But non-compliance with the Supreme Court order and its consequences could be out of everyone's control.

In this scenario, the Army's direct involvement in declaring an Emergency could not be ruled out for both Pakistan and its institutions. Will General Syed Asim Munir be competent enough to handle Pakistan when it is socially, politically, economically and judicially derailed is a big question mark?

Surprisingly, a sizable splinter within the military-led establishment has tilted towards Imran Khan, demanding a second stint in power for him. They believe the present fiasco has percolated downwards as a result of the split in the superior judiciary, bureaucracy, police and the general public.

When the power-hungry class themselves are triggering chaos in Pakistan, why wouldn't the terrorists take the opportunity to escalate the violence to desired level? The literature produced and propagated by the Islamist terrorist groups, mainly Al-Qaeda, Islamic State-Khorasan and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has categorically revealed a strategy to remove the 'puppet' and 'corrupt' regimes through escalating chaos in society, either through violence or propaganda.

Meanwhile, senior lawyer and PPP leader Senator Aitzaz Ahsan in his loud and clear message to all stakeholders have said that elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be held on time as per the verdict of the apex court. He stated that they would not let any conspiracy against the Chief Justice of Pakistan succeed; warning that the top judge of the country "is our red line".

Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, a renowned political and constitutional expert, feared that the current political and constitutional crisis could lead to civil unrest and ultimately to civil war, as all the indicators are pointing to that kind of situation. The expert, also the president of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), warned that the situation could lead to creating further division if no one is ready to take a step back.

The ongoing tug-of-war is turning an ugly and chaotic situation that indicates the further disintegration of Pakistan like Bangladesh.

(R C Ganjoo is a senior journalist and columnist having more than 30 years experience of covering issues concerning national security, particularly Kashmir. He has worked with several prominent media groups and his articles have been published in many national and international publications.)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 11:14 [IST]
7 killed after an old tree falls on tin shed in Maharashtra's Akola

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Atleast seven people died after an old tree fell on a tin shed at Paras in Akola on Sunday. The incident took place during a religious ceremony in front of a temple around 7 pm when heavy rainfall and strong winds caused an old Neem tree to fall under people taking shelter.

According to reports, around 40 devotees were standing under the shed when the incident took place.

'Nearly 40 persons were present under the shed, out of which 36 were admitted in the hospital and four of them were brought dead," an ANI report quoted the Nima Arora, the Collector as saying. "Later the dead toll rose upto seven, and one person is critically injured," she added.

At least 7 killed, 40 injured when a 100 year old tree fallen on rooftop of temple in Paras town of #Maharashtra's Akola yesterday.



District magistrate Neema Arora informs about this tragic incident, says, all possible assistance & compensation to be provided by administration. pic.twitter.com/XbmBaTsyQz  All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) April 10, 2023

On getting information about the incident, Balapur Police Station Inspector Anil Jumle along with his colleagues reached the site and pulled out the buried people with the help of locals. A huge crowd of people gathered after the tragic incident at the spot.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his deep condolences over the incident. The devotees had gathered for a religious ceremony at Paras in the Akola district.

Covid-19: Maharashtra reports 788 new cases, Delhi registers 4 deaths

Taking to micro-blogging Twitter, Fadnavis wrote, "It is painful to report that some devotees were killed when a tree fell on a tin shed when some people had gathered for a religious ceremony at Paras in Akola district. I pay my humble respects to them. The Collector and the Superintendent of Police immediately visited the spot and are coordinating to ensure timely treatment of the injured. We are constantly in touch with them.''

Talking about the treatment of the injured, Fadnavis wrote,''Some of the injured have been admitted to the District General Hospital and minor injuries are being treated at Balapur.'' ''Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased from the state government and the Chief Minister's Relief Fund,'' he added.

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 8:04 [IST]
I'll pay Rs 10 lakh each to Shah, Shinde if they sit under sun: MIM MP

Amit Shah to visit Arunachal amid border row with China

India

oi-Deepika S

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Kibithoo, a strategically key village near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, on Monday, and launch the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' aimed at comprehensive development of villages at India-China border.

It comes days after Chinese government announced a list of what it calls "standardised names" for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has approved the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' (VVP) with Central components of Rs 4,800 crore, including Rs 2,500 crore exclusively for road connectivity for the financial years 2022-23 to 2025-26, a Union Home Ministry statement said on Saturday.

The VVP is a Centrally-sponsored scheme under which 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting the northern border in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and Union territory of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development.

Give full majority to PM Modi in 2024, rioters will be hung upside down: Shah in Bihar

In the first phase, 662 villages, including 455 in Andhra Pradesh, have been identified for priority coverage.

The VVP will help in improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages and encourage people to stay at their native locations, thereby reversing the outmigration from these villages and adding to the security of the border, the statement said.

The district administration, with the help of appropriate mechanisms at block and panchayat levels, will prepare action plans for the identified villages to ensure 100 per cent saturation of Central and State schemes. The focus areas of interventions identified for the development of villages include road connectivity, drinking water, electricity including solar and wind energy, mobile and internet connectivity, tourist centres, multi-purpose centres and healthcare infrastructure and wellness centres.

Shah, in his first visit to Arunachal Pradesh as Union Home Minister, will on April 10 inaugurate nine micro hydel projects of the State government constructed under the "Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme" in Kibithoo. These electricity projects will empower people living in border villages, the statement said.

7 tourists dead in massive avalanche in Sikkim; Amit Shah says 'closely monitoring'

He will also inaugurate Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) projects to augment infrastructure at Likabali (Arunachal Pradesh), Chhapra (Bihar), Nooranad (Kerala) and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), it said.

Moreover, Shah will interact with ITBP personnel at Kibithoo in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh. An exhibition of products made by members of women self-help groups of border districts will also be held. Shah will visit the exhibition stalls, the statement said.

On April 11, he will visit Namti field and pay homage at the Walong war memorial, it said.

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 9:14 [IST]
Amul not entering Karnataka, Congress spreading rumours: BJP

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Gujarat-based dairy cooperative society Amul is facing a backlash from locals in Karnataka after the company announced its entry into Bengaluru's dairy market.

The dairy brand had tweeted: ''A new wave of freshness with milk and curd is coming to Bengaluru. More information coming soon. #LaunchAlert. From Kengeri to Whitefield, wishing everyone a Taaza day.''

In another tweet, Amul said: ''The #Amul family is bringing in some Taaza into #Bengaluru city. More updates coming in soon. #LaunchAlert. Taaza arriving soon in Bengaluru."

While the opposition parties have charged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was out to finish 'Nandini', the saffron party accused the Congress of unleashing a 'misinformation campaign' over Amul's presence in Karnataka.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya asserted that BJP has done far more than the opposition party to strengthen the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and its products are sold under the brand name Nandini.

''Amul is NOT entering Karnataka. Both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms. KMF's turnover went up by (Rs) 10,000 crore after BJP came to power in 2019. In 2022, turnover stood at (Rs) 25,000 crore, of which (Rs) 20,000 crore went back to farmers of Karnataka,'' BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya tweeted.

- KMF is nations second largest milk cooperative

- KMF has depots in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. 15% of KMFs total sales is outside Karnataka

- Nandini is exported to Singapore, UAE and many other countries

- Amul and KMF are NOT merging

2/n  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 9, 2023

His tweet came after Congress leader Siddaramaiah took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi following Amul's announcement of its plans to sell milk and curd in the Bengaluru market. With Modi visiting the State on Sunday, the former Karnataka chief minister asked if the purpose of his trip was "to loot the State?"

Malviya tweeted again: ''There is a reason why India doesn't TRUST Congress. They LIE! Latest being the misinformation campaign that Karnataka Milk Federation, which owns Nandini, is going to merge with Amul.'' The BJP has done far more to strengthen KMF and make Nandini a global brand, he claimed.

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Karnataka Election: What is the Nandini vs Amul controversy | Beyond the Headline | Oneindia News

There is a reason why India doesnt TRUST Congress. They LIE! Latest being the misinformation campaign that Karnataka Milk Federation, which owns Nandini, is going to merge with Amul. Here are the facts

- BJP has done far more to strengthen KMF and make Nandini a global brand

1/n pic.twitter.com/HWdvCjqxfK  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 9, 2023

''KMF is the nation's second-largest milk cooperative and has depots in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. 15 per cent of KMF's total sales are outside Karnataka. Nandini is exported to Singapore, UAE and many other countries. Amul and KMF are NOT merging," the BJP leader further said.

It may be recalled that during Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Mandya in December 2022 where he inaugurated a mega dairy of KMF with a capacity to process 10 lakh litres a day at a cost of Rs 260 crore, the Opposition had targeted him for his purported remark that Nandini and Amul should come together.

The Opposition alleged that the statement meant that the two cooperative brands should be merged together. However, both Chief Minister Bommai and State Cooperative Minister S.T. Somashekar have rubbished it.

Around 10 days ago, another controversy broke out when the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had directed the KMF to print 'Dahi' on the curd packets along with the local nomenclature. The Opposition, especially JDS, had termed it as an attempt to 'impose' Hindi on the people of the State.

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 10:53 [IST]
If Cong comes to power, Karnataka will be beset with riots: Amit Shah

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With polls ahead, Amul vs Nandini issue making waves in Karnataka

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The Nandini vs Amul issue has become a poll headache for the BJP which faces a crucial election next month in Karnataka.

The Congress has alleged that the entry of Amul would pose a threat to Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) brand 'Nandini' which is closely associated with the Kannadigas.

Former chief minster, Siddaramaiah has alleged that the entry of Amul will destroy the state's pride. The ruling BJP has however hit back at saying that the there is no proposal to merge KMF and Amul. It also hit out at the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) for making the entry of Amul into a political issue ahead of the elections.

Setback for Amul, Bengaluru hoteliers choose Nandini to 'support farmers'

Minister for Cooperatives ST Somashekar said, " the production of milk during the summer is relatively less. There are 15 milk unions in Karnataka and all are making profits. Amul is selling milk online for Rs 57 per litre but Nandini milk costs only Rs 39 per litre. We send Nandini products to other states, including Tamil Nadu. We want to develop Nandini products like how Gujarat did it for Amul."

The higher education minister of Karnataka, Dr. C N Ashwathnarayan rubbished the rumours of KMF's merer with Amul and said, "KMF's turnover is around Rs 20,000 crore and without the cooperative department any merger is impossible."

The controversy began in December when Union Home Minister, Amit Shah said at a rally in Mandya, "together Amul and Nandini will help set up primary diaries in every village of Karnataka within three years." The issue picked up pace last week when Amul announced that it will begin delivering milk and curd in Bengaluru.

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Karnataka Election: What is the Nandini vs Amul controversy | Beyond the Headline | Oneindia News

Given its massive network, no state government has till date tried and dictated terms to KMF. A majority of milk producers from the Old Mysuru Region such as Mandya, Mysuru, Ramnagar, Kolar and central Karnataka district of Davanagere rely heavily on KMF. This region is important politically as it comprises the powerful Vokkaliga community, which account for around 14 per cent of the state's population.

Fact Check: This fake Amul ad is utterly, butterly malicious

This is also a strong belt for the Congress and JD(S) and the BJP has been trying not make inroads here. This explains why the BJP has been countering the opposition's narrative on the 'Amul vs KMF' issue.

The importance of Nandini can be seen in the fact that it has been endorsed by the likes of Dr. Rajkumar, Upendra and Puneeth Rajkumar.
BBC objects as Twitter labels it, government funded media

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The British Broadcasting Corporation has objected to be labelled as a 'government funded media' on one of its Twitter accounts. The account which has 2.2 million followers shares on its accounts, BBC's television programmes, radio shows and podcasts among others.

The label links a page on Twitter's help website which says 'state-affiliated media accounts are outlets where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution.'

BBC said that it is speaking with Twitter about the label to resolve the issue as soon as possible. Other accounts of the BBC including BBC News (World) and BBC Breaking News have not been labelled the same way.

Tagged as propaganda in India, BBC gets caught in its own web

"We are speaking to Twitter to resolve this issue as soon as possible. The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee,"BBC said in a statement.

The BBC since 1927 has been operated through a Royal Charter agreed with the UK government. It says that the corporation 'must be independent' over 'editorial' and creative decisions, "We are speaking to Twitter to resolve this issue as soon as possible. The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee.'

BBC has also put itself at odds with labelling US' National Public Radio. The social media firm said that the US public broadcasters a 'state affiliated media,' a label also used for Russia's RT and China's Xinhua News. The same was later on changed to 'government funded media.'

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 8:55 [IST]
Jaishankar speaks to his Saudi, UAE counterparts over situation in Sudan

Recent Bengal riots were 'ochestrated, instigated': fact-finding team report

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The interim report of the Fact-Finding Committee on Monday revealed that the recent incidents of violence in Howrah, Hooghly, and Rishra, among other areas of West Bengal, were 'pre-planned, orchestrated and instigated.'

Earlier on April 8, a six-member team of an NGO was stopped by the police from visiting the violence-hit areas of Hooghly district.

The 'fact-finding' team, led by retired Patna High Court judge L Narasimha Reddy, was stopped near Konnagar when they were on the way to Serampore and Rishra as prohibitory orders were still imposed in the area, a police officer said.

"We cannot allow people to visit these areas as prohibitory orders are still in place," he said.

The team is scheduled to visit Shibpur in Howrah district on Sunday, and also seeking to meet state Home Secretary BP Gopalika over the violence that rocked these areas during Ram Navami.

Bengal violence: 'Baam' and 'Ram' joined hands against us, says Mamata

The development comes in the wake of a series of incidents of communal violence reported in Bengal's Howrah and Hooghly districts on the occasion of Ram Navami on March 30-April 1.

Subsequently, central forces were deployed in three districts of Hooghly, Barrackpore, and Kolkata to assist the state police in maintaining law and order during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations.
VHP calls for bandh as Biranpur remains tense after communal clash

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The situation continues to be tense in Biranpur village of Chhattisgarh's Bemetara district on Monday after a clash between members of two communities left one dead and three policemen injured.

According to reports, a state bus was vandalised in Raipur in the wee hours of Monday. The bus was vandalised by people belonging to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). So far, 12 people from both sides have been arrested in the case.

Meanwhile, the VHP has called for a statewide bandh in Chhattisgarh on Monday after a communal clash that left one person dead and three policemen injured.

All roads leading to the village have been barricaded by the police. Senior security personnel and district administration officials have been camping in the village since Saturday when the violence erupted.

Palamu violence: Internet suspended till Feb 19 after communal clash; 1,000 police personnel deployed

The situation remained tense on Sunday and a huge posse of police personnel was deployed to avoid any flare-up.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has appealed to people to maintain peace. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the kin of the deceased blamed the police for the incident.

The violence in Biranpur, having a population of around 1,300 and located 60 km from Bemetara, erupted on Saturday after a fight between some schoolchildren.

A village resident, Bhuvneshwar Sahu (23), was killed while three policemen suffered injuries in the violence that prompted the local administration to impose section 144 of the CrPC, which bars assembly of four or more people, in the area. ''The final rites of the deceased were performed peacefully on Sunday with the support of his kin, villagers and administration officials. The law and order situation is still not normal in the village. The administration and police officials will review the situation following which further action plans will be chalked out to maintain peace in the village and adjoining areas," Bemetara Collector PS Alma said.

Durg Division Commissioner Mahadeo Kawre said around 800 police personnel have been deployed in the village to maintain law and order. Senior officials, including the Inspector General of Police (Durg range) and four Superintendents of Police have been camping in the village to monitor the situation which is under control, he added.

When asked about the violence, CM Baghel told reporters in Raipur that the incident should not have happened. ''I appeal to people to maintain peace," he said. ''The incident was the fallout of a fight between two children and a youth got killed (in the subsequent violence). Action is being taken based on complaints and the administration has been keeping an eye on the situation,'' the CM said.

Meanwhile, family members of the deceased demanded capital punishment for the perpetrators. "The murderers of my son should be given death punishment,'' said Ishwar Sahu, father of the deceased as quoted by news agency PTI. If the accused are released from jail, they will commit the same crime and therefore they should be hanged, he said. Ishwar Sahu said the incident could have been averted had the police acted in time. ''For a long time, they had been planning to target Hindus in the village,'' he claimed.

Union Home Ministry seeks reports from Bengal on Ram Navami violence

Durg BJP MP Vijay Baghel and other leaders of the party visited Biranpur village on Sunday and demanded the police search houses of Muslims in the village to look for weapons. ''Incidents of love jihad have happened in Biranpur in the past and people have complained about it to police, but no action has been taken,'' Vijay Baghel claimed and added the negligence of police caused the death of the 23-year-old man.

The district administration and police should constitute a probe committee to investigate the entire matter, he said.

The police have lodged a case under Indian Penal Code sections 147 (rioting), 148 (whoever is guilty of rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 307 (attempt to murder) and 302 (murder) and arrested 11 people so far, officials said.

One more case was lodged against unidentified persons in connection with an attack on police personnel, they said.
CVS Holdings, the operator of GS25 Vietnam retail chain, reported a loss of over VND167 billion (US$7.12 million) for 2022, 9% higher than the previous year.

It had over VND400 billion in debts, including a bond issuance worth VND106 billion.

GS25 is a South Korean brand that launched in Vietnam as a franchise in 2019 with a target of 300 convenience stores by 2022 and 1,000 by 2029.

But so far it only has 209 stores in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces compared to 423 its competitor Circle K has.

It has however surpassed other chains such as FamilyMart (147 stores) and Ministop (145).

As of August last year Vietnam had around 1,000 convenience stores, most of them foreign-owned or set up by joint ventures with foreign companies, according to market research company Q&Me.

In 2021 they had sales of VND8 trillion, according to market research firm Euromonitor.
Explained: Nandini vs Amul war in Karnataka

India

oi-Deepika S

The announcement by Gujarat-based dairy cooperative 'Amul' that it was going to launch its milk and curd in Bengaluru, has sparked a political slugfest in Karnataka, ahead of polls on May 10.

Congress and BJP have locked horns over the issue with Congress accusing the ruling BJP of "plotting to kill" the State's formidable dairy brand 'Nandini' while BJP has retaliated saying Congress is spreading misinformation for political gains.

Meanwhile, there are a lot of flutter on social media over the issue with hashtags such as #SaveNandini and #GobackAmul trending.

How it started

Last year, Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah announced that Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF)'s Amul and Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF)'s Nandini would work jointly to set up primary diaries in every village of Karnataka in three years.

The statement was met with criticism after some vested interests went on to claim that Amul is trying to "root out" Nandini and thus undermining the Kannadiga identity and culture. The Opposition misinterpreted his statement stating that it is a ploy to merge Nandini with Amul.

Amul not entering Karnataka, Congress spreading rumours: BJP

The latest trigger

The debate triggered after Gujarat-based cooperative society Amul announced about its foray into Bengaluru. "A new wave of freshness with milk and curd is coming to Bengaluru. More information coming soon. #LaunchAlert. From Kengeri to Whitefield, wishing everyone a Taaza day," it tweeted.

Interestingly, there is an unwritten rule among the milk federation that a cooperative from one State should avoid competing with another.

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Karnataka Election: What is the Nandini vs Amul controversy | Beyond the Headline | Oneindia News

A political boil point?

The Nandini vs Amul controversy has become the latest flashpoint between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress and JDS in this election season.

Opposition leaders such as former chief ministers Siddaramaiah and H.D. Kumaraswamy have urged Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to prevent the entry of Amul to protect the interest of the State's dairy farmers.

Accusing Congress of politicising Amul's entry into Karnataka, Bommai said: "We have absolute clarity with regard to Amul. Nandini is a national brand. It's not restricted to Karnataka. We have popularised Nandini as a brand in other States as well." He added that not only has milk production increased in the State but incentives have also been given to the milk producers.

The Chief Minister stressed that several major dairies of KMF in the State have been established during BJP rule. "Production and number of products have increased. There is a market too (for Nandini products). Hence, Nandini will become a number one brand in some days," Bommai said.

Amul vs Nandini and why it is making waves in an election year in Karnataka

The Chief Minister said the State is selling Nandini in other states as well. "There is no need to be afraid of Amul. Our Nandini is an established brand. We will take all the steps to give Amul a tough competition," he pointed out.

Wasn't Amul operating in Karnataka before?

Amul had been selling its butter, Ghee, yogurt and ice cream in the state for a very long time. Not just Amul, there are some other dairy brands selling packaged milk and curd such as Dodla and Heritage (Telangana), Tirumala, Arokya and Milky Mist (TN), Namdhari and Akshayakalpa (Karnataka).

What is the opposition's fear?

The opposition parties charge the government will create scarcity of Nandini products, making it less competitive to Amul and force people to buy Amul products once its milk and curd are allowed to be sold.

Is there any decline in milk production?

The Bangalore Milk Union Limited (BAMUL), part of KMF, admitted production has declined owing to summer, which happens every year. Milk production has reduced from 90 lakh litres a day to 75 lakh litres a day.

Is it about price war?

As of now, the prices of Nandini is the lowest with toned milk priced at Rs 39 a litre while Amul is selling the same at Rs 54. Amul's half-litre curd is priced at Rs 30 while Nandini sells the same for Rs 24.

Nandini is the second largest dairy brand in the country after Amul in terms of turnover and owned by the Karnataka Cooperative Milk Federation (KMF).
IMA cites 3 reasons behind recent surge in Covid-19 cases

India

oi-Deepika S

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday cautioned that the recent spike in Covid cases could due to the relaxation of virus-appropriate behaviour, low testing rates, and the emergence of a new variant of the virus.

The statement comes on a day India reported 5,880 new Covid cases, slightly increasing from Sunday's count of 5,357, according to data released by Union Health Ministry.

"The reasons behind the recent Covid surge in our country may be the relaxation of Covid-19 appropriate behavior, the low testing rate, and the emergence of a new variant of coronavirus infection," IMA said in a statement.

According to the daily health bulletin shared by the ministry, active cases currently stand at 35,199 with a daily positivity rate of 6.91 per cent.

The death toll has increased to 5,30,979 with 14 deaths. While four deaths each were reported from Delhi and Himachal Pradesh, one each was reported from Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Rajasthan and two reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 6.91 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was pegged at 3.67 per cent.

The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.47 crore (4,47,62,496) The active cases now comprise 0.08 per cent of the total infections and the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.73 per cent, the ministry said.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,96,318 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

Following the surge, the Centre has urged people to wear masks in crowded places and complete their vaccination doses.

The ministry has advised state governments to examine the covid-19 situation at a micro level (district and sub-districts) and maintain focus on the implementation of necessary measures for prompt and effective management of covid-19 duly ensuring effective compliance.

"The five-fold strategy, i.e., Test-Track Treat-Vaccination should be followed with a continued focus on adequate & proactive testing as per guidelines, monitoring new and emerging clusters of new Covid-19 cases along with monitoring the trend of Influenza-like illness (ILI) & SARI cases in all health facilities or through dedicated fever clinics on a regular basis for detecting early warning signals of the spread of infection," the health ministry.

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 20:29 [IST]
Active Covid cases up 433% in Delhi since March 30: Official data

Current COVID strain mild, SII has produced five to six million Covovax doses: Adar Poonawalla

Mock drills across nation as Covid-19 cases cross 35k-mark

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

India on Monday reported 5,880 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours taking the total number of active cases in the country to 35,199 as per the data by the health ministry.

The death toll has increased to 5,30,979 with 12 deaths. The state with highest number of cases include Kerala (12,433), Mahrashtra (4,587), Delhi (2,460), Gujarat (2,013), and Tamil Nadu (1,900).

The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.47 crore (4,47,62,496) The active cases now comprise 0.08 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.73 per cent, the ministry said.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,96,318 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

Nationwide mock drill in hospitals from today as Covid cases rise

According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

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On Sunday, the country logged 5,357 cases of Covid-19 taking the number of active cases to 32,814 while the death toll climbed to 5,30,965 with 10 deaths.

3,726 people had recovered from the infection taking the aggregate to 4,41,92,837.

The cumulative tally of coronavirus infections in the country now stands at 4.47 crore (4,47,56,616).

India records 5,357 Covid cases in 24 hours

Amid the rising Covid cases in the country, the ministry of health has announced two-day nationwide mock drills to assess hospital preparedness. Both public and private facilities are set to take part in the drills. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will oversee the drill at All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Haryana's Jhajjar.

In a review meeting held last week, Mandaviya had asked state health ministers to stay alert and check the preparedness of health facilities. He had also advised them to review the preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9.
India stalls UK trade talks over Khalistan issue: Reports

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

India has stalled trade talks with Britain after accusing it of failing to condemn the Sikh extremism in the country.

Sikh extremist groups had attacked the Indian High Commission in London last month, the Times said in a report on Monday citing British government sources.

On March 18, protesters with Khalistan flags and banner staged a demonstration at the High Commission and also took down an Indian Flag from the first floor balcony of the building. The protesters were denouncing the recent police action in Punjab.

Heavy security at Indian High Commission in London over protests by Khalistan supporters

"Indians don't want to talk about trade until they get a very public demonstration of condemnation of Khalistan extremism in the UK," the Times said while quoting a Whitehall source.

Punjab has been on the boil since the police launched a manhunt against radical Sikh leader, Amritpal Singh. The chase has been on for nearly three weeks now, but Singh has managed to dodge the security mechanism successfully.

To get the negotiations back on track the US home office has planned to announce a crackdown on Sikh extremists and supporters of the Khalistan movement.

Relations between India and the UK have been sour over the past couple of years over the same issue. A trade deal has been for long a prized goal for the British government, which wants to cut tariffs and open opportunities for UK services to operate in India, which is the second largest country in the world.

Khalistan supporters attack Indian Consulate in San Francisco

A UK trade department told the newspaper, "both the UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial free trade agreement and concluded the latest round of trade talks last week."

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 13:51 [IST]
Indian-American math wizard C.R. Rao, 102, wins top statistic award

India

oi-PTI

Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao, a prominent Indian-American mathematician and statistician, will receive the 2023 International Prize in Statistics, the equivalent to the Nobel Prize in the field, for his monumental work 75 years ago that revolutionised statistical thinking.

Rao's work, more than 75 years ago, continues to exert a profound influence on science, the International Prize in Statistics Foundation said in a statement.

Rao, who is now 102, will receive the prize, which comes with a USD 80,000 award, this July at the biennial International Statistical Institute World Statistics Congress in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

"In awarding this prize, we celebrate the monumental work by C R Rao that not only revolutionized statistical thinking in its time but also continues to exert enormous influence on human understanding of science across a wide spectrum of disciplines," said Guy Nason, chair of the International Prize in Statistics Foundation.

In his remarkable 1945 paper published in the Bulletin of the Calcutta Mathematical Society, Rao demonstrated three fundamental results that paved the way for the modern field of statistics and provided statistical tools heavily used in science today, the Foundation said in a statement on April 1.

The first, now known as the Cramer-Rao lower bound, provides a means for knowing when a method for estimating a quantity is as good as any method can be, it said.

Rishi Sunak, wife Akshata speak of pride on Sudha Murty's Padma award win

The second result, named the Rao-Blackwell Theorem (because it was discovered independently by eminent statistician David Blackwell), provides a means for transforming an estimate into a better-in fact, an optimal-estimate. Together, these results form a foundation on which much of statistics is built, the statement said.

And the third result provided insights that pioneered a new interdisciplinary field that has flourished as "information geometry." Combined, these results help scientists more efficiently extract information from data, the statement added.

Information geometry has recently been used to aid the understanding and optimization of Higgs boson measurements at the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator. It has also found applications in recent research on radars and antennas and contributed significantly to advancements in artificial intelligence, data science, signal processing, shape classification, and image segregation.

The Rao-Blackwell process has been applied to stereology, particle filtering, and computational econometrics, among others, while the Cramer-Rao lower bound is of great importance in such diverse fields as signal processing, spectroscopy, radar systems, multiple image radiography, risk analysis, and quantum physics.

Rao was born to a Telugu family in Hadagali, Karnataka. His schooling was completed in Gudur, Nuzvid, Nandigama, and Visakhapatnam, all in Andhra Pradesh.

He received an MSc in mathematics from Andhra University and an MA in statistics from Calcutta University in 1943.

He obtained a PhD degree at King's College at Cambridge University. He added a DSc degree, also from Cambridge, in 1965.

Rao first worked at the Indian Statistical Institute and the Anthropological Museum in Cambridge. Later he held several important positions, as the Director of the Indian Statistical Institute, Jawaharlal Nehru Professor and National Professor in India, University Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and Eberly Professor and Chair of Statistics and Director of the Center for Multivariate Analysis at Pennsylvania State University. He is currently a professor emeritus at Pennsylvania State University and Research Professor at the University at Buffalo.

Rao has received many honours. He was awarded the title of Padma Bhushan by the Indian Government (1968) and Padma Vibhushan in 2001.

The International Prize in Statistics is awarded every two years by a collaboration among five leading international statistics organisations. The prize recognises a major achievement by an individual or team in the statistics field, particularly an achievement of powerful and original ideas that have led to practical applications and breakthroughs in other disciplines.

The prize is modelled after the Nobel prizes, Abel Prize, Fields Medal and Turing Award.

The first International Prize in Statistics was awarded in 2017 to David R Cox for the development of the Cox proportional hazards model, which allows researchers to investigate patient survival rates in complex studies. Bradley Efron received the award in 2019 for a statistical method known as the bootstrap, a clever computational method for assessing uncertainty in applied statistics. Nan Laird received the award in 2021 for the development of powerful methods that have made possible the analysis of complex longitudinal studies.
Jamshedpur engineer dies while trying to chase phone snatcher in running train

Earthquake of magnitude 4.7 hits Jamshedpur; Hampi quake turns out to be false alarm

Section 144 imposed in Jamshedpur over Ram Navami flag desecration

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in Jamshedpur on Monday after two groups clashed over the alleged desecration of a Ram Navami flag. Bricks were thrown between two groups, two shops and an auto-rickshaw were set on fire at Shastrinagar, following which police fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob, a PTI report said.

Following the violence, security forces conducted a flag march in Kadma police station area. Meanwhile, mobile internet has also been temporarily suspeded.

#WATCH | Security forces conduct flag march in Jamshedpur's Kadma police station area following an incident of stone pelting and arson, in Jharkhand



Section 144 CrPc is enforced in the area and mobile internet is temporarily banned. pic.twitter.com/NhPnWtkQhR  ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2023

An adequate police force has been deployed in Shastrinagar under the Kadma police station to maintain law and order. "Prohibitory Orders under Section 144 of CrPC were clamped in the area," said Sub-Divisional Officer (Dhalbhum), Piyush Sinha, as quoted by PTI.

#WATCH | Jamshedpur police conducts patrolling in the violence-hit area of Shastri Nagar in the city, in Jharkhand pic.twitter.com/IugNZrOozE  ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2023

5 more arrested by police in connection with Ram Navami violence at Bihar Sharif

According to police, tension had been brewing in the area since Saturday night when members of a local organisation found that a piece of meat was tagged to a Ram Navami flag, police said.

The situation turned violent on Sunday evening when a shop was gutted, leading to brick-batting from both sides.

. SSP Prabhat Kumar said adequate police force has been deployed at Shastrinagar to maintain law and order. "The situation is under control and the warring groups have been dispersed... We have also taken a few persons into custody," he said.

Union Home Ministry seeks reports from Bengal on Ram Navami violence

East Singhbhum District Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav said some anti-social elements are trying to disturb peace, and sought the cooperation of people to foil their plot.

"We have been keeping strict vigil on the situation and deployed adequate police force, a Quick Response Team, a Magistrate, Rapid Action Force personnel and other anti-riot resources to maintain law and order," she mentioned in a statement, as per PTI.
Kerala train arson clear case of terror, NIA to dig deep into plot, motive

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

With the National Investigation Agency (NIA) set to take over the Kerala train arson case, it is confirmed that the incident was an act of terror.

The police were exploring all angles following the incident, but were cautious that the incident was an act of terror. Intelligence Bureau officials told OneIndia that it was a clear act of terror. What needs to be seen whether the accused, Sharukh Saifi was acting on his own or was guided by some terror group. From the face of it, it appears to be a lone wolf attack, the official also said.

During his interrogation, Saifi said that he had no idea where Kerala was. This has led to the suspicion, whether he went to Kerala on his own or was taken there by some other persons. "Was he brought to Kerala with an intention of striking terror on the train," a source said while adding that the intent and the pattern is being studied.

Kerala train arson suspect unstable, confesses to crime, but remains silent on motive

Saifi is suspected to have set fire on the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express, in which three persons died and nine suffered injuries.

Investigations have shown that his intention was to set fire to the entire compartment and cause as much damage as possible. He had with him three bottles of petrol. However he was not able to achieve his motive entirely as he lacked training, the source also said.

The fact that he may have not acted alone can also been seen in the fact that he had someone waiting to help him escape.

The details currently are very sketchy and the Central agencies have questioned the Kerala police on the manner in which the probe had been undertaken. As per the details revealed by the Maharashtra ATS which arrested Saifi, the accused had fled Kerala in a train in a bid to reach Ajmer. However he tried to jump off the train at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, following which he was injured and then shifted to hospital. The ATS acting on the details provided by the Kerala police and Intelligence Bureau nabbed Saifi and then handed him back to the police.

UAPA, murder charges stare at prime accused in Kerala train arson case

Officials said that the probe will now be taken over by the NIA. The agencies would now look into the motive behind the attack and also investigate the involvement of others. The NIA has submitted a detailed report to the Union Government and said that it is a clear case of terror involving many states. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA will be invoked in the case, following which the probe will get underway, the official pointed out.

The NIA will also go into the planning, conspiracy, funding and motive in this case.
Nationwide mock drill in hospitals from today as Covid cases rise

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Amid the rising Covid cases in the country, the ministry of health has announced two-day nationwide mock drills to assess hospital preparedness. Both public and private facilities are set to take part in the drills.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will oversee the drill at All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Haryana's Jhajjar.

In a review meeting held last week, Mandaviya had asked state health ministers to stay alert and check the preparedness of health facilities. He had also advised them to review the preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9.

During the meeting, the health minister stressed the need to identify emergency hotspots by monitoring trends of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases.

Besides enhancing genome sequencing and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples, he had emphasised creating awareness about following Covid-appropriate behaviour.

During the meeting, states and union territories were informed that currently the World Health Organisation (WHO) is closely tracking a 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 had said.

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It was highlighted that while Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variants, 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. 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.

Mandaviya had said that irrespective of the new variants, the five-fold strategy of 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and adherence to Covid-Appropriate Behaviour' continues to remain the tested strategy for Covid management.

States and union territories were also requested to expeditiously increase the rate of testing from 100 tests per million as on the week ending April 7. They were further advised to increase the share of RT-PCR in tests.

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 8:40 [IST]
If Cong comes to power, Karnataka will be beset with riots: Amit Shah

None can encroach: Shahs message to China in Arunachal

India

oi-Prakash KL

Despite China raising objection to his visit to Arunachal Pradesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that no one can encroach on India's land.

"Today, we can proudly say that no one can encroach even a tip of a pin's worth of our land because ITBP and Indian Army are present at our borders," he said in Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Union Minister is in Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh to launch the 'Vibrant Villages Programme'.

"The entire country can sleep peacefully in their homes today because our ITBP jawans & Army is working day & night on our borders. Today, we can proudly say that no one has the power to cast an evil eye on us," ANI quoted Shah in a tweet.

"Before 2014, the entire Northeast region was known as a disturbed region but in the last 9 years, because of PM Modi's 'Look East' policy, Northeast is now considered an area which contributes to the development of the country," he stated.

The Union Home Minister said that Kibithoo is India's first village and not the last village. "Earlier when people visited here, they used to say "I had gone to the last village of the country, but today, I'll say that I visited the first village of India," he stated.

On the other hand, China has slammed Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, stating that it violated Chinese sovereignty over the area, a claim outrightly dismissed by India.

"Zangnan, (the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh) is China's territory," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing while answering a question on Shah's visit to the area.

Give full majority to PM Modi in 2024, rioters will be hung upside down: Shah

"Indian officials' activities in this area violate China's sovereignty and (are) not conducive to peace and tranquility in the border regions. We firmly oppose it," he said.

Last week, India outrightly rejected China renaming some places in Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state is an integral part of India and assigning "invented" names does not alter this reality.

India's reaction came in response to Beijing announcing Chinese names for 11 more places in Arunachal Pradesh which the neighbouring country claims as Southern Tibet.

"We have seen such reports. This is not the first time China has made such an attempt. We reject this outright," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in New Delhi. "Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality," he said.

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It was the third batch of standardised geographical names for Arunachal Pradesh issued by China's civil affairs ministry. The first batch of the standardised names of six places in Arunachal Pradesh was released in 2017 while the second batch of 15 places was issued in 2021.

China's renaming of the places in Arunachal Pradesh came in the midst of the lingering eastern Ladakh border standoff that began in May 2020. Following the standoff, India bolstered its overall military preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Arunachal Pradesh sector as well.
Odisha pushes frontier of 'digital governance' as CM Naveen chairs first-of-its-kind Digital Cabinet

India

oi-Oneindia Staff

By Anuj Cariappa

Odisha Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, took some key decisions in the first 'Digital Cabinet' during his ongoing visit to Japan. CM Patnaik is leading a high-level delegation to attract investment to Odisha.

The Chief Minister officiated the digital Cabinet meeting from the Japanese city of Kyoto, 6,000 km away from Odisha, while his Cabinet colleagues joined in the special meeting remotely. This is first such digital Cabinet meeting wherein the Chief Minister held the meeting from a foreign location with files processed and documents signed through the Odisha State Wide Area Network (OSWAN), entirely through digital mode.

The Cabinet ministers discussed the decisions threadbare before giving nod to the decisions on digitally, leveraging this unique platform.

CM Patnaik said, "We have been pioneers in leveraging latest technology as part of our 5T charter to improve the effectiveness of the governance systems and delivery of public services. Technology has served as an enabling tool in transforming delivery of good governance and public goods and services."

"Technology now allows governance delivery on the go. Technology has eliminated the need for physical presence in a collaborative environment within the government. This Digital Cabinet pushes the boundary of technology and speed of governance," the CM added.

OSWAN is the critical information technology backbone of the State which can facilitate carrying data, video and voice traffic, facilitating inter/intra-departmental communication and data sharing. The innovative platform enables government officials to collaborate on documents, share feedback, and track changes in real-time, making it easier to work together on projects and initiatives.
President Vo Van Thuong arrives in Vientiane on April 10, 2023, beginning an official visit to Laos. Photo by VNA

President Vo Van Thuong had a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane on April 10 as part of his official visit to Laos.

The Vietnamese leader congratulated Laos on its significant achievements in national development and expressed his belief that the country will surmount current difficulties to successfully carry out the Resolution of its 11th National Party Congress and the 9th socio-economic development plan for 2021 - 2025.

PM Sonexay Siphandone highly valued his guests selection of Laos as the first destination to visit as president of Vietnam, which shows the importance that the Vietnamese Party, State, and President attach to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

He affirmed that he and his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Minh Chinh, have been keeping a close watch on and promoting the implementation of the countries agreements to ensure cooperation projects meet targets.

At the meeting, both host and guest applauded the remarkable achievements in bilateral cooperation in all aspects after more than 60 years of diplomatic ties and 45 years since the signing of the Treaty of Cooperation and Friendship.

They agreed to focus on implementing cooperation agreements, including the one on the 2023 cooperation plan between the two governments, another on the Vietnam - Laos cooperation strategy for 2021 - 2030, and the bilateral cooperation agreement for 2021 - 2025; maintain mutual visits and contact at all levels; and increased discussion and coordination in strategic issues related to security and development of each country.

The two leaders agreed to bring into play the attainments in the Vietnam - Laos and Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 to step up communications about the countries special relations in the public; continue to effectively carry out the signed protocols and plans on security and security cooperation; and work together to devise breakthrough measures for releasing resources for economic partnership so that bilateral trade can grow 10 - 15% this year.

They also highly valued the completion of many outstanding cooperation projects, agreeing to promote other key projects, creating a favourable and transparent environment for investment ties, foster cooperation in education - training, science, innovation, and digital transformation, and reinforcing links between Vietnamese and Lao localities, especially border ones.

The leaders also concurred in increasing the exchange of views and mutual support at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and cooperation mechanisms in the Mekong sub-region, including the Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam Development Triangle Area.

President Thuong stated that Vietnam is ready to assist Laos in successfully performing the latters international roles in the coming time, including hosting the 10th Summit of the Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) in 2023 and holding the chairmanship of ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2024, thus helping promote Laos' role and stature in the region and the world.
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Papalpreet Singh, brain behind Amritpal's escape, arrested

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of radical preacher Amritpal Singh was on Monday arrested from Hoshiarpur in a joint operation conducted by Punjab Police and its counter-intelligence unit along with Delhi Police.

Amritpal and Papalpreet were on the run since March 18 after the police launched a crackdown against the Khalistan sympathiser and his aides. Both were spotted together at various places in Punjab but went on their own ways in Hoshiarpur.

Papalpreet is believed to be the 'right hand' of radical preacher Amritpal who planned out things for him after the latter was declared a fugitive by the Punjab Police.

According to reports, Papalpreet Singh is said to be providing all necessary logistic support to fugitive preacher Amritpal and arranging safe shelter houses and vehicles.

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Even as hundreds of policemen continue their pursuit, pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal remains untraceable since March 18, about three weeks after he and his supporters stormed into the Ajnala police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested man.

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The radical preacher escaped the police net in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances.

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 have already stepped up security in and around Amritsar and Bathinda amid reports that Amritpal may surrender after entering either the Golden Temple or the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib.
Rahul to visit Wayanad for first time after his disqualification

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit his former constituency Wayanad in Kerala on 11th April, the first time after his disqualification as MP. During his visit, he will address a public rally and hold a roadshow.

According to reports, hundreds of United Democratic Front (UDF) activists from Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts and delegates from Palakkad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts will attend the public meeting and the roadshow, said KPCC working president T Siddique at a press conference.

Rahul had last time visited Wayanad in February when he came down heavily against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged nexus with business Gautam Adani.

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Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years in jail by a trial court in Gujarat's Surat in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his 'why do all thieves have the Modi surname' remark which he made during an election campaign rally in Karnataka's Kolar district. 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.
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'Record seizures' of cash and liquor as Karnataka heads to polls

India

oi-Deepika S

Seizures totalling over Rs 108.78 crore have been recorded so far in Karnataka, marking a 400 per cent increase in recovery of drugs, liquor and cash meant to induce voters in the run up to the polls, the Election Commission said on Monday.

In just 11 days of MCC coming into effect, Rs 37.24 crore in unaccounted cash, 5.23 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 26.68 crore, 397 kg of illegal drugs worth Rs 11.54 crore, 34.36 kg of gold worth Rs 14.96 crore, and freebies worth Rs 15.80 crore have been seized, the election commission said.

Due to coordinated efforts of enforcement agencies, extensive monitoring, and adequate deployment of field teams, "the results are encouraging" with Karnataka witnessing seizures of Rs 108.78 crore after announcement of elections which surpasses the seizures made duration of enforcement of Model Code of Conduct in assembly elections, 2018 which was all of Rs 20.12 crore, the Election Commission said.

According to the poll body, since the announcement of model code of conduct police have registered 965 FIRs with regard to the seizure of cash, liquor, illegal drugs, precious metals, and freebies.

According to an Indian Express report, nearly 2,611 cases were booked under preventive sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and 3,837 persons were detained.

The excise department has registered 1,138 heinous cases, 768 cases for breach of licence conditions, 40 NDPS cases and 3,771 cases under section 15 (a) of the Karnataka Excise Act 1965. Also, 743 vehicles have been seized.

The flying squad seized drugs worth Rs 8.17 crore in the Jayanagar and Chickpet constituencies of Bangalore South City.

On Sunday, the Static Surveillance Team seized Rs 34 lakh cash in Yadgir district and 56 televisions worth Rs 21 lakh in Nelamangala constituency in Bengaluru Rural district. The Excise department has seized 54,282 litres of liquor worth Rs 1.62 crore.

Karnataka will vote on May 10 and results will be declared on May 13.

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 21:57 [IST]
'Sorry, we won't,' says SC while rejecting pleas against Agnipath scheme

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The Supreme Court has held that the Agnipath scheme is valid and not arbitrary.

The court rejected two appeals and said that the scheme is not arbitrary in nature.Public interests outweigh other considerations, the court also said. The court said that candidates selected in the defence recruitment process before the introduction of the Agnipath scheme do not have a vested right to appointment.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala were hearing the matter.

The appeals were filed after the Delhi High Court upheld the validity of the scheme. The Delhi High Court was hearing two petitions against the scheme, following which both were rejected. The High Court had held that the scheme was formulated in national interest with a laudable objective of maintaining national security.

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The Agnipath scheme was formulated in national interest and to ensure that that the armed forces were better equipped, the Delhi HC had said.

"Sorry, we would not like to interfere with the high court verdict. The high court had dealt with all the aspects", the Supreme Court said while rejecting the pleas filed by Gopal Krishna and advocate M L Sharma.

The Supreme Court however posted a third fresh plea related to the recruitment in the Indian Air Force (IAF), prior to the launch of the Agnipath scheme for hearing on April 17. It asked the Centre to file its response to the third plea related to the recruitment of the IAF.
Supporting Ukraine only right choice for true 'Vishwaguru': Ukraine minister to India

India

oi-Prakash KL

Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova, who arrived in India on Monday, said supporting Ukraine is the "only right choice" for true 'Vishwaguru'.

"Happy to visit India -the land that gave birth to many sages, saints and gurus. Today, #India wants to be the Vishwaguru, the global teacher and arbiter. In our case, we've got a very clear picture: aggressor against innocent victim. Supporting Ukraine is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru," Dzhaparova tweeted.

Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister is on her four-day visit to India. She will hold talks with Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Sanjay Verma, during which both sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations, exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine and global issues of mutual interest.

She will call on Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi and meet with Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri.

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The minister further said that India should be pragmatic in diversifying its energy resources, diversifying military contracts, in diversifying political interaction.

"And we feel that there is an extraordinary time that we live in. And as my President Philip Merzelinski says, extraordinary times need extraordinary decisions. So of course, PM Modi with his 3D policy of democracy dialogue and to my knowledge its diversity. I think that this no-era of war and strategic application is really, really important," the Ukraine minister stated.

"So we hope that India and Ukraine will be even though we are distant geographically, but we will become closer physically and politically and in many other ways."

Emine Dzhaparova pointed out that like India Ukraine had never attacked anyone in its 1500 years of history, but it has become a victim of unprovoked and neocolonial war.

"We also feel that we have this arbitrary by promoting the values justice of Peace, as your Prime Minister in Samarkand said, that it's not an era of war. I mean, we do support this purely and fully, but unfortunately, we have aggressive countries who question the existence of other countries and then the question of India's involvement as a leader in the Global South, as a G-20 presidency.

I think that we hope that India would be involved and engaged in global issues and challenges, economic challenges, energy challenges, and nuclear challenges to a greater extent because the Ukrainian issue is a weakness port today from Russia," she said.

Emine Dzhaparavo's visit to India marks the first official visit of the East European country since the beginning of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February last year.

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The MEA in the press release noted, "India shares warm and friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Ukraine." It further said, "Over the last 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations, bilateral cooperation between the two countries has made significant progress in the areas of trade, education, culture and defence. The visit will be an occasion to further mutual understanding and interests."

Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for resolving the issues through dialogue and diplomacy. He has spoken to both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his Russian counterpart Vladamir Putin several times.

With inputs from ANI
TMC exploring legal options after losing national party status

India

oi-Prakash KL

The Trinamool Congress is exploring legal options to challenge the Election Commission (EC's) decision to withdraw its national status.

The Election Commission (EC) on Monday withdrew the national status of the TMC, NCP and CPI.

"Trinamool Congress has overcome many obstacles, we will overcome this too. We will continue to do what we have to do, it will not make any difference," ANI quoted TMC MP Saugata Roy as saying. Sources have told the news agency that the party is now exploring legal options to challenge the EC's decision.

On the other hand, the Aam Aadmi Party has been recognised as a national following its electoral performance in four states - Delhi, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat.

The party's national convener Kejriwal expressed his happiness over the development and said that the country has given them a huge responsibility.

"National party in such a short time? This is nothing less than a miracle. Many congratulations to all. Crores of people of the country have taken us here. People expect a lot from us. Today people have given us this huge responsibility. Lord, bless us to fulfil this responsibility well," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.

"It's a big thing for us. This wouldn't have been possible without people's support. People are with us. We want God to give strength to Arvind Kejriwal to keep on moving forward," said Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on ECI granting national party status to AAP.

The EC has also revoked the state party status granted to RLD in Uttar Pradesh, BRS in Andhra Pradesh, PDA in Manipur, PMK in Puducherry, RSP in West Bengal and MPC in Mizoram.

It also granted "recognised state political party" status to the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) in Nagaland, Voice of the People Party in Meghalaya and the Tipra Motha in Tripura.

However, the NCP and CPI are yet to respond to the EC's decision to withdraw the national status.
TN Guv RN Ravi finally clears Bill banning online gambling

India

oi-Prakash KL

Hours after the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre and President to fix a timeframe for Governors to approve Bills, Governor RN Ravi gave his nod to a bill prohibiting online gambling and regulating online games.

An ordinance (prohibiting online gambling, wager-based online games of chance of Rummy and Poker) was promulgated by Governor Ravi on October 1, 2022 and a gazette notification was made by the government on October 3. The Tamil Nadu Assembly met on October 17 last year for a brief session and the Bill was passed.

The adoption of the Bill was necessitated after the Madras High Court had struck down on August 3, 2021 the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act 2021 which banned wager or placing bet in cyberspace.

After the Bill's passage, it was sent to Raj Bhavan for Governor's assent and the government was repeatedly urging Governor RN Ravi to clear it.

On the other hand, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Monday passed a fresh resolution against Governor RN Ravi for allegedly not clearing Bills passed by the State Assembly.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday said the Governor is functioning against the welfare of the people.

Speaking in the State Assembly, Stalin said, "This is the second resolution I am bringing against Governor. The Sarkaria Commission had said that Governor should be a detached figure. Dr Ambedkar has said that Governor should not intervene within the authority of the State Government. Several Supreme Court orders have said that the Governor should be a guide. But our Governor is not ready to be a friend of the people."

On Monday, Tamil Nadu Minister Durai Murugan moved the Resolution in the State Assembly urging the central government and President Draupadi Murmu to immediately issue appropriate instructions to the Tamil Nadu Governor to give assent to the Bills passed by the Assembly within a specific period of time.

However, twenty other bills are pending with the Governor.
Trade talks with UK not on pause, government sources

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

India has refuted reports of trade talks being cancelled with the United Kingdom over the Khalistan issue.

Sources tell OneIndia that these reports are baseless in nature. The denial comes after The Times reported about a breakdown in talks between India and the UK over the latter's refusal to condemn the Khalistan issue.

The Sikh extremist groups had attacked the Indian High Commission in London last month, The Times said in a report on Monday citing British government sources.

On March 18, protesters with Khalistan flags and banner staged a demonstration at the High Commission and also took down an Indian Flag from the first floor balcony of the building. The protesters were denouncing the recent police action in Punjab.

"Indians don't want to talk about trade until they get a very public demonstration of condemnation of Khalistan extremism in the UK," the Times said while quoting a Whitehall source.

India stalls UK trade talks over Khalistan issue: Reports

Punjab has been witnessing violence over the past couple of months. The National Investigation Agency blamed it on the gangster-terror nexus funded by the ISI. Punjab has also been on very high alert following the manhunt launched to nab radical Sikh preachers Amritpal Singh. He has been on the run for the past three weeks.

To get the negotiations back on track the US home office has planned to announce a crackdown on Sikh extremists and supporters of the Khalistan movement.

Relations between India and the UK have been sour over the past couple of years over the same issue. A trade deal has been for long a prized goal for the British government, which wants to cut tariffs and open opportunities for UK services to operate in India, which is the second largest country in the world.

A UK trade department told the newspaper, "both the UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial free trade agreement and concluded the latest round of trade talks last week."

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 13:58 [IST]
Two held for unruly behaviour after drinking on board Dubai-Mumbai flight

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Unruly passenger forces Air India Delhi-London flight to turn around

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

A Delhi-London Air India flight on Monday returned to the national capital after an unruly passenger had a brawl with a crew member.

According to news agency ANI, the airline lodged a complaint with the Delhi Airport police on the incident. The passenger was handed over to the police, the report also said. The airline said that the passenger had physically harmed two crew members.

The Air India flight took off from Delhi at 6.35 am and the brawl took place after sometime. This fired the plane to make a turn and go back to Delhi again, reports also said.

The flight AI 111 had around 225 passengers, reports also said. The unruly passenger was decorated and the flight later took off for London, Heathrow.

There have been many such incidents in recent times, in which unruly passengers have forced the turnarounds of flights. These include incidents of a male passenger allegedly urinating on a female co-passenger and people found smoking in the lavatory of the flights.

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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken strict action in these incidents, and the airlines concerned have also imposed a flying ban on the passengers.

The DGCA had recently said that the airlines are empowered to act against passengers who indulge in unruly behaviour on flights. The DGCA had in January penalised Air India relating to incidents of unruly behaviour by passengers.

On January 10, the DGCA had imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on the airline for not reporting two incidents of unruly passenger behaviour onboard a Paris-New Delhi flight.

Since 2017, a total of 143 passengers have been put on the 'no-Fly List.'
None can encroach: Shahs message to China in Arunachal

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India strongly presses for disengagement at DB during talks with China

China opposes Amit Shah's Arunachal Pradesh visit, says territorial sovereignty violated

International

oi-Deepika S

China said it firmly opposes a visit by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Arunachal Pradesh, saying that the official's activities in the area violated China's territorial sovereignty.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson insisted that Shah's visit to a 'Chinese territory' had violating Beijing's territorial sovereignty.

"Zangnan is China's territory," spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in response to a question on the visit by Home Minister Amit Shah.

"The Indian official's visit to Zangnan violates China's territorial sovereignty, and is not conducive to the peace and tranquility of the border situation."

Amit Shah launched the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' in Kibithoo, a border village in Arunachal Pradesh, later in the day.

It comes days after Chinese government announced a list of what it calls "standardised names" for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government of India has approved the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' (VVP) with central components of Rs 4,800 crore, including Rs 2,500 crore exclusively for road connectivity for the financial years 2022-23 to 2025-26, a home ministry statement said on Saturday.

The VVP is a centrally sponsored scheme under which 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting the northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development.

In the first phase, 662 villages, including 455 in Andhra Pradesh, have been identified for priority coverage.

The VVP will help in improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages and encourage people to stay at their native locations, thereby reversing the outmigration from these villages and adding to the security of the border, the statement said.

The district administration, with the help of appropriate mechanisms at block and panchayat levels, will prepare action plans for the identified villages to ensure 100 per cent saturation of central and state schemes.

The focus areas of interventions identified for the development of villages include road connectivity, drinking water, electricity including solar and wind energy, mobile and internet connectivity, tourist centres, multi-purpose centres and healthcare infrastructure and wellness centres.

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 20:36 [IST]
Tan Hiep Phat Chairman Tran Qui Thanh and his daughter Tran Uyen Phuong in October 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen

Tran Qui Thanh, the 70-year-old chairman of Vietnams largest beverage producer Tan Hiep Phat (THP), was arrested Monday on charges of illegally appropriating property.

Thanh's daughter Tran Uyen Phuong, 40, was also arrested and Tran Ngoc Bich, 39, is under investigation but left out of custody, for allegedly colluding with their father. Both are deputy general directors of THP.

The Investigation Office (C01) at the Ministry of Public Security issued warrants for the suspects April 8 and 10.

Police searched the residences and workplaces of three at nine locations on Monday afternoon. Hundreds of armed police locked down the THPs headquarters on Highway 13, Lai Thieu Ward, Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province.

According to the investigation office, the detentions came after reports from residents in nearby Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province that accused Thanh, Phuong, Bich and several other individuals of acts of fraud and "abuse of trust to acquire property," as well as tax evasion. Most of the fraud allegations are related to high-value real estate projects in Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City.

Police officers outside Tan Hiep Phat headquarter in Binh Duong on April 10, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Yen Khanh

The investigation began in March last year after police received an accusation letter signed by three accusers: 1) Le Van Lam, CEO of Kim Oanh Dong Nai Investment and Development Company, 2) Nguyen Van Chung, CEO of DCB Joint Stock Company and 3) Lam Hoang Son.

The accusers claimed that Phat, Phuong and others used fake contracts to borrow money.

Lam said that the fraud cost Kim Oanh Dong Nai over VND1 trillion ($40.21 million) in damages.

The C01 Office has asked Dong Nai authorities to freeze all transactions at Minh Thanh Dong Nai Company and at a residential area in An Phuoc Commune, where Lam claimed that land had been acquired illegally.

The office also ordered Ho Chi Minh City authorities to freeze 33 land lots owned by Phuong in Thu Duc City and Binh Tan District.

A legal representative of Phuongs has told VnExpress that all the accusations are false and that all the associated contracts were real and agreed upon by all sides.
Objecting to such visit will not change reality: India to China on Shah's visit to Arunachal

China simulates strikes in Taiwan as tensions soar

International

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

China has said that its planes carrying live ammunition conducted simulated strikes in Taiwan.

An AFP report that CHina's Shandong aircraft carrier was involved in the ongoing exercise. Chinese military's Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement,"multiple batches of H-6K fighters carrying live ammunition... carried out multiple waves of simulated strikes on important targets on Taiwan Island."

The drills are a stern warning from China to the self-governing island and is a response to Taiwan's president visiting the United States last week. The US has however urged China to show restraint.

Taiwan said that around 70 Chinese aircraft flew around the island on Sunday. Reports also said that eleven Chinese ships had been spotted.

On Saturday, Taiwan said that 45 warplanes either crossed the Taiwan Strait medial line, the unofficial dividing line between the Taiwanese and Chinese territory or flew into south-western part of Taiwan's air defence identification zone.

China has dubbed the operation as 'Joint Sword' and said that it would continue until Monday.

Amit Shah to visit Arunachal amid border row with China

Taiwan has accused Beijing of using President Masai's visit as an excuse to conduct military drills. This has seriously undermined peace and stability in the region, Taiwan also said.

"You are seriously harming regional peace, stability and security. Please immediately turn around and leave. If you continue to proceed we will take expulsion measures," a sailor could be heard telling the Chinese ship through a radio.

The US state department has urged China not to exploit President Tsai's US visit and also called for restraint and no change the status quo. The US also said that it was monitoring the situation and insisted that it had enough resources and capabilities in the region to ensure peace and stability and meet to meet with national security commitments.

The US had severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China in 1979. However it is bound by law to provide Taiwan with means to defend itself.

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Story first published: Monday, April 10, 2023, 12:49 [IST]
US: Several killed after shooting in Alabama

Bhatinda firing: Jawan confesses to killing four of his colleagues

Louisville, Kentucky shooting: 4 dead, 9 injured

International

oi-Prakash KL

A mass shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning, left four people dead and left nine others including two cops injured, police said.

The shooter was a current or former employee of the bank, Paul Humphrey, a Louisville Metro Police Department deputy chief, told reporters. The injured people were rushed to the University of Louisville hospital.

One of the police officers was in critical condition, police said.

On Twitter, Louisville police, which had initially warned people that an "active aggressor" was on the loose and urged the public to stay away from the area, said that the suspect has been neutralised.

"There is no longer an active aggressor threat. The suspected shooter has been neutralized," Louisville police tweeted.

There were shots exchanged between the shooter and police during the incident, CNN reported citing sources. Police said they responded within minutes to reports of an attacker at about 8:30 a.m. (1230 GMT) at an Old National Bank branch near Slugger Field baseball stadium in the city's downtown.

The man was armed with an "AR-15-style" semiautomatic rifle, CNN reported, citing an unnamed federal law enforcement official.

"We will come together as a community to work to prevent these horrific acts of gun violence from continuing here and around the state," Craig Greenberg, mayor of the city of 625,000, told reporters at a briefing, according to a report in Reuters.

Located along Kentucky's border with Indiana, the Louisville metro area has a population of about 630,000 people as of the 2020 Census, CNN reported.

The 300 block of East Main Street is bordered to the east by the minor league stadium Louisville Slugger Field and includes a bank, dentist's office, a furniture store and the Louisville Ballet.

However, the incident is being described a case of workplace violence, perpetrated by an employee who struggled with mental health issues, a federal law enforcement told NBC News.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said that he knew some of the victims.

"I have a very close friend that didn't make it today," Beshear said, "and one who's at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through."

Mass shootings have become recurrent in the United States. In 2023, the country has witnessed 146 mass shootings.
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Former president Donald Trump has been indicted, but it is America - with its fragile hold on democracy and its partisan institutions - that is on trial.
When Western democracies cut Russian financial institutions out of their payment networks, Jason Bronius wasn't expecting Global Affairs Canada to suggest switching to a Chinese bank. For the past year, he's been scrambling to find a way to transfer child support payments to his ex-wife in Russia.
A murderer who faked his own death to escape prison has been arrested in Tanzania - almost a year after a fire that was supposed to have killed him.
The mother of two British-Israeli sisters who were killed last week in a shooting attack in the West Bank has died of her wounds, hospital officials said on Monday.
A new order may be emerging in the Middle East, but how it is emerging does not fit the core narrative written by..

Eurasia Review 13 Apr 2023
Police say at least five people have been killed and several others were hospitalized after a shooting in the US city. and the shooter was "neutralized."
Police say at least five people have been killed and several others were hospitalized after a shooting in the US city and the shooter was "neutralized."
At least four people have been killed and several others were hospitalized after a shooting in a bank in the US city.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will be hosted at an event in South Carolina next week as he mulls entry into the 2024 Republican presidential primary race.
President Biden called for Congress to take action on guns immediately following the deadly shooting in Louisville, Kentucky that killed five people and injured others.
Federal and state officials reacted to Monday's mass shooting at a bank in Louisville, with one Democrat lawmaker claiming mass shootings are a "uniquely American epidemic."
Japan stressed on Monday the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait during a meeting of senior Japanese and Chinese officials after Beijing held three days of war
Here's the latest for Sunday, April 9th: Pope at Easter asks for prayers for Ukraine and Russia; Expelled Tennessee lawmakers to seek seats again; 3 taken to hospital after Delaware mall shooting; 8 people missing in fiery collapse of Marseille building.


China's military carried out aerial and naval blockade drills around Taiwan on Monday, its last scheduled day of exercises, with a Chinese aircraft carrier joining in combat patrols as Taipei reported another surge of warplanes near the island.
Indonesia is set to propose a free trade agreement to the US for some minerals that they are shipping there.
Chinas military declared Monday it is ready to fight after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island in response to
By ordering a brutal attack against Palestinian worshipers inside Al-Aqsa Mosque on the 14th day of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knew very well that the Palestinians would retaliate.



Netanyahus motive should be clear. He wanted to generate a distraction from the mass...
President Vo Van Thuong announced a Vietnam's gift worth US$1 million to Laos during his official visit on Sunday.

The gift was announced as the Vietnamese president and Lao President and Party Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith co-chaired a meeting between the two countries' delegations, Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The two leaders stressed the importance of increasing cooperation, support and exchange of experience amid complicated developments in the region and the world.

They affirmed a consistent policy of giving utmost priority to the consolication of the great friendship, special unity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

They agreed to construct historical sites promoting Vietnam and Laos relationship, including a Laos-Vietnam Friendship Park in Vientiane.

Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong (L) with Lao President and Party Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith in Vientiane, Laos, April 10, 2023. Photo by VNA

The two leaders also agreed to boost security and defense cooperation, especially in border management.

They said Vietnam and Laos will continue their work to search for and return remains of Vietnamese experts and voluntary solders who died in Laos.

On economic grounds, the two countries will continue exchange experience in marcro-economic management, fighting and preventing corruption, upgrade border gates and roads to facilitate trade, the two leaders said.

They also signed agreements on cooperation in technology, innovation and science.

President Thuong, who is in Laos for a two day visit, also met with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone at the PM's Office and Lao National Asssembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane at Laos' National Assmbly House, which is also a gift from Vietnam.

Vietnam and Laos established diplomatic relations in September 1962, and raised the "traditional friendship" to "great friendship" in February 2019.

Vietnam is investing around $4.7 billion in 219 projects in Laos, making it Laos' third largest foreign investor after China and Thailand.

Bilateral trade last year increased 25% to around $1.7 billion.

Around 14,000 Lao students are studying in Vietnam.
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Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Rob Kall gives readers an important wake up call to the bottom up power that they have to protect their rights, powers, and freedoms. His advice applies to all aspects of life, including politics, economics, journalism, entertainment, and psychology and wellness. Kall's book explains the differences between the top-down leadership approach of dominating, fear based, disconnected authoritarianism and the bottom-up connection consciousness that emphasizes values, justice, fairness, equity, and kindness. This book helps readers see the whole elephant as opposed to the disconnected parts. Kall gives great advice as to intensifying, expanding, prolonging, and deepening connections. With his professional background, Rob Kall is the perfect person to write this book. This is a very well-researched book that includes dozens of insightful interviews with top-notch experts. Kall shows how bottom-up small acts can produce massive results. He emphasizes that since we can't avoid this emerging bottom-up connection revolution, we need to learn how to navigate and embrace it. This bottom-up leadership will result in power to the people. This is a fascinating and insightful book, especially in this new era of digital hunting and gathering."



Larry Atkins, author of Skewed: A Critical Thinker's Guide to Media Bias
The Nashville Metropolitan Council voted unanimously Monday to reappoint Rep. Justin Jones to the Tennessee State House. Jones was one of two Black Democratic lawmakers expelled from the state House last week for protesting n support of gun control legislation. Jones' supporters greeted the 36-0 vote with loud cheers inside and outside the chamber.
Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

Syria is on the brink of recovery as Saudi Arabia plans to invite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the Arab League summit in Riyadh on May 19. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will travel to Damascus soon to hand Assad a formal invitation to attend the summit, in what will be the most significant development in the Arab rapprochement with Assad. Riyadh and Damascus are in talks to reopen embassies in both countries, in a culmination of diplomatic meetings, statements and policy shifts demonstrating new and independent positions on Syria.

The people of Aleppo say that they went to bed one night, and they woke up under occupation of armed fighters supported by the US Obama administration, Turkey and Qatar. In December 2016 the city was liberated from Al Qaeda and their affiliates, and they have been trying to recuperate, but with US-EU sanctions opposing their reconstruction plans, the recovery has been slow going. The people of Aleppo have hoped that as quickly as their lives were turned upside down by outside forces, the turning point of recovery and prosperity would be just as quick. Syria stands today on the threshold of a recovery that may hold peace and prosperity in the near future for 21 million inhabitants.

Saudi-China-Iran

The restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran last month heralded the beginning of a new era in the Middle East. In the aftermath of the massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6 in Syria and Turkey, the Arab world came out in force with humanitarian aid to both countries. The US, following their Syrian policy, refused any aid to be distributed to Aleppo and Latakia, two of the hardest hit areas in Syria, instead insisting to focus aid deliveries strictly to Idlib, under the occupation of Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists.

Egypt

On April 1, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met in Cairo in advanced talks to restore full diplomatic relations.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could meet soon after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan ends in late April. Mekdad and Shoukry discussed restoring Syrian unity and sovereignty over their entire territory, earthquake recovery, and an end to foreign interference in Syria. Shoukry visited Syria and Turkey in February to show Cairo's solidarity with the earthquake-stricken nations, in a move that signaled a thaw in relations with both countries. Sisi of Egypt has aligned Cairo's foreign policy with that of Riyadh. In the 2015 Qatar diplomatic crisis, Cairo's positions were consistent with those of Riyadh. Egypt and Syria both suffered under the Obama project to create a new Middle East through regime change. The US-rigged election of Mohamed Morsi resulted in a five-year prison sentence for American citizen Lila Jaafar, the director of the Cairo office of National Institute of Democracy.

Egypt suffered almost a year of murders and tortures under the Muslim Brotherhood-backed Morsi regime before the people revolted and took back their country under Sisi. Turkey and the US have supported the Muslim Brotherhood, which was used by the US in the Arab Spring. Turkey has recently been moving away from the Muslim Brotherhood as the presidential election draws close, but Qatar is the last remaining holdout, as yet unwilling to be independent of US dictates.

UAE

An Emirati ship containing more than 2,000 tons of aid has docked at Latakia, Syria, loaded with food supplies, medical equipment and winter clothing. The UAE's Operation Gallant Knight 2 mission is a humanitarian operation to support people affected by the earthquake in Syria and neighboring Turkey. The Emirates previously sent 1,000 tons of aid to Syria in March, and Saudi Arabia sent aid as well. Assad and the First Lady recently visited the UAE where they were warmly greeted. The UAE and Bahrain had previously reopened their embassies in Damascus, while Oman had never left.

Turkey

The delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic, headed by Dr. Ayman Sousan, Assistant Foreign and Expatriates Minister, have arrived in Moscow to participate in the quadripartite meeting of the assistant foreign ministers of Syria, Russia, Iran and Turkey from April 3-4. The meetings will focus on ending the Turkish military occupation in Syria, combating terrorism, and the ending of foreign meddling in Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay a visit to Turkey on April 6-7 and discuss Syrian issues. Turkish President Tayyip Recip Erdogan faces his last election next month, and the voters will be evaluating his role in the Syrian crisis, which brought over 3 million refugees flooding into Turkey.

US-Kurds-ISIS prisons

"We don't intend to normalize," said Barbara Leaf, Assistant Secretary of State, while in London. Leaf has visited in Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, and Tunisia recently, but has no plans to visit Damascus. The Canadians are among the many foreign nationals in Syrian camps run by Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria.

The US are military partners with the Kurds while about 900 US soldiers occupy the main oil wells in Syria, and prevent the Syrian people access to their own energy resources. 19 Canadian women and 13 children are expected to fly from Syria to Canada after an agreement was reached with Canada for repatriation. The prison camps are a dangerous breeding ground for terrorism, and are unsafe for humans. Almost no food or water, and cholera, runs rampant in the squalid camps well visited by foreign journalists. The US-backed Kurds are in charge, but have either a lack of funding, or the corruption among the US military partners has led to the unlivable situation. Many western democracies sent their young men and women to fight as terrorists in Syria. US, Canada, UK, Australia, France, Germany and Belgium are among the top countries who have prisoners in the Kurdish prison camps in northeast Syria. Eventually, the US will have to leave Syria, and the Kurds will have to repair their relationship with Damascus. At that point, the foreign terrorists, their wives and children, will have to be dealt with.

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Dear Annie: I have been married to my wife for 25 years, and I love her so very much. When we first met, she had two young boys, ages 2 and 7, and for the most part I helped raise them with her. In the late 90s and early 2000s, we traveled around the country with our business.

The boys went back to their fathers house for a few years. When we sold the business, they came back to live with us. We found them to have changed. They were into drugs and gangster lifestyles.

They are now 30 and 35 years old. The older son, Tim, has carved out a wonderful life. But the 30-year-old, Robby, has continued doing drugs. A few years ago, we agreed to take him in to see if we could help. Hes still here.

He has not worked or even looked for a job in five-plus years. He stays in his bedroom and watches TV, stays up until 4 or 5 a.m. every night and gets up the at 1 or 2 p.m. I dont think he is doing drugs anymore, but Im not sure.

Ive tried to talk to my wife about setting boundaries: telling him its time he gets a job and that he cant just keep living with us and not even looking for one. But it always ends up in a disagreement.

I offered Robby a list of 10 ideas of jobs he might like and bought him a book to read called Your Best Self. He has never even picked it up.

I dont know what to do anymore; I have almost left my wife over him. We are in our 60s, and it is getting harder. She defends everything he does, so its impossible to have a productive conversation about any of this. Tim has become frustrated as well. I dont see any end in the future. -- Desperate Stepdad

Dear Desperate Stepdad: Addiction is a family disease. Living with your stepsons drug abuse has warped your wifes way of thinking. This is true even if hes not using anymore. This situation has become too much for you to bear alone.

I encourage you to attend a Nar-Anon meeting and ask your wife (and other stepson) to go as well. If your wife says no, go on your own, and try at least a few different meetings before deciding whether or not its for you. Theyre free and confidential, and they just might offer that light at the end of the tunnel that you so need. Visit the Nar-Anon website for more information.

Dear Annie: In reading your recent columns about alcoholism and help/support for those stuck in that vortex, I would like to point you to another source of help for both alcoholics and their families. It is Celebrate Recovery. CR is a Christian 12-step program. While it wont appeal to everyone due to its Christian undergirding, it has been a very effective program for many afflicted with the ravages of drugs/alcohol/addictive behavior. I pastored a CR program for many years, and we saw countless people helped through group support. CR is national and has programs in many cities. More information may be found on the CR website.

God bless you as you offer help to others. -- Retired Pastor

Dear Retired Pastor: I had not previously heard of Celebrate Recovery, and it sounds like a great resource for Christians looking for fellowship and support in their recovery. Thank you for bringing another recovery resource to my attention.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM
At first, Ashley Lingle didnt register that the screaming outside of Happy Juice, her Vancouver espresso and smoothie cart, was coming from her husband, John.

By the time she realized something was wrong Saturday morning, the couples car and their 1-month-old baby inside it were missing. I thought I was never going to see my son again, she said.

Lingles husband had just unhitched the cart from a truck used to haul it as Lingle got ready for business in the parking lot of Bobs Paint Land on Northeast 99th Street. He was standing just feet from the passenger side of the couples 2022 Audi, which operates with a push-button ignition. Thats when a stranger jumped in the drivers seat  with the keys and Lingles wallet inside  and drove off with their 1-month-old son, Reece.

Its at least the third time in the past year that Portland-area parents have reported their car stolen with a child inside. As in the other two cases, Lingle and her child were safely reunited. Washington deputies found the car within 15 minutes, the parents said, and hours later police arrested the man suspected of stealing it.

Back at the parking lot, the driver ignored the dads pleas to give up the child. He jumped a curb in the Audi and headed into oncoming traffic around 7:45 a.m., the boys father said. The dad called police as he ran down the street after the car.

Clark County Sheriffs deputies found the baby and the car half a mile away, according to a news release Saturday. Paramedics who evaluated Reece found him unharmed. Lingle, though, was still overwhelmed.

I remember holding him, and it didnt feel real, Lingle said. Its not something you ever think youre going to experience  the idea of losing something you thought youd have forever.

Deputies briefly detained a man they thought stole the car but later realized he was the wrong person. That meant the suspected kidnapper was still at large, the parents realized.

It became really eerie, Lingle said. It became nerve-wracking that this person was still out there and they knew where we were. They had our keys, they knew where we lived, it just felt really unsafe that they could possibly come back.

Then Lingle and her husband discovered their credit cards were being charged at stores in the Vancouver Mall. So they decided to follow the trail.

The couple called police again, then called Foot Locker where their card had been charged. They wanted to know which direction the man had headed. They sped to the mall. Lingle and her husband found the man inside JCPenny with their keys and Lingles coin wallet, they said. The boys father tackled the man police later identified as Mario Andrews, and bystanders helped detain him until police arrived, the pair said.

Law enforcement arrested Andrews on suspicion of kidnapping, vehicle theft and reckless endangerment. Clark County court records show Andrews was sentenced to prison in 2022 on a previous charge of car theft.

This isnt the first time in the Portland area someone has stolen a car with a child inside feet from a watchful parent.

In September, Portland police sent out an Amber Alert after someone stole a Honda with a 7-year-old inside from the parking lot of a U-Haul lot as her parents quickly returned the keys to a moving van. The girl was found safe in the abandoned car and, according to police, slept through the entire incident.

In October, 25-year-old Marcus Paul was convicted of second-degree kidnapping after he stole a minivan with a 9-month-old inside in Tualatin. The childs father had been standing about 30 feet away, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive. A woman found the baby 30 minutes later abandoned on the ground near Barclay Park in Oregon City.

Lingle and her husband have faced online criticism from people who wrongly assume they left their child unattended. The whole scenario happened in seconds, Lingle emphasized on Sunday.

As a new parent, were told that were hypersensitive or we always see worst-case scenarios, Lingle said. If you think you need to be overprotective, then definitely take those extra steps and love your little ones a little extra because you dont really know when the last time is going to be the last time.

This story was brought to you through a partnership between The Oregonian/OregonLive and Report for America. Learn how to support this crucial work.

Sami Edge covers higher education for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430.
A 23-year-old bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at Old National Bank in Louisville Monday morning, killing four people  including a close friend of the governor  before being shot by police, authorities said.

The shooting, the 15th mass killing in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, about 160 miles (260 kilometers) to the south. That states governor and his wife also had friends killed in that shooting.

Lets be clear about what this was, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said. This was an evil act of targeted violence.

Police arrived as shots were still being fired inside Old National Bank and killed the shooter in an exchange of gunfire, Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said at a news conference.

The suspect shot at officers, the police chief said, identifying the shooter as Connor Sturgeon. We then returned fire and stopped that threat.

Nine people, including two police officers, were treated for injuries from the shooting, University of Louisville Hospital spokeswoman Heather Fountaine said in an email. At least three patients had been discharged.

One of the officers was shot in the head and underwent surgery, the police chief said. The officer, a 26-year-old who had graduated from the police academy on March 31, was in critical condition.

An emotional Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he lost one of his closest friends in the shooting in the building not far from the minor league ballpark Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.

These are irreplaceable, amazing individuals that a terrible act of violence tore from all of us, the governor said of the victims.

It was the second time that Beshear was personally touched by a mass tragedy since becoming governor.

In late 2021, one of the towns devastated by tornadoes that tore through Kentucky was Dawson Springs, the hometown of Beshears father, former two-term Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. Andy Beshear frequently visited Dawson Springs as a boy and has talked emotionally about his fathers hometown.

Beshear spoke as the investigation in Louisville continued and police searched for a motive. Crime scene investigators could be seen marking and photographing numerous bullet holes in the windows near the banks front door.

As part of the investigation, police descended on a neighborhood about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of the downtown shooting. The street was blocked as federal and local officers talked to residents. One home was cordoned off with caution tape.

Im almost speechless. You see it on the news but not at home, said Kami Cooper, 38, who lives in the neighborhood.

A man who fled the building during the shooting told WHAS-TV that the shooter opened fire with a long rifle in a conference room in the back of the buildings first floor.

Whoever was next to me got shot  blood is on me from it, he told the news station, pointing to his shirt. He said he fled to a break room and shut the door.

Humphrey, the deputy chief, said the actions of responding police officers undoubtedly saved lives.

This is a tragic event, he said. But it was it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened.

The 15 mass shootings this year are the most during the first 100 days of a calendar year since 2009, when 16 had occurred by April 10, according to a mass killings database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

Going back to 2006, the first year for which data has been compiled, the years with the most mass killings were 2019 and 2022, with 45 and 42 mass killings recorded during the entire calendar year. The pace in 2009 slowed later in the year, with 32 mass killings recorded that year.
An Idaho mother accused in the triple murder of her two youngest children as well as her new husbands previous wife was willing to remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants, a prosecutor told jurors Monday morning.

The defendant used money, power and sex to get what she wanted, Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Black said. It didnt matter what it was.

Prosecutors charged Lori Vallow Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, with multiple counts of conspiracy, murder and grand theft in connection with the deaths of Vallow Daybells two youngest children: 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow and big sister Tylee Ryan, who was last seen a few days before her 17th birthday in 2019. Prosecutors also charged the couple in connection with the October 2019 death of Chad Daybells late wife, Tammy Daybell.

Both defendants have pleaded not guilty, but are being tried separately. Chad Daybells trial is still months away. Vallow Daybell faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The children were missing for months before their remains were found buried in Chad Daybells eastern Idaho yard, Blake told jurors.

Charred remains, thats what was left of Tylee, the prosecutor said, showing jurors a photo of human remains partially uncovered in a patch of dirt. You will hear it explained as a mass of bone and tissue. Thats what was left of this beautiful young woman.

JJs body was wrapped in trash bags and duct tape, Blake said  the tape binding his arms in front of him and wrapping around his head.

The kids and Chad Daybells previous wife Tammy Daybell were all killed because they stood in the way of the couples relationship, Blake said.

Remember, the defendant will remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants, and she wanted Chad Daybell, Blake said.

FILE - Lori Vallow Daybell glances at the camera during her hearing in Rexburg, Idaho., on March 6, 2020. The investigation started roughly 29 months ago with two missing children. It soon grew to encompass five states, four suspected murders and claims of an unusual, doomsday-focused religious beliefs involving "dark spirits" and "zombies." On Monday, April 10, 2023, an Idaho jury will begin the difficult task of deciding the veracity of those claims and others in the triple murder trial of Lori Vallow Daybell. (John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP, Pool, File)AP

Defense attorney Jim Archibald presented jurors with a far different picture, describing Vallow Daybell as a kind and loving mother to her children who happened to have a particular interest in religion and Biblical prophesies involving the end of the world.

Some people care less about Biblical prophesies, some people care a lot about it, Archibald said. Thankfully in this country, we get to worship as we choose.

Vallow Daybell is presumed innocent, Archibald reminded jurors, and said the criminal charges themselves  which accuse Vallow Daybell of either directing, encouraging, assisting or participating in the murders  show that prosecutors dont really know what happened in the case.

Did she kill, or did she assist, or did she encourage, or did she direct? They arent sure, Archibald said.

Archibald also said Vallow Daybells religious beliefs only began to change after she met Chad Daybell, a religious author whose fictional books focused on the apocalypse and were loosely based on the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But Blake said those beliefs veered toward the extreme, with the couple saying people were dark or light, telling friends and acquaintances that dark people had been taken over by evil spirits. They eventually began teaching friends that once those evil spirits were strong enough, the person became a zombie, and the only way to free that persons soul was by killing them.

Friends of Vallow Daybell will testify that she said the children and Tammy Daybell were dark before their deaths, Blake said. At least one friend told police that Vallow Daybell called both children zombies before they disappeared, according to police records.

The common theme was the body has to be destroyed, Blake said. The defendant and Chad used their self-proclaimed religious teachings to justify their actions to others  their actions from affair to murder.

This courtroom sketch depicts Kay Woodcock, the grandmother of Joshua "JJ" Vallow, the first witness to take the stand during the murder trial of Lori Vallow Daybell in Boise, Idaho, Monday, April 10, 2023. Prosecutors have charged Lori Vallow Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, with multiple counts of conspiracy, murder and grand theft in connection with the deaths of Vallow Daybell's two children: Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Both are also charged in connection with the death of Chad Daybell's previous wife, Tammy Daybell. (Lisa C. Cheney via AP)AP

JJ Vallows grandmother, Kay Woodcock, was the first witness to take the stand after opening arguments. She cried after Madison County prosecutor Rob Wood showed her a photo of JJ taken when he was around 5 or 6 years old, sitting in a vehicle wearing a seatbelt.

That is my beautiful grandson, JJ, she said.

Woodcock said Vallow Daybell was once a doting mother, but her opinion of the defendant changed after Charles Vallow filed for divorce in early 2019. After Charles Vallow died, once-regular phone calls and visits with JJ dropped off, she said.

She only had contact with JJ three times after his father died, Woodcock said, in short FaceTime video calls. The last call happened the month before JJ was last seen alive, she said. It only was about 35 seconds long.

He just said, Hi Mama, hi Papa, Woodcock said, referring to JJs nicknames for his grandparents. Gotta go, Mama. Gotta go, Papa. Bye!

Woodcock eventually contacted law enforcement agencies and asked them to do a welfare check on JJ. When police couldnt find either of the kids, they opened a missing persons case.

Rexburg Police started investigating in November 2019. During that period, police say the couple lied about the childrens whereabouts.

This courtroom sketch, from left, depicts Madison County prosecutor Rob Wood, Lori Vallow Daybell and defense attorney Jim Archibald during opening statements of Vallow Daybell's murder trial in Boise, Idaho, Monday, April 10, 2023. Prosecutors have charged Vallow Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, with multiple counts of conspiracy, murder and grand theft in connection with the deaths of Vallow Daybell's two children: Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Both are also charged in connection with the death of Chad Daybell's previous wife, Tammy Daybell. (Lisa C. Cheney via AP)AP

Prosecutors say the couple planned to use life insurance money from Tammy Daybells death, and that Vallow Daybell kept collecting and spending the childrens social security and survivor benefits after they died. Tylees father died after he and Vallow Daybell divorced years earlier. JJs father Charles Vallow  who Vallow Daybell was married to when she met Chad Daybell  was shot and killed by Vallow Daybells brother, Alex Cox.

Vallow Daybell is charged in Arizona in connection with Charles Vallows death, but yet to enter a plea. Cox, who told police the shooting was in self-defense, died a few months after the shooting and was never charged.

The couple married two weeks after Chad Daybells previous wife died unexpectedly. An autopsy showed that Tammy Daybell was killed by asphyxiation, Blake said Monday.

The couple had eliminated any and every obstacle that was in their way of getting exactly what they wanted, she said.

The trial is expected to last up to eight weeks.
Interstate 5 northbound lanes in Salem were closed Monday morning after a shooting left someone dead, the state police said.

The shooting happened at about 8:45 a.m. near milepost 254, said the state police, who offered few details in a statement but said at least one officer fired shots. The suspect is dead, police said.

The Salem Police Department said in a tweet there is no current danger to the public.

Oregon Department of Transportation spokesperson Don Hamilton said the closure is expected to be lengthy, possibly lasting through much of the afternoon and into the evening commute.

The three-mile closure begins at the intersection of Highway 22 and stretches from exit 253 to exit 256. Northbound traffic must leave the highway at Mission Street. Drivers are asked to avoid the area and find an alternate route.

By early afternoon, one northbound lane was reopened while detours were still in pace.

Use tripcheck.com to check for updates.

This story will be updated.

-- Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651
April 9, 2023 | 04:00 pm PT

I was just so embarrassed to have to confess to the artists community that you are developing an AI art project." This is what my daughter said to me once over dinner.

Our daughter Nguyen, 15, is currently enrolled in a private high school in France. She also takes part in the school's art club. Here in France, kids not only have a chance to engage in hands-on art activities like painting and shaping, but also are frequently involved in discussions about painting-related topics.

Recently, teachers have been discussing AI in the arts with their classes. It's been lauded by some and criticized by others. Nguyen has publicly opposed this new technology, despite our close relationship and the fact that I am her biological father and an AI researcher in France. She is convinced that AI Art violates the copyrights of artists all over the world. She believes that nothing made by AI can ever be considered creative, and that it is unethical to create or produce content in this way. Nguyen even told me that she was only willing to reveal her shame to the anonymous online community. She did not dare reveal that her dad is an AI expert, despite the fact that she was working on an AI Art project for class. She has always thought of this as "embarrassing."

I was quite surprised by my daughters reaction. Until now, I still think she must be at least a little bit proud of her father, who is not only a university lecturer but also an expert in artificial intelligence, a quite popular field among young people today. But to be honest, I think her statement makes perfect sense, and indeed she is talking about the serious problem that AI technology is facing.

On February 6, 2019, Getty Images, the largest image and video provider in the world, filed a lawsuit against Stability AI, the first company to create AI Art, for "flagrant infringement of the intellectual property rights of Getty Images." According to Getty, Stability AI violates copyright and trademark laws, and it is accused of stealing over 12 million images from the Getty database without permission.

In order to train their algorithms, AI Art tools need a lot of images and artwork, which are frequently taken from websites without the owners permission. Then backlash ensued from artists when they realized this technology enabled the blatant theft of their ideas. Even for ordinary users, the use of their social media profile pictures as AI training data will cause a serious privacy intrusion. Who knows if they will one day discover "fake" pictures of themselves in an unexpected location?

That is what is happening in photography and painting, but what about content creation? ChatGPT has recently created quite a stir in Vietnam. This chat bot has the ability to write stories, essays, and poetry in just a matter of seconds. My colleague bragged that he would ask ChatGPT to create a fairy tale for him each night, and with a little editing, he would have a "new piece of story" to lull his kids to sleep. He can now tell new stories that cannot be found in any books and are, of course, much more interesting than the old ones that his kids did not love.

However, what we want to question here is the originality of the stories. "Well, it's just bedtime stories for my kids, why so serious?" Obviously, we were aware of the problem but ignored it, because it did not cause serious consequences. But on a different scale, piracy will not be justified by the saying "it doesn't matter."

Users are astounded by ChatGPT's capacity to provide seemingly accurate responses. No one, regardless of their intelligence, is able to retain such a vast amount of knowledge as the platform can. The technology behind ChatGPT can turn a massive amount of text-based knowledge into a computer-based probabilistic model. This enables quick information searches, summarization, comparison, and connection.

However, the main issue with ChatGPT is that academic integrity and transparency are not ensured. While citing the original author of the information is a fundamental requirement to prevent plagiarism, ChatGPT never does so.

Furthermore, ChatGPT can provide users with utterly sexist and racist information through its filter. In order to categorize people as likely to be outstanding scientists, Professor Piantadosi at UCBerkeley asked ChatGPT to write Python codes. It turned out that the platform believed a great scientist must be a white man. After this opinion was published, it learned how to fix errors and to learn from past mistakes, but these mistakes are just the tip of the iceberg with countless other potential risks.

So should we continue to use technologies like AI Art or ChatGPT? As an AI researcher, I still have to recognize ChatGPT or AI Art are useful products. If copyright and ethical issues are solved, they can become powerful tools to help users come up with more creative ideas and to work more efficiently.

However, the fight over copyright and ethics will continue for some time between established businesses and startups and content creators like musicians, authors and bloggers. I believe as AI continues to advance at a rapid pace, countries will need to create legal frameworks on the topic and give it an official status in order to avoid copyright and ethical disputes.

For users, when I polled my students about their experiences with ChatGPT, up to 70% said they felt it was important to verify the accuracy of the information by consulting alternative sources. The accuracy and completeness of the information returned by this chat bot are two of the factors that will be evaluated. Like Wikipedia, the current version of ChatGPT is a go-to resource for many people, but is not officially recognized by the scientific community. Users should exercise extra caution to avoid being held liable for any false or slanted information they submit.

As a lecturer, I have no objection to students using ChatGPT for learning. On the other hand, I seek to include this technology in my lectures as a tool to support and stimulate students' thinking skills. To prevent students from cheating by using ChatGPT, teachers can use the site's answers as prompts for new questions, encouraging students to think critically and avoid the site's trap. As a result, students who use ChatGPT will develop a greater depth of understanding and analytical prowess.

Since the development of AI is still in its infancy, blunders are to be expected. It is ultimately up to the user to decide whether ChatGPT or AI-Art will be a useful tool or a threat.

*Nguyen Nhu Van is an AI expert at the Orleans University in France.
Weve all been there: a phone battery that starts to die too soon, a cup of coffee colliding with a laptop, or a new appliance with a digital screen goes kaput.

Unfortunately, for many of these devices, when they break, you dont have a lot of choice about how to get them fixed because too often the companies that make our stuff block access to the essential things needed for repair like spare parts, repair documentation, diagnostic software and tools.

The result is essentially a monopoly on repairs. And these repair monopolies do not affect everyone equally. While repair may be relatively accessible in urban areas like Portland and Eugene, the limited access to repair leaves rural or suburban Oregonians with few options. And difficult to fix products mean more e-waste, more energy usage, and less access to technology.

Thats why were supporting Senate Bill 542, which would give Oregonians the Right to Repair our personal electronic devices and household appliances. It requires product manufacturers to make available parts, tools, and repair information to the public and independent repair businesses.

Its clear that Oregonians want to fix both our devices and the throwaway mentality that has led to such an alarming rise in electronic waste. But first, we must fix our laws and pass Right to Repair in Oregon.

Janeen Sollman and Bobby Levy

Sollman, a Democrat, is state senator for District 15-Hillsboro in the Oregon Senate. Levy, a Republican, is state representative for District 58-Echo in the Oregon House.

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
An email from a state division director asking customers to advocate for the agencys budget raised eyebrows among business owners and legislators.

The Corporation Division of the Secretary of States Office is seeking a roughly $2.6 million increase to its existing $15 million budget over the next two years to hire more staff and digitize millions of public records that now only exist on degrading microfilms. The divisions request comes as legislative budget writers urge agencies to trim their budgets, keeping open positions vacant and spending less amid economic uncertainty.

After presenting the divisions budget request to a legislative subcommittee last week, Corporation Division Director Eloisa Miller emailed everyone who has registered a business in Oregon asking them to submit written testimony supporting the request.

Yesterday I went to the state Legislature and asked them to invest in a new vision for the division, Miller wrote in the email, addressed to Valued Customers.

Imagine a division that operates at the speed of business, she continued. One where technology and automation allow you to access the information you need from anywhere using a cellphone or laptop at your convenience. Imagine faster response times through online, on demand access to the services we provide. Imagine doing business in the language youre comfortable with. These things are all possible if legislators approve our agency budget request.

The message worked  by Friday afternoon, 69 people had submitted written testimony in support of the offices budget request, mostly referring to funding for the corporation division. Thats more than almost every other agency funding bill.

But other business owners, including gymnastics club owner Leslie French, were skeptical of the email they received.

I do not believe the director of the division should be using state resources such as the email that I received on behalf of my business politicking for a yes vote to approve the bill, French wrote. I believe this is a violation of state ethics rules and of expenditure policy.

Mass emails asking Oregonians to weigh in on legislation are a normal part of the legislative process. Lawmakers and interest groups regularly ask people to submit testimony for bills they support or oppose and sometimes provide form letters to copy and paste.

The difference with the corporation division request, said Sen. Brian Boquist, an independent from Dallas, is that business owners didnt sign up to receive those emails. They shared their email addresses and other personal information with the corporation division because they needed to do so to register or renew business filings and expected that information to remain confidential, said Boquist, who received the email because hes involved in several businesses.

Its not OK to use that confidential information, he said.

Boquist contacted the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, which enforces state laws on lobbying, open meetings and other ethics issues. Susan Myers, the commissions compliance and education coordinator, told him that the email qualified as lobbying, but it wasnt illegal.

Under state law, government employees can lobby on behalf of their agencies, and they dont have to register as lobbyists unless they spend more than 24 hours or $100 during any three-month period.

Ben Morris, a spokesman for the Secretary of States office who responded to questions on Millers behalf, said in an email that hes unaware of the division sending similar requests in the past. Business owners tell the division almost every day about their frustrations with the divisions customer service, he said.

That feedback is valuable, and we believe legislators should hear it, Morris said. So we decided to provide our customers with an easy way to submit their feedback directly to legislators.

He added that legislators dont normally receive much public testimony on agency budget requests, and that they should hear directly from people affected by their decisions.

Rep. Greg Smith, a Heppner Republican and co-chair of the legislative subcommittee reviewing the offices budget request, told the Capital Chronicle it made sense for the Secretary of States Office to ask business owners to contact legislators, and that he wanted to hear from the people who use the business filing system.

I didnt feel lobbied, Smith said.

-- Julia Shumway, Oregon Capital Chronicle

The Oregon Capital Chronicle, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy.
After a dozen years operating data centers in eastern Oregon, Amazon says it has a deal to buy renewable energy to help power them.

The Seattle company announced Tuesday it has begun working with the local power utility, the Umatilla Electric Cooperative, to choose the electricity supply for its huge data center operations near the communities of Boardman and Hermiston. It said that enables the company to choose some renewable power for its installations.

Amazons announcement follows reporting by the Oregonian/OregonLive on how the companys growing footprint in eastern Oregon has contributed to an enormous surge in regional carbon emissions, and an unsuccessful push by climate activists and state lawmakers to require large data centers to transition to clean power.

Amazon says it has been pursuing renewable energy for its Oregon data centers for some time but has only now been able to secure contracts to provide it.

The company says its wholesale power contracts prevent it from saying how much renewable energy its buying. So the impact of its new deal with Umatilla Electric wont be clear until next year, when the utility discloses updated information about its 2023 energy mix to Oregon regulators. (The utility did not respond to questions about its new arrangement with Amazon.)

But Amazon claims its calculations show its Oregon data centers already are powered with at least 95% renewable energy. The company maintains that large, clean-energy projects it has built in California and Arizona are compensating for the rapid increase in the carbon impact of its operations near Boardman and Hermiston.

Were adding renewable energy to the same grid where we operate, said Charley Daitch, director of energy and water for Amazon Web Services, the companys data center business. Though Amazon doesnt disclose the power sources it uses to arrive at that 95% figure, the company says it uses an outside auditor to verify its claims and it publishes the formula it uses to arrive at its conclusions.

Thats not enough for Joshua Basofin of Climate Solutions Oregon, an environmental advocacy group that helped lead the campaign for Oregons clean energy bills. Without more disclosure, he said its impossible to evaluate Amazons climate claims.

Amazon has not yet disclosed the methodology it is using to arrive at the 95% statistic or whether credits of some kind are being utilized to claim the benefit of renewable energy generated outside of Oregon for Oregon data centers, Basofin wrote in an email.

Big data centers like the ones Amazon operates in eastern Oregon use as much power as small cities to power their high-performance computers and keep the machines cool. Most of the data centers in eastern Oregon are exempt from state clean-power requirements state lawmakers approved in 2021, though, because the legislation exempted Umatilla Electric and other consumer-owned utilities from the bills major provisions.

Amazon, like other large tech companies, says it accepts the science that shows human activity is warming the planet. The company has pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

Amazon is beginning negotiations with officials in Morrow County on plans for as many as six more data centers that would cost $12 billion. Amazon wants a new package of tax breaks to exempt a portion of the construction from local property taxes.

This past weeks comments mark the first time Amazon has publicly discussed the climate impact of its Oregon operations in any detail. The company declined comment on the energy impact of its Oregon data centers last year, and though it lobbied state lawmakers against the climate bill, it did not comment about the legislation publicly until after it died in committee last week.

In a statement, Amazon said it wants to work with Oregon leaders to enable more 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, the company said.

In the meantime, Amazon is planning to install fuel cells powered by natural gas  a major contributor to climate change  to help power its data centers in eastern Oregon. Daitch described the fuel cells as a temporary measure to overcome constraints in the regions electrical grid.

We really do view it as a bridge to a longer-term capacity solution in the region that includes additional transmission and renewable energy investments, he said.

Amazon said it will pursue renewable natural gas or other energy sources with a lower carbon footprint to power the fuel cells. For now, it plans to tap into a controversial pipeline bringing natural gas from British Columbia.

In a new filing with state regulators, Bloom Energy, the company providing Amazons fuel cells, says the fuel cells would add 24 megawatts of electricity to a Morrow County data center that currently has just 40 megawatts of power available.

There are 2,500 megawatts of renewable energy waiting to come online in the region, according to Bloom, but a transmission bottleneck will constrain access to that power for several years. One key transmission line to Boardman is at least three years away from starting construction, according to Bloom, and will take at least four years to build.

Basofin said Oregon law requires Amazon to demonstrate that it has assessed alternative power sources with lower carbon footprints before installing the fuel cells. He said Blooms filing fails to show Amazon has done that.

It appears they failed to give thorough consideration to developing or investing in renewable energy, Basofin said, as other tech companies have done in Oregon, and Amazon itself has done in Virginia.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | 503-294-7699 Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
Tourists snorkel above coral reefs in Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Lan Huong

A rash of cancelations during the long holiday break later this month due to high airfares has left hotels in Phu Quoc Island and travel firms in a desperate situation.

Three weeks before the five-day holiday for Reunification Day and Labor Day (April 29-May 3), Bui Ang Van, general manager of Kim Hoa Resort, said the occupancy rate during the period is only 45%.

It had been 85% a month ago but many people canceled their bookings due to high airfares.

A night's stay now costs VND900,000 (US$38.38) while before the Covid pandemic it had been VND1.4 million.

"It's not just me, other hotels and accommodation establishments in Phu Quoc too are now in dire straits due to the lack of tourists during the April 30 holiday," Van said.

At a five-star hotel, occupancy is only 15%.

Tuan Phan, its marketing and communications manager, said many people decided to cancel their travel plans to Phu Quoc and instead find nearby destinations to save money.

Truong Cong Tam, chairman of the Phu Quoc Professional Association of Tour Guides, said only 35% of members would have work during the holiday.

The association tried to find jobs for them but failed after the high number of cancelations, he said.

A round ticket from Hanoi to Phu Quoc during the holidays costs VND6-10 million, while from HCMC it is VND3.5-4 million, double the rates last year.

"I do not understand why this year air tickets to Phu Quoc are more expensive than to Thailand and Singapore," Phan said.

Le Thi Hai Chau, general secretary of the Phu Quoc Tourism Development Investment Association (PITDA), said since most tourists arrive in Phu Quoc by air, expensive fares hurt the local tourism industry.

The lack of direct flights from international destinations also hinders tourism recovery.

Before the pandemic the island used to receive charter flights from Russia and Eastern Europe, but they have yet to resume due to the impacts of Russia-Ukraine war.

Well known for its long, sandy beaches, turquoise waters and dense forests, Phu Quoc has become a popular holiday destination for both domestic and foreign tourists.
LANSING  Long associated with calm music, soothing landscapes and the soft tones of Tim Allens voice, Michigans campaign to promote tourism will get an update to appeal to younger audiences.

David Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan, said the updated campaign marks the first time Pure Michigan has targeted young individuals.

Theyre more interested in experiences than stuff, he said. Baby Boomers and Gen Z are looking for experience rather than the bigger TV set or the nicer car  that provides a great opportunity for the travel industry.

The new ads will be more vibrant, Lorenz said.

For 17 years, weve always used the music from Cider House Rules, weve used Tim Allens voice, weve had this very calm, subtle approach, Lorenz said. That reaches the older folks, but we really felt by lifting up the spirit and showing the diversity in this way, were going to be more appealing to younger people as well.

For his part, Midland Business Alliance President and CEO Tony Stamas said Pure Michigan has been very effective over the year, but at the same time he understands the effort to update it.

"Pure Michigan has been an incredible tool to promote the state of Michigan and certainly our regions and our communities, and has really done a great job of showing the amazing things our state has to offer," Stamas said.

"I certainly understand the need to continue to look at it and find the mesaging and the best tools to move that forward, but we've been very fortunate to have that and I look forward to continuing to work with the MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation) to share the wonderful things that Midland has to offer and bring in people from around the nation and even around the world."

The campaign, billed as Keep it Fresh, will include spots focusing on Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Traverse City, using the sights, sounds and artistry that reflect the range of unique experiences and stories to be found in Michigan, according to a news release from the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

We know that people, when they come to Michigan, expect to see beautiful nature, Lorenz said. Theyre going to find that, but now theyre also starting to realize they can find vibrant, interesting cities.

The new campaign will mark Pure Michigans return to national airwaves, with spots airing on Discovery, Food Network, HGTV and Magnolia Network, and in local regions throughout the Midwest Digital portions of the Keep it Fresh campaign launched in late February, with TV ads beginning in March.

The council also launched Pure Opportunity, a business marketing campaign touting the states skilled labor pool, freshwater resources and top ranking in climate change preparedness. That campaign will feature images of Michigan companies like Pfizer in Portage, Orbion Space Technology in Houghton, Shorts Brewing Company in Bellaire, Daddy Dough Cookies in Grand Rapids and Detroit Denim.

Michigan is a place that will drive the world forward through grit, our world-class workforce, and stunning natural resources, Whitmer said in a news release.

Modernized music

One of the first changes people may notice in the new campaign is more upbeat music. Nicole Churchill, a co-founder of Assemble Sound, the Detroit company that developed the new score, said they wanted to refresh the music without completely deviating from what people have grown to know and love.

That Cider House Rules score thats been used for so long has become such a connection with the brand, I think the biggest challenge was how you maintain the integrity and pay homage to that while still bringing a little bit of newness and youth, and how you get people who are across different generations to like the same thing, Churchill said.

Julian Wettlin, director of creative licensing for Assemble Sound, said It was kind of a tightrope to walk between this modern, kind of poppy, electronic, indie-rock world that they wanted to play in with keeping the sincerity that Cider House Rules has.

The company used all Michigan talent for the demos, and the score that was selected was composed by Ann Arbor native Ben Collins. Wettlin said he didnt allow the project to overwhelm him while working on it. After seeing rough cuts of the spots, he thought to himself Oh, right, this will live for a very long time.

While the state only contracted for one song, Wettlin said it was designed to be adaptable enough to fit multiple spots.

We basically gave them a toolbox of sounds, Wettlin said. When they get into mix, they can take down some of the bass and let the synths live a little higher in the mix on the more nature ones, and the nightlife ones maybe pull some of that sentimental quality and bring up more of the fun quality.

A new voice

Another auditory change people are likely to quickly latch onto: the introduction of a new voice, Detroit poet jessica Care moore. Oprah shared in 2022 one of moores poems, Her Crown Shines, which was written for then-Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson following her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. She came to national prominence after winning Its Showtime at the Apollo a record-breaking five times in a row.

Lorenz said the Michigan Economic Development Council had looked at introducing a second voice for years, but they just didnt seem right until we found jessica.

Were using her in a different way. Were using her writing talents as well as her voice, Lorenz said. I love her kind of grainy, granular, earthy voice. Its going to blend really well with Tim.

Focus on diversity

Highlighting diversity is one way the new campaign will appeal to younger audiences, Lorenz said.

We have a lot to be proud of with our diversity, and we think thats very appealing to a lot of people right now, Lorenz said. With our TV and radio ads, youre going to hear an additional voice with Tim Allen this year  youll hear a woman. That, in itself, demonstrates in a subtle way that were not the same old state you think we were. Were so much more.

But he acknowledged that some audiences may feel that capitalizing on diversity may seem superficial or opportunistic. Its a concern that they considered.

Thats one of the reasons why its taken us a while to really take this approach, because we felt that it had to be genuine. It had to be authentic. It had to be real, Lorenz said.

We tell the truth about things that are important to people, and things that we know are gaining importance in the future, he added. The state has changed in the last 17 years, and were trying to represent that change.

Moore joins Allen in the campaign, who has faced backlash in recent years. After attending the inauguration of former President Donald Trump, Allen told Jimmy Kimmel that, You get beat up if you dont believe what everybody else believes. This is like 30s Germany.

Asked whether that factored into the decision to introduce a new voice, Lorenz emphasized that Tim is not our spokesperson, hes our voice, and that he is not being replaced, but rather joined, by Moore.

Marketers have to be careful with political debates, he said. Its really important that we stay out of that, because were in a very divided time politically.

But its tricky.

Everything seems to be perceived as being political these days, Lorenz said. But he isnt concerned about backlash to a more diverse campaign.

As long as were doing the right thing and were trying to do our best to articulate that were trying to make sure that all persons of goodwill know that they are welcome here, thats what counts. Lorenz said. If there are others out there who take that as some kind of a political statement, they just dont understand.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered the U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and on all public buildings statewide to be lowered to half-staff Tuesday to coincide with the funeral of Braden Peltier.

Peltier, a U.S. Army soldier born in Bay City, died on March 26 while stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado. He was 23 and is survived by his wife Pagge Peltier and his son Caycee.

Whitmer announced Monday her order to lower the flags.

"Braden represented the best of our state as he served our nation in uniform," Whitmer said in a Monday statement. "A Bay City native and proud husband, dad, brother and son, Braden leaves behind a legacy of service that we should all strive to live up to. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and fellow soldiers."

Peltier loved spending time with his family and outdoors, according to Whitmer's office. He was an outdoorsman who spent time fishing, camping, hunting, trail riding and working out.

His funeral is set to take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Homes in West Branch. The service is also set to be streamed live on YouTube.

Community members are expected to line the streets to honor Peltier's service. Burial is scheduled to follow at Rose City Cemetery in Rose City with full military honors.

Flags will be returned to full staff Wednesday, according to Whitmer's office.

Peltiers death is being investigated as a homicide, the Colorado Springs Police Department stated in a news alert. Police have not yet confirmed the exact details surrounding the shooting.

Pikes Peak Crime Stoppers out of Colorado is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in the shooting.

"Detectives are working hard to identify the suspect," Colorado Springs Police Department Chief Adrian Vasquez said in a statement. "We are asking for help from our community for any information about this suspect, their whereabouts or anything they may know about this terrible crime. I would ask that you call Crime Stoppers if you have information that will help us."

Anyone with information or who is a witness to the investigation is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000; or if you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.

Peltier's obituary is available to read online.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Tereasa Nims.

Sunday, April 9

10:12 p.m. - Deputies responded to a Homer Township residence for a verbal dispute between a 63-year-old Homer Township man and a 60-year-old DeWitt man. No assault occurred. The 60-year-old left the residence to resolve the issues.

8:32 p.m. - A deputy spoke with a 23-year-old Lee Township woman at the MyMichigan emergency room regarding a dog bite in Hope Township. Minor injuries occurred. The 24-year-old Hope Township female owner of the dog was issued an isolation notice.

8:24 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Jasper Township residence regarding a neighbor's dog killing chickens. Contact was made with both parties, and the issue was resolved civilly.

11:56 a.m. - A deputy responded to a report of a damaged mailbox in Lee Township. It was discovered that multiple mailboxes in the area had been damaged.

9:18 a.m. - A deputy spoke with a 71-year-old man regarding a broken mailbox found in a ditch near his Lee Township residence. The deputy located the owner of the mailbox and determined it had been damaged by a Midland County plow truck. The mailbox owner said the matter was handled civilly with the Midland County Road Commission, and the old mailbox would be removed from the ditch.

4:14 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to assist EMS and firefighters with a drug overdose at a residence in Homer Township. Deputies arrived on scene first, administered Narcan, and assisted with CPR until the 39-year-old woman regained consciousness. The woman was transported to the hospital for further care.

More Information Activities of the Midland County Sheriff's Office and Midland Police Department See More Collapse

2:52 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched for a report of a vehicle driving all over the roadway. Deputies located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on a Lincoln Township roadway. The 32-year-old Saginaw man driving was subsequently arrested for drunken driving. The report was sent to the prosecutor.

Saturday, April 8

10:34 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence for a verbal dispute between a 64-year-old man and his 36-year-old son. Both men calmed down and were separated for the night.

9:40 p.m. - Police responded to an obstructing justice complaint in the 4500 block of North Saginaw Road.

8:26 p.m. - Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by a 54-year-old woman, who was found to have a revoked license. A citation was issued, and a report was sent to the prosecutor.

7:43 p.m. - Deputies responded to a Jerome Township location regarding a loose dog complaint. The dogs in question were inside their owner's residence. The 24-year-old owner was made aware of the complaint and was issued a warning for loose dogs. He advised he would not let the dogs loose again.

7:48 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a residence in Coleman for a verbal domestic dispute between a 30-year-old woman and her 31-year-old ex-boyfriend. The woman was advised of the personal protection order process.

1:25 p.m. - A deputy spoke with an Ingersoll Township woman over the phone regarding a suspicious Facebook post. The post was not related to a Midland County jurisdiction and appeared to be a scam.

1:57 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence for a domestic dispute between a 15-year-old boy and his 38-year-old mother. A report was forwarded to the prosecutor for review.

11:39 a.m. - A 35-year-old Midland man was arrested on multiple warrants out of Midland County's 75th District Court following a traffic stop in Lincoln Township. The man was transported to the Midland County Jail without incident.

7:59 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to an Edenville Township apartment building regarding a 51-year-old man who was yelling and swearing at other residents. Deputies located the man, who was arrested on a warrant out of Gladwin County. The man was transported and released to a Gladwin County deputy.

Friday, April 7

11:12 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to Coleman to meet with a 37-year-old man and his 14-year-old son regarding an assault that took place in Geneva Township. Following an investigation, it was learned that Michigan State Police was in the process of investigating the complaint with the other parties.

8:47 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township residence regarding a disorderly 10-year-old girl. After speaking with them, a deputy transported the girl and her 42-year-old aunt to MyMichigan Medical Center for an evaluation per their request.

7:59 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township location for a reported domestic assault that had occurred in a vehicle between a 53-year-old man and his 38-year-old ex-girlfriend. A report was submitted to the prosecutor for review.

7:46 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Larkin Township residence after a 28-year-old man called regarding an argument with his 50-year-old mother. The parties were advised of their options.

7:08 p.m. - Police responded to the 2500 block of Abbott Road for an aggravated assault complaint.

4:45 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lincoln Township residence regarding a verbal dispute between a 48-year-old woman and her 49-year-old live-in boyfriend. There was no assault, and the woman chose to leave the house for the night.

11:28 a.m. - A deputy responded to a Jerome Township business after a 35-year-old Lee Township man got into a verbal dispute with his neighbor, a 64-year-old man. There was no assault. Both parties were asked to try to get along in the future.

11:13 a.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Greendale Township residence regarding a report of a personal protection order violation.

7:58 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lincoln Township residence for a verbal dispute between a 49-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman. There were no assaults, and the parties were separated.

Thursday, April 6

10:30 p.m. - Police were called to a larceny complaint in the 500 block of State Street.

11:18 p.m. - A deputy spoke with a 67-year-old Lee Township man regarding possible identity theft. The man was provided with information on how to monitor his personal information to check for fraud.

11:01 p.m. - A 28-year-old Midland Township man took his 34-year-old live-in girlfriend's car without permission.

12:42 p.m. - A deputy responded to the Midland County Jail to speak with a 36-year-old inmate about a larceny.

10:50 a.m. - Deputy took a complaint of a larceny of a storage unit for a 45-year-old Midland man. The storage unit is in Larkin Township, and approximately $500 worth of tools was taken. There are currently no suspects.
Maybe it is because I am preparing to launch one of my children off to college, but I have been thinking a lot about inflection points in life. The Republican Party is also at one of those points.

The party, like my daughter, needs to decide what it wants to be and whether it wants to win. But unlike my daughter, I am afraid there will be no turning back for the GOP once it chooses its fate.

This critical juncture provides an opportunity for Republican primary voters. While voters may love Donald Trump and feel he is being politically persecuted, they should consider two things and one other person; three GOP election-cycle losses, potential exhaustion from the electorate if Trumps legal woes continue, and former Vice President Mike Pence.

While Pence has yet to enter the race, he has been in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina offering a vision for the country and the party based on values and policies, all the while strategically not attacking the former president or demeaning his supporters. Republican primary voters need to consider what the party stands for and whether it is a winning message as they shoulder the responsibility of choosing the standard bearer of the party. Here are just a few examples of the Pence-Trump divide.

Speaking in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at an event I attended, Pence touted the policies enacted during the Trump administration, but it was the rhetoric around principles that was particularly contrasting to his former boss.

Pence opened his remarks with an anecdote about his fathers service in the Army during the Korean War. He received the Bronze Star. Pences son is a Marine officer. Pences son-in-law serves in the Navy. Trump, by contrast, has shared little admiration for the military. Trump has referred to fallen soldiers as losers and suckers. Trump openly mocked the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona and his service in Vietnam, including as a prisoner of war.

Pence left no doubt where he stands on the importance of standing up to Russia. The war in Ukraine is not our war but freedom is our fight. He called America the arsenal of democracy. He told Fox News Tucker Carlson There is no room for Putin apologists in the Republican Party. This is not Americas war, but if Putin is not stopped and the sovereign nation of Ukraine is not restored quickly, he will continue to move toward our NATO allies, and America would then be called upon to send our own.

Trump has favored a U.S. withdrawal from NATO and recently said that the greatest threat to Western civilization today is not Russia. Its probably, more than anything else, ourselves and some of the horrible USA-hating people representing us.

Pence is convinced better days are ahead and that America needs to have a government as good as its people.

Pence described himself as a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican in that order. In an interview, I asked Pence where being an American fit on that list. I feel very proud to be an American. I described myself by my values as a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican in that order. But underpinning all of it, I am a proud American. I promise you that.

Anti-Trumpers and Never Trumpers might not think Pence passes the purity test. They might be justifiably angry that he has not responded to subpoenas or testified. While it may be a low bar, they should find comfort in the fact that Pence stood up to Trump when it truly mattered. I had made a promise to the American people to support and defend the Constitution, and I was determined to keep it, he wrote in his book of the Jan. 6, 2021, confrontation with Trump.

The values and policies that past Republican presidents have espoused, and that Pence is emulating, have been winners throughout the partys modern history. President Ronald Reagan had a 63% approval rating when he left office. George W. Bush, who believed in compassionate conservatism, was the last Republican president to win the popular vote.

Conversely, election denialism and political instability is a real loser with the American electorate. I still believe that Trump will be the 2024 Republican nominee. I am also under no illusion that the GOP base is even interested in establishment approaches, but they should give them and Pence a second look.

The road ahead for the GOP isnt about making big decisions. The future is in the small choices, like a primary vote, that may have big consequences and may reveal themselves to be of crucial importance later.

I hope Republican primary voters do the same as I tell my teenage daughter: Make good choices.

Lynn Schmidt is a columnist and Editorial Board member of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The chairman of the Libyan National High Electoral Commission, Imad al-Sayeh, Sunday discussed with members of the "6 + 6" Joint Committee of the Libyan House of Representatives (Parliament) and the High State Council a number of technical issues related to the elections
A man walks on Karon beach on Phuket Island, Thailand in April 1, 2021. Photo by Reuters

A Russian tourist was confirmed dead and his younger brother sustained injuries Saturday after their rented scooter crashed on a rural road in Thailands Phuket.

Maksim Fadeev was driving his younger brother on a scooter in Phukets Pa Khlok Town when his motorbike crashed, killing him at the spot, The Phuket News reported.

His brother survived the crash and was rushed to the Wachira Phuket Hospital for treatment.

The two had traveled to the Patong area to visit Bang Tao Beach. On the way back to their hotel, Fadeev might have failed to navigate a curve and fell off a nearby cliff to his death, police said.

Police said the Russian tourists might have been unfamiliar with the road.

A preliminary investigation found that the two brothers arrived in Phuket on April 5 and planned to leave on April 15. They had been staying at a hotel in Patong and had rented a Honda Click scooter for outings.

Local authorities are cooperating with the Russian Embassy in Thailand to return the victim to his family.
Glatfelter Appoints New Chief Operating Officer

April 10, 2023 - Glatfelter on April 5 announced that Boris Illetschko has been appointed to the role of Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. He replaces the company's current Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, Christopher W. Astley, and Senior Vice President, Integrated Global Supply Chain and IT, Wolfgang Laures, both of whom will leave the company effective immediately.

Glatfleter noted that these changes are not related to the company's operations, financial reporting or controls, or personal conduct.

Glatfelter's President and CEO, Thomas Fahnemann, said, "Since joining Glatfelter, I have assessed the leadership skills and capabilities that are essential to driving Glatfelter's financial performance improvement, which led me to consolidate the company's commercial and supply chain leadership into a single, integrated chief operating role. I am delighted that Boris Illetschko will be serving in this capacity given his previous experience leading multi-national commercial and supply chain functions throughout Europe, North America, and Asia.

"Also, I want to thank Chris and Wolfgang for their respective 12 years and 3 years of dedicated service and commitment to Glatfelter, and for the support they have provided to me during my early Glatfelter tenure," Fahnemann added.

Fahnemann continued, "My goal with these changes is to streamline the decision-making and real-time assessment of the business needs for the commercial and supply chain functions under one single point of accountability for delivering results," Fahnemann said.

Most recently, Illetschko served as global Group Chief Commercial Officer & Group Managing Director for voestalpine Rotec GmbH, Krieglach, Austria, where he was responsible for ten production facilities located in North America, Europe, and China. Prior to this role, he worked as an independent industry consultant from 2017 to 2019. From 2011 to 2017, Mr. Illetschko worked for Semperit AG Holding, Austria where he was responsible for various roles including corporate development and mergers and acquisitions, as well as General Manager for a global business segment with production sites in Europe, India, and China.

Illetschko is an Austrian citizen and holds several degrees, including a Master of Business Administration from the University of Toronto, Canada and Advanced Management degrees from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), United Kingdom, as well as the Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria.

Illetschko will join Glatfelter after completing his legally required notice period with his current employer, which will conclude no later than October 1, 2023. During this interim period, Fahnemann will provide direct leadership to the management who will report into Mr. Illetschko upon his arrival.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Glatfelter (NYSE: GLT) is a leading global supplier of engineered materials that can be found in personal care and hygiene products, food and beverage filtration, critical cleaning products, medical and personal protection, packaging products, as well as home improvement and industrial applications.

SOURCE: Glatfelter Corporation
Photo: (Photo : MOISES AVILA / Getty Images)

The legal battle for access to the abortion pill Mifepristone continues as it faces another threat of a total ban.

The ongoing legal battle over access to the mifepristone abortion pill has reached the US Supreme Court, following opposing rulings from federal judges in Texas and Washington state.

The Texas judge, Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, ordered a hold on the approval of the drug, which has been used in most abortions for over 20 years.

In contrast, Judge Thomas O. Rice of the Eastern District of Washington State issued a competing ruling, preserving access to the drug in 17 states.

The conflicting decisions are likely to escalate the issue to the highest court in the land.

Texas Judge Orders Hold on Mifepristone Approval

In a 67-page opinion, Judge Kacsmaryk halted the FDA's approval of mifepristone, marking the first time a court has suspended approval of an FDA-approved medication that has been on the market for decades.

The decision could limit access to the drug for millions of women in the US, threatening to upend the entire foundation of America's drug regulatory system.

The US Department of Justice confirmed on Friday night that it would challenge the ruling, and it will not go into effect for seven days, pending an appeal.

Kacsmaryk's ruling could also be a catalyst for anti-abortion rights groups seeking a nationwide federal ban on all abortions.

According to The Atlantic, it is an open invitation to use the Comstock Act, a law passed 150 years ago and rarely enforced in the past century, to achieve their goal.

The recent ruling has the capacity to impact pregnant individuals throughout the country, even in states controlled by Democrats, who have emphasized the importance of accessible abortions.

This ruling has shifted the focus of the ongoing debate on abortion in the US towards abortion pills, particularly mifepristone, which has become a recent target for the anti-abortion rights movement.

Read Also: Hostile Parenting Can Nearly Double Children's Risk of Mental Health Symptoms

Washington Judge Preserves Access to Mifepristone

In contrast, Judge Rice's ruling preserved access to the drug in 17 states, including California, New York, and Washington.

The decision means that the drug can still be provided via telemedicine and mail, a critical option during the pandemic when many clinics have been forced to close or reduce their services.

The judge's ruling is a significant victory for abortion-rights advocates, who have argued that the drug is safe and effective and that women should have the right to choose the method of abortion that suits them best.

However, if the ban ordered by Kacsmaryk ultimately takes effect, some parts of the country could be hit particularly hard.

Furthermore, according to Politico, an analysis by the Guttmacher Institute found that abortion clinics in 2% of US counties only offer abortion pills and don't have a procedural option.

Guttmacher estimates the decision could impede access for at least 2.4 million people.

Some of the states set to be most impacted, including New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Colorado, are serving their own residents and a large influx of patients from neighboring states with more restrictions.

In the event that mifepristone is prohibited, certain abortion providers have declared their intention to switch to prescribing only the second pill in the two-pill treatment, known as misoprostol.

This drug is subjected to fewer limitations due to its usage in treating various conditions, like stomach ulcers, rather than solely for abortions.

Furthermore, in the 67-page opinion, Judge Matthew Kacsmary also gave the Biden administration seven days to appeal the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

This means that the judge's ruling will not take effect for seven days, giving the government time to appeal.

According to CBS, the Biden administration responded promptly by filing its notice of appeal late Friday night.

This notice of appeal is the administration's formal way of asking the higher court to review the judge's decision and potentially overturn it.

In the meantime, women's reproductive rights are once again under threat, with millions potentially facing limited access to safe and effective abortion care.

Related Article: Social Skills 101: Practical Tips for Parents to Foster Social Development in Children
Photo: (Photo : William Thomas Cain /Getty Images)

Two more Philadelphia schools are closing due to the detected asbestos exposure in the building walls.

The School District of Philadelphia has confirmed that two of its buildings, Mitchell Elementary and Frankford High School, are closing temporarily and for the rest of the school year, respectively, due to asbestos. The announcement came after new rounds of testing revealed that plaster previously labeled safe had traces of the toxic mineral.

Closure of Two Philadelphia Schools

According to Fox29, on Friday afternoon, April 7, a letter was sent to families of Mitchell School, located in southwest Philadelphia, announcing the closure of the school for the rest of the 2022-2023 school year.

The letter explained that the decision was taken due to the presence of asbestos in the plaster on the walls and above the ceiling tiles. School officials have scheduled virtual learning for Mitchell students from Tuesday, April 11, to Friday, April 14.

The school officials aim to locate an alternate facility for the affected students to resume their academic year. They anticipate that the new facility will be available either by Monday, April 17, or Monday, April 24. The district has emphasized its commitment to ensuring the health and safety of students and staff, acknowledging the concern and questions that may arise from the new information.

The announcement has left many parents and students unsure about their next steps. Furthermore, in the same school district, Frankford High School is also affected by the asbestos discovery. The school will shift to virtual learning next week. The district has not announced when the school will reopen for in-person learning.

ABC News reported that among the buildings in the School District of Philadelphia that have been affected by asbestos are Mitchell Elementary and Frankford High School, which happen to be some of the oldest structures in the area.

Despite records from the 1990s indicating that the plaster in most of the buildings was asbestos-free, new inspections and sampling by inspectors have revealed the presence of asbestos in certain plaster walls and ceilings.

The district is puzzled as to why the recent findings contradict the historical records. Furthermore, the discovery comes after earlier reports of asbestos being found in two other district-managed buildings with incomplete or inaccurate records.

Read Also: Revolution Farms Issues Major Lettuce Recall Due to Listeria Fears

Asbestos and Health Risks

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that is commonly used in building materials and other products because of its strength, durability, and resistance to heat and fire.

However, inhaled asbestos fibers become trapped in the body, causing various health problems. Healthcare providers usually identify the possibility of asbestos exposure and related health conditions by taking a thorough medical history.

As per the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing lung disease, and smoking can worsen the effects. The greater the exposure to asbestos, the higher the chances of developing harmful health effects. Symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may take years to appear following exposure.

Asbestos exposure is associated with several health effects, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the thin lining of the lung, chest, abdomen, and heart. Additionally, the Mesothelioma Center states that over 50 other countries have banned the use of asbestos due to its health hazards. However, its use remains legal in the US despite a complicated history of legislation and regulation.

The recent closure of two schools in Philadelphia due to asbestos contamination highlights the need for regular inspections and updates on the safety of buildings. The district has taken steps to ensure the safety of students and staff by closing affected buildings, but the impact of the closure on students' education is yet to be determined.

Asbestos exposure poses a significant health risk, and it is vital to take the necessary precautions to prevent its spread and protect the health of the community.

Related Article: Legal Battle for Mifepristone Abortion Pill Reaches Supreme Court After Texas, Washington Judges Issue Opposing Rulings
Sudden, great awakening is the life blood of the Zen school, both Soto and Rinzai. In this post, Ill share one such great awakening  that of the important Soto ancestor, Keizan Jokin Zenji (1264-1325)  and make a few comments. May awakening stories like this one inspire your process to awaken fully and live congruently as such.

Keizan is up for me these days because Tetsugan Sensei and I are working through the last eight chapters of his Denkoroku ( The Record of the Transmission of Illumination ) with our Vine of Obstacles Zen group of training students . This includes the last six generations in China and the first two in Japan. We also use the Denkoroku in advanced koan study, as is typical in the Harada-Yasutani line, but it is such a powerful and beautiful text, that we wanted to share it with all of our students now.

Click here to read an ad-free version of this post and to support my Zen teaching practice at Patreon, including translations and writings like this.

Ive previously posted about Keizan, of course, including Keizans Answers to Ten Questions from the Emperor, comprised mostly of a translation by Kokyo Henkel Osho , the current tanto (head of practice) at Green Dragon Temple (aka, Green Gulch Farm). That post also includes a slightly different telling of Keizans awakening as well as his instructions for working with the mu koan.

In this post, too, Ill use translation by Kokyo, this one from Tojo Shoso Denki Shusei ( Dongshan Lineage Various Ancestors Transmission Record Collected Works ). Heres the story:

One morning Tetsu Gikai went up in the Dharma Hall and raised the case of Ordinary mind is the Way.

Keizan suddenly realized great awakening and said I got it.

Gikai asked, What have you realized?

Keizan said, A black lacquer person runs through the night.

Gikai said, Thats not yet it, say more.

Keizan said, At tea-time, I drink tea; at meal-time, I eat rice.

Gikai smiled and said, This person in the future will arouse the ancestral wind.

Zen stories that end with a smile are the best!

In this case, its the he did get it smile of Tetsu Gikai. For more about this important ancestor, see Seven Stumbles, Eight Blunders: The Life of Tetsu Gikai.

In this version of Keizans awakening, old Gikai gave a dharma talk on a koan that also has been very important for many Zen students, including me. It occurs in The No Gate Barrier , case 19, and goes like this: Zhaozhou asked Nanquan, What is the Way? Quan said, Ordinary mind is the Way. Zhou asked, Is it possible to direct oneself towards it then? Quan said, To intentionally try to do that is scheming. Zhou asked, If not intentionally trying, how can you know the Way? Quan said, The Way does not belong to knowing or not knowing. Knowing is delusion, not knowing is blankness. If you truly reach the Way of no intention, its like the great empty universe, a vast open thusness. How could you make an effort of right and wrong? At these words Zhou had a realization.

Zen stories about an awakening to ordinary mind are the best!

In Zen, you see, ordinary is ordinary and it is the great empty universe, a vast open thusness. Thusness might not seem ordinary, but that notion that theres a difference is delusion. The collapse of the distinctions of thusness and the ordinary is awakening.

It is also notable that two of the most common times for people to openly accord with awakening are in interactions with their teachers (like in Zhaozhous case) and during dharma talks (as in Keizans case). In this one post, we cover em both. So youve got that going for you too.

Now back to our main focus  Keizans awakening. After he hit on it, Keizan reported to Gikai, Ive got it! That kind of confidence is also common. When you see it , you know youve seen it  and that confidence should encourage one to show it to their teachers, for starters. If it doesnt encourage the process of verification within relationship, then its probably more delusion than awakening.

Gikai asked Keizan what he had realized and Keizan said something unusual: A black lacquer person runs through the night.

In his research into the black lacquer person (kunlun, ), Kokyo found that the ancient Chinese were familiar with people with black skin, possibly from Africa and also the islands in the Indian Ocean, and considered them exotic and to have occult powers. Black skin, at least sometimes, also had a negative connotation and although caution is needed not to just project present bias back in time, there may have been what wed now call racism (or xenophobia) involved.

In Keizans use of the term, though, the significance is transmuted into the paragon of awakened action  a black, nondual person acting freely in the dark night. Its like a person reaching back in the night for a pillow.

This may represent a taste of the first rank, biased within the true.

Zen stories about an awakening that flip contemporary prejudices on their butts are the best!

Gikai, though, pushes Keizan further with Thats not yet it, say more. Keizan responded, At tea-time, I drink tea; at meal-time, I eat rice.

A clear expression of the second rank, true within the biased.

But dont worry about which expression is what  it really isnt much about the words. Keizans whole-body presentation is what Gikai would be attending to when pushing or verifying him.

And with that, Gikai smiled and verified Keizan, This person in the future will arouse the ancestral wind.
Generally speaking, the young professionals, whether they are in jobs or managing their own business or industry, are experiencing lots of stress day in and day out in varying degrees across the globe. Undoubtedly, the competition is huge and cutthroat. Consequently, they often get tired and indisposed too rather more frequently, which badly affect their self-confidence, general health/well-being and productivity at their work place. It also impacts their family life adversely.

In fact, medical experts have been noticing an abnormal increase in the number of young professionals falling prey to psychosomatic ailments which involve both our body and mind. In majority of cases, it is the fall out of perpetual stress and tension. Ultimately, the person starts suffering from medical disorders such as headache, migraine, ulcer, hypertension, diabetes etc. This is not a happy situation for any individual and his or her family. The question is how to cope up with this situation on an on-going basis without visiting a doctor and without taking medicine on every such occasion?

The simple and very effective solution is practicing Yoga sincerely and regularly.

In an address given at Gandhi memorial College, Bhopal, on 28th February, 1979, Swami Satyananda Saraswati, the founder of world famous 'Bihar School of Yoga' said, "Today, the thinking people, who have eyes to see and who are able to understand the secrets of yoga with an open mind, have come to the conclusion that the science of yoga has a definite, clear and indisputable solution for the difficulties of man. The science of yoga covers a great range of human problems. It not only solves the problems of spiritual life, but it can also help to ease the problems of our day to day illnesses. The science of Yogasanas, Pranayama, Mudras and Bandhas, including Hatha Yoga - the science of physiological balance and physical purification- has brought to us the knowledge that diseases can be relieved by the practice of yoga."

To say in plain words, through regular practice of yoga, preferably in the early morning hours in a relatively open space, we gradually learn to look inside, explore our latent potential, achieve higher level of mindfulness in our every action and thereby gain control over our body and mind.

In reality, besides achieving a better physical fitness level, we do improve our power of concentration and the capacity to remain calm and quiet even in moments of distress and indisposition. As a result, we become far more capable to handle and manage any hardship we normally confront in the journey of our life and become more productive and satisfied most of the time.

So, the simple prescription is to spare minimum 30 minutes out of 1440 minutes in a day to practice yoga every morning to manage your stress significantly and hence keep yourself healthier and happier now and always.

Finally before signing off, let us enjoy the motivating lines of Swami Vivekananda, 'All power is within you. You can do anything and everything. Believe in that.'

Milan Sinha has worked in senior positions in financial sector for three decades following three years of active writing in various newspapers and magazines. He is a post graduate in Chemistry from Patna University and also a graduate with Economics.

Presently, besides being a freelance writer / a regular contributor to newspapers & magazines, also engaged as a Stress Management, Lifestyle Management & Wellness consultant, Motivational Speaker and Awareness campaigner.

Moblie: +919608708344, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Unique, attractive design

Motorized, 360 degree rotatable camera

Highly detailed, colorful captures Cons Mild shimmer and moire in captures

Cant be easily removed from vehicle

Must be registered before use. Our Verdict With unique styling and a motorized, rotatable camera the 70mai Dash Cam Omni both looks good in your vehicle and takes detailed captures in any direction.

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I dont want to saddle the 70mai Dash Cam Omni with the adjective cute, though the onboard and app graphics animations push that aesthetic somewhat. (If youre familiar with the movie Wall-E, youre familiar with the vibe.) Clever and unique are far better terms to describe the unit with its motorized, rotatable camera.

More than that, the Omni is an effective dash cam that takes detailed video from any direction you point it atday or night.

Note that all images are showing the Omni resting its mount. Normally, the mounts flat end would be stuck to your windshield with the camera body hanging down.

70mai Dash Cam Omni design and features

The Omni looks very much like a very large pill or capsule. The bottom third of the ellipsoid is occupied by the 1080p, 60fps camera, which rotates 360 degrees. Its not a 360 degree view; you use the app to point the 140 degree field-of-view camera in any direction.

Youd use the app because the camera is motorized. In fact, when you first boot, it will orient itself to the forward position. There are warnings not to rotate the camera by hand, lest you break it, but I didnt see them until after I had already attempted using my paws. I was gentle and the camera still functioned, but Id stick with the app for this.

Its odd that you must rotate the camera clockwise (with the camera end pointed down) to cover areas to the reartheres a stop at around the 270 degree mark when you rotate counter-clockwise.

The Dash Cam Omni features a 1.2-inch display, which is good for seeing large text, but the displays curved plastic covering can create some mild glare and distortionone of the downsides of a capsule design. It can be a tad problematic as the driver will be sitting off-center and must lean over to get a good view.

Here, with the Dash Cam Omni sitting upright on its base, you can see the camera lens at the top of the screen. In your car the orientation would be reversed.

Theres another potentially negative aspect to the Omni, depending on your car and where you park it: The mount, while being a clever, hinged affair (think Pacmans mouth), is affixed to your windshield with a semi-permanent adhesive and cant be easily removed from the windshield, or removed from the camera itself.

Parking here in San Francisco on the street, with a convertible, no less, makes leaving a dash cam in the car tantamount to yelling Steal this! at the top of your lungs. If you park under more secure circumstances, its a non-issue.

Connecting the phone app with the camera via Wi-Fi is required to use and configure the camera. That in itself is fine, but I absolutely dont like having to sign up with the company and register the camera before it will record.

More than just a novelty, the Omni is an effective dash cam that takes detailed video from any direction you point it atday or night.

I do it for the sake of you readers (and because its my job), but on my own, this is a non-starter. I asked the company about telemetry and they assured me that no data is being gathered. The response seemed sincere, and indeed it would not be an easy deal to grab video data, which is relatively massive.

Still, when I buy something, I dont want to be forced online before using it.

The 70mai app provides a live view, access to previous captures, and the ability to change all the settings. Its also required to register the camera for first use.

The app, as mentioned provides access to all settings, previous videos, and a live view. You may also offload video by simply attaching the unit via its Type-C connector to a computer. Thats a good thing as the 128GB of memory is internal eMMC, not on removable SD cards.

Other features are parking mode with motion detection and time-lapse captures.

70mai Dash Cam Omni captures

The Omnis 1080p video is very colorful and detailed. In fact, it compares quite well in this regard with many 1440p or 2160p dash cams. Sometimes there was shimmer and moire when the Omnis video was played back. Though noticeable, the artifacts were not particularly distracting. Given the purpose of a dash cam, well opt for detail every time.

We also like that the GPS info is watermarked. And yes, I never changed Km/H to MPH

Given the cloudy day, this is an excellent capture and note the detail in the license plate.

Detail is retained in night captures, as is the color. Headlight flare is handled well, though a clean windshield wouldve shown that off to better effect. Hey, I live in a city. Schmutz happens. Note that lacking infrared, Omni interior night captures will require you to turn on your cabin lighting for best results.

Sorry, finding a parking space this time of night trumped taking a normal head-on video. This does illustrate the amount of flare youll see. And yes, my windshield could be cleaner. Think of this as real-life testing.

Theres a 300mAh battery on board the Dash Cam Omni which allows it to capture events after a possible power failure. Admittedly, sudden power loss isnt common, but its nice to know youre covered if it does occur.

The Dash Cam Omni takes very colorful, highly detailed video day and night. Its also proof of the high quality you can wring from 1080p captures. You dont have to throw four times the space-wasting pixels at the task.

Is the 70mai Dash Cam Omni worth it?

Though the mount makes this camera a poor fit for my parked-on-city-streets convertible, I quite like the Dash Cam Omni. Its unique and interesting, but its also more than a novelty, as it takes detailed captures day and night. The integrated GPS and easy setup just sweeten the deal.

If youre looking for something effective thats also off the beaten path, by all means, this cutie is a contender. My biggest complaint is the register-before-use issue, which I find intrusive.
Economist Kwame Pianim has raised concerns about the direction of government activities following an economic crisis in Ghana.



Mr Pianim in an interview with Joy FM criticized the government's trend of ceding control to foreign experts and resorting to constant borrowing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which he sees as an indication of incompetence.



He expressed disappointment in the leadership of the country, stating that he expected better performance after 66 years of independence.



"We have a Finance Minister who borrowed and Parliament that supported him to borrow. We have now somebody from the US treasury sitting in the Ministry of Finance to hold Ken Ofori-Attas hand. Ken told me once  we went to school with these same white boys  we are just as good as them," he said.



Now he has somebody sitting there, holding his hand, giving him tutorials in what? And we have somebody being paid by a Swiss fund sitting in the Bank of Ghana. Our governor was out giving advice to other countries. And we are being recolonised, he said.



According to Mr Pianim, government projects often cost twice the indicated price due to incompetence and corruption.



As a result, he does not believe that Ghana's debt should be forgiven but rather restructured to compel the government to pay, thereby deterring it from reckless borrowing.



Mr Pianim has recommended that the government focus on creating home-grown solutions to address current economic issues rather than relying on the IMF during times of crisis.



Speaking on the recent approval of three tax bills by Parliament, Mr Pianim expressed indifference to their purpose, stating that they have nothing to do with growth and fiscal sustainability.



This levy has nothing to do with growth, it has nothing to do with fiscal sustainability. Its a lie, he said.



He also advised the government to be transparent with the people of Ghana.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Democracies are strengthened by the participation of all citizens, particularly women and girls in all their diversity. Thats why President Joe Biden has made advancing womens and girls civic and political participation a top priority of his administration.

Speaking at the Status of Women is the Status of Democracy event on Day Zero of the Second Summit for Democracy, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, We all know . . . the rights of women in many parts of the world are under threat and under attack:

Repressive governments are passing targeted laws to restrict womens fundamental freedoms, including the right to free speech and assembly. Extremist actors are disproportionately targeting women and girls, especially those from historically marginalized identities like LGBTQI+ people, women from racial, ethnic, and religious communities.

But its not just in autocracies that women are being denied their full and equal rights, noted Secretary Blinken:

In far too many parts of the world, women and girls still do not have equal opportunities to study and work. Women journalists, advocates, politicians, and others are subject to persistent online harassment and abuse. Women who are victims of violence often do not have equal access to justice. Women are subject to discrimination that often puts them at a disadvantage.

In the face of these forces, women and girls are leading the charge to advocate for their own rights and all human rights and democracy around the world. And theyre demonstrating the importance of having women and girls at the decision-making table.

In Afghanistan  in the face of the Talibans relentless efforts to erase them from daily life  women are protesting for the respect of their human rights. They are still fighting for a brighter future for their country.

In Iran, courageous women are marching in the streets, under great threat to themselves, to call for woman, life, and freedom.

The United States stands in solidarity with these women and all who are working for women and girls full, free, and equal participation in decision-making processes around the world. Through our diplomacy, said Secretary Blinken, were committed to supporting them and advancing gender equality worldwide.

When we succeed, he said, we not only do the right thing, but the smart and necessary thing to make our countries more prosperous, secure, and fuller of opportunity for all of our people.
A rapist and murderer who escaped a South African prison by faking his own death has been arrested in Tanzania.



Thabo Bester was at large for a year after it was thought he died by setting himself on fire in his prison cell.



A manhunt was launched last month after a new post-mortem investigation revealed the body wasn't actually his.



Bester was caught on Friday with his girlfriend and a third suspect and will be extradited to South Africa.



Police said they believe the trio were intending to flee into neighbouring Kenya.



Bester is known as the "Facebook rapist" for using the social networking site to lure his victims.



He was convicted in 2012 for the rape and murder of his model girlfriend Nomfundo Tyhulu. A year earlier, he'd been found guilty of raping and robbing two other women.



In May, it was reported he had been found dead in his cell after apparently setting himself on fire at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in the city of Bloemfontein.



However, local media began to raise doubts about Bester's death late last year.



In March, police opened a new murder investigation after further tests revealed the deceased was not Bester - and that the unidentified person had died from blunt-force trauma to the head.



Employees of the British-owned security company G4S, which ran the prison where he was held, have been accused of helping him flee.



It has said three employees were dismissed in connection with the incident.



Earlier this week, representatives for the organisation failed to attend a meeting in parliament about Bester's escape. The BBC has approached G4S for comment.



There've been many reported sightings of Bester over the past year, including claims he was grocery shopping in an affluent suburb of Johannesburg, and was living in a rented mansion there.



Bester's escape sparked outrage in South Africa, which has one of the highest rates of sexual assault in the world.

Source: BBC









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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 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).

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Reports by eyewitnesses and local media say at least 51 corpses of l villagers have been recovered from a rural community in Benue state in central Nigeria.



The deaths were a result of an armed gang attacking the village of Umogidi.



A number of villagers are still reported to be missing.



Community youth leader Adakole Inalegu Daniel told the BBC that residents, including youth groups, were still combing the surrounding bushes for more bodies.



Reports say armed men invaded the community in large numbers on Wednesday.



They started from the village market, shooting at anyone on sight.



Residents say many of those who ran into the bush were cut down by bullets and their bodies decapitated.



Although the security forces have been deployed to the area, their presence has not stopped the deadly attacks.



Residents of several agrarian communities in Benue state have had violent clashes with herders.



Farmers accuse herders of using their animals to destroy their crops while the herders accuse farmers of attacking their animals.

Source: BBC









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West Africas largest steel manufacturing company in Ghana, B5 Plus Limited, has swept over dozen top awards as recognition for its outstanding role in the manufacturing activities of Ghana.



Latest of the awards is when the company was adjudged as a Premium Quality Iron & Steel Brand Award 2022 at the seventh edition of Ghana Business Quality Brands Award 2023 held in Accra recently.



Some of the awards that were conferred upon B5 and its CEO includes:



 Best Company in supporting local Content at the Sustainability and Social Investment Awards 2022



 GH TITANS  Mr. Mukesh Thakwani- CEO at the 5th Ghana Industry CEO

Award 2022



 Presidents National Awards for export achievement- Gold Category  GEPA.



 Iconic Iron & Steel Brand Awards at the ninth Made  in  Ghana Awards.



 Best in support of Public Sector in steel manufacturing in Africa at the African Public Service Optimum Awards 2022.



 Building Materials Brand of the Year-(Steel) at National Customer choice awards Ghana 2022.



 Ghana Most Respected CEO in the Manufacturing (Metal) category at Ghana

Industry CEO Awards.



 Ghana Corporate Brand Awards 2022  Manufacturing Company of the Year



 ARCE -2022  Outstanding Business in Manufacturing & Fabrication.



 Ghana Business Icon of the year award 2022 at Made in Ghana Summit 2022.



 GIPC, GHANA CLUB -100 award and many more.



In the area of health, B5 Plus Limited gave a huge relief to Ghanas COVID-19 fight by saving many lives by making countless donations of free oxygen to all public and private hospitals in the Country.



Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)



The philosophy of Mr. Mukesh Thakwani, Founder & CEO of B5plus Ltd., is to give back to the society generously by creating many opportunities for everyone. There

is a direct relationship between the sustainability of business, wellbeing and the development of society.



We are committed in giving back to society in order to reciprocate all the care, support and encouragement that has been well received by



Successful people have always felt the urge toward social responsibility to make

the world a better place and not just take from it.



B5 Plus Limited functions with this

principle and never shies away from its responsibility of giving back to society, he

said.



B5 Plus care Foundation



The Charity foundation takes care underprivileged children in Ghana by providing

them basic needs, including free education and basic medical care.



The Foundation organizes Blood Donation Camps and free Health checkup campaigns every year.



Education



B5 Plus Limited is also the promoter of renowned DPS International School located at Community 25, giving education to locals and foreign nationals.

1D1F



The company has constructed as one of the largest, strategic state of the art steel

manufacturing plant in Africa under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme

at Lakpleku, near Prampram.



The plant is in line with governments vision and mission to promote made in Ghana products.









Read Full Story .... Click on the link to see ALL the awards >>> :









Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has insisted on their call for the immediate resignation of Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani from the Electoral Commission.



Speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, a member of the CODEO Advisory Board, said "only a mad man" will not reconsider his decision while expounding on their position on the two EC appointees.



Dr. Fred Degbey scolded President Nana Addo for appointing and swearing in Dr. Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed who the group strongly believes have affiliations with the NPP.



"Why not choose people whose competence is clean, clear; whose political colours are not known and who can go there and do their work without anybody raising too many flags and throwing mud at them?" he stated.



He noted that allowing Dr. Appiahene and Hajia Ahmed to be on the Electoral Commission raises serious red flags.



"Can you consider stepping as a moral human being, as an intelligent person? Think about it! So, it's an appeal to the person or to the persons", he directed the message to two EC members.



When asked what CODEO's next decision will be should these persons remain on the Commission, Dr. Degbey replied; "One of our Judges said a long time, it's only a mad man who cannot change his mind...You've been appointed to do something and this backlash has come, think about it...We think they should be honorable enough to resign."





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) only created "unemployment" when it governed for eight years from 2009 to 2017.



On the part of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Bawumia says the party has created 2.1 million jobs since assuming power in January 2017.



Speaking at Mpraeso in the Eastern Region on Saturday morning (April 8, 2023), the Vice President said out of the 2.1 million jobs, 975,000 were in the private sector with the remaining 1.2 million in the public sector.



He was speaking after a health walk organised by the NPP as part of activities to mark this year's Kwahu Easter celebration.



Dr Bawumia said the party was able to create the jobs due to the strong economic management team the party has assembled to run the affairs of the country.



He explained that the emergence of the graduate unemployment association during the era of the NDC government was a clear attestation of the mess the party created in the country.



They were not creating jobs. They were creating unemployment, Dr Bawumia said, adding that in spite of the current economic challenges that the country was facing, the party was working assiduously to turn things around.



He expressed the hope that the countrys economy will bounce back to further create more jobs for the teaming youth in the country.



Dr Bawumia, therefore, implored Ghanaians to continue to repose their trust in the NPP-led government since they are capable of turning the fortunes of the country around.



He said the NPP has done a lot for the country in terms of life-changing projects and policies, pointing out that no government in the history of the country has done more roads than the NPP.



Similarly, he said, no government in the Fourth Republic has done more bridges and interchanges than the NPP government.



Additionally, Dr Bawumia said, the records of the NPP were unmatched, saying "No government in the history of Ghana has built more classrooms than NPP."

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says it is possible for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to retain power in the 2024 general elections.



For him, the work that the NPP has done since 2017 was enough to enable it win power to continue with governance.



Speaking at Mpraeso in the Eastern Region on Saturday morning at the end of a health walk as part of activities marking this year's Kwahu Easter, the Vice President said the NPP's record far outweigh that of other political parties trying to wrestle power from them in the 2024 general elections.



He said in terms of educational and road infrastructure, the party's record stand tall, hence Ghanaians will not allow deceptions from other political parties, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to win their votes.



Dr Bawumia challenged the NDC to point out one transformational project that the party did during its tenure in office.



The General Secretary of the party, Justin Kodua Frimpong who also addressed the party members said any candidate that the party will present will be able to beat John Mahama if he is elected as the NDCs flagbearer.



He said the NPP government was committed to ensuring that the country's economic difficulties are resolved in order to put back smiles on the faces of Ghanaians.



"NPP is one family with a common destiny so respect each others views, he said, urging the party members to keep away from things that will cause the party not to break the 8.



For his part, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, asked the party members to work together to ensure that the NPP breaks the 8 at the 2024 general elections.



The NPP, from a Four More to do More! slogan during the 2020 campaign, has latched unto a Breaking the 8 slogan ahead in its quest to throw a spanner in the works of the two-term tradition and clinch a third term.



The NDC in 2000, the NPP in 2008 and the NDC in 2016 all mounted spirited campaigns to Break the 8 but failed to do so.



According to Mr. Opoku, it was through unity and togetherness that the party would be able to break the 8 in 2024 general elections.



The Eastern Regional Chairman of the party, Jeff Konadu said the governing NPP had done a lot to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians, hence it would be wrong if some people claim they have not seen anything.



The Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, Frank Annor-Dompreh who also joined the health walk said Vice President Bawumia was a blessing to the country.



For him, Dr Bawumia is the right candidate to lead the NPP after the expiration of President Akufo-Addos term.





Source: graphic.com.gh









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Rite Aid exited the region last year but now you can say its official. The former longtime headquarters of Rite Aid in East Pennsboro Township, near Camp Hill, has been sold.

Rite Aid spokesperson Alicja Wojkcyk confirmed to PennLive that the pharmaceutical company settled the sale of the property at 29 and 30 Hunter Lane on Feb. 28 with White Rock Realty. The property was sold for $4.73 million, according to Cumberland County property records.

White Rock Realty Associates LLC is located at 636 Old York Road in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, according to business records with the Pennsylvania Department of State. That address is the same as Goodman Properties, which has more than 100 properties in the state, according to its website, including the Chelsea Square shopping center in Manheim Township, Lancaster County.

Officials from Goodman Properties couldnt immediately be reached for comment.

A Rite Aid official told PennLive last year that the company was marketing the property for sale.

In September 2021, Rite Aid announced that its corporate employees would be going remote, and that it would downsize its headquarters and move to Philadelphia. Rite Aid officially moved its headquarters to Philadelphia in July.

The company said the new 23,000-square-foot headquarters, which it calls a collaboration center, offers employees across Rite Aids various businesses  including Rite Aid retail pharmacy, Elixir, Health Dialog, and Bartell Drugs  space to meet and collaborate.

READ MORE: Top leader departs Rite Aid

Rite Aid owned three buildings on Hunter Lane and had occupied them since 1991.

The 30 Hunter Lane main office building has approximately 175,000 square feet of space.

The annex has approximately 29,000 square feet of space.

The 29 Hunter Lane Building has approximately 3,300 square feet of space

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A Texas-based pharmaceutical company plans to close a plant in Pennsylvania.

The McKesson Corporation filed a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry informing the state it will permanently close its entire distribution center located at 2798 New Butler Road in Shenango Township, Lawrence County near New Castle and 135 people will be laid off.

The company said it informed employees at the distribution center of the closing on Sept. 15 and that it anticipates the layoffs to occur on June 1.

Officials from McKesson couldnt immediately be reached for comment.

The company said all impacted employees will receive onsite training for career planning, job search, and resume essentials. Additionally, at minimum, the company will provide all impacted employees three months of career transition services following their separation date.

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. The WARN notice was dated March 29.

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The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today (April 6) approved a $2.7 million settlement agreement with Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) for its improper collection of deposits from the utility's residential and small business customers.

Under the settlement between the CPUC's Consumer Protection and Enforcement Division (CPED) and SoCalGas, the utility will pay: $2,086,275 to residential and small business customers that were improperly billed for deposits; a $400,000 penalty to California's General Fund; and $213,725 to SoCalGas' Gas Assistance Fund to assist customers facing financial hardship in paying their bills.

On April 17, 2020, the CPUC issued Resolution M-4842, directing investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to implement consumer protections using the emergency disaster relief program guidelines set during the COVID-19 pandemic. This included waiving deposits for residential and small business customers retroactively to March 4, 2020 - the date of Governor Gavin Newsom's declaration of a State of Emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the CPUC adopted Decision 20-06-003 on June 11, 2020, which prohibits the IOUs from requiring any residential customer to pay establishment of credit deposits for new service or reestablishment of service deposits for any reestablishment of service.

On August 4, 2020, SoCalGas self-reported its collection of residential deposits to the CPUC. Consistent with Resolution M-4842, SoCalGas waived security deposits for active customers that established service, and it suspended reassessment of creditworthiness that would trigger additional deposits for active core customers. However, SoCalGas did not waive deposits for new customer turn-ons until the CPUC communicated to SoCalGas on May 7, 2020, that the CPUC's intent was for the IOUs to waive all deposits, including to connect or reconnect service (i.e., new customer turn-ons). The proposed settlement issued today would resolve these violations through shareholder funding.

"This settlement results in a fair outcome for customers who were wrongly charged for deposits at the beginning of the pandemic," said CPUC President Alice Reynolds. "I am glad to see that part of the penalty resulting from this settlement will go toward assisting low-income families pay their natural gas bills."

"This settlement highlights the importance of our staff work in using the enforcements tools available to them," said Commissioner John Reynolds. "Every day our dedicated staff investigate allegations of fraud and abuse. This work is particularly important as we continue to see an affordability crisis impacting Californians across the state."

The settlement is formally referred to as an Administrative Consent Order (ACO). This enforcement tool is one of many included in the CPUC's Enforcement Policy established in 2020 to better serve Californians through streamlined enforcement actions in lieu of issuing Citations or seeking formal Order Instituting Investigations. The addition of these tools to the CPUC's enforcement options moved the CPUC's practices more in line with the enforcement practices of many other state and local enforcement agencies.

The Resolution voted on is available at docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M504/K578/504578521.pdf and related documents are available at www.cpuc.ca.gov/regulatory-services/enforcement-and-citations, under the Administrative Consent Orders heading.

The CPUC regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians' access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
Troegs Independent Brewing said it has released its bright summer IPA that sounds refreshing with notes of ripe grapefruit, pear and melon ...

Field Study, the Hershey brewery said, was inspired by its annual trip to the Pacific Northwests Yakima Valley for hop selection.

The beer was born through the brewerys experimental small-batch Scratch Series.

Field Study started with Scratch #327, when we first began tinkering with some new hopping techniques, said Troegs brewmaster and co-founderJohn Trogner.

After several trials, the brewing team landed on a combination Citra, Mosaic and El Dorado to deliver the notes of ripe grapefruit, pear, and melon they were looking to achieve.

Troegs said the Field Study is made with pilsner, oat and wheat malts as well as about 100,000 pounds of barley grown and harvested in its home state. Then just outside Philadelphia, Double Eagle Malt does the rest, turning the grains into Rustic Pale malt.

Rustic Pale malt is kilned slightly higher than most pale malts to amplify the complex cereal and slightly nutty notes, Trogner said.

Field Study is available on draft and in 12-ounce bottles and cans wherever Troegs is sold.

The brewery said Field Study also is included in the new Canthology Volume 2 variety pack and will be available in the Summer Better variety 15-pack coming in early May. Canthology Volume 2 also includes Perpetual IPA, Sunshine Pilsner and LolliHop Double IPA.

READ MORE: Troegs says this once-a-year beer hops to a spot year-round.
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP)  The bodies of a jam band musician and his adult son were recovered from an Arkansas lake more than three weeks after the two went missing during a kayaking trip, authorities said.

The Benton County Sheriffs Office said Sunday that the bodies were identified as those of Chuck Morris, 47, and his 20-year-old son, Charley Morris. Chuck Morris was a percussionist who for more than two decades had been a member of the instrumental jam band Lotus.

The father and son from Kansas City, Missouri, were last seen on March 16 while on a kayaking trip to Beaver Lake, The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. A search crew found their bodies over the weekend while searching the lake with an underwater drone, the sheriffs office said in a news release.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass.  A car was blocking a fire hydrant during a fire Saturday. So, the fire department had to think quick.

The New Bedford Fire Department shared a photo of the car blocking the fire hydrant on Facebook. It showed the hose running through the windows of the car.

The crew of Engine 9 overcame an obstruction in front of the closest hydrant and were able to secure a water supply, the fire department wrote.

The fire department confirmed they had to smash the windows of the car to get the hose through.

Its not something that happens often, the fire department said Monday, but it is illegal and the person was also ticketed.

The fire started around 5:25 p.m. Saturday at 23 Beetle St. It was a kitchen fire in the third-floor apartment, the fire department said.

Crews stretched one hoseline to the third floor and the fire was confined to the kitchen area in the apartment of fire origin, the fire department said. The fire did not extend to the attic space.

The fire department said people were in the house during the fire, which is why it was critical to get the hose connected.

The fire department also shared a photo of a burnt stove.

One person was arrested by the police department after the fire. No other information was given about the arrest.

Seven tenants, including three children, were displaced. They are being assisted by the American Red Cross. All other tenants were able to return to their apartments.
A 17-year-old is in the hospital in critical condition after he was shot multiple times in the West Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia on Sunday, according to reports from NBC10 and The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The incident happened roughly before 6:30 p.m. along the 6700 block of Ogontz Avenue, where the teen was shot twice in the back and once in the stomach.

The teen was then transported to Einstein Medical Center and was placed in critical condition. Police recovered a gun at the scene and said that an unnamed suspect is currently in custody, according to reports.

It is unknown if there was a motive.

Read More:
A row of duplexes in Chester County were destroyed early Easter Sunday morning, leaving many without a home, according to 6ABC and the Daily Voice.

It all happened at 3 a.m. along the 100 block of Washington Street in Parkesburg, where the blaze began in the back of one of the duplexes, which eventually spread to two neighboring units.

Firefighters arrived on the scene and found two homes were taken over in flames. The fire spread to four more homes by 3:15 a.m. Soon, six homes were engulfed in flames, according to reports.

Eighty firefighters were at the scene battling the deadly flames.

Due to the high volume of fire that was present, the two additional exposure duplexes caught fire. That leaves us with the loss behind us, an unfortunate one on a holiday, of six homes, Chief Bryan Gathercikd of the Key Stone Valley Fire Department in Chester County said to 6ABC.

Aside from one firefighter who suffered injuries after he was briefly trapped in the basement of a home, no other injuries were reported.

The Red Cross is now assisting 22 displaced residents at the Parkesburg Borough Hall and donations are being collected.

Currently, an investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing.

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An accident involving a tractor-trailer in western Pennsylvania has resulted in a chemical spill into nearby waterways, according to reports from KDKA and WPXI.

The incident occurred around 1 a.m. Monday along Bellbridge Road in Lincoln, Allegheny County, when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to leave the road and go into the woods.

The truck was carrying about 80 drums of a two-part epoxy chemical, according to KDKA. The drums, along with diesel fuel, were leaking into a nearby stream.

Officials said the epoxy chemical does not pose a fire hazard. Crews were able to contain the spill until contractors could arrive to clean it up. The Department of Energy Protection is at the site.

The driver was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries.

READ MORE: 1 woman dead, another charged after Cumberland County shooting: state police
Some Americans, including Republican members of Congress, feel that an individual running for office should not be indicted for a crime. If that is true, should we make exceptions for others? How about handicapped individuals? What about individuals over the age of 80? Veterans who received a Medal of Honor? We can go on and on, but you get the point.

We know that Vladimir Putin is above the law in Russia and we know he would never be indicted for a crime. The same applies to dictators anywhere. But this is America. No one is above the law. If we begin making exceptions for certain individuals, then we are no longer a true democracy.

Knowing what the president did leading up to Jan. 6 of 2021 should not surprise anyone that he has been indicted. Threatening violence against the District Attorney should not surprise anyone. In fact, how can anyone who professes to be a patriotic American support someone responsible for Jan. 6?

These same individuals hang an American flag at their home or on their vehicle. Dont they know that the American flag represents a democracy that George Washington and many colonists fought for. A democracy in which no one is above the law!

Joe Czarnecki, Harrisburg, Pa.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at the Canada Strong and Free Network in Ottawa on Thursday, March 23, 2023. Smith says she has been contacted by the province's ethics commissioner, who is investigating whether or not she interfered in the administration of justice. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today (April 6) reduced incentives for natural gas energy efficiency measures in residential and commercial new construction to align more closely with the state's greenhouse gas reduction, climate change mitigation, and decarbonization goals.

Today's Decision establishes a forward-looking framework under which ratepayer-funded natural gas energy efficiency incentives will no longer be available. The framework includes various factors, such as cost-effectiveness, availability of electric alternatives, program types, and exemptions for equipment that support state decarbonization goals. As a first step in this framework, beginning in 2024, ratepayer-funded incentives for residential and commercial new construction projects will only be allowed for measures that do not burn natural gas or that are cost-effective. The new rules will continue to fund exempt measures, such as energy efficient equipment that produce natural gas savings but do not use natural gas, such as building insulation, sealing, smart thermostats, faucet aerators, and building envelope measures like windows and doors. The energy efficiency portfolios overseen by the CPUC include programs that promote fuel substitution (i.e., replacing a measure that uses natural gas with a measure that uses electricity, or vice versa) and offer incentives for electric energy efficiency measures.

"Reducing ratepayer funding for non-cost-effective natural gas burning appliances and equipment in the energy efficiency programs aligns the state more closely with its greenhouse gas reduction, climate change mitigation, and decarbonization goals," said Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma, who is assigned to the proceeding. "By initially focusing on new construction, we are allowing for more careful consideration of the potential impact on hard-to-reach underserved customers and disadvantaged communities. This Decision provides an initial pathway and a reasonable balance to achieve the state's climate goals while mitigating negative financial impacts on vulnerable communities."

The Decision aims to encourage the use of cleaner energy sources and reduce the state's dependence on natural gas. The move is part of California's broader efforts to combat climate change and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. By phasing out incentives for natural gas measures, the CPUC is promoting the adoption of more energy-efficient and sustainable alternatives.

Today's Decision was issued in an umbrella proceeding (A.22-02-005), which addresses a Staff Proposal for reducing ratepayer-funded incentives for natural gas energy efficiency measures over the next 10 years. California's energy agencies continue to take steps toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 and meeting the state's ambitious 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, including strategies to end sales of natural gas space and water heaters starting in 2030; updating building standards for an all-electric building code; eliminating subsidies for extending natural gas lines to serve new buildings, which ends a financial incentive for gas system expansion; and comprehensively reviewing utility natural gas infrastructure investments.

The proposal voted on is available at docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M505/K562/505562548.PDF.

Documents related to the proceeding are available at apps.cpuc.ca.gov/p/A2202005.

More information on CPUC's energy efficiency efforts is available at www.cpuc.ca.gov/energyefficiency.

The CPUC regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians' access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
ELKO  A 28-year-old man being chased by law enforcement following a report of a stabbing crashed his pickup into the front doors of the Elko County Sheriffs Office and Jail building on Saturday afternoon, the sheriffs office reported.

Deputies were called to a residence in Kittridge Canyon and were en route when they learned that the suspect had fled in a tan Ford pickup.

Officers from the Elko Police Department noticed the vehicle traveling westbound on Idaho Street and attempted to affect a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle began to elude the officers and a vehicle pursuit was initiated, sheriffs Lt. Doug Fisher reported.

Law enforcement from the Elko Police Department, Nevada State Police and Elko County Sheriffs Office pursued the vehicle, which the driver ultimately chose to ram into the main entrance doors of the Sheriffs Office.

The driver was identified as Zachary Pawlik.

He was arrested on charges of felony eluding police, driving under the influence, domestic violence with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, battery with a deadly weapon, malicious destruction of government property, and multiple traffic violations.

Further information on the ongoing investigation will be posted when it is available.
Welp. Not ideal just leaving the hospital after 4 days to finally go home. Ruptured appendix took me out this time. Back to ground 0 on training which is annoying but happy to be outta here!  Jackson Goldstone

Jackson Goldstone has announced on social media that he has been in hospital after rupturing his appendix.After kicking off the race season with wins at both the Australian and New Zealand national champs followed by a second place at the final stop of the Red Bull Urban DH series, Jackson was off to a great start in his first season of racing Elites. Sadly he has been set back in his training after sustaining a ruptured appendix, luckily Jackson is out of the hospital after four days and there is still plenty of time before racing kicks off in June.We wish Jackson all the best with his recovery and hope he is back and training for the World Cup season soon.
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 Aiken City Council could take two more steps to cleanup from the failure of Project Pascalis Monday evening.

The Aiken City Council is expected to consider the second and final readings of ordinances amending the city's budget to add and spend the $26.2 million the city received from the state's plutonium settlement and dissolving the Aiken Municipal Development Commission at their 7 p.m. meeting.

The plutonium settlement ordinance calls for spending $9.6 million to pay off bonds the city issued and granted to the Aiken Municipal Development Commission to purchase six of the properties  the Beckman Building, Hotel Aiken, the Taj Aiken Building, the Dr. C.C. Johnson Drug Store, Warneke Cleaners and Newberry Hall  that were included in the $75 million plus redevelopment effort.

The ordinance also calls for spending $3.5 million on a northside gravity sewer project, $3 million on repairs to the closed Fairfield Street Bridge, $1.2 million for intersection and amphitheater improvements at Beverly D. Clyburn Generations Park and $400,000 for the Farmer's Market streetscaping project.

Once the funds are spent, it will end a multi-year effort to get funds from the state's plutonium settlement with Department of Energy.

The council voted unanimously to approve a resolution March 27 entering into an agreement with Aiken County for dispersal of the city's plutonium settlement funds.

Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said in a memorandum to the city council the state's Joint Bond Review Committee voted to approve the distribution of city's funds to Aiken County. He adds the funds will be remitted by the county to the city.

The city council approved the first reading of the plutonium settlement funds spending ordinance Feb. 13.

A South Carolina General Assembly conference committee voted last summer to allocate $26.2 million  An additional $900,000 went to the Aiken Railroad Museum  to the city for downtown and northside improvements ($25 million) and Beverly D. Clyburn Generations Park ($1.2 million).

The state of South Carolina and the Department of Energy announced the settlement agreement in August 2020 resolving years of litigation over the department's failure to either complete and begin operation of the Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River Site or to remove the plutonium stored at the site that was to be processed in the facility. In the agreement, the department agreed to remove the plutonium by 2037 and pay the state $600 million upfront.

Of the $600 million, $75 million went to two law firms who litigated on a contingency fee basis but this has been challenged in court.

The ordinance dissolving the AMDC calls for its dissolution by June 1 and the transfer of its assets to the city.

In addition to the Project Pascalis properties, the AMDC owns the former Jackson Petroleum property and has around $100,000 in a bank account.

The council voted 5-0  Mayor Rick Osbon and Mayor Pro Tempore Ed Woltz recused themselves  to approve the first reading of the ordinance March 27.

The city council is also expected to consider the second and final readings of ordinances:

 Approving a concept plan for a Home2Suites/Hampton by Hilton to be constructed on Ginger Lane and annexing and zoning a city-owned property on Oak Grove Lane to allow the project to move forward;

 Rezoning a property at the corner of York Street (U.S. Route 1) and Columbia Avenue from light industrial to general business to allow for the construction of a internal medicine family practice by Rural Health Services; and

 Annexing and zoning single-family homes on Monetta Street and Marvin Drive.

The council is also expected to consider:

 Approving a memorandum of understanding with the Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch outlining the groups' responsibilities for the properties located south of downtown;

 A resolution authorizing the acceptance of the deed for an easement to a stormwater pond in Deodar Plantation Section VII; and

 Proclamations designating April 22 as Earth Day in the city and April as Fair Housing Month.

The appointment of Faith Hawks to the Design Review Board to replace Katy Lipscomb is also scheduled for consideration at the meeting.

A worksession to discuss placing the Mason Branch and Brunswick Tracts into a conservation easement and the 2023-2024 budget will be held at 6 p.m.
Residents of northeastern Aiken County and southern Saluda County have the opportunity to select their next representative on the Aiken County Public School District Board of Education on Tuesday.

Candidates running to replace Sandra Shealy  Shealy resigned Jan. 10  are Tony Kirkland, Drew Klapko, Kim Livingston and Deborah Tyler.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. and remain open through 7 p.m. at 15 precincts.

Aiken County precincts are Monetta 21 (Ridge Spring-Monetta High School), New Holland 24 (New Holland Fire Department), Oak Grove 30 (Oak Grove Baptist Church), Perry 31 (Perry Town Hall), Salley 32 (Old Crescent Vocational School), Shaws Fork 33 (Shaws Fork Baptist Church), Tabernacle 36 (Couchton Fire Department Substation No. 2), Wagener 39 (Courtney Senior Center), Ward 40 (Jerusalem Baptist Church), White Pond 42 (Summer Grove Baptist Church), and Windsor 43 and 82 (First Baptist Church Windsor Activity Building).

Saluda County precincts are Richland 15 (St. Williams Catholic Church), Ridge Spring-Monetta 16 (Ridge Spring Civic Center) and Ward 20 (Mine Creek Baptist Church).

To find a voting precinct and to determine if a voter is eligible to vote in the election, log onto SCVotes.gov and scroll down the page until they locate and click on the "Check My Registration" option below a gold "MySCVotes" tab.

The voter will be asked to enter their county of registration, their first name, last name, date of birth and the last four digits of their Social Security number on the next screen. There is also a robot test that could be required to move forward.

The next screen provides the school board district the voter lives in (only residents of District 1 can vote), the location of the voter's polling precinct and an option to open the location in Google Maps for directions.

Polling precinct locations are also provided on a voter's registration card and unless the precinct changes places within days of the election, any changes in location will be mailed to the registered voter. If the precinct changes locations within days of the election, notices will be posted at the previous precinct that provide the new location.

Once a voter arrives at the precinct, they will need to provide photo identification to vote. Accepted photo identifications are a South Carolina driver's license, South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles identify card, U.S. Passport or federal military identification.
COLUMBIA  Economic developers in Richland County spent five years planning ahead, putting out millions of dollars to buy up some 1,300 acres in the fast-growing area north of Columbia before it could be overtaken by residential development.

It's what aided the county in winning a $2 billion deal with Volkswagen subsidiary Scout Motors.

Now, all but 200 acres of that site will be covered by the automaker's manufacturing campus, where it plans to produce some 200,000 next-generation electric SUVs and pickups annually. Richland County now finds itself in a position of rebuilding its inventory of industrial sites.

With an eye to the future, the county is considering another 1,600-acre parcel in Lower Richland, near the existing Pineview Industrial Park, said Economic Development Director Jeff Ruble.

"Ill probably be long-retired by the time that comes into play," he said. "But planning ahead is essential to success and, conversely, not planning is a recipe for failure."

That site comes with its own challenges  a lot of wetlands and being located along the Garners Ferry corridor, which is more commercial than industrial in nature.

Scout's takeover of the Blythewood site also pushed aside another a solar panel manufacturer that had been eyeing the property for its own $800 million plant.

Ruble said it's unlikely the county will be in line for another 4,000-employee project like Scout Motors any time soon. But like Volvo in Berkeley County and BMW before it, which has suppliers spread across the Upstate, the Scout assembly plant poses the potential to attract suppliers seeking to serve the automaker.

The state Department of Commerce said it is too early to tell how many suppliers will establish or expand based on Scout Motors production.

"The company is still in start-up mode," the statewide economic development agency said in a statement.

The agency points out that South Carolinas existing supplier base of more than 500 automotive-related companies was a factor for Scout choosing the state. But electric vehicle production also requires a different supply chain than that of internal combustion engines. For example, the makeup of the drivetrain, which allows the engine to turn the wheels, is a more simple design.

Despite having depleted its stash of large sites, Ruble still thinks the county will be able to capture a number of those potential suppliers around the Blythewood area.

"If I don't have (land) now, I'll find it," Ruble said.

Scout's plan for its site does include what it is calling a "supplier park" with room for a couple companies to co-locate. There are also two parcels on those remaining 200 acres on the south end of the site, which Richland County thinks could accommodate another 560,000 square feet of industrial space.

Beyond that, the county has more acreage under contract to purchase for the new railway and interstate interchange that will serve the Scout complex  a 290-acre parcel on the west side of Interstate 77 and a 465-acre parcel east of the interstate.

The new rail and roads will require easements and buffers that will take up space on the additional parcels. There are also wetlands to consider. Surveyors will get to work in the next month determining how much acreage could be developable by suppliers, Ruble said.

Scout has a right of first refusal on all this property for 15 years.

The owner of the property that once housed the offices of insurance software company Policy Management Systems Corp. have also expressed willingness to tear down and redevelop that site at I-77 and Highway 21.

"Were hoping to capture as many of the suppliers as possible and hope that theyll need immediate proximity to Scout. But we recognize some might end up in neighboring counties, and thats really OK, because the economy of the community is agnostic to political boundaries," Ruble said.

That's where Fairfield, Kershaw and Lexington counties come in.

"Fairfield has seen unprecedented interest within the past year. With the announcement of Scout Motors, we only see that interest growing," said Fairfield Economic Development Director Ann Broadwater.

Fairfield Commerce Center has a 450,000-square-foot pre-graded parcel ready for development and a 91,000-square-foot speculative building expandable to 250,000 square feet that will hit the market in early 2024.

The county also used funds from a $99 million legal settlement with Dominion Energy, received in the wake of the abandoned V.C. Summer nuclear reactor project that dealt the state a major economic blow five years ago, to grade one million square feet of space at its I-77 International Megasite in hopes of eventually drawing a single large manufacturer. The site is still in need of sewer service, requiring a new wastewater treatment plant.

"In light of the Scout announcement, we are evaluating the best use of that property," Broadwater said.

After all, Fairfield County is really just one interstate exit away from the Scout site.

For its part, Kershaw County has two parks, each with some 200 available acres, that could house small components makers without a need for much space, said Economic Development Director Jeff Burgess. It also has its own megasite along Interstate 20.

Like Fairfield County, Kershaw would like to see a single large user for that site, but Burgess said, depending on what suppliers Scout needs, one of those companies may just be big enough.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by increasing clouds with showers developing this afternoon. High 73F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low near 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
ELKO  A woman has been charged with felony child abuse in a complaint that accuses her of pulling a boys hair, kicking and striking him.

Tanaya L. Becker, 25, was booked April 6 on the charges after police were called to Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital on Jan. 23 regarding a young child who was suspected of being a victim of abuse.

During a police interview Becker and the childs father claimed the injuries were received at his biological mothers home or as a result of the boy injuring himself, including pulling his own hair out and trying to pull out his own teeth.

Police said the amount of bruising was not consistent with self-harm. According to their report, the boy had bruises all over his body, including but not limited to the chin, behind his ears, raccoon eyes in both eyes, both arms, back, stomach, and legs.

The child was hospitalized overnight but then released under a safety plan prepared by the Nevada Department of Child and Family Services.

Becker told police she had videos of the boy harming himself, but police said they viewed the footage did not observe anything that would have caused the injuries.

In a formal interview she continued to maintain that she did not harm the child, but police gave her a lie detector test and said she failed it.

According to the Elko County Clerks office the couple received a marriage license two weeks prior to Beckers arrest.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Overcast. High 71F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable.
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers this afternoon. High near 70F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

A shower or two possible this evening with partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 58F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Shoppers on King Street will soon see what a new fee on businesses in the area is paying for.

The King Street Business Improvement District approved its first budget April 6, which includes $1.1 million worth of investments toward the popular destination for tourists and locals.

The district, known as a BID, imposes a fee on all commercial businesses on King between Broad and Line streets. It is managed by the Charleston Downtown Alliance, a group of business owners.

For a $1 million commercial property, which under South Carolina law is assessed on 6 percent of its value, the new fee amounts to $678 per year.

The funds collected by the alliance and spent within the BID's boundaries are used to add new services to the street or expand existing services provided by the city of Charleston. One example would be increasing the frequency of street cleaning beyond the city's current schedule.

The BID was officially approved by City Council in December 2021. Now that the Alliance has collected its 2022 fees, it can move forward with its top priority projects.

One of those priorities is the establishment an "ambassador" program. Employees, paid for by BID funds, will traverse the street, assisting in trash pick up, giving tourists directions and communicating with the homeless population.

The agency hired to staff the program, Block by Block, manages employees of other BID districts across the United States. They are trained to handle a variety of responsibilities and "make daily adjustments in services to provide exactly what that public space needs on that day," according to the company's website.

The BID has committed about $430,000 toward a contract with Block by Block, and five ambassadors are already being trained. Visitors to the street should start to see them in the next few weeks.

Doug Warner of Explore Charleston, who helped establish the BID, said that although the ambassadors will serve a set of eyes and ears on the street, they will not have the same level of authority as the Charleston Police Department.

"These folks that will be on the street have no policing power," he said. "That was something that city council was pretty adamant about making sure we understood."

That was a concern raised when city council was first considering approving the establishment of the business district in December 2021.

Jessica Nicoles, owner of King Street boutique J. Stark, said she is wary of the idea of added security.

Further policing of people causing little to no harm starts to sound very scary when its being doled out by rich, white business owners, she wrote in a comment submitted to the council public session.

Other priorities in the BID budget include street beautification, such as hanging planters and public art, branding and building a website, and hosting events.

About $730,000 of the BID's budget comes from the fee imposed on businesses on the street. The rest will come from fundraising efforts and potentially next year's city budget.

Although the city has not made any formal commitments to give funding to the district, officials have agreed to set aside two parking spaces for vehicles used by the ambassadors. The forfeited revenue from donating the use of those spots is expected to total about $4,000. No other funding commitments have been made by the city.

As the BID's funding grows, members of the Downtown Alliance say the next priority will be hosting events on the street. Those will likely take up a larger portion of the Business District's budget next year and beyond, Warner said.

The recent Charleston Wine + Food Street Fest served as inspiration for the Alliance, and Warner said visitors to the street can expect similar experiences funded by the BID.

Organizers of the BID were required to gather support from property owners representing over 50 percent of the districts property value. At the time of approval by city council, the King Street BID had written support from owners representing 55 percent of the property value on the street, totaling 101 owners. That number increased to 65 percent in the months that followed the BID's approval.

Those opposing the BID expressed concern that it would increase property values to a point of pricing out smaller businesses, especially among those that rent their space rather than own it.

Warner said the BID is intent on preserving a mix of national and local business on the street.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-10 14:00:45

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Veteran with breadth and depth of multispecific antibody drug discovery to evolve ADS' capabilitiesSAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / AlivaMab Discovery Services, LLC ("ADS"), a leader in the discovery of superior antibody-based therapeutics, today announced Ankita Srivastava, PhD, has joined the company as Vice President, Antibody Engineering and Protein Sciences.Dr. Srivastava joins ADS from Ichnos Sciences Biotherapeutics SA, where, as Vice President, Protein Sciences and Rational Design, she led a 25-member team to deliver bi- and multi-specific common light chain therapeutic antibodies, with additional responsibilities for de novo discovery by synthetic and immune approaches, NGS and bioinformatics, lead finding, optimization and candidate selection, combinatorial and structure-guided antibody engineering (in-silico and combinatorial), protein production, protein characterization, developability assessment, stable cell line generation, and structural biology. Prior to joining Ichnos, Dr. Srivastava was an Associate Director in Protein Sciences and Structural Biology at Denali Therapeutics, Principal Investigator at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, California, and Senior Scientist at Takeda California."In Ankita's more than 15 years of combined pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic experience in drug discovery and development, her leadership and drive have contributed to multiple product candidates in clinical development," said Larry Green, Chief Executive Officer at AlivaMab Discovery Services. "ADS' multispecific matrix approach has delivered across flexible bi- and tri-specific formats to meet our partners' design goals, which include dual target neutralization, T-cell directing multispecifics, biparatopics, and multispecific agonists, employing binding moieties discovered at ADS as well as binding moieties previously identified by our partners. I am excited that Ankita has chosen to join the evolving ADS leadership team, where she will work closely and collaboratively with Jane Seagal, PhD, Vice President of Antibody Discovery, providing our partners a smooth and efficient process from discovery through engineering and developability assessment, enabling their discovery and advancement of better antibody drug candidates faster." About AlivaMab Discovery ServicesAlivaMab Discovery Services sets its partners' antibody discovery programs on the fastest and most de-risked path through discovery and development. Trusted by top-tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, ADS delivers drug-quality, fully human antibodies on exceptional timelines.ADS rapidly and efficiently delivers truly molecularly diverse panels of antibodies, characterized for function, kinetics, and developability, and offers downstream capabilities in antibody engineering for advanced modalities, including multispecifics and CARs. The ADS team's experience in antibody drug discovery and development comes from many of the world's top 15 pharmaceutical companies, including AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche/Genentech, and translates across more than 500 discovery programs and 35 clinical candidates. This experience, combined with the use of trusted, proven technologies, including Ablexis' AlivaMab Mouse platforms, ensures the highest probability of success. For more information, please visit www.alivamab.com or email info@ alivamab.com ###BD Contact:info@ alivamab.com Media Contact:Maya Tanakamtanaka@ alivamab.com SOURCE: AlivaMab Discovery Services, LLC
Spring Creek Association Committee of Architecture meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday at 401 Fairway Blvd. The board will consider first reading of a rule on right-of-way storage and parking, and second reading of a snow removal policy. Members will also consider a home occupation permit for Little Dinos Daycare LLC at 277 Brooklawn Drive, and livestock permits for two pigs at 40 Arroyo Vista Drive, two goats at 766 Wolcott Drive, and three pygmy goats at 177 Charlwood Lane. Possible legal action will be considered regarding the storage of tools, trash an unlicensed vehicles at 573 Flowing Wells Lane.

Elko City Council meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Elko City Hall. Council will consider amending landfill fees under a rule that imposes a direct and significant burden upon a business or restricts the formation, operation or expansion of a business. Also to be considered is a three-month extension effective April 1 for SkyWest Airlines to continue air service at a maximum cost of $365,000, and consider rejecting bids for an FAA-grant terminal apron reconstruction after the lowest bid came in $4.57 million over the engineers estimate of $5.2 million. Council will also consider authorizing the purchase of an Armored Rescue Vehicle at a cost of $350,000 and portable x-ray and bomb detection equipment for $56,510.

Elko County School District Board of Trustees meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, at 850 Elm St. The board will recognize Nevada Gold Mines for the companys support of the School Violence Prevention Program, and review the tentative budget for the upcoming school year.

Elko Television District Board meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, in the Elko County Commissioners Room. The board will consider partnering with Elko County Soil Conservation Districts to assist in noxious weed management.

Elko County Roads Committee will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, in the Nannini Administration Building. The board will review March projects and plans for April.

Elko County Budget Committee meets at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, in the Nannini Administration Building. The panel will discuss property tax and abatement projections received from the state for fiscal year 2023-2024.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-10 11:43:43

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The Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management market have been analyzed by focusing on distinctive technical platforms, tools, and methodologies of the market. Among other outstanding features of the report, the study also incorporates clients demands as well as insinuates future progress of the market across global regions. This market is segmented accordingly  by Types and ApplicationsBy Techniques Cased Based Reasoning Machine Learning & Deep Learning Artificial Neural Network OthersBy Application Automated Retinal Screening Clinical Decision Support Predictive Population Risk Stratification Patient Self-Management Tools OthersBy Device Glucose Monitoring Devices Diagnostic Devices Insulin Delivery Devices OthersBy End User Hospitals and Clinics Diabetes Management Centers Research InstitutesArtificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management Market Regional Analysis:The analysts have distributed the global Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management market into several regions such as North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and India for a detailed market study. The financial aspects of the business are also meticulously studied referring to several attributes such as price, profit margins and sales by regions during the forecast period 2023-2031.Get Exclusive Discount: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=186 The report also includes information on significant market players in order to deliver penetrative insights into the businesses with regards to successful strategies of top-notch companies. Moreover, the report offers comprehensive information of several traders by presenting accurate facts and figures of market shares.Features of the Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management Market Report In-depth Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management industry data presented in an easy-to-understand format Clear-cut market segmentation of the Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management industry, detailing key aspects of each sub-segment Well-analyzed key market player profiles along with their corresponding strategies In-depth intel concerning existing as well as potential trends in the Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management market Industry drivers and restraints of the Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management market have the potential to influence each of its segments and regions of operation. A precise comprehension of expansion strategies as well as potential acquisitions for various engaged companies. This report offers an amalgam of well-articulated intelligence, along with graphical representations of numerous related market variables.Major Points Covered in TOC:Market Summary: It incorporates six sections, research scope, major players covered, market segments by type, Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management market segments by application, study goals and years considered.Market Landscape: Here, the global Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management Market is dissected, by value, income, volume, market rate, and most recent patterns. The development and consolidation of the overall industry and top organizations is provided through graphs and piece of the pie for organizations.Profiles of Companies: Here, driving players of the worldwide Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management market are considered depending on sales across regions, key innovations, net income, cost, and other factors.Market Status and Outlook by Region: In this segment, the report examines the net deals, income, creation and portion of the overall industry, CAGR and market size by locale. The global Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management Market is profoundly examined based on areas and nations like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa.Segment Analysis: Accurate and reliable foretell about the market share of the essential sections of the Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management market is providedMarket Forecasts: In this section, accurate and validated values of the total market size in terms of value and volume are provided by the research analysts. Also, the report includes production, consumption, sales, and other forecasts for the global Artificial Intelligence In Diabetes Management Market.Market Trends: Deep dive analysis of the markets recent and future trends are provided in this section.Enquire Before Buying: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=186 About Us:Absolute Markets Insights assists in providing accurate and latest trends related to consumer demand, consumer behavior, sales, and growth opportunities, for the better understanding of the market, thus helping in product designing, featuring, and demanding forecasts. Our experts provide you the end-products that can provide transparency, actionable data, cross-channel deployment program, performance, accurate testing capabilities and the ability to promote ongoing optimization. From the in-depth analysis and segregation, we serve our clients to fulfill their immediate as well as ongoing research requirements. Minute analysis impact large decisions and thereby the source of business intelligence (BI) plays an important role, which keeps us upgraded with current and upcoming market scenarios.Contact Us:Contact Name: Shreyas TannaCompany: Absolute Markets InsightsEmail Id: sales@ absolutemarketsinsights.com Phone: IN +91-7400-24-24-24, US +1-510-420-1213Website: www.absolutemarketsinsights.com
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Food Writer, Recipe Developer & Super Chef on New Ideas to Ramp Up Spring EntertainingATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / For many people, brunch is their favorite meal. It combines the best of breakfast with the diversity of a tasty lunch, dinner and fun beverages. Just in time for Spring entertaining, super chef and food writer Marisel Salazar shares some unique and tasty ways to recognize National Brunch Month. Marisel combines cultural flavors and unique recipes to freshen up any spring menu. This super chef's ideas include brunch dishes that bring the flavors of spring to life, whether it is warm donuts or a frittata paired with the right wine or cocktail as an essential finishing touch.Food Writer Shares Ideas to celebrate National Brunch MonthTake brunch menus to a new level with super chef & recipe developer Marisel Salazar A GOOD WAY TO START A BRUNCH MENUNothing screams brunch like a Bloody Mary, but put a fun twist on it with a Bloody Maria bar and garnish station. Instead of the usual vodka, try using Cantera Negra tequila. Cantera Negra Silver Tequila is distinctive for its minerality and cooked agave. It presents beautiful notes of citrus on the nose, with a smooth and spicy finish on the palate, perfect for a brunch bloody. Garnish with olives, bacon and pickled hot peppers. This cocktail and garnish station will be the most socially shared part of any brunch. For more information, visit www.CanteraNegra.com A LIGHTER BEVERAGE THAT COMPLEMENTS A WIDE RANGE OF DISHESProsecco is a go-to brunch beverage, and Marisel's favorite is Josh Cellars Prosecco. Sourced from Italy, it has refreshing acidity and a touch of sweetness with flavors of pear, green apples, and citrus, perfect to add to brunch plans. Try it in a mimosa or on its own paired with any brunch dish. Josh Cellars was named after the founder's father, Josh. The brand makes well-balanced and delicious wines meant to be shared with the people who matter most. For more information, visit www.JoshCellars.com POST | VIDEOAbout TipsOnTVTipsOnTV is a lifestyle blog featuring content as seen on national and local media outlets. Expert hosts share advice for viewers, listeners, and readers. TipsOnTV covers a variety of topics, including food, entertaining, personal finance, technology, travel, health, lifestyle and more.Contact Information:R Etipsontv@ gmail.com SOURCE: TipsOnTV
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"Faith & Money Relations" highlights the issues of autonomy, creativity, and suspended success in the corporate world and suggests ways to overcome them.CICERO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / Mario Andre, a longtime security specialist, shares life lessons regarding money and faith in his debut book, "Faith & Money Relations." Mario believes that a man's faith shapes his attitude toward life and is critical to his decision-making skills and financial aptitude.After living a life of risks and uncertainty, Mario turned to his faith to help him through his dark times. He realized that his 9 to 5 job hindered his progress and limited his talents and creativity to only certain spheres. Once he understood the corporate way of doing things, he could see how devastating the system was for individuals bound to it, hoping for stability and comfort.Unfortunately, we are encouraged and even pushed to take the conventional way to success by getting a job fresh out of college and even before that. A corporate job is hailed as a milestone in any adult's life, and anything else is written off as a risk and a waste of time.Mario Andre challenges these views and uses faith and research to cultivate sound arguments against a system designed to box and minimize human potential. He wants his audience to break free of corporate bondage where their opinions and original thoughts are rarely appreciated and supported. Unless you work in a creative field, you will always have to filter your ideas to fit someone else's narrative and expectations, which goes against your Divine Purpose."Faith & Money Relations" is a lesson in personal finance, teaching individuals how to align their career prospects with their faith. Author Mario Andre encourages original thoughts and creativity and wants the readers to pave their own way to success by following their dreams and passions.Additionally, it teaches individuals how to manage, invest, and multiply their money to build their generational wealth. Mario favors the long-term plan to help you achieve stability without compromising your creativity and autonomy. He uses simple concepts to delegate complex financial concepts and is concerned with the long game instead of the short stints.Learn more about Mario Andre and his book "Faith and Money Relations" here: https://faithandmoney.net/ AboutMario Andre is an individual with a mission to help people break out of corporate bondage. Despite his background in security, Mario is passionate about creating financial independence for everyone. His religious aspirations set his approach to personal finance apart from renowned financial gurus.Mario wants his audience to achieve long-term wealth, rejecting the temporary pleasures of being rich. His book, "Faith & Money Relations," is a step in the right direction, covering concepts like financial independence, passive income streams, and debt management.Name: Mario AndreAddress: 1234s, 55th CT, Apt 16, Cicero, IL, 60804Phone: 7739482575Email: info@ faithandmoney.net Website: https://faithandmoney.net/ SOURCE: Faith & Money Relations
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / While nothing can replace absorbing a little of nature's vitamin D from the sun itself, it's been proven that extended exposure can damage our skin, cause premature aging, and make us susceptible to skin cancer.With that said, not all of us are gifted with naturally pigmented skin. However, the good news is that we all can achieve that perfect sun-kissed appearance! Spray tanning is a healthy and easy way to maintain the perfect tan, potentially without a single tan line. And, there are literally no drawbacks to the process, unlike the alternatives of tanning beds and prolonged exposure to nature's UV light.Today's spray tans are as subtle and sophisticated as ever. As long as you're choosing a reputable spray tan artist and undergoing the proper preparation and after-care, you'll end up with a natural and beautifully sun-kissed tan. Think: "I just returned from a blissed-out vacation in the Maldives!"Gladys Trasorras, CEO and founder of Golden Touch Mobile Spray Tanning, shares with us some important tips and considerations to take into account when getting a spray tanning at Golden Touch!First of All What is Spray Tanning?Spray tanning is a process by which a light mist of the chemical called Dihydroxyacetone (more commonly referred to as DHA) is sprayed across the body, causing the skin to turn several shades darker. This chemical has been used for several decades in the cosmetic industry and is considered safe for perpetual use.Prepping Is ParamountAs the tanning process occurs on the outer layer of skin, it's essential to prepare for your appointment to achieve the best results. Exfoliate at least 12 hours prior to your appointment. It's important to focus on areas of the body that might be especially dry like knees, hands, feet, and elbows. This includes shaving as this is a form of exfoliating. Avoid the use of lotions, moisturizers, and deodorants. Shower prior to your appointmentWhat to WearOn the day of your appointment, avoid wearing tight clothing. Instead, choose to wear loose-fitting apparel options as this can rub away part of the spray tan before it has time to set. Also, choose to wear dark clothing to prevent the discoloration of your clothes.After Your Spray TanThe spray tan generally develops 4-6 hours after your session. Therefore, it's important to avoid showering or bathing for at least 12 hours after your session. Sweating can also have detrimental effects on the efficacy of the spray tan. Therefore, it's best to avoid activities that first day that might cause perspiration. Swimming pools that contain chlorine can be detrimental to your faux glow.Try to avoid manicures and pedicures when possible as the chemicals used can often strip away your tan.MaintenanceAt Golden Touch, spray tans can last from seven to twelve days. However, it is possible to extend the results slightly longer!Spray Tans Are CustomizableThanks to the chemicals therein, spray tans can be customized by the spray tan artist to accommodate your unique skin and desired result.The truth is that Golden Touch Mobile Spray Tanning is the #1 celebrity trusted mobile spray tan company in all of South Florida! The products they use do not have a smelly odor, instead they have a delicious raspberry and almond scent. Plus, they are organic, vegan, paraben free and gluten free!Book your next appointment here!Contact:Paula Henderson561-768-4444phendersonnews@ gmail.com About Golden Touch Mobile Spray Tanning:Golden Touch is the #1 celebrity trusted mobile spray tan co. in all of South Florida. They offer Fast, Affordable, and Convenient Mobile Spray Tanning to Miami and surrounding areas. They have the perfect alternative to give their clients the golden dark natural looking tan of their dreams without all the harmful effects. Their products are all natural & organic (paraben free, nut allergen free, completely safe on skin).SOURCE: Golden Touch Mobile Spray Tanning
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LONG BEACH, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / Belal Hamideh, a truck accident lawyer in California, has successfully represented many who were injured in truck, 18-wheeler, and "big rig" accidents. These accidents have become increasingly common in recent years.According to "TruckInfo," a "leading online portal for the trucking industry" that "remains one of the top 'trucking information' sites listed on Google," "one person is injured or killed in a truck accident every 16 minutes" in America.Furthermore, "The United States Department of Transportation estimates that over 500,000 truck accidents occur every year" nationwide.When representing his clients, Belal Hamideh and his team not only represent their clients, but they find all of the parties responsible for the truck accident. Often, the truck driver may be at fault, but other parties may also share liability. In past cases, liable parties have included those who improperly loaded a truck in an accident, truck owners who did not appropriately service the truck, truck manufacturers whose failure led to the accident, and others."Every vehicular accident is a challenge. Truck accidents can be some of the most challenging. As these 18-wheelers and other large trucks are so enormous, the injuries and damage to a person and their property can be that much more devastating. These accidents have become all too common, due to driver fatigue, excessive speeding, and other factors. But, truck drivers are usually not solely at fault in these accidents. My team and I take great pride in helping those who have been injured in truck accidents to receive the maximum compensation from all parties responsible," said Belal Hamideh.In truck accidents or any other kind of personal injury case, Belal and his team have helped clients to receive economic as well as non-economic damages. Through the rules of comparative negligence, they have also helped clients to receive compensation in truck accident cases where the victim may have been partially at fault.For more information about how a truck accident lawyer can help, finding a truck accident attorney in Long Beach and the surrounding area, or to make a press inquiry, contact Belal Hamideh Law, PC at (844) 245-2995.Contact InformationEzekiel HernandezCommunications Director213-332-9255SOURCE: Belal Hamideh Law, PC
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A former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Onje Gye-Wado, who was abducted by gunmen on 7 April, has been released.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Ramhan Nansel, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lafia.

NAN recalls that Mr Gye-Wado who was deputy governor between 1999 and 2003 in the administration of Abdullahi Adamu, was kidnapped at his residence in Wamba Local Government Area.

Mr Nansel said the former deputy governor regained freedom at about 9:00 p.m. on Sunday and has been reunited with his family.

He said no arrest was made yet and the police were not aware of any ransom paid before the release.

According to him, the elder statesman was released due to sustained pressure mounted on the kidnappers by a combined team of security agencies.

(NAN)

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A group, Free Nigeria Movement, has accused Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, of a selective witch-hunt over his reaction to the comments of the vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Datti Baba-Ahmed.

The group stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.

In a recent interview on Channels Television, Mr Baba-Ahmed insisted that his interpretation of a section of the constitution was the right interpretation and that anyone who swears in the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, as declared by INEC, is ending democracy in Nigeria.

Mr Baba-Ahmeds comment attracted a N5 million fine from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for the television station.

Mr Soyinka, who described the LP vice presidential candidates comments and those of the Obidients as fascist, said his utterances were a threat to the judiciary and therefore not acceptable.

Presidential election results

INEC had on 1 March declared Mr Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the 25 February presidential election.

He defeated 17 other candidates, including Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

While Mr Tinubu polled 8.7 million votes, Atiku and Mr Obi polled 6.9 million and 6.1 million votes respectively.

Since the declaration of the APC candidate as the winner of the election, opposition parties and their supporters have not only rejected the results, but they are also for the cancellation, accusing the electoral commission of flouting its own guidelines.

Both Atiku and Mr Obi insisted they won the election and have approached the election petition tribunal to challenge the process and victory of Mr Tinubu.

Soyinkas comments unfortunate

But Moses Paul, the convener of the Free Nigeria Movement, a coalition of groups canvassing the cancellation of the presidential poll, wondered why Mr Soyinka kept mum when other politicians made incendiary comments.

He described comments by the literary giant as unfortunate and regrettable, saying it appears to be a selective witch-hunt.

The Prof. should be a father to all Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity, religion, party or social affiliations, he said in a statement on Monday. However, he has betrayed the trust of many Nigerians who before now hold him in high esteem.

It is on record that Prof Wole Soyinka never condemned the shameless episode of ethnic profiling, instigation and hate speech by elements such as Musiliu Akinsanya (a.k.a MC Oluomo), Bayo Onanuga, Femi Fani  Kayode, and a host of other atrocious persons.

Or are their actions not fascist? Nor did he condemn Prof. Mahmoud Yakubus insistence on flouting INECs guidelines, the Electoral Act and his rush to declare a winner.

Mr Moses, whose group has protested the results of the 25 February presidential election, also called for the boycott of Mr Soyinkas literary materials.

We, therefore, call for the boycott of his books, articles, events and all public engagements that celebrate his literary achievements which as of today do not recognize the well-being of the ordinary Nigerian. We need role models and not sell-outs, he said.

calls for cancellation of election result

Mr Moses said his group is also calling for the cancellation of the presidential election, saying they have made presentations to the governments of the United States, Britain, and country representatives of the United Nations, European Union and ECOWAS Commission.

He said the group is demanding the sack, arrest and prosecution of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, cancellation of the presidential election of 25th February 2023, compensation of all victims of electoral violence, establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Committee in Lagos and other flashpoints of violence.

We have also held a press conference to clarify our position on the declaration of an Interim National Government when the ill-planned attempt by spin doctors to frame it as a call for a military takeover began to build heat in the polity. We have also held national prayers for the nation. But above all, we have maintained a non-violent stance in our bid to seek redress for our demands.

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Thugs suspected to be enforcers of land grabbers shot a police officer to death and severely injured three others on Friday in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, the police confirmed on Monday.

The assailants escaped with the rifle of the slain officer.

The police spokesperson in Lagos State, Benjamin Hundeyin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that three other police officers were seriously injured in the attack.

Officers of the Imota Police Division in Ikorodu were on patrol duty when they came under the attack at Emuren Junction, on Itokin Road in the area.

READ ALSO: Lagos govt arrests six suspected land grabbers

Local sources said the assailants, suspected to be errand boys of land grabbers, ambushed the police patrol team, opened fire on it, killed one on the spot and escaped with his rifle.

On Saturday, police raided cultists hideouts in Emuren, Shagamu Local Government Area of Ogun, a resident said.

NAN reports that many innocent people had fallen victim to gun attacks by agents of land grabbers in Ikorodu and its environs in the past. (NAN)

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An angry mob, on Monday, stoned a 35-year-old man to death for allegedly killing two persons and injuring six others in an accident at Ijoka road, Akure, Ondo State capital.

The spokesperson for the police in Ondo State, Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the incident to journalists.

Mrs Odunlani-Omisanya said the accident involved a vehicle and a commercial motorcycle.

There was an accident that led to the death of a motorcyclist, and rather than the people around helping, they resorted to jungle justice by killing the young man and setting his car ablaze, she said.

The police spokesperson further stated that but for the quick intervention of the police, the parents of the driver too would have been killed.

She said that the parents were not in the same vehicle with their son but only came to the scene to see what was happening.

In all, two people were confirmed dead while the six others who sustained injuries in the accident are currently receiving treatment at the hospital, the spokesperson said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had earlier gathered that the driver was suspected to be an internet fraudster popularly known as Yahoo boy.

He was said to have driven recklessly and rammed into about five commercial motorcycles carrying passengers at different spots at Ijo Mimo through Sunday bus stop to Ijoka road in Akure.

A witnesses, who did not want his name in print, said that three people died on the spot, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The driver of the Toyota car, who did not sustain any injury, was trying to escape from the scene before he was caught by some youths and beaten into coma.

The mob did not spare the mans life, as he was beaten and stoned to death, while his vehicle was also set ablaze by the angry mob, he said.

The witness stated further those who sustained injuries were taken to a nearby hospital, while the lifeless body of the driver was left at the scene.

NAN reports that the police spokesperson could, however, not confirm whether the driver was an internet fraudster (NAN)

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Gunmen have abducted an entrepreneur in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria.

The victim, Alexander Nwosu, was abducted from his hometown in Umuchu, Ekwulobia, a community in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Nwosu, who owns a petrol station and a hotel in the community, was abducted on 31 March while he was at home with his wife and children, according to a report by the Punch newspaper.

His whereabouts since his abduction remains unknown.

A family source, who identified himself simply as Ginikanwa, on Monday, narrated to the newspaper how the victim was abducted.

Mr Ginikanwa said the abductors, who were about 10 in number and wore masks, invaded the victims house in a Toyota Sienna vehicle and shot into the air for several minutes before gaining entrance into the compound.

He also said the abductors had contacted the family and demanded N50 million ransom.

Since the incident, his wife has not been seen and her telephone line has not been connecting. But last Friday, the captors called the family members and demanded N50 million ransom after which we have not heard from them again, Mr Ginikanwa said.

When contacted on Monday night, the police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the victims abduction to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, however, said details of the abduction remain sketchy.

The police were investigating the incident, the police spokesperson said.

Increased attacks

Like other states in Nigerias South-east, security has deteriorated in Anambra State with frequent attacks by armed persons.

Apart from attacks on security agencies and their facilities, several other persons  mainly government officials- have been abducted lately and killed.

The attacks have been attributed to the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, which is agitating for a sovereign state for the Igbo-speaking people in the south-east.

But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

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ELKO  Emergency management officials have pre-staged equipment in the town of Lamoille to deal with debris from possible flooding as record-breaking snow in Lamoille Canyon begins to melt.

The Elko County Office of Emergency Management, in collaboration with the Nevada Division of Water Resources, will hold a flood preparedness informational briefing 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Lamoille Volunteer Fire Department. Residents of Lamoille and surrounding areas are invited to attend to gather information and resources for potential flooding that may occur.

Emergency officials have been examining drone footage of Lamoille Canyon taken by the Elko County Fire Protection District. Resources continue to monitor Lamoille Creek, the Humboldt River, other creeks and streams, as well as low lying areas that may experience flooding.

Most of northeastern Nevada remains under a flood watch until 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Many dirt/unpaved roads are slick, dangerous, or simply impassible at this time. Please drive carefully and avoid those areas if possible, county emergency officials advised. A list of affected roads is posted at elkocountynv.net.

Sandbags are available at several locations.

The Countys Non-Emergency Flood Hotline is still active at 775-777-2574. Anyone experiencing an emergency should call 911.

Temperatures in Elko soared into the mid-70s Monday afternoon after breaking the 60-degree barrier Sunday for the first time this year.

Still, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a 20% chance of snow showers Wednesday night as cooler weather returns  at least temporarily.

Highs are expected to stay in the mid to upper 40s on Thursday before climbing back into the 50s on Friday and 60s by the weekend.
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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former President Olusegun Obasanjo were among the dignitaries who paid their last respect to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Bola Ajibola, who died early Sunday and was buried later in the day.

The former Judge of the International Court of Justice died on Sunday midnight following age-related ailments, his family said.

After an Islamic prayer led by the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sadallah Bamgbola, the body of Mr Ajibola was interred within the Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA) premises, a centre he established decades ago on Abiola Way area of Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

Vice President Osinbajo and his wife Dolapo arrived at the venue at about 4.57 p.m.

Mr Osinbajo spoke in a shaky voice as he eulogised the deceased whom he was very close to having worked under him in the 80s.

The vice president expressed sadness over the death of the legal luminary.

After the burial of Mr Ajibola, Mr Osinbajo recalled his days with the legal luminary.

Prince Bola Ajibola was someone I worked with as a special adviser when he was federal attorney general and one thing he demonstrated was his belief for Nigeria, and that one could serve in the public domain with integrity.

I am sad that he is no more. As Segun, his firstborn has said that I am actually his firstborn. Its a great honour that I know him and he mentored me.

Osoba speaks

Other attendees at the burial include ex-Governor of Ogun State Segun Osoba, Deputy Governor of Ogun State Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and Chief Justice of the State Mosunmola Dipeolu.

Mr Osoba described the late judge as a passionate personality whose interest in education and law cannot be rivalled.

He said the deceased had to sell most of his properties to set up a private university.

Ajibola was a thorough prince of Egbaland, who believes in the legacies of our forefathers. He invested everything he had into education and law in Egbaland, Nigeria and the world as judge of the world court in the Hague. We will miss him, Mr Osoba said.

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President Muhammadu Buhari will travel to Saudi Arabia on official visit from Tuesday, 11 April to 19 April, his office has said.

Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu in a statement described the trip as the presidents last trip to the Kingdom as President, during which he will perform Umrah, the Lesser Pilgrimage.

He will be accompanied by his aides, Mr Shehu said.

Mr Buhari will leave office as president on 29 May after completing his two terms as president.

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The President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has praised Ayo Adebanjo for his contributions to progressive good governance in Nigeria over several decades.

Mr Tinubu spoke in a message from his media office on Sunday congratulating the leader of pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, on his 95th birthday.

While thanking God for his gift of longevity, the President-elect said Mr Adebanjo is one of the few remaining disciples of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo.

Mr Tinubu said Mr Adebanjo has been consistent over the years in fighting for good governance and social justice in Nigeria.

The President-elect particularly commended Mr Adebanjo for his leading role in the fight against military dictatorship, his pro-democracy struggles in NADECO and remarkable leadership within the Afenifere fold.

I congratulate Baba Ayo Adebanjo on attaining 95 in good health. Baba is one of the few remaining disciples of our late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Papa Adebanjo has remained consistent in sustaining the ideals of progressive good governance and social justice.

I salute his courage over the years and the useful role he has played in ensuring that Nigeria remains a strong, united and prosperous country.

We pray that Almighty Allah grant Baba more years so he can witness the dawn of a new era where the hopes of our people for a better, stronger, more secure and more prosperous Nigeria will not only be renewed but come to full realisation.

I wish Baba Adebanjo good health, renewed strength and, above all, continued grace of God.

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It will interest you that Caiaphas the High Priest had a major stake in the money changing business, which explains why he and the rest of the aristocratic Sadducees hated Jesus so implacably. You would recall that Jesus once whipped the money changers out of the temple, scattering their business (John 2: 14-15). You should now understand why Caiaphas, the High Priest was ready to get rid of Jesus when the opportunity came his way.

Historically, the Jews were not allowed to give offerings in the temple at Jerusalem with their coins, because they had the image of Caesar stamped on them. This was deemed idolatrous. Thus, when they arrived for their annual Jewish festivals, they were mandated to change their coins with the money changers around the temples premises. These money changers charged very exorbitant rates to change currencies for the Jews. Furthermore, God specifically gave Moses the exact description of the types of animals that can be accepted for sacrifices in the temple (Leviticus 22: 17-25).

Interestingly, some Jews would still bring animals with various shades of defects and blemishes to the temple, all of which were also rejected. Similarly, they were mandated to have their animals changed, a situation which also made the agents of Caiaphas the High Priest to feast on the people by charging them exorbitantly to have their animals switched.

It will interest you that Caiaphas the High Priest had a major stake in the money changing business, which explains why he and the rest of the aristocratic Sadducees hated Jesus so implacably. We would recall that Jesus once whipped the money changers out of the temple, scattering their business (John 2: 14-15). You should now understand why Caiaphas, the High Priest was ready to get rid of Jesus when the opportunity came his way. Jesus was preventing them from making a lot of money.

Jesuss journey to the cross began this week in history with a lot of twists and schemings. A lot of personalities played very active roles in planning his arrest and subsequent execution, some of whom include Caiaphas, Judas and Pilate, among others. Aside the messianic role hed been destined to play for humanity, His aversion to corruption, His constant affirmation of His supremacy and deity, and in particular, His condemnation of the highly lucrative money changing business sent Him to the cross for you and I.

Famed Jewish historians, Flavius Josephus and Herodotus, in their account of Jewish history, wrote that Caiaphas the High Priest was quite corrupt. Aside from plying his trade in the money changing business, he actually became high priest under very controversial circumstances. He was alleged to have bribed his way through the rank and file of the Roman government. In fact, he spent more than the stipulated number of years as High Priest, having bought his way into the hearts of the government.

Arent we seeing a repeat of history from these accounts? The crucifixion of Jesus came with an array of behind the doors scheming of corrupt religious leaders, ably facilitated by Judas, whose story will be told in the second part of this write-up. But here is the key issue of this story; Jesus was hated to the point of death, not just because of his ministry or because of his miracles, but because he was a major stumbling block to the money changing empire of the corrupt Roman elite. History is still repeating itself  the church of Christ has become fully monetised by a thriving money changing empire that has many pastors and ministers of God, ministers of the word or of music, openly and brazenly trading the gifts of God for monetary benefits. Just like our Saviour, if you dare to stand up against this money changing business, you may be as good as dead. The money changing business is at the centre of the worlds system.

Jesuss journey to the cross began this week in history with a lot of twists and schemings. A lot of personalities played very active roles in planning his arrest and subsequent execution, some of whom include Caiaphas, Judas and Pilate, among others. Aside the messianic role hed been destined to play for humanity, His aversion to corruption, His constant affirmation of His supremacy and deity, and in particular, His condemnation of the highly lucrative money changing business sent Him to the cross for you and I.

Join me in the next part as we examine the role of Judas in the scheming for His arrest. So much lessons to be learnt.

Ayo Akerele, a leadership and system development strategist, and minister of the word, writes from Canada and can be reached through ayoakerele2012@gmail.com.

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We need a break, we need a policy, and we must slow down the population growth and accelerate industrial and economic development at a 10-15% growth rate for the next 20 years, for Nigeria to become one of the top 10 nations in the world. Not just in terms of its GDP but also in terms of its standard of living. If we dont address this problem now, we risk passing it down to our unborn generation. But worse still, we could continue to witness more social economic crises that could lead to the collapse of the country.

Nigerias Unregulated Population Growth Is Our Albatross

We can compare the achievements and track record of Nigeria today to those of great nations of the world when they were 60 years or even 100 years as independent and sovereign countries, in particular countries like England and USA. One can only objectively assess a situation when there is something to compare it to.

50% of Nigerians are not skilled workers and we cannot compete with even smaller countries who put most of their populations to productive work. Our human capital development is catastrophic. We grew as a result of our oil wealth, which unfortunately led to people running away from the farms. Now, it is time to move away from dependency on raw materials towards human capital development, so that our future economy will be based on human capital maximisation, like the rest of the world. If we do, then we will be poised to overtake England and all European countries in the near future. I strongly believe that if we put our acts together in the next twenty years, we can grow an economy bigger than that of any of the countries in Europe. A good example is Brazil. Portugal colonised Brazil in the past, but today the country has changed its story. Brazils economy is $1.5 trillion, while that of Portugal is $230 billion, which is six times or 552% bigger than that of its former colonial master. Nigeria must do the same by building an economy that is bigger than that of the country that colonised us. It is not a dream but a near-future possibility, especially if we maximise our human capital development. Nigerias economy is projected to rank among the worlds top ten economies by 2050, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $6.4 trillion. A report by PwC states that Nigeria, Indonesia and Mexico could displace the United Kingdom and France out of the top ten economies by 2050. Nigeria could sustain an average growth of about 5% to 6% per annum in the long run, and if it does, it will attain the projected goal. I believe in the Nigerian resilient spirit, and with good leadership and purposeful policies we will get there.

Our National Problems and Resolving Them

The following are the biggest and most urgent problems I see in Nigeria as an entity, and if we can fix these issues below our future is promising and bright. An underdeveloped people and a 60% literacy liability: We need to aggressively develop our human capital resources. A nation with the highest number of out-of-school children in the world is not serious about its development. The lack of values and ignorance of how to develop: It is like our government and people in general do not have an understanding of the role of a value system in national development. We need to intentionally study and build values in our people and into the entire fabric of our society. Unregulated population growth and lack of family planning: A matter of great shame to us as a nation is our income per capita. This problem will persist until we do something about our rate of population growth. We need to learn from China and begin to enforce family planning right now. We can start by limiting a woman to a maximum of three children and a maximum of six children to a family or a father. Lack of law and order: Unfortunately our country has not learnt to live by law and order. Yes, we have parliaments but lack the culture of abiding by the law. This factor alone could propel us to become a civilised country. This will take hard work in cultivating a new mindset in our people. Poor biometric registration of all Nigerians: Statistics and figures are not a part of our culture yet. We must know that the information and biometric data of every citizen and foreigners in our country must be a matter of the highest priority to us. As long as we dont have the data of every person living in our country, then we dont have a country yet. We are only imitating a country. This is the most basic requirement for us to call ourselves a country. The elites versus the poor: Our society is built on the principles of feudalism, particularly when a man who has is worshipped by the have-nots. Hence, everyone else wants to attain some level of power, either political or financial, so that they would also be adored by their countrymen. This must change if we are to build a truly civilised society. We need to make all equal before God and the law. We must strive to build an egalitarian country, instead of a bourgeoisie class conscious country that we are presently running. Secession and the need to encourage reconstruction instead: Our diversity is one of our greatest blessings by God. We should not let some separatist elements poison our feelings towards one another. We are better together, hence we must all fight against all sorts of secessionist movements in Nigeria. Unless we want your children to become refugees like Syrians, Liberians, Ukrainians or Sierra Leonians, who had the bad luck of being forced out of their lands because of separatist wars. Lack of representative democracy in all major groups in the country: Nigerians like to blame leadership for all their woes. While there is some truth in this, it is not exactly as our people see it to be. Leadership doesnt comprise only the president and the parliament, but all citizens of the land. We are all responsible for the wellbeing of our country. We all should show leadership and participate in the leadership of the land. By taking responsibility for where we are, we become the leaders there. This mindset must be drilled into our people, such that we dont simply wait for someone to do something for us but rather to individually take responsibility for building the kind of country we want for ourselves. Unguided and unregulated religion: Religion is supposed to be a positive force in nation building if well channeled but with the way religion is given free rein in our country, it could become the greatest threat to our nationhood. The government must be bold enough to develop a set of rules by which all religions in the country must agree to abide. All must be equal before the law, including religious organisations.

To execute these recommendations, especially with regard to the moratorium on population growth in Nigeria, we will definitely need courageous and daring leaders. I understand that its going to be a Herculean task for any leader to undertake. Yet, this is something that must be done if we dont want to keep swimming in the ocean of unresolvable problems. Im aware of the type of resistance that will come from our religious bodies, both Muslim and Christian. Our traditional groups will also raise an obstacle or two. But leadership is about daring to do the best things at all times, no matter how unpopular these could seem in the temporary term.

I believe that our new president-elect has the boldness and courage required for such a revolutionary move, but he wont be able to do this without the support of the National Assembly and all our appointed officials across the country. Hence I am addressing this as an open letter to all appointed officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Yes, I dont doubt the fact that under Tinubu we could grow our economy faster, even attaining a 10-15% growth rate. Nevertheless, even if we do so, we will still remain a poor country if our population growth continues to skyrocket as it is presently doing. Something must give!!!

According to a study by The Lancet, Nigerias population is expected to treble in size to 3.4 billion by 2100 (bbc.com). Nigerias population is growing at 2.6% a year, which is one of the fastest rates globally (theconversation.com). Uncontrolled population growth can lead to several problems such as increased poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, environmental degradation and social unrest (vanguardngr.com).

We need a break, we need a policy, and we must slow down the population growth and accelerate industrial and economic development at a 10-15% growth rate for the next 20 years, for Nigeria to become one of the top 10 nations in the world. Not just in terms of its GDP but also in terms of its standard of living. If we dont address this problem now, we risk passing it down to our unborn generation. But worse still, we could continue to witness more social economic crises that could lead to the collapse of the country. People will continue to demonise the leadership, not knowing that their poverty is as a result of their uncontrolled national libido.

I hope and pray that all I have written gets into the hands and hearts of those who are elected to resolve such problems.

May Nigeria succeed and may all its enemies live long to witness this. For the love of god, church and nation.

Sunday Adelaja is a Nigeria born leader, transformation strategist, pastor and innovator. He was based in Kiev Ukraine.

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When Donald Trump said that he could kill somebody on 5th Avenue in New York and would not lose a vote, he showed an understanding of the ingenuity of his followers. This wisdom has escaped Soyinka. Even in the era of the cancel culture, a die-hard subculture exists that defies all the rules of reason. Soyinka is still trying to understand this subculture of loud and agile followers of modern-day saviours. Why Soyinka did not get it is something that I dont know.

I will chop Professor Wole Soyinkas $1,000.

I am ready to lead him to the underground caves where my fellow unlettered and uncultured people who write all the fake news about him reside. The question now is, will the Nobel Prize winner come with me?

For people like me who go far to collect quotable quotes, apart from the indomitable Robert Mugabe, Wole Soyinka has emerged as the leading African who dishes out words of wisdom daily. I dont know how he does it, but I am delighted whenever I see another of his great saying flying across the information superhighway. I quickly scribble them down on a wall that does not leak. I ensure I date it before someone else steals the quote and attributes it to an undesirable fellow. You see, children nowadays have no respect for giving proper attributes and credit. In effect, I have a warehouse where I store Wole Soyinkas quotes, off news clips with his name boldly pasted on screaming headlines.

Why Soyinka is unhappy with this new development is what I dont understand. Since many people are not reading his books, I thought he would be happy that the next best thing to reading his books is to read his quotes. Has he ever seen Robert Mugabe complain? No. The man is in Harare talking to his pillow and having every word of his encased in easily shareable quotes. Social media sites cheer each time Robert Mugabe drops a new saying. And the man is so versatile that he has an opinion on everything, including Portable. (Someone should please explain to Soyinka who Portable is).

That level of accessibility that Robert Mugabe has is your 21st-century immortality.

At Soyinkas age and level of accomplishments, following Robert Mugabes example is what I expect of him  relax and enjoy the flow. He should not be correcting the grammar of his unauthorised biographers and invisible reporters embedded in his brain, while residing deep inside the forests of Okitipupa, the mountains of Abakaliki, and the deserts of Zamfara. If they miss a comma here and there or use sentences where the subject disagrees with the verb, Soyinka should let it slide. After all, he has won the Nobel Prize for Literature. There is nothing else to prove to fiction writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Teju Cole, Okey Ndibe, or anyone else.

As for Datti Baba-Ahmed and his spewing of fascist rhetoric, Soyinka failed me. I dont know about Soyinka, but I learnt everything I needed to know about Datti from what he said during the 2014 debate about gay rights in the Nigerian National Assembly. Here is Datti Baba-Ahmed view on gays: Such elements in the society should be killed.

Datti Baba-Ahmed did not say it while sitting in the toilet and pushing and pushing a hard stool out. He said it while standing. It came out of his mouth cold, calculated, and styled in the manner that fitted into what Kingsley Moghalu might call cultured. So, unlike Soyinka, when I heard Datti say that inaugurating Bola Tinubu as the president would be the end of democracy in Nigeria, I was not rattled  not even by his Kashima-like body language.

And then, to the landmine  the classic Wole Soyinka attempt to peg an elephant.

I pity the man, for real. In case he forgot, his fellow Nobel Prize winner, George Bernard Shaw, warned, The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. Wole Soyinka should stop trying to adapt the world to himself. But he wont. That is what makes all stubborn grandfathers stand out.

While the unlettered and uncultured were waiting for him to take over a radio station at gunpoint as he did in 1965 to demand the cancellation of a rigged regional election, Wole Soyinka revealed that he told Peter Obi that if he ended up losing the election, it would be because of his followers. Why Soyinka? Why? Must you say everything that comes to your head? What do you even mean by that? Are you saying that Obis followers differ from the Kegites, the Pyrates, and the groupies who follow Portable? Haba, what is problematic in differentiating a sonnet from a sunset? For a man who has beautified an Area Boy, you suppose get am.

If Wole Soyinka were not an 88-year-old man, I would have said, ntooooo to him. Nonsense, negritude!

After making several generations of students suffer while they read and re-read and re-read Kongis Harvest, Madmen and Specialists, The Interpreters, The Man Died: Prison Notes, and many other yeye books that he wrote, Soyinka thought he would quietly walk into the sunset without any repercussion. Mbanu! Iro. He must get wotowoto. (I hope someone explains what wotowoto means to Soyinka).

I will go straight and tell you the trouble with Wole Soyinka. It is simple. Soyinkas trouble is that he is sometimes just like his rascally cousin, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Even when the rest of the world is changing, Soyinka refuses to change. Look at his hair, look at his vest, look at his steps, how he carries his shoulders and his chin. Come on; those are so 1950s and 60s. Dont even talk about how he rolls out words from his mouth. Preposterous! This aliment extends to his understanding of the world around him. And that is his tragedy.

I pity the man, for real. In case he forgot, his fellow Nobel Prize winner, George Bernard Shaw, warned, The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

Wole Soyinka should stop trying to adapt the world to himself. But he wont. That is what makes all stubborn grandfathers stand out.

When Donald Trump said that he could kill somebody on 5th Avenue in New York and would not lose a vote, he showed an understanding of the ingenuity of his followers. This wisdom has escaped Soyinka. Even in the era of the cancel culture, a die-hard subculture exists that defies all the rules of reason. Soyinka is still trying to understand this subculture of loud and agile followers of modern-day saviours. Why Soyinka did not get it is something that I dont know.

Let me help Soyinka out.

My dear poet, you dont write limericks for us. We are a unique breed. We frown at unknown poetry. But those are the things that you, Soyinka, know how to do. If, as a playwright, you want to show us dramatic irony, you dont stand in front of us and count our nine fingers. That is so yesterday. You have to be more creative if you must get through to us. Please dont write novels. We only read a few sentences before we fire our reaction. Try something clever on Tik Tok.

My dear poet, you dont write limericks for us. We are a unique breed. We frown at unknown poetry. But those are the things that you, Soyinka, know how to do. If, as a playwright, you want to show us dramatic irony, you dont stand in front of us and count our nine fingers. That is so yesterday. You have to be more creative if you must get through to us. Please dont write novels. We only read a few sentences before we fire our reaction. Try something clever on Tik Tok.

By the way, why are you not on Tik Tok? A big-time writer like you should be on the platform selling your books. Has nobody told you that your silver hair would be a hit?

Prof, this is the secret of understanding us, the unlettered and uncultured bunch. We know something that you do not know. We know that nobody in our generation has achieved or will ever achieve anything close to what you, Soyinka, have achieved. We know that. We know that we are not worthy to untie your shoes. We read that in the Holy Book. We know you, Soyinka, can feed our family for ten generations. But goddam it, that does not mean that we have no right to abuse you. We reserve the right to abuse you for saying nothing and for saying something.

Granted, we are not the Royal Court type. But because we are not lettered and cultured does not mean our voices are invalid. Hell, no. We are angry for good reasons. And an angry man is a boiling pot of wotowoto.

Your wasted generation pilled these burdens on us, swamp dwellers. It has turned us into deplorable madmen and specialists. In your eyes, we have metamorphosed into something you cannot recognise  futurologists who pick our teeth with violence. Oh, we are bad karma.

You can say a requiem high mass for us; for all we care, we are already prisoners of the sky. No scourge scares us anymore. Those of us entangled in the poetics of pseudo-transition interrupt those of you still having telephone conversations. We hope you will mind the gap between dialogue and outrage; and between discourse and dissonance. In the forest of Olodumare, there are a thousand demons. Not all of them know your name.

If you know this Prof, you will know peace, the type that passes all understanding.

Oya, Prof, abeg send me the $1,000. You can use CashApp. (Can someone please explain to Soyinka what CashApp is?).

Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo teaches Post-Colonial African History at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He is also the host of Dr. Damages Show. His books include This American Life Sef, Children of a Retired God, among others.

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Each electoral cycle throws up its poignant concerns, which the Nigerian state tries, or fails, to grapple with. The just concluded 2023 general elections did not depart from this trajectory. The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, confirmed this much with the disclosure that 781 suspected electoral offenders had been arrested in respect of the 25 February, and 18 March elections. But more heart-rending is the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) report that drew attention to 109 deaths in election-related violence, which occurred between January and 10 March. The foibles impose a duty on the authorities to bring to book individuals or agencies that tried to subvert the electoral process for their selfish ends.

As the police chronicled, 185 infractions took place during the presidential and National Assembly polls, leading to the arrest of 203 persons. Thereafter, in the 18 March governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, the malevolence aggravated. A total of 304 electoral breaches are on record, for which 578 persons were apprehended.

Abuses committed by these suspects fall under about 62 offences in the Electoral Act, with specific sanctions, ranging from fines of N500,000 to N50 million, alongside six-month to 10-year jail terms, depending on the degrees of offence committed. According to the law, destruction of ballot boxes, snatching of result sheets or unauthorised access to electoral materials, buying of voter-cards, bribery, impersonation and forgery attract various jail terms, fines, or a combination of these punishments. Other electoral transgressions include possession of offensive weapons and false result declaration by an electoral official. A Returning Officer or Collation Officer who makes a false return, could face a maximum of three years in prison.

For those arrested to face the law, the Inspector-General has directed police commissioners to swiftly conclude all cases of violations of the 2022 Electoral Act during electioneering, and on the days of voting, and forward them to the Police headquarters for processing and transmission of the case files to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Unfortunately, this is a ritual the country had undergone before without making any success of it.

In more civilised societies, an election is a civic engagement, whereby people freely exercise their franchise in choosing those to represent or lead them. It is certainly not warfare. Sadly, self-seeking and accessing the privileges of public office have supplanted the higher ideal of providing service to the people. These have invariably propelled Nigerian politicians to indulge in desperate acts by engaging thugs; procuring arms and ammunition for them to kill, maim and intimidate political opponents; and to snatch or destroy thumb-printed ballots in strongholds of their opponents. These politicians also capture state institutions in order to win elections. Undoubtedly, the killing of 109 persons as documented in the CDD report is a staggering and horrific evidence of an electoral landscape badly in need of redemption.

The National Human Rights Commissions insights into the conduct of the 2023 polls, documented voter suppression in Lagos, Rivers, Imo, Bayelsa and Ebonyi States; violation of the rights of individuals to participate in elections in Rivers, Lagos and Oyo states; just as it recorded killings in Lagos, Kano, Ebonyi, and Borno states. According to the Commission, INEC facilities equally suffered 75 violent attacks in the build-up to the past elections. With media reports of electoral breaches in Abia, Anambra, Enugu and others states, the infamies, as captured in the police and NHRC reports, are not by any stretch of imagination comprehensive.

One of those killed in the 18 March polls was Chiosom Lennard, the only child of his parents, who served as a polling official in one of the units at Ubeta Community Primary School, in Rivers State. He was billed to defend his PhD thesis on 23 March at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. For daring some hoodlums in police uniform who stormed his polling unit to snatch the ballot-box and other electoral materials, he was shot point blank, along with two party agents he had drawn their attention to the unfolding evil.

Killings and other brazen electoral perversions in this years elections are direct upshots of Nigerias lip service to punishing culprits of misdemeanours involved in our polls. Electoral observers reported that 160 people were killed in 2015, in election-related violence from January to the time of polling in February. And in the 2011 post-election violence in 12 states in the North, 800 persons were killed, according to Human Rights Watch. What is more, 800,000 persons arrested during the 2011 polls for violations of the electoral law went unpunished, except for the paltry number of 200 persons that INEC was able to prosecute. The body cited the lack of capacity as the reason for its failure in putting more offenders on trial and for possible sanctions.

Apparently, the absence of laws to deal squarely with the conundrum is not the issue, but the lack of political will by the state or its institutions to carry out prosecutions effectively. Presently, Nigeria has to break this jinx in relation to the recent elections by ensuring that the badly needed result of prosecutions does not elude the country by putting those arrested to trial, while sparing their sponsors. The arrested do not act in isolation. So far, the outgoing Buhari regime has failed Nigeria woefully in this regard. As a victim of the system in his serial attempts to become elected as president, he was taken seriously when he charged Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in November 2015, as he was being sworn in, to change the narrative: He said it was not enough to cancel elections and Unless our system stops covering up all forms of electoral malpractices, we can hardly get it right. No system endures with impunity. This has turned out as sheer rhetoric. Regrettably, President Buhari could not lead the charge.

However, synergy is required among state actors  the police, INEC and the judiciary  for the diligent and clinical prosecution of suspects. Otherwise, Nigerias electoral process will snap irredeemably, sooner than later. Already, kidnapping that has become a national dilemma is a heavy price Nigeria is paying for tolerating the use of thugs in the 2003 elections in a state in the South-South; these miscreants were abandoned thereafter to fend for themselves. The Boko Haram insurgency had a similar provenance in a North-Eastern state.

The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, had raised some concerns a few years ago about the shortcomings in the extant mechanism for bringing electoral offenders to book. He said, These cases are prosecuted in the states where the alleged offences are committed. Some cases were dismissed for want of diligent prosecution, while in some states, the Attorneys-General entered nolle prosequi to get (let) the alleged offenders off the hook. This is a big problem. It was also unclear to him how many of the 40 persons convicted for breaches in the 2016 by-elections in Kano, served their jail terms.

Given Mahmood Yakubu and Attahiru Jegas wealth of experience on the INEC chair, their persistent clamour for an Electoral Offences Commission, with its own Tribunal, as a way of biting the bullet in the handling of electoral offences, remains a proposal that merits attention. It was one of Justice Mohammed Uwais panels recommendations on electoral reforms in the wake of the massive electoral heist of 2007.

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command says it apprehended 40 suspected members of a criminal syndicate around Gishiri village, on Sunday.

The command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, a superintendent of police, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Ms Adeh said contrary to insinuations in a trending video, the suspects were not randomly targeted, but arrested in an intelligence raid necessitated by complaints from three independent sources over unwholesome activities of the gang in Gishiri village.

According to her, the complainants fingered some ex-convicts namely: Awalu, Balo and Baba Ali, as the masterminds of the criminal gang.

She added that the suspects were alleged to have been involved in intimidation, attack, assault and robbery, as well as consumption and peddling of illicit drugs.

The spokesperson said the gang members were also alleged to have on 30 March, stabbed 10 residents, brutalised many, and vandalised vehicles in the community.

They have no regard for elders and leaders of the community; creating a bad image for the community; they have no respect for custom and tradition.

They attack and obstruct policemen or vigilante members from arresting any suspect when the need arises, Ms Adeh added.

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The spokesperson said the operatives, having processed the intelligence, swung into action at about 00:30 to 02:30 am on 9 April and apprehended the 40 suspects from carefully marked black spots.

She said the suspects were repulsive and violent all through the process of arrest and while taking their statements at the police division headquarters.

She added that police personnel from Mabushi Division had to apply force in suppressing some of the suspects who revolted after being arrested in the intelligence-led raid.

According to her, the cut-to-suit narrative in the video in circulation was a scene of police officers trying to apply minimum force in restoring order.

While the proportionality of the applied force is in question and has amounted to unprofessional conduct, the officers involved have been duly noted for sanction.

The Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command, and the leaders of the Gishiri community have commended the division and its leadership for promptly responding to public outcry and restoring order to the community.

The suspects raided were immediately screened and those with prima facie cases will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigations while round-the-clock surveillance continues in the area to ensure that the restored order is sustained.

Members of the public are enjoined to disregard contrary and inciting accounts of the incident, remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities in their neighbourhood to the police.

They can report through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883, or the Public Complaint Bureau on 0902 222 2352, she added.

(NAN)

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The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has inaugurated a multi-skill vocational centre in Edo State as a part of its job-creation and wealth-generation programmes in the Niger Delta region.

The centre has departments for training on various skills such as footwear design, fashion design, carpentry, catering, and hairdressing, according to a statement issued by the Director, Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Deworitshe Patricia on Sunday.

There are outdoor exhibition spaces and auxiliary offices with conveniences in the centre.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Umana, who inaugurated the centre, said vocational training is a viable pathway to creating jobs and wealth in the region.

Mr Umana, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Olufunsho Adebiyi, described the training facility as one of the gains of the infrastructure agenda of President Muhammadu Buharis administration.

The project construction which was awarded in two phases, December 2020 and December 2021 respectively, was in pursuance of the Ministrys mandate with the goal of training youths to acquire technical skills in the Niger Delta region that can be beneficial in transforming them into wealth and job creators, the minister said.

This commissioning is an eloquent testimony to the unwavering commitment of the Federal Government towards redressing the inequalities in the Niger Delta Region.

I am certain that the construction which was handled by local and indigenous contractors has benefitted the communities through the employment opportunities created for the youths.

The minister charged the youths and others to keep the facility in good condition and ensure its sustainable use.

The Director of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, O. M Oluruntola, thanked President Buhari, the minister and the minister of state, Niger Delta Affairs for their support and confidence in the leadership of the ministry.

Mr Umana said similar centres were being developed by the ministry in each of the nine states of the Niger Delta region.

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The rise in demand for commercial aircraft, an increase in adoption of composite components, surge in need for military aircraft, government initiatives, and advancement in technologies drive the global aerospace parts manufacturing market.

PORTLAND, Ore., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Aerospace Parts Manufacturing Market by Product Type (Engines, Cabin Interiors, Aerostructure, Equipment, System, and Support, Avionics, Insulation Components), by End User (Commercial Aircraft, Business Aircraft, Military Aircraft, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." According to the report, the global aerospace parts manufacturing industry was valued at $0.85 trillion in 2021 and is estimated to generate $1.94 trillion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 9.2% 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.

Request Sample Report - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/10074

Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities

The market for aerospace parts manufacturing is experiencing growth due to various factors such as a rise in demand for commercial aircraft, an increase in adoption composite components, surge in need for military aircraft, government initiatives, and advancement in technologies. However, the market growth is restrained by factors such as limited regulatory infrastructure, high manufacturing cost of aerospace parts, and lack of skilled people to manufacture aerospace parts. On the other hand, surge in adoption of 3D printing in aircraft manufacturing and rise in demand for lightweight & durable aerospace components will present new growth opportunities for the global aerospace parts manufacturing market in the coming years.

Covid-19 Scenario

The global aerospace parts manufacturing industry experienced a decline during the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic led to decrease the air travel demand, due to the implementation of lockdowns, travel restrictions, and quarantines by governments across the world. This resulted in a decline in new aircraft orders and a reduction in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) activities.

The reduction in air travel demand also affected the MRO industry, as airlines grounded aircraft that reduced their maintenance activities. This led to a decrease in demand for replacement parts, as fewer parts needed to be replaced or repaired. MRO providers also faced challenges due to travel restrictions and safety measures, making it difficult to access aircraft for maintenance and repair.

However, the industry has rebounded during the post-pandemic period.

The aerostructure segment to achieve the highest growth during the forecast period

Based on product type, the aerostructure segment contributed to the largest share of more than two-fifths of the global aerospace parts manufacturing market in 2021 and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. The demand for aerostructure is propelled by several factors including, the need for fuel efficiency and environmental sustainability, the growth of air transportation, advancements in materials and manufacturing technology, and military modernization program. However, the equipment, system, and support segment are expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 11.9% from 2022 to 2031. This is due to the growth of the aviation industry, advancements in technology particularly in material science and electronics, regulatory requirements, and the need for improved safety and efficiency.

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The commercial aircraft segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

On the basis of end user, the commercial aircraft segment grabbed the highest share of more than half of the overall aerospace parts manufacturing market in 2021 and is projected to maintain its dominance in 2031. Commercial aircraft are the largest segment of the global aerospace parts manufacturing market, as the number of air travel passengers have largely recovered by 2022. The expected increase in passenger travel on commercial aircraft is projected to drive growth in the aerospace parts and components market. Moreover, the business aircraft segment is expected to exhibit the fastest CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period. The rise in demand for business jets is projected to increase the demand for spare parts and components.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2031

Based on region, the market in North America accounted for nearly half of the global aerospace parts manufacturing market and is likely to dominate in terms of revenue during the forecast period. This is because, North America is the largest region in the global aerospace parts manufacturing market as the aerospace industry continuously innovates and develops modern technologies, like fuel efficient engines, composite materials, and advanced avionics. Also, the government in North America had provided policy and financial support to the aerospace industry which drives the growth of the market in the region. Moreover, the Europe is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 11.8% from 2022 to 2031. The European Union and its members have increased their defense spending, creating ample opportunities for the development of aerospace companies to supply military aircraft and for countries to purchase new aircraft according to their needs.

Leading Market Players

Dassault Aviation

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Thales Group

Lufthansa Technik

Rolls-Royce plc

Boeing Company

Honeywell International Inc.

Safran S.A.

GENERAL ELECTRIC

PARKER HANNIFIN CORP

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The report analyzes these key players of the global aerospace parts manufacturing market. These players have adopted various strategies such as expansion, new product launches, partnerships, and others to increase their market penetration and strengthen their position in the industry. The report is helpful in determining the business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and developments by every market player.

Similar Reports We Have on Aviation Industry:

Aircraft Manufacturing Market Research Report 2023-2035

Satellite Manufacturing and Launch Systems Market Research Report 2023-2035

Satellite Manufacturing Market Research Report 2023-2035

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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.

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QINGDAO, China, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 9, the closing ceremony of the 2023 Qingdao Film and TV Week & the exhibition of the "Golden Seagull" film and TV honorary works were held in Qingdao West Coast New Area. At the event site, the results of the 2023 Qingdao Film and TV Week were released, and the "Golden Seagull" film and TV honorary works were recommended and displayed. All honors were released simultaneously.

As a grand event in the Qingdao film and TV industry, this session of Qingdao Film and TV is really fruitful with many highlights. Focusing on the four dimensions of technology, popularization, internationalization, and branding, and the theme of "New Technologies, New Vision, and New Film Capital", 19 activities were successfully held in five major units: "Filming the Future with Science", "Film Capital of the World", "Golden Key Startup Ventures Plan", "Sea Level Young Filmmaker Program", and "Golden Seagull".

More than 800 industry guests and over 500 film and TV industry giants gathered at the event; 11 key film and TV projects were signed and settled; the policy subsidies of 23.131 million yuan were cashed out; The "Qilu Hi Shooting" TV drama shooting and production online service project was officially launched; Qingdao Haifa Culture (Group) Co., Ltd., China Mobile Migu Company Gugu Studio, and Qingdao Film Academy reached a tripartite cooperation among the college and the enterprises in terms of industry, academia, and research. Shandong Province 5G High-tech Video Innovation and Entrepreneurship Community signed a contract, with 18 enterprises settling in. All these deepened industrial cooperation and policy support.

SOURCE Qingdao Film and TV Week
SAN FRANCISCO, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global magnetic resonance imaging scanners and accessories industry size stood at USD 13.25 billion in 2022 and will witness a CAGR of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030, according to the " Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanners and Accessories Industry Data Book, 2023  2030 ," published by Grand View Research. The trend for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is mainly attributed to the demand for scanning to monitor, diagnose and assess various medical conditions. Since MRI does not use X-rays and provides much clearer pictures, end-users have sought the imaging test for the treatment or diagnosis monitoring of the brain, nerves, spinal cord, ligaments, muscles and tendons.

Magnetic resonance imaging technologists have exhibited an increased inclination for the non-invasive imaging tool to image the body's non-bony parts. Heightened awareness about early diagnosis has fueled the footprint of MRI across emerging and advanced economies. Healthcare providers have upped their focus on increased productivity to keep up with the surge in patient volumes. In terms of revenue, the magnetic resonance imaging market size was valued at USD 5.26 billion in 2022 and could surge at a CAGR of over 7.1% during the assessment period. The growth trajectory is primarily linked to the cardiovascular MRI to monitor or detect cardiac disease. Cardiac MRI will gain prominence to streamline workflow with, including but not limited to, the evaluation of the effects of coronary artery disease, diagnosis of cardiovascular disorders and causes of chest pain.

Industry leaders have furthered their investments in MRI coils following the surge in the aging population and soaring cases of chronic diseases. Radiofrequency coils will provide a fillip to the market growth in light of the demand for clinical trials and applications in receiving and transmitting signals during MRI scans. The MRI coils market size garnered USD 7.99 billion in 2022 and will depict an 8.9% CAGR during the forecast period. In essence, the adoption of technologically advanced diagnostic tools to produce high-quality MRI images will leverage industry players to solidify their brand positions.

Order your copy of the Free Sample of "Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanners and Accessories Industry Data Book - Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI Coils & Motion Tracking Systems Market Size, Share, Trends Analysis, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" Data Book, published by Grand View Research

Entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders are expected to bank on the following drivers, opportunities and trends to stay ahead of the curve:

MRI motion tracking systems will witness investment abound against the backdrop of uptake in MRI scans and their use to minimize errors, reduce motion disturbances and boost image quality.

Hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers will likely witness profound demand for MRIs on the heels of soaring cases of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. According to the Alzheimer's Association, around 6.7 million Americans are suffering from Alzheimer's in 2023.

MRI has become the next big thing to improve cancer screening. In March 2022 , researchers at the University of Waterloo developed an innovation that suggests cancer tissue lights up, thereby improving screening, treatment and prognosis planning.

North America MRI industry share will gain traction in the backdrop of prevalence of chronic disease, buoyant R&D activities and bullish government policies. To illustrate, in February 2023, the National Institutes of Health injected funds into research that helped develop a novel MRI method that can leverage the automatic detection of placental compartments, structural abnormalities and oxygen status.

Researchers are exploring the potential of advanced technologies, such as AI to bring a paradigm shift in the healthcare sector. In June 2021, researchers at the New York University (NYU) Langone Center contemplated boosting MRI accessibility using AI to minimize the time needed for MRI image construction. Additionally, in January 2023, NYU Langone Health cited its study inferring that AI can reconstruct missing data from rapid MRI scans. The study further stated that AI-reconstructed MRI scans are four times faster compared to standard scans. These research activities have solidified the penetration of AI in MRI scans, propelling North America's position in the global market.

Go through the table of content of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanners and Accessories Industry Data Book to get a better understanding of the Coverage & Scope of the study

The competitive scenario emphasizes the prominence of organic and inorganic growth strategies to enhance RoI and boost geographical expansion through technological advancements, innovation, R&D activities, collaboration and mergers & acquisitions. For instance, in November 2022, Siemens Healthineers teamed up with HeartVista to integrate the latter's AI programs for cardiac imaging scans. HeartVista's one-click program will help reduce total scan duration and decrease the number of times a patient is expected to hold their breath to collate a clear image and leverage spotting possible heart defects. Meanwhile, in September 2021, Zoho announced an infusion of USD 5 million into Voxelgrids, an MRI tech startup. The investment will remain pivotal in the growth of indigenous MRI technology to offer the next-gen and cost-effective option.

Check out more Industry Data Books, published by Grand View Research

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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Transaction will broaden Akima's support to aerospace and defense missions with differentiated training capabilities and technology solutions

HERNDON, Va., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akima, LLC, a premier provider of products and services to federal agencies, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. (Pinnacle), a leading provider of innovative training and sustainment products and services to defense customers around the globe.

Leveraging a highly skilled workforce, Pinnacle provides aviation operations and maintenance services; flight operations and training services; and develops state-of-the-art training products and services for air, ground, unmanned, and maritime platforms. The specialized capabilities offered by Pinnacle will complement Akima's portfolio and drive significant value for customers through broader delivery of operations and training capabilities.

Transaction will broaden Akima's support to aerospace and defense missions Tweet this

"Akima and Pinnacle share a deep commitment to exceeding customer expectations and delivering exceptional value to our customers, employees, and shareholders," said Bill Monet, President and CEO of Akima. "Combining Akima's experience and technical expertise with Pinnacle's differentiated mission readiness capabilities will enable us to solve our customers' toughest challenges through innovative technology solutions."

Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, Pinnacle was founded in 2008 by Mike Durant, a retired Army aviator who was shot down while piloting an MH-60 Black Hawk during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. Mr. Durant serves as chairman on the company's board of directors.

"I founded Pinnacle with a vision for a company where mission-driven employees could bring their innovation, responsiveness, and flexibility to bear on our customers' most critical aerospace challenges," said Durant. "Joining Akima, which has a portfolio of complementary businesses and a similar culture, allows that vision to continue and serves the best interests of our employees and customers."

"This announcement represents an important milestone for Pinnacle and is a testament to our tremendous success and strong market position," said Tina Tucker, President and CEO of Pinnacle Solutions. "We look forward to leveraging Akima's expertise supporting critical missions across the federal government, enabling us to deliver stronger outcomes for our customers and increased opportunities for our employees."

Following the closing of the transaction, Pinnacle will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Akima. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory requirements. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Pinnacle Solutions

Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, Pinnacle is an innovative, solution-focused company providing advanced simulation and training solutions; flight operations and training services; training content development in virtual reality, augmented reality, and web-based systems; aircraft maintenance; and technical publications development and sustainment a wide variety of customers, including all Department of Defense components; Special Operations Forces; international militaries; and educational institutions. To learn more visit www.pinnaclesolutionsinc.com.

About Akima

Akima is a global enterprise with 9,500 employees, delivering solutions to the federal government in the core areas of facilities & ground logistics; information technology; aerospace solutions; protective services; systems engineering; mission support; furniture, fixtures & equipment (FF&E); and construction. As a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation owned by more than 15,000 Inupiat shareholders, Akima's core mission is to enable superior outcomes for our customers' missions while simultaneously creating a long-lived asset for NANA consistent with our Inupiat values. In 2022, Akima ranked #29 on Washington Technology's Top 100 List and #56 on Bloomberg Government's BGOV200 List of top federal contractors. To learn more about Akima, visit www.akima.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure

Certain statements contained in this press release and in comments by our management include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include information concerning the acquisition of Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. and related matters, prospective performance and opportunities, post-closing operations and the expected benefits of the acquisition, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "forecasts," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "outlook," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "preliminary," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give you no assurance these expectations will prove to have been correct. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Akima
Ge takes helm of ABF as it prepares to build first lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell gigafactory in Tucson, Arizona

AMERICAN FORK, Utah, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Battery Factory Inc. (ABF), an emerging battery manufacturer leading the development of the first network of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell gigafactories in the United States, today announced the appointment of Zhenfang "Jim" Ge as chief executive officer. Ge co-founded ABF in 2021 and has acted as chairman since that time. Ge replaces Paul Charles as CEO, who resigned in early 2023 to pursue other endeavors. Ge will draw on his intimate understanding of China's lithium-ion battery manufacturing and supply chain dominance in his capacity as CEO.

"We talk a lot about generating renewable energy as a society, but not about how to store it," said Ge. "Without batteries, moving to an entirely green energy economy is impossible. As our network grows, we will begin to fulfill our mission of making energy independence and renewable energy a reality for the United States."

Ge's decade of experience sourcing and supplying Lithium-ion batteries to top product manufacturing companies, along with his passion for providing high-quality solutions to the energy storage sector, has resulted in industry-leading innovation and solutions that will position ABF as the leader in U.S.-based LFP production while reducing foreign dependency.

Originally from China, Ge immigrated to the United States and became a U.S. citizen, founding several companies. In 2014 he embarked on his "energy for everyone" journey, which included launching Lion Energy, a developer and manufacturer of high-quality energy storage products for personal and commercial use. Ge and the other founders subsequently recognized the need to onshore a U.S.-based LFP battery supply chain to eliminate foreign dependency. To accomplish this, they created and incubated ABF to not only be its domestic battery cell supplier but to also establish ABF as an independent manufacturer for all pack integrators and energy storage solution providers.

ABF announced in December 2022 that it had selected Tucson, Ariz. as the site for its first U.S.-based gigafactory. The site will serve as ABF's official headquarters and create approximately 300 high-paying jobs in the first phase of the factory's opening, scaling up to 1,000 cumulative jobs.

"Securing Tucson as our headquarters and first giga-factory is one of the crowning achievements and legacy of Paul Charles' tenure at CEO," said Ge. "Charles' tireless commitment to find the perfect location for us to transform energy storage has positioned ABF to be successful in the years and decades ahead."

The LFP battery cell chemistry that ABF will employ at its U.S. factories will allow for the production of the safest, longest-lasting, most reliable and eco-friendly batteries currently available. Avoiding the use of nickel and cobalt, ABF's materials will be more ethically sourced and allow for optimized performance in energy storage systems. ABF's cells will empower consumers, households and business owners as well as electric utilities and independent power producers across the United States to automate the management of their own inventory of power, reduce the intermittency currently caused by renewables, and gain the independence to optimize and transform energy usage on their own terms.

About American Battery Factory

American Battery Factory Inc., a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery cell manufacturer, is developing the first-ever network of safe LFP cell giga-factories in the United States. The company is dedicated to making energy independence and renewable energy a reality for the United States by creating a domestic battery supply chain. Along with creating domestic manufacturing jobs, ABF will play a crucial role in meeting federal and state government climate change initiatives and "Made-in-USA" national security requirements. For more information on American Battery Factory, please visit www.americanbatteryfactory.com.

SOURCE American Battery Factory
President's vision guides mediation efforts to promote dialogue worldwide

In light of China's recent mediation success in getting Saudi Arabia and Iran to sit together for a landmark dialogue last month and to resume their diplomatic ties on Friday, many policy observers have pointed to the extensive peacemaking efforts made by Chinese diplomats  particularly special envoys  who have traveled across the globe in recent years.

March, for example, witnessed packed schedules and travel by envoys representing the Chinese government or the Foreign Ministry and focusing on specific regions or issues, such as the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.

They made footprints in destinations including Central and West Asia, North Africa and the Pacific Islands, where hot spot issues or the dire need to galvanize local development are high on the regional or global agendas.

In one of the latest developments, Zhai Jun, the Chinese government's special envoy on Middle East issues, met with a group of Beijing-based diplomats from Arab states and the League of Arab States on Friday in Beijing.

"China will continue to make relentless efforts to facilitate a proper resolution of the Palestinian question at an early date," Zhai said.

At the heart of the Chinese envoys' discussions with foreign peers is Beijing's overarching blueprint for peace  the Global Security Initiative, which was proposed by President Xi Jinping in April last year, officials and experts said.

Beijing's expanding lineup of special envoys and its efforts to send them worldwide are among China's practices in carrying out the Global Security Initiative and building a community with a shared future for mankind, analysts added.

The initiative "offers insights for promoting political settlement of flashpoints such as the Korean Peninsula issue and for coping with global security challenges", and it "speaks volumes about China's sense of responsibility to world peace", said Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese government's special representative on Korean Peninsula affairs.

China welcomes other countries joining in the initiative and will work with European countries and the international community to build a more peaceful, more secure and better world for all, he said in a speech on Thursday during a visit to Brussels, the home of the European Union's headquarters.

Observers said that through efficient, practical face-to-face discussions, negotiations and mediation by China with other countries, the China-led initiatives and proposals are not simply political gestures, but blueprints that are constantly being perfected, improved and rolled out, one after another.

"Mediating for peace and promoting dialogue has always been a pivotal guideline of China's diplomacy," said Su Xiaohui, an associate research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies.

Amid numerous conflicts such as the Ukraine crisis, there has been suspicion and pessimism around the world, as some question the efficacy of mediation and special envoys' mediation trips, she said.

"So China's mediator role in facilitating Saudi Arabia-Iran's repair of ties has injected more confidence and faith into the global community and convinced more people that an issue could and should be fundamentally resolved through diplomatic, peaceful approaches," she added.

The locations of the mediation efforts made by Chinese special envoys have shown great flexibility, as envoys either meet diplomats at home or travel outside China to discuss matters as needed.

Qian Bo, the Chinese government's special envoy on Pacific Island countries' affairs, traveled to Guangzhou, Guangdong province at the end of February for a ceremony marking the launch of the China-Pacific Island Countries Center for Disaster Risk Reduction and Cooperation.

Last month, he flew to the Pacific region to meet with leaders and senior officials of countries including the Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

Also high on the Chinese envoys' agendas are detailed proposals made by Beijing in recent years for political settlement of specific issues.

The proposals include the five-point proposal, unveiled in 2021, on realizing peace and stability in the Middle East, the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa released last year, and the position paper on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis issued last month.

Xue Bing, the Foreign Ministry's special envoy for Horn of Africa affairs, visited Ethiopia and the African Union's headquarters in Addis Ababa last month.

An important task of the visit was "to maintain close communication with countries in the region on behalf of China" on advancing the implementation of the Outlook for Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa, and to "support countries in the region in realizing development through solidarity as well as stability and prosperity", Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

The Chinese envoys don't speak only with those who are directly involved in a certain issue or in a specific region. In many cases, they might speak to a third country or an international organization engaged in or interested in their area of expertise, and the meetings' wide-ranging agendas will also cover international and regional issues of mutual interest, according to the Foreign Ministry's website.

Due to China's objective stance in handling various hot spot regional or global issues, the Chinese envoys are often welcomed by both parties that have strained relations.

For example, Zhai, the special envoy on Middle East affairs, visited both Palestine and Israel during his trip to the region last month.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Zhai that "Palestine highly appreciates China upholding a just position on the Palestinian question", and he said he expected China to "continue to play a constructive role in promoting a fair and early settlement of the Palestinian question".

Special envoys from China and other countries are also joining forces and making their contacts more productive.

In June last year, the Foreign Ministry's special envoy on Afghan affairs, Yue Xiaoyong, chaired a meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, gathering special envoys or special representatives of Afghanistan's neighbors, including Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Russia.

As a major step showing the progress of their coordination, a regular meeting mechanism was established among them, and the mechanism's first meeting was held last month in Tashkent.

What China has advocated is common, sustainable security, while some other voices in the world seek security at the cost of other nations, said Wu Sike, China's former special envoy on Middle East affairs.

"The world knows clearly which security outlook aligns with the trend of the times and can enable more cooperation and play a role as catalyst for resolving global security issues," he added.
The Rich Cultural Traditions Of The Hub Of China's Belt And Road Initiative

LONG ISLAND, N.Y., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fascination with Chinese history and culture has led William N. Brown PhD, a professor of business at Xiamen University, to write a fascinating account of Quanzhou, where the 21st century Maritime Silk Road Pilot Zone is helping to lead China's expansion of international economic and cultural exchanges.

In SPLENDORS OF QUANZHOU, PAST AND PRESENT (published by Springer and New Channel International Education Group), Brown recounts Quanzhou's history and culture, from its emergence as the start of the ancient maritime silk road.

Brown spent over six weeks driving to every corner of the city and exploring its history, culture, geography, and cuisine, becoming entranced by Quanzhou's astonishing rich history and heritage. He learned that Marco Polo had sailed home from Quanzhou, and that Quanzhou was Columbus' goal in China.

The Boston Tea Party's dumping overboard of Fujian's prized tea on three ships that had sailed from Xiamen helped stoke the U.S. War of Independence. Quanzhou's Dehua white porcelain was so prized that some European monarchs bankrupted their nations funding research to ferret out the secrets of its production. As for silk, the famed Arab explorer Ibn Battuta said China's best silk was not from Hangzhou, as even many Chinese believe, but from Quanzhou, which the 40,000 Muslim residents called Zaytun, the origin of the English word "satin".

Quanzhou today is a world apart from the sleepy city Brown first visited in 1989. In 2021, Quanzhou's GDP reached 1,130.417 billion yuan. In 2019, the gross value of foreign trade between Quanzhou and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road partners reached 105.355 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 24.6%. Perhaps more than any other Chinese city, Quanzhou has balanced phenomenal growth with the preservation and enhancement of its unparalleled historical, cultural, and natural heritage.

All new architecture, whether apartment buildings, banks, or shopping malls, adhere to codes that insure the historical and cultural aesthetics of each district. The result is a uniquely modern, comfortable city that embraces the future while preserving a colorful past.

For those interested in getting a first-hand look at Chinese culture, SPLENDORS OF QUANZHOU, PAST AND PRESENT provides a fascinating and detailed glimpse into the inner workings of one of China's showcase cities.

SOURCE New Channel International Education Group
Amid the chaos in Afghanistan, there's a glimmer of hope. Aseelapp, the Afghan version of Etsy, offers an opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives.

KABUL, Afghanistan, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aseelapp, the leading e-commerce platform for emerging economies, is on a mission to create meaningful employment opportunities for local artisans, including women and people with disabilities. Since 2017, Aseelapp's Buy Good program has worked with thousands of artists in Afghanistan and Turkey and sold over 10,000 products, providing sustainable income and empowering communities. In response to recent events, Aseelapp has launched the "Do Good'' initiative to provide aid and opportunities to those in need. Through crowdfunding and partnerships, the platform has delivered various aid packages to over 600,000 individuals in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

Join Aseelapp In Supporting Afghan Women At: https://aseelapp.com/aseel-supports-the-education-of-afghan-women.html

The CEO of Aseelapp, Nasrat Khalid, says, "The prominent market for handcrafted items is worth approximately $1 trillion." Tweet this

Aseelapp in Afghanistan

The collapse of the Afghan government and freezing assets and development aid have put Afghans at the highest risk of starvation in the world over the past 20 years. Aseelapp's innovative solution allows people from anywhere worldwide to purchase aid packages for individuals or families in Afghanistan, providing shelter, food, and other emergency packages in dire humanitarian situations. Aseelapp's team on the ground delivers aid packages to families in need inside Afghanistan with no administrative expenditures. Over 150 volunteers in 34 provinces provide decentralized and transparent aid, swiftly responding to disasters.

Aseelapp provides online educational opportunities for individuals in Afghanistan despite the Taliban ban, empowering communities through knowledge and skills. Aseelapp also supports students with internet access, applying for scholarships, or providing guidelines. Aseelapp's user-friendly iOS/Android mobile application and website enable everyone to make a real difference, giving aid and opportunities in dire humanitarian situations anywhere in the world.

Empowering People

The CEO of Aseelapp, Nasrat Khalid, says, "The prominent market for handcrafted items is worth approximately $1 trillion. The majority of handmade items around the world are produced in third-world countries, but there needs to be infrastructure to support them. Aseelapp can swiftly fill this void as we expand into more countries, creating a global market for local artisans and entrepreneurs, providing them with a sustainable income."

By supporting Aseelapp, you are investing in the future of people in Afghanistan and other emerging economies, providing meaningful employment opportunities, and creating a better future for themselves. Aseelapp is not just about providing aid; it's about empowering people to build their communities, providing sustainable income for local artisans, and responding to crises with decentralized and transparent assistance.

Aseelapp's "Do Good" initiative exemplifies the power of technology and social entrepreneurship, changing lives and creating opportunities.

For more information, visit the following links:

Website: www.Aseelapp.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Aseelapp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aseelapp

Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Aseel Technology Corporation
SHANGHAI, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Asieris Pharmaceuticals (688176), a global biopharma company specializing in discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs for the treatment of genitourinary tumors and other related diseases, announced that its subsidiary, Hainan Yahong pharmaceutical Trading Co., Ltd. ("Hainan Asieris "), was issued the Drug Distribution License by the Hainan Provincial Drug Administration.

Hainan Asieris' acquisition of the Drug Distribution Licence is a critical step towards improvement in the quality of drug circulation services, standardizing and normalizing management, and promoting future drug imports and distribution. This is expected to enhance the quality and brand value of the company's products, and strengthen market competitiveness.

"Obtaining the GSP (Good Supply Practice) certification is an important milestone in Asieris' ongoing efforts to improve its commercialization strategy, which in turn helps the company unlock more opportunities and resources in the market," said Mr. Jiang Xinming, Vice President of Marketing Department of Asieris. "We will also continue to improve our service level, promote our commercialization strategy, and provide patients with higher quality medical services and more competitive drug products. Through these practices, we will become a leading enterprise in the field of urologic and reproductive cancer treatment."

Previously, with the strong support of pilot policy in Hainan Province, Asieris' drugs Hexvix (a diagnostic drug for bladder cancer), and single-use cystoscop Uro-G and electronic endoscope image processor Uro-3500 (for bladder cancer diagnosis), were successfully launched in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pioneer Zone in Hainan Province. Among them, Hexvix was listed in the special drug catalogue of the 2022 Lecheng Global Special Drug Insurance document. It has also been included in the clinical real-world data application pilot of drugs.

About Asieris

Asieris Pharmaceuticals (688176.SH), founded in March 2010, is a global biopharma company specializing in discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative drugs for the treatment of genitourinary tumors and other related diseases. We strive to improve human health and help people live more dignified life. We aim to become a global pharma leader that integrates R&D, manufacturing, and commercialization in our areas of focus, as we provide best-in-class integrated diagnosis and treatment solutions for patients in China and worldwide.

The company has been developing its proprietary R&D platform and core technologies, exploring new mechanisms of action, and efficiently screening and evaluating drug candidates. With a well-established in-house R&D system and expertise in global drug development, Asieris is committed to launching first-in-class drugs and other innovative products to address huge unmet needs in its areas of focus.

Asieris is also enhancing its pipeline for genitourinary diseases via proprietary R&D and strategic partnerships, while closely following cutting-edge technologies and therapeutics. The company strives to discover and identify unmet clinical needs and adopts a forward-looking approach to product planning and life-cycle management. We aim to establish an outstanding portfolio that covers diagnosis and treatment in a bid to benefit more patients in China and globally.

SOURCE Asieris
Seeking proposals through May 30 for projects that illustrate the impacts of animal farming methods on people and communities

NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of National Farm Animals Day on April 10, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has announced $200,000 in new grant funding that will be available to U.S. or select Canadian organizations and institutions this year through the ASPCA Fund to End Factory Farming. Building on over 10 years of grantmaking dedicated to improving the lives of farmed animals, these grants will generally range from $15,000-$30,000 to support projects that help to publicly establish, document or illustrate the negative intersections between factory farming practices and human well-being in the United States, or inversely, correlate improved outcomes for people and communities to less intensive farming practices.

"Factory farming poses a grave threat to the welfare of billions of animals, and this inhumane business model has devastating impacts on farmers, local communities, workers and consumers," said Daisy Freund, vice president of farm animal welfare at the ASPCA. "This year, the ASPCA Fund to End Factory Farming is offering funding for projects that ultimately expose how the fates of farmed animals and humans are intrinsically tied to support the movement toward a more compassionate and sustainable food system."

At any given moment, over 1.6 billion chickens, pigs, cattle and other land animals are being raised for food across the U.S., and approximately 10 billion farmed animals are slaughtered annually. These animals are overwhelmingly raised on what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the agriculture industry refer to as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), also known as "factory farms," which may hold tens or even hundreds of thousands of animals in extremely crowded conditions. In addition to being inhumane, factory farming is a major threat to the climate, the health and safety of workers, the vitality of rural communities and the livelihood and well-being of farmers. Despite such devastating impacts, these facilities remain insufficiently governed by minimal laws and regulations.

To build more awareness around the impacts of industrial animal agriculture on people and communities versus higher welfare practices, the ASPCA is seeking proposals for projects that highlight the following:

Worker Impact: The ways in which labor practices correlate to these different types of animal housing and farm management systems, including contract terms or working conditions.

The ways in which labor practices correlate to these different types of animal housing and farm management systems, including contract terms or working conditions. Local Community Impact: The impact of these different types of animal agriculture on individuals or communities located near farms.

The impact of these different types of animal agriculture on individuals or communities located near farms. Consumer Impact: The impact on the general public of access to or consumption of these different types of animal products.

The impact on the general public of access to or consumption of these different types of animal products. Economic Impact: The economic ramifications for producers and brands of raising animals in these differing systems, such as return on investment, level of financial risk and market access.

Since 2001, the ASPCA has provided more than $200 million in grant funding to over 3,500 organizations and programs nationwide dedicated to helping vulnerable and victimized animals. In just the last 10 years, more than $5 million of this funding has gone to organizations and companies focused on protecting farmed animals through direct care, research, educational campaigns and supporting farmers' adoption of more humane practices or transition to plant-based products. In conjunction with the ASPCA's efforts helping to enact federal and state policies, corporate engagement and consumer outreach focused on preventing cruelty to farmed animals, the ASPCA Fund to End Factory Farming was launched in 2022 to offer financial support for innovative projects that help to hasten our nation's transition away from industrial animal agriculture. Last year, nearly $200,000 was distributed through this initiative to support farmers, trade groups, think tanks and organizations working on projects that benefit animals and the environment, food producers, consumers and the public.

"Industrial agriculture harms all aspects of life, including the farmers contracted to keep the system intact. There is a huge need for funding to help contract growers struggling in this destructive system to exit the industry and to prevent others from entering into contracts that are often exploitative and one-sided," said Craig Watts, contract grower transition program director, SRAP. "Thanks to support from the ASPCA, SRAP's Contract Grower Transition Program can help farmers escape industrial animal agriculture while equipping them to advocate for socially responsible farming systems that prioritize public health, the environment and animal welfare."

"The factory farming system has greatly harmed the environment, animals and generations of communities. Burdened by a vicious cycle of debt, farmers often feel hopeless," said Paula Boles, owner of JB Farms and former contract poultry grower. "The ASPCA's funding is allowing us to continue converting our poultry houses into greenhouses to feed our community and serve as an example for others looking to repurpose their investment into a more humane, healthy and sustainable business model."

Applications for the ASPCA Fund to End Factory Farming will be accepted from April 10-May 30. The resulting materials from accepted projects must be made public and should present new evidence, narratives, ideas, solutions or approaches to researching this topic. Final materials may be written or audio/visual, and any research conducted is not required to be formal or academic; both field research and desk research are eligible. For more information about the eligibility requirements or to submit a proposal for consideration, please visit ASPCApro.org/FarmRFP.

About the ASPCA 

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the first animal welfare organization to be established in North America and today serves as the nation's leading voice for vulnerable and victimized animals. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources. For more information, visit www.ASPCA.org, and follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

SOURCE ASPCA
LINCOLN, Neb., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest report on pre-owned aircraft in Sandhills Global marketplaces illustrates a general slowdown in year-over-year increase rates for asking values, although values remain elevated over recent months. Inventory levels of used jets, piston singles, turboprops, and piston helicopters on the market continue to exceed last year's figures, albeit with a mix of trends taking place.

Worldwide, inventory levels of used jet aircraft have resumed month-over-month increases, while their asking values remain strong from 2022. Used jet inventory numbers increased by 5.75% M/M in March and are currently trending upward. Levels of used inventory have rebounded dramatically over the past year, posting a 109.61% increase YOY. Asking values for used jet aircraft also continue to ascend with growth of 0.42% M/M, although the pace of the increases has cooled off lately. The jet mark Inventory levels of pre-owned piston single aircraft in U.S. and Canada have remained stable in 2023 after end-of-year declines in 2022, most recently showing a 4.04% YOY gain in March. Used inventory levels increased 3.37% M/M and are currently trending sideways. Asking values for used piston single units appear to have plateaued, remaining on par with March 2022 values with just a 0.34% increase YOY. Piston single asking values increased 1.27% M/M and continue to trend sideways. Used turboprop inventory levels show 12.44% more available turboprop units than last year after an 8.12% M/M gain. Asking values remain elevated from 2022, while inventory increases are gaining steam. After a slight decrease the month prior, asking values rose 2.66% M/M in March. The YOY increase rate has softened lately but asking values were up 14.29% YOY. Used inventory levels for Robinson piston helicopters decreased again for the second month in a row, dropping 4% M/M and exhibiting a downward trend. Still, used piston helicopter inventory levels remain stronger than last year, posting a 16.13% YOY increase. Asking values declined M/M and ventured into negative YOY territory. Asking values fell by 10.79% M/M during an overall level trend. In comparison to March 2022, however, Robinson asking values dipped below last years values, down 3.01

"Jets, piston single, and turboprop markets are seeing asking values plateau," says Controller Department Manager Brant Washburn. "We're also seeing inventory levels among the fixed-wing segments looking to gain traction again."

Sandhills' aviation products include Controller, Controller EMEA, Executive Controller, Charter Hub, AviationTrader, Aircraft Cost Calculator, and AircraftEvaluator. AircraftEvaluator is Sandhills' proprietary asset valuation tool for all types of aircraft, built using the same technology behind FleetEvaluator. Widely used and trusted across equipment, truck, and trailer industries, FleetEvaluator identifies asset values with unparalleled accuracy.

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.

Takeaways

This report includes detailed analysis of asking values and inventory trends in used aircraft markets along with charts that help readers visualize the data. It describes and quantifies important trends in the buying and selling of used jet, piston single, turboprop, and Robinson piston helicopter aircraft.

Global Used Jet Aircraft

Worldwide, inventory levels of used jet aircraft have resumed month-over-month increases, while their asking values remain strong from 2022. Used jet inventory numbers increased by 5.75% M/M in March and are currently trending upward. Levels of used inventory have rebounded dramatically over the past year, posting a 109.61% increase YOY.

Asking values for used jet aircraft also continue to ascend with growth of 0.42% M/M, although the pace of the increases has cooled off lately. The jet market's asking values remain up, posting a 11.02% YOY increase.

U.S. and Canada Used Piston Single Aircraft

Inventory levels of pre-owned piston single aircraft in U.S. and Canada have remained stable in 2023 after end-of-year declines in 2022, most recently showing a 4.04% YOY gain in March. Used inventory levels increased 3.37% M/M and are currently trending sideways.

have remained stable in 2023 after end-of-year declines in 2022, most recently showing a 4.04% YOY gain in March. Used inventory levels increased 3.37% M/M and are currently trending sideways. Asking values for used piston single units appear to have plateaued, remaining on par with March 2022 values with just a 0.34% increase YOY. Piston single asking values increased 1.27% M/M and continue to trend sideways.

U.S. and Canada Used Turboprop Aircraft

Used turboprop inventory levels show 12.44% more available turboprop units than last year after an 8.12% M/M gain.

Asking values remain elevated from 2022, while inventory increases are gaining steam. After a slight decrease the month prior, asking values rose 2.66% M/M in March. The YOY increase rate has softened lately but asking values were up 14.29% YOY.

Global Used Robinson Piston Helicopters

Used inventory levels for Robinson piston helicopters decreased again for the second month in a row, dropping 4% M/M and exhibiting a downward trend. Still, used piston helicopter inventory levels remain stronger than last year, posting a 16.13% YOY increase.

Asking values declined M/M and ventured into negative YOY territory. Asking values fell by 10.79% M/M during an overall level trend. In comparison to March 2022 , however, Robinson asking values dipped below last year's values, down 3.01% YOY.

Obtain the Full Report

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 aviation, construction, agriculture, and commercial trucking 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, commercial trucking, and aviation industries represented by Sandhills Global marketplaces, including Controller.com, AuctionTime.com, TractorHouse.com, MachineryTrader.com, TruckPaper.com, and other industry-specific equipment platforms. Powered by FleetEvaluator and AircraftEvaluator, Sandhills' proprietary asset valuation tools, 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
PHILADELPHIA, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Humana (NYSE: HUM) and Thomas Jefferson University proudly announce the selection of Billy Oglesby, PhD, as the Humana Dean of the University's College of Population Health (JCPH).

Oglesby

The newly endowed position  made possible by a $15 million gift from Humana to advance community health and health equity while supporting Jefferson's population health efforts  is part of an effort to improve health outcomes for populations that have been disenfranchised and marginalized areas like Greater Philadelphia and neighboring regions. Established in 2008 as the country's first college of population health, Jefferson is at the forefront of this work.

Dr. Oglesby joined Thomas Jefferson University in 2016, served as interim dean of the College of Population Health starting in 2019 and was appointed Dean in 2022. In this role, he works with key leaders across the Jefferson enterprise and with external stakeholders locally, nationally, and globally to develop new academic initiatives that promote healthcare quality and patient safety, improve operational effectiveness and efficiency, and advance public and population health.

Mark L. Tykocinski, MD, president of Thomas Jefferson University, spoke of the importance of this effort and Dr. Oglesby's appointment.

"Under Dr. Oglesby's capable leadership, Jefferson will leverage these new resources to drive meaningful change for Jefferson students and residents in the Greater Philadelphia area," Dr. Tykocinski says. "This is a significant move in a field where our College of Population Health is already established as a leader."

J. Nwando Olayiwola, MD, MPH, Chief Health Equity Officer & Senior Vice President at Humana, offered thoughts on the selection for the organization's namesake position.

"Dr. Oglesby has demonstrated a commitment to population health improvement over the course of his career, with a special emphasis on health equity and advocacy for underserved and marginalized populations," said Dr. Olayiwola.

Dr. Oglesby is a population health strategist, scientist, and results-driven leader with more than 20 years of consulting and operational experience improving population health outcomes, leading operational efficiency, and expanding access to prevention and care services. He has worked with a spectrum of health stakeholders to lead meaningful and sustainable population health improvement.

"It is an honor to be named the Humana Dean of Jefferson's College of Population Health," says Dr. Oglesby. "This strategic partnership with Humana should prove to be transformational for the college and the region. Humana is an ideal partner for this initiative as its interests align with ours. We will continue to push the work of population health forward to where it needs to be in the future."

Highlights of his accomplishments at Jefferson include:

Creating a year-long Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Leadership Program for providers and service line administrators at Jefferson Health, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Wills Eye Hospital and Nemours Children's Health to increase the number of quality and safety leaders across the health systems.

Launching the Main Line Health Center for Population Health Research to improve outcomes and the experience of care for patients served by the system.

Leading the development of 1889 Jefferson Center for Population Health, a community-based population health center in rural Western Pennsylvania focused on closing healthcare gaps and addressing social determinants of health.

Dr. Oglesby is a thought leader at the national level, as evidenced by his leadership role and membership on a variety of professional committees and boards. These roles include:

Immediate Past President of the Association for Prevention Teaching & Research.

Chair of the Healthy People 2030 Curriculum Taskforce which continually updates the Clinical Prevention and Population Health Curriculum for health professions schools.

Ex officio member of the Roundtable on Population Health Improvement at the National Academy of Medicine, where he recently helped plan a national workshop for thought leaders on The Role of Business in Improving Health and Health Equity.

Appointed public member on the Clinical Guidelines Committee at the American College of Physicians; Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (UK); Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives; and Board Leadership Fellow at the National Association for Corporate Directors.

Also active in the community, Dr. Oglesby is a former Court Appointed Special Advocate and Guardian Ad Litem (CASA/GAL) where he advocated for abused, neglected, and dependent children in the juvenile and family courts and in the foster-care system. He also served as a senior leader of capacity-building programs for historically black colleges and universities, and for frontline HIV prevention organizations, and evaluating a multi-site after-school enrichment program for at-risk youth.

Dr. Oglesby holds a PhD in Public Health from the University of South Carolina, where he also completed a Master of Science in Public Health. He received his MBA from Kent State University and completed the Advanced Finance Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

About Thomas Jefferson University

Thomas Jefferson University, founded in 1824 as the Jefferson Medical College, is today a national doctoral research university and a pioneer in transdisciplinary, professional education. Home of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, Jefferson is a preeminent academic institution delivering high-impact education in over 200 undergraduate and graduate programs to 8,400 students across 10 colleges. The University's academic offerings now include architecture, business, design, engineering, fashion, health, medicine, science, social science and textiles. Jefferson is redefining the higher education value proposition with an approach that is collaborative and active; increasingly global; integrated with industry; focused on research across disciplines to foster innovation and discovery; and technology-enhanced. Student-athletes compete as the Jefferson Rams in the NCAA Division II Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.

About Humana

Humana Inc. is committed to helping our millions of medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large.

To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities, resources, and tools  such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness solutions  combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:

- Annual reports to stockholders

- Securities and Exchange Commission filings

- Most recent investor conference presentations

- Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls

- Calendar of events

- Corporate Governance information

SOURCE Thomas Jefferson University
Fashion Designer Kristopher Brock Teams Up with Bloomingdale's AQUA to Release "Love You More" in Time for Spring and Summer

NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomingdale's today announces AQUA & Kristopher Brock's "Love You More," a limited-edition collaboration between the retailer's best-selling exclusive brand and the fashion designer. The collection features spring and summer timeless staple pieces in solids, floral prints, and romantic silhouettes of crochet, canvas, linen, and lace. The AQUA & Kristopher Brock collection launches April 10th on Bloomingdales.com and in-store at Bloomingdale's stores nationwide.

Bloomingdales Launches Exclusive AQUA & Kristopher Brock Collection

The AQUA & Kristopher Brock "Love You More" collection draws inspiration from summer holidays spent with friends and family. Kristopher Brock's signature romantic style and expert construction play into this season's trends and AQUA's DNA effortlessly. The mix and match ready-to-wear pieces epitomize a true summer capsule collection featuring mini, midi and maxi dresses, pants, poplin and peplum tops, crochet cardigans, floral swimwear, and summer-ready shoes that spotlight this year's top spring trends.

In celebration of the collection launch, AQUA and Kristopher Brock will host events and activations within Bloomingdale's stores and online at Bloomingdales.com including:

OnScreen with Kristopher Brock : On April 11 th at 4:00 pm ET , Kristopher will host a virtual OnScreen shopping event in the Bloomingdale's 59 th St Flagship store that will stream on Bloomingdales.com, highlighting pieces from the collection and his spring and summer must-haves.

: On at , Kristopher will host a virtual OnScreen shopping event in the 59 St Flagship store that will stream on Bloomingdales.com, highlighting pieces from the collection and his spring and summer must-haves. AQUA & Kristopher Brock Meet & Greet : Following the OnScreen event from 5:30-7:30pm ET , Kristopher and the AQUA team will host a meet & greet at the Bloomingdale's 59 th St Flagship store, personally showcasing the collection to shoppers.

: Following the OnScreen event from , Kristopher and the AQUA team will host a meet & greet at the 59 St Flagship store, personally showcasing the collection to shoppers. AQUA Hybrid Takeover: On April 15 th, shoppers at select Bloomingdale's store locations nationwide can enjoy special AQUA activations including live DJ and fashion illustrator in celebration of the AQUA & Kristopher Brock collection.

"Kris' background in tailoring and sophisticated design allowed AQUA to celebrate our favorite timeless spring trends," explains Denise Magid, Chief Merchant at Bloomingdale's. "We have always admired Kris and are thrilled to partner with him for this special collection. Each piece encapsulates AQUA's goal of offering customers timeless on-trend pieces with an emphasis on fit and structure, empowering our customer with femininity and ease. We look forward to sharing this romantic collaboration with shoppers this spring and summer."

"I've always naturally leaned into my romantic aesthetic because to me that is what is most beautiful, and I believe this style shines through in the 'Love You More' collection," says Kristopher Brock. "I designed this collection with AQUA and the Bloomingdale's team to empower customers to embrace strength through vulnerability, a theme that is highlighted through the design of the silhouettes."

The 25-piece collection ranges in price from $78-$168. To view and shop the AQUA & Kristopher Brock "Love You More" collection, visit Bloomingdales.com or Bloomingdale's stores nationwide starting April 10th.

About Bloomingdale's

Bloomingdale's is America's only nationwide, full-line, upscale department store. A division of Macy's, Inc. (NYSE: M), it currently operates 34 Bloomingdale's stores, 20 Bloomingdale's The Outlet stores, and two Bloomie's stores in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. In addition, Bloomingdale's has an international presence with a location in Dubai and Kuwait. Founded in 1872, the iconic retailer celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2022. Be sure to follow @bloomingdales on social media, become a Loyallist, and for more information, or to shop any time, visit www.bloomingdales.com

About Kristopher Brock

Kristopher Brock is an American fashion designer, photographer, and entrepreneur who spent his childhood in Texas, moving to New York in 2009 to study fashion at Parsons School of Design. Brock began his design career as a tailor for some of the country's most esteemed houses. In 2014, his namesake womenswear brand, Brock Collection, was born. Within two years, Brock Collection had been selected as a finalist for the 2016 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award and took home the top prize. In 2017 and 2018 consecutively, Brock and his partner were nominated for CFDA's Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent. Brock is now focused on his upcoming ventures in design and creative direction collaborations for men's, active, women's contemporary, and footwear brands.

Press Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Bloomingdale's
The collaboration will provide Pershing X clients with access to more powerful analytics and faster data management

NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BNY Mellon's Pershing X, a technology provider and business unit of BNY Mellon | Pershing (NYSE: BK), and Snowflake, the Data Cloud company, have announced they will bring the Snowflake Data Cloud to Pershing X's suite of data offerings for clients.

In addition to pioneering an advisory platform that will connect an investor's financial picture into one data-driven system, Pershing X is also expanding its stand-alone data service offerings to wealth management firms. Through the Snowflake Financial Services Data Cloud, Pershing X will help clients access their data faster, as well as collect, manage and report their data more efficiently.

"Pershing X is working to increase productivity in the financial services industry," said Ainslie Simmonds, President, Pershing X. "Our collaboration with Snowflake will boost our data performance speed, improving the digital experience for our clients so they can operate more efficiently."

"We look forward to working with Pershing X to empower customers to take ownership of their data," said Christian Kleinerman, Senior Vice President of Product, Snowflake. "We believe the combined power of Snowflake and Pershing X will provide wealth management firms with the data and speed to cultivate better client-advisor relationships."

"BNY Mellon is leveraging the power of engineering and innovation to advance data and analytics products for clients," said Bridget Engle, Chief Information Officer and Head of Engineering, BNY Mellon. "Leveraging Snowflake's capabilities will allow us to accelerate our time to market with Pershing X's leading cloud-based data platform."

Media Contact

Liz Ozaist

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 347-528-3559

ABOUT PERSHING X

Pershing X is BNY Mellon | Pershing's start-up business unit focused on delivering the most interoperable and data-driven suite of advisory tools in the wealth management industry. Pershing X technology is designed to create an effortless and intuitive experience that is integrated with multiple leading custodians. This allows wealth management professionals to focus their time on the business of advice, not technology, so they maximize efficiency and optimize the experience for every client. Additional information is available on pershingx.com.

ABOUT SNOWFLAKE

Snowflake enables every organization to mobilize their data with Snowflake's Data Cloud. Customers use the Data Cloud to unite siloed data, discover and securely share data, and execute diverse analytic workloads. Wherever data or users live, Snowflake delivers a single data experience that spans multiple clouds and geographies. Thousands of customers across many industries, including 573 of the 2022 Forbes Global 2000 (G2K) as of January 31, 2023, use Snowflake Data Cloud to power their businesses. Learn more at snowflake.com.

SOURCE Pershing, LLC
HAMILTON, Bermuda, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Borr Drilling Limited (the "Company") (NYSE: BORR) (OSE: BORR) is pleased to announce that its premium jack-up rig "Hild" has been awarded a contract from an undisclosed customer for work in Latin America. The contract duration covers a firm term of 725 days and is expected to commence in Q3 2023, following the conclusion of the rig's ongoing activation. The estimated contract value is US$123 million, including mobilization and demobilization fees.

Following this award, all of the Company's 22 delivered units are now contracted or committed, with no open availability until late Q3 2023. Amidst an improving market, the Company remains optimistic about recontracting opportunities for its premium fleet.

Hamilton, Bermuda

10 April 2023

Forward looking statements

This press release includes forward looking statements, which do not reflect historical facts and may be identified by words such as "expect", "estimate" and similar expressions and include statements relating to rig contracting including the duration and value of such contracts and backlog, and other non-historical statements. Such forward -looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements included herein, including risks related to actual performance under drilling contracts, the risk that backlog may not be realized, the number of rigs that will be in operation and rates that are achieved, and other risks and uncertainties described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by the forward -looking statements included herein. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release. We do not undertake to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT:

Questions should be directed to: Magnus Vaaler, CFO, +44 1224 289208

SOURCE Borr Drilling Limited
NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brixmor Property Group Inc. (NYSE: BRX) announced today that its operating partnership, Brixmor Operating Partnership LP (the "Operating Partnership"), commenced a cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") to purchase up to $150 million aggregate principal amount (the "Tender Cap") of its outstanding 3.650% Senior Notes due 2024 (the "Notes").

The terms and conditions of the Tender Offer are described in the Offer to Purchase, dated April 10, 2023 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase"). The following table sets forth some of the terms of the Tender Offer:

Title of Security CUSIP / ISIN

Number Principal

Amount Outstanding Tender Cap

(Principal Amount) Reference

U.S. Treasury

Security Bloomberg

Reference

Page(1) Fixed

Spread Early Tender

Premium (per $1,000) 3.650% Senior

Notes due 2024 11120VAF0 /

US11120VAF04 $500,000,000 $150,000,000 0.375% UST

due April 15,

2024 FIT4 135 bps $30

(1) The applicable page on Bloomberg from which the Dealer Manager named below will quote the bid side prices of the Reference U.S. Treasury Security. In the above table, "UST" denotes a U.S. Treasury Security.

Timetable for the Tender Offer

Commencement of the Tender Offer April 10, 2023 Early Tender Deadline 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 21, 2023, unless extended Withdrawal Deadline 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 21, 2023, unless extended Reference Yield Determination Date 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on April 24, 2023, unless extended Expected Early Settlement Date April 25, 2023 Expiration Date 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 8, 2023, unless the Tender Offer is extended or earlier

terminated Expected Final Settlement Date May 10, 2023 (the second business day following the Expiration Date)

Details of the Tender Offer

The Tender Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 8, 2023, unless extended or earlier terminated by the Operating Partnership (the "Expiration Date"). Holders of the Notes must validly tender their Notes at or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 21, 2023, unless extended (the "Early Tender Deadline") in order to be eligible to receive the Total Consideration (as defined below), which includes the Early Tender Premium (as defined below). Tenders of Notes may be withdrawn at any time at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 21, 2023 (the "Withdrawal Deadline"), but may not be withdrawn thereafter except in certain limited circumstances where additional withdrawal rights are required by law.

The consideration paid in the Tender Offer for Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline and accepted for purchase will be determined in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase by reference to a fixed spread over the yield to maturity (the "Reference Yield") of the Reference U.S. Treasury Security specified in the table above and in the Offer to Purchase (the "Total Consideration"), and includes an early tender premium of $30 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes accepted for purchase (the "Early Tender Premium"). The Reference Yield will be determined at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on April 24, 2023, unless extended by the Operating Partnership (the "Reference Yield Determination Date").

Holders of Notes who validly tender their Notes after the Early Tender Deadline but on or prior to the Expiration Date will only receive the "Tender Offer Consideration" per $1,000 principal amount of any such Notes tendered and not validly withdrawn by such holders that are accepted for purchase, which is equal to the Total Consideration minus the Early Tender Premium.

The Operating Partnership reserves the right, but is under no obligation, to increase, decrease or eliminate the Tender Cap at any time, which could result in the Operating Partnership purchasing a greater or lesser aggregate principal amount of the Notes, and the Operating Partnership may do so without extending the Early Tender Deadline, the Withdrawal Deadline or the Expiration Date, subject to compliance with applicable law.

If the Tender Offer is not fully subscribed as of the Early Tender Deadline, subject to the Tender Cap, Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or prior to the Early Tender Deadline will be accepted for purchase in priority to Notes validly tendered following the Early Tender Deadline, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the Tender Offer. If the Tender Offer is fully subscribed as of the Early Tender Deadline, holders who validly tender Notes following the Early Tender Deadline will not have any of their Notes accepted for payment. Notes may be subject to proration if the aggregate principal amount validly tendered and not validly withdrawn exceeds the Tender Cap. Payment for Notes that are validly tendered prior to or at the Early Tender Deadline and that are accepted for purchase will be made promptly following the Early Tender Deadline (the "Early Settlement Date"). The Early Settlement Date is anticipated to be April 25, 2023, unless extended by the Operating Partnership, assuming all conditions to the Tender Offer have been satisfied or waived by the Operating Partnership. Payment for Notes that are validly tendered after the Early Tender Deadline and prior to the Expiration Date and that are accepted for purchase will be made promptly following the Expiration Date (the "Final Settlement Date"). The Final Settlement Date, if any, is anticipated to be May 10, 2023, unless extended by the Operating Partnership, assuming all conditions to the Tender Offer have been satisfied or waived by the Operating Partnership.

No tenders will be valid if submitted after the Expiration Date. Payments for Notes purchased will include accrued and unpaid interest from and including the most recent interest payment date for the Notes up to, but not including, the applicable settlement date.

The Tender Offer is not conditioned on any minimum principal amount of Notes being tendered. The Operating Partnership's obligation to accept for payment and to pay for the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Tender Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions described in the Offer to Purchase. The Operating Partnership reserves the absolute right, subject to applicable law, to: (i) waive any or all conditions to the Tender Offer; (ii) extend, terminate or withdraw the Tender Offer; (iii) increase, decrease or eliminate the Tender Cap without extending the Early Tender Deadline, the Withdrawal Deadline or the Expiration Date, which could result in the Operating Partnership's purchasing a greater or lesser aggregate principal amount of the Notes; or (iv) otherwise amend the Tender Offer in any respect.

None of the Operating Partnership, Brixmor Property Group Inc., or their affiliates, the general and limited partners of the Operating Partnership the board of directors of Brixmor Property Group Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (the "Dealer Manager"), D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent and tender agent, or The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, NA., as trustee under the indenture pursuant to which the Notes were issued, is making any recommendation as to whether holders should tender any Notes in the Tender Offer. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender any of their Notes, and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender. Holders should consult their own tax, accounting, financial and legal advisers as they deem appropriate regarding the suitability of the tax, accounting, financial and legal consequences of participating or declining to participate in the Tender Offer.

The principal purpose of the Tender Offer is to extend the term of the Operating Partnership's outstanding indebtedness by purchasing the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn up to the Tender Cap using the proceeds of borrowings under the $200.0 million delayed draw term loan that is available under the Operating Partnership's amended and restated unsecured credit facility. The Notes that are accepted in the Tender Offer will be purchased by the Operating Partnership and retired and cancelled and will no longer remain outstanding obligations of the Operating Partnership.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as dealer manager for the Tender Offer. For additional information regarding the terms of the Tender Offer, please contact: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at (866) 834-4666 (toll-free) or (212) 834-4818 (collect). Requests for documents and questions regarding the tendering of Notes may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc., which is acting as the information agent and tender agent for the Tender Offer, at (800) 347-4750 (toll-free), (212) 269-5550 (toll) or email [email protected].

If you do not tender your Notes or if you tender Notes that are not accepted for purchase, they will remain outstanding. If the Operating Partnership consummates the Tender Offer, the trading market for your outstanding Notes may be significantly more limited. For a discussion of this and other risks, see "Certain Significant Consequences and Risks Relating to the Offer" in the Offer to Purchase.

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION TO PURCHASE NOTES. THE TENDER OFFER IS BEING MADE SOLELY PURSUANT TO THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, WHICH SETS FORTH THE COMPLETE TERMS OF THE TENDER OFFER THAT HOLDERS OF THE NOTES SHOULD CAREFULLY READ PRIOR TO MAKING ANY DECISION.

THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THIS PRESS RELEASE DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION TO PURCHASE NOTES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH, OR TO OR FROM ANY PERSON TO OR FROM WHOM, IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION UNDER APPLICABLE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS. IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SECURITIES, BLUE SKY OR OTHER LAWS REQUIRE THE TENDER OFFER TO BE MADE BY A LICENSED BROKER OR DEALER, THE TENDER OFFER WILL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE ON BEHALF OF THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP BY THE DEALER MANAGER, IF THE DEALER MANAGER IS A LICENSED BROKER OR DEALER UNDER THE LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION, OR BY ONE OR MORE REGISTERED BROKERS OR DEALERS THAT ARE LICENSED UNDER THE LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

NONE OF THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, BRIXMOR PROPERTY GROUP INC., OR THEIR AFFILIATES, THE GENERAL AND LIMITED PARTNERS OF THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BRIXMOR PROPERTY GROUP INC., THE DEALER MANAGER, THE TRUSTEE OF THE NOTES OR THE INFORMATION AND TENDER AGENT MAKES ANY RECOMMENDATION TO ANY HOLDER OF NOTES IN CONNECTION WITH THE TENDER OFFER. HOLDERS MUST MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AS TO WHETHER TO TENDER THEIR NOTES AND, IF SO, THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES TO TENDER.

ABOUT BRIXMOR PROPERTY GROUP

Brixmor (NYSE: BRX) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and operates a high-quality, national portfolio of open-air shopping centers. Its 373 retail centers comprise approximately 66 million square feet of prime retail space in established trade areas. The Company strives to own and operate shopping centers that reflect Brixmor's vision "to be the center of the communities we serve" and are home to a diverse mix of thriving national, regional and local retailers. Brixmor is a proud real estate partner to over 5,000 retailers including The TJX Companies, The Kroger Co., Publix Super Markets and Ross Stores.

Brixmor announces material information to its investors in SEC filings and press releases and on public conference calls, webcasts and the "Investors" page of its website at https://www.brixmor.com. The Company also uses social media to communicate with its investors and the public, and the information Brixmor posts on social media may be deemed material information. Therefore, Brixmor encourages investors and others interested in the Company to review the information that it posts on its website and on its social media channels.

SAFE HARBOR LANGUAGE

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to the Company's expectations regarding the performance of its business, its financial results, its liquidity and capital resources and other non-historical statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "projects," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described under the sections entitled "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in the Company's filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Brixmor Property Group Inc.
At the meeting (Photo: SGGP)

On April 5, he had a reception for the Hungarian Ambassador to Vietnam Baloghdi Tibor during his visit to the city.

On the cooperative relationship between Ho Chi Minh City and Hungary, he expressed his hope that Ambassador Baloghdi Tibor would pay attention to enhancing cooperation in trade and investment, health, education, culture, art and science - technology. As the city is the center of the country, he said he hoped it would be the place for activities and for welcoming many high-ranking Hungarian delegations and businesses.

Hungarian Ambassador Baloghdi Tibor affirmed that he would make efforts to promote cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Hungary. He said he was very pleased and proud that Hungary is a small country but has set up cooperation in many fields such as economy and education with the city.

Now, 10 years after opening the Consulate General of Hungary in Ho Chi Minh City, many results have been achieved in the cooperation between the city and Hungary. On this occasion, the Ambassador suggested leaders of departments and agencies of the city continue to support to promote cooperation between the city and Hungary. He affirmed that he would try to promote comprehensive development between Hungary and not only Ho Chi Minh City but also with southern provinces such as Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Ben Tre. With its role, the Hungarian Consulate General and Embassy have the task to connect business partners of the two sides, he said. Hungary is the gateway for Vietnamese businesses to penetrate the European market.

Regarding cooperative relations, Hungary always wishes to strengthen cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City in the field of trade - investment. In the near future, a leading Hungarian business delegation will visit Vietnam and will come to Ho Chi Minh City. In the field of education and training, Hungary is proud of the former students who are the bridge for the relationship between the two countries. Currently, there are more than 300 Vietnamese students, most of whom are from Ho Chi Minh City, in Hungarian universities studying medicine who will be a connection between the two sides in the field of education and training and healthcare. In the field of art and culture, Hungary also has many activities to enhance exchange performances and will continue to organize various activities in Ho Chi Minh City. Towards the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2025, many high-level delegations will visit Vietnam./.
Grand Opening set for April 12 with the first 20 people in line to win free burritos for a year

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- California Tortilla , an iconic fast-casual restaurant franchise known to fans adoringly as Cal Tort, is bringing its bold flavors to Williamsburg, VA, with franchise owner Tejas Patel. The restaurant will celebrate its grand opening on Wednesday, April 12, and marks the ninth Virginia location for the brand.

"I've been in the hospitality business for 30 years. Hospitality is in my blood, and as a foodie, nothing makes me happier than knowing that we are serving fresh and healthy food to our customers while using the best quality products," said Tejas Patel, Williamsburg California Tortilla Franchise Owner. "Cal Tort is fresh, healthy, packed with flavor, and has a modern vibe to it. We're excited to share this brand with area residents and visitors."

The celebration will kick off with Free Burritos for a Year* to the first 20 people in line. Guests can enjoy $5 Burritos or Bowls all day, with proceeds going to a local non-profit. Additionally, there will be specials and giveaways all week long. To know more about the specials and giveaways, sign up here!

Located at 201 Monticello Ave., Unit 4115, Williamsburg, VA, the Williamsburg location is 2,500 sq. ft. and features the brand's updated signature restaurant design. The location will be open daily from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. The location boasts California Tortilla's new ACE model. The ACE service model is focused on customizing orders made in real-time, so guests can create meals that suit their tastes and cravings.

The California Tortilla menu features chef-inspired creations that are freshly made, including a variety of fan-favorite tacos, burritos, Chef's Bowls, quesadillas, salads, and more. California Tortilla is known to bring the heat, with its signature Wall of Flame, where guests spice up their meals with over 75 hot sauces.

"I launched my first hotel business 30 years ago in Williamsburg, and I am excited to help our community thrive with the addition of Cal Tort," added Patel. "This is a diverse market, and our brand is going to fit right in with all the amazing things our area has to offer."

For more information, visit www.californiatortilla.com . For details about the Williamsburg location, call 757-808-5032.

Free Burritos for a Year equals 1 Free Burrito a Week for 52 weeks*

MEDIA CONTACT:

Brianne Barbakoff

[email protected]

954.294.4454

SOURCE California Tortilla
This New Integration into the AI-Powered Platform Speeds Knowledge Sharing and Increases Collaboration Between Employees

NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AnyClip, The Visual Intelligence Company has announced that they have integrated ChatGPT into GeniusWork , their AI-powered internal communications platform for business, among the first major internal communications tools to do so. AnyClip's platform uses AI to turn traditional videos into smart content, empowering employees to share knowledge, collaborate, and communicate across the organization. With the addition of ChatGPT, employees will now be able to receive automated titling, summaries, notes and descriptions of their meeting recordings and other internal videos, which can also be shared and collaborated on.

The market for tools that better organize an organization's textual information is currently valued at tens of billions of dollars, as companies continue to adapt to an increasingly normalized remote environment. Companies such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Office365, Confluence, Seismic, and Slack are leading the way, but much of their efforts continue to be focused on written communication, with video as an add-on. As video communications and production through popular platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams continues to explode, AnyClip is bringing these organizational capabilities to video through their GeniusWork platform.

By integrating ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot which has been making headlines for its clear and natural-sounding summation capabilities, AnyClip makes it easy to generate executive summaries and metadata from complex meetings and other recordings. Now, employees can easily skim the AI-generated summaries of any meeting, reducing the need to take minutes and making it easy to catch up or loop in colleagues.

"Today's employees face information overload and ever-increasing demands on their time. AnyClip leverages the power of AI to help them stay on top of their fast-moving businesses and collaborate more effectively with their colleagues," says Gil Becker, CEO of AnyClip. "We're delighted to add ChatGPT to our suite of AI tools that power more efficient video communications and workflows."

ChatGPT is the latest addition to the suite of AI-related features offered by GeniusWork, which includes automatic highlights, chapters, and more. By helping to surface information in videos in new and innovative ways, GeniusWork gives employees the power to search, find and stream the precise company information they need, when they need it. AnyClip then powers team collaboration within the video itself, leading to a more productive, connected workforce.

About AnyClip

AnyClip is The Visual Intelligence Company.

AnyClip's proprietary Visual Intelligence Technology is using AI to revolutionize how business does video  the most desired and prevalent form of communication. By instantly activating its innate data, AnyClip brings to video the power once reserved for text via transparency, interactivity and collaboration.

The company powers advanced video solutions so smart, they're Genius. For customer-facing communications, Genius+ is the AI-powered video management platform that converts traditional video into intelligent content that is fully enabled  searchable, measurable, personalized, merchandised and interactive. For internal communications, AnyClip's GeniusWork is the first AI-powered internal communications platform for Business, featuring intelligent video hubs for knowledge sharing, collaboration and communication.

AnyClip is located in New York, Los Angeles, Tel Aviv, London, and Munich. In 2022, AnyClip won the NAB Show Award for Product of the Year from the National Association of Broadcasters and was named to Aragon Research's "Hot Vendors in Collaboration" list. AnyClip was most recently named a Finalist for Best Video Platform 2022 by Digiday and Streaming Media and ranked No. 5 in New York, and 64 overall, on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list of fastest-growing companies in North America. For more information, please visit www.AnyClip.com.

Any video. Every business. One global SaaS platform.

SOURCE AnyClip
NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

Overview

White & Case is forming a group of creditors holding offshore debt affected by the restructuring proposal announced by China Evergrande Group on 22 March 2023. Relevant noteholders and lenders are invited to a call at 9:00 a.m. (London time) / 10:00 a.m. (Paris time) / 4:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time) on 14 April 2023 to discuss their options.

Restructuring Proposal

China Evergrande Group ("CEG") announced a detailed financial restructuring proposal (the "Proposal") on 22 March 2023 following consultation and negotiation with a limited subset of its creditors. On 3 April 2023, CEG further announced that it had entered into restructuring support agreements ("RSAs") regarding its proposal with the members of an ad hoc group of certain series of notes issued by CEG and its subsidiaries.

CEG intends to implement the Proposal through schemes of arrangement in Hong Kong, the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands. The Proposal contemplates the launch of schemes of arrangement by CEG (the "CEG Scheme"), Tianji Holding Limited (the "TJ Scheme") and Scenery Journey Limited.

Affected creditors have been given until 27 April 2023 to sign up to the RSAs if they wish to receive a 0.25% consent fee in the form of new payment-in-kind notes to be issued pursuant to the restructuring proposal (if implemented).

White & Case Call

White & Case will host a conference call on at 9:00 a.m. (London time) / 10:00 a.m. (Paris time) / 4:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time) on 14 April 2023 to discuss the Proposal and options for affected creditors. Creditors who are reviewing the Proposal may wish to join this call to discuss their options before they consider signing an RSA.

Creditors eligible to join the call are those classified by CEG in:

1. Class C under the CEG Scheme  see pages 55-56 of the Proposal; and/or

2. the single class of creditors under the TJ Scheme  see page 192 of the Proposal.

Creditors who are members of the existing ad hoc group or who have already signed an RSA will not be eligible to join the call.

Creditors who are interested in joining the call described above should contact [email protected] as soon as possible.

SOURCE White & Case
VANCOUVER, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- City Office REIT, Inc. (NYSE: CIO) ("City Office" or the "Company") announced today it will release its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, before the market opens on Friday, May 5, 2023.

City Office's management will hold a conference call at 11:00 am Eastern Time on May 5, 2023 to discuss the Company's financial results. Additionally, a supplemental financial package to accompany the discussion of the results will be posted on www.cioreit.com.

Webcast

Click on the webcast link under the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.cioreit.com.

Telephone Conference Call

Domestic: 1-833-470-1428

International: 1-404-975-4839

Passcode: 413697

Please dial in at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.

Conference Call Replay

Domestic: 1-866-813-9403

International: 1-929-458-6194

Passcode: 609462

A replay of the call will be available later in the day on May 5, 2023, continuing through August 3, 2023. A replay will also be available at "Webcasts & Events" in the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website.

About City Office REIT, Inc.

City Office REIT is an internally-managed real estate company focused on acquiring, owning and operating high-quality office properties located predominantly in Sun Belt markets. City Office currently owns or has a controlling interest in 6.0 million square feet of office properties. The Company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Contact

City Office REIT, Inc.

Anthony Maretic, CFO

+1-604-806-3366

[email protected]

SOURCE City Office REIT, Inc.
Ad Hoc Committee maintains that LTL's bankruptcy cases are done in bad faith

NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Ad Hoc Committee of Certain Talc Claimants ("AHC," "the Committee") has filed a statement in response to LTL Management's ("LTL," "the Debtor") second bankruptcy filing, urging the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey to dismiss the Debtor's bankruptcy case, lift all litigation stays benefiting non-debtors including LTL's parent Johnson & Johnson, and hold LTL, Johnson & Johnson ("J&J") and their enablers accountable.

David Molton of Brown Rudnick LLP and co-counsel for the Committee said, "The sole purpose of this second filing, filed approximately two hours after the first LTL Management bankruptcy case was dismissed, is the continued evisceration and mortal delay of the talc victims' right to a jury trial. J&J is avoiding facing the full weight and scope of its responsibility for knowingly manufacturing and selling toxic products to generations of unsuspecting individuals and families in the United States and Canada."

"The Third Circuit already found J&J's first filing to be in bad faith, yet J&J deliberately filed this second bankruptcy to stay all litigation against the non-debtor J&J and other non-debtor defendants. As a result, LTL and its advisors continue to reap the undeserved benefits of a bogus bankruptcy case while talc victims continue to suffer and die. This behavior cannot be allowed to continue."

Committee co-counsel Melanie Cyganowski of Otterbourg P.C. added, "Despite the misleading statements from LTL and J&J, we know that more than 100 law firms representing ovarian cancer and mesothelioma claimants, including all of leadership, vehemently oppose the Debtor's plan. These are the voices representing over 40,000 claimants and the majority of cases that have been filed in state and federal courts around the country. Most importantly, the alleged support for this updated plan does not diminish or negate the bad faith of the bankruptcy."

The Committee states that the Court should take no substantive actions in this bad faith case other than sua sponte dismissal and lifting the stay on non-debtors until an Official Committee of Talc Claimants is appointed and can represent the interests of all talc claimants. The AHC reserves all rights.

The AHC's full statement can be viewed on the Case docket, available at: https://dm.epiq11.com/case/ltl/dockets.

About the Ad Hoc Committee of Certain Talc Claimants

The Ad Hoc Committee of Certain Talc Claimants (AHC) is comprised of nine members of the Official Committee of Talc Claimants (the "TCC") in the Debtor's first bankruptcy, all of whom carefully and with diligence exercised their fiduciary duties on behalf of all talc claimants in that roleAlishia Landrum; Rebecca Love; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; Tonya Whetsel; Kristie Doyle; William A. Henry; Randy Derouen; April Fair; and Patricia Cook. These parties and their counsel are intimately familiar with the Debtor and its bankruptcy case based on their faithful and extraordinary services as members of the Tort Claimants' Committee in the Debtor's first bankruptcy

SOURCE Ad Hoc Committee of Certain Talc Claimants
US $335,000,000 7.375% LOAN PARTICIPATION NOTES DUE 2022 (ISIN: XS2027393938) (THE "22 NOTES"); AND

US $500,000,000 7.625% LOAN PARTICIPATION NOTES DUE 2026 (REG S ISIN: XS2077601610; RULE 144A ISIN: US50050MAB19) (THE "26 NOTES", TOGETHER WITH THE 22 NOTES, THE "NOTES")

EACH ISSUED BY KONDOR FINANCE PLC FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF FINANCING LOANS TO NATIONAL JOINT STOCK COMPANY "NAFTOGAZ OF UKRAINE" (THE "COMPANY" OR "NAFTOGAZ")

LONDON, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On 30 March 2023, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP ("CGSH") sent a letter (the "30 March Letter") to Naftogaz on behalf of a group consisting of more than ten investors (the "Investors") collectively holding well in excess of 50% of the 22 Notes and nearly 20% of the 26 Notes.

The 30 March Letter (i) confirmed that the Investors are unable to support the "Revised Working Scenario" set out in the Company's management presentation made public on 10 March 2023 and the Notice to Noteholders dated 21 March 2023, (ii) set out the reasons why the Investors are unable to provide their support, and (iii) expressed the Investors' hope that the Company would engage in substantive negotiations with the Investors and CGSH to resolve the ongoing default under the Notes.

As conveyed in earlier press releases, the Investors are fully supportive and committed to Ukraine, and Ukraine's brave and steadfast efforts to defend its freedom and territorial integrity in the wake of the Russian invasion. It is also the view, however, of many in the investment community that upholding and honouring commercial relationships to the fullest extent possible under the current circumstances is the best way to ensure (x) the long-term continuity of capital markets funding for Ukrainian borrowers and (y) that Ukraine's economy adjusts as rapidly as possible to new circumstances.

Noteholders are invited to contact Solomon J. Noh, Alastair Goldrein, James Armshaw or Jonathan Griggs of CGSH if they would like to receive a copy of the 30 March Letter and for any further information.

The contact details for Messrs. Noh, Goldrein, Armshaw and Griggs appear below:

Solomon J. Noh [email protected]

Office: +44 (0) 20 7614 2306 Mobile: +44 (0) 78 4132 3679 Alastair Goldrein [email protected] Office: +44 (0) 20 7614 2322 Mobile: +44 (0) 77 3417 1953 James Armshaw [email protected] Office: +44 (0) 20 7614 2216 Mobile: +44 (0) 75 8105 3809 Jonathan Griggs [email protected]

Office: +44 (0) 20 7614 2312 Mobile: +44 (0) 77 1505 5131

SOURCE National Joint Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine
Donations and Grants Address Immediate and Sustained Disaster Relief Needs

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Dental of Arkansas is committed to helping Arkansans smile even when disaster strikes.

In the wake of the March 31 tornados that devastated parts of Arkansas, Delta Dental has launched the following emergency relief efforts:

A $25,000 unrestricted donation to the Arkansas Red Cross

unrestricted donation to the Arkansas Red Cross One-time grants of up to $2,500 each for disaster relief efforts provided by Arkansas nonprofit organizations, schools and government agencies

each for disaster relief efforts provided by nonprofit organizations, schools and government agencies Monetary donations or in-kind support to affected dental providers

Outreach to the Cities of Sherwood and Little Rock to identify and mitigate both urgent and after-the-fact needs

and to identify and mitigate both urgent and after-the-fact needs Outreach to select local retailers to coordinate gift card donations to replace spoiled food items and damaged household goods

"Focus on Community is one of our core company values, and we're rallying to support the hard work of our neighbors, friends and families as we rebuild and recover," said Kristin Merlo, President and CEO. "We are fully committed to providing both immediate and sustained relief funding through our collaborations with community partners."

The Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation is offering one-time disaster relief grants. Eligible community organizations can apply at https://www.deltadentalar.com/disaster-relief-grants.

"Just as many grassroots efforts have mobilized across the state to assist Arkansans affected by the tornado, the Foundation and its Board of Directors immediately decided to reallocate grant funds for emergency aid," said Sharon Lanier, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation. "The funding will lighten the financial load of organizations at the forefront of rebuilding their communities."

Monetary and other assistance as needed is also available to dental providers affected by the disaster. Dentists are encouraged to contact the Professional Relations Department of Delta Dental of Arkansas at 501-992-1710 or [email protected] for more information.

Discussions with the Cities of Sherwood and Little Rock and store managers of local retailers are ongoing to identify funding opportunities to alleviate acute needs, such as replacing spoiled food items and damaged household goods, and long-term needs, such as street and infrastructure repairs. Details will be released upon confirmation.

About Delta Dental of Arkansas

Delta Dental of Arkansas is the largest dental benefits provider in the state, helping more than 800,000 Arkansans keep their smiles healthy through commercial and Medicaid coverage. As a not-for-profit company, Delta Dental is committed to improving the oral health of Arkansans through the philanthropic efforts of its Foundation, which donated more than $3 million to support oral health education initiatives in the last three years. For more information, visit www.deltadentalar.com

Media Contact: Dave Hawsey

Vice President, Marketing

(c) 501-813-2315

[email protected]

www.deltadentalar.com

SOURCE Delta Dental of Arkansas
Increased tooth loss rates, high demand for cosmetic dentistry, rising per-person healthcare costs, and emergence of technologically advanced products drive the growth of the global dental tourism market

PORTLAND, Ore., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Dental Tourism Market by Services (Dental Implants, Orthodontics, Dental Cosmetics, Others), by Providers (Hospitals, Dental Clinics, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." According to the report, the global dental tourism industry generated $6.2 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to generate $21.5 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 13.9% 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/75029

Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities-

Increased tooth loss rates, high demand for cosmetic dentistry, rising per-person healthcare costs, and emergence of technologically advanced products drive the growth of the global dental tourism market. However, the strict government restrictions on prohibiting foreign medical treatment hinder the market growth. Furthermore, with the rise in the geriatric population and advanced healthcare options, dental tourism is becoming more and more popular worldwide, thus offering lucrative opportunities in the industry.

Covid-19 Scenario

The COVID-19 pandemic had adverse effects on the dental tourism market worldwide, particularly in countries like India and China , which were popular destinations for dental tourism. The imposition of travel bans, supply chain disruptions, and movement restrictions had a severe impact on this industry during the initial years of the pandemic.

and , which were popular destinations for dental tourism. The imposition of travel bans, supply chain disruptions, and movement restrictions had a severe impact on this industry during the initial years of the pandemic. The dental tourism market in India was hit hard by the travel restrictions, which prevented patients from neighboring countries from seeking dental treatment. According to Fortis Healthcare's annual report, the dental tourism industry witnessed a significant decline in 2021 due to global travel restrictions.

was hit hard by the travel restrictions, which prevented patients from neighboring countries from seeking dental treatment. According to Fortis Healthcare's annual report, the dental tourism industry witnessed a significant decline in 2021 due to global travel restrictions. However, the dental tourism industry has shown signs of recovery post-pandemic.

The dental implants segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period-

By services, the dental implants segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global dental tourism market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is because dental implants are long-term replacements that are described as a restorative treatment that protects and supports natural bone while also acting as a secure foundation for a prosthesis. However, the dental cosmetics segment would display the fastest CAGR of 14.8% during the forecast period. This is due to the rise in the prevalence of dental disorders such as periodontal disease, tooth decay, gum disease, dental crack, and dental cavities, as well as an increase in the geriatric population, which is more prone to tooth-related problems.

Procure Complete Report (220 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/dental-tourism-market

The dental clinics segment to grab the lion's share during the forecast period

By providers, the dental clinics segment held the highest market share in 2021, contributing to nearly three-fourths of the global dental tourism market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its lion's share throughout the forecast period. Also, the same segment is projected to cite the highest CAGR of 14.2% during the forecast period. This is due to the rising demand for cost-effective treatments. Moreover, healthcare systems around the world believe that the risk of infection in clinics is comparatively lower than in hospitals.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2021-

By region, Asia-Pacific held the major share in 2021, garnering more than half of the global dental tourism market revenue and is projected to rule the roost by 2031. This is due to the easy availability of dentists with rich experience. Also, superior infrastructure for dental treatment has supplemented the market growth. However, the Europe region would portray the fastest CAGR of 14.8% during the forecast period. This is owing to the introduction of novel technologies, such as CAD/CAM-based dental restorations and high awareness of dental procedures across the province.

Leading Market Players-

Liberty Dental Clinic

Dubai Dental Hospital

Imperial Dental Specialist Center

Medlife Group

clove dental

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.

Franco-Vietnamese Hospital

raffles medical group

Fortis Healthcare

Oris Dental Centre

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global dental tourism market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting the business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of the market players.

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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.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
American Red Cross and community relief groups will receive funds from the Duke Energy Foundation and Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions

PLAINFIELD, Ind., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Duke Energy Foundation is giving $120,000 in grants to Indiana non-profit organizations that have responded to the severe damage from the March 31-April 1 violent storm and tornadoes.

Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions, a nonregulated commercial brand of Duke Energy dedicated to renewables, is also contributing $25,000 to a west central Indiana community where it operates.

"Severe weather can be devasting for a community," said Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar. "It happens with little warning but can have long-term effects. Cleanup and restoration from the recent storms will take months, but these are strong communities that will rebound. This is a time of great need, and these organizations are delivering a critical service."

The grants are going to:

Red Cross of Evansville , for relief in Sullivan , Johnson , Morgan and Monroe counties  $50,000

The Red Cross has delivered general relief, including shelters, mobile feeding operations, mental health counseling and funds for those whose homes were destroyed or are uninhabitable and who need assistance with alternative housing.

Wabash Community Foundation  $25,000

The Wabash Community Foundation has created an emergency and disaster relief fund to support recovery and relief efforts in Sullivan County . The fund provides an avenue for those wishing to contribute and will support immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts for those affected by the storms in Sullivan County .

Salvation Army of Sullivan County  $20,000

The Salvation Army has delivered meals to more than 1,200 individuals affected by the storm, and the organization needs to replenish its food and basic supplies such as blankets and pillows.

Churches in Mission in Morgan County  $10,000

The Martinsville organization is providing hot meals, short-term hotel stays, rent and utility assistance services to residents in need.

Community Service Center of Morgan County - WellSpring Center  $10,000

The nine-unit homeless shelter serving Martinsville and Morgan County needs to replenish its food pantry and respond to a request for food that has dramatically increased since the storm.

Our Father Arms Food Pantry in Sullivan County  $10,000

The organization is providing food and basic needs to those affected. The pantry's building also sustained damage in the storm and needs repair.

Sullivan County Emergency Management Agency  $10,000

The scale of the disaster has created a need for additional personal protective equipment, including hats, vests, gloves and radios.

United Way of Johnson County  $10,000

The local United Way is assisting individuals with food purchases and temporary rent and utility assistance. The organization will also be there for the long haul to help those who will need more assistance following emergency relief.

Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 890,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana's largest electric supplier.

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually in charitable gifts to Indiana and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the Foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/Foundation .

Contact: Angeline Protogere

Office: 317.431.1910 | 24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy
President Vo Van Thuong leaves Hanoi for an official visit to Laos on April 10 morning. (Photo: VNA)

He is accompanied by Chairman of the Presidential Office Le Khanh Hai, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat, Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Tran Sy Thanh, Chairman of the Vietnam -Laos Friendship Association Tran Van Tuy, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung, among others.

The visit aims to affirm the Vietnamese States consistent policy of attaching importance to and giving the highest priority to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

It also looks to strengthen the mutual trust and close-knit ties between leaders of the two countries and promote cooperation between the two States and the two peoples.

The trip takes place when the two Parties and countries are strongly implementing the resolutions of their respective Parties congresses and socio-economic development plans and obtaining numerous outstanding achievements. Bilateral relations are also flourishing, with agreements between the countries leaders and cooperation deals between the two Governments being carried out actively and resulting in significant outcomes in all fields./.
The firm explains in a newly-released resource that service management success depends on building a strong connection between Agile and more traditional delivery teams to ensure alignment and consistency

TORONTO, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - During an economic downturn, businesses are under pressure to optimize their outputs. Integrating Agile practices with existing service management processes is one solution organizations can explore to maximize their business values. However, this collaborative approach can come with its own set of challenges, such as working efficiently between the two practices, optimizing the value streams of services and products, and creating a collaborative culture to support a rapidly changing business. To help organizations overcome these challenges and find the right integration point, global IT research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group has released a new blueprint, Service Management Integration With Agile Practices.

Info-Tech Research Groups Service Management Integration With Agile Practices blueprint outlines key factors for breaking down barriers between Agile and service management practices. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group)

"Many organizations believe that once they have implemented Agile, they no longer need a service management framework, like Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). They see service management as 'old' and a roadblock to delivering products and services quickly," says Carlene McCubbin, Practice Lead at Info-Tech Research Group. "The culture clash is obvious, and it is the most common challenge people face when trying to integrate Agile and service management. However, it is not the only challenge."

The firm's blueprint explains that combining Agile development and service management is a difficult task for many organizations due to various barriers. These barriers include conflicting values, goals, and mindsets regarding service delivery among IT groups, limited leadership understanding of practices, and differences in processes' speed and lead time needs. While focusing on product delivery, Agile practices are not always geared towards operations, adding another layer of difficulty to integrating the two practices.

"Agile development encompasses various iterative and incremental methodologies used to create products, while service management involves specific organizational capabilities to offer valuable services to customers," explains McCubbin. "IT teams need to find ways to integrate their Agile practices with existing service management processes."

The integration of Agile and service management practices can be facilitated by understanding the following key integration points to break down barriers:

Service Management Processes: Identify where service management processes overlap or have a dependency on Agile processes.







Identify where service management processes overlap or have a dependency on Agile processes. People and Resources: Visibility and process workflows can be compromised when different tools are used among the practices.







Visibility and process workflows can be compromised when different tools are used among the practices. Governance and Organizational Structure: Align control and decision making, as a fluid organizational structure can impact service delivery.

Info-Tech advises that by integrating Agile practices with existing service management processes, organizations can optimize the value stream of their services and products while fostering a culture of collaboration that can support a rapidly changing business.

To learn more about the firm's research and recommendations, download the complete Service Management Integration With Agile Practices blueprint.

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and over 200 IT and industry analysts through the Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group
SALT LAKE CITY, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Extra Space Storage Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: EXR) announced today it will release financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 after the market closes. The Company will host a conference call at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 to discuss its financial results. Hosting the call will be Extra Space Storage's CEO, Joe Margolis. Joining him will be Scott Stubbs, Executive Vice President and CFO.

During the conference call, company officers will review operating performance, discuss recent events, and conduct a question-and-answer period. The question-and-answer period will be limited to registered financial analysts. All other participants will have listen-only capability.

To Participate in the Conference Call:

A live webcast of the conference call will be available online from the investor relations page of the Company's corporate website at www.extraspace.com. Telephone participants may avoid any delays in joining the conference call by pre-registering for the call using the following link to receive a special dial-in number and PIN: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIbd661983adb44bc19de7d41dba16595e.

The conference call will also be available on the Company's website under Investor Relations at www.extraspace.com. To listen to a live broadcast, go to the site at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in order to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

Conference Call Playback:

A replay of the webcast will be available on the Extra Space Storage Investor Relations website beginning May 3, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. ET, and will remain available for one year after the call.

Full Text of the Earnings Report and Supplemental Data

The full text of the earnings report and supplemental data will be available at the Company's investor relations website immediately following the earnings release to the wire services after the market close on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

About Extra Space Storage Inc.

Extra Space Storage Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, and a member of the S&P 500. As of December 31, 2022, the Company owned and/or operated 2,338 self-storage properties, which comprise approximately 1.6 million units and approximately 176.1 million square feet of rentable storage space offering customers conveniently located and secure storage units across the country, including boat storage, RV storage and business storage. The Company is the second largest owner and/or operator of self-storage properties in the United States and is the largest self-storage management company in the United States.

For more information, please visit www.extraspace.com.

SOURCE Extra Space Storage Inc.
The New Report Examines the Next Generation by Working with Gen Z Content Creators to Explore How They Are Navigating an Ever-Polarizing World

ST. LOUIS, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FleishmanHillard's global Culture Unit today released The Youth Kaleidoscope Report, which sees Gen Alpha and Gen Z shapeshifting their quest for balance in today's tumultuous conditions.

To date, much of the research surrounding Gen Z and Gen Alpha presents a fairly one-dimensional view. Both groups are often portrayed as 'freedom fighters' rebelling against systems and structures they have inherited. But much of this sentiment inadvertently puts pressure on these young people to conform and doesn't look to their individual and nuanced characteristics. It presumes young people to be a uniform monolith instead of a generation pulsating with ideas and passions for their futures.

"The defining traits of this generation will continue to evolve as they begin to adjust to the world around them, from the world of work, to entering the housing market or even just experiencing their first true heartbreak," said Candace Peterson, global head of Brand at FleishmanHillard. "Young people are ultimately seeking out balance in their endeavour to rationalize the all-too-often chaotic world around them. Responding to this balance by broadening how we look at and define this generation will be of the utmost importance in building rapport and engaging with this generation."

The report uncovers how these "digital natives" have grown up in a different landscape than previous generations  more intersectional, with an abundance of technology and social platforms, connections and information; they are the epitome of the cross-culture kid and are widely considered as having greater cultural intelligence, or CQ, than their predecessors. They have different ideals, expectations and approaches to identity than other cohorts, and internal and external stressors significantly affect how they view the world.

Broken down across Mind, Meta and Why it Matters, the report gives first-hand insights to help understand and authentically engage with this generation as they continue to be shaped by, and are themselves shaping, the world around them.

The Youth Kaleidoscope Report was produced in conjunction with an assortment of talented, perceptive and pioneering young thought leaders from around the world who are using social media to connect with their peers. FleishmanHillard teamed up with youth influencer specialists, Youth Marketing Connection, to identify the next wave of expert social media talent across the U.S. and UK who helped address key themes and topics throughout the report, speaking directly to their audiences to discover their thoughts and feelings. The project also continues the agency's partnership with specialist talent agency Zebedee to increase the representation of people with disabilities, alternative appearances and trans/non-binary in the media.

Partners include the likes of Ellie Goldstein, a model with Down Syndrome who helped create Kami, the first digital avatar with Down Syndrome; Heather Moradeyo, an advocate for mental health who has used TikTok to create a supportive community for people with schizophrenia to share their stories; and Nemesis Lacroix, a transgender drag artist and full-time gamer who is passionate about challenging stereotypes of gamers and making the LGBTQ+ community visible in online spaces. By collaborating with this young cohort, The Youth Kaleidoscope Report offers an unfiltered and expert view of what brands and organizations need to do to win with them.

"The next generation are breaking traditional boundaries, and I've loved being able to do this within the modelling world," Goldstein said. "It's incredible hearing people say that I've inspired them, but we still have a lot to do to show true representation  this is just the start!"

Monique Jones, who shares finance and investing advice through @myfinancescrapbook on TikTok, added, "We are breaking down barriers, banishing binaries and saying a resounding 'No!' to the same old generational BS. I spoke to my audience about the rising financial anxiety, and the pressures to save and spend when all we are being told is doom and gloom. Social media allows me to socialize, play, collaborate and create like no generation before us, and I love being able to share advice that's targeted to my followers, where we can interact in real-time and express ourselves in completely new ways."

Download The Youth Kaleidoscope Report here.

About FleishmanHillard

FleishmanHillard specializes in public relations, reputation management, public affairs, brand marketing, digital strategy, social engagement and content strategy. FleishmanHillard was named 2021 PRovoke Global Agency of the Year; 2021 ICCO Network of the Year; 2021 Campaign Global PR Agency of the Year; 2022 PRWeek U.S. Agency of the Year and Outstanding Extra-Large Agency of the Year; 2022 Campaign US PR Agency of the Year; 2021 PRovoke APAC Consultancy of the Year; 2021 PRWeek UK Large Consultancy of the Year; Human Rights Campaign Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality 2018-2022; and to Seramount's (formerly Working Mother Media) "Top Companies for Executive Women" list 2010-2022. FleishmanHillard is part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, and has nearly 80 offices in more than 30 countries, plus affiliates in 45 countries.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group

Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, language strategy, global health strategy and change management. As the largest group of communications professionals in the world, our employees provide expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the Communications Consultancy Network, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).

SOURCE FleishmanHillard
SAN FRANCISCO, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global flexible packaging market size is expected to reach USD 373.34 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2023 to 2030. Growing consumer driven demand for packaged food and beverage products owing to its convenience and ease of consumption is expected to drive market growth.

Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

Plastics dominated the flexible packaging industry with share of 69.0% in 2022 owing to the property of the material for being modified by co-polymerization to match exact packaging requirements of various products along with easy availability and cost effectiveness.

The food and beverages application segment dominated the market and accounted for a revenue share of 55.0% in 2022 as this packaging solution offers easy transportation, convenient storage, and disposal for food and beverage products. Growing consumption of snacks like chips, sausages, and bread, coupled with the expanding food retail industry and new product launches in emerging markets, is expected to increase the demand for flexible packaging.

The bioplastic material segment is expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Prevalence of stringent government regulations particularly in North America and Europe is expected to positively impact the demand for environment friendly material, thus positively impacting its demand in the flexible packaging market.

and is expected to positively impact the demand for environment friendly material, thus positively impacting its demand in the flexible packaging market. Asia Pacific accounted for the highest market share in 2022 and is also expected to progress at the highest CAGR over the forecast period owing to high growth in the application industries. In China and India , the food and beverage industry is expected to grow due to population growth, rising disposable incomes, and rapid urbanization, thus benefiting the sales for flexible packaging in the region.

accounted for the highest market share in 2022 and is also expected to progress at the highest CAGR over the forecast period owing to high growth in the application industries. In and , the food and beverage industry is expected to grow due to population growth, rising disposable incomes, and rapid urbanization, thus benefiting the sales for flexible packaging in the region. Key companies are increasingly offering custom packaging solutions to end-use companies; besides, key companies are increasingly focusing on the use of recycled materials as they offer complete sustainability. New product developments, with mergers and acquisitions, and expansion of production capacity are some of the strategies adopted by players.

Read 185-page full market research report for more Insights, "Flexible Packaging Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Material (Plastic, Paper, Metal, Bioplastic), By Application (Food, Beverages, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Flexible Packaging Market Growth & Trends

Flexible packaging products are lightweight, take less space in transportation, are cheaper to manufacture, and use less plastic, thus present more environmentally friendly profile than rigid products. Increasing emphasis on use of sustainable packaging products globally is expected to bolster the demand for flexible packaging products during the forecast period.

The global cosmetic and personal care industry is characterized by the growing awareness pertaining to health and wellness coupled with increasing demand for natural, chemical-free, and organic products. Thus, rising green consciousness are expected to drive the demand for organic and natural skincare products over the forecast period, which, in turn, is anticipated to boost the demand for flexible packaging solution such as plastic tubes and pouches.

Growing demand for cost effective shipping of commodities is expected to augment growth of flexible packaging products such as flexitanks over the forecast period. Moreover, increase in trade activities in countries of Asia Pacific is expected to drive market growth in the region over the forecast period.

Flexible Packaging Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global flexible packaging market report based on material, application, and region

Flexible Packaging Market - Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2019 - 2030)

Plastic

Paper

Metal

Bioplastic

Flexible Packaging Market - Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2019 - 2030)

Food & Beverages

Pharmaceutical

Cosmetics

Others

Flexible Packaging Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2019 - 2030)

North America

U.S.



Canada



Mexico

Europe

Germany



U.K.



France



Italy



Spain

Asia Pacific

China



India



Japan



South Korea



Australia



Southeast Asia

Central & South America

Brazil



Argentina

Middle East & Africa

& Saudi Arabia



UAE



South Africa

List of Key Players of Flexible Packaging Market

Bemis Company, Inc

Mondi plc

Huhtamaki Oyj

Sealed Air Corporation

Constantia Flexibles International GmbH

Sonoco Products Company

Amcor Ltd.

Ukrplastic

Ampac Holding

Wipak Group

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Molded Pulp Packaging Market - The global molded pulp packaging market size is expected to reach USD 9.10 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 7.6% according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growing demand for environment-friendly sustainable packaging by end-users, rising awareness toward waste management, and environmental concern on single-use plastic are attributed to be the key drivers of the market for molded pulp packaging.

The global molded pulp packaging market size is expected to reach by 2030, registering a CAGR of 7.6% according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growing demand for environment-friendly sustainable packaging by end-users, rising awareness toward waste management, and environmental concern on single-use plastic are attributed to be the key drivers of the market for molded pulp packaging. Food Packaging Market - The global food packaging market size is expected to reach USD 562.3 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 5.7% according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing food delivery services globally and high demand for single-serve and portable food packs are expected to propel the industry growth over the next few years.

- The global food packaging market size is expected to reach by 2030, registering a CAGR of 5.7% according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing food delivery services globally and high demand for single-serve and portable food packs are expected to propel the industry growth over the next few years. Plastic Packaging Market - The global plastic packaging market size is expected to reach USD 492.3 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.6% from 2023 to 2030. The rapid growth of food and beverages, personal care, industrial, and pharmaceutical sectors, coupled with the rising penetration of organized and e-retail across the world, is expected to fuel growth in the market.

Browse through Grand View Research's Plastics, Polymers & Resins Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

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DUBLIN, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Coaxial Cable Market Size, Segments, Outlook, and Revenue Forecast 2022-2028 by Type, Application, End-User, and Region" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Coaxial Cable Market is expected to witness a CAGR of ~5% during the forecast period (2022-2028). The market accounted for US$ 25 billion in 2017 and is estimated to be US$ 35 billion in 2022.

Further, the market is forecasted to reach a size of US$ 50 billion by 2028. Due to the rising telecommunication and IT industry. A significant rise in the demand for internet connection is also fueling the growth of the coaxial cable market.



Significant rise in usage of the internet is driving the growth of the coaxial cable market as higher bandwidth requires secure and competent transmission lines to function without signal loss. Cisco, an American multinational technology company, mentioned that by 2023, nearly 60% of the mobile devices and connections globally will have 4G+ capability, surpassing 3G and below-capable devices and connections by severalfold.



Advancement in the telecom industry is further propelling the growth of the global coaxial cable market. Coaxial cable is used to convey data, video, and voice communication to customers. Invest India, a national investment promotion and facilitation agency reported that the telecom industry in India is the second largest in the world with a subscriber base of 1.17 billion as of July 2022 (wireless and wireline subscribers).



The diminishing number of subscriptions for cable television, owing to its high cost compared to online streaming platforms, is likely to hamper the growth of the global coaxial cable market. According to the Capital News Service (CNS), a news organization, stated that the basic plan of DirecTV costs US$ 75, and DTH costs US$ 70, on the other hand online streaming video platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus, HBO Max, and other is offering basic plan at an average cost of US$ 8.



Furthermore, advancement in technology in form of fiber optic cables is hampering the growth of the coaxial cable market. Fiber optic internet transmission speed is faster than coaxial cables, which makes it ideal for large companies.



Scope of the Report



The Coaxial Cable market is segmented by Type, Application, and End-User. In addition, the report also covers market size and forecasts for the four major regions in the Coaxial Cable markets. The revenue used to size and forecast the market for each segment is US$ billion.



By Cable Type

Hardline Cable

Triaxial Cable

RG Cable

By Application

Internet Data Transfer

Video Distribution

Radio Frequency Transfer

By End-User

Cable Television Industry

Military & Aerospace

Internet Service Providers

Telephone Network Operators

Communication Equipment Manufacturers

By Geography

North America ( USA , Canada , Mexico )

( , , ) Europe ( Germany , UK, France , Spain , Italy , Rest of Europe )

( , UK, , , , Rest of ) Asia Pacific ( China , Japan , South Korea , India , Indonesia , Australia , Rest of Asia Pacific )

( , , , , , , Rest of ) LAMEA ( Latin America , Middle East , Africa )

Key Companies

Belden Inc

Prysmian Group

Amphenol Corporation

CommScope

Trigiant Group Limited

HUBER+SUHNER

Leoni AG

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd

TE Connectivity

Nexans

Key Trends by Market Segment



By Cable Type: The RG cable segment held the largest market share of the Global Coaxial Cable market in 2021. RG-type coaxial cables are commonly used in community antenna television (CATV) for residential and commercial installations.



RG-type coaxial cables are available in various sizes and applications in the market such as RG6 used for cable television, RG8 used for radio stations, and RG11 used for video distribution.



Multiple companies offer coaxial cables under a single RG-type segment such as Nexans, Huber+Suhner, Belden Inc., and Commscope.



Amphenol RF, a division of Amphenol Corporation, in October 2022, announced the expansion of the cable assembly portfolio with additional BNC to MCX and MMCX configurations. These assemblies are designed on flexible RG316 cable and offer reliable electrical performance.



By Application: The radio frequency transfer segment accounted for the largest market share in 2021, as it is used for multiple wired connections such as Wi-Fi, phones, television cables, and others.



A coaxial cable is an electric cable used to transmit radio frequency from one point to another. Radio frequency transfer has multiple applications including computer network connections, antennas, and the distribution of cable television signals.



Wi-Fi is the key component in radio frequency transfer applications, as it helps in transferring secure and reliable data from one point to another. Increasing average Wi-Fi speed is a driving factor for the global coaxial cable market, as higher bandwidth requires high-quality cables to transfer the data. According to Cisco, the average Wi-Fi network connection speed of 30.3 Mbps in 2018 will exceed 91.6 Mbps by 2023.



By End-User: Internet service provider is likely to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period (2022-2028), owing to the increasing demand for data across the world. Internet service providers require cable to transmit the data from one end to another.



According to Cisco, the total number of internet users is projected to grow from 3.9 billion in 2018 to 5.3 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of 6% worldwide.



As per Cisco, by 2023, the top three 5G countries in terms of the percentage of devices and connections shared on 5G will be China at 20.7%, Japan at 20.6%, and the United Kingdom at 19.5%.



By Geography: Asia Pacific accounted for the largest market share within the global coaxial cable market in 2021, owing to the growing mobile telecommunication networks.



Invest India, the national investment promotion and facilitation agency reported that the telecom industry in India is the second largest in the world with a subscriber base of 1.17 billion as of July 2022 (wireless and wireline subscribers).



According to the International Trade Association (ITA), a U.S. agency that promotes trade and investment, in 2020 stated that over the next five years, the four Japanese carriers including NTT Docomo, KDDI au, Softbank, and Rakuten Mobile, will spend more than US$14 billion combined in capital expenditure to build its 5G networks. In 2019, U.S. suppliers exported more than US$720 million in telecom equipment to Japan.



Cisco in its annual internet report, 2018-2023 mentioned that Asia Pacific internet users as a percentage of the regional population are forecasted to grow by 20%, which is highest among other regions.

Recent Developments Related to Major Players



In August 2022, Amphenol RF introduced reduced interference with low PIM NEX10 coaxial adapters. NEX10 adapters can be used where RF signals need to be combined or distributed to an antenna in multi-operators, and multiband DAS applications.



In September 2021, Nexans entered into a share purchase agreement with Xignux SA of Mexico to acquire Centelsa, a premium cable maker in Latin America.



Conclusion



The global coaxial cable market witnessed significant growth during the period 2017-2021, surging growth of data and communication, and increasing demand for high-frequency signals without signal loss are driving the growth of the coaxial cable market. The growth rate is expected to remain moderate during the forecast period.



Though the market is highly competitive with ~250 participants, the global players dominate the market share, and regional players also hold a significant share.



Key Topics Covered in the Report

Snapshot of Global Coaxial Cable Market

Industry Value Chain and Ecosystem Analysis

Market size and Segmentation of the Global Coaxial Cable Market

Historic Growth of the Overall Global Coaxial Cable Market and Segments

Competition Scenario of the Market and Key Developments of Competitors

Porter's 5 Forces Analysis of the Global Coaxial Cable Industry

Overview, Product Offerings, and Strengths & Weaknesses of Key Competitors

Covid-19 Impact on the Overall Global Coaxial Cable Market

Future Market Forecast and Growth Rates of the Total Global Coaxial Cable Market and by Segments

Market Size of Application/End User Segments with Historical CAGR and Future Forecasts

Analysis of the Global Coaxial Cable Market

Major Production/Supply and Consumption/Demand Hubs in Each Major Region

Major Continent-wise Historic and Future Market Growth Rates of the Total Market and Segments

Overview of Notable Emerging Competitor Companies within Each Major Continent

Key Profiled Companies Mentioned in the Report

Belden Inc

Prysmian Group

Amphenol Corporation

CommScope

Trigiant Group Limited

HUBER+SUHNER

Leoni AG

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd

TE Connectivity

NexansHDG Telecom

ZOMWAVE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD

M-core Industries Private Limited

STP Global Cables LLC

Birikim Kablo

Tukom Elektronik

COAX-RF ENTERPRISE CO., Ltd.



Key Target Audience - Organizations and Entities Who Can Benefit by Subscribing This Report

Coaxial Cable Manufacturing Companies

Coaxial Cable Distributors and Traders

Coaxial Cable Traders

Coaxial Cable Material Supplier Companies

Potential Investors in Coaxial Cable Companies

Cable & Wire Association

Electric Cable Association

Cable TV Companies

CCTV Installation Companies

Internet Providers

Government Ministries and Departments of Communications Industry

Consulting Companies in The Cable & Wire

Coaxial Cable Component Providers

RG Coaxial Cable Component Manufacturers

Government And Research Organizations

Investment banks

Time Period Captured in the Report

Historical Period: 2017-2021

Forecast Period: 2022-2028F

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Study Period of this Market Report?

The Global Coaxial Cable Market is covered from 2017- 2028 in this report, which includes a forecast for the period 2022-2028

What is the Future Growth Rate of the Global Coaxial Cable Market?

The Global Coaxial Cable Market is expected to witness a CAGR of ~5% over the next 6 years

What are the Key Factors Driving the Global Coaxial Cable Market?

The growing Telecommunication and IT industry, and rising demand for high-speed internet and data across the world are also propelling the growth in the coaxial cable market

Which is the Largest Type Segment within the Global Coaxial Cable Market?

RG Type segment held the largest share of the Global Coaxial Cable Market in 2021

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fw0mf2

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DUBLIN, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Copper Clad Laminates Market: Analysis By Type, By Application, By Reinforcement Material, By Region Size and Trends with Impact of COVID-19 and Forecast up to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global copper-clad laminates market was valued at US$15.08 billion in 2022. The market value is expected to reach US$21.20 billion by 2028.

Key application for copper-clad laminates is in the manufacture of printed circuit boards (PCBs) used to mechanically support and connect electronic components.

In the coming years, the copper-clad laminate market is expected to be benefited from the ongoing construction of 5G base stations, the rapid development of cloud computing, and auto electrification. Server platform upgrades have also boosted the consumption of high-performance PCBs and CCLs.

Moreover, the electrification and intelligentization of automobiles have created scenarios for PCB and CCL applications, leading to market growth. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approx. 6% during the forecasted period of 2023-2028.

Market Segmentation Analysis:

By Type: The report provides the bifurcation of the market into two types: Rigid and Flexible.

The rigid CCL held the highest share of the market. The increasing demand for electric vehicles and the innovations in electronic machines are expected to boost the demand for rigid copper-clad laminate in the forthcoming years. Whereas flexible laminates have lesser weight, thinness, and better flexibility as compared to rigid laminates, and hence is used in different applications like electronic products, including cellphone, digital camera, automotive GPS, and laptop.

By Application: The report further provides the analysis based on applications: Communication Systems, Computers, Consumer Electronics, Automotive Electronics, Industrial Electronics, Medical Equipment, and Others.

Communication systems held the highest share in the market, whereas automotive electronics is expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the forecasted period. The demand for copper-clad laminates in communication systems is driven by the swelling demand for 5G infrastructure.

Further, server upgrades have jacked up demand for high-performance PCBs and CCLs that can offer high frequencies and high speeds. Therefore, as an investment in 5G infrastructure increases, it is expected that global server construction to boost PCB and CCL market demand during forthcoming years.

By Reinforcement Material: The report provides a glimpse of the global rigid copper-clad laminates market based on the following reinforcement materials: Fiberglass, Special Substrates Base, Compound, and Paper Base.

Fiberglass cloth-focused CCL includes FR-5 and FR-4. FR-4 (Flame Retardant-4) is a material consisting of a woven glass fiber cloth and an epoxy resin laminate material that is self-extinguishing (flame resistant). FR-4 has excellent performance and is cheaper than some special materials.

Meanwhile, this material has been fully studied, so it can be modified to produce a wide range of benefits such as a halogen-free type. On the other hand, as high-frequency and high-speed applications such as 5G, IoT, and data centers became commonplace, the market share of special CCLs is expected to rise in the coming years.

By Region: The report provides insight into the copper-clad laminates market based on the regions namely, Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World.

Asia Pacific held the major share of the copper-clad laminates market in 2022. It is also expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forthcoming years.

With the rise of Chinese mainland server manufacturers and a growing domestic server market, development opportunities have opened up for local providers of high-frequency and high-speed CCLs. For instance, by 2021, the number of 5G base stations in China had reached 1.42 million, with over 0.65 million new stations built in that year alone, and 5G investment had grown by 45.6% of total investments in the communications industry, based on data presented in the 2021 Statistical Bulletin of the Communications Industry issued by The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most promising innovation accelerators for digital enterprises. According to Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI), within Germany, IoT spending would exceed US$37.45 billion (EUR35 billion) (making Germany the biggest spender in Europe) in 2021. The increase in IoT spending would generate demand prospects for PCB and CCL manufacturers in the coming years.

Market Dynamics:

Growth Drivers: The global copper-clad laminates market growth is predicted to be supported by numerous growth drivers such as increasing demand for consumer electronics, increasing demand for vehicles, increasing disposable income, growing use of medical devices, growing industrial robot industry, and many other factors.

Automation requires the use of robots and their electronic components. Among the most important aspects of robotics is the printed circuit board (PCB) used for electronic control and operation. With multiple industries that use robotics, finding PCB solutions that meet the various needs of automated devices has become even more valuable. Hence, the increase in the industrial robotic industry boosts the demand for PCBs which, in turn, propels the demand for CCL.

Challenges: However, the market growth would be negatively impacted by various challenges such as rising copper prices, shortage of raw materials, chip shortage crisis, etc.

Trends: The market is projected to grow at a fast pace during the forecast period, due to various latest trends such as rapid development of cloud computing and server market, increasing auto electrification, rising IoT market, increasing construction of 5G base station, etc.

The electrification and intelligentization of automobiles have created scenarios for PCB and CCL applications, including electrical control systems for new energy vehicles (NEVs), advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and intelligent cockpits. As key function-bearing components of automotive electronics, PCBs would benefit substantially from the increase in automotive electronic content resulting from auto electrification and intelligentization. This would further increase the demand for CCL in the coming years.

Impact Analysis of COVID-19 and Way Forward:

The COVID-19 pandemic slowed the copper-clad laminates industry's growth in 2020. Due to blockage in trade and services across the globe, disruption in raw material supply, the surge in instrument and equipment prices, and a ban on transportation, the market was impacted heavily.

Moreover, the COVID-19 outbreak has negatively affected PCB demand due to the supply chain fallout and a decline in demand from the industrial and automotive sectors, which has further decelerated the CCL market growth. However, the demand for edge computing emerges as the new driving force of the server market and would evolve and develop with the deployment of 5G infrastructure. This would stimulate the demand for PCB and CCL in the coming years, simultaneously.

Competitive Landscape:

The global copper-clad laminates market is highly concentrated. In 2022, the world's top five CCL manufacturers (Kingboard Laminates, SYTECH, Nan YaPlastics, Elite Material (EMC), and ITEQ) had a combined market share of around 51%.

Key manufacturers in the industry globally have consequently taken measures such as product transformation and capacity expansion to strengthen the business of copper-clad laminate production. Some of the strategies among key players in the market are mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations.

For instance, in 2023, Resonac Corporation announced new multiyear contracts with Infineon Technologies AG (Infineon) to continue supplying SiC materials for power semiconductors to Infineon and cooperatively developing technologies related to SiC materials. On the other hand, in 2022, Doosan Corporation announced that the company has been advancing into the 5G antenna module business in partnership with Movandi Corporation.

Market Dynamics

Growth Drivers

Increasing Demand for Consumer Electronics

Increasing Demand For Vehicles

Increasing Disposable Income

Growing Use of Medical Devices

Growing Industrial Robot Industry

Challenges

Shortage of Raw Materials

Chip Shortage Crisis

Rising Copper Prices

Market Trends

Rapid Development of Cloud Computing and Server Market

Increasing Auto Electrification

Rising IoT Market

Increasing Construction of 5G Base Station

The key players in the global copper-clad laminates market are:

Elite Material Co. Ltd. (EMC)

Showa Denko K.K./ Resonac Holdings Corporation

Doosan Corp.

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.

Rogers Corporation

Kingboard Laminates Holdings Ltd.

ITEQ Corporation

Nan Ya Plastics Corporation

Shengyi Technology Co., Ltd.

Taiwan Union Technology Corporation (TUC)

Isola Group

Goldenmax International Group Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xyvotv

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NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A latest research report [115+] pages with 360-Degree visibility, titled "Directed Energy Weapons Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Lethality (Non-Lethal and Lethal); By Technology; By Application; By Platform; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2023 - 2032" published by Polaris Market Research in its research repository.

"According to research report, the global directed energy weapons market (DEW) size/share was valued at USD 9.20 Billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 22.10 Billion By 2032, growing at a CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period."

What is Directed Energy Weapons? How big is Directed Energy Weapons Industry Size & Share?

Overview

Directed energy weapons are a kind of electromagnetic or particle technology that utilizes energy as contrasted to a material weapon to attack a target. The rapidly rising demand for directed energy weapons market can be attributed to their low operational costs per shot, travel much more speedily than those traditional weapons, and are not impacted by gravity and their capacity to augment silent and invisible attacks.

The meteoric growth in the military spending of advanced and emerging countries because of growing geopolitical apprehensions is speeding up the acquisition of contemporary air, sea and land, launch pad. The military is funding the incorporation of progressive weapon procedures, which is driving the growth of the market.

Request Sample Copy of Directed Energy Weapons Market Research Report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/directed-energy-weapons-market/request-for-sample

(The sample of this report is readily available on request. The report sample contains a brief introduction to the research report, Table of Contents, Graphical introduction of regional analysis, Top players in the market with their revenue analysis and our research methodology.)

Our Sample Report May Includes:

2032 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis.

115+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research).

Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Request.

2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends.

Includes Updated List of table & figures.

Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis.

Some of the Top Market Players Are:

Elbit Systems Ltd

Diehl Defense GmbH & Co. KG

Honeywell International Inc.

BAE Systems Plc

II-VI Inc.

Kord Technologies

Leonardo S.p.A.

L3Harris Technologies Inc.

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.

Rheinmetall AG

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

The Boeing Company

Thales Group

For Additional Information on Key Players, Request to Download Sample Pages Here: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/directed-energy-weapons-market/request-for-sample

The following are some of the key market opportunities for DEWs:

Countering emerging threats: DEWs are well-suited for countering a range of emerging threats, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. DEWs can be used to disable or destroy these threats at long ranges, without the risk of collateral damage.

DEWs are well-suited for countering a range of emerging threats, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. DEWs can be used to disable or destroy these threats at long ranges, without the risk of collateral damage. Space defense: DEWs can also be used to defend against threats in space, such as satellites and other space assets. DEWs can be used to disable or destroy these threats, without the risk of escalation into a full-scale space war.

DEWs can also be used to defend against threats in space, such as satellites and other space assets. DEWs can be used to disable or destroy these threats, without the risk of escalation into a full-scale space war. Law enforcement: DEWs can also be used by law enforcement to counter a range of threats, such as active shooters and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs). DEWs can be used to disable or destroy these threats, without the risk of harming innocent bystanders.

The DEW market is still in its early stages of development, but the technology is rapidly evolving. As DEWs become more mature and affordable, they are expected to be widely adopted by militaries and law enforcement agencies around the world.

The following are some of the key challenges facing the DEW market:

Technology development: DEW technology is still in its early stages of development, and there are a number of challenges that need to be addressed before DEWs can be widely deployed. These challenges include the need for more powerful lasers, the need for more efficient power sources, and the need for more effective beam control systems.

DEW technology is still in its early stages of development, and there are a number of challenges that need to be addressed before DEWs can be widely deployed. These challenges include the need for more powerful lasers, the need for more efficient power sources, and the need for more effective beam control systems. Cost: DEWs are currently very expensive to develop and deploy. As the technology matures, costs are expected to come down, but DEWs are likely to remain a relatively expensive option for many years to come.

DEWs are currently very expensive to develop and deploy. As the technology matures, costs are expected to come down, but DEWs are likely to remain a relatively expensive option for many years to come. Regulatory environment: The use of DEWs is subject to a number of regulatory restrictions. These restrictions vary from country to country, and they can make it difficult to deploy DEWs in some areas.

Despite these challenges, the DEW market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. The increasing demand for DEWs from militaries and law enforcement agencies around the world, combined with the rapid pace of technological development, is expected to drive the growth of the DEW market.

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Key factors driving market growth

Production of no indemnity impairment to physical structure to push the market

As per the US Department of Defense, DEW can produce least to no insurance impairment to material edifices in the ambiance or line of sight. The directed energy weapons market size is expanding due to the abovementioned feature suiting pre-eminent central conflict, confrontations, or possible air defense techniques. As per the CRS report on US army weapons-related directed energy programs, DEW programs are in the favourable stages, which are US Navy's LAWS (laser weapon system) program in the US Army's C-RAM program and the SHORAD program.

Amidst the emergence of hypersonic projectiles, there is a growing demand for systematic deterrence together with concurrent multiple target acquisition and destruction potential by armed forces globally. Directed energy weapons market sales are soaring due to the emergence of these weapons is expected to lessen the high costs induced by armed forces and governments globally to sustain, diffuse and destroy traditional ammunition. This advancement will eliminate periodic ammunition acquisition by armed forces globally.

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Recent trends influencing the market

Escalation in the military disbursement by key countries to drive the market

Due to several military and government applications, the market has profitable possibilites in the forecast period. Growth in military spending by prominent countries has been observed in the last five years. The vindication against terrorist bombardment, CBRN menaces, and nuclear hostility to protect ordinary lives and national security are crucial components expected to propel the market in the course of the forecast period.

Direct energy weapons such as high-intensity microwaves, lasers, and electromagnetic armaments are installed to curb or dissuade bombardment from menaces such as ballistic missiles and anti-satellite weapons, amongst others. The increasing instances of extremist attacks and many provincial disputes in different parts of the world are among the main reasons for the increase in demand for direct energy weapons.

Segmentation assessment

The lethal segment is expected to be the largest segment

Based on lethality, the lethal segment is expected to be the largest segment. Directed energy weapons market demand is on the rise as there is sizeable implementation of lethality by armed forces worldwide and the focus on demolishing adversary military holdings.

High energy laser technology segment is estimated to be the fastest growing

Based on technology, the high-energy laser technology segment is expected to be the speedily-developing segment throughout the projected period. Directed energy weapons market trends include the growing demand for high-energy laser technology, and advancements in the similar will push the market diversification.

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Directed Energy Weapons Market: Report Coverage & Scope

Report Attribute Details Revenue forecast in 2032 USD 22.10 Billion Market size value in 2023 USD 10.00 Billion Expected CAGR Growth 9.2% from 2023  2032 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023  2032 Top Market Players Elbit Systems Ltd, Diehl Defense GmbH & Co. KG, Honeywell International Inc., BAE Systems Plc, II-VI Inc., Kord Technologies, Leonardo S.p.A., L3Harris Technologies Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Rheinmetall AG, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, The Boeing Company, Thales Group Segments Covered By Lethality, By Technology, By Application, By Platform, By Region Customization Options Customized purchase options are available to meet any research needs. Explore customized purchase options

Geographic Overview

Protection against land, sea, and air threats to propel the North American market

North America held the largest directed energy weapons market share due to safeguarding in case of many ultimatums for land, sea, and air defense petitions. A notable section of the federal budget is reserved for next-generation electronic warfare artillery. Also, a towering accession rate of artillery mechanisms utilizing laser technology will push market augmentation.

The market in Asia Pacific is forecast to grow at the greatest CAGR due to thriving R&D disbursement on direct energy automation by regional and international market rivals and towering approval rates for defense and homeland security administration. Also, the spread of regional nations' funding has pushed the generation of directed energy mechanisms by franting funds to state-owned enterprises.

Browse the Detail Report "Directed Energy Weapons Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Lethality (Non-Lethal and Lethal); By Technology; By Application; By Platform; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2023 - 2032" with in-depth TOC: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/directed-energy-weapons-market

For Additional Information OR Media Enquiry, Please Mail At: [email protected]

Recent developments

In July 2022 , Elbit Systems Ltd was provided with an arrangement of USD 80 million to deploy IR-PAWS (Infrared-based Passive Airborne Warning Systems) EW systems and C-MUSIC directed infrared remedy to an unnamed Asia Pacific nation. The following two years will see the completion of this deal.

Polaris Market Research has segmented the Directed Energy Weapons market report based on lethality, technology, application, platform, and region:

By Lethality Outlook

Non-Lethal

Lethal

By Technology Outlook

High Power Microwave Technology

High Energy Laser Technology

Plasma Weapons

Particle Beam Weapons

Sonic Weapons

By Application Outlook

Defense

Homeland Security

By Platform Outlook

Ship-Based

Land-Based

Airborne-Based

Space-Based

By Region Outlook

North America (U.S., Canada )

(U.S., ) Europe ( France , Germany , UK, Italy , Netherlands , Spain , Russia )

( , , UK, , , , ) Asia Pacific ( Japan , China , India , Malaysia , Indonesia , South Korea )

( , , , , , ) Latin America ( Brazil , Mexico , Argentina )

( , , ) Middle East & A

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LOS ANGELES, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Griffin Living, a leading developer of senior living communities, announced that it has acquired a 3 million dollar loan from Hankey Capital to finance the acquisition of land for a new assisted living/memory care building in Santa Clarita, CA.

The new community will be located at the corner of Camino Del Arte and Copper Hill Drive, in close proximity to a range of high-end retail and dining options. The community will offer a full range of services, including 24-hour care, all day dining, a wide array of activities, and luxury amenities. The approved plans by the city have capacity for more than 100 residents.

Griffin Living Acquires Land Loan for New Assisted Living Community in Santa Clarita, CA Tweet this

"We are excited to once again partner with Hankey Capital to finance the acquisition of this land in a high barrier-to-entry market with strong demographics in the category," said Paul Griffin, CEO of Griffin Living. "The loan closing highlights that even in today's market, projects with demonstrated demand, experienced developers, and strong operating partners can still access capital."

The new facility is expected to begin construction this year and open in 2024.

About Griffin Living

Griffin Living is an award-winning, privately-owned real estate development firm headquartered in Westlake Village, CA. The firm was founded by Paul Griffin III, a fifth-generation home builder who has created more than $4.5 billion in value in his forty-year career. This project will represent the eighth assisted living and memory care facility built by Griffin Living in a portfolio in excess of $500 million.

About Hankey Capital

Hankey Capital is a private direct lender originating bridge financing in the $5 million to $300+ million dollar range secured by real estate located in California. Currently, Hankey Capital has over $1.2 billion in loans on its balance sheet.

SOURCE Griffin Living
NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The heads-up display (HUD) market size is set to grow by USD 1,124.87 million between 2022 and 2027 and register a CAGR of 4.28% during the forecast period, according to Technavio's latest market research report estimates. With a focus on identifying dominant industry influencers, Technavio's reports present a detailed study by the way of synthesis and summation of data from multiple sources. This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Technavio offers in-depth market insights that assist global businesses to obtain growth opportunities. Read Sample Report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Heads-Up Display (HUD) Market 2023-2027

Factors such as growing awareness regarding passenger and vehicle safety, increasing demand from commercial aircraft, and rising demand from the luxury vehicles segment will offer immense growth opportunities. To leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. The heads-up display (HUD) market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period.

Heads-Up Display (HUD) Market 2023-2027: Segmentation

End-user

Aviation



Automotive



Locomotive



Construction Equipment

The aviation industry is the prime end-user of HUDs. The technology was first incorporated into military aviation, and after its successful implementation, it was integrated into commercial aviation. The dominance of the segment can be attributed to the need to adhere to stringent safety norms and the rise in aircraft accidents due to uncertain weather conditions. The increasing demand for retrofitted HUDs is anticipated to further drive the growth of the segment over the forecast period.

Technology

Conventional



AR-based

By technology, the market growth will be significant in the conventional HUD segment. Factors such as increasing awareness, rising disposable income, and changes in lifestyle have encouraged automakers to introduce HUDs in vehicles. The low cost associated with the production and sales of conventional HUDs will further drive segment growth.

Geography

Europe



APAC



North America



Middle East and Africa

and

South America

Europe will account for 38% of the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of the regional market is driven by the rising penetration of HUDs in the commercial vehicle segment and the increasing investments in aircraft manufacturing facilities. In addition, the rise in collaboration between OEMs and HUD vendors in the region is expected to provide significant growth opportunities over the forecast period.

Receive our market sample report now to gain access to a detailed analysis of the heads-up display (HUD) market: Download a Sample Report

Heads-Up Display (HUD) Market 2023-2027: Vendor Analysis and Scope

To help businesses improve their market position, the heads-up display (HUD) market provides a detailed analysis of around 15+ vendors operating in the market. Some of these vendors include:

BAE Systems Plc - The company offers heads-up displays such as Lite HUD.

- The company offers heads-up displays such as Lite HUD. BorgWarner Inc. - The company offers heads-up displays through its brand Delphi Technologies.

- The company offers heads-up displays through its brand Delphi Technologies. Continental AG - The company offers heads-up displays such as windshield HUD.

- The company offers heads-up displays such as windshield HUD. DENSO Corp. - The company offers heads-up displays such as TFT LCD heads-up displays.

- The company offers heads-up displays such as TFT LCD heads-up displays. Garmin Ltd.

HOLOEYE Photonics AG

Honeywell International Inc.

MicroVision Inc.

Nippon Seiki Co. Ltd.

Panasonic Holdings Corp.

Pioneer Corp.

Raytheon Technologies Corp.

Robert Bosch GmbH

Saab AB

STMicroelectronics NV

The report also covers the following areas:

Heads-Up Display (HUD) Market 2023-2027: Market Dynamics

Driver  The market is driven by the growing awareness regarding passenger and vehicle safety. This has increased awareness about the importance of having safety systems among consumers. Besides, regulatory authorities worldwide are setting stricter standards regarding vehicle safety. For instance, in July 2022 , the European Union introduced a new set of rules under the Vehicle General Safety Regulations, which mandated new vehicles to be equipped with a range of ADAS to improve road safety and protect passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists across the EU. Such regulations are increasing the significance of active and passive safety systems, including HUDs. All these factors are driving the growth of the market.

 The market is driven by the growing awareness regarding passenger and vehicle safety. This has increased awareness about the importance of having safety systems among consumers. Besides, regulatory authorities worldwide are setting stricter standards regarding vehicle safety. For instance, in , the European Union introduced a new set of rules under the Vehicle General Safety Regulations, which mandated new vehicles to be equipped with a range of ADAS to improve road safety and protect passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists across the EU. Such regulations are increasing the significance of active and passive safety systems, including HUDs. All these factors are driving the growth of the market. Trend  The advent of holographic in HUD is identified as the key trend in the market. Advances in polymer films and the introduction of new printing techniques have enabled new possibilities for holographic films. The functionality of multiple traditional optical lenses can be combined into a single holographic film recording. This significantly reduces the overall size of the optical system. The reduction in size enables HUDs to project better and bigger images. This trend will gain more significance during the forecast period and is expected to positively influence market growth.

 The advent of holographic in HUD is identified as the key trend in the market. Advances in polymer films and the introduction of new printing techniques have enabled new possibilities for holographic films. The functionality of multiple traditional optical lenses can be combined into a single holographic film recording. This significantly reduces the overall size of the optical system. The reduction in size enables HUDs to project better and bigger images. This trend will gain more significance during the forecast period and is expected to positively influence market growth. Challenge  The high cost of HUDs is a major challenge hindering the growth of the market. HUDs are yet to be widely accepted across all end-user segments. Currently, the end-use of HUDs is limited to luxury cars and aircraft owing to their expensive nature. Also, the high cost of production has limited the entry of new manufacturers. This has resulted in a high cost of HUDs, which is restricting their acceptance among end-users. These factors will challenge the growth of the market.

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Heads-Up Display (HUD) Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027

Detailed information on factors that will assist heads-up display (HUD) market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the heads-up display (HUD) market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the heads-up display (HUD) market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of heads-up display (HUD) market vendors

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The global next generation 3D display market size is estimated to grow by USD 700.87 million between 2022 and 2027 accelerating at a CAGR of 15.04%. The market is segmented by component (consumer electronics, automotive, healthcare, and others), product (stereoscopic display, volumetric display, HMD, and others), and geography (APAC, North America , Europe , Middle East and Africa , and South America ).

size is estimated to grow by between 2022 and 2027 accelerating at a CAGR of 15.04%. The market is segmented by component (consumer electronics, automotive, healthcare, and others), product (stereoscopic display, volumetric display, HMD, and others), and geography (APAC, , , and , and ). The smart display market size is expected to progress at a CAGR of 20.27% and reach an estimated value of USD 7.13 billion from 2021 to 2026. The market is segmented by type (signage, mirror, and home display) and geography ( North America , APAC, Europe , Middle East and Africa , and South America ).

Heads-Up Display (HUD) Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.28% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 1,124.87 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 3.73 Regional analysis Europe, APAC, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution Europe at 38% Key countries US, China, France, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled BAE Systems Plc, BorgWarner Inc., Continental AG, DENSO Corp., Elbit Systems Ltd., Garmin Ltd., HOLOEYE Photonics AG, Honeywell International Inc., MicroVision Inc., Nippon Seiki Co. Ltd., Panasonic Holdings Corp., Pioneer Corp., Raytheon Technologies Corp., Robert Bosch GmbH, Saab AB, STMicroelectronics NV, Thales Group, Visteon Corp., WayRay AG, and Yazaki Corp. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and 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.

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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 Technology



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 10: Parent market



Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

4 Historic Market Size

4.1 Global heads-up display (HUD) market 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size  Data Table on Global heads-up display (HUD) market 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.2 End-user Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size  End-user Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.3 Technology Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size  Technology Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size  Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size  Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

5 Five Forces Analysis

5.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027

5.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027

5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.7 Market condition

Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027

6 Market Segmentation by End-user

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 30: Chart on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

6.2 Comparison by End-user

Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by End-user



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by End-user

6.3 Aviation - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 34: Chart on Aviation - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Aviation - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 36: Chart on Aviation - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Aviation - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.4 Automotive - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 38: Chart on Automotive - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Automotive - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 40: Chart on Automotive - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Automotive - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.5 Locomotive - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 42: Chart on Locomotive - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Locomotive - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 44: Chart on Locomotive - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Locomotive - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.6 Construction equipment - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 46: Chart on Construction equipment - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Construction equipment - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 48: Chart on Construction equipment - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on Construction equipment - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.7 Market opportunity by End-user

Exhibit 50: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on Market opportunity by End-user ($ million)

7 Market Segmentation by Technology

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 52: Chart on Technology - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Technology - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

7.2 Comparison by Technology

Exhibit 54: Chart on Comparison by Technology



Exhibit 55: Data Table on Comparison by Technology

7.3 Conventional - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 56: Chart on Conventional - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on Conventional - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 58: Chart on Conventional - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 59: Data Table on Conventional - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.4 AR-based - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 60: Chart on AR-based - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 61: Data Table on AR-based - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 62: Chart on AR-based - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on AR-based - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.5 Market opportunity by Technology

Exhibit 64: Market opportunity by Technology ($ million)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on Market opportunity by Technology ($ million)

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 66: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 67: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 68: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)

9.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 69: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 70: Data Table on Geographic comparison

9.3 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 71: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 73: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 74: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.4 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 75: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 76: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 77: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 78: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 79: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 81: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 82: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 83: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 84: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 85: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 86: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 87: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 88: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 89: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 90: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 91: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 92: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 93: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 94: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.9 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 95: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 96: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 97: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 98: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.10 France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 100: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 101: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 102: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 103: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 104: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 105: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 106: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.12 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 107: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 108: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 109: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 110: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 111: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)



Exhibit 112: Data Tables on 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 113: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027

10.4 Market trends

11 Vendor Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 114: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

11.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 115: Overview on factors of disruption

11.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 116: Impact of key risks on business

12 Vendor Analysis

12.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 117: Vendors covered

12.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 118: Matrix on vendor position and classification

12.3 BAE Systems Plc

Exhibit 119: BAE Systems Plc - Overview



Exhibit 120: BAE Systems Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 121: BAE Systems Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 122: BAE Systems Plc - Segment focus

12.4 BorgWarner Inc.

Exhibit 123: BorgWarner Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 124: BorgWarner Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 125: BorgWarner Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 126: BorgWarner Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 127: BorgWarner Inc. - Segment focus

12.5 Continental AG

Exhibit 128: Continental AG - Overview



Exhibit 129: Continental AG - Business segments



Exhibit 130: Continental AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 131: Continental AG - Segment focus

12.6 DENSO Corp.

Exhibit 132: DENSO Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 133: DENSO Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 134: DENSO Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 135: DENSO Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 136: DENSO Corp. - Segment focus

12.7 Elbit Systems Ltd.

Exhibit 137: Elbit Systems Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 138: Elbit Systems Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 139: Elbit Systems Ltd. - Key offerings

12.8 Garmin Ltd.

Exhibit 140: Garmin Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 141: Garmin Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 142: Garmin Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 143: Garmin Ltd. - Segment focus

12.9 HOLOEYE Photonics AG

Exhibit 144: HOLOEYE Photonics AG - Overview



Exhibit 145: HOLOEYE Photonics AG - Product / Service



Exhibit 146: HOLOEYE Photonics AG - Key offerings

12.10 Honeywell International Inc.

Exhibit 147: Honeywell International Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 148: Honeywell International Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 149: Honeywell International Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 150: Honeywell International Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 151: Honeywell International Inc. - Segment focus

12.11 MicroVision Inc.

Exhibit 152: MicroVision Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 153: MicroVision Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 154: MicroVision Inc. - Key offerings

12.12 Nippon Seiki Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 155: Nippon Seiki Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 156: Nippon Seiki Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 157: Nippon Seiki Co. Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 158: Nippon Seiki Co. Ltd. - Segment focus

12.13 Panasonic Holdings Corp.

Exhibit 159: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 160: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 161: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 162: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 163: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Segment focus

12.14 Pioneer Corp.

Exhibit 164: Pioneer Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 165: Pioneer Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 166: Pioneer Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 167: Pioneer Corp. - Segment focus

12.15 Robert Bosch GmbH

Exhibit 168: Robert Bosch GmbH - Overview



Exhibit 169: Robert Bosch GmbH - Business segments



Exhibit 170: Robert Bosch GmbH - Key news



Exhibit 171: Robert Bosch GmbH - Key offerings



Exhibit 172: Robert Bosch GmbH - Segment focus

12.16 Visteon Corp.

Exhibit 173: Visteon Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 174: Visteon Corp. - Product / Service



Exhibit 175: Visteon Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 176: Visteon Corp. - Key offerings

12.17 WayRay AG

Exhibit 177: WayRay AG - Overview



Exhibit 178: WayRay AG - Product / Service



Exhibit 179: WayRay AG - Key offerings

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 180: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 181: Exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 182: Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 183: Research methodology



Exhibit 184: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 185: Information sources

13.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 186: List of abbreviations

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SOURCE Technavio
NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The honey market size is set to grow by USD 5,575.99 million between 2022 and 2027 and register a CAGR of 9.39%, according to Technavio's latest market research report. With a focus on identifying dominant industry influencers, Technavio's reports present a detailed study by the way of synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Technavio offers an up-to-date analysis of the current global market scenario and the overall market environment. View a Sample Report

The report also covers the following areas:

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Honey Market 2023-2027

Honey Market 2023-2027: Segmentation

Distribution Channel

Offline



Online

Type

Conventional



Organic

Geography

APAC



Europe



North America



South America



Middle East And Africa

The market share growth by the offline segment will be significant during the forecast period. Specialty stores offer a large variety of brands, many product portfolios (brand-specific or multi-branded), and similar types of products across all outlets. Many players and distributors plan their budgets for marketing, advertising, promotions, brand building, training, and IT support while operating their own retail outlets. They can reach out to consumers on their own instead of depending on independent retailers to sell their products.

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

Honey Market 2023-2027: Vendor Analysis and Scope

The market is fragmented and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Alpalair Wellness Pvt. Ltd., Barkman Honey LLC, Bee Maid Honey Ltd., Beeyond The Hive LLC, Capilano Honey Ltd., Comvita Ltd., Dabur India Ltd., Dutch Gold Honey, Golden Acres Honey Products Ltd., Little Bee Impex, New Zealand Honey Co., Oha Honey LP, PA and SC Steens Ltd., Savannah Bee Co., Sioux Honey Association Crop., Sweet Harvest Foods Inc., Valeo Foods Ltd., Wedderspoon Organic Inc., McCormick and Co. Inc., and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. are some of the major market participants. To help businesses improve their market position, Technavio's report provides a detailed analysis of more than 15 vendors operating in the market.

Vendor Offerings

Barkman Honey LLC - The company offers honey products such as Naked Wild Honey, Busy Bee, and Pure N Simple.

The company offers honey products such as Naked Wild Honey, Busy Bee, and Pure N Simple. Bee Maid Honey Ltd. - The company offers honey products such as creamed honey, liquid honey, and clover honey.

The company offers honey products such as creamed honey, liquid honey, and clover honey. Beeyond The Hive LLC - The company offers honey products such as raw clover honey and raw orange blossom honey.

The honey market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate. The health benefits associated with honey will offer immense growth opportunities. However, the high cost of production and transportation will hamper the market growth.

Honey Market 2023-2027: Market Dynamics

Major Drivers

The rise in the number of private-label products is the major factor driving the growth of the global honey market.

Private label products are manufactured by one company for sale under another company's brand. They are available across different industries, such as food and beverages, fashion, and skin and personal care.

Market vendors also provide options to other small vendors to become private label partners and large vendors operating in the market offer various value-added services to private label manufacturers.

The in-house laboratory and label design services, deep industry knowledge and long experience, in-house recipe blending, packaging, and label design, centrally operated location, and a company-owned fleet to deliver the order quickly and offer a variety of pack sizes and styles.

The in-house laboratory and label design services, deep industry knowledge and long experience, in-house recipe blending, packaging, and label design, centrally operated location and a company-owned fleet to deliver the order quickly and offer a variety of pack sizes and styles are some of the examples of these services.

Hence, benefits offered by global vendors to other small vendors, distributors, or retailers are expected to drive the growth of the global honey market during the forecast period.

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Leading Trends

Innovation in beekeeping is an emerging trend fueling the growth of the global honey market.

Development assistance agencies have been trying to introduce innovations to stimulate development across the beekeeping industry over the past few decades.

Technology providers such as Beemer, Innovation Cloud, and ApisProtect are coming up with new innovative solutions to provide real-time data of beekeepers and crop growers, such as locations and types of crops.

For instance, Innovation Cloud offers a BeeWeb software solution that helps connect farmers of crops and beekeepers. This innovative solution makes every available bee pasture visible to beekeepers.

Such innovations in beekeeping will make the supply chain of the market more efficient, which will positively impact the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Key Challenges

The high cost of production and transportation is a major challenge impeding the growth of the global honey market.

The maintenance and processing cost of honey is higher than that of conventional honey.

An organic apiary should be established on land that is maintained organically. Only natural timber or material should be used in beehives, and only gravitational settling and filtration should be used for removing extraneous solids.

Such parameters increase the production cost of honey compared with the production cost of conventional honey.

Farming and transportation costs include the expenditure of colonies' relocation, transportation costs of the final product to consumer markets, costs of truck loading and unloading, proper packaging, maintaining the boxes and the frames, labor, certification, and labeling.

As a result, the production of honey is difficult in some countries, which is a hindrance to the growth of the global honey market.

Hence, there is a need for cost-effective technology and better transportation mechanism with effective pricing.

Honey Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027

Detailed information on factors that will assist honey market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the honey market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the honey market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of honey market vendors

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Honey Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.39% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 5,575.99 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 8.32 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 49% Key countries US, Turkey, Iran, China, and Argentina Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Alpalair Wellness Pvt. Ltd., Barkman Honey LLC, Bee Maid Honey Ltd., Beeyond The Hive LLC, Capilano Honey Ltd., Comvita Ltd., Dabur India Ltd., Dutch Gold Honey, Golden Acres Honey Products Ltd., Little Bee Impex, New Zealand Honey Co., Oha Honey LP, PA and SC Steens Ltd., Savannah Bee Co., Sioux Honey Association Crop., Sweet Harvest Foods Inc., Valeo Foods Ltd., Wedderspoon Organic Inc., McCormick and Co. Inc., and Patanjali Ayurved 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, and 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 Staples 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 Distribution Channel



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Type



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 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

4 Historic Market Size

4.1 Global honey market 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size  Data Table on Global honey market 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.2 Distribution Channel Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size  Distribution Channel Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.3 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size  Type Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size  Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size  Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

5 Five Forces Analysis

5.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027

5.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027

5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.7 Market condition

Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027

6 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 30: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel

6.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 34: Chart on Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 36: Chart on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 38: Chart on Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 40: Chart on Online - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Online - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ million)

7 Market Segmentation by Type

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 43: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 44: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

7.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 45: Chart on Comparison by Type



Exhibit 46: Data Table on Comparison by Type

7.3 Conventional - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 47: Chart on Conventional - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 48: Data Table on Conventional - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 49: Chart on Conventional - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 50: Data Table on Conventional - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.4 Organic - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 51: Chart on Organic - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 52: Data Table on Organic - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 53: Chart on Organic - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 54: Data Table on Organic - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.5 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 55: Market opportunity by Type ($ million)

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 56: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 57: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 58: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)

9.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 59: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 60: Data Table on Geographic comparison

9.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 61: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 62: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 64: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 65: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 66: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 67: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 68: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 69: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 70: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 72: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 73: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 74: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 75: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 76: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 77: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 78: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 80: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.8 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 81: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 82: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 83: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 84: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.9 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 85: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 86: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 87: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 88: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.10 Turkey - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 89: Chart on Turkey - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 90: Data Table on Turkey - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 91: Chart on Turkey - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 92: Data Table on Turkey - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.11 Argentina - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 93: Chart on Argentina - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 94: Data Table on Argentina - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 95: Chart on Argentina - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 96: Data Table on Argentina - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.12 Iran - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 97: Chart on Iran - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 98: Data Table on Iran - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 99: Chart on Iran - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 100: Data Table on Iran - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 101: 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 102: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027

10.4 Market trends

11 Vendor Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 103: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

11.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 104: Overview on factors of disruption

11.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 105: Impact of key risks on business

12 Vendor Analysis

12.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 106: Vendors covered

12.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 107: Matrix on vendor position and classification

12.3 Barkman Honey LLC

Exhibit 108: Barkman Honey LLC - Overview



Exhibit 109: Barkman Honey LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 110: Barkman Honey LLC - Key offerings

12.4 Bee Maid Honey Ltd.

Exhibit 111: Bee Maid Honey Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 112: Bee Maid Honey Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 113: Bee Maid Honey Ltd. - Key offerings

12.5 Beeyond The Hive LLC

Exhibit 114: Beeyond The Hive LLC - Overview



Exhibit 115: Beeyond The Hive LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 116: Beeyond The Hive LLC - Key offerings

12.6 Capilano Honey Ltd.

Exhibit 117: Capilano Honey Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 118: Capilano Honey Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 119: Capilano Honey Ltd. - Key offerings

12.7 Comvita Ltd.

Exhibit 120: Comvita Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 121: Comvita Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 122: Comvita Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 123: Comvita Ltd. - Segment focus

12.8 Dabur India Ltd.

Exhibit 124: Dabur India Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 125: Dabur India Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 126: Dabur India Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 127: Dabur India Ltd. - Segment focus

12.9 Dutch Gold Honey

Exhibit 128: Dutch Gold Honey - Overview



Exhibit 129: Dutch Gold Honey - Product / Service



Exhibit 130: Dutch Gold Honey - Key offerings

12.10 Golden Acres Honey Products Ltd.

Exhibit 131: Golden Acres Honey Products Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 132: Golden Acres Honey Products Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 133: Golden Acres Honey Products Ltd. - Key offerings

12.11 Little Bee Impex

Exhibit 134: Little Bee Impex - Overview



Exhibit 135: Little Bee Impex - Product / Service



Exhibit 136: Little Bee Impex - Key offerings

12.12 McCormick and Co. Inc.

Exhibit 137: McCormick and Co. Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 138: McCormick and Co. Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 139: McCormick and Co. Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 140: McCormick and Co. Inc. - Segment focus

12.13 New Zealand Honey Co.

Exhibit 141: New Zealand Honey Co. - Overview



Exhibit 142: New Zealand Honey Co. - Product / Service



Exhibit 143: New Zealand Honey Co. - Key offerings

12.14 Oha Honey LP

Exhibit 144: Oha Honey LP - Overview



Exhibit 145: Oha Honey LP - Product / Service



Exhibit 146: Oha Honey LP - Key offerings

12.15 PA and SC Steens Ltd.

Exhibit 147: PA and SC Steens Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 148: PA and SC Steens Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 149: PA and SC Steens Ltd. - Key offerings

12.16 Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.

Exhibit 150: Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 151: Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 152: Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. - Key offerings

12.17 Sweet Harvest Foods Inc.

Exhibit 153: Sweet Harvest Foods Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 154: Sweet Harvest Foods Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 155: Sweet Harvest Foods Inc. - Key offerings

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 156: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 157: Exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 158: Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 159: Research methodology



Exhibit 160: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 161: Information sources

13.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 162: 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
Special concert in Japan mark 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomacy

(Source: VNA)

According to VNA, the Fenice Sakai Performing Arts Centre has been occupied by approximately 2,000 spectators watching Vietnamese and Japanese artists perform in the special concert.

The event brought together artists from the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra and the Osaka Symphony Orchestra. Notably, conductor Honna Tetsuji who has been with Vietnam for years, and famous violinist Bui Cong Duy also participated in the programme.

In his opening speech, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Quang Hieu highlighted the significance of the concert which he said together with other cultural activities to be held in the coming weeks will help promote cultural exchanges and close bond between the two countries.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Takei Shunsuke congratulated the success of the concert, the first cultural event in celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Vietnam, noting bilateral relations are at their best.

He said 2023 is a special time for the two sides to review the achievements of the past 50 years of their relations and to strive for better relations in the next 50 years.

The ballroom of Fenice Sakai Performing Arts Centre was occupied by approximately 2,000 spectators who were treated to masterpieces of Beethoven such as Symphony No5 and Violin Concerto, among others./.
SHANGHAI and CLINTON, N.J., Apr. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HuidaGene Therapeutics (; HuidaGene), a global clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing genomic medicine, today announced the selection of Drs. Haiyan Jiang and Alvin Luk as the new members of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB, which includes internationally renowned experts in gene and cell therapies, from discovery to translational research, and clinical development across different therapeutic areas, will provide strategic guidance for the global development of HuidaGene's expansive pipeline products.

"To meaningfully alter the course of genetic diseases, we must advance better-validated therapeutic candidates," said Dr. Haiyan Jiang. "My longstanding interest and commitment in gene and cell therapies have led me to HuidaGene's technology platforms that offer a potential cure to diseases with high unmet medical needs, and I am eager to work with the HuidaGene team to move their pipeline forward."

HuidaGene Appoints New Members to the Scientific Advisory Board Tweet this

Dr. Alvin Luk stated, "In looking to the future of the field, I have been impressed with HuidaGene's innovative genome-editing platforms. Dr. Hui Yang has been a long-time leader in CRISPR-based DNA/RNA editing, and I expect that our mutual interests and complementary areas of expertise within gene and cell therapy will be a powerful engine for advancing, and even accelerating, the progess at HuidaGene."

"We are honored to have an accomplished and diverse group of scientific and clinical experts join us as members of our SAB, who represent extensive experience and knowledge in gene and cell therapies, global drug development, and data-driven clinical trial design," said Hui Yang, PhD, Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Advisor, and Chairman of the SAB at HuidaGene. "Haiyan and Alvin are industry veterans who have achieved a number of 'firsts' in gene therapy clinical programs and who will bring deep and relevant development expertise to HuidaGene. With our scientific advisors' leadership, HuidaGene is poised to translate decades of scientific discovery in programmable genome medicines to people living with devastating diseases worldwide," said Xuan Yao, PhD, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HuidaGene.

About HuidaGene - 

HuidaGene Therapeutics () is a global clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on discovering, engineering, and developing CRISPR-based genetic medicine to rewrite the future of genomic medicine. Based in Shanghai and New Jersey, HuidaGene is committed to addressing patients' needs globally with various preclinical therapeutic programs covering ophthalmology, otology, myology, and neurology. We are currently advancing clinical programs in RPE65 mutation-associated inherited retinal diseases and our preclinical pipeline, including programs in neovascular age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, hereditary hearing loss, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and MECP2 duplication syndrome. Company's CRISPR-based therapeutics offer the potential to cure patients with life-threatening conditions by repairing the cause of their disease. HuidaGene is committed to transforming the future of genome-editing medicine.

For more information, please visit http://www.huidagene.com

or follow us on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/huidagene

Details of the additional SAB members' biographies:

Haiyan Jiang, Ph.D. has over 20 years of research and development expertise in biologics, AAV-mediated gene therapy, and in-vivo and ex-vivo CRISPR/Cas9- mediated genome editing products from research to BLA. She has held leadership roles with progressive responsibilities at various companies including Editas Medicine, Biogen, Bayer HealthCare, and Avigen. She led research, preclinical development or clinical pharmacology in the development of ALTUVIIIO, ELOCTATE, ALPROLIX, and JIVI, as well as a number of programs in Phase 1/2a studies. She has over 40 original publications in highly-regarded peer-reviewed journals, including New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, and Blood; as well as 21 issued US patents. Dr. Jiang received her B.S. in Biochemistry from Fudan University in Shanghai, China, Ph.D. in Oncology from University of Wisconsin-Madison, and postdoctoral training at the University of California-San Francisco.

Alvin Luk, Ph.D., M.B.A., C.C.R.A. brings over 30 years' experience in global drug development, from the bench to the beside through successful commercial launch in small, large, public, and private biotech/biopharma firms, including Shanghai Henlius, Spark Therapeutics (acquired by Roche), Biogen, Bayer HealthCare, Avigen, and Tularik (acquired by Amgen). He is a transformational leader with reputation for navigating through political landscape which leads to a proven track record of more than 250 cumulative total of IND, BLA, and MAA submissions in Americas, Europe, Australia, Japan, and China. Spark Therapeutics' LUXTURNA was approved by US FDA as the first gene therapy in 2017 when he severed as the Head of Clinical Research and Operations. Today, he has participated in the development of 21 approved products. He is the co-author of more than 100 book chapters and scientific papers in highly-regarded peer-reviewed journals, including New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, Nature, Cell, and Science. Dr. Luk holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience as well as being certified in clinical research from the University of California-San Francisco.

SOURCE Huidagene Therapeutics
Sessions Highlight Digital Inclusion and Equity, Automation, Cloud Strategy, Cybersecurity, and More

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Emerging and established leaders from the U.S. and global research and education (R&E) technology community will convene in Atlanta for the 2023 Internet2 Community Exchange , May 8-11.

Attendees will share perspectives, shape policy, and influence the development of services and infrastructures in support of their educational, research, and community-service missions. The program includes inspiring keynotes, expert-led talks, and workshops on topics including digital transformation, digital inclusion and equity, accessibility, cybersecurity, cloud strategy, trust and identity, advanced network modernization and automation, and collaborative projects to move the community forward.

Thought-Provoking Keynotes Set to Celebrate and Inspire

Claire L. Evans, author of Broad Band and co-founder of VICE's Terraform, will present the opening keynote, "The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet," at 8:45 a.m. ET Tuesday, May 9. Evans will offer an insightful social history of the women visionaries at the vanguard of technology and innovation who made the internet what it is today.

A panel of leaders from historically underserved higher education institutions will take center stage to deliver the closing keynote, "Reframing our Perspective: Centering HBCU and TCU Voices to Reimagine a Stronger R&E Community," at 1:15 p.m. ET Thursday, May 11. Panelists will spotlight their institutions' lasting impacts and ask to reimagine together how to ensure equal participation in the national and global R&E communities.

More Program Highlights

The Internet2 Community Exchange event program includes 44 presentations led by subject-matter experts, 29 working meetings for community groups, three technical workshops on network automation and security, and an invitation-only Leadership Exchange for executive leaders in the Internet2 community.

With dozens of sessions to choose from, here are some of the don't-miss highlights:

Building a Cohesive Cloud Community  Higher ed panelists will discuss a joint effort by the EDUCAUSE Cloud Community Group, its co-chairs, Internet2, and the community at large that has led to interesting and potentially transformative outcomes.

 Higher ed panelists will discuss a joint effort by the EDUCAUSE Cloud Community Group, its co-chairs, Internet2, and the community at large that has led to interesting and potentially transformative outcomes. CIO Perspectives on Federated Cybersecurity for NIH Research  The National Institutes of Health will host a panel discussion about the critical importance of secure credentials in trust federations to enable and protect highly collaborative research environments.

 The National Institutes of Health will host a panel discussion about the critical importance of secure credentials in trust federations to enable and protect highly collaborative research environments. What is Happening in Network Services?  Internet2's new vice president of Network Services will share about the new Insight Console, community discussions around automation tools and methods, efforts to improve routing security across the research and education community, and support for data-intensive science in the U.S. and around the world.

 Internet2's new vice president of Network Services will share about the new Insight Console, community discussions around automation tools and methods, efforts to improve routing security across the research and education community, and support for data-intensive science in the U.S. and around the world. MS-CC - Bridging the Digital Divide  Panelists will discuss the Minority Serving  Cyberinfrastructure Consortium's plans to affect change so students and faculty at HBCUs, TCUs, and other MSIs have access to advanced cyberinfrastructure capabilities.

 Panelists will discuss the Minority Serving  Cyberinfrastructure Consortium's plans to affect change so students and faculty at HBCUs, TCUs, and other MSIs have access to advanced cyberinfrastructure capabilities. Research IT Strategic Planning  Panelists will discuss a free assessment tool and complementary resources used by institutions of all sizes and complexity to aid in the research IT strategic planning needs of CIOs and senior executive leadership.

 Panelists will discuss a free assessment tool and complementary resources used by institutions of all sizes and complexity to aid in the research IT strategic planning needs of CIOs and senior executive leadership. Enabling RPKI  A speaker from the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) will talk about how network operators can strengthen their routing security through Resource Public Key Infrastructure services.

 A speaker from the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) will talk about how network operators can strengthen their routing security through Resource Public Key Infrastructure services. InCommon Futures 2.0  The InCommon Steering Committee chair will review the InCommon visioning process and implementation timeline for identity tools and services used by the community.

 The InCommon Steering Committee chair will review the InCommon visioning process and implementation timeline for identity tools and services used by the community. Aiming High: Internet2's Five-Year Roadmap  Leaders of the five-year roadmap process will provide an update on steps being taken to categorize the input and feedback received to date, and will share how Internet2 plans to work with the community to validate priorities and future direction.

Two co-located events will also take place during Community Exchange: the Higher Education Cloud Forum and the first MS-CC Annual Meeting.

More information can be found on the 2023 Internet2 Community Exchange website .

About Internet2

Internet2 is a non-profit, member-driven advanced technology community founded by the nation's leading higher education institutions in 1996. Internet2 delivers a diverse portfolio of technology solutions that leverages, integrates, and amplifies the strengths of its members and helps support their educational, research, and community service missions. Internet2's core infrastructure components include the nation's largest and fastest research and education network that was built to deliver advanced, customized services that are accessed and secured by the community-developed trust and identity framework. For more information, visit https://internet2.edu or follow @internet2 on Twitter.

SOURCE Internet2
New agreement creates expanded options for electrical customers in the Florida market

HOUSTON, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Greg Baker, CEO/President, of JD Martin is pleased to announce DIALIGHT, the global leader in industrial LED lighting solutions, has named JD Martin as its manufacturers' representative in the Florida market, effective April 3, 2023.

Electrical customers in Florida can now work with the JD Martin team as their local resource for sales, service and support for the entire Dialight portfolio  over 40,000 total fixtures and accessories which are stocked, and ready to ship in 48 hours  for their industrial applications.

Dialight's new agreement with JD Martin in FL creates expanded options for electrical customers in the market Tweet this DIALIGHT lighting products in water/wastewater application

Jon Rud, Director of Sales, for Dialight says, "Being able to build on our previous partnership and successes with JD Martin means we will meet the needs of contractors and installers in the region, the industry professionals, who depend on our solutions and products to ensure longevity and value in harsh and hazardous conditions."

"We're excited to have the opportunity to provide our new and existing customers in the Florida market with a lighting line specifically developed to solve their unique challenges" said Jeff Anderson, EVP of Industrial Sales for JD Martin.

Anderson added, "Our team has the technical know-how and deep expertise to support Dialight's portfolio of products. Now, with the expansion into the Florida market, we are further building on our partnership with Dialight."

JD Martin also represents Dialight in the Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Louisiana, Mississippi markets. For more information, about Dialight fixtures and products visit www.dialight.com.

ABOUT JD MARTIN:

JD Martin Company is an electrical manufacturers' representative agency that sells and markets premier lines of electrical products to OEM and MRO contractors, and end-user markets through wholesale distribution. For more than 68 years, we have supported industries such as oil & gas, mining, steel, wastewater treatment, wind power generation and commercial construction. We offer impactful solutions and sell electrical products, through qualified electrical distributor channels, in over 16 states in territories that include Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, The Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. To learn more about JD Martin click here.

ABOUT DIALIGHT:

Dialight is the world leader in LED industrial lighting technology with millions of LED fixtures installed worldwide. We enable industrial customers operating in demanding environments to reduce their energy costs, maintenance costs, and carbon footprint while maximizing the safety and productivity of their facilities. Our story began in 1938 in Brooklyn, NY, where we produced instrument panel lights for aircraft. In 1971, just one year after the introduction of the LED, we launched our first LED product. Since then, we have revolutionized the use of LEDs and ONLY LEDs, to provide superior lighting for traffic control, indicators, structural towers and industrial work sites around the world. To learn more about Dialight click here.

Contact:

Greg Baker CEO/President

[email protected]

SOURCE JD Martin Co.
New Assemblies Are Waterproof and Dustproof for Outdoor Uses

IRVINE, Calif., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- L-com, an Infinite Electronics brand and a supplier of wired and wireless connectivity products, has announced the expansion of its line of IP68, ODVA-compatible, MPO fiber optic, outdoor cable assemblies. The new assemblies are waterproof and dustproof for a wide range of outdoor uses, including broadcast, military ground communications, oil and gas, transport and renewable energy.

L-com's new assemblies are waterproof and dustproof for outdoor uses.

These new ODVA-compatible, fiber optic cable assemblies offer major benefits. They feature a simple bayonet-locking system and are compatible and interchangeable with new or existing ODVA cable deployments. They are easy to install for LTE, fiber to the antenna (FTTA), DAS and mobile cell tower applications, including remote radio unit (RRU) and base band unit (BBU). Options are available for multimode fiber and single mode fiber.

L-com's new ODVA-compatible, MPO fiber optic cable assemblies exceed the requirements for ODVA. They are outdoor-rated with an IP68 designation for reliability in harsh environments. This includes water immersion and an operational temperature range of -40 degrees Celsius (-40 F) to +70 C (+158 F). The cable jackets are chemical-resistant and have a low-smoke, zero-halogen (LSZH) burn rating.

These fiber optic cable assemblies offer low insertion loss and come in 12-strand fiber or 24-strand fiber and lengths up to 30 meters (98 feet). Also included in the product line are ODVA-compatible, IP68-rated fan-out assemblies with lengths up to 5 meters (16 feet) and IP68 LC connectors with chemical resistance and a superior pull force of 100 pounds.

A variety of connector configurations are available, including MPO/UPC, MPO/APC and LC/APC.

"Our new ODVA-compatible, fiber optic cable assemblies offer protection from water and dust for a wide range of outdoor applications. They are compatible with new or existing ODVA cable deployments and are easy to install for LTE, DAS and mobile cell tower applications," said Tim Houghton, L-com Senior Product Line Manager.

L-com's new IP68, ODVA-compatible, MPO fiber optic, outdoor cable assemblies are in-stock and available for immediate shipment. They enhance the company's existing line of IP67, ODVA, outdoor assemblies.

About L-com:

L-com, a leading manufacturer of wired and wireless connectivity products, offers a wide range of solutions and unrivaled customer service for the electronics and data communications industries. The company's product portfolio includes cable assemblies, connectors, adapters, antennas, enclosures, surge protectors and more. Headquartered in North Andover, Mass., L-com is ISO 9001:2015-certified and many of its products are UL recognized. L-com is an Infinite Electronics brand.

About Infinite Electronics:

Based in Irvine, Calif., Infinite Electronics is a global electronics supplier offering a broad range of components, assemblies and wired/wireless connectivity solutions serving the aerospace/defense, industrial, government, consumer electronics, instrumentation, medical and telecommunications markets. Its brands are Pasternack, Fairview Microwave, L-com, MilesTek, ShowMeCables, NavePoint, INC Installs, Integra Optics, PolyPhaser, Transtector, KP Performance Antennas, RadioWaves and Aiconics. Infinite serves its customers with deep technical expertise and support. Its broad inventory is available for immediate shipment, fulfilling unplanned demand for engineers and technical buyers. Infinite is a Warburg Pincus portfolio company.

Press Contact:

Peter McNeil

L-com

17792 Fitch

Irvine, CA 92614

978-682-6936

SOURCE L-com
New ukulele collaboration brings Martin Guitar's positive vibrations to Life is Good customers

BOSTON, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Life is Good , the original positive lifestyle brand, is joining forces with industry leader, Martin & Co., to create a limited edition ukulele and line of musically inspired tees. The new ukulele brings the colorful graphics from Life is Good to the high-quality instrument made by Martin & Co. just in time for the summer season.

Life is Good is joining forces with Martin Guitar to create a limited edition ukulele and line of tees. Tweet this New limited edition ukulele from Martin Guitar and Life is Good.

Music has always been a huge part of the Life is Good brand, from hosting music festivals to featuring instruments on its tees, so expanding to a customized instrument is a natural addition for the brand. Both family-owned brands value community and togetherness, and nothing adds more fun to a gathering than music. The smaller format of the ukulele makes it easier to transport than a traditional guitar, making it the perfect accompaniment for fun events outside.

"Nothing unites and inspires people quite like music," said Life is Good co-founder John Jacobs, "and the uke is such a fun, accessible way to play. Life is Good is thrilled to fuse our positive art and messages with the legendary craftsmanship of Martin & Co. for creative optimists everywhere."

The Life is Good collaboration is one of very few that Martin & Co. has done since it was founded in 1833, and both teams hope to add more items to this line in the coming years. The ability of Martin & Co. to print in full-color on its products offers an array of options, and Life is Good looks forward to adding its feel-good flair to additional products down the line.

"We're so proud of this collaboration combining the great look of the Life is Good graphics with the rich tones of a Martin ukulele. This will surely give artists joy as they create beautiful music," adds Mitchell Nollman, Vice President of Sales and Customer Engagement at C.F. Martin &. Company, Inc.

The new ukulele and Life is Good x Martin & Co. t-shirts will be available on LifeisGood.com starting Friday, April 14, 2023.

About Life is Good

Life is Good is the original positive lifestyle brand dedicated to spreading the power of optimism through art and message. The company donates 10 percent of annual net profits to The Life is Good Playmaker Project. Through this work, they are able to help over 1 million kids in need each year. Life is Good is a registered trademark of The Life is Good Company. Visit LifeisGood.com for more details, and follow Life is Good on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram , and TikTok.

About C.F. Martin &. Company, Inc. 

C. F. Martin & Co. has been making the finest handcrafted acoustic guitars for nearly two hundred years. For some of the biggest names and the most revered musical legends across every genre and every decade. And we've been doing it with pure artistic passion, a deep love for all things music, and an unwavering commitment to our community and the environment. Visit MartinGuitar.com for more details, and follow on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram , and YouTube.

PR Contact

Life is Good

Jessica Greenhalgh  [email protected]

SOURCE Life is Good
 Two scientific abstracts spanning clinical and health economic outcomes research will be presented at the 2023 NKF SCM, showcasing the breadth of Mallinckrodt's commitment to HRS patients with rapid reduction in kidney function[1] 

DUBLIN, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE American: MNK), a global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that two scientific abstracts on the clinical and health economic outcomes of treatment with TERLIVAZ (terlipressin) for adult patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) will be presented at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) 2023 Spring Clinical Meeting (SCM) in Austin, TX taking place April 11  15, 2023.

TERLIVAZ is the first and only FDA-approved product indicated to improve kidney function in adults with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) with rapid reduction in kidney function,[1] an acute and life-threatening condition requiring hospitalization.[2]

Please see Limitation of Use and Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warning, below.

The findings from one of the abstracts, presented by Xingyue Huang, PhD, Senior Director, HEOR, Critical Care at Mallinckrodt, provide insight into the treatment cost per response in patients with hepatorenal syndrome treated with TERLIVAZ plus albumin versus other unapproved treatments from a U.S. hospital perspective.[3] Furthermore, findings from a pooled analysis of three Phase III terlipressin trials, presented by Muhammad A Mujtaba, MD, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston TX, offer perspective into the clinical impact of serum creatinine reduction from treatment initiation with TERLIVAZ through end of treatment on outcomes for adults with hepatorenal syndrome.[4]

Additional information on these studies and the full list of Mallinckrodt's presentations can be found below.

"We look forward to sharing our new data highlighting our commitment to continued clinical investigation with treatment options for patients with HRS, like TERLIVAZ, as well as addressing the real-world impact that HRS and current treatment plans impart upon patients and healthcare systems from a cost and outcomes perspective,[3,4]" said Khurram Jamil, Vice President, Hepatology, Clinical Development & Critical Care. "These findings not only have important implications for how the medical community defines and achieves treatment goals, but also help to raise awareness, and ultimately drive action, for the persistent clinical and economic burden HRS patients in the U.S. face."

These studies are sponsored by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and include:

Poster #10: Treatment-Related Cost Analysis for Adults with Hepatorenal Syndrome with Rapid Reduction in Kidney Function[3]

Presenter: Xingyue Huang , PhD, Senior Director, HEOR, Critical Care at Mallinckrodt

, PhD, Senior Director, HEOR, Critical Care at Presentation Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023 ; 6:00  7:30PM CDT

; 6:00  Location: Exhibit Hall 4, Austin Convention Center

Poster #20: A Reduction in Serum Creatinine of at Least 30% Leads to Meaningful Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 1: A Pooled Analysis of 3 Phase III Studies[4]

Presenter: Muhammad Ahmad Mujtaba, MD, University of Texas Medical Branch

Muhammad Ahmad Mujtaba, MD, Medical Branch Presentation Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023; 6:00  7:30PM CDT

Wednesday, April 12, 2023; 6:00  Location: Exhibit Hall 4, Austin Convention Center

Find more information on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) 2023 Spring Clinical Meeting (SCM) website.

INDICATION AND LIMITATION OF USE

TERLIVAZ is indicated to improve kidney function in adults with hepatorenal syndrome with rapid reduction in kidney function.

Patients with a serum creatinine >5 mg/dL are unlikely to experience benefit.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: SERIOUS OR FATAL RESPIRATORY FAILURE

TERLIVAZ may cause serious or fatal respiratory failure. Patients with volume overload or with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) Grade 3 are at increased risk. Assess oxygenation saturation (e.g., SpO 2 ) before initiating TERLIVAZ.





Do not initiate TERLIVAZ in patients experiencing hypoxia (e.g., SpO 2 <90%) until oxygenation levels improve. Monitor patients for hypoxia using continuous pulse oximetry during treatment and discontinue TERLIVAZ if SpO 2 decreases below 90%.

Contraindications

TERLIVAZ is contraindicated:

In patients experiencing hypoxia or worsening respiratory symptoms.

In patients with ongoing coronary, peripheral, or mesenteric ischemia.

Warnings and Precautions

Serious or Fatal Respiratory Failure: Obtain baseline oxygen saturation and do not initiate TERLIVAZ in hypoxic patients. Monitor patients for changes in respiratory status using continuous pulse oximetry and regular clinical assessments. Discontinue TERLIVAZ in patients experiencing hypoxia or increased respiratory symptoms.

Manage intravascular volume overload by reducing or discontinuing the administration of albumin and/or other fluids and through judicious use of diuretics. Temporarily interrupt, reduce, or discontinue TERLIVAZ treatment until patient volume status improves. Avoid use in patients with ACLF Grade 3 because they are at significant risk for respiratory failure.

Ineligibility for Liver Transplant: TERLIVAZ-related adverse reactions (respiratory failure, ischemia) may make a patient ineligible for liver transplantation, if listed. For patients with high prioritization for liver transplantation (e.g., MELD 35), the benefits of TERLIVAZ may not outweigh its risks.





TERLIVAZ-related adverse reactions (respiratory failure, ischemia) may make a patient ineligible for liver transplantation, if listed. For patients with high prioritization for liver transplantation (e.g., MELD 35), the benefits of TERLIVAZ may not outweigh its risks. Ischemic Events: TERLIVAZ may cause cardiac, cerebrovascular, peripheral, or mesenteric ischemia. Avoid use of TERLIVAZ in patients with a history of severe cardiovascular conditions or cerebrovascular or ischemic disease. Discontinue TERLIVAZ in patients who experience signs or symptoms suggestive of ischemic adverse reactions.





TERLIVAZ may cause cardiac, cerebrovascular, peripheral, or mesenteric ischemia. Avoid use of TERLIVAZ in patients with a history of severe cardiovascular conditions or cerebrovascular or ischemic disease. Discontinue TERLIVAZ in patients who experience signs or symptoms suggestive of ischemic adverse reactions. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: TERLIVAZ may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. If TERLIVAZ is used during pregnancy, the patient should be informed of the potential risk to the fetus.

Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions (10%) include abdominal pain, nausea, respiratory failure, diarrhea, and dyspnea.

Please click here to see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning.

About Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS)

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) involving rapid reduction in kidney function1 is an acute and life-threatening condition that occurs in people with advanced liver disease.2 HRS is classified into two distinct types  a rapidly progressive type that leads to acute renal failure where patients are typically hospitalized for their care and a more chronic type that progresses over weeks to months.2 HRS involving rapid reduction in kidney function1 is estimated to affect between 30,000 and 40,000 Americans annually.[5,6] If left untreated, HRS with rapid reduction in kidney function1 has a median survival time of approximately two weeks and greater than 80 percent mortality within three months.[7]

ABOUT MALLINCKRODT

Mallinckrodt is a global business consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries that develop, manufacture, market and distribute specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. The company's Specialty Brands reportable segment's areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, hepatology, nephrology, pulmonology, ophthalmology, and oncology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics; cultured skin substitutes and gastrointestinal products. Its Specialty Generics reportable segment includes specialty generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com.

Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release includes forward-looking statements, including with regard to TERLIVAZ, its potential impact on patients. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; changes in laws and regulations; issues with product quality, manufacturing or supply, or patient safety issues; and other risks identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of Mallinckrodt's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, all of which are available on its website. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONTACT

Media Inquiries

Heather Guzzi

Senior Vice President, Green Room Communications

973-524-4112

[email protected]

Investor Relations

Daniel J. Speciale

Global Corporate Controller & Chief Investor Relations Officer

314-654-3638

[email protected]

Derek Belz

Vice President, Investor Relations

314-654-3950

[email protected]

Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark and the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company. Other brands are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company or their respective owners.

2023 Mallinckrodt. US-2300159 04/23

References

[1] TERLIVAZ (terlipressin) for injection. [Prescribing Information]. Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.

[2] National Organization for Rare Disorders. Hepatorenal Syndrome. Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/hepatorenal-syndrome/. Accessed March 28, 2023.

[3] Huang X, Bindra J, Chopra I, Niewoehner J, Wan GJ. Treatment-Related Cost Analysis for Adults with Hepatorenal Syndrome with Rapid Reduction in Kidney Function. Abstract to be presented at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) 2023 Spring Clinical Meeting (SCM). April 2023.

[4] Mujtaba MA, Zafar Z, Jamil K. A Reduction in Serum Creatinine of at Least 30% Leads to Meaningful Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 1: A Pooled Analysis of 3 Phase III Studies. Abstract to be presented at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) 2023 Spring Clinical Meeting. April 2023.

[5] C Pant, B S Jani, M Desai, A Deshpande, Prashant Pandya, Ryan Taylor, R Gilroy, M OIyaee. Heptorenal syndrome in hospitalized patients with chronic liver disease: results from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2002-2012. J of Investig Med. 2016; 64:33-38.

[6] United States Census Bureau: Quick Facts. Available at: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045218. Accessed March 28, 2023.

[7] Flamm, S.L., Brown, K., Wadei, H.M., et al. The Current Management of Hepatorenal SyndromeAcute Kidney Injury in the United States and the Potential of Terlipressin. Liver Transpl. 2021;27:1191-1202. https://doi.org/10.1002/lt.26072.

SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc
Jamie Burr Brings 20+ Years Experience to Help Pork Industry Meet Sustainability Goals

The National Pork Board elevates sustainability leadership position to C-suite level.

Five-person sustainability team now led by former Tyson Foods leader.

Continued focus on sharing pork industry's sustainability goals and metrics with farmers, supply chain and consumers.

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Pork Board (NPB) has named its first Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) by appointing an industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in sustainability and environmental program leadership.

James "Jamie" Burr took the role of National Pork Board CSO on March 27. Burr leads the sustainability team of five public health, animal welfare and environmental experts tasked with advancing the pork industry's sustainability goals and metrics announced last year.

Jamie Burr, formerly of Tyson Foods, has been named the new Chief Sustainability Officer of the National Pork Board. Burr has more than 20 years of experience in sustainability and environmental leadership in animal agriculture.

"Jamie's input has been invaluable to several key producer-funded initiatives for more than a decade," said Bill Even, National Pork Board CEO. "He's served on and chaired several Pork Board environmental and sustainability committees and task forces, so his leadership has already helped shape the industry's sustainability vision. Establishing a CSO position and adding Jamie to the team continues to demonstrate our industry's strong commitment to advancing pork sustainability."

Burr comes to the Pork Board from Tyson Foods where he recently served as director of environmental compliance and was the environmental lead for all of Tyson's live-animal production businesses. Prior to that role, he led several environmental, safety, health and sustainability teams since joining the company in 1999. Notably, he led the development of Tyson's greenhouse gas science-based target, its deforestation and land-stewardship targets.

Burr earned a Master of Science degree in Soil Science and Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Missouri State University. But before his formal education, he gained valuable experience for his new role, growing up on a hog farm and in a sale barn in southern Missouri.

"It's an honor for me to lead this team and take on the responsibility of shaping and sharing the industry's sustainability story," said Burr. "We have bold goals and metrics that producers have laid out for us, and I look forward to working with the staff and the board to meet and report on those efforts."

Burr's previous experience puts him in a unique position to be an advocate to producers and for the industry, Even noted.

"The CSO role serves as a conduit between producers, supply chain partners, Wall Street investors and consumers," said Even. "Jamie knows and has worked with all these audiences. He understands the business, he understands the consumer, and knows the importance of building relationships among all stakeholders along the supply chain."

About The National Pork Board

The National Pork Board has responsibility for Pork Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in consumer education and marketing, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, science and technology, swine health, pork safety, and environmental management and sustainability. For the past half century, the U.S. pork industry has delivered on its commitment to sustainable production and has made significant strides in reducing the environmental impact of pig farming. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.35 for each $100 value of hogs sold. Importers of pork products contribute a like amount, based on a formula. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675 or visit porkcheckoff.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jason Menke  Director, Consumer PR

[email protected]

515-223-2629

SOURCE National Pork Board
Top Utah construction and design firms team up to engage and inspire local high school students at SLCC's Taylorsville Redwood Campus for hands-on event exploring careers in construction

SALT LAKE CITY, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year, the largest constraint in the real estate industry is labor. Finding labor, and more importantly, retaining labor is the most difficult challenge the industry faces. And, keeping up with the demand in the built community gets harder and harder as generations of workers phase out and fewer younger generations phase in. This year, in an effort to curb those trends, members of Utah's largest and most impactful construction firms, including Mortenson, Big-D Companies, Layton Construction, Hensel Phelps, Destination Homes, Okland Construction, and Henry Walker Homes, partnered to bring new inspiration to younger generations about the exciting opportunities in the construction and real estate industry.

Utah's inaugural Builder's Day, taking place on April 12 at Salt Lake Community College's (SLCC) Taylorsville Redwood campus, is presented by members of state's largest and most impactful construction firms, including Mortenson, Big-D Companies, Layton Construction, Hensel Phelps, Destination Homes, Okland Construction, and Henry Walker Homes.

Together, along with many industry trade partners, this team announced details of the inaugural Builders' Day event, which will take place from 9 a.m.  12 p.m. on April 12, 2023, at Salt Lake Community College's (SLCC) Taylorsville Redwood campus. The new interactive career fair will bring together more than 600 Utah high school students and more than 45 of Utah's top construction and design companies, with the goal of inspiring younger generations to explore careers in construction and related industries.

"With Builder's Day, we aim to give students hands-on opportunities to explore some of the hundreds of important, fulfilling, and well-paying opportunities in our industry," said Sarah Narjes, General Manager of Mortenson  Salt Lake City. "A strong construction workforce is vital to the future of our economy, our infrastructure, and our communities. We are so grateful to our sponsors and industry partners for their support and look forward to a successful event."

Companies representing every trade in the industry, including architecture and design firms, engineers, consultants, and general contractors, have come together to generously support Builders' Day.

"We all suffer from a staggering shortage of skilled, qualified, and trained talent. The building industry provides high school and college graduates some of the highest paying jobs available. Not only that, but there is also a pronounced comradery in our industry  one that distinctly grows only through building something as a team; a sort of loyalty and honor for each other and the proud tradition of building. We are excited to be part of Builders' Day," mentioned Cory Moore, CEO of Big-D Companies.

Russ Mumford, Project Director at Okland Construction, added, "Construction is one of the largest industries in the world and yet it is often forgotten as a viable career. The reality is, it's a field in which jobs are plentiful, well-paying and open to both those with and without a college degree. The sky really is the limit when it comes to opportunities in construction and Builders' Day will show the students many of these exciting careers."

Throughout the morning, event partners have curated hands-on demonstrations, activities, and lessons with cutting edge technology on various paths to success for the students.

"Our industry is evolving rapidly, and there are more ways than ever for students of all backgrounds to apply their diverse skills," said Jordon Gillman, Business Development Manager at Layton Construction. "We're proud to see so many different areas of our industry coming together to celebrate our craft and recruit the next generation who will help shape the future here in Utah."

To learn more about Builder's Day, please visit: www.Builders-Day.com

About the Partners

Big-D Companies www.big-d.com/

Destination Homes www.destinationhomes.com/

Henry Walker Homes www.henrywalkerhomes.com/

Hensel Phelps www.henselphelps.com/

Layton Construction www.laytonconstruction.com/

Mortenson www.mortenson.com

Okland Construction www.okland.com/

Media Contact:

Alexis Jarvis

[email protected]

SOURCE Mortenson
NEXE Innovations has received warrant holder approval to amend, among other things, the exercise price and expiry date of its 2021 Warrants.

VANCOUVER, BC, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - NEXE Innovations Inc. ("NEXE" or the "Company") (TSXV: NEXE) (Frankfurt: NX5) (OTC: NEXNF), a compostable and innovative materials company, is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated March 20, 2023, it has received the approval of holders ("Warrantholders") holding approximately 71.5% of its outstanding warrants issued on April 9, 2021 (the "Warrants") to the amendment of certain terms of the Warrants (the "Amendments").

The Warrants have been amended such that the exercise price of the Warrants has been revised from $2.50 to $0.65 per share and the expiry date extended from April 9, 2023 to April 9, 2024. The terms of the Warrants have also been amended to include a mandatory acceleration provision (the "Acceleration Provision") as required under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") pursuant to which, if for any ten consecutive trading days (the "Premium Trading Days") following the date hereof, the closing price of the Company's common shares on the TSXV exceeds $0.78, the expiry date of Warrants will be accelerated such that holders will have 30 calendar days to exercise the Warrants (if they have not first expired in the normal course). The Company will announce any acceleration of the expiry date by press release and the 30-day period will commence seven days after the last Premium Trading Day. The Company would like to clarify that while it had previously announced that the trigger price for the Acceleration Provision would be $0.8125 and the trigger price approved by Warrantholders was reduced to $0.78 to comply with TSXV requirements.

Effective April 9, 2023, the Company entered into a supplemental indenture to effect the Amendments with TSX Trust (the "Warrant Agent"), as warrant agent, to the warrant indenture governing the Warrants dated April 9, 2021 between the Company and the Warrant Agent.

About NEXE Innovations Inc.

NEXE Innovations Inc. is a leader in innovative compostable materials technology based in British Columbia, Canada. The first product developed by NEXE Innovations is one of the only patented, fully-compostable, single-serve coffee pods for use in existing major single-serve coffee machines.

For more information about NEXE Innovations' compostable materials and how it is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable products, visit www.nexeinnovations.com and follow us on social media @nexeinnovations.

On behalf of the Company:

Ash Guglani

President & Director

For investor relations contact:

Kam Mangat

VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Strategy

[email protected]

Office +1-604-359-4725

Mobile +1-604-359-4742

For media relations contact: [email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Nexe Innovations Inc.
CHICAGO, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Online Art Market size is valued at USD 14.38 Billion in 2022 and is projected to be USD 23.79 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2023 to 2030, as per a recent report published by Cognitive Market Research. The online art market in North America (especially in economies like the U.S.) held the largest market share. The high domestic demand for art in the U.S. is expected to drive the online art market in North America.

Major findings during the study of the Online Art Market:

Online art refers to the trade of works of art, antiques, digital artworks, and collectibles that are frequently related to the arts and culture.

The conventional dominance of the physical gallery and museum system is avoided by online art. Artists working in this sector are sometimes referred to as net artists.

Based on the type segment, the online art market is categorized into paintings, drawings, sculptures, and others. Painting has been one of the most popular art forms for centuries due to its versatility and historical significance. In addition, paintings have traditionally been seen as valuable and highly prized works of art.

On the basis of the end-customer segment, the online art market is categorized into international and domestic customers. The international customer segment has acquired a significant share of the total online art market.

High domestic demand for art in the U.S. is expected to drive the online art market in North America . Increasing access to information and growing online sales and actions drive the growth of the North American online art market.

Read Full Market Analysis Online Art: by Type (Paintings, Drawings, Sculptures, and Others); by End Customer (Foreign customers and Domestic customers); by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East, and Africa) Global Industry Analysis, COVID-19 Impact, and Industry Forecast, 2018-2030

Online Art Industry Statistics 2022:

Global Online Art Market 2022 Global Online Art Market Revenue (USD Billion) 14.38 Compound Annual Growth Rate (2023-2030) 6.5 %

What are the Growth, Drivers, and Opportunities for the Online Art Industry?

The rising disposable income in developing and developed countries drive the demand for smart devices such as tablets, smartphones etc. The increasing adoption of smart devices and internet penetration has significantly impacted on many industries, including the art market. People can access to different forms of art from various regions drive the online art market. With more people shopping online, the art market has seen an increase in sales through online channels. This has led to the growth of online art marketplaces and platforms, which have become an increasingly important sales channel for artists and galleries.

Online art marketplaces and platforms have made it easier for artists to reach a wider audience beyond their local or regional markets. This has also made it easier for collectors to discover and purchase art from artists worldwide. Due to internet accessibility, it is convenient and easy to access different art and make an online payment. Access to a broader audience can lead to increased sales and revenue, as artists can reach more potential buyers than ever before.

Shipping and handling challenges of different art forms, such as paintings, drawings, and sculptures, can hamper the growth of the online art market. For instance, many artworks are fragile or oversized, making them difficult to ship and handle. This increases the shipping cost due to the need for better packaging. Shipping artwork across international borders can be particularly challenging, as there are often strict regulations and customs requirements that must be followed.

Due to the rising disposable income and exposure to the art sector, there has been a growing awareness and appreciation for online art in emerging regions in recent years. The increasing availability and accessibility of technology has allowed artists from these regions to showcase their work to a global audience. Growing literacy rate of people in developing countries and increased recognition of the value of cultural diversity. It influences the interest in discovering new and unique artwork from different regions of the world, which provides immense opportunities for the online art market.

Check the Full Report, including Global, Regional, and Country Level Analysis:

https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com/online-art-market-report

Our Free Sample Report Includes:

2023 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

250+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research)

Chapter-wise guidance

Top Market Players list with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, Revenue Analysis, and SWOT Analysis

Free Analysis of One Leading Company with SWOT Analysis and Company Market Share

2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends

Updated list of tables & figures

Cognitive Market Research Methodology

How COVID-19 has Impacted the Online Art Industry?

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the overall art market, and the online art sector is one of the most affected due to the lockdown and closing of borders. The online art market has dropped enormously during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdown situation focused on the healthcare industry and economic uncertainty and these are the other factors responsible for the drop in the online art market. In addition, the pandemic has accelerated the online shopping trend, which has also impacted the art market. Many art lovers are comfortable buying art online.

Online Art Market Report Scope

Online Art Market  Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018  2030)

Paintings

Drawings and sculptures

Others

Online Art Market  End-customer Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018  2030)

Foreign customers

Domestic customers

Online Art Market  Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018  2030)

North America (U.S., Canada , Mexico )

(U.S., , ) Europe ( Germany , France , UK, Italy , Spain , Russia , Rest of Europe )

( , , UK, , , , Rest of ) Asia Pacific ( China , Japan , India , South Korea , Australia , Southeast Asia , Rest of APAC)

( , , , , , , Rest of APAC) Latin America ( Brazil , Argentina , Columbia , Rest of Latin America )

( , , , Rest of ) Middle East & Africa (GCC, Saudi Arabia , Turkey , Egypt , Rest of MEA)

List of Key Players in the Online Art Market

FineArtAmerica.com

Artspace LLC

Saatchi Art

Artfinder, Artsy

The Artling

Atticart Ltd

KAZoART

Rhythm Art

Eikowa

Archer Art

Others

Recent Developments;

Company Name Date Development/News Swiss Arts Council November 3, 2022 Arts at CERN and Pro Helvetia launch an open call for Connect India

Related Reports on Online Art Market:

Global Art Market was valued at USD 65.0 Billion in 2021.

The global art market was valued at USD 65.0 Billion in 2021. Art plays an important role in reflecting and shaping culture, and as such, it continues to be highly valued and appreciated. This drives the global art market.

Other Related Reports:

Global E-commerce Market to reach $110.51 Trillion by 2030, growing at an impressive CAGR of 25.2 %.

to reach Trillion by 2030, growing at an impressive CAGR of %. Global Art Supplies Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5 %.

is expected to grow at a CAGR of %. Global Acrylic Paper Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.2%.

Explore Other Cognitive Market Research's Service & Software Industry Reports

About Cognitive Market Research

Cognitive Market Research has evolved as one of the leading market research and consulting firms providing services across multiple domains. Our team of researchers gathers and analyzes data about customers, competitors, distributors, and other market actors and forces operating across the value chain. As a market research company, we gather information about the target market and end-use industries to verify the complete journey of the product or service in the global market. It helps our readers understand the demand and viability of their product/service and how it might perform in the real world and help them to build business strategies accordingly.

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The poster of the program (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

The program is jointly organized by the Overseas Vietnamese Association, the Vietnamese Student Association, the Vietnamese Women's Union in RoK and the Fund for Vietnam's sea and islands, until April 11 to convey the sentiment of the Vietnamese community in RoK in particular and overseas Vietnamese in the world as well to beloved Truong Sa.

The delegation of overseas Vietnamese in RoK visiting Truong Sa this year plans to present gifts to soldiers on Truong Sa Archipelago including televisions, water purifiers, refrigerators, lawn mowers, rechargeable fans, medical equipment, generators, and solar arrays to provide electricity for daily demands and illumination on islands and preserve food and spices.

The delegation will directly present gifts to officers and soldiers on duty on island belonging to Truong Sa Archipelago, especially focusing on islands with many difficulties such as sunken islands and DK frame house.

The Overseas Vietnamese Association in RoK calls for the joint hands of the entire Vietnamese community in RoK, so that the program is the common voice and strength of the Vietnamese community in RoK towards the sea and islands of the hometown./.
Increasing demand for lightweight materials in various end-use industries such as aerospace, automotive and wind energy drives the growth of the global prepreg market.

PORTLAND, Ore., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Prepreg Market by Fiber Type (Carbon, Glass, Aramid), by Resin Type (Thermoset, Thermoplastic), by Manufacturing Process (Hot-Melt, Solvent Dip), by End User Industry (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Wind Energy, Sporting Goods, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031". According to the report, the global prepreg industry generated $6.3 billion in 2021, and is anticipated to generate $16.1 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 9.9% from 2022 to 2031.



Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/11836

Prime determinants of growth





There is a growing demand for lightweight materials in several industries such as aerospace, automotive, and wind energy. The wind energy sector, in particular, is experiencing significant growth as nations aim to reduce their carbon footprint. The use of prepregs in wind turbine blades is becoming more prevalent as these blades become more advanced and larger, which is driving up demand for prepregs. Furthermore, advancements in manufacturing processes and new technologies are fueling the expansion of the global prepreg market. On the other hand, several technical challenges faced during the manufacturing of prepregs impede the growth to some extent. However, the rise in demand for carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) has paved the way for lucrative opportunities in the industry.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222031 Base Year 2021 Market Size in 2021 $6.3 billion Market Size in 2031 $16.1 billion CAGR 9.9 % No. of Pages in Report 500 Segments covered Fiber Type, Resin Type, Manufacturing Process, End User Industry, And Region. Drivers The broad scope of prepreg applications Rising demand from the automotive industry Implementation of enhanced production control strategies by the key players in the industry Opportunities High processing and manufacturing cost Restraints Rising demand for lightweight vehicles

Covid-19 Scenario

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a mixed impact on the global prepreg market. The temporary closure of composite manufacturing firms during the lockdown led to a decline in demand.

However, there was a surge in demand for prepreg materials in the medical industry due to the production of PPEs as well as medical equipment requiring lightweight and durable

materials.

The carbon fiber segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on fiber type, the carbon fiber segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than four-fifths of the global prepreg market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The same segment would also cite the fastest CAGR of 9.93% during the forecast period. Carbon fiber prepregs are lightweight and easy to fabricate and hence, used by major aerospace companies to manufacture combat, commercial, and cargo transport aircraft.

Procure Complete Report (350 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/3KJukN4

The thermoset segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

Based on resin type, the thermoset segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for nearly three-fourths of the global prepreg market revenue and is expected to dominate throughout the forecast period. The same segment would also showcase the fastest CAGR of 9.91% during the forecast period. This is because thermoset prepregs offer high strength-to-weight ratios, making them a popular choice in applications where weight reduction is critical, such as aerospace and automotive industries.

The hot-melt segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on manufacturing process, the hot-melt segment accounted for the largest share in 2021, contributing to nearly three-fourths of the global prepreg market revenue, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. The same segment would also portray the fastest CAGR of 9.9% from 2022 to 2031. Environment-friendly production and no requirement of organic solvent for solvent coating as well as drying are the major factors driving the growth of this segment.

The aerospace and defense segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on end user industry, the aerospace and defense segment accounted for the largest share in 2021, contributing to nearly two-fifths of the global prepreg market revenue, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. Prepregs are known for their high strength-to-weight ratio, which makes them ideal for aerospace and defense applications where weight savings are important.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2031

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2021, accounting for more than one-third of the global prepreg market revenue and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing demand for lightweight and fuel-efficient materials in the aerospace and automotive industries. Europe, on the other hand, would showcase the fastest CAGR of 10.13% from 2022 to 2031.

Leading Market Players: -

AXIOM MATERIALS, INC.

HEXCEL CORPORATION

GURIT

SGL CARBON

SOLVAY

TEIJIN CARBON EUROPE GMBH

GMBH MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION

TORAY COMPOSITE MATERIALS AMERICA, INC.

SUNREZ CORPORATION

ISOLA GROUP

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global prepreg market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, 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.

Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/prepreg-market/purchase-options

Similar Reports:

Thermoset Molding Compound Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030

Thermoplastic Composites Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027

Industrial Carbon Nanotubes Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2030

Glass Like Carbon Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031

Green Carbon Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2025-2031

Smart Glass Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030

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Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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DUBLIN, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Radiomics Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Competition, Opportunity and Forecast, 2018-2028 Segmented By Modality, By Image Type, By Technology, By Application, By Region and Competition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global Radiomics Market is projected to grow at a formidable rate in the forecast period, 2018-2028. This can be attributed to the growing prevalence of various chronic diseases such as cancer which require accurate diagnosis and treatment. According to the global cancer observatory, the total number of new cancer cases reported in 2020 was around 19,292,789.

Out of this, 10,065,305 new cancer cases were reported in males, and in females were around 9,227,484 in 2020. The rising need of improving disease diagnosis, prognosis, and clinical decision support is expected to create new prospects for the growth of global radiomics market.



Radiomics is a quantitative method of approaching medical imaging that seeks to improve the data already available to doctors through sophisticated mathematical analysis. Using analysis techniques from the field of artificial intelligence, radiomics evaluate textural information by mathematically extracting the spatial patterns of signal intensities and pixel interconnections.

The potential of radiomics to improve clinical decision-making has been highlighted by numerous research from various imaging domains that have been published so far. The numerous technical parameters impacting the retrieved radiomic properties are the primary cause of the numerous significant hurdles the area is currently facing.



Increased Digitization and Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Healthcare Industry



The digitization of information, produced during normal clinical procedures has increased steadily in medicine over the past few decades, much like it has in many other spheres of human endeavor. As more medical records were made available in digital form, ever-evolving, and more complex software was created to analyze them.

At the same time, research on artificial intelligence (AI) has long advanced to the point where its techniques and software tools are sophisticated enough to leave computer science departments and find use in an expanding number of fields. As a result, the medical industry has seen a significant rise in the use of AI applications in recent years. These apps are intended to help clinical decision-making and simplify the repetitive tasks that physicians must perform daily.



Radiomics enhances the available data to physicians with the help of modern mathematical analysis. The concept of radiomics has been most widely implied in the field of oncology basically on the assumption of the presence of certain disease-specific information not perceptible by the human eye in biomedical images.



Different modalities can aid in radiomics analysis on medical images, employing the potential additive value of imaging information retrieved from positron-emission-tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), rather than assessing each modality on its own, thus permitting an integrated cross-modality approach. Therefore, the integration of AI into the healthcare industry will fuel the global radiomics market in the future.



Increased Dependency on Radiology for Medical Diagnosis



Medical Imaging procedures facilitate diagnosis and pave an approach for the treatment of adults as well as children and lately, there has been a remarkable rise in the use of these techniques.



Between October 2018 and September 2019, about 45.2 million imaging tests were carried out in England, according to a report by the National Health Service (NHS). Out of these, 3.58 million imaging tests were just conducted in September 2019.



This escalation can be attributed to increased demand by physicians and patients, technological improvements, and better financial conditions for people. Computed Tomography or CT scans have seen a rise of about 8% in the past ten years. It has been revealed by a survey that the rate of CT scans being conducted for respiratory diseases in the emergency department has increased by four folds between 2001 and 2010.



Technological advancements have led to more physicians calling for CT scans and MRIs even for conditions that could be investigated with simpler imaging techniques. An improved view of pathologies can be obtained from a CT scan than a plain radiograph. For example, the best imaging technique suitable for identification and follow-up on pulmonary embolism is CT pulmonary angiography. The chief reason for this is its fast speed and high resolution. CT scan has greater sensitivity and specificity along with enhanced visualization due to which it has the potential to identify small opacities that might have been skipped during chest X-rays. Also, it can offer improved views of some regions such as lung lingula and lung bases. This increased dependency on radiology for medical diagnosis is offering lucrative growth opportunities for the global radiomics market.



Growing Geriatric Population and Associated Diseases



With advancing age, the risk of contracting a disease also increases. Nearly 80% of elderly people in the United States have at least one chronic disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Furthermore, it has been estimated by the American Medical Association (AMA) that about 60% of individuals with an age of 65 or above will be living with more than one chronic condition by the year 2030. Therefore, the rise in the geriatric population in the world will fuel the necessity for better healthcare facilities and modern treatment options as well as medications.



The increased incidences of chronic diseases worldwide will drive the demand for modern diagnostic and treatment options. Radiology techniques or medical imaging procedures such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT) scans, ultrasound, and angiography are principally deployed for clinical procedures carried out for several cancers. Also, with a rise in unhealthy lifestyle habits and a rising elderly population, the incidence of cancer is on a surge across several countries, thereby raising the acceptance of novel technologies like radiomics. Hence, the growing geriatric population along with rising cancer cases will propel the global radiomics market.



Report Scope:



In this report, global radiomics market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:



Radiomics Market, By Modality:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Computed Tomography (CT)

Positron-Emission-Tomography (PET)

Others

Radiomics Market, By Image Type:

2D

3D

Radiomics Market, By Technology:

Engineered Features

Deep Learning

Radiomics Market, By Application:

Nuclear Medicine

Medical Imaging

Precision Medicine

Oncology

Others

Radiomics Market, By Region:

North America

United States

Mexico

Canada

Europe

France

Germany

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Asia-Pacific

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Australia

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Colombia

Middle East & Africa

& South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Kuwait

Key Topics Covered:



1. Product Overview



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Voice of Customer



5. Clinical Trial Analysis



6. Patents Analysis



7. Global Radiomics Market Outlook



8. North America Radiomics Market Outlook



9. Europe Radiomics Market Outlook



10. Asia-Pacific Radiomics Market Outlook



11. South America Radiomics Market Outlook



12. Middle East and Africa Radiomics Market Outlook



13. Market Dynamics

13.1. Drivers

13.1.1. Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging

13.1.2. Increased Reliance Radiology for Medical Diagnosis

13.1.3. Growing Population with Cancer and Cardiovascular Disorders

13.2. Challenges

13.2.1. Imaging Protocols Not Standardized/Technological Restraints

13.2.2. Budget Cuts of Hospitals

13.2.3. Lack of Validation and Risk of False-Positive Results



14. Market Trends & Developments

14.1. Growing Research and Investment Activities

14.2. Opportunities in Emerging Countries

14.3. Adoption of Better Healthcare Facilities



15. Competitive Landscape



16. Strategic Recommendations



A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

Radiomics.io (Computational Imaging & Bioinformatics Lab)

Radiomics Bio ( Belgium )

) Health Innovation Ventures (HIV)

Sophia Genetics SA

HealthMyne Inc

Oncoradiomics

ptTheragnostic BV

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/euuntc

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Reach Neuro's Avantis device delivers small electrical impulses to the spinal cord to help stroke survivors regain motion and independence

PITTSBURGH, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Reach Neuro, Inc ., a neurotechnology company giving control and independence back to people with debilitating neurological disorders, announced today that it has been granted a Breakthrough Device designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Avantis platform. Avantis uses small electrical impulses delivered to the spinal cord to help restore shoulder, arm, and hand movement to individuals with impairment due to chronic stroke. The FDA Breakthrough Device designation recognizes the importance of bringing this technology to clinics quickly to address an enormous un-met need for the nearly 7.5 million Americans living with post-stroke disability.

In the US, an estimated 800,000 people per year have a stroke, and nearly half will experience some form of long-term paralysis as a result of permanent damage to the brain's ability to send signals to muscles. Today, there is no standard of care for these individualsmany of whom struggle to obtain insurance coverage for post-acute physical or occupational therapy due to a lack of evidence that such therapy provides benefit after the first 3-6 months post-stroke. Reach Neuro's Avantis system directly restores a patient's ability to control movement, not only giving immediate relief, but also making it possible to return to therapy and continue making even further improvements.

Reach Neuro was founded in 2021 as a spinout company of the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, where the technology is currently being tested in an NIH funded clinical trial in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). The team recently published a manuscript in the journal Nature Medicine, describing the results from the first two study participants. In the study, subjects showed 40% and 108% improvements in grip strength respectively, and up to 124% improvement in joint strength. These improvements enabled them to perform reaching movements more quickly and smoothly than without stimulation (30-40% faster). Participants were also able to perform functional tasks like lifting objects, eating with a fork, and opening a lock. Surprisingly, the researchers observed that some improvements were retained up to one month after the study, even without stimulation. However, patients will likely benefit from having the implant chronically.

"We are excited about the FDA's recognition of our technology's potential to change the lives of millions of people living with disability," said Marc Powell, Ph.D. CEO, Co-Founder of Reach Neuro. "The Breakthrough Device designation is an incredible opportunity to work closely with FDA experts to expedite the clinical translation of the Avantis system."

Current treatments for stroke focus only on the acute phase of recovery and approximately 50% of stroke survivors are left with disabilities that are considered permanent. However, early evidence shows that the Avantis system can be effective in chronic stroke patients even up to 9 years after their stroke, which is well outside the 6 month window in which existing therapies are used. The stimulation empowers stroke patients to regain use of their arm and hand, strengthening muscle activity without imposing unintended movements.

Heather Rendulic, the first participant in the university-lead clinical study describes her experience with the device: "Having the stimulation working and being able to move my arm/hand again after 9 years was one of the most surreal experiences of my lifeit was as if my brain was in control of my arm again. This technology gave me such immense hope that one day I will regain a sense of independence again. This will change the lives of millions of people!"

Reach Neuro is an alumni of SOSV's IndieBio startup development program, which mentors, scales, and invests in early-stage life sciences startups building the future of planetary and human health. With the FDA Breakthrough Device status, the company intends to accelerate the regulatory process for its Avantis platform through close collaboration with the agency, to make their shared goalchanging the narrative around chronic strokea reality.

About Reach Neuro

Reach Neuro develops implantable neuromodulation systems to restore upper limb motor function in people with chronic stroke and other neurological disorders. It was founded in 2021 based on work started at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University with the goal of bringing advanced neurotechnologies out of the lab and into the hands of patients. Its mission is to change the way we look at physical rehabilitation and end the notion of permanent disability. For more information, visit: www.reachneuro.com.

About the FDA Breakthrough Device Program

The Breakthrough Devices program is a voluntary program for certain medical devices and device-led combination products that provide for more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions. The goal of the Breakthrough Devices Program is to provide patients and health care providers with timely access to these medical devices by speeding up their development, assessment, and review, while preserving the statutory standards for premarket approval, 510(k) clearance, and De Novo marketing authorization, consistent with the Agency's mission to protect and promote public health.

SOURCE Reach Neuro, Inc.
NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Reich & Tang Deposit Networks, LLC (d/b/a R&T Deposit Solutions) (R&T), a leading deposit, liquidity and cash management solutions firm, announced today that Tom Ormseth has joined the firm as EVP, Head of Banking.

"We are thrilled to welcome Tom to our executive leadership team. With over 29 years in the banking industry, he is a tremendous asset to R&T," expressed Joe Jerkovich, CEO of R&T. "Tom's deep knowledge of our products and his extensive experience in the banking industry, including treasury management and digital banking, will be a huge benefit for our clients and the firm."

"Tom's deep understanding of emerging digital banking technologies will help drive growth" - Steve Genereau, EVP Tweet this

Prior to joining R&T, Mr. Ormseth held management roles at Wintrust Bank for 17 years. In his most recent role of EVP, Digital Channels and Transaction Banking, Tom managed all digital channels for both retail and commercial banking, product management, Treasury Management, International Banking and payment capabilities. He was also a member of the Asset/Liability Committee and instrumental in the funding of the bank during a major growth period. His background includes roles in asset liability management modeling and managing Information Technology groups. Prior to joining Wintrust Financial, Tom led Digital Commercial Product Management for ABN Amro North America. Tom was recognized for his contributions to the industry in 2015, being named Digital Banker of the year by the American Banker.

"We look forward to the valuable insights and guidance Tom will provide to our banking team as we continue to strengthen our position in the industry," said Steve Genereau, R&T's EVP and Chief Deposit Officer. "His appointment reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional value to our clients, and we are confident that his deep understanding of emerging digital banking technologies will help drive growth and take our organization to the next level."

About R&T

Founded in 1974, Reich & Tang Deposit Networks, LLC (d/b/a R&T Deposit Solutions) provides deposit and liquidity solutions to financial intermediaries around the country. With over $200 billion in assets under administration, R&T offers a wide range of innovative tech-enabled services to help banks, credit unions, trust companies and wealth managers meet their unique cash sweep, deposit funding and securities-based lending needs. Through its Demand Deposit Marketplace (DDM) Program, R&T provides banks and other depository institutions with access to millions in reciprocal deposits, and underlying customers with access to expanded levels of FDIC insurance on their deposits through participating banks. R&T also is the trusted vendor of large broker dealers and other financial institutions that administer their insured cash sweep programs.

Media Contact:

Teresa Murphy

212.830.5240

[email protected]

Copyright  2023. All rights reserved. Reich & Tang Deposit Networks, LLC, Reich & Tang Deposit Solutions, LLC, Stable Custody Group II LLC, Total Deposit Solutions, LLC (each, d/b/a R&T Deposit Solutions) and/or any of their affiliates (together, "us", "we") provide administrative and/or recordkeeping services to participating financial institutions with respect to sweep and other programs we administer, including Demand Deposit Marketplace (DDM), Reich & Tang Insured Deposits (RTID) and Insured Deposit Program (IDP), as well as other services. We are not a depository, bank or credit union and the sweep and other programs we administer are NOT , themselves, FDIC-insured or NCUSIF-insured products. Rather, under the programs, funds are swept or placed into accounts at receiving institutions that are FDIC and/or NCUSIF insured, subject to program limits. Go to rnt.com/about/bank-lists/ for a list of the banks and savings associations with which we have a business relationship for the placement of deposits under the programs we administer, and into which a participating institution may place deposits (subject to the limits and terms of those programs and any opt-outs by the participating institution and/or their customers). FDIC and NCUSIF insurance coverage is only available to protect a depositor against the failure of a participating FDIC or NCUSIF insured institution that holds the depositor's funds (and not to protect against the failure of any other party, including us). The services we provide with respect to the programs administered by us are primarily designed to provide administrative convenience for our financial institution clients to offer expanded FDIC or NCUSIF insurance on customer funds, and are not designed to provide customers with investment enhancements, or higher rates of returns or profits on their funds. All of our services are provided subject to the terms and conditions of the written agreements entered into between us and the participating institution, and we provide no representations or warranties, express or implied, except as expressly set forth in those agreements.

SOURCE R&T Deposit Solutions
Inspired by the French history of brioche, one lucky fan will receive a trip to Paris courtesy of the brand

HORSHAM, Pa., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sara Lee Artesano Brioche Buns are feeling French and celebrating this spring with the launch of the Artesano Brioche Buns "Bun Voyage" sweepstakes. Inspired by the rich French history of Brioche bread, the folks at Sara Lee are gifting one lucky fan a trip to Paris via a national sweepstakes. Beginning today through Wednesday, May 10, fans can head to ArtesanoBriocheBunVoyage.com to enter for a chance to win a once in a lifetime vacation to the gourmet foodie capital of the world!

Sara Lee Artesano Brioche Buns Wishes Consumers Bun Voyage This Spring

To enter, consumers 18 years or older will visit ArtesanoBriocheBunVoyage.com to complete a simple entry form. Fans are also encouraged to share images of original recipes featuring the Artesano Brioche Buns. Following the submission period, one winner will be randomly selected to win an unforgettable trip to one of the most romantic foodie destinations in the world  Paris, France!

Brioche fans looking for a taste of France stateside will also enjoy Parisian-inspired bites at Sara Lee Artesano Brioche Buns pop-up events throughout April and May. Hosted in New York, New Orleans and Santa Monica, each event will feature French-inspired decor and a food cart serving delicious recipes on Artesano Brioche Buns. There will be big winners at these events as well  three lucky fans at each of the three events will take home an epic prize featuring gifts, branded swag, product and more!

"Since launching Artesano Brioche Buns last year, we've been thrilled by the consumer response to the effortless way it brings a taste of gourmet to even the simplest, everyday meals. Delivering an elevated taste experience with every bite, Artesano brings the rich, buttery flavors of a French bistro straight to your home, restaurant style" said Ana Melo, Artesano Brand Manager. "We know our pop-up events and Bun Voyage sweepstakes will provide even more inspiration and fun this spring, as consumers look to elevate breakfast, lunch and dinner staples."

Made with real butter, Sara Lee Artesano's new Brioche Buns have the same soft and smooth texture that only comes from the Artesano Bakery Bread lineup. Inspired by the authentic French taste and ingredients that take you on a gourmet journey, Sara Lee Artesano Brioche Buns are available at grocery stores and supercenters nationwide.

Sara Lee Artesano Bread has a handmade taste and mouthwateringly soft texture. Available in four varieties  Original, Golden Wheat, Brioche, and Multigrain  each is sliced thick with a dash of flour dusting and a distinctly creamy character. Artesano Bakery Rolls and Artesano Bakery Buns are available in-store as well. Artesano bread is made without artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or high-fructose corn syrup, and serves as an ideal bread for your everyday foods. Whether you are toasting it at breakfast or including it in a favorite sandwich at lunch, it makes the routine remarkable. For more information, visit: SaraLeeBread.com.

For additional details and official rules on the Sara Lee Artesano Brioche Bakery Buns sweepstakes, visit ArtesanoBriocheBunVoyage.com.

About Bimbo Bakeries USA

Bimbo Bakeries USA is a leader in the baking industry, known for its category leading brands, innovative products, freshness and quality. Our team of 20,000+ U.S. associates operates approximately 60 manufacturing locations in the United States. Over 11,000 distribution routes deliver our leading brands such as Arnold, Artesano, Ball Park, Bimbo, Boboli, Brownberry, Entenmann's, Little Bites, Marinela, Mrs Baird's, Oroweat, Sara Lee, Stroehmann and Thomas'. BBU is owned by Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B de C.V., the world's largest baking company with operations in 34 countries.

SOURCE Bimbo Bakeries USA
SHANGHAI, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai plans to build Nanjing West Road business circle into a more prosperous commercial hub with retail sales volume exceeding 100 billion yuan (about 14.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 3 years, according to the 2023 Forbes China Jing'an West Nanjing Road Forum held in Shanghai recently.

The Nanjing West Road business circle is located in the core high-end service agglomeration belt in Shanghai's Jing'an District. Last year, the business circle saw annual retail sales volume totaling more than 78 billion yuan, according to Commerce Commission of Jing'an District.

An implementation plan on optimizing the consumption environment in Jing'an District was released during the forum. The plan is centered on optimizing the access and operation services for consumer enterprises, promoting the vitality and diversification of consumer market supply, as well as creating a window to show the world with Shanghai's consumer economy.

The plan is the first of this kind issued at the district level in Shanghai, aiming to further create a world-class consumption environment, and welcome more commercial and trade enterprises to do business in Jing'an.

Statistics show the total retail sales of social consumer goods of Jing'an District ranked the first in the downtown area of Shanghai in 2022. More than 70 percent of the top 100 world-renowned brands have opened stores in Jing'an.

SOURCE Commerce Commission of Jing'an District
PLEASANTON, Calif., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: SSD), an industry leader in engineered structural connectors and building solutions, announced today that it will report its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 on Monday, April 24, 2023 at 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time. Michael Olosky, Simpson's President and Chief Executive Officer, and Brian Magstadt, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, will host a conference call that same day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet hosted on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at ir.simpsonmfg.com.

Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.'s First Quarter 2023 Conference Call Details

DATE:





Monday, April 24, 2023









TIME:





2:00 p.m. Pacific Time 4:00 p.m. Central Time 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time









DIAL-IN:





(877) 407-0792 (U.S. and Canada) (201) 689-8263 (International)









CONFERENCE ID:





13737589









WEBCAST:





https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1607079&tp_key=b56dffbfdd

For those unable to participate during the live broadcast, a replay of the call will also be available beginning that same day at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, May 8, 2023, by dialing (844) 512-2921 (U.S. and Canada) or (412) 317-6671 (International) and entering the conference ID: 13737589. The webcast will remain posted on the Investor Relations section of Simpson's website at ir.simpsonmfg.com for 90 days.

About Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., headquartered in Pleasanton, California, through its subsidiaries, including Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc., designs, engineers and is a leading manufacturer of wood construction products, including connectors, truss plates, fastening systems, fasteners and shear walls, and concrete construction products, including adhesives, specialty chemicals, mechanical anchors, powder actuated tools and reinforcing fiber materials. The Company primarily supplies its building product solutions to both the residential and commercial markets in North America and Europe. The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SSD."

CONTACT:

Addo Investor Relations

[email protected]

(310) 829-5400

SOURCE Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.
WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Below is a statement by Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of The United States Conference of Mayors, on today's mass shooting in Louisville:

"The senseless carnage of gun violence struck another American city this morning as four innocent lives were lost and nine others, including at least two police officers, were injured in a mass shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville. Yet again, a community is shattered, and we are left grasping for a way to provide comfort to a community that has experienced unspeakable trauma. 'Thoughts and prayers' do not suffice.

"We commend Governor Andy Beshear for standing with Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg to condemn the mass shooting and killing in Louisville. We encourage all governors to join with the nation's mayors and police chiefs calling for legislative action to stop the killing of innocent Americans.

"We extend our condolences to the families of those murdered and hope for a full recovery for those injured. We offer Mayor Greenberg our unwavering support as he leads his city through this difficult time and works to bring the community together. We praise the police officers and all of the first responders for their quick and brave response this morning, which we know saved lives.

"Once again, we ask what will it take for Congress, state legislators and governors to pass common sense gun violence legislation? How many people must be killed and wounded for our nation to take action? It has been said that 'insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.' As we witness one mass shooting after anotherweek after week, month after month, year after yearit is nothing short of insane that as a nation we are not willing to address the serious and deadly gun violence problem that we face."

About the United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors
Growing concern about weather change is driving up demand for environmentally friendly aviation fuel

PUNE, India, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Exactitude Consultancy, the market research and consulting wing of Ameliorate Digital Consultancy Private Limited has completed and published the final copy of the detailed research report on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market.

The global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market was valued at USD 84.70 million in 2022, and is projected to reach USD 9788.87 million by 2029, registering a CAGR of 60.8% from 2023 to 2029.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a fuel made from renewable resources or waste that satisfies environmental standards. The fuel can be made from a variety of renewable materials, including cooking oil, carbon dioxide captured from the air, and forestry and agricultural waste. To cut emissions, it can be blended with any fossil aircraft fuel. Sustainable aviation fuel can be introduced with no modifications to the aircraft or infrastructure, making it a drop-in fuel. Using sustainable, high-quality aviation fuel can significantly cut carbon dioxide pollution. Emission levels from the production, dissemination, transportation, and combustion of sustainable jet fuels are roughly 75% lower than those from fossil jet fuels. The potential for oil & gas refineries to integrate SAF technologies is manifold. The adoption of renewable aviation fuel helps reduce the emission of harmful particulates and sulfur by 90% and 100%, respectively.

Click Here to Access Sample Report of the Global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market @

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/13468/sustainable-aviation-fuel-market/#request-a-sample

Recent Developments

February 2023 - Frederic Combes , vice president of Airbus India and South Asia , stated that Airbus is willing to establish an ecosystem that promotes Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to decarbonize the aviation industry.

- , vice president of Airbus India and , stated that Airbus is willing to establish an ecosystem that promotes Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to decarbonize the aviation industry. February 2023 - Boeing agreed to purchase 5.6 million gallons (21.2 million liters) of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Neste, the world's largest SAF producer, to support its U.S. commercial operations through 2023. These contracts significantly increase the company's sustainable aviation fuel acquisitions over the prior year.

Market Dynamics

Global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market Drivers:

Growing Government and Organizational Efforts to Reduce Carbon Emissions

Around the globe, numerous governments and business associations are working to reduce carbon emissions. Over the following few years, these entities established goals to achieve lower or zero emissions. In the 2015 Paris Agreement, 156 nations decided to alter their growth trajectories in favour of sustainability. These countries intended to keep temperatures to less than 2C above pre-industrial levels. Global carbon dioxide emissions must decrease by 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030 and attain zero emissions by 2050 in order to meet these goals.

Furthermore, to reduce world emissions in half by 2030, more than 70 countries, 1,200 companies, 1,000 towns, 1,000 schools, and 400 financial institutions have vowed to take strict, immediate action. One important component in achieving these objectives is sustainable aircraft fuel. SAF has a lifetime emission reduction of up to 80%. Over the anticipated time, these factors will fuel market expansion.

Increasing Number of Passengers Using Air Transportation

The number of people using aeroplanes has been steadily rising. The number of passengers on scheduled flights increased from 4.2 billion in 2018 to over 4.5 billion in 2019a 3.6 percent increaseaccording to the International Civil Aviation Organization and World Air Transport Statistics. In comparison, there were 38.3 million departures in 2019, a 1.7 percent increase. Additionally, compared to the prior year, the passenger traffic grew by 4.9 percent, totaling 8,686 billion revenue passenger kilometres.

Additionally, more flights are operated each year as a result of the rise in aviation travel. As more people use aeroplanes to travel, airlines are growing their business by increasing the fleet of aircraft and the number of flights on particular routes. The demand for aviation fuel is increased by the increased capability of airlines. Furthermore, because sustainable aircraft fuel is more effective than conventional aviation fuel, it can meet the rising demand from airlines. As a result, market development is aided by the rising passenger volume and high efficiency of sustainable aviation fuel.

Global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market Restraint:

Higher Costs Associated

The cost of sustainable aviation fuels is one of the major concerns for the market. Currently, the cost of sustainable jet fuel is four to five times that of regular jet gasoline. As a result, a number of carriers favour purchasing sustainable aviation fuel in smaller quantities. Because of this, only a very small amount of sustainable aviation fuel is created globally. To scale it, the cost of sustainable aircraft fuel must be decreased. In addition, the cost of feedstock, yields, and plant capital recovery are important elements that raise the price of sustainable aviation fuel altogether.

In addition, fats, oils, and greases are used as the raw material for sustainable aviation fuel, which is presently insufficient in volume to meet demand. As a result, the cost of sustainable aircraft fuel is rising. Additionally, by passing on the relative expense of blending sustainable aviation fuel with jet fuel to customers, airlines are able to increase ticket prices. According to the EU plan, blending 63% sustainable aviation fuel with A1 Jet Fuel would result in an increase in ticket costs of about USD 120 for a trip from Amsterdam to New York. This hinders the market's expansion by discouraging airlines from using sustainable aviation fuel for their planes.

Global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market Opportunities:

Government Initiatives to Promote the Adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Several governments worldwide are formulating new regulations to promote the use of sustainable aviation fuel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve emission targets. For instance, the United States government passed the Sustainable aircraft Fuel Act, which promotes the creation, use, and distribution of sustainable aircraft fuel. For projects in the United States to create, transport, blend, and store sustainable aviation fuel, the measure allots USD 1 billion over five years.

Similarly, the European Commission adopted the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy in December 2020 to boost the acceptance of sustainable aviation fuels the increased EU climate target for 2030 and the EU's EU's goal of climate neutrality can both be accomplished with the aid of sustainable aviation fuels. In order to promote the use of sustainable aircraft fuel, the E.U. also updated the Energy Taxation Directive. The participants in the market for sustainable aviation fuel are likely to benefit from growth possibilities provided by such government initiatives.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232029 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 USD 84.70 million Market Size in 2029 USD 9788.87 million CAGR 60.8 % No. of Pages in Report 130 Segments Covered Fuel Type, Biofuel Manufacturing Technology and Region Drivers Increase in the use of synthetic lubricants. surge in the Adoption of Biofuels Restraints Crude oil price fluctuations Opportunities Rise in Demand for HEFA-SPK Technology

Introduction of new innovations

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market: Key Players

Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels, LLC.

Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc.

Red Rock Biofuels

Aemetis, Inc.

OMV Aktiengesellschaft

TotalEnergies SE

Key Market Segments: Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market By Fuel Type, 2023-2029, (Usd Million) (Thousand Liter)

Biofuel

Hydrogen Fuel

Power To Liquid Fuel

Gas To Liquid Fuel

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market By Biofuel Manufacturing Technology Size, 2023-2029, (Usd Million) (Thousand Liter)

Ft-Spk

Hefa-Spk

Atj-Spk

Hfs-Sip

Chj

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/13468/sustainable-aviation-fuel-market/

Regional Dominance:

North America is expected to expand at a CAGR of 60.94% during the forecast period, making it the largest shareholder in the global market for sustainable aviation fuel. The market for sustainable aviation fuel in North America is driven by demand from industrialised nations like the United States and Canada. Some of the world's largest aviation businesses are found in these nations. Some of the top airlines in the globe are based in North America. Airlines with North American headquarters and significant area presences include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. Additionally, the existence of these businesses in North America increases the demand for sustainable aviation fuel in the area.

Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 59.88%. The increased passenger traffic flying to and from Europe is what is causing the market for sustainable aviation fuel in Europe to expand. Additionally, a large number of tourists travel to Europe each year as it is one of the world's top tourist locations. According to the World Air Transport Statistics published by the International Air Transport Association, in 2021, scheduled passenger and cargo travel in Europe made for about 23.7% of the global total. Furthermore, Europe is responsible for 2.3% of internal scheduled passenger traffic and over 21% of all scheduled passenger traffic worldwide. Due to the increased passenger volume, there are also more flights to and from Europe. This contributes to the expansion of the European market. Europe is also home to some of the leading tourist destinations in the world. Countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Austria, and many others have some of the most popular tourist spots in the world. In addition, many tourists visiting Europe travel by air, driving the aviation industry in the region. This further augments the demand for sustainable aviation fuel in Europe.

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to experience substantial growth. The Asia-Pacific market for sustainable aviation fuel is mainly driven by the demand for air cargo transport throughout the region. A number of nations, including China, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, export a substantial amount of goods to other countries. In the Asia-Pacific region, top passenger and cargo airlines can be located. China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Korean Air, and Cathay Pacific Airways are among the airlines with a sizable regional footprint in the Asia Pacific. Additionally, the existence of these businesses in the Asia-Pacific region increases the region's desire for environmentally friendly aviation fuel. The use of sustainable aviation fuel is growing among major carriers in the Asia-Pacific region. For instance, All Nippon Airways agreed with Neste to procure sustainable aviation fuel. Similarly, using biofuels, Cathay Pacific implemented the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. Such efforts by airlines are anticipated to boost the growth of the sustainable aviation fuel market in the Asia-Pacific.

Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa make up RoW. The market for sustainable aircraft fuel in RoW is primarily driven by demand from Middle Eastern nations. Some of the biggest aviation industries are found in nations like Qatar and the UAE. The International Air Transport Association's World Air Transport Statistics show that in 2021, the Middle East accounted for roughly 10% of all scheduled passenger and cargo travel worldwide. Comparatively, in 2021, Latin America's share of global scheduled passenger and cargo travel was 4.3%. The Middle East is a hub for some of the leading airlines in the world. In addition, aviation companies such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines are all headquartered in the Middle East and have a solid regional presence. The presence of these companies in the Middle East augments the region's demand for sustainable aviation fuel.

Segment landscape in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market

The surge in the Adoption of Biofuels

The worldwide market for sustainable aviation fuel has been divided into three fuel categories: biofuel, power-to-liquid, and gas-to-liquid. In 2021, the biofuel industry had a 95.7% market share, which was the largest share. It is anticipated that the market will continue to rule during the forecast era. Biomass, which includes plant and animal waste, is used to create biofuels in both direct and indirect ways. The majority of the basic materials used to make biofuels come from traditional natural biomass, like fuelwood, charcoal, and animal dung. They may come from crops, such as common sustenance plants or unique energy crops. Additionally, forestry, farming, fishery, and municipal waste items can be used to make biofuels. These fuels can potentially deliver the performance of petroleum-based jet fuels but with a fraction of their carbon footprint.

A rise in Demand for HEFA-SPK Technology

The market has been divided into four categories based on technology: HEFA-SPK, FT-SPK, HFS-SIP, ATJ-SPK, and power-to-liquid. In 2021, the HEFA-SPK segment held a 95.3% share of the worldwide market. The HEFA-SPK pathway utilises a fatty feedstock, such as vegetable oils or waste fats, which first goes through an oxygenation process and then is added to so that the fatty compounds can be broken down into hydrocarbons. Further processing transforms these fatty compounds into a blend of different liquid fuels that can be mixed up to 50%.

Have a Look at Chemical and Material Domain Research Reports: Exactitude Consultancy

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About Exactitude Consultancy

Exactitude Consultancy is a market research & consulting services firm which helps its client to address their most pressing strategic and business challenges. Our market research helps clients to address critical business challenges and also helps make optimized business decisions with our fact-based research insights, market intelligence, and accurate data.

Contact us for your special interest research needs at [email protected] and we will get in touch with you within 24hrs and help you find the market research report you need.

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SOURCE Exactitude Consultancy
Members Ratify Record Contracts After Strikes in Louisville, Indianapolis

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters won big for workers as members at two Sysco locations ratified record-breaking contracts. The victories successfully ended two-week strikes by securing higher wages and better retirement benefits for more than 160 members of Teamsters Local 135 in Indianapolis and 100 members of Teamsters Local 89 in Louisville.

"Our members sent a powerful message that when Teamsters stand together, we can take on anyone and win the fight, even America's biggest corporations," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "Teamsters are united and emboldened at Sysco. Our members have proven to this company that when workers are disrespected, the Teamsters will take you on with everything we've got."

Strike lines extended to more than 1,000 workers nationwide. Picket lines were honored in Los Angeles by Sysco members of Teamsters Locals 495, 630, and 848; in San Francisco by Sysco members of Teamsters Local 853; and in Seattle by Sysco members of Teamsters Local 117. Additional local unions pledged to honor the strike if pickets appeared at their facilities.

"We were never alone during this strike. The outpouring of support from the community and our fellow workers gave us the strength to keep fighting," said Cody Combs, a Sysco Louisville driver and Local 89 member. "We stood up to Sysco by standing together, and we won big."

The new five-year agreements mark the latest round of coordinated bargaining for Sysco members in Indianapolis and Louisville.

"This triumph belongs to every single one of us who stood together to win respect. Sysco Teamsters have shown that when workers stand up and fight, we can achieve anything," said Marcus Irvin, a Sysco Indianapolis warehouse worker and chief steward for Local 135.

Newly organized delivery drivers at Local 89 secured a first contract over the holiday weekend. Drivers and warehouse workers at Local 135 voted in favor of a new five-year agreement this morning.

The new contracts showcase significant gains, including wage increases of more than 20 percent in year one for Local 89 members and limits on weekly work hours and an average of 23 percent over the life of the contract for Local 135 members, excellent retirement benefits, affordable union health care, strong workplace improvements, and MLK Day as a paid holiday.

The strike at Sysco was the most recent example of collective action by the Teamsters at America's largest broadline food distributor. In October, more than 800 Teamsters went on strike at Sysco for nearly three weeks to win contracts for workers in Arizona, Boston, and Syracuse, NY.

There are more than 10,000 Sysco Teamsters nationwide.

"Sysco saw what they were up against and caved to the Teamsters demands. Once again, our members established a united front and took this company head-on to get what they deserved," said Tom Erickson, Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. "This victory is a testament to the unwavering dedication and commitment of our members. It's also a reminder to Sysco to get its act together and treat its workers with respect. The Teamsters won't stand for it."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.2 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Daniel Moskowitz, (770) 262-4971

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Photo for illustration (Source: vneconomy.vn)

According to Director of Ho Chi Minh Citys Department of Industry and Trade Bui Ta Hoang Vu, the event will provide an opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises, distributors, and importers to seek deals.

He added that it will also offer an excellent chance for Vietnamese businesses to explore new markets, expand their export networks, and introduce their products to the world.

The fair will attract about 250 stalls of domestic and foreign companies based in Vietnam, displaying agricultural products, processed food, garment and textiles, footwear, furniture, and handicrafts.

During the fair, a forum on green exports and a conference on exports of Vietnamese agricultural products will also be held./.
WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings 2023, the Digital Currency Monetary Authority (DCMA) announced their official launch of an international central bank digital currency (CBDC) that strengthens the monetary sovereignty of participating central banks and complies with the recent crypto assets policy recommendations proposed by the IMF.

International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings 2023

Universal Monetary Unit (UMU), symbolized as ANSI Character, U, is legally a money commodity, can transact in any legal tender settlement currency, and functions like a CBDC to enforce banking regulations and to protect the financial integrity of the international banking system.

Banks can attach SWIFT Codes and bank accounts to a UMU digital currency wallet and transaction SWIFT-like cross-border payments over digital currency rails completely bypassing the correspondent banking system at best-priced wholesale FX rates and with instantaneous real-time settlement.

In an IMF interview with Tobias Adrian, Financial Counsellor at the International Monetary Fund, he states "Cross-border payments can be slow, expensive, and risky. In today's world of payments, counterparties in different jurisdictions rely on costly trusted relationships to offset the lack of a common settlement asset together with common rules and governance. But imagine if a multilateral platform existed that could improve cross-border paymentsat the same time transforming foreign exchange transactions, risk sharing, and more generally, financial contracting."

According to Darrell Hubbard, the Executive Director of the DCMA, and the chief architect of UMU, "This vision expressed by the IMF is the exact solution the DCMA is delivering to central banks worldwide."

Adopting a global localization public monetary system architecture, UMU can be configured to operate according to the central banking regulations of each participating jurisdiction.

George Walker, a Partner at Practus, LLP, specializing in international law, facilitated meetings between the DMCA and the IMF, states "Although the IMF has not officially endorsed Universal Monetary Unit, in reviewing the DCMA's Whitepaper and in weekly team discussions, the IMF has yet to state any objections to UMU's FX premium rates and its monetary sovereignty approach."

According to Darrell, "UMU is not attempting to disrupt the international monetary system. If fact, it strengthens it by helping the IMF achieve its stated mandate to provide economic and financial stability to its member states. UMU is a game-changer in how cross-border payments are transacted and mitigates against seasonal and systemic local currency depreciation."

Universal Monetary Unit Model Law legislation has been drafted in collaboration with several sovereign states. In this proposed legislation, UMU should not be enacted as legal tender for negotiating domestic prices or international trade agreements. Instead, the legislation proposes UMU to be enacted as a complementary money commodity for the store of value, mitigating against potential seasonal and systemic local currency depreciation, and tendered as a payment currency at the time of settlement.

Merchants and trading partners could accept UMU for the equivalent market value for their good and services priced in any national legal tender. UMU has premium exchange rates built into its wallet and can convert any settlement currency amount to the equivalent UMU amount.

Universal Monetary Unit is cryptocurrency reimagined from the ground up to support central banking and regulated financial institutions. It features a trusted consensus protocol, Staked Proof of Trust (SPOT) Protocol, and a multi-dimensional DLT (mDLT) capable of supporting any asset or liability ledger enabling full-service digital banking and international trade payments.

The DCMA introduces Universal Monetary Unit as Crypto 2.0 because it innovates a new wave of cryptographic technologies for realizing a digital currency public monetary system with a widespread adoption framework encompassing use cases for all constituencies in a global economy.

About the Digital Currency Monetary Authority (DCMA) 

The DCMA is a world leader in the advocacy of digital currency and monetary policy innovations for governments and central banks. Membership within the DCMA consists of sovereign states, central banks, commercial and retail banks, and other financial institutions.

https://dcma.io

About Universal Monetary Unit (UMU) 

Universal Monetary Unit (UMU), also known as Unicoin, is an innovation in store of value cryptography powered by artificial intelligence (AI). It adopts a central banking monetary policy framework to ensure it has continuous purchasing demand, minimal price volatility, and annual asset pricing targets.

A copy of the UMU Whitepaper is available on its website.

https://umu.cash

Contact:

Ruth Marshall

7043035359

[email protected]

SOURCE Digital Currency Monetary Authority
The beachside lifestyle hotel unveils a top-to-bottom reimagination spearheaded by award-winning design studio EDG, featuring beach-inspired, open-air design, plus an extensive new art collection from local artists

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viceroy Santa Monica the iconic beachside hotel located steps away from the water on Ocean Avenue in the heart of Santa Monica-announced the completion of its all-encompassing renovation at the hands of award-winning design studio EDG .

Viceroy Santa Monica Ocean View King Room

The hotel, owned by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, one of the country's leading owners of lifestyle hotels, originally opened in 2000 as the first Viceroy Hotels & Resorts property. The reimagination gives the Santa Monica legend a fresh, new edge, featuring all-new guestrooms and suites, newly designed common areas, an expansive outdoor space, and a signature restaurant and bar, Sugar Palm. The enhancement also added a new art collection inclusive of commissioned works and interactive augmented reality pieces from various local artists.

"We are thrilled to unveil this stunning transformation of Viceroy Santa Monica, where our brand originally debuted," says Bill Walshe, CEO of Viceroy Hotels & Resorts. "The renovation has reinvigorated this iconic property, infusing it with a fresh, contemporary aesthetic that celebrates our West Coast roots and pays homage to the property's rich history. We look forward to welcoming guests to experience the elevated level of luxury, personalized service, and immersive experiences that define the Viceroy brand."

Design

The new guestroom and suite design is inspired by Southern California's crowning feature, the beach, bringing the shore closer than ever. The design brings the outdoors in through abundant natural textures in a sun-washed color palette of aquamarines, sunny yellows, and neutral sand tones. Mid-century-style furnishings and graphic carpet complement sea-grass inspired wall coverings. Patterned curtains evoke the reflection of the sun on the water. All rooms have a Juliet balcony to let in the ocean breeze, with western-facing rooms offering guests views of the Pacific Ocean and west coast sunsets.

The hotel's public spaces, including the lobby, indoor lounge, outdoor patio, and pool area with private cabanas, feature a vibrant color palette and eclectic, vintage furnishings. Upon entry, guests are immediately greeted by a two-ton driftwood bench and wood-planked ceilings that mimic walking beneath the Santa Monica Pier, inviting guests to drift in and linger for a while, whether for a business meeting, a celebration with friends, or an after-work cocktail.

The entire hotel was designed with sustainability at the forefront. EDG brought existing pieces new life, repurposing original materials and furnishings wherever possible to minimize waste. Decorative woodwork in the guestrooms was painted rather than replaced, original furnishings were reupholstered, and in hallways, existing wall coverings were stenciled over to add interest and conserve resources. Many of the commissioned art pieces throughout the property were also created with repurposed objects, including skateboard wheels and vintage cameras.

The renovation brings an all-new indoor-outdoor experience in which cocktails and conversations flow throughout. Perfect for year-round relaxation, luxurious, open-air cabanas inspired by the lifeguard towers on Santa Monica beach surround two sparkling, palm-tree lined pools. The intermingled, open-air dining patio and bar, comfortable lounge seating throughout the lobby, and inspired new meeting spaces encourage guests to mix business with pleasure. New programming, including New Moon Meditations led by Calming Spot Santa Monica brings opportunities for guests and locals to enjoy the reinvented outdoor experience.

"Our design goal was for guests to feel rejuvenated, relaxed, and alive, with a clear sense of being in Santa Monica," said EDG Principal Jennifer Johanson. "Every aspect of this sunny sanctuary reflects Santa Monica's vibrant energy."

Sugar Palm

Sugar Palm , Viceroy Santa Monica's signature indoor-outdoor dining concept helmed by Executive Chef Jason Francisco, is the hotel's social hub. The indoor lounge, wraparound bar, breezy, outdoor patio featuring a large firepit, and private dining cabanas offer plenty of ways to gather and connect over brunch or dinner.

The restaurant offers a journey through California's diverse coastline, showcasing line-caught seafood and market fresh produce sourced from local farmers and purveyors. Chef Jason's seasonally rotating brunch ("Sunrise") and dinner ("Sunset") menus honor and celebrate the melting pot of cultures in Los Angeles through the use of globally inspired flavors and techniques. A curated cocktail menu reminiscent of the colors and flavors of Santa Monica calls for celebratory toasts any time of day.

An advocate for sustainability, Chef Jason is leading the charge among the Viceroy Hotel Group with unique plant-based menu items featuring out-of-the-box ingredients like watermelon, lychee, mushrooms, and more to mimic the umami flavors found in meat and seafood. He encourages his kitchen to find ways to upcycle all parts of produce and meat, whether it's for stocks, juices, syrups, and garnishes used across a variety of dishes and beverages, thus reducing food waste.

Art

Art is a key tenet of the Viceroy Hotels & Resorts brand. Every guestroom at Viceroy Santa Monica includes new original works from local artisans Erin Miller Wray , Kelcey Fisher , and Priscilla Witte curated by Art x Co. Continuing the theme of blurring the lines between indoors and out, each piece is inspired by coastal elements, like Miller Wray's colorful surf fins, Fisher's abstract sky and water scenes, and Witte's augmented reality illustration showcasing a bird's eye view of the hotel's pools.

The in-room art is an extension of the local collection scattered throughout the common areas, including three marquee murals: "Endless," also by Miller Wray, is inspired by ocean horizons and adorns the hotel's facade, "Ijeoma" by Evelyn Leigh , located on the exterior wall of Sugar Palm, evokes a palm tree swaying and the calming effect of the ocean water, and finally, "Deep Roots," by Spencer Mar Guilburt , located on the Pico side of the property, represents the unseen roots that connect us as we look collectively to an unseen future. Sugar Palm's indoor lounge contains paintings by Monica Perez that celebrate the ability to coexist after separation.

In the lobby, Karen Bystedt's art, created especially for Viceroy Santa Monica, called "The Lost Warhols, " showcases once lost photographs taken by Bystedt of famed artist Andy Warhol that fellow artists have painted atop of. The digitally augmented pieces slowly transform on screens from raw photos to finished, multi-layered artwork featuring scenes of Santa Monica surf and skate culture and colors from "Ijeoma."

Viceroy Santa Monica, is located a block from the beach at 1819 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA, 90401. Whether it's through a Priority bike ride down the boardwalk, a picnic on the beach, or cocktails under the palms, locals and guests from around the world can relax, unwind, and enjoy the best Santa Monica has to offer, just steps away from a variety of upscale and casual restaurants, world class shopping, and the famed Santa Monica Pier. Follow along on Instagram and visit the hotel's website for more information.

SOURCE Viceroy Santa Monica
PALMETTO BAY, Fla., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Oscar Naranjo is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Life Member for his contributions to the Dental Field.

Dr. Naranjo earned a Bachelor's degree from Miami Dade University and Florida International University and graduated from the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ASDOH) in 2019. He also completed the Implant Dentistry Continuum and Dental Implant Master Series and co-founded Luxe Smiles in 2021 with his wife and colleague, Dr. Anamary Testar. Dr. Naranjo worked as an associate for two years.

Oscar L. Naranjo

Dr. Naranjo is a member of the International Dental Implant Association; Academy of General Dentistry; American Dental Association; and South Florida Dental Association. According to the doctor, he believes in making a difference in a patient's life. He cares deeply about his patients and what he does to help them maintain dental health for a lifetime. Dr. Naranjo attributes his success to his mentor Dr. Steve Choi.

Dr. Naranjo has received multiple awards, including the Dental Implant Student Award; Academy of Operative Dentistry Award; and the Academy of General Dentistry Dental Student Award. In his spare time, Dr. Naranjo likes to spend time with his family and travel and likes to work with several local and community charities. He would like to thank his wife for her support during his career.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
DUBLIN, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The South African Private Equity Industry 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Private Equity Sector in South Africa



While funds under management have increased, the private equity sector has experienced a slowdown in the value and number of investments since 2018. Returns have also been falling recently. The slowing global and local economy is likely to mean a tougher 2023 for fund managers. South Africa's grey listing and ratings downgrades are other challenges. However, Pension Funds Act amendments, which came into effect in January 2023, could help increase investment in venture capital and in infrastructure.



Venture Capital



In recent years there has been an increase in venture capital investments in startups. Fintech accounts for most venture capital investments and exits by value and number. There has also been an increase in the number of institutional investors backing venture capital. Increasingly South African venture capital funds are investing in startups on the rest of the continent. Most venture capital investments are at early stage and there is a lack of follow-on funding.



Regulation



Amendments to Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act, which came into effect in January 2023, allow pension funds to allocate up to 45% investment in South African infrastructure projects, up from 30% previously. They also increase the amount of assets pension funds can allocate to private equity to 15% (from 10% previously).



Report Coverage



This report covers the private equity sector in South Africa including venture capital and SME funding. It includes information on the size and state of the sector, investment and corporate activity, funds under management, funds raised and returns, notable players and developments, including regulatory developments which could result in new investment trends. There are profiles of 28 companies including RMB Corvest and RMB Ventures, Metier, African Rainbow Capital, Hlayisani Capital, Vantage Capital and the SA SME Fund.



Key Topics Covered:



1. INTRODUCTION



2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY

2.1. Industry Value Chain

2.2. Geographic Position

2.3. Size of the Industry



3. LOCAL

3.1. State of the Industry

3.2. Key Trends

3.3. Key Issues

3.4. Notable Players

3.5. Corporate Actions

3.6. Regulations

3.7. Enterprise Development and Social Development



4. AFRICA



5. INTERNATIONAL



6. INFLUENCING FACTORS

6.1. Economic Environment

6.2. Labour

6.3. Technology, R&D, Innovation

6.4. Government Involvement

6.5. Pension Fund Investment

6.6. Infrastructure Investment

6.7. Environmental Issues, ESG and Responsible Investing

6.8. Cybersecurity



7. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT

7.1. Competition

7.2. Ownership Structure of the Industry

7.3. Barriers to Entry



8. SWOT ANALYSIS



9. OUTLOOK



10. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS



11. REFERENCES

11.1. Publications

11.2. Websites



APPENDIX

Summary of Notable Players

COMPANY PROFILES

4Di Group (Pty) Ltd

Acorn Private Equity (Pty) Ltd

African Rainbow Capital Investments Ltd

Altvest Capital Ltd

AYO Technology Solutions Ltd

Bopa Moruo Private Equity Fund Managers (Pty) Ltd

Convergence Partners Management (Pty) Ltd

Edge Growth Business Development (Pty) Ltd

Grovest Venture Capital Company (Pty) Ltd

Havaic Holdings South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Hlayisani Fund Managers (Pty) Ltd

Horizon Equity Partners (Pty) Ltd

IDF Capital (Pty) Ltd

Jozi Angels Investment Group (Pty) Ltd

K2018565981 ( South Africa ) (Pty) Ltd

) (Pty) Ltd Launch Africa Ventures Fund 1

Metier Investment and Advisory Services (Pty) Ltd

Naspers Ltd

NESA Venture Capital Investments (Pty) Ltd

Pallidus Holdings (Pty) Ltd

Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Managers (Pty) Ltd

Phatisa Managers (Pty) Ltd

RMB Corvest (Pty) Ltd

RMB Ventures (Pty) Ltd

SA SME Fund Ltd (The)

Vantage Capital Group (Pty) Ltd

Vuna Partners (Pty) Ltd

Vunani Capital Partners Ltd

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Franklin Health Plan Brokered by The Underwriters Group Gives Employers New Option for Group Health Insurance

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Underwriters Group, a Higginbotham partner located in Louisville, KY, that provides property/casualty insurance and employee benefit services, announced today that it is the exclusive broker of the Franklin Health Plan in Kentucky. The announcement follows Humana's decision to withdraw from the employer-based insurance market. Based in Louisville, KY, Humana's departure leaves Kentucky employers with limited group medical plan options for their employees.

Humana announced in February 2023 that it will exit the employer-based insurance business during the next 18 to 24 months to focus on government-backed programs like Medicaid and Medicare and specialty businesses. Its employer group business includes fully insured health insurance plans purchased by employers and employer-sponsored health plans managed by Humana.

The Franklin Health Plan helps fill the gap left by Humana by giving employers a competitive alternative through a nationally leading broker. The Underwriters Group is part of Higginbotham, one of the largest independent insurance brokers in the U.S. It is the only broker of the Franklin Health Plan in Kentucky.

Stuart Ferguson, managing partner of Higginbotham's Kentucky region, said, "The Franklin Health Plan not only serves employers that were with Humana, it's a great option for any employer with 25 to 500 employees. It functions much like a fully-insured plan, but it gives employers an opportunity to earn back a portion of their premium."

The Franklin Health Plan is now available for plan years effective immediately. Employers in Kentucky interested in learning more about the plan may contact David Brown, [email protected], or John Jennings, [email protected].

About Higginbotham & The Underwriters Group

Higginbotham is a single source solution for insurance, financial and HR services ranked in the top 20 largest independent insurance brokerages in the U.S. The employee-owned firm based in Fort Worth, Texas, opened in 1948 and today serves businesses and individuals through locations coast-to-coast. The Underwriters Group, based in Louisville, KY, is an independent commercial and personal insurance and employee benefits broker that joined Higginbotham in January 2022. It provides access to all of Higginbotham's products and services through its local professionals. Visit higginbotham.com for more information.

SOURCE Higginbotham
Local Entrepreneurs Bring Popular Fast-Casual Restaurant with Cooked-to-Order, Flavor-Fused Chicken Wings to Local Community

THOMASVILLE, Ga., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wing Zone , known for its cooked-to-order, award winning flavor-filled chicken wings, will debut its newest location, and third in the state of Georgia, in Thomasville at 1527 E. Jackson St on April 10. Wing Zone will not only bring its award-winning flavors to local wing enthusiasts but a fresh look and feel to the Wing Zone brand to the Thomasville area.

The Thomasville location is the first Wing Zone to open with the new brand refresh which features upgrades that will offer the fastest, most efficient technology on the market, a revamped menu and an energized restaurant design and experience.

There will be a grand opening event taking place on April 24 from 11 am  3 pm. There will be a ribbon cutting at 11 am. During the grand opening event, the new location will be raffling off a years' worth of free wings to one lucky visitor. There will be free food and giveaways. Gas prices will also be lowered at the conjoined Susie Q's Food Convenience Store to celebrate.

Putting the focus on its best-selling wings and tenders while offering in-shop curated music and a revolutionary scent strategy, Wing Zone of Thomasville will transform the way local wing enthusiasts experience the brand. With a more vibrant color scheme and trimmed down cook time to cubbies designed for quick, grab-and-go pickup and delivery options, the Thomasville location offers an efficient, modern take on chicken wing consumption.

The new Thomasville Wing Zone is owned and operated by local entrepreneurs Sagar and Nikul Patel. The duo are important pieces in the Susie Q's Food Convenience Stores operation. The company was founded in 1999 by Sagar's father, Tommy Patel. The Thomasville-based corporation has steadily grown to operate 65 convenience stores in the southeast. Now Sagar and Nikul plan to open their newest convenience store with a Wing Zone attached to it.

"Thomasville is our hometown and we believe there is a huge demand for a place that satisfies your craving for flavorful, cooked-to-order chicken wings and tenders," said Sagar Patel. "The opening of our Wing Zone location is very exciting as we wanted to bring a beautiful new concept to our community and we want everyone to be as excited as we are for Wing Zone to come to Thomasville."

Founded in 1993, Wing Zone has spent nearly 30 years perfecting its cooked-to-order, flavor-fused chicken wing and tenders. Whether you prefer sweet, spicy or savory, Wing Zone has 18 flavors to choose from, including fan favorites such as Ragin' Cajun, Honey Q and Buffalo Ranch. Wing Zone's lineup of distinctive, crowd-pleasing flavors is the result years of research and development and remains a key ingredient to its fast-growing fan base.

Wing Zone Thomasville is open from 11 am  11 pm Sunday  Thursday, and 11 am  12 am Friday and Saturday. For additional information, visit wingzone.com or call the location at 229-236-2693.

About Wing Zone

Founded in 1993, Wing Zone is an international fast-casual restaurant franchise known for its fast service and cooked-to-order, flavor-fused chicken wings and tenders. Wing Zone's award-winning flavors are available at more than 43 locations in North America and more than 25 restaurants internationally. In 2009, Wing Zone stamped its place in history by being inducted into the Buffalo Wing Festival's Hall of Flame. Named one of the fastest-growing franchise concepts by Inc. Magazine, Success Magazine, and Entrepreneur Magazine, Wing Zone plans to grow to more than 200 profitable restaurants by 2025. For more information, visit www.wingzone.com. Like Wing Zone on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram.

Media Contact: Olivia Quarrier, Fishman PR, [email protected], 765-606-7442

SOURCE Wing Zone
Proceeds from the Event Provide Free Grief and Trauma Counseling Services

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow's Rainbow will host its 10th Annual Hope Floats celebratory eventon Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 1 PM to 5 PM at Esplanade Park, located in downtown Fort Lauderdale. More than 500 people are expected to attend. Join families who have experienced the death of a loved one by decorating a memorial paper boat; at 4 PM many of the boats will be launched in the New River.

"It is so exciting every year to combine family fun with a flotilla of memorial paper boats led by a 24-ft paper boat celebrating the lives of those who hold a special place in our hearts forever," said Abby Mosher, Founder and Executive Director of the unique nonprofit organization.

The personalized memorial messages on each family's paper boat are unique and touching. Paper boats are available in many sizes and can be purchased at the event or pre-ordered online at TomorrowsRainbow.org/HopeFloats and decorated on-site. The FREE, family-friendly event will include a bounce house, face painting, food trucks, live music, miniature horses, games, prizes, and the boat parade.

Event sponsors include Moriarty & Associates, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, Broward Health, Runyon's Restaurant, GCI Corporation, Motion Elevator, Waste Management, Alex Cares, Inc., & Zelman Style Interiors. Proceeds benefit children's grief and trauma programs at Tomorrow's Rainbow where a herd of miniature horses help achieve the mission of nurturing emotional wellness & resiliency for children, teens, and families experiencing grief, loss, or trauma.

"We're very excited to have the opportunity to partner with Winterfest to bring this FREE family event to the Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk. A 24-foot paper boat floating down the New River is not something you see every day." said Mosher.

Tomorrow's Rainbow, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, celebrates 17 years assisting children, teens, and families that are healing from grief, loss, or trauma. Located in Coconut Creek, Florida, the Tomorrow's Rainbow mini-ranch is an oasis promoting emotional wellness and resiliency through our equine-assisted psychotherapy support groups, offered free to children and families, and survivors of tragedies like those at Marjory Stoneman Douglas and Deerfield Beach.

To learn more about Tomorrow's Rainbow, sponsorship opportunities, or to get involved, visit us at TomorrowsRainbow.org, or contact Leah Eauslin at 954.953.0847 or at [email protected].

SOURCE Tomorrow's Rainbow
CHICAGO, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The transplant diagnostics industry is likely to see some major advances in the near future. There are a number of new technologies and treatments being developed that will revolutionize the way transplant diagnostics are done. These include the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to aid in diagnosing transplant recipients, the development of new biomarkers to better detect potential organ rejection, and the use of stem cell therapies to help treat organ rejection. Additionally, new technologies are being developed to improve the accuracy of transplant diagnostics, such as improved imaging and genetic testing. These advances will help improve the accuracy of transplant diagnostics and help improve the outcomes for transplant recipients.

Transplant Diagnostics Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $4.4 billion in 2022 and is poised to reach $6.8 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2022 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Organ transplants have gradually improved over the past 20 years and typically produce excellent results in children and young adults. However, the proportion of elderly transplant patients with comorbidities is increasing, posing a greater challenge. When compared to dialysis, renal transplants increase patient survival, and patients with liver, heart, or lung diseases that are incurable must receive life-saving transplants. The activity of solid organ transplant programmes has been steadily increasing, but it still falls short of global needs and varies greatly between nations. Transplanting solid organs is crucial for advanced and established medical systems.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Transplant Diagnostics Market"

168 - Tables

44 - Figures

260 - Pages

Transplant Diagnostics Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2022 $4.4 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $6.8 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% Market Size Available for 20202028 Forecast Period 20222028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Technology, Product & Service, Application, Transplant type, End User & Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Growing public awareness about organ donation and transplantation Key Market Drivers Increasing number of transplant procedures

Molecular assay technologies segment to register a significant growth rate over the forecast period of 2022-2028

Based on Technology, molecular assay technologies are segmented to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. Molecular assay technologies are segmented into PCR-Based molecular assays and sequencing-based molecular assays. PCR-based molecular assays are further segmented into Real-time PCR, Sequence-specific primer, Sequence-specific Oligonucleotide and other PCR-based molecular assays.

Sequence-specific Oligonucleotide is growing at the highest CAGR of 9.5%.

The Reagents & Consumables holds the largest share in the Product and Service segment of the Transplant diagnostic market.

The reagents and consumables is projected to reach USD 5,131.0 million from USD USD 3,265.2 million in 2022 with the CAGR of 7.8%.

Based on End users, the transplant diagnostic market is segmented into Hospitals and Diagnostic centers, Research & Academic Institutes and Independent reference laboratories. The Independent reference laboratories segment accounted for the largest share of the transplant diagnostic market. The growing number of organ transplant procedures and growing number of diagnostic labs across emerging countries are helping the independent diagnostic centers to hold the largest share.

North America to register major growth in the market during the forecast period

North America transplant diagnostic market is anticipated to register the highest growth over the forecast period of 2022 to 2028. North America accounted for the largest share of 45.5% of the transplant diagnostic market in 2022. This market is projected to reach USD 3.1 billion by 2028 from USD 2.0 billion in 2022, at a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period. North America holds 45.5% share of the total antimicrobial susceptibility testing market. The large share of North America can be attributed due to the growth in the geriatric population and the increase in infectious diseases., Asia-Pacific is expected to experience significant development.

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Transplant Diagnostics Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Increasing number of transplant procedures Technological advancements in transplant diagnostic procedures Increasing public-private funding for target research activities Rising prevalence of infectious diseases

Restraints:

High procedural cost of NGS- and PCR-based diagnostic assays Limited reimbursement for target procedures

Opportunities:

Rising adoption of cross-matching and chimerism testing during pre- & post-transplantation Growing public awareness about organ donation and transplantation

Challenges:

Significant gap between number of organ donors and organs required annually Procedural and technical limitations associated with donor-recipient screening

Key Market Players:

As of 2022, prominent players are Becton, Dickinson and Company, Biomerieux SA, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.F-Hoffman-LA-Roche, and Thermo fisher Scientific.

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Recent Developments:

In February 2023 , BD received FDA approval for BD Onclarity HPV assay in the serology testing segment

, BD received FDA approval for BD Onclarity HPV assay in the serology testing segment In March 2023 BioRad received AQAC International and AFNOR approval for its iQ-Check kits.

BioRad received AQAC International and AFNOR approval for its iQ-Check kits. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. unveiled Cobas Infinity edge, a cloud-based point-of-care platform that is available everywhere, in January 2022 . Practitioners in the healthcare industry can manage patient data thanks to advanced technology. This has aided the business in diversifying its product offering.

Transplant Diagnostics Market Advantages:

Transplant diagnostics allow for improved accuracy in the diagnosis and treatment of organ transplant recipients.

More accurate diagnostic tests can lead to earlier detection and treatment of organ transplant complications, reducing the risk of organ rejection and other transplant-related complications.

Improved accuracy can reduce health care costs by reducing the number of unnecessary treatments and tests.

Transplant diagnostics can also help to identify the most suitable donor organs for transplantation, reducing the risk of organ rejection and improving the success rate of transplants.

Transplant diagnostics can also help to improve the quality of life for transplant recipients by providing more accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment.

Transplant Diagnostics Market - Report Highlights:

The study consists of the average selling price (ASP) analysis for different products in the Transplant Diagnostic market.

The research study comprises the patent analysis of technologies/solutions used in the Transplant Diagnostic market

The new market study consists of the trends/disruptions impacting customers' businesses.

The new market study consists of information on key conferences and events in 20222028.

The new market study consists of the region-wise regulatory landscape.

The new market study provides details of the strategies of the top 5 players operating in the market.

The competitive landscape chapter has been updated with the market evaluation matrix. The competitive landscape also includes the market share analysis of major global players (as of 2021), updated competitive leadership mapping, and competitive situations and trends.

The new market study comprises 25 players. These companies have emerged as key market players in recent years due to their products and various strategic investments undertaken in the transplant diagnostic market.

Updated financial information/product portfolio of players: The new edition of the report provides updated financial information in the context of the medical aesthetic market from January 2020 to July 2022 (depending on availability) for each listed company in graphical representation.

to (depending on availability) for each listed company in graphical representation. Updated market developments of profiled players: The current report includes the market developments from January 2022 to July 2022 .

During the production cycle of the report, in-depth interviews were conducted with various primary respondents, which include key opinion leaders, subject matter experts, directors, and C-level executives of selected particle counters vendors to obtain and verify critical qualitative and quantitative information. This primary data was collected mainly through questionnaires, mails, and telephonic interviews.

Related Reports:

Digital PCR Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

Molecular Diagnostics Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Next Generation Sequencing Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Infectious Disease Diagnostics Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

HLA Typing for Transplant Market - Global Forecasts to 2025

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Kristy Willis named President of PeopleReady; Rick Betori named President of PeopleScout; Caroline Sabetti named Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of TrueBlue.

TACOMA, Wash., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TrueBlue, a leading provider of specialized workforce solutions, today announced the appointment of three executive leaders.

Kristy Willis has been named President of PeopleReady. With TrueBlue's PeopleReady brand since 2018, Willis has more than 20 years of experience in all aspects of the staffing industry. She most recently served as PeopleReady's Chief Sales and Operations Officer.

Kristy Willis named President of PeopleReady; Rick Betori named President of PeopleScout; Caroline Sabetti named Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of TrueBlue.

Rick Betori has been named President of PeopleScout. With TrueBlue since 2011, Betori has broad experience in both digital transformation and operations. He most recently served as PeopleScout's Managing Director of the Americas.

Willis and Betori succeed Taryn Owen, who served as brand president for both PeopleReady and PeopleScout prior to being appointed President & COO of TrueBlue in September 2022. Owen now oversees all operating brands  PeopleReady, PeopleScout, and PeopleManagement  as well as the company's technology, human resources and marketing and communications functions.

Caroline Sabetti has been named Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of TrueBlue. With TrueBlue since 2002, she most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer for PeopleReady and PeopleScout, and Senior Vice President of Communications for TrueBlue.

"Kristy, Rick and Caroline have each demonstrated the foresight, leadership integrity, and purpose-driven mindset required to move our business forward," said Taryn Owen, President & COO of TrueBlue. "I have every confidence that their combined strengths, along with those of the rest of our executive leadership team, will position TrueBlue for success as we pursue our vision to be the talent solution for the changing world of work."

Biographies

Kristy Willis

Kristy Willis has served as President of PeopleReady since March of 2023. With TrueBlue since 2018, Willis most recently served as Chief Sales and Operations Officer of PeopleReady. Prior to that, she served as PeopleReady's Chief Sales Officer. Before joining PeopleReady, Willis had a nearly 20-year career with the Adecco Group, most recently serving as Senior Vice President for the Western Division with responsibility for leading sales, service delivery, fulfillment, operations and financial management. Prior to that, she held various senior leadership roles with Adecco.

Rick Betori

Rick Betori has served as President of PeopleScout since March 2023. With TrueBlue since 2011, Betori most recently served as Managing Director of the Americas for PeopleScout. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations and Innovation for PeopleReady. From 2011 to 2015, Betori served as President of former TrueBlue operating brand, StudentScout. Prior to joining TrueBlue, he served as President of Wonderlic, Inc. from 2007 to 2011 and before that as the President of an independent Management Consulting firm.

Caroline Sabetti

Caroline Sabetti has served as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of the Company since March 2023. With TrueBlue since 2002, Sabetti most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer for PeopleScout and PeopleReady, and Senior Vice President of Communications for TrueBlue. Over her tenure, she has supported each of TrueBlue's business segments. Prior to joining TrueBlue, Sabetti spent five years at Kelly Services where she gained experience across all aspects of staffing operations and sales.

About TrueBlue

TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI) is a leading provider of specialized workforce solutions that help clients achieve business growth and improve productivity. In 2022, TrueBlue served 84,000 clients and connected approximately 611,000 people to work. Its PeopleReady segment offers on-demand, industrial and highly skilled staffing; PeopleManagement offers contingent, on-site industrial staffing and commercial driver services; and PeopleScout offers recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) and managed service provider (MSP) solutions to a wide variety of industries. Learn more at www.trueblue.com.

PeopleReady specializes in quick and reliable on-demand labor and highly skilled workers. PeopleReady supports a wide range of industries, including construction, manufacturing and logistics, retail and hospitality. Leveraging its game changing JobStack staffing app and presence in more than 600 markets throughout North America, PeopleReady put approximately 226,000 people to work in 2022. Learn more at www.peopleready.com.

PeopleScout is a leading RPO provider with end-to-end MSP and talent advisory capabilities supporting total workforce needs. Affinix, PeopleScout's proprietary mobile-first talent acquisition platform, empowers faster engagement with the best talent through an AI-driven, consumer-like candidate experience. Leveraging the power of data gleaned from engaging with millions of candidates every year, PeopleScout enhances talent intelligence for clients in more than 70 countries with headquarters in Chicago, Sydney and London and global delivery centers in Toronto, Montreal, Bristol, Krakow, Gurgaon and Bangalore. PeopleScout connected approximately 335,000 people with work in 2022. Learn more at www.peoplescout.com.

SOURCE TrueBlue
DES MOINES, Iowa, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U-Haul recently acquired the former CubeSmart Self Storage facility at 2590 Hubbell Ave. to better meet the moving and self-storage demands of Des Moines residents.

U-Haul began serving customers here on Feb. 6 and is now offering self-storage with extended hours access. The 8.98-acre property includes 688 indoor climate-controlled storage units.

"Expanding our footprint in Des Moines is important. The growing need for U-Haul self-storage in this community requires us to expand," said Randy Bowlby, U-Haul Company of Western Iowa president. "This location is right across the street from our existing Hubbell Avenue facility and gives us the ability to serve more customers."

The new U-Haul facility is being operated and overseen by U-Haul Moving & Storage of East Side at 2535 Hubbell Ave. Contact U-Haul at (515) 336-6694 for storage inquiries at either facility. Hours of operation at the anchor store are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday; 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Reserve equipment at uhaul.com or contact Reservations at 1-800-GO-UHAUL.

U-Haul dealers in and around Des Moines continue to be available to serve DIY movers. U-Haul has partnered with independent dealers to provide communities with accessible mobility since 1945. During these challenging times, more than 21,000 small businesses across the U.S. and Canada are generating supplemental income by partnering with U-Haul. When customers rent from their local U-Haul dealers, they are directly supporting small businesses in their community. Because there is no financial investment from dealers, they are not U-Haul franchises. They are simply small businesses with enough lot space to park U-Haul equipment and enough time to welcome more customers while meeting the mobility needs of their neighbors. Learn how to partner with U-Haul at uhaul.com/dealer.

About U-HAUL

Founded in 1945, U-Haul is the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 186,000 trucks, 128,000 trailers and 46,000 towing devices. U-Haul is the third largest self-storage operator in North America and offers 913,000 rentable storage units and 78.1 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities. U-Haul is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., and continues to be the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul has been recognized repeatedly as a leading "Best for Vets" employer and was recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in America.

Contact:

Andrea Batchelor

Jeff Lockridge

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 602-263-6194

Website: uhaul.com

SOURCE U-Haul
Chief Representative of JICA Vietnam Office Shimizu Akira (Photo: VNA)

Vu made the remark during a reception on March 24 for Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Vietnam Office Shimizu Akira, who came to bid farewell at the end of his tenure in Vietnam and introduce his successor Sugano Yuichi.



The Deputy FM thanked the JICA Vietnam Office and Shimizu himself for their role in coordinating projects funded by ODA of the Japanese Government in Vietnam, as well as their cooperation with Vietnamese agencies in pushing ahead important joint projects of the two countries.



He pledged that the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry is always ready to work with the Japanese side for the smooth implementation of joint projects, in accordance with the aspiration and benefits of people of the two countries.



The new Chief Representative of JICA Vietnam Office affirmed that Vietnam is an important economic partner of Japan and a priority in JICAs cooperation in the region. He expressed a wish for continued support of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry so as to effectively roll out bilateral cooperation in the time ahead./.
Solar Crowdsource assists local governments and sustainability organizations in launching successful solarize campaigns in communities across the U.S.

ATLANTA, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Solar Crowdsource has added more than 10 megawatts of renewable energy in multiple communities where its platform has hosted successful local Solarize campaigns, bringing solar energy to more than 1,400 rooftops since the firm's startup in 2015.

The firm works hand-in-hand to support local government and non-profit organization leaders to forge and customize their local Solarize initiatives. Offering one-of-a-kind knowledge and tools to create and administer local group-purchasing campaigns, Solar Crowdsource helps spur movement toward achieving communities' renewable energy goals more efficiently and effectively.

By the numbers, since its creation, Solar Crowdsource has helped to add:

More than 1,400 residential and commercial rooftop projects

A total of 11+ megawatts of new clean energy capacity

More than 3.5 MWh of battery storage

In addition, across 19 successful Solarize campaigns to date, Solar Crowdsource has assisted the communities it has supported in avoiding 255,800+ tons of CO2 over 25 years.

"We're grateful to continue to work closely with local governments and nonprofit organization leaders in their shared missions to make solar more affordable and accessible as well as to lower local reliance on fossil fuels," said Don Moreland, founder of Solar Crowdsource. "We were first asked to find a way to help make it simpler and easier for communities to create and adopt Solarize campaigns. Since then, that vision has resulted in helping facilitate a major leap in residential solar installations in our initial seven years across five states and the Caribbean."

Solarize campaigns are customized locally by like-minded coalitions of local organizations, community members, and government to help this form of renewable energy get adopted more quickly. While the Solarize concept has been executed in various communities in the United States over the past two decades, a turnkey platform and expertise to administer grassroots Solarize campaigns was not previously available.

According to RMI , the independent clean-energy research organization, "Inclusive campaigns are overwhelmingly based on strong partnerships with both national Solarize experts and community-level organizations. Selecting a national Solarize expert to lead a community campaigncan bring decades of industry experience, remove potential governmental procurement barriers, and often accelerate campaign timelines."

Solar Crowdsource accomplishes this support without adding burdensome out-of-pocket administrative costs to local organizations and governments sponsoring these initiatives.

Among the more recent campaigns was Solarize the Triangle in the Raleigh-Durham region of North Carolina. This 2022 initiative set a national record as the Solarize program with the largest total number of enrollments of any campaign in the country.

Said Emily Barrett, Environment & Resilience Program Manager for the Triangle J Council of Governments: "Our regional collaboration with Solar Crowdsource has set the standard for what a public-private partnership should look like for the clean energy space."

She added: "You've heard of win-win solutions? Solarize programs with the help of Solar Crowdsource are a win for the homeowners and businesses who get bulk pricing on high quality and reliable solar, a win for the climate, a win for reducing energy bills, and a win for local solar business. That is a lot of wins for one partnership."

Other successful campaigns were mounted in Kansas City and Oklahoma City. New campaigns for 2023 are currently preparing to launch in Oklahoma, Georgia and Hawaii. These initiatives and others like it also develop sub-program components aimed at serving Low- and Moderate-Income residents for whom solar energy affordability has remained largely out of reach.

"Communities can leverage the bulk purchase savings that come with a traditional Solarize program to also address equity goals that are typically part of a community's overarching clean energy plan," said Moreland. Since 2020, several different models for funding and executing these LMI programs have been devised by community leaders in coordination with Solar Crowdsource staff.

Another key benefit of each community campaigns' success is a solar energy system provided free to a worthy local nonprofit organization chosen from within the community. These systems help reduce ongoing electricity costs and unlock funds for the recipient organization to help achieve its mission more economically.

Solar Crowdsource's Solarize campaigns have so far resulted in 110kW of donated solar energy systems to nonprofits.

Added Moreland: "We look forward to continuing to assist communities in their quest to dimensionalize their climate goals by stimulating the purchase of renewable energy among their citizens and across the private sector. Solar Crowdsource stands ready to help communities adopt and harness Solarize campaigns in support of faster attainment of their local clean energy goals."

To learn more about how Solar Crowdsource supports communities in their renewable energy goals and to browse campaigns mounted in various U.S. locations, visit solarcrowdsource.com.

About Solar Crowdsource:

Solar Crowdsource is a platform that facilitates community-based group purchase programs, i.e., Solarize programs, which help reduce the cost of solar and make clean, sustainable energy more available to community residents. The Solar Crowdsource platform offers a range of tools, features and educational programming that add capacity for community organizers employing Solarize programs to meet clean-energy and equity goals that are easily accessible, help remove previous barriers to obtaining and investing in solar energy  all at no expense to the community.

Contact:

Ken Haldin

[email protected]

SOURCE Solar Crowdsource
AUSTIN, Texas, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Upgraded Points' latest study analyzed last-minute booking costs for some of the most popular domestic flight routes in the country. The study revealed which airline  across five major airlines: Spirit, United, American, Southwest, and Delta  offers the lowest prices for each trip if scheduled last-minute, as well as the most affordable last-minute trips based on the average one-way ticket cost available.

The Best Airlines to Buy a Last-Minute Tickets The Average Cost of a Last Minute Ticket on the Most Popular Domestic Flight Routes

"Last-minute trips are actually pretty common," said Alex Miller, Upgraded Points founder. "Business obligations, family emergencies, or even that urge for a sudden weekend getaway  there are many reasons you might need to book a trip in a hurry. But unfortunately, most airlines charge a premium for not planning well in advance, so it can really cost you if you're not looking in the right places."

Study Methodology

Using data sourced from the Official Airline Guide, Upgraded Points identified the 10 most popular domestic flight routes in America. Using Google Flights as the primary source for cost, they then recorded the lowest one-way ticket price available for each airline and route, before calculating average costs. Data was collected in the Spring of 2023 over a period of 10 days, from Monday to Thursday, and between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Study Results  The Cost of a Last-Minute Flight Across Five Major Airlines

Spirit Airlines: Spirit offers the most affordable last-minute flights, with an average price of $170.09 across the 10 routes. Specifically, Spirit Airlines has the most affordable last-minute flights from:

- Denver International Airport to Harry Reid International Airport: $88.10

- Harry Reid International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport: $101.78

- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport: $108.88

- Denver International Airport to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport: $151.14

- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Orlando International Airport: $162.38

- Los Angeles International Airport to O'Hare International Airport: $247.33

Southwest Airlines: Flying Southwest Airlines is the best option for the most affordable last-minute flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Kahului Airport, at $174.50. With an average ticket price of $233.72, Southwest has the second-most affordable last-minute ticket prices overall.

United Airlines: Save the most by flying United Airlines on last-minute flights from Los Angeles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport, at $146.78, and LaGuardia Airport to O'Hare International Airport, at $189.56. In third place, United Airlines costs $272.80 for a last-minute ticket on average.

American Airlines: Fly American Airlines for the most affordable last-minute flights from John F. Kennedy International to Los Angeles International, at $366.60.

Delta Airlines: The most expensive option to buy a last-minute ticket, from the airlines studied, is Delta Airlines, with an average last-minute ticket price of $369.12

The Most Affordable Airlines to Book for Last-Minute California Trips

Harry Reid International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport: Book Spirit Airlines last minute ($101.78) .

International Airport: Book Spirit Airlines last minute . Los Angeles International Airport to O'Hare International Airport: Book Spirit Airlines last minute ($247.33) .

International Airport to O'Hare International Airport: Book Spirit Airlines last minute . Los Angeles International Airport to Kahului Airport: Book Southwest Airlines last minute ($174.50) .

International Airport to Kahului Airport: Book Southwest Airlines last minute . Los Angeles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport: Book United Airlines last minute ($146.78) .

International Airport to International Airport: Book United Airlines last minute . John F. Kennedy International to Los Angeles International: Book American Airlines last minute ($366.60) .

The Top 5 Most Affordable Last-Minute Trips

DEN to LAS  $220.10 per trip

per trip LGA to ORD  $232.71 per trip

per trip ATL to FLL  $261.94 per trip

per trip DEN to PHX  $289.90 per trip

per trip LAX to OGG  $303.65 per trip

To see the full results including high-resolution graphics please visit the study HERE .

About Upgraded Points LLC

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Upgraded Points is a travel company that helps to demystify the complex world of travel and credit cards, and to unlock truly unforgettable experiences. Launched in 2016 by Alex Miller, Upgraded Points uses targeted research efforts and in-depth studies to give travelers, as well as those looking to travel, a real understanding of how to maximize their travel, points and miles. Learn more at: UpgradedPoints.com .

Media Contact:

Alex Miller, Founder

1-214-646-8866

[email protected]

SOURCE Upgraded Points
Global Health & Pharma Magazine's Commercial Cannabis Awards Name Willow Industries as Leader in Cannabis Decontamination for Second Consecutive Year



DENVER, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Willow Industries , ("Willow" or "The Company") the leader in cannabis kill-step and decontamination technology, has been named the Best Cannabis Decontamination Company in the U.S. for the second year in a row by Global Health & Pharma 's ("GHP") Commercial Cannabis Awards 2022. Established in 2019, the GHP Awards serve as an international recognition of leaders who are innovating across the Human, Animal and Environmental Health sectors; its Cannabis Commercial Awards highlight the prominent industry professionals who are advancing the future of the industry by broadening the medical utility of cannabis and demonstrating originality through the use of modern technology.

"It is an honor to be recognized by Global Health & Pharma as the Best Cannabis Decontamination Company for the second year in a row," said Jason Ellsworth, co-founder and COO of Willow Industries. "Our commitment to consumer safety remains of the utmost importance; being ranked on this list for the second year in a row is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our world-class team, all of whom are helping cannabis businesses to provide consistently clean and safe products to patients and consumers. As we continue scaling our business throughout the U.S. and global markets, we look forward to introducing more of the world to cannabis decontamination."

Leveraging an extensive science and consumer safety background, Jill Ellsworth launched Willow Industries, the first cannabis decontamination company in the U.S., with a goal to bring a kill-step to cannabis. Since the company's founding in 2015, Willow has experienced significant exponential growth year-over-year and expanded operations to three countries, establishing itself as the leader in post-harvest microbial decontamination technology. The Company's holistic, turnkey approach in providing cultivators with technology, scientific insights, education and best practices to ensure consumer safety, has set the standard for product cleanliness and safety across the industry, earning Willow its ranking as the industry's leader in decontamination technology.

Today, Willow's patented, organic ozone-based technology, WillowPure , is currently available to all licensed cultivators in the U.S. and across the globe, operating as an organic kill step and ensuring product safety. Every WillowPure System is built in accordance with OSHA and has an establishment number with the Environmental Protection Agency. In recent years the company has taken steps to become a full-service cultivation decontamination partner, with the ensuing goal of encouraging operators to eventually forgo the remediation cycle and instead pivot towards using a gentle, preventative kill step. In addition to providing hands-on operations training for the WillowPure Systems, the Company leverages its team of cannabis science experts to offer facility assessments, helping customers establish microbial management plans, outline best practices for improving overall cleanliness and ultimately determine the root cause of contamination so it can be stopped at the source. Furthermore, Willow regularly produces educational content for its customers and the wider industry, including case studies highlighting the successes of their microbial management program and kill-step technology in cultivations, and reports such as the newly released white paper which demonstrates the significant kill-rates and effectiveness of the WillowPure technology. The Company just launched its ROI Calculator with the intent to support the current climate of the industry, with cost savings calculations that are associated with proactive quality assurance.

Over the past several years, the Company has received widespread industry recognition for its numerous accomplishments, including being named one of Inc. 5000's Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America for two years in a row (2021-2022). Willow was also named a Gold Winner for Achievement in Product Innovation in the 2022 Titan Business Awards and ranked in the top 50 on the Financial Times list of the Americas' Fastest-Growing Companies.

About Willow Industries:

Willow Industries is the industry leader in cannabis kill step and post-harvest microbial decontamination technology. Founded in 2015 by CEO Jill Ellsworth, the company is built on one simple principle: cultivators should be equipped with resources to provide patients and consumers with consistently safe cannabis. Based in Denver, CO, Willow's services are currently available to all licensed cultivators in the United States and across the globe, where they implement an innovative and accessible leasing model that employs a holistic, turnkey approach for their partners. Their patented WillowPure systems use organic, ozone-based technology that is scientifically proven to reduce or eliminate contaminants such as yeast, mold and bacteria from cannabis, while protecting the medicinal properties of the plant. Willow's modern technology and in-house team of microbiology experts ensure cultivators employ best practices and quality control from start to finish. Willow Industries has been named one of Inc. 5000's Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America two years in a row and was recognized in the top 50 on the 2022 Financial Times' list of The Americas' Fastest-Growing Companies. For more information, visit WillowIndustries.com and follow on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and YouTube .

About GHP Magazine, a publication under AI Global Media

Global Health & Pharma ( https://www.ghp-news.com/ ) is a worldwide multi-disciplinary members community and information sharing platform, led by AI Global Media, a global publishing house which has been delivering engaging B2B content since 2010. Global Health & Pharma boasts an informative and engaging website, a compelling quarterly digital magazine, and a dedicated social media following, our aim is to enhance the communications and collaborative efforts across all fields within the three main categories of, Human, Animal & Environmental Health.

SOURCE Willow Industries
According to Exactitude Consultancy the Global Military Drone Market value is expected to reach USD 21.93 billion by 2029, growing at a 12.56% CAGR of Between Forecast Period 2023 and 2029.

PUNE, India, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Exactitude Consultancy, the market research and consulting wing of Ameliorate Digital Consultancy Private Limited has completed and published the final copy of the detailed research report on the Military Drone Market.

The global Military Drone Market Size is projected to reach USD 21.93 billion by 2029 from USD 9.30 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 12.56% from 2022 to 2029. The global COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and stunning, with military drones experiencing lower-than-anticipated request across all regions compared to pre-pandemic levels. Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a decline of 1.42% in 2021 as compared to 2020. The military drone is defined as a remotely piloted unmanned aerial system.

Military drones are used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition during battlefield operations. The market is projected to witness significant growth in the defense sector, owing to its high surveillance capability. The military drone market share is driven by factors such as battle damage management, combat operations, and delivery and transportation services across the globe. Militaries across the globe are procuring drones to support their combat missions. Growing demand to provide real-time images is also a propelling battle damage management application.

Key Industry Developments:

December 2021 - The South Korean government approved a proposal to domestically manufacture surveillance and reconnaissance drones by 2031. These drones are procured to improve the country's defense capabilities, particularly in the northwestern border islands.

The South Korean government approved a proposal to domestically manufacture surveillance and reconnaissance drones by 2031. These drones are procured to improve the country's defense capabilities, particularly in the northwestern border islands. November 2021 - Boeing planned to convert retired U.S. Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16 jet fighters into sophisticated unmanned and manned target drones. The value of the contract was USD 49.7 million .

Request Free Sample Copy of the Report:

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/13695/military-drone-market/#request-a-sample

Military Drone Market Overview

The military drone market has been growing rapidly over the past decade, driven by increasing demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat operations. Military drones, also known as unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), are remote-controlled or autonomous aircraft that can be equipped with a range of weapons and sensors.

The market is primarily driven by the rising demand for military drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, as well as the increasing adoption of drone technology for combat operations. In terms of type, the military drone market can be segmented into fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and hybrid drones. Fixed-wing drones are more commonly used for long-range missions and surveillance operations, while rotary-wing drones are better suited for close-range operations and combat scenarios. Hybrid drones combine the benefits of both fixed-wing and rotary-wing drones.

In terms of application, the military drone market can be segmented into intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), combat operations, target acquisition, and others. ISR is the largest application segment, accounting for a significant share of the market. Combat operations are also a key application area, with drones increasingly being used for airstrikes and other military operations.

The military drone market is dominated by a few major players, including General Atomics, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin, among others. These companies are investing heavily in research and development to improve the capabilities of their drones and are also expanding their production facilities to meet the growing demand for military drones around the world.

Overall, the military drone market is expected to continue growing in the coming years, driven by increasing demand for unmanned aerial vehicles for a range of military applications. However, the market is also facing challenges related to regulatory issues, safety concerns, and the need for skilled operators and maintenance personnel.

Report Attribute Details Military Drone Market size value in 2022 USD 9.30 billion Revenue forecast in 2029 USD 21.93 billion Market Growth rate CAGR of 12.56% from 2023 to 2029 Base year for estimation 2022 Historical data 2018 - 2020 Forecast period 2023 - 2029 Quantitative units Revenue in USD Million, volume in units, CAGR from 2023 to 2029 Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, trends Segments covered By Product Type, By Range, By Technology, By System, By Application, By Region. Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA Country scope U.S.; Canada; Mexico; Germany; France; Italy; U.K.; China; India; Japan; Brazil; Saudi Arabia Key companies profiled Lockheed Martin Corporation, Thales Group, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Israel Aerospace Industries, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Elbit Systems Ltd., Textron Inc., AeroVironment Inc., SAAB Group, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), Teledyne FLIR LLC, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Anduril Industries, Inc., Shield AI Inc., Animal Dynamics Ltd, Insitu, Asteria Aerospace Limited, Teal Drones, Inc., Aeronautics Group, Aeryon Labs Inc Customization scope Free report customization with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope.

Request a Free sample pages to learn more about this Military Drone Market report.

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Market Drivers

Rising Territorial Disputes to Propel the Growth of Military Drone Market

Nowadays, armed forces across the globe are focusing on strengthening their defense domain. Border security issues, as well as transnational security threats are responsible for increasing the defense expenditure of the emerging countries. The countries in Asia Pacific are undergoing border disputes. These countries are focusing on strengthening their defense security. China is mainly focusing on strengthening its defense domain. For instance, in 2019, the Government of China spent around USD 177.61 billion on the defense sector for the development of infrastructure facility of the armed forces and also to improve their combat capabilities. Similarly, India is also involved in spending a significant amount on its defense systems and infrastructure. In 2019, India spent around USD 61 billion on its defense sector.

Moreover, companies such as Lockheed Martin Corporation, Raytheon Company, and Northrop Grumman Corporation are looking forward to bagging contracts from the U.S. government. Government contracts are propelling the military UAV market growth during the review period.

Increasing Preference for Modern Warfare Techniques to Fuel Growth

The growing demand for the drone is estimated to accelerate over the forecast period due to the increasing need for military drone technology for surveillance as well as reconnaissance activities. Rising internal and external threats are compelling the government to use aerial imaging platforms to tackle the enemy-occupied areas and endorse public safety. Government agencies across the globe are supporting various drone manufacturers to develop high-tech drones for public safety. For instance, in December 2017, the French Defense Agency financed Eli stair's AirWatch project, a small drone-box used for aerial surveillance. This system supports law enforcement, crisis management, firefighting, and perimeter security.

Regional Analysis

North America is the largest market in the military drone and projected to be dominant throughout the review period. It would occur due to the rising investments in the field of military drone for developing high-tech drones to support several military applications. Increasing research and development (R&D) activities, coupled with venture capitalist activities in the field of UAVs are propelling the growth of the military drone market in the U.S. Besides, the increasing usage of military drones for border surveillance as well as maritime surveillance activities in countries such as the U.S. and Canada is projected to boost the market in North America.

Asia Pacific would also showcase considerable growth in the military UAVs and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is majorly attributed to the high demand for military drones from countries including China, India, and Japan. The Chinese military mainly focuses on the development of technologically advanced military drones to ensure the security of its widely spread international borders. Recently, Japan developed advanced UAVs for combat military operations. They are primarily used for ballistic missile tracking. Furthermore, the Indian government and the aerovironment collaborated to manufacture Raven, an advanced hand-launched drone. Increasing defense spending of armed forces in the region is also projected to boost the military UAV market revenue in this region during the forecast period.

The Middle East & Africa would also exhibit a lucrative opportunity for military drone. Israel is the largest exporter of military drones for the defense sector across the globe. In Turkey, increased deployment of UAVs and their sub-systems are anticipated to boost the market growth. South Africa is also adopting UAVs to carry out surveillance activities. The growing demand for rotary-wing drones for military applications in the region would also propel market growth. In Latin America, Mexico is developing a military drone that will be used to monitor forest fires. This, increasing usage of UAVs in the region for security mission would help in the growth of the market.

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Key Market Segments: Military Drone Market

Military Drone Market By Product Type, 2022-2029, (USD Billion)

Fixed Wing

Hybrid

Rotary Wing

Military Drone Market By Range 2022-2029, (USD Billion)

Extended Visual Line of Sight (EVLOS)

Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)

Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS)

Others

Military Drone Market By Technology, 2022-2029, (USD Billion)

Remotely Operated Drones

Semi-Autonomous Drones

Autonomous Drones

Military Drone Market By System, 2022-2029, (USD Billion)

Airframe

Avionics

Propulsion

Payloads

Software

Others

Military Drone Market By Application, 2022-2029, (USD Billion)

Intelligence, Surveillance Reconnaissance and Targeting (ISRT)

Combat Operations

Logistics & Transportation

Battle Damage Management

Others

Military Drone Market By Regions, 2022-2029, (USD Billion)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

South America

Middle East and Africa

Frequently Asked Questions About This Report

How big is the Military Drone Market?

What is the Military Drone Market growth?

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Four traders book cross-section for electricity export to Moldova at first auction after its resumption

NPC Ukrenergo held the first auction for the distribution of the capacity of interstate networks for the export of electricity to Moldova on the day of delivery on April 11 after its resumption on Friday, April 8.

"According to the results of the auction, 51% (330 out of 650 MW) of all available network bandwidth in this direction was distributed among four participants," the company reported on its Telegram channel on Monday.

According to the Ukrenergo auction platform, the state-owned energy trader ECU booked the most capacity  150 MW per hour. In addition, PrJSC Ukrhydroenergo booked 100 MW of section per hour, D. Trading 50 MW each, and Artlex-Energy 30 MW each.

The price of the section was UAH 0 per MW.

As Ukrenergo said, an auction will be held on Monday for the distribution of 80 MW of interstate cross-section capacity towards Poland on the delivery date of April 12.

In addition, the possibility of opening exports to Slovakia is being agreed.

"Given the war in Ukraine and the risks associated with it, access to interstate sections is distributed only for a short period at daily auctions," Ukrenergo said.
Tehran, April 10 : Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has called on Muslim states to form a "united and consistent" front in support of the Palestinians against Israel.

In a phone conversation with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Raisi said that Iran and Algeria share common stances on regional and international affairs, particularly the Palestine issue and the protection of the Palestinians' rights, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement posted on the website of the Iranian President's office.

The Algerian President said that he hoped that "Palestine would be liberated from the Israelis through cooperation among Muslim states".

The phone conversation followed last week's escalation of tension along the Israeli borders with Lebanon and the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip. Militants from southern Lebanon and Gaza fired rockets at Israel, while Israel responded with airstrikes.

The latest round of escalation followed Israeli raids earlier last week at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, a flashpoint holy site in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli police clashed with dozens of Palestinian worshippers. The Israeli police said "dozens of law-breaking youths" attempted to barricade themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque "to incite riots".
Tehran, April 10 : A technical team from Iran will "probably" travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to prepare for the reopening of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh.

Iran's Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday that the team would visit the building of the Iranian embassy and prepare the ground for its reopening, Xinhua news agency reported.

Alireza Enayati, a Director General of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, confirmed that an Iranian technical delegation will visit Saudi Arabia "this week" to do the preliminary work for the embassy's reopening, without giving the exact date of the trip, the Iran Press news agency on Sunday reported.

On Saturday, a technical delegation from Saudi Arabia arrived in Iran to assess the situation and discuss the procedures for the reopening of the Saudi embassy and consulate general in the country, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signed a joint statement in Beijing, announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 in response to the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric.
Cairo, April 10 : Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has called for an end to all forms of terrorism and foreign "interference" in Syria in order to restore its security and stability.

During a phone call with the United Nations Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen, the top Egyptian diplomat reiterated Egypt's full support for Pedersen's efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement in Syria, in line with Security Council Resolution 2254, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

For his part, the UN envoy thanked Egypt for its contribution and ongoing support in resolving the Syrian crisis.

Shoukry and Pedersen also discussed ways to alleviate the sufferings of the Syrian people, according to the statement.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Lucknow, April 10 : A police constable has been arrested in Lucknow for allegedly sexually assaulting a research scholar from Gautam Buddha Nagar on the pretext of marriage.

Police officials said the accused constable, Vivek Singh, was arrested from near Avadh Bus Stand on the Ayodhya Road.

He was trying to escape after an FIR was lodged against him under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 376 (rape) and 383 (blackmailing), and certain sections of the Information Technology Act for misusing technology to harass and blackmail the woman at Vibhuti Khand police station.

Vibhuti Khand station inspector in-charge (IIC) said the constable, a resident of Mathura, and the complainant met for the first time nearly seven years ago in 2016.

The complainant alleged that the constable had promised to marry her and made sexual relations with her.

The constable also took objectionable videos and photos of her.

According to the complainant, the constable married another woman in December last year.

As she objected to the marriage, the constable allegedly threatened her to make her private photos public.

The police official said the constable was suspended soon after the FIR was lodged against him.
Lucknow, April 10 : The cyber cell of Lucknow police has arrested a Nigerian national and his two aides from Delhi for duping man of Rs 1.38 crore on the pretext of sending a parcel.

Police officials said that the gang comprising Esowanne Emeka, Edward Pradhan and Chetan Nimbu has duped over 100 persons across the country using the same modus operandi.

DCP Central Zone, Aparna Rajat Kaushik, said that the cyber cell got involved in the case after a Madeyganj resident Naveen Singh Samuel lodged an FIR of being duped of Rs 1.38 crore.

The victim, in his FIR, alleged that he had got a call on August 4, 2022, and was told that a parcel from Poland had been sent in his name.

The caller introduced himself as John, a Customs officer.

The victim contacted Felix Warsaw of Poland and the latter told him that he was very much influenced with the religious events which he had been organising and uploading on YouTube and that he was sending the parcel as a gift.

After this, the 'Customs officer' called the victim and told him that the parcel contained one million pound and gold.

The fake officer then asked the victim to pay taxes and fees, and took Rs 1.38 crore in different bank accounts.

Police said that Emeka had been staying in India illegally ever since his study visa expired.
New Delhi, April 10 : Manipur is a beautiful and fascinating state in northeastern India, It is abundant in natural splendour and beauty. The state exemplifies Indian natural beauty, making it a great tourist destination.

On April 15, the 59th Femina Miss India competition grand finale will be held at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium in Imphal, Manipur, and will be sponsored by the Manipur Tourism Department with co-presentation by VLCC & Trends. If you are travelling to Manipur for the Grand Finale, take a chance and visit these sites to experience the splendour of pristine nature.

Loktak Lake This is the only floating lake in the world and the biggest freshwater lake in north-eastern India. Bhumia and Sendra are two of the few islands in the lake. Additionally, this lake is the location of the Keibul National Park. The best time to experience a sublime boat ride on the lake is at sunset. It defines the beauty of the city at its best.

Kangla Fort On the banks of the Imphal River, in a location sometimes known as the Palace of Kangla, King Pakhangba had his regal residence. This fort has been available for public observation since 2003. Due to its historical and archaeological value, it is a popular tourist destination and the entry fee to the fort is very pocket-friendly.

Singda Dam The Singda Dam is the tallest mud dam in the world. Singda is situated at a height of about metres above sea level and is 16 kilometres from the capital city of Imphal. With its picturesque views and relative peace, it is a well-liked picnic location.

Langthabal Langthabal, one of the city's top tourist destinations, is well known for its majestic temples and ancient structures. A must-see among the magnificent architectural wonders is the jackfruit and pine plantations.

Shri Govindjee Temple One of Manipur's most important temples, built in the Nagara architectural style, is located close to the royal palace. Along with Shree Govindajee, it is dedicated to a number of other Hindu deities, including Krishna, Balaram, Jagannath, Subhadra, etc.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
By firing missiles at Zaporizhia on Palm Sunday, Russia is putting itself in even greater isolation from humanity, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address on Sunday, April 9.

"Tonight, the Russian army shelled Zaporizhia with S-300 missiles. They hit a house, an apartment building. Three people were inside. A man, a woman and a child - a girl, her name was Iryna, she would have turned 11 this year. She died. The man died too. My condolences... The woman is in critical condition, in the hospital, she is being provided with medical care. This is how the terrorist state spends this Palm Sunday," he said.

According to Zelenskyy, "Russia puts itself in even greater isolation from the world, from humanity. Every bright Christian holiday teaches us that we may not know how, but we must be sure that evil will lose."

"And we believe. We must bring the defeat of evil closer. And we are bringing it closer. And the world stands with us. Every month, every week, support is increased, the circle of those who support us, who support our grit and our faith in life, increases," the president said.
New Delhi, April 10 : Every Indian state celebrates a variety of festivals, but you should travel to these cities if you want to participate in some of the festivals in their most genuine form. IANSlife has put together a list of renowned Indian festival locations that you shouldn't miss.

Independence Day in Wagah Border, Punjab There is no area on earth that can foster a stronger sense of patriotism than the Wagah border in Punjab, which has produced numerous independence fighters for India. Since 1959, a ritual known as the Wagah Attari has been held every day at the border between India and Pakistan. This festival features numerous activities where attendees can listen to dancing music and patriotic music. Standing at the Wagah border and singing the national anthem is a memorable experience.

Dusshera In Mysore The festival of Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, is observed for one day across the rest of India, but it is observed for ten days in Mysore. Mysore celebrates Dussehra with such a great event that on the final day of the celebration, the grand throne of the court is put in Durbar Hall for public sight. Mysore Palace is also illuminated with one million light bulbs. The goddess Chamundeshwari's idol is worshipped by the Mysore royal family, and afterward, she is paraded through the streets atop an elephant. A torchlight parade, laser shows, a rally of vintage cars, and a shopping festival are also held in Mysore to commemorate this occasion.

Holi in Uttar Pradesh Everyone loves this celebration of hues very much. In cities, this festival is observed with dance, DJs, and Bhaang in addition to people dousing each other with colour and having water guns and water balloon fights. But if you want to take part in 'Braj Ki Holi' and enjoy this holiday in a special way, go to Barsana in Uttar Pradesh. Holi is performed with flowers in Vrindavan, and you absolutely must experience this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Diwali in Varanasi While Diwali is grandly observed throughout India, Uttar Pradesh's Dev Deepawali stands out from the rest. After 15 days of Diwali, Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali, a time when tens of thousands of worshippers bathe in the Ganga to worship the goddess Ganga. Because it commemorates Lord Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasor, this celebration is also referred to as Tripotsav. Every devotee who visits Varanasi ghat during these festivals performs the "Deepdaan" rite to pray to the goddess while the stairs are decked with Diyas. You will feel as though stars have fallen from the sky as you gaze at the mesmerising view of the Ganga Aarti ritual that takes place in the evening.

Onam In Kerala Onam is Kerala's own festival if Kerala is God's own nation. Kerala is the only place to experience Onam in its purest form. During this event, which welcomes the great Mahabali, homes are decked with flowers, and each Keralite prepares an extravagant 13-course banquet. With customary activities like the Kathakali dance, snake boat race, clap dance, and puli kali parade, where performers dress as tigers and hunters, this celebration gets more exciting.

Christmas In Goa Goa is the finest spot to celebrate Christmas because of its laid-back and festive atmosphere and 400 or so churches there. There is no other destination like Goa to see well-lit alleys around Christmas, whether you attend midnight liturgies, see a stunning fireworks display, enjoy handcrafted chocolate, or attend a Christmas Eve dance party.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
New York, April 10 : An Indian-American lawmaker serving in the Tennessee House of Representatives has said that a recently-expelled Democrat hurled a racial slur at him, calling him the "brown face of Indian supremacy".

Sabi Kumar, 75, told Fox News that during a debate in the statehouse, Democrat Justin Jones, 27, shoved his finger in his face and said: "Kumar, they will never accept you." The remarks against Kumar came just before the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel Reps Jones and Justin Pearson from the Legislature for their role in a protest calling for gun control after a shooting at a private school in Nashville that killed six people.

"I have been here for 53 years, and I have practice surgery. I have lived in Tennessee for 46 years, and people have been extremely kind to me. I was really surprised, and that these things should not happen, especially in a place where people are constantly guarding the values in such a way that discrimination and racism does not occur," Kumar said at the 'Tucker Carlson' show.

Fox News reported that Jones was sanctioned for using a bullhorn when he joined with protesters, which State House leaders called "disorderly behaviour".

President Joe Biden criticised the move in a tweet, 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." Responding to Jones' charge during the debate, Kumar said having lived in the country for 53 years, he never faced a racial slur.

"I live a good life, yet you, on tape, called me a brown face," Kumar told Jones.

"You shove your finger in my face and said Kumar they will never accept you. You said it twice... You have insulted your colleagues. You have insulted the House of Representatives... You have insulted our speaker you have personally insulted me." He finished his statement by calling Jones "a talented young man" who has "a lot to offer".

"...it's sad what you just stated to me, and that's what this is really about. He said 'You see everything under the lens of race, when you join this body, you should just become one of us. Just assimilate", Jones said in response to Kumar.

Kumar, the only non-white member of the Republican caucus, immigrated to the US from India in 1970, working as a surgeon in Miami from 1971 to 1977 after which he moved to Springfield.

Currently the Chairman of the House Insurance Committee, Kumar won the Tennessee House of Representatives' 66th district in 2014, and has represented it since then.
Meerut : , April 10 (IANS) A 45-year-old man set his ancestral house on fire on after his wife left him along with three minor children over his drinking habit.

According to police, Ashwani Sharma, a resident of Ravindrapuri locality, was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

He lives on the first floor of the two-storey building and sustained minor burn injuries as he was trying to escape while his brother Amit and other family members living on the ground floor are safe.

Krishan Kumar Maurya, sub inspector (Sadar Bazaar), said, "Ashwani works as a truck driver and is an alcoholic. He had an argument with his wife Vijita following which she left home and also took the kids along." Maurya said, "During questioning, Ashwani said that he had called his wife and asked her to come back. But instead, she replied, 'I don't care even if you set the house on fire'. Upset over this, he threw burnt matchsticks on the bed which soon turned into a massive blaze. Fire tenders were called to douse the flames." Superintendent of Police (city), Piyush Kumar, said, "So far, no complaint has been received against him. We will produce him before the court so that the court can bound him down under section 107 (security for keeping the peace in other cases) and 116 (inquiry as to the truth of information) of the CrPC."
New Delhi, April 10 : After getting disqualified from the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be visiting his constituency, Wayanad on Tuesday where he will hold a roadshow.

The Congress is putting in all its efforts to give him a grand welcome and make it a show of strength.

Gandhi's appeal on the conviction will be heard on April 13 at the Surat court.

He is on bail, which was extended by the Sessions Court in Gujarat. The court will hear his appeal against conviction in the case on April 13.

On March 23, a lower court in Surat found him guilty of defaming the entire Modi community in a case filed by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi. The former Congress president was subsequently disqualified from the Lok Sabha under a rule that bars convicted MPs from holding Lok Sabha membership.

Gandhi was given the maximum 2-year jail term for his offence, but the sentence was suspended for 30 days for him to file an appeal against the order. If the conviction is not overturned, he will be disqualified from contesting elections for the next eight years.
Miami, April 10 : Three people and a suspect died following a domestic violence incident and officer-involved shooting in the city of Orlando located in US' Florida state, police said.

Orlando police said that they responded to a private residence at the 600 block of Grand Street in reference to a domestic violence incident at approximately 2.25 a.m. on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Officers heard shots from inside the house after arrival. The suspect came out of the house and shot at officers, who returned fire.

The suspect was transported to the hospital and was confirmed dead.

Three people, including a child, were found with gunshot wounds and confirmed dead.

The two officers involved were not injured and will be on paid administrative leave.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will conduct an independent review of the incident, followed by the state attorney's office.

The Orlando Police Department said that it will also conduct its own internal investigation.

The Department added that officers did have their body-worn cameras on during the incident and video of the incident will be made available within 30 days.

"What a horrific, tragic situation. Sending support to the family members of the victims, as well as the officers, who were thankfully unharmed." Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer tweeted.

Gun violence is rampant across the US, with shootings occurring frequently.

More than 11,380 people have lost their lives to gun-related incidents so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

In Delaware state, state police are investigating a shooting at the Christiana Mall that occurred on Saturday evening. Officers responded and located three victims with gunshot wounds in the vicinity of the food court.

Five other individuals sustained various injuries not related to gunfire during the incident.

It has not been confirmed how many suspects were involved at this time. Investigators are working to identify the suspects.

The incident is determined to be a result of an altercation between several suspects and at least one of the victims.
Los Angeles, April 10 : Actress Halle Berry has heated up the Internet over the weekend by sharing a photograph of her drinking wine while getting naked on a balcony.

The picture was shared on Instagram. In the caption of the post, the 56-year-old simply wrote: "I do what i wanna do. Happy Saturday." The post has since been flooded with comments from fellow celebrities.

Among them were Halle Bailey and Lena Waithe, who both sent out clapping hand emojis. Kelly Rowland said: "YES!!!!" while Jenna Dewan chimed in "Wow!", reports aceshowbiz.com.

This is not the first time Berry shared a picture like this.

In March, the 'Catwoman' star unleashed bathroom mirror selfies in which she posed with her hands across her breasts.

She captioned it: "Mump day self love."
Kolkata, April 10 : In an effort to accelerate the pace of its probe in the multi-crore teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has decided to add seven more officers in the existing Special Investigation Team (SIT).

According to sources, the additional officers have been asked to report immediately to the CBI's anti-corruption wing (ACW) office at Nizam Palace in Kolkata.

The officers comprise one superintendent, three deputy superintendents, two inspectors and one sub-inspector. They are currently posted in the CBI's offices at Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Dhanbad, Bhopal and Visakhapatnam.

Sources said that initially they will be attached to the SIT probing the matter for few months and depending on the progress of the probe, their attachment period might be extended in due course of time.

In the recent period, the CBI has faced the wrath of the judges of different courts pertaining to the slow pace of investigation by the agency in relation to the scam.

The present decision to add to the strength of SIT probing the matter is being viewed as a visible attempt to add pace to the investigation.

With this new induction, the total number of members in the SIT will increase to 15.

Sources said that the SIT had recently sent a report to the agency's headquarter at New Delhi about the progress of the investigation in the matter.

In the report, it was argued that since more and more new names were surfacing in the course of the investigation there is an urgent necessity to add strength in the SIT.

Finally, that submission was accepted by the agency's higher authorities.

Recently, as many as eight officers attached to different units under the West Bengal education department have come under the scanner of CBI.

The central agency has decided to summon them shortly one by one for the purpose of interrogation.
Davangere : , April 10 (IANS) The Karnataka forest department continued with its operation 'lone tusker' on Monday to trap and catch the tusker which killed a girl student and injured five persons last week.

The forest department is planning to rope in six elephants from Monday in the operation. About 150 personnel, including ten teams each comprising ten staff members are being pressed into service.

Experts in the field of drones and elephants have been called from Bengaluru. The team is launching operations based on the traces of footprints of the tusker in the region.

The authorities have asked the villagers of the region not to venture out in the night and stop going to their farmlands for a few days. They have also asked the villagers not to follow the team while the operation is going on as it proves to be independent.

The tusker has thrown the life out of gear in Somlapura, Kashipura villages of Channagiri taluq. The tusker has been creating menace in the region and attacking people.
Chennai, April 10 : With a good yield in the Salem orchards this season, the price of mangoes is likely to fall in comparison to the previous season when the rates of the fruit were much high.

Jayapal of the Salem mango traders association told IANS: "The price of mangoes is likely to fall by a minimum of 10 per cent. There is a good crop this season from the Salem orchards and the fruit will flood the Tamil Nadu market by mid-April leading to fall in prices." Several varieties of mangoes like "Salem Bangalora", "Senthoora", "Imampasand" and the highly variety of the South Indian "Alphonsa" will also flood the market at the same time.

Mango farmers in Salem, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts are cultivating another North Indian variety, "Kesar", in addition to the above mentioned one.

Other than a good crop, farmers are also expecting an extended season this year due to the flowering patterns.

"Presently, the Salem market is sending 20 tonnes of mangoes per day to various parts of Tamil Nadu. In the coming days, the number will touch 100 tonnes a day and this will be a good season for both the farmers as well as consumers," Jayapal told IANS.

Mangoes harvested in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri are mainly used for pulp production, while Salem mangoes are the most sought after ones.

The farmers in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts will commence mango pulp production from April 14 -- 'Chithirai Thirunal' day which is considered an auspicious day for commencing any new venture.

Even as there is a huge demand for mangoes in the export market, the wholesale traders are not interested as they are not able to cater to even the domestic market.
Beijing, April 10 : Two prominent Chinese activists have been jailed for subversion after more than three years in detention, according to media reports.

The wife of lawyer Ding Jiaxi tweeted that he was handed a 12-year jail term by a court in Shandong province, the BBC reported.

She added that the other activist, legal scholar Xu Zhiyong, was jailed for 14 years.

Their closed-door trial took place in June 2022.

They were separately detained in 2019 and 2020 as part of a sprawling crackdown on legal activists.

In 2010, Ding and Xu co-founded the New Citizens' Movement, which campaigns for civil rights and government transparency.

The pair were first arrested in 2013 for their roles in protests calling for equal social and educational benefits for migrant workers in Beijing, the BBC reported.

"The Chinese people are still living in a state of political oppression, economic control, and ideological enslavement," said Ding in a statement published shortly before the verdict.

"I have faced many doubts, encountered many difficulties, and suffered many setbacks. I have personally been tortured. None of this will change my steadfast philosophy." Earlier in February, Chinese police detained at least five activists who supported recent mass protests in two major cities against the slashing of retirees' medical insurance benefits earlier this month, Radio Free Asia reported.

Among those detained was veteran rights activist Zhang Hai, who was picked up by authorities in the southern city of Shenzhen, a resident of Wuhan who gave only the surname Zhang said.

"One of five people detained in connection with the silver protests was Zhang Hai -- I heard he was detained in Shenzhen," the woman said.

"There was also a 23-year-old man who was detained for singing The Internationale with some older people." The detentions come after thousands of people took to the streets of Wuhan and Dalian on February 15 in a second mass protest over major cuts to their medical benefits, RFA reported.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said NATO can guarantee the protection of the international order only together with Ukraine.

"The Lithuanian Seimas recognized the need to invite Ukraine to become a member of NATO. This year at the summit in Vilnius. Only together with Ukraine, the alliance will guarantee real protection in Europe from any encroachment on the lives of peoples, on existing borders, an international order based on rules," he said in a video address on Saturday, April 8.

"Without Ukraine, it is difficult to imagine resilience. This decision will be continued in the coming weeks and months. We are working on it," he said.

According to him, "the values for which we are all fighting here in Ukraine are close to every nation, regardless of whether they are geographically far from our people."

"Everyone values security and protection from terror. There is no people who would approve of what the Russian occupation brought: Russian concentration camps, the deportation of our children, the rape of women, the burning of cities... The more the world knows about Russian aggression, the sooner the aggressor will lose, and peace will return. It will return not only to Ukraine, it will return to everyone in the world," Zelenskyy said.
Toronto, April 10 : Canadian police have arrested a 28 year-old man in a hate-motivated incident at a mosque in Ontario, and charged him for yelling threats and religious slurs at the worshippers.

Sharan Karunakaran drove directly at one of the worshippers, and yelled threats and religious slurs.

He then drove dangerously in the parking lot before leaving the property, witnesses told police.

The York Regional Police said they responded to a call for a disturbance at a mosque on Denison Street, Markham, on April 6.

The suspect was identified and a warrant for his arrest was issued while efforts were made to locate him.

Shortly after midnight, on April 7, members of York Regional Police arrested the suspect in Toronto with assistance from the Intelligence Unit and Hate Crime Unit.

Karunakaran was held for a bail hearing, and his next scheduled appearance is at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in the Town of Newmarket on April 11.

Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng slammed the incident, saying hate crime had no place in Canadian society.

"Deeply disturbed to hear of the violent hate crimes and racist behaviour at the Islamic Society of Markham. This violence and Islamophobia has no place in our communities or in Canada," she said in a tweet.

"We will continue to take action so that everyone feels safe in this country and remain committed to combating this despicable behaviour."
New Delhi, April 10 : Looking to travel and explore new places? Try Yunnan Province in China.

Located in the southwest of China, Yunnan is known for its stunning natural scenery, rich cultural heritage, and delicious cuisine, making it a must-visit destination for any traveller.

The name Yunnan literally means "South of the Clouds". It denotes the location as south of the Yun Range (Yun-ling Mountain, "Cloudy Mountains").

The place is also home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, each with their own unique customs and traditions. Visitors can experience the rich cultural heritage of the region by exploring ancient towns, traditional markets, and local festivals. Some of the must-visit places include Dali Ancient Town, Lijiang Ancient Town, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple.

Yunnan is also home to many natural wonders, including snow-capped Meili Snow Mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, famous Tiger Leaping Gorge, Xishuangbanna Rainforest, and the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites Yuanyang Rice terraces.

The province has several national parks, such as the Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park, as well as the Three Parallel Rivers National Park, Shangri-La Potatso National Park, etc.

Yunnan Province in China may be small, accounting for less than 4 per cent of the country's total land area, but it's home to an incredible array of biodiversity. In fact, Yunnan is a crucial habitat for around 42.6 per cent of all protected plant species and 72.5 per cent of all protected wild animals in China. What's more, 15 per cent of these species are strictly endemic to Yunnan, making it a must-visit destination for any wildlife lover.

One of the most exciting things about Yunnan is its cuisine, which is known for its bold flavours and fresh ingredients. The province's diverse geography has led to a wide variety of dishes, from spicy and sour flavours in the southeast to hearty stews in the northwest. Some of the must-try dishes include the famous Yunnan rice noodles, milk fan (Yunnan cheese), Yunnan rose cake and delicious wild mushrooms.

How to travel? Flights are available from major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata to Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan. Kolkata and Kunming are sister cities, and are located relatively close to each other. Once in Kunming, visitors can easily explore the rest of the province by taking a bus, high-speed train, or domestic flight.

When to travel? Yunnan is suitable to visit all year round. While spring and summer are best to see the flora and fauna, during autumn and winter visitors can see snow-capped mountains and peaks.

Overall, Yunnan Province is a fascinating and unique destination that offers something for every traveller. From cultural experiences to natural wonders and delicious cuisine, Yunnan is the perfect place to add to your travel bucket list. So why not start planning your trip today and discover the magic of Yunnan for yourself?
Kolkata, April 10 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to make a visit to West Bengal this weekend in the wake of the forthcoming three-tier panchayat elections in the state, BJP sources said.

A member of the state committee of BJP said that the Minister is likely to arrive in Kolkata on Friday morning after which he is expected to attend a rallt in Birbhum.

"In the afternoon, he is scheduled to return to Kolkata and later in the evening, Shah is expected to have a meeting with the state BJP core committee members. The next day he is scheduled to offer prayers at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple and will return to Delhi later," the member said.

He added that in the recent past, a number of scheduled trip of the Union Home Minister had been cancelled at the last moment.

"But we are hopeful that he will visit this time finally. He is expected to give directions to the state party leaders of the strategy in view of the panchayat polls this year as well as the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," the state committee member said.

Political observers feel that the choice of Birbhum as the proposed venue for the rally is quite interesting.

It comes in the absence of the Trinamool Congress's district president Anubrata Mondal, who is currently lodged at the Tihar Jail for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam in West Bengal.

In the backdrop of the development, the saffron camp has decided to focus on this district, the observers noted.

Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari has already expressed confidence of the BJP winning both the Lok Sabha constituencies in Birbhum next year.
Srinagar, April 10 : Union minister of road transport and national highways, Nitin Gadkari reached Sonamarg on Monday along with J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and members of Parliament to visit the site of the Zojila tunnel and to inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel on Srinagar-Leh highway.

Gadkari is scheduled to throw open the Z-Morh tunnel that will make Sonamarg tourist resort an all weather destination.

The Zojila Tunnel, which will connect the Ladakh region with the rest of the country, will remain open year round and is likely to be completed by 2026.

Gadkari will also address the MPs, who are part of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of ministry of roads and highways (MORTH).

The Union Minister will review progress of work on the National Highways and Roads in the Union Territory of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir at a high-level meeting Monday.

He will brief the Parliamentary Consultative Committee members on the number of works of MORTH, including National Highways and major roads going on in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

On April 11, Gadkari accompanied by the Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Dr. Jitendra Singh will visit Banihal-Ramban stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and inspect progress of the work.

They will also inspect the site for construction of Intermodal Station (IMS) at holy town of Katra in Reasi district and Katra-Delhi Expressway in the afternoon.

Gadkari will return to New Delhi in the afternoon of April 11.
Hyderabad, April 10 : Dozens of passengers were stranded at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here on Monday after four flights of Alliance Air were cancelled.

Passengers who reached the airport in the morning for flights to Tirupati, Bengaluru, Vijayawada and Mysuru were shocked to know that they had been cancelled.

The flyers complained that the airline did not provide them with prior information about the cancellation.

Airline officials informed the passengers that the flights were cancelled due to operational reasons and assured to refund them.

It also cancelled the flights from Chennai, Bengalauru, Tirupati and Mysuru to Hyderabad.

The cancelled flights are 9I 877 HYD TO TIR, 9I 895 HYD TO BLR, 9I 888 HYD TO VGA, 9I 847 HYD TO MYQ 9I 872 MAA TO HYD, 9I 878 TIR TO HYD, 9I 896 BLR TO HYD, 9I 848 MYQ TO HYD.
New Delhi, April 10 : The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine on April 14, a plea for alternative arrangement for 'wuzu' for worshippers at Gyanvapi mosque, Varanasi. The plea said that due to Ramazan, the number of worshippers have increased.

Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi mentioned the matter on behalf of Muslim side before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud.

The bench told Ahmadi that this is a procedural issue. The counsel requested the court to hear the matter on Monday and said "the water for wuzu is being used for a drum. There are more worshippers due to Ramazan." He further added that he is insisting because of Ramazan. However, the Chief Justice said it would be difficult for Justice Surya Kant, who was part of the earlier bench, to join for hearing. After hearing brief submissions, the bench said it will hear the matter on April 14.

In November last year, the apex court had extended the protection of the area inside Gyanvapi mosque, where a 'Shivling' was found, till further orders.

The top court had said the interim order passed in May 2022, in connection with the protection of the area inside Gyanvapi mosque where a 'Shivling' was found, during a survey, will remain in operation till further orders.

Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Varanasi, in its plea, contended the ablution area of the mosque where the "said object" has been found which, the petitioner maintains, is in fact a part of an old fountain. The plea further added that it was sealed by the district authorities and remains sealed till date, and the washroom alongside the same also remains sealed.

The plea contended that it has created inconvenience for the worshippers where they are deprived of the wuzukhana needed for offering namaz as well as the washroom. It pointed that the door to access the washroom was through the ablution area and the same remains sealed.
Mumbai, April 10 : Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, known to be one of the fittest actors of his generation, is often lauded by the audience for his youthful looks at the age of 66. The actor once again left the audience stunned when he worked out in subzero temperature.

The 'Parinda' actor recently posted videos in which he was seen working out in minus 110 degree Celcius with the help of an oxygen mask.

Anil is currently busy with his next film 'Fighter' which also stars Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Akshay Oberoi, and he is not leaving any stone unturned to achieve the desired fitness levels for the film since it's an action film and demands a lot physically from actors.

In the video, Anil Kapoor is seen undergoing cryotherapy. He can be seen working out shirtless in an enclosed area with temperatures that are unfathomable. In the second video, the actor also showed a thumbs-up sign while jumping and jogging. He wrote in the caption: "Naughty at 40 ka time gaya...its time to be Sexy at 60...#fightermodeon." Soon after Anil posted the video, members of the film fraternity and his fans flooded the comments section with appreciation for the actor's dedication and single point focus to excel at such an age.

Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma, who was recently seen in 'Zwigato', wrote: "Wah wah wah. mujhe b karna hai." Actress Tisca Chopra commented: 'Wow." A fan wrote: "Did I just read -110 or I need to get my eyes checked."
Chennai, April 10 : The Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday adopted a resolution urging the Union government and the President to 'fix a time frame' for the Governors to give assent to bills that were passed by the House.

The resolution was moved after suspending certain provisions of rule 92(7) and 287 of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly. The special resolution which needs 3/4th of the votes to be moved in the House was allowed by the Speaker with 144 of the 146 members in the house voting for it.

The AIADMK walked out of the House while BJP MLAs, C. Saraswathi and M.R. Gandhi voted against the resolution.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin while moving the resolution lashed out against the Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi and said that the Governor was making it a habit to speak against the state government whenever the Prime Minister was in the state or when he (Stalin) was in New Delhi.

Stalin, while speaking in the House, said, "I don't want to give a point-by-point rebuttal to the Governor and make the House a political forum. But we can't remain mute spectators, if the Governor attempts to disturb the House with political intent." He also said, "Two resolutions had to be moved against the Governor in a single budget session. Governor has created the compulsion by acting with political intent. Those who must realise it must realise it. This will be the day for realisation. Governor is not ready to be a friend of the people of Tamil Nadu." The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said, "I will not say that the Governor does not know the Constitution. But his political loyalty has superseded his loyalty to the Constitution. Hence he is publicly criticising the policies of the government in violation of the Supreme Court orders."
Chennai, April 10 : Three FIDE rated senior players, who were "illegally barred" from playing in the Tirunelveli District Selection tournament on Sunday, are now planning to take up the issue with the All India Chess Federation (AICF).

Several chess players across the country expressed their anguish on hearing about the ban on the three seniors, and went on to suggest that the tournament be scrapped and held again while action be taken against the "arrogant official".

"We were advised to complain to the AICF Players Council and also to the AICF Ethics Committee. We will be doing that. We would want the tournament to be held again," Merryston David Scanny told IANS.

The three players - M Karunakaran (68 years), V Palanikumar (58) and Scanny (48 years) - were not allowed to play in the Tirunelveli District Selection tournament at the last minute on Sunday for playing in private tournaments by B Paulkumar, Secretary, Tirunelveli District Chess Development Association (TDCDA).

The three had also lodged a police complaint against Paulkumar for his "illegal act".

When contacted TDCDA Secretary Paulkumar told IANS on Sunday: "The three players have been playing in tournaments held in Tenkasi. So how can they be considered as Tirunelveli District players?" Asked if they had played in any Tenkasi District selection tournament or if there is any rule whereby chess players are not allowed to play in private tournaments, Paulkumar disconnected the call.

All the three players told IANS that they had played in private tournaments held in Tenkasi and not any selection tournament held by the Tenkasi District Association.

Several chess players were of the view that action should be taken against Paulkumar and also against the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association (TNSCA) for allowing such an act to happen again.

Based on the news reports, views expressed by Paulkumar, the AICF should even send a notice to TNSCA suo moto as this has been happening regularly.

In 2019, Paulkumar had barred then 11-year-old Karthik Rahul from playing in a tournament midway on the grounds that he had played in a private tournament.

The act was in clear violation of the CCI orders and AICF rules.

Tamil Nadu State Chess Association (TNSCA) Secretary Stephen Balasamy P had then told IANS: "There is no differentiation between recognised and unrecognised tournaments. Players are free to take part in any chess tournament." However, the TNSCA did not take any action against him.

Chess tournament organisers told IANS that Paulkumar bans players if they participate in some private tournaments.

The AICF has cancelled recognitions to several state chess associations and has allowed ad hoc organisations to manage affairs and the same should be done with regard to TNSCA for turning a blind eye on the anti-player actions of the district associations, was also one of the views expressed by players.

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in)
Kolkata, April 10 : After almost five days of continuous a rail and road blockade in different tribal-dominated pockets of West Bengal in support of their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, members of the Kurmi community on Monday finally withdrew their agitation.

On Sunday evening, protesters at Kustaur in Purulia district withdrew their agitation leading to the complete pull back on Monday morning.

Although the agitators at Khemasuli in West Midnapore, which was the epicentre of the agitation, on Sunday said that they would continue, they also finally called off the strike on Monday.

A communication was sent from the secretariat, Nabanna, that the state government is willing to enter into a discussion with the Kurmi leaders regarding the latter's demand.

Soon after that the agitation programme was called off, it was also decided that a five-member delegation from the community will go to Nabanna soon for discussions.

Following the development, people in the tribal-dominated districts of Purulia, West Midnapore and Bankura heaved a sigh of relief as the continuous rail and road blockade had made commuting extremely difficult.

Several trains, which included some long-distance ones, had to be cancelled during the last five days.

The routes were either diverted or curtailed during the period.

The Kurmi community had been agitating in support of its long-standing demand for recognition under the ST category.

Their main grievance is that the West Bengal Cultural Research Institute, a state government body that works for indigenous tribes, is yet to recognise the Kurmis as representatives of primitive tribes.

Representatives of the community have alleged that the reluctance of the Institute as well as the state government to send a comprehensive report in this matter to the Centre is hampering the process of recognition of the Kurmis.
Polish AHS Krab self-propelled howitzers showed themselves well in combat, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny has said.

"Our soldiers quickly mastered Western technology, moreover, they have experience that is valuable for partners and weapons manufacturers," Zaluzhny said on his Telegram channel.

He also quoted Volodymyr, a member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who said Ukrainian soldiers provide recommendations to manufacturers of self-propelled howitzers.

"The Krab self-propelled artillery mount has shown itself well both in pointing speed and in firing range. We have studied the resource and capabilities of these vehicles and are providing manufacturers with proposals for their improvement," he said.
New Delhi, April 10 : A Special Mumbai Court has awarded a three years' rigorous imprisonment to former Assistant General Manager (AGM) of the Bank of Maharashtra (BOM) and others in connection with a loan fraud case.

The court sentenced D.R. Deshpande, then AGM, BOM; Mukesh M. Shah, Director of SPL Technochem Ltd, Mumbai; and Shreyansh P. Sheth, Director, SPL Technochem Ltd, Mumbai, to three years' jail term.

The court also awarded three years' jail term to five Directors of private firms -- Dhumil Sheth, Vishal Sheth, Hasmukh Sheth, Vinod Sheth and Manoj B. Shah -- with a fine of Rs 50.5 lakh.

The CBI had registered a case on March 18, 2009, on a complaint from General Manager, BOM.

It was alleged that during the year 2007, the accused, including its Directors in connivance with Deshpande, then AGM, BOM, obtained a cash credit limit of Rs 2.1 crore against hypothecation of inventory and receivables and LC-import limit of Rs 5.4 crore from the BOM, Bandra(E)Branch as well as furnished forged documents. Thus, the accused cheated the bank to the tune of Rs 2,69,08,482 plus unapplied interest amounting to Rs 1,04,25,069 After investigation, a charge-sheet was filed against the accused.

The trial court found the accused guilty and convicted them.
New Delhi, April 10 : The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea against the Agnipath scheme, to induct youth into all three-armed forces divisions for a period of four years. The top court observed that the scheme is not arbitrary and that promissory estoppel is always subject to overarching public interest.

Advocate M.L. Sharma submitted before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud that it should have been passed by Parliament and it should not have been brought as a scheme and it will attract Article 77 as well as Article 107. "My question is simply, unless Parliament approves it. It cannot be done," said Sharma.

After hearing Sharma's submissions, the bench, also comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, dismissed his petition.

In February, the Delhi High Court dismissed the pleas challenging the Centre's Agnipath scheme concluding that it was introduced in national interest and to make sure that the Armed Forces are well equipped.

The apex court Monday also took up another plea seeking directions to complete the recruitment processes initiated to the Indian Army and Air Force, which were discontinued after the 'Agnipath' scheme was announced in June last year.

A counsel submitted that he is not challenging the Agnipath scheme and that the matter was confined to the completion of the previously notified recruitment processes to Army and Air Force. He further added that exams were postponed many times citing Covid and suddenly, in June, the Agnipath scheme was announced and for the Air Force, the exams were held but the results were not published.

Declining to entertain the plea, the bench said that the candidates have no vested right to seek the completion of recruitment process. The counsel insisted that the Agnipath scheme will not be affected even if these people are recruited.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, submitted that the high court's judgment has dealt with these issues in detail.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing a petitioner in another matter, submitted that this is regarding the Air Force regular recruitment and added that there was a written test followed by a medical test and everything was done, thereafter a provisional list was published showing the ranks, etc.

"For more than one year, every three months they kept saying that appointment letters are going to be issued...in the meantime, they did what is called rally recruitments for the same posts which they called fasttrack recruitments. They claimed that they were for addressing demographic balance...those rally recruitments happened after they said they already thought of Agnipath scheme," submitted Bhushan.

Identifying the issues, Bhushan said first is promissory estoppel, they published a list after a two-year process; repeatedly told people that appointment letters will be issued and they were delayed due to Covid; and, then they go ahead with these fasttrack recruitments for the same posts.

The bench observed that the scheme is not arbitrary and that promissory estoppel is always subject to overarching public interest. "It is not a contract matter, where promissory estoppel in public was applied. It is a public employment. The question of applying this principle will not arise in this case," the bench told Bhushan. However, Bhushan insisted that the court should hear his matter.

The bench agreed to hear Bhushan's matter separately on April 17, but dismissed other two petitions.
Guwahati, April 10 : Assam Police have arrested a Bangladeshi national from Cachar district who was allegedly working as an agent to bring people illegally to the country using forged documents, officials said on Monday.

The person identified as Yasin Arafat, alias Masud Hasan, was arrested on Sunday night.

Superintendent of police in Cachar district, Numal Mahato told IANS: "The special branch had arrested several illegal Bangladeshis in Guwahati the day before. The police came to know about Yasin only after interrogating them. The arrested Bangladeshis said that Yasin had brought them to India through the Dawki border in Meghalaya." The police found out that Yasin had entered India illegally from Bangladesh also via the Dawki border. He is known as a border agent in the area.

He was living in Assam's Nagaon district under a new name Masud Hasan and had forged PAN and Aadhaar cards.

The special branch immediately contacted the Nagaon Police to inquire about him.

Police came to know that Yasin is an original resident of Sylhet district in Bangladesh.

After coming to India, he obtained fake documents and was living in Kachua area of Nagaon.

By tracking the mobile phone, the police got the information that Yasin was in Cachar's Gumra area.

Accordingly, a team of special branch along with Cachar police arrested him from a house in the area.
Manila, April 10 : The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday that at least 72 people died of drowning, and at least four were killed in car accidents during the Easter week break.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo told local media that the PNP has recorded 67 drowning incidents across the country as of Sunday, resulting in the death of 72 people, reports Xinhua news agency.

Police also reported in a statement that it recorded 11 vehicular accidents during the week-long holidays that killed at least four people.

This year, Filipinos splurged on "revenge travel" during the Holy Week after the government lifted the Covid-19 restrictions since the pandemic hit in 2020.

Since early last week, people thronged to airports, seaports and bus terminals to spend time with their families in the provinces.

Fe Abling-Yu, president of the Philippine Tour Operators Association, said many families this year travelled across the country to enjoy the holidays.

"Many of the hotels and resorts were bursting for the long holiday weekend," Abling-Yu told a television interview on Monday.
Jamshedpur, April 10 : A clash took place between two parties in the Shastri Nagar area of Kadma Police station area in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur, following which Section 144 was imposed and Internet services were suspended.

Around 60 people were detained in the incident that occurred on Sunday night.

According to reports, a religious flag was tied to the pole of a street light near a temple in the area on the occasion of Ram Navami. On Saturday, some miscreants hung meat piece on the same rope which was used for the flag.

Some members of the Hindu community held a protest in the matter on Saturday and demanded police to take action against the accused within 24 hours.

Sources said that a meeting of the temple committee was being held at around 6 p.m. on Sunday to discuss the incident, when at least 100 people, most of whom had their faces covered, reached the spot and started pelting stones on the committee members.

Following this, there was heavy stone pelting from both sides and half a dozen small shops and two-wheelers were set on fire.

The police had to fire in air to pacify the aggressors. Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel fired six rounds of tear gas shells at the miscreants to disperse them.

Currently, the situation is tense but under control.
New Delhi, April 10 : A baby born prematurely with a rare and potentially life threatening skin disease has been given a new lease of life by doctors at Panipat, Haryana.

The baby boy was born at 36 weeks to a couple from Zirakpur in Punjab. He suffered with a congenital skin condition, characterised by tight, waxy, shiny skin resembling plastic -- known as Collodion Syndrome.

This autosomal recessive genetic disorder is a dermatological emergency, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 50,000 to 100,000 births, said Cloudnine Newborn Centre in Panipat.

The baby had red skin covered by a thick membrane known as the Collodion Membrane on the chest, upper and lower extremities, with eyelid and lip eversion, and deformed ears.

"The Collodion baby syndrome is a rare and potentially life-threatening dermatological condition. Very few infants with this disorder survive the first week of life and have almost a 50 per cent chance of mortality," Dr Shalin Parikh, Consultant Neonatologist & Pediatrician at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Panipat, told IANS.

The baby required oxygen support and was nursed in an incubator with 70 per cent humidity. A dermatology consult was obtained, and skin emollients were initiated.

The baby's infection screen was positive, and a 2-week course of high-grade IV antibiotics was given.

Daily monitoring of weight, serum electrolytes, and input/output was performed, and IV fluids were administered to maintain hydration and prevent electrolyte imbalances.

Over time, the eyelid and lip eversion improved with the shedding of the Collodion skin membrane, the doctors said.

Genetic testing of parents showed the absence of consanguinity or family history. The doctors counselled the parents regarding the autosomal recessive inheritance pattern of most cases of congenital ichthyosis.

"This case was challenging as the infant had acquired an infection during his admission outside, and there was respiratory distress. It required multi-disciplinary management from skin and ENT specialists. With timely interventions and parents' trust in our team, we were able to save the baby's life," Parikh said.

"The infant was discharged after 10 days of NICU stay at a weight of 2.2 kg. On follow-up, the infant had an excellent skin texture and good weight gain," the doctor added.
New Delhi, April 10 : Visiting Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova on Monday said that India should be pragmatic while diversifying its political interactions and energy resources.

The Minister's comments have come in the light of the fact that India has repeatedly abstained from voting against Russia at all international fora against Moscow's ongoing invasion of Kiev.

Dzhaparova, who arrived on Sunday on a four-day visit to India, met Secretary-West Sanjay Verma at the External Affairs Ministry earlier on Monday.

"India should be pragmatic in diversifying its energy resources, military contracts and political interactions. Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's policy of democracy, dialogue and diversity and 'no era of war' and strategic application is really important," she told reporters after the meeting.

It is the first official visit by a Ukraine Minister to India since Russia launched the full scale invasion on February 24, 2022.

During the visit, Dzhaparova will also call on Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi and meet Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri, official sources said.
New Delhi, April 10 : The Union Ministry of Education recently released a pre-draft of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for school education.

As this is a key document based on which new curriculum will get re-designed, it would make second hand books market redundant and result in significant volume delta for book publishers, broking firm Prabhudas Lilladher said in a report.

Substantial yield advantage would also accrue as repricing at a higher level becomes easier post curriculum revamp.

"We believe policy change would result-in strong growth for book publishers over a period of 2-3 years, as substantial volume/price delta is in the offing. Post formal induction of NEP, the entire curriculum will get re-designed and new books will be published rendering the second hand books market completely redundant", the report said.

"The last NCF revision happened in 2005 and back then a new syllabus was rolled out over a period of three years. Like last time, we believe, new NCF adoption this time will also be staggered. Revised NCF for K-2 was already announced in October-22 and recently released pre-draft indicates subsequent announcement for higher grades is around the corner. Thus, NCF revision benefits will not be short-lived and would benefit publishers for 2-3 years.

"As the entire curriculum will get re-designed and new books will be published after adoption of NEP, the second hand books market will become redundant. This will significantly aid volumes of state board publishers where usage of second hand supplementary books is substantially higher," the report said.

S. Chand derives 50-55 per cent of revenue from CBSE board and 15-20 per cent of revenue through state board supplementary book publisher Chhaya Prakashani, where usage of second hand books is higher when compared with ICSE board.

In comparison, Navneet Education derives 87 per cent of its publishing revenue from supplementary books like workbooks, guides and 21-sets where usage of second hand books is high.

While volume delta is dependent on size of the second hand books market, we believe both the publishers will be able to exercise significant pricing power as 1) new set of books will not have any existing value benchmark 2) repricing becomes easier due to change in curriculum. Further, if small publishers are not able to comply with new NCF and publish books on time, it can also aid in increasing market share of larger players like NELI and S. Chand, the report said.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)
Ladakh: Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and J&K LG Manoj Sinha during the inspection of Zojila Tunnel's construction work, in Ladakh on Monday, April 10, 2023. (Photo: Twitter) Image Source: IANS News

Ladakh: Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and J&K LG Manoj Sinha during the inspection of Zojila Tunnel's construction work, in Ladakh on Monday, April 10, 2023. (Photo: Twitter) Image Source: IANS News

Srinagar, April 10 : Union road transport and highways Minister Nitin Gadkari inspected the Zojila tunnel with J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday.

The 13.14 km long Zojila Tunnel will be Asia's longest tunnel which will establish all weather connectivity for Ladakh region with the rest of the country.

The MPs, who are part of the Parliamentary consultative committee on road transport and highways, also accompanied the minister.

Speaking to the media during his visit to Zojila Tunnel, Gadkari said that 19 tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore.

"Under this, the construction of a 13.14 km long tunnel and approach road at a cost of Rs 6,800 crore is in progress in Zojila.

"It is a 7.57 m high horseshoe-shaped single-tube, 2-lane tunnel, which will pass under the Zojila Pass in the Himalayas between Ganderbal in Kashmir and Drass town in Kargil district of Ladakh.

"The project includes a Smart Tunnel (SCADA) system, which has been constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method. It is equipped with facilities like CCTV, radio control, uninterrupted power supply, and ventilation. The use of modern technology in this project has saved the Government of India more than Rs 5,000 crore", Gadkari said.

Under the Zojila Tunnel project,the main Zojila tunnel of 13,153 meters with four culverts of total length of 810 meters, four Nilgrar tunnels of total length of 4,821 meters, eight cut and covers of total length of 2,350 meters and three 500 meters, 391 meters and 220 meters of vertical ventilation shaft are proposed. So far 28 per cent work of Zojila Tunnel has been completed.

With the construction of this tunnel, there will be all-weather connectivity for Ladakh. Currently, the average travel time to cross the Zojila Pass sometimes takes three hours, after the completion of this tunnel the travel time will come down to 20 minutes. The reduction in travel time will ultimately result in fuel savings.

Officials said that the terrain near Zojila Pass is extremely inhospitable, with many fatal accidents taking place here every year. After the completion of Zojila Tunnel, the chances of accidents will be zero. This tunnel will provide year-round connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, which will be extremely important for the development of Ladakh, promotion of tourism, free movement of local goods and movement of Indian armed forces in case of emergency.
Monte Carlo, April 10 : After flourishing on hard courts this season, winning four tour-level titles, including his fifth ATP Masters 1000 crown in Miami earlier this month, Daniil Medvedev headed to Monte Carlo Masters aiming to find a way to adjust his game for the clay-court swing.

Medvedev, who holds a 29-3 record on the year, has won 18 of his 19 tour-level trophies on hard courts. In contrast, he has never won a tour-level title on clay, with his best result in Monte-Carlo coming in 2019 when he reached the semifinals.

"I definitely have to change my game because my strokes are too flat and clay does not let the ball go through the court as much. My opponents can use those shots against me," Medvedev said in his pre-tournament press conference.

"At the same time, you can't change what you do in nine months or a year drastically, so I have to find a good balance where I still play my game, with a little change. With some shots in the right moment," he added.

The 27-year-old has made no secret of his love for hard courts in the past but acknowledged that the variety of surfaces is good for the sport.

"I wish we could continue on hard, but I understand that there are different surfaces on Tour and that is good because some people are better on clay, some on hard, some on grass. It is good to have the different surfaces, I think that is good for the sport," Medvedev said.

Medvedev is currently first in the ATP Live Race To Turin. He will aim for a deep run in the Principality to stay in top spot, starting against Italian wild card Lorenzo Sonego or qualifier Ugo Humbert on Tuesday.
Ukraine has to alter some military plans because of leak of US intelligence documents  CNN

The Ukrainian military command had to alter a number of plans because of the leak of secret American documents into the network, CNN said.

"Ukraine has already altered some of its military plans because of the leak, a source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN," the publication said.

It is also noted that some of the documents divulge key weaknesses in Ukrainian weaponry, air defense, size and readiness of battalions at a critical point in the war, as Ukrainian forces gear up to launch a counteroffensive against the Russians  and just as the United States and Ukraine have begun to develop a more mutually trusting relationship over intelligence-sharing.

In addition, one of the officials of the country participating in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing arrangement (the association includes the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom) expressed concern that leaked Ukraine war information could handicap the country on the battlefield.

The official said one of the documents from February titled "Russia-Ukraine: Battle for Donbas Region Likely Heading for a Stalemate Throughout 2023" is causing concern. The document points out challenges with assessing the endurance of Ukraine's operations.

According to CNN, citing officials, the leak also led the Pentagon to take steps to tighten the flow of such highly sensitive documents. The Joint Headquarters is looking into mailing lists to find out who is receiving the data, a defense official said. The Pentagon is also continuing to look into the matter and has forwarded it to the Justice Department, which separately confirmed to CNN that it has launched an investigation into the source of the leak.
Hong Kong, April 10 : Facing severe criticism from several countries for not sharing Covid data for years, China has urged the World Health Organisation (WHO) not to be subject to or willing to descend to become "a tool of politicisation" of certain countries, and "return to science and fairness".

State-run Global Times reported that using twisted and incomplete pieces of evidence to slander China on the origins of Covid-19 "will only undermine the international body's credibility and impair investigations on the virus".

The WHO's accusation came after researchers at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) published a new Covid analysis on samples collected at Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Market in the science journal Nature on April 5.

Prior to the analysis' official publication, the related data was shared on the Global Initiative in Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) database, but was allegedly deleted later, prompting widespread speculation.

An epidemiologist close to China's Covid-origin tracing task group told the Global Times that the next stage of origins-tracing should concentrate on animals who are more prone to carry coronaviruses, such as bats.

Experts stated that no Covid antibodies were detected in the blood of donors in Wuhan prior to the outbreak in December 2019.

Zhou Lei, a researcher from China CDC, said at a news conference that as a Chinese scientist who took part in the China-WHO joint origins-tracing mission in 2021, she is surprised at WHO remarks.

"During the joint origins-tracing mission, Chinese scientists shared all data and information, including information of more than 76,000 early cases of possible and suspected COVID infections in Wuhan," Zhou said.

"We conducted in-depth joint analysis and research, and the results were collectively approved by the WHO and Chinese experts at that time," she was quoted as saying.

"I think if such a presumptuous accusation is made, it is the WHO's credibility that risks being damaged," she added.

The WHO slammed China last week, 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 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.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai/New Delhi, April 10 : The Supreme Court has set aside the Securities Appellate Tribunal's (SAT) order against the Indian insurance regulator and Marsh India Insurance Brokers Private Ltd and restored the sector regulator's order dated January 9, 2018.

The apex court, in its order, said it could not find any documentary evidence on which the SAT had come to the conclusion that the reinsurance business of Jagson International Ltd was obtained by Marsh India by illegal means as alleged by its rival, the London-based reinsurance broker Atkins Special Risks Ltd.

The Marsh India Insurance Brokers had approached the Supreme Court against the SAT's order.

The apex court's recent order is the final setback for SAT in the case.

Earlier the Supreme Court had expunged the SAT's remarks against the former Member (Non-Life), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) P.J. Joseph as `uncalled for and deserve to be set aside" on an appeal by the IRDAI.

The SAT, on March 16, 2018, setting aside an IRDAI order, had said: "We fail to understand as to how Member (non-life) could make such false statement in the impugned order. In our opinion, the impugned order passed by P.J. Joseph (non-life) virtually amounts to aiding and abetting corruption in the insurance business by the regulator which cannot be tolerated." It had directed the insurance regulator to entrust the matter to a competent officer other than Joseph for fresh orders on Atkins' complaint on merits.

The basic case is about Marsh India Insurance Brokers getting the reinsurance business of Jagson International - having interests in oil exploration and aviation - which was earlier handled by Atkins Special Risks.

The Atkins Special Risks had complained to IRDAI stating that between 2002-2012, it provided international reinsurance cover to Jagson International. From 2010 onwards Jagson International's Chairman Jagdish Pershad Gupta started demanding, through email, a cut in Atkins Special Risks' reinsurance commission.

In 2012, Jagson International's reinsurance business was given to Marsh India Insurance Brokers.

The IRDAI on January 9, 2018, disposed the Atkins Special Risks complaint of Marsh India Insurance poaching its business by offering unlawful payment to Gupta.

Atkins hired a private investigation firm to find out any payment of kick-backs by Marsh to Gupta.

As per the SAT's order, the investigation firm had confirmed kick-backs to Gupta for diverting the reinsurance business to Marsh India Insurance Brokers from Atkins Special Risks.

Atkins Special Risks had alleged that during the telephonic conversation, Gupta had said that Marsh India Insurance Brokers had agreed to pay him $4,00,000 in order to obtain Jagson International's business.

The SAT, in its order, said Atkins Special Risks had relied on documentary evidence in support of the contention that Gupta had sought a bribe and was bribed by the officers of Marsh India Insurance Brokers to get Jagson International's business.

The IRDAI stand was that Atkins did not submit any documentary proof is false, said the SAT.

An IRDAI official had then told IANS that the proof given by Atkins Special Risks was not strong and hence focused investigation on Marsh India Insurance Brokers books were not made.

Then the matter was taken to the SAT by Atkins Special Risks.

Be that as it may, the right to appoint or change reinsurance broker vests with the primary insurer.

Curiously, neither the IRDAI's order nor the SAT order mentions the name of the primary insurer for Jagson International or the reason for the change in reinsurance broker.
Chennai, April 10 : Tamil Nadu's Villupuram was tense on Monday after caste Hindus did not let Dalit community members enter the local Shri Dharmaraja Draupati Amman Temple at Melpathi village.

The temple, interestingly, is controlled by the state government's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) Department.

Dalit youth Kathiravan, 23, had visited the temple on Friday along with his two siblings and was assaulted by caste Hindus who prevented their entry.

Talking to IANS, Kathiravan said: "Caste Hindus prevented us from entering the Shri Dharmaraja Draupati Amman temple and even beat us up. They said that we are not even allowed to take photographs of the idol, leave alone providing entry." Since the past 70 years, the Dalits were not allowed entry into the temple but six months before, the district authorities had allowed their entry when the idol of Dharmaraja was reinstated. However a curtain was in place that prevented the Dalits from having a glimpse of the idol.

The Melpathi village in itself is divided into two areas - 'Oor' where the caste Hindus reside whereas 'cheri' is where the Dalits stay.

The area is tense following the caste Hindus hurling slurs and abusing the Dalits. A heavy police team is contingent in place to prevent any untoward incident in the area.

The District Collector and district police had already conducted one round of discussions with the Dalit leadership and the caste Hindus on Saturday but could not reach a conclusion.

Tamil Nadu Police have been given stringent instructions to deploy a heavy police posse on the areas in Mepathi village and surroundings in Villupuram district to prevent any untoward incidents.
New Delhi, April 10 : The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea alleging use of drugs Remdesivir and Favipiravir, without approval, for treatment of Covid-19 and also seeking CBI probe against ten Indian pharmaceutical firms for selling these medicines allegedly in the absence of valid licenses.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala said these issues cannot be examined by the court and dismissed the plea filed by advocate M.L. Sharma.

In October 2020, the Supreme Court had sought Centre's reply on the plea alleging that Remdesivir and Favipiravir are being used for treatment of Covid-19 without approval.

A bench headed by then Chief Justice S.A. Bobde had issued notice to the Centre on the plea and sought its response in four weeks.

Sharma, petitioner in-person, had then cited the World Health Organisation (WHO) report and argued that nowhere in it were these medicines designated officially as medicines for coronavirus.

The WHO report indicated that Remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon regimens appeared to have little or no effect on in the treatment of Covid-19.

In September 2020, the top court had said that there was an approval by the Centre on use of Remdesivir and Favipiravir, as medicines to treat Covid-19.

Sharma also sought registration of an FIR by the CBI against ten Indian pharmaceutical firms for manufacturing and selling these two medicines for treating Covid-19 patients allegedly without valid licences.

In the plea, he had contended that Remdesivir and Favipiravir are antiviral drugs and their efficacy in treatment of Covid patients is still under debate.
Hyderabad, April 10 : AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday showed his bar-at-law degree from Lincoln's Inn, amid 'show your degree' a campaign by AAP to mock Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his educational qualification.

The Hyderabad MP showed his degree at a news conference at party headquarters Darussalam, saying that after furnishing all the details in the election affidavit one should not have any problem in showing the degree.

He, however, evaded answering questions if he was demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi to show his degrees.

Owaisi made it clear that his action has nothing to do with the Aam Admi Party (AAP) campaign. "I am not part of so-called opposition unity," he remarked.

"You may ask me tomorrow where is your degree so to pre-empt this I am showing my degree which I got in 1995," he said.

The MP said if somebody wants to see his degree they can e-mail Lincoln's Inn and get it.

When asked about Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar's statement that the Prime Minister's degrees are not a national issue and his remarks on the Adani issue, Owaisi said this question should be asked to the Congress.

"This is the problem of those who are in opposition. You stalled Parliament and made a strategy and now your main partner is saying something. Congress leaders should ask Sharad Pawar, especially the leader who lost his Lok Sabha membership," he said.

Owaisi lashed out at Congress party saying it has compromised on its ideology and joined the competition of who is the biggest leader of Hindutva.

"Where is idealism politics of Nehru in the Congress party? Where is the dream of freedom fighters, composite culture and diversity. All these have become a past," he said.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president pointed out that it was in Congress-ruled Chattisgarh that state-sponsored Dharam Sansad took place and where "a leader spoke rubbish against Muslims".

On violence in Bihar, Owaisi blamed the coalition government of Nitish Kumar and RJD for failing to check it.

"If it was pre-planned, were you sleeping," he asked on the reported statement by Bihar police that the violence was pre-planned.

The MP said after March 31, there was more violence on April 1.

He said police stood as silent spectators when madrasa was set afire.

"Still the Bihar government does not talk of paying compensation and suspending policemen who failed to act. Instead of doing this you are hosting Iftar parties and relishing dates," he remarked.

Owaisi said the violence against Muslims will not stop unless the BJP controls organisations which support it.

He said 50 hate rallies were held in Maharashtra where ministers spoke against Muslims. Though FIRs were registered, no action was taken, he added.

On Congress leader Sachin Pilot's campaign against his own party government in Rajasthan, Owaisi said that Congress and BJP are two sides of the same coin.

"Both the parties promoted corruption. Now an ex-deputy CM is launching a campaign against his own party government. This shows they are not serious on corruption," he said.

Owaisi alleged that Congress failed to give good governance to the people of Rajasthan and people are fed up with it. "He (Pilot) is dreaming of becoming CM. Both (Pilot and Ashok Gehlot) should have fulfilled the dream of people of Rajasthan," he said.
Chennai, April 10 : Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi has granted assent to the bill passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly to ban online gambling and regulate it, an official said on Monday.

The Bill was first passed by the Tamil Nadu assembly in October 2022 but the Governor returned the bill in March.

A senior official of the Raj Bhavan had then said that the bill was returned as the state legislature had no 'legislative competence' to frame the bill.

The Tamil Nadu legislative assembly then re-adopted the bill once again on March 23, 2023 and sent it to the Governor for assent. The Governor has now given assent to the bill banning online gambling and regulating it.

The Governor not giving assent to the Bill led to the state government passing a resolution in the state legislative assembly on Monday, calling upon the President and the Central government to issue appropriate instructions to the Governor to give his assent to the Bills passed by the Assembly, within a specific period.
Bengaluru, April 10 : A court in Karnataka's Kanakapura on Monday sent five cow vigilantes to police custody for seven days in connection with a case in which a Muslim man was allegedly beaten to death for transporting cows and buffaloes illegally.

The judge Appanna Savadi pronounced the order after the accused were produced before him.

Karnataka Police had arrested the cow vigilantes and Hindu activists including main accused Puneeth Kerehalli, who ran Raastra Rakshana Pade, from Rajasthan on April 5 - five days after the body of the victim was found on April 1.

The group headed by accused Puneeth Kerehalli had waylaid a canter transporting cows and buffaloes in the limits of Sathanur police station in Ramnagar district on March 31. They had claimed that the cows and buffaloes were transported illegally.

On April 1, 35-year-old Idris Pasha, a resident of Guttalu near Sathanur, who was in the canter was found dead at the spot. The family of Idris Pasha alleged that he was beaten to death by Puneeth Kerehalli and others.

The family had lodged a complaint in this regard under IPC Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 504 (intentional insult, giving provocation), 506 (criminal intimidation), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons), 302 (murder), 34 (criminal act done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
New Delhi, April 10 : A five-year-old girl was sexually harassed by a 42-year-old man in South Delhi's Vasant Kunj area, an official said on Monday, adding that the accused has been arrested.

According to police, the matter came to light on Sunday when an information was received at Vasant Kunj South police station regarding sexual harassment with a minor, following which, a police team was dispatched to the spot.

"During enquiry, it was revealed that on Saturday when the victim's parents were out for work, she went to her servant's room to play with her son," said a senior police official.

The husband of the servant, Ajay, came in the room and removed his lower clothes in front of the five-year-old girl and showed her his private parts.

"The victim narrated the incident to her mother who gave the information to police. Counselling of the victim was carried out by CIC Counsellor and she supported the version," said the official.

"Accordingly a case under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act was registered at Vasant Kunj South police station and during investigation, Ajay, a resident of Maharashtra was arrested," said the official, adding that further probe is on.
New Delhi, April 10 : A 45-year-old man was killed in Southeast Delhi's Okhla area following a quarrel with another man over some political issue, an official said on Monday.

The deceased was identified as Prabhu Nath. According to police, a PCR call regarding a quarrel in Okhla Phase-II was received at Okhla Industrial Area police station at 10:57 p.m. on Sunday.

"Head Constable Vinod reached the spot and enquired about the matter in which it was revealed that a scuffle took place between Prabhu Nath and one Vikas Chauhan," said Rajesh Deo, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast).

The injured Prabhu was shifted to some unknown hospital, however, at 3:48 a.m, it was informed by AIIMS that one Prabhu was brought dead at the hospital.

"Police team then reached the hospital and inspected the dead body, however, no other injuries were found on the dead body except abrasion over nose," said the DCP.

"On further enquiry from the spot, one eyewitness, Kishore Kumar, who works as a guard, told police that the drivers of Gaurav Goods Career Transports - Prabhu, Vikas Chauhan and one Nitin - were cooking and drinking near their trucks," said the DCP.

"After some time, a heated argument ensued between Prabhu and Vikas over some political issue. Vikas pushed Prabhu due to which he fell down and got unconscious. Kishor had dialled 112 and shifted the injured to AIIMS by ambulance where he was declared brought dead," said the official.

"The body has been preserved in the mortuary. A case under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code was registered and Vikas was arrested," the official added.
Chennai, April 10 : Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Monday said that masks will be made compulsory in the state only if there is a surge in Covid-19 cases.

The minister told reporters here that "the current wave of Covid -19 need not be feared at all as it was a milder version of the earlier ones".

The minister said this while interacting with the mediapersons after inspecting the Covid mock drill at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.

Asked why the state was not insisting on Covid-19 protocols, while some other states have already implemented them, the minister said: "In Tamil Nadu, the number of daily cases has touched only 350 while in other states it has touched 500 and hence such a decision would be taken based on the surge in cases." "If cases rise, we will definitely look into norms related to making masks mandatory ,especially in public places," he added.

Ma Subramanian told reporters that daily cases were rising slowly in the state at the rate of 10 or 20 increase per day.

The minister said if Tamil Nadu witnesses a surge like that of Kerala or Maharashtra, Covid-19 norms would be implemented in public places.

He further said that a majority of those who are getting infected by Covid-19 are in home isolation, adding "very few are being hospitalised".

He also said that there has not been a single case of admission to the ICU or usage of Oxygen beds.

The minister, however, said 64,281 beds are prepared for any eventuality, adding a total of 33,664 were Oxygen-supported beds, 22,820 non-oxygen beds, and 7,797 intensive care unit beds.

He said that the state's liquid oxygen storage capacity stood at 2,067 metric tonnes.

The minister said there are 342 RT-PCR testing centres in the state.

He also said that Tamil Nadu has the capacity to test 3 lakh people a day but was testing only 4,000 people and would soon be hiked to 11,000 a day.
The Netherlands will provide EUR 10 million to Ukrainian farmers for demining agricultural land, and EUR 40 million for the purchase of seeds and agricultural equipment from a total assistance package of EUR 180 million for Ukraine, members of the Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Committee of the Dutch Parliament said at a meeting in the Verkhovna Rada.

"We will be happy to get help from the Netherlands in mine clearance to speed up this process. After all, it is one of the urgent problems of farmers, especially in the southern and eastern regions," Oleksandr Haidu, head of the parliamentary committee on agrarian and land policy, said.

He proposed that attention is paid to projects for the restoration and modernization of irrigation and drainage systems, the development of new logistics routes from the EU to assist Ukrainian farmers in the export of foodstuffs.
Itanagar, April 10 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday launched 'Vibrant Villages Programme' (VVP) in Arunachal Pradesh's village Kibithoo in Anjaw district, which shares borders with China and Myanmar.

With central share of Rs 4,800 crore including Rs 2500 crore exclusively for road connectivity for the four financial years (2022-23 to 2025-26), the VVP would be executed in 2967 villages in 19 districts adjoining international borders in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and UT of Ladakh.

In the first phase, 662 border villages in four states and UT of Ladakh have been identified for priority on coverage, which includes 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh.

Under the centrally-sponsored scheme --VVP -- comprehensive development would be carried out in the identified border villages aiming to improve the quality of life of people living in border villages and encourage the villagers to stay in their native locations thereby reversing the migration from these villages and adding to security of the border.

The focus areas of interventions identified for development of villages include road connectivity, drinking water, electricity including solar and wind energy, mobile and Internet connectivity, tourist centres, multi-purpose centres and healthcare infrastructure and wellness centres.

Launching the VVP from India's easternmost border village Kibithoo, Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made conceptual changes with all-round development making India's last village as country's first village.

"In the last nine years, a sea change of development has been made in the northeastern region by the Modi government. With the surrender of over 8,000 militants and signing of many accords, peace and communal harmony has been prevailing in the region," the Home Minister said.

"Under government's Look-East policy, all kinds of development including expansion of infrastructures have been undertaken after Modi ji became Prime Minister and turned the region from problematic areas to a prospective and potential region. Inter-state border disputes are also being solved on a fast track basis," Shah said.

He said that under the VVP, piped water, cooking gas, all kinds of infrastructures, livelihood, energy and environment security and all other basic facilities would be ensured in the identified border villages.

The Home Minister inaugurated nine micro-hydel projects of the Arunachal Pradesh government constructed under the 'Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme'.

These nine micro-hydel projects, which would generate 725 kilowatt electricity, have been set up at a cost of Rs 30 crore.

Shah also inaugurated Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) projects to augment infrastructure at Likabali (Arunachal Pradesh), Chapra (Bihar), Nooranad (Kerala) and Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

He also interacted with ITBP troopers at Kibithoo and witnessed exhibition stalls to acquaint with the efforts of women of border villages.

The exhibition was organised with the products made by women members of Self-Help Groups of border districts.

On April 11, the Union Home Minister would visit Namti field and pay homage at the Walong War Memorial.
Mumbai, April 10 : Cracking the whip, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has advised all senior citizens to start wearing face masks in public and made it compulsory for all civic hospital employees, patients and visitors, a top official said here on Monday.

The move comes in the wake of a possibility of a huge spike in cases in May, as per Central forecast, said BMC Commissioner I.S. Chahal, after a major review meeting of the Covid-19 situation in Mumbai.

Chahal has instructed that while seniors aged above 60 are urged to wear masks while stepping out in public places, it will be mandatory for all in civic hospitals.

The meeting also decided to make central procurement of all requirements like face masks, PPE kits, gloves, medicines and other medical supplies for all civic hospitals to ensure there are no shortages.

The BMC will start testing in a big way to enable early detection of Covid-19 cases, with the collaboration of private labs.

Keeping in view the possibility of increased patients and hospitalisation, the BMC has stressed the need for more intensive care units, functional medical oxygen plants with proper audit of the demand-supply of the hospitals.

As in the past Covid-19 waves, the civic chief has ordered all Ward War Rooms for patient management, ensure they are functional with all necessary manpower and systems to tackle any eventuality.

All civic employees are advised to use masks, at least when they come in contact with the public, and politely request the people also to follow suit.

Civic and private hospitals must conduct mock drills to determine their Covid management preparedness, all private hospitals are required to equip their entire systems geared to tackle the next wave.

Patients scheduled for surgeries must be tested for Covid-19 in all hospitals and if they are found positive, the operation should be postponed, unless its an emergency surgery.

The meeting was attended by Chahal, Additional Municipal Commissioners Ashwini Bhide, Ashish Sharma, P. Velrasu, Sanjeev Kumar, Joint Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners and other heads of departments.
Chandigarh, April 10 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday condemned interpretation of the Anandpur Sahib resolution as a separatist agenda in new NCERT textbooks, asserting this had been done as part of a conspiracy to defame the Sikh community while asserting that the resolution stood for the unity and integrity of the country and only sought to promote federalism within the constitutional framework.

Addressing the media here, senior SAD leaders Prem Singh Chandumajra and Daljit Singh Cheema demanded the wrong interpretation be withdrawn immediately.

They also said a senior SAD delegation would meet the Union Education Minister and apprise him about key facts that had been twisted with regard to the Anandpur Sahib resolution as well as SAD and demand that they be corrected by instituting a committee of Punjab historians for this purpose.

The leaders also said they would demand that due space be given to Punjab history in NCERT books, including the role of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and Sikh generals like Hari Singh Nalwa.

The SAD leaders also appealed to the Opposition parties to come on one platform to call for instituting a true federal structure which was the need of the hour in the country.

Giving details, Chandumajra said it was unfortunate that a deliberate attempt was being made to spoil the image of the Sikh community across the nation. "The present government is following in the footsteps of the Congress party which defamed the entire Sikh community for political gains. Twisting facts to present the Sikh community in a wrong way to impressionable minds is dangerous and will work against the interests of the nation." About the Anandpur Sahib resolution, he said the country accepted the resolution and the Sarkaria Commission was instituted to review Centre-state relations.

"Following this the misuse of Article 356 which was used to destabilise democratically elected governments was also drastically reduced. All regional parties also hailed the document which reflected the regional aspirations of people of the country." Chandumajra and Cheema said Sikhs were a patriotic community which had not only left the lands and properties in Pakistan post-Partition but also their sacred sites, including Sri Nankana Sahib.

"The contributions of the community in the freedom movement as well as in safeguarding the nation's borders and in making the country food sufficient are known to all." They said similarly the positive role played by SAD in strengthening unity and integrity of the country had not been reflected by the NCERT.

Meanwhile, Cheema said the chapter on the 1984 massacre of Sikhs in Delhi and other parts of the country had also not been depicted in the right perspective by the NCERT.

He said even though the Nanavati Commission gave the name of the political party as well as Congress leaders responsible for the mass murder of Sikhs, the NCERT had chosen to remain ambiguous on this.

He said there was no detail on the action taken by the state to right the wrong done to the Sikh community.
New Delhi, April 10 : The Delhi High Court on Monday adjourned, to May 4, the hearing in Jawaharlal Nehru University alumnus Sharjeel Imam's plea seeking bail in connection with a 2020 communal riots case involving allegations of sedition.

Imam has challenged a trial court's order dated January 24, 2022, denying him bail.

He has contended that the trial court "failed to recognise" that pursuant to the directions of the top court, the basis for dismissal of his earlier bail plea - the charge of sedition - no longer existed and therefore relief must be granted to him.

A division bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Vikas Mahajan listed the matter for the hearing in May as the counsel for one of the parties was not available.

The court had earlier sought Delhi Police's stand on whether Imam's plea could be remanded back to the trial court for adjudication as its order does not mention the reason for rejecting his bail.

Since, on the directions of the apex court, Section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been kept in abeyance, it will have to examine the lower court's order while it also keeps in mind the other sections applied against Imam, the court had said.

On May 11, 2022, the top court had stayed till further orders the registration of FIRs, probes, and coercive measures for the offence of sedition across the country by the Centre and the States until an appropriate forum of the government re-examines the colonial-era penal law.

The trial court had framed charges against Imam last year under different Sections of the IPC and Section 13 (Punishment for Unlawful Activities) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The court charged him with sedition, promoting enmity, imputations prejudicial to national integration, and statements conducing to public mischief.

Imam had made speeches at Jamia Millia Islamia on December 13, 2019, and at the Aligarh Muslim University on December 16, 2019, where he threatened to cut off Assam and the rest of the North East from the country, according to the prosecution.
New Delhi, April 10 : A wanted auto lifter, who used to sell vehicle's parts after dismantling them, was held following a massive raid on the basis of GPS locations of the stolen vehicle in Mewat by Delhi Police.

Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Sagar Preet Kalsi, said that the accused identified as Ismail was held following a massive raid in Mewat. The accused was about to dismantle the vehicle when the police nabbed him.

The police official said that on April 8, one Bipin Kumar Singh reported that his vehicle was stolen by an unknown person from near Azad Park Main Road, Padam Nagar.

The statement of Singh was recorded and cases were registered.

The police team laid their secret sources to get any clue about the accused and relentlessly worked on the case.

"The police came to know that GPS signal of stolen vehicle was active and location was found near Firojpur Jhirka, Nuh Mewat, Haryana. A team was sent to Mewat after proper briefing by senior officers," the DCP said.

"With the help of local police area, GPS signal was zeroed down and a raid was conducted at Ibrahimpur Bas village. The accused Ismail was about to dismantle the stolen vehicle into pieces as per his plan when he was caught," the police officer added.

Ismail was apprehended and at his insistence a tool box containing various tools to cut down the vehicle was also recovered.

The accused admitted his involvement in the incident and disclosed that other members of his gang used to steal the vehicles from Delhi-NCR area and bring the stolen vehicles at his house where he cut down the vehicle into parts. Later, the said parts were sold in the market.

"Ismail was produced before a court which remanded him to two-day custody of the Delhi Police," said the police.

The investigation is being carried to identify his other gang members, the officer said.
Vijayawada, April 10 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy did not appear before the NIA court on Monday in a case related to a knife attack on him at Visakhapatnam airport four years ago.

Last month, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court had directed him to be present in the court on April 10 and record his statement.

Jagan Mohan Reddy sought exemption from personal appearance on the ground that he has to discharge his duties as the Chief Minister and also on the ground that his appearance in the court may lead to traffic jam around the court premises and thus inconvenience the people.

He requested the court to appoint an advocate commissioner to record his statement.

Jagan Mohan Reddy also filed another petition, seeking an in-depth probe into the case. His counsel brought to the court's notice that a case was registered against accused Srinivas in his native village in 2017.

The NIA court adjourned hearing on both the petitions to April 13.

Saleem, counsel of the accused, argued that the Chief Minister should appear in the court and give evidence. He submitted to the court that rule of law should be obeyed by all including the Chief Minister or the Prime Minister.

During the previous hearing, the court had examined CISF Assistant Commandant Dinesh Kumar, who was an eyewitness in the case, which is known as the Kodi Katti case.

The police had handed over to the court a 'kodi katti' (knife used for rooster fights), another small knife, purse, and cell phone.

Jagan Mohan Reddy was injured on his arm when a youth had attacked him with kodi katti at Visakhapatnam Airport on October 25, 2018. His security personnel had overpowered the attacker, later identified as J. Srinivas Rao, who was working at the airport canteen on a contract basis.

The then TDP government had handed over the case to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police but Jagan Mohan Reddy had refused to record his statement saying he had no trust in agencies controlled by the state government.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) had moved the state high court, seeking a probe by a central agency into the case. Based on the court direction, the Centre handed over the case to the NIA on December 31, 2018 and the agency registered the case on January 1.

The 32-year-old accused has been lodged in jail since then, waiting for the trial.

Last year, Srinivas' 75-year-old mother Savithri had written to then Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana that the case be expedited or her son be granted bail.

--IANS ms/vd

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New Delhi, April 10 : About 73 per cent of employees want to know about career opportunities inside their organisation, and employees, who are provided with access to self-service technology for career mobility exploration, are half as likely to have plans to quit their job, a new report showed on Monday.

According to the 2023 global research report focused on talent mobility trends by Cornerstone, about 51 per cent of employees say that the best way their company can support their skill development is by giving them opportunities to pivot, stretch, and grow.

The report measured the views of 1,060 employers and 1,000 learners across Europe, North America and Asia about the importance of career mobility and internal growth opportunities.

"As the talent landscape continues to evolve, employers will need to adopt a system which adequately attracts, engages and retains high-performing talent," said Ben Eubanks, Principal Analyst and Chief Research Officer, Lighthouse Research & Advisory.

When it comes to high-performing organisations, they prioritise employee growth.

High-belonging employees, described as employees who feel a strong sense of belonging within their organisation, are more interested in all aspects of learning, while low- belonging employees are twice as likely to say they wouldn't consider other career opportunities inside the business.

The report showed high belonging employees are 190 per cent more likely to say their manager would support their career growth, while employees who score low on workplace belonging are six times more likely to say they don't know if their manager or employer tracks their skills.

Moreover, the report findings revealed that employee interest in exploring new projects and strengthening existing skills is not limited.

Women were roughly (33 per cent more likely than men) to say they would like to look into projects that would allow them to learn new or different skills.

People under the age of 45 were about 50 per cent more likely than those over 45 to say they would like to explore projects that develop new connections and mentors.

Employees in larger organisations (1,000+ employees) prioritise projects that let them explore other internal opportunities without risking their current position, according to the report.

Further, the report revealed that employees prefer using technology to explore career options rather than speaking directly with managers.

Nearly 80 per cent of employees are more likely to prefer a self-service technology option over a manager conversation when it comes to understanding what internal career opportunities exist.

Additionally, employees who have access to self-service technology for career mobility exploration are 50 per cent less likely to have plans to quit their job compared to those with no visibility.

"Based on the findings of our 2023 research study, there's no doubt that employees are hungry for growth and development opportunities, and require increased career transparency. As technology and tools become smarter and more interconnected, the manager's role in employee growth is changing and AI has the power to align individual career ambitions with company objectives, delivering real impact to the bottom line," said Vincent Belliveau, Chief International Officer at Cornerstone.
Kolkata, April 10 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday informed the Calcutta High Court that if the court orders, it is ready to take over the investigation on the clashes over Ram Navami processions in Howrah and Hooghly districts that started since March 30 and continued till April 3.

The NIA announced its stand before the division bench of acting Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya during a hearing on a public interest litigation filed by the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Monday.

Even the bench observed that it too feels that a central agency probe is necessary in this matter, but reserved its order.

During the course of the hearing, Justice Sivagnanam observed that it will not be possible for the state police to ascertain who are actually responsible for instigating such clashes.

"From the police report submitted in the court it is evident that there was a serious breach of law and order over the event. Such events terrorise common people. That is where the necessity of a central agency probe is felt. The same thing is happening year after year. We are really worried about the safety of the common people," he said.

Referring to the incidence of stone pelting from the roofs of residences, Justice Sivagnanam questioned why such huge quantities of stones were stocked at the roofs beforehand. "It is not possible that such stones were brought to the roofs within ten minutes after the tension started," he said.

The commissioner of Chandernagore City Police on April 7 had submitted a report on the clashes over Ram Navami procession at Rishra in Hooghly district, where it had held those participating in the procession as responsible for instigating the violence.

In the report it was said that that those participating in the procession had been constantly "instigating" the local people by using "abusive and offensive" language constantly since the beginning of the procession.

--IANS src/vd

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New Delhi, April 10 : Amid the rising trend of Covid cases, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital here on Monday to review the mock drill being undertaken for ensuring operational readiness of the hospital for Covid-19 management.

At a review meeting, chaired by the Union Minister a few days back with the state Health Ministers on Covid-19 status and preparedness of prevention and management in the country, it had been decided that mock drills be conducted across the country to ensure preparedness for any future outbreaks, if any. Hence, the government as well as private hospitals are undertaking mock drills from Monday and state Health Ministers are reviewing the drills in their respective states/UTs.

While visiting the RML Hospital, Mandaviya had an informal interactive session with Heads of Departments and staff. He spent some time with the doctors, nurses, heads of security, and sanitation services listening to their suggestions on quality clinical practices, measures for infection control, hospital management, sanitation processes and patient-centric provisions.

Huge response was seen nationwide, where ministers and senior officials reviewed the preparations and capacities of hospitals and facilities.

The Union Health Minister has already advised States to be on alert and keep all preparedness for Covid-19 management. He has cautioned against any complacency and urged everyone to follow Covid appropriate behaviour.

Mandaviya has also urged states to identify emerging hotspots by monitoring trends of ILI/SARI cases and send sufficient samples for testing of Covid-19 and influenza, and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples.

Dr Ajay Shukla, Director and Medical Superintendent, RML Hospital, and heads of various departments including sanitation were present on the occasion.
New Delhi, April 10 : A 45-year-old man was killed in Delhi's Okhla area following a quarrel with another man over some political issue, an official said on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Prabhu Nath.

According to the police, a PCR call regarding a quarrel in Okhla Phase-II was received at the Okhla Industrial Area police station at 10:57 p.m. on Sunday.

"Head constable Vinod reached the spot and inquired about the matter following which it was revealed that a scuffle took place between Prabhu Nath and a person named Vikas Chauhan," said Rajesh Deo, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast).

An injured Prabhu was shifted to some 'unknown' hospital. However, at 3:48 a.m. on Monday, the police were informed by AIIMS authorities that Prabhu Nath was brought dead to the hospital.

"A police team reached the hospital and inspected the body. However, no other injury marks were found on the dead body except an abrasion over nose," the DCP said.

"On further inquiry, one eyewitness named Kishore Kumar, who works as a security guard, told the police that the drivers of Gaurav Goods Career Transports - Prabhu Nath, Vikas Chauhan and Nitin were drinking near their trucks on Sunday night," Deo said.

"After some time, a heated argument broke out between Prabhu and Vikas over some political issue. Vikas pushed Prabhu due to which he fell down and became unconscious. Kishor had dialled 112 and shifted Ptabhu to AIIMS in an ambulance where he was declared brought dead," said the officer.

"The body has been preserved in the mortuary. A case under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered and a manhunt is on to nab the accused, who is on the run," the DCP added.
In April, Ukraine will host an international event with the participation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the key topic will be the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, the PAP Polish agency said, citing a high-ranking source in EU.

"The event will take place in April. Details have not yet been disclosed due to security concerns. One of the key topics of the talks will be the issue of the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia," a source in the EU told PAP.

In February, the European Commission announced that, together with Poland, it was launching an initiative regarding Ukrainian children abducted to Russia. The goal is to find them and bring those responsible for the kidnappings to justice.

On March 24, President of the European Commission von der Leyen, announced a conference that would be devoted to the issue of the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
New Delhi, April 10 : A Delhi High Court judge on Monday recused herself from hearing a plea moved by the AIADMK and its interim General Secretary K. Palaniswami seeking directions for updation of its records with the Election Commission.

A single-judge bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh listed the matter for hearing on April 12 before another bench.

"Subject to orders of the Hon'ble Chief Justice, list this matter before another bench," she said.

The AIADMK has sought that the court direct the EC to consider its representations and upload the latest amended by-laws dated July 11, 2022, in its records. The political party has claimed that owing to certain internal disputes pending in the party, the EC has acted contrary to the settled legal principles.

The AIADMK, in the plea, states that the inaction of the EC to upload the latest by-laws on the website will seriously impact its democratic fabric as a recognised political party having significant presence in Karnataka as it will be unable to participate in the elections.

"The inaction will only cause severe disruption of the activities of the Petitioner Party which will, in turn, have a serious bearing on the democratic principles of the nation," the plea states.

It has further been submitted that the EC's inaction to upload the amended records will lead to a situation where AIADMK will not be able to put up a candidate or carry out any other administrative function.

"The inaction of the EC is causing grave prejudice and hardship not only to the AIADMK party but also to the primary members of AIADMK party and the entire citizenry of state of Tamil Nadu for the reason that absolute strangers to the AIADMK party are representing themselves as Coordinators and other office bearers of party. They are also appointing various unknown persons to the posts of AIADMK party and such impersonation cannot be allowed in a vibrant democracy," the plea adds.

An application has been filed by former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O. Panneerselvam seeking intervention in the matter, the court was told.

The plea was moved after the announcement of the schedule for elections in Karnataka.
New Delhi, April 10 : BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, who is also the Jammu and Kashmir party In-charge, on Monday, launched a scathing attack on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti, saying that she was "dancing to the tune of foreign forces like Pakistan and China".

He said it is time Mehbooba started looking at various development works that have been executed during Narendra Modi's term as the Prime Minister.

Jammu and Kashmir has entered a new era where tourism is more important than terrorism. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir has new dreams in their eyes, Chugh added.

The BJP leader said: "A new history of development is being written in Jammu and Kashmir. Working at Cancer Institute, AIIMS, NIT, Cluster University, Srinagar. The Union Territory is far ahead in the country in terms of the tourism sector. But unfortunately, Mehbooba Mufti ji is not watching these incidents." Chugh added that 83,186 houses have been handed over under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme, while 16,850 houses have been rehabilitated under the Awas Yojana.

He also said that during the Modi government, 12 lakh LPG connections were given only in Jammu and Kashmir and every citizen of the country has been brought under the ambit of Ayushman Health Card.

Chugh added that new chapters of development are going to start in Jammu and Kashmir under the new housing budget 2023-24.

In the budget, emphasis is being laid on promotion of broadband agriculture, making industrial development our own, employment generation, and upliftment of women, the BJP leader said.

Chugh added that in the general budget of Jammu and Kashmir, Rs 2526.74 crore and Rs 2097.53 crore for health and medical sector, Rs 4169.26 crore for development of rural areas, Rs 1964.90 crore for power sector, Rs 7,161 crore for Jal Shakti, Rs 2928.04 crore has been proposed for housing and urban development, Rs 1521.87 crore for education, Rs 4062.87 crore for road and bridge construction.
New Delhi, April 10 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday in connection with the alleged land for job matter involving his father and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and other family members.

Earlier, his sister and Rajya Sabha Member Misa Bharti was questioned by the ED.

In March, the ED claimed unaccounted cash of Rs 1 crore, $1,900, 540 gms gold and 1.5 kg of gold jewellery and other incriminating documents were recovered during the raids conducted at 24 locations in Delhi, Mumbai, Patna and in Ranchi based on specific intelligence inputs.

The ED had said that they detected around Rs 600 crore in "proceeds of crime" which were in the form of immovable properties of Rs 350 crore and transactions of Rs 250 Crore routed through various benamidaars.

It alleged that the PMLA investigation conducted so far has revealed that several pieces of land at prominent locations in Patna and other areas were illegally acquired by the family of Lalu Prasad in lieu of jobs provided in Railways. The current market value of these land parcels is more than Rs 200 crore and several benamidars, shell entities and beneficial owners for these lands have been identified.

"A property situated at D-1088, New Friends Colony, Delhi (independent 4 storied bungalow, registered in the name of A.B. Exports Private Ltd, a company owned and controlled by Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and family) was shown to have been acquired at a value of mere Rs 4 lakh, the present market value of which is approximately Rs 150 crore," the ED claimed.

An official claimed that huge amount of cash/Proceeds of Crime were infused in purchasing this property and few Mumbai-based entities, dealing in the gems and jewellery sector, were used to channel ill-gotten proceeds of crime in this regard.A "The property has been though, on paper, declared as office of A.B. Exports Private Ltd and AK Infosystems Pvt Ltd, is being exclusively used as residential premises by Tejashwi Prasad. During the searches, Tejashwi Prasad was found to be staying at this house and was found to be using this house as his residential property," ED alleged.

The ED said that their investigation has found that 4 parcels of lands acquired by the family of Lalu Yadav for just Rs 7.5 lakh from poor Group-D applicants were sold to former RJD MLA Syed Abu Dojana by Rabri Devi with huge gains at Rs 3.5 crore.

It said that their investigation has further revealed that a major portion of the amount thus received, was transferred to the account of Tejashwi Prasad.
Mumbai, April 10 : Marathi actress Deepali Sayed, a member of the ruling ally Shiv Sena, has complained against her former aide of death threats and running a slur campaign accusing her of mafia links, industry sources said on Monday.

Sayed, who joined CM Eknath Shinde's party in November 2022, has filed the complaint with Oshiwara Police Station in Mumbai, days after her ex-PA Baburao Shinde levelled a series of allegations against her in Ahmednagar.

Among these were Sayed had taken up Pakistani citizenship, had bought properties in London and Dubai and had links with the mafia dons in Pakistan.

The Oshiwara Police have booked Shinde under various charges of the IPC and further probe is underway.

Sayed said that Shinde alleged that her real name was 'Sofia Sayed' and that she had taken up Pakistani citizenship, operated a bank account there, but had acquired a fake passport to live in India, and had threatened to eliminate her.

She also charged Shinde of hurling allegations of cheating and frauds through a charitable trust which organised mass marriages for couples, and morphing her photos with Iqbal Ibrahim Kaskar (the jailed brother of the absconder Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar).

Sayed said that she sacked Shinde after learning that he had taken unauthorised auditions of an aspiring woman actor for a Marathi film.
Mumbai, April 10 : The ruling ally Shiv Sena has washed its hands off a purported plea filed by a lawyer seeking the Shiv Sena Bhavan, the headquarters of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and its funds in all banks, here on Monday.

In an official statement from the Shiv Sena Central Office in Thane, state party Coordinator and Spokesperson Naresh Mhaske said that news in some sections of the media to the effect were "absolutely false".

As per certain local channels, advocate Ashish Giri has claimed to have filed a plea in the Supreme Court demanding that all the funds and the party headquarters of ex-CM-led Shiv Sena (UBT) should be handed over to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Filing the plea in his personal capacity, Giri contended that the Election Commission had last year (Oct) ordered allotting the original name-symbol of 'Shiv Sena' and 'Bow and Arrow' to the Shinde faction.

However, there was no clarity on the party's headquarters in Dadar, the iconic Shiv Sena Bhavan, its 227 branches in Mumbai and other units across the state and the funds in various bank accounts.

He argued that since the Election Commission had given the name and symbol to the Shinde faction, it also had the rights to the party headquarters and the bank funds, and demanded a stay till the case is heard.

However, Mhaske categorically stated that his party has not made any such demand, the lawyer (Giri) has no connections with the Shiv Sena and dismissed the reports to the effect.

Last year, there was speculation on the fate of the Shiv Sena Bhavan and other things, but Sena (UBT) leaders said it belonged to a Thackeray family trust and so nobody could stake claim over it.

Later, Shinde had also indicated that they would not raise the issues after which his party set up the Central Office in his hometown Thane.
Jaipur, April 10 : Former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot spoke of 'self-respect of Rajasthan' on Monday, a day before sitting on one-day fast against his own government's inaction on ex-chief minister Vasundhara Raje.

In his tweet, he said, "Happiness in mind, smile on face, Resides here in every heart, Self respect of Rajasthan." Pilot can be seen laughing out loud as being hugged by one of his followers.

Pilot along with his supporters will observe a day-long fast at Jaipur's Shaheed Smarak on Tuesday. He has announced a fast against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's inaction on alleged scams reported under Vasundhara Raje's CM tenure.

Pilot will not take supporting ministers and MLAs with him in his fast. Instead of keeping ministers and MLAs together, he will keep common supporters together.

On the other hand, Revenue Minister Ramlal Jat said: "CM builds a wall with one hand and falls with the other by giving a wrong statement. What does it mean? Congress workers should not support such people," he added.

His supporters from all over the state will reach Jaipur to join him during his fast. Pro-Pilot leaders and MLAs had given a message to the supporters to reach Jaipur a day in advance.

Sources said Pilot has decided to keep the pro-ministers and MLAs away from the fast as a strategy. "If the supporting MLAs were on hunger strike, they would have been counted. There were two types of disadvantages in it. The issue arises as to who has more numbers. Second, the issue would have been associated with rebellion. Because of this, Pilot has adopted the strategy of fasting with common supporters." After the announcement of Sachin Pilot's fast, the internal politics of the Congress has again heated up. State in-charge Sukhjinder Randhawa is reaching Jaipur on Tuesday afternoon for damage-control. Randhawa will meet Ashok Gehlot and Congress State President Govind Singh Dotasara in a face-saving attempt.

Meanwhile, a few days back, RLP convenor and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal asked Pilot to leave the Congress and float his own party. 'I had said earlier also that if Sachin Pilot forms a new party, we will forge an alliance with him. I want Sachin Pilot to leave Congress as soon as possible as he is being humiliated again and again in the party." Reacting to the statement during a press conference on Sunday, Pilot said, "Every one has right to express himself."
New Delhi, April 10 : Amid instances of unruly behaviour by some passengers on flights, aviation regulator DGCA on Monday issued an advisory to airlines saying such incidents have the potential of compromising the safety of aircraft operations.

The aviation regulator has advised the heads of operations of all airlines to sensitise their pilots, cabin crew and post holders on handling of unruly passengers through appropriate means.

Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate from Delhi to London on Monday returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to "serious unruly behaviour" of a passenger on board. An FIR was lodged as the accused person allegedly misbehaved and caused physical harm to two of the cabin crew members.

The advisory issued on Monday said that there are provisions under the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) for action to be taken by the airline to deal with unruly passengers and the responsibilities of pilots, cabin crew members and the director of inflight services are also mentioned in the CAR.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has noticed a few incidents such as smoking in aircraft, consumption of alcoholic beverages resulting in unruly behaviour, altercations between passengers and sometimes inappropriate touching or sexual harassment by the passengers onboard an aircraft during the flight, wherein post holders, pilots and cabin crew members have failed to take appropriate actions.

Air lines shall categorise all such unruly passenger behaviour into three levels and such people can face a flying ban for varying periods.

Unruly behaviour such as physical gestures, verbal harassment and unruly inebriation are classified as Level 1, while physically abusive behaviour like pushing, kicking or sexual harassment will be classified as Level 2.

Besides, life threatening behaviour such as damage to aircraft operating systems, physical violence like choking and murderous assault will be considered as Level 3.

An internal committee set up by the airline concerned can decide on the duration for which an unruly passenger can be banned from flying.

Airlines have witnessed many such incidents of unruly behaviour by some air passengers in the last few months.

Last week, in an incident of unruly behavior by an air-passenger, a drunk flyer on board an Indigo flight from Delhi to Bengaluru tried to open the flap of the emergency doors.

Subsequently, the matter was reported to the concerned agencies and appropriate action was initiated.
Jaipur, April 10 : In Rajasthan, 5,137 teams of police have arrested over 20,000 miscreants in the last three months (January to March) under 'Operation Vajra Prahar', reducing the number of criminal cases by 9 per cent, DGP Umesh Mishra informed on Monday.

Strict action has been taken against those who praise, follow and support criminals, the DGP said during a media briefing at the police headquarters here.

The campaign specifically targeted gangs possessing illegal weapons and also those involved in firing incidents. Eventually, there has been a decrease in the number followers of gangsters on social media due to which there has also been a drop in calls for ransom, Mishra said.

The DGP said that an 'area domination and raid and search' campaign has been launched in the desert state after in-depth homework in all the districts and ranges.

As many as 5,137 teams of police raided about 13,600 places and arrested 20,542 miscreants in the first three months of the year, due to whcih there has been a decrease of 9 per cent in the number of criminal cases as compared to the corresponding period of last year, Mishra said.

The DGP said that some criminals commit crimes while sitting outside the country and a probe has been initiated against them with the help of Interpol. In this regard, a red corner notice has been issued against gangster Rohm Godara, while similar notices are being prepared for gangsters Anmol Vishnoi and Goldie Brar, the DGP said.

"Strict action is being taken by the police against those who attack cops and those who try to escape from police custody. In 2023, 21 criminals were shot dead in police encounters so far, while 25 miscreants were injured while trying to escape," Mishra said.

ADG (Crime) Dinesh M.N. said that Operation Vajra Prahar was started by the police to root out the criminals. Under this campaign, homework is also being done to take action against illegal properties and vehicles.

The ADG said that a total of 36 cases were registered against those who followed criminals on social media, 56 persons have been arrested in such cases. As a result of police action, the number of followers of 'Monu' group in Bikaner has gone down from 36,537 to 9,189. Similarly, the number followers of gangster Rohit Godara has dropped from 38,862 to 6,558.
New Delhi, April 10 : The Supreme Court on Monday queried how could the Delhi Lt Governor (LG) act without the aid and advice of the council of ministers in nominating 10 members to the MCD.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala said: "How can the LG take the decision without aid and advice of the council of ministers?" Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, representing the LG office, submitted that an amendment to Section 44 of the GNCTD Act (the Government of National Capital Territory Act) was made after the 2018 judgment of the apex court's constitution bench. He said a response will be filed in the matter and added that in view of the amendment, a notification, which is under challenge in a separate petition, was issued.

Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, assisted by advocate Shadan Farasat, representing the Delhi government, contested the submissions made by Jain.

Singhvi said the constitutional interpretation of Article 239AA (which deals with Delhi) by the Supreme Court cannot be negated by amending a statute and added that Delhi government officers were sending the files directly to the LG office without first sharing them with the government.

After hearing submissions, the bench gave 10 days to the office of the LG to file the response on the Delhi government plea seeking quashing of the nomination of the 10 members.

During the hearing, Singhvi stressed that every time the government has to come to the court to seek relief and they are enjoying the power, and added that each zone of MCD has a ward committee and each committee gets a nominated alderman to sit.

The bench said it will list the petition for hearing.

On March 29, the Supreme Court issued notice on a plea by Delhi government challenging the appointment of 'aldermen' by the Delhi LG to the MCD.

"This is the first time since Article 239AA came into effect in 1991 that such a nomination has been made by the Lt Governor completely by-passing the elected government, thereby arrogating to an unelected office a power that belongs to the duly elected government," said the government's plea.

The Delhi government sought quashing of orders dated January 3 and 4, 2023, and consequent gazette notifications, whereby the LG appointed 10 (ten) nominated members to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on his own initiative, and not on the aid and advice of the council of ministers.

The plea contended that nominations in question have been made under Section 3(3)(b)(i) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 (DMC Act), which provides that the MCD should include, apart from the elected councillors, ten persons of not less than 25 of age and who have special knowledge or experience in municipal administration, "to be nominated by the administrator".

It further contended that neither the section nor any other provision of law says anywhere that such nomination is to be made by the administrator in his discretion.

The Delhi government said it is a settled position of constitutional law for the last 50 years that the powers conferred on a nominal and unelected head of state are to be exercised only under the 'aid and advice' of the council of ministers. "Such an express requirement is completely lacking under either the Constitution or the statutory scheme under the DMC Act in the present case, and as such the nominations made by the Lt Governor are per se unconstitutional and illegal," it added.
Kolkata, April 10 : None of the senior Trinamool Congress leaders have come forward so far to air their views after the Election Commission of India on Monday withdrew its national party status, though there was hint that the ruling party in West Bengal might consider taking legal recourse in this matter.

Just a one-liner came from party spokesman Kunal Ghosh, who said that it is too early to make any comment on the ECI's decision.

"The party leadership will review the development before making any detailed statement in this matter," Ghosh said.

Senior Trinamool leader and three-time Lok Sabha MP Saugata Roy, while claiming that the party leadership will take a final decision in this matter, said that the ECI's decision will surely be opposed.

"Previously, a number of decisions taken by the Election Commission have proved to be wrong. The Commission has also been censored by the Supreme Court a number of times. Besides sending a deputation to the Commission, we might also consider taking the legal route in this matter," Roy said.

A senior member of state Cabinet said on condition of anonymity that the apprehension about this development was there for some time now.

"The party leadership has decided to announce a detailed blueprint of the action to be taken after thoroughly reviewing the decision of the Election Commission," he said.

Political observers, however, feel that although the Trinamool leadership has every right to challenge ECI's decision in court, in all probability, that will not be an effective step since the Indian Constitution has given full liberty to the poll panel in such matters.
Time does not play on Russia's side, time works for those who make the right decisions and do not back down, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov said.

"Time works for those who make the right decisions, are guided by values, are active, not afraid and do not retreat. Other factors are of secondary importance," he wrote on Facebook on Monday.

In his opinion, "all these talks that time is playing on the side of the enemy are worthless. The Kremlin rat, not limited by the timing of election procedures, hopes to sit in a bunker and wait, when "The West will get tired of Ukraine," or China will help, or when a new president will be elected in the United States, or "hunger riots" will begin in Ukraine."

"Putin has exhausted his time limit. What he has been preparing for 20 years and failed at the start cannot be corrected in a year, two, or three," Danilov wrote. In his opinion, "Putin made a mistake in the most important decision of his life  to attack Ukraine, after which he moved from the pedestal of the most influential person in the world to the status of a suspected criminal of the Hague Tribunal."
New Delhi, April 10 : The Supreme Court on Monday junked a plea moved by the Popular Front of India's (PFI) student wing leader, K.A. Rauf Sherif, seeking a transfer of a money-laundering case lodged against him from Lucknow to Kerala's Ernakulam.

A bench of Justices V. Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal said: "We find no legally valid and justifiable grounds to order this transfer. Therefore, this transfer petition is dismissed. Pending application(s), if any, stands disposed of accordingly." The bench noted that the fact that the petitioner was sent to custody by the special judge at Ernakulam under Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and that, therefore, the filing of the complaint at Lucknow is impermissible, is not legally well-founded.

The petitioner was arrested on December 12, 2020, in Kerala and he was produced before the magistrate on December 13, 2020, who sent him to judicial custody till December 24, 2020. "Therefore, the NIA moved an application under Section 167 of the Code before the Principal Sessions Judge, Ernakulam for the grant of Enforcement Directorate custody for a period of 14 days. An order under Section 167(2) of the Code had to be passed necessarily by the magistrate to whom an accused person is forwarded. In fact, Section 167(2) contains the words whether he has or has not jurisdiction to try the case. Therefore, the argument revolving around Section 167(2) of the Code also fails," said the bench.

It stressed that a special court in Lucknow dealing with cases lodged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cannot be said to be lacking in territorial jurisdiction to entertain the complaint. "In any case, the lack of jurisdiction of a court to entertain a complaint can be no ground to order its transfer. A congenital defect of lack of jurisdiction, assuming that it exists, inures to the benefit of the accused and hence it need not be cured at the instance of the accused to his detriment. Therefore, the first ground on which transfer is sought, is liable to be rejected," it said.

The bench noted that the second ground on which transfer is sought is that 7 out of 10 accused persons are residents of Kerala. "But this can hardly be a ground for ordering the transfer of investigation. Similarly, the third ground that a majority of witnesses are also from Kerala/south India is also no ground to order the transfer of the complaint," it held.

The ED had contended that Sherif had received huge amounts of money in his bank accounts through suspicious transactions.

The Lucknow court had framed charges against Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan and six others in the PMLA case in December 2022. In October 2020, Kappan was arrested with three others on their way to Uttar Pradesh's Hathras to report on the alleged gang rape and killing of a 19-year-old woman.

Besides Kappan, the other accused in the case is Sherif and others. Sherif claimed that he was the General Secretary of Campus Front of India, which is now banned as an unlawful association, vide notification issued by the Union of India, Ministry of Home Affairs dated September 27, 2021 under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967
Dar Es Salaam, April 10 : At least 13 traders were killed and another two injured after a truck ferrying them from an auction plunged into a river in Ruvuma region in southern Tanzania, the police said on Monday.

Marco Chilya, the Ruvuma regional police commander, said the incident occurred at 9 p.m. local time on Sunday when the truck ferrying the traders overturned before it plunged into Njoka River as it attempted to climb a steep hill, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The traders were on their way from an auction of various goods at Ndongosi village to Namatuhi village in Songea district," Chilya told a news conference.

He said the police are investigating to establish the cause of the accident.

"Apart from ferrying the traders, the truck was overloaded with various goods which the traders had bought from the auction," he said.
Hyderabad, April 10 : In a move that sparked political heat in both the Telugu states, the Telangana government intends to submit an expression of interest (EoI) for the acquisition of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam, commonly referred to as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), located in Andhra Pradesh.

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government is planning to bid for the VSP through its Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL).

The Telangana government enjoys a majority stake in SCCL of 51 per cent while the Centre holds the remaining 49 per cent.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has reportedly instructed a few officials from the government as well as the SCCL to visit the VSP and prepare a blueprint. The last date for submitting bids for VSP is on April 15.

The move has triggered a row in both the Telugu states. While Andhra Pradesh's YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government came under attack from opposition parties for doing nothing to stop privatisation of the VSP, opposition in Telangana questioned KCR government's move to use funds of Telangana in another state.

Telangana BJP President Bandi Sanjay Kumar alleged that BRS set aside core ideals of Telangana for KCR's "selfish political interests". "Telangana State money will be used for Andhra Pradesh's steel plant," he remarked.

Andhra Pradesh Industry Minister Gudivada Amarnath, however, maintained that YSRCP is opposed to privatisation. "There is no official statement from the Telangana government. We have seen only speculations in the media," he said.

BRS leaders, on the other hand, defended the move. "When Gujarat MDC bid and get mines in Odisha, why can't Telangana bid for Vizag Steel Plant for which even Telangana people lost lives fighting for," asked BRS leader Krishank Manne, who is also Chairman of Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation (TSMDC).

Apart from the SCCL, the TSMDC is also likely to submit EoI for VSP.

"Vizag Steel Plant, Bayyaram are not encouraged only for the benefit of Modi+Adani+Posco," he tweeted.

This is said to be the first time a state-run company will place bids to secure a PSU in a neighbouring state.

The move is also expected to politically benefit KCR's party, which recently changed itself to the BRS from the TRS to expand pan-India.

BRS Working President and KCR's son K.T. Rama Rao had last week written to the Centre opposing its move to privatise the VSP.

Reacting to KTR's letter, former joint director of the CBI, V. V. Lakshminarayana had suggested that either Andhra Pradesh or Telangana government should submit the EoI for VSP.

The BRS had also organised a 'Maha Dharna' on April 8 to protest against the Centre's decision to auction SCCL coal mines. The protest was organised during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Hyderabad.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) national Secretary K. Narayana on Monday welcomed Telangana's interest in VSP.

He said that if VSP goes into the hands of private companies like Adani Group, it would be a great loss to the country and appreciated KCR's decision to take over the PSU.

CPI's Andhra Pradesh Secretary Ramakrishna questioned the silence of Jagan Mohan Reddy government over VSP's privatisation when Telangana government is trying to acquire the plant.

--IANS ms/vd

A
Srinagar, April 10 : The J&K Cable Car Corporation on Monday cautioned tourists of falling in the trap of touts, saying that tickets for the Gondola in Gulmarg are available only on the official website.

A statement said, "It has come to the notice of the management of the Cable Car Corporation that some tourists are falling into the trap of touts regarding tickets of for the Gondola in Gulmarg.

"All our esteemed tourists are informed through this press note that the tickets for the Gulmarg Gondola Project are available only through online mode on the official website -- www.jammukashmircablecar.com -- and there is no other means to get tickets for the project.

"There is a transparent system of online ticketing and the question of black-marketing of Gondola tickets does not arise. Therefore, our esteemed tourists are advised not to fall prey to the propaganda of touts and not to go for Gondola booking by any mode other than online booking."
New Delhi, April 10 : A Delhi court on Monday allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to quiz liquor businessman Amandeep Singh Dhall, who was arrested in connection with the alleged excise policy scam.

Dhall is lodged in the Tihar Jail here in judicial custody.

The agency told CBI judge M.K. Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court that some new information has come out.

"...some fresh evidences have surfaced which require further examination of Dhall to unearth the conspiracy hatched between the accused in relation to the excise case," it said.

Judge Nagpal allowed the agency to quiz Dhall inside the jail and to record his statement any day this week.

The probe agency had examined Dhall in the case earlier also.

Dhall is the executive director of Brindco Sales Private Ltd and was arrested on March 1 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the excise case.

He was arrested by the ED three days after the CBI arrested Delhi's then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on February 26.

Dhall was placed under arrest after being questioned at length in connection with the case.

He is alleged of playing a main role in drafting the excise policy brought in by the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi. He is also a named accused in the CBI's First Information Report.

Brindco is a major importer and distributor of a variety of liquor brands and related beverages.
New Delhi, April 10 : A 55-year-old man was allegedly killed by three men including his brother over the distribution of construction materials from an ancestral house in Southeast Delhi, an official said on Monday.

The deceased was identified as Ashok Kumar, a resident of Aali village in Badarpur area.

The accused individuals -- Pramod, his son Ashish and Varun --have been apprehended and a case of murder has been registered.

According to police, on Monday around 2.12 p.m., the police received a call regarding a quarrel at a shop in N Block, Amar Market, Saurabh Vihar, following which a police team rushed to the spot.

"On reaching the spot, it was found that a PCR van had taken the injured person to hospital. Thereafter, at 3.49 p.m., information was received regarding the admission of Ashok Kumar, brought dead, after being assaulted near his house," said a senior police officer.

A police team reached the hospital where medico legal reports of Ashok and his son Arun Kumar were obtained.

"Thereafter, the statement of injured Arun was recorded wherein he claimed that his father Ashok had a quarrel with his brother Pramod and his sons over the distribution of construction materials from an ancestral house in N Block, Saurabh Vihar. During the quarrel, his uncle Pramod caused head injury to his father and his cousin brothers attacked him, causing a stab injury," the police officer said.
New Delhi, April 10 : The Election Commission has told the Supreme Court that it has made recommendations and also taken steps actively for decriminalisation of politics, however any further steps would need legislative amendments to be effective.

In an affidavit, citing its "Proposed Electoral Reforms, 2016", the EC said it had reiterated its 2004 recommendation that persons charged with cognisable offences, which are punishable with imprisonment of at least five years, where charges have been framed and where the cases have been filed at least six months prior to the election, should be debarred from contesting elections.

On Monday, a bench of Justices K.M. Joseph and B.V. Nagarathna gave the Centre four weeks' time to file a response on a plea seeking ban from contesting polls for persons against whom charges have been framed in serious offences like rape, murder kidnapping, extortion, bribery money laundering, and disproportionate assets etc.

The EC, in its affidavit, said it has been raising the issue of criminalisation of politics since 1998. "In fact, the Election Commission of India sent a proposal to the government of India for De-criminalisation of politics on July 15, 1998, which proposals were thereafter reiterated in its Proposed Electoral Reforms, published in July 2004 and December 2016 respectively," it said.

The poll panel's response came on a PIL filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, raising concerns about an increase in the number of candidates who declared criminal cases against them. The petitioner contended that out of 539 winners of 17th Lok Sabha, 233 (43 per cent) declared criminal cases against themselves and after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, 185 (34 per cent) winners had declared criminal cases.

In February this year, the top court gave Centre final opportunity to file its reply on the plea. The top court had observed that it is an important matter as the common man is affected by corruption.

The plea also sought a direction to the poll panel to use its plenary power conferred under Article 324, to amend the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968, to insert such a restriction for the contestants.

In its 244th report, the Law Commission had favoured for debarring candidates with criminal antecedents with an additional condition that charges should have been framed at least one year before the scrutiny of nominations.
New Delhi, April 10 : Delhi Police officers were put on high alert on Monday after seven hand grenades were found in the Holambi Kalan area in North Delhi. A source said that several persons have been detained by the police in this connection.

The source in the police also said that the recovered grenades were all country-made.

Delhi Police officials are tight-lipped over the matter, not making any official statement.

"The grenades were found in a field on the outskirts of Delhi. The police have seized a total of seven hand grenades. Sensing the gravity of the matter, a bomb disposal squad was also pressed into service and extra police force was deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident," the source said.

Earlier, the Special Cell of Delhi Police had recovered two hand grenades from a house in the Bhalswa Dairy area while probing a case of a dismembered body, which was found in a drain. Two people were arrested in that case.
Agartala, April 10 : The opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Monday claimed that during the last 40 days, over 2,015 incidents of attacks on the offices and supporters of opposition parties had occurred but in most cases, no action was taken against the perpetrators, most of whom, according to the Left party, belong to the ruling BJP.

A six-member CPI-M delegation led by former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Monday met Chief Minister Manik Saha and explained the "reign of terror" unleashed by the ruling BJP members and the "party-backed goons" since March 2, the day February 16 assembly election results were declared and the saffron party led government came to power for the second consecutive term.

Sarkar said that almost every day since March 2, incidents of attacks on opposition party members and supporters are being reported and at least five people were killed. "Police remained a wooden doll and in most cases they did not take any actions to rescue the victims and to arrest the culprits," the CPI-M politburo member told the media.

The Chief Minister assured the CPI-M delegation of taking appropriate steps to stop such attacks, he said.

"BJP seems very disappointed over its declining vote share in the February 16 assembly polls in Tripura. The party's electoral performance in the February 27 assembly polls in Nagaland and Meghalaya was also awful despite mobilisations of all huge kinds of resources," the Left leader said.

Sarkar said: "The BJP thought and accordingly campaigned that the entire opposition would be wiped out in the state and they would get 50 to 55 seats in the 60 member assembly, but the results showed a steady decline in its support base with vote share reducing from 51 per cent to 39 per cent. The seat count has reduced by four as compared to the 2018 assembly elections." In the February 16 assembly polls, the BJP secured 32 seats and its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura got one in the last elections to the 60-member assembly, while the CPI-M secured 11 and its electoral ally Congress bagged three. Surprising the pundits and political and non-political leaders, the tribal based Tipra Motha Party (TMP) became the second single largest party after BJP winning 13 seats.

In terms of seat sharing in the assembly polls, the TMP is the first tribal-based local party to get the main opposition party status in the Tripura assembly.
Panaji, April 10 : Goa unit BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade on Monday said they have guts to tell even the Karnataka media that the state government will not compromise on the Mhadei river issue.

Tanavade said this when he was asked about Goa BJP leaders campaigning for Karnataka's assembly election.

"BJP is a national party, we have a system. During the assembly election in Goa, our 'karyakartas' from Karnataka came here. Even we go to Maharashtra and help our party to organise (elections). We go to neighbouring states," he said.

"When we take these responsibilities, it does not mean that we will compromise on Mhadei," he said.

Tanavade said that in no circumstances would the state government compromise on the Mhadei issue.

"The Goa government will not compromise anything on Mhadei, whatever legal battle is to be fought, we will fight it," Tanavade said.

"Even when we go there, if the Karnataka media questions us (Goa BJP leaders) on the Mhadei issue, we will make the statement that the government will not compromise on this issue, we have the guts (to make a statement)," he also said.

In the second week of March, Pramod Sawant, while campaigning for the assembly election in Karnataka for his party, had spoken a few lines in Kannada language. He had said 'Svalpa Svalpa Kannada Mathadene' (I can speak little in Kannada).

Subsequent to his speech in Kannada, opposition parties in Goa had slammed Sawant for campaigning in Karnataka, stating the neighbouring state had allegedly diverted water from the Mhadei river and he is still supporting them by campaigning.

In January, during a rally in Belagavi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said: "Today, I am here to tell you that the BJP at the Centre has resolved the long dispute between Goa and Karnataka over Mhadei and allowed the diversion of Mhadei to Karnataka to satisfy the thirst of farmers of many districts." Goa and Karnataka are currently battling out a dispute over the Kalasa-Banduri dam project across the water of Mhadei river at a central tribunal.
The Verkhovna Rada has adopted an appeal to the member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly with an appeal to help accelerate Ukraine's accession to the Alliance.

The adoption of relevant draft resolution No. 9192 was supported by deputies at the plenary session on Monday, said Oleksiy Honcharenko, a member of the European Solidarity faction.
New Delhi, April 11 : Alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar moved a Delhi court on Monday accusing the judge hearing his case of bias and seeking his transfer.

Chandrashekhar filed an application before the Principal District & Sessions Judge, Dharmesh Sharma.

"Since the applicant/accused has alleged bias against the presiding officer/ASJ, let the copy of the present transfer petition be sent to him elucidating his comments upon the same, which may be placed before this court for further consideration on April 17," Sharma said.

Lodged at the Mandoli Jail in the national capital, Chandrashekhar is accused of extorting Rs 200 crore from a businessman's wife.

The concerned jail authorities were directed by the court to produce the accused virtually on the next date of hearing.

Chnadrashekhar has contended that all the reliefs being granted to the other accused in the case were not being given to him and his wife Leena Paul.

He had allegedly defrauded the spouses of former promoters of Ranbaxy, Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh, of Rs 200 crore.

He had allegedly cheated their wives Aditi Singh and Japna Singh of crores of rupees by posing as an officer from the Union Law Ministry, promising that he would secure bail for their husbands.

Both Chnadrashekhar and his actor wife Leena Paul were arrested by the Delhi Police in September last year for their alleged involvement in the case.
New Delhi, April 11 : The Delhi High Court has upheld a ban on the manufacture, storage, and sale of gutka, pan masala, flavoured tobacco, and similar products in the city, citing their direct and harmful impact on public health.

The ban was initially imposed by the food safety commissioner, but was later quashed by the high court in September 2022.

The Centre and Delhi governments appealed against the decision and a bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma has now set aside the earlier decision and upheld the ban.

The court rejected objections raised by entities in the tobacco business against the ban, stating that there was no justification for the quashing of the notifications.

The court has declared that there was no justification for the previous decision to quash the notifications, and has rejected objections from tobacco business entities against the ban that was in place from 2015 until 2021.

"We find ourselves unable to sustain the impugned judgment rendered by the learned Judge. These appeals shall consequently stand allowed. We find no merit in the challenge raised (against the ban). It shall, in consequence, stand dismissed," said the bench, also comprising Justice Yashwant Varma.

"It becomes necessary to observe that the writ petitioners (manufacturers of tobacco related products, etc) did not dispute that both cigarettes as well as smokeless tobacco have a direct and pernicious impact on public health. Once it was found and conceded that both categories of tobacco constituted substances which had a direct impact on public health, the impugned notifications clearly did not warrant being quashed," observed the court.

In its 176-page judgment, the court noted that the Supreme Court has already urged governments to ban the manufacture and sale of gutka and pan masala, and the previous single judge's decision could not have deemed this not applicable in the current case.

Regarding the objection raised by tobacco businesses that the ban was discriminatory because it only applied to smokeless tobacco and not cigarettes, the court rejected this and stated that the ban was implemented because of the "larger number of users of smokeless tobacco" and that food safety authorities were authorised to impose such prohibitions.

The court also mentioned that Article 14 could not be used to argue that since a specific type of tobacco had not been banned, there should be no prohibition on other similarly harmful products. It noted that there were 163.7 million smokeless tobacco users in the country compared to 68.9 million smokers.

The court also mentioned that products such as pan masala, chewing tobacco, and gutka were not exempted from the definition of "food" under Section 3(1)(j) of the FSSA.

The court noted that the petitioners had operated under the mistaken belief that the notifications aimed to ban or prohibit tobacco, when in reality, they sought to prohibit the addition of tobacco or tobacco products to food products.
New Delhi, April 11 : Delhi Police have arrested the daughter-in-law of an elderly couple in connection with their killing, an official said on Monday.

The official said that she along with her boyfriend hatched the conspiracy to eliminate the couple and flee with the belongings.

An elderly couple was found murdered at their home in Delhi's Gokulpuri area on Monday, an official said, adding that the house was ransacked and cash and jewellery were also missing.

The deceased were identified as Radhey Shyam Verma (72) and his wife Veena (68), residents of Bhagirathi Vihar.

Verma had retired as Vice Principal from a Delhi government school in Karol Bagh.

The family has been living in this house since the past 38 years, said the official.

At 7.19 a.m. on Monday, the police received a PCR call regarding a double murder in Bhagirathi Vihar following which Station House Officer of the Gokulpuri police station rushed to the spot along with a team.

"Verma and his wife Veena were found murdered inside their bedroom. The house was ransacked. Throats of the couple were slit," said the official.

The police said that the house has two floors. The elderly couple was living in the ground floor while their son Ravi Rattan (38) lives on the first floor with his family.

"During initial enquiry, it was found that Rs 4.5 lakhs and some jewellery were missing from the house. The probable mode of entry was through the iron rear gate of the house. Verma had recently taken Rs 5 lakhs as advance money to sell off the rear portion of the house," said the official.

The son of the deceased used to work as a guest teacher in Mustafabad. However, now he runs a garment and cosmetic shop from the Johripur area. He last saw his parents at about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday night.

Preliminary probe revealed that Ravi Rattan's wife was having an extramarital affair and wanted to live with her boyfriend. "So, as per their plan, her boyfriend and his associate arrived at her house on Sunday evening around 7 p.m. and were hiding on the terrace," added the official.

Efforts are being taken to nab the woman's boyfriend and his associate who are absconding and will be arrested soon, he said.
Patna, April 11 : JD-U has said that the AIMIM and its leaders are "B-team" of the BJP who give statements to "polarise" voters.

The remarks came from JD-U official spokesperson Abhishek Jha soon after AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi targeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav for wearing Pathan suit, shawl and caps during the Iftar party at Rabri Devi's residence on Sunday.

"Our government is taking action against those involved in communal violences in Sasaram and Bihar Sharif. The Bihar police is not distinguishing between Hindus and Muslims. If someone is accused of communal violence, he is being penalised. We are not looking at favouring any particular community. Anyone involved in communal riots is an enemy of society. The Bihar government has zero tolerance on corruption and we cannot look at a person or society through the spectacles of religion," Jha said.

"As far as Owaisi is concerned, he gives statements to polarise voters in favour of BJP. He is a B-team of BJP and his statement is extremely unfortunate. Through his statement, he proved that he is making a statement to polarise voters of a particular community. Spreading poison in the society is his priority," he added.

Earlier in the day, Owaisi while referring to communal violence in Sasaram and Bihar Sharif claimed that Nitish Kumar government is taking one sided action against youths of Muslim community and arresting them.

"Following the communal violence in Sasaram and Bihar Sharif, instead of sending the rioters of Hindu community into jail, the Nitish-Tejashwi government is sending the people of Muslim community to jail. The Bihar police is taking harsh action against Muslim youths and the secular chief minister and deputy chief minister are busy in fancy dress competition," Owaisi said in a tweet.

Nitish Kumar went to Rabri Devi's residence on Sunday to attend the Iftar party. On the occasion, Tejashwi Yadav was wearing a Pathan suit and Nitish Kumar was also wearing a shawl and cap.
Nevine El-leithy, Ph.D. We are delighted to welcome Dr. El-leithy as the CSO, said Alexander Poltorak, the Founder and President of NeuroLight. Nevine brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience both in neuroscience and bioengineeringshe is a star and we are honored to have her on our team.

NeuroLight, Inc., a neuromodulation company, today announced that Dr. Nevine El-leithy joined the team as its Chief Scientific Officer (CSO).

Dr. Nevine El-leithy earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Stanford University and a second Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from George Washington University. Prior to joining NeuroLight, Dr. El-leithy was Research Director and Professor of Deep Brain Neurotechnology at the University of Maryland and was the Founder & CEO of NeuroBeam. In the past, Dr. El-leithy served as the Medical Science Liaison for the United Nations University. Shes done extensive research on the neurophysiology of memory in nonhuman primates at the Max Planck Institute in Frankfurt. Her postdocs at University of Heidelberg, Germany and ETH, Zurich focused on computational modeling and engineering of a variety of neuromodulation modalities targeting neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, shes performed seminal research in the application of noninvasive multimodal neurostimulation for treatment-resistant brain disorders.

We are delighted to welcome Dr. El-leithy as the CSO, said Alexander Poltorak, the Founder and President of NeuroLight. Nevine brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience both in neuroscience and bioengineeringshe is a star and we are honored to have her on our team.

NeuroLight is the first company to develop technology for transplanting brain states from one person to another. The company intends to use this approach to promote healthy sleep by recording brainwaves in a healthy sleeping person and reproducing the same brain rhythms in another subject who struggles with sleep.

I am pleased to join the team of NeuroLight, developing a groundbreaking neuromodulation technology to transplant brain states, said Dr. El-leithy. I look forward to working with this team and happy to be a part of this very exciting project.

About NeuroLight, Inc.

NeuroLight, Inc. (f.k.a. Neuroenhancement Lab, LLC) is a neuromodulation R&D company developing pioneering technology for transplanting mental states from one person to another using brain entrainment. The first application the company is working on is the potential treatment of insomnia. For more information, visit the companys website at http://www.NeuroLight.co. NeuroLight is funded by the grant from the National Science Foundation.
Connect (X) 2023 is the only business technology event in North America that unites the industry stakeholders who deliver infrastructure solutions for ubiquitous connectivity.

We are honored to have Oceus as our exclusive sponsor for our CBRS workshop at Connect (X) 2023. Workshop attendees will be interested to learn about Oceuss comprehensive neutral host solution for hospitality, healthcare, military and other public venues, said Alex Besen, Founder and CEO of The Besen Group LLC.

Oceus is pleased to partner with The Besen Group as a sponsor of the CBRS workshop, and we look forward to sharing about our CBRS capabilities and discussing how to launch a successful CBRS network, said Paul McQuillan, Chief Growth and Strategy Officer, Oceus.

For the CBRS workshop information, please visit: https://www.connectivityexpo.com/schedule/the-besen-group-cbrs-workshop/

To register for The Besen Groups CBRS workshop, please visit: https://www.connectivityexpo.com/.

For more information on Oceus, please visit: http://www.oceus.io.

About Oceus

Oceus is a global technology innovator providing 5G network solutions to government and enterprise customers. We deliver extensive broadband connectivity with dedicated and dynamic spectrum, massive MIMO, and network slicing in deployable enterprise and cloud-based solutions that solve unique communication and data challenges in a wide range of public and private networks. Our edge computing capabilities provide low latency, ultra-high reliability and enhanced security for wireless IoT devices and applications. The Oceus Intelligent Controller provides software-defined network orchestration using AI/ML to automate the management of 5G enterprise systems and applications. Oceus is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with Oceus Technologies, our R&D Lab, in Plano, Texas and our Integration and Operations Center in The Colony, Texas.

About The Besen Group

The Besen Group is an international management consulting practice to the mobile data industry headquartered in the Washington DC area, with representatives in Paris and Tokyo. Its mission is to provide mobile data players with tools, knowledge, and services enabling them to perform optimally in their mobile environment. The Besen Groups competitive edge is based on practical experience with mobile operators, mobile vendors, and a mobile data laboratory.
CME Credits Available for Medical Professionals Complimentary, In-Person Event May 5th & 6th in Saratoga Springs, NY

Aggressive lymphomas are the focus of New York Oncology Hematologys 10th Annual Spring to Life Conference. The event is open to medical professionals for CME credit and includes a session for cancer survivors and caregivers. This years Spring to Life conference will be held May 5-6, 2023, at The Saratoga Hilton in Saratoga Springs, NY.

We are seeing exciting new and emerging novel therapies that are truly impacting the lives of patients with aggressive lymphomas, building on past successes, explains Ira Zackon, MD, of New York Oncology Hematology (NYOH) and conference co-chair. Bringing together top clinicians and researchers from our region, we can explain how these treatments are working  but how they work together.

A full schedule, list of presenters, and online registration are available at: spring2liferegistration.org

Aggressive lymphomas refer to those that grow and advance more quickly. Hematology experts from NYOH, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Weill Cornell, and the University of Rochester will share essential developments in the biological pathways, diagnosis, current guidelines, and the existing and emerging therapies for this type of blood cancer.

From targeted therapies to multi-drug regimens, we can now offer our patients a growing menu of treatment options to manage the disease  including relapses, explains Mihir Raval, MD, conference co-chair. We look forward to bringing practitioners together, in person, for our 10th conference and sharing these important advancements.

The conference is complimentary for medical oncologists, hematologists, pathologists, oncology nurses, advanced practice providers, family practitioners, primary care practitioners, allied health professionals, and all other healthcare professionals caring for patients with Lymphoma. A maximum of 8.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits are available to attendees. Nurses and other healthcare professionals receive a Certicate of Participation.

The Spring to Life Conference is presented in collaboration with the Medical Society of the State of New York, the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, the American Cancer Society, and myMedEd, Inc.

This years conference also includes a special afternoon session, complimentary for cancer patients, survivors, family members, and caregivers. On May 6, 2023, from 3:30 p.m.  5:30 p.m., Enduring Big Emotions will explore hands-on techniques for managing the mental impact of cancer treatment. The session will include writing, gratitude, and commitment therapies and will be led by social workers and therapists.

About Spring to Life

Created by NYOH in 2013, Spring to Life is an annual conference for medical professionals focusing on emerging treatments in oncology and hematology. As part of its ongoing community commitment as the regions largest cancer care provider, NYOH provides a complimentary program for patients and survivors diagnosed with cancer, their families, companions, and caregivers. Healthcare professionals are welcome and encouraged to participate in the afternoon of patient-centered sessions.

About New York Oncology Hematology

New York Oncology Hematology (NYOH) is the leading provider of community-based cancer care and blood disorder services. With six convenient locations in Albany, Amsterdam, Clifton Park, Hudson, and Troy, our team of more than 50 providers and 300 cancer care specialists see more than 100,000 cancer visits annually. Our affiliation with The US Oncology Network, one of the nations leading cancer treatment and research networks, puts NYOH on the front lines of the latest research breakthroughs, treatments, and technologies.

Contact:

Nicole Falco

myMedEd, Inc.

info@mymededco.com

Partner websites:

https://newyorkoncology.com

https://mymededco.com

https://cme.mssny.org/accreditation

https://www.lls.org

https://www.cancer.org
Ideal Option, a national leader in evidence-based outpatient treatment for addiction to fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is now welcoming new patients in Jacksonville. The new clinic, located at 1432 Braden St, Ste. 1426, will provide primarily buprenorphine-based medication-assisted treatment with an onsite medical doctor and addiction medicine specialist.

While opioid prescribing and heroin use is on the decrease, overdose deaths continue to increase in Arkansas, largely due to the prevalence of fentanyl in the illicit drug supply.

According to the Arkansas Take Back Opioid Dashboard, overdose deaths in Pulaski County has increased every year since 2018. Most recently, there were 146 deaths reported in 2021. Although 2022 figures have not been released, Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde believes the numbers will be even higher.

Fentanyl is regularly mixed with other illicit drugs to make them more addictive, often without the user knowing. Polysubstance use disorder is therefore now the most common diagnosis at Ideal Option. According to their Annual Patient Outcomes Report for Arkansas, in 2022, over half of all Ideal Option patients tested positive for more than one substance at enrollment, and 24% tested positive for three or more substances.

The report does offer hope however, by showing how effective medication-assisted treatment is for reducing substance use. For patients who remained in treatment with Ideal Option during 2022, lab testing shows:



94% less fentanyl use

87% less total opioid use

96% less heroin use

77% less methamphetamine use

90% less cocaine use

The new clinic in Jacksonville is Ideal Options second location in Pulaski County and is opening at a time of desperate need for expanded access to evidence-based treatment from experienced providers. Ideal Option has been specializing in addiction medicine using buprenorphine-based medications such as Suboxone for 11 years and currently operates 89 clinics in 11 states.

As a central Arkansas native, it is an honor be a new addiction treatment resource for Jacksonville," said Josh Newell, peer outreach specialist for Ideal Option. "The city leadership has done an amazing job improving our community, and I am grateful to be a part of the solution.

The new Ideal Option clinic in Jacksonville is open Monday  Thursday, 7:30 a.m.  6 p.m. and is located at 1432 Braden St, Ste. 1426, Jacksonville, AR 72076.

Most forms of insurance are accepted, including Medicare and Medicaid, and patients can typically get started on treatment for fentanyl, meth, alcohol or other substances within 1-3 business days.

Patients can make an appointment by calling 1.877.522.1275 or visiting http://www.idealoption.com.

About Ideal Option

Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option was founded in 2012 and has since helped more than 65,000 patients through a network of 89 office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics across 11 states. With a mission to serve under-served communities, Ideal Option accepts most forms of insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. Financial assistance and payment plans are also available.

Ideal Option's team of medical providers carry certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The company also employs social workers, caseworkers, counselors, and mental health practitioners. This holistic approach helps drive positive outcomes, including family stability, stable housing, improved overall health, and reduced rates of recidivism.

In all the communities it serves, Ideal Option collaborates with existing stakeholders and providers to improve the continuum of care. This approach includes partnerships with emergency rooms and county jail systems, where individuals with substance use disorder often appear, as well as collaborating with numerous support agencies and municipal programs addressing social needs such as housing, mental health, and nutrition support.
Access to Cares commitment to quality and solid patient care was immeasurably important to AvevoRx in making the decision to team up.

AvevoRx, a national, independent provider of specialty infusion pharmacy services, has announced its acquisition of Access to Care, LLC, an independently-owned home infusion pharmacy based in Muncie, Indiana. Effective September 1, 2022, the acquisition expands access to acute home infusion therapies for patients across the Midwest region while driving future growth and reach for AvevoRx.

Access to Care, LLC brings an amazing team of people, solid infrastructure, and access to robust managed care plans in the Midwest market, said Lauren Pumphrey, Vice President & co-founder of AvevoRx and head of western-U.S. sales. Our significant investments in top-quality talent, systems, and access to new therapies for chronic illnesses present a sizable strategic advantage over either company operating on its own, she continued. Access to Cares commitment to quality and solid patient care was immeasurably important to us in making the decision to team up.

In acquiring a home infusion pharmacy such as Access to Care, LLC, AvevoRx secures access to additional insurance payors, helping drive the companys scalability in the Midwest. AvevoRx will also maintain and grow the core acute infusion pharmacy business of Access to Care, LLC by significantly expanding its portfolio of available, in-home, chronic infusion therapies for its customers throughout a greater geographic region.

AvevoRx will retain all of Access to Cares staff including two senior leaders and shareholders from Access to Care, LLC. Brooke Hull, founder & CEO, will serve as regional director of operations for AvevoRx, along with Genelle Engle, who will stay on within the revenue cycle department.

In joining the AvevoRx team, we bring more than 20 years of infusion pharmacy experience and a commitment to providing customers with services custom-suited for their needs, said Brooke Hull, Founder & CEO of Access to Care, LLC. Weve built upon that commitment since our inception in 2006 and have made significant contributions in and around the region. Knowing that impact will continue to expand with AvevoRx is extremely gratifying.

Visit AvevoRx.com for more information.

About AvevoRx

AvevoRx is a bespoke, independent provider of specialty infusion pharmacy services. The company focuses on the highest-quality, personalized care customized to patients facing various complex, chronic disorders. Treatments are made available via specialized pharmacy locations, field nurses, and additional support staff throughout the United States. AvevoRx also provides acute infusion therapies for patients with short-term therapeutic needs on a regional basis. Privately held, the company was founded in 2021 by a small group of industry veterans with a combined experience of more than 130 years. AvevoRx is headquartered in North Carolina. To learn more, visit http://www.AvevoRx.com or follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Connsci, LLC, an 8(a) Professional Services organization that focuses on Management Consulting, IT Solutions, Learning & Development, and Cybersecurity, and Directus Consulting, a leader in business intelligence and data science that delivers technology development and contract management solutions, announced the completion of their merger today. Connsci has a deep IT Training and Cybersecurity Consulting track record in the Health, Defense, and Civilian sectors, while Directus has developed expertise in Full Cycle Software Development, Business Intelligence and Data Science, Acquisition Management, Program Management, and Workflow Process Development. Together the new organization will operate as Connsci, LLC to deliver leading edge cybersecurity and systems and cybersecurity engineering, training, and professional services solutions for federal, state, and local government agencies and civilian organizations.

Upon completion of the transaction Faizan Zia will continue to serve as President and CEO of Connsci. Andrew Rakiscany, the President and CEO of Directus Consulting will become the Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Connsci. The headquarters for the combined company will be in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Connsci is thrilled to join forces with the team from Directus, said Zia. Connsci is at an inflection point for accelerating growth and value creation, and Directus has cultivated outstanding talent which will help unlock new market opportunities and drive dynamic growth for the new organization.

We are excited to be joining Connsci, as they offer unparalleled solutions and services, said Rakicsany. He continued, Combining Connscis expertise with Directus Consultings software DEVSECOPS capabilities offers our customers a complete IT, cybersecurity, and systems engineering approach, drastically reducing risk and enhancing their technology capabilities.

The companies formed a strategic partnership in 2022 and have both seen double-digit sales growth in the federal sector during that time, largely because of the partnership. The partnership creates a relationship that has been beneficial for both companies and their customers.

This is really an exciting moment for both companies, said Zia. We've built an incredible relationship over the years, and have already identified tremendous opportunity for growth through our synergies  The merger of Connsci, LLC and Directus Consulting enables the combined company to offer not only the Professional Services, IT Solutions, Learning & Development, and Cybersecurity solutions that Connsci has built its reputation on, but also Directus industry leading Full Cycle Software Development, Business Intelligence and Data Science, and Acquisition Management. In todays evolving IT environments, the addition of development and data sciences allows Connsci to pursue larger contracts and provide customized solutions to our customers.

About Connsci, LLC

Connsci is a Professional Services organization that focuses on Management Consulting, IT Solutions, Learning & Development, and Cybersecurity in the Health, Defense, and Civilian sectors. Our team of dedicated consultants are comprised of highly skilled professionals that are certified by industry-leading organizations in their respective fields and recognized for their innovative and effective systems engineering and training implementation. Working with both Enterprises and Government Agencies gives Connsci the ability to deliver innovative and cost-effective solutions that are customized to fit every organization's needs.

About Directus Consulting, LLC

Directus is a Full Cycle Software Development and Data Analytics solutions provider. Directus offers solutions for all phases of the software development cycle, communication, content, and records management and training. Directus Consulting brings a broad range of experience to the software development process and work across many platforms, including enterprise-wide, next generation technologies and Cloud.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Robin Reschke

rreschke@connsci.com
Germany hands over new package of military aid to Ukraine

The German Defense Ministry has announced the transfer of a new package of military assistance for Ukraine, including reconnaissance drones and ammunition.

According to the information on the website of the German government, Germany transferred four armoured engineer vehicles DACHS (before: 3); 60 trucks Zetros (before: 52); 42 mobile antenna mast systems (before: 34); eight mobile ground surveillance radars; 83,520 rounds ammunition 40mm (before: 60,000).
Rite-Solutions has been awarded a new contract by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) with a potential value of $850,000 over the next two years.

The company will support the development, configuration, and delivery of a user-friendly interface software called the SSN(X) Sail Model Tool. The tool will enable sailors to evaluate current and future submarine sensors and antennas. The tool will allow proper assessment of the impacts of various submarine sail configurations with respect to overall submarine capability and vulnerability.

Laura Deady, Rite-Solutions Sr. Vice President says, Rite-Solutions is grateful for the opportunity to support NUWC Code 34 in developing the SSN(X) Sail Model Tool. Rites greatest asset is the expertise of our workforce, which allows proficiency in our technical capabilities.

The contract will be performed in Newport, RI and areas where the Navy has indicated a significant need.

We are proud to be part of the next generation of attack submarines for the Navy, adds Dennis McLaughlin, Rite-Solutions President, and CEO. Its an honor to be recognized as an innovative company and to be invited to work on cutting-edge technology that will help keep our Navy #1 in the world for decades to come.

Rite-Solutions, Inc. is an award-winning small business specializing in system engineering, software development, information technology (IT), and cyber security for government and commercial segments. Rite-Solutions has offices in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Washington D.C. For more information, please visit http://www.rite-solutions.com.
NoBull Burger's re-branding Were excited to show our customers our packaging with ingredients you can pronounce, see and feel good about eating- ingredients your grandmother would recognize! Nothing lab-grown, no preservatives, additives, or chemicals.

NoBull Burger , the true veggie burger made with 100% plants and 0% bull, recently launched its brand redesign. First debuted at Expo West this year, the new logo and packaging showcase each protein-packed veggie burgers ingredients so consumers can easily see whats inside them. The team partnered with Founder and Creative Director, Andy Kurtts of Buttermilk Creative, to execute a shelf-popping, hunger-invoking package design.

NoBull Burgers new design emulates its no-bull approach to real food and authentic flavor while continuing to embrace the quality and ingredients that each veggie burger holds. Their innovative redesign creates a sense of transparency for their consumers, highlighting real food ingredients, bold, savory flavors, and high nutritional value.

Founder Crissanne Raymond began making veggie burgers in the 70s using ingredients inspired by her mothers lentil soup recipe. Over time, the veggie burgers gained a cult following at family events and potlucks, and Raymonds son eventually named the patties the NoBull Burger. At the urging of her family, Crissane launched a food business in 2011 with the help of her daughters, Heather Pinero and Elizabeth Raymond; the team began selling NoBull Burgers wholesale to farmers markets, restaurants, and grocery stores in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region.

Daughter and Co-Founder Elizabeth Raymond has spearheaded NoBull Burgers US nationwide awareness by establishing incredible partnerships with distribution through Whole Foods Market, Erewhon, Natural Grocers, and more.

We take pride in only using superior real food ingredients, grown from the Earth, said Raymond. Were excited to show our customers our packaging with ingredients you can pronounce, see and feel good about eating- ingredients your grandmother would recognize! Nothing lab-grown, no preservatives, additives, or chemicals.

To learn more about NoBull Burgers or to find them at a retailer near you, visit https://nobullburger.com.

About NoBull Burger

Founded by mother and chef Crissanne Raymond, the NoBull Burger is the only 100% plant-based veggie burger made with real food ingredients. With its mission to help people eat as close to the earth as possible without compromising ingredients and flavor, the NoBull Burger is a clean, nutritious veggie burger made with whole ingredients to give people the nutrients they need. Unprocessed, with no additives, and nonGMO, NoBull is positioned as the industrys go-to true veggie burger.
1500 ton hydraulic press built by Beckwood for Hendrickson USA Working with Beckwood, we were able to customize a press to fit our customers specific product requirements, while maintaining a common platform to accept our current dies and space constraints.

Beckwood Press Company, a leading manufacturer of custom hydraulic and linear-servo presses, automation systems, and sheet hydroforming equipment has been awarded a contract by Hendrickson USA, L.L.C. to engineer and build a 1500-ton hydraulic stamping press. With this new piece of equipment, they will have the ability to blank, deep draw, and form parts for the transportation industry all on a single machine.

Hendrickson needed a press to increase capacity, improve programmability, and offer more flexibility with increased tonnage. Their new custom-engineered press will feature an 8-point square gib guidance system for maximum parallelism and a 50 x 160 working area to accommodate a multitude of applications including high-tonnage blanking, deep drawing, and forming.

Because high-tonnage blanking causes large amounts of breakthrough shock, press-mounted hydraulic dampers will be included which increase damping capacity from 70% to 90%. A robust 12 damper height adjustment will allow for flexible die working heights. Along with the dampers, vibration pads will be added to the feet of the press, and the hydraulic power unit will be isolated from the press structure to reduce shock transfer to sensitive components.

The press will also be equipped with a hydraulic bed cushion featuring dynamic cushion control, which allows all five cylinders to be controlled independently at 30-tons each. This level of programmability reduces wrinkling and tearing during intricate draw work. A high-speed Delta motion controller adds to the flexibility, offering increased force and positional accuracy while reducing the minimum tonnage capacity.

To ensure operator safety during die changeover, a SITEMA ram safety catcher system and rod lock will be included for redundant visual and load holding of the ram while the press is idle. Light curtains will also be included at the front of the press and hard guarding covering rear and sides.

We, at Hendrickson, are excited about the new opportunities and enhanced manufacturing capabilities this investment offers our business. The deep draw, high tonnage capability of the Beckwood press will align our strategic manufacturing vision with our customer requirements. Working with Beckwood, we were able to customize a press to fit our customers specific product requirements, while maintaining a common platform to accept our current dies and space constraints, says Chris Batsch, General Manager for Hendrickson Bumper.

The Hendrickson team allowed us to explore a number of options for speeds of the press, tonnage requirements for specific parts, and other press specifications, notes Beckwood sales engineer, Gerard Choinka. Together, weve been able to create an optimized solution that is going to meet their exact needs.

About Hendrickson

Hendrickson is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of medium and heavy-duty mechanical, elastomeric, and air suspensions, integrated and non-integrated axle and brake systems, tire pressure control systems, auxiliary lift axle systems, parabolic and multi-leaf springs, stabilizers, bumpers, and components to the global commercial transportation industry. Learn more at hendrickson-intl.com

About Beckwood Press Company

Beckwood Press Company is a leading manufacturer of hydraulic and servo presses, located in St. Louis, MO - USA. Established in 1976, they offer both standard and custom presses, unique engineering capabilities, and automation equipment for virtually every industry and application. Beckwood also manufactures the Triform line of precision forming equipment, the EVOx line of servo-electric presses, and the LSP line of linear servo presses. Get the latest news from Beckwood at beckwoodpress.com/news.
When asked about her thoughts on receiving this award Dr. Liebert said Its an honor to be included among such exceptional women.

Four of SightMDs women physicians have been recognized as among the countrys top doctors. This new distinction was just rolled out by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., a research and information company that publishes the annual guidebooks Americas Top Doctors and Top Doctors: New York Metro Area. The company makes its selections based on peer nominations by 250,000 leading doctors nationwide.

Congratulations to Faye Knoll, MD, Irene Magramm, MD, Michelle Liebert, MD, and Meredith Prevor-Weiss, MD, SightMDs Exceptional Women in Medicine, for gaining this well-deserved public distinction!

Dr. Faye Knoll is a board certified ophthalmologist specializing in both laser and traditional cataract surgery as well as laser vision correction including LASIK and PRK. Dr. Knoll completed a fellowship at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in cornea and external diseases of the eye. Her favorite part of her job is developing lifelong relationships with her patients.

Dr. Michelle Liebert is a board certified pediatric ophthalmologist specializing in strabismus surgery. Dr. Liebert takes a personal interest in each and every one of her patients, caring for each as if they were her own. One of her favorite aspects of being a doctor is that she can follow her patients from prematurity until adulthood. When asked about her thoughts on receiving this award Dr. Liebert said Its an honor to be included among such exceptional women.

Dr. Irene Magramm is a board certified ophthalmologist specializing in strabismus surgery and relief of double vision in children and adults. She also enjoys general ophthalmology in children and adults.

Dr. Meredith Prevor-Weiss is a board certified ophthalmologist and has over 22 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. Prevor-Weiss treats each patient as a unique individual and understands his or her needs before recommending a course of action.

In compiling its new list of Exceptional Women in Medicine 2023, Castle Connolly culled the names of women physicians from its already published Top Doctors guidebooks. Recognizing Exceptional Women in Medicine is part of the companys Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiative, designed to rectify past omissions and inequities. Its DEI initiative will also allow patients to find top female doctors across the countryincluding at SightMD.

Womens achievements in medicine matter a great deal, but without recognition, they may tend to fade into the background. Castle Connollys decision to shine a light on outstanding women in medicine will also encourage new generations of women to pursue careers as physicians.

About SightMD

SightMD is a rapidly-growing integrated ophthalmic provider group, offering patients access to over 80 eye care providers through the convenience of 40 locations across New York. SightMD's track record of providing clinically-excellent care spans over 50 years, and its services include general eye exams, laser cataract surgery and lens implantation, glaucoma management, retinal disorder treatment, corneal services, neuro-ophthalmology, LASIK laser vision correction, oculoplastic surgery, pediatric ophthalmology, and audiology. Sight Growth Partners is the administrative services provider for SightMD as well as SightMD Connecticut, SightMD New Jersey, and SightMD Pennsylvania. For more information about SightMD, please visit https://www.sightmd.com/sightmd-ny/
Monster Energys Bryce Tryon Takes First Place in Stop Two of 2023 Monster Energy BMX Triple Challenge in Glendale, Arizona I started all the way from the bottom and worked my way to the top." - Bryce Tryon

The most progressive event in BMX dirt riding continues to shine! Monster Energy congratulates team rider Bryce Tryon on taking the win in the BMX Dirt competition at the 2023 Monster Energy BMX Triple Challenge in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday. In the second stop of the series outside State Farm Stadium, the 22-year-old from Lodi, California, rose above the competition with a perfect technical run.

Presented by Monster Energy as the title sponsor, the BMX Triple Challenge is recognized as the most progressive showcase on the BMX circuit. Now in its seventh year, the open-invite event is open to the elite of the sport as well as up-and-comers looking to make a name for themselves.

In 2023, over 50 of the worlds best freestyle BMX riders are competing at three tour stops for wins in BMX Dirt and Best Trick, as well as the overall season title.

As per tradition, the BMX dirt competition series takes place during select Monster Energy Supercross events. The 2023 Monster Energy BMX Triple Challenge kicked off in Anaheim, California, on January 28, and stop two attracted an elite field to throw down their best moves on the dirt track outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

Aside from occasional gusts, the warm and sunny Arizona weather was ideal for the riders to put down some heavy runs. The three perfectly shaped and groomed jumps consisted of a massive booter with one of the tallest landings ever seen on the first jump, followed by a slightly longer middle jump with a step-down roller after, leading into a final jump that a few riders referred to as a box jump ideal to let the tricks fly.

For the eight-rider final, the format was simple as usual: Three massive jumps. Best run counts. The top three walk away with trophies and season points.

When the action got underway, the gnarly course took its toll on some riders, including Monster Energys Daniel Sandoval having to contend with a flat tire on his first run of the final.

Undeterred by the massive jumps, young gun Bryce Tryon brought his A-game to Glendale and qualified for the final in second place. Bryces bag of tricks included his tried-and-true banger barspin-to-no-handed front flips to superman-to-barspins and a new pull from the bag with a 360 lookback-to-no-hander.

But the run that clinched the win was an absolutely flawless run comprised of a double backflip, followed by a barspin-to-no-handed backflip, and capped off with a 720 tailwhip. Before the dust even settled, Bryce gave his bike a post-run celebratory toss, and announcer Micah Kranz mentioned how that could potentially be the winning runand the judges agreed!

Winning the Glendale stop of the 2023 Monster Energy BMX Triple Challenge marks the first victory in the Triple Challenge event series for Tryon. After competing in the BMX Triple for the past six years, Bryces consistent progression has made him a force to reckon with.

Having competed in the first BMX Triple ever, Bryce said: I started all the way from the bottom and worked my way to the top. The first year or two, I would keep getting closer to the bubble to make it into semis, then making it into semis and not really knowing what to do. Each year progressing more and getting more comfortable with doing big jumps.

Raised in the Monster Army athlete support program for seven years of his career, Tryon has steadily evolved his technical riding skills and took X Games silver in BMX Dirt in 2021. The next-generation talent ranked up to full-fledged Monster Energy pro team sponsorship in 2022. Watch out for this kid!

Whats next for the Monster Energy BMX team? Stay tuned for Stop 3 of the 2023 Monster Energy BMX Triple Challenge on April 29, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee, for the final showdown. Lets get it!

For more on Bryce Tryon and the Monster Energy BMX team, visit http://www.monsterenergy.com. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for exclusive updates as the BMX season continues.

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About Monster Energy

Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes, and musicians represent. More than a drink, its the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at http://www.monsterenergy.com.
The cougar statue on SIUE's campus. The new health sciences complex demonstrates our bold commitment to innovate and lead in health care education as it will house modern classrooms, simulation laboratories, student resources and study spaces.

Governor JB Pritzker announced the investment of more than $105 million for the construction of a health sciences building and renovations to existing buildings at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) campus. The funding is made possible by the Governors bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan, the largest capital plan in state history.

"The investment at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is one of many examples of how Rebuild Illinois prioritizes higher education," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Healthcare continues to be the fastest growing industry globally, so it is critical that Illinois students have the training, resources, and facilities required to be the best in their fields."

Funding will support renovating and connecting two existing buildings on University Park Drive. The scope of work also includes constructing a new 110,000 square foot building to accommodate the School of Pharmacy and School of Nursing. New classrooms, research laboratories, study areas, a nursing simulation laboratory, and administrative offices will be added. Site circulation improvements and resurfacing of two existing parking lots will also be completed.

The new health sciences complex will be designed and constructed to meet LEED Silver Certification. Activity will begin on site in spring 2023, with construction slated to begin in the fall. Project completion is anticipated for summer 2025.

We are thankful to Governor Pritzker for this investment in SIUE, said SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD. The construction of a new health sciences complex positions SIUE to continue to meet the demand for health care education and produce exceptional health care workers for the state. The new health sciences complex demonstrates our bold commitment to innovate and lead in health care education as it will house modern classrooms, simulation laboratories, student resources and study spaces.

SIUE already serves its students and this community wonderfully, and this new complex will continue that tradition of excellence, said Edwardsville Mayor, Art Risavy. We are eager to watch as this development takes shape, and happily anticipate its opening.

The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) will oversee the project in accordance with the protocol for state-appropriated construction projects. The design build firm is Clayco + PoetkkerJV with Lamar Johnson Collaborative, Inc. and Christner, Inc. serving as the lead architects on the project. Hellmuth Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. has been selected as the bridging firm.

The Illinois Capital Development Board is thrilled to partner with SIUE on this significant infrastructure investment at their campus, said Capital Development Board Executive Director, Jim Underwood. We are hopeful this project will ensure campus buildings are compatible with the growing needs of SIUE students and faculty.

Governor Pritzkers bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan provides essential funding to support the revitalization and improvement of Illinois roadways, state facilities, universities, bridges, and railways over a six-year period. The initiative seeks to address critical infrastructure and economic opportunity.

The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) oversees the construction of new state facilities, such as prisons, state parks, mental health institutions, and college and university projects. In addition, CDB is responsible for renovation and rehabilitation projects at over 8,770 state-owned buildings spread over more than 100 million square feet of floor space.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high-quality education that powerfully transforms the lives of all individuals who seek something greater. A premier metropolitan university, SIUE is creating social and economic mobility for individuals while also powering the workforce of the future. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi Rivers rich bottomland and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of more than 12,500.
Professional Physical Therapy, a leading provider of outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation services in the Northeast, is proud to announce its certification as a 2023-2024 Great Place to Work for the second year in a row. Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue and increased innovation. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience at Professional.

It is exciting to be part of an organization that has been recognized as a Great Place to Work for two consecutive years. It says a lot about our people and our culture, which is something that I am very proud of. One of our key goals is to try and offer opportunities to allow our team members to meet their professional goals and objectives, while having some fun along the way, said Steve Schneider, CEO of Professional.

Over 500 of Professional Physical Therapy employees completed the program's signature Trust Index Survey that covered a variety of workplace quality experiences. The results show that we scored high in areas such as camaraderie and pride. Highlights from the survey include:



- 97% of our employees feel that they work in a physically safe environment.

- 96% of our employees feel they are treated fairly regardless of their sexual orientation.

- 95% of our employees feel they are treated fairly regardless of their race.

- 92% of our customers would rate the service we deliver as excellent.

- 88% of employees feel they can be themselves around their job.

Results are based on employees' experiences, no matter who they are or what they do. Within the survey, employees gave personal feedback regarding what they feel about the company.

- The people are great to work with and always very understanding.

- I love my clinic! This clinic is amazing and we're really like a family here.

- The amount of support for continued education and the professional yet fun environment make it a great place to work.

- Equal opportunities across the board to both new and long-term employees.

- Everyone is willing to work with me in terms of employee needs and flexibility.

- I enjoy everyone's passion for what they do, great learning opportunities, and enjoyable work environment.

Were Hiring!

Professional Physical Therapy is actively hiring across multiple departments. If you are looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first, visit Professionals careers page.

About Great Place to Work

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees around the world and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Great Place to Work helps organizations quantify their culture and produce better business results by creating a high-trust work experience for all employees. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a Great Place to Work for All. Learn more about the program at Greatplacetowork.com.

About Professional Physical Therapy

Professional Physical Therapy, headquartered in Melville, New York, is a leading provider of outpatient physical and hand therapy and rehabilitation services throughout the New York Metropolitan area, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

Professionals patient-centric treatment philosophy is focused on providing exceptional, compassionate care to the entire person, and not just their injury. Their licensed Physical Therapists design customized treatment plans, using the most innovative therapeutics, to help patients achieve and exceed their goals. Service offerings include telehealth, in-home physical therapy, and outpatient physical, hand, and occupational therapy in over 190 clinics throughout the Northeast. Please visit us at Professional Physical Therapy.
Every business has risk. Identifying and mitigating risk determines success vs failure especially for innovative and disruptive marketplaces and digital platforms. But you dont have to go it alonethere are resources available

The debacle of Silicon Valley Bank has sent a blast wave throughout the tech industry, causing many to scrutinize the practices that drove its former success. Jeremy Gottschalk, Founder & CEO of Marketplace Risk, and fractional General Counsel to many marketplaces and digital platforms, whose thought leadership in risk management, trust and safety and legal strategy, identifies that the Silicon Valley Bank fallout is illustrative of other ills in the tech industry by venture capital (VC) funded startups, where there is a huge emphasis on growth and zero emphasis on risk management that could impact growth. JoTo PR Disruptors is presenting a free webinar masterclass on Thursday, April 27, 2023, 12:00 PM EST, SVB Fallout: VC & Tech Startup Founders at Risk, that provides an opportunity to glean insight from Gottschalk into risk management, trust and safety, compliance & regulatory and legal strategy for marketplaces and digital platforms.

Every business has risk. Identifying and mitigating risk determines success vs failure especially for innovative and disruptive marketplaces and digital platforms. But you dont have to go it alonethere are resources available, cautions Jeremy Gottschalk.

Vinod Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and a serial entrepreneur, pointed out in a controversial TechCrunch interview that a majority of startup board members arent in a position to offer decent advice to startups; more than 95 percent of VCs add zero value. I would bet that 70-80 percent add negative value to a startup in their advising. (1)

Does this ruffle feathers? Yes.

Gottschalk supports a different mindset.

For many of Jeremys platform clients, including the first childcare platform Sittercity, Jeremy regularly walks VC investors and board members through the process of 1) structuring risk management and insurance programs, 2) developing trust and safety policies and programs and 3) developing solid legal positioning for the platforms.

With that methodology, and the support of their VCs, Jeremys clients have been able to successfully navigate lawsuits, and threats of lawsuits, while stopping knee-jerk reactions to often scary scenarios. The outcome: the savings of 100s of millions of dollars over more than a decade, with no successful lawsuit to date; while also protecting his clients reputations in the court of public opinion.

As a result of his success, insurance and industry leaders have called on Gottschalk to advise on their clients and portfolio companies, leading to the development of two successful conferences, including one hosted at Lloyds in London.

Premiums for marketplaces and digital platforms can start in the 10s of thousands but easily jump into the millions per year if proper risk management and legal strategies are not deployed early and maintained, said Gottschalk.

Register Online http://bit.ly/3UimlJK

Thursday, April 27, 2023, 12:00 PM EST (US and Canada)

In this webinar, Jeremy will cover how VCs can drive better leadership for their portfolio companies while protecting the portfolio companies, resulting in better and more valuable investments:

1. Portfolio companies that drive leadership  where its good and where its bad.

2. Advice on risk mitigation and legal strategy to make it more positive.

3. Opportunity to create better leaders and protect VC investments.

4. And 5 things VCs and platform leaders can do TODAY that will make a difference in their risk management posture.

Following the Webinar, there will be a rare AMA session (Ask Me Anything) where Jeremy will answer any question about risk management, trust and safety, legal strategy and more.

Why attend this event? Attendees learn strategies and tactics tested through real-world applications from peer leaders; each one a trusted subject matter expert.

As an Anti-PR Agency, JoTo PR Disruptors employ the best practices to succeed in business today. Most PR agencies only provide fluffy visibility, which doesnt account for much that contributes to a successful business.

Goal: Actionable steps you can use to accelerate your growth, which is what JOTO PR Disruptors is all about. We want to help you with usable data that can benefit you professionally and financially.

Register Online http://bit.ly/3UimlJK

Thursday, April 27, 2023, 12:00 PM EST (US and Canada)

About Jeremy Gottschalk:

Jeremy Gottschalk, founder and CEO of Marketplace Risk, is an expert in risk management and legal strategy for marketplaces and digital platforms. With nearly 20 years of experience as a lawyer, operator and consultant to venture capitalists, insurance companies, founders and operators, he has become an industry-leading voice for legal strategy and risk management. Jeremy founded Marketplace Risk as an industry education, networking and knowledge-sharing platform for the marketplace and digital platform ecosystem, and regularly consults in this industry. He also serves as General Counsel to many platforms, including Sittercity, a company motivated to reimagine the in-home childcare industry with a problem-solving team of parents and experienced childcare providers. Jeremy holds a JD from Loyola and an MBA from Kellogg.

About Marketplace Risk:

Marketplace Risk is the only platform focused on connecting and supporting marketplace and digital platform founders, leaders, and experts as they navigate risk management, trust & safety, compliance & regulatory and legal strategy. Each year the industry convenes at the Marketplace Risk Management Conference (SF, May 16-18) - the first and only conference focused on risk management, trust & safety, compliance & regulatory and legal strategy for marketplaces and digital platforms. For more information visit http://www.marketplacerisk.com

About JOTO PR Disruptors:

After doing marketing research on a cross-section majority of 5,000 CEOs of fast-growth tech companies and finding out exactly how they used PR, how they measure it and how they wanted the PR industry to be different, Crisis Management veteran and innovator Karla Jo Helms created JoTo PR and established its entire business model on those research findings. Astute in recognizing industry changes since its launch, JoTo PRs team utilizes newly established patterns to create timely Anti-PR campaigns comprising the mathematical precision of crisis management techniques with the latest media algorithms. This unique skill enables them to continue to increase the market share and improve return on investment (ROI) for their clients, year after yearbeating usual industry standards.

Based in Tampa Bay, Florida, JoTo PR is an established international public relations agency. Today, all processes of JoTo are streamlined Anti-PR services that have become the hallmark of the JoTo PR name. For more information, visit JoTo PR online at http://www.jotopr.com

About Karla Jo Helms:

Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors.

Karla Jo learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the lineand how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen, or another is brutally rejected.

Being an alumni of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators and the media to help restore companies of goodwill back into the good graces of public opinion. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception.

Sources:

1. Cutler, Kim-Mai. Vinod Khosla: 70-80% of VCs Add Negative Value to Startups, Tech Crunch, 11 September 2013, techcrunch.com/2013/09/11/vinod-khosla/.

2. Mascarenhas, Natasha. Vinod Khoslas Advice for Top VCs? Dont Sit on your Founders Boards, Tech Crunch, 06 March 2023, techcrunch.com/2023/03/06/vinod-khoslas-advice-for-top-vcs-dont-sit-on-your-founders-boards/#:~:text=Serial%20entrepreneur%20and%20seasoned%20investor,about%20the%20culture%20of%20capital.


transcosmos offers 5A Diagnostics service to Nissen Nissen Holdings carried out customer-centered loyalty marketing, and achieved a V-shaped recovery in 2022. The company continues to strive to expand business by prioritizing long-term relationships with its customers via loyalty focused marketing, rather than by putting revenues above all else.

transcosmos inc. hereby announces that the company has offered its 5A Diagnostics service to Nissen Holdings Co., Ltd. (President and Representative Director: Jun Habuchi).

 Challenge

In 2018, Nissen Holdings announced its management policy saying "We will promote "selection and concentration" throughout our business from scratch, and return to profitability as soon as possible."

 Initiative with transcosmos

In 2019, transcosmos began assisting Nissen Holdings in developing strategies to achieve their goal by offering 5A Diagnostics, a service that uses a unique metric proposed by Professor Philip Kotler and is specifically designed for diagnosing customer loyalty. transcosmos performed competitive analysis along the 5As customer journey while visualizing key customer needs at the same time, thereby successfully helping Nissen Holdings develop its strategy. Since then, Nissen Holdings continues to use the service for strategy building, and is working on making customer experience even better and winning long-term customer loyalty with the support of transcosmos.

 Results

Nissen Holdings carried out customer-centered loyalty marketing, and achieved a V-shaped recovery in 2022. The company continues to strive to expand business by prioritizing long-term relationships with its customers via loyalty focused marketing, rather than by putting revenues above all else.

 Comment from a project member at Nissen Holdings Co., Ltd.

The findings of the 5A diagnostics reminded us that it is essential to build Nissen an irresistibly attractive brand that makes customers recommend us to others, and to enhance customer experience with an all-out customer centric approach. With this in mind, we have revisited our vision and incorporated the findings to our marketing strategies and organizational structure. Although not all of our initiatives are bearing fruit, we consider that the highest priority in mail order business is to offer greater customer experience powered by the voice of customers, and we, Nissen, are working as one towards this goal. Staying committed to our core, we will continue to carry out loyalty marketing going forward.

 About the 5As Loyalty Diagnostics by transcosmos

The 5As is a new customer path proposed in "Marketing 4.0/5.0" by Phillip Kotler. In 2019, transcosmos formed a business alliance with MarkPlus Inc., an Indonesian consulting firm founded by Hermawan Kartajaya, the co-author of the book. In partnership with MarkPlus, transcosmos disclosed the 5As metric and conducted research. With the business appliance in place, transcosmos has the exclusive right to offer services using the unique 5As metric in Japan. In 2022, transcosmos expanded service coverage to include customer experience (CX) diagnostics, and named the service the 5A Loyalty Diagnostics, enhancing its loyalty marketing strategy.

*Download the 5A Loyalty Diagnostics free whitepaper here

https://www.pkmarketing.jp/form-download/

*Find out more about transcosmoss latest marketing theory based on P.Kotlers approach

Website: https://www.pkmarketing.jp/en/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/5aSuite

 About Nissen Co., Ltd.

Company Name: Nissen Holdings Co., Ltd.

Business: Online and mail order catalogue apparel and home interior shopping focusing on womens wear

Business support and B2B business leveraging its mail order know-how

Official online store: Nissen Online: https://www.nissen.co.jp/

*transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries.

Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

About transcosmos inc.

transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior "people" with up-to-date "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 173 bases across 28 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services to consumers in 46 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the "Global Digital Transformation Partner" of our clients, supporting the clients transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment.

Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/
PTI Fact Check: Social media posts on new Parliament buildings cost and construction duration shared with false claims

New Delhi, Apr 10 (Abhinav Gupta / Pratyush Ranjan PTI Fact Check): A Twitter user shared a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his recent visit to the new Parliament building, claiming the new Parliament House was built in just 17 months and Tata Group built it at the cost of one rupee. The PTI Fact Check Desk found in its investigation that both the claims made in the social media post were false. The claim was made soon after PM Modi visited the new Parliament building on March 30 and spent over an hour inspecting the site and interacting with workers.

Claim

A Twitter user shared a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his recent visit to the new Parliament building and claimed that the new House was completed in 17 months. The user also claimed that the Tata Group charged just one rupee to the government for constructing the building.

Here is the link and archive link to the April 4 tweet. Below is a screenshot of the post:

Investigation

The Desk started the investigation by looking for similar claims on social media. It came across a Facebook post, which carried a different photo of PM Modi from his visit to the new Parliament building with the same claims.

Here is the link and archive link to the post, and below is a screenshot of the same:

The Desk first took up the claim that the construction of the new Parliament took only 17 months. We conducted a customised Google search with relevant keywords to start the investigation. We came across a press release by the Press Information Bureau stating that PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the new building on Dec 10, 2020.

Here is the link to the press release, and below is a screenshot of the same:

The Desk also came across a report by The Indian Express published on Jan 23, which stated that the construction began in January 2021, and the government had announced a deadline of November 2022.

Here is the link to the report, and below is a screenshot of the same:

The report quoted officials saying that some portions of the building were still under construction and would take several months for completion.

Construction of the triangular-shaped new Parliament building in a plot adjacent to the existing Parliament House began in January 2021, with the deadline of November 2022 announced by the government, the report stated.

Following the reports dates, the government stipulated 23 months to complete the construction. Since the recently concluded Budget Session took place in the old building, the timeline has already been overshot.

Conducting another Google search with the keyword new Parliament building construction timeline, the Desk came across a reply given to Lok Sabha by the government in December 2021.

Here is the link to the reply, and below is a screenshot of the same:

As stated in the document and given that the construction of the building started in January 2021, the government set a deadline of 22 months, which has already been overstepped.

Subsequently, the Desk concluded that the claim that the new Parliament buildings construction was completed in 17 months was false. Some portions of the building are still under construction after 27 months after the start of the structure.

The Desk then took up the second claim that the Tata Group charged only one rupee for the construction of the building.

The reply given in the Lok Sabha, as mentioned above, shows that the estimated project cost was Rs 971 at the beginning.

We also found that the government had shared the bid amount and tender details with the Lok Sabha in a reply in September 2020.

According to the reply, the projects estimated cost was Rs 971 crore. Tata Projects Ltd. had emerged as the lowest tenderer in the open competitive bid, with a quoted amount of Rs. 861.91 crores.

Here is the link to the reply given in the Lok Sabha, and below is a screenshot of the same:

Further, we came across an NDTV report published on Jan 20, 2022, about the revised budget for the new Parliament building. It stated that the cost incurred in constructing the new building had increased by another Rs 282 crore.

The new parliament building, the highlight of the government's flagship Central Vista project, will cost another  282 crores, sources said. The 29 per cent hike over the budgeted cost of  977 crore comes more than a year after the groundbreaking ceremony, which took place in December 2020. Forty per cent of the work is completed by Tata Projects, which is executing the project, the report stated.

Here is the link to the NDTV report, and below is a screenshot of the same:

In the next part of the investigation, the Desk went through Tata Projects42nd and 43rd annual reports for financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively. While both pieces mentioned the new Parliament building project, it was nowhere stated that the company charged just one rupee.

Subsequently, the Desk concluded that the claims in the viral post regarding the new Parliament building were false.

Claim

The Tata Group completed the construction of the new Parliament building in 17 months and charged just one rupee from the government for the project.

Fact

The stipulated timeline of 22-23 months for the completion of the project has already been surpassed, and some portions of the building are still under construction. Also, Tata Projects bagged the project with bidding of Rs 861.91 (approx. Rs 862 crore). The budget for the project has reportedly shot up to over Rs 1,250 crore.

Conclusion

Several social media users shared photos of PM Modi from his recent visit to the new Parliament building. They claimed that Tata Projects completed the construction of the building in 17 months, for which it charged just one rupee from the government. In its investigation, the Desk found that the claims made in the social media posts were false. Firstly, the construction of the new Parliament building started 27 months ago and is still underway. Secondly, Tata Projects bagged the construction project with the bidding of Rs 862 crore.

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.
Russian occupation authorities are likely conducting a campaign of systematic religious persecution in occupied Ukraine, since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 Russian soldiers or occupations authorities have reportedly committed at least 76 acts of religious persecution in Ukraine, according to the report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) for April 9.

Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 Russian soldiers or occupations authorities have reportedly committed at least 76 acts of religious persecution in Ukraine. Russian authorities have closed, nationalized, or forcefully converted at least 26 places of worship to the Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, killed or seized at least 29 clergy or religious leaders, and looted, desecrated, or deliberately destroyed at least 13 places of worship in occupied Ukraine, the message posted on the website reads.

The western analysts believe that these cases of religious repression are not likely isolated incidents but rather part of a deliberate campaign to systematically eradicate undesirable religious organizations in Ukraine and promote the Moscow Patriarchate.

The Russian occupation authorities systematically export their state policy of suppressing religious freedom to the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, ensuring compliance with Russian federal laws.

It is noted that in 2021, the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation declared four groups of evangelical Christians from Latvia and Ukraine "undesirable" organizations, thereby effectively banning these organizations in the Russian Federation.

In August 2022, the occupation authorities in the temporarily occupied Melitopol of Zaporizhia region raided the house of a Ukrainian evangelical pastor and accused him of having links with the same undesirable organizations that were banned in Russia in 2021.

Russian occupation officials have been repressing Ukrainian religious communities in proxy republics in eastern Ukraine and in illegally occupied Crimea since 2014, the message reads.

The ISW analysts believe that Moscows religious persecution campaign seeks to eradicate the Autocephalous (independent) Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which Moscow views as schismatic despite the decision by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in 2019 granting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church its independence from the Moscow Patriarchate. 

In addition, the Russian occupation authorities are probably systematically liquidating the churches of the OCU in occupied Ukraine.

ISWs research found that 34 percent of the reported persecution events targeted the OCU, making it the single most targeted religious group. The high percentage of persecution events aimed at the OCU is not surprising on the one hand because it is the most popular confession in Ukraine. It is surprising on the other hand because the Kremlin has been posturing as the defender of Christianity in general and Eastern Orthodoxy in particular, the message reads.

According to the reports of witnesses, it is likely that the Russian authorities are persecuting the OCU for its Ukrainian origin.

The Russians pursued such targeted attacks on the OCU even during the short-lived Russian partial occupation of Kyiv Oblast early in the war, suggesting that this targeting was an intentional component of the Russian invasion from the outset, the message says.
Time is of great importance for the Ukrainian forces in preparing for a counteroffensive, and time also works in favor of Ukraine, because the further the centrifugal processes inside the Russian regime accelerate, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said.

"Time is crucial for us when preparing for a counteroffensive. Moreover, this time works in our favor, because, as we see, the further the centrifugal processes inside the Russian regime accelerate," Reznikov said in an interview with the ELTA news agency.

According to the minister, the Russian offensive is "creeping" and it is failing.

They [the Russians] have changed the dates of this offensive plan many times, and after setting a new date, it is still not possible to achieve this. This means that they also lose psychologically. And there they lose not only manpower, but also equipment and ammunition, the head of the ministry explained.

He also stressed that the owner of PMC Wagner has committed himself to succeed, at least on a narrow front. At the same time, according to him, there is a conflict between the various towers of the Kremlin.

All this, first of all, allows us to gain more time, and also supports the stability of our entire defense, Reznikov said.

On the other hand, he said, according to Ukrainian intelligence, the leadership of the Russian regime is ready to mobilize and sacrifice even three million people.

In addition, the head of the ministry said that this war will not be "frozen" by any negotiations"

Reznikov rejected the criticism voiced in some Western media regarding the categorical intention of the military-political leadership to continue the defense of Bakhmut, since the losses of the AFU there may even undermine Ukraine's ability to launch a counteroffensive.

The minister stressed that the Russian losses there are disproportionately greater and simply "colossal." According to Reznikov, Bakhmut allows us to restrain significantly larger enemy forces there with smaller forces, simultaneously destroying and grinding its offensive resources and potential.

This is very important in the context of the entire theater of war. The Russians have been using this creeping offensive tactic there for more than six months and are suffering enormous losses there. This means that if not for those losses, they could have used their full potential on another defensive line or on the front line against us in some less fortified and protected place. And now every day we inflict huge damage on them and keep them, in fact, locked up," the defense minister said.
Ukraine has repatriated to Russia five more seriously wounded Russian prisoners of war (POWs), including the only woman who was in Ukrainian captivity, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported.

"According to the norms of the Geneva Conventions, the Ukrainian side repatriated five more seriously wounded captive occupiers to the territory of the aggressor state, including the only woman who was in Ukrainian captivity," the Coordination Headquarters said on the Telegram channel on Monday.

As it is noted in the message, the condition of these "persons managed to be stabilized so that they became suitable for transportation. The repatriation, as stipulated by international humanitarian law, took place without any conditions for the Russian side."

In addition, as reported in Ramadan - the holy month for all Muslims - Ukraine handed over two Muslim prisoners of war who fought as part of the occupation army. "This was done in confirmation of our offer to the aggressor state to exchange Muslims based on "all for all" principle on both sides as a sign of respect for culture and traditions," the message says.

As previously reported, on March 24, the Ukrainian side has already repatriated five transportable seriously wounded Russian occupiers. "However, there are now significantly more wounded prisoners of war in places of detention in Russia and in the temporarily occupied territories, which, according to the Geneva Conventions, the occupying state must immediately return without preconditions," the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War noted.
Purdue University agricultural economists are collaborating with Michigan State University to develop more resilient food systems for coping with multiple disasters, such as when flooding occurs during a pandemic. Heavy rain ponded in this Tippecanoe County, Indiana, cornfield in August 2021. (Purdue Agricultural Communications photo/Tom Campbell)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Purdue University has received two grants of $1 million each from the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Institute of Food and Agriculture for five-year projects to enhance sustainable agricultural systems.

One grant is part of a $10 million project led by Michigan State Universitys Brent Ross to develop more resilient food systems for coping with multiple disasters, including pandemics, tornadoes and flooding. The other grant is part of a $10 million project led by Clemson Universitys Raghupathy Karthikeyan to develop a controlled-environment agriculture platform for cultivating salt-tolerant food crops using saline irrigation water.

The grants are in addition to two other $10 million grants to Purdue that NIFA announced earlier this year as part of a $70 million investment in sustainable agriculture that integrate research, education and extension efforts. One of those grants supports work to improve the economic resilience and sustainability of Eastern U.S. forests. The other grant aims to enhance Midwestern seafood production and consumption.

Leading the extension portion of the MSU project is Purdues Maria Marshall, the Jim and Lois Ackerman Professor of Agricultural Economics. Heading the education program development and evaluation portions of the Clemson project is Purdues Rama Radhakrishna, professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication.

This grant is about looking at sustained multiple shocks, said Marshall, who specializes in disaster recovery for small and family businesses and farms. When she began researching disruptive shocks to families and businesses in 2009, disasters came less frequently. But now they occur continually, and sometimes more than one at the same time.

You have climate change that is already affecting different parts of the supply chain, Marshall said. Now you add COVID on top of that. And then you add, for example, a train derailment. Its one thing on top of another on top of another.

Marshall and Renee Wiatt, family business management specialist in agricultural economics, will develop and coordinate the curriculum for farmers that they will deploy as a pilot program in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Serving on the advisory board for this project is Jayson Lusk, Distinguished Professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Economics.

We will help translate research at the farm level, and then we will train extension professionals on this curriculum, said Marshall, who also directs the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development and the Purdue Initiative for Family Firms.

The long-term goal of the Clemson project is to develop a method for hydroponic cultivation of high-value crops using saline irrigation water in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.

The concept here is how we can grow crops with reduced water intake, Radhakrishna said. This is important, he noted, because even though coastal areas have access to abundant water, all of it is salty. And globally, agriculture accounts for about 70% of freshwater withdrawals, also making it the leading cause of water problems in many regions.

Radhakrishna will help design courses and develop curricula for high school and university students about the value and impact of using the untapped resource of saline water for agriculture.

He also will conduct a needs assessment and stakeholder analysis to identify potential issues the research team may need to address that would hinder the adoption of safe, productive and sustainable saline irrigation water in coastal areas. In the projects final stages, Radhakrishna will assess the impact of the project on students, farmers and other key stakeholders in the targeted coastal regions.

Writer: Steve Koppes

Media contact: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu

Sources: Maria Marshall, mimarsha@purdue.edu

Rama Radhakrishna, rbradhak@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415;

Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu

Agriculture News Page
Crimea is our land, our territory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared in January, underscoring Ukraine's determination to reverse Russia's illegal seizure of the peninsula. At present, Ukraine may lack the military capability to retake Crimea, but Kyiv might still achieve some of its key objectives by blockading it. New technology may ease this task.

Crimea is legally part of Ukraine, despite having been under Russian control since 2014. Russia uses the peninsula as an important base for logistical support to Russian forces in occupied areas of Ukraine, and for air and sea operations.

Recovering Crimea by military means could be difficult. The peninsula is connected to the rest of Ukraine by just a narrow isthmus. Russian forces in Crimea can fortify it at will. Furthermore, Ukraine lacks substantial amphibious assault capabilities. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee has said people realize Ukraine is not going to militarily retake Crimea.

Some of Ukraine's backers worry that Russia could respond to a Ukrainian assault on Crimea with a nuclear strike. A year after seizing the peninsula, Putin said he had been ready to put Russian nuclear weapons on alert. Earlier this year, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev boasted that an attack on Crimea would lead to retaliatory strikes.

U.S. President Joe Biden has voiced concerns that nuclear use in Ukraine could lead to Armageddon. Fear of nuclear escalation might be part of the reason why the United States still refuses to supply Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), longer-range rocket artillery. It could enable Ukraine to strike military targets across Crimea.

Ukraine does not, however, need to drive occupying forces out of Crimea to render it less hospitable to Russia's purposes. Combinations of modern technologies could enable Ukraine to blockade and barrage Russian operations. Former U.S. Army Commander in Europe Lieutenant General Ben Hodges maintains that with long-range strike capabilities, Ukrainian forces could make Crimea untenable for Russian forces by the end of the summer.

Ukraine could use additional capabilities to neutralize most Russian military power in Crimea. It has demonstrated the use of explosive uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) in attacks against Russian warships based at Sevastopol. The concept is simple: Camera-studded, low-profile USVs laden with explosives are directed toward targets. This emerging technology can sink warships and destroy maritime infrastructure.

USVs are well-suited for networked swarm attacks, and relatively low-cost. Their nascent designs can be modified to make them stealthier and harder to detect than most crewed vessels. Large-scale attacks using scores of USVs could inflict massive damage. Sinking a warship in a confined channel could create obstacles that would take weeks to clear, or longer if under fire.

The geography that makes Crimea hard to invade facilitates a modern-day siege. All Russian movements by land must pass through one of two constrained corridors. The first entails traversing hundreds of miles of occupied territory, including areas relatively close to the front and crawling with hostile populations, saboteurs, and special forces. The final gauntlet is the isthmus, a target-rich place with minimal room for maneuver and within range of current Ukrainian weapons.

The other land route is via the Crimean Bridge, which Ukrainian forces damaged in October as a birthday gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bridges are durable and hard to destroy, which is one reason why Russia's claim that the damage was due to a truck bomb (and an ensuing fire) may be implausible.

Rather, the attack might have been inflicted by a USV. It can carry a larger explosive payload than a truck and strike a bridge from its vulnerable underside. While Russia has repaired much of the damage and will be on guard against follow-on attacks, a concerted swarm of explosive USVsperhaps complemented by air attacks diverting defenders' attentioncould break the bridge indefinitely.

Maritime shipping could be targeted by explosive USVs, and possibly by clandestine USV minelaying at port entrances. The costs of USVs and mines are small compared to the effects they would generate. Port facilities and ground transportation networks leading from them could be barraged by longer-range fires.

Russia would continue to resupply Crimea via air, but aircraft can deliver only a fraction of the materiel that ground vehicles or ships can. Relying on longer-range fire, Ukraine could attenuate this flow by targeting runways and fuel facilities on the peninsula. While they can be repaired, doing so takes time and resources. Aircraft could be targeted on the ground, although this may require time-sensitive locational intelligence.

USVs could enable Ukrainian forces to blockade Crimea. Augmented by other weapons, Ukrainian forces could hinder Russian forces from using it as a safe haven from which to attack the mainland or threaten Black Sea shipping. Rattled by attacks, short of supplies, and somewhat isolated, Russian forces in Crimea could become less capable.

Ukrainian forces could pin down and neuter the enemy in Crimea while they work to oust it from other parts of their country.

Scott Savitz is a senior engineer at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. William Courtney is an adjunct senior fellow at RAND and a former U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, Georgia, and a U.S.-Soviet Commission to implement the Threshold Test Ban Treaty.

This commentary originally appeared in The Moscow Times on April 8, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/10/2023



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum Ariel Frenkel has revealed whether she'd be interested in appearing on Bachelor in Paradise this summer or starring on a future ette season.Ariel, a 28-year-old marketing executive from New York, confirmed she is still single after filming Zach Shallcross ' season during a recent appearance on "The Viall Files" podcast.When asked if she's open to looking for love on the beaches of Paradise in Mexico, Ariel told Season 21 star Nick Viall , "We'll see.""It's the same thing with overnights, right? I don't say things and then go against it. So, I'm always open-minded, but I don't really know how I feel about going back into something like that," Ariel explained.Zach's third-place finisher on continued, "I also feel like the beach would be very different than what I experienced."Nick insisted Bachelor in Paradise is "a lot of fun" and she should go, but Ariel replied, "Really? I feel like it's not me. We'll see."To clarify why the show wouldn't be for her, Ariel admitted, "First of all, I hate the heat. I don't do well in the heat. I'm sweating right now!"But Ariel laughed and said she was "totally kidding." She then elaborated, "I don't know. I feel like I put myself out there so much in this past situation, I feel like it could be hard for me to go through that again."Ariel said while she's "moved on" from her breakup with Zach, she felt like it was "kind of a one-off situation for me, potentially."Ariel reasoned, "It really took me a long time to get back into my regular life and to process everything that had happened and rectify that situation.""And so I think it would be hard for me to put myself out there in that setting," she said, "where everyone is kind of shifting around couples as well."Nick told Ariel that many fans are hoping to see her in Paradise and it's "a very different experience" than or ette, given it would be easier for Ariel to control her own experience with many people being filmed at once."I didn't say, 'No.' I'm open," Ariel clarified."Okay, we'll see you there," Nick joked."Maybe," Ariel said."Bachelor Nation hopes to see you there," Nick pushed."It's a 'maybe' for me," Ariel repeated. "It's never a 'no' or a 'yes.'"As far as starring on ette goes, ABC has already selected Charity Lawson for Season 20.When asked if she'd be interested in a starring role on a future season, Ariel firmly replied, "No.""I said that really quickly, but I think it's too much pressure. And I think it's really hard to be in that setting," Ariel shared. "I don't know how I would personally be able to handle that."Ariel shared, however, that she's ready for a serious relationship.Ariel said she'd move anywhere for a partner and would have no problem uprooting her life because she's already done that "so many times."Zach chose to eliminate Ariel in third place after Fantasy Suites, advancing Gabi Elnicki and Kaity Biggar star told Ariel -- his first of three Fantasy Suite dates in Thailand -- that he had set a no-sex rule for himself for the entire week, but he went back on his word and broke that rule with Gabi.Zach ultimately disclosed to Kaity that he had sex with Gabi, but he didn't have a conversation with Ariel about it prior to her ouster."[Zach] actually mentioned that to [host Jesse Palmer] that he was going to tell me. So that makes him not a man of his word twice," Ariel complained on the podcast."And although he might have known he was sending me home -- I'm not going to speculate when that was or when he made that decision -- but regardless of me potentially going home and that relationship ending, it doesn't mean you don't show that relationship respect with honesty."But when Zach told Kaity the truth, Gabi was left feeling "extremely violated" and "ashamed.""Everyone kind of lost that week, particularly, honestly, Zach from the way he handled it... There are such better ways to handle it," Ariel noted.At star's Final Rose Ceremony in Thailand, Zach broke Gabi's heart and got engaged to Kaity.Zach and Kaity are still together now and plan to move in together in Austin this summer with their sights set on a 2025 wedding.Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a telephone conversation with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

I had a phone call with Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis. I told him about the situation on the battlefield and about the current defense challenges facing Ukraine. We agreed to continue security cooperation, Zelenskyy said on Telegram following the talk on Monday.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/09/2023



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Dean Unglert and Caelynn Miller-Keyes have revealed their plans for children after getting married and whether they intend to sign a prenuptial agreement.Dean and Caelynn will be tying the knot in Aspen, CO , this summer, and they've already sent out their "Save the Dates," which show the wedding will be on the 23rd of their chosen month.Since the couple is preparing to become newlyweds, they've definitely discussed a timeline for having kids and how they'd like to split or join their finances."I already know that I want to be a good [dad]," Dean said on the March 30 episode of his "Help! We Suck at Being Newlyweds" podcast that he co-hosts with Caelynn and Jared Haibon When Dean and Caelynn's guest, Hannah Godwin , asked how many children they'd like to have, Dean joked, "Nine or 10.""Two," Caelynn interjected.Dean then clarified, "We're going to have two of our own and then we're going to adopt two. That's the plan."Caelynn told her fiance how they hadn't spoken about adoption in a while."Yeah, we kind of fell off [that conversation]," Dean acknowledged. "But we need to get jobs first, or at least I need to get a job first before any type of kids comes out of either of us."Caelynn revealed how Dean's goal is to build decks, and Dean shouted, "If you guys need a deck, hit me up!... If you need a deck, I'm your guy."Speaking of getting a job and making money, Dean and Caelynn shared whether they plan to sign a prenuptial agreement."My business manager asked, she was like, 'Before you get married, we need to have this conversation.' And I brought it up to Dean and he was like, 'Absolutely not!'" Caelynn said with a laugh.Jared, who is married to Ashley Iaconetti , joked about how the business manager clearly doesn't think very highly of Dean.Dean -- who previously noted on the podcast that Caelynn "makes significantly more money" than him -- added to the fun and joked, "[The business manager was like], 'Get him to sign it now! He needs to sign it now! I know we're six months away, but he needs to sign it right now.'"Dean admitted he could understand why someone in Caelynn's corner would say that."And I can see why I would not want to sign one," Dean said. "But I'm not going to sign one. If you really want me to, Caelynn, of course I will sign it."But Caelynn assured her fiance, "No, no. We talked about it, and I think we decided 'no.'"Jared said if Ashley had asked him to sign one, he would without hesitation because he could "care less" about it."My brother and his wife just signed a postnup, and that's what sparked the whole conversation for us," Dean shared. "It's an interesting thing, but it was more of a requirement from his wife's late dad... Some people swear by it, and some people just don't seem to care. So I don't know!"Caelynn told E! News last month that she loves to plan and has been enjoying every step of the wedding-planning process."I just love him so much," she gushed. "I'm just so excited to be marrying someone who's such a good person, who makes me laugh every single day even if I'm upset. I think our life together is going to be really fun."Dean proposed marriage to Caelynn in October 2022 following a grueling 22-mile hike to Hawaii's Kauai Island about three years after they began dating on Season 6 of , which aired in Summer 2019.Caelynn then popped the question to Dean in December 2022, which made their engagement even more "official." She forced him to conquer his fear of riding horses since he had pushed her out of her comfort zone with that Hawaiian hike.Caelynn and Dean -- who previously admitted he'd prefer to just get married in a low-key courthouse ceremony -- revealed in late January that their wedding plans were nearly complete The pair said they initially planned to elope in Italy but then they realized Colorado would be a better wedding destination because all of their friends would be able to attend.On 's sixth season, Dean broke up with Caelynn on her birthday and left the show alone because he didn't think he was ready to provide the commitment that Caelynn wanted.However, Dean returned for Caelynn later on and begged her to give him a second chance, and the pair left Paradise dating each other.Following their Paradise exit, Dean convinced Caelynn to live "the van life" with him in which they traveled together and didn't have a stable home base.But Dean apparently got the van life out of his system because the couple moved into a home together in Las Vegas, NV, in Spring 2021. Caelynn and Dean later relocated to Denver, CO.Dean ended up popping the question with a temporary engagement ring with a "small" diamond because he claimed on his podcast -- which was formerly titled "Help! I Suck at Dating" -- to have lost the original 4.5 carat diamond he'd purchased for his girlfriend.Dean previously said he hopes to find the original diamond somewhere in his home and then turn the small diamond from his marriage proposal into a necklace for Caelynn.Back in June 2022, Dean revealed on his podcast that he had made a deal with Caelynn about getting engaged."I made a deal with [Caelynn]. I was like, 'I'll buy you a ring if you buy me a truck,'" Dean said, which sparked criticism from some fans that Dean didn't treat Caelynn very well.Dean also admitted at the time how he had thrown a "hissy fit" upon seeing the 4.5 karat ring Caelynn was hoping to have on her finger one day and the pair got into "a scuffle."Dean said getting engaged was simply "a touchy subject" in his relationship, adding, "Caelynn makes significantly more money than I do and here I am having to spend all this money on something I don't even want. Like, I want her to get what she wants, but she's the one who wants to get married."But then Caelynn came through and bought Dean a truck in August 2022.Back in April 2022, Caelynn recalled her reaction to Dean's request that she propose marriage to him."When Dean first said that, I thought, 'Okay, [it's] another thing Dean is saying to break the mold.' Sometimes he says things just for a reaction, and he'll admit that. I thought that's kind of what he was doing," Caelynn explained in a Q&A on YouTube."But the more I thought about it, the more I loved it, because traditionally, he would propose to me. That's something I've dreamt of for so long, and that's something that he doesn't get -- a day that's catered to him and this special moment where he's really thought of. That's when I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I love this.'"Caelynn pointed out how she and Dean have "a partnership" and so they both deserve to have a proposal day."I love the idea of planning this extravagant -- well, not extravagant, because he doesn't like to be the center of attention -- but just this thing that's all about him. So after I really thought about it, I am really, really into it," Caelynn said.When Dean and Caelynn do tie the knot, they both plan to change their last names to "Bell" in honor of Dean's late mother, whose maiden name was Bell.Dean and Caelynn have been wearing wedding bands since 2020 to show they are committed to each other. Caelynn told Us Weekly last year that it "really frustrates" her when fans assume Dean isn't good to her."He is hilarious and he's very sarcastic and he's also the most romantic person I think I've ever met. He's so thoughtful," Caelynn boasted."So I think that's a big misconception -- that I'm, like, more invested in the relationship or he, like, doesn't treat me right. I'm like, 'No, he treats me exceptionally well and he's always going out of his way to just surprise me and do romantic things.'"Prior to meeting on Paradise, Caelynn competed for Colton Underwood 's heart on The Bachelor's 23rd season, and Dean had been on multiple The Bachelor spinoffs after initially appearing on Rachel Lindsay 's season of The Bachelorette.Dean previously gushed to Us his relationship with Caelynn is "monumentally different" from other women he's dated in the past. Dean was previously linked to Kristina Schulman Danielle Lombard and Lesley Murphy from The Bachelor world alone."She's very intelligent and compassionate. I am able to be myself around her and she's able to be herself and that's how we create synergy and build around each other," Dean explained of Caelynn."For the first time in my Bachelor franchise relationship history, I feel like I'm able to say what I want, do what I want, and allow my partner to build with me while I'm doing that."Dean, however, believed in late 2019 that marriage was "never going to happen" for them."She does joke around about us getting married all the time, and I always say, 'Sorry, it's not going to happen.' I don't know, I'm super unconventional and she obviously is a little more conventional," Dean told the magazine at the time."We joke around about it. Just try to keep expectations to a minimum, you know? Like I said on the show, underpromise, overdeliver."Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/09/2023



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

runner-up Gabi Elnicki has addressed losing ette gig to Charity Lawson and whether she'd be interested in appearing on Bachelor in Paradise this summer."Obviously I still want to find love and I still want my person," Gabi told Joe Amabile during a recent episode of the "Click Bait with Bachelor Nation" podcast.With Bachelor in Paradise's ninth season right around the corner, Gabi said she doesn't know if she could picture herself looking for love on the beach in Mexico."I'm not sure," Gabi noted.However, Gabi said she'd be interested in meeting ette 15 alum Tyler Cameron -- adding "duh" after her disclosure -- as well as ette 19 alum Aven Jones "I was watching last season because I was thinking I was probably going to go on the show. So I think Aven was really cute and I thought [ Spencer Swies ] was really cute," Gabi shared."But yeah, I don't really know many people in Bachelor Nation, if I'm being honest."As for ette's upcoming twentieth season premiering Monday, June 26 at 9PM ET/PT, ABC already selected Charity as its leading lady.When asked if she would've been ready to star as the Bachelorette right after her breakup with 27 star Zach Shallcross , Gabi admitted, "You know, I think there are parts of myself that still need to heal.""But just because I'm healing and just because there are parts of myself I don't love and that I don't completely love yet, I mean, I don't not deserve love," she explained."So I think I could've done it, but I think it probably would've taken a toll on me emotionally."Gabi reiterated how she'd "probably need more time to heal" after 27 finale and "figure this all out."Gabi also pointed out how a lot came to light when she was watching season back on TV from January through March that had a profound effect on her."I hadn't seen all of the details of everything that was going to come out, and I think that's brought up even more emotions," Gabi explained."And so if I was in the middle of filming [ ette] right now, I don't know how I would've handled that."The account executive from Pittsford, VT, added, "I do need to heal parts of myself, and I am fully aware of that."Gabi therefore reasoned, "I think I could've done [ ette] and I think it could've been a good season. I obviously don't filter myself; I'm 100 percent me all the time, so it probably would've been pretty entertaining for people.""But I probably would've looked pretty unhinged given how emotionally through the wringer I was put," the brunette beauty concluded.And Gabi noted how Charity will be a "great" ette star because she's "hilarious.""I hope that we get to see a lot more of that personality. She stands up for what is right, always... She wasn't afraid to speak up or say, 'No, I don't think that's right. I don't think you should be doing that.' And she deserves to find love," Gabi said."I think she was very authentic the entire time. She was always there for all of us, and that's partially her career. She's a therapist, and so she did always lend that helping hand."Gabi told Joe that she knew if Charity wasn't going to win Zach's heart, there was "a high chance" she'd be picked for ette "just because of the type of person she is.""And she's going to absolutely crush it," Gabi gushed. "I really hope and pray that the person she finds is someone really genuine, who's really kind and is there for the right reasons and treats her with respect and love. I hope nothing but the best for her."Gabi also puts faith in the fact Charity will be able to handle all the emotions that come with the show and how "emotionally draining" it can be.Gabi still has "healing" to do from Zach's season for multiple reasons.Zach, for instance, told host Jesse Palmer and his eventual winner Kaity Biggar that he had slept with Gabi in the Fantasy Suites -- something Gabi and Zach had initially agreed to keep private.Gabi claimed Zach had actually asked her to keep the sex secret and so she felt "blindsided" and "violated" by his sudden urge to be transparent.Zach also told Gabi at the Final Rose Ceremony he hadn't "fully" made a decision about his winner until he was in bed the night before.Zach, however, said on : After the Final Rose that he had picked Kaity and had no doubt about wanting to spend the rest of his life with her during their last-chance date in Thailand.Zach explained to Us Weekly after the finale that ABC had aired his last-chance dates out of order, meaning Gabi's final date with Zach actually preceded Kaity's.Zach insisted he didn't lie to Gabi, but he clearly told her something very different at the Final Rose Ceremony.Gabi also felt "humiliated" by her breakup at the Final Rose Ceremony.Gabi apparently saw the split coming , and so she wished Zach had broken her heart in a more private, low-key setting rather than the grand spectacle of the Final Rose Ceremony.But Gabi said on the "Click Bait" podcast she's "truly" happy for Kaity and Zach's engagement , and she hopes to be invited to their wedding. Gabi and Kaity have both said they remain good friends to this day.Kaity and Zach, meanwhile, plan to move in together in Austin, TX, this summer, and they've already discussed tying the knot in 2025 Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
The Mayflower, the longest-running restaurant in Athens, has been an iconic local staple for nearly 75 years. While Clarence Fulcher was the m
Nobody is held accountable for lapses, no matter how badly it affects the person or business whose accounts are frozen.

Nor is there compensation for losses.

Most people get to know their accounts are blocked only when a cheque bounces, points out Debashis Basu.

Photograph: PTI Photo

About the worst experiences we have as consumers are with banks and financial services.

False promises in equity and insurance investment schemes, harmful outcomes of traditional insurance products, and getting locked into products you cannot get out are routine, as is mis-selling by agents and distributors.

The reasons for such horrible experiences are two-fold.

One, most of these are non-standard products or services.

For a bar of soap, production and benefit features can be standardised; so all bars will do the job of cleaning.

Not so for financial services, where some products will work for some customers and will not work for others, especially when it comes to market-linked products.

The second reason is poor regulatory enforcement, especially for banking and insurance services.

The Reserve Bank of India's regulatory philosophy is to issue guidelines and create a process of grievance redress.

It is not too interested in finding out how these guidelines and processes work on the ground. Consider the following:

Indiscriminate freezing of accounts

Banks are quick to freeze savings and current accounts without proper warning and notice, merely for a delay in updating KYC.

On paper, the RBI requires at least three notices to be sent to customers before initiating any coercive action.

Yet, in innumerable cases, including the freezing of my accounts, the bank was sloppy about sending notices.

Even though account freezing causes enormous harassment and embarrassment, there is zero accountability or punishment for banks that have not followed the rules.

India boasts being a tech superpower.

Our payment systems are the envy of the world.

Banks are using technology to target customers with third-party products.

And yet, the RBI is shy of checking the digital footprint of KYC updation notices sent to customers that ought to be available with each bank.

A centralised process under core banking generates notices, which are then expected to be sent by the branch.

In my case, while notices were generated at the centralised level, the branch did not bother to send them.

Banks are not asked to produce proof of having sent email/SMS notices to update KYC before freezing accounts and depriving people of their own hard-earned money entrusted with the bank.

Nobody is held accountable for lapses, no matter how badly it affects the person or business whose accounts are frozen.

Nor is there compensation for losses. Most people get to know their accounts are blocked only when a cheque bounces.

Lost or misplaced documents

The Moneylife Foundation has come across many cases where banks and finance companies cause permanent damage to the value of properties by losing all or part of the chain of documents kept in their custody against loans.

These include business loans as well as home loans.

If the chain of property documents is not complete, the loss of value is permanent.

Other banks also do not accept such defective documentation while granting loans.

Yet, the bank or finance company responsible for causing the loss is simply not asked to compensate customers, even when they admit that it is their fault.

Often, banks do not admit any fault.

We know of one customer who was asked to go to the bank's warehouse where documents were stored and hunt for the papers himself!

In another case, a top bank is unable to complete the police procedure required to obtain a certified true copy and complete the chain of documents.

Meanwhile, this customer is unable to sell his property.

Once again, how hard is it for the RBI to issue standard operating procedures (SOPs) on dealing with lost/misplaced documents, which covers all eventualities, including compensation to victims?

Nomination and transmission issues

The absence of SOPs is acutely felt in the area of nomination and transmission, where each bank, finance company, and even individual branch make their own rules.

The RBI's circular says that banks need to take necessary precautions while transferring account proceeds of deceased customers to their nominees, but cannot make superfluous and unwarranted demands such as seeking bonds, indemnities, and sureties from them. This continues to be ignored.

Bank lockers

The RBI recently asked banks to sign stamp-paper agreements with customers for opening bank lockers.

In the absence of SOPs, there is no standardisation on the value of stamp paper either.

Clear guidelines need to be issued and it should be mandatory to provide customers with a copy of the agreement.

In a digital world, it should be very simple to make a scanned copy available and also keep it on the customers' records for easy access.

How to fix this

It is easy to eliminate this hardship inflicted on consumers if our regulators change their regulatory philosophy.

The current attitude of the RBI is benign and distant.

It issues edicts and rules, but does not bother to check how they impact customers.

What is needed are two simple steps. As far as possible, issue SOPs for all aspects of banking operations so that there is no scope for banks, especially branch officials, to interpret them, impose conditions, or arm-twist customers to meet sales targets.

Second, initiate punitive action and compensation for customers when the bank is at fault.

If both banks and bank officials are personally liable for steep fines and damages, they will automatically exercise due care.

Unfortunately, for some strange reason, all adjudicating authorities (regulators, tribunals, and courts) in India are extremely coy about imposing punitive damages.

In the absence of punitive damages, there will be no serious improvement in customer service.

Debashis Basu is editor of moneylife.in and a trustee of the Moneylife Foundation.
Customers will now get to smell and feel better quality notes when they withdraw from ATMs even as it cuts down on counterfeits, discrepancies in the accounting (of cash), and aligns the countrys cash-moving business with global standards.

Raghu Mohan reports

cassette-swap mode with an initial four-phased roll-out across 30 cities from June 1.

The lockable cassette-swap will do away with the current practice of open-cash replenishment into ATMs.

Cash-in-transit (CIT) firm personnel, tasked with loading cash into ATMs, will not have to touch it anymore.

Cash-handling will be done by CITs at the cash centre, and the task of taking into account the amount of cash remaining from the last cassette-load will also be made simpler.

Customers will now get to smell and feel better quality notes when they withdraw from ATMs even as it cuts down on counterfeits, discrepancies in the accounting (of cash), and aligns the countrys cash-moving business with global standards.

In the new system, only fit-for-ATM notes will be used and counterfeits will be weeded out.

The move to activate cassette-swaps comes on the back of two extensions by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), to end-March of 2022 and 2023.

This was due to the inability of banks, CITs, and managed service providers to arrive at a consensus on its execution, and absorption of costs in the ecosystem.

The cost of each cassette ranges from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 and its procurement in huge quantities was seen as a burden.

With demands by banks for another extension to end-March 2024 gaining ground, the RBI held a stock-taking meeting with the Cash Logistics Association (CLA).

Business Standard has learnt that the RBI had conveyed to banks that it would have preferred a better ground report.

"The CLA, on its part, had submitted a confidential update, to the banking regulator, which set up an internal committee to monitor developments.

The decision to switch to cassette-swap model flows from the D K Mohanty Committee on Currency Movement set up in October 2016, to examine and mitigate the risks arising from open-cash replenishment.

On April 12, 2018, the central bank asked banks to shift to lockable cassettes in phases, covering at least a third of the ATMs, so that all ATMs achieve cassette swap by March 2021.

The new protocol entails investments as supplementary cassettes will be needed instead of using the same cassette.

It may also lead to fresh demands for hiking the interchange fee beyond five free transactions at ATMs from the current Rs 17 made in 2022.

This was an upward revision by Rs 2 in over a decade.

The silver lining is that of the installed base of 250,000 ATMs, nearly 20 per cent are recyclers that not only dispense cash but also allow you to deposit it in them.

While recyclers come for about Rs 5.50 lakh each compared to Rs 3 lakh for the ubiquitous cash-vending ATM, the bet is that they may, over time, reduce the cost of cash loading.
Scrutiny of Googles code of conduct in the Indian Android ecosystem is far from over with several start-ups preparing to appeal against the companys revised policies of service fee on in-app purchases and subscriptions, according to sources in the know.

Photograph: Annegret Hilse/Reuters

This comes days after the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) granted partial relief to the tech giant, reversing four of the 10 key non-monetary directives that would have forced Google to allow uninstalling of its pre-installed apps on Android devices.

Paytm, BharatMatrimony, and ShareChat are among the start-ups that are likely to file grievances against the tech major for alleged non-compliance with the Competition Commission of Indias (CCIs) cease-and-desist order on Play Store policies.

The Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF)  an industry body for digital start-ups  will soon pursue collective legal action on behalf of the platforms, Business Standard has learnt.

Email queries sent to Google, Paytm, BharatMatrimony, and ShareChat did not elicit any response till the time of going to press.

The CCI, in October 2022, had ordered Google to allow app developers to use third-party billing or payment processing services for app purchases, as well as in-app purchases.

Google started acting on the order in January after the Supreme Court refused to grant any interim relief.

The revised policies of Play Store will allow app developers to offer users choice billing systems to users along with Google Play Billing System (GPBS) within India from April 26.

However, the app store will charge a service fee on such transactions, which is 4 per cent less than the 15-30 per cent fees charged on payments through GPBS.

Therefore, the service fees on payments made through an alternative billing system stands at 11 per cent for the first $1 million earned by the developer in revenue each year and 26 per cent for earnings above it.

The start-ups say the charges are exorbitant and make any alternative billing apart from GPBS economically unattractive.

If we choose third-party billing systems, we will need to pay processing fees to the new service provider which is around four per cent.

"When Googles charges are added to this, it brings the total at par with, if not more than, the 15-30 per cent GPBS fee.

"Google is abusing its dominance in the app store market to promote its own billing system, said a person familiar with the matter.

A delegation of some start-ups is also planning to urge Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar to look into the matter.

Developers are not using any additional service when they provide third-party billing systems on their apps.

"So the service fees are almost like Googles tax or a Lagaan on Indian app developers.

"Thirty per cent is a huge chunk of our revenue.

"Thus, the service fee is causing an adverse impact on app developers ability to make profits, an app developer said on the condition of anonymity.

Google, on the other hand, says the fees are necessary for a sustainable business model in the Android ecosystem.

Google Plays service fee has never been simply a fee for payment processing.

"It reflects the value provided by Android and Google Play, and all of the developer services we offer, including app distribution and discovery, the commerce platform, developer tools, analytics, training, and more, says a console page of Google Play.
India's imports of crude oil from Russia touched a new high of 1.64 million barrels per day in March and is now double of the purchases from Iraq - the nation's traditional top oil supplier.

Photograph: Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters

But the purchases appear to have plateaued as growth has slowed.

Russia continued to be the single largest supplier of crude oil, which is converted into petrol and diesel at refineries, for a sixth straight month by supplying more than one-third of all oil India imported, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa.

Refiners continue to snap up plentiful Russian cargo available at a discount to other grades.

From a market share of less than 1 per cent in India's import basket before the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Russia's share of India's imports rose to 1.64 million barrels per day in March, taking a 34 per cent share.

The purchases from Russia in March were double of 0.82 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil bought from Iraq, which has been India's top oil supplier since 2017-18.

India, the world's third-largest crude importer after China and the United States, has been snapping Russian oil that was available at a discount after some in the West shunned it as a means of punishing Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

Month-on-month, purchases from Russia rose marginally from 1.62 million bpd of oil imported from the country in February.

According to Vortexa, Saudi Arabia was India's second largest supplier of crude oil in March, selling 986,288 bpd. Iraq with 821,952 bpd sales was the third biggest supplier.

UAE overtook the US to become the fourth largest supplier at 313,002 bpd.

The US supplied 136,464 bpd, down from 248,430 bpd in February.

"While India continues to increase its imports of Russian crude month-on-month in March, the growth has slowed," said Vortexa's head of Asia-Pacific analysis, Serena Huang.

"Refiners' purchases of medium-sour Russian Urals have remained steady in March, and the increase in imports are attributed to higher purchases of sweeter grades like Novy Port Light."

India's import of Russian oil could have plateaued.

"The plateauing of India's imports of Russian Urals could indicate a soft limit on its ability to take in more sour crude, given its need to fulfill its term contracts with Mideast Gulf producers.

"But domestic refiners do have room to increase their purchases of sweeter grades like Sokol, ESPO blend and Novy Port Light, in the interest of maintaining refining runs high and diversifying its crude sources," Huang said.

Russia is selling record amounts of crude oil to India to plug the gap in its energy exports after the European Union banned imports in December.

In December, the EU banned Russian seaborne oil and imposed a $60-per-barrel price cap, which prevents other countries from using EU shipping and insurance services, unless oil is sold below the cap.

Industry officials said Indian refiners are using UAE's dirham to pay for oil that is imported at a price lower than $60.

"Almost a quarter of the Russian imports are now paid in dirham," an official said.

According to Vortexa, India imported just 68,600 bpd of oil from Russia in March 2022 and this year the purchases have jumped to 1,646,311 bpd.

Year-on-year, imports from Iraq have fallen from 1,139,880 bpd in March 2022 to 821,952 bpd this year.

The biggest drop, however, has been in the US imports - from 419,071 bpd to 136,464 bpd.

Saudi Arabia is selling more oil as compared to 872,683 bpd it sold in March last year.
The responsibility for peace in Ukraine now rests in the hands of the two principal belligerents, Russia and the US, and the prime victim of this great power rivalry, Ukraine, points out Nitin Desai.

IMAGE: A member of Ukraine's mobile air defence group checks a M2 Browning machine gun atop a pick up truck in the town of Hostomel. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

The one-year-old war in Ukraine is not just between Russia and Ukraine.

It is also a conflict between Russia and the United States. The Cold War may have ended.

But the antagonism between these two superpowers has not, except for a brief spell in the early 1990s.

The Ukraine war may be close to a direct conflict between the two powers, which has rarely taken place in the 75 years of this antagonism except in the Cuban missile crisis of October 1962.

The origin of this antagonism goes back to the second half of the 1940s when the Soviet Union was led by Stalin, who needed to promote threats from the outside world for his domestic hold on power.

He distanced the Soviet Union from various post-war initiatives of his allies and pursued an encroachment on European country politics through support for European Communist parties.

The US's response was initially shaped by George Kennan, at that time a US diplomat in the Soviet Union, and later an influential academic and commentator on foreign policy.

Kennan's explanation for Soviet Union behaviour was that at the 'bottom of the Kremlin's neurotic view of world affairs is the traditional and instinctive Russian sense of insecurity', an explanation that still makes sense.

Kennan's suggested response to the US was a policy of containment based on strengthening Western institutions (reflected in the Marshall Plan) and responding similarly to challenges at other geographical points.

In his later works, he did not see the Soviet Union as expansionist and even suggested that the US should withdraw militarily from Europe, agree on a neutral united Germany and count on Russia, less threatened from the West, not strengthening its domination over Eastern Europe.

In 1997, Kennan described the US drive for the expansion of NATO as a 'strategic blunder of potentially epic proportions', a prognosis of special relevance as the war in Ukraine is surely attributable, to a significant extent, to NATO seeking expansion to the borders of Russia.

The sad story of the past 75 years is that the US did not buy Kennan's policy of economic and political containment of Russia and in 1950 opted for military containment, a policy that became even more aggressive after China turned communist.

This led to the US establishing a military presence in Europe and conscripting Western Europe, including West Germany, into its antagonism with the Soviet Union/Russia.

This rivalry escalated into global military dominance, and this is reflected in the fact that the US, which faces no threat of territorial intrusion, accounts for 38 per cent of the global military expenditure.

Had it remained committed to Kennan's milder containment policy, the world today would be less militarised.

This explanation does not absolve Russia of its increasingly strident claim of rights over all territories with significant Russian origin citizens.

Moreover, Russia has violated the basic UN principle of territorial integrity.

Perhaps, as in the case of Stalin, Vladimir Putin's virulent nationalism, strong opposition to the West and the erosion of democracy are probably designed to consolidate his local power.

Peace in Ukraine requires peace between the US and Russia. Is this possible?

IMAGE: A vigil marking the first anniversary of the liberation of the town of Bucha, outside Kyiv. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

A peace process between warring parties is most often secured at the point when all adversaries are convinced that they cannot get an unconditional surrender and their conflict has reached a stalemate that is hurting them more than the cost of any compromise they have to make to get a ceasefire or a peace agreement.

Even then, each adversary will have factions not committed to a peace process, a difference that may be attributable to rivalries between leaders.

In Russia, the chances are that the reality of a stalemate vis-a-vis Ukraine and the US may be recognised and dissent from a pro-war faction is unlikely, given that the only criticism at present is from Russians who are opposed to the war.

This, however, is not the case in the US where, with an election due a year ahead, the opposition may well come from President Biden's political rivals.

The one factor that may work is the reluctance for a direct military conflict with Russia that has prevailed in US strategic policy for 75 years.

How can Russia and the US be brought together to start talking about peace in Ukraine?

Can the US be persuaded to forego its policy of expanding NATO to the Russian border?

Will Russia dilute its nationalistic goal of extending its rule to all territories with a substantial Russian origin population and be willing to tolerate truly independent neighbours?

Can a creative compromise be worked out that will find a way for Russia and Ukraine to share power in Russian majority territories in Ukraine?

Can mainland Europe and China plan together to play a moderating role on the US and Russia?

Will Germany shift a little towards neutrality to serve as a buffer for peace between West and East Europe? If some of these difficult changes can be made to happen, peace is possible.

India, the current G20 president, has significant links with both the belligerent great powers.

It could consider a discreet, very discreet, approach to some G20 members to develop a peace proposal.

It should be secret, and not used for domestic publicity.

If this secrecy is not maintained, the initiative will end as soon as it has begun.

IMAGE: A damaged building in Ukraine. Photograph: Alina Yarysh/Reuters

Initially the approach could be to the G20 members who have been neutral in public, for instance, in the UN votes related to the Ukraine War issue.

This could include Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, who constitute the quad of G20 presidents from 2022 to 2025, and possibly Turkey and Mexico.

This group together could then try and persuade France, Germany, and Italy to prevail on the US and persuade China to prevail on Russia.

The driving force could be the potential threat of an escalation of the Ukraine war to an even more direct conflict between Russia and the US.

The truth is the responsibility for peace in Ukraine now rests in the hands of the two principal belligerents, Russia and the US and the prime victim of this great power rivalry, Ukraine.

Let us hope that all three are convinced that there is an impasse to a military resolution of the issue.

If their leadership is so convinced, the initiative proposed above may work.

Only then can we reduce the risk of the conflict escalating into a Russia-US war, a possibility that will destroy the creaky global system on which we all depend and is the greatest threat to the current G20 slogan 'One Earth, One Family, One Future'.

Nitin Desai was under-secretary general at the United Nations in the 1990s.
Only the future will tell if Modi can leave his mark on the Ukraine crisis.

Nonetheless, it is both a challenge and an opportunity for India's diplomacy, notes Rup Narayan Das.

IMAGE: The Ukrainian national flag flutters near buildings destroyed by Russian military strikes in the town of Borodianka in the Kyiv region. Photograph: Gleb Garanich/Reuters

In a very significant diplomatic development having international ramifications, Ukraine's First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Emaine Dzhaparova is visiting India on a three-day trip.

She is also slated to extend AN invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Ukraine.

The visit is the first of its kind from Ukraine after the Ukraine crisis.

This has aroused considerable anxiety, if not a cautious optimism about finding a mutually acceptable framework for ending the war in Ukraine.

Can Prime Minister Modi break the Gordian knot and bring a truce and normalcy to Ukraine ravaged by war and caught between the West led by the USA and Putin's Russia and China acquiescing to Russia?

This article attempts to reconstruct and connect the dots to have a sense of the evolving scenario.

The Ukraine Crisis and India's calibrated response

The challenge to India's foreign policy posturing in recent times and in fact to the world at large is the Ukraine crisis which broke out in February last year; the crisis is far from over as yet.

Considering India's historical and traditional friendship and more importantly, defence relationship with Russia, it is indeed a piquant situation in view of India's evolving strategic relationship with the West, particularly the US.

India has, however, navigated the delicate balance creatively with finesse and dexterity upholding the country's national interest.

India's principled position on the complex Ukraine imbroglio was articulated in a carefully worded statement by its then permanent representative to the United Nations T S Tirumurti during the voting of the US-sponsored UN resolution deploring the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

It said, 'We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities. We are also deeply concerned about the welfare of the Indian community, including a large number of students, in Ukraine. The contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, International law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. All members need to honour these principles.

'Dialogue is the only way to settle disputes... It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. For these reasons, India has chosen to abstain from the resolution.'

IMAGE: A Ukrainian soldier stands next to pickups that were donated for use while hunting on weaponised drones at the Hostomel airfield, northwest of Kyiv. Photograph: Roman Pilipey/Getty Images

This is a strong statement conveying India's balanced position on the Ukraine crisis.

India's abstention on the US-sponsored UN resolutions deploring Russian action should be seen in conjunction with the statement which had its salutary effects on all concerned.

It indeed enhanced India's self-esteem among the comity of nations earning applause and appreciation from both sides of the strategic divide and also from Ukraine.

The United States urged India to use its influence with Russia to protect the rule-based international order.

As a statesman of international standing, Modi earlier spoke to both President Biden, and President Putin and also President Zelensky of Ukraine to end violence and for the restoration of peace in the war-ravaged country.

It was because of Modi's efforts and appeal the Indian students including some others from South Asian countries could be evacuated from the war zone where the shelling was taking place.

IMAGE: A woman holds a sign with the slogan words 'Save Syria & Ukraine from criminal Putin' as people, many of them Ukrainians living in Berlin, protest in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin under the motto 'No Freedom. No Peace', April 8, 2023. Photograph: Carsten Koall/Getty Images

A related issue that also attests to India's independent foreign policy upholding national interest and without buckling down to pressure, is India's decision to continue buying Russian oil in spite of US sanctions.

In an interview with an Austrian television channel External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said that Europe had imported six times the energy from Russia than India had done since February 2022.

India's commitment to honour and implement the defence deal of $2 billion to buy the S-4000 missile system from Russia in spite of the US threat to impose sanctions under Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAASTA) is yet another instance of India's strategic autonomy.

The S-400 air defence system was contracted for by India in a defence deal and five squadrons are envisaged to be procured in a phased manner.

In a major boost to the country's air capabilities, the Indian Air Force has deployed the first squadron of the S-400 air defence missile system in the Punjab sector to take care of aerial threats from both Pakistan and China.

IMAGE: Believers have their Easter baskets blessed during the Easter Vigil mass at the Cathedral of St Alexander in Kyiv, April 8, 2023. Photograph: Roman Pilipey/Getty Images

India's G-20 Presidency: Can India prevail over Russia-China duopoly?

The strategic significance of Ms Dzhaparova's India visit can be attributed to India's Presidency of G-20 which India is hosting in September.

Kyiv is also expecting an invite to the high table of the G-20 summit.

The Group at its last summit in Bali last year has articulated its stance on the Ukraine crisis.

Kyiv expects the Group should not only reiterate its earlier stance but also improve upon it taking into account recent developments.

The envisaged invite to Prime Minister Modi to visit Ukraine is a clear reflection of Kyiv's expectation of his statesmanship to hammer out a consensus safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The hiatus between the West led by the US and the duopoly of Russia and China was very much evident at the recent meeting of the interlocutors from the G-20 held at Kumarakom in Kerala under the stewardship of India's Sherpa Amitabh Kant where China and Russia expressed their concerns over the approach of the US and European countries.

Articulating the stances and emphasis Kant said that several options were on the table to bring unanimity on how the issue could be resolved.

Although it was reported that the G-20 members have agreed on 99% of issues, the Ukraine issue was not resolved and it is hoped that the consensus could be worked out by September during the summit.

India's Presidency of G-20 has put India's diplomacy to the test on the Ukraine issue considering the strategic rivalry between India and China.

India is in an enviable position of enjoying the confidence of both the West and Russia.

The summit outcome will only reflect whether India can prevail over China's stance, at the behest of Russia, to fine-tune a resolution accommodating divergent interests.

The issue should be addressed upfront and should not be couched with diplomatic niceties and rhetoric.

Perhaps India is the only country that enjoys the confidence of both the USA and Russia.

In the past India had played its diplomacy well in the India-China imbroglio during the Geneva Conference and also in the Korean crisis which China downplayed.

India is now a major power to be reckoned with. Only the future will tell if Modi can leave his mark on the Ukraine crisis.

Nonetheless, it is both a challenge and an opportunity for India's diplomacy.

Dr Rup Narayan Das, a China scholar, is currently a Senior Fellow at the Indian Council of Social Science Research at the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi. The views expressed in this column are personal.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Ukrainian forces are destroying the combat potential of the enemy every day, which is forced to involve special forces and amphibious assault units in the battles for Bakhmut, commander of the Eastern Group of troops, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky has said.

It is a great honor for me to be shoulder to shoulder with our warriors at this time. We worked out plans for the defense of the town of Bakhmut with the commanders of military units and groups, and also met with the soldiers defending the fortress. The defense forces have exhausted the Wagner fighters, wrote Syrsky on the Telegram channel.

He noted that the enemy is forced to involve special forces and amphibious assault units in the battles for Bakhmut, and the Russians are also actively using their artillery and aviation, destroying the town that they cannot capture.

The defense of Bakhmut continues, our military courageously and professionally carry out the task. They deplete the enemy every day and destroy his combat potential, each successful shot, hit the target, bring our Victory closer! said Syrsky.
With elections elsewhere in India showing that multi-pronged contests usually work to the BJP's favour, the party can gain if it hangs on stubbornly.

In the meantime, any additional support helps.

That is why the archbishop's comment attracted political traction in Kerala, observes Shyam G Menon.

IMAGE: A rubber plantation in Kerala. Photograph: Kind courtesy Aruna/Wikimedia Commons

In March 2023, in what has become a trend in Kerala, a senior functionary of the Christian church left political parties guessing with a controversial remark.

Addressing the Catholic Farmers Conference, Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany said that the church will help the Bharatiya Janata Party get a Member of Parliament from Kerala if the Centre raised the procurement price of rubber to Rs 300 per kilo.

As the news spread, the archbishop clarified that he wasn't referring specifically to the BJP but any party willing to raise rubber price. It was too little, too late.

The BJP has been struggling to get a toehold in the big league in Kerala.

Aside from seats secured in local body elections and one seat in the legislative assembly (secured in the 2016 assembly election and lost in the 2021 polls), the party has had no success.

The party has never won a Lok Sabha seat from Kerala although its support base has been slowly growing in proportion to the public's disenchantment with the state's main two political formations -- the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

With elections elsewhere in India showing that multi-pronged contests usually work to the favour of the BJP, the party can gain if it hangs on stubbornly.

In the meantime, any additional support helps. That is why the archbishop's comment of March 19, attracted political traction in Kerala.

Kerala is the biggest producer of rubber in India.

Many rubber growers hail from the Christian community and therefore its procurement price and the welfare of those dependent on it have periodically influenced the community's politics.

It is a subject the church finds hard to ignore.

In 2023, however, there is another competitor to such pulls.

In some parts of India, the Christian community faced attacks during the tenure of the BJP at the Centre.

Not just the church, but civil society organiSations too have pressed the government to take remedial action.

It is a major issue before the community; an hour demanding solidarity from its fold for the purpose.

As news spread of the archbishop's speech, it was soon apparent that in a state, which has long rallied to keep its vote secular, disappointment with the archbishop's view was not confined to political circles.

Within hours, discussion panels on television, featuring analysts and commentators from the Christian community, hit out against selling votes as implied in the suggestion of a vote to the BJP if rubber price was revised to Rs 300.

The angry response drew on the incident immediately at hand, representations to the central government demanding an end to the violence against Christians and the backdrop of other controversies the church in Kerala harvested in the past.

To complicate matters, news reports surfaced, which pointed to the archbishop having met BJP leaders ahead of the farmers' conference.

The bishop's office clarified that the party members had come to invite church representatives for a sitting of the Minorities Commission. It helped little to change impression.

On March 20, mathrubhumi.com reported that Father Suresh Mathew, a priest of the Capuchin church, had said that the archbishop's statement cannot be taken as the stand of Christians in Kerala.

'Mathew said that many Christian religious leaders in Kerala do not have an idea about the ideology of the BJP, which is just the political face of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,' the mathrubhumi.com report said.

Four days later, on March 24, The New Indian Express reported that Sathyadeepam, the mouthpiece of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, had rejected Archbishop Pamplany's comment.

'In a hard-hitting editorial, Sathyadeepam -- the mouthpiece of the archdiocese -- accused Pamplany of 'belittling' the larger farming community and 'nullifying' all the efforts made so far by the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council and the synod to the cause of farmers. It also asked the bishop to retract the controversial remark,' the newspaper said.

According to the editorial in Sathyadeepam (as reported by The New Indian Express), the archbishop's comment was a dangerous simplification of the issues faced by farmers in Kerala.

There were import policies to address; not to mention - the challenges varied regionally.

The issues a farmer faced in Malabar (where Thalassery is) are different from those faced in Idukki or Alappuzha.

The New Indian Express quoted the editorial further: 'How can the BJP, which has adopted an anti-farmer stance as its basic policy, be the saviour? The Church leadership should stand with the farmers, not the other way around. It is irresponsible to risk their self-esteem for just Rs 300.'

The Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese is an influential entity.

As periodically reported in the media, it has its share of issue-based, distinct views.

As of late March, few responses similar to Sathyadeepam's and Father Mathew's, on the Thalassery archbishop's comment, had been heard from elsewhere in the church in Kerala.

A possible explanation for this is how important rubber farmers are to religion and politics around the state's Christian community.

It is hard to publicly disagree with the need to protect farmers' interests.

IMAGE: Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany. Photograph: Kind courtesy Mr Don Carlose/Wikimedia Commons

While the archbishop's comment may have raised eyebrows within the Christian community, outside that religious fold, the worry was less founded in shock and more in what such tendencies may mean for the BJP's political fortunes in Kerala.

The question wasn't why the archbishop said so but given its inevitability (as gleaned from the past conduct of sections of the church), what could it mean for a state fighting to keep the BJP out?

The reason for this line of thinking may be traced back to the considerable contributions the church made in sectors like education and health facilities.

Thousands of people from all religions have benefitted from the service offered by these institutions.

To the envy of other religions, the church in Kerala is a giant enterprise of sorts especially when the faithful add their businesses too to the cluster represented by the church.

What must be understood is that as the business side of anything zooms in size, its credibility in opinions pertaining to other areas becomes thin.

For a non-Christian listening to the archbishop's comment mixing commerce and politics, it may have appeared the trend to expect.

It is important to note in this context that political observers will likely add the archbishop's comment to the list of similar overtures to the BJP and expressions of concurrence with the Hindu Right-Wing that have emanated from the church in Kerala, in the past.

Further, it won't be incorrect to say that in Kerala, the ordered structure of the church and other religions patterned so along with the material benefits linked to such arrangement, are among factors making Hindus think they too should order themselves similarly.

It has helped the slow growth of the BJP-RSS in the backdrop.

A comment, which suggests to the church's faithful that they may vote for the BJP should the Centre revise rubber procurement price to Rs 300 only reinforces the perception that the church and its followers work as a bloc.

The real problem in this model exceeds the church.

By highlighting the strategic importance of well-placed points of contact to influence the whole, such architecture progressively emaciates the individual's significance in community.

For example, will a rubber farmer who feels that procurement price shouldn't be what decides his/her vote, be heard once an archbishop has suggested otherwise?

On the other hand, the very nature of the church's organiSation, from parish upward, makes it inevitable that the struggles of its followers will be known to the clergy and will become part of what they deal with.

The early story of Kerala's hill farmers -- their arrival in forested lands, their contest with nature to survive -- is entwined with the church's role as provider of faith and succor.

Over the last several months, far away from Thalassery, senior officials of the Latin Catholic church have anchored the agitation of fisherfolk against the Vizhinjam port project in south Kerala.

As one panelist on television pointed out in a discussion on the archbishop's speech; to their credit, the clergy associated with the Vizhinjam protest hasn't openly advocated connecting votes to how their problems are addressed.

Therein lay perhaps the mistake committed by the archbishop.

His oversimplification of a vote in 2023 -- a year from a period witnessing authoritarian government by the BJP, Right-Wing intolerance, aggression towards minorities and systematic hunting of the opposition; with economic development, nationalism and even diplomacy used as fig leaf to distract from excesses -- has been terrible to say the least.

There is a lot that is overlooked in vote pegged to rubber procurement price.

On March 24, onmanorama.com reported that the vice chairman of the Rubber Board had called on the Thalassery archbishop.

Quoting sources, the report said that both reportedly held talks on how to ensure stable rubber price in the state.

Shyam G Menon is a Mumbai-based columnist.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Children should be told that if they receive porn on their phones they should inform their parents or teachers who should in turn contact cyber crime.'

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has only been posted for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Shibari Kinbaku/Pixabay

Speaking at the Indian Community Welfare Organisation's orientation on human trafficking for college professors in Chennai recently, retired IPS officer Dr P M Nair cited the example of human trafficking in Kerala.

A lady named Sunita wanted to go to the Gulf to work as a maid. The agent charged her Rs 200,000 and told her it will be easier to get a job there as Selma and he would get all the papers ready in that name. He told her she would earn Rs 50,000 a month as salary.

But once she landed there, she was raped and used for prostitution for four months. One day she had a Malayali customer who took pity on her and informed the local police. She was rescued and sent back to India.

Dr Nair said statistics show that five million Indians are browsing the web for child pornography.

111,000 children go missing every year in India and 41,000 remain untraced.

A boy went missing from Jharkhand for three-and-a-half years. He was traced to Tirupur in Tamil Nadu and the 17 year old boy was brought to Chennai. His mother speaks only Bhojpuri. A student of Elizabeth College who knows 13 languages spoke to the mother and asked her to come to Chennai. They sent her a ticket as she did not have the money to buy one. The child and his mother were united in Chennai.

The founder and secretary of ICWO, A J Hariharan, informed the gathering that they have started anti-human trafficking clubs in 108 colleges covering all 38 districts of Tamil Nadu.

So how widespread is child trafficking?

Dr Nair tells A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com, "We have rescued women from Kazhakstan and Uzbekistan in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh."

Which states are vulnerable to human trafficking?

All the states in the country, some are source states, some transit states and others are destination states.

Which are the regular destinations of trafficking?

The demand for sex trafficking is everywhere.

What are the preventive measures that the government has taken to prevent trafficking?

To prevent trafficking at the source the government and NGOs are creating awareness about it. Spotting them while in transit and the destination is something we can all do.

We have to identify the so-called labour contractors and get them under our control. Panchayats have to be empowered to keep an eye on vulnerable children.

There are a large number of Nepali women in the red light areas of Mumbai and Kolkata. Is the government aware of this, and what steps have they taken to prevent this?

Lots of research has been undertaken on this topic and the government is aware. The response among the women has been minimal because we can take action only if they have been lured here on the pretext of other jobs.

Are there funds to rehabilitate trafficking victims, for if they are returned to their families they might get trafficked again?

After they are rescued, officials do a verification of their homes. If the homes are found, only then are the children sent back. If not, then they are sent to government shelter homes.

Are Indian women trafficked to destinations abroad? How does the Government curtail this?

This happens mostly to the Gulf countries. They are deceived by promising them jobs as maids and cooks. Once there, they are forced to become sex slaves.

We have rescued women from Kazhakstan and Uzbekistan in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

What is the government doing to prevent trafficking?

The government set up anti-human trafficking units in 2007. I personally set up nine units in the country in the states of Goa, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar.

Once the victims are identified a special task force of the police and NGOs takes over to rescue the children or women.

What does civil society need to do to prevent trafficking?

NGOs inform and the police rescue, then there is counselling and rehabilitation. The government is giving funds to NGOs involved in stopping trafficking.

Clubs have been started in colleges so that the youth is aware and helping. The first club was started in Kerala in 2014.

The police come into the picture only at the rescue stage. Children should be told that if they receive porn on their phones they should inform their parents or teachers who should in turn contact cyber crime, which will identify the source and take action.

Tell us about your first case of child trafficking in 1982.

I was the SP of Palamu district, Bihar, at that time, now it is in Jharkhand. A lady came to my office at 8.30 am to meet me. She had taken a bus from her village over 100 km away to meet me.

She told me that her 11-year-old son was not well and I should go and meet him. I was intrigued as she had travelled a great distance to meet me.

She said she knew she would get justice from me as there was an altercation between the Scheduled Castes and higher caste people in her village a month earlier. I had gone there and arrived at an amicable settlement.

I went there with her. She lived in a thatched hut. Her son was nervous and scared. I made him take off his clothes and saw that his private parts, both front and back, were badly injured. I took him to the district general hospital and got him admitted there.

Ten days later the doctor said he was well and I went to meet him. He was happy and related to me how 27 young boys were taken from his village by a contractor to work in a carpet factory in Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh.

They were promised Rs 500 a month, three meals and an eight-hour work schedule. They actually worked from 7 am to 8 pm with two 15-minute breaks to eat. In the morning they got two chapatis with an onion and in the evening they got two chapatis with a piece of jaggery.

Photograph: A Ganesh Nadar/ Rediff.com IMAGE: Dr P M Nair.

In the night the managers there would take two or three boys with them and sexually abuse them. As he had fallen ill, the contractor brought him back to his village and said he would take him back after he became well. He was not given any salary as the contractor said he would be paid only after he worked for one year.

I got a detailed map of the place from this boy. I went to Mirzapur and met the police higher-ups. They knew what was going on and accepted the fact that the carpet industry needs children and the children work because of poverty.

I took the local sub inspector and visited the factory. I told him to introduce me as a buyer from South India. The manager, Shrivastav, showed me the carpets, but when I asked to visit the factory he refused.

My boy had told me that it was behind the showroom. The SI made him open the door. There were more than 100 children there. I asked those from Palamu district to raise their hands. Then I asked them if they wanted to go home, they said they did. My boy was with me.

He told me there was a back entrance through a toilet. I made the boys leave through the back door into a police truck which left for my district immediately. In the meanwhile, three other managers turned up.

The SI asked them to get into my police jeep. I left for my district 20 km away with them. I did not arrest Shrivastav as the boy had told me that he was a good man.

Those days there were no mobiles. I called the district higher-ups on my wireless and told them what I had done and would file a detailed report in 15 minutes, by then I had reached my own district.

The factory managers and owners were prosecuted. The children were given medical treatment and admitted to government schools in my district near their village.

This news was reported in the local newspapers. A week later, Kailash Satyarthi and Swami Agnivesh visited me. They congratulated me on my rescue and also gave me information about 133 children who were being exploited. I rescued all of them.
'The ministry of home affairs has all records of money coming in from abroad.'

'Are they saying money is coming in without their knowledge?'

'Does the governor doubt the MHA?'

IMAGE: Policemen lathi-charge anti-Sterlite protestors in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, May 23, 2018. Photograph: PTI Photo

Governor R N Ravi, who has had a running bout of differences with the Tamil Nadu government, has now ruffled the feathers of protestors at the Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi by claiming that the agitation in 2018 to shut down the factory was fuelled by foreign funds.

The governor was referring to the protests of May 22 and 23, 2018, in Thoothukudi town against the proposed expansion of a copper smelter plant run by Sterlite Corporation, over claims that the factory caused air, water and soil pollution that affected the health of local residents. The police opened fire on the protesters, killing 13 people and injuring 102, reports PTI.

Ravi -- a retired Intelligence Bureau official -- was addressing civil service aspirants for the 'Think to Dare' series, at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai when he made the remarks.

A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com spoke to M Krishnamoorthy, coordinator, Anti Sterlite Thoothukudi District People's Federation, about the governor's statement.

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has said that the anti-Sterlite agitation was foreign-funded. So did you receive any overseas funding to run your agitation?

It is a lie. If they have proof, they should furnish it. A governor should not be indulging in politics.

The ministry of home affairs has all records of money coming in from abroad. Why don't they show us proof?

Are they saying money is coming in without their knowledge?

Does the governor doubt the MHA (ministry of home affairs)?

IMAGE: Smoke billows out of burning vehicles after a violent protest demanding closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit entered the 100th day in Tuticorin, May 2018. Photograph: PTI Photo

Did you receive any domestic funding at least?

We don't need funds. It is a people's movement. People protested in their own area. Why do you need money for that?

How did the anti-Sterlite protests sustain itself financially? Did all the protesters pool in money?

We did not need money to protest and thus we did not pool in money.

Why do you think the governor has made this accusation?

He speaks casually about serious issues. He says bills rejected by him are dead. He is not fit to be a governor.

The governor is not the first one to say so. Earlier, Sumathi Angusamy, the COO of Sterlite Copper, also made a similar accusation.

I am not aware of any such allegations.

Are you and other members of the anti-Sterlite movement willing to subject yourself to a government audit, if needed, to prove that you did not receive any foreign funding?

We do not collect funds. We do not have any bank account. We do not maintain any accounts because there is no money involved. So what is there to audit?

What is the state of the agitation today? Are the members of your movement as motivated as before?

They have approached the Supreme Court.

Do you know that the people of Tuticorin have more arsenic in their blood than people from other regions in the country?

IMAGE: M Krishnamoorthy.

The Dravida Muneetra Kazhagam government in Tamil Nadum is more sympathetic to your cause, has it benefited the movement in any way?

How can you say that? Remember, 13 people were killed in police firing (in May 2018). They (the DMK) promised to take action against the police before the elections, but they have not done that.

They said they would bring a legislation to ban Sterlite permanently, but they have not done that.

Has any effort been made to work out a solution between the protestors and Sterlite?

(Laughs) No!

Sterlite was running for 20 years without any major issue or protests, yet you started protesting only when they announced that it was doubling their capacity.

It is wrong to say we started protesting only when they announced doubling of production. The protests were started before Sterlite started, it continued through the years.

It became more pronounced after they said that they will double their capacity.
China on Monday criticised Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, stating that it violated Chinese sovereignty over the area, a claim outrightly dismissed by India.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses a meeting in a border village in Arunachal Pradesh, April 10, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Home Minister Shah on Monday launched Vibrant Villages Programme' from Kibithoo, the border village of Arunachal Pradesh and India's easternmost place.

"Zangnan (the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh) is China's territory," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing in Beijing while answering a question on Shah's visit to the area.

"Indian officials' activities in this area violate China's sovereignty and (are) not conducive to peace and tranquility in the border regions. We firmly oppose it," he said.

India last week outrightly rejected China renaming some places in Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state is an integral part of India and assigning "invented" names does not alter this reality.

India's reaction came in response to Beijing announcing Chinese names for 11 more places in Arunachal Pradesh which the neighbouring country claims as Southern Tibet.

"We have seen such reports. This is not the first time China has made such an attempt. We reject this outright," external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in New Delhi.

"Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality," he said.

It was the third batch of standardised geographical names for Arunachal Pradesh issued by China's civil affairs ministry.

The first batch of the standardised names of six places in Arunachal Pradesh was released in 2017 while the second batch of 15 places was issued in 2021.

China's renaming of the places in Arunachal Pradesh came in the midst of the lingering eastern Ladakh border standoff that began in May 2020.

Following the standoff, India bolstered its overall military preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Arunachal Pradesh sector as well.

Last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh remained "very fragile" and is "quite dangerous" in military assessment because of close deployments of troops of both sides in some pockets though "substantial" progress has been made in the disengagement process in many areas.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a nearly three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement of troops from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.
Amid a spurt in Covid-19 cases, the use of face masks has been made mandatory for employees, patients and visitors in all civic-run hospitals in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Monday as it reviewed preparedness to deal with rising infections, especially availability of medical oxygen and medicines.

IMAGE: A healthcare worker collects a nasal swab sample for Covid-19 testing, Gurugram, April 10, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The civic body also appealed to citizens above 60 years of age to wear face masks in crowded places as a precautionary measure though it is not mandatory for them.

The mask mandate for civic hospitals has been brought back as a safety measure, said the BMC in a release issued after a coronavirus review meeting conducted by municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal at the civic headquarters in south Mumbai.

The release, however, did not mention since when the masks will be mandatory in its hospitals.

It said the civic body will issue separate guidelines on home isolation of Covid-19 patients.

The release said the commissioner reviewed all aspects of Covid-19 preparedness, including testing, functioning of ward-level war rooms (which act as a link between patients and hospitals), availability of medical oxygen and medicines, and also readiness of private hospitals.

"Giving utmost priority to safety, face masks are being made mandatory for all employees, patients, and visitors in all BMC hospitals," the release said, adding a notice in this regard will be issued by the health department.

Considering their close contact with members of the public, all civic employees should use face masks though it's not mandatory. Visitors to municipal offices should be politely requested to cover their faces, it said.

It said although it is not mandatory, citizens above 60 years of age should wear masks as a precautionary measure while in crowded places.

"Considering the increasing number of Covid-19 cases, as a precautionary measure, all senior citizens above 60 years of age (seen as a vulnerable group) should wear masks," said the BMC.

Considering that the coronavirus infection is expected to further spread in May, Chahal said it is prudent the entire health system stays prepared to deal with rising number of cases, according to the release.

The civic chief said patients undergoing surgery should be tested for Covid-19 in all hospitals.

"If such a patient is found to be infected with Covid-19 and the surgery is not urgent, then the surgery should be postponed," the release stated.

Keeping in view symptomatic as well as asymptomatic patients, the health department should re-issue guidelines regarding their home isolation, it said.

Maintaining that it is necessary to keep beds ready at civic as well as private hospitals to deal with any rush of patients, Chahal asked the central purchase department to review the availability of hand gloves, masks, PPE (personal protective equipment) kits as well as medicines and other medical equipment at BMC-run health facilities, said the release.

Chahal directed additional municipal commissioner Dr Sanjiv Kumar to hold a meeting of private medical laboratory operators as soon as possible to ramp up Covid-19 testing.

The civic chief asked hospitals to examine and audit their medical oxygen plants to ensure they are functioning well and there is a balance between demand and supply, said the release.

Chahal ordered an urgent review of ward-level war rooms to ensure they are functional and have all the necessary manpower and machinery to deal with any situation arising out of the spurt in new cases, it added.

On Monday, Mumbai city recorded 95 fresh coronavirus cases and one death, taking the overall tally to 11,58,060 and the toll to 19,750.
A court in Mumbai restrained a television news channel on Monday from utilising in any form any material related to the FIR registered in the Shraddha Walkar murder case.

IMAGE: Aaftab Poonawala, the main accused in the Shraddha Walkar murder case. Photograph: ANI Photo

According to the chargesheet filed in the case, accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala allegedly strangled his live-in partner, Walkar, on May 18 last year and sawed her body into several pieces, which he kept in a refrigerator for almost three weeks at his residence in south Delhi's Mehrauli.

The link court of additional sessions judge Rakesh Kumar Singh was hearing an application moved by the Delhi police regarding issuing orders to Aaj Tak and other media channels not to telecast any material regarding the FIR in the case.

"However, since if an immediate order is not passed, the application itself will be rendered infructuous, this court is of the view that till the next date, the Aaj Tak news channel shall not utilise in any form any material related to the FIR. The matter be taken up on April 17 for a detailed hearing," the judge said.

When Article 21 of the Constitution protects the life and liberty of a person, it also contemplates the protection of the psychological state of mind of such a person. Any dissemination of sensitive information pertaining to a murder case will definitely result in psychological repercussions for the accused and also for the victim's family, the court observed.

The judge said it was brought to the court's notice that Aaj Tak was contemplating telecasting certain recordings or transcript of the narco-analysis test and from the Practo app, and the prosecution has claimed that it would not only be damaging for the case, but would also impact the accused and the victim's family.

"They also claim that the law-and-order situation may be disturbed due to the public sentiments involved in the case," the judge said.

Earlier, during the arguments on the charges, the prosecution had played an audio clip from the Practo app through which the accused and the victim had booked a session with a psychologist.

In the clip, Walkar could be heard saying, "Whenever I start ranting about my anger, if he is somewhere around, anywhere in Vasai (near Mumbai), anywhere around me in this ... city, he will find me, he will hunt me down, he will try to kill me, that's ... the problem."

The judge, however, underlined that he was taking a "prima facie view" and a detailed hearing would be given to the parties.

"I am of the view that the application needs to be heard at length not only from the side of the state, but also from the side of the Aaj Tak news channel. For this, let the state serve a copy of the application on the Aaj Tak channel (by the name of the company), which shall be at liberty to file a response," he said.

The judge also noted the submissions made by chief public prosecutor Vinod Sharma and special public prosecutor Amit Prasad that recordings and transcripts have already been made part of the court records and in such circumstances, no party or person can utilise anything related to a court record without the court's permission.

It is already a settled law that a chargesheet is not a public document. Therefore, it cannot be made available for public consumption, the court said.

It said the Delhi high court rules envisage that a person unrelated to a case cannot obtain a copy of the judicial proceedings unless there are sufficient reasons to the satisfaction of the court.

"Therefore, if a person or entity has even received anything related to a judicial record in any manner (legal or illegal), he or it cannot be at liberty to utilise the same without obtaining permission from the court," the judge said.

He also said this concept is equally applicable to any party who has received a copy of a judicial record from the court and such a party can utilise the record "only for the purpose for which it was obtained".

The Delhi police filed a 6,629-page chargesheet in the case on January 24.
Describing the current situation in the violence-hit areas of West Bengal as "peaceful", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that a 'fact finding' team sent by a little-known NGO was visiting the state in a bid to disrupt law and order situation in the state.

IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the launch of 30 new life-saving ambulances, in front of Nabanna, in Howrah, April 10, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Questioning the team's authority headed by a former Patna high court judge, Banerjee pointed out that Ram Navami processions organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party had carried arms and driven tractors and deliberately taken routes where 'Namaz' was being offered.

"The situation is absolutely peaceful now. The fact-finding team has come here to disrupt peace in the area. What is the function of this team? What does it do? In every matter, they (the Centre) send the Human Rights Commission, Women's Commission, Child Commission and Media Commission," Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, said.

The BJP, however, asserted that the 'fact finding' team has revealed the "true picture" of the state's situation.

During Ram Navami rallies, West Bengal has witnessed violence in parts of the Hooghly and Howrah districts. Police did not allow the 'fact-finding' team, led by retired Patna High Court judge L Narasimha Reddy, to visit any violence-hit areas citing prohibitory orders.

"They deliberately went there during namaz time... BJP supporters carried revolvers, danced with arms... Why will people carry arms and drive tractors and bulldozers in religious rallies? Who gave them permission? These are illegal. These people are outsiders and were brought from Munger," Banerjee said at the state secretariat on Monday.

The TMC had released a video where one person was seen carrying a firearm in a rally purportedly at Kazipara in Howrah. Police later arrested him from Munger in Bihar.

The chief minister praised the police for dealing with the situation tactfully, saying that otherwise, there could be deaths.

In a press conference, the 'fact finding' team demanded an NIA probe into the violence in West Bengal, alleging that the police administration had been "hand-in-glove with the rioters".

Asserting that the team could meet a few victims of the clashes though it was not allowed to go to the violence-hit areas, Reddy said, "Going by the pattern and methods (of the violence), it needs to be investigated by the NIA."

He said the team will submit a report to the National Human Rights Commission as there may be an element of national security.

Later, the team called on Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose and submitted a report of their findings, a source in Raj Bhavan said.

"The Governor listened to them and promised to look into the matter," the source said.

The chief minister's remark drew a sharp retort from the West Bengal BJP, which accused the ruling TMC of fuelling communal tension in the state to secure its minority vote bank.

"The TMC was wary of losing its minority vote bank after defeat in the Sagardighi bypoll. The state government and minority leaders from the ruling TMC allowed the communal tensions to spread. So the ruling party orchestrated riots in Hooghly and Howrah," Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said.

Coming out in support of the fact-finding' team, BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya claimed that the TMC's "role in orchestrating the riots and failure to control the situation has been exposed."

The chief minister also alleged that the BJP has instructed media houses not to cover any event of other parties.

"Where is democracy? They directed the media not to cover any news of the opposition and only promote the BJP," she said.

Reacting sharply to an image "I love Keoratala crematorium" that is being circulated in social media networks, Banerjee directed Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal to take strong action against those spreading fake news.

Asserting that no such sign was installed in the crematorium located in south Kolkata, the TMC supremo also saw the BJP's hand in spreading fake news.

"This is a lie. I ask CP to take proper action," she said.

Signs such as I love Kolkata, with the word love' being replaced by a heart symbol, can be found in many places in the city and the state.
Ahead of Congress leader Sachin Pilot's proposed one-day fast over corruption, a Rajasthan cabinet minister on Monday asked the party workers to not give support to those who are trying to sabotage the work done by the Ashok Gehlot government.

P

IMAGE: Congress leader Sachin Pilot meets with the protesting wives of soldiers who lost their lives in the 2019's Pulwama terror attack, in Jaipur, March 7, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

ilot on Sunday alleged that the Gehlot-led government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the BJP rule in Rajasthan and announced to hold a day-long fast on Tuesday to press for action.

A Pilot camp MLA said that the former deputy chief minister is raising the issue of corruption in the public interest.

No MLA or minister is expected to join Pilot during the fast but thousands of his supporters from various parts of the state are likely to come to Shaheed Smarak here where he will be sitting on the fast on Tuesday.

The move by Pilot to open the new front against Gehlot amid the factional fighting is seen as an attempt to pressure the high command to resolve the leadership issue ahead of the year-end polls.

Without naming anyone, Revenue Minister Ramlal Jat said that those in the race to the chief minister post should think that it is the party high command who made Gehlot the chief minister of Rajasthan.

He said that the CM builds a wall but one person sabotages it with his wrong statements.

What does that mean? It is for the party workers to think that they should not give support to such people so that the Congress wins elections. By doing this, we will be able to move forward, Jat told reporters in Jaipur.

He said that CM Gehlot presented an excellent budget, Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra got outstanding support in the state, and when these things are carried forward, then only the party will be able to win elections.

According to Pilot camp, Congress MLAs and ministers supporting Pilot have been asked not to sit with him tomorrow.

However, his supporters will be there at the fast in solidarity with him.

On the other hand, Pilot loyalist MLA Ved Solanki told NDTV that Pilot has raised a demand for action against the corruption of previous Vasundhara Raje-led Bharatiya Janata Party government and many MLAs are with him, but they have asked to not come.

These are the issues which the party leaders had raised during elections and had said that investigation against mining scam and other corruption cases will be done, he said.

When asked about the chances of a split in the Congress, Solanki said, I cannot comment on this but what I can say about myself is that I am with Pilot.

Another leader from Pilot camp said that the former deputy chief minister is demanding action against the alleged corruption during the previous BJP regime but the party leadership sees this as a harm to the party.

"No action was taken (by the Gehlot government) on the corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje government. While in the Opposition, we promised an inquiry into the mines scam of Rs 45,000 crore, Pilot said at a press conference on Sunday, announcing a hunger strike on Tuesday.

Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads over the post of the chief minister ever since the Congress formed the government in Rajasthan in December 2018.

In July 2020, Pilot and a section of party MLAs rebelled openly, demanding a leadership change in the state. It led to a one-month-long political crisis that ended after assurance by the party high command to look into the issues raised by Pilot.

Following the revolt by Pilot and 18 other MLAs in 2020, Gehlot used terms like Gaddar, Nakara, Nikamma for his former deputy and accused him of being involved with the BJP leaders in a conspiracy to topple the Congress government.

Pilot's demand to order a probe and take action in the alleged mining scam during the previous BJP government and other corruption allegations was supported by state cabinet minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas.

Khachariyawas was the Jaipur Congress president when Pilot was the PCC chief and used to be at the forefront with him in raising the corruption issue.

He was earlier in the Pilot camp but during Pilot's revolt against Gehlot in 2020, Khachariyawas switched to the Gehlot camp.
The Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court on Monday sought response of the Hindu side to a petition challenging a lower court's 2017 order holding a suit seeking possession of Lord Shesh Nagesh Teelshwar Mahadev Mandir at Laxman Teela along Gomti river in the city maintainable for hearing.

IMAGE: Allahabad high court. Photograph: ANI Photo

The temple is said to be situated in close vicinity of Teele Wali Masjid at Laxman Teela.

A bench of Justice Manish Mathur passed the order on the petition moved by Maulana Sayyed Shah Fajlul Mannan.

The petitioner has challenged the order of the civil judge (senior division) south, Lucknow issued on September 25, 2017.

The civil judge had rejected a plea of the Muslim side seeking to quash the civil suit.

The Muslim side then moved a revision petition before the additional district judge who too dismissed its plea. Against these orders, the petitioner has now approached the high court.

In February this year, additional district judge Prafulla Kamal ordered the case file to the civil judge (senior division) south for adjudicating the issues regarding possession of the temple in accordance with law.

Kamal passed the order after rejecting the revision petition filed by the Sunni Central Waqf Board pleading that the suit was time barred under the Right to Worship Act, 1991.

The judge, however, upheld the order passed by the civil judge (senior division) south on September 25, 2017 whereby the lower court had already said that the suit in question was maintainable to be decided on merit.

Opposing the plea, the Hindu side submitted that the Right to Worship Act was not applicable in the instant case and hence the suit is not time barred.

In 2013, the civil suit was filed in the court of civil judge (senior division) south. It has been alleged in the suit that persons of a particular community have been damaging the purported temple.

The suit has been filed in the name of deity that is Lord Shesh Nagesh Teelshwar Mahadev Mandir.

The plaintiff -- Hindu side -- has demanded the possession of the temple and also sought permission to worship there.
The Indian Penal Code section related to criminal conspiracy has been invoked in the case of stone pelting at a Ram Navami procession in suburban Malad late last month, the Mumbai police officials said on Monday.

IMAGE: Police personnel stand guard after clash broke out between two groups during the 'Ram Navami' shobha yatra in the Malad's Malvani area, in Mumbai, March 31, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

More than 20 persons have so far been arrested in connection with the incident which took place in Malvani area of Malad on March 30.

A First Information Report has been registered against more than 200 people, they said.

The police team probing the case of violence recorded statements of an Anti-Terrorism Squad officer and a cop from the Malvani police station on April 2, an official said.

Both the police personnel in their statements told the police that the violence was created by the accused persons, including those arrested and wanted, deliberately and intentionally, he said.

They sat together near a mosque, by violating the orders prohibiting unlawful assembly, and hatched the conspiracy of the crime, the official said.

Accordingly, Indian Penal Code Section 120 (B) (punishment of criminal conspiracy) was added to the case on April 2 following directions from senior police officials, he said.

Earlier, the police had registered an FIR under various Indian Penal Code sections including 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 145 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting ) and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act.

A police official earlier said the tension began on March 30 following disputes over the loud DJ music being played in the procession as it was passing through the vicinity of mosques in Malvani area.

As per the FIR, more than 6,000 people had participated in the Ram Navami procession organised by the Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organisations.

The procession began from Ram Janki temple late in the afternoon.

Around 7.25 pm, as it was moving towards Jama Masjid, around 100 to 150 people objected to the high volume of music as namaz was going on in the mosque, a police official earlier said.

As the music volume was not lowered, there was some slogan-shouting and one of the men who had objected to loud music allegedly hurled a stone at the procession and it hit a participant, he said.

The police personnel deputed for security along the route immediately took the man, who had thrown the stone, into custody, he said.

As per the FIR, when the procession was near the Ali Hazrat mosque around 8.45 pm, a mob of 200 to 250 people began to pelt stones.

As the police tried to bring the situation under control, some people in the mob hurled stones at them and manhandled some police personnel, the FIR said.
Another fifty-six deputies of Russias State Duma, who voted for independence of LPR/DPR, to be tried in absentia in Ukraine

Ukrainian law enforcement officers have completed a special pretrial investigation against 56 deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation who voted for the recognition of the independence of the pseudo-republics "DPR" and "LPR", the Prosecutor Generals Office (PGO) reports.

"The prosecutors of Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk and Vinnytsia regional prosecutor's offices sent indictments to the court against 56 deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation on the fact of encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine (Part 3 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)," the PGO said on the Telegram channel on Monday.

According to the prosecutor's office, the investigation found that in February 2022, the deputies supported the resolution on an appeal to the President of the Russian Federation with a request to recognize the so-called "independence" of the temporarily occupied districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

According to the report, the defendants also decided on cooperation and mutual assistance between the Russian Federation and these pseudo-formations.

"By their actions, representatives of the authority of the aggressor state contributed to the implementation of the plan to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These criminal decisions and their implementation led to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as a result  mass deaths, destruction of infrastructure and other grave consequences," the Prosecutor General's Office said.

A special pretrial investigation was conducted by the SBU.
In a clear message to China from the border village of Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said no one can dare cast an evil eye on India's territorial integrity and encroach even an "inch of our land."

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches the 'Vibrant Villages programme', in Kibithoo, Arunachal Pradesh, April 10, 2023. Also in the photo is Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. Photograph: PTI Photo

In remarks that come amid China's strong objections to his visit to Arunachal Pradesh and the three-year-long Sino-India border standoff in eastern Ladakh, Shah said the era when anyone could encroach the borderlands of India is over.

Shah also said the Modi government's policy is to maintain peace with all countries but if anyone tries to occupy even an inch of India's land the country would not tolerate it.

The home minister's statement from this village close to the China border also comes days after Beijing announced Chinese names for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh which the neighbouring country claims as the "southern part of Tibet."

"The era is gone when anyone could encroach on our lands. Now, not even land equal to sui ki noke (needlepoint) can be encroached...," Shah, who is on his first visit to the northeastern state as home minister, said at a public function after launching the 'Vibrant Village' programme in the border village of Kibithoo which is the country's easternmost point.

Shah, who will be in Arunachal Pradesh for two days, said no one can cast an evil eye on India because of the security forces who protect the country's frontiers.

"In 1962, whoever came to encroach this land had to return because of the patriotic people living here," he said while making a reference to the Chinese aggression in 1962.

Paying homage to the martyrs of Kibithoo who laid down their lives during the 1962 India-China war, Shah said they fought with indomitable spirit despite the lack of resources.

Shah said no one says 'Namaste' in Arunachal Pradesh as people greet each other with 'Jai Hind' that "fills our hearts with patriotism". "It is because of this attitude of the Arunachalis that China which had come to occupy it had to retreat."

The minister said enhanced facilities for border guarding troops of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Army will also be provided.

"Our policy is that no one can challenge the honour of our borders and our forces."

Responding to a question on Shah's visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said, "Zangnan (the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh) is part of China's territory".

"The activity of the senior Indian official in Zangnan violates China's territorial sovereignty and is not conducive to peace and tranquility in the border areas. We are firmly against this," he told a media briefing in Beijing.

While there was no immediate reaction from New Delhi over the Chinese foreign ministry's strong reaction over Shah's visit, India routinely rejects such objections by China to visits by its leaders to Arunachal Pradesh.

The home minister also inaugurated, through video conferencing, nine micro hydel projects of the Arunachal Pradesh government constructed under the Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and local MP Tapir Gao were among those who were present on the occasion.

On other issues, Shah said the Modi government has ended insurgency in the Northeast and brought peace and speedy development to the region.

Speaking about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Shah said the law was removed from about 70 per cent of the Northeastern states and the day "is not far" when it will be "entirely" lifted from these areas.

Referring to the Vibrant Villages programme, Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the government of India has approved (VVP) which will bring all round development of border areas. As part of the programme, the central government will provide Rs 4,800 crore, he added.

He said the objective of the programme is to stop the exodus of the people, develop them as tourist attractions, bring jobs and all round development.

The home minister said that had such a programme been initiated 50 years ago, people would not have left the border villages.

The VVP is a centrally sponsored scheme under which 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting the northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and UT of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development. In the first phase, 662 villages have been identified for priority on coverage, which includes 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh.

Shah said border areas are the top priority of the Modi government, pointing to the infrastructure and other development works carried out by his government in the Northeast.

He called this frontier location the "first village of India" and not the last, saying the Modi government has brought about a "conceptual" policy change to develop these areas and help the locals living here by providing basic amenities to them.

Earlier, people who returned from border areas used to say that they visited the last village of India but the Modi government has changed this narrative with people now saying that they visited the first village of India, Shah said.

"Before 2014, the entire Northeastern region was seen as a disturbed area but because of the Look East policy, it is now known for its prosperity and development."

The minister said the 'Vibrant Village' scheme envisages that tap water, electricity, cooking gas, financial inclusion, digital and physical connectivity and employment opportunities are available in the remote border areas.

He said the government has set a three-year target for making available such facilities in these regions.

This scheme has a three-pronged aim as this will ensure the personal development of individuals, provide basic facilities and employment avenues so that they do not desert the border villages for better opportunities in the mainland and provide facilities of basic infrastructure, electricity and health, Shah said.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday alleged that the Ashok Gehlot-led government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the Bharatiya Janata Party rule in Rajasthan and announced a day-long fast to press for action, in a sign of escalating tussle in the party's state unit ahead of assembly polls.

IMAGE: Congress leader Sachin Pilot addresses a press conference at his residence, in Jaipur on April 9, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo

Without referring to Pilot's demand, the Congress issued a statement in Delhi that its government with Ashok Gehlot as chief minister has implemented schemes that have benefited people and the party will seek a renewed mandate later this year "on the strength of these landmark achievements and the collective efforts of our organisation".

All India Congress Committee in-charge of state Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said it was "not appropriate" for Pilot to hold a press conference in this manner and that he should have raised the issue with him first.

The move by former deputy chief minister Pilot to open the new front against Gehlot amid the factional fighting is seen as an attempt to pressure the high command to resolve the leadership issue ahead of the year-end polls.

"No action was taken (by the Gehlot government) on the corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje government. While in the Opposition, we promised an inquiry into the mines scam of Rs 45,000 crore, Pilot said at a press conference at his residence here, announcing a hunger strike on Tuesday.

He said he wrote to Gehlot last year on March 28 and November 2 on the issue but did not get any answer to his letters.

With six seven months left for the elections, the opponents can spread an illusion that there is some collusion. Therefore, action will have to be taken soon so that the Congress workers feel that there is no difference between our words and actions, he said.

He also showed videos of statements of Gehlot in the assembly and outside in which he had levelled corruption allegations against the previous BJP government.

He said he will observe a day-long fast at Shaheed Smarak on April 11, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule who was from the Saini community to which Gehlot belongs.

Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads over the post of the chief minister ever since the Congress formed the government in Rajasthan in December 2018.

The opposition BJP said that Pilot should also demand an investigation into the alleged corruption during the Congress government's tenure.

Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said in a statement that the infighting between the chief minister and his former deputy has increased to such an extent that now Pilot will sit on hunger strike against his own government.

While a section of Congress leaders supported Pilot's demand, others claimed it would inflict great harm to the party in the upcoming election, particularly when it is working on a strategy to repeat its government in the state.

In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Congress government in Rajasthan with Ashok Gehlot as CM has implemented a large number of schemes and taken many new initiatives that have impacted the people profoundly.

"This has given the state a leadership position in governance in our country. The Bharat Jodo Yatra in Rajasthan was an outstanding success made possible by the dedication and determination of the party organisation in the state," he said.

"Later in the year, the Congress will seek a renewed mandate from the people on the strength of these landmark achievements and the collective efforts of our organisation," Ramesh said.

Randhawa, who was made AICC in-charge of Rajasthan last December, said he had had more than 20 meetings with Pilot since taking over but the former deputy chief minister had not raised the corruption issue with him.

"We have talked about various issues but he did not raise this issue, and then going straight to the press...saying that we are not acting on corruption...," Randhawa told PTI.

"We have acted against Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, he has even filed for defamation against the CM. The second thing is that what we have done in Rajasthan, steps like waiving loans of farmers, on electricity bills, subsidy on cylinders, bringing back old pension scheme, he (Pilot) should have talked about that and then added that now we have to take action against corruption," the AICC in-charge of state said.

"But this was not appropriate," he added.

Randhawa said he would go to Jaipur on Tuesday and talk to both Pilot and Gehlot about the issue.

In July 2020, Pilot and a section of party MLAs rebelled openly, demanding a leadership change in the state. It led to a one-month-long political crisis that ended after assurance by the party high command to look into the issues raised by Pilot.

The former deputy chief minister said Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had given him the responsibility of the party in the state and he, along with other leaders, had opposed the wrong policies of the then BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje.

He said the Congress as a responsible Opposition had raised the issue of corruption because of which the BJP was voted out of power.

He said the state government has a zero tolerance policy for corruption and to further strengthen it, transparent and effective action should have been taken.

"Now six-seven months are left for the election, the opponents can spread confusion that there is some collusion," Pilot said.

He said that he never called for any malicious action but the credibility that the Congress had built as the opposition party has to be maintained.

Ashok Gehlot and I had made allegations together. How will we know it is true until there is a fair investigation. If it comes out in the investigation that no one was guilty, we will accept that Gehlot ji and I were liars.

"But until a case is registered, how will people believe that the allegations made by us are true or false, Pilot said.

He said that it was one of the suggestions he had given to the party high command.

Pilot has been often, though in a subtle manner, demanding the party leadership to take action on issues raised by him.

Following the revolt by Pilot and 18 other MLAs in 2020, Gehlot used terms like Gaddar, Nakara, Nikamma for his former deputy and accused him of being involved with the BJP leaders in a conspiracy to topple the Congress government.

A few days before Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Rajasthan from Madhya Pradesh, Gehlot had again targeted Pilot, calling him Gaddar in an interview with a news channel in November last year.

Pilot responded to it, saying it was not his upbringing to use such language.

Pilot's demand to order a probe and take action in the alleged mining scam during the previous BJP government and other corruption allegations was supported by state cabinet minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas.

Khachariyawas was the Jaipur Congress president when Pilot was the PCC chief and used to be at the forefront with him in raising the corruption issue. He was in the Pilot camp but during Pilot's revolt against Gehlot in 2020, Khachariyawas switched to the Gehlot camp.

He said whatever Pilot has pointed out is right, and action against corruption should be taken.

"Sachin Pilot is an asset for the party and Rahul Gandhi has said this... I would also speak to the chief minister and say that we should take action," Khachariyawas said.

Another Congress leader said Pilot's announcement was also a kind of revolt against Gehlot and this would certainly harm the party.

At a time when the Congress government is leaving no stone unturned to retain power in the upcoming elections, Pilot's announcement to sit on 'Anshan' will definitely send a wrong message among the masses. This should be avoided, the Congress leader said.

Pilot supporters said issues raised by the leader before the party high command have not been addressed so far, which has left him disappointed.

They said that the party workers wanted Pilot to be the chief minister.

Pilot had a major contribution in bringing Congress to power in 2018. As the PCC chief, he worked hard to revive the party and because of him, the party got a majority of seats in eastern Rajasthan but he was not given the rightful share in the government, a Pilot supporter claimed.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit his former constituency Wayanad in Kerala on Tuesday, for the first time after his disqualification as a Member of Parliament (MP).

IMAGE: Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a member of Parliament last month. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

During his visit, he will address a public rally and hold a roadshow in Wayanad.

The 52-year-old Gandhi was disqualified as a member of Parliament last month after a court in Surat convicted and sentenced him to two years in jail in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his "Modi surname" remarks.

The case was filed against Gandhi on a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for the Congress leader's alleged remarks "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

Gandhi, who had served as an MP from Wayanad in Kerala, made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019 during the Lok Sabha elections campaign.

The sentence of two years invited his disqualification from the membership of Parliament under provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
The Rajasthan police will conduct an internal audit and analyse the high court order that acquitted four people in the 2008 Jaipur serial blasts while terming the investigation "shoddy".

IMAGE: Police van carrying the accused in the 2008 Jaipur serial bomb blast arrives at court, in Jaipur. Photograph: PTI Photo

Rajasthan police chief Umesh Mishra said they have taken the comments of the "court seriously and are examining the files in detail".

Jaipur was rocked by a series of blasts on May 13, 2008 when bombs went off one after another at Manak Chawk Khanda, Chandpole Gate, Badi Chaupad, Chhoti Chaupad, Tripolia Gate, Johri Bazar and Sanganeri Gate.

The blasts claimed 71 lives and left 185 injured.

The Rajasthan high court last month acquitted four men who were given the death sentence by a lower court.

The HC slammed the investigating agencies over their "shoddy investigation".

It also affirmed the acquittal of a fifth accused by the trial court.

Days after the high court's adverse comments, Mishra said an internal audit will be conducted and the court's observations will be analysed.

"A proposal has been sent to the state government for filing an SLP (special leave petition) in the Supreme Court. There is a strong ground for going in appeal. We have taken the comments of the court seriously and are examining the files in detail," the DGP told a press conference at the police headquarters in Jaipur.

"We will see whether something was done deliberately or they were circumstantial and nothing could have been done. For example, there was one point of CCTV footage of the railway station but there was no CCTV coverage there. So there are several points, and we will conduct an internal audit," he said.

The DGP said the process of examining the fact has already begun and he himself is overseeing it.

A lower court in December 2019 had awarded death sentence to Mohammad Sarwar Azmi, Mohammad Saif, Mohammad Salman and Saifur Rahman and acquitted a fifth accused, Shahbaz Hussain, giving him the benefit of doubt.

The four convicts challenged the lower court order in the high court, and a division bench acquitted the four last month and also confirmed the acquittal of Shahbaz Hussain.

While acquitting the four, the HC termed the case a classic example of institutional failure resulting in a shoddy investigation.
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed two pleas challenging a Delhi high court judgment that upheld the Centre's Agnipath scheme for recruitment into the armed forces, saying candidates who got selected in recruitment drives like rallies before the launch of the short-term service scheme don't have a vested right to appointment.

IMAGE: Youngsters attend a training session as they prepare for the Agnipath examination at the Morhabadi ground in Ranchi, July 7, 2022. Photograph: PTI Photo

The top court dismissed two separate pleas filed by Gopal Krishan and others and another by advocate ML Sharma against the high court verdict.

The bench, however, posted a third fresh plea related to recruitment in the Indian Air Force (IAF) prior to the launch of the Agnipath scheme for hearing on April 17.

It asked the Centre to file its response to the third plea related to recruitment in the IAF.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala said, "Sorry, we would not like to interfere with the high court verdict. The high court had dealt with all the aspects."

At the outset, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for some of the candidates aspiring for jobs in the IAF, said the petitioners were put on the provisional select list and they had cleared the written examination and undergone physical and medical tests.

"The government kept on saying that they will be given appointment letters which were being delayed due to the onset of Covid-19 pandemic. Petitioners did not join paramilitary forces as they were waiting for a letter from the IAF,'' Bhushan said, adding for three years the candidates had to wait and wait for their appointment letters.

He called it a fit case for application of the doctrine of promissory estoppel (the doctrine prevents the promisor or enterprise from going back on promise).

The bench told Bhushan, "This is not a contract and moreover, the doctrine of promissory estoppel is subject to the overarching public interest."

It said the court is not going to nullify the subsequent recruitment of candidates under the scheme and cancellation of the earlier process of recruitment cannot be termed as arbitrary.

"There is nothing for us to interfere and it is a matter of public employment and not contract," the bench told Bhushan.

Advocate Arunava Mukherjee, appearing for petitioner Gopal Krishan and others, said he is not challenging the Agnipath scheme but is only seeking that the earlier recruitment process for the Army and IAF be completed.

The recruitment process was not completed as the final test for Army was postponed a number of times due to the pandemic and, in case of IAF, the result was not declared even after conducting the final test.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said the high court had dealt with all the relevant aspects and given a detailed verdict.

"During the pandemic, there were all kinds of issues and it was extraordinary times and every institution like this court had to deal with it. It is not a question of pick and choose of the candidates. We came up with the scheme to fill up the vacancies in the interest of defence and national interest," she asserted.

The top court also dismissed Sharma's plea after he argued that the new scheme cannot be introduced by way of an executive order.

On March 27, the top court had agreed to hear pleas filed against the Delhi High Court judgment that upheld the Centre's scheme for recruitment into the armed forces.

The high court had on February 27 said the Agnipath scheme was formulated in the national interest with a laudable objective of maintaining national security.

The court had dismissed a batch of petitions assailing the validity of the scheme while terming it a "well-thought" policy decision of the Centre.

Besides the pleas challenging the Agnipath scheme, the court had also rejected a bunch of petitions related to the recruitment process in the armed forces under certain previous advertisements while clarifying that such candidates do not have a right to seek recruitment.

Dismissing the pleas related to the previous advertisements, the high court had said the Agnipath scheme is in "public interest" and the aspirants cannot claim any right to seek recruitment on account of their participation in the processes initiated under notifications issued prior to the introduction of the new policy.
The Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday adopted a resolution urging the Centre and President to fix a timeframe for state governors to approve bills adopted by the house, indicating increasing dissension between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government and Governor R N Ravi.

IMAGE: Chief Minister M K Stalin tables a resolution seeking the Centres intervention in the row with Governor R N Ravi, in the state assembly, Chennai, April 10, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Chief Minister M K Stalin, who piloted the resolution, fired sharp barbs at Ravi, accusing him of being more faithful to the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership than the Constitution of India.

"I will not say that the governor doesn't know the Constitution. But, his political allegiance has swallowed his loyalty to the Constitution," Stalin said, and cautioned that he would not remain idle if the governor continued to target his government for political reasons.

Stating that he was coerced to move a resolution against Ravi, for the second time this year, Stalin pointed out that the Sarkaria Commission had stated that a governor should be a detached figure.

"But this governor is unwilling to be a friend," the chief minister said, and accused Ravi of intentionally speaking against the state government on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tamil Nadu or on a day before his (Stalin's) visit to the national capital to meet the prime minister.

Governors should engage in healthy discussions with the government but not discuss administrative issues in a public forum, he said.

"He is belittling the government's policies, feelings of the Tamils, the sovereignty of the legislative assembly and the bills adopted by the house in the interest and welfare of the people," he said. The governor was going beyond his position and was speaking like a politician.

"He has the habit of not only speaking against the government but also withholds the bills sent to him for assent," he said. The governor, he claimed, converted the Raj Bhavan into a forum for debate -- a "political Bhavan."

"I don't wish to convert the TN legislative assembly into a political arena and reply in detail. But at the same time I will not remain silent if he continues to heap accusations against the government," Stalin said.

Though late Chief Minister C N Annadurai opined that "beard for goat and governor for a state are not required" and his successor M Karunanidhi endorsed it, both did not fail to respect the person holding the gubernatorial post, he said and added, "Even I have never deviated."

"This august house records with deep regret the action of the hon'ble governor of Tamil Nadu in indefinitely withholding many bills without giving permission, passed by the legislative assembly -- on the basis of its sovereignty and the legislative responsibilities enshrined in the Constitution of India -- thereby functioning against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu," the resolution passed by the DMK members and their allies, in the absence of the Opposition AIADMK, said.

Moreover, the controversial comments made by the governor in public forum about the bills sent for assent are not in accordance with the office he holds, the oath he took and the interest of the state administration. Besides it undermined the dignity of the house and also the supremacy of the legislature in a parliamentary democracy, it stated.

"Therefore, this august house urges the Union government and the President to prescribe a specific time limit to the respective governors to give assent to the bills passed by the legislatures, which are the voice of the people of the state," the resolution read.

Further, the resolution insisted that the Centre and the President should immediately issue appropriate instructions to the governor to give his assent to the bills sent to him by the Tamil Nadu assembly, within a specific period.

The government's move came in the wake of bills including the ones seeking exemption to Tamil Nadu from the NEET ambit and banning online gambling pending with the Raj Bhavan for the governor's assent.

The Opposition AIADMK was not present when the resolution was moved as the K Palaniswami-led party had earlier staged a walkout over a different issue. The BJP members walked out over the governor issue.

Earlier, Leader of the House and Minister for Water Resources Duraimurugan moved a motion to pave way for a moving a resolution by the chief minister against the governor and allow a discussion on it.
Elon Musk-owned Twitter has labelled the BBC as a "government funded media" on the microblogging site, leading to a sharp reaction from British public broadcaster which on Monday objected to the move.

Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images

The taxpayer-funded licence fee supported UK media corporation said it has contacted the social media giant over the designation on its @BBC account to resolve the issue "as soon as possible".

"The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee," the BBC statement said.

An email exchange with Twitter chief Elon Musk suggests that he is considering providing a label that would link all media organisations to "exact funding sources".

"We are aiming for maximum transparency and accuracy. Linking to ownership and source of funds probably makes sense, Musk's email to BBC reads.

"I do think media organisations should be self-aware and not falsely claim the complete absence of bias. All organisations have bias, some obviously much more than others. I should note that I follow BBC News on Twitter, because I think it is among the least biased," it said.

The level of the GBP 159 annual licence fee, which is required by law to watch live TV broadcasts or live streaming in the UK, is set by the British government and paid for by individual UK households.

While the @BBC account, which has 2.2 million followers, has been given the label, much larger accounts associated with the BBC's news and sport output are not currently being described in the same way, the BBC said.

According to the London-headquartered media organisation, the @BBC Twitter account primarily shares updates about BBC-produced TV programmes, radio shows, podcasts and other non-news material.

The BBC Charter states the corporation "must be independent", particularly over "editorial and creative decisions, the times and manner in which its output and services are supplied, and in the management of its affairs".

The BBC said it also receives more than GBP 90 million per year from the government to support the BBC World Service, which predominantly serves non-UK audiences.

Twitter's new labelling of the BBC's account comes after it did the same to US public broadcaster NPR's handle.
Weeks after it shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon, the US military held a brief conversation with the Indian side and some other like-minded countries to apprise them about the matter, a senior American military commander said on Monday.

IMAGE: Commander of the US Pacific Air Forces Gen Kenneth S Wilsbach. Photograph: ANI Photo

Gen Kenneth S Wilsbach, commander of the US Pacific Air Forces, said the US side held the interaction behind closed doors with most of the air chiefs of the region.

In early February, the US shot down a giant Chinese balloon that it said was spying on key military sites across America.

The US used fighter jets to bring down the balloon off the coast of South Carolina that triggered a massive diplomatic crisis with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelling a scheduled trip to China following the incident.

There were reports of an unidentified object flying in the sky of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands over a year ago.

"Certainly, we have some dialogue on it. I am not open to sharing what information we have got from our analysis of the pieces of the balloon that we got after it was shot down," Wilsbach told a small group of reporters.

He was replying to a question on whether the US shared its concerns with India on the Chinese surveillance balloon as there were reports of some flying objects being spotted in some parts of India over a year back.

The US military commander is in India in connection with a mega air exercise between the two countries.

Gen Wilsbach said it is important to protect the sovereignty of the airspace of various countries across the world.

"We believe that your airspace here in India is your sovereign airspace and you should decide who gets to fly in it."

"We have countries that do not necessarily agree with that and they just decide they are going to violate the sovereignty and fly in it whether it is your airspace, ours or Canada's airspace," he said.

There were reports that the Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by the US had also transgressed over Canadian territory.

Gen Wilsbach said violation of the airspace of any country is a breach of international law and norms and it should cause concern.

"We must encourage them to comply with the laws," he said.

"We had very brief conversations with most of the air chiefs of the region. It was behind closed doors," the commander said.

The Indo-US defence ties have been on an upswing in the last few years.

In June 2016, the US designated India a "Major Defence Partner" paving the way for sharing of critical military equipment and technology.

The two countries have also inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement in 2016 that allows their militaries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.

The two sides also signed Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement in 2018 which provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for the sale of high-end technology from the US to India.

In October 2020, India and the US sealed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement to further boost bilateral defence ties.

The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Areas of patchy fog early. Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to occasional showers during the afternoon. High near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 34F. Winds light and variable.
As with many aspects of life in Vermont, the central well of gravity in the budding legal cannabis industry is in the North. The population de
Enemy's offensive simultaneously going on in four directions, fiercest battles in Bakhmut, Maryinka and Avdiyivka  Maliar

The Russians are advancing in four directions at the same time, the fiercest battles are now taking place in Bakhmut, Maryinka and Avdiyivka, said Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar.

"The epicenter of the fighting remains in the east, and the enemy is advancing there in several directions, not only in Bakhmut. There is an offensive going on in four directions at the same time. These are Maryinka, Lymany, Avdiyivka and Bakhmut directions. And I must say that fierce battles are going on almost everywhere, especially in Maryinka and Avdiyivka. It's very hot there. And Bakhmut, which we are constantly discussing," Maliar said on the air of the national telethon on Monday.

She noted that in Lymany, Maryinka and Avdiyivka directions, the enemy absolutely fails to achieve its goals.

Commenting on the situation in the area of Bakhmut, the deputy minister said that the enemy brutally destroys everything there.

Even the transport that moves to or from Bakhmut, they even shoot there with precision. Although people are trying to leave the town, Maliar said.

The enemy also increased the amount of artillery fire on Bakhmutka, the deputy minister added.
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.
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HARTFORD  Described as a survivor and crusader, Tracey Motuzick of Torrington was honored Friday in Hartford by a statewide coalition for her decades of support for victims of domestic violence.

The awards ceremony, sponsored by the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, presented Motuzick with the Coalition Crusader Award. The program booklet notes that she was honored for her experience and action (which) forever changed the landscape of domestic violence laws in Connecticut and the nation.

Motuzicks last name was Thurman when she came to national prominence in 1983 for her successful civil rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the domestic violence meted out by her estranged husband, Charles Buck Thurman Sr.

His final brutal attack left Motuzick partially paralyzed and hospitalized for eight months, she said on Friday. Once she was released, Motuzick said she had to use a wheelchair for a year. She now relies on a wheeled walker.

I would not be here without your support, Motuzick said in her remarks to the audience. I will speak about this so others can be helped.

I wish when I went through this in 1983, there was a group like Susan B. Anthony (Project) , Motuzick said in her presentation speech.

The Torrington-based nonprofit organization, which supports survivors of domestic abuse, was a nascent group, with just one part-time organizer, when the domestic violence against Motuzick began.

The Susan B. Anthony Project now provides services to residents in 20 communities in Litchfield County.

We pay homage to the survivors for all the years youve endured, Jeanne Fusco, the organizations executive director, told the assembled group.

This event is for the thousands whove come before, Fusco said. Many police departments changed their policies and regulations based on the countless organizations who emulated Traceys advocacy.

Those changes stemmed from a civil rights lawsuit Motuzicks attorneys filed in 1984 against the Torrington Police Department for the nonperformance or malperformance of official duties by the defendant police officers, according to court records.

Court documents state that between early October 1982 and June 10, 1983, the plaintiff, Tracey Thurman, a woman living in the City of Torrington, and others on her behalf, notified the defendant City through the defendant police officers of the City of repeated threats upon her life and the life of her child, the plaintiff Charles J. Thurman, Jr., made by her estranged husband, Charles Thurman.

The record continues, Attempts to file complaints by plaintiff Tracey Thurman against her estranged husband in response to his threats of death and maiming were ignored or rejected by the named defendants and the defendant City.

Motuzick said on Friday that her ex-husband was only jailed for eight years, despite the repeated attempts on her life and that of their son.

The lack of response by the citys police department in 1983 would not and could not occur now. In 1986, the state enacted a comprehensive family violence act, which sets standards for police officers and the courts on how to respond to domestic violence cases.

There is an evolution of training in police academies, Fusco said after the awards event. Experts in domestic violence are invited into the academys classes to discuss the crime, she said.

A spokesman for the Torrington Police Department could not be reached for comment late Friday afternoon. However, police Lt. Michael Emanuel, who is now retired, previously discussed the evolution an interview with the Register Citizen . We follow the law (the family violence act) by the letter, he said.

The change in survivor support is rewarding, Motuzick said. Advocates work day in and day out.

She said her role is a personal one Ill talk to survivors anytime they ask me. Ill talk to someone in the grocery store if they ask me.

Motuzick remarried 33 years ago to Michael Motuzick. He said they met because his brother married her best friend.

I was the best man and Tracey was supposed to be the maid of honor, but she was in the hospital, Michael Motuzick said. Everyone says shes lucky to have me. But, Im the one who is lucky.
Details added: first version posted on 12:01

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. More than 150 Azerbaijani companies operating in industry, agriculture, food industry, ICT, education, construction, logistics, textile and other fields will present their products and services at an exhibition of domestic companies dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the great leader Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan's Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) told Trend.

According to the agency, on June 8-10, in connection with the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev, Baku Crystal Hall will host an exhibition of local companies themed "Heydar Aliyev and Azerbaijani Entrepreneurship".

The event will be organized under the support of the Ministry of Economy, SMBDA and Marsol Group.

The purpose of the exhibition is to promote Azerbaijani companies more widely, expand access to markets, develop partnership with businessmen and establish cooperation.


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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday arrived in Uganda to explore ways to expand India's ties with the African country's leadership to further the bilateral ties and to take forward South-South cooperation.

Jaishankar is on a six-day visit to Uganda and Mozambique beginning Monday.

"Arrived in Uganda this afternoon. Glad to be received by Foreign Minister General Jeje Odongo and Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Vincent Ssempijja. Look forward to productive discussions to take forward South-South cooperation, Jaishankar tweeted along with pictures.

Arrived in Uganda this afternoon.



Glad to be received by Foreign Minister General Jeje Odongo and Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Vincent Ssempijja.



Look forward to productive discussions to take forward South-South cooperation. pic.twitter.com/EUWvyBhmD8  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 10, 2023

"The External Affairs Minister is expected to hold delegation-level talks with Foreign Minister General Odongo, call on the leadership of the country and meet other ministers," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi said on Sunday.

It said Jaishankar will also inaugurate a transit campus of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Jinja.

He will also address the trade and business community of Uganda and interact with the Indian diaspora.

The MEA said Jaishankar will visit Mozambique from April 13 to 15, adding that it will be the first-ever visit by an external affairs minister of India to Mozambique.

He will also interact with the Indian diaspora based in Mozambique. P
Tensions between Beijing and Taipei have further escalated with China conducting a large-scale exercise that involved sending numerous warplanes and warships toward Taiwan, simulating a scenario where the island is sealed off, in response to Taiwanese President Tsai ing-Wen's trip to the United States.

Recently, the Chinese military launched a three-day exercise called Joint Sword, which it declared as "combat readiness patrols". This was seen as a warning to Taiwan, which is a self-governed island that China claims as its own. According to Beijing, any contact between foreign officials and Taiwan's democratic government encourages Taiwanese people who seek formal independence, a move that China's Communist Party believes would result in war.

After a civil war in 1949, the two sides, China and Taiwan, split, with the ruling party claiming that Taiwan is obligated to reunite with the mainland, even if it requires the use of force. Military experts have predicted that in the event of a conflict, China may attempt to restrict sea and air traffic around Taiwan, thereby hindering the involvement of the United States, Japan, or other countries by intervening or providing assistance to the island in defending itself.

Currently, Taiwan is aided by the US, despite the latter having no diplomatic relations with the island country. Washington DC has made it possible under the Taiwan Relations Act, a move that Beijing has overwhelmingly opposed.

Chinas military harassment of Taiwan

According to a post from the Eastern Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on the social media platform Weibo, on Monday morning, the Shandong aircraft carrier was announced to be participating in the exercises surrounding Taiwan for the first time. A video was also shared, which showed a fighter jet taking off from the deck of the ship.

China's state broadcaster CCTV, quoting the PLA, reported that the ongoing military exercises were aimed at "simulating the joint sealing off" of Taiwan and included "waves of simulated strikes" targeting key locations on the island.

From 6 a.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported detecting a total of 70 planes, of which half crossed the unofficial boundary of the Taiwan Strait that was once tacitly accepted by both sides. The planes that crossed the median included eight J-16 fighter jets, four J-1 fighters, eight Su-30 fighters, and reconnaissance planes.

Later on Monday morning, Taiwan's defence ministry announced that another 59 bombers and multiple fighter jets had been detected flying near Taiwan. This followed a previous day of heightened military activity on Friday and Saturday, during which eight warships and 71 planes were detected in the vicinity of Taiwan.

Despite these developments, Taiwan's Defence Ministry stated that it was taking a cautious approach and aiming to avoid escalating the situation or causing disputes. Taiwan also reported that it had been monitoring China's movements through its land-based missile systems and navy vessels.

Air defense units of #ROCArmedForces remain on high alert for contingencies, steadfastly maintaining their posts 24/7, showing that we can and we will defend our skies. And we will never give up our beliefs. pic.twitter.com/cLXbVrcblE   Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.  (@MoNDefense) April 10, 2023

Meanwhile, China's People's Liberation Army announced that it would conduct live fire training in Luoyuan Bay, located in China's Fujian province across from Taiwan, in addition to its ongoing combat readiness patrols.

What is the Taiwan Relations Act?

The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) is a US federal law enacted in 1979 in response to the US breaking diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognising the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole government of China. The TRA is intended to govern US-Taiwan relations in the absence of official diplomatic relations and to provide a legal framework for the US to support Taiwan's security and prosperity.

Here are some of the key provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act:

Statement of Policy : The TRA declares it to be the policy of the United States to "maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardise the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan."



: The TRA declares it to be the policy of the United States to "maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardise the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan." Arms Sales : The TRA requires the US to provide Taiwan with "arms of a defensive character" to help it maintain its self-defence capabilities. This has resulted in the sale of a range of advanced military technology and weapons systems to Taiwan.



: The TRA requires the US to provide Taiwan with "arms of a defensive character" to help it maintain its self-defence capabilities. This has resulted in the sale of a range of advanced military technology and weapons systems to Taiwan. Diplomatic Relations : The TRA prohibits the US government from establishing official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but it does not prevent the US from conducting unofficial relations with Taiwan, including economic and cultural exchanges.



: The TRA prohibits the US government from establishing official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but it does not prevent the US from conducting unofficial relations with Taiwan, including economic and cultural exchanges. Consular Relations : The TRA requires the US to provide consular services to US citizens in Taiwan and to facilitate communication between US and Taiwanese officials.



: The TRA requires the US to provide consular services to US citizens in Taiwan and to facilitate communication between US and Taiwanese officials. Taiwan's Participation in International Organizations : The TRA encourages the US to support Taiwan's participation in international organisations where statehood is not a requirement for membership.



: The TRA encourages the US to support Taiwan's participation in international organisations where statehood is not a requirement for membership. Report to Congress: The TRA requires the US government to report to Congress on a regular basis about its implementation of the law, including any arms sales to Taiwan.

Overall, the Taiwan Relations Act provides a legal framework for the US to support Taiwan's security and prosperity in the absence of official diplomatic relations. It has been instrumental in facilitating economic and cultural exchanges between the US and Taiwan, and in ensuring that Taiwan has the military capabilities it needs to defend itself.

Taiwan's remaining 'diplomatic' allies

Having lost Honduras to Beijing recently, Taiwan currently maintains diplomatic relations with Belize, Paraguay, Haiti, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Guatemala in Latin America; the Pacific island nations of Nauru, Marshall Islands, Palau, and Tuvalu as well as with Vatican City in Europe. The majority of its remaining diplomatic partners are island nations located in the Caribbean and South Pacific regions, along with Eswatini in southern Africa.

Despite China's efforts to isolate Taiwan, the island nation maintains strong informal ties with over 100 other countries, with its most important ally being the United States. Although the US does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it recognises Taipei as a vital partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

The South China Sea Dispute & US' Role

The South China Sea dispute is a territorial and maritime dispute over the sovereignty and control of several islands and maritime features in the South China Sea. The dispute involves several countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

At the center of the dispute are a number of small islands, reefs, and atolls located in the South China Sea. These islands are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas reserves, and they are strategically located along important shipping routes. China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, including these islands, while other countries in the region dispute China's claims.

The dispute has been ongoing for decades, and it has involved a range of diplomatic, legal, and military actions. China has built artificial islands and constructed military facilities on them, which has raised concerns among other countries in the region about China's increasing militarisation of the South China Sea. Other countries have sought to assert their claims through legal means, including by filing claims with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The dispute has also involved the United States, which has maintained a significant military presence in the region and has conducted freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea to challenge China's claims. The US has also provided military assistance and support to other countries in the region, including the Philippines and Vietnam.

The South China Sea dispute is a complex issue with geopolitical, economic, and strategic implications for the region and the world. The ongoing tensions and competition over the South China Sea are likely to continue for the foreseeable future, as countries in the region seek to protect their interests and assert their claims in the contested waters.
In a recent video address to Pakistan, former Prime Minister Imran Khan praised India's foreign policy for procuring affordable crude oil from Russia. Khan expressed Pakistan's desire to also purchase cheap crude oil from Russia but acknowledged that they were unsuccessful in doing so.

"Islamabad wanted to get cheap Russian crude oil just like India, but was not able to do so as my government collapsed in a no-confidence motion," the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief said.

Currently, Pakistan is facing its worst economic crisis, with a significant devaluation of its currency against the US dollar, with PKR 288 being the current open market rate. This has resulted in buying fruits during the month of Ramzan becoming a luxury for millions of people in the country.

Imran Khan's failed Moscow visit

During Imran Khan's visit to Moscow in February 2022, which was the first by a Pakistani PM in 23 years, he was not able to secure any agreement to ease Pakistan's financial woes. It is worth noting that his visit coincided with the day that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation invading Ukraine.

According to a statement by PTI in February, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov expressed the desire of Moscow to enhance economic ties with Islamabad, stating that a "weak" Pakistan would not be beneficial for the region, including India and Afghanistan.

After his previous statement caused confusion, Alipov, clarified in a tweet that a destabilised Pakistan is not in the interest of any country in the region, rather than calling for economic engagement with Pakistan. Alipov also noted that Russia was keeping a close eye on reports of Pakistan sending military equipment to Ukraine.

Meaning destabilized Pakistan is not in the interests of any in the region. A strong anti-India Pakistan cannot be in the interest of any, particularly India. pic.twitter.com/yNBrITZUdt  Denis Alipov  (@AmbRus_India) February 6, 2023

In May 2022, Imran Khan praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his decision to buy inexpensive oil from Russia, despite pressure from the United States. "Despite being part of the Quad, India withstood US pressure and bought cheap oil from Russia to facilitate its people," tweeted Imran Khan, adding: "Our government was trying to achieve this through an independent foreign policy."

Global oil markets impacted due to Russia-Ukraine conflict

Analysts suggest that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has caused a significant and lasting impact on global oil markets, leading to the formation of new geopolitical alliances. The effects of the war extend beyond the battlefield and impact the energy industry.

According to a report by National Public Radio (NPR), the flow of oil, natural gas, and other refined products such as diesel has been disrupted, causing one of the most significant changes in the global energy market in recent times. Since March 2021, Russia has been offering oil at discounted rates following its invasion of Ukraine. As of March 2023, combined oil imports from Russia by China and India have surpassed those from the 27 European Union member states.
Details added (first published: 10:22)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Bujar Osmani, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, will visit Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on April 10-13, Trend reports, citing OSCE.

Bujar Osmani will meet with the government representatives and interested parties.

During the visit, issues of strengthening cooperation, analysis, and assessment of existing challenges in the field of security, as well as promotion of peace and stability through dialogue in the South Caucasus will be discussed.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has sent a letter to the United Nations (UN), requesting an "independent" probe into the death of journalist Arshad Sharif, who was killed in Kenya in October 2022, Karachi-based ARY news reported.

PTI leader Murad Saeed announced on his official Twitter account that he and other lawmakers, including former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, have written to the UN, urging for an independent investigation into the murder of Arshad Sharif.

Murad Saeed tweeted, Pakistani parliamentarians, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, wrote to the United Nations demanding an independent investigation of the murder of Arshad Sharif. We are grateful to all those parliamentarians who joined the cause #UN_for_ArshadSharif.

Arshad Sharif, a senior journalist and former anchor for ARY News, was murdered in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, on October 23, 2022 while living in self-imposed exile. Initially, Kenyan police claimed that Sharif was killed due to a case of "mistaken identity." In April, the Supreme Court hinted at the possibility of forming a judicial commission to investigate the murder of the senior journalist, according to a report by ARY News.

As per the news report, the Pakistan Supreme Court has issued a written verdict regarding the last hearing of the Arshad Sharif murder sou motu case. The verdict states that if the court is not satisfied with the investigation, a judicial commission will be formed to look into the matter.

Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, the legal counsel representing Arshad Sharifs family, objected to the court proceedings and argued that the Supreme Court has the authority to monitor and investigate issues related to fundamental rights, but not the authority to monitor the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probe. Despite the objections raised by Siddiqui, the written verdict stated that the court has given the JIT three additional weeks to conduct their investigation overseas.

A case of 'mistaken identity': Kenyan authorities

According to a report by the Kenyan authorities, the murder of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya was a case of "mistaken identity", and there was no conspiracy involved in his killing, as reported by Geo News.

The Geo News report states that the investigative report by Kenyan authorities suggests that Arshad Sharif was not specifically targeted for murder, but was instead caught in a random shootout involving four members of the para-military General Service Unit (GSU). The incident reportedly took place as the journalist was on his way to his penthouse, where he was living at the time.

The Kenyan account aligns with the polices version of events, which claims that the four guards were searching for a fleeing vehicle when Khurram Ahmed, who was driving Arshad Sharif, broke through police barriers and prompted the guards to open fire on the journalists vehicle.

The investigation report found that two of the four General Service Unit (GSU) officers should face charges for opening fire carelessly and using excessive force, but there was no evidence that Arshad Sharif was tortured before or after the shooting, according to the Geo News report.
Pakistan's former Prime Minister and Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday, April 10 announced that he will present a white paper outlining the ruling premier Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government's bad performance. According to Islamabad-based ARY News, Khan will share the white paper on the country's deteriorating economic situation via a video link address. He will compare PTI's performance with PDM's to highlight the 'incompetence' in the ruling government's policies and governance. The PTI chief has been publicly calling out the Sharif government for making disastrous economic decisions and barrelling the country into an economic crisis and looming threat of a default.

"PTI is highly critical of the economic performance of its rivals, the parties in the coalition government, accusing them of derailing the country ever since it was ousted from power in April last year," ARY reported.

Earlier yesterday, Khan lambasted the PML-N supremo, labelling him a "coward who cannot become a leader but becomes Nawaz Sharif." Addressing the crowd of supporters and PTI workers who gathered at Khan's Zaman Park residence for iftar, the ex-Pakistan Prime Minister said that he has learned everything from his own life and that he wasn't an Islamic scholar. He pushed for Pakistani citizens to become "free". "Stand for freedom," Khan told the gatherers, adding, "free people fight for freedom."

'Dangerous ruling buffoons' don't realise damage they are doing: Khan

Imran Khan accused the Shehbaz Sharif government of inaction and turning Pakistan into a joke globally. "The dangerous ruling buffoons don't realise the damage they are doing to Pakistan's image abroad by sham FIRs and absurd sedition charges against a former PM for using terms 'Dirty Harry' & 'psychopath'! They are making a mockery of Pakistan," Khan tweeted, yesterday.

He continued that the denial of the ruling party to accept the Supreme Court's decision in the Punjab polls delay case is sending wrong signals to foreign investors. His remark came as Pakistan's Chief Justice (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial resigned, claiming that after Justice Athar Minallah's stance, his position turned into a controversial one. Minallah had said that Pakistan's Supreme Court's suo motu notice over the delay in the provincial assembly elections announcement was dismissed by a majority 4-3 ruling.

"Also, what message is being sent to foreign investors when govt itself is not accepting SC decisions? Investors need the security of contracts and that means faith in the judicial system. What confidence can they have when govt itself casts aside SC orders? This happens in a banana republic," Khan tweeted.

(With agency inputs)
Pakistan's cash-strapped government on Monday presented a bill in Parliament to authorise funds for holding snap elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in line with the directives issued by the Supreme Court despite rejecting the apex court's decision on the matter.

The tabling of the bill by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar comes hours before the deadline given by the Supreme Court for the disbursal of Rs 21 billion to the election commission to hold the polls ends.

The bill titled "Charged Sums for General Elections of Provincial Assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bill 2023" was presented in both houses of Parliament  National Assembly and Senate The apex court last week ordered the government to provide Rs 21 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by April 10 to enable it to organise polls.

Elections are due to be held on May 14 in Punjab but the date for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections has not been decided as yet.

The government had rejected the decision by the court on provincial elections but in a Cabinet meeting on Sunday decided to seek approval from Parliament for funds.

While presenting the bill in the National Assembly, the finance minister said that it is now the responsibility of Parliament to decide whether funds to ECP should be released or not.

Dar said snap polls ordered by the apex court were not in the national interest due to security, and economic situation.

Elections in all assemblies should be held on the same date, the finance minister said, adding that the government laid this bill before the parliament in light of the Supreme Courts orders to release Rs 21 billion to the ECP.

The finance minister said the coalition government fully believes in the supremacy of the parliament and rule of law and the Constitution.

Dar maintained that conducting elections is a constitutional responsibility, but it requires that polling for national and all the provincial assemblies is held simultaneously under caretaker setups.

He said this will not only reduce expenditures but also ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.

He recalled that former premier Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf regime had brought the country to the verge of default by violating the sovereign commitments made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding that this also harmed the credibility of Pakistan.

Pakistan is in danger of defaulting on its debt, with an IMF bailout programme stalled since November, while a bruising political battle is raging between the government and Khan.

The cash-strapped nation is in dire need of funds with its foreign exchange reserves hovering around USD 4.2 billion which provides barely one month of import cover.

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf referred the bill to the NA standing committee concerned while adjourning the session till Thursday 2 pm.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, after the bill was presented, asked the members to submit notices by April 13 for the proposal to make recommendations on the bill and adjourned the session till 10 am on Friday (April 14).

It is not clear if the presentation of the bill in Parliament would be sufficient to meet the court orders of releasing funds by April 10. What is clear, however, is that the political instability is not going to end and the economic situation will remain fragile.

Meanwhile, the Dawn newspaper reported that the bill states that the required funds for the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shall be an expenditure charged upon the Federal Consolidated Fund, which it said comprises all revenues received by the federal government, all loans raised by that government and all money received by it in repayment of any loan.

It also states that it shall override other laws and have effect notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, rules and regulations when it was in force.

It added that the proposed law would stand repealed once the elections to both the assemblies were held, noting that the general elections and polls to the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies need not be held for it to be repealed. PTI SH NSA AKJ NSA
World Population Review (WPR) in a report has stated that Afghanistan has the fourth-highest crime rate in the world in 2023. For every 100,000 persons, more than 76 crimes are perpetrated in Afghanistan. Corruption, assassinations, drug trafficking, kidnapping, and money laundering are some of the types of crime.

The research also states that Afghanistan supplied 85 per cent of the illicit opium used globally in 2020. The analysis has brought forward a hypothesis stating that it will be challenging to eradicate the opium industry as it plays a significant role in Afghanistan's faltering economy, even though the new rulers of the war-torn nation, the Taliban, have committed to eradicating the opium industry.

Venezuela ranks number one in crime rate

Robbery and assault could be the other types of crimes, according to the report, because of the high unemployment rate in the nation. Venezuela, Papua New Guinea, and South Africa are the nations with the first, second, and third highest rates of crime, respectively.

The overall crime rate is calculated by dividing the total number of reported crimes of all types by the population as a whole, then multiplying the result by one million, as stated by WPR (because the crime rate is typically reported as X number of crimes per 1,00,000 people).

In the US, the overall crime rate is 47.70. Over the past 25 years, there has been a significant decline in violent crime. Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Japan, and New Zealand are among the nations with the lowest rates of crime in the world. In addition to having some of the strictest gun prohibitions in the world, Denmark, Norway, and Japan all have excellent law enforcement systems.

WPR has listed the countries with the ten highest crime rates, expressed per 100,000 people, globally:
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, is scheduled to meet Xi Jinping, the president of China. He will start his postponed trip to China this week with the goal of fostering closer ties in trade. Prior to flying to Beijing, where the Brazilian President will meet with his Chinese counterpart on Friday, he will arrive in Shanghai on Tuesday. He had been slated for a four-day visit in late March, but his diagnosis of the flu and pneumonia necessitated a change in plans, as reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Brazil primarily exports soybeans and iron ore to China, which happens to be the country's major buyer. According to Brazilian officials, the major objective of the visit is to broaden the country's commercial connections with China, Buenos Aires Times reported.

240 business people, 90 of them from the agricultural industry, as well as representatives from all government ministries and 27 senators and congressmen made up the original delegation that was going to travel with Lula in March. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told reporters that the two leaders "will talk about the war in Ukraine." Lula wants to spread the word about his idea for mediated negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine, as reported by Buenos Aires Times.

Putin 'cannot keep Ukrainian territory', says Lula

The Brazilian leader suggested forming a group of nations to mediate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since Brazil has been eager to position itself as a go-between.

Last year, Lula faced criticism for claiming that Vladimir Putin of Russia and Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine shared equal blame for the conflict in Ukraine. Additionally, he has declined to deploy arms to Ukraine to aid in its defence alongside other Western countries. Putin "cannot keep Ukrainian territory," he asserted on April 6. He, however, emphasised that Zelenskyy "cannot want everything" and he proposed Kyiv give up its claim to Crimea, which Russia acquired in 2014, SCMP reported.
King Charles' Green energy company, JV Energen has been under probe for several health and safety breaches after an unauthorised leak of more than 1,000 tonnes of global-heating gases, reported Sputnik. The green energy company has been hailed for its breakthrough in renewable energy production in the UK. The horrifying incident took place in 2020, when methane, CO2, and traces of the toxic gas hydrogen sulphide have been released from the gas container at the plant for 38 days.

This blunder had caused a "significant" impact on the environment, as per the Environment Agency. The agency has also investigated JV Energen for breaches involving "flammable and toxic" substances. JV Energen has been known for turning crops into gas and electricity, which further can be consumed in the local area, as well as to create fertilisers for local farms. The plant of the green energy company has been located on the land of the Duchy of Cornwall at Rainbarrow Farm near Dorchester and has been partially managed by the Duke of Cornwall until he became the king. The duchy has a hereditary estate that raises revenues for whoever is the male heir to the throne.

King Charles' green energy firm under investigation

59% of shares of JV Energen profits have been given to the duchy while more than 1 million has been received as rent and 6 million in interest from a series of loans it has provided to JV Energen, as per multiple media reports. This has made "JV Energen the most profitable of the duchy's joint ventures." Since its launch in 2012, the plant has also been given significant government subsidies of more than 28 million as it's a producer of green energy. The probe into the JV Energen's safety breaches has been followed by other emergencies connected to green energy firms, such as a fire at a Teesport Renewable Energy Plant in Redcar and Cleveland, North East England and a wind turbine collapse in Scotland. Such incidents have highlighted the "need of ensuring the safety of renewable energy production and the requirement of stronger regulation in this sector". Notably, the Environment Agency has contradicting assessments of JV Energy consultants who acclaimed that the damage of the leak was equivalent to just over 1,000 tonnes of CO2. Instead, an agency official said it could be measured as 2,000 tonnes at least. The UK Health and Safety Executive has investigated the plant after the 2020 leak and issued a series of improvement notices which have been focusing on other safety breaches:
US and Japanese forces are watching closely to ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwans air defense units were on high alert as China launched exercises around Taiwan on April 10, 2023.

UPDATED at 5:40 p.m. EDT on April 10, 2023.

Chinas Shandong aircraft carrier continues to take part in a multi-branch exercise around Taiwan, staged in response to the recent meeting between Taiwans president and the U.S. House speaker, the Chinese military said Monday.

The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command released a video showing a J-15 fighter jet taking off from the dock of the Shandong, Chinas first domestically built aircraft carrier.

The Shandong carrier group has been in the sea east of Taiwan since Thursday, the first time the carrier has ventured out of its regular operational area, the South China Sea.

Taiwans Ministry of National Defense said that as of 6:00 p.m. local time Monday, 91 Chinese military aircraft and 12 vessels were detected around Taiwan. It said 54 of the aircraft intruded into the islands air defense identification zone, including four J-15s.

According to the flight path it provided, all the J-15s appeared to have been launched from the Shandong.

70 Chinese military aircraft and 11 vessels were detected around Taiwan by 6 a.m. (local time) on Monday. Credit: Taiwan Ministry of National Defense

The Japanese defense ministry on Monday also released a statement saying that the Shandong carried out air operations in waters near its Okinawa islands on Sunday.

The aircraft carrier group that also includes three other Chinese military vessels has come as close as 230 kilometers (143 miles) from Japan's Miyako island.

The ministry said carrier-based jet fighters and helicopters took off and landed 140 times between Friday and Sunday.

Japan has been following China's military drills around Taiwan "with great interest," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Monday.

"The importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only important for the security of Japan, but also for the stability of the international community as a whole," he told reporters in Tokyo.

U.S. keeping a close watch

Last Thursday, Taiwans Minister of Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng said the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was also in the area after taking part in a maritime exercise in the East China Sea.

While he said he couldnt confirm that the Nimitz was there for the Shandong, given the situation theres a connection.

Observers citing data obtained via open sources, such as flight paths of carrier-based C-2A Greyhound aircraft, said that the nuclear-powered Nimitz was sailing within 200 nautical miles of the Shandong on Monday. RFA was not able to independently verify this information.

The U.S. is keeping a close watch on China's military drills around Taiwan, its de-facto embassy in Taipei said on Sunday.

A spokesperson from the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) was quoted by Reuters as saying that Washington is "comfortable and confident" it has the means to maintain peace and stability in the region.

AIT also said the U.S. has repeatedly asked China to show restraint and refrain from unilaterally altering the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said on Sunday that he is open to sending U.S. troops to Taiwan to help defend the island in the event of a Chinese invasion.

Graham, who has visited Taiwan three times, told Fox News Sunday that hed up our game with a series of deterrent measures such as providing more training for Taiwans military and speeding up weapons supply to the island.

While his comments don't necessarily reflect the stance of the Biden administration, they do show growing bipartisan concern in Washington over China's assertive behavior.

A jet fighter takes off from China's Shandong aircraft carrier, south of Okinawa prefecture, Japan, in this handout released by the Japanese defense ministry.

Credit: Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan

Cross-Strait tensions are heightened after Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen made two stopovers in the U.S. during her recent 10-day trip to Central America.

Last Wednesday she had a meeting with the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, in California.

China condemned the meeting, and on Saturday announced military exercises around Taiwan.

Joint Sword exercise

On Monday, the PLA Eastern Theatre Command said it continued the combat readiness patrol and drills around as the "Joint Sword" exercise enters its third and final day.

During the exercise, also known as "United Sword," the PLA simulated precision air and naval strikes on Taiwan over the weekend, while the last day focused on blockade drills.

Troops are also conducting a drill on Pingtan island in Taiwan Strait, Chinas closest point to Taiwan.

Senior Col. Shi Yi, the commands spokesperson, said that the operations are a serious warning to the collusion and provocations by Taiwan independence separatists and external forces, and a necessary move to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Customers dine near a giant screen broadcasting news footage of aircraft taking part in exercises around Taiwan at a restaurant in Beijing on April 10, 2023.

Credit: Reuters/Tingshu Wang

On Sunday, Chinese naval vessels in the Taiwan Strait, together with ballistic and cruise missile units deployed along the mainland's coast, tracked targets southwest of Taiwan.

Fighter jets, bombers as well as early-warning, reconnaissance and electronic warfare planes formed assault groups, and provided target guidance and simulated fire support to other forces, said a report by China Central Television.

Taiwan's defense ministry said it was monitoring the situation and has tasked patrol aircraft, Navy vessels and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities.

Edited by Mike Firn.

This story has been updated to correct Sen. Lindsey Graham's designation as ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The new release of the "Dialogue with Tofiq Abbasov" analytical video project was aired on the Baku Network Expert Platform, Trend reports.

The guest of the program was the Rector of the Azerbaijan University of Languages, a well-known public and political figure, scientist, academician and People's Writer Kamal Abdulla.

During the program, issues related to the process of reintegration of the Armenian minority of Azerbaijan's Karabakh were discussed.

Abdulla called on his former students of Armenian origin to engage in dialogue on the reintegration of Armenian residents of Karabakh.

"I once worked at the Institute of Foreign Languages [Azerbaijan University of Languages]. Among my students there were both young girls and boys of Armenian origin. I can invite all those who know me, my students, if they are watching us now, and if they remember our cooperation at the Institute of Foreign Languages," he said.
Xu Zhiyong, who called on Xi to resign, gets 14 years and rights lawyer Ding Jiaxi given 12 years

Detained human rights defenders Xu Zhiyong [left] and Ding Jiaxi are seen in an undated photo.

A Chinese court on Monday sentenced two prominent political activists to more than a decade in prison for subversion of state power  a charge often used to target critics of the government  after they attended a 2019 dissident gathering.

The Linshu County People's Court in the eastern province of Shandong handed down a 14-year jail term to Xu Zhiyong and a 12-year sentence to rights lawyer Ding Jiaxi.

Ding and Xu, the founder of the "New Citizens' Movement" campaign for government transparency, were detained after they attended a dinner with prominent activists in December 2019 in Xiamen, southeastern China.

"The jailing of Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi is tantamount to saying that the government's own constitution isn't even worthy to be used as toilet paper," Ding's U.S.-based wife Luo Shengchun said. "It runs entirely counter to their claim that we are citizens under the constitution and the rule of law."

"They are now being totally blatant about their barbaric behavior," she told Radio Free Asia.

Ding was taken away as part of a slew of coordinated and nationwide arrests of fellow Xiamen gathering attendees, including Zhang Zhongshun, Dai Zhenya and Li Shuai. In 2020, Luo reported that Ding had been tortured while in Shandong's Linshi Detention Center.

Hiding out

Xu, who also later penned an online essay calling on Chinese Communist Party supreme leader Xi Jinping to step down, went on the run after the meeting, hiding out in a friend's apartment in the southern province of Guangdong.

He was eventually tracked down by police via a nationwide facial recognition and surveillance camera system known as SkyNet.

His partner, the rights activist Li Qiaochu, was sent to a psychiatric hospital in Linyi city after she posted details of torture allegations made by Xu during his time in pretrial detention.

"The jailing of Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi is tantamount to saying that the government's own constitution isn't even worthy to be used as toilet paper," says Sophie Luo Shengchun, the wife of Ding Jiaxi. Credit: Reuters file photo





Xu stood trial behind closed doors in June 2022, as the authorities placed potential witnesses under house arrest and forced his legal team to sign non-disclosure agreements, according to Luo.

Like many detainees in subversion cases, both Xu and Ding have been denied meetings with defense attorneys or visits from family members for prolonged periods of time, which rights groups say is a major risk factor for torture and inhumane treatment.

Suffer for freedom, justice and love

In statements prepared in 2021 in the event of their conviction, both men vowed to keep up the fight for a more democratic China.

"To be a true citizen is to be subversive. The pursuit of freedom and democracy is subversive, his statement said. "I take it as a personal honor to suffer for freedom, justice and love."

Ding's statement foresaw "huge changes" in China's political landscape soon.

"Huge changes are about to happen in China," Ding predicted. "Even though I'm behind bars, I can sense strongly that a battle is unfolding between authoritarian rule and democracy."

"I'm convinced that rationality and non-violent resistance are the most stable path towards transformation in China," his statement said. "Neither personal doubts, setbacks nor physical torture will change what I believe in."

His wife, Luo, said that anyone with ideals, talent and corsage gets sent to prison Ding and Xu have always said that we don't need to be subversive because [the Communist Party regime] will subvert themselves."

Greatly encouraged

Luo was greatly encouraged by the "Bridge Man" protest of Peng Lifa ahead of the Communist Party's 20th party congress in October 2022, and by the "white paper" protests in late November in which protestors gathered on the streets in more than a dozen cities across China to protest a deadly fire in Urumqi, Xinjiang, rigid COVID-19 restrictions and the lack of freedom of speech.

"The Peng Lifa incident and the young people of the white paper movement have made me feel greatly encouraged," Luo said. For Xu and Ding, they were a huge comfort."

Rights activists said the sentences were a new low for Beijings rights record.

Their sentencing once again demonstrates the Chinese governments hostility to peaceful advocacy of democracy and human rights, and marks a new low in the Chinese governments human rights record, Chinese Human Rights Defenders senior researcher Ramona Li said in a statement.

The groups research and advocacy coordinator William Nee said the sentences were a travesty of justice.

At every step, Chinese authorities have taken the wrong turn: from detaining them in secret, torturing them, falsifying witness testimony, putting them on trial in secret, and now this heavy sentence, Nee said in a statement emailed to Radio Free Asia.

The New York-based group Human Rights in China said via its Twitter account: The Chinese government's overreaction to gatherings of its citizens reveals its insecurity about the illegitimacy of the regime, and its fear of a unified citizens resistance.

Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, called on the government to quash the convictions, citing allegations of procedural errors and mistreatment in custody.

"The cruelly farcical convictions and sentences meted out to Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi show President Xi Jinpings unstinting hostility towards peaceful activism," Wang said in a statement on the group's website.

"Governments around the world should join in calling on the Chinese authorities to release the two lawyers immediately and unconditionally."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Zheng Churan, who was detained ahead of International Womens Day 2015, says hope can come of small victories.

Activist Zheng Churan, who was detained by Chinese authorities in 2015 and held for more than a year, speaks at a Georgetown University lecture titled Unleashing the Power of Feminist Activism in China, on April 8, 2023.

One of Chinas Feminist Five activists who sparked an international outcry when they were detained ahead of International Womens Day in 2015, has left the country to take up a position as a visiting scholar in the United States.

Zheng Churan was detained alongside fellow activists Li Tingting, Wu Rongrong, Wei Tingting and Wang Man on March 6, 2015, two days ahead of International Womens Day, as they planned a campaign against sexual harassment on public transportation, on suspicion of picking quarrels and stirring up trouble.

While they were eventually released on bail in April 2016, they remained criminal suspects under tight police surveillance and under the threat of prosecution, while at least one of them was prevented from leaving the country.

The Georgetown lecture included postcards that audience members could send to in support of Chinese women who are being detained for their activism, including Cao Zhixin, Li Siqi, Li Yuanjing and Zhai Dengrui. Credit: Mia Ping-chieh Chen/RFA





Much of Chinas feminist activism moved online after their detention, only to be targeted in a nationwide public opinion cleanup campaign that saw key feminist social media accounts shut down beginning in 2017, although it saw a resurgence with the #MeToo movement, whose activists have also been detained and prevented from traveling outside mainland China.

It was a pretty big victory for me that I was able to get out of there in reasonably good health, Zheng told an April 8 Georgetown University lecture titled Unleashing the Power of Feminist Activism in China, in her first public appearance since arriving in the United States a month ago.

What activism taught me was how to see new possibilities, how to find hope in small victories and how to keep fighting, she said.

Success is a process

Wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with the words This is what a feminist looks like in Chinese, Zheng retains the same intensity she had when campaigning online for the release of her detained labor activist husband Wei Zhili by taking up running and logging her daily workouts as a way to draw attention to his situation.

I dont think the [women's rights] movement has to reach some kind of end point, or milestone, to be regarded as a success, Zheng said in an interview after the lecture. In my opinion, success is a process.

Activism changes the way people think, and how they look at the world, and shows them how to use their worldview as guidance in living their lives, she said. Thats the most important thing.

Zhengs lecture also included a call on audience members to pen postcards in support of Chinese women currently detained for their activism, particularly the young women detained in the wake of the white paper protests in November 2022.

Lecture attendees address postcards in support of detained Chinese female activists. Credit: Mia Ping-chieh Chen/RFA





Participants sent postcards to white paper movement supporters Cao Zhixin, Li Siqi, Li Yuanjing, Zhai Dengrui and Kamile Wayit, and to Wu Yi and other women for visiting Xiaohuamei, a woman found chained by the neck in an outbuilding in Jiangsu provinces Feng county last year.

Actions like these are happening all over the world, Zheng said. It will be very heartening [for these women] back in China to know that they haven't been forgotten.

She said she continues to draw her greatest inspiration from such actions.

The biggest inspiration I get from feminism is its actions, she said. There are various things we can do to change inequality, and action is a very important use of our power.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Matt Reed.
The move comes a day after an attack on a Yangon base by opposition fighters.

Authorities have ordered about 100 families in Aung Zayar ward, shown in this April 7, 2023, photo near Myanmars Magway Air Force Base to vacate their homes.

Myanmar authorities in Magway have informed residents that they must relocate their homes from the vicinity of the air force base by May 20 under the pretext of land encroachment, locals said Friday.

Residents said municipal officials first notified about 100 families in the citys Aung Zayar ward adjacent to the base on March 25 to relocate, and then convened a meeting at the township hall five days later and told them to move by May 20.

Most of the affected residents are tricycle rickshaw drivers, carpenters and masons who have been living there for the past 15 years in small two-story houses and huts, with the exception of about 10 large houses, residents said. Retired military sergeants and about 15 other veterans also live there, as well as parents whose children are stationed at the base.

Because of the order, they now are facing housing problems, said the friend of a resident who must relocate. They have built their houses there, but now they have to tear them down and move.

The notice said the houses encroached on roads, causing traffic jams, were prone to fires, and that the areas layout was not in line with the citys characteristics. Municipal authorities said they would take legal action against any residents who defied the order.

The junta has cited land encroachment to clear out neighborhoods in other areas of the country, including Yangons Mingaladon township, where more than 4,000 buildings on over 500 acres of land were removed. It also removed houses in three townships in Mandalay for the same reason.

Some residents say the junta is forcing them to move to persecute ordinary citizens, who have largely opposed military rule following the February 2021 coup, in which the national army seized power from the elected government and unleashed a torrent of violence on peaceful protesters.

In such a difficult time like now when people are facing various hardship and livelihood problems following the military coup, forcing people to move their hard-earned homes has placed more of a burden on existing despair in their lives, he said.

They will have to look for new land and build new homes that will cost a lot of money, he said. Thats why I think that it is another act of the military junta to further torture people.

Door-to-door inspections

Other residents believe Myanmars ruling military junta is behind the move, fearing that the Magway base may be targeted next by anti-regime Peoples Defense Forces after opposition fighters launched rocket propelled grenades against Mingaladon Air Base in the commercial city of Yangon on April 6.

As far as I know, the junta forced them to be removed as they feared that resistance forces would launch rocket attacks at the air force base from the neighborhood, which has occurred repeatedly as of late, said a local who declined to be named out of fear for his safety.

Peoples Defense Forces have fired missiles at the Magway Air Force Base more than twice in 2021, in one case hitting a weapons storage facility, he said.



Radio Free Asia could not reach the juntas spokesman in Magway region for comment, though he previously said the military council was handling the encroachment issues that previous governments avoided because it was trying to ensure law and order.

The military tightened security on Yangons Mingaladon township on Friday following the rocket attack on the base during which some junta members were injured and an aviation fuel tank and the aviation headquarters building were hit and damaged, local sources said. RFA has not been able to confirm this.

Soldiers are blocking and checking the entrance and exit roads to the bases, nearby Mingaladon Airport and in front of the main market, said a resident who declined to be identified out of fear for his safety.

Other Mingaladon township residents said troops and ward administrators have been conducting door-to-door inspections in some neighborhoods.

Translated by Myo Min Aung for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed.
Anti-regime strike leader Kyaw Win Sein, 30, who was sentenced to a total of 11  years by a court in Homalin township, Sagaing region on April 7, 2023.

A court in Myanmars northern Sagaing region has sentenced nine activists to prison terms ranging from three to 13 years, according to friends of the families.

Final year law student and anti-regime strike leader Kyaw Win Sein received a 10-year sentence Friday under the Counter Terrorism Law, and one and a half years for incitement to sedition in the civil service.

Kyaw Win Sein is believed to be around 30-years-old. He actively participated in anti-regime protests in Homalin township and boycotted his lessons after the military seized power in a February 2021 coup. Shortly after the coup, the junta issued a warrant for his arrest but he managed to evade capture until August last year.

Fellow activists sentenced by the Homalin township court on Friday  seven men and a woman  also received long prison terms.

Nwet Nwet Aung was imprisoned for 10 years; Aung Hein for 10 years; Aung Ko Min for 10 years; Thet Tun Oo for 10 years; Sai Wai Yan for 13 years; Nay Naw for five years; Pyoe Thet Tin for five years; and Aung Myint Oo for three years, said a family friend who declined to be named for fear of reprisals. They all are in good health.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners the junta arrested more than 21,000 people since seizing power in a February 2021 coup. Of those nearly 17,400 are still being held in prisons across the country.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.
His lawyer says Hanoi authorities have ignored Thang's demands in the run-up to Wednesdays hearing.

Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Lan Thang goes to court Wednesday, accused of conducting anti-state propaganda. Hes been charged under the controversial Article 117 of the Criminal Code, often used by the authorities to suppress free speech on social media and Thang believes he wont even have the opportunity to defend himself in court, according to his lawyer.

Lawyer Le Dinh Viet spent time with his client last Friday at the Hanoi Police Department-run Temporary Detention Center No. 1.

Thang told his lawyer he petitioned the People's Court of Hanoi on March 15 to request access to his case file, asked for a pen and paper to prepare his defense and requested permission to question an expert of Hanois Department of Information and Communications before or at the trial. So far his requests have been ignored and Thang said if they are not met soon it will seriously affect his right to defend himself.

Lawyer Viet said his client did not agree with Hanoi People's Courts decision to hold a closed trial because his case has nothing to do with state secrets.

Article 25 of the 2015 Criminal Procedure Code stipulates that the court must conduct a public trial, except in specific cases: where it is necessary to keep state secrets, protect the customs and traditions of the nation, to protect persons under 18 years of age, or to keep the private lives of parties involved secret at their request. In all those cases the sentencing must be public.

The lawyer posted Thangs comments on his personal Facebook page to publicize his clients objections to holding the trial in camera.

By holding a closed trial, I am afraid that the trial will not be conducted normally, and my activities and even my rights, including the right to defend, will not be guaranteed according to the law, Thang is quoted as saying.

If the case is heard publicly, I will have the opportunity to express my views and argue about what the Procuracy uses as a basis for accusing me. Only then will I have a real chance to prove that I am not guilty of the crime as alleged by the Procuratorate's indictment."

The 48-year-old has written several articles on freedom, democracy and human rights on the RFA Vietnamese blog since late 2013.

Thang joined the protest movement against China infringing on Vietnam's territorial waters in 2011 and is a photographer who has contributed many images and videos about protests over the sovereignty of the sea and islands, and also the fight against injustice in Vietnam.

Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn.
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.
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has again called for a union between Serbia and Republika Srpska -- one of Bosnia-Herzegovina's two entities -- amid already high tensions in the region.

Dodik -- who has been targeted by sanctions from the United States and Britain over alleged destabilization efforts and corruption -- has repeatedly threatened to push for the independence of Republika Srpska.

Dodik was speaking on April 24 at a commemoration ceremony in the northern Republika Srpska village of Gradina held for the victims of who perished in the World War II Croatian camp of Jasenovac.

During World War II, tens of thousands of Serbs, Jews, Roma, and anti-fascist Croats were killed at Jasenovac -- known as "Croatia's Auschwitz." The camp was run by Croatia's Nazi-allied Ustase regime.

"No one will prevent us [Serbs] from uniting because it is our right and our history. The last century was the century of Serbian suffering, and this century is one of Serbian unification," Dodik said.

He claimed the "Serbs will not survive in these areas if Republika Srpska does not become independent in the coming years."

The 1995 Dayton agreement that ended the Bosnian War established an administrative system under which Bosnia remains partitioned between the Serbian entity -- Republika Srpska -- and the Bosniak-Croat federation connected by a weak central government.

Dodik, who rejects the administrative arrangement and the authority of the Office of the High Representative -- the international community's overseer of civil and other aspects of the Dayton agreement, went on to criticize the international community and accused Western diplomats of trying to "eliminate" Serbs from Bosnia.

Making a parallel between the World War II killings at Jasenovac and the massacre of 8,000 Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica in 1995 during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War, Dodik avoided referring to the latter as "genocide" and said Western diplomats "cannot equate the crime committed in Srebrenica with Jasenovac because it is not the same."

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the UN's top judicial authority, the International Court of Justice, have each recognized the killings by Bosnian Serb forces at Srebrenica as genocide.

More than 50 people have been sentenced to a combined 700 years in prison for their roles in genocide and war crimes at Srebrenica, including former Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic and ex-military commander Ratko Mladic, who were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attended the commemoration but did not comment on Dodik's remarks about uniting with Serbia, although he has previously spoken on several occasions in support of Bosnian sovereignty.

Dodik, the leader of Republika Srpska's ruling Union of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), has repeatedly called for the referendum and the secession of the Bosnian Serb entity from the rest of Bosnia, which he labeled an "experiment by the international community" and an "impossible, imposed country," saying Bosnian Serbs had "a right to decide their own future."

The United States and Britain have placed sanctions on Dodik and several other ethnic Serb politicians in Bosnia for undermining the hard-won peace.

His comments come a day after ethnic Serbs boycotted en masse local elections in four municipalities in northern Kosovo with ethnic Serbian majorities where local mayors resigned in November 2022 to protest a cross-border dispute over vehicle registrations.

Only 1,567 people -- or 3.47 percent of voters -- showed up at polling stations for the vote on April 23.

Dodik has been trying to separate the entity's military, police, and tax administration from the central Bosnian government, actions that contravene the Dayton accords.

Republika Srpska has attempted multiple times to implement a property law that aims to transfer Bosnian state property to Republika Srpska.

Russia and Serbia tacitly support the actions of Dodik, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow before last year's Bosnian elections.

Dodik opposes imposing sanctions on Russia for its illegal invasion of Ukraine and recognizing Kosovo as independent state.

Ethnic Serbs compose some 1-2 percent of Kosovo's population of around 2 million people.
In an attempt to boost Iran's flagging population growth, the government approved a controversial law in 2021 that further tightened restrictions on medical abortions and banned the free distribution of contraceptives.

Now, officials have expressed alarm about the number of illegal abortions being carried out in the country, suggesting government restrictions have pushed more women to terminate unwanted pregnancies outside the public health-care system.

Women who seek an abortion in Iran often rely on the black market to obtain abortion pills that can be counterfeit or expired and ineffective. They also use underground abortion services by doctors and midwives that sometimes operate in unhygienic conditions.

Government officials have said that each year between 300,000 to 600,000 abortions, most of them illegal, are performed in the country.

A midwife in Tehran, who spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Farda on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said illegal abortions appear to have increased "significantly." The midwife says health workers now estimate that there could be as many as 1 million abortions each year.

"We used to provide people with free contraceptives that would help prevent unwanted pregnancies," the midwife said, adding that poorer Iranians were the most affected. "Now, women from poorer [backgrounds] are forced to seek unsafe abortions by using pills they buy on the black market that could lead to health complications and put their lives at risk."

The midwife warns that the authorities appear to be determined to boost the country's birthrate "at any cost," a move that "will only lead to an increase in unsafe abortions."

'Disastrous' Figures

Soleiman Heidari, a Health Ministry official, said on April 18 that up to 80 percent of abortions in Iran were performed illegally. He did not say if the number of illegal abortions was increasing but added that some estimates, if accurate, were "disastrous."

Earlier in the week, Iran's ultraconservative President Ebrahim Raisi said the number of abortions in the country was "worrying," without giving figures. He also called for "violators" to be punished.

Officials have said that medical staff found guilty of carrying out illegal abortions will face a ban on practicing medicine. Tehran Governor Mohsen Mansuri last year called for the authorities to crack down on centers that help women terminate their unwanted pregnancies.

Health Ministry spokesman Pedram Pakayin said on April 19 that the ministry was taking steps to deal with "intentional abortions," including collecting abortion pills from the market.

Dropping Birthrate

Mansoureh Shojaee, a prominent women's rights activist and researcher, told RFE/RL that the law restricting medical abortions was a violation of women's right to maintain autonomy over their bodies.

"The issue of bodily rights and autonomy has been highlighted by the protest movement," she said, referring to the nationwide antiestablishment demonstrations that erupted after the September death of a young woman soon after she was arrested for violating the hijab law. The main slogan of the protesters was "Women, life, and freedom."

"These rights include the hijab but also issues dealing with fertility, including the right to prevent pregnancy," Shojaee said. "Women should be able to decide if they want to become pregnant, if they want children, and the number of children they want."

Shojaee adds that the state's restrictions on medical abortions and contraceptives have put the life of Iranian women at risk.

Previously, abortions could be legally performed during the first four months of pregnancy if three doctors agreed that a pregnancy threatened a woman's life, or the fetus had severe physical or mental disabilities that could produce extreme hardship for the mother.

But under the "rejuvenation of the population and support of the family" law passed in November 2021, abortion cases are now be decided by a panel that includes a judge and two medical professionals.

Rights groups and health experts warn that the law restricts women's access to medical abortions, leads to unwanted pregnancies and the birth of children with congenital defects, and increases the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS.

In recent years, a growing number of Iranian women have chosen to have fewer or no children -- mainly due to economic woes, changing gender norms, the growth of girls' education, and family planning programs.

That trend has seen Iran's population growth rate drop from more than 4 percent in the 1980s to 1.29 percent in 2020, according to the World Bank, a development that has alarmed Iran's clerical establishment.
Flamboyant Samara regional lawmaker Mikhail Abdalkin is no stranger to controversy. The 35-year-old communist has made a political career for himself with outrageous public acts of protest in a bid to call out politicians he believes are indifferent to the plight of their constituents.

But none of his colorful protests gained national attention until February 21, when he posted a short video on YouTube showing him in his office silently watching President Vladimir Putin give his annual state-of-the-nation address with limp noodles draped over his ears.

The protest played on the colloquial Russian expression "to hang noodles on someone's ears," which means to lie or deceive them. It was a bold act in Putin's authoritarian state amid a historic crackdown on dissent that has accelerated since Moscow launched its massive invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.

On March 16, a court in the city of Novokuibyshevsk, a city of some 110,000 people about 1,000 kilometers southeast of Moscow, found Abdalkin guilty of "discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation" and fined him 150,000 rubles ($1,975). Abdalkin considers the ruling "politically motivated" and has filed an appeal.

"Neither I nor my lawyer understand what the 'discrediting' was," Abdalkin told RFE/RL's Idel.Realities, a regional news outlet of RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service. "There is no mention of the armed forces in the video at all. But the judge ruled that 'discrediting' includes intentional actions aimed at reducing confidence in someone or undermining someone's image or authority. But whose image was undermined, he didn't say."

I have to look for alternatives because people need to know that not everyone is sitting around silently -- that some people are opposed."

In addition, Abdalkin was singled out for criticism on the floor of the State Duma  Russia's lower parliament chamber -- by Aleksandr Khinshtein, a deputy from the pro-Kremlin ruling party United Russia. Abdalkin unsuccessfully ran against Khinshtein in 2018 and 2021.

"I think that if I live to 2026, I will be able to give him even more serious competition," Abdalkin said. "Khinshtein apparently also thinks this and doesn't want me to live that long."

After Khinshtein's calls for the public to condemn Abdalkin, the lawmaker received threatening telephone calls and social media messages.

"I didn't react because this is just intentionally whipped-up hysteria," he said. "I don't see anything extraordinary in what I did. Just an ordinary protest."

'Unpredictable Consequences'

The noodle protest, Abdalkin said, happened "spontaneously."

"Over the last 23 years -- more like 30, actually -- our citizens have been deceived by politicians of all levels from our television screens," he said. "The image of a person sitting in front of a television with noodles on his ears embodies the condition of our society. That is how I wanted to demonstrate my attitude toward what is going on. I didn't do anything really novel with my protest. I just expressed what everyone was already saying."

In 2021, a Twitter user posted a photo of himself with noodles hanging from his ears ahead of Putin's Direct Line call-in show.

Abdalkin was quick to add that he was not protesting Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which both he and the Communist Party support. A military veteran who is trained in biological and chemical warfare, Abdalkin added he is ready and willing to be mobilized if needed.

"I haven't run anywhere," he said. "I served in the army, unlike many of my peers who bought their way out."

They are going to clamp down even more, so we must express ourselves more carefully. But we must continue to act."

Instead, the lawmaker said, he opposes the social policies of Putin and United Russia, saying they are not doing enough to combat poverty and lawlessness. He insists that all protests be done within the framework of the law, despite the harsh crackdown on dissent.

"You have to act more carefully," he said. "We have to -- as I already said -- we live according to the laws of the state. You can't live in society and be outside of it at the same time. Yes, we don't like this situation. Yes, we consider these laws to be wrong. Yes, we think it is wrong to persecute people for their opinions and to engage in witch hunts because those things can lead to unpredictable consequences.

"They are going to clamp down even more," he added, "so we must express ourselves more carefully. But we must continue to act."

'Metaphors And Aesopian Language'

In 2020, Abdalkin presented the United Russia chairman of the Novokuibyshevsk city council with a lavishly gift-wrapped bar of soap in the shape of a phallus. Law enforcement refused to open a criminal case on charges of "defamation" in the case.

The same year, he appeared in the city with a man wearing a Putin mask on the occasion of Putin's 68th birthday. The man in the mask promised to live to be 100 and to continue ruling Russia and "lifting Russia from its knees for my whole life."

The previous year, he publicly burned an effigy of the director of the city's main hospital. He also posted the text of a thinly veiled "fairy tale" about an imaginary doctor who was so incompetent that townspeople burned an effigy of her.

"The court sent the text for analysis and concluded that despite its negativity and tendentiousness, it did not contain anything impolite or offensive," according to a media report at the time.

In 2021, Abdalkin presented the head of the Chapayevsk city administration with a bucketful of bull manure as a "sign of gratitude" from city residents.

"Over the last few years, protests have been banned," he said. "It is difficult to organize pickets or even to meet with voters. Protest has become almost impossible. So I have to look for alternatives because people need to know that not everyone is sitting around silently -- that some people are opposed.

"If you say so openly, you violate a lot of administrative and criminal statutes," he added. "So I have had to switch to metaphors and Aesopian language."

It is a form of public expression that Abdalkin has called "actionism," and he does not know where it will lead him next.

"In that regard, I do not have any plans for the future," he said.

Adapted from the Russian by RFE/RL's Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RL's Idel.Realities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The information on recall of Polad Bulbuloghlu from the post of Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia, is fake, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Russia told Trend.

The embassy made the remark commenting on the article entitled as "Polad Bulbuloghlu is recalled from the post of Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia", released on one of local Azerbaijani sites.

The embassy said the article's headline was a simple clickbait.

Furthermore, the embassy stressed that, as its known, the issue of appointing the country's ambassadors is within the competence of the head of state, and as for the statements in the information about alleged financial violations that cause the recall of the ambassador, this only testifies to the rich and ill imagination of the source referred to by the site.

"The last of financial audits which were carried out at the embassy by relevant authorities several times since 2006, was held in 2019, and it did not reveal any serious shortcomings," the embassy said.

The embassy also advised the employees of the site that spreads false information to carefully study the issue before publishing any material so as not to turn into an address for spreading lies.

Bulbuloghlu has been ambassador of Azerbaijan in Russia since 2006.
Details added: first version posted on 14:56

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The health condition of Azerbaijani MP Fazil Mustafa has significantly improved, Trend Reports citing the Facebook post of the MP.

"So I hope to leave the hospital in a few days and continue my treatment at home. Today I instructed my assistants to receive voters every week, as always, at my office in Bakikhanov settlement and to convey to me appeals for action, the post said. Starting next week, I plan to conduct an online reception of voters from home. I need to adapt to the conditions.

According to the post, Mustafa had to postpone participation in the World Special Olympics in Berlin, which will be held in the summer.

As the president of the committee for these games from Azerbaijan, believing in the success of our team, I will support it morally. As for the enemies of our nation, let them know that the struggle continues, and I am at the forefront of this struggle! added the post.

On March 28, 2023, at 21:51 (GMT +4), unknown men opened fire at Azerbaijani MP Fazil Mustafa, near his house. The MP survived, receiving two bullet wounds, one in the right shoulder.

A criminal case has been initiated in the Main Investigation Department of the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan under articles 277 (attempt on the life of a statesman or public figure with the aim of terminating his official or political activity or revenge for this activity) and 228.2.1 (illegal acquisition, storage, transportation and carrying of firearms, their component parts, ammunition by a group of persons, entered into a preliminary conspiracy) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

In connection with the assassination attempt on the MP, several people have been detained.
Sonu Sood Portrait

Sonu Sood Praised the efforts of the Organization

MADHYA PRADESH: Actor Sonu Sood had emerged as a 'Real Hero' due to his social work for the welfare of public. He helped and supported several people during the COVID-19 Pandemic period. He is also knows as a Corona warrior.

The Helping Hands organization of Dewas created a unique record and made a giant portrait of actor Sonu Sood using rice at the Tukoji Rao Pawar Stadium in Dewas. Film actor Sonu Sood joined live from Mumbai to witness the unique initiative on Sunday afternoon and praised the efforts of the organization.

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While interacting with the people, he said that during the Corona crisis, we have served the people as a team. Even at present, it is my endeavor that if any needy person reaches out to me or my team, he/she can be adequately helped.

The picture has been made on one acre of land with 2500 kg of rice. Rice was donated by the city residents to make the picture, which will be distributed among the poor families.

Sonu Sood was very happy to see his picture made with rice. Praising the effort, he said, "Thank you Dewas for appreciating the service work of me and my team. I will soon visit Dewas to meet the organization members and my fans."

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Actor Sonu Sood interacted and had discussion with people live for about 30 minutes. He also spoke to the members who made the portraits and appreciated their work. Nahar Darwaja police station in-charge Ramesh Kalathia and other guests attended the program held at the Tukoji Rao Pawar Stadium of the local Dewas. Shubham Vijayvargiya, president of the organization welcomed the guests and briefed actor Sonu Sood about the film. Apart from this, the team members who prepared the portraits were also honored during the programme.
AAP

Sisodia brought changes in Government Schools: Gopal Rai

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday said it has collected more than one million signatures during a door-to-door campaign against the arrest of party leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain. AAP's Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai said that after this a letter will be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the arrest of Sisodia and Jain. Last month, the party had started a campaign to collect signatures from people by reaching door to door in all the wards.

Roy said, "Our target was to collect one million signatures and we achieved it on Sunday. Our district in-charges, Lok Sabha in-charges and councilors were involved in this campaign." He claimed that everyone knows that Sisodia and Jain have brought changes in the education and health system.

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During a press conference, Rai said, "Sisodia brought changes in government schools while Jain modeled the mohalla clinic. People are angry that they have been kept in jail."

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj extended gratitude to the people of Delhi for supporting this campaign. Notably, Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of Delhi's excise policy. This policy has been cancelled. Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in May last year in a money laundering case. Both had resigned from the Delhi Cabinet in February.




Amritpal Singh and Papalpreet Singh

Hoshiarpur Police has not Confirmed the Arrest Yet

HOSHIARPUR: In a major development, Police has arrested 'Waris Punjab De' Chief and Fugitive Amritpal Singh's close aide Papalpreet Singh, said Sources.

The media reports said that the Special Cell of Delhi Police and Punjab Police have jointly carried out this operation. Sources revealed that Papalpreet Singh has been arrested from a village called 'Kasba' in Dasuya city of Hoshiarpur. According to the latest media reports, Papalpreet Singh has been arrested by the Counter Intelligence Amritsar team.

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However, Hoshiarpur police has not confirmed the arrest. Officials said that they do not have any information about this matter.








Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao

Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao will receive the Prize for Statistics

WASHINGTON: Renowned Indian-American mathematician and statistician Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao will receive the 2023 International Prize for Statistics, the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in the field, for his groundbreaking work that revolutionized statistical thinking 75 years ago.

Rao, now 102, will receive the $80,000 prize at the biennial International Statistical Institute World Statistics Congress this July in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

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In a statement issued on April 1, the foundation said, "In a landmark paper published in 1945 in the Bulletin of the Calcutta Mathematical Society, Rao outlined three fundamental results that paved the way for the modern field of statistics and provided statistical methods that are still widely used in science today."
Details added (first published: 15:44)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Iran has no plans regarding the change of its ambassador to Azerbaijan, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran Nasser Kanaani said at a press conference, Trend reports.

According to Kanaani, the change of diplomatic representatives is a normal process for the Foreign Ministry, but there is no such decision regarding the ambassador to Azerbaijan.

He added that Iran believes in resolving tensions in relations with Azerbaijan through negotiations.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian held phone talks on April 7 and 8. During the conversation, the discontent and misunderstanding between the two countries was discussed in detail. The importance of continuing negotiations to eliminate misunderstandings was emphasized.

An agreement was reached between Azerbaijan and Iran on carrying out work on the implementation of existing projects.
Twitter Labels BBC as Government Funded Media

BBC said that Twitter should remove the label immediately

LONDON: Micro-blogging platform Twitter has sparked a fresh controversy by labeling the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as 'government funded media'. Twitter has placed a tag (gold tick) of 'Government Funded Media' on the BBC's verified account, following which the BBC has objected to the Twitter management and claimed to resolve the matter soon.

According to a report, the BBC said that Twitter should remove this label immediately. The BBC said, "We are independent and always have been. We are funded solely by the British public through license fees."

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Other BCC accounts, including BBC News (World) and BBC Breaking News, have reportedly not been labelled. Twitter has given no reason for labeling the BBC as government-funded media.

Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted on Monday, 'What's the meaning of the BBC? I keep forgetting.'

Notably, 'Government Funded Media' means that the government is supporting that news channel or media organization and they can influence the policy of that organization at any time. Twitter's gold tick appears on government-funded outlets, including PBS, NPR, Voice of America and the BBC. However, such a label does not appear on other government-backed outlets such as Canada's CBC or Qatar's Al Jazeera.
The FDA has announced Makena and its generics are no longer approved and cannot lawfully be distributed in interstate commerce. The drug that had been approved under the accelerated approval pathway was used to reduce the risk of preterm birth in women pregnant with one baby who have a history of spontaneous preterm birth.

In 2011, the FDA approved Makena under the accelerated approval pathway based on a determination that the sponsor had showed a drug effect on an intermediate clinical endpoint that was reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. However, the ensuing confirmatory study did not verify clinical benefit. A sponsor-requested hearing was held in October 2022. Based on a review by the Commissioner and Chief Scientist, FDA has decided to withdraw approval of Makena and generic versions of Makena.

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, stated: "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."

Makena was marketed by AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which is now a subsidiary of the Covis Pharma Group.

For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES INC. (IMOS), a Taiwanese semiconductor firm, on Monday posted a decline in revenue for the first quarter of 2023.

For the first quarter, the company recorded revenue of NT$4.605 billion or $151.1 million, lesser than NT$6.725 billion or $220.6 million, posted for the same quarter of 2022.

For the fourth quarter of 2022, ChipMOS had generated revenue of N$4.686 billion or $153.7 million.

For the month of March, revenue was at NT$1.837 billion or $60.3 million, compared with N$2.355 billion or $77.3 million in March 2022.

ChipMOS had reported revenue of N$1.437 billion or $47.2 million for the month of February 2023.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
When launched, BSA Gold Star 650 will take on Royal Enfield 650 Twins- Interceptor and Continental GT

After reviving defunct brands like Jawa and Yezdi earlier, Classic Legends revived the iconic British motorcycle brand BSA late last year. The first motorcycle to don this nameplate is named Gold Star 650 which made its maiden appearance in December 2021 at an exclusive event in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

In July 2022, UK launch of the BSA 650cc took place. It is priced from about GBP 6,500. which is about Rs 6.6 lakh as per todays conversion rate. It is now planned for launch in other countries globally.

BSA 650cc Spied testing in production ready guiser

Backed by Mahindra & Mahindra, Classic Legends bought the rights of the incumbent BSA Motorcycles back in 2016 for approximately Rs 28 crores. Initially, BSA motorcycles will exclusively cater to the UK market. But launch in other countries is also expected. BSA 650cc test mules have now been spied in production ready guise on Indian roads. Latest spy shots are credited to automotive enthusiast Satya.

The company has not confirmed an India launch yet, however, given the popularity of the modern classic segment, Classic Legends might bring it here. BSA plans to launch Gold Star 650 in the United States as well. The company could also introduce the bike in South American markets. In most of these markets, BSA will be directly pitted against Royal Enfield.

Manufacturing & Design

As of now, the 650cc roadster will be manufactured by Classic Legends in India and exported to overseas markets. However, the company is working on opening a new assembly facility in the UK that would split manufacturing operations between the two countries. This facility will be different from the one commissioned by the UK Government in Midlands which will be used for manufacturing EVs.

Gold Star 650 has been designed by a British firm called Redline Studios whereas its chassis has been built by British engineering specialists Ricardo. The engine, however, has been sourced from Austrian engineering firm Rotax and worked upon by Technical University of Graz.

Powertrain & Hardware Specs

Speaking of the engine, Gold Star 650 is powered by a 652cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor that dishes out 45hp and 55Nm of peak torque. This unit is paired with a 5-speed gearbox via a slipper and assist clutch. As for performance, Classic Legends say that this bike can reach a top speed of 166 kmph. The company has also stated that this engine could be tuned for more power and torque in future.

Coming to its hardware setup, BSA Gold Star 650 is underpinned by a dual-cradle tubular chassis that sits on raked-out telescopic forks at front and twin preload-adjustable rear shock absorbers. Braking duties are carried out by disc brakes at both ends with callipers from Brembo which are aided by a dual-channel ABS.
A DCT is rumoured to be replace AMT gearbox with Tata Nexon facelift, but it is not sure whether it is the same 6-speed unit offered on Altroz

Nexon has been the top selling sub 4m SUV for quite some time now. It has hardly lost the No 1 position in the past few months. To maintain competing for the top spot, Tata Motors is getting ready to launch facelifted Nexon soon. Ahead of that, the same has now been spied.

Tata Nexon Facelift  Changes inspired by Curvv concept

The latest spy shots give us a clearer idea as to what exterior design changes might be. For starters, there will be a lot of inspiration from the upcoming Curvv compact SUV. Were talking about a futuristic detail where it gets wide LED light bars at the front, converging to form the Tata logo. Tata Motors has shared a new teaser on their social media channel recently, is it the first official teaser of Nexon facelift?

There is a two-part upper grille and lower grille has a cascading effect which might be studded with Tatas tri-arrow elements. As of now, Tatas radar-based ADAS module hasnt been spied with Nexon facelift test mules.

Side profile will be kept mostly similar. Except for new alloy wheel design and some changes to its body cladding to make it sportier. At the rear, there are Safari-inspired wide LED signature tail lights with pulsating sequential turn indicators. These changes will be carried over to the Nexon EV facelift as well. Take a look at the spy video shared by Roy Cruiser channel.

New Nexon Interior Changes To Uplift The Ambience

On the inside, new Nexon will come with revised seat colour. In the spy shot, 2023 Nexon facelift seats are seen wearing purple colour while the dashboard and center console is finished in black. We can also see a new two-spoke steering wheel.

It also gets a larger 10.25 infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other than that, a 7 instrument cluster, sunroof, ventilated front seats, built-in air purifier, 360-degree camera, etc, are some of the expected highlights with Tata Nexon facelift.

Engine specs of New Nexon  More power, DCT auto

The same 1.2L turbo petrol and 1.5L diesel engines will be carried over. With Tata Nexon facelift, we expect the petrol to be tuned to develop 125 bhp of power and 225 Nm of torque. 1.5 diesel will be carried over as is, though. It makes 113 bhp of power and 260 Nm of torque. There is a new DCT gearbox rumoured as part of Nexon facelift, replacing its AMT.

It is not yet sure whether it is the same 6-speed unit offered on Altroz or a newer 7-speed unit. Launch will take place by mid 2023, before the festive season kicks in. While production might start in June 2023. Rivals include Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, and Mahindra XUV300. Prices of 2023 Nexon facelift will remain in a similar price bracket as current Nexon.
Overview of Indian Electric Vehicle Industry in FY 22-23

In its recent fiscal year report, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) stated that India witnessed growth. Sales growth of electric vehicles (EVs) during the FY22-23, including electric buses, cars, three-wheelers, and two-wheelers.

Total number of EVs sold was 1,152,021. Indicating a significant milestone for the Indian EV industry, which is striving to achieve the Government-mandated EV goals. This trend is expected to continue in the future. Concerns have been raised regarding the slow adoption of high-speed electric two-wheelers (E2W).

Slow Adoption of High-Speed E2Ws: Challenges, Solutions, Opportunities

According to industry experts and stakeholders, slow adoption of high-speed electric two-wheelers (E2Ws) in India isnt due to a lack of consumer demand. But due to issues related to subsidies and compliance with government norms. Many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have already passed on over Rs. 1200 crore in subsidies to their customers.

However, the pretext of delays in localization has led to the withholding of subsidies. Allegations of under-invoicing by premium OEMs for FAME subsidy have resulted in a shortage of working capital. This amounts to Rs 400 crore of OEM money. And Likewise, it affects business operations and the growth of the industry.

Key factors that can strengthen the EV ecosystem in India include improving the supply chain for essential components such as motors and batteries. There must be clarity on the continuation of the FAME scheme. A direct subsidy mechanism can be implemented to avoid discrepancies. Moreover, phasing out subsidies gradually after achieving a certain threshold and promoting local manufacturing of EV components can reduce dependence on imports. Together, this can make the EV ecosystem self-sustaining.

Growth of Electric Two-Wheeler Sales in India  Strengthening the EV Ecosystem in India

Despite challenges, growth of electric two-wheeler sales in India is noteworthy. In FY23, 7,26,976 high-speed e-scooters and 1,20,000 low-speed e-scooters were sold. As were 50k units of e-cycles and 2,85,443 units of low-speed e-rickshaws. Total e3W sales are reported at 4,01,841 units. Electric 4W (E4W/electric car) sales is reported at 47,217 units. E-Bus sales are reported at 1,904 units. Total e2W sales stood at 8,46,976 units.

In FY22, this number stood at 3,38,000 units  2,52,543 units for high speed e-scooters, and 75,457 units for low speed e-scooters. However, its worth noting that growth rate in the High Speed electric two-wheeler segment slowed down in the latter part of the fiscal year. Consequently, it resulted in annual estimates being in the red by over a quarter (25 percent shortfall) as per research organisations and Niti Aayog. Estimates stood at 10,00,863 units.

EV Industry in India Grows Exponentially: Challenges Remain for High-Speed E2Ws

Sohinder Gill, DG SMEV, said, While all the earlier schemes since 2015 had negligible effect on the EV adoption, the revised FAME2 in late 2021 had a dramatic effect on E2W adoption as it decreased their prices by around 35%.

This started attracting the component supply chain that had earlier shunned anything to do with E2WS because of extremely low volumes and it is only in the late 2021, suppliers started queuing up to OEMS to show their eagerness of developing EV components. It took most of these suppliers 12 to 18 months, the usual time that it takes to localise and now most of them have started setting up sufficient capacities.
Details added: first version posted on 15:44

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The information on recall of Polad Bulbuloghlu from the post of Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia, is fake, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Russia told Trend.

The embassy made the remark commenting on the article entitled as "Polad Bulbuloghlu is recalled from the post of Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia", released on one of local Azerbaijani sites.

The embassy said the article's headline was a simple clickbait.

Furthermore, the embassy stressed that, as its known, the issue of appointing the country's ambassadors is within the competence of the head of state, and as for the statements in the information about alleged financial violations that cause the recall of the ambassador, this only testifies to the rich and ill imagination of the source referred to by the site.

"The last of financial audits which were carried out at the embassy by relevant authorities several times since 2006, was held in 2019, and it did not reveal any serious shortcomings," the embassy said.

The embassy also advised the employees of the site that spreads false information to carefully study the issue before publishing any material so as not to turn into an address for spreading lies.

Bulbuloghlu has been ambassador of Azerbaijan in Russia since 2006.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Speaker of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament) Sahiba Gafarova met with Ambassador of Hungary to Azerbaijan Tamas Torma, the parliament told Trend.

Greeting the ambassador, Sahiba Gafarova wished him success in his diplomatic activities in Azerbaijan.

Noting that the bilateral diplomatic relations turned thirty last year, Sahiba Gafarova said that the cooperation between the two countries had been progressing dynamically and reached the stage of strategic partnership throughout those years. She stressed the special role in this of the two states leaders reciprocal visits and meetings as well as of the documents inked so far. In this regard, she mentioned the signing of the Joint Declaration of Strategic Partnership during President Ilham Aliyevs official visit to Hungary on January 30 this year.

Gafarova recalled fondly her own official visit to Hungary in 2021 and the meetings held during it as she was talking about the inter-parliamentary links. She noted that the visit contributed to the further expansion of the connections between the two legislatures. Sahiba Gafarova added that the friendship groups in the legislatures are bridging them.

In addition, during the conversation, Sahiba Gafarova spoke about the current situation in the region after Azerbaijan liberated its territories from Armenian occupation in 2020.

The ambassador of Hungary to Azerbaijan Tamas Torma thanked for the meeting, underlined parliamentary diplomacys ever-growing importance in modern times, and highlighted the essential input of the inter-parliamentary friendship groups in furthering the progress of the relations between the two friendly countries and strategic partners.

"Friendship groups operating in the parliaments of Hungary and Azerbaijan, which have friendly and strategic partnerships, are important in terms of developing our ties. Our MPs successfully cooperate in international parliamentary organizations and support each other in the interests of our countries. Growing cooperation with the Turkic world as part of the Organization of Turkic States, where Hungary has observer status, will serve to further strengthen the positions of our countries," he said.

Then, at the meeting, an exchange of opinions took place on other issues of mutual interest.
SALEM, Mass. (AP)  The Latest on the sentencing of a Massachusetts teenager convicted of raping and killing his high school math teacher (all times local):

6:40 p.m.

The mother of a Massachusetts high school math teacher raped and killed by one of her students says the sentence imposed on the teenager is unacceptable.

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Seventeen-year-old Philip Chism (CHIHZ-uhm) was sentenced Friday to life in prison for the murder of Colleen Ritzer but will be eligible for parole after serving 40 years. He was 14 at the time of the killing.

Peggy Ritzer and her husband, Tom Ritzer, say Chism should never have a chance to get out of prison.

They lashed out at the states highest court, which ruled in 2013 that juveniles could not be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Chisms lawyers acknowledged he killed his teacher but blamed mental illness.

Chism will be placed in a state juvenile detention facility until he is 21. He will then be sent to a state prison.

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3 p.m.

The mother of a Massachusetts teenager who was 14 when he raped and killed his math teacher has cried quietly as a judge pronounced his sentence.

Seventeen-year-old Philip Chism (CHIHZ-uhm) was sentenced Friday to life in prison with the possibility of parole on a murder charge. He received 40-year concurrent sentences on rape and robbery charges.

Judge David Lowy said before handing down the sentence that Colleen Ritzers slaying was brutal and senseless, and the crashing waves of this tragedy will never wane.

The judge says he knows Chism had a difficult upbringing but that doesnt excuse his actions.

Ritzers family and supporters sat silently during sentencing.

Chism will be placed in a state juvenile detention facility until hes 21. Hell then be sent to a state prison.

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2:25 p.m.

A Massachusetts teenager who was 14 when he raped and killed his math teacher has been sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole in 40 years.

Seventeen-year-old Philp Chism (CHIHZ-uhm) was sentenced Friday in Salem Superior Court in the slaying of Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer in 2013.

The judge pronounced the sentence after hearing victim-impact statements from Ritzers parents, siblings and colleagues. Many of them wore pink, her favorite color.

Prosecutors had asked that Chism be sentenced to life at least 50 years in prison  consecutive sentences of life with the possibility of parole in 25 years on the rape and murder charges.

Chisms attorneys asked that their client be given concurrent sentences and be eligible for parole at age 40.

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This story has been corrected to show Chism is eligible for parole in 40 years, not 25 years.

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1:30 p.m.

A prosecutor says a Massachusetts teenager who raped and killed his math teacher is manipulative and should be locked up for 50 years.

Prosecutor Kate MacDougall asked for two consecutive life sentences for 17-year-old Philip Chism (CHIHZ-uhm) with eligibility of parole in 25 years that would keep him behind bars into his 60s.

She called Chism manipulative, narcissistic and a poor candidate for rehabilitation, reminding the judge that hes also accused of attacking a woman at a youth detention facility.

Defense attorney Susan Oker asked for a sentence that would make Chism eligible for parole no later than age 40. She cited scientific studies that said a juvenile brain is not fully developed.

Chism was 14 when he killed Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer in 2013.

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11:30 a.m.

The mother of a Massachusetts high school math teacher killed by one of her students says the death has left her so very broken.

Peggie Ritzer was the last of nine people to read victim-impact statements at the sentencing hearing Friday for 17-year-old Philip Chism (CHIHZ-uhm). He was 14 when he killed Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer in 2013.

Her father, Tom, said a dads job is to fix things, and he would do anything to fix what happened to his daughter.

Colleen Ritzers brother and sister, colleagues and lifelong friends described a young woman who loved her job, loved her students, loved life and never had a negative word to say.

Prosecutors have asked the judge to send Chism to prison for 50 years.

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10:30 a.m.

The sentencing hearing for a Massachusetts teenager convicted of raping and killing his high school math teacher is underway.

A judge is expected to sentence 17-year-old Philip Chism (CHIHZ-uhm) on Friday after hearing nine victim-impact statements from Colleen Ritzers family and friends.

Many of them are wearing pink, Ritzers favorite color.

Chism was 14 when he killed the 24-year-old Danvers High School teacher in 2013.

His mother, Diane, released a statement Friday expressing her sorrow.

She said her prayers were with the Ritzer family as they continue their journey to heal.

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9 a.m.

A Massachusetts teenager convicted of raping and killing his high school math teacher faces a sentence of up to life in prison when a judge hands out his punishment.

Philip Chism (CHIHZ-uhm) was convicted in December in the 2013 death of Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer. Hes scheduled to be sentenced Friday in Salem Superior Court.

The 17-year-old Chism faces life on the murder charge, but would be eligible for parole after 15 to 25 years because he was 14 at the time of the killing. He also faces lengthy sentences on charges of aggravated rape and robbery. Prosecutors have asked that he stay in prison for at least 50 years.

The defense admitted Chism killed Ritzer but said he was suffering from severe mental illness and wasnt criminally responsible for his actions.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan  Commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Ramiz Tahirov visited the United States of America, Trend reports citing Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

As part of the visit, Lieutenant General R.Tahirov met with the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Charles Q. Brown, Jr.

The sides exchanged views on the current state of military cooperation and regional security issues.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the USA Khazar Ibrahim also participated in the meeting.
The management and employees of "Azpetrol" company visited the Heydar Aliyev Center within the framework of the implementation of President Ilham Aliyev's Decree "On declaring 2023 as the "Year of Heydar Aliyev" in the Republic of Azerbaijan".

Under the guidance of the CEO of the company, Jeyhun Mammadov, the employees got to know the expositions dedicated to the life and activities of the Great Leader in the Heydar Aliyev Center. The employees of the Center informed the "Azpetrol" delegation about the design of the Center, which is considered one of the rare pearls of world architecture and was opened on the eve of the 90th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, as well as the main directions of activity.

It was noted that the Center aims to study the philosophy of statehood and Azerbaijani ideology of the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, to research and promote the legacy of Heydar Aliyev, to implement projects that serve the development of science, education, culture, health, sports, ecology and economy, and to promote the history and culture of Azerbaijan. It operates in the direction of promoting the Azerbaijani language and other national and spiritual assets in the international world, as well as promoting world culture and various examples of civilization in Azerbaijan, holding local, regional and international conferences, symposiums and other events.

The most interesting part of the Center, which operates in the direction of researching, promoting and preserving Heydar Aliyev's heritage, is the Heydar Aliyev Museum. The museum reflects different periods of the history of Azerbaijan and the life and activities of national leader Heydar Aliyev. The information collected here is delivered to visitors in an interactive form. The three-floor museum presents interesting facts, photo and video materials and other unique exhibits related to national leader Heydar Aliyev.
Environmental Impact Assessments may hugely underestimate the effect that new developments have on wildlife, according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

This is because they don't take into account how birds and other animals move around between different sites.

A study published today shows how a new airport development planned in Portugal could affect more than 10 times the number of Black-tailed Godwits estimated in a previous Environmental Impact Assessment.

The research team have been studying these Godwits across Europe for over 30 years but they say that any species that moves around is likely to be under-represented by such reports.

Here in the UK, the environmental impact of a planned tidal barrage across the Wash estuary could similarly be much worse than predicted for wild birds and England's largest common seal colony.

Prof Jenny Gill from UEA's School of Biological Sciences said: "Environmental Impact Assessments are carried out when developments are planned for sites where wildlife is protected.

"But the methods used to produce these reports seldom consider how species move around between different sites. This can drastically underestimate the number of animals impacted and this is particularly relevant for species that are very mobile, like birds."

Josh Nightingale, a PhD researcher in UEA's School of Biological Sciences and from the University of Aveiro in Portugal, said: "We studied the Tagus Estuary in Portugal, an enormous coastal wetland where a new airport is currently planned and has already been issued an environmental license.

"This area is Portugal's most important wetland for waterbirds, and contains areas legally protected for conservation.

"But it faces the threat of having a new international airport operating at its heart, with low-altitude flightpaths overlapping the protected area.

"Black-tailed Godwits are one of several wading birds that we see in large numbers on the Tagus.

"The new airport's Environmental Impact Assessment estimated that under six per cent of the Godwit population will be affected by the plans.

"However, by tracking movements of individual Godwits to and from the affected area, we found that the more than 68 per cent of Godwits in the Tagus estuary would in fact be exposed to disturbance from aeroplanes."

The research team have been studying individual Black-tailed Godwits for three decades, by fitting them with uniquely identifiable combinations of coloured leg-rings.

With the help of a network of birdwatchers across Europe, they have recorded the whereabouts of individual Godwits throughout the birds' lives.

"Many of these Godwits spend the winter on the Tagus Estuary," said Dr Jose Alves, a researcher at the University of Aveiro and visiting academic at UEA's School of Biological Sciences.

"So we used local sightings of colour-ringed birds to calculate how many of them use sites that are projected to be affected by airplanes. We were then able to predict the airport's impact on future Godwit movements across the whole estuary.

"This method of calculating the footprint of environmental impact could be applied to assess many other proposed developments in the UK, particularly those affecting waterbirds and coastal habitats where tracking data is available.

"Eight environmental NGOs together with Client Earth have already taken the Portuguese government to court to contest the approval of this airport development. We hope our findings will help strengthen the case by showing the magnitude of the impacts, which substantially surpass those quantified in the developer's Environmental Impact Assessment," he added.

Conservation beyond Boundaries: Using animal movement networks in Protected Area assessment' Is published in the journal Animal Conservation.
In a pair of complementary studies, researchers took a close look at Luna moth (Actias luna) tails through the eyes of birds and female moths to test the tails' role in predation and sexual selection. Scientists have known for about a decade that Luna moths -- and other related silkmoths -- use their long, trailing tails to misdirect bat attacks.

"They have projections off the back of the hindwing that end in twisted, cupped paddles," said Juliette Rubin, a doctoral student at the Florida Museum of Natural History and lead author of both studies. "From experimental work with bats and moths in a flight room, we've found that these structures seem to reflect bat sonar in such a way that bats often aim their attacks at the tails instead of the main body."

Traits that evolve for one specific function can often be co-opted by natural selection for another, and Rubin wondered whether the twisted tails of Luna moths might come with any additional benefits or hidden costs.

Male Luna moths doff their tails, retain their charm

Silkmoths have independently evolved tails on multiple occasions across three continents, and the appendages can vary significantly in length. Hind wings in some species can extend to more than twice the size of the moth's wingspan, and the longer the tail, the more likely a moth will successfully thwart a prowling bat.

But far from being drab, utilitarian decoys meant only for sonar-sensing bats, silkmoth tails are often visually stunning, like decorative streamers trailing behind a kite. Across the animal and plant kingdoms, many of the most colorful and alluring structures are used to attract mates or pollinators, and scientists suspected the same might be true of silkmoth tails.

This type of dual function for a single trait isn't without precedent. The vivid colors of strawberry poison dart frogs (Oophaga pumilio) both deter predators and help males attract mates; male deer and other ungulates use their antlers to fight off rivals and signal their vigor to females; and moths that use clicks or chirruping sounds to disrupt bat echolocation can compose duets using the same sounds during courtship.

Luna moths have neither mouths to produce sound nor ears to hear it, but they do have sensitive eyes and powerful scent-detecting antennae. When female Luna moths are ready to mate, they perch in one place and emit a pheromone, a single molecule of which is enough to trigger a male antenna. The males of closely related Indian moon moths (Actias selene) can find females from more than six miles away by following the pheromone plume to its source.

"We don't know how many males are traveling to a female each night," Rubin said. "It's entirely possible she's able to call in multiple suitors and potentially have her pick."

Rubin put this idea to the test, setting up mating experiments in which a female Luna moth was enclosed in a flight box with two males: one with normal hind wings, and one with its tails removed.

Initially, the data seemed to suggest that females preferred males whose wings remained intact, but additional controlled experiments demonstrated that this was more likely an incidental effect of the tail removal. During trials in which both males had their wings clipped, and one had the tails glued back on, there was no difference in their mating success.

Do tails make Luna moths invisible to bats but conspicuous to birds?

Having demonstrated tail wings likely weren't conferring any additional benefits beyond survival, Rubin wanted to see whether they had any obvious drawbacks. Their long tails effectively throw off pursuing bats by creating a decoy target, but bats aren't the only adversaries Luna moths have to avoid. Their electric green tails with bright, pink parfait borders might make Luna moths noticeable to birds and other visually oriented predators that hunt during the day.

Other organisms contend with similar tradeoffs. The bioluminescent displays of fireflies make it easier for males to locate potential mates, but it also makes them stand out to nocturnal frogs and geckoes.

Luna moths live incredibly short lives, during which they can afford to lose a tail or two. Once they emerge from their cocoons, the moths have about a week to find a mate and reproduce before dying. "This creates a very intense period of adulthood, where surviving the night is of the utmost importance," Rubin said.

Luna moths are mostly inactive during the day, reducing their chances of being nabbed midair. If they don't do a good enough job concealing themselves, however, they run the risk of not surviving to nightfall.

Rubin wanted to know if their visually elaborate tails put Luna moths at a disadvantage in this high-stakes game of hide-and-seek. To find out, she and her colleagues wrapped mealworms in pastry dough in the shape and size of Luna moth bodies, to which they attached real wings, half of which had tails. They partially hid these moth replicas among branches and leaves in an aviary, then introduced a succession of Carolina wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus), recording how many of the snacks the birds located and ate.

The results conclusively indicate that the tails had no effect on the birds' ability to locate the fake moths. This might seem odd to us, Rubin said, because we're such visually oriented animals. But there's evidence that suggests birds might rely on search images when trying to distinguish food items from patterns in the background.

Humans do this too. When trying to complete a Where's Waldo puzzle, people often look for the characteristic red, horizontal lines of Waldo's shirt while scanning across the page. It's possible that Luna moth tails don't match the typical moth and butterfly mold that birds expect to see while foraging, the equivalent of Waldo wearing a solid red shirt rather than his signature stripes.

While not indicative of all silkmoths, the studies suggest that these stunning and complex structures evolved for a single function in Luna moths.

"When we see these really obvious physical features in animals, we're often drawn into stories we've heard about them," Rubin said. "One is that conspicuous traits are for attracting mates or competing with rivals, and another is that these very showy traits must come with a cost. Both of these studies show it's really important to test those assumptions. A trait that's obvious to us, as visual creatures, might not stand out to the predators that hunt them, and the traits that we think are dynamic and alluring might not seem that way to a potential mate."

The studies were published in the journals Biology Letters and Behavioral Ecology. Akito Kawahara of the Florida Museum of Natural History, and Nich Martin and Kathryn Sieving of the University of Florida are also co-authors.
Plans are underway to add a seventh movable telescope to Georgia State University's Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy -- known as the CHARA Array -- that would increase the resolution, or the ability to see small objects, by a factor of three.

Located at Mount Wilson Observatory in Southern California and operated by Georgia State, the new telescope will be connected using fiber optics to transport the starlight, a technique that will serve as a pathfinder for future expansion of the Array. The update comes after a group of international scientists gathered in Atlanta to take part in the 2023 CHARA Science Meeting to share the latest developments in high-resolution astronomical imaging using the CHARA Array.

"Adding a seventh moveable telescope to the Array represents a great leap forward in stellar astronomy," says Doug Gies, Regents' Professor of Physics and Astronomy and director of the center. "Collaboration is truly fundamental for an undertaking like the CHARA Array. With scientists all over the world using our telescopes, this annual gathering is an important forum for us to share our latest discoveries."

The CHARA Array combines the light from six optical telescopes spread across the mountaintop to image stars with a spatial resolution equivalent to a single telescope 331 meters (over 1000 ft) in diameter. The visible and infrared observatory offers astronomers the opportunity to capture images of space with better resolution than any other telescope in the world.

More than 40 members of the CHARA Consortium, which represents 10 institutions around the world, took part in the annual review of the latest scientific and technical progress.

Scientists gathered at Georgia State University in March 2023 for the CHARA Science Meeting and Imaging Workshop.

CHARA features a new suite of instruments built by partner institutions at the University of Michigan, University of Exeter, and Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur in France. This next generation of instrumentation provides unprecedented capabilities to image the surfaces of stars and their circumstellar environments at a variety of different wavelengths from the near-infrared to the visible part of the spectrum. Georgia State University is also building a new instrument that will increase the sensitivity of the CHARA Array to measure light 30 times fainter than possible now. This improvement will help astronomers probe the gas clouds swirling around supermassive black holes in very distant active galaxies.

With funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), CHARA has expanded its user base over the last six years by offering open access time to the global community of astronomers through a competitive proposal process offered through the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory. In addition to over 60 active observers at Georgia State University and partner institutions, the open-access program has received applications from over 350 visiting astronomers around the world.

"Expanding the user community brings new opportunities for innovative science projects that broaden the impact and productivity of the CHARA Array,'' says Gail Schaefer, Director of the CHARA Array.

At the recent meeting, members presented some science highlights and findings from the CHARA Array.

Georgia State graduate student Katherine Shepard presented results on a sample of evolved massive binary star systems surrounded by outflowing disks. The disks in these fascinating systems form as one star in the system grows in size as it evolves and material from that star is transferred to the companion. Some of the mass escapes into a disk that surrounds the system. Katherine is using the CHARA Array to resolve the structure of these disks and search for interactions between the disk and the inner binary system.

Noura Ibrahim, a graduate student from the University of Michigan, imaged the ring-like structure of a circumstellar disk around the young star V1295 Aquila. Two images taken one month apart show a bright spot in the ring that rotates between the two epochs. This variation could be caused by a stellar companion, an exoplanet in formation, or asymmetries in the density distribution.

Visiting astronomer Willie Torres at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics mapped the orbits in the Castor multiple star system. The system consists of Castor A and B that revolve around each other every 450 years, and each component in turn are short-period binary systems with periods of a few days. They are joined by a more distant component Castor C, which is also a binary. Torres used the CHARA Array to resolve the close, faint companions in Castor A and B for the first time. He combined these observations with historical observations spanning the past three centuries to map the orbits of the stars in the Castor system and measure their stellar masses with a precision better than 1%. The CHARA observations were also used to measure the radii of the two brightest stars to infer an age for the system of 290 million years.

Rachael Roettenbacher, a Postdoctoral Associate from the University of Michigan, presented recent work on mapping starspots over a rotation cycle for the sun-like star Epsilon Eridani, which is orbited by an exoplanet. The starspot images, in combination with data from other telescopes, were used to develop a technique to distinguish between small changes in the stellar spectrum caused by starspots and those caused the orbiting planet. These techniques will improve the detection of planets around other stars.

The annual meeting was followed by a workshop on imaging and modeling of interferometric observations. Participants were given an overview of modeling and imaging software packages available to analyze data from stellar interferometers (arrays of telescopes that combine light together), and the workshop included interactive hands-on sessions where participants used the software tools to analyze data. Participants also brought their own data for review in order to get the most from observations made with the CHARA Array.
A new drug, a monoclonal antibody known as enoblituzumab, is safe in men with aggressive prostate cancer and may induce clinical activity against cancer throughout the body, according to a phase 2 study led by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. If confirmed in additional studies, enoblituzumab could become the first promising antibody-based immunotherapy agent against prostate cancer.

In a clinical trial, 32 men with high-risk or very high-risk prostate cancers who were scheduled for prostate cancer surgery were treated with six weekly infusions of enoblituzumab prior to surgery, and were followed for an average of 30 months thereafter. Twenty-one patients, or 66%, had an undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level 12 months following surgery, suggesting that there was no sign of residual disease. Additionally, the drug was well-tolerated overall; no patients had any surgical delays or medical complications during or after the operation.

A description of the work was published April 3 in the journal Nature Medicine.

If enoblituzumab continues to perform well in further larger randomized studies, it could represent a new pathway for immunotherapy against multiple cancers, and the first one that may have a role for prostate cancer, says lead study author and cancer immunology researcher Eugene Shenderov, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Other existing antibody-based immunotherapy drugs have targeted immune checkpoints, natural on/off switches mediating immune responses, such as CTLA-4, PD-1 and LAG-3. Cancer cells hijack these checkpoints, turning off the immune response to cancer. "Drugs that block these checkpoints have had success in other types of cancers, including lung cancer and melanoma, but not in prostate cancer," says Shenderov.

Enoblituzumab works by binding to a protein called B7-H3 that is overexpressed on prostate cancer cells and believed to impede the immune system's ability to attack cancer cells. The new therapy could pack a one-two punch against cancer, Shenderov says, by blocking B7-H3's inhibition of the immune system's recognition and elimination of cancer cells, and also triggering a process called antibody-dependent cellular cytoxicity (ADCC), which leads to tumor cell destruction by activating additional immune cells such as macrophages and natural killer cells.

"Enoblituzumab appears safe and seems to activate the immune system in a way that involves both T-cells and myeloid cells," Shenderov says. "What this means is if these results can be replicated in a larger, randomized study, it opens the possibility that combining this therapy with local, curative-intent therapies like surgical prostate removal or radiation therapy, would allow this drug to potentially kill micrometastatic disease hiding elsewhere in the body, and therefore prevent a significant number of men from experiencing recurring disease. That could be a paradigm shift in prostate cancer."

The median age of study participants was 64 (age range 48-74). About half (47%) had a PSA greater than 10 ng/mL at diagnosis, which is abnormally high, and 50% had Gleason grade group 5 at biopsy, meaning they had highly aggressive disease. Patients were enrolled from February 2017 through June 2019. Enoblituzumab was confirmed to penetrate into prostate tumors and to bind to B7-H3 in the vast majority of participants, according to prostate samples studied after surgery.

Side effects of enoblituzumab were generally mild and included fatigue, neurological symptoms such as headache or dizziness, and flu-like or cold symptoms. One patient developed inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), which fully resolved with steroid treatment, and is a known side effect of other immune checkpoint drugs.

Beyond safety and anti-tumor activity based on PSA dropping to undetectable levels, investigators also looked for changes in the tumor microenvironment before and after enoblituzumab treatment. They found increased markers of cytotoxicity after treatment, consistent with the concept that the immune system was activated against tumor cells. The tumors showed increased infiltration with granulocytes, leukocytes and effector T-cells, and there was roughly a doubling of the density of cytotoxic T cells after treatment.

"The findings are exciting but exploratory, and need to be confirmed in larger study cohorts," cautions senior study author Emmanuel S. Antonarakis, M.D., the Clark Endowed Professor of Medicine and director of GU Oncology for the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center. Antonarakis was the senior investigator of the study while he was at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

"However, these results in high-risk prostate cancer patients, and the broader need for immunotherapeutic strategies with efficacy in prostate cancers, provide justification to further develop multipronged approaches that include targeting B7-H3 to optimize antitumor activity in prostate cancers and other solid malignancies," he says.

Investigators are now planning a larger, randomized trial of enoblituzumab in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients to assess clinical activity of the drug compared to current standards of care.

Coauthors of the current study were Angelo M. De Marzo, Tamara L. Lotan, Hao Wang, Sin Chan, Su Jin Lim, Hogkai Ji, Mohamad El Allaf, Carolyn Chapman, Samuel R. Denmeade, Kenneth J. Pienta, Christian P. Pavlovich, and Drew M. Pardoll of Johns Hopkins. Other study authors contributing to the paper were from MacroGenics Inc. of Rockville, Maryland (the maker of enoblituzumab); NanoString Technologies Inc. of Seattle; Adaptive Biotechnologies of Seattle; CDI Labs of Baltimore; the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago; and Charles G. Drake formerly at Johns Hopkins, who currently leads Immuno-Oncology at Janssen Research and Development.

The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA006973), an NCI SPORE in Prostate Cancer (P50CA58236), a Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award, the Department of Defense (grants W81XWH-16-PCRP-CCRSA and W81XWH-18-2-0015), and the Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and by Macrogenics Inc, of Rockville, Maryland.

E. Shenderov is a paid consultant to GT Biopharma, Guidepoint Global, FirstThought, GLG, and receives institutional research funding from MacroGenics Inc., manufacturer of enoblituzumab. These relationships are managed by The Johns Hopkins University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies. E. Antonarakis has served as a paid consultant for Janssen, Astellas, Sanofi, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, Constellation, Blue Earth, Exact Sciences, Invitae, Curium, Pfizer, Merck, AstraZeneca, Clovis and Eli Lilly; and has received research support from MacroGenics, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Curium, Constellation, Celgene, Merck, Bayer, Clovis and Orion. These relationships are managed by the University of Minnesota (Antonarakis' current institution) in accordance with their conflict of interest policies.
Nar reveals the amount of funds allocated to various important social projects in 2022. Thus, over the past year, the mobile operator invested more than AZN 5 million in various projects aimed at supporting people with physical disabilities, science and education, as well as national-spiritual heritage and patriotism.

In 2022 Nar implemented more than 20 social projects. These projects directly brought a positive change in the lives of thousands of people. Besides, we have become the first mobile operator to join the UN Global Compact to contribute to internationally accepted sustainable development goals, which allows us to benefit from international experience in social initiatives. We intend to continue our support for socially vital projects this year as well," said Aziz Akhundov, head of Nar's Public Relations Department.

It is worth mentioning "Training School" and "Jestdili.az" which were among the projects implemented the past year. "Training School" project envisages various vocational trainings held towards the integration of speech and hearing impaired people into society and their financial independence.

"Jestdili.az" is an online dictionary created to support easier communication of hearing and speech impaired people. More than 5,000 words have been collected in the form of videos, photos and descriptive text in this dictionary, which provides users with the opportunity to benefit from wherever they are.

The above-named projects have been highly appreciated at the local and international level. Thus, the "Jestdili.az" project won the "NETTY 2022" national internet award, while the "Training School" project won the "Best Social Project" nomination at the "Eventiada IPRA Golden World Awards" (International Public Relations Association Golden World Award) competition in previous years. You can get detailed information about other social projects implemented by "Nar" here.

Nar currently provides high-quality services to 2.2 million subscribers. Nar is the leading mobile operator in the country according to the Customer Loyalty Index for the last 4 years. Committed to its customer-centric strategy, Nar delivers excellent (best-in-class) service at an affordable price.
Josh Lathrop, 12, a participant in a March Sibshop at ASK Family Services in Kalamazoo.

At ASK Family Services Sibshop, from left, Margot Weiner, Josh Lathrop, and Lili Nogueria.

Margot Weiner, 8, was a participant at March sibshop at ASK Family Services

ASK Family Services in Kalamazoo hosts monthy Sibshops for siblings of children with special needs.

Tabi Swain, left, listen to young people during a March Sibshop.

, a solutions-focused reporting series of Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative . The collaborative, a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism and reporting on successful responses to social problems, launched its Mental Wellness Project in 2022 to cover mental health issues in southwest Michigan. Para leer este articulo en espanol dale click aqui. Eight-year-old Margot Weiner hams it up during the Zoom interview, flooding the chat with emojis and grinning right into the camera. Her brother Jonah is two years older, and Margot wants nothing more than to play with him.Sometimes we talk and have fun, but he doesnt like playing with toys, she says, frowning.The reason Jonah doesnt play with Margot goes beyond the traditional dynamics of older brothers and younger sisters: He has autism.The CDC estimates that developmental disabilities affect one in six children in the U.S. Whats harder to estimate is how those disabilities affect their families. As parents juggle medical visits, support programs, and the needs of their disabled child, their well children may fade into the background, which can have lasting mental health repercussions. Sibshops aim to change that in a surprising way: by harnessing the power of play.Peek into the joyful chaos of a Sibshop, and you might think youre seeing a playgroup where the participants all happen to be siblings of children with disabilities. Sibshops arent therapy, and theres no curriculum; the goals are simply to give participants the opportunity to connect, share their experiences, ask questions, and offer advice. Facilitators are there to provide information, but if all they do is oversee that days activities, thats fine too.As the coordinator of the University of Washingtons Supporting Extended Family Members Project in 1981, researcher and sibling Don Meyer pinpointed a weakness in existing sibling support programs of the time.He read about very clinical models that, quite frankly, didnt sound like very much fun for children to attend, says Emily Holl, a sibling and director of Sibshops parent organization, the Sibling Support Project (SSP). He was intentional about creating a model that revolved around fun and play, which is the first language that we all speak.Meyer piloted the first Sibshop in 1982. Today, there are more than 550 Sibshops in 15 countries  including Margots group at Advocacy Services for Kids (ASK) Family Services in Kalamazoo.Research suggests that this playful model can have a serious impact. Studies have found that participants overwhelmingly enjoy Sibshops , and that the majority of parents feel theyre informative and beneficial . Participants report increased empathy for people with disabilities, and improved relationships with their siblings. Those benefits may be lifelong. In a 2005 University of Washington survey of 30 adults who participated in Sibshops as children, 90 percent said the program had a positive effect on how they felt about their siblings The golden rule at Sibshops is: What you say there stays there. Broad themes and topics are fine to share with parents, but personal details are kept private. That confidentiality gives kids the space to talk honestly about their experience  including the silver linings.I just enjoy them talking about, Thats my norm. My sibling always has been that way. I live with them and I love them the way they are, says ASK Sibshop co-facilitator Lili Nogueira. Its beautiful to see the relationship they have with their siblings.Years ago, Margot and Jonahs mother, Allison Weiner, enrolled Jonah in intensive applied behavior analysis therapy that often exceeded 40 hours per week. Margot had to tag along.Poor Margot lived in a car seat. I would just take her out to his appointments and we would hang out in waiting rooms, Weiner says. I've realized that she's completely spoiled rotten because of the parent guilt we have for the attention that weve taken from her and given to Jonah.Weiners experience, while painful, isnt unique. Special needs children require extra care, which can disrupt the balance of the familial relationship. Holl says siblings may have overlapping feelings of resentment, guilt, and isolation and over time may internalize the idea that their needs come second We hear from adult siblings that learning to put themselves last affects their adult relationships and how they view themselves in the workplace, Weiner says.Some parents may avoid conversations about disability, which Holl cautions may inadvertently create an atmosphere of secrecy, stigma, and shame. Others may tap siblings to help out with caregiving responsibilities, which can lead to an outsized sense of responsibility known as parentification. Some siblings go as far as keeping their own problems a secret to avoid further burdening their parents.Margot lights up when she talks about Sibshops.For the Halloween one, we did apple bobbing, she says, beaming. We each got our own bucket and we got to stick our heads in and we got apples.She says she likes Sibshops because I get to be with people who feel the same as me.At her last Sibshop, she made a fort out of yoga mats with a new friend, Josh. And we made Rice Krispies Treats!ASK Sibshop facilitator Tabi Swain explains with a big laugh that making Rice Krispies Treats is by far their most popular activity. Many of the participants in ASKs Sibshop have ADHD. Having an activity to do while talking makes it easier for them to focus. But its also an antidote to parentification, a way to let the kids just be kids.I like the Rice Krispies because they start talking to each other, Swain adds. It starts really silly at first, but then theyll be like, Oh, this reminds me Swain shares that one of the SibShop participants, an 11-year-old whose father died in a car accident, shared that his friend recently went through the same experience, that he was sad for her, and that he wished she didnt have to feel sad. Swain realized he was expressing empathy without even meaning to  all while elbow-deep in Rice Krispies Treats.It really helps bring down those barriers, she says. Plus, its fun. How many times do kids get to be messy and dig their hands into food and then lick their fingers and not get in trouble for it?They are so smart and in touch with their feelings, Nogueira adds. Its really beautiful to see that.Even if kids arent explicitly sharing coping strategies, the simple act of human connection can have a powerful impact on mental health . Indeed, in the University of Washington survey, the researchers observed that aspects of Sibshops appeared to serve as protective factors for at-risk siblings.Swain acknowledges that Sibshops arent always smooth sailing, but the difficulties would be familiar to anyone who works with children: Phones and tablets are distracting, COVID-19 makes parents cautious about sending their kids to social groups, and different age ranges bring unique challenges.Its hard to engage 5- or 6- [year-olds], because they dont necessarily have that maturity to talk about feelings, Swain says. [Teenagers] are so sensitive about how they look to people that it can be hard to get them to have that abandon. Its not that you cant engage these kids, I just think it would take more curating  Its a pretty forgiving model, honestly.Then theres the issue of finding the right facilitators. A 2003 University of Manitoba study suggested that facilitators who arent siblings may not fully grasp the program, but those who are might approach it with self-fulfilling attitudes. Swain, who describes herself as a fixer, says she sometimes struggles with slipping into therapy-talk.But perhaps Sibshops biggest problem is availability. Limited research into the importance and efficacy of sibling supports translates to limited funding, fewer Sibshops, and more siblings potentially slipping through the cracks. Holl says SSP is working to establish research partnerships and continue to proliferate the program.Anyone who knows me knows that my goal is a Sibshop on every corner, she says with a laugh.Weiner agrees, adding that she wishes they had Sibshops for very young participants and, perhaps only half-jokingly, for parents. Although she thinks Sibshops help Margot recognize that shes not alone, the important thing is that shes having fun.She feels like it's her own thing and it's special for her, Weiner says. That goes a long way with her.Beyond her enthusiasm for apple bobbing, Rice Krispie Treats, and yoga mat forts, Margot doesnt offer much insight into Sibshops. She is eight, after all. She knows that at some point when she grows up, shell help care for her brother. Right now, she just wants to play with him.

Brooke Marshall is a freelance writer and the author of Lucky: An African Student, an American Dream, and a Long Bike Ride. You can contact her at brookepmarshall@gmail.com.
Three Rivers Middle Schoolers participate in a TRAILS session during their sixth-grade team leadership class.

Three Rivers Middle Schoolers participate in a TRAILS session during their sixth-grade team leadership class.

Three Rivers Middle School Guidance Counselor Aaron Hess teaches a sixth-grade class about coping skills during a TRAILS lesson.
When Chez Panisse opened in Berkeley in 1971, it was the beginning of a new aesthetic in dining that didnt only extend to the art on the plate.

The design of accompanying menus, matchboxes, and posters also established the Chez Panisse aura. That art, mostly conveyed through the restaurants anniversary posters, was the work of David Lance Goines, a Berkeley printer and graphic artist.

Goines had work in wider circulation than his art posters  he printed and distributed an estimated 1.5 million call-to-action leaflets and flyers during the free speech movement of 1964. But those Chez Panisse works have lasted and been reprinted, framed, and hung in many kitchens as inspiration, as well as appearing on the covers of cookbooks published by Alice Waters, the restaurants founder.

Goines works coalesced into an aesthetic of its own, displayed on posters for Acme Bread that featured a young girl overloaded with an armful of baguettes, and movie posters for the Pacific Film Archive and the Telluride Film Festival. At Saint Hieronymus Press, the Berkeley shop he took over in 1968, Goines pressed the ink with old-fashioned hand-crank offset technology. He extended that motif by wearing a bowler hat and a handlebar mustache that he liked to twist as he walked to work.

He had curly hair and little wire-rimmed spectacles, like a cross between Trotskys and John Lennons, wrote Waters in her 2017 autobiography. He always carried a pocket watch and had a Mont Blanc fountain pen tucked into his vest that he would hand fill with ink. It almost felt like he had dropped in from another century  his considered speech, his manners, everything.

Goines liked to think of himself as part of the early 1960s migration of students who came to attend the University of California in Berkeley, found a cheap place to live, and hung on long after they had graduated or flunked out, or in his case, been suspended by the university for political activity, never to return.

Provided by Hannah Hoffman

Berkeley is one of those self-selected communities. It's not where the truck broke down, he once told The Chronicle in an interview. The profound majority of people don't like this community. They think we're crazy.

Goines was 19 when he found his people and his purpose, and he pursued it for nearly 60 years, until he suffered a massive stroke on Jan. 10. Unable to draw or create, Goines chose to end life-extending medical therapies and died Feb. 19 at his home in Berkeley, said his niece and caretaker Hannah Hoffman. He was 77.

David was an introvert and a loner and spent most of his life obsessed with his bespoke printing methods and crafting his remarkable posters, said Steve Wasserman, publisher of Heyday Books in Berkeley. He was a virtuoso  whose work had a profound emotional impact on people all over the world.

David Lance Goines was born May 29, 1945, in Grants Pass, Ore., the oldest of eight children. His father, Warren, was a civil engineer for Bechtel, and his mother, Wanda, was an artist and bible scholar. The family moved along with Bechtels projects to Fresno then Oakland. Goines attended Castlemont High School, so named because the old campus resembled a Gothic castle. He graduated in 1963 and advanced across the city line to Cal.

He was a sophomore pursuing a major in classics in the fall of 1964. At the time, the university was cracking down on people handing out what administrators considered objectionable political materials in Sproul Plaza, which is outside Sather Gate but still on the university campus. Goines was one of those people staffing an information table, which earned him a suspension from school.

His suspension afforded him more time to devote to the cause that took hold when Jack Weinberg was arrested for similar activity and placed in a squad car that was instantly surrounded by students and activists. The car, with Weinberg inside, did not move for 32 hours, partly because Goines sat down behind a rear tire and let the air out.

That was the start of the free speech movement, and in December 1964, Goines was among 800 people arrested for occupying Sproul Hall, the campus administration building. In his citation of Dec. 3, 1964, Goines gave his race as human.

"After getting arrested at Sproul Hall, I went on to get arrested about once a week for a period of time, Goines wrote in his encyclopedic memoir, The Free Speech Movement: Coming of Age in the 1960s, published in 1993.

I rang up fourteen arrests, all told, if you count the times I was picked up for no particular reason and cut loose again without being charged. Without missing a beat, I went from tending to my own affairs to tending just about anybody's.

Goines found his way to the Berkeley Free Press, a Grove Street shop operated by Leo Bach. He took Goines on as an apprentice printer and Goines eventually took over the shop and renamed it Saint Hieronymus. He later said his arrest record for civil disobedience would be even more impressive had he not been so busy printing and distributing flyers for the cause, which included civil rights, the antiwar movement, and the United Farm Workers.

David was there in the middle of it all, designing and making incredible posters and teaching calligraphy, Waters wrote in her autobiography.

John Storey/The Chronicle

She had walked into the shop in 1966 while working on Ramparts editor Bob Scheers campaign for Congress. Waters was swept up in the romance of Goines printing press and she came away with more than campaign flyers. She came away with Goines himself.

They became a couple. In her autobiography, she claimed Goines had the distinction of being the first UC student expelled as a result of the free speech movement. When he was arrested and sentenced to 30 days in Santa Rita Jail, Waters drove out to Dublin to visit him every Sunday, accompanied by Goines mother, Wanda.

The romantic relationship did not last, but the professional one did. The 14th poster that Goines designed was the first poster for Chez Panisse, published on its first anniversary in 1972. Called Chez Panisse Red Haired Lady, he later explained that the model came from his own imagination. The first edition of 1,000 copies were sold at the restaurant. He eventually made 46 posters for Chez Panisse, culminating in the 50th anniversary edition of the restaurant. Called Jubilee, it is dated Sept. 20, 2021. He also designed the covers for five cookbooks and illustrated a collection of recipes.

In the collection of his work, David Lance Goines Posters, published in 1985, Goines wrote, I prefer to work for local clients, as I feel that I will do a better job for someone who looks at the world the same way I do.

At that point, Goines claimed only two commercial clients  Chez Panisse and Pacific Film Archive. But he also did work for the Berkeley Public Library, Alta Bates Hospital, Codys Books on Telegraph Avenue, the San Francisco Mime Troupe, and the San Francisco Symphony.

Ultimately, Goines designed and printed 255 posters between 1968 and 2022. Poster No. 1 was for The Kitchen, a culinary supply store on Shattuck Ave. Poster No. 255 was for the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, in May 2022.

The poster that represented David to himself was the Constructed Roman Alphabet, in 1979, said his niece, a food anthropologist with a degree from UC Berkeley. David was fascinated with language and the alphabet and fonts. All of the lettering in that poster was his from scratch.

The Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, has hundreds of Goines posters in its collection, including a pixilated image of Rodins The Thinker, he designed for the Legion of Honors reopening in 1995.

Spanning his practice from the mid-1970s to 2022, this archive gives a wonderful look back at local history, said Karin Breuer, Curator in Charge, Achenbach Foundation.

When Celia Sack opened Omnivore Books as a cookbook-only store in Noe Valley in 2008, she decorated it with a Goines poster of a girl pulling down a jar of biscuits. That poster has been there ever since.

It conveys an innocence about food that is a perfect metaphor for my shop, where people grab these cookbooks with abandon, said Sack, who also sells Chez Panisse posters and menus by Goines. His aesthetic is so intertwined with the aesthetic of California cuisine. There is an organic nature to the design and flow of his art.

His work is represented in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Louvre in Paris.

Goines was married and divorced three times. For 40 years, he lived in an Arts and Crafts home in North Berkeley. He spent his final days in the front room, decorated with drawings and paintings by his friends and mentees. The only one of his posters on display is the poster he did for Callahan Piano Service in Oakland. It includes his niece Lydia Adams as the model and hangs above his piano.

Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle

David didnt speak a lot during his last month of life, his niece Hoffman said. But he did say Love is the only thing that matters. That statement appeared on a poster by Claire Nichole Stremple that was printed at Saint Hieronymus. The original hung above the bed where he died.

Survivors include his brothers Lincoln of New York City, Lawrence and Daniel, both of Ashland Ore., and 21 nieces and nephews. Also surviving him is Saint Hieronymus Press. The Original Heidelberg Cylinder Press is right where Goines left it.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The number of residents in Azerbaijan's Aghdam Industrial Park has reached 15, Trend reports via the tweet of Azerbaijan's Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov.

"New resident BAFCO Invest LLC will set up a footwear manufacturing plant with the investment volume of 10 million manat ($5.8 million)," said the minister.

He added that the project is expected to provide 120 people with a job.

In 2022, 12 business entities were granted resident status, and 3 entrepreneurs were granted non-resident status in the Aghdam Industrial Park.

The investment cost of projects of residents from economic zones on Azerbaijans liberated lands is 84 million manat ($49.4 million)

On May 28, 2021, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Aghdam Industrial Park.

The list of residents of the Aghdam Industrial Park is as follows: BAFCO Invest LLC, Qarabag Steel LLC, Thermo Natural Azerbaijan LLC, NN-Tel Group LLC,Rail Trans Service LLC, Mister Decor LLC, Almet Holding CJSC, Eel Electric LLC, Dadash-N LLC, Veliyev LLC, Agtekstil LLC, Prof-Dam LLC, Metkons LLC, Expert Services FZE LLC, Agah Group LLC.
Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle

Street safety advocates are planning a Tuesday rally in Golden Gate Park to demand protected bike lanes on Arguello Boulevard, the road where elite cyclist Ethan Boyes was fatally struck by a car last week in the Presidio.

Boyes, 44, a 2018 and 2019 USA Cycling Masters track national champion, was riding his bicycle on Arguello Boulevard April 4 during the afternoon when the car hit him, according to the U.S. Park Police. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Officials have not specified how the crash occurred or whether the driver was taken into custody.
San Francisco Fire Department

San Francisco firefighters rescued two hikers from rocks near Lands End on Sunday afternoon only five minutes apart.

Rescuers first responded to Mile Rock Beach near the Legion of Honor around 2:22 p.m., according to social media updates by the San Francisco Fire Department. The person was rescued safely from a cliff and will be okay as of 4:19 p.m., the department reported.
ERproductions Ltd./Getty Image

A 13-year-old driver led police on a chase in a stolen car Saturday before crashing into two vehicles in Yolo County, killing one motorist and injuring almost a dozen other people, police said.

Officers arrested the child on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with negligence and evading police and causing injuries. After receiving medical treatment for unspecified injuries, the child will be booked into Yolo County Juvenile Hall on both felonies, Woodland police said.
Taking over Bite Curious is senior Food & Wine editor Janelle Bitker.

The bubble tea shop, a sleek spot steps away from the UC Berkeley campus, offered several toppings: small boba pearls, standard-size boba, red bean, grass jelly and noodles?

I had never seen noodles in a boba drink, so of course, I had to order some.

My friends, every boba shop in America should be mixing noodles into their tea.

Specifically, these are QQ noodles, made out of tapioca, the same starch used for boba pearls. Theyre each about 2 inches long, a squishy, soft-yet-chewy squiggle you can slurp through your straw and wrap around your tongue. If youve been feeling bored of beverages lately  if your mouth has been craving textural variance  you need to try these boba noodles.

Unfortunately, I can only find one Bay Area boba shop that serves them: Taiwan Professional Tea, also known as TP Tea. Founded in Taiwan in 2005 before spreading to countries like Japan and Singapore, TP Tea has been quickly growing in the Bay Area with five locations: Berkeley, Cupertino, Pleasanton, San Jose and San Mateo. A sixth in Sunnyvale is on its way.

I started texting all the boba lovers I know, trying to get a sense of whether tapioca noodles are poised to be the next big thing. They said they had no idea what I was talking about.

The other obvious boba center in the U.S. to check was Los Angeles. But Kristie Hang, a Los Angeles food writer who frequently reports on boba, told me she hasnt seen these noodles much in boba shops either.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

I wanted to learn more directly from the source, TP Tea, but the company didnt respond to an interview request. So Im left to speculate that they might be a recent innovation inspired by other Taiwanese sweets.

Sunnysyrup Food Co., a boba distributor in Taiwan, describes tapioca noodles on its website as something more shops are adding to drinks as a throwback to traditional desserts swimming with crushed ice, taro balls and red beans. These noodles also feel similar to jelly noodles you might see in a cold Vietnamese or Malaysian dessert, often called cendol. But those are typically made of mung bean starch.

Regardless of their exact origin story, I loved slurping the QQ noodles (75 cents) in the Tie Guan Yin Milk Tea ($5.50), a roasted oolong, at TP Tea. Next time, Ill be trying the Taiwan Classic Milk Tea ($6.75), which sounds like a party with boba, QQ noodles and grass jelly all piled in the same cup.
Emi Peleseuma is used to getting handed fake IDs. Hes worked as a bouncer for 28 years, 17 of them at Madrone Art Bar on Divisadero Street, whose proximity to the University of San Francisco tends to bring around lots of underage college students. Hand him a piece of plastic, and within half a second hell assess its authenticity.

But since the pandemic began, Peleseuma has been repeatedly confronted with an additional invalid form of identification: People keep trying to get into the bar by showing him a photo of their ID on their phone.

I probably get four or five a night, said Peleseuma, as he manned the door on a recent Friday evening. Doesnt matter if its a photo of your passport or your drivers license. I have to turn them away.

Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle

Bars across the Bay Area are reporting an uptick in these attempted entries during the last three years, and its left their owners scratching their heads in disbelief. Its a ridiculous concept, said Michael Valladares, co-owner of the Hotsy Totsy Club in Albany.

People attempting to show a photo of their ID, he said, might as well just draw a picture of your face and write your name next to it.

Valladares theory is that the early-pandemic practice of showing vaccination cards on phones instilled bad habits in bargoers  especially younger people who may have turned 21 during the pandemic and never knew differently. It has definitely been happening more, and quite honestly its really annoying, said Alicia Walton, co-owner of the Sea Star in Dogpatch.

Viewed through a certain lens, this phenomenon has a humorous, kids-these-days element to it. It can seem amusing that some young people missed the memo on how bars work. According to Peleseuma, some youngsters have tried to get into Madrone with an image of their Global Entry ID or even their office ID card (which usually doesnt show a birth date). I dont care if you work at Google, Peleseuma said.

Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle An invalid form of ID, left: a photo on a phone. A valid form of ID, right: a physical driver's license. Photos by Michaela Vatcheva/Special To The Chronicle

But questions of legal identification are also serious matters. Bars could receive citations, fines and even suspensions of their liquor license if they are found to have served underage customers.

Displaying a false ID is a crime. In California, it can carry up to a $1,000 fine, a one-year drivers license suspension and up to six months in jail. Of course, some of-age people may be showing photographs of real IDs  but on a phone, a bouncer just cant be sure.

Assessing the validity of an ID requires physical touch. If its on a phone you cant touch the ID, squeeze the ID, tell what its made of, said Michael Krouse, who owns Madrone Art Bar. You cant look at the holes where the light comes through, the holograms, the numbers that are raised.

A digital image, of course, could easily be manipulated.

The trend has become so widespread that the bouncers at Madrone Art Bar recently got sweatshirts made that state PHOTOS ARE NOT ACCEPTED AS A VALID FORM OF ID. But wearing them doesnt seem to be deterring the practice completely.

Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle

On this recent Friday, the first attempted entry using a phone at Madrone Art Bar occurs around 10:30 p.m. The phone holder wont give his name (or show the ID image to this reporter), but says hes from San Jose. His friend, possessing a physical ID, proceeds into the bar without him. He wanders down Divisadero alone.

As the night proceeds, the bar reaches capacity, and Peleseuma begins directing people into a line that snakes down Fell Street. One young woman approaches him, asking outright if she can show her ID on her phone; when he says no, she shrugs and keeps moving.

Inside Madrone, the dance floor is crowded, a throng of people shaking as the DJ plays remixes of Beyonce and Lizzo. A smartly dressed group bypasses the line, asking Peleseuma if they can poke their heads inside to scope out the scene before deciding to pay the $10 cover. He obliges.

How packed is it? one asks. Id say 7 out of 10, her friend responds. Whether thats too many people or not enough is unclear initially. After a quick deliberation, they proceed to the end of the line.

Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle

By the time Samen Razavis group of friends makes its way to the front of the line, theyve been waiting for a while. So, understandably, Razavi is crushed when he finally reaches Peleseuma, tries to show his ID on his phone and receives a flat-out denial. The Marin County resident is 30 years old, he swears. He lost his wallet two weeks ago, he says, and his new license hasnt arrived in the mail yet.

Sorry, Peleseuma says, shaking his head. Razavis friends go inside Madrone without him.

This is the first bar it hasnt worked at, Razavi says of his phone image. He decamps to the street corner, looking at his phone, plotting his next move.

Once hes out of earshot, Peleseuma admits he believes that Razavi is of age. Yeah, hes over 21, he says with confidence. But for Peleseumas purposes, it doesnt matter. We dont take chances.
PG&E uses the excuse of mitigating wildfire risk for being slow to connect and upgrade customers electrifying their house. But PG&E can reduce that risk with less workforce and investment by using microgrids instead of undergrounding to power rural communities, businesses and households.

In testimony I prepared on behalf of the California Farm Bureau, solar and storage microgrids would be 80% to 90% cheaper than undergrounding while delivering equivalent reliability. Distribution lines serving those customers could be turned off during high-risk periods.

PG&E is planning to spend up to $40 billion on undergrounding. Instead, it could divert most of those funds to upgrading its antiquated network. We can save the planet and money at the same time.

Richard McCann, Davis

Law supports Trump charges

Regarding Let voters decide (Letters to the Editor, April 6): Ed Kahl is being willfully ignorant in his argument to let Donald Trump off the hook for his crimes, insisting the voters should decide his fate.

New York law is actually quite clear: If one misdemeanor is used to cover up another misdemeanor it becomes a felony (or in Trumps case, 34 felonies). The federal prosecutor who turned the case down was then-Attorney General Bill Barr, and he did so to prevent Trump from facing charges, not because it was unsupported by the law.

Finally, the voters already did decide Trumps fate  they voted him out of office. Now hes a regular citizen and needs to be held accountable just like anyone else would.

Todd Costanza, San Francisco

Get mentally ill off streets

Regarding State senator on mission to change how California treats its most severely mentally ill residents (Joe Garofoli, SFChronicle.com, April 2): We need intervention. It is cruel and inhuman to allow these people to wander and die on the streets. They arent capable of making rational choices, and we need a system that takes these people off the street and into care.

When I hear about opposition from homeless advocates, I have to wonder about their motives in keeping this population from getting the help they need. The function of the state is to protect its people. I hope the state Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) is successful.

Leonard Dorin, Lafayette

A caring storyteller

Regarding Bill Schechner, KPIX news reporter and master of the light feature, dies at 81 (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, April 5): I want to share another side of Bill Schechners impact  this from the perspective of someone who produced dozens of his television network news reports.

Bill did the longest field interviews at NBC News. His unedited interviews  undertaken for three-minute reports for NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw  could go on for hours. Antsy camera crews werent accustomed to this and sometimes gave him the business. Enough already  youll never use that! But his stories were among the most nuanced, touching and enlightening on the air.

Bill wasnt just looking for great sound bites  he was doing real reporting, and he was learning.

The first little-big story that we worked on together in 1984 was on a young woman named Cheryl with Mobius syndrome, a condition caused by the absence of nerves that control facial expression. It left Cheryl with the inability to smile, something she wanted to do more than anything.

We followed her for a year as she underwent a series of leading-edge procedures. By the end, she got her smile, albeit a barely discernible one. Said Bill, Maybe only in millimeters this small flicker around her mouth. But it is by our measure  not hers.

A magnificent wordsmith and observer, Bill had a rarified knack for showing beauty where others forget to look and depicting humanity that others choose to ignore. He made his audience care, and in so doing he made a difference again and again.

John Block, Upper Montclair, N.J.

Correction: An earlier version of the letter about Bill Schechner misspelled Mobius syndrome.
California is stockpiling doses of abortion drugs in anticipation of increased demand as a Texas judges ruling last week threatens their availability nationwide, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday.

Newsoms office says it negotiated an agreement to buy up to 2 million pills of misoprostol, a drug that can induce abortions. In the United States, medication abortions are typically administered using both misoprostol and a second drug called mifepristone.

Medication abortions can also be performed using misoprostol alone. Doctors say misoprostol-only abortions are safe, but can come with more side effects, including more pain.

The availability of mifepristone is under threat after a judge in Texas issued a ruling blocking the drugs FDA approval. The Biden administration is appealing that decision, and the Supreme Court could ultimately decide the drugs fate. If mifepristone is outlawed, that could increase demand for misoprostol as abortions using that drug alone become more common.

In the meantime, Newsoms office says it secured the stockpile of misoprostol to ensure single-drug medication abortions remain available in California.

We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services, Newsom said in a statement.

The state has already bought and received 250,000 misoprostol pills from ANI Pharmaceuticals, according to the governors office, and has negotiated an agreement to buy up to 2 million pills from the drugmaker through its own prescription drug label CalRx.

Julia Spiegel, a top lawyer in the governors office, said that theres no supply chain shortage of misoprostol at this point, and that the Newsom administration negotiated the contract to stockpile the drug as a proactive measure. She noted that California shared information on the terms it negotiated with other states in the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, a group of 20 Democratic governors who have banded together to shore up abortion rights. The Newsom administration bought only a reasonable supply up front to avoid creating a run on the drug that could cause shortages in other areas, she said.

If allowed to stand, Texas-based U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks ruling would block the federal Food and Drug Administrations approval for the drug starting Friday. The FDA approved the drug in 2000 to induce abortions in conjunction with misoprostol in pregnancies up to 10 weeks.

On Monday, the Biden administration asked the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to issue a stay by Thursday and allow mifepristone to be distributed while the case is on appeal. The governments filing also said the ruling would thwart FDAs scientific judgment and severely harm women.

Despite the judges finding that the federal agency had ignored evidence of the dangers of the abortion medication, Justice Department lawyers said, more than 5 million women have taken mifepristone safely since 2000, and serious harms have been exceedingly rare  much rarer, for example, than harms suffered during childbirth.

They also disputed Kacsmaryks conclusion that a group of anti-abortion doctors had shown harm from the FDAs approval of the drug and thus had legal standing to sue. Those doctors do not prescribe mifepristone, but the judge said their medical practices could be burdened by patients who were harmed by mifepristone prescribed by other physicians.

Under the courts approach, doctors would have standing to challenge FDA approval of any drug or any other federal action that might injure someone, like highway safety standards or the licensing of firearms dealers, the Justice Department attorneys said.

In the two-drug abortion protocol, mifepristone is taken to halt a pregnancy by blocking the hormone progesterone and dilating the cervix. Misoprostol is taken later to induce contractions that cause the uterus to expel the pregnancy tissue.

Its not yet clear how the FDA would respond if Kacsmaryks ruling is upheld.

Democratic lawmakers have criticized the ruling as politically motivated and legally dubious. Some in Congress have called for the FDA to simply ignore it.

California abortion clinics, retail stores and their suppliers may be able to distribute their remaining stock of mifepristone even after the ruling takes effect, said Marsha Cohen, a health law professor at UC College of the Law San Francisco. Abortion opponents, however, could challenge such a move by arguing the medication can no longer be considered safe, based on Kacsmaryks ruling.
City attorneys in San Francisco and San Diego say a California company is deceiving homeowners nationwide by advertising and selling plans to protect their property from home title theft  a problem that doesnt exist, the attorneys say.

Home Title Lock is a scam, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said in announcing plans to seek records from the company on Monday. The company has manufactured a home title theft crisis to stir up fear amongst elderly homeowners and deceive them into buying a service that many local governments provide for free.

The cities are not suing Home Title Lock, however, but instead are issuing a subpoena demanding information since the start of 2019 identifying its customers, the extent of its advertising, consumer complaints and its methods of monitoring records of home titles. A new state law allows Californias most populous cities and counties to subpoena documents they need to investigate unfair-competition cases.

Only the company knows the true extent of its advertising and has a list of subscribers, Chiu told The Chronicle. The documents will help to show the impact on San Franciscans and Californians and potentially support a lawsuit, he said.

Home Title Locks national operations manager, James Feld, told The Chronicle in a statement that the company hasnt received any communications from the San Diego or San Francisco city attorneys offices.

Responsible homeowners put safeguards in place to protect their home and equity. But homeowners insurance, alarm systems, credit monitoring and all other measures dont do anything to guard against title fraud. This  a crime when committed  results in years of legal battles and worst case, losing your home, Feld said.

The company advertises itself as the leader in home title protection and, for $19.95 a month, promises customers to keep identity thieves from stealing your homes equity.

Thieves around the world are targeting American homeowners, forging their signatures, filing legal documents claiming a home has been sold, then taking out loans on the property, Home Title Lock declares on its website. It lists endorsements from prominent conservatives including Sean Hannity, Bill OReilly and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

But Chiu and San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott said the companys advertising is based on false claims: that it is easy to transfer a home title fraudulently, that fraud removes the property from the actual owner and that Home Title prevents fraudulent transfers by locking the home title.

All the company actually does, the city attorneys said, is notify homeowners when their title is recorded fraudulently. Fraudulent title transfers are rare, they said  and, under California law, a fraudulent deed has no legal effect and cannot deprive homeowners of their property.

Chiu said Home Title Lock targets older customers with its advertising. Under Californias Unfair Competition Law, judges can halt advertising they find to be deceptive, order refunds to customers and impose civil penalties of $2,500 per violation, or $5,000 for elderly or disabled consumers.
A man accused of bludgeoning a former San Francisco fire commissioner remains in jail awaiting his first court hearing Thursday, while the victim recovers from injuries that will leave him disabled for life, according to a close friend.

Garrett Doty, 24, faces a raft of charges including assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, for the attack that left 53-year-old Don Carmignani with a fractured skull and jaw, requiring emergency surgery and 51 stitches. The beating, which occurred on the heels of the high-profile fatal stabbing of tech executive Bob Lee in wealthy Rincon Hill, drew condemnation from local politicians, and widespread apprehension about violence and chaos in San Francisco.

But Dotys attorney said Monday that Doty was in fact defending himself from a pepper-spray assault by Carmignani, suggesting that previous accounts of the incident are inaccurate and the public perception is misguided.

Police said Doty attacked Carmignani Wednesday evening as Carmignani left his house on Magnolia Street in the citys affluent Marina neighborhood. Carmignani later told his father that two people had crossed a street to corner him, striking him with a metal pipe and slashing his face with a knife.

Video footage from cell phone and surveillance cameras shows an assailant chasing Carmignani down Lombard Street, where the victim left a bloody trail, Carmignanis close friend Larry Buck said.

A witness previously told The Chronicle he was eating dinner in his Lombard Street apartment when he heard a commotion outside. Peering out his window, the witness saw a bloodied man running away, screaming for help as a man chased him, holding a metal object.

Officers from San Francisco Police Departments Northern Station arrested Doty at the scene shortly after 7:20 p.m. on April 5. Medics took him to San Francisco General Hospital for several injuries sustained during the assault, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in a statement on Monday.

I understand how a violent attack like this can shake a community and I am committed to ensuring that the defendant is held accountable, so that we send the strongest message that violence like this is unacceptable, Jenkins said. I am sending strength to the victim as he continues his recovery, and we will do everything in our power to seek justice for the victim and the community that has been traumatized.

Prosecutors will seek to keep Doty in jail until he stands trial because of the public safety risk posed, Jenkins said.

Dotys public defender, Kleigh Hathaway, presented a different version of events to reporters.

My understanding at this preliminary point is that Mr. Carmignani came upon my client and threatened him and then pepper sprayed him with a big can of pepper spray, Hathaway said, citing the evidence she had reviewed so far from the District Attorneys Office.

Hathaway was unable to meet with Doty in jail during the weekend because the defendant is sick and in quarantine, she said. In an interview at San Franciscos Hall of Justice, she noted the timing of the alleged altercation, roughly a day after Lees death jolted San Franciscos tech community and mounted pressure on city leaders.

I think the evidence is going to reveal that this is very different, Hathaway said, referring to the encounter between Doty and Carmignani.

This is a tipping point, Buck told a scrum of reporters outside a first-floor courtroom on Monday morning. Buck described himself and Carmignani as fourth-generation San Franciscans upset by what Buck views as rising crime and deteriorating living conditions in the city.

San Franciscos violent crime rates are similar to those in cities with comparable populations.

Appointed to the Fire Commission in 2013 by former Mayor Ed Lee, Carmignani resigned after four months when he was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence and making criminal threats against his wife. He ultimately pled guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge.
UPDATED FORECAST: Coastal jet to deliver turbulent weather to the Bay Area

After one of the warmest weekends of the year for the Bay Area, a cooling trend begins Monday, thanks to gusty northwest winds. From Tuesday onward, temperatures will struggle to crack 60 degrees west of San Francisco Bay, with a few low 60s possible to the east. A few light rain showers are possible Monday night and Tuesday near the Pacific coast and San Francisco Bay, but that will be the extent of precipitation this week.

A dry Pacific storm

The high-pressure system that kept the Bay Area warm and dry this weekend is beginning to move off to the east toward the Rocky Mountains, opening the door for clouds and moisture from the Pacific Ocean.

Unlike the past few months, when the Bay Area was the target for atmospheric rivers, these storms moved toward the Pacific Northwest over the weekend. Like a wet sponge after being squeezed, moisture will be limited in this storm by the time it approaches the Bay Area. Some light rain is possible, but nothing more than a few drops in the bucket.

The American weather model predicts little precipitation for the Bay Area this week, keeping northwestern California in the target zone for the rainfall. Very light rain is possible Monday night and Tuesday in portions of the Bay Area.

Pivotal Weather

Instead, the main impact of the moisture-starved storm will be gusty northwest winds. Tuesday and Wednesday will be the windiest days of the week, with areas along the immediate coast gusting up to 40 mph and inland up to 25 mph.

On tap this week

Winds from the Pacific Ocean will begin to cool off the coastal areas Monday before pushing inland Monday evening into Tuesday. This push of marine air and low clouds could be enough to squeeze out some light rainfall for Oakland, San Francisco and portions of the North Bay Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Temperatures will be noticeably lower by Tuesday, with highs struggling to crack 60 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. Wednesday will be similar, although cloud cover will begin to break. Both days will feature chilly northwest winds, with gusts upward of 25 mph for inland areas and 40 mph for coastal cities including Pacifica and Half Moon Bay.

Thursday and Friday will see more breaks in the clouds and relaxing wind speeds, leading to rebounding temperatures for inland areas. The North, East and South Bay could see highs return to the mid-60s by the end of the week, while 50s persist along the Pacific Coast and San Francisco.

Monday breakdown

San Francisco: The city will be the first to feel the change in the weather pattern. Wind gusts at the Presidio and in the Richmond and Sunset districts will begin in the midmorning and move inland toward Russian Hill and Telegraph Hill by noon. These west winds will keep temperatures in the mid- to upper 50s, a few degrees cooler than Sunday.

Wind gusts will take a bit longer to reach the Castro and South of Market, allowing temperatures to rise to the mid-60s. By afternoon, gusts of 20 mph will make conditions feel much colder.

Temperatures wont fall too far overnight, remaining near 50, but low clouds moving in off the ocean will present the prospect of light mist into Tuesday morning, especially west of Sutro Tower.

Pacific Coast and Peninsula: There will be a sharp temperature gradient across San Mateo County on Monday. Winds off of the Pacific Ocean will drop highs along the coast into the upper 50s, about 5 degrees cooler than Sunday, but inland areas east of Interstate 280 are in for another warm day.

Daly City, Pacifica and Half Moon Bay will struggle to reach 60 degrees because of cool breezes up to 20 mph. Some drizzle is possible overnight into Tuesday morning, with temperatures dropping to the upper 40s.

Fans of Sundays weather along the Highway 101 corridor will enjoy Mondays forecast. A degree or two of cooling is possible, but low 70s are likely again in San Mateo and Redwood City. Light wind through the San Bruno Gap will keep Millbrae and San Francisco International Airport a bit cooler, in the upper 60s. Overnight temperatures will be near 50 degrees.

North Bay: Another pleasant day is in store for the North Bay. Highs in the low 70s for Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties will be accompanied by a light west breeze and a few high clouds around sunset. Northern Sonoma County may see a few sprinkles overnight into Tuesday as a moisture-deprived cold front passes through.

Vallejo and other areas close to San Pablo Bay and the delta will notice increased wind throughout the afternoon, with gusts up to 20 mph possible by sunset. This will also keep daytime temperatures lower in these areas, in the upper 60s. Overnight temperatures fall toward 50.

Wind off the Pacific Ocean will cool western Marin Countys highs into the mid-50s. Some light drizzle is possible near San Rafael early Tuesday with lows in the mid-40s.

East Bay: Monday will be another warm day for the East Bay, with mid- to upper 60s near the water and mid-70s inland.

West winds directly down the bay will develop throughout the day, keeping Berkeley and northern Oakland slightly cooler than Sunday with highs in the mid-60s. Light drizzle is possible in Oakland and Berkeley overnight into Tuesday morning. Overnight lows drop to near 50.

A repeat of Sunday is in store for other regions, with temperatures reaching the mid-70s in Walnut Creek and Dublin. Overnight temperatures will be in the upper 40s.

South Bay and Santa Cruz: After its warmest day of the year Sunday, the South Bay will be warm and sunny again Monday. San Jose recorded its highest temperature since October on Sunday, and Monday will be similar, with highs in the mid-70s for much of the Santa Clara Valley.

Santa Cruz was even warmer Sunday, reaching the upper-70s. Mondays forecast is similar, but a slight rise in afternoon winds off the ocean will keep temperatures in the mid-70s.

Overnight lows in the South Bay and Santa Cruz will drop to the low 50s.
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A 13-year-old boy was arrested in California after allegedly stealing a vehicle, dodging police, and triggering a fiery collision that left one dead and injured nearly one dozen others on Saturday, officials said.

Police first spotted the teenager driving erratically in Woodland, a suburb of Sacramento, at about 4:30 p.m., Sgt. Victoria Danzl, a spokesperson for the Woodland Police Department, told SFGATE. An officer tried to pull the boy over, but he continued into the intersection of College and Court streets, where he collided with two other cars, which erupted into flames, the department said in a news release.
The California Civil Rights Department has voluntarily dismissed its case alleging caste discrimination against two Cisco engineers, while still keeping alive its litigation against the Silicon Valley tech giant.

The two Cisco supervisors, Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella, were accused in the departments lawsuit of discriminating and harassing an employee on the basis of caste  a division of people based on birth or descent. That case was dismissed by an order of the Santa Clara Superior County Court last week. The employee belonged to the Dalit community, a group that is at the bottom rung of the caste system which took root and evolved in India and elsewhere in the subcontinent.

The Civil Rights Department sent a statement to The Associated Press on Monday saying the case against Cisco "remains ongoing.

We will continue to vigorously litigate the matter on behalf of the people of California, it said, adding that it remains committed to securing relief and ensuring company wide, corrective action.

A Cisco spokesperson declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

Californias lawsuit against Cisco, filed in July 2020, alleges that the Dalit engineer received less pay and fewer opportunities and that the defendants retaliated against him when he opposed unlawful practices, contrary to the traditional order between the Dalit and higher castes." The engineer worked on a team at Ciscos San Jose headquarters with Indians who all immigrated to the U.S. as adults, and all of whom were of high caste, the lawsuit stated.

The caste system in India and other South Asian countries, as well as the diaspora, places Dalits at the bottom of a social hierarchy. In 1948, a year after independence from British rule, India banned discrimination on the basis of caste, a law that became enshrined in the nations constitution in 1950.

The lawsuit against Cisco and its engineers fueled a movement against caste discrimination led by groups such as Oakland, California-based Equality Labs. This lawsuit has also been named in groundbreaking actions including the first-in-the-nation ordinance passed by the Seattle City Council in February to include caste in its anti-discrimination laws. Last month, California State Sen. Aisha Wahab proposed a bill, which if it passes, could make the state the first in the nation to outlaw caste-based bias.

The South Asian community has been sharply divided on this issue. Some groups such as Hindus for Human Rights and Hindus for Caste Equity say such a safeguard is necessary to protect vulnerable community members from caste-based discrimination in housing education and the tech sector where many hold key roles. Advocates and other groups say caste discrimination is pervasive in several South Asian communities and the diaspora, across religious lines.

However, other organizations such as the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus of North America oppose such policies arguing that they will specifically target Hindus and Indian Americans who are commonly associated with the caste system. These groups also maintain that there is no clear data to show that such discrimination exists, and that caste is covered under national origin making it unnecessary to carve out a separate protected category.

The Civil Rights Department voluntarily dismissing its case against the two engineers is a vindication for activists who have held the position that the state has no right to attribute wrongdoing to Hindu and Indian Americans simply because of their religion or ethnicity, said Suhag Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation.

Two Indian Americans endured a nearly three year nightmare of unending investigations, a brutal online witch hunt and a presumption of guilt in the media, she said.

Thenmozhi Soundararajan, founder and executive director of Equality Labs, a Dalit-led advocacy group, said last weeks action does not change anything including the fact that the Cisco case has given so many Dalits the courage to come forward with their stories about caste discrimination in education, the medical and tech industries.

This is not a loss, but progress, she said. The Dalit community owes (the engineer) and the Civil Rights Department gratitude for having the courage to bring such a historic case forward.

A mediation conference between Cisco and the California Civil Rights Department has been set for May 2.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
NEW YORK (AP)  When President Joe Biden visits Ireland this week, he will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, confer with top officials on current issues and honor his Irish ancestors.

You can also count on Biden to quote an Irish poet or two, especially two late Nobel laureates  Seamus Heaney and William Butler Yeats.

I think that's a safe guess to make, says former Biden speechwriter Dan Cluchey, who worked with the president from 2018-2022. Yeats and Heaney encompass so much of the universal catalog of emotions poetry can express and they are the major wells he (Biden) goes to when he needs the perfect words to encapsulate a feeling.

Presidents have long made a point of citing a favorite writer, and for Biden that often has been Heaney, renowned for what Nobel judges in 1995 called works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth." Besides his original poems, his noted works include a bestselling translation of the Old English epic Beowulf" and his play The Cure at Troy, a verse adaptation of Sophocles' Philoctetes, with Heaney's inspirational alliteration about a time when hope and history rhyme.

Biden's affinity for Heaney dates back at least to an earlier presidential run in 2008, when he lost the nomination to Barack Obama and eventually became his running mate. In a speech early in his own campaign, Biden observed that he liked to quote Irish poets because they are the best poets." He listed Heaney as his preferred contemporary Irish bard, and referred to Heaney's words from The Cure at Troy," saying he believed they were reflected in the sentiments and hearts of the vast majority of the American people.

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History says, dont hope On this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime The longed-for tidal wave Of justice can rise up, And hope and history rhyme.

___

I believe with every fiber of my being," Biden concluded, "we have a chance to make hope and history rhyme."

Biden biographer Evan Osnos says that by 2008 he had already quoted The Cure at Troy so frequently his daughter Ashley would tease him. In his 2017 memoir Promise Me, Dad, Biden remembered Ashley's response when Obama choose him as the vice presidential candidate: Dad, this is hope and history. Biden answered with a joke: Oh, great. Hes hope. And Im history.

Biden has since invoked hope and history while serving as vice president, in his acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination in August 2020, in a widely seen campaign video from 2020, when presenting a National Humanities Medal last fall to Elton John, and even in last month's reception marking the Persian new year.

At the end of the Obama administration, when the president awarded Biden a Medal of Freedom, Obama joked that he was going to quote Yeats  because Seamus Heaney is taken.

Biden, not surprisingly, quoted Heaney during his own remarks, but this time drew from the poem "From the Republic of Conscience" as he praised Obama for his humility.

___

You carried your own burden and very soon your symptoms of creeping privilege disappeared.

___

Biden might have claimed Yeats as well. Osnos, whose biography Joe Biden came out in 2020, says that Biden began memorizing Yeats as a teenager working to overcome his stutter. He would stand in front of a mirror and speak lines from Yeats and Ralph Waldo Emerson, straining to avoid the contortion of his face muscles.

As vice president, Osnos says, Biden quoted Yeats' "Easter 1916" at least 20 times, especially the line, The world has changed, changed utterly."

He has quoted the line so many times that his aides can sense when hes about to do it, a bit like the birds who can sense when an earthquake is coming, Osnos told the AP in a recent email.

A previous Irish-American president, John F. Kennedy, had his own history of reciting verse. According to JFK biographer Fredrik Logevall, Kennedy was a lifelong poetry reader who memorized works ranging from poems by Robert Frost to the British writer Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Ulysses." In the summer of 1963, Kennedy became the first sitting president to visit Ireland and mentioned various Irish poets during his trip, which included an address to the country's parliament.

There are those who regard this history of past strife and exile as better forgotten, Kennedy said. But, to use the phrase of Yeats, let us not casually reduce that great past to a trouble of fools. For we need not feel the bitterness of the past to discover its meaning for the present and the future. And it is the present and the future of Ireland that today holds so much promise to my nation as well as to yours, and, indeed, to all mankind.

Heaney's The Cure at Troy premiered in 1990 and politicians were soon quoting it. Mary Robinson, in her 1991 inaugural address as Ireland's president, hoped for an era in Europe "where old wounds can be healed, a time when, in the words of Seamus Heaney, hope and history rhyme.

In November 1995, weeks after Heaney won the Nobel, Bill Clinton became the first sitting president to visit Northern Ireland and later made a stop in Dublin, part of his years-long effort to forge what became the Good Friday Agreement among Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

I could not say it better than your Nobel Prize winning poet, Seamus Heaney, has said: We are living in a moment when hope and history rhyme, Clinton said while in Dublin. In Dublin, if there is peace in Northern Ireland, it is your victory, too."

Clinton's memories of the agreement have their own internal meter. Why did peace remain in Northern Ireland when treaties elsewhere so often fail, he asked in an essay published Sunday in The Washington Post? It was, he wrote, a happy occasion of hope and history rhyming.
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?"

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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."

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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."

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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.

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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.
LAS VEGAS -- Durango High School junior Malia Poblete was off campus earlier this year when a fight broke out at her Las Vegas school.

But less than five minutes later, the 17-year-old saw a video of the incident on Instagram.

Students are very quick to post that sort of thing, she said.

Across the Las Vegas Valley, dozens of social media accounts created by students are used to share videos of on-campus fights or to bully classmates and school employees. The majority are on Instagram, but some accounts exist on other platforms, such as Twitter and TikTok.

Many of the posts are highly disturbing, and victims are easily identifiable.

Some of the videos show fights that appear to be staged, while others show students being injured. One video showed a student being dragged across the floor of a school cafeteria with blood on his shirt and on the floor. Another shows a girl pulling another girl off a sidewalk and ripping her sweatshirt off while punching her repeatedly in the head. Other accounts highlight photos of children, with captions mocking or belittling their physical appearance.

Theres little parents can do beyond reporting pages to the social media platform  which may or may not remove them  or reporting the bullying incident to their childs school, except for when someone is making a threat that can be forwarded to police.

The proliferation of bullying and fight pages comes as students continue to struggle with mental health and behavioral problems following the COVID-19 pandemic  particularly after returning to campuses in spring 2021 following a year of online learning.

Due to privacy laws, personal social media use is not monitored by the Clark County School District.

Two parents told the Las Vegas Review-Journal they wanted to speak about the issue but didnt feel comfortable using their full names out of fear that their child could be targeted.

In January, in response to a Review-Journal inquiry about one Instagram account, the Clark County School District said school administrators were aware of the page and had reported it to the social media platform.

Due to privacy laws, personal social media use is not monitored by the Clark County School District, the district said in a statement. Accounts that appear to be managed by a CCSD student or with intent to threaten or cause harm to a school or individual are reported to the proper social media channel to investigate for removal.

Social media threats against the safety of a school, students or staff are taken seriously and reported to the Clark County School District Police Department, according to the statement.

Also, all reported allegations of bullying, including cyberbullying, are investigated and appropriate action is taken, the district said.

But many families feel like theres no outlet to resolve problems if social media posts occur outside the school and they dont know who owns the account, according to Rebecca Garcia, an administrator for the CCSD Parents Facebook group.

It becomes an issue where it feels like theres no way to solve it, she said.

Becker Middle School in Summerlin has at least seven active bullying or fight video pages on Instagram, the most of any district middle school, according to a Review-Journal analysis.

Its followed closely by Cashman Middle School with six, Findlay and Woodbury middle schools with five each, and Silvestri Junior High School STEAM Academy, Molasky Junior High School and Faiss Middle School with four each.

Bonanza and Western high schools each have three accounts, while four pages exist for West Preparatory Academy At Charles I. West Hall, which serves students in elementary through high school, according to the Review-Journals analysis.

The Review-Journal isnt identifying accounts by name because of the acts of violence against children. But many of the accounts are public, meaning anyone can find and view the content.

Nationwide impacts

In New Jersey, 14-year-old Adriana Kuch died by suicide in February after she was attacked at her high school and a video was posted on social media. Four teenagers have been charged in connection with the attack and the school district superintendent has resigned.

Nationwide, a growing number of school districts  including in Seattle; San Mateo County, California; and Chatham, New Jersey  have sued social media platforms, alleging theyve had harmful effects on student mental health.

In response to a Las Vegas Review-Journal inquiry about whether it had filed any lawsuits against social media platforms, the Clark County School District said it was reviewing all of its options.

Utah recently enacted a new law, which goes into effect next year, that requires juveniles to have parental consent to use social media sites. The legislation also requires age verification of Utah users, and it prohibits those younger than 18 from using social media platforms during overnight hours.

Members of Nevadas congressional delegation  Reps. Mark Amodei, Steven Horsford, Susie Lee and Dina Titus, and Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen  did not respond to requests for comment about the social media pages. Assemblywoman Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod and state Sen. Roberta Lange, who chair the Nevada Legislatures committees on education, also could not be reached for comment.

Poblete, the Durango High junior, said she doesnt think social media accounts used for cyberbullying are as prominent as those featuring school fight videos.

But accounts with school fight videos seem to be a newer trend, and the types of big fights that are filmed dont happen too frequently, she said, noting shes fortunate enough that she hasnt seen them in person.

But, Poblete said, videos of fights spread quickly.

Little recourse for parents

The school district said in a statement that it asks for community members to report pages to the proper social media channels.

But after the Review-Journal reported a Twitter account devoted to sharing fight videos from Foothill High School in Henderson, it received a response on Feb. 24 saying the account hadnt broken the websites safety policies.

We know this isnt the answer youre looking for, Twitter said in its response. If this account breaks our policies in the future, well notify you.

Students and parents are also encouraged to report bullying and other safety matters through SafeVoice Nevada, the states anonymous reporting hotline, the district said in its statement. Parents are urged to talk with their children about responsible social media use and to closely monitor their childrens accounts for inappropriate conduct.

But social media accounts are frequently run by students, which leads to the question of whos managing their online access, Garcia said, noting its the responsibility of parents to do so.

Many parents have children who have experienced social media bullying more broadly, although not directly from one of the school-specific bullying accounts, she said.

A school doesnt always have what a parent feels is an appropriate response on campus, Garcia said, so parents are left to try to find a different school for their child, move them to an online school or pursue homeschooling.

When that happens mid-year, it becomes harder to change schools regardless of why, she said, no matter how much documentation of bullying is provided.

Garcia also said anxiety and stress resulting from bullying affect attendance  a concern for many families.

Jessica Shearin, president of the Nevada Association of School Psychologists, encourages parents to limit, monitor and supervise their childs social media use as much as possible.

It may feel invasive, but social media use can have some pretty negative effects on child development and mental health, according to Shearin, a school psychologist at two district elementary schools.

Were still learning the impacts that growing up on social media can have on kids, she said.

____

2023 Las Vegas Review-Journal. Visit reviewjournal.com.. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Years after the coronavirus pandemic began and campuses reopened, school districts across Sacramento began seeing the full consequences of learning gaps among K-12 students.

State testing results and online tools measuring success showed school leaders where students were facing dramatic setbacks. And administrators began working to close those gaps with COVID dollars and state funding.

Gov. Gavin Newsoms 2021-22 budget provided California schools with $2.6 billion for tutoring and interventions. And while additional assistance has been promising for students, some educators want to ensure those programs dont come to a halt when the funds dry up.

After the education finance law AB 130 allowed schools to expand learning programs, those institutions began to get creative with their approaches to address student needs.

For example, San Juan Unified allocated between $80,000 to $100,000 to each school to help with intervention after the pandemic began, said Thomas Kelly Elementary School Principal Josh Costa.

That funding helps pay for the districts 150 instructional assistants, three social workers, five on-site counselors, and 38 intervention specialists.

Instructional assistants are placed in classrooms from transitional kindergarten through second grade. Third and fourth graders also receive in-class assistance.

Students who are most in need receive 150 minutes of additional instruction and intervention a week in the mornings before classes begin for the day. Those sessions are funded by resources and COVID dollars that Thomas Kelly Elementary distributes among its students in need.

Brittney Groess, an instructional assistant at the school with more than 16 years of experience, said the small group work is making a difference.

Groess offers her students pre-assessments and post assessments in reading and literacy for each of the six units she offers her small groups. On their post assessment tests, most students are scoring higher, she said. And those who dont receive additional support and testing.

Schools use online assessment programs including i-Ready and Lexia, along with state testing to measure student performance.

I pull each student individually one by one, Groess said. We see what they already know, and each child comes with individualized goals.

Groess said its been exciting to see some of the schools most vulnerable students accomplish those goals.

One student really struggled last year to learn his letters and his sounds, Groess said. He sees me five days a week, and he was below third grade level. But now he has grown leaps and bounds and he can write words. Its exciting to see that light bulb go off.

Statewide concerns

The states standardized testing program, California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, (CAASSP), restarted after taking a hiatus in 2019-20 due to the pandemic.

The results startled educators.

In 2019, 46% of San Juan Unified students met or exceeded state standards in English. In 2022, that number dropped to 42%, according to published test results.

Half of Californias students met or exceeded English standards in 2019, and that dropped to 47% in 2022.

In 2019, 37% of San Juan Unified students met or exceeded math standards. That number dropped to 29.5% in 2022.

About 40% of California students met or exceeded math standards in 2019, and that dropped to 33% in 2022.

Thomas Kelly Elementary wasnt any different. From 2019 to 2022, English test results dropped by 3.5% and math test results dropped by 2.8%.

On-campus interventions key

Costa is optimistic, as he sees the progress from interventions.

Some interventions have been so effective, some students with special needs have joined general education classrooms. Plus some students who need additional resource teachers now see those teachers four days a week instead of five days.

Costa credits the work of Groess and others who work with students one-on-one and in small groups.

Research shows that lessons are most effective if they are done by a teacher or a paraprofessional  not a parent. And one-on-one tutoring or small group instructions have positive impacts, according to the study.

At Thomas Kelly Elementary, small group instruction before school takes place thanks to COVID relief dollars that districts are still spending down.

The program assists students with reading skills  a challenge that Thomas Kelly educators faced before the pandemic. The school receives Title I funding for its underserved student population.

About 60% of the student population at Thomas Kelly is socioeconomically disadvantaged, according to state records. About half of its student population scored below standard in English Language Arts, and 60% below standards in math.

Could money run out?

District officials are mindful that funding for interventions wont last forever.

Nearly all of the funds are directly allocated to paying for full time employees. Most of the programs the district uses for intervention were already purchased by the district through Title I funding.

Rafael Martinez, who helps San Juan Unified principals allocate and budget their funding for academic use, said the district has been strategic with its funds.

One of the things that I did as an English Language Arts coordinator was look at statewide studies and we saw there was an academic decline at the state level, Martinez said. We looked at how students were performing prior to pandemic. We did have student interventions, but the need is greater now.

San Juan Unified identified three areas that are critical to keep intervention support, social emotional support and instructional assistants at schools.

We are getting creative with how this is funded, said San Juan Unified spokeswoman Raj Rai. We recognize it and these programs are needed. And we will do what we can to make sure we can continue to provide that support.

2023 The Sacramento Bee. Visit at sacbee.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Aquatic Park is a historic beach park located on San Franciscos northeast waterfront. Its surrounded by Hyde Street Pier, Fishermans Wharf, the Maritime Museum and the iconic Ghirardelli Square, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin just beyond its waters. The parks centerpiece is a large, oval-shaped cove where brave swimmers do laps while sunbathers enjoy the sandy beach, concrete bleachers and large, sloping lawn.

Built in the 1930s as part of the New Deal, the park hasnt changed much since it first opened to the public in 1939, as old photos of the area reveal. So much so, in fact, that its large, hook-shaped pier, which curves 1,400 feet into the bay, is currently closed to the public due to safety concerns. While the park is in need of investment, theres still plenty to enjoy about this historic, accessible beach and beloved swimming spot, located in the heart of many of San Franciscos must-see tourist attractions.

Swimming at Aquatic Park Cove

Despite San Francisco Bays year-round cold temperatures, which fluctuate between around 53 and 58 degrees Fahrenheit, swimming in these waters has an almost cult-like following that dates back 150 years. At the center of this committed culture is Aquatic Park Cove, where the Dolphin Club and South End Rowing Club, neighboring historic swim clubs, together boast more than 3,000 registered members, many of whom participate in organized swims and races year-round here.

Blair Heagerty / SFGate

As these aficionados know, swimming in the bay takes practice and awareness of potential hazards. The South End Rowing Club suggests that swimmers always swim in pairs, pick a route, know the signs of hypothermia and understand the tides and currents. Still, all things considered, swimming in Aquatic Park Cove is relatively safe. The buoy line is an especially popular route that extends just about the width of the cove and is less affected by tides. For a longer, more challenging route, swimmers follow the coves perimeter and the sea wall.

No matter your experience or which route you choose, avoid swimming in the Bay after heavy rain, as polluted runoff can cause infection. A real time map of water quality allows you to check if the water is healthy enough for a swim.

San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst N/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

What to see and do at Aquatic Park

While sunbathing at the beach and wading or jogging along the shores are the most popular activities at Aquatic Park, the area is essentially a museum, offering a window into SFs old-timey transportation and nautical history. You can catch the cable car turnaround in action where Beach and Hyde streets meet, and the ship-shaped Maritime Museum, which looms on the parks shore, is a real highlight. The museum offers a vast collection of exhibits, including model ships, murals, historic photographs and interactive displays, which allow visitors to learn about the citys seafaring past.

John Elk/Getty Images

Nearby, Hyde Street Pier acts as an outdoor museum, housing several historic vessels that visitors can explore. These ships, including the 1886 square-rigged Balclutha and the 1890 ferryboat Eureka, provide a glimpse into the daily lives of sailors and passengers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

But the best sights of Aquatic Park are the views from its bleachers or sandy beach where the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Marins Mt. Tamalpais form a panoramic, postcard-worthy trio.

Where to eat and drink near Aquatic Park

The Buena Vista Cafe, where SFs Irish coffee recipe was born and perfected, is so iconic, even locals head to this tourist center for the boozy coffee drink. For another iconic San Francisco treat  clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl  head east a couple blocks to the food stands around Taylor Street and Jefferson Street. This spot is undeniably touristy, but in a delightfully kitsch way that provides a glimpse into San Franciscos past, as many spots date back to the '30s and '40s. Plus, as food options go in the Wharf, the grab-and-go items here make up one of areas less expensive meals. As someone whos studied San Franciscos clam chowders, I like No. 9 Fishermans Grottos rendition best  but all the stalls are worth perusing. Pro tip: If you're into Dungeness crab, make your way down to the boats at Fisherman's Wharf. Many of the fishers sell them live directly off their boats.

For a full-service experience with views to match, Scomas and Capurros are longstanding establishments that have been serving fresh, local seafood straight off the boat for decades. Gary Dankos fine dining restaurant consistently wins a Michelin Star thanks to its refined, classic French cuisine.

If youre more into exploring SFs current food scene, Abaca is a contemporary Filipino-California restaurant that made The New York Times best new restaurants list in 2022. Located inside the Kimpton Alton hotel, this upscale, yet convivial, family-run restaurant is doing its part to draw locals and tourists together to appreciate the citys rich Filipino heritage through thoughtful renditions on family recipes. The Kimpton Alton hotel also hosts a variety of other activities, including secret concerts, weekly happy hour DJ sets paired with wine in the lobby, quarterly events with local artisans and even a record lending library.

Bruno PEROUSSE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Parking at Aquatic Park

Parking at Aquatic Park can be challenging, especially on weekends and holidays when the park is busiest. There are several parking lots located near Aquatic Park, including the Ghirardelli Square parking lot (enter on Larkin Street between North Point and Beach, or on Beach Street between Larkin and Polk streets). There is also metered street parking available along Jefferson Street and Beach Street. Unfortunately, theres no way around paying for parking here  thats true even on Sunday, when most of San Franciscos street parking is free in other parts of the city.

This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at kristina.moy@hearst.com.
Among the things that make San Francisco such a special city are its quirky traditions, many of which are grandfathered in from an era before event organizers had to put concerns over liability over good old-fashioned fun.

Racers take part in the BYOBW race. (Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE) Racers take part in the BYOBW race. (Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE)

A perfect example is the Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race, which happened on Easter Sunday in the Potrero Hill neighborhood.

"It's one of the last places in San Francisco; so many people co-create this thing. It's a maker space. And it's a silly, fun, dangerous kind of adventure that actually isn't that dangerous," noted event volunteer Missy Buchanan. "I think everybody just really feels good helping to make something with other people."

Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE

Founded in 2000, the event takes place on Vermont Avenue between 20th Street and 22nd Street, on what's actually the most crooked stretch of concrete in the city (sorry, Lombard Street).

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

For the afternoon of Easter Sunday, organizers obtain a city permit to block the area to traffic so that children and adults-acting-like-kids can speed down the hill on tricycles of every shape and size.

Bring Your Own Big Wheels is supported only by donations from participants and spectators. The all-volunteer event is coordinated by Frog Gillmore. She helps get all the necessary permits to close off the street, hires EMTs to be on hand, and organizes more than 50 volunteers.

When asked why she puts in her own time and energy (and sometimes money) to make the event happen, she simply replies, "Because it's fun. Because it makes San Francisco what San Francisco truly is."

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Thankfully, San Francisco's turbulent spring weather cooperated with the event taking place under sunny skies and the warmest temperature in weeks. The winding hill wasn't soaked in rain, but there were still plenty of wipeouts (despite the risk of skidding out on a tight turn, there are typically very few injuries beyond scraped elbows).

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

And in true San Francisco fashion, there were plenty of costumed participants, wearing everything from nun outfits to Easter bunny outfits.

"You can be in a costume and be yourself. I think that's essential to San Francisco," noted Gillmore.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Scroll down to see photos of all the daredevil action from the event.

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This story has been updated.
Abigail Dollins/AP

SALEM, Ore. (AP)  An Oregon State Police trooper exchanged gunfire with a man who was holding the driver of a semitrailer at gunpoint Monday morning along Interstate 5 in Salem, leaving the suspect dead, authorities said.

Trooper Andrew Tuttle stopped to help the driver of the disabled semitrailer at about 8:45 a.m. when he noticed the gunman, who immediately began shooting at the trooper, the Salem Police Department said in a news release.
Driving along Highway 99, the artery in Californias Central Valley that runs alongside freight train tracks and groves of now-blossoming almond trees, its difficult to miss the skeleton of Madera Community Hospital.

A blue tarp hangs over the entrance, covering stucco where scraped-off letters once notified the public of an open emergency room. Only the post is left from a giant road sign that had borne the hospitals name. On a recent morning, a lone security guard kept watch outside the abandoned building.

The 106-bed facility closed in January, leaving the largely rural Madera County  home to 160,000 people, most of them Latino and nearly one-third of whom work in agriculture  without a general hospital. The closure has forced those seeking medical care to drive an extra 30 minutes southeast to more populous Fresno, overwhelming emergency rooms there and prompting Madera and Fresno counties to declare states of emergency.

The problems in the San Joaquin Valley provide a window into the pressures on rural hospitals nationwide. More than 250 rural hospitals across the country are at risk of closing within the next three years, including six in California, according to a January study by the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. Just an hours drive from Madera, Kaweah Health Medical Center in Visalia is among those having serious money troubles.

Losing the hospital was a really large blow, said Jennifer Hidalgo, a district representative for state Sen. Anna Caballero, a Democrat who represents the Madera area. Its a crisis right now in California, specifically in the Central Valley.

After years of financial troubles, Madera Community  a nonprofit private hospital that had been operating for a half-century  and its three health clinics shuttered after negotiations with a large health care system to buy the hospital fell through in late December, CalMatters reports. With no other potential buyers stepping forward, the hospital filed for bankruptcy last month.

The biggest effect in Madera County  which stretches east from farmland in the San Joaquin Valley into the mountains of Yosemite National Park  isnt on the sickest patients, who are still able to quickly summon ambulances to their homes, Dr. Simon Paul, the countys public health officer, said last month in an NPR forum. Its on local residents with chronic conditions who would have gone to the emergency room for treatment were it closer but now will avoid the 30-minute drive until their symptoms worsen, he said.

Its people whose heart failure is getting out of control, whose diabetes is out of control, Paul said. Theyll end up at the hospital, but three days later, much sicker and maybe needing admission to the hospital as opposed to coming back home after getting tuned up in the ER  and thats a very big group of people.

Those patients will also leave Fresno hospitals with follow-up plans to see specialists and have tests done in Fresno.

The people that have the fewest resources are going to have the biggest difficulty navigating that new complication to health care, Paul said.

After the closure of Madera Community, state legislators proposed ways to funnel more money to Californias ailing hospitals to prevent more from shuttering  although its a bigger lift to reopen a facility thats already closed. Hidalgo said preliminary conversations were underway with the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of California, Merced, to transform Madera Community into a teaching hospital, but, for now at least, its doors remain closed.

Its a really difficult time for rural hospitals, said Paul Ginsburg, a University of Southern California health policy professor.

He added that many rural hospitals nationwide were contending with declining patient populations, as well as low insurance reimbursement rates that made it difficult to make ends meet.

More than 180 rural hospitals have closed in the United States since 2005, with a record 19 closings in 2020 alone, New York Times colleague Emily Baumgaertner has reported. This trend is medically and economically devastating for communities, she writes; hospitals have historically supported one in every 12 rural jobs and, after a closure, a communitys population typically begins to shrink.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
MILPITAS, Calif. (AP)  A 5-year-old girl was killed in a weekend shooting on a highway in the San Francisco Bay Area, authorities said Sunday.

The shooting occurred around 7 p.m. Saturday in southbound lanes of Interstate 880 near Milpitas, according to the California Highway Patrol.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Authorities on Monday identified two police officers and a man who were all killed in a shootout during a weekend traffic stop in northwestern Wisconsin.

State Justice Department officials said 32-year-old Emily Breidenbach of the Chetek Police Department and 23-year-old Hunter Scheel of the Cameron Police Department were killed during a firefight with 50-year-old Glenn Douglas Perry on Saturday afternoon in Cameron. Perry later died at a hospital.
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NEW YORK (AP)  A federal judge wants to know if ex-President Donald Trump plans to attend a New York trial this month resulting from a columnists claims that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.

Judge Lewis A. Kaplan issued an order Monday directing parties in the case to notify him by April 20 whether they will be present throughout the trial, scheduled to start April 25 in Manhattan federal court. And later in the day, he rejected a request that names of anonymous jurors be released to lawyers, saying Trump's latest public statements about a criminal case against him in state court show jurors might be harassed if their identities got out.

A writer, E. Jean Carroll, sued Trump in November, saying he raped her in early 1996 after a chance meeting at the Bergdorf Goodman department store. He has repeatedly and emphatically denied it in language sure to be highlighted for a jury that will decide whether the rape occurred and if Trump defamed Carroll with his comments.

The rape claims were made immediately after a temporary state law took effect allowing adult rape victims to sue their abusers, even if attacks happened decades ago.

Trump's lawyers did not respond Monday to requests for comment on Kaplan's order.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan, no relation to the judge, said Carroll intends to be present for the entire trial.

In his order, the judge asked each party to notify him in writing whether he or she intends to attend the entire trial. If not, he asked to be told what dates and times each individual will be absent.

The judge said the order was not to be construed to suggest whether either side is obliged to be present throughout the trial or what legal consequences could result from a decision not to be present the entire time.

The judge was likely interested in learning exactly when Trump might be in court because of the special security arrangements that would be required for a Secret Service-protected former president who is campaigning for a second term in office.

Last week, Trump arrived in a motorcade for a New York state court arraignment where he pleaded not guilty to a 34-count felony indictment charging him with breaking the law in a quest to silence women who claimed extramarital affairs with him years before his successful campaign for the presidency on the Republican ticket in 2016.

Judge Kaplan cited public comments Trump made after the appearance, as he rejected a request by lawyers on both sides in the rape case to be told the names of anonymous jurors. Recently, he ruled that the jury will be anonymous, citing in part the strong likelihood that there could be harassment or worse of jurors by Trump supporters.

The likelihood of such difficulties since the Court made those findings only has increased. That is so in view of Mr. Trumps public statements," he said, citing media reports characterizing Trump's statements as attacks against the presiding judge over his criminal case.

The judge also cited "the threats reportedly then made, presumably by Mr. Trumps supporters, against that judge and members of his family." In a footnote, the judge cited media reports including a story that said the judge in the criminal case got death threats after Trump's arrest.

In October, Trump underwent a videotaped deposition in which he was questioned about Carroll's claims, which were first made publicly in a 2019 memoir by the former longtime Elle magazine columnist.

In the deposition, Trump was dismissive of Carrolls claims, saying: Physically shes not my type.

Even if Trump decides not to attend the trial, it is likely that significant portions of his deposition will be watched by the jury.

In recent weeks, the judge has denied requests by Trump's lawyers to exclude testimony from two women who made sexual abuse claims against Trump in circumstances similar to those alleged by Carroll and from two individuals who worked at the department store at the time the rape allegedly occurred.

He also has ruled that jurors can hear misogynistic remarks Trump made about women in 2005 on an Access Hollywood tape.

The Associated Press generally does not identify people who allege they have been sexually assaulted, unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done.
Art Wager/Getty Images

HONOLULU (AP)  A surfer was in serious condition after being bitten in the leg by a shark Sunday morning off Honolulu, authorities said.

The 58-year-old man was attacked shortly before 7 a.m. near Kewalo Basin, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services.
UNION, Neb. (AP)  Overnight rain helped firefighters get control of two wildfires Monday in southeast Nebraska near the Missouri River.

Nebraska officials said after Gov. Jim Pillen surveyed the damage that the fire near Beaver Lake was about 90% contained while the other fire near Waconda Lake was about 85% contained. Both fires started over the weekend after sparks blew across the Missouri River from Iowa, and they burned nearly 700 acres but didn't destroy any homes.
The high school students who filed into psychology teacher Jeffrey Keene's first-period class on Tuesday were greeted with a striking assignment: "TODAY WAS YOUR 'LAST DAY' ALIVE," Keene's instructions read in capital letters. "WRITE YOUR OWN OBITUARY."

The prompt was one of several reflections Keene asked his 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students to write on the topic of school shootings. They had been on Keene's mind that morning, he told The Washington Post in an interview, between the recent Nashville school shooting and his school's plans to hold an active-shooter drill that day.

"There are mass shootings everywhere, unfortunately," Keene said. "So being the psychology teacher, I said, 'I can tie this into a lesson plan.'"

Keene said the lesson, which he devised that morning, was meant to encourage his students in Orange County, Fla., to share their perceptions on the epidemic of gun violence in U.S. schools. Other questions asked students to write "what kind of 'positive actions'" they could take to prevent mass shootings and how mass shootings "affected you as a person." A note at the end of the assignment said it was "in no way intended to 'upset/et al' you!"

That afternoon, Keene was fired. A school administrator pulled him aside during the next period and told him that his assignment had caused several students to complain to their counselors, he said. He was asked to stop teaching his school shooting-inspired lesson plan. At the end of the day, Keene said school leadership asked that he either resign or be fired. Keene said he declined to resign, because he didn't think he had done anything wrong.

Orange County Public Schools confirmed that Keene, a probationary employee at Dr. Phillips High School, was terminated after giving an "inappropriate assignment about school violence."

Keene, who said he started teaching at Dr. Phillips in January, said the lesson fell in line with his usual philosophy of encouraging his students to "think for themselves" and to "find a positive solution" to issues. He said he had found success in previous lessons asking students to write reflections about their use of social media and thought he would take the same approach with his school shooting-inspired lesson plan.

"I said, 'How can we fix this situation? How is it affecting you or isn't affecting you?'" Keene said. "And that's how I approached it. And I'm thinking to myself, 'How in the world could that upset 16-, 17-, 18-year-old students?'"

Keene argued that his high school students should have been prepared to discuss the essay topics he presented, which he introduced at the top of the assignment by writing, "TODAY... WE HAVE AN 'ACTIVE SHOOTER' ON OUR CAMPUS." Before introducing the prompts, he said he spoke to his students about the upcoming active-shooter drill and quizzed them about what to do in an active-shooter situation.

Keene also defended the wording of his assignment. He said after he showed his students the essay topics, he fielded questions from some students who were confused and explained to them that the prompt to write their own obituaries was intended to encourage them to evaluate their lives and accomplishments.

"It can be taken out of context, if you will," Keene told The Post. "... I didn't just say, 'You're going to die, so write your obituary, you're going to die from an active shooter.'"

Keene said he was only aware of one student who expressed discomfort with the assignment in his first period. But the administrator who pulled Keene aside in the next period told him that his assignment had upset several students, he said. Keene said he apologized and taught a different lesson plan for the rest of the day. Near the end of the school day - just before Dr. Phillips High School carried out a brief active-shooter drill - Keene said he was called to the principal's office and told his options.

In a social media post about his firing, Keene accused schools of putting "MORE EMPHASIS ON CENSORING & ENTITLEMENT" than preparing students for the world.

Orange County Public Schools investigated the incident and confirmed that Keene had violated school district standards, according to a letter from the school district that Keene shared on social media.

Keene maintains that he approached his lesson in an appropriate way.

"It's unfortunate, but it is a world in which we live - we can't ignore it," Keene said. "So if you cannot speak to a young adult about it, what's the best answer?"

He plans to appeal his termination, he said.
The Antioch Police Department announced it has signed on to the "30x30 Pledge," a focused effort to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement.

The 30x30 Initiative helps law enforcement agencies assess the current state of a department regarding gender equity, identify factors that may be driving any disparities, and develop and implement strategies and solutions to eliminate barriers.

The goal of the 30x30 Initiative is to reach 30 percent of women in police recruit classes by 2030, and to ensure policing agencies are truly representative of the jurisdiction the agency serves.

While 30x30 is focused on advancing women in policing, these principles are applicable to all demographic diversity, not just gender.

A 5-year-old girl was struck and killed by gunfire Saturday night on Interstate 880 in Fremont.

The California Highway Patrol reported a 6:40 p.m. call about a freeway shooting. Responding officers found a vehicle on southbound Interstate 880.

The parents in the car said their daughter was struck by gunfire. The girl was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

Investigators shut down portions of I-880 over the next few hours and said Sunday they are still investigating.

A woman in Palo Alto was sexually assaulted Sunday afternoon in a pedestrian underpass..

Palo Alto police say they received a call at 2:49 p.m. from a passerby that a woman in the California Avenue underpass was sexually assaulted.

The victim was in her 50s and suffered moderate injuries, police said. She'd been walking her bicycle eastbound through the underpass and was passed by the suspect, who was walking his bike westbound.

The suspect struck the victim from behind, causing her to fall to the ground. He then allegedly sexually assaulted her. When the victim yelled for help, the suspect stole her cell phone and fled in an unknown direction.

The victim described the suspect as an Asian male between 30 and 40 years of age, about 5-feet-5-inches tall with a stocky build. She said he was clean-shaven and was wearing a dark bike helmet, dark sunglasses, and a high-visibility yellow top.

Fremont police investigators said Sunday that a Saturday night shooting could have been gang related.

Police were called at approximately 6:37 p.m. Saturday to the 37000 block of Fremont Boulevard near Norris Road, where a man reportedly drove up next to a pedestrian and fired shots following a confrontation. The suspect vehicle then fled the scene. No injuries were reported.

Police say preliminary investigation points to the incident being gang related and are looking for surveillance video of the incident.

San Jose police said Sunday afternoon they are investigating a vehicle collision involving an adult female pedestrian that occurred in the area of 11th and East Santa Clara streets.

The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Road closures may be in place. Police ask drivers to use alternate routes.

The National Weather Service said Sunday night that Monday should be warm around the Bay Area, with highs in the 60s and 70s and even some possible 80s inland.

A cold front will move into the Bay Area early Tuesday, bringing cooler temperatures through Thursday.

There's a moderate to high chance of wind gusts 40 miles an hour and above in the coastal regions and higher elevations Tuesday into Wednesday.

San Pablo police arrested two men last week they believe used an AR-15 style pistol to rob a man of a $45,000 watch outside a jewelry store last month.

Police responded at 4:19 p.m. March 3 to reports of an armed robbery of a customer in front of the H Bee Jewelry store in San Pablo Towne Center in San Pablo. The suspects fled before police arrived.

Investigators said surveillance footage showed 19-year-old Timothy Harvey of Vallejo, and San Francisco resident Christopher Salmeron, 26, committing the robbery.

San Pablo police arrested Harvey at his Vallejo residence and Salmeron's at his San Francisco home. Harvey had an AR-15 style pistol in his possession. Salmeron was arrested at his home wearing the victim's Rolex.

The California Highway patrol reports a fatal crash early Monday in Tracy's north end.

The CHP received a call about a vehicle colliding with a power pole at 12:49 a.m., causing the pole to go down across S. Lammers Road near the intersection with South Tracy Boulevard. The collision also caused live wires to spark in the roadway and in a nearby field, prompting PG&E crews to respond to the scene.

The coroner was contacted at 1:57 a.m. South Lammers Road remains closed while South Tracy Boulevard is open.

Union City police are urging the public to avoid Zwissig Way early Monday after a sink hole emerged in the roadway.

In a 1:14 a.m. news release from the department, police said a small sinkhole has been blocked off mid block on the street, located in a commercial section on the city's east side.

Police provided no estimate when the issue will be resolved.

The National Weather Service forecast for the greater San Francisco Bay Area calls for sunny skies Monday. Daytime highs are expected in the 60s on the coast, in the high 60s to low 70s around the bay, and in the mid 70s inland. Overnight lows are expected in the 50s. Conditions are expected to be more cool and breezy as the week progresses.

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University of California at Berkeley police are alerting the public about a robbery that occurred in the area of the campus early Sunday morning.

The robbery was reported at 1:21 a.m. in the 2200 block of Hearst Avenue, where a suspect approached a female victim, punched her in the head and stole her purse before fleeing, according to police.

Investigators only described the suspect as wearing a white shirt and black pants. Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Berkeley police at (510) 981-5900.

A former pain management doctor in Santa Rosa was sentenced to 30 months in prison for prescribing dangerous controlled substances to a 17-year-old patient who later fatally overdosed, announced the U.S. Department of Justice.

On Friday, a federal judge issued a prison sentence for Thomas Keller, 75, who was found guilty of four counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances in November.

According to court documents, Keller knowingly and repeatedly prescribed strong, addictive opioids to a 17-year-old patient before she died of an overdose in 2017. The dosages and combination of the drugs "far exceeded the usual course" of medical practice, and were prescribed without "legitimate medical need," said the DOJ.

A man said to be involved in the March 22 killing of a convenience store clerk is facing a four-count felony complaint, announced the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office on Friday.

Gregory Rossignon, 37, was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of fatally shooting 44-year-old Abdul Raouf at the E-Z Stop Convenience Food shop on Power Avenue in Pittsburg.

He faces felony charges of murder, discharging a firearm with gross negligence, dissuading a witness by force or threats and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The murder charge has an enhancement for the intentional discharge of a weapon, and a special allegation related to Rossignon's previous felony convictions.

Police are investigating an illegal sideshow that involved over 50 cars in Oakland, said the department on Saturday.

Police responded to illegal sideshow activity in the 1600 block of Adeline Street shortly after 3:30 a.m.

There were no vehicle collisions, said police.

A California Highway Patrol officer was injured by a suspected DUI driver during an enforcement stop on State Route 242 on Saturday night, said authorities.

At 8:22 p.m., a Contra Costa CHP officer pulled over a Chevrolet vehicle on the right shoulder of southbound SR-242 south of State Route 4.

The officer was standing near the Chevrolet when a Mercedes veered from the roadway and hit the car. The Chevrolet striked the officer due to the force of the crash, said CHP.

Copyright  2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2023 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. North Macedonia will need additional quantities of Azerbaijani gas, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy of North Macedonia Razmena Cekic-Durovik said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

"The total consumption of natural gas in the country is 0,3-0,4 bcm of natural gas per year. The additional quantities of Azerbaijani gas will be needed with the further development of the gas natural network," she explained.

Razmena Cekic-Durovik noted that the construction of the interconnection between North Macedonia and Greece to get access to Azerbaijani gas is planned to be completed in 2025.

"Interconnection of Macedonian gas system with Greece (project winner of "IG" from "WBIF part for "Flagship 5- Transition coal"): The environmental impact assessment study has been prepared and all related procedures have been completed. Also, a decision from the Ministry of environment and physical planning has been received. The basic design has been completed and revised. In September 2022 the Market Test has been also finished by Greek partner in the Project prior to issuing FID," she said.

Razmena Cekic-Durovik pointed out that ARCA Agreement is expected to be signed between DESFA and JSC NOMAGAS in 2023.

Azerbaijan began gas supplies to Europe via the Southern Gas Corridor on December 31, 2020. The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor has delivered a total of 22 billion cubic meters since the start of commercial operations. This year Azerbaijan plans to export 12 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to make his first public appearance in South Carolina, a state where votes will be critical if he launches an expected 2024 presidential bid.

State Sen. Josh Kimbrell told The Associated Press that he would host DeSantis for an event on April 19 in Spartanburg, in South Carolina's heavily Republican Upstate.

DeSantis' first public visit to South Carolina, home of the leadoff presidential primary in the South, comes amid a brisk travel schedule during which the governor has taken his Florida Blueprint tour to Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan in recent weeks.

With an anticipated presidential bid in the offing, the travel has opened up an avenue for DeSantis to lay out some of his policy achievements in Florida, setting up possible contrasts with potential GOP rivals, including former President Donald Trump.

On Sunday, Kimbrell told the AP that he had been hoping to bring DeSantis to South Carolina for months now, arguing that politically savvy Republicans in the early voting state are accustomed to having multiple chances to get to know presidential candidates, in person.

Ive told everybody associated with his team, Youve got to get here early and often,'" said Kimbrell, who has already joined efforts with a political action committee urging DeSantis to get into the race. Ive tried to make it clear to them that, if you want to win, youve got to get here early. South Carolina for months has been hosting GOP candidates, including Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. There have also been trips from many of those anticipated to join the field, including former Vice President Mike Pence. Later this week, after a swing through Iowa and New Hampshire, Sen. Tim Scott returns home to South Carolina for a summit with donors, as he mulls a bid of his own.

While this would be DeSantis first public South Carolina event, he was in the state last year for a gubernatorial fundraiser. The event near Charleston was attended by some of Trumps top donors in the state.

To Kimbrell, who said he agrees with Trump on policy but not on the way he approached things personally, DeSantis is well-positioned to be a better alternative to Trump, but needs to start spending more time in South Carolina.

I believe that Ron DeSantis is as popular among my base as Trump is, Kimbrell said, of his heavily GOP district. But you cant just mail it in. He's going to have to press the flesh, roll his sleeves up, and get really serious.

___

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP
WASHINGTON (AP)  The online leaks of scores of highly classified documents about the Ukraine war present a very serious" risk to national security, and senior leaders are quickly taking steps to mitigate the damage, a top Pentagon spokesman said Monday. And as the public airing of the data sends shockwaves across the U.S. government, the White House said there are concerns there could be additional leaks.

Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, told reporters that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin first became aware on Thursday that a number of classified briefing slides detailing the U.S. military efforts in the Ukraine war and intelligence involving other nations were leaked.

In the days since, Austin has reached out to allies, held daily meetings to assess the damage and set up a group not only to assess the scope of the information lost but review who has access to those briefings. The department is looking closely at how this type of information is distributed and to whom, Meagher said.

A defense official who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters said the Pentagon has now taken steps to reduce the number of people who have access to those briefings. The official said the Pentagon regularly reviews access lists to weigh who has a need to know and have access to classified material.

At the White House, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was asked if the U.S. was bracing for more online releases.

The truth and the honest answer to your question is: We dont know," he said. "And is that a matter of concern to us? Youre darn right it is.

Kirby said at this point, we don't know whos behind this, we dont know what the motive is.

And he said as U.S. authorities go through the documents that were posted online, they are still trying to determine their validity, but have found that at least some of the papers "have been doctored.

He and others would not go into detail, but at least one of the documents shows estimates of Russian troops deaths in the Ukraine war that are significantly lower than numbers publicly stated by U.S. officials. 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.

At the State Department, spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters Monday that U.S. officials are engaging with allies and partners at high levels over this, including to reassure them of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and the fidelity of securing our partnerships.

The U.S. officials declined to provide any specifics, including about the expanse of the release, how it happened and to which country leaders the U.S. has spoken. Patel added that there is no question the documents' release present a risk to national security.

Investigators who specialize in tracking social media, including at the journalism organization Bellingcat, say the documents may have been circulating for months in private internet chats on the Discord discussion platform. Asked if the Pentagon has contacted Discord, Meagher referred questions to the Justice Department, which has opened a criminal investigation into the leaks.

The slides, which eventually were distributed on more mainstream sites such as Twitter, detail U.S. training and equipment schedules to support Ukraine, assessments of losses, what the U.S. is monitoring on key allies and strategic partners, and what moves Russia may be taking to undermine those relationships.

While the Pentagon has been careful not to authenticate the information contained in any specific document, overall "they present a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation, said Meagher. Were being very careful and watching where this is being posted and amplified.

The documents are labeled secret and top secret and in some cases resemble routine updates that the U.S. militarys Joint Staff would produce daily but not distribute publicly.

_____ Associated Press writers Nomaan Merchant, Matthew Lee and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  U.S. spies caught Russian intelligence officers boasting that they had convinced the oil-rich United Arab Emirates to work together against US and UK intelligence agencies, according to a purported American document posted online as part of a major U.S. intelligence breach.

U.S. officials declined to comment on the document, which bore known top-secret markings and was viewed by The Associated Press. The Emirati government on Monday dismissed any accusation that the UAE had deepened ties with Russian intelligence as categorically false.

But the U.S. has had growing concerns that the UAE was allowing Russia and Russians to thwart sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine.

The document viewed by the AP includes an item citing research from March 9 with the title: Russia/UAE: Intelligence Relationship Deepening. U.S. officials declined to confirm the document's authenticity, which the AP could not independently do. However, it resembled other documents released as part of the recent leak.

The Justice Department has opened an investigation into the possible release of Pentagon documents that were posted on several social media sites. They appear to detail U.S. and NATO aid to Ukraine and U.S. intelligence assessments regarding U.S. allies that could strain ties with those nations.

Some of the documents may have been altered or used as part of a misinformation campaign, U.S. officials said. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Monday urged caution, since we know at least in some cases that information was doctored.

Referring to the main successor agency of the Soviet-era KGB, the document seen by the AP says: In mid-January, FSB officials claimed UAE security service officials and Russia had agreed to work together against US and UK Intelligence agencies, according to newly acquired signals intelligence." Signals intelligence refers to intercepted communications, whether telephone calls or electronic messages.

The UAE probably views engagement with Russian intelligence as an opportunity to strengthen growing ties between Abu Dhabi and Moscow and diversify intelligence partnerships amid concerns of US disengagement from the region, the assessment concluded, referring to the UAE capital.

Its not clear if there was any such agreement as described in the UAE-Russia document, or whether the alleged FSB claims were intentionally or unintentionally misleading.

But American officials are speaking out increasingly about a surge in dealings between the UAE and Russia.

A U.S. Treasury official, Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Rosenberg, in March singled out the UAE as a country of focus." She said businesses there were helping Russia evade international sanctions to obtain more than $5 million in U.S. semiconductors and other export-controlled parts, including components with battlefield uses.

U.S. intelligence officials in recent years have pointed to possible links between the UAE and the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary group closely associated with the Kremlin and active in Ukraine and several African countries. In 2020, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessed that the United Arab Emirates may provide some financing for the groups operations.

Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at Kings College in London, on Monday called the UAE the most important strategic partner for Russia in both the Middle East and Africa. The head of Russias Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, held extensive meetings with UAE leaders in Dubai in 2020.

Russia and the UAE share similar outlooks in some key conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, and the influx of Russians into the UAE since Russia launched its war in Ukraine also has strengthened ties between the two, said Kristian Ulrichsen, a Middle East expert at Rice University's Baker Institute. But the reference to teaming up against U.S. and British intelligence agencies is surprising, said Ulrichsen.

Russian intelligence officials probably have an interest in describing something in those terms, he said. If that was the way the UAE was describing it, I'd certainly take it ... quite differently.

A U.S. official separately has told the AP that the United States also was worried about Russian money coming into Dubai's red-hot real estate market.

And in October, federal prosecutors in New York announced charges against two Dubai-based Russian men and others accused of stealing military technology from U.S. companies, smuggling millions of barrels of oil and laundering tens of millions of dollars for the oligarchs surrounding Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Prosecutors in that case quoted one of the Dubai-based Russians as assuring his partners there were no worries about using a UAE financial institution for the transactions. This is the (worst) bank in the Emirates, he was quoted as saying, using an expletive. They pay to everything.

In a statement Monday to the AP about the apparent intelligence document, the United Arab Emirates said UAE officials had not seen the document and claims regarding the FSB were categorically false.

We refute any allegation regarding an agreement to deepen cooperation between the UAE and other countries' security services against another country, the statement said. The UAE has deep and distinguished relations with all countries, reflecting its principles of openness, partnership, building bridges, and working to serve the common interests of countries and peoples to achieve international peace and security.

The leak of the purported document comes as Emirati officials have recalibrated their foreign policy in the Middle East after a series of attacks attributed to Iran. Attacks claimed by Yemens Iranian-backed Houthi rebels hit Abu Dhabi in 2022, killing three people and leading locally stationed American forces to respond with Patriot missile fire.

In the time since, and as Emiratis perceived Americas presence waning in the region after its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the UAE reached a detente with Iran. Thats even as the United States maintains multiple military bases and stations thousands of troops and weaponry in the region, including at Abu Dhabis Al Dhafra Air Base. Dubais Jebel Ali Port remains the busiest U.S. Navy port of call outside of the continental U.S.

The UAE also remains one of the few places still running daily, direct flights to Moscow after Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine. That has seen money, megayachts and Russian citizens come into the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. However, it hasnt been a full embrace.

Relations between the U.S. and the UAE have seesawed over the past decade, as Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan cemented his power. Under the Trump administration, the UAE diplomatically recognized Israel.

In the deal's wake, the UAE sought but has yet to receive advanced American F-35 fighter jets under President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, the Emirates has criticized Israel over the escalating violence between Israel's hard-right government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinians.

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
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PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  Hundreds of asylum seekers filed into a basketball arena in Portland on Monday as Maine's largest city deals with a months-long surge in immigration that has taxed its already limited housing market.

It's the second time in recent years that Portland has repurposed the Portland Exposition Building -- a century-old red-brick gym that houses a minor league basketball team and has hosted everyone from President John F. Kennedy to the Beach Boys -- to serve migrants. The floor of the arena was lined with cots as families carried in bags of clothes, food and personal possessions.

Communities around the country have been dealing with growing numbers of asylum seekers, and pending rule changes could mean more are coming. A COVID-19 pandemic rule that has suspended rights to seek asylum for many is slated to end in May.

It was a massive undertaking to make Portland's temporary shelter ready for asylum seekers, but it was not as frantic as in 2019, when the city ramped up in 24 hours, said Kristen Dow, Portland's director of health and human services.

But the local situation is nonetheless dire.

More than 1,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Portland so far this year, and the city is has been sheltering about 1,200 people per night. A new emergency shelter with 208 beds filled to capacity on its opening night last month, and, including the Exposition Building, the city has no more large spaces to use, Dow said.

Many of the asylum seekers are from Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dow said.

Luvumbu Osvaldo, an immigrant from Angola, waited to enter the shelter on Monday while holding a child's backpack. Osvaldo said he's grateful for the safe housing.

It is very good to be here, Osvaldo said. Definitely.

The temporary shelter, open through August, will house up to 300 people per night, offering them a bed, three meals a day, health care screenings and immunizations.

Once it fills up, the city doesn't have another space to open, Dow said. This is a temporary emergency shelter. There are a lot of smaller shelters around serving this population and we are grateful.

The city wants newcomers to be realistic about services that it can provide, Dow said, adding she hopes another solution is found between now and August. For example, MaineHousing, an independent state housing authority, has provided funding to some local agencies to open a 280-bed space for asylum seekers.

Papy Bongibo, a leader in the city's Congolese community, said the reopening of the Portland Exposition Building shelter is a good short-term solution, but finding permanent housing for asylum seekers will be more challenging because apartments in the Portland area are scarce and often expensive.

The problem is the housing. I understand they can't build housing in a day, right away, he said. But if you look at rents now, you can't rent in Portland.

___

Associated Press writer David Sharp contributed to this story.
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Abortion is banned in Idaho at all stages of pregnancy, but the governor on Wednesday signed another law making it illegal to provide help within the states boundaries to minors seeking an abortion without parental consent.

The new law is obviously aimed at abortions obtained in other states, but its written to criminalize in-state behavior leading to the out-of-state procedure  a clear nod to the uncertainty surrounding efforts by lawmakers in at least half a dozen states to extend their influence outside their borders when it comes to abortion law.

At the same time, Democrat-controlled states are advancing and adopting laws and executive orders intended to shield their residents against civil lawsuits and criminal investigations related to providing abortions for women from states where there are bans.

But there is no legal precedent giving good guidance about whether states can influence their residents getting abortions outside their borders.

If red states pass laws saying, We can go after people for X, Y and Z, and blue states say, You cant, were in uncharted territory, said Mary Ziegler, a legal historian at the University of California, Davis School of Law.

Arguments about the laws could be rooted in key clauses of the U.S. Constitution that could contradict each other in this case. One clause requires states to respect the laws of other states while another recognizes the right to travel among states and a third restricts the ability of states to impair interstate commerce.

Legal experts say that no prior cases are exactly comparable, though state laws have conflicted in weighty ways in the past.

In the 1840s and 1850s, it was with questions over whether fugitive enslaved people in free states remained the property of slaveholders. In the 1857 Dred Scott decision, frequently cited as the worst ruling in U.S. history, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that they did.

More recently, before the nation's top court recognized a right to same-sex marriage in 2015, state marriage laws were a patchwork. Some states did not recognize marriages that were legal elsewhere, and all the protections that go with them, including hospital visitation rights and even the ability to divorce. The federal ruling largely resolved those legal conflicts.

The effort to restrict abortion in far-reaching ways is an outgrowth of last year's U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and ended a nationwide right to abortion.

Each state now makes its own rules. Abortion is banned in all stages of pregnancy in 13 states. Another five have similar bans on the books but are not being enforced under judge's orders as legal challenges to them are sorted out.

Texas took a step toward state-border restrictions even before Roe was overturned with a 2021 law that allows civil lawsuits against a person who aids or abets the performance or inducement of abortion. It does not specify whether the aid would have to happen within Texas. Oklahoma has a similar law.

But using them to block out-of-state abortions has not been tried yet  or tested in court.

Other states are pursuing different approaches.

Idaho's measure bans transporting a minor for an abortion without parental consent  but bars only the part of the journey that takes place in Idaho.

Tennessees GOP-dominated legislature last week approved a measure that would prohibit cities and counties from using their funds to help someone obtain an abortion outside the state  including banning coverage of out-of-state abortions under government employee health insurance plans.

In his concurring opinion in last years ruling overturning Roe, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh contemplated whether states could restrict their residents from getting abortions in other states: In my view, the answer is no based on the constitutional right to interstate travel, he wrote.

Andrea Miller, president of the National Institute for Reproductive Health, which supports abortion rights, said the validity of interstate laws is unclear.

The hope would be this would be seen as an extreme overreach, she said, but one would have thought that overturning Roe v. Wade would have been an extreme overreach too.

Elisabeth Smith, state policy director for the Center for Reproductive Rights, said the measures have impacts even if they don't hold up in court.

Will anti-abortion activists continue to try to use these techniques and use these avenues?" he asked. Absolutely. Their goal in doing so is to try to chill activity and make those of us who support abortion rights too frightened to help people.

One possible test of the out-of-state applicability of abortion laws is just getting started in Texas.

The former husband of a Galveston-area woman who terminated a pregnancy last year with medication sued three women who helped her obtain pills, claiming wrongful death. The lawsuit says the woman terminated the pregnancy in July 2022 and the couple divorced in February.

A lawyer representing the ex-husband is Jonathan Mitchell, a former Texas solicitor general who is the architect of the law that uses civil penalties to enforce an abortion ban. As part of the suit, Mitchell sent a letter to the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice in New York City, demanding that it preserve documents. The letter said one of the women helping the ex-wife obtain abortion pills worked for the group and the organization would face questions about whether she was acting as part of her job.

If anyone out-of-state helps one of their employees break Texas laws, then you better believe that there can be action taken against that, against that company or organization, said Mark Lee Dickson, a Texas anti-abortion activist who has pushed successfully for local governments to bar abortion clinics. If an individual assists Texans in breaking the laws of Texas, then thats a problem, too.

___

Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Hanna from Topeka, Kansas. Associated Press writers Acacia Coronado in Austin, Texas; David Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, and Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, contributed to this report.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  After almost three months of testimony, dozens of witnesses and countless legal fights, a jury will soon decide whether the onetime leader of the Proud Boys extremist group is guilty in one of the most serious cases brought in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Closing arguments could be as early as this week before jurors decide whether to convict Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants of seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors say was a plot to forcibly stop the transfer of presidential power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden after the 2020 election.

In a trial that has lasted over twice as long as expected, little new information has emerged about the Jan. 6 attack that halted Congress' certification of Biden's victory or the far-right extremist group's role in the Capitol riot. But a guilty verdict against Tarrio, who wasn't even in Washington, D.C., when the riot erupted, would affirm that those accused of planning and inciting the violence could be held responsible even if they didn't join in it.

The case is nearing a close as a new problem may be on the horizon for the Proud Boys, a neofacist group known for brawling and street fights with left-wing activists and disrupting storytelling sessions by drag performers and other LGBTQ events around the country.

The group, Tarrio and two others on trial are also facing a separate, multimillion-dollar lawsuit. A judge is poised to decide how much they should have to pay a historic Black church in Washington for Proud Boys destroying a Black Lives Matter sign during a weekend of pro-Trump rallies in December 2020 that erupted into violence. Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church is seeking up to $22 million in punitive damages, saying it was part of an effort to intimidate those who fight for racial justice.

Tarrio wasn't in Washington on Jan. 6 because he had been arrested two days earlier for his role in burning another Black Lives Matter banner torn down from a different Washington church, Asbury United Methodist. Tarrio was ordered to stay out of the city after his arrest.

The seditious conspiracy case in Washington's federal court, which began with opening statements in January, has been slowed by bickering between the judge and defense attorneys, repeated requests for a mistrial, lengthy cross-examinations of witnesses and other legal maneuvers that often kept jurors waiting in the wings instead of hearing courtroom testimony.

On trial with Tarrio are Proud Boys chapter leaders Ethan Nordean, of Auburn, Washington; and Zachary Rehl, of Philadelphia; self-described Proud Boys organizer Joseph Biggs, of Ormond Beach, Florida; and Dominic Pezzola, a Proud Boys member from Rochester, New York.

It is unclear if any of them will testify before the defense rests and jurors hear attorneys closing arguments.

The backbone of the governments case is a trove of messages that Proud Boys leaders privately exchanged on the Telegram platform before, during and after the Capitol riot. Their online rhetoric became increasingly angry with each failure by Trumps lawyers to challenge election results in court.

If Biden steals this election, (the Proud Boys) will be political prisoners, Tarrio posted in Nov. 16, 2020. We wont go quietly ... I promise.

As the mob attacked Capitol, Tarrio posted on social media, Don't (expletive) leave.

When a Proud Boys member asked, Are we a militia yet? Tarrio responded with one word  Yep  in a voice note.

Make no mistake," Tarrio wrote. "We did this.

Defense attorneys have argued that there is no evidence of a plan for the Proud Boys to attack the Capitol on Jan. 6.

They have stressed that Proud Boys had FBI informants in their ranks who didn't raise any red flags about the group before Jan. 6. In an effort to show jurors that Tarrio was trying to avoid violence, they also showed how Tarrio frequently communicated with an officer assigned to monitor extremist groups' activity in Washington and advised the officer of the group's plans in the weeks before Jan. 6.

Several Oath Keepers leaders and members who previously stood trial on seditious conspiracy charges similarly argued that the riot was a spontaneous outpouring of election-fueled rage, not the result of a premediated plan. While prosecutors said the Capitol attack was only a means to an end in the Oath Keepers' larger plot to stop the transfer of power, defense attorneys repeatedly raised the lack of evidence that the Oath Keepers had an explicit plan to storm the Capitol.

In the end, prosecutors managed to secure seditious conspiracy convictions at trials against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and five other members, but three others were acquitted of the charge. Those others, however, were convicted of other serious felonies. Sentencings for Rhodes and other Oath Keepers are scheduled for next month.

In the Oath Keepers case, prosecutors could point to a cache of guns stashed at a Virginia hotel as evidence they planned to use force to stop the transfer of power, a key element of the crime.

Among the Proud Boys defendants, only Pezzola is accused of engaging in violence or destruction after being filmed smashing in a Capitol window with a riot shield.

The prosecutors in the Proud Boys case have instead argued that Tarrio and the others handpicked and mobilized a loyal group of foot soldiers  or tools  to supply the force necessary to carry out their plot.

Defense attorneys say that's an unusual, flawed legal concept, and their messages were taken out of context. They've also painted Tarrio in particular as a scapegoat for the riot and an easier person to blame than Trump, whose spoke to a crowd of supporters just before they marched on the Capitol. Pezzola's lawyers even tried to subpoena Trump, but the effort seemed to go nowhere.

Even without his testimony, Trump could factor into the jurys verdict. Jurors saw a video of the 2020 presidential debate at which Trump told the Proud Boys to stand back and stand by," a moment that led to an explosion of attention and membership requests.

These men did not stand back. They did not stand by. Instead, they mobilized, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason McCullough told jurors.

Key prosecution witnesses included two former Proud Boys members who cooperated with the government in hopes of getting lighter sentences. One of them, Matthew Greene, testified that Proud Boys members were expecting a civil war after the 2020 election. The other, Jeremy Bertino, testified that the Proud Boys saw themselves as the tip of the spear."

Bertino is the only Proud Boy who has pleaded guilty to a seditious conspiracy charge. Both said they didn't know of a specific plan to storm the Capitol, though Bertino said they wanted to keep Biden from taking office. Greene said group leaders celebrated the attack on Jan. 6 but didnt explicitly encourage members to use force.

The trial was briefly disrupted when prosecutors told defense attorneys that a woman expected to testify for Tarrios defense had secretly worked as an FBI informant after the Jan. 6 attack. Defense attorneys were alarmed because the woman had been in touch with the defense team, but prosecutors said the informant was never told to gather information about the defendants or their lawyers. Tarrios lawyers ultimately decided not to call her as a witness.

In the civil case brought by the Metropolitan AME, the judge is expected on Tuesday to hear final arguments from the church. The case is against the Proud Boys as an entity as well as Tarrio, Biggs, Nordean, Bertino and another member. The judge has already said they will be liable by default because the group failed to respond to the lawsuit or participate in the case. The only question remains is how much, if anything, they will have to pay.

___

Richer reported from Boston.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the Capitol riot at https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege.
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NEW YORK (AP)  Legally, the most important words former President Donald Trump said after he was charged with 34 felonies by the Manhattan District Attorney last week were not guilty. But, politically, the most significant may be election interference.

Trumps repetition of those words, which have been taken up by other top Republicans, show how he is trying to turn his historic position as the first former president charged with crimes to his advantage. It's another example of what's been a consistent refrain throughout his political career  claiming without evidence that an election is being rigged against him.

After his initial court appearance in the New York case, the first of several in which he is in legal jeopardy, Trump ticked through the varied investigations he was facing and branded them as massive attempts to interfere with the 2024 election.

Our justice system has become lawless," Trump said as he appeared before supporters at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. "Theyre using it now, in addition to everything else, to win elections.

Trump has made some version of those claims in at least 20 social media posts since March 3, the bulk of which occurred in the last two weeks, accelerating when a Manhattan grand jury appeared to be wrapping up its work and preparing to indict the former president. Trump declared his latest bid for the White House shortly after the November midterms, in what some in his orbit saw as an effort to head off the various probes swirling around him.

Alleging an election is being stolen from him is a routine Trump tactic, despite no evidence to back up his assertions. When competing for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016, Trump claimed his loss in the Iowa caucuses was due to fraud. When he won the White House that November but lost the popular vote, Trump claimed the only reason for falling short in the latter category was because undocumented immigrants voted. A task force he formed to find voter fraud disbanded without finding any evidence to back up his claim.

In 2020, Trump began arguing the election would be fraudulent months before voting started. He attacked efforts to loosen restrictions on mail voting during the coronavirus pandemic, and expanded those allegations after losing the election to claim he'd actually won it. Those lies led to the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Federal and state election officials and Trumps own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence the 2020 election was tainted. The former presidents allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges Trump appointed.

Trump is behaving like a politician in the legal crosshairs, said Steven Levitsky, a Harvard political scientist.

He's certainly not the first politician to be prosecuted  sometimes fairly, sometimes not  to play the political victim card, Levitsky said.

Levitsky, who cowrote the book How Democracies Die, said that several former presidents of other countries, when prosecuted, have claimed it was a plot to foil their future elections. Most recently, that was the complaint of Brazil's former president Luis Inacio Lula Da Silva after he was jailed before the 2018 election. Silva was freed by his country's supreme court and won back the presidency in October.

What's notable in Trump's case, however, is that his own party is echoing the stolen election claims ahead of the next campaign. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last month said he was directing his party's committee chairs to investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions.

That a whole party is carrying this line is somewhat unusual," Levitsky said.

Last week's charges in New York court stemmed from Trump's reimbursements to his lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen, of hush money paid in the waning days of the 2016 presidential election to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who alleged they had an affair. Even some critics of Trump have seen the charges as a stretch of New York laws.

The heart of the Manhattan case is prosecutors' claim that Trump falsified business records at his company to make the payoff in order to keep a potentially damaging story quiet while he was campaigning  an illegal attempt by Trump, they argued, to try to influence the election.

The former president also faces legal jeopardy from other investigations, two of which are related to his attempts to try to interfere with the 2020 election.

Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, are probing Trump's January 2021 call to the state's top elections officer asking him to find enough votes to declare Trump the winner there, as well as other efforts by the former president and his allies to overturn his narrow election loss in the state.

The U.S. Justice Department also has launched a federal special counsel probe into Trump's attempts to try to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election. Trump is also enmeshed in a federal special counsel investigation of his handling of classified documents found at his Florida estate.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, when asked at a news conference on Tuesday whether the timing of the case was political, responded by saying, I bring cases when theyre ready."

Braggs office declined to comment on Trumps statements about election interference," as did the Department of Justice.

Critics warn that Trump is, once again, sowing suspicions of fraud that could damage democracy. Weve seen this film before, Joanna Lydgate, chief executive officer of States United Action, which tracks politicians who embrace Trump's election lies, said in a statement. We know this is dangerous because we all saw what happened on January 6th.

Trump has routinely waved off such warnings, and has seamlessly integrated his current legal jeopardy into the false allegations hes made for three years about Democratic Party wrongdoing leading to his ouster.

In his first campaign rally, in Waco, Texas, days before the Manhattan indictment, Trump railed against all the investigations and said that his opponents were using the probes because its harder for them to stuff the ballot boxes, of which they stuffed plenty.

The new weapon being used by out-of-control unhinged Democrats to cheat on election is criminally investigating a candidate, he said.

Trump and other Republicans have sometimes contradicted themselves, decrying the investigations as an attempt to tarnish Trump while also predicting they'll aid his bid for the White House.

I think youll see his poll numbers go up, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., one of the president's most vocal backers in the House, predicated at a GOP conference last month. Hes never been in a stronger position. She condemned the charges last week as unprecedented election interference.

Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs for Common Cause, which has long been critical of Trump's allegations of election rigging, noted that all the investigations of the former president began well before he started running for president again.

Nobody is above the law, including former presidents, and running for president cannot and must not serve as a shield for wrongful conduct, Scherb said.

___ Riccardi reported from Denver. Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri in Washington contributed to this report.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  A gang near Haitis capital ambushed and killed three police officers on Sunday in the latest attack against an under-resourced and underfunded police department that has reported nearly two dozen officers slain so far this year, according to authorities.

The killings occurred in Thomassin, a largely upper-class neighborhood just south of the capital of Port-au-Prince that is controlled by a gang called Ti Makak, which translates to Little Macaques.

The details of the killings were provided by an officer who survived the attack, according to the National Union of Haitian Police Officers, which said it was saddened by the news.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry condemned the killings and extended his condolences.

Our police brothers have today, once again, fallen under the murderous bullets of lawless thugs. We deplore these barbaric acts, he tweeted.

He added that his government is doing everything possible to create a climate of security and stability in a country too bruised and bereaved.

At least 21 police officers have been killed so far this year as gangs continue to fight over territory and grow more powerful since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

The Ti Makak gang also was blamed for killing another three officers in September in nearby Laboule. In addition, two journalists were fatally shot and set on fire in that area last year, as well as a former senator and his nephew.

In October, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and other top officials requested the immediate deployment of foreign troops to help fight relentless gangs, but so far, the U.N. Security Council, along with the U.S. and Canada, have opted to impose sanctions. The international community also has provided equipment, training and other resources for Haiti's National Police.

As of mid-March, gangs were blamed for killing at least 531 people and kidnapping 277 others in the capital of Port-au-Prince and nearby areas. Another 160,000 people in the country of more than 11 million people have been displaced by violence, according to the U.N.

Chronic instability and gang violence have contributed to surging prices and food insecurity. Half of the population does not have enough to eat, the U.N.s Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner warned last month. We are gravely concerned that extreme violence continues to spiral out of control in Haiti.

The U.N. estimates that gangs now control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. A total of $2.9 billion has been invested in implementation of the Azeri-Central-East (ACE) platform project on the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) block to date, chief mechanic of the Azeri-Central-East project Shukur Sadikhov said during a media tour to the platform, Trend reports.

According to him, it will be possible to produce additional 100,000 barrels of oil per day from the platform. In general, it is planned to produce 300 million barrels of oil via this platform.

"The first oil is expected to be produced in the first quarter of 2024. I would also like to note that the cost of the project is $6 billion and $2.9 billion has already been invested to date," he said.

In turn, the head of the construction department Faig Neymatov noted that the construction of pipelines under the project for the export of oil and gas is 94 percent complete.

Vagif Khalilov, head of the department for the construction of pipelines and platform tops, noted that the tops of the platform will be put to sea in the third quarter of 2023.

"They will first be assembled on dry land," he added.

In addition, according to Rukhali Imanov, the head of the construction control department for the ACE project, the connection of the pipelines of the ACE platform with the Sangachal terminal is scheduled for the second quarter of this year.

"This is the only platform in the Caspian Sea where operations will be controlled onshore," he added.

The $6 billion ACE project is the next step in the development of the giant ACG field in the Caspian Sea. The ACE platform and equipment are designed to process up to 100,000 barrels of oil per day. Up to 300 million barrels are expected to be produced over the entire duration of the project. The platform will be controlled remotely from the Sangachal terminal and will include an innovative automation system.
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MEXICO CITY (AP)  A line of people dressed in black, flannels and piercings wound in front of a two-story building on one of Mexico Citys main avenues. Graffiti reading Alicia was painted above their heads. Inside, a young man frantically scrolled over a list of names and prepared the entry hand stamp. It could have been any nightclub on a Friday night in the bustling city, but the whole line knew it was their last chance to set foot in what had become an iconic music venue and counterculture hub in the Mexican capital.

After 27 years, Multiforo Cultural Alicia closed its doors forever on March 12. For many, it marked the end of an era and signaled gentrification's toll on the city in recent years. Nobody came at the beginning. It was a tiny place, uncomfortable, very punk, recalled Ignacio Pineda, 60, the founder of the Alicia. But I didnt want a trendy bar. I wanted a place for the people.

For decades, Mexicos music scene was suffocated by its long-ruling Revolutionary Institutional Party, or PRI.

Following the brutal army repression of the 1968 student protests  an unknown number of protesters were killed  Mexican authorities harassed long-haired youths. After lurid reports circulated about a 1971 concert in the town of Avandaro, no large public rock concerts were allowed for about a decade, and rock retreated into tiny venues known as hoyos funky, or funky holes.

The Mexican political system was shaken in 1994 when the Zapatista Indigenous rebels from Chiapas, in southeast Mexico, led a brief armed uprising to demand greater rights. The Zapatista movement ignited young Mexicans political participation. A new generation emerged, looking for outlets to express themselves. Music and cultural spaces like the Alicia became that outlet for many.

In 1995, Pineda founded the venue with a group of friends, who quickly dropped out. At the beginning, Pineda  or Nacho, as hes known  even considered shutting down the place. But the emerging Mexican music scene pulled him through.

He started inviting hardcore punk, surf, rock, ska, hip-hop and garage bands, and the audience followed. At the same time, Pineda organized talks and conferences to tackle social and political issues.

We always considered ourselves a political space, rather than a music venue, he told the AP. We did something that nobody was doing.

Soon, the Alicia became one of the very few libertarian, anarchist, self-managed spaces in Mexico City. Abraham Muneko Torres, the frontman of Nana Pancha, one of the most prominent ska bands in Mexico, first played at the Alicia when he was 16 years old.

Now 43, he recalls fondly being booed off the stage by punks after his drum kit pedal broke mid-concert. But he never stopped playing. His way of saying goodbye to the venue that allowed him to grow into the musician he is today was to play on that same stage one last time.

For him, it was like going back to his very first concert.

A mix of blue, red and pink lights flashed over his hair, dyed a brilliant yellow, and over a crush of young Mexicans in a mosh pit.

They shouted one of the bands most famous songs, one dedicated to 43 Mexican students who were abducted and disappeared in 2014.

Thanks to the Alicia, a lot of music bands like us learned to organize concerts and build our own spaces, Torres said. For us (the Alicia) is a safe place, our learning place. It taught us we could live off music.

The late 1990s to mid-2000s saw a growth of self-managed concerts in Mexico City to avoid depending on commercial event producers. Everything from pamphlets, ticketing, security and production was organized by the bands themselves, supported by political collectives.

It was the golden era of Mexican ska. The Alicias punk influence was a predecessor of this movement.

The narrow concert hall sheltered prominent Mexican bands like Panteon Rococo, Sekta Core, Botellita de Jerez, Lost Acapulco and Tijuana No! and hosted international artists like Manu Chao, Ska-P and Banda Bassotti.

Fernando Rodriguez, 32, was 15 when he first walked through the Alicias doors. He said he couldnt miss one of the very last concerts of the Mexican punk-rock band Seguimos Perdiendo at the venue.

The Alicia is one of the best spaces to get to enjoy a band from up close, Rodriguez said. This place has meant a lot for Mexican rock.

The venues name comes from an Italian counterculture radio station from the 1970s, Radio Alice, and Lewis Carrols Alice in Wonderland. The space was inspired by the leftist self-managed occupied social centers in Italy in the 1980s and similar spaces called gaztetxes in the Basque Country, an autonomous region in Spain.

Its sad to think that there will be generations that wont get to know the Alicia and that their first concert will never be here, Torres said.

Pineda said one of the main reasons he chose to close is because he doesnt like how the neighborhood around the venue has changed. A recent wave of digital nomads mostly from the United States has increased gentrification; long-time residents and businesses have been replaced with AirBnBs and hipster coffee shops.

La Roma, a historically middle-class neighborhood in Mexico City, is not what it used to be anymore, Pineda said.

On one of Alicias final nights, Pineda walked in and out of the venue wearing a beret and a pair of worn-out Dr. Martens. He climbed the stairs and plunged once again into a sea of ska fans and dyed hair. He peeked from the sound booth, looking upon what he crafted over almost three decades.

The same neighbors who once looked down on the space, now wander by and tell Pineda they will miss him and the Alicia.

In 27 years, he missed only 10 days of work. It was his life project.

I think there will be other places. This wont stop here, its an independent movement, its culture, Pineda said. But I might come back at some point and sit on the bench in front of the Alicia, have a mezcal and cry.
AP

BEIRUT (AP)  A rocket attack Monday targeted a base in eastern Syria where U.S. troops are based causing no injuries or damage, the U.S. military said.

The military said in a statement that one rocket struck the Mission Support Site Conoco in eastern Syria on Monday evening and another rocket was found at the attack point of origin.
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP)  Slovenia's emergency mountain teams on Monday rescued four French citizens who were stuck in bad weather in the Alps, the rescue service said.

The operation on the Skuta mountain came a day after dozens of emergency workers used helicopters to rescue another five people swept away by an avalanche in an Alpine region further north. They were part of a group of seven people attending a mountaineering course when the avalanche hit. Three people were seriously injured.
CAIRO (AP)  Saudi Arabias ambassador to Yemen said Monday his trip to the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa was aimed at reviving a cease-fire and re-starting political talks to end the nine-year conflict.

Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber met with Houthi officials in Sanaa on Sunday for talks also attended by Omani officials. The trip came as talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis gained momentum after the Kingdom reached a deal with Iran last month to restore their diplomatic ties. Iran is the Houthis main foreign backer in Yemens conflict.

Al-Jaber said on Twitter that his trip was meant to stabilize the truce and cease-fire, support the prisoner exchange process and explore venues of dialogue between Yemeni components to reach a sustainable, comprehensive political solution in Yemen.

His comments were the first by Saudi Arabia on the visit.

Yemens conflict began in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthis seized Sanaa and much of Yemens north, ousting the internationally recognized government that fled to the south then into exile in Saudi Arabia.

The Houthi move prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene months later in a bid to restore the internationally recognized government to power. The conflict has in recent years turned into a regional proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The Saudi diplomat met with Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthis' supreme political council, which runs rebel-held areas in Yemen.

Yemeni and Saudi officials said Saudi Arabia and the Houthis reached a draft deal last month to revive a cease-fire that expired in October. The deal, brokered by Oman, is meant to usher in a return to political talks, said officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss closed-door negotiations.

One Yemeni official said the phased roadmap includes lifting the Saudi-led coalition's air and maritime blockade on Houthi-held areas, and the rebels would end their siege of Taiz, Yemen's third largest city. The Houthis also accepted security guarantees for Saudi Arabia, including a buffer zone with Houthi-held areas along the Yemeni-Saudi border, he added.

The Yemeni government and the rebels would also work to unify the country's central bank, and a mechanism would be established to pay salaries of all state employees  including the military  from oil and gas revenues, he said.

The official said Saudi Arabia promised to support a widespread reconstruction efforts in Yemen where the war devastated its infrastructure and created one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters.

Spokespeople for the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition didn't respond to requests for comment.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Monday hailed the talks as a welcome step that would help settle the conflict and de-escalate regional tensions.

What were seeing is different strands, different parties that have been in tension with each other, have been speaking, he said.

Dujarric said the U.N. was not involved in the Sanaa talks, but we very much hope that it can contribute to the overall peace efforts led by (U.N. envoy for Yemen) Hans Gruenberg for the renewal of the truce in Yemen and the restart of the intra-Yemeni political process.

Yemens internationally recognized government has welcomed what it calls Saudi Arabias efforts to bring Yemeni parties to the negotiating table to reach a comprehensive political agreement, according to a statement released late Sunday.

Al-Jaber's trip to Sanaa came days before the implementation of a prisoner exchange deal expected to take place later this week. The deal, brokered by the U.N. last month, involves the release of nearly 900 war prisoners from both sides, including Saudi troops.

Ahead of his trip, the Houthis said Saudi Arabia released 13 Houthi prisoners Saturday in exchange for a Saudi prisoner the Houthis freed earlier this year.

___

Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer contributed from the United Nations.
Its Dec. 23, 2021, the day before Christmas Eve. My mother wears an expression mixed with fear, anticipation, and relief. It rained the night before and I am carrying the only possessions I have left to my name : a little roller bag, packed with mildewed clothes and various half-empty toiletries from the volunteer crew that would occasionally push their Radio Flyer wagons through the little tent city under a bridge.

I knew I looked bad  I hadnt slept well, the rain kept leaking through the tent. My jeans were caked in mud and my hands were dirt-stained. There was a just-barely-healed abrasion near the corner of my mouth where I had been smacked, hard, across the face. Not to mention, I hadnt showered in  a while. My appearance told a story of despair  the despair that had encircled every facet of my life.

My mom grabbed me and held me. Tears streamed down my face.

Im sorry, mom, I cried. Im so, so sorry.

And I meant it. I had tried, again and again, to get clean to no avail. I was addicted to fentanyl  deadly, illicit fentanyl  and I knew in my bones exactly what that made me: a no-good junkie. A homeless parasite. I did not deserve recovery or happiness. The fallout from my addiction was immense, and my family was left strewn in the wreckage. I felt a deep and abiding sense of shame, a hurt so profound it defies articulation.

Good-hearted people in yellow vests marked with the word VOLUNTEER would venture down to the trail that was dotted with makeshift structures and deteriorating tents. They would bring Narcan and granola bars. They would try, again and again, to throw us life rafts, and I would bat them away. We can help, they would offer. There are groups and rehabs and doctors who will see you.

We took the Narcan and the water bottles but left the offers.

I have salient memories of my time on the streets, bursts of euphoria punctuated by intense anguish. One moment, I am upright, foil in one hand, torch in the other. The next moment  I wake up to the blinding light of day on a park bench. I am dopesick and hungry, and for the first time since I was a child, I cried out in public. From the depths of my soul, I emitted a wail of unmitigated heartbreak.

Then, on a warm night in October, I took whats known as a hot shot  a term used to describe an IV rig filled with too much or a stronger batch of a substance, in this case, fentanyl  and went limp. I stopped breathing and my lips turned blue. I had overdosed. Miraculously, a bunch of homeless addicts living in abject poverty in a tent on a trail by the San Lorenzo River had enough Narcan, the lifesaving antidote I needed, readily available to bring me back from the brink of nonexistence.

At times, the conversation about policy surrounding addiction loses its essential humane tenor. In lieu of statistics and abstract policy, its important to remember that we deal in human currency. The life I lived in active addiction was not pretty; it wasnt a dignified existence. Nonetheless, and by the skin of my teeth, I made it out the other side.

I am writing this op-ed to defend harm reduction policy. As someone whose life was undoubtedly saved by these policies, I feel I am especially apt to address the critiques this approach has faced of late.

In December, the Tenderloin Center, an unofficial safe injection site in San Francisco, closed its doors, and overdoses have increased in the months since. For critics who claim theres no direct correlation, one can at the very least note that January 2023  the first full month since the closure of the Tenderloin Center  saw the most overdose deaths of any month since January 2020, which is when data first became available. The National Institutes of Health concluded in a study that [safe consumption sites] are associated with lower overdose mortality, and 67% fewer ambulance calls for treating overdoses.

Though I write this with the intention of providing a humane perspective into this issue, it cant be understated that statistical evidence supports the benefits of these policies: A 2014 review of supervised injection services demonstrated that these sites fulfill their objectives  in that they reduce overdoses and increase access to life-saving health services  and they do so all without increasing drug use or drug trafficking.

San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst N/San Francisco Chronicle via Gett

Initiatives like safe injection sites do not enable nor encourage people to use drugs. As someone who has lived as a drug addict and benefited from harm reduction policies similar to safe injection sites  such as needle exchanges and access to naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdoses  I can say confidently I never once predicated my use of drugs on the accessibility of life-saving measures. Not even once. Drug use is a compulsive behavior on behalf of drug addicts, and we, as a society, have two choices: We can either make space in our hearts and minds for drug addicts to endure their sickness with a modicum of safety and dignity, or we can let them die in throngs laboring under the mistaken belief that reducing the harm inherent in their compulsion equates to encouraging the addiction.

The people who came down to the trail and dispensed Narcan, granola bars and goodwill  those strangers had shown me love and compassion. Indeed, they had loved me until I got well enough to love myself. That show of humanity saved my life. Without ready access to Narcan, I would cease to exist. My parents would have buried their oldest child.

I have a simple question: Whats that worth?

Even if you cant get behind the idea of saving someones life, and care only about getting addicts out of public view, listen to the evidence that demonstrates that safe injection sites achieve that aim. A study in Vancouver, Canada, showed that safe injection sites actually reduced the prevalence of public drug use in the surrounding area.

As Peter Davidson, a researcher specializing in harm reduction at UC San Diego, pointed out in a 2018 NPR article, If there had been unintended consequences, I suspect that would have been picked up by now. A prevailing theme for adversaries of proactive harm reduction policy is rooted in fear about the message it sends to young people and to impressionable members of our society. Its fueled by a sense of disquietude  that if we destigmatize addiction (in particular, opioid addiction) we are tacitly endorsing it. A common analogy is used with regard to tobacco and nicotine: We stigmatized the use of tobacco and nicotine, we make it illegal or at the very least actively discourage it, and now tobacco use has decreased.

Yet, opioid abuse and especially IV opioid use is already severely stigmatized. Its highly discouraged  and rightfully so. The analogy is a false equivocation, and either way, its still perfectly legal for consenting adults to buy nicotine. For a stigmatization to be effective or meaningful, the behavior or product in question needs to have been normalized in the first place. IV opioid consumption will never be normalized, and harm reduction policies do not normalize addiction. These policies only address addiction as the unfortunate phenomenon it is.

Nick Otto / The Washington Post via Getty Images

To those who believe San Franciscos problem is uniquely acute, I have some news for you: This type of addiction exists in every city in the country. The difference is that ours isnt entirely hidden in back alleys and under bridges. San Francisco is a city that looks our most vulnerable in the eyes. According to data collected by the American Addiction Centers in 2021, San Francisco is actually among the least drug-addicted cities in the country. Another study from 2020 also pointed out that California, as a whole, is not considered a problem area when it comes to drug abuse. I dont say this to diminish the problem we are facing, because it is colossal. I say this because I often see detractors posting video after video to Twitter showcasing the despair-lined streets of the Tenderloin, as though that is a meaningful response to peoples suffering. It seems like a thinly veiled attempt to invoke revulsion in lieu of sound reasoning. Its like despair porn: it is gratuitous and does nothing to address the underlying issues.

Furthermore, the following dichotomy is presented: On one hand, detractors are saying, Look at this horror and destruction, this obscene display of inhumanity, and with the other hand they suggest that somehow that same phenomenon is going to lure impressionable citizens to do the same. Which is it? Abject revulsion or an appealing life path?

After years of trying in vain to tread water, I finally accepted a life raft. It would have been easy to discount me as a hopeless dope fiend, but on that cloudy December afternoon, I did the impossible (or at the very least, statistically improbable) and I chose to go into detox. I was terrified because I knew just how sick I was going to become. At the same time, I was desperate for my nightmare to end. My parents took me to the hospital, where I spent two weeks writhing in pain as the poison seeped out of my pores. I was despondent and broken, but amazingly, I was alive. And now, with the benefit of hindsight, I can see it was far and above the best Christmas present I could have ever received  another chance at life.

Frankly, I would not agree to enter detox until I was told that a path had been cleared for me to return that did not involve incarceration. My struggle with addiction spans nearly a decade of my life, beginning around the same time I graduated law school in 2014. I had been arrested in 2017 for a low-level drug offense and after completing drug court, I was sentenced to probation. I was, in fact, still on probation during my last relapse. Luckily, a probation officer empathized with my mothers plight and assured her that they would not lock me up if I agreed to detox and rehab.

If we, as a society, continue to envision addiction as a moral failing that warrants punishment, we will always struggle to address the problem. Tougher drug laws will not stop people from using or selling drugs. If that worked, we would have already solved the problem  because that is how we have always treated it. We need to try something different, and we must approach this issue from a place of love and compassion.

The Washington Post via Getty Images

I sympathize with the desire to force people to do whats best for them. Mayor London Breed has recently pushed for changes in state law that would make it easier to compel people into mental health or substance abuse treatment programs. In cases of severe mental illness, a case can be made for compelling treatment by way of the courts. In terms of addiction, though, my own personal experience tells me that the fear of incarceration can only get you so far  eventually, staying clean has to be a decision to make a better life. It is impossible to compel that decision for another.

Take it from a native Midwesterner, San Francisco is a special place. For the most part, our local government addresses these problems from a place of genuine compassion. We have pioneered laws aimed at enabling people like me to have a meaningful shot at gainful employment. Nonprofit organizations like Urban Alchemy engage with homeless and addicted people where theyre at and connect folks to important resources. We value deescalation and alternatives to incarceration and erring on the side of nonviolence. The list goes on and on. I lead a life I probably could not lead anywhere else, and for that, I am so grateful.

Today, everything is different. Not to brag, but I live indoors. I have my own apartment in the city I love. I have a rewarding career where I get to help people. I have family and friends whom I dont disappoint or frighten anymore. I am a model citizen. I dont even smoke cigarettes anymore. Surviving my ordeal has enabled me to create a purposeful life. If not for harm reduction policies such as the wide distribution of Narcan, I would have been left to die, and none of this would have come to fruition. I implore you to consider the gravity of that. What is that worth?

According to a recent study, up to 75% of addicts are able to find true long-term recovery. Thats a staggeringly hopeful statistic, but we need to work to ensure that as many of us as possible have the chance to get there. Given the prevalence of my deadly and potent drug of choice, it is of the utmost importance that we implement policy that will save addicts lives while they find their way to recovery. As Harvard professor Dr. David Eddie puts it, Nobody recovered from addiction dead. My feeling is if we can keep people alive long enough, we know eventually the majority get recovery. I am living, breathing proof of that.

Now, back to the day before Christmas Eve, 2021, the last day I ever used a drug, by the way. Picture this moment: a mother, holding tightly to her weeping daughter, both in silent prayer for a brighter tomorrow. That day was the beginning of a new life that very nearly never happened. Take it from me, we are all capable of overcoming great odds.

Madeleine Sweet is a writer living in San Francisco.

Editor's note: This op-ed was updated at 1:30 p.m., April 10 to correct information on San Francisco drug overdose data.
During an interview that aired Sunday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom gave noticeably contrasting remarks on former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the nation's two most popular conservative figures.



In fact, Newsom's remarks about the two men were so different in terms of tone that one could assume the governor would prefer to work with Trump over DeSantis if either one should win next year's presidential election. That may not surprise anyone who's been paying attention to the ongoing feud between the two governors over the past several years or anyone who remembers Newsom's saying in the Trump era that he had an effective relationship with the former president.

Speaking to former White House press secretary Jen Psaki on her new MSNBC show, Newsom was asked if he would be able to continue working with Trump as president if he were to beat Joe Biden in a reelection contest. Newsom maintained that Biden would win reelection, saying that his time in office represents a master class in governing.



Theres just nothing that comes close, and youre seeing the results all across this country already, he said. Which is just another reason that he not only deserves [a second term], but I will be enthusiastically out there campaigning for him.

But in entertaining Psaki's hypothetical scenario in which Trump beats Biden to win the White House, Newsom didn't attack the former president, as one might expect. Instead, he spoke to his ability to work with people he disagrees with.

I dont like talking past people or down to people because they disagree with me. Ive spent a disproportionate amount of time with the people who tried to recall me, he said. We all want to be respected, protected, connected. We all want to love. We all need to be loved. We have so many foundational values.  Theres some universal things about being human that I also think are important, so I say this in the context of the frame around Trump or all these folks.

The tone of his comments on Trump was markedly different from the tone he used when speaking about DeSantis. In fact, Newsom didn't even entertain the idea that DeSantis would become president, saying that Trump would thump him in the contest for the Republican nomination. He said that the Florida governor should actually wait a few years before running. (DeSantis hasn't officially announced that he's seeking the office.)

Honestly, if I were offering him political advice, Id tell him to pack up and wait a few years, he said. And actually do some of the hard work, which actually includes governing, not just identity and culture war.  Come back as a more seasoned and capable leader with a little humility, which, by the way, he could use.



Those comments followed other remarks in which Newsom savaged DeSantis, saying he looked weak in his attacks on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is spearheading the effort to indict the former president on criminal charges related to business fraud. Newsom said DeSantis parroted lines fed to him by Trump allies.

He just looked weak, weakness masquerading as strength, Newsom said. I watched all the folks out there  outraged and upset that DeSantis was a little slow being critical when the threat of indictment was first exposed by Trump himself. And they said, Heres what he shouldve said, and there he goes. He comes back a few days later and literally parrots it. Weakness masquerading as strength.



Newsom is not a fan of Trump's politics, to be clear. In his interview with Psaki, Newsom did criticize the former president for weaponizing the Justice Department to go after his political enemies. But that remark didn't come close to matching the vitriol Newsom used when talking about DeSantis.

Earlier this year, Newsom told CNN that his surprisingly strong relationship with Trump can in part be attributed to the fact that his ex-wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle, is now dating Donald Trump Jr.

If Trump or DeSantis should beat Biden in a contest to become the next president, its clear  based on Newsoms interview with Psaki  which one Newsom would prefer.
In San Franciscos North Beach neighborhood, most hidden gems give themselves away by the smell of baking pizza dough, but theres not a single clue that the headquarters to one of the most seminal companies in music history is hiding next to Original Joes. Theres not even a sign. The only way you might know theyre operating there is if you spotted James Murphy from LCD Soundsystem sneaking in the front door.

Even if you dont know a sine wave from a sawtooth, youve likely heard a Sequential synthesizer before. The original Prophet-5 synth, released in 1978, supplies the squelchy bass solo in Burning Down the House by Talking Heads. Michael Jackson had one in the studio for Thriller. It helped define the sound of the 80s synth-pop band, from Tears for Fears to Pet Shop Boys.

And 22 years after its release, the Prophet created the haunting keyboard chords for the opening track off Radioheads Kid A, Everything In Its Right Place.

The company was founded by Dave Smith, who can be credited with a host of musical innovations. Smith pioneered polyphony in analog synthesizers, before which, synthesizers could only play single notes, rather than complex chords. He also was the first to integrate microprocessors to store preset sounds. But most importantly, he invented MIDI, essentially the USB of electronic music, which debuted in 1983 and is still the industry standard to this day. Smith died in 2022, shortly after the company was sold to audio interface company Focusrite, but he worked up until his death out of Sequentials offices.

[Dave] sold the company and made some money, enough to retire, said David Gibbons, who joined Sequential as CEO in 2021. He was in his 70s, but he didnt want to retire, he wanted to keep on making stuff. He liked to joke that when people asked him what he did with his spare time, he would say the same thing he did at work  design synths.

Courtesy of Sequential Courtesy of Sequential Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE Founder Dave Smith sold the company in 2022 and worked up until his death out of Sequentials offices. (Sequential / Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE) Founder Dave Smith sold the company in 2022 and worked up until his death out of Sequentials offices. (Sequential / Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE)

Smiths legacy continues in North Beach, where Sequential Circuits operates on the third floor of a nondescript office building. The space formerly housed an architecture practice, and feels more like a mix of a design firm and tinkerers shop rather than your average SF tech company. The elevator opens to some cubicles, then morphs into an engineering workshop for repairing and designing the electronic innards of the synthesizers. But the real star of the space is a pair of showrooms that look over Stockton Street, boasting the companys full line of synthesizers.

Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE

Sequential typically doesnt allow visitors but makes exceptions for, you know, touring rock stars. In late 2022, the entirety of LCD Soundsystem stopped by during the San Francisco residency. Theres a poster in their showroom signed by an all-star cast of superstar musicians, including the Killers, Rufus du Sol and influential aughts electronic artists like Telefon Tel Aviv and MSTRKRFT.

Synth nerds have several local storefronts where they can get their hands on a Sequential instrument, both Mission Synths and Robotspeak carry their products, but its a rarity to see the full catalog in one place (especially since the shuttering of Oaklands Vintage Synthesizer Museum). When asked for a demonstration, Gibbons steps up to Sequentials newly reissued Oberheim OB-X8 (based on a classic synth from 1983) to shred out a sci-fi solo, then switches to the exact preset used in Van Halens Jump.

The 12 products on display are professional-grade instruments that could each be the centerpiece of a studio, and as such they dont come cheap  the compact Take 5 is the most affordable at $1,499 retail, and a reissue of the Prophet-5 runs $3,599.

Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE Keyboards and synthesizers at Sequential's offices. (Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE) Keyboards and synthesizers at Sequential's offices. (Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE)

The reason for the high price tag is the analog components, such as resistors, transistors and amplifiers, which are all assembled in a production factory in South San Francisco. Just like every traditional piano or acoustic guitar sounds a little different based on its construction, the same is true for analog synthesizers. Although its much cheaper to use digital components that can be programmed like a computer, musicians fetishize analog construction for both its sound and its heavy-duty feel  a Prophet-5 weighs 32 pounds.

[Digital circuitry] makes a very clinically repeatable sound. And your ear gets tired of that pretty quickly.  The analog circuits are very prone to changing with temperature and environmental factors, which makes them very hard to keep in tune, said Gibbons. We put a lot of time and energy into basic engineering the analog circuitry to really reproduce that analog sound, which has variances that you find organic and natural and appealing to listen to.

As such those instruments often need some repairs after a few years, hence the crew of technicians tinkering away in the back of Sequentials offices. Although no one wants their equipment to break, Sequential prides itself on the companys repair operations, going so far as to have one of its staff actually jump onstage with James Blake at his Mezzanine show in 2013 for an emergency repair of his Prophet 08 (which he also played at last years Portola Fest).

Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE Gus Callahan repairs a Sequential synthesizer (Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE) Gus Callahan repairs a Sequential synthesizer (Adam Pardee/Special to SFGATE)

Though today most of Sequentials product line is beyond the budget of a struggling San Francisco musician, Sequentials longevity is an inspiring counterpoint to the perpetual theme of San Francisco losing its creative class. Its an example of how technological innovation can fuel artistic creation, dating back to Dave Smiths invention of MIDI and the original Prophet model, to its newest creations, which combine 80s analog design concepts with more contemporary features.

These are quintessential parts of the foundations of music, said Sequential product designer Andrew McGowan, who has worked with Smith since the 70s. [Dave Smiths] sound and DNA are in the past 40 years of music, and has changed the direction of music.
WFO BROWNSVILLE Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, April 10, 2023

_____

AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY

Flood Advisory

National Weather Service Brownsville TX

411 PM CDT Mon Apr 10 2023

...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.

* WHERE...A portion of Deep South Texas, including the following

county, Starr.

* WHEN...Until 515 PM CDT.

* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

Water over roadways.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 411 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to

thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin

shortly in the advisory area. Up to 1 inch of rain has

fallen.

- Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected

over the area. This additional rain will result in minor

flooding.

- Some locations that will experience flooding include...

Sullivan City, Garciasville, La Grulla, Alto Bonito, La

Victoria, La Puerta, Santa Cruz, Grulla Middle School, Las

Lomas, La Casita and Rio Grande City--Roma.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

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.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM CDT

FOR WEST CENTRAL BROWN AND SOUTHEASTERN COLEMAN COUNTIES...

At 411 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Trickham,

moving south at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail

damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind

damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

This severe storm will be near...

Trickham around 420 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Shields.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.

Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading

killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to

be struck by lightning.

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Hidalgo

and southeastern Starr Counties through 445 PM CDT...

At 414 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over

Garciasville, moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Rio Grande City, Penitas, Sullivan City, La Joya, Los Ebanos,

Garciasville, La Grulla, La Victoria, John F Kennedy Elementary

School and Fort Ringgold County Park.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to

localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded

roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.

Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe

shelter inside a building or vehicle.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio

stations and available television stations for additional information

and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 2620 9844 2623 9845 2622 9848 2620 9848

2625 9856 2622 9856 2626 9859 2624 9867

2626 9868 2627 9872 2629 9871 2630 9875

2631 9874 2633 9875 2633 9879 2637 9880

2636 9890 2653 9865 2641 9847 2617 9839

TIME...MOT...LOC 2114Z 313DEG 18KT 2634 9870

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN

MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO BROWNSVILLE Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, April 10, 2023

_____

AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY

Flood Advisory

National Weather Service Brownsville TX

442 PM CDT Mon Apr 10 2023

...FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT THIS

AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues.

* WHERE...A portion of Deep South Texas, including the following

county, Starr.

* WHEN...Until 515 PM CDT.

* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

Water over roadways.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 442 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to

thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin

shortly in the advisory area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain

have fallen.

- Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are expected over

the area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding.

- Some locations that will experience flooding include...

Sullivan City, La Grulla, Alto Bonito, La Victoria, Grulla

Middle School and Rio Grande City--roma.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

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.

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Hidalgo

and south central Starr Counties through 515 PM CDT...

At 444 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over

La Joya City Hall, or over La Joya, moving southeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Mission, Hidalgo, Palmview, Penitas, Sullivan City, La Joya,

Palmhurst, Los Ebanos, Sharyland and Alton.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to

localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded

roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.

Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe

shelter inside a building or vehicle.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio

stations and available television stations for additional information

and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 2611 9828 2612 9827 2612 9830 2610 9830

2617 9834 2616 9839 2623 9845 2620 9848

2625 9856 2622 9856 2626 9859 2624 9867

2627 9872 2629 9871 2630 9875 2632 9875

2641 9848 2628 9830 2608 9823

TIME...MOT...LOC 2144Z 313DEG 23KT 2624 9851

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN

MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO LAKE CHARLES Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 11, 2023

_____

FLOOD WARNING

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

Flood Warning

National Weather Service Lake Charles LA

1032 AM CDT Mon Apr 10 2023

...The National Weather Service in Lake Charles LA has issued a

Flood Warning for the following rivers in Texas...

Neches River Near Town Bluff

Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.

...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...

* WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast.

* WHERE...Neches River Near Town Bluff.

* WHEN...From late tonight until further notice.

* IMPACTS...At 70.0 feet, Flooding can be expected around Barlow

Lake and Brushy Lake with some roads being cutoff and some of the

lowest properties near the river begin to flood.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 10:00 AM CDT Monday the stage was 65.0 feet.

- Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage

just after midnight tonight and continue rising to 70.9 feet

Wednesday evening. Additional rises are possible thereafter.

- Flood stage is 68.0 feet.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

Fld Observed Forecasts (1 pm CDT)

Location Stg Stg Day/Time Tue Wed Thu

Neches River

Town Bluff 68.0 65.0 Mon 10 am CD 70.8 70.8 70.9

...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...

* WHERE...Sabine River Near Deweyville.

* WHEN...Until further notice.

* IMPACTS...At 25.0 feet, Lowest roads beside the river flood around

Deweyville and subject to being closed. In addition, low-lying

roads in Southwest Beauregard Parish are flooded including Robert

Clark Road. Flooding occurs on the south side of Niblett Bluff

Park with access roads to camp houses cut off around the park.

Access roads to the river in Northeastern Orange County become

flooded.

- At 9:45 AM CDT Monday the stage was 23.8 feet.

late this afternoon and continue rising to a crest of 24.8

feet early Wednesday afternoon.

- Flood stage is 24.0 feet.

Sabine River

Deweyville 24.0 23.8 Mon 9 am CDT 24.5 24.8 24.8

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The overall volume of railway transportation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan exceeded 3 million tons in 2022, which is a four-fold increase compared to 2021, Trend reports, citing Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ).

KTZ, the national railway operator of Kazakhstan, revealed that export volume moving to and through Azerbaijan exhibited a significant seven-fold increase, which reached 2.7 million tons. Kazakh railway operator also highlighted the growth of grain and mining industry production transportation volumes.

Additionally, the volume of goods transported between the countries increased by 40 percent during 1Q2023.

KTZ and Azerbaijan Railways created a joint dispatch center to streamline the flow of information with the goal to foster cooperation in the framework of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).

The national railway operator of Kazakhstan concluded by saying developing TITR remains one of its priorities in the context of relations with Azerbaijan.

Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, is the key transport artery linking East and West. The route gained prominence due to the geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe, which made businesses unable to use existing routes via Russia. As Iran is heavily sanctioned, the Middle Corridor became the only feasible option for ensuring the seamless transportation of goods between Europe and Asia.
WFO LUBBOCK Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, April 9, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northwestern Lubbock County in northwestern Texas...

Northeastern Hockley County in northwestern Texas...

Southwestern Hale County in northwestern Texas...

Eastern Lamb County in northwestern Texas...

* Until 700 PM CDT.

* At 622 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line

extending from Olton to near Spade to 3 miles southeast of

Littlefield, moving southeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...63 mph wind reported at the Olton West Texas Mesonet.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Littlefield, Olton, Anton, Cotton Center, Fieldton and Spade.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to

flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN FOARD AND

NORTHWESTERN KNOX COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 630 PM CDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe

limits, therefore the warning will be allowed to expire.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO LUBBOCK Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, April 9, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Central Floyd County in northwestern Texas...

* Until 800 PM CDT.

* At 657 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 6 miles southeast

of Lockney, or 6 miles north of Floydada, moving south at 20 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Floydada, Lockney and South Plains.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to

flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

In addition to large hail, significant amounts of smaller hail are

likely. Accumulating hail can cause damage to crops, trees, and

vehicles.

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Jones,

northeastern Nolan, northwestern Taylor and southeastern Fisher

Counties through 745 PM CDT...

At 658 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near

Trent, moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Merkel, Tye, Buffalo Gap, Trent, Coronados Camp, View, Caps, Dyess

Afb, Lake Abilene, Camp Tonkawa and Camp Butman.

This includes Interstate 20 between Mile Markers 251 and 275.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

LAT...LON 3248 10033 3265 10014 3232 9971 3213 10009

TIME...MOT...LOC 2358Z 314DEG 17KT 3247 10018

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN

MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT

FOR WEST CENTRAL LUBBOCK COUNTY...

At 658 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Texas Tech

University, or near Lubbock, moving south at 10 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Public. At 645 PM CDT, quarter size hail was reported in

Shallowater.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Lubbock, Shallowater and Reese Center.

Southwestern Lubbock County in northwestern Texas...

* Until 730 PM CDT.

* At 700 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Lubbock,

moving south at 10 mph.

SOURCE...Public. At 645 PM, quarter size hail was reported in

Shallowater.

Lubbock, Wolfforth, Lubbock South Plains Mall, Texas Tech

University, Downtown Lubbock and Lubbock Science Spectrum.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, April 9, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northern Borden County in western Texas...

Eastern Dawson County in western Texas...

* Until 1000 PM CDT.

* At 856 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Tahoka,

moving southeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Gail, Key and Hancock.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, April 9, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southwestern Jones County in west central Texas...

Eastern Nolan County in west central Texas...

Western Taylor County in west central Texas...

Southeastern Fisher County in west central Texas...

* Until 730 PM CDT.

* At 628 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Sweetwater,

moving southeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Trent around 645 PM CDT.

Nolan around 705 PM CDT.

Coronados Camp around 725 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Lake

Abilene, Camp Tonkawa, Camp Butman, The Intersection Of Highway 70

And Ranch Road 53, Lake Sweetwater and Busby.

This includes Interstate 20 between Mile Markers 244 and 271.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a

Northwestern Lubbock County in northwestern Texas...

* Until 715 PM CDT.

* At 627 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Shallowater,

or 12 miles northwest of Lubbock, moving southeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Trained weather spotters. At 615 PM CDT, large quantities

of accumulating quarter size hail were reported 3 miles

northwest of Shallowater.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail

damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect

wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Lubbock, Shallowater, Lubbock International Airport, Reese Center

and New Deal.

This storm is producing large hail. SEEK SHELTER NOW inside a sturdy

structure and stay away from windows!

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to

flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

In addition to large hail, significant amounts of smaller hail are

likely. Accumulating hail can cause damage to crops, trees, and

vehicles.

Central Floyd County in northwestern Texas...

* At 630 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 6 miles west of

South Plains, or 16 miles south of Silverton, moving southeast at

30 mph.

Floydada, Lockney and South Plains.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, April 10, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southwestern Brown County in west central Texas...

Southeastern Coleman County in west central Texas...

* Until 430 PM CDT.

* At 333 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Grosvenor,

moving south at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail

damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect

wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Santa Anna around 355 PM CDT.

Bangs around 400 PM CDT.

Trickham around 430 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Echo,

Shields and Thrifty.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground

lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately.

Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can

hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
Yes, the size of the video games market in the UK had shrunk by 5.6% in 2022, as Britons came out of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis squeezed purses.

But whereas in March 2021 the shares were changing hands on a price-to-earnings multiple of over 50, nowadays they were trading at 6.2.

And according to analysts at Liberum "the valuation looks wrong", Tobin said.

The software developer also had a burgeoning pipeline of upcoming titles to look forward to with games including I Am Future, Once Upon a Time in Roswell and Pigeon Simulator.

Together with its back catalogue, that was expected to push sales from $63m in 2022 to $74m by 2024 and $84m by 2025.

"Some titles may wobble, but gaming still has a big following. tinyBuild is a reliable developer of popular titles and its shares are in the bargain basement. Buy."

The Financial Mail on Sunday's Midas column recommended shares of recently-listed Ocean Harvest Technology to its readers.

Ocean Harvest had built a network of seaweed harvesters, mostly in South East Asia, who would then ship it to its processing facility in Vietnam where it made pellets, meal, powder and granules that were crafted to suit the various types of animals.

Revenues were up by 67% to 2.5m in 2022 and further rapid growth was expected for the current year.

Farmers spent over 30bn per year on animal feed and the market was expected to grow at an annual clip of 6% - with natural products increasingly favoured.

Seaweed had a very beneficial effect on animals, leading them to eat less, grow more and cutting down on premature deaths.

In the case of dairy cattle and hens, both had been shown to become significantly more productive.

Having listed in London during the previous week, the company was soon expected to switch to reporting in sterling.

"Demand for meat and fish is rising and demand for animal feed is growing in sync," Midas said.

"Natural additives help farmers to do more with less and seaweed is up there with the best of them, making animals healthier, happier and more productive. Ocean Harvest Technology is a true pioneer in this field and the shares, at 17.6p, should go far."
The 8th Edition of the Connected Banking Summit Southern Africa is set to take place on May 24, 2023, in Johannesburg, South Africa, bringing together top executives, experts, and leaders from the banking and financial services industry. The summit, organized by the International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA), is a platform for business professionals, experts, and practitioners from the BFSI community to discuss practical and cost-effective solutions for digital banking transformation.

Under the theme "Accelerating Digital Inclusion Through Sustainable Transformation," the summit will discuss into the impact of cutting-edge technologies such as AI, ML, deep learning,cognitive computing, and digital assets on the financial services ecosystem. Leading industry mavens will share their experiences and best practices, providing valuable insights and inspirationfor attendees.

The Connected Banking Summit is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving digital banking landscape. With over 250+ delegates expected to attend, the summit offers a unique opportunity for networking and collaboration, making it a must-attend event for those seeking to enhance their digital transformation journey.

In line with the summit's focus on accelerating digital transformation and delivering a delightful customer experience, the event will feature keynote speeches, interactive panel discussions, and case studies, ensuring a rich and engaging experience for all attendees. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights, network with peers, and shape the future of digital banking.

Summit focus: -

Digital Inclusion and Transformation

Africas Digital economy

Customer Experience

DeFi, Lending and Financial Inclusion

Zero Trust Frameworks  Powering Resilient organizations

Future of Payments

Data and Analytics  Empowering decisions

Digital Access and Financial Security

Synergies Between traditional FIs and Telecoms

Role of AI, ML and Robotics in Financial Services

ESG & Sustainability

The Current Edition will have inputs from: -
India-France Business Summit, commemorating 25 years of India-France Friendship, will be held in Paris on April 11. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal along with Olivier Becht, Minister delegate of Foreign Trade, Government of France, will co-chair the summit. Officials said that the summit will focus on themes including building a green future, emerging technologies, defence cooperation and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific regions.

Goyal is scheduled to meet with French business leaders across various sectors and will attend a CEOs roundtable. The Minister will be paying an official visit to France and Italy from April 11 to 13. The Minister would be accompanied with a delegation of top Indian CEOs.

Goyal along with French Minister Becht will participate in an event that will showcase India's cultural heritage and soft power and is expected to witness participation of 600+ dignitaries from the French government, the Indian Business Diaspora in France and members of the French business community.

The Union Minister will also be interacting with members of the Indian community in Paris. The Minister will later travel to Rome, Italy where he would meet H.E. Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation followed by a networking dinner with dignitaries from the Government and industry.

He is scheduled to meet top Italian CEOs for bilateral meetings followed by CEOs Interactive Business Session, where 35 CEOs are likely to participate. This would be followed by a meeting with H.E. Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, who would also interact with Indian CEOs. The visit is expected to impart further momentum to bilateral relations with India's key business partners in the European region, said the officials.
IIT Kanpur's technology business incubator, the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), has signed a CSR Agreement with Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited, one of the seven new Defence Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) formed by converting the Ordnance Factory Board into fully government-owned enterprises.

The agreement was signed at the Ordnance Factory Kanpur in the presence of dignitaries from SIIC, IIT Kanpur, and Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AW&EIL). According to an official release from IIT-K, the partnership between SIIC and AW&EIL aims to provide financial support to the startup ecosystem and promote the incubation of new technology, knowledge, and innovation-based startups at IIT Kanpur under the CSR Policy of AW&EIL, Ordnance Factory.

The expected outcome of this partnership is the overall growth and progress of the country, as the startups that emerge from this cooperation are likely to contribute significantly to the economy and society in general.

Speaking on this collaboration, Prof. Ankush Sharma, Professor-in-Charge, SIIC, IIT Kanpur, said, "The partnership between SIIC and AW&EIL is expected to produce a powerful synergistic effect that draws on the expertise and resources of both organisations to nurture startups focused on cutting-edge technology at IIT Kanpur."

He said that through the provision of comprehensive financial and infrastructural support, this partnership aims to drive the growth of high-potential startups that prioritise innovation and stimulate economic growth. The anticipated outcome of this collaboration is to establish a dynamic startup ecosystem that promotes revolutionary research and development, generates employment opportunities, and positions India as a leading innovator on the global stage, Prof. Sharma said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The New York State Department of Civil Service (DCS) has released its April application schedule for New Yorks entry-level civil service exams, and some jobs pay better than others.

The open-competitive exams are an opportunity to start a career with New York State. These tests are open to anyone who meets the qualifications listed on the examination announcement.

They will be held as in-person written exams in June 2023. Qualified candidates can apply online until 11:59 p.m. on April 26.

This months application period opened for the following state positions: education supervisor (general); principal sanitarian; public health sanitarian; sanitarian trainee; senior sanitarian; toll electronic systems technician; toll electronic systems technician trainee 1; traffic systems technician 1; traffic systems technician trainee 1.

Education supervisor (general)

Salary: $64,589

Job description, according to DCS: You would supervise and evaluate the education staff of either a major part of an extensive education program or an entire smaller education program; plan curricula; approve instructional materials, and supervise preparation and use of daily lesson plans; make classroom supervisory visits, integrate the education program with other activities, and maintain records of student progress; be responsible for the administration of standardized educational assessments; participate in staff meetings; interview new clients in order to secure information relative to educational background and aptitudes; schedule classes; supervise teacher training; and participate on committees. You may also perform other administrative duties as appropriate.

Public health sanitarian

Salary: $49,202

Job description, according to DCS: You would conduct environmental health inspections to determine compliance with the Public Health Law, the State Sanitary Code, the Medical Facilities Code, and applicable sections of the Social Services Law and Regulations. You would have responsibility for documentation, citing deficiencies to facility operators, reviewing facility plans of correction for appropriateness and viability, and conducting follow-up visits to determine ongoing compliance. Areas of assignment may include, but are not limited to, food service establishments, camps, hotels, motels, campgrounds, mobile home parks, migrant farm worker housing, schools, swimming pools, bathing beaches, recreational aquatic spray grounds, indoor tanning establishments, on-site water supplies and sewage disposal systems, hospitals, long-team care facilities, adult homes, enriched housing, residences for adults, diagnostic and treatment centers, and residential settings. You may also assist in health-related investigations and responses to chemical exposures and emergencies.

Sanitarian trainee

Salary: $46,529

Job description, according to DCS: Sanitarian trainees participate in a one-year training program to receive instruction and gain experience in performing beginning-level professional work under close supervision. Upon successful completion of the one-year traineeship, trainees are advanced to Public Health Sanitarian without further examination.

Principal sanitarian

Salary: $79,325

Job description, according to DCS: As a principal sanitarian, you would supervise senior sanitarians and other professional staff in the conduct of environmental health inspections and/or health care facility surveys.

Senior sanitarian

Salary: $61,270

Job description, according to DCS: As a senior sanitarian, you would independently perform duties of a more complex nature and may have responsibility for the supervision and/or training of Public Health Sanitarians, Sanitarian Trainees, and other staff.

Toll electronic systems technician

Salary: $45,698

Job description, according to DCS: You would install, modify, troubleshoot, maintain and repair complex electronic toll collection and audit systems and equipment; install, maintain, repair, overhaul, test and/or modify various ITS elements such as Dynamic Message Signs, Traffic Data Systems, Weather Information Systems, Closed Circuit Television Cameras and traffic control warning signs; install, maintain, repair, overhaul, test and/or modify various other equipment such as electronic time clocks, network ethernet data converters, switches and hubs; operate a variety of technician hand tools and electronic test equipment such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, radio frequency (RF) power meters, fiber optic light meters and visual fault locators; complete administrative paperwork as necessary to document work; maintain tour-of-duty records and prepare reports in connection with maintenance activities; and requisition supplies and spare and replacement parts. You may be required to perform work while on ladders up to 14 feet high, on lift platforms 25-30 feet high, and on buckets attached to trucks up to 65 feet high. You will also need to climb stairs to work on large over-the-road VMS signs up to 20 feet and you may be required to work on catwalks under and on structures over bridges, climb stairs over open water and/or work on the top of 20 foot high toll canopies.

Toll electronic systems technician trainee 1

Salary: $41,600

Job description, according to DCS: To be advanced to the full performance level of toll electronic systems technician, you must successfully complete a set training and development program. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training at the trainee 1, you will automatically advance to trainee 2. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a trainee 2, you will advance to the full level of this title without further examination.

Traffic systems technician

Salary: $49,202

Job description, according to DCS: You would troubleshoot and repair traffic signal equipment, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and communications equipment; program traffic signal controllers; inspect traffic signal systems; perform modifications; prepare phase diagrams of regulated traffic control devices sequences, which determine their operations and document malfunctions; review and modify design plans; maintain a database of repair records and equipment condition; and perform emergency repair of traffic control and ITS devices and equipment.

Traffic systems technician trainee 1

Salary: $43,970

Job description, according to DCS: To be advanced to the full performance level of this title you must successfully complete a set training and development program. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training at the Trainee 1, you will automatically advance to Trainee 2. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a Trainee 2, you will advance to the full level of this title without further examination.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

According to the state, an application must be submitted online or postmarked by the last date to apply. An application will not be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.

Application fees range from $35 to $40 for these exams this month.

To be considered for appointment, you must pass the written test. The Department of Civil Service may administer tests either online or with paper booklets and answer sheets.

All positions offer generous benefits, including paid leave, health benefits and retirement plans. In addition, telecommuting options may be available to employees who meet certain criteria.

To learn more about working for the State of New York, visit the Department of Civil Service website and follow the department on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In New York City, people discriminated against because of their height or weight have little legal recourse, but a local law aims to change that.

The law, sponsored by Councilman Shaun Abreu (D-Manhattan), has the support of 33 of his bipartisan colleagues in the 51-member body, and would add height and weight to the citys civil rights policy that protects people from discriminatory practices based on things like race, religion, and sexual orientation.

Were all bright and beautiful, Abreu said during a February Council hearing regarding the bill. And even if someone else doesnt think so, it still shouldnt make any difference to whether somebody can get a job, or an apartment, or do anything else they damn well please. New York City is ready to ban appearance-based discrimination.

While the bill has the support of the majority of the City Council, its not clear what its future is. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has not said whether she supports the bill, or if it will get a vote in the Council.

Adams spokesman, Mandela Jones, told the New York Times that no one should be denied opportunities for work, housing or other essentials because of their physical attributes, and not everyone in the City Council is on board.

City Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore), who leads his party in the Council, often takes to Twitter to share his own struggles losing weight, and raised concerns about expanding peoples ability to sue over discrimination.

Im overweight, but Im not a victim, Borelli told the Times. No one should feel bad for me except for my struggling shirt buttons.

A similar bill has been introduced at the state level, and would make height and weight discrimination illegal across the Empire State. Both bills have written exceptions for situations in which certain heights or weight may be necessary to perform a job task or to meet other safety concerns.

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UPDATE: The individual has been located, according to the NYPD.


LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Five people were killed and six others hospitalized in a shooting at a bank building Monday morning in downtown Louisville, police said.

The suspected shooter was also dead, Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey told a news conference.

Witnesses who left the building told Louisville station WHAS-TV they heard gunfire inside the building.

Numerous police vehicles were seen on television footage. WHAS reporters said they saw people being taken from the scene in ambulances.

In a tweet, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he was heading to the scene.

Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville, Beshear said.

The FBI said its agents were also responding to the shooting.

The shooting happened in a building on East Main Street that houses the Old National Bank not far from the Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.

This photo provided by Reid Cornell shows police presence near the scene of a shooting in Louisville, Ky., Monday, April 10, 2023. (Reid Cornell via AP)

This photo provided by Terrance A. Sullivan shows police presence near the scene of a shooting in Louisville, Ky., Monday, April 10, 2023. (Terrance A. Sullivan via AP)

This photo provided by Reid Cornell shows police presence near the scene of a shooting in Louisville, Ky., Monday, April 10, 2023. (Reid Cornell via AP)

This photo provided by Terrance A. Sullivan shows police presence near the scene of a shooting in Louisville, Ky., Monday, April 10, 2023. (Terrance A. Sullivan via AP)

LOUISVILLE, KY - APRIL 10: Law enforcement officers respond to an active shooter near the Old National Bank building on April 10, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. According to initial reports, there are multiple casualties but the shooter is no longer a threat. (Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

The shooting happened in a building on East Main Street that houses the Old National Bank not far from the Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park. (Google Maps)
The Southern United States has experienced an unprecedented increase of sea-level rise in recent years, a series of new studies found, raising the risk some coastal cities will confront in the face of climate change.

The research, first reported by the Washington Post, found the acceleration of insidiously rising ocean levels is occurring faster than scientists previously predicted and at nearly double the pace of global trends.

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report released last year predicted sea-level rise in the U.S. over the next 30 years will equal the rise experienced over the past 100, with parts of the coast seeing one foot of increase by 2050.

One study published in the Journal of Climate found one centimeter of sea-level rise in the region per year since 2010, equaling five inches through 2022 and coinciding with an active pair of hurricane seasons in 2020 and 2021. That rate of sea-level rise is about double the average global rate of 4.5 millimeters a year since 2010.

As a consequence, the elevated storm surge exacerbated coastal flooding and damages particularly on the Gulf Coast, the study authors wrote.

Hurricane Ian was one of the strongest, costliest storms in U.S. history in 2022, and extreme weather ranging from devastating storms to a winter cold wave last year cost the U.S. $165 billion, underscoring the significant dangers posed by human-induced climate change.

The entire Southeast coast and the Gulf Coast is feeling the impact of the sea-level rise acceleration, Jianjun Yin, professor of geosciences at the University of Arizona and an author of the research, told the Washington Post.

Experts overwhelmingly agree the planets continued warming will increase the frequency and power of these extreme weather events. Higher sea levels can create havoc by enabling storms to cause more dangerous surges and flooding.

A second study, published in the journal Nature, observed similar increases in sea-level rise on the Southeast and Gulf coasts.

The rapid increase is unprecedented in at least 120 years, the study said.

The findings underscore the difficulties in identifying short-term increases in sea-level rise, despite the need for those calculations to inform planning and decision-making in the near future.

Another study, currently a preprint that has not yet been peer reviewed, found the significant rise in sea level in the Southeast is responsible for 30-50% of flood days in 2015-2020.

In low-lying coastal regions, an increase of even a few centimeters in the background sea level can break the regional flooding thresholds and lead to coastal inundation, said the study.

It is not clear if the rates of higher-than-usual sea-level rise will continue and create cascading problems in the coming years or return to more normal levels.

Sea-level rise is becoming more pronounced in areas throughout the East Coast. An NOAA tidal gauge near Mariners Harbor is expected to experience between 15 and 35 high-flood days by 2030. Just seven were recorded in 2020  more than double the total 20 years earlier.

International, federal and city projections indicate Staten Islands East Shore will see the most stark effects of sea-level rise.

A series of herculean projects are in the works to protect New York City from extreme weather, including the East Shore Seawall and a $52 billion United States Army Corps of Engineers plan to use a combination of storm surge barriers and coastal mitigation infrastructure to reduce risk.



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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York Democrats efforts to push through gerrymandered congressional district lines failed in 2022, but two of the states top officials announced Friday they want another bite at the apple.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James issued a joint statement and submitted an amicus brief urging state courts to reconvene the New York Independent Redistricting Commission (NYIRC) to redraw the states congressional lines.

For Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), New York Citys lone Republican Congress member and arguably the states most-impacted by the redistricting process, the two officials proposition is a non-starter.

Here we go again. Governor Hochul and the corrupt Democrats in Washington and Albany are trying to undermine our democracy and influence our elections once again, she said. They are shameless and continue to disrespect the courts and our constituents, even after three different courts rejected their unconstitutional gerrymander and appointed an independent special master to draw a fair congressional map for New York State that should stay in place until after the next census.

In April 2022, a Steuben County judge appointed Dr. Jonathan Cervas, of the Institute for Politics and Strategy at Carnegie Mellon University, to draw district lines for Congress, the state Senate and the state Assembly -- after state courts found Senate Democrats maps that Hochul approved were unconstitutional.

Cervas map linked Staten Island, the citys most conservative borough with more like-minded parts of southern Brooklyn, and gave Malliotakis a cushy 24-point victory over former Rep. Max Rose, who represented the district from 2018 to 2020, when he lost to Malliotakis by just a six-point margin.

An analysis from non-profit news organization, THE CITY, found that if the maps the state Senate drew remained in place  with Staten Island connected to more liberal Park Slope, Roses hometown  that the former congressman couldve squeaked back into office with a 4,000-vote win.

Malliotakis victory saw her take about 65% of the vote on Staten Island, a political landslide, and eke out a 2,000-vote win in the Brooklyn part of the district, according to New York City Board of Election results.

District lines are redrawn after every decennial U.S. Census, and for the first time in decades, one party, Democrats, had full control over the legislature and the governors mansion.

Democrats in the state Senate took over the process after a first-of-its kind bipartisan NYIRC failed to reach an agreement on the district lines following the 2020 U.S. Census.

New Yorkers enshrined the NYIRC in the state constitution through a 2014 ballot proposal, but it passed with a stipulation that map drawings returned to the state Senate if the commission failed to pass a set of maps.

While state courts rejected all three sets of the Democrats maps, the decision tossing the Assembly maps came too close to the 2022 primaries, which kept the unconstitutional map for those districts in place.

A second iteration of the NYIRC is currently in the process of redrawing Assembly district lines ahead of the 2024 elections, and the petitioners in the lawsuit James and Hochul submitted their amicus brief for want to see the congressional district maps returned to the commission.

When they first filed their lawsuit in October, the petitioners wanted both lines for the state Senate and Congress given to the commission, but have narrowed their request to just New Yorks congressional district lines, which helped Republicans take back the House last year.

Hochul and James argue that the special master maps were appropriate last year given the court decisions proximity to the primary elections, but that a reconvening of the commission would be appropriate ahead of the 2024 election cycle.

Our states Constitution makes it clear that an independent body, with participation from the general public, is charged with drawing maps for Congressional districts, the attorney general said. 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. I am committed to ensuring our electoral process is as transparent as possible, and that we follow the process outlined in our Constitution. New Yorkers deserve free and fair elections, and to have a say in how their communities will be represented in Congress.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York State Senator Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) is planning to propose a bill that would mitigate risks of election fraud by strengthening some of the states policies around absentee ballots.

The legislation builds on recommendations that a grand jury issued to amend election law following an investigation concluding that criminality was involved in a 2021 primary race on Staten Island.

The grand jury report that New York State Supreme Court Justice Wayne Ozzi released to the public in November 2022 lays out the jurys concerns with an unspecified June 2021 primary election on the borough.

The grand jury said it found that fraud had occurred in that primary, but that it did not affect the outcome of the election due to the safeguards in place at the time. Despite that, the group concluded that an overhaul of the states electoral system is needed.

The report cited several specific incidents of alleged signature fraud in the unspecified 2021 election that, according to the panel, included a man signing an election document after his death, and multiple signatures for different people that looked to have been written by the same person. The grand jury made recommendations instead of filing charges because the alleged fraud could not be ascribed to any individual, officials said.

Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon called on New York State legislators to improve the states election laws accordingly when he announced the report in the fall.

While the report of this grand jury concerns only the actions of those involved in a particular primary election on Staten Island in 2021, this is surely not the only contest where efforts to illegally impact the outcome through ballot malfeasance have taken place, McMahon said after the report was released.

It is our sincere hope that through the release of this report and advocacy to policymakers and lawmakers, New Yorks election system will be strengthened and secured to the level necessary to inspire total confidence in election outcomes. Staten Islanders deserve nothing less, and we look forward to the work ahead in urging these changes be adopted without delay, he added.

Lanzas legislation is an answer to this call, directly applying some of the recommendations.

I agree and support the recommendations put forward to combat voter fraud, the senator said in a statement. I have prepared legislation which will require absentee ballots be submitted on paper with an original signature that matches a voters registration record. This legislation will also prohibit absentee ballots and applications from being sent to an address associated with a candidates campaign. After the state budget passes, I will introduce this legislation as part of the Senate Republicans Election Integrity Legislative Package.

Lanza and his peers in the legislature are currently occupied with the state budget, which is a week late.

The Advance/SILive.com requested comment from all of Staten Islands state legislators but did not receive responses from those aside from Sen. Lanza and Assembly Assistant Majority Leader Charles Fall (D-North Shore/Lower Manhattan) by the time of publication.

Fall didnt mention specific plans to act on the grand jurys recommendations but emphasized his support for them.

The grand jury report released by Justice Wayne Ozzi was alarming not only to me but to the general voting public. Serious allegations and findings of this magnitude have an effect on future elections if no actions are taken. I stand with the jury recommendations in making sure we are safeguarding our democratic process and election integrity, he said.

According to McMahons office, some of the jurys recommendations include:

Strengthening the process by which applications to change voter information (name change, party registration change, address change, etc.) and applications for an absentee ballot are submitted by requiring proof of identity beyond publicly available information.

Requiring absentee ballot applications be submitted on paper with ink signatures, and require those signatures match the signature on the corresponding voters registration form before an absentee ballot is issued.

Mandating local boards of election retain the services of qualified experts in the field of forensic document examination to review absentee ballot envelope signatures for potential fraud.

Prohibiting absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots themselves from being sent to an address associated with a candidates campaign. Currently, this practice allows vote harvesting.

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The President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, delivered a speech at the event dedicated to April 9 at the State Theater of Opera and Ballet, and said that she is sorry that on such day she has to defend Georgia's European perspective."I am also sorry to have to defend on April 9 that our only and alternative future is Europe. What else? - Do we want a boot? Do we want shovels? Do we not remember our history? We know very well what we want, what this country needs, we have no other alternative.By slowly leaving here, they choose Europe, and I want them to choose Europe here, here we get what we want from Europe, what is the strengthening of our identity, and here Georgia becomes a European state," stated Zourabichvili.The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, published a statement on the 34th anniversary of April 9 and wrote that it is a day of pain and pride at the same time."On this day, all of Georgia, united by the idea of freedom, announced to the world the decision to build an independent, democratic, European country. The brutality of the Soviet regime only strengthened the will of the Georgian people, strengthened our desire for independence.Zviad Gamsakhurdia said: "Everything can be taken away from the nation, but no one can take away the feeling of freedom." This feeling, which defined our entire history, was most clearly manifested on April 9, 1989.Today is a day of pain and pride at the same time. Once again, we will honor the bright memory of those heroes who paved the way to freedom at the cost of their own blood. We express our gratitude to every citizen who determined the future of not only Georgia, but also the countries of the Soviet Union with unanimity, dedication and support in those heroic days.Our further progress towards a better Georgia should be based on such unanimity around the ideal of freedom."On April 9 tragedy anti-Soviet, pro-independence demonstration was brutally crushed by the Soviet Army, killing 21 and injuring hundreds.
EDITORS NOTE: Best of Staten Island 2023 is sponsored by Empire State Bank, N.A., Staten Islands only headquartered bank, a member of the FDIC Equal Housing Lender.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Were kicking off our third Best of Staten Island 2023 topic, so we asked our readers to nominate their favorite sushi restaurant.

After 23 nominations were submitted on our Instagram and Facebook posts, its time to narrow the field to the top three finalists.

So put down the salmon roll and pick up your smartphone  its time to vote!

Readers have until 9 a.m. Monday, April 17, to vote for their favorite sushi spot in the poll below.

Only the top three from our list of 23 will receive individual coverage on the Advance/SILive.coms social media platforms  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok  and a collective feature in the Staten Island Advance.

In case you missed it, this year, Best of Staten Island has a brand new sponsor. Empire State Bank will join the Advance/SILive.com along the way as it explores Staten Islanders favorite businesses.

HOW BEST OF STATEN ISLAND WORKS

We like to keep it pretty simple for Best of Staten Island. Over the course of the year, we will feature eight different Best Of categories.

For each category, there will be one week of nominations, one week of voting and two weeks that will focus on the top winners as chosen by our readers. Only brick-and-mortar businesses are considered, unless otherwise noted.

The top three Best of Staten Island winners in each category receive individual coverage on the Advance/SILive.coms social media platforms and a collective feature in the Staten Island Advance, all brought to you by Empire State Bank.

In case you missed it, we already featured the best bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches and best dance schools on Staten Island for 2023. Take a look at our ultimate guides for all the info you need on each place.

In 2022, readers also voted on their top three dance schools, their favorite al fresco dining spots, their favorite places to grab tacos, their top diners and their favorite Chinese restaurants. And we stopped by their favorite Staten Island spots for the best burgers, the best calamari and the best grandma pie.
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Similarly, Melbourne backbencher Julian Hill, who is parliaments most popular political TikToker, with 146,000 followers, will keep his. Ed Husic, too, was still using the app, having posted six days ago. Australias premiers are also split. NSW Premier Chris Minns has dumped it but his Victorian counterpart Daniel Andrews still has an account, but hasnt posted since March 21. His government is working on a restriction similar to the federal governments. Queenslands Annastacia Palaszczuk too still has an account, and her last video is from March 29. WAs Mark McGowan, too, has an account, but hasnt updated since August last year. Hes due to visit China soon after being pipped at the post last month by Andrews. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas is still active, and posted at the weekend. Searches for NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff didnt yield any official-looking channels. Its theoretically possible to maintain an account on a non-government phone, but practically tricky.

Paving paradise The rarefied air of Sydneys upper northern beaches is a home away from home for some of the citys well-heeled movers and shakers, offering as it does peace and quiet within an hours drive of the big smoke. But the tranquillity is often pierced by the unforgiving din of a home renovation  or worse, the dreaded knock-down rebuild. Enter bond trader Darren Harvey, who has just lodged plans for an $8.7 million KDR job at the Palm Beach clifftop pad Rockpool he bought for $18 million in 2021. Harveys new mansion would include six bedrooms, a gym/games room, four-car garage, swimming pool, wraparound terrace and the piece de resistance, a jacuzzi overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The Coolabah Capital co-founder is also asking to exceed the allowable building height by two metres. The plans are open for feedback from the good burghers of Palm Beach. Just nearby, Chambers Cellars founders Steve and Patricia Chambers are sweating on a council decision regarding their mammoth $10 million knock-down rebuild on Whale Beach Road. The grand plans have already induced objections from some beachfront neighbours, including Petsec Energy chairman Terrence Fern  who was still upset about a 12-metre mature Norfolk Hibiscus tree lopped from his property under someone elses DA seven years ago. And a few blocks from there, Equus Mining chair Mark Lochtenberg is also awaiting a verdict on his proposed $8.2 million KDR. The new joint would include three storeys plus a wellness level below, comprising a change room, yoga room, sauna and storage. The Rob Mills-designed house would also have three terraces, each orientated to the rear to capture panoramic ocean view.

While not objecting to the development, Lochtenbergs hotelier neighbour Kent Walker and his wife Desley engaged H&E Architects to lodge their concerns about aspects of the plans. According to the submission, theyve been in touch with Mills outfit to see if they can come up with an architectural solution that keeps everyone happy. Thats the spirit! Howards way We turn now, to the north shore, where residents have just got word that some of their streets will be closed for North Sydney Councils Street Play series  neighbourly pop-up events designed to boost the wellbeing of residents. It all sounds very wholesome, and were told locals have reacted rather positively to the news. But the events, which kick off this month, could be an inconvenience to the lower north shore hamlets most famous resident.

One of the streets in question is close to former prime minister John Howards residence. After yet another election loss, we think Howard could use a bit of neighbourhood cheer. Gobbo goes global The case of Nicola Gobbo, the criminal barrister who informed on her own clients and ruptured Victorias criminal justice system, looks set to find global fame thanks to the international true-crime podcast industry. The fallout from what is more widely known as the Lawyer X scandal has attracted the attention of none other than Marcia Clark, who gained fame herself as the lead prosecutor in the unsuccessful 1995 murder trial turned global media circus of Orenthal James OJ Simpson. So, shes someone who knows a thing or two about high-profile miscarriages of justice. Nicola Gobbo and OJ prosecutor Marcia Clark. Credit: Jo Gay

Though not widely known outside Australia, Gobbos story remains an unprecedented and outlandish criminal justice scandal that the Victorian government has spent the past several years cleaning up. The key question: will Clarks undoubted fame be enough to loosen the pursed lips of those who are part of the Lawyer X mess, some of whom will undoubtedly be familiar to readers. Gobbo regularly spoke to detectives in the Purana Taskforce, formed by former Victoria chief commissioner of police Christine Nixon, to curb an escalating underworld war in Melbourne. CBD also thinks subsequent commissioners Simon Overland, Ken Lay and Graham Ashton could also have relevant anecdotes to impart. The war would claim the lives of gangland royalty Alphonse Gangitano, drug boss Carl Williams and brothers Mark and Jason Moran, among many, many others.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Turkiye will supply the Togg electric car to Turkmenistan, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters, Trend reports with reference to the Turkish media.

He noted that there is great interest in electric vehicles all over the world, especially from the Turkic states, and also added that Turkmenistan has requested for the cars to be white.

Turkiyes first indigenous electric car Togg has already been presented to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on April 4. President Ilham Aliyev was one of the first to order Togg at its presentation ceremony on October 29, 2022.

The first ever made Togg was presented to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his spouse Emine Erdogan. The President of Turkiye, speaking at a rally in Istanbul, said that soon the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will also receive an Turkiye's first local electric car.

Togg is available in two versions  with an electric motor of 200 and 400 HP. The most powerful version is capable of reaching 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The maximum range of the electric vehicle is about 500 kilometers. Special attention in the production of cars is paid to their absolute harmlessness to the environment.
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Eating outMexican Coyoacan Social brings Mexican street food to South Eveleigh Chef Roman Cortes menu is a mix of street-food tacos and dishes made by his mum and grandmother. Scott Bolles April 11, 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

Nestled beside Kylie Kwongs Lucky Kwong restaurant and Matt Whileys award-winning bar Re-, a hospitality start-up saunters into South Eveleigh this week. Coyoacan Social will have a soft launch in the coming days before its official launch on April 17, with Mexican chef Roman Cortes knocking out birria tacos, the southern Mexican cochinita pibil (served in a corn tortilla), and chicken tinga, the smoky shredded chicken dish. Coyoacan Socials founder Shaun Christie-David (left) and head chef Roman Cortes. Rhiannon Hopley Clues to the provenance of the start-up can be found in its name. Coyoacan Social is a stablemate of Colombo Social in Enmore and Kabul Social at Wynyard, part of Shaun Christie-Davids Plate it Forward stable of eateries. Originally launched to feed communities and help train refugees and asylum seekers, Plate it Forward has grown to extend support to the formerly incarcerated and a new group, recovering addicts.

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Christie-David says part of the brief will be to use donations to provide meals to the rehab centre in Mexico City, where his business partner at Coyoacan Social, Roman Cortes, took his first steps to recovery. But it was Cortes gift with food that first caught Christie-Davids eye. Coyoacan Socials authentic dishes include street food tacos. Rhiannon Hopley The food truck operator was cooking at a festival Christie-David was involved with here in Australia. It was really authentic, he tells Good Food. Cortes says if he cant make the food taste authentic, I wont make it. Our menu is a mix of street food tacos and home-made Mexican food. It is made of some of the food that I enjoyed the most in my city, but also dishes that my mum and grandmother used to cook for our family, he says.

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While there are a handful of tables out the front, Christie-David says many of the dishes are designed to eat on the go and take away. The site also continues Plate it Forwards relationship with property group Mirvac. Open Mon-Thu 11am-3pm; Fri 11am-3pm & 6pm-9pm; Sat 6pm-9pm Shop 8, 1 Locomotive Street, Eveleigh, coyoacansocial.com

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Leading No campaigner on the Voice, Warren Mundine has dismissed Julian Leesers resignation from the Liberal Party front bench as having no impact on the No campaign.

It means nothing really, he told ABC Melbourne Radio on Tuesday.

Warren Mundine Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

While Leesers opposition to the no campaign was no surprise, Mundine said Leesers speech at the National Press Club on Tuesday were surprising.

It seems to have some very strange positions is that is he brought up that the wording is, is dangerous at the Press Club, and then he turns around and says, yes, I want the wording to be changed, but Im still going to vote yes, Mundine said.

Asked if more Liberal MPs might split with the party position, Mundine said: Theres going to be a few people in the back benches, of course.

Its a small minority. Its not even a distraction.
Authorities join forces to crack down on graffiti across Melbourne

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Can adoption save a regiment?

Can Australia save the Cameronians, the Scottish Sword and Bible regiment which is due to be disbanded next month after nearly 200 years service? Yes, says Labor MP Al Grassby. And the Minister for Immigration, Mr Snedden has agreed to investigate Mr Grassbys request that Australia adopt as many Cameronians as possible. Supposing we got 200 of them, thats enough for a company - they could retain their own identity within our Armed Forces, said Mr Grassby.

Wahine ferry disaster

At least 50 people drowned when the New Zealand ship Wahine overturned and sank in Wellington Harbour. It is feared the final death roll from the 744 people aboard will be over 150. Bodies were washed onto the black sand of the harbour bays after the 8,944-ton Wahine, an interisland ship sank, before the eyes of horrified watchers on shore. The Wahine was thrust onto a jagged reef by 120 mph winds lashing NZs North Island in a violent day of storms.

Dr King buried - without violence

Dr Martin Luther King went to his grave the way he wanted to go - without the slightest taint of violence. Despite rumours that black militants would take advantage of the emotions stirred up by the funeral, the police reported that there was not a single incident of violence. The funeral drew a massive crowd of up to 200,000 people. The march that wound through the streets of Atlanta was perhaps the greatest civil rights demonstration in the history of the movement.
A womans body has been removed from a unit in western Sydney with police suspecting she was murdered in her own home.

Police were called to the unit on Newman Street in Merrylands about 11.30pm on Sunday following a concern-for-welfare call.

Police at a unit block on Newman Street in Merrylands where a womans body was found. Credit: Jessica Hromas

The Herald understands neighbours heard voices and screaming at the unit late on Sunday evening before the police were called and confronted by a bloody scene.

Its understood the woman was attacked with a knife or blade. The body was found inside the unit.
Police hunt Brisbane gunman who allegedly set fire to house

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Suspicious fire causes $1 million in damage at Adelaide school

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But West Melbourne business owner Richard Noble said he had since been unable to access the recovery grant of up to $200,000 for medium and large businesses or source any information about it. Loading Noble suffered $1.5 million in damage at his computer-building store, Aftershock PC, when Maribyrnong River floodwaters smashed through windows and destroyed hundreds of pieces of tech equipment on October 14. Unlike the $50,000 grant announced for small businesses, details about applying for the larger grant do not exist on the relevant government websites. Noble said he had called Business Victoria and the premiers office but staff said they had no information. The $50,000 grant, which is easily found on Business Victorias website, is for firms with fewer than 20 staff members, meaning larger companies such as Nobles, which has 71 employees, do not meet the requirements.

Noble said he understood it could take time for the larger grant to be accessible but that he became concerned when he noticed applications for the small businesses grant would close on May 1. Flood damage at Richard Nobles business in West Melbourne. Its disappointing, he said. We certainly need the funds. Its been a real struggle to get back on our feet. We havent rebuilt our showroom because weve had to focus our funds elsewhere with the understanding this grant could come through. A spokesman for Victorian Industry and Innovation Minister Ben Carroll said the $200,000 grant program for medium and large businesses opened on January 31 and that 12 businesses were being assessed for their eligibility. The spokesman said most of these businesses had qualified for the $50,000 grant and were being evaluated for further support through individualised arrangements.

He did not explain why information about the larger grant and its criteria was absent from the websites of government bodies he referred to, Business Victoria and Regional Development Victoria, but recommended business owners contact these agencies. Loading Sandell said her office was contacted by constituents who were advised by Business Victoria that it didnt know about the $200,000 grants or were told to contact their local member. Businesses in my electorate lost so much in the Maribyrnong floods and have had to wait months for any help, if they get it at all, she said. It makes me question whether the Labor government is really interested in helping people, or theyre just interested in the politics of looking like theyre helping people.

A spokeswoman for federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt declined to comment. Meanwhile, little has been heard from Melbourne Water about its upcoming inquiry into the Maribyrnong River floods. The inquiry was criticised for excluding an investigation into why the water authoritys early warning system failed to warn residents in the lead-up to the flood. The inquiry was also derailed after its chair, Nick Wimbush, resigned in February following revelations published in The Age that he had previously supported planning changes that led to a riverside retirement village building homes that were swamped in October. Melbourne Water staff had pledged to release submissions made by the public and agencies to its inquiry after they closed on March 17. They have yet to do so.

A new inquiry chair has been selected, and a spokesman for the government-owned water authority said that person would be announced soon. He said submissions would be released by mid-April as some were still being received last week from community members who could not submit online. Loading We have been working through each submission to take out personal information, before they are published on Melbourne Waters website, he said. The review is progressing as planned. Maribyrnong Council released its five-page submission to the inquiry at a March 28 meeting. In it, the council criticised the narrow scope of the flood review, singling out the exclusion of policy responses and future mitigation measures.

With 525 properties in the suburb of Maribyrnong impacted, the council said it wanted possible flood prevention measures to be identified. The councils submission also called for improved and more transparent flood warnings, stating that the information leading up to the flood was inconsistent and meant that residents were confused and were not sure how they should respond, if they should respond at all. And with destroyed homes now able to be rebuilt to their previous flood level under current planning controls, the council said it feared residents would be equally unprepared in a future flood. Existing controls are not allowing adequate consideration of future flood events. Council would welcome any review  to ensure they are fit for purpose. Moonee Valley Councils submission was also released last month, calling for Melbourne Water to conduct new modelling to update what land should be considered flood-prone and criticising the inquirys scope.
The case of Nicola Gobbo, the criminal barrister who informed on her own clients and ruptured Victorias criminal justice system, is about to find global fame thanks to the international true crime podcast industry.

The fallout from the Lawyer X scandal has attracted the attention of Marcia Clark, who gained fame herself as the lead prosecutor in the unsuccessful 1995 murder trial of Orenthal James OJ Simpson. So, shes someone who knows a thing or two about high-profile miscarriages of justice.

Nicola Gobbo and OJ prosecutor Marcia Clark. Credit: Jo Gay

Though not widely known outside of Australia, Gobbos story remains an unprecedented and outlandish criminal justice scandal that the Victorian government has spent the past several years cleaning up.

The key question: will Clarks undoubted fame be enough to loosen the pursed lips of others who were part of the Lawyer X mess, some of whom will undoubtedly be familiar to readers.
A former Melbourne sex worker has launched legal action against the US government over allegations a senior officer in the US Navy had sex with her in the 1990s  when she was just 15 and addicted to heroin.

Lisa Harris, 39, will pursue compensation under an agreement between the US and Australia, which provides recourse for local victims of alleged misconduct by American military personnel.

Lisa Harris has launched legal action against the US government as she alleges she was solicited by a lieutenant commander in the US Navy when she was 15.

Harris, who now lives in Darwin, said she met the lieutenant commander, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in St Kilda in 1996 or 1997, before having sex at a CBD hotel and receiving about $150.

He was wearing a dark green uniform. It identified to me straight away that he was in the military, and he was American. He handed me a business card at the end of our time together, Harris told The Age.
Paris: Comments by French President Emmanuel Macron over Europes priorities on Taiwan have raised questions over the EUs relationship with both the US and China, on the eve of his planned speech on the blocs sovereignty in The Netherlands.

Macrons remarks were published on Sunday in an interview with French newspaper Les Echos and Politico Europe.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron during the French presidents recent visit to Beijing. Credit: AP

The question we need to answer, as Europeans, is the following: is it in our interest to accelerate (a crisis) on Taiwan? No, Macron was quoted as saying in the interview. The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the US agenda and a Chinese overreaction.

The comments were made on Friday, before China launched large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island in response to the Taiwanese presidents trip to the US last week.
London: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday praised the bravery of political leaders who struck the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago as he urged Northern Irelands politicians to return to work.

While the peace deal largely brought an end to 30 years of hostilities, the Northern Ireland Assembly has been in limbo for more than a year since the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest new post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.

Masked youths threw petrol bombs at a police Land Rover in Londonderry on Monday. Credit: AP

Sunak cited the compromise needed to reach the April 10, 1998 peace deal as he called for the redoubling of efforts to safeguard economic opportunity, prosperity and stability in the British province.

It is a promise we must continue to fulfil, he said. So we must get on with the business of governance.
Louisville, Kentucky: A Louisville bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at his workplace, killing four people  including a close friend of Kentuckys governor  while livestreaming the attack on Instagram, authorities said.

Police arrived as shots were still being fired inside Old National Bank and killed the shooter in an exchange of gunfire, Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said.

The citys mayor, Craig Greenberg, called the attack an evil act of targeted violence.

The shooting, the 15th mass killing in the United States this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, about 260 kilometres to the south. That states governor and his wife also had friends killed in that shooting.
Pope Francis calls for peace in Ukraine during his Easter blessing

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The South Pole Telescope is one of the facilities that came together around the world to create the virtual Event Horizon Telescope that targeted two black holes.

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) is a network of synchronized radio observatories around the world that combine as a single telescope with an aperture the size of Earth used to observe sources of radio light associated with black holes .

According to the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration , this planet-sized telescope has an angular resolution comparable to the event horizons of black holes, the one-way light-trapping surface that is the boundary of a black hole the key to its success in observing black holes.

The event horizon represents the point at which not even light is fast enough to outrace the gravitational influence of a black hole, and as such is the "deepest" we ever hope to see into a black hole.

Related: The 10 biggest telescopes on Earth

Even imaging the immediate, violent, and turbulent environment around a black hole is no small feat, yet this is exactly what astronomers using the EHT have managed to do. In the process not only have they delivered stunning images of these cosmic titans, but these images have also managed to confirm Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity as the black holes and their surroundings appear almost exactly as this groundbreaking theory of gravity predicts.

How does the Event Horizon Telescope image black holes?

To be clear, the EHT can't image the black hole itself thanks to the light-trapping action of the event horizon.

A black hole is a region of spacetime that captures any incident light and thus emits no light. That means black holes are invisible in all forms of electromagnetic radiation we can currently detect, so imaging the black hole itself which lies beyond the event horizon outer boundary, is impossible.

The EHT collaboration explains (opens in new tab) that the EHT allows scientists to see the area of space immediately surrounding the black hole and the effects that the massive gravitational influence of the black hole has on this region.

This photo is the historic first image of a supermassive black hole ever recorded. It shows the shadow of the monster black hole inside the distant galaxy M87. (Image credit: EHT Collaboration)

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Around some supermassive black holes is a disk of gas and dust that astronomers call an accretion disk because this material is gradually fed, or accreted, to the black hole. The tremendous gravitational influence on this material exerted by the black hole gives rise to violent conditions that cause the material to be super-heated and glow. (opens in new tab)

Radboud University researcher and chair of the EHT Science Council, Heino Falcke explained (opens in new tab) that if a black hole is immersed in this bright region then it should cast a shadow on this glowing gas. This shadow caused by the gravitational bending and capturing of light when imaged can reveal a great deal about the black hole that casts it including its mass and its size.

The EHT observes this phenomenon at a wavelength of 1.3 millimeters using a process called very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) achieving an angular resolution of 20 micro-arcseconds. The EHT Collaboration explains this is powerful enough to read a newspaper in New York from a sidewalk cafe in Paris!

It's no exaggeration to say, that by using this ability in 2019 the EHT was able to irrevocably shift the paradigm of astronomy and cosmology, and perhaps of science itself.

Event Horizon Telescope FAQs answered by an expert

We asked Michael Janssen, a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany, a few questions about the black hole imaging Event Horizon Telescope.

Michael Janssen Postdoctoral researcher Michael Janssen is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany who conducts research with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT).



How does the Event Horizon Telescope work? The EHT consists of several radio telescopes around the globe, which work together as an astronomical interferometer. Here, the resolution of the instrument is no longer given by the size of a single telescope, but by the distance between pairs of telescopes. Simply stated, we track the arrival times of radio waves emitted from the vicinity of an observed astronomical source (a black hole) at our telescopes at different locations on Earth. From the differences in arrival times, we can then reconstruct the structure of the observed source with sufficient resolution. In an analogy, one can view the EHT array as a single big incomplete virtual radio telescope, where the individual parts are given by the handful of telescopes in our array. Or as small shards of a big broken mirror.

What makes the Event Horizon Telescope special? The EHT has telescopes around the globe and is therefore a "very long baseline interferometry" (VLBI) network. With the VLBI techniques, the highest resolution in astronomy can be achieved. While there are other VLBI arrays in the world (e.g., the Very Long Baseline Array and the European VLBI Array), the EHT is special, because the other networks observe radio waves with long (centimeters) wavelengths, while the EHT observes at much shorter (millimeter) wavelengths. The shorter the wavelength of the measured radio waves, the more difficult the data processing and calibration, but the better the resolution. This makes the EHT the only instrument on Earth that has a sufficient resolving power to directly image black holes. This resolving power would also be sufficient to see an apple on the moon.

How does the Event Horizon Telescope differ from other major telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)? The EHT is not a single telescope like the JWST , but an array of individual radio telescopes. JWST observes in the micrometer (near infrared) range with a resolution of about 0.1 arcsecond, where one arcsecond is 1/3600 of a degree. The EHT observes in the millimeter (radio) range with a resolution of 0.000025 arcseconds. So the EHT can see 4000 sharper than the JWST.

How has the EHT changed astronomy? The EHT has taken the first direct pictures of black holes and thereby providing conclusive evidence for the existence of supermassive black holes. This achievement is highly complementary to the measured gravitational wave signals by LIGO/VIRGO of much smaller stellar-mass black holes. With the EHT images of two black holes, that are a million and a billion times more massive than our sun, we have successfully tested Einstein's general theory of relativity in an unprecedented environment and parameter space.

I would say that the EHT has also helped a great deal in popularizing astronomy and the amazing technique of VLBI. Did you know that the stability of the universal time standard is also measured with VLBI and that GPS only works when the effects of the general theory of relativity are taken into account?

What is the most impressive achievement of the EHT thus far? We have imaged the supermassive black holes in the heart of our own galaxy and the center of the galaxies Messier 87, which is 53 million light-years away from Earth. In both cases, the images looked exactly as predicted by general relativity. So for both these extremely mysterious objects, which actually differ in their mass by three orders of magnitude, Einstein 's 100-year-old theory still holds!

How does your work relate to the EHT? I currently work at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany. I contribute to several aspects of the EHT: I participate in the observations, where we gather the data at several radio telescopes around the world and I work on the scientific analysis. But my primary focus lies at the interface between the observations and the science, where we characterize and calibrate the data gathered at the telescopes. Here, we correct for imperfections in the surfaces of the dishes of our radio telescopes and filter out influences of the Earth's atmosphere on the recorded radio waves.

Imaging the supermassive black hole of M87

A diagram of the black hole M87* as it changed between 2009 and 2017 with the bright portion of the glowing material changing position around the event horizon. (Image credit: EHT Collaboration/ Wielgus/ Pesce)

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It was on April 10, 2019 , that the EHT collaboration announced to the world that the EHT had captured the image of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy Messier 87 (M87).

This supermassive black hole, also known as M87*, is located 55 million light years away (opens in new tab) from Earth . With a mass equivalent to anywhere between 2.4 and 5 billion suns and a diameter of around 132,000 light years, the supermassive black hole of M87 is one of the largest black holes we know about.

The image of M87* was captured over a week in 2017 with between 200 and 300 researchers with the EHT Collaboration working for almost the next two years to confirm and investigate the observation before it could be released to the public.

In the image of M87* the region around the supermassive black hole appears as a glowing golden ring captured in radio waves. This is plasma, superheated gas, whipping around M87* at near-light speed. The brighter patches in the ring represent plasma moving toward Earth "piling up" and becoming more energetic. The darkness at the center of this ring is the result of light disappearing into the supermassive black hole.

One of the most surprising things about the image of M87* to researchers was just how unsurprising it was, conforming almost exactly to the predictions of general relativity , a theory devised over 100 years previous to the observation in 1915.

But, EHT scientists were not content to rest on their laurels with this world-shaking observation. Even before imaging M87* they had another target in mind, a cosmic titan much closer to home.

The first image of "our" black hole  Sagittarius A*

The first image of the Milky Way's central supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) was announced at a global press conference held on May 12, 2022. What can be seen in the image is the event horizon of Sgr A* extending out to around 3.7 million miles (6 million kilometers) which is about 15 times the distance between the Earth and the moon . Other than its smaller size, the glowing ring of Sgr A* appears remarkably similar to that of M87*.

The fact that the supermassive black hole at the heart of our own galaxy, the Milky Way is so much closer to Earth, at just 27 000 light-years away, might suggest it should have been easier for the EHT to image than that of M87.

Yet, as the fact the image of the Milky Way's Sagittarius A * (Sgr A*) followed years after the first image of M87's supermassive black hole indicates, this more proximate black hole was a much tougher observation to make and required a lot more time to investigate and confirm.

The difficulty for the EHT in observing Sgr A* comes from the fact it is much smaller than M87*, at just 4 million times the size of the sun and around 15 million miles (25 million km) in diameter. Yet despite this, the material surrounding Sgr A* still whips around it at near the speed of light .



As a result, matter circling Sgr A* completes an orbit much more rapidly than the gas and dust whipping around M87*. The material in the innermost orbit around Sgr A* takes no more than 30 minutes (opens in new tab) to circle the supermassive black hole compared to around 30 days for material circling M87* at its innermost orbit.

That means that variations in the material and the light it emits change on a much shorter time scale than the regular EHT period of several hours and catching an image like this is only possible with a very sharp image of the black hole in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Another challenge the EHT and its operators had to overcome when imaging Sgr A* was the dust and gas that exists in the plane of the Milky Way between Earth and Sgr A*. This material can cause scattering that interferes with VLBI observations of the EHT (opens in new tab) thus obscuring the view of this supermassive black hole for the planet-sized telescope.

Additionally, Sgr A* is a much "quieter" black hole than M87* consuming far less surrounding material and thus not "belching" out powerful and bright jets like its noisier and larger peer.

"If SgrA* were a person, it would only consume a single grain of rice every million years," Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics researcher Michael Johnson explained (opens in new tab) during the May 2022, press conference.



A size comparison of the black holes M87* and Sgr A* at the hearts of the galaxies M87 and the Milky Way respectively. (Image credit: EHT collaboration (acknowledgment: Lia Medeiros, xkcd))

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Other EHT targets

Of course, the contribution of the EHT to science extends beyond 2 hugely significant black hole images. Scientists have been using the telescope to study black holes in a range of conditions and environments.

In the hearts of many galaxies, black holes feeding on their surrounding matter eject material that they don't swallow as powerful columns or jets moving at near-light speeds along their axis of rotation and usually from both sides of the black hole. These regions are known as Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNS) and they can be more luminous than every star in the rest of that galaxy combined. According to the European Space Agency (opens in new tab) (ESA), a quasar is a particularly powerful type of AGN that is extremely luminous as a result of gas and dust falling into a supermassive black hole and that black hole emitting light across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.



In April 2020, the EHT Collaboration (opens in new tab)used the telescope array to observe a quasar jet in the finest detail ever, following it back down to the accretion disk from which it originated and seeing both the jet and disk in action. This revealed new data about the quasar known as 3C 279, the shape of its jet, and how black holes shred material before consuming it.



The EHT imaged another quasar lying at the heart of galaxy NRAO 530 in great detail in February 2023 and revealing previously unknown structures within it. This included indications of a highly ordered magnetic field with a helical structure revealed by the polarization of light from the jet seen by the EHT, light that has been traveling toward Earth for 7.5 billion years.



The globe-sized radio telescope array has also managed to observe another type of AGN, a blazar , which is as powerful as a quasar and also has a supermassive black hole as its central engine, but directs its near-light speed high energy jet straight at Earth. In 2022, scientists used the EHT to image the distant blazar J1924-2914 with unprecedented angular resolution revealing that its magnetic field had a twisted magnetic field.



Revealing details about these black holes means that not only is the EHT increasing our knowledge of specific events and objects, but it is widely broadening our horizons regarding this entire class of objects and the environments around them.

The Event Horizon Telescope components and members

A diagram of the locations of the EHT member telescopes with blue symbols representing the telescopes that joined the collaboration after 2018. (Image credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser)

(opens in new tab)

The observations made by the EHT are the culmination of decades of observational, technical, and theoretical work by 13 partner institutions from across the globe.

The international collaboration between these partners was launched in a prototype form in 2009 (opens in new tab) after several years of development both on the technical side of uniting many radio observatories and on the theoretical side of understanding the orbit of light around black holes.

Each of the telescopes that make up the planet-sized aperture of the EHT captures just a small part of the target black hole which is combined to create an entire picture. The images are timed-coded with atomic clocks (opens in new tab) at each site to ensure accuracy. Despite collecting light from multiple locations, some data can be missing for EHT observations. This missing information is "filled in" using imaging algorithms developed by the EHT team to reconstruct a picture of the black hole.



"You can think about the measurements we make from telescopes in the EHT as a bit like notes in a song," the EHT Collaboration says. "Each pair of telescopes produces a measurement that corresponds to the tone of just a single note."

The EHT Collaboration explains (opens in new tab) that the tone that is heard by the array is related to the projected distance between the telescopes that comprise it, as seen from the direction of the black hole; the farther apart the telescopes, the higher the pitch of the "note."

"Watching the black hole with the EHT is a bit like listening to a song that is played on a piano that has a lot of broken keys. If we had telescopes located everywhere on the globe we would be able to hear all possible notes, and thus hear a perfect rendition of the song," the EHT team continues. "However, as we only have telescopes at a few locations, we must recognize the song being played with just a few notes. Although hearing a song this way is definitely not perfect, oftentimes there is still enough information to follow along."

The larger the telescope and the greater its light-collecting area the greater the boost it delivers to the overall sensitivity of the EHT array.

In 2017 the array consisted of just eight telescopes with a further three telescopes, including the 40-ft (12-meter) Kitt Peak telescope in Arizona, joining the network between 2018 and 2020. The EHT network continues to expand with the collaboration that operates it looking for telescopes with a wider separation over the face of the Earth to join to maintain the array's planet-sized view of the cosmos.

The largest fully steerable millimeter/submillimeter-wave telescope in the EHT array is the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT) (opens in new tab), an EHT station in Mexico, which is 164 ft (50 meters) in diameter. Not only can building such large reflectors can expensive, but it can also be impractical at short wavelengths. This is because (opens in new tab) these telescope dishes require mechanical precision and rigidity has extremely tight tolerances, which are difficult to meet.

Many of the telescopes that make up the EHT array are composed of an array of radio dishes themselves. Arguably the most well-known of these is the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), which is composed of 66 radio antennas across the Chajnantor plateau in the Chilean Andes. According to the European Southern Observatory (ESO) (opens in new tab), ALMA is the largest ground-based astronomical project in existence.

To use sites like ALMA as EHT stations, the small dishes that comprise them must be electronically phased together, with this allowing their light-collecting areas to be combined. For ALMA's contribution to the EHT 64 of its dishes, each possessing a 40 ft (12 m) diameter, are united. This results in a net light-collecting area of 77,500 square feet (7,200 square meters). The EHT says (opens in new tab)that this is over three times larger than the same area for the LMT.

As of May 2022, other significant telescopes (opens in new tab) in the EHT array, are the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX), the IRAM 98-ft (30-meter) telescope, the James Clark Maxwell Telescope (JCMT), Submillimeter Array (SMA), Submillimeter Telescope (SMT) and South Pole Telescope (SPT).

Additional resources

The EHT Collaboration compares viewing a black hole with interferometry limited data from its array to recognizing a song from just a few notes. Katie Bouman part of the international team of scientists demonstrates how that works on her Youtube channel (opens in new tab). See if you can guess the song!

Learn more about the EHT and how it captured the first image of a black hole with these resources from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (opens in new tab) and Harvard University (opens in new tab).

Bibliography

Peering into the heart of a distant quasar with the Event Horizon Telescope, Event Horizon Telescope, [Accessed 03/21/23 [ https://eventhorizontelescope.org/blog/peering-heart-distant-quasar-event-horizon-telescope (opens in new tab)]



Astronomers Reveal First Image of the Black Hole at the Heart of Our Galaxy, Event Horizon Telescope, [Accessed 03/21/23], [ https://eventhorizontelescope.org/blog/astronomers-reveal-first-image-black-hole-heart-our-galaxy (opens in new tab)]

Einstein's Theory Can Explain the Black Hole M87*, Event Horizon Telescope, [Accessed 03/21/23], [ https://eventhorizontelescope.org/einsteins-theory-can-explain-black-hole-m87 (opens in new tab)]

Something is Lurking in the Heart of Quasar 3C 279, Event Horizon Telescope, [Accessed 03/21/23], [ https://eventhorizontelescope.org/blog/something-is-lurking-in-the-heart-of-quasar-3c-279 (opens in new tab)]

First-ever Image of a Black Hole Published by the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, Event Horizon Telescope, [Accessed 03/21/23], [ https://eventhorizontelescope.org/blog/first-ever-image-black-hole-published-event-horizon-telescope-collaboration (opens in new tab)]

Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), Center for Astrophysics: Harvard and Smithsonian, [Accessed 03/21/23], [ https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/facilities-technology/telescopes-instruments/event-horizon-telescope-eht#:~:text=The%20EHT%20uses%20a%20method,the%20giant%20elliptical%20galaxy%20M87 (opens in new tab).]

Announcement of the Next Generation Event Horizon Telescope Design Program, Center for Astrophysics: Harvard and Smithsonian, [Accessed 03/21/23], [ https://pweb.cfa.harvard.edu/news/announcement-next-generation-event-horizon-telescope-design-program (opens in new tab)]

Comparison of the sizes of two black holes: M87* and Sagittarius A*, ESO, [Acessed 03/21/23].

[ https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso2208-eht-mwe/#:~:text=M87*%2C%20which%20lies%2055%20million,same%20size%20in%20the%20sky (opens in new tab).]

G. C. Bower., Focus on First Sgr A* Results from the Event Horizon Telescope, The Astrophysical Journal Letters, [2022],

[ https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/2041-8205/page/Focus_on_First_Sgr_A_Results (opens in new tab)]

S. Doeleman., E. Ago., D. Backet., et al, Imaging an Event Horizon: submm-VLBI of a

Super Massive Black Hole, [2009],
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The latest two episodes of Star Trek: Picard work seamlessly in tandem to elevate this season to the expert level of two of Star Trek: Next Generations most iconic episodes. The events of Dominion  Ep 7 and Surrender  Ep. 8 expertly intensify the action and raise the stakes to shocking levels in a manner extremely reminiscent of The Best of Both Worlds  Parts 1 and 2.



What are your thoughts on Star Trek: Picard episodes 7 and 8 "Dominion and Surrender? Share them in the comments below.

In Dominion, Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart) and team are racing the clock to discover the Changelings true motive for stealing Picards original body and stop them before their plans to destroy Starfleet at Frontier Days which is only hours away. After they have managed to rescue Data (Brent Spiner), they attempt to trap Vadic (Amanda Plummer) to force her to divulge where Riker (Jonathan Frakes) is being held. Unfortunately, their plan fails, and Vadic turns the tables on them, taking over Titan's command.In Surrender, the action and desperation ratchet up as the team not only successfully rescue their colleagues but work like a well-oiled machine to defeat Vadic and retake the Titan. Along the way other important plot moments emerge like Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers)s mysterious powers; the reunion and rescue of Riker and his Imzadi, Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), and the battle for dominance between the two strongest personalities inside Datas body that ultimately leads to the creation of an all-new Data.What both episodes excel at is taking advantage of insane cast chemistry and pairing together a number of dynamic duos for key scenes. Dominion highlights include interactions like Jack displaying his new mind-manipulating powers to rescue Sydney LaForge (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut) when Vadics team attacks; Geordi (LeVar Burton) and his engineer daughter, Alandra (Mica Burton) examining the recovered Data and determining that his body contains four distinct personalities/versions of Data; Beverly (Gates McFadden) and Vadic having an intense showdown over Jack; and Beverly and Picard debating about whether or not to kill Vadic when they have her temporarily trapped.Standout pairings in Surrender include Geordi and Data reconnecting as Data fights Lore for dominance; Worf (Michael Dorn) and Raffi (Michelle Hurd) teaming up to rescue Vadics prisoners; Seven of Nine and Jack partnering to retake the bridge from Vadic; the long-awaited reunion of Riker and Troi; and finally, the originalcast reunited on screen around a starship conference table.The two episodes also offered the opportunity for performers who dont normally find time in the spotlight to shine. Chief among those in these episodes is Amanda Plummer whose mastery of her performance masks the sheer ruthlessness of her character. Another side of Vadic is revealed through her fear of whomever she was answering to, someone likely to prove even more dangerous an antagonist.Spiner gave Plummer a run for her money for strongest performance with his double-duty battle between Data and Lore. Just when you think Data has surrendered, his cunning and logic prevails and voila there is a whole new Data.Sirtis shines in her intimate reunion moments with Frakes, a great showcase for the franchises most iconic couple. The depths of her grief and anger and love shone in every scene. Then, she brings us back to the all-business Counselor Troi when she is reunited with her old crew and senses a darkness in her dear friend Beverlys son.These episodes are the best from Speleer this season as Jack struggles to come to grips with and navigate his new powers. Again, the show takes advantage of great cast chemistry by pairing him with Jeri Ryans Seven of Nine as they team up to take the bridge back from Vadic in one of the climactic moments from the episodes.Ryan continues to excel as a Starfleet officer and leader in these episodes. She constantly defies Shaw (Todd Stashwick)s questionable choices and displays true leadership abilities. Time and again she tries to challenge Vadic to protect a member of her crew, she boldly chooses to stand with Jack in defiance against Vadic and at a most critical moment utters what will become a memorable Seven of Nine Line, Get off my bridge!As it has done all season, these episodes ofpay tremendous respect to its rich history in various ways. These great homages range from a nice cameo from Tim Russ as Tuvok, attempting to recreate the closeness between him and his former shipmate, Seven of Nine. Then theres a sweet and humorous moment between Worf and Troi that is a brief call back to their once romantic involvement. And finally, kudos to whomever it was that made the decision to include Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby)s hologram and of course, Spot the cat among the many memories Data used in his battle with Lore.Some much was packed into these two episodes, yet there is so much more to come. And with just two episodes to go one wonders just how they are going to fit it all in. Once Deanna helps Jack discover whats beyond the red door, the climactic moments of this season ofhave just begun. What did the Changelings want from the diseased portion of Picards brain, what is the secret behind Jack and his powers, and can Picard and crew stop whatever disaster is planned for Frontier Days? Well soon see.
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is moving fast to pardon a U.S. Army sergeant convicted in the 2020 killing of an armed protester. So fast, the judge hasn't even handed down a sentence.

Sgt. Daniel Perry faces up to life in prison after being convicted of murder last week in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Garrett Foster, who had been legally carrying an AK-47 during a protest through Austin's downtown while marching with demonstrators over police accountability and racial injustice. The case will next go to sentencing.

But over the weekend, Abbott made clear he believes Perry shouldn't be punished. The three-term Republican governor, who hasn't ruled out a 2024 presidential run, tweeted that he has already asked Texas' parole board to expedite a review of Perry's conviction and will look forward to signing a pardon.

The rush to act in the case of an off-duty soldier shooting a protester came amid immediate outrage among conservatives over Friday's verdict, including by Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Abbott presented the dangled pardon as a defense of Texan's right to defend themselves. Legal experts, however, said that looks like a pretense.

Its pretty unusual for a governor to step in and preempt a jury verdict, said Mark Osler, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. The politics are right there at the surface.

___

THE SHOOTING

Perry was working for a ride-sharing company in July 2020 when he turned onto a street and into one of the demonstrations that swept the country after Minneapolis police killed of George Floyd.

In video that was streamed live on Facebook, a car can be heard honking amid the crowd in downtown Austin. Then, several shots ring out, and protesters begin screaming and scattering.

Perry drove off, later calling police to report the shooting, and officers arrived to find Foster shot.

What led up to the gunfire was a core question in the trial that resulted in Perry's conviction.

Witnesses testified that Foster never raised his rifle at Perry, and prosecutors said the sergeant could have driven off rather than opening fire with a handgun. Perry didn't testify. But his defense attorneys have said Foster pointed his gun at the driver and that the shooting was self-defense.

Perry was stationed at Texas' Fort Hood at the time of the shooting and most recently assigned to Fort Wainwright in Alaska. Defense lawyer Clint Broden said the conviction will end Perrys Army service.

Broden told The Associated Press in a text message on Monday that his team has not been in touch with the Governor nor his staff regarding a pardon.

THE REACTION

In the hours after the conviction, however, prominent conservatives did pressure Abbott to intervene.

Matt Rinaldi, chairman of the Texas Republican Party, said the case never should have been prosecuted, tagging Abbott's account in a tweet calling for a pardon.

In primetime on Fox News, Carlson called Perry's conviction a legal atrocity and said Abbott had declined to discuss a potential pardon. So that is Greg Abbott's position, Carlson said. There is no right of self-defense in Texas.

Less than 24 hours after the verdict, Abbott tweeted that he had directed the state parole board to investigate the case and said he looked forward to signing a pardon as soon as it hits my desk. He suggested the jury nullified Texas' so-called Stand Your Ground law, which, like similar laws in other states, removes the duty to retreat before using deadly force in the face of danger.

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, whose office prosecuted the case, called Abbotts intervention deeply troubling. He said the jurors deliberated for more than 15 hours to find Perry guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt, and the case can be reviewed through the normal appeals process.

On Monday, the Democrat has sent a fundraising email off Abbotts actions, telling supporters the Republican is threatening to take over our criminal justice system.

___ ABBOTT AND PARDONS

A former Texas judge and attorney general, Abbott has not publicly explained on how he reached his conclusion about Perry's case, and his office Monday referred questions to his statement on Twitter.

But publicly calling for a pardon is a clear departure for Abbott, who in more than eight years as governor typically only issues a handful of year around Christmas. Most are given to Texans who were convicted of relatively minor offenses committed decades earlier.

It is something we usually see many years after conviction, said Sandra Guerra Thompson, professor at the University of Houston Law Center. She said a governor intervening before sentencing is a dramatic departure from the normal process.

In 2021, Abbott faced an unusually high-profile pardon decision surrounding George Floyd, who was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer and whose death was at the center of the protest in Austin. At the time, the Texas Board of Pardon and Paroles had unanimously supported a posthumous pardon for Floyd over a 2004 drug arrest.

Floyd was arrested by a Houston officer who was later accused of falsifying evidence for years and eventually charged with murder. But two days before Christmas, Abbott's office announced the board had unusually backpedaled on its decision after finding unspecified procedural errors" with Floyd's case.

Floyd's case was sent back to the board for reconsideration. Nine months later, the board denied issuing a pardon.

____

Bleiberg reported from Dallas. Associated Press reporter Acacia Coronado contributed to this report.
Connecticut U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery wants a judge to dismiss a federal lawsuit that claims the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs discriminated against Black veterans for decades by denying applications for assistance and benefits at a higher rate than white veterans based on the agency's own data.

Avery and Connecticut U.S. Assistant Attorney Natalie Elicker contend in a 51-page document supporting their motion to dismiss that Hamden resident Conley Monk Jr., received his benefits, including retroactive payments, after he sought help from a Yale legal clinic and the VA has been working to correct any discriminatory policies that have led to a denial of benefits for veterans of color.

"The United States Department of Veterans Affairs considers the issue of racial disparities in veteran benefit decisions to be of great significance and is working actively to address it," Avery said in support of the dismissal. Avery also pointed out that on March 2 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs directed the agency's leadership team to start an "equity team" to examine the disparities.

She expected the team to look at policies across the VA to deal with the concerns, "but this case does not provide an appropriate vehicle to address such issues," Avery said of the lawsuit filed in late November.

But Monk's attorneys from the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization as part of Yale School of Law say the federal government isn't moving fast enough to remove barriers for Black veterans to access benefits. They also believe the "equity" team will study racism, but will likely not take action for years.

"There are still veterans who are putting in for benefits, getting denied and passing away," said Adam Henderson, a third-year law student at Yale and a law student intern with the team representing Monk. "They won't get a second chance to apply."

According Monk's lawsuit, data he received through a Freedom of Information Act request showed that for nearly two decades ending in 2020, Black veterans were denied disability compensation claims at a rate of 39.5 percent while white veterans were denied 24.2 percent of the time.

At the same time, claims for white veterans were approved 37.1 percent of the time, while the claims for Black veterans were approved 30.3 percent of the time, creating a "statistically significant disparity," the lawsuit said.

A spokesperson for the VA said in December that VA Secretary Denis McDonough was dedicated to providing "world-class" services to veterans while acknowledging there has been a history of "racism" and disparities for Black veterans.

"Throughout history, there have been unacceptable disparities in both VA benefits decisions and military discharge status due to racism, which have wrongly left Black veterans without access to VA care and benefits," VA spokesperson Terrence Hayes said in an email in December. "We are actively working to right these wrongs, and we will stop at nothing to ensure that all Black veterans get the VA services they have earned and deserve."

The 74-year-old Monk is a Black veteran who was awarded several medals while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. But he agreed to an undesirable discharge while facing military misconduct charges for incidents he said were a product of untreated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder brought on by the conditions of war, the lawsuit said.

Monk has weathered homelessness and medical conditions, including a stroke with no help from the VA for decades as he fought for benefits, which were denied because of his discharge status, his attorneys said in the lawsuit.

It wasn't until the legal services organization took up his case in 2011 that he was able to get his discharge status changed, making him eligible for benefits, the lawsuit said. But he had to twice sue the federal government to get the retroactive benefits he was due, his attorneys said.

Through his own experiences and as part of his work with an organization he founded to help veterans, the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress, Monk had long suspected that Black veterans were being discriminated against in claims for disability compensation and other VA benefits such as housing, education and health care.

But it wasn't until his veterans council and the Black Veterans Project filed a Freedom of Information Act request in 2021 that he was able to prove that the discrimination existed, the lawsuit said.

The records received by Monk and the BVP "demonstrate that for decades VA leadership, including VA secretaries, knew or should have known of pervasive, longstanding racial disparities in veterans' benefits for Black veterans," the attorneys said in the lawsuit. "VA officials also knew or should have known that racial bias in the military justice system was affecting the discharge status of Black veterans like Mr. Monk, who initially received an undesirable discharge."

He filed the lawsuit in November under the Federal Tort Claims Act after the VA failed to respond to his February 2022 administrative complaint about resolving the issues he endured, including being forced to repeatedly relive "the most traumatic moments of his life" as part of his many applications to obtain benefits.

Under the FTCA, the United States is liable for the acts of its employees. Monk is seeking compensatory damages and attorney fees since he was denied years of benefits even as he struggled with health issues related to his service.

Avery contends the lawsuit should be dismissed because the federal courts do not review veterans benefits decisions  a technical argument that Henderson said is "disappointing."

"One of the reasons that we filed the lawsuit is that they have said they recognize that there was discrimination," Henderson said. "With the lawsuit, we hope to hold them accountable to their words."
HARTFORD  Connecticut officials, including Gov. Ned Lamont and Attorney General William Tong, are holding a news conference Monday morning after federal judges last week cast dueling court rulings that could curtail access to a widely used abortion medication.

Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ordered an injunction against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, seemingly upending 23 years of its use. The ruling by Kacsmaryk, a Republican appointee, was made in a lawsuit filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a group that was also involved in the litigation that overturned Roe vs. Wade last summer, the Associated Press reported. Kacsmaryk delayed the injunction from going into effect for seven days to give the government time to appeal.

Within minutes of Kacsmaryk's decision in the Texas case, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice ruled in a separate case in Washington that the government should make no changes that would restrict the drug. That case was brought before Rice, a Democrat appointee, by a coalition of Democratic states that sought to keep the drug on the market.

Connecticut was among the 17 states that joined the lawsuit.

Hours after the Texas judge's ruling, Gov. Ned Lamont issued a statement blasting the decision as "yet another devastating attack on reproductive rights."

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, a prominent proponent for abortion access, called the ruling "an outrageous attack on womens rights and a flagrant effort to reduce access to effective and safe abortion care."

Connecticut codified the federal protection granting people the right to an abortion into law in the early 1990s, when activists feared the Supreme Court's ruling would be overturned. The court ended up upholding Roe in Planned Parenthood vs. Casey.

Last year, Connecticut also enacted what was then the first national shield law protecting people who come to the state seeking an abortion. The law allows people who get an abortion in Connecticut to sue and recover damages and legal costs if they are sued in another state. The provision is intended to protect against so-called "bounty" laws enacted in states like Texas that allow ordinary citizens to sue people who get an abortion.

The Connecticut law also expanded the list of medical providers who can perform abortions and prevents state agencies from assisting in investigations into legal abortions performed here.

"The Texas decision has zero basis in science, fact or the law. It substitutes one reactionary judges political determination for more than 20 years of scientific evidence and threatens access to medication abortion nationwide," Attorney General William Tong said in a statement last week. "This is precisely the dangerous and radical decision we feared, and why I joined with my fellow Attorneys General to launch our own defense of medication abortion in federal court in Washington state. Because we must fight fire with fire."

Check back for updates.
HARTFORD  Defiant state officials and reproductive rights advocates led by Attorney General William Tong on Monday declared that a Texas federal judge's politically charged ruling against a common abortion medication with a decades-long track record will not change the way care is offered to pregnant women in Connecticut.

"Here in Connecticut, abortion is safe, legal and accessible," Tong said in a morning news conference in the State Office Building. "It is the law of the state of Connecticut today, tomorrow and as long as we're in this fight that mifepristone and medication abortion in Connecticut is legal, safe effective and available."

Tong noted that the ruling on Friday was an "aggressive, ideological, nonsensical decision" by an activist judge against the medication, which has proven to be safe and effective, after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last year overturning Roe v. Wade after 50 years. "You just are left with the feeling and understanding that this is just total bull---- and just reflects this ongoing, deep-seeded abiding pervasive, pernicious misogyny on our law."

Also last Friday, a federal judge in Washington State ordered the Food and Drug Administration to maintain the availability of mifepristone, creating a dual set of cases that will await action in higher federal courts.

Last year Connecticut lawmakers created a so-called safe-harbor law for women from out of state seeking reproductive care and abortions.

Connecticut is currently involved with 16 other states and the District of Columbia in supporting the use of mifepristone, which in Connecticut is used by more than half of women who wish to terminate their pregnancies.

"As a physician and a person of science, I am outraged that a federal judge in Texas, with no medical background, no experience in caring for patients has issued a ruling that seeks to remove mifepristone from our modern medical practice, and not just in Texas but all states, including Connecticut," said Dr. Nancy Stanwood, the chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, which has 14 clinics in Connecticut. "The medical evidence is overwhelming that mifepristone for early medication abortions is safe and effective, with an enviable safety record of 99-percent. It has been used by more than 5 million people in the U.S. since its FDA approval in 2000."

Stanwood said she should have been in a clinic taking care of patients Monday morning, instead of the news conference. "This decision is not about medical science or about what's best for patients," she said, adding that Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's decision was based on "Junk science and anti-abortion rhetoric." Stanwood said it's part of a national movement by conservatives.

"This decision is about pure politics," Stanwood said, calling the order to block the FDA from further use of the abortion pill "unprecedented" and could be harmful for nationwide abortion access at a time when rights are being challenged in a number of conservative states. Most recently, the governor of Idaho has promised to seek criminal charges against women who seek abortions in states where it remains legal.

"The lawyers will be fighting this fight in Connecticut. The doctors are here to take care of the patients," said Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health. "Right now, if you are a patient that needs this type of care, seek it out. You have access. We know that people with less access and less resources who have been disadvantaged in many ways in our society will suffer the most from these types of decisions. Let's call it for what it is."

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England reports that between July of last year and January of 2023 the state has seen a small - 30 percent - increase of seven women traveling from banned or severely restricted states to receive abortion care here. Two thirds of abortions provided by the agency last year were medication abortions.

"If we allow this ruling to stand, women will have no choice but to use surgical abortions or use a less-effective drug," said Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz. "This is a terrible precedent because it has consequences far beyond access to abortion care. Our attorney general has called this decision misogynistic. We'll, I'll call it racist and homophobic in addition to sexist because this decision could disproportionately affect women of color, our transgender population, of women in rural areas, and indigenous women as well."

By Monday night, Tong had joined a multi-state coalition to challenge the decision, charging that if the decision takes effect, it could adversely affect aboriton access for millions and increase requests for complicated surgical abortions.

Joining Attorney Tong in filing the challenge were attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
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Vincent Vinnie Thomas never liked to talk about his years as a pilot in World War II or the 36 days of ferocious fighting on the eight-square-mile island of Iwo Jima.

The longtime Branford resident, who died last June at 95, let his efforts to honor the service and sacrifice of those who fought do the talking for him, said World War II Legacy Foundations Gary Roy on a recent Sunday before an audience of 35 at American Legion Post 83 in Branford.

The occasion was a memorial tribute to Thomas, as well as a celebration of the 78th anniversary of victory at the Battle of Iwo Jima, which was waged from Feb. 19 to March 26, 1945.

Roy, co-founder of the World War II Legacy Foundation out of East Hartford, said he and co-founder Marianne Mihaylo got to know Thomas through their work with the Iwo Jima Survivors Association. The two opted to hold the event at American Legion Post 83 because its Vinnies post, he said.

Mihaylo said Thomas, who enlisted in the Navy in August 1943, was among the 70,000 Americans engaged in the 36-day battle, among the bloodiest in World War II, with U.S. forces suffering over 26,000 casualties, including 6,821 dead.

Out of all the Marines that died in World War II, a staggering one-third of them died on Iwo Jima, she said.

Securing that island meant pilots had a stopover between Japan and the Marinara Islands to refuel and repair, she said. It was a turning point in the war. Its why were here today.

Roy recalled Thomas efforts to bring to the Branford Green the Iwo Jima/World War II traveling museum, a 20-foot trailer housing curated displays of World War II medical supplies, sand from Normandy and Iwo Jima, and old photos, as well as uniforms belonging to Marines.

That was Memorial Day 2019, and Vinnie was grand marshal that year, and he sat there for hours and hours talking to people, he said.

Mihaylo spoke of Thomas work as the editor of the Journal of the Iwo Jima Survivors, a rare compilation of first-hand materials he published every three months starting in 2004 and ending in 2015 due to the thinning ranks of the survivors.

I gave space to anyone who wrote to me, he told the ShoreLine Times in 2018 while donating his journals to Blackstone Memorial Library.

Letters, stories, newspaper articles. Sometimes I think its easier to write it down than to talk about it.

Were still going through letters that survivors from all over the country sent to him about experiences they went through, Mihaylo said.

He poured that same passion, as Roy put it, into raising funds to help establish, in 1995, the nations only Iwo Jima Memorial Monument in Newington, the only one in the world built by the survivors of the battle.

It was an all-volunteer effort, Thomas told the ShoreLine Times, of the memorial, which has the names of the 100 Connecticut men killed on Iwo Jima inscribed in its base and panels recounting the history of the battle. We wanted to do it our way.

American Legion Post 83 Commander Donald Langlois Sr. added that Thomas was the moving force for the World War II Memorial in Branford dedicated in November at Veterans Memorial Park.

You gave him a project and he saw it through, he said.

The event then assumed a celebratory air, with Army veteran Bill OBrien honored for his service. Karen Kuziel, a Blue Star Mother  denoting that her son is an active service memberpresented Navy veteran Larry Holmes, a close friend of her late father, Ray Miller, with an award honoring his year on a swift boat during the Vietnam War.

The ceremony ended with volunteers reciting the names of 100 men killed in the Battle of Iwo Jima, a bell tolling for each name.

I know Vinnie is smiling down on us right now, said Langlois, as the last toll died out. We will continue his legacy.

To learn more about the World War II Legacy Foundation, visit www2legacyfoundation.org.
S uccession season 1-4 spoilers below  no, really, be very, very careful with this one

If you thought episode two was the episode that blew everything wide open, hang tight: matters in episode three get far more dramatic.

Preamble

The third episode picks up on the day of Connors wedding. Roman, who the night before had agreed to go with Logan to talk to Matsson, is on the phone to his father, who is once again saying that he needs his son by his side during negotiations. Roman, now out of Logans intimidating physical presence, is umming and ahhing  he does feel like he should attend his brothers wedding.

Perhaps as a punishment, Logan asks Roman to fire Gerri  hes not been happy with her recently  and also says he probably wont make it to the wedding. He and Kerry bought Connor some Napoleon Josephine letters which he seems to believe will placate his eldest son.

On the boat

2023 HBO. All Rights Reserved

It seems that Connor won the wedding planning argument: against a grey sky and with the Statue of Liberty in the background, a brass band welcomes guests onto a luxury yacht that is going to circle the harbour. But somehow, despite all the money everywhere, the boat looks about as glamorous as the booze cruiser that takes cars from Dover to Calais.

Once on the boat, everyone is being their awful selves. Connor is arguing with the staff about his cake, which he finds less than perfect; Greg is trying to flirt with an uncomfortable-looking journalist; the Roy sibs are talking business as usual; Gregs on the phone to Tom  Tom is on the way to Sweden with Logan, but Greg hasnt been invited because hes in Logans bad books after the Kerry debacle. Willa and her Mum are talking on deck. Willas mum says that Connor will look after Willa, which certainly counts for something.

Then, Roman fires Gerri in his absolutely painful-to-watch Roman way  i.e. difficult to decipher, and ultimately blaming his dad (this time though, it really is Logans fault). Gerri is furious and upset, but doesnt take it out on Roman.

15 minutes in

Shiv receives a call from Tom. She declines. Then Roman gets a call from Tom. He picks up. Tom says, in his also not quite straight-to-the-point way, that Logan is not very well. Its difficult to tell what he means. Not very well? Logan was on a private jet heading to Sweden to talk to Matsson, but started to have trouble breathing. Now hes on the floor of the plane getting CPR and having his chest pumped. There are medical teams on call.

Kendall comes to the phone  he and Roman are in a separate room away from the guests. Tom says that Logan is not in a good way, that the kids should talk to him. Then it suddenly dawns on everyone what may be happening. Logan is unconscious. The kids must bid goodbye to their father.

Oh, these are incredibly moving scenes. Both Kendall and Roman speak to their dad, though they have no idea what to say  they murmur I love you, then theyre furious at him, then they say I love you again. Tom has placed his phone down next to Logan so that if he can still hear, he will be able to hear his kids. Kendall gets Shiv, who also murmurs her difficult, complicated, uncertain goodbyes. Of course no one can be absolutely certain noone has died because despite him being quite elderly and incredibly rich, theres no medical team on the plane (and also because no one wants to say the actual words).

Stumbling to the end

2023 HBO. All Rights Reserved

AND THERE IS STILL HALF AN HOUR LEFT of the episode. But as sometimes happens after the bodyslam of grief, it somehow slips away. Connor is told about Logans death  his tragic response is: Oh man, he never even liked me, but then he corrects himself, saying, He did, he did. I never got the chance to make him proud of me.

Everyone is talking, no one quite knows what to do. Roman keeps denying that Logan is dead, and gets angry at Shiv, who true to form is being more practical. Kendall, Shiv and Roman have gleaming eyes, but quite what that means is unclear. Logans team are all extremely shaken, and without his guidance, have no idea how or when to announce his death  they dont want to affect the market. They start drafting a statement, even though the plane hasnt yet landed.

Kendall, Shiv and Roman decide that they will make the statement. Tom calls Greg and tells him the news, and asks him to get off the boat and go to the office and delete a file called logistics on a computer. He also says, I lost my protector. It seems that Tom is already thinking about the succession.

And what next for Connor and Willa? Their conversation is touchingly honest. Should they go ahead and get married? Hes afraid that if they dont, shell run off. Is she staying with him just for his money? he asks. She says she is, a bit, but that shes happy. The exchange is somehow sweet and the duo in the end decide to go ahead and say their vows.

The young Roys leave the boat and go to meet the plane where it has now landed. Press are already circling, and so Shiv gives a statement.

This nation has lost a passionate champion and an American titan... And we lost a beloved father, she says, refusing to answer any further questions. She also shares an intimate hug with Tom (is this an opportunity for a rapprochement between them? Obviously now is not the time to ask, but, you know...)

Down on the tarmac, Kendall watches his father being taken off the plane from a distance as the sky darkens. Roman goes closer, meanwhile, Shiv leaves with Tom  and we hear her asking him about what really went down on the plane.

Final thoughts

Speculation that Logan might die began the second that Jesse Armstrong announced that this would be the last series. It makes sense: Logan would never step down, so for a successor to really take over, hed have to be out of the picture.

But was this the death we imagined? Tragic, desperate phone calls, Logan lying in a plane surrounded by none of his friends and only his cronies? No medical team on hand? A depressing scene on the tarmac with his body being carried out of the plane? No, not at all.

No death would have been a good death, but there was something bleak  and the boat setting absolutely did not help  about Logans exit from the world. But perhaps thats right. Death is rarely poetic, and it was always going to be the one thing Logan couldnt control.

Now the ante is upped as we face seven episodes of absolute mayhem as his family and business partners scramble for power. Death also rarely brings out the best in people, especially where money is involved. Brace yourself.

Succession is currently streaming on Sky and NOW
P ub landlords whose premises were raided by five police who seized a collection of antique golliwogs have vowed to keep the dolls.

Benice Ryley, 61 and 65-year-old husband Chris, 65, of the White Hart Inn in Grays, Essex, were subjected to an anonymous complaint of a hate crime.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has reportedly told Essex Police that they should be focusing on catching real criminals rather than seizing toys.

Ms Ryley said officers investigating are yet to question her husband since the raid to take 15 golliwogs captured on CCTV last week Tuesday.

She told MailOnline: The police still have the dolls and I have no updates at all. The whole thing is totally mad.

Since the gollies were taken and the story was in the newspapers, we have had so many people get in touch with myself and my husband to say we shouldnt give up and should keep them on our shelf

Over the last two days my customers keep singing save the gollies and they want us to get them back.

So we are having a sign prepared that will say gollies are on display, so dont come in if that offends you and once thats ready well restore some more of the dolls to the shelf.

A Home Office source said: The Home Secretarys views have now been made very plain to Essex Police so theyre under no illusions.

Police forces should not be getting involved in this kind of nonsense. Its about tackling anti-social behaviour, stopping violence against women and girls, attending burglaries and catching criminals - not seizing dolls.

Police seized golliwogs dolls from the White Hart Inn in Grays, Essex / Handout

The College of Policing issued updated guidance last month stating that non-crime hate incidents should not be recorded where there is no basis to conclude that an incident was motivated by hostility.

The guidance also states: Wherever possible, freedom of speech should be prioritised.

Golliwog figures created by American-British cartoonist and author Florence Kate Upton began appearing in childrens books in the 19th century.

The physical dolls became popular in Britain in the 1970s but came to be considered a racist caricature of black people.

Essex Police said in a statement on Monday: We are investigating an allegation of a hate crime in Grays.

The report was made to us on February 24 after a member of the public reported being distressed after attending a venue off Argent Street.

The investigation is being carried out under Section 4(a) of the Public Order Act 1986 and Section 31 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

We have regularly discussed the progression of this case with the Crown Prosecution Service and on Tuesday April 4, five officers visited a location off Argent Street, Grays, and seized several items in connection with that investigation.

No one has been arrested or charged in connection with the investigation and our enquiries are ongoing

We are aware some elements of the media have reported that Essex Police has been contacted directly by the Home Secretary in relation to this investigation.

At the time of writing, this is categorically not true. As a result, we would ask all media reporting this to amend their news reports immediately.

In addition, as is the case in all investigations across every police force, we maintain operational independence from the Home Office which ensures that every investigation is carried out without fear or favour.
A rabbi whose British-Israeli wife has died three days after their two daughters were killed in an attack in the West Bank has described how his family of seven is now a family of four.

The death of Lucy Dee comes a day after the funeral of her daughters Rina, 15, and Maia, 20. All were described as idealistic, pure-hearted and kind.

Rabbi Leo Dee told a press conference from Erfat Settlement, West Bank, that his daughters Rina and Maia were killed by 20 bullets from a Kalashnikov rifle and his wife Lucy was shot twice.

He said he had been informed of an attack and called his family before realising he had received a missed call from his daughter Maia.

He said at the press conference, broadcast on the BBC: I hadnt noticed it ring, I hadnt picked up the phone, the feeling she called me during the attack and I wasnt able to speak to her will come back and haunt me for a while.

He said that he saw a photograph on Instagram of his car with a bullet hole in it, with the familys suitcases with blood on them, and drove like a lunatic to the scene.

He said that he was able to identify his daughter Maia at the scene after police produced her identity card, and he then drove to the hospital where his wife had been taken.

He said: I went numb. I didnt cry yet, I was highly rational.

I drove another hour and a half to the hospital.

Lucy had had two bullets  one through the brain stem and one lodged at the top of her spine.

There was an operation. There was reason for hope. But alas our family of seven is now a family of four.

Rabbi Dee described his wife and daughters as three beautiful innocent young ladies in the prime of their lives and urged people to post images of the Israeli flag on social media in their memory.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the British Jewish community have expressed their condolences to the family.

Mr Netanyahu posted on Twitter: On behalf of all the citizens of Israel, I send my heartfelt condolences to the Dee family on the death of the mother of the family, the late Leah (Lucy), who was murdered in the severe attack in the Bekaa last Friday, along with her two daughters Maya and the late Rina.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews posted: Our hearts go out to the Dee family at the terrible news that Lucy Dee has now also passed away after the Palestinian terror attack on Friday that killed two of her daughters, Maia and Rina. May their memories be for eternal blessing.

Mrs Dee, 45, was seriously injured in the attack on their car near an Israeli settlement in the West Bank on Friday and on Monday, Israels Hadassah hospital announced that she had died, according to reports by AP.

Rabbi Dee was formerly the senior rabbi at Radlett United Synagogue in Hertfordshire and assistant rabbi in Hendon, north London.

The sisters were born in London and the family moved to Israel in 2014, according to The Telegraph.

The Radlett United Synagogue told the PA news agency: The Radlett Jewish community is devastated at the terrible news of Rebbetzen Lucy Dees passing, in addition to the deaths of her and Rabbi Leo Dees daughters, Maia and Rina.

The community greatly admired the inspiring Dee family during their time at Radlett. Lucy and her daughters were idealistic, pure-hearted and kind.

We and the world have been robbed of their presence, but their light can never be extinguished. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Rabbi Leo and his children, Keren, Tali and Yehudah.

The family lived in the Efrat settlement, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, according to the settlements mayor, Oded Revivi.

Maia and Rina, you have loved us, you have inspired us, and in turn we will love you forever

The three family members were among six people caught up in the attack carried out by Palestinian assailants.

The family was in one of three cars on their way to Tiberias in the Galilee for a family holiday.

In footage from the funeral on Sunday, broadcast on Sky News, Rabbi Dee said: Maia and Rina, you have loved us, you have inspired us, and in turn we will love you forever.

May your souls be bound in the bond of eternal life.

And may we, and no-one else in the world, ever know so much sorrow.
A London-bound flight was forced to return to New Delhi after a passenger attacked cabin crew members, according to reports.

The Air India flight was flying to Heathrow Airport from Indira Ghandi international airport but returned after the passenger started behaving aggressively within 15 minutes of takeoff.

The customer reportedly hit a cabin crew member and pulled their hair, according to the Hindustan Times.

Air India said that the London-bound flight returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board.

It added that the passenger did not heed the verbal and written warnings and instead continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members.

The pilot decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing, the statement said.

A police complaint has been filed against the man, whose identity was not revealed by the authorities.

A spokesman for Air India said: Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London Heathrow on April 10, 2023 returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board.

Not heeding verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members.

The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing.

They added: An FIR [first information report] has also been lodged with the police. Safety, security and dignity of all on board is important to us at Air India.

We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight.
T he chief of police in Londonderry has appealed for calm as scenes of violence against PSNI during a dissident parade have been condemned by politicians across Ireland.

A number of missiles were hurled by young people at a PSNI Land Rover monitoring the parade in the Creggan area of the city on Easter Monday.

The parade, organised by the Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee, started in the Central Drive area when a number of masked men in paramilitary-style dress formed a colour party carrying the Irish flag and a host of republican flags.

As the parade progressed towards the City Cemetery, the police Land Rover came under attack, with masked youths throwing petrol bombs and firing fireworks before it drove off in flames.

The parade culminated at the republican plot in the cemetery, where speeches were heard.

One speaker described the event as respectful and dignified, paying homage to the revolutionary heroes of 1916 and all the republican dead.

Derry City and Strabane area commander, Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard, said: What we saw develop this afternoon in Creggan was incredibly disheartening.

As the parade was unnotified, police were in attendance with a proportionate policing operation.

Sadly, before the parade even started, we observed young people in the vicinity making petrol bombs to throw at police.

Shortly after the parade commenced, petrol bombs and other objects were thrown at one of our vehicles at the junction of Iniscarn Road and Linsfort Drive.

This was a senseless and reckless attack on our officers who were in attendance in the area in order to comply with our legal duties.

As participants at the parade made their way out of the City Cemetery, they removed their paramilitary uniforms under the cover of umbrellas and burnt them.

Organisers of this parade communicated in advance their desire to have a respectful and dignified event, however, that is not what we witnessed today.

There can be no place for this type of criminal activity. It is not wanted nor welcomed by the vast majority of people across the city.

During todays policing operation, we deployed evidence-gathering resources, and obtained footage which will now be reviewed as part of an investigation into potential offences under the Terrorism Act 2000.

As we head into this evening, we would appeal for calm, and welcome support from those with influence to help prevent any further disorder in the city this evening.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill described the violent scenes as deplorable.

She added: Twenty-five years on from the Good Friday Agreement this needless street disorder in Derry has no place in our society.

This type of illegal and anti-community activity is deplorable and out of step from wider community and public opinion

As political leaders we must stand united, appealing to all those concerned to end these attacks and refrain from further threats of violence, whether in Derry or North Down.

This type of illegal and anti-community activity is deplorable and out of step from wider community and public opinion.

Our focus is on the future and on the future of our young.

This society is moving forward and peace and stability will prevail.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he hoped the situation would quickly calm down.

It is very, very disappointing that people have gone ahead with a march that has not been notified to the police, he told the BBC.

Hopefully it will calm down very quickly and the police can get about their business because they are there to protect all communities across Northern Ireland.

The clashes come as Northern Ireland is preparing for a visit from US President Joe Biden.

Asked about the matter during a press briefing, a White House spokesman said US President Joe Biden is more than comfortable visiting Northern Ireland despite the recent violence.

Mr Kirby said: As for security concerns, you know we dont ever talk about security requirements of protecting the President but the President is more than comfortable making this trip and hes very excited to do it.

He said Mr Biden is grateful for the work Northern Irelands security forces have done and continue to do to protect all communities.

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the senseless violence is the last thing the people of Derry want to see.

It was wrong 25 years ago and it is wrong now, he said.

The saddest part of this spectacle is that young people with no memory or experience of the violence of our past are being manipulated and abused by people with no vision for the future.

Those whipping our kids into a frenzy and sending them out to attack the police have nothing to offer the people of Derry and this city will continue to reject them.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton tweeted: Another clearly coordinated attack on the PSNI.

The parade was illegal from the outset. This reckless behaviour is an attempt to cause harm not only to PSNI officers but to our communities as well. There must be swift action to bring those responsible to justice.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said: Absolute wasters. Sent out to riot by men sitting in pubs acting the big lads.

Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong tweeted: Disgraceful. The actions of some who want to drag NI back to dark days is abhorrent.

Irish Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney also tweeted his support for the PSNI.

So called dissident republicans have nothing to offer our society, north or south, he said.

A tiny minority of thugs seeking headlines, wanting to take Northern Ireland backwards.

Last week, senior police warned of the potential for disorder at the event.

Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said the force received strong intelligence that dissidents were planning to launch terror attacks against officers on the bank holiday.

Police increased security measures in response to the parade.

Groups marched in west Belfast and other areas in Northern Ireland across the Easter weekend as part of an annual public marking of the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising against the then-British rule across the island of Ireland.

Most parades were lawful and passed without incident.

However, police are investigating a masked colour party which led a parade in Falls Road in west Belfast organised by the Irish Republican Socialist Party on Sunday.

Parade participants were issued with warnings and footage was gathered by police, who will review it as part of an investigation into potential terrorism offences.
A t least six people were killed in an avalanche in the French Alps on Sunday.

Eight others, understood to be hikers, escaped unhurt, while one person suffered injuries.

Rescue crews began scouring the area 20 miles from Chamonix in the Haute-Savoie region following the incident.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the disaster hit the Armancette glacier in the middle of the day.

Elisabeth Mollard, the deputy mayor, told French radio station RTL that two of the people who died were local tour guides.

The hikers were on the Armancette glacier at 11.30am when snow on the whole mountainside appeared to detach itself and come crashing down towards forests 1,600m below. One of the survivors suffered moderate injuries and was flown to hospital.

There was no avalanche alert in force but warm sunshine and a brisk wind appeared to have been a factor, officials said.

The glacier is quite popular with experienced hikers at this time of year, Francois Barbier, the mayor of Les Contamines-Montjoie, said.

They climb on foot to the summit at 3,600m and come down on crosscountry skis. The refuges that give access to the glacier were full and the conditions were good yesterday.

On the Swiss side of the Alps nine ski hikers were swept away but escaped unharmed or with minor injuries after being caught by a big avalanche on Saturday.

That avalanche was triggered near the summit of the Alphubel mountain in the Saas-Fee area close to the Italian border and near the Matterhorn and the resort of Zermatt.

In an average year about 30 people die in avalanches in the French Alps.
T he Dalai Lama has apologised for kissing a boy on the lips and asking him to suck his tongue at an event in India.

The Tibetan spiritual leader, 87, was accused of inappropriate behaviour after footage emerged from an event on February 28 where he addresses a group of students at the Tsuglagkhang temple in Dharamshala, northern India.

In the clip, a young boy can be seen approaching a microphone and asking the Dalai Lama: Can I hug you?

He invites the boy on stage and kisses him on the lips. And suck my tongue, the Dalai Lama then says, sticking out his tongue, forehead to forehead with the student.

The audience burst into laugher as the boy quickly stuck out his own tongue and went to move away while the Dalai Lama chuckled and pulled him in for another hug.

The Dalai Lama faced a huge backlash online after the clip went viral, with many calling his behaviour inappropriate and disgusting.

His office have put out a statement following the outcy in which they apologise to the boy and his family for the hurt his words may have caused.

They added: His holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused.

His holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Uzbekistan Airways has announced the resumption of regular flights from Tashkent to Indonesias capital Jakarta, Trend reports via the companys statement.

According to the source, starting from April 26, 2023, Uzbekistan Airways plans to resume regular flights on the Tashkent - Jakarta - Tashkent route.

The Uzbek air carrier will carry out regular flights in this direction on Dreamliner 787 aircraft, once a week  on Wednesdays.

The flight schedule (local time for each airport):

departure from Tashkent  09:00, arrival in Jakarta 17:30;

departure from Jakarta 19:00, arrival in Tashkent  03:30.

The cost of a one-way ticket starts from 4.7 million soums ($416), while tickets for the Tashkent- Jakarta-Tashkent route start from 8.4 million soums ($743).

Meanwhile, in March 2023, Uzbekistan Airways resumed the flight after a three-year pause from Tashkent to Milan and Paris.
A t least five people have been killed and nine others wounded after a shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

The suspected lone shooter Connor Sturgeon, 25 - an employee at the bank - was also dead.

Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel told reporters the killer was live-streaming the attack online and officers are working to get the video taken down.

The victims were named as Thomas Elliott, 63, James Tutt, 64, Joshua Barrick, 40, and Juliana Farmer, 45.

One of the wounded, identified as 57-year-old Deana Eckert, later died, police said on Monday night.

One of the wounded officers, 26-year-old Nickolas Wilt, graduated from the police academy on March 31. He was in critical condition after being shot in the head and having surgery, the police chief said. At least three patients had been discharged.

Louisville Metro Police Department said a gunman was neutralized following the incident inside Old National Bank about 8.30am on Monday morning.

Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey told reporters officers who arrived on the scene encountered active gunshots still being fired inside the location at that time.

Officers exchanged gunfire with the shooter, who appeared to be a former employee of the bank, but it wasnt clear how he died.

We do not know exactly the circumstances of his death at this time, Humphrey said.

Mayor Craig Greenberg had earlier told people to avoid the area around Slugger Field due to an active police situation downtown.

Footage from the scene shows a huge police presence with damaged glass at one location.

Police deploy at the scene of a mass shooting in Louisville, Kentucky / via REUTERS

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he lost one of his closest friends in the shooting.

Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad, said Beshear, his voice shaking with emotion. Hes one of the people I talked to most in the world, and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend.

These are irreplaceable, amazing individuals that a terrible act of violence tore from all of us, the governor said.
T he mother of two British-Israeli sisters who were killed last week in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank has died of her wounds, hospital officials said on Monday.

Maia and Rina Dee, 20 and 15, were killed on Friday when their car was shot at by a suspected Palestinian gunman. Their mother, Lucy, was in the car with them and was critically wounded and has been in a coma since.

On Monday it was confirmed Lucy had succumbed to her injuries.

Her husband Rabbi Leo Dee told a press conference his daughters Rina and Maia were killed by 20 bullets from a Kalashnikov rifle and Lucy was shot twice.

He said he found out his daughters died at the scene of the attack before driving to the hospital where his wife had been taken.

He said: I went numb. I didnt cry yet, I was highly rational.

I drove another hour and a half to the hospital.

Lucy had had two bullets  one through the brain stem and one lodged at the top of her spine.

There was an operation. There was reason for hope. But alas our family of seven is now a family of four.

Israeli forces are still trying to track down the assailant.

In a statement published by the Jerusalem Post, a spokesman for the hospital said: 48-year-old Lucy Dee was evacuated by helicopter to Hadassah Ein Kerem in critical condition, where the teams fought for her life over the past few days, in the trauma unit, the operating room and the intensive care unit where she was treated.

Maia (left) and Rina Dee / PA Media

Unfortunately, despite intensive and unceasing efforts, due to her fatal injury, the team had to determine her death today.

The hospital added that the Dee family has decided to donate Lucys organs in order to save the lives of others.

The funerals for Maia and Rina were held on Sunday, with thousands of mourners in attendance .

In his eulogy Rabbi Dee asked: How will I explain to Lucy what has happened to our two precious gifts, Maia and Rina, when she wakes up from her coma?

The family had moved to Israel nine years ago from the UK, where Leahs husband had served as a rabbi in north London.

Mr Dee, who quit his job as an investment banker to become a rabbi and move to Israel, said the family feels diminished after his daughters died.

He told the Mail on Sunday: My daughters were friends of each other as well as sisters. Now we are diminished. Maia was doing national service in the south, and was passionate about helping others. Rina is what you would call an A* pupil. We were proud of them.
C limate change has very sadly got to a point where you can look out the window to see the toll on the environment and biodiversity, Chris Packham has said.

The broadcaster was speaking as he presents the second series of Our Changing Planet, in which he revisits vulnerable habitats over seven years.

Packham is joined by presenters Liz Bonnin, Steve Backshall, Gordon Buchanan, Ade Adepitan and Ella Al-Shamahi as they travel to California, Greenland, the Maldives, Brazil, Kenya and Cambodia for the BBC show.

When asked what he hoped viewers take away from the series, Packham said: I hope that the film highlights that in any corner of our planet, at any point, we can now, very sadly, find connections to changes in our environment, climate, and biodiversity.

I could go out of the unit where I am now and find things flowering that wouldnt have been flowering at this time when I was a child, so I can see climate change out the window of my industrial unit in Taunton.

Anyone can see it anywhere, if they look. I guess that thats another one of our messages.

Were saying that this simple system in Greenland can tell us a lot but you dont need to go that far, you can look out the window.

The environmentalist, who fronts the BBCs Winterwatch and Springwatch shows, travelled to the north-eastern side of Greenland to talk to a group of scientists following the muskox.

Packham said: The scientists were taking samples of just about everything, and fitting the collars and weighing, measuring, so I was able to join in first hand, which meant I was hands on with a muskox.

So in a sort of childlike way, that was a tremendous thrill because Id seen them and they have the potential to be dangerous animals, animals you treat with respect because of their size, but being able to get up close and personal with them was fantastic.

Elsewhere, BBC presenter Adepitan, who has previously featured in the documentary Climate Change: Ade On The Frontline, travels to Kenya to report on the effect of rising temperatures and failed rains.

When he visited the country in 2021, the elephants were being severely affected by drought.

As Adepitan returned, he said he saw people and elephants now fighting over food and water supplies.

Talking about his highlight from the show, he said: I think finding out that one of the elephants was pregnant.

Just to find out that theres going to be a new baby in this situation, because this is where we talk a lot about elephants dying, and an elephant struggling.

So to have a moment where we talk about an elephant being born, was beautiful.

Our Changing Planet returns on Sunday April 16 at 7pm on BBC One.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili said the countrys future rested upon returning to the European family since the day of gaining independence on April 9, 1989, Trend reports citing Agenda.

"This is an irreversible process, as Georgia is a European country and our [Georgian] Government made the European choice of the Georgian people its strategic goal. Achieving this goal is possible only with unity and strength, Darchiashvili emphasised.

"The country has been going through the most difficult path, maintaining its independence and peaceful course through tireless work, professionalism and responsibility, the FM noted.
The recent stunt, where Yevgeny Prigozhin held a Russian flag in his hands and declared that his Wagner mercenary soldiers have finally conquered the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, probably marks the end of Russian winter offensive. It was just a charade, of course.

The footage was shot at night, in front of a nondescript administration building that signifies nothing. Even Prigozhin admitted that it was only a victory from a legal point of view, i.e. he was standing on a street-corner that he wanted us to believe  well, wanted Russians to believe was really Bakhmut citys centre.

Its now the Ukrainians turn to launch their long-anticipated offensive, but theyll have to wait a little longer. It will rain almost every day for the next two weeks, and the ground has to dry out before tanks can manoeuvre off-road. What will happen then  and when will there be peace?

The one thing that could provide a decisive outcome is a wholesale collapse of the Russian army. Armies sometimes do collapse when the losses are very high and the morale is very low  the Russian armys collapse in 1917 was what let the Communists seize power  but its unlikely that the Russian forces currently in Ukraine are that far gone.

They havent been doing well, of course, and its safe to say that the Ukrainians can no longer be decisively defeated. However, its a long way from that to predicting (as some are now doing) that Ukraines army will actually drive the Russians out of all the occupied territory.

Numbers matter, and Ukraine is still heavily outnumbered in tanks, artillery and air power. (Russian planes dont risk going deep into Ukraines air defences, but if Ukrainian ground forces are attacking, they dont have to.)

Ukraines armoured forces can probably manage one or even two thunder runs like the one last September that took back most of Kharkiv province. However, if the Russian army doesnt collapse, the Ukrainians would have to do eight or 10 of those in a row to push the Russians all the way back to their own borders. That would verge on the miraculous.

Otherwise, the outlook is for local Ukrainian victories within in a continuing war of attrition through the summer and into next winter. The Western powers will be looking for signs that Vladimir Putins position as supreme war leader is weakening. Putin will be hoping for a Trump victory in 2024 or a collapse of the German coalition government.

Neither of those things feels at all imminent, and the attrition is strangely balanced even though Russias wealth, population and resources are so much greater than Ukraines.

That is because Putin is waging a scaled-down version of a 20th-century total war, which includes constant attacks on cities and other non-military targets. That didnt break the enemys will then and it wont do so now, and it uses up Russian resources and forces pointlessly.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainians are constrained by their own lack of means and the restrictions imposed on them by the NATO powers to wage a strictly limited war: only against military targets, and only on their own territory. Paradoxically, this operates to their advantage, since it prevents them from doing wasteful and irrelevant things.

Thats why realism about what is attainable and what is not usually prevails within the Ukrainian civil and military leadership. Their highest priority in the summer offensive will therefore be just to win back enough territory to convince their Western backers to go on supplying and supporting them.

Those are not necessarily the best targets strategically, but for Ukraine the political outcome (continued Western support) is more important than the military one.

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More than four years after Canadian snowbird Malcom Madsen went missing in Mexico, the three suspects accused of orchestrating his disappearance, including his former Mexican girlfriend, will stand trial this week.

Marcela Acosta Ramos, 48, along with her son Andres Javier Romero Acosta and brother Martin Alejandro Acosta Ramos, are charged with a disappearance committed by individuals, used when the fate of a missing person is unknown.

Prosecutors in Puerto Vallarta, where the trial is to begin Monday, are seeking a prison sentence of between 25 and 50 years for Acosta and her alleged accomplices, and are planning to present the court with some 100 pieces of evidence, according to local media reports.

It feels surreal. Ive experienced a lot of highs and lows during the past four years, said Madsens daughter Brook Mullins, who has conducted her own investigation into his disappearance and pushing Mexican authorities to do more to find out what happened. I have had moments of hope that brutally collapsed while searching for my dad. Regarding the trial, Ill believe it when I see it.

Mullins will appear as a witness for the prosecution during the trial, expected to last a week.

Madsen, a jeweller and retired real estate agent from Sutton, Ont., went missing on Oct. 28, 2018, after going out for drinks with Acosta at a popular Puerto Vallarta tourist hangout called Andales Restaurant and Bar.

Shortly after Madsens disappearance, Mullins rushed to Mexico from her home in Port Hope, Ont., when she stopped hearing from her father. So began Mullinss four-year mission to solve the mystery of his disappearance  a saga that has led to disturbing revelations about the lack of a competent police investigation, an absence of support from Global Affairs Canada, and a recent documentary film chronicling her search for answers.

It was during Mullins initial visit to Puerto Vallarta shortly after she stopped hearing from her father that she  not the police  recovered security video footage captured at Andales bar that night.

The footage shows Madsen and Acosta sitting at a table just after midnight sipping drinks. When Madsen gets up to go to the washroom, Ramos can be seen looking around and pulling what appears to be a white pill or powder from her purse. She cradles the substance in her left hand beneath the table until Madsen gets back. When he sits down, he leans in close to speak into Ramoss ear and loses the sightline to his drink. At this moment, Ramos lifts her left hand from beneath the table and appears to sprinkle the substance she was holding into Madsens drink. He then takes several more sips before the couple gets up to leave.

As they leave the bar, Madsen, instead of walking normally, appears to shuffle, seemingly off balance. The couple then gets into a waiting cab. Madsen, 68 at the time, hasnt been heard from since.

Ramos has told investigators she is innocent and that after she and Madsen left the bar, they returned home to the house he had bought for her and went to bed. She claims that in the morning, Madsen packed up his things and left for his beachside tree house a few hours south of the city. She reported him missing five days later.

Evidence collected by Mullins during the course of her own investigation, for which she hired her own lawyers and private investigators, revealed several inconsistencies in Ramos testimony.

For instance, Ramos told police that Madsens van had sat in the garage for the whole night. Yet a GPS tracking device, which he installed on the van unbeknownst to Ramos, showed that the vehicle travelled across town to four locations during the night, including to a junglelike area and a marina.

Ramos also told investigators that she and Madsen immediately returned home after leaving Andales, but a statement to the Jalisco state prosecutors office by the taxi driver that picked them up contradicts this assertion. According to an official document obtained by the Star, taxi driver Jose Guadalupe Ochoa Garcia told investigators he did not take Madsen and Ramos home, but rather, dropped them off at another bar, Mandala. During the drive, the document states, Ramos would communicate on the phone with her son Andres, who would immediately communicate with his uncle and Ramos brother Martin.

Messages sent by the Star to Ramos email account seeking comment for this story bounced back, while neither the district attorney in charge of the case nor a lawyer representing Martin responded to an interview request by press time.

In the immediate period following Madsens disappearance, local authorities seemed to take little interest. Investigators failed to take basic steps, such as retracing the vans route on the night Madsen went missing, dusting the vehicle for fingerprints, conducting luminol tests for blood traces, or searching the house. Some of these steps were completed only after Mullins lawyer filed motions with the Jalisco attorney general.

In April 2022, local authorities began a ground search of a forested area of Puerto Vallarta, a joint operation between several agencies that found nothing related to Madsen, but did recover the remains of several others.

Support from Global Affairs Canada has also been lacking, says Mullins, who has asked the agency on numerous occasions for information about her fathers case and for help in pressuring local authorities to act.

A week ago, Mullins asked Global Affairs if they could provide a translator for her during the upcoming trial. The government agency told her it is the responsibility of the Mexican courts to provide translation services but that she can hire her own if she wishes.

A Global Affairs spokesperson told the Star that the agency is aware that a Canadian citizen is missing in Mexico and that consular services are being provided to the family in Canada.

Consular officials in Mexico remain in contact with local authorities to gather additional information. Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed, the spokesperson said, adding that Global Affairs is committed to providing effective and efficient consular service to Canadians around the world.

Mullins says she feels abandoned by the agency.

If you cant help provide a translator, what is it that you do there? Mullins says, noting her frustration with Global Affairs has made her sick my stomach.

I shouldnt have allowed it to get to me as much as I did, but its just like a constant betrayal and letdown.

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SAULNIERVILLE, N.S. - An investigation is underway after a man was found dead following a boating collision on a small lake in western Nova Scotia, police said Monday.

RCMP spokeswoman Allison Gerrard said that after the collision Friday on Eel Lake  about 50 kilometres north of Yarmouth, N.S.  one person was rescued and a 62-year-old Halifax man was reported missing.

Gerrard said that after an extensive search, the missing boater was found dead Sunday night. The person who was rescued wasnt injured, she added.

In a release later in the day, Gerrard said the crash occurred when a 4.25-metre aluminum boat -- travelling at speed -- ran into a stationary 3.7-metre boat on the lake, sending both men in the larger boat into the water.

She said the people in the smaller boat rescued one of the men in the water but were unable to find the 62-year-old man.

A team involving about 60 people searched for the missing man throughout the weekend with help from a Department of Natural Resources helicopter. He was located at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

The RCMP have seized both boats, and an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023.

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A two-year-old GTA boy will soon see his name among the stars.

Gaspard and his father Jean-Francois Gauthier have travelled to California from Campbellville to watch the launch of a rocket that carries a satellite with Gaspards name on it.

The boy will see his name in space after winning an employee contest at his fathers company GHGSat, which will launch three satellites with SpaceX on Monday.

Having a small satellite like this named after my first son is so exciting. Its such an honour, Gauthier, who is vice-president of strategy at GHGSat, said.

The launch is set to take place at 11:44 p.m. PST from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, but that date could change.

Its unclear whether little Gaspard will be awake for the late-night launch, which takes place well after bedtime, or even how aware he is that its happening.

But Gauthier said its important to document the milestone for Gaspard.

Hell grow up with this, you know? Hell be able to ask, Wheres my satellite right now? And I can pull it up on the phone and show him exactly where in the orbit it is ... Thats going to be a part of his life for a long time, he said.

The three satellites Mei-Lin (C6), Gaspard (C7), and Oceane (C8) will travel aboard SpaceXs Transporter-7 Rideshare mission, adding to the six satellites GHGSat already has in orbit.

The SpaceX mission operates like a very expensive Uber ride, but its passengers are satellites belonging to commercial and government customers.

Gauthier said GHGSats satellites weigh about 15 kg each, and are around the size of a microwave oven.

The Montreal-based company is a pioneer in designing satellites that attribute greenhouse gas emissions to individual facilities, helping governments, industries and financial services reduce emissions.

Gauthier said the company can track methane emissions down to a single coal mine, which allows its customers to take action to reduce their environmental footprint.

One of the biggest methane producers is the oil and gas sector, since methane is a main component of natural gas, Gauthier said.

There is a financial incentive for companies to reduce emissions  for example, identifying the source of a pipeline leak saves money and understanding emissions data helps financial companies decide how to invest, Gauthier said.

GHGSat plans to launch three additional satellites later in 2023, and aims to reach more than 100 by 2027.

The company will launch its first satellite designed to monitor carbon dioxide this fall.

Each satellite is named after the child of an employee.

Gauthier said its a tradition that highlights the importance of the companys mission.

It became a symbol of wanting to pass on a better future to the next generation, he said.

With files from Edward Djan and Ana Pereira

MB Marissa Birnie is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @marissabirnie

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PARIS (AP)  Comments by French President Emmanuel Macron over Europes priorities on Taiwan have raised questions over the EUs relationship with both the U.S. and China, on the eve of his planned speech on the blocs sovereignty in The Netherlands.

Macrons remarks were published Sunday in an interview with French newspaper Les Echos and Politico Europe.

The question we need to answer, as Europeans, is the following: is it in our interest to accelerate (a crisis) on Taiwan? No, Macron was quoted as saying in the interview. The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the U.S. agenda and a Chinese overreaction.

The comments were made Friday, before China launched large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island in response to the Taiwanese presidents trip to the U.S. last week.

Macron spoke to reporters on his way back from a three-day state visit to China, where he spoke at length with President Xi Jinping, including about Taiwan, according to Macrons office.

The remarks have drawn wide attention on social media, and experts raised questions about whether Macrons views are in line with the European Unions position and whether the bloc of 27 is able to become the third superpower that Macron says he hopes to build within a few years.

Asked about Macrons comments Monday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby insisted that the U.S. and France have a terrific bilateral cooperation and closely coordinate on security issues in Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, the Sahel and elsewhere.

Were focused on ... making sure that together were meeting the national security requirements of both countries, Kirby said.

Macron on Tuesday is to start a two-day state visit in The Netherlands, where he is scheduled to make a speech on Europes sovereignty, with a focus on the economy and industry, according to his office.

We, Europeans, must wake up. Our priority is not others agendas in all regions of the world, Macron said in the interview.

He emphasized the concept of strategic autonomy for Europe which he has promoted for years. He warned of what he called the trap that would lead to the bloc getting caught up in crises that are not ours.

We dont want to depend on others for critical topics, he insisted.

Politico said Macrons office asked to check the presidents quotes before they were published, a common practice in France, leading to some parts of the interview in which he spoke even more frankly about Taiwan and Europes strategic autonomy getting cut out.

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BEIRUT (AP)  A rocket attack Monday targeted a base in eastern Syria where U.S. troops are based causing no injuries or damage, the U.S. military said.

The military said in a statement that one rocket struck the Mission Support Site Conoco in eastern Syria on Monday evening and another rocket was found at the attack point of origin.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said that Iran-backed fighters based in eastern Syria might have been behind the attack.

In late March, U.S. forces retaliated with airstrikes on sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard. They followed a suspected Iran-linked drone attack that killed a U.S. contractor and wounded six other Americans in northeast Syria. An official with an Iran-backed group in Iraq said the U.S. strikes killed seven Iranians.

On any given day there are at least 900 U.S. forces in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors. U.S. special operations forces also move in and out of the country, but are usually in small teams and are not included in the official count.

The American troops are trying to prevent any comeback by the Islamic State group, which swept through Iraq and Syria in 2014, taking control of large swaths of territory. The extremists were defeat in Syria in 2019.

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OTTAWA - Its been years since he sat in a classroom studying the way a bill becomes law, but over the last several months Nathan Kennedy has taken on an unexpected political crash course as the proposed online-streaming legislation winds its way through the House of Commons and Senate.

The content creator from Hamilton, Ont., has found himself thrust into the parliamentary process because of the potential impact that Bill C-11 could have on his livelihood.

I want to understand what the impact to my broader reach will be, whether its on TikTok or YouTube, because that impacts my business, who I do business with, and am I attractive to sponsors from international markets, Kennedy said.

To his 600,000 followers across various platforms hes known as @newmoneynate.

In 2021, he started earning enough money talking about personal finance online that he quit his full-time job as a district manager.

Bill C-11 is awaiting a final vote in the Senate, and is likely to become law in the next several weeks.

But even after almost a year of debate and revisions, some content creators say the proposed law is too ambiguous, and they have no new assurances about what it will mean for them.

The government hasnt been able to provide any meaningful information to industry about the actual application of this proposed law, said Kai Hutchence, CEO of Massive Corporation Game Studios in Regina.

They say a lot of things, but most of it is extremely vague. They dont provide a clear example of what they would do on given platforms.

Hutchence relies heavily on YouTube to promote digital products to international customers.

The bill will require big tech companies that offer online streaming services  such as YouTube, Netflix and Spotify  to contribute to Canadian content and increase its discoverability so that CanCon is easier to find through search engines, applications and websites.

If companies dont comply, they could face steep penalties from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, which will be in charge of enforcing the new provisions.

A lot of people have some sort of existential fear around being limited in some sense by some governing body, Kennedy said.

And theres collateral damage  called creators  that could be impacted by this.

In the past year, its become common for content creators to lean on one another for advice. Some have flown to Ottawa to speak to lawmakers. Others have even contemplated moving to the United States.

Google Trends, a website that tracks popular searches, shows peoples interest in Bill C-11 has grown in the last year, with inquiries seeking an explanation of the bill, whether it has passed and why it is bad.

Creators say there is disinformation about what it all will mean, and the debate has been politicized, with some who oppose the changes being called Conservative.

The anxiety that (this bill) has provoked in the creator cannot be understated, said J.J. McCullough, an LGBTQ content creator, from his home in Vancouver.

I think one thing a lot of (internet) creators feel very deeply about is that they do not want to live under a regulatory framework that governs television and radio in this country.

Like McCullough, some who have built careers on the internet say theyve done so within a free enterprise model that works and doesnt need fixing.

I became popular by making content people want to watch, its as simple as that. Thats the only way you become popular on YouTube, said McCullough, who voiced his concerns about the law to Parliament.

We want to make content whose success or failure is determined by the taste of a global audience, not by Ottawas conception of what is the right kind of content for Canadians to consume. We find that very paternalistic, politicized, ideological and condescending.

Kennedy worries that discoverability requirements would affect his business model. If his videos dont meet future CanCon standards, he said they could be de-prioritized by tech companies.

A lot of times if you dont perform well domestically, you might not make it internationally, he said.

Hutchence said the entire process has shown him the government has become completely irrelevant to the individual.

The powers that be do what they want. Theres been no process to involve us, Hutchence said.

Kennedy said he has come to accept that the bill will pass, but hes holding out hope the CRTC will work with content creators before it begins regulating the internet.

It does make going to the United States more attractive, he said.

People dont really think of content creators as a career, and if theres a better career opportunity for me in the U.S. then I have to consider that.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023.

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Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca declared on Monday that some of the liberal ministers of the current Cabinet will no longer be in the future Government, led by the leader of the social democrats, Marcel Ciolacu, after the government swap agreed by protocol for May.

Ciuca made the statement upon leaving the opening ceremony of the International Conference "Smart Diaspora 2023. Diaspora in higher education, science, innovation and entrepreneurship" organized at the Romanian National Opera Hall in Timisoara.

"The swap is planned to take place, as we assumed", said Nicolae Ciuca.

He was also asked whether he was not afraid of losing the position of president of the PNL after giving up that of prime minister, starting from certain dissatisfactions expressed by other leaders. "I served the citizens of Romania and Romania, not any particular party", argued Ciuca.

In the same context, he was asked at what stage the PNL ministers' evaluations are and if there is a possibility that some of them will no longer be in the future government led by the PSD leader, Marcel Ciolacu.

"Each of the ministers will be evaluated and each will find their position in the future. Definitely, yes", answered Ciuca. AGERPRES
Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani will meet Georgian officials, including his counterpart Ilia Darchiashvili, during an official visit to the country between Monday and Tuesday, Trend reports with reference to Agenda.

Osmani will also meet Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, President Salome Zourabichvili and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

A discussion with the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Thea Akhvlediani is also scheduled for the visiting FM, the Georgian foreign office said.
The Minister of National Defence, Angel Tilvar, declared on Monday, in eastern Focsani, that the system cannot absorb the shock of the departure in a short period of time of the servicemen who, at this moment, meet the conditions for retirement and that is why the Ministry of Defense advocates for solutions that ensure the long-term sustainability of the pension system.

He emphasized that the ultra-modern equipment purchased in recent years for the modernization of the Romanian Army must be operated by competent and experienced people.

"We have been running for several years, based on consistent and predictable annual allocations for the Defense budget, an ambitious endowment program which, without fear of exaggeration, can be considered the most important modernization stage of the Romanian Army in its entire history. The results can already be seen. State-of-the-art technology starts to equip our military units, including here in Focsani. But at the same time, the security context forces us to ensure predictability to the most important of our resources: the people in uniform. The ultra-modern technology that they received or that will arrive in the coming years will not be able to ensure the credible defense that Romania deserves without the people who will operate it. Among the essential elements that can ensure national resilience in the short, medium and long term, as the National Recovery and Resilience Plan also envisages, there are a robust, credible and efficient national defense system. Based on these discussions, we cannot risk considering, for example, the more than 7,000 troops from the Ministry of National Defense alone, who meet the conditions for moving into reserve on the current retirement system, that their only solution is become reservists", said Angel Tilvar.

The defense minister also said that in these cases we are talking about people with great experience, many are placed in command positions and it will be impossible for the military system to absorb the shock of their departure in such a short time.AGERPRES
Minister of Economy Florin Spataru, said on Monday in southwestern Craiova that the new government programme will include several funding schemes aimed at industrial growth, especially in areas where industry is less developed, so as to reduce the trade deficit and the development gaps.

Minister Spataru on Monday visited the Craiova High-Tech Industry Park, one of the two industrial parks of Dolj County Council, which covers about 3 hectares and where around 45 economic agents have built factories and other buildings. He had a discussion with representatives of some companies with Romanian capital.

"We would like to initiate, at the level of the Ministry of Economy, a programme of industrial growth in areas where industrial development is poorly represented, precisely to help reduce the trade balance deficit. We want these schemes to bring industry back to all the counties of the country. We want to allocate money either from European funds, but also from the state budget to investments, that should be carried out by both foreign and Romanian companies," said the minister of Economy.

According to him, the Craiova High-Tech Industry Park is a good example that there are companies with Romanian capital that are developing, that have benefited or could benefit in the next period from aid schemes, and the 2.2 billion euros that are allocated to the 6 counties under the Just Transition Programme "must be found as soon as possible in investments".AGERPRES
Prime minister Nicolae Ciuca declared, on Monday, in eastern Focsani, that hiring can still take place in the state system, depending on the needs of the ministries, but each institution will have to make a memorandum justifying its request.

"In the year 2022, we are discussing a difference of additional jobs at the level of state institutions of approximately 17,774, if I remember the numbers correctly. All this happened through the hiring that was done at the level of the Ministry of Education, you remember that we discussed the 'Nurseries and Kindergartens' program and it was necessary to staff, at the level of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, more than 5,000 employees for which the requests were resolved last year, we are discussing the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, because we had to increase our administrative apparatus, to be able to manage the funds that were allocated to Romania, and it turned out to be a good measure, because we managed to absorb 11.3 billion euros. And of course, at the other ministries, only that the figures were small. At the same time, it was a measure by which we stopped hiring at the level of each institution, leaving the possibility that depending on needs, through a memorandum, hiring in certain ministries could increase," declared Nicolae Ciuca.

However, the premier did not rule out that employment in the state system will be blocked in the coming period.

"If, following the current analysis, which we will do at the Government, we will come to the conclusion that such a measure is necessary, we will discuss it in the coalition and assume it at the governmental level as well," prime minister Nicolae Ciuca also said.AGERPRES
The Farmers' Force Association (AFF) suggests that all the parties and NGO leaders get committed to a national agri-food pact with clear measures and implementation deadlines, according to a press statement released by the association on Monday.

"The Farmers' Force Association (AFF) estimates that, at this moment, conditions are met for all the leaders of the political parties in Romania, together with leaders of agri-food NGOs to sit down at the negotiating table for the development of a national agri-food pact."

AFF suggests that the pact provides for clear legislative, executive and administrative measures at national and European level, with implementation deadlines, that should be committed to politically, consensually, "regardless of the name of the minister or ministers " to be in office until the 2024 general election or party affiliation.

AFF also asks for the signing of this pact to automatically mean the resignation of the incumbent agriculture minister, whose resignation should become effective even when just one of these measures is not implemented on schedule or in accordance with the pact.

"We have seen in the case of Poland that when there is a 100% political commitment to solving the farmers' problems, solutions are found, bilaterally or at the European level, without total support for Ukraine amid the war with Russia being affected in any way. That is why AFF believes that the time has come for such a national agri-food pact. AFF will put forth a raft of measures for the next 16-18 months, for large crops, horticulture, animal husbandry, as well as for the processing and food industry. We will send, as an emergency, official letters to all party leaders and to all chairs of farmers' associations, including the Alliance for Agriculture and Co-operation, inviting them to start together negotiating a national agri-food pact," AFF national leader Vlad Macovei is quoted as saying in the statement.

AFF is a professional organisation that represents the interests of all categories of agri-food producers in Romania, regardless of size, sector or region. It is said to defend for the rights and legitimate interests of over 20,000 members directly registered or who are part of AFF-affiliated organisations. It provides free legal advice to its members and for accessing European funds, as well as media and petitioning support for all issues reported by members, being an institutional dialogue partner of central and local public administrations in order to achieve the objective of its members "to place agriculture on the offensive."
In a message conveyed on Monday to the opening of the conference on "Smart diaspora - diaspora in higher education, science, innovation and entrepreneurship" taking place in Timisoara, President klaus Iohannis said that "education is the key to the sustainable development" of Romania.

"In an era of enhanced digital transformation, communication patterns and human interaction have fundamentally changed. The transfer of know-how, the initiation and development of cooperation or investment projects through scientific networks are facilitated by the new technological tools, which have reshaped the connection and interaction of researchers. Thus, skills and expertise can be quickly and easily leveraged, regardless of the whereabouts of their possessor. In this favorable context, Romania's commitment to creating and maintaining links with the scientific diaspora is crucial, and the institutions of the Romanian state must take up the role of catalyst. The unique perspectives and experiences of the scientific and academic diaspora community, judiciously capitalized upon, contribute to connecting the Romanian research ecosystem to the regional and global peer ecosystems. Moreover, the intensification of internationalization efforts by Romanian universities is one of the goals of the Educated Romania project," the head of the state said in the message delivered by presidential advisor Loreta Paun.

According to President Iohannis, education is the key to Romania's sustainable development.

He mentioned that in recent years the Presidential Administration has co-opted Romanian diaspora experts in working groups on various topics, such as the children left behind by parents living outside the homeland, the repatriation of the workforce from abroad, climate change and environment education, and has also co-opted experts in defining an integrated vision regarding Romania's response to these pressing problems.

The head of the state thanked the Romanian experts from abroad for their involvement in sustainability projects carried out in the country, adding that he granted the Presidency's High Patronage to the event as "a recognition of the continuity proven in the ambitious endeavor to connect Romanian researchers around the world".

Klaus Iohannis also affirmed that, right from the start of his first term in office, he articulated the vision of a professional community in various areas of expertise, regardless of the field, between Romanians in the country and those living abroad, and that he is happy that this conference transposes this vision at the top level of competence. AGERPRES
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca demanded on Monday, from Minister of Research, Digitalization and Innovation, Sebastian Burduja, the setting up an inter-ministerial working group to come up with a set of legislative proposals in order to debureaucratize the way research grants are managed, so that the measures are adopted and become operational in September of this year.

The Prime Minister made the announcement, on Monday, during the speech given at the opening ceremony of the International Conference "Smart Diaspora 2023. Diaspora in higher education, science, innovation and entrepreneurship" organized at the Romanian National Opera Hall in Timisoara.

"It is not acceptable that a German researcher can purchase a re-agent in 5 hours, and a Romanian researcher in 5 months. Until the signing of the reintegration grants, estimated in August-September, I ask you to have the debureaucratization legislation adopted and operational. Researchers must to stay in the laboratory, to take care of the content of the research activities, the dissemination of the results, their realization and exploitation through startups or spin-offs, not to waste time with papers and to sink into the bureaucracy", Nicolae Ciuca said.

At the same time, the prime minister asked the minister, following the discussions held during the conference, to propose to the Government five fields of science to be financed as a priority.

The prime minister appealed to the Romanian researchers in the diaspora to follow the opportunities envisaged by the Government in order to attract them to return to the country

"Soon the results will be published and 120 grants of over 1 million EUR will be contracted for researchers from the diaspora, Romanians and foreigners. Together and with the researchers from Romania, more and more, I want to ask you to create a critical mass of excellence, a critical mass necessary for a paradigm shift, a critical mass necessary for a translation of the Romanian economy from simple production, based on external know-how, to a production based on domestic research, development and innovation that will give us leads to where we Romanians deserve", declared Nicolae Ciuca.

At the same time, the prime minister launched an appeal to the entire political class in Romania to collaborate in order to create the necessary conditions for the return home of Romanian researchers from the diaspora.

Last but not least, the Prime Minister welcomed the presence at the event of the researchers from the Republic of Moldova and the relevant Moldovan minister. AGERPRES
The customs authorities of Romania and the Republic of Moldova have approved a joint action plan for the implementation of measures to help ease cross-border traffic during the Easter holidays, April 7 - May 7, 2023, according to a press release issued on Monday by the Romanian Customs Authority (AVR).

"The President of the Romanian Customs Authority, Mr. Bogdan - Lari Mihei, together with the Director of the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova, Mr. Igor Talmazan, approved the Joint Action Plan of the customs authorities of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, on the application of measures to contribute to the smooth flow of cross-border traffic during the Easter holidays, namely April 7 - May 7, 2023," the press release said.

Thus, in order to cope with the increased flow of travelers, the two customs authorities will increase the number of customs officers and will consider the redistribution of the necessary computer technology within the customs offices at the common border.

At the same time, measures will be taken to identify and allocate separate lanes for redirecting and speeding up the flow of travellers, and if the situation so requires, the support of the territorial border police structures will be requested in order to coordinate efforts to cope with the flow of travellers.
The total costs registered by road carriers amount to 2.41 billion EUR because Romania remained outside the Schengen area, registering a penalty of 25-30pct of the time lost, secretary general of the National Union of Road Hauliers from Romania (UNTRR) Radu Dinescu told a specialized conference on Monday.

"The fact that we remained outside Schengen keeps us a penalty of 25-30pct of lost time. The closer you are to the western border and you cross into Hungary and wait a day, the higher the percentage, the time you spend crossing of the border, from the total operating time, is higher. We estimated some total costs of 2.41 billion EUR in losses because Romania did not enter Schengen," Dinescu mentioned at the ZF Logistica, Transporturi & Automotive Conference.

According to him, the drivers' crisis continues this year as well, there are certain measures, including in the Mobility package, which have begun to affect them more and more.

"In terms of returning the truck home, for example, once every eight weeks. I did a recent study two weeks ago and I'm telling you that 40pct of companies can't return their trucks home, and 35pct that do return their trucks home, well, they do it without freight. Thus, all of a sudden, we're penalized fantastically in terms of efficiency compared to our peers in Western Europe," he explained.

Referring to the road transport industry in Romania, he emphasized that Romania's transport market ranks 7th in the European Union. At the same time, the UNTRR representative says that the volumes of goods transported by road will double by 2050, according to estimates. AGERPRES (RO - author: Nicoleta Banciulea,
A shooting in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning has left six victims, including a police officer, according to preliminary information from a source with direct knowledge of the scene on the ground.

The Louisville Metro Police said they were responding to "an active aggressor" on the 300 block of East Main Street in downtown, adding "there are multiple casualties." FBI Louisville described the incident as a shooting, and other officials urged residents to stay away from the area.

The source said there were shots exchanged between the shooter and police during the incident. The gunman is "down" and the incident has ended, the source said.

It is unclear if the shooter is one of the six victims. The victims' conditions are unknown and all have been transported to University Hospital.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a tweet he was headed to the scene of the shooting. "Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville," he wrote.

CNN has calls out to relevant authorities to follow up for more details.

The Louisville metro area, located along Kentucky's border with Indiana, has a population of about 630,000 people as of the 2020 Census. The 300 block of East Main Street is bordered to the east by the minor league stadium Louisville Slugger Field and includes a bank, dentist's office, a furniture store and the Louisville Ballet.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The-CNN-Wire

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At least one soldier and two terrorists were killed in two separate encounters in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Sunday, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, said that a fire exchange occurred between security personnel and terrorists on Saturday in Razmak area of North Waziristan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bordering Afghanistan.

"Troops effectively engaged the terrorist's location and killed one terrorist," said the military, adding that weapons and ammunition were also discovered from the killed terrorist.

The ISPR added that another fierce encounter started between security personnel and terrorists in Karama area of the South Waziristan district of the province, leading to the killing of a terrorist.

During the exchange of fire, a soldier was also dead, according to the ISPR.
Whether youre trying to eat more cabbage or just need to use up that remaining half head of savoy cabbage sitting in the back of your fridge, one of my favorite ways to dish it up is in a simple saute. Here, mild-mannered Savoy cabbage leaves are sauteed in butter for an easy side dish that goes well with just about anything youre cooking, from roasted sausage to pork chops to salmon. Its low-effort, totally satisfying, and hits the table in under 20 minutes from start to finish.

Tips for cutting savoy cabbage

Savoy cabbage has the most beautiful deep-green hue and very crinkly leaves, with a shape thats similar to green and red cabbage. Because of this, you can prepare Savoy cabbage the same way: Remove any tough or browned outer leaves, cut out the core, and chop the leaves into whatever size and shape you like.

Can you cook savoy cabbage like regular cabbage?

While the leaves arent quite as crisp as regular green cabbage, savoy cabbage can be cooked the same way. The biggest difference is that savoy cabbage will cook a little faster  in about 12 minutes  because the leaves arent as thick and sturdy.

Other delicious ways to enjoy savoy cabbage

In addition to serving it as a simple side dish, Savoy cabbage can be used in a wide array of recipes, such as stir-fries, soups, slaws, and cabbage rolls, just to name a few.

Savoy Cabbage

Serves 4

1 1/2 pounds savoy cabbage (about 1 small or 1/2 large head)

2 cloves garlic

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Remove and discard any very tough or browned outer leaves from 1 1/2 pounds savoy cabbage. Quarter the cabbage through the core, then cut the core from each piece and discard. Chop into rough 1-inch pieces (about 10 cups) and separate any leaves that are stuck together. Mince 2 garlic cloves.

2. Melt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter in a 12-inch or larger high-sided skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until softened and fragrant (do not let the garlic brown), about 30 seconds.

3. Add the cabbage, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir well to coat the cabbage. Continue to cook, stirring regularly, until the cabbage is tender, wilted, and lightly browned around the edges, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and season with more kosher salt as needed.

Recipe note: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to five days.
The researchers found that respondents reported seeing an average of nine patients with HAE yearly, of whom 12 percent resided in a rural area. HAE type I was most common (66 percent) versus 15 percent with type II and 19 percent with HAE C1nl-INH. The top reported diagnostic challenge was misdiagnosis (82 percent). Inability to afford treatment was the top treatment challenge (76 percent). Additionally, respondents noted that patients with HAE with government insurance have a disadvantage because it is not accepted by many specialists who treat HAE (64 percent), but respondents suggest that better payments for drugs from Medicaid and Medicare (57 percent) and better payments to providers from Medicaid and Medicare (49 percent) could support improved treatment of patients in rural settings. Nearly one-quarter of respondents (23 percent) acknowledged they have patients who must travel for an hour or more to get to their practice. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of respondents (86 percent) used telehealth for appointments occasionally.
ST. LOUIS  The old, drafty windows in Shelly Clerks home here had long been last on the list of day-to-day expenses Clerk, a widowed grandmother, has had to meet while raising her four grandchildren.

Clerk, 68, bought the 115-year-old house in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood 36 years ago. Her grandkids, ages 10 to 20, moved in with her more than a decade ago, after their father was murdered and their mother was deemed unfit to care for them. The eldest, who survived a shooting as an infant, has a mental disability.

When winter comes, the family of five feels its chill, Clerk said.

You try to plaster the windows and stuff the cracks and the air is still coming through, she said.

But thanks to the United Way of Greater St. Louis 100 Neediest Campaign, Clerks windows are one expense she no longer has to worry about. Cheryl and Ken Dennison, owners of Maryland Heights-based STL Windows Direct, plan to replace the windows in Clerks two-story home with new, custom-built and tempered-glass models  for free.

It will make the house a lot warmer, Clerk said recently, as workers took measurements of each window. Its a blessing.

The arrangement is just one way the annual 100 Neediest campaign, in partnership with the Post-Dispatch, has helped deliver direct aid, toys, household necessities and financial contributions to more than 700 families across the region. The 2022 campaign raised more than $1.5 million in financial donations, nearing the record $1.7 million the year before.

The 100 Neediest effort coordinates 58 social services agencies, school districts and nonprofits, to deliver goods and cash assistance to families facing crushing hardships: homelessness and hunger, job layoffs and overdue bills, illnesses and the deaths of loved ones.

The Post-Dispatch publishes stories about 100 families, selected by United Way of Greater St. Louis volunteers, between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Those 100 cases are a fraction of those who stand to benefit: 728 families were matched with donors who gave at least one household necessity or gift to each family member from a list the family requested, as well as financial contributions.

In all, 11,309 people received either an item or financial aid. Some families faced lingering financial and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. And thousands were reeling from the historic flash flooding that devastated the region in late July, wrecking homes, displacing families and leaving piles of ruined furniture, appliances and clothing in its wake.

In East St. Louis, flood victim LueGuester Hyde received cash assistance to buy replacement clothes and school items for her daughter, 9, and son, 16, and cover utility bills. The assistance allows Hyde to save up money to replace appliances wrecked by the flood, she said.

Its a help, Hyde, 44, said.

Touched my soul

The United Ways 100 Neediest Campaign, which grew out of an early 20th century Christmas tradition where charities and service organizations brought gifts and turkey dinners to St. Louis-area orphanages, has garnered volunteers and donors whove taken part year after year.

Don DeLo, 77, of Lakeland, Florida, remembers the first time he participated, about 15 years ago. After a trip around the world, he returned to his then-home in Marshfield, Missouri, and read an edition of the Post-Dispatch with one short paragraph about an elderly woman in need.

I can still it see it in my minds eye, said DeLo, whod been born in St. Louis. This lady, all she asked for was a warm winter overcoat. She didnt ask for the moon. She wanted a warm winter overcoat.

That touched my soul.

Every year since, Delo has bought about $5,000 in items for six or seven families, asking in part for families referred by the Lutheran Family and Childrens Services of Missouri, the agency that helped arrange Delos own adoption as an infant to a loving family.

For those from whom much has been given, much is expected, said Delo. Im just pleased and thank the Lord that I can be a part of this.

Kathy Ortinau has been volunteering for the 100 Neediest Campaign since 1997, after donating annually for years prior.

When she started volunteering, she used to dig through piles of paper records to match families with potential donors, she said. Now, a digital database makes it easy to search anonymous case stories to match families with specific needs with donors who can best help them.

I feel lucky to maybe have helped make a difference in someones life, said Ortinau 71, of Des Peres. I dont plan on quitting any time soon.

A unique gift

Volunteers for the United Way matched STL Windows Direct with Clerk, after Cheryl Dennison called offering to replace someones windows for free.

Thats a unique gift and not something we see a whole lot, said Becky White, the United Ways direct services program manager.

The match was serendipitous in more ways than one. The Dennisons son, who has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal and needs help to walk. Outside Clerks home one recent day, Dennison and Clerk exchanged pictures of their children and discussed Clerks granddaughter taking part in a nonprofit summer camp for kids, teens and adults with disabilities.

When they shared the story that this incredible woman is raising her grandbabies and one has special needs, there was just this connection, Dennison said. I said, Thats who we want to make a difference for.

Clerk, who retired from driving buses for the Special School District of St. Louis County, grew up caring for her five younger siblings, one of whom had developmental challenges. Today, she takes turns with them caring for their mother, 90, who lives around the block.

We grew up knowing this was what we had to do, Clerk said. Youve got to look out for someone besides yourself.

Information about participants in the 100 Neediest Cases campaign are normally confidential, but those who appeared by name in Post-Dispatch reports agreed to the use of their names for the stories.
Joe Holleman Joe Holleman is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Joe Holleman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Even though she is a Congressional rookie, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski has not been shy about racking up the miles.

In her first 100 days in office, the Illinois Democrat has visited every county in her 13th District, which includes Madison and St. Clair counties.

"Constituent work is very important," Budzinski said during a stop Monday at the Post-Dispatch office, noting that she has opened four district offices, including one in Belleville.

Along with being visible in her district, the Springfield, Illinois legislator said she also is making it a point to foster a working relationship with the other two members of the Illinois delegation who represent this area  Mike Bost and Mary Miller, both conservative Republicans and staunch supporters of Donald Trump.

"I'm not saying we're going to agree on everything," said Budzinski, who described herself as a "center-left pragmatist."

"But I think we can accommodate something in that space" where needs of the district outweigh partisan politics, she said.

Budzinski noted that she sought membership on the House Agriculture Committee, which is chaired by Bost, whose far Southern Illinois district includes parts of St. Clair and Monroe counties. "I think we've developed a good relationship," she said.

She also noted that she and Miller, who share portions of six Illinois counties, have worked together on an alternative-fuels bill that would benefit Illinois corn and soybean farmers.

Two other issues, both inherited and both more complicated, are moving at a slower pace, she said.

Budzinski said she still is talking with the parties involved in the possible closing of the U.S. Steel plant in Granite City.

Last year, the company announced plans to sell a large portion of the mill, which has been in Granite City since 1896, to Chicago-based SunCoke Energy.

The sale of the mill, which now has about 1,500 employees, would likely reduce the workforce by as many as 1,000 people.

"I've been talking with U.S. Steel ... trying to get them to make the decision to invest" in Granite City, she said, adding that if the reduction does take place, she wants to make sure the company is accountable for the environmental impact and clean-up.

"The community should not be responsible for that," she said.

The other problem that defies quick solutions is the flooding/sewage problem in Cahokia Heights and Centreville  one she described as "government that has failed a community."

Budzinski said U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, is "laser-focused" on sorting out the issue, which needs cooperation between local, state and federal officials.

Bottom line, she said, "It's unacceptable to have raw sewage coming up in your front yard."

Finally, Budzinski was asked about the possibility of a presidential run by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, whom Budzinski worked for as a senior adviser.

She said her former boss would make a "formidable presidential candidate," but then said all indications now point to President Joe Biden seeking reelection.

Said Budzinski, "And I would support him, of course."
JEFFERSON CITY  With thick limestone walls and a lack of sunlight, some have called the old Iron County jail a dungeon. Now a makeover is in store.

The countys jail complex in Ironton, Missouri, which dates to 1867, is in line for $2 million in renovations, with half of the money coming from the federal government and half from the county.

The facility is in bad shape. The old limestone keeps it cold in the winter and hot in the summer. A decade ago, federal officials blasted its lack of modern conveniences, from air conditioning to fire sprinklers to security windows for guards.

Its just a bad situation for everybody, Iron County Presiding Commissioner Jim Scaggs said in an interview. This is a good opportunity. Weve been waiting for this for quite some time.

Iron County, two hours south of St. Louis, with about 9,400 residents, is one of the biggest winners in a new round of federal funding, this time through the American Rescue Plan Act. The Missouri Department of Public Safety is sending $10 million to more than 40 counties for local jail improvements. Only the city of St. Louis, which is getting $1.1 million, and Saline County, with $1.8 million, have secured more than Iron County.

The jail there has needed help for years. More than a decade ago, former Iron County Sheriff Roger Medley invited a federal assessment of the complex, made up of the historic sheriffs house, the original 1867 jail and an addition built in 1978. The feds found a lack of daylight, temperature control, smoke detection, sprinklers, unobstructed exit paths, handicap accessibility and visibility into cells, the Post-Dispatch reported in 2012.

The article described six cells in the original quarters with woven steel doors left open due to security concerns.

In 2014, with walls of limestone that heat like a kiln in summer, Medley said he was closing off access to the old wing when the temperature hit 90 degrees. In 2017, prosecutors moved out of the old sheriffs house, which abuts the jail, after bats fell from the ceiling.

Scaggs said he hopes the updates will start in May, with renovations of the old sheriffs house, which housed the sheriff until the early 1990s and was originally constructed in 1866 and 1867.

He said administrative offices will move into the sheriffs house from the 1978 building. Improvements outlined in the first phase include new electric, plumbing, HVAC with UV sanitation, doors, windows, roof, flooring and ramps to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The second phase includes upgrades for the 1978 addition, including the conversion of offices into modern-day holding cells. A news release said upgrades during that phase include new roofing and updated plumbing and HVAC.

For the third phase, Scaggs said, Were going to take the Civil War jail, the 1867 jail, and completely redo it on the inside. The grant cant be used for new construction, he said.

The six cells in the old wing will be removed and replaced with two larger group cells on either side of a central corridor, according to a news release. Modern plumbing and bathroom facilities will be installed, along with new cell doors, and new electric, lighting and roof , the release said.

Scaggs said he expects the project to last 12 to 18 months.

Inmates have already been removed: Last month, current Iron County Sheriff Jeff Burkett was arrested and charged with criminal street gang activity, along with two sheriffs deputies. Inmates were moved to the Washington County jail, and Iron County Coroner Tim Harbison took over as temporary sheriff.

St. Louis upgrades

Monte Chambers, spokesman for the St. Louis Department of Public Safety, said the city has been working to upgrade the City Justice Center, downtown, after decades of neglect. The goal is to consolidate populations at the much-maligned city workhouse, on Hall Street, with inmates downtown, Chambers said.

He said in an email the citys Division of Corrections applied for the grant, and that the $1.1 million will help support further renovations and upgrades.

In 2021, then-Public Safety Director Dan Isom told a citizen advisory panel that the City Justice Center could need as much as $20 million in renovations, including fixes for faulty cell locks.

City officials said in May that $7 million in upgrades, including faulty lock replacement, had been completed.
ST. LOUIS  A Pagedale man was sentenced Monday to life plus 17 years in prison for causing a head-on collision that killed a woman and left her mother with lasting injuries.

DeAndre Carter, 34, was convicted last month of involuntary manslaughter, armed criminal action and second-degree assault for speeding into oncoming traffic down Page Boulevard in July 2020 in a stolen car, striking Paige Walker's vehicle and killing her.

Walker's loved ones spoke in court Monday about the depth of their loss. Many expressed anger over the crash and urged the judge to set an example for future reckless drivers.

"For every action, there is a reaction," her sister, Lacreasia Walker, said. "We seek justice for Paige."

Defense attorneys said the sentence was unfair.

"That kid got life plus 17 for something he had no intention of happening," said the city's chief public defender, Matthew Mahaffey. "It's so sad."

Carter was initially charged in 2020 with involuntary manslaughter and assault. The case was dismissed and refiled last year.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys reached an agreement where Carter would plead guilty in exchange for a nine-year prison term. But Judge Michael Noble rejected that plan, forcing the case to go to trial. Carter was convicted of all counts.

On Monday, prosecutors asked for a 20-year prison term, calling a string of Walker's relatives to testify about their lasting grief.

They spoke about Walker's involvement in her church, her graduation from a carpentry trade program and her closeness with her family. Walker's mother, Shirley Brown-Walker, said she missed her daughter every day.

"I wish I could climb up to heaven just to hug and kiss my baby and tell her that I love her," she said.

But Carter's public defender, Mia Griffin, argued Carter was trying to get his life back on track after myriad struggles. He was abused, shot and critically injured at the age of 16, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and had lost family members to shootings and drug overdoses.

"He wants to take responsibility for this case," Griffin said.

Even a nine-year term was harsher than sentences white defendants had received in similar cases throughout the region, public defenders said. Carter is Black.

In St. Louis County, for example, a man was driving while high, killed a woman and was sentenced last month to two years in prison. In Hillsboro, a man was sentenced to eight years in prison after driving drunk and killing a young couple and their infant son.

"Why is this so different?" Mahaffey said.

Ultimately, Noble said he rejected the nine-year plea agreement because it was "insufficient" considering the seriousness of the offense and the "significant aggravating issues in this case."

He sentenced Carter to the maximum sentence of life in prison for armed criminal action, 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and seven years for second-degree assault.

Carter will spend roughly 15 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
ST. LOUIS  An unidentified person died Sunday morning after crashing a car into a building in the Near North Riverfront neighborhood, police said.

A preliminary investigation indicated the driver was headed north on North Broadway early Sunday when the driver veered right, left the road, crossed over Branch Street and hit the building, in the 3100 block of North Broadway.

The vehicle, a Nissan sedan, caught fire and was completely incinerated, police said. When authorities showed up and extinguished the fire, they found the driver inside and pronounced them dead at the scene.

An investigation is ongoing.
ST. LOUIS  Funeral services will be held next week for the Missouri soldiers who died when two Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters crashed during a routine nighttime training exercise in Kentucky.

The helicopters that crashed were carrying nine people in total, according to The Associated Press. All nine died. Two were from Missouri: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Zachary Esparza and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten Smith.

Esparza, 36, grew up in St. Louis and graduated from Bayless High School in 2005, according to his obituary. After high school, he attended Southeast Missouri State and then enlisted in the Army in 2010 while in Jackson, Missouri.

Zac was a St. Louis guy through and through, his obituary read. His perfect date would be eating Imos Pizza at a St. Louis Cardinals ballgame. Zac lived his life to the fullest while defending his country and traveling the world. He will be greatly missed by many.

Smith, 32, grew up in St. James and graduated from John F. Hodge High School in in 2009, according to his obituary. He was married in 2016 and leaves behind two daughters and a stepson.

He was a dedicated family man, a loyal friend, a dependable battle buddy, and simply an outstanding human being, Smiths obituary read. Rusten loved life, his family and friends, his country, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Esparzas visitation will be held at noon on Sunday, April 16, at Hoffmeister South County Chapel, 1515 Lemay Ferry Road. A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, April 17, at Crosspoint Church, 5001 Little Rock Road. He will be laid to rest at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.

Visitation and memorial services for Smith will be held beginning 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15, at the St. James Middle School Gymnasium in St. James. Smith will be buried at Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Fort Leonard Wood in Waynesville.

A memorial service for Smith will also be held in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Black Hawk helicopters, spotlighted in the popular 2001 film Black Hawk Down, are used in security, transport, medical evacuation and other missions.

Army investigators were working to determine the cause of the crash, The Associated Press reported. The helicopters had a device similar to black boxes, which record the performance of aircraft in flight and are used to analyze crashes.
JEFFERSON CITY  The state budget is on track to be once again void of any money to complete a recreational trail that supporters say could become a significant tourism draw for Missouri.

During a budget hearing earlier this month, Republican Gov. Mike Parsons budget chief, Dan Haug, answered a question about the proposed Rock Island Trail State Park with a pun.

There doesnt seem to be a clear path forward on that, Haug told lawmakers.

Although Haug said funding for the corridor could be considered again next year, he left the future of the 144-mile biking and walking path under Parsons tenure in limbo.

Just 16 months ago, that didnt seem to be the case.

On a blustery December day, Parson traveled to Eldon to preside over a ceremony accepting the former Rock Island railroad corridor from Ameren Missouri with the idea of a $107 million cross-state rails-to-trails project to complement the Katy Trail, considered the longest bike path in the nation.

The new trail, which will run from Beaufort in Franklin County to Windsor in Henry County, was put on a fast track because of the availability of federal pandemic aid money that was flowing into the state at the time.

While much of the conversion would be along the flat bed of a rail line, much of which has already been mostly cleared, the big costs are bridges that cross the Gasconade and Osage rivers, as well as tunnels that would take bicyclists and hikers through, rather than around, the wooded hills of central Missouri.

The project, however, hit a roadblock in the Missouri Senate, where, with the prodding of powerful farm lobby groups, the Republican-controlled chamber stripped funding for the trail out of the spending plan out of concerns that the linear park could interrupt agriculture operations.

Parson reacted to the maneuver by vetoing funding in that budget for a bike trail in the district of the current Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield.

The opposition to the conversion of the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad corridor hasnt changed in this legislative session, leaving towns along the route wondering how much to invest in the project.

In the budget now under negotiations covering spending beginning July 1, lawmakers have inserted nearly $3 million for maintenance on the trail. But, as part of the proposed Missouri Department of Natural Resources spending plan, there is language that prohibits the expansion or development of the corridor.

Some towns along the route are hoping to transform the trail within the town borders, with the state someday connecting the pieces.

In Rosebud, where antique stores line the main road through town, officials believe the trail will be an asset to tourism. But an ongoing sewer project means the communitys finances are tapped.

Currently, we are applying for grants to help pay for the trail, said Rosebud Clerk Jennifer Griffith. We definitely feel like the trail will be important to the community.

In Bland, a town of about 500 residents in Gasconade County, officials are trying to decide how to spend a $10,000 grant they received for the trail.

On Friday, a group was set to meet at City Hall to visit the trail bed and talk about projects like landscaping or sidewalk work. Like Rosebud, Bland officials are grappling with a major water project in the community and the budget is tight.

Lawsuits also have played a role in the delays.

In February, a federal judge ruled in favor of a group of Missouri landowners who say they own the easement that was once used by the railroad.

The decision means the property owners will be paid for the land they own along the corridor.

Fundraising also could help jump-start trail construction.

Tyler Rieke, executive director of the Missouri State Parks Foundation, said a committee dedicated to the Rock Island project continues to raise private funds for the trails development.

As a foundation who wishes to see this trail developed we are disappointed; however, we understand the many pressing needs facing the state, Rieke said in a statement.

The organization said development of trail, including connecting it to the Katy Trail, would place 41% of Missourians within 50 miles of the expanded network.

The Katy Trail is currently the longest trail in the U.S., and developing the Rock Island Corridor into a pedestrian trail would greatly expand Missouris position as the national leader in trail-oriented outdoor recreation, Rieke said.
The Biden administration admits to having made some mistakes  some  in its withdrawal from Afghanistan, but the admission doesnt come close to acknowledging the catastrophe that occurred during the August 2021 retreat. Ex-President Donald Trump, meanwhile, is in full-force denial over his role in that catastrophe. Both are to blame, and to a certain extent, so are Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush for the abysmal deployment, training and ambivalent nation-building decisions that contributed to the Taliban takeover after 20 years of U.S. occupation.

Trump, still smarting from his arrest and arraignment last week in New York, seized upon a Pentagon report to Congress that listed what went right and wrong during the withdrawal. The report blamed the Trump administration for the way it negotiated the U.S. withdrawal and for refusing to share crucial pullout-planning details during the change of administrations. Bidens spokesman, John Kirby, conceded, Clearly, we didnt get things right here with Afghanistan with how fast the Taliban was moving across the country.

With characteristic subtlety and presidential humility, Trump exploded on his Truth Social website: 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.

The withdrawal unquestionably was a disaster. But Trump is the one who must own the surrender. All Biden did was honor the terms of an agreement that Trump negotiated unilaterally with the Taliban  excluding U.S. Western coalition partners and the democratically elected government in Kabul. Trump had four years in power to work out a smoother pullout schedule while holding Taliban forces at bay. He chose retreat and ordered U.S. forces to stand down.

It was Trumps strategic and military incompetence  alluded to by his own administration officials  coupled with abysmal negotiating errors that ceded everything to the Taliban and set the stage for catastrophe. Lacking a withdrawal plan, the Biden administration was forced to organize one from scratch as a Taliban-dictated deadline approached.

Funny that Trump would choose the crude word moron, which is exactly how Trumps first secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, described Trump.

None of this lets Biden off the hook. There were scores of options for executing the withdrawal while ensuring that the Afghans who worked closely with the United States could get out safely instead of having to swarm U.S. troop planes and fall from the landing-gear assembly as planes took off. The deaths of 13 U.S. service members during that chaos are Bidens to own.

The administrations publicly released executive summary reads more like a political justification than a serious lessons-learned admission of errors. The legacy of shame is one that this administration and its predecessors deserve to share.
NEWS PROVIDED BY

Catholic League

April 10, 2023

NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue (photo) comments on attempts to bail out George Soros:

George Soros has been one of the most prominent philanthropists serving the radical left-wing agenda for decades. Everyone knows it, yet there is a coordinated effort of late to bail him out, saying his critics are "anti-Semites," looking for a "boogeyman." His allies are particularly miffed about reports that Soros is funding criminal-friendly district attorneys across the nation.

Here's a recent sampling of efforts to brand Soros' critics as anti-Semitic. In the last 19 days, the following news stories were written with that objective in mind.

"Soroshas been a frequent boogeyman for Republicans. In recent years, they have often used the phrase 'Soros-backed' to attack Democratic candidates. Some have said this line of attack is an antisemitic dog whistle." Josh Israel, americanindependent, March 22

"This is how anti-semitism takes root and spreads." Teacher's union chief Randi Weingarten (quoted in above story).

"Democrats and outside experts have often described the attacks on Soros, who is Jewish, and the groups that received donations from the billionaire, as antisemitic." cnbc, March 22.

"Scapegoating Soros, who is Hungarian and Jewish, also perpetuates deep-rooted false ideas about Jewish people and immigrants to underscore the conspiracy theory that he is a shadowy villain orchestrating world events." AP International, March 22.

"Mr. Soroshas been for years a boogeyman on the right, confronting attacks that portray him as a 'globalist' mastermind and that often veer into antisemitic tropes." New York Times, March 24.

"It's a screaming antisemitic dog whistle." Rabbi Doug Alpert. Kansas City Star, March 31.

"[Trump] is using anti-Jewish stereotypes and historical hatred to raise money." USA Today Online, April 1.

"Moreover, the repeated mention of Soros plays into antisemitic conspiracy theories." Washington Post, April 1.

"[Rashad] Robinson also called the Soros attacks antisemitic." Mediaite, April 1.

"There is a centuries old antisemitic trope Erin about the sinister Jewish puppet masterand attacks on Soros are often either explicitly antisemitic attacks or dog whistle attacks, involving that trope." Daniel Dale, CNN reporter (quoted in above story).

"The increasing mainstream flirtation with antisemitic stereotypes and rhetoric has made the subject of attacks on Soros harder and harder to deny." vox.com. April 3.

"This has nothing to do with Sorosit has everything to do with a very old, antisemitic view that even though Jews are small in number, they really control everything." Brandeis professor Jonathan Sarna. Washington Post, April 3.

"He's Jewish, which brings with it all sorts of connotations if one wants to play on anti-Semitism." Emily Tamkin. NPR, April 6.

"Billionaire philanthropist George Soros has long been a bogeyman for the far right.The attacks, observers say, also smack of anti-Semitism." Anuj Chopra. AFP, April 9

Not one of these persons who made the charge that Soros' critics are driven by anti-Semitism quoted even one person to make their case!

As a critic of Soros, I have no problem being specific about my position, and it wouldn't matter a hoot to me if his name was George O'Malley.

The following is taken from my new book, War on Virtue: How the Ruling Class is Killing the American Dream (the official launch date is April 18, though it is available now on Amazon).

"Many corrupt district attorneys--those who refuse to prosecute dangerous criminals--got their job with the help of Soros. He gave Alvin Bragg $1 million when he was running for DA in Manhattan in 2021; he gave George Gascon nearly $3 million when he ran for DA of Los Angeles in 2020. In 2022, it was reported that he gave $440 million to elect seventy-five 'social justice' prosecutors. The one thing he didn't deliver was justice, especially for crime victims.

"Between 2016 and 2022, Soros gave more than $29 million to a personal network of political action committees specifically established to back radical DA candidates. By mid-2022, one in five Americans, or seventy million people, were living in a jurisdiction overseen by a Soros-backed prosecutor. Soros DAs were running New York, Chicago, Saint Louis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles as well as many smaller cities and towns. Soros also received help from his prized client, Black Lives Matter, to lead the charge to defund the police and abolish prisons."

No doubt there are anti-Semites who have attacked Soros, but it is scurrilous to tar all his critics as bigots. Soros is guilty as charged.

One final note. Soros knows a personal thing or two about anti-Semitism. As a young man he became a Nazi collaborator. In a "60 Minutes" interview, he admitted that he helped confiscate property from Jews. He told Steve Kroft that he never regretted doing so. When asked if this was difficult, Soros said, "Not, not at all. Not at all." Stunned, Kroft said, "No feeling of guilt?" "No" came the reply.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for national unity to rebuild Brazil, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

He made the appeal on the eve of his 100th day in office while reviewing the main measures his administration has taken since he took office on Jan. 1.

"We live in one country and we need everyone to come together to rebuild it," Lula wrote in a column headlined "Brazil Is Back" in local daily "Correio Braziliense."

"We inherited so many problems and on so many fronts that the term 'reconstruction' was incorporated into the federal government's slogan, preceded by another key word: 'unity.' We don't have two Brazils, the Brazil of those who voted for me and the Brazil of those who voted for another candidate. We are one nation," he said.

"In these first 100 days in government, we have worked tirelessly to restore dignity and quality of life to the Brazilian people, especially the 33 million victims of hunger," he said, citing the revival of key social welfare programs, such as a cash transfer scheme and an affordable housing initiative, as the main achievements of his government in the 100 days.
In overturning Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court declared, with what now looks like deliberate naivete, that it was returning the question of abortion rights to the voters of individual states. Less than a year later, the anti-chioce movement has confirmed that its true goal is to deny abortion rights throughout America, regardless of the wishes of states voters. Thats the only way to read last weeks ruling by a Texas court seeking to effectively outlaw the medication-abortion drug mifepristone. The ruling could put the most common method of early-term abortion out of reach to women throughout America.

In his opinion in last years Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned Roe, Justice Samuel Alito waxed about returning the abortion issue to the people and their elected representatives, thus allowing each State to regulate abortion as its citizens wish.

But no one elected Matthew Kacsmaryk, the Texas-based federal judge whose ruling last week seeks to invalidate the Food and Drug Administrations approval more than two decades ago of mifepristone, one of a two-drug regimen for the most commonly used method of abortion.

Kacsmaryk, a long-time, vocal opponent of abortion rights, was legal counsel for a Christian conservative organization when then-President Donald Trump appointed him to the bench in 2019.

Kacsmaryk has since been the go-to jurist for venue shopping by right-wing plaintiffs. Indeed, the lead plaintiff in the current case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, incorporated in Texas and established a registered agent in Amarillo  where Kacsmaryk is the only federal judge  a few months before filing its lawsuit there. Why that organization would even have standing to sue is just one of the twists Kacsmaryk navigates on his way to what was clearly his original objective of outlawing the drug.

Kacsmaryks written ruling is steeped in the language of anti-choice activism. He refers to fetuses as unborn human or unborn child throughout. In straining to refute years of data proving the drug is safe, he cites fringe studies by anti-choice activists. Among his justifications for overruling FDA approval of the drug is that women who have aborted a child  often experience shame, regret, anxiety, depression, drug abuse, and suicidal thoughts because of the abortion. His problem with the abortion drug, in other words, is that it does, in fact, facilitate abortions.

Even as Kacsmaryk ordered the drug pulled from the market, a federal court in Washington state reached the opposite conclusion. If, as expected, the issue reaches the U.S. Supreme Court, it will be interesting to see if Alito still prioritizes the importance of letting voters decide abortion issues state by state.

In any case, Kacsmaryks ruling should stand as a warning to Americas pro-choice majority: The forced-birth movement doesnt view the overturn of Roe as the end of its crusade. Its just the beginning.
Focus on Ashcrofts agenda, not his family background

If Democrats are to win elections in Missouri, they need to improve their messaging. Case in point: state House Minority Leader Chrystal Quade citing Secretary of State Jay Ashcrofts sense of entitlement when he announced his run for governor (Top Missouri Democrat says Ashcroft believes holding political office is his birthright, April 6.)

Rather than focus on his last name and the legacy of his father, who is probably still popular here, they should focus on the concerns of everyday Missourians and how the younger Ashcroft would work against them.

While Ashcroft bans books from libraries and attends meetings with the pillow guy on election denial, real Missourians are concerned about the further loosening of gun laws, especially in St. Louis. We also dont want minors carrying guns.

Real Missourians, I believe, are worried about funding for our states education system and improving our roads  not people performing in drag.

I am worried about having access to the health care Missourians need for themselves and their children, including reproductive health care and gender-affirming care. These decisions are a matter of concern for me, my doctors and my God, not elected politicians.

Those who believe likewise should vigorously oppose the extremes, but lets also proudly stand for our principles. We Missourians are a hardy and optimistic people. Lets stick to the facts, appeal to our neighbors better angels and let them know whats possible.

Margaret Welch  St. Louis

Clarence Thomas conflicts of interest are unacceptable

I have long admired former Sen. Jack Danforth for his wisdom and integrity. He fails, however, in his judgment of character. I appreciate that he has acknowledged his mistake in supporting Sen. Josh Hawley. He is long overdue, though, in admitting his gross error in backing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

The conflicts of interest involving Thomas and his wife, Ginni, have long been apparent. She tried her best to overturn the results of the 2020 election. And he has refused to recuse himself from cases involving that election and the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. The latest disclosure of his acceptance of luxury travel gifts should convince everyone that he should not be a member of the Supreme Court. Enough is enough.

Russ Bley  Webster Groves

Who knows how trips have affected Thomas

decisions?

If a close friend hosted me on a half-million dollar trip, I would in turn owe him something of significant value. People dont accept gifts without reciprocating in some fashion. I believe Justice Clarence Thomas is an intelligent man. I believe he understands this concept and knows that it is unacceptable for public servants to accept gifts of any significant value.

Because Supreme Court justices were not explicitly required to report these trips, he did not report them. But everyone understands the problem of large gifts to public servants, whether there are rules around them or not. To take large gifts in secrecy is totally unacceptable. What has been compromised over the 25-year relationship with this billionaire benefactor, we do not know.

Masao Nishi  Frontenac

Missouri lawmakers sadly try to equate diapers with

guns

Regarding Missouri Senate votes to end sales taxes on guns, diapers, pads and tampons (April 6): I am thoroughly disgusted. Why dont they just give guns to people? It saddens me that they equate diapers with guns.

Jenny Fagan  Webster Groves

Food choices are a major component of climate

change

As Earth Day (April 22) approaches, many Americans will take action to support Mother Earth, perhaps planting a tree or participating in neighborhood cleanups. Theres another, simple action we can take from the comfort of our homes that will benefit the planet: going meat-free for the day.

The Journal of the Ecological Society declared in 2021 that animal agriculture is the leading cause of climate change and reported that it produces 57% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which does not include the related deforestation costs. A March 2023 report by Nature Climate Change is the latest research suggesting that cutting methane emissions from the agriculture sector, particularly from meat and dairy production, is one of the most impactful ways to slow climate change.

An environmentally sustainable future requires decreasing our collective consumption of meat. Even modest shifts to plant-based foods can have consequential results. If Americans pledged to forgo meat one day a week, this would massively reduce our carbon footprint.

If all U.S. residents did this for one year, we could eliminate 468 million tons of carbon emissions from the atmosphere. Wed have to take 25 million gas-fueled passenger cars off the road and replace them with electric vehicles to affect a similar carbon reduction.

From an environmental standpoint, the food you eat can be just as important as the car you drive.

Eric C. Lindstrom and Jane DeMarines  Ithaca, N.Y.

Read letters online at STLToday.com
For over twenty years Israel has been covertly using missile armed UAVs to carry out attacks outside Israel. Inside Israel, attacks from Gaza, Lebanon or Syria could be handled with helicopter gunships, jet fighters or artillery, plus occasional commando raids. Secrecy is a common practice when it comes to Israeli military operations, especially those in retaliation for Islamic terrorist or state-sponsored attacks on Israel, Israelis or Jews in general, evidence began to pile up that the unidentified UAVs were Israeli. The evidence consisted of photos taken of the UAVs and the targets always seemed to be someone Israeli was at war with. In some of these attacks debris of the missiles was collected and this indicated they were Israeli. The Israelis did use their Spike and other missiles for these attacks. More recently the armed UAVs have been carrying GPS guided bombs. These have the advantage of being silent and the UAV can be high enough to not be heard. When surprise and a bigger bang is required, this is the way to go. Moreover, Israel designs and manufactures guided bombs that have more features than the popular American JDAM. One such feature is a video-camera in the nose that enables the UAV operator (in Israel, operating via a satellite link) to hit a specific, or moving target down there.

As the years went by the Israeli armed UAVs were used more frequently and not all of them were large fixed wing models. Some were quadcopters carrying explosives and sometimes traveling to specific GPS coordinates so that they were immune to signal jamming. These quadcopters were launched from areas outside Israel and were often used in groups. These swarms are sometimes used against targets in Iran. This infuriates the Iranians because it means Iranians are cooperating with the Israelis. In Iran, growing anger towards the corrupt religious dictatorship has led Iranians to cooperate with Israel in carrying out attacks against unpopular projects. The quadcopters and explosives are smuggled in via Azerbaijan, an oil-rich nation which shares a border with Iran and is a major customer for Israeli weapons and much else. The Azeris are Moslem Turks who have long feuded with the Iranians. These attacks in Iran are denied and the Azeris say nothing.

Israel tends to deny nearly all air strikes. In some cases the denial is accurate but in most cases it was an Israeli attack, with the implied assurance there will be more unless the target nation ceases its violence against Israel. What caused Israel to go public with its use of armed UAVs was the growing use of such attacks by army units during major operations. So many Israeli soldiers are involved that it is a difficult secret to keep. The military now admits that about 80 percent of its flight hours are by unmanned aircraft.

For example, in 2015 Israel has formed a new UAV unit to improve cooperation between combat brigades and their supporting artillery. This new unit uses Hermes 450 UAVs operated by soldiers trained to act as a very effective link between ground units, especially infantry, and any artillery units within range. The object of this is to speed up the time between which a target is spotted and artillery can hit it with shells or rockets. Tests showed the UAV operators linked to infantry and artillery units and familiar with how both services operated could not only spot potential targets and call in artillery fire very quickly, but also confirm targets the infantry wanted to hit and get fire on those targets within minutes. In the past troops on the ground could call in fire on targets they could see, but since 2005 the infantry has gotten their own small UAVs which often spotted targets beyond the view of the artillery spotters and, unless an artillery spotter was looking over the shoulder at the UAV operators control console, he could not confirm the target and call in fire. After trying several alternatives, it was decided that the Hermes 450s, using operators trained to call in fire and linked electronically to both infantry and artillery units, was the best solution. The artillery UAV operators can also share what they see with nearby infantry commanders if that is needed to confirm a target only visible from the air.

The artillery UAVs were only the latest Israeli use of UAVs. For example, in 2014 Israel replaced the last of its AH-1 helicopter gunships with armed UAVs (Hermes 450s). There was already a plan in place for the AH-1s to be replaced by AH-64 gunships, which Israel already had 44 of but even the AH-64s are facing competition from the UAVs and it was decided that replacing the AH-1s with UAVs was more affordable and effective.

By 2015 Israel had a fleet of over 70 large (more than a quarter ton) UAVs. Israel was, next to the United States, the heaviest user of large (Predator size) UAVs on the planet, mainly because the aircraft are regularly used for border security and counter-terror operations. The AH-1 and artillery UAV decision makes it possible to further expand the UAV force.

The most common large UAVs used by Israel are Heron, Hermes and Searcher. The Hermes 450 has long been the primary UAV for the Israeli armed forces, and twenty or more were in action each day during the 2006 war in Lebanon. That led to an expansion of the Hermes fleet. The Hermes 450s is a 450 kg (992 pound) aircraft with a payload of 150 kg. It can also carry Hellfire missiles, is 6.5 meters (20 feet long) and has an 11.3 meter (35 foot) wingspan. It can stay in the air for up to 20 hours per sortie, and fly as high as 6,500 meters (20,000 feet). The Hermes 900 UAV is similar in size (and appearance) to the American Predator (both weighing 1.1 tons), but the Israeli vehicle is built mainly for endurance. It has a 10 meter (31 foot) wingspan. The Hermes 900 can stay in the air for 36 hours, and has a payload of 300 kg (650 pounds). The Searcher 2 is a half-ton aircraft with an endurance of 20 hours, max altitude of 7,500 meters (23,000 feet) and can operate up to 300 kilometers from the operator. It can carry a 120 kg (264 pound) payload.

The Heron I was very successful because it was similar to the American MQ-1 Predator and cheaper as well. In 2014 there was a major upgrade called Super Heron. This consisted mainly of a more powerful (200 HP versus 115 HP) engine that increased cruising speed to 210 kilometers an hour, and provided a faster climb rate with greater maneuverability. Super Heron had a larger payload of 450 kg (990 pounds) and could stay in the air for 45 hours. Because of this Super Heron was sold as a strategic surveillance UAV because it could carry more sensors, fly higher, longer and farther. Super Heron was better able to fly along the borders of another country and monitor what was going on more than a hundred kilometers deep in foreign territory. While performing maritime surveillance Super Heron could monitor a larger ocean area from that higher altitude and spend more time over water. One side effect of this switch to UAVs was that the military needed fewer pilots, who take longer to train and often leave soon to take jobs with commercial airlines. Ground based operators for UAVs are easier to train and, so far, not lured away by offers of commercial work.
Strategic Partnership Will Deploy TruContext Advanced Analytics Capabilities to Deliver Improved Cyber and Other Services In The Bahamas and the Caribbean

FAIRFAX, VA / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / Visium Technologies, Inc, ("Visium" or the "Company") (OTC PINK:VISM), a global cybersecurity and analytics company, announced today that it has entered into a sales agreement with Bahamas Mobile Services, Ltd to market and sell Visium's TruContextTM data analytics platform in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.

The Bahama Mobile Services partnership with Visium will offer businesses and government organizations a solution that includes TruContextTM and that emphasizes security with context.

CEO of Bahamas Mobile Services, Donovan Wisdom, commented "While the country's economy is growing, the Government of the Bahamas faces challenges of tackling drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and an increase in crime. Our mission is to support the Bahamas in addressing these issues, and protecting its institutions against cyber threats by securing data networks, and fighting crime and illegal immigration. The Government has pledged to address these issues and we are committed to bolster the Government's efforts. TruContext provides critical analytics and real time actionable information that enables us to provide a world-class solution to both law enforcement and financial institutions."

Mark Lucky, Chief Executive Officer of Visium Technologies, added "We are excited to be working with Donovan Wisdom and his company to offer TruContext in The Bahamas as the country addresses challenges stemming from cyber risks, illegal immigration, rising crime rates, and public safety. The use case opportunities for revenue in the Bahamas are around cybersecurity and, with our partner IREX.Ai, artificial intelligence-based video surveillance to enhance border and physical security.

About Visium Technologies, Inc.

Visium Technologies (OTC PINK:VISM) is a cyber security solutions provider that uses graph database technology to deliver an analytics-driven, risk-based approach to cybersecurity that provides context to data so that users can make intelligent decisions in real time. Built for the US Army Cyber Command by MITRE Corporation (CyGraph), and then further developed by Visium, our world class TruContextTM technology provides visualization, advanced cyber monitoring intelligence, data modeling, analytics, and automation to help reduce risk, simplify cyber security and deliver better security outcomes. TruContextTM plugs the gaps left by other security tools.

For more information please visit www.visiumtechnologies.com and our YouTube Channel.

Safe Harbor Statement: Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking statements that reflect management's current views with respect to future events and performance. These forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and information currently available. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "project" and similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. Investors should be cautious in relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, whether the reverse stock split will be beneficial to the Company and its shareholders, any inability to meet the NYSE American continued listing standards in the future for any reason, and those other factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any responsibility to update forward-looking statements is expressly disclaimed.

CONTACT:

Visium Technologies, Inc.

Corporate: Mark Lucky, Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter | Instagram

Corporate Office:

4094 Majestic Lane Suite 360

Fairfax, VA 22033

Phone: 703-273-0383

SOURCE: Visium Technologies, Inc.

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FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced that its Board of Directors (the Board) elected Elsy Boglioli as a director of the Company effective on April 7, 2023. Ms. Boglioli joins the Board as an independent director, following the action of the Board on April 6, 2023 to increase its overall size to ten directors from nine directors effective April 7, 2023.

Ms. Boglioli, age 41, founded and has been the Chief Executive Officer of Bio-Up, a consulting firm providing advisory services to companies in the healthcare technology field, since September 2019. From December 2017 to August 2019, Ms. Boglioli served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Cellectis, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on cell therapies. From January 2006 to November 2017, Ms. Boglioli was employed by the Boston Consulting Group, where she most recently served as a Partner and Managing Director, as well as leader of its biotech-focused business in Europe and as a member of its global Strategy and Biopharma practice leadership teams. Ms. Boglioli has served as a member of the Board of Directors of GenSight Biologics S.A., a French publicly held biopharma company focusing on gene therapies, since October 2020, and serves as the Chair of the Nomination Committee. Ms. Boglioli has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of OSE Immunotherapeutics S.A., a French publicly held clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on immunotherapies, since July 2021, and is a member of its Nomination and Remuneration Committee. She is also the Chair of the Board of Directors of TreeFrog Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company focused on expanding access to cell therapies, and is a member of the Boards of Directors of other privately held companies in the healthcare technologies field: Inova.io, Laverock Therapeutics, Metafora Biosystems and Womed Tech.

I am delighted to welcome Elsy to the FTI Consulting Board, said Gerard E. Holthaus, non-executive Chairman of the Board of FTI Consulting. With more than 15 years of professional services experience in building businesses in international markets, Elsy will be a great asset to our Board.

Commenting on her election, Ms. Boglioli said, FTI Consulting has experienced tremendous growth in the last several years, and I am thrilled to be joining the Companys Board. I look forward to working with my fellow directors to guide the next chapter of growth and expansion of FTI Consulting.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Recently, one of the core activities of the World Film Industry Conference Macau Summit --the 2nd Aollywood Five Continents Film Festival, the Golden Jasmine Award Ceremony was held in Macau. In the Five Continents Film Unit, All Quiet on the Western Front won the Global Best Film, and Daniel Bruhl won the Best Global Actor with the film. Croatian actress Gracija Filipovic won the Best Global Actress for Murina. Italian director Luca Guadagnino won Best Global Director for Bones and All.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230409005017/en/

All Quiet on the Western Front Won Two Awards in the 2nd Aollywood Five Continents Film Festival (Photo: Business Wire)

In the Chinese Film Unit, Song of Spring won Best Chinese Picture, Lina Yang won the Best Chinese Director for the film, Baoguo Chen won the Best Chinese Actor for In Search of Lost Time, and Haocun Liu won the Best Chinese Actress for Only Fools Rush In. Other major awards also went to their respective winners.

All Quiet on the Western Front Won Two Awards, Including Best Global Film

The 2nd Aollywood Five Continents Film Festival was chaired by the famous Macau Chinese filmmaker Haige Wang, with French filmmaker Frederic Gorchain, American actress Cristina Roquen, Hollywood director Dirk Russell, Australian film director Daniel Taplitz, Hollywood director Nicholas Meyer, Chinese actress HaiRong Tian and Chinese director Sherwood Hu as the jury members of the main competition, which selected new films that was released for the first time from January 1 to December 31, 2022 in various countries and regions around the world.

The evenings awards ceremony was starry. Marie Roland Alain Wong Yen Cheong, Ambassador of Mauritius to China; Deborah Gabinetti, President of the Bali International Film Festival; Joanne Goh, President of the Malaysian International Film Festival; Catherine Fitzgerald, President of the New Zealand International Film Festival; Catherine Fitzgerald, President of the New Zealand International Film Festival; Deanna Gao, President of the Paris Chinese Film Festival; H.E. Ambassador Baher Sheweikhi, Consul General of the Consulate General of Egypt in Hong Kong; Mr. Gonzalo Javier Sabate, Consul General of the Consulate General of Argentina in Hong Kong; Mr. Rodrigo Manuel Rocca de la Fuente, Vice-Consul of the Consulate General of Argentina in Hong Kong; Mr. Almas Seitakynov, Consul General of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong; Mr. Bilal Ahmad BUTT, Consul General of Pakistan in Hong Kong; Dr. Adebayo E. Adeyemi, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Hong Kong and Macau; Mr Chaturont CHAIYAKAM, Consul General of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Hong Kong; Mr. Rafael Custodio Marques, Consul General of Mozambique in Macau; Luc Bendza, Chief Representative of the African Film Institute in China; Mr. Johnny K.S. Lam, Vice Consul of the Dominican Republic in Hong Kong; Mr. Ivan Seixas, Consul General of Brazil in Hong Kong; Ms. Krisztina Dora Koletar, Trade Commissioner of Hungary in Hong Kong; You Ge, Baoguo Chen, Zhizhong Huang, Jinsong Wang, Shaohua Ma, Chenggong Zhang, Hanlin Gong, Siyuan Wu, Jun Wen, Bak-Ming Wong, Yufang Wu, Huimin Tao, Hairong Tian, Daniel Bruhl, Gracija Filipovic, Lina Yang, Ke Su, Ting Zhang, Yuzhu Yao, Taishen Cheng, Lei Feng, Ming Fan, Xi Sun, Xiru Fu and many other famous Chinese and foreign film and television workers attended the event. Dr. Yingwei Wang, President of Sands China Limited, Ting Zhu, President of the World Film Industry Conference, and Marie Roland Alain Wong Yen Cheong, Ambassador of Mauritius to China, addressed the audience on stage. Chairman Wang Haige of the World Film Industry Conference was unable to be present in person, so he made a special video speech. World Film Industry Conference Honorary Chairman Sunxi Yang, Hong Kong Federation of Journalists Council President Guoliang Zhang, Hong Kong Federation of Literary and Art Circles Executive Vice President and Hong Kong Art Association Chairman Tinhang Lam and other guests from all walks of life were also present to congratulate them. The award ceremony was hosted by Da Niu and Mi Li.

In the Five Continents Film Unit, which has received the most attention from global film fans, All Quiet on the Western Front, which received seven nominations, finally won the two awards of Best Global Picture and Best Global Actor. Daniel Marc Dreifuss, the films producer, happily thanked the organizing committee and the jury when he came on stage to receive the award. Daniel Bruhl, who won the Best Global Actor for the film, was busy with his work and the producer received the award on his behalf.

Croatian actress Gracija Filipovic, who won the Best Global Actress for Murina, came to the venue to receive the award on that night, her slender and beautiful appearance attracted attention, and she excitedly received the trophy and expressed her gratitude to the jury.

Italian Director Won Best Global Director, Sho Miyake and others won Best Global Screenwriter

Italian director Luca Guadagnino won the Best Global Director for Bones and All. As a hot work at last years festivals, Bones and All has already won numerous awards, with Luca Guadagnino winning the Silver Lion for Best Director at the 79th Venice Film Festival in 2022. His artistic expression in this romantic horror film has won many fans recognition, making it a well-deserved award.

In the race for the Best Global Screenwriter, Small Slow But Steady, a Japanese film written by Sho Miyake and Masaaki Sakai, won the award for its extraordinary script and a touching story. Miyake also directed the film, which won first place at Japanese Film of the Year at the 65th Japan Film Blue Ribbon Awards. The young Japanese director and screenwriter, born in 1984, has become a shining star in the Japanese and international film industry.

In addition, Irish actor Kerry Condon won Best Global Supporting Actress for her outstanding performance in The Banshees of Inisherin, and the Korean actor Yo-Han Byun won Best Global Supporting Actor for Hansan: Rising Dragon. The other awards in the Five Continents Film category also went to their respective winners.

Song of Spring Won Two Awards In The Chinese Category, Baoguo Chen Won the Best Chinese Actor

As a global international film festival organized by the Aollywood Producers Association, the Aollywood Five Continents Film Festival has a special Chinese Film Unit, which is of great interest to Chinese film fans.

At the ceremony, the film Song of Spring, which was directed by Lina Yang won the Best Picture and Best Director awards, making it the biggest winner in the Chinese Film Unit. She said happily in her speech, I am very grateful to the judges for their encouragement and love for Song of Spring, I didnt think we would win Best Picture. Its a great honor for my colleagues and everyone in the cast and crew.

As a female director, Lina Yang called for "more opportunities for our actresses, not to play grandmothers at 40 or 50 years old, I always believe that they can shine at any time, and I think Ms. Wu Yanshu and Ms. Xi Meijuan have done just that!"

Baoguo Chen won the Best Actor for In Search of Lost Time. Firstly he thanked the films producer Dong Yu and director Derek Tung-Shing Yee when he took to the stage to receive his award, I admire that during the epidemic, Bona Film planned and financed such a film that shows the great love of the people in the world. I want to wish everyone with a dream of film the best of luck for their unselfish work.

The Aollywood Five Continents Film Festival is a global international film festival organized by the Aollywood Producers Association. The Golden Jasmine Awards, founded in 2022, is part of the World Film Industry Conference series of events. And it is open to films released in all countries and regions around the world, and aims to recognize outstanding films and filmmakers from around the world who have actively explored and innovated in the development of the art of films.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230409005017/en/

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Source: Aollywood
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) announced today that it will release operating results for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 on Monday, May 8, 2023, after market close. The Company will host a conference call and live webcast to review the second quarter results beginning at 8:00 am (ET) on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

The call will be webcast by Notified and may be accessed at Cabots website at https://cabotog.gcs-web.com/. If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call and accompanying slide presentation will be archived on the Companys website at https://cabotog.gcs-web.com/.

ABOUT CABOT CORPORATION

Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is a leading provider of reinforcing carbons, specialty carbons, battery materials, engineered elastomer composites, inkjet colorants, masterbatches and conductive compounds, fumed metal oxides and aerogel. For more information on Cabot, please visit the companys website at cabotcorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in the press release regarding Cabot's business that are not historical facts are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005291/en/

Steve Delahunt

Vice President, Treasurer & Investor Relations

(617) 342-6255

Source: Cabot Corporation
PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On Thursday, April 27, 2023, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) will release its first quarter 2023 financial results. The company will host a conference call to discuss these results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

The financial results will be posted on the companys website at investor.mastercard.com. The company will issue an alert over a news wire when the earnings materials are publicly available, including a link to those documents.

Conference Call Details:

Toll-free dial-in: 1-888-330-2508

Toll dial-in: 1-240-789-2735

Conference ID: 6451878

A replay of the call will be available for 30 days and can be accessed below:

Toll-free dial-in: 1-800-770-2030

Toll dial-in: 1-647-362-9199

Conference ID: 6451878

A webcast for this call can also be accessed at investor.mastercard.com.

About Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005367/en/

Investor Relations: Warren Kneeshaw or Jud Staniar, [email protected], 914-249-4565

Communications: Seth Eisen, [email protected], 914-249-3153

Source: Mastercard Investor Relations
NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Weak demand, excess inventory, and a worsening macroeconomic climate were all contributing factors for the precipitous drop in shipments of traditional PCs during the first quarter of 2023 (1Q23). Global shipments numbered 56.9 million, marking a contraction of 29.0% compared to the same quarter in 2022, according to preliminary results from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker.

The preliminary results also represented a coda to the era of COVID-driven demand and at least a temporary return to pre-COVID patterns. Shipment volume in 1Q23 was noticeably lower than the 59.2 million units shipped in 1Q19 and 60.6 million in 1Q18.

"Though channel inventory has depleted in the last few months, it's still well above the healthy four to six week range," said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers. "Even with heavy discounting, channels and PC makers can expect elevated inventory to persist into the middle of the year and potentially into the third quarter."

The pause in growth and demand is also giving the supply chain some room to make changes as many factories begin to explore production options outside China. Meanwhile, PC makers are also rejigging their plans for the remainder of the year and have begun to pull in orders for Chromebooks due to an expected increase in licensing costs later this year. That said, PC shipments will likely suffer in the near term with a return to growth towards the end of the year with an expected improvement in the global economy and as the installed base begins to think about upgrading to Windows 11.

"By 2024, an aging installed base will start coming up for refresh," said Linn Huang, research vice president, Devices and Displays at IDC. "If the economy is trending upwards by then, we expect significant market upside as consumers look to refresh, schools seek to replace worn down Chromebooks, and businesses move to Windows 11. If recession in key markets drags on into next year, recovery could be a slog."

Top 5 Traditional PC Companies, Worldwide Shipments, Market Share, and Year-Over-Year Growth, Q1 2023 (Preliminary results, shipments are in millions of units) Company 1Q23 Shipments 1Q23 Market Share 1Q22 Shipments 1Q22 Market Share 1Q23/1Q22 Growth 1. Lenovo 12.7 22.4% 18.3 22.8% -30.3% 2. HP Inc. 12.0 21.1% 15.8 19.7% -24.2% 3. Dell Technologies 9.5 16.7% 13.7 17.1% -31.0% 4. Apple 4.1 7.2% 6.9 8.6% -40.5% 5. ASUS 3.9 6.8% 5.6 6.9% -30.3% Others 14.7 25.9% 19.9 24.8% -26.0% Total 56.9 100.0% 80.2 100.0% -29.0% Source: IDC Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, April 9, 2023

Notes:

Some IDC estimates prior to financial earnings reports. Data for all companies are reported for calendar periods.

Shipments include shipments to distribution channels or end users. OEM sales are counted under the company/brand under which they are sold.

Traditional PCs include Desktops, Notebooks, and Workstations and do not include Tablets or x86 Servers. Detachable Tablets and Slate Tablets are part of the Personal Computing Device Tracker but are not addressed in this press release.

In addition to the table above, a graphic illustrating the worldwide market share of the top 5 Traditional PC companies over the previous five quarters is available by viewing this press release on IDC.com.

IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker gathers detailed market data in over 90 countries. The research includes historical and forecast trend analysis among other data.

For more information, or to subscribe to the research, please contact Jackie Kliem at 508-988-7984 or [email protected].

About IDC Trackers

IDC Tracker products provide accurate and timely market size, company share, and forecasts for hundreds of technology markets from more than 100 countries around the globe. Using proprietary tools and research processes, IDC's Trackers are updated on a semiannual, quarterly, and monthly basis. Tracker results are delivered to clients in user-friendly Excel deliverables and on-line query tools.

Click here to learn about IDC's full suite of data products and how you can leverage them to grow your business.

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights.

All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230409005019/en/

Jay Chou

[email protected]

+1 650-350-6464

Bryan Ma

[email protected]

+65 6829-7733

Ryan Reith

[email protected]

+1 508-935-4301

Michael Shirer

[email protected]

+1 508-935-4200

Source: International Data Corporation
Direct-to-consumer retailer Quince launches first national TV campaign with All-Inclusive TV agency Marketing Architects.

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- This week, direct-to-consumer brand Quince launched their first national TV campaign in partnership with All-Inclusive TV agency Marketing Architects.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005063/en/

Quince specializes in high-end, luxury clothing, accessories and home goods, but at affordable prices. Founded with the belief everyone deserves access to quality essentials, Quince reduces costs on premium materials and designs through a factory-direct model that cuts out supply chain middlemen. The brand also prioritizes ethical manufacturing and environmental sustainability so Quince customers can feel good about their purchases.

After experiencing rapid expansion post the brands 2020 launch, Quince began exploring opportunities to connect with even more potential customers by diversifying its marketing mix. The brand had focused heavily on channels like social media and was interested in how a national TV campaign could attract consumers it wasnt currently reaching.

"Quince was created to challenge the idea that quality should be a luxury, says Toti Moreland, Head of Brand at Quince. Our goal has always been making quality essentials accessible to more people, and TV advertising can help us bring that purpose to larger audiences while supporting business growth.

Quince worked with creative agency Chandelier Creative to craft their commercial, Flipping, and with Marketing Architects to develop the campaigns strategy and media plan. The campaign is designed to test linear TVs short-term impact on the business while evaluating the channels long-term potential.

For many, Quince is already a favorite provider of high-quality clothing and home goods, says Faye Doyle, VP Client Growth at Marketing Architects. Were thrilled to be a part of bringing the brand to national TV, and we cant wait to see how the campaign helps promote their truly beautiful products.

About Quince

Challenging the notion that nice things are expensive, Quince makes quality-first essentials easy and attainablefrom apparel and fine jewelry, to home decor and luggage. Were powered by our Manufacturer To Consumer (M2C) approach and work with the worlds leading suppliers to bring the best possible products straight to your door, without the massive markups associated with traditional brands and retailers. We believe that luxurious, well-made products should be accessible to everyone.

About Marketing Architects

Marketing Architects is an All-Inclusive TV agency that rebuilt the traditional agency model to help brands drive profitable growth. Founded in Minneapolis, Marketing Architects has spent 25 years building homegrown technology to solve TV's pricing, measurement and scale challenges. For more information, please visit www.marketingarchitects.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005063/en/

Quince

Jennifer Coleman

[email protected]

Marketing Architects

Elena Hengel

Director of Marketing

[email protected]

952-449-2622

Source: Marketing Architects
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. NATO Air Defense Exercise Air Defender 23 with the participation of more than 10,000 people and 200 aircraft, which will be held in Germany from June 12 through 23, suggests that flights will take place as well in the airspace of the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia, the Estonian media said, Trend reports with reference to Interfax.

As confirmed by the Estonian Air Force, the aerial exercise is led by the German Air Force, and the pivotal role is given to a military delegation from the US, whose participation involves the use of over 100 aircraft that will arrive in Europe from overseas.

At the same time, the participation of the Estonian Air Force in the exercise is not stipulated, however, its representative did not rule out that the NATO training maneuvers "will lead to flight activity in the countrys airspace."
Started its operations in January 2021, SolidusX continues to make investor access to global financial markets with a safe, secure and legit platform. In 2023 it is simpler and more accessible with its upgraded interface. Helping investors gain an edge in profiting from global market trends, SolidusX now offers a new referral system.

SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SolidusX, an innovative trading platform developed by London-based Solidus Capital, will provide investors, both novice and professional, with easy access to global markets by positioning them to profit from market trends in crypto currencies, FX, corporate stocks and other asset classes.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230409005002/en/

SolidusX Trading Platform 2023 Review: Reinventing online trading (Graphic: Business Wire)

SolidusX Investment Director David Ginsburg commented, "We help investors gain an edge whether markets are going down or up. Investors can trade popular crypto currencies, hedge positions or take profit on market rallies by positioning themselves accordingly."

SolidusX offers a fully customized trading experience thanks to its intuitive interface showcasing multiple screen support. SolidusX is easy to use even for novice traders, featuring a simple design, whilst providing professional traders with the tools and options such as creating different types of graphics and executing transactions using graphics. SolidusX beats its competitors with low transaction fees in fast, reliable and budget-friendly trading.

Allowing investors to transact in all asset classes on a 24/7 basis, SolidusX is focused on taking advantage of global market trends to maximize profit. The platform resembles the trading pages investors are used to, and it houses all the requisite tools traders need. An Order Book supported by graphics makes it possible to see current trends as well as exchange rates easily and traders are able to customize their main screen.

In 2023, SolidusX is adding new features to maximise user experience, including its new referral system. Anyone is welcome to become a SolidusX affiliate and begin promoting their unique referral link. Ginsburg concluded by making a review, "Its trading engine has been designed to meet the highest online-trading industry standards. All systems have been uniquely coded to minimise latency and increase execution speed. System automatically monitors all risks and executes full risk check after every order placement. With its enhanced 2FA and fingerprint access control, SolidusX is safe and secure. When we combine this with advanced trading tools on a legit platform, it means SolidusX continues to reinvent the concept of online trading."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230409005002/en/

David Ginsburg, [email protected]

Source: SolidusX
HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Valaris Limited (NYSE: VAL) ("Valaris" or the "Company") will hold its first quarter 2023 earnings conference call at 9:00 a.m. CDT (10:00 a.m. EDT) on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. The earnings release will be issued before the New York Stock Exchange opens that morning.

The conference call will be webcast live at www.valaris.com. Alternatively, callers may dial +1-855-239-3215 within the United States or +1-412-542-4130 from outside the U.S. It is recommended that participants call 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

A webcast replay and transcript of the call will be available on the Companys website. A replay will also be available through June 2, 2023, by dialing +1-877-344-7529 within the United States or +1-412-317-0088 from outside the U.S. (conference ID 3698191).

Valaris uses its website to disclose material and non-material information to investors, customers, employees and others interested in the Company. To receive regular updates on Valaris news or SEC filings, please sign-up for Email Alerts on the Companys website.

About Valaris Limited

Valaris Limited (NYSE: VAL) is the industry leader in offshore drilling services across all water depths and geographies. Operating a high-quality rig fleet of ultra-deepwater drillships, versatile semisubmersibles and modern shallow-water jackups, Valaris has experience operating in nearly every major offshore basin. Valaris maintains an unwavering commitment to safety, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction, with a focus on technology and innovation. Valaris Limited is a Bermuda exempted company (Bermuda No. 56245). To learn more, visit our website at www.valaris.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005257/en/

Darin Gibbins

Vice President - Investor Relations and Treasurer

+1-713-979-4623

Tim Richardson

Director - Investor Relations

+1-713-979-4619

Source: Valaris Limited
The company, formerly known as Woven Planet Holdings, has partnered with Toyota to implement Toyota Mobility Concept

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Woven by Toyota, Inc. (Woven by Toyota or the Company), a mobility technology subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota), will play a key role in Toyotas next generation products and technology as announced by Koji Sato, President and CEO of Toyota, at a recent press event held in Tokyo on April 7, 2023. Toyotas vision for a mobility society and the Toyota Mobility Concept focuses on extending the value of the car, expanding mobility into new realms and integrating mobility with social systems. In line with this framework, the Company will help Toyota to develop next-generation cars, including advanced BEVs, and to realize a mobility society in which everyone can move freely, happily and comfortably.

This is a pivotal moment for the industry when software can accelerate our progress toward an advanced mobility society, said James Kuffner, CEO and Representative Director of Woven by Toyota. Woven by Toyota plays a critical role and our unique software platform will enable Toyota not only to build next generation BEVs, but also, expand the value of mobility across every aspect of our lives.

The Arene Software Platform

Woven by Toyotas role is to accelerate Toyota Mobility Concept by developing software to expand vehicle intelligence and by building and operating Woven City  a test course for mobility that will serve as a living laboratory for trialing ways of connecting people, cars and society.

At the heart of this is Arene, a comprehensive software platform and vehicle operating system that enhances car intelligence and improves both the development and application of mobility software. Arene is targeted for deployment on vehicles beginning in 2025 followed by Toyotas next generation of BEV in 2026. Arene builds on Toyotas history of hardware excellence to apply the principles of the Toyota Production System to automotive software development, targeting similar gains in quality, reliability and performance. Arene also enables greater software reusability across models and automates key aspects of the development pipeline for greater efficiency. When paired with Toyotas hardware platforms, Arene will help enable Toyota to speed up the development of new vehicles, drive down costs and deliver both improved safety and personalized experiences to customers around the world.

Beyond Arene, Woven by Toyota is also driving software innovation across a range of important areas, including leading Toyotas development of automated driving technologies. This includes next generation Automated Driving and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, as well as the underlying geospatial intelligence technology that enables safe and reliable decision-making by vehicle systems.

Test Course for a Future Mobility Society

Looking to the future, nothing captures the scale of the efforts of Toyota and Woven by Toyota better than Woven City, a test course for mobility. Woven Citys unique partnership and collaboration brings together Toyota group developers, partner corporations, startups, entrepreneurs and residents of all ages to develop new ideas and inventions that can benefit people in their everyday lives and improve well-being for all. The Phase 1 construction of Woven City will be completed in the summer of 2024, after which Toyota and the Company will prepare for the start of initial trials in 2025.

Strengthened Leadership

As Toyota announced on February 13, 2023, Kenta Kon continues to serve as Chief Financial Officer of Woven by Toyota and as a Representative Director on the Board of Directors alongside Company CEO and Representative Director James Kuffner. Takanori Azuma and Julie Hamp joined as Directors on the Board, and Koji Kobayashi joined as Audit and Supervisory Board Member on April 1, 2023. These strong leaders have deep knowledge of Toyota and will be strategic partners advising the Company as it delivers value to Toyota Mobility Concept.

--------

ABOUT WOVEN BY TOYOTA

Woven by Toyota is the mobility technology subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. Our mission is to deliver safe, intelligent, human-centered mobility for all. Through our Arene mobility software platform, safety-first automated driving technology and Toyota Woven City  our test course for advanced mobility  were bringing greater freedom, safety and happiness to people and society.

You can learn more about our work at woven.toyota.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005294/en/

Woven by Toyota, Inc.

Communications and Marketing

[email protected]

Source: Woven by Toyota, Inc.
Chinese automaker, BYD on Monday announced the launch of their new chassis suspension system as the electric vehicle maker ramps up efforts to move upmarket with premium products.

The BYD DiSus Intelligent Body Control System is similar to the chassis suspension systems available in premium and luxury cars, such as Porsche's Dynamic Chassis Control and Mercedes Benz's Magic Body Control.

The new system will come in three variations and will be used in BYD's luxury off-road SUV Yangwang U8 initially, BYD said in a statement. It will also be available in BYD's Han, Tang and Denza models, it added.

The launch signals a push in BYDs efforts to reach a more upmarket segment with its offerings. The automakers current lineup is mostly concentrated on the mass market segment priced under 300,000 yuan ($43,641.44). However, BYD launched its first luxury car brand Yangwang in January with an off-road SUV and a sportscar priced above 1 million yuan.

Last month, the company reported an eleven-fold increase in fourth-quarter profit with 20.4% gross profit margin for automobiles and related products, well above its 3.7% margin in 2021.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
FILE PHOTO: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., March 30, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

(Reuters) - Global money market funds continued to attract strong inflows in cautious trade in the week ended April 5 as a raft of economic data during the week signalled weakening in the U.S. manufacturing activity and a cooling in the labor market.

Funds in the global money market saw purchases worth a net $61.91 billion, that marked a sixth consecutive week of net inflows, data from Refinitiv Lipper showed. Investors also purchased a net $3.38 billion worth of government bond funds.

Fund flows: Global equities, bonds and money markets, https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GLOBAL-FLOWS/GLOBAL-FLOWS/gdpzqmloqvw/chart.png

The U.S., European and Asian money market funds obtained inflows worth $42.51 billion, $25.62 billion and $280 million, respectively.

Riskier equity funds, meanwhile, witnessed $8.37 billion worth of outflows after $17.99 billion net selling in the previous week.

Financials and healthcare sector funds logged outflows of $1.54 billion and $979 million, respectively, although tech received $616 million worth of inflows.

Fund flows: Global equity sectors, https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GLOBAL-FLOWS/GLOBAL-FLOWS/lbpggleawpq/chart.png

Meanwhile, global bond funds drew $15.16 billion worth of inflows, the biggest amount since July 2021.

Investors purchased $5.26 billion worth of high yield and $1.71 billion worth of target maturity bond funds, but sold $1.15 billion worth of short-term bond funds.

Global bond fund flows in the week ended April 5, https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GLOBAL-FUNDS/GLOBAL-FUNDS/akveqelmqvr/chart.png

Among commodities, precious metal funds received $685 million in a fourth successive week of net buying, while energy funds saw a marginal $68 million worth of net selling after two weeks of inflows in a row.

Data for 23,935 emerging market funds showed equity and bond funds, both obtained a second weekly inflow, amounting $397 million and $412 million, respectively.

Fund flows: EM equities and bonds, https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GLOBAL-FLOWS/GLOBAL-FLOWS/klvygnywlvg/chart.png

(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
FILE PHOTO: The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, U.S., November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant

(Reuters) - Pioneer Natural Resources Co's shares rose as much as 8.5% on Monday following a report that Exxon Mobil Corp held preliminary talks with the U.S. shale oil producer about a possible acquisition.

Shares of Pioneer were up 6.5% at $221.74, while Exxon Mobil inched up 0.2% to $115.25.

The Wall Street Journal had reported the news on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Pioneer is the third-largest oil producer after Chevron Corp and ConocoPhillips in the Permian basin, the biggest in the United States. It currently has a market capitalization of around $49 billion, according to Refinitiv data.

Analysts believe Pioneer and other exploration and production companies could be acquired in the coming quarters given oil giants such as Exxon are looking to boost inventory.

"Would not be surprised to see Exxon step up for PXD's scale and inventory depth in the Midland Basin, but the price tag will ultimately be based on the oil prices underwritten by Exxon. In the current environment, we think ~$250/bbl, or a 20% premium," said Gabriele Sorbara, managing director of Equity Research at Siebert Williams Shank & Co.

Exxon is coming off a year of record profits on sky-high oil and gas prices that helped it end 2022 with $29.6 billion in cash and equivalents.

"A substantial premium would be required as Pioneer has time on their side, citing a multi-decade drilling inventory in the Midland basin that bests almost all independents," said TD Cowen analyst Jason Gabelman

Truist, another brokerage, said the Permian basin will be the hottest target for deal activity as many existing companies want to beef up their positions in the oil-rich region that stretches across Texas and New Mexico.

(Reporting by Mrinalika Roy and Arshreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
FILE PHOTO: The logo for Canadian mining company Teck Resources Limited is displayed above their booth at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 7, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File P

By Clara Denina and Mrinalika Roy

(Reuters) -Canada's Teck Resources on Monday reinforced its rejection of an unsolicited $22.5 billion bid from Glencore, saying the implied value was "an illusion" and telling shareholders its restructuring plan was the only viable option.

Glencore's offer, made public on April 3, includes a plan to simultaneously spin off the companies' thermal and steelmaking coal businesses and rebrand the remaining company as GlenTeck.

Teck Chief Executive Jonathan Price told shareholders that more value could be unlocked through a proposed restructuring in which the Vancouver-based miner would spin off its steelmaking coal unit to focus on copper and other industrial metals.

A shareholder vote on Teck's plan is scheduled for April 26. If it passes, the separation process will then take 7-8 weeks to complete.

"A vote against the separation is a vote to maintain the status quo at Teck, and there is no path that includes Glencore acquiring Teck," Price said.

"The modest implied premium in the Glencore-rejected proposal is an illusion," he added. "Scale and diversification do not create value if the quality of the business is contaminated."

Teck said its board has rejected the offer as Glencore did not present a coherent plan for its proposed coal company.

Analysts had last week seen room for an higher offer from Glencore to sway Teck shareholders in its favour.

Glencore boss Gary Nagle called it a "very compelling all-share offer," representing a 20% premium to Teck's closing stock price on March 26, when the bid was made privately.

"This is not just about price," Price said on Monday. "We also see serious structural flaws in the proposal that Glencore has put forward, and we believe that (it) would destroy value for Teck shareholders, and that it has significant execution risks."

The structural flaws would include having an oil marketing business within the base metals vehicle and exposing its shareholders to a big thermal coal business, Teck said last week.

Price said that there are significant opportunities to create synergies between Glencore and Teck without the need for an acquisition or corporate transaction.

In its merger bid, Glencore said there were operational synergies that would improve efficiency and reduce costs between some copper assets, including Teck's Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 (QB2) and Glencore's partly owned Collahuasi mine in Chile.

"The QB2/Collahuasi situation is one example where there could be sharing of infrastructure or optimisation on future expansions...the engagement so far with Glencore has been somewhat disappointing on their side," Price told Reuters on Monday.

Price also said Teck sees synergies and improvements to be made between Glencore's McArthur River zinc operation in Australia and Teck's Trail smelter and refinery in British Columbia.

(Reporting by Mrinalika Roy and Clara Denina; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Pratima Desai and Barbara Lewis)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FIREWEED METALS CORP. (Fireweed or the Company) (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQB: FWEDF, formerly Fireweed Zinc Ltd.) is pleased to announce that it has retained PI Financial Corp. (PI) to provide market-making services in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange Policies.

PI will trade the securities of Fireweed on the TSXV for the purpose of maintaining an orderly market. In consideration of the services provided by PI, the Company will pay PI a monthly fee of $4,000 for a minimum term of three months and renewable thereafter. Fireweed and PI are unrelated and unaffiliated entities. PI will not receive shares or options as compensation. The capital used for market-making will be provided by PI.

About Fireweed Metals Corp. (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQB: FWEDF; FSE: 20F): Fireweed Metals is a public mineral exploration company on the leading edge of Critical Minerals project development. Fireweed is well-funded, with a current cash position of approximately C$38,000,000 and is well-positioned to carry out a large 2023 exploration program. The Company has three projects located in Canada:

Macmillan Pass Zinc-Lead-Silver Project: Fireweed owns 100% of the district-scale 940 km2 Macmillan Pass project in Yukon, Canada, which is host to one of the largest undeveloped zinc resources in the world* where the Tom and Jason zinc-lead-silver deposits have current Mineral Resources1 (11.21 Mt Indicated Resource at 6.59% zinc, 2.48% lead, and 21.33 g/t silver; and 39.47 Mt Inferred Resource at 5.84% zinc, 3.14% lead, and 38.15 g/t silver) and a Preliminary Economic Assessment2 (PEA). In addition, Boundary Main, Boundary West, Tom North and End Zone have significant zinc-lead-silver mineralization drilled but not yet classified as mineral resources. The project also includes large blocks of adjacent claims with known showings and significant upside exploration potential.

Fireweed owns 100% of the district-scale 940 km2 Macmillan Pass project in Yukon, Canada, which is host to one of the largest undeveloped zinc resources in the world* where the Tom and Jason zinc-lead-silver deposits have current Mineral Resources1 (11.21 Mt Indicated Resource at 6.59% zinc, 2.48% lead, and 21.33 g/t silver; and 39.47 Mt Inferred Resource at 5.84% zinc, 3.14% lead, and 38.15 g/t silver) and a Preliminary Economic Assessment2 (PEA). In addition, Boundary Main, Boundary West, Tom North and End Zone have significant zinc-lead-silver mineralization drilled but not yet classified as mineral resources. The project also includes large blocks of adjacent claims with known showings and significant upside exploration potential. Mactung Tungsten Project: The Company recently signed a definitive Asset Purchase Agreement and acquired 100% interest in the 37.6 km2 Mactung Tungsten Project located adjacent to the Macmillan Pass Project. Mactung contains historic resources that make it one of the largest and highest-grade undeveloped resources in the world of the Critical Mineral tungsten*. Located in Canada, it is one of the rare large tungsten resources outside of China. An updated mineral resource is planned for Q2 2023, and re-sampling of historic drill core is completed and will include assays for previously unreported by-product metals, such as gold, copper, and bismuth, in addition to tungsten.

The Company recently signed a definitive Asset Purchase Agreement and acquired 100% interest in the 37.6 km2 Mactung Tungsten Project located adjacent to the Macmillan Pass Project. Mactung contains historic resources that make it one of the largest and highest-grade undeveloped resources in the world of the Critical Mineral tungsten*. Located in Canada, it is one of the rare large tungsten resources outside of China. An updated mineral resource is planned for Q2 2023, and re-sampling of historic drill core is completed and will include assays for previously unreported by-product metals, such as gold, copper, and bismuth, in addition to tungsten. Gayna River Zinc-Lead-Gallium-Germanium Project: Fireweed has 100% of the 128.75 km2 Gayna River project located 180 kilometres north of the Macmillan Pass project. It is host to extensive mineralization including Critical Minerals zinc, gallium and germanium as well as lead and silver, outlined by 28,000 metres of historic drilling and significant upside potential. The results from the 2022 field program of geochemical sampling, airborne LiDAR topographic surveying and ground geophysics are now being interpreted towards defining drill targets.

Qualified Person Statement

Technical information in this news release has been approved by CEO Brandon Macdonald, P.Geo. (BC), a Qualified Person as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101.

In Canada, Fireweed (TSXV: FWZ) trades on the TSX Venture Exchange. In the USA, Fireweed (OTCQB: FWEDF) trades on the OTCQB Venture Market for early stage and developing U.S. and international companies and is DTC eligible for enhanced electronic clearing and settlement. Investors can find Real-Time quotes and market information for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com. In Europe, Fireweed (FSE: 20F) trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Additional information about Fireweed and its projects can be found on the Companys website at FireweedMetals.com and at www.sedar.com.

ON BEHALF OF FIREWEED METALS CORP.

Brandon Macdonald

CEO & Director

Contact: Brandon MacdonaldPhone: (604) 646-8361

Email: [email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information (forward-looking statements). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to interpretation of drill results, future work plans, the use of funds, and the potential of the Companys projects, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects, "anticipates, "believes, "intends, "estimates, "potential, "possible, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will, "may, "could, or "should occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management and reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include but are not limited to, exploration and development risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, expenditure and financing requirements, general economic conditions, changes in financial markets, the ability to properly and efficiently staff the Companys operations, the sufficiency of working capital and funding for continued operations, title matters, First Nations relations, operating hazards, political and economic factors, competitive factors, metal prices, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulations and oversight, permitting, seasonality and weather, technological change, industry practices, uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and laboratory tests, and one-time events. The Company assumes no obligation to update forwardlooking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections or other factors, except as required by law.

Footnotes and References

* References to relative size and grade of the Mactung historic resources and Macmillan Pass resources in comparison to other tungsten and zinc deposits elsewhere in the world, respectively, are based on review of the Standard & Poors Global Market Intelligence Capital IQ database.

1: Fireweed Technical Report titled NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Macmillan Pass Zinc-Lead-Silver Project, Watson Lake and Mayo Mining Districts Yukon Territory, Canada filed on www.SEDAR.com on Feb 23, 2018, and Fireweed News Release dated January 10th 2018.

2: Fireweed Technical Report titled NI 43-101 Technical Report Macmillan Pass Project Yukon Territory Canada filed on www.SEDAR.com on July 9th 2018, and Fireweed News Release dated May 23rd, 2018. This Preliminary Economic Analysis includes an economic analysis of mineral resources that is preliminary in nature and does not include any mineral reserves. It is equally emphasized that the mineral resources disclosed within this Technical Report are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Source: Fireweed Metals Corp.
WALTHAM, Mass., April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZSFab, Inc., a 3D-printing medical device company, is pleased to announce that their second case in the country last week was completed by Dr. Jeffrey Moore, Orthopaedic Surgeon in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Dr. Moore performed a 3-level ACDF procedure with theZSFab Cervical Interbody System at The Surgical Hospital of Oklahoma. This was the second case in the state of Oklahoma and ZSFab is proud to have Dr. Moore on the Advisory Board, where his expertise will help guide the development of the best products. Dr. Moore will also be working with Dr. Fernando Villamil on designing ZSFabs stand-alone cervical cage.

The ZSFab Cervical Interbody System features an additively manufactured porous titanium implant with an optimized triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) lattice structure, providing reduced subsidence and improved stress distribution. Additionally, the ZSFab cervical implant has rigid teeth on the inferior and superior surfaces to resist migration after insertion as well as to maximize contact surface area with the vertebral endplates. The interbody device is available in a multitude of sizes for ACDF.

Dr. Moore received his bachelor's degree from Duke University and his Doctor of Medicine at Rutgers University. He completed his residency training in orthopedic surgery at Seton Hall/St. Joseph's, followed by a spine surgery fellowship at the prestigious University of Pittsburg Medical Center. Dr. Moore furthered his training with an advanced fellowship in lateral surgery (PTP) in California with several world-renowned surgeons.

About ZSFab

ZSFab is a Greater Boston, Massachusetts based spine and orthopaedic devices company, founded in 2017, that designs, additively manufactures, and markets products for spine and orthopaedic surgery. ZSFab is developing unique, high-performing solutions that integrate their software tools, advanced modeling and optimization methods, and 3D-printing technology. For more information, please visit www.zsfab.com.

Contact:

David Ma[email protected]+1 617-468-8665

Source: ZSFab, Inc.
Legislators in Colombia are looking to pass a bill that would legalize marijuana in the country this year. A Chamber of Representatives committee advanced the marijuana legalization bill in a 26-6 vote earlier this week.

The measure was reconciled from Senate and Chamber of Representatives versions in late 2022. Both Senate and Chamber of representatives versions of

Read More>>

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Russia has started manufacturing a number of components for the first Rokot-M carrier rocket that will be equipped with a domestic control system in place of the previously used Ukrainian-manufactured system, CEO of the Khrunichev Space Center (the rockets developer) Alexey Varochko told TASS, Trend reports citing TASS.

"The Rokot-M project has been contracted with our cooperation on components, and the production of test items is underway, as well as of a number of long-lead components for the first rocket," Varochko said in an interview with TASS.

In May 2022, Varochko announced that the inaugural launch of a Rokot-M carrier rocket from the Plesetsk space center was planned for 2024.

He said at that time that the inaugural launch of the Rokot-M upgraded carrier rocket with the Russian control system had been initially planned for 2022. However, he said that following a detailed audit, experts concluded that the rest of the space carriers equipment should be upgraded as well.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2023) - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: DTC) (FSE: DTC) (OTC Pink: DTCFF) ("Defence" or the "Company"), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of immune-oncology vaccines and drug delivery technologies, is pleased to announce that it successfully established a strategy conjugating mRNA molecules to AccumTM. The potency of this modified product will now be compared to "naked" mRNA administered as vaccines in immunocompetent mice.

The field of mRNA vaccination holds great promises over the use of other vaccination modalities. mRNA delivered to target cells makes them prone to harsh intracellular conditions such as the exhaustive acidity and enzymatic reactions found within endosomal lumens. As such, captured mRNA molecules may be destroyed before even reaching the cytoplasm where they are normally translated into proteins or long polypeptide chains. When tested in mice, administration of a "naked" mRNA molecule encoding for the ovalbumin protein triggered a weak to moderate antibody titers.

"Despite representing a promising technology, mRNA vaccines have not reached their full potential yet. By conjugating mRNA to AccumTM, we anticipate the immunogenicity of the vaccine to be enhanced resulting therefore in a powerful immune response," says Dr. Rafei, the VP research and development of Defence Therapeutics.

Defence has now completed its AccumTM-mRNA vaccine engineering and synthesis. The final product is stable, and an SOP has been finalized to be able to apply the same method to any chosen mRNA molecule.

"The Defence AccumTM-mRNA vaccine program is on schedule. With this engineering steps completed, we are now initiating in vivo studies to compare the immunogenicity of the vaccine. The potency of the AccumTM-mRNA vaccine will be tested in animals on cancer solid T-cell lymphoma first, then subsequently on additional cancer solid tumors", says Mr. Plouffe, CEO of Defence Therapeutics.

Defence plans to develop its own AccumTM-linked mRNA vaccines for different cancer indications. In parallel, the company is actively working on establishing partnerships with companies currently testing/developing mRNA vaccines for both immune-oncology and infectious disease indications.

The mRNA therapeutics market size is projected to surpass around USD 128.14 billion by 2030 and growing at a registered CAGR of 13.03% from 2022 to 2030 according to Precedence Research.

https://www.precedenceresearch.com/mrna-therapeutics-market#:~:text=The%20mRNA%20therapeutics%20market%20size,forecast%20period%202022%20to%202030 .

About Defence:

Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded biotechnology company working on engineering the next generation vaccines and ADC products using its proprietary platform. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUMTM technology, which enables precision delivery of vaccine antigens or ADCs in their intact form to target cells. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as cancer and infectious diseases.

For further information:

Sebastien Plouffe, President, CEO and Director

P: (514) 947-2272

[email protected]

www.defencetherapeutics.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

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 events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Neither the CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161519
Houston, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2023) - Makaan Investment Group is excited to announce the opening of its newest venture, the Makaan Regional Center, to accept international investors through its platform. The announcement was made by Madina Shaik, CEO and founder of Makaan Investment Group and CompQsoft Inc.

Makaan Regional Center LLC, based in Texas, is authorized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and specializes in sponsoring EB-5 investments and assisting investors in successfully immigrating to the United States as permanent residents.

With over 100 years of combined experience in the industry, Makaan's team has successfully established a large portfolio of multi-unit developments in Texas, and they are looking to expand to other states with their investors. The company's success is due to working with experienced partners, investing in strong real estate markets, and using rigorous standards to select projects.

Makaan is also pleased to add a new member to its team, Shania Guttig, who has been appointed as the Director of EB5 Investor Relations. "With ten years of executive experience and a history of raising considerable funds for multiple developments internationally, Shania brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding to the Makaan team. As an immigrant herself, she understands the residency by the investment process firsthand and is dedicated to her career," said Madina Shaik.

Makaan's primary goal is to help investors securely obtain their residency through carefully selected projects and return on their principle in terms. They have several projects in the works that will be approved for EB-5 investors.

Media Contact:

Tracey Tyler

832-797-9524

CMO

[email protected]

Houston, TX

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madinashaikofficial?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madina-shaik

Instagram: https://instagram.com/madinashaikofficial

Website: https://www.makaaninvestmentgroup.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/160583
NEW YORK, N.Y., April 10, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) Steve Madden, the iconic business mogul known primarily for his eponymous shoe brand, added bestselling author to his repertoire when he released THE COBBLER: HOW I DISRUPTED AN INDUSTRY, FELL FROM GRACE, AND CAME BACK STRONGER THAN EVER in 2020. Bajek Publisher Services and Kucerak + Company announced today that a new, updated version of Maddens updated memoir will be released April 18, 2023. The paperback edition of The Cobbler (ISBN: 979-8986463902) will include a new intro and epilogue, as well as a redesigned book cover, resembling the notorious Steve Madden big head ads of the 90s.

In the book about his incredible life journey, Madden takes the reader from his humble beginnings to the success of the multibillion-dollar fashion footwear brand bearing his name. The additional chapters will shed light on the challenges of running a massive business under the unprecedented times that came with COVID-19. Sharing ups and downs in his personal life and business, he continues to make his mark in the industry, not without overcoming obstacles caused by the pandemic.

Steve Madden commented, Who is Steve Madden? They call me an icon, a shoe mogul. But Im just a guy who started a company with an investment of eleven hundred dollars and built it to its valuation of three billion. Madden continued by saying, I made a lot of mistakes along the wayincluding some that landed me in prison and at the mercy of addiction. I love what I do, I love the hustle, but honestly, I just want every woman in the world wearing Steve Madden shoes.

In this updated version of The Cobbler, I share my story, with a reimagined version, reflecting on life during a global pandemic and the lessons learned something for which everyone can relate, said Madden.

The memoir is an important read for any person looking to be encouraged, enlightened, and entertained. The Cobbler will be distributed domestically and internationally by Cardinal Publishers Group and will be available wherever books are sold, online and at your favorite bookstore.

Learn more at: https://www.getthecobbler.com/

MULTIMEDIA:

Book image for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/23-0410-s2p-cobbler-300dpi.jpg

NEWS SOURCE: Bajek Publisher Services



This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Bajek Publisher Services), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/shoe-mogul-steve-madden-to-release-updated-version-of-his-best-selling-memoir-the-cobbler-how-i-disrupted-an-industry-fell-from-grace-and-came-back-stronger-than-ever/

Copr.  2023 Send2Press Newswire, a service of NEOTROPE, Calif., USA. -- REF: S2P STORY ID: 89777SI.03
Transaction will broaden Akima's support to aerospace and defense missions with differentiated training capabilities and technology solutions

HERNDON, Va. , April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akima, LLC , a premier provider of products and services to federal agencies, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. (Pinnacle), a leading provider of innovative training and sustainment products and services to defense customers around the globe.

Transaction will broaden Akima's support to aerospace and defense missions

Leveraging a highly skilled workforce, Pinnacle provides aviation operations and maintenance services; flight operations and training services; and develops state-of-the-art training products and services for air, ground, unmanned, and maritime platforms. The specialized capabilities offered by Pinnacle will complement Akima's portfolio and drive significant value for customers through broader delivery of operations and training capabilities.

"Akima and Pinnacle share a deep commitment to exceeding customer expectations and delivering exceptional value to our customers, employees, and shareholders," said Bill Monet , President and CEO of Akima. "Combining Akima's experience and technical expertise with Pinnacle's differentiated mission readiness capabilities will enable us to solve our customers' toughest challenges through innovative technology solutions."

Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama , Pinnacle was founded in 2008 by Mike Durant , a retired Army aviator who was shot down while piloting an MH-60 Black Hawk during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. Mr. Durant serves as chairman on the company's board of directors.

"I founded Pinnacle with a vision for a company where mission-driven employees could bring their innovation, responsiveness, and flexibility to bear on our customers' most critical aerospace challenges," said Durant. " Joining Akima , which has a portfolio of complementary businesses and a similar culture, allows that vision to continue and serves the best interests of our employees and customers."

"This announcement represents an important milestone for Pinnacle and is a testament to our tremendous success and strong market position," said Tina Tucker , President and CEO of Pinnacle Solutions. "We look forward to leveraging Akima's expertise supporting critical missions across the federal government, enabling us to deliver stronger outcomes for our customers and increased opportunities for our employees."

Following the closing of the transaction, Pinnacle will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Akima. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory requirements. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Pinnacle Solutions

Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama , Pinnacle is an innovative, solution-focused company providing advanced simulation and training solutions; flight operations and training services; training content development in virtual reality, augmented reality, and web-based systems; aircraft maintenance; and technical publications development and sustainment a wide variety of customers, including all Department of Defense components; Special Operations Forces; international militaries; and educational institutions. To learn more visit www.pinnaclesolutionsinc.com.

About Akima

Akima is a global enterprise with 9,500 employees, delivering solutions to the federal government in the core areas of facilities & ground logistics; information technology; aerospace solutions; protective services; systems engineering; mission support; furniture, fixtures & equipment (FF&E); and construction. As a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation owned by more than 15,000 Inupiat shareholders, Akima's core mission is to enable superior outcomes for our customers' missions while simultaneously creating a long-lived asset for NANA consistent with our Inupiat values. In 2022, Akima ranked #29 on Washington Technology's Top 100 List and #56 on Bloomberg Government's BGOV200 List of top federal contractors. To learn more about Akima, visit www.akima.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure

Certain statements contained in this press release and in comments by our management include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include information concerning the acquisition of Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. and related matters, prospective performance and opportunities, post-closing operations and the expected benefits of the acquisition, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "forecasts," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "outlook," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "preliminary," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give you no assurance these expectations will prove to have been correct. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/akima-to-acquire-pinnacle-solutions-301793651.html

SOURCE Akima
CANONSBURG, Pa. , April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE: CEIX) will issue its first quarter earnings release before the market opens on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 . The release will be followed by a conference call hosted by members of the management team at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time . A live webcast will be accessible on the 'Investor Relations' page of its website, www.consolenergy.com. An archive of the webcast will be available for at least 30 days after the event.

Participants may also join the live webcast by telephone as follows.

Participant dial in (toll free) 1-877-226-2859

Participant international dial in 1-412-542-4134

Participants should ask to be joined into the CONSOL Energy Inc. earnings conference call.

CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE: CEIX) is a Canonsburg, Pennsylvania -based producer and exporter of high-Btu bituminous thermal coal and metallurgical coal. It owns and operates some of the most productive longwall mining operations in the Northern Appalachian Basin . CONSOL's flagship operation is the Pennsylvania Mining Complex , which has the capacity to produce approximately 28.5 million tons of coal per year and is comprised of 3 large-scale underground mines: Bailey Mine , Enlow Fork Mine , and Harvey Mine . CONSOL also developed the Itmann Mine in the Central Appalachian Basin , which has the capacity to produce roughly 900 thousand tons per annum of premium, low-vol metallurgical coking coal. The company also owns and operates the CONSOL Marine Terminal , which is located in the port of Baltimore and has a throughput capacity of approximately 15 million tons per year. In addition to the ~622 million reserve tons associated with the Pennsylvania Mining Complex and the ~28 million reserve tons associated with the Itmann Mining Complex , the company also controls approximately 1.4 billion tons of greenfield thermal and metallurgical coal reserves and resources located in the major coal-producing basins of the eastern United States . Additional information regarding CONSOL Energy may be found at www.consolenergy.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consol-energy-schedules-first-quarter-2023-earnings-release-and-conference-call-301792945.html
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. , April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) today announced it will report results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2023 , after the market closes Thursday, April 27, 2023 . The Company will host an investor conference call at 10 a.m. ET on April 28, 2023 , to discuss its results.

The conference call may be accessed by dialing 800-225-9448 and giving the conference ID EHCQ123. International callers should dial 203-518-9708 and give the same conference ID. Please call approximately 10 minutes before the start of the call to ensure you are connected.

A live webcast of the conference call and an online replay of the conference call can be found on the Company's investor website at https://investor.encompasshealth.com.

About Encompass Health

Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of rehabilitation hospitals in the United States . With a national footprint that includes 156 hospitals in 37 states and Puerto Rico , the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For and Modern Healthcare's Best Places to Work in Healthcare. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Media Contact:

Casey Winger | 205 970-5912

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact:

Mark Miller | 205 970-5860

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/encompass-health-announces-date-of-2023-first-quarter-earnings-call-301793628.html
The 2023 Vangst Jobs Report shows America's cannabis industry sold more than $26 billion in products last year, and now supports 417,493 jobs  a 2% drop over last year.

DENVER , April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vangst, the world's leading cannabis industry jobs platform, today released the annual 2023 cannabis industry jobs report. This year's report found there are now 417,493 full-time equivalent jobs supported by the legal cannabis industry in the U.S. That's a surprising resulta 2% drop in employment. It's the first time legal cannabis jobs have declined year-over-year since the modern legal era began in 2012.

From 2017 to 2022, Leafly and Whitney Economics partnered to produce the Cannabis Jobs Report, an annual tally of jobs supported by America's regulated cannabis industry. This year Leafly is passing the torch to Vangst, who is proud to publish the 2023 Jobs Report and continue its legacy of solid economic data and timely, accurate information. Jobs Report creator Bruce Barcott and economist Beau Whitney , founder of Whitney Economics, are once again at the helm of the report.

Key findings from the 2023 Vangst Cannabis Jobs Report include:

Nationwide, annual cannabis sales increased by $850 million in 2022. That's a 3% rise, from $25.25 billion in 2021 to $26.1 billion in 2022. That figure includes all state-regulated medical and adult-use sales (not hemp, delta-8, CBD, or unregulated sales). Adult-use states accounted for 77% of total sales.

in 2022. That's a 3% rise, from in 2021 to in 2022. That figure includes all state-regulated medical and adult-use sales (not hemp, delta-8, CBD, or unregulated sales). Adult-use states accounted for 77% of total sales. One of the newest markets within the industry saw exceptional growth while other legacy markets saw extreme drops. New Jersey gained 4,220 jobs in 2022, bringing the total number of cannabis jobs in the state to 7,367. On the other end of the spectrum, California lost 13% of cannabis employees last year bringing their total to 83,593.

gained 4,220 jobs in 2022, bringing the total number of cannabis jobs in the state to 7,367. On the other end of the spectrum, lost 13% of cannabis employees last year bringing their total to 83,593. Michigan moved ahead of Colorado to become America's second-largest cannabis employer, supporting 35,405 jobs.

moved ahead of to become America's second-largest cannabis employer, supporting 35,405 jobs. 23% of cannabis jobs are in retail, 31% in cultivation, 17% in manufacturing, and 20% in ancillary and indirect jobs. The remainder are in wholesaling, distribution, and lab testing.

Whitney Economics expects to see nearly 12% growth in revenue, industrywide, by the end of 2023.

"Vangst is thrilled to partner with Leafly and Whitney Economics on the 2023 Jobs Report," said Founder and CEO Karson Humiston , "As federal prohibition prevents federal and state labor departments from compiling data on the legal cannabis industry, data such as that found in the Vangst 2023 Jobs Report is critical. Pairing seamlessly with our Salary Guide, Vangst has truly become a one-stop shop for employers and job-seekers interested in the cannabis industry."

To view the Vangst 2023 Jobs Report, please visit https://vangst.com/reports/2023-jobs-report.

About Vangst

Vangst is the cannabis industry's hiring platform. Vangst helps cannabis companies find the talent they need to grow their business. From on-demand gig workers to trained and credentialed full-time employees, Vangst has built the industry's go-to talent marketplace for all cannabis hiring. Vangst is proud to work with more than 1,500 of the cannabis industry's leading businesses.

Since raising their seed round in 2018, Vangst has become one of the fastest growing companies in the cannabis industry and was recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies. Today, over 400,000 people have full-time jobs in the cannabis industry and this number is expected to triple over the next five years.

Vangst is a Series B company and backed by Lerer Hippeau, Colle Capital , Level One Fund , Snoop Dogg 's Casa Verde Capital , and others. Vangst's headquarters is in Denver, CO.

About Whitney Economics

Whitney Economics is a global leader in cannabis and hemp business consulting, data, and economic research. The firm regularly consults with private companies as well as local, state, and national government agencies, applying economic principles to create actionable policies and strategies.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/legal-cannabis-industry-shows-job-drop-for-first-time-ever-annual-report-finds-301793193.html

SOURCE Vangst
NEXE Innovations has received warrant holder approval to amend, among other things, the exercise price and expiry date of its 2021 Warrants.

VANCOUVER, BC , April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - NEXE Innovations Inc. ("NEXE" or the "Company") (TSXV: NEXE) (Frankfurt: NX5) (OTC: NEXNF), a compostable and innovative materials company, is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated March 20, 2023 , it has received the approval of holders ("Warrantholders") holding approximately 71.5% of its outstanding warrants issued on April 9, 2021 (the "Warrants") to the amendment of certain terms of the Warrants (the "Amendments").

The Warrants have been amended such that the exercise price of the Warrants has been revised from $2.50 to $0.65 per share and the expiry date extended from April 9, 2023 to April 9, 2024 . The terms of the Warrants have also been amended to include a mandatory acceleration provision (the "Acceleration Provision") as required under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") pursuant to which, if for any ten consecutive trading days (the "Premium Trading Days") following the date hereof, the closing price of the Company's common shares on the TSXV exceeds $0.78 , the expiry date of Warrants will be accelerated such that holders will have 30 calendar days to exercise the Warrants (if they have not first expired in the normal course). The Company will announce any acceleration of the expiry date by press release and the 30-day period will commence seven days after the last Premium Trading Day. The Company would like to clarify that while it had previously announced that the trigger price for the Acceleration Provision would be $0.8125 and the trigger price approved by Warrantholders was reduced to $0.78 to comply with TSXV requirements.

Effective April 9, 2023 , the Company entered into a supplemental indenture to effect the Amendments with TSX Trust (the "Warrant Agent"), as warrant agent, to the warrant indenture governing the Warrants dated April 9, 2021 between the Company and the Warrant Agent.

About NEXE Innovations Inc.

NEXE Innovations Inc. is a leader in innovative compostable materials technology based in British Columbia, Canada . The first product developed by NEXE Innovations is one of the only patented, fully-compostable, single-serve coffee pods for use in existing major single-serve coffee machines.

For more information about NEXE Innovations ' compostable materials and how it is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable products, visit www.nexeinnovations.com and follow us on social media @nexeinnovations.

On behalf of the Company:

Ash Guglani

President & Director

For investor relations contact:

Kam Mangat

VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Strategy

[email protected]

Office +1-604-359-4725

Mobile +1-604-359-4742

For media relations contact: [email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nexe-innovations-announces-warrant-amendment-approval-and-clarifies-acceleration-trigger-price-301793508.html
SHANGHAI , April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai plans to build Nanjing West Road business circle into a more prosperous commercial hub with retail sales volume exceeding 100 billion yuan (about 14.5 billion U.S. dollars ) in 3 years, according to the 2023 Forbes China Jing'an West Nanjing Road Forum held in Shanghai recently.

The Nanjing West Road business circle is located in the core high-end service agglomeration belt in Shanghai's Jing'an District. Last year, the business circle saw annual retail sales volume totaling more than 78 billion yuan , according to Commerce Commission of Jing 'an District.

An implementation plan on optimizing the consumption environment in Jing'an District was released during the forum. The plan is centered on optimizing the access and operation services for consumer enterprises, promoting the vitality and diversification of consumer market supply, as well as creating a window to show the world with Shanghai's consumer economy.

The plan is the first of this kind issued at the district level in Shanghai , aiming to further create a world-class consumption environment, and welcome more commercial and trade enterprises to do business in Jing'an.

Statistics show the total retail sales of social consumer goods of Jing'an District ranked the first in the downtown area of Shanghai in 2022. More than 70 percent of the top 100 world-renowned brands have opened stores in Jing'an.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shanghai-jingan-further-promotes-commercial-activities-in-nanjing-west-road-business-circle-301793072.html
By Jody Godoy

(Reuters) - The founder of Infinity Q Management, which once claimed to manage $3 billion, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for misleading investors about the value of assets the New York firm managed, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said on Monday.

U.S. District Judge Denise Cote sentenced James Velissaris, 38, on Friday after rejecting his recent request to withdraw his guilty plea, which he entered in November.

"We hope this lengthy sentence resonates in the financial sector and deters anyone who may be tempted to lie to investors," Williams said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Velissaris declined to comment.

Prosecutors said Velissaris misled investors and regulators by promising to fairly value over-the-counter derivative positions that comprised much of a mutual fund and hedge fund he ran.

Velissaris instead mismarked many holdings, sometimes inflating values to "impossible" levels and concealed the mismarking from auditors, to increase management fees and retain investors, they said.

In requesting to withdraw his guilty plea, Velissaris argued that he did not commit a crime because Infinity Q had disclosed it might value assets differently than an independent pricing service it used.

Velissaris also said his plea was involuntary as he was affected by depression and "overwhelmed by pressure" from prosecutors and his former lawyers to take a plea deal.

In a ruling denying the request, Cote said Velissaris had said under oath that he was entering his plea voluntarily.

His decision to plead guilty to one count of securities fraud instead of going to trial on multiple charges "makes rational sense," the judge said.

Velissaris also said he had evidence he argued showed his innocence at the time he pleaded guilty, the judge said.

Prosecutors had asked for a "substantial" prison sentence without recommending a specific term. Velissaris had asked for home confinement, saying it would allow him to receive comprehensive mental health treatment.

The case is U.S. v. Velissaris, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-00105.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Richard Chang)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The Turkish Navy has adopted the amphibious assault ship designed to accommodate combat drones, Trend reports via the Turkish media.

The ceremony was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar, and other officials.

It is noted that the Kzlelma, Hurjet, and Bayraktar TB3 unmanned aerial vehicles will be able to land on the platform of the ship. TCG Anadolu is able to conduct military operations anywhere in the world and can accommodate up to 10 helicopters and 11 UAVs on deck and up to 19 helicopters and 30 UAVs in the hangar. It is 231 meters long and 32 meters wide and is capable of reaching speeds of at least 20.5 knots.

The warship project began to be developed in 2015, in accordance with the needs of the Navy Command.
Printed Chinese and Japanese flags are seen in this illustration, July 21, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

By Sakura Murakami

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan stressed on Monday the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait during a meeting of senior Japanese and Chinese officials after Beijing held three days of war games around the island.

The talks, focusing on concerns over disputed waters in the East China Sea, came as China was ending simulated strikes in reaction to a visit by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen to the United States, where she met House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Tokyo also urged Beijing to stop its coastguard ships entering Japanese waters, adding that it was deeply concerned about Beijing's military activity near Japan and its coordination with Russia.

"We conveyed our deep concerns over the situation in the East and South China seas, and reiterated the importance of having peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," a Japanese foreign ministry statement said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also told reporters: "The importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only important for the security of Japan, but also for the stability of the international community as a whole,"

At Monday's talks, Chinese officials criticised Japan's recent "negative moves" on the issues of the East and South China Seas, the Diaoyu (Senkaku) islands, and the Taiwan Strait, said the foreign ministry in Beijing.

Coastguard ships of both nations regularly confront each other around the islands known in Japan as the Senkaku and in China as the Diaoyu. They are controlled by Japan.

Beijing also demanded on Monday that Tokyo stop "all words and deeds" that violate China's territorial sovereignty, undermine its maritime rights and interests, and refrain from meddling in the Taiwan issue, the Chinese ministry said.

Beijing, which considers Taiwan a part of China, regards meetings between senior U.S. and Taiwanese officials as interference in its internal affairs and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.

Japan also said it had protested against the construction of two new structures in the East China Sea discovered last year, where China has constructed more than a dozen gas explorations platforms west of an equidistant line between the two countries.

The area has no official border.

Last month, China and Japan set up a military hotline to help defuse any incidents in the waters.

(Reporting by Sakura Murakami and Beijing Newsroom; writing by Tim Kelly; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Gareth Jones)
FILE PHOTO: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a news conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin following the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022. Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev/Pool via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Kremlin said on Monday that there was a general tendency to always blame Russia for everything when asked about accusations that Moscow may have been behind a leak of U.S. intelligence documents about a number of countries including Ukraine.

The U.S. national security community is grappling with fallout from the release of dozens of secret documents, including the impact on sensitive information-sharing within the government and ties with other countries, two U.S. officials have said.

The documents, the authenticity of which Reuters has not independently verified, include information about the war in Ukraine, including losses for both sides and other details.

Some national security experts and U.S. officials say they suspect that the leaker could be American, given the breadth of topics covered by the documents, but they do not rule out pro-Russian actors.

A former CIA officer has said it is highly likely that Moscow orchestrated the leak in order to sow confusion and potential divisions between Washington and its allies.

When asked about allegations that Russia may have been responsible, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters:

"I cannot comment on this in any way. You and I know that there is in fact a tendency to always blame everything on Russia. It is, in general, a disease."

Russia's Foreign Spy Service (SVR) declined comment when asked by Reuters about the U.S. leaks.

Asked about the idea that Washington had spied on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Peskov, who called the leaks "quite interesting", said that could not be ruled out.

"But the fact that the United States has been spying on various heads of state, especially in European capitals, for a long time now, has come up repeatedly, causing various scandalous situations," he said.

(Reporting by ReutersEditing by Andrew Osborn)
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Monday he would invite his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to Brazil, speaking on the eve of his departure the Asian country in a bid to tighten relations between the two countries.

"I am going to invite Xi Jinping to come to Brazil, for a bilateral meeting, to get to know Brazil, to show him the projects that we have of interest for Chinese investment," he said in an interview to state-owned broadcasting company EBC, adding he is planning to "consolidate" the relationship with China.

The trip to China comes little more than two months after Lula met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House, as Brasilia aims for a pragmatic foreign policy balancing ties with its top trading partners despite growing tensions between the two.

"What we want is for the Chinese to make investments to generate new jobs and generate new productive assets in Brazil," Lula added.

Lula's trip to China, Brazil's top trading partner, was initially scheduled for March, but was postponed after he was diagnosed with a mild pneumonia. He will meet Xi as well as Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang next Friday.

(Reporting by Maria Carolina Marcello; Writing by Peter Frontini; Editing by Sarah Morland)
FILE PHOTO: Moldovan President Maia Sandu attends a news conference in the course of talks with European Council President Charles Michel in Chisinau, Moldova, March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza

By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU (Reuters) - The president of ex-Soviet 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.

Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries wedged between Ukraine and Romania, has been buffeted by Russia's war in Ukraine which President Maia Sandu has repeatedly denounced. Parts of missiles fired in the Ukraine conflict have landed in Moldova.

The country has received generous Western funding since Sandu took office in 2020 with a mandate to fight cooperation and move closer to Europe.

"Let us show the entire world that the citizens of Moldova want peace and democracy in their country and want Moldova to become a part of the European Union," Sandu said in a televised address.

Moldova and its population of 2.5 million, Sandu said, stood at a crossroads, with collective action needed for its future.

"I am making this appeal because at critical moments, important decisions are taken not only by politicians. Big decisions are taken by people during Great National Assemblies," she said.

"The time has come for Moldovans to show that we are a people that can defend democracy and peace. ... We are Europeans and at the Great National Assembly on 21st May, we will show that this is the path we have chosen."

Sandu holds a wide lead in opinion surveys, though the pro-Russian president she defeated in 2020, Igor Dodon, is still seen as her sole real rival for the job. Dodon was elected on Monday as one of the leaders of the opposition Socialist Party.

Moldova has, at different times in its history, been a part of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union and "Greater Romania." Its parliament last month proclaimed Romanian as its official language, though Russian remains in wide use.

The Great National Assembly has been attended by vast crowds on a number of occasions on the square of the same name in the capital Chisinau, including the proclamation of independence from Soviet rule in 1991.

Moldova, like Ukraine, has formally sought to become a member of the European Union, a process which normally takes several years. But its constitution sets down a policy of neutrality which rules out NATO membership.

The country remains beset by the presence of a pro-Russian separatist statelet, Transdniestria, 30 years after a brief war pitting it against newly independent Moldova's army.

Some 1,500 Russian "peacekeepers" remain in Transdniestria and its leaders accuse Ukraine of trying to topple them. In turn, Moldova accuses Russia of trying to destabilise it.

Moscow has been critical of Sandu's pro-Western moves and on Monday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced calls by NATO for closer cooperation with Moldova.

"Let us hope that there are still political forces in Moldova able to realise that rapprochement with NATO is fraught with a loss of sovereignty," Zakharova wrote.

(Writing by Ron Popeski and Elaine Monaghan; Editing by Richard Chang)
Pope Francis arrives to attend the Easter Sunday mass at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 9, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Monday he was praying that the Good Friday agreement signed 25 years ago that largely ended violence in Northern Ireland can be "consolidated" to benefit the people of all of Ireland.

Francis made the comment about the 1998 agreement, which has come under strain following Britain's exit from the European Union, in his noon address on Easter Monday to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.

"Today marks the 25th anniversary of the so-called Good Friday agreement, or of Belfast, which brought an end to the violence that for decades troubled Northern Ireland," Francis said.

Signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998, the agreement is considered one of the most significant peace deals of the late 20th Century, seeking to end three decades of sectarian strife between Catholic and Protestants known as "The Troubles" that killed more than 3,600 people.

"In a spirit of gratitude I pray to the God of peace so that what was achieved in that historic step can be consolidated to benefit all the men and women of the island of Ireland," the head of the nearly 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church said.

Apart from the effect of Britain's departure from the EU, other political crises have overshadowed this week's commemorations, which will be attended by U.S. President Joe Biden, reflecting the vital role the United States played in brokering the agreement.

Angry about post-Brexit trade rules that treated the province of Northern Ireland differently to the rest of the United Kingdom, the Democratic Unionist Party, the largest pro-British party, has boycotted the power-sharing devolved government central to the peace deal for more than a year.

Last month, Britain's MI5 intelligence agency increased the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to "severe" - meaning an attack was considered highly likely.

(Additional reporting by Michael Holden in London; editing by John Stonestreet, Kirsten Donovan)
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549





SCHEDULE 14D-9/A

(Amendment No. 7)





Solicitation/Recommendation Statement

Under Section 14(d)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934





CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

(Name of Subject Company)





CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

(Name of Person Filing Statement)





Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)





163572209

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)





Richard L. Eberly

Chief Executive Officer and President

Chembio Diagnostics, Inc.

3661 Horseblock Road

Medford, New York 11763

(631) 924-1135





(Name, address and telephone number of person authorized to receive

notices and communications on behalf of the person filing statement)





With copies to:

Sean M. Jones

Julie F. Rizzo

K&L Gates LLP

300 South Tryon Street, Suite 1000

Charlotte, NC 28202

(704) 331-7400





 Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.





This Amendment No. 7 (this  Amendment No. 7 ) to Schedule 14D-9 amends and supplements the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 of Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the  Company  or  Chembio ), originally filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the  SEC ) on February 14, 2023 (together with any subsequent amendments and supplements thereto, the  Schedule 14D-9 ), relating to the cash tender offer by Project Merci Merger Sub, Inc. ( Purchaser ), a Nevada corporation and wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Biosynex SA, a French societe anonyme ( Parent ), to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the  Shares ), for a purchase price of $0.45 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest and subject to any required tax withholding, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 31, 2023, by and among the Company, Parent and Purchaser, the Offer to Purchase, dated February 14, 2023, and the related Letter of Transmittal, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time.





Except as otherwise set forth in this Amendment No. 7, the information set forth in the Schedule 14D-9 remains unchanged and is incorporated herein by reference to the extent relevant to the items in this Amendment No. 7. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Schedule 14D-9.





Item 8. Additional Information.



The subsection of Item 8 of the Schedule 14D-9 entitled Legal Proceedings  Derivative Litigation is amended and supplemented by adding the following three paragraphs as the new eighth, ninth, and tenth paragraphs: On March 31, 2023, plaintiff in the Wong action served the defendants with her first requests for production of documents, first set of interrogatories and a notice of deposition of Chembio pursuant to Rule 30(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The parties counsel met regarding the requested discovery on April 4, 2023, and defendants stated their position that the discovery sought is not relevant to any of the claims or defenses in the Wong action and is not proportional to the needs of the case. The defendants further noted that they intend to renew their request for a stay under the PSLRA in connection with their motion to dismiss and/or seek a protective order. On April 4, 2023, defendants submitted a letter to the court in accordance with the district court judges rules seeking a pre-motion conference in connection with their motion to dismiss for failure to plead demand futility and failure to state a claim.

On April 7, the Company served plaintiff in the Wong action with the Company's objections and responses to plaintiff Wong's notice of deposition.

The subsection of Item 8 of the Schedule 14D-9 entitled Extension of the Offer is amended and supplemented by adding the following two paragraphs at the end of this subsection:







On April 10, 2023, the Company issued a press release and letter to stockholders. A copy of the press release and letter to stockholders is filed as Exhibit (a)(5)(M) to the Schedule 14D-9 and is incorporated herein by reference.





On April 10, 2023, the Company made a Twitter post reminding stockholders to participate in the Offer and linking to the press release and letter to stockholders from Richard Eberly. A copy of the post is filed as Exhibit (a)(5)(N) to the Schedule 14D-9 and is incorporated herein by reference.



Item 9. Exhibits.





Item 9 of the Schedule 14D-9 is amended by inserting the following Exhibits below Exhibit (a)(5)(L) as Exhibits (a)(5)(M) and (a)(5)(N):





(a)(5)(M) Press Release and Letter to Stockholders issued by Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., dated April 10, 2023 (a)(5)(N) Twitter post linking to the Press Release and Letter to Stockholders, dated April 10, 2023





2

SIGNATURE





After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.





CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, INC. By: /s/ Lawrence J. Steenvoorden Name: Lawrence J. Steenvoorden Title: Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President Dated: April 10, 2023








(Tribune News Service)  The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has awarded contracts to several big defense contractors  many of them with a Dayton-area presence  under the $400 million "Advanced Aerospace Systems Technology Research" program.

The Department of Defense announced several of the awards in recent days. For example, Raytheon Technologies Corp. and the Boeing Co. were awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for research and development work in the effort.

"This contract has multiple awardees to be awarded at different dates," the DOD said. "The primary objective of the program is to conduct research toward the development, demonstration, integration and transition of new aerospace vehicle technologies, designs and integrated systems that will provide advanced capabilities to the Department of the Air Force," the department said.

The awards position companies to take on tasks in an AFRL effort to push "toward the development, demonstration, integration and transition of new aerospace vehicle technologies, designs and integrated systems that will provide advanced capabilities to the Air Force," the service said in a contract solicitation announcement last April. "These technology capability advancements will be applicable across current and emerging Air Force aerospace systems in all Air Force mission areas."

The program will support the Aerospace Systems Directorate's progress in the realms of vehicles, control sciences, high speed systems, turbine engines and much more.

Other companies receiving the award include: Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc., Aurora Flight Sciences, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., and Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, among others.

Work will be performed at each contractor facility, unless otherwise indicated in specific task orders, and is expected to be complete by April 5, 2030.

This contract was a competitive acquisition, and 15 offers were received, the DOD said.

(c)2023 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio)

Visit at www.daytondailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A U.S. Navy warship on Monday cruised near a chain of islands claimed by China, Taiwan and other countries, coinciding with the third day of Chinese exercises around Taiwan in the wake of meetings between Taiwans president and U.S. officials.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Milius conducted a freedom-of-navigation operation near Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, a group of about 100 islands between Vietnam and the Philippines, to uphold the rights, freedoms and lawful uses of the sea, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a Monday email.

The Navy routinely sends warships near the Spratlys and the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea to protest excessive maritime claims and unlawful restrictions, such as permission or advanced notice for innocent passage through territorial waters.

The entire Spratly chain is claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan; portions of the chain are claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. The Spratlys are about 960 miles south of Taiwan.

Two days before the Milius operation, Beijing launched a series of exercises around Taiwan to protest Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens visit with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Thursday and U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul on Saturday.

The freedom-of-navigation operation, however, was not a response to Chinas actions, according to 7th Fleet spokesman Lt. j.g. Luka Bakic.

These operations demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows  regardless of the location of excessive maritime claims and regardless of current events, he said in a Monday email to Stars and Stripes.

Bakic didnt specify if the Milius interacted with Chinese or other foreign military forces during the operation but said U.S. Navy vessels and aircraft routinely interact with foreign warships and aircraft while operating throughout the region.

About 45 islands in the Spratlys are occupied by small military outposts from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, according to the CIA World Factbook website.

During the operation, the Milius sailed within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef, one of several islands that China has modified and built military infrastructure on over the past decade.

Under international law, Bakic said, features like Mischief Reef are not part of a territorial sea because in their naturally formed state they are submerged during high tide.

The land reclamation efforts, installations, and structures built on Mischief Reef do not change this characterization under international law, he said.

The destroyer departed the area and resumed operations in the South China Sea, according to the 7th Fleet.

China typically protests such operations but had not made a statement as of Monday afternoon.
Navy investigators are still determining how more than a dozen workers were injured three weeks ago in an accident involving a Navy-owned research vessel in dry dock in Scotland.

The Motor Vessel Petrel slipped off its holdings at the Port of Leith on March 22 and came to rest on its side at an angle of about 45 degrees.

A team led by the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center is on site and evaluating the situation, James Stossel, a spokesman for the Port Hueneme, Calif.-based command, said in a statement Friday.

He added that 14 workers were injured. News outlets including the BBC had reported as many as 33 people were hurt, some seriously.

Stossel didnt specify the damage to the vessel, citing the ongoing investigation. He also couldnt provide more details about the team or its mission except to say Navy personnel and contract experts worldwide were involved.

The Navy purchased Petrel in September 2022 for $12.4 million to support the services efforts in maritime security, Stossel said. It was undergoing maintenance and preparations to meet Navy requirements, he said.

The ship was commissioned by philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, according to the vessel's Facebook page.

In a tweet at the time of the accident, Edinburgh city councilor for Leith Adam McVey said the ship had been knocked off its supports by high winds. But the BBC said in a March 23 report that winds were an unlikely cause.

Stossel didn't say specifically how the Navy plans to use Petrel, but earlier this year the British military took delivery of the first of two similar ships designed to help protect undersea cables and pipelines from sabotage, Defense News reported Jan. 20.

Petrel previously was used primarily for underwater research and exploration, focusing on locating shipwrecks and exploring the underwater ecosystem, according to its Facebook page.

It is credited with finding several World War II wrecks, including the destroyer USS Johnson, the carrier USS Wasp and the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis, USNI News reported March 22.

In 2018, a Navy-led mission aboard Petrel mapped the wreckage of a C-2A Greyhound plane that crashed into the Philippine Sea en route to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in November 2017.

Three sailors were killed in the crash. The Navy recovered the wreckage in June 2019.
KILLEEN, Texas  A flag-draped casket inside a horse-drawn carriage carried 2nd Lt. Wayne Dyer into the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery on Monday, bringing the Army veteran to his final resting place nearly 79 years after he was killed in action in World War II.

Most of us probably have no recollection of who Wayne is or know him personally. However, his heroism and patriotism to this nation is what all of us can understand, said Capt. Martin Akewe, the Army chaplain who spoke during the ceremony. This is not a moment of mourning but for rejoicing because our loved one has come home.

The 22-year-old from Hobart, Okla., served in the U.S. Army Air Forces and was assigned to the 569th Bombardment Squadron, 390th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 13th Bombardment Wing, 3rd Air Division of the 8th Air Force.

He was the navigator for 10-person crew aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber on May 29, 1944, during a mission to attack a German factory when enemy fire struck the plane causing it to catch fire and crash into farmland deep behind enemy lines. Six crew members successful deployed their parachutes and were captured on the ground by German forces. Four men, including Dyer, died on impact.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the office of the Defense Department tasked with locating and identifying the remains of missing service members, identified Dyers remains in September.

Cheri Stripling, Dyers 67-year-old great niece, accepted a folded flag at the burial ceremony, which had dozens of veterans, community members and active-duty soldiers in attendance.

Ive been going over this mountain of information on Wayne, and its the most incredible story to have been gone for so long and they finally found him, Stripling said. Its just amazing what our country will do to bring guys home.

She chose to bury him at a veterans cemetery near her home in Leander, Texas, instead of Dyers home state of Oklahoma because she wanted him near family who could more easily visit.

Growing up, Stripling knew very little of her great uncle. Dyer was her paternal grandmothers brother.

He was never spoken of. I dont know if my grandmother couldnt handle it, or if she just blocked it out, she said. The only thing I ever found about him was in a Bible, and it was just his name.

It could explain why her grandmother doted on her father, Stripling said. Both have since died, and Striplings mother suffers from memory loss, so theres no one left in the family to ask about Dyer and how his loss was felt within the family.

However, the actions recorded about him by the six men who survived the crash depict someone willing to sacrifice himself to save others.

Dyer and the crew were sent to bomb an aircraft factory near Leipzig, Germany. The mission was part of a large air raid that targeted thousands of buildings.

After Dyers plane was hit by enemy fire and burning, the bomber fell out of formation and the pilot fought to keep the aircraft under control while six men escaped with their parachutes, according to DPAA records.

Of the remaining three men, one had been shot in the leg. Dyer and another crew member tried to help him get his parachute, but he jumped too late to pull the chute and survive. Dyer and the other man died in the plane alongside the pilot when it crashed into a field near the town of Horst.

His parents posthumously received an Air Medal and Purple Heart Medal for their son. About a year after the crash, he was formally presumed dead.

The American Graves Registration Command, which was charged with recovering the remains of fallen service members in the European Theater following the war, found one crew member buried in a local cemetery in Horst during a 1946 search. After 1950, worsening diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, which controlled this part of Germany at the time, prevented the command from investigating further. Dyer was declared non-recoverable on April 21, 1953.

The crash site was located in July 2012, and then excavated in 2019 with permission from the landowner.

Sarah Kindschuh, a forensic anthropologist with DPAA at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., received four large cardboard boxes filled with plastic bags of material collected from the site and spent about 13 months examining all the material items that were not human remains. Another forensic team used dental and anthropological analysis to identify Dyer, she said.

It just took a lot of time to basically open all the bags, clean everything to the point where you can identify it. Then [we] actually do the analysis and try and determine which items might go together and which items might go with a specific person, since were dealing with at least three people on the plane, Kindschuh said.

From the bags, she recovered remnants of Dyers flight suit, a zip-up sweater and his service shirt with his navigator wings still attached. His pockets still held his metal rank insignia, a pocketknife, a Bible and a key to a padlock. She also found Dyers leather navigator case that held his papers, map fragments and the tools that he would have used to perform his job.

Kindschuh said it was the first time that she had seen someones clothing and items so intact.

This is a great example of why its important to do World War II work because we are getting so much material and evidence from these cases, she said. I never would have thought that a bomber crash from 1944 thats been probably plowed over multiple times would have yielded this much stuff.

Immediately following World War II, the U.S. identified the remains of roughly 280,000 Americans, according to DPAA. The U.S. renewed these efforts in the 1970s and has since identified 1,452 people and returned their remains to their families for burial. There are still more than 72,230 missing.

Though Dyer died nearly eight decades ago, Akewe told those at the burial ceremony that we can still grasp the sting of death.

We are reminded that one day we will all come to our last time on this Earth. We should continue to ask ourselves, What did we do with our time?  he said. Our beloved brother Wayne has done his part.
Two police officers were shot dead in a shooting during a traffic stop northwest of the village of Cameron in the northwestern U.S. state of Wisconsin, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

The shooting occurred at around 3:38 p.m., the Wisconsin Department of Justice said in a statement.

Two officers were pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect, a motorist, was taken to a hospital and later died.

Details about the incident are still being investigated, local media reported Sunday.

The Officer Down Memorial Page, an organization that tracks police officer deaths in the line of duty across the United States, shows that this incident marks the second and third officer deaths in the line of duty this year in Wisconsin. The first took place two months ago when a police officer was shot dead while seeking to arrest a suspect in Milwaukee.
Valerie Bertsch has always been drawn to rabbits, so much so she decorated her Medford Lakes, N.J, 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?)

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, N.J. home and uses a network of fosters to house the rest.

Tribbles is particularly busy around Easter, when people buy rabbits as gifts, and around Thanksgiving and Memorial Day, when they go on vacation and dont want to worry about a pet, Mills said.

The reasons people abandon 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 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.)

Regular visitors to Bertschs rabbit cafe include Ava Colon, 15, of Medford, N.J., 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.
The United States Marine Corps is facing irreparable damage from two well-intended but ill-conceived concept documents.

One already has devastated its offensive spirit and capabilities. The other is destined to erode the ethos and undermine the special identity of its Marines.

Force Design 2030 and Talent Management 2030 will change how Marines fight and how they see themselves. They will dim the pride that once characterized the Marine Corps in the eyes of the American people. They will erode confidence inside and outside the Corps that United States Marines can locate, close with and destroy the enemy today and in the future.

Marines always have seen themselves as different: Americas shock troops, with one foot on land and the other foot at sea. Marines pride themselves on being the most ready when the nation is least ready; the countrys premier 911 force, ready to deploy anywhere, anytime, fight any foe and win.

The American people always have seen their Marines as something special  young and energetic, characterized by selfless service, raw courage and dependability.

A refrain often heard on graduation day at the recruit depots is, I sent you a boy (or girl), you sent me back a man (or woman).

The national security establishment has seen the nations Corps of Marines as ready and eager to fight; just over the horizon but always close enough to show American resolve or respond quickly to any situation, anywhere before it gets out of hand.

During a developing crisis or contingency, the question frequently asked by decision-makers is, Where are the aircraft carriers and where are the Marines? They know Marines can be depended upon to fight and win if called upon.

This trilogy of converging perspectives and expectations has shaped the ethos of Americas Marines, from Tripoli to Afghanistan and on every battlefield, in every skirmish, and during every humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response in between. Generation after generation of Americans have grown accustomed to the familiar headline, The Marines have landed and the situation is well in hand.

But ethos is fragile. Unlike force structure and equipment, which can be rebuilt if lost, ethos, once extinguished, is gone forever. Ethos is a state of mind that allows Marines to boast with pride, The difficult we do right away, the impossible takes a little longer.

President Ronald Reagan honored all Marines and the special place they hold in Americas conscience when he said: Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. Marines dont have that problem.

Unfortunately, future Marines will have that problem unless the course presently charted is reversed.

The Marine Corps is being significantly weakened by unwise cuts in its force structure and equipment and reductions in Navy amphibious and maritime pre-positioning ships; divestments that undermine its congressionally mandated responsibilities as a combined arms force-in-readiness. And, by personnel management approaches that erode esprit de corps, teamwork and identity.

Consider the following:

 The elimination of all armor, scout sniper platoons in infantry battalions, and bridging coupled with drastic cuts in infantry, cannon artillery, assault amphibious vehicles, aviation, military police, assault beaching and combat service support have crippled Marine Corps capabilities to respond to global crises and contingencies across the spectrum of conflict. These capabilities were sacrificed on the divest to invest altar for future, experimental weapons that will only duplicate what other services already have in sufficient numbers.

The Marine Air-Ground Task Force, historically the first to arrive on scene with the combat power and sustainment to persist and win in every clime and place, is being emasculated to self-fund an essentially one-dimensional coastal defense force.

 The gutting of the Maritime Prepositioning Force and the dramatic reductions in amphibious ships and their readiness to deploy have significantly and adversely impacted the Marine Corps forward presence and crisis response.

 The focus away from infantry, youth and shared experiences is destroying the values that make Marines different. Every Marine a rifleman is at best an empty slogan, as infantry skills are devalued to make way for computer and other technical skills. An older force is seen as preferable to a younger, more adventurous force.

To be blunt, United States Marines increasingly are irrelevant to the National Command Authority and to the combatant commanders. It seems the Armys 18th Airborne Corps has replaced Marines as the nations premier 911 force.

The American people fail to understand why Marines train, look and talk more like the other services. Some Marines may no longer see themselves as a breed apart.

The damage is not irreversible, providing future commandants begin the process to build back essential warfighting capabilities and restore an ethos that values the infantry, an offensive spirit, and combined arms.

James Livingston is a retired U.S. Marine Corps major general. A career infantry officer, he was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving as the commanding officer, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines during the Battle of Dai Do in Vietnam. Jay Vargas is a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel. Also a career infantry officer, he was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving as the commanding officer, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines during the Battle of Dai Do.
(Tribune News Service)  As U.S. relations fray with China and Russia, American military leaders in Hawaii are increasingly giving attention to their forces in Alaska.

Recently, U.S. Army Pacific's Oahu-based commander, Gen. Charles Flynn, visited Alaska to observe training at the Alaska portions of the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center  a series of training ranges in Hawaii and Alaska the Army is using to train troops for potential combat operations amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Pacific.

The training also takes place amid increasing concern by some American policymakers about China's aspirations in the Arctic.

Paratroopers with the Army's newly reorganized 11th Airborne Division in Alaska trained with the Air Force, practicing jumping into the tundra to fight battles in the winter. Flynn said JPRMC ranges allow "the opportunity to train as a joint force because we're surrounded by joint assets, both here and Hawaii, and of course in the region."

Alaska is home to several bases as well as airfields regularly used by the military. Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commander of the 11th Airborne, said bases in Alaska serve not just as a training ground, but as an important "strategic location" that allows his troops to serve as "a deterrent where we're at."

Though the frigid tundra of Alaska stretches into the Arctic, U.S. Army and Air Force personnel in Alaska answer to commanders in Hawaii. The Oahu-based U.S. Indo-Pacific Command at Camp Smith is the nerve center for all operations across the region. Commanders there describe their area of operations  the U.S. military's largest  as spanning "Bollywood to Hollywood and polar bears to penguins."

Throughout its history, Alaska has been as much tied to the Pacific as to the Arctic. In the days of the Hawaiian kingdom, whalers set up shop in the islands while sailing north to hunt in the cold waters off Alaska. During World War II, Alaska became a battlefield when Japanese forces pushed into the Aleutian Islands, bombing Dutch Harbor and landing troops on the islands of Kiska and Attu  the latter becoming the site of a bloody battle between U.S. and Japanese troops as they fought in the bitter cold.

Today the Air Force has stationed its newest fighters  the F-35 and F-22  in Alaska. Over the years American fighters have had occasional run-ins with Russian planes near U.S.-controlled airspace around Alaska, so far without serious incident. But American fishermen working out of Alaska have also reported increasingly tense encounters with Russian ships and warplanes while fishing in the Northern Pacific.

Lately, U.S. Pacific Air Forces under Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach has sought to spread out its forces across the region through a strategy the Air Force calls Agile Combat Employment. The idea is to shuffle planes to different airfields across the Pacific to make it harder for Chinese forces to wipe them out with missiles. Alaska is an area of interest for the strategy, as well as airstrips across Pacific island countries and territories.

But the U.S. Army Pacific's renewed interest in Alaska is relatively recent. Eifler, who previously served under Flynn in Hawaii before he was appointed head of the Army's Pacific forces, arrived in Alaska in 2021 when most soldiers in the state were still under the banner of the Oahu-based 25th Infantry  the "Tropic Thunder Division"  but in name only.

The Army's brigades up north were in reality under the umbrella of U.S. Army Alaska, a patchwork of forces stationed in the tundra using equipment ill-suited for the environment in which they trained. Eifler said the Army had essentially "abandoned" its soldiers up north  even though Alaska is home to some of the Army's only airborne troops positioned to quickly deploy in the Pacific region. U.S. Army Alaska had the highest suicide rate of any part of the Army.

In 2022, after Eifler pushed for reforms, U.S. Army Alaska was reorganized under the banner of the 11th Airborne Division  taking on the legacy of a unit that had fought in the Pacific during World War II and later pioneered helicopter "air assault " operations.

But even before reorganizing into the 11th Airborne, paratroopers in Alaska had already begun training to more quickly deploy in the Pacific. In summer 2020, Air Force C-17s made a direct flight from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska to Guam, dropping paratroopers on the island, where they practiced seizing an airfield in one the largest airborne exercises in the Pacific region in recent history.

"We are a response force across the Indo-Pacific, so we have to be ready for all contingencies," Eifler said. "If we have to defend Alaska, yeah, we'll be ready to do that. But our primary mission is to be able to provide forces across in the Pacific."

But Arctic and Pacific issues have in recent years begun to blur together.

On April 3 the Pentagon said that an alleged spy balloon that made its way across the United States in January before being shot down and recovered by the U.S. military off South Carolina was able to be remotely steered and transmit real-time data back to operators in China as it transited over U.S. military installations. The balloon first entered U.S. controlled airspace in the Aleutians before making its way across the mainland.

Chinese military forces aren't strangers to the Aleutians. In 2021 the U.S. Coast Guard encountered Chinese warships moving near the island chain, and in September the Coast Guard again saw Chinese vessels near the Aleutians  this time joined by Russian warships. Though American forces watched them closely, U.S. officials stressed they did not violate any rules.

The U.S. military also regularly conducts operations near China, including the South China Sea  a critical trade route that more than a third of all international trade travels through. Beijing claims nearly the entire waterway as its exclusive territory and is locked in a series of disputes with neighboring countries over territorial and navigation rights.

But as polar ice caps thaw, Beijing is looking at the possibility of new trade routes in the Arctic opening up along with other opportunities. In 2018, China declared itself a "near Arctic" country and has sought greater involvement in the region.

"The Arctic is a competitive space, and it's competitive for a wide range of reasons," Flynn said. "You can see countries working to increase their competitiveness in that space.  I think that Russia is in the Arctic Circle looking out. I think that China is actually outside the Arctic Circle looking in."

Even as fossil fuel emissions heat up the climate  contributing to rising seas and increasingly intense weather and natural disasters  corporations around the world are already eagerly exploring the possibility that there could be newly accessible deposits of oil, natural gas and minerals under the melting ice to extract. Chinese companies are among those seeking to get in on the action.

The Pentagon has expressed concerns in reports to Congress that Chinese commercial and scientific activity in the Arctic could in some cases be a cover for developing military systems and conducting surveillance. In 2020, Canada rejected on security grounds a bid by Chinese company Shandong Gold Mining to buy an Arctic gold mine, and in February the Canadian government said it had found Chinese buoys in Arctic waters that it believes are intended for surveillance.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping share a close relationship and recently pledged to cooperate on opening pathways for goods to flow through the Arctic, but other Russian and Chinese officials have been at odds. Though cooperation between China and Russia has continued to deepen, some Russian officials are also suspicious of China's intentions in an area that Russia has long considered to be its area of influence.

"(The Arctic) is one of those global commons, where we want it to remain free and open, just like the Indo-Pacific," Flynn said. "We want the global commons to be secure, stable and protected so that every nation has a right of passage through them."

During a panel in October hosted by the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C., Liselotte Odgaard, a professor at the Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies, argued that Beijing's attention remains focused on the South China Sea  where the Chinese military has built bases on disputed islands and reefs to assert its territorial claims  and that China likely has "little interest in establishing a military presence" in the Arctic, at least for now  though she noted that China might be willing to partner more with Russia on development and excavation projects.

The convergence of Arctic and Pacific politics was on display at JPMRC in Alaska. Canadian and Italian troops joined the 11th Airborne in the U.S. military's Yukon Training Area while military observers from Japan, Mongolia, Nepal, Chile, Germany, Finland and Norway watched.

As the Army's training ranges in Hawaii such as the 25th Infantry Division's Lightning Academy on Oahu attract attention of troops wanting to train for jungle operations in the tropical regions of Asia and the Pacific, Alaska's winter ranges prepare others to operate in Asia's colder corners. In 2022 the 11th also trained with Indian troops in the Himalayas  not far from where Indian and Chinese troops have engaged in a series of deadly skirmishes  and with Japanese forces in Japan's colder northern territories.

"This year we're training all over the Indo-Pacific with other nations that have cold, high mountain, high-altitude terrain, as well as other Arctic nations," Eifler said. "So we're seeing this as a great opportunity as a joint environment, not just an Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Marines, but also in a multinational environment."

Mongolian army chief Gen. Bujiinov Amgalanbaatar stopped in to watch the JPRMC training in Alaska and meet with Flynn and Eifler. The 11th Airborne is slated to conduct exercises in Mongolia  which is sandwiched between Russia and China  later this year.

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CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  Seoul intends to discuss with Washington the leak to social media of purported U.S. military files, some of which reportedly contained details of sensitive discussions between senior South Korean officials, President Yoon Suk Yeols office said Monday.

This process would be done based on the trust relationship formed through the [South Korea]-U.S. alliance, Yoons presidential office said in a statement Monday.

The New York Times on Thursday first reported the existence of what appeared to be classified U.S. military documents on social media platforms like Twitter and Discord.

The documents reportedly ranged from information about the ongoing war in Ukraine to the possibility of South Korea providing artillery shells to Kyiv.

The Department of Defense has yet to confirm the documents authenticity. A criminal investigation has been launched by the Justice Department, Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters Saturday.

Yoons office noted the documents were not the established fact and said there was still a possibility they were modified or forged.

He warned that those who attempt to shake the alliance by exaggerating or distorting the incident will face national resistance.

According to the Times review of the documents, Yi Mun-Hui, South Koreas former presidential secretary for foreign affairs, had told former national security adviser Kim Sung-han that Seoul was mired in concerns that if it complied with the United States request for artillery rounds, the end recipient would be Ukraine.

South Koreas Ministry of National Defense denied in November it was directly supplying artillery shells to Ukraine and said it was considering exporting them to the U.S. with the understanding that the end user would be Washington.

The documents reportedly indicated that the two officials were concerned about the appearance of sending direct aid to Kyiv and suggested sending artillery shells through Poland since getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the ultimate goal of the United States.

Yoon, who has condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine, sent humanitarian assistance to Ukraine but has yet to supply Kyiv with lethal aid, citing Seouls relations with Moscow.

While there are a few exceptions, South Koreas Foreign Trade Act generally requires its exports to be used for a peaceful purpose and that they do not affect international peace, safety maintenance, and national security.

South Korea is also a signatory to the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty of 2014, which introduced regulatory requirements on the import and exports of arms ranging from warships to small arms.

Poland, a Ukraine ally, is one of South Koreas top purchasers of military equipment. Last year, Warsaw agreed to purchase from Seoul $5.8 million worth of tanks and self-propelled howitzers, and $3 billion worth of FA-50 light combat aircraft.

South Korea last year also signed off on exporting Krab howitzers to Poland with the knowledge that they would be passed to Ukraine, Reuters first reported in March.

The howitzers, which use components manufactured by different countries, were not entirely produced by South Korea, the countrys Ministry of National Defense reportedly said at the time.
China's military drills in response to President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) were on par with the reaction last year after his predecessor visited the island, Taiwan's foreign minister said Monday.

"This time around, if you look at the intensity of their air threat or naval threat against Taiwan, I think it's similar to what we saw at the time," Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said in an interview with Bloomberg News Monday, referring to the aftermath of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last August.

The People's Liberation Army in China on Monday said it had completed three days of military exercises around the island, adding that it stands "ready to fight at any time and crush separatism activities and foreign interference." Taiwan's Defense Ministry said earlier that China's Shandong aircraft carrier joined the drills, with military aircraft taking off and landing on the vessel.

Taiwan detected 59 aircraft from China's People's Liberation Army and 11 warships near Taiwan as of 10 a.m. Monday, with 39 of the warplanes crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering the southwestern and southeastern part of the island's air-defense identification zone. Warships and warplanes passed over the median line in groups from the center and south of the strait, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry.

Last year, in response to the visit from Pelosi (D-Calif.), the PLA not only conducted air and sea exercises in six exclusion zones but also fired missiles over the island, launched cyberattacks and used economic coercion. Besides disrupting air traffic and shipping, those drills also covered waters claimed as exclusive economic zones by the Philippines and Japan, and some missiles landed in an area claimed by the government in Tokyo.

After last week's meeting with McCarthy  unprecedented for a Taiwanese president and U.S. House speaker on American soil  Tsai over the weekend received a U.S. congressional delegation in Taipei. The Biden administration has urged China to refrain from increasing tensions and using the transit as a pretext to change the status quo in the strait.

The U.S. Navy on Monday conducted freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, challenging Beijing's territorial claims to a reef near the Philippines, where the American military is set to hold military drills starting on Tuesday.

"We are comfortable and confident that we have in place sufficient resources and capabilities in the region to ensure peace and stability and to meet our national security commitments," a spokesperson for the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. Embassy, said in a statement in response to questions about China's military drills.

Taiwan's foreign minister criticized Beijing for finding "excuses" to launch military exercises and said the acts cannot be tolerated.

"We need to prevent China from having the illusion that they can take Taiwan over quickly," Wu said. "And therefore we need to speed up Taiwan's preparedness, and we've been doing that."

The U.S. lawmakers who met with Tsai, Wu and other Taiwanese officials last week first traveled to Tokyo and Seoul, where they gauged the willingness of Japan and South Korea to defend Taipei in the event of a conflict. According to House Foreign Affairs chairman Michael McCaul, the countries in response questioned where the U.S. stands on the matter.

Wu downplayed any disagreements between the U.S. allies or the need for them to step up in support of Taiwan.

"I wouldn't count on the partners in this area to defend Taiwan," he said. "I need to make it very clear that defending Taiwan is our own responsibility. And we have the will to defend ourselves."

"And what we need in this process is for the United States or other major countries to provide Taiwan with means for Taiwan to be able to defend itself," Wu added. "And the United States has been doing that."

Taiwan appreciates South Korea's rhetoric in support of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Wu said. Japan's planned increase in defense spending, he added, "is going to free the United States for doing more for other countries, especially Taiwan."

Taiwan is gearing up for a presidential election in January 2024 that will pit the ruling Democratic Progressive Party against the opposition Kuomintang, which has generally had warmer ties with Beijing. McCaul said former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou's trip to China last week was an effort to assess "which KMT candidate would be their preference."

Vice President Lai Ching-te, the presumptive presidential nominee for the DPP, is likely to transit through the U.S. ahead of the vote but might not be able to visit Washington, D.C., because he will be running for president while serving as vice president.

Wu said Taiwan's Foreign Ministry had made it clear to the U.S. that it needs to treat candidates from different parties "fairly" and allow them to meet with American officials.

The Chinese drills over the weekend focused on attacking foreign military targets and deployments to the west of the first island chain, according to a person with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because they weren't authorized to speak publicly on the drills. Reuters first reported the information.

The goal of the PLA drills this time was to gain military superiority closer to China's coastline, the person said, adding that the PLA drills are also meant as a response to US-Philippines drills starting Tuesday.

Bloomberg's Jing Li contributed to this report.
Dozens of Chinese aircraft and numerous warships approached Taiwan on Monday as Beijing continued its third day of drills around the island following last weeks meeting between Taiwans president and the U.S. House speaker.

Taiwans military monitored the Taiwan Strait as 70 Chinese aircraft and 11 ships approached the island around 6 a.m. Monday, Taiwans Defense Ministry announced on Twitter. The ministry said 35 aircraft crossed the straits median line in the southwest and southeast.

The numbers repeated Chinese military activity Sunday evening, when 71 aircraft and nine ships were spotted near Taiwan, with 45 aircraft crossing the median line, according to Sunday tweets from the Taiwan defense ministry.

Beijing on Saturday announced the three-day series of drills around Taiwan, dubbed Joint Sword, which it called a serious warning against the Taiwan independence separatist forces colluding with external forces and provocations, according to Chinas Defense Ministry.

The announcement didnt specifically mention Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meeting Thursday with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, where the two lauded U.S.-Taiwan relations. But the exercises followed days of warnings from Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Beijing would take resolute measures to safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Beijing considers self-governing Taiwan to be a breakaway province that must be reunited with the mainland, possibly by force.

Chinese forces on Saturday carried out simulated joint precision strikes against key targets on and around Taiwan and continued to maintain the momentum of encircling the island, Chinas Eastern Theater Command said from its official Weibo account.

A video from the same account showed Chinese bombers flying over the strait on combat readiness patrols and land strike missions on Saturday as well.

Tsai on Saturday hosted a delegation led by U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul in Taipei, where Tsai doubled down on her commitment to build a partnership with Washington.

We will continue to work with the US and other like-minded countries to jointly defend the values of freedom and democracy, she said Saturday in a news release.

Outside of military exercises, China has also taken other measures in response to Tsai and McCarthys meeting. Beijing on Friday imposed a travel ban and sanctions against the Hudson Institute, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and their top executives for providing a platform for Tsai Ing-wens Taiwan independence separatist activities in the U.S., Chinas Foreign Ministry announced that day.

The Chinese coast guard also launched a three-day special joint patrol of the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday that included on-site inspections of cargo ships, just hours before McCarthy and Tsai were scheduled to meet.

Taiwan has repeatedly protested Chinas response to Tsais meetings with U.S. politicians, with Taiwans Foreign Ministry saying in a Saturday tweet that Taiwan will never bow to [Peoples Republic of China] bullying and that the exercises will only toughen our resolve to fight for our freedom & sovereignty.
(Tribune News Service)  There had been a time when Oleg was excited to get behind the wheel of the tank. A sardonic 25-year-old, he's been serving as a driver around the front lines of the war in eastern Ukraine since almost the beginning of Russia's invasion last year.

But the novelty is long gone. The tank, a T-64 made in 1983, is older than he is  a relic of Ukraine's Soviet past. Its engine needs at least 20 minutes to warm up from a cold start, and for every day of hard combat, it needs a day of maintenance. Its ancient optics mean the crew can't fight at night.

Worst of all, it's just plain slow.

"Driving one of these is like driving an old car. It's an old Mercedes," said a rather bored-looking Oleg, who gave only his first name in accordance with Ukrainian military policy. "I'm tired of it. I want something that goes faster."

He may soon get his wish. He and the rest of the T-64's crew, along with their comrades in other armored brigades, are impatiently waiting for the arrival of more modern tanks promised by Ukraine's allies in the West  equipment the country says it needs as the spearhead of its spring counteroffensive.

Kyiv had been clamoring for advanced battle tanks since last year, but the U.S. and other NATO countries delayed for months while debating whether providing them would provoke a Russian escalation, just as they had hesitated over long-range artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems  all of which they now supply.

Britain broke the logjam, promising 14 Challenger 2 tanks in January that have since arrived in Ukraine. Late last month, Germany delivered 18 Leopard 2 tanks, adding to Poland's contribution of 14 so far; eventually the number of Leopard 2s will reach 100, along with at least 100 older Leopard 1s from Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and possibly Belgium.

Stryker infantry fighting vehicles and Cougar mine-resistant vehicles from the United States have also been in place since March, while the biggest plum of all, U.S.-made Abrams tanks  including refurbished M1A1 tanks and newer M1A2 models  will arrive in fall.

"Even a year ago, no one could have thought that the support of partners would be so powerful," Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov wrote on Facebook late last month, adding that the Challenger 2 was "more comfortable than a Rolls-Royce."

"Everything has changed this year. Ukraine changed the world."

Kyiv is banking on the new hardware to turn the tide in a conflict that has been bogged down through the winter, with the tanks promising to be a significant upgrade compared with the Soviet-era materiel the Ukrainians possess or the newer Russian tanks they'll face. The Western tanks have better armor, longer range, a faster firing rate and superior sighting systems. They're also considered to be more maneuverable.

The foreign-supplied tanks have taken on the status of near-mythical creatures, with observers poring over social media in the hope of catching a glimpse of them in the Donbas, the eastern Ukrainian heartland where the fighting is at its fiercest.

They're rumored to have already arrived there, and to have been disguised to look like Ukraine's Soviet-era arsenal. Some surmise that the Ukrainian armed forces' new media policy restricting journalists' access to military units is about keeping the tanks' location a secret ahead of the counteroffensive.

The static combat of the cold weather season has resulted in irregular action for tank driver Oleg and his crew mates. Their T-64  nicknamed "Buhay," or "Bull," after its commander, an affable 32-year-old named Serhei  sat by the roadside one morning in the bitter cold, a heavy snowfall covering the dark-green plates on the tank's exterior with a sprinkling of white.

Just a few miles away lies Bakhmut, the eastern city that has been all but obliterated in the obsessive, months-long effort by Russian forces to capture it, though some outside military analysts question its strategic value. The Russians now surround Bakhmut from three sides, and in recent days appear to have escalated their assault, Ukrainian soldiers say.

The off-and-on fighting of the winter  and the need to conserve ammunition  meant that the Buhay's crew was firing less than half the amount they'd used during the summer offensives.

"Sometimes we'll stay here all day without going to shoot at all," said Danylo, the 25-year-old gunner.

"We eat in the tank, sleep in the tank, we read," Danylo added, dipping down into Buhay's interior and emerging with a Ukrainian copy of "A Clash of Kings," the second book in the "Game of Thrones" series.

The shortage of shells meant Danylo couldn't fire his gun from a distance as he would an artillery piece, the round arcing in a parabola. Instead, the Buhay would have to bear down and fire directly at Russian fortifications.

"Sometimes we're less than 150 feet away," he said. "Straight shot."

How the Western tanks fare against their Russian counterparts will be closely scrutinized. The last major similar matchup was during the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War, when U.S. Abrams and British Challenger tanks squared off against Iraqi Soviet T-55s, T-64s and T-72s to devastating effect.

"They would take 10 shots from a T-72, whereas one shot from Western tanks would take out a T-72," said Col. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former commander of the British Royal Tank Regiment who saw action in that conflict.

He expects Western tanks to be a combat multiplier. Backed by artillery, drone and air support, they will probably take the lead in punching through enemy lines.

By most accounts, those lines are much-depleted. Russia, relying on antiquated tactics that had military experts questioning whether tanks have a place in modern warfare, has as of last week lost more than 1,900 tanks  including more than 500 captured  and more than 2,000 fighting vehicles, according to Oryx, a blog that tracks Russian armored losses through visual confirmation from open sources. Rather than fielding its new, much-vaunted T-14 Armata tank, Moscow has been forced to rely on T-55s designed in the 1950s  older than many of the soldiers' parents  because of equipment shortages.

Another foe besetting both Ukrainian and Russian forces is a more elemental force  the mud that follows winter's end, transforming wide swaths of the front line into swamps of brown ooze.

"It reaches up to here sometimes," said Denis, 37, another tank driver near Bakhmut, putting his hand up to his waist. Beside him, the Buhay  he operates a similar vehicle  sported thick patches of mud on its tracks and sides. Visitors found their boots sucked down into the mire, emerging with a thick layer on the sole that became heavier with every step.

Denis complained that even tanks could lose up to three-quarters of their speed when traversing muddy terrain, making them easy prey for infantry armed with Kornets, Russian antitank guided weapons.

"That's our biggest problem. When we see one in battle, it's us or them," Denis said.

Both the Leopard and Challenger have higher ground clearance, said De Bretton-Gordon, making them less likely to get stuck. The Ukrainians have been training for months in England, Poland and elsewhere in preparation for the new vehicles' arrival. It's part of a larger effort to integrate the grab bag of Western weapons that NATO countries have provided for the counteroffensive.

De Bretton-Gordon expects the Russians to fare poorly.

"They're fighting a First World War, where human mass is their tactic," he said. "It didn't work in 1914. And it's certainly not going to work in 2023."

Recent days have seen the Russians use that tactic multiple times a day in the battle for Bakhmut, according to several Ukrainian soldiers, with mercenaries from the private Wagner military contracting group leading the charge as shock troops to smash the line, while regular troops come behind them to mop up. The maneuver is vicious, and costly, but effective.

One recent morning, the Buhay's crew was sent on a mission to bust Russian fortifications in the countryside areas near the only highway the Ukrainians can use to enter Bakhmut  or beat a hasty retreat.

"You always have fear before battle, but when it starts you feel nothing, you do your job, you're just doing what you need to do," Danylo said.

Before the invasion, he was working in a factory in another country assembling Nespresso machines. War brought him back to Ukraine. He and his crew mates have been fighting in the Donbas since March last year, in Kharkiv, Severo-donetsk and Lysychansk. ("That was a meat grinder," Danylo said.)

When it's all over, he won't go work in a factory again. He plans to open a coffee shop in the city of Kryvyi Rih.

In the meantime, he was focused on the hunt  so much so that it made everything else background noise.

"The other day a 152-millimeter artillery round landed not 15 feet from the tank. We barely felt it," he said.

A drone video of the fortification-busting mission shows farmland cratered by shelling into a Swiss-cheese landscape. Smoke envelops a Russian bunker hit by the Ukrainians; the Buhay, hiding near a copse, is somehow spared from bombardment by enemy forces. Flames belch out of its turret as Danylo fires a shot at the bunker that finds its target; he takes aim and lands another shot neatly beside the first one.

By noon, the crew was back at base. It had been quick work, but there would be little downtime.

"We'll rest after we win," Danylo said.

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The repatriation of Islamic State fighters, family members and refugees living in makeshift camps and prisons in Syria will take decades at its current pace, a quandary that U.S. military officials and analysts say adds to the risk of a militant resurgence.

More than 50,000 people, mostly women and children from about 60 countries, are housed at a camp named al-Hol, which was described last week by U.S. Central Commands leader, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, as a flashpoint of human suffering that could foster the next generation of ISIS.

Meanwhile, about 10,000 ISIS fighters are being guarded by U.S. partner forces that need training for corrections work and are said to be suffering from low morale.

Without U.S. support, those guards would likely leave, and the chance of ISIS regrouping soars. Paradoxically, the U.S. presence means other countries are less likely to do much about repatriating the families and even less about taking back the prisoners, regional analysts said.

Its a problem from hell, and until the international community comes together to clean this up, its a bomb waiting to go off, said Jonathan Lord, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington-based think tank.

The al-Hol camp, which is operating at about 500% of capacity, lacks adequate water and shade from the desert sun, CENTCOM statements have said.

Not all those being held at the camp are related to the ISIS fighters. Some fled there to escape the terrorist group, CENTCOM said. But indoctrination is prevalent among the 25,000 children being held there, according to U.S. officials.

ISIS fighters have smuggled people and weapons through the camp, including 300 men caught with explosives at al-Hol during a sweep last year, a Politico report in March said.

The U.S. military is working to build more secure facilities at al-Hol and the detention facility in Hasakah, located about 30 miles away in northeast Syria.

A Pentagon budget request submitted in March also shows that the military is training guard personnel from the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish group opposed to Syrias government. The entire guard force needed to be replaced over the last year after a jailbreak battle that left hundreds dead, a 2022 Congressional Research Service report said.

But the best solution is moving the families and prisoners out of the conflict, where ISIS continues to fight a low-level insurgency despite losing its last territory in 2019, said Mona Yacoubian, a senior adviser at the United States Institute of Peace, based in Washington.

The longer there are a large number of residents in the camp, the greater the prospects for a significant security breach or attack on the camp, Yacoubian said.

U.S. military leaders have said that the slow repatriations remain the biggest impediment to ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS.

The 10,000 ISIS detainees consist of approximately 5,000 Syrians, 3,000 Iraqis and 2,000 foreign fighters, the 2022 Congressional Research Service report said.

Iraq has agreed to take back its citizens, but many parts of Syria arent peaceful enough to allow anyone to be sent back, analysts said.

Returning the foreign fighters and their families is particularly tricky. Suspicion of affiliation with ISIS, regardless of whether its been proved, makes taking them back politically toxic for governments, Yacoubian said.

Some European countries have said theyre willing to take the women and children back but have shown little to no interest in bringing home the fighters.

In other cases, the U.S. does not want to send fighters and their families to countries where they will not receive due process and may be subject to summary execution.

In the meantime, foreign governments are effectively outsourcing the problem to the U.S. military, even as CENTCOM calls for swift repatriations.

It allows them, unfortunately, to not make a decision, because in the meantime the (fighters) are still being detained and not directly threatening them, said Jerome Drevon, a senior analyst at the Brussels-based International Crisis Group.

If the U.S. military left Syria or stopped supporting the partner forces, ISIS would swiftly be able to re-form within a year, analysts said, echoing similar comments by Kurilla.

This is based on the likelihood that the (Syrian Democratic Forces), without the resources of U.S. troops, would most likely not maintain the prisons, likely abandoning them or allowing ISIS to break out, said Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based think tank.

Lister recently visited Hasakah, where a prison break foiled days before his arrival revived memories of the successful escape last year that required U.S. special operations forces to intervene. That 10-day battle left 500 ISIS and SDF fighters dead, CENTCOM said at the time.

Meanwhile, an ISIS ambush critically injured an SDF soldier during the recent visit.

The SDF leadership there was asking how long are we going to have to secure and guard your citizens, Lister said.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement that Mohamad El-Gharawi, the assistant administrative attache at the Egyptian embassy in Khartoum, was killed on Monday.
WASHINGTON  The recent leak online of U.S. documents about the Ukraine war and sensitive information about other countries has created a serious national security risk, the Pentagon said Monday.

The first discovery that some documents were revealed on social media sites happened last week, but it was reported during the weekend that more information was leaked than originally realized. The documents included information about various issues, including Ukraines defense efforts against Russian forces and intelligence efforts relating to some American allies.

We are still investigating how this happened, Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, told reporters Monday afternoon. These [documents] are highly classified and contain sensitive information. I would like to highlight that they present a very serious risk to national security.

He said the Defense Department is taking every step available to mitigate the damage of the leaks and is reviewing how such intelligence is distributed, and who sees it.

The leak of Ukraine documents was first reported Thursday by The New York Times, and the following day more documents related to non-Ukraine information were found on social media sites. Those records included intelligence gathering on U.S. allies such as South Korea and Israel. Some of the information was posted weeks ago.

Meagher said the Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation to determine who posted the documents, and a separate review is being conducted by the Defense Department and other federal agencies to assess the leaks impact on the United States and allies and partners. None of the documents posted online are high-quality scans, but rather they are photos taken of the physical papers.

While Meagher didnt say all the documents posted online are authentic, he did say some of it appears to contain sensitive and highly classified material. He also said some of the images appear to be altered.

We are not going to get into the validity of the purported documents posted online, but a Pentagon team continues to review and assess the veracity of the photographed documents, he said.

Meagher also did not say how many documents are involved, which ones might have been doctored, who had access to them or whether U.S. officials have apologized to allied countries that were included in some of the records.

Im not going to get into those details, he said. "Regardless of the situation, any leak of classified information is deeply damaging and hurts trust.

The Pentagon underscored its been communicating with allies, partners and congressional lawmakers about the leaked materials.

Those conversations are underway and ongoing and happening at high levels throughout government, Meagher said. Its kind of the comprehensive effort that the department is taking to wrap our arms around what happened, what may have happened and the way ahead.

Several times during Mondays briefing, he urged people to be mindful of posting and reposting sensitive documents that could have an impact on safety.

Disclosure of sensitive, classified material can have tremendous implications  not only for our national security, but [it] could lead to people losing their lives, Meagher said.

The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said Sunday that ties between Seoul and the United States remain strong, despite some of the leaked documents saying the U.S. had eavesdropped on the countrys plans to help Ukraine defend against Russian forces.
WASHINGTON  The recent expansion of parental leave benefits for active-duty service members could be matched for drilling members of reserve forces and the National Guard under legislation that a pair of senators hope will provide parity for all troops.

A bill introduced by Sens. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, aims to provide leave for all new parents, including non-birthing parents and parents of adopted or foster children, who serve as Guard members or reservists on a drill. Only birth mothers are now eligible for leave.

Congress in 2021 mandated the expansion of parental leave benefits for active-duty service members and the Defense Department in January announced it would grant 12 weeks of leave not just for birth mothers but for spouses, partners, and adoptive and foster parents as well. The Pentagon previously gave six weeks of leave for new mothers, and three weeks for non-birthing parents.

The new policy applies to service members with reserve components who are on active status but not those on drill status, who are instead subject to the Reserve Component Maternity Leave Program. Advocates for reserve troops have repeatedly pointed out the disparity.

Parental leave should be available to all new parents, and service members in the reserves and the National Guard should have the same access to parental leave as those serving on active duty, Hassan said in a statement. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill and help to ensure that all service members are given the opportunity to bond with their children.

Murkowski said the current law has significant inequalities and described the proposed bill, called the Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act, as a common-sense solution.

The Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act creates greater fairness among military parents, but it also allows military parents  many who already sacrifice time with their loved ones in service to our country  to have the opportunity to create a strong bond with their child, she said in a statement. Thats something every new parent deserves.

The legislation does not change the amount of leave Guard members and reservists can take but expands eligibility beyond birth mothers. Under the current maternity leave program for reserve components, mothers can use excused absences with pay and retirement points for 12 training sessions, or the equivalent of three monthly weekend drills, within 12 months of giving birth.

Congress created the maternity leave program in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, an annual policy bill setting priorities for the Pentagon. The Defense Department implemented the policy last year.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday presented a bill in parliament regarding the allocation of funds for the general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

This was done just a few hours before the deadline set by the Supreme Court for the distribution of $21 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) expired.

During the session, Dar explained that the purpose of the bill is to help the ECP in its efforts to conduct free and fair elections. it is now the responsibility of the Parliament to decide whether funds to ECP should be released or not.

He also highlighted the importance of developing the country after successfully saving it from default, adding into, the economy suffered greatly after the selected [PTI previous] government was removed.

The finance minister said, We have shifted our focus from economic stability to development. Our goal is to put Pakistan back on the path of development.

During the session, Dar also claimed that the PTI is making efforts to push the country toward bankruptcy. PTI leadership is intentionally creating chaos in the country and does not let any opportunity pass by.

On the other hand, a joint session of parliament is also scheduled for 4pm today, in which the judicial reforms bill sent back by the president is likely to be approved.

The Finance Ministry presented a summary for seeking guidance from parliament.

The cabinet was meant to decide the governments future strategy on the elections issue.

During its Sunday meeting, the federal cabinet decided to take up the issue of providing funds for the upcoming elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to parliament.

It also opted to debate the matter in parliament before approving and issuing the funds for the provincial elections, despite the courts order.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa, senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court, said on Monday that he and the countrys top court stood with the Constitution.

He made the remarks while addressing a special national constitutional convention at the National Assembly hall to mark the golden jubilee of the Constitution of Pakistan, where he was the only top court judge in attendance.

The Constitution was passed by the National Assembly on April 10, 1973, authenticated by the president on April 10, 1973, and promulgated on August 14, 1973.

The remarks by Justice Isa, who is slated to become the next chief justice of Pakistan in September, come amid a split within the SC, made apparent over the law few weeks over the course of several hearings conducted on holding elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

During the speech, Justice Isa expressed his gratitude at being invited, saying that the other judges were perhaps busy and could not attend. He, however, stressed that he did not agree with the political matters stated by the earlier speakers.

The spokesperson for the NA secretariat said that all the top court judges were invited for todays event but they neither attended, nor gave a reason for it.

At the outset of his speech, Justice Isa clarified that he was not here to make a political speech but to say on behalf of myself and my institution that we stand with this book (the Constitution).

As he made the remarks, which were met with thumping of desks by the participants, Justice Isa also held up a copy of the Constitution.

This book is our identity, Pakistans identity. The elected representatives of the time unanimously voted on it, there was no negative vote. There were four abstentions I think.

Justice Isa called for recognising the importance of the Constitution.

He said that all the participants of the convention were politicians who looked at matters through a particular lens but he was a lawyer who looked at matters through the lens of the law.

Recalling his time as chief justice of Balochistan High Court (BHC), Justice Isa said he was at first hesitant to take up the mantle but strived hard to set up the high court and appoint judges.

Sometimes we dont hate our enemies as much as we hate each other. Why is that? Us and you, you as in parliament, and the bureaucracy should have one focus: serving the people.

Our job is to make decisions swiftly according to the law and the Constitution. Your job is to make laws which are beneficial for the people. And the job of the executive is to implement the laws and the policies made by the government of the time.

Gesturing towards NA Speaker Raja Pervez Ashrad, he said that he had asked prior to attending todays gathering if political matters would be talked about. But you assured me that only constitutional matters would be talked about. But a lot of political things were talked about, he said with a laugh.

It is their freedom of right given by the Constitution. So I dont say anything to them but that does not mean I agree with them. I want to make this clear. Perhaps, tomorrow cases of these people will [be heard] and decisions will be taken against them and maybe they will talk against me so I just want to make it clear that I came [for the] golden jubilee of the Constitution. This is a celebration.

Justice Isa said that the movement for the formation of a separate homeland for Muslims started off with a dream that Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Muhammad Iqbal had which later became a political movement.

And in the whole world, the whole world, the biggest country for Muslims came into being. But now I am ashamed to say that Pakistan no longer has this privilege, it is now with Indonesia.

He said that Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan, president of the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, was dismissed by a bureaucrat who formed a cabinet of ministers.

Justice Isa said that Maulvi Tamizuddin challenged his dismissal in the Chief Court of Sindh, following which the judges at the time, including Chief Justice Constantine, restored the assembly.

Unfortunately, this was challenged in the Federal Court of the time and the decision was overturned. At the time, there was judge and the concerning thing is that this judge, Justice Cornelius, was also Christian and perhaps in the minority, if you read his judgement he talked about Islam and if you read the majority judgement said that it was [in line with] the Queen on England.

He said that he did not like the use of the word minorities because they were equal citizens and they had played a huge role in the country.

I wanted to say that we write verdicts, instead of making speeches but because today is such a day that if we go back to the past [] and stand with Maulvi Tamizuddin and the judges who restored the assembly, would Pakistan have been split into two? This is a question I am leaving to you as a student of the law.

He also commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for deciding that April 10 would be celebrated as National Constitution Day.

Justice Isa noted that 50 years had passed since the Constitution was passed and called for embracing it. Not because my salary is guaranteed in it but because it talks about the peoples basic rights. The most important thing the Constitution talks about is peoples basic rights.

He regretted that the Constitution was not taught in schools. He said that his wife had taught at an American school in the past where they would teach small kids about the American constitution and would also conduct mock elections. He said that when people understood the intricacies of a constitution, they would understood that they held the reins of the state in their hands.

He said that the Constitution talked about certain fundamental rights that were not talked about in many other countries, giving the example of right of information.

Wrapping up his speech, he said: I thank you and I want to say on behalf of my institution that we are also defenders of the Constitution. All of you and me included have taken the oath that [we] shall protect [and] defend the Constitution of Pakistan. And if I do not do that, then you can criticise me.

He again clarified that he had no relation to the political things talked about during todays gathering. Dont be offended, it is possible they say or you say tomorrow that we called you yet you decided against us, he said while addressing the NA speaker.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought amendments to the Elections Act, 2017 that will empower the electoral watchdog to announce poll dates unilaterally, without it having to consult the president.

The request for amendments was made in letters written by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan to Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah, Parliamentary Affairs Secretary Muhammad Shakeel Malik, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Monday.

The letters, copies of which are available with Dawn.com, referred to the controversy regarding elections to Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies. ECP officials particularly cited two Supreme Court (SC) judgements in this connection, issued on March 1 and April 4.

In its March 1 verdict, the SC had ruled that elections in KP and Punjab  both of which have been under caretaker governments since the provincial assemblies were dissolved in January  should be held within 90 days.

However, after the ECP announced in March that elections in Punjab would be deferred till October, the SC issued another ruling on April 4, declaring the commissions decision unconstitutional and fixing May 14 as the date for polls in the province.

In their letters today, the ECP officials maintained that according to the Constitution, the commission was the sole arbiter to decide whether the circumstances existed to conduct elections or not and this mandate was not subordinate to any authority.

The SCs March 1 and April 4 judgements, on the other hand, have divested the commission of its constitutional powers to determine as to whether conducive environment in facts and cirtcumstances exists for the conduct of elections in a given time to meet the standards mentioned in Article 218 (3) of the Constitution, the letters said.

They further stated that under Article 218 (3), the ECP was obligated to organise and conduct elections and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with the law and that corrupt practices are guarded against.

The ECP officials also lamented that while the institution had consistently strived to uphold the writ of law, fair play and merit in letter and spirit, these exemplary efforts were not supplemented and rather its writ has systematically been challenged on several occasions.

In practice, the ECPs authority has been eroded, the letters read.

Complaining that the disciplinary proceedings initiated by the ECP in connection with the `by-polls held in Daska in 2021 were set aside, ECP officials said the writ of the ECP was compromised severely.

Moreover, the ECP officials also took exception to the issuance of stay orders in contempt proceedings issued by the electoral watch dog.

And there are many other incidents of judicial overbearing that had diluted the writ of the ECP, their letters stated.

They questioned that in such a situation, could the commission perform its duty to conduct free and fair elections in the given environment and whether administrative functionaries, political representatives and other institutions took the commission seriously and gave weight to its directions.

And finally, can in such conditions, through the administrative functionaries and other institutions, is it possible to hold the elections in Punjab and KP followed by the main elections in an effective and transparent manner?

In their letters, the ECP officials recalled that parliament had enacted the Representation of People Act, 1976 to enable the commission to exercise its powers, functions and duties as mandated under Articles 218(3) and 219 of the Constitution.

They added that Section 11 of the said Act empowered the ECP to announce the poll date unilaterally, without any trace of intervention by a third party.

However, this section was amended through an ordinance in 1985 with the sole object to create the role of the president to hold the elections at the whims of one man, they said.

However, they added, this role of the president to announce an election date not later than 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly triggers where the National Assembly is dissolved by him (president), in his discretion where, a vote of no-confidence having been passed against the prime minister, no other member of the National Assembly commands the confidence of the majority of the members of the National Assembly.

The ECP officials contended in their letters that the role of the president to announce an election date in case of the dissolution of the National Assembly on the advice of the prime minister or the dissolution of the National Assembly on the expiry of its term, is not supported by any constitutional provision.

The letter further said the amemdment made to Section 11 of the Representation of People Act was also replicated in Section 57 (1) of the Elections Act, which states that the president shall announce the date of elections after consulting the ECP.

Therefore, Section 57(1) of the act ibid to the extent of the role of the president to announce poll date is against the spirit of the Constitution and ultra vires of proviso of Article 222 as it has abridged and taken away the powers of the commission mandated under Article 218(3) and 219 of the Constitution.

It is felt that supplanting/instituting these amendments have resulted in dilution of the authority of the constitutional mandate vested in ECP on account of Article 218(3), the letters read.

In light of these observations, the ECP urged that following amendments may be placed before parliament for adoption:

Section 57(1): The commission shall announce the date or dates of the general elections by notification in the official gazette and shall call upon the constituencies to elect their representatives.

Section 58: Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 57, the commission may at any time after the issuance of notification under subsection (1) of that section make such alterations in the election programme announced in that notification for the different stages of the election or may issue a fresh election programme with fresh poll date(s) as may in its opinion to be recorded in writing be necessary for the purposes of this act.
Irans foreign ministry said on Sunday a delegation will visit Saudi Arabia by Friday to pave the way for reopening its diplomatic missions there following a similar move by Riyadh.

The announcement comes a day after a Saudi delegation arrived in Tehran on a similar diplomatic trip, and follows a historic meeting between the two Gulf countries foreign ministers in China.

We are expecting a foreign ministry delegation to visit Saudi Arabia by Friday, Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Enayati said in an interview with state television.

Two separate delegations will go to Riyadh and Jeddah, ahead of reopening Irans embassy and consulate respectively.

Saudi Arabia severed relations with Iran in January 2016, after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in the north-western city of Mashhad were attacked by protesters demonstrating over Riyadhs execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan met in the Chinese capital on Thursday after Tehran and Riyadh agreed last month to restore diplomatic ties.

In a joint statement, the ministers pledged to bring back security and stability to the turbulent Gulf.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have backed rival sides in conflict zones across the region, including in Yemen.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has been invited by Saudi King Salman to Riyadh, a trip planned to take place after Ramazan.

Riyadh leads a military coalition that supports the internationally recognised government in the Arabian Peninsula country, while Tehran backs the Houthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa and large areas of the north.

The two Middle East powerhouses had held several rounds of dialogue in Iraq and Oman before reaching the agreement in Beijing, negotiated over five days between Irans secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and his Saudi counterpart Musaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban.
In a televised speech to commemorate the 41st anniversary of Sinai Liberation Day on Tuesday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said that Egypt is now waging a battle for the development of Sinai following its liberation from occupation and terrorism.
Anthony Dunne (63) created a fake page and victims paid up to 1,000 to secure an apartment that was never available

Anthony Dunne (63) took money but had no properties to let

A fraudster scammed apartment hunters into paying deposits on a property that he falsely advertised to let on Facebook.

Anthony Dunne (63) created a fake page and victims paid up to 1,000 to secure an apartment that was never available, a court heard.

Giving him an eight-month suspended sentence, Judge Bryan Smyth said it was a serious offence and a distasteful thing to do.

Dunne, a father-of-two with an address at Generator Hostel, Smithfield, pleaded guilty to deception, inducing several victims to pay a combined 2,200 on dates between April 24 and 28, 2018.

Garda Philip Collins told Dublin District Court the case centred on an accommodation fraud over a property on Upper Gardiner Street.

Dunne created a false Facebook account to advertise rooms for rent and a number of victims paid cash deposits of 300 to 1,000 to secure accommodation.

When they realised there was no accommodation to rent they tried to contact the accused but got no response.

He had never been in a position to house the victims, but had falsely advertised the property and made no attempt to return their money.

Dunne said he was not the perpetrator of the ruse but acted as an intermediary, his solicitor said.

He handed the money to someone else and did not profit from it.

Judge Smyth asked the garda if this was the case. Gda Collins said he did not accept that Dunne was an intermediary.

From my investigation, he was the instigator of it, he said.

The accused might have contested the case had the DPP not directed it could only be dealt with in the district court on a guilty plea, the defence said.

Dunne was on social welfare but had got the money together by doing odd jobs to pay compensation.

Its a very distasteful thing to do, Judge Smyth said.
The financial advisor said he was asked to set up banking schemes so that the organised crime group could invest large sums of money.

A man has claimed he was involved in a conspiracy to launder more than 225 million for the Kinahan cartel.

The financial advisor, referred to as Opel, said he was asked to set up banking schemes so that the organised crime group run by Daniel Kinahan (45), his brother Christopher (42), and their father Christy Kinahan Snr (66), could invest large sums of money.

He told The Sunday Times that the notorious cartel initially recruited him in 2020 to launder around 67 million after putting him in contact with a mysterious middleman, but the figure later rose to just over 225 million (200 million).

Opel created an investment scheme where the Kinahans and their associates would transfer money from Hong Kong  the proceeds of dodgy property investments.

The cash was transferred in small amounts to a host of international offshore accounts to avoid drawing attention from the Chinese government, the Times reports.

Christy Kinahan Senior

Opel was told that he was working with three Irishmen, although he never met the trio at the top of the cartel.

I never met the Kinahans. I thought they were ultra-high-net-worth clients of a guy I knew, he explained.

My function was simply to set up banking schemes so they could invest substantial sums of money in various jurisdictions around the world. We are talking about investments in art, wine, crypto, whiskey and stocks.

However, the groups middleman, who is alleged to be a German or Austrian national, would talk about the Kinahans with Opel.

He was constantly flying to Dubai and sometimes Spain and other countries in Europe to sort out problems for them.

Opel and the middleman engaged in discussions about tactics of laundering the Kinahan cartels money, with early suggestions including investing in a Banksy piece worth $16 million and a painting by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama that was being auctioned for almost $3 million at the time.

But things went south when the Kinahans and the middleman vanished last year after the US government imposed sanctions on the cartel.

Opel claimed that he did not know that he was working for the mobsters until the American sanctions were broadcast worldwide.

He said that he was only aware that he was working for a father and son team that were supposedly the biggest drug dealers in Europe.

This was long before the Kinahan name was widely publicised, he added.
John Gibson refused to apologise to his victims this week when he was released after serving just four years

Christian Brother John Gibson walking free from Arbour Hill as our reporter tries to ask him some questions

Our series of images show paedophile Christian Brother John Gibson walking free from Arbour Hill as our reporter tries to ask him some questions

Paedophile Christian Brother John Gibson refused to apologise to his victims this week when he was released from prison after serving four years behind bars for sexually abusing children.

Dressed in a grey shirt, black trousers and a black jacket, the evil predator refused to say sorry for his crimes as he left Arbour Hill Prison on Wednesday morning.

And, speaking after Gibsons release, one of his victims  who wished to remain anonymous  told the Sunday World that the 76-year-old retired teacher does not deserve to be free.

He gave us a life sentence of bad memories and now he gets his freedom. Hell always be a danger to children.

TheSunday Worldapproached disgraced Christian Brother as he took his first step outside the grounds of the prison as a free man at 9.30am on Wednesday morning.

Paedophile Christian Brother John Gibson talks with our reporter

Startled by our camera man, Gibson just mumbled yes, but after we asked if he had a message for his victims he clammed up and made a dart for a car that was waiting nearby.

Shortly after 9am the driver of that car, a black Ford Focus, had arrived and parked up outside the entrance. He waited 30 minutes for Gibson to be released.

The driver began opening his door to get out of the car when he noticed us and quickly shut the door again.

Gibson rushed to get past the camera and into the passenger seat before the pair made a quick getaway.

This is not the first time he has been outside the confines of a prison since his sentence began in April 2019.

Gibson was initially locked up at the Midlands Prison, but was later transferred to Arbour Hill.

He has been transported out of prison on numerous occasions over the years to attend a series of different medical appointments.

The victim we spoke to hopes to never run into Gibson on the street.

He is under no restrictions. He is free to go wherever he pleases.

I dont think hed be stupid enough to come to Wexford, but who knowshes arrogant.

Christian Brother John Gibson walking free from Arbour Hill as our reporter tries to ask him some questions

I knew the day [of his release] was coming, but you just try to put it to the back of your mind, but this week obviously I cant and its having a bigger effect on me than I expected.

He doesnt have that hold over me like he did. I dont fear him anymore, but it takes its toll on me and the whole family. They see how it impacts me.

Theres a lot more [victims] out there who for different circumstances arent able to come forward and there are some who are sadly no longer with us.

I hope that people read this story and it helps them to know that it hasnt been forgotten and maybe it will help them to come forward.

There are many other victims. Any time allegations of abuse came out, he was always moved from school to school. That was their modus operandi.

Gibson was locked up in April 2019 for two years after he was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of sexually assaulting two children.

He indecently assaulted a 12-year-old girl at a CBS in Wexford between May and September 1983.

He was also found guilty of indecently assaulting a boy, aged 14, between May 1, 1985, and September 1, 1985.

During a five-day trial, the woman and man testified that Gibson molested them while washing them after they carried out odd jobs around the school.

Gibson, with an address in Dun Laoghaire, south Dublin, had denied all three charges, but a jury convicted him by majority verdict on all counts  two against the female victim and the third against the male.

Judge Elma Sheahan said Gibsons crimes had profound and long-lasting consequences on victims, he abused his position of authority and carried out the attacks in a premeditated way.

A year later, in June of 2020, he had four and a half years added to his sentence after pleading guilty at Wexford Circuit Court to the indecent and sexual assault of another young boy.

Christian Brother John Gibson as a young man

He admitted two charges of indecent assault and three charges of sexual assault against the boy at various locations in Ireland on dates between May 1, 1987, and July 1992.

Separately, in 2014 a number of other men and women, then aged in their 40s, made allegations against Gibson.

One of the men said that he had first reported Gibson to gardai 20 years earlier.

He said that the abuse took place in the showers when he was a student at the school and playing with the hurling team.

He went into Wexford Garda Station 1994 to make a report and later two officers called to his home to speak with him about it.

They asked him to make a statement and he agreed to, but a few weeks after this a senior garda called to his place of work and told him that there was no point in pursuing the matter, because it would be one mans word against the others.

After reading reports of allegations made against Gibson in 2014, the same man contacted Wexford Garda Station again and made a second statement.

Investigators told him that they were never able to locate the statement that he had made 20 years earlier.

The mans wife went on to make a statement to gardai confirming that her husband had made the earlier statement like he claimed and corroborated his story.

A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecution on his case, but Gibson was never charged.

Gibson also taught at the North Monastery Secondary School in Cork city in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Gardai in Cork launched an investigation into claims he abused a boy during his time at the school.

Gibson was interviewed by gardai in the Midlands Prison in relation to these claims.
The two men were arrested in Conna, Co Cork, following the attempted theft of a high value vehicle in the area

Two men have been charged as part of an investigation into the theft of multiple high value vehicles across the country.

The two, aged in their late 20s and mid 40s, were arrested in Conna, Co Cork, following the attempted theft of a high value vehicle in the area on Wednesday, April 5.

They were detained at Garda Stations in Cork but the man in his 20s has since been charged and appeared in court where he was remanded in custody at Fermoy District Court on Friday, April 14.

The man in his 40s has also been charged and is expected to appear before a special sitting of Mallow District Court at 5pm on Monday, April 10.
The plane is now being inspected by Ryanair engineers.

Emergency services at the scene of an incident involving a Ryanair aircraft at Dublin Airport. Photo: Damien Storan

A full emergency was declared at Dublin Airport on Sunday afternoon after smoke poured out of a plane that had just landed.

The Ryanair plane had arrived into Dublin from Liverpool and the airports fire services responded as passengers remained on board.

Air traffic into the airport was temporarily suspended while emergency services dealt with the incident, although no one was injured.

A spokesperson for Ryanair said that there was a minor technical issue with the nose landing gear of the plane during landing.

The plane is now being inspected by Ryanair engineers.

This flight from Liverpool to Dublin (9 Apr) experienced a minor technical issue with its nose landing gear upon landing, the spokesperson said.

Passengers and crew disembarked normally and the aircraft will shortly be towed back to the hangar for further inspection by Ryanair engineers.

Meanwhile, a representative for DAA added: A Full Emergency was declared at Dublin Airport this afternoon update following the arrival of Ryanair flight FR5542 from Liverpool. The Dublin Airport Fire Service responded, and the passengers disembarked the aircraft normally once the all clear was given by the Airport Fire Officer.

Air Traffic flows into Dublin Airport were suspended during the incident.
Covert anti-terror officer broke rules with trip and by failing to take test on return

The police officer leaving court. He was granted anonymity for security reasons

An experienced covert anti-terror police officer has been fined 500 after breaking lockdown rules to go on a sun-soaked holiday to Portugal.

The Belfast-based policeman was granted an anonymity order by the courts after his solicitor claimed he was at risk of attack in the wake of the attempted murder of DCI John Caldwell in Omagh.

The officer appeared at Laganside Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with two breaches of Covid regulations and one breach of international testing requirements.

The matter had been listed for a contested hearing.

A beach in Portugal   Getty Images/EyeEm

However, the officer entered guilty pleas to one count of breaching restrictions and one count of failing to test, while the other charge was withdrawn by the Public Prosecution Service.

Prosecutors told the court the cop had travelled to Portugal for 10 days in May 2021, which was an amber list country at the time and for which he was required to isolate for 10 days upon return.

The Crown said he failed to observe the isolation period when got home and actually attended a four-day training course the day after he got back from the Iberian Peninsula.

The court also heard the policeman failed to test himself for Covid-19, as per the law at the time.

Police were alerted to his behaviour, the court was told, and obtained details from Ryanair, which showed the man leaving Ireland and travelling to Portugal, later returning via Dublin Airport.

DCI John Caldwell remains in hospital

Cops also got hold of screenshots of the officers Instagram account in which he tagged himself as being in Portugal.

Despite the evidence presented against him in interview, he told fibs to his fellow officers and continued to deny his guilt.

Mitigating on his clients behalf, the officers solicitor attempted to use Boris Johnsons Partygate scandal and the ever-changing rules as excuses for cops behaviour at the time.

The anonymity order was granted by Deputy District Judge Joe Rice.

The cop, whose bail address was given as PSNI Lisnasharragh, was fined 500 in total for both breaching the Covid restrictions and failing to take a test.
Mr Mulvaney had been living in the Rathardrum area of Virginia but was originally from Main St in Mullagh.

Tributes are being paid to a special and loving man who drowned in a Cavan lake over the weekend.

Cathal Mulvaney (40s) died on Sunday morning after getting into difficulty at Lough Ramor in Virginia, Co Cavan.

Its reported the tragedy occurred while Mr Mulvaney was trying to rescue his dog from the water

Gardai and other emergency services received reports of an unresponsive man who had been taken from the water at the lake.

He was taken to Cavan General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Gardai say a post-mortem examination will be conducted at a later date.

Mr Mulvaney had been living in the Rathardrum area of Virginia but was originally from Main St in Mullagh.

Tributes are now being paid to the popular Cavan man online, with many remembering him as a true gentleman.

Mr Mulvaneys former GAA club, CLG Cuchulainn, extended their sympathies to his family in a social media post, writing: Deepest condolences to the Mulvaney family after the tragic passing of Cathal. Cathal played for Cuchulainns for many years under and will be deeply missed by his family and friends. Ar dheis De go Raibh a anam dilis.

A friend said: My deepest sympathies to all the family. Cathal was such a special and loving soul and will be very much missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Another wrote: To Cassie, Sean, Peter, Alan and Steven, heartbroken for you all. Sending you so much love and strength to get through this heartbreaking time. RIP to my lifelong friend, can't believe it still, you were loved so very much and you will never be forgotten. Thinking of you all, Cathal was one of a kind.

Someone else penned: Absolutely heartbreaking news. Cathal you were such a pleasant fella. Thoughts are with Cassie and all your family during this difficult time. RIP Cathal. Sleep tight.

While tribute read: I find it unbelievable to be writing this! Cathal was one of life's good guys. Always a pleasure to chat to whenever we met. Sincere sympathies to Cassie and his family. RIP my friend.

A garda spokesperson said they were treating Mr Mulvaney's death as a tragic accident.

On the morning of Sunday 9th April 2023, Gardai and other emergency services received reports of an unresponsive male who was just assisted out of the water at Lough Ramor, Virginia, County Cavan, they said.

The man was taken to Cavan General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination will be conducted at a later date. The office of the local Coroner have been notified.
I really couldnt believe what I was seeing

A wildlife photographer said hes been left absolutely sickened after discovering the carcasses of up to 40 newborn lambs, some skinned, at a popular beauty spot in Co Derry.

Desmond Loughery made the horrific discovery on Easter Sunday morning in a river next to the Leighry Road car park at Binevenagh near Limavady, the start of a picturesque mountainside country walk for many young families.

I really couldnt believe what I was seeing, said Desmond.

Its not simply the pollution, its the fact that someone would even think this was an appropriate way to dispose of dead farm animals, at a place which so many people come to walk, so many with young families.

Its not hard to imagine that children could easily have been traumatised by the sight, he said.

I first noticed a single carcass on the bridge which connects the car park to the country walk, he continued. It leads off to a short circle route around the mountain which is usually well populated with walkers and mountain bikers.

There werent too many in the car park at the time, which is a relief. But when I went over to take a look I peered over the bridge and was shocked at what I saw below.

You first notice the blood flowing in the water, he said.

But gathered up around the bank were around 20-30 dead lambs. Some of them had been skinned.

More had been washed downstream. It was a sickening sight. There would have been at least dead 35 lambs, possibly more.

Desmond said he immediately reported the find and said he hopes the authorities arrive to dispose of the bodies before more people arrive at the beauty spot over Easter holidays.

This is a really popular spot, he said. There are going to be lots of families coming out here and this isnt something any of them would wish to stumble across.

I cant really understand why anyone would think its appropriate to dump the bodies somewhere where there are likely to be a lot of people visiting. Its disgusting. Its not as if it costs a lot to dispose of a dead lamb.

I have no idea whether these have come from a single farm or from several farms. But they were left in full view of the public with not one thought for what young children might see.

Farmers regularly skin the bodies of dead lambs and cover a newborn which might have been rejected by its mother in the hope that the mother of the dead lamb will foster it.

There was a field full of new born lambs there though, just dumped in plain sight, said Desmond.

Local independent councillor James McCorkell said he has reported the incident to the councils environmental health department.

I would like to think they will move quickly and dispose of the carcasses at the scene, he said.

Its just so careless. An awful scene for any family who might have been walking through the beauty spot.

Its bizarre that there were so many, 30-40 lambs, he added.

There are processes in place for farmers to dispose of dead animals in a way which is not distressing to the public. Theres the obvious water pollution issue, and while I cant speculate on how they came to be dumped in the river, it will be difficult to trace where the lambs came from as I believe none of them had any identification tags.

While the PSNI said no report had been received, DAERA said it is investigating the incident.

"Farmers are legally responsible for disposing of their fallen stock, not the Department, DAERA said.

It is vital for the agri-food and livestock industry that there is high public confidence in its ability to dispose of animal carcases, animal by-products and waste in a safe and sustainable manner.

Local councils have powers to take actions against such fly-tipping and action may be taken against the owner of the carcass.

"Most farmers deal with their fallen stock responsibly, but unfortunately there is a small number of farmers who dont and this can impact on the reputation of the rest.
A 26-year-old Afghan national, Habib Shamel, was charged with her murder before Belfast Magistrates last Saturday.

The heartbroken family of a Romanian mother-of-four stabbed to death in Limerick are now hoping to repatriate her remains.

Geila Ibram (27) suffered fatal injuries after being stabbed multiple times in an apartment off the Dock Road in Limerick last Tuesday.

Relatives of Ms Ibram have now visited Limerick and viewed her remains at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

They are now considering her funeral arrangements and are hoping to repatriate her remains to Romania.

A 26-year-old Afghan national, Habib Shamel, was charged with her murder before Belfast Magistrates last Saturday.

He had been arrested in the Malone area of south Belfast on Thursday after travelling by bus from Limerick to Northern Ireland.

Shamel - who arrived in Ireland in October 2020 - was remanded in custody and will appear again before a Northern Ireland court on May 2.

He had been living over recent months in the mid-west and had claimed asylum status.

Gardai and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are closely liaising over the ongoing investigation.

PSNI and gardai described the fatal attack as "frenzied and vicious" - with a PSNI detective telling the Belfast court, as the prosecution opposed bail, that the defendant was "a "volatile and dangerous human being, with a real danger of reoffending".

Ms Ibram is believed to have only arrived in Ireland in early March  and was originally from Tulcea, in Dubruja, in Romania.

She had travelled to Ireland only three weeks before her death in a bid to support her children and family in Romania.

A vigil will be held tomorrow, Tuesday 11, in her memory at Steamboat Quay in Limerick at 5.30pm.

The vigil aims to show support for the Ibram family and the Romanian community as well as demonstrating a public rejection of all forms of gender based violence in Irish society.

Limerick Cllr Elisa ODonovan announced the vigil in a tweet, writing: This will mark the one week anniversary of her death. We will meet together in her memory to pay our respects as a Limerick community.

She added: To die in such violent and horrific circumstances is unthinkable to me. I am numbed that this extreme violence against women is becoming too frequent in our lives."

Meanwhile, Ruhama, SERP (Sexual Exploitation Research Programme), and the National Womens Council have said they are horrified and deeply saddened by the news of Ms Ibrams death as they extended their condolences to her family and loved ones.

Gardai have again appealed for anyone who witnessed or heard anything suspicious off the Dock Road in Limerick at lunchtime on Tuesday (April 4) to contact them.

CCTV security camera footage has played a central role in the garda investigation.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced on Saturday in Cairo that there is currently coordination to hold a meeting between President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"We are working to facilitate a meeting between the heads of state, before or after the Turkish elections, and this will be on a date of their choice," Cavusoglu said during a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry following their talks at Tahrir Palace.

Cavusoglu arrived in the Egyptian capital earlier in the day for a new round of discussions aimed at normalising relations between the two countries, marking the first high-level visit in over a decade.

Shoukry said the consultations with his Turkish counterpart were "deep, frank, and transparent."

He added that the two countries have the political will to restore normal relations after the events of recent years.

The meeting tackled the restoration of representation at the level of ambassadors. No date has been set though for the exchange of ambassadors.

"We will come to this point at the appropriate time, in accordance with the positive results that this path brings," Shoukry said.

"Diplomatic relations between the two countries has not been severed. It has been existing at the level of charge d'affaires  there was representation of Egypt in Ankara and representation of Turkey in Egypt," Shoukry added.

These positive results, Shoukry noted, started with finding as common visions on many issues, including bilateral relations and regional topics.

"We look forward to everything that can benefit both countries," Shoukry added, noting that the meeting discussed all issues affecting bilateral relations and regional situations.

"I'm very glad that we are taking concrete steps for normalising relations with Egypt... We will do our best not to rupture our ties again in future," Cavusoglu said.

Enhancing economic ties

The Turkish foreign minister stated that his government is encouraging companies to invest in Egypt.

He also expressed Turkey's desire to increase both trade and tourism with Egypt.

In previous statements, Turkish Charge d'Affaires Salih Mutlu Sen noted that the number of Egyptian tourists who visited Turkey in 2022 exceeded 200,000, breaking previous records for tourism between the two countries.

Shoukry affirmed that despite past strains in official relations, economic ties between Egypt and Turkey remain important.

"Egypt has always been keen to maintain economic relations with Turkey," Shoukry stated, noting that in recent years, economic cooperation between the two countries had grown, with trade exchange reaching $9 billion.

Shoukry added that Turkish investments in Egypt had reached $2.5 billion, saying that he expects economic ties to improve further.

Regional developments

In their talks, the two foreign ministers discussed a range of issues, including the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, with Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusoglu stating that he hoped that tensions would not escalate during the holy month of Ramadan, especially around the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem.

They also discussed the latest developments in Syria, as well as ways to counter terrorist organisations there.

The two ministers touched on the issue of Libya, but did not reveal the details of their discussions to the press.

Libya has been a major point of tension between the two countries in recent years, especially following the border demarcation agreement between the Turkey and Libyan Government of the National Accord of Tripoli. Egypt has rejected the agreement.

The ministers also discussed the reconciliation agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as the latest developments in Iraq. The Ukrainian-Russian crisis was also discussed, given the potential impact of the conflict on both Turkey and Egypt, the Turkish foreign minister said during a press conference.

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Owners of Lake Tarawera properties being connected to a council sewerage network will not learn the total amount it will cost them until the middle of this year.

Rotorua Lakes councillors received an update on the Tarawera Sewerage Scheme during an Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting on Wednesday.

The multi-million-dollar scheme would see one of the last of the districts communities connected to sewerage reticulation, but its ratepayers are concerned about what it will cost them.

Council infrastructure and environment deputy chief executive Stavros Michael acknowledged the cost to the community and the legitimate concerns around this, and said the council would work to explore additional funding support.

The cost of the project was significantly higher than was expected in 2018, he said.

Late last year, the council estimated the projects total gross cost would be $23 million to $32m.

Michael said the project had been split into two stages to safeguard a $6.5m subsidy from the Ministry for the Environment. Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council jointly contributed about $1.5m, for a total of $8m in subsidies.

The cost of both stages of the project would be divided between about 550 properties, including roughly 100 new properties, to be connected to the scheme.

Excluding subsidies, the average net cost to each property would be about $12,500 for stage one, but stage two costs were yet to be settled, Michael said.

Costs are now significantly higher than was expected in 2018, Rotorua Lakes Council infrastructure and environment deputy chief executive Stavros Michael said. Photo: Laura Smith/Local Democracy Reporting.



The council has allowed up to $15m, including a contingency of $1.34m, for the construction of stage one.

This stage involved laying 24 kilometres of pipes and installing five pump stations in the area, which would provide for the connections.

Stage two would see the roughly 450 existing properties connected to that network, with another 44km of pipes.

On Wednesday, councillors were asked to consider procurement plan options for stage two.

They voted to approve a public open tender for the full scope of work, including the supply and installation of low-pressure grinding pumps as well as pipes, valves and boundary assemblies.

This option had been recommended as the most competitive and transparent.

Councillors Robert Lee, Lani Kereopa and Don Paterson voted against it.

Lee said he attended a community meeting about the scheme the day before the council meeting and said concern focused on the cost.

He asked how many from the community expressed support for the reticulation system, and Michael said 95 per cent.

Councillor Robert Lee asked how homeowners could consent without knowing the costs of stage 2 of the project. Photo: Laura Smith/Local Democracy Reporting.

Lee asked how residents would have been able to give informed consent to the project when they did not know how much it would cost them.

Michael said residents were advised of the cost of stage one and a comprehensive costing for stage two was under way.

Costs for the overall project would not be known until the end of June or early July when the stage two tender process was complete.

Michael said there had been conversations with the community since 2017 on the scheme and a reference group was established to work with the council and on the options.

Michael said there was a strong and frank relationship with the community.

In 2020, the council agreed to the present project and estimated the cost per household would be $30,300.

Councillor Conan OBrien asked that when costs were known, they should be looked at with compassion to the residents, and the council should look for long-term solutions.

I feel the price is not going to come down. The sooner we get on and get this completed, [it] will be better for everyone in that community and Rotorua, and the lakes.

Councillor Rawiri Waru said in his view, no one was keen on paying more, but residents knew it needed to be done.

Septic tanks are not acceptable any more, and they are illegal. We have to do something out there. The cost will always be an issue.

Rotorua deputy mayor Sandra Kai Fong said costs had already risen because of delays and it could not afford to wait any further.

There are cost implications to the community as a whole if we do not protect the environmental status of the lake water quality.

She said the effect on the 170 properties using the now-illegal septic tanks meant there would be an even bigger financial burden on them if they were to be red-stickered.

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Views of what lies beneath a reservoir Dutch photographer Jan Katuin is holding an exhibition at Iznajar castle which shows the steady decline in the water levels

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Jan Katuin is a Dutch photographer living in Fuentes de Cesna, Granada province. The village overlooks the Iznajar reservoir which lies across the borders with Malaga and Cordoba provinces.

It is this water source, which like so many in Andalucia has seen its levels dropping to alarming levels in recent years, that is the inspiration behind Jans second exhibition in Spain.

El embalse en movimiento: huellas de un embalse que da y que quita which refers to what the lake reveals and covers, is the title of Jans latest exhibition which is running from 13 April until 28 May at Iznajar castle.

Jan, 72, explained to SUR in English that while what is happening to the reservoir is bad, the history that has been hidden underneath the dam is interesting.

Ampliar Jan Katuin

For a photographer he says, an empty lake is nicer than a full lake as it reveals things that have been hidden for a long time.

His photography shows the layers of history with Roman ruins and olive mills which were covered by the water when the area was dammed in the 1960s. Around 600 homes were flooded to construct the reservoir and approximately 2,000 people had to be rehoused.

Inspired by nature

The exhibition of 60 photographs also includes images of the Genil river which feeds the Iznajar reservoir and Jan says that he is mainly inspired by nature.

Jan and his partner have been in Spain for 16 years and before then Jan ran an art gallery in Holland, with which he travelled all over Europe. It was by chance that he came to Spain while on holiday in the south of France.

I always used to go to France but one year I had really bad weather, so I decided to cross the Pyrenees and drive into Spain. His love affair with the country, and particularly Andalucia, started there and his partner felt the same way. Its always hot, the people are very friendly and we like the way of life, Jan adds.

New vocation

The plan, the photographer explains, was to set up an art gallery in Andalucia, but when the financial crisis hit shortly after the couple moved here, the art world became very difficult, Jan explains. It was then that his partner gave him a camera and he found a new vocation.

It took a long time for me to show my work to the public, the photographer admits. The first time he did so was in 2022 in Loja (Granada province).

Iznajars councillor for culture saw the exhibition and invited me to do one in the town, explains Jan, who highlights that to go with the exhibition he is also publishing a book of the colour prints.

My photographs show the traces of the drought. They reflect my wanderings for many years until October 2022 in all seasons of the year, along this mysterious and monumental Andalusian reservoir.

The exhibition is open from 13 April until 31 May, Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am to 2pm. Fridays and Saturdays also from 5 to 8pm. For further information visit the town hall website: www.iznajar.es.
Spanish-language tours were launched last year, and now English-speaking residents and visitors can learn some of the secrets of the graveyard

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The English cemetery in Malaga will launch its latest cultural initiative later this month, an English-language guided tour of different parts of the graveyard.

Designed to inform visitors of the history of the cemetery, which opened in 1831, the dramatised tours will be given by guides from the theatrical world in the language of Shakespeare. The initiative has been organised by Tierra Malacitana and Enjoy Malaga Tours and is part of the Historia Viva Malaga project.

The idea for the project began in 2021, when the cemetery was going through a difficult time owing to the lack of visitors as a result of Covid restrictions. The Spanish language version was launched last year, and now English-speaking residents and visitors can enjoy the tours, which begin on Saturday 22 April, when two tours will be offered (7pm and 9pm).

The director of Enjoy Malaga Tours, Ruben Ceres, said, The idea is to do these tours on a monthly basis so that from June, we can increase the number of performances. Doing them in English may be an opportunity for foreigners to come to this relatively unknown space.

The 90-minute tours will uncover the secret stories of the cemetery (the first Protestant cemetery in Spain), along with information about some of the people buried there. These will include William Mark, the British consul of Malaga, who was instrumental in gaining permission for its opening; and Robert Boyd, the Irishman who has the distinction of being the first person buried within the cemetery walls.

Ceres explained that the theatrical visits will combine history, drama and comedy in equal measures, turning the experience into a very entertaining tragicomedy.

We have two main reasons for introducing an English version of our tour. The first is due to the continuous demand we have received from various institutions, organisations and schools. The second is the church of St George itself, which represents an important community of foreign visitors, not only British nationals, as the name of the cemetery implies, but people of many different nationalities, all of whom we want to include on this tour. Visitors will be helping with the ongoing maintenance of this fascinating sacred space, he added.

Tickets, which cost 18 euros, can be reserved on www.tierramalacitana.es.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah met with Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of Hamas, to discuss ongoing violence in Palestine, according to a statement issued by the Lebanese party on Sunday.

Haniyeh, who arrived in Beirut on Wednesday, met with Nasrallah and reviewed the most important developments in occupied Palestine, the course of events in Al-Aqsa Mosque and the escalating resistance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip."

The two leaders also discussed "the political developments in the region, the readiness of the resistance axis and the cooperation of its parties in confronting all these events and developments."

The exiled Hamas leader has visited Lebanon several times in recent years, where he usually meets Nasrallah.

The impetus for the meeting was the escalation in violence that erupted last week after Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa mosque on Wednesday, firing tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of Palestinians who were participating in Itikaf, the religious practice of seclusion inside mosques commonly observed during Ramadan, and arrested 350 of them.

In the aftermath, Palestinian factions vowed to launch revenge attacks, with Haniyeh confirming on Thursday from Lebanon that the factions would not stand "hands tied" in the face of the Israeli aggression on Al-Aqsa Mosque.

On Thursday, at least 34 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel. Israel shot down most of them, attributing blame to Palestinian factions, likely Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

On Friday, the Israeli army carried out airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, and a smaller number on southern Lebanon.

On Saturday night, the Israeli army announced that it had launched ground and air strikes on sites in Syria in retaliation for the firing of missiles from Syria towards the occupied Golan Heights.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Israeli bombardment targeted Syrian army sites in the southern governorates of As-Suwayda, Daraa and Quneitra.

At the same time, Israel is in the midst of deploying security reinforcements in the wake of two attacks on Friday that killed three people, an Italian tourist and two Israeli-British sisters, in Tel Aviv and the occupied West Bank.

On Saturday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that a Palestinian youth was killed by Israeli forces in the northern West Bank.

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Syracuse, N.Y.  A Texas mans gun was confiscated at the Syracuse airport this weekend when he tried to get on a plane with the loaded weapon, according to federal officials.

A U.S. Transportaton Security Administration officer spotted the gun in the checkpoint X-ray machine on Saturday, according to a news release Monday from TSA.

Airport police at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport at 1000 Col Eileen Collins Blvd. were alerted. Police confiscated the gun.

The man was carrying a loaded .40 caliber handgun with one bullet in the chamber and 11 bullets in the magazine, TSA officials said.

The man told officials he drove to New York state from his home in Texas and that he forgot he had the gun, they said.

The TSA did not release the name of the man. Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard has reached out to the police for more information.

TSA said firearms need to be in checked luggage and declared at the airline check-in counter. The firearm will be placed in the cargo area of the plane during a flight. Travelers can contact their airline to check requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

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
Pope Francis underlined his "deep concern" over a flare-up in tensions between Israel and Palestinians, as he led Easter Mass on Sunday.

He said the renewed violence "threatens the desired climate of trust and mutual respect needed to resume dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians," as he addressed a crowd of tens of thousands gathered in Saint Peter's Square.

This week has seen a surge in violence and unrest as the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, Jewish Passover, and Christian Easter coincide.

On Wednesday, Israeli police stormed the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third-holiest site, in a pre-dawn raid aimed at dislodging Palestinian worshippers who were staying in the mosque for Ramdan prayers "Itikaf".

The next day, more than 30 rockets were fired from Lebanese soil into Israel, which the Israeli army blamed on Palestinian groups, saying it was most likely Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.

Israel then bombarded Gaza and southern Lebanon, targeting sites that it said belonged to Hamas.

On Friday, two separate attacks left an Italian tourist and two British-Israeli sisters dead, and several injured, in Tel Aviv and the West Bank.

On Sunday, Israel launched artillery strikes on Syria in retaliation for rockets the army said were fired from there onto Israeli territory.

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Join NY Cannabis Insider on April 20 in Victor, NY, for an industry meetup. Details and tickets here.

New York Citys cannabis industry has changed rapidly since early last year, and so has its mayors stance toward the plant and its prevalence throughout the five boroughs.

An analysis of New York City Mayor Eric Adams public statements since June of 2022 shows a gradual shift in his views  and his leniency  dealing with both unlicensed vendors and public cannabis consumption throughout the city.



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In short, Adams went from telling millions of New Yorkers to light up and spend money at illicit stores last June to telling reporters at City Hall in February that his administration needs to zero in on the grey market.

Though abrupt, some industry professionals, such as Scheril Murray Powell of the nonprofit JUSTUS Foundation, support Adams progression towards cracking down on illicit stores. Powell said that Adams approach has been both necessary and just, since legal dispensaries started opening at the end of last year.

I am comfortable with the pacing, as long as there are regular updates to the community as far as what the next steps are and making sure that we are not penalizing or having harsh penalties or discriminating against people  like has taken place in the past, said Murray Powell.

But others, like Kavita Pawria-Sanchez  the CEO of CannaBronx  acknowledge the other side.

Theres a real concern that, on one hand, theres critiques that the state is not doing enough, and on the other, there is a fear that if they do step up their game, that it will continue the tone of how policing has been on the ground in reality for New Yorkers, said Pawria-Sanchez.

The mayors office has not responded to multiple NY Cannabis Insider requests for an interview.

Pre-legal retail

Last June, Adams attended the Cannabis World Congress and Business Exposition, where he announced that he would not go heavy-handed on illicit cannabis sales.

Enjoy yourself, light up, but most importantly  spend some money, the mayor said, according to High Times.

His justification stemmed from the market having not fully matured. At that time, he was in the beginning stages of forming Cannabis NYC, a city initiative designed to support the development of a thriving and equitable cannabis industry. Separately, state regulators were getting ready to roll out the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) program.

So instead of penalizing these sales, Adams encouraged vendors to pursue legal licensure when it did become available.

There needs to be a system of not heavy-handedness, but going in and explaining to that store that, Listen, you cant do this, give them a warning, Adams said.

Throughout the summer, Adams was making moves to advance the legal marijuana industry in New York City. This included looking for the founding director of Cannabis NYC, a role for which he later appointed Dasheeda Dawson, and forming a cannabis roundtable of industry advisors.

However, as the CAURD programs launch date neared, Adams approach to working with illicit sales quickly changed.

In August, the mayor condemned Weed World trucks, which were selling cannabis from mobile locations throughout Manhattan. The city ended up seizing 19 trucks for selling without a vending license.

In November, Adams feelings towards illicit businesses had escalated to condoning several raids throughout the city, including one in Brooklyn, another in the West Village and one in the Bronx.

To those who believe that this is going to become the Wild, Wild West of cannabis sales, we are saying clearly and loudly, No, it is not, Adams said at the time, according to Fox5.

Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for the mayor, told The New York Times that, Mayor Adams has been clear that no illegal business operations should be tolerated.

Post-legal retail

Housing Works Cannabis Co., the states first legal adult-use retail dispensary, opened its doors in Manhattan on Dec. 29, 2022.

It was around this time when the mayor had evidently had enough.

His administration announced that, following a two-week interagency pilot enforcement program, more than $4 million worth of illicit products were seized and more than 500 civil and criminal summonses had been issued across the city.

The operation was led as a joint effort by the NYC Sheriffs Office, NYPD, Office of Cannabis Management, and the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

Enter 2023.

In February, Adams announced that he would team up with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, as well as local law enforcement, to combat the illicit market. The Manhattan DAs office sent letters warning of potential eviction to more than 400 businesses suspected of making illicit cannabis sales.

Adams also emphasized that he will be targeting landlords who are aware that their space is being used to conduct these operations.

Legalizing cannabis was a major step forward for equity and justice  but were not going to take two steps back by letting illegal smoke shops take over this emerging market, Adams said.

As of March, the city continued its raids on businesses while its law enforcement began to question whether these tactics were even legal. That same month, the states Assembly Minority Conference blamed the delay in distributing retail licenses for the rise of illicit businesses.

Over the past year, Adams has made it clear that he feels that illicit stores pose a threat to the legal market, and is aware hes facing an uphill battle  there are currently only four licensed marijuana shops in New York City, yet an estimated 1,400 illicit ones in operation.

One of Adams proposed solutions is to tweak state law to allow crackdowns to take place faster and easier. An answer to that came in late March, when Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed legislation that would give greater enforcement powers to the Office of Cannabis Management and the Department of Taxation and Finance.

Hochuls proposal also included fines up to $200,000 for illegal businesses if convicted.

There are currently seven licensed dispensaries across New York State.
NY Cannabis Insider is hosting an industry meetup and panel discussion at FingerLakes Cannabis Co. in Victor, N.Y., on April 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tickets will sell out.

The meetup is expected to draw more than 100 attendees, with food, drinks, live music and an industry-focused discussion covering the current situation of New Yorks cannabis marketplace  from injunctions and lawsuits to the situation with medical patients to the hundreds of millions of dollars of legally grown flower wasting away in warehouses across the state.

The discussion will be moderated by NY Cannabis Insider Editor Brad Racino and reporter Sean Teehan, and will feature:

Hal McCabe, the director of government relations for the Cannabis Association of NY and the mayor of Homer in Cortland County. McCabe has worked in every level of government over the past 25 years and came to CANY with a passion for helping small farmers and small businesses. McCabes other past careers include: SCUBA instructor, motorcycle racing instructor, motorcycle franchise owner, and corporate espionage expert. He is an avid hunter, camper, lover of chicken wings, and was once a guest on Oprah (he wont say why.) He has been the mayor of the village of Homer since 2017.

Nikki Lawley, a medical cannabis patient advocate who sits on the Patient Advisory Board for NY State Americans for Safe Access and for Cannabis BPO. Nikki is considered a leading voice in the community, chronicling her journey from being a healthcare provider to a patient to an advocate. She hopes to bring worldwide awareness to invisible illness and disability. She has been a guest on multiple podcasts and shows including Lets Be Blunt with Montel Williams.

Sarah Stenuf, a retired service-disabled veteran who turned to cannabis to overcome the challenges of transitioning to civilian life. As the founder and director of Veterans Ananda, and founder and CEO of Ananda Farms, Stenuf has dedicated her career to providing veterans with education, safe access, and quality medicine through traditional and non-traditional healing methods. Stenuf was among the first-round of licensed adult-use conditional cultivators and has been a vocal advocate for veteran inclusion in the marketplace and within the Office of Cannabis Management.

A ticket provides attendees with a complimentary drink donated by 1911 Established, light appetizers, live music by David Arnold, mini-consultations for business planning provided by the New York Consortium of Cannabis Accountants, and full access to our panel conversation with dedicated networking time for industry professionals in attendance.

Sponsors and vendors are the businesses shaping the industry locally and regionally. Look for them at the event for advice and help with your cannabis business:
Join NY Cannabis Insider on April 20 for an industry meetup at the Finger Lakes Cannabis Co. in Victor, NY. Tickets available here.

Pam Chmiel is a marketing partner at Studio 420, a digital agency that specializes in cannabis web design, consulting, and advising. It has offices in Denver, Colorado and New York City, and is a subsidiary of Planet Media.



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Women are vastly underrepresented in cannabis, and not just in New York. From 2019 to 2022, executive-level females have seen their industry wide status drop from 37% to 23%. Yet the MRTA makes things very clear: women-owned businesses are a key component of the states social and economic equity plan.

NY Cannabis Insider is seeking to elevate women in cannabis through a hyper focus on female story sourcing, quoting and visual layouts, balanced representation in our People to know and Behind the story series, and prioritized guest column submissions.

This series will last for as long as submissions come in.

Why did you launch your career in the cannabis industry? Were there any women who inspired you to do so? How did you do it?

My step into cannabis came during COVID, like many others. I owned a coffee bar in Brooklyn that looked like it would never reopen after the pandemic. I took the downtime to hone my writing skills and decided to try and get my work published. I wasnt particularly set on writing about the cannabis industry until I managed to get my first article in Green Entrepreneur Magazine and become a regular contributor. Researching and writing articles as the industry was gearing up on the East Coast was a great way to understand the industrys complexities from so many angles. That was three years ago! I was now hooked on cannabis.

Using my skills as a marketer from previous careers, I led marketing for a few cannabis startups before becoming a marketing partner for Denver-based Studio 420 web design and marketing agency. I also host The Mary Jane Society Podcast and Im a published business writer.

Why do you think women are so underrepresented in leadership roles in cannabis?

Women are not as thick-skinned as men and can therefore be more emotional and dwell on a problem too long when they should just move on.

What are some ways in which companies can support gender diversity at senior levels?

Treat every employee like they are on the executive team. It will empower them to take a leadership role in their jobs and feel more dedicated to the company. I have reaped the benefits of this management style many times over.

Shout out your other favorite women-owned or women-led businesses in the industry.

Hands down, Pearly Baker Edibles from Michigan. I have been following her on Twitter. From a marketing perspective, she is a great example of using authenticity in marketing to build a brand.

I also admire the Your Highness women, Laura and Allison. I like that they are introducing the feminine and elegant side to weed. There need to be more brands geared to the mature age group.

Who/what are your favorite tools and resources in the industry?

We may be building the industry in silos, but we can access global leaders, innovators, scientists, and cultivators by listening to podcasts. I got educated on the industry through podcasts. They have been a phenomenal learning resource for me.

What advice would you give your 25-year-old self? What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?

One, dont pretend you are a female leader who wants to advance other women when you are only about yourself. It shows.

Two, start your career in a corporate setting to learn systems in your area of interest. While startups can be exciting work, they are building the plane as they fly and dont have the same well-tested SOPs needed to prepare for a leadership role.

Three, it would be great if you could advance your career by good work alone, but it usually takes a healthy dose of networking and strategizing to get ahead.

Four, whatever it is you do - start creating to demonstrate your talents.

If youd like people to connect with you, please share your favorite methods of contact (email, phone, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-chmiel/
Join NY Cannabis Insider on April 20 for an industry meetup at the Finger Lakes Cannabis Co. in Victor, NY. Tickets available here.

Jason Klimek is the cannabis team leader and counsel for Special Counsel at Barclay Damon LLP. He answered seven simple questions for NY Cannabis Insiders People to know series.



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Are you someone we should feature in our People to know series? Fill out this form.

What is your position and what do you/your company do in the cannabis space?

Special Counsel at Barclay Damon LLP - Cannabis Team Leader.

How long have you worked in the cannabis space?

Five years.

What did you do before you were involved in the cannabis industry?

Tax and corporate attorney.

What led you to the cannabis industry?

Tax. In 2018, when the MRTA was being discussed with then Gov. Cuomo and a weight-based tax was being discussed, I began doing tax analyses on the effects of the weight-based tax based on data from other states (CA having a weight-based excise tax as well). This led to multiple meetings with legislators, working with Roc NORML, HempLab, and Drug Policy Alliance during the push to legalize in 2018 and 2019.

During that time, I began representing farmers who were looking to obtain hemp cultivation licenses as well as businesses looking to obtain hemp processing licenses. I became a board member for Roc NORML as well as HempLab. I also become a member of the New York State Bar Associations Committee on Cannabis Law.

Through those organizations, we wrote policy positions and analyses on the proposed cannabis laws (MRTA and CRTA, at the time). I drafted the tax portion of the New York State Bar Associations Committee on Cannabis Laws position paper on legalization.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into the NY weed industry?

New York has created an extremely complicated regulatory system that is not used in most other jurisdictions. It is incredibly important that when getting into the New York cannabis space, you vet the people youre working with to ensure they understand the New York rules inside and out so they can give you accurate advice and dont jeopardize your chance of obtaining a license.

What do you think the NY cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years?

I believe New Yorks cannabis market will, more or less, follow the trend of most markets, where the rules become more defined, the bumps that are encountered early on are smoothed out, and entrepreneurs can successfully run their businesses.

However, one difference I think New York will have as compared to many other legal markets is that it will create lots of successful small businesses and social equity owners. The rules of the MRTA set up a system that not only puts equity at the forefront, but prohibits large players from dominating the marketplace and eventually taking it over. This approach should lead to a robust ecosystem that creates generational wealth for participants, particularly those from communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition, as well as thousands of new jobs, and innovations in the cannabis industry.

Who should contact you, and whats the best method (i.e. email, phone number, LinkedIn handle, etc.)?

Anyone who is looking to participate in the cannabis industry, whether as an operator, service provider, investor or ancillary businesses. You can reach me by email at jklimek@barclaydamon.com.
Niagara Falls, N.Y.  The first recreational marijuana shop operated by the Seneca Nation of Indians is set to open for business on Wednesday in downtown Niagara Falls.

The shop, or dispensary, will also be the first prominent recreational marijuana retail outlet to operate legally in western New York. As many as 20 retail marijuana outlets have been operating for the last year or so in various locations on the Senecas territory in western New York, but those are independent and not owned by the nation itself, Seneca nation spokesman Phil Pantano has said.

The state itself recently awarded four licenses for dispensaries in the areas that includes Buffalo and Rochester, but none have yet opened.

The Senecas 2,500-square foot marijuana dispensary will be at the corner of John Daly Boulevard and Niagara Street, next to the nations Seneca One Stop gas station and convenience market. It will offer a full range of cannabis products to those 21 and older, and will include a drive-through window.

The Senecas have created a nation-owned enterprise called Nativa Cannabis to run the dispensary and a cultivation and processing facility on Seneca territory in the Southern Tier. The Senecas, whose territory includes land in Cattaraugus, Erie and Niagara counties, also operate three full-service casinos among other business enterprises in the region.

Last fall, nation president Rickey Armstrong, Sr. announced the plans for the Senecas to offer a vertically integrated (seed to sale) marijuana business.

New York legalized recreational marijuana for adult use in April 2021, but the roll-out of the industry, particularly the retail dispensaries, has been slow.

The state has awarded 165 retail licenses under a program intended to provide social equity for those impacted by criminal enforcement in the past. But there are only seven state-licensed shops now open. Four are in New York City, with one each in Binghamton, Ithaca and Schenectady.

The Senecas are one of several Indian nations that have launched marijuana businesses across the state independent of state licensing. They include:

 The Cayuga Nation has a recreational dispensary at its Lakeside Trading post in Union Springs in Cayuga County and another south of Seneca Falls in Seneca County. It also operates a growing/processing facility in Seneca County.

 Last September, the Oneida Indian Nation announced plans to launch a seed to sale marijuana business that is expected to open retail outlets in 2023. The Oneidas plan to grow and process marijuana in a new 50,000-square-foot facility now under construction on Hill Road in Verona and sell it at shops on its lands in Oneida and Madison counties later this year.

 There are now more than a dozen licensed dispensaries on the Akwesasne Mohawk territory near Hogansburg, a tribal spokesman said. The Mohawks began licensing shops after several unauthorized businesses opened earlier in 2021. One of the Mohawk shops is owned by a Mohawk tribal member with a minority investment from actor and comedian Jim Belushi.

 The Onondaga Nation, whose territory is just south of Syracuse, has indicated it has no current plans to enter the marijuana business.

See more New York cannabis news.

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.
Join NY Cannabis Insider on April 20 in Victor, NY, for an industry meetup. Details and tickets here.

SUNY Cobleskill is a college geared toward agriculture, farming and sustainability. Students study the ins and outs of agriculture, from animal science to landscape management. The school also has major programs in graphic design technology and the culinary arts.

Starting last fall, students from these courses of study have consulted with Lesley Judd to join SUNY-Cobleskills newest minor: Cannabis Studies.



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Almost every freshman we get here comes to talk to me about interest in doing the minor, Judd said. They see opportunities for entrepreneurship and owning your own business, or just possibly being a part of writing this new history of (cannabis) now being legal, at least at the state level.

The cannabis studies minor has six mandatory classes for 16 total credits.

To complete the major, students are required to take Cannabis Management, Cannabis Harvest and Analysis, Soil Fertility, Cannabis Cultivation, Integrated Pest Management, and a sixth course students choose in agriculture, chemistry or irrigation.

Judd teaches the three cannabis-specific classes, working to make sure students learn a broad range of skills to prepare them for roles in any part of the cannabis production process.

In the spring class, Cannabis Cultivation, students experiment with different growing techniques in Cobleskills greenhouses and growth chambers, Judd said. In the fall, Judd takes students out into the field to harvest the fruits of their labor while taking Cannabis Harvest and Analysis. Cannabis Management addresses practical necessities to work in the business, such as applying for the different licenses, funding and grants needed for adult-use cannabis and CBD.

At this time, Judd said there are eight students officially in the minor. Class sizes are small as well, Judd said, with under 20 students in each class. This creates space for Judd to take the class on field trips to local farms where students can practice cultivation, and to local businesses where students can see the ever-growing collection of products that can be made from cannabis. Judd said these field trips seem to be inspiring for the students.

She has a student in the culinary arts that wants to experiment with incorporating THC in beer, she said.

Judd has taken her class to farms across Schoharie county to help harvest hemp and to Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards in Onondaga County to study CBD infusion techniques being used in its kitchen. She said most local businesses are glad to see the workforce growing.

Ive just been really fortunate that a lot of growers and processors in the state are willing to talk to my class or let me bring my class out there, Judd said. They are desperately needing educated people in the workforce that have some idea of how all this works.

Because this industry is so new in New York, Judd said college campuses are carrying the brunt of the responsibility to catch up with places like Colorado, California and Canada, where growing cannabis has been legal for much longer. Judd said she has been looking at innovations in the field at other New York farms and bringing that into her coursework in order to keep the class up to date with the fast-paced industry.

After observing an increase in aquaponics  farmers growing cannabis with fish, using the fish waste as a fertilizer  Judd incorporated experiments with those techniques into the class. Shes also keeping an eye on neighboring colleges cannabis programs of study, as New York colleges are a huge part of pioneering how cannabis is grown in this region, even bringing professors from Cornell University to speak with her class.

They are really going to help write the book for the best ways to grow and the best genetics to use, and its going to be really important to see where they go, Judd said.
Syracuse City School District graduates can receive up to $2,500 in assistance per semester to live in Onondaga Community Colleges residence halls.

Preferred Partners, a new partnership between Say Yes Syracuse and OCC , will cover 78% of on-campus housing costs of the $3,215 total.

The student must be a Syracuse graduate and Say Yes scholar to qualify. You can find the requirements to qualify for Say Yes Syracuse here.

All scholars who attend a SUNY college, including OCC, also have their academic tuition fully paid for through a separate scholarship managed by the Central New York Community Foundation.

Accepted students can receive the funding for four consecutive semesters, the typical time needed to earn an associate degree.

Students must make satisfactory academic progress and remain in good disciplinary standing to continue receiving the aid once they are enrolled.

Families interested in learning more can attend an upcoming Say Yes information session:

-Thursday, April 13 Nottingham Hight School, 6pm-7:30pm

-Friday, April 14 Syracuse ITC 5pm-6:30pm

-Monday, May 15 Corcoran High School 10:30am-12:45pm and 6pm-7pm

-Wednesday, May 17 Henninger High School 11am-1pm

-Thursday, May 18 PSLA at Fowler 1pm-2pm and 5pm-7pm

Watchdog/Public Affairs reporter Melissa Newcomb covers education, including Syracuse University and the city schools. For tips, contact her anytime at mnewcomb@syracuse.com, 315-679-1068, or @melissarnewcomb on Twitter.
CHRISTIANA, Del. (AP)  A Delaware mall shooting left three people injured and forced shoppers to evacuate as police investigate.

Delaware State Police said authorities do not have a suspect in custody in the shooting at the Christiana Mall, in a northern community near Pennsylvania.

We can confirm that there are 3 victims who were injured by gunfire and transported to an area hospital for medical treatment, police said in a tweet. There are currently no public safety concerns at Christiana Mall and the surrounding area.

The mall would remain closed Saturday evening, police said in a statement.

The three people were shot in the food court area, WPVI-TV reported.

Police asked people to keep away as authorities investigate, but set up a reunification site at the north entrance for those trying to locate someone.

Additional details were not immediately available.

We appreciate everyones patience as we continue to gather more details on this shooting, police said in a tweet.
Sabina Mammadli

OSCE Chairman-in-Office, North Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani will visit Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on April 10-13, Azernews reports.

During the visit, the official plans to meet with parliamentarians, civil society representatives, and other interlocutors.

The trip will focus on strengthening the cooperation between the OSCE, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, addressing existing security challenges, and promoting peace and stability through dialogue in the South Caucasus region.

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries of Russia, the USA, and France had mediated a peaceful solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts resulted in no progress as Armenia refused to abide by the UN Security Council Resolutions (822, 853, 874, and 884) demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of its troops from Azerbaijani territories, which was the main obstacle to the resolution of the conflict.

The trilateral ceasefire deal, signed by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders on November 10, 2020, ended the three-decade-long conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which along with the seven adjacent regions came under the occupation of the Armenian armed forces in the war at the outset of 1990s.
The Philippines will not allow "any offensive actions" from the bases it has opened to US troops, President Ferdinand Marcos said Monday.

Manila last week announced the locations of four more military bases it is allowing the US military to use on top of the five agreed on under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, known as EDCA.

The deal allows US troops to rotate through and store defence equipment and supplies.

China warned last week the expanded military deal could endanger regional peace, and accused Washington of a "zero-sum mentality".

The four additional bases include sites near the hotly disputed South China Sea and another not far from Taiwan.

Marcos said China's reaction over the expanded military deal was "not surprising", but assured them the Philippines is only shoring up its territorial defence.

"We will not allow our bases to be used for any offensive actions. This is only aimed at helping the Philippines whenever we need help," Marcos told reporters.

"If no one is attacking us, they need not worry because we will not fight them."

The pact stalled under former president Rodrigo Duterte, who favoured closer ties with China.

But Marcos, who succeeded Duterte in June, has adopted a more US-friendly foreign policy and sought to accelerate the implementation of the EDCA.

Marcos has insisted he will not let Beijing trample on Manila's maritime rights.

His remarks came on the heels of China's third day of war games around Taiwan on Monday, where it simulated "sealing off" the self-ruled island.

China launched the military exercises in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen last week meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, an encounter it had warned would provoke a furious response.

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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.
V.Narayan Distinguished - BHPian

Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Delhi-NCR Posts: 3,666 Thanked: 52,411 Times

re: Lexus ES300h Ownership Review | EDIT: Bagheera celebrates the 6th birthday @ 62,000 km Quote: pranad Originally Posted by Hello Mr. Narayan, thank you for sharing your journey with Bagheera on Team BHP and allowing potential buyers such as myself access your experiences as a reference point before making a purchase decision. Quote: Before I go ahead and lock in my booking can you please help me with the following:



1. Are you still continuing with Lexus Protect insurance and do you get zero dep on it? How has your experience been with them so far?

Quote: 2. How has the Air Conditioning in the Lexus behaved over the years? Is it still able to keep up with Delhi summers? Having previously owned a Toyota Innova whose Air Conditioning started giving us trouble around the 7th year (200,000 Km) I would like to know how the Lexus' AC unit holds up. Furthermore, as a CBU/CKD this unit was manufactured for conditions very different from India. Quote: 3. Do you make regular use of the heated/ventilated seats? How has your experience with them been so far?

Quote: 4. Did you get the Ceramic Coating done at the official Lexus service centre? What was the cost of the same and would you recommend that I get it done for my new purchase? Or should I opt for a PPF as you did initially.

Quote: Thank you once again for sharing your experiences with us and wish you many happy miles with Bagheera!



Quote: amitoberoi Originally Posted by ). But the leg room i believe in the E200 LWB is more than what it is in the ES, which is why I am willing to give it a shot.



The dealer btw told me yesterday that the 2022 version of the ES has been launched yesterday only with some changes, one of them being that the ground clearance is now better by 10mm, based on your review and suggestions to Lexus I am sure. So think it is the lure of the Mercedes badge which has put in the E Class as an option (Childhood dreams apparently haunt you for the rest of your life). But the leg room i believe in the E200 LWB is more than what it is in the ES, which is why I am willing to give it a shot.The dealer btw told me yesterday that the 2022 version of the ES has been launched yesterday only with some changes, one of them being that the ground clearance is now better by 10mm, based on your review and suggestions to Lexus I am sure.



Quote: Once again, many thanks for such a detailed review and udpates on your ES. Thank you for reading my thread and for your very kind words. I'm glad it was of use to you because that is the purpose of the article.Yes I continue with Lexus Protect. I have dipped into it about 4 times for denting repairs. They are quite hassle free to deal with - at least the dealer in Delhi is and I have in each case only paid some small amount. They pick up the car, fix it, bring it back and I pay them via credit card.I believe the AC is doing just fine in its 6th year now with Delhi's summers. My wife is the 18 degree C kind of person and she uses the back seat all the time and has bitten my ear off so I guess it works well.Yes I use the cooling in Delhi's summer season. Actually now that you ask I have never used the seat heating ever but my wife does. The cooling experience has been fine. Where aircon goes I may not be the right chap to seek feedback from as I often like driving in the heat or cold with the windows rolled down pretending to be manly!! Mid-age crises.This is a difficult choice. I used 3M PPF for 5 odd years and then a few months ago had it removed by Lexus and had a ceramic done. The ceramic cost Rs 79,000. Both are equally good. If you go with PPF then you'll need to ensure it is done at a reputable 3M outlet otherwise you'll come to grief later. As Lexus is offering the ceramic with a 3-year warranty that would be the route I'll take for any future Lexus cars I might buy. 3M outlets shut down because of inadequate business or poor terms of reference from 3M. That is what I faced. So I am less inclined to go with 3M in the future though the PPF did its job. Also use PPF only if your car is of a dark colour. If your car has a lighter colour then I'd suggest ceramic.Yes the E LWB has much better legroom. If you go for the ES better to wait till the new version comes. I'm glad they increased the GC by 10mm high time too! With the E's status factor, interiors & leg room it is a tough fight. I chose the ES over the E for reliability and great A.S.S. In my first career I had employees who complained bitterly about their E's and that framed my views against it.The pleasure is all mine. :-) Last edited by V.Narayan : 3rd November 2022 at 09:59 .
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry will head to Athens on Tuesday to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias.

FM Shoukry will discuss in his meetings with the two top Greek officials ways to strengthen cooperation and political consultations on regional and international issues between the two countries, read a statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

While in Greece, Shoukry will also meet with the CEO of the Copelouzos Group Dimitrios Copelouzos to follow up on the progress in the implementation of the electricity interconnection project between Egypt and Greece, added the statement.

ELICA SA, a company of the Copelouzos Group, is developing the 3.5 billion euro project of the electricity interconnection Egypt-Greece (GREGY), which aims to transfer electricity produced from renewable energy sources in Egypt to Europe via Greece through a mega undersea energy interconnection cable.

The cable that will transfer 3,000 MW of green energy generated from 9.5 GW of renewable energy sources from Egypt to Greece to replace 4.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year and cut carbon emissions by 10 million tons annually.

Egypt aims to generate 42 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources as part of the countrys plans to move toward a greener economy under its Vision 2030.

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The BBC has objected to being labelled as government-funded media on Twitter. The corporation said it had contacted Twitter after the label was added to the main BBC account. Twitter owner Elon Musk responded to the complaint, asking: Is the Twitter label accurate? Musk later emailed the BBC, saying: We are aiming for maximum transparency and accuracy. Linking to ownership and source of funds probably makes sense. I do think media organisations should be self-aware and not falsely claim the complete absence of bias. Sky News

Elon Musks electric car company Tesla says it is expanding in China as it builds a new factory to make its large-scale batteries. The plant in Shanghai will be able to produce 10,000 of its Megapack energy storage units a year, the firm says. A Megapack is a very large battery that can be used to help stabilise energy grids and prevent power outages. Tesla already has Megapack plant in California, which also produces 10,000 of the units each year. Mr Musk said on Twitter that the new Chinese plant will be in addition to Teslas US factory. BBC

Apples main Irish subsidiary paid 7.7bn (6.8bn ) in corporation tax last year, but paid out nearly triple that amount in dividends to its California parent company, after reporting more than $69bn (56bn) in profits. The latest financial filings for the subsidiary, which is facing legal challenges over its tax arrangements in Ireland, show the Irish division made the equivalent of nearly $190m a day over the year to September. The iPhone makers Cork-based Apple Operations International  the umbrella firm for most of Apples subsidiaries outside the US  said yearly revenues rose by $11.7bn to $223bn alongside the 2% rise in profits. Guardian

Twitter CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that he was the one responsible for covering up the w in Twitters name with a white tarp a few days agoand hes done it again. This is how new Titter was born. Longtime Musk watchers are well-aware that the tech billionaire, one of the richest people on Earth, has the humor of a small child. Given that one of his favorite jokes revolves around the word tits, it came as no surprise when pictures of the Twitter headquarters sign in San Francisco popped up online with the w covered with a white tarp. Gizmodo

While we dont have sales figures for the Sony PSVR 2, the writings on the wall that Sonys PS5 virtual reality headset may have fallen short of expectations. Now Sony has slashed its proposed PSVR 2 production plan for this year by roughly 20 percent, according to tech insider Ming-Chi Kuo. The Sony PSVR 2 has impressed us from day one with its improved graphics and much-needed controller overhaul. But youll probably want to hold off on buying a PSVR 2 for now, as these doomsday projections could mean its headed for a price cut. In March, Bloomberg was tipped by the tech firm IDC that the PlayStation VR 2 sold just 270,000 units between its February 22, 2023 launch date and the end of March. Toms Guide

Thieves are breaking into cars through their headlights using a device that costs just 2,000, motorists have been warned. Automotive security experts Ian Tabor and Ken Tindell said that hackers are ripping off bumpers and headlights to gain access to wiring, allowing them to plug in widely available electronics used to hack cars internal computer networks. Once connected, the devices automatically disable engine immobilisers and can be used to open windows or even activate door locks, the experts saidIllicit vendors selling these devices claim they give instant access to high-value cars including Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis and more. Telegraph

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Im still working through the material from Nvidias GTC conference last month, and two announcements that didnt get much coverage jumped out at me.

One was how Nvidias AI achieved a world record in route optimization. The other was creating the third-generation OVX computing system that is the foundation for the industrial metaverse.

Taken together, they will help to automate everything around us, including our Amazon deliveries  and make drone delivery more likely.

Lets talk about this Nvidia-driven future, and well close with my Product of the Week, Medibus, a joint project between Cisco and Germany to provide health care to those who live in rural locations with poor access to health services.

Route Optimization  Why It Matters

Last-mile delivery is where a great deal of the cost of shipping a product is incurred  about 40%, according to Pitney Bowes. But it is a bigger problem for drone delivery since drones have a limited range, and we are far from having a critical mass of them in service.

Particularly as we begin to shift from humans to AIs doing last-mile delivery, the ability to better manage the routes  considering things like prevailing winds, weather events, potential bird strikes, and other obstacles  becomes critical to assure you get your package timely and relatively undamaged. =

If you add to this the range limitations of drones, both land- and air-based, the problem becomes even more critical because solving it reduces lost drones and late packages. Nvidia has created a tremendous amount of road data as it has become the leader in autonomous driving technology, and this knowledge is being used to advantage with its route optimization solution.

A technology Nvidia developed named cuOpt can analyze billions of moves per second and account for multiple environmental issues to help assure on-time delivery of a package, be it a toy for your kid or a pizza for your dinner.

Using Nvidias supercomputer-like A100 Sensor Core GPUs, cuOpt can analyze a massive amount of data in real time to generate the most efficient route  which is why it won the world record.

OVX Computing System Makes the Industrial Metaverse Real

The other announcement at the GTC show that did not get much coverage was the release of the enormous third-generation OVX platform that will host Nvidias metaverse product, Omniverse.

Unlike Facebooks largely failed consumer effort, the industrial metaverse is much more complex and already in production at large plant sites as part of design and management. Each piece of equipment has a fully instrumented digital twin, and even humans on the plant floor may have full digital twins to assure their safety and improve their efficiency.

Done right, the machinery digital twins are so complete that even their internals are digitized through sensors synchronized with their digital twins in the metaverse.

Using various cutting-edge technologies, including BlueField 3 DPUs, Nvidia L40 GPUs, ConnectX-7 Smart NICs, and its Spectrum Ethernet platform, Nvidia has created the metaverse computer for those who want an on-premises metaverse solution.

This effort is also somewhat tied to Nvidias autonomous driving efforts as it potentially connects and digitizes robots and trains that deliver to a site where the technology is already implemented. Partnering with Dell Technologies, Nvidia plans to have this technology available later this year.

Wrapping Up

Nvidia announced two under-covered technologies at its GTC conference this year. One focused on getting stuff to you cheaply and efficiently, and that anticipates drone delivery. The other automates the creation of a large facility. Both technologies work together to make the result viable and far more efficient.

Some of these technologies are already in use by Digitale Schiene Deutschland and Pepsi Co. While fully automated metaverse-coupled factories and drone delivery are not in full production yet, they are on their way. Nvidia is and will be shipping the platforms that will make this all work.

Medibus

One of the most fascinating efforts by any company is the Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program out of Cisco, which is run by Guy Diedrich.

Cisco created the CDA program to help countries digitize. It came into broad play during the pandemic, enabling governments and schools to collaborate when politicians, bureaucrats, teachers, and students transitioned to working from home. Ciscos CDA efforts were critical to helping kids attend school, and politicians govern remotely.

CDAs latest effort, Medibus, is just as fascinating. Working with the German government to address the lack of medical care in remote and often financially distressed locations, the two entities acquired a few buses and converted them into mobile health care clinics.

When the war in Ukraine started, Cisco convinced Germany to loan some of these buses to the refugee crisis occurring on Ukraines borders to provide refugees the health care they need.

While this service was initially created to help German citizens who live in remote areas where health care professionals are few (Germany has a severe shortage of rural medical clinics), it has been helpful for disaster relief, corporate health care efforts, and, most recently, to help Ukrainian refugees.

Built on Ciscos networking and communications technology, each bus has three people: a driver, a nurse, and a doctor connected to many remote resources that can be brought in to consult or help with a procedure as needed.

This effort anticipates a future where these vehicles could be fully automated and might make use of the Nvidia Route Optimization and metaverse solutions to ensure their timely arrival. The next step is to make them autonomous and help them get around staffing limitations by fully automating them.

Medibus not only showcases the potential future for medical care in rural areas, disaster recovery, and other remote medical needs, like vaccine shots, it could bring to fruition roving autonomous, automated medical systems that will better assure our health care even if doctors are in short supply. As a result, Cisco Medibus is my Product of the Week.
Human brain power is no match for hackers emboldened with artificial intelligence-powered digital smash-and-grab attacks using email deceptions. Consequently, cybersecurity defenses must be guided by AI solutions that know hackers strategies better than they do.

This approach of fighting AI with better AI surfaced as an ideal strategy in research conducted in March by cyber firm Darktrace to sniff out insights into human behavior around email. The survey confirmed the need for new cyber tools to counter AI-driven hacker threats targeting businesses.

The study sought a better understanding of how employees globally react to potential security threats. It also charted their growing knowledge of the need for better email security.

Darktraces global survey of 6,711 employees across the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Australia, and the Netherlands found that respondents experienced a 135% increase in novel social engineering attacks across thousands of active Darktrace email customers from January to February 2023. The results corresponded with the widespread adoption of ChatGPT.

These novel social engineering attacks use sophisticated linguistic techniques, including increased text volume, punctuation, and sentence length with no links or attachments. The trend suggests that generative AI, such as ChatGPT, is providing an avenue for threat actors to craft sophisticated and targeted attacks at speed and scale, according to researchers.

One of the three most significant takeaways from the research is that most employees are concerned about the threat of AI-generated emails, according to Max Heinemeyer, chief product officer for Darktrace.

This is not surprising, since these emails are often indistinguishable from legitimate communications and some of the signs that employees typically look for to spot a fake include signals like poor spelling and grammar, which chatbots are proving highly efficient at circumventing, he told TechNewsWorld.

Research Highlights

Darktrace asked retail, catering, and leisure companies how concerned they are, if at all, that hackers can use generative AI to create scam emails indistinguishable from genuine communication. Eighty-two percent said they are concerned.

More than half of all respondents indicated their awareness of what makes employees think an email is a phishing attack. The top three are invitations to click a link or open an attachment (68%), unknown sender or unexpected content (61%), and poor use of spelling and grammar (61%).

That is significant and troubling, as 45% of Americans surveyed noted that they had fallen prey to a fraudulent email, according to Heinemeyer.

It is unsurprising that employees are concerned about their ability to verify the legitimacy of email communications in a world where AI chatbots are increasingly able to mimic real-world conversations and generate emails that lack all of the common signs of a phishing attack, such as malicious links or attachments, he said.

Other key results of the survey include the following:

70% of global employees have noticed an increase in the frequency of scam emails and texts in the last six months

87% of global employees are concerned about the amount of personal information available about them online that could be used in phishing and other email scams

35% of respondents have tried ChatGPT or other gen AI chatbots

Human Error Guardrails

Widespread accessibility to generative AI tools like ChatGPT and the increasing sophistication of nation-state actors means that email scams are more convincing than ever, noted Heinemeyer.

Innocent human error and insider threats remain an issue. Misdirecting an email is a risk for every employee and every organization. Nearly two in five people have sent an important email to the wrong recipient with a similar-looking alias by mistake or due to autocomplete. This error rises to over half (51%) in the financial services industry and 41% in the legal sector.

Regardless of fault, such human errors add another layer of security risk that is not malicious. A self-learning system can spot this error before the sensitive information is incorrectly shared.

In response, Darktrace unveiled a significant update to its globally deployed email solution. It helps to bolster email security tools as organizations continue to rely on email as their primary collaboration and communication tool.

Email security tools that rely on knowledge of past threats are failing to future-proof organizations and their people against evolving email threats, he said.

Darktraces latest email capability includes behavioral detections for misdirected emails that prevent intellectual property or confidential information from being sent to the wrong recipient, according to Heinemeyer.

AI Cybersecurity Initiative

By understanding what is normal, AI defenses can determine what does not belong in a particular individuals inbox. Email security systems get this wrong too often, with 79% of respondents saying that their companys spam/security filters incorrectly stop important legitimate emails from reaching their inbox.

With a deep understanding of the organization and how the individuals within it interact with their inbox, AI can determine for every email whether it is suspicious and should be actioned or if it is legitimate and should remain untouched.

Tools that work from a knowledge of historical attacks will be no match for AI-generated attacks, offered Heinemeyer.

Attack analysis shows a notable linguistic deviation  semantically and syntactically  compared to other phishing emails. That leaves little doubt that traditional email security tools, which work from a knowledge of historical threats, will fall short of picking up the subtle indicators of these attacks, he explained.

Bolstering this, Darktraces research revealed that email security solutions, including native, cloud, and static AI tools, take an average of 13 days following the launch of an attack on a victim until the breach is detected.

That leaves defenders vulnerable for almost two weeks if they rely solely on these tools. AI defenses that understand the business will be crucial for spotting these attacks, he said.

AI-Human Partnerships Needed

Heinemeyer believes the future of email security lies in a partnership between AI and humans. In this arrangement, the algorithms are responsible for determining whether the communication is malicious or benign, thereby taking the burden of responsibility away from the human.

Training on good email security practices is important, but it will not be enough to stop AI-generate threats that look exactly like benign communications, he warned.

One of the vital revolutions AI enables in the email space is a deep understanding of you. Instead of trying to predict attacks, an understanding of your employees behaviors must be determined based on their email inbox, their relationships, tone, sentiments, and hundreds of other data points, he reasoned.

By leveraging AI to combat email security threats, we not only reduce risk but revitalize organizational trust and contribute to business outcomes. In this scenario, humans are freed up to work on a higher level, more strategic practices, he said.

Not a Completely Unsolvable Cybersecurity Problem

The threat of offensive AI has been researched on the defensive side for a decade. Attackers will inevitably use AI to upskill their operations and maximize ROI, noted Heinemeyer.

But this is not something we would consider unsolvable from a defense perspective. Ironically, generative AI may be worsening the social engineering challenge, but AI that knows you could be the parry, he predicted.

Darktrace has tested offensive AI prototypes against the companys technology to continuously test the efficacy of its defenses ahead of this inevitable evolution in the attacker landscape. The company is confident that AI armed with a deep understanding of the business will be the most powerful way to defend against these threats as they continue to evolve.
In a nutshell: Loongson has reached a major milestone just two years after it stopped using American tools in a bid to reduce its dependency on foreign technology. The company is reportedly now shipping the LS3D5000, a 32-core processor they say can replace foreign hardware in Chinese data centers.

Loongson announced the 3D5000 at a summit held in Hebi in the Henan province last week. It's the third processor the company has made using its proprietary ISA LoongArch. In July 2021 they announced the quad-core 3A5000, which was supplemented by the 16-core 3C5000 in June 2022. Under the hood, the 3D5000 comprises two 3C5000 core complexes linked together with an IO die.

The 3D5000 uses LA464 cores designed for data center use. It comes clocked at 2 GHz and has 64 MB of L3 cache shared between its two complexes. It supports eight channels of DDR4-3200 ECC memory and five HyperTransport interfaces, which are sort of a cross between PCIe lanes and memory channels. It has a 300W TDP, but Loongson says that it will consume about 150W under most loads.

Image source: Sina Finance

Loongson has built an entire ecosystem around the 3D5000. It has its own socket called the LGA 4129 and a special controller called the 7A2000 that it can be paired with to enable dual-socket and quad-socket setups sporting up to 128 cores. Loongson also announced the 2K050 baseboard management controller (BMC) which is an optional tool to monitor and administer 3C5000 and 3D5000-based servers. It uses the same LA464 cores as the two processors, but downclocked to 500 MHz.

It's hard to predict how CPUs like the 3D5000 will perform. Loongson says that it scores 425 points in the SPEC CPU 2006 integer benchmark, but because of how old that test is, it's hard to compare to the scores of modern processors. The closest point of comparison that we could find was the 32-core AMD Epyc 7601. The six-year old CPU scores 1170 to 1210 points, making it about 2.5x faster than the 3D5000. While that would still be a good result for Loongson, it does show how far Loongson has to go before it can compete with AMD and Intel. And maybe it never will.

Loongson was blacklisted by the US last month because it sold processors to the Chinese military. As a result, it can't purchase any American equipment or partner with companies that currently use American equipment. Although both Loongson and its manufacturing partner SMIC were prepared to be blacklisted, it might not be possible for them to survive without the injection of foreign tech.

Masthead credit: MyDrivers
TL;DR: Google is moving along with its plan to merge the competing Nest and Google Home smart devices. Some of the older Nest and Dropcam products will stop working in a year, while Mountain View is trying once again to convince users to keep spending money every month on its cloud offerings.

The infamous Google Graveyard will soon welcome some new devices the Alphabet company is preparing to kill for good. A message posted on the Google Nest official community is informing users that, thanks to the power of the not-so-infinite cloud, Nest Secure and Dropcam devices will stop working from April 8, 2024 - even if the hardware itself is still functioning.

The hardware is working, but the cloud servers it relies on will no longer be reachable: Google will stop supporting the Nest Secure home security system (keyboard, window and door sensors, motion detectors and keychain sensor) in a year. After April 8, 2024, users will not be able to access the system - and thus, keep using it for their home security - through the official Nest app.

Google hasn't offered new Nest Secure hardware for a while, as the company is now investing its home security money in the home automation provider (and security company) ADT. Mountain View says ADT provides better solutions for "greater customer peace of mind and choice," and the company is providing users an exclusive offer to get a Self Setup System from ADT for free (up to $485 value) or $200 to use on the Google Store.

The next "obsolete" technology on the chopping block is the original Dropcam line of cameras, which Google says were "one the first smart cameras on the market" when they launched over 10 years ago. Support for Dropcam cameras will be no more after April 8, 2024 as well, and users won't be able to check camera status or even see their video history after that date.

For Nest Aware subscribers, Google is offering a new Nest Cam as a replacement to the existing Dropcam line. Nest Cam is the "next generation" of Google's cameras with features such as "HDR and built-in intelligence," Mountain View said. Non-Nest Aware subscribers will also get a 50% discount for purchasing a new indoor (and wired) Nest Cam.

Works with Nest, the original Nest-branded smart home ecosystem, will finally shut down on September 29, 2023. The system retirement was long overdue as Google announced its demise in 2019, and the company is now offering a new smart home integration with thermostats, sensors and such through the "Works with Google Home" brand and mobile app. That app will eventually replace the Nest app for good.

Google says that keeping all these old products and services updated became "increasingly challenging," so the company is essentially forcing users to adapt to the newer products and features capable of delivering "even more help and security" for people's homes. Mountain View would like users to keep spending their monthly fees on these newer offerings, while the cloud will eventually shut them down in a decade or so.
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Why it matters: Microsoft has released a crucial bug-fixing update to its Windows Defender antimalware application. Its arrival means that some unlucky Firefox users should now get a much smoother and better-performing experience while browsing the web.

Update (April 11): The Mozilla developer who worked on fixing this performance issue and reported it to Microsoft added the following on a Reddit thread, clarifying the nature of the bugfix:

"The impact of this fix is that on all computers that rely on Microsoft Defender's Real-time Protection feature (which is enabled by default in Windows), MsMpEng.exe will consume much less CPU than before when monitoring the dynamic behavior of any program through ETW (Event Tracing for Windows)."

"For Firefox this is particularly impactful because Firefox (not Defender!) relies a lot on VirtualProtect - which is monitored by MsMpEng.exe through ETW. We expect that on all these computers, MsMpEng.exe will consume around 75% less CPU than it did before when it is monitoring Firefox."

For more than five years, the security protection provided by Microsoft Defender was negatively affecting Firefox users during their web browsing sessions. The Antimalware Service Executable component of Defender (MsMpEng.exe) was acting strange, showing a high CPU usage when Firefox was running at the same time.

Users were complaining that Defender was stressing the CPU while the Mozilla browser became laggy and unresponsive. The issue was first reported 5 years ago, and it was seemingly a Firefox exclusive as it was sparing Edge and other third-party browsers like Chrome.

In March 2023, Mozilla developers were able to finally discover the source of the issue: Firefox relies and executes a very high number of calls to the OS kernel's VirtualProtect function while tracing Windows events (ETW). VirtualProtect is a function to change the "protection on a region of committed pages in the virtual address space of the calling process," Microsoft explains, and Defender was doing a lot of "useless computations" upon each event while Firefox was generating a lot of ETW events.

This was an "explosive" combination that was using five times the CPU power with Firefox compared to other browsers, the Mozilla developers said. The open-source foundation worked with Microsoft to solve the issue for good, and Redmond finally delivered with a recent update for Defender's antimalware engine (1.1.20200.2).

After testing the bugfix for a while, the solution was delivered to the stable channel with updated Defender anti-malware definitions on April 4 (mpengine.dll version 1.1.20200.4) and the bug was finally closed.

Mozilla developers said that the Defender update would provide a massive ~75% improvement in CPU usage from MsMpEng.exe while browsing the web with Firefox. With the fix, Defender's Real-time Protection feature - which is enabled by default in Windows - will consume less CPU than before when monitoring the dynamic behavior of any program through ETW.

Microsoft is also bringing the update to now obsolete Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 systems, as Firefox will keep supporting the two operating systems "at least" until 2024. Furthermore, Mozilla engineers said that the "latest discoveries" made while analyzing the weird Defender bug would help Firefox "go even further down in CPU usage," with all other antivirus software and not just Defender this time.
Apple has reportedly held meetings for its retail workers in the US to discuss the risk of unionization and provide a planned update on bargaining between the company and its first unionized store, located in Townson, Maryland.

(Photo : JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

People shop at the Apple Store in Annapolis, Maryland, on February 2, 2023. - Tech giants Google, Apple and Amazon will report their latest results on Thursday as shares in Meta skyrocketed after the Facebook owner posted a smaller-than-expected slump in sales for 2022.

Anti-Union Meetings

Apple is pushing its efforts to prevent its employees against unionizing, as the company has reportedly conducted anti-union meetings at all of its 270 stores across the United States. Engadget reported that managers opened the meeting by having a prepared statement that came from the corporate side of the company.

Meetings were held during gatherings called Daily Downloads, which followed a slight pause at Apple. By looking at the happenings between the company, this effort appears to be working as only two retail stores (Towson & Maryland) have unionized and some workers already walked back their efforts to push unionizing.

Criticizing Union Dues and Processes

Aside from the prepared message issued by the corporate side of the company, management used the state of the Towson retail store as a "cautionary tale" that some of its employees saw as a tactic to scare them with factual information. Adding to this, managers criticized the union dues and processes.

The company said that the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers requested dues that amount to 1.5% of the Towson workers to represent them. Based on the union proposals, this amount of money could quickly add up over time and employees who will not comply with the payment could be terminated within a month.

Despite not literally saying it, Apple gave a message to the company's tens of thousands of retail employees that if their store unionizes, they may be at a disadvantage and described the scenario as "pouring cold water on the idea." They ended the statement by having the right to vote and the meeting's purpose is for them to be fully informed.

Bloomberg reported that the Towson store already prioritized its full-time employees rather than part-timers for taking weekend days off. Managers argued that unions could make changes without employee permission, reflecting to the comments from Apple Retail Chief Deirdre O'Brien.

Managers also warned their employees regarding authorization card signatures as it does not automatically gather more details regarding unionization. Apple said, "Signing an authorization card means that you're authorizing the union to speak on your behalf and it means that you want the union to be your exclusive representative."

Also Read: Apple Employees Vote to Unionize in Oklahoma, Becomes the Second Store to Form a Union in the US

Last year, Apple underwent a similar circumstance as it looked into methods how to prevent its employees and workers from unionizing, including giving scripts to managers that contain guides and phrases that will help them control their employees in stores.

Related Article: Apple Does Not Want a Union, So It Gave Scripts to Retail Managers-Report

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Three Boston Dynamic robot dogs are currently undergoing training to paint for the next exhibition for the National Gallery of Victoria. The robodogs will be trained over four months by famous artist Agnieszka Pilat.

(Photo : WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

Polish artist Agnieszka Pilat poses with the artwork of her robot painting dogs - Basia Spot and Bunny Spot - who have become artists painting on canvases with their paws, at the launch of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Triennial 2023 in Melbourne on April 5, 2023.

Art by Boston Dynamics Robodogs

The National Gallery of Victoria is set to add a group of unexpected artists for its next exhibition. According to Interesting Engineering, three robot dogs from Boston Dynamics will be trained by Agnieszka Pilat for four months to paint for the exhibition using sticks of oil paint on an acrylic ground canvas, attached to NGV Triennial in Melbourne, Australia.

The three robodogs will be programmed to understand a range of commands in order for them to execute whatever they see fit, including arm movement directions, several pressures on painting through the canvas, and using dots or lines to the process.

As per Pilat, she sees one of the robodogs named 'Basia' as her companion during training and she will miss it while it paints in Melbourne for the exhibit. "It is like having a small child - at some point, you have to let the child get on the bus by themselves; that is how this feels," the artist added.

Painting robodogs were described by the artist as a new ruling class that will produce portraits that reflect power in society. She compared this scenario to painting celebrities like Andy Warhol and as the new ruling class rises, that power is going towards the machines.

NGV Triennial

The collaboration between Pilat and three Boston Dynamics robodogs are among the 100 artists and designers taking part in the National Galleria of Victoria Triennial, alongside Yoko Ono, Tracey Emin, and Paris Haute couture house Schiaparelli.

As per NGV's press release, this reveals an extraordinary exhibition to showcase emerging artists and designers and their response to the most relevant and critical global issues of our time. NGV Triennial aims to establish a lasting legacy for Victoria that will leave an impact to future generations.

After the four-month training, the famous painter will be handing over Basia to NGV, along with Bonnie and Archie. This was her second collaboration with Boston Dynamics as Pilat was already commissioned to paint a portrait for one of the robodogs named 'Spot', where she came to know the machines more intimately.

Also Read: Robot Police Dog: NYPD Ends Contract with Boston Dynamics Due to 'Aggressive Tactics' of the Device

The Guardian reported that Pilat was known for working with her collectors like telecommunications billionaire Craig McCaw and former Waymo Chief Executive Officer John Krafcik. She was also commissioned to create art for the latest Matrix film. She previously said that working with tech billionaires makes her feel like singing their songs.

Related Article: Boston Dynamics vs. Ghost Robotics: Robot Dog Patent Infringement Lawsuit Coming

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TTRPG company Paizo has recently released the first draft of an Open RPG Creative License (ORC) to the public for feedback. This follows weeks of controversy following the attempted deauthorization of a similar license from Wizards of the Coast earlier this year.

Creating the ORC and its FAQ Document with Azora: A Collaborative Effort

According to the story by Gizmodo, to make sure that the ORC would be as free as possible to players in a way that keeps them (and game publishers) happy, Paizo collaborated with Azora, an Intellectual Property law firm. Together, they wrote up the ORC and a FAQ document to go with it.

Firstly, the ORC's main mission is to create a situation where common game mechanics can be shared across the tabletop landscape without fearing infringing on any specific company's copyright.

Paizo and Azora Commit to Optimizing Processes for Accessibility and Clarity

It's important to note that, likely due to the complexities of tinkering with copyrights, the documents put up by Paizo and Azora did err on the side of precision as opposed to simplicity. Paizo's announcement of its first draft was announced on its website's community section.

The company explains that this was due to the need to ensure that the ORC could resist any and all imaginable legal challenges. The FAQ they provided was added to ensure players and publishers can understand the document itself.

Giving Detailed Feedback to Conclude the Process Sooner: Paizo's Open RPG Creative License

The current feedback period that Paizo has put in place is expected to last until Friday, April 21, after which Paizo and Azora will take that feedback and release another draft. The entire process is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

The company has noted that if additional public commentary is needed, the process will continue until the license is deemed satisfactory by most interacting publishers. Until then, however, the company encourages people to read through the documents and give detailed feedback to conclude sooner rather than later.

After a lengthy period of silence, TTRPG company Paizo has finally released the first draft of its Open RPG Creative License (ORC). This much-anticipated license is the company's response to the controversy that erupted earlier in the year when Wizards of the Coast announced its plans to deauthorize its own similar license.

Read Also: Pokemon Contests to Make Comeback in 'Pokemon Go,' Datamine Reveals

Paizo's Open Game License and FAQ Draft Released to the Public

Of course, that was eventually reversed, and Wizards stayed the course. However, this didn't stop Paizo's president Jim Butler, who said the company was still looking into creating its own license.

Following months of development and collaboration with intellectual property law firm Azora, Paizo has made the first draft of its ORC license publicly available. In addition to the license draft, Paizo released a draft of its FAQ for readers, encouraging any feedback for potential changes.

The feedback period is planned to continue until April 21st, and if needed, additional rounds of public commentary could continue until the end of the month.

Related Article: Tekken 8 to Finally Introduce Cross-Platform Play, Director Katsuhiro Harada Confirms

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Vietnam this week in the latest bid to build relations with a growing US partner as tensions flare with China over Taiwan, the State Department said Monday.

Blinken will travel to Hanoi on his way to a Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting this weekend in the Japanese mountain resort of Karuizawa.

Blinken will "discuss our shared vision of a connected, prosperous, peaceful and resilient Indo-Pacific region," a State Department statement said.

Blinken will also participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new US embassy in Hanoi.

The United States has a growing relationship with Vietnam, including on defense, with the two countries largely reconciling despite bitter war memories.

Vietnam has longstanding tensions with China, whose own relations with the United States have deteriorated in recent years.

Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia and former ambassador to Hanoi, called the relationship one "founded on mutual respect."

"Washington and Hanoi are almost completely aligned on the kind of Indo-Pacific we want to see," Kritenbrink told reporters, "where large countries don't bully small countries."

The idea "is to take our partnership to the next level," Kritenbrink said.

He acknowledged, however, that the "picture was mixed" on human rights, a longstanding concern of Washington with the communist state, pointing to concerns about freedom of expression and freedom of religion.

China on Monday completed military drills around Taiwan in the latest show of force against the self-governing democracy after its president traveled to the United States.

Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will also meet Tuesday in Washington with their counterparts from the Philippines, which has agreed to strengthen military ties with Washington, its former colonial power.

It will be Blinken's first trip to Vietnam since becoming secretary of state, although Vice President Kamala Harris previously visited the country.

Blinken will head to Hanoi after joining President Joe Biden on a trip to Ireland including Northern Ireland.

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Five people were killed and 10 injured on Monday after two trucks collided in the city of Qus, south of Qena Governorate, in Upper Egypt.

The collision occurred on the Martyr Bassem Fekry axis. Ambulance vehicles were dispatched to transport the injured to a nearby hospital.

The prosecution is investigating the incident.

Egypt has been working to improve the transportation network and reduce traffic congestion and accidents nationwide. In 2014, the National Road Project was launched.

The project included the construction or upgrading of 7,000 kilometres of the country's 23,000-kilometre road network, as well as the installation of cutting-edge speed radars and cameras on highways and the introduction of harsher penalties for traffic violations.

In 2021, road accidents claimed the lives of 7,101 people, up from 6,164 deaths in 2020, a 15.2 percent increase, according to a report by the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) in August 2022.

Over the same time, nationwide traffic injuries declined by 9.3 percent to 51,511, down from 56,789, reported CAPMAS.

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The most exclusive and anticipated salad of the season returns in Madrid

"Screenings do not reveal all problems": RUDN University professor on the maximum reproductive age and late childbirth

Disappearance of Chloe in Seine-et-Marne: how did the investigators find the young woman?

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Thomas Pesquet: why the astronaut will never have children with his partner Anne Mottet

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A family of sperm whales and other shocking unpublished images of marine life in the Balearic Islands: the posthumous legacy of diver Fernando Garfella

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J.League season to consider transition to "autumn-spring system" aiming for conclusion by the end of the year

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"Discrimination of pure water": the Polish airline refused to put tennis player Dyachenko on the flight because of the passport of the Russian Federation

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Medvedev: due to the loss of the role of the euro, the European Union is waiting for a return to national currencies

First Republic Bank announces layoffs of up to 25% of its workforce after losing 40% of its deposits

The Government reduces income tax by 25% to help 800,000 farmers and ranchers due to drought

Juan Bravo: "The promise of the PP is to lower taxes? No, the promise is not to upload them, which is enough"

Consultants and unions agree on a 10% increase in salary and a payment of 17 euros per month for teleworking

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Member of Parliament in Lulea demands strong measures against boffning  wants the government to act

The PSOE supports in the Basque Government the end of Castilian in schools agreed by PNV and Bildu

The Government will not dialogue with the Junta de Andalucia until it withdraws its initiative on Donana

"In early May, we will meet in person": Russian diplomats will visit about 40 Russian women who went on a hunger strike in an Iraqi prison

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Russian Ambassador to Germany Nechayev called the Welt article calling for the assassination of Putin a break through the bottom

In Conakry, a hundred fishermen treated for burns whose cause remains to be determined

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A US fund declares Spain in "technical default" and asks for the reimbursement of government bonds for 910 million

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 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
In a meeting with the ambassadors of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states to Egypt on Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry called on the world to use a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of terrorism and Islamophobia.

Shoukry highlighted during the meeting the significant role played by Al-Azhar and Al-Azhars Observatory for Combating Extremism in confronting both phenomenons.

He urged concrete and urgent measures to combat the phenemenon of Islamophobia in the West as it threatens the human rights of Muslim minorities in European countries.

Egypt has repeatedly condemned practices that fuel Islamophobia in a number of European countries such as the acts of burning the Holy Quran by extremist elements in Sweden, Denmark and Netherlands.

During the meeting, Shoukry also reaffirmed Cairo's support for the OIC and its role in protecting the interests and priorities of the Islamic World.

He called on OIC member states to utilise the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) to promote regional and international peace and security.

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About 200 food service workers at local Our Lady of the Lake hospitals are set to lose their jobs at the end of May, after the company they work for lost a contract with the system.
Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry will visit Turkey, most probably this week, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview with private broadcaster A Haber on Monday.

During the interview, FM Cavusoglu discussed the recent steps taken in the process of normalising ties with Egypt after a decade in rupture since 2013.

It is time to take concrete steps. During Shoukrys visit, we can take steps to appoint ambassadors, the Turkish FM said.

Cavusoglu described his meeting with FM Shoukry during his visit to Cairo in late March, the first for a Turkish foreign minister to Egypt in over a decade, as extremely positive.

The Turkish FM explained that the meeting with Shoukry in Cairo tackled the normalisation of relations between the two countries and the restoration of representation at the ambassadorial level.

He added that the meeting also tackled boosting economic cooperation in the areas of energy, shipping and transportation as well as investments.

"We agreed to maximise our diplomatic relations. We have evaluated the steps needed next in this process, added Cavusoglu.

During a press conference following their meeting in Cairo, Cavusoglu announced that preparations are underway to hold a meeting between President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to Turkish news channel NTV, Shoukry and Cavusoglu are expected to evaluate the process of normalisation between the two countries in their meeting in Ankara.

In late February, Shoukry visited Turkey, the first such visit by an Egyptian foreign minister to Turkey in over a decade,  where he met FM Cavusoglu to extend condolences and offer Cairo support following the devastating earthquake that in early February.

In mid-February, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with a delegation of 14 representatives of Turkish companies who are operating in Egypt or planning to start new investments in the country.

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A brass band performs in front of the Cabildo in the French Quarter on Friday, April 9, 2021. What would normally be a crowed French Quarter Fest Friday in April, life goes on during the coronavirus pandemic. The fest has been rescheduled for this coming fall. (Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com and The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
James Wall of Sutton Forest recently unearthed a photograph of Tim Ingall (C8) from the Physiology class of 1973 at Sydney University. His eyes, unlike those of all his classmates, are resolutely closed. Was it the result of the night before or was he dreaming of a future in Scottsdale, Arizona?

At Team Golden Oldies, a forever home for senior dogs at Arakoon, the nine resident dogs are slowly adapting to clocks returning to Eastern Standard Time (C8), waking their mum, Lisa Domeny at 4.30 instead of the usual 5.30am, demanding breakfast, writes Rosemary Seam of Kempsey. Lisa knows if she gets up to go to the loo, its all over, so hangs on as long as possible. Never a dull moment at TGO.

A recent Herald Timelines item stated that an ammonia leak at the Tooheys Broadway brewery trapped a number of men in a brewery bar where they had been drinking during smoko, notes Paul Duncan of Leura. Must have been in the good old days before health and safety regulations.

Do Supercheap Auto sell blinker fluid, so the blinker reservoir can be topped up? wonders David Prest of Port Macquarie.

In replying to Colin Taylor-Evans (C8), Viv Mackenzie of Port Hacking takes food technology to a whole new level: Yes, Colin, the pink and passionfruit icing are definite categories of vanilla slice, but youve forgotten the ethyl butyrate (the pineapple smelling ester) flavoured and tartrazine (the lurid yellow) coloured ones. They are in a category of special underwhelmingness!
Egypt's Ministry of Local Development announced on Monday that it has allocated an additional EGP 7.7 million (around $250,000) to fund 464 small and micro enterprises in villages across the country.

The projects are aimed at improving the standards of living for low-income families, increasing their income and reducing unemployment rates through offering loans with little to no interest.

According to a statement released by the ministry, this brings the total number of projects funded since the beginning of the current fiscal year, which started in July, to 1,722, with investments totalling EGP 29.4 million (over $950,000).

Minister of Local Development Hesham Amna noted that 68 percent of these projects are led by women breadwinners. The number of projects that are women-led jumps to more than 75 percent in the governorates of Port Said, Qalyioubia, Beheira, Ismailia and the Red Sea, and to 100 percent in Assiut.

As many as 1,131 projects (totalling EGP 18 million) have been carried out in the governorates of Upper Egypt, which includes Aswan, Minya and Sohag.

Aswan governorate leads with 395 projects (EGP 6.4 million), followed by Minya governorate with 392 projects (EGP 6.1 million) and Menoufia with 143 projects (EGP 3.3 million).

Additionally, the list includes Daqahliya with 109 projects (EGP 1.7 million), the New Valley with 96 projects (EGP 1.2 million), and Sohag with 78 projects (EGP 1.5 million).

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Two dogs have been euthanised after a girl survived an attack south of Brisbane in which she was dragged into a yard before being mauled.

Emergency services rushed to Woodridge just before 4.30pm on Monday after the girl was injured.

The six-year-old girl, Laquarna Chapman Palmer, was taken to Queensland Childrens Hospital in a serious condition with chest, abdominal and shoulder injuries.

A Logan City Council spokeswoman said two unregistered Bull Arabs were seized.
Sydneys Metro West mega rail project connecting the CBD to Parramatta will cost more than $25 billion, the new state government has revealed, after the price tag was kept secret by the former Coalition government.

Internal briefings given to new Transport Minister Jo Haylen have underscored the true cost of the 24-kilometre line, with the Labor government warning the project is one of a number of significant transport and infrastructure challenges inherited from its predecessors.

The Sydney Metro West Bays Station construction site in Rozelle. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

It is the first time official figures have confirmed this figure since the Herald in 2021 revealed a warning to the former government that the project risked blowing out to $26.6 billion, then nearly $3 billion more than earlier internal estimates.

Haylen did not provide comments about the projected cost. However, a government spokesman said it was concerned the former government did not do enough to ensure value for taxpayers.
Delhi: The Dalai Lama, the Tibetans 87-year-old spiritual leader, has apologised after footage showed him asking a young boy to suck my tongue at a public event.

A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked his Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug, said a statement posted on Monday afternoon (AEST) on the exiled leaders Twitter account, which has 19 million followers.

His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused.

The statement said the Dalai Lama leader often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident.
French President Emmanuel Macron seems to become something of a fanboy whenever he joins certain major world leaders on the international stage.

He met with President Vladimir Putin just two weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year and spoke of addressing the mistakes of the past, even suggesting that the West bore some responsibility for allowing the relationship between the Soviet socialist republics to sour so badly. He also said Putin would not escalate the crisis.

In his latest realpolitik foray, Macron returned from meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping last week and argued that Europe should reduce its dependency on the United States and avoid getting involved in any conflict between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan. The question asked of us Europeans is the following: is it in our interest for there to be acceleration on the topic of Taiwan? No. The worst thing we Europeans could do would be to be followers on this topic and to adapt to the American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction. Why should we go at a rhythm chosen by someone else? Macron said.

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He may be simply pushing the French and European preference for strategic autonomy, a term used to refer to the bloc maintaining an independent foreign policy line primarily from the US  and a concept unsurprisingly backed by Beijing. Either way, Macrons apparent washing his hands of Taiwan has created dismay and anger across Europe and in the US, not least because it has the potential to undermine Western unity on Ukraine by boosting the perception that Western liberal democracies are divided on the issue. Macron may be the most influential leader in Europe but, as his misreading of Russias intention last year to invade Ukraine shows, his foreign policy sometimes misses the mark, a consequence perhaps of being often tripped by a French intelligence service which historically has earned a woeful reputation.
A US Navy destroyer sailed near one of the most important man-made and Chinese controlled islands in the South China Sea on Monday, in a freedom of navigation mission that Beijing denounced as illegal.

While the United States frequently makes such voyages to challenge China and other states territorial claims in the strategic waterway, the latest one took place as Beijing staged more war games around Taiwan.

In footage aired on Chinese television, Chinese soldiers manoeuvre inside a ballistic missile launch command centre during a military drill. Credit: AP

The US Navys 7th Fleet said the USS Milius engaged in normal operations within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, once a reef submerged at high tide and where China has built an airport and other facilities.

Under customary international law ... features like Mischief Reef that are submerged at high tide in their naturally formed state are not entitled to a territorial sea, the 7th Fleet said in a statement.
The Egyptian cabinet announced on Monday that employees will be given a paid holiday from 20 to 25 April on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr and Sinai Liberation Day.

The paid holiday applies to employees working in ministries, government agencies, public authorities, local administration units, public sector companies, private sector companies, and public business sector companies.

Eid Al-Fitr is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Sinai Liberation Day commemorates the release of the Egyptian land of Sinai from Israeli occupation.

The Central Bank of Egypt stated that 16 and 17 April will be a holiday for all banks due to the celebration of Coptic Easter and Sham El-Nessim, respectively.

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EgyptAir, the country's national carrier, announced on Monday that it will start two weekly direct flights between Cairo and Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on 14 May.

To celebrate the launch, Business and economy class travelers will receive a 50 percent discount on the first day of the start of the new route, according to a statement released on by Ihab Tahtawi, the CEO of EgyptAir.

Visas to visit Bangladesh can be acquired in less than 48 hours, EgyptAir noted to all those interested in visiting the southeast Asian country.

Meanwhile, Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Abbas Helmy explained that the launching of the Cairo-Dhaka route reflects the distinguished cooperation between Egypt and Bangladesh in the last half century.

"Egypt attaches great importance to its relations with Asian countries in east and southeast Asia," added Helmy.

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Cheyenne, WY (82001)

Today

Rain and snow showers this morning. The rain and snow will change to rain showers for the afternoon hours. Thunder possible. High 42F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Rain and snow this evening. A snow shower or two overnight - otherwise, mostly cloudy. Thunder possible. Low 32F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 70%.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi praised discipline and commitment of the police personnel at Nasr City First Precinct in east Cairo during a surprise visit on Sunday.

The president spoke with police officers, police personnel and citizens at the precinct.

He was also briefed on the latest integrated electronic data systems used in police stations.

After sunset, the president shared Ramadan Iftar with the staff at the precinct.

Later, in a post on his social media accounts, El-Sisi sent A greeting of appreciation and pride to the Egyptian policemen who exert maximum efforts to serve the citizens and maintain the security and stability of the homeland.

















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Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 50F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers early with precipitation turning to a mixture of rain and snow overnight. Low around 35F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 60%.
Elnur Enveroglu

In recent days, many serious diplomatic issues have arisen against the backdrop of increasing tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan. The fact that Azerbaijan officially opened its first ever embassy in Tel Aviv at the end of last month and then Iran's diplomatic representatives were declared persona non grata and expelled from the country comes to the importance.

Unable to accept the realities, Tehran is literally shaking with anger and nervousness. It should be recalled that during the opening of the embassy in Israel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had addressed an insinuating message to Azerbaijan. However, this time, the Persian regime, which did not bear with the stricter measures with respect to expelled diplomats last week, sent a threatening message to Azerbaijan through the media.

As reported, Tehran Times, a clandestine pro-government Iran's online newspaper, has published an article about Azerbaijan with full of hatred and threat. The article criticizes the 'anti-Iran policy of the Azerbaijani government given the recent terror attack on its embassy in Tehran. It is interesting that in the article Iran directly accuses Azerbaijan without discussing its position.

Over the last few weeks, Azerbaijani authorities have initiated a concerted campaign against Iran at the media and diplomatic levels. Azerbaijani media outlets are now disseminating slanted reports against Iran almost on a daily basis with the Baku officials providing them with the stuff they need.

Azerbaijan accused Iran of recruiting spies, supporting terrorist groups, and siding with Armenia among other things. Recently, Azerbaijan conducted a purge among Azerbaijani clerics and religious people. Also, it declared four Iranian embassy staff as persona non grata in a move that further escalated tensions between the two sides, the article reads.

In addition, despite all available evidences, Iran shamelessly threatened Azerbaijan for its dirty deeds. In the article, the author Sadeq Feredonabadi allegedly threatened Azerbaijan with what happened to Ukraine as a result of Russia's occupation.

Pundits believe that the Republic of Azerbaijan needs to learn from the lessons of the Ukraine war, which indicated that the West has forsaken its promises of support for its allies.

However, with such an article, Iran reveals its true inner face of its aggressive tendencies. Tehran and its terrorist allies forget that Azerbaijan tested how to deal with the occupying states on every field.
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.

Hundreds of Jews stormed 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.

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.

However, Israel is now governed by the most right-wing government in its history, with ultra-nationalists who seek changes in the arrangements in senior positions.

Senior right-wing politicians, along with occupied West Bank settler leaders, announced plans for a march through the northern West Bank on Monday, setting the stage for further tensions.

The current round of violence erupted earlier in the week after Israeli police raided the mosque, firing tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of Palestinians who were participating in "Itikaf," a religious practice of seclusion inside mosques that is commonly observed during Ramadan.

Police removed them by force, detaining hundreds and leaving dozens injured.

The Al-Aqsa compound in occupied Jerusalem has a decades-old status quo recognized by the international community. Under this arrangement, only Muslim worship is allowed at the site, while non-Muslims can visit during specific times but are prohibited from praying there.

The Israeli violence at the shrine triggered a retaliatory response from Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon, who began firing rockets, starting Wednesday, and Israeli airstrikes targeted both areas.

In Lebanon, Hezbollahs media office announced that the militant groups 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, Jordans 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 Syrias 4th Division and radar and artillery posts.

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.

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.

Two Palestinians were injured Monday morning during an Israeli army raid of al-Ein refugee camp in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, according to medical sources reported by the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Ahmad Jibril, an official with the Red Crescent, reported that the two individuals were hit by bullet shrapnel in the arm and head, fired by the soldiers during the raid. In addition, 10 others were treated for suffocation due to tear gas fired by the soldiers at homes in the camp.

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Israeli occupation army shot and injured two Palestinians in a raid on a refugee camp near Jericho in the occupied West Bank on Monday, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The occupation army said its forces were operating in the Aqabat Jaber camp near Jericho, without providing further details.

The Palestinian ministry confirmed in a statement that "two people were injured by live bullets in the lower extremities", adding that they were taken to the general hospital in Jericho.

Ahmad Jibril, an official with the Red Crescent, said 10 other people were treated for suffocation due to inhaling tear gas also fired by the soldiers at the homes in the camp, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

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44 Dead in 2 Attacks in Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOUUnknown assailants killed 44 people in two attacks in northern Burkina Faso overnight on Thursday, authorities said.

The raids occurred in the villages of Kourakou and Tondobi in the Sahel region of the West African country, an area overrun by groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS terrorist groups that have carried out repeated attacks for years.

It is not clear which group carried out Thursdays attacks. Authorities on Saturday blamed armed terrorist groups.

More than 2 million people are displaced and thousands have been killed by the violence in Burkina Faso, one of the worlds poorest countries.

The unrest triggered two coups last year by the military, which has vowed to retake control of the country but has failed to stem the bloodshed.

Unrest in the region began in Mali in 2012, when Islamists hijacked a Tuareg separatist uprising. The violence has since spread into neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger and threatens to destabilize coastal countries further afield.
6 in Puerto Rico Indicted in $9 Million Scheme Targeting US Funds

U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Stephen Muldrow, speaks during a news conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Aug. 17, 2020. (Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images)

SAN JUAN, Puerto RicoA federal grand jury in Puerto Rico has indicted six people in an alleged fraudulent scheme involving $9 million in government pandemic funds, officials said Wednesday.

The suspects, including a banker, face charges including wire fraud and money laundering, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

This case demonstrates the brazenness with which the defendants took advantage of federal programs meant to help businesses that were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Stephen Muldrow said.

Authorities accused the suspects of submitting more than 270 loan applications from April 2020 to April 2023 using fake IDs, tax documents, payroll records, and bank records to illegally obtain federal recovery funds.

Officials said the U.S. government seized nearly $850,000 in proceeds of the alleged scheme from an unnamed bank where one of the suspects worked.
Alleged Leak of Top Secret Documents Poses Serious National Security Risk: Pentagon

White House's John Kirby says officials 'don't know' if leak has been contained

National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby speaks during the press briefing at the White House in Washington on March 29, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

The apparent leak of highly sensitive U.S. intelligence materials about the war in Ukraine and other matters is a very serious risk to national security, a Pentagon official said on April 10.

The documents circulating on multiple websites pose a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation, Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, told AFP and other news outlets.

Were still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue. There have been steps to take a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom.

Also on April 10, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the leaked information shouldnt be in the public domain and shouldnt be on the front pages of newspapers although he stressed that officials dont know who leaked them or if it has been contained.

Kirby, during a White House press briefing, was repeatedly pressed about documents that were posted on multiple websites including Telegram, Twitter, Discord, 4chan, and others. Some included U.S. intelligence around the RussiaUkraine war and Pentagon spying efforts, according to an Epoch Times review of the materials. The Epoch Times cant confirm the authenticity of the documents.

When asked about the authenticity of the intelligence materials, Kirby said that U.S. officials believe some of them were doctored.

We know some of them appear to be doctored. I wont speak to the validity of all the document  we are still working through the validity of all the documents out there, he said, adding that the Biden administration doesnt know if any more documents will be posted online.

Kirby said that we dont know whether the leak has been contained. We truly dont. The Pentagon doesnt know whats out there or who is responsible, he said.

Officials also dont know if the leakers have more intelligence documents and are looking to release them online. But Kirby later stressed that the intelligence materials have no business in the public domain  or front pages of newspapers or broadcast on television, although it appeared to conflict with his previous statement about the authenticity of the documents.

There is no excuse for these kinds of documents to be in the public domain, he said. They dont deserve to be in the public domain.

Volunteer soldiers prepare to fire toward Russian positions close to Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on March 8, 2023. (Libkos/AP Photo)

Reports indicated that well over 100 U.S. intelligence documents were posted on the messaging app Discord in March, containing information about Russian military activity, the Ukraine conflict, the Chinese regime and its military, and the Middle East. Some of the materials appeared to have been sourced from the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the militarys Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other government entities.

Some of the documents were marked as TOP SECRET, while others had the NOFORN marking, meaning that they should not be released in any form to foreign government[s].

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said on April 9 that the Biden administration has formed a team that is now focused on assessing the impact these photographed documents could have on U.S. national security and on our allies and partners. U.S. officials, she added, have communicated with allies and partners about the leak.

Some Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, claimed that the leak was carried out by Russia and alleged the documents were digitally altered. Top Ukrainian official Mykhailo Podolyak said the leaks are part of a Russian disinformation scheme or are fabricated attempts to sow doubt in Ukraines anticipated spring counter-offensive.

It is very important to remember that in recent decades, the most successful operations of the Russian special services have been carried out in Photoshop, Andriy Yusov, representative of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Main Directorate, told Politico.

The Kremlin and the Russian Embassy havent commented on whether it was involved in the leak.

On April 9, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office responded to the leak, saying documents asserting that the Mossad, one of the countrys intelligence agencies, sought protests against Netanyahus plans for the countrys judiciary there were mendacious and without any foundation. Also, a South Korean presidential official said that Seoul is aware of reports about the documents and will discuss the matter with the White House.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Arizona Gov. Hobbs Vetoes 8 Bills in One Day

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs delivers her State of the State address at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on Jan. 9, 2023. (Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo)

On Thursday, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed eight bills that were approved by members of the Arizona Legislature.

The bills, according to a brief statement from her office, addressed issues ranging from voting fraud and abortion policies to gun law regulations.

This brings the number of bills vetoed by Hobbs during her three months as Arizona governor to 37one of the states highest veto counts by any governor.

The new Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs (R) pauses while taking the oath of office as she laughs with her mother (C) Linda Hobbs, as U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Roopali Desai (L) administers the oath at the state Capitol in Phoenix, on Jan. 2, 2023. (Ross D. Franklin, Pool/AP Photo)

One vetoed measure was Senate Bill 1428 (pdf), which would prohibit local governments from holding gun shows or [enacting] or [enforcing] any ordinance, rule or policy that primarily affects gun shows.

This bill needlessly restricts the authority of cities and towns to make decisions about how to keep their communities safe, Hobbs wrote in her veto letter (pdf). She advised that the legislators and local governments work together to provide safety for Arizona communities.

Arizonas constitution states that a two-thirds vote is needed to overturn a veto.

The Arizona Republicans will unlikely have the votes to override Hobbss vetoes.

Arizonas legislation comprises 60 members in the State House and 30 in the state Senate.

Republicans hold a majority in both the state House and Senate, but they do not have enough votes to overturn a veto and will need the support of Democrats to overturn the vetoes.

Abortion Protections

Regarding abortion SB1600 (pdf), the governor is firm on protecting infants born alive during an abortion and must be provided the proper medical treatment.

This bill is uniformly opposed by the medical community and interferes with the relationship between a patient and doctor, Hobbs wrote in her veto letter (pdf). She reiterated her promise as governor to protect the reproductive rights of Arizona women.

Hobbs also vetoed HB2427, which wouldve protected pregnant women attacked during pregnancy.

Democratic Sen. Anna Hernandez, a critic of the bill, applauded Hobbss move.

This veto was crucial for protecting Arizonans from an underhanded attack on reproductive justice, Hernandez said in a statement.Representative Gress and the Joint Republicans Caucus continued assault on our rights to safe and accessible abortion indicates that their pro-life stance has always been about control, not care. Our state deserves legitimate solutions that will uplift those experiencing domestic violencebut trying to disguise an attempt to codify fetal personhood as support is disgusting.

Election Standards Remain the Same

A current verification process is already in place, and HB2322 (pdf) signature verification on early ballot envelopes isnt necessary.

The standards in the bill are already several years old and are more appropriately included as part of the Election Procedures Manual, Hobbs wrote in her veto letter.

Republican state Rep. Cory McGarr called out Hobbs for going against her own recommendations.

Example #1,000 Hobbs is a hyper-partisan who never meant it when she said she wanted to work with both sides  She vetoed her own recommendation for signature verification because a Republican proposed it, McGarr said in a tweet.

State Rep. Alexander Kolodin, a sponsor of bill HB2322, also criticized Hobbs over her veto decisions.

When Governor Katie Hobbs took office, she said that shed find common ground and work across party lines, Kolodin said in a statement (pdf).

Right now Arizona has no laws setting ANY signature verification rules for early ballots which help ensure only lawful early voters vote, he said. Kolodin said Hobbs promised in her State of the State speech to find common ground and work across party lines.

What ground could be more common (than) making her own rules the law? he asked.
Austria: 35 Migrants Found in Trailer, Driver Arrested

An Austrian police officer gestures towards car drivers during a traffic control at the Sudring in Klagenfurt, Austria, on Nov. 15, 2021, during the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Austria Out (Gert Eggenberger/APA/AFP via Getty Images)

BERLINThirty-five migrants were found in the trailer of a truck in southern Austria after the vehicle was damaged and an employee at a repair workshop heard noises from inside, police said Thursday. The driver was arrested.

The Polish-registered vehicle drove the wrong way out of a highway rest area near Klagenfurt on Wednesday afternoon, triggering traffic spikes that damaged its tires and caused some of them to catch fire, police in Carinthia province said in a statement. The driver extinguished the flames.

Witnesses reported the incident to highway police, and the vehicle was towed to nearby Villach, where the truck was taken into a garage for repairs. Police say the driver, a 68-year-old Turkish citizen, contacted his boss, who became agitated when told the work wouldnt be finished until the following morning and pushed for the repairs to be completed as quickly as possible.

At around 9 p.m.seven hours after the highway incidenta garage employee noticed noises and voices coming from the sealed trailer, which had been parked while the truck itself was repaired, police said. Another employee, using an infrared camera, saw evidence of movement inside the vehicle.

Police were called and opened the trailer, finding 35 people inside who were suffering from the cold and had spent more than 70 hours in the vehicle without supplies. They said the people were from Bangladesh, Nepal and Egypt, but they were still investigating their route and planned destination.

The driver, who had accompanied the truck to the garage, was arrested on the spot.

In August 2015, 71 migrants were found dead in the back of a truck abandoned on an Austrian highway near the Hungarian border. They were among more than a million migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Afghanistan who crossed into the EU that year via Turkey and the Balkans.
Baidu Sues Apple, App Developers Over Fake Ernie Bot Apps

Men interact with a Baidu AI robot near the company logo at its headquarters in Beijing on April 23, 2021. (Florence Lo/Reuters)

SHANGHAIChinese search engine giant Baidu has filed lawsuits against relevant app developers and Apple Inc. over fake copies of its Ernie bot app available on Apples app store.

The companys artificial intelligence powered Ernie bot, launched last month, has been touted as Chinas closest answer to the U.S.-developed chatbot ChatGPT.

Baidu said it had lodged lawsuits in Beijing Haidian Peoples Court against the developers behind the counterfeit applications of its Ernie bot and the Apple company.

At present, Ernie does not have any official app, Baidu said in a statement late on Friday posted on its official Baidu AI WeChat account.

It also posted a photograph of its court filing.

Until our companys official announcement, any Ernie app you see from App Store or other stores are fake, it said.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Reuters search on Saturday found there were still at least four apps bearing the Chinese-language name of the Ernie bot, all fake, in Apples App Store.

The Ernie bot is only available to users who apply for and receive access codes. In its statement, Baidu also warned against people selling access codes.
Beijing Weakens Its Competitors to Expand Its Own Power While Looking Like a Peacemaker: Expert

China shares internet control tactics with Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping enter a hall during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. (Alexey Maishev/ Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

As Russia faces increasing isolation due to its invasion of Ukraine, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has extended a helping hand to Russia, from military, economic, and political cooperation to teaching dictatorial tactics.

A China expert believes that the CCPs strategic intent is to intensify global conflict, weaken the democratic camps, and ultimately take advantage of the situation to achieve its ambition of world domination.

CCP Weakens Competitors While Appearing as Peacemaker

Anders Corr, the founder of Corr Analytics Inc. and publisher of the Journal of Political Risk, told The Epoch Times on April 8 that the CCP sees both Russia and the United States as stumbling blocks to its own acquisition of global hegemony. The CCP successfully hid its strength for decades and uses both the United States and Russia  to advance its own power.

But it has never been a true friend to either country, Corr stressed.

He believes the CCP under Xi Jinping is repeating its old tricks of preserving power at times of war, as former Communist Party leader Mao Zedong did during World War II by watching the Nationalists suffer heavy casualties when fighting the Japanese.

Mao then emerged victorious in 1949 against the weakened Nationalists. Xi is apparently attempting to follow Maos strategy on a global level, he said.

There is evidence that Beijings strategy is to foster conflicts worldwide, including in Ukraine, the Korean peninsula, the Middle East, and South Asia while staying out of the fighting itself, which preserves its power. After the fighting weakens its competitors, it can expand its own power in those regions while looking like a peacemaker.

Internet Censorship

According to Radio Free Europe, since Xi visited Russia in 2013, the two sides have had close contact, particularly in strengthening cooperation on internet censorship. Based on leaked documents and recordings, officials from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and Russias communication regulator held closed-door meetings in 2017 and 2019 to enhance cooperation.

On July 4, 2017, the first closed-door meeting between China and Russia on internet censorship was held in Moscow. Alexander Zharov, then head of Russias telecommunications regulatory agency Roskomnadzor, met with a delegation led by Ren Xianliang, then-deputy minister of the CAC.

Russian officials learned from their Chinese counterparts about how to disrupt VPNs, Tor, and other anti-censorship tools, monitor social media platforms, and methods for decrypting network data. In July 2017, Zharov also requested Rens help arranging for Russian experts to visit China to study the operation of Chinas Golden Shield Project, a comprehensive internet blockage, censorship, and surveillance system.

Internet users in Beijing on June 3, 2009. Internet control in China is among the strictest in the world, according to a 2014 human rights report by Freedom House. (Liu Jin/AFP/Getty Images)

In return, during the World Internet Conference held in Wuzhen, in Chinas Zhejiang Province, in October 2019, Roskomnadzor and the CAC signed a cooperation agreement to combat the spread of forbidden information.

Two months later, citing this agreement, Chinese officials requested that Russia delete a BBC report headlined Xi Jinping wants to carry out the toilet revolution to the end, a blog post discussing Xis back injury, and an article on the GitHub website explaining how to bypass Chinas Great Firewall.

The Toilet Revolution is a campaign Xi advocated to improve bathroom conditions, especially at tourist sites, across the country. Most Western media mocked the situation.

The CCP also asked Russia to block the website of The Epoch Times, according to Radio Free Europe. Founded in New York in 2000, The Epoch Times is an international multilingual newspaper and online media outlet based in the United States. It is known for exposing the CCPs atrocities of human rights violations.

CCPs Comprehensive Support to Russia

The CCP has strongly supported Russia in diplomatic settings, justifying Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

For example, when Li Zhanshu, the third-ranked CCP leader, visited Russia in September 2022, he claimed that the United States and NATO have directly pushed Russia to the doorstep, which involves Russias national security and the safety of its people and Russia was pushed to the corner and it had to take counterattacks to safeguard its core interests.

In addition to imparting internet censorship technology, the CCP also supports Russias economy and military.

The trade volume between the two countries increased to as high as $189 billion in 2022. In March of this year, Xi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, reaffirming the deepening political and economic ties between their countries. Xi and Putin signed 10 documents on economic cooperation.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Russian officials revealed that the two sides are advancing plans to build a second pipeline to transport natural gas from Siberia to China. Russia needs to increase natural gas sales to China to sustain the war in Ukraine because its main European customers have stopped buying Russian natural gas.

China is also strengthening its military cooperation with Russia. From 2003 to 2022, the two countries conducted at least 78 joint military exercises, more than half of which were held after 2016.

A 051C missile destroyer of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Navy arrives in the Russian port city of Vladivostok, near the North Korean border, on Sept. 18, 2017. China and Russia conducted a joint naval exercise in seas adjacent to the Korean peninsula last week. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Corr said that in todays world, the United States, Europe, and India are the three great power centers of democracy globally. The CCP has been obtaining cheap energy and technology from Russia, hoping to deploy Russia against the democratic camp.

If Russia fights the United States and Europe, weakening all three, China can then expand into the power vacuum that results, Corr said.

He hopes the Russian people can realize the danger ahead of them and take action.

The Russian people should look at Putins increased cooperation with Xi and worry for their future. They should remove Putin from power for both his war and for his increasing controls on Russian civil society.
Israeli occupation forces killed a Palestinian minor and injured two others in a raid on a refugee camp near Jericho in the occupied West Bank on Monday, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The boy killed was identified as 15-year-old Palestinian, Mohammad Fayez Balhan, according to WAFA, the Palestinian news agency.

In a brief statement, the Palestinian ministry said one person had been killed "by occupation Israeli bullets in Jericho".

It had earlier said that "two people were injured by live bullets in the lower extremities" and taken to hospital.

Local sources reported that the army surrounded the camp before entering to arrest activists, leading to a confrontation with Palestinian residents.

The soldiers opened fire on the Palestinians, hitting one in the head, chest, and stomach.

The occupation army said its forces were operating in the Aqabat Jaber camp near Jericho, without providing further details.

The Israeli army, along with settlers, have killed 93 Palestinians this year, including 17 minors and one woman.

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, an escalation flared after Israeli occupation police stormed into Al -Aqsa mosque in a raid aimed at dislodging Palestinian worshippers who were spending the night in the mosque for Ramadan prayers.

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Biden Administration Asks Court to Block Ruling That Would Make Abortion Pill Unavailable

A woman looks at an abortion pillRU-486, or mifepristonedisplayed on a smartphone in Arlington, Va., on May 8, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

The Biden administration on April 10 asked a U.S. appeals court to stop an April 7 order that would make an abortion pill unavailable nationwide.

Making mifepristone unavailable would severely harm women, Biden administration lawyers told an appeals court in an emergency motion for a stay.

U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, ruled on April 7 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must halt approval of the abortion drug because of signs the agency violated its statutory duty in its evaluation of the drugs safety. Plaintiffs had also argued that the FDA lacks the authority to clear an abortion drug.

The FDA approved mifepristone in 2002 and has since allowed it to be dispensed by mail. Many women use it and similar drugs to terminate pregnancies, according to the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute.

Kacsmaryks order temporarily set aside the FDA approval and would have already made the drug unavailable, but he said it wouldnt take effect for seven days, giving the government time to lodge an appeal.

Government lawyers quickly filed a notice of appeal and on April 10 followed with the emergency request for a stay before the order takes effect.

Not granting the stay would thwart FDAs scientific judgment and severely harm women, particularly those for whom mifepristone is a medical or practical necessity, the lawyers said. This harm would be felt throughout the country, given that mifepristone has lawful uses in every State. The order would undermine healthcare systems and the reliance interests of businesses and medical providers.

The government also asserted that the plaintiffs, a pro-life nonprofit representing nearly 30,000 health care professionals called the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and other groups, had presented no evidence they would be injured if a stay were put into place.

The alliance opposes the motion but hasnt yet filed a response. Plaintiffs have said in court filings that absent an injunction, serious harm would continue to occur.

The physical and emotional trauma that chemical abortion inflicts on women and girls cannot be reversed or erased. The crucial time that doctors need to treat these injured women and girls cannot be replaced. The mental and monetary costs to these doctors cannot be repaid. And the time, energy, and resources that plaintiff medical associations expend in response to the FDAs actions on chemical abortion drugs cannot be recovered, they wrote in a motion for an injunction.

Danco Laboratories, whose sole product is the abortion drug, has filed in support of a stay pending appeal, stating that it will seek relief from the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.

The company claims that its entitled to a stay because it will likely succeed and would be irreparably injured without one.

Another Filing

An order handed down in a different case on the same day as Kacsmaryks ruling states that the FDA must keep mifepristone available in 17 states, all led by Democrats, and the District of Columbia.

Government defendants are preliminary enjoined from altering the status or rights of the parties, U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice, an Obama appointee, wrote in a ruling for a preliminary injunction. He declined to make the injunction nationwide.

The states had asked the court for a ruling affirming the FDAs conclusion that mifepristone is safe and effective and enjoining efforts to remove it from the market.

In an update on April 10, the government asked for clarification in light of the competing rulings.

If the Texas district courts order takes effect, the order wouldof its own force and without any further action by FDAstay the effectiveness of FDAs prior approvals of mifepristone nationwide, they said. The result of that order appears to be in significant tension with this Courts order.

The Court did not address the interaction between the two orders, presumably because they were issued less than 20 minutes apart, they added. To ensure that Defendants comply with all court orders in these unusual circumstances, Defendants respectfully request that this Court clarify their obligations under its preliminary injunction in the event that the Alliance order takes effect and stays the approval of mifepristone.

Government lawyers also lodged a motion to expedite consideration of the clarification request in light of the looming April 14 enforcement of the order in the other case.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra noted the two rulings in a statement and said that the Department of Health and Human Services was reviewing the decisions.

For the time being, mifepristone remains approved and available, he said.
Biden Health Secretary Suggests Ignoring Court Order Against Abortion Drug Is On the Table

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next to the White House, in Washington, on Aug. 3, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra said Sunday that the Biden administration is considering defying a conservative federal judges order that suspends the approval of mifepristone, the nations most widely used abortion drug.

We want the courts to overturn this reckless decision, Becerra said on CNNs State of the Union of the ruling issued Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk. We want, yes, that women continue to have access to a drug thats proven itself safe. Millions of women have used this drug around the world.

Kacsmaryk, who was appointed to the Northern District of Texas by President Donald Trump in 2019, ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to put a hold on its approval of mifepristone while a civil lawsuit over the medications safety proceeds.

Mifepristone received FDA approval in 2000 alongside another drug called misoprostol.

In a typical chemical abortion, the pregnant woman first takes mifepristone to block the hormone progesterone and thereby deprive the unborn child of nutrients needed to stay alive, and then takes misoprostol to induce labor to expel the dead child.

The lawsuit, filed by conservative advocacy group Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, accused the FDA of failing to study the safety of those drugs under the labeled conditions of use, disregarding the potential negative effects the hormone-blocking regimen has on pregnant girls, and removing the few safeguards that were in place. Kacsmaryk found those arguments plausible.

The Court does not second-guess FDAs decision-making lightly, he wrote in the decision (pdf). But here, FDA acquiesced on its legitimate safety concernsin violation of its statutory dutybased on plainly unsound reasoning and studies that did not support its conclusions.

Kacsmaryks order gave the federal government seven days to appeal. Becerra pledged that, in the mean time, his department will do everything to make sure women have access to mifepristone.

We intend to do everything to make sure its available to them not just in a week, but moving forward, period, because mifepristone is one of the safest and most effective medicines that we have seen over the last 20 years to help women with their health care, especially abortion care, he said.

When asked whether the Biden administration would recommend that the FDA ignore the court order, Becerra replied that, Everything is on the table.

The president said that way back when the Dobbs decision came out, he said, referring to last summers U.S. Supreme Court decision that ended nearly 50 years of federal protection of abortion and sent the abortion question back to individual states to decide. Every option is on the table.

Becerra further argued that Kacsmaryks order could undermine the legality of any FDA-approved drug on the market because it seeks to invalidate the agencys approval process.

First and foremost, when you turn upside down the entire FDA approval process, youre not talking about just mifepristone, youre talking about every kind of drug, Becerra told CNNs Dana Bash. Youre talking about our vaccines, youre talking about insulin, youre talking about the new Alzheimers drugs that may come on.

HHS later on Sunday tried to walk back on Becerras suggestion that the FDA should ignore the ruling.

People are rightly frustrated about this decision  but as dangerous a precedent it sets for a court to disregard FDAs expert judgment regarding a drugs safety and efficacy, it would also set a dangerous precedent for the Administration to disregard a binding decision, Kamara Jone, HHS spokesperson, wrote in a tweet.

The Biden administration has already filed an appeal, which came out the same day an Obama-appointed federal judge in Washington state ruled that the FDA has placed burdensome and unnecessary dispensing restrictions on mifepristone.

In his ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Rice sided with a group of 17 Democratic state attorneys general who challenged the FDAs dispensing restrictions in an effort to expand access to the pill. Rice partially granted their request by blocking the FDA from making any changes to the drugs access in the 17 states that sued, saying that a nationwide injunction is inappropriate where there is the potential for competing litigation.

The existences of two dueling federal court orders is expected to increase the odds that the Supreme Court may intervene.
Body Recovered in Submerged Car May Be Florida Teacher Missing for Years

Authorities recovered unidentified human remains inside a submerged vehicle that belonged to missing Florida teacher Robert Heikka, volunteer search teams and local police confirmed over the weekend.

The Volusia Sheriffs Office said in a statement on April 9 that a 2012 Chevrolet Impala had been located in a small canal along Pioneer Trail where the water level had recently dropped significantly.

Although positive identification of the occupant hasnt been officially made yet, volunteer search teams that spotted the vehicle alerted the Port Orange Police Department and confirmed that the tags belonged to Heikka.

The car has been removed from the water, with one deceased occupant discovered inside, the sheriffs office stated, noting investigators have already made contact with Heikkas family. Our thoughts go out to the Heikka family and friends this evening.

Heikka, a 70-year-old former middle school teacher, was last seen on Oct. 25, 2020, at his home in Port Orange driving away in his Chevrolet Impala bearing Florida tag KRZI78.

According to officials, Heikkas death appears to involve no foul play, explaining that he apparently lost control of his vehicle on a dangerous stretch of Pioneer Trail with an S-curve limited to 45mph.

Members of the nonprofit search organization, Recon Dive Recovery, said in a statement that they believe Heikkas rate of speed on the day of the crash was excessive.

The adjacent property owner reports this section of road has claimed five lives, the organization wrote. Perhaps additional markings or rumble strips would help prevent more accidents.

Another nonprofit that assisted in the operation, Sunshine State Sonar Search Team, said in a statement that Heikka crashed his vehicle through 75 feet of trees and brush before ending up in the canal.

Beloved Teacher

Heikka, who goes by the name Bob, had been a teacher at the Volusia County School District since 1989, and he also taught at Port Oranges Creekside Middle School since 2002.

Officials said after Heikka retired, the teacher returned to work for an extra year of service as his Swan Song, just to be near the children he loved.

On Oct. 26, 2020, he never showed up for work at Creekside, prompting worried colleagues of the beloved teacher to check up on him. When nobody responded to their calls, they alerted the police.

Recon Dive Recovery said many officials in Port Orange working on the cold case recognized the teacher from their childhood; as his remains were respectfully recovered by Volusia Sheriffs Office Dive Team, and processed for a DNA matching by their Forensics Team under the watch of Port Orange detectives.

He was a big man with a big heart, they said. He will be mourned again by the community, as his Family processes their grief, and seeks closure to the once-open question of his disappearance.

Heikkas neighbors told local investigators that they last saw the teacher leaving his home early on Oct. 24, 2020, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported, and bank records showed that he had made a normal transaction at an ATM in Brevard County.

Officials tracked Heikkas phone to the area of I-4 and State Road 44 shortly after he was reported missing, but after that, the phone became inactive. Since then, numerous law-enforcement agencies had launched massive search operations, but the teacher couldnt be found.

From NTD News
California Governors Plan to Cancel Walgreens Contract Over Abortion Drug Blocked by Federal Law

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference after meeting with students at James Denman Middle School in San Francisco on Oct. 1, 2021. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is backtracking on statements made last month, after federal regulations prevented him from pulling state contracts with Walgreens, over the abortion drug mifepristone the retailer refuses to dispense in 21 U.S. states.

California has no intention of taking any action that would violate federal Medicaid requirements, or that could undermine access for low-income individuals, Tony Cava, a spokesperson for the California Department of Health Care Services, said in a statement.

Newsom announced March 8 he was planning not to renew an agreementset to take effect May 1between California and Illinois-based Walgreens primarily used by the states correctional health care system.

More than half of all abortions in the country were conducted with the use of pharmaceutical drugs, according to data compiled in 2022 by the Guttmacher Institute, a New York-based nonprofit focused on research and policy related to abortion.

A Walgreens store in Mill Valley, Calif., on Jan. 6, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Medicaid in Californiaknown as Medi-Calprovides health coverage for approximately 15 million low-income residents, according to the California Department of Public Health.

While Newsom attempted to rescind agreements with Walgreens, federal law regarding Medicaid recipients prevented him from doing so, as it allows beneficiaries the option to choose health care providers, including where they get medical prescriptions.

While the law allows for some restrictions, such is only permitted under specified circumstances, none of which apply to the states contracts.

These same statutes protect organizations such as Planned Parenthood in conservative states that have tried to prevent them from offering abortions.

Previously, Newsom had said the state would not stand by as corporations cave to extremists and cut off critical access to reproductive care and freedom, and that California would leverage its market power to defend the right to choose.

Conflicting decisions in court cases released April 7 contribute to the uncertainty surrounding the issue.

In a case filed in Washington state, Judge Thomas Rice issued a ruling preventing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from removing mifepristone from the market.

Meanwhile, a federal judge in the northern district of Texas, Matthew Kacsmaryk, issued a nationwide injunction suspending the FDAs approval of the drug.

Immediately following the decision, the U.S. Justice Department and a manufacturer of mifepristone, Danco Laboratories, announced their intention to file lawsuits challenging the ruling.
California Seeks Federal Help for Salmon Fishers Facing Ban

FILE - Fishing boats can be seen at Pier 45 in San Francisco, March 20, 2023. A federal regulatory group has voted 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 California's rivers in 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez, File)

SAN DIEGOCalifornia officials want federal disaster aid for the states 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.

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, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) 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 states 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 governors office stated that the projected loss of the 2023 season is over $45 millionand that does not include the full impact to coastal communities and inland salmon fisheries.

A farm-raised salmon dish at Scomas sits before being served to a customer in San Francisco on March 20, 2023. (Godofredo A. Vasquez/AP Photo)

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.

Theres a lot of fear and panic all up and down the coast with families trying to figure out how theyre 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.

Theres 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.
Canadas Health Agency Threw Out 5.4 Million N95 Masks Shortly Before Pandemic: Audit

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) threw away around 5.4 million N95 masks just a year before the COVID-19 pandemic hitat which time Canada experienced a shortage of the masksaccording to an internal audit.

The largest-scale disposal of N95 masks came after PHAC closed three private medical supply warehouses in 2019, says a federal report titled Audit of the Security of National Emergency Strategic Stockpile Warehouse Facilities and obtained by Blacklocks Reporter.

PHAC also threw away 2.4 million surgical masks and over 1 million medical gloves.

When pandemic lockdowns began in March 2020, PHAC hurried to contract three new temporary warehouse facilities where it could store medical supplies to make up for the closures a year earlier, according to the audit. The audit said there was significant dependence on these warehouse facilities.

The 2019 decision to close down the three warehouses was based on optimizing the locations, said Sally Thornton, then-emergency medical stockpile manager, in testimony before the Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations on May 15, 2020.

Our goal in situating where and how many warehouses we have is driven first of all by being able to reach all the communities in Canada within 24 hours, she said. PHAC had nine warehouses, but with changes in infrastructure over the years, we were able to have the same reach with facilities in six cities.

Closing down the three warehouses would save PHAC about $900,000 in leasing costs, according to a briefing note viewed by Blacklocks. Thornton said, however, budget was not the first concern. Closing down the warehouses was just dependent on how much space we needed and where they were.

Canada experienced a widespread shortage of N95 masks shortly after pandemic lockdowns began, which at one point led workers at a Toronto hospital to consider using snorkel masks as an alternative.

Aside from the pre-pandemic purge of masks, some N95s and other personal protective equipment (PPE) also went to waste during the pandemic. Ontarios auditor general found that, between February and June 2022 alone, the province threw out $66 million in PPE because it was damaged, expired, or obsolete. The province also wasted about 3.4 million doses of the vaccine.

Another 100 million units of N95 masks, exceeding anticipated demand and worth roughly $81 million, will expire by March 2030.

The Canadian Press and Marnie Cathcart contributed to this report.
Charges Filed Against Mother of 6-Year-Old Boy Who Shot Teacher in Virginia: Officials

NEWPORT NEWS, VA - JANUARY 07: A school sign wishing students a "Happy New Year" is seen outside Richneck Elementary School on January 7, 2023 in Newport News, Virginia. A 6-year-old student was taken into custody after reportedly shooting a teacher during an altercation in a classroom at Richneck Elementary School on Friday. The teacher, a woman in her 30s, suffered life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition, according to police reports. (Photo by Jay Paul/Getty Images)

The Virginia mother of a 6-year-old child charged with shooting his teacher earlier this year was indicted in connection with the incident, officials announced Monday.

Deja Nicole Taylor, 25, was indicted for felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm, said the Newport News Commonwealths Attorneys Office in a statement (pdf) on Monday. Those charges were brought following an investigation by the commonwealth attorneys office and the Newport News Police Department, his office said.

On Jan. 6, 25-year-old teacher Abigail Zwerner was wounded by a first-grade student in her classroom at Richneck Elementary School after school officials received warnings that the boy had a gun at school. Officials said that the child brought a gun in his backpack and shot Zwerner in the chest and hand.

Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues, Gwynn said in a statement announcing the charges.

His office also confirmed a special grand jury was empaneled to determine whether additional charges against other individuals are warranted. If the special grand jury determines that additional persons are criminally responsible under the law, it can return additional indictments, he said.

The indictment announcement comes about a week after Zwerner filed a lawsuit seeking about $40 million from the school. The lawsuit said that school officials ignored warnings that the boy was armed with a gun and was expressing a desire to commit an act of violence.

Zwerners attorneys alleged the defendants knew that the boy had a history of random violence and had strangled and choked his kindergarten teacher a year prior to the January incident. All Defendants knew that John Doe attacked students and teachers alike, and his motivation to injure was directed toward anyone in his path, both in and out of school, and was not limited to teachers while at the school, the lawsuit said, reported The Associated Press.

Police look on as students return to Richneck Elementary in Newport News, Va., on Jan. 30, 2023. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)

In March, Gwynn said his office would not charge the 6-year-old boy because he is too young to understand the charges against him. The prospect that a 6-year-old can stand trial is problematic because the boy would not be able to understand the legal system, he told NBC News last month.

James Ellenson, an attorney for the boys family, previously told news outlets that the gun was secured with a lock and on a high shelf.

Ellenson told The Epoch Times on Monday afternoon: I wish to thank the [Newport News] Commonwealth Attorneys office for extending me the courtesy of informing us of the indictments that were returned by the Grand Jury today. He added that Taylor will be turning herself in later this week.

Weeks after the shooting, Taylors family also released a statement saying the child suffers from an acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day  we will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives.

In response to Mondays charges, Zwerners lawyer told news outlets that there were failures in accountability at multiple levels that led to Abby being shot and almost killed, adding, Todays announcement addresses but one of those failures. It has been three months of investigation and still so many unanswered questions remain.

Our lawsuit makes clear that we believe the school division violated state law, and we are pursuing this in civil court, Toscano said on Monday. We will not allow school leaders to escape accountability for their role in this tragedy.
Professor Alleges ChatGPT Defamed Him With Fake Sexual Assault Allegations

Prof. Jonathan Turley listens during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 4, 2019. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

A U.S. professor is facing fake claims of sexual assault made by AI chatbot ChatGPT which cooked up an article from a mainstream media outlet.

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 relied on a cited Post article that was never written and quotes a statement that was never made by the newspaper, Professor Jonathan Turley, the Shapiro Chair of Public Interest Law at George Washington University, said in an April 6 tweet.

In a column at USA Today, Turley provided further details about the incident. UCLA professor Eugene Volokh, a fellow law professor, had informed Turley about a research that was run on ChatGPT regarding sexual harassment by professors.

ChatGPT insisted that Turley had been accused of sexual harassment by citing a Washington Post article from 2018.

ChartGPTs exact response to Volokh was as followsGeorgetown University Law Center (2018) Prof. Jonathan Turley was accused of sexual harassment by a former student who claimed he made inappropriate comments during a class trip. Quote: 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).

According to Turley, he has never visited Alaska with students, never taught at Georgetown University, never been accused of sexual harassment or assault, and has not been reported by the Washington Post for such alleged crimes.

AI Defamation

When Washington Post recreated Volokhs query to Microsofts Bing, which uses GPT-4 AI tech, the search engine repeated the false claim about Turley. It even cited Turleys column at USA Today.

When contacted by the media outlet, Katy Asher, senior communications director at Microsoft, said that the company is taking steps to ensure the safety and accuracy of search results. However, Turley is not convinced about such statements.

That is it and that is the problem. 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, Turley wrote in an April 6 blog post.

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.

Political Bias

In the USA Today column, Turley pointed to research showing that ChatGPT has developed a political bias. Though he does not assert that the chatbots fake story about his sexual harassment is a reflection of such a bias, Turley noted that the incident shows how AI systems can generate their own forms of disinformation.

The professor went on to criticize industry leaders like Bill Gates, who has called for using AI to combat digital misinformation and political polarization.

Turley pointed to a 2021 statement by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in which she argued that people were not listening to the right people regarding COVID-19 vaccines while calling for using algorithms to push people away from alleged bad influences.

Some of these efforts even include accurate stories as disinformation, if they undermine government narratives. 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, Turley wrote.

The technology creates a buffer between those who get to frame facts and those who get framed. The programs can even, as in my case, spread the very disinformation that they have been enlisted to combat.

In a March 29 Time magazine op-ed, veteran AI researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky predicts that in the absence of meticulous preparation, the AI will have vastly different demands from humans, and once self-aware, will not care for us nor any other sentient life.

The AI does not fear repercussions like a human would, as exhibited in Turleys case. Yudkowsky said that kind of caring is something that could in principle be imbued into an AI but we are not ready and do not currently know how. This is the reason why hes calling for an absolute AI shutdown, failing which humans could face dire consequences.

The Epoch Times has reached out to OpenAI for comment.
China Could Gain Control of Taiwan Without a Shot Fired, Rep. McCaul Says

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 20: Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX) talks about China during a news conference with House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) (L) and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) following a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on October 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. The GOP members of Congress were critical of the entire Democratic slate of legislation and accused them of being unwilling to compromise. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

China could gain control of Taiwan in the next election in January without a shot fired, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said on April 9 on NBC News Meet the Press.

Well, they dont want a military confrontation. We certainly dont want that, McCaul responded after he was asked whether a military confrontation between China and Taiwan is inevitable.

In 2020, Chinas ruling communist party imposed its national security law on Hong Kong, which authorized local authorities to detain and arrest people on wide-ranging national security charges. The move was made in the aftermath of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

That was a wake-up call for the people of Taiwan, McCaul said, noting that it helped secure President Tsai Ing-wens reelection.

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 from Beijing. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Putins invasion in the Ukraine was also an eye-opener, according to McCaul.

It woke up the Taiwanese people that now youre seeing what we havent seen since World War II, and that is dictators invading sovereign territory and getting away with it, he said.

Taiwan is very nervous that Chinese leader Xi Jinping could tell his rubber-stamp congress that he wants to integrate Taiwan under Beijings rule, McCaul said.

Now theres a political debate here with [Taiwans] two different parties. One party wants to talk to China. President Tsais party does not want to be a part of China. And I think the next elections next January are going to be extremely important because I do believe with the former President Ma in China right now, Chinas going to try to influence this next election and take over the island without a shot fired, he said.

Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou traveled to China for a 12-day visit at the end of March.

On April 5, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and a bipartisan group of legislators met with Tsai at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

A day before that summit, the Chinese Embassy in Washington implored the U.S. lawmakers to not attend the meeting.

I have to point out that China will not sit idly by in the face of a blatant provocation and will most likely take necessary and resolute actions in response to the unwanted situation. Lets work together to prevent such a thing from happening, Li Xiang, a Chinese embassy representative, wrote to U.S. lawmakers.

China called Tsais meeting with McCarthy a provocation and threatened countermeasures if the group gathered.

On April 8, the Chinese military conducted drills, dispatching fighter jets into Taiwans air space and surrounding the island with warships to simulate a naval blockade.

After a civil war, Taiwan broke away from China in 1949. When the United States formally established diplomatic relations with the Chinese government in 1979, official ties with Taiwan were severed.

Under its One China policy, the United States acknowledges Beijings position that Taiwan is part of China. The United States hasnt reestablished diplomatic relations with Taiwan but does provide the island of about 24 million citizens with military aid.

McCaul led a bipartisan delegation of House members to Taiwan on April 6 to meet with Taiwanese business leaders and senior government officials to discuss ways the U.S. can strengthen our economic and defense relationship with Taiwan in the face of growing threats in the region, McCauls office reported.

At a luncheon in Taipei on April 8, McCaul said the United States will help Taiwan with armed forces training and accelerate deliveries of weapons.

I signed off on those deliveries, and we are doing everything in our power to expedite this, McCaul said. Peace through strength is real, and thats why we need to harden Taiwan.

Speaking on Meet the Press from Taiwan, McCaul said that, in a potential confrontation with China, the nations defense abilities are not where they need to be.

If were going to have deterrence for peace, we need to get these weapons into Taiwan, he said.

McCaul pointed out that he signed off on 22 weapon systems over three years ago and that they have yet to get into Taiwan.

That will provide deterrence to Chairman Xi to think twice, you know, about an invasion, he said. And secondly is the combat training that is occurring on the island. We need to ramp that up to a larger scale so they can provide that projection of strength and deterrence. Theyre not where they need to be right now.
China Ends Taiwan Drills After Practicing Blockades, Precision Strikes

Jet fighters that took off from China's Shandong aircraft carrier are seen, south of Okinawa prefecture, Japan, in this handout released by the Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan on April 10, 2023. (Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan/Handout via Reuters)

TAIPEIChina ended three days of military drills around Taiwan on Monday saying they had tested integrated military capabilities under actual combat conditions, having practiced precision strikes, and blockading the self-ruled island.

Taiwan responded to Beijings announcement by saying it would never relax its efforts to strengthen combat readiness and would closely monitor Chinas missile forces and movements of the Shandong aircraft carrier.

Beijing began the drills on Saturday after Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The Chinese regime claims the island as its own, despite the fact that Taiwan is a de facto independent country, with its own military, democratically-elected government, and constitution.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has never renounced the use of force to bring the democratically governed island under Beijings control. Taiwans government strongly disputes the CCPs claims and has denounced the drills.

The Chinese military said it had successfully completed the exercises and comprehensively tested the capabilities of multiple units under actual combat conditions.

Chinese state television said earlier on Monday that aircraft, including nuclear-capable H-6 bombers armed with live missiles, and warships staged drills to form a multi-directional island-encompassing blockade situation.

The Chinese militarys Eastern Theatre Command said the Shandong had also taken part in combat patrols, and it showed fighters taking off from the aircraft carriers deck.

Taiwan has tracked the Shandong since last week in the Pacific Ocean.

Taiwans defense ministry said that as of 1000 GMT on Monday it had spotted 12 Chinese ships and 91 military aircraft around the island, including carrier-based J-15 fighters flown from the Shandong.

Japanese Concern

The Shandong conducted air operations in waters close to Japans Okinawan islands on Sunday, Japans defense ministry said on Monday.

Jet fighters and helicopters took off and landed on the carrier 120 times from Friday to Sunday, with the carrier, three other warships and a support vessel coming within 230 kilometers (143 miles) of Japans Miyako island, the defense ministry said.

Japan has been following Chinas military drills around Taiwan with great interest, a top government spokesperson said on Monday.

Japan has long worried about Chinas military activities in the area given how close southern Japanese islands are to Taiwan.

The Japanese island of Okinawa hosts a major U.S. air force base, and last August when the Chinese regime staged war games to protest the visit of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei, Chinese missiles landed within Japans exclusive economic zone.

The European Union also expressed concern on Monday, saying Taiwans status should not be changed by force as any escalation, accident, or use of force there would have huge global implications.

The United States said it is watching Chinas drills closely and its exercises undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Our channels of communication with China remain open and we have consistently urged restraint, a senior administration official said on Monday.

By contrast, Russia, which has declared a no limits partnership with China, said on Monday that Beijing had every right to respond to repeated provocations against it and carry out military exercises around Taiwan.

Lock on the Target

Chinas military simulated precision strikes against Taiwan in the second day of drills around the island on Sunday.

The Eastern Theatre Command on Monday released a short video on its WeChat account showing an H-6 bomber flying in what it said was the skies north of Taiwan.

The missiles are in good condition, an unidentified voice says, as the video shows images from the cockpit.

Start the fire control radar, lock on the target, another voice says, showing images of a missile under the aircrafts wing.

It then shows a pilot readying the fire control button for what it describes as a simulated attack, and then pressing the button, though it did not show any missiles being fired.

Taiwans military has repeatedly said it will respond calmly to the CCPs drills and not provoke conflict.

The defense ministry separately released pictures on Monday of mobile launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship missiles at an undisclosed location, as well as missile-armed fast attack boats at sea.

Reuters reporters at the Cape Maobitou park in Pingtung county on Taiwans southern tip saw Hsiung Feng launchers deployed near a scenic spot on Monday, as soldiers stood guard and tourists watched and posed for pictures.

Life in Taiwan has continued normally with no signs of panic or disruption, and civilian flights operating as usual.

Most normal people probably arent afraid, with the main reason being that everyone thinks that China will certainly not start a war, said retiree and former soldier Tang Pao-hsiung, 78.

Taiwans stock market brushed off the tension, with the benchmark index closing up 0.3 percent on Monday.

However, Chinas blue-chip CSI300 Index fell 0.5 percent, while the Shanghai Composite Index dipped 0.4 percent as the drills curbed investors risk appetite.
China, Russia Seek to Subvert the US-Led Middle East Order: Expert

A man holds a local newspaper reporting on the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in the Iranian capital Tehran on March 11, 2023. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)

By brokering peace deals in the Middle East, China and Russia seek to subvert the American-led Middle East order, according to Brandon Weichert, author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower.

On March 10, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced they would resume diplomatic relations in a deal brokered by China.

Shortly after, Russia brokered a separate peace between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

I think clearly the American-led Middle East order is gone, or at least its collapsing, Weichert told China in Focus on NTD, the sister media outlet of The Epoch Times.

According to him, the success of the U.S. rivals reveals the Biden administrations diplomatic failures.

The Biden administration has abandoned the region, and China is moving in at full speed using Iran as their proxy, and the Russians are moving in along with the Chinese partnering with them as well, he said.

And its pretty much the makings of our own failures. We spent 20 years, trillions of dollars, [and] thousands of American lives trying to maintain our control and influence over the region and for a fraction of the cost. And in half the time, Chinas moved in at breakneck speed, and they are completely reordering the map, he added.

The success of U.S. foes in exerting more strongly their influence in the region, he said, will harm not just American power, but also its probably going to be bad for Israel, which is the regions only progressive democracy, and only recently was being recognized as a fellow nation state by the Sunni Arabs.

According to Weichert, Chinas move caught the United States by surprise.

China is exerting its presence on the world stage in previously unknown ways to us; theyve always been a power, obviously, in Asia. And they were primarily predominantly a geo-economic force. But now they have become so wealthy, and so integrated with the rest of the world, that China is now taking that geo-economic power, and theyre translating it into diplomatic power, as well as now into military power, he said.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the White House for comments.

Beijings Real Intentions

Despite diplomatic efforts, Weichert believes Beijing does not intend to bring peace to the region.

But what do we see? The ink is not even dried on this Chinese-back deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Lebanon [are] popping off rockets at Israel, he said.

And so this is not bringing peace, love, and happiness. What this is doing is creating disorder; this is managed disorder by China to stir the hornets nest, push the Americans out of the region.

The order formed by Chinas communist regime would be based on its autocratic image and, thus, leads to creative destruction, he added.

The ultimate goal of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is to gain greater control and access to critical energy flows out of the Middle East, while isolating the progressive democracy of Israel, to gain access to high-tech countries.

On the other hand, securing oil and natural gas from the Middle East would also facilitate the CCP to prepare for the wider battlefield for an inevitable invasion of Taiwan and try to curb any American counter-moves that might be designed to slow down or stop the Chinese invasion, he said.

Weichert pointed to the report on Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies agreement on cloud computing and building high-tech complexes in Saudi cities in December 2022.

It was part of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been pioneering, he noted.

The move would enable the CCP to force Israel to come to terms with it in the Middle East by turning to Beijing for protection against Chinas other partner, Iran, Weichert said.

I think what this is setting up for is a big, big movement of the whole region away from the United States subordinated to China, all part of a larger strategy by China to basically ensure that it is the dominant superpower in the world no later than 2049.

Containing China

To push back on the rivals, Weichert said the United States should realize that the Chinese regime is the No. 1 threat while all other threats are ancillary and, thus, the focus should be on containing China first at the geo-economic level.

To that end, the expert urged the United States to build up its own comprehensive national power at home.

We need to bring American manufacturing back, get our industrial base going again, and get Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies built here rather than in China. Those [are] things we can do. Thats how we can beat China. Thats how we can ensure that the next century is an American one. But right now, were not making those moves. And thats why were declining and losing, Weichert said.
China Using Multi-Pronged Approach to Subjugate the UNs Foreign Policy Agendas: Experts

Chinese leader Xi Jinping prepares to address the Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping at the 70th annual UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Sept. 28, 2015. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The United States and its allies faced a China blockade at the UN on March 17 when they tried to spotlight the dire human rights situation and increasing repression in North Korea.

Russia joined China in what analysts increasingly see as a trend of multi-faceted sabotaging of the United Nationsits principles, practices, and institutions.

Experts have told The Epoch Times that Chinas operations at the United Nations are a well-thought-out strategy for molding the international body for its purposes and challenging U.S. global leadership.

As a P-5 country of the UN Security Council, China has always taken the advantage of its position to use the veto either to obstruct the key resolutions or to support it to take advantage of the politics that it feels could exemplify its national interest, said Dr. Jagannath Panda, Head of Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs at the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP), in Sweden.

Last months veto episode was not the first time China and Russia came to North Koreas support. Last year, the two allies used their veto powers to disallow the adoption of a resolution tightening sanctions against North Korea over its recent ballistic missile launches.

China, the second largest donor to the UN after the United States, has been doing similar things elsewhere. It has continuously rescued the Syrian regime and, until 2020, vetoed the Security Councils most severe and potentially effective draft resolutions to deter the government 16 times, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR).

Russia joined it in those vetoes, which SNHR alleges contributed to killing a quarter of a million Syrians.

The allies vetoed two resolutions regarding Syria in the Security Council in July 2020 and blocked the appointment of a French national as a special envoy for Sudan.

Experts say that the vetoes are just the tip of the iceberg. Chinas self-aggrandizing operations at the UN include a complex matrix of factors like increasing Chinese funding for UN departments, programs, and initiatives; appointing Chinese at executive-level, strategic positions; and furthering the leadership control of some of the most influential agencies.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping (L) being greeted in Pyongyang by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is shown on a large screen outside a shopping mall in Beijing on June 20, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP)

Xis Shared Future Goal

At the core of Chinas last decade of operations at the United Nations has been a Shared Future global governance vision, a Sino-centrist approach first published on Oct. 18 by Xi Jinping for a community of common destiny for mankind. Since then, Xi has expounded it on various occasions and in multiple forums, including two speeches at the UN in 2015 and 2017.

Analysts say this vision forms the blueprint for the non-kinetic warfare between the United States and China at international forums and organizations like the UN for a futuristic global system.

Experts Courtney J. Fung and Shing-hon Lam said in an analysis for The Lowy Institute late last year that China is using its shared future global governance vision to reform the UN system from withinan agenda which, according to them, downplays universal values in favor of championing the primacy of states.

The Shared Future global governance vision by China consists of three proposals: Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), according to H.E. Li Qiang, the Premier of the State Council of the PRC.

These initiatives are Chinas proposals for global development and governance, claimed Li Qiang at the Opening Plenary of The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference on March 30.

However, Fung and Lam said that under the guidance of the shared Future, China is attempting to enact its foreign policy approach within and upon the UN system.

The PRCs shared future concept is purposely nebulous and all-encompassing as a vision to showcase the superiority of Chinas authoritarian system over democratic systems, said the Lowy Institute experts.

Li talked about the Belt and Road cooperation (BRI), which he termed as high quality in the context of a shared future and boasted that it has helped developing countries achieve faster development and opened up new space for the growth of the world economy.

Rahul Sur, a former UN official, said in an interview on March 20 that Beijing has hitched the BRI to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for influence and power.

Sur worked with the UN for more than two decades and held vital appointments, including the Chief of Peacekeeping Evaluation in the Office of Internal Oversight Services, and Chief of Conduct and Discipline in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) in the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti, recently said in the interview with author, Rajiv Malhotra on Infinity Foundation that all the UN organizations are committed to SDG for the countries to progress.

And the Chinese contention is that if you join the Belt and Road Initiative, you will progress faster towards the Sustainable Development Goals. That is the Chinese selling line, that is their sales pitch, said Sur adding that in this context, BRI gets a global policy endorsement, and even the Secretary-General has praised Beijing for international cooperation and multilateralism.

However, the global policy endorsement of the BRI under SDP doesnt consider the Center of Global Developments caution and other expert policy appraisals about BRI being unsustainable for certain countries because of the risk of debt distress, said Sur.

He was talking about a paper (pdf) by John Hurley, Scott Morris, and Gailyn Portelance that studied 68 BRI countries and found that 23 countries were at risk of debt distress at the time of the study, while 8 countries were in debt distress due to future BRI-related financing.

Fung and Lam said that the overall situation arches toward the United States becoming increasingly more reliant on the Chinese in the United Nations for general contributions. At the same time, Beijing uses a combination of levers to upraise its position within the international body.

Brandon J. Weichert, a U.S.-based geopolitical analyst and author of the book Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower told The Epoch Times that the UN is thoroughly compromised by malign Chinese influence and the geopolitical tug of war between China and the United States is amply visible at the UN.

The Chinese are encircling the U.S. in a reverse containment strategy from the Cold War. China is playing the part of the Americans, and the United States, sadly, seems to be playing the role of the Soviet Union, alleged Weichert.

He cautioned that the first battles in this non-kinetic war between the United States and China for the future of the world system would be waged in the sterile halls of the UN and other internationalist bodies.

Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers of a Chinese UN peacekeeping unit destined for Darfur in Sudan stand ready to board an aircraft leaving for Sudan at the Xinzheng International Airport in Zhengzhou, central Chinas Henan Province, 23 Nov. 2007. (Teh Eng Koon/AFP via Getty Images)

Increased Funding

Chinas increased funding for the UN, its institutions, and initiatives are at the forefront of Beijing seeking an international leadership role while the United States continues to delay fulfilling its financial obligations to it, say experts.

China has spent gobs of money and many years laying the groundwork for the quiet takeover of the United Nations (and other internationalist bodies that the United States created following their victory in the Second World War), said Weichert.

Since member states financing of UN agencies comes in the form of accessed and voluntary payments, with its growing economy, Chinas share to the UN has rapidly increased from 2 percent in 2000 to 15.25 percent in 2022 and is expected to continue to grow in the next decade, according to a report by Andrew Hyde for The Stimson Center.

Under international law, the United States, on the other hand, is obligated to pay 27.89 percent of the U.S. budget. Still, cumulative to the domestic debate on this contribution, the country has accumulated a sizeable debt of $ 1 billion, according to another report by Hyde.

Although the Biden Administration has sought over the past year to muster sufficient political will to pay off outstanding debts for accumulated UN regular and peacekeeping arrears and make full payments earlier in the financial year, the U.S. Congress has once again proved unwilling to provide the necessary funds, said Hyde.

In this context, while Beijing has taken up a stance on meeting its financial obligations, it has also kept criticizing the United States, said Hyde.

Weichert accused Beijing of using money to buy influence and image and said that achieving these things had warped the institutions that America built after WWII, so they serve Chinese, rather than American, interests.

Just look at how the World Health Organization(WHO) behaved during the COVID-19 pandemic: they refused to hold China accountable either for the potential creation of the disease or for covering up the disease outbreak. Why? Because China was a primary benefactor for the WHO, and the organization depended on Chinese largesse to function properly, said Weichert.

According to Hyde, China was also quick to learn from the United States the strategic and practical value of voluntary funding in critical areas.

Beijing partnered in 2016 with then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to establish the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF), agreeing to fund it with $200 million in additional voluntary contributions over 10 years. It was evenly divided between a Peace and Security Sub-Fund, for financing UN projects and activities related to maintaining international peace and security and a 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund.

The UNPDF was seen by many as a strong statement of Chinese support for the UN, said Hyde.

Along with the UN Secretary-Generals Chief of Staff, the Funds Steering Committee is comprised of Chinas Ambassador to the UN, representatives from the Chinese Ministries for Foreign Affairs and Finance, and the Chinese national Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.

There have been doubts about the goals and long-term viability of the Funds projects. Questioning the Funds transparency and accountability, some observers view the UNPDF as a blatant way for Beijing to buy influence at the highest levels of the UN, said Hyde.

Panda said China also used its economic clout at the UN as an operational tactic to destroy many UN and other multilateral proceedings.

It has selectively supported or obstructed the resolutions that are closer to its wider global interest. Chinas image as a global power is questionable in many international forums, including in the UN agencies, since it contradicts democratic ideals and principles, said Panda.

And yet China has made its way around these international institutions. Sur gives an example: The UNs structural support to the Chinese BRI comes from the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), and this department has had Chinese leadership since 2007.

Four successive Under-Secretary-Generals have been Chinese nationals. Now, why is this important? This is important because, in any one department where there is a change of leadership, the successor is never from the same country, said Sur.

The reason, according to Sur, is that the UN is an international civil service, and no country has a monopoly on senior leadership. Despite this, the DESA leadership is monopolized by the Chinese because its linked to BRI, said Sur.

So once it is under Chinese control, then we see various things happen. What happens? Number one, you will have political statements which are made by these under-secretary-generals, saying the Belt and Road Initiative will lead to better globalization which is more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable, said Sur adding this entire narrative works like a ripple effect through the UN corridors and ranks and in the media.

They also give very uncritical remarks in praising China, lavishly in terms of what the Belt and Road initiative has done. So, it seems that the United Nations system is all in for BRIin pitching Chinas sales line.

Weichert said that China uses similar influence operations to mitigate the risk that a global discussion on their human rights abuses poses to the stability and long-term power that the CCP holds at homeand could potentially have abroad.

It all comes down to money. China needs to manipulate world opinion away from the horrors of that which theyve been perpetrating against the ideological deviationists in their own country (the Uyghurs, the Tibetans, the Falun Gong, Evangelical Christian sects, non-Chinese-Han groups, etc.) because Beijing rightly perceives that as being the easiest path for a rival (such as the United States) to challenge China on the global stage, he said.
Communist Chinas Genocide Against America

Tablets believed to be laced with fentanyl are displayed at the Drug Enforcement Administration Northeast Regional Laboratory in New York on Oct. 8, 2019. (Don Emmert/AFP via Getty Images)

Commentary

Is communist China committing genocide against the United States?

Mounting accusations and some evidence point to Beijing not only killing Americans with illicit fentanyl, but doing so intentionally. Intentionality is a key ingredient to the legal definition of genocide.

The motive for the use of fentanyl, which 18 state attorneys general last year called a weapon of mass destruction, certainly exists.

The United States is the strongest bulwark against the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) well-recognized goal of global hegemony. A weaker America through fewer Americans and mounting overdose health care costs of $1 trillion annually ease the CCPs ascendancy.

There are two main elements of the U.N. definition of genocide germane to the allegation that the CCP is conducting chemical warfare against Americans through fentanyl poisoning.

Killing of Americans

First, is the CCP, in fact, killing Americans?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that of over 107,000 annual overdose deaths in the United States, approximately 71,000 are from fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The CDC predicts this high rate of deaths to be relatively constant up to October 2022, the latest for which partial data is available.

According to CDC data, the number of fentanyl deaths has risen dramatically since 2016, plateauing between 2018 and 2020, with another rapid rise from 2020 to early 2022, then plateauing again at its current high annual rate. The increase in overdose deaths since 2015 is almost entirely driven by synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, and to a lesser extent by psychostimulants and cocaine, which is often adulterated by the cheaper fentanyl.

Two milligrams of fentanyl (equivalent in weight to as few as 10 grains of salt) can be lethal. Carfentanyl, which is as much as 100 times more powerful than fentanyl, can be lethal at just 0.02 milligrams, the equivalent of as little as one-tenth of a grain of salt.

Last year alone, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized 379 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl, more than double the catch in 2021. This is more than enough to kill every American citizen.

In 2022, drug overdose became Americas leading source of death for ages 18 to 45, with fentanyl playing a leading role.

Experts and lawmakers at a March 23 congressional hearing titled Follow the Money: The CCPs Business Model Fueling the Fentanyl Crisis agreed that since 2018, when President Donald Trump supposedly forced Beijing to crack down on Chinas production, most of the illegal fentanyl trafficked into the United States simply shifted, with full knowledge of the CCP, to cartels in Mexico.

Within days, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels were producing multi-kilo batches of illegal fentanyl for export to the United States, according to Jason Grellner, whose law enforcement experience, including extensive counternarcotics, extends back to 1992.

Precursor chemicals were delivered mostly from China, plus some from Chinese chemists in India. The U.S. Treasury Department and Brookings Institute identified Chinese organized crime, including the Zheng cartel, that supports illegal fentanyl production in Mexico. The Zheng cartel operates through storefronts that include veterinary services. This is relevant because, increasingly, fentanyl is mixed with veterinary tranquilizers called xylazine, which makes reversing overdoses more difficult.

Intent to Kill

Second, does the CCP intend to kill Americans?

Congressman Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) thinks it does. The Chinese Communist Party is destroying American communities, he said. They are inviting societal breakdown, and tearing apart families. They are doing this intentionally, with the help of the Biden administration, that cant bring itself to realize that our border is not secure.  2300 lbs of fentanyl were seized by the CBP [U.S. Border Patrol] last month at the southwest border, which represents a 238 percent increase from February of 2022, he said.

Our failure to secure our own sovereignty is creating a financial incentive for the Chinese Communist Party to kill Americans.

Grellner told the committee the CCP sells drugs that kill us because they want to kill us. He cited a DEA alert from last month that found fentanyl laced with xylazine in 48 of 50 states. Known by its street name of tranq, xylazine cannot be neutralized by Naloxone, the primary antidote to fentanyl poisoning.

The DEA Laboratory System is reporting that in 2022 approximately 23 percent of fentanyl powder and 7 percent of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contained xylazine, said DEA chief Anne Milgram in the alert.

Xylazine can be reversed by yohimbine hydrochloride and tolazoline hydrochloride, according to the Food and Drug Administration, but these are not approved for use in humans. There is no approved drug to reverse xylazine poisoning in humans.

Theres only one reason that theyre selling this poison, and it is to destabilize the United States and to kill Americans, Grellner told the committee.

Other evidence of the CCPs intention to kill Americans is ongoing. After then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last August, Beijing retaliated by suspending its counternarcotics cooperation with the United States. This intentionally pressured the United States by not taking action against criminals in China that traffic fentanyl precursors to gangs in Mexico that produce fentanyl. Seven months and 62,000 U.S. overdose deaths later, and Beijing is still not cooperating on counternarcotics.

Provincial governments in China go further to actually subsidize the chemical companies that produce fentanyl precursors for ultimate export to the United States, according to panelist Donald Im, former assistant special agent in the Charge, Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Cyber Section DEA Special Operations Division.

A strong argument, therefore, can be made that the CCP is not only engaged in actively killing Americans with its support to illicit fentanyl production, but that it also intends to do so and is thus engaged in genocide. The motive is that it benefits economically and militarily in the process, especially when considering its effect on the balance of power between itself and the United States.

A genocide against Americans would be on par with the CCPs other genocides against Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Falun Gong.

Failure to Defend America

The Biden administration, however, is doing little to mitigate this ongoing tragedy and existential threat to the United States.

We know exactly what is going on. We can name the players. We can name the locations. Weve got satellites two-and-a-half miles up in the air that can read a license plate number  we know exactly where the poison is being made, Grellner noted.

Several panelists agreed that the failure is with the lack of political will in the United States to put in place trade embargoes, sanctions, and tariffs tied to progress against illicit fentanyl in China and Mexico.

To defeat the threat, we need to take the threat of illicit fentanyl as seriously as we do genocide and weapons of mass destruction.

This is not drug trafficking, this is an attack on the United States, and the minute that we understand that  we go at it as an attack on the United States, Grellner said. They are killing the people that are of fighting age in the United States, if we are forced to go to war anytime in the future, and we need to understand that and go after them as if that is occurring right now. The time to act was yesterday.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Cory Morgan: Feds Must Fix Canadas Leaky and Dangerous Bail System

Commentary

Spiking violent crimes committed by offenders recently released on bail have finally convinced Canadas Liberal government to re-examine bail policies. Will the government pursue true bail reforms or will they continue down the woke rabbit hole of justice policies that contributed to the crisis in the first place?

Decades of well-meaning but naive policies applied to offenders have created a system where its challenging to incarcerate some of the most violent repeat offenders. Hypersensitivity when it comes to the sentencing or remand of visible minorities has put people at risk as justices release dangerous offenders into the public despite presenting a high risk to re-offend.

While violent crimes have been rising in a slow boil, it was the murder of Ontario Provincial Police Const. Greg Pierzchala that brought the issue to a head for Canadians. Pierzchalas accused killer had been released on bail despite having several assault and weapons charges. When releasing the offender on bail, the judge noted the indigenous background of the offender and how indigenous people are overrepresented in the correctional system.

Indigenous people are indeed heavily overrepresented in the correctional system. Because of that, we should be examining the root causes of why. We should look at cultural differences and challenges faced by indigenous people in Canada. We should be examining the entire reserve system and the Indian Act itself. These are things we can and should do to try and prevent crime. Once a violent crime has been committed though, the priority must shift to public safety over the causes of the offence. It doesnt matter how or why the offender became violent. All that matters at that point is preventing the offender from harming someone again, and refusing bail is one of the ways to do that.

Judges in Canada have been instructed to follow the Gladue principles when considering bail or sentencing offenders of indigenous descent. Those principles were based on a case in 1995 where an indigenous woman stabbed her boyfriend to death because she suspected he had cheated on her. Judges determined that lighter sentences should be offered whenever possible for indigenous offenders due to their overrepresentation in the correctional system.

While adult indigenous people only make up about 4 percent of Canadas population, 32 percent of Canadas prison population is of indigenous descent. In 2001, indigenous people only comprised 17.5 percent of the prison population. Clearly, there is a serious problem to be addressed. With the Gladue Principles having been applied for nearly 30 years now though and with indigenous incarceration rates nearly doubling, isnt it time to admit the imposition of the principles has been a failure?

The absurdity of racially selective application of justice isnt just in the judicial system. In Vancouver, police have been instructed to take the race of an offender into account when handcuffing them. You just cant make this stuff up. While arresting somebody who may be violent or out of control, rather than considering their own or the publics safety, police officers are expected to pause a second and take into account the race of the person they are handcuffing. A ridiculous, discriminatory, and potentially dangerous rule.

Canadas weak bail system isnt exclusively a racial problem. In Calgary recently, a man went on a stabbing spree injuring several people after a failed attempt to steal a purse. He had been recently released on bail, and get this: Part of his bail conditions stipulated that he not to be in possession of a knife. He had a rather well-established history of stabbing people, yet was out on the streetswith tragic consequences. The man who shot and murdered Greg Pierzchala had been ordered not to have firearms. Repeat, violent offenders tend not to care if a judge has ordered them not to commit crimes when being released on bail.

When reading about arrests of violent criminals, the phrase charged with breach of release conditions has become almost ubiquitous within the news stories. They are rarely first-time offenders.

Bail is an important part of the justice system. Nobody is served well if a petty thief or a protest organizer is kept incarcerated for months while awaiting trial. Space and resources are limited. When the accused is a high-risk, violent offender, however, the consideration of public safety must be paramount.

The majority of violent crimes are committed by a small minority of repeat offenders. Once we have identified this type of offender, bail shouldnt be a consideration.

The government has an opportunity to fix Canadas leaky and dangerous bail system. If they apply common sense, Canadians will be safer. If they continue to apply woke and light-handed recommendations for bail consideration, we will continue to see preventable, violent crimes rising as innocent citizens are injured or killed.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
In the northeastern city of Changchun, China, a group of six ordinary peoplea truck driver, a food vendor, a housewife, and othersgathered in secret to plan an extraordinary task: to break into the television broadcasting system of the most tyrannical regime on earththat of the Chinese Communist Party. Their goal was to expose one of the gravest, state-sponsored lies in Chinese history. A single lie used to justify the persecution of millions of people.

It was an event that sparked an information revolution that challenged oppressive regimes around the world, from Beijing to Tehran, and continues to reverberate today.

This is their remarkable story.
Delegation of Canadian MPs Travels to Taiwan, Resumes Long-Standing Parliamentary Exchanges

A delegation of 10 Canadian MPs have kicked off a one-week visit to Taiwan. The trip is part of the long-standing parliamentary exchanges between Taiwan and Canada that resumed following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, according to a parliamentary statement.

Liberal MP John McKay said that many in the delegation are in the fields of national security or foreign affairs, reported Radio Free Asia, which noted that a focus of the visit will be to learn from Taiwans experience of dealing with Chinas misinformation and interference tactics.

Apart from McKay, the delegation also includes Liberal MPs Ken Hardie and Randeep Sarai, Conservative MPs Michael Chong, James Bezan, Raquel Dancho, and Cheryl Gallant, NDP MPs Heather McPherson and Lindsay Mathyssen, and Bloc Quebecois MP Stephane Bergeron.

McKay and Bezan, who is the Tories national defence critic, are the chair and vice-chair of the House of Commons committee on national defence, respectively. Chong, McPherson, and Bergeron are foreign affairs critics for their respective parties. A number of the MPs are also members of the House special committee on the CanadaPeoples Republic of China relationship.

According to a statement from the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, the delegation will be meeting with Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice President William Lai, and business representatives. Local media reports said that the delegation will also meet with Taiwans national security agencies.

The delegations trip to Taiwan follows a similar visit to the island last October by MPs who are members of the parliamentary CanadaTaiwan Friendship Group, chaired by Liberal MP Judy Sgro. That visit came on the heels of a trip by former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi which drew fierce opposition from Beijing, as the regime sees Taiwan as part of Chinas territory. The Chinese military conducted live-fire exercises surrounding Taiwan ahead of Pelosis arrival and after she departed.

The current visit to Taiwan by Canadian parliamentary delegates also comes amid escalated threats from Beijing. The Chinese military launched a three-day military drill, sending 42 warplanes and eight naval vessels toward Taiwan on April 8 to simulate a seal off of the island located southeast of the mainland, in protest against Tsais recent meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy while she was en route to Guatemala and Belize, which have official ties with Taiwan.

Taiwans Ministry of National Defence announced at around 10 a.m. local time on April 10 that China concluded its military exercise, but said they will continue to closely monitor the Chinese militarys movement.

McKay reportedly pointed to Canadas Indo-Pacific Strategy, in which Ottawa pledged to work with Taiwan and other allies in the region to push back against any unilateral actions that threaten the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, as well as the East and South China Seas.

He noted that while Canada currently doesnt have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, parliamentary exchanges are also an important channel for a bilateral relationship, according to Radio Free Asia.

The Canadian parliamentary delegation will be staying in Taiwan until April 15. Travel and accommodation for the delegation are being sponsored by the government of Taiwan, according to the parliamentary statement.
Dirty Money: Former Lawmaker Gets 2 Years for Cesspool Bribes

Former state Rep. Ty Cullen speaks to reporters outside U.S. District Court in Honolulu on April 6, 2023, after he was sentenced to two years in prison for taking bribes in exchange for influencing cesspool legislation. (Audrey McAvoy/AP Photo)

HONOLULUA former Hawaii lawmaker was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison in a federal corruption case thats 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 states pristine waters every day.

Cesspoolsin-ground pits that collect sewage from houses and buildings not connected to city services for gradual release into the environmentare 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 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, when investment in sewer lines didnt keep up with rapid development. Today Hawaii has 83,000 of themmore than any other stateand only banned new cesspools in 2016.

A partially exposed cinderblock cesspool pit with a lid on a badly eroding shoreline in Punaluu, Hawaii, on Jan. 26, 2015. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via AP)

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 Cullens have led to guilty pleas from the Honolulu businessman who bribed the lawmaker and a former Senate majority leader.

An estimated 16 percent 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. Theyre 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 sewageincluding all its bacteria and pathogensthen 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. 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. Hes 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 family- and weeknight-friendly chicken parmesan will rival your favorite Italian restaurants version.

View the print-ready version of this recipe.

Chicken parmesan is a major family pleaser, but the traditional recipe can be time-consuming to make. Between the homemade sauce and pounding, breading, and pan-frying the chicken  not to mention melting the cheese over the chicken in the oven  the classic preparation takes well over an hour and leaves you with a sinkful of dishes. This easy recipe incorporates a few smart shortcuts, like using good-quality jarred sauce and chicken tenderloins, making it totally doable on a weeknight. Youll notice that I dont smother the chicken with sauce and cheese; this keeps the crust crispy (and you can always serve more sauce on the side). Chicken parm is a great dish to serve when you have people over since much of the prep can be done ahead of time. Serve with pasta, spaghetti squash, a salad, or a roasted vegetable.

What Youll Need To Make Chicken Parmesan

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Most recipes call for boneless skinless chicken breasts, which need to be sliced in half horizontally and pounded thin. I use chicken tenderloins, which can be quickly flattened with the palm of your hand to ensure even, quick cooking. Unlike the ready-to-cook thinly sliced chicken cutlets you find at the store, they are guaranteed to be tender and juicy.

I recommend using jarred marinara sauce. The recipe only calls for 1-1/2 cups of sauce, so it doesnt make sense to make it from scratch, especially when there are plenty of good store-bought options (I like Raos or Victoria).

Japanese-style panko creates a feathery, crisp crust, and it also stays crispy long after it is cooked, so you dont have to pan-fry the chicken at the very last minute.

Mozzarella cheese is usually called for in chicken parmesan recipes. However, I prefer fontina, a semisoft cheese with a buttery, nutty flavor. Fontina stays gooey after its melted, while mozzarella tends to turn rubbery as soon as it comes out of the oven. Most large supermarkets carry Swedish or Danish fontina (with a red wax rind), which is ideal for cooking. If you cant find it, shredded whole milk mozzarella is fine.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prep and Bread the Chicken

Begin by prepping the tenderloins. You may notice a white tendon at the end of the tenderloin. Go ahead and trim it off with a knife or kitchen shears. Using the palm of your hand, gently flatten the tenderloins so that they are an even 1/4-inch thickness.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Season the flattened chicken all over with 1-1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

In a large shallow bowl (I use a pie plate), combine the panko, 3/4 cup of the Parmigiano Reggiano, the oregano, the thyme, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Mix well, making sure there are no clumps of cheese.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Place the flour in another shallow bowl. Beat the eggs in a third bowl. Set up a breading station in this order: flour, eggs, panko.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Dredge the chicken in the flour, coating evenly.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Dip in the eggs, letting any excess drip off; then dredge in the panko mixture, turning and patting to adhere.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Place the breaded chicken on a lined baking sheet. (The recipe can be prepared up to this point, covered, and refrigerated up to 8 hours ahead of time. The breaded tenders can also be frozen for up to 3 months.)

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Step 2: Pan-Fry the Chicken

In a large nonstick skillet, heat about 1/8 inch of oil over medium heat until shimmering. Place 5 or 6 tenders in the pan in a single layer.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Cook until the first side is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until golden and cooked through. Cook the remaining chicken in the same manner, adding additional oil only if necessary.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Step 3: Top the Chicken with Cheese and Broil

Place the cooked chicken on a foil-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the fontina and remaining 2 tablespoons Parmigiano Reggiano over the center of the chicken tenderloins, leaving the sides bare so that they remain crispy.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Broil until the cheese is melted and bubbling, 1 to 2 minutes.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Step 4: Serve

Warm the marinara sauce, then taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. With store-bought sauce, I find a generous pinch of sugar and some fresh basil go a long way.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

Transfer the chicken to a serving platter or individual plates. Spoon the marinara sauce over the cheese, again leaving the sides bare so that they stay crispy. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)

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Chicken Parmesan

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 25 Minutes

Cook Time: 20 Minutes

Total Time: 45 Minutes

Ingredients

2 pounds chicken tenderloins

2 teaspoons salt, divided

 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, divided

1 cups panko

 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano Reggiano, divided

1 teaspoon dried oregano

 teaspoon dried thyme

 cup flour

3 large eggs

Olive oil, for cooking

1 cups homemade or store-bought marinara sauce, best quality such as Raos or Victoria

6 oz fontina, shredded (about 1 cups)

3 tablespoons fresh chopped basil

Instructions

Using kitchen shears, trim off any white tendons at the ends of the tenderloins. Using the palm of your hand, gently flatten the tenderloins so that they are an even -inch thickness. Season the chicken all over with 1 teaspoons of the salt and  teaspoon of the pepper.

In a large shallow bowl, combine the panko,  cup of the Parmigiano Reggiano, the oregano, the thyme, the remaining  teaspoon salt, and the remaining  teaspoon pepper. Mix well, making sure there are no clumps of cheese.

Place the flour in another shallow bowl. Beat the eggs in a third bowl. Set up a breading station in this order: flour, eggs, panko. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy clean up. Dredge the chicken in the flour, coating evenly; dip in the eggs, letting any excess drip off; then dredge in the panko mixture, turning and patting to adhere. Place the breaded chicken on the prepared baking sheet. (The recipe can be prepared up to this point, covered, and refrigerated up to 8 hours ahead of time.)

Preheat the broiler and set an oven rack about 4 inches from the heating element. Bring the marinara sauce to a simmer over low heat. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking (with store-bought sauce, I find a generous pinch of sugar and fresh basil go a long way). Cover and keep warm.

Line another baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment for easy clean up; set aside. In a large nonstick skillet, heat about  inch of oil over medium heat until shimmering. Place 5 or 6 tenders in the pan in a single layer and cook until the first side is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until golden and cooked through. Place the cooked chicken on the prepared baking sheet. Cook the remaining chicken in the same manner, adding additional oil only if necessary. You may need to lower the the heat as you go, so that the chicken doesnt brown before it is cooked through.

Sprinkle the fontina and remaining 2 tablespoons Parmigiano Reggiano over the center of the chicken tenderloins, leaving the sides bare so that they remain crispy. Broil until the cheese is melted and bubbling, 1 to 2 minutes.

Transfer the chicken to a serving platter or individual plates. Spoon the marinara sauce over the cheese, again leaving the sides bare so that they stay crispy. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve.

Make-Ahead Instructions: The chicken tenders can be breaded and refrigerated up to 8 hours before pan-frying. The chicken is best and crispiest when fried right before baking, but it can also be fried up to 4 hours in advance and refrigerated. Reheat the chicken in a 350F oven until warmed through, 15 to 20 minutes, before adding the cheese and proceeding with the recipe.

Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The breaded cooked chicken tenders can be frozen for up to 3 months. Freeze the chicken on the baking sheet until firm, about 1 hour, then transfer to a resealable freezer bag or layer in an airtight container with sheets of parchment between the tenders. Defrost in the refrigerator before cooking.

Pair With

Arugula Salad with Lemon, Olive Oil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano

Focaccia

This article was originally published on OnceUponaChef.com. Follow on Instagram.
Ethics Commissioner Launches Probe on Whether AB Premier Smith Interfered in Justice

Albertas ethics commissioner has started an investigation into whether Alberta Premier Danielle interfered with the administration of justice in a prosecution case related to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Premier welcomes this investigation, is fully cooperating with the Commissioner, and is confident this examination will confirm there has been no such interference, Smiths office said in a statement April 10.

As a result of the ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate for the Premier to comment on this further, until the investigation is completed.

At issue is whether the premier talked to prosecutors about COVID violation cases, and whether that amounts to interference in prosecution proceedings.

Alberta NDP has been criticizing Smith over the issue, with NDP Leader Rachel Notley saying that the governing party cant think theyre above the law. Notley said while her party welcomes the ethics commissioners probe, a fully independent judicial investigation is required as well.

The announcement comes after a conversation between Smith and an Alberta pastor facing charges related to COVID-19 restrictions was leaked. During the call, pastor Artur Pawlowski asked Smith about her leadership campaign promise of seeking to drop COVID violation charges. Smith says in response that she has since learned that unlike in the United States, premiers dont have the power of clemency.

Once the process is under way, I can ask our prosecutors, Is there a reasonable likelihood of conviction and if it is in the public interest? And I assure you, I have asked them that almost weekly ever since I got started here, Smith said.

The premier has said previously that she misspoke in saying she spoke with prosecutors about COVID-19 cases, saying that she was referring to the attorney general and justice minister, and deputy minister of justice.

During her phone-in radio show on April 8, Smith said that she thought she was talking to Pawlowski in his capacity as the leader of of another party. At the time, Pawlowski was the leader of the Independence Party. She said that when he brought up the issue of COVID-19 cases, she said that she had tried to get amnesty for such cases, but was told by justice officials that the cases must run their course independently, and that she accepted that advice.

Marnie Cathcart and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
FBI Includes Based and Redpilled in Its Glossary of Extremist Terms

The FBI has a glossary of terms it associates with extremist, involuntary celibate individuals (incels) and members of religiously or ethnically motivated violent extremism (RMVE), including popular internet slang such as based and redpilled.

The conservative Heritage Foundations Oversight Project recently obtained copies of FBI training materials relating to involuntary celibate violent extremists (IVEs) and RMVEs. Among the documents the conservative think tank received was a glossary of terms the FBI lists as indicators of IVE and RMVE affiliations.

The FBI document, which references events as recently as 2019, states: Indicators of IVE ideology may comprise constitutionally protected conduct, and no single indicator should be the sole basis for determining IVE or criminal activity. The following indicators of IVE ideology may constitute a basis for reporting or law enforcement action when observed with suspicious criminal or potentially violent activity.

Some of the terms in the FBI documents have more overt connections with racially charged or extremist rhetoric, such as RaHoWa as a shorthand for racial holy war and specific references to extremist incels, such as Elliot Rodger, who carried out a mass killing in Isla Vista, California, in 2014. The FBI glossary also includes terms associated with a variety of popular internet memes such as red pill/blue pill, based, Chad, and Stacy.

Redpilled and Based

The concept of the red pill grew out of a motif in the 1999 film The Matrix, in which the main character swallows a red pill that awakens him to the reality that the contemporary society he had been living in was a carefully constructed simulation managed by an army of machines and computers that enslaved humanity. The red pill concept continues to be popular through online memes and slang, in which the idea represents the acceptance of an uncomfortable reality with the rejection of comfortable lies or flawed narratives.

In the FBIs definition of red pill in relation to IVEs, the term refers to a belief shared by many online communities that society is corrupt, and that the believer is a victim of this corruption. In the context of RMVE ideology, the FBI states, taking the red pill or becoming redpilled indicates the adoption of racist, anti-Semitic, or fascist beliefs.

Related to the concept of the red pill is the blue pill. In The Matrix, when the main character is given a chance to take the red pill, he also has the option to take a blue pill, which allows him to ignore the possibility that reality isnt what he perceives. In contrast to the red pill, the term blue pill can refer to either unintentional ignorance or a willful decision to ignore harsh reality.

Associated with the red pill-blue pill dichotomy is the black pill, often described as a nihilistic worldview or sense of hopelessness that societal problems cant be solved. According to the FBIs definition, the black pill term is specific to Incels, refers to a belief that this [corruption of society] can only be changed through massive societal restructuring, often including violence.

Among its glossary of RMVE terms, the FBI includes based. The FBI defines based as a term used to refer to someone who has been converted to racist ideology, or as a way of indicating ideological agreement.

In popular internet parlance, based can refer to individuals who are regarded as cool for their defiance of social norms or someone willing to speak a controversial truth without fear of being socially ostracized. The Rapper Lil B, who also goes by the alter ego TheBasedGod, said in a 2010 interview with Complex: Based means being yourself. Not being scared of what people think about you. Not being afraid to do what you want to do. Being positive.

The FBI document includes the terms Chad and Stacy. Aside from being a given name, Chad represents internet slang and a variety of memes that commonly depict a highly confident, physically fit, and attractive male. Stacy represents the female counterpart to Chad. According to the FBI document, incels unsuccessfully compete against Chads for attention, and Stacy chooses Chad over incels.

In 2018, self-identified incel Alek Minassian ran over 10 people with a van in Toronto. Just before the attack, Minassian posted on the internet message board 4Chan, stating: The Incel Rebellion has already begun! We will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys! All hail the Supreme Gentleman Elliot Rodger!

The FBI stated that it had no comment when asked about these IVE and RMVE extremism documents.

How the FBI Watches Americans

The release of these FBI documents regarding IVEs and RMVEs comes as the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has been investigating the potential weaponization of the government.

Last year, Project Veritas published documents purporting to show an FBI memo on militia violent extremism (MVE). The alleged FBI document described references to the Second Amendment, the Revolutionary War, the Betsy Ross American Flag, and the Dont Tread on Me Gadsden flag as potential indicators of MVE behavior. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) demanded answers from FBI Director Christopher Wray about the document and raised allegations that the agency has become politicized against conservatives (pdf).

The House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, led by Jordan, published a report (pdf) in March indicating that the FBI had initiated 25 Guardian Assessments related to parents protesting or voicing concerns about the activities of their local school boards. The committee report stated that FBI whistleblowers shared claims that the FBI investigated a mom because she belonged to a right-wing moms group and is a gun owner and a dad because he rails against the government.'

From NTD News
Thousands of Israelis settlers led by at least seven Cabinet ministers marched Monday to an evacuated West Bank settlement, in a defiant signal that Israels most right-wing government in history is determined to accelerate settlement building on occupied lands despite international opposition.

Israeli police and army forces were being deployed to the northern West Bank  the scene of frequent tensions in recent months  to secure the march, which comes after days of fighting in Jerusalem and along Israels northern and southern fronts.

The march to Eviatar, an unauthorized settlement outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by the Israeli government in 2021, was being led by hard-line ultranationalist Jewish settlers. Organizers are calling for the settlement's reestablishment and legalization.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads the most religious and extremist government in Israels history. Several members of his Cabinet, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir  both West Bank extremist settlers  and at least 20 members of Knesset were expected to take part in the march.

Visits to Eviatar were officially banned by the military since its evacuation, but that prohibition has been loosely enforced in recent months. Israeli army spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said the military approved Monday's march, saying it would be highly monitored and highly protected.

The planned demonstration added to the already combustible atmosphere in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, since last week's Israeli occupation raid on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Last week, Israeli police invaded the prayer hall and firing tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of Palestinians who were participating in "Itikaf," a religious practice of seclusion inside mosques that is commonly observed during Ramadan.

Police removed them by force, detaining hundreds and leaving dozens injured.

The hilltop shrine is the emotional ground zero of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Al-Aqsa compound in occupied Jerusalem has a decades-old status quo recognized by the international community. Under this arrangement, only Muslim worship is allowed at the site, while non-Muslims can visit during specific times but are prohibited from praying there.

Dozens of Jewish visitors entered the site on Monday escorted by Israeli police for a second consecutive day. These tours by religious and nationalist Jews have increased in size and frequency in recent years, raising fears by Palestinians that Israel may partition the site.

The Isaeli violence at the shrine was followed by retaliatory rocket fire by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, southern Lebanon, and Syria starting Wednesday, and Israeli airstrikes targeting those areas. Recent days have also seen Palestinian attacks that killed two Israelis and an Italian tourist.

Over 93 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire so far this year, according to Palestinians' tally.

Israel occupied the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war. Since, it has built dozens of illegal settlements in the territory that are now home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers.

Most of the international community considers Israels West Bank settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians, yet Netanyahu's government has made settlement expansion a top priority.

The Palestinians seek the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem for their future independent state.

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Not rated | 1h 27m | Drama | March 31, 2023

Ive been saying it for years: Actor Thomas Haden Church, best known for his supporting role in 2004s Sideways, is cinemas hidden weapona full-fledged, mega-movie-star leading man waiting to happen.

Maggie (Dianna Agron) and Lloyd (Thomas Haden Church) are father and daughter, in Acidman. (Brainstorm media)

One suspects that the hilariously insouciant, laid-back, and world-weary quality he brings to all his roles (except maybe as Sandman in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) is the reason. Hes probably a lot like that in real life and couldnt care less about promoting himself. I pray that Hollywood finally wakes up and realizes how much money they could make off this man, by giving him the attention he deservesbefore its too late.

In Alex Lehmanns Acidman, Church, perfectly ripened for this role, gives one of the best performances of his career, and he finally gets to carry a movie on his shoulders again, this time playing Lloyd, who lives in the woods, all Ted Kaczynski-like, except for his trusty dog-companion Miso.

Lloyd is not obsessed with bombs, however, but extraterrestrials. Acidman is basically what youd get if you turned Close Encounters of the Third Kind upside down and shook all the UFOs out of it, leaving a subdued, well-acted portrait of a father-daughter reconciliation.

Dianna Agron and Thomas Haden Church play daughter and father in Acidman. (Brainstorm media)

Shotgun Shack

Lloyd, like many men late in life who lack a wife, is going to seed. His ever-present overalls look like hes been wearing them for three or four months straight, daily, and his rakish salt-and-pepper Van Dyke-ish beard is definitely more haphazard than intentional. Lloyd was an engineer back in the day, had a wife and kids, too, but once he felt that his offspring were old enough to fend for themselves, he walked away and never looked back.

Former engineer Lloyd (Thomas Haden Church) is on a mission to establish contact with aliens, in Acidman. (Brainstorm media)

Now, his days are filled fiddling with a jumbled hodgepodge of electronic equipment. Hes got a bit of the musician about him and enjoys layering trance-like squalls of harmonic distortion and found-sounds over a beat.

The word Acidman is spray-painted in neon orange across the side of his secluded woodland hut, compliments of local male, teen, off-roading thrill-seekers who sense Lloyds high-testosterone, shotgun-backed alpha territoriality, and like to challenge the old lion with graffiti and egg-lobbing.

Maggie (Dianna Agron) paints over the graffiti on dads house, in Acidman. (Brainstorm media)

But mostly, Lloyd likes to smoke ganja on his porch or in the back of his pickup, and the more I think about Churchs laid-back personality  methinks he doth do that particular thing a tad too well.



Lloyd (Thomas Haden Church) and Maggie (Dianna Agron) sit in the back of Loyds truck, in Acidman. (Brainstorm media)

Lloyds current raison detre is on a higher plane. Every night, stretching until the rosy dawn, he and Miso hike up a hill to a cliff to observe three blinking red lights in the sky. Lloyd tries to communicate with alien life-forms via flashes of reflected light, in Morse code, from the mirror on the back of his smartphone.

Maggie (Dianna Agron), in Acidman. (Brainstorm media)

Maggie

Maggie (Dianna Agron of Glee fame) is the beleaguered daughter of Lloyd. The two of them lost touch with each other many years ago after a falling out. And so Maggie, after a difficult search, has tracked dad down and traveled 2,000 miles by car to disrupt his curious hankerings and odd schedule in his forest hermitage. How long were you planning on staying? Lloyd wants to know.

Lloyd (Thomas Haden Church) and Maggie (Dianna Agron) in Maggies car, in Acidman. (Brainstorm media)

Its fairly obvious where the story is headed; accounts of children reconnecting with estranged, curmudgeonly, eccentric parents abound. But Acidman offers a couple of variations on the theme. Firstly, we learn that Maggies fled, if only temporarily, a marriage, and her deepest fear is that shes genetically programmed, and therefore fated like unto the paterfamilias, to narcissistically bolt for freedom.

Second, her heartfelt attempt at reconciliation is tragic in that its genuinely, and rather shockingly, subordinate to the alien contact that pot-hazed, backwoods semi-madman Lloyd fervently craves. Much like Close Encounters, this is the tale of a once-ordinary individual beset by an other-dimensional thirst he can neither quench nor explain, and also Close Encounters from the jilted adult childs perspective.

Maggie (Dianna Agron) helps her dad (Thomas Haden Church) set off elaborate, color-coded fireworks in an attempt to send a message to extraterrestrials, in Acidman. (Brainstorm media)

Lloyd may well be losing his mind; if not, hes certainly mentally locked onto things that she cannot imagine. Its not surprising to learn that Lloyds dad was a Methodist preacher. Perhaps Lloyds fixation with otherworldly beings is what becomes of the human religious impulse when the faith decays.

The most telling thing about him is his conviction that failing to respond to the aliens who pilot UFOs is bad human-with-alien etiquette. Theyre out there traveling the galaxy, theyre looking at hundreds of worlds, and they still come here to check on our planet, to make sure were okay, he says, adding, It would be rude not to acknowledge their presence. He also feels he has an obligation to say thank you.

Lloyd (Thomas Haden Church) and some of his more elaborate alien-contacting equipment, in Acidman. (Brainstorm media)

Performances

Acidman has in its sights a discourse regarding parenting, isolation, aging, extraterrestrial life forms, and mental health, but comes up a bit short. Agron brings a tremendous amount to the table acting-wise, but the woefully underdeveloped script is not on her side. She skillfully portrays a daughter desperately wanting to find out why her father abandoned her, and more importantly, whether he needs her help in his encroaching dotage, with apparent dementia circling like a flock of buzzards, but she never really manages to carry much weight as her own person.

Churchs aloof, emotionally shut-down Lloyd is charismatic in that tiny windows of great clarity, discernment, wisdom, and humor open from time to time, leaving you wanting more. Hes quick with a barb, but also with a chuckle-worthy anecdote. Often he goes suddenly catatonic, with a military combat veterans thousand-yard stare. And of course some of his line deliveries, like Im - stoned, are hilariously classic Church.

But despite his captivating performance, a similar script-based dearth of complexity drains his characters effectiveness as well, and so he exists purely as the mythical father figure. More time should have been spent showing his reasons for walking out on his family, and also how he came by his all-encompassing need to reach out to spaceships in the night.

At least Thomas Haden Church finally got a leading role again. Lets hope Hollywood is paying attention.

Acidman can be currently streamed on Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video

Movie poster for Acidman. (Brainstorm media)

Acidman

Director: Alex Lehmann

Starring: Thomas Haden Church, Dianna Agron, Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris

MPAA Rating: Not rated

Running Time: 1 hour, 27 minutes

Release Date: March 31, 2023

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Former AG Bill Barr: Braggs Case Against Trump A Political Act, Will Gravely Weaken Trump

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs indictment against Donald Trump is transparently an abuse of prosecutorial power to accomplish a political act, which will rally a big portion of his base but gravely weaken Trump in the general election, former Attorney General William Barr said April 9 on ABCs This Week.

Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in a New York City courtroom on April 4.

He was indicted by the Manhattan DAs office on March 30 following an investigation into an alleged effort to use hush money payments of $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougals prosecutors before the 2016 presidential election.

The 16-page indictment and accompanying statement of facts reported that Trump orchestrated a scheme with others to influence the 2016 presidential election by identifying and purchasing negative information about him to suppress its publication and benefit the defendants electoral prospects.

Trump has denied all wrongdoing and the alleged affairs, and said that Bragg, a Democrat, brought the case forward because he is motivated by politics.

Then-Attorney General William Barr speaks at the Justice Department in Washington, on March 5, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

I think its an unjust case, said Barr, who served as Trumps attorney general from 2019 to 2020. Thats not to say that every legal challenge that the president faces is unjustified.

Braggs case lacks merit and hes trying to hide the ball.

The left is always talking about the ills of politicizing the criminal justice system, and I couldnt agree more, that thats a serious risk  This is, unfortunately, a clear example of that kind of abuse. And I think it also may accomplish its purpose, which is to get into the middle of the Republican primary process and turn it into a circus.

Ultimately, Barr said, the savvy Democratic strategists know that Braggs investigation is going to help Trump, and they want him to be the nominee because he is the weakest of the Republican candidates, the most likely to lose again to [President Joe] Biden.

Falsifying a business record is a crime  if it was committed in the course of fraud. And I dont see anywhere specified in here exactly what the fraud was, Barr added. These were his own business records. He was paying himself the hush money and the business records were his own company. Hes the owner of the company. I dont see who was defrauded.

When asked if it is likely that Trump will be convicted and sent to prison, Barr explained that he doesnt think anythings going to happen before a nomination is made and even perhaps until the election, the 2024 election.

This stuff is going to drag out through 24, and its going to stymie and disrupt the whole Republican primary process, Barr said. I also think, though, as far as the general election is concerned, it will gravely weaken Trump. Hes already, I think, a weak candidate that would lose, but I think this sort of assures it.

Trump has dug himself into a hole with his reckless and self-destructive behavior, Barr said, adding that, In many respects, hes his own worst enemy.

Mar-a-Lago Documents

Barr reiterated his previous comments that the classified documents probe is the most serious legal issue Trump is facing.

Special Counsel Jack Smith is heading the investigation that was launched after the Aug. 22 raid of Trumps Mar-a-Lago home

Before classified materials were discovered at the residences of President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence, Trump was still likely to be indicted for that issue, Barr said.

And I still think theres a very good chance of that because, and I think it depends on how sensitive the documents were but also what evidence they have of obstruction and games-playing by the president and whether he directed people to lie or gave them information that was deceitful to pass onto the government, Barr added.

Investigators exploring the possible mishandling of classified materials by Trump probably have some very good evidence that the former president tried to prevent authorities from obtaining the documents after he departed the White House, Barr explained.

He had no claim to those documents, especially the classified documents. They belonged to the government, Barr said. And so, I think he was jerking the government around. And they subpoenaed it. And they tried to jawbone him into delivering documents.

But the government is investigating the extent to which games were played and there was obstruction in keeping documents from them, Barr added. And I think thats a serious potential case. I think they probably have some very good evidence there.
From Largest Surplus to Largest Deficit, South Koreas Economy Weighed Down by China

News Analysis

South Korea, heavily dependent on exports to China, has seen its exports deteriorate further due to Chinas economic downturn. Exports to China, once Koreas largest trade surplus, have turned into its largest deficit since 2023.

According to statistics released by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) in late March, South Koreas trade balance with China recorded a deficit of $3.9 billion in January, marking Koreas largest trade deficit. In the first two months of 2023, the trade deficit with China totaled $5.074 billion. This is the first time that China has become the largest trade deficit country in South Korea in a single month. The trade deficit with China was $2.77 billion last month. As of March, South Koreas trade deficit with China had continued for six months.

According to the KITA, South Korea had the largest trade surplus with China in 2018 at $55.636 billion, followed by the second largest in 2019, and the third largest in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, it fell to 22nd, with only $1.213 billion.

South Koreas Economy Is In Decline

According to a report by Yonhap News agency, South Koreas exports to China fell due to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) zero-COVID policy and lockdown measures last year, which slowed down economic growth and reduced Korean exports to China. At the same time, imports from China surged due to rising prices of industrial raw materials, such as lithium. South Koreas trade balance deficit with China has been a regular trend since the start of 2023. Korea is expected to post a trade deficit with China this year, 31 years after the two countries established diplomatic ties.

According to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy on April 1, South Koreas monthly exports fell for the sixth consecutive month as of March. The trade balance has been in deficit for 13 consecutive months. Korea posted a trade deficit of 22.54 billion dollars in the first three months of 2023, more than half of its $44.79 billion trade deficit in 2022.

Semiconductor chips on a printed circuit board on Feb. 17, 2023. (Florence Lo/Illustration/Reuters)

Demand for semiconductor chips, South Koreas main export product, has declined for eight consecutive months from August 2022 to March 2023 due to the global economic slowdown. The year-on-year decline was 44.5 percent in January, 42.5 percent in February, and 34.5 percent in March.

Semiconductors accounted for 18 percent of South Koreas exports in 2022. South Korea relies heavily on China for its semiconductor exports, with its semiconductor exports to China accounting for 40.3 percent of the total last year.

The sluggish export of semiconductors is reflected in the performance of Korean companies. Samsung Electronics, a pillar of the Korean economy, posted 600 billion won (about $460 million) in operating profit for the first quarter this year, down 95.75 percent from the previous year. It is the first time in 14 years since the first quarter of 2009 that Samsungs quarterly operating profit fell below 1 trillion won (about $760 million).

Samsung Electronics did not disclose the specific performance of each division. Still, the securities industry believes that its semiconductor division, which accounts for 60 percent to 70 percent of its operating profit, posted a loss of about 4 trillion won (about $3 billion), the lowest in its history.

South Korea Relies on China for More Than Semiconductors

South Korea relies heavily on China not only for semiconductors, but also for core materials for rechargeable batteries.

According to the KITA, 87.9 percent of lithium hydroxide imports in 2022, including lithium oxide, were produced in China. South Koreas dependence on China-made lithium was 64.9 percent in 2018 and has increased yearly since then. The share of imports of cobalt used in battery cathode materials from China was 72.8 percent last year, compared to 64.0 percent in 2021. The share of natural graphite used as negative electrode material from China was 94 percent last year, compared to 87.5 percent in 2021.

In late February, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy selected lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite, and five types of rare earths as the 10 strategic core minerals, which are essential minerals for major cutting-edge industrial products, including batteries, rechargeable batteries, and semiconductors.

A rare-earth refinery near the inner Mongolian city of Baotou on the edge of the Gobi Desert. Most of Chinas rare earths come from mineral-rich Baotou. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

Among the 10 strategic core minerals, South Korea depends on China for nine minerals (including five rare earths), excluding nickel.

To reduce its dependence on Chinese imports, the Korean government has significantly reduced its reliance on Chinese imports of 10 strategic core minerals to around 50 percent.

The International Financial Center reported on April 6 that eight major global investment banksincluding Barclays, Merrill Lynch, Citibank, and Goldman Sachsforecasted in late March that South Koreas economic growth rate in 2023 will be at an average of 1.1 percent. The average forecast for South Koreas economic growth next year has been lowered by 0.1 percentage point from 2.1 percent in late February to 2.0 percent in late March.
Goodyear Wins Reversal of $64 Million Loss in Tire Trade-Secret Case

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. convinced an Ohio federal judge to throw out a $64 million jury verdict over its alleged theft of trade secrets related to self-inflating tires.

U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi said most of the trade secrets that Czech company Coda Development SRO accused Goodyear of stealing were too vague to be legally protected.

An attorney for Coda said the company was disappointed with the decision and plans to appeal.

A spokesperson for Goodyear said on April 3 that the company agrees with the decision and respects the intellectual property rights of others.

Coda sued Akron, Ohio-based Goodyear in 2015, and said in an amended 2019 complaint that Goodyear copied Coda CEO Frantisek Hrabals technology to keep tires inflated with an internal tube, after discussing a potential collaboration in 2009 for General Motors Cos Chevy Volt.

A jury decided last year that Goodyear misappropriated five of the 12 trade secrets Coda accused it of misusing. It awarded Coda $2.8 million in compensatory damages and $61.2 million in punitive damages for Goodyears willful and malicious behavior.

But Lioi said on March 31 that four of the five secretsrelated to Codas design, development, and placement of self-inflating tire pumpswere not specific enough to be considered protectable trade secrets.

Lioi said Codas fifth alleged secret, related to developing a functional self-inflating tire, was no secret at all because the concept was not new in 2009.

The case is Coda Development SRO v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, No. 5:15-cv-01572.

By Blake Brittain
Growing Number of School Districts Sue Social Media Companies

The logos of mobile apps Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, Google, and Messenger displayed on a tablet on Oct. 1, 2019. (AFP via Getty Images/Denis Charlet)

The list of school districts from across the nation that have filed lawsuits against social media companies continues to grow.

At least a dozen states have school districts that have filed such lawsuits, with Kentucky having the most. In Kentucky, at least 14 school districts have already filed complaints.

On the West Coast, Washingtons Seattle School District was the first to file a complaint in January, followed by Californias San Mateo County Board of Education in March and most recently Oregons Gervais School District.

Many states school districts have claimed that they have had to allot more funds for mental health in their schools due to social media and they think its time for the social media companies to help with those expenditures.

The lawsuits from the West Coast were different in that they cited research showing the harmful effects of social media and how the companies need to take more responsibility for how they run their businesses.

Californias San Mateo County Board of Educations complaint is the largest at 107 pages. Its the only one that has a list of complaints, such as public nuisance, negligence, racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations, conspiracy, gross negligence, and unfair competition.

It is also the only one that isnt suing Facebook or Instagram or their parent company, Meta.

Siculus, another company owned by Meta, is named in the complaints of Seattle School District and Gervais School District. ByteDance Inc., which owns TikTok, is also named in those two lawsuits.

Oregons Gervais School District filed a 99-page complaint, and the State of Washingtons Seattle Public Schools complaint is the smallest at 92 pages.

Seattle School Districts is the only one on the West Coast that is solely based on the harm social media does to youth. As in other lawsuits, it states that youth have become excessive and problematic users of social media and that this has resulted in the adolescents facing a mental health crisis.

It also states that the defendants designed and created their platforms to target youth, even though they knew it was causing harm.

It states: Social media exploits the same neural circuitry as gambling and recreational drugs to keep consumers using their products as much as possible.

The Gervais School Districts complaint also claims that its youth have become excessive and problematic users of social media, while the San Mateo County Board of Educations states that some of the youth have become addicted to social media.

The Seattle School District lawsuit complains of excessive social media use as well as users who feel addicted. It also mentions the TikTok challenge videos that have caused vandalism at local schools.

The San Mateo and Gervais complaints both complain of negligence, gross negligence, and the companies being a public nuisance.

All the lawsuits are demanding a jury trial and state that the algorithms from each of the companies are harmful and each of the companies knew they were and did nothing about it.

Most of the lawsuits reference information that was revealed when Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen came forward with internal documents to the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2021. The documents described harm done by social media companies.

Besides challenging the nuisance law of each of their corresponding states, these lawsuits are also challenging a portion of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. Specifically, they are challenging Section 230, which states that no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.

Many are saying that its outdated and needs to be updated to address the issues social media is causing.

Section 230 is already being challenged in a different lawsuit that was filed against Google. The Supreme Court is expected to decide on the case by June.

Reynaldo Gonzalez and his family members filed the suit against Google after his daughter, Nohemi Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen studying in France, was killed in a terrorist attack in Paris in 2015. The next day, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria claimed responsibility by issuing a written statement and posting a YouTube video.

Google owns YouTube. The complaint states that Google is also liable for Nohemis death because Google aided and abetted an act of international terrorism by allowing ISIS to recruit members, plan terrorist attacks, issue terrorist threats, instill fear, and intimidate civilian populations.

Gonzalez also alleges that Google used computer algorithms to recommend videos published by ISIS or related to ISIS. As a result, Gonzalez claimed that YouTube had become an essential and integral part and a unique and powerful tool of communication for ISISs terrorist campaign.

Many people are predicting that the outcome of this lawsuit will determine the outcomes of the school districts lawsuits.

School districts from Utah also plan to file lawsuits. They havent done so yet but have banned TikTok from being used by government workers and passed state laws requiring social media companies to get parental consent for all minor users. It was the first state to pass such a law, although it is unclear how the law will be enforced.
Guilty or Not? Jury Hears Claims in Idaho Slain Childrens Case

BOISE, IdahoA mother accused in the triple murder of her two youngest children as well as her new husbands previous wife was willing to remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants, a prosecutor told jurors Monday morning.

The defendant used money, power and sex to get what she wanted, Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake said. It didnt matter what it was.

Prosecutors charged Lori Vallow Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, with multiple counts of conspiracy, murder, and grand theft in connection with the deaths of Vallow Daybells two youngest children: 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow and big sister Tylee Ryan, who was last seen a few days before her 17th birthday in 2019. Prosecutors also charged the couple in connection with the October 2019 death of Chad Daybells late wife, Tammy Daybell.

Both defendants have pleaded not guilty, but are being tried separately. Chad Daybells trial is still months away. Vallow Daybell faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The children were missing for months before their remains were found buried in Chad Daybells eastern Idaho yard, Blake told jurors.

Charred remains, thats what was left of Tylee, the prosecutor said, showing jurors a photo of human remains partially uncovered in a patch of dirt. You will hear it explained as a mass of bone and tissue. Thats what was left of this beautiful young woman.

Tylees DNA was later found on a pickaxe and shovel in a shed on the property, she said.

JJs body was wrapped in trash bags and duct tape, Blake saidthe tape binding his arms in front of him and wrapping around his head.

Joshua JJ Vallow (L) and Tylee Ryan. (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via AP)

The children and Chad Daybells previous wife Tammy Daybell were all killed because they stood in the way of the couples relationship, Blake said.

Remember, the defendant will remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants, and she wanted Chad Daybell, Blake said.

Defense attorney Jim Archibald presented jurors with a far different picture, describing Vallow Daybell as a kind and loving mother to her children who happened to have a particular interest in religion and Biblical prophesies involving the end of the world.

Some people care less about Biblical prophesies, some people care a lot about it, Archibald said. Thankfully in this country, we get to worship as we choose.

Vallow Daybell is presumed innocent, Archibald reminded jurors, and said the criminal charges themselveswhich accuse Vallow Daybell of either directing, encouraging, assisting, or participating in the murdersshow that prosecutors dont really know what happened in the case.

Did she kill, or did she assist, or did she encourage, or did she direct? They arent sure, Archibald said.

Archibald also said Vallow Daybells religious beliefs only began to change after she met Chad Daybell, a religious author whose fictional books focused on the apocalypse and were loosely based on the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But Blake said those beliefs veered toward the extreme, with the couple saying people were dark or light, telling friends and acquaintances that dark people had been taken over by evil spirits. They eventually began teaching friends that once those evil spirits were strong enough, the person became a zombie, and the only way to free that persons soul was by killing them.

Friends of Vallow Daybell will testify that she said the children and Tammy Daybell were dark before their deaths, Blake said. At least one friend told police that Vallow Daybell called both children zombies before they disappeared, according to police records.

JJ Vallows grandmother, Kay Woodcock, was the first witness to take the stand after opening arguments. She cried after Madison County prosecutor Rob Wood showed her a photo of JJ.

Woodcock said Vallow Daybell was once a doting mother, but her opinion of the defendant changed after Charles Vallow filed for divorce in early 2019. After Charles Vallow died, once-regular phone calls and visits with JJ dropped off, she said.

She only had contact with JJ three times after his father died, Woodcock said, in short FaceTime video calls. The last call happened the month before JJ was last seen alive, she said. It only was about 35 seconds long.

He just said, Hi Mama, hi Papa, Woodcock said, referring to JJs nicknames for his grandparents. Gotta go, Mama. Gotta go, Papa. Bye!

Woodcock eventually contacted authorities and asked them to do a welfare check on JJ, prompting Rexburg Police to open a missing persons case in November 2019. During that period, police say the couple lied about the childrens whereabouts.

Prosecutors say the couple planned to use life insurance money from Tammy Daybells death, and that Vallow Daybell kept collecting and spending the childrens social security and survivor benefits after they died. Tylees father died after he and Vallow Daybell divorced years earlier. JJs father Charles Vallowwho Vallow Daybell was married to when she met Chad Daybellwas fatally shot by Vallow Daybells brother, Alex Cox.

Vallow Daybell is charged in Arizona in connection with Charles Vallows death, but yet to enter a plea. Cox, who told police the shooting was in self-defense, died a few months after the shooting and was never charged.

The couple married two weeks after Chad Daybells previous wife died unexpectedly. An autopsy showed that Tammy Daybell was killed by asphyxiation, Blake said.

The couple had eliminated any and every obstacle that was in their way of getting exactly what they wanted, she said.

It may not have been the first attempt on Tammy Daybells life: Ten days earlier, she had called police to report that a masked man approached her in her driveway and shot at her a couple of times before running away.

Later that night, someone overheard a phone call between Vallow Daybell, who was angry, and another person, Blake said.

She made statements along the line of, he cant do anything right, the prosecutor told jurors.

Another witness testified that he was also the target of a shooting in October 2019. Brandon Boudreaux was formerly married to Vallow Daybells niece, Melani Pawlowski.

Pawlowski looked up to Vallow Daybell, Boudreaux said, and the women began attending religious meetings together. Pawlowski grew increasingly religious, he said, fixated on the idea that the world was about to end.

The two divorced in 2019. Boudreaux said he was driving to his new rental home when someone parked in a Jeep Wrangler near his driveway shot at him, the bullet shattering his car window. Boudreaux said he recognized the Jeep as one that had belonged to Tylee.

Vallow Daybell has not been charged with the shooting attempt against Boudreaux, but prosecutor Rachel Smith said the shootings were all part of the same plan to cause the death of multiple people in her world.
Gunmen Kill at Least 50 in Attacks on Village in Nigeria

ABUJA, NigeriaGunmen have killed at least 50 people during two attacks on a village in north-central Nigeria, authorities said Thursday.

Ruben Bako, chairman of the Otukpo local government where the massacre happened, said that gunmen killed 47 people on Wednesday in Umogidi village in Benue state. A day earlier, three other people had been slain in the same place, he said.

Anene Sewuese with Benue state police confirmed that attack and said that the assailants had open fire at a market. However, Sewuese put the death toll at eight people, including a police officer.

The motive of the attacks was not immediately clear, though authorities said they believe both attacks were connected. While there was no claim of responsibility, authorities said suspicion fell on local herdsmen, who have clashed in the past with farmers over land disputes in north-central Nigeria.

The farmers accuse the herders, mostly of Fulani origin, of grazing their livestock on their farms and destroying their produce. The herders insist that the lands are grazing routes that were first backed by law in 1965, five years after the country gained its independence.

Benue state, which is referred to as Nigerias food basket because of its bountiful harvests, is one of the hardest hit in the decades-long clashes between agrarian communities and nomadic cattle herders across Nigerias northwest and central regions.

Agricultural yields from the state have decreased over the years because of these frequent clashes, further squeezing families in a region where many are poor and hungry.

By Dyepkazah Shibayan
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with several health conditions and data show it can raise your risk of dementia, including Alzheimers disease.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

A study in a cohort of 12,388 persons showed that vitamin D exposure over 10 years could lower the risk of dementia by 40 percent; women in the study experienced a greater benefit than men.

There are 50 million people worldwide with dementia and experts estimate that number will nearly triple by 2050; vitamin D deficiency is also a widespread problem with a worldwide prevalence of up to 1 billion people.

Vitamin D has a neuroprotective effect, can reduce the percentage of people who move from prediabetes to diabetes and can help prevent and/or treat certain cancers, gastrointestinal diseases, uterine fibroids, lupus, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

There is a synergistic effect with magnesium, vitamin K2, and calcium and an imbalance may raise the risk of heart attack and stroke; the only way to determine how much sun exposure or supplementation you need is to test your vitamin D level.

In this 18-minute video, retired nurse educator John Campbell details the results of a [March] 2023 study[1] demonstrating the effect that vitamin D deficiency has on the development of Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. At this point, there is simply no question that optimizing vitamin D levels is a crucial part of maintaining optimal health.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, also referred to as calciferol. It can be found naturally in some foods and is produced endogenously when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun. Vitamin D supplementation in the United States is available as vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).[2]

If youre unsure of your vitamin D levels, its important to get tested. Seeking to optimize your vitamin D can potentially help you live longer since low levels have been associated with an increased risk of several health conditions,[3] some of which increase your risk of premature death.

The data demonstrating the efficacy of vitamin D in your health continue to mount and, as Campbell notes in his presentation, This is cheap, its natural, it doesnt cost anything and were not paying thousands of dollars per year to a pharmaceutical company.[4]

Vitamin D Deficiency and Dementia

The researchers in the featured study[5] note that despite vitamin D deficiency having been associated with dementia in past studies, the role it plays remains unclear. The researchers gathered data from 12,388 persons from the National Alzheimers Coordinating Center who were dementia-free and had an average age of 71 at the time of enrollment.

The researchers measured baseline exposure to vitamin D and compared dementia-free survival between the groups of individuals who were exposed to vitamin D and those who were not. Vitamin D exposure was measured as taking vitamin D3, vitamin D2, or vitamin D3 plus calcium. The results showed that across all these groups, exposure to vitamin D was associated with a significantly longer time period without dementia and a lower incidence rate overall.

The researchers controlled for other covariates such as gender, cognitive status, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) 4. As Campbell explains,[6] the APOE gene is known to increase the risk of dementia in those who carry it. Approximately 25 percent of the population carries one APOE gene and 3 percent carries two. Individuals who have two genes will have a much higher risk than those who carry one.

The data suggest that all formulations of vitamin D tracked in the study reduced the incidence of dementia by 40 percent when compared to those who had no exposure. Interestingly, the effect was significantly greater in females versus males and in those with normal cognitive ability versus those who began the study with mild cognitive impairment.[7]

The effect was also greater in those who were not APOE carriers versus those who were. The researchers concluded that vitamin D has potential for dementia prevention, especially in the high-risk strata.

Campbell notes that this was a large effect and while it does not prove correlation or causation, it suggests the results are more likely to be causal. The researchers plotted out the data published in Figure A, which showed benefit to those exposed to vitamin D began roughly at the end of the first year and continued to confer greater benefit the longer the participants were followed.

Over the 10 years, Campbell notes that 2,696 of the participants got dementia. Of those, 2,017 (74.8 percent) had no exposure to vitamin D while only 679 (25.2 percent) who took vitamin D were diagnosed with dementia, which he calls an impressive protective effect.[8]

Vitamin D Has Neuroprotective Properties

Campbell asks why people with the APOE gene do not experience the same benefit from vitamin D as those who do not have the gene. He hypothesizes that they may require higher doses of vitamin D or the gene may override the benefits of the vitamin.[9]

The researchers from the current study[10] note that [more than] 50 million people worldwide currently have dementia and the number is expected to nearly triple by 2050. Vitamin D deficiency is also recognized as a widespread problem, with a worldwide prevalence of up to 1 billion.

Past research has demonstrated that vitamin D has a neuroprotective effect. It is known to help clear amyloid beta aggregates in the brain,[11][12] which is a hallmark sign of Alzheimers disease. The researchers know that vitamin D has also demonstrated a neuroprotective effect against amyloid beta-induced tau hyperphosphorylation,[13] which is implicated in neurofibrillary tangles,[14] another structural abnormality found in Alzheimers disease.

Past studies have also implicated vitamin D deficiency in the increased risk of dementia. In a study published by the University of South Australia, researchers found those with the strongest association were in people with vitamin D levels below 10 ng/ml (25 nmol/L).[15]

Low vitamin D levels were also associated with lower brain volumes, and genetic analyses suggested theres a causal relationship between vitamin D deficiency and dementia.[16] Further, the researchers found that up to 17 percent of dementia cases in some populations may be prevented if people raised their vitamin D levels to 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L).

In a separate study[17] of 1,658 people over a 5.6-year period, vitamin D deficiency was associated with a substantially increased risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimers. When measuring Alzheimers disease specifically, severe vitamin D deficiency was linked to a 122 percent increased risk as compared to a 69 percent increased risk for those who were moderately deficient.[18]

Deficiency Raises the Risk of More Health Concerns

Campbell notes that past research has demonstrated that people taking vitamin D experience protection against progressing from prediabetes to diabetes. He notes that those who are more likely to get diabetes are also more likely to get dementia, so with the association of vitamin D and a lower risk of dementia, it seems to make perfect sense to give these people extra vitamin D.[19]

Vitamin D also has a significant beneficial impact on cancer risk, possibly both preventing and treating the disease. In a 2020 reanalysis of a 2018 study[20] that measured the results of giving participants just 2,000 IUs [international units] a day, data showed a 17 percent reduced risk for metastatic cancer and death and as much as a 38 percent reduced risk in those who maintained a healthy weight.[21]

This information is significant because initially, this same study had concluded that vitamin D doesnt reduce the overall risk of cancer at all, although it did hint that it might decrease the risk of cancer deaths. So. In the reanalysis, the team looked specifically at the risk of metastatic or fatal cancer.

When they did that, they found that body mass may influence the relationship between vitamin D and a decreased risk of advanced cancer. One of the corresponding authors, Dr. Paulette Chandler, commented:

These findings suggest that vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing advanced cancers. Vitamin D is a supplement thats readily available, cheap, and has been used and studied for decades. Our findings  especially the strong risk reduction seen in individuals with normal weight  provide new information about the relationship between vitamin D and advanced cancer.

In still other studies, a 2020 review[22] published in the British Journal of Cancer noted that low vitamin D levels were associated with poor colorectal cancer survival and a 2019 review[23] of 10 randomized controlled trials found the reduction in mortality from cancer was significant.

As I have written in the past, research has also shown that higher levels of vitamin D can help prevent and/or treat gastrointestinal diseases,[24] inflammatory rheumatic diseases,[25] lupus,[26] obesity[27] and neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis.[28]

And, as I found in my own peer-reviewed study,[29] vitamin D also reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection. Also, as I discuss in more detail below, vitamin D works even better when its balanced with other nutrients, such as magnesium and vitamin K2.

A 2022 study[30] also examined how Vitamin D may affect the development and progression of uterine fibroids. These are muscular tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus. Theyre nearly always benign, but symptoms are difficult to live with. They occur in up to 70 percent of white women and more than 80 percent of black women, sometimes without symptoms.[31]

The objective of the study was to find a treatment for fibroids that would preserve fertility. They enrolled 1,610 women and found that serum levels of vitamin D equal to or greater than 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L) were associated with an estimated 9.7 percent reduction in the growth of fibroids when compared to people with vitamin D levels less than 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L).

The researchers also found a 22 percent reduction in the incidence of fibroids and a 32 percent increase in fibroid tissue loss in individuals whose vitamin D levels were equal to or greater than 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) when compared to individuals whose levels were less.

The Interplay of Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium, and Vitamin K2

If you are unable to maintain optimal levels of vitamin D from sensible sun exposure, its important to remember there are synergistic effects with other nutrients when youre supplementing. When taking a vitamin D supplement, you may also need to increase your intake of magnesium, vitamin K2 MK7, and calcium.

Together, these vitamins work in tandem, and an imbalance is why calcium supplements have been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and why some experience symptoms of vitamin D toxicity. Heres a summary of some of the most important correlations:

Excessive vitamin D without adequate vitamin K2 may cause overabsorption of calcium, which in turn may result in calcium deposits in the tissue. Part of the explanation for these adverse side effects is that vitamin K2 keeps calcium in its appropriate placein your teeth and bones and out of soft tissues and arteries.

While the optimal ratios between vitamin D and vitamin K2 have yet to be established, taking somewhere between 100 and 200 micrograms (mcg) of K2 is beneficial. Telltale signs of vitamin K2 insufficiency include osteoporosis, heart disease, and diabetes. Youre also more likely to be deficient if you rarely eat vitamin K2-rich foods.

Vascular calcification is also a side effect of low magnesium, so when taking vitamin D3, you need both vitamin K2 and magnesium to make sure everything is working properly.

Maintaining an appropriate calcium-to-magnesium ratio is also important, as magnesium helps keep calcium in your cells so they can function better. Based on your personal health needs an ideal ratio of calcium-to-magnesium may vary from 1-to-1 to an optimal 1-to-2.

Magnesium and vitamin K2 also complement each other, as magnesium helps lower blood pressure, which is an important component of heart disease.

What Are Optimal Levels of Vitamin D?

Ive long recommended a vitamin D level of 60 to 80 ng/ml (150-200 nmol/L) for optimal health and disease prevention. A level upward of 100 ng/mL also appears safe and beneficial for certain conditions, especially cancer.

Remember that the only way to determine how much sun exposure is enough and/or how much vitamin D3 you need to take is to measure your vitamin D level, ideally twice a year. The D*Action Project by GrassrootsHealth[32] is a cost-effective way to do this, while simultaneously progressing valuable research.

To participate, simply purchase a D*Action Measurement Kit and follow the registration instructions included. If you need to supplement, then GrassrootsHealth also has a vitamin D calculator[33] to help you estimate the dose you need to reach your target level.

Youll input your weight, current vitamin D supplement, serum level, and target level to find the maintenance dose needed to reach your desired level within three months. Once youve confirmed your vitamin D levels via testing, remember to retest in three to four months to make sure youve reached your target level.

If you have, then you know youre taking the correct dosage and/or getting the right amount of sun exposure. If youre still low (or have reached a level above 80 ng/ml), youll need to adjust your dosage accordingly and retest again in another three to four months.

Originally published March 26, 2023, on Mercola.com

References
House Republicans Set Hearing on Manhattan DA Alvin Braggs Pro-Crime Policies

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) presides over a hearing of the Weaponization of the Federal Government Subcommittee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Feb. 9, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The House Judiciary Committee announced on April 10 it will hold a field hearing in New York City on April 17 to discuss Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, just weeks after the unprecedented indictment and arraignment of former President Donald Trump in Braggs district.

The hearing is titled Victims of Violent Crime in Manhattan.

Bragg has come under fire, mainly from conservatives and the GOP, for what those critics say are soft on crime policies. The hearing, according to the committee, will examine how Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs pro-crime, anti-victim policies have led to an increase in violent crime and a dangerous community for New York City residents.

Braggs office has fired back at the scheduled hearing, calling it a political stunt.

This hearing wont engage in actual efforts to increase public safety, such as supporting national gun legislation and shutting down the iron pipeline, a spokesperson for the office said in a statement posted on Twitter.

Shortly after taking office, Bragg issued a memo to his staffers stating that the district attorneys office will not prosecute, among numerous offenses, marijuana misdemeanors, public transportation fare evasion, most trespassing violations, resisting arrest, and prostitution. Bragg also announced the downgrading of certain offenses including possession of a non-firearm weapon, both residential and commercial burglaries, and drug cases.

Republicans have pointed out the incongruence of Braggs leniency for these crimes versus his prosecution of Trump for allegedly falsifying business records.

Trump was arraigned on April 4 on a 34-count indictment, to which he pleaded not guilty, over his alleged role in the payment of hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign. On his social media site, Truth Social, Trump has called Braggs prosecution a WITCH HUNT and said that the district attorney should INDICT HIMSELF.

The People of the State of New York allege that Donald J. Trump repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election, said Bragg in a statement released by his office.

Manhattan is home to the countrys most significant business market. We cannot allow New York businesses to manipulate their records to cover up criminal conduct, he continued. As the statement of facts describes, the trail of money and lies exposes a pattern that, the People allege, violates one of New Yorks basic and fundamental business laws.

As this office has done time and time again, we today uphold our solemn responsibility to ensure that everyone stands equal before the law.

GOP Probes

A field hearing occurs when a committee holds a hearing outside of its committee room on Capitol Hill. The House Judiciary hearing is scheduled to be held at the Javits Federal Building in Manhattan.

Since a New York grand jury voted on March 30 to indict Trump, Republicans have vowed to hold Bragg accountable.

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, said House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in a Twitter post.

House GOP lawmakers have started a probe into Bragg and his office over the Trump investigation, which Bragg has characterized as congressional overreach.

Braggs office fired back on March 31 at House GOP committee chairmen over their two letters to him regarding his investigation of former President Donald Trump.

The March 20 and March 25 letters to Bragg were written by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), and House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.).

This article was updated to include a statement from Braggs office.
Saudi Arabias ambassador to Yemen said Monday his trip to the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa was aimed at reviving a cease-fire and re-starting political talks to end the nine-year conflict.

Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber met with Houthi officials in Sanaa on Sunday for talks also attended by Omani officials.

The trip came as talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis gained momentum after the Kingdom reached a deal with Iran last month to restore their diplomatic ties. Iran is the Houthis main foreign backer in Yemens conflict.

Al-Jaber said on Twitter that his trip was meant to stabilize the truce and cease-fire, support the prisoner exchange process and explore venues of dialogue between Yemeni components to reach a sustainable, comprehensive political solution in Yemen.

His comments were the first by Saudi Arabia on the visit.

Yemens conflict began in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthis seized Sanaa and much of Yemens north, ousting the internationally recognized government that fled to the south then into exile in Saudi Arabia.

The Houthi move prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene months later in a bid to restore the internationally recognized government to power. The conflict has in recent years turned into a regional war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The Saudi diplomat met with Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthis' supreme political council, which runs rebel-held areas in Yemen.

Yemeni and Saudi officials said Saudi Arabia and the Houthis reached a draft deal last month to revive a cease-fire that expired in October.

The deal, brokered by Oman, is meant to usher in a return to political talks, said officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door negotiations..

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Monday hailed the talks as a welcome step that would help settle the conflict and de-escalate regional tensions.

What were seeing is different strands, different parties that have been in tension with each other, have been speaking, he said.

Dujarric said the UN was not involved in the Sanaa talks, but we very much hope that it can contribute to the overall peace efforts led by (UN envoy for Yemen) Hans Gruenberg for the renewal of the truce in Yemen and the restart of the intra-Yemeni political process.

Yemens internationally recognized government has welcomed what it calls Saudi Arabias efforts to bring Yemeni parties to the negotiating table to reach a comprehensive political agreement, according to a statement released late Sunday.

Al-Jaber's trip to Sanaa came days before the implementation of a prisoner exchange deal expected to take place later this week. The deal, brokered by the UN last month, involves the release of nearly 900 war prisoners from both sides, including Saudi troops.

Ahead of his trip, the Houthis said Saudi Arabia released 13 Houthi prisoners Saturday in exchange for a Saudi prisoner the Houthis freed earlier this year.

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Huge Concern Over UK Presence of Terror-Sanctioned Iran Companies: Experts

At least 14 businesses linked to Tehran and sanctioned by the United States have UK bases

General view of the scene where protesters clashed with police outside the Islamic Centre in London, on Sept. 25, 2022. (David Parry/PA Media)

At least 14 foreign sanctioned commercial and financial institutions linked to the Iran regime have bases in the UK, analysis by The Epoch Times has found.

Oil companies, insurance firms, and even consultancy servicesall blacklisted by the United States over terror fearscurrently operate out of a number of central London premises.

The presence of the Tehran-linked companies has been described as a huge concern by experts who say the British government is waning in its response to serious security fears raised over Irans UK outposts.

In February, MI5 revealed it had thwarted at least 15 Iran-backed kidnap and death plots against British-based individuals in the last year.

The attempted assassinations and abductions were made public hours after a London-based Persian broadcaster announced it had been forced to move its operations to the United States after safety concerns.

Acting on advice from the Metropolitan Police, Iran International TV reluctantly closed its Chiswick studios after police advice that it was no longer possible to protect the channels staff and the surrounding public.

The increasing threats from Iran led to mounting pressure on the British government to proscribe a military arm of the regimethe Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

However, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat has so far failed to do so, despite numerous calls from party and political colleagues.

Trade Ban

Speaking to The Epoch Times, Daniel Roth, research director at United Against Nuclear Iran, said: Given what we learned in January when the UK government was saying, were going to proscribe the IRGC properly under the Terrorism Act 2000well it is now four months later, and there has been absolutely no movement on that.

Anything run, operated, owned by the regime, outside of Iran, and especially in Western Europe is a huge concern.

Since 2005, the United States has designated Iranian individuals, companies, and organisations in what it says is Irans involvement in nuclear proliferation, ballistic missile development, support for terrorist groups, and human rights abuses.

The economic sanctions means U.S. companiesand citizensare limited to how much business they can conduct in Iran, or with Iranian-linked companies based there or elsewhere.

There are also strict bars on what business Iran can do in the United States, according to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

There are currently 14 UK companies that have been placed on OFACs Iran sanctions list.

The strict bars they face in the United States do not apply to Britain.

Those companies include Irans main shipping carrier, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL).

The state-owned shipping group has an active office in England and at least two active UK registered companies.

Financial documents for one of IRISLs companies show that six of its UK fleet of ships were financed by the Chinese communist regime.

Demonstrators at Trafalgar Square in London on Sunday Jan. 8, 2023. The protest against the Islamic Republic in Iran followed the death of Mahsa Amini. (Aaron Chown/PA)

Annulled Restrictions

The group has been accused of smuggling nuclear technologies and ballistic missile parts, as well as running weapons to other groups allied to the regime in Tehran.

In 2010, the United Nations and European Union followed the United States in placing sanctions on the shipping company for what they said were similar activities.

Consequently, the groups EU-based funds and economic resources were frozen, including in the UK.

At that time, most of IRISLs fleet was based on the Isle of Man, a UK island that has its own laws and Parliament.

The six-ship fleet was moved in 2011 from the Irish Sea island to Panama, and all of its ships were renamed, according to Iran Watch (pdf).

That same year IRISL UK dissolved, while two of the shipping firms companies have remained open in the UK.

That includes its overseas company of the same name, which has listed its British offices at an address in London.

Filings for the company have not been updated since 2013, despite being listed on Companies House as being active.

The same year, the shipping company successfully challenged the EU sanctions in the General Court of the European Union which annulled the restrictions against the company.

Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat speaks at a fringe meeting at the annual Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, England, on Oct. 2, 2022. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Chinese Funded

Company documents analysed by The Epoch Times show that the shipping line financed six of its last registered ships in Britain by a financial arm of the Chinese communist state.

Mortgage details listed under Companies House for six bulk carriers show that the Bank of China had bankrolled IRISLs British fleet.

The mortgages were signed off by a London-based solicitor acting on behalf of the state-owned China bank.

It is unclear as to whether these ships are still in operation in the UK. Following international sanctions, the group renamed a number of its ships and moved them under subsidiary companies, according to the Center for Iranian Studies.

One of IRISLs more active UK companies is Irinvestship Ltd, which has a registered office in Arcadia Street in London.

According to EU sanction documents published by the UK government in 2010, the British company is owned by IRISL and provides financial, legal, and insurance services for the group as well as marketing, chartering, and crew management.

Its latest accounts for 2022filed last monthshow the company has lost more than 50 percent of its assets within a year.

According to documents signed off by Irinvestship Ltds current director, its assets dipped from 476,000 in 2021 to almost 215,000 in 2022.

Again, little is publicly known about its UK business operation, but its parent owners state links to both Iran and Chinagiven UK tensions with bothcould concern security officials.

In February, Irans President Ebrahim Raisi described Iran and China as friends in difficult situations, in an op-ed for the Peoples Daily, the Chinese Communist Party newspaper, ahead of a visit to Beijing.

In this file photo released by Chinas Xinhua News Agency, Irans President Ebrahim Raisi (R) and Chinese leader Xi Jinping pose for a photo on the sidelines of a meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 16, 2022. (Shen Hong/Xinhua via AP, File)

Sponsored Terror

NPC International Limited, located in the Victoria Street area of London, is another Iranian-linked British company.

It was first designated by OFAC in June 2019 for being owned or controlled by Irans largest and most profitable petrochemical holding group, Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC).

The United States states that PGPIC provided financial support to Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, the engineering conglomerate of the IRGC.

PGPIC has awarded major engineering, procurement, and construction contracts to the IRGCs Khatam al-Anbiya, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for an IRGC economic conglomerate that stretches across Irans major industries, OFAC said.

Its income is alleged to have been used to sponsor terrorist organisations and terrorist attacks around the world, as well as develop nuclear weapons of mass destruction and build new missiles to threaten to destroy other countries.

NPC International Limited makes clear its close relationship with PGPIC in its most recently filed UK accounts.

It states that its principal activities are the provision of management consultancy services, including gathering data and information in connection with the petrochemical industries for PGPIC.

It also provides foreign investment for the Iranian company.

Documents also state that despite ongoing banking restrictions the company managed to service all the payment obligations of NPC in the year amounting to 20.2 million Euros.

The directors report added: Even with the difficulties facing Iranian organisations and acquiring new financial financing facilities, the company continued its endeavours in the year to arrange finance for PGPICS ongoing projects through foreign lines of credit.

These involve many discussions between the company and various Iranian and foreign businesses banks and financial institutions.

Another of Irans UK-based oil businesses is Petropars, a subsidiary of the state-run National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

It holds a central London office, along with 5 million in British assets, according to recently filed documents.

It also faces U.S. sanctions similar to those imposed on NPC International and the PGIPIC.

Protesters march in solidarity with protesters in Iran on the National Mall in Washington, on Oct. 22, 2022. (Olivier Douliery /AFP via Getty Images)

Mahsa Amini Killing

Theres definitely room for the UK to do more on that just beyond the IRGC stuff, United Against Nuclear Irans Roth told The Epoch Times.

The interesting thing with the Iranian owned shipping stuff is that theyre actually using foreign tankers now, rather than their own IRISL, NIOC, and all the Iranian fleets.

But apart from the banks and the shipping, theyve also got this Islamic Centre of England, which seems to be a regime college, propagating their revolutionary exporting propaganda, essentially.

Anything like that should be huge concern.

Last month, several MPs called for the Islamic Centre of England to be shut down after a Times of London investigation showing that some of the sheikhs it promotes have called for the downfall of Western democracies and the compassionate killing of gay people.

Concerns were also raised about the centres apparent links to IRGC.

Roth added: Compared to 10 years ago, nobody in Parliament was talking about IRGC.

I dont think anybody had even really heard of the IRGC.

But at the current rate, IRGC will have been mentioned more times over 2023 than in the past 43 years combined.

A lot of it has to do with after the Mahsa Amini killing in prison.

Amini, 22, died on Sept. 16, 2022, in Tehran while in the custody of Irans morality police.

It not only sparked nationwide protests in Iran, but across the world, including London.

Roth said there seemed to be a lack of real understanding about the dangers posed by Iran by the general UK public.

Describing the regime as the head of the snake when it comes to all these terrorist organisations, Roth said that at least political circles in Britain were becoming more aware.

Candles and pictures of Mahsa Amini are placed at a memorial during a candlelight vigil for Mahsa Amini who died in custody of Irans morality police, in Los Angeles Sept. 29, 2022. (Ringo Chiu/AFP via Getty Images)

Hezbollah

UK-based financial institutions that face some of the most serious U.S. sanctions include major Tehran regime-run banks.

Bank Melli, with offices in Kensington, was designated in 2018 by OFAC for assisting in, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for financial or other services to the IRGC.

A press release from the U.S. department said at the time: As of 2018, the equivalent of billions of dollars in funds have flowed through IRGC-QF controlled accounts at Bank Melli.

The IRGC-QF has used Bank Melli to dispense funds to Iraqi Shia militant groups, and Bank Mellis presence in Iraq was part of this scheme.

It added that since the mid-2000s, Bank Melli increasingly provided services to Iranian military-related entities as they became further involved in all aspects of the Iranian economy.

Bank Melli has enabled the IRGC and its affiliates to move funds inside and outside of Iran.

One of Irans largest financial arms, Bank Saderat, operates in the heart of Londons financial district, and was cut off by the U.S. Treasury in 2006.

It was accused of transferring hundreds of millions of dollars to the the Lebanese Shia terrorist group Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations each year.

We will no longer allow a bank like Saderat to do business in the American financial system, even indirectly, said Stuart Levey, under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the time.

The Epoch Times has contacted the UKs Foreign Office for comment on the concerns surrounding the Iranian companies and their operations in Britain.

In January, the UK government said it had imposed 50 new sanctions in response to human rights violations by the Iranian regime.

The sanctions included an asset freeze and UK travel ban on individuals to send a wider signal on the UKs commitment to backing condemnation with action, according to the Foreign Office.

The total trade in goods and servicesexports plus importsbetween the UK and Iran was 670 million.

The figures relate to the four quarters to the end of 2022an increase of 114.1 percent, or 357 million, from the four quarters to the end of 2021.
Huntington Beach Approves 90-Day Plan to End Homelessness

The Huntington Beach City Council unanimously approved April 4 a 90-day plan to end homelessness, first initiated by Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark last December.

Included in the plan is $40,000 for social workers and overtime for the citys homeless task force, which will be funded from its police and homelessness division budgets.

Funds for social workers would go towards additional outreach efforts and enhanced case management, according to city officials, including a review of files for some of the citys homeless who have been at the citys shelter for more than 180 days.

A homeless individual in Huntington Beach, Calif., on May 5, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Councilman Casey McKeon suggested speeding up the process, requesting staff to reach out to landlords who accept housing vouchers to see if permanent housing could be established sooner.

Task force officers additional funds will contribute toward public education including updating the citys website periodically with solutions for those experiencing homelessness.

For the months of January and February, about 450 homeless people in Huntington Beach were contacted by task force officers resulting in 93 being referred to the citys shelter and 46 to outside facilities, city officials said during the meeting.

A homeless individual in Huntington Beach, Calif., on May 5, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

The plan also seeks to fill a vacant Social Services Supervisor position, to oversee homeless programs and staffing, as well as reclassify the vacant Homeless and Behavioral Health Services Director to a manager position, which would save the city $75,000 yearly.

With the citys approval, the plan is effective immediately.

A homeless man in Huntington Beach, Calif., on March 17, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
CHICAGONick Dicaro, his daughter Daniela, and friend Holly, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Auditorium Theatre on April 9.

Dicaros investment company sells mortgages, trusts, and land contracts, and Holly is a clinical psychologist.

He said he wanted to see Shen Yun since 2019 and what sold him was the slogan, Chna before communism. He told himself that there is something in there that I have to see.

Based in New York, Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by leading Chinese artists and quickly became the worlds premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Shen Yuns mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture.

What I saw was an unbelievable message of honor to a culture that is from thousands of years, and it is fighting against the oppression of communism and against authoritarian totalitarian control, Dicaro said.

I want to support something like this, because I see these little things starting to happen in the United States and other parts of the world. These totalitarian regimes, they may call it democracy, they may call it, friendly names, but you know what, its a wolf in sheeps clothing, he said.

Dicaro loved the artistry of the performance. In my spare time, Im a dancer and a musician. I play guitar, violin, and viola mandolin. I love music and dance, he said.

He said he could relate to the acrobatics of the dances. I didnt know that a lot of the flips and things were traditional Chinese. China has been going on for thousands of years. And, artistically, it was really unique.

He pointed out his favorite dance, Water Sleeves. I really liked the flowing movements and just how everything was coming about.

Dicaro said he found the Artistic Director D.F. very inspiring. I have aspirations of creating some sort of a company that has nothing to do with financial products. I read a little of the introduction, and then to learn that they have eight [dance] companies, he said.

Its not a small endeavor to create something like this, and to have the boldness and the courage to talk about what theyre doing. And thats what I love, Dicaro said. Thats what I love so much. Forget about skin color; these are human values that are very foundational to the core of humanity.

Dicaro noted the spiritual message Shen Yun has to offer.

I love that. Atheism and evolution are the work of the devil. It doesnt matter if youre a Christian or whatever, there is evil, and there is good, and there are things that support evil. And then there are things that support good, he said.

If you recognize what those things are, you can understand what is good and what is evil. But people think some things are good when theyre really evil, and I love that message. They talk about the organ harvesting stuff and how the other Chinese are persecuting the Uyghurs and the other people in China.

He said the orchestra impressed him. As a violinist myself, the violins were in such unison that I thought at times, there was only one violin playing. [The orchestra had] such a richness and fullness, because they were all together as one. It was amazing.

Reporting by Charlie Lu and Yvonee Marcotte.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
The IRS has issued proposed regulations that would abolish certain tax shelters.

The agencys proposed rulemaking would classify certain types of insurance arrangements that let small businesses benefit from tax breaks as either listed transactions or transactions of interest, making it easier for the IRS to disallow certain claimed tax benefits.

Listed transactions are abusive tax transactions, and transactions of interest are ones that have the potential for tax avoidance or evasion. Both must be reported to the IRS.

The insurance arrangements that the IRS is targeting are called micro-captive transactions. These are insurance arrangements in which small businesses create their own insurance companies (called captive insurance companies) to cover potential losses or liabilities. These micro-captive insurance companies are eligible for certain tax benefits, such as the ability to pay tax only on their investment income.

Tax law generally allows businesses to create captive insurance companies to protect against insurance risks and permits some small non-life insurance companies (micro-captives) to pay taxes only on their investment income. But the IRS has claimed that some of these are actually abusive tax shelters.

The IRS stated that some promoters, accountants, or wealth planners have been known to encourage businesses to participate in abusive micro-captive structures that lack many of the attributes of genuine insurance for the main purpose of reducing taxes.

The IRS has consistently disallowed the tax benefits claimed by taxpayers in abusive micro-captive structures. Some taxpayers have challenged the IRS position disallowing these micro-captive tax benefits in court, but none has been successful, the IRS stated.

The tax agency previously identified certain micro-captive transactions as transactions of interest in a notice. However, courts ruled that the IRS lacks the authority to make this classification via notice and that it must instead identify such transactions by following the notification and public comment procedures that apply to regulations.

Although the IRS disagreed with the court decisions (pdf), it said it has decided to follow the procedures that apply to proposed regulations to ensure that these decisions do not disrupt the IRSs ongoing efforts to combat abusive tax shelters throughout the nation.

The IRS plans to finalize the regulations in 2023 following public comment. Although the proposed rule hasnt yet been published in the Federal Register, the IRS has provided a pre-publication version (pdf) for review by the public.

The proposed rule basically overlaps with an earlier IRS notice that was challenged by courts.

For example, it identifies micro-captive transactions as transactions of interest if the liabilities incurred by the captive insurer are less than 70 percent of the premiums earned minus policyholder dividends.

The new proposal comes days after the IRS released a new funding plan (pdf), in which it identified certain transactions as being at high risk of noncompliance and vowed to ramp up enforcement.

Enforcement Crackdown

The IRS said in the newly released plan that it would increase enforcement regarding digital asset transactions and certain other types of transactions.

The IRS tracks many known, high-risk issues in noncompliance, such as digital asset transactions, listed transactions, and certain international issues. These issues arise in multiple taxpayer segments, and data analysis show a higher potential for noncompliance, the IRS wrote in the plan.

We will prioritize resources to increase enforcement activities, including criminal investigation as appropriate.

The tax agency stated in the plan that it will develop an information platform to support digital asset reporting and analytics tools with the aim of bolstering digital asset compliance.

Digital assets include convertible virtual currency, cryptocurrency, stablecoins, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and other digital representations of value, according to the IRS.

Digital assets are considered property by the IRS, which requires taxpayers to report taxable gains or losses from transactions involving such assets.

Soft Notice Instead of Tax Audits

Although the IRS vowed to ramp up enforcement of certain transactions and said its planning to get tough on wealthier tax dodgers, it stated that it would soften its enforcement efforts for ordinary filers.

The agency stated that its rolling out a new program of tailored post-filing treatments to resolve issues and omissions on tax returns to provide an opportunity to remedy them before proceeding to a tax audit.

The IRS will use advanced analytics to distinguish taxpayers who made good-faith mistakes on their tax returns from those trying to avoid paying what they owe.

The program would then notify the honest-but-errant taxpayers in a way that gives them an opportunity to self-correct.

We will address issues identified after filing that require IRS intervention promptly and in ways tailored to the specific circumstances of the taxpayer, such as a soft notice to encourage self-correction instead of an audit, the agency stated.

Notification could start with a soft notice, for example, and move to an audit if no action is taken or the issue remains unresolved.

The IRS stated that resorting to less-intrusive treatments would give taxpayers who want to be compliant a quick and easy way to correct issues that have emerged after theyve filed their tax returns while helping to prevent unnecessary audits.

The IRS stated that it hopes, as a result of the new initiative, to see a higher incidence of taxpayers correcting or self-correcting issues and a reduction in repeat noncompliance.

The IRS also expects the initiative to boost the incidence of taxpayers paying what they owe.

Allen Zhong contributed to this report.
Israel Rejects Claim Mossad Backed Judiciary Overhaul Protests

People hold Israeli flags during a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government's judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 8, 2023. (Nir Elias/Reuters)

Israels government on Sunday rejected claims raised in documents allegedly leaked from the Pentagon that leaders of its foreign intelligence service Mossad had supported nationwide protests against a proposed overhaul of Israels judiciary.

The New York Times on Saturday published an assessment it attributed to a Central Intelligence Update from March 1 that Mossad leadership had encouraged its staff and Israeli citizens to join the mass protests. The paper said that while the leaked documents seemed authentic, it did not mean they were accurate.

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that the report was mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever.

The Mossad and its senior officials did notand do notencourage agency personnel to join the demonstrations against the government, political demonstrations or any political activity, it said.

Netanyahus overhaul plan has sparked unprecedented public anger since his coalition came to power late last year, and has also caused alarm among Israels Western allies.

The proposed legislation would enable parliament to override Supreme Court decisions and hold control over judicial appointments.

After weeks of intensifying demonstrations, Netanyahu in late March relented and said he would delay the contested reforms to allow for compromise talks with opposition parties.

The U.S. Justice Department said on Friday it was in touch with the Defense Department and had began a probe into the leak of the alleged documents, covering several subjects relating to national security. It declined further comment.

Thousands Join Judicial Protests

Tens of thousands of Israelis joined protests on Saturday against the governments judicial overhaul plans.

Netanyahu has mobilized border police reservists and ordered the army to reinforce security positions to head off possible trouble, amid calls for calm from the United Nations, the European Union, and the United States.

In central Tel Aviv, crowds waving the blue and white Israeli flags that have become a hallmark of the protests over the past three months gathered in a show of defiance against plans they see as an existential threat to Israeli democracy.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, including army reservists, business leaders, members of Israels tech industry and leading academics have taken part, facing off against supporters of Netanyahus religious-nationalist coalition.

The government side, which accuses activist judges of increasingly usurping the role of parliament, says the overhaul is needed to restore a proper balance between the judiciary and elected politicians.

Critics say it will remove some of the vital checks and balances underpinning a democratic state and hand unchecked power to the government.

Before the protests, police had urged people to leave roads clear to allow emergency services to move freely following Fridays car-ramming on a popular shoreline promenade in Tel Aviv.
Kentucky Mourns Targeted Attack at Bank That Killed 4, Injured 9

Community members gather at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church for a vigil following the shooting at the Old National Bank in Louisville, Ky., on April 10, 2023. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)

Kentucky is reeling in the wake of a post-Easter shooting rampage that killed four people at a bank where the gunman had been employed, according to his LinkedIn profile; two of the victims, including one of the deceased, were friends of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

Police identified the shooter, whom officers killed with return fire, as Connor Sturgeon, 23. His LinkedIn profile showed that he worked at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, where he opened fire with a rifle around 8:30 a.m. on April 10. Police say Sturgeon livestreamed the attack on Instagram as it was occurring, but that page was taken down before authorities confirmed his identity.

Officers arrived within three minutes of the first 911 call, and authorities say their swift action and bravery saved lives.

No motive was released, but authorities called the shooting a targeted one, leaving four bank employees dead and wounding nine other people, including two police officers.

A rookie police officer, sworn in less than two weeks ago, Nickolas Wilt, whos in his 20s, is among three critically wounded people who are being treated at the University of Louisville Hospital, officials said.

Wilt was shot in the head and underwent brain surgery, according to Dr. Jason Smith, the hospitals chief medical officer.

Officer Nickolas Wilt (C), was just sworn in as an officer in late March 2023, with Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg (L) and Louisville Metro Police Department Interim Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel (R). (Photo Courtesy of Louisville Metro Police Department)

According to LinkedIn profiles, at least three of the deceased were vice presidents of the bank: Thomas Elliott, 63; James Tutt, 64; and Joshua Barrick, 40. The fourth victim, Juliana Farmer, 57, previously had been a commercial banking agent at the banks branch in Evansville, Indiana, but her current role was unclear, according to her inactive LinkedIn profile.

Elliott was a friend of Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and a very close friend of Beshear. The governor credited Elliott with boosting his political career while serving as a trusted confidant.

Earlier in the day, Louisville Deputy Police Chief Paul Humphrey told reporters that the shooter had a connection to the bank and that it appears he was a previous employee. But no additional information was given about his employment history with the bank.

Beshear gave an emotional statement about the attack at the bank, which had once served as his campaign headquarters.

He ordered flags in Kentucky to be flown at half-staff in honor of the shooting victims. He also called upon Kentuckians to respond with love and compassion to those affected by the violence.

Despite the tragedy of the days events and recent problems uncovered in the police department, Beshear said Louisville is a safe community and that the police had performed well in response to the shooting.

I want people to know that while today is a horrific act, I do believe that this is a safe community, with officers doing their very best each and every day. And thats what we saw here today, Beshear said.

Yes, I know that there are steps that the police department is taking to do things better after a recent report.

The governor was referring to a March finding by the U.S. Department of Justice that the citys police department had engaged in civil rights violations and had entered into an agreement to resolve the problem.

But we certainly saw, I think, the very best from them, Beshear said.

I want to thank them and all our other law enforcement officers for responding and doing their best to try to save some of my friends and many others.

Beshear didnt say which of his friends was hurt but survived.

Authorities tried to shift attention away from Sturgeon, saying they wanted people to focus on the shooting victims and their families.

According to Sturgeons LinkedIn profile, he held a bachelors degree in finance and economics and a master of science from the University of Alabama, where he attended until 2020.

Representatives for the school didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Officials said they were unsure how or where Sturgeon obtained the rifle that was used in the shooting.

Zachary Steiber and Chase Smith contributed to this story.
Kremlin Tight-Lipped on Intel Leaks as US Scrambles to Contain Damage

The Kremlin has declined to comment on a fresh raft of U.S. intelligence leaks, many of which pertain to Ukraine and other allies of the United States.

I cant comment on that in any way, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on April 10 when asked about speculation that Moscow was behind the leaks, which were first reported last week by The New York Times.

You and I both know that the tendency [in the West] to blame Russia for everything is widespread right now. So theres nothing to comment on.

A day earlier, the U.S. Defense Department stated that it was still assessing the validity of the photographed documents that are circulating on social media sites and that appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material.

The Justice Department has also initiated a probe into the source of the leaks, considered one of the most egregious U.S. security breaches in recent history.

Airmen with the 436th Aerial Port Squadron use a forklift to move 155 mm shells ultimately bound for Ukraine at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on April 29, 2022. The Pentagon announced a new package of long-term security assistance for Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2023, marking the one-year anniversary of Russias invasion with a $2 billion commitment to send more rounds of ammunition and a variety of small, high-tech drones into the fight. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

Kyiv Refining Offensive Plans

The leaked documents, most of which date from February or early March, initially appeared last month on online discussion forums, such as Discord and 4chan.

But they only made headlines on April 6, when the NY Times reported that they were being posted and shared on Twitter and Telegram.

Citing senior Biden administration officials, the newspaper said that leaked information included arms-delivery schedules, troop sizes, ammunition expenditure rates, and other critical data pertaining to Russias invasion of Ukraine, now in its second year.

For example, one leaked document appears to show that munitions for Ukraines S-300 air-defense system are expected to run out early next month.

The timing of the leaks coincides with an anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive, for which Kyiv would likely depend heavily on Westernespecially U.S.arms and logistical support.

In the immediate wake of the NY Times article, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with top military advisers to discuss means of preventing disclosures of potentially damaging information.

On April 10, CNN, citing sources close to Zelenskyy, stated that the leaks had prompted Kyiv to modify certain aspects of its planned counter-offensive.

On the same day, Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that operational and tactical scenarios were being constantly refined based on current intelligence and battlefield assessments.

Podolyak had earlier described the leaks as standard elements of operational games by Russian intelligence aimed at sowing confusion and disinformation.

Intelligence Nightmare

Over the weekend, more reports emerged of classified intelligence documents being leaked online, some of which pertain to other U.S. allies.

One claims to give details of closed-door talks between top South Korean officials regarding alleged U.S. pressure on Seoul to contribute more to Ukraines war effort.

Protesters break police barricades during a demonstration against the Israeli governments controversial justice reform bill in Tel Aviv, Israel, on March 1, 2023. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)

Another document appears to indicate that recent protests in Israel against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were encouraged by Israels Mossad intelligence agency.

Netanyahus office said the claim was without any foundation whatsoever.

These and other documents also seem to suggest that U.S. intelligence agencies obtained the information by conducting surveillance on allied governments.

According to CNN, one document appears to reveal that the United States at one point spied on Zelenskyy.

Peskov declined to rule out the possibility.

The fact that the United States has been spying on various heads of state for a long time, especially in European capitals, has emerged repeatedly, he said.

According to the Defense Department, an interagency effort is now underway to assess the impact these photographed documents could have on U.S. national security and on our allies and partners.

In an April 7 follow-up article, the NY Times cited a senior intelligence official who described the leaks as a nightmare for the Five Eyes.

Originally established during World War II, the Five Eyes is a five-nation intelligence-sharing alliance made up of the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

On April 9, Canada reiterated its commitment to working within the Five Eyes groupingdespite what appears to be a massive U.S. intelligence failure.

Ottawa also declined to comment on any of the information purportedly revealed by the leaked documents.

We do not comment, whether to confirm or deny, on allegedly leaked intelligence, Canadas Ministry of Public Safety said in a statement.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Lawyer: 25-year Term Sought for Russian Opposition Figure

Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza sits on a bench inside a defendants' cage during a hearing at the Basmanny court in Moscow on Oct. 10, 2022. (Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Getty Images)

MOSCOWA lawyer for jailed Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr. said Thursday that the prosecutor in Kara-Murzas closed-door trial for treason and spreading false information about the Russian military in Ukraine has called for a sentence of 25 years in prison.

Kara-Murza, a journalist and a prominent opponent of the Kremlin, has been behind bars since his arrest a year ago.

Russian media quoted lawyer Maria Esimont as saying the prosecutor is asking for the sentence to be served in a strict regime prison colony where conditions are harsh and prisoners are held in locked cells rather than in barracks.

The charges against Kara-Murza stem from his March 15 speech to the Arizona House of Representatives in which he denounced Russias military action in Ukraine. Investigators added the treason charges while he was in custody.

Russia adopted a law criminalizing spreading false information about its military shortly it sent troops rolled into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Authorities have used the law to stifle criticism of what the Kremlin calls a special military operation.

Kara-Murza, a journalist, was an associate of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was killed near the Kremlin in 2015. Kara-Murza survived poisonings in 2015 and 2017 that he blamed on the Kremlin. Russian officials have denied responsibility.

Another prominent opposition figure, Ilya Yashin, was sentenced to 8 years in prison on charges of discrediting the military.
Leaders Must Work to Foster Peace: Australian Foreign Minister Responds to Latest Attacks in Middle East

Israeli security personnel check the remains of a rocket in Shlomi, northern Israel, on April 6, 2023. (Fadi Amun/Reuters)

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called on Middle Eastern leaders to foster peace and tolerance following deadly attacks that resulted in the deaths of European tourists.

The move comes after the European Union and the United Kingdom also called for calm after British and Italian citizens were killed in two separate attacks in the region.

It follows another flare-up in the ongoing IsraelPalestine conflict in the religious month of April, during Judaisms Pesach or Passover, Christianitys Easter, and Islams Ramadan.

On the morning of April 7, two British-Israeli sisters in their 20s died in a car crash after their car was shot at in the Harma Junction in the Jordan Valley, and their mother was seriously injured.

In a separate incident in Tel Aviv, a car rammed into pedestrians at the Tel Aviv Promenade on the night of April 7, killing Italian tourist Alessandro Parini and wounding several people. All victims are reportedly British and Italian tourists.

The attacks occurred shortly after the Israeli military launched retaliation air strikes across Gaza and Lebanon at the Hamas terrorist organisations after rockets were shot from south Lebanon toward northern Israeli areas.

Australia Deeply Concerned Foreign Minister Says

Australia is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Lebanon, said Wong. During this time of Ramadan, Pesach, and Easter, we call on all parties to immediately work to halt the violence, exercise restraint, and restore calm.

Wong said Israel had the right to defend itself from indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and that the federal government unreservedly condemned the attacks.

She also noted the federal government was shocked by the horrifying news of attacks in the West Bank and Tel Aviv.

Our thoughts go to the victims families and the injured. Terrorism and violence against civilians can never be justified, Wong said.

Smoke and flames rise during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on April 6, 2023. (Bashar Talib/Reuters)

Australia calls on all parties to respect and protect the sanctity and status of Jerusalems holy sites.

Events in recent days are urgent reminders of the need for leaders to work together to foster the conditions necessary for tolerance and peace.

However, the foreign minister also urged the Israeli government to show restraint against Palestinians and Muslim worshippers attending Al Aqsa, also known as the Dome of the Rock.

Security operations must be proportionate and in accordance with international law, she said.

EU and UK Calls for De-Escalation

In a statement on April 7, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the UK condemned the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and recognises Israels right to self-defence, adding that now was 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 statement reads.

The latest round of rocket attacks on Israel was launched after Israeli police stationed at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque forcibly dispersed crowds of worshippers who chanted praise for Hamasa Palestinian militant group classified as a terrorist group by countries and jurisdictions including the UK, the EU, and the United States.

Cleverly said the UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion or belief and calls for places of worship to be respected while condemning Israeli police violence at the Al Aqsa Mosque.

We value Jordans important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem, he said.

When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law. Israel and the Palestinian Authority must take steps to honour the commitments agreed at Sharm el-Sheikh and Aqaba.

A general view of the scene of an attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 7, 2023. (Nir Elias/Reuters)

Cleverly said, Peace will only be sustainable if both Israelis and Palestinians recommit themselves to a negotiated settlement, leading to a two-state solution of a secure Israel side by side with a viable Palestinian State.

In a similar statement on April 8, EU High Representative Josep Borrell said, Israel has the right to defend itself. At the same time, any response must be proportionate. The EU calls for an immediate end to the ongoing violence. Everything must be done to prevent the conflict from spreading.

The EU foreign minister urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to avoid further escalation and promote calm for the ongoing religious holidays.

Lily Zhou contributed to this article.
Video Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:44 The left breaks ranks against D.A. Bragg over Trump charges

34:47 Trump team lays out strategy for New York case

39:55 F.E.C. already tossed out Trump-Stormy case?

41:12 Case against Trump could backfire on D.A. Bragg

59:07 International pressure grows over Trump case

1:20:19 Medical tracking through CDC vaccination program

1:24:40 Q&A with Josh

News outlets that typically lean heavily against former President Donald Trump have been breaking ranks to criticize the charges brought against Trump in New York last week. Many note that despite their dislike of the former president, the case against him appears legally weak and politically motivated.

Meanwhile, Trumps legal team has laid out its strategy against the indictment. They claim the case likely wont even make it to trial. This is on top of increasing legal pressure against Attorney General Alvin Bragg, who elevated misdemeanor charges to felonies in order to charge Trump.

In this live Q&A with Crossroads host Joshua Philipp, well discuss these stories and others, and answer questions from the audience.
Two roadside bombs hours apart targeted police vehicles in volatile southwestern Pakistan on Monday killing at least four people and wounding 22, mostly civilian pedestrians, a government spokesperson said.

The first attack in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, killed two police officers and two civilians. Hours later, another bomb in the city went off near a police vehicle, wounding four people, police said.

In a statement, the outlawed Baluchistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the first attack. The BLA, which was designated a terrorist group by the United States in 2019, said its fighters targeted the vehicle of a police officer who was behind the arrest of members of the group.

Although such attacks are common, t he Pakistani Taliban have also stepped up assaults on troops and police across Pakistan since November, when they ended a monthslong cease-fire with the government.

Pakistan has been battling an insurgency in Baluchistan for more than a decade, with separatists in the province demanding complete autonomy or a larger share of the provinces gas and mineral resources.

Monday's attack in Quetta comes days after Pakistan said its top intelligence agency arrested Gulzar Imam, who is also known by the name Shambay, and was the militant founder and leader of another banned group, the Baluch Nationalist Army.

The BNA is an umbrella group for Baluch insurgents formed after two main insurgent groups merged: The Baluch Republican Army and United Baluch Army.

In separate statements, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Baluchistan chief minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo condemned the attack. They asked authorities to provide the best possible medical care to the wounded.

The Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, have claimed previous such attacks in Baluchistan and elsewhere. The militant group is separate from, but allied with, the Afghan Taliban.

The latest attack comes a day after the TTP shot and killed two police officers in Quetta. One of the assailants was also killed when police returned fire after coming under attack in the city Sunday night.

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5 Dead in Downtown Louisville Shooting After Active Aggressor Reported

Law enforcement officers respond to an active shooter near the Old National Bank building in Louisville, Ky., on April 10, 2023. (Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

Officials with the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department in Kentucky confirmed Monday that five people died following reports of an active aggressor near a bank.

Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel identified the shooter as Connor Sturgeon, who was one of the five deceased.

Louisville Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey told reporters that four died and eight were injured, including one officer, with various injuries. Officials later said that five people died.

We believe this is a lone gunman involved in this that did have a connection to the bank. Were trying to establish what that connection was to the business, but it appears he was a previous employee, Humphrey said.

Nine people, including two police officers, were treated for injuries from the shooting, University of Louisville Hospital spokeswoman Heather Fountaine said in an email. One of the officers was in critical condition, she said. At least three patients had been discharged.

Louisville police said calls came in from the Old National Bank at around 8:30 a.m. ET. They described the suspect as a lone shooter, who is deceased.

This is a tragic event, Humphrey said. But it was it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened.

The FBIs Louisville office wrote on Twitter that special agents have responded to the scene of this mornings shooting in downtown Louisville and are assisting our law enforcement partners. Other officials called on residents to stay away from the downtown area.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg also stated there was an active police situation downtown, telling the public to please avoid the area around Slugger Field until further notice.

Officials told local media that a shooting occurred at the Old National Bank building in downtown Louisville. Witnesses told WHAS-TV that they heard gunfire inside the building, while officers were heard yelling, Active shooter at the bank.

A witness told WHAS-TV that a male suspect with a rifle started opening fire on the first floor of the building.

He just started firing, the witness told the outlet. I didnt see his face. We were in the conference room. Whoever was next to me got shot, their bloods on me.

Louisville Metro Police deploy for an active police situation that includes mass casualties near Slugger Field in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 10, 2023. (Michael Clevenger/USA Today Network via Reuters)

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter that he was heading to the scene. Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville, Beshear wrote.

Video footage shows a massive police presence around the downtown area, while agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) also were seen responding.

Louisville, located near Kentuckys border with Indiana, has a population of approximately 630,000 people. The block of the shooting area is located near the minor league stadium, Louisville Slugger Field.

Kentuckys two senators, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), responded to the shooting.

Elaine and I are devastated by the news coming out of Louisville this morning. Thank you to LMPD and our first responders for your bravery at the scene. We send our prayers to the victims, their families, and the city of Louisville as we await more information, McConnell wrote Monday.

Paul also offered his condolences. Kelley and I are praying for everyone involved in the deadly shooting in downtown Louisville this morning. Our hearts break for the families of those lost, he said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Louisville Metro Police Department holds a press conference at 3:00 p.m. ET to give an update on the shooting that left at least four people dead on April 10.
Majority of Canadians Want More Access to Private Health Care: Poll

A surgery is performed in the operating room in Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children on Nov. 30, 2022. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

As some provinces roll out plans to allow private clinics a greater role in the health care system, a majority of Canadians are on board, according to a new poll.

The Ipsos poll, commissioned by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), found 52 percent of respondents would like to see increased access to private health care.

Thirty-one percent disagree with offering increased access to private care, and 13 percent did not express an opinion.

Ontario and Quebec have recently announced plans to increase access to private health care using provincial health cards, so the government still pays the bill.

Waitlists

Ontario announced in January it would tackle the surgical waitlist of more than 200,000 patientsparticularly for routine procedures such as knee and hip replacementsby partnering with more private clinics. Last month, Quebec began an initiative to build two privately operated, publicly funded mini hospitals, one in Quebec City and the other in Montreal.

Quebecers responded particularly well to increased private health care access in the poll, with 63 percent in favour and 23 percent opposed. Almost 70 percent favoured the mini hospitals project specifically and less than 20 percent opposed it.

Quebecers are much more concerned about access to care than about the administrative structure of care facilitiesand rightly so, said MEI economist Emmanuelle B. Faubert in a release.

For decades now, our monopolistic government-run health care model has only given us access to endless wait lists, Faubert said. We shouldnt be surprised if Canadians, seeing what is possible elsewhere in the world, come to support mixed, entrepreneurial health care models.

Two-thirds of respondents said private entrepreneurs could provide faster service than government-managed hospitals.

Addressing Concerns

When Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced Ontarios private clinic plan in January, they addressed concerns some Ontarians have about allowing more private involvement in the health system.

One concern is that thriving private clinics could draw needed staff away from public facilities. Jones said the application process for participation in the program requires clinics to outline their staffing plans.

It will very precisely talk about the need to protect our public hospitals and ensure that they are not in any way impacted, Jones said.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), the professional regulatory body for doctors, expressed concern about quality of care.

CPSOs Dr. Nancy Whitmore said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times in January, Complex procedures such as hip and knee joint replacement surgeries should remain connected to the hospital system to ensure continuity of care and patient safety.

Ford told reporters after the announcement he was surprised at CPSOs reaction since it is already responsible for all doctors in Ontario, including those at the private clinics. CPSO declined to comment on Fords response.

Ipsos surveyed a sample of 1,164 Canadian residents in March, with demographic quotas ensuring a sample to reflects the overall population. MEI and Ipsos published the poll April 6.
Mexicos Gun Problem Not Californias, nor Americas

A boy holds a gun as a community police force teaches children how to use weapons in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on Jan. 24, 2020. The vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. (Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images)

Commentary

Arent American officials supposed to side with Americans? One would think so. Not California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the attorneys general from 16 other states and Washington, D.C. They filed an amicus brief in an appeal to a case brought by the country of Mexico against 10 U.S. gun manufacturers. The case is Estados Unidos Mexicanos v. Smith & Wesson Brands Inc., et al. It now is being heard in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, based in Boston, Mass.

The lawsuit originally was filed in February 2022. I wrote about it in the Epoch Times at the time. That lawsuit was rejected last September by the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts. The reason was obvious, as I pointed out: This is a federal matter. Thats why we have a U.S. State Department. The U.S. Constitution reads, in Article I, Section 10, Clause 1:

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

Its worth reviewing this case more in detail as were further down the road. In particular, last June the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the Bruen case, affirming the Second Amendments personal right to keep and bear arms, including in public, with reasonable exceptions.

Bontas Argument Now

Bontas announcement explained he was filing an amicus brief supporting the Mexican governments lawsuit against gun manufacturers to hold them accountable for their contributions to gun violence in Mexico.  According to a 2020 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Department of Justices Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives estimates that 70% of the firearms recovered in Mexico from 2014 through 2018 originated in the United States. In todays brief, the attorneys general seek to overturn a district court decision dismissing the suit and argue that the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) does not shield the companies, including Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Ruger, Glock, Century Arms, Barrett, and Colt; as well as gun distributor Interstate Arms, from accountability.

Again, its obvious this is not a state matter, but a federal matter. If states were allowed to launch lawsuits willy-nilly, California could sue Germany for sending uber-polluting Mercedes, Audis, and BMWs to Kansas.

The announcement adds:

In Mexico, legally purchasing a firearm is nearly impossible. The country has one gun store and issues fewer than 50 gun permits per year. Despite this, an estimated 200,000 firearms are trafficked into Mexico from the United States every year.

He doesnt see itor wont tell us. The problem in Mexico is not too many guns, but too few. The cartels have weapons, but the citizens dont and cant shoot back. Currently, there are about 52,799 gun stores in Estados Unidosor one for every 6,250 people. Plus gun shows. And a legacy of gun ownership going back well before the countrys glorious founding in blaze of Revolutionary self-defense using guns against King George IIIs tyranny in 1776.

Its hard to gain an estimate, but a reasonable one from The Trace puts it at about 352 million guns in circulation, out of 465 million produced since 1899.

America does have a problem with drug cartels becoming more active. But the problems weve been reading about lately in Mexico of kidnapping Americans for ransom are much less likely to occur here, because the cartels know we citizens are heavily armed.

Mexico a Virtual Arms Bazaar

Moreover, even if all U.S. guns could be banned flowing to Mexico, that wouldnt stop importations from elsewhere. The cartels notoriously get the chemical precursors for deadly fentanyl from Communist China. If that cant be stopped, how could guns be? Indeed, on April 4, Reuters reported:

Mexicos president said on Tuesday he had written to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, urging him to help control shipments of fentanyl as he fended off criticism in the U.S. that Mexico is not doing enough to stop trafficking of the synthetic opioid.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador read out the letter to Xi dated March 22 in which he defended efforts to curb supply of the deadly drug, while rounding on U.S. critics, some of whom want Washington to intervene militarily in Mexico.

And heres a Fox News story from 2015: The Myth of 90 Percent: Only a Small Fraction of Guns in Mexico Come From U.S. Instead:

Mexico is a virtual arms bazaar, with fragmentation grenades from South Korea, AK-47s from China, and shoulder-fired rocket launchers from Spain, Israel and former Soviet bloc manufacturers.

Could the AKs from China have come via the United States? No. In 1989, the U.S. banned their importation from China.

Then theres this from Forbes, from February 2022:

Over the last few years Chinas presence in Mexico has expanded in both legal and illegal activities. According to preliminary data, trade between China and Mexico topped $100 billion in 2021, a new record. Imports from China account for over 90% of total trade between China and Mexico. Chinese foreign direct investments in Mexico tallied $189 billion in 2020. But, while legitimate commerce between Mexico and China is growing, Chinese groups are also becoming more involved in drug trafficking and money laundering in Mexico. In 2007, police in Mexico City seized $205 million in cash from a home owned by Chinese businessman Zhenli Ye Gong. 

The article quoted researcher Vanda Felbab-Brown, who said:

The Chinese governments cooperation to counter drug and wildlife trafficking between China and Mexico is very limited. For the most part, the Chinese government rejects Chinas responsibility for the smuggling of drug precursor chemicals into Mexico and for poaching and wildlife trafficking in Mexico for Chinese markets. It insists that these problems are for the Mexican government to solve.

Americas patriotic gun manufacturers are being scapegoated for Mexicos inability to influence Chinas refusal to control criminal activities.

Conclusion

Its obvious the action by Bonta and the other state AGsall liberal Democratsis to boost the price of buying a gun, making it more difficult for regular Americans to defend their homes and families themselves. Meanwhile, the AGs are not doing their real job of protecting us. The San Francisco Standard reported April 5, The stabbing death of prominent tech executive Bob Lee has sparked a wave of criticism about crime in San Francisco, with some people even going so far as to blame city leaders for his death, though details of what transpired and whether the attack was random currently remain unknown.

Such incidents only inspire Californians to go out and buy gunsand carry them on the street, a right explicitly affirmed by the Bruen case. The same U.S. Supreme Court justices will hear this case new case by the Mexican government, if it ever makes it up that far. They almost certainly will reject its spurious arguments.

Mexicos crime problems wont be solved by attacks on our Bill of Rights.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A Mongolian photographers amazing portfolio of nomadic hunters with their golden eagles is helping keep this unique tradition alive by sharing the magnificent bond between these hunters, their horses, and their birds.

Batzaya Choijiljav, 48, was born in western Mongolias Zavkhan province and grew up around nomadic people. Today, he lives in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, where he runs a travel agency; hes been working in travel and tourism for over 20 years.

On a field trip to the western Sahara in 2005, Batzaya took a 5-pixel Canon PowerShot A95 camera and shared his best photos with his fellow expeditioners. They gave me so much encouragement, he told The Epoch Times. I have officially been a photographer since 2007.

Batzaya has traveled alone to Bayan-Ulgii province in western Mongolia several times over ten years to live with and document the lives of the Kazakh nomadic people, who practice traditional hunting on horseback with trained golden eagles. The bird is a treasured symbol of protection in Mongolia.

In Sagsai and Altantsugts villages, Batzaya has befriended generations of Kazakh eagle hunters, who have become the many subjects of his striking photo series. Their cultural heritage comprises eagle falconry and nomadic herding. In winter, the Kazakhs hunt wild prey in the Altai Mountains without vehicles or guns, reliant upon the strong bonds they have built with their winged companions.

Generally, in warmer seasons, the eagle is fed by domestic animal flesh and some small mammals and has to gain weight and strength, the photographer said. Domestic animals need to be at the center of daily life; milking cows, producing dairy products, herding them, and migrating to the good pastures, training and taming the horses for riding, and familiarizing them with the eagles for hunting.

In the colder seasons their lifestyle is reversed. Eagles need to be at the center of daily life to be prepared for winter hunting, and domestic animals dont need to be constantly cared for. In the early autumn, eagle hunters, eagles, and horses start training actively for the hunting season.

Eagle hunters wear their traditional foal-hide hunting coat year-round, in order for the eagles to familiarize themselves with their hunters unique scent. Kazakh women are responsible for making this clothing, which they sew from yurt dwellings in the summertime, while the group is actively nomadic.

The Kazakh peoples annual Golden Eagle Festival is a chance for hunters to show off their skills and engage the next generation.

Eagle hunters love to use their centuries-old horse and eagle equipment in a traditional way, from their forefathers, and  are keen to pass them on to the next generation, Batzaya said. In order to do this, they need to show it, need to promote it, and need to be an example while they are gathering at the same place, such as the annual eagle festival. Photographers help them to promote and raise awareness.

This type of tourism also brings vital funds, without which most eagle hunters could no longer afford to train their birds; a trained golden eagle needs around 160 kilos of meat per year at no small cost, according to Batzayas research.

Feeding the eagles is not a cheap game for modern-world eagle hunters due to wild prey abundance and the legal environment, Batzaya said. Full-time eagle hunters are also domestic animal herders and most of them have no job so they earn from tourism activities.

Commercial tourism doesnt impact the authenticity of my photography because I am shooting the living heritage which is still alive here. I have been photographing them for the last decade and I have seen the changes in developing and resuming their traditions, not the dying and fading aspects.

Besides Mongolia, Batzaya has traveled extensively through the developing countries of Europe and Asia with his camera to photograph traditional people and lifestyles. Other unique subjects that he has captured on camera include the elusive snow leopard, the Gobi bear, wild Bactrian camels, camel-herding nomads, and the reindeer-herding Tsaatan people of the Taiga mountains.

Travel makes me inspired and gives me chances to see the different colors of the world, Batzaya said. I think that a photographer should always learn and search for new things; read about the subject you are taking, look at other peoples photoshoots, get inspiration, and try to take photos that are different from them.

The photographer, who has begun challenging himself in wildlife photography by traveling to remote mountains and deserts in search of rare and endangered animals, is widely published in the international media. He has also published three volumes of work with National Geographic, which he claims is the highlight of his photography career: Snow Leopard, Tsaatan, and Eagle.

Two of Batzayas favorite photos come from this third volume, which showcases the Mongolian Kazakh eagle hunters. A photo taken on Jan. 23, 2020, in Sagsai Village, Bayan-Ulgii province, shows hunters training their eagles and horses together by galloping on different types of terrain. Another, taken on Dec. 10, 2021, in Tsengel village, Bayan-Ulgii province, shows men hunting together.

Some of them are responsible for shooing the prey, and some of them are responsible for hunting with their eagles  teamwork, Batzaya said.

Check out more of these selected photos below:

Hunters training their eagles and horses together in Sagsai Village, Bayan-Ulgii province, on Jan. 23, 2020. (Courtesy of Batzaya Choijiljav)

Men hunting together in Tsengel village, Bayan-Ulgii province, on Dec. 10, 2021. (Courtesy of Batzaya Choijiljav)

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Most Canadians Unhappy With Canadas Internet Service Options, Federal Research Shows

Most Canadians are unhappy with both the affordability and reliability of internet service options currently available across the country, with many complaining about the lack of high-speed connectivity in some areas, according to federal research.

A report by the Privy Council Office (PCO) and obtained by Blacklocks Reporter cited research commissioned by the federal government last fall that surveyed individuals nationwide on their views of Canadas internet options.

The report, titled Continuous Qualitative Data Collection Of Canadians Views and dated Nov. 4, 2022, said the research showed that very few Canadians feel internet options are fairly priced in their local areas, with many saying they generally pay far more for these services relative to those living in other jurisdictions.

All of the surveys respondents also said they believe the government should be doing more to ensure broad internet affordability and reliability across the country.

It was strongly believed that high speed internet was a necessity for Canadians to be able to work, study and communicate effectively and needed to be viewed as a basic right going forward, said the report.

While all participants felt that cost was an important consideration when it came to the internet provider they selected, many also mentioned reliability and speed as heavily factoring into their decision-making process.

A number of respondents said theyd be willing to pay even more for their internet if it was guaranteed to be fast and reliable.

The survey also found that respondents were mixed in their ratings of quality and reliability of internet service in their communities.

While few participants identified poor quality or unreliable internet as routinely having a negative impact on their day to day activities it was widely felt that high speed internet represented a basic necessity and that any service interruptions could cause difficulties, especially for those who worked from home, it said.

Options and Prices

Research for the report was conducted by Toronto-based firm The Strategic Counsel under a $2.4 million contract.

Cabinet contracted the firm several months Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne approved Rogers Communications Inc.s $26 billion buyout of Shaw Communications Inc., despite many voicing concerns that the merger would further hinder affordability in Canadas telecommunications sector by wiping out competition.

The PCOs report reinforced some of these concerns, with almost all of the surveys respondents citing a lack of options for internet providers in their respective areas.

Among those living in Toronto it was felt that there were few choices beyond Rogers Communications and Bell Canada, the report added.

Champagnes approval of the Rogers-Shaw deal came with a number of provisions that he said are intended to increase competition in Canadas telecom sector. He also acknowledged that prices in the sector are too high.

The message I hear from Canadians everywhere I go is the same: We pay way too much for telecom services and we want more options, full stop, Champagne told reporters on March 31.

The industry minister added that if prices dont soon start coming down in the sector, the federal government will be stepping in with legislative actions aimed at bringing about such changes.

If Canadians do not begin to see clear and meaningful reduction in prices within a reasonable amount of time, I will have no choice but to seek further legislative and regulatory powers to drive down prices in Canada, he said.

Marnie Cathcart contributed to this report.
Nashville Council to Vote on Reinstating Expelled Democrat LawmakerHeres What We Know

Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, delivers remarks on the floor of the House chamber Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee Republicans are seeking to oust Jones and two other House Democrats for their role in a demonstration calling for gun control following the Nashville school shooting.(AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville officials are set to vote Monday on a possible reinstatement of a Democrat Tennessee lawmaker who was expelled last week after protesting gun laws.

Former Tennessee state Reps. Justin Jones and James Pearson, both Democrats, were expelled from the Republican-controlled state Legislature on Thursday over their participation in a rule-breaking protest on the House floor on March 30.

But Jones could be reinstated to his previous seat as soon as Monday in the role of interim representative until a special election can be held to fill the vacancy permanently.

Nashville Vice Mayor Jim Shulman said in a statement calling a special meeting of the Metropolitan Council for Nashville and Davidson County that council members will discuss procedures for filling the vacant seat on April 10, and if determined by the Council, vote on the election of an interim successor.

(LR) State Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson arrive at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., on April 7, 2023. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP)

At least 29 of the 40 members of the Metro Council have said they back appointing Jones as an interim representative until the special election can be held, The Tennessean reported.

My Council District 6 constituents of House 52 want [Jones] reinstated. I will be voting in favor of his reinstatement if he accepts the Metro Councils nomination, council member Brett Withers wrote on Twitter.

I will vote to reappoint [Jones] as soon as Metro Council meets to consider it, Freddie OConnell, another member, added.

Nashville Mayor John Cooper said that he thinks the council will send Jones right back to continue serving his constituents.

In an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press program on Sunday, Jones was asked whether he would accept a reappointment.

Yes, Jones replied. Their attack on democracy hurts all of us, he added, referring to Republicans in the Tennessee state House who introduced a resolution accusing Jones and Pearson of disorderly behavior that brought disorder and dishonor when the pair led chants on the House floor through a bullhorn.

On March 30, hundreds of protesters assembled at the State Capitol in Nashville to demand stronger gun control laws after an assailant shot and killed three 9-year-olds and three adults at The Covenant School. A group of protesters entered the House and Senate chambers, chanting and shouting, while Jones and Pearson used a bullhorn to lead the chants on the Legislature floor, interrupting proceedings.

Jones was expelled by a vote of 7225.

Protesters gather inside the Tennessee State Capitol to call for an end to shootings and support more restrictive gun laws in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 30, 2023. (Seth Herald/Getty Images)

Pearson Also Reinstated?

Pearson, meanwhile, could also be returning to his position when Shelby County officials convene on Wednesday in a special meeting.

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners will consider the action to reappoint Mr. Justin Pearson to his duly elected position to represent the citizens in District 86 for the State of Tennessee House of Representatives in a special called meeting, commission Chairman Mickell Lowery said in a statement.

Lowery defended the protests though he also acknowledged that there was justification for lawmakers to oust the two Democrat representatives.

The protests at the State Capitol by citizens recently impacted by the senseless deaths of three 9-year-old children and three adults entrusted with their care at their school was understandable given the fact that the gun laws in the State of Tennessee are becoming nearly non-existent, Lowery said.

It is equally understandable that the leadership of the State House of Representatives felt a strong message had to be sent to those who transgressed the rules, he continued, adding that he believes the expulsion of Jones and Pearson was conducted in a hasty manner without consideration of other corrective action methods.

Pearson, who appeared alongside Jones on NBCs Meet the Press, similarly confirmed his readiness to be reinstated to his vacant seat.

Yes, I would be honored to accept the reappointment of the Shelby County Commission and to run in a special election, Pearson said.

Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson speaks on his phone while being expelled from the state Legislature in Nashville, Tenn., on April 6, 2023. (Seth Herald/Getty Images)

In an appearance on ABCs This Week, Pearson claimed that his expulsion meant that voters have been disenfranchised.

This is one of the greatest tactics of voter disenfranchisement and voter oppression that I have ever witnessed, Pearson said.

Pearson was ousted by a vote of 6926.

Commissioner Amber Mills, a Republican, told the Memphis Commercial-Appeal that she would not vote for Pearson because it could lead to state legislators blocking money for the county.

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?

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Netanyahu Reinstates Israels Defense Minister After Firing Him

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on April 10 that he has reinstated his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, after firing him for criticizing the Israeli leaders efforts to change the countrys judiciary.

In the last days, we worked together and stood together around the clock on all the fronts against the security challenges, Netanyahu told reporters.

There were disagreements between us, even difficult ones on certain topics, but I decided to leave them behind. Gallant will remain in his position and will continue to work tougher on behalf of the state of Israel, he said.

In a tweet following Netanyahus remarks, Gallant posted a picture of himself sitting next to Netanyahu and wrote in Hebrew, We continue together with full strength, for Israels security.

Netanyahu had fired Gallant on March 26 after the latter called for a pause in the formers effort to change Israels judiciary. The proposed changes include allowing the government to appoint judges and for the Knesset, Israels parliament, to overturn Supreme Court decisions.

Netanyahu has been criticized for attempting the move in order to shield himself from legal liability as he is under indictment in multiple corruption scandals.

Gallants firing further inflamed tensions as the protests against the efforts only got bigger with traffic being blocked and drastic measures being taken by the population including Israeli Defense Forces reserve members saying they wouldnt report if called to action.

Netanyahu announced on March 27 a pause in the effort to change Israels judiciary until the next legislative session, which will be after Passover.

In Israel, Passover started on April 5 and will end on April 12 (April 13 outside of Israel).

I am taking a time out in the legislation of the judicial reform, said Netanyahu.

In order to prevent a rift in our people, I have decided to suspend the vote on the second and third reading of the legislation in the current Knesset session, in order to try and reach an understanding on the legislation during the next Knesset session.

Netanyahu pledged to bring a reform that will restore the balance between the different branches of government while strengthening civil liberties.

The United States expressed concern about the protests.

As the president recently discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu, democratic values have always been and must remain a hallmark of the U.S.Israel relationship, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a March 26 statement.

We continue to strongly urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible. We believe that is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens. United States support for Israels security and democracy remains ironclad.
NOAA: Ian Was Cat 5 Before Weakening at Florida Landfall

The bridge leading from Fort Myers to Pine Island, Fla., on Oct. 1, 2022, is heavily damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. (Gerald Herbert/AP Photo)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.Hurricane Ian briefly reached maximum Category 5 status before weakening to a Category 4 storm as it blasted ashore last September in southwest Florida, eventually causing over $112 billion in damage in the U.S. and more than 150 deaths directly or indirectly, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported.

The report, which NOAA releases on April 3 for all major tropical storms, also says Ian was the costliest hurricane in Florida history and the third-costliest ever in the U.S. as a whole. In addition to Florida, Ian impacted Georgia, Virginia, the Carolinas and Cuba before it fell apart Oct. 1.

The NOAA report elevates Ian to one of the most powerful tropical cyclones on record as a Category 5 with winds estimated at 161 mph (259 kph) on Sept. 28 after passing by the Dry Tortugas islands. Although it weakened to a Category 4 storm when it struck Florida later that day with winds of 150 mph (241 kph), the storm is now on the list of deadly monsters such as Camille, Hugo, Andrew, Katrina, Wilma and Michael.

In addition to the winds, Ian produced major storm surge across the southwestern Gulf coast of Florida. For example, the peak storm surge at hard-hit Fort Myers Beach was between 10 and 15 feet (3 and 4 meters) above ground level. At nearby Sanibel, the surge was a high as 13 feet (3.9 meters).

Ian made landfall in a region extremely vulnerable to storm surge, the NOAA report says. In southwestern Florida, the catastrophic storm surge and wind left a huge swath of complete destruction.

Storm surge drowning was the leading cause of death during the storm with 41 deaths, with 12 additional fatalities due to inland flooding in central and eastern Florida. There were 66 deaths in Florida directly attributable to the storm, NOAA concluded.

The U.S. total of 156 fatalities includes indirect deaths such as heart attacks, electrocution from power lines, inability to reach medical help and vehicle accidents. Of those, 84 were in Florida.

Victims ranged in age from 6 to 101 years old, but the median age of storm-related deaths was 72, NOAA found.

It is possible this is a reflection of demographics in the counties of southwest Florida but is consistent with other hurricane landfalls where the oldest die at the highest rates, the report says.

More than 4.4 million customers, or about 9 million people, lost power in the U.S. during Hurricane Ian from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, NOAA found. Florida led the way in power outages with more than 3 million customers, with thousands more in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

More than $109 billion of the estimated $112 billion in storm damages happened in Florida, with more than 52,000 structures impacted in Lee County alone and 5,369 completely destroyed. Inland flooding from swollen rivers, some at record levels, damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings in several central Florida counties.

The highest rainfall total from Hurricane Ian was almost 27 inches (68 centimeters) at Grove City, Florida, just north of the landfall location at Cayo Costa. Rainfall between 10 and 20 inches (25 and 50 centimeters) was widespread across Florida.

As for Hurricane Ian forecasts, NOAA says the track errors were lower than those over the previous 5-year period while still acknowledging some difficulty in determining the exact location of expected landfall. There have been questions raised following the storm if the warnings were sufficient to allow people, especially the elderly, enough time to escape.

In general, storms that parallel a coastline tend to be more challenging to predict because a small change in heading can cause large differences in the landfall location, the NOAA report says. Ian was an example of this particular challenge.

The quick intensification also was difficult to predict. NOAA noted that in this area, the forecast errors were higher than those over the past five years. Storm surge watches, meanwhile, were issued beginning at 48 hours before the onset of tropical storm winds at Fort Myers Beach and the prediction of peak surge rose from a maximum of 7 feet (2 meters) to 12 feet (4 meters) a day before Ian made landfall.

NOAA also noted that its forecasters conducted 282 media interviews the last week of September and that the National Hurricane Center website was accessed about 224 million times during the storm period.

By Curt Anderson
North Korea Refuses to Answer South Korean Military Hotline Calls Amid Tensions

A South Korean government official communicates with a North Korean officer during a phone call on the dedicated communications hotline at the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea, on Jan. 3, 2018. (South Korea Unification Ministry/Yonhap via AP)

South Koreas government stated on April 10 that North Korea has refused to answer its calls through both the joint liaison communication channel and the military hotline for a fourth day in a row.

The two Koreas typically hold phone calls twice per day through the inter-Korean liaison channel and the military hotline, except for weekends when calls from the liaison hotline arent scheduled.

South Koreas Ministry of Unification stated that its highly likely that North Korea has unilaterally cut off communication lines with Seoul, as the country has been unresponsive to its calls since April 7.

South Koreas Ministry of National Defense stated that it attempted to contact North Korea through the military hotline at 9 a.m. (local time) on April 10, but the calls went unanswered, according to Yonhap News Agency.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation and discuss further measures. However, it wont take us long to make an official statement, Koo Byoung-sam, the unification ministrys spokesperson, told reporters.

Koo said North Korea had, in the past, severed the joint liaison channel with South Korea and then restored it when tensions subsided.

He cited an incident in 2020, when North Korea cut off the liaison channel over South Korean activists anti-Pyongyang leaflets. The line was later restored in June 2021 after both sides exchanged letters.

North Korea made a similar move in August 2021 in response to South Koreas joint military exercises with the United States, although the channel was restored two months later, according to Koo.

This is the first time that both channels of the military and the South-North Joint Liaison Office have been completely shut down for more than one day, he said.

Reasons Behind North Koreas Move

The unresponsiveness came as South Korea published its annual report documenting gruesome human rights abuses in North Korea, such as the execution of individuals caught watching South Korean videos.

North Korea had also condemned the expansion of U.S.South Korea joint drills, which it views as a rehearsal for invasion, even though the United States and South Korea have stated that the drills were meant for defense.

In 2020, the North was quite clear about the reasons it was angry, and Kim Yo Jong elaborated on the context, Park Won-gon, a professor specializing in North Korean studies, told The Korea Times.

Kim Yo Jong is the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

But this time, the North has yet to clarify what made the regime cut the hotlines, although we can assume that it was due to the recent joint military exercise between South Korea and the U.S. and the repeated references to the North Korean human rights issue, Park said.

South Korea disclosed its annual report on North Korea for the first time since the North Korea Human Rights Act was approved in 2016, marking a shift from the former Moon Jae-in administration, which kept such reports confidential in favor of North Koreas relations.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said his administration aims to fully expose North Koreas human rights violations to the international community, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Underwater Nuclear-Capable Drone

The United States, South Korea, and Japan conducted two-day anti-submarine exercises around the waters of South Koreas Jeju Island on April 3 after North Korea claimed to have tested an underwater attack drone thats capable of generating a radioactive tsunami.

An underwater blast from a test warhead loaded to an unmanned underwater nuclear attack craft Haeil during an exercise around Hongwon Bay in waters off North Koreas eastern coast on March 23, 2023. Independent journalists werent given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cant be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

The drills involved the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the USS Wayne E. Meyer and the USS Decatur, which were recently deployed to South Koreas Busan naval base.

North Koreas official mouthpiece later reported that the regime tested a new type of nuclear-capable underwater drone, dubbed Haeil-2, from April 4 to April 7 to assess the weapons fatal attack ability.

North Korea stated that its underwater attack drone had undergone more than 50 shakedowns in the past two years. Its built to stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make underwater explosions to destroy naval striker groups and enemy ports.

However, analysts are skeptical of North Koreas claims and say the regime may have exaggerated the drones capabilities. South Koreas military stated that the development of the Haeil drone is still at an early stage.

Having pieced together the South KoreaU.S. analysis of the underwater nuclear attack drone as well as expert views on it, our military is putting weight to the possibility that the claim might have been exaggerated or fabricated, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday asked Korean lawmakers to send weapons to help his country against the Russian invasion.

Korea "has tanks, ships and various equipment that can block Russian missiles and we would be grateful if [the country] could help us fight back against Russia," Zeleneskyy told the National Assembly via Zoom.

He reminded them that Korea was also helped in the 1950-1953 Korean War by the international community.

In the 15-minute address, the Ukrainian leader thanked Korea for joining international sanctions on Russia but added that more help is needed. Zelenskyy has stayed in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv since the invasion began in February and addressed the assemblies of 23 countries as well as international organizations requesting military support.


Northern Ireland Troubles Victims Give Cautious Welcome to Peace Deal Anniversary

April 10 marks 25 years since the signing of the historic Good Friday Agreement that ended 30 years of violence in the province

Lanark Way interface gates which allow traffic to move between the Republican and Loyalist areas of Belfast during limited times of the day has been painted ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Pictured on April. 6, 2023. (PA Media)

Relatives of those murdered during the Northern Ireland Troubles have given a cautious welcome to the anniversary of the deal that brought peace to the province.

On April 10, 1998, the Good Friday Agreement was signed off by Irish and British political leaders in a diplomatic achievement still hailed today as one of the worlds best examples of ending conflict between opposing communities.

The deal brought an end to 30 years of bloodshed that cost the lives of over 3,500 people.

However, many of those who lost loved ones during the three decades of violence that preceded the historic agreement, feel that victims, and their families, have been left behind.

Ive been walking behind coffins since I was five years of age, Belfast man Billy McManus told The Epoch Times.

Ive been burying people all my life, and then when the Good Friday Agreement happened, it was all going to stop.

But what about the people that were killed? What did their families get out of it?

For the last 30 years, Billy McManus has been fighting for truth and justice surrounding his fathers 1992 murder.

William McManus, 54, was shot multiple times as he stood inside a bookmakers on Belfasts Ormeau Road.

Five people were killed and seven others seriously injured when loyalist paramilitary attackers burst into the shop and opened fire mercilessly.

The tragedycarried out by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA)is known as the Sean Graham bookie massacre.

No one has ever been convicted over the atrocity.

Police Informants

In 2010, an inquiry carried out by the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) into the UDA murders found that a Browning pistol used in the attack came from the security forces.

A UDA informant handed the gun to his police handlers who then gave it back to him, investigators revealed.

The report also stated that the gun was used in other UDA killings.

Police told HET investigators that another rifle used in the attack to murder William McManus and others had been disposed of.

It was later found on display in Londons Imperial War Museum.

Last year, a report published by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) identified collusive behaviours in the handling of the tragedy.

That included the deliberate destruction of files relating to the shootings.

The report also revealed that eight UDA members had been linked by intelligence to the murders or attempted murders of 27 people.

The report (pdf) also revealed those eight individuals were state informants either at the time of the attacks, or subsequent to them.

Its terrible to think that so many years after the Good Friday Agreement we still have to go to court and still have to fight for everything, said McManus.

I thought that was all part of getting to the truth, but nothings changed for us.

Victims on both sides of the community are all in the same boat.

Lost is a big word I always say because if this legacy bill goes through, where do we go?

At the end of the day, I think the British government want to forget about us, that its never happened.

Its always 1998 to us, we are still in same boat, weve still got no justice.

An undated photo of Billy McManus protesting outside the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in Belfast. Billys father William was murdered in the 1992 Sean Graham Bookmakers Massacre, carried out by the Ulster Defence Association. (Billy McManus)

Betrayed

Months before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, Raymond McCord buried his 22-year-old son.

Raymond Jnrwho had worked as a radar operator with the Royal Air Forcewas murdered on Nov. 9, 1997, after being lured to the grounds of a disused quarry not far from his Belfast home.

He was beaten to death by members of the outlawed Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).

His killing would go on to spark one of the most damning public inquiries into the workings of the UVF, and the paramilitary gangs close relationship with Northern Irelands now-defunct police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

Operation Ballast, headed by then-police ombudsman Nuala OLoan, revealed how paramilitary killers were protected from prosecution because they were police agents.

The 2007 report (pdf) also exposed a UVF terrorist as a high-ranking police informant who carried out several murders, beatings, and gun attacks whilst being on the payroll of the security forces.

Raymond Snr, who is now a well-known cross-community victims campaigner in Northern Ireland, does not believe the Good Friday Agreement did much for those who lost loved ones during the Troubles.

Victims were not represented at those talks and they suffered and lost most in the Good Friday Agreement, McCord told The Epoch Times.

The release of prisoners would have been rejected by victims.

We all wanted a ceasefire and peace, but not on the terms of the paramilitaries.

No deterrent, no money stopped for paramilitary organisations using the peace process to plunder the money pots while still carrying out murders.

McCord believes politicians failed him and his family in seeking justice for Raymond Jnr.

He also believes that unionist politicians are still not doing enough to remove the existence of loyalist paramilitaries.

Twenty-five years later, these gangsters are still here and unionist politicians are making excuses to speak to them while they are nothing more than criminal gangs.

Our politicians betrayed more than the victims while getting pats on their backs.

Power took away their morals and justice.

(L) Eugene Reavey, Cathy McIlvenny, Julie Hambleton, Raymond McCord, Michael Gallagher, and Billy McManus during a meeting at the HELP (Helping Everybody Live Peacefully) office in north Belfast on Aug. 5, 2021 as they set out their opposition to UK government proposals to introduce an amnesty for legacy killings. (PA Media)

Bittersweet

Just four months after the signing of the historic peace deal, Northern Ireland would suffer its most deadliest bomb attack.

Twenty-nine people were killed and 220 others injured in a Real IRA bomb attack that detonated in the centre of Omagh, Co Tyrone on Aug. 15, 1998.

The victims included unborn twins, and 21-year-old Aiden Gallagher, whose father Michael has campaigned for years for an independent inquiry into the atrocity.

Speaking to The Epoch Times, Michael Gallagher described the Good Friday Agreement as bittersweet.

We paid a huge price for the Good Friday Agreement, he said.

But we have grandchildren, and we want this country to move forward peacefully and in a healthier state than it was 25 years ago.

So from our point of view, I think its enormously important that we grabbed the gains with our two hands.

Gallagher said it was important for Northern Ireland that the Good Friday Agreement is continued to be worked at.

He said, It is important that we dont just rest on our laurels on the Good Friday Agreement.

Its something that needs to be worked at.

The country is facing huge difficulties at the moment with the Democratic Unionist Party not going back into government.

But whatever the difficulties are, these need to be resolved. And we need to get back on track because the people elected public representatives to act on their behalf.

In February, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris confirmed that the British government intended to establish an independent statutory inquiry into the Omagh bombing.

Royal Ulster Constabulary Police officers stand on Market Street, the scene of a car bombing in the centre of Omagh, Co Tyrone, 72 miles west of Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Aug. 15, 1998. (Paul McErlane/AP Photo)

Promises Not Fulfilled

Pat Irvine was just 14 years old when her mother Kathleen and father John were caught up in a UVF bomb attack on a north Belfast pub on Dec. 4, 1971.

The couple had just finished some Christmas shopping when they called in to McGurks Bar, not far from the city centre.

Fifteen people, including two children, were murdered after a four-man loyalist gang detonated a 50-pound bomb at the door of the packed pub.

John Irvine survived the blast, but his 53-year-old wife did not.

Almost 52 years later, their daughter is continuing to fight for truth and justice in their case

Irvine, 66, said the Good Friday Agreement represented a promise of truth and hope for reconciliation.

The thought of living without fear. Not only for me, but for my children, my family, she told The Epoch Times.

Id lived through the Troubles and didnt want that for my children, but as far as the promises made to victims, it hasnt fulfilled them.

Id hoped for some sort of closure.

I believed that at last, I was going to get answers, that my mothers murder was going to be investigated properly, that she would get the justice she deserved, that I wouldnt have to continue to plead, beg or fight anymore for truth and justice, but no it didnt do any of that.

In the immediate aftermath of the bombing, the RUC blamed the IRA, claiming the device had prematurely exploded after being brought inside the bar by Republicans before it was to be taken elsewhere.

It was also claimed the bar was a haunt for leading IRA figures.

However, that information was later proven to be false.

State files on the investigation into the McGurks Bar bomb blast have been sealed by the government for 75 years.

Relatives of those killed and injured continue in their legal fight for truth over the atrocity.

I still believe that the Good Friday Agreement was, and is, good for us, Irvine added.

It has saved countless lives, and for that, Im grateful.
A gunman opened fire at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 10, killing at least four people and wounding nine others, including two police officers. Louisville police identified the shooter, who is now dead, as 23-year-old Connor Sturgeon, a former employee at the bank.

Chinas military completed three days of combat exercises around the island of Taiwan. The drills began a day after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen returned to Taiwan from a trip to the United States. Chinas military simulated strikes around the island in response to Tsais meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week. China has previously said that such a meeting would violate Chinas sovereignty.

Award-winning journalist Alex Newman, in discussion with NTDs Stefania Cox, warns that the murderous dictator, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, is exploiting the political chaos sparked by former President Donald Trumps impeachment to expand his own power.

The latest leak of classified Pentagon documents could put a strain on the United States relationships with other countries. The documents appear to show the United States was not only spying on its enemies, but also on its allies.
The Chinese regime launched military drills around Taiwan, including live fire drills and fighter jet deployment over three days. Find out how U.S. lawmakers and Taiwans forces are responding.

French President Emanuel Macron suggests Europe limit reliance on the United States after visiting China and meeting with CCP leader Xi Jinping. We ask an expert about the timing of the message and whats behind it.

A Texas federal judge has ordered the FDA to freeze the approval of the abortion pill Mifepristone while a lawsuit that challenges the safety and approval of the drug continues.

Topics in this episode include:

1. CCP Holds Live-Fire Drills Around Taiwan

2. Macron Suggests Europe Limit Reliance on US

3. Federal Judge Orders Abortion Pill Freeze

4. Attorney for Trump Offers Assessment

5. Swimmer Riley Gaines Attacked, Vows Lawsuit

6. Buildings Collapse in Marseille, France

7. France: Deadly Avalanche Kills 4

8. EPA to Release New Vehicle Emission Rules

9. India to Become Worlds Most Populous Country

10. Shen Yun Sells Out Shows at Lincoln Center

11. Houston Zoo Debuts Worlds First Galapagos Islands Exhibit

12. Its National Siblings Day!

13. NYC Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival

14. California: K-9 Bunny Works for Police

15. Underwater Easter Egg Hunt
Officer and 2nd Victim in Critical Condition After 5 Killed at Louisville Bank, Including Assailant

Louisville Metro Police deploy for an "active police situation" that includes mass casualties near Slugger Field in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. April 10, 2023. Michael Clevenger/USA Today Network via REUTERS

A police officer and a second victim are in critical condition at a hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, after a shooting at Old National Bank in the citys downtown the morning of April 10.

Five people were killed, including the shooting suspect, Deputy Police Chief Paul Humphrey said at a second press conference on the incident.

Humphrey said eight more individuals were injured, including two police officers. Of those eight, two people were in critical condition and undergoing surgery, including one of the officers, he added.

He explained the suspected assailant appears to be a former employee of the bank, but in responding to a press question later in the conference, Humphrey said police were unsure if he was a former or current employee.

The deputy chief said the police response likely saved many lives.

Within three minutes of being dispatched, officers arrived on scene and encountered the suspect almost immediately, still firing gunshots, he said. Officers exchanged gunshots with the suspect and ultimately that suspect did die at the scene.

He explained authorities were working to confirm if he died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound or by police fire.

It is clear from the officers response that they absolutely saved peoples lives, he added. This is a tragic event, but it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened.

Gov. Says He Lost 2 Close Friends

Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear spoke at the press conference, also heralding the officers responding to the scene so quickly.

We have at least one officer in surgery right now that is there because he took those actions to try to protect the people of Louisville, Beshear said.

In emotional comments, Beshear said he had two close friends who were killed in the shooting. On the verge of tears, he said he had another friend at the hospital that he hopes is going to make it through.

So when we talk about praying, I hope people will, he said. For those that we are hoping can make it through the surgeries that they are going through. Then weve got to do what weve done these last three years after everythingweve got to wrap our arms around these families. And to everybody who needs it, dont be afraid to get some help. Our bodies and our minds are not meant to go through these types of tragedies.

The governor mentioned another personal connection to the shooting, stating that he was a customer of the bank and that he ran his campaign for attorney general out of the bank building, leading to his connection to many of the victims.

Other Leaders Respond

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) posted on Twitter about the events in his home state.

Elaine and I are devastated by the news coming out of Louisville this morning, he said. Thank you to LMPD and our first responders for your bravery at the scene. We send our prayers to the victims, their families, and the city of Louisville as we await more information.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg asked everyone to pray for those injured and fighting for their lives at the hospital, while thanking police for their quick response time as well.

I want everyone in this city to know, that notwithstanding tragedies like today, when multiple people are killed by gun violence or individuals are killed with gun violence, our community will continue to come together, he said. We will find ways to love and support one another and the families and friends who have been directly impacted by these acts of gun violence.

This is a breaking news story. Additional details will be added as more information is released.
Oil Companies Urge Supreme Court to Not Allow Climate Change Lawsuit to Proceed in State Courts

Energy companies are urging the Supreme Court to keep a Biden administration-backed environmentalist lawsuit accusing the industry of accelerating climate change in federal court, where they may have an advantage.

The lawsuit is part of an effort to force action on the climate change issue through the courts, as opposed to having elected lawmakers make policy. Colorado municipalities argue that they have been harmed by a warming climate and that the companies products contribute to injuries they have suffered, including hotter springs and summers, a longer wildfire season, and altered precipitation patterns.

The case currently before the Supreme Court doesnt deal with climate change as such; its concerned with whether the Colorado lawsuits should proceed in federal court or the state court where they were originally filed. Lawyers consider the state court to be more amenable to the municipalities claims, and the oil companies seem to think it would be easier to have the claims dismissed by the federal courts.

Suncor Energy (U.S.A.) Inc., two of its corporate affiliates, and Exxon Mobil Corp. asked the Supreme Court last week to accept their petition in Suncor Energy v. Board of County Commissioners of Boulder County, court file 21-1550. The Supreme Court may decide later this month whether it will hear the case.

Several Colorado municipalities filed what activists call climate accountability or climate fraud lawsuits against the oil companies, relying on the disputed theory of man-made global warming that holds that the production and consumption of so-called fossil fuelsoil, coal, and natural gasis heating up the planet and significantly changing its climate.

As of August 2022, there were at least 20 such pending lawsuits brought by cities and states across the United States, PBS previously reported. California cities filed similar lawsuits in 2017, and attorneys general in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Minnesota did the same the next year, alleging that the companies violated local consumer protection laws.

The municipalities in the case at hand argue (pdf) that the companies concealed and/or misrepresented the dangers associated with the burning of fossil fuels despite having been aware of those dangers for decades.

These allegedly deceptive practices contributed to excessive burning of fossil fuels, leading to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and making it necessary for [the municipalities] to spend significant additional sums on basic government services (such as maintaining roads and fighting forest fires) to mitigate the cascading effects of climate change, according to a brief from the Colorado municipalities.

The Supreme Court looked at the jurisdiction issue previously, issuing an inconclusive ruling on May 17, 2021, in BP PLC v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, a separate climate change-related lawsuit. Exxon Mobil was a petitioner in that case, alongside BP.

In that case, the companies had removed the case to federal courts, arguing that energy production was a federal issue. By a vote of 71, the Supreme Court instructed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit to take another look at the removal issue but didnt state which court was the proper venue for the case.

After a federal district court remanded the case at hand to state court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver affirmed that order on Feb. 8, 2022, finding that the grounds argued by the companies for changing venue to the federal courts were insufficient. On June 8, 2022, the companies petitioned the Supreme Court.

In a brief filed on March 16, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said the Biden administration decided that state-law claims like those pleaded here should not be recharacterized as claims arising under federal common law, and therefore, the companies petition should be denied.

This is a change from the policy of the Trump administration, she said.

The attorney for the energy companies, Kannon Shanmugam of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, and Garrison, accused the government of flip-flopping on the merits, in an April 5 supplemental brief (pdf).

The government does not dispute that the questions presented here are exceedingly important ones worthy of this Courts review, the lawyer wrote. He also wrote that there are now six petitions pending before the Court arising from similar climate-change cases that present the same basic questions.

It is preposterous to suggest that the fate of these caseswith their potentially enormous consequences for an entire sector of the global economyshould be left to handpicked state courts without a decision by this Court sanctioning that outcome, he wrote.

The Epoch Times reached out to Shanmugam, but he declined to comment.

Attorney Marco Simons of EarthRights International, who represents the Colorado municipalities, referred The Epoch Times to a statement that he made on March 16, after Prelogar asked the Supreme Court to deny the petition.

Since the Colorado communities filed this case in 2018, Exxon Mobil and Suncor have consistently sought to delay the litigationmoving the case from court to court and losing each step along the way, Simons said at the time.

Todays development brings these communities one step closer to holding fossil fuel companies accountable for their misconduct and obtaining remedies for the serious climate harms Colorado residents are facing.

He also said that the companies are trying to circumvent settled law and would radically expand the scope of federal courts jurisdiction.

The Solicitor Generals office correctly concluded that this case presents state-law claims, which state courts regularly hear and decide without issue, and that this litigation thus belongs in state court, Simons said.

The justices are scheduled to consider the case at their judicial conference on April 21. If at least four of the nine justices grant the petition, oral argument will be scheduled in the case.
Sky News Removes Itself From TikTok, Calls the App a Spy Network

Sky News Removes Itself From TikTok, Calls the App a 'Spy Network'

FILE PHOTO: The U.S. head office of TikTok is shown in Culver City, California, U.S., September 15, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Right-leaning news channel Sky News Australia has announced that it would discontinue publishing to the popular Chinese app TikTok in an effort to protect its reporters and audiences from security risks.

Sky called TikTok a spy network masquerading as a social media platform, saying the risks of being on TikTok are far too great for any serious news publisher to ignore while the gains are negligible at best.

The media also criticised other outlets and journalists who reported the platforms use as a tool for soft power and foreign interference, then later jumped on TikTok themselves. Sky News described TikTok as a vanity exercise for media companies who deemed arbitrary viewership figures more important than the fact that they cannot be monetised in any meaningful way.

The News Corp-owned media agency is one of the first major outlets in Australia to have publicly boycotted TikTok, which has been under heavy scrutiny in the past months for its close ties to the Chinese regime.

Australians will lose absolutely nothing of substance if media organisations make the right decision and withdraw from this platform. And news organisations will equally suffer little loss, wrote Sky News Australia digital editor Jack Houghton on Monday.

While money is not a consideration in our decision, it is also worth noting that apart from the security issues, TikTok is the only developed social media platform to not have a proper commercialisation strategy for content creators.

The move comes after the U.K state-owned media BBC and a Danish public broadcaster issued guidance for its staff to remove TikTok from company phones. The BBC continued to publish content on the Chinese social media app.

TikTok Surveilled US Journalists

It was not the first time TikTok was deemed an unsafe platform for media organisations. Last year, ByteDance was revealed to have illegally tracked journalists using the platform by obtaining their IP addresses and other user data.

In December 2022, Forbes reported that China-based employees at ByteDance were using TikTok to track their journalists physical locations in October. The publication described the effort as a covert surveillance campaign designed to counter and suppress leaks from the company.

ByteDance reportedly fired its chief internal auditor, Chris Lepitak, who was responsible for the team which led the campaign. China-based Song Ye, who Lepitak reported to and who answered directly to ByteDance CEO Rubo Liang, resigned over the issue.

The ByteDance probe, known internally as Project Raven, was reportedly launched in response to a Buzzfeed story that found that China-based ByteDance employees repeatedly accessed U.S. user data from TikTok.

Project Raven involved the companys Chief Security and Privacy Office, was known to TikToks Head of Global Legal Compliance, and was approved by ByteDance employees in China, the Forbes report said.

The team that oversaw the surveillance campaign was ByteDances Internal Audit and Risk Control department, a Beijing-based unit primarily responsible for conducting investigations into potential misconduct by current and former ByteDance employees.

Australian Government Banned TikTok From Government Devices

Sky Newss decision to boycott TikTok followed the decision by Australian Attorney General Mark Dreyfus to ban TikTok from all government-issued devices, citing national security risks.

Dreyfus said in a statement that the ban would come into effect as soon as practicable. He said exemptions would be granted on a case-by-case basis.

After receiving advice from intelligence and security agencies, today I authorised the secretary of the Attorney-Generals Department to issue a mandatory direction under the Protective Security Policy Framework to prohibit the TikTok app on devices issued by Commonwealth departments and agencies, Dreyfus said.

The direction will come into effect as soon as practicable.

However, he noted that possible exemptions will be granted on a case-by-case basis and with appropriate security mitigations in place.

Andrew Thornebrooke and Victoria Kelly Clark contributed to this article.
Parent Group Criticizes Ontario Catholic School Trustee for Denouncing White Christian Males

High school students head to school buses after school in this file photo. (Geoff Robins/AFP via Getty Images)

A parent group has taken issue with a trustee at a Catholic school board in Waterloo, Ontario, after she allegedly said the most dangerous creature on the planet is the white Christian male.

The comment was made in a tweet from the account of Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) Trustee Wendy Ashby. However, the account has since been removed from Twitter. Screenshots of the tweet have been reshared, including in an April 6 release from the group Parents as First Educators (PAFE).

Ashby and the WCDSB did not respond to an Epoch Times inquiry as of publication.

The tweet continues, Theyre a threat to anyone that is not them. #truth #facts #mysogyny #whitentitlement #racism #homophobia.

Another tweet says White women make obedient soldiers for the christofascist patriarchy.

PAFE, which advocates for parental rights, criticized Ashbys tweets.

This is a Catholic school board trustee, who has a duty to represent Christian values, overtly attacking Christian values and the people she is supposed to represent, it said in the release.

Ashbys campaign ahead of trustee elections last year focused heavily on LGBTQ advocacy, anti-racism, and indigenous advocacy.

I proudly and loudly advocate for BLM [Black Lives Matter], anti-racism, truth and reconciliation in education, LGBTQ2IA+, [and] mental health, she told local publication the New Hamburg Independent last year.

As someone who identifies as Metis and settler, and whose family is diverse, a great deal of my education is based in understanding and furthering diversity equity and inclusion, she told another local publication, The Record.

PAFE says Ashby appears to fight for justice and acceptance for all, but she doesnt accept white Christian males.

She is unfit to represent her white Christian constituents as a trustee, and she should resign, PAFE said. As of April 10, PAFE had a little over 1,100 signatures of its 2,000 goal on a petition calling for Ashbys resignation.
Pension Protesters Target Paris Bistro Favored by Macron

French gendarmes secure a position in front of La Rotonde restaurant during a demonstration as part of the eleventh day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government's pension reform, in Paris, France, on April 6, 2023. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters)

PARISClashes 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 eleventh 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 Macrons 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 due to 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 1820 GMT 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 hardline CGT union, Sophie Binet, said at the start of the Paris rally.

The number of people striking in schools and disruption to train traffic was down on Thursday from a week earlier. On the streets, the hardline 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, the leader of the moderate CFDT union, told France 5 television that the figures were hefty for an eleventh 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.

Mobilisation will continue, one way or another  Its a long distance race, the CGTs 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.

By Antony Paone, Sarah Meyssonnier, and Ingrid Melander
Pentagon Provides Easter Sunday Update After Top Secret US Military Plans Leaked

The Department of Defense (DOD) on Sunday released more information about an apparent leak of classified information and documents relating to the war in Ukraine and surveillance efforts.

So far, the Pentagon and other U.S. government agencies have issued few statements about the purported intelligence leak, details of which surfaced on Telegram, 4chan, Twitter, and Discord. Before Sunday, the Pentagon released a brief statement saying it was aware of reports and that a criminal referral was sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which confirmed it was investigating the matter on Saturday.

An agency effort has been stood up, focused on assessing the impact these photographed documents could have on U.S. national security and on our Allies and partners, DOD deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement to news outlets on Sunday evening. Over the weekend, U.S. officials have engaged with Allies and partners and have informed relevant congressional committees of jurisdiction about the disclosure.

Singh noted in Sundays statement that the DOJ had opened a criminal investigation into the matter. The Department of Defenses highest priority is the defense of our nation and our national security, she added.

A number of the leaked documents were labeled as Top Secret or NOFORN, which means not be released in any form to foreign governments, according to screenshots of the material that was circulating online viewed by The Epoch Times. Some of the purported leaks appeared to show a daily update regarding the Ukraine-Russia war along with the movements of ships, planes, and ground forces under NATO command in Europe.

Among the dozens of images that were circulating online, one image appeared to show an updated map of fighting in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region. And another showed damage that was done by a recent strike, dated in February 2023, in the Donetsk city of Marinka.

Volunteer soldiers prepare to fire toward Russian positions close to Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on March 8, 2023. (Libkos/AP Photo)

Notably, an apparently leaked Defense Intelligence Agency document appeared to outline possible scenarios in which the Israeli government would provide Ukrainian forces with weapons. It listed four scenarios, labeled as most plausible to least plausible.

Other documents purport to show the number of Russian and Ukrainian casualties as of early March 2023, reported The New York Times. One of the papers said that between 16,000 and 17,500 Russian soldiers have died so far, while Ukrainian forces suffered as many as 71,500 deaths, although Western intelligence officials have suggested publicly that Moscows forces have lost far more than that.

The Epoch Times could not verify the authenticity of the images that were circulating online. The DOD has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Some analysts told the NY Times that the documents could be fabricated. 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 the Center of a New American Security, a Virginia-based think tank funded by dozens of military contractors, Google, Amazon, and other large corporations.

A former DOJ official, Brandon Van Grack, told NPR on Monday that the only debate now is how much damage there was and the threat is still live. He added, We dont know if the individual or individuals still have access to classified information and whether there could be additional leaks, and so right now this has to be the top priority.

Other researchers have said that the leaked files were posted on Internet forums weeks ago. This [stuff] was sitting in a Minecraft Discord server for a month and no one noticed, Aric Toler, a researcher at investigative outlet Bellingcat, told CNN, referring to the popular video game. Toler was apparently referring to the recent bevy of reporting from the NY Times, CNN, and The Washington Post about the leaked files despite them having been posted online in early March.

Thomas Rid, another researcher, added to CNN: The fact that unedited and editeddoctoredversions of some files are available online makes me skeptical that this is a professional Russian intelligence operation. Some noted that the incident bears some similarity to former contractor Edward Snowdens leaking of highly classified materials from the National Security Agency in 2013.

Last week, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the chief of Ukraines presidential office, claimed in a statement that the posts were Russian disinformation or are fabricated, although he did not elaborate. He claimed that these leaks were attempts to sow doubt in Ukraines reported counter-offensive, which is slated to start this spring.

To take open briefings, add fake info or certain parts of interceptions & publish them on social networks legalizing the leak. He added, This has nothing to do with Ukraines real plans, before saying that as for the real counteroffensive plans, the Russian troops will certainly be the first to get acquainted with them.
Police Search Wetland for Missing New Hampshire Girl

Police searched a wetland area in Massachusetts for the remains of a New Hampshire girl authorities say was killed by her father Adam Montgomery.

The little girl made national headline news in 2021 when it was discovered by police that her whereabouts were unknown for more than two years after a Massachusetts judge switched full custody from Harmonys mother Crystal Sorey to Adam Montgomery.

The judge stripped Sorey of custody of then-five-year-old Harmony over an alleged drug addiction problem and granted it to Adam Montgomery, who at the time had a long criminal record including armed robbery, violent assaults, and drug possession. He was finishing an 18-month sentence for shooting a man just prior to Harmonys birth and have been described in police reports as a heroin addict.

He was found homeless and living in a car when police tracked him down to question him about the whereabouts of his daughter.

According to police reports, around Thanksgiving of 2021, Sorey contacted police and told them that her daughter was missing after she spent months trying to get New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Family (DCYF) to do a wellness check on Harmony. The little girl was supposed to be under the supervision of a DCYF but reports showed the agency failed to conduct routine checks on her.

An investigation followed and police held a press conference revealing that Adam Montgomery could not account for Harmonys whereabouts since 2019.

Police have released limited details about Adams involvement in her disappearance. In January, he was indicted on a charge of second-degree murder on allegations he beat his daughter to death just days before Christmas in 2019.

According to a statement by Massachusetts state police, they searched for the little girls remains on Friday, April 6, in an area of Revere, a city just north of Boston, about 30 miles south of the New Hampshire border.

State Police spokesman Dave Procopio said the search was prompted by information developed by investigators.

According to national statistics, more than 900 children have been killed in the United States since 2008. Since January alone, 22 children have been killed by one of their parents in America.

In March, three South Carolina children were murdered in front of their mother while they lay sleeping in bed and a two-year Florida boy allegedly thrown into an alligator-infested lake by his father are among at least 22 children killed just since January.

In some of the cases, the children had parents involved in a divorce, a custody dispute, or past allegations of domestic violence involving the parents alleged to have carried out the killings.

In January, a Utah father shot his five children along with their mother and then himself less than two weeks after the mother filed for divorce. In Colorado, 5-year old Liam Brueches father allegedly shot and killed him using an air rifle after the father missed a scheduled custody exchange.

The same month in New Hampshire, 7-year-old Jaevion Riley was burned and beaten to death allegedly by his father after police ignored the boys mothers repeated requests for wellness checks of the boy while in his fathers custody.

In February, a Duxbury mother killed her three young children by strangling them to death with exercise bands. She also tried to take her own life but survived. According to police reports, the 32-year old mother was on 12 different prescription medications for postpartum psychosis at the time of the murders. The children included a 5- and 3-year-old and an 8-month-old baby.

Among the children murdered in January were 9-year-old Mackenzie Hagger and her 13-year old sister Autumn Hagger, who were shot and killed by their father along with their mother Cynthia Clouse. According to police, Clouse was packing to leave her husband Roger Hagger, the childrens father, at the time he allegedly murdered them.

In the latest killings, South Carolina mom Aletha Holliday had recently filed for divorce when Charles Slacks, a U.S. veteran, showed up at her home. According to a press release from police, Hollliday tried to stop him as he walked upstairs to their rooms where he shot each one of them with a gun he brought.

The three slain children were 6-year old Aason, 5-year old Aayden, and 11-year old Ava. Slacks was Avas stepfather.

In the Harmony Montgomery case, police named March 4, 2020 as the day Adam concealed his daughters body. In addition to murder, he has been indicted on gun charges, tampering with witnesses, and falsifying evidence.

A 15-year old Florida teen was also killed in March by her father along with three other family members and a two-year old boy was found in the clutches of an alligator after his father allegedly murdered the boys mother by stabbing her more than 100 times then throwing his toddler son into a nearby lake.
More than 9.46 million Koreans lived alone last year, surpassing 40 percent of the population for the first time, and the number of senior citizens among them increased 31 percent to 3.45 million over the last five years.

The elderly accounted for 36 percent of all single households, and their number expected to rise even further as the population ages. Many live in poverty.

According to the Korean Women's Development Institute, the average disposable income of men over 65 was W23.26 billion in 2019 and for elderly women W20.94 billion, but that fell to only W15.96 billion and W12 million for those who lived alone (US$1=W1,371).

According to Statistics Korea, 70.9 percent of households living on social welfare were one-person households as of 2021.

Many also die alone. According to data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of senior citizens who died alone rose from 666 in 2015 to 1,834 last year, up around 2.8 times. Out of 2,113 unidentified people with no family contacts who died and were buried by the Seoul Metropolitan Government over the last three years, 72 percent were over 60, mostly men. Most of them died in hospital, but nearly one-third were found dead in flats or motels.
Maria Marchyshyn attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on April 9, 2023. (Dongyu Teng/The Epoch Times

TORONTO, CanadaSometimes, one has to take a leap of faith before a miracle can occur. For political analyst Maria Marchyshyn, getting to see Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on Apr. 9 was nothing short of a miracle because by the time she decided she wanted to see the performance, all the tickets had been sold out.

Ms. Marchyshyn, who was eventually given a seat, said that being able to see Shen Yun was truly a miracle because I was coming here without a ticket  I just took a leap of faith.

I am so blessed today and I think its truly a spiritual experience for me in that sense too that the Divine, Godmy God [and] your Godactually wanted me to see this and experience this for a number of reasons. So [Im] very grateful for this.

Ms. Marchyshyn described Shen Yun as an aesthetic, cultural, and educational experience.

On the aesthetic level, it was such a feast for the eyes how you had not only the dance, but you also had the music. You had the singing, and I have to say, as a part-time dancer, the movements were so fluid.

It was just done so, so professionally that I was simply immersed, she added. I was completely immersed in this wonderful experience. It was a very educational experience. It was a very cultural experience, but it [also] really touched me on different levels mind, body and soul.

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 and to give its audiences a glimpse of pre-communist China.

As a political analyst and a Ukrainian, Ms. Marchyshyn appreciated Shen Yuns presentation of China before communism.

Im glad that [Shen Yun is] actually showing Chinese culture as it was before communism, she said.

I think that is very important because a lot of people are not familiar with that; they only see on media the political tensions that are arising It was very interesting for me to see because I didnt know how China was before communism.

According to Shen Yuns website, traditional Chinese culture was deeply rooted in the spiritual teachings of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, and the ancient Chinese people believed that their culture was a gift from the Divine. Getting to see Shen Yun against all odds, and on Easter no less, made Ms. Marchyshyn extra appreciative of the spiritual elements of Shen Yuns performance.

It was such a spiritual experience just to see how it was all incorporated and how it was shown because we live in such a secular world, said Ms. Marchyshyn. Just to see  the Divine being incorporated in the show, I think its so important.

Ms. Marchyshyn also said that the performance rid her of her anxiety, and that the energy from the stage calmed her, especially during the erhu solo. The erhu is a traditional Chinese two-stringed instrument. Ms. Marchyshyn described the energy as being yellow and pink in color, and said that it felt uplifting and hopeful.

Especially when the woman was playing the erhu, I felt so at peace, said Ms. Marchyshyn.

I felt that as the show went on, I felt the anxiety go down, and I just felt like I forgot about my body.

The energy from the stage was very obvious. Im a very energetic personIm very, very at tune to the energyso I found the whole show to be very calming. The energy was very positive.

Reporting by Dongyu Teng 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.
Prime Minister Urges Northern Ireland Politicians to End Stormont Stalemate

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak departs 10 Downing Stree, to attend Prime Minister's Questions at the Houses of Parliament, in London, on March 15, 2023. (PA)

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged Northern Ireland politicians to return to power-sharing as he hailed the bravery and perseverance of negotiators of the Good Friday Agreement.

In a statement released on Monday marking exactly 25 years since the signing of the historic peace deal, Sunak praised the difficult decisions taken and political imagination that helped put an end to 30 years of violence in the province.

So we must get on with the business of governance, he said.

The prime minister confirmed he will meet U.S. President Joe Biden ahead of a commemorative event in Belfast to mark the treaty signing.

Biden will give a keynote speech at Ulster Universitys city centre campus and will not visit Stormont owing to the ongoing political stalemate that has left Northern Ireland without a functioning government for over a year.

Sunak said there is a need to recommit to redoubling our efforts to deliver on the promise made when the deal was signed on April 10 1998.

Reflecting on the beginning of a new chapter, the prime minister said the agreement continues to enjoy huge international support, as demonstrated by the presidents visit.

As we look forward, we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadershipshowing bravery, perseverance, and political imagination, he said.

We commemorate those who are no longer with us and the many who lost their lives by trying to prevent violence and protect the innocent.

Biden Visit

Urging Stormonts main political parties to work together, Sunak said it was his mission, duty, and responsibility to deliver for people in Northern Ireland.

We stand ready to work with our partners in the Irish government and the local parties to ensure that the institutions are up and running again as soon as possible, he said.

There is work to be done.

Downing Street confirmed details of the prime ministers engagement with Biden, who will arrive in the UK on Tuesday evening, where Sunak will meet him off Air Force One.

The President will then undertake a programme of engagements including a meeting with the Prime Minister, the statement said.

Biden is due to travel to the Republic of Ireland after his Belfast visit, where he is expected to take part at events in Dublin, County Louth, and County Mayo.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is currently on high-alert over fears dissident republicans could launch a terror attack ahead of the U.S. presidents landmark visit.

MI5 had raised the provinces terror threat level from substantial to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

On Wednesday, Sunak will address Belfasts Queens Universitys Agreement 25 conference and host a special gala dinner to commemorate the anniversary.

His refocused efforts on bringing an end to the political impasse within the province include a newly announced investment summit to boost Northern Irelands thriving economy.

The Northern Ireland Investment Summit will be led by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with the Northern Ireland Office and Invest Northern Ireland.

Downing Street said the event will take place across two days in September this year in Belfast.

Sunak said: Northern Irelandlike the rest of the UKis teeming with opportunities, talent and ingenuity.

The biggest thing we can do to improve peoples standard of living and secure a prosperous and thriving Northern Ireland, is economic growth.

Thats something Im relentlessly focused on delivering.

President Joe Biden makes his way to board Air Force One before departing from Joint Base Andrews in Md., on March 31, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Deadlines Are Deadly

Despite the ambitious plans, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said no-one could put a timeline on when power-sharing would be back up and running.

He told BBC Radio 4s Westminster Hour: Anybody who is predicting a date by which the executive would go back in Northern Ireland would be someone who can also sell you a four-leaf clover.

No one knowsdeadlines are deadly in Northern Ireland term.

Writing in The Telegraph, he added: Across a range of measures, the people of Northern Ireland are being directly impacted because of an ongoing lack of locally accountable devolved government.

The UK government wants to see the Northern Ireland institutions delivering better public services, more investment and a stronger Union based on prosperity  there is no surer way to achieve that than for political parties to come together to get on with the job of delivering on the peoples priorities and to make Northern Ireland work.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Northern Ireland is standing at another crossroads 25 years after the agreement that he said represents the very best of what our politics can achieve, the triumph of hope over division, of peace over strife and of prosperity over conflict.

With political stalemate at Stormont and a period of difficult AngloIrish relations, we must use the spirit and the trust built by the architects of the Good Friday Agreement to push us forward to another 25 years of peace and prosperity, he said.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has insisted the political vacuum in the nation caused by his partys refusal to reenter Stormont is not to blame.

In February last year the DUP withdrew its support for the power-sharing institutions formed by the Good Friday Agreement as it protests against post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he will be intensifying talks with Sunak in the coming weeks to try to get Stormont running again.

Were working towards having the institutions up and running in the next few months, he told RTEs This Week programme.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Qantas Wont Buy Chinese Made Aircraft for Safety Reasons: Aviation Expert Predicts

This photo shows China's first domestically produced large passenger jet C919 in Zhuhai, China, on Nov. 7, 2022. (CNS/AFP via Getty Images)

The Chinese regime has stepped into the aircraft race against the United States and European Union after it launched C919, the first Chinese-made passenger jet, in December 2022.

While it is too early to tell how things will turn out for the C919, aviation experts have predicted that Australias flag carrier Qantas will not get its hands on the Chinese passenger jet any time soon due to safety concerns.

In December 2022, the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) delivered the first C919 to its customer, China Eastern Airlines, after 15 years of development, which cost tens of billions of dollars.

The narrow-body airliner, which is designed to carry between 158 and 192 passengers with an operating range of 4,075 to 5,555 kilometres, was just certified by the Civil Aviation Administration of China three months earlier.

The C919 is the result of the Chinese regimes ambition to compete with Boeings 737 and Airbus A320.

According to an analysis by the Mercator Institute of China Studies, a German think tank focusing on China issues, COMAC has received over 1,000 orders for C919, with more to come.

However, nearly all of its customers are Chinese airlines and leasing companies. The only foreign buyer is GE Capital Aviation Services, a commercial aviation financing and leasing company based in the United States.

Airline Intelligence and Research CEO Tony Weber believed that C919 might attract some interest from international buyers if it was good enough value for money.

I would think low-cost carriers, in particular, would be looking at this aircraft if its 50 to 60 percent cheaper than other similar models, he said, as reported by The Australian.

However, the CEO noted that airline companies would likely adopt a wait-and-see attitude, saying they wanted to see how the new passenger jet performed for several years before making any decision.

As such, he predicted that Qantas would not consider putting C919 in its fleets any time soon.

Qantas wont go anywhere near it. Having a Chinese carrier in your fleet would be a hard sell for a full service carrier that relies heavily on their safety record, Weber said.

C919 Is Not Entirely Made in China

While Chinese state-run media has touted C919 as a big success in Chinas aviation industry, there is an obvious fact that most of the aircrafts components were produced outside the country.

Richard Bitzinger, an independent international security analyst, wrote in an opinion piece for The Epoch Times that only around 25 percent of the overall value of the C919 was actually Chinese, mostly in the manufacture of the fuselage and wings, as well as final assembly.

The plane relies heavily on Western suppliers for critical components and subsystems, including its avionics, landing gear, nacelles, flight controls, andmost importantlyjet engines, he wrote.

Around 60 percent of these foreign suppliers to the C919 are U.S. companies, such as General Electric, Honeywell, and Eaton.

China Eastern Airlines staff members check a C919 aircraft in Hubei, China, on Jan. 16, 2023. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Another problem with C919 is the plane is unlikely to be built with cutting-edge technology.

This is because suppliers fear that the Chinese regime will steal their technology if they provide state-of-the-art components.

A supplier would have to be out of their mind to provide the latest and best, Richard Aboulafia, a consultant with AeroDynamic Advisory, said in comments obtained by Forbes.

Echoing the sentiment, aviation consultant Michael Boyd said C919 was yesterdays technology available today.

Domestically, the open question is how much damage the [Chinese Communist Party] will do to Chinese carriers by forcing them to fly these things, he said.

C919 Does Not Have Much Price Advantage

Unlike Chinese-made cars and some hi-tech products, C919 is not a cheap aircraft.

Bloomberg reported that China Eastern Airlines acquired the C919 for roughly US$99 million ($149 million), compared to US$111 million for an A320 or US$122 million for a Boeing 737.

Bitzinger said C919s production cost was twice the original price proposed at the beginning of the development.

While COMAC still depends on foreign suppliers for the production of C919, the Chinese regime has a goal to manufacture all of the planes components in China.

This has prompted the Chinese regime to resort to underhanded measures such as using hackers.

According to a document by the U.S. Department of Justice, a district court in California issued an indictment in 2017 charging several hackers affiliated with the Chinese regime for launching a hacking operation to steal the technology of international suppliers of aircraft components.
Rep. Gonzales Suggests Defunding FDA If Biden Admin Ignores Ruling on Abortion Pill

Flanked by members of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, Co-Chair Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 1, 2023. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) has said that defunding the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could be an option if the Biden administration dismisses a court ruling that suspended approval of the abortion pill mifepristone.

Gonzales, who sits on the Appropriations Committee, said House Republicans might decide to use the power of the purse to hold the administration accountable.

Its very dangerous when you have the administration, the Biden administration, coming out and saying they may not uphold a ruling, Gonzales said during an interview for CNNs State of the Union on April 9.

As an appropriator on the House Republican side, I look at it, the House Republicans have the power of the purse.

And if the administration wants to not lead this ruling, not live up to this ruling, then were going to have a problem. And it may come to a point where House Republicans on the appropriation side have to defund FDA programs that dont make sense.

Gonzales, the father of six children who calls himself a prolific pro-lifer, emphasized that it is important not to undermine court decisions.

I think its important that we have to get back and allow our institutions to lead. We cant undermine them when we dont agree with things that are there, whether its on the state level, he explained.

As an example, he pointed to how marijuana is legal in California and other places but not in Texas.

If those are the kind of things that your community wants, then work it through your state, work it through the federal level, he added. But we have to uphold our institutions. Its dangerous when we erode them.

Rulings

On April 7, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee in Texas, signed an injunction directing the FDA to stay mifepristones approval.

The Court does not second-guess FDAs decision-making lightly, reads the judges decision Friday. But here, FDA acquiesced on its legitimate safety concernsin violation of its statutory dutybased on plainly unsound reasoning and studies that did not support its conclusions.

A woman looks at an abortion pillRU-486, or mifepristonedisplayed on a smartphone in Arlington, Va., on May 8, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

On the same day, President Joe Biden issued a statement saying his administration will fight this ruling.

If this ruling were to stand, then there will be virtually no prescription, approved by the FDA, that would be safe from these kinds of political, ideological attacks, Biden added.

Attorney General Merrick Garland also issued a statement saying he strongly disagrees with the court ruling and that the Justice Department will continue to defend the FDAs decision.

The FDA appealed the court decision on Saturday, insisting that the abortion drug was safe and effective.

FDA approved Mifeprex more than 20 years ago based on a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence available and determined that it was safe and effective, the agency said in a statement. FDA stands behind its determination.

On Sunday, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra told CNN that everything is on the table, suggesting that the administration might defy the judges court order.

In a separate ruling on Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Rice, an Obama appointee in Spokane, Washington, ordered the FDA not to make any changes that would restrict access to mifepristone. The ruling applied in 17 states and the District of Columbia, where Democrats sued in an effort to expand access to the abortion drug.

Reactions

Kacsmaryks ruling has drawn criticism from many Democrats.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) issued a statement calling the ruling appalling.

But this ruling wasnt about the safety of the drug or protecting patients, she wrote. This was clearly about overriding the FDAs processes and expertise to attack womens reproductive rights. Science, not an extreme right-wing ideology, should determine which drugs are available to women seeking an abortion.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) walks to the Senate Chambers during a series of votes at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Feb. 13, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called the ruling lawless and warned that women in the United States could lose access to a safe and legal medication, according to a statement.

I urge the Biden administration to use every legal and regulatory tool in its power to keep this drug available, Warren stated.

However, some advocacy groups have welcomed the Texas judges decision.

March for Life President Jeanne Mancini called the ruling a major step forward for women and girls whose health and safety have been jeopardized for decades by the FDAs rushed, flawed and politicized approval of these dangerous drugs.

CatholicVote President Brian Burch called the ruling long overdue in a statement.

For decades the FDA has abdicated its solemn duty to protect women and girls, putting politics above health and safety, Burch stated.

Many peer-reviewed studies and major international studies have documented the grave dangers involved in taking these drugs, Burch added. It is time to hold the FDA accountable for ignoring the overwhelming body of evidence, and require them to do what is in the best interest of women and girls across the country.
FBI Undercover Agent Developed Plan to Spy on Catholics: Jordan

The chair of the House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed FBI Director Christopher Wray for all records relating to a leaked internal memo that proposed developing sources in traditionalist Catholic parishes to inform on potential violent extremists in such houses of worship.

In an April 10 letter (pdf) attached to the subpoena, Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) noted that the committees investigation of that Jan. 23 memo, which has since been repudiated by the FBI, had revealed that it was produced by at least one undercover agent and that, despite leaderships claims to the contrary, the bureau intended to act on the memos recommendations.

Based on the limited information produced by the FBI to the Committee, we now know that the FBI relied on at least one undercover agent to produce its analysis, and that the FBI proposed that its agents engage in outreach to Catholic parishes to develop sources among the clergy and church leadership to inform on Americans practicing their faith, Jordan wrote to Wray. This shocking information reinforces our need for all responsive documents, and the Committee is issuing a subpoena to you to compel your full cooperation.

 #BREAKING: We now know the FBI, relying on information derived from at least one  employee, sought to use local religious organizations as new avenues for tripwire and source development. pic.twitter.com/97veIGtvq4  Weaponization Committee (@Weaponization) April 10, 2023

On Feb. 9one day after the memo was leaked on the UncoverDC websitethe FBIs national office disavowed the document in a statement provided to The Epoch Times, stating that its broad assumptions about a link between traditionalist Catholics and violent extremists does not meet the exacting standards of the FBI.

Upon learning of the document, FBI Headquarters quickly began taking action to remove the document from FBI systems and conduct a review of the basis for the document, the FBI National Press Office stated. The FBI is committed to sound analytic tradecraft and to investigating and preventing acts of violence and other crimes while upholding the constitutional rights of all Americans and will never conduct investigative activities or open an investigation based solely on First Amendment protected activity.

Likewise, during a March hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Wray himself condemned the memo and said the FBIs Inspection Division had been ordered to look into the matter.

I will note it was a product by one field office, which, of course, we have scores and scores of these products, he said. And when we found out about it, we took action.

Were also taking steps to reinforce with our workforce all of the long-standing policies we have that speak to this kind of thing. Weve got refresher training for the relevant employees, etc. And we do not and will not target people for religious beliefs, and we do not and will not monitor peoples religious practices.

However, Jordan noted on April 10 that those claims were contradicted by both the memo and information the FBI had provided to the Judiciary Committee in its substandard and partial response to the committees inquiries.

Although the FBI claims to have numerous and rigorous policies to protect First Amendment rights, the FBIs Richmond document plainly undercuts these assertions, he wrote. The document itself shows that its contents, including its proposal to develop sources in Catholic churches, were reviewed and approved by two senior intelligence analysts and even the local Chief Division Counsel.

The congressman also noted that the proposed outreach plans included contacting mainline Catholic parishes and diocesan leadership and [leveraging] existing sources and/or [initiating] Type 5 Assessments to develop new sources with the placement and access to report on suspicious activity.

Americans attend church to worship and congregate for their spiritual and personal betterment, Jordan wrote. They must be free to exercise their fundamental First Amendment rights without worrying that the FBI may have planted so-called tripwire sources or other informants in their houses of worship.

According to Jordan, whistleblowers have attested that the memo was shared with field offices around the country, although it remains unclear to the committee how many agents may have acted on its proposals.

A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed that the agency has received the subpoena.

The FBI recognizes the importance of congressional oversight and remains fully committed to cooperating with Congresss oversight requests consistent with its constitutional and statutory responsibilities. The FBI is actively working to respond to congressional requests for information including voluntary production of documents, the spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email.

The article was updated to include a statement from the FBI.
Rep. Massie Refiles Bill to End Federal Gun-Free Zones

FRANKFORT, KY - JANUARY 31: Rep Thomas Massie (R-KY) draws a Ruger LCP handgun from his pocket during a rally in support of the Second Amendment on January 31, 2020 in Frankfort, Kentucky. Advocates from across the state gathered at the Kentucky Capitol in support of the Second Amendment. The rally will include speeches from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and former Washington, D.C. Special Police Officer, Dick Heller. (Photo by Bryan Woolston/Getty Images)

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has re-introduced his Safe Students Act to repeal all federal gun-free zones on April 6, just days after a video of him being shouted at over his proposal to arm teachers by a Democrat representative went viral.

Massie released a statement saying the Gun-Free School Zones Act, which was passed as part of the Crime Control Act of 1990, actually endangers students instead of protecting them.

Gun-free zones make our schools less safe. Since 1950, 94 percent of mass public shootings have occurred in places where citizens are banned from having guns, Massies statement reads.

For a document drafted by politicians and lawyers, Massies two-page bill is relatively concise and to the point. It proposes some changes to the existing text and then ends with, The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990  is repealed.

A balloon with names of the victims is seen at a memorial at the entrance to The Covenant School, in Nashville, Tenn., on March 29, 2023. (Wade Payne/AP Photo)

The Act was initially introduced by Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) in 2007 to repeal Gun-Free School Zones Act, which makes it unlawful for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone.

Massie introduced the bill during Congress last session, but it was not acted upon.

One of the bills 22 co-sponsors, Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), said gun-free zones are the opposite of what should be done.

We shouldnt leave our most vulnerableour childrenin an unsafe environment like gun-free zones where acts of violence cannot be stopped, Duncan said.

A March 29 video of Massie confronting Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) as the Democrat urged reporters to press Republicans about their views on mass shootings and semi-automatic rifle bans.

Bowman accused the GOP of being in the gun lobbys pocket for not supporting gun legislation after the March 27 Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tennessee.

He repeatedly called Republicans cowards.

U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), in an undated photo on his official page. (Courtesy of the U.S. House of Representatives)

Massie, walking past, asked Bowman how many shootings had occurred in schools where teachers were allowed to carry firearms. Bowman responded with incredulity claiming that the plan would endanger teachers and students.

Massie disagreed.

He said that no mass shootings had been reported in schools that allow teachers to be armed.

Data from the Crime Prevention Research Center appears to confirm Massies claim.

The CPRC gathered data on school shootings between 2000 and 2018. According to the CPRC website, in that period, no one was wounded or killed from a shooting, let alone a mass public shooting, between 6 a.m. and midnight at a school that lets teachers carry guns.

During the period studied, 20 schools allowed teachers to be armed. By January 2021, that had increased to 28.

Gun-free schools did not fare so well. While the numbers fluctuated, the period started with seven casualties in 2000 and ended in 2018 with a high of 39 shot.

The number of people killed at other schools has increased significantlydoubling between 2001 and 2008 versus 2009 and 2018, the website reads.

Gun rights organizations have voiced support for Massies bill.

The D.C. Project fully supports the Safe Students Act and applauds Congressman Massie and his colleagues for their leadership to ensure parents and teachers can lawfully carry and protect our kids, said Dianna Muller, founder of the D.C. Project, Women for Gun Rights.
The Louisville Metro Police Department holds a press conference on the shooting that left at least four people dead on April 10.
Russia Using Space Weapons in Ukraine: US General

Russia is using space weapons in the Ukraine war by jamming GPS signals from American GPS satellites used by Ukraines armed forces, according to a leading general in the U.S. Space Force.

However, Russia has stopped short of attempting to destroy space hardware, in part because its space capabilities are not fully developed and could not sustain a conflict with a major power, one expert believes.

Russia has Earth-based lasers capable of attacking satellites, electronic jamming equipment, and anti-satellite missiles, according to Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force.

They have shown no qualms about testing these systems, Saltzman told attendees at an April 5 forum on space defense conducted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

And they have every intention of using counter-space weapons in conflict, as we see in the war in Ukraine. Weve seen cyberattacks against satellite internet providers as well as persistent SATCOM and GPS jamming.

Russia has targeted the Navstar GPS system, which is operated by the Space Force and made available to a number of other countries.

Space is  undeniably a contested warfighting domain, Saltzman said.

The Space Force has been aware of the jamming since at least April 202. Ukraine may not be able to use GPS because there are jammers around that prevent them from receiving any usable signal, Space Force Gen. David Thompson said in an interview at that time.

Signals from the SpaceX Starlink system have also been jammed, according to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Some Starlink terminals near conflict areas were being jammed for several hours at a time, Musk wrote on Twitter in March 2022. Our latest software update bypasses the jamming.

The Russians conducted a major test of its anti-satellite weapons in November 2021 but have not so far moved to destroy satellites. That caution is likely due to a risk calculation, according to Anne Maruin, a researcher in geopolitics for the French Air Force.

From the conflict in Ukraine, the results in space reveal that Moscow is currently adhering to a form of pragmatism that carefully considers the escalation risks at hand, should either US or European spacecraft indirectly serving Ukrainian forces be destroyed, Maurin wrote in the spring 2023 edition of Aether: A Journal of Strategic Airpower & Spacepower.

Such a move would likely be seen as a cause for war, Maruin said, which Russia is unlikely to risk.

Russia has fewer space assets than either the United States or China, according to Maurin. She cited a 2022 statement by the head of Russias space agency, who said: In a situation where it is necessary to aid our armed forces, we have rather modest resources at our disposal. This worries me personally.
Sen. Lindsey Graham Says He Would Support Sending American Troops to Taiwan

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speaks during the Vision 2024 National Conservative Forum at the Charleston Area Convention Center in Charleston, South Carolina, on March 18, 2023. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images)

The United States should aggressively train Taiwanese forces so they can fight like Ukrainians, send F-16 jets to the island, install nuclear-tipped missiles in its submarines, and dispatch American troops to defend the nation, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Fox News Sunday on April 9.

Graham said that Congress needs to ask itself, Should we have a defense agreement with the island of Taiwan? We dont, he said. But yes, Id be very much open to using U.S. forces to defend Taiwan because its in our national security interest to do so.

Graham said he believes the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Beijing is setting the stage possibly for a blockade of Taiwan.

The Communist Chinese party is going to test us dramatically this year and next year before the election, he said. In 1961, the Russians tried to isolate West Berlin. So Im fearful that the Chinese may be setting conditions to blockade Taiwan in the coming months or weeks, and we need to respond forcefully if they do that.

Graham cited Taiwans role in producing microchips and the risk of the CCPwhich is militarizing at a rapid rategaining a monopoly on the digital economy as a reason for defending the island.

Taiwan makes more than 60 percent of the worlds semiconductors and more than 90 percent of the most advanced versions.

Taiwanese sailors salute the islands flag on the deck of the Panshih supply ship after taking part in annual drills, at the Tsoying naval base in Kaohsiung on January 31, 2018. (MANDY CHENG/AFP via Getty Images)

Chips compose 15 percent of Taiwans GDP, and most semiconductors are produced by one companythe Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation.

What would I do to deter blockage Taiwan? I would let the Chinese know that if you blockade Taiwan, youre gonna have a hard time getting oil from the Mid-East.

I would increase training and get the F-16s they need in Taiwan, Graham said. Theres a backlog. I would solve that backlog.

I would move war forces to South Korea and Japan, Graham added. I would put nuclear-tipped cruise missiles on all of our submarines all over the world like the Russians did.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping feel empowered by the chaotic withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan in 2021, Graham added.

Taiwans not the problem. Lindsey Grahams not the problem. Its Putin and its Xi, Graham said.

Graham has consistently supported the U.S. sending military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine in its war effort against Russia.

Last month, he said that Russia should be held accountable for destroying an American military drone and added that your airplane should be shot down if you ever get near another American asset flying in international waters.

What would Ronald Reagan do right now? Graham said. He would start shooting Russian planes down if they were threatening our assets.

American foreign policy is in freefall, Graham said, adding that on multiple fronts, were in a dangerous situation. Weakness breeds provocation.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) is leading a bipartisan delegation of House members in Taiwan to discuss ways the U.S. can strengthen our economic and defense relationship with Taiwan in the face of growing threats in the region, McCauls office reported.

At a luncheon in Taipei on April 8, McCaul said that the United States will help Taiwan with armed forces training and accelerate deliveries of self-defense weapons.

McCaul pointed out that he signed off on 22 weapon systems over three years ago and they have yet to get into Taiwan.

I signed off on those deliveries, and we are doing everything in our power to expedite this, McCaul said. Peace through strength is real, and thats why we need to harden Taiwan.

In a potential confrontation with the CCP, McCaul said, Taiwans defense abilities are not where they need to be.

If were going to have deterrence for peace, we need to get these weapons into Taiwan, McCaul added.

Under a one China policy, the United States acknowledges Beijings position that Taiwan is part of China. The United States does not formally recognize Taiwan as a country on paper but maintains relations with the island of around 24 million citizens that has its own government, currency, and military.

Strategic ambiguity is not working, Graham told Fox News Sunday. China, after Afghanistan, believes that the store is open, that you can go in and take whatever you want on Bidens watch.

I believe in a one China policy, but I would be willing to fight for Taiwan because Taiwan is a democracy. We stood with them for decades, Graham continued.

So I would up our game, and if you dont up your game now, you are going to have a war.
FLORENCE, ItalyLinda Pacifici, who coordinates exhibitions for the Palazzo Strozzi Foundation, a major art exhibitor based out of Florence, enjoyed a trip through time and space into a culture worlds away from the one with which she was familiar.

Its profoundly different, she said of the aesthetics of Chinese civilization as she saw in Shen Yun Performing Arts at Teatro Verdi the evening of April 9.

Its wonderful, certainly interesting, she said. The orchestra is beautiful, it does a really good job, because its just very fluid, a beautiful achievement, it integrates well with the dancers.

Pasquale and Barbara Pennisi, CEO and co-founders of a luxury real estate company, also said the experience was beautiful.

Its beautiful, the ancient dance with the modern scenery, said Mr. Pennisi. Its a journey to an ancient Chinavery, very interesting.

Maybe people think that the history of China is only of this century, but they dont know the history of Chinese history that is very close to us, to our travelseven Marco Polo, the silk road. Well, it makes us rediscover this Italy-China union that is thousands of years old, he said.

New York-based Shen Yun is the worlds premier classical Chinese dance company, and has a mission to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

Mrs. Pennisi said this was not the first time they had seen Shen Yun.

I love this show, this is the second time we have seen it, also last year we were here in Florence and it is magical. The absolute beauty of the divine beings dancingoutstanding, she said.

Reporting by NTD and Mary Mann.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
A leaked cache of top-secret U.S. documents suggests that Washington wiretapped Korea's Office of National Security.

The New York Times last Friday reported that parts of a Ukraine-related cache of CIA documents circulating on social media detail Korea's "internal debates about whether to give the U.S. artillery shells for use in Ukraine, violating Seoul's policy on providing lethal aid."

The leaked documents involve U.S. assessments of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and arms supplies to Kiev, and some of them seem to contain information gathered by wiretapping Korea, Israel and other U.S. allies.

According to the Washington Post, one contains comments made during a meeting of Korea's Office of National Security showing that Seoul "grappled" in early March with a U.S. request to provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine.

According to the daily, the report cites "signals intelligence" to the effect that "Korea's national security adviser suggested possibly selling the munitions to Poland, which controls the main weapons supply routes, since it was the U.S. goal to get the material to Ukraine quickly."

Korean officials apparently worried that U.S. President Joe Biden would call personally to push the demand.

The presidential office held a meeting on Sunday to review the leaks and discuss a response. A senior official from the presidential office said the government "will look at a response by reviewing past precedents in other countries."

The U.S. has been caught eavesdropping on allies before, tapping the phones of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The U.S. government is investigating the source of the leak, which consists of photographed pdf printouts that appear in some cases to have been altered. Some are pointing the finger at Russia for leaking the classified documents in an attempt to drive a rift between the U.S. and its allies.

The New York Times said many of the online channels that distributed the classified information on Discord and Twitter have pro-Russian leanings, while military experts said Moscow appears to have forged certain documents such as estimates of Russian and Ukrainian losses.

Korea found itself in a difficult position providing weapons directly to Ukraine due to pacts with both the U.S. and Russia and dodged its own ban by supplying ammunition and other arms to European countries which they could in turn supply to Ukraine.

The presidential office said there is "no change" in Seoul's position on arms supplies to Ukraine.
TEL AVIV, IsraelEric Danon, the French Ambassador to Israel for several years, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts with his wife at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center on April 8.

We leave the show with the desire that it never ends, that we are on a journey and we want to stay in it, said Mr. Danon in an interview with NTD television.

Mr. Danon likened the experience to a kind of world of fairies, where people come down from the heavens and others ascend to the heavens. Indeed, during 5,000 years of history, China was once known as the Land of the Divine.

It tells a story, and this story is connected to ancient myths and traditional stories of ancient China. Its a magical way to tell history, as it seamlessly combines the earthly and the heavenly. Its very surprising to be able to travel [between worlds] like that, says Mr. Danon.

Mr. Danon felt the audience was drawn in through perfect technique, intricate stage design, costumes that are a kind of magic, and the harmony of colors that synchronize with every movement in the dance.

Its perfect from beginning to end. Its a very powerful aesthetics. The moment the curtain rises, everyone is amazed by the beauty of what they see. First, the fog rises above the stage, and then the dancers emerge from it, its absolutely wonderful.

Mr. Danon described the orchestra as flawless, which contributed to the fact that everything flows very smoothly, with an aesthetics that delights everyone.

Mr. Danon said the references to our contemporary era in some of the stories intensify the deep and positive meanings conveyed by the show.

There are many scenes in the show that refer to modern life, to modernity and to what is happening in the world today, like the COVID-19 pandemic. This actually makes the show even more relevant and meaningful, he said.

Reporting by NTD.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
NEW YORKDistinguished professor of law Sam Estreicher has authored more than 200 scholarly articles and a dozen books and served on committees, including the UNs Internal Justice Commission. He attended Shen Yun Performing Arts, knowing the performing arts group was formed by Chinese artists of faith who fled human rights abuses back in China.

I know that Falun Gong, these problems in China, and dancing is beautiful. I wish China would be free of communism, he said at the April 9 evening performance at Lincoln Center.

Falun Gong is a spiritual practice that was made public in China in the early 1990s and targeted violently by the Chinese Communist Partys persecution campaigns.

I feel for the Chinese people. I feel for them, he said.

Shen Yun, the worlds premier classical Chinese dance company, is based in New York. Since 2006 it has taken the mission of reviving 5,000 years of Chinese civilization through the arts.

Its definitely a different image of China, Mr. Estreicher said. It reminds us that there was a culture before communism.

Arik Braude enjoyed Shen Yun at Lincoln Center, in New York City, on April 9. 2023. (Weiyong Zhu/The Epoch Times)

Arik Braude, a violinist who teaches at CUNY and Mannes, was also aware of the Shen Yun artists faith and mission. He had taught some of the violinists who now perform with Shen Yuns eight touring groups.

The orchestra is incredible. They are all giving their absolute best, and its wonderful to see them. Its really wonderful, he said. For them, maybe playing music is kind of a way of their spirituality as opposed to just playing so you play good. So its to express their spirituality. I think it certainly helps them to achieve a very high level.

I think its all very spiritual. Its based on spiritual things, he said of the traditional Chinese culture. Thats why its so good.

They are in incredible level. They are incredible, he said.

Steven Arenson, who heads a law firm, attended the performance with his family. He felt the artists faith through their art as well.

Theres an ability of the human being to transcend the physical. So even in the dance, you see the dancers are transcending the limitations of the normal human body. Theyre jumping, theyre leaping, theyre stretching, and they are going beyond what we can do in everyday life. So its very uplifting. I think thats the word that captures everything: its uplifting. Physically and spiritually.

Reporting by Sherry Dong and Weiyong Zhu and Frank Liang.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
SEATTLEFreedom should be enjoyed by everyone around the world, but since the beginning of the Chinese Communist Party, people in China have been losing their lives in the fight for freedom. Shen Yun Performing Arts is using beautiful dance and music to raise awareness of the crimes happening in China.

Hopefully, people are more respective of the spiritual side of things that people hold closely. My hope is that someday, well see more and more freedoms in China too, said Paul Clarke, owner of a real estate business.

Shen Yun is based in New York and is dedicated to sharing the beauty of China before communism with audiences. Because its program shows the truth of the Chinese Communist Party, Shen Yun cannot perform in China.

Mr. Clarke shared that he wasnt surprised to learn of Shen Yun being censored.

It doesnt surprise me. Its great that theyre here, telling the story and getting it out. It wouldnt surprise me if we see similar things happening in the US before long. It seems to me moving in that direction here too, which is sad. Were losing a lot of freedoms-not as bad as you have it in China though. I hope we dont go that bad here, he said.

Shen Yuns dancers are trained in classical Chinese dance, which is an ancient style of dance that is becoming popular outside of China in recent decades. To put on a flawless performance, the dancers, the orchestra, and all the people behind the scenes must work diligently to ensure that every detail is taken care of.

Its been great. I can tell they put hours and hours into working at the dance and the music coordinating [with] the screen. Timing the screen effects with the dance is really amazingvery impressive, said Mr. Clarke.

Before China fell under atheist communist rule, Buddhism and Taoism were the main belief systems of the different dynasties. Mr. Clarke shared that although he is Christian, he found Shen Yuns portrayal of the divine highly relatable.

I can relate to it. Im a Christian, so there are some similarities there; the Creator coming to save peopleits similar to my beliefs as a Christiana little different, but very close. Its interesting to me that around the world, theres very similar one God, one Creator, one savior coming, he said.

Reporting by Mary 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.
TEL AVIV, IsraelHannah Samira, CEO of a tech company, was familiar with ancient Chinese culture and principles; in fact, she referenced some of its philosophies, including The Art of War in her own work. But she knew little about how China today is ruled, and found Shen Yun Performing Arts an eye-opening experience.

Its the most beautiful performance Ive ever seen. I was very impressed, said Ms. Samira at the Shlomo Lahat Opera House on the evening of April 9.

New York-based Shen Yun is the worlds premier classical Chinese dance company, and takes as its mission to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization through the arts. In recent years, the performance has been billed as one showing a China before communism.

It was interesting, Ms. Samira said. It was beautiful, the music and the dancing togetherit was very special.

It evoked hope, national prideI saw how proud they are of their country despite what their government does, and I feel that as a Jew in Israel, Im a proud American Jew. I dont always agree with what my governments do, but Im proud to be Israeli and Jewish, and proud to be American. So I could identify with them.

Shen Yun was formed in 2006 by leading Chinese artists who had left China seeking freedom of religion and expression. For five millennia, Chinese culture was believed to be divinely inspireda gift from the heavensuntil communism took power in 1949 and several violent campaigns to destroy traditional culture were launched.

The performance tonight was like a journey through Chinese history, from ancient times to modern times, and it was amazing to see it come to life on stage, Ms. Samira said.

Im amazed right now because it was just so incredible; everything was so good. I was thinking about all the different cultures in Chinapeople think of China as very homogeneous, but in fact, it started from many different cultures that merged, she said. [We Israelis] have people from all over the world, and were diverse, and were still proud to be Israelis.

I would highly recommend the show because its a combination of excellent music and beautiful choreography; you simply cant get all these things in one show, she said. Its music that simply brought me to tears. It was very emotional.

Reporting by Keren Zrihen.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
Society Entering Dark Age for New Ideas, Warns Human Rights Commissioner

Transgender rights demonstrators are seen during a protest against an event by British activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull at the Tasmanian Parliament House lawns in Hobart, Australia on March 21, 2023. (AAP Image/Ethan James)

While people have more information available at a swipe of their fingertips, Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay says individuals are even more afraid to engage with different ideas and perspectives.

In todays world, I would say that the search for knowledge and truth is perhaps more important than at any time in human history, she said. We live in an age where we have more information available to us instantaneously than ever before, and yet, we live in an age where, I fear, we actually have less interest in ideas.

We live in an age where we prioritise feelings over facts, where we search for affirmation rather than wisdom, and people are less willing to engage with different perspectives or to challenge themselves by engaging with difficult ideas.

In this environment, having individuals and institutions who value ideas, who see education as the key to advancing the common good, and who are committed to seeking wisdom and truth is more important than ever before.

Australian Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay speaking at the opening of The Professor Gabriel A. Moens Library at the Sheridan Institute of Higher Education in the city of Perth, Australia on April 4, 2023. (Courtesy of Mark Hutchison)

Finlay delivered her address to the opening of The Professor Gabriel A. Moens Law Library at the Sheridan Institute of Higher Education in the city of Perth, Australia, attended by Mayor Basil Zempilas, students, and members of the legal profession.

Prof. Moens is a member of the Order of Australia, an emeritus professor of law at the University of Queensland, and a former dean at Murdoch University.

Finlay praised Moens and said the new library embodied many qualities, including a love of ideas, a belief in the importance of knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

We live in an age of smartphones and search engines. And in this era, there are many people, and Im ashamed to say many lawyers, who perhaps think that libraries and even law libraries are relics of the past.

That theyre no longer needed because we have information at our fingertips. This is a grave mistake, she said.

In my view, libraries not only play a vastly underappreciated role in our communities. But even more importantly, libraries within educational institutions sit at the very heart of any place that wants to put the search for knowledge at the centre of its reason for being.

The Importance of Values

Mayor Zempilas said he felt at home in the Institute.

I feel at home because of the great qualities Ive seen in the people in the room. The great qualities that this institution stands for. Higher education is something that is very important to our community, as is a sense of family, and I see that around me, he said.

(L-R) Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas, Emeritus Professor Gabriel A Moens, and Professor Augusto Zimmermann at the opening of The Professor Gabriel A. Moens Library at the Sheridan Institute of Higher Education in the city of Perth, Australia on April 4, 2023. (Courtesy of Mark Hutchison)

Our values, which we should never forget, are important. It is important for us all to do the right thing, to use common sense, and not to allow common sense to be beaten or defeated. It doesnt need to be much more complicated than that, he added.

Professor Philip Evans of the University of Notre Dame Australia emphasised the importance of embracing print material over digitisation.

Print books are easier on the eyes. Considering that many tasks require us to stare at a computer screen all day, he said. Electronic books can cause screen fatigue, blurred vision, redness, dryness, and irritation.

With print books, youre less likely to get more distracted. Not surprisingly, people who read ebooks and information from computer screens tend to get sidetracked more easily.

Evans also added that Australia needed a different type of law school.

Where pastoral care is not just words on a mission statement, but its the foundation of the law school.

Where the elective units not only  reflect contemporary legal issues and specialties, but also  moral issues in such a way as to prioritise those ends that are worth pursuingtogether with the rights and obligations that ought to govern human conduct in a Christian context, he said.

Mark Hutchison contributed to this article.
Starmer Stands by Every Word of Sunak Attack Ad After Backlash Within Labour Party

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks to the media outside BBC Broadcasting House in London, on Jan. 15, 2023. (James Manning/PA Media)

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer says he stands by every word of an attack ad on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak which has led to a backlash within his own party.

On Thursday, Labours official Twitter account posted a picture of the prime minister and wrote: Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesnt.

The post went on to say: Under the Tories 4,500 adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under 16 served no prison time. Labour will lock up dangerous child abusers.

Two MPs on the left wing of the Labour PartyDiane Abbott and John McDonnellcriticised the post, which appears to have received mostly negative feedback on social media.

On Friday, shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell also refused to endorse the ad.

Critics have pointed out judges and magistrates, rather than the prime minister, are responsible for handing out sentences and say 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.

But on Monday, Starmer told the Daily Mail: I make absolutely zero apologies for being blunt about this. I stand by every word Labour has said on the subject. When 4,500 child abusers avoid prison, people dont want more excuses from politicians. They want answers.

Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions (DPP), claimed the Conservatives were insulated from the effects of crime and he added, Rishi Sunak and successive Tory governments have let criminals get away with it because they dont get it.

Last week Labour was accused of a vile and desperate campaign strategy by Tory Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson, and SNP MP John Nicolson said they had cheapened and debased politics with the Twitter post.

Abbott, who was shadow home secretary under Jeremy Corbyn, said: Sunak is responsible for lots of things. But sentencing is the responsibility of the judiciary. You would think a former DPP would know that.

Starmer Refuses to Back Down and Calls Critics Squeamish

But Starmer has responded by saying he would attack the governments record on crime, no matter how squeamish it might make some feel.

The Sunak attack ad has echoes of the 1988 U.S. presidential election campaign when the Republican candidate, then-Vice President George Bush, launched an ad emphasising Democrat candidate Michael Dukakiss role in the release of convicted murderer Willie Horton on a weekend pass.

Horton went on to rob a couple at gunpoint and rape the woman, and the ad helped to fatally undermine Dukakiss ill-fated run for the White House.

The Labour Partys Sunak post follows analysis the party has carried out of Ministry of Justice data, but 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 the current sentencing guidelines for this crime have a maximum sentence of 14 years.

It added there is no Conservative Party policy that plans to remove this.

On Monday the shadow attorney general, Emily Thornberry, was challenged on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme over Starmers role as a member of the Sentencing Council when it set out guidelines in 2012 suggesting that child sex abusers should not automatically be jailed.

Asked if Starmer objected to those guidelines at the time, she said, I dont know the details of what the exact guidance is in relation to the Sentencing Council, but I do know this, that it is open to Parliament to set minimum and maximum sentences.

Labour Will Not Fund More Prison Places

Thornberry said it should be the default position that an adult convicted of sexually assaulting a child would go to prison, but she then said Labour would not fund any more prison places, adding, because were a party of optimism.

What we need to do is we need to look at it from the very beginning to the very end of the criminal justice system, she added.

On Saturday the Conservative Party issued a statement attacking Starmer.

A spokesman said, Since Sir Keir Starmer left the Sentencing Council, the average sentence for rape has increased to nearly 10 years imprisonment compared to eight years in 2010.

He added: Rapists also spend more of their sentence in prison now because the government ended automatic halfway release for serious sexual and violent offenders. Of course, being a human rights barrister, Sir Keir voted against this change.

Local elections are taking place across England and Wales on May 4 and both main parties have put crime-fighting plans at the heart of their campaigns.

A general election is expected to be called before January 2025 and Starmer has made it clear that crime and anti-social behaviour will be a key part of Labours campaign.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Sunwing Owes Ottawa Over $316 Million in Pandemic Loans: Federal Records

Sunwing Airlines Inc. owes Ottawa more than $316 million in unpaid federal loans that were issued during the COVID-19 pandemic as a relief measure, according to federal records.

Sunwing, which WestJet is set to acquire, was granted $316.9 million in loans by the federal government in 2020 under the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility intended to preserve jobs at the pandemics outset.

Sunwing has not yet repaid any of the loans, according to records viewed by Blacklocks Reporter, and the Department of Transport said there was significant risk the company wouldnt be able to repay had WestJet not bought the company out.

WestJet will be obligated to repay the bulk of Sunwings outstanding federal loans promptly upon closing with the remaining travel credit facility loan repaid at its maturity in 2028, the Department of Transport wrote in a legal notice issued on April 8 under the Canada Transportation Act.

Sunwings debt included loans issued by the federal government to ensure that passengers would receive refunds for flights cancelled due to the pandemics outbreak.

Given Sunwings precarious situation following the cancellation of much travel and the need to repatriate passengers during the winter 2022 holidays there was a significant risk the company would not be able to repay the loans, the department wrote.

Sunwing made headlines near the end of 2022 after hundreds of its passengers were affected by flight disruptions caused by winter storms and a breakdown of the airlines digital communication service. Many customers were stranded for days at vacation destinations outside of the country.

Sunwing issued an apology for the prolonged delays, but Transport Minister Omar Alghabra called the situation completely unacceptable.

Following the delays, Sunwing announced in January that it would reduce its flight capacity throughout the month to ensure it could execute to the highest standards with the least disruption to customers during the winter season.

Buyout

Two months later, the federal government approved a deal that will see WestJet Airlines Ltd. acquire Sunwing Vacations. The deal was originally proposed in March 2022.

Alghabra said in a statement that decision to approve the buyout was not taken lightly, especially in light of everything that happened over the holidays for those who flew with Sunwing.

After considering the pros and cons, we have made the decision that will allow Sunwing to continue to provide affordable vacation packages to Canadians, create more good jobs and protect current jobs as well as Canadians who have already purchased tickets, Alghabra said.

Financial terms of the buyout have not been disclosed. WestJet and Sunwing will still be marketed separately going forward.

Alghabra approved the deal with a number of conditions aimed at improving affordability and service within the air-travel sector, but the federal Competition Bureau previously voiced concerns that the buyout will result in higher prices and fewer vacation packages.

The proposed transaction will result in one of Canadas largest integrated tour operators being acquired by one of its primary rivals in the provision of vacation packages, the bureau said in October 2022.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Suspect Arrested in Stabbing on Los Angeles Metro Train

A Los Angeles Metro train is seen in this undated photo. (Courtesy of LA Metro)

LOS ANGELESA suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder in last weeks stabbing on a Metro Red Line train in Hollywood.

Alex Garcia of Los Angeles, 27, was taken into custody at 5:40 p.m. April 8 near Santa Monica Boulevard and Gower Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department statement. He was being held on $1 million bail and a felony probation hold.

The attack occurred shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday at the Metro Hollywood/Western Station. Police said the victim walked onto an MTA train and became engaged in an argument with the suspect, who was already seated.

The argument became violent and the suspect slashed the victim, who got off the train at the platform in the 5400 block of Hollywood Boulevard and sought help. He was hospitalized with a severe injury to his lower body, but had stable vital signs, police said.

The suspect remained on the train after the attack, police said.

Another stabbing occurred a few hours later Thursday near the Westlake/MacArthur Park Station. A man was stabbed multiple times in the neck and back at 600 S. Alvarado St. That victim was taken to a hospital, but his condition was unknown.

Police did not say whether Garcia is also a suspect in that stabbing.
Armed Suspect Shot by Police in Santa Ana: Authorities

SANTA ANA, Calif.A man allegedly armed with a handgun was shot by police officers during a traffic stop in Santa Ana, authorities said April 8.

Officers stopped a vehicle occupied by two men at about 6:40 p.m. Friday in the 500 block of South Rosewood Avenue, the Santa Ana Police Department reported.

During the traffic stop, officers encountered a subject armed with a handgun and an officer-involved shooting occurred, the department said in a statement.

The suspect suffered gunshot wounds to his upper and lower torso. Paramedics rushed him to a hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

The other occupant and officers were not injured.

Santa Ana police homicide detectives urged anyone with information about the shooting to call them at 714-245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.
Taiwan Threat From China Serious, House GOP Chairman Says

Chairman Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., listens during a hearing of a special House committee dedicated to countering China, on Capitol Hill, , in Washington, on Feb. 28, 2023. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo, File)

WASHINGTONThe chairman of the House Select Committee on China said Saturday the United States must take seriously the threat posed to Taiwan, as Beijing launched military drills around the island in the aftermath of the Taiwanese presidents meetings with American lawmakers.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who attended the meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen in California last week, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island governments defenses, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan.

I think it all just points to what is obvious, Gallagher told the AP, arguing that Chinese leader Xi Jinping is intent on reunifying Taiwan with the mainland.

We need to be moving heaven and earth to enhance our deterrence and denial posture, so that Xi Jinping concludes that he just cant do it, Gallagher said.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) conducted drills with warships and dozens of fighter jets around Taiwan on Saturday, the Taiwanese government said, in what was viewed as retaliation for the meeting between the U.S. lawmakers and the president of the self-ruled island democracy claimed by the CCP as part of its territory.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted Tsai in a bipartisan session at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, with more than a dozen members of the U.S. House for what was the most sensitive stop during her transit through the United States.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks with Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen (L) at The Regan Presidential Library in Semi Valley, Calif., on April 5, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

The CCPs response to Tsais transit through the United States has not, so far, been as intense as its reaction last year after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.

While both McCarthy and Tsai spoke in measured remarks after the meeting about maintaining the status quo between their countries, which have no formal diplomatic ties, the daylong meeting enraged the CCP.

The Chinese military announced the start of three-day combat readiness patrols as a warning to Taiwanese who want to make the islands de facto independence permanent.

Taiwan split with China in 1949 after a civil war, and the United States broke off official ties with Taiwan in 1979 while formally establishing diplomatic relations with the Chinese regime.

The United States acknowledges a one China policy in which Beijing lays claim to Taiwan, but it does not endorse the CCPs claim to the island and remains Taiwans key provider of military and defense assistance.

The CCP says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary. Tsai and her government reject that and say only the islands people can decide their future.

CCP officials condemned Tsais meetings with lawmakers and announced sanctions on two organizations that hosted her in the United States, but its immediate response so far has been less forceful than its reaction to Pelosis August trip to Taiwan.

The CCP had warned U.S. lawmakers not to join the meeting with Tsai, Gallagher said. And after the meeting, the CCP urged the United States off what it called a wrong and dangerous road.

Gallagher, who served as a U.S. Marine with tours in Iraq, said U.S. lawmakers will not be intimidated by the CCP.

Its an attempt to shift the ideological battle space and, again, an attempt to intimidate us, and make us feel like were changing the status quo and provoking them, when the opposite is true, he said.

Gallagher said he wants Congress to work on stepping up its military commitments to Taiwan. He said the United States should be more quickly sending weapon systems to Taiwan for its defense.

One idea that arose from the meeting, he said, was for the United States to help Taiwan with technology to manufacture its own defense systems.

In 2022, the CCP responded in the aftermath of Pelosis visit with its largest live-fire drills in decades, including firing a missile over the island.

Chinese officials gave no indication whether the drills underway now might include a repeat of previous exercises with missiles fired into the sea, which disrupted shipping and airline flights.
Turkiye will supply the Togg electric car to Turkmenistan, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters.

He noted that there is great interest in electric vehicles all over the world, especially from the Turkic states, and also added that Turkmenistan has requested for the cars to be white.

Turkiyes first indigenous electric car Togg has already been presented to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on April 4. President Ilham Aliyev was one of the first to order Togg at its presentation ceremony on October 29, 2022.

The first ever made Togg was presented to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his spouse Emine Erdogan. The President of Turkiye, speaking at a rally in Istanbul, said that soon the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will also receive an Turkiye's first local electric car.

Togg is available in two versions  with an electric motor of 200 and 400 HP. The most powerful version is capable of reaching 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The maximum range of the electric vehicle is about 500 kilometers. Special attention in the production of cars is paid to their absolute harmlessness to the environment.
Exports of eco-friendly cars surpassed shipments of midsize combustion vehicles for the first time in the first two months of this year, according to the Korea Customs Service.

Exports and imports of midsize gasoline cars resulted in a US$2.28 billion trade surplus in January and February of this year, while the surplus for eco-friendly cars rose to $2.59 billion.

As recently as 2017, gasoline cars brought in a $15.68 billion trade surplus for Korea or 5.5 times more than eco-friendly vehicles. But last year, the trend was reversed as the surplus for eco-friendly vehicles more than tripled.

Exports of eco-friendly cars surged from $3.61 billion in 2017 to $16 billion last year, while shipments of midsize gasoline cars fell from $19.13 billion to $17.49 billion.

At Hyundai, around 10 percent of total exports in 2017 were eco-friendly vehicles, but the proportion rose to 27 percent last year.
Tennessee Democrat Reinstated to House Seat by Nashville Council After Being Expelled

Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) delivers remarks on the floor of the House chamber in Nashville, Tenn., on April 6, 2023. (George Walker IV/AP Photo)

Nashvilles Metro Council voted unanimously on April 10 to reinstate Democrat Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones to the office he was expelled from last week.

Jones was sworn in on the steps of the State Capitol shortly after the Metro Council meeting a few blocks away. He was then escorted into the Capitol building, where the House gaveled into session just a half hour earlier.

Jones, 27, was one of the two black Democratic lawmakers expelled by the Republican-controlled Tennessee General Assembly over their participation in a gun control protest on the House floor in the days that followed a deadly school shooting.

The nomination came from Council member Delishia Porterfield, who said she resides in Joness district. She gave a short speech, then the council, in a 36-0 vote, reinstated Jones.

On Aug. 4 [2022], Rep. Justin Jones earned the most votes in our Democratic primary, allowing him to advance and win the general election on Nov. 8, she said. The people made a choice, and it was the right choice. On Thursday, April 6, we witnessed a miscarriage of justice and an egregious assault on our democracy which resulted in over 70,000 Davidson County votersour votersbeing silenced when our representative was expelled.

Porterfield went on to speak about the states other attempts to silence the people of Nashville.

She said the Metro Attorney alerted the council they received an injunction by a state court to halt the state legislatures plan to limit the 40-member council and others around the state to a maximum of 20 members in half under the Metro Council Reduction Act.

Jones spoke prior to the meeting at a rally outside the Metropolitan City Hall alongside supporters.

When they expelled us, they had no idea that this was going to happen, he said at the rally before the vote. They just thought theyd go along as they always dothat theyd abuse their power and there would be no resistance. That they would do something unconstitutional and we would just have to wait to seek accountability. There comes a time when time itself is ready for itselfand that time has come to Nashville. That time has come to Tennessee.

Jones added, Speaker Cameron Sexton, you can either move on over or well move on over youbecause were moving on.

Jones, Pearson Were Expelled on April 6

The debate ahead of the vote to expel Jones, and fellow Democrats Rep. Justin Pearson and Rep. Gloria Johnson, lasted for hours as lawmakers from each side of the aisle spoke passionately, shouted, yelled, and expressed emotion about the historic move to remove the members. Johnson was spared expulsion by a one-vote margin.

Jones, in his closing remarks, urged his colleagues to vote against his expulsion by telling them the world is watching.

When I walked up to this well last Thursday, I was thinking about the thousands of students who were outside demanding that we do something. In fact, many of their signs said do something, Jones said in his closing plea. That was their only ask of us is to respond to their grief, to respond to a traumatized community. But in response to that, the first action of this body is to expel members for calling for common sense gun legislation.

Jones went on to claim that his Republican colleagues were committing an assault on democracy and that this day will be a dark day for Tennessee because it will signal to the nation that there is no democracy in Tennessee.

(LR) State Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson arrive at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., on April 7, 2023. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP)

Resolutions to expel the members were introduced on April 3 after the lawmakers led protesters on the House floor with a bullhorn in chants calling for tighter restrictions on gun rights, just a week after the deadly Covenant School shooting in Nashville.

The move to expel state lawmakers is particularly rare in Tennessee, where only two other members had been expelled from the chamber since the Civil War. Those votes, however, were largely bipartisan, in stark contrast to the expulsion of two Democrats on party-line tallies.

Pearson can also be reappointed to his seat by local representatives in Memphis. The 13-member Shelby County Commission announced they will vote on reappointing Pearson on Wednesday. City officials have already signaled they also plan to reinstate Pearson to his seat.

Jonesas well the other expelled representative, if reappointed this weekwill serve in the seat until a special election is held later this year.

Tennessees constitution calls for special elections in the event of vacancies if there is more than 12 months until the next general election. It is up to the governor to call for the special election and state law provides it must be scheduled within 55 to 60 days and a general election to fill the seat must be held within 100 to 107 days.

Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, has not yet announced plans for the special election.

Update: This article has been updated with the process for reappointing Pearson.
The Voice Ensures Indigenous Communities Have Fair Input Into Policymaking: Law Expert

Walpiri community members wait to meet coroner Elisabeth Armitage at the local police station in the outback community of Yuendumu, northwest of Alice Springs, Australia, on Nov. 15, 2022. The coroner in an inquest for Kumanjayi Walker, an Indigenous teen shot dead by an NT policeman has been welcomed. (AAP Image/Aaron Bunch)

Passing the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is about fixing the discrimination of the past and a moral question of who Australia is as a country and what the people want it to be in the future, says constitutional law expert Shireen Morris from Macquarie University.

A Voice isnt about erasing Indigenous diversity, its about empowering the Wik, the Yolngu  Its about enabling local solutions to local problems through partnership and mutual responsibility, she said during a debate on The Voice hosted by the Centre of Independent on March 4.

Later this year, Australians will head to the polls and decide if they want to enshrine an advisory body, composed of 24 Indigenous members, into the Constitution.

Morris said The Voice was continuing the work of the 1967 referendum and would ensure Indigenous communities would have fair input into laws and policies made about them.

Top-down ineffective policymaking continues. Today, governments in far-off Canberra still misinterpret Indigenous needs and deliver few practical outcomes despite goodwill and money spent, she said. Australia is failing abysmally to close the gap because governments dont partner with Indigenous communities.

She noted Alice Springs as an exampledespite having 11 Indigenous senators in Parliament urging the government not to lift alcohol laws, the restrictions were lifted, and deep-rooted issues were exacerbated.

If communities had a guaranteed Voice in their own affairs, maybe they would have been heard, and much suffering could have been avoided, Morris said.

Different Indigenous communities also have different needs, so it was important to have a bottom up Voice that truly empowers grassroots Indigenous communities and respects their different views.

There were 11 Indigenous parliamentarians in [Parliament], yet nobody could get the government to listen to those communities pleading, pleading to have their voices heard and to have a better plan, Morris said.

So I think its great to have Indigenous parliamentarians in Parliament, but I think its also fair enough for Indigenous communities to have a voice in laws and policies made about them.

Hearing Local Voices

Aboriginal leader Warren Mundine agreed that governments at all levelsfederal, state, territory, and localneeded to speak directly with Indigenous voices but argued that The Voice proposal would not deliver this outcome.

[The Voice] is going to have a huge bureaucracy because if theyre going to be looking at all legislation and policies, theyre going to need experts in every different area, theyre going to need support services. Were just going to build this massive bureaucracy, he said.

Mundine believes that economic empowerment was the answer to crime and poverty in Indigenous communities.

Yes, we have a problem of disparity between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals. But thats nothing compared to the disparity between regional and remote Aboriginals and Aboriginals in cities, in large provincial towns, he said. It is a disaster, and its going backwards.

He noted that the situation in Alice Springs was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of issues in need of addressing within the Indigenous community.

Im a First Nations person; I believe in First Nations. Im not a great fan of people sitting in Canberra, making decisions about Aboriginal people, Torres Strait Islanders, Mundine said.

For me, having voices, which have been there since 1973, have not made a difference.

Mundine said he found it strange that proponents of The Voice argue it was only about things that affect Aboriginal people.

We are recognised in the Constitution because were citizens of this country. As citizens of this country, everything about the Constitution affects us just as it affects everyone else, he said.

Every law that goes through, every policy that goes through, it is about us.

Opposition to The Voice

Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton revealed on April 5 that the party would join its coalition partners in opposing the addition of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament into the Constitution.

Weve been clear that we dont support [Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses] Canberra Voice. Its divisive, and its not going to deliver the outcomes to people on the ground, he said.

Our proposal is a local and regional Voice so that we can listen to those women and listen to those elders on the ground and get a better outcome.

Dutton also criticised the government for failing to answer his requests for greater detail on the structure of the advisory body and its extent of powers.

Critics of The Voice are wary that the advisory body would have the power to veto all proposed legislation and bring to court any laws that fails to be in line with The Voices suggestions.

If there is an overreach on what the prime minister is proposing, Dutton said. If it does go too far, and the High Courts interpretation is more liberal  Does the prime minister then go back to the Australian people to seek to narrow the words?

He said he was willing to work with the government on legislation that would enable local Indigenous voices to be heard but believes that The Voice would change Australias system of government.

Meanwhile, Senator Lidia Thorpe, who famously quit the Greens party over The Voice, has also opposed the proposal, warning Australians that no advisory body would deliver the practical outcomes that Indigenous communities needed.

Here we are with yet another advisory body to make this government feel better about the ongoing colonisation of this country and the genocide being perpetrated against our people, she said.

High-paid, hand-picked members of the governments campaign continue to advocate for a powerless body they will call the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, whilst our communities voices are being ignored all around the country.

Thorpe said it would go against the traditional governing structures of the Indigenous people and instead pursues a Treaty between Australia and Indigenous communities, akin to what Canada and New Zealand have.
This Easter, Faithful Christians See Demons and Dark Times in America

Experts warn against wanton use of dehumanizing rhetoric as US culture war escalates

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.As sure as night was settling over the big tent in Bakersfield, California, Rose Jaime believes America has fallen on profoundly dark times.

The devil is realand so is God, said Jaime, watching and listening as Pastor Mario Murillo delivered his sermon to more than 1,500 evangelical Christians during the Living Proof Tent Crusade on March 12.

The purpose of the traveling ministry from Lafayette, Tennessee, was soul-winning in a nation turned away from God.

Jaime observed the faithful with a serene calm. Many sat or stood and prayed with their eyes closed, palms open, and raised high to receive the spirit of the word.

Rose Jaime points heavenward during a tent crusade in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

Goodnessand godlinessare under attack in America, Jaime proclaimed with passionate certainty above the soulful rhythm of organ music and Murillos resonant voice as it reached a crescendo.

Theres so much hatred between families. Theres division in the cross. There are overdoses, killings, murders, gang violence, hit-and-runspeople running over people. And they keep driving, Jaime told The Epoch Times.

The devil is running around. He doesnt even hide anymore. The world still does not see him.

Jaime firmly believes evil existspure, demonic, metaphysical evil. And that its getting out of hand in America.

Only a return to godly values can stop it, she says.

A young woman listens in rapt silence during a tent ministry program in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

Yes, evilthe devil is running wild, breaking up marriages and churches. Kids are going against their parents; parents are going against their children. Family against family, Jaime said.

The devil is running around because he knows his time is short. Its evil, evil, evil.

Agree To Disagree?

Not everyone would agree with Jaimes religious conception of an evil supernatural force running amok in Americasecular people and those on the political left might well object. Instead, many on the left believe Christian conservatives and the Donald Trump phenomenon are at fault for the violence sweeping the country.

Unfortunately, some have chosen to take matters into their own hands.

A woman holds her hands aloft in prayer during a church revival ministry service in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

Rosalene Galego of Tennessee said she believes evil forces are working against America as she attended an outdoor church service in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

On March 27, a 28-year-old biological womanwho identified as transgenderarmed herself with a semi-automatic rifle and entered the Covenant School, a private Christian academy in Nashville, Tennessee, and killed six people before police officers fatally shot her.

Many conservative pundits blamed the motive for the shooting on a growing hatred toward traditional Christianity, which opposes transgender ideology.

The net effect of such tragic incidents has been an increase in national tensions and division along social and cultural lines. One GOP politician even called for a national divorce as the only peaceful solution to partisan conflict.

Paul Froese, an associate professor of Sociology at Baylor University in Texas and director of the Baylor Religion Surveys, sees an unsettling development in the term evil when used to demonize opponents, since harsh rhetoric often precedes or coincides with extreme behavior.

Devil In Disguise?

At least in my mind, in a secular way, when people say evil or demonic, what theyre saying is immoral,' Froese said. In a religious sense, that is connected to some supernatural force of evil in the world.

As a teacher of social theory, Froese said that whenever he uses the term evil, its usually as a rhetorical flourish.

Evangelical Christians listen as Tennessee-based Pastor Mario Murillo delivers a sermon in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

I think thats a confusion therewhat does it mean? I think for many people, [evil] has a supernatural meaning. I think the word evil is trying to express that something is immoral, but at the highest level, Froese said.

Froese is co-author of Americas Four Gods: What We Say About Godand What That Says About Us. He believes that viewing the world through a lens of good and evil is how humans try to make sense of chaotic times.

The future seems unclear. There are a lot of narratives about how scary things are out there, Froese said. It can come in many directionsGlobal Warming and whatnot. I think a similar trend happened with the advent of nuclear weapons. People started to think apocalyptically about things.

During confusing times, Froese said people demonstrate an innate need to create order out of disorder.

There are economic downturns for peoplethe pandemic, Froese told The Epoch Times. There are many events that have occurred recently.

Families with children made up a large proportion of the congregation who attended a church revival ministry in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

Froese said a media ecosystem that promotes and sells fear and hatred can reduce people and current events to simple terms of good and evil.

I dont know to what extent its a function of the internetpeople falling into these information bubbles and the corporate model of selling anger and hatred through media, Froese said. If all youre doing all day long is consuming anger, grievance, and hatred, theres nothing to counterbalance that. You can live in this world of anger all the time.

Jesus Revolution

There is a Jesus Revolution, Murillo told the large gathering in Bakersfield on March 12a biblical cleansing of America taking place where the return to faith is the key.

I will tell you that I believe God will not destroy America. He is going to save America. How many of you believe that over there? Murillo said to shouts of Amen!

Tennessee-based Pastor Mario Murillo holds his arms aloft during a tent sermon in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

Volumes of The New Testament lie on a chair during a tent ministry program in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

At the same time, however, Baylor Religious Surveys has revealed a trend toward decreasing church attendance in the United States.

Whats interesting is that weve seen a decline in church attendance and affiliations, Froese said. On the one hand, it appears the population is getting less religious. Probably what is showing up is [people] are becoming less religious in an institutional sense. That can lead people to become agnostic, atheist, or non-religious.

Or, it could lead people to be much more having a personal religiosity thats not attached to any religion, he said. Whats scary about that is that nothing kind of moors you to reality. If your belief system is free-floating and you capture ideas off the internet, nothing moors you anymore, and youre not attached to real people. That can have a damaging effect on people.

The Baylor surveys also found a belief in demons to be common among young adults.

Joseph Laycock, assistant professor of religious studies at Texas State University, told The Epoch Times that during the pandemic, he would receive emails several times a week inquiring about how to perform an exorcism.

An outreach worker explains how to become involved in the church ministry in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

No one is saying theyre levitating, or my head is spinning around backward, or Im speaking in Latin, Laycock said jokingly. Its always things like my kid is annoying, and I think theyre possessed.'

If they do have a demon, I cant help, Laycock said.

Rick Grunewald of Washington and more than 1,500 other evangelical Christians attended an outdoor tent service in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

Laycock said the number of messages increased during the COVID lockdown, nearly doubling from an estimated once a month to once every other week, or even weekly.

I just got one last week. This person said they got a video of a demon. It looked like a moth to me. Maybe it was a demon in the form of a moth! Laycock said.

He said he suspects that if strangers feel they need to reach out to him about performing exorcisms, its either because their church doesnt want to get involved or they are not part of a religious tradition.

We know the fastest growing religious demographic in America is the so-called [unaffiliated] NONEs. These are not atheists. These are people that are spiritual, but not religious. They dont belong to a church or something like that. So, who do you go to if you think of exorcism and dont have a religion? Maybe the academics, Laycock said.

Laycock agrees that using the term evil to vilify people is poisoning the national discourse. When the social order changes too fast, you tend to see a trend towards conspiracy theories, witch hunting, and exorcism, he said.

I see a similar pattern where things are changing rapidly. There is a question of the order of thingsincluding who is the rightful president of the United States. There is, once again, this resurgence of demonology.

Today, the Catholic Church routinely performs exorcisms following revision of the rite in 1999.

Three women hold their arms aloft in prayer during a service in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

According to the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., people may receive an exorcism after satisfying several protocols to determine whether circumstances warrant it.

I think a lot of churches have been scared even to broach the subject [of exorcism] because it can appear messy, said Tennessee-based pastor, Todd Coconato. It could scare people.

As people, we see the world getting darker. Its just so in our face, Coconato said.

Writhing Like Snakes

Coconato also sees a trend in the wanton rhetorical use of the word evil. But as a Christian, he believes evil is a spiritual force that seeks to do harm in America. Through his deliverance ministry, Coconato often encounters what he can only describe as demonic afflictions.

I think a lot of people are demonically afflicted. In our human minds and finite brains, we try to fix a spiritual problem with a chemical solution, Coconato said. We try to give somebody more drugs, this or that. A lot of times, it just masks the issue. The reality is they are demon-possessed.

A woman wearing face paint smiles during a prayer service in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

Its like nothing Ive ever seen. It started about three years ago, and its been expanding. Although there is a political problem, the core of it is a spiritual matterlight versus darkness, if you will.

Coconato said people who appear to be demon-possessed will manifest certain telltale signs at the altar.

Theyll come up for prayer, and theyll start manifesting. Ive seen little kids do this. They dont even know whats going on. Suddenly, theyre hissing like a cat or acting crazy. If I hadnt seen it thousands of times, I probably wouldnt believe it, Coconato told The Epoch Times.

Im sure some people fake itbut thousands and thousands? Thats hard for me to believe.

Living Through Dark Times

From a spiritual standpoint, Coconato said he believes Americans are living in moral darkness that is in your face more than ever before. He said that fears of rising crime, the threat of World War III, a looming systemic bank collapse, economic depression, disease, famine, earthquakes, tornadoesall seem to indicate that the hour is late.

Even atheists are sayingWow, its almost like its the end of the world,' Coconato said.

A man applauds during a live church sermon in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

Things are ramping up. Theres urgency in peoples hearts where they sense something is shifting. People see a lot of dark and wicked things happening. I think its like a building up, and people are sensing things happening quickly, he said.

The churchs response would be to deliver them.

Coconato said he is also a believer in establishing facts.

So when it comes to the ubiquitous use of the term evil, he believes its best not to cast stones at ones opponents or to over-spiritualize things.

A woman holds her hands to her chest in prayer during a tent ministry in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

Pastor Xavier, a Texas-based deliverance minister, said hell receive as many as 40 calls each month from people who believe theyre demonically possessed, asking him to perform a deliverance service.

Most people that contact us are genuine. I have very few people who I would say have the audacity to fake it, Xavier told The Epoch Times. It depends on the case. Some you do need to investigate. I think people staying home [during the pandemic] started it.

Rick Grunewald of Washington attended Murillos tent crusade in Bakersfield on March 12, hoping to spread the light of renewal.

I think there are dark forces, Grunewald said. But also, I believe the Lord is working tooso thats why Im here.

Three men embrace as Tennessee-based pastor Mario Murillo delivers his sermon in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

As a Christian, Grunewald believes in a supernatural spirit of evil in the world, who can work through us if were not careful.

I think harmful things are happening in all realms of society. Both sides are pointing the finger at each other and saying the same things about each othertheyre evil. But again, thats why Christians need to shine the light, Grunewald told The Epoch Times.

Rosalene Galego of Tennessee said she absolutely believes in demons influencing both people and global events.

Its one of the darkest times weve seen in modern history. Whats causing it is theyve taken prayer out of schools. They are trying to wipe away the word of God and take us away from the truth, which is biblical truth, Galego said.

Because of media. Because of video games. Because of music. Its infiltrated with a lot of darkness and confusion. Its a different kind of battle were in. Its not about bombs and nuclear war. Its now about corrupting the minds of the people. And thats how they can easily weaken a country. They divide and conquer, she said.

Where is the darkest place on earth? The heart of man without the light of God, observed Leah Hess of Modesto, California.

A young girl smiles in her mothers arms during an outdoor ministry in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

My dad used to say human beings have only one power: the power of choice. We get to choose our alignment. There are spirits and forces in this world that are much more powerful than humankind, Hess said.

As the spirits of darkness and evil are aligned more and more, theres more evil on the planet.

Broken Spirits

Once upon an especially dark time, Rose Jaime of Bakersfield said she used to be homeless. She was broken, with drug addictionin and out of jails and prison, she told The Epoch Times.

Jesus saved me. Ive been clean for nine years, she said, smiling.

Through a personal belief in salvation, Jaime said she can now see a clear difference between right and wrong, light and dark, and good and evil.

And she has no problem calling evil by its name.

Its harmful if we dont tell [people] theyre being evil. Thats more harmful than not telling them. It is getting harder because people dont want to believe, Jaime said.
Trudeaus Chief of Staff Telford Set to Testify on Foreign Interference

Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Katie Telford arrives to appear as a witness at the Public Order Emergency Commission in Ottawa on Nov 24, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Opposition MPs from all major parties battled hard to get some face time with Katie Telford, chief of staff to the prime minister. As a result, Telford is expected to appear before a House of Commons committee on April 14 to testify on issues related to interference by the Chinese regime in Canadas democracy.

Liberal MPs on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) engaged in the fourth-longest committee filibuster of the last decade to avoid voting on a motion calling Telford to testify.

The filibuster ended on March 21 when the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) lifted its opposition to her appearance at committee and the motion was adopted.

The next day, Global News ran a story alleging that Liberal MP Han Dong had advised a Chinese diplomat in 2021 to hold off on releasing detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. The two men had been in Chinese custody for over two years by that time, in a case widely seen as retribution for Canadas detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition request.

Global reported that the PMO said it only became aware that a conversation took place after Mr. Dong told us, following recent media questions.

Dong resigned from the Liberal Party the same day, and on March 31 his lawyer announced Dong intends to file libel action against Global, calling the article false, malicious, irresponsible, and defamatory.

The Dong case is one of the issues Telford could be asked about, since previous Global News reporting alleged that Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus team had been warned about him.

The warning reportedly came in September 2019 as Dong was about to become the Liberal Party candidate in the Don Valley North riding of Toronto.

In a Feb. 25 article, Global reported that CSIS [Canadian Security Intelligence Service] urged Trudeaus team to rescind Dongs candidacy, saying, Sources say the service also believes Dong is a witting affiliate in Chinas election interference networks.

The alleged warning was reportedly ignored, and Dong, formerly an Ontario MPP, went on to become a federal MP.

Trudeau reacted to the article by saying that It is not up to unelected security officials to dictate to political parties who can or cannot run, Global reported on Feb. 27.

Based on her position and role, Telford could have been made aware of the CSIS information at the time and possibly even advised Trudeau on what course of action to follow.

The Epoch Times attempted to get comments from Dong multiple times but didnt receive a response.

Han Dong, now a federal MP, celebrating with supporters as a provincial Liberal candidate in the Toronto area on May 22, 2014. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

Chief of Staff Role

Its rare for political staff to testify, due to the principle of ministerial responsibility, but Telford and other senior PMO staff did so at the public inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act to clear protests last year.

There, she explained her role as having two main functions, one to manage the PMO and the other to serve as a senior adviser to the prime minister.

Our primary job is getting the Prime Minister the information that he needs, getting him the best advice from all parts of government, but also from outside of government that he needs to be able to accomplish what he committed to Canadians he would do if he were elected, Telford told the inquiry on Nov. 24.

She added that the people in government she has the most contact with are the clerk of the Privy Council and Trudeaus national security and intelligence adviser (NSIA).

And theyre also the ones who have the most contact with the prime minister, Telford said.

This means that Telford likely has been privy over the years to intelligence community reporting and assessments on the extent of Chinese regime interference in Canada.

According to another Global News report, from Feb. 8, Telford had herself requested a memo be produced on the topic as early as 2017. The report said she tasked then-NSIA Daniel Jean to produce the memo, which said Beijing sought to infiltrate all levels of government.

[T]here is a substantial body of evidence that Chinese officials are actively pursuing a strategy of engagement to influence Canadian officials in ways that can compromise the security of Canada and the integrity of Canadian institutions, said the memo, as reported by Global.

Global said it was unclear if that memo had reached Trudeau or the PMO, and Telford is likely to be asked about it.

Testimonies before Commons committees are typically not under oath, but the motion passed in PROC on March 21 stipulates that Telford appear alone for a minimum of two hours by herself, provided that she be sworn or affirmed.

The committee has announced that Telford will testify at its meeting on Friday, April 14, from noon to 2 p.m.

Another Warning

National security leaks in the media have also reported about a warning that Trudeaus team would have received about another political player in Toronto.

The Globe and Mail reported on Feb. 13 that CSIS had warned about former Ontario cabinet minister Michael Chan, now deputy mayor of Markham. CSIS reportedly has a file on Chan over his links to Beijing.

Security officials reportedly told PMO staff, including Telford, to tell Mary Ng to be extra careful since Chan was involved in her campaign in 2017 and 2019.

Ng, currently minister of international trade, told the Globe she was never warned about Chan by the PMO.

Ngs press secretary Shanti Cosentino previously told The Epoch Times that Ng does not have ties to Chan, nor have they been in touch for many years. Any allegations beyond those facts are pure misinformation to dangerously mislead Canadians.

Chan has called the allegations false and unsubstantiated and said they stoke racism.

Chan has not responded to multiple requests for comment from The Epoch Times.

Former Ontario cabinet minister Michael Chan speaks at a rally held to condemn pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, in Markham, Ont., on Aug. 11, 2019. (Yi Ling/The Epoch Times)

Request for Dates

Along with seeking to hear from Telford, opposition PROC MPs have pressed the government to obtain all the dates that the prime minister and his staff received briefings from CSIS on interference by the Chinese regime.

They wrote a letter to the clerk of the Privy Council on April 6 to obtain the information, after top security officials said they would provide it in early March.

The fact that no information has been provided, despite repeated follow-ups, appears to be a deliberate effort to obstruct the committees study on foreign election interference, wrote the MPs.

PROC began its study on foreign election interference last fall, with the study gaining steam after the first national security leaks appeared in Global News in November.

Its report on the matter was presented to the House on March 8 and calls for holding a national public inquiry. The Liberal government has rejected the call and instead appointed former governor general David Johnston as special rapporteur on foreign interference.

Johnstons mandate was fleshed out last week in a cabinet order-in-council, which states that his first report is due by May 23.

Marnie Cathcart and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Trump Appeals Order Requiring Testimony From Pence in Jan. 6 Probe

Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at "Politics & Eggs" at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., on Aug. 17, 2022. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trumps legal team has appealed a sealed order requiring testimony from former Vice President Mike Pence.

The former vice president was ordered to appear after a judge ruled he must answer questions from the Justice Department about some of the aspects of Trumps attempts to question the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Pences attorneys indicated that they will not appeal a ruling by D.C. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg that partially sided with Pence just days before Trumps team filed a challenge.

Pence would be the most prominent witness to address inquiries in front of a grand jury. His testimony behind closed doors could provide investigators with a firsthand account of Trumps mental state in the pivotal weeks after he lost to Biden and further expose the rift between them since the end of their administration.

The strain could grow as Pence approaches a probable 2024 bid for the presidency and a challenge to Trump, who already is in the race for the Republican nomination.

After Pence was subpoenaed months ago by the Justice Departments special counsel, Trumps attorneys objected on the basis of executive privilege. But a federal magistrate in Washington last week rejected those arguments, forcing Pence to testify.

Boasberg did grant Pence a victory by adopting Pences attorneys arguments that he could not be questioned about his actions on Jan. 6 for constitutional reasons.

They had argued that because Pence was operating in his capacity as president of the Senate that day, he was protected from being forced to testify under the Constitutions speech or debate clause, which is intended to protect members of Congress from questioning about official legislative actions.

Despite concern about the former vice presidents testimony, Pence said the recent indictment against the president is a great disservice to the country and that he thinks millions of Americans will see it as nothing more than a political prosecution.

Pence reacted to the indictment during a 10-minute exclusive interview with CNNs Wolf Blitzer on March 30, hours after news broke that a New York grand jury had voted to criminally charge Trump.

He said it was wrong for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to pursue charges after Braggs predecessor and federal prosecutors declined to do so. Pence said he also took issue with Bragg running for office on the pledge to indict the former president.

I think that offends the notion of the overwhelming majority of the American people who believe in fairness, who believe in equal treatment before the law, Pence said, adding that singling out Trump appears to be an example of a two-tiered justice system, and that the American people are fed up with it. This is a bad decision by a political prosecutor.

The Epoch Times was unable to reach Pences office for comment.

Janice Hisle and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump Dominating Media Airwaves Again After Arrest: Deja Vu of 2016

FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower the day after FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach home, in New York City, U.S., August 9, 2022. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado

Some political strategists said that the recent ramping-up of media coverage around former President Donald Trump during his arrest last week could be used to his advantage.

This is deja vu all over again, Terry Sullivan, who ran Marco Rubios 2016 campaign, told Politico. Trump dominates media coverage, making it impossible for his competitors to get any coverage or forward traction.

Last week, Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to payments he made to Stormy Daniels and former model Karen McDougal during the 2016 campaign. Trump has framed the Manhattan District Attorneys offices charges against him as politically motivated and made it the central theme of his 2024 presidential campaign.

Whats frustrating to me is we didnt learn a [expletive] thing from 2015 and 2016 when it comes to just giving him absolute, roadblock media coverage, David Kochel, a veteran of six Republican presidential campaigns, told Politico on Monday morning. I get it, its a big story. But this was getting covered like  the opening of the war in Iraq or the O.J. chase. You couldnt escape it.

He said that for now, no GOP rival to Trump can do anything against him after the charges. I dont know that theres a strategy anybody could employ, Kochel said. Maybe try shooting somebody on Fifth Avenue, he added, referring to a quip that Trump made during the 2016 campaign.

Corporate broadcasters like CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox provided live coverage of Trumps flight to New York City, arrival at the Trump Tower, and entry into the Manhattan courthouse to face the indictment. Throngs of journalists and camera crews were stationed around the court to capture the moment of Trumps arrival and departure.

Attorneys for President Donald Trump speak to the media in front of a courthouse in Manhattan on April 4, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

The first-ever arraignment of a former president on criminal charges is a massive story, no question about it, Adam Serwer wrote in the left-wing Atlantic magazine, claiming legacy media outlets have learned nothing from 2016. But by itself that doesnt really explain the minute-by-minute broadcasting of his private plane arriving in New York Monday or the blanket coverage of his speech [at Mar-a-Lago last week after his arriagnment]. That kind of saturation approach suggests the networks could return to a model that simply allowed Trump to monopolize coverage.

Some declared Republican candidates have come to Trumps defense, accusing the DA of operating in a politicized manner. Others have noted that should any candidate go after Trump in the wake of the charges, he will likely face the former presidents wrath.

Recent polls show that Trump, meanwhile, is dominating over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. In a Reuters survey released on April 7, Trump bested DeSantis by nearly 40 percentage points, while a Monday I&I-TIPP poll shows Trump has a 24-point lead over the governor. DeSantis has not declared himself a 2024 presidential candidate.

On Truth Social, Trump again targeted DeSantis and said that he is a young man who is not doing well against me in the polls, to put it mildly. The former president recommended that DeSantis stay out of the 2024 race and remain as governor of Florida.

Former Attorney General Bill Barr, whom Trump has repeatedly criticized in the wake of the 2020 election, told ABC News that Braggs investigation is an unjust case but will elevate Trump in the GOP primary.

I think it also may accomplish its purpose, which is to get into the middle of the Republican primary process and turn it into a circus, Barr told ABC News on Sunday. Ultimately, the savvy Democratic strategists know this is going to help Trump, and they want him to be the nominee because he is the weakest of the Republican candidatesthe most likely to lose again to [President Joe] Biden.

At least one commentator said in the Politico article that Trumps arrest will denigrate the former commander-in-chiefs political brand and will make him more vulnerable ahead of the 2024 election.

Im not worried at all. I think theres a bunch of hand-wringing from some nervous nellies prematurely, Jason Roe, a Michigan-based Republican strategist who worked for Rubios campaign, told Politico. Right now no one occupies the stage except Trump, Roe added. The dust has to settle.
Twitter Labels BBC as Government-Funded Media

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk attends the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai on Aug. 29, 2019. (Aly Song/Reuters)

The BBC has raised objections to being referred to as government-funded media, facing a row with Elon Musks Twitter.

On Monday, the BBC pushed back against Twitters decision to label its main BBC account with a government-funded media designation.

A label now links through to a page on Twitters help centre which says state-affiliated media are outlets where the government exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution.

Responding to the complaint, Musk asked: Is the Twitter label accurate?

Musk later emailed the BBC, writing: We are aiming for maximum transparency and accuracy. Linking to ownership and source of funds probably makes sense.

I do think media organisations should be self-aware and not falsely claim the complete absence of bias.

All organisations have bias, some obviously much more than others.

I should note that I follow BBC News on Twitter, because I think it is among the least biased, added Musk.

In a statement, the BBC said: The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee.

The BBCs headquarters in central London, in an undated file photo. (Ian West/PA)

BBC joins the United States NPR with a Twitter tag highlighting government affiliation.



Last week, NPR, which critics say exhibits a far-left-wing bias in its reporting, was designated state-affiliated by Twitter.

Labeling NPR state-affiliated media is wholly inaccurate and untruthful. NPR gets LESS THAN 2 percent of its funding from grants through the federal government. NPRs newsroom is an absolutely free and independent newsroom; always has been. This label is a LIE and an insult, wrote NPRs Ashley Westerman.

However, some argued that much of NPRs funding is hidden in the form of grants, which suggests that the often-claimed 2 percent figure is far higher.

Licence Fee

The BBC is principally funded through a licence fee paid by UK households.

The licence fee raised 3.8 billion in 2022 for the BBC, accounting for about 71 percent of the BBCs total income of 5.3 billion.

In March, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office announced that it is giving an extra 20 million to support the BBC World Service over two years.

On social media, some disputed Twitters labelling, saying that while the BBC is funded by the British public through the licence fee, its operations and editorial decision-making are entirely independent of the government. The BBCs impartiality is also set out in its royal charter and framework agreement.

However, writing on Twitter, the editor of The Spectator magazine Fraser Nelson wrote that the UK government not only collects BBC funding but criminalises its non-customers and prosecutes them at the rate of 1,000 a week.

Im not sure that the (in my view brilliant) BBC is best served by the state funding model. But hard to deny that it is state-funded, he added.

The organisation Appeal, which fights miscarriages of justice and demands reform found that one-third of criminal prosecutions against women are for the non-payment of the TV license fee.

It noted that a legal process allows someone to be convicted of a criminal offence without knowing they are being prosecuted. Eighty percent of people do not respond to their charges, which normally results in an automatic conviction.

Elon Musk BBC coverage

The BBC has run stories about Elon Musks takeover of the platform.

In March, the BBCs disinformation and social media team talked to former Twitter employees who claimed that under Musks ownership, the company is no longer able to protect users from trolling, state-co-ordinated disinformation and child sexual exploitation.

The Musk story featured research from the UK counter-extremism think-tank Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), which is funded by UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and UK Home Office, as well as many other government departments from around the world.

ISD is also funded by foundations and institutions. Some of these include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, eBay Chairmans Pierre Omidyar Group, George Soross Open Society Foundations as well as activist investor and Extinction Rebellion donor Chris Hohns The Childrens Investment Fund Foundation.

In February, Marianna Spring, the BBCs specialist disinformation reporter told MPs in a hearing on online harms and disinformation committee that disinformation is so effective because it is emotional and it gets people to react and that she thinks that we have to weaponise those same tactics in the journalism we do.

PA Media and Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
Twitter Walks Back NPR State-Affiliated Label, Changes It to Government Funded Following Backlash

The headquarters for National Public Radio (NPR) in Washington, on Sept. 17, 2013. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Twitter walked back labeling National Public Radios (NPR) account as state-affiliated media after facing public pressure.

The social media platform replaced the label for NPRs account and with the term, government-funded media.

NPR was given on April 4 the same label as foreign state media outlets like Russian state-controlled TASS, RT, and Xinhua, the Chinese Communist Partys official state news agency.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk seemed to have endorsed the initial new designation for NPR, stating last week in a tweet, Seems accurate, in response to the label.

NPR Officials Condemn New Twitter Description

NPR president and CEO John Lansing released a statement condemning the initial designation.

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, Lansing objected on April 5.

NPR and our member stations are supported by millions of listeners who depend on us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide. It is unacceptable for Twitter to label us this way. A vigorous, vibrant free press is essential to the health of our democracy.

The publicly funded broadcaster has not posted tweets from its official Twitter account since platform administrators applied the state-affiliated media label.

The Twitter account handlers soon updated the NPR entry description, receiving the new label which read: 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.

When users clicks on the new government-funded media description, they are brought to a page about government and state-affiliated media accounts.

Twitter describes state-affiliated media accounts as outlets where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution.

A definition for the platforms government-funded media label has not been provided yet.

Twitters Help Center explained that state-financed media organizations with editorial independence, like the BBC in the UK, for example, are not defined as state-affiliated media for the purposes of this policy.

Meanwhile, the state-backed British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has also complained about Twitters government-funded media label, despite the fact that all UK households are required by law to pay a license fee to support the public network.

We are speaking to Twitter to resolve this issue as soon as possible. The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee, a BBC spokesperson told The Daily Mail.

Musk Backtracks on New Label for Taxpayer-Funded Media

Musk told an NPR reporter on April 11 that the taxpayer-funded stations label may not have been accurate after he was told that the organization has editorial independence.

The operating principle at new Twitter is simply fair and equal treatment, so if we label non-U.S. accounts as government, then we should do the same for U.S., but it sounds like that might not be accurate here, Musk said in an email, according to NPR.

NPR correspondent David Gura, in a tweet last week, said that Twitter removed any mention of the public radio broadcaster in its new policy.

The Help Centers newly updated description of NPR now calls it a state-financed media organization, along with the BBC.

The government-funded media label was also later applied to the Public Broadcasting Systems Twitter account.

The Biden administration got involved in the matter when White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized Twitter for the NPRs designated label status after she was asked about it in the briefing room last week.

Social media companies make their own independent decisions about content rules, so I wont comment on Twitters rules. But what I will say, more broadly, Ill say theres no doubt of the independence of NPRs journalists, Jean-Pierre said.

If youve ever been on the receiving end of their questions, you know that they have their independence in journalism. NPR journalists work diligently to hold public officials accountable and inform the American people.

The hard-hitting independence nature of their coverage speaks for itself. And so, Ill leave it there, she concluded.
Uni Chief to Lead AUKUS Partnership Talks in Washington

An undated visualisation of what an SSN-AUKUS submarine might look like at sea, issued on March 13, 2023. (BAE)

Australian university students could be the key to delivering nuclear submarines as part of the AUKUS agreement.

The chief executive of the tertiary sector peak body Universities Australia, Catriona Jackson, is set to fly to Washington for crucial talks on how universities could help with the security partnership.

The alliance between Australia, the U.S. and the UK will enable Australia to acquire eight nuclear-powered submarines by the 2050s.

The details of the security deal were announced last month, with Australia set to spend up to $368 billion on the vessels over the coming decades.

Jackson said the agreement would lead to many research and national security partnerships between Australian universities and industries in the U.S. and UK.

AUKUS is one of the biggest industrial challenges in our history, she said.

Universities have a major role to play in developing the capability needed to deliver the project, including through the provision of skilled workers and world-class research and development.

The chief executive is set to meet with national security officials from the U.S. State Department, along with representatives from the National Science Foundation.

Other meetings with higher education groups from the U.S., UK, Canada, Germany and New Zealand will also take place.

We are focused on upskilling the current workforce and training the next generation to support Australias national security, Jackson said.

Weve already had close discussions with our government and AUKUS partner governments about how universities can help. Were in Washington this week to turn those ideas into reality.

Jackson said she hoped the talks would expand Australian university partnerships, with more than 10,000 formal partnerships already in place with fellow institutions around the world.

The visit follows assurances from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that the AUKUS alliance will remain strong regardless of the outcome of next years US presidential election.

With the possibility Donald Trump may return to the White House in 2024, Mr Albanese said the security pact would be in place no matter who the leader is.

Our relationship with the United States is a relationship between nations, between people, not just leaders, he told Sky News on Sunday.

Australia and the United States share common values, I work very closely with President (Joe) Biden.
US State Department Says Sufficient Resources in Place as China Simulates Striking Taiwan

70 Chinese aircraft, 11 naval vessels have been detected around Taiwan as China stages war games for third day

Customers dine near a giant screen broadcasting news footage of aircraft under the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) taking part in a combat readiness patrol and "Joint Sword" exercises around Taiwan, at a restaurant in Beijing, China, on April 10, 2023. Tingshu Wang/Reuters)

The U.S. State Department says that sufficient resources and capabilities are in place to ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as Beijing staged war games around Taiwan for a third day.

We are comfortable and confident that we have in place sufficient resources and capabilities in the region to ensure peace and stability and to meet our national security commitments, a State Department spokesperson was cited as saying by Reuters on April 8, as Chinas state media reported that the military was conducting simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan and its surrounds.

The United States has urged restraint while it keeps its communication channels open with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the spokesperson said, adding that Washington is closely monitoring the CCPs actions.

Taiwans military detected about 70 Chinese aircraft and 11 naval vessels around the island on April 10, on the third day of Chinas military drills, with 35 to 45 warplanes, including eight SU-30 fighter jets, spotted crossing the Taiwan Straits median line and southwest of Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone numerous times.

Taiwan responded with aircraft, naval vessels, and land-based air defense missile systems to monitor the Chinese militarys activities, the Defense Ministry said on April 8 in a statement posted on Twitter.

The ministry said the Taiwanese armed forces implemented readiness drills, with ground-based air defense and sea-control missile troops keeping high alert for any Chinese military incursion.

But it emphasized that Taiwan wont seek to escalate conflicts or cause disputes.

71 PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities. pic.twitter.com/oZbmPZcDib   Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.  (@MoNDefense) April 9, 2023

Earlier, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Commandthe CCPs military wingannounced that it would stage military drills in the Taiwan Strait and north, south, and east of Taiwan from April 8 to 10 in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in California.

Beijing sent 42 aircraft and eight ships near Taiwan on April 8 and 71 aircraft and nine ships on April 9, as the PLA simulated precision strikes against the self-ruled democratic island.

Under the unified command of the theatre joint operations command center, multiple types of units carried out simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan island and the surrounding sea areas, and continue to maintain an offensive posture around the island, Chinese state television reported.

The CCP had strongly opposed any form of official interaction and contact between U.S. and Taiwanese officials and threatened to take resolute countermeasures if Tsai and McCarthy met.

A PLA spokesperson said the drills were meant to give a serious warning against the Taiwan independence separatist forces colluding with external forces and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the Ronald Raegan Presidential Library in Semi Valley, Calif., on April 5, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

McCarthy reacted to Beijings military drills, saying: I am the Speaker of the House. There is no place that China is going to tell me where I can go or who I can speak to.

The State Department had also clarified that transits by high-level Taiwanese authorities in the United States arent visits, but rather private and unofficial.

As we have said, there is no reason for Beijing to turn this transitwhich was consistent with longstanding US practice and policyinto something it is not or use it as a pretext to overreact, the spokesperson said.

Beijing also staged war games around Taiwan and restricted military-to-military communication with Washington following then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) visit to the island in August 2022.

US Lawmaker Concerned About Possible Blockade

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Fox News on April 9 said that the CCP could be preparing for a blockade of Taiwan, and urged the United States to quickly train Taiwanese forces so they can fight like Ukrainians, send F-16 jets to the island, install nuclear-tipped missiles in its submarines, and dispatch U.S. troops to defend the island.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speaks during the Vision 2024 National Conservative Forum at the Charleston Area Convention Center in Charleston, South Carolina, on March 18, 2023. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese state media added on April 8 that the PLA had staged drills with its aircraft, including nuclear-capable H-6 bombers armed with live missiles, and its warships on forming a multidirectional island-encompassing blockade situation.

While having no formal diplomatic ties to Taiwan, the United States is a major arms supplier to the island. The United States maintains a one China policy, which formally recognizesbut doesnt endorsethe CCPs position on the matter.

Although the United States has sworn not to unilaterally champion the islands independence, its legally bound by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 to provide Taiwan with the arms necessary for its self-defense.

Jeff Louderback, Andrew Thornebrooke, and Reuters contributed to this report.
North Korea claims it has successfully tested an improved underwater attack drone that could unleash a "radioactive tsunami."

The regime also claimed the new "Haeil-2" underwater nuclear drone has a range of 1,000 km. If these claims are true, the drone could infiltrate and strike U.S. naval bases in Japan as well as the southern coast of South Korea.

The North's official Korean Central News Agency said last Saturday that a defense science research institute tested the "Haeil-2 underwater strategic weapon system" from April 4 to 7.

"The system will serve as an advantageous and prospective military potential of the armed forces... essential for containing all evolving military actions of enemies, removing and defending the country," it said.

The drone set off from Kajin Port in South Hamgyong Province on April 4 and cruised 1,000 km for 71 hours and six minutes along an oval and figure-of-eight course in the East Sea. Its test warhead was "correctly" detonated in target waters off Ryongdae Port, South Hamgyong Province on April 7, KCNA added.
Vancouver Police Requires Officers to Consider Age, Ethnicity Before Handcuffing

Handcuffing suspects can no longer be "routine"

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has officially updated its handcuffing policy to require officers to consider a persons age, ethnicity, and the seriousness of the alleged incident before using handcuffs to restrain the individual.

It also informs police officers that they can no longer view handcuffing someone who is under arrest, detained, or apprehended as a routine action.

The updated policy, detailed in an April 7 news release, states that before applying handcuffs, the officer must have lawful authority that is objectively reasonable, is proportionate to the potential risk of harm the officer faces, and is necessary to fulfil a legitimate policing objective.

The VPD said a focal point of the policy is that police officers must be able to articulate the specific circumstance necessitating the use of handcuffs to restrain a person.

Under the revised policy, the use of handcuffs must be considered necessary to protect the officers or the public from harm, prevent an individual from trying to leave, locate and preserve evidence, or facilitate the search of a detained or apprehended person.

Officers have discretion on whether to use handcuffs, even when lawful authority to do so exists. Factors officers should consider prior to applying handcuffs include a persons age, disabilities, their medical condition, injuries, their size, their ethnicity, or whether they are part of other equity deserving groups, states the policy.

Another revision to the handcuffing policy states that a police officer who uses force on the job is legally responsible for the force applied.

Policy and Training Review

The path to officially updating the policy began in 2020. The Vancouver Police Board undertook a policy and training review following an incident in January that year in which an indigenous man and his 12-year-old granddaughter were handcuffed and were later determined not to have been involved in any crime.

The board approved a revised policy on an interim basis in October 2021 after it received a second complaint, which involved the wrongful handcuffing of retired B.C. Supreme Court justice Selwyn Romilly, the courts first black judge, while police officers were in pursuit of a significantly younger black suspect.

On May 14, 2021, Romilly was mistaken for a suspect wanted for assault, an individual decades younger, at an estimated age of 40 to 50. At the time, Romilly, 81, was out for a walk in Stanley Park when five officers approached him.

The judge told reporters that he was told to put his hands behind his back and handcuffed. After he told the officers he was a retired judge, they removed the handcuffs, he said.

Police later apologized, while the B.C. Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner asked the Vancouver Police Board to review the incident, saying it had received third-party complaints about how Romilly was treated.

Resolution

The VPD on April 6 this year reached an informal resolution agreement with Romilly, according to an April 9 CTV News article, which said the department issued the news release on the revised handcuff policy a day later as part of the resolution.

The board in 2020 examined existing policy, training, case law, and legislation regarding handcuffs and other restraint devices, said the news release.

The 2020 complaint arose from the handcuffing of Maxwell Johnson, an indigenous Heiltsuk First Nation artist, and his 12-year-old granddaughter in December 2019 when they were attempting to open a bank account for the child at a Bank of Montreal branch in Vancouver, reported the Vancouver Sun in September 2022 following a settlement in their human rights complaint against the Vancouver Police Board.

A bank employee phoned 911 on suspicion that their Indian status cards were fake. Both the child and Johnson were placed in handcuffs.

As part of the settlement, the board said police officers had discriminated against Maxwell and his granddaughter based on their indigenous background.

The board issued a statement following its Oct. 21, 2021, meeting regarding its approval of the interim policy. It said it initiated an internal as well as external review of the VPDs handcuffing policy, which included addressing concerns regarding the application of force by the use of handcuffs as well as any cultural or systemic issues or factors that may be involved.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Washington State Legislature Passes Ban on Assault Weapons as Governor Signals Support

SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 16: Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, joined by King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan hold a press conference to provide details on a temporary statewide shutdown of restaurants, bars, and entertainment and recreational facilities to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, on March 16, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. Inslee declared a state of emergency in response to new cases of COVID-19 earlier this month. (Photo by Elaine Thompson - Pool/Getty Images)

Lawmakers in Washington state have approved a ban on so-called assault weapons. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said he supports the legislation.

State senators passed the ban in a 27-21 vote on April 8, about a month after the states House of Representatives advanced the measure in a 5542 vote.

These weapons of war have no place in our schools, places of worship, our streets or in our communities. Banning assault weapons marks a victory for common sense and will help us move toward a safer future for Washingtonians, state Sen. Patty Kuderer, a Democrat, said in a statement.

House Bill 1240, the measure, would prohibit the manufacture, importation, distribution, selling, and offering for sale of assault weapons. Exceptions include selling assault weapons to law enforcement agencies.

The bill (pdf) defines assault weapons as certain guns, regardless of which companies produce them, including AK-74s, AR-15s, and M-16s. The term also encompasses semiautomatic rifles with a length of less than 30 inches.

It says that assault weapons are civilian versions of weapons created for the military and are designed to kill humans quickly and efficiently and are not suitable for self-defense.

The bill does not prohibit possession of the guns.

People who violate the measure, if it becomes law, would face a gross misdemeanor. In the state, that can bring a jail term of up to 364 days and a fine of up to $5,000.

The state Senate amended the ban, including by adding an exception for people on active military duty and military retirees who move to Washington state, meaning the state House must pass it again. Democrats, who generally favor gun control, have majorities in both chambers of the state.

State Rep. Strom Peterson, a Democrat who sponsored the legislation, said that the ban was an important step to protect the people we love.

If the House passes the measure again, Inslee would choose whether to sign it. Inslee, a Democrat, has said he supports the ban.

Passing an assault weapon ban will be a momentous step forward for Washington state, Inslee said in a statement. Time and again weve seen the carnage these weapons allow people to unleash on communities. But now the time is here when the majoritys will prevails and we put the lives of our children first.

Nine states have laws in place banning so-called assault weapons.

Washington Sen. Lynda Wilson, a Republican, was among the senators who voted against the bill.

Speaking before the vote, Wilson challenged the claim that the weapons in question arent suitable for self-defense.

The truth is that these are not assault weapons and are, in fact, some of the most effective personal defense firearms available, she said.

The Alliance for Gun Responsibility cheered the advancement of the legislation.

We are so incredibly grateful to the legislators working alongside us to make this lifesaving progress possible so that all of our communities across our state can be safer from the scourge of gun violence, Renee Hopkins, CEO of the group, said in a statement.

The National Rifle Owners of America Institute of Legislative Action, on the other hand, described the legislation as a comprehensive ban on the future transferring, importing, and manufacturing of many semi-automatic firearms that law-abiding citizens commonly own for self-defense, competition, and recreation.
What Legacy Will Pope Francis Leave Behind?

Pope Francis speaks during the weekly general audience at St. Peter's square in The Vatican on April 5, 2023. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images)

Commentary

With the recent hospitalisation of Pope Francis, speculation has once again turned to how much longer his papacy will last, given he is 86 years of age and in declining health.

In fact, 10 years ago last month, Jorge Bergoglio was elected pope. But there is no cause for celebration.

The Demos document (Greek for people)a statement attributed to the late Cardinal George Pell on the state of the Church, described Francis papacy as catastrophic. Not long before his death, Pell described the situation in Rome as the Wild West.

The widely respected German Cardinal, Gerhard Muller, recently gave an interview stating that Francis allegedly surrounds himself with a magic circle of people who are not prepared theologically. He also alleged that the recent reforms of the Curia were disastrous, reducing it to a business that works to provide assistance to clients, as if it were a multinational enterprise and no longer an ecclesial body.

The Demos document declared that under Francis, there had been grave failures to support human rights in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Hong Kong, mainland China, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Under the 2018 secret Vatican-China pact, there had been no public support for the loyal Catholics in China who have been intermittently persecuted for their loyalty to the Papacy for more than 70 years.

When the former Bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, flew to Rome to discuss the issue with the Vatican, Pope Francis refused to meet with him. He has declined to meet the Dalai Lama or speak out against the persecution of the Uyghurs, which includes forcing their women to have abortions.

Fundamental Mission Forgotten

Cardinal Pells scathing Spectator article, published a day after his passing, spoke of the toxic nightmare of the upcoming October Synod on Synodality.

In the Synod documents, which Pell stated were couched in neo-Marxist jargon, there is no mention of the Churchs fundamental mission: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. (St Matthew 28: 19-20).

Stanza della Segnatura (Signature Room) Raphael Rooms, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City.

Moreover, Pell, in his Campion College lecture last August, said it was largely irrelevant to the preaching of the gospel and the threat of decline, being more concerned with the redistribution of power.

The Synod doubles down on the failed experiment of aggiornamento (updating) that has taken place in the Church since the late 1960s, which has led to dwindling congregations, except in parishes and orders that are faithful to tradition and doctrine.

However, these areas of the Church have been under constant attack by Francis, especially with regard to the crackdown on the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass.

Rather than being a source of disunity within the Church as he claims, its wider celebration allowed a place in the Church for those who find in the traditional liturgy a sense of the sacred that is often not present in the tacky vernacular liturgies on offer in most parishes.

This has had the effect of breathing life into an otherwise moribund Church since most in attendance are young families.

However, Francis is literally driving them underground.

Will the Church Split?

But that is not the worst of it. Damian Thompson has pointed out that Francis himself, both before and after his election, has allegedly empowered and protected alleged predatory clergy and their accomplices.

La Nacion, Argentinas biggest daily newspaper, reported in 2019 that when Bergoglio was Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he had allegedly been active in promoting those who covered up clergy abuse in the past.

These include Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta, who in 2017 was appointed the Assessor of the Assets of the Holy See, despite seven priestsincluding three of Zanchettas vicar generalsformally accusing him of financial mismanagement, authoritarianism, and sexual misconduct.

Last year Zanchetta was found guilty of sexually abusing two seminarians, and Francis was forced to sack him.

Pope Francis leads the Easter Sunday mass on April 9, 2023, at St. Peters square in The Vatican, as part of celebrations of the Holy Week. (Andreas Solaro/AFP)

Then there is the case of Theodore McCarrick, the retired Archbishop of Washington. Banished by Benedict XVI once he discovered that McCarrick had allegedly seduced seminarians, he found himself back in favour as soon as Francis was elected, travelling around the world as the Popes unofficial emissary and fundraiser.

Eventually, the New York Times revealed that McCarrick was being accused of child abuse, at which point Francis had no choice but to strip him of his title of cardinal.

Then there is Francis treatment of his Jesuit friend Father Mark Rupnik, a celebrity mosaic artist.

Earlier this month, he was allowed to co-celebrate Mass publicly. Meanwhile, claims that he allegedly grotesquely abused nuns have not been fully investigated because Francis refuses to lift the relevant statute of limitations.

The Jesuits have since confirmed that Rupnik was excommunicated in 2019, only for that to be lifted in 2021. There are reports Francis was involved in lifting the ex-communication.

As it is, Francis Synod is pushing the Church towards schism. On March 10, the ultra-liberal German bishops voted to allow gay blessings in church, in total defiance of the Pope.

If the Church does disintegrate, as has happened with the Anglican Church, then the blame must lay squarely with Pope Francis the Terrible.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
White House Says It Briefed Allies and Partners Following Intelligence Leak

National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby speaks during a daily news briefing at the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the White House in Washington on March 21, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Following the leak of sensitive United States intelligence about the RussiaUkraine war, the White House says it has briefed affected allies and partners at very high levels.

The list of allies is likely to include Canada, as the leaked documentswhich have not been verified by The Epoch Timesreportedly show that Russian-backed hackers successfully accessed Canadas natural gas infrastructure.

The leaked documentswhich appear to have been altered in certain spotsinclude sensitive U.S. assessments of the ongoing war in Ukraine and a warning about the risk of a cyberattack in Canada. While the report doesnt name a specific Canadian energy company, it claims hackers were instructed by a Russian intelligence officer to maintain access to the computer network and wait for further instruction.

Cybersecurity expert Lesley Carhart said while the oil and gas industry is an attractive target for sabotage, the likelihood of hackers successfully disrupting Canadas energy supply through a cyberattack is low.

In March, over 100 U.S. intelligence documents were leaked and posted on the messaging app Discord. They contained information about Russian military activity, the conflict in Ukraine, the Chinese Communist Partys military forces, and the Middle East. Some of the materials appeared to have come from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said on April 9 that President Joe Biden has formed a team that is now focused on assessing the impact these photographed documents could have on U.S. national security and on our allies and partners.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the leak has been referred for criminal investigation, but could not say if it had been fully contained. He said both the Department of Defense and the Justice Department are running separate investigations into the national security implications of the leak, as well as determining who is responsible.

Kirby said that officials dont know who is responsible for the leak, and are also not aware if the leakers hold more intelligence documents they intend to leak online. He added that the intelligence materials have no business in the public domain or on the front pages of newspapers.

There is no excuse for these kinds of documents to be in the public domain. They dont deserve to be in the public domain, Kirby said.

In order to protect this country every day the way we do, one of the things we have to protect is information. We will keep relevant allies and partners as informed as we can going forward.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Participation of intellects, society must for devpt of MP





Staff Reporter

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stressed the participation of intellectuals and the society in the development journey of Madhya Pradesh during Prabuddhajan Samvad, a dialogue with eminent persons of the city at Manas Bhawan, on Sunday. The Chief Minister mentioned that the State and Jabalpur are progressing in various fields, thanks to corresponding efforts and appealed the talents of Sanskardhani to become partners in the States development to make Madhya Pradesh the number one State.

Chouhan highlighted the progress made by Madhya Pradesh in a purposeful and well-planned manner. He mentioned that the State has achieved new records and has witnessed steady development, with the gross domestic product increasing from 71,000 crores to 13.50 lakh crores and the per capita income increased to Rs 1.40 lakh. Chouhan said the Madhya Pradesh, which was earlier considered one of the Bimaru states (sick state) has now been included in the top ten states of the country. Chouhan credited this success to the co-ordinated efforts of development, which would not have been possible without the co-operation of the people. The Chief Minister also highlighted the progress made in irrigation, power generation, road construction and industries. He recalled the time when roads were filled with potholes, but now a network of good roads has been established, including Indias second-largest ring road, which will be built in Jabalpur. He also mentioned the Narmada Express and Atal Express projects, which are being implemented to improve connectivity and boost business and employment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. The CM also credited the decline of dacoits, collapse of SIMI network and reduction of Naxalism in MP to the effective measures taken by the Government.

He highlighted the achievements in agriculture with increased irrigation capacity which lead to higher production and good income for farmers. He said the wheat and rabi crop production has increased from 100 lakh metric tonnes to 700 lakh metric tonnes and the Government is aimed at irrigating 65 lakh hectare area by 2026. The agriculture growth rate has increased by 18 percent due to irrigation and Madhya Pradesh has received awards for agricultural work for seven times. He also mentioned the success of Madhya Pradesh in producing wheat and basmati rice that are gaining recognition globally.

Chouhan emphasised the role of social change initiatives like Ladli Yojana and Ladli Bahna Yojana in empowering women, the Governments support for talented students through Mukhya Mantri Medhavi Yojana, impact of Enterprise Revolution and Self-Employment Schemes in promoting livelihoods and reducing unemployment. Chouhan mentioned the interest shown by investors in Jabalpur despite the Global Investors Summit being held in Indore. He highlighted the industrial possibilities in the area around Ring Road, covering 456 square kilometers, establishment of Global Skill Park, focus on tourism, with the State being known as the Tiger State, Leopard State, Crocodile State and Vulture State due to its rich biodiversity. Those also present on the occasion were Vice Chairman of State Policy Commission Sachin Chaturvedi, MP Rakesh Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Sumitra Balmik, Dr Jitendra Jamdar, Vinot Gontia, Ajay Vishnoi, Ashok Rohani, Nandini Maravi and other eminent citizens, intellectuals, Commissioner Abhay Verma, IG Umesh Joga, Collector Saurabh Kumar Suman, SP T K Vidyarti and other officers.
After CM, Congress protest against Vijayvargiyas comment on women





By Bhavana Aparajita

Shukla

After Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans mad remark against former CM Kamal Nath, another senior BJP Minister is hitting headlines for saying girls look like Surpanakha in dresses against Sanatan culture. Speaking on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said, We consider women as Goddess, but when girls wear indecent clothes they look like Surpanakha (Ravanas sister).

Another Minister has backed former ministers remark, Culture and Tourism Minister Usha Thakur said, If one does not follow Vedic Sanatan tradition, then the person will be called of evils (Rakshas Pravriti). He further said that When I go out at night and see young woman under the influence of drugs, I feel like giving them five-seven slaps to sober them up. I swear to God. Both the leaders have expressed their displeasure over increasing trend of intoxication among youth.

On Saturday, Congress in Madhya Pradesh staged protests against senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya over his girls look like Surpanakha in bad clothes remark and demanded his apology for insulting women. Pradesh Congress staged protests against Kailash Vijayvargiya over his controversial statement and demanded apology for insulting women. Talking to The Hitavada, Vibha Patel, President of State Womens Congress, slammed the Ministers remark. She said, In which era Vijayvargiya is living, today women are making progress in every field. It is their right to wear clothes, eat and drink as per their choice.

If women are opting for freedom, then definitely there should be decorum in it. But leaders should take care of their dignity before making any comment. She further said that BJP is forgetting dignity after being puffed with pride
Staff Reporter

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that there is need to adopt pre-litigation mediation to settle mutual disputes. This system will prove to be an important step in reducing the burden of the High Court and solving pending cases. He said that the office of the Advocate General acts as a bridge between the government and the judiciary. The CM participated in the bhoomipujan programme of the Advocate Generals office building Nav Srijan in Jabalpur. Giving information about the PESA rule applicable in the state, he said that peace and dispute resolution committees have been formed in scheduled tribal areas, which settle local disputes in villages. Many such cases have been resolved by these committees. He said that committees should be formed in the villages on the lines of the tribal areas, which can solve mutual disputes. Prepare a model with legal provision for this. This will prove to be a revolutionary step in resolving the disputes of the villages.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that there was a need for an advocates office building in Jabalpur. Earlier there was not enough space for the advocates. With the changing times, this building will meet the needs of the advocates. The building to be constructed in a modern way will be useful for speedy disposal of court work. Chouhan asked the judges and advocates to consider preparing the annexe of the High Court. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Swami Vivekanandas thoughts have contributed a lot in making his life successful. He is my source of inspiration. He informed that the British era laws which have become irrelevant now are being removed. Advocate General Prashant Singh gave the welcome address.

CM said that the unnecessary burden on the High Court is also being reduced through the Lok Adalats being conducted in the state. Delayed justice is not justice. In Amrit Kaal, the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has given a mantra, in which he has mentioned 6 pillars of justice. In this, the first is justice for all, the second is easy justice, the third is cheap justice, the fourth is quick justice, the fifth is quality justice and the sixth is justice that can be understood by the common man in simple language. Such arrangements should be made in Hindi language so that the common citizens can understand the decisions of the court. The High Court has made its mark by creating a tradition of justice and life values, said the CM. He informed that Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to provide medical and engineering education in Hindi. Chief Justice Ravi Malimath said that today he is participating in this pious work. This building should be ready within the given time limit. He said that any institution is not made of bricks and cement, but is built with hard work, honesty and commitment. One of the major differences between animals and humans is that humans have the power to think. He called upon to use this power to make life meaningful.

Supreme Court Justice J.K. Maheshwari explained the importance of the power of thoughts. He said that the views of Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi are important in making a persons life successful. There is a need to imbibe the thoughts of these great personalities. At the outset, Chief Minister Chouhan and special guests performed Bhoomi-Pujan of the building with rituals after performing Kanya-Pujan. Lok Sabha MP Rakesh Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Smt. Sumitra Balmik, DIG Umesh Joga, Collector Saurabh Kumar Suman, SP TK Vidyarti, judges, advocates and members of Bar Association were present.
CM performs bhoomipujan of Adv Gens office building





Staff Reporter

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan performed bhoomipujan of the Advocate Generals office building Nav Srijan in the city, on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister stressed the need for pre-litigation mediation as a way to settle disputes and reduce the burden on the High Court. The Chief Minister, while informing about PESA Act, said, Peace and Dispute Resolution Committee has been formed in scheduled tribal areas, which have successfully resolved local disputes in villages. He suggested that similar committees be formed in other villages to resolve disputes and called for a model with legal provisions for this purpose.

Chouhan also highlighted the significance of Swami Vivekanandas teachings in his life and quoted his famous saying that Man is not just a flesh and bone figure, but a part of God with infinite powers. He stressed the need for justice to be accessible, affordable and understandable to common man and advised that Courts decisions should be made in Hindi to ensure wider understanding among citizens. Chouhan also stated that Madhya Pradesh is the first State in India to provide medical and engineering education in Hindi. Expressing views on the occasion, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Justice Rajendra Menon said the Advocate General Building will meet the urgent requirements of the present. He emphasised the importance of pre-litigation mediation in reducing the burden on courts. Later, Chief Justice of MP High Court, Ravi Malimath emphasised the importance of hard work, honesty and commitment in building institutions. He hoped that the building will be completed within fixed time frame. Supreme Court Justice J K Maheshwari explained the significance of the power of thoughts. He said the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi are important in keeping a persons life on the footing of success. There is a need to imbibe the thoughts of these great men, he added.

Earlier, the ceremony began with the worship of the girl child and the performance of bhoomipujan rituals for the Advocate Generals office building. Chief Minister Chouhan congratulated everyone on construction of the new building, which is expected to meet the needs of the advocates and facilitate the speedy disposal of court work.

Those also present on the occasion were Member of Parliament Rakesh Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Sumitra Balmik, Advocate General, Prashant Singh, DIG Umesh Joga, Collector Saurabh Kumar Suman, SP T K Judges, advocates and members of the Bar Association, along with students.
Dream of Balasaheb, Ram bhakts is being fulfilled: Shinde





AYODHYA (UP) :

MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said those raising doubts about the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya were shown their way home as the process has started and the work is in full swing. After paying obeisance to Ramlalla and overseeing the construction work of the temple, Shinde said he is happy that the dream of Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray and crores of Ram bhakts is being fulfilled. Everyone used to wonder when the construction work would start. Some used to say mandir wahin banayenge, par tarikh nahi batayenge (the temple will be built there, but the dates will not be told). But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got the work started and the dream of crores of Ram bhakts is being fulfilled....Those asking for the dates have also been shown their way home, Shinde, who has been accompanied by thousands of Shiv Sainiks on his maiden visit to Ayodhya as the Chief Minister, said. His supporters were seen carrying saffron flags with the Shiv Senas election symbol. Shinde said before the start of the temples construction work, several Opposition parties used to take a dig at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by raising the slogan -- mandir wahin banayenge, par tarikh nahi batayenge. At Hanumangarhi, the Maharashtra Chief Minister was given a mace by temple mahant Raju Das. His deputy Devendra Fadnavis and BJP MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh were also present on the occasion.

I thank you all for being able to see our dream being fulfilled with our own eyes. I thank the Prime Minister and (Uttar Pradesh) Chief MinisterYogi Adityanath.The Sagwan wood used in the temple is from Maharashtra and this is our small contribution, Shinde said. Hitting out at former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, he said he wants to tell those who used to say this isravan raaj that this Government has been made with the blessings of Lord Ram. They put (Independent MP) Navneet Rana and her husband in jail for reciting the Hanuman Chalisa.When seers were killed, they kept silent. Now, there will be no atrocities on the poor and seers will be honoured and protected, Shinde said. He said the entire atmosphere from Lucknow to Ayodhya has become Rammai (filled with slogans of Lord Ram) and he is happy that he has come to the holy town of Ayodhya with the bow and arrow (Shiv Senas poll symbol). Pointing out that this is his first visit to Ayodhya as the Chief Minister, Shinde said we will take the soil from here to Amravati, where a 111-foot statue of Bajrangbali will be built.

Fadnavis and Uttar Pradesh Minister Swatantra Dev Singh were seen accompanying Shinde. Thousands of Shiv Sainiks have reached Ayodhya and almost all hotels, guesthouses and dharamshalas in the temple town have been booked to accommodate Shiv Sena ministers, MPs and MLAs. The Sena is planning to highlight Shindes visit to Ayodhya across the country. SAFFRON FLAG WILL BE UNFURLED ALL OVER MAHARASHTRA IN 2024: SHINDE IN AYODHYA: MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the ideology of his party and that of the BJP is the same and they will unfurl the saffron flag all over the State next year. Our partys role is clear. The Shiv Sena has an alliance with the BJP. Our ideology, which is Hindutva, is the same. We will go to our state with new energy from Ayodhya and serve the people. In 2024, the Shiv Sena and the BJPs bhagva (saffron flag) will be unfurled in the entire state, he said while addressing a press conference here.
Four poachers arrested for trying to sell endagered species Pangolin





Our Correspondent

Waraseoni,

A team of Forest Department of Waraseoni and STF Jabalpur arrested four persons who were attempting to sell the endangered species (Schedule 3) Pangolin at Mangejhari. After interrogation all the four accused were presented before Court and Court ordered to send them to jail. Some 3-4 accused involved in this case are absconding.

Some person at village Mangejhari were trying to sell the Pangolin. Waraseoni forest team did not had any information about it but STF Jabalpur got this information through informers. Then soon Jabalpur team reached Waraseoni. Since last 3 days STF team was trying to nab the accused. Through help of Waraseoni forest team, STF set network and proposed the poachers for buying Pangolin from them. After long discussion the accused agree to sell the Pangolin in Rs 7.5 lakh. Then the poachers informed the spot where they would hand over the Pangolin.

STF, Jabalpur and forest team cordoned the area and when four accused reached the spot with the Pangolin, they were arrested. The arrested poachers are Yash Lal, son of Hukumchand Katare age 37 years resident of Mangejhari, Rajesh son of Babulal, age 41 years resident of Mangejheri, Anantram son of Ramdas Bahetwar, age 35 years resident of Balaghat, Divyanshu son of Uday Lal Jhariya, age 30 years, resident of Balaghat.

The accused confessed that 3-4 person are also involved in this poaching. This raid was done by forest team including Forest Guard Membhani Bisen, Ravindra Ladkar, Lokesh Tembrekar, Shailendra Jagjivan, Deependra Singh Parmar, Sunil Mandavi, Tarachand Dongre, Mahesh Bisen, Vinay bhanvare, Umesh Shukla Rajendra Singh.
North Korea has stopped answering regular phone calls on a military hotline between the two Koreas aimed at preventing emergencies, the Defense Ministry here said Monday.

The ministry said the North stopped answering calls last Friday morning.

The routine phone calls are made every day at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and consist mainly of someone saying hello to make sure the line is still operating.

There have been occasions in the past when the North has failed to answer calls, mostly when the line was down due to bad weather, but they resumed in a couple of days. "It is unusual for the hotline to be disconnected for four days," a military officer here said.

There is speculation that the North is ignoring the calls on purpose now the South Korean government is taking a harder line against Pyongyang. Last week South Korea published an annual report of human rights abuses in the North, which the previous government had kept under wraps.

South Korea has also been carrying out nearly nonstop military maneuvers with the U.S. and Japan since the beginning of the year.

Others speculate that the radio silence could herald another nuclear test by the North. A military officer said the ministry "is closely monitoring the North's movements."
Good time to invest in real estate: Sagar Gandhi





Business Bureau

The citys infrastructure development is driving the demand for real estate and increasing the land prices. With so much construction activities and massive projects underway the land within the city is getting scarcer by the day. Under such favourable circumstances, it appears to be good time to invest in real estate sector, felt Sagar Gandhi, Director of Gandhi Builders and Developers Pvt Ltd while speaking in an exclusive interview with The Hitavada.

Gandhi further said that the people should not miss this opportunity as land prices are expected to appreciate even higher from the current levels. The citys landscape is changing at a fast pace and the same prices will not be available after a few years. Planned development in and around Nagpur is being appreciated and envyed by people living in other cities.

After COVID-19 crisis the significance of having ones own home has become an important topic in every family. During the COVID-19 lockdowns people were advised by the Government to stay indoors and not come in contact with others. After two years of the pandemic the demand for budget flats has shot up. People with limited income are also aspiring to posses their own dream home even if it is small in size. Gandhi said that they have completely sold out 259 flat scheme of 1 BHK flats and studio flats in Jaitala recently. There is rising acceptance for 1 BHK flats by people who come in the income bracket of Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per month. The 1 BHK flat is available at Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh.

Gandhi Builders and Developers Pvt Ltd was established by Sagars father Narendra Gandhi in the year 1992. With more than 30 years experience in the construction business have successfully completed more than 30 projects. At present the company has five projects underway at Khamla, Untkhana, Omkar Nagar, Hazaripahad and Dhabha.

Gandhi said the with regulator like MahaRERA there is considerable transparency in the real estate market. People should buy properties which banks finance and also check the date of completion.
India has 3,167 tigers, PM releases census





MYSURU (Ktaka) :

 Success of Project Tiger is a matter of pride not only for India but for whole world, says Modi

 IBCA to focus on protection and conservation of seven major big cats of the world -- tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India did not believe in conflict between ecology and economy but gave importance to coexistence between the two. Protection of wildlife was a universal issue, Modi said, launching the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) that endeavours to protect and conserve big cats. The Prime Minister was speaking after inaugurating the programmeCommemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger organised at Karnataka State Open University. Citing data that showed the tiger population in India stood at 3,167 in 2022, Modi said: The tiger numbers that we have reached shows that this family of ours is growing. This is a moment of pride. Calling for a standing ovation to celebrate the rise in tiger population, he added,Im confident and I assure the world that in the days to come we will achieve more.

According to the data, the tiger population was 1,411 in 2006, 1,706 in 2010, 2,226 in 2014, 2,967 in 2018 and 3,167 in 2022. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and Minister of State Ashwini Kumar Choubey among others were present at the event. The Prime Minister said the success of Project Tiger is a matter of pride not only for India but for the whole world. Stating that India has not only saved tigers, but created an ecosystem for it to flourish, he said, India is a country where protecting nature is part of culture.

For wildlife to thrive, it is important for ecosystems to thrive. This has been happening in India, he said, adding that protecting wildlife was not the issue of just one country, but actually a global one. Pointing out that cheetahs had become extinct in India decades ago, the Prime Minister referred to the recent initiative where the big cats were brought to India from Namibia and South Africa, and said it was the first successful transcontinental translocation of the big cat. He also highlighted that four cubs had been born from these cheetahs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. In July 2019, the Prime Minister had called for an Alliance of Global Leaders to obliterate demand and firmly curb poaching and illegal Wildlife trade in Asia. Taking that message forward, the International Big Cat Alliance was launched today, officials said. IBCA will focus on protection and conservation of seven major big cats of the world -- tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah -- with range countries harbouring these species being its members. The Sahyadri or Western Ghats have several tribal communities, who have worked for wildlife and tigers to flourish, Modi noted as he lauded their contribution in conservation efforts. The Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers also depicts the traditional bond between nature and creatures, he said. It is heartening that at the time when we have completed 75 years of Independence, 75 per cent of the worlds tiger population is in India.

It is also a coincidence that the tiger reserve in India is 75,000 sq km. And in the last 10-12 years, the tiger population has also increased by 75 per cent, the Prime Minister further said. Modi, earlier in the day, went on a safari at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka amidst the picturesque surroundings of the towering Western Ghats, as part of programmes to mark 50 years of Project Tiger. Dressed in a speckled safari clothing and hat, he reportedly covered about 20 kilometres in an open jeep inside the tiger reserve, located partly in Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagar district, and partly in H D Kote and Nanjangud taluks of Mysuru district. Spent the morning at the scenic Bandipur Tiger Reserve and got a glimpse of Indias wildlife, natural beauty and diversity, Modi tweeted with some pictures of the safari.

During his speech at the event, the PM said: India with just 2.4 per cent of the worlds land area, contributes about 8 percent of the known global diversity. It is the largest tiger range country in the world.With nearly 30,000 elephants, we are the largest Asiatic elephant range country in the world. Our rhino population of nearly 3,000 makes us the largest singlehorned rhino country in the world. India is the only country to have Asiatic lions, and their population has increased from around 525 in 2015 to 675 in 2020, he said, adding that the leopard population is up by 60 per cent in a span of four years. Also, endangered aquatic species have shown improvement by measures like cleaning of rivers and water bodies.
More people from Oppn will join BJP ahead of 2024 polls: Mah BJP chief





MUMBAI,

MORE people from the Opposition camp would join the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the elections in 2024, State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule claimed on Sunday. Speaking to reporters in Shirdi in Ahmednagar district, the BJP leader also said he cannot guess any names from the Opposition bloc who might switch their loyalties.

The elections to Lok Sabha as well as the Maharashtra Assembly are due next year.

More people from the other side (Opposition) will join BJP ahead of elections in 2024. I cannot tell now who will jump, but the time will decide, he said. When State Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the State Budget recently under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the facial expressions of Opposition leaders were self-explanatory. You will see when Fadnavis will present the next Budget (2024-25), many will change their political affiliations to join BJP, Bawankule claimed. Queried on the likely seat-sharing formula between the BJP and the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Bawankule said top leaders will take a call.

I cannot comment on any formula about the proportion of seats to be contested by the BJP and the Shiv Sena. It will be decided by top leaders. Today, there is a strong and able Chief Minister in the state, he said.
NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS





By ADV. R. S. AGRAWAL :

The SC has pointed out that the court in such cases is still required to deliver a reasoned order on the principles that it had considered and applied, even if the material that is sought not to be disclosed is redacted from the reasoned order.





IN A very memorable and highly important judgement, which will have its footprints on the events in the future for long times to come and has been delivered on April 5, 2023, in the case  Madhyamam Broadcasting Ltd. (MBL) v. Union of India & Others , Chief Justice of India Dr Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli, at the Supreme Court, have declared that A blanket immunity from disclosure of all investigative reports cannot be granted, although, confidentiality and national security are legitimate aims for the purpose of limiting procedural guarantees, the State has been unable to prove that these considerations arise in the present factual scenario. The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) revoked the permission which it had granted to the appellant to uplink and downlink a news and current affairs television channel calledMedia One.The appellants comprising MBL, the trade union of working journalists and the Editor, SeniorWeb Designer and Senior Cameraman of Planetcast Media Services Ltd. initiated proceedings under Article 226 of the Constitution before the High Court of Kerala for challenging the action of the first respondent. By a judgement on February 8, 2022, a Single Judge dismissed the petitions. The writ appeal was dismissed by the HCs division bench on March 2, 2022, relied on the material, which was disclosed solely to the Court in a sealed cover by the respondent-2, Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The appellants instituted proceedings under Article 136 of the Constitution to challenge the correctness of the judgement of the HCs division bench.

After long hearing, the Supreme Court allowed the appeals and set aside the order of the Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting of January 31, 2022 and the High Courts judgement of March 2, 2022 with the findings out of which security clearance is one of the conditions required to be fulfilled for renewal of permission under uplinking and downlinking guidelines. The Supreme Court has allowed the challenge to the impugned order of the MIB and the judgement of the HC, on procedural grounds stating that (a) the principles of natural justice were constitutionalised by the SCs judgement in Maneka Gandhis case. The effect is that the courts have recognised that there is an inherent value in securing compliance with the principles of natural justice independent of the outcome of the case. Actions which violate procedural guarantees can be struck down even if non-compliance does not prejudice the outcome of the case. The core of the principles of natural justice breathes reasonableness into procedure.The burden is on the claimant to prove that procedure followed infringes upon the core of procedural guarantees; (b) The appellants have proved that MBLs right to a fair hearing has been infringed by the unreasoned order of the MIB of January 31, 2022, and the non-disclosure of relevant material to the appellants, and its disclosure solely to the court.

The burden then shifts on the respondents to prove that the procedure that was followed was reasonable and in compliance with the requirements of Article 14 and in compliance with the requirements of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. The standard of proportionality has been used to test the reasonableness of the procedure; (c) The judgements of the Supreme Court in the cases- Ex-Armymens Protection Services and Digi Cable Network, it has been held that the principles of natural justice may be excluded when on the facts of the case national security concerns overweigh the duty of fairness; (e)The validity of the claim of involvement of national security considerations must be assessed on the test of (i) whether there is material to conclude that the non-disclosure of information is in the interest of national security; and (ii) whether a reasonable prudent person would draw the same inference from the material on record; (f ) Even assuming that non-disclosure is in the interest of confidentiality and national security, the means adopted by the respondents do not satisfy the other prongs of the proportionality standard. The non-disclosure of a summary of the reasons for the denial of security clearance to MBL, which constitutes the core irreducible minimum of procedural guarantees, does not satisfy the suitability prong; (g)The courts assess the validity of public interest immunity claims, which address the same harms as the sealed cover procedure, based on the structured proportionality standard.

The power of courts to secure material in a sealed cover when contradistinguished with the scope of assessment of public interest immunity claims is rather unguided and ad-hoc. The standard of review that is used by the courts in public interest immunity claims and the lack of such a standard in sealed cover proceedings to protect procedural safeguards indicates that public interestimmunity claims constitute less restrictive means. Additionally, while publicinterest immunity claims conceivablyimpact the principles of natural justice, sealed cover proceedings infringe theprinciples of natural justice and openjustice; (h)The courts could take thecourse of redacting confidential portions of the document and providing asummary of the contents of the document to fairly exclude materials after asuccessful public interest immunityclaim; and (iii) The challenge to theorder of MIB is allowed on substantivegrounds. The non-renewal of permission to operate a media channel is arestriction on the freedom of the Presswhich can be only reasonably restricted on the grounds stipulated in Article19(2) of the Constitution. The reasonsfor denying a security clearance to MBL, that is, its anti-establishment stanceand the alleged link of shareholders toJEI-Hare not legitimate purposes for therestriction of the right of freedom of speech protected under Article 19(1)(a)of the Constitution. In any event, therewas no material to demonstrate any linkof the shareholders, as was alleged. While the SC has concluded that a public interest immunity claim is a lessrestrictive means, the dilution of procedural guarantees while hearing theclaim cannot be ignored by the court. The court has a duty to consider factorssuch as the relevance of the material tothe case of the applicant while undertaking the proportionality standard totest the public interest immunity claim.

The factor of procedural guarantees isequally important and it cannot beturned into a dead letter. It is the responsibility of the Supreme Court to balancethe two considerations, when those arein conflict. A power in the court toappoint an amicus curiae will balanceconcerns of confidentiality with theneed to preserve public confidence inthe objectivity of the justice deliveryprocess. The SC has pointed out that the court in such cases is still required to delivera reasoned order on the principles thatit had considered and applied, even if the material that is sought not to be disclosed is redacted from the reasonedorder. The SC has allowed the civil appeals and directed the MIB to issuerenewal permissions in terms of thisjudgement within four weeks and all other authorities shall co-operate in issuing necessary approvals and till then, the courts interim order shall continue to operate.
Pilot opens new front against Gehlot





JAIPUR :

AHEAD of the Assembly polls in Rajasthan, former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot on Sunday opened a new front against CM Ashok Gehlot, announcing a day-long fast to seek action from his Government over alleged corruption during the BJP rule in the State. The development again brings into open the power tussle in the Congress between the Pilot and the Gehlot factions in the State, putting pressure on the central leadership to resolve it before the year-end polls. No action was taken (by the Gehlot Government) on corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje Government. While in Opposition, we had promised that an inquiry would be conducted in the mines scam of Rs 45,000 crore, Pilot said at a press conference at his residence here, announcing a hunger strike on Tuesday.

With six-seven months left for the elections, the opponents can spread an illusion that there is some collusion. Therefore, action will have to be taken soon so that the Congress workers feel that there is no difference between our words and actions, he said. Pilot said he will observe a day-long fast at Shaheed Smarak on April 11 to press for his demand. Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads over the post of the Chief Minister ever since the Congress formed the Government in Rajasthan in December 2018. The Opposition BJP said that Pilot should also demand an investigation into the alleged corruption during the Congress Governments tenure.

Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said in a statement that the infighting between the Chief Minister and his former deputy has increased to such an extent that now Pilot will sit on hunger strike against his own Government. While a section of Congress leaders supported Pilots demand, others claimed it would inflict great harm to the party in the upcoming election.
Tiger population surpasses conserved forest area of State





By Ankita Garg

Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has claimed to have dense population of tiger and other cat species in Tiger Census 2022. Along with the same, forest team has also presented its long term plan to provide adequate space to wildlife. The State is recording dense population of tigers giving tough time to the management with insufficient space in tiger reserves. According to data report, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve has more than 124 tigers while its capacity is only for 75 tigers. Same situation prevails in Kanha Tiger Reserve where 108 tigers are moving. Capacity of KTR is about 70 tigers. Pench Tiger Reserve has capacity of 50 tigers but the reserve is habitat of 82 tigers. There are 23 tigers in urban areas of Bhopal.

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) says that a tiger forms territory in 40 to 60 sqkm of area. It has been found in study that tigers prefer to kill prey in their territory. But when it comes about food, water and mating, they travel several kilometres. When they enter into territory of other big cats, they fight. Study has proved that if population of tiger increases in a particular territory, it adversely impacts their behaviour. Six tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh are completely full with tiger population. After witnessing rise in population of tigers, MP Forest Department is facing challenge to provide sufficient space to big cats and avoid man-animal conflict along with territorial fight among cats. These six tiger reserves have 10,000 sqkm of area while 700 tigers require 35,000 sqkm of area to form independent territory.

Experts say that capacity of six tiger reserves is only 205 tigers but more than 700 tigers are residing in these reserves. This could be the reason of higher territorial fight and death of tigers in reserves. In past two years, 39 tigers have died in territorial fights. Experts said that all reserves of State have touched their maximum caring capacity. There is need to extend forest areas, develop new corridors and find out new place for tigers. PCCF J S Chauhan said, Our team is working on long term plan to secure wildlife and human being with sufficient space for them. Development of new corridors, new wildlife sanctuaries and other possible efforts are being done. He further informed that tigers are now being introduced in sanctuaries where there were no tigers. He said, under tiger management plan Department is translocating big cats from tiger reserves to sanctuaries.
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Yogi Berra, the legendary Yankee catcher, was famous for saying, Its deja vu all over again. For the school on Chestnut St, once named Columbus School, there is indeed a feeling that weve been here before. For the second time in my 50 years of living in Norwalk, Columbus School is being redesigned for a new student body.

In 1979, Columbus School was closed as a segregated neighborhood school and reopened as Columbus Magnet School. Children from all over Norwalk could apply to the school that emphasized hands-on learning and the arts. Instruction in reading, science, math and social studies were integrated together. Parents were encouraged to be actively engaged in the school. The new school was popular, and families were soon clamoring to enroll their children.

Columbus Magnet School is now Concord Magnet School, and it has moved into a building next to Ponus Ridge Middle School. The old Columbus building has reopened as a neighborhood school, temporarily named the Sono School. The new student body will be those who live in South Norwalk, and the curriculum will emphasize the needs of the community.

Were bringing a community school back into the area, so children dont have to be bused, said Principal Alycia Rhinehart. Families can walk over because all of the resources and services are right here.

The curriculum, she said, is being designed to set kids up for success: integrated across all content areas, multi-sensory, inquiry-based, with an emphasis on giving students and parents a voice in the school, not unlike the vision of Columbus Magnet School in 1979.

But this is 2023, and the new Sono School is indeed different.

Currently, there are two pre-K and two kindergarten classes. In the fall, the school will have pre-K, kindergarten and first grade classes. Another grade will be added each year until the school moves into the new building that will be built on Meadow St., slated to open in 2025 with close to 700 students.

Before- and- after-school programs are available for free, so working parents can choose to drop their kids off at 7 a.m. and pick them up at 6 p.m.

According to Amaris Melendez, education administrator for Early Childhood in Norwalk Public Schools, the community voted to have the school anchored in social justice and financial literacy, two big ideas that will be engrained in the school as more grades are added.

What does social justice look like to 4 and 5-year olds? Its how children interact with each other, said Rhinehart. Its highlighting each childs strengths and working together. Its getting along, honoring diversity, and making sure everyone has a voice.

One of the pre-K classes is a 50-50 blend of special education students who have IEPs (individualized education plans) and general education students. I love how the general ed kids are the role models for the kids with IEPs, and the other way around, said teacher Nicolette Lopez. They really just help each other. I see the love that they have for their peers.

One kindergarten class is filled with MLL students  multi-language learners. All the children spoke Spanish as their first language, and the teacher and two paraprofessionals are bilingual.

I use lots of visuals in the classroom, said teacher Irvania Sanchez, and I often pair students with strong English skills with a child who has less English. They help each other.

They also care for each other. When one boy was crying inconsolably after his block structure collapsed, a child handed him a stuffed animal to hug. A second child brought a tissue to wipe his eyes. A third child rubbed his back.

And the curriculum itself is designed to have students working together and learning while they play. Each day, the classes have center time, and theres a number of different choices. Sanchez has a special board with the names of the centers  blocks, dramatic play, painting, writing, art, and others  and there are slots for four childrens names. She calls the kids up one-by-one, and they put their name card into the slot until all the slots are filled.

Kids have a choice in their play, which is the language that kids learn best in, said Rhinehart. Centers are aligned with the unit of study and activities are carefully chosen.

During a kindergarten class that was studying transportation, two boys built a long trailer on wheels out of large Lego blocks, two other children solved car and truck puzzles, and two girls aligned small squares and triangles on picture cards of vehicles.

Often, the direction for instruction comes from the kids themselves. In a unit about pets, one group wanted a penguin. This led to lots of talk about the habitats that animals need to survive. They realized that a penguin cannot live in Norwalk, but, one day, a post office truck delivered a stuffed penguin to their class. Another class wanted a frog, the teacher suggested a tadpole, and the preschoolers learned about how tadpoles turn into frogs. A tadpole is now swimming around in a tank in the room.

Sono School in the old Columbus is a new place, growing year by year. Its fundamental mission is clear to Rhinehart - to become a neighborhood school that feeds the souls, hearts, and minds of the children.

Our staff must listen to the community and value what they bring. Two-way respect is crucial, she said. Its all about relationship-building, trust, and mutual respect.
NORWALK  Nearly 35 years after they lost their 21-month-old son in a drowning accident, Stew and Kim Leonard on Monday launched a swim school in his memory.

Joined by local officials, including Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling and state Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, the Leonards held a groundbreaking and ceremonial pool-filling at the Stewie the Duck Swim School. The school, which will provide swim lessons for young children, is expected to open in early June in Norwalk.

"If any of us in this room could take our little kids, even at the age of 6 months to a year, bring them in the water and just get them so they learn to float over on their back," Stew Leonard Jr. said at the ceremony. "If our son had known to do that, he might be standing right here today. And so it's something that we're really encouraging, is the floating."

The Leonards, the family that owns and operates the Stew Leonard's stores in Norwalk and around the state and in New York and New Jersey, have for years funded programs to provide swim lessons for young children and educate people about pool safety. Their son, Stew Leonard III, known as Stewie, died on Jan. 1, 1989, after a drowning incident.

After his death, the Leonards founded the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation, which has raised $6 million to fund training programs. They have also published two books on water safety.

The swim school will be open to children ages 6 months and up , and everyone will get an introductory free lesson, Stew Leonard said. The cost after that will be $35 a lesson. Leonard said there isn't a set amount of lessons that each child needs, and it will depend on how quickly they learn.

"My hat's off really to the Leonard family for taking a terrible tragedy and turning it into something that will and has saved lives for so many children," Duff said. "Many people cannot do that. Thanks to the Leonards and their generosity and the fact that they were willing to take something that was so personal to them and then turn that around and help the community so much, is really, very, very important. And we really appreciate it."

The groundbreaking also included a ceremonial pool-filling, but the building  at 55 Westport Ave., near the flagship Stew's dairy store  still needs to be completed before the June opening. Once it's up-and-running, the school will be able to provide about 500 lessons a week, said Leonard, CEO of the family business.

"As we're a waterfront community, we know that we have potential for people to not be able to swim. With this new program and with the thousands of programs for swim lessons that they've been giving to young people, many for free on scholarships, that's really going to be important. Hopefully, we will avoid tragedies like that in the future," he said.

Parents interested in signing their children up for swim lessons can do so at the Stewie the Duck website, which also has more information on the foundation and its other programs.

After the announcement, the Leonards and other Stew Leonard's staff members posed for photos with the Stewie the Duck mascot. Stew Leonard said he was excited to finally see the project come to fruition.

"This is a dream for Kim and I right now, to open up the swim school," he said. "And it's special to our heart right now."
EDWARDSVILLE  State's attorneys in Madison, Jersey and Calhoun counties are among more than 30 filing a brief with the Illinois Supreme Court seeking to overturn the state's ban on certain types of weapons.

Madison County State's Attorney Thomas Haine has been joined by Lucas Fanning, the states attorney of Calhoun County; Ben Goetten, states attorney of Jersey County; and 30 other state's attorneys filing the Amici Curiae brief also known as a friend of the court brief  asking the state's highest court to strike down the Assault Weapons Ban passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in January.

The other states attorneys in the brief represent the counties of Brown, Carroll, Clark, Clinton, Edwards, Effingham, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jasper, Jefferson, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Macon, Marion, Mercer, Monroe, Ogle, Perry, Pulaski, Randolph, Schuyler, Union, Vermilion, Warren, Washington, Wayne and White.

As the duly-elected states attorneys of our counties, we have a duty to seek justice, Haine said. That duty includes protecting and defending the Constitutional rights of all citizens.

On March 3, Macon County Associate Judge Rodney S. Forbes ruled the weapons ban violates the equal-protection and special-legislation clauses of the Illinois Constitution. Pritzker has appealed that ruling to the state Supreme Court.

The ban outlaws the sale or manufacture of several firearms labeled as assault weapons and certain attachments for firearms, along with .50-caliber rifles and .50-caliber cartridges. People who already own such a firearm are allowed to keep them under the new law, but the owners of such weapons will be required to register them with Illinois State Police by Jan. 1, 2024.

In its conclusion, Haines brief states as follows:

"Many Americans of good will continue to debate the merits of our countrys broad-based culture of gun ownership. Some fear that broad gun rights facilitate violence by criminals. Others contend that while the law should take aggressive steps to stop criminals, it must also respect responsible citizens right to own commonplace firearms as an effective means of self-defense against those very same criminals, making the public more secure, not less.

"While this debate will undoubtedly endure, at least this much has been settled since 1791: The Second Amendment 'the very product of an interest balancing by the' Founding generation, which ratified it 'elevates above all other interests the right of law-abiding, responsible citizens to use arms' for self-defense. Bruen, 142 S.Ct. at 2131 (citing Heller, 554 U.S. at 635). Therefore, no state may "prohibit[]  an entire class of arms that is overwhelmingly chosen by American society for [a] lawful purpose. Heller, 554 U.S. at 628.

"Yet the [Assault Weapons Ban] bans entire categories of firearms and firearm components (i.e., magazines) obviously in common use for lawful purposes today. It is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, as authoritatively read by Heller and Bruen both. "

Related issue in 2021

This isn't the first time Haine has advocated for Second Amendment rights, and specifically in an amicus brief before the state Supreme Court.

In November 2021, his office filed a brief urging the Illinois Supreme Court to strike down the Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) Act as unconstitutional.

Madison County citizens value their Second Amendment rights, Haine said at the time.

He also stated, in the brief, that the FOID Act does not advance the public interest because the law poses no practical deterrent to those who violate it. He also states the law is an unconstitutional burden on peaceable Madison County citizens.

Its public-interest justification exists only in theory, not in reality, the brief states.

A White County judge in May 2021 ruled the states FOID card system was unconstitutional and reduced residents Second Amendment rights to bear arms to a facade. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul appealed the decision to the Illinois Supreme Court.

Ultimately, the court declined to rule on the issue. The 4-3 decision came with the Republican minority's 11-page dissent.

'Self-defense and recreation'

The assault weapons-related brief from Haine and others states that certain firearms  such as the AR-15  may seem strange and menacing to people with little experience with firearms but they are normal and valuable "to many millions of responsible, law-abiding Americans.

"In fact, it is the experience of Amici as the chief law-enforcement officers of our respective Counties that the typical use of such firearms is self-defense and recreation  for which they are quite well-suited  and not violent crime," the brief states.

"Like all Americans, Amici are horrified by the mass shootings and urban violence our nation has experienced," the brief states. "These are heartbreaking reminders of how much pain and sorrow violent individuals with evil intentions can cause. As prosecutors, we go to work every day to deter such crimes, do justice for victims, put those who would do harm to our communities behind bars, and protect everyone by strengthening the justice system and the rule of law.

"It is in service to that same rule of law that we urge this Honorable Court to support all the rights enshrined in our Constitution, including the right of the people to own commonplace firearms so they can defend hearth and home and live freely with the means to secure their own ultimate safety."

As the duly-elected states attorneys of our counties, we have a duty to seek justice, Haine said. That duty includes protecting and defending the Constitutional rights of all citizens.

A copy of the brief is online at the website of the Madison County States Attorneys Office, www.madcosao.gov, and on the Illinois Supreme Courts web page for high-profile cases.
A group of friends and fellow partiers sets up a massive sound system somewhere far from civilization  a forest, a field, a bridge, an empty warehouse, a tunnel, an abandoned monastery. They dont want to bother anyone and they dont want anyone to bother them. Through word of mouth, tens, hundreds or even thousands of partiers converge on the spot, with no promotion, no licenses, no admission fee, no time limit, and no restraints. There is electronic music, an abundance and variety of drugs, endless dancing. Its a free party, in every sense of the word free. Its a rave, meaning: to show signs of madness and delirium.

Every year, like tradition, an illegal New Years Eve festival that goes on for days without end captures the attention of the media, inspiring a combination of curiosity, hilarity and indignation. This year, that party was in the Spanish town of La Peza, Granada. There, in addition to the surprise gathering of around 4,000 ravers over the course of five days, which included a caravan of some 200 vans and small trucks, the main story (and the subject of much levity on social media) was the reception the partygoers received by the towns residents, who came out in droves to witness the party and meet the ravers, and were by and large delighted by what they found  so much so that they invited them to come back the next year. There is respect here, said Paquita la Ravera, a thirty-something raver from Torre del Mar, Malaga, who attended the party. No matter what resources you have, you can come, because its open and its free. I have a right to go to a rave, have fun, and not have to pay 50 euros to dance in a room while other people look down on and judge me.

A rave held in the municipality of Salce, Zamora, Spain in August 2022. Jose A. Pascual

Rave is more than music + drugs; its a matrix of lifestyle, ritualized behavior and beliefs, writes British music journalist Simon Reynolds in his book Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture (Faber & Faber, 1998). To the participant, it feels like a religion; from the standpoint of the mainstream observer, it looks more like a sinister cult. Beyond the sensational stories and controversies surrounding the phenomenon, rave culture has a history and a set of values that, given its underground character, remain relatively unknown to the outside world.

Rave values

Its a movement that unites people of all ages who appreciate living and feeling, says Anais MFS, a 25-year-old French raver who attends parties once or twice a month. Rave allows us to be the person we really are, without judgement. Theres a spirit of solidarity and unity. To be part of this movement is to be part of a family. The main values of the movement are summarized by its cardinal slogan: PLUR, an acronym for Peace, Love, Unity, Respect. We see this, for example, in the role played by women, says Fermin Fernandez Calderon, a psychologist at the University of Huelva in Spain, and the author of a major study on rave culture. These are environments where, in general, women are respected and not objectified. The media usually associate drug use with bad behavior, but at raves, violence is discouraged and is actually quite rare.

Ravers dance at night in Salce, Spain. Jose A. Pascual

No one hides the fact that drugs are a central feature of the free party experience, which most participants would likely find ridiculous in a state of sobriety. Some of the most popular drugs include ecstasy (a substance central to dance and rave culture, which encourages uninhibited movement and sensuality), cannabis, and to a lesser extent, amphetamines, tobacco and LSD. Alcohol and cocaine are also used, but less than in other party scenes, such as one might find at a bar, a music festival, or a nightclub. According to Fernandez Calderon, even though raves tend to have high levels of drug consumption, there is also a culture of awareness and safety regarding drug use: participants take test doses to avoid harm, share knowledge of different risk prevention strategies, and generally know how to help people who suffer overdoses or other harmful experiences. Getting excessively drunk, on alcohol, for example, is generally frowned upon, Fernandez Calderon says. Despite these measures, tragedies do still sometimes happen: in 2011, for example, two 18-year-olds died after consuming the hallucinogen Datura stramonium at a rave in Madrid. And this past summer, a 32-year-old Swiss woman died at a 3,000-person rave in Salce, Zamora, Spain, though the cause of death was determined to be a pre-existing heart condition.

The genealogy of free parties

Like any underground scene or movement, the history of free parties in Europe is a bit fuzzy. We know, however, that it began in the UK in the late eighties. Some say it was inspired by the party scene in Ibiza, Spain; others that it was brought by hippies coming from the United States. A more political history of raves draws connections to the situationists, or the Temporarily Autonomous Zones theorized by anarchist Hakim Bey. And, of course, some see it as an evolution of ancestral shamanic rituals.

Photograph taken at the famous Castlemorton Common Festival, a rave held in the UK in 1992 that caused the British government to explicitly ban the gatherings two years later. PA Images (via Getty Images)

In the late 1980s, the UK experienced its so-called Second Summer of Love (the first having taken place during the heyday of the hippies in 1967), which saw the rise of acid house music and the beginnings of the rave movement. It was related to the arrival of house and techno music from the United States, which was still very underground, very marginal, says Spanish music journalist Javier Blanquez, author of Loops: Una historia de la musica electronica (Reservoir Books). In London, with the sudden popularity of acid house parties, the scene exploded, and in a few months a revolution was under way. Free parties were neither expensive nor exclusive  everyone could participate, emerging DJs could practice their sets, music copyrights were irrelevant, and the parties could go on as long as people wanted. Positivity was central to the movement, and it was decidedly anti-commercial, although some raves, given the potential for profit, eventually ended wound up being legalized or integrating into big summer festivals. Today, it is common to find the word rave used to describe commercial parties and festivals, but the movements most principled adherents continue to denounce the commercialization of the term and the perversion of the movements original spirit.

It was Spiral Tribe, perhaps the most legendary free party collective, that changed the course of rave history when they organized a week-long party in Castlemorton, England, in 1992, which drew an estimated 20,000 participants, at a minimum. The British government responded by arresting 13 members of Spiral Tribe, claiming that the party had terrorized local residents and had resulted in several people needing psychiatric treatment. Two years later, in 1994, British Parliament passed the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, a law explicitly banning raves. The definition of rave music outlined in the law was received with humor and a certain irreverent pride by the movement, defining the genre as any music that includes sounds characterized totally or predominantly by the emission of constant repetitive rhythms.

Police escort the departure of attendees at the Castlemorton rave in 1992. Barry Batchelor (PA Images via Getty Images)

In Italy, the government of Giorgia Meloni has recently begun criminalizing and cracking down on raves and other unauthorized parties, declaring the invasion of land or buildings for gatherings of more than 50 people a crime. Many have denounced the law, noting that it will likely be used to criminalize and repress political demonstrations and protests as well. The law was passed as an emergency measure after thousands of young people gathered in October at an abandoned agricultural warehouse in Modena, for a Halloween dance party that was ultimately shut down by the police. The fun is over, tweeted far-right minister Matteo Salvini. They are repressing a cultural movement and a movement for liberation, said French raver Anais MFS. I dont understand why they refuse to legalize a pacifist movement that only creates joy, music and art.

Following the repressive laws in Britain, the free party movement spread like wildfire across the European continent. Travelers, including families with children, formed caravans and lived nomadic lives out of trucks and buses, and were generally characterized by their crusty style, similar in to the apocalyptic aesthetic of the Mad Max movies. In the nineties, travelers would migrate from place to place, holding tekno parties (free tekno, or hardtek, being the genre of music typical of the subculture) wherever they went, like a mobile circus of electronic and psychonautic music enthusiasts. Some of the more well-known tribes of the movement were Spiral Tribe, Kamikaze, Hecate and Desert Storm: each with its own vehicles, name, logo, and powerful sound system. These collectives are also known as soundsystems, and in addition to playing loud music, they often project colorful light shows. When multiple soundsystems come together for a party, its called a teknival.

A Halloween rave in northern Modena, Italy. Massimo Paolone (LaPresse)

How to host a rave

In Spain, the rave scene became well-established during the first decade of this century and continues to be a major phenomenon across the country. In Madrid, the most popular party spots are the abandoned monastery of Perales del Rio, the Boadilla tunnel, the Matadero de Rivas (an abandoned slaughterhouse in Rivas), and the Cuatro Vientos forest, among others. Raves take place in Catalonia and in eastern Andalusia, where the La Peza rave and the Dragon Festival are held. There are some spots that are super well-known and people would use to hold raves, says DJ Carlos Garvi, who was regular presence in the scene. If two collectives showed up at the same time, they wouldnt compete, they would simply share the party. Raves do not have a single, predictable model where everything happens as expected, as might a rock concert or other event, and the content, participants, music, and duration varies from party to party. Spontaneity is part of the movements anarchistic spirit.

For a lot of DJs, those parties were the first opportunity they had to spin for a live audience, says DJ Jose Cabrera (who performs as J.C.). Cabrera was part of the collective Rave del Tunel (RDT), one of the best-known collectives of the first decade of the century, along with others like Suburban Sound, RDLC and Zapatilla SoundSystem. Raves at the Boadilla tunnel, where he would often spin, could attract anywhere from a few hundred to 3,000 people. All of these parties were organized without any profit motive, though many would face large fines that resulted in some collectives being forced to dissolve.

We didnt want to bother anyone, we just wanted to have fun, Sabrera says. The police used to surveil and harass us, but once the alarmism of the media died down, they would just see a group of kids having a good time and let us be. As for the music, each event has its own style, ranging from techno, electro and house, to harder genres like hardtekno or more spiritual ones like psychedelic trance, or other microgenres of electronica like drum & bass or its offshoot, breakcore. Raves tend to encourage other forms of artistic expression and experimentation as well: Music shaped by and for drug experiences (even bad drug experiences) can go further out because its not made with the enduring art status or avant-garde cachet as a goal, writes Simon Reynolds. Hardcore raves dance floor functionalism and druggy hedonism make it more wildly warped than the output of most self-conscious experimentalists.

Music genre tends to correlate to rave subculture, and the vibe at a given gathering can vary from urban nightclub party to the more crusty crowds of punks and hippies. Even in the age of social media, most raves are still advertised through word-of-mouth, to maintain the partys clandestinity and to avoid detection by authorities. In the 2000s, we spread the word through text messages, without any kind of flyer or advertising Cabrera says.

Organizing a rave is no simple feat. Infrastructure and logistics are crucial: you have to find the right place, rent a van and a sound system with good bass, and have a generator (or several). It takes effort, investment and planning. If you run out of gas for the generator, you have to drive to the nearest gas station to get more. It takes a lot of preparation, because you have to set everything up, do the sound checks... Then you can start in the afternoon and stay all night... or all weekend, says DJ Carlos Garvi. And then, when its all over, the work that no one sees: the clean-up. Its important to leave everything better than it was, Garvi says. Because raves, despite all their peculiarities, share one common downside with every other kind of party in the world: eventually they come to an end.

Ravers dance at dawn at a party in Salce, Spain. Jose A. Pascual




EDWARDSVILLE  A Cottage Hills man was indicted Thursday for the sexual assault of a now-11-year-old boy over a two-year period.

Kirk M. Cox, 30, of the first block of Manor Drive, Cottage Hills, was indicted April 6 on four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, all Class X felonies carrying a mandatory natural life sentence.

He was originally charged March 15 and the case was presented by the Alton Police Department. The charges were initially suppressed and later unsealed.

According to court documents, between Jan. 1, 2021, and Feb. 23, 2023, Cox committed sexual acts with the victim.

In an unrelated case, an East Alton man was indicted on five felony counts related to trafficking methamphetamine.

Larry B. Tinnon, 64, of the 100 block of Wesley Drive, East Alton, was indicted for methamphetamine trafficking and aggravated unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, both enhanced Class X felonies; unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, a Class X felony; and two counts of unlawful use of property, both Class 2 felonies.

He was originally charged March 17. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department.

According to court documents, on March 16 Tinnon brought between 15-100 grams of methamphetamine into Illinois for distribution and was in possession of the methamphetamine; and had used structures located at 95 Cottage Ave., Cottage Hills, and 100 Wesley Drive, Lot 58, East Alton as part of his plan to traffic and deliver methamphetamine.
When police arrived at the scene Monday night in Collinsville, they found a gunshot victim lying...

It's spring, and this week, the Riverbend may see the first spring floods along the local stretch...
ST LOUIS  The following students have been named to the dean's list for the fall 2022 semester at Washington University in St. Louis:

Washington University in St. Louis is counted among the world's leaders in teaching, research, patient care and service to society.

The university draws students to St. Louis from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands. The total student body is more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

The university offers more than 90 programs and almost 1,500 courses leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in a broad spectrum of traditional and interdisciplinary fields, with additional opportunities for minor concentrations and individualized programs.
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Linkedin Divya Karyza (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, April 10, 2023

Last years soaring commodity prices and the governments downstream development push have prompted massive investment into metal mineral industries, which is expected to give Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) a record year for public listings.

Capital market expert Teguh Hidayat said Indonesia had benefited from the post-COVID-19 reopening of the economy and from last years rising commodity prices, which was encouraging companies to seize the opportunity for initial public offerings.

This comes after the turbulent economy of the last three years had made investors wary of the risks associated with investing in emerging markets.

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Linkedin Vincent Fabian Thomas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, April 10, 2023

Indonesia has responded cautiously to the idea of creating an Asian Monetary Fund as a way to reduce the regions reliance on the United States dollar.

Recent talks between China and Malaysia have revived the decades-old proposal for such an institution, which would perform functions similar to the International Monetary Fund, but with a focus on the Asian region.

Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that, in general, the idea was good for the region, but realizing it would require commitments from countries that may be hard to come by.

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Linkedin Front Row (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, April 10, 2023 17:16 15 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b0541c2e1 3 Front Row swan,resort Free

If youve ever dreamt of channeling the mystique of paradise, a new resort has bloomed in a beautiful Eden rolling along five hectares of land where you can enter into the hidden spaces of the modern, tropical kingdom that is Swan Paradise. Allow your soul to bathe in nature, let the air cleanse your mind and step into the infinite ripples of Swan Paradises natural pond within a land that tells a timeless fairytale.

A Ramadan special will also bring the flavors of local dreams, found in Swan Restaurant. You will be conveyed through a multi-sensory experience accompanied by a wondrous landscape extending before your eyes as you finally escape the cares of the world in A Pramana Experience. You will find yourself in a tranquil, rustic escape above the Petanu River Bank, rediscovering our world once again.



A Soul of Paradise is what this wonderland dreams for you, a dream we all have longed for amid the demands of modern life. So what is the true meaning of paradise? We all envision the greenest kingdom, crowded with yellow butterflies twirling around your loved ones as you all breathe an air so pure it tickles your skin with glee, like a warm ray of sunshine. In Swan Paradise A Pramana Experience, a paradise like that will be felt within your soul  a once-in-a-dream experience you must have.

For more information on Swan Paradise, visit its official website at www.swanparadisebali.com or contact directly via email at reservation@swanparadisebali.com or WhatsApp at +62 811-3941-4428.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.

Topics : swan resort
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Linkedin Front Row (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, April 10, 2023 14:42 15 0de7eba49861a560f8b2ec6fa51120dd 4 Front Row fashion,Yayasan-Jantung-Indonesia Free

The fashion industry has been a bulwark against societal efforts to divide the gendering of mind and ones self-expression.

It is definitely a medium that allows the undressing colors of our intangible soul.

Indonesia, especially, represents one of the most noble garment and textiles producers in the world, ranking sixth in global suppliers according to the International Labor Organization.

When visiting Indonesia, it is impossible to not catch sight of the batik industry. From ornamenting textiles to ink-patterning ones skin, batik paints itself as one of the countrys most iconic art forms and has proven to be a timeless part of Indonesian identity.

In commemoration of one of Indonesia's proudest pieces of cultural heritage is the Batik Danar Hadi annual fashion show.

And this year is remarkably heartening.

Danar Hadi rehumanizes the Indonesian fashion industry in collaboration with Yayasan Jantung Indonesia to build awareness of womens battles with cardiovascular disease and heart failure. As their first solidarity red batik collection, Go Red For Women stood as the title of this event.

Although the fashion industry is dominated by women workers, ironically, they are still often underrepresented. However, managing director of Danar Hadi, Diana Santosa, was able to turn the spotlight toward women.

Puspa Maya, a phrase of Sanskrit origin meaning floret illusion, became the visual theme for Go Red For Women. According to Diana, the theme itself presents the opportunity of caricaturing the beauty of fauna by orienting flowers and batik ornamental patterns in one look.

Taking spirit from Diskorias C.H.R.I.S.Y.E, the crowd harmonized in rhythmic claps and curving smiles as the models walked the runway with rainbows of red, freeing their steps to waltz in disco fever.

.Diana Santosa closes the fashion show with her musings on happiness on March 16. (Miranda Sumadi/.)

In alignment with revitalizing womens visibility, Danar Hadis philosophy of red brings weight.

The color red signifies the human heart and further symbolizes the flow of blood being pumped throughout our body as it is needed, opened Diana on Thursday, taking an example from the selendang (scarf) that twirled in machete motifs, bleeding red down the runway.

Diana noted how the emphasized redness further communicated the value of fresh blood as it ventilates how we can protect our cardiovascular condition ultimately for women, as we become vulnerable and prone to health threats when reaching the average age of menopause.

Aside from preserving Indonesias untouchable heritage while combining ever-changing trends, Danar Hadi is admired for its representation of women in the workplace.

Most of our contributors are women, Diana noted. All of our workshops that create batik halus are all represented by women.

And the consistent fineness of the fabrics showcased during the event were all made possible because of the lead taken by women [...] and that actually is the ultimate strength of women, she added.

According to Diana, it is also worth mentioning that instilling womens empowerment should support for gender equality as well.

[Womens empowerment] doesnt mean theres the need for women to outshine men, but instead encourages the strengthening of womens skills. [...] So in my personal opinion, it is not appropriate to compare men to women. 

Exclusivity is also a signature for Danar Hadi. With its consistency in creating personalized batik that can be worn by all ages across various demographics, it redefines artistic expression in the wardrobe.

I myself have experienced an unwavering sense of liberation when wearing Danar Hadi. On the very day of the celebration of Go Red for Women, it was with deep privilege that I experienced Danar Hadis sincerelycrafted clothing.

We can all agree that granting liberation to oneself and experiencing a sense of belonging is the bare minimum that every human deserves to feel for as long as they are alive. Therefore, expressive mediums such as those provided by the fashion industry are crucial in giving voice to the voiceless.

The voice of the voiceless that has long been womens. The voice of the voiceless that has once muted Indonesian women too.

With 56 years of being one of Indonesias cultural legacy, Danar Hadi has proven itself once again to be more ready than ever in facing global transitions, in facing the spherical limit of time, in facing the need of the human nation.

As Danar Hadi, we are not collectors but producers, said Diana Santosa.
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Linkedin Yerica Lai (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, April 10, 2023

Gerindra Party chief and presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto is getting more support from prospective allies who seek to join the proposed grand alliance to ensure the continuity of President Joko Jokowi Widodos flagship programs.

The idea of stitching a big-tent alliance to back a pro-Jokowi government presidential candidate in 2024 has drawn in more support as parties from the non-parliamentary bloc scrambled to have a sit down with Prabowo, the only presidential frontrunner from the alliance and one of the contenders some believe to have been tacitly endorsed by the President.

United Indonesia Party (Perindo) chairman Hary Tanoesoedibjo was the first to be hosted by the retired general at his private residence in Kertanegara, South Jakarta, on last Wednesday.

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Linkedin Ary Hermawan (The Jakarta Post) Melbourne  Mon, April 10, 2023

As the pro-government parties seek to forge a grand alliance to take on the coalition of parties backing the opposition figurehead, Anies Baswedan, fears are growing that we will have another polarizing presidential election.

This is partly because the former Jakarta governor himself is already a polarizing figure. It is an electoral baggage that will follow him throughout his political career. The former rector of Jakartas Paramadina University was elected governor in the most divisive election in the capital, during which thousands of conservative Muslims rallied against his opponent, Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, an Indonesian Christian of Chinese descent.

But regardless of your opinion of Anies, he alone would not be able to shape the tone of the overall election campaigns. If we are concerned the 2024 race is to become ideologically divisive, then we need to identify the structural problems that have enabled the political elites to manufacture ideological polarization in cyberspace to further their interests.
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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, April 10, 2023 08:26 15 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b0540e73b 1 Editorial human-rights,protection,activist,intimidation,democracy,libel,Haris-Azhar,environment Free

It is of great concern that the state of civic space in Indonesia continues to deteriorate under the President Joko Jokowi Widodo administration. Indonesia may never aspire to become a liberal democracy, but the growing onslaught on our civil liberties is just inexcusable.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which analyzes the quality of global democracy, has consistently labeled Indonesia a flawed democracy. In its 2022 report, the country fell from 52nd to 54th place in the global democracy index, with an overall score of 6.71. Indonesia, scoring 6.14 for its commitment to civil liberties, is now less democratic than the Philippines, which scored 7.35 for the same variable.

Our democracy index may have gone up and down over the last five years, but there is no question that, overall, our democracy is in a terrible state. Political scientists can point to a number of factors to explain why that is the case, but we the people can easily tell our civic space is getting uncomfortably smaller as we experience the chilling effect of a series of legal and even physical intimidations against human rights defenders.

Only recently, two high-profile human rights defenders, Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti, were indicted for allegedly defaming senior Cabinet member Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in a YouTube video highlighting the controversial mining activities and the growing military presence in the central highlands of Papua.

They were charged under the 2016 Electronic Information and Transaction (ITE) Law, which is currently being amended due to public protests over its draconian provisions. The law has been frequently used by the powers that be to silence online critics, particularly human rights defenders, defined by the United Nations as those seeking the promotion and protection of civil and political rights as well as the promotion, protection and realization of economic, social and cultural rights.

It is worth noting that the case against Haris and Fatia may have gained more public attention because they are both renowned activists based in the capital. In the regions, the situation is so much worse for some of the lesser-known human rights defenders.

Amnesty International Indonesia recorded at least 328 cases of physical and digital violence against at least 834 people who can be classified human rights defenders from January 2019 to May 2022. The cases include at least 13 murder attempts and murder threats against 17 human rights defenders, the international rights group said. And in most of these cases, the law enforcers often failed to bring the perpetrators to justice, prolonging the culture of impunity in the country, it added.

In January 2019, the residence of Murdani, the executive director of the West Nusa Tenggara chapter of environmental group Walhi, was set on fire by arsonists. Based on Amnestys investigation, a group of people lighted a gasoline-soaked pillow under Murdanis car that was parked next to his house. They also allegedly burned two of the houses doors in their attempt to prevent the family from escaping.

Prior to the incident, Murdani had been advocating for the rights of the local farmers protesting the sand mining activities in their village. In 2016, he was texted this threat: If you want to live, stop meddling in the sand mining business.

In Banyuwangi, East Java, an environmental activist was recently sent to jail after being convicted of the dubious crime of spreading communism. The activist in question, Budi Pego, was arrested after holding a rally protesting the gold mining activities in Sumberagung village, during which a group of intruders allegedly displayed a banner featuring a hammer and sickle symbol.

Such incidents are extremely alarming, especially when we know that the human rights defenders are only trying protect the peoples right to a safe and healthy environment. A true democracy will never let this slide.
At the FTX cryptocurrency exchange, executives mixed up company and client funds and joked internally about their tendency to lose track of millions of dollars in assets. Thats according to the first report issued by the now-defunct companys debtors. While the failure of FTX Group is novel in the unprecedented scale of damage it has caused in a burgeoning industry, many of its causes are well known: hubris, incompetence and greed said the report, which was filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on Sunday.

The interim 39-page report is signed by John Ray III, who has been commissioned to liquidate FTX. It is the first report to be released since the crypto company led by Sam Bankman-Fried filed for bankruptcy last November. The liquidators are tasked with tracking down the lost cryptocurrency investments of more than a million people, and according to their first report, they are not pleased by what they have found.

John Ray III had already made it clear that his first impression of the company could not have been any worse. Never in my career have I seen such a complete failure of corporate controls and such a complete absence of trustworthy financial information as occurred here, Ray  who previously liquidated bankrupt companies such as Enron and Northel  said in court documents in November.

After spending months investigating what happened, recovering company assets and organizing what remains of it, his impression has not improved. Despite the public image it sought to create of a responsible business, the FTX Group was tightly controlled by a small group of individuals who showed little interest in instituting an appropriate oversight or control framework, the report said.

These individuals suppressed dissent, misappropriated corporate and client funds, lied to third parties about their business, internally joked about their tendency to lose track of millions of dollars in assets, and thus caused the FTX group to fall sharply, the report added.

According to John Ray III, FTXs serious lack of controls jeopardized its crypto assets and funds from the start. This has also made the work of recovering assets more difficult, although the report said significant progress had been made.

So far, debtors have recovered and secured more than $1.4 billion in digital assets and identified another $1.7 billion, also in digital assets, which they are in the process of recovering. According to the report, in its effort to recover these assets, the liquidators worked with experts in computer engineering, cryptography, blockchain technology, cybersecurity, computer architecture and cloud computing. The document also claims that a malicious party tried to seize $432 million and that some former FTX executives, including Bankman-Fried, used passwords from digital wallets to transfer funds to accounts in the Bahamas.

FTXs lack of controls created an environment in which a handful of employees had virtually unlimited power to direct transfers of fiat and crypto assets and to hire and fire employees, with no effective oversight or controls over how they exercised those powers, states the report. The document adds that it has not been possible to find a complete organizational chart of the groups entities and that at the time it filed for bankruptcy, FTX didnt even have a full list of its employees.

The problem reached dizzying proportions. At its peak, FTX operated in 250 jurisdictions, controlled tens of billions of dollars in assets across various businesses, carried out up to 26 million transactions a day and had millions of users. Despite this, the group lacked financial and accounting controls. The auditors are now trying to rebuild the balance sheets.

Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas, extradited to the United States and is under house arrest. He pled not guilty to eight counts, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In a newly rewritten indictment, he was also charged with paying a $40 million bribe to Chinese officials. He is set to stand trial in October. Carolyn Ellison, who ran Alameda Research, a fund that ran parallel to FTX, and Gary Wang, FTXs co-founder, have already pleaded guilty to various charges, as has Nishad Singh, FTXs former director of engineering. All three are cooperating with the justice system.

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Linkedin Adelina Kamal and Khin Ohmar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11, 2023

April 24 marks two years since the ASEAN five-point consensus (FPC) was issued by the ASEAN leaders following their meeting with Myanmar juntas chief Gen. Min Aung Hlaing. Two years on, none of the points in the agreement have been implemented. The leaders themselves admit there is little progress on the implementation of the FPC.

The State Administration Council (SAC) of Myanmar has blatantly ignored the FPC. A clear example being the execution of political prisoners not long after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the ASEAN chair that year, appealed to the SAC.

Is the FPC failing? Yes, definitely, and everyone else is too, as the crisis on the ground continues to intensify. Myanmar ranks among the countries with the most intense levels of violence and conflict deaths, next to Ukraine, and humanitarian access remains restrictive.

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Linkedin Agence France-Presse (The Jakarta Post) Chiang Mai, Thailand  Mon, April 10 2023

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 neighboring Myanmar and Laos to discuss the problem, which affects large areas of Southeast Asia every year.

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Linkedin Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard (The Jakarta Post) Reuters/Taipei  Mon, April 10 2023

China's military simulated precision strikes against Taiwan in a second day of drills around the island on Sunday, with the island's defense ministry reporting multiple air force sorties and that it was monitoring China's missile forces.

China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, began three days of military exercises around the island on Saturday, the day after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a brief visit to the United States.

Chinese state television reported the combat readiness patrols and drills around Taiwan were continuing.

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Linkedin Dio Suhenda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, April 10 2023

Through the omnibus health bill, the government and lawmakers are looking to allow certain hospitals to conduct their own postgraduate education as an answer to the countrys lack of specialist doctors.

The plan, however, has been met with skepticism from medical professional associations and universities, who instead argued for the optimization of existing policies to address the governments poor administration and distribution of specialists.

The omnibus health bill seeks to supplant 10 existing laws and is aimed at bringing in sweeping changes to the health sector. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin handed to lawmakers on Wednesday a document of inventory of issues (DIM) the bill should cover and the government's latest opinions and proposed changes to the bill following weeks of public discussion, as deliberations are set to continue at the House of Representatives.

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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, April 10 2023

It is of great concern that the state of civic space in Indonesia continues to deteriorate under the President Joko Jokowi Widodo administration. Indonesia may never aspire to become a liberal democracy, but the growing onslaught on our civil liberties is just inexcusable.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which analyzes the quality of global democracy, has consistently labeled Indonesia a flawed democracy. In its 2022 report, the country fell from 52nd to 54th place in the global democracy index, with an overall score of 6.71. Indonesia, scoring 6.14 for its commitment to civil liberties, is now less democratic than the Philippines, which scored 7.35 for the same variable.

Our democracy index may have gone up and down over the last five years, but there is no question that, overall, our democracy is in a terrible state. Political scientists can point to a number of factors to explain why that is the case, but we the people can easily tell our civic space is getting uncomfortably smaller as we experience the chilling effect of a series of legal and even physical intimidations against human rights defenders.

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Linkedin Agence France-Presse (The Jakarta Post) Riyadh  Mon, April 10 2023

A Saudi delegation arrived in Tehran on Saturday to discuss reopening the kingdom's diplomatic missions in the Islamic republic, two days after a historic meeting in Beijing between their foreign ministers.

The visit follows the unprecedented meeting between their heads of diplomacy in China on Thursday after they agreed last month to restore diplomatic ties.

The Saudi diplomatic delegation arrived in Iran to discuss the reopening of its missions after a seven-year absence, Riyadh's foreign ministry said.

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Linkedin M. Taufiqurrahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, April 10 2023

Given the absence of a unifying thread, Indonesian nationalism has been defined by the spirit of negation rather than an ethos of affirmation.

The lack of a unifying theme to bind a collection of hundreds of languages, traditional cultures and ethnicities into a nation-state has resulted in a condition defined much by what we are not rather than what we are.

The country's founding fathers refused to settle for one position that could easily define Indonesia. Indonesia is neither East nor West, neither an Islamist nor a secular state and for much of the country's history, it refused to acknowledge Western-style democracy while also staying away from the left's totalitarian bent. For Indonesia, it was either Demokrasi Terpimpin (guided democracy) or Musyawarah Untuk Mufakat (deliberation for a consensus).



The only thing that defines Indonesia, the very foundation on which the nation is built, is the idea of a common struggle against a succession of imperialist powers.

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Linkedin Agence France-Presse (The Jakarta Post) Paris/Reykjavik  Tue, April 11 2023

France-based Airbus said on Friday that it had agreed to sell 50 helicopters to the Chinese leasing firm GDAT, a deal announced on the final day of President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to China.

"We are honored 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.

Macron visited Guangzhou in China's southern industrial heartland on Friday, the final stop on a three-day visit in which he has repeatedly pushed his counterpart Xi Jinping to help end the Ukraine conflict.

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Linkedin Yvette Tanamal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, April 10, 2023 13:16 15 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc4308b9 1 Asia and Pacific PNG,illegal-fishing,Indonesia,Papua-New-Guinea,fishermen,#IllegalFishing Free

Eight Indonesian fishermen who were arrested by Papua New Guinea authorities in late 2021 for illegal entry and illegal fishing will be repatriated on Friday, the Foreign Ministry has said.

The repatriation of the fishermen will involve officers from various PNG agencies, such as the police, customs, immigration, the defense force, local government officials of the Western province [of PNG] and prison officers from Daru [the provincial capital], the ministry said in a Sunday statement.

The fishermen will be handed over to the Indonesian authorities at the Indonesia-PNG border on the Torasi River.

The eight fishermen were sailors of the fishing vessel Aditya Sumatra Jaya and were waiting at a police station in Daru until further notice.

Since 2021, observers and activists have noted an increase in Indonesian fishermen illegally entering PNG waters to fish, mostly to harvest an abundance of fish maw, seabass and certain snapper available in the area.

Indonesian Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW) coordinator M Abdi Suhufan said in 2021 that the watchdog estimated that at least 60 Indonesian fishing vessels ventured into PNG waters.

This situation is quite ironic, as Indonesia is both a victim and perpetrator of illegal fishing, he said in a statement. It is a big task for the Indonesian government to ensure the security of the Indonesia-PNG border.

Port Moresby has ramped up its efforts to secure its maritime resources in recent years.

In August 2022, the PNG Defense Force fired on an Indonesian fishing vessel that was allegedly illegally fishing in PNG waters, resulting in the death of the ships captain and the arrest of two other crew members.

People found guilty of illegal fishing in PNG may face 5 months to a year in prison.
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Linkedin Agencies Beijing, China  Mon, April 10, 2023 12:00 15 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b0541484a 2 Asia and Pacific China,Japan,Taiwan,US,tension,military-drill,geopolitics Free

China's Shandong aircraft carrier conducted air operations in waters close to Japan's Okinawan islands on Sunday, Japan's defence ministry said on Monday, as China's military simulated air and sea strikes on neighbouring Taiwan.

Jet fighters and helicopters took off and landed on the carrier 120 times between Friday and Sunday, with the carrier along with three other warships and a support vessel coming to within 230 kilometres (143 miles) of Japan's Miyako island, the defence ministry said.

China was Monday carrying out a simulated "sealing off" of Taiwan in maritime drills, a military statement said.

A separate report from state broadcaster CCTV said dozens of planes had practised an "aerial blockade" of the self-ruled island.

Meanwhile, the US Navy said its guided-missile destroyer the USS Milius sailed through waters claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea in a "freedom of navigation" operation on Monday.

"This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea," the Navy said in a statement, adding that the ship had passed near the Spratly Islands.

About 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) away, Chinese fighter jets and warships are carrying out three days of military drills around Taiwan, including simulated strikes on the island.

The war games follow a meeting last week between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy outside Los Angeles.

The exercises sparked condemnation from Taipei and calls for restraint from Washington, which said it was "monitoring Beijing's actions closely".

On Monday, Beijing said fighter jets carrying "live ammunition" had conducted "simulated strikes" near Taiwan and that its Shandong aircraft carrier was involved in the ongoing exercises.
Tigers are visible at the Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur, India on April 12, 2015

It was a celebratory atmosphere for officials gathered just hours away from several of Indias major tiger reserves in the southern city of Mysuru, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Sunday to much applause that the countrys tiger population has steadily grown to over 3,000 since its flagship conservation program began 50 years ago after concerns that numbers of the big cats were dwindling.

India is a country where protecting nature is part of our culture, Modi proclaimed. This is why we have many unique achievements in wildlife conservation.

Modi also launched the International Big Cats Alliance that he said will focus on the protection and conservation of seven big cat species, namely, the tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah.

Protesters, meanwhile, are telling their own stories Sunday of how they have been displaced by wildlife conservation projects over the last half-century, with dozens demonstrating about an hour away from the announcement.

Project Tiger began in 1973 after a census of the big cats found Indias tigers were fast going extinct through habitat loss, unregulated sport hunting, increased poaching and retaliatory killing by people. Its believed the tiger population was around 1,800 at the time, but experts widely consider that an overestimate due to imprecise counting methods in India until 2006. Laws attempted to address the decline, but the conservation model centered around creating protected reserves where ecosystems can function undisturbed by people.

Several Indigenous groups say the conservation strategies, deeply influenced by American environmentalism, meant uprooting numerous communities that had lived in the forests for millennia.

Members of several Indigenous or Adivasi groups  as Indigenous people are known in the country  set up the Nagarahole Adivasi Forest Rights Establishment Committee to protest evictions from their ancestral lands and seek a voice in how the forests are managed.

Nagarahole was one of the first forests to be brought under Project Tiger and our parents and grandparents were probably among the first to be forced out of the forests in the name of conservation, said J. A. Shivu, 27, who belongs to the Jenu Kuruba tribe. We have lost all rights to visit our lands, temples or even collect honey from the forests. How can we continue living like this?

Jenu, which means honey in the southern Indian Kannada language, is the tribes primary source of livelihood as they collect it from beehives in the forests to sell.

The fewer than 40,000 Jenu Kuruba people are one of the 75 tribal groups that the Indian government classifies as particularly vulnerable. Adivasi communities like the Jenu Kurubas are among the poorest in India.

Some experts say conservation policies that attempted to protect a pristine wilderness were influenced by prejudices against local communities.

The Indian governments tribal affairs ministry has repeatedly said it is working on Adivasi rights. Only about 1% of the more than 100 million Adivasis in India have been granted any rights over forest lands despite a government forest rights law, passed in 2006, that aimed to undo the historical injustice for forest communities.

Indias tiger numbers, meanwhile, are thriving: the countrys 3,167 tigers account for more than 75% of the worlds wild tiger population.

Tigers have disappeared in Bali and Java and Chinas tigers are likely extinct in the wild. The Sunda Island tiger, the other sub-species, is only found in Sumatra. Indias project to safeguard them has been praised as a success by many.

Project Tiger hardly has a parallel in the world since a scheme of this scale and magnitude has not been so successful elsewhere, said SP Yadav, a senior Indian government official in charge of Project Tiger.

But critics say the social costs of fortress conservation  where forest departments protect wildlife and prevent local communities from entering forest regions  is high.

Sharachchandra Lele, of the Bengaluru-based Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, said the conservation model is outdated.

There are already several examples of forests used actively by local communities and tiger numbers have actually increased even while people have benefited in these regions, he said.

Vidya Athreya, the director of Wildlife Conservation Society in India who has been studying the interactions between large cats and humans for the last two decades, agreed.

Traditionally we always put wildlife over people, Athreya said, adding that engaging with communities is the way forward for protecting wildlife in India.

Shivu, from the Jenu Kuruba tribe, also wants to go back to a life where Indigenous communities and tigers lived together.

We consider them gods and us the custodians of these forests, he said.

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Linkedin AFP Paris, France  Mon, April 10, 2023 08:00 15 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc426071 2 Asia and Pacific China,France,European-Union,Emmanuel-Macron,Xi-Jinping,US,Taiwan Free

French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview published Sunday that Europe must not be a "follower" of either the US or China on Taiwan, saying that the bloc risks entanglement in "crises that aren't ours".

His comments risk riling Washington and highlight divisions in the European Union over how to approach China, as the US steps up confrontation with its closest rival and Beijing draws closer to Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.

"The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must be followers and adapt ourselves to the American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction," Macron told media including French business daily Les Echos and Politico as he returned Friday from a three-day state visit to Beijing.

Citing his prized ideal of EU "strategic autonomy", the French leader said that "we must be clear where our views overlap with the US, but whether it's about Ukraine, relations to China or sanctions, we have a European strategy."

"We don't want to get into a bloc versus bloc logic," he added, saying Europe "should not be caught up in a disordering of the world and crises that aren't ours".

China views democratic, self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary.

Angered by Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen's meeting last week with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Beijing launched massive military exercises around the island immediately after Macron departed for France, including simulated strikes on its territory.

'Ambiguity'

Macron discussed Taiwan with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday, during a visit in which he was feted but more hawkish EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was kept mostly at arm's length.

His Elysee Palace office said the talks had been "dense and frank" and that the French president was concerned about "growing tensions in the region" that could lead to "a terrible accident".

Macron was "simply talking about the risk of Chinese 'overreaction', forgetting China wishes to change the status quo by taking over Taiwan one way or the other," Antoine Bondaz of the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS) commented on Twitter.

"Why this desire never to recall we have an interest in maintaining stability?" he added, warning that "this ambiguity... instils doubt in our like-minded partners".

Taiwan island was just one area that risked "an acceleration of tensions breaking out between the duopoly" of China and the US, Macron said.

If the confrontation escalates too quickly, Europeans "won't have the time or the resources to finance our strategic autonomy and will become vassals, whereas we can build a third pole if we have a few years," he added.

Europe's emergence as an independent geostrategic player has been a goal of Macron's for years, in line with a tradition going back to Fifth Republic founding president Charles de Gaulle who saw France as a balancing power between the Cold War blocs.
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Linkedin Agencies Manila, Philippines  Mon, April 10, 2023 16:36 15 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc4386b9 2 Asia and Pacific Philippines,US,Marcos-Jr,China,geopolitics,Taiwan,defense Free

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assured China on Monday that military bases accessible to the United States would not be used in any offensive action, stressing the arrangement with Washington was designed to boost his country's defences.

China's foreign ministry last week said the United States strengthening military deployment in the Philippines would only lead to more tension in the region, after Manila allowed Washington access to more of its bases.

"China's reaction was not surprising," Marcos told reporters. "The Philippines will not allow the bases to be used in any offensive action," he said.

The Philippines identified last week four more of its bases the United States will get access to, almost doubling the number included in its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

The locations of the bases are significant, with three facing north towards Taiwan and one near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, where China has built artificial islands equipped with runways and missile systems.

EDCA underlines the Philippines' strategic importance to the former colonial ruler the United States, coming at a time of growing concern over China's conduct in the South China Sea and tension over self-ruled Taiwan.

Signed in 2014, it allows US access to Philippine bases for joint training, pre-positioning of equipment and building of facilities such as runways, fuel storage and military housing, but it is not a permanent presence.

"If no one is attacking us, they need not worry because we will not fight them," Marcos said. "What we are doing is we are strengthening our territorial defence, the defence of the Republic."

Marcos' remarks also come ahead of the largest ever joint military exercises between the Philippines and the United States, which will feature for the first time live fire exercises at sea.

The pact stalled under former president Rodrigo Duterte, who favoured closer ties with China.

But Marcos, who succeeded Duterte in June, has adopted a more US-friendly foreign policy and sought to accelerate the implementation of the EDCA.

Marcos has insisted he will not let Beijing trample on Manila's maritime rights.

His remarks came on the heels of China's third day of war games around Taiwan on Monday, where it simulated "sealing off" the self-ruled island.

China launched the military exercises in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen last week meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, an encounter it had warned would provoke a furious response.
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Linkedin Reuters Washington, United States  Mon, April 10, 2023

Classified documents that appeared online, with details ranging from Ukraine's air defenses to Israel's Mossad spy agency, have US officials scrambling to identify the leak's source, with some experts saying it could be an American.

Officials say the breadth of topics addressed in the documents, which touch on the war in Ukraine, China, the Middle East and Africa, suggest they may have been leaked by an American rather than an ally.

"The focus now is on this being a US leak, as many of the documents were only in US hands," Michael Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official, told Reuters in an interview.

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Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, March 23rd, RTT News reports. Investors of record on Thursday, April 13th will be given a dividend of 1.12 per share by the information technology services provider on Monday, May 15th. This represents a $4.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.59%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 12th.

Accenture has raised its dividend by an average of 11.0% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 18 consecutive years. Accenture has a dividend payout ratio of 35.7% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Accenture to earn $12.50 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $4.48 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 35.8%.

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Accenture Price Performance

Accenture stock opened at $281.70 on Monday. Accenture has a 12-month low of $242.80 and a 12-month high of $344.81. The firms fifty day moving average price is $272.66 and its 200 day moving average price is $274.26. The company has a market capitalization of $178.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.25.

Insider Activity

Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.49 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $15.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.59 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 11.00% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.54 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Accenture will post 11.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In related news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Monday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.53, for a total value of $155,974.68. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 42,991 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,060,265.23. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $276.08, for a total value of $1,449,420.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 34,444 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,509,299.52. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.53, for a total value of $155,974.68. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 42,991 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,060,265.23. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 36,475 shares of company stock worth $10,225,149. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Accenture

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ACN. Cadence Bank boosted its position in shares of Accenture by 0.7% during the first quarter. Cadence Bank now owns 4,999 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,686,000 after buying an additional 36 shares during the period. Wall Street Access Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Accenture by 4.9% during the first quarter. Wall Street Access Asset Management LLC now owns 830 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $279,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in Accenture by 0.6% in the first quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. now owns 7,292 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $2,459,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Stokes Family Office LLC increased its stake in Accenture by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Stokes Family Office LLC now owns 3,077 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $821,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Finally, IHT Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Accenture by 6.5% during the 1st quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 785 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $265,000 after buying an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. 73.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on ACN shares. Wedbush restated an outperform rating and issued a $300.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Accenture from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Accenture from $290.00 to $279.00 in a research report on Monday, December 19th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Accenture from $340.00 to $325.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. Finally, Cowen upped their price target on shares of Accenture from $295.00 to $300.00 in a research report on Monday, December 19th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Accenture has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $314.00.

About Accenture

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Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

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Investment analysts at StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Almaden Minerals (NYSE:AAU  Get Rating) in a report issued on Monday. The brokerage set a sell rating on the stock.

Almaden Minerals Stock Performance

Almaden Minerals stock traded down $0.00 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $0.19. 139,739 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 234,081. Almaden Minerals has a 12 month low of $0.18 and a 12 month high of $0.38.

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About Almaden Minerals

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Almaden Minerals Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It focuses on the operation of Ixtaca gold-silver deposit. The company was founded by James Duane Poliquin on February 1, 2002 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Canadian National Railway (TSE:CNR  Get Rating) (NYSE:CNI) from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report released on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. Royal Bank of Canada currently has C$184.00 price target on the stock, up from their previous price target of C$161.00.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Canadian National Railway to a sell rating and set a C$150.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$172.00 to C$178.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. CIBC dropped their target price on Canadian National Railway from C$181.00 to C$175.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Raymond James upped their price target on Canadian National Railway from C$175.00 to C$190.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Finally, Scotiabank set a C$170.00 target price on shares of Canadian National Railway in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of C$163.25.

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Canadian National Railway Stock Up 1.4 %

Shares of CNR stock opened at C$159.84 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of C$158.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$160.57. The stock has a market cap of C$106.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.48, a P/E/G ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 0.70. Canadian National Railway has a 12 month low of C$137.26 and a 12 month high of C$175.39. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 74.33.

Canadian National Railway Increases Dividend

Canadian National Railway ( TSE:CNR Get Rating ) (NYSE:CNI) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 24th. The company reported C$2.10 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of C$2.10. Canadian National Railway had a return on equity of 23.20% and a net margin of 29.92%. The company had revenue of C$4.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$4.51 billion. On average, research analysts expect that Canadian National Railway will post 8.086714 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a $1.862 dividend. This represents a $7.45 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.66%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This is a boost from Canadian National Railways previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. Canadian National Railways dividend payout ratio is currently 42.47%.

Canadian National Railway Company Profile

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Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail and related transportation business. The company's portfolio of goods includes petroleum and chemicals, grain and fertilizers, coal, metals and minerals, forest products, intermodal, and automotive products serving exporters, importers, retailers, farmers, and manufacturers.

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Highview Capital Management LLC DE lifted its holdings in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE  Get Rating) by 1.6% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 20,923 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the quarter. NextEra Energy comprises about 1.1% of Highview Capital Management LLC DEs holdings, making the stock its 24th biggest position. Highview Capital Management LLC DEs holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $1,749,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Two Sigma Advisers LP acquired a new position in NextEra Energy during the third quarter worth $24,166,000. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in NextEra Energy by 28.6% in the 3rd quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,899 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $384,000 after buying an additional 1,090 shares in the last quarter. M. Kraus & Co lifted its stake in NextEra Energy by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. M. Kraus & Co now owns 139,454 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $11,658,000 after buying an additional 3,229 shares in the last quarter. McAdam LLC boosted its holdings in NextEra Energy by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. McAdam LLC now owns 3,374 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $265,000 after buying an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oxler Private Wealth LLC increased its stake in NextEra Energy by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Oxler Private Wealth LLC now owns 42,270 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,314,000 after buying an additional 198 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.17% of the companys stock.

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NextEra Energy Trading Down 1.6 %

NextEra Energy stock traded down $1.30 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $77.67. 1,239,223 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,960,432. The firm has a market cap of $157.16 billion, a PE ratio of 37.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a current ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $74.94 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $79.08. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a 12-month low of $67.22 and a 12-month high of $91.35.

NextEra Energy Increases Dividend

NextEra Energy ( NYSE:NEE Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The utilities provider reported $0.51 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.50 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $6.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.58 billion. NextEra Energy had a return on equity of 12.51% and a net margin of 19.79%. The companys revenue was up 22.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.41 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were given a $0.4675 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. This is an increase from NextEra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. This represents a $1.87 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.41%. NextEra Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 89.47%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America lowered NextEra Energy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $94.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $110.00 to $100.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on NextEra Energy from $101.00 to $98.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 30th. Guggenheim reduced their price objective on NextEra Energy from $102.00 to $96.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered their price objective on NextEra Energy from $89.00 to $85.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $91.58.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Amy B. Lane acquired 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The shares were bought at an average price of $74.86 per share, with a total value of $74,860.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 41,277 shares in the company, valued at $3,089,996.22. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Amy B. Lane acquired 1,000 shares of NextEra Energy stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The stock was bought at an average price of $74.86 per share, for a total transaction of $74,860.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 41,277 shares in the company, valued at $3,089,996.22. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Armando Pimentel, Jr. bought 13,200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $75.44 per share, for a total transaction of $995,808.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 129,230 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,749,111.20. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have bought 18,872 shares of company stock worth $1,417,721. 0.38% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

NextEra Energy Company Profile

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NextEra Energy, Inc engages in the provision of renewable energy. It operates through the following segments: FPL and NEER. The FPL segment involves the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric energy in Florida. The NEER segment produces electricity from clean and renewable sources, including wind and solar.

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Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (OTCMKTS:IIJIY  Get Rating) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $41.60 and last traded at $41.60, with a volume of 0 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $41.60.

Internet Initiative Japan Price Performance

The stocks fifty day moving average price is $39.57 and its 200 day moving average price is $35.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.84 and a beta of 0.63.

About Internet Initiative Japan

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Internet Initiative Japan Inc engages in the provision of Internet connectivity and wide area network services; network systems construction, operation and maintenance; and telecommunications equipment. It operates through the Network Service and Systems Integration (SI), and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Operation segments.

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Equinox Gold (CVE: EQX) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates:

3/30/2023  Equinox Gold had its price target raised by analysts at National Bankshares, Inc. from C$6.00 to C$7.25. They now have a sector perform rating on the stock.

3/30/2023  Equinox Gold had its price target raised by analysts at National Bank Financial from C$6.00 to C$7.25.

3/30/2023  Equinox Gold had its price target raised by analysts at CIBC from C$4.70 to C$5.40.

3/30/2023  Equinox Gold had its price target raised by analysts at Cormark from C$5.75 to C$7.50.

2/24/2023  Equinox Gold had its price target lowered by analysts at CIBC from C$5.70 to C$4.70. They now have an underperform rating on the stock.

2/24/2023  Equinox Gold had its price target lowered by analysts at Haywood Securities from C$10.00 to C$9.50.

2/23/2023  Equinox Gold had its price target lowered by analysts at TD Securities from C$8.00 to C$7.50. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

2/23/2023  Equinox Gold had its price target lowered by analysts at Scotiabank from C$6.50 to C$5.75.

2/14/2023  Equinox Gold had its price target lowered by analysts at National Bankshares, Inc. from C$6.25 to C$6.00. They now have a sector perform rating on the stock.

Equinox Gold Price Performance

Shares of CVE EQX traded down C$0.07 during trading hours on Monday, hitting C$7.88. 53,583 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 153,529. The companys fifty day simple moving average is C$7.88 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$7.88. The company has a market cap of C$892.46 million and a PE ratio of -43.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 64.28, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.94. Equinox Gold Corp has a 1-year low of C$4.25 and a 1-year high of C$8.90.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Equinox Gold news, Senior Officer Sebastian Damici sold 5,216 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$5.15, for a total value of C$26,862.40. In related news, Senior Officer Sebastian Damici sold 5,216 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$5.15, for a total value of C$26,862.40. Also, Senior Officer Doug Reddy sold 6,351 shares of the firms stock in a transaction 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. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 46,220 shares of company stock valued at $263,521.

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.

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iShares North American Natural Resources ETF (BATS:IGE  Get Rating)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $40.34 and last traded at $40.24, with a volume of 105757 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $40.03.

iShares North American Natural Resources ETF Stock Performance

The firms 50 day moving average is $39.80 and its 200 day moving average is $40.21. The stock has a market cap of $824.92 million, a P/E ratio of 15.98 and a beta of 1.25.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares North American Natural Resources ETF

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of iShares North American Natural Resources ETF by 1,801.7% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,328 shares of the companys stock valued at $134,000 after buying an additional 3,153 shares during the last quarter. SVB Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares North American Natural Resources ETF in the second quarter valued at about $219,000. Capital Wealth Alliance LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares North American Natural Resources ETF in the second quarter worth about $532,000. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares North American Natural Resources ETF by 9.5% during the third quarter. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC now owns 431,526 shares of the companys stock worth $14,999,000 after purchasing an additional 37,540 shares during the period. Finally, Well Done LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares North American Natural Resources ETF by 17.8% during the third quarter. Well Done LLC now owns 83,535 shares of the companys stock worth $2,904,000 after purchasing an additional 12,600 shares during the period.

iShares North American Natural Resources ETF Company Profile

iShares North American Natural Resources ETF, formerly iShares S&P North American Natural Resources Sector 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 U.S.-traded natural resource-related stocks as represented by the S&P North American Natural Resources Sector Index (the Index).

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Priests participate in the Easter Sunday Mass led by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead, in the Old City of Jerusalem, Sunday, April 9, 2023

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.

Thousands of Jewish worshippers gathered at the citys 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, Hezbollahs media office announced that the militant groups 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, Jordans 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 Syrias 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 Avivs 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.

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John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE:PDT  Get Rating) declared a monthly dividend on Wednesday, April 5th, investing.com reports. Investors of record on Thursday, April 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.0975 per share by the real estate investment trust on Friday, April 28th. This represents a $1.17 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.15%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 12th.

John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund Trading Up 0.7 %

John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund stock opened at $12.78 on Monday. John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund has a one year low of $11.71 and a one year high of $16.62. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $12.71 and a two-hundred day moving average of $13.24.

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Institutional Trading of John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new position in shares of John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund in the second quarter worth $84,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund in the 4th quarter valued at $146,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund in the 4th quarter valued at $234,000. Mosaic Family Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund in the 4th quarter worth $380,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund by 3.8% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 32,667 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $423,000 after acquiring an additional 1,203 shares during the period. 5.89% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund Company Profile

John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors, with an emphasis on the utilities sector.

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Shares of Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT  Get Rating) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the fourteen brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $90.67.

PLNT has been the topic of a number of research reports. DA Davidson reissued a neutral rating and set a $87.00 price target on shares of Planet Fitness in a report on Friday, February 24th. Raymond James lifted their target price on shares of Planet Fitness from $92.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, February 24th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Planet Fitness from $82.00 to $93.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 13th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Planet Fitness from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Finally, Cowen increased their target price on Planet Fitness from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 27th.

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Planet Fitness Stock Performance

PLNT opened at $75.90 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $6.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 64.87, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.30. Planet Fitness has a one year low of $54.15 and a one year high of $88.31. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $78.88 and its 200-day simple moving average is $74.11.

Institutional Trading of Planet Fitness

Planet Fitness ( NYSE:PLNT Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 23rd. The company reported $0.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.47 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $281.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $271.48 million. Planet Fitness had a net margin of 10.61% and a negative return on equity of 65.39%. Planet Fitnesss revenue for the quarter was up 53.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.26 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Planet Fitness will post 2.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in Planet Fitness by 0.9% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,723,313 shares of the companys stock worth $502,985,000 after buying an additional 80,705 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Planet Fitness by 6.7% during the third quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 3,021,165 shares of the companys stock valued at $174,200,000 after acquiring an additional 190,817 shares during the last quarter. Amundi increased its position in Planet Fitness by 12.9% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 2,520,924 shares of the companys stock worth $212,257,000 after purchasing an additional 288,762 shares in the last quarter. Bares Capital Management Inc. increased its position in Planet Fitness by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Bares Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,063,152 shares of the companys stock worth $162,576,000 after purchasing an additional 48,955 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eagle Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Planet Fitness by 36.1% in the 4th quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,017,874 shares of the companys stock valued at $157,696,000 after purchasing an additional 534,869 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.56% of the companys stock.

Planet Fitness Company Profile

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Planet Fitness, Inc engages in the operation and franchising of fitness centers. It operates through the following segments: Franchise, Corporate-Owned Stores, and Equipment. The Franchise segment includes operations related to the companys franchising business in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico, and Australia.

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Simon Quick Advisors LLC increased its position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Get Rating) by 123.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 29,711 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 16,424 shares during the period. Simon Quick Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $5,180,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mine & Arao Wealth Creation & Management LLC. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 8.7% in the second quarter. Mine & Arao Wealth Creation & Management LLC. now owns 1,703 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $288,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $3,411,000. Triumph Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $2,953,000. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC now owns 3,761 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $620,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Manhattan Co. raised its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 21.0% in the 3rd quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 1,026 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $169,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares during the period.

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iShares Russell 2000 ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA IWM traded up $0.65 on Monday, hitting $174.54. 3,727,868 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 28,284,627. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $183.84 and its 200-day moving average price is $180.12. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 52-week low of $162.50 and a 52-week high of $204.80.

About iShares Russell 2000 ETF

iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Get Rating).

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North West (TSE:NWC  Get Rating) had its target price upped by TD Securities from C$39.00 to C$41.00 in a report released on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. TD Securities currently has a hold rating on the stock.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on North West from C$40.00 to C$41.00 in a research note on Thursday. CIBC increased their target price on North West from C$37.00 to C$39.00 in a research report on Thursday.

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North West Stock Performance

NWC stock opened at C$39.48 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day moving average of C$36.27 and a 200-day moving average of C$35.83. The firm has a market cap of C$1.88 billion, a PE ratio of 15.60, a P/E/G ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.61. North West has a 12-month low of C$30.55 and a 12-month 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.

North West Dividend Announcement

North West Company Profile

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 17th will be issued a $0.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 14th. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.85%. North Wests payout ratio is currently 60.08%.

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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.

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Ivanhoe Mines (OTCMKTS:IVPAF  Get Rating) had its price objective increased by TD Securities from C$15.00 to C$17.00 in a report issued on Thursday, The Fly reports.

Several other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Scotiabank increased their target price on Ivanhoe Mines from C$14.50 to C$16.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Raymond James increased their price target on Ivanhoe Mines from C$15.00 to C$18.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 4th.

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Ivanhoe Mines Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:IVPAF opened at $8.79 on Thursday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $8.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $8.14. Ivanhoe Mines has a 12-month low of $4.90 and a 12-month high of $9.70.

Ivanhoe Mines Company Profile

Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. is a mining development company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties. Its projects include the Platreef Project, Kamao-Kakula Project, Western Foreland Exploration Project, and Kipushi Project. The company was founded by Robert Martin Friedland on April 29, 1993 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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The Founder of RIG Nation and Pioneer Church, United Kingdom, Prophet Tomi Arayomi, has announced the relocation of his family out of Nigeria for good.

It would be recalled that Arayomi and his wife Tahmar, who are both British citizens, were on Friday arrested alongside their aide, Emmanuel Ezerika, by operatives of the Department of State Services at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport in Abuja.

Although the reason for their arrest was unclear, however reliable sources informed newsmen that Arayomi was arrested for giving inciting prophecies.

Arayomi and his wife were reportedly later released on Friday night while their aide remain in the custody of the security operatives.

Speaking on the issue via his official Instagram account, the prophet appreciated people for their support and narrated how they were arrested by the DSS.

He said, Prophetess Tahmar and I would like to express our gratitude for all your prayers and international support during Fridays ordeal with the DSS.

We can confirm that on Good Friday, April 7, we arrived in Abuja to visit one of our branches when we were picked up by about six armed agents who did not identify themselves as DSS or any law enforcement agency.

My wife, myself and my aide, Emmanuel Ezerika, were forced to surrender our mobile phones and enter the vehicles where we were taken at considerable speed to what we later learned were DSS HQ. The officers, some of who wore balaclavas, were not immediately recognisable as DSS.

He added, Our pictures were taken, fingerprints and data collected and we were locked inside a room with no real knowledge as to the grounds for our arrest.

After a lengthy interrogation, it appears media and social media pressure forced the DSS to release my wife and me.

My aide still remains in DSS custody and thus far, the DSS has been elusive as to his exact whereabouts. We will not divulge the particulars of the investigation at this point as we are still awaiting the safe release of my aide.

Arayomi said his family has relocated out of the country to safety.

He, however, noted that, although they had to take the decision abruptly, they would be returning soon to a new Nigeria.

He said, Out of concern for my young children and my wifes well-being, we made the unfortunate decision to leave Nigeria abruptly. This decision did not come lightly but with considerable prayer and counsel from our board, trustees, colleagues in the ministry and respective families.

I can confirm that we are safe and will continue to work and pray for a new Nigeria. We remain resolute that we will return to the nation that we have grown to call our home but for now, we will continue to press, pray and give God no rest until Nigeria becomes a praise on the earth.

We did not come to Nigeria under any illusion of comfort. We came to serve the Lord, fully aware of the danger.

We want you to know that Tahmar and I remain strong and unwavering in our commitment to Nigeria and the many great leaders we have encountered during our time there.

We want to thank every leader and friend who reached out, called, texted, and posted. We are so grateful. This is not goodbye. This sees you soon in a new and better Nigeria.
A 30-mile-long stretch along a remote road in northeastern Finland reflects  almost like no other symbol  the deterioration of relations between Russia and the Nordic country. It also vividly illustrates the transformation of the European security framework over the past year, which was shaken following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The track that leads through the infinite forest to the Raja-Jooseppi border crossing is covered in snow. In light of the tension with Moscow, nearly all the vehicles that circulate in this area belong to the security forces. The road has been abandoned by the snowplows, while the border facilities  which once received several million euros in subsidies to favor transit with Russia  only receive about 10 people each day.

The cranes will return soon, but this time they wont be erecting buildings. Instead, they will be building a security fence along what constitutes a new border between NATO and Russia, after Finland joined the Atlantic Alliance last week.

The Raja-Jooseppi border crossing is located in the least populated area  and one of the coldest  in the entire European Union. Located in the heart of a national park, immense pine and fir forests stretch out around it. Thousands of square miles in which no one resides, where bears and wolves roam freely and snow lasts from October to May.

Opened in 1967, its annual records reflect constant increase in traffic until 2014, when Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. Traffic decreased even further during the pandemic, before finally hitting an all-time low when Ukraine was invaded in February 2022.

The Raja-Jooseppi highway in the middle of the forest, at the end of March. Carlos Torralba

The absence of vehicles and the accumulated snow give the brand new border facilities a feeling of semi-abandonment. Three months before the invasion of Ukraine, the four lanes with covered roofs were inaugurated, with the intention of making inspections faster and more comfortable in temperatures that can plummet to 50F below zero. Yet, more than a year later, they have never been used simultaneously. There arent even enough staff to examine more than one vehicle at a time.

Mikael and Tapio  two young border guards who prefer not to disclose their last names  wait in the booth for the clock to strike 3:00 p.m. It has been a very quiet day and it does not seem likely that anyone will show up in the 35 minutes remaining before the border post closes up until 9 a.m. the following day.

Its more comfortable here than out there in the cold, says Mikael, who provokes a shy laugh from his partner, a few years his junior.

The 60 members of the border guard team stationed in Raja-Jooseppi  whose base is about four miles from Russian territory  patrol the entire area closest to the border with snowmobiles. The strip of land is off-limits to the public, unless one requests a special permit.

In 2013, some 400 people crossed this post daily. Today, the average doesnt even reach 10. On some days, no one passes through at all.

Some are Russian, on the way out and Finns, on the way back, Mikael grunts, referring to citizens with dual nationality, which has been allowed since 2003. There are about 30,000 dual citizens in Finland, who can still travel from one country to the other with hardly any restrictions.

With the consensus of all the parliamentary groups  and at the proposal of the Finnish Border Guard  the construction of the fence on the eastern border was approved last October. Sanna Marin, the prime minister, who just resigned after losing the 2023 elections, argued that it was necessary in view of the new security situation generated by the war in Ukraine.

The Social Democrat stressed that the main purpose of the wall would be prevention against hybrid threats from Russia, especially the exploitation of mass migration. A few months ago, Finland made a historic turn by abandoning its neutrality and beginning the process of joining the Atlantic Alliance  a process that ended successfully a week ago.

In February, the construction of two miles of fence began in the south, near the city of Imatra. The pilot project is scheduled to end in June, but the final work  which will cover 15% of the 832 mile-long border between Finland and its gigantic neighbor  will not be completed until 2026.

Most of the obstacles will be erected in the southernmost strip, but fences will be built around the eight border posts (the length between each section is confidential information), including those at Salla and Raja-Jooseppi, north of the Arctic Circle.

[In 2015 and 2016], Russia used migrants as a weapon in that area of Lapland, says Pekka Virkki, an analyst with the military magazine Suomen Sotilas, who spoke to EL PAIS by phone. The risk that Moscow will resort to mass migration again has always been latent, the expert adds. He considers the fence to be a symbol of the new relationship with the Eurasian country.

At the end of 2015, when hundreds of thousands of migrants crowded the southwestern borders of the E.U., a few hundred sought refuge at the Storskog border post  the only one between Russia and Norway  inaugurating the so-called Arctic route.

Eventually, Oslo modified legislation to make access to asylum in the north of the country more difficult but only after accumulating 5,600 applications. The images of exhausted migrants, riding cheap bikes on snowy roads (Russia prohibits crossings on foot) began to be seen in Salla and Raja-Jooseppi. More than 1,600 refugees entered Finland that winter through the two northernmost crossings.

A group of refugees at the Storskog border crossing in Norway, circa November 2015. JONATHAN NACKSTRAND (AFP)

The arrival of Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis in Finnish Lapland was cut short in March of 2016, after an agreement was signed in Moscow between Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Vladimir Putin, whereby the Raja-Jooseppi and Salla crossings could only be used for the following six months by Russian and Finnish citizens.

Niinisto was in office for a decade. He was one of the European leaders who had warm relations with the Russian president. But shortly after his visit, Putin declared that, when he looked at the border, he saw Finns on the other side but that if Finland ever entered NATO, he would see enemies.

The future wall  which will add up to a total of 124 miles  will cost approximately $400 million. It will be a robust 10-foot-high fence, topped with barbed wire and equipped with night vision cameras, loudspeakers, spotlights and a parallel road. The work is in line with the walls that Poland and the Baltic countries have built (or are currently building) on their borders with Russia and Belarus. Since 2020, the Belarusian regime has encouraged and facilitated the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants at the E.U.s external borders, in response to various sanctions imposed by Brussels.

The Finnish border authorities maintain that the wall is necessary to prevent the instrumentalization of massive arrivals and that no alternative is more economical or more effective. In July, reforms to the Border Guard Law were approved, which allow the government  in a crisis situation  to centralize the reception of asylum applications at a single border post. Official documents mention that the wall will reinforce regional security and prevent possible territorial annexations. However, Virkki and other analysts consulted consider that its usefulness at the military level will be practically nil.





Finland took longer than Poland and the Baltic countries to approve the construction of its border fence. It will take almost four years of work to limit the impact of the infrastructure project on water channels and animal crossings. Meanwhile, the instability of the terrain and the harsh, dark and long Finnish winters  in addition to the compulsory purchase procedures and the open competition for the awarding of the building contracts  will also delay its construction.

The wall will reflect the definitive cooling of ties that have been fostered and strengthened since the mid-1990s. Relationships are frozen, but luckily, they arent dead; we can still maintain personal contact with our relatives, colleagues and friends in Russia, says Olga Davydova-Minguet, a professor at the University of Eastern Finland.

The researcher  who has dedicated more than 20 years to studying the cross-border relationship between the two countries  notes that the consequences of the restrictions derived from the war have affected many different economic sectors, as well as the academic field and the personal ties between tens of thousands of citizens.

Davydova-Minguet  who emigrated to Finland in 1991 from the Russian city of Petrozavodsk, about 120 miles from the border  highlights the impact that restrictions on cross-border crossings have had on the almost 90,000 Russophones residing in Finland, most of them with relatives in Russia. The changes are more evident in the south, in cities such as Lappeenranta or Joensuu, where a significant portion of the population speaks Russian as their mother tongue, or in small towns very close to the border, where most businesses have shuttered due to the absence of tourists.

Jussi P. Laine, a professor of Human Geography and Davydovas colleague at the University of Eastern Finland, flatly rejects the construction of the border fence. Multiple studies show that the costs of building walls are greater than their benefits, says the researcher, who specializes in mobility and cross-border security.

The fence creates a false sense of security, distracting people from the real reasons for insecurity, Laine points out, adding that, should Finland face episodes of mass migration, the obstacles will only cause migrants to reorganize into smaller groups that are less visible and more difficult to monitor.

In most cases, the walls havent reduced the number of irregular crossings, they have only made them more dangerous and lethal, he adds.

With Finlands entry into NATO, the Alliance has incorporated a country with the greatest military capability of all new members over the last two decades and has more than doubled its border with Russia. A dividing line that stretches from the Arctic to Kaliningrad  the ends of which are very close to the Russian bases of the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet. More than 1,200 miles of border, in which walls  reminiscent of the Iron Curtain  proliferate, indicating that there is little hope of normalizing relations with Russia in the short or medium-term. It is a border that has been transformed in recent decades and that is closed to Russian tourists, except through the Storskog border crossing, the only one that, since 1949, has separated NATO from its main reason for existing.

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The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organization that monitors and reports Hajj and Umrah in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, has called on the appointed Hajj Carriers for 2023 Hajj to brace up for quality and timely airlifts of Nigeria intending pilgrims.

Ibrahim Muhammed, IHR national coordinator, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, said Airlift operations differ from the routine international or local flights accustomed to by the selected Airliners especially the new entrants - Air Peace, Arik Air, Aero Contractors and Value Air Jet.

Hajj is tied to the day of Arafat and the day of Arafat is not amenable to change like other worldly events that can be delayed or postponed.

Airlift of Pilgrims constitutes the core aspect of hajj operations because Hajj takes place in Saudi Arabia - as such all registered intending pilgrims must be flown to the holy land to perform the spiritual exercise, Muhammed said.

He urged the selected Airliners to realise that delays would amount to denying the intending pilgrims the opportunity to perform rituals of the hajj as and when due.

He called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), the apex hajj regulatory body, to ensure full implementations of all the service agreements with the airliners, adding that plans should be on ground to replace erring airliners.

NAHCON should understand that Nigerians and Hajj stakeholders will hold them responsible if they fail to act when service providers fail in delivering their assigned responsibilities, he said.

Muhammed also called on the traditional Air Carriers to avoid using one plane in carrying intending pilgrims from two or three countries during hajj operations.

They should know that no one benefits when the order of the day is cutting corners, struggling to ferry Tour Operators pilgrims within the allotted time granted to Hajj participating countries to airlift States pilgrims.

He commended NAHCON for increasing the numbers of hajj carriers for states Pilgrims and also adding a different set of airliners to ferry Tour operators pilgrims.

Such move will create an environment for healthy competition that will be in the interests of timely airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 2023 hajj exercises.

However, NAHCON, States Muslim Pilgrims Boards and Hajj and Umrah Operators should work together in order to streamline the airlift operations to avoid the confused mode of airlift witnessed in 2022 hajj, he said.

SIGNED

IBRAHIM MUHAMMED

INDEPENDENT HAJJ REPORTERS

APRIL 10, 2023

ABUJA, NIGERIA


The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, urged his supporters, popularly known as Obidients, to bear the attacks they receive as a sacrifice for a new Nigeria.

Obi stated this in a series of tweets via his Twitter handle on Monday.

The Labour Party presidential candidate said he and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, are pained that their supporters were being attacked because they choose to stand by them.

Obi also described attacks on his supporters as a plot to demarket the Obidient movement, which he stated that would fail.

He tweeted, Datti and I are painfully mindful that for the mere reason of being OBIdient, most of you have suffered vituperations, physical attacks, loss of rights and privileges, hateful trolls, indignities and vexatious fighting words, even from some of those we long regarded as civic leaders and conscience of our nation.

Please bear such attacks as the sacrifices that we are all required to make in order to create a new Nigeria, where justice, equity, fairness, love and prosperity shall reign.

Be assured that Datti and I are with you, and that the ongoing unfortunate orchestrated efforts to demarket and delegitimize the OBIdient Movement will fail. We are fully structured and have remained focused and steadfast in addressing the ills in our nation.

While underpinning the supremacy of our Constitution and imperatives of the rule of law. Do not relent; and do not be lured into unnecessary conflicts. Be assured that in the fullness of time, our mission to rescue Nigeria from those engaged in state capture will come to fruition.

Obi said he and Baba-Ahmed are using all lawful and peaceful means to reclaim their mandate to create a new Nigeria.

He said, Therefore, in all your actions and inactions, I continue to implore you to be law-abiding, respectful and peaceful.
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has greeted the leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio political organization, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, on the occasion of his 95th birthday.

Peter Obi, who enjoyed the huge backing of Pa Adebajo during the just-concluded presidential election, described him as a respected father figure.

The former governor of Anambra State in a statement via Twitter said the Afenifere leader has remained a resounding and consistent voice in speaking for a better Nigeria.

Peter Obi further said he admires the courage of Ayo Adebanjo in condemning bad governance and flawed public policies, adding that his place in the annals of Nigerias history is secured.

He said, On behalf of my family, I wish a very respected father-figure, Afenifere leader and elder statesman, Chief PA Ayo Adebanjo a very hearty happy birthday.

Daddy, you have remained a resounding and consistent voice in preaching for a better and egalitarian Nigeria.

I admire and respect above all, your courage in speaking up on bad governance and flawed public policies. Your patriotic fervor is exemplary.

As you clock 95 years today, I thank God for the gift of your life to our nation and humanity. Your place in the annals of Nigerias history is secure.

May God protect and bless you always with abundant health and happiness.
After years of running an online consignment business, Christine Hammond has made the leap to a storefront business.

Inspired by her love of frogs  the Lindsay resident has been collecting the critters for much of her life  Hammond joined forces with good friend Rajeeva Tharmalingam and opened the doors to her Hop2Shop in March. The move was made official with a grand opening celebration on April 8.

Located at 12 Lindsay St. S, the store offers consignment sales, vendor rental space and a workshop room. The business also takes donations with a portion of sales distributed to local charities each month; Womens Resources will be the first recipient.

Hammond launched her online consignment business about six years ago as a bit of a side-hustle to her human resources management job in Toronto. When she retired and moved to Lindsay, she began thinking about taking the next step.

It just got to the point where my garage was filled, but I wasnt making enough money to support that much inventory, said Hammond.

Thats when she approached Tharmalingam, who cottages in the area with her family, about a more physical entity.

I just thought it was an absolutely great idea, said Tharmalingham, a stay-at-home mom who had always dreamed of having her own business. Now that my children are older, and I have more time, I can take that step.

The Hop2Shop currently showcases a wide range of handcrafted items, gently used, new and vintage items as well as home decor.

By having a store, we can now do a little bit of everything  Were everything from high end to low end and a whole whack of things in between, said Hammond who hopes to also host one-day pop up events for individuals looking to sell baked goods.

A long-time Girl Guide leader, who still keeps in touch with many former participants, Hammond is also hoping to open space up to local members.

The Hop2Shop is currently open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information call 705-905-8451 or email hoptoshop2@gmail.com.

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March didnt bring the usual spring of activity for the real estate market in Kawartha Lakes, with the number of homes sold last month lagging more than 40 per cent compared to the same month in 2022 and about 35 per cent compared to five and 10-year averages.

Year-to-date totals likewise continue to drag more than 25 per cent compared to last year, according to data from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) for Kawartha Lakes.

The MLS Home Price Index composite/single-family benchmark price for the month was $673,700 in March, down almost 17 per cent compared to March 2022, but continuing to climb to the highest benchmark price so far in 2023. The total dollar value of homes sold in Kawartha Lakes during the month however plummeted more than 50 per cent compared to 2022, the lowest it has been since 1995.

The number of new listing put on the market were also down substantially, reaching 35-year lows. Thanks to the slow market however, the number of active residential listings on the market in March more than doubled the historic-lows seen in March of 2022, to 191 units, although active listings still sat below long-run averages at the end of the first month of spring.

Months of inventory, or the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity, was 2.7 months in March, a big rebound from 0.8 months in March 2022 and only slightly below the long-run average of 2.8 months.

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The devil, they say, is in the details. In Kate Middletons case, that would be the red nail polish she wore to the royals annual Easter Sunday church service appearance, choosing chaos of a similar magnitude to the resurrection the Royal Family had gathered to mark at St. Georges chapel.

A slight exaggeration, perhaps, but the Princess of Waless red manicure yesterday did set the royal internet ablaze. After over a decade of choosing either bare nails or light beige, Kate finally went for a coloured polish  and not a seasonally appropriate candy pink or pastel lilac but a bold, oxblood red.

To comprehend the havoc this wrought, look to the headlines it immediately generated. Princess Kate shocks with a hidden detail in outfit, on Yahoo. Kate Middleton breaks with tradition, in The Mirror. It makes one wonder what would happen if shed done something truly shocking, like, say, pairing those red nails with a red lip.

The social media comments sections were equally hysterical. Red nails, how disrespectful to the late Queens wishes, wrote one commenter on a post from an Instagram account focused on Kates style. I bet getting that red mani felt GOOD, chimed in someone on another accounts post. There is, quite clearly, much more at stake than a woman telling her manicurist she feels like a change from her usual.

Its something were fairly certain Kate didnt do casually. Dark nail polish, you see, is a fraught topic within royal-watching circles. Theres a long-standing myth that royal protocol forbids the wearing of any nail polish thats not Essie Ballet Slippers.

This critique, used most often against royal women, was used particularly viciously when Meghan Markle dared to wear almost-black nail polish in 2018, decried by many as a major breach of royal rules. (The fuss over this fashion choice was particularly shameful since it was paired with a ridiculous fake furor over how the Duchess of Sussex touched her then-pregnant belly.)

For the record, there isnt some sort of codified handbook referred to religiously by the Windsors to guide their every accessory decision. Still, Kate would have known this would be a whole thing. So why did she decide to do it? A few theories.

Kates red nails mark a break with the past

This is the royals first Easter without Queen Elizabeth II, and its just a few weeks until King Charless coronation. In this in-between phase between the monarchy of the past  marked by the kind of traditional mores that saw the queen favour pale nail polish, for example  and the new one, which Charles is signalling will be more modern, Kate appears to be siding firmly with the future.

While its not true that the queen banned royal women from wearing coloured nail polish, she did come from an older school of etiquette that might have (snobbishly, classist-ly) regarded bright or bold nails as Not The Done Thing for ladies, and its entirely possible there was a spoken or unspoken understanding that shed prefer family members representing her to abide by this.

Kate, however, is a 41-year-old millennial whos lived through the rise of nail art and the cultural takeover of the nail extension. Shes also in the midst of a career transition, where shes stepping up as one of the key players in a new chapter for The Firm. Opting for a red manicure could be her way of signalling a subtle but still respectful break with the old way things were done.

Red nails could be a tribute to Diana

Generally, were opposed to the practice of finding a nod (or comparison) to Diana behind everything Kate does. But the red nail polish could suggest an interesting connection between the current and former Princesses of Wales. Dianas love of a bright, bold red mani was well-documented, particularly in the latter phase of her time in the Royal Family (i.e. when she was doing her best to burn it all down on her way out). In fact, the first time Diana wore red polish was with her infamous Revenge Dress, worn the night that Charles confessed his long-running infidelity in a television interview.

As the dresss designer, Christina Stambolian, recalls in her memoir: She was clearly angry  She wore bright red nail enamel, which we had never seen her do before. She was saying: Lets be wicked tonight. Diana would go on to wear the colour frequently after that, on several royal tours and formal occasions.

Now: is this Kates way of signalling shes gearing up for her own Diana-style royal rebellion? It seems unlikely, especially set against the backdrop of the extreme family unity the Waleses demonstrated yesterday, with the entire gang in matching shades of blue, down to little Louiss knee socks and Charlottes tights. But if it is some sort of act of defiance, it certainly got everyone talking.

It distracted attention away from Prince Andrews presence

Speaking of getting people talking: Is it a coincidence that Kate made a conversation-dominating styling choice to an occasion attended by Prince Andrew, royal pariah? Perhaps, but it certainly did distract from his presence at an event many are interpreting as a warm-up to his controversial attendance at the coronation.

Andrews presence at Easter may have been the result of a negotiation between Charles  not believed to be an Andrew fan  and his younger brother, who is widely believed to have every intention of returning to his former role as a working royal, a position he stepped back from after sexual assault allegations were made against him.

Kate, gamely playing her part to ensure the survival of an institution shes invested her entire life in, may have happily offered to throw in a red herring to draw attention away from this compromise.

Its because of TikTok

Like almost everything these days, Kates nail choice may have originated on TikTok. Specifically, the viral red nail theory doing the rounds on the platform. In a nutshell, its manifestation meets colour theory, wherein wearing a red polish imbues you with a new-found confidence, and, in an application we assume is less important to Kate, also makes you more attractive to potential suitors. As a parent tasked with ensuring three children sit still through a church service where everyone will be watching their every move, however, wouldnt you try anything to channel your inner warrior?

Kate just  wanted to wear red nails?

Its a theory so preposterous it hardly bears consideration, but could it really be as straightforward as Kate, emboldened by the spring sunshine and feeling her oats, deciding she felt like a red mani this week, especially since it set off her Klein blue dress so nicely? No, youre right, thats ridiculous.

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SHERWOOD PARK, Alta. - An Alberta RCMP officer who died in vehicle crash while responding to a call Monday was remembered as a hard worker with a strong sense of responsibility.

Const. Harvinder Dhami, a member of the Strathcona County detachment east of Edmonton, who was affectionately known as Harvey, died while driving to help other officers with a noise complaint.

RCMP said Dhamis vehicle hit a large concrete barrier on a road northeast of Sherwood Park, Alta., about 2 a.m.

Despite efforts of emergency personnel and civilians on the scene, Harvey succumbed to his injuries, Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki said at a news conference in Sherwood Park.

RCMP said the crash was under investigation. No further details were provided.

Dhami, 32, was posted to Strathcona County after graduating from the RCMP training academy in 2019, Zablocki said.

He said Dhami took great pride in wearing his RCMP uniform and we were very proud to have him on our team.

Zablocki described Dhami as mature, dependable and so well liked by everyone around him.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter that his heart breaks for Dhamis family, friends and colleagues.

Im keeping all of you, and the entire Strathcona community, in my thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also offered her condolences to the officers family on social media. She said the fatal crash is incredibly heartbreaking and has ordered to lower the flags at half-mast at the provincial legislature.

Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank also shared his thoughts on the loss of the officer.

We are never ready to lose one of our own, and our community mourns with his family, friends and our RCMP members, he said on social media.

At the detachment in Sherwood Park, flags were at half-mast and flowers had been placed outside in memory of the officer.

Supt. Dale Kendall said Dhami never shied away from taking calls and always wanted to learn on the job, no matter the task or risk.

He was one of the most professional people Ive ever met, she said, adding that he also had a sense of humour.

The officer is survived by his wife, mother and two siblings.

Kendall said funeral procession details would be confirmed and shared in the coming days.

Last month, two Edmonton police officers were shot and killed by a 16-year-old boy while they were responding to a family dispute.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023.

___

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version misspelled Const. Dhamis last name based on information from police.

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ST. JOHNS, N.L. - Newfoundland police have charged two men with sex crimes that allegedly occurred in 2019 in a residential area of St. Johns.

Bruce Escott, 80, is charged with single counts of sexual assault and sexual interference. Tony Humby, 62, faces two counts of sexual assault, sexual interference, and invitation to sexual touching, and single counts of indecent exposure, making sexually explicit material available to a child, luring and sexual exploitation.

The alleged crimes date to 2019 and involve multiple teenagers, Const. James Cadigan with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said in an interview Monday.

St. Johns, in the east end of the city, is where the events are believed to have occurred, he said.

The constabularys sexual assault unit has been investigating the two men since November, Cadigan said, adding that the luring and sexual exploitation charges reflect the fact that investigators are alleging a level of grooming was involved in some of the cases.

Both men appeared in provincial court Friday and were scheduled for a bail hearing Monday afternoon.

Cadigan said police are hoping others come forward with more information in the case.

We do have suspicion there are other individuals impacted by these events and that theres more information out there, he said. Were asking for anyone with more information to come forward.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023.

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The noisy spats between the United States and China have drowned out a third voice that has so far been content to bide its time. Somewhere on the Indian subcontinent, a baby will soon be born who will push the population of this sprawling nation to 1,425,775,850 inhabitants. The United Nations estimates that India will reach this number on April 14 and become the worlds most populous nation ahead of China. Others think India has already sprinted past this mark. The symbolic milestone points to a profound change ahead for the South Asian nation, and a new 21st-century narrative for a booming global power jockeying for position in the world.

The time is ripe for India to offer a third way in a world wracked by strife and heading for a new Cold War. This year, the country will assume the rotating presidency of the G20 forum that brings together the worlds largest economies. The Indian government clearly aims to seize this opportunity to galvanize the nation and exert its influence internationally. Last year, when the former British colony surpassed the United Kingdom in gross domestic product (GDP) to become the worlds fifth largest economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, We have left behind those who ruled us for 250 years... We will not stop now.

Expectations are high. In a year marked by pessimism and faltering economies, India remains a bright spot, said Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas when presenting the International Monetary Funds (IMF) economic outlook for 2023. India and China are expected to contribute 50% of the worlds growth this year. Giant corporations like Apple are moving production capacity to the country, and the State Bank of India believes the country will become the worlds third largest economy by 2029. Some are even more upbeat. Many have said this is Indias decade. I truly believe its Indias century, said McKinsey & Cos CEO Bob Sternfels in a recent interview. Sternfels projects India will become a leading manufacturing hub because it will have 20% of the plants workers by 2047.

Many Indian analysts believe that the time has indeed come for a great leap forward. China is facing a demographic crisis, while India is reaping a demographic dividend, said Brahma Chellaney, professor of strategic studies at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research, one of the countrys leading think tanks. Chellaney cites the median age of 28, making India one of the youngest countries in the world. This population is driving rapid economic growth, contributing to the consumption boom and driving innovation in our world-class information economy, said Chellaney.

India has been steadily rising for decades. Bestselling historian Peter Frankopan wrote about it in The Silk Roads: A New History of the World (2015), a book that tries to make sense of the complex networks that make up the worlds central nervous system. Frankopan credits the spectacular 30-year expansion of the Indian middle class that continues today at an extraordinary pace. While some economists note the highly inequitable distribution of wealth in India and say the rich have benefited disproportionately, no one can dispute that households with more than $10,000 in annual disposable income have risen from two million in 1990 to 50 million in 2014.

Frankopans data is now over eight years old, but more recent numbers tell the same story. According to the World Bank, consumer spending in India more than doubled to $2.25 trillion since 2010. This is only the beginning of a radical transformation, both in size and significance, wrote Frankopan.

There is another dimension to India besides the booming economy. Despite its vast cultural and ethnic diversity, India is the first developing economy that, from the outset, strove to modernize and prosper through a democratic system. The challenge, writes Frankopan, is to take full advantage of relatively low labor costs and growing Western interest in shifting production from China so that India can become a manufacturing powerhouse.

Western corporations started looking more closely at India during the pandemic lethargy caused by Beijings zero-Covid strategy, which virtually closed its borders for three years. Friction between the U.S. and China and anxiety about conflict over Taiwan have burnished Indias lustre. Companies are not abandoning the Asian giant, but they are indeed diversifying, said Bettina Schoen-Behanzin, vice-president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. Investment once destined for China is going to other places, like North America, India and Southeast Asia.

A key player for the U.S.

The door that has opened for India is also geopolitical. The country is trying to position itself as a bridge between rival powers, said Chellaney. The Indian government has skillfully steered the country through several recent geopolitical storms. It sealed a historic alliance with Russia, the countrys principal arms supplier. India never condemned the invasion of Ukraine and Russia is its primary source of oil. Its also a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a Eurasian political, economic, international security and defense organization that includes Russia, China and Pakistan. India has signaled a willingness to look beyond its long-running border dispute with China and history of hostility with Pakistan.

Meanwhile, it has strengthened ties with the West and is part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad), a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan and the United States. For the United States, India is a nuclear power that has become an increasingly important counterbalance to Chinas growing power in the region.

The countrys lynchpin position may be unique in a geopolitically fluid world, said Harsh V. Pant, a foreign policy expert at the Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi-based think tank. India is trying to project itself as a country that can play a special role.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar says his country no longer has to abide by the rules of the past. We have been conditioned to think of the post-1945 world as the norm, and to view any departure from this as a deviation, wrote Jaishankar in The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World (2020). In fact, our own complex, pluralist history underscores that the natural state of the world is multipolarity.

An artist puts the finishing touches on a G-20 logo in New Delhi on March 1 before the foreign ministers' meeting. NurPhoto (EL PAIS)

The Jaishankar doctrine has a lot to do with the young demographics and national pride that the populist Modi has promoted since he was elected. An aspirational India will inevitably give higher priority to achieving national goals and establishing a global presence, wrote Jaishankar. Global dynamics are changing and so are Indian capabilities and ambitions. The opportunity cannot be missed, he says. Our ability to address domestic challenges will determine Indias place in the world. At least we are focused on the right issues now: digitization, industrialization, urbanization, rural growth, infrastructure and skills.

Harsh Pant believes India must be fully engaged in a contested geopolitical theater with the Indo-Pacific on center stage. I think Indian policymakers recognize that this is a moment they cant miss  they must respond, said Pant. He points to the ambitious foreign trade policy launched in early April that set a target of $2 trillion in exports by 2030, almost triple the current figure.

Some skeptics say big announcements like the new export goal are overly exuberant and ultimately do the country a disservice. The reality on the ground is different, said Sushant Singh, another analyst at the Center for Policy Research. Singh served as a military officer for two decades before becoming a journalist and deputy editor of The Indian Express. He says India is still a very poor and unequal country with the lowest per capita income of the G20 countries (around $2,250, below countries like Bangladesh or Ghana). The IMF estimates Indias GDP at $3.5 trillion dollars, compared with $18.3 trillion dollars for China and $25 trillion for the United States.

Singh also says the countrys workforce is not well-enough educated to fulfill many of the forecasts. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 46% of Indians over 25 have not finished primary school. He also cites a Financial Times report about Apples difficulty in sourcing components from India that meet its quality standards. It is also still a predominantly agricultural country. Agriculture represents 20% of the economy but employs 45.5% of the workforce. According to government data, India exported less than 2% of the worlds merchandise exports. Singh says direct foreign investment fell by 15% between April and December 2022, and low unemployment figures camouflage a vast informal economy. Lastly, India has one of the worlds lowest rates of women with formal employment.

There has been progress, to be sure. According to the U.N., a record 415 million Indians emerged from multidimensional poverty in the last 15 years. But there is still a long way to go  five out of six people living in poverty belong to the lowest tribes and castes in Indian society. According to Oxfam, 10% of the population owns 77% of the wealth.

Can India become a bigger economy? asks Singh. Sure. But not right away. He believes the country will have trouble exploiting the impending demographic dividend that enabled China to benefit for decades. The same U.N. population report that forecasted Indias top-ranked population explains this demographic dividend as the opportunity to speed up economic growth and social development by increasing the proportion of the working age population. Currently, 40% of the Indian population is under 25, and globally, one in five people under 25 is Indian, according to U.N. estimates cited by the Pew Research Center. Indias median age of 28 contrasts with 38 in the United States and 39 in China, the other two most populous countries, which also have higher aging rates. In India, people over 65 represent 7% of the population, versus 14% in China and 18% in the United States. This figure will remain below 20% in India until 2063 and will not reach 30% until 2100. Indias fertility rate has been falling steadily (from 5.9 births per woman in 1950 to two today) and is expected to continue on a downward trend.

Passengers on a New Delhi bus on November 14. Anadolu Agency (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

That is the demographic dividend  the phase when dependency ratios decline, making more resources available to invest in education, health, employment, social security and pensions, fostering economic growth and well-being in the short and medium term. But for that to happen, says the World Population Prospects report, countries must invest in developing human capital by ensuring access to health care and quality education at all ages and by promoting opportunities for productive employment and decent work.

An intolerant authoritarian drift

Singh thinks India may face what he calls a demographic disaster, and points to other serious problems like the intolerant authoritarian drift that began in 2014 when Modi took office. Modis Bharatiya Janata Party adheres to a Hindu nationalist ideology that has been denounced for its intolerance towards other religions and minorities and an excessive concentration of power. In January, the Indian government invoked emergency laws to block a BBC documentary on Modis role in the 2002 riots that killed 1,000 mostly Muslim residents of Gujarat when he was chief minister of that state.

Swedens V-Dem Institute (Varieties of Democracy) issued a report on the health of democracy around the world that describes India as an electoral autocracy and a country in which democracy has eroded over the last 10 years. Singh notes increasing pressure on some freedoms, like the right to information. Reporters Without Borders ranks the country 150th in press freedom, between Turkey and Sudan. One message is clear, says Singh  no one will celebrate the newborn who will make India the most populous country on earth. The country is not proud of its population.

Things are quite different in China, which in January announced its first population decline in 60 years, caused by a historic drop in the birth rate and a rapidly aging society. China estimates that its population dropped by 850,000 in 2022 to 1.4 billion people. Demographers believe this trend has major implications for the Asian giants economic growth, which is also slowing down.

Chinas population decline is largely the result of its one-child policy (1980-2015) aimed at curbing its population boom. In 2021, the government began allowing married couples to have up to three children, and offered incentives to slow the declining birth rate. But the pandemic and changing lifestyles resulting from its own success have stymied the governments efforts. By 2050, Chinas population will fall by nearly 100 million, according to U.N. projections cited by the Pew Research Center. By 2100, the countrys population will be under 800 million.

China will face the same [economic growth] problem as EU countries, said Yi Fuxian, a medical researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) and author of Big Country With an Empty Nest (2007). Yis critical look at Chinas family planning policy says the country will experience rising pension and health care costs, and a less dynamic productive sector. The workforce is the backbone of the economy, writes Yi, who believes that Chinas decline will most likely propel India to the fore as the worlds leading economy, forcing a reshuffling of the international relations card deck.

Poonam Mutreja, a social development expert and executive director of the Population Foundation of India, says that demographers and economists have always assumed or wanted to believe that Indias huge young population will enable the country to enjoy a demographic advantage. But we have all come to realize, and I think the Indian government has too, that the demographic dividend is not automatic, she said. You must invest in young people, in their education and health, in developing their skills. Employability requires skills  that is the challenge India will face.

Mutreja thinks India could establish partnerships with other countries in need of skilled labor, as it did with Japan. India has earned a reputation for supplying talented workers to the world. Several CEOs of major corporations (Microsoft, Google, IBM and, until recently, Twitter and Mastercard) are of Indian origin. But Mutreja warns of a brain drain and thinks an interesting solution would be for other countries to invest in training Indian workers who would stay in the country.

Mutreja acknowledges that there is much work to be done, especially regarding sex education, reproductive planning, gender equality and incorporating women into the workforce in a patriarchal society. But she is optimistic about the years ahead and confident that we will see more Indians all over the world. The country will gradually become a manufacturing center because the government is working hard on developing the infrastructure for the potentially huge market and expanding middle class. And its G20 leadership, says Mutreja, is an excellent opportunity to showcase the governments brilliant diplomacy.

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TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Chinas military declared Monday it is ready to fight after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island in response to the Taiwanese presidents trip to the U.S. last week.

The combat readiness patrols named Joint Sword were meant as a warning to self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own, Chinas military said earlier.

The theaters troops are ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts, it said Monday.

The exercises were similar to ones conducted by China last August, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan in retaliation for then-Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan, but have been smaller and less disruptive.

Military experts say the exercises serve both as intimidation and as an opportunity for Chinese troops to practice sealing off Taiwan by blocking sea and air traffic, an important strategic option the Chinese military might pursue in the event it uses military force to take Taiwan.

The Chinese actions follow President Tsai Ing-wens delicate mission to shore up Taiwans dwindling diplomatic alliances in Central America and boost its U.S. support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. A U.S. congressional delegation also met with Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated the position of President Joe Bidens administration that Tsais transit through the U.S. and the congressional visit to Taiwan were not out of the norm. Tsai transited through the United States six times between 2016 and 2019.

There was no reason to react in any way militarily, he said. Theres no reason for tensions across the Taiwan Strait to devolve into any kind of conflict.

China responded immediately to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsais U.S. trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

China wants to use any increase of diplomatic interactions between the U.S. and Taiwan as an excuse to train its military, said Kuo Yu-jen, a defense studies expert and director of the Institute for National Policy Research in Taiwan.

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the islands democratic government encourages Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Chinas ruling Communist Party says would lead to war. The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the Communist Party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

After Pelosi visited Taiwan, China conducted missiles strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan, while also sending warships and war planes over the median line of the Taiwan Strait. It also fired missiles over the island itself which landed in Japans exclusive economic zone, in a significant escalation.

The live-fire exercises disrupted flights and shipping in one of the busiest shipping lanes for global trade. This time, shipping and maritime traffic have largely continued as normal, Kuo said.

The exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting more than 200 flights by Chinese warplanes in the past three days. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the Peoples Liberation Army, said the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan as well as waves of simulated strikes at important targets on the island.

On Monday, the PLA said its Shandong aircraft carrier was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan for the first time. It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off the deck of the ship in a post on Weibo, the social media platform.

The appearance of the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean suggests that it could be used to prevent foreign militaries from coming to help Taiwan, said Han Gan-ming, a research fellow at the government-backed Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

In the future if theres a similar military maneuver, then Taiwan will have to face it alone, Han said.

Between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwans Ministry of National Defense. Among the planes that crossed the median were eight J-16 fighter jets, four J-1 fighters, eight Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes. Taiwan also tracked J-15 fighter jets, which are paired with the Shandong aircraft carrier.

By Monday evening, Taiwans defense ministry reported another 91 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets, early warning aircraft and military transport planes.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday in which eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the islands Defense Ministry. It said in a statement that it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as from its own navy vessels.

Chinas military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent toward the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities. The military activity has increased a notch since Pelosis visit, with Chinese PLA fighter jets regularly flying over the middle boundary line. Experts say PLA navy vessels regularly navigate the waters off Taiwans northeastern coast.

Meanwhile, to the south in the South China Sea, the U.S. 7th Fleet said its missile destroyer USS Milius sailed by Mischief Reef in a freedom of navigation operation. China has built an artificial island on the sea feature to stake its claim to the disputed territory.

China said the U.S. illegally trespassed into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government, according to a statement from the Chinese militarys southern command.

Outside of the military maneuvers, Kuo said he was worried about the announcements from Fujians Maritime Safety Administration from last week, when it said it would conduct on-site inspections of cargo ships and working vessels in the Taiwan Strait as part of a patrol exercise.

First theyll target ships traveling between the Strait, then they will target any international ship, he said. Gradually this will become the de facto new status quo.

One of the U.S. representatives who attended the meeting with Tsai last week said Saturday the U.S. must take seriously the threat China poses to Taiwan. Republican Mike Gallagher, chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on China, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island governments defenses, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan.

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Citizenship ceremonies are emotional and personal experiences, especially for those of us who had the privilege of participating in one. The Department of Citizenship and Immigration is contemplating an end in-person citizenship ceremonies in favour of a secure online solution.

I still remember the citizenship ceremony that I had to attend when I proudly became a Canadian citizen in 1975. I was with my wife and son, all dressed up in our finest (Hugo Boss suit for me), lined up with new Canadians of all backgrounds, happily showing off the Canadian flags.

When the time came to sing the newly memorized national anthem, I was so emotional that my eyes welled up with tears. Every Canada Day, I still have visions of my heartbreaking citizenship ceremony experience.

I am horrified the government is proposing to abolish this special welcoming in-person citizenship ceremonies with an administrative online box and do away with a group singing O Canada.

The fact that Canada, the most friendly and welcoming nation in the world, would resort to a computer-oriented system to announce its citizens is appalling. Ceremonies in everyones life, be it a birthday or a retirement party, play an important part, signifying milestones in their lives.

A former minister of immigration under then Prime Minister Jean Chretien was so upset that he wrote an op-ed for this newspaper, calling it an insult. For years, my parents would recount how momentous and meaningful (the ceremony) was. Why would government want to rob future citizens of this feeling of attachment?

Another prominent defender, former Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson, also a former refugee and presided over a few citizenship ceremonies herself as an Officer of the Order of Canada, said she was horrified by the proposed change.

Tareq Hadhad, a Syrian refugee famous for founding the Nova Scotia-based chocolatier Peace by Chocolate, described Canadian citizenship ceremonies as the magical rituals that bring together everyone (new and old citizens) to celebrate the true meaning of the Canadian dream.

We cannot afford to lose the significance of this celebration of belonging nor can we diminish the value of Canadian citizenship, he added.

Credit should, however, be given to the government for moving a notch forward toward reconciliation of Indigenous Peoples by officially recognizing them.

The new language of the oath reads: I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of Canada, his heirs and successors and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada, including the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples, and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.

All Canadians and would-be citizens should protest the proposal to replace citizenship ceremonies with something tantamount to dial a citizen method. Becoming a citizen by ticking the Make Me A Canadian box from anywhere is an impolite method of becoming a citizen of ones country.

Mansoor Ladha is a Calgary-based journalist.

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The names change, but the stories remain sadly and strikingly similar:

A woman is subject to abuse at the hands of her intimate partner. The police and other criminal justice system personnel are notified, but fail to take appropriate action. The abuse escalates. In the worst cases, the woman, or other innocent people, lose their lives. The names change, and the story repeats.

It happened to Daniella Mallia, who was murdered 72 hours after notifying Toronto police last year of the threat her ex-boyfriend posed to her safety. It happened to Anastasia Kuzyk, Nathalie Warmerdam and Carol Culleton, all of whom were murdered in Renfrew County, Ontario in 2015 by a man who had ignored a probation order.

And it nearly happened to Lisa Banfield, who survived a two decade abusive relationship with Gabriel Wortman, the man responsible for killing 22 people in Nova Scotia in 2020. The recently completed Mass Casualty Commission heard that police were for years aware of Wortmans escalating violence, yet failed to protect Banfield or other innocent individuals.

All of these cases reveal critical failures within the criminal justice system. But more than that, they reveal that far from protecting women and other innocent individuals, our over reliance on criminal justice might actually be increasing the risks for survivors of intimate partner violence.

Many women certainly think so, as they worry that calling police will only result in an escalation of violence. Others fear that they might be the ones to end up in handcuffs  much as Lisa Banfield was when she was arrested for supplying Wortman with ammunition.

Despite the popularity of the criminal justice approach, though, research has long demonstrated that survivors of intimate partner violence benefit more from receiving adequate social services and mental health support.

Now, two recent, comprehensive investigations  the Mass Casualty Commission into Wortmans rampage and the coroners inquest into the Renfrew County murders  agree.

Indeed, the commission and the inquest heard strikingly similar stories, and they delivered remarkably similar recommendations. Both advocated for a preventive, whole-of-society approach to addressing intimate partner violence, with a particular focus on marginalized women.

Prevention programs can, in fact, be incorporated into both primary and secondary school curricula, and one Ontario-based measure  the Fourth R program  has been shown to reduce dating violence years into the future.

Furthermore, since non-criminal controlling behaviours  coercive control  often precedes full blown violence, early intervention programs are essential. One such program, currently being evaluated in Peel, pairs police officers with social workers to attend non-criminal domestic situations.

Given the control often exerted over survivors, the reports emphasize the need for economic security, housing, safe spaces and social and mental health services for survivors. And that in turn means ensuring consistent, stable funding for organizations that provide such assistance.

Prevention also involves attending to the mental health of perpetrators and potential perpetrators of violence, and the inquest therefore recommends implementing a 24-hour hotline for those at risk of engaging in abuse.

Finally, both reports take a less than supportive view of mandatory charging policies, which require police to lay charges in domestic violence cases if the evidence warrants it. In fact, the Commission specifically recommends replacing the practice with a woman-centred, preventative approach.

Both the provincial and federal governments have responded positively to the reports, though the extent of their commitment remains unclear. For example, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said theres no question there need to be changes, he also stressed that we will take the time to get those right.

And the provinces February response to the inquest failed to address 29 of the 86 recommendations, including developing a plan for housing survivors, reviewing mandatory charging, and implementing the hotline.

Now to be fair to the feds, the 3,000-page Commission report was just recently released. Yet since the province has had since last June to reply to the inquest recommendations, its response isnt exactly reassuring.

After all, with intimate partner violence at epidemic levels, time is of the essence. Indeed, every day we wait, we risk adding yet more names to the same sad story weve heard all too often.

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Chinese Christians arrive in US after Thai detention

DALLAS: More than 60 self-exiled Chinese Christians who were detained for overstaying their visas in Thailand have arrived in the United States where they will seek permanent asylum in Texas.

religion

By Bangkok Post

Monday 10 April 2023, 10:20AM

Police speak with members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church at a Pattaya resort on Mar 30, after receiving information that the Chinese visitors visas had expired. They left Thailand on Friday (Apr 7) to be resettled in the United States. Photo: AFP

The asylum-seekers arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Friday (Apr 7) night local time with plans to resettle in Tyler, 150 kilometres southeast of Dallas, the Bangkok Post cites the Dallas Morning News as saying.

Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid, a Texas-based Christian human rights organisation, confirmed their arrival in a text message in which he also thanked Thai and US officials for expediting the case of the asylum seekers.

ChinaAid welcomes the landing of the persecuted Chinese Mayflower Church to freedom in America and welcome to Texas, he wrote.

We will not rest until religious freedom is fully realised in China.

The 63 members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church - 32 adults and 31 children - have been seeking to live outside of China for the past three years. They travelled first to Jeju in South Korea and then to Thailand in September last year.

They were staying at a resort in Pattaya when police raided the property on Mar 30 and arrested them for overstaying their visas. The adults were each fined B1,500 and the group was then taken to immigration detention facilities in Bangkok.

The case drew the attention of human rights organisations, who appealed to Thailand not to deport the group as they would face persecution in China.

Two Americans who had been working to resettle the group in Texas said the Chinese families could not get their visas renewed because Thai immigration regulations require Chinese nationals to report to the Chinese Embassy first.

Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Bureau subsequently opened talks with the UN refugee agency and the US Embassy to find a solution for the group.

In Dallas, Deana Brown, the director of Freedom Seekers International in Tyler, confirmed that she was accompanying the group as the church members moved through US immigration procedures at an unspecified location. Because of security issues, she said she could not provide more details.

At the airport, Julie Hu of the Wichita Falls Bible Reform Church and an immigrant from China, chatted in Mandarin with the newcomers. The church of Jesus Christ always wins, she said.
Police deny lack of action over dog pee brawl

PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police have issued a statement to clarify police action taken in a brawl in Thalang that started over a dog urinating on car wheels.

violencepolice

By The Phuket News

Monday 10 April 2023, 11:56AM

The statement issued by Phuket Provincial Police explaining the action taken over the dog pee brawl. Screenshot: Phuket Provincial Police

The incident is currently making the rounds on Thai news channels, showing a video recorded of the fight, with belligerents involved in the brawl accusing police of not taking action in the case.

The incident happened some four months ago, Provincial Police noted in a statement issued late last Thursday night (Apr 6).

Officers became aware of the incident when the two key people involved in the fight presented themselves at Thalang Police Station after the fight to file a formal complaint against each other, accusing each other of physical assault causing injury, the statement noted.

The fight occurred in Soi Thung Chin 2, Moo 5, Srisoonthorn, on Dec 8 last year, at about 8pm.

Police questioned the two who filed complaints as well as witnesses at the scene and people appearing in the video clip.

The fight started over a dog belonging to one of the two men in the fight, who apparently trained it to pee on the wheels of the other mans car, police noted.

After concluding their investigation, police filed charges against eight people in total for their involvement in the brawl.

The five charged with "together harming others until causing harm to the body or mind of others and quarrels in public," were named as: Mr Kamthorn Liponkhet, 45, and Ms Suchaya Liponkhet, 32, both residents at the same address in Moo 5, Srisoonthorn; Mr Anusorn Thongyukong, 32, a resident at a different address in Moo 5, Srisoonthorn; Mr Nattawat Putthimethmuksiri, 35, a resident of Moo 2, Ratsada; and Mr Chatchawan Liponkhet (age and address not reported).

Three people charged with "together harming others without causing bodily harm and quarrels in public," were all men, named as: Chaiwat Seema, 28, and Jirawat Seema, 58, both residents at yet another address in Moo 5, Srisoonthorn; and Piyawat Seema, 31, a resident of Phuket Town.

The relationships between the people charged were not reported.

The person who recorded the video as not involved in the fight, police noted.

The details of the charges were handed to the Phuket Public Prosecutors Office on Jan 11 this year. The case is in the process of consideration by the prosecutor, the police statement read.

The Superintendent of Thalang Police Station confirms that every case has proceeded in accordance with the legal authority [of police] and the notification of allegations against the offenders has considered the evidence completely, the statement continued.

There was no neglect or assistance or intimidation to any party to be punished in any way, the statement concluded.
What is the biggest lesson we have learned from the pandemic?



The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) recently held a news conference in observance of the third year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and 20 years since the SARS outbreak in Canada.

While discussion focused on lessons from the pandemic, and the plan moving forward as we prepare for future pathogen threats, perhaps for the first time, long COVID was treated as a topic of national importance, with funding and support from the federal government.

The Cambridge Times spoke with Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, president of the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP), and Cambridge family doctor on her thoughts about the lessons thus far, and the journey that lies ahead of the ongoing pandemic.

HOW HAS THE OCFP ADAPTED TO NEW KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH ON LONG COVID?

Long COVID is a relatively new condition that we have been dealing with. The OCFP provides educational tools and resources to our members who are family physicians across Ontario. Every few weeks, we offer a COVID community of practice with long COVID expert speakers so that our members can stay up-to-date. We also provide other educational supports so that all family physicians in Ontario can continue learning about long COVID.

HOW CAN PATIENTS APPROACH CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR FAMILY DOCTORS IF THEY SUSPECT LONG COVID SYMPTOMS?

I would say that any patient who has had prolonged symptoms after a known or suspected COVID infection should seek their family physician for an assessment, even if they did not test positive for COVID.

WHAT KIND OF SYMPTOMS SHOULD PEOPLE WITH PREVIOUS INFECTIONS OR SUSPECTED COVID INFECTIONS SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR?

We know that symptoms can vary quite a bit. Long COVID can include fatigue, feeling unwell after exercise, changes or disruptions to routine sleep patterns, shortness of breath, poor concentration, and mental health symptoms like anxiety, and other mood changes. It can be worthwhile to see a family physician and seek assessment if a person is having prolonged symptoms that are bothering them.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST LESSON FROM THE PANDEMIC AS A FAMILY DOCTOR?

We are seeing that patients are presenting with more complex medical issues over the years. Long COVID is one example of a very complicated medical issue that is often best addressed in an ongoing patient-doctor relationship, where a patient has a regular family physician providing care for them. What we have seen in the past few years is that we are facing a crisis in family medicine, where we have quite a large number of patients, but very few doctors.

Our most recent data shows that about 2.2 million people in Ontario do not have a family doctor. What we learned from the pandemic is that a family doctor plays a fundamental role in the patient care journey. There is growing evidence to support that when patients are connected to a family doctor, they have better health outcomes and greater life expectancies.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OCFP PRIORITIES GOING FORWARD?

A No. 1 priority is addressing the crisis in family medicine. There are a number of strategies we are pursuing, primarily recruiting family physicians, and increasing the capacity within the system in primary care.

These strategies are really important because when patients dont have a family doctor, they often end up going to emergency, and this places added strain on the acute care system or the hospital system.

We also need to increase the amount of time that family physicians have to spend with patients. Reducing the administrative workload and expanding team-based care across the province would be effective ways of giving more time back.

Expanding team-based care across the province is particularly important especially when addressing patients who present with complex medical issues, such as long COVID, and that may require different types of care from different medical professionals.

Currently, only 25 per cent of family physicians work in a team-based care setting. We are aiming for 100 per cent of Ontario patients to be connected to a family physician who works in a team so that we can ultimately address the crisis that we are facing in family medicine.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: This article is a continuation of the article 'What is long COVID? Cambridge residents hunt for answers becomes one of Canadas first patient advocacy groups for the disease'.

Have a story that you think represents your community or that impacts Cambridge? Please email mrosalesgerpe@metroland.com.

Correction  Apr. 11, 2023: This article has been edited from a previous version that misquoted Dr. Kumanan. The phrases "via antibody tests" and "for COVID" have respectively been removed from and added to the sentence "I would say that any patient who has had prolonged symptoms after a known or suspected COVID infection should seek their family physician for an assessment, even if they did not test positive (via antibody tests)." The phrase "(of the pandemic)" was also removed from the sentence "We are seeing that patients are presenting with more complex medical issues over the years (of the pandemic)." The Cambridge Times regrets the errors.

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From left: Paul Ming, LYNC director; Boris Emanuel, executive director; Jeff Van Gysel, LYNC director; Steve Wagler, LYNC director and member of 100 Men of Wilmot Who Give A Damn.





Mark Murray got the idea of a group of men coming together to raise money for their community after attending a course in 2017 and learning about the group 100 Men of Peterborough.

When I got home, I looked around and realized that we had a women's organization, the 100 Women of Wilmot Who Care, but we didn't have a men's organization, he said.

In 2018, he founded 100 Men of Wilmot Who Give a Damn.

Murray said this group is ideal for middle-aged men who are busy with life but want to make a difference in their community.

It only takes up about four hours a year, $400 of your own money. But when you put together 125 guys to do it together four times a year, you can make a significant impact in the community, he said.

The group has raised about $200,000 since its inception and has supported about 16 causes within Wilmot Township.

One of those causes is Love Your Neighbour Communities (LYNC), an initiative that was established as a result of the need for affordable housing in Wilmot Township.

In September 2022, LYNC was the beneficiary of $12,500 from the 100 Men group, and Boris Emanuel, executive director of LYNC, said the money set the ball rolling for their project.

Every quarter, 100 Men of Wilmot gather to listen to charities present on why they need the donation and what they'll put it toward. The men then vote as a group and whichever charity gets the most votes receives the funding.

Emanuel said he thinks LYNC was voted for because the men understood the lack of housing crisis in the township and probably had personal experience of losing employees due to the crisis.

He said it's hard for small groups to get funding until theyre well-established and have a reputation, but 100 Men created a stage for new organizations, new groups, and small groups to get started.

Because the 100 Men supported us, a lot of people saw the organization as something they can support personally too. So it was really, really important to get the initial funding, Emanuel said.

The biggest thing that they do and I don't even know if they realize it, is they bring a lot of people together to hear about what's going on in the community, he said, adding that even if charities dont win, people still hear about what they do and will probably still support them.

Some of the other recipients of their donations include the Interfaith Counselling Centre, Wilmot Fire Department, the Forest Glen Public School playground project, among others.

Murray hopes to continue making a difference in the community until hes gone, and has already started bringing his 13-year-old son to meetings in hopes that he'll take it over one day.

His son, Mark Jr., is one of the junior members of the group who donates $10 to charities.

We need to teach the kids about involvement in the community and helping others that are less fortunate or that are in need, Murray said. We need to show them that at a young age, that hopefully as they get older, they're going to want to take it on from their parents and keep going with it.

To learn more about 100 Men of Wilmot Who Give a Damn, visit their website at https://www.100menofwilmotwhogiveadamn.com.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Seeing that the 100 Men of Wilmot Who Give a Damn has raised about $200,000 within four years, reporter Seyitan Moritiwon wanted to speak to them and learn about their impact within the Wilmot Township community.

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The staff at Pilot Coffee Roasters in Uptown Waterloo, from left: Sarah Delaney, manager Mar Otten, Holly Quinn, CEO Bruce Miller and Jessi McLean.







The hoarding for a new cafe in uptown Waterloo says nothing about the worlds best cup of coffee, but the brand boasts the best roasts.

Everybody says they have the world's best coffee, but I can say that with all honesty, because there's something called the Cup of Excellence Award, said Pilot Coffee Roasters CEO and Waterloo native Bruce Miller, during a soft opening held recently.

Internationally, it's a blind taste panel of 120 judges that farmers from all around the world can submit their beans to. They rank them, then we go to the winners and say, You have the world's best coffee; what price do you need to set it at so that you make good profit?

Through direct trade, the company says it ensures premium prices for a commodity commonly traded on the open market go straight into the hands of producer partners profiled on its website.

The variety of coffee bean, climate, soil and altitude of the growing region, along with the care and skill of the farmer, all relate to the depth of flavour, it says.

The coffee must be of exceptional quality and the farmer must be committed to sustainable and ethical practices. In return, we guarantee a price that is at least 20 per cent above the fair trade price.

Founded in 2009 with the goal of introducing specialty coffee to Torontos Leslieville, Pilot Coffee Roasters recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its partnership with the team in Catalan de Las Mercedes, Guatemala, where an education centre for the children of employees is established with proceeds of coffee sales here in Canada.

Nico and Angie are our coffee partners there, and we asked them, What's important to you? said Miller. They said there's not much education outside of a major city in Guatemala and that they wanted to provide education to the kids. So for the adults that are working on the farm, we fund 100 per cent of the education for their children. We fund a licensed teacher and we currently have 26 kids in the class that we provide a free education to.

Since 2020, the company has invested in community projects, with producers in Chimaltenango, Guatemala, and Paicol, Colombia. In Chimaltenango, proceeds support medical pop-ups and health-care facilities. In Paicol, the company funds a road development initiative to improve conditions, increase safety and efficiency for farmers transporting their harvest.

Award-winning coffee beans are imported throughout the year from the worlds finest growing regions and taken to Pilots roastery in Leslieville before being distributed to its 10 cafes and approximately 150 wholesalers across Canada, hitting shelves within days.

From there, the best, fresh cup of coffee can be crafted for any connoisseur, Miller says.

Nutty, chocolatey, fruity? What do you like? he asked, pointing to blends with citrus notes, caramel and cashews, some described as delicate and balanced, others as creamy, buttery, full-bodied or bold.

Pilot Coffee Roasters features five year-round signature coffee blends as well as a rotating selection of single-origin coffees.

The company presents a coffee-making experience with online brew guides spanning various formats as well as useful information about the equipment it sells, and extraction.

The cafe in Waterloo, which opens to the public Monday, April 17, is outfitted in top-of-the-line, Modbar under-counter commercial coffee machines, so the actual making experience is more visible to customers compared to most coffee shops. The Scandinavian design is intended to be clean and simple and will feature both indoor and outdoor seating with an espresso bar, specialty cafes, alcoholic beverages such as craft beers, ciders and a small list of biodynamic wines, as well as a variety of cold brews, tea and baked treats.

With Pilot's opening, there will be 15 coffee shops/bakeries open in the catchment area, according to BIA executive director, Tracy Van Kalsbeek. A new coffee shop always signals positive economic growth, she said.

And, with continued growth here, Pilot Coffee Roasters will have greater impact abroad.

Since opening in Toronto, Pilot Coffee Roasters has supported the Red Door Family Shelter, donating $1 from every bag sold of its seasonal holiday blend, fundraising for Coldest Night of the Year and offering staff paid volunteer shifts.

The company has earned a number of accolades during the last 12 years including a place on the Growth 500 list (Canadas fastest-growing companies), several design awards and great-place-to-work certification.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: A new coffee shop is opening in Uptown Waterloo and the Chronicle attended the soft opening to learn more.

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WATERLOO  Prohibited guns, stolen vehicles, cash and cocaine are among the items police seized from a Waterloo home after an extensive investigation.

Last year, Waterloo Regional Police launched an investigation after learning of fraudulent activity related to registering stolen vehicles.

On April 5, police conducted a search of a home on Preakness Street in Waterloo and seized a number of items, including:

Three prohibited handguns, including two that were modified for fully automatic fire;

Two prohibited rifles (AR-15 and AR-10 style);

Prohibited ammunition magazines;

Ammunition;

Stolen Ford 2019 F-150 Raptor and 2016 Mercedes-Benz, that had new VIN (vehicle identification numbers) added (valued at about $100,000);

Stolen trailer and all-terrain vehicles (valued at about $75,000);

Suspected cocaine;

Tools used in drug trafficking;

Currency.

A 26-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman are charged with fraudulent concealment, four counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a weapon, possession for the purpose of a Schedule 1 substance (cocaine), and four counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

Both were held for a bail hearing.

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In a state reserve on the Yucatan Peninsula, in southern Mexico, eight women work under the sun. While two of them push a wooden boat loaded with heavy sacks of mud and sediment through the swamp, the rest split up into pairs, sewing and spreading out the tarquinas  hand-woven meshes  about two feet from each other in the middle of the mangroves.

This is an artisanal yet sophisticated system, by which several wooden sticks are propped up with a hammer. These sticks will serve as support for the nets, into which the women will pour the mud. Days later, when the mud is settled, they will carefully plant red mangrove seeds.

For 13 years  and with a lot of patience  this group of 18 women (between the ages of 27 and 84) have built a mangrove barrier on the northern coast of Yucatan. This project is helping to recover ecosystems that had been lost due to environmental degradation and urban development.

Las chelemeras  as they are known, for these women of Mayan origin hail from Chelem, a small fishing village  have helped restore the mangrove forests. These forests have the ability to slow the rising sea levels, especially when hurricane season hits, and capture large amounts of carbon dioxide.

Here, when we get [busy], we forget about the world, says Keila Vazquez, in a carefree tone. Aged 43, she is the leader of the group.

Each morning, the women head into the swamp and gather beside the canoe trail in the city of Progreso, awaiting instructions from Vazquez. They are outfitted in hats, gloves, blue T-shirts (with the outline of the restoration project printed on them) and shorts over skintight leggings that are tucked inside shiny rain boots to keep out the mud.

'Las chelemeras' install nets to protect the mangrove in Progreso, Yucatan. Gladys Serrano

For the group, the leadership of this calm woman  who is less than five feet tall  is unquestionable. Without raising her voice, in a sweet tone and Yucatecan cadence, dragging out the vowels, she tells them the days plan: Right now, were in this part here, says Vazquez, pointing to the drawing on the T-shirt of one of her companions, which represents the different depths of the mangrove that they are restoring. Its the second stage make some tarquinas so that the part that is deepest lines up, she tells them.

At other points in time, weve done different tasks, such as [digging] water channels. There was no water before  it was a dry place, she explains.

In the decade that theyve been working in this area, Las chelemeras have managed to restore more than 60% of the state reserve of swamps and mangroves on the north coast of Yucatan, according to biologist Claudia Teutli. Next to the canoeing track  where the elderly women weave the nets  theres a sign that reads, 91.2 hectares of restored vegetation as a habitat for more than 70 species of birds.

The resources havent been consistent, Teutli admits. But weve still had a 60% success rate. There are image analyses in which you can see how the vegetation cover has increased. I think that, by now, it should be more, because its worked quite well.

A doctor in environmental sciences and technology from the National School of Higher Studies of Merida, Teutli has accompanied Las chelemeras, alongside Dr. Jorge Herrera, from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies in Mexico City.

Today, [these women] are biologists, ecologists they understand the hydrological processes and the plants, says Dr. Teutli.

Their work provides a lesson for the entire community. When Las chelemeras return home, they teach their families the importance of caring for the environment, trying to raise awareness among their neighbors. But it wasnt always like this.

Although their project is now a benchmark in Mexico  which contains the fourth-highest amount of mangroves in the world  before entering the swamp, the voice of these women went unheard.

As housewives, they didnt contribute to the family economy. Now, [environmental] restoration actions are part of their way of life, Teutli says. They contribute economically to their families. Theyve changed the perception that women cannot work and have transmitted their knowledge in a 13-year-long process. [Today], some of their sons and daughters are pursuing university degrees related to ecology.

Italia Lira, 63 and Antonia Pech, 77, sew the nets that 'Las chelemeras' use in the process to regenerate the mangroves, off the coast of Progreso, Yucatan. Gladys Serrano

Las chelemeras came to the mangroves by chance. Before, they say, they werent even aware of the importance that the forests had for biodiversity  they lived with their backs to them. But in 2010, when the local authorities offered new job opportunities to help restore the mangroves, fishermen were in high demand.

The government thought, the women recall, that the men would be better-suited for long days in the sun, in swampy terrain that can swallow you knee-deep as you walk. But the work conditions that were initially offered  a minimum wage of just over 60 pesos, or $3  didnt appeal to their husbands. So, the wives of the fishermen decided to step forward.

Today, not only have they managed to carry out a powerful project, but sometimes, when the waters are stormy or the catch is low, they bring home more money than the men.

It wasnt easy at the beginning. Sometimes, when the group traveled by public transport after doing the work here, [people] would make faces at them, because of the smell of mud and because the community was unwilling to work here. But now, [the attitude] has changed, Vazquez acknowledges. The residents of the coastal towns eventually saw the radical transformation taking place in the swamps.

Before, it was a dirty, ugly fjord, says Regina Chim Batun, one of the oldest in the group, when she recalls the first mangrove swamp that they regenerated in Yucalpeten, just over three miles from the one they are currently restoring. Disorderly urban development led to the construction of infrastructures that cut off the natural flow of water from the swamps. Sometimes, the local populations even used the swamps as a dump. This brought about the end of life in the ecosystem. But now, thanks to the restoration, there are, once again, dozens of species of birds, fish, mosquitoes even flamingos and lizards. In fact, when they leave the mangroves, Las chelemeras take bags of chivita snails, with which they can make a ceviche for dinner.

To achieve this transformation, a forensic ecology process was carried out  or the CSI of the mangroves, as Teutli calls it. Shes a big fan of the crime show.

You have to identify the causes of why [the ecosystem] died, she explains. We have to evaluate how the vegetation is, how the hydrological flow is, the topography... all those components that are essential for the system to work.

Once the problem is identified, the actions to be taken are determined, which can range from regenerating optimal conditions for the mangrove, to reviving reforestation processes.

When conditions improve, the ecosystem responds on its own. Reforestation, for us, is the final action in the regeneration process, the biologist says.

The regeneration of the Dzinitun mangroves, in Celestun, was the pioneering project on the north coast of Yucatan. Started in 2007, the initiative managed to recover a good part of the mangrove cover in this area. This meant that many residents of the community  who were traditionally dedicated to fishing  were able to begin working in ecotourism. Gladys Serrano The regeneration work began with the support of the Jica  the Japanese Cooperation Agency. But, as explained by the president of the Dzinintun Mangrove Cooperative, Mauricio Dzul, at first, the restoration process didnt work, because they were given plants to reforest that had been raised in nurseries. They died upon being transplanted to the swamp. 3,000 or 4,000 shrubs died. Everything was dying," he recalls. Gladys Serrano The community began to make channels to maintain the flow of water from the mangroves. Under these improved conditions, the mangroves can be reforested naturally. When the wind spreads the seeds, they find an ideal environment to reproduce. Gladys Serrano One of the fishermen who became a tour guide is Jose Efrain Perez Lara, who conducts tours through the Dzinintun Mangrove Cooperative. He says that hes seen around 160 species of birds and more than 60 different species of fauna in the area, in addition to the four types of mangroves: white, black, red and buttonwood. Dan Van Pelt (Getty Images/iStockphoto) "There are also orchids and palo rojo  a poisonous tree that can disfigure your skin if it touches you," warns tour guide Perez Lara. Gladys Serrano Tourists who visit the mangroves can canoe through natural tunnels made by forests. They can see all kinds of animals, from various species of birds, to pink flamingos or lizards. The president of the cooperative  Mauricio Dzul  now dreams of being able to increase the ecotourism infrastructure with food and accommodation options for tourists, so that they can enjoy the place more. While there were facilities built in the past, he explains that they have been lost due to mismanagement. Gladys Serrano Tourists continue to come to enjoy nature at the Ria de Celestun Biosphere Reserve. Pink flamingos are a big attraction. Janek (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Tour guide Efrain Perez always insists on making visitors aware that they must protect the mangroves. "They must be aware and appreciate that it offers ecosystem benefits, such as being a barrier against hurricanes. Its [also] a fish hatchery area, a refuge for birds and flora. It can also absorb carbon dioxide... more than the rainforests!" Gladys Serrano After the hard work of regenerating the mangrove  which started more than 13 years ago, as a communal process  today, only maintenance work needs to be done. Gladys Serrano Tour guide Efrain Perez points out one of the mangrove trunks along the path. Tourists walk past it on foot, before getting into the canoes. "What most attracts [peoples] attention is the height of the mangroves. And the tranquility when entering the tunnel. Some tourists close their eyes to enjoy the sound. Gladys Serrano

Las chelemeras havent overseen the only successful mangrove regeneration project on the north coast of Yucatan. There are other groups in coastal towns  such as Celestun, Dzilam or Sisal  that have carried out similar processes. However, this is the only operation that is made up entirely of women and has become the local areas benchmark.

The success at the social level has been that they have passed on the knowledge to others there is more respect for the mangrove, because before, [locals] saw it as a garbage dump, explains Teutli. And, while they have made huge gains in the restoration process  partly with resources obtained through governmental compensation, or thanks to international cooperation  Las chelemeras are already thinking of alternative methods to finance themselves, such as the production of black mangrove honey and ecotourism.

Teutli also highlights the impressive level of organization of the group. They insisted that older people be given work, [even though] some funders view it badly, because they believe they should be resting. But were in a country where, unfortunately, not everyone has a pension, she explains. The group decided that the younger ones would do the most physically demanding work, while the older ones would help with the less strenuous tasks.

Members of 'Las chelemeras' before entering the sea with sticks, to mount tarps in the mangrove swamp. Gladys Serrano

On the shore, the four elderly women who knit the tarquinas share their love for what they do. At 71, Im still working. Theres a lot of work, thank God. We like to work and have fun. You forget [your thoughts] and you de-stress, says Regina Chim Batun. This is how weve managed to get ahead a little bit. Sometimes, visitors come and ask us how we do it: [they tell us] how beautiful [the mangroves] are, how green, how nice that we plant them, she says proudly. She reveals that the secret to their work is to have a lot of patience.

Before working in the mangroves, Chim Batun was a street vendor. I used to make my pork rinds, my corn, my apples, my popsicles, coconut pies, cheese pies, coconut cream, blancmange. She continues to make food on the weekends but her daughters are now the ones who go out and sell.

For her, taking care of the mangroves is like taking care of another child. Thats why it bothers her so much when she sees that some communities mistreat them, or use them as a dump.

How do we want to see our children? Watching them grow, supporting them, caring for them... a plant is like a child. If you come and step on it, what can you do? You already managed to plant it and then [someone] comes and disrupts it, she laments.

For Vazquez, the greatest satisfaction is seeing the mangroves grow. But also seeing how, thanks to their efforts, Las chelemeras  women who were mostly housewives without higher education before joining  have managed to change their lives. Seeing that your work has a non-economic value, that it has importance, that you are leaving a little bit of a mark on this world, makes us feel proud.

When shes not in the mangroves, Vazquez is usually in charge of a grocery store in Chelem. She is also the mother of three children between the ages of 18 and 23. One of them is studying biology and thinks she can follow in her mothers footsteps.

Because of her position as leader of the group, Vazquez is often at working meetings with scientists, attending to the press, or receiving awards in Mexico City. She has noticed how the work in the mangroves has also changed her relationship with her family.

Before, I would ask my husband for permission to go out. Now, I just let him know. We are empowered.

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WATERLOO  Waterloo Regional Police have made an arrest after what police describe as a hate-motivated incident on a city bus.

On April 4, a man on a bus near Seagram Drive and University Avenue West yelled racial slurs at passengers and brandished an edged weapon, police said.

Investigators appealed to the public to identify the man. On Friday, police made an arrest in the case.

A 53-year-old man is facing charges of criminal harassment, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and breach of probation.

Hes scheduled to be in court on May 15.

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WATERLOO REGION  The Region of Waterloo is looking at a road safety plan this year that could install raised crosswalks or flashing beacons at roundabouts, and promote increased safety around Ion trains.

Were looking at piloting potentially raised crosswalks at roundabouts, and the idea is that raising the crosswalks forces motorists to slow down, Darryl Spencer, manager of traffic engineering, told councillors at a recent regional committee meeting.

Flashing beacons with accessible pedestrian signals are also being considered to improve pedestrian safety and get more drivers to yield to them at roundabouts, Spencer said.

Regional staff will carry out a more fulsome review of lighting and other measures at roundabouts this year. The road study also includes other priorities such as social media campaigns around light rail transit.

Last December, a 72-year-old Waterloo man was struck by a car in the busy roundabout of Ira Needles Boulevard and Erb Street West.

Regional transportation commissioner Mathieu Goetzke said that roundabout, in a busy commercial area, may not be the best candidate for additional lighting because a flashing light saturates the drivers mind and wouldnt add anything from a visibility standpoint.

Cambridge Mayor Jan Liggett said she worries about motorists not having enough time to see pedestrians trying to cross the roundabout.

There are roundabouts in my community where its very difficult to see a pedestrian and if I ever hit one, I dont think Id ever get behind the wheel of a car again, she said.

The region has 38 roundabouts and plans to add 19 more before the end of 2026. The first roundabout in the region opened in 2004.

Data shows that safety and comfort around roundabouts, especially for pedestrians, appears to be increasing, Spencer told councillors.

Our statistics are showing that pedestrians are getting hit a little bit less frequently at roundabouts compared than they are in traditional traffic signals, but there is a perception out there that theyre not safe, he said.

Roundabout design and construction often fails to plan for pedestrians who are blind or have limited low vision, said Wilmot Mayor Natalie Salonen.

Many people learn alternate travel routes to avoid encountering a roundabout, she said.

She would like to see more focus on the design of roundabouts to serve vulnerable pedestrians.

The region doesnt have a lot of tools in the tool box and designs need to evolve to become more inclusive, Spencer said.

I dont think thats acceptable, to go back afterwards and try and consider people. Right now, were at a point where we can be considering people in our design plans, and I dont think that they should be an afterthought in our community intentionally excluding them, Salonen said.

As a visually impaired wheelchair user, Coun. Chantal Huinink said she uses roundabouts all the time, and I likely use them without thinking because I cant see how dangerous they are.

Adding lights wont necessarily improving accessibility for those who cant see them, she said.

The region operates a 700-kilometre road network that has 530 signalized intersections and 38 roundabouts. On average, there are about 6,000 collisions a year on regional roads, including 1,500 collisions where people get hurt.

Those are really big statistics, really concerning statistics, said Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe, who referred to two recent collisions between pedestrians and the Ion.

On March 8, a 16-year-old Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute student was hit by an Ion train when he was walking on Charles Street in front of the school. He was airlifted to a Hamilton hospital.

Three days later, an Ion train struck and killed a 49-year-old man near Bearinger Road in Waterloo.

I think its really imperative that we do as much as we can around road safety because of the consequences, McCabe said.

Councillors were also told about a modern, more bicycle-friendly roundabout design used in the Netherlands. The Dutch-style roundabout has a bicycle ring around the outside of the roundabouts vehicle lanes, allowing cyclists to navigate the roundabout safely in their own space.

Changes would need to be made to the Ontario Highway Traffic Act before similar roundabouts could be constructed here, Spencer said.

The region also plans to increase the number of speed cameras in schools zones this year. To date, there are 16 locations with automatic speed enforcement. One camera rotates among 16 school locations.

During budget talks, councillors voted to increase the program, bringing the total number of school sites to 32. Analysis shows speeds have reduced from one km/h to 15 km/h. On average, motorists slow down by five km/h because of the speed camera.

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When Alex Bielak first came to Waterloo Region 44 years ago, there were very few good restaurants in town.

But that has changed dramatically.

As a keen expert observer of the food scene here, he has watched it grow to keep pace with a rising, more diverse and sophisticated population.

For eight years, Bielak has written discerning, insightful restaurant reviews for this newspaper. Now, those are coming to an end. His last column will be published Thursday online, and on Friday in print. He has some other projects in mind, and his food blog, Food For Thought, will continue on Facebook.

In a recent conversation at his Waterloo home, Bielak dished on the many changes hes seen since he first arrived here in 1979 to work on his PhD in salmon biology at University of Waterloo.

He recalls a few good restaurants that were here in the early 1980s, including the Charcoal Steak House, Casa Rugantino and Janet Lynns (which back then was in downtown Kitchener with tables so small, bread baskets were raised and lowered from the ceiling by pulley).

Bielak left for the Maritime provinces after completing his doctorate, but returned to this area in 2013.

Things were ramping up.

Jonathan Gushue, the chef who had put Langdon Hall in Cambridge on prestigious lists of the worlds best restaurants, opened The Berlin restaurant in downtown Kitchener in 2015.

All of a sudden, we saw Toronto people coming to Kitchener to eat, said Bielak, who especially remembers the brunch menu with its leg of lamb, leek and Gruyere spaetzle, and bay scallop ceviche with pink grapefruit and celery.

We had a moment there, he said. It was all glorious.

Gushue left The Berlin after three years, and the building became an upscale pub called The Rich Uncle. But Gushue had trained other chefs, and left a lasting impact.

By then there was more depth in the local food scene, including what Bielak calls diaspora cuisines. The region was becoming more diverse as enormous numbers of international students came to the college and two universities.

That prompted the arrival of food stores like T & T in Waterloo and a wide variety of restaurants from luxurious The Grand Mehfil to the deliciously informal Pulao Gals at the Kitchener Market.

Bielak, whose parents were Polish immigrants to the United Kingdom and owned a Polish deli in West London, expressed admiration for the individual entrepreneurs who are really good at pursuing their passions and who have built the food ecosystem here.

Its a long list that includes the owners of Aura-La Pastries and Provisions in Kitchener, the organic wine bar Goldies Convenience in Kitchener, and top-quality butchers such as Bradys Meat and Deli in Waterloo and Stemmler Meats in Heidelberg.

The traditional German art of butchery is well practised here and its one of the natural blessings of the region, he said.

During the pandemic, some of these same individual entrepreneurs had to be nimble. They had to restructure their menus, adapt to ever-changing protocols, change their business model, and somehow survive when theyd stocked up on perishables, only to find they would have to close in yet another shutdown.

A high point for Bielak was when Conestoga College hosted chef Davy Tissot last fall. One of the worlds best chefs and a superstar in France, Tissot won the prestigious international Bocuse dOr prize in 2021. Its the equivalent of an Olympic gold medal for gastronomy.

Tissot cooked and lectured at the college, which is the only hospitality education program in Canada affiliated with the Bocuse Alliance. He spoke to an audience of business owners, chefs, staff and students. Bielak said that during Tissots tour of southern Ontario, he expressed admiration for the quality of apples in this country, and wished he could get apples with taste and texture like that in France.

As excited as Bielak is about what has happened here, he thinks the region can do even better  and he challenges it to promote itself better, too.

Hed like to see an expanded Ribfest, a regular Top Chef competition, and a huge comprehensive festival of local food  Taste of Waterloo Region  to draw tourists.

Why shouldnt we? he asks.

Luisa DAmato is a Waterloo Region-based staff columnist for The Record. Reach her via email: ldamato@therecord.com

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They remain, even in their 90s, indomitable, strong, resilient.

Most of their husbands have passed away, and their grown children  some retired  have kids and grandkids of their own.

But 70 or 80 years ago, in a world very different than the one we inhabit today, these solid matriarchs with stiff upper lips were teenagers in a world at war, doing their part in the face of societal hardships few of us can imagine.

Flashback 1941: pre-Internet, pre-TV. Hitler is on the loose in Europe and Canadian soldiers are overseas, defending democracy in the most visceral way.

But with men off fighting, theres a shortage of farm labour in Ontario, putting the food supply chain in danger.

We cant fight if we cant eat! declares a fictional soldier in a recruitment ad for the Ontario Farm Service Force.

We wont eat if YOU dont help Ontario farmers THIS SUMMER!

Meet The Farmerettes, thousands of young women  aged 16 to 18  who rose to the challenge, working long, hot summers from 1941 through 1952, picking cherries and peaches, tying tomato plants, weeding, doing whatever agricultural labour was necessary to keep farms productive.

Mind you, there was more than patriotism at play.

I dont think we were there because we were trying to help the war effort, notes Guelph resident Gloria Carter, a plain-speaking 92-year-old who recalls the two summers she worked at farms in Stoney Creek and Grimsby as almost like a summer holiday.

We were there because it was a nice environment. And it got us out of writing exams.

Gloria Carter, 92, of Guelph, holds a photo of herself at age 15. She is on the left, standing with friends. Mathew McCarthy, Waterloo Region Record

Its one of those quirks of history. The official recollection is one of sacrifice and commitment.

The reality had more to do with the tedium of schooling and, given that they were teenagers, the siren call of adventure.

I think when youre 16 years of age, you certainly dont really have a great loyalty to God and country, points out Guelph resident Betty-Lou Clark, a scrappy 94-year-old who picked asparagus one war-torn summer at a farm near St. Catharines.

Chemistry was not what I wanted to do a final exam on.

But as Clark and other dogged volunteers would later learn, the programs real value had more to do with character building than picking peaches.

It gave us a sense of independence, says Carter, recalling her great adventure.

Because most of us had never been away from home. We were healthy, out in the fresh air every day, all tanned up. We learned we had to look after ourselves. I think that was the first money I ever made, but it really didnt matter.

Teenagers in the 40s, its worth noting, were no different than teenagers of today: restless, energetic, eager to escape the watchful eye of parents, even if the social restraints were greater.

It was my first time being independent and having to make decisions for myself, says Clark, who recalls the sheer joy of being on my own.

It was hard work, but at 16, youve got a hell of a lot of energy.

Betty Lou Clark, 94, at her friend's rural property near Moffat. Mathew McCarthy, Waterloo Region Record

Its hard to convey the distance of almost 80 years in a newspaper story, but hearing women in their 90s talk about their teenage days with the razor sharp precision of bank tellers and brain surgeons, you realize the difference between then and now isnt much at all.

We went out on the 19th of May for three months, recalls Listowel resident Miriam Carter, whose memory of picking cherries in the summer of 44 seems almost photographic.

We had to work hard and long, 7 to 12 and 1 to 6, 10 hours a day, for 25 cents an hour. It was the best summer I ever had. I made so many friends.

On weekends they would hitchhike to St. Catharines for a movie and cherry Coke or take a ferry to Toronto for lunch at Simpsons.

Miriam Carter, 96, holds a photo of herself at when she was a farmerette, at her Listowel home, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Mathew McCarthy, Waterloo Region Record

On one memorable outing, they became stranded in Hamilton when a heavy fog rolled in over the harbour.

You could hardly see, says Carter, who recalls being rescued by a man in a Model A Ford.

It was a real pea-souper!

Carter is 96 now, looking forward to an 80-years-in-the-making reunion at the Kitchener Public Library on April 15, a reminiscence event that will see Farmerettes from across Ontario sharing stories, memories and personal experiences.

Which would not be happening if Exeter author Bonnie Sitter hadnt come across an unmarked photo of three young women in farm clothes sitting on the running board of a car, while sifting through her late husbands belongings.

Miriam Carter, 96, holds a photo of herself at when she was a farmerette, at her Listowel home. Mathew McCarthy, Waterloo Region Record

All these women are pretty much in their 90s now, says Sitter, who self-published the book Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes with collaborator Shirleyan English in 2019.

Time is running out for them. I talked to a Farmerette from Elliot Lake yesterday at 3 p.m. and got a note this morning from her daughter saying Mom died last night. Thats how quickly theyre going. And theyve never been recognized.

The library gathering  which doubles as research for a Farmerettes play to be mounted in Summer 24 by Millbrooks 4th Line Theatre with producing partner The Blyth Festival  will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to say thank you. If these girls hadnt filled in when the men went to war, there wouldnt have been enough food.

Mary Boucher, 84, in Waterloo. Mathew McCarthy, Waterloo Region Record

If their stories have been given short shrift in the public record, which they have, its for the usual reasons: history has traditionally been written by men, and as members of the so-called Silent Generation, these women were raised to work hard, keep their heads down and not toot their own horns.

They dont want to hear about your past, says Clark of younger family members busy with their own lives.

Theyre living their present. You do things in life, take it for granted, accept it and move on. I had a family and career, put it on the back burner and didnt give it any thought.

The fact Sitter, whose husbands family ran one of the farms that employed Farmerettes, knew nothing about them until she found that unmarked photo, is proof of their historical erasure.

I could have just tossed that picture, she notes. Instead I decided I was going to do some research.

Mary Boucher, 84, of Waterloo, holds a photo of herself and her then-boyfriend and later husband, Bruce Boucher. Mathew McCarthy, Waterloo Region Record

And now, a confession: when I set up this story, I was concerned about the advancing ages of these wartime volunteers: How sharp would their memories be? Would I have to repeat my questions? How mobile would they be for the purposes of taking photos?

But as I discovered through a barrage of all-hours phone messages and emails, with enthusiastic offers to provide snapshots, memories and drive to remote farmhouses for newspaper photo ops, they are a force to be reckoned with, even still.

I was always high energy, confirms Clark, so committed to the program she refused to leave after a wagon transporting her between farm locations hit a pothole, pitched her head first and gave her a concussion.

I really felt I had a relationship at the farm and felt sense of loyalty.

In that brief but intense period of their lives, these women, scattered on farms across Ontario, lived together, worked together, socialized together and, when the program ended, said goodbye as their lives followed predictable paths through marriage, kids, careers and  having outlived most of their husbands  widowhood.

That their fearless younger selves live on as more than vibrant, sepia-tinged memories is testament to the passion that has guided their entire lives.

Just keep going! enthuses Waterloos Mary Boucher, a high-spirited 84-year-old who worked seven summers on a farm in Maryborough Township, starting at age 10, doing everything from housework and meal prep to field duties.

Maybe I learned that at the farm: Dont sit around! Get enjoyment out of doing something and help people!

We had such a hard upbringing. When you get lemons, you make lemonade.

* * *

Surviving Farmerettes will share stories, memories, personal experiences, recollections and photographs on April 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Kitchener Public Librarys meeting room D/E, at 85 Queen St. N. Registration isnt required and the event is free. To attend virtually, register at eventbrite.ca/e/519101826537 for a Zoom link.

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Arms of Kuki outfits looted from designated camp

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OSR and IANS

IMPHAL, Apr 9 : Less than a week after the Government branded the leader of Kuki Independent Army (KIA) Thangkhongam Haokip alias Davidson (40) wanted, a suspected 15 member squad of the outfit looted at least 25 sophisticated guns and ammunition from the designated camp of three Kuki militant groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with the Government.On April 4 the State police had announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 on providing information regarding the whereabouts of Thangkhongam Haokip alias Davidson (40) s/o Letkhosei Haokip of Matijang Khopi, Churachandpur.According to police, the suspected cadres of KIA looted the armoury of Horeb Camp set up at Chongkhozou Village under Henglep Sub Division, Churachandpur last night at around 7.30.The armed squad reportedly led by the commander in chief of KIA Davidson Haokip overpowered the cadres stationed at the designated camp before looting the guns and ammunition.Around 25 Kuki militants belonging to three different outfits viz United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA), Kuki National Front-Zogam (KNF-Z) and United Socialist Revolutionary Army (USRA) are staying at Horeb Camp.According to the sentry of the camp, the raid was carried out by 15 armed persons in combat fatigues at around 7.30 pm yesterday.Saying that they captured him first before taking control of three other barracks, the sentry said that all the cadres at the camp were held captives thereafter.Reportedly, one of the captives managed to cut the rope which tied him from behind after the raid team left and rushed to Chongkhozou Village, following which Churachandpur police assisted by 36 Assam Rifles rushed to the camp.As per the report, the raid team seized one SLR, 7.62 mm pistol, two 0.32 mm pistols, one 9 mm pistol, one 0.65 pistol, one 9 mm country made pistol, one AK-47, two lethode bombs and ammunition from the barrack of UTLA.The weapons looted from the barrack of KNF-Z were AK-56 (3), 0.303 Rifle (1) and one 7.62 pistol along with a large cache of ammunition while from the barrack of USRA two carbine magazines, 12 rounds of SBBL, 126 rounds of 7.62 mm pistol and one telescopic sights.The Manipur-based KIA is a non-signatory of the tripartite ceasefire pact with the Government.According to a police official, the KIA guerrillas in large number attacked and overpowered those at Chungkhao designated camp in Churachandpur district bordering Myanmar.The KIA rebels along with the looted weapons managed to flee from the mountainous area without any bloodshed.A high alert has been sounded and the police authority has asked all the police stations concerned to remain vigilant to recover the looted weapons and to nab the fleeing rebels.The mountainous Churachandpur district in southern Manipur, which borders Myanmar and Mizoram, is home to various Kuki-Chin militant groups.The looting of weapons from the designated militant camp took place three days after the Manipur police announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for any person, who provides information leading to the arrest of KIA chief Thangkhongam Haokip aka Davidson aka Pareng Kom (40).The militants of three outfits have been staying in the designated camp after the Centre and Manipur Government had signed the tripartite agreement and SoO with these outfits on August 22, 2008.The Manipur Government last month withdrew from the tripartite talks and SoO signed with three Kuki militant outfits in the North Eastern State even though the Union Home Ministry is yet to give its approval to the State Government's decision.It was also reported that the cadres of KNA, ZRA and KRA are instigating poppy cultivators in the State, while the State Government has been taking action against illegal poppy cultivators, and destroying poppy fields in the forest lands, especially in the reserve and protected forests.However, an umbrella organisation of the Kuki outfits has dismissed the accusations.
Thirteen years in the making Story of Civil Secretriat

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Thirteen years is a long time. A child born back in 2010 would now probably be in Class VII or Class VIII working well in advance for the first important public examination, the Class X Board examinations two or three years hence. The new civil Secretariat at Mantripukhri along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway or National Highway 2 is now 13 years old in the making and God knows when it would be fit to be opened to house important offices of the State Government. Thanks to the ruling of the Manipur High Court to complete the construction work of the new Secretariat within 3 months, attention of many must have been drawn to the long, long time it has taken to build the new structure and it remains to be seen how the State Government and the work agency concerned go about to meet the deadline of the High Court. To the keen observers, especially to those who have been in the profession of disseminating information to the public, the 13 years in the making line should not come as too big a surprise, for this has been the story of Manipur in one way or the other whenever any new project is being taken up. Remember the story of the Inter-State Bus Terminus and one will get a feel of the point that is being sought to be made here. Work on the ISBT was sanctioned some time in 2009, under the 11th Plan of the North Eastern Council. The needed push seemed to have been given to the construction work for the ISBT was inaugurated on December 3, 2011 and to add a significant line, just ahead of the 2012 Assembly elections back then. That the ISBT was thrown open for public use came only in 2016, that is a full five years later, give or take a few months away after its inauguration should tell its own significant story. Scripting a story of achievement just before the Assembly elections of 2012, is a poser that comes to mind. Fast forward ten years and there is nothing much to suggest that the Civil Secretariat, for which work started in 2010, is also anywhere near completion. From 2010 to 2023 and Manipur has seen a change in Government, with the BJP led Government in office for its second successive term and the question is, what steps have been taken up to complete the construction work of the Civil Secretariat in the last 6 years ? This does not add up to the much tom tommed double engine growth, a line maintained by the BJP.

There has to be reasons why it takes so long to complete any project taken up in Manipur. Has the BJP led Government ever given a serious thought to this ? To keep on pointing the finger at the previous Congress Government or its 15 years in power does not exactly live up to the understanding of looking to the future. Learn from the past is a line that comes to mind and from there look to the future. Coming back to the ISBT, it was thrown open for public use in 2016, a good five years after it was inaugurated and fast forward to 2023 and today the bus terminus is anything but a bus terminus. All the taxis and buses plying on the Imphal-Ukhrul line pick up and drop passengers just outside the ISBT. All buses, Wingers and taxis on the Imphal-Guwahati/Dimapur line drop and pick up passengers from north AOC at the moment. This tells a story, a story that no repair work has ever been taken up after the severe pressure the ISBT came under during the peak of the Covid pandemic when all goods laden trucks had to report there. When is it going to be repaired to allow the buses and taxis to come inside the ISBT and let it function as a bus terminus ? There are the stories which one may read into the 13 years in the making line for the construction work of the Civil Secretariat. Says something significant that the line incomplete projects/works should aptly sum up the Manipur that one knows today.
Today

Rain and snow this morning becoming partly cloudy this afternoon. High 58F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 36F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 64F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
Huawei Technologies Co. is looking to make Riyadh its headquarters for the Middle East amid a push by the Saudi government to position itself as a regional business hub and growing diplomatic and business ties with China, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Chinese company, which already has offices in the Saudi capital and other cities across the Middle East, is in talks with Riyadh authorities to upgrade its presence in the country, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private.

A final decision hasnt yet been made by Huawei, the people said. A spokesman for Huawei declined to comment. The company currently has headquarters for the region in Dubai and Bahrain.

Saudi Arabia announced that from the beginning of 2024 government entities will be restricted from doing business with foreign firms that dont have regional headquarters in the country, as it looks to limit leakage out of its economy and attract foreign investment.

Huawei has been boosting its presence in Saudi Arabia even as the US pushes allies to avoid the Chinese technology firm.

Government officials said about 80 companies had applied for licenses to move their headquarters to Riyadh at the end of last year.

Ties between Saudi Arabia and China have been growing. After a visit to Riyadh last year by Chinese President Xi Jinpings the two countries signed $50 billion worth of agreements.
Lope de Vega wrote in his play, La Circe (1624): Que la sombra de un hombre poderoso / claro en linaje / mil delitos cubre  That the shadow of a powerful man / clear in lineage / covers a thousand crimes. Centuries later, Honore de Balzac would express a similar sentiment: Behind every great fortune lies a great crime. So, what delinquency lies behind Heidi Hortens private collection of jewelry that is to go under the hammer at Christies in May in Geneva? Horten, who died last year, was an art collector and philanthropist who became the richest woman in Austria with a fortune of $3 billion, according to Forbes, thanks to the money she inherited in 1987 from her husband, Helmut Horten, a German businessman and owner of the Horten AG department store chain, who also belonged to the Nazi party and amassed his wealth during World War II.

Heidi Horten met Helmut when she was 19 and he was 51, but the age difference did not stop them marrying six years later. It was thanks to the money that she inherited on Helmuts death that Heidi was able to acquire what is now the largest collection of jewelry ever to be sold by Christies, with pieces including unique creations by Cartier, Harry Winston, Boivin and Van Cleef & Arpels, as well as an important selection of pearls, jade and Bulgari creations from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Her jewelry box even came to hold Marie Antoinettes pearl, which the Austrian heiress bought in 2018 at a Sothebys auction for the record sum of $36 million.

A diamond, sapphire and emerald necklace by Bulgari is one of the items to be auctioned by Christies.

Horten created a very sophisticated collection, combining antique and modern designs from the worlds leading jewelry houses, says Rahul Kadakia, a jewelry expert at Christies. The sale of the collection is expected to exceed $150 million, a record-breaking sum for the auction house. Only twice has a sale made more than $100 million, namely when Elizabeth Taylors jewelry collection went under the hammer in 2011, and, later in 2019, when pieces from Indian royalty were sold.

Among the jewels from Hortens collection are the so-called Briolette of India, a 90-carat diamond necklace made by Harry Winston and originally sold by Cartier in 1909; also in the lot is the so-called Grand Mogul, another pendant necklace by Harry Winston, but in this case fashioned from emeralds and valued at between $500,000 and $700,000. These two necklaces are joined by dozens of brooches, jade earrings and rings such as the so-called Sunrise Ruby, a 25-carat Cartier piece in pink, valued at between $15 million and $20 million.

Christies will present 400 of the 700 jewels in two live auctions at the Hotel Des Bergues in Geneva on May 10 and 12, and in a parallel online sale between May 3 and 15, with another auction to be held in November.

The anticipation regarding the sale has led to a preview tour of the most important pieces throughout the month of April in cities such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vienna, New York, London and Singapore. The proceeds from the auction will go to the Heidi Horten Foundation to fund medical research and other philanthropic activities as well as the maintenance of the museum of modern and contemporary art that the billionaire widow opened in Vienna on June 9, 2022, just three days before her death. A completely unexpected death, the museum said of Hortens demise at the age of 81 at her home on Lake Worthersee in Austria.

A private art gallery shrouded in controversy

Jewelry was not the only piece of art collected by Horten, who married twice more after being widowed in 1987. In the 1990s, she began acquiring modern and contemporary art. The $1 billion she inherited from her husband in 1987 put her on the Forbes list of the 500 richest people in the world and allowed her to expand the couples existing art collection, adding pieces by Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Rene Magritte, Marc Chagall, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. Her first two acquisitions would be a work by the painter Moise Kisling and another by Emmanuel Mane-Katz, bought at an auction in Tel Aviv in 1994.

In 2018, Horten decided to team up with the Leopold Museum in Vienna and present 170 works from her private collection in a temporary exhibition that was called WOW! The Heidi Horten Collection, focusing on American expressionism and pop. That first contact with the art circuit prompted the heiress to pursue one of her dreams and set up her own museum, which was, however, steeped in controversy due to the actual source of her immense fortune. To try to placate the critics, she commissioned a report on her husbands business activities, which concluded that while the magnate took advantage of Nazi policy by acquiring property from plundered Jewish fortunes at rock bottom prices, he hadnt been actively involved in the plundering himself.

Heidi Horten, with an emerald and diamond necklace now up for auction. The Heidi Horten Foundation

I am proud, with my collection and the construction of the museum, to have created something lasting, which future generations will also be able to experience when they visit my museum and take joy in the art that has given me such joy for so long, Horten said. The statement was subsequently uploaded in a post on the gallerys official Instagram account on February 13, on the occasion of what would have been Hortens 82nd birthday.

Hortens gallery boasts a collection of more than 500 works in a 16,000-square-meter historic building in the heart of Vienna, between the State Opera and the Albertina museum, which the collector acquired and refurbished for around $30 million. It is the museum created by a woman who built a fantastic collection in the last 35 years that is now among the 200 most important in the world, Agnes Husslein-Arco, director of the Heidi Horten Collection, said prior to the inauguration. It is a collection whose first pieces were bought in another historic auction at Sothebys in 1996 when, in the space of a few hours, the heiress spent up to $22 million, acquiring pieces by Francis Bacon, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Klee. It is a sum that may also be spent by bidders on her jewelry this time round at Christies.

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Hamilton public school trustees want more details on student suspensions and expulsions to see if identifying factors like race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, special needs and poverty may be playing a role in who is being disciplined.

A motion passed unanimously at the April 3 board meeting directs staff to redraft a recent report on 2021-22 suspensions and expulsions by breaking down data by grade, special education status, gender, and enrolment at nonpriority and high-priority schools.

It also asks the data to be compared with the results of a voluntary student census released last year that probed nine self-identifying factors, including race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, Indigenous identity and country of birth.

The current report provides nearly none of those details, only noting that 233 of 3,902 suspensions in 2021-22 were issued to students identified as exceptional.

It only offers us very shadow depictions of some of what is occurring in our schools, said trustee Sabreina Dahab, whose motion called for more detailed data to align with practices at several other boards, including in Toronto and Ottawa.

She said evidence compiled by the Ontario Human Rights Commission shows that discipline policies disproportionately affect particular communities and her own conversations with dozens of families back that up.

There is an urgency to address this because of historically how these are impacting people in our communities in our schools, Dahab said.

Were losing valuable time to deal (with) and address the root of what is happening to some of the most marginalized students.

Education director Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini said staff will work to provide much of the data by a June deadline set by Dahabs motion, but likely cant do so on identities probed by the student census.

She said shes concerned disclosing the latter will undermine efforts to work with community groups to build trust in the census, which only had a 48 per cent response rate, by ensuring the datas release doesnt create a potentially harmful narrative.

Petrazzini said the census-related suspension statistics will likely be ready by the fall, including on gender breakdowns included in annual reports prior to 2017, which listed student suspensions in male, female, elementary and secondary categories.

The boards understanding of gender has moved forward since then and we want to be responsive to that, she said.

Trustee Todd White, who seconded Dahabs motion, said gender is an important category to understand because reports prior to 2017 showed males were suspended far more often than females.

I appreciate that in the past number of years gender and the definition of gender have evolved, but by losing that data theres still a very telling picture to be told with regards to how gender does affect suspensions and expulsions, he said.

Prior to the motion, trustees heard from three public delegations calling for more transparency on the identities of students being suspended and expelled.

RELATED STORIES Hamilton public school weapon, assault and hate suspensions soar

Eisham Karim said as a parent of three boys and a leader in the Muslim community hes heard many stories about the boards oppressive discipline policies.

Those policies ignore language issues, he said, recounting the experience of an immigrant boy who wasnt provided translation at a suspension meeting and then sent home with a letter his family couldnt understand.

Karim said the boys father said his son no longer wants to go to school.

Unfortunately, this is not just an isolated incident but rather a common experience among hundreds of immigrant families, he said, adding many parents are fearful of dealing with teachers.

Its alarming that the families most affected by the lack of transparency are not being consulted because they are too afraid to engage with the system.

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The HSR is making free transit for kids permanent  and exploring a new low-income fare program that could offer discounted rides to thousands of families.

But the proposed pilot may also mean the end of decades-old voluntary pay options for riders with disabilities who use HSR buses, despite growing calls to expand free transit to more residents in need.

The city started experimenting with free rides for kids aged six to 12  with a PRESTO card  to boost ridership and help families during the pandemic and council is expected to make the program permanent Wednesday. Children under six already ride free.

But the HSR is also looking to pilot a new fare assist program that aims to offer more affordable bus travel to a much higher number of Hamiltonians, said transit head Maureen Cosyn Heath at a recent public works meeting.

The yet-to-be-finalized pilot would use means testing  whether or not your family income falls under the low income after tax threshold  to offer a 30-per-cent fare subsidy to successful program applicants and their families.

Around 88,380 Hamiltonians live at or below that Statistics Canada-measured income line, which is around $26,570 for a single person and up to $84,022 for a family of 10, for example. In theory, that should mean more city residents will be eligible for affordable bus fares compared to the mishmash of currently free or subsidized programs.

But some transit and affordability advocates are calling on the city to go further.

If I cant scrape together two bucks to even ride the bus, a discounted fare is not going to do me much good, said Anthony Marco, president of the Hamilton and District Labour Council.

The labour council is spearheading a Care Fare campaign that calls for free or close-to-free transit for all riders under 18, seniors, disabled residents and those relying on Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program.

It also supported a grassroots election campaign spearheaded by climate group Hamilton 350 last fall pushing candidates to commit to making HSR frequent, electric and free.

Marco applauded the HSR for experimenting within its budget constraints, but expressed hope council will push for more. I dont think a discount is going to do it, he said. Im hoping this council has a bigger vision.

While the fare assist pilot is expected to reach more people, it may also mean the end of some existing free or subsidized fare options.

For example, the proposed pilot would suspend current half-price bus pass offers for low-income residents using OW and ODSP as well as voluntary pay options for some riders with disabilities on HSR buses. No changes are proposed to the golden age pass that provides free bus rides to residents aged 80 and up.

Cosyn Heath stressed the city will consult with stakeholders over the next two months before bringing a final pilot recommendation to councillors in the summer.

But she noted the half-price affordable pass is only being used by about 100 people right now, while the optional pay program for some residents with disabilities was supposed to be temporary when it was last updated in 2013.

Voluntary pay fares for riders with mobility devices have been around in one form or another since the 1990s.

The city ended optional free rides for riders with four-prong canes in 2013 citing concerns about fraud  but a so-called temporary special fare program continued for the last decade for blind residents and those with walkers, wheelchairs and motorized mobility aids.

Its not clear how many residents make use of the voluntary pay option, but the HSR budgets $1 million a year for the program.

Many wheelchair users are reluctant and anxious about the idea of using the HSR at all because limited space means it is common to be left behind, noted Aznive Mallett, who chairs the citys advisory subcommittee for people with disabilities.

But Mallett nonetheless argued the city should continue to offer optional free rides to disabled residents, some of whom are among the citys most marginalized. Ending the program, she suggested, is more about working to save money than working to ensure you have happy passengers.

Bus fares: who pays what?

Adults pay a cash fare of $3.25 and $2.60 with a Presto card;

Kids aged 0 to five ride free;

Kids aged six to 12 ride free with a Presto card (new);

Teens and seniors pay $2.15 with a Presto card;

Seniors aged 80+ ride free with a golden age Presto card;

Residents can choose to ride free on HSR buses if they use mobility devices like a walker, wheelchair or scooter, or if they have a Canadian National Institute for the Blind card;

Low-income residents who are OW or ODSP clients can apply to join the affordable transit pass program that offers half-price monthly bus passes.

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Cardiac surgery is in crisis in Hamilton because of an exodus of key members of the team.

Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) has funding to do nearly 200 more cardiac surgeries a year but cant get to them because so many of the medical professionals who operate heart-lung machines have left.

In fact, HHS is so short of perfusionists that staff from out-of-town hospitals come and work there on their holidays.

The union that represents the profession says a $30,000 signing bonus hasnt been enough to attract more of the scarce specialty to Hamilton. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) says perfusionists at Hamilton General Hospital have worked more than 20 days straight at times to keep cardiac surgery running.

It has resulted in the hospital network no longer offering a last-ditch treatment for the sickest heart and lung patients that became crucial during the COVID pandemic.

It certainly, about a month ago, really hit a crisis point where physicians and HHS recognized that were in trouble and began really working closely with provincial leadership to ensure we maintain service, said Hamilton cardiac surgeon Dr. Richard Whitlock. We are meeting at least once a day to review our cases, our wait lists, things that we can do to mitigate this crisis.

Before the pandemic, HHS had 17 perfusionists. That number dwindled to 12 by August. Now, HHS is down to four full-time perfusionists. A hospital leader says there are four more who are supposed to be part-time but work full-time hours. OPSEU says only three part-time perfusionists are currently working and a fourth has been recruited but hasnt arrived in Hamilton yet.

Theyre working seven days a week ... and no end in sight, said Sara Labelle, chair of the hospital professionals division at OPSEU. Theyre doing it because you have to ... You cant delay patient care  its life-saving procedures and treatment.

The only relief has come from visiting perfusionists who work at other Canadian hospitals but come to help out Hamilton during their time off. Labelle says its an expensive fix as HHS pays them roughly $121 an hour and covers all of their travel and hotel expenses. The aim is to have two a week.

Everybodys doing everything they possibly can to not impact patient care, said Labelle. You have people who are working who are exhausted and running on empty and the potential to make a critical error goes up the longer you work and you dont have a break. People need time to relax. Theres a reason why we take days off. Its so that you recharge your battery and you are working at your best.

The shortage is already having an effect on patient care. HHS is funded for 1,500 cardiac surgeries a year but cant do 13 per cent of them because there arent enough perfusionists or nurses in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Performing 195 fewer surgeries annually has increased wait lists. So far, no patients have had to be transferred out of Hamilton for cardiac procedures but surgical leaders at nearby hospitals have been made aware of the crisis in case urgent cases need to be sent to Toronto, London or other parts of Ontario.

Our wait times have slightly increased, said Whitlock. Were still within the safe zone for patients ... and we have plans in place if we think anybody is in danger. Other centres are there to help us out should the need arise.

The hospital network had to halt treatment used for the sickest patients called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) that takes over the job of delivering oxygen to the body when the heart and lungs are incapable. Hamilton General Hospital started doing the treatment one month before the pandemic hit in March 2020. It is one of only four hospitals in Ontario to provide the last-chance treatment that has been critical during COVID.

Our team did an exceptional job to launch ECMO in the midst of the pandemic, said Leslie Gauthier, vice-president of surgery at HHS. Our physicians are provincial leaders in ECMO and we are very committed to getting it back to where it was prior to the perfusionist shortage.

For now, HHS will look to send any ECMO patients to the other centres  ideally before the treatment begins. If the situation is urgent, ECMO will be started at Hamilton General and the patient will be transferred once they are stable enough.

Essentially we will take care of anybody that arrives on our doorstep that needs ECMO immediately to save their life, said Gauthier. Then we will work with the province for wheres the most appropriate bed for that patient to be in for the long term.

The heavy load that ECMO puts on perfusionists is one of the reasons for so many leaving, said both Gauthier and Whitlock. ECMO patients are the sickest in the hospital and need to be cared for by a perfusionist 24-7.

The stress involved in that really deteriorated and diminished the work-life balance for the perfusionist group, said Whitlock. They see other opportunities in programs without ECMO, with different staffing models and higher pay, and they started migrating away.

A massive wage discrepancy has been raised as another key factor when the shortage first came to light in August. At the time, Labelle said Hamilton perfusionists were being lured to Toronto hospitals paying between $10 and $17 more an hour while also promising less overtime and fewer weekend shifts.

She predicted in August that it was just the start of what was to come as Ontario hospitals competed with each other for what was becoming an increasingly scarce health human resource.

Ultimately, when youre going to be overworked, youre going to go where theres more money, said Labelle. It really does come down to money.

The situation in Hamilton has deteriorated considerably since the summer despite the divide in pay narrowing between the hospitals and an improvement in working conditions. Labelle says that to compete, HHS has used bonuses to get its top hourly wage up to $84 an hour from $58. The hospital network also started giving the perfusionists two days off after they worked seven in a row.

The solution to this is that we have to pay the same wage across the board for all hospitals, said Labelle. And it has to be competitive.

However, wages arent the only divide. Hospitals have also been giving out incentives to compete, including HHS offering a $30,000 signing bonus, said Labelle.

Were a publicly funded system so having competition between centres is not the greatest situation, said Whitlock.

Hamilton General was particularly vulnerable to losing perfusionists to lucrative offers, he said.

The resource became scarce and some centres reacted quicker and started offering incentives and all sorts, said Whitlock. Our group was a young group of perfusionists that werent tied down to Hamilton strongly so they were easily transportable and thats what we saw.

Labelle said the province desperately needs to find ways to attract new perfusionists to Ontario and stop the poaching between hospitals.

We need to recruit people from outside the existing hospitals rather than poaching because this is never going to solve the problem, said Labelle. Were just going to go back and forth and juggle the same exhausted workforce around if we dont come up with a solution for recruitment of new staff into the system.

Labelle also called for the province to open up more training spots for perfusionists as it did for medical schools in the budget tabled on March 23.

Canada only has three schools that offer the specialty  the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences in Toronto, the University of Montreal and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. To be accepted for the training, students must have a bachelor of science degree or higher, or be a practicing registered nurse or respiratory therapist.

Right now, theres insufficient numbers coming out, said Whitlock. There was only 12 last year. All programs are feeling it, but HHS particularly.

Gauthier said HHS is in talks with the Michener Institute about sponsoring some of its own staff for training. However, those that start this fall wouldnt be ready to practice until spring 2025.

There is not a lot of perfusionists available on the market in Canada and internationally theres challenges, said Gauthier.  I really want to encourage people to consider working in the perfusion field.

Gauthier estimates it will be at least a year before HHS is able to turn the drastic shortage of perfusionists around.

Labelle agrees there is no quick fix and worries whether the current workforce can hold out that long.

We dont want anybody leaving the field because theyre overworked and exhausted, said Labelle. We cant afford to lose anybody.

Whitlock said adding to the precarious situation in cardiac surgery is a shortage of ICU nurses.

The pandemic was very damaging on many levels to human resources and the fallout from it has been tremendous, he said. We are in a crisis mode for perfusion ... but when thats solved, we still need more ICU nurses.

Cardiac surgery is on such a knifes edge that Whitlock says even a couple of staff off sick could leave HHS unable to care for urgent patients.

I went into medicine to take care of patients, said Whitlock. Having the stressor of worrying that if two perfusionists go off sick, suddenly Im having to cancel someone where Im concerned about the urgency  weve certainly been feeling that

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A first-of-its-kind partnership between the Alzheimer Society and hospitals in Brantford and Norfolk is keeping dementia patients out of the emergency room.

The Dementia, Resource, Education, Advocacy, Mentorship (DREAM) team aims to intervene early and get people with dementia  and their caregivers  more appropriate support, instead of having patients languish in a hospital bed.

This team jumps in and tells them all about the resources available, and teaches them ways of coping so they dont have to use the emergency room as the first stop when theyre in a crisis, said Jennifer Miller, a project manager with the Brantford Brant Norfolk Ontario Health Team, which funds and oversees DREAM teams at Brantford General and Norfolk General hospitals.

The program launched in Brantford in April 2021 because hospital staff saw burnt-out caregivers bringing their loved ones with dementia to the emergency department as a last resort.

They get fed up, and they dont know where else to go, said Janine Reimer, manager of clinical programs and services with the Alzheimer Society of Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Hamilton and Halton.

Alzheimer Society staff work with hospital employees to identify patients who show signs of cognitive impairment but are not in medical distress.

Those patients, and their caregivers, are told about support services they can access to keep their loved ones with dementia at home and avoid a lengthy hospital stay.

Having us there means they dont have to go anywhere else. We can address their needs in the moment and continue to support them going forward, Reimer told The Spectator.

Available resources from the Alzheimer Society  which can be accessed regardless of whether the patient has a formal diagnosis  include home-care workers who can give family members a much-needed break to run errands or take a nap.

Having dementia specialists in the emergency room means patients can get in and out faster, Reimer added. Instead of having to be restrained due to what can be seen as aggressive behaviour  but is rooted in the patient being overstimulated  the DREAM team can provide sensory devices like noise-cancelling headphones, an iPad, or a fidget blanket to distract the patient so nurses can take blood work and do any needed assessments.

Getting patients out of the hospital quickly has far-reaching ramifications, Reimer noted. The longer a patient struggles in their restraints, the less likely they will be in a state to be discharged. Then they further deteriorate while spending their days in a hospital bed.

And then they cant walk, and then theres no hope left. All they have to look forward to at that point is long-term care, Reimer said.

The collaborative approach has already seen encouraging results at Brantford General  the first hospital in Ontario to launch the DREAM program  and in Norfolk.

In the first 15 months in Brantford, interventions from the DREAM team diverted 156 hospital admissions  more than half of the dementia patients who came to the emergency department  and diversion rates are similar at Norfolk General since the program started there in January.

Its like teamwork makes the DREAM work, Miller said with a smile.

Stephanie Saur, a psychogeriatric resource consultant with the Alzheimer Society who advises health-care organizations as to what dementia-related supports are available locally, sees the difference the DREAM team makes for people living with dementia and their exhausted caregivers who come to Norfolk Generals emergency department.

The earlier connection to services is involved, the less likely the individual is going to visit the ED again, Saur said.

The need for the timely delivery of dementia support services will only increase as the population ages, making partnerships like the DREAM team essential, Reimer said. The program is funded at both hospitals through the end of 2024, and Reimer and Miller are eager to see the model spread to Hamilton and beyond.

J.P. Antonacci s reporting on Haldimand and Norfolk is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. jpantonacci@thespec.com

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Toronto Public Health issued one conditional pass to restaurants, cafes, bakeries, bars and grocery stores on April 6.

Pape Village at 942 Pape Avenue received a conditional pass with three major infractions:

Fail to protect food from contamination or adulteration

Fail to sanitize multi-service articles after use

Handle ice in unsanitary manner

A conditional pass is issued when at least one infraction presents a significant health risk, and a closure is ordered when at least one infraction presents an immediate health hazard. Both outcomes trigger an additional inspection within 48 hours. Failure to comply with Torontos DineSafe program can result in fines, court summons and other enforcement action.

Miss a DineSafe roundup? Find out which restaurants recently made the list

About this story

This story was automatically generated using open data from the City of Toronto. The Toronto Star has no role in collecting, reviewing or analyzing this data, and makes no representations or endorsements about any food premises, or the products or services offered by a food premise. Readers should review any municipal disclaimers located at the citys open data portal.

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Maybe there is someone in distress that needs help. Maybe there is a long delay. Maybe you just need to let your family know everything is okay.

Having cell service on the Toronto subway has become a major public safety issue in the wake of a wave of violence, including four homicides in the past year  most recently the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Gabriel Magalhaes.

Last week, Toronto city council passed a motion by Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie urging the city to call on all cellphone providers to ensure service is available across the subway system and to notify the provincial and federal governments of the request.

But this has been a problem for a decade that has so far seen no solution. Bell, Rogers and Telus have not struck a deal with BAI Communications Inc., the company awarded exclusive rights in exchange for $25 million over 20 years in 2012 by the city to provide the wireless infrastructure and sign up the service providers.

In that time, only Freedom Mobile has signed on.

So what can be done? Are we powerless in the face of Big Telecom? Here are four things that could be done to get cellphone service on the TTC as soon as possible:

1. Get the CRTC involved (4 bars)

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission can order them (the telecom companies) to make a deal  the CRTC can rewrite any telecom contract any time they want completely and totally, said John Lawford, the executive director and general counsel at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre.

He plans to make this submission soon at the CRTC as part of ongoing hearings into outages and public safety.

I think it is a very propitious time to say, well there are certain spaces which have inadequate public safety resiliency and the Toronto subway is number one, he said.

Part of the reason he hasnt made this pitch before it because it is hard to accuse the telecom companies of conspiring not to do something  such as sign on to BAIs network. The public safety need, however, is a clear matter of public interest, he said, and in an ideal world, cellphone service would be available in such spaces at no cost to the consumer.

There is also nothing stopping city council, a concerned group or private citizens from making a complaint to the CRTC themselves. There is a new sheriff in town over there, he said of recent changes at the watchdog. I would expect they would take it seriously.

(The CRTC did not comment on whether they would proactively look at the issue but said anyone can file a complaint at any time).

The city has not directly made requests or complaints to the CRTC about cell service on the subway but has advocated for universal service availability at affordable rates, a spokesperson said.

A complaint might come from a telecom company that feels they are being harmed in some way by the current state of affairs, such as the cost to join the network proposed by BAI being too high, said Bryson Masse, the regulatory and communications adviser at the Competitive Network Operators of Canada.

The problem is most of those potential complainants are the big telecom companies who would see that as eroding their own positions when they have exclusive control of network infrastructure  something known as facilities-based competition, he said, rather than sharing the same infrastructure unless forced to do so by regulators.

2. Transfer the contract with BAI (3 bars)

Montreal has been here before. Around 2010 the Societe de transport de Montreal (STM) was in talks with a Chicago company about a deal similar to the one the TTC signed with BAI  they would provide the infrastructure and the cellphone providers would pay to use it. But the big providers did not sign on  and instead came together with their own deal which has resulted in the Montreal metro system being one of the few to have systemwide cell service.

They want the exclusivity and they dont want to pay the middleman, said Daniel Tsai, a law and technology professor at the University of Toronto

We are currently about halfway through the 20-year, $25-million contract the city signed with BAI.

There is no clause in the contract that allows for penalties or cancellation if they failed to meet targets, TTC CEO Rick Leary told city council last week.

It is, however, possible that one or more telecom companies could strike a deal to take over the contract themselves, which could address their concerns about aged infrastructure that wouldnt be able to handle the capacity.

(Masse is skeptical of the telecom arguments about the need for better infrastructure since ultimately what customers want at this point is to be able to use their phones underground, even in a more basic way.)

2. Public shaming (2 bars)

Are the Big Three putting profits over public safety?

Were in discussions with them right now trying to shame them to get in here, Leary told council ahead of an update expected next month. Because of the social issue thats happening, the security issue, there seems to be more of an interest.

While some members of the public may believe that shame is not a feeling familiar to these companies given, for example, the absurdly high cost of phone plans in Canada compared to the rest of the world, some experts point out this is a particularly vulnerable time for them. The massive Rogers outage last year that even affected 911 service and the prolonged outages on the east coast following Hurricane Fiona have exposed critical failings that left Canadians in danger. The federal government intervened to force the telecom companies to guarantee emergency roaming and other mutual assistance in the case of a major outage.

It is possible that the public safety needs and emotional pleas could prompt one of the big companies to blink and sign on  forcing the others to join them.

Youd have to see if one of the three is willing to break away from the cartel and stand up for Torontonians and their safety, Tsai said, though he thinks there would need to a strong financial incentive.

4. Get the feds involved (1 bar)

The federal government has required 911 service to be available regardless of service provider  and 911 service is available in most parts of the TTC. Are they willing to go further to require cell service on subways? A spokesperson for Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne did not say.

Canadians depend on telecommunications services in all aspects of their lives, and the security and reliability of networks has never been more crucial. In order to support the safety, prosperity, and well-being of Canadians, the Government of Canada is advancing a new Telecommunications Reliability Agenda. This set of actions will improve reliability and better protect Canadians more broadly, she said.

With files from Lex Harvey and The Canadian Press.

Alyshah Hasham is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Reach her via email: ahasham@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @alysanmati

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Queen Street East was packed with at least 50,000 people for the annual Beaches Easter Parade on Sunday that followed the annual Lions Club Easter Weekend Celebration.

Children and families lined the sidewalks, with many overflowing into the street, playing and colouring with chalk just minutes before 2 p.m. The parade started at Munro Park Avenue and Queen Street East and proceeded west along Queen Street East to Woodbine Avenue.

A range of attractions were featured during the event, representing diversity at the citys core, including bagpipes, marching bands, vintage fire trucks, streetcars, an ambulance bus and even a search and rescue boat.

Toronto mayoral hopefuls  Ana Bailao, Mitzie Hunter, Rob Davis, Brad Bradford, Olivia Chow, and Chloe Brown to name a few  were in attendance, as was Deputy Mayor of Toronto Jennifer McKelvie, MPP for Beaches-East York Mary-Margaret McMahon and Beaches-East York MP Nate Erskine-Smith.

The rhythm of waist drummers, who were dressed in yellow cloaks, echoed the neighbourhood, while a marching band playing the infamous and nostalgic Scooby Doo theme song. Meanwhile, other floats shot bubbles through the air, creating a vibrant atmosphere as they were carried away by the wind.

Even people dressed as vikings representing Norseman Construction & Development Ltd. made an appearance. One could even hear the sound of marimbas in the distance.

Anna Robinson, a 67-year-old grandmother, was excited to spend the day with her youngest grandson who is 6 years old. She enjoys spending time with him and often keeps him on weekends.

This weekend was special, she said. We look forward to it every year.

Usually Robinson spends Sundays in church. She knows her grandson enjoys the floats, the bands, and the candy being handed out, and said she felt good after having seen her grandsons eyes light up with excitement.

People sat and watched from different restaurant patios. A bartender from Beaches Brewing Co. said business gets busy when the parade is on. Staff can see the parade through the front window while they serve drinks to customers, many of whom come to watch the parade.

Media spokesperson Andy Buhot of the Beaches Lions Club, the organization that planned the event, said the parade was a huge success this year.

You know, we had a great crowd, the weather held up, so it was very, very good all around. And the crowd was very appreciative.

The masses were larger than anything Buhot had seen since pre-COVID times, and estimated 50,000 to 70,000 people were in attendance.

But planning for the parade was a huge undertaking. Buhot explained that it was a year-round pursuit, with regular meetings to go over what had worked well in the past and what needed improvement. The planning efforts went into full swing just after Christmas, with a tremendous amount of work put in by many different organizations.

The event ranks it among the largest Easter parades in the world, according to the Beaches Lions Club.

The parade was founded in 1967 by community advocate William Gordon Stewart and the East Toronto Community Association to commemorate Canadas centennial year. Originally, it took place on the boardwalk near the beach, but due to increased popularity, it was moved to Queen Street East in 1974. In 1981, after many of its members had active roles in coordinating the parade in years prior, the Beaches Lions Club took over and became the official organizers.

Buhot and the Beaches Lions Club were proud to see Toronto come together, and are already looking forward to planning for next year.

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Toronto police have arrested and charged a man in his late 70s following a series of sex assaults at the Woodbine Casino.

The incidents occurred on April 1 at the Rexdale Boulevard and Highway 27 casino when two women standing at the gambling table were allegedly assaulted.

Orestis Roufas, 77, from Toronto, faces four counts of sexual assault. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 12.

Police say they believe other victims might be and encourage anyone with information to come forward.

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Mexico / Washington -

Mexico / Washington -

Before, it was the wall. Today, its fentanyl.

Amid a deep public health crisis, the radical wing of the Republican Party has made a synthetic drug the cornerstone of its strategy ahead of the 2024 elections. Cheaper, deadlier and harder to detect, fentanyl has established itself as the new protagonist of the war against drug trafficking and of the conflict between the most conservative sectors of the United States and the Mexican government in recent weeks.

From the perspective of Trumpists and other hard-line Republicans, Mexico is to blame for the opioid epidemic. Its the country that doesnt do enough, that protects and embraces the drug cartels. Its also the new political pinata, from which theyre hoping to get a bit of candy.

On the other side of the border, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador doesnt intend to sit idly by  he has no qualms about ridiculing and denying the accusations. He has even mobilized the largest consular network in the world to counterattack and convince millions of Americans not to vote for candidates who espouse anti-Mexican discourse.

As with Donald Trump and the border wall, Republican leaders like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis  a 2024 presidential hopeful  have blamed immigrants for drug trafficking.

We have people crossing illegally from every country in the world. And what has that brought us? Today, the leading cause of death among people ages 18 to 45 is fentanyl overdoses, DeSantis said last year.

According to an Ipsos poll from August of 2022, about 53% of Americans agree that there is an invasion taking place at the southern border, while 39% opine that most of the fentanyl in the United States is being trafficked by undocumented immigrants a percentage that rises to 60% among Republicans, even though its a false claim.

If they dont change their attitude and think that they can use Mexico for their propaganda and political purposes, were going to call for people not to vote for that party, Lopez Obrador warned in March.

The friction between the two countries  caused by insecurity  is persistent. However, the latest dispute began a few weeks ago, when it was announced that four Americans had been kidnapped in the border city of Matamoros. Two were ultimately found dead.

Criticism of the Mexican governments security policy ended up resurrecting the proposal that the United States declare drug cartels to be terrorist groups, which would allow the Biden administration to undertake military operations beyond US soil.

This idea isnt new. It was tossed around and dismissed during the Obama and Trump administrations. But, little by little, it has gained strength among the most conservative groups within the Republican Party.

Initially, it was easy to dismiss as an outlandish proposition with no prospect of success. The idea calls for the US military to attack fentanyl labs and traffickers in Mexico  with or without the permission of the Mexican government  to fight a scourge that, in 2021, claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people in the US. The premise is clear: Washington has to take justice into its own hands.

All we want is to finally stand up to the powerful criminal groups that terrorize the Mexican people, bribe and threaten Mexican politicians, and poison Americans, said Texan Congressman Dan Crenshaw, the author of the bill.

Although this proposal has already been ruled out by the Biden administration, Lopez Obrador has still felt the need to make it clear that the proposal is unacceptable and beyond the norms of international law.

Who do these cruel, interventionist, arrogant people think they are? Mexico is to be respected, the president emphasized.

An old political hand, Lopez Obrador took advantage of the criticism against his country to launch his own. First, he fired off against the Republicans, reminding them that Mexico is not a protectorate or a colony of the United States. Later on  despite assuring that bilateral relations were in good health  he criticized the role played by agencies such as the DEA and the State Department in Mexican territory, with statements such as Mexico is much safer than the United States, we dont produce fentanyl here, or no country fights drug-trafficking like Mexico does. This last statement was pronounced by Mexicos Secretary of Foreign Relations, Marcelo Ebrard.

Representative Dan Crenshaw, a member of the Homeland Security Committee, circa 2020 POOL (Reuters)

The Mexican government is emphasizing that the White House cannot afford to cut off security cooperation with its neighbor and that its time for the United States to recognize its responsibility in the opioid crisis, as the worlds leading drug consumer. Despite all the inflamed rhetoric, a diplomatic rupture is still unlikely, both due to the interdependence between the two countries and a global context characterized by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and tensions with China.

The consumption of fentanyl in Mexico is minimal and, furthermore, the notion that the Republican claims are unfair is widely accepted in the country. The idea, however, is gaining popularity among the Republican ranks. Fentanyl poses a real threat to American society. The DEA has called this synthetic opioid  which is legally used in pain treatments and as an anesthetic  the deadliest drug threat our nation has ever suffered.

The impact is palpable. At the end of 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that life expectancy in the US had fallen to its lowest level in two decades, partly due to the increase in overdose deaths. Those who have died from the use of fentanyl were mostly under the age of 40.

Fentanyl is easy to traffic. It can be hidden in vehicles, in suitcases and in the clothes of those who cross the border. DEA agents seized 14,000 pounds of fentanyl in 2022  a record amount.

Republican politicians have already made fentanyl-trafficking one of their big election issues. The GOP base perceives this drug as the greatest threat to public health: 37% of Republican-leaning voters indicate this to be the case, according to an Ipsos survey published in February of this year. But attitudes towards trafficking differ widely by party affiliation: only 17% of Democratic supporters think that the drug is being moved by undocumented immigrants.

The idea of using forceful measures against insecurity and drug-trafficking has gained ground among Republican elected officials. The route of military intervention is becoming a political priority in the party, especially for congresspeople and presidential candidates. Former President Trump  the frontrunner in the Republican race  privately supports the idea, according to Rolling Stone.

Hard-right legislators  such as Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia, or Beth Van Duyne of Texas  have publicly spoken out in favor of military intervention into Mexico. As has GOP White House hopeful Nikky Haley, who visited the border last week and called for special forces to be sent to Mexico to deal with cartels like we did with ISIS.

Meanwhile, another minor candidate for the Republican nomination  millionaire Vivek Ramaswamy  has tweeted that Biden sits in the White House and follows the fentanyl crisis as if he were a bystander. I will use our army to annihilate the cartels.

Since earlier this year, a report by a conservative think tank has been circulating, advocating for a formal declaration of war against the cartels, in response to the ever-growing pile of corpses of Americans killed by fentanyl poisoning. The author of the text is Ken Cuccinelli, the former top immigration official during the Trump era, who now supports the potential presidential campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

In the House of Representatives, Representatives Dan Crenshaw of Texas and Michael Waltz of Florida have introduced a bill that would authorize the use of American military force in Mexico. In the Senate, South Carolinas Lindsey Graham and Louisianas John Kennedy have introduced their own proposal to authorize the armed forces to attack these organizations (the drug cartels and distributors) wherever they may be. William Barr  a former attorney general under the Trump administration  has also championed the proposal in an editorial published in The Wall Street Journal.

Graham has assumed the leadership of the anti-Mexican crusade in recent weeks, taking advantage of Biden cabinet secretaries appearing before the Senate. He has questioned Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

We have to take off the gloves. Theyre at war with us  we have to go to war with them, he told Mayorkas last week. Under heated questioning, Blinken conceded that there were parts of Mexico under the control of the cartels, but commented that designating the cartels as terrorist organizations would not provide any new tools. The White House has expressed a similar view.

The cartel threat isnt a problem that needs a few high-precision guided [projectiles], or one that is solved simply by changing the name of [its] legal status, says Kimberly Breier, who served as assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs under Trump. She adds that, while the proposals that have been circulating are politically lucrative  especially in light of the upcoming presidential campaign  they misdiagnose the nature of the problem and will do little to resolve it.

In the midst of the exchange of accusations with Lopez Obrador, US diplomats and delegations of legislators have visited Mexico to keep the dialogue between the two countries open. Based on these exchanges, the Mexican president released a letter this week in which he asked his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to combat illegal trafficking for humanitarian reasons.

The United States must face its own problems, the Chinese government responded.

Beijing condemned the interference in the sovereignty of Mexico, but stressed that it was not going to assume any responsibility as the epicenter of drug manufacturing. The DEA claims that Mexico and China are the main sources of the fentanyl consumed in the United States.

The forecast of most analysts is that, far from stopping, the Republicans will continue to stir up the electoral pinata of Mexican fentanyl. Lopez Obrador has not shown signs of backing down, either. Nothing is new: neither the tensions nor the reproaches nor the exaggerations.

Ultimately, it remains to be seen what the balance will be in the communication and collaboration between the two countries, in light of nationalist discourses initially branded as for internal consumption, but which are increasingly disturbing the bilateral relationship. The implications of this rhetoric may change radically next year, when new presidents are elected on both sides of the border.

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TTC data shows offences against riders and employees were down for a second month this year, but critics cautioned that without more context it was unclear whether it meant the transit agencys safety was working.

A report from TTC CEO Rick Leary to be presented to the transit agencys board on Thursday shows there were 111 offences against riders in February, down from 136 in January. Offences against employees were also down  to 99 compared to 103 the month before.

Neither the TTC nor Toronto police were able to specify what the offences in February were in time for publication. The TTC report says assaults, thefts, mischief and harassment are among the types of offences included in the data, but says assaults and thefts declined in February.

The report added that ridership is currently at 70 per cent of pre-COVID levels.

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said Februarys data was captured at a time when additional safety measures were taken by the transit agency, such as deployment of additional staff, security personnel, Streets to Homes outreach workers, as well as Toronto police deploying 80 overtime officers throughout the system, a program that ended in March.

Its an optimistic trend, but we are fully committed to making sure that that continues, said Green.

But Shelagh Pizey-Allen, director of transit advocacy group TTCriders, said the transit agencys figures lack enough context to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of its safety plan

The data shows that the number of offences didnt just go down in February  they also went down in January compared to December, and that was before any security measures were announced, she said. So its hard to draw a conclusion based on these numbers.

Pizey-Allen also pointed out that the report doesnt specify what the offences were.

Theyre not broken down by exactly what type of incident is on the rise or on the decline, she said. So its kind of lumping together assault, sexual assault, indecent exposure, theft.

Despite the TTC reporting another decline in violent incidents, the city is still reeling from the most recent fatal random attack on 16-year-old Gabriel Magalhaes.

Our customers and our employees are feeling nervous, Green said, reiterating the TTC is taking extra steps to prevent incidents like these. Even though the trend is down, these high-profile incidents and tragedies like Gabriel, and others that weve seen over the last nine months are of great concern.

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A metal worker is dead after being critically injured during an industrial accident in an Etobicoke warehouse Monday.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills told the Star the worker was injured while working with heavy equipment at Norbel Metal Service near Steeles Avenue West and Martin Grove Road.

Toronto Fire arrived at the scene shortly before 8:30 a.m. and found a worker without vital signs, and with what appeared to be a severe crushing injury.

Toronto Paramedics administered CPR before transporting them to a nearby hospital. The worker was later pronounced dead

Authorities are still working to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident. No charges have been laid.

An inspector for the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills has been assigned to investigate.

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Good morning. This is the Monday, April 10 edition of First Up, the Stars daily morning digest. Sign up to get it earlier each day, in your inbox.

Heres the latest on Torontos homelessness crisis, a Canadian snowbirds disappearance and the new First Home Savings Account.

DONT MISS:

Why the homelessness crisis could get even worse

Toronto is losing shelter sites, one by one, and struggling with emergency bed capacity as pandemic-era funding from other levels of government dries up. Now, the citys homeless are being dealt another blow. As new budgets from the provincial and federal governments fail to offer a lifeline, Gord Tanner, general manager of city halls shelter, support and housing administration division warned the city could face more fast-tracked shelter closures and increasingly tight sites as early as the start of next year. All the while, the need for help is likely to grow. Victoria Gibson explains what the budgets are and arent offering.

By the numbers: The city is spending $317 million more than it has to operate shelters this year, Tanner said. If that gap is not filled in January 2024, the city may be forced to shut down more shelters than planned. The system is already overwhelmed  72 people on average were turned away from shelters each day in February.

More numbers: More than 10,800 people in Toronto were homeless in February, up about 1,300 from the year before.

The aftermath: People who cant secure shelter have often resorted to hunkering down on the transit system and in emergency rooms.

The suspects in a snowbirds Mexico disappearance are finally set for trial

Four years after Malcom Madsen went missing, three suspects are finally scheduled to stand trial in Mexican court this week. The Canadian snowbirds former girlfriend, along with her son and her brother are charged with disappearance committed by individuals, which is used when the fate of a missing person is unknown. Kenyon Wallace reports on the evidence that has surfaced throughout the search for truth  and what is known about Madsens last public sighting.

Watch for: Prosecutors are seeking a prison term between 25 and 50 years for the suspects and are planning to present roughly 100 pieces of evidence, according to local reports.

On the home front: I have had moments of hope that brutally collapsed while searching for my dad, said Madsens daughter Brook Mullins, who has conducted her own investigation and is pushing Mexican authorities to do more. Regarding the trial, Ill believe it when I see it.

More: Mullins said Global Affairs Canada has done little to help. Most recently, it declined to provide her a translator during the trial, saying it is the responsibility of the Mexican court. The agency told the Star consular services are being provided to the Madsens family.

The First Home Savings Account is finally here  heres how it can save you thousands in taxes

A new federal plan is set to help Canadians save for their first home, tax-free. With the FHSA, prospective home buyers can contribute up to $8,000 of tax-free savings each year, with a lifetime contribution maximum of $40,000. To avoid taxation, account holders must transfer all funds and close the account within 15 years of opening it, Clarrie Feinstein explains. Heres what you need to know about the benefits and drawbacks of the plan  plus how else you can save.

Silver lining: The main pro is a good tax advantage for saving for a down payment, and you can use your existing registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) asset to fund the account as well, one financial expert said. Theres a fair amount of flexibility and a clear advantage of doing that to save for a down payment.

More: For the time being, the Big Six banks are not offering the FHSA. Some are hoping to launch the account in the summer, while others said they plan to offer it later in 2023.

WHAT ELSE:

Canadas relationship with the U.S. is in decline  and no one wants to talk about it.

Why Ontarios top doctor says high-risk people should get a COVID booster this spring.

Heres how Doug Fords controversial Ontario Place plan is shaking up Torontos mayoral race.

Everybody is interested in Torontos election. Heres how voters can make the most of the campaign season.

This is the heartbreaking story behind an owners decision to abandon their dog in a Toronto park.

With almost no notice at all, GO Transit changes have frustrated southern Ontario commuters.

With lentils, halal meat and more, Alberta food banks are addressing the demand for cultural groceries.

Its never too early  heres a guide to talking to your family about whats in your will.

Has 18-20 per cent become the bare minimum? Heres what Canadians are tipping.

This whimsical home is the dream child of two eccentrics, passionate about 80s art and design, and an unconventional Quebec architect.

Could AI agencies replace fashion models? This is the unsettling threat it poses  and a major company thats already made the move.

POV:

What happens when more and more grandparents are chasing fewer and fewer grandkids?

CLOSE-UP:

QUEEN STREET EAST: The Easter Bunny waves to his friends along the Toronto Beaches Lions Easter Parade route on Sunday. Heres a look into the planning for the record-breaking event that drew a crowd of at least 50,000 people.

Thank you for reading First Up. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca

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VATICAN CITY (AP)  Pope Francis renewed his call to pray for peace on Easter Monday, celebrating the Regina Coeli (Queen of the Heavens) prayer in St. Peters Square.

At the end of the prayer, the pontiff recalled the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which brought an end to decades of violent conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland.

In a restatement of his Easter message, he invited people to continue to pray for peace in the world, especially in troubled Ukraine.

Pope Francis on Sunday invoked prayers for both the Ukrainian and Russian people and praised nations which welcome refugees.

The 86-year-old pontiff, who was hospitalized recently with bronchitis, skipped the traditional Good Friday nighttime procession at the Colosseum because of chilly weather in Rome.

During the Regina Coeli, he recalled how the women in the Gospel hurry to share the news of the resurrection and teach the faithful that they encounter Jesus by bearing witness to him.

When we encounter Jesus, Francis said, no obstacle can keep us from proclaiming him. If instead we keep his joy to ourselves, perhaps it is because we have not yet truly encountered him.

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LONDON (AP)  U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised the bravery of political leaders who struck the Good Friday peace accord 25 years ago Monday, as he urged Northern Irelands current politicians to return to work.

While the peace deal largely brought an end to 30 years of hostilities, the Northern Ireland Assembly has been in limbo for more than a year since the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest new post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.

Sunak discussed the importance of compromise in reaching the April 10, 1998 peace deal and called for redoubling efforts toward economic opportunity, prosperity, and stability.

It is a promise we must continue to fulfill, he said. So we must get on with the business of governance.

Sunak is set to greet U.S. President Joe Biden when he arrives Tuesday night in Belfast for a four-day visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland. The White House said Biden would mark the progress since the agreement was struck and underscore Northern Irelands economic potential.

The U.S.-brokered deal got Irish republican and British loyalist paramilitary groups to lay down their arms, largely ending the violence known as the Troubles that claimed 3,600 lives. It also ended direct British rule and set up a power-sharing government for Northern Ireland.

As we look forward, we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership  showing bravery, perseverance, and political imagination, Sunak said. We commemorate those who are no longer with us and the many who lost their lives by trying to prevent violence and protect the innocent.

While an entire generation has grown up without the regular fear of violence, divisions remain over the conflicts legacy. Occasional attacks by dissidents led U.K. authorities last month to raise Northern Irelands terrorism threat level to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

Police had warned that officers could be attacked in an Easter Monday parade  for which official permission had not been granted  in Londonderry by Irish republican dissidents who opposed the Good Friday Agreement.

During the otherwise peaceful demonstration in the Creggan neighborhood, a group of youths in hoods and black face masks threw fire bombs and bottles at a police Land Rover, before it drove off in flames.

Police said no officers were injured and no arrests were reported.

The parade was to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule in Ireland, which Stephen Murray, a leading Republican dissident, told the crowd was unfinished business.

I have a message for the British occupiers, Murray said. Their paramilitary police and their entire establishment: so long as you continue to oppress us, you will meet with the inescapable consequences.

Politicians who condemned the attack included Michelle ONeill, vice president of the Irish nationalist Sinn Fein, which was allied with the paramilitary Irish Republican Army during the decades of Catholic-Protestant violence.

Twenty-five years on from the Good Friday agreement this needless street disorder in Derry has no place in our society, ONeill said. We must stand united, appealing to all those concerned to end these attacks and refrain from further threats of violence.

With the Troubles legacy in the backdrop, Britains exit from the European Union has created newer political tensions over trade issues.

British unionist politicians left Northern Irelands 1.9 million people without a functioning administration when they walked out of the power-sharing Belfast government a year ago to protest customs checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. imposed after Brexit, which they say undermine the regions place in the United Kingdom.

Last month the U.K. and the EU signed an agreement, known as the Windsor Framework, that aims to eliminate many of the checks while maintaining an open border between the north and its EU neighbor the Republic of Ireland  a key pillar of the peace process.

But the Democratic Unionist Party refuses to return to government because it says the deal leaves some EU laws in place in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he couldnt put a timeline on when power-sharing would be back up and running.

Anybody who is predicting a date by which the executive would go back in Northern Ireland would be someone who can also sell you a four-leaf clover, he told BBC Radio 4.

Irish premier Leo Varadkar said he would work with Sunak to help restore the Belfast government, saying he learned from the Good Friday agreement that the two leaders need to be in lock-step.

What we know from history is that Northern Ireland only really works when the two governments work hand in hand, he told RTE, Irelands national public media service. ___

David Keyton in Londonderry, Northern Ireland and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.

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A spacious hall with curtains and marble columns. Lots of American flags. Secret Service agents passing through the crowd, keeping everything under control. Patriotic songs. A rapt audience. And big news TV networks broadcasting live.

This scene did not take place in the White House, but rather Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trumps residence in Florida. And it was not U.S. President Joe Biden who was about to deliver a speech, but Trump, his predecessor and a candidate to succeed him in the 2024 elections. Trump organized this press conference after appearing before a judge in New York last Tuesday, where he was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He spoke for nearly half an hour, and every minute of the speech was broadcast live in prime time. TV stations dedicated hours of airtime to special programs on Trump, with teams of journalists and helicopters sent to cover the historic event: the first indictment ever of a former or sitting U.S. president. That same day, Biden only appeared before the media for four minutes, during an act to promote research on artificial intelligence.

Trumps indictment has once again brought to the fore the drastic differences between the two presidents. The Republican, an ostentatious TV personality obsessed with audiences, is always ready to be talked about, even if its bad news, and is always ready to say something, no matter if its true, false or an insult. The Democrat, on the other hand, struggles in front of the cameras, occasionally slipping up, and is unpopular  only four out of 10 voters approve of his work. But he claims his government is getting results without the need for fuss.

Trump has been the center of attention since March 25, when he claimed that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was going to indict him in three days time over his alleged crimes stemming from hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election to cover up an alleged extramarital affair. The real estate mogul was wrong about the date: the indictment was not announced until a week later. In those seven days, all talk in politics and the media revolved around the former president and the case. In contrast, one of Bidens most important foreign policy initiatives  the second Summit for Democracy  went almost unnoticed by the media, even though 120 countries participated in the event.

The same situation occurred last Monday on the eve of Trumps arraignment in New York. Biden was in Minnesota to promote his landmark government program: the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which plans to build and renovate highways and airports. While the media was waiting for him, nearly all their questions were about Trumps indictment.

For now, Biden appears willing to allow Trump to take the spotlight. On Tuesday, when the Republican was formally charged in New York, Biden held only one public event: a meeting with his scientific and tech advisors to discuss artificial intelligence. He made a few comments to the media, but did not answer any questions.

On that same day, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre opened the daily press conference by welcoming Finland into NATO and reporting on a telephone conversation between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. When asked about Trumps indictment, she replied: Its an ongoing case, so were just not going to comment on the case specifically itself. This message has been the White Houses standard response to inquires about the Stormy Daniels case. The president is going to focus on the American people, like he does every day. This [Trumps indictment] is not something that is a focus for him, Jean-Pierre added.

The message that the White House wanted to convey was clear: the president was doing his job of managing the country, without distractions or chaos, just like any other day, while his rival was having his fingerprints taken as he awaited indictment on 34 charges.

Drawcard for Biden?

Democratic strategists are convinced that Trumps legal troubles will benefit Biden if the two finally end up running against each other in the 2024 presidential election, as they did in 2020. Biden has not yet formally announced his candidacy, although he has repeatedly suggested that he is going to run. Trump, meanwhile, must still win the Republican Partys presidential primaries.

This is a moment to reassure Americans by continuing to demonstrate what strong, stable, effective leadership looks like, Democratic strategist Karen Finney told Reuters.

The indictment initially appeared to give Trump a popularity boost. The polls show that he is the favorite to win the Republican primaries, with a huge lead over his next-closest rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who hasnt yet announced his intention to run for the White House. And that lead has increased in recent days. Whats more, since the indictment was announced, the Trump campaign has raised almost $10 million.

But while Trumps followers have closed ranks around him, the rest of America is much more skeptical. In a Quinnipiac poll carried out a week ago, 62% of independent voters said they supported the indictment, while 57% thought that Trump should drop out of the electoral race if the charges were confirmed.

The images of Trump in front of Judge Juan Manuel Merchan may just have been the first of a whole courtroom series. Trump is facing a series of civil and criminal investigations that may see him on the bench in the middle of the election campaign. The former president must appear before Merchan again on December 4, but his next court appointment is scheduled for April 25, when he will respond to allegations that he raped former magazine columnist Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s.

Trumps response to his legal troubles, such as his attacks on Judge Merchan and Prosecutor Bragg, or his call on Wednesday to defund the Department of Justice and the FBI, may remind voters why they turned their backs on him in 2020 and voted for Biden. Or at least thats what the White House is hoping.

And democratic strategists are not the only ones reaching that conclusion. Right now, the political world revolves around Donald Trump once again. It sucks the oxygen out of the room for any other Republican attempting to challenge him, and it allows Biden to just essentially focus on governing and on his agenda, Republican strategist Ryan Williams told U.S. public radio network NPR.

In an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, Karl Rove, former president George W. Bushs most trusted political advisor, added: This is the first election since 1920, when Eugene Debs was the Socialist candidate, that someone indicted or convicted is running for president. Whether Mr. Trumps indictment helps him win the nomination is an open question. But his 2024 general-election chances are now much slimmer. Hush money for porn stars isnt a winning issue.

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More than two decades ago, in a pamphlet attempting to explain why history textbooks needed to be censored and amended, the then NCERT chairman JS Rajput wrote: NCERT has been fighting court cases against certain communities which have felt hurt by some of the contents in history books. NCERT has been approached by various groups and sections of people to ensure that there seem to be no biased and hurtful sentiments in NCERT books. In tune with that spirit, it seems, the Council has revised its books lately including the Class 12 History textbook, by removing chapters on the Mughal empire.

Does that mean that any unpleasant incident that took place in the name of community, faith or nation should be brushed under the carpet so as not to prick anyones sensibility? What does a future historian make of, for example, of the RSS role in Indias Independence movement or its role in the destruction of the Babri Masjid? For that matter, how does a Communist historian deal with Stalinist purges or the CPIs stance on the Emergency. Things come to a pass when historians invoking the discipline of objectivity are seen to be handling a political agenda. It may become clear that this is the reason why historians like Romila Thapar and Ifran Habib are Communists in the eyes of New India.

If the trend continues, it is feared that history being the memory lane of civilization and historiography being a trained discipline will be tainted as propaganda. The Congress in the postcolonial era began its history creation with Nehrus Discovery of India as its model. In the past decades, in Class X history books it was asserted that the exact spot on which Babari Masjid stood was the birthplace of Ram. This serves as an example of havoc caused by textbooks. Also, there have been distortions found in the history of Muslim rule in India. Even more interestingly, Dalit historian DC Dinkars book Swatantrata Sangram Mein Achhuto ka Yogdan said that the man who ignited the 1857 revolt was not Mangal Pandey but a Dalit, Matadin Bhargi.

Also, it has been observed that when efforts are made to link history with value education there is uneasiness. The Pirpur Report attacked the education policy and blamed the Congress for Hinduisation.

There was understandable anxiety when, in 1990, the government of India commissioned a group of historians to write a proper history of India. Reports came that the then governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh wanted Indian history to be written as the government viewed history. A similar anxiety was felt when, in 2003, the NCERT textbooks claiming that all the courses they had embodied were aimed at inculcating a thorough knowledge of love for the country, its rich and long cultural, scientific and spiritual tradition, and a strong sense of unity and togetherness were endorsed by the Supreme Court verdict and introduced by the BJP-led NDA government. That history, like religion, lends itself to such use as one would like to make of it, and writing it under governmental command may very dangerously fulfill political purposes, cannot be debated. While recording and interpreting historical facts under an attitudinal or ideological inspiration always casts a shadow over the truth of history, such manipulation by the state has a far-reaching effect when the product is offered to young impressionable minds in schools and colleges. At the 62nd session of the Indian History Congress in Bhopal, top historians of India denounced the attempts to replace mainstream history with a Hindutva version. In its resolution, the IHC condemned the deletion of certain passages from the NCERTs history textbooks.

The IHC brought out a critique of the saffron textbooks in 2003. In one of the books, the October-November 1917 Bolshevik revolution was termed as a couple led by Lenin. In fact, the state as a sponsor of any intellectual activity, history included, can have a brainwashing effect on generations of people, and close their minds to the free winds of widespread creative change. German philosopher Herder, one of the foremost writers who tried to reveal the philosophy of history, viewed the state as a negative agency. Writing towards the end of the eighteenth century and surveying the history of the entire mankind, he perceived the state as a destructive force that crushes cultural flowers, amalgamates forms, extinguishes spirit.

History written through political or ideological motivation has always appeared as a roadblock to intellectual progress. Carried to the extreme, this comes close to a totalitarian or fascist regimentation of the human mind. Hitlers Mein Kampf was basically a history book, and the entire Nazi propaganda was addressed to a reinterpretation of European history with the Germans as victims crying out for restoration of their supreme status as the purest race and as the future rulers of mankind. India witnessed a bizarre episode when Indira Gandhi, in 1975, ordered a time capsule to be embedded in the earth near the Red Fort. The capsule was to contain a record of contemporary history, as perceived by her regime, for the benefit of generations yet unborn. A change in the regime unbedded the capsule.

Viewing history through a prism of a priori motivations appears to be a common occurrence through time. This is best illustrated by the several angles of light that fell on the history of India in the previous century. Many schools of historiography worked on the subject, particularly the post-British period of Indian history. The Imperialist school viewed British occupation as a civilizing influence and even the neo-Imperialist or the Cambridge school refused to consider colonialism as the system which governed India.

The nationalist historians perceived the freedom movement as the surge of what Surendranath Banerjee called a nation in making but the Marxist school visualized this movement as a thrust against a totality of an economic framework. The subaltern school likes to see the Independence movement as a bid by the elite and the middle classes. Now, if history is an objective truth, how come these different groups are able to present varying images of Indias past?

The fact of the matter is that history is as we want our present and our future to be. The reading and writing of history is not unconnected with the values and goals we pursue in our present, and the way we want our society to develop. In this sense, it resembles religion, for it lends itself to collective social use as powerfully as religion. And what can be used can also be misused, as we have learnt from our experience of the way religion is manipulated for divisive or regressive purposes. If history is the record of mans life as it is lived, a great deal of distortion may be introduced when historians sum up life in a certain period in terms of rulers, conquerors and others in authority.

It is understandable that in earlier times history would be written in this way, but down to modern times historiography has largely rested on the sources of political powers, rather than on the wide base of social life. The notion that Hindus and Muslims in India are mutually antagonistic entities which feeds the embers of communalism today has arisen from the perception of Indian history from the eleventh to eighteenth century. The focus of history being revealed on the face of the conqueror and the ruler, the picture of Hindus and Muslims leading their daily lives as neighbours got obliterated.

It may be presumed that the way we view our past is a reflection of how we want our future to move. This depends on the progressive development of social values. History being the memory lane of civilization, the perception is similar to a human individuals perception of his own past experiences. This analogy would apply to how society at a given stage of its development views its past history.

It all depends on whether we have faith in progress, and whether we perceive man as moving towards universalistic, unifying modes of social behaviour which guarantee human happiness.

In other words, it depends on whether we join the forces of social advancement, or we have resolved to promote the dividing and disintegrating relationships which have always generated sufferings for people. A dynamic view of history, as a saga of mans progress, does not regard the regressive forces of the past as strong enough to be repeated in the present, or made the idiom of interpretation for present day social relationships.

An obscurantist use of history is a sign of our unwillingness to stay with the forces of social advancement.

(The writer, a former Associate Professor, Department of English, Gurudas College, Kolkata, is presently with Rabindra Bharati University)
While Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has predicated any negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine on the creation of a new world order, one that rejects a unipolar world headed by one hegemon, the hegemon in question is increasingly proving unequal to the task of providing meaningful leadership to the world.

As the United States of America grapples with domestic problems, not the least of which are provoked by the sideshow staged in Manhattan by former President Donald Trump, and will soon get embroiled in an election for its highest office, its role in world affairs seems to diminish by the day.

The cautiously calibrated visit of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to America has led to a robust response from Beijing, one that has seen China launch military drills around the islandnation it considers a renegade province. Taking a leaf from the American book, China has also announced sanctions on those involved in arranging a meeting between President Tsai and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

While the sanctions by themselves may be ineffectual, as they prohibit entry of these individuals to China, Hong Kong and Macau and proscribe business ties between them and Chinese entities, they do send a powerful message, one that Americans in the habit of sanctioning others might find difficult to stomach.

China has also deployed Coast Guard ships to board and inspect Taiwanese vessels sailing in the Taiwan Strait, a move that triggered a protest from Taipei and a call on China by Washington to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful diplomacy. But diplomacy and dialogue are not on Chinas agenda.

A suggestion from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that tensions surrounding Taiwan be resolved through dialogue rather than by threats of force, was slapped down brutally by Chinese President Xi Jinping, when he retorted: Anyone who expects China to compromise on the Taiwan issue is (engaging in) wishful thinking and will only shoot himself in the foot.

In as firm a rejection of third-party mediation as possible, Mr Xi made it clear that China will never agree to anyone making a fuss about the one China issue. That the unipolar world of Mr. Lavrovs conception no longer exists was made clear equally by a meeting between the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran, held under Beijings protective gaze last week.

Belying assessments by Western commentators after the two West Asian rivals signed a peace deal last month that the bonhomie would not last because of conflicting interests in the region, the two ministers are said to have put in place plans for a state visit by the Iranian president to Riyadh, while discussing plans to resume flights between the two countries and issue of visas to each others citizens.

The hegemon is in retreat, and the unipolar world order seems a thing of the past. If these indeed are Russias pre-conditions to commence negotiations, it ought to be setting the table.
Whenever International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach says, and he has been obliged to say it again and again, that the IOC is trying its best to find a way for Russia and Belarus to be in the Paris Olympics next year, he acknowledges the pressure it is under not to do so.

That shows how thorny life at exalted levels can be. In a way, the worlds supreme sport bodies are suprasovereign powers given that any country playing up can be promptly given the bums rush. But when some of them get rebelliously together and raise Cain things go wrong. Even now, the antagonism in the affair is basically European but that hardly lessens the impact.

It is not just a lark, or a childish prank to rub an oldie up the wrong way. Not only has Bach run into civilly but firmly protesting critics in Germany, his own land supportive of him in the normal circumstances, but the mayor of the host city, Anne Hidalgo, has gone on record as saying that it would be terrible if Russia or Russians showed up for, or pranced about in, sport with bombs raining down on Kyiv.

She is not a far-Right maverick; she happens to be a politician with a Socialist identity card. There precisely lies the rub for the Establishment. The overwhelming majority of Europeans, regardless of their political inclinations, has taken Ukraines side in the conflict which Russia ignited. The appalling tragedies that have since taken place, coupled with Vladimir Putins stubborn refusal in the face of global disapproval to stop it have caused just the sort of hardening of attitudes which people across the world think could make a shambles of the Olympic Games just a year from now.

Putin seems to thumb his nose at a world desirous of an end not only to the hostilities but also the misery of Ukraine. Appeals have fallen flat, so Bach is gone and spoken to about it, as he had been a top-level sportsman before making the top perch in the IOC. When politicians fail them, civilians will look for alternative authority figures and, in this instance, it implies a fundamental, popular confidence in an erstwhile sporting icon, implicitly trusted to do the right thing by the aggrieved side. No disruptive or definite boycott threat has so far been voiced but several European nations have stopped only just short of it.

Poland, the Baltic states and Denmark stand by Kyiv, urging the IOC not to let Russia or Belarus in even as neutrals without flags or anthems, though Hidalgo does not mind Russian dissidents being there under a refugee banner. The pressure can only mount as the days pass and the war gets bloodier. Bach, of course, will have to cope with it but when the war is one part of the picture, juxtaposed with protests in so many places, the IOC will have an Olympian problem on its platter.
A minor girl belonging to Saptagram Assembly segment in Hooghly was allegedly gang raped by at least six youths while returning home from tuition classes on Saturday evening.

The girl has filed a police complaint in this regard.

The girl had not returned home from her tuition classes yesterday evening and her worried parents had started a search and lodged a missing person diary at Polba police station.

The girl turned up in the morning and alleged she had been gang raped.

She said: While I was returning home from my evening tution class, a boy friend of mine approached me and proposed that we elope, His five friends also tried to persuade me to do so but I refused. Thereafter one of them applied a spray in my nose area and I lost consciousness.

She said when she regained her senses in the morning I felt a terrible pain in her abdomen region and she was bleeding, and realised she had been gang raped.

After she dragged herself to her house, she was rushed to the local hospital.

The local party leader helped us to lodge police complaint against the rapists. she said.

Local BJP leader Mr Bimal Roy said that after the complaint was lodged, police today arrested three offenders while three others are still absconding
An Uttar Pradesh-based gangster currently lodged inside the Loknayak Jay Prakash Narayan Central Jail in Hazaribagh in Jharkhand is believed to have assigned the sharpshooters to kill coal mafia Rajesh Jha and the SP, East Burdwan yesterday called up the Jail Superintendent to inquire about him.

Tomorrow, the Special Investigation Team constituted to probe the murder, has summoned one Prince Khan of Basukinath town in Dumka district of Jharkhand for interrogation in connection with Jhas murder, the district police sources said.

Prince, once a close aide of Jha had a falling out due to certain differences of opinion a few years back.

After recording the statements of Bratin Mukherjee  Jhas aide who was with the deceased at the time of the murder, the SIT has been sending summons to Jhas gang members one after another, aiming to ascertain the actual motive behind the murder.

Jha was shot dead by two assailants at Shaktigarh here beside the NH-19 on 1 April evening on his way to Kolkata accompanying Bratin and Sheikh Abdul Latif, a CBI charge-sheeted fugitive in cross-border cattle smuggling case.

While Sheikh disappeared after the shooting, the SIT believes that the hefty extortion money collected daily from the legal coal transporters was the motive behind the shootout.

A gangster currently lodged inside the Hazaribagh jail has ambitions to take control of the coal loading Railway siding in Pandaveswar. He has got a pool of nearly 150 goons and has a similar record of trying to take control over the neighbouring Jharia Coalfields in Jharkhand, an SIT official said.

The sharpshooters, police came to know, escaped using the Katwa route to go back to Bihar using either Birbhum or Murshidabad as corridor in a white Maruti-make SUV.

The SIT officials said: The fleeing SUV was last spotted at Pattabadi crossing in Jharkhand where two roads on the right and left lead towards Bhagalpur and Dumka. After that, weve got no clue in which direction it went.
Even though the agitation by the members of the Kurmi community was withdrawn from Kustaur and Khemasuli Stations, it did not bring much relief to the railway operations under the South Eastern Railway that have gone haywire since 5 April in the wake of the protests.

Members of the Kurmi community have been blocking the rail lines since last week. The protesters have been staging an agitation on the tracks, and sleeping on them braving the heat wave-like weather.

Following the widespread protests by members of the Kurmi communities at two stations including Kustaur Station in Adra Division and Khemasuli Station in Kharagpur Division, railway connectivity has been severely affected as numerous trains have been cancelled since the first day of the protest. The zonal railway is said to have sent a letter to the state government on the issue.

As the Kurmi agitation entered into fifth day, rail connectivity under the SER remained disrupted, with the rail and road blockade resulting in the cancellation of around 500 trains till this evening from 5 April. After four days of rail connectivity almost coming to a standstill, the agitation at Kustaur station was lifted at 11.45 a.m. today. Later in the late evening the agitation was lifted at Khemasuli Station also.

However, the withdrawal failed to bring much relief. While hundreds of trains remained cancelled, services of Dumka-Ranchi Express, Godda-Ranchi Express and Bhagalpur-Ranchi Express that are scheduled to commence journeys tomorrow, were restored on a diverted route via ChandrapuraBarkakana-Muri.

According to the CPRO of the SER, Aditya Kumar Chaudhary, however, sections between Tata and Kharagpur to Mumbai continue to be disrupted.

The withdrawal of agitation has taken place in Adra and Chandil and this could enable operations of a few trains. But the routes like Ranchi, Bokaro and Dhanbad that were free for train movement till yesterday, were disrupted today following fresh agitations at Kotshila today, informed Mr Chaudhary.

Due to the agitation, it would not be possible to operate trains like Jan Shatabdi and Ranchi Shatabdi. We are working out to see if some trains could be operated on alternative routes, he added.
A 30-year-old pregnant woman died during treatment after being allegedly shot at by her neighbour in the Samaypur Badli area for objecting to loud music, police said on Sunday.

Two accused have also been arrested, said Delhi police. The deceased has been identified as Ranju.

According to the police, the woman was eight months pregnant and also suffered a miscarriage after the incident.

Detailing the incident, the police said, A PCR call was received at around 00:15 AM on April 3 at Samaypur Badli Police Station infroming that a woman has been allegedly shot by her neighbour when she asked him to stop the DJ.

The accused has been identified as Harish, added the police.

Police said, Upon receiving the information over call, the police reached the spot and found that the injured lady was already shifted to Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh Delhi. The crime scene was inspected by the crime team.

Doctors at the hospital mentioned that the victim had suffered a gunshot injury in her neck, added the police.

Later, the police also recorded the statement of an eyewitness, who is the sister-in-law of the injured.

In her statement, the eye-witness alleged, Harish lives across the street in the same colony at Samaypur Badli area. On April 2, there was a programme of kuwa pujan of Harishs son in which DJ was playing.

Hearing loud noise my sister-in-law Ranju and I came to the balcony and asked Harish to stop the DJ. After this, a bullet hit her which was fired by Harish who took the gun from Amit, added the eye-witness.

On the basis of the statement of the victims sister-in-law, a case U/s 307/34 Indian Penal Code and 27 Arms Act was registered against the accused involved. Both Harish and Amit have been apprehended, said the police.

The police later also informed that they have added section 302IPC in FIR.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.
A London-bound Air India flight returned to Delhi airport on Monday morning due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger onboard.

The Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate on the Delhi-London-Heathrow route returned shortly after departure.

An FIR was lodged as the accused person allegedly misbehaved and caused physical harm to two of the cabin crew members.

Officials said the accused continued to create a scene even after verbal and written warnings and the pilot-in-command had to return to Delhi. Subsequently, the accused person was handed over to the security authorities concerned and adequate action was initiated.

An Air India official told a news agency, AI-111 Delhi to London flight with 256 passengers landed safely at Delhi airport after an unruly behaviour of a passenger created ruckus on board.

The flight, which took off for Heathrow Airport (London) at around 6:30 am on Monday returned to Delhi airport at around 10 am after the crew reported to pilots about the physical altercation mid-flight.

Air India, in a statement, said, Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London Heathrow on April 10, 2023, returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board. Not heeding verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members.

The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing. An FIR has also been lodged with the police. Safety, security and dignity of all on board are important to us at Air India. We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight to depart for London this afternoon, Air India said.

After the plane landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Air India filed a police complaint about the passengers indecent behaviour at the police station. Legal action is being taken against the said passenger.

The airline said it has also informed the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about the incident.

Airlines have witnessed such incidents of unruly behaviour by flyers in the last few months. Last week, a drunk air passenger on board an Indigo flight from Delhi to Bengaluru tried to open the flap of the emergency doors. Subsequently, the matter was reported to the agencies concerned and appropriate action was initiated.

During the end of March, two passengers travelling on an Indigo flight from Dubai to Mumbai continued consuming alcohol onboard despite multiple warnings from the crew. They verbally abused the crew and co-passengers.

In order to deal with unruly behaviour, 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.
BJP leader Satish Poonia, 58, is the new Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly. He was the partys Rajasthan unit chief until recently. A party worker to the core, he has an RSS background and is considered close to the Sangh Parivar. He is the MLA from the Amber constituency in Jaipur.

In an interview with Yash Goyal, Poonia talked about the BJPs achievements under his leadership as the state unit chief and the saffron partys prospects in the coming Assembly elections in the state. Excerpts:

Q. What are your achievements as the BJP chief in the state?

A: From Jan Sangh to BJP, we focus on three main tasks; organisational structure, creative work and agitation (when in Opposition) or governance (when in power). The state unit has gone from Pradesh to Zilla and Mandal levels. The party has considered every booth in the constituency as one unit. Out of a total of 52,000 booths, the party has set up 50,000 booth units. In another campaign on the pattern of the Gujarat model, the partys objective was to appoint 10 lakh Panna Pramukhs, of which 60 per cent has been achieved. During the Corona pandemic, the party reached two crore people with ration, food and medical treatment successfully. On the agitation front, the party opposed the Congress rule inside and outside the Legislative Assembly on the farmers loan issue, unemployment, paper leak and deteriorating law order at every district level. Seven frontal organisations, including those of women, OBCs, SCs/STs and minorities in each district, are the backbone of the party. In the recently held Jan Aakrosh Yatra, party men travelled 5 lakh km and reached up to 2 crore people in all 200 constituencies to show public resentment against the state government and to gather feedback on the antiincumbency factor against the Gehlot government. I can claim that these would be the main causes for power change in the Assembly elections due later this year, and Congress would not be able to counter us. The BJPs Jan Aakrosh Yatra was a rehearsal of the election campaign as we reached nearly 40,000 villages and covered all Assembly constituencies.

For the 2023 Assembly and 2024 LS polls, the party has deputed Vistaraks who will verify each unit at the booth level.

Q. In Rajasthan, there are many Opposition parties like CPI(M), RLD, RLP, BTP, Independents and the AAP which are entering the poll fray. How does the BJP expect a two-thirds majority in this situation in upcoming Assembly polls? At present, the BJP has only 70 of the 200 seats in the Assembly.

A: In the 2003 and 2013 Assembly polls results, the BJP had come to power with an absolute majority as compared to the Congress party that was short of a majority in the 2008 and 2018 polls. The voters had not discarded us in the 2018 polls and we had lost by a gap of 0.5 per cent votes, which means a difference of 1.5 lakh voters against the Congress. There could be some lacunae in ticket distribution and the party has analysed the results. The people of Rajasthan change the government every five years. The second important reason is that the public has already expressed their resentment against the present government. I claim that this time the BJP would return to power based on its organisational power with a comfortable majority of 150 seats in a House of 200. If we take into account our Lok Sabha poll-2019 performance on all 25 seats (one with RLP) in the state, the victory figure in the upcoming polls could be up to 175. No other party can dare to split our votes.

Q. The Ghar Vapsi of some prominent leaders to the party fold is awaited though BJPs Union ministers from Rajasthan are reluctant about the entry of some of them. Whats going on in the matter?

A. Besides the Ghar Wapsi move, a number of bureaucrats, social engineers, and intellectuals want to join the saffron party. In principle, the party is likely to settle the issue soon. Those who are talented and have a name and identification in society will be welcomed from next month. In some exceptional cases, those who had left the party would be considered on merit and a consensus of senior leaders would be obtained to avoid controversy.

Q. It is often said that there are four to five groups working in the BJP, and all want to see the head of their group as the chief minister. What do you have to say?

A. People generally try to compare the minor things in the BJP with the Congress partys major happenings, which is not appropriate. In 2018 at the oath ceremony of Ashok Gehlot as CM, slogans were raised in favour of Sachin Pilot. There were tussles over the Ministry formation, and distribution of rooms in the secretariat, and thereafter for 52 days, the Congress MLAs and ministers had to go under Barabandi at a resort. The CM had to dismiss his Deputy CM, the PCC president, and two ministers from the government. Last year, 81 Congress MLAs, including ministers, tendered their resignations to the Speaker when the AICC called a CLP meeting in September. Thus, it was the weakness of the Congress High Command that it did not address the problems at the right time. The BJPs high command is not like Congresss high command. The partys parliamentary board is equally strong and takes tough decisions easily. Whatever is decided at a higher level is acceptable to everyone. Our mission is to win the polls with a comfortable majority because we lost Rajasthan in 2018 by a narrow margin. Q. Vasundhara Raje has been the CM twice, why cant the election be contested for a third time under her leadership? A. I told you, anyone can be CM. The Parliamentary Board has to decide the name, which could be a new name or an old one. The party has not drawn a line on it. One thing has to be understood, the party would contest the Assembly polls collectively in Rajasthan in Prime Minister Narendra Modis name and his work. The party would not project any name or face for the leadership in the state Assembly elections. Q. What do you have to say about the much-publicised budget of the Congress government in Rajasthan in the election year? A: As compared to all previous Congress governments, the Ashok Gehlot governments performance in the current term is the worst. There is something called governance which has been totally finished in the state.

Q. The Gehlot government is accusing the central government of not cooperating on major schemes like Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), Old Pension Scheme (OPS), and sanctions on Pachpadra Refinery. What will be the stand of the BJP on these issues in the elections?

A: They think they will be able to mislead the people by spreading confusion on such topics, I dont think there will be any atmosphere in their favour due to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). They weaponised it, but it wont work. Our party has to take its decision on OPS. A team of Karnataka bureaucrats had come to Jaipur for a survey and study of OPS. There are many technical, financial and economic points linked to OPS. The Finance Minister had clarified the pros and cons of the OPS against the New Pension Scheme (NPS) which is prevalent in the country.

Q. BJP senior leader G C Kataria, who was the Leader of the Opposition, is now the Governor of Assam. Is there any possibility of filling up the LoPs position in the Assembly now?

A: The party high command is aware of the matter and they have to decide on the new LoP. Since this is an election year, it might take time.

Q. How do you look at the Ashok Gehlot vs Sachin Pilot tug of war in the Congress for the CMs chair?

A: The Congress party used to say that it is their internal matter but the people are upset due to the quarrel in their house. The infighting between the two leaders in the last 4.5 years has tarnished the image of the Congress party and that has affected the governance in the state causing instability and resentment against the Congress in public at large which was visible in our Jan Aakrosh Yatra.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah to visit Arunachal Pradesh today where he will be attending various events and will be interacting with ITBP personnel in Kibithoo.

Amit Shah will launch the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) in Kibithoo, a border village in Arunachal Pradesh. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has approved the VVP with central components of Rs 4,800 crore including Rs 2,500 crore exclusively for road connectivity for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26.

The VVP is a centrally sponsored scheme under which 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting the northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development.

In the first phase, 662 villages have been identified for priority coverage, which includes 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh.

The VVP will help in improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages and encourage them to stay in their native locations thereby reversing the outmigration from these villages and adding to the security of the border.

District Administration with the help of appropriate mechanisms at the block and panchayat level will prepare Action Plans for the identified village to ensure 100 per cent saturation of central and state schemes.

The focus areas of interventions identified for the development of villages include road connectivity, drinking water, electricity including solar and wind energy, mobile and internet connectivity, tourist centres, multi-purpose centres and healthcare infrastructure and wellness centres.

The Home Minister will also inaugurate nine Micro Hydel Projects of the Arunachal Pradesh government constructed under the Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme in Kibithoo.

These electricity projects will empower people living in border villages. He will also inaugurate Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) projects to augment infrastructure at Likabali (Arunachal Pradesh), Chapra (Bihar), Nooranad (Kerala) and Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

An exhibition of the products made by women members of Self-Help Groups of border districts will be organised as well.

Amit Shah will visit exhibition stalls to acquaint himself and to appreciate the efforts of women of border villages.

On April 11, the Home Minister will visit Namti field and pay homage at the Walong War Memorial.
New York -

New York -

The headquarters of the Pentagon in Arlington (Virginia) on Thursday. TOM BRENNER (REUTERS)

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the apparent leak of military and intelligence documents online. The leak of what appears to be classified Pentagon documents  most concerning the war in Ukraine  has sent shockwaves across the world. It has increased attacks between Ukraine and Russia, and exposed the vulnerabilities and differences within U.S. allies, including one of the White Houses closest supporters: Israel.

The filtered documents include allegations that Israels spy body Mossad is fueling the protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus proposed judicial reform, which would take away power from the Supreme Court. For the past three months, tens of thousands of people have taken to the street to protest the reform, which is now on hold. The mass mobilization caused friction within the government and criticism from institutions such as the countrys presidency and army. The top secret U.S. intelligence documents allege that Mossads leadership had advocated for Mossad officials and Israeli citizens to protest the new Israeli governments proposed judicial reforms, including several explicit calls to action that decried the Israeli government.

On Sunday, the office of Prime Minister Netanyahu was forced to deny the claims made in the documents. It stated that the report was mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever. But the situation has heightened tensions between the U.S. and Israel, which have been strained since U.S. President Joe Biden criticized Netanyahus judicial reform.

Another leaked document suggested that Washington was pressuring the Israeli government to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine  a move which would go against Israels current stance and jeopardize Netanyahus good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Other revelations

The classified documents appear to have revealed sensitive information on the war in Ukraine and Russias espionage activities. According to the leaked documents, hackers working for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed to have attacked a Canadian natural-gas pipeline company in February, compromising the IP address of the company and causing damage to its infrastructure.

The leaks also contain sensitive information about the military capacity of the opposing armies, combat plans for an alleged spring offensive, as well as details about the internal debate of U.S. allies. According to The New York Times, one report  verified in principle by federal investigators  contains information about how South Korea is under pressure to provide artillery shells to Ukraine. Others refer to China, the Middle East and Africa.

The first batch of classified documents was allegedly leaked on a Discord server in March, and since then more information has been shared on Twitter, Telegram, 4Chan and other social networks. It is one of the most serious leaks since WikiLeaks published more than 700,000 diplomatic cables in 2013. Defense analysts who spoke to U.S. media argue that the leak bolsters Russian propaganda, as it demonstrates the extent to which U.S. intelligence has managed to penetrate the Russian military apparatus.

The Pentagon said Friday that it was actively reviewing the matter and had referred the case to the Justice Department, where the investigation is in its early stages. U.S. officials told The Washington Post that some of the leaked documents had been doctored  suggesting possible Russian involvement  but many others were consistent with CIA World Intelligence Review reports, which are shared with the highest levels of the White House, the Pentagon and the State Department.

Indeed, the information on the military plans in Ukraine  such as Ukraines air defenses or the weak flanks of the Ukrainian and Russian armies  is so detailed that experts believe the reports were leaked by an American and not an ally. The focus now is on this being a U.S. leak, as many of the documents were only in U.S. hands, Michael Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official, told Reuters.

With respect to the war in Ukraine, the military intelligence reports appear to have been doctored to minimize Russian losses. One of the leaked reports is not classified, although it includes top secret information. Some files are also marked as NOFORN  not for foreigners. Another classified document, dated February 23, reports that Ukraines S-300 air defense systems would be depleted by May 2 at the current rate of use.

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China on Monday objected to Union Home Minister Amit Shahs trip to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the visit violated its territorial sovereignty and was not conducive to peace and tranquility in border areas.

Zangnan is Chinas territory, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in response to a question on the visit by Shah to the Northeastern state. China calls parts of Arunachal Pradesh as Zangnam or South Tibet and makes repeated claims over its territory.

The Indian officials visit to Zangnan violates Chinas territorial sovereignty, and is not conducive to peace and tranquility of the border situation, the Chinese spokesperson added.

This development came days after China renamed 11 more places in Arunachal Pradesh to reassert its claim over the state. India has always maintained that Arunachal Pradesh was, is and would always be an inalienable part of the country, and China inventing names would not change the ground reality.

This is not the first time that China is making such attempts, and we have criticised such attempts. Arunachal Pradesh is an inalienable part of India. China giving its own inventive names will not change the ground reality. I would like to re-emphasise that, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said last week.

Shah, during his visit to the state, launched the Vibrant Villages Programme from Kibithoo, the border village of Arunachal Pradesh and Indias easternmost place. No one can question Indias territorial integrity. Nobody can take even an inch of our land, he said.
Union road transport and highways Minister Nitin Gadkari inspected the Zojila tunnel with J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday.

The 13.14 km long Zojila Tunnel will be Asias longest tunnel which will establish all weather connectivity for Ladakh region with the rest of the country.

The MPs, who are part of the Parliamentary consultative committee on road transport and highways, also accompanied the minister.

Speaking to the media during his visit to Zojila Tunnel, Gadkari said that 19 tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore.

Under this, the construction of a 13.14 km long tunnel and approach road at a cost of Rs 6,800 crore is in progress in Zojila.

It is a 7.57 m high horseshoe-shaped single-tube, 2-lane tunnel, which will pass under the Zojila Pass in the Himalayas between Ganderbal in Kashmir and Drass town in Kargil district of Ladakh.

The project includes a Smart Tunnel (SCADA) system, which has been constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method. It is equipped with facilities like CCTV, radio control, uninterrupted power supply, and ventilation. The use of modern technology in this project has saved the Government of India more than Rs 5,000 crore, Gadkari said.

Under the Zojila Tunnel project,the main Zojila tunnel of 13,153 meters with four culverts of total length of 810 meters, four Nilgrar tunnels of total length of 4,821 meters, eight cut and covers of total length of 2,350 meters and three 500 meters, 391 meters and 220 meters of vertical ventilation shaft are proposed. So far 28 per cent work of Zojila Tunnel has been completed.

With the construction of this tunnel, there will be all-weather connectivity for Ladakh. Currently, the average travel time to cross the Zojila Pass sometimes takes three hours, after the completion of this tunnel the travel time will come down to 20 minutes. The reduction in travel time will ultimately result in fuel savings.

Officials said that the terrain near Zojila Pass is extremely inhospitable, with many fatal accidents taking place here every year. After the completion of Zojila Tunnel, the chances of accidents will be zero. This tunnel will provide year-round connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, which will be extremely important for the development of Ladakh, promotion of tourism, free movement of local goods and movement of Indian armed forces in case of emergency.
The Himachal Pradesh Police under a special campaign in March has traced 214 missing women and children.

An official spokesperson said here on Monday that missing persons especially women and children are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, hence steps are being taken to recover them.

As per the directions of Director General of Police, Sanjay Kundu a special campaign was launched by HP police during March, 2023 in the state to trace missing women and children, and during the special campaign, all out efforts were made by the police to trace missing women and children, he said, adding that special teams of police personnel were constituted for the purpose.

Of the 214 traced missing persons, 33 were children, 181 females, he said.

According to the police data there was a backlog of 1117 persons missing including 30 children and 989, till 1 March this year and 173 persons (30 children and 143 women) alone were reported missing during the month of March, 2023, taking the tally of missing persons to 1290 (children 158 and women 1032).

As police during March had managed to trace 214 persons, 1076 (125 children and 951 women) still remain untraced.

The most populous district Kangra in Himachal Pradesh witnessed the highest number of women missing till 31 March which included 324 women and so far 22 women have been traced, while 302 continue to be untraced.

The district also witnessed the highest number of children 39 missing and 4 children have been traced in the month of March, whereas 35 children still are untraced.

Whereas the least populous Lahaul and Spiti had recorded the lowest number of missing persons backlog only 3 women, while there were no children missing. However, they have still not been traced.

According to police the reasons for the persons having gone missing were found to be social media interactions, distress in personal life and family environment, married women not able to adjust with in-laws, neglected childhood, love affairs and for economic reasons and better lifestyle.
India is learnt to have paused trade talks with the United Kingdom over the recent attacks on the Indian high commission in London by Khalistani groups last month.

According to a report by The Times, India is learnt to have expressed its displeasure over UKs failure to condemn the incident which had occurred on March 19.

Indians dont want to talk about trade until they get a very public demonstration of condemnation of Khalistan extremism in the UK, The Times report said, quoting official sources.

The report further added that the UK is keen to restart the negotiations, and towards this, it plans to crack down on the Sikh extremists and Khalistani groups, who were responsible for the attacks.

The incident had occurred on March 19, when protesters with Khalistan banners staged a demonstration at the Indian high commission and took down an Indian flag from the buildings first floor balcony to denounce recent police action in Punjab.

Relations between the two nations have been sour ever since the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai were raided by Income Tax department earlier this year, in the aftermath of the British broadcasters documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting his role in the post Godhra violence in 2002.
Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, mock drills were conducted on Monday at several hospitals across the country to check COVID-19 preparedness.

Government as well as private hospitals undertook the mock drills and state health ministers reviewed the drills in their respective states and Union Territories (UTs).

The drill evoked huge nationwide response with ministers and senior officials reviewing the preparations and capacities of hospitals and facilities.

A total of 5,880 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in India in the last 24 hours, a slight increase from Sundays count of 5,357, according to Union Health Ministry data released on Monday.

On Friday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who chaired a review meeting with states, called for mock drills at all hospital infrastructure on April 10 and 11 and review of the health preparedness with district administrations and health officials.

Today, Mandaviya visited Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital in the National Capital to review the mock drill underway to ensure operational readiness of the hospital for COVID-19 management.

Dr. Ajay Shukla, director and medical superintendent, RML Hospital, and heads of various departments including sanitation were present on the occasion.

In a tweet posted by him, Dr. Mandaviya can be seen visiting the facilities and interacting with staff.

While visiting the RML Hospital, Dr. Mandaviya had an informal interactive session with Heads of Departments and staff. He spent some time with the doctors, nurses, heads of security and sanitation services listening to their fruitful suggestions. The suggestions revolved around quality clinical practices, measures for infection control, hospital management, sanitation processes and patient-centric provisions.

The Union health minister has already advised states to be on alert and keep all preparedness for COVID-19 management. He has cautioned against any complacency and urged everyone to follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour.

He has also urged states to identify emerging hotspots by monitoring trends of ILI/SARI cases and send sufficient samples for testing of COVID-19 and Influenza; and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples.

The Union health minister took a review meeting with the state health ministers for the COVID-19 status and preparedness of prevention and management in the country a few days back. It was decided that mock drills be conducted across the country to ensure preparedness for any future outbreaks, if any.

Mock drills were also held in Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Goa to check COVID-19 preparedness.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian inspected the drill for emergency response for handling Covid-19 at Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital in Chennai. Talking to a news agency, he said, We have 350 or fewer COVID-19 infection cases in Tamil Nadu and no need to fear in our state as of now. We predict that the 4th wave will be a mild effect compared to the third wave.

Meanwhile, in Haryanas Jhajjar, a Covid-19 preparedness drill was conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

A mock drill was organised to review and ensure the proper arrangements for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in Madhya Pradesh as the state witnessed a continuous surge in the number of patients.

Following the instructions of the Central government, the Health Department conducted mock drills in the major cities of the states and reviewed the arrangements of the hospitals today. According to the state health bulletin, there are a total of 170 active cases in the state with 32 new cases reported in the last 24 hours.

In a bid to check Covid effectiveness, the Bihar Health Department has conducted mock drills in hospitals across the state. During the drills, authorities checked the status of equipment including beds, ventilators, ambulance services, availability of oxygen cylinders and medicines. The development comes amid a surge in fresh Covid cases in Bihar. On Sunday, the state reported 42 cases, including 14 in Patna.

Amid a surge in new cases, Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday said there was no need to panic unnecessarily over the Covid situation in the state. Although around 100 cases are reported everyday on an average, the Minister said there was no need to panic unnecessarily. We are following protocol laid down by the Central government. Our infrastructure is in place. People should take precaution and care.

He was speaking after a mock drill was conducted earlier in the day across government and private hospitals to review the Covid preparedness.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Gurugram, Nishant Kumar Yadav inspected a mock drill at three health institutions in Gurugram in a bid to check Covid-19 preparedness. On the first day of the two-day mock drill, centres were set up at ESI Hospital Sector-9, Civil Hospital and SGT Medical College in Gurugram.

Health officials said the mock drill will be conducted in the private hospitals in Gurugram on Tuesday.
The cyber cell of Lucknow police has arrested a Nigerian national and his two aides from Delhi for duping man of Rs 1.38 crore on the pretext of sending a parcel.

Police officials said that the gang comprising Esowanne Emeka, Edward Pradhan and Chetan Nimbu has duped over 100 persons across the country using the same modus operandi.

DCP Central Zone, Aparna Rajat Kaushik, said that the cyber cell got involved in the case after a Madeyganj resident Naveen Singh Samuel lodged an FIR of being duped of Rs 1.38 crore.

The victim, in his FIR, alleged that he had got a call on August 4, 2022, and was told that a parcel from Poland had been sent in his name.

The caller introduced himself as John, a Customs officer.

The victim contacted Felix Warsaw of Poland and the latter told him that he was very much influenced with the religious events which he had been organising and uploading on YouTube and that he was sending the parcel as a gift.

After this, the Customs officer called the victim and told him that the parcel contained one million pound and gold.

The fake officer then asked the victim to pay taxes and fees, and took Rs 1.38 crore in different bank accounts.

Police said that Emeka had been staying in India illegally ever since his study visa expired.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday (local time) reached Washington to attend the 2023 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund and other G20 meetings.

She was received by Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Sitharaman is on a week-long visit to the US. The Union Finance Minister will be attending meetings with Finance Ministers and Central Bankers from across the world. The meeting is scheduled to take place today at IMF Headquarters in Washington.

Sitharaman and Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das will also jointly chair the 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, FMCBG meeting on April 12.

Around 350 delegates from G20 members, 13 invitee countries, and various international and regional organisations will participate in the meeting.

They will engage in multilateral discussions centred around a broad spectrum of pressing global issues. During the meeting, the focus will be on issues such as addressing food and energy insecurity, managing global debt vulnerabilities, strengthening Multilateral Development Banks, mobilising finance for climate action and accelerating progress on International Tax and Financial Sector issues.

The Finance Ministry said the meeting will take stock of the progress made on outcomes envisaged under Indias G20 Finance Track agenda.

The 2nd G20 FMCBG meeting will advance efforts towards the preparation of G20 India Finance Track deliverables for the 3rd G20 FMCBG meeting to be held at Gandhinagar in Gujarat in July this year.

These meetings are expected to provide informed Finance Track contributions to the Leaders Declaration set for adoption in the New Delhi Summit in September 2023.

The 2nd G20 FMCBG meeting will comprise of three sessions  global economy and international financial architecture; sustainable finance, financial sector and financial inclusion; and international taxation.

The focus of these sessions will be to deliberate on issues such as addressing food & energy insecurity, managing global debt vulnerabilities, strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), mobilising finance for climate action, advancing financial inclusion, and accelerating progress on International Tax and Financial Sector issues. The meeting will take stock of the progress made on outcomes envisaged under Indias G20 Finance Track agenda, an official release earlier said.

In a high-level meeting on Tuesday, the Finance Minister will meet the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Further, a meeting of the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable will be co-chaired by India, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank on April 12, 2023, to discuss the current global debt landscape and ways to address existing challenges in debt restructuring.

On April 14, 2023, a high-level seminar on Macro-financial implications of Crypto assets will be held to review the macro-financial implications of Crypto Assets and discuss policies to leverage benefits and contain risks. Smt. Sitharaman will also meet the G20 Expert Group on strengthening MDBs on April 15, 2023, to discuss the need for an updated MDBs ecosystem for the 21st century towards financing sustainable development goals and transboundary challenges, the release said.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that India wants peace with everyone but no one will be able to encroach upon even an inch of the countrys land and there can be no compromise with respect to our Army and borders.

He was speaking after launching a Vibrant Villages Programme at Kibithu  a border village in Arunachal Pradesh.

On the occasion, Shah inaugurated nine micro hydel projects of the Arunachal Government and 14 infrastructure projects of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) worth Rs 120 crore. Several dignitaries including Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Director General ITBP Sanjay Arora were present on the occasion.

He said under the Vibrant Villages Programme of the government, 2967 villages have been identified for comprehensive development in 46 blocks of 19 districts along the northern border in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory of Ladakh.

With the provision of basic amenities, the programme will be directed towards stopping migration from border villages, for which employment arrangements will be made in the villages. He said a five-year target has been set to bring back normal situation in the villages affected by migration.

He said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers the security of the borders as the security of the nation and therefore infrastructure on the border is the governments priority.

He said that from 2014 to 2023, 547 kilometers of border fencing has been completed, more than 1100 kilometers of border roads have been constructed, 1057 kilometers of floodlighting has been done, 468 Border Observation Posts (BOPs) have been set up.

He said that the work on border infrastructure which the Opposition party could not do in 12 terms of its government has been done by the prime minister in only two terms.

Before 2014, the entire Northeast was known as a region ridden with many issues, but in the last nine years, due to the Look East policy of the Prime Minister, the Northeast has been recognized as a region contributing to the development of the country.

He said that once upon a time due to the wrong approach of the leaders sitting in Delhi, this region was disputed, insurgency-ridden and lacked peace, development and connectivity.

Shah said that under the leadership of Mr Modi, disputes and insurgency are coming to an end and a new era of development and peace has started. He said that the Prime Minister worked in the Northeast on three fronts  preserving its phenomenal cultural heritage, establishing peace by settling disputes, and making pacts with insurgent groups.

All this has resulted in a 67 per cent reduction in violence, 60 per cent reduction in deaths of security forces and 83 per cent in civilian deaths in 2022 as compared to 2014. Mr Shah said that the government has signed BRU, NLFT, Bodo, Karbi-Anglong accords and resolved inter-state border disputes.

The government has removed AFSPA from 70 per cent of the Northeast and the day is not far when it will be removed from the entire Northeast. He said the youth who had taken up arms, are joining the mainstream and contributing to the development of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in the National Capital on Sunday on the special occasion of Easter. He also met with spiritual leaders from the Christian community.

The Prime Minister also shared glimpses of visit to the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi on this occasion. He tweeted: Today, on the very special occasion of Easter, I had the opportunity to visit the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi. I also met spiritual leaders from the Christian community. Here are some glimpses.

Some more pictures from the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Delhi on Easter. May this day further happiness and harmony in society.

After the Prime Minister visited the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church on the occasion of Easter, Archbishop of Delhi Archdiocese, Rev Anil J Couto said that this was the first time a Prime Minister has ever visited this church and so it was a happy moment.

Talking to a news agency, Archbishop, Rev Anil J Couto said, This was the first time a Prime Minister has ever visited this Church so it was a happy moment. He lit a candle and offered prayers. We also gave him a gift. He planted a sapling also.

PM Modi offered prayers at the church and also joined the churchs Prayer Mass held as part of the festival.

Earlier, Fr. Francis Swaminathan of the church added that the Prime Minister visiting the church in itself is a big message.

We understand that the Prime Minister cares about this community, which is a big deal for us. The Prime Minister not just says Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, he is also moving forward with his principle. We think that we will always get his support and he will move ahead by taking all the castes together, added Swaminathan.

He further said: Easter festival has special importance in Christianity, this festival is celebrated on the third day of Good Friday, which we celebrate as the resurrection of Lord Jesus when Jesus Christ sacrificed his life on Good Friday. He rose again on the third day, on Easter Sunday. On this day Prayer Mass is organized in the church, and a large number of followers associated with Christianity reach the church to pray and remember Lord Jesus. This is a very special day in the Sai religion which we celebrate.

Swaminathan also said that Lord Jesus had sacrificed himself only to get rid of our sins so that people could come on the right path and then on the third day he was resurrected which proved that God had sent him only for us.
In an affectionate social media post for #RahulGandhi on #SiblingsDay, #PriyankaGandhi on Monday said she is proud of her brother who faces injustice with dignity.

In a post on Instagram, the Congress general secretary wrote: So, theres a Siblings Day too! Well, to my only sibling, who has the courage to stand for goodness and compassion despite all sorts of filth being thrown at him, who faces injustice with dignity, who wont back down from speaking the truth no matter how many desert him or turn their knives in his back or how much power is used to silence him.

I am proud of you and always will be, she added.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq2M1K7v4Je/?igshid=MjljNjAzYmU=

Siblings Day is celebrated in various parts of the world on 10th April.
U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Perry reacts after being convicted of murder in the killing of Garrett Foster, an armed protester in 2020 during nationwide protests against police violence and racial injustice.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is moving fast to pardon a U.S. Army sergeant convicted in the 2020 killing of an armed protester. So fast, the judge hasnt even handed down a sentence.

Sgt. Daniel Perry faces up to life in prison after being convicted of murder last week in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Garrett Foster, who had been legally carrying an AK-47 during a protest through Austins downtown while marching with demonstrators over police accountability and racial injustice. The case will next go to sentencing.

But over the weekend, Abbott made clear he believes Perry shouldnt be punished. The three-term Republican governor, who hasnt ruled out a 2024 presidential run, tweeted that he has already asked Texas parole board to expedite a review of Perrys conviction and will look forward to signing a pardon.

The rush to act in the case of an off-duty soldier shooting a protester came amid immediate outrage among conservatives over Fridays verdict, including by Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Abbott presented the dangled pardon as a defense of Texans right to defend themselves. Legal experts, however, said that looks like a pretense.

Its pretty unusual for a governor to step in and preempt a jury verdict, said Mark Osler, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. The politics are right there at the surface.

The shooting

Perry was working for a ride-sharing company in July 2020 when he turned onto a street and into one of the demonstrations that swept the country after Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.

In video that was streamed live on Facebook, a car can be heard honking amid the crowd in downtown Austin. Then, several shots ring out, and protesters begin screaming and scattering.

Perry drove off, later calling police to report the shooting, and officers arrived to find Foster shot.

What led up to the gunfire was a core question in the trial that resulted in Perrys conviction.

Witnesses testified that Foster never raised his rifle at Perry, and prosecutors said the sergeant could have driven off rather than opening fire with a handgun. Perry didnt testify. But his defense attorneys have said Foster pointed his gun at the driver and that the shooting was self-defense.

Perry was stationed at Texas Fort Hood at the time of the shooting and most recently assigned to Fort Wainwright in Alaska. Defense lawyer Clint Broden said the conviction will end Perrys Army service.

Broden told The Associated Press in a text message on Monday that his team has not been in touch with the Governor nor his staff regarding a pardon.

The reaction

In the hours after the conviction, however, prominent conservatives did pressure Abbott to intervene.

Matt Rinaldi, chairman of the Texas Republican Party, said the case never should have been prosecuted, tagging Abbotts account in a tweet calling for a pardon.

In primetime on Fox News, Carlson called Perrys conviction a legal atrocity and said Abbott had declined to discuss a potential pardon. So that is Greg Abbotts position, Carlson said. There is no right of self-defense in Texas.

Less than 24 hours after the verdict, Abbott tweeted that he had directed the state parole board to investigate the case and said he looked forward to signing a pardon as soon as it hits my desk. He suggested the jury nullified Texas so-called Stand Your Ground law, which, like similar laws in other states, removes the duty to retreat before using deadly force in the face of danger.

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, whose office prosecuted the case, called Abbotts intervention deeply troubling. He said the jurors deliberated for more than 15 hours to find Perry guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt, and the case can be reviewed through the normal appeals process.

On Monday, the Democrat has sent a fundraising email off Abbotts actions, telling supporters the Republican is threatening to take over our criminal justice system.

Abbott and pardons

A former Texas judge and attorney general, Abbott has not publicly explained on how he reached his conclusion about Perrys case, and his office Monday referred questions to his statement on Twitter.

But publicly calling for a pardon is a clear departure for Abbott, who in more than eight years as governor typically only issues a handful a year around Christmas. Most are given to Texans who were convicted of relatively minor offenses committed decades earlier.

It is something we usually see many years after conviction, said Sandra Guerra Thompson, professor at the University of Houston Law Center. She said a governor intervening before sentencing is a dramatic departure from the normal process.

In 2021, Abbott faced an unusually high-profile pardon decision surrounding George Floyd, who was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer and whose death was at the center of the protest in Austin. At the time, the Texas Board of Pardon and Paroles had unanimously supported a posthumous pardon for Floyd over a 2004 drug arrest.

Floyd was arrested by a Houston officer who was later accused of falsifying evidence for years and eventually charged with murder. But two days before Christmas, Abbotts office announced the board had unusually backpedaled on its decision after finding unspecified procedural errors with Floyds case.

Floyds case was sent back to the board for reconsideration. Nine months later, the board denied issuing a pardon.

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In a major breakthrough, the Punjab Police on Monday arrested the main associate of fugitive Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh, identified as Papalpreet Singh from Kathunangal area of Amritsar.

Addressing a press conference, Inspector General of Police (IGP) headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill said the accused has been detained under the National Security Act (NSA). He said police teams were working on some vital clues amidst the ongoing special operation.

Punjab Police have taken a very effective step after Amritsar Rural Police have arrested Papalpreet Singh, who is main associate of Amritpal Singh, the IGP said, who was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General,(DIG) Border Range, Narinder Bhargav.

Gill said that accused Papalpreet Singh was wanted by the Punjab Police in six criminal cases. Further legal action will be taken in accordance with the law, he added. Papalpreet is considered to be Amritpals mentor and has allegedly been in contact with Pakistans ISI.

Papalpreets arrest comes days after CCTV footage made the rounds on social media in which he could be seen at a dera (place for religious congregation) in a village in Hoshiarpur. It was after a team of the counter intelligence wing chased an Innova car from Phagwara to Hoshiarpur after the police suspected that the fugitive and his aides could be in that vehicle.

Police suspect Papalpreet and Amritpal separated in Hoshiarpur following the police chase of their vehicle. Many pictures of the duo had surfaced on social media. In one such footage, both of them could be seen wearing masks while roaming around a street in Delhi.

Meanwhile, IGP appealed to all Punjabis to continue maintaining peace and harmony in the state and not to pay any heed to fake news and rumours. He said the law and order situation is completely under control and totally stable.
The Rajasthan Police made a record arrest of 20542 miscreants under the statewide raids against the organised crime gangs last month due to which the crime rate has dropped by 9 per cent in March month as against that of the last year.

Over 5,000 police teams raided around 13,600 hideouts of criminals and arrested 20,542 miscreants in a comprehensive campaign against hardcore criminals, mafia and criminal gangs in the state, Director General of Police Umesh Mishra told a press conference here on Monday.

The police launched a campaign under area domination, raid and search in all 33 districts of the state setting up a control rooms under the Inspector General Office to monitor the activities, the DGP said.

DGP said, Strict action has also been taken against those who praise, follow and patronise criminals. The campaign specifically targeted gangs involving firearms displays and firing incidents. Along with this, the gangs involved in the crime of calling and threatening businessmen and elite citizens for illegal recovery were also targeted by the police.

Acknowledging that the criminal activities were monitored from Jails, Mishra said, Some criminals were committing crimes even from outside the country. An investigation is being done against them through Interpol. Rohit Godaras red corner notice has been issued and action is under process to issue red corner notice against Anmol Vishnoi and Goldie Brar.

Action was taken against those who attacked the police and those who tried to flee police custody. In the year 2023, 21 criminals were shot in police encounters and 25 criminals were injured while trying to escape, the DG listed.

The police have started Operation Vajraprahar to root out the criminals. Under the operation, not only the criminals were arrested but homework is also being done to take action on their property and vehicles, etc. acquired from ill-gotten money during the search. Under this, out of a total of 11,512 history sheeters, records of 2,471 properties have been maintained and the IT Department and local bodies have been apprised about the properties of 35 criminals.

By registering a total of 36 cases against those who follow criminals on social media, he said, 56 people were arrested in these cases and 1,027 people were arrested in preventive sections.

Additional Director General of Police-Crime Dinesh MN said in March 2023, as a result of the special campaign being run by the police for area domination, 12,895 criminals wanted in various crimes, including 433 wanted in heinous crimes, have been arrested.

A total of 649 cases of illegal use of firearms were registered and 677 miscreants were arrested, from whom 690 firearms and 1062 cartridges were recovered. By registering 342 cases in NDPS Act, 375 miscreants, by registering 1088 cases of illegal liquor, 1085 people and by registering 649 cases of illegal mining, in comparison to February 2022, in comparison to February 2022, in March 2023, about 55%, NDPS There was an increase of 90% in the cases of illegal liquor and 8% in the cases of illicit liquor, according to ADG-crime.

DGP Cybercrime Dr. Ravi Mehrada claimed that over 1.10 lakh mobile sims being operated by cyber criminals were seized and connections were blocked between April 2022 and January 2023 in Bharatpur division alone.
As India and China with increasing frequency grunt and growl at each over their territorial rights, an RTI reply has said that there is actually no Line of Actual Control between the worlds two most populous nations.

The RTI revelations were in response to a query filed by Pune businessman Prafful Sarda to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which was later transferred to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) seeking details of the LAC.

The reply was an eye-popper: There is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas between India and China.

The government admitted in its April 2018 reply that from time to time, on account of the difference in the perception of the LAC, situations have arisen on the ground that could have been avoided if we had a common perception of the LAC.

The government said that it regularly takes up an transgression along the LAC with China through established mechanisms like border personnel meetings, flag meetings, meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs, and of course the diplomatic channels.

The Bharatiya Janata Party government has been claiming that it has protected the country from Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh and in Ladakh region. However, since by its own admission, there is no mutually-accepted LAC, then which areas it has actually secured and what is the real ground situation currently, Sarda urged.

Interestingly, much later, the Army Headquarters had declined to give details on ceasefire violations along the LAC and the June 2017 Doklam (Donglang, as referred by China) skirmishes, on grounds of exemption under the RTI Act 2005, Sec. 8(1)(a).

This Section reads that the government is not obliged to give to citizens any information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence.

As far as the Line of Control (LoC  between India-Pakistan) is concerned, the government has admitted to around 320 ceasefire violations (2004-2013, during the UPA tenure), which shot up to more than 11,625 from 2014  February 2021. Why cant it enlighten the people and Parliament similarly on the figures of LAC ceasefire violations on the India-China borders, demanded Sarda.

The Indo-Chinese border has been a cause of concern in the past over five years with several stand-offs with casualties and alleged fatalities that the world is watching anxiously amid apprehensions of a major flare-up between the two most-populous nuclear-powered nations.

Among the recent border disturbances along the LAC include: Doklam (June 2017), Galwan Valley skirmishes (June 2020) with reports of fatalities, clashes near Sikkim (January 2021), allegations of cross-firing in the air (September 2021), and the Tawang fisticuffs (December 2022) with injuries.

The much-vexed India-China border is around 3,500 kms long on the frontline Union Territories of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, comprising the undisputed McMahon Line.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday termed the interpretation of the Anandpur Sahib resolution as a separatist agenda in new National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) text books a conspiracy to defame the Sikh community.

Addressing a press conference, senior SAD leaders Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema demanded the wrong interpretation be withdrawn immediately. They said a SAD delegation would meet the Union education minister and apprise him about the key facts that had been twisted with regard to the Anandpur Sahib resolution. The party also demanded that they be corrected by instituting a committee of Punjab historians for this purpose.

Prof Chandumajra said Anandpur Sahib resolution stood for the unity and integrity of the country and only sought to promote federalism within the constitutional framework. He called it unfortunate that a deliberate attempt was being made to spoil the image of the Sikh community across the nation.

The present government is following in the footsteps of the Congress party which defamed the entire Sikh community for political gains. Twisting facts to present the Sikh community in a wrong way to impressionable minds is dangerous and will work against the interests of the nation, he added.

Speaking about the Anandpur Sahib resolution, Prof Chandumajra said the country accepted the resolution and the Sarkaria Commission was instituted to review Centre-state relations. Following this the misuse of Article 356 which was used to destabilise democratically elected governments was also drastically reduced. All regional parties also hailed the document which reflected the regional aspirations of people of the country, he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Daljit Cheema said the chapter on the 1984 massacre of Sikhs in Delhi and other parts of the country had also not been depicted in the right perspective by the NCERT. He said the Anandpur Sahib resolution adopted by the 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 a separate Sikh nation, reads the Hindi text.
The Supreme Court on Monday gave a last opportunity to the states who have not so far responded to a batch of petitions seeking identification and recognition of the minority status of religious communities at the state level and posted the matter for hearing in July.

Besides seeking the identification and recognition of religious minorities in different States, the petitions have also challenged the National Minority Commission Act and the National Minority Commission Education Institution Act.

Posting the matter in July, a bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah held that it will close the opportunity to the states and UTs to respond if they dont by the next posting.

Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj told the court that responses have been received from all states and UTs except Rajasthan, Telangana and J&K, which has given a partial response.

While seeking an adjournment, the ASG Nataraj told the bench that he was conscious that by its last order the court had given a last opportunity to the States to respond. Delhi BJP lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay appeared as a petitioner in person.

In the previous hearing, the Attorney General R, Venkataramani had told the Court that six States/Union Territories including Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan and Telangana are yet to respond to the Centre with their views on the subject.

We fail to appreciate why these States/Union Territories do not respond and thus give last opportunity to the Central government to obtain the responses from them, failing which we will presume that they have nothing to say, said the Bench of Justice SK Kaul, Justice Abhay Oka and Justice JB Pardiwala in the last hearing.

The Union Government had filed a status report in the matter containing views of 24 State governments and six Union Territories on the subject. It has further said that the comments from six State governments and Union Territories are still awaited.

Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party have taken a stand that the present method of notification of minorities at the Central level is correct and acceptable to them. Seven States have stated that the minority status of religious communities should be determined by treating the State as a unit.

They are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
The Gujarat government on Monday told the Supreme Court that there were serious doubts about the locus and motive of the petitioners in a matter connected with the alleged fake encounter cases in the state, between 2002 and 2006.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state government, contended before a bench comprising justices S.K. Kaul and A Amanullah that petitioners were not concerned about encounters, which occurred in other states but they are only focused on Gujarat and added, There are serious doubts about the locus and motive of the petitioners

The state government also conveyed its apprehension regarding sharing the material with the petitioners. Mehta queried, whether these documents should be shared with strangers?

The top court was hearing two separate pleas filed in 2007 by senior journalist BG Verghese, who died in 2014, and noted lyricist Javed Akhtar and Shabnam Hashmi. The petitions sought a probe into the alleged fake encounters.

The apex court in 2012 appointed justice H.S. Bedi, former apex court judge, to head the monitoring committee for overseeing the investigations by special task force (STF) into instances of alleged fake encounters in Gujarat. The committees report, which was submitted in 2019, held three out of 17 encounters investigated by the STF were prima facie fake.

In January this year, the apex court had recorded in its order that it emerged that ultimately the issue now revolves around three encounters. The committee had recommended prosecution of police officials in three cases.

On Monday, advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing one of the petitioners, submitted that the state has not done anything. Contesting this argument, Mehta said investigation or inquiry was held under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and pressed that no material should be shared with the petitioners.

The bench asked the state government, what is its stand on the report. Mehta replied that he has to say something on the report and urged the court to hear the state government on whether the material could be shared with strangers.

Citing earlier judgment of the top court, Bhushan said it laid down detailed guidelines on how things have to be done in cases of fake encounters.

Referring to Akhtar, Mehta said one of the petitioners lives in Maharashtra, where encounters had also taken place but he is not bothered with it. He stressed that these are selective public interest litigations and I am going to oppose their locus.

Bhushan submitted that the apex court had asked a former judge of this court to carry out the inquiry and the report says three encounters appear to be fake. He insisted on the registration of an FIR and a probe by some independent agency.

After hearing submissions, the bench said the state government has some reservations on sharing the material and the court would have to address this issue, and scheduled the matter for further hearing on July 12.

The top court also noted that the state government has submitted that encounter-wise materials have been segregated but they have reservation on sharing it with the petitioners.
Delhis Saket court on Monday passed an order on a plea moved by Delhi Police against a channel and other channels seeking an order restraining them from disseminating content of charge sheet including digital evidence in the Shraddha murder case stating that it is not a public document.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Rakesh Kumar Singh passed a restraining order against the channel and list the matter on April 17 for further hearing. The court said that a detailed hearing will be given to both the parties. Special public prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad said that the Delhi Police earlier approached the court on credible information that one of the media houses has accessed the audio-video evidence related to the Narco test and the Practo app.

Delhi Police approached the court on credible information that one of the media houses has accessed the audio-video evidence related to Narco test and Practo app and is likely to disseminate the same today, Amit Prasad told ANI.

It has been learnt that some media channels propose to broadcast one such audio-video evidence which is an integral part of the charge sheet filed in case the Shradha Walker murder case. Such telecast/broadcast may cause irreparable damage to the cause of justice in this sensitive case which is sub-judice before the competent court, read an official release from DCP PRO.

This matter is related to the alleged murder of Shraddha Walkar by his live-in partner Aftab Amin Poonawala on May 18, 2022.

Earlier on April 6, Delhis Saket Court adjourned the hearing on arguments on charges against accused Aftab Poonawala in the Shraddha Walkar murder case in view of the lawyers strike in lower courts.

Aftab was produced in the court physically. The next date for the hearing is April 14.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Manisha Khurana Kakkar after noting that the lawyers are not appearing due to absenteeism from work adjourned the matter.

The defence counsel is to argue on the point of charge.

Lawyers remained absent from work also on Thursday in protest of the alleged murder of advocate Virender Narwal in the Dwarka area.

On the last date of the hearing on April 3, the court took on record the copy of the judgement filed by the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad and Madhukar Pandey.

The court had granted liberty to the counsel of the accused to file a copy of any judgement if he wished to file.

SPP Amit Prasad had submitted that there is a clear judgement that the charge under section 201 of IPC can be framed against the person who destroys the evidence to shield the main offender as well against the person who committed the main offence.

On the earlier date, the counsel for accused Aftab had argued that the charges of murder and disappearance of evidence cant be framed jointly. These charges can be framed alternatively.

Delhi police opposed the contention and sought time to place Judgements.

Advocate Akshay Bhandari had argued that either I (Aftab) can be charged with murder or for disappearing the evidence.

The accused cannot be charged for murder and disappearance of evidence under sections 302 and 201 of IPC together, the counsel argued. It can be framed alternatively.

He argued that the accused can be charged with the offence of murder under 302 IPC or he can be framed for the offence of shielding the main offender under section 201 IPC.

Advocate Bhandari had argued Mere saying that I (Aftab) am guilty of murder is not sufficient. They have statements of eyewitnesses only. The Prosecution has to show the manner in which the crime was committed.

SPP Amit Prasad rebutted that the joint charges can be framed under section 201 for disappearing the evidence.

He had also submitted that the relied upon a chain of evidence, statement of witnesses, a record of past events and circumstances, forensic evidence, manner of offence etc were submitted before the court.

Delhi police have concluded its arguements on the charge of murder and disappearance of evidence against the accused.
In a new twist to the debate on the proposed disinvestment of the Vizag Steel Plant, the Telangana government is currently considering participating in the Express of Interest (EoI) for Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, the corporate entity of the steel plant in the port city.

The decision of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has thrown political parties of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in a tizzy, particularly because both the YSRCP and the local BJP are uncomfortable with the proposition.

Rao has been vocal against privatisation of the Vizag steel plant, particularly while setting up the Andhra Pradesh unit of the BRS and recently Telangana industry minister KT Rama Rao wrote a letter to the Centre opposing the 100 per cent disinvestment move of the Centre.

Reports that Telangana officials are studying the modalities of the EoI to participate either through the entity of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) or Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation (TSMDC) has been greeted with joy by many in Vizag. Employees of the steel plant have been on protest ever since the Centre revealed its decision to disinvest it.

Thank you very much KCR garu for the decision to participate in the EOI process of Vizag Steel Plant. Your step will bring real hope for revival. Hope the AP chief minister and SAIL also will show similar interest in participation in EOI, said VV Lakshmi Narayana, former CBI joint director who had contested for the Vizag Lok Sabha seat in 2019 on Jana Sena ticket.

Narayana cited the case of Kerala where the state took over a Central PSU, the Hindustan Newsprint Limited (HNL) with a Rs146 crore bid and resumed operations as Kerala Paper Products Limited (KPPL).

The Telangana chief ministers decision has put pressure on the Andhra Pradesh government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has opposed the privatisation bid but did not do anything further. Today, AP Industry Minister Gudivada Amarnath said, Jagan Annas government is against the idea of privatizing Vizag steel plant. This is our stand, we need not answer to who is going to buy it.

Meanwhile in Telangana, BJP state chief Bandi Sanjay asked why the funds of the state will be invested in a steel plant in AP. Some even wondered why Telangana should not set up its own steel plant at Bayyaram which the Centre had promised in the bifurcation act but then stepped back.

BRS spokesperson Manne Krishank said, When Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation can bid and get mines in Odisha why cant Telangana bid for Vizag steel plant for which even Telangana people lost lives fighting for it. Vizag steel plant, Bayyaram (steel plant) are not encouraged only for the benefit of Modi, Adani and Posco, referring to speculation that Centre was disinvesting RINL to sell to POSCO and the Adani group.

However, several people also questioned whether KCR was only trying to woo the people of Vizag through this move in order to reap political benefits in Andhra Pradesh. Rao has planned a mega rally in Vizag to launch the BRS in AP and such a move would definitely win him plenty of plaudits in the port city.
The Delhi Polices Special Cell on Sunday said that they have arrested arms supplier Avtar Singh who supplied 10 weapons to Khalid and Zeeshan, the two aides of UP don Atiq Ahmeds son Asad, as well another aide named Jawed and all four have been sent to judicial custody here.

Earlier reports had said that Khalid and Zeeshan were handed over to the Uttar Pradesh Polices Special Task Force.

Asad is on the run in connection with the sensational murder of Umesh Pal  a witness in former BSP MLA Raju Pal murder  that took place in Prayagraj in February. Zeeshan and Khalid, who helped Asad to hide in Delhi, were detained from Sangam Vihar.

In coming days, the UP Polices STF can seek their production warrants and they are in touch with the Delhi Police, a Delhi Police official said.

Avtar Singh was arrested and disclosed that he had also supplied ten weapons to two persons namely Khalid and Zeeshan. We launched a manhunt and manual sources were also tapped. Based on a secret input, on March 28, Khalid and Zeeshan were arrested from Sheikh Sarai, Delhi and two weapons along with live cartridges were also recovered from the possession of the duo, a police official said.

During the course of investigation, the duo disclosed that they had also provided shelter to Asad and Ghulam, who are wanted by UP Police in the infamous Umesh Pal murder case.A

Subsequently, acting on more secret information, Jawed has also been arrested on March 31 and another case under Arms Act in police station Special Cell was registered.

During to course of investigation accused Jawed disclosed that Asad and Ghulam had also met him after the Umesh Pal murder.
The Gujarat government, on Monday, expressed its reservation in the Supreme Court on sharing with petitioners material relating to alleged fake encounters between 2002 and 2006, and whose probe was monitored by a former top court judge Justice H S Bedi

Justice Bedi  a former judge of the Supreme Court  was appointed on March 2, 2012 to head the monitoring committee to supervise the investigation into 22 cases of alleged fake encounters in Gujarat between 2002 and 2006. He has already submitted his final report long back.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Gujarat government, told a bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah that the petitioners were not concerned about the encounters that occurred in other states, including where they lived, and were focused on Gujarat. He questioned their locus standi in the matter and their motives.

People staying somewhere in other states have identified a particular period of encounters, Mehta said, alleging selective public interest. In an apparent reference to the noted lyricist Javed Akhtar, Solicitor General said that one of the petitioners stays in Maharashtra, where the encounters had taken place but he is not bothered about that.

The solicitor general said the investigations were carried as per the Code of Criminal Procedure and no material should be shared with the petitioners.

On the outset of the hearing today, advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for Akhtar told the bench that the Gujarat government has not done anything in these cases.

The top court was hearing two separate pleas filed in 2007 by senior journalist B G Verghese, (who passed away in 2014) and the other by noted lyricist Javed Akhtar and Shabnam Hashmi, seeking a probe into the alleged fake encounters.

It is not the first time that Gujarat government has tried to hold back information on investigation into 22 fake encounters cases that took place between 2002-2006 but earlier too on January 9, 2019, it had tried to block the petitioners getting Justice Bedis report on eight alleged fake encounters.

Brushing aside Gujarat governments plea not to give a copy of Justice Bedis report to Javed Akhtar and refusing to keep it confidential, a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice L Nageswara Rao (both since retired) and Justice Sanjay Krishan Kaul had on January 9, 2019, directed that a copy of the Justice H S Bedi committee report on eight cases of fake shootouts in Gujarat be furnished to the petitioner, noted lyricist Javed Akhtar.

In the final report to the top court, the Justice Bedi had identified three persons prima facie killed in the fake encounters by Gujarat Police, including nine police officials and three inspector rank officers. It, however, did not recommend prosecution of an IPS officer.

The judges fixed further hearing on July 12.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 10, 2023 - 22:30 | All, Japan, World

Tokyo has conveyed deep concern to China over its increased military activity around Japanese waters and involvement with Russia, Japan's Foreign Ministry said Monday.

At a bilateral high-level dialogue on maritime affairs in Tokyo held in person for the first time since May 2019, Japan also reiterated the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, according to the ministry, with the comments coming in the wake of recent Chinese military exercises conducted in the region in response to U.S.-Taiwan talks.

Meetings between Japan and China under the high-level consultation mechanism on maritime affairs, including the previous one last November, had been held online for the past few years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

During Monday's meeting, the two countries confirmed a commitment to begin operation of a hotline, established between their defense authorities in March, while agreeing to strengthen communication through high-level exchanges.

In addition to the repeated entry of Chinese vessels into waters near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, Japan has expressed concerns over Beijing's unilateral extraction of natural gas in a contested area in the region, the ministry said.

The two countries at the meeting reaffirmed their intent to work toward implementing a 2008 bilateral accord on joint gas development in the area.

Japan also strongly protested to China against its continued dissemination of unscientific claims regarding Tokyo's plan to start releasing treated radioactive water into the sea from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant later this year, according to the ministry.

Discussions were led by Takehiro Funakoshi, director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, and Hong Liang, head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs.

Defense Ministry and coast guard officials from both countries were also among the participants of the meeting.
The Supreme Court on Monday endorsed the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces at the entry point of soldiers as it dismissed pleas challenging the merging in the new scheme of the recruitment process that had commenced prior to the introduction of Agnipath in 2022.

Declining two pleas challenging Delhi High Courts February 27 verdict, a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice J B Pardiwala said that the candidates, who had earlier got selected through earlier recruitment processes like rallies, physical and medical tests, do not have a vested right to appointment.

The high court had, in its verdict, said that the Agnipath scheme was formulated in the national interest with a laudable objective of maintaining national security.

Sorry, we would not like to interfere with the high court verdict. The high court had dealt with all the aspects, it said, while dismissing separate pleas by Gopal Krishan and advocate M L Sharma against the high court order.

The bench, however, posted for hearing on April 17, a fresh plea by one. Lokesh Kumar, relating to recruitment in the Indian Air Forces (IAF) prior to the launch of the Agnipath scheme. The bench asked the Centre to file its response to the plea.

Besides challenging the Delhi High Court order, petitioner Gopal Krishan had sought direction for the conduct of Common Entrance Examination for Indian Army.
In a recent move, the Central government has sought further extension of time from the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation for framing the Rules of Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019.

Usually, the rules are to be framed within six months of the passing of the Act. This move was the 9th in a row and the Government got the extension up to 9th January 2023 from Rajya Sabha while a nod from Lok Sabha is still awaited.

It appears that the government has not made up their mind on framing the rules of the CAA even though more than 39 months have elapsed since its notification on 12th December 2019. The amendments were made in such a way that the provisions of the Act cannot be made operational unless rules are framed under Section 6B (1) read with Section 18(2) (eei) of the Act specifying conditions, restrictions and manner of conferring citizenship.

The Act contains several grey areas and the rules, when framed, are expected to bring clarity to these and other conditions required to fulfil before applying for citizenship by a person.

None of the provisions of the Act has categorically confirmed who is actually eligible to apply for citizenship under this Act.

As of now, the government has no concrete data about the actual number of Hindu migrants who entered India after facing religious persecution in Bangladesh.

We have no information regarding i) their date of entry into India, ii) their whereabouts during all these years, iii) the reasons for leaving their own country, iv) places where they are staying after their entry, v) the occupation that they are pursuing here, and above all their vi) past criminal records, if any.

All these are primary information required for processing applications for citizenship under the Act.

It would be a difficult proposition as to how the government is planning to make out cases of religious persecution in each case in absence of any information about it.

The country of origin of the applicants evidently will not like to share any information or antecedents on this matter. The practical question that will impede the process of conferring citizenship to an applicant is when actually the applicant entered India. In absence of any information, the government will have to depend on the certificates of the local authority.

The local authority and for that matter, the Collectors certificate cannot confirm the actual date of entry. Many infiltrators against whom the proceedings are pending in Foreigners Tribunals in Assam and elsewhere in India will attempt to apply for citizenship concealing actual information although under Section 6(B)(3) of the Act pending a judicial proceeding against an applicant is not a disqualification.

The proposed rules, if declare any local authority as competent to issue a certificate for the purpose, will face an uphill task of procuring information from various sources. For this purpose, such authority will have to depend on the records of the village elder men (Gaon Burhas).

On the whole, it would undoubtedly lead to a chaotic situation. The new proviso added to Section 2 of the Act fixes the terminal date of entry into India of a Hindu Bangladeshi national as 14th June 2014 while no initial date has been fixed. Unless the rules fix this problem, it appears that the infiltrators will be at liberty to state any date as the date of entry into India before the terminal date.

The governments intention behind the non-insertion of an initial date from which the entry is to be considered could be to avoid the issue of the Assam Accord as the most probable initial date could have been the terminal or cut-off date fixed by the Assam Accord.

So, the period of operation of the CAA remained blurred and the proposed rules must make an effort to bring clarity to this point. Non-insertion of a period in the principal Act could in future prove to be a big lacuna of the Act.

The foreigners tribunals are guided by the cut-off date fixed under Assam Accord i.e., 24th March 1971 depending on provisions of the Accord, the Foreigners Act as well as Citizenship Act, as amended.

Now under the CAA, the cut-off date appears to have been shifted from 24th March 1971 to 31st December 2014 for the Hindu Bangladeshis  but this is only a mere assumption.

Now there is no doubt that the Act was enacted haphazardly and as a result, many errors have now been detected and many more are expected to come up in course of its implementation  if not declared as an ultra-virus by the Supreme Court in the meantime.

While presenting the Citizenship Amendment Bill before the Parliament, the Statement of Objects and Reasons submitted along with the Bill did not even mention the existence of the Assam Accord and for that matter the cut-off date set by the government in that document for regularisation of the Bangladeshi nationals.

This was a big mistake and amounts to the suppression of facts by the government. The present governments attitude towards the imposition of the CAA doesnt appear to be that of a serious law-enforcing authority.

Although the Home Minster has been reiterating from time to time that CAA will be implemented in letter and spirit, but Governments inaction in framing the rules says a different story.

There could be several reasons for this:

1) The provisions of the Act have been challenged in the Apex Court on various grounds. It is undoubtedly that the provisions of the Act directly contravene the equality principle of the Constitution of India and also compromised with the ideals of secularism. It has attempted to differentiate between Hindu Bangladeshi immigrants and Muslim Bangladeshi immigrants. As such, once the Act comes under judicial scrutiny it will be difficult for the Government to protect the legislation due to this discriminatory principle.

ii) The ruling BJP is losing interest in the Act for the simple reason that their objective of enacting this legislation has been defeated as they could not garner power in the last West Bengal Assembly elections. It was enacted to appease the voters belonging to a specific community.

iii) Ever since Bangladesh as a nation came up in the year 1971, no known religious persecution took place in that country which resulted in a large-scale exodus of religious minorities to this country. Therefore, Bangladesh evidently will not agree to any move which openly marks the country as having pursued a religious persecution path to do away with the section of minority living in that country.

At present, among the neighbouring countries, it is only Bangladesh with whom India is having good bilateral relations. But Bangladeshs relations with China are growing into a bigger proportion in recent years, especially during the pandemic and now China is having comfortable access to the South Asian region via Bangladesh through Nepal in the North and Myanmar in the East.

Under this backdrop, India cannot afford further to strain their relations with any neighbouring country including Bangladesh. Bangladesh is in an enviable position due to its strategic location in the Bay of Bengal region and the US is closely eyeing the IndoBangla tie and will not be liking any deviation from the present stand.

The situation is well under the comprehension of India and because of this when PM Modi visited Bangladesh in March last year categorically praised the country for their peaceful co-existence and integration of various communities.

But despite having ample opportunities to discuss the cross-border infiltration, Mr Modi preferred not to mention anything about it in that tour. Now since the next general election to Lok Sabha is approaching, government will undoubtedly use CAA as a weapon to appease those who are prospective applicants of the package provided by CAA 2019.

The writer is a former IAS officer who retired as Secretary, Finance, Government of Assam.
The much talked about senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Prateek Hajela, from Assam, who faced several FIRs for alleged involvement with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) updation scam in the state (also the chief executive officer in Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of good governance and policy analysis), was recently released by the Madhya Pradesh government from the social justice department paving the way for his return journey.

The question now arises, will his return make some Guwahati-based journalists also accountable for their involvement in the multimillion rupees NRC scam? Hajela, a 1995-batch brilliant IAS officer, who was transferred to his native central Indian state in 2019 following an order of the Supreme Court (assuming threats to his life over NRC Assam fraudulent issues), is expected to return to his original Assam-Meghalaya cadre in northeast India.

One official complaint against the former state NRC coordinator, lodged by his immediate successor Hitesh Devsarma, was even related to the sedition charge.

Devsarma filed two complaints, (one with the criminal investigation department of Assam Police and the other with the CMs vigilance and anti-corruption wing) alleging corruption and money laundering by his predecessor (Hajela). Before his retirement, Devsarma in his complaints also named a few other officials and outside people (one named Pralay Seal) suspected to be involved in the scam.

Later in various public discourses, he claimed that the NRC final draft (released in August 2019) included thousands of illegal migrant families names, thanks to the tempered software used in the process.

The NRC irregularity issue indirectly involved the Supreme Court of India as the apex court understandably monitored the particular exercise. But shockingly, as many as 6000 temporary workers in the process remain underpaid (below the prescribed monthly wags) to date.

The legitimate query, one may ask, is where those young casual employees would go for justice (under the laws of the land) against their exploitation! The issue drew immediate public attention when the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the statutory national auditor, detected massive financial anomalies involving millions of rupees in the NRC updation exercise.

The CAG in its report, ending 31 March 2020 (which was also placed in Assam State legislative assembly for discussions), recommended legal actions against Hajela and the system integrator (Wipro Limited). The CAG report clearly stated that due to a lack of proper planning hundreds of software utilities were added haphazardly to the core one. Asserting that highly secure and reliable software was necessary for the exercise, but no due process like the selection of vendors following a national tender was followed.

Owing to the lack of proper planning, while developing the important software, a haphazard addition of over 200 software utilities to the core one was done. Finally, the CAG report claimed that the intended objective of preparing an error-free NRC was not fulfilled.

However, the NRC authority had to spend Rs 15,790 million and around 50,000 government servants were also engaged for over four years in the process, where the state government only had the responsibility to provide logistic support. But confusion surfaced, about how around 6000 data entry operators (DEOs) were paid lower than the countrys prescribed monthly salaries in the exercise (under the monitorship of an SC bench comprising the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi).

The countrys supreme audit institution identified the flaws and documented that the much-acclaimed Wipro Limited paid less than the countrys minimum wages to DEOs.

The NRC authority sanctioned Rs 14,500 (to 17,500) per DEO per month, but each of them received only Rs 5,500 (to 9,100) every month. Even though the system integrator (Wipro) had the responsibility to arrange DEOs, its officials in Assam whimsically engaged many sub-contractors.

The difference in wages allowed the undue benefit of Rs 1,550 million to the system integrator and sub-contractors, asserted the CAG report. The issue of the NRC updation scam was widely discussed in both the mainstream media (newspapers & news channels) and digital outlets.

Responsible individuals and experienced journalists highlighted the issue on social media and even pointed out three senior scribes of satellite news channels who were the beneficiaries of money laundering in the NRC updation process.

But surprisingly, those named and shamed television anchor-journalists did not respond to the allegations on social media (they are still not doing so).

The NRC updation process began in December 2014 with an initial project cost of around Rs 2,880 million and was supposed to be completed within 14 months. But the timeline for the project went on lingering and the final draft was published only in August 2019. Because of the time overruns, the project cost escalated to nearly Rs 16 billion by March 2022.

Though claimed by Hajela (and shamelessly propagated by a few television anchors as being the best one), the released NRC is yet to be notified by the Registrar General of India. NRC Assam, which was supposed to enrol the names of all genuine Indian citizens (or their ancestors) residing in the state prior to 25 March 1971 included a total of 3,11,21,004 citizens names out of 3,30,27,661 applicants (thus the final draft excluded around 19 lakh people as they could not provide valid documents).

Assam, which had its first prepared NRC in 1951, used to face an influx of migrants from erstwhile East Pakistan and presentday Bangladesh.

Rapid demographic changes had alerted the indigenous communities of Assam, which resulted in the anti-foreigner movement of the Eighties. Devsarma, while speaking about the tempered software, claimed that it was intentionally put in place to include doubtful citizens in the list ignoring the family tree match scanning practices. Hence he demanded that it must be probed as a serious crime under anti-national activities.

According to him, Hajela asked the concerned party to design the software with no facility for quality checking. Hajela is also facing FIRs from Assam Public Works (APW), a key petitioner in the NRC case before the SC. APW president Abhijit Sarma also lodged a police complaint against Wipro Limited citing massive corruption in the NRC updating process. He even sent a letter to Azim Premji, chairperson of Wipro Technologies, informing him of the companys role in the process during 2015-2019.

Another letter was sent by independent journalist Biswajit Nath, but nothing had reportedly come from the office of Premji. Lately, the civil society organisation urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his intervention in the matter so that the guilty individuals got adequate punishments under the law. In an official letter (dated 5th April 2023), the organisation demanded that the Enforcement Department should inquire about the corruption involved in the NRC scam.

The APW letter also suggested that the NRC is a national security issue and suspected money came from some foreign countries to include Bangladeshi nationals names in the list, the exercise should be probed by both the Central Bureau of Investigation and the National Investigation Agency.

(The writer is a Guwahati-based Special Representative of The Statesman)
Visiting Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova on Monday met senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and briefed them on the ongoing conflict in her country, saying India should be pragmatic while diversifying its political interactions and energy resources.

Pleasure to receive Ukrainian Deputy FM @Emine Dzheppar. Perspectives shared. Discussed bilateral engagements and cooperation going forward. Wishing her a good trip. Her first as DFM, but a country she is familiar with, said Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) in the MEA tweeted after his meeting with the minister from the war-torn nation.

Addressing the media later, Dzhaparova said; India should be pragmatic in diversifying its energy resources, military contracts and political interactions. Prime Minister (Narendra) Modis policy of democracy, dialogue and diversity and no era of war and strategic application is really important.

She was obviously alluding to the fact that India has repeatedly abstained from voting against Russia at all international forums, including the UN, for its military action in Ukraine. It is the first official visit by a Ukraine minister to India since Russia launched the military offensive in February last year. She is also scheduled to meet Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi and Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri, it is learnt.

Emphasising that extraordinary times needed extraordinary decisions, Dzhaparova said; We hope that India and Ukraine, even though geographically at a distance from each other, will become closer physically and politically and in many other ways.

Talking about Ukraines 1500 years of history, the minister said that her country had never attacked anyone like India. Ukraine, she said, was a victim of unprovoked and neocolonial war.

We also feel that we have this arbitrariness by promoting the values of justice of Peace, as your Prime Minister in Samarkand said, that its not an era of war. I mean, we do support this purely and fully, but unfortunately, we have aggressive countries who question the existence of other countries and then the question of Indias involvement as a leader in the Global South, as a G-20 presidency. We hope India would be involved and engaged in global issues and challenges: economic challenges, energy challenges, and nuclear challenges to a greater extent, she said.

Taking to her official Twitter handle, Dzhaparavo stated, Happy to visit -the land that gave birth to many sages, saints & gurus. Today, India wants to be the Vishwaguru, the global teacher and arbiter. In our case, weve got a very clear picture: aggressor against an innocent victim. Supporting is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru.
Four people were killed and at least 15 injured after a blast took place near a police vehicle in Pakistans Quetta on Monday, Geo News reported.

The blast occurred in Quettas Shahrah-e-Iqbal area and several cars and motorcycles in the vicinity were damaged. Bodies of all the deceased have been shifted to the Civil Hospital, hospital administration said, as per Geo News. A minor girl was also among those killed in the explosion.

Further details awaited. The investigation is underway.
Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Light rain developing this afternoon. High 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low 36F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
An Idaho prosecutor says a mother charged in the murders of her two kids and her new husband's late wife used money, power and sex to get what she wanted
By Momoko Yoshino, KYODO NEWS - Apr 10, 2023 - 14:24 | All, Japan, Feature

Yoshino Uemura came late to the world of female "ama" divers, taking the plunge in her 40s. But now, over two decades later, she feels there is no time to lose if her chosen profession is to survive for future generations.

Clad in wetsuits, ama divers submerge to great depths without air tanks to gather abalone, seaweed and other seafood, and sometimes pearls. They exist only in Japan and South Korea, but in the profession's Japanese heartland of Mie Prefecture, it is dying out.

Surveys show the number of divers in the cities of Toba and Shima have plummeted to fewer than 10 percent of the 1949 figure.

The main culprit appears to be environmental deterioration caused by rising seawater temperatures, which reduce catches. The resulting low incomes make it exceedingly difficult to sustain a living.

Efforts are underway to improve the marine environment and secure new sources of revenue for divers, but there appears to be no silver bullet. Some locals are concerned that the culture of ama divers could cease to exist in generations to come.

Uemura still vividly recalls her first professional dive at age 43. "Crystal clear water, seaweed growing everywhere, fish swimming vigorously...it was just as beautiful as if I had been swimming in an aquarium tank. I still can't forget it," Uemura, now 69, said.

Although her mother-in-law was an ama, her family opposed her career choice because, in a profession that dates back thousands of years in the central Japan prefecture, most women begin dives in their 20s.

"'Why now?' they'd ask me. But I love the ocean," Uemura said.

It was a turbulent start. In her early dives, Uemura was often tossed about by waves and even cracked her ribs when her body was slammed against rocks.

While Ama divers themselves take particular care not to overfish marine resources by sticking to self-imposed regulations, Uemura is anxious about the future.

A few years ago, harvesting wakame became impossible. And without wakame, the number of fish that live in the seaweed beds will decline, too. She is concerned that "catches will not continue for her children's and grandchildren's generations."

According to studies by the Toba Sea-Folk Museum and Mie University, in 2022, the number of confirmed ama divers in Toba and Shima fell to 514, the lowest since 1949, the year the survey began, when there were over 6,000.

In 2010, the number dropped below 1,000 for the first time. Most ama divers are now in their 60s or 70s, with the oldest being 88.

"A decline in incomes due to a change in the marine environment is accelerating the lack of successors," said Mai Ishihara, the museum's director general.

But neither ama nor fishery cooperatives are standing idly by. Last year, Uemura and others participated in diving activities to eliminate a species of long-spined sea urchin that is destroying kelp forests in the area.

The increase in the creatures that overgraze on kelp is believed to cause underwater moonscapes to form, known as urchin barrens. But the ama's activities are helping put a stop to seaweed decline.

Kaori Arai, 39, who quit her office job and moved to Shima from Osaka Prefecture to become a diver in 2014, said, "If the marine environment improves, the number of ama divers will naturally increase."

In 2017, the central government designated the ama fishing method of Toba and Shima as an important intangible folk cultural asset. Two years later, Toba and Shima were recognized as a Japan Heritage Site by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

At Satoumian in Shima, a restaurant modeled after an ama hut where the women customarily rest after their dives, ama divers grill seafood in front of customers.

Satoumian has been favorably received by ama, as it gives them a way to earn money even when rough sea conditions make diving impossible.

In 2010, the Miegaiwan Fisheries Cooperative Association in Shima began instructing aspiring ama at a diving "cram school" and provided the women with housing.

However, the association has stopped ama recruitment since it cannot guarantee their earnings due to the decline in marine catches.

"To preserve ama culture for future generations, not only ama divers themselves, but government authorities and fishery cooperatives must devise the best way to cooperate with each other," the museum's Ishihara said.

Related coverage:

Whale sharks see in dark due to mutation behind blindness in humans

FEATURE: Kombu attracting more U.S. chefs with umami taste, veggie boom

FEATURE: Therapy dogs taking anxiety out of legal system for abused kids
Larry Kessler, a retired Sun Chronicle local news editor, can be reached at larrythek65@gmail.com . He blogs at larrytheklineup.blogspot.com
Ramses the lion basks in the sun at Capron Park Zoo in June 2020. The zoos closure during the pandemic has taken a financial toll on the facility and although an infusion of federal COVID money is good, it will not be enough to sustain the zoo going forward.
ALTON  State's attorneys in Madison, Jersey and Calhoun counties are among more than 30 filing a brief with the Illinois Supreme Court seeking to overturn the state's ban on certain types of weapons.

Madison County State's Attorney Thomas Haine has been joined by Lucas Fanning, the states attorney of Calhoun County; Ben Goetten, states attorney of Jersey County; and 30 other state's attorneys filing the Amici Curiae brief also known as a friend of the court brief  asking the state's highest court to strike down the Assault Weapons Ban passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in January.

The other states attorneys in the brief represent the counties of Brown, Carroll, Clark, Clinton, Edwards, Effingham, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jasper, Jefferson, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Macon, Marion, Mercer, Monroe, Ogle, Perry, Pulaski, Randolph, Schuyler, Union, Vermilion, Warren, Washington, Wayne and White.

As the duly-elected states attorneys of our counties, we have a duty to seek justice, Haine said. That duty includes protecting and defending the Constitutional rights of all citizens.

On March 3, Macon County Associate Judge Rodney S. Forbes ruled the weapons ban violates the equal-protection and special-legislation clauses of the Illinois Constitution. Pritzker has appealed that ruling to the state Supreme Court.

The ban outlaws the sale or manufacture of several firearms labeled as assault weapons and certain attachments for firearms, along with .50-caliber rifles and .50-caliber cartridges. People who already own such a firearm are allowed to keep them under the new law, but the owners of such weapons will be required to register them with Illinois State Police by Jan. 1, 2024.

In its conclusion, Haines brief states as follows:

"Many Americans of good will continue to debate the merits of our countrys broad-based culture of gun ownership. Some fear that broad gun rights facilitate violence by criminals. Others contend that while the law should take aggressive steps to stop criminals, it must also respect responsible citizens right to own commonplace firearms as an effective means of self-defense against those very same criminals, making the public more secure, not less.

"While this debate will undoubtedly endure, at least this much has been settled since 1791: The Second Amendment the very product of an interest balancing by the Founding generation, which ratified it elevates above all other interests the right of law-abiding, responsible citizens to use arms for self-defense. Bruen, 142 S.Ct. at 2131 (citing Heller, 554 U.S. at 635). Therefore, no state may prohibit[]  an entire class of arms that is overwhelmingly chosen by American society for [a] lawful purpose. Heller, 554 U.S. at 628. Yet the [Assault Weapons Ban] bans entire categories of firearms and firearm components (i.e., magazines) obviously in common use for lawful purposes today. It is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, as authoritatively read by Heller and Bruen both. "

The brief states that certain firearms  such as the AR-15  may seem strange and menacing to people with little experience with firearms but they are normal and valuable "to many millions of responsible, law-abiding Americans.

"In fact, it is the experience of Amici as the chief law-enforcement officers of our respective Counties that the typical use of such firearms is self-defense and recreation  for which they are quite well-suited  and not violent crime," the brief states.

"Like all Americans, Amici are horrified by the mass shootings and urban violence our nation has experienced," the brief states. "These are heartbreaking reminders of how much pain and sorrow violent individuals with evil intentions can cause. As prosecutors, we go to work every day to deter such crimes, do justice for victims, put those who would do harm to our communities behind bars, and protect everyone by strengthening the justice system and the rule of law.

"It is in service to that same rule of law that we urge this Honorable Court to support all the rights enshrined in our Constitution, including the right of the people to own commonplace firearms so they can defend hearth and home and live freely with the means to secure their own ultimate safety."

As the duly-elected states attorneys of our counties, we have a duty to seek justice, Haine said. That duty includes protecting and defending the Constitutional rights of all citizens.

A copy of the brief is online at the website of the Madison County States Attorneys Office, www.madcosao.gov, and on the Illinois Supreme Courts web page for high-profile cases.
ALTON  This year's brand new Alton Odyssey Tours include a Prohibition Tour, Historical Craft Beer Walk and Behind the Bricks haunted walking tour, as well as a partnership with Vintage Voices.

Vintage Voices is a popular local tradition held each October in the Alton Cemetery.

The first Prohibition Tour is Saturday, April 22. Currently Odyssey is planning 22 Prohibition tours for the year. Dubbed the wettest county in the country, Madison County was a haven for bootleggers, rum runners and speakeasies.

Were excited to announce our partnership with Vintage Voices, said Odyssey's Caleb Lewis, managing partner. "Thanks to this alliance, we are bringing characters of the Roaring Twenties to life," Lewis said. "Well visit locations affected by the passing of the 18th Amendment and discover the social backlash brought on by Prohibition.

The three-hour shuttle tour includes stops at five different locations and concludes with a celebration to the end of prohibition.

Guests will enjoy a pint of the Bees Knees, a special brew in collaboration with The Old Bakery Beer Co., brewed especially for the Prohibition Tour. Non-alcoholic options also are available. Anyone can come enjoy this history tour.



Were been very fortunate to have strong support from the community, Lewis said. In the past, our tours have sold out quickly, which has triggered our current expansion. Were grateful to all our partners and look forward to another successful year.

In 1919 when the 18th Amendment passed, the manufacture, transportation and sale of alcohol was prohibited nationwide. Many law-abiding citizens lost their jobs and businesses closed.

Prohibition pushed drinking unlawful beverages underground. Some who lost legit employment found illicit work. The Mississippi River became a rum-runners no mans land. Organized crime from Chicago and St. Louis found its way to Alton.

Alton Odyssey Tours are known for trolley and craft beer tours. It began in 1992 when Marlene Lewis and local psychic "Antoinette" conducted the first haunted tour. After 20 years as Antoinette's Haunted History Tours, Antoinette retired and the tours continued as Alton Haunted Odyssey.

In 2019, new owners Caleb Lewis, Marlene Lewis' son, and Lisa Kalagian, launched Alton Odyssey Tours.

For more information, visit AltonOdysseyTours.com.

For more information or to book a tour visit AltonOdysseyTours.com.










The Great Illinois River Raft Race Facebook page

HARDIN  The Great Illinois River Raft Race is seeking artists, would-be artists, designers and river rats to design a T-shirt by April 21 for the annual event.

This year's Great Illinois River Raft Race is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, on the Illinois River, at Hardins riverfront.
JERSEYVILLE  A longtime Jersey County Historical Society volunteer is being honored for decades of helping to research the history of the community and the families that make it up.

Lois Lock has worked with the society for more than 30 years, during which time she has helped grow the resources available to the organization.

Connor Ashlock, a historical society board member, said Lock often is the face most associated with the society.

"For more than 30 years now, she has helped oversee a ton of bound publications, researching cemetery records, obituaries, marriage announcements, births," Ashlock said. "She has provided us with a lot of information and resources in her years and we thought it fit to rename the library after her."

The new Lois Lock Genealogy Research Center at 301 N. State St. is one of the centers of historical research in the community.

"And Lock is often one of the best resources available," Ashlock said.

The library was built in the early 2000s but never was dedicated.

"We started with two, four-drawer filing cabinets of information," Ashlock said. "Now, we have over 31 cabinets. Lois is responsible for a lot of that."

Lock is always available with a story about people she knows, and she knows basically everybody, Ashlock said.

"Everyone knows the sweet lady you find in the museum library," Ashlock said. "She has research down to a science. People walk in and she'll know their parents, grandparents. Sometimes she'll have a story about them."

Despite her age, Lock remains active and refuses to slow down, Ashlock said.

Lock is dedicated to her research and the society, he said.

"She is such a hard worker," Ashlock said. "Even in her 90s, you'll catch her on a stepladder washing the windows."

Because of all of her work, there is no one more deserving of the honor, Ashlock said.

"Lois is one of the longest-serving volunteers in the societys over-100-year history and is largely responsible for the growth of our research facilities and genealogical information," Ashlock said. "Jersey Countys finest genealogist, she has donated thousands of hours toward the improvement of the society. Where we are as an organization is largely to her credit and she is, by far, our greatest asset."
BELLEVILLE  Masterworks is planning its finale performances of the season this month in Belleville and O'Fallon.

Sing We and Chant It: A Madrigal Faire by the Masterworks Childrens Chorus is planned for 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 23 as the group's finale concert of the 2022-2023 concert season.

The concert will feature music for treble chorus and harpsichord, madrigals and ballads from Elizabethan England, and songs and dances from Renaissance Italy, France, and Germany. The Masterworks Childrens Chorus will be joined by soprano Samantha Arten, a specialist in early music repertoire.

The event will take place in Heritage Hall at Saint Paul United Church of Christ, 115 W B St., in Belleville. Desserts and beverages will be served.

The Masterworks Childrens Chorus is the junior division of the Masterworks Chorale founded in 1974 by Dr. A. Dennis Sparger while a professor at Belleville Area College (now Southwestern Illinois College).

The Chorale has sponsored the Masterworks Childrens Chorus since 1985. The Childrens Chorus performs several concerts annually as part of the Masterworks subscription season. Dr. Stephen Mager is the Masterworks' artistic director and conductor.

"A Schubert Spring" is planned for 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 30 by the Masterworks Chorale as its finale concert of the 2022-2023 concert season.

Featuring lyric Viennese inspirations by Franz Schubert, the Prince of Song, the concert will take place at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, 1411 Cross Street, in OFallon, Illinois.

The concert will feature the lyrical Mass in G for chorus and orchestra, along with several of Schuberts most famous Lieder (German art songs), including Du bist die Ruh (You are Repose) and An die Musik (To Music); and Schuberts famous Ave Maria and the virtuosic Der Hirt auf dem Felsen (Shepherd on the Rock) sung by guest soprano Stella Markou (University of Kansas) with clarinetist Jeanine York-Garesche.

Tickets are available at www.singmasterworks.org.
You think we have problems telling time on Earth? Well, Hold on to your cuckoo clocks. The moon is getting time zones.

And just who is at the bottom of this dastardly deed? Why Europe, of course. You know, the people who have never sent humans to the moon want to start telling us what time it is there. Shouldnt that be our responsibility? I dont see any German, French, or English flags planted there yet, do you?

Europeans will probably place lunar time on the metric system too. Next thing you know well be telling time in milliseconds and kilohours. After all, the metric system is all about tens, so be prepared for the 24-hour day, 60-minute hour, and 7-day week to end. Of course, its just the moon were talking about, not the Earth. At least not yet.

Back in the days of the French Revolution, when heads were rolling off the guillotine, forward-thinking revolutionaries in Paris got rid of the calendar altogether. They kept 12 months but divided each month into 3 ten-day weeks, and workers only had one day off per week. Of course, their math was a bit inexact. That left 5 or 6 extra days unaccounted for to complete the Earths orbit around the Sun. They either had to speed the Earth up or add some extra days, so you can probably guess what they did. These extra days were called complementary days, for lack of a better term. Sounds to me like they were making it up as they went along.

Worse yet, they introduced decimal time, where each day was divided into 10 hours with 100 decimal minutes and each minute into 100 seconds. You thought I was kidding earlier, didnt you? Amazingly, this confusion lasted 18 years until Napoleon rode to the rescue, knocked some heads together, effectively cleaning the revolutionaries clocks, and reintroduced the old timekeeping system.

No one knows yet exactly what Europe has planned, but Ill admit it makes sense. If nations are going to start colonizing the moon and fighting over territory as they have on Earth, we might as well know when it happened. It will surely spawn an entire new vocabulary too. American astronauts, Russian cosmonauts, and Chinese taikonauts will speak of things happening once in a blue Earth while politicians promise their constituents the Earth.

And complicating things even more is the fact that clocks run faster on the moon than the Earth. I always thought time flew instead of ran, but what do I know? That means astronauts will be able to draw social security sooner once back on earth since they will age more quickly. I recommend they do that before the funds dry up. Thats one advantage to living on the moon, anyway.

Knowing what time it is will be especially important for astronauts working there since they will have to know when to clock in and out and how much overtime they are earning while constructing the first lunar base. Then they will build the second and third bases based on experience garnered from the first one. After they have the 3 bases they will have to construct a pitchers mound and home and once that is completed, the other nations will have to play ball with the US since we will have all the bases occupied. And we will have home field advantage.

However, our new rivals, the Chinese, may attempt a moon invasion by landing a team of lunar taikonaut soldiers and attempting to get on our first base. If they succeed, they may attempt to steal our second base unless we throw them out. If an overthrow happens that could result in an error allowing them to take the third base. If we balk at this, they could take home, thereby defeating the US, completing their conquest of the moon and winning the first Lunar World Series. Sounds like a home run to me.

Thats why its extremely important the US has control of the clocks on the moon. That way we could throw them a curve ball by calling a timeout and bring a stop to the whole thing.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  One of the two Black Democrats who were expelled last week from the GOP-led Tennessee House was reinstated Monday after Nashvilles governing council voted to send him straight back to the Legislature.

The unanimous vote by the Nashville Metropolitan Council restores Rep. Justin Jones to office just four days after Republicans stripped him of his seat. Moments after the decision, Jones began marching to the Capitol several blocks away with hundreds of supporters.

When they tried to bury us, they didnt realize we were seeds, Jones told supporters at the Nashville courthouse before the vote.

Republicans banished the two lawmakers over their role in a gun-control protest on the House floor in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting.

The other lawmaker, Justin Pearson, could be reappointed Wednesday at a meeting of the Shelby County Commission.

The expulsions on Thursday made Tennessee a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy and propelled the ousted lawmakers into the national spotlight.

Jones appointment is on an interim basis. Special elections for the seats will take place in the coming months. Jones and Pearson have said they plan to run in the special election.

Before the special council session was to begin, a couple of hundred people gathered in front of the Nashville courthouse, and more were pouring in. Some held signs reading, No Justin, No Peace. Inside the courthouse, a line of people waited outside the council chambers for the doors to open.

Rosalyn Daniel arrived early and waited in line to get a seat in the council chambers. She said she is not in Jones district but is a Nashville resident and concerned citizen.

I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, during the Civil Rights Movement, so I understand why this is so important, she said.

Republican House Speaker Cameron Sextons spokesperson, Doug Kufner, indicated that whoever is appointed to the vacancies by the Nashville and Shelby County governments will be seated as representatives as the constitution requires.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth and Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison said they will welcome back the expelled lawmakers if they are reinstated.

Tennessees constitution provides a pathway back for expulsion, they said in a statement. Should any expelled member be reappointed, we will welcome them. Like everyone else, they are expected to follow the rules of the House as well as state law.

Jones and Pearson quickly drew prominent supporters. President Joe Biden spoke with them, and Vice President Kamala Harris visited them in Nashville. The expelled lawmakers have filled out their legal teams. Eric Holder, who served as attorney general under former President Barack Obama, now represents Jones.

The world is watching Tennessee, attorneys for Jones and Pearson wrote to Sexton in a letter Monday. Any partisan retributive action, such as the discriminatory treatment of elected officials, or threats or actions to withhold funding for government programs, would constitute further unconstitutional action that would require redress.

A third Democrat targeted for expulsion, Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, also attracted national attention.

Political tensions rose when the three joined with hundreds of demonstrators who packed the Capitol last month to call for passage of gun-control measures.

As protesters filled galleries, the lawmakers 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 where six people were killed, including three children.

Johnson, who is white, was spared expulsion by a single vote. Republican lawmakers justified splitting their votes by saying Johnson had less of a role in the protest  she didnt speak into the megaphone, for example.

Johnson also suggested race was likely a factor in why Jones and Pearson were ousted but not her. She told reporters it might have to do with the color of our skin.

GOP leaders have said the expulsions  a mechanism used only a handful times since the Civil War  had nothing to do with race and instead were necessary to avoid setting a precedent that lawmakers disruptions of House proceedings through protest would be tolerated.

Expulsion has generally been reserved as a punishment for lawmakers accused of serious misconduct, not used as a weapon against political opponents.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 10, 2023 - 13:58 | Arts, All

An 11-year-old male Japanese ballet dancer won the top prize Sunday for his age group at a major international ballet competition for young dancers seeking to become professionals.

Shinji Mitoma, a sixth-grader from Yokohama, near Tokyo, triumphed in the category for boys aged 9 to 11 in classical ballet at the Youth America Grand Prix, known as the world's largest student ballet scholarship competition.

"I'm very happy to be in first place," Mitoma said after the results of the competition were announced in the southern U.S. state of Florida. "I want to join the Royal Ballet School in Britain in the future."

Other young Japanese talents included 11-year-old Anne Takahashi from Saitama Prefecture, who came second in the classical ballet category for girls aged 9 to 11, and Yuzuki Okubo, a 13-year-old from Aichi Prefecture, who was second among girls aged 12 to 14.

"I'm happy that I was given second place, but I'll aim for first place next time," Takahashi said. "I would like to go to a ballet school in the future that will make me the world's best ballet dancer."

Kako Nakata, an 11-year-old from Chiba Prefecture, came third in the contemporary division for girls in her age group, while 12-year-old Yusei Sai, who resides in the United States, won second place in both the classical and contemporary dance events for boys in his age division.

The Youth America Grand Prix was established in 1999 by former members of the internationally renowned Russian Bolshoi Ballet. It provides scholarships to promising talents to study at top ballet schools around the world.

Contestants are classified by their ages as of Jan. 1.

Related coverage:

Japanese animation film "Suzume" is a hit in China, South Korea

FEATURE: Int'l theater collaboration brings new Japanese plays to London stage

"My Neighbor Totoro" play on London stage bags 6 Olivier awards
Job Title: OBO Security Escort (Fresher Jobs)

Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Salary: USD $32,357

Position Number: Kampala-2023-028

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: The OBO Security Escort performs all duties of a security escort by monitoring and escorting non-cleared visitors and personnel while in controlled access areas (CAA) or in other locations within mission facilities and grounds. The position is either full time, part time, or on an as needed basis, some after-hours, weekend and holiday work may be required. This position is directly supervised by the OBO Project Director. The incumbent must be able to obtain and hold a Top-Secret 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 OBO Security Escort job opportunity should have completed High School or hold an equivalent diploma

One year of general work experience in an office, management or security related environment is required

Thorough knowledge of post-specific security access procedures; the proper use of security-related equipment (radio, destruction, etc.); familiar with the general layout of mission grounds and facilities.

Basic keyboard skills and computer literacy.

Must be observant, flexible and service oriented.

Duties include prolonged periods of standing/walking and somewhat physically demanding activities to include climbing, working in cramped spaces and at times working in inclement weather.

Incumbent will regularly be required to move or lift objects when escorting.

Language: Level 3/3 fluency in English, both spoken and written, 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
It is important to know about the disease, but it is equally or more important to know about your neighbourhood hospital.

Despite efforts to develop a robust healthcare system after the Covid-19 pandemic taught some hard lessons, many small cities continue to grapple with shortage of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Scarcity of skilled healthcare professionals, coupled with absence of advanced technology and medical equipment in tier-II and tier-III cities, particularly in rural areas, has made it challenging for patients to access healthcare locally, forcing them to travel to big cities in the hope of quality treatment.

Dr Rajendra Pratap Gupta, founder of Health Parliament, a platform that brings together healthcare stakeholders and policymakers, had an unusual visitor recently. The visitor was a cancer patient from Mau district of Uttar Pradesh who called on him with the hope of getting treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. I asked him why did he come to Delhi instead of going to BHU Cancer Hospital in Varanasi? said Gupta. The patient said he travelled all the way with the hope of getting better.

The perception of getting the best healthcare services in metro cities like Delhi is another reason why people are unwilling to stay back in tier-II and tier-III cities for treatment, explained Dr Gupta. Days later, he met the father of a four-year-old girl from Varanasi who wanted to bring his daughter to AIIMS for an immediate surgery for thyroid.

I got two requests within a week asking for treatment at AIIMS. People think it is the only place to get the best treatment. They are not aware of the healthcare facilities that are available near them, he said.

The doctor-population ratio and lack of enough facilities also lead to inaccessible healthcare services in smaller cities. This also happens because doctors are reluctant to work in areas where adequate resources are not available.

There is lack of a proper working environment, infrastructure, equipment and medication, human resource support, and opportunities for research and travel which ultimately compels them to leave, points out Vikram Thaploo, CEO of Apollo Telehealth.

While increasing the number of healthcare professionals, building necessary infrastructure, enhancing healthcare education, encouraging public-private partnerships and empowering local healthcare providers are a few solutions, experts feel, telemedicine is another quick way for people to avail hassle-free healthcare services today.

Telemedicine has the potential to benefit people living in tier-II and tier-III cities in India by providing access to medical expertise that may not be available locally, suggests Thaploo. Through telemedicine, patients in remote areas can receive consultations, diagnoses and treatment from doctors located in other regions as well, without needing to travel long distances, he says.

However, experts feel technological solutions may not be the answer and more needs to be done to ramp up the neighbourhood hospitals and clinics, which remain centre stage to both public and private healthcare system.
The valour of army and ITBP personnel ensures that no one can encroach even an inch of India's land, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday. The minister, who is on a two-day visit to the state amid stiff opposition from Beijing, launched the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' (VVP) in Kibithoo, a village along the India-China border.

"The era is gone when anyone could encroach on our lands. Now, not even land equal to 'sui ki noke' (inch of land) can be encroached...," the minister said.

Pointing to the infrastructure and other development works carried out in the Northeast, Shah said the border areas were the top priority of the Narendra Modi government.

Before 2014, the entire Northeast region was known as a disturbed region. But in the last 9 years, because of PM Modi's 'Look East' policy, Northeast is now considered an area which contributes to the development of the country, he said.

Shah payed tribute the martyrs of 1962 war and said they fought with indomitable spirit despite the lack of resources.

Earlier, people who returned from border areas used to say that they have visited the last village of India but the Modi government has changed this narrative with people now saying that they have visited the first village of India, he said.

Meanwhile, China has strongly opposed Shah's visit to Arunachal saying his activities in the area was violating Beijing's territorial sovereignty.

"The Indian official's visit to Zangnan violates China's territorial sovereignty, and is not conducive to the peace and tranquility of the border situation," said foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

China had recently renamed 11 places in Arunachal in an attempt to assert its claim over the Indian state.

India outrightly rejected Beijing's renaming exercise, asserting that the state is an integral part of India and assigning "invented" names does not alter this reality.

"We have seen such reports. This is not the first time China has made such an attempt. We reject this outright," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Monday took a swipe at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after his Ayodhya visit, saying "conspirators, opportunists and backstabbers" cannot carry forward the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray.



Shiv Sena leader Shinde on Sunday made his maiden visit to Ayodhya after becoming the chief minister in June last year. He was accompanied to the temple town in Uttar Pradesh by thousands of Shiv Sainiks.



In a tweet, Sibal said, "Shinde in Ayodhya: Lord Ram chose: Sacrifice, the path of truth, rectitude. Balasaheb also imbibed those attributes.



"Conspirators, opportunists, backstabbers cannot carry forward the legacy of Balasaheb," the former Union minister said, attacking Shinde.



The Maharashtra chief minister on Sunday said the ideology of his party and that of the BJP is the same and they will unfurl the saffron flag all over the state next year.



"Our party's role is clear. The Shiv Sena has an alliance with the BJP. Our ideology, which is Hindutva, is the same. We will go to our state with new energy from Ayodhya and serve the people. In 2024, the Shiv Sena and the BJP's 'bhagva' (saffron flag) will be unfurled in the entire state," he said while addressing a press conference in Ayodhya.



The Lok Sabha election as well as the Maharashtra Assembly polls are due next year. Shinde's coup against Uddhav Thackeray split the Shiv Sena last year and toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Thackeray.
India on Monday reportedly termed the reports suggesting India has "disengaged" from trade talks with Britain for failing to condemn the Sikh extremist group that attacked the Indian High Commission last month as "baseless".

The United Kingdom (UK) has also officially denied any such suggestion and said that "mutually beneficial" Free Trade Agreement is on track.

"Both the UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial FTA and concluded the latest round of trade talks last month," a spokesperson of the UK's Department for Business and Trade was quoted by NDTV.

Citing sources on Monday, The Times reported that India has "disengaged" from trade talks with the UK over the recent Khalistani attacks.

A few weeks earlier, union commerce minister Piyush Goyal had said that free trade deal would proceed as planned.

"Indian don't want to talk about trade untill they get a very public demonstration of condemnation of Khalistan extremism in the UK," a Whitehall source told The Times.

Recently, Khalistani supporters had attacked Indian High Commission in London. They took down the Indian flag from the building's first-floor balcony. The Indian Ministry in a statement issued sought an explanation for the "absence of security" at the High Commission premises.
Amid rising Covid-19 cases, a nationwide mock drill to take stock of hospital preparedness will be held on April 10 and 11 in which both public and private facilities are expected to participate.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will visit AIIMS, Jhajjar on April 10 to oversee the mock drill, officials said on Sunday. In a review meeting held on April 7, Mandaviya had urged state health ministers to visit hospitals and oversee the mock drills.

He had also advised them to review the preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9.

In the meeting with state health ministers, and principal and additional chief secretaries held virtually, Mandaviya had stressed the need to identify 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.

Besides enhancing genome sequencing and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples, he had emphasised creating awareness about following Covid-appropriate behaviour.

During the meeting, states and union territories were informed that currently the World Health Organisation (WHO) is closely tracking a 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 had said.

It was highlighted that while Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variants, 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. 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.

Mandaviya had said that irrespective of the new variants, the five-fold strategy of 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and adherence to Covid-Appropriate Behaviour' continues to remain the tested strategy for Covid management.

States and union territories were also requested to expeditiously increase the rate of testing from 100 tests per million as on the week ending April 7. They were further advised to increase the share of RT-PCR in tests.
Hours after Governor R.N. Ravi gave his assent to the bill banning online rummy, the All India Gaming Federation has said that it will challenge the constitutionality of the law, once the effective date is notified. We have full faith that our judicial system will uphold the fundamental rights of the gaming platforms and their users, All India Gaming Federation CEO Roland Landers said in a statement.

Ravi on Monday gave his assent to the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill. The bill was readopted in the state assembly on March 23, two weeks after the governor returned it questioning the legislative competence of the state. The bill was earlier passed in the assembly based on the recommendations of the committee headed by Justice K. Chandru. Ravi had reportedly returned the bill after a meeting with the owners of various companies involved in online gambling.

Landers said that the bill passed by the Tamil Nadu government will result in banning of most online games of skill including rummy and poker. What this law in effect does is treat and conflates games of skill as gambling and games of chance, he said, pointing out that the law has completely misunderstood technology and prohibits random number generators, which are an integral part of fairness for online gaming.

This is disappointing as it disregards the six decades of established legal jurisprudence and also the recent judgment of the Madras High Court which struck down a similar law. The Central government has anyway notified the online games rules, and as we have said the Central government has the rightful mandate under the Indian Constitution to regulate online gaming.

Landers also said that the All India Gaming Federation has been engaging with the Tamil Nadu government to understand their concerns and have also made them aware of the proliferation of offshore gambling websites and apps which will flourish when constitutionally protected India apps are banned, as was have seen during the previous ban by the state government.

We had provided various consumer protection and other measures which stop short of an outright ban. In such a scenario this is unfortunate, Landers said while noting that it is surprising that the Tamil Nadu government had already appealed the judgment of Madras HC. Instead of waiting for the SC judgment and in the meantime respecting the categorical decision by their own HC, they seem to have taken another unconstitutional decision which will eventually only benefit online gambling operators, Landers said.

Stating that the federation has full faith in the judicial system, Landers, said , As the oldest and largest industry body, representing the most number of Indian MSME start-ups, we will challenge the constitutionality of the law, once the effective date is notified. Our judicial system will uphold the fundamental rights of the gaming platforms and their users.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 10, 2023 - 21:32 | All, Japan

A Japanese government panel plans to propose scrapping the country's controversial trainee program for foreigners and creating a new system to address issues related to human rights violations, a draft interim report showed Monday.

The new system, according to the draft, should clearly state it is intended to "secure" and "develop" human resources, unlike the existing program, which only mentions the latter despite it, in practice, often being used as a means to obtain workers in the face of the nation's graying population and severe labor shortages.

As of the end of 2022, around 325,000 foreign technical trainees were enrolled in the program to transfer knowledge and skills to developing countries from Japan.

Established 30 years ago, it has been criticized for simply allowing companies to import cheap labor and has received multiple allegations of trainee abuse.

With the government planning to base the new system on conclusions from the 15-strong expert panel of academics and local government heads, its launch could mark a new turning point for accepting foreign workers. The panel aims to compile an interim report as soon as the end of April and finalize it by fall 2023.

In calling for the current program to be abolished, the panel's draft said it is "undesirable to continue accepting (trainees) as workers while saying that the program's only goal is human resources development."

Speaking to reporters, Japan International Cooperation Agency President Akihiko Tanaka, who heads the panel, said as many businesses have "no choice but to rely heavily on the labor of foreign trainees," it is important to "create a new system that takes the good parts of the program, rather than scrapping the entire thing."

The draft also calls for enabling workers to change their job within the same business categories. Technically, those in the foreign trainee program cannot transfer to different workplaces.

Tran Duc Huy, a Vietnamese former trainee who left Japan after fleeing an abusive employer that the program locked him into, praised the proposals to ease rules on changing jobs. Now eyeing a return to Japan, he called for full support and said it would be "reassuring" if the new system provided "trustworthy consultation services."

The panel also aims to ensure trainees can transition smoothly into the separate, "specified skilled worker" program introduced in 2019 by aligning job categories and allowing them to shape long-term careers in Japan.

Reports of pregnant trainees being forced to give up their jobs have also raised public awareness of the program's problems.

Despite the planned changes, supporters of the trainees are concerned the old technical internship program will continue in practice because the proposed new system keeps the supervising organizations that currently oversee introducing technical interns and providing assistance to them and their employers.

The draft, however, acknowledges that many organizations have not prevented abuses against the trainees and underscored the need for such organizations to be corrected or eliminated.

Japan introduced the internship program in 1993, primarily for the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, with trainees permitted to work for up to five years, but it has garnered domestic and international criticism for human rights violations such as physical abuse and the withholding of wages.

Related coverage:

Japan top court acquits Vietnam trainee of abandoning stillborn twins

Just 16% of Japan assembly heads open to foreigner referendum voting

Japan's foreign worker population hits record 1.82 million
With a month left for the Karnataka Assembly elections, the ruling BJP will likely announce its first list of candidates on Monday. The BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) met in New Delhi late on Sunday evening to finalise the candidates.

The three-hour meeting saw the state party leaders, including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, deliberate on the names of probable candidates with senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda.



After the meeting, Bommai told reporters that PM Modi had given some "directions" and the candidates' names would be announced either on Monday or Tuesday. "We discussed the overall list for the Karnataka elections and probably we will sit again tomorrow. The list will be announced tomorrow or the day after that. I am contesting from the Shiggaon constituency," he told reporters on Sunday night.



The party's state unit came up with a probable list last week which suggested three names for each constituency. The shortlist was submitted before the CEC, which cleared the final list.



Meanwhile, there are reports that there wouldn't be any major shakeups. The meeting finalised over 140 names and a decision was taken to renominate most of its sitting MLAs in their respective constituencies, reported Bengaluru-based Deccan Herald.



The report added that the party would field strong candidates in key constituencies, including Kolar and Varuna. Senior BJP leader and Housing Minister V Somanna is a probable candidate from Varuna constituency since senior Congress leader and CM candidate Siddaramaiah is facing polls from the constituency.



Meanwhile, the Congress high command too held meetings to finalise the remaining 58 seats candidates for Karnataka assembly elections. The party has already come up with two lists for 166 seats and a third list is likely to be out at the earliest.



The BJP, which aims to come back to power again in the southern state, has set a target of winning at least 150 of the 224 seats. The party's main rival is the Congress which has also expressed confidence about coming back to power in the state.

The elections are scheduled for May 10 and the counting will be held on May 13.
Amid the growing tussle with Governor R.N. Ravi, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday adopted a fiery resolution in the state assembly urging the Union government and President Droupadi Murmu to prescribe a specific time limit for governors to give assent for bills. The resolution was passed unanimously against the governor indefinitely withholding several bills.

Expressing deep regrets over Ravis actions, the chief minister said that he was under compulsion to move a resolution against the governor in the assembly for the second time as the governor was functioning with political motives. Raj Bhavan has been converted into a political Bhavan, Stalin said while recalling the Rajamannar committee's observation that this is the appropriate time to abolish the post of governor and the governor should be a detached figure.

Stalin said: The controversial comments made by the Honourable Governor in a public forum about the bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and sent for assent, are not in accordance with the office he holds, the oath he took and interest of the state administration. Stating that the governors actions are against the Constitution and belittles the dignity of the house, he said it undermines the supremacy of the legislature in a parliamentary democracy.

The resolution moved in the house read, the august House records with deep regret the action of the Honourable Governor of Tamil Nadu by indefinitely withholding many bills without giving permission, passed by the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu  on the basis of its sovereignty and the legislative responsibilities enshrined in the Constitution of India  thereby functioning against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. This august House unanimously insists that the Union government and the Honourable President should immediately issue appropriate instructions to the governor to give assent to the bills passed by this Assembly within a specific period.

During a debate on the resolution, leader of the house and water resources minister Durai Murugan called for abolishing the post of governor. Whose fathers money are you spending? Governor thinks he is spending on promoting the RSS agenda. You go and join the BJP if you want to promote the RSS agenda, Durai Murugan said. Recalling the clash between the then governor Chenna Reddy and then CM Jayalalithaa during the AIADMK regime in 1991-1995, Durai Murugan said, We wont pelt stones at the governor's convoy like the AIADMK did when he was returning from Pondicherry to Chennai. We are cultured unlike the AIADMK.

Earlier, finance minister P.T.R. Palanivel Thiagarajan said Tamil Nadu is spending money for Raj Bhavan under three headsfor the governor secretariat, for household expenses at the two Raj Bhavans in Chennai and Ooty and towards the discretionary grant. Thiagarajan said that the government had spent Rs 3.63 crores towards the secretariat expenses, Rs 16.69 crores towards household expenses and Rs 5 crore towards discretionary grant which is against the prescribed financial code.

It was in January this year, Stalin moved a resolution in the house against R.N. Ravi when the latter omitted certain portions of the prepared text of the governors customary address to the house. On April 7, Ravi while addressing the civil service aspirants said, if a governor withholds assent to a bill passed in the assembly, it means the bill is dead.

On the same day, Stalin, while speaking in the house, raised objections to Ravis explanation on withholding the bills and said that the governor is repeatedly functioning in a manner contrary to his oath of office and detrimental to the welfare of the state.

Meanwhile, the opposition AIADMK led by its leader Edappadi K. Palanisami walked out of the assembly even before the resolution could be moved, the reason being Speaker M. Appavu not accepting their demand to recognise R.B. Udhayakumar as the deputy leader of opposition instead of O. Panneerselvam.
Air India on Monday morning deboarded an unruly male passenger who caused physical harm to two cabin crew members onboard a Delhi-London flight, which returned to the national capital shortly after departure, according to the airline.

The passenger was handed over to the security personnel after the flight AI 111 landed at the Delhi airport and an FIR has also been lodged with the police, the airline said.

"Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members," the airline said in a statement.

The aircraft which took off for London Heathrow returned to the national capital shortly after departure "due to the serious unruly behaviour of the passenger". The pilot in command decided to return to the Delhi airport.

The airline said the rescheduled flight is expected to depart for London in the afternoon.

Sources at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the flight took off from the national capital at around 6.35 am and a brawl happened between the passenger and two crew members onboard.

Then, the plane made a turn back to Delhi and landed at around 9.40 am, they added. Sources said the flight had around 225 passengers.

"Safety, security and dignity of all on board are important to us at Air India. We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers," it said.

In recent times, there have been various incidents of unruly passengers onboard domestic and international flights.

Technical snag

An Air India aircraft that was to operate a flight from the national capital to San Francisco suffered a technical issue before take off and returned to the stand on Monday morning, sources said.

The airline replaced the aircraft and later the flight took off for San Francisco.

There were little over 200 passengers onboard, the sources added.

According to the sources, the plane had pushed back and returned to the stand before take off due to the technical issue. Later, the passengers were accommodated in another aircraft.

There was no immediate statement from Air India
Canada on Monday affirmed that it would continue to share intelligence with its Five Eyes partners despite leak of crucial US intelligence documents.

Reuters reported Canada confirmed it will continue to work with its Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, and declined to confirm or deny any information from intelligence leak. "We do not comment, whether to confirm or deny, on allegedly leaked intelligence. As a member of the Five Eyes intelligence network, Canada has a robust intelligence-sharing programme with the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand and we will continue to work hand in hand with" them, Reuters quoted Audrey Champoux, a spokesperson of Canada's Public Safety ministry as saying.

According to reports, the leaked documents include information about the war in Ukraine, including losses on both sides and details on Israel's Mossad. Reuters reported that US officials suspect that the leaker could be American, given the breadth of topics covered by the documents, but they do not rule out Russia's role.

Russia however denied any role in the intelligence leak. Kremlin on Monday said it has become a tendency to blame Moscow for everything. Reuters quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying, "I cannot comment on this in any way. You and I know that there is in fact a tendency to always blame everything on Russia. It is, in general, a disease."
China's military sent several dozen warplanes and 11 warships toward Taiwan in a display of force following its president's trip to the US, the island's Defense Ministry said Monday.



The Chinese military earlier had announced three-day combat readiness patrols as a warning to Taiwan, a self-ruled island which China claims as its own.

The actions follow President Tsai Ing-wen's delicate diplomatic mission to shore up Taiwan's dwindling alliances in Central America and boost US support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. A US congressional delegation also met with Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

China responded to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsai's US trip and with increased military activity.

Between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense. Among the planes that crossed the median were 8 J-16 fighter jets, 4 J-1 fighters, 8 Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday, where eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the island's Defense Ministry. The ministry said in a statement it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as on its own navy vessels.

In addition to combat readiness patrols, China's People's Liberation Army would hold live fire training in Luoyuan Bay in China's Fujian province opposite Taiwan, the local Maritime Authority announced over the weekend.

China's military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent toward the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities.

Taiwan split with China in 1949 after a civil war. China's ruling Communist Party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary. Beijing says contact with foreign officials encourages Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step the ruling party says would lead to war.
Ukraine's deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova who visited India on Monday stressed supporting Ukraine in the ongoing conflict with Russia is the only right choice for true 'Vishwaguru'.

Emine Dzhaparova met with Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) under Ministry of External Affairs. Tweeting about the visit, Verma said, Discussed bilateral engagements and cooperation going forward.

Tweeting about the visit, Dzhaparova said, Pleased to have a meeting with Secretary (West) MFA @SanjayVermalFS in New Delhi. Updated on #Ukraines efforts to fight #russian unprovoked aggression. Invited India to join President Zelenskyy's #PeaceFormula & #GrainFromUkraine initiative. Important to have #India on board. She added, Happy to visit India-the land that gave birth to many sages, saints & gurus. Today, #India wants to be the Vishwaguru, the global teacher and arbiter. In our case, weve got a very clear picture: aggressor against innocent victim. Supporting Ukraine is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru.

Talking to presspersons, ANI quoted Dzhaparova as saying, "I think that India should be pragmatic in diversifying its energy resources, diversifying military contracts, in diversifying political interaction. She added, So we hope that India and Ukraine, even though we are distant geographically, but we will become closer physically and politically and in many other ways." The Ukraine minister said her nation has never attacked anyone like India and Ukraine is victim of unprovoked and neocolonial war.

According to reports, Dzhaparova is on a four-day visit to India and would also be meeting with Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, and Vikram Misri, Deputy National Security Advisor.
An Air India flight, which was headed to London from Delhi returned to de-board an unruly passenger. The male passenger on AI-111 reportedly hit a cabin crew member.



The flight which had about 225 passengers later took off for Heathrow, London. A statement from Air India on the incident was awaited.



The airline lodged a complaint with the Delhi Airport Police. The Air India flight took off from Delhi at 6.35 am. It turned back after sometime-- after the brawl took place.



More details awaited.
At least four persons including two police personnel and 15 persons suffered injuries in a blast at Baluchistan's capital Quetta on Monday. According to police, the miscreants were targeting a police vehicle.

According to reports, most of the injured were civilian pedestrians. The attack happened in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, said Babar Yousafzai, a spokesman for the provincial government. He said the dead included two officers and two civilians.

Dawn reported the health condition of two of the injured were critical. The publication quoted SSP Operations Captain (retd) Zohaib Mohsin as saying, According to initial information, three to four kilos of explosives were used in the blast. Due to the blast, two vehicles, including the police van, were damaged. he said the explosives were planted in a motorcycle.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion fell on the Pakistani Taliban, who have stepped up attacks across the country since November when they ended a monthslong cease-fire with the government.

Pakistan has also been battling an insurgency in Baluchistan for more than a decade, with separatists in the province demanding complete autonomy or a larger share of the province's gas and mineral resources.

In a statement, provincial Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo condemned the attack and ordered authorities to provide the best possible medical care to the wounded.

The Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, have claimed previous such attacks in Baluchistan and elsewhere. The militant group is separate from, but allied with, the Afghan Taliban.

The latest attack comes a day after the TTP shot and killed two police officers in Quetta. One of the assailants was also killed when police returned fire after coming under attack in the city Sunday night.

(With PTI inputs.)
 Launches the 2023 range of Voltas Inverter ACs with Convertible Cooling, Multi Adjustable Mode, HEPA Filter, Super UVC



 The new range of ACs come with advanced features like Super Silent operation, Ice Wash technology and Filter Cleaning Indicator for better performance



 Introduces new SKUs across its range of Air Conditioners, Air Coolers, Commercial Refrigeration, and Voltas Beko Home Appliances



 Also unveils its 2023 range of Refrigerators with the one & only, Neo Frost Dual Cooling technology



MUMBAI, India, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Voltas, India's leader in Cooling Products, and the No. 1 AC brand, from the house of Tata's, has strengthened its leadership position further in the Cooling Products space. The latest offering is the Voltas' 2023 Inverter AC range which comes with the unique value proposition of 'Pure & Flexible Air Conditioning'. It is powered with HEPA Filter, PM 1.0 Sensor and AQI Indicator which help to purify the indoor air and is also loaded with convertible cooling within its 6 Stage Adjustable Mode, that allows the user to switch within multiple tonnages, depending on the ambient heat or number of people in the room. It gives you safe and pure air along with savings and optimization of running cost. Moreover, the new range is loaded with new features like Super Silent operation for comfortable sleep, Ice Wash and Filter Cleaning Indicator for better performance and Anti Corrosive Coating to give enhanced performance, comfort and convenience.



Market insights confirm that there is a consumer trend of upgrading their home appliances, for which they rely on technology. The last survey indicated that Indian customers' preferences in the home appliance category are evolving, with comfort, convenience, cooling, health and hygiene becoming the top priority. According to the research, 4 out of 5 Indians want their air conditioners to be upgraded with air purification technology, which cleans the indoor air swiftly by destroying pollutants and germs. This reaffirms the consumer trend of upgrading home appliances while they continue to multi-task from home and rely on technology to live comfortably.



Commenting on the launch of the new summer range of Air Conditioners,



Mr. Pradeep Bakshi, Managing Director & CEO, Voltas Limited said, "In line with the market demand for health & hygiene products, coupled with comfort & convenience, Voltas has introduced its latest Inverter AC range which comes with a unique value proposition of 'Pure & Flexible Air Conditioning'. With convertible cooling technology which comes within its 6 Stage Adjustable Mode, that allows the user to switch between multiple tonnage options, the new range is loaded with many new features for additional comfort and convenience. With the industry poised for innovation this season, we at Voltas are well-prepared to meet the expectations of customers with our new range."



The Voltas 2023 AC product range includes overall 64 new SKUs, with 50 SKUs in Inverter ACs, 42 in Split Inverter ACs, and 8 in Window Inverter ACs, besides Cassette and Tower ACs.



This summer, Voltas has also launched 51 SKUs of its Voltas Fresh Air Coolers under various sub-categories such as Personal, Window, Tower, and Desert Air Coolers. The new range comprises of new models like, Windsor with 4-sided cooling advantage, Epicool with style and ultra-cooling. The company also strengthened its overall portfolio by introducing 51 SKUs of Commercial Refrigeration products, including Convertible Freezer, Freezer on Wheel, and Curved Glass Freezer. In addition to this, the company has also launched 15 SKUs of Water Dispensers, and 27 SKUs of Water Coolers. Voltas also has a new range of modular Cold room solutions and Medical refrigeration products for the B2B segment.



Through its Home Appliances JV brand, Voltas Beko, the company aims to strengthen its portfolio in 2023 by launching a series of new products. Keeping the brand promise and commitment to stand by the 'Make in India' initiative, Voltas Beko has unveiled a range of home appliances with new Frost-free refrigerators and Top-load washing machines. Equipped with a 12-year warranty on AC compressor and refrigerator motors, these products are proudly indigenous with advanced features that will cater to the evolving needs of new-age customers. The new range seeks to strengthen Voltas' home appliances portfolio in India by offering convenience with enhanced technology. The new range of Frost-Free refrigerators offer exciting features like NeoFrost Dual Cooling, Internal Electronic Temperature Control & Display, LED lamination and ProSmart Inverter compressor to ensure even cooling, efficient lighting and seamless operations. The refrigerator is available in six aesthetically pleasing colors to suit the requirement of every home.



This Summer, Voltas' new range of cooling appliances are also coupled with attractive financing offers for consumers with up to 15% cashback, easy EMI Finance offer, Lifetime Inverter Compressor Warranty and 5-Year Extended Warranty for ease of adoption & access to customers.



Key Features of Voltas Inverter AC powered with HEPA Filter and PM1.0 Sensor to deliver pure and cool air.



 HEPA Filter: The new AC range, comes with HEPA Filter along with PM1.0 sensor and AQI Indicator to deliver pure air.



 Super UVC: This range is powered with Super UVC technology and TiO2 coated air filtration system



 Multi Adjustable Mode : Intelligent switching within multiple tonnages, basis ambient heat and number of people in the room



Marquee features



 Super Silent Operation : Ultra quiet performance for noiseless sleep.



 Ice Wash: Quick freezing and de-freezing of the condenser coil results in complete cleaning of the coil which enhances the cooling performance.



 Filter Clean Indicator: Indicates and informs the user to clean the Air Filter for better performance.



 Anti-Corrosive Coating: Gives the condenser coil added life and helps in cooling better and longer.



Key Features of Voltas Fresh Air Coolers:



 Smart Humidity Controller: optimizes the humidity in the air



 Mosquito Repellent: Resists mosquito breeding and keeps them away



 Turbo Air Throw: Large fan size delivers powerful air throw to cool large spaces.



 Pre-Soaking: Pre-cools the Honeycomb pads before starting the fan, releasing cool and fresh air



 4 Side Honeycomb Cooling pads: Better and Faster Cooling without letting dirt and sediment deposit and more durable.



Key Features of Voltas Beko Refrigerators



 NeoFrost  Dual Cooling: Two cooling circuits to ensure even cooling throughout the refrigerator



 ProSmart Invertor Motor: Ensures faster cooling with minimal noise using less electricity



 LED illumination: Gives better lighting inside the fridge without heating up the appliance



 Easy to control digital panel for seamless navigation



Key Features of Voltas Beko Washing Machines



 Jet Wash : Additional tap on top which throws water at high speed enabling better mixing of detergent and deep cleaning



 Fountain Wash: Fountain like water spray to avoid detangling of clothes



 Hand Wash Port that cleans collars and cuffs efficiently



 Slow-closure lid: A toughened black lid that closes gently



 Silent Invertor Motor: Highly efficient and durable noise-free motor



 India's first 5 Star Semi-Automatic Washing Machine



About Voltas Limited:



Voltas Limited is a premier air conditioning and engineering solutions provider and a projects specialist. Founded in India in 1954, Voltas Limited is part of the Tata Group, and in addition to Room Air Conditioners, Voltas also has Air Coolers, Air Purifiers, Water Dispensers, Water Coolers, Commercial Refrigeration and Commercial Air Conditioning products in its portfolio. Voltas is one of the leading companies within the Tata group and is the undisputed market leader in room air conditioners in India, with a footprint of over 25,000+ customer touchpoints. Voltas has also launched a wide range of Voltas Beko Home Appliances products, through its JV in India, in equal partnership with Arcelik.



Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2050298/Voltas_Logo.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

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 Launch of a first-of-its-kind household survey, 'BaSE: Bharat Survey for EdTech' , aimed at bringing the voice of EdTech users from Bharat to the discourse around EdTech

 Fireside chat with Sanjay Kumar IAS, Secretary, Dept. of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, on the progress around the NIPUN Bharat Mission

 Key speeches by Global Foundational Learning experts on India's progress on foundational literacy in order to improve student learning outcomes

NEW DELHI, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Central Square Foundation (CSF), a leading non-profit in the space of primary education, is gearing up to host the inaugural edition of its annual conference titled 'CSF Education Conclave 2023' on April 11, 2023 in New Delhi. With the theme for the opening edition being 'Building a Strong Foundation for School Education in India', the forum is aimed at generating conversations around the status of foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) skill-building and resultant student learning outcomes in India.



Featuring a lineup of curated panel discussions with education experts, interactive talks by teachers and students, and one-to-one interactions with government stakeholders, the conference is also aimed at bringing into the mainstream a dialogue on education technology (EdTech) and early childhood education in India (ECE) as critical levers for strengthening foundational learning for children across all states in India.



Sanjay Kumar IAS , Secretary, Dept. of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India will participate in an engaging fireside chat with Ashish Dhawan, Founder-CEO, The Convergence Foundation. As part of this session, they will speak about taking the objectives laid out in NEP 2020 and the NIPUN Bharat Mission to all of India's classrooms. The conclave will also see the unveiling of CSF's first household survey, 'BaSE: Bharat Survey for EdTech'. Aimed at bringing the voice of the end-user in Bharat (India) to the discourse on EdTech, the survey findings can act as a common frame of reference for policymakers, educators, and tech innovators to build on the agenda of leveraging technology for improving the quality of education for all. Covering 6,000+ households, the survey was undertaken between November 2022 and January 2023 with parents and guardians of children studying in government and affordable private schools across 6 diverse states of India.



The first panel discussion titled 'Ideas Corner 1: Moving the needle on FLN: From commitment to Change' will be curated towards mainstreaming conversations on system-led reforms across states who are implementing the NIPUN Bharat mission. Speakers for the session will include: Dr. Anshaj Singh IAS(State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, Dept. of Education, Govt. of Haryana), Sh. S. Dhanaraju IAS (Director, Rajya Shiksha Kendra, Dept. of School Education, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh) and Sh. Vijay Kiran Anand IAS (Director General, Dept. of Basic Education, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh).



Sharing her thoughts about the conclave, Shaveta Sharma-Kukreja, CEO & MD, Central Square Foundation, said, "With over 1.5 million schools and 260 million students, India has one of the largest and most complex education systems in the world. Through this conclave, we aim to bring to the forefront a core challenge to this system i.e. increasing learning poverty among our children and hence, the need for collective focus on ensuring early learning outcomes of all children are met."



Details about the conclave and speakers can be seen here



About Central Square Foundation (CSF)



Central Square Foundation (CSF) is a non-profit organization, working with the vision of ensuring quality school education for all children in India. Since 2012, CSF has been partnering with the government, private sector, non-profit organizations, and other ecosystem stakeholders to improve the learning outcomes of children, especially from low-income communities. It is driven by its mission to enable the school education system to adopt solutions that are scalable, sustainable and effective, so that all children get equal access to opportunities needed for leading a better life.



For more about CSF's work, please visit : https://www.centralsquarefoundation.org/



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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KYODO NEWS - Apr 10, 2023 - 23:10 | World, All

China said Monday it has deployed its aircraft carrier Shandong for a military exercise launched over the weekend near Taiwan in response to a meeting between the island's leader Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

As part of the three-day air and sea drill around the island that ended the same day, the Chinese military carried out a number of simulated strikes against key targets in Taiwan and its surrounding waters. The Shandong aircraft carrier group hosted J-15 fighter sorties, according to Chinese state-run media.

The rise of cross-strait tension following the talks between the Taiwan president and the third-highest-ranking U.S. official on Wednesday in California has caused concern in the region, with Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno saying Monday that Tokyo will "monitor the situation with great attention."

Undated photo shows a J-15 fighter jet taking off from the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong. (Photo courtesy of the Japanese Defense Ministry's Joint Staff Office)(Kyodo)

Last August, China conducted large-scale military exercises in areas encircling Taiwan following a trip there by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi, who became the first U.S. House speaker in 25 years to visit the island.

Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province to be brought into its fold by force if necessary.

The Shandong, commissioned in 2019, is China's second aircraft carrier. Beijing apparently intends to deploy an aircraft carrier for maritime blockade operations during contingencies to ward off U.S. military intervention.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said Monday that a total of 91 Chinese military aircraft and 12 vessels were detected around the island on Monday morning, with 54 planes crossing the median line of the strait -- a boundary that both sides had respected for decades -- or entering Taiwan's air defense identification zone.

The ministry also noted flight training was conducted on the Shandong in the Western Pacific and said it has been closely monitoring the situation to respond to these activities.

The Japanese Defense Ministry separately said it has confirmed about 120 aircraft takeoffs and landings on the Shandong over three days through Sunday.

Senior Col. Zhao Xiaozhuo, a high-ranking researcher at the People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences, has said the drill was based on actual combat scenarios and aimed at checking the troops' capability to engage in joint combat operations.

He said the exercise has "shown our determination and power to seize and maintain superiority in the air, on the sea and in the information domain," adding the Chinese military is certain about "our overwhelming advantages over the 'Taiwan independence' forces."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference Monday that the greatest threat to cross-strait peace and stability is the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and external forces' connivance and support for them, referring to the Tsai-McCarthy meeting.

"We hope the international community can see clearly the essence about the Taiwan question, stay committed to the one-China principle and firmly oppose all forms of Taiwan independence separatist activities," he said.

Taiwan will "staunchly safeguard its sovereignty and national security and stand firm in defense of democracy and freedom," its Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday.

The self-ruled democratic island will also continue to maintain close coordination with the United States and other like-minded countries to "jointly deter authoritarian expansion and aggression, preserve the rules-based international order, and defend a free and open Indo-Pacific," it added.

Communist-led China and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split in 1949 due to a civil war.

Related coverage:

China starts 3-day military drill around Taiwan after Tsai U.S. talks
New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) The Income Tax Department has filed an appeal against the National Company Law Tribunal approving Suraksha Group's bid to buy Jaypee Infratech Ltd (JIL) under the insolvency resolution process.

Sources said the I-T Department has filed the petition before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) against the NCLT order regarding certain claims.

The department did not make any plea when the case was being heard by the NCLT's Delhi bench and the latest move is surprising, the sources added.

According to the sources, the plea is expected to come up for hearing before the appellate tribunal next week.

The department's petition is the fourth plea filed by an entity against the NCLT order passed on March 7.

Last month, Jaiprakash Associates Ltd and its promoter Manoj Gaur approached NCLAT against the NCLT order relating to the distribution of Rs 750 crore in the Jaypee Infratech matter.

The amount was deposited with the Supreme Court registry by Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL), the erstwhile promoter of JIL, which has been going through insolvency proceedings since August 2017.

Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has also moved NCLAT as its claims for additional compensation payable to the farmers and others, were rejected by the NCLT while approving the resolution plan of Suraksha Group.

On March 7, the NCLT approved the Mumbai-based Suraksha Group bid to acquire JIL and complete around 20,000 flats across various projects in Noida and Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
Srinagar, Apr 10 (PTI) Union Minister for Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday said the dream of having a highway from Kashmir to Kanyakumari will be realised by the beginning of the next year.

"Kashmir to Kanyakumari road was a dream for us. From Rohtang to Ladakh, four tunnels will be constructed. From Leh, we will come to Kargil and join Zojila and Z-Morh tunnels.

"A new road will reduce distance between Delhi and Chennai by 1,312 kilometres. This dream will come true by the start of 2024," Gadkari told reporters here.

The minister was in the union territory to attend the second meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Road Transport and Highways.

Gadkari said when the BJP government was formed at the Centre in 2014, we prepared a roadmap for road infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Since then we have undertaken projects worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore in Jammu and Kashmir Once these projects are complete, the tourist footfall to Jammu and Kashmir will increase by four times. People go to Switzerland, our J&K is more beautiful," Gadkari said.

The minister said Jammu and Kashmir administration has identified 13 acres of land for creating roadside facilities for tourists.

"The tourism increase will lead to job creation for locals. In the coming few years, we will take the road network of Jammu and Kashmir to American standards," he added.

In an announcement focusing pilgrimage tourism, Gadkari announced plans for construction of a tunnel between Sheshnag and Panjtarni on the Amarnath yatra route which, he claimed, will reduce the yatra time from the current three days to just nine hours.

"A 110 kilometre road from Khanabal to Panjtarni will be constructed for the ease of Amarnath yatris at a cost of Rs 5,300 crore. The DPR for 73 km stretch from Khanabal to Chandanwari will be done in July 2023.

"The DPR for 37 km stretch from Chandanwari to Baltal via Panjtarni at a cost of Rs 3,500 will be done in October this year. A 10.8 kilometre-long tunnel will be constructed between Sheshnag and Panjtarni," the minister said.

According to the minister, Srinagar Ring Road (from Galander in Pulwama district to Ganderbal district), which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 4,660 crore, will ease the traffic congestion and pollution in the city.

Further, the minister made the announcement of construction of a tunnel at Pir Ki Gali on Mughal Road, connecting Poonch in Jammu region to Shopian in the Valley.

"The Rs 6,000 crore project includes Rs 5,000 crore tunnel at Pir ki Gali, which comprises the construction of an all weather road," he said.

He gave details of the ongoing road projects in the union territory, saying it will reduce the travel time on most routes.

"Tunneling on Jammu-Srinagar corridor has reduced the distance by nearly 20 per cent. The travel time has already been reduced to 5.5 hours (between Jammu and Srinagar). It can be reduced further by two hours once the ongoing works on remaining five tunnels are complete," he added.
MUMBAI, India, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SVKM's NMIMS School of Business Management has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for the second consecutive time. This makes SBM the first school in Western India to achieve this prestigious accreditation for the second time.



The AACSB accreditation is a recognition of SBM's commitment to delivering high-quality business education that meets the needs of students, faculty, and businesses. SBM is now part of the elite 6% of business schools worldwide that have earned this accreditation.



According to SBM's vision and mission, the school aims to create transformational leaders for an inclusive and sustainable world. The curriculum is designed to develop critical thinking skills, analytical skills, entrepreneurial mindset, people proficiency, and technology orientation. The school offers specialized, new-age, and industry-relevant programs like Healthcare and Real-Estate Management to help students achieve their learning goals.



The faculty team at SBM is research-oriented and has published five papers in A* and 41 in A-rated journals. The school organizes international conferences for students and faculty members and provides an excellent research idea exchange platform for all faculty members. International scholars visit SBM to identify new research topics.



SBM's social impact is significant, with initiatives like the Jasani Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Management, the Social Responsibility Forum (SRF), the We Care program, and Dolphin Tank, a platform for resource-poor communities to pitch their business ideas.



SBM's impressive alum base and its ranking in the top 100 Global B-Schools by FT make it a preferred choice among students. The school encourages students to work on live projects to build practical expertise and apply classroom learning.



Dr. Ramesh Bhat, Vice-Chancellor, NMIMS, said, "We are proud to receive the AACSB accreditation for the second time. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to providing our students with a world-class business education that prepares them to become transformational leaders. At SBM, we strive to develop young leaders by nurturing critical thinking skills, analytical skills, entrepreneurial mindset, people proficiency, and technology orientation in our students."



SBM's AACSB accreditation and its commitment to academic and research excellence make it a top choice for students looking to build a successful career in the business world.



"SBM getting the AACSB accreditation for the second time is a remarkable achievement and shows the school's commitment to providing students with the best management education in line with global benchmarks. I am confident that these qualities will enable students to make significant contributions to the business world. This recognition reflects the school's dedication to academic and research excellence, making it a top choice for students looking to build successful careers in the dynamic and challenging business environment," said, Dr. Prashant Mishra, Dean, School of Business Management, NMIMS



About School of Business Management



SBM of SVKM's NMIMS, Deemed-to-be University, is one of India's leading business schools with a legacy of world-renowned faculty and an excellent placement program. NMIMS, which began as a business school 42 years ago, is known for its trailblazing curriculum. The school has consistently ranked among the top 10 B-Schools in the country since 1998 in various such published surveys. SVKM's NMIMS has been granted Category-I Deemed University status by Graded Autonomy Regulation 2018 by MHRD/UGC, and the NMIMS Mumbai Campus is NAAC accredited with a CGPA of 3.59. NMIMS School of Business Management MBA programs has been ranked amongst Top-100 Global B-School by FT MIM 2022.



Website - https:bm.nmims.edu/



(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
New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) Comptroller & Auditor General of India Girish Chandra Murmu on Monday advised states to meet their capital expenditure from their own revenue sources and emphasised the need to distinguish between justifiable subsidies and freebies, which are not fiscally responsible.

Speaking at the one-day Annual Accountant General's Conclave, Murmu also stressed that states must take steps to maintain proper accounting of subsidies and take prudent measures to reduce fiscal deficits, remove revenue deficits and keep outstanding debts at an acceptable level.

According to him, states must meet their capital expenditure, including loans and advances, from their own sources of revenue, or at the least confine the net debt to their capital expenditure.

"While we understand the importance of subsidies to help the underprivileged, it is essential to transparently account for such subsidies and we require to distinguish between justifiable subsidies from freebies, which are not fiscally responsible," he said.

The remarks assume significance amid ongoing controversy over freebies doled out by political parties ahead of elections.

He said that the states must initiate measures to earn adequate returns on their investments and recover their cost of borrowed funds without resorting to implicit subsidies.

All states must strive to meet their capital expenditure requirements, including loans and advances, from their own sources of revenue, Murmu said.

To improve fiscal management, both the Union government and many state governments have been implementing the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act.

"We, however, continue to notice fiscal sustainability risks and financial indiscipline in many states due to off-budget borrowings, mis-classification of revenue expenditure as capital expenditure and because state guarantees are not getting captured in finance accounting," he said.

These factors make qualitative and timely preparation of accounts by CAG one of the most important responsibilities to tackle these challenges, Murmu said.

He also observed that state finances have undergone several changes in recent years as a result of implementation of the FRBM Act, computerisation of treasuries and implementation of the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS).

The Accountant General's conclave was organised by CAG's Government Accounts (GA) Wing.

It was attended by Principal Accountants General and Accountants General (A&E) to discuss issues regarding the maintenance of accounts of state governments, as mandated under the Constitution of India.
Chandigarh, Apr 10 (PTI) The Punjab Cabinet on Monday urged the Centre to relax norms for wheat procurement for the current season in view of crop damage because of unseasonal rains.

A decision to this effect was taken by the council of ministers in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here, said an official release.

The Cabinet requested the union government to order appropriate relaxation in specifications without any value cut.

Farmers suffered significant crop loss because of rains and high-velocity winds, it said.

Such rains at the time of maturation of wheat crop caused considerable damage to the standing crop and also affected the quality of the wheat grains because of water logging, leading to loss of lustre and blackened grains, said the statement.

Therefore, the Cabinet urged that prescribed uniform specifications of wheat with regard to damaged, slightly damaged, shrivelled and broken grains, lustre and moisture content should be relaxed by the government of India.

The Cabinet observed that the share of Centre in compensation given per acre to farmers for compensating their loss due to the natural disaster was on lower side in the wake of exorbitant increase in the prices of agriculture inputs borne by farmers.

The Punjab government has recently enhanced its own share to Rs 8,200 from the existing Rs 6,600 to ensure that the farmers having crop loss more than 75 per cent are given Rs 15,000 per acre.

The Cabinet urged the government of India for upward revision of the compensation to the affected farmers.

Unfortunately, intensity and frequency of rains coupled with high velocity winds and hailstorms have caused substantial damage to crops and impaired livelihood of a large number of farmers.

The Cabinet urged the Centre to duly compensate farmers whose standing crops have been affected due to recent heavy rains coupled with high-velocity winds and hailstorms adding that the existing norms to provide for a minimum compensation per acre to the affected farmers needs to be revised.

The council of ministers recalled that Punjab has always been at the forefront of ensuring food security of the nation and has been contributing about 40-50 per cent of wheat and 30-35 per cent of rice to the central pool over the last three decades.

Such was the level of involvement and commitment of the farmers to their profession that with just over two per cent of the country's geographical area and even less as a percentage of the country's population, Punjab contributes the heaviest share among all states to the national food kitty, earning them it the sobriquet of the country's food bowl and granary, it said.

Meanwhile, it was also decided that cabinet ministers will undertake tours in their respective districts to oversee ongoing girdawari (field inspection) operations.

The Cabinet also gave the green signal for sending the case of one prisoner for premature release from jail.

The special remission release case will be submitted to the Punjab Governor under Article 161 of the Indian constitution, it said.
Mumbai, Apr 10 (PTI) Actor Raveena Tandon says she has always tried to pick socially relevant stories with strong female characters and the Padma Shri award is a recognition for her body of work in cinema.

The actor, who was recently conferred with the Padma Shri , India's fourth-highest civilian award, starred in critically-acclaimed movies like Maatr, Satta, and Daman in her over three-decade long career.

Tandon, whose filmography boasts of commercial entertainers as well as off-beat movies in the '90s and early 2000s, said her endeavour has always been to associate with films that speak of women empowerment.

I have done films which have a social relevance, and have a message of women empowerment. My choices have always been like that. Whether it is 'Jaago', 'Maatr', 'Satta', 'Shool' or 'Daman' . All these films have dealt with issues of women that were strong, the actor told PTI in an interview here.

"The reaction mostly on my Twitter was: 'this was long overdue' because there are younger actors, who came after me, like Priyanka (Chopra) and a lot of them, who got awards much before I did. It (award) is an accumulation of my work, she added.

Tandon most recently starred in Netflix show "Aranyak" and "KGF: Chapter 2". The actor believes female artists have better opportunities than they had in the '90s, an era dominated by male stars.

"There was always a struggle. According to me, the 90s was male dominated, whether it was media or movies, what the hero said, happened, she said, adding that over the years things have changed for the better.

Today there is a positive change, women are at the forefront, whether as director or producer or as heads of programming in OTT or in the TV industry. I am very positive that things will become better in every way, including pay parity."

Over the years, the actor said, she has realised that acting is a craft that one never stops learning.

I still don't think I am a successful actor because acting is something that you are learning every day, you are evolving every day. The day you think, 'I know it all and I have learnt it all', I think that it is the beginning of the end."

Tandon, 48, said even now she gets "butterflies" in her stomach before a difficult shot.

"That feeling is good because it makes you give your best."

The actor said receiving the fourth-highest civilian award from President Droupadi Murmu was a moment of pride for her and her family.

"I was just very thankful and grateful. What made my day was receiving (the honour) from the President herself and very sweetly she said, 'I am so happy to give you this award, I have seen all your work'," Tandon recalled.

"She was so humble, sweet and kind. I told her 'I am honoured to receive the award from you'. And the minute I took the award and turned and looked I could see my husband, my son and daughter beaming," the actor added.

Tandon's upcoming slate of films include Arbaaz Khan-backed social drama Patna Shukla and romantic-comedy Gudchadhi with Sanjay Dutt.
London, Apr 10 (PTI) Elon Musk-owned Twitter has labelled the BBC as a "government funded media" on the microblogging site, leading to a sharp reaction from British public broadcaster which on Monday objected to the move.

The taxpayer-funded licence fee supported UK media corporation said it has contacted the social media giant over the designation on its @BBC account to resolve the issue "as soon as possible".

"The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee," the BBC statement said.

An email exchange with Twitter chief Elon Musk suggests that he is considering providing a label that would link all media organisations to "exact funding sources".

"We are aiming for maximum transparency and accuracy. Linking to ownership and source of funds probably makes sense, Musk's email to BBC reads.

"I do think media organisations should be self-aware and not falsely claim the complete absence of bias. All organisations have bias, some obviously much more than others. I should note that I follow BBC News on Twitter, because I think it is among the least biased," it said.

The level of the GBP 159 annual licence fee, which is required by law to watch live TV broadcasts or live streaming in the UK, is set by the British government and paid for by individual UK households.

While the @BBC account, which has 2.2 million followers, has been given the label, much larger accounts associated with the BBC's news and sport output are not currently being described in the same way, the BBC said.

According to the London-headquartered media organisation, the @BBC Twitter account primarily shares updates about BBC-produced TV programmes, radio shows, podcasts and other non-news material.

The BBC Charter states the corporation "must be independent", particularly over "editorial and creative decisions, the times and manner in which its output and services are supplied, and in the management of its affairs".

The BBC said it also receives more than GBP 90 million per year from the government to support the BBC World Service, which predominantly serves non-UK audiences.

Twitter's new labelling of the BBC's account comes after it did the same to US public broadcaster NPR's handle.
Islamabad, Apr 10 (AP) The UN food agency said on Monday it urgently needs USD 800 million for the next six months to help Afghanistan, which is at the highest risk of famine in a quarter of a century.

Aid agencies have been providing food, education and health care support to Afghans in the wake of the Taliban takeover of August 2021 and the economic collapse that followed it.

But distribution has been severely impacted by a Taliban edict last December banning women from working at national and international nongovernmental groups.

The UN was not part of this ban but last week it said the Taliban-led government has stopped Afghan women from working at its agencies in the country. Authorities have yet to comment on the restriction.

The World Food Programme said women aid workers play a vital role in delivering the agency's food and nutrition assistance and that it it will make every possible effort to keep this going, while also trying to ensure the active involvement of female staff.

The WFP urgently needs USD 800 million for the next six months to continue providing assistance to people in need across Afghanistan, the organisation said. Catastrophic hunger knocks on Afghanistan's doors and unless humanitarian support is sustained, hundreds of thousands more Afghans will need assistance to survive.

The UN said on Monday that its Afghan operations remain severely under-funded, with USD 249 million reported to be confirmed for 2023, nearly one-third of the amount received for the same period in 2022.

It said Afghanistan is dealing with its third consecutive year of drought-like conditions, a second year of crippling economic decline, and is still suffering from decades of conflict and natural disasters.

The total immediate' funding requirements to address critical gaps for the coming three months is USD 717.4 million, according to a statement from the agency's office for humanitarian affairs. This is all part of an overall funding gap of USD 4.38 billion across the humanitarian response for 2023.

It previously said that Afghanistan is its lowest-funded operation globally, despite being the world's biggest humanitarian crisis.

The Taliban takeover drove millions of Afghans into poverty and hunger after foreign aid stopped almost overnight. Sanctions on Taliban rulers, a halt on bank transfers and frozen billions in Afghanistan's currency reserves restricted access to global institutions and the outside money that supported the country's aid-dependent economy before the withdrawal of US and NATO forces.

The country's acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said Afghanistan's assets have been illegally and unjustly frozen.

He called for Afghanistan's seat at the UN to be handed over to the Taliban-led government. It is still held by the government of former President Ashraf Ghani.

In a video statement shared Monday by the Foreign Ministry's deputy spokesman, Hafiz Zia Ahmad, Muttaqi said UN offices and other international institutions are open in Kabul. He did not directly address the ban on female Afghan UN staffers in his remarks.

They are active here, so our relationship is good so far, said Muttaqi.

We are trying to represent Afghanistan at the United Nations, it is the right of Afghans. But now (Afghanistan's seat) is in the hands of someone who does not represent Afghanistan, does not represent the people, and there is no other group that represents them.(AP) RUP
Islamabad, Apr 10 (PTI) A joint session of Pakistan's Parliament on Monday passed a bill to curb the powers of the chief justice of the Supreme Court regarding suo motu cases and the constitution of benches, amidst strong opposition from Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

"Parliament in its Joint session passes 'The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023'," the National Assembly or the lower house announced in a tweet.

The development comes two days after President Arif Alvi returned a bill passed by both houses of parliament for reconsideration, saying the proposed legislation is beyond the jurisdiction of the legislative body.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the bill in the joint sitting of the house held with National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the chair.

During the much-anticipated sitting, the House approved an amendment to the bill, under which a meeting of a committee of the judges will be convened to devise rules and regulations regarding the suo motu matter. The amendment was proposed by a ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker, Geo News reported.

Addressing the joint session, the law minister said that voices against the chief justice's suo motu (on his own initiative) powers were arising from within the top court.

On March 27, two judges of the apex court raised questions over the powers of the CJP, saying the SC cannot be dependent on the solitary decision of one man, the Chief Justice.

Under the Constitution, if the bill returned by the president is passed by Parliament, it should be sent to the president and would become law after ten days even if he refuses to endorse it.

Opposition PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhry said on Monday that his party rejects this law. "The bill will just go in the trash. We reject this law," he tweeted.

Pakistan is witnessing a rift between the judiciary and the government after a three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Uma Ata Bandial fixed May 14 as the date for elections to the Punjab Assembly and quashed the Election Commission's decision to extend the date of the poll from April 10 to October 8.

The apex court's verdict was criticised by the coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, which has refused to accept it. The government is keen to curb the suo motu powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Bandial.

The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 was approved by both houses of Parliament last month and sent to the president for assent. The president said that the proposed legislation was prima facie beyond the jurisdiction of the parliament as only the Supreme Court has the power to make laws to regulate its business.

"The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 travels beyond the competence of the parliament and can be assailed as a colourable legislation, Alvi, a member of former prime minister Imran Khan's PTI party before he became president, said in his reply to the government.

The bill was approved by the federal Cabinet on March 28. The National Assembly passed it after a few amendments suggested by the Standing Committee on Law and Justice. On March 30, it was passed by the Senate.

The bill states that every cause, matter, or appeal before the apex court would be heard and disposed of by a bench constituted by a committee comprising the chief justice and the two senior-most judges. It added that the decisions of the committee would be taken by a majority.

On exercising the apex courts original jurisdiction, called suo motu powers, the bill said that any matter invoking the use of Article 184(3) would first be placed before the committee.

Alvi adroitly used his limited powers under the Constitution by first wasting precious time without signing the bill and then sending it back to Parliament with his observation, which will give more time to the Opposition party to evolve a strategy to counter it.

On Monday, the law minister said the "President used inappropriate words while returning this bill and used a biased approach".

He said that Alvi should think as the President rather than a political worker.

The federal minister said it was the demand of the bar associations and councils to introduce the bill and they had supported the bill. This bill, he said, was an old demand of the bar council which said that the indiscriminate use of 184(3) should be stopped.
Taipei (Taiwan), Apr 10 (AP) China's military sent several dozen warplanes and warships toward Taiwan in a large-scale exercise that simulated sealing off the island in response to its president's trip to the US

The Chinese military earlier had announced three-day combat readiness patrols which it called Joint Sword, as a warning to Taiwan, a self-ruled island which China claims as its own.

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the island's democratic government encourages Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step China's ruling Communist Party says would lead to war.

The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the ruling party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

Military analysts suggest that in the event of a war, China may block sea and air traffic around Taiwan, preventing the United States, Japan or other nations from intervening or sending supplies to help the island defend itself.

China's latest military actions follow President Tsai Ing-wen's delicate diplomatic mission to shore up Taiwan's dwindling alliances in Central America and boost its US support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. A US congressional delegation also met with Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

China responded to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsai's US trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

On Monday morning, the Chinese People's Liberation Army said its Shandong aircraft carrier for the first time was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan. It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off the deck of the ship, according to a post from the PLA's Eastern Command on Weibo, the social media platform.

State broadcaster CCTV, citing the PLA, said the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan as well as "waves of simulated strikes" at important targets on the island.

Between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence.

Among the planes that crossed the median were 8 J-16 fighter jets, 4 J-1 fighters, 8 Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes.

Later Monday morning, Taiwan's defence ministry reported another 59 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday, where eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the island's Defence Ministry. The ministry said in a statement it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as on its own navy vessels.

In addition to combat readiness patrols, China's People's Liberation Army would hold live fire training in Luoyuan Bay in China's Fujian province opposite Taiwan, the local Maritime Authority announced over the weekend.

China's military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent toward the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities.

One of the US representatives who attended the meeting with Tsai last week said Saturday the US must take seriously the threat China posed to Taiwan. Republican Mike Gallagher, chairman of the US House Select Committee on China, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island government's defences, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan. (AP)



GRS
QatarEnergy has agreed to hold a 25% share in the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) - a multi-billion-dollar project aimed at monetizing and developing the natural gas resources of Iraq.



The GGIP consortium will be composed of Basra Oil Company (30%), TotalEnergies (Operator - 45%), and QatarEnergy (25%), subject to the finalization of necessary contractual arrangements and obtaining customary regulatory approvals.



Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President & CEO of QatarEnergy, said: We thank TotalEnergies for inviting us to partner with them and we thank the esteemed Iraqi Government for welcoming us to be part of this partnership. We are pleased to be part of this significant development, which is important for Iraqs energy sector, and we look forward to working with TotalEnergies and Basra Oil Company to progress it to fruition. I would like to express our appreciation to the Government of Iraq for their valuable support to reach this point, and for the trust they have placed in QatarEnergy as a reliable partner.



Signed in September 2021, the GGIP is a key strategic project that involves investing approximately $10 billion to design and construct facilities for recovering significant volumes of otherwise flared gas throughout the Basra region and supplying such recovered gas to power stations, as well as a seawater treatment and distribution system to supply water for injection into oil reservoirs for pressure maintenance purposes.



With extensive experience in large-scale energy projects, including seawater treatment projects, and a strong international partnership with TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy welcomes this opportunity to participate in such a key project for Iraq and its people.  TradeArabia News Service
KYODO NEWS - Apr 10, 2023 - 16:02 | All, Japan, World

A developer of ChatGPT said Monday that his company plans to open an office in Japan amid growing concerns about the chatbot's unauthorized collection of personal data and impact on learning environments.

Sam Altman, chief executive of U.S.-based OpenAI, met Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, as the risks of artificial intelligence are expected to be discussed at the Group of Seven ministerial gathering on digital issues, which Japan will host in late April.

Altman told reporters that he explained to Kishida, who will preside over the G-7 summit in his constituency of Hiroshima in May, about the pros and cons of ChatGPT while saying the premier showed an interest in the AI technology.

Chatbots are software applications trained using massive amounts of data from the internet, enabling them to process and simulate human-like conversations with users.

ChatGPT, launched in November 2022 as a prototype, stands for Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer and is driven by a machine learning model that works much like the human brain.

The talks between Kishida and Altman came as many countries have been stepping up regulations on the use of ChatGPT over suspicions that OpenAI illegally gathers vast amounts of personal data from its users, hurting privacy.

Altman has expressed eagerness to exchange views with policymakers across the globe on the AI technology and his firm's ChatGPT.

In Japan, the education ministry has been trying to formulate guidelines regarding the use of ChatGPT and other AI chatbots in schools as fears have been mounting over their effects on students' writing and thinking skills.

After he met with Kishida, Altman said, "We talked about the upsides of this technology and how to mitigate the downsides," voicing hope that AI chatbots will prevail in Japan further as models of them become more suitable for the nation's language and culture.

On Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Japan will explore using the chatbot technology to alleviate administrative burdens on government officials.

But the top government spokesman added that the move could only be realized if anxiety about handling confidential information and personal data leaks were resolved.
Taipei, Apr 11 (AP) China's military declared Monday it is "ready to fight" after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island in response to the Taiwanese president's trip to the US last week.

The "combat readiness patrols" named Joint Sword were meant as a warning to self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own, China's military said earlier.

"The theater's troops are ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence' and foreign interference attempts," it said Monday.

The exercises were similar to ones conducted by China last August, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan in retaliation for then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, but have been smaller and less disruptive.

Military experts say the exercises serve both as intimidation and as an opportunity for Chinese troops to practice sealing off Taiwan by blocking sea and air traffic, an important strategic option the Chinese military might pursue in the event it uses military force to take Taiwan.

The Chinese actions follow President Tsai Ing-wen's delicate mission to shore up Taiwan's dwindling diplomatic alliances in Central America and boost its US support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. A US congressional delegation also met with Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated the position of President Joe Biden's administration that Tsai's transit through the US and the congressional visit to Taiwan were not out of the norm. Tsai transited through the United States six times between 2016 and 2019.

"There was no reason to react in any way militarily," he said. "There's no reason for tensions across the Taiwan Strait to devolve into any kind of conflict."

China responded immediately to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsai's US trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

China wants to use any increase of diplomatic interactions between the US and Taiwan as an excuse to train its military," said Kuo Yu-jen, a defense studies expert and director of the Institute for National Policy Research in Taiwan.

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the island's democratic government encourages Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step China's ruling Communist Party says would lead to war. The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the Communist Party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

After Pelosi visited Taiwan, China conducted missiles strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan, while also sending warships and war planes over the median line of the Taiwan Strait. It also fired missiles over the island itself which landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone, in a significant escalation.

The live-fire exercises disrupted flights and shipping in one of the busiest shipping lanes for global trade. This time, shipping and maritime traffic have largely continued as normal, Kuo said.

The exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting more than 200 flights by Chinese warplanes in the past three days. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the People's Liberation Army, said the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan as well as waves of simulated strikes at important targets on the island.

On Monday, the PLA said its Shandong aircraft carrier was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan for the first time. It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off the deck of the ship in a post on Weibo, the social media platform.

The appearance of the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean suggests that it could be used to prevent foreign militaries from coming to help Taiwan, said Han Gan-ming, a research fellow at the government-backed Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

"In the future if there's a similar military maneuver, then Taiwan will have to face it alone," Han said.

Between 6 am Sunday and 6 am Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense. Among the planes that crossed the median were eight J-16 fighter jets, four J-1 fighters, eight Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes. Taiwan also tracked J-15 fighter jets, which are paired with the Shandong aircraft carrier.

By Monday evening, Taiwan's defense ministry reported another 91 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets, early warning aircraft and military transport planes.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday in which eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the island's Defense Ministry. It said in a statement that it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as from its own navy vessels.

China's military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent toward the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities. The military activity has increased a notch since Pelosi's visit, with Chinese PLA fighter jets regularly flying over the middle boundary line. Experts say PLA navy vessels regularly navigate the waters off Taiwan's northeastern coast.

Meanwhile, to the south in the South China Sea, the US 7th Fleet said its missile destroyer USS Milius sailed by Mischief Reef in a freedom of navigation operation. China has built an artificial island on the sea feature to stake its claim to the disputed territory.

China said the US "illegally trespassed" into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government, according to a statement from the Chinese military's southern command.

Outside of the military maneuvers, Kuo said he was worried about the announcements from Fujian's Maritime Safety Administration from last week, when it said it would conduct "on-site inspections"of cargo ships and working vessels in the Taiwan Strait as part of a patrol exercise.

"First they'll target ships travelling between the Strait, then they will target any international ship," he said. "Gradually this will become the de facto new status quo."

One of the US representatives who attended the meeting with Tsai last week said Saturday the US must take seriously the threat China poses to Taiwan. Republican Mike Gallagher, chairman of the US House Select Committee on China, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island government's defences, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan. (AP) CK

CK
Washington, Apr 10 (AP) The online leaks of scores of highly classified documents about the Ukraine war present a very serious" risk to national security, and senior leaders are quickly taking steps to mitigate the damage, a top Pentagon spokesman said Monday.

Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, told reporters that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin first became aware on Thursday that a number of classified briefing slides detailing the U.S. military efforts in the Ukraine war and intelligence involving other nations were leaked.

In the days since Austin was notified, he has reached out to allies, held daily meetings to assess damage and set up a group not only to assess the scope of the information lost but review who has access to those briefings. The department is looking closely at how this type of information is distributed and to whom, Meagher said, but would not say if steps had already been taken to tighten control over who can access it.

At the State Department, spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters that U.S. officials are engaging with allies and partners at high levels over this, including to reassure them of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and the fidelity of securing our partnerships.

He and Meagher declined to provide specifics, including about the expanse of the release, how it happened and to which country leaders the U.S. has spoken. Patel added that there is no question the documents' release present a risk to national security.

Investigators who specialize in tracking social media, including at the journalism organization Bellingcat, say the documents may have been circulating for months in private internet chats on the Discord discussion platform. Asked if the Pentagon has contacted Discord, Meagher referred questions to the Justice Department, which has opened a criminal investigation into the leaks.

The slides, which eventually were distributed on more mainstream sites such as Twitter, detail U.S. training and equipment schedules to support Ukraine, assessments of losses, what the U.S. is monitoring on key allies and strategic partners, and what moves Russia may be taking to undermine those relationships.

While the Pentagon has been careful not to authenticate the information contained in any specific document, overall "they present a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation, said Meagher. We're being very careful and watching where this is being posted and amplified.

The documents are labeled secret and top secret and in some cases resemble routine updates that the U.S. military's Joint Staff would produce daily but not distribute publicly. (AP) AMS
Louisville (US), Apr 10 (AP) A 23-year-old used a rifle to kill four people at the Louisville bank where he was an employee Monday, according to police.

Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel identified the shooter as Connor Sturgeon, who was also killed during the shooting.

Police also identified the victims, who ranged in age from 40 to 64.

The shooting, the 15th mass killing in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, about 160 miles (260 kilometers) to the south. That state's governor and his wife also had friends killed in that shooting.

Police in Louisville arrived as gunshots were still being fired inside Old National Bank and exchanged fire with the shooter, Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said at a news conference. He said it wasn't clear whether the shooter killed himself or was shot by officers.

We believe this is a lone gunman involved in this that did have a connection to the bank. We're trying to establish what that connection was to the business, but it appears he was a previous employee, Humphrey said.

Nine people, including two police officers, were treated for injuries from the shooting, University of Louisville Hospital spokeswoman Heather Fountaine said in an email. One of the officers was in critical condition, she said. At least three patients had been discharged.

An emotional Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he lost friends in the shooting in the building on East Main Street not far from the minor league ballpark Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.

This is awful, he said. I have a very close friend who didn't make it today. And I have another close friend who didn't, either. And one who's at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through.

It was the second time that Beshear was personally touched by a mass tragedy since becoming governor.

In late 2021, one of the towns devastated by tornadoes that tore through Kentucky was Dawson Springs, the hometown of Beshear's father, former two-term Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. Andy Beshear frequently visited Dawson Springs as a boy and has talked emotionally about his father's hometown.

Beshear spoke as the investigation in Louisville continued and police searched for a motive. Crime scene investigators could be seen marking and photographing numerous bullet holes in the windows near the bank's front door.

As part of the investigation, police descended on a neighborhood about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of the downtown shooting. The street was blocked as federal and local officers talked to residents. One home was cordoned off with caution tape.

I'm almost speechless. You see it on the news but not at home, said Kami Cooper, 38, who lives in the neighborhood.

A man who fled the building during the shooting told WHAS-TV that the shooter opened fire with a long rifle in a conference room in the back of the building's first floor.

Whoever was next to me got shot  blood is on me from it, he told the news station, pointing to his shirt. He said he fled to a break room and shut the door.

Humphrey, the deputy chief, said the actions of responding police officers undoubtedly saved lives.

This is a tragic event, he said. But it was it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened.

The 15 mass shootings this year are the most during the first 100 days of a calendar year since 2009, when 16 had occurred by April 10, according to a mass killings database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

Going back to 2006, the first year for which data has been compiled, the years with the most mass killings were 2019 and 2022, with 45 and 42 mass killings recorded during the entire calendar year. The pace in 2009 slowed later in the year, with 32 mass killings recorded that year. (AP) AMS
Mumbai, Apr 10 (PTI) Mumbai Police have found that the accused in the case of stone pelting at a Ram Navami procession in suburban Malad had allegedly hatched the conspiracy of violence while sitting together near a mosque, officials said on Monday.

More than 20 persons have so far been arrested in connection with the incident which took place in Malvani area of Malad on March 30.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against more than 200 people, they said.

A team of Malvani police probing the case of violence recorded statements of an Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officer and another policeman from the Malvani police station on April 2, an official said.

Both the police personnel in their statements told the police that the violence was created by the accused persons, including those arrested and wanted, deliberately and intentionally, he said.

They sat together near a mosque, by violating the orders prohibiting unlawful assembly, and hatched the conspiracy of the crime, the official said.

Accordingly, Indian Penal Code Section 120 (B) (punishment of criminal conspiracy) was added to the case on April 2 following directions from senior police officials, he said.

Earlier, the police had registered an FIR under various Indian Penal Code sections including 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 145 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting ) and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act.

A police official earlier said the tension began on March 30 following disputes over the loud DJ music being played in the procession as it was passing through the vicinity of mosques in Malvani area.

As per the FIR, more than 6,000 people had participated in the Ram Navami procession organised by the Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organisations.

The procession began from Ram Janki temple late in the afternoon.

Around 7.25 pm, as it was moving towards Jama Masjid, around 100 to 150 people objected to the high volume of music as namaz was going on in the mosque, a police official earlier said.

As the music volume was not lowered, there was some slogan-shouting and one of the men who had objected to loud music allegedly hurled a stone at the procession and it hit a participant, he said.

Police personnel deputed for security along the route immediately took the man who had thrown the stone into custody, he said.

As per the FIR, when the procession was near the Ali Hazrat mosque around 8.45 pm, a mob of 200 to 250 people began to pelt stones.

As police tried to bring the situation under control, some people in the mob hurled stones at them and manhandled some police personnel, the FIR said.
Mumbai, Apr 10 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the Western Region at 1700 HRS.

BOM6 MH-TEMPLE-2NDLD ACCIDENT

* Maha: 7 killed, 37 injured after tree falls on tin shed in Akola temple

Akola: Seven persons were killed and 37 others injured when a tree fell on a tin shed under which people were standing in a temple premises after heavy wind and rains in Maharashtra's Akola district, officials said on Monday. *

BOM13 GJ-VIRUS-MOCKDRILL

* Gujarat: Dummy patients brought to COVID-19 hospitals during mock drill

Ahmedabad: Dummy patients were brought to various COVID-19 hospitals in Gujarat in ambulances and taken to designated wards by doctors wearing the PPE suit and the availability of oxygen was also checked during a mock drill conducted on Monday to check the preparedness of health system to deal with a surge in infections. *

BOM20 MH-VIRUS-MOCK DRILL

* COVID-19 surge: Maha holds mock drills in state-run hospitals

Mumbai: Mock drills to assess the COVID preparedness of government-run hospitals across Maharashtra were carried out on Monday, officials said here. *

BOM11 MP-VIRUS-MOCK-DRILL

* Adequate arrangements in MP to deal with COVID-19 cases: Minister

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang on Monday said adequate arrangements were in place in hospitals of the state amid rising COVID-19 cases. *

BOM8 CG-CLASH-BANDH

* Shops shut in Chhattisgarh cities as right wing bodies observe bandh

Raipur: Shops and other commercial establishments remained closed at most of the places in major cities of Chhattisgarh on Monday in the wake of the statewide bandh called by right wing organisations against communal violence in Biranpur village of Bemetara district two days back. *

BOM10 GA-VIRUS-PREPAREDNESS

* Goa prepared to face any COVID-19 emergency: Health Minister Rane

Panaji: Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday said health facilities in the state were prepared to tackle any emergency in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country. *

BOM16 MH-RAM NAVAMI-VIOLENCE-CONSPIRACY

* Mumbai Ram Navami violence: Conspiracy hatched near mosque: Cops

Mumbai: Mumbai Police have found that the accused in the case of stone pelting at a Ram Navami procession in suburban Malad had allegedly hatched the conspiracy of violence while sitting together near a mosque, officials said on Monday. *

BOM9 GJ-COURT-HATE SPEECH-ACTIVIST

* Hate speech: Right-wing activist Hindustani sent to judicial custody

Gir Somnath: A court here in Gujarat has sent right wing activist Kajal Hindustani to 14-day judicial custody following her arrest for allegedly delivering a "hate speech" on Ram Navami that caused a communal clash in Una town, police said on Monday. *



BOM17 MH-RAIN DAMAGE-GOVT

* Rains damaged crops over 7,400 hectares in 5 Vidarbha districts: Fadnavis

Mumbai: Unseasonal rain in the last two days damaged crops over 7,400 hectares in five districts of the western Vidarbha region in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday. *

BOM18 MH-RAINS-NASHIK-CM

* Maha rains: CM visits Nashik district, takes stock of situation

Nashik: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday visited rain-affected areas of Nashik district and reviewed the losses faced by farmers. *

BOM19 MP-DIGVIJAYA-GOVT

* Congress will form next govt in MP with Kamal Nath as CM face: Digvijaya

Vidisha (MP): Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Monday claimed the grand old party will form the next government in Madhya Pradesh by winning more than 116 of 230 seats and Kamal Nath will be the chief ministerial face. *

BOM15 MH-PAWAR-DEGREE

* More pressing issues than anyones educational degree: Pawar

Nashik: Amid questions raised by some opposition leaders over Prime Minister Narendra Modis educational qualifications, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said it is not a national issue. *
Gir Somnath, Apr 10 (PTI) A court here in Gujarat has sent right wing activist Kajal Hindustani to 14-day judicial custody following her arrest for allegedly delivering a "hate speech" on Ram Navami that caused a communal clash in Una town, police said on Monday.

Hindustani surrendered before the police in Una on Sunday.

She was subsequently arrested and produced before a court in Una which rejected her bail plea and sent her to 14-day judicial custody, Una police station inspector NK Goswami said.

The police did not seek her remand and she was sent to the Junagadh Central Jail, Goswami said.

Hindustani's speech on the Ram Navami festival on March 30 caused a communal clash in Una town on the night of April 1.



Police lodged an FIR against her on April 2 under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 295 A (deliberate or malicious act intending to outrage religious feelings).

Hindustani, who identifies herself as an entrepreneur, research analyst, debater, social activist, and nationalist and a "proud Indian" on her Twitter bio and has more than 92,000 followers including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a regular at events organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

She is known for her fiery speeches targeting the minority community, including the one she delivered at a 'Hindu Sammelan' organised by the VHP on the occasion of Ram Navami.

Communal tension prevailed in Una for two days after Hindustani's speech which resulted in a clash between two communities and stone pelting on April 1 night.

Police had also lodged an FIR against 76 named persons and a mob of around 200 people under various IPC sections including 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 337 (rash or negligent act to cause hurt), 143 (Unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting) and 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons).

"So far we have arrested 96 people in this connection," Goswami said.
Itanagar, Apr 10 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to launch the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' (VVP) in Kibithoo, a village along the India-China border, during a two-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh starting Monday, officials said.

Shah, in his first visit to the northeastern state as home minister, will on Monday inaugurate nine micro hydel projects constructed under the Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme in Kibithoo. These electricity projects will empower people living in border villages, they said.

He will also inaugurate Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) projects to augment infrastructure at Likabali (Arunachal Pradesh), Chapra (Bihar), Nooranad (Kerala) and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), the officials said.

Shah is slated to interact with ITBP personnel at Kibithoo in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The home minister will visit the Namti field on Tuesday and pay homage at the Walong war memorial.

The VVP is a centrally sponsored scheme under which 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting the northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development.

In the first phase, 662 villages, including 455 in Andhra Pradesh, have been identified for priority coverage.
Jammu, Apr 10 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Altaf Bukhari on Monday appealed to the Union minister Nitin Gadkari to order a probe into a construction agency for its alleged failure to stabilise the Srinagar-Jammu national highway for smooth vehicular movement.

The former J and K minister also asked Gadkari to take special classes of the officers engaged in Smart City project in Srinagar and Jammu for narrowing the vital roads on the pretext of beautification.

Gadkari is on a visit of Jammu and Kashmir and we welcome himWe appeal to him to announce a commission of inquiry into the wrong alignments (undertaken by the construction companies working on the four-laning Jammu-Srinagar national highway project) which resulted in frequent occurrences of shooting stones (from the hillocks overlooking the road), Bukhari told reporters after addressing a workers meet in Ramgarh area of Samba district.

The work on the four-laning project of the 270-km highway, the only all weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, has been going on since 2011.

The contractors engaged by the concerned agency have undertaken the works without considering the fallout and have taken their money, but over the years, the highway has not been stabilised, he said.

Praising the Union Road Transport and Highways minister for his efforts, Bukhari suggested him to focus on construction of a tunnel on Mughal Road, an alternate route connecting the twin districts of Pooch and Rajouri in Jammu with south Kashmirs Shopian, which usually remains closed during the winter owing to heavy snowfall.

You have promised a tunnel for Mughal Road (to make it an all-weather road). You are inspecting the works on Zojila tunnel (along Srinagar-Leh national highway) and you should also visit Mughal Road to see the progress of the tunnel besides

reviewing the progress on Poonch-Loran and Uri-Poonch roads and Kishtwar-Dachhan tunnel, the JKAP president said.

He expressed his displeasure on the works being undertaken under Smart City project in the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu and said the breadth of the roads are being narrowed on the pretext of beautification.

They are narrowing roads and need a lesson in a closed room. They are utilising Rs 1,000 crore each on the two projects and they should be made accountable as this money belongs to the public, he said.

Responding to a question about the resignation of Junaid Azam Mattu from his post of youth president of the party, Bukhari said he resigned from his post after the completion of his term.

There is nothing wrong in his decision. He has completed his term as party youth president and we have got a new team after recent party elections. He has not resigned from the party and he will continue as Mayor of Srinagar, he said.

He said his party is enthusiastic about the assembly elections and our preparedness makes them (BJP) to delay the elections.

Earlier, during his address, he opposed the policies of the J and K administration including its anti-encroachment drive, awarding contracts for minor minerals and liquor to outsiders.

We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the nation but we will not stay silent when you are taking our land forcibly, he said.
Chandigarh, Apr 10 (PTI) Amid a spike in Covid cases, mock drills were held in various hospitals in Haryana on Monday to take stock of their preparedness.

State Health Minister Anil Vij also reviewed the measures to combat the disease at Ambala's Civil hospital.

The exercise was part of similar drills held nationwide to take stock of hospital preparedness in dealing with Covid cases.

On Monday, Haryana reported 325 fresh Covid cases, including 161 from Gurugram, 44 from Faridabad and 32 from Panchkula.

According to the state health department's bulletin, one Covid-related death was reported from Karnal district, which also reported 20 fresh infections. This is third fatality in the state during past one week.

The total number of active cases in the state was 1,905.

Vij said mock drills were held at various places in the state.The minister also took stock of all preparations including availability of oxygen, isolation beds, medicines, equipment.

He said masks have been made mandatory in health institutions and in gatherings involving more than 100 people.

Vij also visited the Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantonment, and reviewed the arrangements there.

He inspected the emergency room of the Civil hospital as part of the mock drill.

The minister also interacted with the patients and got information about the medical facilities being provided.

He also inspected the oxygen plant and enquired how much oxygen is required per day and how much oxygen is available.

During the inspection, the Health minister also dialled emergency numbers from his mobile phone to summon an ambulance and a police control room vehicle.

He did so to check the time taken by them to reach after the call had been made.

Two minutes following the call, the ambulance arrived and while the police vehicle reached after four minutes, said Vij.

The Health minister inquired how many oxygen cylinders were there in the ambulance, from where they get them, whether records are maintained or not among others.
Jaipur, Apr 10 (PTI) Police on Monday used a water cannon and wielded lathis to disperse BJP workers protesting against the Congress-led state government over the law and order situation and other issues in Rajasthans Rajsamand district.

A large number of BJP workers led by the party's state president C P Joshi and MP Diya Kumari took out 'Jan Aakrosh Mahagherao' in Rajsamand city to submit a memorandum to the district collector (DC).

The workers holding placards raised anti-government slogans and marched towards the DC's office. However, they were stopped by the police. As they tried crossing the barricades, police resorted to cane-charging and water cannon to disperse them.

"Farms loans have not been waived, youths are yet to receive unemployment allowance and their future is in dark due to paper leaks. There is a scarcity of doctors in hospitals and teachers in schools. To address all these issues, BJP workers submitted a memorandum," Joshi told reporters.

"But, it is unfortunate that the police and administration behaved with BJP workers as if they were terrorists. It is condemnable. BJP workers were cane-charged and water cannon was used on them," he added.

One of the BJP workers, Komal Gehlot from Nimbahera said, "Crime against women is increasing in the state. Rapes are happening. Wasn't the administration aware that women will come to submit a memorandum? No women police were there."

She alleged that policemen wielded lathis on women party workers.

BJP is trying to get a stronghold in Mewar and Wagad regions comprising 28 assembly seats and a chunk of tribal votes ahead of the assembly elections due this year-end.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 10, 2023 - 13:15 | All, Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday said his party must focus on delivering for voters to guarantee victory in the upcoming national and local elections, a day after the ruling camp won key gubernatorial races.

"We have to continue bracing ourselves" for a challenge while listening to voices of encouragement and hope for the Liberal Democratic Party and the ruling coalition including its junior partner Komeito, Kishida told reporters at his office.

In gubernatorial races in Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido and southwestern prefecture of Oita on Sunday, candidates fielded by the LDP, headed by Kishida, were victorious.

The results reflected Kishida's efforts to bolster the approval ratings of his Cabinet with achievements on the diplomatic stage before he hosts a Group of Seven summit in May in his constituency of Hiroshima, political pundits said.

LDP candidates, however, lost races to candidates endorsed by the Japan Innovation Party in the western prefectures of Osaka and Nara, in which the opposition party has a strong foothold.

Along with nine gubernatorial elections, mayoral races in six major cities and local assembly polls in 41 prefectures and 17 big cities were also held on Sunday as part of the first round of quadrennial unified local elections.

In the 41 prefectural assembly races, the LDP won 1,153 of the 2,260 seats up for grabs, on a percentage basis on par with its performance in the previous polls in 2019. The Japan Innovation Party more than doubled its seats in the latest elections from 57 in 2019 to 124 on Sunday, final tallies showed.

The second round of the local polls, held every four years to cut administrative costs and raise voter turnout, will be conducted on April 23 to select mayors and assembly members in other municipalities across Japan.

By-elections for five vacant seats in parliament are also scheduled to be held on the same day.

Related coverage:

Japan PM Kishida's ruling bloc wins key gubernatorial polls

Inflation pain to continue for Japan consumers in new fiscal year
Jaipur, Apr 10 (PTI) Rajasthan on Monday recorded 197 fresh COVID-19 infections and three fatalities, an official from the department said.

As many as 14 patients have died due to the virus from January to April 10, while a total of 9,670 patients have lost their lives to this infection in the state, so far, the official added.

The deaths were reported from Jhalawar (2) and Bikaner (1) in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, in the wake of an increase in the infection tally, senior health department officials took a review meeting in which they decided to increase sampling.

Headed by Medical Education Secretary T Ravikanth and Health Secretary Dr Prithvi through a video conference, the meeting was attended by the principals of all medical colleges, superintendents of hospitals, CMHOs and other concerned officers.

Ravikanth has instructed compulsory tests of patients visiting hospitals for symptoms of coronavirus.

He has instructed to send the collected samples to the designated centres for examination as soon as possible and to ensure treatment according to the prescribed protocol, according to a release.

The state recorded 165 new Covid cases and a death due to the disease on Sunday.
New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) The unruly passenger on board the Air India Delhi-London flight who created a ruckus mid-air and forced it to return to the national capital tried to open an aircraft door and assaulted two crew members as they tried to stop him, police said here.

Jaskirat Singh, aged 25, verbally abused the crew members and hit one of them on the neck causing her to fall on the floor. He then pulled her by the hair and hit another crew member on her face, they said.

Singh had to be restrained with the help of other crew members and passengers, and the aircraft was brought back to Delhi about three hours after its departure. He was deboarded and subsequently detained by police, a police official said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Airport) Devesh Kumar Mahla said Singh, who studied till Class 12, was asked why he acted the way he did, to which he replied "Mann kharab tha (I was upset..)".

Jaskirat Singh, who hails from Punjab's Kapurthala, and his father were going abroad for the first time. After landing in London, they had plans to fly to Canada to visit Singh's sister, police said.

Mahla said police have received a complaint and detained Jaskirat Singh, and the matter is being investigated. He said a case has been registered under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and relevant provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.

According to police officials, Air India flight AI-111 took off from Delhi to London at 6.35 am. After about an hour, Singh was spotted trying to open an aircraft door.

A crew member, along with a colleague, tried to stop him but he threatened to hit them and used "unparliamentary language", the police officials said, citing the complaint received from a cabin supervisor of the airline.

He suddenly turned violent and attacked both the crew members, according to the complaint.

Medical examinations of the complainant and the other crew member were carried out at the Medanta Medical Centre, Indira Gandhi International Airport, police said.

The accused will also undergo a medical examination to ascertain if he was under the influence of alcohol, Mahla added.

According to Air India, the passenger was handed over to the security personnel after the flight landed at the Delhi airport.

"Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour, including causing physical harm to two cabin crew members," the airline said in a statement.
New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed two pleas challenging a Delhi High Court judgment that upheld the Centre's Agnipath scheme for recruitment into the armed forces.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala said candidates, who earlier got selected through recruitment processes like rallies, physical and medical tests for defence forces before the introduction of the Agnipath scheme, do not have a vested right to appointment.

"Sorry, we would not like to interfere with the high court verdict. The high court had dealt with all the aspects", it said, while dismissing separate pleas filed by Gopal Krishan and advocate ML Sharma against the high court verdict.

The bench, however, posted a third fresh plea related to recruitment in the Indian Air Force (IAF) prior to the launch of the Agnipath scheme for hearing on April 17.

It asked the Centre to file its response to the third plea related to recruitment in the IAF.

On March 27, the top court had agreed to hear pleas filed against the Delhi High Court judgment that upheld the Centre's scheme for recruitment into the armed forces.

The high court had on February 27 said the Agnipath scheme was formulated in national interest with a laudable objective of maintaining national security.
Bengaluru, Apr 10 (PTI) The Karnataka High Court on Monday asked the central government why it had not given any reasons for blocking some accounts on Twitter in light of the takedown orders issued last year.

The bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit, which is hearing a petition by Twitter challenging the various takedown orders of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), asked the government counsel, "Why you did not supply the reasons to them (Twitter). What is that you wish to withhold? Court wants to know what is so much an important thing which prevented the government from disclosing the reasons when the section (69A) uses the word 'reasons to be recorded'."

When asked by the HC bench if the response would be provided to the court, counsel Kumar M N replied that "whatever decision is made can be supplied to the court."

The court also observed that the world was moving towards transparency and Section 69A of the Information Technology Act requires recording of reasons for takedowns.

"The whole world is moving towards transparency. If it would have been regarding sovereignty etc., we would have understood. You called them for the meeting and you did not agree with the reasons given by them and passed the impugned order. Is it not necessary for him to know why you do not agree with his reasons?" the court said.

Twitter approached the HC in June 2022 against the orders issued by the ministry.

The Centre had argued that Twitter being a foreign entity cannot claim enforcement of fundamental rights. Objecting to this, Twitter informed the court that it was invoking the writ jurisdiction for violation of protocols prescribed under Section 69A of the IT Act. It also claimed in a rejoinder to the court that rights under Article 14 were available to foreign entities also.

The court then asked both Twitter and the Union government to clarify the issue of how Indian entities would be treated in the United States and foreign jurisdictions on such issues.

"In other jurisdictions whether disclosure of reason is treated as a matter of force or whether the government can withhold reasons? Whether any element of state sovereignty is involved in this? How would the USA have treated an Indian entity before it? That also needs to be addressed," the court asked, adjourning the hearing to April 12.

Twitter has claimed that the government was required to issue notice to the owners of the Twitter handles against whom blocking orders are issued. Twitter had said that it was barred from informing the account holders about the takedown orders of the government.
New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) The Congress on Monday hit back at Jagdeep Dhankhar over his remarks that people should leave their "political spectacle" behind while embarking on a foreign visit, saying the Rajya Sabha chairman should be impartial and not always praise the government.

Speaking at a World Homeopathy Day function here, Dhankhar said as India lays the foundation for the centenary of its independence in 2047, every attempt that seeks to attack the country's dignity should be blunted.

He said people should leave their "political spectacle" behind while embarking on a foreign visit, in an apparent reference to a row over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks made during a recent visit to the United Kingdom.

Responding to Vice President Dhankhar's tweet advising that people should leave their "political spectacle" behind while embarking on a foreign visit, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi, "First you give this advice to those who started this practice in 2015. Then give a sermon (to others)."

"Second thing, Mr. Chairman should be impartial, and should not always praise the government," Ramesh said.

In his remarks on Monday, Dhankhar said, "Have you ever noticed a foreign dignitary or foreign national on a visit to this great democracy decrying or criticising his nation? The answer is an obvious no. Why cannot we take pride in our scientists, health warriors and compliment our innovation?"

"Whenever we travel out of the country, we should leave our political spectacle behind. This will be beneficial for the country as well as the individual," he added.
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 four counts of manslaughter
A 19-year-old from Maine who is accused of making explosives and plotting to attack a mosque has pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists




Former President Trump released the following statement on Monday:

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is currently on a month-long, taxpayer-funded presidential campaign schedule paid for by Florida taxpayers, and new questions are emerging as to whether this will force DeSantis to resign from office. The matter also highlights yet another flip-flop for DeSantis, who previously resigned from Congress to run for Governor to protect the taxpayers.

At present, Florida has a Resign to Run law that requires statewide officeholders to leave their positions if theyre running for Federal office. In remarks first shared with the Associated Press, Nova Southeastern University Law School Professor Bob Jarvis said, There is no ambiguity, no debate, no dispute. Under current law, DeSantis cannot run for president before first resigning as a governor.

DeSantis allies in the Florida legislature are considering a change to state law to help the Governor, but DeSantis has already begun his month-long, taxpayer-funded campaign schedule before legislation could be passed.

Further complicating matters: Floridas current Resign to Run law states that candidates must resign from their posts no later than 10 days before qualifying for office. But according to Politicos Gary Fineout, over the month of April DeSantis is leaving Florida to campaign in Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Utah, and Texas, with South Carolina now being added to this months itinerary.

DeSantis also plans to visit Israel and the U.K. in April to score some last-minute foreign policy credentials for his 2024 presidential campaign, and it is now being reported that DeSantis will also visit Japan and Korea as part of his taxpayer-funded globetrotting.

All of this brings us back to 2018, when DeSantis was running for Governor and resigned from Congress, noting it would be inappropriate to accept a salary when he would be missing the vast majority or remaining session days.

DeSantis upcoming 2024 presidential campaign travel occurs while the Florida Legislature is in-session, and before DeSantis has formed a campaign committee to pay for his travel. This means that in addition to his salary, Florida taxpayers are on the hook for travel and security costs. So why the change of heart?

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to campaign full-time for president, during the Florida legislative session, while collecting a salary and having the taxpayers pick up the costs for his travel and security. Its a massive flip-flop from his position in 2018, said Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung. To make matters worse, DeSantis upcoming taxpayer-funded campaign travel appears to put him at odds with Floridas existing Resign to Run law.

In recent months, Gov. DeSantis has used taxpayer dollars to travel around the country for his 2024 presidential campaign, including to the early voting states of Iowa and Nevada. DeSantis gubernatorial office, however, refuses to tell reporters  and the public  how much taxpayer money has been spent to fund these travels, or how much DeSantis April globetrotting will cost.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




In a press conference this evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will remain in his position.

The news comes nearly two weeks after Netanyahu had announced the firing of the Defense Minister after remarks he made against the judicial reform.

Even in the last few days, Galant and I have been working together. There were serious disagreements between us, but I decided to put them behind us. Gallant remains in his post, and we will continue to work together for Israels security, Netanyahu said during his press conference at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv.

During his remarks, Netanyahu also confirmed that the IDF has been acting against Iran in Syria.

The Assad regime will pay a heavy price if it continues to allow attacks against us, Netanyahu warned.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Mrs. Leah Dee, the mother of sisters Maya and Rina who were murdered in a Palestinian shooting terror attack, was nifteres Tuesday from her own injuries sustained during the heinous attack. She was just 48 years old.

The British-Israeli Dee family was traveling along Route 57 when terrorists opened fire at their vehicle, killing 20-year-old and 18-year-old sisters and critically injuring their mother, Leah.

48-year-old Lucy Dee was evacuated by helicopter to Hadassah Ein Kerem in critical condition, where the teams fought for her life over the past few days, in the trauma unit, the operating room and the intensive care unit where she was treated, the hospital said in a statement.

Unfortunately, despite intensive and unceasing efforts, due to her fatal injury, the team had to determine her death today.

Dee had been in critical condition since the attack, and despite the best efforts of medical staff at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem, she was Niftar three days later.

The terrorists responsible for the shooting are still at large, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for justice.

The terrorists shot at a car and the driver tried to continue driving and flee the scene but they chased after her. She lost control of the wheel and smashed into a Palestinian truck. The terrorists then shot the victims from close range at least 22 times from a Kalashnikov type of rifle.

The Levayos of Maia and Rina were held yesterday. The sisters were just 21 and 18 years old, respectively. Their deaths have left their family and friends devastated, and their loss is being mourned both in Israel and in the UK.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A Chinese porcelain ware is seen at the Adrien Dubouche National Museum in Limoges, France, Jan. 13, 2023. (Xinhua)

PARIS, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Myrtille Bouvret, a French ceramic designer, posted pictures of a porcelain sculpture she made recently and shared the creative inspiration with her fans on Instagram.

It has been six years since Bouvret completed her study at Jingdezhen Ceramic University (JCU) in China and started running a design studio in the southwestern French city of Limoges, widely known for its porcelain.

"It is my trips to the porcelain capitals of the two countries that continually inspire me," she said.

Jingdezhen, located in east China's Jiangxi Province, has been dedicated to the craft for over 1,800 years. In 2010, it forged a pair of sister cities with Limoges, in which porcelains produced have been sold across Europe.

Bouvret is among droves of ceramic artists and overseas students who rushed to Jingdezhen, after an international ceramic studio was jointly established by the JCU and Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Art de Limoges (ENSA Limoges) in 2011.

This photo taken on Jan. 13, 2023 shows the Adrien Dubouche National Museum in Limoges, France. (Xinhua)

"I admire the craftsmen in Jingdezhen who inherit thousands of years of porcelain-making technique," she said.

Hundreds of ceramic artworks have been created by the studio. Among these, two sets of ceramic lampposts, designed and made by French and Chinese students at the end of 2018, are the most special.

Reading "Thank you Jingdezhen and loving Limoges," the two lampposts have borne witness to the cultural exchanges between the two countries. Now, one lamppost is standing on the street of Limoges while the other is on display at the exhibition hall of the studio.

Zhou Lei, one of the co-creators, would always think about how to combine the modern western creation concept with the traditional Chinese skills while studying in the two places. "I want to integrate the ancient charm of blue and white porcelain with western aesthetics, let them break with tradition and go global," he said.

As early as the 18th century, the "dual formula" of kaolin -- a soft white mineral named after the village in China -- and porcelain stone was transmitted from Jingdezhen to France, playing a key role in the development of the porcelain-making industry in France.

Chinese porcelain wares are seen at the Adrien Dubouche National Museum in Limoges, France, Jan. 13, 2023. (Xinhua)

Exchanges on ceramics between the two countries are mutually beneficial, said Weng Yanjun, director of Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum, adding that colored enamel porcelain is a type of porcelain integrating the Western material and Chinese traditional technique.

While studying at the JCU, Bouvret once interned at Wanglong Ceramics Co.Ltd in Jingdezhen, where overseas designers are involved in the design of the products. A saucer she designed there was favored by a Michelin star chef in France and then used as a utensil for holding foie gras.

"The cooperation with craftsmen in Jingdezhen has inspired me a lot," said Norman Trapman, a French designer, who holds teleconferences with the craftsmen once a week.

At an exhibition held in Milan, Italy, earlier this year, a set of Celadon spa items including a bathtub and a hand sink, designed by Trapman, has brought the company international orders.

"The transnational exchanges and cooperation have helped us gain traction in the international market," said Yu Wanglong, general manager of the company. 




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 wouldnt 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. Its 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.

(AP)




House Republicans on Thursday subpoenaed one of the former Manhattan prosecutors who had been leading a criminal investigation into Donald Trump before quitting last year in a clash over the direction of the probe.

Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, ordered Mark Pomerantz to testify before the committee by April 30. The subpoena, reviewed by The Associated Press, is the latest escalation by Republicans as they probe Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, days after Trump was charged in a 34-count felony indictment in connection with a hush-money scheme involving a porn actor.

Pomerantz refused to voluntarily cooperate with the committees request last month at the instruction of Braggs office, citing the ongoing investigation. The Manhattan D.A.s office has accused Jordans committee of overstepping its legal authority and infringing on New York state sovereignty.

Jordan has now written in a letter to Pomerantz, Based on your unique role as a special assistant district attorney leading the investigation into President Trumps finances, you are uniquely situated to provide information that is relevant and necessary to inform the Committees oversight and potential legislative reforms.

A request for comment from Pomerantz was not immediately returned.

Bragg called the subpoena another example of a Republican attempt to undermine an active investigation and ongoing New York criminal case.

Repeated efforts to weaken state and local law enforcement actions are an abuse of power and will not deter us from our duty to uphold the law, Bragg wrote in a tweet.

Republicans had rallied around Trump in the leadup to his indictment Tuesday, labeling Braggs investigation a political persecution. Jordan and other senior GOP lawmakers see Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, who were top deputies tasked with running the investigation on a day-to-day basis, as catalysts for Braggs decision to move ahead with the hush money case.

Both men started on the probe under former District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., and Bragg asked them to stay when he took office in January. Both Vance and Bragg are Democrats.

The Trump indictment centers on allegations that he falsified internal business records at his private company while trying to cover up an effort to illegally influence the 2016 election by arranging payments that silenced claims potentially harmful to his candidacy. It includes 34 counts of falsifying records related to checks Trump sent to his personal lawyer and problem-solver to reimburse him for his role in paying off a porn actor who said she had an extramarital sexual encounter with Trump years earlier.

Pomerantz released a book earlier this year titled People vs. Donald Trump: An Inside Account. In the book, he said that Vance authorized him in December 2021 to seek Trumps indictment. He has portrayed the hush-money payments  made or arranged by Cohen  as perhaps the most challenging and legally fraught of the potential cases against the former president.

Jordan wrote Thursday that Pomerantz should be allowed to cooperate since he has already discussed many of the topics relevant to our oversight in the book he published and promoted. He goes on to say that Pomerantzs own book details how the case looking into Trump appears to have been politically motivated.

Specifically, you describe your eagerness to investigate President Trump, writing that you were delighted to join an unpaid group of lawyers advising on the Trump investigations, and joking that salary negotiations had gone great because you would have paid to join the investigation, the Jordan letter continued.

(AP)




Chinese leader Xi Jinping called Thursday for peace talks over Ukraine after French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to him to bring Russia to its senses, but Xi gave no indication Beijing would use its leverage as Vladimir Putins diplomatic partner to press for a settlement.

Xi gave no sign China, which declared it had a no limits friendship with Moscow before last years invasion, had changed its stance since calling for peace talks in February.

Peace talks should resume as soon as possible, Xi said. He called on other governments to avoid doing anything that might make the crisis deteriorate or even get out of control.

Beijing, which sees Moscow as a partner in opposing U.S. domination of global affairs, has tried to appear neutral in the conflict but has given Putin diplomatic support and repeated Russian justifications for the February 2022 attack. Xi received an effusive welcome from Putin when he visited Moscow last month, giving the isolated Russian president a political boost.

The Chinese leader said legitimate security concerns of all parties should be considered, a reference to Moscows argument that it attacked Ukraine because of the eastward expansion of NATO, the U.S.-European military alliance.

During talks earlier, Macron appealed to Xi to bring Russia to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table.

Macron pointed to Chinese support for the United Nations Charter, which calls for respect of a countrys territorial integrity. He said Putins announcement of plans to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus violated international agreements and commitments to Xis government.

We need to find a lasting peace, the French president said. I believe that this is also an important issue for China.

Macron was accompanied to Beijing by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a show of European unity.

Von der Leyen said she encouraged Xi to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the Chinese leader reiterated his willingness to speak when conditions and time are right.

I think this is a positive element, von der Leyen said.

Von der Leyen warned China against sending military equipment to Russia, echoing a warning Wednesday by NATOs 31 member governments of severe consequences for shipments of weapons or ammunition.

Arming the aggressor is a clear violation of international law, von der Leyen said. This would indeed significantly harm the relationship between the European Union and China.

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 jeopardize 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.

Also Wednesday, the French and Chinese governments announced agreements including the purchase of 160 Airbus aircraft by a Chinese leasing company and for their companies to collaborate on nuclear, solar, wind power and biofuel development.

(AP)




Twitter has labeled National Public Radio as state-affiliated media on the social media site, a move some worried Wednesday could undermine public confidence in the news organization.

NPR said it was disturbed to see the description added to all of the tweets that it sends out, with John Lansing, its president and CEO, calling it unacceptable for Twitter to label us this way.

It was unclear why Twitter made the move. Twitters owner, Elon Musk, quoted a definition of state-affiliated media in the companys guidelines as outlets where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution.

Seems accurate, Musk tweeted in a reply to NPR.

NPR does receive U.S. government funding through grants from federal agencies and departments, along with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The company said it accounts for less than 1% of NPRs annual operating budget. But until Wednesday, the same Twitter guidelines said that state-financed media organizations with editorial independence, like the BBC in the UK or NPR in the United States, are not defined as state-affiliated media for the purposes of this policy.

NPR has now been removed from that sentence on Twitters website.

Asked for comment, Twitters press office responded with an automated poop emoji.

The move came just days after Twitter stripped The New York Times of its verification check mark.

NPR and our member stations are supported by millions of listeners who depend on us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide, Lansing said. NPR stands for freedom of speech and holding the powerful accountable.

The literary organization PEN America, in calling for Twitter to reverse the move, underlined that NPR assiduously maintains editorial independence.

Liz Woolery, PEN Americas digital policy leader, said Twitters decision was a dangerous move that could further undermine public confidence in reliable news sources.

(AP)




Honda is recalling nearly 564,000 older small SUVs because road salt can cause the frame to rust and rear suspension parts to come loose.

The recall covers certain CR-Vs from 2007 through 2011 that were sold or registered in states where salt is used to clear roads in the winter.

U.S. safety regulators say in documents posted Thursday that salt can accumulate and cause corrosion, and the rear trailing arm can detach. That can cause drivers to lose control, increasing the risk of a crash. Rear trailing arms connect the rear axle to the chassis.

The recalled CR-Vs were either sold or registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Dealers will inspect the SUVs and install a support brace or repair the rear frame if needed. If the frame is badly damaged, Honda may offer to buy the vehicle. Owners will be notified by letter starting May 8.

The CR-Vs already have been recalled in Canada. Honda says in documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it has 61 customer complaints in the U.S. but no deaths or injuries.

(AP)
Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI  Get Rating) will be posting its quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Tuesday, April 11th. Analysts expect Albertsons Companies to post earnings of $0.65 per share for the quarter.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 10th. The company reported $0.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.63 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $18.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.50 billion. Albertsons Companies had a return on equity of 60.71% and a net margin of 2.16%. On average, analysts expect Albertsons Companies to post $3 EPS for the current fiscal year and $3 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Albertsons Companies Price Performance

Shares of Albertsons Companies stock opened at $21.05 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $11.28 billion, a PE ratio of 8.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.57. The business has a 50 day moving average of $20.55 and a 200 day moving average of $21.49. Albertsons Companies has a 52 week low of $19.14 and a 52 week high of $36.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.66.

Albertsons Companies Dividend Announcement

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 26th were issued a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 25th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.28%. Albertsons Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.83%.

ACI has been the topic of a number of research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Albertsons Companies from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 12th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $25.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Albertsons Companies from $30.00 to $22.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 4th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group restated a market perform rating and issued a $27.25 target price on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Albertsons Companies currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $27.77.

Insider Activity at Albertsons Companies

In related news, EVP Omer Gajial sold 36,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.05, for a total value of $757,800.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 25,140 shares in the company, valued at $529,197. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Omer Gajial sold 36,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.05, for a total transaction of $757,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 25,140 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $529,197. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CAO Robert Bruce Larson sold 30,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.01, for a total value of $630,300.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 50,241 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,055,563.41. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Albertsons Companies

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ACI. Cerity Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 6.0% in the 4th quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 12,114 shares of the companys stock valued at $252,000 after acquiring an additional 689 shares during the last quarter. Toroso Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Albertsons Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $248,000. Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 9,453 shares of the companys stock worth $235,000 after purchasing an additional 492 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Albertsons Companies during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $218,000. Finally, Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in Albertsons Companies during the 4th quarter valued at $214,000. 65.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Albertsons Companies Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Albertsons Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of food and drug stores in the United States. The company's food and drug retail stores offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy, fuel, and other items and services. It also manufactures and processes food products for sale in stores.

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Shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC (LON:MONY  Get Rating) have earned a consensus rating of Buy from the six ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is GBX 250 ($3.10).

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on MONY shares. Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 260 ($3.23) price target on shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Barclays raised Moneysupermarket.com Group to an overweight rating and set a GBX 230 ($2.86) price target on the stock in a report on Monday, January 30th. Numis Securities reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 260 ($3.23) price objective on shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group in a research report on Monday, February 20th.

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Moneysupermarket.com Group Stock Up 2.3 %

Shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group stock opened at GBX 254.20 ($3.16) on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.49. The business has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 238.41 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 208.97. Moneysupermarket.com Group has a fifty-two week low of GBX 162.30 ($2.02) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 255.80 ($3.18). The firm has a market cap of 1.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,955.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.66.

Moneysupermarket.com Group Increases Dividend

About Moneysupermarket.com Group

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 30th will be paid a GBX 8.61 ($0.11) dividend. This represents a yield of 3.66%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 30th. This is a positive change from Moneysupermarket.com Groups previous dividend of $3.10. Moneysupermarket.com Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 9,230.77%.

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Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides price comparison website in the United Kingdom. The company operates through Insurance, Money, Home Services, Travel and Cashback segments. It offers online and app-based tools to save money on their household bills across insurance, money, and home service channels under the MoneySuperMarket brand; and compares travel deals, including holidays, car hire, flights, and hotels under the TravelSupermarket brand.

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CAE Inc. (TSE:CAE  Get Rating) (NYSE:CAE) has received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the nine ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$36.75.

Several research firms have issued reports on CAE. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of CAE from C$33.00 to C$35.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on CAE from C$33.00 to C$37.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. Scotiabank raised their price objective on CAE from C$37.00 to C$38.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. CIBC lifted their target price on CAE from C$33.00 to C$37.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, National Bankshares increased their price target on CAE from C$34.00 to C$37.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th.

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CAE Price Performance

Shares of CAE stock opened at C$31.44 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of C$30.22 and a 200 day moving average price of C$27.62. CAE has a 52-week low of C$20.90 and a 52-week high of C$35.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 73.28, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.97. The firm has a market capitalization of C$9.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 2.01.

About CAE

CAE ( TSE:CAE Get Rating ) (NYSE:CAE) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported C$0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.25 by C$0.03. The business had revenue of C$1.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$1.04 billion. CAE had a return on equity of 4.42% and a net margin of 4.60%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict 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.

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National Bank (NYSE:NBHC  Get Rating) had its price target decreased by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $49.00 to $40.00 in a research report released on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods currently has a market perform rating on the financial services providers stock.

Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on National Bank in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company.

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National Bank Price Performance

NYSE NBHC opened at $32.79 on Thursday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $38.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $41.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.84 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 0.93. National Bank has a 1 year low of $31.30 and a 1 year high of $50.00.

National Bank Dividend Announcement

National Bank ( NYSE:NBHC Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The financial services provider reported $0.91 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 business 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 earned $0.75 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 49.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that National Bank will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 24th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.05%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 23rd. National Banks dividend payout ratio is currently 45.25%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other National Bank news, CEO G. Timothy Laney sold 10,000 shares of National Bank stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.38, for a total transaction of $433,800.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 215,023 shares in the company, valued at $9,327,697.74. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 4.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On National Bank

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of NBHC. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC boosted its stake in National Bank by 48.2% in the 4th quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 3,360 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $141,000 after buying an additional 1,093 shares in the last quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC boosted its stake in shares of National Bank by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 1,102,448 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $40,784,000 after purchasing an additional 25,944 shares in the last quarter. Range Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of National Bank by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Range Financial Group LLC now owns 37,162 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,563,000 after purchasing an additional 1,693 shares during the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of National Bank during the 3rd quarter worth about $248,000. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in National Bank by 8.5% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 14,219 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $526,000 after purchasing an additional 1,113 shares during the last quarter. 78.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About National Bank

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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.

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NorthWestern (NYSE:NWE  Get Rating) and COMPANHIA ENERG/S (NYSE:CIG.C  Get Rating) are both utilities companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, dividends, earnings and valuation.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares NorthWestern and COMPANHIA ENERG/Ss revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio NorthWestern $1.48 billion 2.47 $194.25 million $3.25 18.79 COMPANHIA ENERG/S $34.37 billion N/A N/A $3.12 1.12

NorthWestern has higher earnings, but lower revenue than COMPANHIA ENERG/S. COMPANHIA ENERG/S is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than NorthWestern, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

Analyst Recommendations

96.6% of NorthWestern shares are held by institutional investors. 1.2% of NorthWestern shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for NorthWestern and COMPANHIA ENERG/S, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score NorthWestern 0 0 0 0 N/A COMPANHIA ENERG/S 0 0 0 0 N/A

Dividends

NorthWestern pays an annual dividend of $2.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.2%. COMPANHIA ENERG/S pays an annual dividend of $0.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.5%. NorthWestern pays out 78.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. COMPANHIA ENERG/S pays out 3.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. NorthWestern has increased its dividend for 19 consecutive years. NorthWestern is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Profitability

This table compares NorthWestern and COMPANHIA ENERG/Ss net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets NorthWestern N/A N/A N/A COMPANHIA ENERG/S N/A N/A N/A

Summary

NorthWestern beats COMPANHIA ENERG/S on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About NorthWestern

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NorthWestern Corp. engages in generating and distributing electricity and natural gas. It operates through the following segments: Electric, Gas, and Other. The Electric segment includes generation, transmission, and distribution of electric utility business as a vertically integrated generation transmission and distribution utility. The Gas segment comprises production, storage, transmission, and distribution of natural gas. The Other segment consists of unallocated corporate costs. The company was founded in November 1923 and is headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD.

About COMPANHIA ENERG/S

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Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in Brazil. As of December 31, 2017, the company operated 117 hydroelectric, thermoelectric, and wind plants with an installed capacity of 5.7 GW; 38 substations and 4,927 km of transmission lines; and 529,873 km of distribution networks and 17,301 km of distribution lines. It is also involved in the natural gas distribution; sale and trading of electricity; energy and technological solutions businesses; provision of telecommunications and data center service activities; and operation of solar energy plants. The company was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

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SEOUL, April 10 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Monday urged the presidential office to immediately demand "clear information" from Washington on media reports about alleged attempts by the United States to eavesdrop on the South Korean government.

Rep. Park Hong-keun, floor leader of the DP, was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying that "if the report is true, it would be an action that can never be acceptable between allies of 70 years, and an infringement of sovereignty and diplomatic foul play that breaks the bilateral trust head-on."

Park requested the National Assembly to immediately convene meetings of its foreign affairs, intelligence and defense committees to discuss the matter.

Lee Jae-myung, chief of the DP, said that "while it is absurd that a nation's presidential office is penetrated by eavesdropping, it is also difficult to accept eavesdropping on the offices of an ally's presidential office from a common sense point of view."

Lee said the DP will sternly respond to the issue while verifying details objectively.

South Korea would have necessary consultations with the United States over the "raised issues" on the U.S. intelligence agency eavesdropping on the South Korean government, according to Yonhap, citing the presidential office.

An unidentified South Korean presidential official was quoted by Yonhap as saying on Sunday that it would consider countermeasures while reviewing past precedents and cases of other countries. 
Virgin Money UK PLC (LON:VMUK  Get Rating) has received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the eight research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 212 ($2.63).

VMUK has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Virgin Money UK from GBX 215 ($2.67) to GBX 205 ($2.55) and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Virgin Money UK from GBX 180 ($2.24) to GBX 200 ($2.48) and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Shore Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Virgin Money UK in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Virgin Money UK in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Barclays lowered Virgin Money UK to an equal weight rating and set a GBX 230 ($2.86) price target on the stock. in a report on Monday, February 6th.

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Virgin Money UK Stock Up 1.6 %

Shares of VMUK stock opened at GBX 147.40 ($1.83) on Friday. Virgin Money UK has a 12 month low of GBX 1.46 ($0.02) and a 12 month high of GBX 200 ($2.48). The stock has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 166.45 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 162.78. The firm has a market cap of 2.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 398.38, a PEG ratio of -0.56 and a beta of 1.99.

Virgin Money UK Increases Dividend

About Virgin Money UK

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 9th were given a dividend of GBX 7.50 ($0.09) per share. This represents a yield of 4.62%. This is a positive change from Virgin Money UKs previous dividend of $2.50. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 9th. Virgin Money UKs payout ratio is 2,972.97%.

(Get Rating)

Virgin Money UK PLC provides banking products and services for consumers, and small and medium sized businesses under the Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank, and Virgin Money brands in the United Kingdom. The company offers savings and current accounts, mortgages, credit cards, and home loans; business loans, overdraft facilities, treasury solutions, and corporate and structured finance; asset and invoice finance services; risk management; international trade services; and home, car, and life and critical illness insurance products.

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Local Bounti (NYSE:LOCL  Get Rating) is one of 33 public companies in the Agricultural production  crops industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Local Bounti to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation, risk and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares Local Bounti and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Local Bounti -570.35% -97.51% -51.03% Local Bounti Competitors -339.13% -25.67% -16.18%

Risk & Volatility

Local Bounti has a beta of 1.75, suggesting that its share price is 75% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Local Bountis peers have a beta of -24.13, suggesting that their average share price is 2,513% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Local Bounti 0 1 4 0 2.80 Local Bounti Competitors 98 170 488 23 2.56

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Local Bounti and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.

Local Bounti presently has a consensus target price of $2.85, suggesting a potential upside of 506.51%. As a group, Agricultural production  crops companies have a potential upside of 58.08%. Given Local Bountis stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Local Bounti is more favorable than its peers.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

65.3% of Local Bounti shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 25.5% of shares of all Agricultural production  crops companies are held by institutional investors. 41.5% of Local Bounti shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 17.7% of shares of all Agricultural production  crops companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Local Bounti and its peers revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Local Bounti $19.47 million -$111.07 million -0.37 Local Bounti Competitors $1.63 billion $21.77 million 0.16

Local Bountis peers have higher revenue and earnings than Local Bounti. Local Bounti is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Summary

Local Bounti peers beat Local Bounti on 7 of the 13 factors compared.

Local Bounti Company Profile

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Local Bounti Corporation grows fresh greens and herbs in the United States. It produces lettuce, herbs, and loose-leaf lettuce. The company sells its products to food retailers and food service distributors. Local Bounti Corporation was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Montana.

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Thunder Mountain Gold (OTCMKTS:THMG  Get Rating) is one of 104 publicly-traded companies in the Metal mining industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Thunder Mountain Gold to similar businesses based on the strength of its risk, dividends, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability and institutional ownership.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Thunder Mountain Gold and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Thunder Mountain Gold $300,000.00 -$1.25 million -4.50 Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors $8.06 billion $2.12 billion -5.86

Thunder Mountain Golds peers have higher revenue and earnings than Thunder Mountain Gold. Thunder Mountain Gold is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

Volatility & Risk

Institutional and Insider Ownership

Thunder Mountain Gold has a beta of 0.89, suggesting that its share price is 11% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Thunder Mountain Golds peers have a beta of 1.34, suggesting that their average share price is 34% more volatile than the S&P 500.

0.0% of Thunder Mountain Gold shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 21.9% of shares of all Metal mining companies are held by institutional investors. 29.5% of Thunder Mountain Gold shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 11.1% of shares of all Metal mining companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Thunder Mountain Gold and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Thunder Mountain Gold -415.33% -185.48% -59.67% Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors -400.29% -2.66% -3.18%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Thunder Mountain Gold and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Thunder Mountain Gold 0 0 0 0 N/A Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors 909 2141 2755 92 2.34

As a group, Metal mining companies have a potential upside of 30.43%. Given Thunder Mountain Golds peers higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Thunder Mountain Gold has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Summary

Thunder Mountain Gold peers beat Thunder Mountain Gold on 8 of the 10 factors compared.

Thunder Mountain Gold Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. operates as a mineral exploration company, which engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of premier precious and base metal properties. Its projects include South Mountain located southwest of Boise, Idaho and Trout Creek located in Nevada. The company was founded on November 9, 1935 and is headquartered in Boise, ID.

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RLX Technology (NYSE:RLX  Get Rating) and Electronic Cigarettes International Group (OTCMKTS:ECIGQ  Get Rating) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends, profitability, valuation and risk.

Profitability

This table compares RLX Technology and Electronic Cigarettes International Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets RLX Technology 27.21% 9.95% 8.80% Electronic Cigarettes International Group N/A N/A N/A

Insider and Institutional Ownership

16.9% of RLX Technology shares are held by institutional investors. 53.4% of RLX Technology shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score RLX Technology 0 0 1 0 3.00 Electronic Cigarettes International Group 0 0 0 0 N/A

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for RLX Technology and Electronic Cigarettes International Group, as reported by MarketBeat.

RLX Technology currently has a consensus price target of $3.15, suggesting a potential upside of 9.38%. Given RLX Technologys higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe RLX Technology is more favorable than Electronic Cigarettes International Group.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares RLX Technology and Electronic Cigarettes International Groups revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio RLX Technology $773.18 million N/A $208.96 million $0.15 19.20 Electronic Cigarettes International Group N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

RLX Technology has higher revenue and earnings than Electronic Cigarettes International Group.

Summary

RLX Technology beats Electronic Cigarettes International Group on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About RLX Technology

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RLX Technology Inc., together with its subsidiaries, researchers, develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells e-vapor products in the People's Republic of China. It serves RELX branded partner stores and other retail outlets through distributors. RLX Technology Inc. was founded in 2018 and is based in Beijing, China.

About Electronic Cigarettes International Group

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Electronic Cigarettes International Group, Ltd. is a marketer and distributor of vaping products and electronic cigarettes primarily in the United States and internationally. It offers disposables, rechargeables, tanks, starter kits, e-liquids, open and closed-end vaping systems and accessories. The Companys brand portfolio includes the FIN, VIP, VAPESTICK and VICTORY. Electronic Cigarettes International Group, Ltd. is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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Summit Industrial Income REIT (OTCMKTS:SMMCF  Get Rating) and Universal Health Realty Income Trust (NYSE:UHT  Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, valuation, risk, institutional ownership, dividends, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Dividends

Summit Industrial Income REIT pays an annual dividend of $0.21 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.2%. Universal Health Realty Income Trust pays an annual dividend of $2.86 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.0%. Summit Industrial Income REIT pays out 35.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Universal Health Realty Income Trust pays out 186.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Universal Health Realty Income Trust has increased its dividend for 37 consecutive years. Universal Health Realty Income Trust is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

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Profitability

This table compares Summit Industrial Income REIT and Universal Health Realty Income Trusts net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Summit Industrial Income REIT N/A N/A N/A Universal Health Realty Income Trust 23.28% 9.03% 3.48%

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Summit Industrial Income REIT 0 2 1 0 2.33 Universal Health Realty Income Trust 0 0 0 0 N/A

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Summit Industrial Income REIT and Universal Health Realty Income Trust, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Summit Industrial Income REIT currently has a consensus target price of $22.83, indicating a potential upside of 32.25%. Given Summit Industrial Income REITs higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Summit Industrial Income REIT is more favorable than Universal Health Realty Income Trust.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Summit Industrial Income REIT and Universal Health Realty Income Trusts top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Summit Industrial Income REIT N/A N/A N/A $0.59 29.50 Universal Health Realty Income Trust $90.63 million 7.24 $21.10 million $1.53 31.09

Universal Health Realty Income Trust has higher revenue and earnings than Summit Industrial Income REIT. Summit Industrial Income REIT is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Universal Health Realty Income Trust, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

0.1% of Summit Industrial Income REIT shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 63.5% of Universal Health Realty Income Trust shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.1% of Universal Health Realty Income Trust shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Universal Health Realty Income Trust beats Summit Industrial Income REIT on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Summit Industrial Income REIT

(Get Rating)

Summit Industrial Income REIT is an open-ended mutual fund trust, which engages in growing and managing a portfolio of light industrial properties. Its properties are located in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, and New Brunswick. The company was founded on November 24, 1998 and is headquartered in Markham, Canada.

About Universal Health Realty Income Trust

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Universal Health Realty Income Trust operates as a real estate investment trust. It engages in investing and leasing healthcare and human service facilities through direct ownership or joint ventures. The firm focuses on investing in acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, sub-acute facilities, medical office buildings, free-standing emergency departments, and childcare centers. The company was founded on December 24, 1986 and is headquartered in King of Prussia, PA.

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Tributary Capital Management LLC boosted its position in SM Energy (NYSE:SM  Get Rating) by 26.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 13,039 shares of the energy companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,740 shares during the quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLCs holdings in SM Energy were worth $454,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its position in shares of SM Energy by 677.3% in the third quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 583 shares of the energy companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 508 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its stake in SM Energy by 99.3% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 867 shares of the energy companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 432 shares during the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of SM Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $38,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of SM Energy by 1,338.7% in the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 2,230 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $84,000 after acquiring an additional 2,075 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of SM Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at about $190,000. 89.45% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at SM Energy

In other news, CEO Herbert S. Vogel bought 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $25.63 per share, with a total value of $25,630.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 406,063 shares in the company, valued at $10,407,394.69. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Over the last 90 days, insiders have bought 3,000 shares of company stock worth $86,460. Insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SM Energy Stock Performance

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on SM shares. Cowen downgraded shares of SM Energy from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $35.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on shares of SM Energy from $36.00 to $34.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Cowen lowered shares of SM Energy from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $35.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on SM Energy in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered SM Energy from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $55.00 to $46.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $41.09.

SM Energy stock opened at $29.62 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $29.80 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $35.88. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. SM Energy has a twelve month low of $24.66 and a twelve month high of $54.97. The company has a market capitalization of $3.61 billion, a PE ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 4.39.

SM Energy (NYSE:SM  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The energy company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $671.32 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $614.72 million. SM Energy had a return on equity of 34.40% and a net margin of 33.11%. SM Energys revenue for the quarter was down 21.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.14 EPS. Research analysts expect that SM Energy will post 5.47 EPS for the current year.

SM Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 21st will be given a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 20th. This represents a yield of 1.1%. SM Energys payout ratio is currently 6.70%.

About SM Energy

(Get Rating)

SM Energy Co is an independent energy company, which engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, gas, and natural gas liquids. The company was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Denver, CO.

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PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III (NYSE:PZC  Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Monday, April 3rd, investing.com reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 13th will be given a dividend of 0.0295 per share by the investment management company on Monday, May 1st. This represents a $0.35 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.52%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 12th.

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III Trading Down 0.4 %

PZC stock opened at $7.83 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $7.78 and a 200 day moving average price of $7.93. PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III has a 12 month low of $7.21 and a 12 month high of $9.01.

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Institutional Trading of PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new position in shares of PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP purchased a new position in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III in the 4th quarter valued at $131,000. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III in the 1st quarter valued at $189,000. Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III by 11.7% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 43,617 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $364,000 after buying an additional 4,552 shares during the period. Finally, Rivernorth Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III during the 1st quarter worth $376,000.

About PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III is a closed-end investment fund. Its investment objective is to provide current income exempt from federal and California income tax. The company was founded on August 20, 2002 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. acquired a new position in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:MDY  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm acquired 2,711 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $1,200,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Castleview Partners LLC boosted its position in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust by 2,252.2% during the 2nd quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 1,082 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 1,036 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its holdings in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust by 102.0% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 99 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Colonial Trust Advisors bought a new position in shares of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust during the third quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust in the 2nd quarter worth about $45,000. Finally, Arcus Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust during the 4th quarter valued at about $49,000.

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SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA MDY opened at $446.62 on Monday. SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust has a 1 year low of $398.11 and a 1 year high of $499.48. The companys 50-day moving average is $466.18 and its 200 day moving average is $451.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.00 and a beta of 1.12.

About SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust

SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF is an exchange traded fund. SPDR MidCap 400 Trust focuses to correspond to the price and yield performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. The S&P MidCap 400 covers over 7% of the United States equities market, and is part of a series of S&P the United States indices. The index also includes companies, which should have four consecutive quarters of positive as-reported earnings, excluding discontinued operations and extraordinary items.

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Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 High Beta ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHB  Get Rating) by 107.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 18,220 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 9,431 shares during the quarter. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC owned 0.26% of Invesco S&P 500 High Beta ETF worth $1,136,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new position in Invesco S&P 500 High Beta ETF in the third quarter worth about $44,000. Credit Suisse AG bought a new stake in Invesco S&P 500 High Beta ETF in the second quarter valued at $162,000. Centaurus Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Invesco S&P 500 High Beta ETF during the third quarter worth $206,000. Cetera Investment Advisers bought a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 High Beta ETF during the first quarter valued at $224,000. Finally, Sawtooth Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 High Beta ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $225,000.

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Invesco S&P 500 High Beta ETF Stock Performance

SPHB opened at $67.37 on Monday. Invesco S&P 500 High Beta ETF has a twelve month low of $54.60 and a twelve month high of $77.54. The firm has a market cap of $528.85 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.20 and a beta of 1.46. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $70.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $66.11.

About Invesco S&P 500 High Beta ETF

The Invesco S&P 500 High Beta ETF (SPHB) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 High Beta index. The fund tracks a beta-weighted index of the 100 highest-beta stocks in the S&P 500. SPHB was launched on May 5, 2011 and is managed by Invesco.

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Stewart & Patten Co. LLC reduced its stake in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) by 1.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 376,424 shares of the companys stock after selling 6,650 shares during the quarter. Coca-Cola accounts for 4.2% of Stewart & Patten Co. LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest position. Stewart & Patten Co. LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $23,944,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Salem Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 3.8% during the third quarter. Salem Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,359 shares of the companys stock valued at $244,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the period. Bellwether Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Coca-Cola by 32.4% during the 3rd quarter. Bellwether Advisors LLC now owns 698 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Coca-Cola by 0.6% in the third quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 28,494 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,597,000 after buying an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. Somerville Kurt F grew its stake in Coca-Cola by 0.8% during the first quarter. Somerville Kurt F now owns 21,377 shares of the companys stock worth $1,325,000 after buying an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrow Financial Corp increased its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 0.6% during the third quarter. Arrow Financial Corp now owns 27,685 shares of the companys stock worth $1,551,000 after buying an additional 173 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.74% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.32, for a total transaction of $2,103,660.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 351,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at $21,216,775.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of Coca-Cola 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 directly owns 351,737 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,216,775.84. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Brian John Smith sold 126,972 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.07, for a total value of $7,881,152.04. Following the sale, the insider now owns 116,168 shares in the company, valued at $7,210,547.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 282,268 shares of company stock valued at $17,137,823. 1.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Coca-Cola Stock Down 0.1 %

KO stock opened at $62.77 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $271.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.56, a P/E/G ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $60.44 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $60.45. The Coca-Cola Company has a 1-year low of $54.01 and a 1-year high of $67.20.

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 the consensus estimate of $9.92 billion. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 22.19% and a return on equity of 42.35%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.45 EPS. Analysts expect that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.6 EPS for the current year.

Coca-Cola Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 17th were paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. This is an increase from Coca-Colas previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.93%. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio is presently 83.64%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup started coverage on Coca-Cola in a report on Thursday, February 16th. They set a buy rating and a $68.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $67.00 price objective on shares of Coca-Cola in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $68.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. StockNews.com raised shares of Coca-Cola from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $67.55.

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.

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* The third China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) kicked off on Monday in southern China's island province of Hainan, a precious opportunity for those in dire need of communication and access to the massive market amid the global economic downturn.

* The third CICPE has more prominent features of green, healthy, smart and fashion consumption styles and will see over 1,000 products under 300 global brands make their debut, said China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao at the opening ceremony.

* Zhang Xiangchen, deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization, said that the event will be an encouraging step in China's efforts to promote international trade and cross-border investments and to share China's huge market and business opportunities with the whole world.

HAIKOU, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The third China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) kicked off on Monday in southern China's island province of Hainan, a precious opportunity for those in dire need of communication and access to the massive market amid the global economic downturn.

Wang Yong, vice chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, announced the opening of the expo.

China's Vice Premier He Lifeng made a video speech at the opening ceremony. He reviewed the remarkable achievements since the first CICPE in 2021 and wished for more win-win results of mutual benefits during this year's event.

As a series of policies by the central government unleashed the potential of China's super-large market, the world's second-largest consumer market is witnessing vigorous vitality, the vice premier said.

He stressed the priority of restoring and bolstering consumption through more effective measures, increasing the supply of quality goods and services, continuously expanding imports of quality consumer products, and advocating green and low-carbon consumption.

This photo taken on April 10, 2023 shows a view outside the venue of the third China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

With a rising influence, the CICPE has provided a new platform for global goods and services to enter the Chinese market and a channel for Chinese consumer products to the world, said China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao at the opening ceremony.

The third CICPE has more prominent features of green, healthy, smart and fashion consumption styles and will see over 1,000 products under 300 global brands make their debut, Wang added.

Themed "Share Open Opportunities, Co-create a Better Life," the third CICPE has an exhibition area of 120,000 square meters, up 20 percent from the previous edition, where over 3,300 brands from 65 countries and regions will be displayed, including 147 brands from Italy, the guest country of honor.

People visit the third China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province, on April 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

In a short video at the opening ceremony, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed gratitude to the Chinese leadership and the expo, stressing the bilateral consensus to enhance China-Italy trade ties and boost global economic recovery through joint efforts.

Fabrizio Freda, CEO of Estee Lauder, said that his group has confidence in the Chinese market and has realized the importance of Hainan's offshore duty-free market.

The group is looking forward to establishing higher quality cooperation in duty-free shopping, medical care, and talent training, Freda said, adding that Estee Lauder plans to introduce new and quality products to attract more consumers and help develop the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).

In 2020, China released a master plan to build Hainan into a globally influential and high-level free trade port by the middle of the century. Since then, a slew of favorable policies has been issued to support the development of the Hainan FTP.

The island province, which aims to become an international tourism and consumption center by 2025, and a globally influential tourism and consumption destination by 2035, is striving to boost consumer demand and raise its offshore duty-free sales to over 80 billion yuan (about 11.6 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, according to the province's government work report.

Wang Bin, a senior official of the Hainan provincial government, said the island would facilitate the access of global companies and their sharing of the Chinese market, increase the offshore duty-free market supply, and highlight the CICPE's role as a global public service platform to stimulate worldwide consumption.

This photo taken on April 10, 2023 shows the booth of Tesla at the third China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

The expo is the first offline event among China's top four international trade fairs of the year.

Well begun is half done, said Zhang Xiangchen, deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization, noting that the event will be an encouraging step in China's efforts to promote international trade and cross-border investments and to share China's huge market and business opportunities with the whole world.

Considering the current circumstance of world trade, Zhang said that reducing trade barriers and facilitating investment should be the mainstream policy goals of the world, and the need for a transparent, predictable, and fair global rulebook on trade remains unchanged.

Changes bring in both challenges and opportunities and cooperation is the most effective way to meet challenges and address global commons, he said.

(Video reporters: Zhou Xuan; Video editors: Liu Xiaorui, Luo Hui, Zhou Yang) 
Chapin Davis Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund bought 7,080 shares of the airlines stock, valued at approximately $238,000.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Southwest Airlines by 1.0% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 64,861,508 shares of the airlines stock valued at $2,000,330,000 after purchasing an additional 638,015 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its holdings in shares of Southwest Airlines by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 4,854,746 shares of the airlines stock valued at $222,347,000 after acquiring an additional 104,191 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Southwest Airlines by 2.4% in the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,503,131 shares of the airlines stock worth $138,912,000 after acquiring an additional 105,574 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Southwest Airlines by 3.0% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,861,289 shares of the airlines stock worth $131,047,000 after acquiring an additional 84,212 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. boosted its position in Southwest Airlines by 20.8% during the third quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 2,719,985 shares of the airlines stock valued at $83,884,000 after purchasing an additional 468,780 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.71% of the companys stock.

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Southwest Airlines Price Performance

NYSE LUV opened at $31.59 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $33.13 and a 200 day simple moving average of $34.80. Southwest Airlines Co. has a twelve month low of $28.95 and a twelve month high of $50.10. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.77 billion, a PE ratio of 39.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.43.

Southwest Airlines Announces Dividend

Southwest Airlines ( NYSE:LUV Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The airline reported ($0.38) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.03) by ($0.35). Southwest Airlines had a return on equity of 6.71% and a net margin of 2.26%. The business had revenue of $6.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.14 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 22.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Southwest Airlines Co. will post 2.64 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 8th were given a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 7th. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.28%. Southwest Airliness dividend payout ratio is 90.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Raymond James dropped their target price on Southwest Airlines from $48.00 to $45.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Southwest Airlines in a research note on Friday, December 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $41.00 target price for the company. Cowen dropped their price target on shares of Southwest Airlines from $55.00 to $50.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Susquehanna lowered shares of Southwest Airlines from a positive rating to a neutral rating and set a $40.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, January 11th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Southwest Airlines in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $47.07.

Southwest Airlines Profile

(Get Rating)

Southwest Airlines Co engages in the operation and management of a passenger airline. The firm also offers ancillary services such as early bird check-in, upgraded boarding, and transportation of pets and unaccompanied minors. It operates in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos.

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Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. lifted its position in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI  Get Rating) by 3.0% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 10,144 shares of the communications equipment providers stock after acquiring an additional 296 shares during the period. Motorola Solutions accounts for 1.6% of Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest holding. Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc.s holdings in Motorola Solutions were worth $2,685,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MSI. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH acquired a new stake in Motorola Solutions during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Asset Dedication LLC acquired a new position in Motorola Solutions during the third quarter valued at $29,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Motorola Solutions in the second quarter valued at $35,000. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. acquired a new stake in Motorola Solutions during the 3rd quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV raised its stake in shares of Motorola Solutions by 93.5% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 207 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.67% of the companys stock.

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Motorola Solutions Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MSI opened at $283.46 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 45.90, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 1.15. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $267.84 and a 200 day moving average of $256.61. The firm has a market cap of $47.41 billion, a PE ratio of 35.75, a PEG ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.93. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a one year low of $195.18 and a one year high of $286.24.

Motorola Solutions Dividend Announcement

Motorola Solutions ( NYSE:MSI Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The communications equipment provider reported $3.60 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.43 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $2.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.53 billion. Motorola Solutions had a net margin of 14.96% and a negative return on equity of 663.73%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 16.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.66 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 10.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.88 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.24%. Motorola Solutionss payout ratio is currently 44.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on MSI shares. Barclays lowered their target price on Motorola Solutions from $306.00 to $303.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Motorola Solutions from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $300.00 to $305.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. TheStreet raised shares of Motorola Solutions from a c+ rating to a b rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Credit Suisse Group downgraded shares of Motorola Solutions from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $300.00 to $270.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 11th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Motorola Solutions in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $290.67.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Gregory Q. Brown sold 26,933 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.25, for a total value of $7,305,576.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 48,142 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,058,517.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Motorola Solutions news, CEO Gregory Q. Brown sold 26,933 shares of Motorola Solutions stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $271.25, for a total transaction of $7,305,576.25. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 48,142 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,058,517.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Kenneth D. Denman sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $266.33, for a total transaction of $399,495.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 8,313 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,214,001.29. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 37,167 shares of company stock worth $10,066,483 over the last quarter. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Motorola Solutions

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Motorola Solutions, Inc engages in the provision of communication infrastructure, devices, accessories, software, and services. It operates through the following segments: Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices, and the implementation and integration of such systems, devices, and applications.

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Hudson Value Partners LLC lifted its stake in Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW  Get Rating) by 1.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 90,165 shares of the electronics makers stock after buying an additional 1,641 shares during the quarter. Corning comprises 1.8% of Hudson Value Partners LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Hudson Value Partners LLCs holdings in Corning were worth $2,880,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in GLW. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC bought a new stake in Corning during the 4th quarter worth approximately $65,000. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of Corning by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 10,520 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $336,000 after purchasing an additional 499 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Corning by 25.2% during the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 10,821 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $346,000 after purchasing an additional 2,175 shares during the period. Oak Family Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Corning by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Oak Family Advisors LLC now owns 14,812 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $473,000 after buying an additional 509 shares in the last quarter. Finally, D.B. Root & Company LLC boosted its holdings in Corning by 7.6% in the 4th quarter. D.B. Root & Company LLC now owns 34,388 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $1,098,000 after buying an additional 2,432 shares during the period. 67.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Corning Price Performance

Corning stock opened at $34.10 on Monday. Corning Incorporated has a 52-week low of $28.98 and a 52-week high of $37.73. The company has a market cap of $28.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.14, a PEG ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.07. The firms fifty day moving average is $34.46 and its 200 day moving average is $33.45. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54.

Corning Increases Dividend

Corning ( NYSE:GLW Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The electronics maker reported $0.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.44 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $3.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.54 billion. Corning had a net margin of 9.27% and a return on equity of 14.82%. The businesss revenue was down 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.54 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Corning Incorporated will post 2.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.28 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.28%. This is an increase from Cornings previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. Cornings payout ratio is currently 72.73%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Corning from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $35.00 to $38.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. UBS Group upped their price target on Corning from $37.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 11th. Credit Suisse Group cut their price objective on shares of Corning from $41.00 to $40.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Corning in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Corning from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 13th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $38.11.

Insider Activity at Corning

In other Corning news, insider Li Fang sold 19,909 shares of Corning stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.17, for a total transaction of $700,199.53. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, VP John Z. Zhang sold 4,655 shares of Corning stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.00, for a total transaction of $167,580.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 5,744 shares in the company, valued at approximately $206,784. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Li Fang sold 19,909 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.17, for a total transaction of $700,199.53. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Corning

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Corning, Inc engages in the provision of glass for notebook computers, flat panel desktop monitors, display televisions, and other information display applications, carrier network and enterprise network products for the telecommunications industry, ceramic substrates for gasoline and diesel engines in automotive and heavy-duty vehicle markets, laboratory products for the scientific community and polymer products for biotechnology applications, optical materials for the semiconductor industry and the scientific community, and polycrystalline silicon products and other technologies.

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Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. grew its holdings in L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX  Get Rating) by 6.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 4,502 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 287 shares during the period. Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc.s holdings in L3Harris Technologies were worth $899,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Grimes & Company Inc. grew its position in L3Harris Technologies by 3.4% in the third quarter. Grimes & Company Inc. now owns 1,236 shares of the companys stock valued at $257,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Oakworth Capital Inc. grew its holdings in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 8.6% during the 3rd quarter. Oakworth Capital Inc. now owns 543 shares of the companys stock valued at $113,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. increased its position in L3Harris Technologies by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 6,081 shares of the companys stock worth $1,264,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC lifted its stake in L3Harris Technologies by 3.8% in the 3rd quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 1,289 shares of the companys stock valued at $268,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Phoenix Wealth Advisors boosted its position in L3Harris Technologies by 3.3% in the third quarter. Phoenix Wealth Advisors now owns 1,514 shares of the companys stock valued at $315,000 after buying an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.18% of the companys stock.

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L3Harris Technologies Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:LHX opened at $197.01 on Monday. L3Harris Technologies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $189.73 and a 1 year high of $264.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 0.95. The businesss 50-day moving average is $205.70 and its 200-day moving average is $214.29. The company has a market capitalization of $37.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.02, a P/E/G ratio of 6.21 and a beta of 0.70.

L3Harris Technologies Increases Dividend

L3Harris Technologies ( NYSE:LHX Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 27th. The company reported $3.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.21 by $0.06. L3Harris Technologies had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 13.20%. The business had revenue of $4.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.36 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.30 earnings per share. L3Harris Technologiess revenue was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that L3Harris Technologies, Inc. will post 12.3 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $1.14 per share. This is an increase from L3Harris Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.12. This represents a $4.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.31%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. L3Harris Technologiess dividend payout ratio is 83.36%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LHX has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $278.00 to $264.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 30th. Cowen cut their price target on L3Harris Technologies from $260.00 to $240.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 12th. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price target on L3Harris Technologies from $244.00 to $240.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 20th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of L3Harris Technologies in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $264.00 to $255.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 30th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $259.46.

L3Harris Technologies Company Profile

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L3Harris Technologies, Inc engages in the provision of defense and commercial technologies across the air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. It operates through the following segments: Integrated Mission Systems, Space and Airborne Systems, Communication Systems, and Aviation Systems. The Integrated Mission Systems segment consists of multi-mission ISR and communication systems, integrated electrical and electronic systems for maritime platforms, and advanced electro-optical and infrared solutions.

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Advisory Alpha LLC purchased a new position in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 12,185 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,131,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of ADM. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 71.9% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 18,699 shares of the companys stock worth $1,688,000 after purchasing an additional 7,821 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland during the 1st quarter worth $277,000. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 1st quarter worth $226,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 22.0% in the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 31,004 shares of the companys stock worth $2,798,000 after purchasing an additional 5,586 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 2.1% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 459,907 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,512,000 after purchasing an additional 9,327 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.23% of the companys stock.

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Archer-Daniels-Midland Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE ADM opened at $79.06 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $43.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.21, a PEG ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.80. The businesss 50 day moving average is $79.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $86.65. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a 1-year low of $70.02 and a 1-year high of $98.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 0.85.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Increases Dividend

Archer-Daniels-Midland ( NYSE:ADM Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The company reported $1.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.64 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $26.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.37 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a return on equity of 18.32% and a net margin of 4.26%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.50 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 6.74 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 9th were given a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 8th. This is a positive change from Archer-Daniels-Midlands previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.35%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ADM has been the topic of several analyst reports. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a report on Tuesday, December 13th. They set a buy rating and a $115.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $114.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Two 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, Archer-Daniels-Midland has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $104.71.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Profile

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Archer-Daniels-Midland Co engages in the production of oilseeds, corn, wheat, cocoa, and other agricultural commodities. It operates through the following segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, Nutrition, and Other. The Ag Services and Oilseeds segment includes activities related to the origination, merchandising, transportation, and storage of agricultural raw materials, and the crushing and further processing of oilseeds such as soybeans and soft seeds cottonseed, sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, and flaxseed into vegetable oils and protein meals.

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Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC  Get Rating) by 3.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,284 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 75 shares during the period. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLCs holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $1,246,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Capital Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 10.9% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,927 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $906,000 after buying an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System grew its position in Northrop Grumman by 18.6% during the third quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 469,121 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $220,637,000 after buying an additional 73,480 shares during the period. Moloney Securities Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 9.4% in the third quarter. Moloney Securities Asset Management LLC now owns 885 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $416,000 after buying an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 20.4% during the 3rd quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,156 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $544,000 after acquiring an additional 196 shares during the period. Finally, Global Assets Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $572,000. 84.32% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Northrop Grumman Trading Down 0.1 %

NYSE NOC opened at $470.39 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $71.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.93, a P/E/G ratio of 6.19 and a beta of 0.51. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 12 month low of $430.93 and a 12 month high of $556.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The company has a 50-day moving average of $459.83 and a 200-day moving average of $492.03.

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

Northrop Grumman ( NYSE:NOC Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The aerospace company reported $7.50 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.57 by $0.93. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 13.38% and a return on equity of 28.29%. The firm had revenue of $10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.64 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $6.00 earnings per share. Northrop Grummans revenue was up 16.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 22.04 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 27th were given a dividend of $1.73 per share. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 24th. Northrop Grummans payout ratio is 21.96%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Northrop Grumman news, VP David T. Perry sold 3,999 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $469.65, for a total transaction of $1,878,130.35. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 8,717 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,093,939.05. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, VP David T. Perry sold 3,999 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $469.65, for a total transaction of $1,878,130.35. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 8,717 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,093,939.05. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CAO Michael A. Hardesty sold 1,178 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $467.81, for a total transaction of $551,080.18. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 2,737 shares in the company, valued at $1,280,395.97. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 10,534 shares of company stock worth $4,934,622. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on NOC shares. Susquehanna dropped their price target on Northrop Grumman from $615.00 to $535.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Cowen downgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and reduced their price target for the company from $500.00 to $478.00 in a report on Friday, January 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Northrop Grumman from a neutral rating to a sell rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $440.00 to $375.00 in a research note on Friday, January 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $465.00 to $400.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on Northrop Grumman from $550.00 to $520.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Northrop Grumman currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $508.13.

About Northrop Grumman

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Northrop Grumman Corp. engages in the provision of advanced aircraft systems. It operates through the following segments: Aeronautics Systems, Defense Systems, Mission Systems, and Space Systems. The Aeronautics Systems segment is involved in the design, development, production, integration, sustainment, and modernization of advanced aircraft systems for the U.S.

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James Investment Research Inc. cut its stake in Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE  Get Rating) by 0.3% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 36,386 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 94 shares during the period. James Investment Research Inc.s holdings in Sempra Energy were worth $5,623,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Sempra Energy by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 28,199,642 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,228,254,000 after acquiring an additional 625,052 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc grew its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 7.9% in the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 4,150,969 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $623,058,000 after purchasing an additional 303,061 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp increased its stake in shares of Sempra Energy by 0.7% during the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,795,347 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $638,074,000 after purchasing an additional 24,679 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in Sempra Energy by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,935,160 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $440,097,000 after purchasing an additional 80,852 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its stake in Sempra Energy by 16.8% in the 3rd quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 2,540,802 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $381,066,000 after purchasing an additional 366,259 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.75% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on SRE. StockNews.com started coverage on Sempra Energy in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on shares of Sempra Energy from $169.00 to $166.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of Sempra Energy from $173.00 to $165.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Sempra Energy from $158.00 to $150.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Sempra Energy from $180.00 to $174.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $168.45.

Sempra Energy Stock Down 1.0 %

NYSE SRE opened at $153.86 on Monday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $151.80 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $154.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $48.41 billion, a PE ratio of 23.47, a PEG ratio of 3.20 and a beta of 0.73. Sempra Energy has a fifty-two week low of $136.54 and a fifty-two week high of $176.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.56.

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 28th. The utilities provider reported $2.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.06 by $0.29. Sempra Energy had a return on equity of 10.53% and a net margin of 14.74%. The business had revenue of $3.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.79 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.16 EPS. Sempra Energys revenue for the quarter was down 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Sempra Energy will post 8.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sempra Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, April 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 22nd will be issued a dividend of $1.19 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 21st. This is a positive change from Sempra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. This represents a $4.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.09%. Sempra Energys payout ratio is 71.90%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Sempra Energy news, CFO Trevor I. Mihalik sold 2,306 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.50, for a total value of $342,441.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 21,362 shares in the company, valued at $3,172,257. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 19,260 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.09, for a total transaction of $2,813,693.40. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1 shares in the company, valued at approximately $146.09. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Trevor I. Mihalik sold 2,306 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.50, for a total value of $342,441.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 21,362 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,172,257. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 52,504 shares of company stock worth $8,045,547 in the last three months. 0.14% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Sempra Energy

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Sempra Energy is an energy-service holding company, which engages in the development and operation of energy infrastructure, and provision of electric and gas services. It operates through the following segments: San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E), Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), Sempra Texas Utilities, Sempra Mexico, and Sempra LNG.

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Concord Wealth Partners reduced its holdings in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 19.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 20,373 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 4,818 shares during the quarter. Concord Wealth Partners holdings in Bank of America were worth $675,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Bank of America by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 602,457,736 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $18,194,222,000 after acquiring an additional 3,313,229 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 60.0% during the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 103,645,596 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,130,177,000 after purchasing an additional 38,870,780 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc increased its position in shares of Bank of America by 2.9% during the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 52,475,574 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,633,568,000 after purchasing an additional 1,493,089 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 36,940,776 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,522,699,000 after purchasing an additional 603,512 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Bank of America by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 35,537,933 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,073,390,000 after purchasing an additional 214,966 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.34% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on BAC shares. Piper Sandler lowered shares of Bank of America from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $36.00 to $33.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. Atlantic Securities lowered shares of Bank of America from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $40.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Bank of America from $38.00 to $34.00 in a research note on Monday. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Bank of America from $37.00 to $31.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $51.00 to $48.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $37.75.

Bank of America Trading Up 0.7 %

Shares of BAC stock opened at $27.84 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $222.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.73, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $32.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $33.44. Bank of America Co. has a twelve month low of $26.32 and a twelve month high of $40.40.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $0.85 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by $0.09. Bank of America had a net margin of 23.93% and a return on equity of 11.41%. The business had revenue of $24.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.17 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.82 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Bank of America Co. will post 3.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.16%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 2nd. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.59%.

Insider Activity

In other Bank of America news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 105,054 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.27, for a total value of $3,600,200.58. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 319,803 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,959,648.81. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 214,745 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.91, for a total transaction of $7,711,492.95. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 214,747 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,711,564.77. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 105,054 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.27, for a total value of $3,600,200.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 319,803 shares in the company, valued at $10,959,648.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Bank of America Profile

(Get Rating)

Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses.

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Ade LLC cut its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV  Get Rating) by 0.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 30,636 shares of the companys stock after selling 136 shares during the period. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF comprises about 9.0% of Ade LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. Ade LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $11,771,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. raised its stake in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 6.1% during the first quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 77,088 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,974,000 after buying an additional 4,405 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its stake in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 5.0% during the first quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 895,194 shares of the companys stock valued at $406,141,000 after purchasing an additional 42,292 shares during the last quarter. Roundview Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 7.3% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 10,642 shares of the companys stock worth $4,828,000 after purchasing an additional 728 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 247.7% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 911 shares of the companys stock worth $423,000 after buying an additional 649 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 27.1% in the 1st quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 16,516 shares of the companys stock worth $7,493,000 after buying an additional 3,523 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of IVV stock opened at $411.01 on Monday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $404.02 and a two-hundred day moving average of $392.83. The company has a market cap of $309.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.43 and a beta of 1.00. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a 52 week low of $349.53 and a 52 week high of $452.62.

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Company Profile

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market.

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GEM Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 5,866 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $423,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Milestone Advisory Partners lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Milestone Advisory Partners now owns 43,345 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,865,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI now owns 15,106 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,089,000 after buying an additional 163 shares during the period. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,991 shares of the companys stock worth $330,000 after acquiring an additional 171 shares during the period. S.C. Financial Services Inc. increased its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 6.0% during the 3rd quarter. S.C. Financial Services Inc. now owns 3,040 shares of the companys stock worth $201,000 after buying an additional 173 shares during the period. Finally, First Heartland Consultants Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. First Heartland Consultants Inc. now owns 56,700 shares of the companys stock worth $3,747,000 after buying an additional 174 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Price Performance

Shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF stock opened at $73.53 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $30.71 billion, a PE ratio of 20.17 and a beta of 0.76. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a 1-year low of $47.44 and a 1-year high of $55.45. The business has a 50-day moving average of $71.69 and a 200-day moving average of $71.43.

About iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF

The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock.

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YINCHUAN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Peter Yeung, a vegetable grower from Hong Kong, had a little trick to make his flowering cabbages better known in his home city -- he named them after the TV play "The Dance of Passion."

In 2008, he traveled to the landlocked Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China to grow vegetables and sell them in Hong Kong.

Shedding more light on his unique idea, Yeung explained that the popular TV drama was filmed in Ningxia, so by using that name, people would instantly recognize that his vegetables were grown there.

The naming trick is now no longer needed, as "Ningxia flowering cabbages" have become a signature product widely recognized for superior quality.

"If customers learn that the vegetable is from Ningxia, they will buy it without hesitation, even if the price is higher," Yeung said.

Located in the Yellow River basin, Ningxia has a long farming history and boasts fine irrigation conditions.

"Ningxia has the longest frost-free season, abundant land resources and sufficient irrigation from the Yellow River, making it an ideal place to realize my dream," Yeung said.

Born in the 1970s, Yeung developed an early interest in vegetable farming because of his father.

Yeung's father was among the first people from Hong Kong to establish vegetable production bases that cater to the Hong Kong market in Guangdong Province following the reform and opening up in 1978.

After graduating from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, he came to Ningxia with the dream of mechanizing the vegetable farming process.

Today, his vegetable production base in Zhongning County in the city of Zhongwei covers over 267 hectares, with products such as flowering cabbages, beans and bitter gourds sold to Hong Kong, Macao and other places.

With the growing reputation of vegetables grown in Ningxia, an increasing number of investors are discovering the potential of the region. The number of vegetable production bases in the region has surged from under 10 in 2008 when Yeung first came to Ningxia to over 100 now.

With support from the local government, he is now on the cusp of realizing machine harvesting.

Yeung said that manual vegetable picking is undesirable in terms of both labor and efficiency, as any delay can adversely affect the taste of the products.

"With the machines, we can harvest vegetables even under bad weather," he said, adding that they have been leveling the field and improving land management to create favorable conditions for further promoting the technology.

After spending 15 years in the field, Yeung has formed a profound bond with Ningxia.

"It has become a second home for me," Yeung said. "I love this place with its comfortable climate and vast landscape. I will continue to devote myself to this industry." 
MONECO Advisors LLC lowered its stake in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) by 10.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 847 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 97 shares during the period. MONECO Advisors LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $226,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of ACN. Dubuque Bank & Trust Co. boosted its position in shares of Accenture by 10.9% in the 3rd quarter. Dubuque Bank & Trust Co. now owns 1,233 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $317,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares during the period. RFG Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of Accenture by 15.5% in the third quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 2,866 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $771,000 after acquiring an additional 385 shares in the last quarter. Lincoln National Corp lifted its position in shares of Accenture by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 4,480 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,153,000 after acquiring an additional 152 shares in the last quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in Accenture in the 4th quarter worth approximately $575,000. Finally, Fulton Bank N.A. grew its position in Accenture by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 4,929 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,315,000 after purchasing an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.97% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.08, for a total value of $1,449,420.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 34,444 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,509,299.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 4,648 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.41, for a total transaction of $1,284,753.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 39,510 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,920,959.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $276.08, for a total value of $1,449,420.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 34,444 shares in the company, valued at $9,509,299.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 36,475 shares of company stock valued at $10,225,149 over the last ninety days. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Accenture Price Performance

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Accenture from $311.00 to $314.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Accenture from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Accenture from $289.00 to $294.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Accenture from $310.00 to $327.00 in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Finally, Piper Jaffray Companies boosted their price target on Accenture from $245.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $314.00.

NYSE:ACN opened at $281.70 on Monday. Accenture plc has a one year low of $242.80 and a one year high of $344.81. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $272.66 and a 200 day moving average price of $274.26. The stock has a market cap of $178.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.94, a PEG ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.25.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.49 by $0.20. Accenture had a net margin of 11.00% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The business had revenue of $15.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.59 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.54 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Accenture plc will post 11.57 EPS for the current year.

Accenture Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 13th will be paid a $1.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 12th. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.59%. Accentures payout ratio is 41.25%.

Accenture Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

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Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel lessened its stake in Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C  Get Rating) by 8.9% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 39,960 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,906 shares during the quarter. Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israels holdings in Citigroup were worth $1,807,000 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 C. Panagora Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Citigroup by 24.5% during the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 29,752 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,589,000 after buying an additional 5,853 shares during the period. Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its holdings in Citigroup by 50.5% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 6,256 shares of the companys stock worth $334,000 after acquiring an additional 2,100 shares in the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its position in Citigroup by 20.8% during the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 5,274 shares of the companys stock valued at $282,000 after purchasing an additional 907 shares during the period. Ergoteles LLC bought a new stake in shares of Citigroup in the 1st quarter valued at about $761,000. Finally, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Citigroup by 7.0% in the 1st quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 4,077 shares of the companys stock worth $218,000 after purchasing an additional 268 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 70.90% of the companys stock.

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Citigroup Trading Up 0.2 %

NYSE C opened at $45.86 on Monday. Citigroup Inc. has a 12-month low of $40.01 and a 12-month high of $54.56. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $48.69 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $47.01. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49. The stock has a market cap of $89.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 1.57.

Citigroup Announces Dividend

Citigroup ( NYSE:C Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The company reported $1.10 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.18 by ($0.08). Citigroup had a return on equity of 8.14% and a net margin of 14.73%. The firm had revenue of $18.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.91 billion. On average, analysts forecast that Citigroup Inc. will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 28th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.45%. Citigroups payout ratio is currently 29.14%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

C has been the topic of several research reports. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $45.00 to $41.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 6th. Oppenheimer cut their price target on Citigroup from $87.00 to $75.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on Citigroup from $47.00 to $51.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on Citigroup from $52.00 to $46.00 in a research note on Friday, January 6th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Citigroup in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Citigroup currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $54.59.

Insider Activity at Citigroup

In other Citigroup news, insider Michael Whitaker sold 12,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.63, for a total value of $645,375.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 239,429 shares in the company, valued at $12,361,719.27. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, insider Michael Whitaker sold 12,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.63, for a total transaction of $645,375.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 239,429 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,361,719.27. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Titilope Cole sold 11,903 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.10, for a total transaction of $608,243.30. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 65,764 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,360,540.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 27,353 shares of company stock worth $1,403,390. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Citigroup

(Get Rating)

Citigroup, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial products and services. It operates through the following segments: Global Consumer Banking, Institutional Clients Group, and Corporate and Other. The Global Consumer Banking segment provides traditional banking services to retail customers through retail banking, including commercial banking, and Citi-branded cards and Citi retail services.

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Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEARCA:VGT  Get Rating) by 10.1% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 3,790 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 424 shares during the quarter. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLCs holdings in Vanguard Information Technology ETF were worth $1,211,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of VGT. First Personal Financial Services lifted its stake in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 226.9% in the 3rd quarter. First Personal Financial Services now owns 85 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. Glassy Mountain Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel acquired a new stake in Vanguard Information Technology ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC acquired a new position in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, American National Bank lifted its position in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 390.9% during the 3rd quarter. American National Bank now owns 108 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 86 shares in the last quarter.

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Vanguard Information Technology ETF Stock Performance

NYSEARCA:VGT opened at $379.88 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $363.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $340.10. Vanguard Information Technology ETF has a fifty-two week low of $291.61 and a fifty-two week high of $406.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $46.88 billion, a PE ratio of 24.70 and a beta of 1.14.

About Vanguard Information Technology ETF

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).

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Your Advocates Ltd. LLP lowered its stake in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) by 37.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 659 shares of the companys stock after selling 395 shares during the quarter. Your Advocates Ltd. LLPs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $42,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in KO. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in Coca-Cola by 1.7% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 301,952,085 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,915,357,000 after buying an additional 4,994,047 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 61.4% in the first quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,764,084 shares of the companys stock valued at $667,373,000 after purchasing an additional 4,095,881 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in Coca-Cola by 141.0% during the third quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 6,834,434 shares of the companys stock valued at $382,865,000 after purchasing an additional 3,998,128 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 1.1% in 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP purchased a new position in shares of Coca-Cola in the 3rd quarter worth $169,838,000. Institutional investors own 68.74% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Coca-Cola

In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.32, for a total transaction of $2,103,660.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 351,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $21,216,775.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.32, for a total transaction of $2,103,660.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 351,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at $21,216,775.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Brian John Smith sold 126,972 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.07, for a total transaction of $7,881,152.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 116,168 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,210,547.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 282,268 shares of company stock valued at $17,137,823 over the last ninety days. 1.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Coca-Cola Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE KO opened at $62.84 on Monday. The Coca-Cola Company has a twelve month low of $54.01 and a twelve month high of $67.20. The firm has a market cap of $271.87 billion, a PE ratio of 28.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 0.54. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $60.44 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $60.45. 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 released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.45. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.35% and a net margin of 22.19%. The firm had revenue of $10.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.92 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.45 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Coca-Cola Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 17th were paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 16th. This is an increase 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%. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 83.64%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

KO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on Coca-Cola from $63.00 to $60.00 in a report on Monday, March 20th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $68.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. StockNews.com upgraded Coca-Cola from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada set a $69.00 price objective on shares of Coca-Cola in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $67.55.

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.

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Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC grew its holdings in Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM  Get Rating) by 6.8% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 7,605 shares of the CRM providers stock after purchasing an additional 485 shares during the quarter. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLCs holdings in Salesforce were worth $1,008,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in CRM. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Salesforce by 1.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 80,449,523 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $11,571,860,000 after acquiring an additional 1,103,556 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Salesforce by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 44,825,733 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $6,447,733,000 after purchasing an additional 585,881 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC raised its position in Salesforce by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 13,688,506 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $1,968,955,000 after purchasing an additional 210,376 shares in the last quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Salesforce by 12.5% during the third quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC now owns 11,057,687 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $1,590,538,000 after buying an additional 1,228,763 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Salesforce by 0.3% during the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 7,315,501 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $1,553,227,000 after buying an additional 18,581 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.83% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

CRM has been the subject of several analyst reports. JMP Securities reiterated a market perform rating and set a $250.00 price target on shares of Salesforce in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Salesforce from $162.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Northland Securities increased their price objective on Salesforce from $150.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Cowen downgraded shares of Salesforce from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, January 20th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group upped their target price on Salesforce from $180.00 to $215.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating, twenty-eight have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $211.24.

Insider Buying and Selling at Salesforce

Salesforce Stock Down 1.4 %

In other news, insider Srinivas Tallapragada sold 438 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.59, for a total value of $68,148.42. Following the sale, the insider now owns 51,819 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,062,518.21. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other news, insider Srinivas Tallapragada sold 438 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.59, for a total value of $68,148.42. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 51,819 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,062,518.21. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, insider Parker Harris sold 1,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $198.15, for a total value of $247,687.50. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 99,755 shares in the company, valued at $19,766,453.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 51,059 shares of company stock worth $9,168,193 in the last ninety days. 3.60% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Shares of NYSE CRM opened at $192.55 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.02. Salesforce, Inc. has a 1 year low of $126.34 and a 1 year high of $202.72. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $178.68 and its 200-day simple moving average is $157.76. The firm has a market cap of $192.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 916.95, a PEG ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 1.24.

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 1st. The CRM provider reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.36 by $0.32. The company had revenue of $8.38 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.99 billion. Salesforce had a return on equity of 4.48% and a net margin of 0.66%. Salesforces revenue for the quarter was up 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.24 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Salesforce, Inc. will post 4.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Salesforce announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Wednesday, March 1st that authorizes the company to buyback $20.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the CRM provider to purchase up to 10.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

About Salesforce

(Get Rating)

Salesforce, Inc engages in the design and development of cloud-based enterprise software for customer relationship management. Its solutions include sales force automation, customer service and support, marketing automation, digital commerce, community management, collaboration, industry-specific solutions, and salesforce platform.

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Concord Wealth Partners cut its stake in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO  Get Rating) by 5.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,518 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 395 shares during the quarter. Concord Wealth Partners holdings in Southern were worth $465,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in SO. Chilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Southern during the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Southern by 192.0% in the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 511 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 336 shares during the last quarter. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Southern by 66.7% during the 4th quarter. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 500 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. My Personal CFO LLC bought a new stake in Southern during the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Karp Capital Management Corp acquired a new position in Southern in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $40,000. 61.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Southern Trading Up 1.1 %

NYSE:SO opened at $72.31 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $66.94 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $67.56. The Southern Company has a 12 month low of $58.85 and a 12 month high of $80.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $78.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.05, a PEG ratio of 5.01 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47.

Southern Dividend Announcement

Southern ( NYSE:SO Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.26 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $7.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.83 billion. Southern had a return on equity of 11.73% and a net margin of 12.40%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 22.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.36 EPS. Analysts expect that The Southern Company will post 3.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 21st were given a dividend of $0.68 per share. This represents a $2.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 17th. Southerns payout ratio is 82.93%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on SO shares. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Southern from $79.00 to $78.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Wolfe Research raised Southern from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $76.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, December 12th. Mizuho cut their price objective on Southern from $73.00 to $72.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 12th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Southern from $73.00 to $71.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Southern from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $71.64.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Southern news, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 1,282 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.60, for a total transaction of $85,381.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 27,512 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,832,299.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 14,546 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.95, for a total value of $1,032,038.70. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 120,786 shares in the company, valued at $8,569,766.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 1,282 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.60, for a total value of $85,381.20. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 27,512 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,832,299.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 16,680 shares of company stock worth $1,174,768 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock.

Southern Profile

(Get Rating)

The Southern Co is a holding company, which engages in the generation and sale of electricity. It operates through the following segments: Traditional Electric Operating Companies, Southern Power and Southern Company Gas. The Traditional Electric Operating Companies segment refers to vertically integrated utilities that own generation, transmission and distribution facilities, and supplies electric services in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi.

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James Investment Research Inc. lessened its position in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Get Rating) by 3.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 23,497 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 803 shares during the quarter. Mastercard comprises about 1.1% of James Investment Research Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position. James Investment Research Inc.s holdings in Mastercard were worth $8,170,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Mastercard by 27,553.9% during the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 986,967 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $1,767,000 after buying an additional 983,398 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $237,635,000. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 56.7% in the 3rd quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 1,925,743 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $547,566,000 after buying an additional 696,961 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 77,259,535 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $21,967,977,000 after acquiring an additional 568,155 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC lifted its stake in Mastercard by 43.4% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,310,845 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $372,728,000 after purchasing an additional 396,430 shares during the last quarter. 74.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Mastercard

In other news, insider Hai Ling sold 8,220 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.31, for a total transaction of $2,928,868.20. Following the sale, the insider now owns 26,496 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,440,789.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Hai Ling sold 8,220 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $356.31, for a total value of $2,928,868.20. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 26,496 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,440,789.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Craig Vosburg sold 6,333 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $380.05, for a total value of $2,406,856.65. Following the sale, the insider now owns 41,314 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,701,385.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 655,522 shares of company stock worth $242,724,561 over the last quarter. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Mastercard Stock Performance

Mastercard stock opened at $359.25 on Monday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $360.43 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $344.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.17. The stock has a market cap of $342.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.37, a PEG ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.11. Mastercard Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $276.87 and a fifty-two week high of $390.00.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 26th. The credit services provider reported $2.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $5.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.79 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 158.38% and a net margin of 44.65%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.35 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 7th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.63%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 5th. Mastercards payout ratio is 22.31%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on MA shares. StockNews.com cut Mastercard from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $400.00 to $450.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Mastercard from $395.00 to $452.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $427.00 to $437.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Sunday, January 29th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $456.00 to $441.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and twenty have assigned 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 $413.41.

About Mastercard

(Get Rating)

Mastercard, Inc is a technology company, which engages in the payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, and business. It offers payment solutions for the development and implementation of credit, debit, prepaid, commercial, and payment programs. The company was founded in November 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, NY.

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Signaturefd LLC lowered its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) by 1.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 42,272 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 537 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $4,641,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 21,523 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,083,000 after purchasing an additional 495 shares in the last quarter. Country Club Bank GFN raised its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Country Club Bank GFN now owns 18,236 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,793,000 after acquiring an additional 350 shares during the last quarter. First Financial Corp IN lifted its position in Abbott Laboratories by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. First Financial Corp IN now owns 18,541 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $1,794,000 after acquiring an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC now owns 42,554 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $4,118,000 after purchasing an additional 1,301 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 6,141 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $674,000 after purchasing an additional 389 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.93% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ABT has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $136.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $109.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $122.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $121.88.

Abbott Laboratories Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ABT opened at $104.93 on Monday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $103.11 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $104.41. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $182.36 billion, a PE ratio of 26.84, a P/E/G ratio of 4.71 and a beta of 0.67.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.13. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 15.88% and a return on equity of 26.09%. The business had revenue of $10.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.69 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.32 EPS. Abbott Laboratoriess revenue was down 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is presently 52.17%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated 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 approximately $7,091,998.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Abbott Laboratories news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $103,922.40. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 52,203 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,256,842.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $68,375.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,091,998.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 1,971 shares of company stock valued at $199,140. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

About Abbott Laboratories

(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.

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JERUSALEM, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Israel announced on Monday that it signed a 1.44-billion-shekel (about 400 million U.S. dollars) agreement to sell anti-tank Spike missiles to Greece.

The Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement that under the deal, Israel will provide Greece with naval, air and land-based Spike missiles.

"This project joins a series of agreements between Israel and Greece, and further emphasizes the strong partnership between our countries and our defense establishments, as well as our mutual commitment to ensuring regional stability," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was quoted as saying in the statement.

The Spike is a guided, precise electro-optical missile manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, an Israeli state-owned defense technology company. The missile can be launched from about 45 platforms on land, air and sea.

According to the Israeli Defense Ministry, more than 40 countries use the Spike missile, including 19 member states of the European Union and NATO. Over 34,000 Spike missiles have been delivered worldwide, with more than 6,000 launched for both training and operational use. 
BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China's first independently-developed and built ultra-deepwater gas field Shenhai Yihao, or Deep Sea No.1, has been upgraded to remote control production and can now ensure safe and stable production during typhoons, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) said on Monday.

The biggest challenge that ultra-deepwater gas fields face is the frequency of typhoons in the summer and autumn seasons, but Deep Sea No.1's production equipment is in optimal operating condition at present, said Liu Xiaogang, general manager of CNOOC's Hainan subsidiary.

Deep Sea No.1, located 150 kilometers from the city of Sanya in south China's island province of Hainan and being able to operate at a maximum depth of over 1,500 meters in the sea, has provided over 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas since it was put into operation in June 2021.

The gas field's operations demonstrate the country's ultra-deepwater oil and gas drilling capabilities, and are of great significance to ensuring national energy security, optimizing the country's energy structure and promoting regional economic development. 
Chinas military carried out aerial and naval blockade drills around Taiwan on Monday, its last scheduled day of exercises, with a Chinese aircraft carrier joining in combat patrols as Taipei reported another surge of warplanes near the island.

China announced the three days of drills on Saturday, after Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under Beijings control. Taiwans government strongly disputes Chinas claims and has denounced the drills.

Chinese state television said aircraft, including nuclear-capable H-6 bombers armed with live missiles, and warships staged drills to form a multi-directional island-encompassing blockade situation.

In the Taiwan Strait, the northwest and southwest of Taiwan and the waters east of Taiwan (Chinese forces) took the initiative to attack, giving full play to their performance advantages, flexibly manoeuvring to seize favourable positions, and advancing at high speed to deter opponents, the report said.

The Eastern Theatre Command of the Peoples Liberation Army said aircraft carrier the Shandong also took part in combat patrols, and showed fighters taking off from its deck.

Taiwan has been tracking the Shandong since last week in the Pacific Ocean.

Taiwans defence ministry published a map on Monday of the previous 24 hours of Chinese air force activities, showing four carrier-based Chinese J-15 fighters operating over the Pacific Ocean to Taiwans east.

The ministry said that as of mid-morning on Monday it had spotted 59 military aircraft and 11 ships around Taiwan, and that the Shandong carrier group was conducting drills in the Western Pacific.

The Shandong conducted air operations in waters close to Japans Okinawan islands on Sunday, Japans defence ministry said on Monday.

Jet fighters and helicopters took off and landed on the carrier 120 times over Friday to Sunday, with the carrier, three other warships and a support vessel coming within 230 kilometres (143 miles) of Japans Miyako island, the defence ministry said.

Japan has been following Chinas military drills around Taiwan with great interest, a top government spokesperson said on Monday.

Japan has long worried about Chinas military activities in the area given how close southern Japanese islands are to Taiwan.

The importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only important for the security of Japan, but also for the stability of the international community as a whole, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

The southern Japanese island of Okinawa hosts a major U.S. air force base, and last August when China staged war games to protest the visit of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei, Chinese missiles landed within Japans exclusive economic zone.

The United States has said it is also watching Chinas drills closely.

LOCK ON THE TARGET

Chinas military simulated precision strikes against Taiwan in the second day of drills around the island on Sunday.

The Eastern Theatre Command on Monday released a short video on its WeChat account showing an H-6 bomber flying in what it said was the skies north of Taiwan.

The missiles are in good condition, an unidentified voice says, as the video shows images from the cockpit.

Start the fire control radar, lock on the target, another voice says, showing images of a missile under the aircrafts wing.

It then shows a pilot readying the fire control button for what it describes as a simulated attack, and then pressing the button, though it did not show any missiles being fired.

Taiwans military has repeatedly said it will respond calmly to Chinas drills and not provoke conflict.

The defence ministry separately released pictures on Monday of mobile launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship missiles at an undisclosed location, as well as missile-armed fast attack boats at sea.

Reuters reporters at the Cape Maobitou park in Pingtung county on Taiwans southern tip saw Hsiung Feng launchers deployed near a scenic spot on Monday, as soldiers stood guard and tourists watched and posed for pictures.

Life in Taiwan has continued normally with no signs of panic or disruption, and civilian flights operating as usual.

Most normal people probably arent afraid, with the main reason being that everyone thinks that China will certainly not start a war, said retiree and former soldier Tang Pao-hsiung, 78.

Taiwans stock market brushed off the tension, with the benchmark index (.TWII) closing up 0.3% on Monday.

However, Chinas blue-chip CSI300 Index (.CSI300) fell 0.5%, while the Shanghai Composite Index (.SSEC) dipped 0.4% as the drills curbed investors risk appetite.

SOURCE: REUTERS
Tens of thousands of Israelis joined protests on Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plans to tighten controls on the Supreme Court, despite heightened security worries after two deadly attacks a day earlier.

The latest in a series of protests against the plans, which were paused last month in the face of a wave of strikes and mass demonstrations, come as Israel faces a sharp rise in tensions on several fronts during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Around Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, tens of thousands of worshippers were expected for evening prayers amid concerns over a possible repeat of nighttime police raids this week that were followed by rocket barrages into Israel and Israeli strikes into Gaza and Southern Lebanon.

Israelis were also on edge after a car-ramming in Tel Aviv on Friday that killed an Italian man and wounded five other tourists, hours after a gun attack killed two Israeli sisters and wounded their mother near a settlement in the occupied West Bank.

Netanyahu has mobilised border police reservists and ordered the army to reinforce security positions to head off possible trouble, amid calls for calm from the United Nations, the European Union and the United States.

In central Tel Aviv, crowds waving the blue and white Israeli flags that have become a hallmark of the protests over the past three months gathered in a show of defiance against plans they see as an existential threat to Israeli democracy.

The demonstration began with a prayer for the victims of the attacks a day earlier but protesters said they would not be put off by security worries.

Security is one thing but reform is another, said 26-year-old student Amitay Ginsberg. Were still going to come here and say loud and clear that we will not let this reform pass.

The proposals, which would give the government effective control over the appointment of Supreme Court judges and allow parliament to overrule many decisions of the court, have caused one of the biggest domestic crises in Israels recent history.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, including army reservists, business leaders, members of Israels tech industry and leading academics have taken part, facing off against supporters of Netanyahus religious-nationalist coalition.

The government side, which accuses activist judges of increasingly usurping the role of parliament, says the overhaul is needed to restore a proper balance between the judiciary and elected politicians.

Critics say it will remove some of the vital checks and balances underpinning a democratic state and hand unchecked power to the government.

Before the protests, police had urged people to leave roads clear to allow emergency services to move freely following Fridays car-ramming on a popular shoreline promenade in Tel Aviv.

SOURCE: REUTERS
The Schick Gallery in Skidmores Art Department periodically mounts fabulous exhibitions around a specific material or technique: Graphite and ceramics were featured in years past. This spring, they present art made of various metals in 7 Metalsmiths at Work. This show is filled with tactile, precious beauty, but also rare nuance and surprise.

You will surely be drawn to the glistening golden surfaces of Lynn Batchelders Unearthed Ochre series. These three small, jewel like tablets look like discovered relics, begging to be seen not under gallery Plexiglas but within a covert chamber where their anodized golden gleam will beckon, highlighting the irregularly faceted, almost tortured surface of each.

Dont go thinking the objects in this show are simply precious and jewel-like  all seven artists push into unexpected zones, where objects and surfaces suggest one thing and then lead you somewhere else. The most obvious might be the deceptive little bowls by Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, which look like artfully handmade glazed clay, but are enamel coated copper. Nearby, her rough-hewn pewter bottomless vessels might not trick you, but they are equally remarkable for their irregular precision.

Art made out of metal can be rough, raw, massive, rusty, broken and primal. But not here. This is refined, rarefied stuff: every glint, edge and transparency is masterfully finessed. There are added layers beyond formal flourishes, too, as in the pair of wall mounted works by Jennifer Crupi called Unguarded Gestures. These each begin with a rust-colored wooden board on the wall, and in front of this a floating layer of clear acrylic with a dotted outline of torso and arms. Dangling farther out is an exquisitely wrought aluminum form made of wire and small, curving objects echoing the gesture shown.

If you go 7 Metalsmiths at Work Where: Schick Art Gallery, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs When: through April 28 Hours: 10-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday Admission: Free Info: https://www.skidmore.edu/schick/2022-2023/7-jewelry-metals.php or 518-580-5049 See More Collapse

Chris Ramsays various globes are expressions of dismay. For Extinct, he has transformed a common object and added ominous global implications: the entire surface of a 1950s black globe is consumed with little circular windows, with images of extinct species in each. His row of smaller metal 1960s globes mounted on a wooden base are vintage toy coin banks, playing off of the title, As You Save, So You Prosper.

Terry Lavins various pointed objects on pedestals reminded me of futuristic drill bits for penetrating the impenetrable. Called Vector or Core Fragment, each is made of industrial metals like copper and brass, and are imaginatively, and nonsensically, engineered.

There are sometimes hints of jewelry in all this finery, as with the small, breathtaking decorative brooches by Lin Stanionis, made with varieties of gold, diamonds, pearls, and, in one case, a snake skeleton. These operate on a level of hyper-compact wonder, playing off of natural designs, creating totems you expect to find buried with ancient kings and queens.

For each artist, the gallery has added what they call process materials, meant to pull back the veil on how the artworks came to be. Some of these additions might succeed on their own, but mostly the studies are instructive as intended.

Its worth noting that metalwork of this kind can often find itself a bit demoted next to painting and sculpture, and this show is certainly an argument against preconceptions. The few works here resembling jewelry arent just about decorative beauty, and surely most of the show demands more complex comprehension and appreciation.

Here are your picks for the Best of the Capital Region 2023 We tallied the votes from this years Best of the Capital Region contest in 100 categories.
CATSKILL  A man who shot a local rapper to death before entombing the body in concrete in a crawlspace below his home had his sentence shaved down by an appellate court on Thursday.

Carlos A. Graham, of Catskill, was convicted of second-degree murder, grand larceny, concealment of a human corpse, two counts of tampering with physical evidence and three weapons charges after a jury trial ending in February 2019.

He was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison, but the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court took issue with the trial court's sentence and trimmed five years off of it.

Graham admitted to shooting at Brandyn Dayne Foster with a pistol, firing a shotgun into his torso and pistol-whipping him, but argued he was acting in self-defense. He testified that Foster was angered that the mans ex-girlfriend, Sadie Knox, was seeing Graham, and broke into Knoxs home with a shotgun while Graham and a third man were there, assaulting Knox and threatening to kill the defendant before being shot.

Graham then buried Fosters body in a crawlspace beneath Knoxs home, where it lay for more than a year before police found it while executing a search warrant in February 2018, according to prosecutors.

Evidence during the trial showed that Graham was frightened of Foster finding out about the new relationship and that Foster had violently entered the home. But prosecutors relied on testimony from the former leader of a Hudson drug crew to refute the self-defense claim.

Bryce Hallbeck, who is now serving 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute crack, testified that she met with Graham and Knox to give Graham a pistol after the defendant contacted her. Graham then told Hallbeck of a plan to murder Foster, according to her testimony.

The appeal challenged Hallbecks version of events due to certain issues bearing on her credibility, but the court concluded that Hallbeck was extensively cross-examined in this respect and the jury ultimately chose to believe her version of the events, according to the decision, and that prosecutors disproved the self-defense argument beyond a reasonable doubt.

Grahams attorney also challenged the original judges decision to not allow the jury to see a music video with violent lyrics featuring Foster, but the appellate judges hearing the case noted the video was produced seven years before the murder, concurring with the original judges determination the video would have only served to unfairly prejudice the jury.

The appeal also argued against the issuance of warrants that allowed police to search the crawlspace under Knoxs house where the body was hidden. The appellant judges rejected those arguments, stating that the first warrant was issued based on information from two criminal informants who said Knox told them where the body was hidden and that subsequent warrants were issued because police were unable to conduct a full search of the crawlspace after the first warrant was issued.

The appellate judges agreed with two aspects of the appeal. The first was that the prosecution made prejudicial statements during closing remarks the judges particularly took issue with prosecutors calling Graham a liar  but the judges concluded that the prosecutors unwarranted rhetoric was not so egregious and pervasive as to compromise defendants right to a fair trial.

Secondly, the judges agreed that the sentences for weapons possession should not be served consecutively to each other, nor should they run consecutively to the murder charge, since they were all part of the same overall crime. Judges can decide upon a conviction whether sentences can run concurrently with each other, or whether they can be added on top of one another so they are served consecutively.

This decision reduces Grahams original sentence  35 years to life  to 30 years to life, meaning he is eligible for parole five years earlier than when he was first sentenced.

Knox, who was originally charged with second-degree murder, took a plea deal that resulted in her receiving a sentence of 5-to-15 years.
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RAY BROOK  State forest rangers during the past two weeks assisted in ice and boat accidents, both of which resulted in drownings, and in a snowy Adirondack water rescue where stranded hikers were pulled across a torrential stream in a special kayak connected to ropes.

All three incidents happened April 1.

In one, rangers responded to radio traffic about a woman who had fallen through the ice in a Schoharie County pond to rescue her dog.

She was believed to have spent about 10 minutes in the water. New York State Police, the Schoharie County Sheriffs Office, Summit Fire and County EMS responded.



When Ranger Aaron France arrived, rescue crews had already pulled the 54-year-old woman from the water in Summit, Schoharie County.

They performed CPR but the woman was pronounced dead at Cobleskill Regional Hospital. The dog survived.

Later that day, France responded to police/emergency radio frequencies about a group of men who flipped their canoe on Blaze Pond, also in Schoharie County.

Two people, ages 19 and 43 from Stamford, were rescued by fire department personnel, but a third person was still missing.

At 3:25 p.m., France and Ranger Nathaniel Laymon began searching the shoreline.

By 5:15 p.m., State Police divers arrived. The search was called off for the night at 7:40 p.m.

The following day, dive team members recovered the body of the missing man.

Also April 1, a party of four hikers called Ray Brook Dispatch at 7:30 p.m. after concluding they were unable to cross a swollen stream while returning to the Adirondak Loj.

Water was chest high at Indian Pass Brook. The hikers tried looking for a safer crossing without success.

Rangers advised the group to make a fire to stay warm until they could be reached. While it had been warm that day, evening temperatures were getting down to the teens.

Six rangers responded with equipment to perform a swift water rescue. They used an inflatable kayak and ropes to pull the party one by one across the water. One ranger remained upstream to warn of large ice pieces headed toward the rescue team. Another remained downstream in case anyone was swept down the water.

At 1:10 a.m., rangers and all four hikers arrived at the Adirondak Loj trailhead. Video of part of the swiftwater rescue in North Elba is available at DECs website here or at https://www.dec.ny.gov/fs/programs/press/ForestRangers/.
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TROY  The FBI must launch a full investigation into the recent swatting incidents at schools because its too widespread for local law enforcement to catch whomever made the hoax calls of school shootings, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said Monday at a news conference.

There is no guarantee and probably not even a likelihood theyre from the Capital Region, he said outside Troy High School. If the swatter is out of the state, or particularly out of the country, you need the federal government.

The FBI is not tracking all of the swatting incidents that have occurred throughout the country, Schumer said. A full investigation would include determining which calls were the same  the same voice or message, sent in the same way  and that could help them figure out who did it, he said.

The messages were sent using virtual private networks and voice over internet protocols, which allow the sender to hide their location, Schumer said.

The FBI can pierce that.

If the calls were sent from outside the country, he predicted the person could still be prosecuted.

We have extradition treaties with a majority of counties and even if there arent, we have ways of stopping them, Schumer said. It could be just horrible, deranged people. It could be a government we dont like, trying to disrupt our way of life.

Schumer plans to advocate to add $10 billion to the federal governments budget this summer, which would fund a cyber swatting team at the FBI.

He made the announcement outside Troy High, the site of a swatting call March 30. There were 36 swatting calls in New York on that day and another 12 or more in the following week. They all alleged bombs or active shooters were on specific school campuses. All of the messages were hoaxes, but police responded to all of them. Similar messages have been sent to schools in Vermont, Massachusetts, Utah and many other states.

This is not a victimless crime. This is a crime that causes trauma, Schumer said.

He noted that when he was in school, there were atomic bomb attack drills.

Its different because no Russian missile ever came, so it was unlikely to happen, he said. But you know there have been active shooters in other schools.

Troy English teacher Beth Willson believed the active shooter report, at first.

I absolutely thought this was real, she said. We went right into what weve always practiced. I think that routine was helpful.

Troy student John Mooney, 17, who attended Schumers announcement, said he texted his father as soon as the school went into lockdown. He wasnt sure what to think.

There have been a lot of mass shootings, he said. My dad listens to the police scanner all the time. He told me it was a hoax.

But, he said, other students were terrified.

People were having panic attacks. Thats what upset me  seeing them upset, Mooney said.
RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian teenager during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, amid escalating violence in the region.

The ministry said in a statement that Mohammed Balhan, 15, died after being shot in the chest and abdomen during clashes with Israeli soldiers that broke out in the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp south of the city of Jericho.

Two other Palestinians were shot and moderately injured during clashes with the Israeli soldiers in the refugee camp and were taken to the hospital for urgent medical treatment, the statement added.

Palestinian eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers stormed the refugee camp early in the afternoon and raided several houses to arrest Palestinians wanted by the Israeli security forces for allegedly being involved in attacks against Israel.

The Israeli army said in a statement that the raid was carried out "in order to apprehend a terrorist suspect."

During the raid, "violent riots were instigated in a number of locations," according to the statement, adding suspects opened fire, and hurled explosive devices and Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers as they were leaving the camp. The Israeli soldiers then responded with live fire and 22 caliber ammunition.

Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli soldiers arrested five Palestinians from the refugee camp.

Also on Monday, Israel's Kan TV reported that an Israeli soldier was injured in an exchange of fire between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

The soldier was injured during an Israeli military operation in a refugee camp close to the city to arrest Palestinians allegedly involved in shooting attacks and blowing up explosive devices against the Israeli army, Kan TV reported.

Since Jan. 1, the Israeli army and security forces have killed 96 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while the Palestinian attacks have killed 19, according to official Palestinian and Israeli figures. 
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BOSTON (AP)  A growing number of states led by Democratic governors are stockpiling doses of drugs used in medication abortions, amid fears that a court ruling could restrict access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S.

Massachusetts has purchased enough doses of the drug mifepristone  one of two drugs used in combination to end pregnancies  to last for more than a year, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said Monday. California has secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills of misoprostol, the other drug used in abortion medication, Gov. Newsom, also a Democrat, announced.

And in Washington state, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee announced last week that the state purchased 30,000 doses of the generic version of mifepristone  which he said is enough to last the state's residents three years. The shipment arrived in late March.

Abortion is still legal and accessible here in California and we wont stand by as fundamental freedoms are stripped away, Newsom said Friday.

The actions come as U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee in Amarillo, Texas, overruled decades of scientific approval Friday and put on hold federal approval of mifepristone.

The judge stayed his ruling for a week so federal authorities could file a challenge.

The Biden administration slammed the ruling and on Monday appealed the decision, saying it would thwart the U.S. Food and Drug administration's scientific judgment and severely harm women, particularly those for whom mifepristone is a medical or practical necessity.

Adding to the confusion was a second opinion also released on Friday by District Judge Thomas O. Rice, an Obama appointee, directing U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats sued in an effort to protect availability.

Healey said the Kacsmaryk ruling threatens access to the medication even in states supportive of abortion rights like Massachusetts.

It harms patients, undermines medical expertise, and takes away freedom. It's an attempt to punish, to shame, to marginalize women. It's unnecessary, Healey said, surrounded by fellow Democratic lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the steps of the Massachusetts Statehouse.

It is terrible. It is terrible, she added.

Newsom said the ruling by Kacsmaryk ignores facts, science, and the law," and puts the health of millions of women and girls at risk.

Inslee said it's important for states to take steps to ensure access to the drug.

After we announced our actions last week to protect access to mifepristone, its heartening to see other states doing the same, Inslee wrote on Twitter on Monday. To be clear: no matter the outcome of the TX case, WAs laws ensure we will be able to sell and distribute this medication."

The 15,000 doses in Massachusetts were purchased by the University of Massachusetts-Amherst at Healey's request.

Massachusetts health care providers have also agreed to buy additional quantities of mifepristone, according to Healey, who said the administration is dedicating $1 million to help providers contracted with the Department of Public Health to pay for the doses.

While there are no plans yet in Connecticut to stockpile mifepristone, Attorney General William Tong said Monday that he has been contacting major pharmacy chains to remind them the drug is legal and they should not be influenced by pressure from GOP attorneys general in other states.

(Im) obviously deeply disappointed that my colleagues have taken that action, he said. Were pushing back on that. Were in communication with all the big pharmacy chains, advising them of their rights and obligations here in Connecticut.

Also on Friday, Healey signed an executive order expanding a 2022 law meant to build a legal firewall around abortion services  protecting health care providers, patients and pharmacists from out-of-state investigations into medication abortions. The law was signed after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
A Navy veteran from Troy had a somewhat close encounter with the ill-fated spy balloon from China.

Bill Fay was at Myrtle Beach, S.C., when an Air Force F-22 Raptor fired two AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles at the balloon that was at an altitude of more than 60,000 feet on Feb. 4. He had been watching the balloon before it was hit, he recalled.

It looked like a bright white moon visible in daylight. I knew it was the spy balloon. CNN had reported 45 minutes earlier the balloon was headed our way. Three minutes later I saw four (military) aircraft. At that time, I didnt know they (the fighter aircraft) were there were going to shoot the balloon down.

Fay also noted he watched a convoy of military security personnel arrive at the beach and cordoned and security off up 10 miles off the beach.

The first missile hit the target, according to Fay, who was sitting on a balcony on the 10th floor of his condo at Malta Point on the beach as he watched the military action.

"That was the most interesting moment of my life, he said. Once the missile hit the balloon the balloon blew up. I saw a big cloud of dust just before debris fell into the ocean.

The military kept the beach closed for about a week before retrieving the spy debris, he said.

The Raptor assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing came from Langley Air Force Base, Va., and three F-15 Eagle fighters came from the Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass. The Eagles supported the mission, according to military officials.

The destroyer USS Oscar Austin, cruiser USS Philippines Sea, amphibious ship USS Carter Hall and other Navy vessels supported the missions along the coast.

The Pentagon had been tracking the balloon, which spied on U.S. strategic and military installations beginning Jan. 29. The balloon was shot down about six miles from the coast.

After Fay graduated from high school in Albany in 1966, he enlisted in the Navy. The Vietnam War veteran served on an oiler in the Mediterranean and later as a forward gunner on a patrol boat in the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam. Afterward, he worked at Penn Central Railroad and Amtrak for 38 years before retirement.

Triple E and B for veterans

The McNulty Business Center has put out an early call for veterans and their families to take advantage of its Triple E & B Expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 22 at the Marriott Hotel, 189 Wolf Road, Colonie.

Veterans can learn from the Veterans Employment, Education, Entrepreneurship and Benefits Expo participants.

The Albany County Veterans Service Bureau and Rensselaer County Veterans Resource and Outreach Center are partnering with the Michael R. McNulty Veteran Business Center of Watervliet to give veterans, service members and their families opportunities to speak with employers, veteran service organizations, educational institutions and others to maximize their advantage in the workplace, higher education and utilization of benefits.

The Expo will give veterans, military personnel and families access to employment, entrepreneurship, education, health and wellness, network and benefit opportunities as well as public and private entities. Information sessions and a job fair are also planned. Dozens of exhibitors also will be on hand.

"We will have a number of presentations ranging from developing trends in todays labor market, how to become the best applicant possible, legal advice and real estate investing to name some of our topics to be covered, says Leslie Scott of Albany County Veterans Bureau rep.

Numerous veteran friendly employers will be available during a job fair. Veterans are encouraged to resumes, he adds.

Registration by April 18 is a must. To register Google McNulty Veterans Business Center, click on events, Trip E and B to register. For information, contact Kathy Caruso, (518) 326-5522.

News of troops and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or email brownt@timesunion.com.




ALBANY  Daniel Prude was suffering a mental health crisis when he died during an encounter with the police in Rochester three years ago, spurring waves of protests in the upstate city and calls for statewide changes to law enforcements approach in similar situations.

Legislation that bears his name is seeking to do that. Daniels Law would empower mental health responders, rather than police officers, to respond to distress calls and approach people experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis. The law aims to reshape New Yorks reliance on policing during emergency calls, a shift that comes in the wake of several highly publicized deaths alleged to involve police misconduct, including Prudes.

State Sen. Samra Brouk, a Rochester Democrat who sponsored the bill in 2021, said that the legislation dovetails with Gov. Kathy Hochuls own stated emphasis on mental health and public safety this year, which she said should help hasten its passage.

This is really the moment, Brouk said, pointing to Hochuls proposed $1 billion investment in the states mental health system. I think that the executive understands that what were doing isnt working.

Around $10 million in funding for a pilot program studying a statewide rollout of Daniels Law is part of the Senates budget, though a final spending plan is still unknown with budget negotiations ongoing in Albany. The pilot program would support community organizations and incentivize local governments to create more targeted response units for mental health crises; similar programs have been popping up in cities across the country, including New York City, over the past three years.

Glenn Liebman, CEO of the Mental Health Association in New York State Inc., said the state has a patchwork of similar services that vary county by county instead of a coordinated statewide system.

The crux of the issue, mental health advocates say, is looping in personnel who are trained to de-escalate situations without the use of force. Often, law enforcement officials who show up in uniform can unintentionally appear to pose a threat to someone who is in the midst of either a mental health or substance abuse crisis.

In no other medical emergency do we expect people to communicate with someone with a gun, Brouk said.

Brouk referenced the recent police shooting of a Bronx man who was experiencing a mental health crisis and was in possession of a knife when his father called a 311 nonemergency government services line for help with his son.

In Rochester, Prude, 41, had been visiting his brothers family when he ran out of the house with few clothes on during a freezing night in March 2020. His brother Joe called 911, worried that Daniel  who struggled with suicidal thoughts and was thought to be in the middle of a psychotic episode  would hurt himself and told police as much.

Police who responded placed a spit hood over Daniels head and forcefully restrained him. He died one week later after suffering brain damage during the encounter. A medical examiners report ruled the death a homicide, partly from asphyxiation.

I placed a phone call for my brother to get help, not for my brother to get lynched, Joe Prude said during a press conference months after the incident.

The death kicked off local and statewide cries for less policing in similar situations, with Democratic legislators and advocates calling instead for a public health-based approach.

Retired Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox, who led the department for about two years beginning in 2015, has been a vocal supporter of the bill. At the start of his career in Albany, the city had a mobile crisis team in place to do almost exactly what Daniels Law would mandate, he said. But the program was subject to budget cuts and underfunding, Cox said.



Cox, who now works with a criminal justice reform organization called Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, said that law enforcement has increasingly been tasked with responding to calls that arent in officers purview, including mental health and substance abuse emergencies.

The simple fact of the matter is that it shouldnt take a 911 call to solve a mental health issue, Cox said. And we need to have other people that are available to respond to that crisis.

Police presence would still be likely in cases where a person in crisis could potentially have a weapon that would present a danger to themselves or others, Cox said. The law does not call for an across-the-board transition away from policing, he added, emphasizing that police and mental health responders would work collaboratively.

For example, if someone is threatening to take their own life but has a gun, Cox said both a police presence and people trained in mental health crises would need to respond, though the mental crisis responder might take the lead to de-escalate the situation.
ALBANY  Paychecks for roughly 83,000 state workers are set to be processed this week after lawmakers returned to the Capitol and passed a second budget extender on Monday.

The one-week extension puts the Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul on a new timeline to potentially pass a $227 billion budget by April 17.

Assembly Minority Leader Pro Tempore Andy Goodell, a Chautauqua County Republican, used the previously unscheduled legislative session to urge Democratic leaders to focus their negotations on issues he said are most important to New Yorkers, including population loss.

Goodell, acknowledging he and his Republican colleagues are not invited to the private budget talks, noted that in the past couple years New York has lost about 800,000 residents, which he said is roughly the populations of Buffalo, Rochester and Albany. That exodus includes a record outmigration of millionaires, who Goodell said have accounted for about 48 percent of the income taxes collected by the state.

My concern is that all the news reports and rumors are that the budget is being held up for issues that in my opinion dont deal with some of the fundamental challenges facing the state, Goodell said, highlighting that Florida has about 2 million more residents than New York and more jobs. Our budget negotiations should be focused on how do we make New York more competitive. ... Sadly, that does not appear to be on the agenda.

Assemblywoman Helene E. Weinstein, a Brooklyn Democrat, assured Goodell that all of these are issues that are being discussed.

Minutes before the Assembly voted unanimously to approve the budget extender  a $1.98 billion allocation  Speaker Carl E. Heastie dismissively cast aside questions about whether the negotiations involve horse trading in which the Democratic leaders agree to some policy measures in exchange for concessions on others.

Most of the oxygen is still on discussing bail, Heastie said. It doesnt leave a lot of room for other discussions.



Heastie provided no details on their negotiations regarding changes to bail statutes or Hochuls plan to infuse the state with 800,000 new housing units. He said no agreement on any changes to the bail statutues is close.

Legislative sources told the Times Union last week the governors office and Democrats in control of the Legislature had 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 years budget talks, lawmakers have said.

The governors 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.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli sent a letter to Hochul last week noting that the paper checks for government workers needed 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.

The salaries of legislators are on hold when the budget is late due to state law, but their staff members are paid.

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.

Its unclear how much it cost taxpayers to bring the lawmakers back to Albany on Monday for the extender vote. Many are paid for travel, meals and lodging if they stay overnight.
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ALBANY  Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday she is nominating Court of Appeals Associate Judge Rowan D. Wilson to become the next chief judge and also that she intends to select former state Solicitor General Caitlin J. Halligan to replace Wilson on the bench as an associate judge.

The nominations are part of an unprecedented move that could face legal challenges but was immediately embraced by many Democratic lawmakers, including progressives, who have urged the governor to move the states highest court away from what they believe is a conservative majority.

Judge Wilsons sterling record of upholding justice and fairness makes him well-suited to lead the court at this critical time, Hochul said in a statement.

If confirmed by the state Senate, Wilson would be the states first Black chief judge.

The decision by the governor follows the historic rejection by the state Senate of her initial pick to lead the states highest court, Justice Hector D. LaSalle. She subsequently struck a deal with the Legislature to alter the way in which a governor nominates judges to the Court of Appeals.

Last month, Hochul proposed a plan to allow her to select a sitting judge on the Court of Appeals for the top position and then go back to the same list of finalists for chief judge, selected by the states Commission on Judicial Conduct, to pick a different candidate as a nominee for associate judge.

The Democrat-controlled Legislature quickly agreed to the proposed changes to the states judiciary law, alterations Hochul argues would resolve an unanswered question in the rules for merit-based selections to the Court of Appeals.

Republicans have panned the proposal as an unconstitutional move that gave the appearance of a trade with the Legislature  receiving one pick in exchange for another on the court.

Both Republicans and good government groups, including the League of Women Voters of New York State, have asserted the selection system used by the governor could be illegal and may lead to a lawsuit. They contend there may have been applicants who wanted to apply for an associate position on the court, but not for chief judge, that did not apply. Those individuals may have been denied their constitutional right to apply for the associate judge position, they added.

We believe it would heavily politicize a sensitive nomination process that centers appropriate qualifications for each court position, and conflicts with the plain language of the state constitution, Citizens Union, the League of Women Voters of New York State and the Committee for Modern Courts said in a statement last month.

On Monday, Ben Weinberg, director of public policy at Citizens Union, reemphasized the groups concerns with the legislation, which was signed into law Monday afternoon following the governors announcement of her nominations.

Were disappointed the law passed and (was) signed into law, Weinberg said in an interview. And were equally disappointed the governor used it so quickly to solve an immediate political problem.

Reinvent Albany and Common Cause/NY recently came out against the legislation that would empower the governor to select more than one judicial nominee from the list for chief judge.

The New York City Bar Association, while not opposed to the bill, urged lawmakers and the governor to pause their consideration and enactment of it, according to a statement last week. They recommended contemplating it following the budget cycle and selection of chief judge.



State Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Chairman Anthony Palumbo told the Times Union the Republican conference is weighing whether to pursue litigation on the issue. He previously described the proposal by Hochul as unconstitutional.

Palumbo successfully sued the Democrat-controlled state Senate earlier this year to force a floor vote on LaSalles nomination, which Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins had denied and said was not required law; a state Supreme Court justice ruled it is required and the case was not appealed.

State Senate Democrats swiftly supported the governors dual nominations announced on Monday, the first day she could announce her nominees by the prescribed timeline in state law.

State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, D-Queens, commended the nominations and said that he is particularly excited about the prospect of Judge Wilson leading our states highest court. Gianaris was credited with being the leading, top-ranked Senate Democrat to oppose LaSalles nomination. His statement came out within minutes of the governors announcement  indicating the governor may have alerted Senate Democrats to her selections before announcing them.

The nomination of Wilson was also immediately celebrated by the Center for Community Alternatives, which waged the progressive fight against LaSalles nomination.

Since last summer, we have called for a nominee who has demonstrated a commitment to safeguarding the rights of New Yorkers and protecting the most vulnerable, Peter Martin, director of judicial accountability at the center, said in a statement.

The progressive group, which is most known for its lobbying on issues like the states bail laws, offered some concerns about Halligan.

While we would not have supported Halligan for chief judge, and while we have reservations about her record, we recognize that she would be a marked improvement from departed Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, Martin said. Given Halligans wide-ranging and in some respects contradictory record, it is vital that the Senate scrutinize her closely in its consideration of her nomination.

Halligan, a partner at the New York City-based law firm Selendy Gay Elsberg, served as state solicitor general from 2001 to 2007. Halligan had been considered multiple times to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by then-President Barack Obama. In 2021, she was placed on the shortlist by the commission for a post on the New York state Court of Appeals.

Halligan also was retained for $31,000 as a consultant by the executive chamber during the LaSalle fight with regard to whether a floor vote was necessary. A spokeswoman for the governors office said Halligan was not consulted on whether the legislation enabling two picks to be made from the chief judge finalist list is legal.
COXSACKIE  If the intent was to quietly open Patrick Henrys Waterfront Tavern this past weekend, the next venture for second-generation Albany restaurateur Dominick Purnomo, it failed.

The pub, in a historic building on a riverfront property that also includes the forthcoming James Newbury Hotel and the already operating The Wire Event Center, hosted about 50 people on an invite-only basis on Thursday. Inside, it seats 48, plus 12 at the bar. Patrick Henrys served 229 customers on Friday, 170 on Saturday, with waits for tables at times stretching to 90 minutes to two hours, according to Purnomo. It maintains a call-ahead waiting list but does not accept reservations except for parties of 10 or larger.

A skilled and frequent user of social media for the Albany restaurants Yonos and dp: An American Brasserie, which he took over last summer after the retirement of his parents, Purnomo deliberately kept online news minimal about Patrick Henrys in recent weeks. At the moment, its only official social media account is on Instagram, @patrickhenryswt, and he didnt formally announce the opening of the tavern until the day before.

And yet it thronged with people, about 80 percent from within a 10-mile radius, Purnomo estimated.

Anticipation was high from the locals, Purnomo said. Weve had 10 to 20 people a day poking their heads in the door while we were working to ask when wed be open.

That is in part because Patrick Henrys is among the components of a $12 million waterfront project that has had a yearslong gestation. Delays were caused by problems including a stop-work order from the village last year after it was discovered that the hotel and The Wire were larger than the approved plans originally submitted by hotel owner Aaron Flach, a property developer based in Greene County. The Wire, with a capacity of about 400 for seated meals and 1,000 for receptions, is already hosting events.

The Patrick Henrys name refers not to the American Founding Father but to the first names of the partners who opened the tavern under that name in 1970, with it surviving until about five years ago. The James Newbury Hotel is named after the founder of an ironworks that once occupied the property and provided metal for World War I and World War II. The Wire is a reference to a cable and wire manufacturer that was in business at the site in the 1950s. The Wire is in the renovated industrial building, while the 46-room hotel is new, and an older, adjoining building holds a ground-floor spa and an upstairs bridal suite.

Purnomo will also operate an upscale, seafood-focused restaurant on the roof of the hotel called Dayline, in honor of the steamers that once plied the Hudson with Albany-to-New York City traffic, as well as the hotels lobby bar. They are due to open when the hotel does over the summer, likely in June, Flach said. The interior designs for the hotel, lobby bar and Dayline are by Glen & Co., a New York City firm known for visually impressive restaurants such as Del Posto, Gabriel Kreuther, Carbone and Empellon, all in Manhattan, and hotels including The Adelphi in Saratoga Springs.

While they are being finished, Patrick Henrys will be in business. It is open Tuesday to Saturday in its first weeks  bar from 3 p.m., kitchen an hour later  with food service ending between 9 and 10 p.m., depending on business, and the bar open later as warranted, Purnomo said. The staff is at 14; Purnomo estimated he would need 25 to 30 to begin serving, by late spring, lunch and dinner seven days a week, especially after outside seating opens. The patio that surrounds two sides of the building will seat 48, according to Purnomo, with a second-floor deck overlooking the Hudson River and adjoining solarium-style room seating almost as many. There are additional dining spaces upstairs for private events.

The general manager of Patrick Henrys is Damien Cross, recently returned to the Capital Region after 16 years in Las Vegas, where he supervised beverage service at casinos including Wynn Resorts properties, Purnomo said. After the hotel opens, Cross will become beverage director for the whole property, according to Purnomo.

Food at Patrick Henrys is overseen by Ian OLeary, chef de cuisine at Yonos. The menu is moderately priced  $8 to $14 appetizers, entrees topping out at $19, pizzas from the gas-fired oven $17 to $19, $8 beer and $9 wine  but Purnomo admits he underestimated the thirst for signature cocktails on opening weekend.

I thought it would be more of a beer-and-burgers crowd, he said, noting that the two-patty smashburger is $14. Instead, patrons in two days ordered more than 75 signature cocktails, priced at $10, or $3 to $4 less than theyd be in Albany, and so many pizzas  200 overall  that the kitchen ran out of dough for a period on Friday night.

It was a good start, Purnomo said. Itll definitely help us get ready for the summer and the hotel opening.

Said Flach, the developer, Im so proud of Dominick and his team. The feedback weve been getting from opening weekend was super exciting.

Patrick Henry's Waterfront Tavern is located at 48 S. River St., Coxsackie. Phone: 518-731-9982. Online: instagram.com/patrickhenryswt.
Wexford chairman Micheal Martin has said a full investigation is under way into the "appalling" racist abuse of Lee Chin during an inter-county challenge match against Tipperary in Carrick-on-Suir on Saturday.

A supporter aimed the abuse at Chin in the closing stages of the match, with the referee subsequently blowing it up early as Wexford players angrily confronted the spectator in question.

Tipp, Wexford and the GPA all subsequently released statement condemning the incident, with Martin confirming that discussions have been taking place over the weekend in relation to the next course of action.

"It's been widely seen at this stage that there were comments of a racial nature made towards our captain Lee Chin," he told RTE's Morning Ireland.

"I think wisely at that stage, the referee called time. I would say we in Wexford are proud of the reaction of our players. I think they called out the action very promptly.

"Its been widely acknowledged since that what happened was appalling, it was wrong and theres no place for it in sport or society."

Asked what steps Wexford would take next, Martin replied: "Ive been talking to the chairman of Tipperary on a number of occasions since.

"Tipperary GAA and ourselves have taken it very seriously. Were also liaising with Croke Park and an investigation has already commenced I would say and is progressing."

In Congress at February, a new anti-racism rule was passed. Any act, deed, word or gesture of a racist nature, now carries a 48-week suspension. A repeat infraction carries 96 weeks.

Martin added: "The rules of the GAA did change at a recent Congress in regards to this particular area, so it is quite defined in relation to the process that will take place, but an investigation will take place now.

"Its important due process does take place and that theres an investigation I would like to see it done quickly.

"I dont want to propose specific suspensions here because that would be to prejudice this particular investigation thats ongoing at the moment but there is a number of options open to the committee up to expulsion from the association depending on how the severity of the particular incident.

"I spoke to Lee yesterday. Its important here to consider a number of factors. Lee first of all, and his family because generally when anything is said to players of any nature its their family member who will take it to heart more.

"Players, to a degree are used to this, not that they should be used to it. Lee has spoken previously about this.

"Hes also spoken about the importance of challenging this type of behaviour, not just for himself but for the players who follow in his footsteps."
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with a delegation from Taiwan led by Liu Chao-shiuan, co-president of the Cross-Strait CEO Summit, in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- During a meeting with a delegation from Taiwan on Monday, China's top political advisor Wang Huning stressed that the mainland will always respect, care for and work to bring benefits to Taiwan compatriots.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, met with the delegation led by Liu Chao-shiuan, co-president of the Cross-Strait CEO Summit, in Beijing.

The mainland will fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and the CPC's overall policy for the resolution of the Taiwan question in the new era, and work to keep cross-Strait relations on the right track, Wang said.

Efforts will be made to ensure that Taiwan compatriots and their businesses are willing to invest on the mainland, integrate into the development of the mainland and prosper on the mainland, and that they can benefit from the mainland's development and share the glory of national rejuvenation, he said.

Wang stressed that the mainland is committed to safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but this cannot be realized with the existence of "Taiwan independence."

He called for joint efforts across the Strait to work against external interference and the separatist activities of "Taiwan independence" forces, and to strive for the great cause of national reunification and the cause of national rejuvenation.

Liu said he hopes that the Cross-Strait CEO Summit, which was established in parallel in Beijing and Taipei for better economic and trade exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan, will play a greater role in deepening cross-Strait industrial cooperation and integrated development, to bring benefits to people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and contribute to national rejuvenation. 
[April 09, 2023] REPT BATTERO Brings Wending Technology and Latest Battery Products to IBSE 2023, Introducing Game-Changing Solutions to Accelerate EV Development

ORLANDO, Fl., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- REPT BATTERO Energy Co., Ltd. ("REPT BATTERO" or "the Company"), a leading new energy solution provider backed by China's stainless steel and nickel giant Tsingshan Group, showcased its latest state-of-the-art products at the International Battery Seminar & Exhibit (IBSE) 2023, the world's longest-running trade show in the battery industry, in Orlando, Florida. REPT BATTERO's most well-received battery products tailor-made for Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and EVs, including LFP280Ah, LFP230Ah, LFP100Ah, and LFP50Ah, were on full display at Booth 303 where visitors were also introduced to its "Wending" technology, a revolutionary solution designed by the Company to accelerate the performance of EV batteries. "The relentless pursuit of quality and exceeding customer expectations is the driving force behind our company's breakthroughs and innovations. With it in mind, we have developed and launched the "Wending Battery" technology, a game-changing solution that marks another significant milestone on our journey to bring meaningful impact to the development of new energy. We believe this new solution will strengthen our technological prowess to deliver safer and cleaner energy products as we plan to expand our footprints in Indonesia, France and North America in the near future," said Dr. Cao Hui, chairman and CEO of REPT BATTERO.



The 40th edition of IBSE this year once again gathered key thought leaders and industry experts under the same roof, offering audiences informed insights into significant advances in materials, product development, manufacturing, and application for all battery systems and enabling technologies. Among them included Dr John Liu, a special invitied consultant froon the University of Texas at Austin, with two decades of experience in battery research, who presented a keynote speech on strategies to improve the energy density, safety, and lifespan of lithium-ion batteries for energy storage, as well as how its Wending technology enables a paradigm shift that accelerates the adoption of EV.

REPT BATTERO's Wending battery has made remarkable strides in increasing the space utilization rate by more than 7%, boasting an unprecedented volumetric energy density of 450 Wh/L that has effectively set a new industry benchmark. With this momentous progress, the Wending battery has cleared the way for an impressive driving range of up to 700 kilometers on a single charge, laying to rest the long-standing apprehension of range anxiety that has plagued the EV industry. In addition to the breakthrough that allows electric vehicles to embark on long-distance voyages without the fear of running out of charge, the superior energy density of the Wending battery has also it an ideal power source for commercial and special vehicles that required higher battery capacity and performance, unlocking the potential of EVs as a sustainable mode of transportation to pave way for a greener future. Meanwhile, REPT BATTERO also introduced its liquid-cooling ESS which is characterized by its higher system integration and higher energy density. Compared with the 3.7MWh 40ft shipping container, the 7.6MWh system features a 100% increase in its energy density. Additionally, REPT BATTERO also brought to the event its 72Ah battery cell  its latest product that boasts expanded capacity compared with its last-gen 50Ah products, with the charge cycles increased up to 6000 to 8000 times. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rept-battero-brings-wending-technology-and-latest-battery-products-to-ibse-2023-introducing-game-changing-solutions-to-accelerate-ev-development-301792922.html SOURCE REPT BATTERO

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[April 10, 2023] CMC Telecom wins two awards at the Asian Telecom Awards 2023

HANOI, Vietnam, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 6, the organizers of the Asia Telecom Awards - Asian Telecom Awards 2023 officially announced the list of winners. CMC Telecom is the only Vietnamese representative to be named the winner in both the Cloud and Infrastructure categories. With 2 awards, Cloud Initiative of the Year and Infrastructure Initiative of the Year, CMC Telecom was honored to become the only Vietnamese representative to receive the most prestigious telecommunications award on this continent, along with corporations and companies Asia's leading technology telecommunications such as Tencent, Singtel, China Mobile International, Hong Kong Telecom, Telekom Malaysia, Colt Technology Services, Starhub... Mr. Ngo Trong Hieu, CEO of CMC Telecom said: "CMC Telecom is honored to represent Vietnam alongside leading technology companies in Asia. As CMC Telecom celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, winning two Innovation Awards for Cloud and Infrastructure are a well-deserved recognition for our ongoing efforts to achieve our long-term goal of offering World Class standard services."



Experts from the Big 4 (Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and PwC) evaluate projects in the category of innovative infrastructure using criteria such as business effectiveness, technical requirements, bright operability in according to international standards. The neutral Data Center (DC) ecosystem, particularly CMC DC Tan Thuan, the most modern and secure DC in Vietnam, is one of the key elements that contributed to CMC Telecom receiving the highest score for the "Infrastructure Initiative of the Year" award. CMC DC Tan Thuan is the first new generation data center in Vietnam with PCI DSS, TVRA, and Uptime Tier III certifications for both Design and Built.

Despite being impacted by the Covid epidemic, CMC Telecom has still made great strides in the data center industry: Revenue increased by almost 20% in 2022. In which, CMC Telecom's DC market share in the Banking - Finance - Insurance sector has led the market (market share accounted for 40% in the last 3 years). Due to its capability to concurrently connect and manage the top 3 cloud computing services in the world, namely AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and AWS, CMC Cloud from CMC Telecom also won the "Cloud Initiative of the Year" award. CMC Cloud is a cloud computing platform "made in Vietnam" researched and developed by CMC Telecom since 2015 which currently holds the No. 1 spot in terms of domestic cloud market share. Serving thousands of customers who are undergoing digital transformation in industries like finance and banking, e-commerce, retail, logistics, education, etc., CMC Cloud has the chance to constantly innovate and develop to provide services with the highest level of flexibility, stability, and security. The CMC Cloud ecosystem consists of 9 groups of products and services: compute, storage, networking, databases, containers, management & governance, content delivery, automation, and security. Businesses can easily modify resource traffic to meet usage requirements over various time periods and only pay for actual usage. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cmc-telecom-wins-two-awards-at-the-asian-telecom-awards-2023-301793021.html SOURCE CMC Telecom

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[April 10, 2023] Kelly Davis takes VP post at New Energy Blue: staff expanding to produce lowest-carbon bioenergy

LANCASTER, Pa., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New Energy Blue announced the hiring of bioenergy veteran Kelly Davis as Vice President, a new position. Davis will augment the company's technical, regulatory, and operations expertise as it staffs up to build out a series of clean-tech biomass refineries, which will produce some of the lowest-carbon biobased fuels and chemicals from corn stalks, wheat straw, and, in the future, perennial grasses. She joins New Energy Blue after a decade as Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs with the Renewable Fuels Association. A chemist by training and self-described "producer at heart," she also brings three decades of biofuels experience in quality management, production, and marketing. "We're building our first biomass refinery here in the U.S., optimizing a process proven by a commercial operation in Denmark," says Thomas Corle, CEO and co-founder. "HavingKelly's counsel from this point forward will be invaluable. I've worked with her and witnessed the full spectrum of her abilities since the late '90s. She knows the biofuels industry inside and out, and there's almost nothing she can't do."



"I've never taken on an easy job," says Davis of her move to New Energy Blue. "The irresistible challenge here is turning corn stalks into cellulosic ethanoland doing it profitably at commercial scale. That's the holy grail of the bioenergy business. That's what excites me." Davis joins the team planning the New Energy Freedom Biomass Refinery for a site outside Mason City, Iowa. The project can keep over one million tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere every yearequivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road, achieved in part by replacing fuels and chemicals now produced from oil and gas refining.

Working side-by-side with local Iowa farmers, famous for their high-yielding corn fields, Davis will source their crop residue for conversion into second-generation fuels. She will also develop expanded uses for the clean lignin produced, a natural binder for replacing oil-derived bitumen in road paving and many other applications. For Kelly Davis, it's like preparing 40 years for this opportunity. "I want the next ten years of my career to be as exciting as the first ten." CONTACT

Roger Moore

717-314-9774

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kelly-davis-takes-vp-post-at-new-energy-blue-staff-expanding-to-produce-lowest-carbon-bioenergy-301792174.html SOURCE New Energy Blue

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[April 10, 2023] VIRAL COMEDIAN JIMMIE LEE-THE JERSEY OUTLAW GOES DANGEROUSLY FUNNY IN SEASON 7 PREMIERE

Comedy TV Personality Jimmie Lee The Jersey Outlaw brings his high energy comedy back to the streets, with guaranteed pandemonium and mayhem. NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilder and crazier than ever, Viral Comedy TV Personality Jimmie Lee- The Jersey Outlaw has kicked off his Season 7 Premiere in Hollywood last month. Jimmie's unique brand of street comedy and dynamic persona has captivated the crowds and fans and it's totally off the charts. Lee's style of comedy is more old school style, with insults and zingers and one liners with a lot of Jersey attitude. Jimmie Lee is shooting now in Season 7 and has gone viral on all social media platforms, including recent media on Fox News LA, Newsmax and talk shows. To say Jimmie Lee (who goes by the surname "The Jersey Outlaw") is a character is an understatement. Never before has anyone performed on the streets with the bravado and outrageous comedy style of the famous Jersey Outlaw. Lee's comedy is not politically correct in any way; but it is good natured. Jimmie's philosophy is that the more shocking and over the top and crazy it is, the more entertaining it is. And it seems to be working quite well for Lee, who has built a viral following of adoring fans. The Jersey Outlaw performs in a leather jacket with dark sunglasses and security guards, and creates a "big vibe" as soon as he hits the streets. It's always a big scene and its 'no holds barred' and guaranteed pandemonium andmayhem when Jimmie Lee is in the house.



Be sure to watch Jimmie Lee on the streets as he has scheduled shoots this spring in NYC, Las Vegas, Hollywood and more. Ripley may have said "Believe It or Not", but he never saw or met Jimmie Lee.

Check out Jimmie Lee's Season 7 Premiere Shoot in Hollywood! https://youtu.be/02ApC3KgOFM For more on Jimmie Lee: Official Website

https://www.thejerseyoutlaww.com/ Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thejerseyoutlaw/?hl=en YouTube

Jimmie Lee The Jersey Outlaw

https://youtube.com/c/JimmieLeeTheJerseyOutlaw TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@thejerseyoutlaw?lang=en Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1134414910 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/viral-comedian-jimmie-lee-the-jersey-outlaw-goes-dangerously-funny-in-season-7-premiere-301792892.html SOURCE Jimmie Lee

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[April 10, 2023] Cathedra Bitcoin Announces Closing of Debt Settlement

(Block Height: 784,711) - Cathedra Bitcoin Inc. (TSX-V: CBIT; OTCQX: CBTTF) ("Cathedra" or the "Company"), a Bitcoin company that develops and operates world-class bitcoin mining infrastructure, is pleased to announce that the Company has settled (the "Debt Settlement") a portion of the outstanding principal amount of Debentures (as defined below) equal to C$2,500,000 into 18,518,518 common shares of the Company (the "Shares"). The Shares were issued at a deemed price of C$0.135 per Share. The debt is payable to certain debenture holders (the "Debenture Holders") in respect of 3.5% senior secured convertible debentures (the "Debentures") of the Company due November 11, 2024 (the "Maturity Date"). The aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding as of the date hereof is $19,895,679.27. The Debt Settlement is subject to the receipt of final approval of the TSXV. The Company expects that the Debt Settlement will assist the Company in preserving its cash for working capital. The remaining principal amount of Debentures outstanding following the Debt Settlement will continue to bear interest at a rate of 3.5% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year until the Maturity Date. All securities issued pursuant to the Debt Settlement are subject to a four month and one day hold period from the date hereof. About Cathedra Bitcoin Cathedra Bitcoin Inc. (TSX-V: CBIT; OTCQX: CBTTF) is a Bitcoin company that develops and operates world-class bitcoin mining infrastructure. Cathedra believes sound money and abundant energy are the fundamental ingredients to human progress and is committed to advancing both by working closely with the energy sector to secure the Bitcoin network. Today, Cathedra's diversified bitcoin mining operations total 247 PH/s and span three states and five locations in the United States. The Company is focused on expanding its portfolio of hash rate through a diversified approach to site selection and operations, utilizing multiple energy sources across various jurisdictions. For more information about Cathedra, visit cathedra.com or follow Company news on Twitter at @CathedraBitcoin or on Telegram at @CathedraBitcoin.



Cautionary Statement Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. 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.

Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. The information in this release about future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking information. Other forward-looking information includes but is not limited to information concerning: the Debt Settlement, the approval of the TSXV, the intentions and future actions of senior management, the intentions, plans and future actions of the Company, as well as the Company's ability to successfully mine digital currency; revenue increasing as currently anticipated; the ability to profitably liquidate current and future digital currency inventory; volatility of network difficulty and, digital currency prices and the resulting significant negative impact on the Company's operations; the construction and operation of expanded blockchain infrastructure as currently planned; and the regulatory environment of cryptocurrency in applicable jurisdictions. Any statements that involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time it was made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The Company has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of the Company's normal course of business. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, 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 information. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005141/en/

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[April 10, 2023] E Ink Launches E Ink Kaleido 3 Outdoor ePaper Technology

E Ink (8069.TWO), the originator, pioneer, and global commercial leader in ePaper technology, today announced its latest color ePaper technology, E Ink Kaleido 3 Outdoor. This new, print-color ePaper is designed specifically for Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) advertising signage and is suitable for outdoor use in varying temperature ranges. It offers dynamic color display capabilities, poster-like visual quality, and a low-carbon and eco-friendly display solution. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005208/en/ E Ink Kaleido 3 Outdoor ePaper technology. (Photo: Business Wire) E Ink Kaleido 3 Outdoor is based on print-color ePaper technology and utilizes an RGB color filter array on black and white electronic paper film to create a warm and colorful display, offering 4,096 colors. E Ink Kaleido 3 Outdoor offers vivid color image information and clear text, providing a comfortable and non-irritating color digital content viewing experience with a visual impact close to that of color printed paper signage. E Ink Kaleido 3 Outdoor's operating temperature range is between -15C to 65C, which allows it to operate in extremely cold or hot areas without the need for expensive, high-energy-consuming heating or cooling devices, reducing additional power consumption. Many European countries are facing an energy crisis and new regulations have been put in place to limit the operating hours of digital signage. However, E Ink Kaleido 3 Outdoor uses very little powe, and can even run on renewable energy from solar panels, without relying on electricity from the grid. That means it can replace energy-hungry digital signage and conform to the new restrictions. When used for outdoor information displays, E Ink Kaleido 3 Outdoor color ePaper allows for quick and easy updates of information. It's much more functional and environmentally friendly than traditional paper posters and display boards.



"In the global trend towards low-carbon and sustainable digital development, ePaper's ultra-low power consumption and non-light pollution characteristics make it the best display solution for outdoor advertising signage," said Johnson Lee, CEO of E Ink Holdings. "Building on E Ink Kaleido's technology, E Ink has dedicated itself to developing wide-temperature color ePaper technology suitable for outdoor applications, which can meet customers' expectations for dynamic display, energy saving, environmental protection, and non-light pollution in outdoor advertising." Available in sizes ranging from 13.3 inches to 42 inches, the latest E Ink Kaleido 3 Outdoor color ePaper technology will be showcased at Touch Taiwan 2023 from April 19-21, 2023. Visitors are welcome to visit E Ink's booth (#M901) at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center during the exhibition. E Ink Kaleido 3 Outdoor will also be on exhibit at Display Week from May 23-25 in E Ink's booth #807 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

With the trend towards ESG sustainable development, digital transformation places more emphasis on low-carbon and energy-saving characteristics. ePaper has the features of sunlight readability, low power consumption, and compatibility with solar power systems, making it suitable as an environmentally friendly outdoor ePaper signage. E Ink compared the impact of 32-inch paper advertisements, LCD screens, and ePaper screens on carbon emissions for outdoor digital signage. If 100,000 ePaper signage operate for 20 hours a day, update their ads four times per hour, and last for five years, the use of ePaper signage is estimated to reduce CO 2 emissions by 500,000 tons compared to LCD signage. Compared to traditional paper posters that are printed once and disposed of, the use of ePaper signage can reduce CO 2 emissions by about 4 million tons. About E Ink E Ink Holdings Inc. (8069.TWO), based on technology from MIT's Media Lab, provides an ideal display medium for applications spanning eReaders and eNotes, retail, home, hospital, transportation, logistics, and more, enabling customers to put displays in locations previously impossible. E Ink's electrophoretic display products make it the worldwide leader for ePaper. Its low power displays enable customers to reach their sustainability goals, and E Ink has pledged using 100% renewable energy in 2030 and reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040. E Ink is a member of the Climate Pledge, has joined the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), and has been listed as one of the Asia-Pacific Climate Leaders by the Financial Times, Nikkei and Statista in 2022. Listed in Taiwan's Taipei Exchange (TPEx) and the Luxembourg market, E Ink Holdings is now the world's largest supplier of ePaper displays. For more information please visit www.eink.com. E Ink. We Make Surfaces Smart and Green. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005208/en/

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[April 10, 2023] AMERICAN BATTERY FACTORY NAMES ZHENFANG "JIM" GE AS CEO

Ge takes helm of ABF as it prepares to build first lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell gigafactory in Tucson, Arizona AMERICAN FORK, Utah, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Battery Factory Inc. (ABF), an emerging battery manufacturer leading the development of the first network of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell gigafactories in the United States, today announced the appointment of Zhenfang "Jim" Ge as chief executive officer. Ge co-founded ABF in 2021 and has acted as chairman since that time. Ge replaces Paul Charles as CEO, who resigned in early 2023 to pursue other endeavors. Ge will draw on his intimate understanding of China's lithium-ion battery manufacturing and supply chain dominance in his capacity as CEO. "We talk a lot about generating renewable energy as a society, but not about how to store it," said Ge. "Without batteries, moving to an entirely green energy economy is impossible. As our network grows, we will begin to fulfill our mission of making energy independence and renewable energy a reality for the United States." Ge's decade of experience sourcing and supplying Lithium-ion batteries to top product manufacturing companies, along with his passion for providing high-quality solutions to the energy storage sector, has resulted in industry-leading innovation and solutions that will position ABF as the leader in U.S.-based LFP productionwhile reducing foreign dependency.



Originally from China, Ge immigrated to the United States and became a U.S. citizen, founding several companies. In 2014 he embarked on his "energy for everyone" journey, which included launching Lion Energy, a developer and manufacturer of high-quality energy storage products for personal and commercial use. Ge and the other founders subsequently recognized the need to onshore a U.S.-based LFP battery supply chain to eliminate foreign dependency. To accomplish this, they created and incubated ABF to not only be its domestic battery cell supplier but to also establish ABF as an independent manufacturer for all pack integrators and energy storage solution providers. ABF announced in December 2022 that it had selected Tucson, Ariz. as the site for its first U.S.-based gigafactory. The site will serve as ABF's official headquarters and create approximately 300 high-paying jobs in the first phase of the factory's opening, scaling up to 1,000 cumulative jobs.

"Securing Tucson as our headquarters and first giga-factory is one of the crowning achievements and legacy of Paul Charles' tenure at CEO," said Ge. "Charles' tireless commitment to find the perfect location for us to transform energy storage has positioned ABF to be successful in the years and decades ahead." The LFP battery cell chemistry that ABF will employ at its U.S. factories will allow for the production of the safest, longest-lasting, most reliable and eco-friendly batteries currently available. Avoiding the use of nickel and cobalt, ABF's materials will be more ethically sourced and allow for optimized performance in energy storage systems. ABF's cells will empower consumers, households and business owners as well as electric utilities and independent power producers across the United States to automate the management of their own inventory of power, reduce the intermittency currently caused by renewables, and gain the independence to optimize and transform energy usage on their own terms. About American Battery Factory American Battery Factory Inc., a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery cell manufacturer, is developing the first-ever network of safe LFP cell giga-factories in the United States. The company is dedicated to making energy independence and renewable energy a reality for the United States by creating a domestic battery supply chain. Along with creating domestic manufacturing jobs, ABF will play a crucial role in meeting federal and state government climate change initiatives and "Made-in-USA" national security requirements. For more information on American Battery Factory, please visit www.americanbatteryfactory.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-battery-factory-names-zhenfang-jim-ge-as-ceo-301792978.html SOURCE American Battery Factory

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[April 10, 2023] Aristocrat Gaming to Showcase First-to-Market Products at SAGSE LATAM 2023

LAS VEGAS, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With a continued investment in innovation in international markets, Aristocrat Gaming is set to bring an exciting collection of new cutting-edge games and cabinets to SAGSE LATAM, taking place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from April 19-20, 2023. Aristocrat Gaming is proud to present the latest innovations for the LATAM market, including: Bao Zhu Zhao Fu  (Market Debut) - Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Blue Festival and Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Red Festival feature triple metamorphic and Hold & Spin.

Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Blue Festival and Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Red Festival feature triple metamorphic and Hold & Spin. Grand Star Platinum  and Grand Star Wealth  (SAGSE Debut) - Redesigned specifically for the LATAM markets, with configuration options to meet individual needs.

and Redesigned specifically for the LATAM markets, with configuration options to meet individual needs. Cashman Double Bingo! Sun & Moon  (SAGSE Debut) - Following the success of its predecessor, Cashman Bingo, this game is highly configurable for all LAAM markets.

Following the success of its predecessor, Cashman Bingo, this game is highly configurable for all LAAM markets. The MarsX  Portrait with Single Curve LCD (LATAM Debut) - Featuring dynamic games like Bao Zhu Zhao Fu, Mighty Cash Ultra 88 and Golds Stacks 88 Empire.

- Featuring dynamic games like Bao Zhu Zhao Fu, Mighty Cash Ultra 88 and Golds Stacks 88 Empire. The MarsX Upright with Dual Screen Now available across LATAM, featuring Mighty Cash Ultra, Fu Dai Lian Lian and Buffalo Gold Revolution.



Images Located Here "Our goal for this year's SAGSE is to showcase our new and first-to-market products, while also demonstrating to our customers across the LATAM market that we have an exciting game roadmap to serve all types of players," said Tom O'Brien, President of Americas & EMEA of Aristocrat Gaming.

Visit Aristocrat Gaming on stand #134A. ABOUT ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Aristocrat Technologies Inc. is a subsidiary of Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL), a global games leader with more than 6,500 employees. The company is licensed in over 300 gaming jurisdictions, operates in more than 90 countries, and offers a unique blend of products and services. The company is the leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of Class III games as well as Class II Innovations for Native American casinos and emerging markets. The company's mission is to bring joy to life through the power of play. Its values are rooted in creativity and technology, and the company has a rich history of innovation that has shaped the gaming industry over many decades. For further information, visit the company's website at www.aristocratgaming.com. Media Contacts:

Oriana Branon

[email protected] Chelsea Eugenio

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aristocrat-gaming-to-showcase-first-to-market-products-at-sagse-latam-2023-301792753.html SOURCE Aristocrat Technologies Inc.

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Rabobank, a customer-focused cooperative bank in the Netherlands, has successfully transformed into a digital banking force using Genesys (News - Alert) Cloud CX, a global cloud leader in experience orchestration. The move has helped Rabobank to create a conversational banking service model for the Dutch market.







Before implementing Genesys Cloud CX, Rabobank was struggling with siloed operations due to legacy on-premises products. The bank's contact center teams didn't have a unified view of the customer, and it couldn't capture meaningful real-time data. Additionally, essential requirements like internet protocol telephony, routing and reporting were complex and difficult to manage, compounded by an increased demand for service.

To gain scale and meet consumer expectations for fast, personalized service, Rabobank moved to the all-in-one Genesys Cloud CX solution to support 15,000 users across 80 departments. The solution's extensive artificial intelligence (AI) and automation capabilities helped Rabobank orchestrate seamless customer and employee experiences across self and human-assisted interactions. The composability of the Genesys Cloud CX platform also increased Rabobank's velocity of innovation, giving it a competitive edge.

Today, Rabobank offers a new conversational banking service model that runs entirely on the Genesys Cloud CX solution. Personalization and reducing customer effort were top priorities for Rabobank. Shifting from voice to digital-first conversational banking has resulted in greater convenience and customer satisfaction rates of 90% and above for digital channels.

The bank achieved this by introducing two virtual assistants via the Genesys Open Bot connector that answers approximately 45% of all questions around the clock. Rabobank also implemented new channel strategies, resulting in a 5% increase in web messaging volume, which is more efficient than call handling and allows agents to serve more customers without increasing headcount.

The bank's new cloud contact center platform has advanced its resilience and agility, significantly reducing cost and risk for the business, clients, and employees, and positively impacted top and bottom lines as well as KPIs.

With a mission to create a positive influence on people and society through financial services, Rabobank's operations comprise 84 branches, a central organization, and specialized international offices. As a cooperative bank, it serves retail and corporate clients in the Netherlands that focus on the global food and agriculture sectors.

The successful transformation of Rabobank is an excellent example of how digital and AI innovation can be leveraged to improve customer satisfaction and scale for financial service companies. Genesys' expertise in conversational AI has enabled Rabobank to orchestrate seamless customer and employee experiences, leading to improved customer satisfaction and cost savings. The transformation has positioned Rabobank as a digital banking leader in the Netherlands, changing the customer experience landscape.
Cabot Corporation to Announce Second Quarter 2023 Operating Results

Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) announced today that it will release operating results for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 on Monday, May 8, 2023, after market close. The Company will host a conference call and live webcast to review the second quarter results beginning at 8:00 am (ET) on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

The call will be webcast by Notified and may be accessed at Cabot's website at https://cabotog.gcs-web.com/. If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call and accompanying slide presentation will be archived on the Company's website at https://cabotog.gcs-web.com/.

ABOUT CABOT CORPORATION

Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is a leading provider of reinforcing carbons, specialty carbons, battery materials, engineered elastomer composites, inkjet colorants, masterbatches and conductive compounds, fumed metal oxides and aerogel. For more information on Cabot, please visit the company's website at cabotcorp.com.







Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in the press release regarding Cabot's business that are not historical facts are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005291/en/
The UAE Cabinet has approved 24 national initiatives aimed at doubling its re-exports within the next seven years, benefiting from its 50 commercial offices around the world.

This was revealed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who chaired the UAE Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi, a WAM report said.

Sheikh Mohammed said: We will double the countrys re-export by developing specialised areas in cooperation with local governments, establishing the International Trade Links Centre, launching supportive programmes and increasing foreign investments in the service sector.

Attracting talent

The meeting reviewed more than 19 initiatives to attract talents to the country. The UAE ranked second globally in Competent Senior Managers indicator. Our goal is to attract the best talents in the world, as we continue to empower and enable our Emirati talents and national cadres.

He noted: We reviewed the results of the Higher Commission Free Trade Negotiations. We signed 4 international agreements with 4 countries. The positive impact of international agreements is reflected clearly on the numbers of the UAEs foreign trade."

Sheikh Mohammed stated: The meeting approved hosting the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conversation Congress (IUCN) in 2025, which attracts more than 10,000 experts from more than 160 countries. The UAE will remain a leading hub for sustainability, nature conservation and protection.

We approved the reformation of the UAE Council for Digital Wellbeing for three years, chaired by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the reformation of the UAE Genomics Council, chaired by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, he concluded.

National Agenda for Re-Export development 2030

The UAE Cabinet approved the national agenda for re-export development 2030, which includes 24 initiatives and programmes, aiming to achieving 50% increase in the added value of the UAE economy through re-exports by 2030, through benefiting from the 50 integrated commercial representative offices for the UAE in five continents across the world. The agendas objectives include doubling the re-exports by 2030.

Higher Commission Free Trade Negotiations

The Cabinet reviewed the achievements of the Higher Commission Free Trade Negotiations during 2022, which included the four comprehensive economic partnership agreements (CEPA) signed between the UAE, India, Israel, Indonesia and Turkiye, in addition to negotiations on new comprehensive economic partnership agreements with various trading partners.

The cabinet reviewed a report about the 2022 economic results of the UAEs comprehensive partnership agreement with the Republic of India. The volume of non-oil trade between the two countries reached AED79.3 billion ($22 billion) until end of September 2022, achieving 23% growth compared to the same period of 2021 and 133% growth compared to 2020.

The volume of UAE non-oil exports to India recorded AED19.7 billion in the same period, with a growth rate of 12% compared to the same period in 2021 and 154% compared to 2020.

The meeting also reviewed the 2022 achievements of the Talent Committee, and the UAEs remarkable rankings in the World Talent Ranking 2022 by IMD, along with the initiatives and programmes launched by the Commission, which included the implementation of about 19 initiatives.

New Federal Laws

The UAE Cabinet approved a new Federal Law to replace the federal decree law No (16) of 2018 on Federal Government Real Estate Property. The new law aims at organising Federal Government properties, in line with the UAE vision.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved a new federal law to replace the Federal Law No (26) of 1981 on Maritime Commercial law, through developing special legislation, allowing the foreign shipowners to registering the ship under the UAE flag, and to granting the country nationality to the ship in accordance with the countrys rules and requirements, and the best international practices.

The meeting approved a Federal Decree Law about reorganising the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), in addition to a ministerial decision adopting the UAEs approach for aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (Drones) products and systems in the country.

International agreements

The UAE Cabinet approved the ratification of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Turkiye. In addition, the Cabinet approved an agreement with Cote d'Ivoire, as well as an agreement between the government and the International Office of Epizootics (IOE).

Additionally, during the meeting, the cabinet approved the country's accession to Arab Customs Cooperation Agreement, and to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). It also approved the UAEs accession to the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate.

In addition, the meeting approved hosting the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conversation Congress (IUCN) in Abu Dhabi in 2025, which attracts more than 10,000 experts from more than 160 countries, aiming at highlighting the country's efforts in preserving nature and biological diversity. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi to implement this decision, in coordination with the relevant authorities.

Reforming the UAE Council for Digital Wellbeing

The meeting approved the reformation of the UAE Council for Digital Wellbeing for three years, chaired by Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior. The councils new membership includes the minister of Community Development as a Vice President; A representative of the Ministry of Education; A representative of the Ministry of Justice; A representative of the Ministry of Community Development; A representative of the Ministry of Culture and Youth; A representative from the office of the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote work Applications; The Head of the Cyber Security for the UAE Government; A representative of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA); two representatives of the local authorities concerned with smart government and digital transformation; and parents representatives.

Reformation of UAE Genomics Council

The Cabinet approved the reformation of the UAE Genomics Council, chaired by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office.

The board of directors includes Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention; Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology; Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications; Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Department of Health  Abu Dhabi (DoH); Yousif Mohammed Al Serkal, Director-General of Emirates Health Services; Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA); Dr Amer Ahmed Sharif, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Academic Health Corporation (DAHC); Professor Eric Xing President at Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI; and Professor George Church, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School.

The Cabinet meeting also agreed on the reformation of the Emirates Health Services (EHS), chaired by Dr Mohammad Salim Al Olama, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

National Child Protection Policy

UAE Cabinet reviewed during the meeting, the results of the implementation of the National Child Protection Policy in Educational Institutions, which aims to ensure children protection in educational institutions and create a safe and supportive school environment to protect children against occurrences that can threaten their survival and wellbeing in terms of physical, mental, intellectual, educational and moral health.

The meeting was held in the presence of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; Lt General Al Nahyan; and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court.-- TradeArabia News Service
BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with Tiong King Sing, president of Malaysia's Progressive Democratic Party and minister of tourism, arts and culture, on Monday in Beijing.

They exchanged views on implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthening inter-party exchanges and promoting bilateral tourism and cultural cooperation. 
GOP strategy has proven effective in terms of passing legislation.

However . . . Mainstream push back is also gaining momentum.

Here's a peek at both sides of the debate . . .



"Kansas Legislature overrides Gov. Laura Kelly, approving a ban for transgender athletes in girls sports. Our roundtable explores thisand several other measures targeting transgender Kansans."

Whilst we don't endorse it . . . Objectively, there's no denying that it's captivating. Check a right-wing perspective that might get readers fired from any worthwhile corporate job . . .

"This outcry is bizarre. We have worked mightily to accommodate transgender people to an extent far in excess of their presence in the population  five persons in a thousand, or 1.65 million people in a nation of 330 million. This is five one-thousandths of 1% of the population. Yet transgenderism is now the tail that wags the dog of the entire Democratic Party.



"Last week, upset that children cant access puberty blockers and sex-change surgery, protesters stormed the state capitols of Texas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Florida. Transgender activists insist they are victims of genocide and bigotry. They wallow in the noblesse oblige of choosing a life that exposes them to such horrible risks. But this fraught, drama-queen depiction is statistically and anecdotally false. The Biden administration, the Democrats, and the media capitalize on it to blame MAGA Republicans for a problem that is nonexistent. "



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Roundtable reacts: Kansas bans transgender athletes Kansas' Legislature overrides Gov. Laura Kelly, approving a ban for transgender athletes in girls' sports. Our roundtable explores this-and several other measures targeting transgender Kansans. We'll also run through surprises in Missouri's municipal elections. Roundtable reacts: Kansas bans transgender athletes Kansas' Legislature overrides Gov. Laura Kelly, approving a ban for transgender athletes in girls' sports.
Sunday political debate pits local progressive millennials against the upcoming Generation Alpha.



The basics . . .

INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI YOUNGSTER 'BRANDON' CHEERING CHALLENGES PROGRESSIVE 'YOUTH' NARRATIVE!!!

Local GOP politicos are looking to bolster their movement whilst Missouri Democratic Party leaders seem to be admonishing the youngsters for their effective trolling.

From our vantage . . .



Here at TKC we believe that youngsters shouldn't be used as pawns amid the sketchy political discourse and we won't ever have anything negative to say about students.

That's the viewpoint we encourage . . .

The reality is that the politicking on this issue hit critical mass over the weekend.

Missouri Statehouse Rep. Aaron McMullen picked up the most traction by tweeting the youngsters trolling the Prez.

Meanwhile . . .

Blue Missouri Leader Jess Piper Seems to be calling out the youngsters for their naughty reference.



You decide . . .
The concert will take place at the main plaza of Gantry Plaza State Park, next to the Queens Public Library at Hunters Point, on Tuesday, April 25

Due to the forecast of thunderstorms on April 6, Sounds of Cyprus will perform its free pop-up concert at Gantry Plaza State Park on the Long Island City waterfront on Tuesday, April 25, 5-7 PM.

Sounds of Cyprus is a Cypriot orchestra co-founded by Elena Chris and Peter Douskalis in New York City. The group performs the traditional music of Cyprus in varying orchestrations and styles that both consciously honor the time period of composition and period instruments as well as perform with a modern approach. Elena Chris, vocalist, front person, and Creative Director of the group, sings the traditional songs in the Cypriot dialect of Greek, as well as in Turkish for songs that contain lyrics in both languages. Peter Douskalis, Music Director, plays the laouto, oud, mandolin, and guitar in the group, switching between the proper instrument as needed for the authentic and modern orchestration of the pieces. Other instruments of the group are violin/viola played by Alex Tasopoulos, contrabass by Erikos Vlesmas, and percussion by Mark Katsaounis.

The concert will take place at the main plaza of Gantry Plaza State Park, next to the Queens Public Library at Hunters Point, on Tuesday, April 25.

The concert is taking place with the approval of New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historical Preservation.

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: Beyond My Ken
It hits different when Harriet Tubman looks like your grandmother: My painful, powerful trip to Marylands Harriet Tubman country

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway traces the route Tubman is believed to have taken, starting from her enslavers home.
Beatriz Baleeiro is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter for Niagara This Week. Her reporting was funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.
Police continue to investigate after a man was shot in the leg in North York Monday night.
This photo taken on April 9, 2023 shows artillery weapons of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) simulating the launch of precision strikes during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island. The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has accomplished all tasks in the combat readiness patrol and military exercises carried out from April 8 to 10 around the Taiwan Island.

The operations have comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capability of the PLA's multiple services and arms under actual combat conditions. (Xinhua/Han Xueyang)

NANJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has accomplished all tasks in the combat readiness patrol and military exercises carried out from April 8 to 10 around the island of Taiwan.

The operations have comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capability of the PLA's multiple services and arms under actual combat conditions.

Upon the order to launch the operations, multiple task forces of the command, involving the army, navy, air, and rocket forces, were quickly mobilized and assembled to the designated areas for combat deployment, creating an omni-directional deterrence situation around the island.

The air force under the command deployed dozens of J-16 and J-10C fighter jets mounted with live ammunition to carry out multiple waves of strikes on mid- and long-range air targets with the guidance and support of early warning aircraft, jammers and tankers.

Multiple destroyers and frigates from the theater command's naval force created deterrence by advancing on the waters around the island of Taiwan at high speed. Drills were conducted for close-range assault, long-range deterrence, and air and missile defense. The naval formation and submarine-hunting aircraft cooperated to form a joint anti-submarine system.

The operations effectively tested the capabilities of the participating troops to seize control of targeted sea areas, airspace and relevant information, with the support of the joint operations system.

Multiple services and arms of the PLA carried out comprehensive and precise simulated attacks on the key targets in the island and surrounding waters.

The PLA Navy aircraft carrier Shandong formation closely coordinated with the previously deployed navy and air forces of the command to organize exercises and training in airspace control, sea target assault and support through coordinated action.

Zhang Benming, a PLA Air Force senior colonel of the Eastern Theater Command, said that during the deterrence military operations, the troops advanced toward and besieged the island from multiple directions, with their abilities of seizing command, precision strikes and three-dimensional blockade with the support of the joint operations system being comprehensively tested.

The troops are ready and able to fight at any time to resolutely crush any form of attempt to seek "Taiwan independence" and external interference, and they have the courage to fight and the mettle to win, Zhang said. 

This video screenshot taken on April 9, 2023 shows a warplane of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) being refueled during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island. The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has accomplished all tasks in the combat readiness patrol and military exercises carried out from April 8 to 10 around the Taiwan Island.

The operations have comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capability of the PLA's multiple services and arms under actual combat conditions. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 9, 2023 shows a J-15 fighter taking off from aircraft carrier Shandong during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island by the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has accomplished all tasks in the combat readiness patrol and military exercises carried out from April 8 to 10 around the Taiwan Island.

The operations have comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capability of the PLA's multiple services and arms under actual combat conditions. (Photo by An Ni/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 9, 2023 shows artillery weapons of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island. The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has accomplished all tasks in the combat readiness patrol and military exercises carried out from April 8 to 10 around the Taiwan Island.

The operations have comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capability of the PLA's multiple services and arms under actual combat conditions. (Photo by Li Zhenjie/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 9, 2023 shows warplanes of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island. The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has accomplished all tasks in the combat readiness patrol and military exercises carried out from April 8 to 10 around the Taiwan Island.

The operations have comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capability of the PLA's multiple services and arms under actual combat conditions. (Photo by Mei Shaoquan/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 9, 2023 shows a J-15 fighter ready to take off from aircraft carrier Shandong during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island carried out by the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has accomplished all tasks in the combat readiness patrol and military exercises carried out from April 8 to 10 around the Taiwan Island.

The operations have comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capability of the PLA's multiple services and arms under actual combat conditions. (Photo by An Ni/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 7, 2023 shows the rocket force of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) transferring a missile before the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island. The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has accomplished all tasks in the combat readiness patrol and military exercises carried out from April 8 to 10 around the Taiwan Island.

The operations have comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capability of the PLA's multiple services and arms under actual combat conditions. (Photo by Liu Mingsong/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 8, 2023 shows a fighter taking off during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island carried out by the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has accomplished all tasks in the combat readiness patrol and military exercises carried out from April 8 to 10 around the Taiwan Island.

The operations have comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capability of the PLA's multiple services and arms under actual combat conditions. (Photo by Wang Zixiao/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 8, 2023 shows the rocket force of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducting operations during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island. The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has accomplished all tasks in the combat readiness patrol and military exercises carried out from April 8 to 10 around the Taiwan Island.

The operations have comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capability of the PLA's multiple services and arms under actual combat conditions. (Photo by Liu Mingsong/Xinhua)

This video screenshot taken on April 8, 2023 shows a bomber of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducting operations during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island. The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has accomplished all tasks in the combat readiness patrol and military exercises carried out from April 8 to 10 around the Taiwan Island.

The operations have comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capability of the PLA's multiple services and arms under actual combat conditions. (Photo by Yang Yang/Xinhua)
World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Geneva, Switzerland, April 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

GENEVA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China has been a strong supporter of the multilateral trading system, and as a critical economy for the world, China's role in the free and open trading system is very important, said World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua.

Okonjo-Iweala said WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in June 2022 was successful and "China played a very important role in that."

The 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) will be held in February 2024, and "we hope it will be equally successful, but it will need every single WTO member, including China, to work together," she added.

Underpinned by WTO rules, the multilateral trading system has delivered very well for the world, said the director-general.

The director-general called on WTO members to strengthen the multilateral trading system. "It is not a time to decouple into different trading blocs and we should avoid protectionist measures," she said.

According to WTO's annual trade statistics and outlook report released last week, global trade will grow 1.7 percent in 2023, higher than last October's estimate of 1.0 percent. As a "key factor" in this increase, China's adjustment of its COVID-19 measures is expected to boost international trade, the report said.

The director-general pointed out that China's adjustment of COVID-19 measures has been helpful for global trade growth. China is one of the biggest sources of services trade in the world, and the recovery of Chinese outbound tourism will boost the global tourism industry, she added.

As the second largest economy, China is contributing to global trade performance. China "carries a very big weight" because a lot of its trade is not only with developed countries like the United States and European countries, but also with other developing countries, the director-general said.

"We want China to do well (in trade), so that other developing countries...countries in Africa, for instance, can also do well," she said.

The global trade in 2023 faces multiple crises including the ongoing military conflicts in Ukraine, high food prices, tightening monetary policy, the recent banking crisis and climate crisis, she alerted.

The director-general called on WTO members to maintain free and open trade to avoid putting export restrictions or protectionist measures, so that the "free flow of trade can help the world recover from these multiple crises that it's confronting."

"WTO members need to remember that trade is a source of resilience," she said. 

World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Geneva, Switzerland, April 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
How Bester and Nandipha Were Beaten Up by Tanzanian Cops For Resisting Arrest





Thabo Bester aka the Facebook Rapist is seen on a television screen in the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town, South Africa on May 3, 2012. / Gallo Images

A fistfight broke out when Interpol officials and the Tanzanian police nabbed South Africas most wanted fugitives Thabo Bester and his lover Dr Nandipha Magudumana alongside their Mozambican aide.

Bester and his accomplices, who were en route to Kenya in their cross-border escapade, came out second-best in the physical scuffle on Friday night close to the border.





Moments earlier, the trio had attempted to evade law enforcement officials in a high-speed chase but later abandoned their getaway car and tried to flee on foot. However, the authorities stayed on their tracks and eventually caught up with them.

The three suspects were arrested between the cities of Dar es Salaam and Arusha in Tanzania just before midnight on Friday. Arusha is 10km from the Kenyan border.

Insiders in the high echelons of the South African police, who know the details of the coveted arrest, said when Interpol and Tanzanian police pounced, the trio pulled a spirited attempt to resist arrest.

But how were Bester, Magudumana and their Mozambican friend spotted?

Sources said the cops followed a suspicious black SUV with three occupants on board.

These three people were followed from the hotel in Dar es Salaam while driving out to Arusha en route to Kenya. Upon realising they were being followed, they tried to flee. This is where a high-speed chase ensued. These people jumped out of their car and ran on foot, but they were apprehended, said an intelligence source.

Another high-ranking police official in the know told Sunday World the cops wanted to know why Bester, Magudumana, and the Mozambican national were trying to escape.

They were asked why they had tried to run away, and upon searching the car, the police found multiple passports bearing different names of the trio.

They tried to sweet-talk the police but when they realise that they were not being listened to, they started being hostile and became arrogant. They refused to be arrested and the police had to rough them up to enforce authority, said a police source.

Sunday World can reveal the police have moved mountains in their search for Bester since he escaped from Mangaung private prison last year.

Some of the extreme measures the authorities undertook included a counter to Magudumanas claim for a corpse that she alleged was Besters body.

It has since emerged Magudumana claimed another two bodies, one of which she insisted was her fathers remains.

Our sources yesterday revealed that Magudumanas father is very much alive and he was in fact taken for intensive interrogation in the early hours of Saturday.

In her daring act of claiming the bodies of living people, Magudumana sent cops on a wild goose chase that saw them digging multiple graves to disprove her claims.

A top cop said this proves Magudumana was a willing participant since the beginning. The doctor was not just an innocent person who got coerced into a crime, said our mole.

We were not crazy when we denied her access to the body she claimed was of Mr Bester, we knew she was involved in a crime.

In a press briefing organised in haste yesterday, minister of police Bheki Cele, his correctional services and justice counterpart Ronald Lamola, as well as police commissioner General Fannie Masemola, vowed that Bester and Magudumana would be brought to justice.

A South African delegation from the governments security cluster will jet off to Tanzania today to discuss how the two can be brought back home. Once they are in the country the two will be under the watchful eye of highly trained warders at the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria, Sunday World was told.

WIKI HII UTASHINDA TSH MILIONI MOJA KWA TSH 1000 TU,nunua jarida la JINSI ya kugundua wazo sahihi la Biashara.





HAPA Kama tayari unayo, furahia ndani ya Tovuti. Weka 1000 Tu, tembelea www.bizbongo.com au bofyaKama tayari unayo, furahia ndani ya Tovuti.

---
How Nandipha Magudumana stole bodies to help Thabo Bester escape

Magudumana allegedly had to steal three bodies because Bester's initial attempts to escape failed.

Thabo Besters girlfriend, Nandipha Magudumana, allegedly stole three bodies from mortuaries in the Free State in a bid to help him escape from prison.

A Sunday Times report claims the bodies were obtained by Magudumana over a few weeks. This was done before Bester escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022.

Magudumana claimed bodies from mortuaries

Magudumana claimed one of the bodies after saying it was her father.

The body was later found dumped in a river a week later. It still had the mortuarys identification tag attached to the toe, according to the Sunday Times

Besters escape from prison

Bester escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein after it was initially believed he had committed suicide by setting himself alight in his cell.

After initially declaring him dead, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) confirmed at the end of March that the burnt body was actually not that of Bester.

After the fire broke out in Besters cell, it emerged that the DNA of the charred body did not match that of Bester.

Police then registered a case of murder, which is currently under investigation.

According to the autopsy report, the deceased had died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, and was already dead before to the arson incident.

The Sunday Times report adds that three bodies were stolen by Magudumana because attempts to escape by Bester were unsuccessful.

Besters escape plan required him to be in solitary confinement, but his earlier requests to be moved to that part of the prison had failed.

A body found in Bloemspruit dam still had the death register tag on it. The number on this tag was used to determine that Magudumana had claimed the body two weeks earlier.

Bester and Magudumana arrested

On Saturday, the South African government confirmed the arrest of Bester and Magudumana. The pair were arrested, with a Mozambican national, in Tanzania.

Justice and Correctional Service Minister Ronald Lamola said the Tanzanian government has already expressed their willingness to bring Bester and Magudumana to South Africa as speedily as possible.

Police Minister Bheki Cele said Bester and Magudumana were found with fake passports, which had not even been stamped by customs officials.

How they moved around cannot be explained because its illegal what we know at the present moment is they have several passports each and not a single one has been stamped as they were crossing [borders], he said.

The suspects were found 10 kilometres from the Kenyan border when they were apprehended. It is believed they were trying to get into Kenya next.

WIKI HII UTASHINDA TSH MILIONI MOJA KWA TSH 1000 TU,nunua jarida la JINSI ya kugundua wazo sahihi la Biashara.





HAPA Kama tayari unayo, furahia ndani ya Tovuti. Weka 1000 Tu, tembelea www.bizbongo.com au bofyaKama tayari unayo, furahia ndani ya Tovuti.

---
The commander of the air defense and anti-aircraft defense forces, deputy chief of the Russian aerospace forces, Andrii Dyomin, said the Russian military began working out defense issues at the country's northwestern borders after Finland joined NATO.

This is reported by Ukrinform with reference to Dyomin's interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper run by the defense ministry.

"Finland joined the NATO bloc. Sweden is preparing to join the alliance. In these conditions, our air defense forces are working out the issue of protecting the state border in the north-west of the country in accordance with increased threats," minister said.

Until the moment of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Finland did not support the idea of joining NATO, for many years adhering to a policy of neutrality. But later, together with Sweden, the country submitted an application to join the Alliance.

In January, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that a new army corps would be created in Karelia, which would include three motorized rifle divisions and two amphibious assault divisions. Also, the Leningrad Military District will be established as part of the Russian armed forces.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Finland formally joined NATO on April 4.

This is an illustrative photo
Ukraine will start receiving Leopard 1 tanks from Denmark before summer.

Denmark's Acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said this at a briefing with Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov at the Ukraine  Odesa Media Center on Monday, April 10, according to Ukrinform.

"We will start delivering Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine before summer. And then, hopefully, looking half a year ahead, it will be possible for us to donate about 100 Leopard 1 tanks, and that, I'll say, would be a substantial thing for Ukraine's army," Poulsen said.

He also noted that next month Ukraine might receive Caesar artillery pieces, on which the Ukrainian military is already training at the training facilities in Denmark.

"In the near future, we will hear the 'Leopards' roaring with the Danish accent," Reznikov said.
The self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, at a meeting in Minsk with the Minister of Defense of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, discussed Belaruss security, which, according to him, is about "the Russian Federation defending Belarus as its own territory."

This is reported by Ukrinform with reference to the state-run information agency BelTA.

"While saying goodbye after the latest negotiations with Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin. - ed.), we agreed that you along with your specialists will come to Belarus, and that we will sit down to discuss the security of Belarus. You know, I have already raised this issue at the SSC (supreme state council of the so-called "Union State of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus", - ed.). But before that, we discussed this issue with Vladimir Vladimirovich," Lukashenko said.

He then accused the Western nations of allegedly failing to fulfill the agreements regarding the security guarantees for Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus, which were given as part of the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 in exchange for the removal of nuclear weapons from those three countries.

"Economic security was in question, including. Well, what economic security are we talking about if they impose sanctions against us and Russia?! That is why I raised this issue in negotiations with the president of Russia. He absolutely supported me in all regards. Also, he says, we need to revise all our treaties and agreements  between Belarus and Russia  to see what normative legal act of an intergovernmental nature should be adopted now to ensure the complete security of Belarus," Lukashenko said.

According to the self-styled president, "in general, it was voiced during the negotiations that in case of aggression against Belarus, the Russian Federation will defend Belarus as its own territory." "These are the security guarantees we need," concluded Lukashenko.

As reported earlier, the Institute for the Study of War recently concluded in its report that Putin intended to tighten economic control over Belarus.
Frenchwoman Michele Terminet Schuppon poses for photos with a local resident she has photographed earlier while attending the Pingyao International Photography (PIP) Festival in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Sept. 21, 2014. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

TAIYUAN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Frenchman Bernard Frigara had not been able to visit China for some time. Nevertheless, his love for Chinese county Pingyao has endured, and he conveyed this sentiment in an email to his Chinese friend.

"I just want to tell you how much I miss Pingyao, you and your family. I love so much to walk around, to ride a bicycle, and stand there..." the 75-year-old artist wrote in an email to Chinese woman Wang Xiaojun in January.

Wang, 49, is the owner of an inn in Pingyao, a county in north China's Shanxi Province. This area has a history of 2,800 years and is renowned for its well-preserved urban landscape from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

Over the past two decades, Frigara has stayed at the inn six times, with each stay typically lasting for one or two months.

"He liked the old houses here, as well as the culture," Wang told Xinhua. "He always visited the woman doing paper-cutting, the man painting lacquer boxes, and the old man selling antiques."

According to her, Frigara had collected several Wadangs, or eaves tiles which are small accessories in classical Chinese architecture.

Wang and her family also showed the visitor around in the county, washed clothes for him and celebrated his birthday. Once, when Frigara had a stomachache, Wang took him to the provincial capital Taiyuan, which was about two hours' drive from Pingyao.

In return, Frigara taught Wang French and bought gifts for her children. Their friendship gradually deepened throughout the years.

Showing their photos to Xinhua reporters, Wang described her French friend as "frugal, kind and helpful." On the photos, Frigara was medium built, with gray curly hair.

Frigara also recorded his experience in Pingyao in his blog. For example, after his first visit in 2004, he wrote that he stayed in a wonderful hotel where he felt at home.

Frigara is just one of many French visitors to come to Pingyao. Local statistics showed that before the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, Pingyao received more than 30,000 French visitors a year, accounting for 30 percent of the total number of foreign visitors.

"The French visitors believe that they have found ancient China in Pingyao," said Hou Shijun, an official of Pingyao County.

Wang Xiaojun started her inn in 2002, one year after Pingyao International Photography (PIP) Festival was launched and revitalized the old city.

Frenchwoman Michele Terminet Schuppon who used to study and work in China participated in the festival in 2013 and 2014.

In 2015, she had an exhibition in Provins of France, the sister city of Pingyao, to show the photos she took for the latter, before hosting another exhibition on Pingyao to introduce Provins. She also worked as an interpreter for exchanges between the pair.

"I am glad to be able to act as a bridge between the two places," she said.

Also frequenting between the two countries is Frigara. Each time he returned to France, he always left some clothes with Wang, telling her that he would wear them next time he returned. When they bid each other farewell, they said "see you next time," rather than "goodbye."

Although the COVID-19 pandemic stopped him from visiting Pingyao in the past several years, the French artist has maintained contact with his Chinese friend, while Wang's children always asked her when Bernard would come again.

Wang likes literature, and she recently wrote a prose about the story between Frigara and her family titled "Waiting for you, my friend."

"He plans to come to Pingyao again in the spring of 2024," Wang said. "Looking forward to our next meeting." 

People visit an exhibition on Provins of France at the tourist center of Pingyao ancient county in north China's Shanxi Province, April 9, 2023. (Photo by Hou Liping/Xinhua)

This undated photo shows Frenchman Bernard Frigara (L) and Wang Xiaojun (C) at the inn owned by Wang in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province. (Xinhua)
CAIRO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The third China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) is a boon to global growth and international trade given the multiple challenges facing the world economy, an Egyptian expert has said.

"The expo is testimony to China's openness to the world and its desire to increase trade and investment exchanges with the countries of the world," Abu Bakr al-Deeb, advisor to the Cairo-based Arab Center for Research and Studies and an Egyptian researcher in political economy, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The expert said that China plays an important role in the recovery of the global economy in the post-pandemic period, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global supply chains and affected production.

He noted that China achieved positive growth rates during the pandemic and aims to achieve faster economic growth of about 5 percent with high-quality development in 2023, as it continues to build momentum for economic recovery and press ahead with modernization.

The CICPE 2023 will be held in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province from April 10 to 15 with over 3,100 brands from 65 countries and regions taking part in the event.

The exhibition area is set to increase by 20 percent compared to the previous edition, reaching 120,000 square meters.

The world is closely watching China's new development-related policy moves, al-Deeb said, adding that China's economy is recovering steadily, which will greatly help the global economy recover.

Al-Deeb said many international companies and businessmen are participating in the exhibition this year, with a large group of new comers as they are inspired by successes of previous participants.

"The exhibition has become a platform for Chinese and foreign companies to share the opportunities offered by the Chinese market," he said, stressing that hundreds of companies are keen to know more about China's large consumption market, diversified consumption requirements, and the advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Zone.

"The expo represents a great opportunity for international companies, especially Arab ones, to display their products in the largest consumer market in the world," the Egyptian expert noted.

"The Chinese market is very large and provides many opportunities for everyone to work. China needs many goods from other countries and it welcomes all companies to offer their products to Chinese consumers without restrictions or complications," al-Deeb told Xinhua.

"This confirms that China's policy is based on joint cooperation and win-win, contrary to accusations by some countries that China wants to control the global economy, especially the economies of poor and developing countries," he added.

Moreover, the expo opens door to innovation and technological development, not only in China, but also in most countries, he said, "because everyone realizes that China welcomes any partner working with it inside or outside the Chinese market, and this is what distinguishes China, as it believes in win-win strategy and rejects monopoly and exploitation."

The expert also said that many foreign companies are looking forward to the great potential for consumption growth in the Hainan Free Trade Port.

"Hainan Free Trade Port has become an important gateway to China's opening-up and plays a key role in promoting high-quality innovation-driven development. China has issued a guideline to support the facilitation of market access in the Hainan Free Trade Port, which proves China's adoption of the opening-up policy," he said.

Over the past three years, the expert said, a number of domestic and foreign companies have settled in Hainan, which is another proof that China is working steadily to consolidate its opening-up.

"I believe that China will do more to achieve its opening-up goals," al-Deeb said. 
UNODC strengthens the capacity of Uzbekistan's judicial and law enforcement authorities to detect, investigate and prosecute money laundering cases

During the mutual evaluation, the authorities of the Republic of Uzbekistan demonstrated their commitment and determination in the fight against terrorism and its financing. The level of terrorist threat in Uzbekistan, has significantly decreased over the past 10 years as the result of the effective work of the competent authorities, legislative and judicial authorities.

Amendments have been made to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan On Combating Terrorism and the Criminal Code, in which the composition of the Terrorism Financing is separated into a separate article. All this allowed the authorized departments to understand the importance of countering not only terrorist activity, but also eliminating the sources of its financial support. Over the past 5 years, 58 people were convicted in Terrorist Financing (TF) cases, and the total number of cases brought to trial and adjudicated by the court was 45.

These results were made possible with the active support of UNODC in the implementation of the objectives of the national strategy provisions to improve measures to combat Money Laundering /Terrorism Financing.

The Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Academy), the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Department) in partnership with UNODC to advance further work, taking into account the recommendations received by the experts of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, held a three-day seminar: "Money Laundering - Financial Investigation, Criminal Prosecution and Trial" in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Some 25 representative of competent authorities took part in the seminar, including representative of judiciary who participate for the first time.

Deputy Head of the Law Enforcement Academy, Mr. U. Nigmadjanov noted the importance of following the recommendations of EAGs international experts regarding the investigation and trial of cases related to the legalization of criminal proceeds. There are cases when an acquittal is issued in criminal cases or there is not enough evidence for a guilty verdict.  This training will increase the effectiveness of financial investigations, strengthen the capacity of the judiciary in handling money laundering cases and will strengthen interagency cooperation of all participants.

The participants considered the features of the international criminal law characteristic of the Money Laundering crime, the complexity of the process of proving the legalization of criminal proceeds, performed practical exercises and studied the possibilities of applying international standards and practice in Uzbekistan.

As a result of the training, the UNODC Regional Advisor, Mr. Aliaksandr Vadziany noted the high interest in collecting and evaluating evidence, identifying signs of money laundering on the part of the judiciary and representatives of the prosecutor's office, who support the prosecution in court. According to the speaker, it was possible to significantly improve the understanding of legalization methods and increase the interaction of law enforcement officers with representatives of the court.

The training was organized with the expert support of the UNODC Global program on counter money laundering, proceeds of crimes and the financing of terrorism (GPML), with financial support from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the US Department of State (INL).

***

For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko

Communication and PR Specialist

UNODC Criminal Justice sub-programme in Central Asia

UNODC POKYR at +996775987817

vasilina.brazhko[at]un.org
South Korea will invest 13.5 trillion won ($10.23 billion) in key industries, including nuclear power, semiconductors and secondary batteries by 2030, in order to facilitate economic growth and foster innovative technologies, South Korean media reported on Monday, citing the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th April, 2023) South Korea will invest 13.5 trillion won ($10.23 billion) in key industries, including nuclear power, semiconductors and secondary batteries by 2030, in order to facilitate economic growth and foster innovative technologies, South Korean media reported on Monday, citing the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The South Korean government will carry out 40 research and development projects in 11 key industries, investing 6.2 trillion won by 2027 and an additional 7.3 trillion won by 2030, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported. The list covers semiconductors, displays, secondary batteries, future mobility, key materials, advanced manufacturing, intelligent robots, aviation and defense, bio, next-generation nuclear power generation and new energy, the report said.

To implement the project, the ministry signed memorandums of understanding with nine companies, including Hyundai Motor Co., POSCO Holdings Inc. and Samsung Display Co., and four relevant institutions, the media reported.

In the 2019 World Bank's Global Competitiveness Report, South Korea received 79 scores out of 100 based on its innovation capability, and 78 in the 2018 report.
DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 10th Apr, 2023) H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Chairman of the Dubai Judicial Council, has approved the formation of a board of Commissioners for the Dubai Court of Cassation, which adds a litigation guarantee that will help boost confidence in Dubais justice system.

The move aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to further enhance the judicial system in the emirate.

Sheikh Maktoum said, Establishing an advanced judicial system is a key priority for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid as justice is the foundation of the stability and prosperity of a nation in which the rule of law is paramount. Our ability to uphold peoples rights fairly, effectively and impartially makes our judicial system one of the worlds best. In Dubai, justice is everyones right, without exception or bias.

We aim to invest in Emirati talent in order to further enhance the judicial system in accordance with the highest international standards. A vital addition to the Court of Cassation, the Board of Commissioners will further enhance mechanisms in place to safeguard justice and strengthen the foundations of stability, prosperity and development, which are key to shaping a bright future, he added.

The Board of Commissioners will be entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the rights of all litigation parties are preserved, and that justice takes its fair course. Members of the Board are well qualified to appreciate and better understand the details of various litigation cases. The Board will also provide informed opinions based on evidence and witness accounts, rather than personal judgement.

The roles of the Board of Commissioners include examining appeals before they are submitted to the Chambers of Cassation, as well as expediting the litigation process in cases of appeals that do not require appearance before the Chambers of Cassation. The Board will help judges dedicate their time to examining and studying the appeal within the context of making a judgement. The Board of Commissioners will also be responsible for training and qualifying its judges so that they can be appointed as judges in the Court of Cassation in the future.

The Board will examine appeals in cassation, review cases brought to the Court of Cassation, offer reconciliation to parties of the appeal, and prove abandonment of litigation and other occurrences that factor into the continuation of appeal or making a judgement on it. The Board will also give its opinion on applications submitted to it from the Head of Court of Cassation or the Courts Chambers heads.

Taresh Eid Al Mansouri, Director-General of Dubai Courts, said, The formation of the Board of Commissioners at the Dubai Court of Cassation further establishes the principles of justice, equality and the rule of law. It helps enhance sustainable development in Dubai by ensuring an advanced, effective and impartial judicial system.

The role of the Board will not be limited to improving the process of litigation in Dubai; but will extend to include qualifying judges to later join the Court of Cassation, through the experience they gain by joining the Board that operates under Dubais supreme judicial body, the Court of Cassation, he added.

Judge Abdul Qader Mousa Mohammed, Head of the Court of Cassation, said, Establishing the Board of Commissioners will support Emiratisation plans related to members of Dubais judicial authority, especially judges of the Court of Cassation, and boost our efforts to select the best and most qualified judges.

By playing its role optimally, the Board of Commissioners will provide an added guarantee for litigators, as the Board will report the legal opinion regarding appeals submitted to the Court of Cassation, further improving the accuracy of examining appeals, and facilitating the Courts judgement in a timely manner.

The Boards work will be subject to a special judicial inspection process that ensures achievement of its objectives, he added.

Dr. Saif Ghanem Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the Dubai Judicial Council, said, Creating the Board of Commissioners is part of the implementation of a series of measures directed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to improve the justice system and litigation process in Dubai in line with his vision for a just and safe community.

This step follows benchmark assessments aimed at defining judicial best practices and the role played by boards of commissioners and similar bodies in various judicial systems to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness of judgements, he added.

The Dubai Court of Cassation was established in 1988 with the aim of unifying the application of law in Dubai courts. The Court of Cassation does not re-issue judgments for cases submitted to lower courts, but monitors how these judgements abide by the law. If a conflict is submitted before the Court of Cassation for the second time, it issues its judgments as a subject-matter court and not as a court of law.

The Court of Cassation comprises a president and a number of judges, with the most senior judge acting in place of the president if the latter is absent for any reason. The Court includes several departments, including litigation, commercial, real estate, and civil departments among others.


(@FahadShabbir)

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 10th Apr, 2023) Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the board of Directors of the Frontline Heroes Office, has paid tribute to the Frontline Heroes of the UAE on Zayed Humanitarian Day, which is marked on 10th April.

In his statement on the occasion of Zayed Humanitarian Day, which this year corresponds with the Holy Month of Ramadan, Sheikh Sultan said, Zayed Humanitarian Day is a celebration of the authentic values that the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, instilled in the hearts and minds of the people of the UAE.

He added, Sheikh Zayed is an authentic symbol of the values of benevolence, giving, and mercy, and his humanitarian and charitable work extended to include people in need in various parts of the world.

On this important day, we recall with loyalty and pride the human values that were established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, since the country's foundation in 1971, and these values are now instilled among the people of the UAE, Sheikh Sultan added.

Sheikh Zayed's principles and vision constitute the basis from which the UAE responds to humanitarian work in various circumstances," noting that this emerged in the UAEs humanitarian effort during the COVID-19 pandemic, in solidarity with worldwide countries.

Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan said that the Frontline Heroes, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, rescuers, and technicians, set wonderful examples of humanitarian giving that the Sheikh Zayed established. This was evident during the "Gallant Knight/2" operation, where they were among the first to participate in the relief of those affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Syria and Turkiye in February 2023.

Sheikh Sultan stressed that the Frontline Heroes Office continues its humanitarian mission inside and outside the UAE to support the Frontline Heroes to extend a helping hand to everyone without exception.
LANZHOU, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A new joint study has provided new scientific evidence for the connection between Arctic sea-ice loss and mid-latitude extreme cold weather events, according to Lanzhou University.

The study reveals the importance of stratospheric feedback in Arctic warming, and is expected to support short-term climate predictions for extreme cold weather, said Tian Wenshou, a professor with the College of Atmospheric Sciences of Lanzhou University.

Over the past decades, the highly-populated Northern Hemispheric mid-latitude was hit by frequent extreme cold events, which caused serious casualties and economic losses. Previous studies have shown that the drastic Arctic sea-ice loss is one of the causes, but their link remains unclear.

Tian's research team joined efforts with overseas researchers to carry out the study. Using reanalysis and model simulations, they demonstrated a new dynamical mechanism responsible for the polar deep warming associated with Arctic sea-ice loss, which has been proven to be a key premise for the Arctic-mid-latitude connection.

The study confirmed the essential role of stratosphere-troposphere coupling for the deep Arctic warming induced by sea-ice loss, which is confirmed by model simulations with stratospheric variability suppressed.

The study results suggest that a considerable part of the observed Arctic mid-to-upper warming is caused by a dynamical response to sea-ice loss, in which stratosphere-troposphere coupling plays a major role.

The results of the study have been published in the journal npj Climate and Atmospheric Science. 
Walden, United States, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Apr, 2023 ) :With wolves descending from the mountains of Wyoming to feast on his cattle, and his home state of Colorado preparing to reintroduce its own wild packs soon, rancher Don Gittleson says he has tried everything to protect his herd.

That is how he ended up shipping in a pack of feral donkeys to work as "guardian animals." "They kick, they strike and they bite!" Gittleson told AFP on a visit to his snow-covered ranch on the far northern fringes of Colorado.

"If you were to get one cornered, you would not fare well. They can hold their own." The wild burros, brought from Nevada with help from government officials, share a field with cattle at Sherman Creek Ranch.

They don't appear particularly interested in mixing with their new bovine neighbors, preferring to stick tightly together on the fringes of the herd.

But, Gittleson says, they pose enough of a threat to wolves looking for an easy kill that the fearsome predators might take their fangs and claws elsewhere.

"It's not that wolves can't kill them," he explained. But the predators are "smart enough to know when they can possibly get injured." It is one of several nonlethal strategies -- along with red flags, flashing lights and firework-style "cracker shells" -- that ranchers are trying in an effort to keep their cattle out of the jaws of a wolf pack that reappeared in northern Colorado roughly three years ago.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), which was involved in getting the donkeys described it as "a pilot project" for reducing cattle depredation, which it "does not necessarily recommend... more broadly." While wolves can be shot on sight in neighboring Wyoming, they are strictly protected in Colorado, except in self-defense.

Gittleson says eight of his cows have been killed since 2021 -- the same year Colorado wildlife officials spotted the first litter of wolf pups in the state since the 1940s, born to a pair who crossed from Wyoming.

And in a referendum in November 2020, which pitted mainly urban proponents against mostly rural opponents, Colorado narrowly approved a scheme to deliberately reintroduce wolves to the state by the end of this year.

Ranchers visited by AFP say it is a mistake.

"The vote was won by people that really have no idea what you're up against up here," said Greg Sykes. "They could care less what we have to put up with, or the harm we're in... it's just one more expense that we can't afford." Wolves will not stay put for long in the specific parts of the state where they are reintroduced, and are "not afraid to come around houses at night," agreed Gittleson.

"And we have way more people in Colorado than they do in Wyoming." But for many Americans, wolves embody the spirit of the wilderness and the Western frontier.

European colonists who arrived in the 1600s brought widespread hunting and trapping. By the mid-20th century, fewer than a thousand gray wolves were left in the contiguous United States -- down from at least a quarter of a million.

The 1970s passage of the Endangered Species Act helped save the apex predator from extinction, and in the 1990s wolves from Canada were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park, a vast protected area spanning Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

Now, environmentalists such as Darlene Kobobel, who founded a sanctuary and visitor park called the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, say it is time for them to return to Colorado.

"Wolves belong. They were here way before we were," she said.
Marseille, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Apr, 2023 ) :Rescue workers on Monday recovered a fourth body from the rubble of a collapsed apartment in France's Marseille, a cabinet minister said, as firefighters raced against the clock to find four people still missing.

More than 24 hours after a suspected explosion at the building, where residents reported a strong smell of gas, dozens of civil defence staff and sniffer dogs worked among the debris as a fire still smouldered.

"Four bodies have been found," Housing Minister Olivier Klein said, at the site of the accident.

But the deputy mayor of the Mediterranean port city, Yannick Ohanessian, said rescue workers still had hope of finding survivors.

"Until the very end, we will believe it is possible -- even if chances become slimmer with every passing hour," he said.
(@FahadShabbir)

UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Apr, 2023 ) :Despite global promises and progress, some 263 million children and young people are out of school, indicating that achieving quality education for all by 2030 is "seriously off track", UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned Monday.

The issue is under discussion this week at the latest session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), taking place at UN Headquarters in New York.

Delivering opening remarks, Ms. Mohammed began by highlighting the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, who have been banned from high school and university, calling this "one of the gravest educational challenges of our time." She underlined how education is a crucial long-term investment for a sustainable future, for people and the planet.

However, she said countries are facing "a triple crisis in education  one of equity and inclusion, quality and relevance, to equip current and future generations with the skills they need to thrive in a fast-changing world." The millions of children worldwide who are not attending school, represent just one challenge for the international community.

Equally concerning is the fact that many students simply are not learning, she said, as nearly 70 per cent of children in poorer countries cannot understand a basic text by age 10, mainly due to chronic factors such as poverty and malnutrition.

"Ultimately, we need to reimagine and transform our educational systems if they are to be fit for purpose," Ms. Mohamed said. "We need to learn how to learn throughout our lives, and learn to live in peace with one another and with nature." She stressed that success will also require examining the link between education, technology and demographic trends, and acting upon the opportunities and challenges they bring.

She called for initiatives to get all learners "climate-ready" and connected to the internet and the world of digital innovation, which is especially important for girls and women from the Global South, who are the most excluded.

The international community will also need to consider how to benefit from the world's "demographic diversity", with some countries having a median age of around 50, and others, just 15. This also applies to older persons, who will comprise the majority of the global population by 2050, and to persons with disabilities.

Ms. Mohammed highlighted the need to ensure inclusive education for women and girls, and to encourage them to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the so-called STEM fields.

The gender theme was picked up by Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), who described education as "a door opener" and "life changer", particularly for vulnerable women and girls.

"When provided with the knowledge and skills they need to know and claim their rights, better educated women are more likely to be healthier, marry later and to plan the number and spacing of children," said the sexual and reproductive health agency chief.

"They are more likely to use prenatal care, to vaccinate their children and to seek health services when their children need care. They are more likely to participate in the formal labour market and earn higher incomes." Education also reduces the likelihood of child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM) and other harmful practices, and it lowers the risk of gender-based violence.

Ms. Kanem underlined the need to protect and defend education for all, including comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), which equips adolescents with information and skills to develop positive, healthy relationships.

CSE helps girls avoid unintended pregnancies; it also encourages both girls and boys to stay in school, among other benefits.

"It makes perfect sense: give people the information and power to take charge of their own reproductive rights and choices, and development outcomes improve," she said.

In a pre-recorded message, the head of the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Li Junhua, addressed how population dynamics impact education, using the millions out of school, as well as the low proficiency in maths and reading as examples.

He said in some parts of the world, where public financing capacity is limited, a rapidly growing school-aged population makes it more difficult to achieve education goals.

Meanwhile, other places have experienced relative declines in this sector of the population, resulting in less pressure on education budgets, which has opened up opportunities to boost investments geared towards young people and adults alike.

The COVID-19 pandemic also exposed fault lines in education systems.

"Children and young people in low and lower-income countries were deprived of access to learning as these countries saw large cuts in public spending on education," said Mr. Li, underlining the need to support these government investments.

"This will require investing in digital literacy and closing the digital divide, drawing the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. And we must continue expanding access to the internet and digital technologies for education." The pandemic, together with conflict, climate change and rising food insecurity, have further deepened inequalities, said Xing Qu, Deputy Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

This situation has led to a dual crisis affecting learning and well-being, he noted, again citing the staggering out-of-school figures and factors mentioned previously, such as unintended pregnancies.

"Added to this are increasing rates of depression and stress among young people in many contexts  fuelled by fear of what the future holds, among other factors. The toll of these stressors on health and well-being are leading to increased student drop-out and teacher shortages," he said.

Li recalled that at the UN's Transforming Education Summit last September, nearly two-thirds of countries expressed concern over the well-being of their teachers and students.

In response, UNESCO outlined strong action in three key areas: closing the gender gap in school enrollment and participation; supporting education on the issues of puberty, relationships, and sexual and reproductive health; and strengthening efforts to embed health and well-being in schools, including through ensuring the provision of nutritious school meals.

"Moreover, learning doesn't stop once a child leaves the classroom," he added. "This is why we must also promote learning throughout life  for everyone: for active citizenship, employability, health and well-being  and the cohesion of our communities." The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) was established nearly 80 years ago by the UN Economic and Social Commission (ECOSOC), one of the six main bodies of the global Organization.

This current session  its 56th  will conclude on Friday.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Apr, 2023 ) :The Joint Sitting of Parliament on Monday adopted a resolution, stressing for the holding of general elections of the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies simultaneously to strengthen the federation.

The two identical resolutions were moved by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi and Senator Kamran Murtaza aimed to promote political stability and foster unity among the provinces.

The resolutions argued that organizing general elections of all the assemblies simultaneously.

The resolutions emphasized the significance of appointing neutral caretaker set-ups to ensure impartiality and fairness during the elections.

The resolutions also argued that holding separate elections in Punjab, the largest federating unit with over 50 percent of the National Assembly seats, would inevitably impact the outcome of general elections to the National Assembly seats in Punjab. Therefore, it could potentially marginalize the smaller provinces' role in the federation.

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senators staged a token walkout from the House.
Inister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Monday tabled the Money Bill 2023 before the National Assembly (NA) to decide and discuss funds allocation for the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Apr, 2023 ):Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Monday tabled the Money Bill 2023 before the National Assembly (NA) to decide and discuss funds allocation for the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections.

The minister tabled the Bill titled "Charge Sum for General Election Provincial Assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bill 2023" in the light of the federal cabinet decision during the 51st session of the National Assembly.

Setting the context for the Bill, Senator Ishaq said this House passed a resolution in the light of the multiple verdicts of the Supreme Court to assert that the Supreme Court decision of majority decision was 4-3, which has negated the suo moto notice.

However, he said the house also emphasized upon the government not to implement the 3-0 decision of the Apex Court which was a minority verdict and should not be implemented in its resolution.

The finance minister underlined that the federal cabinet, in its recent meeting in the light of the resolution of this house, deliberated upon the Supreme Court decision and decided that the Apex Court decision to allocate funds for provincial assemblies' elections of KP and Punjab should be tabled before this house, which should decide the matter.

He added that the Supreme Court in its decision had directed the federal government to provide Rs. 21 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold provincial elections. "These elections would be held without general elections of the National Assembly, Sindh and Balochistan assemblies," he said.

The Money Bill 2023 was tabled in the light of the federal government's decision as per article 81-E of the Constitution, the minister added.

He vowed that the coalition government was determined under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to purge the country from the menace of terrorism and pull out the country of its economic, political and constitutional crises so that prosperity and development would be the fate of the nation as usual.

The Speaker announced that the Bill was automatically referred to the committee.

Ishaq Dar, in the preamble of his speech, mentioned that from July 2022 to till date Pakistan has repaid 12 billion dollars in foreign debt. "We are paying each foreign payment in time," he said.

He said that Pakistan had 9.6 billion foreign exchange reserves at present. "Pakistan reserves stand at a total of $9.60 billion  $4.10 billion available with the State Bank of Pakistan and $5.50 billion of commercial banks," he added.

The minister said that a strategy had been devised by the government to take the country's foreign exchange reserves to $13 billion by June 30.

He said that the government, under the leadership of PM Shehbaz Sharif, had also improved its relations with friendly countries and international partners.

The minister said that the government had also taken measures to stop the illegal flight of capital from the country which were showing encouraging signs.

He said the prime minister had recently announced austerity measures which would be adopted to control the country's expenditures.

He said that the government had designed a policy to end the un-targeted subsidy and provide targeted subsidy to deserving low-income people. He said that funds for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) had also increased from Rs. 360 billion to Rs 400 billion.

He said that the government believed in the supremacy of the Parliament and upholding the constitution and law of the land. He regretted that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf under a planned conspiracy tried to create constitutional and legal crises in the country.
PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Apr, 2023 ) :Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali Khan here Monday said that the progress and prosperity of Pakistan was linked with the strict implementation of the 1973 constitution.

In a message on golden jubilee celebrations of the 1973 constitution here, the ANP President said that the great leader of the Awami National Party Abdul Wali Khan as opposition leader had played a key role in giving the country a unanimous constitution and his efforts in this regard would be written in golden words in the history of Pakistan.

He said that the era in which the 1973 Constitution was drafted and approved, it was a difficult period for the country and the unanimous constitution was achieved due to the positive role played by the opposition leadership including Mir Ghous Bazenjo and Ameerzada Khan at that time.

Asfandyar Wali said that democratic values would be weakened when the Constitution and parliament were not kept supreme.

On the occasion of 50th golden jubilee celebrations of the 1973 constitution, he said it was time to make a firm pledge to make the constitution supreme and strictly adhere to it.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Apr, 2023 ) :The Joint Sitting of Parliament on Monday passed the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 amid protest by the PTI lawmakers mostly belonging to upper house.

Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar moved the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 which was passed by the Parliament. It is to mention that President Dr Arif Alvi had returned the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 for reconsideration to the Parliament as per the provisions of Article 75 of the Constitution.

The minister read out the message of the President who returned the bill for reconsideration. He said that bill was discussed in detail in National Assembly and it was also approved by the Senate.

The minister responded to the objections of the bill and said the "President used inappropriate words while returning this bill and used a biased approach". He said that he should think "as the President rather than a political worker".

The minister said it was the demand of the bar associations and councils to introduce the bill and they had supported the bill. This bill, he said, was an old demand of the Bar Council which said that the indiscriminate use of 184(3)should be stopped.

The joint sitting of Parliament reconsidered it and passed the legislative proposal. Former Minister for Law and Justice and Senator Farooq H. Naek and JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza spoke on the various sections of the bill and were of the view that was the right time of legislation which would ensure reforms in judicial affairs.

MNA Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja moved amendments in the bill and the Minister for Law and Justice did not oppose them. He said that these amendments will bring more clarity to the judicial affairs and ensure transparency while forming bench.

However, the amendments moved by JI Senator Mushtaq Ahmed were rejected.

It is mentioned that the President shall give his assent within ten days, failing which such assent shall be deemed to have been given.

Sub-Article 2 of Article 75 of the Constitution of Pakistan states " When the President has returned a Bill to the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), it shall be reconsidered by the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) in joint sitting and, if it is again passed, with or without amendment, by the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), by the votes of the majority of the members of both Houses present and voting; it shall be deemed for the purposes of the Constitution to have been passed by both Houses and shall be presented to the President, and the President shall give his assent within ten days, failing which such assent shall be deemed to have been given.

The passed bill  the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023  aims at giving the power of taking suo motu notice to a three-member committee comprising senior judges including Chief Justice. It also aims to have transparent proceedings in the apex court and includes the right to appeal.

Regarding the constitution of benches, the bill states that every cause, matter or appeal before the apex court would be heard and disposed of by a bench constituted by a committee comprising the CJP and the two senior-most judges. It added that the decisions of the committee would be taken by a majority.

Regarding exercising the apex court's original jurisdiction, the bill said that any matter invoking the use of Article 184(3) would first be placed before the above mentioned committee.

The bill says that if the committee is of the view that a question of public importance with reference to the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights conferred by Chapter I of Part II of the Constitution is involved, it shall constitute a bench comprising not less than three judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan which may also include the members of the committee, for adjudication of the matter.

On matters where the interpretation of the Constitution is required, the bill said the above mentioned committee would compose a bench comprising no less than five apex court judges for the task.

Regarding appeals for any verdict by an apex court bench that exercised Article 184(3)'s jurisdiction, the bill said that the appeal will lie within 30 days of the bench's order to a larger Supreme Court bench. It added that the appeal would be fixed for hearing within a period not exceeding 14 days.

It added that this right of appeal would also extend retrospectively to those aggrieved persons against whom an order was made under Article 184(3) prior to the commencement of the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure), Bill 2023, on the condition that the appeal was filed within 30 days of the act's commencement.

The bill additionally said that a party would have the right to appoint its counsel of choice for filing a review application under Article 188 of the Constitution.

Furthermore, it states that an application pleading urgency or seeking interim relief, filed in a cause, appeal or matter, shall be fixed for hearing within 14 days from the date of its filing.

The bill said that its provisions would have effect notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, rules, or regulations for the time being in force or judgment of any court, including the Supreme Court and high courts.
BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th April, 2023) The Chinese forces have successfully fulfilled all tasks that were set during recent military exercises and patrols near Taiwan, Shi Yi, the spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), said on Monday.

On Saturday, Shi announced that the Chinese military would conduct exercises and patrols in the sea and airspace around Taiwan from April 8-10, adding that the exercises would serve as a warning for the advocates of the island's independence and a necessary measure aimed at upholding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has successfully fulfilled various tasks that were set during the patrols and military exercises near the Taiwan island," Shi said in a statement released on Chinese social network WeChat.

During the drills, China's forces underwent a comprehensive test of the combat readiness in real combat conditions, the military officials stated.

"The forces of the PLA Eastern Theater Command are ready and able to fight at any moment and resolutely counter any forms of separatism supporting Taiwan's independence and attempts of foreign interference," Shi added.

On Sunday, a day after the start of the training, the armed forces of Taiwan registered 70 Chinese aircraft approaching the island with 35 of them crossing the so called median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering Taiwan's air defense identification zone. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry also spotted 11 PLA ships in the vicinity of the island.

The situation around Taiwan has recently escalated after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in early August and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has repeatedly condemned the contacts between US and Taiwanese officials, calling on Washington to stop upgrading relations with the island.

Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan  a territory with its own elected government  maintains that it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th April, 2023) The intensity of combat training of Russia's air defense and missile defense units has increased manifold, in 2022, a thousand times more anti-aircraft guided missiles were used than in the previous year, Lieut. Gen. Andrei Demin, Commander of Russia's Air Defence Troops, told reporters.

"Over the past year, the intensity of combat training of air defense and missile defense units during the special military operation has increased manifold. Thus, during 2022, a thousand times more anti-aircraft guided missiles were used than at combat training events in 2021," Denim said.

He added that Russian air defense troops are working out issues of protecting the border in the north-west of Russia in connection with Finland's entry into NATO and the preparations of Sweden to join the alliance.
International arbitration courts are considering Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom's claims amounting to about 3 billion euros ($3.35 billion) due to Finland's termination of the contract for the construction of the Hanhikivi nuclear power plant (NPP), according to the 2022 report of Rosatom's subsidiary Atomenergoprom for the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th April, 2023) International arbitration courts are considering Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom's claims amounting to about 3 billion Euros ($3.35 billion) due to Finland's termination of the contract for the construction of the Hanhikivi nuclear power plant (NPP), according to the 2022 report of Rosatom's subsidiary Atomenergoprom for the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

In December, the Dispute Review board declared unlawful the decision of Finnish nuclear power company Fennovoima to unilaterally terminate the contract with Rosatom for the construction of the Hanhikivi NPP, which gives Rosatom the right to claim damages.

"As of the reporting date, the claims of the group's organizations totaling about 3 billion euros are under consideration by international arbitration courts," the report said.

Rosatom demands that the Finnish nuclear power company prematurely repays the loan worth 920.5 million euros, according to the report.
Paljor (L), head of a sheep farming cooperative, talks with local village cadre Li Delin in Shikashok Village, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng)

LHASA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- As the first rays of sunshine reach Shikashok Village in China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Paljor, 49, cracks a herding whip to drive more than 680 sheep from their pen.

Paljor has had an impressive herding career and is now the head of a sheep farming cooperative with the help of local cadres.

"Last year, I sold more than 100 sheep and earned over 100,000 yuan (about 14,531 U.S. dollars)," Paljor said. "I will earn more money by selling sheep's wool when the weather gets warmer in June and July."

Sheep farming is among a number of rural industries that have breathed new life into Shikashok Village, which is located approximately 3 km away from the Yarlung Zangbo River.

It has recently seen more than 10 rural cooperatives founded in an array of sectors, including furniture, farm machinery and cattle farming, local village cadre Li Delin said, adding that the annual per capita income of residents has exceeded 20,000 yuan.

When Paljor herds his sheep, his mother Trinley Chodron brings fresh milk home from the farm to make yak butter and other types of food.

Her living room is spacious and equipped with an array of home appliances. On top of a traditional Tibetan-style table are butter tea and soft drinks such as Coca-Cola for guests.

It is hard to believe that villagers once lived in run-down houses and could not make ends meet due to poverty.

"In the past 10 years, the village has taken on a new look," said Trinley Chodron, 81.

Konchok Tsomo and her husband Gao Yanwen also benefit from the booming industries in the village. The couple is running a government-funded vegetable planting base.

All 48 greenhouses across an area of 50 mu (about 3.33 hectares) have been put into use, growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. During the busy season, the base can employ over 20 villagers.

"Now villagers can eat tomatoes, watermelons and other vegetables and fruits grown on our base," Konchok Tsomo said, adding that the base has become the largest vegetable supplier for a dozen convenience stores and Tibetan restaurants in Shikashok.

Shikashok is replacing its dirt path with a concrete road that stretches 3.3 km. The village is becoming increasingly connected to the outside world through adjacent highways.

Padma Tsewang, a local postal worker, has witnessed the village's logistics changes.

"In recent years, villagers have received more parcels, and many young people even buy daily necessities online. It is convenient and fast," he said.

Tibet plans to implement 1,337 rural revitalization projects in 2023, with an estimated investment of 14.67 billion yuan.

The projects aim to promote the development of various sectors in rural areas, such as high-standard farmlands, agriculture and animal husbandry.

After years of efforts, rural residents in Tibet have seen improved livelihoods. In 2021, the per capita disposable income of rural residents in the region reached 16,935 yuan, about three times the income level recorded in 2012.

"Rural industries have become our cash cow, and villagers' wallets have been growing. Shikashok Village stands as a good example of Tibet's progress in rural revitalization," Li said. 
Iran and Saudi Arabia are in talks on restoring diplomatic relations and have started the process of appointing ambassadors, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th April, 2023) Iran and Saudi Arabia are in talks on restoring diplomatic relations and have started the process of appointing ambassadors, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday.

"The initial steps between Iran and Saudi Arabia to appoint ambassadors have been made," he said, as quoted by Iranian news agency ISNA.

Kanaani also said that a technical delegation from Tehran will leave for Riyadh on April 11 to prepare for the opening of the Iranian embassy in Saudi Arabia's capital and the consulate in Jeddah.

On Thursday, Saudi technical specialists arrived in Iran to prepare the opening of the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran and the consulate general in Mashhad as part of an agreement between the two countries to restore diplomatic relations.

"The recent agreements between Iran and Saudi Arabia will have a positive effect on boosting cooperation in order to improve peace and stability and on strengthening economic and trade relations between the two countries and in the region," the spokesman added.

Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, met in China and signed an agreement on the restoration of diplomatic relations and preparation for the opening of diplomatic missions. They also agreed to resume direct flights between the two countries.

In early March, Iran and Saudi Arabia, with China's mediation, agreed to resume diplomatic ties that were severed in 2016 after Saudi Arabia's diplomatic missions in Iran had been attacked following the execution of Shiite preacher Nimr al-Nimr.
The Russian government has presented an agreement on creation of a joint air defense system with Kyrgyzstan to President Vladimir Putin for subsequent submission to the parliament for ratification, according to a decree published on the official legal portal on Monday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th April, 2023) The Russian government has presented an agreement on creation of a joint air defense system with Kyrgyzstan to President Vladimir Putin for subsequent submission to the parliament for ratification, according to a decree published on the official legal portal on Monday.

"The Russian government decides to approve and submit to the Russian president for submission to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russia for ratification the agreement between Russia and Kyrgyzstan on the establishment of the joint regional air defense system of Russia and Kyrgyzstan, signed in Moscow on August 16, 2022," the decree read.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th April, 2023) The leak of Pentagon's classified documents, which showed that the US was spying not only on its rivals but also on allies, has deeply alarmed US officials, who fear the situation might endanger sources and undermine Washington's important international ties, CNN reported on Sunday.

Last week, The New York Times reported, citing officials familiar with the matter, that a new trove of classified documents had leaked online that included US military documents relating to Ukraine, China, and the middle East. Some of the materials indicated Washington had been eavesdropping on some friendly nations.

CNN reported that US officials admitted some of the leaked secret documents are authentic, including those that expose US spying on important allies, such as South Korea, Israel and Ukraine. The issue is seriously worrying for officials in Washington, as it can damage trust between the US and these countries, according to the report.

According to 53 leaked documents examined by CNN, the US has been spying on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

While this revelation did not surprise Ukrainian officials, the CIA's report on the active role of Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, in provoking the protests against the government judicial reform has sparked a serious backlash in the country. The Israeli prime minister's office called the memo "mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever."

Another leaked document describes in detail a conversation between two South Korean senior officials on how the government can send ammunition to Ukraine without contradicting a policy of not supplying lethal weapons to nations at war. According to The New York Times, officials in Seoul has already promised to raise the issue with the White House.

Additionally, CNN said the Pentagon has sources inside the Russian Defense Ministry and the Wagner Group, which gave it some sensitive information regarding location and tactics of the Russian forces in Ukraine. Now, US military officials fear this channel of information can be cut.
UW Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies Hosts Lecture on Bullying and Stoicism

The University of Wyoming Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies will host a lecture from professor and author Matthew Sharpe at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13, in Room 127 of the UW College of Business Building.

Sharpe, an associate professor of philosophy at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, will base his talk on the principles of Stoic philosophy. The lecture, titled Bullying, Culture and Stoicism, will explore the dynamics of bullying in adult life and the workplace.

Sharpe says these dynamics often play out very differently from the old idea of the screaming boss or manager but instead involve subtle forms of blame-shifting, gaslighting and ostracism.

Rob Colter, head of UWs Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, believes this is an exciting and essential event for UW to host.

We are very excited to welcome Matthew Sharpe, who works at the forefront of the Philosophy as a Way of Life movement, Colter says. Sharpes work explores the many ways in which philosophical thinking about values and how we think of ourselves in relation to each other and the larger world can help us to live better, fuller lives.

Colter also says this lecture will provide practical and valuable education for people experiencing bullying in their lives or careers.

In this talk, Sharpe will address cultural factors that legitimize and tolerate bullying and ways in which principles from Stoic philosophy can be of use to victims of bullying, Colter says. These are issues of interest to anyone reflecting on what it means to live well.

Sharpes lecture is sponsored by the Deans Special Symposium Fund. Scott Turpen, interim dean of the UW College of Arts and Sciences, will provide opening remarks at the event.

Sharpe is a prolific author and researcher with more than 750 citations and over 30 articles published in Tier-1 journals across several disciplines. He has spoken at several Melbourne and Geelong philosophy cafes; delivered many lecture series at the Melbourne School of Continental Philosophy; and has been involved in several community groups.

For more information about Sharpes lecture, email Colter at rcolter@uwyo.edu.
UW Solar Decathlon House Near Lander Scoring Near Top

People involved in the design and construction of the UW Solar Decathlon Build Challenge house pose for a photo earlier in the construction process. From left are: front row, Cory Toye, Timshel Construction; Emmanuel Iddio, a UW Ph.D. student in civil engineering from Ibadan, Nigeria; Dhawal Jain, an assistant lecturer and faculty adviser; and Jon Gardzelewski, an adjunct faculty adviser; middle row, Alison Carlo, a masters degree student in architectural engineering from Pueblo, Colo.; Erin Christiansen, a junior in architectural engineering from Durango, Colo.; Brenna Jones, a junior in architectural engineering from Gillette; and Britt Bardman, a senior in Spanish from Reading, Pa.; back row, Samuel Spiker, a senior in construction management from Cheyenne; Nick Kulow, a junior in architectural engineering from Lander; and Travis Wicks, a senior in architectural engineering from Casper. (Tony Denzer Photo)

A University of Wyoming student teams entry so far is scoring near the top in an international competition to design zero-energy buildings.

The solar-powered home in the foothills of Wyomings Wind River Mountains is part of the 2023 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 20th annual Solar Decathlon Build Challenge. A public open house is scheduled Friday through Sunday, April 14-16, to demonstrate the features of the three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home, located 10 miles southwest of Lander and overlooking Red Canyon.

The students from UWs College of Engineering and Physical Sciences are among 11 finalist teams -- selected from 23 collegiate institutions spanning four countries -- that have been awarded $50,000 in prize funding to build and exhibit their groundbreaking, zero-energy buildings this spring.

The UW team trails only Ball State University in the current scores and standings in the contest, based on integrated performance; occupant experience; comfort and environmental quality; and energy performance. The UW team will showcase the home to jurors at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., April 20-23 for the final awards.

The hours of this weeks open house are noon-5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. To get to the house from Lander, take Highway 287 south 7.5 miles to Willow Creek Road; drive southwest on Willow Creek Road for 2.5 miles; turn left onto Bristlecone Road for one mile; then turn left onto Big Sky Road to 26 Big Sky Road and follow the signs.

Were excited to invite Wyoming residents to tour the Wind River home, says Anthony Tony Denzer, a professor and department head of UWs Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management. The objective of this project is to show Wyoming homebuilders and homeowners that a zero-energy house can be attractive and market-ready.

Students designed the UW Solar Decathlon Build Challenge house in a minimal mountain modern style. It has a super-insulated and air-tight envelope; advanced heating systems, including a heat pump and radiant floors; green building materials; and a large array of solar panels to ensure the home will produce more energy than it consumes on an annual basis. It is being built by Timshel Construction, led by UW alumnus Cory Toye, who is collaborating directly with the student design team. After the competition, the home, on its 6-acre lot, will be made available for sale.

To view the most recent 3D scan of the interiors of the house, visit www.uwyosolardecathlon.com/home. For more information about the house and the contest, email info@uwyosolardecathlon.com.
UWs WyCEI and Honors College Offer Three-Week Summer Entrepreneurship Course

Penelope Shihab, director of UWs Wyoming Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (WyCEI), poses in front of the Innovate Wyoming banner. WyCEI and the UW Honors College will host the course Innovate Wyoming: A 3-Week Journey in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Education May 22-June 7. (UW Photo)

The University of Wyomings Wyoming Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (WyCEI) and the Honors College will host the course Innovate Wyoming: A 3-Week Journey in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Education May 22-June 7.

The course will be based on the UW campus, but it will provide five on-site visits to startups, local businesses and incubators throughout the state. Additionally, the course will provide the opportunity to develop business ideas and direct mentorship from course instructors.

Join us as we tour the state, meeting and learning from Wyomings top innovators, startups, business support groups and entrepreneurship educators, says Penelope Shihab, director of WyCEI. This program is for anyone with creativity and a drive to turn ideas into reality. Whether youre studying business, an artist, a scientist, rancher or an activist, entrepreneurship can give you the tools to turn your passion into real-world impact.

Participants will undertake an immersive education in entrepreneurship and innovation through hands-on experiences and practical direction from successful entrepreneurs and business leaders in the state. Through exploring the local and statewide entrepreneurial ecosystem, students will gain opportunities for networking and community impact and join the next generation of innovative Wyoming entrepreneurs.

Participants will:

-- Hear directly from the owners of the innovative Railspur restaurant in Cheyenne on their entrepreneurial journey.

-- Meet legislators involved in building Wyomings entrepreneurial ecosystem.

-- Explore Caspers McGinley Innovations and its cutting-edge medical technology research.

-- Take a deep dive into a new biotechnology company.

By the end of the program, participants will have gained comprehensive education in entrepreneurship and innovation, including theoretical and practical elements; formed connections with other aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators, as well as experienced entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists and industry leaders; and have the capability to build their ventures into the future.

Participants will have their course costs covered. The course counts for three credit hours at UW. For more information about the course, go here; email Shihab at pshihab@uwyo.edu; or email Chris Rothfuss, director of internships, entrepreneurial initiatives and research opportunities in the UW Honors College, at rothfuss@uwyo.edu.

For more information about the Innovate Wyoming program, go to the website at www.innovatewyoming.org.
Pan Yuzhen, a 77-year-old embroiderer, shows her hand-made Miao costume in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Cui Xiaoqiang)

GUIYANG, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Pan Yuzhen, a 77-year-old embroiderer, was thrilled to do the catwalk show in her hand-made Miao costumes last week in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province.

At the opening ceremony of the 17th Guizhou Tourism Industry Development Conference held on April 6, a fashion show featuring signature local ethnic cultures drew rounds of camera flashes capturing images of the delicate Miao embroidery on the latest collection.

Pan, of the Miao ethnic group, hails from Taijiang County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture.

She learned the embroidery art from her mother at the age of 5 as an ethnic tradition. But it was way beyond her expectation that the folk craft could present itself on stages at world-famous fashion weeks as it does nowadays and that the embroideries created by her could one day be spotted in the daily lives of families across China as household products, which is now the case.

Pan has been to five foreign countries, including the United States, France and the United Kingdom. "Foreigners love our embroideries. They were even willing to queue hundreds of meters long at Christmas, just to buy an embroidered notebook or ornament for their families," she said.

Xia Hua, chairman of Eve Group, a Chinese clothing brand, has been devoted to promoting the intangible cultural heritage of China's embroidery industry for more than three decades.

Over the past decade, Xia and her team have been committed to the digitalization of ethnic handicrafts and have established databases on Chinese traditional embroidery patterns and ethnic artisans.

So far, her company has collected more than 8,000 kinds of embroidery patterns and information about more than 22,000 embroiderers, which has laid a solid foundation for building a digital industrial base for embroidery.

"Access to embroidery patterns and embroiderers enables global designers to find appropriate cooperative partners to design and create relevant products," Xia said.

Xia's company has teamed up with more than 400 world-renowned brands, including Burberry and over 1,000 international designers, boosting the development of more than 400 small and medium-sized enterprises in China.

Since 2017, her company has helped more than 1,700 embroiderers just like Pan to venture beyond the deep mountains to showcase their handicrafts abroad.

Xia still remembers the first time she and her embroiderers walked onto London Bridge and into Buckingham Palace. The nearby tourists all stopped to enjoy their ethnic costumes and folk song performances.

The ethnic minority women, once stuck in China's mountainous areas for generations, became "big stars" that day and attracted many people who rushed to take pictures with them.

"Our handicrafts are well-recognized and loved by tourists at home and abroad, giving us rising confidence," said Pan.

At a bazaar held in central China's Wuhan a few years earlier, the sales volume of her embroidery products amounted to more than 600,000 yuan (about 87,255 U.S. dollars) in a single day, she added.

Through creative innovation and cooperation with global designers, the local embroiderers have integrated the old craft with modern fashion items including clothing, high heels, bags, and household supplies, with over 10,000 varieties of products launched so far.

"We will combine standardized product models and our traditional crafts to roll out modern and fashionable products, bringing the 'China chic' from deep in the mountains to the global stage," Xia said. 
The boat was located in Italian waters more than 120 miles (190 kilometres) southeast of Syracuse, in Sicily. The the operation involving three patrol boats and a merchant ship, all coordinated by the "Nave Peluso" coast guard boat was described as "complex" due to the overcrowding.



A second fishing vessel carrying 400 migrants and also in Italian waters had been intercepted by the coast guard ship "Diciotti" 170 miles southeast of Capo Passero, at the southernmost tip of Sicily. Two merchant vessels were assisting in that rescue, the coast guard said. Alarm Phone, a hotline used by migrants in distress, said on Twitter on Monday that the people onboard were "in panic".



Alarm Phone tweeted on Sunday that, according to a woman onboard, the boat that had set off from Libya was missing its captain, and several people onboard needed medical care, including a child, a pregnant woman and a disabled person. Three people in distress had jumped overboard and one fell unconscious, it wrote. The coast guard said that besides the ongoing operations about 2,000 people had been saved since Friday in "a large number of rescues".



Thousands of migrants have landed on Italy's shores, especially the island of Lampedusa, in recent days after making the dangerous journey aboard flimsy vessels from North Africa. On Sunday, German aid group ResQship said at least two migrants had died and about 20 others were missing after their vessel sank overnight Saturday to Sunday after leaving Tunisia.



ResQship told AFP its charity boat had rescued 22 people from the shipwreck and took them to Lampedusa, helped by "good cooperation" with the Italian coastguard. According to interior ministry figures, more than 14,000 migrants have arrived in Italy since the beginning of the year significantly more than the 5,300 who had arrived over the same period in 2022 and the 4,300 during 2021.
With elections just a few months away, young Cambodians have a message for their government: "We are hungry for truthful and independent news."

More than 10 youth organizations in the country have petitioned Cambodia's Ministry of Information calling for authorities to reinstate independent media outlet Voice of Democracy.

The outlet was closed on February 13, on the orders of Prime Minister Hun Sen over its coverage of Cambodian aid to help Turkey after that nation's devastating earthquake in early 2023.

Authorities revoked Voice of Democracy's license and blocked access inside Cambodia to its English and Khmer-language news websites.

The closure has left Cambodians without a reliable source of independent news, the youth organizations have said.

Members of the organizations gathered at the Information Ministry in the capital, Phnom Penh, on Friday to deliver their petition. The groups included the Khmer Youth Capacity Development, Youth for Social Development and Democracy, and Youths for Awareness Club.

Ke Chamroeun, 28, who acted as a representative for the groups, told reporters that while Cambodia has several media outlets, not all of them are active in covering news that is beneficial to audiences.

"Most of them [media outlets] only disseminate propaganda rather than the social issues which need a solution," he said.

Arn Sreyoun, 21, said most media in Cambodia fail to report sensitive stories including those focused on politics, corruption, deforestation, and land disputes.

"We need an independent media outlet to report about those issues," said the Phnom Penh-based university student.

Soeun Makara, who also joined the groups presenting the petition to the ministry, told reporters, "We are hungry for truthful and independent news."

"Providing untruthful news to the youths is like killing their hearts," said the 27-year-old.

Stressing the importance of the media when elections are scheduled for July 23, the petition said, "We think that independent media will play a very crucial role in ensuring the free and fair process of the upcoming national election."

The petition cited the Cambodia Press Law on how authorities should handle media violations. Under that law, authorities can issue fines, order a broadcaster to run a correction, or temporarily cease operations rather than revoke the license.

In the case of Voice of Democracy, the broadcaster sent two letters to Hun Sen expressing "regret" and ran a follow-up story to clarify its reporting. But the move to revoke the license remained.

Chhan Sokunthea, the director for media development at the Cambodia Center for Independent Media, which oversees Voice of Democracy, said she didn't expect any changes soon.

"I don't have any hope of reinstating [the license] since it is the order of the prime minister," she told VOA Khmer.

In response to the youth petition, the Ministry of Information issued a statement that defended the action taken against Voice of Democracy.

"The revocation of any media outlet license follows legal procedures," the statement said. "The revocation of media outlets which violate law, seriously abuse professional and ethical code of conduct, defy other people's right and not admit the mistakes can't be considered as restriction of rights to freedom, threats or persecution against media or journalists."

Media analysts viewed Voice of Democracy as one of the few independent news outlets left in Cambodia.

Founded in 2003, its journalists took on big issues including deforestation, cyber scams, and a repressive political space in the lead-up to the 2022 local elections.

In the past year, it published dozens of articles on a people-trafficking operation inside Cambodia.

On March 14, the European Parliament issued a joint motion for a resolution calling Cambodian authorities to stop restricting civil liberties and media freedom ahead of elections.

The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, said in a February statement the government decision appeared arbitrary.

"It was not preceded by a thorough and transparent process as required under Cambodia's own press law, and fails to meet the tests of legality, necessity and proportionality that international human rights law requires for any permissible restriction on freedom of expression."

Cambodia ranks 142 out of 180 countries, where 1 denotes the best media environment, on Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom index.
TEHRAN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A technical team from Iran will "probably" travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to prepare for the reopening of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.

Tasnim said the team would visit the building of the Iranian embassy and prepare the ground for its reopening.

Alireza Enayati, a director general of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, confirmed that an Iranian technical delegation will visit Saudi Arabia "this week" to do the preliminary work for the embassy's reopening, without giving the exact date of the trip, the Iran Press news agency on Sunday reported.

On Saturday, a technical delegation from Saudi Arabia arrived in Iran to assess the situation and discuss the procedures for the reopening of the Saudi embassy and consulate general in the country, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signed a joint statement in Beijing, announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 in response to the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric. 
South Koreas government is scrambling to contain the political and diplomatic fallout after U.S. media reported that the United States  the countrys longtime ally  spied on senior South Korean security officials.

The allegations surfaced Sunday, when The New York Times published details from a leaked U.S. memo allegedly describing discussions within South Koreas presidential office about whether to provide weapons to Ukraine.

The memo was part of a larger batch of secret U.S. military and intelligence documents that have mysteriously appeared on social media  creating headaches and national security vulnerabilities for Washington and many of its allies.

Though the South Korea-focused intelligence report appeared to reveal little if any surprising or damaging information, it was reportedly based at least in part on so-called signals intelligence, suggesting Washington was spying on one of its most important allies.

The situation is awkward for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has aligned his country more closely with the United States and is preparing for a rare state visit to the White House later this month.

On Monday, South Koreas main opposition Democratic Party condemned the incident as a clear infringement of sovereignty and accused Yoon of overseeing lax security policies.

South Koreas presidential office has pushed back on that criticism, accusing the opposition of damaging the U.S.-South Korea alliance and harming the national interest.

In a statement Tuesday, Yoons office said that "a large amount of information from the relevant document has been falsified, adding that this was an assessment shared by South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Earlier Monday, South Koreas military said Lee and Austin spoke at the request of the U.S. side. The conversation focused in part on the leaked documents, the South Korean readout said.

The U.S. Department of Defense has not said whether it believes any of the information in the South Korea-related document was fake. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

US investigation ongoing

VOA has not been able to confirm the authenticity of any of the leaked batch of documents, which first appeared last month on social media websites, including Discord and 4Chan.

Analysts have detected what they believe are instances of forgeries in some of the documents related to Russia and Ukraine; however, U.S. officials have broadly responded as if the documents were authentic.

In a statement late Sunday, the Department of Defense said it continues to review and assess the validity of the photographed documents," which it said "appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material.

An interagency effort has been stood up, focused on assessing the impact these photographed documents could have on U.S. national security and on our Allies and partners, the Pentagon statement continued.

The Pentagon has referred the matter to the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation, it added.

The topics addressed in the leaked documents are wide-ranging  including sensitive details on topics such as the war in Ukraine, Israeli domestic politics, and China.

South Korean deliberations

The document related to South Korea claims to show senior officials in Seoul debating whether to send weapons directly to Ukraine.

The Yoon administration has so far resisted Western calls to provide lethal aid to Ukraine, citing domestic laws that strictly regulate sending arms to war zones.

Instead, South Korea has found indirect ways to help Ukraines military, including by approving the sale of South Korean-made weapons to countries that are arming Ukraine.

Late last year, South Korea agreed to sell artillery shells to the United States. At the time, Seoul insisted the United States would be the ultimate destination for the weapons.

According to the leaked report cited by The New York Times, Yoons secretary for foreign affairs, Yi Mun-hui, said the South Korean government was mired in concerns that Washington would divert the weapons to Ukraine.

The memo also allegedly included other internal South Korean deliberations about how best to respond to U.S. pressure to arm Ukraines military.

Limited intelligence value

South Korean officials have repeatedly said their position on arming Ukraine has not changed, stressing they will only provide non-lethal aid.

Since South Koreas position on Ukraine is not a secret, the intelligence damage may be limited, according to Go Myong-hyun, a research fellow at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies. The leak, however, could undermine South Korean confidence in U.S. handling of sensitive information, Go said.

In addition to the ethical implications of eavesdropping on allies, the United States has again shown it is incapable of safeguarding not only its own secrets, but the secrets of its closest allies, Go added.

The United States has been accused of spying on South Korea in the past.

The most recent allegation occurred in 2013, when documents leaked by former U.S. security contractor Edward Snowden suggested that the U.S. National Security Agency eavesdropped on the South Korean Embassy and other diplomatic facilities in Washington.

Diplomatic fallout

The 2013 spying allegation did not disrupt U.S.-South Korea relations. So far, there is little evidence that the latest incident will be much different.

Though South Korean newspapers and television stations on Monday focused on the spying allegations, much of the criticism was directed toward Yoon, not the United States.

South Korea has not seen mass anti-U.S. protests since the late 2000s. Then, protesters were upset about imports of U.S. beef and the death of two young girls who were hit by a U.S. military vehicle.

Opinion polls now suggest South Koreans are overwhelmingly supportive of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.

For that to change, something radical would have to emerge, said Ben Engel, research professor at the Institute of International Affairs at Seoul National University.

The anti-American side of Korean politics is the progressives, Engel said, And from what I've seen they are busy blasting Yoon.
An Air India flight bound for London from Delhi Monday was forced to return to the airport due to an unruly passenger.

An Air India statement said the passenger inflicted physical harm to two of the cabin crew members, causing the pilot to decide to return to Delhi.

The airline said the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing.

The flight was rescheduled to depart for London on Monday afternoon.
Latest developments:

Ukraine and Russia exchange hundreds of prisoners of war. Some of the freed troops from both nations are reportedly in poor shape and will likely require medical care.

Belarus is asking for security guarantees from Moscow. The president of the country, which is hosting a contingent of Russian troops, wants assurances that Russia would defend Belarus if it was attacked.

Russian official claims that 75% of Bakhmut has been seized. The ongoing battle for the besieged city has been one of the bloodiest in the 13-month war.

Russia and Ukraine have traded more than 200 soldiers in their latest prisoner swap, officials said Monday.

Russia's Defense Ministry said 106 of its soldiers were released from Ukrainian custody, while Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff, said that Russia freed 100 Ukrainian prisoners.

Neither announcement disclosed details of how the prisoner exchange was carried out. Yermak said on Telegram that some of the Ukrainian soldiers have severe injuries and illnesses.

He said the latest of the sporadic prisoner swaps during the 14-month war was "not an easy one," but did not elaborate. Exchanging prisoners is one of the few areas of cooperation between Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War alleged that almost half of the 80 men and 20 women soldiers who returned home "have serious injuries, illnesses or have been tortured," although it offered no evidence for its claims.

Ukrainian news reports said one of the female prisoners returned is Valeriia Karpilenko, a border guard who had helped defend Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant. Last May, she married a Ukrainian soldier in the steel plant's basement while Russian forces surrounded the complex, but her husband was killed three days later.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the freed Russians were being flown on military transport planes to Moscow for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Belarus seeks assurances

Meanwhile, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Monday his country needs security guarantees from Russia, according to state broadcaster BelTA.

The comments came as Lukashenko hosted Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

According to BelTA, Lukashenko cited his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, saying the two leaders discussed the need for Russia to protect Belarus "as its own territory" if there was "aggression" toward Belarus.

Putin drew criticism last month when he announced Russia would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Russian forces also used Belarus as a staging area to launch the full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than one year ago, after the two allies claimed they were holding only military drills with no plan for an attack on Ukraine.

More shelling in the east

On the battlefront, Ukraine's presidential office said at least six civilians were wounded in the latest Russian shelling. Separately, Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian forces struck a power plant and residential buildings in the eastern province.

Russian troops also attacked Ukrainian positions around the besieged town of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region and other cities and towns with airstrikes and artillery barrages, Kyiv said.

"The enemy switched to so-called scorched earth tactics from Syria. It is destroying buildings and positions with airstrikes and artillery fire," Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said of Bakhmut.

The head of the Moscow-controlled part of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said Russian forces now held 75% of the city.

The Russians also shelled nine border villages in Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv provinces.

Zelenskyy denounced earlier Russian airstrikes that coincided with the observance of Orthodox Palm Sunday. The majority of Ukraine's 41 million people are Orthodox Christians who celebrate Easter on April 16.

"This is how the terrorist state marks Palm Sunday," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. "This is how Russia places itself in even greater isolation from the world."

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Vietnam and Japan this week.

Blinkens first trip to Vietnam as the top U.S. diplomat comes as the two countries look ahead with an eye toward their current leaders first formal visits to each others capitals, possibly this year, said analysts.

After Vietnam, Blinken heads to Japan on April 16, where foreign ministers of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations will gather in the town of Karuizawa, in the Nagano prefecture, to discuss pressing security issues.

Comprehensive Partnership anniversary

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership. The two countries have been discussing how to advance ties to the next level  a strategic partnership.

We have a very robust security relationship, Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for east Asian and Pacific affairs, told reporters during a phone briefing on Monday, citing U.S. naval ship visits and security assistance to Vietnams military.

Watch related video by Nike Ching:

The U.S. is Vietnams number one export market. Vietnam is the U.S.s eighth-largest trading partner in goods.

Blinkens meetings with senior Vietnamese officials in Hanoi follow a call between U.S. President Joe Biden and the chief of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, on March 29, when the two leaders agreed to expand the bilateral relationship.

Part of these discussions include mutual visits by leaders on both sides to each other's capitals. It's to be determined when exactly those will take place, but, based on the call between President Biden and General Secretary Trong, there's certainly a lot of mutual interest in making that happen at some point this year, Andreyka Natalegawa, an associate fellow for the Southeast Asia Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA.

Vietnam, China ties

Vietnam maintains a three-tier diplomatic relationship with other countries: the Comprehensive Partnership, Strategic Partnership and Comprehensive Strategic partnership. The United States is currently ranked as a third-tier partner for Hanoi. China and Russia are among the countries that maintain top tier ties with Vietnam.

Trong was among the first foreign leaders to visit Beijing last October, after Chinese President Xi Jinping started his third term as the Chinese Communist Party leader.

Vietnam maintains an independent foreign policy. Hanoi has made it clear that it does not want to choose sides between Washington and Beijing amid growing tensions and geopolitical competition.

But for some years, the Southeast Asian nation has appeared reluctant to upgrade its ties with the U.S. to a strategic partnership amid concerns of reactions from China.

While in Hanoi, Blinken will participate in a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the formal launch of construction of a new U.S. Embassy in Hanoi.

Human rights

Meanwhile, rights groups are calling on Hanoi to end the persecution of critics. More than 160 political prisoners are currently locked up for exercising their basic rights, according to Human Rights Watch.

One of the high-profile cases is jailed journalist and human rights defender Pham Doan Trang  winner of the 2022 International Women of Courage Award hosted by the U.S. State Department.

There has been a troubling trend of harassment and arrests and harsh sentences with targeted Vietnamese citizens, journalists and activists simply for exercising their right to express their opinions, Kritenbrink told VOA on Monday, adding that Secretary Blinken will raise a fair assessment of the human rights situation in Vietnam, where there have been numerous important advancements.

Blinkens G-7 meetings will discuss issues including Russias continued war against Ukraine, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, food and energy security, and advancing an affirmative vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, said the State Department.
Authorities in southwestern Pakistan said Monday that a powerful bomb blast struck a police vehicle, killing at least four people and injuring 15 others.



The bombing occurred on a busy road in central Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province. The dead included two police personnel and two civilians, with hospital officials fearing the death toll could rise.



Waseem Baig, a spokesman for the city's main hospital, confirmed the casualties to VOA by phone, saying several among those wounded "are in critical condition."



A senior provincial police officer told local media the explosives were planted in a motorcycle.



Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing as a terrorist attack, his office said.



The outlawed Baluchistan or Baluch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the bombing. Pakistan, the United States and Britain have designated the BLA as a global terrorist organization. Baluch insurgents routinely stage attacks against security forces in Baluchistan. Militants linked to the outlawed Pakistani Taliban and Islamic State are also active in the sparsely populated region.



Monday's attack comes just days after authorities announced a top Baluch separatist leader was in custody.



A military statement on Friday identified him as Gulzar Imam, also known as Shambay, saying his arrest was a "serious blow" to the Baluch insurgency in the natural resources-rich province.



Imam led the banned Baluch Nationalist Army he founded in early 2022 and maintained close links with other insurgent groups operating in Baluchistan.



Like other Baluch insurgent outfits, the group has vehemently opposed China's investment in infrastructure-building projects in the province and publicly threatened to attack Chinese workers associated with them.



"Imam has been involved in militancy since 2009 and possesses a wealth of knowledge about Baluch armed groups, their structure, financial sources, and operational tactics," Kiyya Baloch, an independent analyst tracking the insurgency, told VOA in written comments from Norway.



He described the detained militant as a "seasoned guerrilla commander" and "one of the most known faces" of the insurgency in the southern parts of Baluchistan.



The province borders Afghanistan and Iran, with Islamabad repeatedly alleging the insurgents use the territories of the neighboring countries to plot cross-border attacks. Afghan and Iranian officials deny the allegations.



China has invested billions of dollars in Pakistan, including Baluchistan, in recent years, building roads and power plants, expanding the country's seaports, and building other infrastructure under Beijing's global Belt and Road Initiative.



The deep-water Arabian Sea port of Gwadar in the province is described as the centerpiece of what is known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC, a multi-billion-dollar collaboration.
China firmly opposes a visit by India's home minister to Arunachal Pradesh and views his activities in the area as violating Beijing's territorial sovereignty, a foreign ministry spokesperson told a news briefing on Monday.

China has renamed some places in what India regards as its eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as part of its territory.

"Zangnan is China's territory," spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in response to a question on the visit by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah.

"The Indian official's visit to Zangnan violates China's territorial sovereignty, and is not conducive to the peace and tranquility of the border situation."

China and India have had several skirmishes over the disputed border and clashes in mountainous regions in recent years have seriously strained ties.
Greek lawmakers are set to vote on urgent legislation introduced by the government in Athens to ban neo-Nazi parties from competing in upcoming national elections in May. The move comes after an imprisoned neo-Nazi set up  from behind bars - a political party that is gaining popular support ahead of the polls.

Greek Justice Minister Makis Voridis submitted the legislation to parliament, billing it as unprecedented and part of the governments drive to protect democracy in the birthplace of democracy.

With this bill, he said, it is the first time in history that Greek members of parliament are asking the entire bench of the Supreme Court to weigh the credentials of a party and its members to compete in elections.



The move comes just weeks after Greek lawmakers voted to ban Ilias Kasidiaris, a leading member of the now defunct Golden Dawn party, from competing in the May 21 polls.



Kasidiaris is among 60 neo-Nazi members and politicians serving stiff sentences for targeting migrants, homosexuals, and left-wing political activists at the height of Golden Dawns activities from 2012 to 2019.



His imprisonment has not stopped him from being vocal. From prison, he has set up a political party called The Greeks - and a YouTube channel with over 120,000 followers.

Despite efforts by lawmakers and the ruling conservative party to ban him from running in the May polls, Kasidiaris has in recent days stepped down, naming instead a former Supreme Court prosecutor with a clean criminal record to lead the party in the upcoming elections.

With disaffection growing among Greeks for the country's ruling conservatives and mainstream political parties, polls show Kasidiaris party has substantial voter support  about 3 percent  enough to win entry to the Greek parliament.



For ruling conservatives facing plummeting polls, Kasidiaris party poses a serious threat to their re-election.



But Mondays bid by the government to introduce stiffer legislation has sparked a heated national debate. The main leftist Syriza party has said it will abstain from Tuesdays final vote and legal experts highlight fears of a brewing backlash they say will only galvanize the support of Kasidiaris far-right party.



According to Costas Botopoulos, a professor of constitutional law in Athens, safeguarding democracy means safeguarding the spirit of the constitution. Here, the letter of the law is clear, he said. It does not forbid parties to compete on grounds of the ideology they uphold, but rather the members that make them up and whether they have criminal records.



The Greek party has vowed to contest any attempt to silence it.
In a small village in eastern Ukraine the sounds of war echo in the distance while 10-year-old Khrystyna Ksenofontova plays. She pets the neighborhood cats, paints and, like everyone else here, hopes the fighting will end soon.

The small village of Bohoyavlenka, in Donetsk province, lies 20 kilometers (13 miles) from the active front line. Khrystyna's days are spent scrounging the bits of childhood she still can. Her family refuses to evacuate and lives under a cloud of constant shelling. She wears headphones to block out the booms of the explosions.

"[I feel] fear, trembling," she says. The explosions resound at night most of the time, she says, brushing aside her sandy blond hair. But sometimes they come in the morning, too.

Her mother, Yulia, and grandmother chose not to leave the village, which had a pre-war population of 1,400, after her father died from a brain injury suffered in an attack that destroyed one of their homes. They prefer to bear the brunt of the war in their hometown rather than be displaced and penniless, Yulia says.

It's a common story along the dozens of towns and villages that span the 1,000-kilometer (more than 600-mile) front line in eastern Ukraine. Despite the severity of the fighting, many families have refused to leave their homes, rejecting evacuation attempts and choosing to risk their lives under bombardment. Aid groups concentrate on delivering food and supplying heating to these areas, where supplies are difficult to access.

The majority of those who stay are the elderly, many of whom rarely ventured outside their homes before the war. It is increasingly rare to find families with young children choosing to live so close to combat lines.

But Khrystyna still finds moments of delight amid the devastation.

In the basement, a litter of kittens was recently born. Picking up two, she smiles as their newborn eyes struggle to adjust to the light. She dreams of being a veterinarian.

All her friends have gone. The child finds ways to occupy her time by studying  when the power is on she studies online  and taking care of the cats.

Her grandmother  the mother of Khrystyna's dead father  weeps, praying for normalcy to return to their lives.

Yulia strategizes ways to gather food to last the week. Sometimes the family travels to a nearby town where the supermarkets are still open. The shops, hospitals and schools in their village closed several months ago.

Like many residents in the area, her husband was a coal miner. Before the war he worked in the nearby hilltop town of Vuhledar, which has been the site of fierce fighting for months with Ukrainian forces still holding the town.

Yulia fears a much-anticipated Russian counteroffensive expected in the spring will finally push them to leave. But where? She doesn't know. She wishes she could see her mother in Russian-occupied Crimea, but that is impossible now.

"Everyone is worried about [the potential counteroffensive]," she said. "Who knows, anything could happen."

While she speaks, a distant boom thunders. She brushes it off. "It's normal."
The Iowa Attorney Generals Office has paused its practice of paying for emergency contraception  and in rare cases, abortions  for victims of sexual assault, a move that drew criticism from some victim advocates.

Federal regulations and state law require Iowa to pay many of the expenses for sexual assault victims who seek medical help, such as the costs of forensic exams and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Under the previous attorney general, Democrat Tom Miller, Iowas victim compensation fund also paid for Plan B, the so-called morning after pill, as well as other treatments to prevent pregnancy.

A spokeswoman for Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird, who defeated Millers bid for an 11th term in November, told the Des Moines Register that those payments are now on hold as part of a review of victim services.

As a part of her top-down, bottom-up audit of victim assistance, Attorney General Bird is carefully evaluating whether this is an appropriate use of public funds, Bird Press Secretary Alyssa Brouillet said in a statement. Until that review is complete, payment of these pending claims will be delayed.



Victim advocates were caught off guard by the pause. Ruth Richardson, CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said in a statement that the move was deplorable and reprehensible.

Birds decision comes as access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S. plunged into uncertainty following conflicting court rulings on Friday over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone. For now, the drug the Food and Drug Administration approved in 2000 appeared to remain at least immediately available in the wake of separate rulings issued in quick succession.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, ordered a hold on federal approval of mifepristone. But that decision came at nearly the same time that U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice in Washington state, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, essentially ordered the opposite.

The extraordinary timing of the competing orders revealed the high stakes surrounding the drug nearly a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and curtailed access to abortion across the country. President Joe Biden said his administration would fight the Texas ruling.

In Iowa, money for the victim compensation fund comes from fines and penalties paid by convicted criminals. For sexual assault victims, state law requires that the fund pay the cost of a medical examination of a victim for the purpose of gathering evidence and the cost of treatment of a victim for the purpose of preventing venereal disease, but makes no mention of contraception or pregnancy risk.

Sandi Tibbetts Murphy, who served as director of the victim assistance division under Miller, said the longtime policy for Iowa has been to include the cost of emergency contraception in the expenses covered by the fund. She said that in rare cases, the fund paid for abortions for rape victims.

My concern is for the victims of sexual assault, who, with no real notice, are now finding themselves either unable to access needed treatment and services, or are now being forced to pay out of their own pocket for those services, when this was done at no fault of their own, she said.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation or OIC, a Saudi Arabia-based global Islamic body, has denounced violence that targeted Muslims in different Indian states during the annual Hindu festival of Ram Navami last week and called on the Indian government to take action against the perpetrators.

Human Rights Watch expressed concerns, too, noting in an April 5 statement that Indias Hindu festivals are increasingly being used by the ruling Hindu majoritarian Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to rally voters, leading to an increase in anti-Muslim violence across the country. The rights group also noted the festival coincided with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The Indian government has condemned the OIC and said that its statement showed its communal mindset and anti-India agenda.

Ram Navami is an annual Hindu festival to celebrate the birth of Ram, a Hindu deity. During the day of Ram Navami, Hindus traditionally participate in processions in which the Hindu epic Ramayana the tale of Prince Rams quest to save his wife  is recited.

In recent years, however, following the rise of Hindu right-wing forces across India, the Ram Navami processions often see large numbers of people brandishing sticks, swords, machetes and even guns.

As the processions pass through minority Muslim neighborhoods, they sometimes play anti-Muslim songs with hate-spewing lyrics  commonly known as Hindutva pop  on the music system, and chant abusive slogans targeting Muslims.

Last week, anti-Muslim violence broke out in several places across the country after armed revelers from Ram Navami processions violently attacked Muslims. In Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal and other states, communal tension and violence clashes broke out during Ram Navami processions.

In Bihars Sharif town, men from the Ram Navami procession physically attacked Muslims, forcing some of them to chant Jai Shri Ram, meaning Hail Lord Ram, in Hindi, and beat them up before vandalizing and setting fire to a madrasa and an attached 113-year-old Islamic library. A madrasa is a religious school.

In last week's statement, HRW South Asia Director Meenakshi Ganguly noted that the Hindu mobs attacking Muslims are emboldened by a sense of political patronage that affords them impunity.

The record shows that it is usually Muslims who are unfairly targeted by the authorities The BJP governments at every level have adopted discriminatory laws and policies targeting religious minorities, and its leaders and affiliates make frequent anti-minority remarks, including inciting violence, the HRW statement said.

The OIC called last weeks violent attacks on Muslims in India provocative acts of violence and vandalism.

While taking note of the burning of the madrasa and library in Bihar, in its April 4 statement, the 57-member organization said that the violence marked a vivid manifestation of mounting Islamophobia and systemic targeting of the Muslim community in India.

In other comments aimed at the OIC, Indian authorities said, We strongly condemn the statement issued by [the] OIC Secretariat today regarding India. The OIC only does its reputation damage by being consistently manipulated by anti-India forces, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a Twitter statement.

New Delhi-based senior BJP leader Alok Vats said he agreed that some unruly young people were infiltrating the Hindu religious rallies and giving a bad name to the community.

It is true that of late some chauvinistic and divisive forces are trying to rip apart the social fabric of India. The states and the police forces under them are failing to restrain their nefarious designs. If not controlled with an iron hand, they can definitely ruin the peace and stability of India, Vats told VOA.

The Hindu nationalist BJP is using Ram to further its politics of Hindu supremacy, Delhi University professor Apoorvanand, who uses one name, told VOA.

The strategy is to evoke a feeling of supremacy and power among Hindus by forcibly carrying out processions, which are supposedly religious, but are in actuality an instrument for abusing and threatening Muslims. Armed processions are deliberately driven through Muslim-dominated localities; mosques are targeted, and violence is provoked, Apoorvanand said. This process widens the divide between Hindus and Muslims, implicates Hindu youth in violent acts and criminalizes the Hindu society.

Zafarul-Islam Khan, former chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission, said that Ram Navami processions are used by the BJP to polarize the society on communal lines, in a desperate attempt to win elections.

They demonize Muslims by actively spreading hate and lies through social media. Their leaders deliver hate speeches aiming to whip up anti-Muslim passion in society. Also, they launch violent attacks against Muslims as they are during Ram Navami. All this is aimed to polarize Hindu votes, Khan told VOA.

In a Hindu-majority country, communal polarization always helps the Hindu nationalist BJP garner more Hindu votes and win elections.

HRWs Ganguly told VOA that India is looking to be an influential voice in world affairs, one that speaks for the perspective of the global south.

To be effective in that role, the Indian government should set an example of upholding rights and celebrating diversity. Inciting and indulging attacks on religious minorities, particularly Muslims, bias in a justice system that unfairly targets minorities and government critics, is not just wrong, but also damages Indias reputation, she said.

If India seeks to be a true world leader, putting an end to human rights abuses in the country needs to be a priority, she added.
TIANJIN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Over 550,000 migratory birds have been spotted this spring in the four wetland nature reserves in north China's Tianjin Municipality, according to the municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources.

Over 60 migratory bird species have made the transit in the four wetland nature reserves this spring. Among these birds, the number of birds under the national first-class protection, such as the oriental white stork, larus relictus, and great bustard, is generally the same as that in previous years, said Jiao Xiaotong, an official with the bureau.

The number of white-napped cranes, rarely seen in the past, has reached more than 500 this year, showing a significant increase compared with previous years. The number of birds under the second-class national protection, such as the whooper swan, tundra swan, and white spoonbill, exceeded 80,000, a slight increase compared with previous years.

The peak migration period of migratory birds in Tianjin continues, and the migration period of migratory birds in spring will likely end in mid to late May, Jiao added.

To ensure the safety of migratory birds, Tianjin focuses on conducting inspections and patrols in habitats where migratory birds are concentrated. Tianjin severely cracks down on poaching, illegal trading, illegal consumption of migratory birds, and other illegal and criminal activities throughout the city while curbing unlawful acts that destroy migratory birds' resources, Jiao said. 
Latest developments:

Two killed in Zaporizhzhia after a Russian airstrike hit a residential building in the southeastern Ukrainian city.

In his Easter Sunday message, Pope Francis invoked prayers for both the Ukrainian and Russian people. He also praised nations that help refugees.

Ukrainian photographer turns battle-ravaged bodies into works of art.

Two of Ukraines provinces  Kharkiv in the northeast and Zaporizhzhia in the southeast  were hit by Russian missiles, rockets and artillery fire over the weekend, the Ukrainian military reported Sunday.



Oleksandr Prokudin, Kherson region governor, said Russian warplanes struck two communities late Sunday, but he said there were no immediate reports of casualties, according to The Associated Press.



Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that shelling in Kupiansk, a town formerly held by Russian forces before Ukraine took control last September, killed two men Sunday.



Later Sunday, Syniehubov said on Telegram the city remained under attack, and Russian forces were targeting residential areas with rocket launchers, the AP reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the Russian airstrikes that coincided with the observance of Orthodox Palm Sunday. The majority of Ukraine's 41 million people are Orthodox Christians who celebrate Easter on April 16.



"This is how the terrorist state marks Palm Sunday," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. "This is how Russia places itself in even greater isolation from the world."



Zelenskyy also attended an iftar, a dinner held during the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims, with Ukrainian Muslim soldiers, leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and representatives of the Muslim clergy.



The event took place on the territory of the Crimean Tatar cultural center Birlik in Kyiv region, his official website said.



Those at the iftar observed a moment of silence in memory of the soldiers who gave their lives defending the Ukrainian state and citizens, Zelenskyys website said.



"May the holy Ramadan, despite the sadness and pain of war, be bright for you! May Iftar bring consolation to everyone in the world, in the Muslim community, no matter where you happen to be now. The big world Muslim community, every nation, every state can always rely on Ukraine because we have respect and solidarity," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.

Ukraine's military also reported Russian attacks and shelling throughout the front, with the heaviest fighting still focused on two cities in eastern Donetsk region  Bakhmut and Avdiivka. Russian forces have been besieging Bakhmut for months in the longest battle in more than a year of war, Reuters reported.



Western analysts have said Russian forces recently made it into the center of Bakhmut. They said seizing Bakhmut after more than eight months would give the Kremlin a badly wanted victory, Reuters reported.



The Russian army is moving elite units to Bakhmut, Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty, a spokesperson for Ukraines Eastern Group of Forces, told the AP Sunday.



Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry said Sunday it destroyed a depot containing 70,000 tons of fuel near the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, as well as Ukrainian military warehouses in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, Reuters reported.



Zaporizhzhia is home to Europe's largest nuclear power plant and one of four Ukrainian provinces parts of which Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed in September.



From a flower-adorned pulpit in St. Peters Square, Pope Francis prayed for both the Ukrainian and Russian people in his Easter Sunday message. Tens of thousands of faithful joined the 86-year-old pontiff to celebrate Christianity's most sacred day.



Francis delivered a blessing for troubled parts of the world. In his speech, he addressed the war in Ukraine, saying, Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia.''



Since the beginning of the war the pope has prayed for the martyred Ukrainians, but Ukrainian diplomats have criticized his soft stance toward the Russians and particularly Putin in his effort to not alienate Moscow.



Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Afghanistan's special forces killed two Islamic State fighters and arrested a third during an operation in the country's west on Sunday, a regional official said.

The raid on the hideout in the district of Sayed Abad in Nimroz province sparked a clash lasting 30 minutes, said Mufti Habibullah Ilham, the province's information and culture director.

Ilham said there were no casualties among the troops or civilians and that some military equipment was seized.

The regional affiliate of the IS group  known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province  has been the key rival of the ruling Taliban since the religious group's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.

IS has increased its attacks in Afghanistan, targeting both Taliban patrols and members of Afghanistan's Shiite minority. On Friday, security forces killed an IS fighter during an operation in northern Parwan province. They also arrested three women and seven children, said Hikmatullah Shamim, a spokesman for the Parwan governor.

Deputy Afghan government spokesman Bilal Karimi said authorities were serious about Afghanistan's boundaries and sovereignty.

"The Islamic State has no place in the country or among the people, nor does the Islamic emirate allow it," he told The Associated Press. "The number of (IS) fighters killed or arrested so far is in the hundreds, but there is no exact number."

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a number of high-profile attacks in Afghanistan. It said one of its members was behind a deadly bombing near a checkpoint in January at Kabul's military airport, the same man who took part in an assault on a hotel in the capital last December, and a gun attack on the Pakistani embassy.
The apparent leak of highly classified U.S. documents about the war in Ukraine poses a very serious risk to U.S. national security, according to a top Pentagon spokesperson.

The documents include sensitive information about Russias war in Ukraine as well as U.S. allies, and the breach has prompted a Justice Department investigation.

The materials, which have been circulating on various social media sites, "have the potential to spread disinformation," Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, told journalists on Monday.

"We're still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue. There have been steps to take a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom," he said.

Meagher said the documents appeared to be similar in format to those used to provide updates to senior leaders but said some of the images look like they have been altered. U.S. officials have said it appears alterations have been made to understate estimates of Russian battlefield casualties in Ukraine.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was briefed on the issue the morning of April 6, the day a New York Times story on the documents was published, according to Meagher.

The classified documents first began to appear on Discord in late February, and later spread to other social media sites, including Telegram and Twitter. However, they did not draw much notice until The New York Times reported about the material last week.

At the White House, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday that there are still many questions that have yet to be answered about the apparent leak.

We dont know who is behind this. We dont know the motive. And we dont know what else is out there, he said.

When asked if there will be more online releases of classified documents, he said, The truth and the honest answer to your question is, we dont know. And is that a matter of concern to us? Youre darn right it is, he said.

Kirby said President Joe Biden was first briefed on the matter late last week and has stayed in close contact with national security officials.

While he said the United States cannot speak to the veracity and the validity of any of those documents at this point, he said the information circulating online has no business in the public domain.

Addressing concern that the documents contain information about U.S. allies, Kirby said, U.S. officials have been in touch with relevant allies and partners over the last couple of days at very high levels.

State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel echoed those remarks Monday, saying U.S. officials are engaging with allies over the matter, including to reassure them of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence.

The Department of Defense is leading a multiagency probe into the apparent leaks, while the Department of Justice has opened a criminal case.

The Pentagon said Sunday that multiple agencies are working to assess how the leak of highly classified documents could affect national security.

While the department said it is still reviewing the validity of the photographed documents, they appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material, Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement.

Much of the leaked documents concern the war in Ukraine and contain sensitive information about the countrys combat capabilities. However, some documents also include information about U.S. allies, including Israel, Turkey and South Korea.

VOA's Jeff Seldin and Nike Ching contributed to this story. Some information also came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Officials in Tanzania say they have arrested South African national Thabo Bester, a convicted murderer known as the Facebook Rapist.

The 35-year-old Bester picked up the Facebook Rapist moniker because he used the social media platform to meet woman. He was convicted of murder for killing one of the women he met through the site and was sentenced to life in prison.

Last year, it was announced that he had died in a prison fire. This year, however, news of sightings of Bester began to emerge in South Africa.

A DNA analysis of the burned body thought to be his revealed that the body was someone else. Bester had escaped prison.

His escape has raised questions about whether prison officials aided him in his escape.
Russia has not granted U.S. consular officials access to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich since he was detained late last month and is in violation of international law, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Monday.

Patel told reporters at a regular press briefing that Moscow had over the weekend formally notified Washington of the detention, but the United States is still seeking consular access to Gershkovich, who has been detained since March 29 on espionage charges.

"At this point it is a violation of Russia's obligations under our consular convention and a violation against international law," Patel said.

The United States and the Soviet Union agreed in a treaty signed in 1964 that a consular officer shall be allowed to visit a detained or arrested citizen of the other state within two to four days of detention depending on their location.

"We have stressed the need for the Russian government to provide this access as soon as possible," Patel added.

The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lawyers for the Wall Street Journal have visited the journalist, and the newspaper has called for his immediate release.

The United States has called for Russia to release Gershkovich and dismissed claims of espionage as ridiculous.
China declared Monday that it is ready to fight after completing three days of extensive combat drills encircling the island of Taiwan, simulating sealing off the island in protest of President Tsai Ing-wens meetings last week with U.S. lawmakers.

The "combat readiness patrols," named Joint Sword, were meant as a warning to self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own, China's military said earlier.

"The theater's troops are ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of 'Taiwan independence' and foreign interference attempts," it said Monday.

Tsai met with key U.S. lawmakers, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, last week in California and then, back in Taipei, with another group of elected American officials.

Chinas military exercises were similar but smaller and less disruptive to ones it conducted last August in retaliation to a visit to Taiwan by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan.

Chinese state television said earlier on Monday that in the latest drills, aircraft, including nuclear-capable H-6 bombers armed with live missiles, and warships staged exercises to "form a multi-directional island-encompassing blockade situation."

Military analysts said the drills were intended both as intimidation to Taiwan and practice for Chinese troops to seal off the territory by blocking sea and air traffic, a strategic objective if China were to use military force to take the island. China has never renounced the use of force to take control of Taiwan. Tsai has denounced the drills.

Taiwans military said China sent dozens of warplanes and 11 warships toward Taiwan as part of the drills that began Saturday.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said Chinas military was simulating sealing off Taiwan and simulating strikes against important targets on the island.

Japans defense ministry said Monday the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong conducted air operations in waters close to Japans Okinawan islands on Sunday.

Also Monday, the United States said its guided-missile destroyer USS Milius passed near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The disputed islands are claimed entirely by China and partly by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

"This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea," the U.S. Navy said in a statement

Chinas maneuvers around Taiwan come in response to Taiwans president meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other members of Congress in California last week.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen denounced the drills, saying Taiwan will continue to work with the United States and other democracies as the island faces continued authoritarian expansionism from China.

The United States has a One China policy, which acknowledges that Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of China. The U.S. considers Taiwans 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 United States would defend Taiwan militarily if China were to invade, although Washington has maintained that its One China policy has not changed.

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 Taiwan.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
The Taliban have released two Afghan activists at a time when the United Nations and human rights watchdogs have raised alarms over the increase in arbitrary detentions in Afghanistan in recent months.

Nargis Sadat, a women's rights defender, and Zakaria Osuli, a university lecturer and author, were released on Monday after being detained separately for more than two months by the Taliban.

The Taliban have not commented on why the two were detained or released.



The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, in a tweet on Monday welcomed their release but voiced concern over the Taliban's use of arbitrary detentions against Afghan activists.

"We continue to engage with de facto authorities on cases but are dismayed by lack of information provided, despite ongoing requests. We call for the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained. No Afghan should be detained for exercising their freedom of expression," wrote UNAMA.





Last month, Amnesty International reported that the Taliban have been targeting critics for "unlawful detention." The rights group said in most cases detainees have "no legal remedy or access to their families."

"Amnesty International is calling on the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish an independent investigative mechanism in Afghanistan at the earliest opportunity, with a focus on evidence preservation to pursue international justice," stated Amnesty International's press release.

On March 27, the Taliban arrested Matiullah Wesa, an advocate of girls' education and the founder of PenPath, a community network campaigning for education in Afghanistan.

The Taliban said Wesa was arrested in Kabul for what they called suspicious activities.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told VOA that Wesa "had secret and open meetings without informing the [Taliban] government. He also had connections abroad and was getting instructions from abroad. Therefore, he must have been brought for questioning and interrogation."

Wesa's brother, Attaullah Wesa, who went into hiding after his brother was arrested, rejects the Taliban's claims.

"Our activities  pictures and videos of the activities of PenPath and our team are public. Our meeting with the international community, our people and authorities are not secret," Attaullah Wesa told VOA.

Human Rights Watch has called on the Taliban to release Matiullah Wesa and other activists in detention.

Sahar Fetrat of Human Rights Watch told VOA that "Human Rights Watch demands the immediate and unconditional release of Matiullah Wesa and all those arrested."

Human Rights Watch reported that in recent months the Taliban have increased their crackdown on dissent.

"In recent months they have increasingly targeted their critics for arrest, including civil society activists, human rights defenders, and women protesters," Human Rights Watch stated in a press release on March 29.
A 17-meter-long said Sunday, making it the third whale that beached itself on the Indonesian island in just a little over a week.

The male sperm whale was found stranded on Yeh Leh beach in west Bali's Jembrana district Saturday afternoon.

"We are currently trying to pull the carcass to the shore to make it easier for the necropsy test and we will bury it after the test is concluded," Permana Yudiarso, a local marine and fisheries official, told AFP Sunday.

This is the third whale that has beached itself in Bali, a popular tourist destination for, in April alone.

On Wednesday, an 18-meter-long male sperm whale was stranded in Klungkung district, on Bali's eastern coast.

Before that, a Bryde's whale weighing more than two tons and at least 11 meters long was found stranded on a beach in Tabanan on April 1  its carcass already rotted when discovered by locals.

Yudiarso told AFP that their initial suspicion is that the sperm whale found Saturday also died of sickness, "just like the whale found stranded a few days ago.

"The body looked skinny and sickly," he said.

Yudiarso said it would take at least three weeks for the necropsy test to be concluded but forensic experts found some bleeding in the whale's lungs and its colon was filled with fluids.

Police have cordoned off the location to prevent people from stealing the mammal's meat or body parts.

In 2018, a sperm whale was found dead in Indonesia with more than 100 plastic cups and 25 plastic bags in its stomach, raising concerns about the Southeast Asian archipelago's massive marine rubbish problem.

Indonesia is the world's second-biggest contributor to marine debris after China.
A Chinese court has jailed two of the countrys most prominent human rights defenders for over a decade on subversion charges, according to the wife of one of them and a U.S.-based human rights group. The heavy sentencing drew strong condemnation and threw light on the high price paid by government critics perceived by the Chinese authorities for challenging its rule.

A court in Shandong province Monday sentenced Xu Zhiyong to 14 years in prison and Ding Jiaxi to 12 years. Both were convicted of the crime of subversion of state power, according to Dings wife, Sophie Luo Shengchun, and U.S.-based Human Rights Watch.



Xu, 50, a former law lecturer at the Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications, was a cofounder of the now-banned legal aid center Open Constitution Initiative and the New Citizens Movement, a nationwide social initiative that advocated civil rights, government transparency, and education equality. Ding, a former commercial lawyer, was actively involved in both initiatives.



Both had previously been jailed for their criticisms of the Communist Party. Ding was imprisoned from 2013 to 2016 for urging officials to declare their assets. Xu served four years in prison, from 2014 to 2018, also for campaigning for official transparency over private assets and for equal rights for migrant children.

Beijing had no immediate comment on the matter. Chinas Communist Party-controlled judiciary often hands down heavy sentences to political dissidents, particularly those who refused to stop their activism after they had been released from earlier sentences.

Now I only have one goal: eliminate totalitarianism and autocracy. Just wait and see! Luo said in a Twitter post. Luo, who has fled to the U.S., said she was informed about the sentences by their lawyers, but the authorities barred them from releasing their verdicts to their families.

Luo told VOA that the heavy sentences given to her husband and Xu were "ridiculous and absurd."

"What Ding and Xu have long been advocating was for citizens to exercise the rights that have been granted by law and the constitution. Their jailing shows the authorities' disregard for their own laws, which are just lies to deceive their own people and the international community," she said.

She wrote that additionally, Xu was also given four years of deprivation of political rights and Ding given three years  which means they would be barred from taking public positions, speaking publicly and publishing  when they are released.

Luo last week posted statements on Twitter from both men, which were dictated to their lawyers earlier in their detention. Xu said he dreamed of a China where everyday people could elect public officials and freely express themselves. Ding called for democratic reforms and an end to autocratic rule.

Their trials were conducted behind closed doors and riddled with procedural problems and allegations of mistreatment, Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

The cruelly farcical convictions and sentences meted out to Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi show President Xi Jinpings unstinting hostility towards peaceful activism, said Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch. Bejings treatment of the countrys best-known human rights defenders should be a reality check for foreign leaders rushing to return to business as usual with Beijing.

Veteran dissident journalist Gao Yu, who has been jailed several times herself, said their heavy sentences  longer than Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobos 11-year jail term  proved [their] contribution towards Chinas democracy and freedom.

You are the rivals of dictatorial regimes you can see the dawn every day even behind bars, she wrote on Twitter.

The authorities detained Ding, 55, in December 2019, after he and Xu and some 20 rights lawyers and activists attended a secret gathering in the southeastern province of Fujian to discuss human rights and Chinas political future. After the event, Xu went into hiding and in February 2020, he was arrested in the southern city of Guangzhou.

Earlier that month, Xu published an essay which criticized Xi for his lack of ability to govern China, citing the coronavirus crisis and the mishandling of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests. Whenever you face a looming crisis, youre clueless Mr Xi Jinping, please step down, Xu wrote.

Xu, who has a PhD in law from the prestigious Peking University, has been a champion for social equality and the rule of law for 20 years. He began his activism in 2003 when he and fellow doctoral graduates, Teng Biao, and another friend successfully campaigned for the national legislature to scrap rules on detaining and repatriating migrants.

Teng, now a visiting professor at the University of Chicago, said, "The Chinese Communist Party decided to do everything to wipe out the human rights movement and dissidents. The brutal sentence of two leading lawyers shows Xis exaggerated sense of insecurity."

In 2012, Xu said in an interview that he would bravely face jail as its glorious to sacrifice for the sake of social progress and fighting injustice.

Li Qiaochu, Xus girlfriend and a womens rights and labor activist, has been detained since February 2021 on suspicion of inciting subversion of state power and is awaiting trial.

Xu was a 2020 recipient of PEN Americas PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award. In 2023, the United States Department of State awarded Ding the Global Human Rights Defender Award.
A U.S. warship sailed near a chain of islands Monday claimed by China, the Philippines, as well as other nations and Taiwan, while China held its third day of military exercises around self-governed Taiwan.

The U.S. Navy said the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius conducted a freedom of navigation operation near Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, a group of dozens of islands between Vietnam and the Philippines, to uphold the lawful uses of the sea.

USS Milius demonstrated that Mischief Reef, a low-tide elevation in it its natural state, is not entitled to a territorial sea under international law, the Navy said.

The Navy routinely sails near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea to protest what it calls Chinas excessive maritime claims.

China has created thousands of hectares of artificial islands atop reefs in the Spratlys and claimed Monday that the United States was illegally trespassing.

Beijing has claimed every feature in the South China Sea to restrict navigation and stop the lawful commercial activity of vessels from the Philippines and Vietnam. China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam all claim the Spratlys as part of their territory.

The United States upholds freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle. As long as some countries continue to claim and assert limits on rights that exceed their authority under international law, the United States will continue to defend the rights and freedoms of the sea guaranteed to all. No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms, the Navy said in a statement.

The operation occurred as China sent nearly a dozen warships and 70 fighter jets toward Taiwan on Monday in a third day of military drills since Taiwans president met with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles last week.

Taiwans government said it responded to Chinas moves by readying its navy and land-based missile defenses.

Chinas foreign ministry has sharply criticized meetings between U.S. and Taiwanese officials. The Chinese Communist Party has said it wants to gain control of Taiwan, a democratic island, by 2027 and is prepared to use force, if necessary.

The Pentagons assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, Chris Meager, told reporters Monday that Beijing should not turn the Taiwanese leaders visit to California into a pretext to overreact.

He said the U.S. continues to keep open communication channels with the Peoples Republic of China but so far, Beijing has declined requests for engagement with both Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley.

The USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and a Marine Amphibious Ready Group are currently in the region, and Meagher said they will continue to conduct routine operations there.

We will not be deterred from operating safely and responsibly in the seas and skies of the western Pacific, consistent with international law, he said Monday.
The factories of the future will need an advanced mission-control centre, built on the manufacturing execution system (MES), a platform that is an all-in-one overseer, QA chief, and production manager for the Industry 4.0 business.

MES-empowered enterprises can reduce their overall labour requirement by improving their inventory accuracy and checking part availability, writes Vibhu Kapoor, Regional Vice President - Middle East, Africa & India, Epicor.

No more walks to the plant floor, especially when managers have trustworthy, remote visibility into how parts are running, and machines are performing. The shrunken workforce will not be overburdened when machine operators and supervisors can always see the performance of their equipment and be proactive about improvements. And, of course, deskbound knowledge workers have the flexibility and access to systems necessary to work remotely.

Diverse segment

Manufacturing is a diverse segment, and the support of regional governments spells opportunity for everyone. There is currently a boom in the residential property market, and that translates to good news for steel- and cement-producing businesses. If we factor in the announcement of larger, umbrella projects like the 15-minute city concept announced at Dubai EXPO, or the giga-projects under way in Saudi Arabia, we can easily foresee revolutions in mobility, and increased focus on food security leading to opportunities in the F&B market. The list goes on.

Having created an ideal ecosystem for manufacturers to thrive, the government has done its part. Now, it is up to the Middle Easts private sector to again innovate and seize the moment. Of course, we hear innovate and we think technology. The regions manufacturers are no strangers to bold tech investment. Their leaps in digital transformation are already widely known, including the deployment of advanced ERP systems that tie into every detail of the business. But to go further and create the future envisioned by the regions leaders, enterprises must recognise the missing link at the heart of their digital operations. There are four main reasons why MES will be indispensable.

Accuracy

The principal function of an MES is to help decision makers understand how the business is operating. With the right clarity on what is not quite right, opportunities arise for adjustment and optimisation. An MES, for example, will be able to deliver information on the precise number of parts needed to make a specific number of product units and how long this batch will take to complete. While a human can do the same, the MES can do this in real time, allowing for quicker responses and more agile operations.

With an MES, managers can also track the number of workers and shifts needed to fulfil production demand, thereby rapidly calculating scheduling requirements, including any need for recruitment. The system is also useful in deriving optimum target values for overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Indeed, overall accuracy boons put paid to the guesswork of the past and create a more knowledge-based enterprise.

Real-time visibility

A side-effect of accuracy and speed is the much-lauded capability of real-time visibility. Every business wants it, but it is sometimes elusive. Not for MES, which invariably has access to the right data at the right moment to add the right insights in the right context. Faster decisions enable quicker responses to a range of happenings, whether on the factory floor or in the markets outside.

Innovation

There is the magic word. It is why decision makers want accurate, real-time visibility in the first place. Innovation is the end goal. MES goes hand in hand with Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT). Sensors on factory and warehouse floors collect data and connect IT and OT. Manufacturing execution systems sit in the middle as sophisticated intermediaries, relaying rich information as actionable insights. MES is inherently capable of playing well with other technologies because of its capability of digesting data flexibly. Augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and other hardware and software tools can integrate to enrich the overall knowledge ecosystem. Like the conductor of an orchestra, MES unites powerful individual elements and choreographs their interaction to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

Onboarding

Lets be clear. Automation alone cannot deliver the factory of the future. Human ingenuity is essential. But we live in a region plagued by a talent shortage. Here, MES can help. Not only are todays candidates more attracted to employers who equip them with the latest technology, but MES solutions provide interfaces that are so intuitive that they themselves can bridge some of the talent gap. They can develop the skills of operators through rich training documentation and multimedia, work instructions and part drawings, process steps, and call for help assistance capabilities.

MES also has built-in training certification and skills-management capabilities. Much like a human supervisor, the platform can assess operators for their readiness to run a machine and certify them based on completed training and efficiency ratings. For example, an operator may not be allowed to run a machine alone until they achieve a 60% OEE. The MES can use its list of qualified personnel to schedule work tasks.-- TradeArabia News Service
SAO PAULO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday called for national unity to rebuild Brazil.

He made the appeal on the eve of his 100th day in office while reviewing the main measures his administration has taken since he took office on Jan. 1.

"We live in one country and we need everyone to come together to rebuild it," Lula wrote in a column headlined "Brazil Is Back" in local daily "Correio Braziliense."

"We inherited so many problems and on so many fronts that the term 'reconstruction' was incorporated into the federal government's slogan, preceded by another key word: 'unity.' We don't have two Brazils, the Brazil of those who voted for me and the Brazil of those who voted for another candidate. We are one nation," he said.

"In these first 100 days in government, we have worked tirelessly to restore dignity and quality of life to the Brazilian people, especially the 33 million victims of hunger," he said, citing the revival of key social welfare programs, such as a cash transfer scheme and an affordable housing initiative, as the main achievements of his government in the 100 days.

The three-time president also highlighted the return of mass vaccination and of "More Doctors," a program aiming to facilitate the accessibility of healthcare by hiring up to 15,000 medical professionals to work in rural or remote communities.

Lula said that to make the wheel of the economy turn again, his government has formulated a realistic and responsible fiscal framework that maintains the balance of public accounts and guarantees that the poor are included in the budget.

The government has resumed investing in infrastructure by earmarking 23 billion reals (4.5 billion U.S. dollars) for projects in 2023, he said. 
The Winona Police Department announced over the weekend the end of the organized search for Madeline Kingsbury. She reportedly went missing on March 31st and hasn't been seen or heard from since that date.
If you need someone absolutely read to filth, get a queercoded Disney villain. There are oodles to choose from! Bowen Yang turned up on Weekend Update as Jafar, to weigh in on the ongoing beef between the Walt Disney Company and former Disney Adult Ron DeSantis. Dude got married there. For those who arent up on the corporate goss, DeSantis tried to dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District (the weird part of two Florida counties on which Walt Disney World sits, which is self-governing and technically allows the Disney company to run a nuclear power plant if they feel like) after Disney came out against the Dont Say Gay bill. However, right before DeSantis tried to dissolve the district, local government officials signed an agreement giving Disney power of the land until 21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, king of England. Jafar crowed over the victory, saying You pitiful straight! You can try to stop us, boy, but we will outsmart you at every turn.

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I fuckin love news: Logan Roy in Quebec, 1971. Photo: Evening Standard/Getty Images

Spoilers for season four, episode three, of Succession, Connors Wedding.

Logan Roy  CEO, chairman, and founder of Waystar Royco, the glowing radioactive core of the American right-wing-media machine  left this earth as he lived it: at high speed, climate be damned, hurtling toward yet another scheme to make billions of dollars. His heart stopped as his jet raced to a meeting in Sweden, where he intended to conclude a deal with the tech mogul Lukas Mattson that would ensure the companys future but also take it out of the Roy familys hands. According to the familys statement earlier today, he was pronounced dead upon the planes return to Teterboro Airport. Although his business faced the usual cable-news problems (aging audience, cord-cutting, an approach to news that is simultaneously elitist and dumbed down), Roy did not exit while caretaking a shrunken empire. Charles Foster Kane ended up physically diminished in his latter days, tended by nurses; Roy, despite a stroke in the summer of 2018 that briefly incapacitated him and provoked what was widely described as a shitshow at the fuck factory, was up on his feet at a charity event within months, slowed but asserting control. Until today, he was fully in charge of ATN  one report had him visiting the newsroom yesterday afternoon, walking the floor looking like (as one employee put it) Santa Claus if he was a hit man  and his choice, in recent months, to throw the networks backing tacitly behind Jeryd Mencken and his nationalist candidacy may yet make the difference in the upcoming presidential election.

Roy was not precisely what youd call an intellectual, but he was well read, terrifyingly quick on the uptake, and firmly decisive thereafter. His philosophy, in many ways, boiled down to a phrase he was known to fall back on: I fuckin love news. He maintained an interest in history, reading deeply and collecting rare military medals. (Doing so could be interpreted either as homage or as irony, given that he never served.) Yet he was the type of man who actively refused to look back on his own life unless it served the future. He disliked speaking about his upbringing; a forthcoming book by the journalist Michele Pantsil may reveal more details, as she has reportedly been cultivating current and former employees of Waystar Royco. We do know Roy was born in extremely modest circumstances in Dundee, Scotland, probably in 1938, the youngest child after his siblings Ewan and Rose. His father died early in his life. When Logan was 4, his mother, Helen no doubt fearing further Nazi bombing in the city  sent the three children to Quebec, where they were raised by their difficult and by some accounts abusive uncle Noah and his wife. Rose died young in an incident the cause of which has been covered up to this day. About the only thing we can say for certain is that Logan remained close enough to his mother to name the journalism school he endowed in his hometown for her.

Noah did, however, leave one legacy to his nephew: He ran a printshop and owned some billboards, and seeing that business seems to have kindled Roys taste for getting the news out. Roy would sneer at the thought of a sentimental origin story from his childhood, however: Rosebud is a dollar bill, he once said. Its whatever it took to get me the fuck out of here. He certainly was not  unlike Nan Pierce or Arthur Sulzberger Jr. or Donald Graham or most of the other rivals with whom he was occasionally contrasted  born into wealth. That dollar bill first materialized in the newspaper business, and to this day Waystar continues to operate quite a few titles, including the flagship New York Globe, his adopted hometowns Journal Quebecoise, and the burgeoning Shenzhen Sun.

In a contemplative moment before the Waystar Royco merger, 1993. Photo: Colin McPherson/Corbis via Getty Images

After establishing Royco in 1980 and expanding aggressively into the cable broadcasting business, the Pierces, especially, began to take notice of his tactics. In 1985, Royco expanded into theme parks and cruise ships with a division eventually named Brightstar, taking on significant debt to do so. A merger with the film studio Waystar in 1995 synergized nicely with those businesses, producing steady profits. Brightstar also, as readers of New York learned from our expose, was embroiled in an enormous scandal in 2018 over alleged crimes aboard its ships, including sexual abuse and harassment under a Roy executive, Lester McClintock. The companys impending acquisition by the streaming network Gojo will presumably improve the overall business outlook much as the earlier Waystar merger did, bringing in IP and supplying a desperately needed new distribution channel.

But the giant legacy of Waystar Royco, of course, is the reach and power of its broadcast network ATN (along with its smaller siblings, NCN and LNN), created to provide consumers, as Roy once put it, a bit of a laugh, some decent TV to watch, news that doesnt talk down to them. Or, as his deputy Cyd Peach described the audience, highly, highly intelligent viewers, who are really tired of being patronized elsewhere by latte-sipping douchebags with hundred-dollar haircuts. What this meant was the manufacturing of cultural outrage, and ATN did it extremely well, with headlines like I SMILED AT HER BY THE PHOTOCOPIER: NOW IM FACING CHEMICAL CASTRATION or GENDER FLUID ILLEGALS MAY BE ENTERING THE COUNTRY TWICE. You could almost laugh at such ginned-up high dudgeon, treating it as crabby-old-man farce not to be taken seriously  except that ATN so thoroughly pulled the Overton window to the right that it now functions as the mainstream media of the conservative movement and has been outflanked by its radical-right competitors. At a Washington event not long ago, Jeryd Mencken was overheard describing ATNs programming as a pudding cup at 5 p.m. in the nursing home. And indeed, during that newsroom visit shortly before Roys death, he announced an intense overhaul of its programming, demanding a new level of aggression and decrying journalistic complacency. That reimagining, if it takes place, will be unlikely to include his executive assistant Kerry Castellabate, whose cringey audition tape was reported on some gossip sites to have become an inside joke among the companys talent executives.

At the unveiling of his portrait in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh in 2006. Photo: Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images

Roy was, at his death, still married to Marcia Roy, his elegant Lebanon-born third wife, although there were whispers about distance in their marriage. His first wife was long ago squirreled out of public view after her institutionalization until her death, but she bore him one son, Connor, who was interested in politics from a very young age and whose presidential run on a putatively intellectual nationalist platform topped out at one percent in the polls. (In a poignant turn, his wedding to the playwright Willa Ferreyra took place earlier today, abruptly reconfigured at midday from a showy event with a brass band to an understated one.) The British aristocrat Caroline Collingwood, a brittle, funny character whom he married in the early days of Roycos ascent, also survives him, as do their three children. Two are well known, especially Kendall Roy, Waystar Roycos former COO, whose high-profile news-conference blowup in the fall of 2019 and subsequent rumored substance-abuse problem made international news. Siobhan Roys representation of the Pennsylvania Democrat Gil Eavis, who has a lefty voting record (not to mention his public criticism of ATN), must have caused strife at home, particularly after she married Tom Wambsgans, an executive at the network. The Roys younger son, Roman, is also a high-level Waystar Royco executive. Logan Roys estranged brother, Ewan  a major donor to environmental causes  survives him, as do Ewans daughter and her formerly oviform son, Greg, known for his somewhat disgusting recent battle with Greenpeace.

What will happen to Waystar Royco next is an enormous question mark. (Although one thing is clear: Roys personal, decades-long hunger to purchase Pierce Global Media, the highly respected center-left broadcaster, will never be fulfilled.) The sale of Waystar to Mattsons firm, Gojo, could close at any moment, or it could be derailed by Roys death. Since his stroke, rumors have swirled about one or another of the children taking over, although none has been formally designated, and each has displayed one or another mark of personal frailty that may have silently disqualified them all. Other candidates have included Roys longtime deputies Gerri Kellman and Frank Vernon, but of course that would mean relinquishing full family control. That tension should play out in the coming weeks, as the Gojo deal moves forward (or fails to) and we see a conclusion to this unconventional and highly complex plan of succession.
DJIBOUTI CITY, April 10 (Xinhua) -- In the bustling corridors of Peltier General Hospital in Djibouti City, the capital of Djibouti, a memorial plaque in French next to a consultation room's door caught the eye. "In memory of the honorable Dr. Zhang Huiting, who used to work in the ENT-Maxillofacial Department, we will always remember him," it reads.

Zhang was the leader of the 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Djibouti and a dedicated otorhinolaryngologist who came to the East African country twice and devoted himself to providing medical services to local people for more than four years.

Despite the challenges of a heavy workload and inadequate medical equipment, he treated approximately 9,000 patients and performed over 500 surgeries during his second mission from October 2017 to May 2020. Tragically, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer during his second mission and passed away in August 2021 after returning to China for treatment.

Saad Abdillahi Awaleh, chief of the ENT (ear, nose and throat) department at the hospital who worked with Zhang, remembers him as a conscientious and experienced doctor who also contributed greatly to training local doctors. "We will not forget everyone who has dedicated himself to the people of Djibouti, and he will always be remembered by the medical staff here."

Zhang's story is just one among many of the Chinese medical teams' commitment to Djibouti's healthcare sector. Despite facing harsh working conditions, they have utilized their exceptional medical skills to fill the gaps in local medical technology.

One of the patients who received life-changing treatment from Chinese doctors is Mokhtar, a 23-year-old Djiboutian soldier who suffered severe injuries to his face and chest in an explosion while on duty. Local doctors had stabilized his condition but lacked the expertise for the complex surgery required to treat his injuries.

Hou Wei, a maxillofacial surgeon and leader of the 21st Chinese medical team, was able to operate on Mokhtar for over five hours, delicately reconstructing his shattered jawbone and repairing the missing soft tissue.

When the young soldier looked at himself in the mirror after the surgery, he was ecstatic to see his face being restored and repeatedly thanked Hou for his work.

The contributions of the Chinese medical teams in Djibouti go beyond individual cases. They have also worked tirelessly to train local healthcare professionals and implement better healthcare practices.

The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) department at Peltier General Hospital in Djibouti always sees a constant stream of patients seeking treatment. Two Chinese acupuncture and massage doctors, Zhou Naizhong and Lian Xin'gang, stationed at the department, attend to 40 patients daily.

Thanks to the efforts over the years of the Chinese medical teams, the TCM is gradually gaining recognition in Djibouti. Last November, the current Chinese medical team based in Djibouti held the first TCM training course, teaching 13 local medical personnel how to perform massage and acupuncture. This has helped form a team of Djiboutian TCM practitioners, benefiting even more locals.

Since 1981, China has sent nearly 200 doctors from different departments to Djibouti to provide much-needed medical assistance. Their contributions have been appreciated by the Djiboutian government, which has presented the Chinese medical teams with 52 honorary awards, including medals and honors. 
The title Succession has been a tease, if not a running joke, from the very beginning of the series  like Game of Thrones as a devilishly sadistic round of musical chairs. Which one of Logan Roys three relevant children will take over his media empire after he dies? (Or will Cousin Greg bumble his way to the top like Dennis Price killing off the eight Alec Guinnesses between him and the Duke DAscoyne in Kind Hearts and Coronets?) Thats the question that obsesses Kendall, Shiv, and Roman enough to drive the rivalry between them. And its what weve been asking, too, reasonably expecting an answer by the end of this fourth and final season. But now, even though well discover  in the short- and long-term  who will take over Waystar Royco, Logan wont be the person making that decision. Whats more, he probably decided years before the shows opening scene that none of his idiot children were suitable for the job. Its just the big, fat carrot he dangled at the end of the stick.

He probably also assumed, like everyone does, that he would live forever. Throughout the series, Logan survived multiple health scares, from that first hemorrhagic stroke on his helicopter to the UTI that affected his cognitive function to the heat exhaustion he suffered on Josh Aaronsons Long Island estate. He also survived multiple attacks from inside and outside the business, including at least three involving Kendall  the failed no confidence vote, the cruise scandal that briefly exiled him to Balkan airfields, and the kids attempt to sabotage the GoJo deal in last seasons finale  and hostile moves by Sandy and Stewy. All the while, he never had an actual plan for succession unless youre inclined to believe that his family and his inner circle (Gerri, Carl, and Frank, basically) were perpetually auditioning for the job. Now hes gone, leaving a power vacuum akin to someone popping open the capsule hatch in deep space.

The staging of Logans death is brilliant. He goes out without a big speech, surrounded by sycophants, not loved ones. The combined forces of the best heart doctor in the world and the best airplane doctor in the world could have never affected the outcome. Hed been teetering on the precipice of death for a long time  and surely had the resources to cheat it longer than a normal person  and it finally came for him as it comes for us all. And so we get the sad, surreal spectacle of the Roy children, gathered together on a yacht for Connors wedding, dealing with this crisis on the end of a bad cell phone connection, confused and utterly helpless, each taking turns improvising their last words to him.

And so the tortured relationship between a father and his children ends appropriately, with Kendall, Shiv, and Roman speaking into the ear of a man who isnt listening. Its a heartbreaking spectacle, even if youre disinclined to feel much sympathy for the Roys, who use their media empire to pump familial toxins into the national bloodstream. The fact that Logans kids are still so terminally immature  even the profanity evokes adolescents who are abusing new verbal weapons  makes it all the more touching because they react as children would, with a raw, unprocessed neediness. Nobody on the plane wants to tell them theyre talking to a dead man, so theres some confusion over the endless heart compressions that might bring him back to life. But its safe to assume that Logan is never conscious from the moment the call to the kids is placed.

The entire cast is up to the task, but Kieran Culkin is particularly devastating as Roman, whose recent realignment with his dad suggested a vulnerability thats every bit as deep as Kendalls but expressed through attachment rather than rebellion. And for all the back-and-forth about Brian Cox and Jeremy Strongs conflicting approaches to the thespian craft, Culkin has quietly turned Roman into James Dean in East of Eden type, adding layers of melancholy and self-loathing to the expected arsenal of nasty put-downs and quirky sits. Romans denial is the strongest of anyone in the group  he wont believe his dad has died until he literally steps onto the plane and sees for himself  but the moment that really stabs at the heart is his assurances over the phone. Youre a good dad, he says to a corpse. Youre a very good dad. You did a good job.

The implications of Logans death are so immense that theyre almost impossible to comprehend, which is the genius of detonating this dramatic bomb when it will produce the most chaos. The GoJo deal will be, in Karls words, heavily fucking delayed, if it happens at all. Logans related night of the long knives isnt happening, either, despite Roman moving excruciatingly forward with his plans to fire Gerri. The remaking of ATN under Logans supervision is also stalled, which means that Cyd, another woman executive he intended to can, and Tom can resume their mutual cattiness for now. Logan doesnt appear to have drafted any plans for the company in the event of his death, and so the free-for-all commences before his body has even gone cold.

In a simple, brilliant plotting device, series creator Jesse Armstrong, who co-wrote this episode, expresses all this immediate dysfunction with the drafting of a statement announcing Logans death. As head of public relations, Karolina thinks clearly enough to realize that the company needs to get ahead of the news and control the fallout. The kids are initially too freaked out to understand what needs to be done  Calm the markets?! At a time like this?!  but circumstances have neatly divided everyone into two separate parties: The plane people and the kids. The plane people are Tom and the three executives (Karl, Frank, and Karolina), who can actually run the day-to-day competently while the kids, with Hugo as their liaison, have to scramble to make sure their voices are included  their futures depend on it.

The kids ultimately do have a hand in giving the statement to the press, with Shiv reading off the PR-massaged boilerplate (Logan Roy built a great American family company and This nation lost a passionate champion, etc.) for the scrum of cameras. In the remaining episodes, she and her siblings will have to fight hard for a piece of a family company that their dad did not bequeath to them or anyone else, as far as we can tell. One things for certain: The market is not calmed. Theres a seismic dip in the stock price as news circulates, reflecting the investors (correct) understanding that Waystar Royco was a one-man operation.

There he is, says Roman at a graph that descends like a flatlining heartbeat. That is Dad.

Sad-Sack Wasp Traps

 Hard to overstate how badly Logans death weakens Toms position, and he knows it. Hes lost his protector, the man who rewarded his loyalty by giving him the ATN job that made Syd redundant and expendable and by helping him freeze his daughter out of access to the citys best divorce lawyers. The news isnt good for Greg, either, though both of the Disgusting Brothers have proven to be survivors in the past.

 Connor and Willa going through with the wedding anyway is a lovely touch and further evidence that Connors disconnection from the rest of the family serves him well on occasion. Those two stand a good chance of having the healthiest love relationship in the series.

 Tom and Greg are a buddy team that cannot be broken up, but Tom still likes to dangle Greg over the balcony whenever possible, like when he talks about the three or four Greglets doing things for him while the real Greg is not available.

 Romans attempted firing of Gerri goes about as well as Greg trying to let Kerry down easy over her lousy audition tape. I danced us through a fucking thunderstorm without us getting wet, she says in response to his wan declaration that Logan was unhappy about the companys DOJ dealings. Past weird intimacies aside, Gerri has been sharp with Roman when it matters.

 I do not want to see the internal qualities.  Connor, upending the cutting-the-cake part of the traditional wedding reception.

 Roman on news that his dads heart and breathing have stopped for a while: But that doesnt mean that hes dead, medically.

 Incredible Tom line in reference to Kerry, the queen of inappropriate smiles, flashing one on the plane: It looks like she caught a foul ball at Yankee Stadium.

 A wedding day exchange between Connor and Willa: Are you just with me for money, Willa? There is something about money and safety here, yeah. Im happy. Im not going to walk. Not today, anyway. Of the three catastrophic weddings on the showpreceded by Tom and Shivs and Lady Caroline and Peter Munions  theirs is by far the most romantic.

 Kendall: Well get a funeral off the rack. We can do Reagan with tweaks.

 Its a brief shot, but the look on Colins face is like a dog without its master.

For more, join us for Succession Club, our subscriber-exclusive newsletter obsessively chronicling all the biggest twists of the final season. Existing subscribers can visit this page to sign up. If youre not a subscriber yet, click here to get started.

Scott Tobias will be answering comments in this very recap of Succession episode three. Hell monitoring the comments for next 48 hours after the post publishes and respond to questions about the episode. Join the conversation in the comments!

This article has been updated to correct an error.

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Photo: David M. Russell/HBO

In Wambsgans Watch, we weigh in on the state of Tom Wambsganss relationships in each of the remaining episodes of Succession. Spoilers follow for episode three of season four, Connors Wedding.

Before we begin this weeks Wambsgans Watch, lets have a moment of silence, please, for the late Logan Roy, a titan of industry and a man who spent his final days manipulating his children and getting irked by the amount of pizza in the ATN newsroom. Logan ultimately died as he lived: having his priorities in the totally wrong place.

Is Tom Wambsgans any better, though? Thats a question to be actively wrestled with throughout this weeks exceptional episode. At times during Connors Wedding, Tom seems genuinely distraught and saddened by Logans passing. He also shows genuine kindness to Shiv and her siblings, holding the phone next to Logan so they can say some final words he probably did not hear. (How darkly heartbreaking that the only time they truly get their fathers ear, its attached to his corpse.) But is Tom upset because his boss and father-in-law  a friend, even, to the extent that Logan could be anyones friend  has just suddenly died? Or is he upset because his position at ATN becomes much more vulnerable without Logan as his ally? I lost my protector, Tom says, teary-eyed, during his phone call with Greg. Theres definitely some, if not a lot, of that vulnerability at play here.

Who is Tom Wambsgans fucking with this week?

In the beginning of this episode, Tom seems perfectly at ease with fucking over just about anyone. Logan says hes going to push Cyd  meaning Tom will have oversight of the ATN newsroom all to himself  and also informs Tom that Roman is going to fire Gerri. Tom takes this news completely in stride and doesnt even question Logans rationale for any of this. You push Cyd, Roman knifes Gerri: All in a days work, Tom says guiltlessly.

After Logans collapse, Tom maintains total composure. Hes the one who keeps the Roy kids in the loop, and he remains calm and steady, at least in front of the others. His ability to keep it together on the surface explains why hes so disgusted by Kerrys freakish, smiley response to Logans death, a reaction that mirrors the way she delivered bad news during her anchor audition.

Judging by her grin it looks like she caught a foul ball at Yankee Stadium, Tom says derisively. Turns out that Kerry isnt just bad at being on-camera, shes bad at being a normal person. Or maybe not? Maybe its more normal to go into shock and not know how to act in this situation than it is to immediately shift into self-preservation mode. But Tom has learned how to operate like a true Roy, which is why he instantly and instinctively buttresses his status after losing his protector.

Notably, Shiv is the first person Tom calls after Logans heart attack, though she declines his call. Hes also gentle and comforting with her over the phone  when she asks, panic-stricken, whether her father is alive, he says, I dont know, honey in a way that sounds genuinely loving. Certainly Tom may feel real sympathy toward the woman who is still his wife, but this behavior is also shrewd. Even as Logans chest is being pumped, Tom has the foresight to know that hed better reinforce his alliance with Shiv because if Logan dies, shes the only Roy who might support him.

By the end of the episode, that effort seems to be paying off maybe. After the press conference confirming Logans death, Shiv walks straight into Toms arms, though the hug they give each other seems a bit awkward. In one of the episodes final moments, Shiv beckons him over to her car and they leave the airport together. Its possible that with Logan gone, perhaps they can mend fences, if only for professional reasons. Its also just as possible that Shiv wont have any interest in forgiving Mr. Ive Booked Every Attorney in Town and that Tom will be left twisting in the wind.

Who is fucking with Tom Wambsgans?

I mean, one could argue that the universe is messing with him by taking Logan out of this world right as hes about to give Tom even more power at ATN. As I wrote last week, Tom has been following the Logan playbook in terms of his professional conduct, and its served him well. But, per the scene where he mourns the loss of his protector, Tom seems to know he might be screwed. And when Tom Wambsgans is backed into a corner, he often makes stupid decisions. Stupid decisions like, for example, turning to Greg for help.

How fucked up are things between Tom and Greg?

The pattern in this relationship continues to involve Tom belittling Greg  He just finds you visually aggravating right now, he explains when Greg asks why Logan doesnt want him joining the trip to Sweden  but also continuing to seek his assistance. Despite his insistence that he has three or four people Gregging for him, Tom actually has only one Greg, and thats the person he calls when he needs someone to clean up any potential messes. In addition to telling Greg that they need to make sure people know Tom was with Logan when he died, he also asks Greg to delete some files on his computer that, presumably, outlined the next steps Tom would take after Cyd got booted.

Why is Tom asking Greg, of all people, to destroy documentation for him? This has not gone well in the past! Toms need to choreograph something that makes him look essential to the business even with Logan no longer with us speaks loudly to the unstable ground on which hes now treading.

At the end of this episode, how fucked is Tom?

With Shiv by his side, perhaps Tom can save himself. But thats by no means a sure thing. Its just as possible that the death of Logan Roy will mean the death of Tom Wambsganss career at ATN. If Tom plans to choreograph his way out of this, he needs to prove hes a much more skilled dancer than hes been in the past.

For more, join us for Succession Club, our subscriber-exclusive newsletter obsessively chronicling all the biggest twists of the final season. Existing subscribers can visit this page to sign up. If youre not a subscriber yet, click here to get started.
Guests attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Malaysia-China Kuantan international logistic park in Kuantan, Pahang state of Malaysia, on April 7, 2023. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)

The Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park allows Malaysia to streamline its trade with East Asia, chiefly China, which is Malaysia's largest trading partner for a range of commodities and manufactured goods, East Coast Economic Region Development Council CEO Baidzawi Che Mat says.



KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) has remained a key economic driver along Malaysia's east coast a decade after its launch, boosting industrial output and job creation, said an official overseeing the region's development.

This has allowed Malaysia to streamline its trade with East Asia, chiefly China, which is Malaysia's largest trading partner for a range of commodities and manufactured goods, East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) CEO Baidzawi Che Mat told Xinhua.

"MCKIP is a flagship project for bilateral investment cooperation between Malaysia and China and it is the first industrial park in Malaysia to be jointly developed by both Malaysia and China, and to be accorded the national industrial park status," he said.

"Through the development of MCKIP, Malaysia and China saw an increase of investment from both sides. Since MCKIP was launched in February 2013, it has become one of ECERDC's most successful industrial parks," he added.

Aerial photo taken on April 15, 2019 shows the Alliance Steel at the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park in Pahang, Malaysia. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

The MCKIP is a key Belt and Road cooperation project and a demonstration base for cross-border industrial capacity cooperation. The MCKIP, together with the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park situated in China's southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has set an innovative example of bilateral economic cooperation under the model of "Two Countries, Twin Parks."

"The development of MCKIP has generated high-paying jobs in various positions from management to production for locals in the area," he said.

In tandem with the MCKIP, Baidzawi said, the development and expansion of Kuantan Port in Pahang state has allowed products from the industrial park as well as other key Malaysian industries, particularly palm oil, rubber and other commodities, to benefit, having a direct outlet to the South China Sea, facilitating ease of trade with East Asia.

"With the full completion of the expansion, the throughput of Kuantan Port is expected to double from 26 million freight weight tonnes to 52 million freight weight tonnes. The increased port activities and expansion of cargo services will generate jobs for the locals in the shipping industry and business opportunities for local freight forwarders and logistic players," he said.

Commenting on the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), of which Malaysia was an early partner and remains strongly committed to, Baidzawi said the MCKIP is one of Malaysia's key projects under the initiative, which includes the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).

"Its success speaks loudly of the strong cooperation between Malaysia and China. With the completion of ECRL, which is also a key project under the BRI, ECERDC expects a significant increase in the movement of goods and personnel to and from MCKIP via Kuantan Port and ECRL," he said. 
President Biden made the announcement in a video, saying that he wanted to finish the job he started when the country was racked by a deadly pandemic, a reeling economy and a teetering democracy.
Workers in the office spend 25 per cent more time in career-development activities than their remote counterparts, according to new data from a team of economists who have analysed working from home since the pandemic began.

Those who came into work devoted about 40 more minutes a week to mentoring others, nearly 25 more in formal training and about 15 additional minutes each week doing professional development and learning activities, according to WFH Research, a group that includes Stanford University economist Nicholas Bloom.

Working from home may mean missing out on career advancement opportunities. Credit: iStock

The figures, based on surveys of more than 2400 US adults who are able to work from home, lend quantitative support to leaders such as JPMorgan Chases Jamie Dimon and Morgan Stanleys James Gorman, who have said that workers - particularly younger staff - need to be on-site more often than not to learn and develop alongside more experienced colleagues.

Wall Street banks have been in the vanguard of corporate campaigns to get workers back to offices more often, but those efforts have clashed with workers demands for flexibility in what is still a tight labour market. This has resulted in an ever-changing morass of hybrid arrangements.
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has ended almost a decade of uncertainty in the Star Wars movie space with confirmation of three new films, including one which effectively restarts the franchises Skywalker saga.

The announcement, made at the Disney-powered Star Wars Celebration convention, is the most significant connected to the Star Wars films in some time, and attempts to stabilise what had become a persistent wrinkle in Disneys expansion plans for the brand.

Back in the frame: Rey Skywalker (Daisy Ridley). Credit: Lucasfilm

Lucasfilm has confirmed Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Dave Filoni and James Mangold will direct three new Star Wars feature films. The first of those three is the most significant at this point, as it will focus on Daisy Ridleys character, Rey Skywalker.

Speaking at Celebration, Obaid-Chinoy confirmed the film would be set 15 years after audiences last saw Rey: on the planet Tatooine after the fall of the First Order, the evil Galactic Empires last gasp for power, and under the watchful eye of the Force ghosts of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher).
Circus Oz has managed perhaps the most remarkable trick possible: it has come back from the dead.

When the pioneering circus announced it was closing its doors in December 2021, the news came as a shock. As revealed by this masthead, the companys members had rejected the terms of a review imposed by the federal government that would have changed the way the company was run.

The entire board resigned and issued a statement saying it was a devastating blow to the team and that it had no choice but to wind the company down because the members decision meant they would lose $2.6 million in federal and state subsidies, making the company unviable.

Circus Oz trapeze artists in rehearsals ahead of their show in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Credit: Scott McNaughton

Then, in February last year, Circus Oz issued a statement declaring: Reports of our death have been greatly exaggerated. It announced a new board and declared it was all systems go for the company.
This aerial photo taken on July 18, 2022 shows a coal-based ethanol project at Yulin Energy and Chemical Co., Ltd. under Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd. in Yulin, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

XI'AN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Riding on a driverless, rubber-tired vehicle to the coalface at a depth of 150 meters has become part of the daily routine for miners in Shangwan Coal Mine in the city of Ordos, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Thanks to the digitization of the coal industry, miners no longer need to enter the deep mineshafts via walking or riding an outdated small train.

"The 19-seat new-energy vehicle is equipped with advanced technology like lidar sensors and millimeter wave radar sensors that enable it to run deep into the coalface along a planned route without human operation, which is safer and quicker," said Shen Fei, director of the mine's electromechanical information center.

After half an hour, Shen arrived at the coalface and made a video call to the control center on the ground. "The full deployment of 5G network makes instant messaging possible for underground miners," Shen added.

Since intelligent transformation was launched three years ago, Shangwan Coal Mine, with an annual output of 16 million tonnes of coal, has witnessed remarkable progress in its productivity. Machines have replaced people in a total of 36 posts, which reduce the amount of heavy physical work performed by miners.

According to an official statement from the Ministry of Science and Technology, China will accelerate the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in 10 scenarios, including coal mines. Unmanned operation, intelligent patrol and remote control will become the new normal in mines in the future.

The 17th Yulin International Coal and High-end Energy Chemical Industry Expo was held from Friday to Sunday in the city of Yulin, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The event brought together over 60 foreign guests as well as 756 companies from home and abroad, to explore the way ahead for energy development.

China has been accelerating the construction of a new energy system, growing its capacity to ensure the nation's energy supply. It has achieved remarkable results in the green and low-carbon transformation of the country's energy mix.

Advancing the clean and green transformation of fossil energy has remained a priority in the country, and major coal-producing provinces have announced measures to peak carbon emissions in the near future.

For example, to promote the high-end, diversified and low-carbon development of the coal industry, Shaanxi Province will make efforts to produce new carbon-based materials like biodegradable forms of plastic and polyester, according to a statement of the provincial government.

As a coal-producing heartland, Yulin has set an example. The world's first coal-based ethanol project was located in the Yushen Industrial Zone in Yulin, co-developed by Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd.

"By using low-cost coal as a raw material to produce ethanol, thereby replacing bioethanol, the project can save as much as 1.5 million tonnes of grain each year. It not only realizes the clean and efficient use of fossil fuels, but also helps to ensure food security," said Liu Shixiong, vice managing director of Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Yushen Energy & Chemical Co., Ltd. 

This photo taken on April 5, 2023 shows some driverless vehicles for downhole service in Shangwan Coal Mine of the Shendong Coal Group Co., Ltd. under China Energy Group in Ordos, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Lei Xiaoxiao)
They say those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it. When it comes to social and affordable housing, it seems the Albanese government  with its Housing Australia Future Fund  is content to disregard the lessons of the past.

Traditionally, public housing has been provided by the states and built with federal taxes. When poverty increases  after wars and crises  most countries increase public housing, but not in Australia, where those opportunities have been missed, or misused, time and again.

Housing Minister Julie Collins is responsible for the governments proposed $10 billion housing fund. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

These failures reveal three salient issues for the current debate about federal Labors housing policy: we premiate home ownership, we rarely build enough public housing, and when we do, we are all too prone to sell it off.

The first publicly owned rental housing was created by the Sydney Harbour Trust when it acquired houses in The Rocks and Millers Point for waterside workers after the 1900 bubonic plague.
Despite the political acrimony over the Voice referendum, whats most striking is the similarities between the positions of the Coalition and the Labor government.

Both agree Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be recognised in the Constitution. Both agree practical outcomes are needed to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. Both agree parliament and the executive government need to be better informed about the laws and policies they make, and that they need to hear the voices of those on the ground who are affected by those laws and policies. Given this agreement about what needs to be done, why is there disagreement about the referendum?

The major sticking point seems to be the relationship between constitutional recognition and achieving practical outcomes. The Albanese government proposes to achieve practical outcomes by establishing a constitutional means by which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can influence the laws and policies that affect them.

This is the form of constitutional recognition supported by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in consultations held across Australia by the Referendum Council, culminating in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It wasnt invented and imposed top-down by the Albanese government.
BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China plans to build an over-400-km hydrogen pipeline to more effectively transfer clean fuel from the resources-rich west to energy-consuming regions in the east.

The project designed to channel hydrogen from Ulanqab, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, to Beijing, will be the country's first trans-regional, long-distance hydrogen pipeline, said Ma Yongsheng, chairman of Sinopec, China's largest oil refiner and operator of the pipeline.

The pipeline in the first phase will be able to handle about 100,000 tonnes of hydrogen each year and has the potential to increase the capacity by 500,000 tonnes in the long run.

After being put into operation, the supply from Inner Mongolia will replace the current hydrogen production from fossil fuels in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, play a pioneering role in trans-regional hydrogen transmission, and help promote the country's energy upgrades, Ma said.

The project has been included in the country's oil and gas network construction plan released by the National Energy Administration in March. 
Security personnel inspect the blast site in Quetta, the provincial capital of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, on April 10, 2023. At least four people, including two policemen, were killed and 15 others injured in a blast on Monday in Quetta, police and health officials said. (Str/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, April 10 (Xinhua) -- At least four people, including two policemen, were killed and 15 others injured in a blast on Monday in Quetta, the provincial capital of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, police and health officials said.

Senior Superintendent of Police of Quetta district Zuhaib Mohsin told Xinhua that the blast hit a police vehicle that was on a routine patrol at the Meezan Chowk area of the Qandahari Bazaar of Quetta.

Rescue teams, police and security forces rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and the injured to a hospital.

Waseem Baig, the media coordinator of the health department of Balochistan, told Xinhua that four bodies and 15 wounded victims were brought to the hospital.

The health official feared that the death toll might further rise as some of the injured were in critical condition.

The police officer added that the bomb planted in a motorbike was detonated with a remote-controlled device.

According to the police official, three to four kg of explosives were used in the blast, adding that two vehicles, several motorcycles and nearby shops were damaged in the explosion.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the attack, saying that the ill plans of terrorists will be crushed.

Local defense analysts said that the bomb attack might be the reaction to the ongoing operation against the terrorists in the northwest and southwest regions of the country.

Earlier on Friday, Pakistan's top security committee announced the start of an all-out comprehensive operation to wipe out the menace of terrorism in the country. 

This photo taken on April 10, 2023 shows the blast site in Quetta, the provincial capital of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province. At least four people, including two policemen, were killed and 15 others injured in a blast on Monday in Quetta, police and health officials said. (Str/Xinhua)

People gathered at the blast site in Quetta, the provincial capital of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, on April 10, 2023. At least four people, including two policemen, were killed and 15 others injured in a blast on Monday in Quetta, police and health officials said. (Str/Xinhua)
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 35F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
BERN TWP., Pa. - The Berks County Coroner's Office is looking for the family of a Reading man.

Calvin Loper, 80, was found dead Sunday in his home on West Buttonwood Street, the coroner said.

Anyone with information on his family or next of kin is asked to call the coroners office at 610-478-3280.
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Sunshine mixing with clouds and rather cool again. High 60F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 37F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
L. MT. BETHEL TWP., Pa. - A 75-year-old man who went missing in Northampton County more than a week ago has been found dead.

Officials tell 69 News the man's body was found Sunday morning in a retention pond in Lower Mount Bethel Township.

His body was recovered near where his car and belongings were found on Friday, March 30th.

The property is owned by Talen Energy, which operates the nearby power plant.

The retention pond is located near recreational trails.

It's unclear how he died.

Authorities have yet to release his name.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Lehigh Valley senior citizens who have questions about their electric bill can meet one-on-one with PPL officials.

Five state lawmakers are teaming up with PPL Electric Utilities to host the event on Thursday, April 20 at Cedar Crest College in Allentown.

PPL reps will review the customer's most recent bill, explain how to read bills and answer questions about estimated billing.

Attendees can also get information about how to make sure they are getting the best deal on electricity, and programs available to assist those on low or fixed incomes.

Registration is required. Those attending should bring a copy of their most recent bill. Appointments will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in the Lees Hall Gym.

Anyone interested should contact their respective legislator to make an appointment:
PEN ARGYL, Pa. - Authorities in Northampton County's Slate Belt are investigating a possible road rage incident.

Police were called Saturday night for a report of a fight outside a shopping center on Blue Valley Drive in Pen Argyl.

An older man was allegedly assaulted.

Police tell us on-lookers said it appeared to stem from a road rage incident.

Investigators say they've identified all of the men believed to have been involved and are waiting on surveillance video for confirmation.
FALLS TWP., Pa. - A Bucks County man is accused of drugging, kidnapping and killing his mother.

Sean Rivera, 28, was charged Monday with homicide and several other offenses in the death of his 72-year-old mother, Carol Clark, over the weekend, said the county district attorney's office.

Rivera, who lived with his mother in Falls Township, put fentanyl in his mom's iced tea, then drove her to Philadelphia where he shot and killed her, and left her body in a shed, the DA said.

The investigation began Sunday afternoon after someone reported an argument between two brothers about the whereabouts of their mother.

Investigators say Rivera told his brother, who lives in New York, on Sunday morning that their mother had died. When the brother arrived to the Berwyn Road home, Rivera would not say where their mother was.

Detectives searched the home and Clark's vehicle, and found two guns, a Home Depot receipt, a padlock, an empty padlock package and bolt cutters, the DA said.

Investigators determined Rivera diluted fentanyl in his mother's iced tea sometime Saturday night. Then, while his mother was in a conscious but lethargic state, Rivera put his mother in her vehicle and drove to a shed in the 4300 block of Waln Street in Philadelphia sometime between 2-3 a.m. Sunday, the DA says.

Rivera used bolt cutters to cut off any padlocks, then put his mother in the shed and shot her multiple times, investigators say. Rivera then closed the shed and locked it with a padlock he had bought.

Authorities opened the shed with a key they got from Rivera, the DA said.

Her body was found overnight and she was pronounced dead early Monday morning.

Rivera is being held in Bucks County Correctional Facility without bail.
PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. - Authorities in Warren County are releasing more information about the alleged gunman who opened fire on two police officers over the weekend, as well as the officer who was shot.

Phillipsburg police received a report that a woman had been shot by a man wearing a red hat and blue jeans in the area of the unit block of Hanover Street early Saturday afternoon, according to a news release from the Warren County Prosecutor's Office.

Alkabir Boone, 35, opened fire on two police officers as soon as they arrived, the prosecutor's office said.

One of the officers, Lt. Douglas Baylor, a 24-year veteran of the Phillipsburg Police Department, was hit in the leg when one of the shots passed through the door of the police vehicle and struck him as he was getting out of the vehicle, according to the prosecutor's office.

Officer Fielding, who was with him, tried to return fire, but his weapon malfunctioned, according to the news release.

The gunman then shot and killed himself, the prosecutor's office said.

Baylor and the woman were flown to St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem. Baylor was treated and released the same day.

The woman, who was shot three times, remains hospitalized and is in stable condition.

The prosecutor's office says Boone used an illegally-possessed 9mm handgun during the shooting. He has multiple prior convictions, including simple assault; resisting arrest; unlawful possession of a handgun; and resisting arrest.

The shooting remains under investigation. Anybody who has information about the incident is asked to contact the Warren County Prosecutor's Office.
ADEN, Yemen, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Yemen announced Monday that his visit to the Houthi-held Yemeni capital of Sanaa was intended to revive the ceasefire and resume political negotiations with the ultimate goal of ending the nine-year conflict.

Starting Sunday, Saudi Arabia's ambassador Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber held talks with senior leaders of the Houthi group in Sanaa, with the presence of Omani delegates, according to local Yemeni officials.

The visit coincided with a renewed push for negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, following the recent diplomatic reconciliation between the kingdom and Iran.

Al-Jaber said on Twitter that his visit to Sanaa was intended to "stabilize the truce and cease-fire, support the process of exchanging prisoners, and explore possibilities for dialogue between various Yemeni factions to achieve a sustainable and comprehensive political solution in Yemen."

Earlier in the day, Yemen's internationally-recognized government welcomed the recent diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing about peace in the war-torn country and hoped such efforts could lead to positive outcomes.

Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said in a press statement that "the current situation provides a greater opportunity for peace to be restored in Yemen than ever before."

On Sunday, Saudi and Omani delegations held negotiations with Houthi leaders in Sanaa in an effort to bring an end to the years-long conflict. All parties have initially agreed to extend the expired ceasefire from six months to one year, with an official announcement expected soon, a government official who requires anonymity told Xinhua.

The United Nations has been trying to mediate a political settlement to the Yemeni conflict, but prior efforts have failed due to a lack of trust between the warring parties and continued violence on the ground.

Last year, a UN-brokered humanitarian truce brought some hope for a peaceful resolution to Yemen's conflict by considerably reducing violence across the country. However, armed confrontations resumed in many parts of the country after the truce expired in October 2022.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthis fighting against the internationally-recognized Yemeni government. The Saudi Arabia-led coalition intervened in the conflict in support of the Yemeni government in 2015. 
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. -- Police in Warren County, New Jersey are asking for the public's help in solving a criminal mischief case.

Hackettstown police say someone threw a brick through the front door of the Smokey Bear Smoke Shop at 255 Main Street. It happened on Sunday around 1:30 a.m.

Police released surveillance video, which shows a person in all black walk out from a side alley, then appear to wait for a car to pass before throwing the brick and running away.

Anyone with information is asked to call Hackettstown police at 908-852-3300 or text TIP HACKPD followed by your message, to 888-777.
PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. - As a Phillipsburg police officer continues to recover at home, neighbors are recounting the shooting that injured the officer and a woman.

Authorities are calling the Saturday afternoon shooting domestic-related. Investigators say the gunman then killed himself.

"When I heard those three shots initially following that horrific scream, I knew right away something was terribly wrong," said neighbor John Chillemi.

He said he was cleaning his van outside his Hanover Street home when shots rang out.

"I peeked over down the street and I see this man pacing back and forth in the street looking like he was distressed," said Chillemi.

Chillemi says he immediately called 911 and within three minutes, police arrived.

But police didn't get far before the suspect fired on them.

"[The officer] was fired upon when he was still in his vehicle. That bullet went through the driver's side door and struck him in the leg," said Jim Pfeiffer, Warren County prosecutor.

Neighbors were on high alert.

"I ran for cover on the other side of the house here and I see him shoot one last time at the cop and then put the gun to his head and shot and kill himself," said Chillemi.

The Phillipsburg officer and the woman, who the prosecutor says was shot three times, were airlifted to the hospital.

The wounded officer has since been released from the hospital, and the female is in stable condition after undergoing surgery, the prosecutor says.

Investigators said the shooting was domestic-related.

They initially said gunfire was exchanged, but said they have determined police did not fire at the suspect and only the suspect opened fire. Officials said an officer's gun misfired.

Sonali Shukla tells us she was on her porch at the time, an area she has called home for 20 years.

"Years ago, it used to be a very quiet neighborhood, but a lot of police activity, a lot of crime," said Shukla.

The Warren County Prosecutor's Office and state police are handling the investigation. According to the prosecutor, Phillipsburg police will not be involved since one of its officers was shot.

The New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association is calling the Phillipsburg officer's actions "heroic."

"It is scary, it's close to home, it's my neighbor you know what I mean. They seemed like really nice people too, so it's just sad all around," said Chillemi.

The identities of those involved have not been released. The prosecutor said more information will be coming out on Monday.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Thousands of Israelis led by at least seven Cabinet ministers marched Monday to an evacuated West Bank settlement, in a defiant signal that Israels most right-wing government in history is determined to accelerate settlement building on occupied lands despite international opposition.

The mass rally also threatened to further raise tensions that have been heightened by days of unrest across the region over a contested Jerusalem holy site. In new violence, Israeli troops killed a 15-year-old Palestinian boy during an arrest raid in the occupied West Bank, while a 48-year-old Israeli woman died of wounds sustained in an attack last week that killed two of her daughters.

Monday's march took place in the northern West Bank  the scene of repeated violence in recent months. Thousands of Israeli police and army forces were reportedly deployed to secure the march, which added to the already combustible atmosphere that has accompanied the overlap of major Jewish and Muslim holy days. Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have reached a fever pitch in recent weeks surrounding the Jerusalem shrine.

The march to Eviatar, an unauthorized settlement outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by the previous Israeli government in 2021, was being led by hard-line ultranationalist Jewish settlers.

Daniella Weiss, another settler leader, told Kan public radio that the ministers' participation in the march could be a therapy for the government to free yourselves from the dictates of the U.S. and Europe concerning West Bank settlement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads the most religious and ultranationalist government in Israels history.

Several members of his Cabinet, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir  both West Bank settlers  and at least 20 members of the Knesset were taking part in the march.

Speaking at the march, Ben-Gvir said we are here to say that the Israeli nation is strong and that we are here and will remain here.

Mondays march appeared to be aimed in part at shoring up support for Israeli hard-liners like Ben-Gvir.

Recent polls have shown a sharp drop in support for the new hard-line government in the wake of months of violence, including growing dissatisfaction among people who voted for it.

A poll on Channel 13 TV found that 60% of respondents said they do not trust the government to deal with the current wave of violence, compared to 27% who do trust it. The poll questioned 699 people and had a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points.

Visits to Eviatar have been officially banned by the military since its evacuation, but that prohibition has been loosely enforced in recent months. Israeli army spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said the military approved Monday's march, saying it would be highly monitored and highly protected.

Scores of families, nearly all of them Orthodox Jews, many of them pushing baby strollers, took part in the march. At the outpost, inflatable slides were set up for children to jump and play on.

The march passed without major violence, though Israeli troops fired tear gas at Palestinians in the nearby village of Beita who hurled stones toward soldiers to protest the march. The Palestinian Red Crescent medical service said two people, including a journalist, were shot by Israeli rubber bullets, while 115 people suffered from tear gas inhalation. A video circulated on social media showed a tear gas canister landing next to a Palestinian journalist as he delivered a TV report.

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have soared following last week's police raid on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The hilltop compound where the mosque sits is the emotional ground zero of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For Jews, it is known as the Temple Mount, their faith's holiest site and the place where two Temples stood in antiquity. For Muslims, it is known as the Noble Sanctuary, home of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

Dozens of Jewish visitors entered the site on Monday escorted by Israeli police for a second consecutive day. These tours by religious and nationalist Jews have increased in size and frequency in recent years, raising fears by Palestinians that Israel may partition the site. Israel insists it has no intention of changing a longstanding arrangement that permits Jewish visits, but not worship, at the Muslim-administered shrine.

Last week, Palestinians barricaded themselves inside Al-Aqsa 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 Ramadan. Police removed them by force, detaining hundreds and leaving dozens injured.

The violence was followed by rocket fire by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, southern Lebanon, and Syria starting Wednesday, and Israeli airstrikes targeting those areas.

Recent days have also seen Palestinian attacks that killed two British-Israeli sisters and an Italian tourist. On Monday, Israel's Hadassah hospital announced the death of Lucy Dee, the mother of the two sisters. Lucy Dee, who was traveling with her daughters, had been hospitalized in critical condition since Friday's shooting in the West Bank.

The Israeli army said its troops were operating in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp next to Jericho in the West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 15-year-old Mohammed Balhan was killed by army fire.

The army said it entered the camp to arrest a wanted Palestinain suspect. It said residents opened fire and hurled explosives at the troops, who responded with live fire and hits were identified. It said the wanted suspect was arrested, and there were no Israeli casualties.

Palestinian attacks have killed at least 20 people, including one soldier, since the start of the year. At least 92 Palestinians 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.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war. It has built dozens of settlements that are now home to more than 700,000 Jewish settlers.

Most of the international community considers Israels West Bank settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians. The Palestinians seek the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem for a future independent state.

Netanyahu's government has made settlement expansion a top priority, and already has advanced plans to build thousands of additional homes.
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UNITED NATIONS, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Signatories to the 2014 Algiers Peace Agreement have new proposals to consider on the eve of a UN Security Council meeting on Mali, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

The international mediation group presented concrete proposals to the parties to relaunch implementation of the proposed peace accord, said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The council will take up Mali on Wednesday.

The group comprises the UN mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, Algeria, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the European Union, the United States and France. On Friday, it released a proposal statement following a meeting in Bamako.

Dujarric said the group expressed concern about tensions between the signatory parties, the government and armed rebel groups.

He said, "In this context, they appeal to the parties to refrain from statements and actions that could jeopardize the mediation's efforts to facilitate the successful conclusion of the peace process, to translate their stated commitment to the peace agreement into concrete actions, and to place the interests of Mali and its people above all other considerations."

The spokesman added that the international mediation group also reaffirmed its commitment to continue to work with the signatory parties and the Malian people in their quest for lasting peace, stability, and reconciliation.

The Friday Bamako statement said the mediation group is concerned about the resurgence of tension between the signatory parties.

"It urgently appeals to the parties to refrain from statements and actions that could jeopardize the mediation's efforts aimed at facilitating the successful conclusion of the peace process, to translate their stated commitment to the agreement into concrete actions, and to place the interests of their country and its people above all other considerations," the communique said.

It said the mediation group reaffirms its commitment to continue to accompany the signatory parties - the government and armed rebel groups - and the Malian people in their quest for lasting peace, stability, and reconciliation based on the full respect of the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of their country.

El-Ghassim Wane, the head of MINUSMA, will attend the Security Council session on Wednesday to report on the situation in Mali, Dujarric said. 
NEW YORK, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Over the weekend, as U.S. officials and their foreign allies scrambled to understand how dozens of classified intelligence documents had ended up on the internet, they were stunned, and occasionally infuriated, at the extraordinary range of detail the files exposed about how the United States spies on friends and foes alike, reported The Washington Post on Saturday.

"The documents, which appear to have come at least in part from the Pentagon and are marked as highly classified, offer tactical information about the war in Ukraine, including the country's combat capabilities," said the report.

Many of the documents seem to have been prepared over the winter for senior military officials, but were also available to other U.S. personnel and contract employees with the requisite security clearances, the report said, citing one defense official.

Other documents include analysis from U.S. intelligence agencies about Russia and several other countries, all based on information gleaned from classified sources, according to the report.

"The series of detailed briefings and summaries open a rare window on the inner workings of American espionage," said the report. Among other secrets, they appear to reveal where the CIA has recruited human agents privy to the closed-door conversations of world leaders; eavesdropping that shows a Russian mercenary outfit tried to acquire weapons from a NATO ally to use against Ukraine; and what kinds of satellite imagery the United States uses to track Russian forces, including an advanced technology that appears barely, if ever, to have been publicly identified.

Senior Pentagon leadership restricted the flow of intelligence on Friday in response to the revelations, the Post quoted U.S. officials as saying, adding that one described the clampdown as unusually strict and said it revealed a high level of panic among Pentagon leadership. 
3M (NYSE:MMM  Get Rating) had its price target lowered by Barclays from $105.00 to $103.00 in a research note published on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. The firm currently has an underweight rating on the conglomerates stock.

Several other equities analysts also recently commented on MMM. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of 3M from $124.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Citigroup raised their price objective on 3M from $117.00 to $126.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, December 9th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on 3M in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Mizuho dropped their price target on shares of 3M from $130.00 to $120.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of 3M from $143.00 to $148.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and ten have issued a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $127.69.

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3M Price Performance

NYSE MMM opened at $101.56 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $108.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $116.83. The company has a market cap of $56.01 billion, a PE ratio of 10.01, a PEG ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a current ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95. 3M has a 1 year low of $100.16 and a 1 year high of $154.66.

3M Increases Dividend

3M ( NYSE:MMM Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 24th. The conglomerate reported $2.28 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.34 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $8.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.09 billion. 3M had a net margin of 16.88% and a return on equity of 39.72%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.31 EPS. On average, analysts predict that 3M will post 8.65 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, March 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 17th were issued a dividend of $1.50 per share. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 16th. This is a positive change from 3Ms previous quarterly dividend of $1.49. 3Ms dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.11%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MMM. Greylin Investment Management Inc increased its position in shares of 3M by 64.1% during the 1st quarter. Greylin Investment Management Inc now owns 8,900 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $935,000 after purchasing an additional 3,478 shares in the last quarter. Emerald Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of 3M by 4.5% in the first quarter. Emerald Advisors LLC now owns 3,818 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $401,000 after acquiring an additional 166 shares during the last quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in 3M by 19.0% during the 1st quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,359 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $248,000 after acquiring an additional 377 shares during the last quarter. HBW Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in 3M by 11.4% during the 1st quarter. HBW Advisory Services LLC now owns 9,864 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $1,037,000 after purchasing an additional 1,007 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Diversified Trust Co raised its position in 3M by 28.6% in the 1st quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 18,838 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $1,980,000 after purchasing an additional 4,193 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.61% of the companys stock.

3M Company Profile

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3M Co is a technology company, which manufactures industrial, safety, and consumer products. It operates through the following segments: Safety and Industrial, Transportation and Electronics, Health Care, Consumer, and Corporate and Unallocated. The Safety and Industrial segment consists of personal safety, industrial adhesives and tapes, abrasives, closure and masking systems, electrical markets, automotive aftermarket, and roofing granules.

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Sustainable Growth Advisers LP decreased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) by 99.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,246 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 1,822,036 shares during the quarter. Sustainable Growth Advisers LPs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $247,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 339.1% during the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 4,581,157 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $443,273,000 after acquiring an additional 3,537,778 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 83.1% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 4,925,012 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $582,924,000 after purchasing an additional 2,235,314 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 154,563,421 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $14,955,557,000 after buying an additional 2,011,683 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 99.8% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 3,140,866 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $371,753,000 after buying an additional 1,568,700 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can acquired a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the third quarter worth about $131,945,000. 72.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Abbott Laboratories Price Performance

Shares of ABT stock traded down $1.23 during trading on Monday, hitting $103.70. The company had a trading volume of 1,496,134 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,188,091. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $103.11 and its 200 day moving average price is $104.41. Abbott Laboratories has a one year low of $93.25 and a one year high of $124.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $180.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.71 and a beta of 0.67.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.13. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 15.88% and a return on equity of 26.09%. The firm had revenue of $10.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.69 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.32 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is presently 52.17%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Abbott Laboratories

In other news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $103,922.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 52,203 shares in the company, valued at $5,256,842.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $103,922.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 52,203 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,256,842.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, 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. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on ABT shares. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Bank of America cut their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $114.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 12th. StockNews.com began coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $121.88.

Abbott Laboratories Company Profile

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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.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating).

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Algoma Steel Group (TSE:ASTL  Get Rating) had its price target dropped by investment analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from C$17.50 to C$16.00 in a research report issued on Monday, The Fly reports. Stifel Nicolaus target price points to a potential upside of 54.74% from the stocks previous close.

Several other research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Algoma Steel Group from C$11.00 to C$15.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Eight Capital lowered Algoma Steel Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price target for the stock from C$10.35 to C$11.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, Cormark increased their price objective on shares of Algoma Steel Group from C$14.00 to C$15.50 in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th.

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Algoma Steel Group Stock Up 2.0 %

Shares of TSE ASTL traded up C$0.20 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching C$10.34. 59,189 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 200,092. Algoma Steel Group has a 1 year low of C$7.70 and a 1 year high of C$14.02. The firm has a 50-day moving average of C$10.81 and a 200 day moving average of C$9.63. The stock has a market cap of C$1.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a quick ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 3.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.44.

About Algoma Steel Group

Algoma Steel Group Inc produces and sells steel products primarily in North America. It provides flat/sheet steel products, including temper rolling, cold rolled, hot-rolled pickled and oiled products, floor plate, and cut-to-length products for the automotive industry, hollow structural product manufacturers, and the light manufacturing and transportation industries; and plate steel products that consist of rolled, hot-rolled, and heat-treated for use in the construction or manufacture of railcars, buildings, bridges, off-highway equipment, storage tanks, ships, and military applications.

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BT Group (OTCMKTS:BTGOF  Get Rating) and America Movil (NYSE:AMOV  Get Rating) are both business services companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, profitability and risk.

Dividends

BT Group pays an annual dividend of $0.10 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.3%. America Movil pays an annual dividend of $3.81 per share and has a dividend yield of 18.4%. BT Group pays out 40.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. America Movil pays out 17.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. America Movil has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years. America Movil is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

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Institutional & Insider Ownership

38.1% of BT Group shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.1% of America Movil shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation & Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio BT Group N/A N/A N/A $0.25 7.67 America Movil $844,501.00 N/A N/A $21.76 0.95

This table compares BT Group and America Movils revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

America Movil is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than BT Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for BT Group and America Movil, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score BT Group 0 2 3 0 2.60 America Movil 0 1 0 0 2.00

America Movil has a consensus price target of $19.00, indicating a potential downside of 8.43%. Given America Movils higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe America Movil is more favorable than BT Group.

Profitability

This table compares BT Group and America Movils net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BT Group N/A N/A N/A America Movil N/A N/A N/A

Summary

America Movil beats BT Group on 6 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About BT Group

(Get Rating)

BT Group Plc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of communications services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer, Enterprise, Global, Openreach, and Other. The Consumer segment offers mobile, broadband, home phone, and television services. The Enterprise segment sells communications and information technology (IT) services to businesses and public sector organizations; and provides network products and services to communications. The Global segment includes managed network and IT infrastructure services. The Openreach segment builds and manages the fixed network that connects the homes and businesses. The Other segment refers to the unallocated technology costs and corporate units. The company was founded by Sir William Fothergill Cooke, George Parker Bidder and Joseph Lewis Ricardo in 1846 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

About America Movil

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America Movil SAB de CV engages in the provision of telecommunications services. The firm operates through the following segments: Mexico Wireless, Mexico Fixed, Brazil, Colombia, Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay), Andean Region (Ecuador and Peru), Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama), the Caribbean (the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) and Europe (Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia). Its products and services include wireless voice, wireless data and value-added services, fixed voice, fixed data, broadband and IT services, Pay TV and over-the-top (OTT) services. The company was founded on September 25, 2000 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico.

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Shell plc (LON:SHEL  Get Rating) has earned an average rating of Buy from the eleven ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 2,833.40 ($35.19).

Several analysts have issued reports on SHEL shares. Credit Suisse Group restated a top pick rating on shares of Shell in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a GBX 3,000 ($37.26) price target on Shell in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Royal Bank of Canada set a GBX 2,900 ($36.02) price objective on shares of Shell in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on shares of Shell from GBX 2,987 ($37.10) to GBX 2,854 ($35.44) in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of Shell to an overweight rating and reduced their target price for the stock from GBX 2,625 ($32.60) to GBX 2,405 ($29.87) in a report on Tuesday, March 21st.

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Insider Activity at Shell

In other news, insider Andrew Mackenzie purchased 8,235 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 7th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 2,418 ($30.03) per share, with a total value of 199,122.30 ($247,295.45). In related news, insider Wael Sawan bought 7,213 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 24th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 2,482 ($30.82) per share, with a total value of 179,026.66 ($222,338.13). Also, insider Andrew Mackenzie purchased 8,235 shares of Shell stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 2,418 ($30.03) per share, for a total transaction of 199,122.30 ($247,295.45). 0.07% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Shell Price Performance

Shell Increases Dividend

LON:SHEL opened at GBX 2,417 ($30.02) on Wednesday. Shell has a 52-week low of GBX 1,908.60 ($23.70) and a 52-week high of GBX 2,613.50 ($32.46). The company has a market cap of 165.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 519.78, a P/E/G ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.51, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.37. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is GBX 2,428.89 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 2,374.17.

The business also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 16th were given a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 16th. This represents a yield of 0.99%. This is a positive change from Shells previous dividend of $0.25. Shells dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 2,064.52%.

About Shell

(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.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report issued on Thursday.

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on BUD. UBS Group cut Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, January 12th. Credit Suisse Group lowered Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a neutral rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Thursday, December 15th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $64.70.

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Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV stock opened at $66.34 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 0.67. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a fifty-two week low of $44.51 and a fifty-two week high of $67.09. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $61.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $56.91. The company has a market cap of $115.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.24.

Institutional Trading of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV ( NYSE:BUD Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The consumer goods maker reported $0.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.72 by $0.26. The company had revenue of $14.67 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.19 billion. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a return on equity of 15.46% and a net margin of 10.33%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. AE Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 11.3% in the 3rd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,993 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $316,000 after purchasing an additional 712 shares during the period. CAPROCK Group Inc. increased its holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 12.1% in the 4th quarter. CAPROCK Group Inc. now owns 9,815 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $589,000 after purchasing an additional 1,057 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG raised its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 87.3% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 1,945,327 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $87,851,000 after purchasing an additional 906,881 shares during the period. Trexquant Investment LP purchased a new stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the third quarter worth about $3,407,000. Finally, MJP Associates Inc. ADV purchased a new stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the 4th quarter valued at about $213,000. 5.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

(Get Rating)

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV operates as a holding company, which engages in the manufacture and distribution of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Middle Americas, South America, EMEA, Asia Pacific, and Global Export and Holding Companies.

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Barclays reissued their overweight rating on shares of Auto Trader Group (LON:AUTO  Get Rating) in a research note published on Thursday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have a GBX 725 ($9.00) target price on the stock.

AUTO has been the subject of a number of other reports. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price target on shares of Auto Trader Group from GBX 441 ($5.48) to GBX 405 ($5.03) and set an underperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Numis Securities raised Auto Trader Group to a buy rating and set a GBX 749 ($9.30) target price on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Auto Trader Group to a neutral rating and increased their price objective for the stock from GBX 550 ($6.83) to GBX 630 ($7.82) in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Auto Trader Group in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 624.86 ($7.76).

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Auto Trader Group Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of AUTO stock opened at GBX 598.80 ($7.44) on Thursday. Auto Trader Group has a 12 month low of GBX 479.80 ($5.96) and a 12 month high of GBX 681 ($8.46). The company has a current ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.76. The stock has a market cap of 5.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,395.20, a P/E/G ratio of 3.99 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 601.16 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 566.16.

Auto Trader Group Cuts Dividend

About Auto Trader Group

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 5th were paid a GBX 2.80 ($0.03) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 0.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 5th. Auto Trader Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 3,200.00%.

(Get Rating)

Auto Trader Group plc operates in the digital automotive marketplace in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company provides vehicle advertisement on its websites for private sellers, as well as insurance and loan financing products to consumers; and display advertising on its websites for manufacturers and their advertising agencies.

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Prime Meridian (OTCMKTS:PMHG  Get Rating) is one of 318 publicly-traded companies in the State commercial banks industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare Prime Meridian to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings and valuation.

Dividends

Prime Meridian pays an annual dividend of $0.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. Prime Meridian pays out 7.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, State commercial banks companies pay a dividend yield of 3.0% and pay out 26.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

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Volatility & Risk

Prime Meridian has a beta of 0.63, indicating that its stock price is 37% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Prime Meridians rivals have a beta of 0.60, indicating that their average stock price is 40% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Prime Meridian $32.67 million $9.68 million 7.58 Prime Meridian Competitors $1.62 billion $329.48 million 8.56

This table compares Prime Meridian and its rivals revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Prime Meridians rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Prime Meridian. Prime Meridian 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.

Profitability

This table compares Prime Meridian and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Prime Meridian 29.63% 14.82% 1.15% Prime Meridian Competitors 26.43% 12.89% 1.21%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

13.8% of Prime Meridian shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 50.8% of shares of all State commercial banks companies are held by institutional investors. 25.9% of Prime Meridian shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 11.1% of shares of all State commercial banks companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Prime Meridian and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Prime Meridian 0 0 0 0 N/A Prime Meridian Competitors 859 7548 6593 305 2.41

As a group, State commercial banks companies have a potential upside of 44.00%. Given Prime Meridians rivals higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Prime Meridian has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals.

Summary

Prime Meridian rivals beat Prime Meridian on 7 of the 12 factors compared.

About Prime Meridian

(Get Rating)

Prime Meridian Holding Company operates as the bank holding company for Prime Meridian Bank that provides various consumer and commercial banking services to individuals and businesses. The company accepts various deposits, such as checking, money market, savings, term certificate of deposit, demand interest bearing and non-interest bearing, health savings, NOW, and escrow accounts, as well as retirement savings plans and time deposits. Its loan products include commercial real estate, residential real estate and home equity, small business administration, construction, equipment, and commercial loans; and consumer and other loans comprising financing of automobiles, boats, and recreational vehicles, as well as issues standby letters and business lines of credit. The company also offers debit and credit cards; mobile banking, remote and mobile deposit, Apple Pay, bank-to-bank transfer, and online banking services; and safe deposit, wire transfer, foreign exchange, direct deposits, notary, night depository, official checks, domestic collections, bank drafts, automated teller services, drive-in tellers, merchant card, and banking by mail services, as well as invests in securities. It operates through four banking offices in Tallahassee, Crawfordville, and Lakeland, Florida. The company was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida.

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First Interstate Bank decreased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) by 2.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 68,462 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 2,001 shares during the quarter. First Interstate Banks holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $4,926,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Boston Partners increased its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 103.1% during the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 10,166,384 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $725,297,000 after acquiring an additional 5,161,226 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.0% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 174,002,852 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $12,369,862,000 after acquiring an additional 3,357,590 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 199,886,585 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $14,209,937,000 after acquiring an additional 3,058,491 shares during the last quarter. Cowa LLC grew its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 9,777.8% during the 1st quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 1,657,894 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,211,000 after acquiring an additional 1,641,110 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec increased its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 29.1% in the 3rd quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 6,853,418 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $487,209,000 after purchasing an additional 1,546,164 shares during the last quarter. 75.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently commented on BMY. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $62.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted 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 raised their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bristol-Myers Squibb presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $79.69.

Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance

In other news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total transaction of $17,916,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 236,104 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,625,163.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the firms stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,721,081.67. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 236,104 shares in the company, valued at $17,625,163.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

BMY stock traded down $0.42 during trading on Monday, reaching $70.32. 2,025,038 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,100,656. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $65.28 and a 1-year high of $81.43. The firm has a market cap of $147.90 billion, a PE ratio of 23.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.45. The companys fifty day moving average price is $69.78 and its 200-day moving average price is $72.80. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $11.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.20 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 13.71% and a return on equity of 51.60%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs quarterly revenue was down 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.83 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.24%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.

Further Reading

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RAMALLAH, April 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 216 Palestinians were injured on Monday during clashes with the Israeli soldiers southeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian medics said.

Fierce clashes broke out between anti-settlement protesters and Israeli soldiers in the village of Beita, said the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in a statement, adding that 22 people were shot by rubber bullets, while dozens inhaled teargas fired by Israeli troops.

The clashes broke out after seven Israeli ministers, 20 Israeli parliament members, and more than 17,000 Israeli settlers organized a march towards the outpost of "Avatar," an unpermitted outpost in the northern West Bank, to demand legalizing it.

Palestinian eyewitnesses and Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official who is in charge of the settlement affairs in the northern West Bank, told Xinhua that thousands of Israeli settlers organized "a provocative march towards the outpost of Avatar near Nablus."

The Palestinian protesters waved flags, chanted slogans against Israel, burned tires, and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse them, they added.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesman of the Palestinian presidency, said in a press statement that Palestine condemned the settlers' march in the West Bank was organized with the participation of ministers in the Israeli government.

"The settlers' invasion does not change the fact that it is Palestinian land and will remain so, and that this invasion, which comes by force of arms, does not create a right," he said.

Abu Rudeineh held the Israeli government responsible for Israeli settlers' and soldiers' daily attacks on the Palestinians, and "the U.S. silence encouraged the (Israeli) occupation," calling for immediate and rapid intervention to stop it.

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, also a settler and leader of the extreme-right Jewish Power party, said in a speech at the march that its aim was "to say that the nation of Israel is strong" and that "we are here and will remain here."

The march took place amid mounting violence between Israelis and Palestinians, which was sparked by Israeli police raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound last week. The raids came at a sensitive time when Muslims are observing the holy month of Ramadan, while Jews were celebrating the Passover holiday.

More than 600,000 Israeli settlers live in dozens of settlements, which were established after Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. 
Howland Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) by 3.5% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 26,062 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 875 shares during the quarter. Howland Capital Management LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,875,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Dakota Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the first quarter valued at $332,000. Covestor Ltd grew its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 111.5% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,052 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $150,000 after acquiring an additional 1,082 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 53.2% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 165,336 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $12,075,000 after purchasing an additional 57,444 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,997,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 25.1% during the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 338,563 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $24,725,000 after purchasing an additional 68,018 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 75.51% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently commented on BMY shares. Atlantic Securities lifted their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, March 6th. They set a hold rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. They issued an overweight rating and a $95.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. 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 given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $79.69.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BMY traded down $0.31 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $70.43. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,989,648 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,099,593. The company has a market cap of $148.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.45. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a fifty-two week low of $65.28 and a fifty-two week high of $81.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.25. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $69.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $72.80.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates 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 firm 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 companys revenue was down 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be given a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.24%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is presently 77.29%.

Insider Transactions at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the firms stock in a transaction 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,721,081.67. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total transaction of $17,916,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 236,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,625,163.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,721,081.67. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile

(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.

Further Reading

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).

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Ivanhoe Mines (TSE:IVN  Get Rating) had its price target hoisted by TD Securities from C$15.00 to C$17.00 in a research note released on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the stock.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on IVN. Raymond James boosted their price objective on shares of Ivanhoe Mines from C$15.00 to C$18.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Scotiabank boosted their price target on Ivanhoe Mines from C$14.50 to C$16.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th.

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Ivanhoe Mines Price Performance

Shares of TSE:IVN opened at C$11.85 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of C$14.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.33 and a beta of 1.95. Ivanhoe Mines has a 12-month low of C$6.41 and a 12-month high of C$12.75. The company has a quick ratio of 20.86, a current ratio of 9.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.32. The companys fifty day moving average is C$11.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$11.02.

Insider Buying and Selling

Ivanhoe Mines Company Profile

In other news, Director Louis Kabamba Watum sold 65,539 shares of Ivanhoe Mines stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$11.82, for a total transaction of C$774,670.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 58,687 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$693,680.34. 53.08% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. engages in the exploration, development, and recovery of minerals and precious metals located primarily in Africa. It explores for platinum, palladium, nickel, copper, gold, rhodium, zinc, silver, germanium, and lead deposits. The company's projects include the Platreef project located in the Northern Limb of South Africa's Bushveld Complex; the Kipushi project located in Haut-Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo; and the Kamoa-Kakula project located within the Central African Copperbelt.

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Roots (TSE:ROOT  Get Rating) had its price target raised by BMO Capital Markets from C$3.25 to C$3.50 in a report published on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on Roots from C$4.00 to C$3.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 12th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their target price on Roots from C$3.50 to C$2.75 in a research report on Monday, December 12th. Finally, TD Securities lowered Roots from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their price target for the company from C$4.50 to C$3.25 in a research report on Monday, December 12th.

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Roots Stock Up 1.4 %

TSE ROOT opened at C$3.00 on Thursday. Roots has a 12 month low of C$2.33 and a 12 month high of C$3.95. The company has a market capitalization of C$125.16 million, a P/E ratio of 11.54, a PEG ratio of -0.54 and a beta of 2.97. The companys 50 day simple moving average is C$2.98 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$2.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 80.61, a current ratio of 1.23 and a quick ratio of 0.25.

About Roots

Roots Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, markets, and sells apparel, leather goods, footwear, and accessories under the Roots brand in Canada and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Direct-To-Consumer, and Partners and Other. The Direct-to-Consumer segment sells products through the company's corporate retail stores and e-commerce.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks in a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 10, 2023.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew on Monday his decision to dismiss the defense minister whom he had recently said to fire for outspoken criticism of a controversial judiciary overhaul plan.

In a televised press conference, Netanyahu said that he decided to keep Yoav Gallant in his position, citing the escalating violence in the region. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew on Monday his decision to dismiss the defense minister whom he had recently said to fire for outspoken criticism of a controversial judiciary overhaul plan.

In a televised press conference, Netanyahu said that he decided to keep Yoav Gallant in his position, citing the escalating violence in the region.

"I decided to put the differences we had behind us," Netanyahu said, adding "Gallant remains in his position and we will continue to work together for the security of the citizens of Israel."

While having embroiled for weeks in an internal debate over the contentious plan to reform its judicial system, Israel faced two Palestinian attacks that cost the lives of four people and barrages of rockets from Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip amid escalating tensions with Palestinians in recent days.

Netanyahu announced the removal of Gallant, a senior member of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, on March 26 after the minister called for a pause in the judicial overhaul that would weaken the powers of the Supreme Court and expand the authorities of the government.

Despite the announcement, Gallant technically remained in his ministerial post because Netanyahu never made the necessary formal steps needed for the firing to take place.

On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis held rallies across the country for the 14th week, calling on Netanyahu's hard-right coalition government to cancel the reform plan. 
Chinese students attend a graduation ceremony at Columbia University in New York. [Xinhua]

Experts and officials worldwide called for increased international cooperation in education at a forum on studying overseas held in Beijing on April 7.

The high-profile forum, namely China Study Abroad Forum, attracted hundreds of guests and media representatives online and offline to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the education sector in the post-pandemic era.

Under the theme "Towards a better future: Enhancing international cooperation in education and talent development," the forum highlighted the need for greater collaboration and cooperation between countries, as well as the importance of sharing best practices and resources, especially after China's optimized COVID-19 response.

Participants agreed that the pandemic had disrupted education systems worldwide, particularly international education exchange, and emphasized the need to resume education cooperation and exchanges as soon as possible.

Liu Jin, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of China's Ministry of Education, noted that 1.3 million Chinese students currently study abroad in more than 110 countries and regions worldwide. She hailed them as an "important force and bridge" to promote cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and friendship between China and other countries.

Noting that China puts education development as a high priority, Liu pointed out that China encourages personnel exchange and strengthens connections and interactions with the world in education.

"There is a huge potential and broad prospect for cooperation in the field of education development between China and foreign countries," said Liu, adding that China will participate in educational services under bilateral and multilateral mechanisms and is willing to carry out long-term mutually beneficial complementary academic cooperation with all parties in various countries.

Besides encouraging Chinese students and scholars to study abroad, the country would also welcome people from all over the world to study in China. Liu noted that China would continue to improve the service level for international students and create a suitable environment for everyone to learn and train in China.

Bojan Tubic, the Assistant Minister of Serbia's Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development, recently commended education exchanges and cooperation between China and Serbia and called for further collaboration.

"Serbia hopes to establish a long-term partnership with Chinese universities," said Tubic. "We are ready to work with the Chinese side in building higher education that supports research achievements."

"Serbia will participate in the cooperation of higher education under the framework of bilateral cooperation between the two countries," he said.

Jessica Gallagher, vice chancellor of the University of Adelaide in Australia, spoke highly of the Chinese government and agencies' roles in promoting international academic exchange and collaborations between China and the rest of the world. She highlighted the great benefits of international collaboration in education and expressed the expectation to deepen education cooperation with China.

"We are focused on Chinese comprehensive strategic partners and the significant potential of our new bilateral relationship [in the education sector]," Gallagher said.

(Source: People's Daily Online)
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Chinas military declared Monday it is ready to fight after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island in response to the Taiwanese presidents trip to the U.S. last week.

The combat readiness patrols named Joint Sword were meant as a warning to self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own, China's military said earlier.

The theaters troops are ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts, it said Monday.

The exercises were similar to ones conducted by China last August, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan in retaliation for then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, but have been smaller and less disruptive.

Military experts say the exercises serve both as intimidation and as an opportunity for Chinese troops to practice sealing off Taiwan by blocking sea and air traffic, an important strategic option the Chinese military might pursue in the event it uses military force to take Taiwan.

The Chinese actions follow President Tsai Ing-wens delicate mission to shore up Taiwan's dwindling diplomatic alliances in Central America and boost its U.S. support, a trip capped with a sensitive meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. A U.S. congressional delegation also met with Tsai over the weekend in Taiwan after she returned.

China responded immediately to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsais U.S. trip and with increased military activity through the weekend.

China wants to use any increase of diplomatic interactions between the U.S. and Taiwan as an excuse to train its military, said Kuo Yu-jen, a defense studies expert and director of the Institute for National Policy Research in Taiwan.

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and the islands democratic government encourages Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Chinas ruling Communist Party says would lead to war. The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the Communist Party says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

After Pelosi visited Taiwan, China conducted missiles strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan, while also sending warships and war planes over the median line of the Taiwan Strait. It also fired missiles over the island itself which landed in Japans exclusive economic zone, in a significant escalation.

The live-fire exercises disrupted flights and shipping in one of the busiest shipping lanes for global trade. This time, shipping and maritime traffic have largely continued as normal, Kuo said.

The exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting more than 200 flights by Chinese warplanes in the past three days. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the Peoples Liberation Army, said the exercises are simulating the joint sealing off of Taiwan as well as waves of simulated strikes at important targets on the island.

On Monday, the PLA said its Shandong aircraft carrier was taking part in the exercises encircling Taiwan for the first time. It showed a video of a fighter jet taking off the deck of the ship in a post on Weibo, the social media platform.

The appearance of the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean suggests that it could be used to prevent foreign militaries from coming to help Taiwan, said Han Gan-ming, a research fellow at the government-backed Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

China vows 'forceful' measures after US-Taiwan meeting China says the U.S. is on a wrong and dangerous road" after Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday, as the U.S.-China relationship has fallen to historic lows.

In the future if theres a similar military maneuver, then Taiwan will have to face it alone, Han said.

Between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, a total of 70 planes were detected and half crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwans Ministry of National Defense. Among the planes that crossed the median were eight J-16 fighter jets, four J-1 fighters, eight Su-30 fighters and reconnaissance planes. Taiwan also tracked J-15 fighter jets, which are paired with the Shandong aircraft carrier.

By Monday evening, Taiwan's defense ministry reported another 91 flights by bombers, as well as multiple fighter jets, early warning aircraft and military transport planes.

That followed a full day between Friday and Saturday in which eight warships and 71 planes were detected near Taiwan, according to the island's Defense Ministry. It said in a statement that it was approaching the situation from the perspective of not escalating conflict, and not causing disputes.

Taiwan said it monitored the Chinese moves through its land-based missile systems, as well as from its own navy vessels.

Chinas military harassment of Taiwan has intensified in recent years with planes or ships sent toward the island on a near-daily basis, with the numbers rising in reaction to sensitive activities. The military activity has increased a notch since Pelosi's visit, with Chinese PLA fighter jets regularly flying over the middle boundary line. Experts say PLA navy vessels regularly navigate the waters off Taiwan's northeastern coast.

Meanwhile, to the south in the South China Sea, the U.S. 7th Fleet said its missile destroyer USS Milius sailed by Mischief Reef in a freedom of navigation operation. China has built an artificial island on the sea feature to stake its claim to the disputed territory.

China said the U.S. illegally trespassed" into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government, according to a statement from the Chinese military's southern command.

Outside of the military maneuvers, Kuo said he was worried about the announcements from Fujians Maritime Safety Administration from last week, when it said it would conduct on-site inspections of cargo ships and working vessels in the Taiwan Strait as part of a patrol exercise.

First theyll target ships traveling between the Strait, then they will target any international ship, he said. Gradually this will become the de facto new status quo.

One of the U.S. representatives who attended the meeting with Tsai last week said Saturday the U.S. must take seriously the threat China poses to Taiwan. Republican Mike Gallagher, chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on China, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island governments defenses, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan.
KIGALI, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Powerful plays, poems, songs and performances by young Rwandan artists were staged in Rwanda's capital Kigali to educate youth about the history of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.

The event was organized on Sunday as part of the ongoing 29th commemoration of the genocide which began on April 7.

It aimed to equip youth with facts about the history of the genocide against Tutsi in order to help counter genocide deniers and contribute to peace building, according to organizers.

One play titled "Truth to the Youth" by students of Gashora Girls Academy in eastern Rwanda emphasizes the importance of the youth knowing facts and being at the forefront of telling accurate history about the genocide in an effort to challenge its denial.

"Being youth shouldn't be an excuse to forget our past," the performers said.

Another play titled "Hobe Rwanda" by Rwandan artiste Junior Rumaga exhibited the impact of the genocide on families, but also punctuated by restored hope and nation rebuilding by the government of national unity in the aftermath of the massacres.

"Young people are better placed to preserve the unity of Rwandans and use social media digital resources in sharing real facts about the genocide against the Tutsi and fighting genocide denial and ideology," Parfait Busabizwa, the Permanent Secretary of Rwandan Ministry of Youth, said during the event at Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheatre.

Claver Irakoze, author of the book "That Child Is Me," shared his personal experience during the genocide and stressed the importance of documenting one's history and sharing it.

He encouraged parents to educate their children about the genocide against the Tutsi through conversations that can help prevent trauma.

Various officials who addressed the audience educated youth about the root causes of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi and how it was stopped by the Rwanda Patriotic Army.

The event was organized by a non-governmental organization, Our Past Initiative, whose activities involve engaging Rwandan youth through social mobilization to tackle genocide ideology and promote social inclusion.

Roughly 2,000 young people and government officials who attended the event lit candles in memory of the victims of the genocide.

After the national mourning week which ends on April 13, genocide commemoration activities will continue until July 4 to mark the 100-day calamity, during which over one million people, mainly Tutsi and moderate Hutus, were killed. 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Nashville officials are poised to vote Monday to reinstate one of the two Black Democratic lawmakers expelled by Republican colleagues for their gun control protest on the Tennessee House floor after a deadly school shooting  essentially, sending him back after a long weekend.

Nashvilles metro council has called the meeting to address the vacancy left by the expulsion on Thursday of former Rep. Justin Jones. Many councilmembers have publicly commented that they want to send Jones back to the statehouse. The vote will happen as state lawmakers hold their first floor sessions since last weeks expulsion votes.

Expelled Memphis Rep. Justin Pearson, meanwhile, could be reappointed at a Wednesday meeting of the Shelby County Commission.

Special elections for the seats, which have not yet been set, will take place in the coming months. Jones and Pearson have said they want to be reappointed and plan to run in a special election.

At the Statehouse, meanwhile, its unclear how House Republicans would respond to seeing the lawmakers they kicked out sent right back. House Speaker Cameron Sexton has said lawmakers will go through the process if or when they are reappointed.

The expulsions have made Tennessee a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy, while propelling the ousted lawmakers into the national spotlight. Jones and Pearson have quickly drawn prominent supporters. President Joe Biden spoke with them and Vice President Kamala Harris visited them in Nashville.

Local activist plans protest in response to expulsion of two Tennessee lawmakers Tennesseans in the Local 6 area are reacting to the ouster of two state representatives with plans to protest. Not only are they looking to take a stand in our region, but they want to take it to the state capitol.

A third Democrat targeted for expulsion, Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, has also garnered national attention. Johnson, who is white, was spared expulsion by a one-vote margin. Republican lawmakers justified splitting their votes by saying Johnson had less of a role in the protest  she didnt speak into the megaphone, for example.

The protesting lawmakers had called on Republicans to pass some sort of gun control legislation in the aftermath of the Nashville school shooting that killed six people, including three young children and three adults working at the school. The shooter was killed by police.

Johnson has also suggested race was likely a factor on why Jones and Pearson were ousted but not her, telling reporters it might have to do with the color of our skin.

GOP leaders have said the actions  used only a handful times since the Civil War  had nothing to do with race, and instead were necessary to avoid setting a precedent that lawmakers disruptions of House proceedings through protest would be tolerated.
The World Socialist Web Site is republishing a statement issued by its Editorial Board on April 25, 1998, after the signing on April 10 of the Good Friday Agreement between the governments of the UK and Ireland, and the major parties of Northern Ireland including Sinn Fein and the then dominant Ulster Unionist Party. The Agreement was ratified by referendums in Northern Ireland (71.1 percent in favour) and the Republic of Ireland (94.4 percent in favour) on May 22, 1998.

Though the Good Friday Agreement brought to an end three decades of civil war in Northern Ireland, the Editorial Board wrote in a farsighted analysis that it did not lay the basis for ending the sectarian conflicts that have been cultivated by British imperialism for centuries. Motivated by a coalescence of business interests in Ireland, north and south of the border, the UK and the United States, all demanding political stability, the Agreement was designed to both end the conflict and counteract the undermining of the unionist and nationalist parties influence over the working class by enshrining sectarian divisions in the political framework of the region.

Explaining that the objective conditions exist for overcoming the divisions between Catholic and Protestant, Irish and British workers, providing they are united on a programme that articulates their basic needs for decent jobs, health care, housing and democratic rights, the Editorial Board advanced a socialist, internationalist perspective which resonates all the more strongly a quarter of a century later, with the Northern Ireland Assembly suspended amid yet another political crisis and a brutal budget imposed on the region by Westminsters Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris.

***

An objective analysis of the agreement reached on April 10 between the British and Irish governments on the future of northern Ireland demonstrates that this so-called peace plan does not embody the interests of Irish workers, Catholic or Protestant, north or south of the border.

The agreement has the support of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), the parties affiliated to the main loyalist paramilitary groups and the leadership of Sinn Fein. Of the major political groupings, only Ian Paisleys extreme right Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has come out in opposition.

The Belfast Agreement [Photo by Diego Sideburns / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The plan will be put to the electorate on both sides of the border in referendums on May 22. The text of the agreement is being circulated in a glossy brochure with a cover depicting a happy family walking towards a bright new dawn.

Despite its cross-party support, the new agreement does not lay the basis for ending the sectarian conflicts that have been cultivated by British imperialism for centuries. It upholds the conception that the fundamental divisions in Ireland are those of religion and national identity. A series of constitutional measures are to be enacted based on the division of northern Ireland into unionist and Irish nationalist communities.

The Irish Republic is to abandon its claim to the northern six counties, in return for a role in their governance and referendums every seven years on possible unification. Cross-border bodies headed by a North/South Ministerial Council will codetermine areas of common interest.

A new Northern Ireland Assembly purports to be the basic parliamentary body for democratic self-government. The agreement specifies that key decisions are taken on a cross-community basis. To this end, At their first meeting, members of the Assembly will register a designation of identitynationalist, unionist or otherfor the purposes of measuring cross-community support in Assembly votes.

Policy decisions will then only be agreed by either parallel consent, i.e. a majority of those present and voting, including a majority of the unionist and nationalist designations voting; or a weighted majority (60 percent of members present and voting, including at least 40 percent of each of the nationalist and unionist designations present and voting.)

In a last minute addition to the agreement, the proposed system of proportional representation for winning a seat in the Assembly was modified, lowering the requirement from 17 to 14 percent of the vote. This apparently minor change has important political significance: based on present voting patterns, it would insure the smaller unionist parties representation in the assembly, while excluding organisations that seek to operate across religious lines, such as the Womens Coalition and the Northern Ireland Labour Party.

The electoral and assembly voting provisions are being portrayed as guarantees of the democratic rights of both the Catholic minority and Protestant majority in northern Ireland. In reality, they represent the acceptance and reinforcement of the sectarian divisions that have long been exploited by British imperialism and the Irish capitalist ruling class to maintain their domination of the island.

The complex voting system will ensure that all decisions must have the support of parties that appeal to and base themselves on the existing communal and religious differences. This is a pre-emptive strike against any political movement that seeks to overcome these divisions and fight for a socialist and internationalist conception of working class solidarity. An organisation that advances the alternative of uniting workers on the basis of a program that defends their common class interests would be marginalised and the votes of its supporters would be effectively reduced to second-class status.

The underlying class interests

To understand the significance of the agreement one must examine the economic and social driving forces that have brought the parties together and shaped the character of their deliberations. The increasingly global nature of economic lifethe rise of transnational corporations operating on a world scale, the international mobility of capital and the dominance of world markets over even the largest national economieshas, from the standpoint of international capital, rendered many of the political relationships that prevailed in the post-World War Two period obsolete.

The divergence between old political relationships and the need for corporate and financial interests to gain access to wider markets, new sources of raw materials and labour, and, in general terms, the global economy, underlay the dismantling of legal apartheid in South Africa and the attempt to incorporate the PLO into a new political set-up in the Middle East. Broadly speaking, the same forces have been at work in the attempts to overcome the old barriers to capital investment and profit making in northern Ireland.

The process of European economic integration, including the scheduled launching of the Euro-currency next year, has increased the pressure for ending the armed conflict and clearing away the obstacles which hinder both international and local capital from taking advantage of the regions plentiful supply of cheap and well-trained labour, and its strategic potential as a platform for exporting goods into an expanding continental market.

As the Sunday Business Post, based in the Irish Republic, recently observed, By definition, all new economic forces sweep over the political tidemarks created by former economic dispensations. The 1920 eco-political border running across Ireland, the product of the once great industrial northeast, is now as meaningless as the Berlin Wall.

The April 10 agreement sets out to remove the impediments to big business reaping the same lucrative profit margins in the north as they presently do in the south, where returns are upwards of 20 percent. Behind the glitzy campaign presenting the agreement as an altruistic attempt to bring peace to the province, real material interests are at stake.

What has brought the British, Irish and American governments together in formulating this agreement and what are their basic aims?

The British ruling class is seeking to develop cross-border initiatives with the Irish government so that British capital can benefit from increased investment in one of the last significant reservoirs of cheap labour in northern Europe, while cutting its huge and (from the standpoint of profit) unproductive outlays in Ulster.

The decline of the norths economy means that Britain subsidises the province by 3.2 billion a year to pay for policing and welfare spendingmore than 2,000 per person. Such is the inefficiency of industry in northern Ireland that Gross Domestic Product per head is now 21 percent below European Union benchmark levels. Successive British governments since Thatcher in 1985 have sought a way out of this situation.

Equally important, British imperialism seeks to forestall or at least hamper the virtual economic take-over of the Irish Republic by American capital, which is using Ireland as an export platform to the huge market of the European Union. Ireland is to be a founding member of the Euro-currency bloc, while Britain remains at least temporarily on the outside.

The Irish bourgeoisie is a willing participant in the proposed changes because it is extraordinarily dependent on international investment. It believes that its relations with major corporations, particularly those based in America, will work to its advantage in any economic collaboration with Britain.

The United States, which brokered the agreement, controls fully three-quarters of foreign investment in southern Ireland. It is seeking to clear a path for extending its influence in the north as well. Blair could only secure an agreement with Clinton's constant intervention, and the former US Senate Majority Leader, George Mitchell, served as chairman of the Anglo-Irish talks. This shows the dominant role played by the US, even in Britains oldest colony.

Blair and Clinton at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000 [Photo by United Nations / Flickr / CC BY-ND-NC 1.0

All those involved claim that the new arrangements will bring prosperity to Ireland on both sides of the border. This prognosis not only presumes a capitalist development free of crisis, it ignores the unmistakable meaning of the events of the past nine months in Asia. In recent years Irish economic development has been trumpeted as the emergence of a Celtic Tiger, comparing the island to the Asian Tigers of the Far East. The Asian events demonstrate how quickly the dreams of rapid economic growth can be dashed and so-called tigers turned into economic disaster areas.

Whatever economic development does take place will not produce a long-term improvement in the social position of Irish workers, north or south. The real beneficiaries will be the transnational corporations and a narrow and privileged layer of Irish capitalists and upper-middle-class elements who will administer the new order.

The experience in the south already demonstrates the emptiness of the promises being made to workers in the north. The economic success of the Irish Republic has been built on low-paid, temporary and part-time jobs and the growth of social deprivation. Public spending has been slashed in favour of tax breaks for business. A third of the population are living in poverty and the gap between rich and poor is growing.

Workers in the north start from an even worse position. Northern Ireland is the poorest region in the United Kingdom. The collapse of its manufacturing base has produced widespread poverty and unemployment, exacerbated by a lack of investment due to decades of armed conflict. More than 67 percent of the unemployed have been jobless for over one year, and a quarter of unemployed men for over five years.

Now workers are being told that the dependency culture that has grown up around the state service sector must be done away with, if the north is to emulate the achievements of its southern neighbour. As with similar measures in Scotland and Wales, devolving power to a Northern Ireland Assembly will enable Britain to substantially reduce its expenditure on welfare. This will be accompanied by thousands of redundancies in the state sector, the downsizing of many existing companies and the slashing of wage levels.

The crisis of nationalism and unionism

A major consideration in shaping the agreement is an attempt to counteract the undermining of the unionist and nationalist parties influence over the working class. According to a joint Guardian-Irish Times opinion poll, nearly three-quarters will vote yes in next months referendum in the north. Support is particularly strong among Catholics, with Sinn Fein supporters backing the agreement by 81 percent to 5 percent.

Such figures indicate the erosion of popular support for the traditional perspective of both unionism and nationalism. Both have demonstrated their bankruptcy and are losing their grip. However, the lack of an independent class perspective on which to unite Catholic and Protestant workers leaves the great majority prey to illusions that peace can be achieved through a patchwork arrangement negotiated behind closed doors by representatives of imperialism, the local bourgeoisie and aspiring bourgeois elements, and enforced under the auspices of the United States.

The loss of the system of patronage has undermined the unionist bourgeoisie's hold on Protestant workers, which was sustained above all by the fact that living standards and social conditions, however inadequate, were better than in the Catholic areas and in the south. Today the per capita Gross Domestic Product in the south is substantially above that in the northeast six countiesreversing trends that have influenced Irelands history for three centuries.

The Shankill road, Belfast during the troubles, circa 1970 [Photo by Fribbler / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 3.0

Among Catholic and republican-minded workers, the abject failure of the IRAs strategy of armed struggle and the spread of poverty have contributed to a growing revulsion against 30 years of sectarian killings. It is notable that several demonstrations called in recent years by the trade unions as protests against such killings saw Protestant and Catholic workers marching side by side.

Under conditions where its class strategy depends on utilising Ireland as a source of cheap labour, the greatest danger faced by big business is the threat of a united movement of working people acting in their own interests. The new agreement has the character of a pre-emptive action by the rulers of Britain, Ireland and the United States to fashion a new framework for maintaining their class rule.

The election of Blair was a key turning point in this process. Labours advantage over the Major government was that the latter was dependent on the backing of unionist MPs to stay in power. In the end Blairs determination to include Sinn Fein in the agreement only met minority opposition from the unionists and has been endorsed by the Conservative Party in Britain.

The role of Sinn Fein

The most significant difference between this agreement and previous attempts to resolve the Northern Ireland question is the inclusion of Sinn Fein in the political settlement and the new state structures being established. What is the deeper political significance of this development?

Sinn Fein does not represent the interests of Catholic workers or a supposed nationalist community. Rather it represents a petty-bourgeois layer whose social aspirations have been thwarted by Britains reliance on unionism. That is why Gerry Adams wants Sinn Fein to take its place in an administration that defends private property and the profit system, not even balking at the continued presence of British troops.

Caoimhghin O Caolain, Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams at the annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration, Bodenstown on 22 June 1997 [Photo by Sinn Fein / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Once again, a movement that professed anti-imperialist credentials has exchanged army fatigues for business suits and been incorporated into new mechanisms for preserving the rule of big business. This is the logical outcome of the nationalist perspective. Sinn Fein and the IRA follow in the wake of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, the African National Congress, the Sandinistas and a host of ex-guerrilla groups throughout Latin America.

The heyday of these national liberation movements was the Cold War period when the conflict between the USSR and the imperialist powers led by America allowed radical nationalist regimes to manoeuvre between the Stalinist bureaucracy and their former colonial oppressors.

Many of the national liberation movements adopted a socialist coloration in order to win support from the working class and oppressed masses for a programme of national economic development. Their political vocabulary was borrowed from the Stalinist two-stage theory of revolution, which ruled out any struggle for socialism until after a protracted period of national independence on a capitalist basis, during which the working class was to be subordinated to the native bourgeoisie or an aspiring layer of the petty bourgeoisie.

This was accompanied by a glorification of the armed struggle, conducted by guerrilla armies based on the peasantry or individual terrorists, instead of the independent political mobilisation of the working class. One of the most grotesque products of this period was the perspective of the IRA, which sought to associate freedom and at times even socialism with the planting of bombs in pubs and shopping areas to kill English or Irish Protestant workers.

There remain a few organisations, like the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), the Continuity Army Council and the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, who denounce Adams and Sinn Fein from the standpoint of maintaining the old methods of individual terror. Nothing could more clearly express the gulf between these groups and the mass of working people than the statement issued in response to the agreement by the IRSP, which declared, Armed groups exist and the fun is still in Irish politics.

The alternative to nationalism

The bitter lessons of this century demonstrate that the Irish capitalist class and the petty-bourgeois nationalists are incapable of overcoming imperialist domination and social and political inequality. The legacy of colonial and class oppression cannot be resolved through jerry-rigged agreements between the imperialist powers and parties that essentially function as their local representatives. As the experience of South Africa and Palestine show, this only results in continued unemployment, poverty and social deprivation. Even if the Irish border were removed at some future date, this would not benefit working people so long as the existing economic set-up remained.

The development of globally organised production and internationally mobile capital has rendered the perspective of independent national development inviable. Everywhere bourgeois nationalist regimes have abandoned strategies of economic self-sufficiency. Instead they seek to attract international investment by offering their working classes up for brutal exploitation. This is the reality in Ireland as well.

An agreement that perpetuates social inequality and economic insecurity cannot provide the foundations for overcoming the reactionary legacy of religious and communal divisions. Irelands problems can only be overcome through a fundamental reorganisation of economic life. For this, a political and social movement that brings the great mass of working people onto the scene of history is necessary.

The objective conditions exist for overcoming the age-old divisions between Catholic and Protestant, Irish and British workers, providing they are united on a programme that articulates their basic needs for decent jobs, health care, housing and democratic rights. These needs can only be realised on a programme for the international unification of the working class against the profit system.

The economic basis for social progress exists in the form of the revolutionary advances in production technology over the past two decades. Under the control of the transnational corporations, these techniques are used to benefit a tiny elite at the expense of the jobs and living standards of the majority. In the hands of the working class they could be made to serve the needs of society as a whole.

This is the perspective of socialism and internationalism. Events have again underlined that equality and freedom cannot be achieved so long as the working class is politically subordinated to its class enemies and exploiters. What is required is the political organisation and education of the working class and the construction of a conscious revolutionary leadership in Ireland, as a section of the International Committee of the Fourth International.
Late last month two Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) workers34-year-old Lakshmanan Perumal Prakash and 28-year-old A. Kasun Tharaka Sampathwere killed while performing maintenance on the sewerage system in Kotahena, a Colombo suburb.

Wife and daughter of Laxmanan Perumal Prakash with his body. [Photo: WSWS]

The two men became unconscious on March 27, after inhaling toxic gases, including hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide, and died after being taken to hospital. Another worker, Asiri Chaturanga who also inhaled the gases, was treated in Colombo National Hospitals intensive care unit.

Prakash and Sampath were assigned to rectify and clean a blocked sewage pipe (gully). To reach the blockage, they had to descend 24 feet from a ground-level manhole. Specially trained workers should have been used to clean sewage pipes but Lakshmanan, an unskilled worker, employed on a contract basis with just two months service, was the first into the deep tunnel.

Lakshmanan did not return to the surface and so Sampatha permanent workerwas sent down. After he failed to return, Chaturanga was instructed to enter the gully where, he also inhaled the toxic gases and became unconscious. All three were rescued by other workers and rushed to hospital.

Ravindran, Prakashs brother-in-law, spoke with the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) about the tragedy. I heard about these deaths at around 4.45 p.m. and according to our information, the incident happened on Monday at 3.47 p.m. The medical report states that Prakash passed away due to lack of oxygen, he said.



My sister doesnt have a job and so the family lived on his salary. My sister and her daughter are now all alone. We demand that justice be done for these people, he added.

Thilanka Nilmini, Sampaths wife and mother of their two daughters aged 8 and 3, told the WSWS that her husband had been a permanent CMC employee for three and a half years.

From the left, Sampath's mother-in-law, his daughter and wife. [Photo: WSWS]

Sampath called me at 1 in the afternoon that day and when I tried calling after that the phone was switched off, she explained.

I only got to know about his death at around five in the evening, even though he was alive when he was taken to the hospital. These kids have lost a father and I cant answer the questions the children ask me, she said.

Prakashs daily salary was just 3,500 rupees (around $US10) and, like other casual workers, he was only hired when there were sewage problems. Sampath earned a monthly salary of 35,000 rupees with additional allowances. Their families are now destitute, having lost the meagre incomes paid to the men.

The usual work procedure for fixing sewage blockages is to remove the manhole cover, keeping it open for about one and a half hours to allow any toxic gases to dissipate into the surrounding environment. After that, an authorised officer is supposed to check and confirm that there are no poisonous fumes in the gully, and only then issue instructions for workers to enter the sewage pipe.

The CMC does not supply airtight masks to prevent the inhalation of toxic gases or safety gloves, protective shoes and clothes to wear prevent contact with excrement. Nor does it supply ladders, disinfectant soap or even ambulances in case of a gas poisoning emergency.

Workers engaged in sewage pipe systems maintenance are constantly exposed to dangerous viruses and should be periodically subjected to proper medical examinations. Workers and work supervisors should also be given formal training on the sort of toxic gases emitted from the pipes as well as first-aid training on other health dangers and how to respond to emergency situations.

None of these basic safety procedures is carried out or seriously fought for by the trade unions covering workers in this dangerous industry. The relevant unions are controlled by Samagi Jana Balawegaya and Sri Lanka Freedom Party, which have not even bothered to issue statements on the deaths.

A 2022 report on the health and safety of workers in Sri Lankas waste management sector by University of Moratuwa academics, P.G, Thisakya and D.M.P.P. Dissanayake, stated: MSW [municipal solid wastes] handlers are not currently provided with well-structured training programs and instructions regularly. The report revealed that adequate, quality equipment is not provided, and that most of the time, they [workers] were only being reminded to wear PPEs.

WSWS reporters have been told that a total of five workers and a supervisor were involved in the March 27 tragedy. None of the above-mentioned equipment was provided and the workers were allowed enter the gully without any recommendation from an authorised officer.

The three men were sent down the gully. The unconscious workers were only rescued 45 minutes later, following the intervention of local residents and the fire department affiliated to Colombos Port Authority, which supplied ladders.

As a local resident explained: This gully is deeply located and always spilling over. It started to spill over after a big building was built nearby. If we had been there at the time, we wouldnt let anyone enter this gully. Two young lives were lost, in vain, because the administration of the municipal council failed to take necessary safety measures. 

The funerals of Prakash and Sampath were held on March 30 and April 1, respectively and attended by their bereaved wives, children, relatives, friends, and fellow workers. White flags, banners and photos were hung around the district office attached to the CMC building where the two men worked.

WSWS reporters attempted to speak with sanitation workers about the deaths and their dangerous working conditions. The workers were afraid to talk, however, concerned that they could be disciplined or blacklisted by senior council officials.

The Sri Lankan government and CMC management are fully responsible for the entirely preventable death of two young men and the desperate poverty now confronting their families.

The CMC, which receives an annual income of 17 billion rupees, does not provide the most rudimentary safety equipment and tools. Newly hired workers, including work supervisors, are not given adequate training. Sri Lankan government cuts to local councils, the imposition of import restrictions and the depreciation of the rupee have forced these institutions to limit or stop training and purchases of essential tools and equipment.

Even essential hygienic items, such as sanitising liquid and soap to which workers are entitled are not supplied in time, forcing employees and contract workers to buy them from their meagre wages. Sanitation and sewage workers have not been medically examined for years. Lacking alternative employment these highly exploited workers are forced to risk their lives on this dangerous job.

According to the Department of Labors Annual Labor Statistics Report, Sri Lanka, 2021, 36.3 percent of work deaths that year were from vehicle accidents, with falls from heights, electrocutions and other accidents making up 12.7 percent, 5.1 percent and 17.2 percent of the deaths, respectively.

These deaths are the result of the lack of essential safety facilities and equipment, inadequate training and heavy workloads. It is yet another indication of the callous disregard of government and employers for workers lives. Last months tragic death of Lakshmanan Perumal Prakash and A. Kasun Tharaka Sampath is another brutal confirmation of this reality.
KHARTOUM, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Sunday called on South Sudan to activate the joint mechanisms between the two countries to achieve peace and stability in the disputed Abyei border region.

Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, deputy chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council, made the appeal when addressing the meeting of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) between Sudan and South Sudan here today.

Dagalo stressed the need for continued coordination and cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan for trust-building and exchanging of views on how to provide a solid basis for a final solution to the Abyei issue.

"Despite the critical conditions Sudan is passing through, convening this meeting was a priority given the sensitivity of the region's issue and the suffering of the region's population," he said.

"The joint mechanisms must be activated together with creating a conducive environment to contribute to enhancing security, development and stability for the benefit of the communities in the region," Dagalo said.

He urged the international community to provide more cooperation and to play a role that goes beyond humanitarian aid to the implementation of development projects in the region.

Sudan and South Sudan are disputing the oil-rich Abyei region on the border, which represents one of the biggest obstacles hindering the settlement of differences between the two countries.

In 2011, the UN Security Council established the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei to monitor the Abyei border. 
Less than 24 hours after a 12-person jury in Austin, Texas found 35-year-old US Army Sergeant Daniel Perry guilty of murdering 28-year-old Garrett Foster during the 2020 protests against police violence, Republican Governor Greg Abbott released a statement pledging to swiftly pardon the convicted killer.



I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry, Abbotts official Twitter account wrote on Saturday, April 8. Abbotts tweet included a statement which read in part:



Texas has one of the strongest Stand Your Ground laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney.I look forward to approving the Boards pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk.



Texas Gov. Greg Abbott [AP Photo/(AP Photo/Eric Gay)]

Abbotts extraordinary intervention is a continuation of Republican efforts to encourage and cultivate fascistic tendencies and militia elements to be used against striking workers, political enemies, and left-wing protesters. Abbotts statement promising to swiftly pardon Perry, came after Fox News fascist talking head Tucker Carlson attacked the governor for refusing to promptly agree to come on his program and publicly declare he would seek a pardon, even before Perry has been sentenced.



Before attacking Abbott on his program, Carlson incited violence against Austin District Attorney Jose Garza, calling Garza a Soros-funded DA who perpetrated a legal atrocity. Carlson then pivoted to attacking the governor, saying that since Abbott would not agree to come on his show, he obviously believed, There is no right of self-defense in Texas.



On Friday, Texas Republican Representative Ronny Jackson, Trumps former White House doctor, defended the convicted Army sergeant writing, Perry had a MOB of [Black Lives Matter] THUGS surround his vehicle and point firearms in his face.Perry did NOTHING WRONG!! On Saturday, prior to Abbott releasing his statement, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote a statement to Fox News accusing Garza of caring more about the radical agenda of dangerous Antifa and BLM mobs than justice.



The Republicans embrace of Perry, express the immense fear of the working class gripping the entire ruling class. Their statements show that the Republican Party continues its transformation into a fascist organization. At the same time, the Democratic Party continues to seek unity with their colleagues to carry out their shared ruling class agenda of austerity at home and war abroad with Russia, and soon China.



The transformation of the party accelerated under President Donald Trump, beginning with his praise of the very fine neo-Nazis at Charlottesville. Two years later, virtually the entire Republican party would embrace and defend Kenosha killer Kyle Rittenhouse, before joining Trump in attempting to overthrow the Constitution on January 6, 2021.



In the over two years since the failed coup, neither Trump nor any of his high-level accomplices within the Republican party or police-military-intelligence apparatus and Supreme Court have been held to account

There is no factual basis to support the Republicans claim that Perry was acting in self-defense because Garrett Foster was armed with an assault rifle. Foster was marching in the protest, armedas many right-wing activists doand not pointing the weapon at anyone.

During the trial, which lasted two weeks, prosecutors presented evidence from Perrys social media accounts and online interactions confirming the infantryman and cavalry scout fantasized about killing anti-police violence protesters prior to murdering Foster.



I might have to kill a few people on my way to work, they are rioting outside my apartment complex, Perry wrote to a friend in June of 2020, the Austin Chronicle reported. In another post, Perry wrote, I might go to Dallas to shoot looters.



Perry, an ardent Trump supporter, frequently tweeted at the aspiring dictator in the lead-up to murdering Foster. After Trump tweeted a death threat on June 19, 2020, targeting protesters, anarchists, agitators, looters or lowlifes, Perry replied, Send them to Texas we will show them why we say dont mess with Texas.



During the trial, a friend of Perrys, Michael Holcomb, testified that Perry messaged him on Facebook before the shooting and laid out a self-defense rationale for shooting protesters. Holcomb testified that he tried to talk Perry out of it, writing, We went through the same training... Shooting after creating an event where you have to shoot, is not a good shoot.



On Saturday night, July 25, 2020, in Austin, Texas, some two months after millions of workers and students in the US, and internationally, began protesting following the police murder of George Floyd, Perry, who was stationed at nearby Fort Hood, nearly 70 miles north of Austin, began working a shift as an Uber driver.



According to multiple witnesses who testified at the trial, Perry aggressively drove into a crowd of protesters, nearly striking several of them, prompting an angry response from the crowd, which included Fosters wife, Whitney Mitchell. On the stand, Mitchell, an African-American, said she and Foster met in high school. After a year together she got sick, which led to the loss of both her arms and legs.



Local NBC affiliate, KXAN, reported Mitchell testifying that Foster stayed by her side the entire time, going from boyfriend to caregiver. He helped me get dressed in the morning, brush my teeth, wash my hair... everything you would do in your everyday life, he did that for me. After moving to Austin in 2019, the couple began attending every Black Lives Matter protest in 2020 after Floyd was murdered.



Mitchell said she remembered marching and, I remember seeing the car come very quickly toward us, and it just jerked. Mitchell said her husband, who was legally carrying an AK-47, told the driver of the car to Move on.

Garrett Foster and Whitney Mitchell [Photo: The Foster Family]

Then all I remember is hearing gunshots, Mitchell said, and Garrett just falling over in front of me.



Perrys lawyers tried to argue that their client feared for their life and that Foster pointed the rifle at Perry, prompting him to shoot Garrett in self-defense. While no video exists of the encounter, while being interviewed at the police station, Perry admitted that Foster never pointed his rifle at him, telling the police, I didnt want to give him a chance to aim at me, ya know?





In addition to eyewitness statements who claimed that Foster never pointed his rifle at Perry, the prosecution confirmed that when police recovered Fosters AK-47 rifle, the safety was still in the on position, and there were no bullets in the chamber. Foster, like Perry, was trained by the US military, which instructs soldiers not to aim their weapons at people/targets unless they are prepared to kill them, which includes setting the weapon to fire and chambering a round.



After eight days of witness testimony and cross-examination, the jury carefully considered the evidence before them and after 17 hours unanimously found Perry guilty of murder. While he has yet to be sentenced, Perry could face life in prison, pending an appeal, and/or possible pardon.
Richard Marles, Australias defence minister and deputy prime minister, visited neighbouring New Zealand last week and met with his counterpart, New Zealand Defence Minister Andrew Little. In a press statement the Australian government said the visit would deepen our defence cooperation to ensure we remain capable and effective in responding to our regions multi-faceted security challenges.

Australian Minister of Defence Minister Richard Marles (right) with his New Zealand counterpart, Andrew Little, in Wellington on April 6, 2023. [Photo: @RichardMarlesMP]

New Zealands Labour Party-Greens coalition government is coming under increasing pressure from Australia and the United States to unambiguously line up behind the escalating drive towards a Third World War against both Russia and China.

To prevent the emergence of China as a rival to US global hegemony, American imperialism and its allies have militarised the entire Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration is seeking to goad China into invading Taiwan to provide a pretext for war.

New Zealand is a member of the US-led Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network and a close ally of Australia. The Labour government is actively supporting the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, having sent hundreds of troops to assist with training Ukrainian forces in the UK.

So far, however, Wellington has been reluctant to openly join in the provocations against China, which is New Zealands most important trading partner.

Last month Kurt Campbell, US national security coordinator in the Biden administration, also visited Wellington and reportedly discussed whether New Zealand could play a role in the anti-China AUKUS (Australia-UK-US) military pact. A major component of AUKUS is an agreement for Australia to be supplied with nuclear-powered attack submarines, as part of the countrys transformation into a frontline base of operations for the coming war.

At a joint press conference on April 6, one journalist asked Marles: [If] a conflict was entered between Australia and China, would you expect New Zealand to come to the party? The minister dodged the question, saying, I dont think it helps to speculate on hypotheticals. But he left no doubt that this is the message being conveyed by Canberra, declaring, There is obviously a greater alignment between Australia and New Zealand than Australia has with any other country on the planet. We are kind of in whatever were in together.

Minister Little said that he and Marles didnt specifically talk about AUKUS. However, the New Zealand government is considering participating in pillar two of the military agreement, which involves sharing advanced military technology to strengthen the interoperability of the countries forces.

At present, New Zealands anti-nuclear legislation would prevent nuclear-powered submarines from entering the countrys waters.

Little told the bFM radio station that a final decision has not been made, but said in terms of a general contribution to the capability of our services, obviously [joining AUKUS pillar two] would be an attractive thing to do. While saying it makes sense for New Zealand to strengthen ties with Australia, the US and the UK, Little hypocritically accused China of militarisation in the Pacific region.

He falsely depicted Australias military build-up as defensive, saying China had significantly increased the size of their navy, the size of their army and their airforce, theyve significantly increased their nuclear weaponry, to the extent that Australia has made the judgement call that they need to increase their defences.

Minister Little did not mention the vast expansion of US military spending, including on its nuclear arsenal, and its growing presence throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including the stationing of troops in Taiwan, and basing agreements in Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. The US and its allies regularly carry out provocative naval exercises near China, including in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

There are tactical divisions within the New Zealand ruling class about the advisability of openly embracing AUKUS, due to the risk of economic retaliation from China. Opposition National Party foreign affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee told the Australian Associated Press on March 23 that he was concerned AUKUS was painting China as the enemy and the deal would not make the region safer.

Former Labour Party Prime Minister Helen Clark recently tweeted that any association with AUKUS would be damaging to [New Zealands] independent foreign policy.

On April 8, a New Zealand Herald editorial stated that New Zealands balancing act on strategic tectonic plates is not getting easier as the gap widens under our feet. It noted that, in addition to hugging closer to Australia, New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta attended a recent NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, where she met with European leaders and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Even as the imperialist alliance moves closer to direct war with Russia, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has lashed out at China, telling journalists on April 4: [China] echoes Russian propaganda and it props up Russias economy. He said NATO is now stepping up our cooperation with our partners in the Indo-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia.

Last year, the then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern became the first New Zealand leader to address a NATO summit, supporting its warmongering against nuclear-armed China and Russia.

Meanwhile, the Labour government is spending billions on upgrading its military and intelligence agencies. On April 2, Stuff revealed that $300 million is being spent on a new data centre at an air force base in Auckland, which will store information collected by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), which carries out surveillance as part of the US-led Five Eyes in Asia, the Pacific and internationally.

The government is also desperately trying to stem the high attrition rate in the army, navy and airforce, which together lost 29.8 percent of their full-time uniformed and trained staff over the past two years. In February, $10 million was spent in one off retention payments of $10,000 were made to people in strategically significant roles across the three services.

All these developments underscore the fact that, notwithstanding the concerns and trepidation from sections of the New Zealand political establishment, the country remains an integral part of the US-led war preparations. As a minor imperialist power, New Zealands bourgeoisie has always relied on its alliance with the US and Australia; it supported the wars in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and now Ukraine, as a quid pro quo, to ensure support for NZs own predatory interests in the Pacific and more broadly.

There is widespread anti-war sentiment in the New Zealand working class. It would be a fatal mistake, however, to believe that Labour, the Greens, National or any of the other capitalist parties can be pressured to keep out of World War III. A real anti-war movement can only be built in the fight to unify the international working class, including in NZ, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, China and the US, to overthrow the capitalist system that is the source of war.
In a little reported meeting last week, top Biden administration officials declared that the AUKUS agreement for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines was aimed at defeating China, which they described as the threat of our lifetime.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with US President Joe Biden at Point Loma naval base, March 13, 2023, San Diego. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci]

The bellicose remarks were delivered at a Washington function last Monday, attended by an Australian delegation, including government and opposition politicians, and representatives of arms manufacturers.

The Australians, Labor MP Meryl Swanson and Liberal Senator James Paterson, were in Washington to discuss the implementation of the $368 billion submarine deal announced last month. Under the agreement, Australia will acquire a US fleet of nuclear-powered submarines next decade, before beginning joint construction on a new design of the submarine in cooperation with Britain.

The trip by Swanson and Paterson was extraordinarily low profile with hardly any media coverage or information from the government. This is undoubtedly because the AUKUS pact has provoked widespread opposition within Australia. The content of the discussions, moreover, undermined claims that Australias acquisition of the subs is in any way a defensive move, intended as a deterrent, as the Labor government has asserted.

Instead, top US officials presented AUKUS, the US militarist pact with Britain and Australia, as well as the submarines themselves, as an aggressive instrument of American foreign policy.

Speaking at the dinner, US Navy Secretary Carlos del Toro proclaimed: Having been born in Cuba I personally understand what communism is all about, and it is indeed the threat of China and their destruction of the world order that we are committed, as three nations, to defeat in every possible way.

Del Toros hysterical anti-communist rant, about a Chinese regime that restored capitalism decades ago, was no doubt bound up with his background in the fascistic Cuban emigre community in the US.

US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro speaks at a previous meeting in Washington, February, 2023. [AP Photo/Andrew Harnik]

However, the same essential point was also made by Republican Congressman Rob Wittman, who is the vice-chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He declared: Make no mistake about [it], the threat of our lifetime is the Chinese Communist Party. No two ways about it. It will test every aspect of who we are as nations.

To speak about the defeat of China and to refer to Beijing as the threat of our lifetime, at a gathering primarily attended by arms dealers, can have only one meaning. Del Toro and Wittman were clearly stating that AUKUS and the submarine deal is a preparation for war with China.

That was more or less acknowledged by the one report in the corporate press about the gathering, an article in the Australian.

The remarks, it admitted, were an apparent confirmation of Chinese and Russian accusations the three-nation military alliance, which has undertaken to equip Australia with at least eight nuclear powered submarines by the 2040s, was aimed at Beijing and Moscow. The Australian noted that the comments were far more explicit than those made by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, his British counterpart Rishi Sunak or Biden, when they announced the subs deal.

The statements were fully in line with the doctrines of the US government and the Pentagon. In 2018, a Pentagon strategy document declared: Great power competitionnot terrorismis now the primary focus of US national security. It explicitly identified China and Russia as threats to US global dominance.

The Biden administrations 2022 National Security Strategy asserted: We will effectively compete with the Peoples Republic of China, which is the only competitor with both the intent and, increasingly, the capability to reshape the international order.

Other US government documents have acknowledged that China is not a threat to the global activities of the American military. Last year, for instance, the annual Department of Defence report stated that Chinas sole military ambition was to restrict the US from having a presence on Chinas periphery.

In reality, the references to the international order, express fears that Chinas economic growth, occurring amid a protracted decline of US imperialism, threatens the preeminence of American capitalism.

The comments by del Toro and Wittman underscore the lying character of the Labor Partys various justifications for the submarine deal.

When it was initially announced, Albanese, together with his Defence Minister Richard Marles vaguely stated that the submarines would serve to defend the northern approaches of Australia. The clear implication was that Australia somehow faced the prospect of an invasion launched from Asia.

Speaking at the National Press Club last month, former Prime Minister Paul Keating demolished these insinuations. He noted that the Chinese would need to launch an armada that would have to travel some 6,000 kilometres, before arriving in the largely barren and uninhabited northern and western reaches of the vast continent. China, moreover, had no conceivable motivation to conduct such an operation.

Instead, the warnings were a thinly-veiled rehash of the racist claims of a yellow peril from the north, associated with the White Australia policy on which the country was founded. Their aim was to obscure the fact that the long-range, nuclear-powered submarines would be tasked with conducting offensive operations off Chinas coastline as part of any US-led war.

Following Keatings intervention, the Australian government changed tack. Two days after his remarks, Marles stated that the subs deal was not a commitment that Australia would automatically join a US-led war against China. Instead, its purpose was to protect Australian trade routes that flow through the Indo-Pacific.

This line was even more fanciful than the suggestions of a Chinese invasion. As many commentators noted, the vast bulk of Australian trade in the region is with China. Marles was essentially stating that the nuclear-powered submarines were necessary to protect Chinese trade from China.

One aspect of the Australian tour seems to have been to assure the Biden administration that Keatings positions, and broader opposition to AUKUS, would be resisted. An article in Nine Media publications shortly after Senator Paterson and MP Swanson arrived in Washington was headlined Keatings blistering attack on AUKUS leaves Australia in damage control in US.

Paterson said he had already been asked by people here about it, who are really interested to know who he [Keating] speaks on behalf of, whether he has support, and whether its a danger to AUKUS.

Paterson added: Keating is not just any former PMhes got extraordinary stature and has a respected global profile. So if those kinds of narratives eat away at public support and arent refuted, thats quite dangerous.

The right-wing senator, who has the closest of ties to the military-intelligence apparatus, praised the Labor government for immediately denouncing Keating. [W]e wouldnt want any of our partners to misconstrue that he is speaking for all of Labor in some way, Paterson said.

Keating, a right-wing figure, is not in any way opposed to war or American imperialism. He represents a minority wing of the ruling elite, fearful of the consequences of full-blown war with Australias largest trading partner.

This layer is increasingly isolated, with the dominant sections of the establishment making clear they will continue to pursue the interests of Australian imperialism in lockstep with the Biden administration, even if it means a war with China.

A key component of the Australian alignment with this war drive has been an hysterical campaign against purported foreign interference in Australia from China. This McCarthyite effort, which has rolled on for at least six years without finding a shred of evidence of interference, included the bipartisan passage of draconian legislation in 2018, potentially outlawing much anti-war opposition.

However, in the pages of the corporate press, it is noted without critical comment that top US officials are agitating against the opinions of former Prime Minister Keating, including in secretive backroom meetings with Australian government and opposition spokespeople. The obvious pointthat this clearly constitutes foreign interferenceis simply ignored.

Of far more significance than the tactical criticisms of AUKUS made by figures such as Keating, is the broad opposition of workers and young people. The AUKUS announcement has provoked widespread shock and anger, after ordinary people have been kept in the dark about Australias escalating role in the US plans for war with China over the past decade. The $368 billion spend on the submarines will inevitably require massive cuts to social spending, intensifying a developing upsurge of the class struggle that will increasingly be directed against war.
Many of the same political forces behind Februarys Rage Against the War Machine rally reconvened at the Independent National Convention, held April 3-5 in Austin, Texas. Participants included the Libertarian Party, the Peoples Party, 2020 Democratic Party presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard and journalist Chris Hedges.

Promoted by its founder, Christopher Life, as a venue to unite the independent political sector, the INC did not appear to draw more than 100 people and was constantly plagued by technical difficulties. It was, overall, a thoroughly right-wing and degraded affair.

Like the Rage rally, far-right libertarianism was by far the most dominant political and social element present at the convention. Nearly every panel featured a self-professed entrepreneur, libertarian, cryptocurrency promoter, anti-vaccine zealot, Republican politician or Texas Nationalist.

Life, one of the four moderators, opened the event by explaining that our independence is what unites us. He founded the One Nation Party USA in 2018 on the basis of a program that includes supporting Trumps tax cuts for the rich and backing the far-right Supreme Court justices that he nominated.

This is the second time Life has organized a coming together of independents in Austin, Texas. On March 14, 2022, he sponsored the first Independent National Union conference, which featured as its main speaker Robert Kennedy Jr., who is now primarily associated with the most intense opposition to vaccines. Kennedy Jr. has said that limited mitigation measures aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 are worse than the conditions faced by Anne Frank, the 15-year-old Jewish girl and famed diarist who died in a Nazi concentration camp in May 1945.

While Kennedy Jr. was not at this years event, anti-vaccine and COVID-19 denialism was present throughout. In addition to sponsoring the main panel of the event, Angela McArdle, the chair of the Libertarian Party, provided the INC Keynote Morning address.

McArdle is an anti-Semite who has worked to integrate the Libertarian Party with fascistic militias. Just last month she promoted German New Medicine (GNM) on right-wing commentator Tim Pools podcast. GNM was devised by German ex-physician Ryke Geerd Hamer as a Germanic alternative to mainstream medicine, which he claimed was a Jewish conspiracy. The now-deceased Hamer asserted that diseases were not real, and in a 2009 interview said that almost all Jews survive cancer without chemotherapy, and that AIDS is a Talmudic fraud.

In her short speech opening the event, McArdle denounced the deep state and, in an attack on COVID-19 mitigation measures, un-elected bureaucrats. McArdle repeated the mantra that the event transcended left-right politics.

The first major panel after McArdles speech was titled Independent Parties Working Together. It again featured McArdle, as well as Nick Brana, founder and chair of the Peoples Party. In their comments, both McArdle and Brana pointed to the Rage Against the War Machine Rally as an example for others to follow.

Just a month ago, we came together Brana said, referring to himself and McArdle, a party on the left and the right, and held the largest anti-war demonstration since the Iraq war. In fact, the rally was sparsely attended, attracting primarily an assortment of libertarians and far-right elements.

The entire event served as Trojan horse for far-right politicians and operatives to push their agenda on an unsuspecting, and mostly non-existent, audience.

On Mondays main stage, the afternoon seminar, titled Education/School-Choice Reform, featured Corey DeAngelis, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute and a senior fellow at Reason Foundation, a Libertarian Party think tank. DeAngelis heads the American Foundation for Children, an organization that is bankrolled by former Trump education secretary and billionaire Betsy DeVos. Its aim is to defund public schools and transfer money to for-profit charter and religious schools.

At the same time as DeAngelis was hawking parents rights, the upstairs stage had a panel titled Texit & State Sovereignty, which featured three members of the Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM). Speakers for TNM, a far-right secessionist movement, included Kyle Biedermann, a former Republican member of the Texas state House; Daniel Miller, the president of TNM; and Matt Frazier, another member of TNM and cryptocurrency snake-oil salesman.

Biedermann attacked Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton from the right, denouncing them for not declaring an invasion along the Texas-Mexico border. That should be done right now, Biedermann said, adding, Texit would make that happen As a sovereign state we will take care of that border. Texas could take care of that border.

Miller agreed with the former Republican state representative, adding, We obviously know there is an open border crisis. The source of the border crisis is the federal government. The best people to govern Texas are Texans, not the 2.5 million people that make up the Washington District of Criminals. The only way to secure the border, have a sensible immigration policy, is to become a self-governing nation and set our own policy.

One of the moderators of the event, Trent Pool, praised the border policy of Israel as an example to be followed.

At another panel, Diane Sare, an adherent of the fascistic Lyndon LaRouche cult, talked with Christopher Life and his sibling, Benjamin Life, about Art & Movement building. Sare referred to the ongoing political kinship between herself, McArdle and Brana, noting that together they were offering classes on political interventions. Sare, backing Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, said the interventions were needed because, In these times, when we cant be certain that votes are being counted fairly, how do you get your Congress to change?

Journalist Chris Hedges was brought in as the featured speaker on the second day. As was the case in the Rage rally, Hedges function was to represent the left in the ostensibly left-right coalition.

In a panel on Ending the Forever Wars, Hedges reiterated many aspects of his Rage speech, reflecting on the costs of war and the obliteration of civil liberties. Seeking to ingratiate himself to the right-wing audience, Hedges claimed that the media silences opinions on both the left and right that challenge capitalism.

The faux unity continued into the evening during the keynote address delivered by Hedges.

In his speech, titled Reclaiming our Country, Hedges called for a left-right coalition to wrest power back from corporations and the billionaires. Hedges said this could be done by organizing workers and supporting mass strikes, the one weapon workers possess that can cripple and destroy the billionaire classs economic and political power.

While Hedges took a left tack in his speech, what was more significant than what he said was the forum in which he said it. Hedges homily, delivered to a crowd of far-right nationalists, right-wingers and libertarians, had the character of a Salvation Army preacher delivering a sermon to a brothel.



When Hedges first made his turn to the far-right prior to the Rage event, he justified his new orientation as a temporary alliance made under extraordinary circumstances due to very real threat of nuclear war. He wrote before the February rally that he was participating in the event because the rally was not focused on anything but ending the war, and should these right-wing participants organize around other issues, I will be on the other side of the barricades.



Hedges appearance at the Independent National Convention, a thoroughly right-wing affair aimed at promoting a unity of the far-right, reveals his previous demagoguery as empty, and his new orientation to the right wing as more than a fleeting arrangement.




Last week, dozens of secret documents from the Pentagon and US intelligence agencies related to US involvement in the Ukraine war began to circulate on social media platforms. Over the weekend, US officials confirmed the veracity of the documents in statements to major media outlets.

The leaked documents make clear that the US and NATO are the main driving forces of the war, with the Ukrainian military serving as a mercenary proxy force. They show that NATO has deployed over 150 military personnel to Ukraine and demonstrate the degree to which NATO funds, arms, trains and directly commands the Ukrainian military.

In this photo taken on Nov. 19, 2021, Attache of the Land Forces at the US Embassy in Ukraine Colonel Brandon Presley looks at the map during the visit by a delegation of the US Embassy in Ukraine to the Joint Forces operation area in the war-hit Donetsk region, Ukraine(Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation Press Service via AP) [AP Photo/Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation Press Service]

They substantiate the fact that the war is the creation of NATO, which has spent billions of dollars to hijack the Ukrainian political system and turn its population into cannon fodder for a devastating war that has led to hundreds of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian casualties.

In other words, the documents expose the entire narrative of the war promoted by the Biden White House as a lie.

In May 2022, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki was asked whether the war in Ukraine was a NATO proxy war. Psaki replied, I know that is the Russian talking point on this, but it is not a proxy war This is a war between Russia and Ukraine. NATO is not involved.

The documents have exposed this statement as a complete falsehood. And they have exposed the US media, which has systematically promoted the Biden administrations lie that NATO is not involved in the war, as nothing more than the propaganda arm of US imperialism.

The documents substantiate in concrete detail what the World Socialist Web Site has previously reported.

The main revelations from the documents are:

97 NATO Special Operations troops are currently deployed inside Ukraine.

A total of 100 US personnel are deployed inside Ukraine, including 71 US military personnel.

The US military sees the training of the Ukrainian military, NATO deployments in Europe and US military deployments inside Ukraine as being interoperable, and reports all of them on a single page.

The US has drawn up detailed maps for a planned offensive operation aimed at cutting off Crimea from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, with favorable conditions for the offensive beginning in mid-May.

The US and its NATO allies are training, funding and arming three quarters of the forces that are going to be thrown into combat as part of this offensive. One of the documents declares that 12 combat credible [brigades] can be generated for the spring Counteroffensive: 3 internationally by Ukraine, and 9 are US, Allied & Partner trained and equipped.

The documents point to a massive disparity between the USs public and internal presentation of the level of Russian casualties. On February 2, the New York Times reported, citing US officials, that The number of Russian troops killed and wounded in Ukraine is approaching 200,000. By contrast, the internal documents pointed to between 35,000 and 43,000 Russian soldiers killed in action.

The New York Times emphasized that the documents show how deeply the United States has burrowed into Russias security and intelligence services, allowing Washington to warn Ukraine about planned strikes and gain insights into the strength of Moscows war machine. But this only demonstrates the fact that the US would have been perfectly aware that its efforts to bring Ukraine into the NATO alliance would provoke a military response from Russia with catastrophic consequences for the Ukrainian people.

Other portions of the documents reveal the extent of US spying on its allies and partners around the world. The Washington Post wrote that in a reminder that the United States also spies on its allies, another document reports that South Koreas National Security Council in early March grappled with a U.S. request that the country provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine. The documents, the Post wrote, appear to reveal where the CIA has recruited human agents privy to the closed-door conversations of world leaders. The Wall Street Journal reported, The documents also appear to include intelligence on internal matters in a variety of nations, including allies Israel, South Korea and the U.K.

Media reports have downplayed the most explosive component of the documents: The fact that US and NATO troops are on the ground in Ukraine, and that the US is leading and coordinating the planned Ukrainian offensive.

Instead, they have focused on tracking down the supposed source of the leak and the efforts by the Pentagon to find them.

The entire US media has engaged in systematic self-censorship. They have refused to publish the documents, or even excerpts of them, despite the fact that they show massive lying and criminality by the Biden administration in waging an illegal and undeclared war.

This is entirely in keeping with the role of the US print and broadcast media, which has over the past year unleashed a torrent of war propaganda, at the same time calling for ever-greater US involvement while concealing the massive role US and NATO are playing in the war.

In other words, the world has been led to the brink of nuclear war, on the basis of complete fabrications by the government and the media.

While the release of the documents may have been motivated by dissatisfaction within the US military over the conduct of the war, the case could be made that a deeper intention in releasing the documents is to build support for a military escalation.

Already, the US media is hard at work turning the leaks into an argument for even greater US military intervention. Leaked Documents Suggest Ukrainian Air Defense Is in Peril if Not Reinforced, writes the New York Times. A huge influx of munitions is needed to keep Russias air force from changing the course of the war.

The leaked documents appear as the US is preparing an even deeper involvement in the conflict. Whether or not the plans for a spring offensive outlined in the documents materialize, the US and NATO are planning a massive deployment of forces to the NATO states bordering Russia following the accession of Finland into the alliance.

On March 18, Politico reported, In the coming months, the alliance will accelerate efforts to stockpile equipment along the alliances eastern edge and designate tens of thousands of forces that can rush to allies aid on short notice The numbers will be large, with officials floating the idea of up to 300,000 NATO forces.

Ultimately, the systematic lies by the government and media about the war are aimed at misleading the enemy at home, the working class, which is being dragged into a bloodbath.

These documents show that a US war against Russia has been initiated entirely behind the backs of the public. The obvious conclusion is that, if the US decides it is necessary to send NATO troops directly into Ukraine, it will do so using the same methods it has deployed so far: A systematic campaign of media lies and manipulation.

On April 8, WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North published a statement entitled Forward to May Day 2023! Build a mass movement of workers and youth against war and for socialism! It explained:

Two processes dominate this years celebration of the international unity of the working class: the war in Ukraine, which is escalating toward a global conflagration, and an international resurgence of the class struggle. These two processes are profoundly related. The same economic, geopolitical and social contradictions that drive the imperialist ruling elites onto the path of war provide the objective impulse for the radicalization of the working class and the outbreak of revolutionary struggles.

The online rally, sponsored by the International Committee of the Fourth International, the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality and the World Socialist Web Site, will be held on April 30. We urge all of those who seek to oppose the escalation of the war to register today.
New York City life expectancy fell by a shocking and unprecedented 4.6 years, from 82.6 to 78, between 2019 and 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. This data is part of the Annual Summary of Vital Statistics, released last Friday by the citys Health Department. This figure is even higher than the fall in life expectancy in the hard-hit countries of Bolivia (3.4 years) and Peru (2.5 years) that saw devastating loss of life in the first year of the pandemic.

New York City, the financial capital of the world, was an early epicenter of the COVID pandemic. In April and May of 2020, the citys working class was especially hard hit by the virus. Poor and immigrant communities such as Elmhurst, Queens were devastated, with hospitals overflowing with patients and nurses reduced to wearing trash bags because of a shortage of personal protective equipment.

The most advanced capitalist state in the world was revealed to be totally unprepared for the disaster, even though there had been ample warning months earlier. Then-president Donald Trump spewed his usual stupidities, but his Democratic rivals, like then-mayor Bill de Blasio, had little else to offer, and also downplayed the already known dangers posed by the virus.

The Health Department releases a chart, titled The Conquest of Pestilence in New York City, which compares the death rate per 1,000 population over time since 1800. The chart illustrates the spikes in deaths due to communicable diseases such as smallpox, cholera and measles, which regularly took place in the 19th century, and then dropped rapidly with the development of vaccines and other advances in public health. The influenza epidemic of 1918 was accompanied by the last such sharp increase in death rate.

Graph showing the death rate n New York City, beginning in 1800 through 2019. A large spike followed in 2020. [Photo: New York Health Department]

That was 105 years ago. For the last century, the death rate has fallen and flattened out. It recently plateaued at the historically low level of about six per 1,000 population, compared to rates of 25 in the 19th century. But in 2020, sparked by the COVID pandemic, the rate jumped by 50 percent, to nine per 1,000. The health department calculated that COVID had killed 241.3 per 100,000 New Yorkers, higher than the 228.9 figure for the 1918 influenza pandemic, often referred to as the Spanish Flu. This number reflects the devastating impact of the latest pandemic, as well as the appalling state of public health in the richest city of the richest country in the world, with its notorious Billionaires Row of luxury high rises on West 57th Street in midtown Manhattan.

The NYC health commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, told the New York Times in an interview that he feared there would be no quick rise in life expectancy to levels from before the pandemic. He pointed to increases in deaths from other conditions, very likely due to neglect of medical care for diabetes and mental illness, among other conditions.

Deaths from heart disease jumped almost 20 percent in 2020 compared to 2019. Deaths from drug overdoses jumped more than 42 percent. There does not appear to have been a significant improvement in the two succeeding years of the pandemic. However, in that year, COVID quickly became the number one killer of the citys population.

The health department data raise fundamental social and political questions. To call the decline in life expectancy unprecedented hardly begins to convey what it demonstrates about the current international economic and social crisis.

The same mainstream news outlets that were screaming about the alleged torture and suffering of the Chinese people, because of temporary and targeted lockdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19 outbreaks, are now obliged to report the ruinous consequences of unchecked COVID-19 in the US.

The decline of public health mirrors the economic decline of American capitalism. The rising economic power that 100 and 150 years ago was able to make significant advances in this area has now plunged back toward the 19th century. The conditions exposed by Karl Marxs collaborator Frederick Engels in 1845, in The Condition of the Working Class in England, find an echo nearly 180 years later.

Above all the data show how the working class, exploited on the job, is also made to pay for the capitalist crisis through illness and premature death. The pandemic was caused by a virus, but its social impact was the direct consequence of the system of private property and of rival capitalist nation-states.

Premature deaths, defined as deaths in people under 65the usual marker of old agealso jumped in 2020, and COVID was the leading cause of premature death among certain racial and ethnic groups, including Hispanics, Asians, and blacks, as reflected in data collected by the health department. The Times report showed that premature deaths occurred at nearly ten times the rate in poor neighborhoods, such as Brownsville in Brooklyn (541.7 deaths per 100,000), compared to wealthier ones, like Greenwich Village in Manhattan (59.7 deaths per 100,000). Median income is five times higher in Greenwich Village, and its wealthier occupants had ample time to head out of the city and wait out the wave of infections while working securely in their homes.

The capitalist government and the media highlight what they term the racial disparities contained in the devastating COVID statistics. This calls to mind the famous saying attributed to Mark Twain, Figures dont lie, but liars figure.

There are almost no references to the working class or inequality when it comes to the impact of COVID, or the prevalence of other chronic illnesses, for that matter. Instead, the ruling class, through the Times and elsewhere, uses racial divisions to obscure the fundamental issue of class.

All racial and ethnic groups are divided by class, and it is the working class of all races and ethnicities, in the US and indeed all over the world, that is paying by far the highest price for the pandemic. Life expectancy in the US fell for two years in succession, in 2020 and 2021.

The greater percentage of illness and premature deaths among immigrants, blacks and Hispanics reflects their increased percentages in the working class and has nothing to do with their skin color. Obsession with race to the exclusion of class can only serve to stoke divisions within the working class, and that is its aim.

Another consequence of the pandemic in the US and elsewhere has been an increased death rate among the elderly. This is another aim of capitalist policy in relation to COVID-19. The pandemic has been used to cull the elderly, and there are those who openly celebrate the fact that premature deaths in nursing homes and elsewhere translate into lower expenditures for pension payments, Social Security, Medicare and other social programs.

The political establishment, including its public health authorities, have nothing to offer but empty platitudes and vague promises in the face of the astounding decrease in life expectancy. Little is even being said about the fact that at the present rate, more than 100,000 Americans, predominately elderly, can expect to die from COVID every year, not to say anything about the long-term health consequences posed by Long COVID and its impact on nearly every organ system in the body.

Health Commissioner Vasan issued a statement declaring, The pain and trauma experienced by our city is still very real to so many of us... It is the great challenge of our time, our city, and our Department to lay out an agenda for the next era of public health, to reverse these trends, and set us out on a new path where all New Yorkers can lead healthier, longer lives. We are putting every ounce of ourselves into achieving that goal, and honor the memory of those lost, as we do.

As far as specific policies, all that New York City mayor Eric Adams can come up with is a proposal to reduce overdose deaths 15 percent by 2025, as well as to double the provision of mental health services. Considering the economic devastation being felt by the youth whose future prospects under capitalism remain grim, how he proposes to do so and which financial purse strings he hopes to tap into are left purposely unclear.

Dr. Vasan told the Times, referring to the latest data, When you see this spike, there is a sense of Have we gone backwards?

The answer to this ingenuous question should be obvious. Indeed, we have gone backward. The assaults on public health are part of the social counterrevolution that has taken place over nearly the last 50 years. The working class must develop its own reply. It must answer the attempt to drag it back to conditions of the 19th century with an organized political struggle for socialism. This battle is beginning, in the struggles that are developing in every corner of the globe.
For working people, a SYRIZA government would not represent a way out of the crisis; on the contrary, it would represent an enormous danger. Despite its left-wing facade, SYRIZA is a bourgeois party that rests on affluent layers of the middle class. Its policies are determined by union bureaucrats, academics, professionals and parliamentary functionaries, who seek to defend their privileges by preserving the social order.

The election in Greece and the political tasks of the working class, World Socialist Web Site, January 24, 2015.

Only four days after Greek workers and youth voted overwhelmingly to reject the dictates of the EU, the SYRIZA government has presented a proposal for 13 billion in austerity measures for the consideration of European finance ministers and government heads meeting this weekend. The Greek government is hoping the brutal measures will secure it a 53 billion EU bailout.

The proposal, which was approved overwhelmingly by the Greek parliament Friday morning, is even more savage than the 9 billion austerity package Greek voters rejected in the referendum.

SYRIZAs betrayal of the Greek working class, World Socialist Web Site, July 10, 2015.

****

Millions of workers and young people in Greece have protested in demonstrations and strikes since the preventable deaths of 57 passengers and railway staff in the February 28 Tempi train crash.

The victims, mostly young students returning from holiday, suffered horrific deaths when a high-speed intercity passenger train carrying 350 peopletravelling from Athens to Thessalonikicollided in the Tempi valley head-on with a southbound freight train.

A crane, firefighters and rescuers operate after a collision in Tempi, about 376 kilometres (235 miles) north of Athens, near Larissa city, Greece, Wednesday, March 1, 2023. A high-speed intercity train carrying hundreds of passengers has collided on February 28 with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece, killing 57 people and injuring dozens. [AP Photo/Vaggelis Kousioras]

Those protesting know the fatalities could not be passed off as an accident, and that they were not the responsibility of a solitary station master, as the New Democracy (ND) government claimed. The collision was a crime resulting from a terrifyingly unsafe train network caused by years of cuts and its eventual privatisation in 2017.

After four years in opposition since being voted from office for pursuing a brutal austerity offensiveSYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) is now campaigning to return to office in the upcoming general election as a progressive government.

This claim is a filthy lie, and many understand this very well. It is 2023, not 2015, and millions of workers in Greece have suffered job losses and devastating attacks on their working conditions, pensions and living standards at the hands of SYRIZA.

Following the fatal collision, SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras visited the crash site and shed crocodile tears, as he declared, The tragedy is not a matter for party political dispute but of a collective dispute between the whole of society and those attempting to cover up the truth. Tsipras tweeted on March 1 that he was Shocked by the unspeakable tragedy at Tempi. Its unthinkable what happened.

Not unthinkable at all. SYRIZA played a critical role in the events leading to the crash.

Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addresses members of his party during a meeting, in Athens, May 27, 2019. Tsipras called snap general elections following a resounding defeat of his SYRIZA party in that year's European elections. [AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis]

The Tempi deaths occurred on New Democracys watch, but SYRIZA bears no less responsibility due to its betrayal of a mass movement of the working class during the last 15 years. Tempi was the result of policies pursued by Tsiprass government from 2015-19, which deepened an austerity offensive against the working class without precedent on the European continent.

SYRIZA, as part of a privatisation spree carried it out in office, was responsible for selling off Greeces state railway, TrainOSE, for peanuts (45 million euros) to Italian railway operator Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane (FSI). Privatisation left the entire railway service unsafe, with rail workers forced to rely on antiquated technology, including manual signalling systems.

Tsiprass insincere handwringing was challenged by Greek workers and youth, with replies to his tweet including:

Yeah youre shocked you fool. You also sat on the PMs chair, but you didn't touch the safety systems that should have been put in place. You can also get stuffed.

Its unthinkable that OSE was sold off for 45 million euros, which is what a train with five carriages costs. Its unthinkable that that there is no audit mechanism six years now, but only subsidies [to the new owners of the railway].

If only you'd thought about this Alexis when you sold off OSE.

'Youre all to blame Alexis, its just that the bomb blew up in someone elses hands. Youre also responsible.

When you sold [the railways] to Italian monopoly entities, wasnt it unthinkable then? Oh Im sorry now is not the time to hand out blame.

SYRIZA: the party of austerity and privatisation

Workers in Greece had already been bled dry after years of austerity imposed by successive PASOK (social democratic) and (conservative) ND governments by the time SYRIZA swept into office in a landslide victory in January 2015. SYRIZA was elected on a mandate to oppose austerity, but the first move of Tsipras and his Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis was to agree its continuation. Within a month of coming to power SYRIZA agreed with eurozone financial ministers to refrain from any rollback of measures and unilateral changes to the policies and structural reforms. SYRIZA agreed to prepare further reform measures, based on the current arrangement, specified in the hated Memorandumwhich Tsipras had previously promised to repudiatea pledge it carried out to the letter incurring the hatred of millions of workers.

European Council President Donald Tusk, left, meets with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, right, and Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis ahead of an emergency EU summit on Greece at the European Council building in Brussels, on Monday, June 22, 2015. [AP Photo/Eric Vidal/Pool Photo via AP]

The following year, the SYRIZA-dominated parliament voted through the Superfund, a privatization agency, managed by Athens but supervised by the European Union (EU).

The Superfund (Hellenic Company of Assets and Participations) is to remain in operation for 99 years and merged several companies, including the privatization agency TAIPED. Fully half of the funds from the sell-off of state assets were earmarked to pay off debts.

TAIPED, established in 2011, had already concluded 25 privatisations including the Elliniko airport site, several hotel resorts, and vast stretches of land, beaches and state property. Fourteen regional airports were readied for sale and these would form SYRIZAs first major privatisation. The airports were sold off in November 2015 to Germanys Fraport-Slentel consortium for just 1.23 billion euros on an initial 40-year lease. The remaining 22 airports are now being primed for sell-off.

SYRIZAs next major privatisation, concluded August 10, 2016, was the sale of the Port of Piraeus, one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in Europe, to Chinese shipping company Cosco. Cosco paid just 280.5 million to secure a 51 percent stake in Piraeus.

This laid the basis for SYRIZAs privatisation of state-owned train operating service TrainOSE in 2017 for 45 million and the rolling stock maintenance firm the following year for just 22 million. This was the completion of a process in which PASOK, ND and SYRIZA ensured that TrainOSE was slashed to the bone, including reducing labour costs to levels imperilling the population, and that would prove so deadly.

In 2010, the ruling PASOK government launched a plan to cut TrainOSEs workforce by nearly 40 percent, from more than 6,000 to around 3,700. Ticket prices were raised by more than 60 percent, and a large section of lines closed.

In the decade that followed, PASOK, New Democracy and SYRIZA governments slashed TrainOSE even further. Research by the 2020mag website published on March 6, described Tempi as a predetermined national tragedy noting that in 2017, after 5 years of shrinking the [Train]OSE (55% reduction in staff and 45% reduction in salaries) partial privatisation was carried out. On 14 September 2017, the Hellenic State Property Fund sold 100% of the shares of the company operating and managing all transport, TrainOSE, to the Italian FSI (Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane) for 45 million. 4 years later, in 2021, the transition period is completed and TrainOSE is renamed Hellenic Train.

Tsipras declares railway privatisation great success

The sell-off was announced by SYRIZA and Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane at a lavish ceremony in Corfu, with Tsipras declaring it a glorious success. Naftemporiki, the daily financial newspaper, reported, Tsipras explained that the importance of the investment lies in the fact that the country has been spared a great financial burden... in the price itself, but even more so in the size of the investment it will make in the Greek economy, in the Greek railway, amounting to 500 million euros.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, background right, and his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni, background left, look on as head of Greece's Asset Development Fund Lila Tsitsogianopoulou, right, and Renato Mazzoncini CEO of the Italian Railway holding company Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, sign a final agreement for the sale of TrainOSE during the Greek-Italian Intergovernmental Conference at the museum of Asian art in the island of Corfu, Sept.ember 14, 2017. [AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris]

There was no investment. As 2020mag research noted, Trains from the 1990s were presented as new! But we didnt see any improvement in service either. And technical problems are increasing at an exponential rate. For 2023 alone (less than 60 days) we had 25 failure notices from Hellenic Train!

Thousands of rail workers were laid off. As WSWS noted in a previous article, According to official TrainOSE figures, the company employed just 637 workers over the entire rail network on December 31, 2017the year in which SYRIZA sold it to the Ferrovie Dello Stato Italian. New TrainOSE hires (93) hardly exceeded the number of workers retiring that year (71) as the company was made as lean and profitable as possible for its new owners. Ferrovie had to change virtually nothing, as it boasted of massive profits to come in a strategic expansion operation. A year later the railway company employed just 659 workers.

By the time of the crash Greeces railway had just 750 workers. On the night of the crash, for 20 minutes the station master at Larissaa single workerwas in charge of train safety in all central Greece!

A 2019 tweet by Kostis Hatzidakis, the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs and vice president of ND, boasted of what was a joint ND/SYRIZA operation: OSE was the most troubled company in Europe. We implemented a consolidation plan that saved hundreds of millions and made TrainOSE profitable. Thanks to our interventions, the subsequent privatisation of the company was achieved.

In carrying out the TrainOSE privatisation, SYRIZA implemented to the letter the 2010 declaration of Poul Thomsen from the International Monetary Fund, and a representative of the hated Troika (IMF, EU, European Central Bank) who shouted, as he threw a folder to the ground containing the state rail firms accounts, Shut it down!

A January 2019 Eurobank analysis of the Greek privatisation programme reveals that SYRIZA oversaw well over 3 billion of more than 6 billion in state asset sales:

2011-2012: 1.17 billion - PASOK

2013: 1.04 billion - New DemocracyPASOK

2014: 419.6 million - New DemocracyPASOK

2015: 289.2 million - SYRIZA

2016: 498.3 million - SYRIZA

2017: 1.38 billion - SYRIZA

2018: 1.03 billion - SYRIZA

2019: 1.21 billion (SYRIZA was voted out of office in July 2019, replaced by New Democracy)

The terms of the sale of TrainOSE were so onerous to the Greek state that they have never been published. But the investigate-europe.eu web site published important details in a February 2022 expose. Their article notes, The privatisation contract remains secret, but people familiar with its terms, such as the current [ND] vice-minister for infrastructure and transport, Giorgos Karayannis, dub it colonial. This is unusually strong language from a member of a conservative government. The Greek transport ministry has agreed to subsidise the Italian company to the tune of 50 million a year to run certain routes, as outlined in a Public Service Obligations (PSO) contract.

The PSO contract also remains secret, despite Freedom of Information requests submitted by opposition MPs. Thus, passengers in Greece can only complain about subsidised routes being scrapped or neglected, without being able to prove a breach of contract. Meanwhile, PSO contracts between railway companies and most other EU governments, including between Ferrovie dello Stato and the government of Italy, are public.

Syriza ensured that 700 million in debts was wiped off the state firms balance sheet to make it more attractive to the Italian state carrier. This debt was transferred to the public purse.

The way forward for Greek workers and youth

Since the Tempi crash, New Democracy has seen a fall in opinion polls, with mass anger at the horrific death toll cited as a major factor. While it previously held a lead over SYRIZA of up to 10 points, its average lead in latest polling is still around 5 percentwith the first round of voting for the Greek general elections to take place on May 21.

Tsipras polling numbers have remained static, confirming that millions of Greek workers and youth know that SYRIZA, like ND and other pro-austerity parties, played a major role in preparing the ground for Februarys collision. The younger generation has known nothing but poverty and a minimum wage of just 700 a month. Its sympathies have been with the railway workers, opposing all efforts to scapegoat employees and shift blame for the enormous loss of life.

Mass demonstrations this past month in Greece, including two general strikes, saw workers and youth denouncing the deaths as murder, and a crime, as they demanded justice and pledged to speak for the dead.

Tsipras, a trusted representative of the Greek ruling eliteand a politician who well understands the threat from belowdescribed the mass movement over Tempi as an uprising. Greeces mass protests take place amid an eruption of class struggle all over Europe, as tens of millions of workers fight back against governments of the rich continent-wide, epitomised by the mass revolt in France against the Macron regimes attacks on pensions.

People gather during a protest at Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, March 5, 2023. Tens of thousands of protesters took part in rallies around the country for a fifth day, protesting the conditions that led the deaths of 57 people late Tuesday, in Greece's worst recorded rail accident. [AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis]

But for justice to be achieved Greek workers and youth must transform their spontaneous outrage into a politically conscious movement against the capitalist system and the political parties that prop it up.

It is not a solitary station master that should be in the dock for Tempi, but Tsipras and all the other political criminals whose political decisions created an unsafe rail network. Neither can justice cannot be achieved outside of a political rebellion against the trade union bureaucracy on which SYRIZA and all successive Greek governments have relied for decades to suppress opposition to austerity.

The only political tendency which opposed SYRIZA from the outset, from the left, was the International Committee of the Fourth International. The ICFI made numerous timely warnings as to the class character of SYRIZA as a tool of the capitalist state, doing the bidding for the banks and corporations.

In its New Year statement posted on January 3, 2020, the ICFI explained that the coming decade would be one of intensifying class struggle and world socialist revolution.:

The growth of the working class and the emergence of class struggle on an international scale are the objective basis for revolution. However, the spontaneous struggles of workers and their instinctive striving for socialism are, by themselves, inadequate. The transformation of the class struggle into a conscious movement for socialism is a question of political leadership.

Today, the decisive issue for all those seeking justice for the Tempi deaths is the building of a new political movement of the working class, independent of all the parties of the capitalist ruling elite. This requires the building of a Greek section of the ICFI.

We encourage protesters and workers throughout Greece to get in touch with the WSWS about your thoughts on the Tempi rail deaths. Contact us here.
Matthew Kacsmaryk listens during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Dec. 13, 2017. [AP Photo/Senate Judiciary Committee via AP]

In a sweeping and unprecedented action that seeks to substitute religious doctrine for science, a federal district judge in Texas has overturned the 23-year-old FDA approval of the abortion drug mifepristone and issued a nationwide injunction against its sale and distribution. The court order is a reactionary attack on democratic rights that highlights the turn by large sections of the US ruling class to fascistic and dictatorial methods of rule.

Mifepristone is used in most chemical abortions in the United States, which accounted for 54 percent of all abortions nationwide, according to the Guttmacher Institute. An estimated 500,000 women a year take it in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, in a regimen that is both highly effective and very safe. The drug is reportedly safer than many over-the-counter medicines, including Tylenol, and routinely prescribed drugs like penicillin.

In the wake of the reactionary Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health, which overturned Roe v. Wade, anti-abortion and Christian fundamentalist groups have stepped up their attack on democratic rights by seeking to restrict or prohibit outright the use of this prescription drug.

This has involved scrapping the pretense, in which the Supreme Court majority joined, that the goal of the campaign to repeal Roe was to return abortion decisions to the states, allowing each state, rather than the federal government, to set standards for the medical procedure. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, the sole judge in a small federal district in northern Texas, issued an injunction purporting to overturn the FDA approval and outlaw mifepristone everywhere in the United States.

Kacsmaryk stayed the effect of his ruling for one week, to give the Biden administration time to appeal for an emergency ruling from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, perhaps the most conservative of all the appeals courts.

The immediate effect of the injunction could be limited further by a contrary injunction issued by a federal district judge in Spokane, Washington, upholding the suit brought by attorneys-general in 12 states and the District of Columbia, seeking to block any disruption in the supply of mifepristone. The ruling by Judge Thomas Rice, issued about the same time as Kacsmaryks, has narrower legal effect, however, since it applies only to those states that had filed suit.

Ultimately, the Supreme Court would decide the conflict between lower court rulings, with the 63 majority in the Dobbs case likely to seize on any opportunity to expand the attack on womens reproductive freedoms and democratic rights.

Kacsmaryk was chosen as the legal point man by the anti-abortion campaign. He was a Trump appointee who himself worked as a general counsel for Christian fundamentalist and right-to-life groups. He has been an outspoken religious bigot, denouncing gay and transgendered people as disordered, andas expressed in his rulingrefusing to use the word fetus, referring instead to unborn human and unborn person throughout the 67-page diatribe.

The legal stratagem for obtaining this ruling itself speaks to its anti-democratic character. Right-wing forces seeking judicial backing to impose their unpopular views have developed the technique of judge-shopping, making use of the fact that Texas has a large number of small, largely rural judicial divisions, sub-units of the district court, where only one or two judges are assigned, as opposed to a large urban district with dozens of judges.

Any civil suit filed in the division of the federal district court in Amarillo, Texas, for example, will be heard by Kacsmaryk. He has issued rulings on an array of issues pushed by the ultra-right, including blocking a Biden administration plan to end Trumps remain in Mexico policy, which barred asylum seekers from crossing the US border to file their claims, outlawing a federal program that allowed teenagers to get free contraceptives without parental consent, and stripping LGBTQ people of protection against workplace discrimination.

Other federal judges in Texas have been enlisted in such campaigns. Last week, Judge Reed OConnor, the only judge in the Wichita Falls division of the Northern District of Texas, issued a ruling striking down a provision of the Affordable Care Act requiring preventive care services to be provided without co-pays or deductibles. These provisions were challenged by the Steven Hotze, owner of a wellness center who argued that providing free anti-HIV drugs would facilitate behaviors such as homosexual sodomy, prostitution, and intravenous drug useall of which are contrary to Dr. Hotzes sincere religious beliefs.

OConnor wrote that forcing health plans to cover such anti-HIV drugs without co-pays or deductibles would infringe on their 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.

Other such cases filed with one-judge courts include a challenge to other federal immigration rules, and one, filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, to declare unconstitutional the entire $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill signed by Biden in December. That suit, if successful, could force a partial shutdown of the federal government.

It is not inconceivable that a lawsuit could be brought before a Texas judge to declare the entire 2020 presidential election invalid. Paxton sought such a ruling in 2020 in a suit filed directly with the Supreme Court and backed by 25 other Republican attorneys-general and many congressional Republicans. At that time, the Supreme Court rejected the suit.

In the mifepristone case, the Alliance Defending Freedom, a right-wing fundamentalist group, brought suit on behalf of several groups of Christian doctors opposed to abortion. The suit was filed only last summer, in the wake of the Dobbs decision, which suggested that a lower court ruling against mifepristone might ultimately be upheld by the Supreme Court. The ADF then set up the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, a group of doctors supposedly based in Amarillo, to ensure that the suit would be filed in Kacsmaryks division of the court.

Ordinarily, the case would have been thrown out of court at the first go-round, as the doctors did not have standing, since they had not been injured by approval and distribution of the abortion drug. But Kacsmaryk enthusiastically embraced the bogus claim that the doctors had potential injury because adverse events from chemical abortion drugs can overwhelm the medical system and place enormous pressure and stress on doctors during emergencies and complications. No such adverse events have ever been reported.

Kacsmaryks ruling is written not as a legal document, but as an anti-abortion manifesto. He declares that mifepristone ultimately starves the unborn human until death, and calls the overall procedure a two-step drug regimen: mifepristone to kill the unborn human, followed by misoprostol to induce cramping and contractions to expel the unborn human from the mothers womb.

The FDA recently expanded access to mifepristone by allowing its mail order. The ADF claimed that under the 1873 Comstock Act, an anti-obscenity law that has become a byword for Victorian prudery, mailing of any medicine used for abortion was illegal. Kacsmaryk agreed, writing that the plaintiff had substantial likelihood of prevailing on their claim that defendants decision to allow the dispensing of chemical abortion drugs through mail violates unambiguous federal criminal law.

Such a reading of the Comstock Act could do far more than prohibit patients from getting mifepristone by mail. According to a legal analysis published in Slate, Absent the narrowing construction applied by the federal circuit courts, the laws plain terms could effectively ban all abortion nationwide because almost every pill, instrument or other item used in an abortion clinic or by a virtual abortion provider moves through the mail or an express carrier at some point.

In other words, if resurrected from the legal scrap heap, the law would become a nationwide prohibition of abortion of every kind.

The Comstock Act is notorious for its sex-obsessed language, prohibiting, for example, every obscene, lewd, lascivious, indecent, filthy or vile article, matter, thing, device or substance, including every article or thing designed, adapted or intended for producing abortion. It is so sweeping that it could apply to contraceptives

The ruling also opens the door to other legal challenges of other drugs that are targeted by the fascist and religious right, including vaccines. Anti-vax fanatic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has already indicated he intends to file a lawsuit against vaccines citing the Kacsmaryk opinion.

The Biden administration will appeal the ruling but sent clear signals that it privately welcomes the opportunity to use abortion rights as a means of gaining electoral support despite its right-wing policies on every other political issue. A White House statement declared, But lets be clearthe only way to stop those who are committed to taking away womens rights and freedoms in every state is to elect a Congress who will pass a law restoring Roe versus Wade.

This call to vote Democratic (in November 2024!) was echoed by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, who indicated that he will stage a series of show votes to put the Republicans on the record. These will be votes on bills that cannot pass, because of the filibuster rule in the Senate and the Republican control of the House of Representatives.

Schumer told reporters Saturday, The American people will see for themselves the stark contrast between Democrats who are relentlessly fighting for womens rights, to make decisions about their own bodies and MAGA Republicans who will stop at virtually nothing to enact a national abortion ban with no exceptions.

In other words, under conditions of mass disaffection from the policies of the Biden administration, above all on the war with Russia in Ukraine, the Democrats will seek to use the issue of abortion rights to give themselves a left fig leaf while in fact doing nothing meaningful to defend basic democratic rights.
Police officers in Farmington, a city of 46,000 in New Mexicos northwestern Four Corners region, shot and killed a resident on the night of April 5 while on a domestic violence call. The officers had gone to the wrong address and shot an innocent man.

At about 11:30 p.m., the Farmington Police Department (FPD) officers had been dispatched to 5308 Valley View Avenue but instead went across the street to 5305. After reportedly knocking on the front door and announcing themselves, they requested dispatch to call the reporting party and have them come to the front door.

The homeowner, 52-year-old Robert Dotson, came to the front door holding a handgun. In what FPD Chief Steve Hebbe called a chaotic scene, at least three cops opened fire and struck Dotson, who died at the scene.

Dotsons wife, who also had a handgun, fired at the police but neither she nor any of the officers were hit. FPD officers responded with more shots, but according to a New Mexico State Police statement, Once she realized that the individuals outside the residence were officers, she put the gun down and complied with the officers commands.

The statement did not identify the officers, and in fact, it is unclear how many officers were at the scene of the killing. Hebbe did say that two of the officers have been with the FPD for five years and the third for nine months. Of the three, one has been in a previous officer-involved shooting.

The officers have been put on administrative leave pending a New Mexico State Police investigation. Release of body camera footage will have to wait until after all the officers have been interviewed, a process that will not begin until April 10. An FPD spokesperson did not say how the address mix-up occurred.

Farmington Police Department chief, Steve Hebbe, talking about the killing of Robert Dotson last week. [Photo: Farmington Police Department Facebook]

In a video statement, Hebbes use of such phrases as a very dark day for the department, extremely traumatic event and heartbroken did not prevent hundreds of responses in the comments such as He [Dotson] had two kids in the home he was protecting. I hope they all are fired. Maybe even charged and the chief resigns; and This ... shouldve never happened. Had these cops done what theyre supposed to do an innocent man wouldnt have been killed; and Im not one to bash our cops but this is just wrong. Many comments called Dotson a great guy and called for prosecution of the officers and Hebbes resignation.

An American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico statement said that the public deserves to trust that calling a police officer will help make a situation safernot cause it to end in tragedy and demanded an independent and thorough investigation of the incident, and the Farmington Police Department and the officers involved must be held accountable.

The incident followed by just a few days a raid on the wrong hotel room in Boston by members of the FBI and the US Army Special Operations Command, who were conducting a training exercise in downtown Boston.

It also comes on the heels of a March 23 admission by Albuquerque Police Department (APD) Chief Harold Medina that 2022 saw a record number of shootings by police: 18, 10 of which were fatal. Medinas admission came nearly nine years after the US Department of Justice and the city reached a settlement agreemen t supposedly to reform the APD following the police murder of mentally ill homeless man James Boyd.
US President Joe Biden begins a five-day visit to Ireland on Tuesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement establishing Nationalist-Unionist power sharing in Northern Ireland and ending armed conflict between the Irish Republican Army and British and Loyalist forces.

Biden will arrive in Belfast in the evening greeted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak but will spend fewer than 24 hours in Northern Ireland, travelling to Dublin Wednesday afternoon.

President Joe Biden attends an event to support legislation that would encourage domestic manufacturing and strengthen supply chains for computer chips in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, March 9, 2022, in Washington. [AP Photo/Patrick Semansky]

Despite all protestations to the contrary, the perfunctory visit is a snub to the UKs Conservative government, which hoped to use Bidens visit as a victory lap proving its Windsor Framework agreement with the European Union over Northern Ireland a success and that Anglo-American tensions over Brexit have been put to bed.

This proved impossible as neither proposition is true. The UK-EU agreement has still left Northern Ireland without a government, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) opposed and refusing to constitute a new Assembly, jeopardising the Good Friday Agreement in which the US is heavily politically and economically invested.

While in Belfast, Biden will give a speech at Ulster University, address business and civic leaders and, according to the BBC, may speak to political parties. But he cannot address the Northern Ireland Assembly, created in 1998 in accordance with Good Friday Agreement, because it has been suspended since February 3, 2022as it was for three years between January 2017 and January 2020.

The Assembly was collapsed last February by the DUP to protest the Northern Ireland Protocol regulating the passage of British goods through Northern Ireland. The open land border with European Union member state, the Republic of Ireland, enshrined in the 1998 Agreement, has led the EU to seek assurances that its laws and standards will be upheld by the UK, meaning inspections on goods travelling between Britain and Northern Ireland. This is seen by unionists as an unacceptable step toward a united Ireland.

Elections to the Assembly in May 2022 made the Irish nationalist Sinn Fein the largest party. The DUP has since refused to nominate a deputy speaker as required by the power-sharing agreement, meaning the Assembly cannot function.

While Boris Johnson, and briefly Liz Truss, were prime minister this was lent under-the-table support while the UK government took a belligerent stance to negotiations with the EU, threatening to unilaterally overwrite its own Brexit agreement.

Sunak has attempted to normalise relations, agreeing revisions to the Protocol this February with the EUthe Windsor Framework. The deal was approved by parliament, with 22 Tory MPs aligned with Johnson voting against and 47 abstaining. All six DUP members also voted against, with its leader in the House of Commons Jeffrey Donaldson saying the agreement harms our place in the internal market of the United Kingdom.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomes the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to Windsor to discuss the Northern Ireland talks. [Photo by Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street/Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Sunaks move to secure an agreement with the EU was substantially driven by pressure from the United States, whose corporations have major financial interests in the Republic of Ireland which is used as a low tax investment platform for accessing the European Single Market. The Irish-American lobby is also a significant force in Democratic Party politics.

Biden praised the Windsor Framework as an essential step to ensuring that the hard-earned peace and progress of the Good Friday Agreement was preserved and strengthened. But he warned that Stormont should be restored: Those institutions embody the principle of devolved, power-sharing, representative government at the core of the Good Friday Agreement.

But it is the sectarian framework of the agreement gridlocking Stormont, with the domination of unionist and nationalist parties ensured and both given the power to shut down the Assembly.

When the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998, the World Socialist Web Site Editorial Board wrote, in a statement republished today: the new agreement does not lay the basis for ending the sectarian conflicts that have been cultivated by British imperialism for centuries. It upholds the conception that the fundamental divisions in Ireland are those of religion and national identity

An agreement that perpetuates social inequality and economic insecurity cannot provide the foundations for overcoming the reactionary legacy of religious and communal divisions.

This is now so clear that the BBC published an extensive piece Monday by its Northern Ireland political editor Enda McClafferty asking, does the peace deal still work? The article noted, For nine of the 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed Stormont has been shut down

[F]ar from shoring up the gains of the Good Friday Agreement the Stormont safeguards have held back political progress.

They have led to stop-start government and hindered long-term efforts to deal with deep-seated problems in health and education.

Beyond Stormont many believe the vetoes have only served to cement further polarisation in Northern Ireland.

Repeated surveys show public confidence in Northern Irelands political institutions remains consistently low.

Bidens visit this week has therefore been carefully choregraphed to warn the UK government to get its house in order, while avoiding an inflammatory rift which would pile more pressure on the already creaking structures of the Agreement. Though Biden will spend more time in the Republic of Ireland, including meetings with President Michael Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, much of it will be focussed on personal visits to distant cousins in counties Mayo and Louth. The Dail (parliament) is not being reconvened to be addressed by him.

On Monday, Sunak issued his statement praising the Good Friday Agreement and welcoming Bidens visit, imploring the DUP without naming them to get on with the business of governance.

In an interview with BBC Good Morning Ulster, Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker did not exclude the possibility of a return to direct rule of Northern Ireland by Westminster, saying, 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.

He continued, But equally we are very well aware that direct rule would be a very serious step.

Such a decision would intensify the conflict with the DUP, which still has substantial influence within the Tory Party, and provoke a clash with Sinn Fein if Westminster refused to involve the Republic of Ireland. Party vice-president Michelle ONeil warned last October, Were not going back to the days of London ruling our affairs here.

Theres very much a role for joint partnership between London and Dublin, thats where were headed in the event of things not being up and running.

The working class north and south of the border cannot advance their interests and secure their democratic rights through this rotten framework of British Unionism and Irish nationalism, and the contending imperialist interests represented by Westminster, Washington and Dublin.

In a second statement published in 1998, following the ratification of the agreement, the WSWS Editorial Board concluded:

A resolution of the profound social and democratic problems facing Irish workers cannot and will not be overcome by attempts to refurbish the existing mechanisms of capitalist rule. Sweeping away the legacy of backwardness and religious antagonism requires a radical restructuring of economic and political life. The working class is the only social force capable of mobilizing all of the oppressed to carry out such a revolutionary change. The critical question is the development of a politically independent movement of the working class, and this requires a conscious break with the politics of nationalism and reformism. A new party of the working class must be built based on a programme that addresses the universal need of working people for decent jobs and living standards, champions the defense of democratic rights, and fights for social equality. On the basis of such a socialist programme, all sections of workersProtestant and Catholic, Irish and Britishcan and must be united in a struggle against the common oppressorcapitalism.

The same basic issues are posed starkly twenty-five years later.
LAGOS, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police have killed two bandits, recovered their arms, and repelled an attack in the northern state of Zamfara, the police said on Monday.

The police repelled the bandits who attempted to attack a community in the Tsafe area of the state, leaving two of them neutralized while others fled with possible gunshot wounds, Muhammad Shehu, a police spokesman, said in a statement, without mentioning the specific time of the incident.

The spokesman said the police were sustaining the fight against violent crimes in the state and urged local people to "provide credible and timely information on criminal activities."

Parts of the most populous African country have recently been afflicted by banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities. 
Are you a dockworker? Tell us what the situation is at your port by filling out the form below. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

A truck arrives to pick up a shipping container near vessels moored at Maersk APM Terminals Pacific at the Port of Los Angeles, on November 30, 2021. [AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes]

The West Coast ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach reopened Friday evening after a 24-hour work stoppage shut down nearly all operations. Four of the six terminals at the Port of Long Beach were closed as a result of the stoppage, as were all seven containers at the Port of Los Angeles. Transnational shipping line A.P. Moeller-Maersk reported that on Thursday night every terminal in the harbor canceled vessel, yard, rail and gate operations.

More than 20,000 dockworkers on the West Coast have been working without a contract since last summer. They have been kept on the job by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which signed a no stoppages pledge with the port operators and has subjected workers to radio silence on the progress of talks.

A statement released Friday by the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) industry group declared: The largest ILWU local on the West Coast has taken action to withhold labor at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, resulting in widespread worker shortages. While laying the blame for the stoppages on the ILWU union, the statement also notes, The workers who did show up (for their assigned shifts during the stoppage) were released because there was not a full complement of ILWU members to operate the terminals.

Limited operations are common during the Easter Holiday weekend, but not to the level of last weeks stoppage.

Responding to the PMAs claims, ILWU local 13 released a statement which read: Longshore workers at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (Ports) are still hard at work and remain committed to moving the nations cargo. The union claimed that the work stoppage was simply the result of workers attending a monthly membership meeting Thursday night with other workers taking the opportunity to observe the Good Friday holiday on Friday.

Local 13s Thursday night meeting saw outgoing local president Ramon Ponce de Leon swear in incoming President Gary Herrera. Although the union claimed that several thousand workers were in attendance, if such a meeting is held that would disrupt operations, sufficient advanced notice is normally provided to terminals.

Ian Weiland, chief operating officer at Junction Collaborative Transports, wrote in a Linkedin post that terminals normally give truckers far more notice of closures in advance. On this occasion, truck drivers were only given a few hours notice.

Weiland noted that although the ports officially reopened on Friday evening, the disruption may in fact last longer. If your container was scheduled to be pulled last night, today, or over the weekend, he said, expect delays in pulling the container. If your empty has not yet returned, expect delayed returns and unfortunately additional charges. One other terminal, the Long Beach Container Terminal, reported that it would be closed on Easter Sunday as well.

Kip Louttit, executive director at the Marine Exchange of Southern California advised carriers to determine if your ship has a reasonable expectation to go to a berth in the next three days.

One dock worker who spoke to the World Socialist Web Site was confused as to how the stoppage started and why it ended so quickly. The union said everything is working as normal today. I dont know what the hell is going on. The worker continued, Were in the dark for the most part. The world is erupting and were just existing. Were all over it and just want to work under a fair contract.

Other workers who spoke to the WSWS gave indications that the work stoppage may have been in fact initiated by the rank and file itself. Last night the strike began, one worker noted in a Friday morning message. Word is tonight same will happen. A-books are saying swing clerks and crane operators will not be showing up until the contract is signed.

Whatever the circumstances behind the stoppages, they are a clear sign that the deal to keep workers on the job without a contract is being challenged by pent-up rank-and-file anger.

It follows similar unofficial stoppages in recent months, including last month when workers shut the Port of LA for one hour by taking their lunches together. In November, workers at the Port of Oakland shut down three terminals over payroll issues. Last summer, independent truckers also blockaded ports across the state to protest a new state law which threatened their independent status.

However, last weeks stoppage was the largest single action by workers to date.

Fearing a possible strike, and also to gain additional leverage against dockworkers, a significant portion of West Coast traffic has been diverted to East Coast ports. The port operators, for their part, are explicitly threatening to make such diversions permanent should a contract not be reached soon on their terms.

On March 24, an open letter was delivered to President Joe Biden by the National Retail Federation, the American Trucking Associations, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, urging the administration to help deliver and possibly even impose a contract on the dockworkers similar to how the administration shut down an earlier US rail strike on the rail carriers terms.

Even with the diversions of cargo to the US, the letter made clear the significant damage West Coast dockworkers could still do even with the most limited of job actions. While we appreciate that the parties agreed not to engage in a strike or lockout, it read, we are aware of several instances of activities that have impacted terminal operations. We need the administration to ensure these activities do not continue or escalate.

The letter expresses fears that job actions may spread out of the control of the ILWU apparatus. Similar letters were sent to Biden by industry groups in relation to last years railroad contract, which was ultimately imposed by Congress after workers rejected a deal brokered by the Biden administration.

The temporary action by the workers also underscores the immense fragility of the US supply chain which the ruling elite is relying on for its war planning against Russia and China. The diversion of traffic to East Coast ports is likely not assuaging the worries of shipping companies as much as they had hoped for, because unrest continues to mount among dockworkers there as well.

The unrest at the docks is an international phenomenon. Last autumn, dockworkers struck in Liverpool in the United Kingdom while work stoppages are being planned at French ports as part of the ongoing struggles against pension cuts being imposed by President Emmanuel Macron without a vote in Parliament. The Fos-su-mer port will experience strikes for four-hour periods this coming week , with an all-day strike being called for Thursday April 13. Strike activity of the same duration is expected at the port of Le Havre as well.

The dockworkers, like their brothers and sisters in different sections of the working class throughout the world, hold immense power. However, they can only bring this power to bear by breaking the stranglehold of the trade unions, which are doing everything in their power to stop struggles from spreading and keeping ports operating for the benefit of the multi-billion-dollar shipping lines and for the financial elite as a whole.

Furthermore, the letter to Biden must be taken as a warning. The administration is certainly working behind the scenes to impose a contract should progress not be reached in negotiations.

Regardless, however, of whether a contract is imposed by the Biden administration or whether one is cobbled together at the last minute between the ILWU and PMA, dockworkers will not have their demands met for decent schedules, staffing and pay, unless they break from the corrupt union apparatus and take matters into their own hands. To fight against this conspiracy, dock workers need to form a Dockworkers Rank-and-File Committee that will wage a concerted effort against the entire ILWU apparatus.
DAR ES SALAAM, April 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 7,645 Congolese have fled to Tanzania from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), an official said late Sunday.

Most of the Congolese fleeing to Tanzania were from Kivu in eastern DRC where there is escalating violence, said Sudi Mwakibasi, director of refugee services in the Ministry of Home Affairs, adding that 5,465 of the fleeing Congolese have already been sheltered in refugee camps in the east African nation's western region of Kigoma.

The number of Congolese fleeing to Tanzania had increased from 2,643 in March to 7,645 by April 7, said Mwakibasi when he briefed Minister for Home Affairs Hamad Masauni who was on a visit to reception centers for asylum seekers. 
TRIPOLI, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Libyan prime minister on Monday extended his government's support for the effort of UN envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily in facilitating Libya to hold national elections.

Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah made his remarks during a meeting with Bathily in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, in presence of Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush, said a statement issued by the prime minister's information office.

Bathily briefed Dbeibahon on his recent talks with heads of state and defense ministers of Sudan and Chad on the withdrawal of foreign fighters from Libya in accordance with international coordination, as well as his recent meetings in eastern and southern Libya, the statement said.

Libya failed to hold general elections in December 2021 as previously scheduled due to disagreements over election laws among the Libyan parties.

In January, Dbeibah said his government is ready to hold general elections this year. 
QALAT, Afghanistan, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police have destroyed 44 acres of poppy farm in the southern Zabul province, said a statement of the provincial police office released here Monday.

Police have launched an anti-poppy campaign last week and so far have destroyed 44 acres of poppy farm including four acres in Police District 4 of Qalat city, the statement said.

Afghan police have also destroyed 76 acres of poppy farm in the northern Balkh and Baghlan provinces over the past couple of weeks. 
SEOUL, April 10 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's jobless claims rose in single digit last month amid growing worry about economic slowdown, labor ministry data showed Monday.

The number of new applicants for job-seeking benefits was 144,000 in March, up 8.5 percent from the same month of last year, according to the country's Ministry of Employment and Labor.

It was down from an increase of 14 percent in February, but the number rebounded this year on mounting worry about the domestic economic downturn, driven by continued export fall and faltering housing market.

The benefit applicants mainly increased in the manufacturing, the construction and the education service sectors.

The job-seeking benefits are offered by the government to help the unemployed seek jobs, taking up a majority of unemployment benefits. It is financed by the state employment insurance fund.

The number of the benefit receivers totaled 675,000 in March, up 1 percent from a year earlier. It kept an upward trend for the second straight month.

The total payment of job-seeking benefits expanded 3 percent to 1.03 trillion won (780.3 million U.S. dollars) last month.

The per-capita payment gained 1.9 percent to about 1.53 million won (1,160 dollars) in the cited month. 
KOPRIVNICA, Croatia, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Koprivnica warmly welcomes "dear and pleasant" Chinese tourists and will continue to provide high-quality services for them, said Misel Jaksic, mayor of the northern Croatian city, in an interview with Xinhua on Monday.

"Chinese tourists have always been our dear and pleasant guests in our city and we will be delighted to see even more of them in Koprivnica, where they can find plenty of interesting things to see and do," Jaksic said, adding that Koprivnica is a place that offers "many attractions and numerous historical stories."

In particular, Jaksic extended his warm welcome to Chinese tourists visiting the traditional outdoor Easter eggs exhibition held at the City Park, which he claimed is the most famous in Croatia.

Moreover, the Koprivnica Easter eggs have become so popular that they have been sent as gifts to be displayed in public areas outside the country, Jaksic noted.

On March 31, the Tourist Board of Koprivnica-Krizevci County unveiled its annual exhibition of large decorated Easter eggs titled "Painted Easter eggs from the heart," and the Easter eggs, 2.05-meters high and 1.5-meters wide each, are believed to be the largest in size in Croatia. The exhibition will last until April 17.

Ever since 2008, the Tourist Board of the Koprivnica-Krizevci County has been the first in Croatia to launch the project to create large Easter eggs painted in a naive style, a showcase for the impressive painting style depicting the rural life of northern Croatia. 




Well, Easter may have just passed, but we're reminded of the days of gay Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It's one of the city's queerest times  the other being the city's Pride festival, Southern Decadence, of course. This Mardi Gras event has been celebrating the LGBTQ+ community for decades, building on the renowned spectacle of the city's Carnival.

The queer aspect of the city's celebrations date back to the 1960s, with balls that ended in police raids.

New Orleans is a very different city than it was then, and these photos prove it. Here's a throwback to some of the wonderful celebrations in Louisiana back in February.

Check out the images below.

(All photos courtesy of Tim Snow.)
[Source]

A content creator went viral after posting a TikTok video about being 42 years old and childfree.

On March 6, TikToker Natalie Bright uploaded a 14-second clip of her dancing in the streets of New York while sharing negative comments she has received for being a childless 42 year old.

Who's going to take care of you when you're 70, "You dont [sic] know true love until you give birth, You will die alone and You failed at life are just some of the comments Bright says she has encountered.

Oh and there was you probably cry in the bathroom everyday, she wrote in her posts caption.

More from NextShark: Chinese toddlers 'ninja'-like physical education routine at school goes viral

Several supportive TikTok users were quick to comment on Brights viral video, which has already garnered over 2.7 million views and 343,000 likes.

I used to volunteer at a nursing home & some of the loneliest residents were ppl [people] with children. Having children doesn't mean they'll take care of you, one user wrote.

More from NextShark: Nissins Cup Noodle bedding set is what dreams are made of

We all die alone no matter if we have kids or we dont. Thanks for bringing positivity to this subject, another user commented.

I've got 3 kids and I'm proud of them however I have to say no you didn't fail in life you made a choice, live your life you want, another user said.

Bright has gone viral in the past for her previous videos about her youthful appearance.

More from NextShark: Cowardly and unconscionable: Olivia Munn and Asian American women speak out after racist Zoombombing

The TikToker, who frequently posts about fashion and beauty, saw one of her videos garner over 10.6 million views and 1.4 million likes in January.

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Girls dont [sic] want to be my friends when they find out that im [sic] 41, the 5-second clips onscreen text says.

All my friends had kids and moved to the suburbs. And im [sic] too old to make new friends in the city, Bright wrote in the viral posts caption.

More from NextShark: OnlyFans star Titus Low explains his honest prison experience after 3 weeks behind bars

The TikToker hopes to address ageism in her videos and also inspire her followers to engage in constructive conversations about the stigmas that surround getting older.

"People just have a lot of opinions about this because it's not really openly discussed," Bright told Insider last month. "It's a sensitive subject."

"The way I see it is happiness is what you make it," she continued. "I want people to know that life without kids still can be fulfilling and happy."
Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz tied the knot in Palm Beach, Florida, at an elegant black-tie affair held on the actress' family estate on April 9, 2022

Victoria Beckham Instagram

Victoria and David Beckham are celebrating son Brooklyn Beckham on his first wedding anniversary to wife Nicola Peltz.

Victoria, 48, shared an Instagram post on Sunday, in which she could be seen posing with the happy couple alongside her husband David, 47.

"So special to be together to celebrate your 1st wedding anniversary ," Victoria wrote, adding, "We love you @brooklynpeltzbeckham @nicolaannepeltzbeckham @davidbeckham."

"Today was so fun! We love you so much ," Nicola, 28, replied in the comments section.

In Victoria's post, the former Spice Girls member could be seen sporting a gray shirt and ripped jeans, while David wore a white shirt and jeans, placing his arm around his son's shoulder.

Brooklyn, 24, meanwhile, posed in a white shirt and matching pants, and held what appeared to be a cake adorned with several Polaroid shots of himself and his wife. Peltz, for her part, was captured in a black cropped shirt with matching knee-high leather boots and colorful jeans shorts.

Related:Nicola Peltz Denies Feud with Victoria Beckham, Says She Wishes People Wouldn't Judge Her Amid Wedding Lawsuit

Brooklyn and Peltz tied the knot in Palm Beach, Florida, at an elegant black-tie affair held on the actress' family estate on April 9, 2022.

In an Instagram post of her own, Peltz celebrated the special occasion, writing, "I can't believe it's been a year since I walked down the aisle  I love you so much baby."

"I love being your wife. I couldn't imagine my life without you  you are everything I've ever dreamt of and I'm so happy I get my life with you," she continued. "Today was so amazing celebrating with our families!"

Added Peltz: "I hope everyone had a beautiful Easter! (I also surprised my naunni with a rescue puppy  and she was so happy!) ."

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Brooklyn, for his part, also marked the special day with a post featuring himself and his wife kissing in the middle of a mall.

"1 year ago today I married my best friend xx I am the luckiest person to be able to call you my wife x," he began his caption. "You are my everything and I am the luckiest person on this earth to be able to wake up next to your gorgeous face every morning x."

"Here's to many more years baby xx I love you so so so much x here's to having as much fun when we are old as we are now young ," Brooklyn continued.

In the comments section, Nicola wrote back to her love: "I love you soooo much!!  this is so cute!!! I love being your wife."

RELATED VIDEO: Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham's Wedding Drama Intensifies as Her Family Hits Back in New Filing

The sweet social media posts came one month after Peltz addressed her rumored feud with her mother-in-law  which stemmed from the star allegedly not wearing a wedding dress made by Victoria for her April 2022 wedding.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Peltz said doesn't understand why the rumor persists. "I've said this so many times: There's no feud. I don't know. No one ever wants to write the nice things," she explained. "It's really weird, actually, whether it's my life or someone else's life or whatever, when you know the truth and then you read something totally wrong."

Peltz also told Grazia that the Beckham family are "great" in-laws, and there's no bad blood.

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.

Gotham/Getty

The Transformers: Age of Extinction star previously put her love for Victoria on display in March, when she joined the Beckham's to support Victoria at Paris Fashion Week.

After Victoria posted a photo of her family  including Peltz  supporting her on Instagram, the model commented a sweet message under the post.

"A beautiful show! We love you! " Peltz wrote.

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Read the original article on People.
BOYNTON BEACH  Ben Ferencz, the last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials, who tried Nazis for genocidal war crimes and was among the first outside witnesses to document the atrocities of Nazi labor and concentration camps, has died. He had just turned 103 in March.

Ferencz died Friday evening in Boynton Beach, according to St. John's University law professor John Barrett, who runs a blog about the Nuremberg trials. The death also was confirmed by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.

Today the world lost a leader in the quest for justice for victims of genocide and related crimes, the museum tweeted.

The last surviving Nuremberg Trials prosecutor lives in Delray Beach

Last surviving Nuremberg prosecutor aims to save the world

More: Nuremberg trials prosecutor, 91, speaks in Boca Raton

Ferencz: 'I'm doing this for you, the next generation'

Born in Romania in 1920, Ferencz immigrated as a young boy with his parents to New York to escape rampant antisemitism. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Ferencz joined the U.S. Army in time to take part in the Normandy invasion during World War II. Using his legal background, he became an investigator of Nazi war crimes against U.S. soldiers as part of a new War Crimes Section of the Judge Advocates Office.

In a conversation with The Palm Beach Post in 2016 at his longtime residence at the Kings Point community in suburban Delray Beach, Ferencz said that even as he closed in on a century of life, he was still fighting the forces of hatred, racism and injustice.

Im not doing this for me, he said at the time. Im doing this for you, the next generation.

The last surviving Nuremberg prosecutor, Ben Ferencz, in walkway near his Delray Beach home in November 2016. Ferencz died Friday at 103 in Boynton Beach.

As a sergeant in Gen. George Pattons 3rd Army, Ferencz visited a handful of concentration camps shortly after they were liberated.

The scenes have been well-depicted, he said. Dead bodies lying around, you cant tell if they're dead or alive, their eyes beg for help. Dysentery, lice, rats, stench. Things that are not only indescribable, but unimaginable.

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That image, he said, changes ones perception of war.

I refuse to accept that we, as human beings, cannot change, Ferencz told The Post.

He was 27 in 1947 when he argued, as chief prosecutor in one of the 13 Nuremberg trials, for the convictions of 22 former commanders who themselves were charged with murdering more than 1 million Jews and other enemies of the Third Reich in Eastern Europe.

All 22 war criminals Ben Ferencz prosecuted were convicted

Rather than depending on witnesses, Ferencz mostly relied on official German documents to make his case. All the defendants were convicted, and more than a dozen were sentenced to death by hanging, even though Ferencz hadn't asked for the death penalty.

At the beginning of April 1948, when the long legal judgment was read, I felt vindicated, he later wrote. Our pleas to protect humanity by the rule of law had been upheld.

With the war crimes trials winding down, Ferencz went to work for a consortium of Jewish charitable groups to help Holocaust survivors regain properties, homes, businesses, art works, Torah scrolls and other Jewish religious items that the Nazis had confiscated from them. He also later assisted in negotiations that would lead to compensation to the Nazi victims.

Ferencz, a father of four, later wrote book after book calling for what would eventually be the International Criminal Court.

When I began, when Nuremberg began, war was the approved way of obtaining glory and power, he told The Post in 2016. And for a thousand years, wars have been glorified in history.

He listed Vietnam, Rwanda and Syria as avoidable mistakes of a world consumed by violence.

War: 'They kill each other until they get tired of killing each other'

Look, the current system is, if the two heads of state are unable to agree, they take their young people, send them out to kill other young people they dont even know, in a country they may never have heard of, who never did them any harm and may never have harmed anyone, Ferencz said.

They kill each other until they get tired of killing each other. Then they each declare victory. They rest. And they kill each other again.

Ferenczs dreams were realized in 2002 with establishment of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, though its effectiveness has been limited by the failure of countries like the United States to participate.

I am a realist because I can see the problems, he told the Post. But Im an optimist because I can see the progress.

Ferencz is survived by a son and three daughters. His wife died in 2019.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Last Nuremberg prosecutor, Ben Ferencz, dies at 103 in Boynton Beach
DUBLIN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony to mark the 107th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, an armed insurrection against the British rule in Ireland, was held here on Sunday.

Irish President Michael D. Higgins, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Micheal Martin attended the event.

The event was held in front of the building of the GPO (General Post Office), a place in downtown Dublin where the fiercest battle of the 1916 Easter Rising took place.

At noon, the Irish national flag on the top of the GPO was lowered and the 1916 Proclamation, a document declaring Ireland's independence from Britain, was read by an officer from the Irish Defence Forces.

Higgins laid a wreath to commemorate those who died in the 1916 rising and a minute's silence was observed.

Relatives of those who took part in the Easter Rising attended the ceremony. Representatives from the Irish army, air force and naval service also took part in the event.

Military brass and pipe bands played at the ceremony, which ended with an air force flyover.

The Easter Rising was launched by Irish republicans during Easter Week in April 1916 with the aim of establishing an independent Irish republic. The six-day rising was eventually cracked down by the British forces. 
Thousands of snow geese stopped during their migration at Storm Lake in March. Waterfowl like geese are believed to carry highly pathogenic avian influenza that they can spread as they migrate.

Green lights bounce around Chad and Sheila Larson's turkey farm in north central Iowa, a laser array that represents an unusual approach to keeping geese and other waterfowl away from their operation after they lost about 26,000 birds to highly pathogenic avian influenza a year ago.

"We thought it was worth a try," Sheila Larson said. "And so far it's been great. We haven't seen geese land on our farm since we started."

Creative approaches, which also include wheeled drone vehicles that chase geese from potential nesting sites, are proliferating as the bird flu threat persists into a second year.

More: After rapid inflation in 2022, what will happen to food prices this year? Here's the USDA's forecast

Wild aquatic birds spread bird flu as they migrate across the country, infecting domestic poultry. The Larsons' turkey operation was one of 32 in Iowa, ranging from giant egg operations with millions of hens to small, backyard flocks, hit with the virus over the past year. Iowa producers destroyed nearly 16 million turkeys, chickens and other birds, the largest state toll among a total that reached 58.7 million birds at 817 farms nationwide.

The disease contributed to a 32% spike in egg prices last year, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture has forecast prices to climb nearly 38% this year.

The USDA estimates the outbreak ultimately will cost the agriculture sector $670 million, with $414 million going to help replace lost farm income and another $256 million to destroy birds exposed to the disease, dispose of their bodies and decontaminate the facilities.

More: Bird flu's grisly question: How to kill millions of chickens, turkeys to prevent the virus' spread

Larson said she and other farmers she talks with are nervous about getting hit with the virus again this year.

"It's changed enough; it's strong enough to survive," she said. "It's part of our world now."

Keeping wild birds from poultry farms helps, though virus can spread through other means

Luckily, the outbreaks so far have been less widespread than at this time last year, state and federal officials say.

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In March 2022, for example, bird flu hit 51 U.S. commercial poultry operations, while just seven facilities were hit last month. In Iowa, the nation's largest egg producer and seventh-largest turkey producer, the virus affected 10 commercial chicken and turkey operations in March 2022, but none last month.

Still, Iowa and the U.S. have a lot of highly pathogenic avian influenza floating around, said Yuko Sato, an Iowa State University veterinarian. In 2015, the U.S. detected the virus in fewer than 100 wild birds. Over the past year, that number grew to nearly 6,500.

"The virus is everywhere, so there's just a higher chance that wild birds are carrying the virus," Sato said.

More: Tripled egg prices giving owner of popular Des Moines diner indigestion

Tighter biosecurity has helped. During the previous record bird flu outbreak in the U.S. and Iowa in 2015, about 70% of the cases were lateral infections, carried from one barn to another, Sato said. This time, it's less than 15%.

But she said a producer could bring in the virus or it could be carried on the wind or rain.

The potential sources of infection broaden even more as USDA researchers detect mammals carrying the virus, said Larson, the Ellsworth turkey farmer.

A year ago: Here's why protests at Minnesota Timberwolves games are tied to an Iowa chicken farm, bird flu

"We were doing everything we thought we could when we were infected," like keeping dedicated equipment at each barn, allowing no boots, coveralls or tools from outside the facility, and limiting who can come on the farm, she said. "And now, we've added lasers to see if that makes a difference."

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Bird flu outbreak has slowed in 2023, but egg prices expected to rise
Florida authorities said a car that belongs to Creekside Middle School teacher Robert Heikka, who disappeared in October 2020, and a body were found in a canal along in Volusia County

Volusia Sheriff's Office

Authorities in Florida say a car owned by a middle school teacher who vanished in 2020 has been found in a local canal with a body inside.

Robert Heikka's car was discovered in the water along Pioneer Trail in Volusia County, between State Roads 44 and 415, according to a statement from the Volusia Sheriff's Office (VSO).

Water levels in the canal had "recently dropped significantly," revealing the car's location, the VSO said Saturday.

Police have been in contact with the missing teacher's family, according to the Port Orange Police Department (POPD). However, the body found inside the car has not been officially identified.

The Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Related:Missing Tattoo Artist Found Dead in N.Y.C. Near Where He Was Last Seen 6 Months Ago: 'There the Whole Time'

Heikka was last seen at his home in Port Orange on Oct. 25, 2020, according to Port Orange police. He was 70 years old at the time of his disappearance.

The Florida man was reported missing after he was absent from his job at Creekside Middle School on Oct. 26, 2020, a POPD spokesperson said in Dec. 2020, per the Orlando Sentinel.

The Sunshine State Sonar Search Team and Recon Dive Recovery helped locate the missing vehicle, according to the VSO and POPD.

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.

Mike Sullivan, who works with Sunshine State Sonar, said he and others were walking near the canal when he spotted "what looked like the roof of the vehicle sticking from the water," according to NBC affiliate WESH.

Police previously identified the teacher's vehicle as a white 2012 Chevrolet Impala.

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Photos from the scene in New Smyrna Beach, shared by the VSO, appear to show the submerged Impala and a portion of a license plate that matches the tag number previously provided by the department.

"We thank all involved for bringing some much needed closure to Mr. Heikka's family," the POPD said on Saturday. "Our prayers and thoughts are with his family."

Related:Bodies of Missing Father and Son Found 24 Days After They Disappeared While Kayaking on Spring Break Trip

Heikka began working for the Volusia County School District in 1989, according to the Sentinel and CBS affiliate WKMG-TV. He had been teaching at Creekside Middle School in Port Orange since 2002.

The canal where Heikka's car was found is just a few miles away from where the late teacher once lived, according to WESH.

"It just feels so good to give these families answers," Sullivan told the outlet. "I would never say it's closure, because there is never closure for a family losing someone like this. It's answers to what happened to their loved one."

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Read the original article on People.
This post contains spoilers from Sundays episode of Succession. Proceed accordingly.

The star of one of HBOs buzziest hits lobbed some serious shade at another of the networks biggest shows on his way out the door Sunday.

More from TVLine

Succession patriarch Logan Roy died in Episode 3, which aired this week. In an exit interview with The New York Times, portrayer Brian Cox praised his shows decision to end at the culmination of the current season  and dissed Game of Thrones as he did so.

You think about Game of Thrones, when they didnt know what they were doing at the end, and they had an ending which was not really satisfactory. And the audience was furious, Cox said. He referred to how, when the fantasy series drew to a close in 2019, fan backlash was so strong that one created an online petition for HBO to remake Game of Thrones Season 8 with competent writers. It currently has nearly 1.9 million signatures. (HBO boss Casey Bloys has said that re-shooting the final run of episodes was not something that we seriously considered.)

Cox has been candid regarding Game of Thrones in the past, most notably in his memoir Putting the Rabbit in the Hat. In the book, he says he chose not to take on the role of Robert Baratheon  which eventually went to Mark Addy  because the money was not all that great, shall we say. And because he knew from the start that Robert would succumb to a hunting accident during the shows first season, I wouldnt have had any of the benefits of the long-term effects of a successful series where your wages go up with every passing season. So I passed on it, and Mark Addy was gored by the boar instead.

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In the Times Q&A, Cox acknowledged that Succession fans may also be very angry about his characters fate, which came about without warning, as Logan was in his private jet en route to Switzerland. (Read a full recap, and hear what Coxs co-star Sarah Snook has to say about the tough episode.) They might miss Logan and say, Oh, what are you doing killing off one of the most interesting characters?' he noted. But its fine by me.

How are you feeling about all things Succession in the wake of Episode 3? Hit the comments and let us know!

Launch Gallery: HBO's 50 Best Characters Ever, Ranked

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Click here to read the full article.
Understanding the mechanics of democracy and being able to engage in civil dialogue is key to empowering citizens.

So believes the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute, which has launched "Civics for Life," a free online site at civicsforlife.org where anyone can tap into educational materials, engage with policymakers, chat with other users and hear from authors and thought leaders.

"Maybe you didn't have civics at all, need to brush up, or would like to learn more about a piece or a part of civics. Civics for Life is all about lifelong learning," said Sarah Suggs, Institute president and CEO.

The Civics for Life platform was unveiled in cojunction with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's 93rd birthday in March. OConnor was the first woman nominated and confirmed to the Supreme Court in 1981 by then President Ronald Reagan.

In 2022, the Annenberg Center for Public Policy released a survey that shared one in four Americans couldn't name a single branch of the U.S. government. Civics for Life aims to close the gap in civics education.

Former educator Tara Bartlett is now co-director of the Arizona Civic Coalition, which provides resources, education, and outreach to ensure civic education is available to all people. She finds ways to specifically reach marginalized communities and youth.

"Our youth will be carrying civics education forward, so what will we do to equip them with the necessary knowledge, attitudes, skills and practices?" Bartlett asked.

Since 2018, a semester-long civics course for high school Arizona students is required for graduation. The course does not specifically cater to civics education, however. Each school district controls what curriculum will be taught.

"A lot of pre-service teacher programs have roughly one semester on teaching social studies. It focuses really on ... strategies of how to teach it, but not content," Bartlett said.

History educator Jeremy Samoy from Tanque Verde High School in Tucson thinks parents should grow their civics knowledge: "Continuing to educate yourself on what happens in our modern era is definitely something that is worthwhile."

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Liz Leybeck of Mesa has four kids ranging in age from 8-14. She wants to learn more about American and Arizona politics "so I can be a good educator for my own children and help them fully understand what their role is in protecting democracy and engaging in our in our country's processes," said Leybeck, whose four children range in age from 8 to 14.

The O'Connor Institute received a $7,500 education grant from the 2022-23 Arizona Republic-sponsored Season for Sharing campaign to support the O'Connor Ambassadors civics and debate clubs and the Civics Challenge, which serves approximately 1,000 middle school and high school students.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sandra Day O'Connor Institute touts lifelong learning about civics
One person was killed Friday in an overnight crash, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The single-vehicle collision happened at about midnight in Aiken County, Lance Cpl. Nick Pye said.

A 2003 Chevrolet van was driving west on Dixie Clay Road when it ran off the left side of the road near the intersection with near Trail of Sand Lane, according to Pye. It veered off the road at a curve, the Aiken County Coroners Office said.

The van then crashed into a tree and flipped over, according to Pye.

The driver suffered blunt force injuries and died at the scene, the coroners office said.

The coroners office will publicly identify the driver after notifying the next of kin.

The driver, who was wearing a seat belt, was the only person in the van, according to the coroners office. No other injuries were reported.

The collision continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol and coroners office. Toxicology tests are pending, the coroners office said.

Through April 2, at least 221 people have died on South Carolina roads in 2023, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,091 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least nine people have died in Aiken County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. Last year, 29 deaths were reported in the county, DPS reported.
JiZMak Da Gusha Endorses Erection of Oderus Urungus Monument

What if? What if you and your weird friends actually followed through with every crazy, stoned idea that you ever came up with? Or at least a few of them? Make a campy sci-fi movie! Start a really loud band! Show up at the Grammys dressed as obnoxious aliens! Open your own bar with you as the theme!

The members of Gwar have managed to do all of these over the last 39 years, nicely punctuated by the Hail Seitan sandwich you order at the bar  no pickles, please.

More from Spin:

The interior of the GwarBar, sited on an odd triangular street corner in Richmond, Virginia, is everything that the Hard Rock Cafe pretends to be and fails at. The stage props and guitars on the walls can come down whenever a band member wants to use one in a show or video. Actual musicians and hard-partying metal scene guys can be found knocking back whiskey and McDuckets (nuggets made with duck meat) after a late-night concert. Michael Derks, Gwars rhythm guitarist in the character of Balsac the Jaws of Death, can often be found behind the bar pouring drinks.

Derks can do pretty much whatever he wants here because its his bar. His and the other seven members of Gwar, which is arguably the weirdest metal band in the history of the genre, and that is saying an awful lot.

Ive been in Gwar for over 35 years now, and even before I was in the band, I worked in restaurants, Derks said while sitting at his bar at the ungodly early hour of 2 p.m., which is like breakfast time for bartenders, musicians, and freelance writers who get off of work at 2 or 3 a.m. and then need a certain amount of me time before crashing.

Its always been like, I could work in a restaurant, take a month off to go on tour, and come back A lot of musicians actually work in restaurants, bartenders, working in the kitchen and stuff like that Ive worked in restaurants since I was 14 years old. and we spend so much of our time as musicians in bars. What do you do when youre not touring? Unless youre huge, you know, even if youre at the level that Gwar is, we have to have part-time jobs, you know. Its like we cant support ourselves on just music.

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George Abruzzo

A dirty little secret of the music industry is that a lot of the artists and bands that you love and see in concert and maybe even actually pay for an album arent able to survive on their income as artists. That guy on stage in front of a thousand people at a packed nightclub might be driving for Uber or slinging mojitos after the tour is over. He isnt likely to mention this on his social media, but that is the reality of the modern music industry, where the $16 for a brand new CD of the late 90s has been replaced with a quarter of a cent or whatever quantum form of currency Spotify is now paying to musicians.

Gwar has taken control of the means of production, as it were. They own the actual bar and restaurant where they can pour drinks and flip burgers (called beefcakes here) if they so choose.

Taking control is kind of what Gwar does in general, even if Earth as whole has proven disturbingly resistant. The band originated when a different band, Death Piggy, was rehearsing in a cheap space in a dilapidated former Richmond dairy in 1984. In the room next door, Hunter Jackson and a few friends were hard at work making props and costumes for a sci-fi movie that Jackson planned to make about a bunch of alien barbarians who arrive on Earth ready to conquer but get distracted by things like new girlfriends and joining a band.

Dave Brockie, Death Piggys vocalist and Gwars founder, asked Hunter if he could borrow the costumes for a night to have the band open for themselves dressed up as what became Gwar. Jacksons props, characters, and story were quickly subsumed by the conquering power that is Gwar; absorbed like the quivering flesh of their enemies. Death Piggy quietly died so that Gwar might live.

Along the way they turned into a truly tight, sharp-edged metal band with real instrumental prowess, challenged by the need to play technically difficult material while wearing many pounds of bulky foam and latex and whatever hidden contraptions squirt out the gallons of fake blood and other bodily fluids that tend to hose the audience in the face during a Gwar show.

George Abruzzo

Derks and Brockie started talking about the idea of a Gwar bar around 20 years ago. Of course it would have to be in Richmond, home of Gwar and of Virginia Commonwealth University, which boasts a large arts program that many of Gwars members are alumni of and which continues to provide a reliable stream of interesting weirdos that make Richmond arguably the funnest gritty American city after New Orleans. Of course it would have to be in the Jackson Ward neighborhood, where you wouldnt have wanted to set foot 20 years ago but today you can hit up a trendy art gallery and still have full confidence that someone will at least try pulling on your car door handles.

Theres a homeless guy with impressive dreadlocks who pretty much lives in the alley behind the Gwar bar. Really nice dude. Begs for cash for art supplies and sells decent paintings.

At Gallery Five, on the other side of the block, a few months ago I saw the Embalmers, a surf rock instrumental band dressed in sharp suits and red fezes playing Cure covers while students and old metal guys bounced around, elbows and Doc Martens flying inches away from expensive art for sale. After the show, a bunch of them headed straight for the GwarBar.

It may have been started as a branded destination, the ultimate item on the merch table. But the GwarBar is a bona fide local institution. A rock and roll watering hole where kids in new bands hang out, where touring bands like Slayer like to stop in, and of course there are also folks who are there specifically for Gwar.

We definitely get a lot of people from outta town that have come here, Derks told me. Theyre visiting Richmond as their Gwar pilgrimage, you know, to see the GwarBar, to see the dairy where it all started, to go to Daves memorial in Hollywood Cemetery and see the Brockie murals all over the city. People do make this the Richmond pilgrimage, and this is kind of like the Mecca for Gwar fans.

Dave Brockie died in 2014, and Derks has been pretty much the guy in charge ever since. It was Derks who finally started making moves on their old idea, partnering with an experienced restaurant owner to make the GwarBar a reality.

George Abruzzo

Since the GwarBar opened, Gwar has continued to metastasize. You can order a Gwar-themed beer, Blood Geyser. Their whiskey, Ragnarok Rye, goes for over a hundred bucks a bottle retail and has received extraordinarily high ratings. Theres a comic book, GWAR: In the Duoverse of Absurdity, written by Derks and fellow band-member Matt McGuire, aka Sawborg Destructo.

Now theres also a documentary, This is Gwar, paid for by horror network Shudder, also available for a few bucks streaming on Amazon Prime. The band is playing European festivals this summer and there always seems to be a new video around the corner.

Gwar has always been powered by the work of an art collective, The Slave Pit, which builds and repairs the constant flow of new costumes and props. The Slave Pit has had their own gallery shows. A crew of bartenders and cooks (who look way cooler than you or I ever will) have now joined the ever-growing staff in service of the needs of all that is Gwar. Also the brewers and the whiskey makers and the guys who illustrated the comic book and the whole crew behind the documentary. Gwar is an industry, constantly expanding. They will never drive for Uber.

The GwarBar keeps evolving and growing every year, Derks said, gesturing towards a grotesque latex mask and a wall made to look like stone. Margaret [Rolicki] just painted the walls, like the dungeon walls, over the pandemic and we just keep adding stuff and taking stuff down. So its kind of like a rotating curated museum.

I meant to ask about a breakfast cereal but got distracted by all the stuff on the walls.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

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People lined the hallway at Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion to pay tribute to the veterans who attended the Honor Flight at Home event on Saturday, June 11, 2022. A total of 17 veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War were honored during the ceremony.

Area military veterans and their families are invited to attend the 2023 edition of Honor Flight at Home, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 10 at Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion. Event Coordinator Margie Saull encourages veterans to register for the event by May 20.

Honor Flight at Home, Saull said, is designed to recognize and honor any veteran who served on active duty from 1941 to 1975, but who cannot travel to Washington on the traditional Honor Flight trips that take veterans of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars to the various memorials in the nation's capital.

The Marion event is a subsidiary of the Honor Flight Columbus organization. It's the only Honor Flight at Home program in the state of Ohio, Saull said.

Saull, whose father is a World War II veteran, spearheaded the effort to make Honor Flight at Home a reality in Marion and the first program was held in 2018.

Saull said through Honor Flight at Home she is committed to offering a positive experience for those veterans who are not able to make the trip to the nation's capital. She said the comradery veterans experience with each other during the Honor Flights to Washington as well as the Honor Flight at Home events provides a lasting memory.

"We took my dad to an Honor Flight at Home in Florida and the veterans were very responsive and it was a wonderful afternoon," she said. "So, I decided to come back to Marion and start one here. I worked with Honor Flight Columbus for about a year to convince them that there was a need here in Marion. It's not just open to Marion County folks. If you're able to travel about an hour or two to get to Marion, you're welcome to come."

Saull said 32 veterans attended the first event in Marion followed up by 27 attending in 2019 and 17 last year. The event was canceled for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saull said the Marion event is open to veterans from surrounding counties and around the region, not just Marion County veterans. She said the goal is to honor as many veterans as possible and not limit the event to just one community.

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This year's program will once again be held at Tri-Rivers Career Center, 2222 Marion-Mount Gilead Road. It's scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on June 10. Check-in for veterans attending will begin at 1 p.m.

Veterans or their families interested in attending an Honor Flight at Home event in Marion should contact Margie Saull by email at saullgw4@yahoo.com or by telephone at 740-360-8902. Application forms must be filled out and returned to her by May 20.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Honor Flight at Home to honor Marion area veterans on June 10
U.S. President Joe Biden has yet to officially announce a run for reelection

AP Photo/Evan Vucci Joe Biden

President Joe Biden says he is planning to run for reelection in 2024 but declined to make an official announcement during a candid chat with the Today show's Al Roker this morning.

The president and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden were prepping to host the White House Easter Egg Roll when the conversation shifted toward the looming election.

"I plan on running Al, but we're not prepared to announce it yet," Biden said.

Roker had at first asked how many more Easter Egg Rolls the President planned to attend, probing to see if Biden would comment on a commitment to the 2024 election.

"I plan on at least three or four more Easter Egg rolls," Biden said, adding: "Maybe five. Maybe six, what the hell."

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.

Related:Why Joe Biden Keeps Pushing Back His Expected Reelection Announcement

Reports emerged that Biden was planning to announce his run by the beginning of April to coincide with a new political fundraising quarter, but as the Associated Press reports, 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.

Last month, CBS News asked Biden when he plans to announce his reelection campaign, to which he replied, "When I announce it."

Related:Who Is Running for President in 2024? Confirmed and Rumored Republican and Democratic Candidates

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.

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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.

Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump

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.

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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.

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Read the original article on People.
Kevin Gates has been honored by his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana by receiving a key to the city in light of his impact and contributions to the area.

On Saturday (April 8), Gates shared a clip on Instagram of himself being surprised with the news of his latest accomplishment the night prior (April 7) during a performance at the Raising Canes River Center Arena.

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In the video, the rapper can be seen onstage as his publicist approaches him during a lull in the performance to set the stage for the impromptu presentation. We could not come to your hometown without recognizing you, the woman, who spoke on behalf of the rest of Gates team and inner-circle, told the 37-year-old. You are a man of God, she declared before asking him if his claim to work out of love is true.

Kevin Gates attends Spotify x Rolling Loud Miami 2022  Day 2 at Hard Rock Stadium on July 23, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Yeah, I do, he answers, leading to a city official coming onstage to present him with an official certification and key to the city, with Gates hugging the official in a warm embrace as the video clip ends.

In the caption of the post, the 2 Phones creator shared his reaction to receiving the honor and being recognized by his hometown. Feeling grateful and honored to have received the key to the city of Baton Rouge! he wrote. Its a privilege and I look forward to continuing to contribute to its growth and prosperity.

A practicing Muslim who has been open about his faith, he is currently observing Ramadan and says that getting the key to Baton Rouge has made this Ramadan the best hes ever experienced. During Ramadan, we embrace the power of reflection, gratitude, and I must say its been the best Ramadan ever, he concluded, further voicing his appreciation for the moment.

See Kevin Gates reaction to receiving the key to the city of Baton Rouge below.

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KIEV, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A total of 100 Ukrainian captives, including 20 women, were released in the latest prisoner swap with Russia, Ukrainian authorities said on Monday.

Among those freed were Ukrainian army soldiers, national guard and navy servicemen, and border guards, said the head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak.

Some of those released are either wounded or seriously ill, Yermak wrote on Telegram.

He gave no details on the number of Russian troops released by Ukraine under the swap deal.

Separately, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said that Ukraine handed over to Russia five severely wounded soldiers in line with Geneva Conventions.

Since March 2022, more than 2,000 Ukrainians have been freed as a result of prisoner exchanges with Russia. 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 02: (L-R) Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian attend The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Most people have multiple outfit changes at their weddings, but they dont have multiple ceremonies. The Kardashians are known for being extravagant, thus having multiple weddings was obviously keeping things on brand for them. According to People, in the first look at the new series titled Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker give us a look into their world.

At the top of the trailer, the whirlwind affair begins. Kourtney and Travis take on their series of wedding ceremonies. In the special streaming on Hulu, the couple show if nothing else, they are certainly in love. And they dont mind celebrating it- all three times.

Kourtney explained, This is our personal archive footage that we are sharing with the world. Images and video clips of their third wedding in Portofino, Italy flashed on the screen while Kourt asked Travis, Can you believe we got married three times?

RELATED: Travis Barkers Ex Shanna Moakler Shades His Engagement To Kourtney Kardashians; Says She Hopes The Footage Gives Them Good Ratings

The first wedding involved the reality star and Blink-182 drummer uniting in matrimony in Las Vegas after the 2022 Grammy Awards. The ceremony had everything a Sin City wedding needs from an Elvis Presley impersonator to matching leather jackets. The only thing that was missing was the actual legally binding marriage certificates. No worries about that. The second wedding at a courthouse in Santa Barbara, California made things legal.

In the trailer for the wedding special, Travis shared, Its like choosing a child  I cant pick the best one. Vegas was like our wild, rockstar wedding. Santa Barbara was as traditional as everybody elses wedding could have been. Kourtney added, And then Italy was really romantic and classic. According to the beauty, the final ceremony was the one that brought the nerves and wedding jitters. The couples friends and family gathered for the intimate event. Travis confessed, I was nervous and I knew, Im not gonna be able to say my vows without crying.

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Kourtneys sister, Kim Kardashian, is In the trailer starving off her own love life and making a toast to the newlyweds. In true form, the mogul profoundly shared, There is really no love story like you guys. The Kardashians are no strangers to letting us into their world. Many fans are looking forward to watching the wedding. No matter how much Scott Disick or Shanna Moakler may object, we know Kris Jenner would not have it any other way. With cameras rolling!

You can watch the trailer for Til Death Do Us Part below. The wedding special series will air exclusively on Hulu starting on April 13.

TELL US: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE TRAILER? ARE YOU EXCITED TO GET TO SEE KOURTNEY AND TRAVIS GET MARRIED? HAS KOURTNEY FINALLY FOUND HER HAPPINESS?

[Photo Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue]

The post Kourtney Kardashian And Travis Barker Land Wedding Special, Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis; Watch Trailer appeared first on Reality Tea.
Ukraine officials shrugged off on Sunday leaked Pentagon documents from the war effort that revealed data on military activities, including U.S. drone spy planes in the region and use of ammunition by Ukrainian forces.

The leaks, first reported by The New York Times, include documents released on Twitter and other social media sites. They provide information about plans by the United States and NATO to strengthen the Ukrainian military ahead of an expected spring counteroffensive, including intelligence on weapons deliveries.

Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence directorate, said on Ukrainian TV that a preliminary analysis of the materials revealed "false, distorted figures on losses on both sides." Much of the information was not current and appeared to have been obtained from public sources, Yusov said.

"Russian special services' most successful operations have been taking place in Photoshop," Yusov said.

The French Defense Ministry also challenged information from the classified papers, saying that claims it had troops on the ground in Ukraine were not true and that the information did not come from the French military.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office released a statement saying his advisers were "focused on measures to prevent the leakage of information" regarding military plans. The Justice Department, at the Pentagon's request, has launched an investigation into the leak and who is responsible for the intelligence breach.

NUCLEAR WORRIES: White House: No reason to change strategic stance after Putin says he'll move nuclear weapons

A priest blesses people during an Orthodox Palm Sunday service at the Refectory Church of Saint Anthony and Theodosius in a medieval cave monastery in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 9, 2023.

Developing:

A Russian missile hit a residential area in Zaporizhzhia, killing an 11-year-old girl, Ukrainian presidential spokesman Andriy Yermak tweeted, adding: "Bloodthirsty savages."

Russia's attempt at severely undermining Ukraine's energy system during the winter mostly failed, and there have been few large-scale attacks since early March, the British Defense Ministry said in an update. Ukraine diminished the campaign's impact by finding replacement transformers and other key components, the ministry said.

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Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu threw his support behind Ukraine gaining membership into NATO, telling the Kyiv Independent the military alliance "is the only consistent security guarantee to Ukraine, and also for Europe to evade a new war of aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation."

Ukraine needs loads of new missiles to keep Russian planes at bay, report says

Ukrainian air defenses, which have kept Russia's fighter jets from claiming air superiority in the war through the use of Western weapons, have been weakened and need a massive supply of munitions, according to a new report.

If Ukraine doesn't get the additional missiles, Russian warplanes that so far have been neutralized could change the direction of the conflict, the New York Times reported, citing U.S. officials and newly leaked Pentagon documents.

The documents project some Ukrainian missile stocks could be depleted as early as mid-April and most of the ammunition employed in air defense would be spent by May, the newspaper said. It wasn't clear whether that projection, dated Feb. 28, has been updated.

Repeated Russian missile and drone attacks have forced Ukrainian forces to use up much of their stores of defense projectiles.

Ex-Russian leader Medvedev says 'torn, shaggy, greasy' Ukraine will disappear

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has in the past voiced his staunch support for the war with remarks including calling Ukrainian officials "cockroaches'' and suggesting the Japanese prime minister kill himself by hara-kiri for siding with the United States and Ukraine.

Over the weekend, Medvedev, now Russia's deputy chair of the Security Council, dedicated a 645-word screed on Twitter to arguing why Ukraine will disappear, answering his own question by saying, "Because nobody needs it.''

Medvedev describes Ukraine as "a threadbare quilt, torn, shaggy, and greasy.'' He also referred to American elected leaders as "political blabbermouths, who long ago attested to their impotence and imbecility.''

Ukraine takes issue with Easter message from Pope Francis

Pope Francis prayed for peace for the "beloved Ukrainian people" Sunday but drew criticism in Ukraine for his traditional Easter message. At issue was an event Saturday, when the Vatican provided testimonies from a Ukrainian and a Russian teenager together. A similar issue drew Ukrainian dissent last year.

"Unfortunately, we are forced to state that this year's procession was once again overshadowed by an attempt to equate the victim with the aggressor," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said, calling the gesture "offensive."

The pope, speaking Sunday from Saint Peter's Basilica overlooking St. Peter's Square, prayed for comfort for the wounded and those who lost loved ones to the war. Francis has consistently referred to Ukraine and its people as "martyred" since Russia invaded Ukraine.

"Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey toward peace and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia," the pope said Sunday.

Russia dismisses West's 'hysterical' reaction to Belarus nuclear plans

The West has no problem placing nuclear weapons within easy striking distance of Russia but has become "hysterical" over Russia's decision to build nuclear weaponry storage facilities in Belarus, a Kremlin spokesman said Sunday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that Russia would station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus at the request of Belarusian officials. The construction of storage facilities will be completed on July 1 but no timeline was set for moving the weapons, Putin said. Belarus borders Russia and Ukraine, and Western officials have expressed concern that Moscow might use nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine.

"The collective West is not inclined to recall the topic of U.S. nuclear weapons, which are based in Europe, around our country," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV. "But in this case, they are inclined to this hysterical reaction to our plans."

31 children returned to Ukraine from Russia

The head of a Ukrainian rescue organization said Saturday the group has brought back 31 children from Russia, where they had been taken during the war. Mykola Kuleba, head of the Save Ukraine organization and presidential commissioner for children's rights, said thousands of children had been seized from their families or orphanages and forcibly deported.

Kuleba's adviser, Daria Herasymchuk, said on Ukrainian TV that some of the children who came back mentioned being punished  sometimes with beatings  for saying they were Ukrainian and refusing to sing the Russian national anthem.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on March 17 for Putin and Russian children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. Lvova-Belova told a U.N. commission the children were taken for their own safety. An Associated Press investigation found an open effort to put Ukrainian children up for adoption in Russia.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine Russia war live updates: Pentagon documents leak challenged
In the first half hour of Netflix series Transatlantic, we get a sense of the range of Lucas Englander.

When we meet the Austrian actor, who plays Albert Hirschman in Netflixs new international series, hes a bedraggled refugee, stumbling down the hill toward the beach at Marseilles, the last free port in Nazi-occupied France, circa 1940. Spotting the waters of the Mediterranean, he stops. Then breaks into a run. Hitting the beach, he strips off his grimy clothes and plunges into the water, letting out a whoop of pure joy, like a child on the first day of summer. A few scenes later, Englander plays Hirschman as the suave lothario. In a bluff to get past a checkpoint, he pretends to be the lover of American heiress Mary Jayne Gold (Gillian Jacobs), whom he met moments earlier, wrapping his arm around her and giving her a brazen smooch. Later, Englander as Hirschman goes full Nazi: impersonating a Gestapo agent, he screams (in German) at a pair of French border guards about to arrest refugees trying to escape. The ploy works: the browbeaten flics scuttle away, tails between their legs.

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As the series progresses, we see the many faces of Hirschman, aka Englander: as negotiator and go-between for the American-led Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC), helping fellow refugees escape Nazi terror in the 1940s. As a makeshift spy, helping to spring English soldiers from a German POW camp. As a would-be revolutionary, planting bombs and staging attacks on Nazi targets.

Community alum Jacobs and Cory Michael Smith (Gotham, Carol), who plays Varian Fry, the American journalist who led the ERC effort in Marseilles, are the stars of Transatlantic, but Englander is the shows true revelation. The 30-year-old actor has had a handful of bit roles in big productions  on Skys Catherine The Great, Netflixs The Witcher and in Warner Bros. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. But Transatlantic marks his first leading role in a major series.

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Jacob Englander and Gillian Jacobs in Transatlantic

Even in Europe, Englander is largely unknown. His most prominent roles to date have come in France: in Parlament, a satire on European Union politics  think Veep for the EU  that streams on French VOD service france.tv, and in Marc Fitoussis 2020 French thriller Appearances. In the former, he plays the unctuous political assistant Torsten Muckenstrum. In Appearances, in a performance that got him shortlisted for Frances Cesar award for best newcomer, he plays a seemingly ordinary young man who romances Karin Viard, before revealing himself to be a stalking psychopath.

Transatlantic co-creator and showrunner Anna Winger says she cast Englander as Albert Hirschman after a single Zoom call, without having seen any of his previous performances.

Watching Transatlantic, its not hard to see why. While the actor says he had zero knowledge of Hirschman before reading the series script, his and Hirschmans family histories are closely intertwined.

My grandfather was a World War II refugee to the United States. He was a quarter Jewish, but that was too Jewish for the Nazis. He worked with the rescue committee to help Austrian immigrants escape, says Englander. The stories from my family are very similar to Hirschmans. I can understand Alberts energy, that desire to help and try and do something good, but also that vengeance and anger, the burning to fight back.

Just how close Englanders performance is to the real Hirschman, and how close the series aligns with the historical record, is a bit beside the point. Transatlantic, from the producers of the Emmy-winning Unorthodox, takes inspiration from the incredible history of the ERC  the group helped more than 2,000 refugees emigrate  but the show, which premiered on Netflix on April 7, is self-consciously fiction. Inspired by Julie Orringers novel The Flight Portfolio, the series borrows heavily from the romantic melodramas and screwball comedies of 1940s Hollywood (many of which were created by recent WWII emigres). We even get a scene with Englander, as Hirschman, donning a bellhop uniform to avoid detection by the Wehrmacht: more Jerry Lewis than docudrama.

Because its fiction, I attached myself to the experience of the script, and didnt try to create an imitation of the real man, says Englander. I watched a video of him from a court trial after the war, a trial of a Nazi general where Hirschman was a translator, but that was just to get an idea of his voice, how does he roll his Rs, how good is his English, that sort of thing. But we changed things. The real Albert spoke fluent French, almost without an accent. Our Albert speaks very good English but not that great French. I see him, much like myself, as someone who, because theyve traveled around so much, are able to be a chameleon in language.

Englanders English, like his fictionalized Hirschman, has a clear American tilt, a result of his time at the Stella Adler Studio in New York. I spent a half-hour every day just working on my accent, it was part of trying to assimilate and adapt to the culture, he notes. His French is similarly impressive. In Parlament, Torstens sarcastic barbs are equally sharp when delivered in English, French or German. Over the course of Transatlantic, Hirschmans accent subtly shifts, depending on what language hes speaking and to whom hes speaking.

Lucas Englander

People might see that as a mistake, but its something I did deliberately, because it is what happens, when you speak different languages and you are among people who speak differently, he says. If you have a good ear, you start to change your accent to match who youre talking to.

But Englander doesnt view acting as a way to hide his true identity. In fact, he says, for him performing has always been a way of revealing inner truths.

I started acting when I was about 19 years old. It happened by accident, he recalls. My teacher chose me to do an improvisation in front of the whole class. It was about a subject very close to me and, for the first time in my life, I felt like I was being really truthful. Not trying to please society, or be strong, or an alpha male, or whatever. I felt my life up to then  Im 30 now but I was born in Vienna and I grew up in a very patriarchal society where I was taught that being strong meant dont show weakness, dont show pain  had been pretending. That improvisation was the first grain of deconstruction, of allowing myself out of the box Id been put into. I came right home and told my mum: I want to be an actor.

While he didnt take a method approach to recreating Albert Hirschman for Transatlantic, Englander says the role has had a direct impact on his life. Hes joined the International Rescue Committee  the successor group to the ERC  and become involved in Serve the City Paris, a group that helps asylum seekers, refugees, the homeless and underprivileged living in the French capital.

Ive become, in the words of Albert Hirschman, a possible-ist, which is different from being an optimist, says Englander. I think we can be blinded by optimism. What Ive learned from Albert is that we need to look at reality, at the dirty notions that are inside of us and are in our society, and work on that together. Its a big thing to say but this series has changed my life.

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Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20)

My father continues to remind me of those words from the Bible when he senses my temper rising. Recent events at the Tennessee legislature are the antithesis of that biblical admonition. Our political venom doesnt honor God, and it doesnt advance our society either.

In a heated moment during a recent protest, Tennessee Representatives Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson commandeered the House floor in the Tennessee Legislature. They were aware they were breaking the rules of the House. The speaker quickly gaveled in a recess as the trio continued.

In America, our legislative bodies are the mechanisms by which we attempt to solve our disagreements without violence or bloodshed. They deserve our respect and protection. The people who represent us come from our communities, and they are every bit as human. At times, they find themselves on the losing side of votes when theyre convinced of the moral justification of their position.

Nevertheless, decorum and process in legislative proceedings must be respected for Americas democratic republic to continue.

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Disruption of any legislative process is wrong

On Jan. 6, 2021, individuals attacked the United States Capitol to disrupt the legitimate legislative functions of Congress. As upset as certain individuals were with the outcome of the election, they had no right to storm the capitol and interrupt the proceedings. Their anger and frustration on account of their preferred candidate losing an election amidst unusual pandemic conditions was understandable. Preventing democratically elected leaders from conducting their business remains indefensible.

Justin Jones, D-Nashville, center, sits at his desk at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. GOP representatives are expected to vote on expelling him and Democratic representatives Justin Pearson of Memphis and Gloria Johnson of Knoxville.

Jones, Pearson, and Johnson had no right to lead a protest from the well of the House in the legislature. By disrupting the proceedings, they effectively said that their voices were more important than those of their colleagues. To their credit, the Democrats who hijacked the legislature did not engage in violence. They did not vandalize the capitol complex.

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Finding one disruption acceptable while praising the other is nothing more than bald political hypocrisy.

When called to account for their behavior by their colleagues, the trio of Democrats launched into soaring rhetoric which, at several points, amounted to calling their fellow representatives racist authoritarians. It did not endear them to their Republican colleagues ahead of the votes.

Jones, in particular, took his 20-minute defense as an opportunity to castigate his accusers and impugn their character. For so long this body, drunk with power, has modeled for the world what we know is nothing less than authoritarianism, he claimed. He went so far as to call the House complicit for the tragic shooting at The Covenant School. Taking no responsibility for his own behavior, Jones claimed his colleagues are singularly beholden to the National Rifle Association and only in power because of gerrymandering and voter suppression.

The Nashville representative went so far as to accuse Brentwoods Gino Bulso of essentially calling Jones an uppity Negro.

The House expelled Jones by a vote of 72-25.

Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones of Nashville speaks into a megaphone during a rally against gun violence on Thursday, March 30, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. With him are Representatives Gloria Johnson of Knoxville and Justin Pearson of Memphis The action came in the wake of the Covenant School shooting that killed six people earlier in the week.

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GOP could have chosen censure over expulsion

Johnson allowed other members to articulate her defense. The representative from Knoxville largely survived expulsion because fellow Rep. John Ray Clemmons noted her offense was primarily walking to the well without permission before the Speaker gaveled the House into recess. He rightly pointed out, You cant judge her for what others did.

Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, talks to the media after he was expelled from the House of Representatives in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Johnson narrowly survived expulsion by a vote of 65-30.

Pearson used his defense to quote the Bible and fire off a few shots at his colleagues. You have decided that it is not right to have debate, he claimed. It is not right to listen to the voices of the minority.

He also made a fair point that was lost in the uproar of the moment.

Rule 19 of the Permanent Rules of Order for the One Hundred Thirteenth General Assembly does indeed state that transgressions of the rules may ultimately render a member liable to the censure of the House. Regrettably, tempers escalated to the point where a mere censure wasnt enough for the GOP.

The House expelled Pearson by a vote of 69-26.

Pearson offered an off-ramp to Republicans they were simply unwilling to accept. Instead of consulting Rule 19, GOP leadership went after all three representatives under Article II, Section 12 of the Tennessee Constitution which permits the House majority to punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.

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Mutual outrage provoked more bitterness

Voters in Tennessee have given Republicans legislative super majorities. The GOP moves legislation at will. Democrats have no real political power at the state level.

My wife and I are trying to teach my four sons that power protects. When we find ourselves at a great advantage over someone else, character demands restraint. When were slighted, disrespected, or otherwise offended, self-control is all the more important.

Such temperate leadership has vanished in American politics. Tennessee is no exception.

This media circus wasnt about gun control. The Democrats in question havent even introduced gun control legislation. It wasnt about race. It was a shameful, angry exchange between elected leaders who failed to see that their mutual outrage did nothing other than promote more partisan bitterness in an already toxic political environment.

Tennessee is not going to enact the gun laws of California, New York, and Illinois. Screaming at Republicans will not change that reality. Democrats can and should speak on behalf of their constituents, but they are not remotely close to a majority on gun rights in the state. That doesnt mean we cant make schools safer and have a critical discussion about keeping firearms from individuals in severe mental distress.

The Justins' platform is larger than ever

Though expelled, Jones and Pearson will almost certainly be right back in the legislature. Republicans could have come up with any number of creative consequences for the disruptive Democrats. Instead, they chose a path that will only embolden the expelled and give them platforms larger than they could have ever imagined.

Justin Pearson raises a fist as he enters an event at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., with Vice President Kamala Harris, Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville and Justin Jones on Friday, April 7, 2023. Jones and Pearson were expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives the day before. Johnson survived an effort to expel her.

Jones and Pearson shouldnt be treated as venerated heroes for their behavior, but they should be afforded the same respect as any other legislator should they return to the legislature. They must also follow the rules. Theyre not bending the knee to authoritarians, its quite literally how the legislature must function.

None of this can happen if we continue adhering to a never ending cycle of outrage and revenge. The anger of man doesnt work the righteousness of God. As it turns out, it doesnt accomplish much at all.

USA TODAY Network Tennessee Columnist Cameron Smith is a Memphis-born, Brentwood-raised recovering political attorney raising four boys in Nolensville, Tenn., with his particularly patient wife, Justine. Direct outrage or agreement to smith.david.cameron@gmail.com or @DCameronSmith on Twitter. Agree or disagree? Send a letter to the editor to letters@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Expulsion of Tennessee lawmakers further stokes toxic, bitter politics
Check out this weeks Spinning Back Clique, MMA Junkies weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This weeks panel of Danny Segura, Brian Goze Garcia, and Gorgeous George Garcia will join host Mike Bohn live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:

Israel Adesanya finally exorcised his demons against Alex Pereira in Saturdays UFC 287 main event, beating him with an insane second-round knockout to recapture the middleweight title. For Adesanya, it really doesnt get any bigger than scoring a win like that against your personal boogeyman to become the first two-time middleweight champ. What does this do for Adesanyas legacy?

The co-main event of UFC 287 saw Jorge Masvidal lose by unanimous decision to Gilbert Burns and then announce his retirement afterward in his hometown of Miami. At 38, on a four-fight losing skid and just a couple months shy of the 20-year anniversary of his MMA debut, was the timing right for Masvidals retirement? And how do you view his legacy in the sport?

On the flip side of the coin, Burns was not shy in the aftermath of beating Masvidal at UFC 287 as he issued an ultimatum at the post-fight press conference, demanding he get a backup role for the planned Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington title fight to ensure his shot against the winner. UFC president Dana White obliged, which is great news if youre Burns, but not so much if youre Belal Muhammad. Is this the right way to use Burns in the 170-pound picture given all thats going on?

Switching gears away from UFC 287, the narrative of Francis Ngannous free agency appears to be shifting. In the past week, BKFC boss David Feldman said Ngannou is asking for unrealistic money, Chael Sonnen trashed Ngannou in an interview with MMA Junkie Radio, and Michael Bisping questioned who is guiding Ngannous career right now. Given that its been nearly three months since White announced Ngannou and UFC had officially cut ties, do you feel like Ngannous value has dropped off? What do you think is the delay in locking down his next move?
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Gets 40th Anniversary Theatrical Release

Amidst all the big new reveals and news out of Star Wars Celebration 2023, Disney also announced that in celebration of its upcoming 40th anniversary, Star Wars: Episode VI  Return of the Jedi is returning to theaters.

The return to theaters is the first time the film will officially be released again in 26 years. Beginning on April 28, Return of the Jedi will return to select theaters in the U.S., United Kingdom, and other regions for what Disney is calling a limited time. Alongside news of the release, artist Matt Ferguson also made a new poster to celebrate the 40th-anniversary screenings.

Check out the latest Star Wars: Return of the Jedi poster by Matt Ferguson below:

Jabba the Hutt, speeder bikes, the Emperor, and Ewoks.



Just announced at #StarWarsCelebration, Star Wars #ReturnoftheJedi is making a triumphant return to theaters for its 40th anniversary. https://t.co/NTR3npoiOO pic.twitter.com/cFPjXlev5w  Star Wars (@starwars) April 8, 2023

Screenings for Return of the Jedis 40th anniversary will take place between April 28-May 4, 2023 in the United States, and April 28-May 1, 2023 in the United Kingdom. Tickets will presumably go on sale soon, although no exact information is available yet.

Originally released in 1982, Star Wars: Episode VI  Return of the Jedi is the third entry in the original Star Wars trilogy, and deals with the Rebel Alliance striving to take down a second Death Star built by the Galactic Empire, as well as Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker trying to save his father, Darth Vader, from the dark side of the force.

The film was a massive success after its release, and cemented the original Star Wars trilogy as one of the greatest sci-fi trilogies ever. In 2021, the film was selected by the United States Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry.

The post Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Gets 40th Anniversary Theatrical Release Date appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
"I'm very proud of myself because I've never been able to keep secrets and this is one secret I actually did rather well on," the Succession star said

HBO Succession

Warning: This article contains spoilers for season 4, episode 3 of Succession.

Succession said goodbye to one of its core characters Sunday night, in an episode that sent shockwaves through the HBO series' passionate fanbase.

During the third episode of the show's fourth and final season, media tycoon Logan Roy met his maker, dying from heart failure on a private jet en route to broker a business deal in Sweden while his children attended their brother Connor's wedding.

It was a move that didn't surprise actor Brian Cox, who played Logan, noting that the show's title makes his death an inevitable part of the series because "you need something to succeed from."

"It's about succession. You need a corpse," Cox, 76, told Vulture, explaining that the show's creator Jesse Armstrong told him about his character's fate before they started filming season 4. "If it was a different kind of show, it could have gone into a more mysterious frame  Is Logan dead? That kind of stuff. But I think Jesse realized it had to be the way it had to be, and he made the decision to do that."

Related:Brian Cox Has a Suggestion for How Jeremy Strong Can Free Himself of 'Annoying' Succession Method Acting

He went on to say that he's glad he didn't spoil the news of Logan's death before the episode aired.

"I'm very proud of myself because I've never been able to keep secrets and this is one secret I actually did rather well on," Cox said. "It was hard to keep a secret all that time. It was a long time. When did I die? God, I think it was last July."

Macall Polay/HBO Brian Cox in 'Succession'

Though his character is dead, Cox told the outlet that he will appear in other episodes this season  though it seems he didn't film those scenes with Alan Ruck, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin, who play his four kids.

"I do pop back and I have a couple scenes later on, which is flashback stuff. But I didn't really see the cast very much," said Cox.

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And though Logan can easily be viewed as the villain of the series, Cox has far more affection for the fictional magnate. "He's a very mysterious character in many ways. I have a lot of empathy for him. I think he's very misunderstood," Cox said to Vulture. "I think he's a tragic figure, very much in the tradition of those tragic kings of Shakespeare."

Related:Everything to Know About Succession Season 4

Succession premiered on HBO in 2018 and follows the Roy family as they prepare for the next phase of their media conglomerate, Waystar RoyCo, amid Logan's declining health. The series also stars J. Smith Cameron, Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen.

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic The cast of 'Succession' at the season 4 premiere

Over the course of its first three seasons, Succession has won multiple Golden Globes, Primetime Emmys and SAG Awards.

Creator Armstrong revealed the news that the fourth season would be the show's last in an interview with the New Yorker in February. He explained at the time, "There's a promise in the title of Succession. I've never thought this could go on forever. The end has always been kind of present in my mind. From season two, I've been trying to think: Is it the next one, or the one after that, or is it the one after that?"

"I got together with a few of my fellow-writers before we started the writing of season four, in about November, December 2021, and I sort of said, 'Look, I think this maybe should be it. But what do you think?' " Armstrong continued. "And we played out various scenarios: We could do a couple of short seasons or two more seasons. Or we could go on for ages and turn the show into something rather different, and be a more rangy, freewheeling kind of fun show, where there would be good weeks and bad weeks. Or we could do something a bit more muscular and complete, and go out sort of strong. And that was definitely always my preference."

Armstrong added: "The ending needs to work on its own merits ... I hope that no one ever thinks that we are outstaying our welcomethat we're going to do a dud season or be stretching it out. I hope those concerns never occur to people."

Craig Blankenhorn/HBO Jeremy Strong and Brian Cox on 'Succession'

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.

For his part, Cox agreed with the decision to end the show.

"The problem with a lot of television, particularly American television, is it goes past its sell-by date. And the great thing about Jesse and the writers is they wouldn't do that," he told The New York Times in an interview published Sunday night. "I applaud the fact that he did that. It was courageous because everybody loves the show. Always leave the party when it's at its height, not when it's going down."

"I think it's going to be hard next week for a lot of the audience because they're going to miss Logan. And I don't think that's a bad thing  I think that's actually quite a good thing," said Cox. "The audience might be furious; they might miss Logan and say, 'Oh, what are you doing killing off one of the most interesting characters?' But it's fine by me."

Succession airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

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You knew John Oliver would bring up Donald Trumps indictment by a grand jury, and he expected you to expect him to. The problem is, he doesnt feel like we know enough about the actual charges to even talk about it.

Joking it had been a quiet week, Oliver started out Sundays episode of HBOs Last Week Tonight by noting that some of the biggest news of the past seven days had been the revelation that the Tyrannosaurus rex had lips, CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless celebrating 50 years on the air and a photo of the pope wearing a puffy jacket going viral before it was revealed to be fake.

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Oh, and a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Trump on charges involving payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter.

Donald Trump became the first-ever former president to be indicted on criminal charges, Oliver said, adding emphatically: Look, I would talk more about the Trump indictment if we even knew what the exact charges were right now, but we dont.

Instead, he used his opening segment to address the protests in France  which he called Europes high school bully  over the recently raised retirement age. Citizens have taken to the streets by marching, striking, chanting and even setting fires to protest President Emmanuel Macrons unpopular retirement reform, which raised Frances legal retirement age from 62 to 64. He pushed the bill through Frances parliament without a vote.

Oliver played footage from a news broadcast showing that even the firefighters have stopped working to put out the fires and instead joined sides with the protesters.

Its true, Oliver said. People are so pissed at what Macrons been doing that firefighters have started siding with fire instead of him, and its honestly kind of jarring to see fires in Paris that were started by something other than their usual cause  the explosive heat generated by Ina and Jeffrey [Garten]s relentless fucking at their Parisian apartment, he joked of the couple who recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.

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Oliver went on to point out that a retirement age of 62 is still pretty low among Western nations.

In Germany, the comparable retirement age is 65. In Italy, its 67. And in the U.S., the retirement age is NO, he joked, showing a photo of an elderly man working at a Walmart. So France is lucky to have the kind of bold social welfare policy thats getting rarer nowadays, but that is probably why they are fighting so hard to protect it.

Oliver also showed news footage of a couple enjoying wine at an outdoor cafe, completely ignoring a fire burning in the street just a few yards away, noting that moment was quintessentially French.

Said Oliver: Wow, that is on brand. I think it is safe to say that after a nuclear holocaust, the only creatures left standing will be cockroaches and an outlandishly relaxed wine-sipping French couple entirely unfazed by the obliteration of society.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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This article originally appeared on Backpacker

In Backpacker's 50-year history, we've told every kind of hiking story you can imagine: those of endurance, heartbreak, and triumph. We've spun tales of wildlife, introduced you to hundreds of quirky characters, uncovered secrets of nature, and processed tragedies within our community. Whether theyre beautiful, inspiring, or grim, adventure stories are what were all about. Join us in celebrating five decades of good reads with some of our favorites.

(Photo: Henrik Karlsson / Moment via Getty Images)

1975, By Colin Fletcher

Fletcher, the so-called "father of backpacking" for his writings on hiking and his historic 1963 hike of the length of Grand Canyon National Park, was also a contributor to Backpacker. This short essay captures Fletcher's spirit of adventure on a trip in Alaska.

(Photo: Gregory Adams / Moment via Getty Images)

1977, By Edward Abbey

Yes, that Ed Abbey. Nearly a decade after he published Desert Solitaire and just two years after The Monkey Wrench Gang, the famed Abbey described an isolated weekend spent on an uninhabited Mexican island in an issue of Backpacker.

Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness, CA (Photo: stevedunleavy.com / Moment via Getty Images)

1999, By Kristin Hostetter

A longtime Backpacker editor reflects on the role reversal of parent and child in his lighthearted account of taking her mother camping for the first time.

(Photo: Alan Majchrowicz / Photodisc via Getty Images)

2002, By Jeff Rennicke

In the summer of 1998, pastor Mike Turner was deep in the Wind River Range on a 9-day solo hike with his dog when a loose boulder entrapped him. What followed was a 10-day battle for survival and a spiritual reckoning, all captured in the pages of Turner's journal.

(Photo: Getty Images)

2005, By Steve Friedman

This memorable profile of the legendary thru-hiker Scott Williamson, who became the first person to yo-yo the PCT in 2004, will take you deep into the mountains and back again. Portraying the ethos of a life dedicated to long-distance hiking, it's an intimate look into the odyssey behind one of hiking's greatest accomplishments.

Story continues

Paolo Marchesi

2008, By Tracy Ross

What if your favorite place in the world was ground zero for your greatest strengths and your deepest fears? In this classic story that laid the groundwork for Ross's memoir, the author and her father trek into Idahos Sawtooth Mountains to grapple with a tragedy that has haunted them for decades.

(Photo: Darrell Gulin / The Images Bank via Getty Images)

2009, By Tracy Ross

From 2000 to 2010, a 90-square-mile buffer zone near Denali National Park protected wolves that strayed across the park's boundaries from hunters. Was it an essential tool to protect biodiversity or an attack on an Alaskan way of life? In this feature, Tracy Ross profiles wolf biologist Gordon Haber and hunting guide Coke Wallace as their debate over how to manage an iconic predator escalates into lawsuits, mudslinging, and worse.

(photo: Nick Hall)

2014, By Megan Michelson

In 2013, Heather "Anish" Anderson set the overall self-supported speed record on the Pacific Crest Trail--a record that stood unbroken for almost a decade. Read the story of the hike that cemented the once-enigmatic thru-hiker's name into long-trail history.

(Photo: Bob Stefko)

2016, By Bill Donahue

For almost three decades, George "Billy Goat" Woodard has hiked roughly 150 days per year, earning celebrity status along the PCT. This profile is for anyone who knows that the trail isn't an escape from real life--it is real life.

"sacred door"

2017, By Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan

Sacred paths the world over help hikers discover deeper truths about the world and themselves. But what truly makes a path transformative? After an earthquake in her personal life, Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan treks a new 170-mile loop in Montana in search of the pilgrimage she needs.

"backpack"

2017, By Casey Lyons

Terminal cancer. What would you do if your doctor delivered the scariest two words in the English language? Andy Lyon went for a hike. In this moving story, former Backpacker Executive Editor Casey Lyons chronicled a journey not just across a country, but toward acceptance.

(Photo: Louisa Albanese)

2018, By Louisa Albanese

Out Alive podcast producer Louisa Albaneses late father always regaled her with stories of his adventures in Alaska. On a packrafting trip in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, she found out what lies behind the mythology of the landscape--and discovered an unexpected window into her own past.

"peter parsons"

2020, By Barney Scout Mann

Most historians of the CDT accept David Odell, who walked the path end-to-end in 1977, as the trails first thru-hiker. But the history of long-distance walking along the route goes back much, much further. Nearly a century ago, little-known logger Peter Parsons made long trail history before there were long trails when he painted HEADING "NORTH"--MEXICO TO CANADA on his rucksack and struck out into the desert.

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.
BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The United States alone has obstructed the establishment of a verification mechanism for the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which poses a challenge to global biosecurity governance, according to a senior Chinese international security expert.

Liu Chong, director of the Institute of International Security Studies under the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, weighed in on the United States' irresponsible and unsettling moves related to global biosecurity during an interview with Xinhua.

The BWC, formally known as "The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction," entered into force in 1975. China acceded to the BWC in 1984.

The BWC was forged essentially on a humanitarian basis to shield humankind from biological weapons, and it forbids the use of such weapons in war. Since its inception, many positive results have been achieved, Liu noted.

However, the United States has not only refused the BWC verification, but it has also built up a massive network of opaquely operated biological laboratories worldwide, disregarding reasonable concerns and suspicions raised by the international community.

These acts demonstrate the United States' unbridled pursuit of an advantage in bio-military capabilities or, in other words, an advantage in bio-defense capabilities, Liu said.

Such acts have increased distrust in the international community and had negative impacts on future global security cooperation, he added.

There still exist many bio-security issues requiring public governance and involving common interests, such as gene-editing powered by new technology. These are issues which the international community should act quickly to address through cooperation.

However, the United States' obsession with maintaining an advantage in competition with other countries makes it difficult for the international community to carry out relevant cooperation effectively, Liu said.

In his opinion, the United States has not played its leading role or shouldered its responsibility as a major country, particularly in the field of biosecurity.

Given its self-interest as well as the extensive and questionable activities of its global network of biological laboratories, the United States has opposed the establishment of a multilateral verification mechanism for the BWC. This is detrimental to global security, and ultimately to its own security, Liu said.

He said the world's major countries should deliver more public goods for global security.

"I think there's really a lot of room for improvement in this regard for the United States," he said.

The Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative put forward by China, he said, are among public goods that allow the international community to benefit and develop more quickly, avoiding confrontation, mistrust, and division that impair the interests of humanity.

Liu said in the field of non-traditional security governance, including biosecurity and artificial intelligence security, efforts should be made to address imminent security risks for the shared interests of the international community.

He called for incrementally building trust through cooperation.

"This will ensure lasting peace and stability for humanity, and will avoid the risk of war and conflict," he added. 
A 15-year-old was killed Sunday in a shooting at a Midlands business, Orangeburg County officials said.

Denmark, South Carolina resident Dantavious Dowling died at an area hospital, the Orangeburg County Coroners Office said Monday, after initially reporting the teen died at the scene.

The shooting happened at the Southern Lodge Hotel, according to the coroners office. Thats on U.S. 601/St. Matthews Road in an area of Orangeburg densely packed with hotels and restaurants, near Exit 145 on Interstate 26.

At about noon, deputies responded to reports of a shooting at the hotel, the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office said.

Deputies found Dowling had been shot, according to the sheriffs office.

No other injuries were reported.

There was no word on a shooter, or shooters, or any motive for the gunfire. Information about why Dowling was at the hotel was not available.

No arrests have been reported by the sheriffs office, which is investigating the shooting.

An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, according to the coroners office.

This investigation is still early yet and were in the beginning stages to sort out what happened, Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said in a release. Were still in the process of talking with anyone who may have information.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the sheriffs office at 803-534-3550, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
These airlines have the best complimentary cocktails for their fliers in business and first class.

Courtesy of Emirates

Flying in a premium class comes with serious perks, including more legroom, wider seats, and in some cases, complimentary cocktails.

Certain airlines are a step above when it comes to their in-flight bar game, taking signature cocktails to the next level with indulgent ingredients and creative preparations.

Read on to find out which airlines serve the most expensive and covet-worthy cocktails in their premium cabins.

Emirates Champagne Cocktail

Courtesy of Emirates

When you fly Emirates, you know youll be spoiled for choice, particularly if youre booked in one of the airlines legendary premium cabins. After all, this is the airline thats invested more than $1 billion in its wine program alone  there are 37 varieties of French wine and Champagne offered on board.

Wondering what to raise a glass with? Emirates Champagne Cocktail is a good place to start, blending Veuve Clicquot Champagne and aged Hennessy X.O cognac with sugar and Angostura bitters, garnished with a cheerful orange slice and maraschino cherry. The delicious cocktail is available to all Emirates passengers flying business and first class.

Singapore Airlines Singapore Sling

Have you really been to Singapore if you havent sipped a Singapore Sling? When you fly Singapore Airlines, you dont need to be on the ground to try the 1915 classic cocktail invented at Singapores legendary Raffles Hotel.

Complimentary for passengers flying in Singapore Airlines premium cabins, the airline has updated the cocktail from its original Raffles recipe. It swirls together a mix of gin, orange liqueur, orange juice, pineapple juice, and your choice of Champagne. The Krug Grand Cuvee, which goes for around $300 a bottle, is the most indulgent.

Sling back more than one, we say.

Virgin Atlantics Virgin Redhead

Courtesy of Virgin Atlantic

Dont let this cocktails tricky name fool you. Virgin Atlantics Virgin Redhead is no mocktail, and it packs a fizzy punch. A heady mix of prosecco, Aviation Gin, and raspberry liqueur get sweetened up with sugar syrup, raspberry puree, and a splash of lemon juice. Order it in the lounge or in flight.

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SASs Scandinavian Forest Spring

Next time you fly Scandinavian Airlines, also known as SAS, get in the nature-loving mood by ordering the Scandinavian Forest Spring cocktail, complimentary in business class. Served in a chilled highball glass, it blends your choice of Swedens award-winning High Coast blended whisky or Denmarks equally esteemed Stauning Rye Danish whisky with cold-pressed apple juice and a splash of organic Swedish ginger ale. Basically, the Nordic good life distilled into cocktail form. Who cant raise a skal (cheers) to that?

Emirates Breakfast Martini

Courtesy of Emirates

Why not try sipping a martini for breakfast the next time you fly in business or first class aboard Emirates? The Emirates Breakfast Martini starts with a teaspoon of marmalade, followed by Cointreau, Sipsmith London Dry Gin, and a splash of lime and orange juices. Its then shaken, strained into a martini glass, and voila  breakfast is on the tray table.

Singapore Airlines Grand Pineapple Daiquiri

Singapore Airlines robust in-flight cocktail list serves up plenty of options, including the refreshing Grand Pineapple Daiquiri. Its a simple but scintillating blend of Bacardi Carta Blanca Superior white rum and Cointreau orange liqueur, topped with pineapple juice and a pretty garnish. Its fresh and citrusy flavor takes you to a tropical destination 40,000 feet above the Earths surface. Hows that for putting the joy in the journey?

FinnAir Northern Blush

Courtesy of FinnAir

This fresh and fun cocktail brings Nordic flavors to 40,000 feet. The ready-made Northern Blush comes served in a cocktail can decorated with the pastel hues of a Nordic sunset. The bright red drink gets its color and flavor from real Finnish lingonberries livened up with gin and hints of citrusy orange peel. Even better? The drink is complimentary in all classes of travel on FinnAir, including economy (though youll have to pay after the first one).

Related:The Best Food and Drinks You Can Have in Economy, From Afternoon Tea to Ramen

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For a long time in shoemaking, made in China meant one thing: Western makers outsourcing and cost-cutting while trading on a brand name. Its not exactly a recipe for top-end, artisanal products.

But things are changing. Recently, a new generation of home-grown brands has emerged, driven by enthusiasts and focused on craft. Since stores such as Beijings Medallion Shoes introduced a Chinese audience to the sleek, hand-welted designs and immaculate finishing of Antonio Meccariello and Saint Crispins, theres been a flurry of new players: ACME in Beijing, Yearn in Chengdu, Jim&Jun and TGC in Shanghai, all producing elegant hand-welted, hand-lasted shoes. As those brands reach maturity, theyre starting to attract a global audience.

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It wasnt a smooth road, Tim Liuone of the partners behind Yearntells Robb Report. Early on, Chinese makers understanding of traditional handmade shoes was too limited, and people with purchasing power were more willing to buy European designer brands, Liu says. At the same time, there were issues with the product, which looked the part but didnt have the substance. Through customer feedback, we realized that just pursuing good-looking design was not enough, and the comfort and balance of the shoes had not been addressed. Working with industry veteran Jie Zeng in Chengdu, founder and designer Phoenix Fu spent two years redesigning the manufacturing process and the lasts to balance aesthetics and comfort. For ACME, too, the key was finding the right people. The [Beijing] workshop has more than 15 talented artisans with an average experience of more than 30 years, Marc Chow explains.

Yearns sleek Chelsea boots marry Chinese craft with Western sizing.

But how are international customers beginning to experience Chinese shoemaking? Few outside of China have the knowledge or time to navigate Taobao stores, and trying to fit customers at a distance isnt easy even without a language barrier.

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Thats where people like Tom Brone come in. Brone started his career with the Hungarian shoemaker Vass in 2011, before founding European RTW brand Sons of Henrey in his native Belgium. A few years later, Brone says, he started thinking about selling hand-welted shoes again. He considered turning back to Vass, but wanted something finer and more elegant. Having connections in China from his Vass days, he set up a meeting with TGC in Shanghai and soon agreed to collaborate on a European project. That project was Oct. Tenth.

The main challenge was sizing, Brone explains. It needed to be perfectly aligned to Western shoemaking, the same as a Crockett and Jones 10, the same as an Edward Green 11. It cant be a guessing game. Oct. Tenth began with the development of four exclusive lasts, shaped for the longer, narrower Western foot, and sized for easy equivalence. In May 2021, the brand launched as a made-to-order offering through Sons of Henrey; in March it was re-launched as an independent channel.

Two pairs of shoes from Acme, designed to fit a Western audience.

William Wong of London boutique Arterton has a similar story. Wong operates as a curator and translator for Yearn (as well as its exclusive U.K. distributor), aligning Chinese craft with Western sizing and tastes. The proposition was simple, he says: hand welted, hand outsole stitched shoes, using European leathers and trimmings. But while the craft is there, brand awareness is not. This makes the London presence (and recent Savile Row popup store) all the more valuable: Arterton stocks ready-to-wear models in-house, alongside an extensive MTO offering.

Both Wong and Brone acknowledged the value proposition but were surprised by the quality. The workmanship is either on a par or even better than the big [European] players, Wong says. Theres a lot of handwork partly because the Chinese market is so small; it wouldnt make sense to invest in many machines. Brone says ruefully that Oct. Tenths ability to source top leathers and suedes in China outstrips his in Belgium, thanks to their group buying practices.

Jim&Jun has been refining its wares since 2006.

Like The Anthologys suits, recently seen at the Oscars, were just starting to see Chinese-made luxury emerge on the international stage under its own name. Wong compares the process to Japanese consumer brands: in the 1950s they were a budget option, but now connoisseurs the world over pay top-dollar we have Lexus and Grand Seiko.

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Some University of Missouri hazing defendants are receiving plea offers from the prosecution, with one attorney saying his client had been offered a misdemeanor deal.

Hearings for three felony hazing defendants took place Monday in Boone County court. Blake Morsovillo, of Springfield; John O'Neill, of Columbia; and Samuel Morrison, of Chicago, are among 10 defendants charged with felony hazing of Danny Santulli on Sept. 19, 2021. One other is charged with misdemeanor hazing.

The hazing incident, called "pledge dad reveal night" at the Phi Gamma Delta house, resulted in brain damage for Santulli. Required as part of the hazing to drink a full bottle of vodka, Santulli collapsed and was unresponsive. He was resuscitated at MU Hospital.

Santulli is unable to speak, walk or see. He is being cared for by his parents at their home in Minnesota, using funds from the settlement of civil lawsuits.

Documents received from from an open records request shows hazing and alcohol abuse concerns at several fraternities that had been sanctioned, including Phi Gamma Delta. The fraternity has been removed from campus.

"I've received a misdemeanor offer from the state which I'm talking to my client about," said O'Neill's attorney, Doug Hunt.

In police statements related to the charges, O'Neill is described as the fraternity's house dad, responsible for building upkeep and alumni relations.

Attorneys for Morsovillo and Morrison also said they received offers they needed to review with their clients, without describing the offers.

Morrison's attorney, Jeffery Hilbrenner, outside the courtroom declined to say if Morrison had received a misdemeanor offer.

Judge Hasbrouck Jacobs set court dates on May 12 for O'Neill and Morsovillo, May 22 for Morrison.

He ordered O'Neil and Morsovillo to appear in person. The judge allowed Morrison to appear by video link, requested by his attorney because of the distance he would need to travel.

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"The case will be set for trial if it's not resolved by the next court date," Jacobs told each attorney.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Judge: MU hazing cases will go to trial if not resolved
Har s 22 07 0283

designer's guide |

By Caroline Bourque

Dont miss these eight first-time collaborators making their debut at High Point Market this seasonpart of BOHs Designers Guide to High Point Market.

Pure Salt x Leftbank Art

Southern California art source Leftbank Art tapped Aly Morford and Leigh Lincoln, the duo behind the Newport Beach, Californiabased studio and store Pure Salt, for a collection of art prints that offer a window into the natural world. A mix of photography, abstract prints and graphics, the assortment was selected by the pair to evoke the serenity of seaside moments, and curated with layering and grouping in mind, including a variety of shapes and sizes ranging from minis to murals. From the rocky cliffs and pine treelined coastline of A Verdant Coast to the crashing surf in Waves of the Coast (above), the natural vignettes are a fit for every kind of home. (IHFC, H-304)

Leftbank Art tapped Aly Morford and Leigh Lincoln, the duo behind the Newport Beach, Californiabased studio and store Pure Salt, for a collection of art prints that offer a window into the natural world - Photo Credit Courtesy of Leftbank Art

Benjamin Johnston x S. Harris

Houston designer Benjamin Johnston reflected on his travels throughout Italy for the Vacanza collectionan assortment of fabrics and trimmings for S. Harris that draw upon the countrys appreciation for fine craftsmanship, art, architecture and fashion. Dynamic patterns populated by bold, geometric shapes can be found alongside textured neutrals in a versatile collection that speaks to Johnstons appreciation for fusing design movements old and new. Exploring the Italian coast- line, countryside and cityscape has always inspired a sense of awe and adventure, and my goal was to capture that sensation, says the designer. [The pieces] form an ode to midcentury influences and the pageantry of contemporary Italy, set against a tapestry of modern architecture and ancient monuments. (Market Square, Suite 217)

Denise McGaha x Wildwood

Together with North Carolina home decor brand Wildwood, Dallas designer Denise McGaha has rolled out a new collection of lighting, furniture and home accessories. The 30-piece collection, which includes the sculptural Channarock accent table (right), channels life on McGahas Texas ranch and emphasizes raw materials such as white oak, walnut, metal and bronze, which are rendered in refined finishes. The inspiration had to do with authenticity, nature, texture and materiality, she says. A lot of what I do is in stone or wood or metal anyway, so it was [about] finding ways to bring those together that really felt like me. The result: a statement-making product assortment that draws upon a variety of historic design influencesgilded modern, art deco, midcentury and farmhousewhile maintaining a sense of warmth and comfort. (200 N. Hamilton St., North Court 104 & 125)

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Polish furniture manufacturer Homenestry teamed up with local designer Agnieszka Markowska - Photo Credit Courtesy of Homenestry

Agnieszka Markowska x Homenestry

Polish furniture manufacturer Homenestry teamed up with local designer Agnieszka Markowska for five new seating pieces in wood and natural cottons and linens, all inspired by two of Polands idyllic northern regions, Warmia and Masuria. We are located in the greenest part of our country, among beautiful forests and lakes, she says. The natural surroundings offer Markowska a sense of comfort and securityfeelings she hopes are evoked by the collections spherical, asymmetrical shapes. The Foretop sofa, for example, nods to local flora and fauna with a slender silhouette inspired by the stork, an enduring symbol of optimism in Masuria, and the Glade sofa (above) was designed to transport its owner to a vast meadow bathed in summer sunshine. (Commerce & Design, Floor 5)

Sarah Hamlett x Splashworks

High Pointbased home decor brand Splashworks called upon designer Sarah Hamlett of Raleigh, North Carolina, for a 32-piece collection of modern, abstract artworks inspired by scenes from nature. For Hamlett, the collaboration is an extension of her design practice, which often involves painting a custom piece for clients in order to tie a space together. By teaming up with a home decor and printing resource like Splashworks, she says, the goal is to offer a fresh batch of versatile pieces that will give designers flexibility as they put the finishing touches on their own projects. This collection is fully customizable, says Hamlett. If you like the composition of a piece but the colors arent quite working, we can tweak the colors or add a little flair to make it more unique to your project. (515 W. English Rd.)

Nellie Jane Howard Ossi x Mr. & Mrs. Howard

North Carolina design duo Jim and Phoebe Howard, the creatives behind Mr. and Mrs. Howard for Sherrill Furniture, partnered with Florida designer Nellie Jane Howard Ossi for a 15-piece capsule collection thats sweet but never saccharine. The line reimagines traditional decor elementsscalloped edges, box pleats, gathered skirtsfor todays modern family, incorporating performance fabrics and features designed to improve comfort. Fusing practicality with style, three pieces in the collection feature hidden storage, including the clover-shaped Rosie cocktail ottoman (left), which sits on casters and includes a hinge top. I dont want anybody to have a living room that feels like a museum, says Ossi of the line. I wanted to take all the classic elements and reinvent them in a way that is comfortable. (315 Fred Alexander Pl., Floor 2)

HGTV stars and Mississippi natives Erin and Ben Napier have teamed up with Pennsylvania brand York Wallcoverings for their first-ever wallpaper collection - Photo Credit Courtesy of York Wallcoverings

Erin + Ben Co. x York Wallcoverings

HGTV stars and Mississippi natives Erin and Ben Napier have teamed up with Pennsylvania brand York Wallcoverings for their first-ever wallpaper collection. The peel-and-stick assortment features a range of styles including vintage botanicals, florals and folk artinspired patterns that evoke an idyllic pastoral settinglike Cottontail Toile, in which a pair of rabbits frolic amid a damask thicket of vines and floral stems, or Woodland Floral (above), which pairs Arts and Craftsstyle antlered deer alongside plumed peacocks in a forest scene. (IHFC, IH-303)

This article originally appeared in Spring 2023 issue of the Designer's Guide, High Point Market. Subscribe or become a BOH Insider for more.
NEW YORK  Michelle Williams' new film is a comedy, depending what continent you're on.

Directed by Kelly Reichardt, "Showing Up" (now in theaters) follows the day-to-day of a reticent sculptor named Lizzy (Williams) as she races to finish her work for an imminent show. The movie finds droll amusement in Lizzy's spats with her apathetic artist landlord, Jo (Hong Chau), and tensions with her eccentric splintered family, who reunite at a chaotic gallery opening.

But the story is also poignant for many viewers. When "Showing Up" premiered at Cannes Film Festival in France last year, Williams spoke to a young French woman who walked out of the screening in tears.

"She wiped her eyes and said, 'It's about how hard it is to be an artist,' " Williams recalls. "I was so moved to see this woman who got the film so deeply that it became that emotional of a journey for her. Yes, it's a comedy ..."

"But to the French, it's very sad," Reichardt deadpans.

Michelle Williams, Hong Chau learned sculpting for 'Showing Up'

Lizzy (Michelle Williams) fastidiously creates a new sculpture in "Showing Up."

"Showing Up" is Williams' fourth collaboration with Reichardt, after 2016's "Certain Women," 2011's "Meek's Cutoff" and 2008's "Wendy and Lucy." Co-written with Jon Raymond, the film was initially envisioned as a biopic of sorts about Canadian artist Emily Carr, who made her income running a boarding house, but resented the job for distracting her from painting.

Although the movie eventually evolved into a fictional story, "the idea of balancing work and life is what stayed with us," Reichardt says.

To prepare for the project, Williams shadowed artist Cynthia Lahti, whose ceramic figures are featured in the film.

"To see this thing that was clay start to come alive, it would bring tears to my eyes," Williams says. "Because you know the kind of discipline that's required to show up at your table day in and day out. Once I asked a friend of mine who was learning to surf, 'How do you learn?' And he said, 'I do it every day in all kinds of weather.' And that's just stayed with me for decades. When I see somebody making work, you see the years of sitting through imperfect conditions to finally have some fluency and control."

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Jo (Hong Chau) is Lizzy's nonchalant landlord who also lives upstairs.

Chau also worked with mixed-media artist Michelle Segre to help make Jo's artwork distinct from Lizzy's clay creations.

"A lot of her work was very physical," Chau says. "She was bending pipes and drilling and using a lot of wire and wrestling with things. She was getting sweaty. (Laughs.) That was the big a-ha moment for me: This is muscular, very physical art."

The movie is a 'Fabelmans' reunion with Judd Hirsch

Judd Hirsch, left, Gabriel LaBelle, Steven Spielberg, Michelle Williams and Paul Dano pose with Golden Globes trophies for "The Fabelmans."

For Williams, 42, the project parallels another of her recent films: Steven Spielberg's loosely autobiographical "The Fabelmans," for which she earned her fifth Oscar nomination playing Mitzi, a version of the filmmaker's mom. Both movies focus on artists and the parents who shaped them, and feature Judd Hirsch in small but memorable roles.

In "Fabelmans," Hirsch portrays the animated Boris, who warns young Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle) that art and family can't coexist. And in "Showing Up," he co-stars as Lizzy's accomplished ceramicist father, Bill.

They're both about "kids and art: these things that are sort of in our control, but also out of our control," Williams says. "Judd Hirsch also centers in both of the films as this sort of catalytic force of creation, which is very funny."

The films shot back-to-back in summer 2021. (In fact, Williams recalls, Hirsch was learning lines for "Fabelmans" on the Portland, Oregon, set of "Showing Up.") Hirsch, 88, knew he wanted to join the project after watching Reichardt's 2020 movie "First Cow."

"I thought, 'This Kelly Reichardt's got a very interesting mind for film,' " Hirsch says over email. "Also, I believed that Michelles one of the best actresses in America. Of course, it was serendipitous that I was also asked to appear as her uncle Boris in 'The Fabelmans.' We both laughed and shivered at the prospect of playing those two parts in Spielberg's film, but I cherish the whole experience."

Unlike Boris, who storms into the Fabelman household like a tornado, Bill is more low-key in his interactions with Lizzy. It's reflective of Reichardt's quiet, slice-of-life storytelling.

"Kelly Reichardt is curiously more interested in the character than in what he has to say, which is an interesting challenge to play," Hirsch says. "There should be more Kelly Reichardts around making films."

More movies to watch this week:

'One True Loves': Phillipa Soo brings the romantic novel to life on the big screen

'Air': Matt Damon on Easter eggs, his pal Ben Affleck and meeting Michael Jordan

'The Super Mario Bros. Movie': Seth Rogen took inspiration from Nintendo's Donkey Kong

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michelle Williams, Judd Hirsch talk 'Showing Up' and 'The Fabelmans'
A worker at the Museum of the Plains Indian on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana was sentenced for stealing a cache of cultural artifacts from the institution as part of a plea deal.

Per a report in Montana Right Now, Preston Jay Spotted Eagle has received five years-probation and 250 hours of community service, and has been ordered to pay nearly $17,000 in restitution. According to court documents, Spotted Eagle, who worked as an aide at the museum, went on a four-month plundering spree between May and August of 2021 during which he stole a necklace made of grizzly bear claws, a pair of beaded moccasins, and 26 golden eagle feathers from a war bonnet.

More from Robb Report

Perhaps Spotted Eagles most egregious conduct was to rifle through sacred medicine bundles, not only causing physical damage, but also desecrating them, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said in a press release.

After Spotted Eagle was suspected of trying to steal the bear claw necklace from the museum, employees conducted an inventory to see what else, if anything, he had attempted to filch. Court documents state that surveillance footage showed Spotted Eagle trying on various pieces of historic clothing, comparing pairs of moccasins to his feet for size, and photographing artifacts with his mobile phone.

Spotted Eagle pleaded guilty to theft of government property in October 2022 (the art and artifacts in the Museum of the Plains Indian on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation are managed by the federal government, not the reservation). None of the stolen artifacts have been recovered, according to Manhattan Right Now.

This is only the latest instance of petty crime at cultural institutions. Earlier this week, a man pleaded guilty to stealing the thumb from a 2,000-year-old terra cotta statue during a holiday party at Philadelphias Franklin Museum. The man originally faced a possible 30-year prison sentence for stealing cultural artifacts. He pled down to interstate trafficking, which comes with a possible two-year sentence and a $20,000 fine.

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North Carolina's The Restoration Asheville opens on April 20 with a vintage bowling alley, a speakeasy, and a picturesque rooftop bar.

Courtesy of The Restoration Asheville

Asheville, North Carolinas bustling food and craft beer scenes and its blooming tulip fields make it a fantastic spring getaway. And its influx of new hotel talent this year landed the city on Travel + Leisure's top places to go in 2023. Among those new hotels is The Restoration Asheville, which will officially open on April 20.

Located on Patton Avenue in downtown Asheville, this is the second outpost of The Restoration Hotel Collection alongside its flagship in Charleston, South Carolina. It will feature 60 guest rooms along with a number of food and beverage concepts, including an underground speakeasy and a chic rooftop cocktail bar.

We continued our expansion in the southeast due to its great climate and outdoor lifestyle, said JR Anderson, the hotels owner, in a press release shared with Travel + Leisure. We selected a site that we believe will immerse our guests in all the creativity that Asheville offers. Pritchard Park attracts tourists and locals alike, and we love that the property is perfectly oriented to engage with some of the most well-known traditions and programs within the community.

Courtesy of The Restoration Asheville

Courtesy of The Restoration Asheville

Featuring four room categories, the hotels accommodations range from 375 to 600 square feet and include studio king, premier king, queen studio, and signature king suites boasting floor-to-ceiling windows, city views, bar carts, local artisanal snacks, and chic sitting areas. (The floor mirrors and exposed brick walls are particularly nice design touches.) The overall design of the property, for which Anderson partnered with Atlanta-based Pixel Design Collaborative, draws inspiration from Ashevilles European heritage and the citys most notable residence: the Biltmore Estate. Think: plenty of dark-wood accents, classic French bistro chairs, suede upholstered sofas, and greenery.

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Courtesy of The Restoration Asheville

But what sets this hotel apart is its restaurants and hangout spaces. The Exchange, a farm-to-table restaurant, will champion Appalachian cuisine and local brews, while botanical-infused cocktails will be the highlight of The Observatory, Restoration Ashevilles rooftop bar. A vintage bowling alley and a performance stage were incorporated into The Draftsman, the propertys underground bar and lounge, which will host weekly live performances by local artists. Wellness enthusiasts also have plenty to look forward to; in-room massage and bodywork services, yoga, forest bathing, and sound healing sessions will all available through the hotels experiences program.

Courtesy of The Restoration Asheville

Nightly rates at Restoration Asheville start from $299 for studios, and you can already book your stay on therestorationhotel.com.

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
Kevin Kluesner

Lit Wisconsin is a sporadic series of stories in which we highlight the work of writers from Wisconsin or with ties to the state. Today we delve into the new mystery/thriller fiction book "The Killer Speech" by New Berlin author Kevin Kluesner.

About the writer, Kevin Kluesner

The 65-year-old Kluesner spent a large chunk of his working career working as an administrator in the health care field, most recently for a Milwaukee hospital and a mental health emergency center. But writing always has been a part of his life. After graduating with a degree in journalism from Marquette University, Kluesner thought he would work for a newspaper and write novels on the side.

"This was 1980, mortgage rates were moving to 20 percent and professional jobs of any kind for kids like me fresh out of school with no real experience were scarce," Kluesner said in an email interview.

He landed a job in public relations at La Crosse's Viterbo College, then a La Crosse hospital. "And my career took off from there. Absolutely no regrets though, because I feel like I've been blessed to fill a number of roles where I could make a positive impact for the most vulnerable residents in my community."

Meanwhile, he never let go of his writing dream. Kluesner said his writing has a foundation in reading.

"I read for enjoyment and to escape from stress," he said. Usually he reads a book a week, and the vast majority of the books he consumes are thrillers.

"Most good authors seem to say the key to strong writing is to read and write a lot. And to write primarily in the genre(s) you most enjoy. So that's who I became a debut thriller novelist at 63."

RELATED: It took 20 years to finish his first novel. Now, a New Berlin man has a 3-book deal for a Milwaukee-based thriller.

RELATED: Retired FBI agent who was based out of Wausau writes fictional who-dun-it with details plucked from real life

Cover of "The Killer Speech."

About the book, "The Killer Speech"

"The Killer Speech" is the second novel in a series that features FBI agent Cole Huebsch. He's on the case when a U.S. senator is shot while jogging in Milwaukee, the morning after he gave a rousing speech at his party's national convention.

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Huebsch finds himself embroiled in a case that includes delving into not only the shooting, but big pharma, the health insurance industry and more.

"The Killer Speech" is published by Level Best Books, a Maryland publisher that focuses on mysteries and thrillers.

If you're a fan of Wisconsin settings, the Huebsch novels don't disappoint. "The Killer Speech" features plenty of real places in Milwaukee and beyond, including the Fiserv Forum, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers.

"I may complain about our winters at times," Kluesner said, "but my love for Wisconsin is reflected in my writing. My characters reflect Wisconsin values. And it's easier to set the scenes and make them feel real to readers when I've been to different sites multiple times."

In Kluesner's first book, "The Killer Sermon," Huebsch is after an anti-abortion extremist who targets reproductive rights physicians for murder.

How to buy "The Killer Speech"

The book is available online through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound and other retailers. It costs $16.95 for a print copy and $5.99 for an e-book. It's also available at some libraries, Kluesner notes, and some retail bookstores.

Features reporter Keith Uhlig is based in Wausau. Contact him at 715-845-0651 or kuhlig@gannett.com. Follow him at @UhligK on Twitter and Instagram or on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: New Berlin author pens 'The Killer Speech,' a Wisconsin-based thriller
CHICAGO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Two police officers were shot dead Saturday in a shooting during a traffic stop northwest of the village of Cameron in the northwestern U.S. state of Wisconsin.

The shooting occurred at around 3:38 p.m. (2038 GMT) Saturday, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said in a statement.

Two officers were pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect, a motorist, was taken to a hospital and later died.

Details about the incident are still being investigated, local media reported Sunday.

The Officer Down Memorial Page, an organization that tracks police officer deaths in the line of duty across the United States, shows that this incident marks the second and third officer deaths in the line of duty this year in Wisconsin. The first took place two months ago when a police officer was shot dead while seeking to arrest a suspect in Milwaukee. 
This article originally appeared on Outside

Northeast Montana is a place where vast expanses of prairie are punctuated by badlands, river breaks, and welcoming small towns. Two mighty waterways--the Yellowstone and the Missouri--course through the region, offering boundless opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and historical immersion.

Glasgow

According to a mural painted on the facade of one of its buildings, Glasgow is in "the middle of nowhere." That may be true, but it's also the gateway to the best of Montana's Missouri River Country. The town, which grew as a result of the nearby Fort Peck Dam project during the Great Depression, oozes Americana--its Art Deco buildings, grain silos, and railroad tracks transporting you to that era. Traveling with kids? Head to the hands-on exhibits at the Children's Museum of Northeast Montana.

Eat and Stay: You'd expect to find choice steaks and burgers in a place like Glasgow. But authentic thin-crust pizza? Prepare to be pleasantly surprised at Eugene's Pizza. If you're thirsty afterward, drop by Busted Knuckles for a local craft brew. Stay at the Cottonwood Inn and Suites and experience genuine Montana hospitality.

Fort Peck and Fort Peck Lake

Western towns tend to fall into one of a handful of buckets. There are cow towns, industrial centers, railroad hubs, trading posts, and so on. Fort Peck, built by the Army Corps of Engineers in the early 1930s to house its employees during construction of the Fort Peck Dam, is an outlier. Though originally designed to be temporary, Fort Peck lives on today as both a thriving year-round community and a vacation destination.

Fort Peck Interpretive Center (Photo: Visit Montana)

Head first to the Fort Peck Interpretive Center for a deep dive into the construction of what was then the world's largest earthen dam. (It's still the largest such dam in the country.)

The project, which at its height employed more than 10,000 workers, was the subject of Time magazine's inaugural cover story in 1936. But that's just one of many exhibits at the Fort Peck Interpretive Center. There's also a full-size model of Peck's Rex, a nearly complete T. rex fossil found in the area; floor-to-ceiling freshwater aquariums housing native fish species; and ecology displays showcasing some of the many wildlife species found in the C.M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, which surrounds much of Fort Peck Lake.

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Covering nearly 250,000 acres, Fort Peck Lake is like an ocean in the middle of Montana --it's the fifth largest artificial lake in the United States. And with more coastline than California, the lake offers an abundance of secluded coves to fish, waterski, paddle, or just explore. Don't have a boat? Hook up with a local guide who can put you on the fish--the lake has an abundance of walleye, Chinook salmon, pike, and other sought-after species. If you prefer a more DIY adventure, rent a pontoon boat at Rock Creek Marina, located on the lake's Dry Arm, 40 miles south of Fort Peck. For camping, head to the Pines Recreation Area, a secluded area 30 miles southwest of Fort Peck.

Cruise back to dry land to catch the sunset from the Milk River Observation Point, one of the highest places in Northeast Montana. After a short hike, take in panoramic views of Fort Peck Lake, the dam and spillway, and the confluence of the Milk and Missouri Rivers. Lewis and Clark first visited this area in the spring of 1805; an interpretive sign atop the viewpoint details their record of the visit. Back in Fort Peck, catch a show at the historic Fort Peck Theater. The sizable auditorium, with seating for 1,200, was built during the Great Depression to entertain crews from the dam project and is today the beating heart of the theater community in Eastern Montana.

Eat and Stay: Grab a table on the deck at the Gateway Club for sweeping views of Fort Peck Lake. Order the house specialty: panko-breaded, beer-battered walleye fingers. At the Fort Peck Hotel, built in 1936, enjoy a nightcap at the bar or settle into a rocking chair on the historic lodge's front porch before turning in for the night.

Scobey

Fifty miles north of Wolf Point, the Great Northern Railroad has its terminus at the small town of Scobey. The town's principal draw is the Daniels County Museum and Pioneer Town, a 20-acre re-creation of a period western town, complete with a courthouse, general store, post office, saloon, and more.

Brush Lake State Park

In the far northeastern corner of Montana--just a stone's throw from both North Dakota and Canada--Brush Lake State Park is an oasis on the prairie. Here, the lake is the main attraction. Its deep, clear waters offer the antidote to summer heat. Utilize the park's boat ramp to launch a kayak, SUP, or ski boat and explore the roughly mile-long lake. The lake's relatively high alkalinity gives it an almost ocean-like appearance, with aquamarine hues and great visibility. On shore, relax on the white-sand beach, watch for waterfowl like mallards and geese, or take a stroll on the trails surrounding the lake.

Brush Lake State Park (Photo: Visit Montana)

For the ultimate experience, snag one of the park's 12 campsites, perched on a hill above the lake, and watch the sun drop into the vast surrounding prairie before being replaced by billions of stars. If your timing is right, you may even spot the northern lights.

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Just south of Brush Lake is another water feature worth a visit: Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The lake at the center of the refuge was created by the Missouri River, which flowed through the area before the last ice age. Today it's a haven for hundreds of species of migratory birds, including American white pelicans and great blue herons, as well as land mammals like pronghorn antelope and white-tailed deer.

Sidney

Sidney, "The Sunrise City," gets its nickname from its location at the far eastern edge of the state--it's the first place in Montana to see the sun each day. On your way through, cast for warm-water species or search for birds along the Yellowstone River, browse the Mondak Heritage Center for more early-1900s western history, or pop into Meadowlark Brewing and Public House for a Badlands Extra Pale Ale and a burger.

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.
A special grand jury will convene Monday for the first time in Summit County history.

The grand jury's task will be to decide if the eight Akron officers who shot and killed Jayland Walker last June may have broken any laws.

If at least seven of the nine jurors say "yes," the officers will be indicted.

The grand jurys decision will be watched nationwide, with protests expected that many fear could be more extreme than those that followed Walkers shooting death last summer.

Its a pretty solemn duty, said Susan Baker Ross, the presiding judge in Summit County Common Pleas Court whose duties include overseeing the grand jury.

Judge Susan Baker Ross speaks to the Beacon Journal about the grand jury process at the Summit County Courthouse, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Akron, Ohio.

The Ohio Attorney Generals Office, instead of the county prosecutor, will present the case to the grand jury.

Jayland Walker: What the state investigation of fatal Akron police shooting may reveal

Editor column: Why local journalists matter for covering the Jayland Walker case from beginning to end

Walker, 25, was shot on the night of June 27 more than 40 times by eight Akron police officers after a car and foot chase. He was unarmed, but police said he fired a shot from his car, and that a handgun was found in the vehicle.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), an arm of the attorney generals office, investigated Walkers shooting.

Grand jury: Akron preparing for grand jury in Jayland Walker's death to be seated April 10

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost requested that Summit County Common Pleas Court convene a special grand jury to consider the case.

Judge Susan Baker Ross makes her way into the grand jury room at the Summit County Courthouse, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Akron, Ohio.

Akron leaders have been having meetings with churches and civic organizations to share information with the community in advance of the grand jurys decision.

Jayland Walker: Akron police chief fields questions on Jayland Walker case in tense community meeting

Paula Jones, an Akron resident who attended one of the recent events, said the information was helpful.

I think it was pretty evident in the room a lot of people did not know the process of the grand jury, she said.

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Heres a look at how this special grand jury process will work, what grand juries do and what is expected to happen after the grand jury. Sources include Beacon Journal interviews, the city of Akron, Summit County Common Pleas Court, the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association and the American Civil Libertys Union.

What's the difference between a regular grand jury and a special grand jury?

The special grand jury will consider only one case and will meet for a limited time to consider it.

How long will the special grand jury meet?

The special grand jury will meet for up to two weeks. Grand jurors in Summit County normally serve for two months.

How will the grand jurors be chosen?

Jurors will be chosen randomly from registered voters in Summit County.

How many people will be on the special grand jury?

A pool of 250 potential jurors were drawn. This is expected to be whittled down to about 100 who will appear on April 10. From this, 18 will be chosen, with nine being alternates.

What types of crimes do grand juries consider?

Grand juries consider felonies or serious crimes.

Are grand jury proceedings open to the public?

No, they are done in private. The only people present are the jurors, the prosecutor, witnesses and a court reporter. Alternate jurors are present while the grand jury is meeting and may be called on to replace jurors who are unable to perform their duties or are disqualified. When deliberations begin, only the nine grand jurors are present.

What happens during the proceedings?

The prosecutor presents evidence by making statements, showing physical evidence and soliciting testimony from witnesses. The prosecutor and grand jurors may ask questions.

Why is the process secret?

This is to protect the person accused from having his or her reputation sullied until they are charged with an offense. It also protects witnesses from being identified and potentially intimidated and helps ensure that the person who may be indicted doesnt flee.

Jurors take an oath at the beginning of their service in which they pledge to keep their deliberations secret.

Grand Juror Oath by Stephanie Lawrence on Scribd

Where will the special grand jury meet?

Because the regular grand jury may still be meeting, the special grand jury will meet elsewhere in the Summit County Courthouse. Access to this area will be restricted.

A courthouse employee makes their way into the grand jury room at the Summit County Courthouse, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Akron, Ohio.

Who will present information to the special grand jury?

Two assistant attorney generals will present information.

What are the reasons grand jurors may be excused?

Jurors may be excused if they are older than 75, have a medical condition that would make it difficult for them to serve, have a financial hardship, have a pre-planned, out-of-town trip, or are a caregiver for a young child or elderly person.

The special grand jury will be treated the same as regular grand juries in terms of excusals and other processes.

What is the standard for a grand jury to consider?

The grand jury must decide if there is probable cause that a crime was committed. This is lower than the beyond a reasonable doubt standard in a trial.

What happens after the grand jury has heard all the evidence?

The jurors then decide whether there is enough information to indict a person on one or more charges.

How many grand jurors are required to vote for an indictment?

At least seven out of nine.

Folders mark the spots of jurors in the grand jury room at the Summit County Courthouse, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Akron, Ohio.

What happens if this threshold isnt met? What is a 'no bill?'

The grand jury then returns a no bill, which means the person isnt indicted. This doesnt prohibit the prosecutor from seeking an indictment from another grand jury, such as in a case if additional evidence is discovered.

Does the grand jury determine guilt, innocence or punishment?

No, these are determined after an indictment in court.

More: Summit County grand juror shares her experiences; insights come as state task force studies grand jury process

What is expected to happen after the special grand jury has concluded?

The Akron Police Department will do an internal investigation to determine if the officers violated any internal policies and procedures.

Community members have requested that the Department of Justice and FBI investigate the shooting.

Walkers family may file a civil lawsuit against the city and officers.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj. Beacon Journal reporter Alan Ashworth contributed to this report.

Grand jury terms:

Defendant: The person accused of a crime.

Prosecutor: The person who represents the state.

Indict: To charge with a criminal offense, which starts court proceedings against the defendant.

True bill: The grand jury determines there is enough evidence to charge.

No true bill or no bill: The grand jury decides there isnt enough evidence to charge.

Probable cause: A grand jury decides if there is sufficient evidence for a person to be indicted.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jayland Walker police shooting grand jury to meet Monday. What to know
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.

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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
(Left) Gov. Greg Abbott (Right) Sgt. Daniel Perry

Updated as of 4/14/2023 at 10:30 a.m. ET

A Travis County judge unsealed court documents that revealed a series of racist social posts and messages shared by Daniel Perry, the man convicted in fatally shooting a Black Lives Matter protester, according to Austin American-Statesman. Perrys conviction was recently challenged by Gov. Greg Abbott who sought to pardon him.

Read more

Perry issued a number of anti-BLM messages ahead of the shooting that seem to support his guilty conviction way more than the governors notion that he killed the demonstrator in simple self-defense.

Black Lives Matter is racist to white people...It is official I am racist because I do not agree with people acting like monkeys, he wrote in one post.

In other posts, he slammed the BLM movement for promoting a victim mentality, he argued that George Floyd wasnt a martyr and made threats against BLM demonstrators believing theyd attack him because he is Jewish. He even made a post saying if people believe the Confederate flag represents racism, then so does the NAACP logo. Yes, you read that correctly. All these red flags and desperate attempts to justify his own racism sound more like he was looking for a problem July 26, 2020.

A day after the shooting, he sent a post to a friend that said, I was attacked yesterday and I had to defend myself...

Gov. Abbott Seeks a Pardon for Perry

Following the release of these unsealed documents where Perry proclaims himself as a racist, Gov. Abbott didnt respond to the Statesmans request for comment. Abbott announced he was looking to undo Perrys guilty verdict, according to USA TODAY.

Though the jury found the man guilty as charged, Abbott said he planned to pardon him based on the states Stand Your Ground law.



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Apparently, there was more than one Kyle Rittenhouse threatening the lives of demonstrators in 2020. Daniel Perry, now 35, was indicted in 2021 for fatally shooting BLM protester Garrett Foster in Austin three years ago. The report says Perry was an active-duty sergeant but doing Uber rides downtown the night of the protest. He was accused of driving his car through a red light directly into the march prompting Foster, who was carrying an AK-47 rifle, to approach the vehicle with a group of protesters.



Perry alleges he was threatened by Foster, shot at him five times with his firearm through the window of his car and drove away. Despite the impression that Perry instigated this interaction, his defense team argued he acted in self-defense. The jury wasnt convinced and Perry was convicted on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and deadly conduct charges.

Then, here came running Gov. Abbott, defending the reckless actions that led to the death of an innocent man.

Read more from USA TODAY:

Less than 24 hours after a Texas jury convicted Army Sgt. Daniel Perry of murder in the 2020 shooting of a protester, Gov. Greg Abbott announced on social media Saturday that he will pardon Perry as soon as a request hits my desk. The unprecedented effort, which Abbott announced to his 1 million followers on Twitter, came as Abbott faced growing calls from national conservative figures such as Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted in the shooting deaths of two Wisconsin protesters in 2020, to act to urgently undo the conviction. Texas has one of the strongest Stand Your Ground laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney, Abbott said in a tweet. I will work as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry.

Texas stand your ground law states that a person does not have to retreat from using deadly force if they are in a place they have a right to be, not engaged in criminal activity and has not provoked their assailant. According to the order of events, Perry wasnt assaulted by Foster but instead nearly assaulted a group of demonstrators with his vehicle who would have then had the right to stand their ground after being provoked. No?

Well, the jury found him not guilty of speeding his car into the crowd.

Nevertheless, this support from the we watched Kyle Rittenhouse kill two people and injure another after crossing county lines to counterprotest a Black Lives Matter demonstration and get away with it. Now, hes an aspiring political figure, backed by Faux News and rallying for people to support Perrys pardon.

However, Abbotts pardon still needs approval from the Board of Pardons and Paroles (who were appointed by him). Pardons are usually announced every December, the report says. Until Christmas time, Perry will be sentenced and sent to prison.

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In the latest blow to reproductive rights, a federal judge in Texas has halted the FDAs approval of mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortions in the United States. Heres what this unprecedented ruling could mean for the future of abortion pill access nationwide.

Late last week, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk  an ultra-conservative Trump-era appointee  ruled in favor of anti-abortion advocates in Texas who baselessly contested the FDAs longstanding approval of mifepristone. For more than 20 years, this pill has been used to safely and effectively terminate pregnancies, often with the drug misoprostol for a two-step protocol.

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BREAKING: Today, in an unprecedented and harmful decision, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the FDAs approval of mifepristone  one of the two medications used in the most common medication abortion regimen in the US  was unlawful, threatening access nationwide.  Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) April 7, 2023

This is the first time in history that a judge has stayed an approval of a human drug over the objection of the FDA, law professor Greer Donley told Abortion, Every Day. There is a reason for this: when it comes to determinations of drug safety and efficacy, most Americans would rather have expert scientists and doctors make those decisions, not politically motivated judges.

As CBS News reported, Kacsmaryks decision fell short of completely withdrawing the FDAs approval. Still, the ruling could create barriers for people who need mifepristone throughout the country, including in pro-choice states.

Click here to read the full article.

Kacsmaryks ruling will take effect this Friday, April 14. The Biden administration has already filed an appeal.

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The lawsuit, and this ruling, is another unprecedented step in taking away basic freedoms from women and putting their health at risk, said President Joe Biden in a statement.

Planned Parenthood has also called the decision unprecedented and harmful.

Indeed, this ruling presents a number of problems. For one thing, it stands in direct opposition to another recent ruling in Washington state, where a federal judge opined that the FDA shouldnt restrict access to mifepristone. Given the contradictory nature of these rulings, the Supreme Court may have to intervene.

It also poses yet another obstacle for pregnant people who need abortions in post-Roe v. Wade America. The vast majority of U.S. abortions are performed non-surgically using mifepristone and/or misoprostol.

Plus, mifepristone is sometimes prescribed to people who have had miscarriages or have Cushings syndrome, a hormonal condition. Taking it off the market will have ripple effects beyond the context of abortions.

Worth noting, too, is that pregnant people can have a safe, effective medication abortion using only misoprostol, which is not implicated in Kacsmaryks ruling. The misoprostol-only protocol just looks a bit different. So, while this unprecedented decision is alarming, banning mifepristone would not mean the end of medication abortions in the U.S.

Since last June, at least 17 states have banned or severely restricted access to abortions  including Texas, which began enforcing a near-total abortion ban in August.

According to a JAMA report from 2022, one-third of Americans who can get pregnant now have to travel more than an hour away to reach their nearest abortion provider.

Before you go, check out these powerful stories from celebrities who opened up about getting abortions:

celebrity abortion stories

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The iconic fine wine regions of the world are few in number. In the Old World, these include: Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhone Valley and Champagne in France; Tuscany (including Montalcino and Bolgheri) and Piedmont in Italy; the Mosel Valley in Germany; Ribera del Duero in Spain; and the Douro Valley (for fortified wines) in Portugal.

In the New World, The Barossa Valley in Australia; and Napa Valley in California. Outside of these include very famous wine regionssuch as Rioja in Spain and Margaret River in Australiabut, despite their fame, they are not iconic fine wine regions. The reason is that, even if these regions make some very good wines, they do not make many (or any) iconic fine wineswines that have a pedigree for aging in the bottle, that are best-in-class, and have a secondary market value (as in, the wine is a store of value).

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As a result, the fine wine market is narrower than you would think, although far wider than it was a mere 20 years ago, when Bordeaux really was the fine wine market. In the intervening two decades, a growing group of fine wine regions have come to the fore, as best illustrated by Bordeauxs declining share of trading on the worlds primary secondary market exchange, Liv-ex. Whereas Bordeaux was more than 90 percent of the trade 20 years ago, today it represents significantly less than half (see Liv-ex table below).

Nonetheless, with the rise of the wine geekfine wine lovers and collectors whose knowledge and appreciation for fine wines is at a level almost (or on a par with) that of fine wine professionalsa small but increasing number of new iconic fine wines from non-iconic fine wine regions are being appreciated, collected and traded at levels approaching those of the best fine wines from iconic fine wine regions.

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Identifying them early can be rewarding for collectors, as usually the prices for these wines are lowersometimes much lowerthan those for equivalent quality wines from the iconic fine wine regions. However, the value gap has shrunk remarkably quickly in the era of social media, as wine geeks share their knowledge and appreciation with their followers. The key, therefore, is to get ahead of the curve and start buying sooner rather than later.

So what are the worlds best iconic fine wines from non-iconic fine wine regions? Below is a very personal list of these wines, all of which I collect: In other words, I have voted with my feet. As a result, there will be some wines that could be considered iconic that are not included because I either do not know them, do not like them or do not consider them to be sufficiently high quality for my cellar. A good example of a wine I have not included, but would be considered iconic by many and is from lowly Pays dHerault in the South of France, is Domaine de la Grange des Peres: I simply have never liked it!

I have divided the list into two: iconic wines from Europe and the Rest of the World. To my surprise, there are more white wines on the list than red: 12 whites, nine reds and two sweet wines. One explanation for this is that some red grape varieties, like Pinot Noir, are very temperamental and can produce wildly different aroma and taste profiles when you take them out of their historical heartland, in this case Burgundy. White grape varieties like Chardonnay, on the other hand, are more adaptable and capable of producing great expressions of the varietal irrespective of the region where they are planted provided the conditions (soil, climate, weather and so on) are conducive to high quality grape production. It is perhaps for this reason that I prefer the Chardonnay, rather than the Pinot Noir, from two of the producers referenced in the list belowone from Switzerland and the other from New Zealand.

Europe

Austria: FX Pichler, Unendlich, Riesling Smaragd (White Wine)

Vineyards in Wachau,Austria

Unendlich is a big wine. It can age for a very long-time. Its a favorite amongst in-the-know sommeliers (which is how I found out about it). I tried the 2005 vintage a few months ago and it was kicking. Unfortunately, trying to buy these wines is extremely hard, as they tend to be consumed locally in Austria. If you do find a bottle (from any vintage), it will likely set you back more than $310 per bottle.

Alsace, France: F E Trimbach Riesling, Clos Sainte Hune (White Wine)

Jean Trimbach and his wife during The 2022 Golden Vines Awards at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence

To my mind, the worlds best dry Riesling. I have been collecting these wines for more than a decade, and they are consistently fantastic and on par with the best white burgundies. They age beautifully, often changing color to copper tones with petrol aromas and plenty of complexity. The 2016 vintage was the most traded Alsatian wine on Liv-ex in 2022. I am currently drinking the 2001 vintage, which is a classic example of the wine, but which will set you back over $430 per bottle.

France, the Loire Valley: Clos Rougeard, Le Bourg, Saumur Champigny (Red Wine)

Le Bourg: the standout drop from Clos Rougeard, according to the author

All the wines from Clos Rougeard are magnificent, but Le Bourg is the stand-out. A 100 percent Cabernet Franc, it ages beautifully and can be easily confused with a great Hermitage Rouge from the Northern Rhone. Although much better known than when I first started collecting it, its still an insiders wine for geeky collectors. I particularly like the 2007 vintage which is in a perfect place right now and will cost over $770 per bottle as compared with the $185 per bottle price I paid five years ago. Unfortunately, I am down to my last two bottles!

France, the Jura Valley: Anne et Jean-Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Les Vignes de Mon Pere (White Wine); Emmanuel HouillonPierre Overnoy, Arbois-Pupillin Chardonnay (White Wine)

Both of these wines are classic examples of the best expressions from the Jura, a region close to, but to the east of, Burgundy. Jura wines are very hip with sommeliers, which is the principal reason why they are so expensive today. The Ganevat is 100 percent Savagnin, a local varietal, whereas the Overnoy is 100 percent Chardonnay. Jura wines can have an oxidative nutty character, which is not to everyones liking. The Ganevat will likely cost more than $615 per bottle and the Overnoy will come in at more than $740 per bottle (depending on vintage).

Germany: Weingut Keller, G-Max Riesling Trocken, Rheinhessen (White Wine)

Klaus-Peter-Keller

Undoubtedly, Keller is now a recognized superstar of the wine world. Hes hip and hot, and liked by wine geeks. Although Egon Muller over in the Mosel Valley is rightly recognized as the Wein Kaiser (for his sweet wines), Klaus-Peter Keller is surely the Crown Prince (for his dry wines). The G-Max is his ultimate collector wine and will cost more than $2,470 per bottle.

Hungary: Istvan Szepsy, Tokaji Eszencia & Aszu 6-Puttonyos (Sweet Wine)

Istvan Szepsy Jnr at The Golden Vines Awards in Florence last year

Theres Tokaji and then theres Istvan Szepsys Tokaji. Szepsy is the undoubted King of Hungary, single-handedly responsible for bringing glory back to what was once the most iconic fine wine region in the world, a wine demanded by the Kings of France and Emperors of Russia. Unfortunately, the Soviet Union put paid to that, resulting in close to zero investment and a complete downgrading of these most iconic vineyards.

Since the 1990s, Szepsy has been making fantastic wines from this region. Incredibly for a tiny producer of sweet wine from Hungary, Szepsy won the 2022 Golden Vines Best Fine Wine Producer in Europe Award (and the 2022 Golden Vines Hall of Fame Award), as voted for by almost a thousand fine wine professionals from over 100 countries.

His extremely sweet Eszencia is the ultimate expression of Tokaji, but because it is made in such small quantities (less than 500 bottles) and in such rare vintages (only 1996, 1997 and 2007), his Aszu 6-Puttonyos is the one I would recommend. The great news is that the Aszu 6-Puttonyos is still (relatively) damned cheap! I am particularly fond of the 1999 vintage which costs around $185 per bottle for something which should be priced at least three-to-five times this price.

Italy: Azienda Agricola Valentini, Trebbiano dAbruzzo (White Wine); Emidio Pepe, Trebbiano dAbruzzo (White Wine)

Chiara Pepe  who is amongst the fifth generation of the lauded Abruzzo estate

Finding great Italian white fine wines is a struggle. Outside of Gajas Gaia & Rey (Piedmont), ones mind starts to blank. However, in Abruzzo, two producers make wonderful Trebbianno that can certainly be classed as fine wines. Valentini is the more obscure, geeky, insiders choice, whereas Emidio Pepe is known by a wider audience outside of Italy. The 2004 vintage is in a great place for both wines at the moment, with the Valentini costing more than $432 per bottle and the Emidio Pepe costing more than $525 per bottle.

Portugal: Casa Ferreirinha Barca-Velha, Douro (Red Wine)

The Barca Velha vineyards, Portugal

Until recently, I had never tried this wine, despite owning a few cases. Barca-Velha is the legendary still wine from Portugal, and from the regionthe Douro Valleybest known for its fortified Port wines (which is why it is on the list). As a collector, I had to own them, even if I didnt know whether Id like them. However, owner Fernado da Cunha Guedes recently hosted me at Quinta do Porto in the Douro and opened an immaculate bottle of Barca-Velha 2011. Certainly, its a big wine, but had a tell-tale lift in the mid-palate that marked it out as a top wine, and a gorgeous long finish. The wine isnt cheap; in fact, it costs more than Iberias famed iconic wine, Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Reserva from Ribera del Duero in Spain. Depending on vintage, a bottle of Barca-Velha will typically come in at more than $618.

Spain: Alvaro Palacios, Priorat (Red Wine) , LErmita Velles Vinyes

I am not a huge drinker of Spanish wines, but Alvaro Palacios is one that I will often seek out. Hes a living legend of the Spanish wine scene (although hes only in his late fifties), and helped put Priorat on the map. Stylistically his LErmita Velles Vinyes might not be everybodys cup of tea, but it is certainly iconic. Depending on vintage, a bottle will set you back more than $927.

Switzerland: Weingut Daniel & Marta Gantenbein Chardonnay, Graubunden (White Wine); Domaine de la Rochette Pinot Noir Les Rissieux, Neuchatel (Red Wine)

Gantenbein, Switzerland

I have been collecting both the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from Gantenbein for more than a decade. When I started, literally none of my wine friends had ever heard about them. Indeed, most fine wine restaurants in Switzerland didnt even have them on their wine lists.

The reality was that these wines were being snapped up by local Swiss and German collectors and they were impossible to buy anywhere. Over time, the winery must have decided to expand their distribution abroad, as its now vaguely possible to buy these wines.

The Chardonnay is the better of the two wines in my opinion and costs around $433 per bottle. The Pinot Noir from winemaker Jacques Tatasciore at Domaine de la Rochette is impossible to buy outside of Switzerland; unfortunately, he does not use email and contacting him via telephone is an impossible task. However, its a collector wineif you happen to be Swiss!and perhaps the best expression (alongside Gantenbein) of Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy.

The Rest of the World

Argentina: Catena Zapata Estiba Reservada, Agrelo (Red Wine)

The Mayan style winerys main building at Catena Zapata, Argentina

My friend, Laura Catena, told me her long-time wish is to see a case of her wine in my cellar. Given that she is Argentinas finest producer and winner of so many awards and so much acclaim, it would undoubtedly be disrespectful not to include her top wine on this list.

The issue for Catena Zapata (and other producers in the Mendoza region) is that, despite their hopes and aspirations, fine wine collectors just dont see Malbec as a fine wine grape varietal. If anyone is going to be able to change this, its Laura. Indeed, four of the top five most traded Argentinian wines on Liv-ex in 2022 were from Catena Zapata, underlying the dominance of the estate. The Estiba Reservada is her most collectable wine and costs around $618 per bottle.

Australia: Giaconda Estate Vineyard Chardonnay, Beechworth (White Wine)

Northern Victoria, Australia, is not where you would expect to find an iconic fine wine. However, Giaconda has produced a Chardonnay that is incredible and has earned its place in any fine wine collectors cellar. Do not let the screw cap turn you off: after all, even Henschkes Hill of Grace Shiraz has a screw cap closure. These wines age well, are full of complexity and have a style more reminiscent of top Chablis than Cote de Beaune white Burgundies. Even better, theyre relatively cheap for the quality: around $185 per bottle.

Chile: Vinedo Chadwick, Maipo Valley (Red Wine), Clos Apalta, Colchagua Valley (Red Wine); Aristos Duquesa dA Grand Chardonnay, Cachapoal Valley (White Wine)

Clos Apalta, Colchagua Valley

When I first started collecting fine wines more than 20 years ago, it would have been laughable to even have considered collecting wines from Chile. They were just about drinkable at best. However, over the last few decades, high capital investment and resulting wine quality have improved drastically.

Furthermore, theres now an understanding of the terroir and an appreciation for the vast acreage of original rootstock old vines that are more concentrated in Chile than anywhere else on the planet. The result is that there are now a small number of wines that I am happy to include in my cellar.

The Aristos Duquesa dA Grand Chardonnay blew me away when I first sampled the 2008 vintage back in 2011 and decided to buy every bottle that was available for purchase in the UK (which is perhaps why it doesnt even appear as a vintage category on winesearcher.com ). Vinedo Chadwick is the mainstay expression of fine wine in Chile, with wine prices coming in at over $308 per bottle, whereas Clos Apalta (made only with ancient own-rootstock vines) can be bought for around $98-plus per bottle and, given the ambitions of my friend, the owner, Charles de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle (of the famed Grand Marnier family), will undoubtedly reach even higher standards in the years ahead.

New Zealand: Bell Hill Chardonnay, Canterbury (White Wine)

Bell Hill Chardonnay

New Zealand makes decent wines. However, its a stretch to think that the country will ever produce many fine wines. Nonetheless, in Bell Hill, owner Sherwyn Veldhuizen has taken an old limestone quarry and is producing top notch Pinot Noir and (especially) Chardonnay. In my mind, a notch below the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Gantenbein in Switzerland (see above), these are still very fine expressions of Burgundian varietals. The Chardonnay costs more than $185 per bottle (depending on vintage).

South Africa: The Sadie Family Palladius White, Swartland (White Wine); The Sadie Family Columella Red, Swartland (Red Wine)

Like New Zealand, South Africa makes decent wines. Indeed, given the amount of investment from wealthy families in wine estates in the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek regions, the quality is undoubtedly improving. But my overriding feeling is that the quality of wine tourism in South Africa is still better than their wines. The exception is the Swartland region.

For starters, its too far off the beaten track to be a tourist magnet. Secondly, its the place in South Africa where pioneering winemakers, innovation and a sound matching of grape varietals with the local (harsh) terroir has resulted in this relatively unknown region making South Africas best fine wines.

Eben Sadie of The Sadie Family Wines is the undoubted King of Swartland. He won the 2022 Golden Vines Worlds Best Rising Star Award, underlining the admiration for his work from industry professionals. His personal story is fascinating and bound to be made into a TV documentary at some point. Eben Sadies Palladius and Columella are his two iconic fine wines, and can be bought at the attractive price of $93-plus per bottle.

United States: Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains (Red Wine)

Ridge Monte Bellowand its retired legendary winemaker Paul Draper (right)

Ridge Vineyards was winner of the Golden Vines Best Fine Wine Producer in the Americas Award in both 2021 and 2022. It beat out competition from all the top Napa Valley wineries, such as Harlan Estate, Dominus Estate and Screaming Eagle, as well as wineries from the rest of North and South America.

It still baffles me how American fine wine consumers have not yet realized that Ridge Monte Bello is one of the very best fine wines consistently made in North America. My only explanation is that the wine comes not from the iconic Napa Valley region, but from the non-iconic Santa Cruz Mountains. Another reason might be that it is made in a European-style, which is probably why its more highly valued by European collectors than Americans.

To my mind, Ridges Monte Bello and Sassicaia are twins separated at birth. Although they dont taste the same, they evoke the same feelings in me: class in a glass. I have told both Priscilla Incisa Della Rocchetta of Tenuta San Guido that makes Sassicaia and Paul Draper, the retired winemaker of Ridge Vineyards, of my comparison, and they have both promised to put on a Ridge Monte Bello/Sassicaia tasting so we can all decide if the comparison stands up to scrutiny. I am still waiting

My favorite vintages of Ridge Monte Bello are 1991, 1992 and 2001, preferably in large format (as always). Ridge Monte Bello 1991 will cost around $865+ per 75cl bottle if you can find it.



***

Lewis Chester DipWSET is a London-based wine collector, member of the Academie du Champagne and Chevaliers du Tastevin, co-founder of Liquid Icons and, along with Sasha Lushnikov, co-founder of the Golden Vines Awards. He is also Honorary President and Head of Fundraising at the Gerard Basset Foundation, which funds diversity & inclusivity education programs globally in the wine, spirits & hospitality sectors.

The Golden Vines 2023 will take place in Paris between 13-15 October 2023, recognizing the worlds best fine wine estates as voted by hundreds of fine wine professionals. Please register your interest for tickets on the website. Robb Report is the Official Media Partner of the Golden Vines and sponsor of the Golden Vines Worlds Best Fine Wine Producer Award.

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Four people were dead, including a child, after what police characterized as a domestic violence incident in Orlando, Florida, early Sunday.

Police arrived at the home at 614 Grand St. just before 2:30 a.m., about three minutes after they got a call reporting domestic violence at the address, Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith told reporters.

Soon after officers arrived, they heard shots from inside the home, prompting more officers to arrive, according to Smith and other information shared by Orlando police.

Police respond to the scene of a domestic violence incident in Orlando, Fla., on April 9, 2023. (WESH)

The suspect  whom police identified Sunday afternoon as Lacorvis Tamar Daley, 28  emerged from the home and fired at the officers, who shot back, police said.

Daley was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Inside the home, police found two adults and the child with gunshot wounds, all of whom died. Officers took the child to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Smith told reporters.

The three victims found in the home had not been publicly identified Sunday afternoon.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer tweet that the incident was "a horrific, tragic situation."

"Sending support to the family members of the victims, as well as the officers, who were thankfully unharmed," Dyer wrote.

The two officers involved in the incident will be placed on paid administrative leave, and their body camera video will be publicly available within 30 days, in accordance with department policy, police said.

The police department will conduct an internal investigation, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney's Office will conduct independent reviews, "as with all officer involved shootings," Orlando police said.

Police are still looking into whether the suspect had any criminal history, police Public Information Manager Andrea Otero said, adding that police are working to determine whether they had received calls reporting domestic violence at the address before Sunday.

Domestic violence affects nearly half of people in the U.S., with 1 in 2 women reporting having experienced sexual or physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's most recent report on domestic and sexual violence. About 44% of men report the same, according to the CDC.

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If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or the threat of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for help at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or go to www.thehotline.org for anonymous, confidential online chats, available in English and Spanish. Individual states often have their own domestic violence hotlines as well.

Advocates at the National Domestic Violence Hotline field calls from both survivors of domestic violence as well as individuals who are concerned that they may be abusive toward their partners.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Salem Police on Monday morning investigate a shooting in which an Oregon State Police officer shot and killed an individual on Interstate 5.

This story was updated at 8 p.m. Monday

The fatal police shooting that closed northbound Interstate 5 in Salem for most of the day Monday occurred after an Oregon State Police trooper shot at a man allegedly holding a semi-truck driver at gunpoint.

Officials with Salem Police Department, the agency tasked with investigating the deadly shooting, said Oregon State Police Trooper Andrew Tuttle stopped to help a disabled semi-truck near the Mission Street exit on northbound I-5 at about 8:42 a.m.

The trooper found the driver of the semi being held at gunpoint by a man, later identified as Felipe Amezcua Manzo, 31, Salem Police said in a news release Monday night.

Police said Manzo immediately shot at Tuttle, who returned fire.

Manzo was shot and fled from the scene, running east in tall grass along the interstate. He died in the nearby shrubbery from his injuries. Court records list him as a resident of Independence.

Police said investigators found a gun near Manzo. The black handgun, is engraved with the words "Clay County Sheriff." Multiple Clay County agencies are located across the country, including in Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Texas.

A firearm that Salem Police said was located next to the body of Felipe Amezcua Manzos after he fled from an Oregon State Police trooper along Interstate 5, Monday, April 10, 2023.

The shooting response and investigation closed I-5 northbound lanes near the Mission Street exit for hours, causing traffic backups throughout Salem and delaying afternoon school buses. The Oregon Department of Transportation reported at 5:45 p.m. that all lanes of I-5 were again open at Mission Street.

Tuttle sustained non-life-threatening injuries but did not require further medical attention. Police said the cause of his injuries is still being investigated.

Tuttle has been employed by Oregon State Police since August 2016 and previously served six years in the United States Navy. He was placed on administrative leave in accordance with Marion County Law Enforcement Use of Deadly Physical Force Response Plan.

A vehicle associated with Manzo was found at the scene and searched after police obtained a warrant.

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This vehicle was involved in a shooting with Oregon State Police Monday. One individual was killed in the shooting.

Officers from the Salem Police Department and Marion County Sheriffs Office responded to assist at the scene. As per the response plan, the Marion County District Attorneys Office requested the Salem Police Department lead the investigation into the shooting incident.

Police shootings: Salem Police killed people at higher rate than other Oregon cities over past decade

According to radio dispatch, police responded to reports of an "active shooter" just before 9 a.m. Medic responders and police reported that one person had been shot.

Police were ordered to "block off everything."

Oregon Department of Transportation officials said all northbound lanes were impacted. One southbound lane was closed.

At about 9:04 a.m., Eyre Elementary, Four Corners Elementary, Miller Elementary, Houck Middle School and Roberts Structured Learning Center were placed in lockdown for about 15 minutes due to the police activity.

Police said at 10:40 a.m. there was no current danger to the public.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

No further information will be released until a Marion County Grand Jury reviews the incident, a standard practice for use of force investigations.

This article includes reporting from Shannon Sollitt.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: OSP shoot, kill individual on Interstate 5
In the nine months since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a rapidly shifting patchwork of abortion bans and restrictions has unleashed confusion and uncertainty among patients and abortion providers nationwide.

The fallout began immediately as trigger bans went into effect in 13 states after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision struck down Roe, the 1973 ruling that had made abortion legal nationwide for decades. State legislatures have since passed and proposed additional bans and restrictions. Lawsuits on both sides of the abortion debate have thrown abortion access into a state of flux.

The Dobbs decision has totally upended abortion access across the country, said Elizabeth Nash, state policy analyst at the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization that supports legal access to abortion. And it's created a lot of chaos and confusion for patients and providers because these restrictions have become very hard to sort through.

Here are five of the ways abortion access has changed since the overturning of Roe v. Wade:

'THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE': Abortion clinics regroup, rebuild after violent attacks

Abortion 'totally or almost completely banned' in 14 states; injunctions challenge bans

Fourteen states have totally or almost completely banned abortion, said Rose Mackenzie, ACLU campaign strategist. These states are Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Georgia and Wisconsin, she said.

In eight states, there are injunctions blocking such bans from taking effect while cases challenging them continue, Mackenzie said. These are Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Iowa, Indiana and Ohio.

The 14 states that have completely or almost completely banned abortion account for about nearly a quarter of all women of reproductive age in the country, Nash said.

BIRTH CONTROL PILL ACCESS: FDA to decide whether birth control pill can be sold over the counter for first time in US

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Clinics have closed or stopped providing abortions in the wake of bans. People have been forced to travel out of state to get abortions. Average travel times to get abortion care has more than tripled, according to a study published in November.

In states that still have legal access to abortion, clinics are overwhelmed by out-of-state patients, making wait times longer, Mackenzie said.

Attacks on medication abortion

Since the Dobbs decision, there has been a coordinated attack on access to medication abortion, which makes up over half of all abortions in the U.S., Mackenzie said.

A Friday ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee in Texas, threw government approval of mifepristone, a key abortion drug, into uncertainty, potentially decimating access to medication abortion nationwide. Minutes later, a federal judge in Washington, Obama appointee U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice, ordered the Food and Drug Administration not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in 17 states and D.C. that sued to expand access to mifepristone.

'CHAOS AND CONFUSION': Abortion rights advocates across US speak out after latest setback

For now, access to mifepristone remains unchanged, because Kacsmaryk gave seven days for the federal government to appeal, which the Justice Department has committed to do.

Meanwhile, about 10 pieces of pending legislation introduced in state legislatures are targeting medication abortion, Mackenzie said. Also last month, Wyoming became the first state in the country to ban the manufacturing, distribution and sale of abortion pills.

WYOMING ABORTION PILLS BAN: Wyoming to ban abortion pills as nationwide battle over abortion laws continues

Boxes of the drug mifepristone sit on a shelf at the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on March 16, 2022.

'My mom had an abortion almost 50 years ago': My family is finally talking about her decision.

Pharmacies have also become centers of the debate over medication abortion access. The FDA in January said any certified mail and brick-and-mortar pharmacy can dispense mifepristone. In February, attorneys general from 20 Republican states sent a letter to several pharmacies threatening legal action if they distribute the pill in their states. Walgreens came under fire after it responded to the letter by saying it would not distribute mifepristone in these states, including some where medication abortion remains legal.

The legal landscape with medication abortion is constantly shifting, and it's a lot of waiting for the next shoe to drop, Nash said.

Criminalization bills

Nearly all states that prohibit abortion have some form of criminal penalty for providers who offer abortions, Mackenzie said. At least six states have introduced bills that would allow prosecutors to criminally charge patients for their own abortions. In South Carolina, Republican lawmakers introduced one of the most severe bills seen nationwide that would make a person who has an abortion eligible for the death penalty, though support for the legislation has dwindled.

South Carolina and Nevada are the states that criminalize people for self-managed abortions. A self-managed abortion means ending one's own pregnancy without a doctor or health care provider.

SOUTH CAROLINA WOMAN ARRESTED: Arrest draws attention to criminalization of self-managed abortions

Nash said bills seeking to criminalize people for their own abortions dont have support from the mainstream anti-abortion movement but may be introduced as a way to test the boundaries for what types of restrictions may be possible.

Still, the bills have had a chilling effect among providers, said Farah Diaz-Tello, senior counsel and legal director for the national nonprofit If/When/How Lawyering for Reproductive Justice. With criminalization laws and unclear language surrounding exceptions to abortion bans in emergency situations, providers are having to make difficult, sometimes life-or-death decisions about when they may be legally allowed to provide care, she said.

Texas Senate Bill 8 copycats

Before Roe v. Wade was overturned, Texas Senate Bill 8 was signed into law, allowing the states six-week abortion ban to be enforced through individual lawsuits against clinics, providers or anyone else who aids or abets an abortion.

Oklahoma and Idaho have since adopted legislation modeled off of the Texas law, Nash said. Missouri lawmakers also introduced a similar bill this year.

Most recently, a Texas man sued three women last month, claiming they helped his now-ex-wife get an abortion.

HISTORY OF REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE: Black women created the term 'reproductive justice'

Personhood bills

A growing number of personhood bills in state legislatures define life as beginning at fertilization or give embryos legal rights. Georgia and Arizona have personhood laws, though Arizonas has been blocked by a court, Nash said. Several other states introduced such bills this year.

These bills may also threaten access to in vitro fertilization, a type of assisted reproductive technology.

THREATS TO IVF ACCESS: Patients worried IVF treatments could become illegal under abortion bans, doctors say

Other states protect, expand abortion access

Bills introduced in state legislatures are also seeking to punish businesses that help employees access abortion care, outlaw websites that include information about accessing abortion care, prevent patients from crossing state lines to access care, and remove exceptions to abortion bans including in life-threatening situations, among other efforts, several abortion policy experts told USA TODAY.

Meanwhile, other states are looking to protect and expand abortion access by codifying abortion rights through ballot initiatives, passing shield laws to protect providers from being prosecuted for giving abortion care to patients coming from out of state, increasing funding for abortion clinics, and bolstering access to medication abortion by allowing telehealth options for expanding the types of healthcare professionals allowed to offer abortions. Some states are also trying to prevent the criminalization of abortion, including California, which passed a bill last year affirming peoples right to be free from criminalization on the basis of their pregnancy outcome.

HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS PEN LETTER TO UN: US abortion bans violate international law, 200 human rights groups say

Dozens of lawsuits have also been filed under state constitutions and statutes to challenge abortion bans. As of March 29, 38 cases have been filed in 21 states, according to a tracker by the Brennan Center, a nonprofit public policy institute.

We're in really uncharted territory, so every step that states can take to protect people from criminalization and from violence by the state itself are going to be important in the near future, Diaz-Tello said.

If/When/How offers a free legal helpline at (844) 868-2812 for people with questions about their access to abortion care and legal rights.

Contact Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abortion access: 5 ways landscape has changed since end of Roe v Wade
Chuck Egbert is a supervisor at MMS Aviation in Coshocton. He duties include leading airplane rebuild projects and training apprentices.

COSHOCTON  He had dreams of going one direction, then things changed  sort of.

From around the age of 10 I had an interest in flying, said Chuck Egbert. I was 15 when the original 'Top Gun' movie was released, and it influenced me to pursue military flying. After a couple years of engineering classes at Penn State, and an attempt to obtain a scholarship with the Air Force, coupled with a totally new concept of what it means to be a Christian, I changed my focus and began to pursue my desire immediately and to consider ministry flying.

I first knew of the use of airplanes in ministry as a kid, he continued, growing up in a Lutheran church and hearing of LAMP (Lutheran Association of Missionaires & Pilots) and their operations in Canada. I came to a life change in college when I recognized my sin separated me from God, but His offer of redemption was freely given. As I grew in my faith and love for my Lord, I sensed He might use my natural desires for His purposes. I thought that would be through flight. I never dreamt of being a mechanic, let alone teaching maintenance.

Today, Egbert is a supervisor at MMS Aviation, a unique Coshocton-based facility that provides hands-on training for missionary pilots and mechanics.

I typically do a portion of MMSs basic training with the new apprentices, Egbert explained. I really enjoy sheet metal work and I enjoy teaching people the fundamentals of tool use. Having three children in their 20s, Im enjoying training people who are around their age.

Egbert, 54, grew up in Youngsville, Pennsylvania, graduated from high school there in 1987, then from Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in aerospace flight technology in 1992. He also has a commercial pilot certificate with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and flight instructor with instrument rating.

My service with MMS began in March of 1996 as an apprentice, he recalled. Following my apprenticeship, we served a year in Alaska and the five years in Africa, before joining the MMS staff in 2006 as a production mechanic.

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Bryan Martin is a former MMS apprentice who worked with Egbert.

Chuck is a perfectionist, assessed Martin, and because of that he seemed intimidating to me at first. But once you get to know him, hes funny and has a big heart. It would due this world well to have more Chucks.

One of the best parts of training, Egbert responded, is watching people grow, learn and progress in their abilities. Ive led major airframe rebuild projects and enjoy tearing things apart and putting them back together. I also get to walk our apprentices through the completion of their mechanic certification as I hold the position of an FAA designated mechanic examiner.

Am I pleased with where lifes path has taken me? he added. I never would have dreamed of this path.

MMS Aviation is located at 24387 Airport Road in Coshocton. For more information, call 740-622-6848 or log on www.mmsaviation.org.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Aces of Trades: Chuck Egbert's relationship with God changed his career path
WASHINGTON, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Three people and a suspect died early Sunday after a domestic violence incident and officer-involved shooting in Orlando, the southeastern U.S. state of Florida.

Orlando police said that they responded to a home at the 600 block of Grand Street in reference to a domestic violence incident at approximately 2:25 a.m. ET (0625 GMT).

Officers heard shots from inside the house after arrival. The suspect came out of the house and shot at officers, who returned fire. The suspect was transported to the hospital and was confirmed dead.

Three people, including a child, were found with gunshot wounds and confirmed dead.

The two officers involved were not injured and will be on paid administrative leave.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will conduct an independent review of the incident, followed by the state attorney's office. The Orlando Police Department said that it will also conduct its own internal investigation.

The police department added that officers did have their body-worn cameras on during the incident and video of the incident will be made available within 30 days.

"What a horrific, tragic situation," Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer tweeted on Sunday morning. "Sending support to the family members of the victims, as well as the officers, who were thankfully unharmed," Dyer also wrote.

Gun violence is rampant across the United States, with shootings occurring frequently. More than 11,380 people have lost their lives to gun-related incidents so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

In Delaware, a state in the Mid-Atlantic region, state police are investigating a shooting at the Christiana Mall that occurred on Saturday evening. Officers responded and located three victims with gunshot wounds in the vicinity of the food court. Five other individuals sustained various injuries not related to gunfire during the incident.

It has not been confirmed how many suspects were involved at this time. Investigators are working to identify the suspects. The incident is determined to be a result of an altercation between several suspects and at least one of the victims. 
When Las Cruces real estate broker Nora Stone received an online request to list a 2.4-acre homesite in the Soledad Canyon area of the city, she had no idea she was communicating with a scammer and not the owner of the property. Little did she know the lead, which was transmitted to her through the Realtor.com website, was the first step in a plan to impersonate the owner and steal the proceeds of the sale.

What the scammer didnt count on was that a relative of the true owner lived next door to the lot. The scam quickly ended when, within hours of the installation of the for-sale sign on the $150,000 property, the attempted cybercrime was uncovered, and the listing was cancelled. Following the discovery, the scammers email and phone numbers were immediately disconnected.

Gary Sandler

Online cybercrimes involving vacant land properties are more commonplace than most people imagine. A New Mexico attorney familiar with real estate and title issues noted that at least three other attempts to scam Southern New Mexico property owners have been made within the past 60-days. In one of the instances, the owner said he lived in an African country and could only communicate electronically. Forged documents ostensibly notarized by the American Consulates office in the country were submitted as proof of identity. Had it not been for a last-minute request from the owner to redirect the sale proceeds to an account in Vietnam, the $50,000 theft would have succeeded.

The problem is so pervasive, the U.S. Secret Service Cybercrime Division recently issued a bulletin outlining how the schemes work:

The criminal researches public records to identify real estate that is free of mortgage or other liens and 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, and requests it be listed below current market value to generate immediate interest.

The criminal, posing as the property owner, refuses to sign the closing documents in person, and requests a remote notary signing.

The criminal (or coconspirator) also impersonates the notary and provides falsified documents to the title company or closing attorney.

The title company or closing attorney unwittingly transfers the closing proceeds to the criminal.

All communications are electronic, not in person

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If you are a property owner whose property is the target of a successful cyber-scammer, it may be years before you learn the deed to the property is no longer in your name. In the end, it is the responsibility of the title insurance company which issued a Policy of Title Insurance in connection with the sale, to make you whole.

In law enforcement circles, the schemes are referred to as Business Email Compromise (BEC). The FBI 2022 Congressional Report on BEC and Real Estate Wire Fraud cites BEC as the leading source of victim loss reported to their Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), totaling $2.4 billion in 2021.

See you at closing!

Gary Sandler is a full-time Realtor and president of Gary Sandler Inc., Realtors in Las Cruces, NM. He loves to answer questions and can be reached at 575-642-2292 or Gary@GarySandler.com.

Read more Real Estate Connection:

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Alert neighbor thwarts Las Cruces listing scam
China reportedly simulated precision strikes on Taiwan during military drills around the self-governed island on Sunday, in the wake of Speaker Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) meetup with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen last week.

The simulated strikes came in a second day of drills after Tsai met with the speaker on U.S. soil in Los Angeles, Calif., Reuters reported, amid escalating tensions around the self-governed Indo-Pacific island China claims as its own territory.

Chinese state television reported that multiple types of units carried out simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan island and the surrounding sea areas, and continue to maintain an offensive posture around the island, per Reuters.

The Chinese military also released a video, shared by the state-run Global Times, of the simulated attacks showing missiles exploding after hitting targets in Taiwan.

Chinese state media channel CGTN reported that combat readiness patrols and military drills have been scheduled around Taiwan until April 10.

Beijing has been angered by U.S. support for Taiwan, and warned after the McCarthy-Tsai meeting that the U.S. should not walk further down a wrong and dangerous road.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., the chairman of the House Select Committee on China, told the Associated Press Saturday that the U.S. should take Chinas threat to Taiwan seriously as Beijing ups its military drills.

We need to be moving heaven and earth to enhance our deterrence and denial posture, so that [Chinese President] Xi Jinping concludes that he just cant do it, Gallagher said.

China also retaliated after former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) visited Taiwan last year, upping military drills that Taiwan condemned as military intimidation.

The U.S., which has practiced strategic ambiguity when it comes to Taiwan, has been moving to shore up its presence in the Indo-Pacific region amid its own tensions with Beijing, holding large joint military drills with South Korea and the Philippines.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Delaware State Police have confirmed that three people were shot at Christiana Mall on Saturday evening in what investigators do not believe was a random shooting, prompting a huge response from local first responders and law enforcement.

The three people injured in the gunfire were taken to the hospital, according to police. Two were reported in critical condition Saturday night, but state police said all were considered stable by Sunday afternoon.

Police said five other people were also injured, but the injuries were not gunshot-related. They did not provide any more details about the injuries.

What caused the shooting and where did it happen?

State police said they were called to the mall at about 6:45 p.m. for a report of a shooting in the food court. Investigators believe the shooting was a result of an altercation between an unknown number of suspects and at least one of the gunshot victims.

Apparent shooting incident brings flood of emergency responders to Christiana Mall. #netde pic.twitter.com/pyIxZGsSwp  William Bretzger (@billbretz) April 8, 2023

"It has not been confirmed how many suspects were involved," Delaware State Police Cpl. Jason Hatchell said.

Police said they have not arrested anyone yet, but said that there were no public safety concerns at the mall after sweeping and clearing the building Saturday night.

The mall remained closed after the shooting Saturday, and police advised people to avoid the area.

Police also set up a reunification area by the north entrance to the mall near the AT&T store.

Social media reports describe mall gunfire

Police, fire and medical personnel respond in force to the food court entrance at the Christiana Mall after a shooting Saturday evening, April 8, 2023.

Dozens of social media posts reported there was a shooting in the mall long before police released information publicly. This included people who said they were at the mall when the gunfire occurred. Some posted videos of them being directed to hide in store backrooms.

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One person was seen being taken away in an ambulance.

Witness recounts hearing gunshots inside mall

Police stood outside Christiana Mall for an apparent shooting on April 8, 2023.

David P. Neff of Elkton, Maryland, said he was at the mall food court Saturday night with his partner and a friend when he heard gunshots coming from near the Barnes & Noble and Chik-Fil-A.

Neff said that as soon as the gunshots went off, everyone in the mall  Neff included  started running. People were screaming, and Neff said he lost his partner at one point but later reunited with him.

I was definitely scared," Neff said.

He said he wondered if those were his final minutes.

I told my mom and my co-worker what was happening, and it was heartbreaking because I didnt know if this was the last time I would speak to them," Neff said.

Family hid inside Macy's storage area

Susan Menasion was at Macy's Saturday night waiting for her daughter who was in the bathroom when an employee told her she had to go into one of the store's storage areas. She told the worker she wasn't going anywhere without her daughter and granddaughters.

The employee got Menasion's family and all four were ushered into a storage area where there were about 25 people.

"We were scared," the Newark-area resident said. "It was scary. We didn't know what was going on."

A woman records the scene as she is allowed to leave the Cheesecake Factory restaurant as police, fire and medical personnel respond in force to the food court entrance at the Christiana Mall after a shooting Saturday evening, April 8, 2023.

Menasion, her grandkids and her daughter were in the storage room for about 40 minutes before they were allowed to leave through back doors.

"It's scary. It really is," she said. "You hear it on the news all the time, and then when you're in the middle of it, it's scary."

Where were police and first responders?

Most first responders were centered on the entrance to the food court, where police seemed to be investigating. Police had taped off a perimeter around the entrances to the Cheesecake Factory and Barnes & Noble.

Shoppers leave the mall as police, fire and medical personnel respond in force to the food court entrance at the Christiana Mall after a shooting Saturday evening, April 8, 2023.

Police manned the area with long rifles and asked the dozens of onlookers to back up, saying the area hadn't been declared safe. A police helicopter was also flying above the mall as first responder vehicles with lights flashing sat stationed between Target and Nordstrom.

Access to Christiana Mall closed

Traffic was gridlocked around the mall, eventually prompting Mall Road to close.

Officials then blocked the ramps to keep everyone who was not a first responder from entering the mall area.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Christiana Mall shooting: 3 shot, 5 injured Saturday in Delaware
for Rolling Stone - Credit: Photographs by Cornell Watson for Rolling Stone

The afternoon of May 21, 2020, Yolanda Irving was relaxing in her bedroom in East Raleigh, North Carolina. The city was in the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic, so her three kids milled around the apartment. Irvings teenage daughter, Cydneea, was in her room across the hall, and her 20-year-old son, Juwan, was in his wheelchair playing video games. Outside, Irvings youngest, Jalen, then 12, sat on the stoop with three teenage neighbors.

Suddenly, more than a dozen officers from the Raleigh Police Departments Vice and Selective Enforcement Unit (SEU, the departments version of SWAT) ran at the boys with riot shields and assault rifles, according to interviews and multiple lawsuits against the city of Raleigh. Thinking they were about to be shot, the boys ran inside for safety. Jalen darted into his mothers apartment with his 16-year-old neighbor Ziyel. Jalen screamed, SWAT! SWAT! Please dont shoot! Please dont shoot!

More from Rolling Stone

As a few officers burst through Irvings door, other agents pursued the two other boys, 15-year-old Ziquis and 18-year-old Dyamond, into the apartment of neighbor Kenya Walton. There, they held Ziquis, Waltons pregnant 20-year-old daughter, and her autistic 15-year-old son at rifle point. They did the same thing in Irvings apartment, even screaming at the wheelchair-bound Juwan to get on the floor.

I kept trying to tell them that my son is handicapped, please dont shoot, Irving says. The officers didnt relent until Juwan pulled up his pants to reveal the brace on his leg, showing them that it was impossible for him to comply. Down the hall, Irvings daughter pleaded with the officers not to shoot their dog.

Walton, who was out picking up groceries for dinner, got a call from a friend that her apartment was under siege. When she arrived back home, an officer approached her with his gun drawn. He escorted her through the back door of her home.

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Confused, Walton asked her kids, What did yall do? She turned to the officers and repeatedly asked, What did they do?

The officers searched the apartments for an hour and a half for heroin. They found nothing. Kenya Walton and Yolanda Irving are drivers for special-needs children. They arent heroin dealers. Theyve never even seen the drug.

Afterward, Omar Abdullah, the lead detective on the raid, briefly spoke with Irving and handed her the search warrant for her home. When Irving saw the photo for the residence attached to Abdullahs warrant, she knew immediately: He had the wrong address. And Abdullah didnt have a warrant at all for Waltons home.

As Irving screamed curses at Abdullah for tearing up the wrong home, he simply turned and walked away. The RPD didnt help her or Walton clean up, and the women say they have yet to receive an apology for the invasion.

The Vice and SEU raid was in fact meant for a man named Marcus Vanirvin, who lived a few hundred feet away in Irvings apartment complex. As their homes were searched, the women saw police arrest him for heroin trafficking when he took out the trash. Then the cops searched his home but found no drugs. The Vanirvin arrest was supposedly based on controlled buys  undercover operations in which a confidential informant is sent to purchase heroin to form the basis for drug arrests  over the two prior months, incident reports show. Vanirvin denied ever selling  or even using  heroin, and after spending more than two weeks in jail, the charges were dropped.

OMAR ABDULLAH WAS once considered RPDs finest. He joined the department in 2009 and was named RPD Employee of the Year for 2012. In 2017, Abdullah was in his early forties when he was promoted to detective in one of the departments Drug and Vice units. Once a detective, lawsuits allege, he terrorized the Black community in Raleigh through a series of narcotics arrests built on lies and fabricated evidence, with the help of an equally unreliable confidential informant. Nearly two dozen people are known to have been swept up in these arrests. All of his alleged victims were Black.

At least six men have had their convictions vacated after pleading guilty to drug charges in cases brought by Abdullah, and three federal civil rights lawsuits  including one stemming from the Irving and Walton raids  have been filed related to his police work.

Attorneys for one of Abdullahs alleged victims estimate in a lawsuit that from Aug. 16, 2018, through May 21, 2020  when Abdullah was suspended following the raid on the Irving and Walton homes  the officer and an informant conspired to make at least 29 separate controlled buys, most if not all of which involved fake drugs or real narcotics that were planted on the alleged sellers. The attorneys say that about half of these controlled buys resulted in cases that were dismissed because fake heroin was planted on people. In the case of the Irving raid, the heroin that was used to secure the warrant was likely brown sugar.

Its not just Abdullah whos doing this, but there is evidence that a number of other officers either did it or knew it was being done and did nothing about it, says prominent North Carolina civil rights attorney Bradley Bannon, who is not involved in the Raleigh lawsuits. When theres no consequence for something, the only thing youre left with is just individual personal moral codes or consciences, and thats never been relied upon by any society Im aware of to regulate conduct.

Specialized police units focused on narcotics and violent crime have been a fixture of modern policing since at least the 1980s, and have been notorious for violating peoples constitutional rights. In Atlanta, the Red Dog Unit (an acronym for Run Every Drug Dealer Out of Georgia), formed around 1988, was known for violence  including the killing of a 92-year-old woman during a botched drug raid in 2006  before it was retired in 2011 and later rebranded as Titan. In Baltimore, the notorious Gun Trace Task Force ran the streets until a series of indictments ranging from robbery to drug dealing brought down the unit in 2017, and pulled the Baltimore Police Department into a federally mandated overhaul due to its civil rights abuses. (This misconduct is the subject of two books as well as an HBO limited series from David Simon.) Last fall, an internal probe of a crime suppression team in the Washington, D.C., police force led to prosecutors dropping charges in 65 gun cases. And in January this year, five police officers in Memphis Scorpion Unit were charged with murder for beating Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, to death after a traffic stop. The furor over Nichols death prompted the Justice Department to launch an investigation into specialized units nationwide in March.

In Raleigh, lawsuits claim that multiple residences have been breached on faulty or fabricated evidence with no-knock or quick-knock warrants obtained in search of narcotics and executed with the aid of the SEUs paramilitary officers  the same kinds of raids that led to the deaths of Amir Locke in Minneapolis last year and Breonna Taylor in Louisville in 2020. And since 2013, at least 12 people have been killed by RPD officers, all but one of them a person of color. In mid-January, a Black man was tased to death by Raleigh cops in a parking lot after police initiated a search because they thought he might have drugs. (The six officers were placed on administrative leave. Investigations by the police department and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are ongoing.)

ASIDE FROM ABDULLAH, the other constant in each of the dismissed cases is his confidential informant, Dennis Williams, who was unhoused in 2018 and desperate for cash.

That summer, Williams was arrested by Abdullah and another RPD officer for passing off aspirin as cocaine to a confidential informant. Despite having a lengthy and violent criminal history, Williams, then 24, was recruited to be an informant himself and paid for his services. The officers nicknamed Williams Aspirin and set him to work scouring the city for heroin peddlers virtually unchecked, according to lawsuits.

Gregory Washington stands in a parking lot in Raleigh, North Carolina where he was wrongly arrested by Raleigh Police Department.

On Feb. 28, 2020, Gregory Washington drove with his brother to pick up his friend Diontre Greene and take him to work. Greene asked to pick up Williams on the way. They met Williams outside a Food Lion supermarket in East Raleigh, and he got into the back seat. Within moments, Washington says, Williams opened his door and frantically dashed across an open field near the parking lot. Washington threw his car in reverse to get away from whatever bad thing he assumed was coming his way, then heard gunfire and felt bullets hitting his car. Im looking at the people in my car, and they looking at me, and we all feel like were about to die, Washington recalls.

When Washington looked up, he says, he saw three police officers pointing their guns at him. Another officer pulled Greene from the back seat by his dreadlocks and threw him to the ground. Washington got out and saw the parking lot filled with unmarked police cars. Its looking like a movie scene, he says. The officers cuffed Washington, sat him on the curb, and then tore the speakers out of his car. Im looking at my brother like, Whats going on?

Things clicked into place for Washington: The van driver who stared him down when he picked up Greene, the feeling that they were being followed, picking up Williams in a grocery parking lot  Williams had set them up.

Washington was taken to a satellite RPD facility in Northeast Raleigh where, he says, he was strip-searched and interrogated. There, he met Abdullah. The officers eyes were piercing and shaky. He kind of looked like a drug addict, Washington says. Im just looking like, Whats wrong with this dude? Washington was charged in Wake County court with trafficking heroin and conspiracy to traffic heroin, and he spent six days in jail before posting bond with the help of friends and family. But the charges remained.

As Washingtons case made its way through the court system, Greenes case was on a different and far more consequential track. He was a convicted felon, and the officers had found a gun on him, which exacerbated his trafficking charge. His case was given to then-Wake County assistant public defender Jackie -Willingham. She asked Greene if he was selling heroin  there were plea deals available for people who cooperate with law enforcement. He told her he was innocent.

Willingham was given two more Abdullah cases based on evidence provided by Williams. Both clients maintained their innocence and said they didnt know where the heroin found on them had come from. Willingham notified an assistant district attorney with the Wake County DAs office that something seemed off about her three cases  they were Black men arrested by Abdullah, and their stories were oddly similar.

Willingham also looked up other Abdullah cases and called the defense attorneys assigned to them. They said their clients had all told them the same story: They didnt touch heroin. Willingham emailed a Wake County ADA about the irregularities. The ADA emailed her back, insisting that her clients were all part of the same Blood set, meaning they were in the same gang. Not satisfied, Willingham asked a private investigator in the public defenders office, who is a former RPD Vice member, to look into her clients. The PI pulled reports, cross-referenced databases, and made some calls. He couldnt identify any current gang affiliation with the men.

On June 5, 2020, the lab results on the substance found in Greenes case, which Adbullah had claimed was heroin, came back negative for drugs. A couple of weeks later, Willingham got an email from an ADA who questioned the videos submitted as evidence for the drug purchases. By June 30, the DAs office was dismissing Willinghams Abdullah cases and a dozen others, often because the informant  Williams  was deemed unreliable.

Though her cases were over, Willingham wanted to warn other defense attorneys to be on the lookout for cases with Abdullahs name attached, and she wanted a notice appended to his file. So that July, she wrote a letter to the RPD and Wake County DAs office saying she was bothered by what she had uncovered, and that there are more cases that need to be investigated.

That September, Abdullah was placed on administrative leave. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation also launched an independent review of his cases a month later.

As investigations brewed behind the scenes, the men whod allegedly been framed began to coalesce and look for accountability.

Shortly after the cases were dismissed in the summer of 2020, Washington reached out to a friend of his named Blake Banks, who had also been arrested by Abdullah, to see if he might be interested in filing a lawsuit.

Blake Banks stands in the parking lot of a former Xerox facility in Raleigh, North Carolina where he was wrongly arrested by Raleigh Police Department.

Banks, whod gone to high school with Williams, had been in and out of jail and prison, mostly for crimes related to selling weed. The men ran into each other once while incarcerated, but otherwise hadnt been in touch. After Banks was paroled on a gun charge in November 2018, he worked hard to rebuild his life. He got two jobs after he was released from prison, then moved on to construction, and finally transitioned to freight-truck hauling.

About a year after he was released from prison, Banks says, Williams hit him up on Facebook and asked where he could buy heroin. Banks told Williams he didnt get down with people like that, adding in a polite brushoff that he would see what he could do. But Williams kept texting about drugs, Banks says. One time, Williams said he was at the spot where they agreed to do a buy. I said, Bro, I never said that I had anything for you,  Banks remembers. Eventually, Banks stopped responding to Williams messages.

On a late-December morning in 2019, after driving with his godmother to drop off her daughter at work, their car was swarmed by the RPD. Officers pulled Banks from the car, and handcuffed him in front of his family.

It brought me to tears, man, because I thought my life was over, Banks says. I thought I was really about to be guilty for something that I dont even know what I did.

According to Abdullahs incident reports, Banks had set up a heroin buy with informant Williams on Nov. 26, 2019. Abdullah wrote that on Dec. 11, 2019, he also watched Banks and another man sell heroin to Williams.

When Abdullah moved in for the arrest that day with other officers, he claimed, Banks sped off in a red Dodge Charger, and the other man simply ran away.

But Banks didnt arrange a drug buy on Dec. 11; his receipts show he was out of the state on a truck delivery. And as for the supposed sale that occurred in November, lab tests came back negative for drugs.

Banks was able to post bond with the help of family, but his relationships with them were strained. His mom thought he was back to selling; his girlfriend broke up with him. And social media was hell  his mug shot was everywhere.

For Washingtons part, with the bond and legal fees resulting from his case, he owed more than $22,000 in court debt. Over the next year, he worked up to 12 hours a day between construction and driving for Lyft to dig himself out of debt.

He still suffers from intense anxiety from that day his car was shot in the supermarket parking lot with what he later learned were rubber bullets. And hes never sure what might set him off.

I could be parked somewhere and it could be dark outside and Ill think about it, he says. I remember the shots, how I felt at that moment.

Bro, I dont know if you ever felt like you was about to die. Thats a feeling youll never forget.

ONCE WILLINGHAMS ABDULLAH cases were dismissed, she referred those clients to Abraham Rubert-Schewel, a civil rights attorney in Durham who got his start clerking for Jack Weinstein, then the last living member of Thurgood Marshalls legal team that prepared Brown v. Board of Education.

After he gathered five plaintiffs who said they were framed by Abdullah, Rubert-Schewel reviewed the states investigation into the detective.

It was all these people who had had large parts of their lives taken away by blatant, clear misconduct, and it was kept away in this secret file where no one could really know about it, Rubert-Schewel says.

Through depositions and discovery, he says he confirmed that at least six other officers knew that Abdullahs arrests were bogus  but didnt stop him. Abdullahs supervising sergeant, William Rolfe, provided little oversight, according to the federal civil rights lawsuits. In his deposition, Rolfe said he routinely broke with written RPD oversight policies for supervisors because that was the norm. It was just status quo, he said in a deposition. [T]here was nobody around saying, This is OK, thats OK. You just do it. Youve learned to do from your predecessors.

Four other officers told Abdullah that the heroin Williams turned in looked like brown sugar. And the lawsuits and depositions indicate they allowed arrests to occur after field tests came back negative. In a text thread among the officers, they joked about taking  bets on whether Aspirin would again produce fake heroin,  according to a recent court filing. One of the officers did report Abdullahs pattern of false arrests to Rolfe and a supervising lieutenant. He stated in his deposition that he believed no action was taken because Abdullah is Muslim and Black, and the supervisors were afraid of being called out for discrimination. (The officers named in the lawsuits deny the allegations against them.)

Based on all the facts he had gathered, Rubert-Schewel filed a suit on April 26, 2021, on behalf of 12 people who were swept up in Abdullahs cases, including Washington and Banks. And five months later, the city reached a $2 million settlement with the plaintiffs. Williams was indicted by the Wake County DA on five counts of obstruction of justice.

That September, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told The Assembly, a local nonprofit news outlet: We do not have evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Officer Abdullah or others with the Raleigh Police Department. The RPD fired Abdullah in October 2021, more than a year after his scandal broke.

Omar Abdullah

At this point, word was out that Rubert-Schewel could get results. And people who had given up on accountability from the RPD were reaching out.

People like the sister of David Weaver, who told Rubert-Schewel that her brother was wrongfully convicted on cocaine-trafficking charges by Abdullah and was serving time in prison. On Aug. 23, 2018, Abdullah had pulled Weaver in for selling nearly three grams of crack cocaine  then tried to flip him to become an informant, according to Weavers lawsuit. Weaver didnt budge, and Abdullah strip-searched him and went through his clothes with another officer. Abdullah turned his back on Weaver and then produced a brown paper towel that contained 36 grams of crack cocaine, roughly the equivalent of 120 large crack rocks. Abdullah claimed in his incident report that hed found it tucked inside the subjects underwear. Weaver spent 16 months in pretrial jail and ran through multiple lawyers while maintaining his innocence. He eventually accepted a plea deal from prosecutors and was sentenced to 35-to-51 months in prison.

Rubert-Schewel was also connected with Yolanda Irving and Kenya Walton. He showed them the body-cam footage from the raid on their apartments as he built the case. Both women were overwhelmed when they saw the scene from the officers perspective. It was so disgusting to see five to six police officers chasing my 12-year-old down, like he was a dog, Irving says.

But Irving wasnt the only person whod said she had her home breached by the RPD based on faulty evidence. Kesha Knight, now 43, has been disabled since 2011 from multiple strokes and needs a cane or walker for mobility. Her federal civil rights complaint states that on Feb. 12, 2020, she had just gotten out of the shower in her apartment in Northeast Raleigh and was wearing only pajama bottoms and a bra when SEU officers broke into her home. She was later hospitalized with chest pains and anxiety from the incident, and currently suffers from PTSD.

On April 7, 2021, Amir Abboud was at home in the East Raleigh suburbs when video from a home-security camera shows the RPD breaking through his door on a joint narcotics raid with the State Bureau of Investigation. All they found in his home was Abbouds then-pregnant wife and 11-month-old son playing on the living room floor. The boy cried when he saw the RPD point their rifles at him and his mother. After the officers seemed to realize they had the wrong person, they packed up their gear and left, Abboud said.

RECOVERING FROM THE RAID

Amir Abboud was with his then-pregnant wife and young son in their suburban Raleigh home when their door was knocked down during the execution of a search warrant intended for another person.

You got pictures, you got videos, look at em and make sure youre doing the right thing, Abboud says. Theyre getting paid by our tax money. Im paying their salary.

The State Bureau of Investigation and RPD have denied wrongdoing in the incident. Abboud reached out to lawyers in hopes of being compensated, but no one wanted to take his case. He said he was told hed spend more money fighting it than he would get in a settlement. He had given up on getting accountability until he saw details of Irvings home invasion while scrolling through YouTube at work.

Public records obtained by Rubert-Schewel show that the RPD Drugs and Vice Unit executed 438 search warrants between 2018 and 2021. A review of North Carolina search-warrant practices done by law professor Jeffrey Welty out of the University of North Carolina found that quick-knock warrants  warrants where officers announce themselves then break down the door, similar to no-knock warrants  seem to be standard practice in narcotics cases in North Carolina.

In February 2022, Rubert-Schewel, with his firm the Tin Fulton Walker & Owen Law Offices, and attorneys from Emancipate NC, a local legal-support and civil rights nonprofit, filed a lawsuit on behalf of Irving and Walton against the city of Raleigh, Abdullah, and the implicated officers. Weaver was released from prison in March 2022; his civil rights complaint was filed that June. Knights complaint was filed against the city of Raleigh and the officer who obtained the warrant in her case, on Nov. 30, 2022. Abbouds claim against the State Bureau of Investigation was filed in February. Irving and Waltons lawsuit has yet to reach a settlement and is on track for a trial.

The city of Raleigh, the Raleigh Police Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, and the North Carolina Department of Justice declined to comment for this story, and District Attorney Lorrin Freeman did not respond to multiple calls, voicemails, and emails.

MORE THAN TWO YEARS after former public defender Jackie Willingham wrote her complaint about Omar Abdullah, the former officer was indicted in July 2022 by the Wake County district attorneys office on just one count of obstruction of justice. The indictment stems from the May 21, 2020, raids on Irving, Walton, and Vanirvins apartments.

Prosecutors allege that in the Vanirvin case, Abdullah provided false statements and falsely represented the substance in the controlled buy leading up to the arrest. This offense was infamous, was committed with secrecy and malice, and was done with deceit and intent to defraud, according to the indictment. Attorneys for Abdullah and Williams did not respond to requests for comment.

Abdullah turned himself in days after the indictment. Hes pleaded not guilty to the charge. He plans on vigorously defending himself in the criminal action, his defense lawyer Christian Dysart wrote in a recent court filing. In a March 16 filing in one of the civil rights lawsuits against Abdullah, his attorney wrote that Abdullah expressly denies any allegation that he fabricated evidence. Williams has also pleaded not guilty to his charges.

This alleged deception wasnt even the impetus for stopping the scheme, in Rubert-Schewels view. Rather, it was the apparent theft of some of the cash used in the controlled buy. Rubert-Schewel says $800 was given to Williams to buy heroin from Vanirvin, but only $60 was recovered by the RPD. They knew what was happening, and they knew that the informant was producing fake heroin, he says of Abdullahs RPD Vice team. He laments that nearly two dozen Black people were wrongfully imprisoned, people lost jobs, parents were separated from their children, relationships were destroyed, but no one stopped it until [Williams] stole buy money. He believes theres a good chance most of the false-arrest cases involving Abdullah and Williams have been found, but for cases where Abdullah performed his police work without Williams, there may be dozens more that could be dismissed.

Advocates say that Wake County DA Freeman should follow the lead of the Shelby County DA in Tennessee, who is set to review all the cases involving the officers who were involved in Tyre Nichols death. I think its clear to see that there is a distinctly different way that Freeman and the Wake Countys District Attorneys Office handles interactions with law enforcement, instead of following the gold standard laid out in Memphis, says Dawn Blagrove, executive director and attorney at Emancipate NC.

Christy Lopez, a former head of civil rights litigation in the U.S. Department of Justice, who has investigated numerous police departments, including the Ferguson Police Department after the killing of Michael Brown Jr., says every case connected to Abdullah should be investigated.

These are peoples lives. Theyre in jail, they have criminal records because of, potentially, this guy lying. It should go back as far as the guys been on the force, she says. If you want to do justice, you have to be aggressive about it. You have to send a strong message: This is intolerable.

Howard Jordan, a former Oakland police chief who was an expert consultant on Rubert-Schewels first lawsuit, believed Abdullah suffered from hero-cop syndrome and cut corners to make arrests. Theyre in a position where theyre rewarded for it, Rubert-Schewel says. You add all that up and it creates kind of this toxic environment where, who cares if you get the wrong persons house on a raid? Who cares if you arrest a weed dealer for heroin trafficking? Because at the end of the day you got somebody off the street who probably was bad anyways. He gives a melancholic laugh at the absurdity of it and says, It just so happened that they were wrong about it all.

This story was produced in partnership with The Garrison Project, an independent, nonpartisan organization addressing the crisis of mass incarceration and policing.

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Justin Pearson, right, and Justin Jones meet with supporters at the State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., following moves to expel them from the House of Representatives on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Jones and Pearson were expelled while Gloria Johnson retained her seat.

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday will meet to discuss and consider reappointing Justin Pearson to the Tennessee House of Representatives.

"The protests at the State Capitol by citizens recently impacted by the senseless deaths of three 9-year-old children and three adults entrusted with their care at their school was understandable given the fact that the gun laws in the State of Tennessee are becoming nearly non-existent," Shelby County Commission Chairman Mickell Lowery said in a statement. "It is equally understandable that the leadership of the State House of Representatives felt a strong message had to be sent to those who transgressed the rules. However, I believe the expulsion of State Representative Justin Pearson was conducted in a hasty manner without consideration of other corrective action methods. I also believe that the ramifications for our great State are still yet to be seen."

The special meeting to consider reappointing Pearson to the District 86 seat will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

More: Tennessee Capitol protest explainer: Here's what did and did not happen

Pearson was expelled from the state House Thursday along with fellow Democrat, former Rep. Justin Jones, who represented Davidson County, for having led gun-reform chants that briefly disrupted House proceedings three days after three 9-year-olds and three adults were shot and killed at The Covenant School in Nashville.

A third representative, Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, was also threatened with expulsion, but eventually retained her seat by a single vote.

Vacancies at the state House can be filled on an interim basis by the county legislative body until a legislator is elected in a special election.

Lowery previously said he would seek a legal opinion on whether the commission can reappoint Pearson. Marcy Ingram, a Shelby County assistant attorney, told The Commercial Appeal she knew of no legal reason why the commission could not reappoint Pearson.

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The County Commission has a Democratic supermajority, and Commissioner Erika Sugarmon has said there are enough supporters of Pearson to successfully reappoint him and that she'll be one of them.

Commission Vice Chair Miska Clay Bibbs has also said she would support Pearson's reappointment.

"I am certain that the leaders in the State Capitol understand the importance of this action on behalf of the affected citizens here in Shelby County, Tennessee and that we stand ready to work in concert with them to assist with only positive outcomes going forward," Lowery said in the statement.

Katherine Burgess contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Special meeting called to consider reappointing Pearson
Brownsburg High School and ex-teacher John Kluge

On Friday, a federal appeals court ruled that an Indiana school district did not violate a former music teachers rights by forcing him to resign after refusing to use the names of transgender students.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a prior federal judges ruling.

As a teacher, John Kluge claimed that he would be forced to violate his religious rights by respecting the names and pronouns of transgender students.

In 2014, Kluge began teaching music and orchestra at Brownsburg High School, northwest of Indianapolis. Teachers were required to use pronouns and names listed in the schools official student database, where parent and doctor letters could be used to change them.

Kluge said that his Christian religious beliefs prevented him from acting in compliance with a school policy requiring faculty to use students preferred names and pronouns. He, along with several other teachers, informed Bret Daghe, the school principal, at the start of the 2017 school year that he had religious objections to using transgender students names and pronouns, according to court documents.

However, at least two transgender students felt isolated and hurt by Kluges refusal to use their first names in front of their peers. In addition, several other students, teachers, and counselors reported that Kluges classroom was uncomfortable.

Teachers were subsequently informed that the names and pronouns listed for students in the database would be required. Kluge asked officials whether the rule would apply to him, and they responded that he could abide by it, resign, or be fired.

In response, Kluge resigned and sued the school.

Kluge accused the school district of discrimination against religious employees in a lawsuit filed in 2019. As part of his lawsuit, he sought his job back and unspecified monetary damages.

Earlier this year, an Indiana federal judge found Kluges refusal to respect transgender students names and pronouns created undue hardship on the district, which must provide education for all its students.

In its ruling, the court noted that district officials tried to consider Kluges religious objection but realized that using last names by the music teacher disrupted the learning environment. The court found that this caused students to feel disrespected, targeted, and dehumanized.

Brownsburg has demonstrated as a matter of law that the requested accommodation worked an undue burden on the schools educational mission by harming transgender students and negatively impacting the learning environment for transgender students, for other students in Kluges classes, and in the school generally, and for faculty, the court wrote.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones will reclaim his seat in the state House of Representatives with the backing of Nashville's Council, which voted to reappoint him four days after he was expelled for leading chants for gun reform with a bullhorn on the chamber floor.

Shortly after the council vote, Jones led a crowd of hundreds in a march to the Capitol, where he was sworn in, reported the Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network.

In one of its first legislative actions following a shooting at a Nashville elementary school that killed six people, the House Republican supermajority ejected Jones with a 72-25 vote for defying House decorum  making him the first House member to be removed from elected office for a decorum violation.

Nashville's progressive-leaning council, responsible for filling the vacancy, overwhelmingly voted Jones back into the District 52 House seat Monday as an interim representative until a special election can be held to permanently fill the position. Jones is eligible to run for reelection.

House members called for the expulsion of Jones, D-Nashville, Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, and Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville  dubbed the "Tennessee Three"  after they approached the podium between bills during the session without being recognized, breaking chamber rules.

Pearson, who also used a bullhorn during the floor protest, was expelled in a 69-26 decision after hours of fierce debate. But the House failed by one vote to achieve the two-thirds majority needed to oust Johnson, who is white. Jones and Pearson are Black.

In Shelby County, at least one of 13 county commissioners has vowed to similarly reappoint Pearson to his house seat. The commission will meet Wednesday to consider the matter.

Jones re-enters House

Within minutes of taking the oath, Jones re-entered the House Chamber from which he had been expelled just four days before. Crowded galleries broke out in cheers as he walked to his desk on Johnsons arm.

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Protesters gathered at the legislative plaza on Monday to await the council's vote, chanting "No Justin. No peace."

The crowd watching Jones get sworn in. So much larger than I can get in frame. pic.twitter.com/Aef3dzrqxt  Angele Latham (@angele_latham) April 10, 2023

RACIST HISTORY: In a state fraught with racist history, GOP expulsion of 'Tennessee Three' hits a nerve

TENNESSEE THREE: What to know about the House Democrats targeted for expulsion by Republicans

Biden administration, NAACP back ousted lawmakers

The expulsions drew a national outcry. President Joe Biden spoke by phone with the ousted lawmakers and Vice President Kamala Harris visited them in Nashville. The NAACP described the ousters as "horrific (but) not surprising."

"Extremist legislators, funded by corporate interests, have a history of undermining our democracy and failing to protect their constituents  especially in the South," the NAACP said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted that Republicans may think they won in Tennessee, "but their fascism is only further radicalizing and awakening an earthquake of young people, both in the South and across the nation."

Justin Jones (center) reacts as the Metro Council votes to send him back to the House of Representatives on Monday after his expulsion last week.

Why were Tennessee Democrats being expelled?

Jones, Pearson and, Johnson dubbed the "Tennessee three," faced expulsion for protesting over gun reform after three students and three staff members of The Covenant School were killed in a shooting in the school on March 27. Three days later, Jones and Pearson approached the House podium without being recognized, a breach of chamber rules. They led protesters in the galleries in several chants calling for gun reform.

"Their actions are and will always be unacceptable, and they break several rules of decorum and procedure on the House floor," Sexton claimed days later in a social media post. "Their actions and beliefs that they could be arrested on the House floor were an effort, unfortunately, to make themselves the victims."

Johnson has suggested race was likely a factor on why Jones and Pearson were ousted.

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," she said.

But GOP leaders have said Johnson's actions were less egregious  she was a less-active participant and had not used a megaphone. They said the expulsions had nothing to do with race but were necessary to avoid setting a precedent that lawmakers disruptions of House proceedings would be tolerated.

'WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIX IT': Why lawmakers see no chance of major gun law changes after Nashville

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Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee house expulsion was short-lived as member returns to seat
Gov. Tina Kotek on March 29 signs House bills 2001 and 5019, two bills part of a package aimed at addressing the state's ongoing housing and homelessness crisis, as legislators, advocates and agency leaders look on.

On her first full day in office as governor, Tina Kotek signed three executive orders addressing homelessness in the state. She also called for state lawmakers to approve millions in funding for the ongoing crisis.

In her inaugural address, Kotek said her goal was that the proposed "urgent investment" would help at least 1,200 Oregonians who are experiencing homelessness move off the streets within a year.

The Oregon Legislature addressed Kotek's request in House Bill 5019, one of two bills making up the $200 million affordable housing and emergency homelessness response package.

HB 5019 directed $85.2 million for local homelessness emergency plans.

A makeshift site for homeless campers in Eugene on Nov. 18.

On Monday, Kotek announced specific funding amounts local regions will receive.

The bill also appropriated $33.6 million toward preventing homelessness for an estimated 8,750 households. That funding will be distributed through existing eviction prevention programs, according to the announcement. An additional $26 million will also go towards regions that do not meet the threshold to be included in the emergency order.

How much will regions receive?

The Portland/Gresham/Multnomah County region will receive $18.2 million to rehouse 275 households and create 138 new shelter beds.

The Eugene/Springfield/Lane County region will receive $15.5 million to rehouse 247 households and create 230 new shelter beds.

The Central Oregon region will receive $13.9 million to rehouse 161 households and create 111 new shelter beds.

The Salem/Marion County/Polk County region will receive $10.4 million to rehouse 158 households and create 79 new shelter beds.

The Medford/Ashland/Jackson County region will receive $8.8 million to rehouse 133 households and create 67 shelter beds.

The Hillsboro/Beaverton/Washington County region will receive $8 million to rehouse 121 households and create 61 new shelter beds.

Clackamas County will receive $4.4 million to rehouse 130 households.

People hang around ARCHES homeless shelter Jan. 10 in Salem.

How was this funding determined?

Funding amounts are based on many factors, according to the statement released by Kotek's office.

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Factors include the appropriation made by the state Legislature, plans submitted by the local communities themselves, and a formula developed by Oregon's housing finance agency, Oregon Housing and Community Services.

When will the money arrive?

Each region did not receive its full funding request as requests from the regions within the emergency order totaled $98.8 million. OHCS will send each region an announcement of its funding and an updated timeline to finalize grant agreements.

The goal is for communities to have funding available by April 28.

"I want to thank everyone who has stepped up to help move this work forward," Kotek said in the statement. "This alone won't solve this crisis, but it is a significant downpayment on our efforts. It will build the new, outcomes-oriented infrastructure we need to address homelessness heading into the next year."

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Governor Kotek announces details of $85.2 million toward homelessness
NATO poses a threat to Russian imperialism not Russian security  opinion 10 April, 01:36 PM Kremlin (Photo:REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov)

Finland has just become the thirty-first member of NATO and the silence from across the border in Russia is deafening. For more than a year, the Kremlin has been using the distant prospect of Ukrainian NATO membership to justify the largest European conflict since World War II. In stark contrast, Moscow has offered virtually no resistance whatsoever to neighboring Finland joining the alliance, despite the fact that this has more than doubled the length of NATOs shared border with Russia.

Russias apparent lack of concern over Finlands NATO accession raises obvious questions about the validity of Vladimir Putins efforts to portray the invasion of Ukraine as a reasonable response to creeping NATO enlargement. If Putin genuinely felt NATO posed a security threat to Russia, he could have attempted to derail Finlands membership bid via a combination of diplomatic and military pressure. At the very least, he could have dramatically increased the Russian army presence in the region. Instead, he did next to nothing.

Video of day

During the period since Helsinkis May 2022 NATO application, Moscow has largely limited itself to grumbling about the accession process. At the same time, Russia has reportedly withdrawn up to 80% of its forces from the Finnish border zone. The drawdown weve seen from this region in the past seven months is very significant. Russia had this ground force posture facing us for decades that is now effectively just gone, a senior Nordic defense official told Foreign Policy in September 2022.

Kremlin officials have since reacted to confirmation of Finnish membership by vowing to strengthen Russias military potential in the border area, but this belated bluster merely serves to highlight how underwhelming Russias overall response has been. The contrast with Moscows devastating use of force in nearby Ukraine could hardly be greater.

Why has Putin remained so calm over the NATO membership of one neighbor while waging a major war over the unlikely NATO aspirations of another? After all, even with the Russian army heavily committed in Ukraine, Putin still has vast additional military, diplomatic, cyber, and economic resources at his disposal and could conceivably have opposed Finlands NATO bid in a wide range of ways. This inconsistency has little to do with legitimate security concerns. Instead, it reflects the unapologetic imperialism that shapes Putins personal world view and defines modern Russias national identity.

Ever since the early years of his reign, Putin has made no secret of his bitterness over the Soviet collapse, which he has always viewed as a Russian defeat.

In 2005, when he famously referred to the disintegration of the USSR as the biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the century, he stressed that it was a tragedy for the Russian people and the millions of Russians who suddenly found themselves living beyond Russias borders in newly independent countries such as Ukraine. Putin went even further in 2021, lamenting the fall of the USSR as the collapse of historical Russia under the name of the Soviet Union. In other words, he regards the entire Soviet era as a continuation of the Czarist Russian Empire, and sees the settlement of 1991 as anything but final.

Putins sense of historical injustice has led to an unhealthy obsession with Ukraine, which he insists is an inherent part of historical Russia that has been subjected to artificial separation. He is fond of claiming that Ukrainians are in fact Russians (one people), and took the unusual but revealing step in July 2021 of publishing a lengthy essay arguing against the legitimacy of Ukrainian statehood.

This fixation has been further fueled by fears that the emergence of a democratic Ukraine could serve as a catalyst for similar changes inside Russia itself. Putin remains haunted by the pro-democracy uprisings that swept Central Europe in the late 1980s while he was a young KGB officer in East Germany, and views modern Ukraines embrace of democracy as a direct threat to his own authoritarian regime. It is no coincidence that in the build up to last years invasion, Putin began referring to Ukraine as an intolerable anti-Russia.

Over the past 13 months of full-scale war, Putins imperial objectives in Ukraine have become increasingly evident. He has compared his invasion to the eighteenth century imperial conquests of Russian Czar Peter the Great, and has repeatedly spoken of returning historical Russian lands while attempting to annex four partially occupied Ukrainian regions representing almost 20% of the war-torn country. Meanwhile, his army has imposed brutal policies of russification throughout occupied Ukraine, complete with summary executions, forced deportations, the suppression of Ukrainian national symbols, and widespread use of torture against anyone deemed a potential opponent of Russian rule.

Putins imperialistic views on Ukraine are regarded as uncontroversial by domestic Russian audiences. While public enthusiasm for the invasion may vary, many Russians share Putins rejection of Ukrainian statehood, while millions appear comfortable embracing an unambiguously imperial agenda. However, such messaging would be disastrous on the international stage. To counter this, Putin has sought to frame the invasion of Ukraine as a defensive measure by emphasizing Russias longstanding grievances over NATOs post-1991 enlargement.

This approach has played well in an international climate colored by anti-Western sentiment and widespread suspicion of Americas dominant role in global affairs. Over the past year or so, the NATO expansion argument has proved easily the most effective of the multiple narratives promoted by the Kremlin to defend the invasion. While international audiences have remained largely unconvinced by Russian attempts to portray the war as a fight against everything from Western cancel culture to Satanists and fictitious Ukrainian Nazis, Moscows accusations toward NATO have resonated around the world. Kremlin claims of NATO responsibility for the war have been echoed by everyone from Chinese President Xi Jinping to prominent Western academics and even Pope Francis.

The success of Russias NATO expansion narrative has distorted international perceptions of what is the most brazen example of European aggression since the days of Hitler and Stalin. It has encouraged many commentators to view the war as a clash between two competing superpowers rather than a genocidal invasion by an expansionist empire. This has naturally impacted efforts to end the war, with calls to help Ukraine defend itself often met by demands for NATO to de-escalate.

In reality, Russias accusations regarding NATO involvement in Ukraine have never stood up to serous scrutiny. Far from pursuing Ukraine, the alliance actually sidestepped calls to grant the country a Membership Action Plan in 2008, settling instead for vague promises of future membership. NATO has consistently refused to revise this position, even after the onset of Russian aggression against Ukraine with the 2014 seizure of Crimea. On the eve of Russias full-scale invasion last year, Ukraine was widely recognized as being decades away from potentially joining NATO.

The Kremlin has argued that even without Ukrainian membership, any deepening of cooperation between NATO and Ukraine represents an unacceptable security threat. However, this conveniently ignores the existing NATO status of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, all of which border Russia. The three Baltic states are just as close to Moscow as Ukraine, and have been full members of the alliance for almost two decades without any major incident.

The Kremlins passive acceptance of Finnish accession has now further undermined Russian attempts to pose as victims of NATO aggression. After insisting for years that NATOs largely imaginary presence in Ukraine posed an existential threat to Russia, Moscow must explain why the recent advance of the alliance to Russias 1,340 km Finnish border is so comparatively inconsequential. They may wish to present a very different picture to international audiences, but Putin and his Kremlin colleagues clearly recognize that any talk of a NATO attack on Russia is absurd.

This is not to say that Russian displeasure over NATO enlargement is entirely manufactured. On the contrary, Moscows objections are real enough, but they are rooted in resentment rather than genuine security concerns. The Kremlins frustration over the expanding presence of the alliance is not difficult to understand. While NATO poses no plausible security threat to Russia itself, it does create major obstacles for Russian imperialism. Put simply, NATO prevents Russia from bullying its neighbors.

This should provide critics of NATO enlargement with food for thought. Opponents have long accused the alliance of provoking Russia by welcoming countries from the former Eastern Bloc, but it is now painfully apparent that the decision to keep Ukraine internationally isolated was actually far more provocative in practice. Indeed, the security guarantees that come with NATO membership are probably the only reason why we are not currently confronted by an even larger war and further Russian invasions. Unless Ukraine can secure similar security guarantees, a lasting peace in Eastern Europe will likely remain elusive.

This story was originally published by the Atlantic Council. NV is republishing it with permission.

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For the first time in American history, a former president has been indicted, this time by a grand jury and District Attorney in Manhattan for allegedly making pre-election hush money payoffs to a pornographic actress and a Playboy Bunny.

In the coming weeks, Donald J. Trump could be facing a cascading number of additional criminal in Georgia and by the Department of Justice for his scheme to overturn the 2020 election, his hoarding of top secret documents at Mar-a-Lago and the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Trump is the current frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, even though he has called for the termination of the U.S. Constitution, while dining with neo-Nazis and white supremacists. He threatened death and destruction if he is indicted.

Former President Donald Trump appears in court for his arraignment, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York. Trump surrendered to authorities ahead of his arraignment on criminal charges stemming from a hush money payment to a porn actor during his 2016 campaign

The most prominent Trump supporter in Indiana to this day in the 2024 cycle is U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, the probable U.S. Senate nominee, who was endorsed by Trump earlier this year. Banks told the Washington Examiner, Donald Trump remains a very popular figure in the Republican Party in each corner of the country.

After Trump chose Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to be his running mate and won a freak upset victory in 2016, there were 25 or so Hoosiers who joined the administration.

How did that work out for them? Lets call the roll:

Vice President Pence: Once Trumps loyal vice president, Pence found himself under pressure to use his ceremonial U.S. Senate role affirming the Electoral College count on Jan. 6, 2021, to foil an attempted coup detat Trump was seeking. That resulted in the U.S. Capitol insurrection with seven deaths and 140 injured cops. The mob chanted, Hang Mike Pence as he, his wife, one of his daughters and congressman brother fled for their safety just seconds ahead of the mob. President Trump was wrong, Pence said in March. I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable. Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace.

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Director of Intelligence Dan Coats: The outgoing Indiana U.S. senator joined the Trump administration in the top intelligence post. It wasnt long before Coats began to think that Trump was impervious to facts. To him, a lie is not a lie, Coats is quoted as saying to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in Bob Woodwards book Rage. Coats added, Its just what he thinks. He doesnt know the difference between the truth and a lie. Coats was fired by a Trump tweet in 2019. Woodward writes that Coats believed Trump has no moral compass and couldnt shake the suspicion that Trump must be beholden to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Coats ended up thinking Trump was an unstable threat to their country.

Former RNC Committeewoman Marsha Coats: She was a clinical psychologist who was initially skeptical of Trump, but helped Pence convince her husband to join the administration. Marsha Coats penned a letter to Trump after he had secured the nomination, raising her concerns. I gave that letter to Donald Trump, Sen. Coats said of a meeting the nominee had with Republican senators. When Trump appeared in Fort Wayne, He sought her out, the senator said. He said, Marsha, I will not let you down. Marsha Coats would say, God is so big he can even humble Donald Trump. In Woodwards book Rage, Marsha Coats confronted Pence at a White House dinner after something outrageous had happened. And I just looked at him, like, How are you stomaching this? Marsha Coats is quoted as saying. And he just whispered in my ear, Stay the course.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams: The former Indiana health commissioner was recruited by Pence to become Trumps surgeon general. After leaving office, he struggled to find a job before then-Purdue President Mitch Daniels hired him. People still are afraid to touch anything that is associated with Trump, Adams told the Washington Post. The Trump hangover is still impacting me in significant ways.

President Donald Trump watches as U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams holds up his COVID-19 face mask on April 22, 2020.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar: The former Eli Lilly executive became the second Hoosier to take the helm of the Health & Human Services post. When he resigned following the Jan. 6 insurrection, Azar said that Trumps actions and rhetoric had tarnished the administrations legacy. The attacks on the Capitol were an assault on our democracy and on the tradition of peaceful transitions of power that the United States of America first brought to the world, Azar wrote in his resignation letter to then-President Trump. I implore you to continue to condemn unequivocally any form of violence.

Medicaid/Medicare Commissioner Seema Verma: According to NBC News, she told staffers that she was repulsed by the way the vice president was treated outside and inside the administration. It was very disturbing. And it was, it was very, very hard to watch, Verma said of the attack on the Capitol, having witnessed events unfold from her office window.

RNC Committeeman John Hammond III: Asked by The New York Times earlier this year if re-nominating Trump would be a mistake, Hammond said, To win 50% plus one in the Electoral College requires us to find an alternative and I think weve got plenty of good choices. We cant be a cult of personality any longer.

The columnist is managing editor of Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs at StateAffairs.com/pro/Indiana. Find Howey on Facebook and Twitter @hwypol.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: A roll call of Hoosiers who signed on with recently indicted president
Hard to find bottles of whiskey sit behind the counter at Weiland's Market in Columbus, Ohio on June 27, 2019.

It's once again time for the Ohio Spring Bottle Lottery, a beloved holiday for Ohio bourbon drinkers.

Ohio Liquor is giving fans another chance to buy one of eight rare whiskeys, ranging in price from $40 to almost $1,200.

The products are:

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon - $40.99

Weller Single Barrel - $49.99

Willett Family Estate 6yr Bourbon Btb - $131

Blanton's Straight From the Barrel - $150

Parkers Heritage Collection 16th Edition - $174.99

Willett Family Estate 8yr Bourbon Btb - $235.98

Old Fitzgerald 19 Yr Bottled In Bond Decanter - $239.99

Michter's Single Barrel 20 - $1149.99

Entries must be submitted online through the Ohio Liquor website. The Ohio Bottle Lottery is limited to one entry per person and there is no cost to enter. Entrants must be Ohio residents at least 21 years old.

A person may enter for any or all five bottles, but they are only eligible to win one bottle. Bottles available for purchase will be determined by the Ohio Division of Liquor Control staff based on availability from the supplier.

The lottery started Monday and goes through April 18.

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tmoorman@dispatch.com

@taijuannichole

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Spring Bottle Lottery: Win rare whiskeys starting at $40
This photo provided by Indiana State Police shows the scene of a fatal shooting in Mitchell, Ind., Feb. 5, 2023. A prosecutor has cleared two Indiana law enforcement officers of any criminal wrongdoing in a fatal shooting in February. City of Mitchell Police Officer Christian Anderson and Lawrence County Sheriff's Deputy Joshua Rhoades exchanged gunfire with Anthony Richmond during a traffic stop on Feb. 5 in the city of Mitchell.

MITCHELL, Ind. (AP)  A prosecutor has cleared two Indiana law enforcement officers of any criminal wrongdoing in connection with a fatal shooting during a traffic stop in February.

Lawrence County Prosecutor Samuel C. Arp II said he has reviewed the incident and decided City of Mitchell Police Officer Christian Anderson and Lawrence County Sheriff's Deputy Joshua Rhoades' actions were justified, WXIN-TV reported Monday.

According to Indiana State Police, the officers stopped 29-year-old Anthony Richmond of West Baden Springs on Feb. 5 for a traffic violation in Mitchell, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) southwest of Indianapolis. They discovered drugs in his car and were trying to handcuff Richmond when he fled on foot.

The officers chased Richmond down. He pulled out a handgun and fired at them at point-blank range, the state police said. Anderson was hit once and Rhoades was hit twice. Either Rhoades or Anderson managed to return fire, killing him.

Both officers survived their wounds.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Prosecutor: actions of officers justified fatal Mitchell traffic stop
WASHINGTON  Pentagon officials offered a dire assessment of the damage done by the leak of highly classified documents about the war in Ukraine and U.S. spying, saying the unauthorized disclosures could cost lives.

The secrets exposed in the leak appear to include the shortage of critically needed artillery shells for Ukrainian forces ahead of an expected spring offensive, U.S. spy planes in the region and information revealing the extent of U.S. spying on its adversaries and allies.

Pentagon spokesman Chris Meagher told reporters Monday that the secrets disclosed in the leaks could have "tremendous implications." While declining to verify the veracity of the documents, Meahger said the information they contain "could lead to people losing their lives."

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was briefed on the document leak on April 6, Meagher said.

The documents, which have appeared on social media, seem to show printouts of battlefield updates and assessments. Some are labeled top secret, and not to be shared with even allies. The Justice Department has begun a criminal investigation at the Pentagon's behest.

At the White House, John Kirby, the coordinator for strategic communications for the National Security Council, told reporters that President Joe Biden had also been briefed on the document leaks.

He declined to speak about any specific intelligence but noted the administration knows that "some" have been doctored and is still working through the validity of the documents that are public.

"We don't know whose behind this, we don't know what the motive is," Kirby said. "We don't know what else might be out there."

The Department of Defense continues to review and assess the validity of the photographed documents that are circulating on social media sites and that appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said in a statement.

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Some of the documents appear to show battlefield updates from early March. Some of the documents appear to have been altered, Meagher said. One update, for example, shows estimates of Russian war dead and wounded far below the 200,000 casualties cited by administration and western officials.

The documents appear to have been used to update senior officials, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the war in Ukraine that Russian President Vladmir Putin launched in February 2022. They are used, Meahger said, by a variety of people and governement agencies to inform their work. He refused to say how many people would have had access to them.

The disclosures present "a very serious risk to national security," Meagher said.

Opinions on the seriousness of the leaks vary, however. A senior administration official told USA TODAY that most of the documents concerning Ukraine have limited value as they're more than a month old, and battlefield conditions change daily.

Michael O'Hanlon, a defense expert at the Brookings Institution, judged it to be "moderately serious."

"I'm mostly concerned about the Russians figuring out what which of their communications we can hear," O'Hanlon said.

Part of that concern is mitigated by U.S. officials leaking Russian plans for the invasion last year, O'Hanlon said. The fact that the Russians continue to communicate in ways that U.S. intelligence can intercept indicates that the Russians "don't have all that many good options for doing things more securely."

Leakers of top government secrets face stiff penalties. Chelsea Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013 for her role in leaking classified government material to WikiLeaks, although President Barack Obama commuted her sentence in 2017.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pentagon document leak containing details on Ukraine War could kill
An apparent hungry moose caused quite a stir when it walked through the doors of Alaska's largest hospital in Anchorage Thursday  and began munching on plants in the lobby.

Video posted to social media showed the young moose chewing the leaves nonchalantly as security guards approached the moose inside Providence Alaska Medical Center.

"There's a moose in our hospital, guys," one witness said in a video posted on Facebook. "It's just chilling. Hungry."

A moose wandered into a Providence hospital lobby in Anchorage on Thursday, April 6, 2023. / Credit: Providence Alaska

"This is the best," another person is heard saying. "Like, what's the code for this?"

Although wildlife sightings are a normal occurrence on the hospital campus, there is no code for when a moose enters a building, Mikal Canfield, a spokesperson for Providence Alaska, told CBS News.

"Moose visit throughout the year and we see an occasional bear during the summer months," Canfield said, adding most are without incident. "This is the first time in recent memory that a moose has come inside."

The security team is seen on video moving the furniture around  and was eventually able to coax the moose back outside. A few people are heard cheering when the moose exited through the automatic doors.

After finding a patch of grass, it settled down for a nap, according to Canfield.

This isn't the first time a moose has found its way inside an Anchorage medical facility. A similar encounter occurred in January 2019 when a moose wandered into Alaska Regional Hospital.

CBS Anchorage affiliate KYES reported earlier this week that a woman was recently stunned when she let her dog out  leaving the door open a crack  only to come back and find a moose munching on plants inside the home.

"I think I stared at it for three to four seconds before it really dawned on me that he's really in my house," Barbara Nickels told the station.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game warns that although moose are perceived to be friendly and gentle, sometimes they can become dangerous.

During the fall mating season  or "in rut"  moose may be aggressive toward humans. In late spring and summer, moose with young calves are very protective and will attack humans who come too close. In addition, moose view dogs as a threat.

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Officials say more people are injured by moose than bears in Alaska each year.

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Sen. Linda Ujifusa is sponsoring a bill that would amend state law to allow veterans of the United States National Guard who served in military conflicts to receive exemptions on their property taxes.

The brave men and women who served in combat areas in the National Guard should be eligible for the same tax benefits as our other veterans, said Ujifusa, D-Portsmouth, in a press release. This bill is the least we can do to show our appreciation for their sacrifice.

Speaking to The Daily News, Ujifusa, who is a member of the Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs Committee, was quick to give credit for the proposal to her predecessor in District 11.

Members of the Rhode Island National Guard 43rd Military Police Brigade gathered with family for a departure ceremony in 2022. A bill filed by R.I. state Sen. Linda Ujifusa would extend property tax exemptions to members of the National Guard.

My predecessor Jim Seveney had been working on it, she explained, and when I first got elected he flagged this.

She said she has not discussed the bill with any constituents, but called it a no-brainer to include National Guard veterans alongside veterans of the active duty branches of the US armed services.

State law provides a $1,000 property tax exemption to veterans who served in active conflict settings

Under current state law (Section 44-3-4 of RI General Laws entitled "Property Subject to Taxation"), active duty military veterans who served in a war, conflict or undeclared war  including every veteran who served from 1947-1991 during the Cold War  are eligible for a $1,000 exemption on their property taxes.

Iraq War anniversary: Newport veterans reflect on service, society and the legacy of the Iraq War

There is an additional tax exemption for veterans who were prisoners of war, an additional $10,000 exemption from local taxation on real property for some disabled veterans and disabled veterans who own homesteads acquired or modified with a grant from the VA may be completely tax exempt. Some municipalities have also passed ordinances providing larger exemptions to combat veterans.

Veterans of the National Guard are not eligible for such exemptions, even if they were deployed to a conflict zone.

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The National Guard has frequently been deployed to combat settings throughout American history

You would think National Guard veterans would be included naturally, and they would get the same benefits, said Anselm Richards, a National Guard veteran who fought in Iraq and now serves as the Newport VFW post commander. My ID card never said National Guard; it said Army. Why would we not be treated the same? I wear the same uniform, I take the same tests, Im held to the same standard and I fight the same enemy.

Noting the history of service of guardsmen predates the establishment of the United States, Richards continued, Whats fair is fair  bullets dont discriminate, right? Tours of duty dont discriminate. Why are we treating one veteran or one servicemember any different than another?

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The Rhode Island National Guard traces its history from the Trainee Band in Portsmouth, which was the first colonial defensive force established in Rhode Island on May 13, 1638. Since then the RI National Guard has served in conflicts including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In these latter three operations, part of what the federal government has nebulously termed the Global War on Terror, the RI Guard suffered its first combat casualties since World War II.

Sen. Louis Dipalma, D-Middletown, who heads the finance committee where Ujifusas bill is currently waiting to be discussed, agrees that National Guard combat veterans deserve to be included in the tax exemption.

Dipalma, who said he expected the bill to come up on the finance committees docket in late April or May, said, (National Guard combat veterans) categorically should be includedanything involving money you have to talk about the policy first. Put the money aside. We should do it if its the right policy, and then we have to figure out if we can afford it.

Municipal property tax exemptions for Newport County combat veterans

 Newport: the property tax exemption for combat veterans is $4,000.

 Tiverton: the town council may provide an additional tax credit of $200 or greater.

 Little Compton: may exempt real property of totally disabled veterans up to $6,000.

 Middletown: may exempt the real property of totally disabled veterans in the amount of $5,000.

 Portsmouth: may provide for an exemption of $2,000 on real property.

 Jamestown: may provide for a tax credit or exemption to any veteran of the United States armed services regardless of their qualified service dates, who was honorably discharged or who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or to the unmarried widow or widower of that person.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Property tax exemptions in RI for National Guard proposed at Statehouse
Ford Motor Co. is the industry leader in U.S. production volume, exports and U.S. hourly autoworker employment for the fifth straight year, according to 2022 data from the independent analytics firm S&P Global Mobility.

Nearly 80% of the vehicles Ford sells in the U.S. are assembled by its estimated 57,000 manufacturing workers in the U.S., the Dearborn automaker said in a news release Monday.

In 2022, Ford exported 260,000 U.S.-assembled vehicles including the F-150, Explorer and Mustang to other countries  or 65,000 more than the next closest competitor. Approximately 1 in every 7 vehicles Ford assembles in the U.S. is now exported to other markets, the data shows.

Ford says the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse will deliver 500 horsepower.

Ford has bet on American workers, including the UAW, more than any other automaker, Ford CEO Jim Farley said in the news release. We could make different decisions  as many others have done to reduce costs  but Ford is different. We will find ways to be lean and competitive while investing in our home market.

The news release details the results of an independent analysis from S&P Global Mobility, which the automaker requested, Ford spokesman Said Deep told the Detroit Free Press. The data provides confirmation of Ford's status when discussing its commitment to U.S. production and exports, he said.

In 2022, Ford assembled more than 1.8 million vehicles in the U.S., or 130,000 more than the nearest auto manufacturer, the news release said. The F-Series pickup franchise is built exclusively in Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio. The Explorer SUV is built in Illinois, and the Escape SUV is assembled in Kentucky.

Ford is the most American of all car companies, Bill Ford, Ford executive chair and great-grandson of the company founder, said in the news release. It is because of our belief in our workforce and in America that we build more vehicles and have more hourly employees here than other companies. As we pivot to an EV future, we are proud to continue to invest in America.

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Jobs: What's ahead

Also Monday, Ford reiterated its plan to create more than 18,000 manufacturing jobs across Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri over the next three years. They include:

Nearly 2,000 at three Michigan assembly plants  to build the F-150 Lightning at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, the all-new Ranger pickup at Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, and the all-new Mustang at Flat Rock Assembly Plant, plus an all-new Ford Customer Service Division packaging facility in Monroe.

Approximately 1,800 union jobs at Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake to assemble an all-new EV commercial vehicle starting mid-decade.

6,000 at Blue Oval City in west Tennessee to build Fords next electric truck and EV batteries with partner SK On.

5,000 with partner SK On at the BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale, Kentucky, for Ford and Lincoln EV batteries.

2,500 through a wholly owned subsidiary at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan in Marshall for production of lithium iron phosphate EV batteries.

1,100 to staff a new third shift at Kansas City Assembly Plant to increase production of the Transit van and E-Transit electric van.

On the eve of UAW talks

The timing of this Ford news release coincides with the start of collective bargaining negotiations with the UAW. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler-parent Stellantis are scheduled to negotiate a new four-year contract in coming months. Last time, GM was the target of a 40-day strike.

Newly elected UAW President Shawn Fain and his supporters have indicated they are preparing to strike.

New United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain addresses delegates at the union's 2023 Special Bargaining Convention, Monday, March 27, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Were here to come together to ready ourselves for the war against our one and only true enemy  multibillion-dollar corporations and employers who refuse to give our members their fair share, Fain said during the UAW special bargaining convention last month.

Apple pie and pickup trucks

Consumers generally don't seem to think much about what's made in the U.S., the latest surveys have shown, said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Cox Automotive.

"Consumers don't generally know or care," she said. "A certain segment of the population will insist on buying American, and you see that way more in Detroit. But go to Washington, D.C., and it's something like 75% imports. Consumers buy vehicles that fit their needs."

However, pickup buyers are a different story altogether, Krebs said. The American-made status may make a difference with full-size truck buyers as evidenced by the Detroit Three dominating the truck market."

And high-profit pickup trucks generate the majority of revenue for Ford.

More: Ford F-150 Lightning owners aren't like traditional pickup buyers: What they do differently

More: 'Shake up' UAW, purge staff, prepare to strike: Document reveals Shawn Fain's draft plans

More: Ford workers at 4 new plants won't automatically be UAW members: Here's why

Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Study: Ford led the industry in U.S.-assembled vehicles in 2022
DOVER  Once again, court proceedings involving Somersworth landlord Anji Reddy were swift, and once again he was not present.

Reddy has been facing numerous matters in Dover District Court since the beginning of the year, with code violations filed against him by the city and disputes with tenants.

On Tuesday, March 28, Reddy was arrested by Somersworth police on a bench warrant issued by Dover District Court after he failed to show up for one of his scheduled arraignments, on Feb. 27. In an ongoing saga, Reddy went to Somersworth police to complain one of the tenants was harassing him, but he was arrested instead.

After a large sign was taken down by management at 86 High St. in Somersworth during winter 2023, the tenant put another one in its place naming landlord Anji Reddy.

An email sent to Foster's, signed "Reddy's legal team at Reddy Infosys, Inc.", blasted the arrest and said he was unaware of the warrant for his arrest.

"We condemn it  it is insane, unfair, and fiercely aggressive. Honestly, it is unnecessary," said Reddy in the email.

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Somersworth gets second trial date with Reddy

On Monday, April 10, Somersworth code compliance officer Shane Conlin was in Dover District Court for two reasons, he said. One was Reddy's scheduled arraignment on the arrest, and the second reason was to ask for a trial date for 22 code violations at 86 High Street, one of several properties Reddy, a New Jersey resident, owns in the New Hampshire city.

The city is requesting the court grant fines of $25,000 for each of the 22 violations, potentially totaling $550,000.

There was no arraignment Monday. The court clerk said Reddy is now scheduled for a hearing Monday, May 1 on his arrest for failure to show in court.

Judge Sawako Gardner issued a trial date for the High Street violations for Monday, Oct. 2, at 1:30 p.m.

"We asked the court last week to reimpose a suspended sentence because Mr. Reddy failed to meet an agreement he made last year with us and the court for 86 High Street," Conlin said. "At that time, he pleaded guilty to code violations and a $2,500 fine was imposed. He paid $500 and the rest was suspended pending execution of an agreement. He didn't meet that, so we asked the court to reinstate the remainder of the fine."

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That decision was taken under advisement by the court last week, Conlin said.

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Conlin said in July 2022 Reddy agreed to pull permits for work he needed to do within 30 days of the ruling. He was to have completed the works within 120 days.

"It has been 473 days since that agreement," Conlin said. "Every day this continues is technically a new violation."

Reddy is also scheduled to appear in court for a trial Aug. 15 to face more code violation charges at 11 Ash St., one of the other Somersworth properties he owns.

Conlin filed civil complaints of 22 additional code violations against Reddy for failure to meet deadlines to fix code violations at 86 High St. The city is requesting the court grant fines of $25,000 for each of the 22 violations, potentially totaling $550,000.

Reddy came to the public's attention after one tenant of 86 High St., Shayntel Cormier, hung a large sign outside of her window begging Reddy to restore heat and hot water during the coldest weather this winter. She was joined in her campaign against Reddy by Caitlin Judd of 11 Ash St., who has complained about heat, water, plumbing and electrical issues, as well as a rat infestation in one of the apartments below her family's unit. The city has condemned the empty apartment.

"He has been making some effort, but not enough," Conlin said previously. "We would like to work with him and get the violations addressed."

Cormier and Judd have filed 540-A tenants rights petitions against Reddy with the court and are withholding rent until violations have been addressed. Attempts by Reddy to evict both tenants have thus far failed in court. Judd's was held until her 540-A petition is resolved, and Judge Bradley Lown of Dover District Court threw out the eviction case against Cormier, calling it unwarranted and retaliatory.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Somersworth NH landlord gets new court dates for violations
Lafayette police/file illustration

LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Road rage got the best of Tristan David Fearnow, according to Lafayette police.

Fearnow, 18, of the 12000 block of East Clinton County Road 250 South, Frankfort, became entangled in road rage incident with another driver in the area of Creasy Lane and Indiana 38 sometime before 8 p.m. Saturday.

He is suspected of pointing a firearm at the people in the other car, according to police.

Police made a traffic stop and arrested Fearnow on suspicion of pointing a firearm, reckless drive and intimidation with a deadly weapon.

By Monday afternoon, he had been released from the Tippecanoe County Jail, according to online jail records.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Teen suspected of pointing gun during Saturday night road rage
PANAMA CITY  U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn continues challenging a foreign-owned company connected to a controversy involving a local shipbuilder.

In a news release from Dunn's office, the Republican congressman representing Florida's second district addressed recent news that three senior executives of Austal Limited allegedly "manipulated financial information to cover up not meeting target goals on U.S. Navy projects." He also said the company should not be trusted with government contracts.

The Australian-based corporation is the parent company of Austal USA, an Alabama shipbuilder selected in 2022 over Eastern Shipbuilding for a more than $3 billion U.S. Coast Guard contract.

Congressman Neal Dun said in a press release this week he believes Austal USA and its foreign-owned parent company Austal Limited should not be trusted with government contracts.

"The news of Austal executives lying and covering up vital information is not the least bit shocking," Dunn said in the release. "This company has a history of missing deadlines and underquoting costs. I urge the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard to stop working with Austal."

Backing Eastern Shipbuilding: Rep. Dunn vows to fight Coast Guard's decision to ditch Eastern Shipbuilding

New role: Joey D'Isernia named CEO and chairman of Eastern Shipbuilding board of directors

For background, the massive contract awarded to Austal USA in 2022 was for the rights to build ships five through 15 in the the Coast Guard's Offshore Patrol Cutter Program. The ships are part of a $10.5 billion project with the Coast Guard to build up to 25 Heritage Class Offshore Patrol Cutters  vessels that span about 360 feet in length and are able to navigate deep waters for up to 60 days.

Eastern Shipbuilding was commissioned to build the first four cutters in the program. The Panama City company also was given the rights for the first 11 ships in 2016, but that contract was reduced to four after Category 5 Hurricane Michael devastated Bay County and other parts on the Panhandle in October 2018.

Eastern officials have said they think Austal USA's bid for the latest Coast Guard contract was unrealistic. They also have noted Austal USA does not have experience building steel hull ships. The company instead is known for building aluminum ships for the Navy.

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Prior to receiving the Coast Guard contract last year, the foreign-owned Alabama shipbuilder was commissioned by the Navy to build Littoral Combat Ships, which the release from Dunn's office notes were "plagued by cracked hulls, broken equipment and technologies that do not work."

Since delivering these ships, Austal USA was awarded both the Coast Guard contract and another Navy contract to build nuclear submarines, the release notes.

According to Dunn's office, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31 announced Craig Perciavalle, the former president of Austal USA; Joseph Runkel, acting director of financial analysis for the company; and William Adams, the former director of Austal's Littoral Combat Ships program, were charged with "orchestrating a fraudulent revenue recognition scheme that allowed its parent company to meet or exceed analyst expectations."

Dunn has been very public in his attempt to challenge Austal USA and its foreign-owned parent company.

He has sent multiple letters to the Department of Homeland Security in attempts to overturn the Coast Guard's decision to go with Austal USA for the $3 billion contract. He also recently highlighted national security concerns related to the similarities between the Navy's Littoral Combat Ships and the Chinese equivalent during the first hearing of the select committee on the strategic competition between the United Stations and the Chinese Communist Party. And he has sent multiple letters to the Biden Administration urging an investigation into Austal's relationship with China.

"This deceitful company should not be trusted with producing our nuclear submarines and U.S. Coast Guard offshore patrol cutters," Dunn said in the release.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Congressman Dunn says military shouldn't be doing business with Austal
Kent Casson

Spring is suddenly upon us.

The birds are singing, temperatures have warmed, thunderstorms are brewing across the Midwest and winds are howling every day. This means planting season is very close in Central Illinois.

It almost seems we have no in-between anymore as we go from winter to summer within a day or two. Soil temperatures are on the rise, which means area farmers are considering heading out to the field to put corn and soybeans in the ground. The calendar says it is almost time.

Though we are tempted to go right out there on the first warm and sunny day, farmers must use patience as we need just the right soil conditions or we could jeopardize yields in the fall. Planting into wet conditions can be a disaster later on, especially for corn. Soybeans appear to be more forgiving, which is why many agronomists encourage bean planting before corn even.

We still need to make a few adjustments to equipment before we are ready to venture out to the field. This is the month where I crawl across the ground to check tires and make planter adjustments to make sure everything is in working order before venturing out. My 40-year-old back usually feels this a day or two later. Software updates are underway in the tractor cab as we get the monitors prepped before plugging in the iPads and other forms of technology.

I need to think of good sack lunch ideas for the coming weeks. Do I stick with a ham and cheese sandwich or go with a hot entree? My wife got me a container for my birthday that keeps things warm if you plug it in to the outlet in the tractor cab. This could be my chance to enjoy casseroles and other hot dishes during the day.

I have stocked up on caffeine as I run on that each spring and fall. The coffee can is full and our pop supply is good as Pepsi will be my go-to drink for a while. You cant go wrong with leftover Easter candy, either. An afternoon sugar fix is the best!

The kids seem to be excited about another farming season. They just realized the other day that April is here and that means Dad will be in the field soon. I see plenty of after school and weekend tractor rides in our future. My little farm helpers arent so little anymore as they will be helping on the farm in no time.

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Lets all stay safe out there for planting time and the entire year. Watch out for big equipment on roads and farmers should be mindful of motorists as well. Coming soon in a future article  my annual farm safety rant.

For the latest spring planting updates, market reports and ag blogs, visit www.centralillinoisfarmnetwork.com and follow the Central Illinois Farm Network on social media.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: A View from the Cab: Time to begin prep work as planting season nears
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The Emerald of Siam in Richland, Wash., as seen on Google Streetview.
In this photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, the sun rises above the Atlantic Ocean in the Florida Keys as a field of 1,500 competitors traverses the Seven Mile Bridge from Little Duck Key to Marathon, Fla., Saturday, April 1, 2023. The annual Seven Mile Bridge Run shut down the longest bridge on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway to traffic for three hours Saturday morning for the race over the convergence of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Joanna Stephens, 28, of Atlanta won the overall women's title and Vaclav Bursa, 15, of Big Pine Key, Fla., won the overall men's division.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks March 29 while hosting the virtual Summit for Democracy Virtual Plenary session from the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. His remarks, titled "Democracy Delivering on Global Challenges" focused on working against autocracy around the world.
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O tanara soferita a bagat 10 oameni in spital

Doi adulti si opt copii au ajuns, astazi, la Spitalul Judetean de Urgenta Buzau cu multiple traumtatisme suferite in urma unui accident rutier grav, produs pe DN 10. Despre neatentia soferitei, care a dus la vatamarea corporala a zece oameni si, implicit, la activarea Planului Rosu de Interventie, [citeste mai departe]
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- Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca welcomed on Monday at the Victoria Palace of Government a delegation led by Speaker of the Latvian Parliament Edvards Smiltens.At the beginning of the meeting, the head of the Executive in Bucharest remarked that the visit of the Latvian lawmakers reflects the excellent

- The government will continue to take all measures to fulfill the objective regarding the absorption of European funds, so that at least 10 billion euros will be attracted by Romania this year, declared Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro

- The Senate extended, on Monday, in plenary sitting, with 70 votes "for", 22 "against" and one abstention, the deadline for the adoption of the Government's draft law on the reduction of expenses with service pensions, at 45 to 60 days. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste

- Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu deemed on Monday as a false topic the possibility that the head of state may not appoint him prime minister at the government rotation, adding that the protocol concluded by the current coalition will be respected, told Agerpres. Fii

- 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 

- Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca welcomed Land of Bavaria PM Markus Soder, who is paying a visit to Romania, at the Victoria Governmental Palace on Monday, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro  Help your

- Minister-President of Bavaria Markus Soder will be visiting Romania on Monday and will have bilateral meetings with President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, informs the German Embassy in Bucharest. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook

- he chairman of the Social-Democratic Party (PSD), Marcel Ciolacu, declared on Wednesday that he is convinced that the current governing coalition can continue its activity even after the 2024 elections, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe
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- Approximately 171,100 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 43,000 means of transport, carried out, on Sunday, the control formalities, both on their way to enter and exit the country, through the border crossing points nationwide, informs the General Inspectorate of the Border Police

- Economy Minister Florin Spataru told a press conference on Thursday, held in Cluj, that in the future government programme endorsed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the companies of the construction materials industry will benefit from an aid of one billion RON, and those in the chemical industry,

- Nuclearelectrica and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for bilateral cooperation in the nuclear energy sector to support the development of this critical energy source in addressing the challenges of energy security and climate change, a release sent

- The second PrimoHUB learning, play and parenting center was inaugurated on Monday, on bd. Iuliu Maniu no. 111 from sector 6 of Bucharest.It is about a project initiated by the Bucharest City Hall, the Step by Step Center and the UNICEF Representative Office in Romania. The center is a complementary

- Prime minister Nicolae Ciuca met, on Monday, at the Victoria Palace of Government, with the leaders of trade unions in the defence and the aerospace industry, with the situation of the Romanian state companies in these sectors of activity being analysed on this occasion, informs a press release of

- Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, said on Monday that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) is considering measures related to food prices in the future government programme, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook

- Accession to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is the next step on Romania's road to modernization, development and prosperity, prime minister Nicolae Ciuca said, on Thursday, at the event "Accession to the OECD - opportunities for the Romanian business environment",

- Chairman of the Forta Dreptei (Right Force) party, Ludovic Orban, said on Monday that the Government "attacks democracy" and has come to represent "a serious danger" for the rights and freedoms of Romanian citizens", considering that it refuses to organize elections in over 50 localities. Fii
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- The National Weather Administration (ANM) has extended a rain warning throughout Wednesday, April 19.According to meteorologists, in the next three days there will be rain in most parts of the country. Local water quantities of 15...20 l/m2 and over 30...40 l/m2 will accumulate on Monday (April 17)

- Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu is set to participate in the Government Question Time programme in the Chamber of Deputies on Monday.The meeting is chaired by the Chamber's vice-president Daniel Suciu. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro

- The acting president of the Senate and the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alina Gorghiu and Marcel Ciolacu, will pay a visit to the Republic of Moldova on Monday.Alina Gorghiu will participate, at the Nicolae Sulac National Palace in Chisinau, in the performance-concert Our Language Is My

- 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 average net monthly salary earning in Romania in December 2022 was RON 4,398, up RON 257 (+6.2%) on a monthly basis and 13.4% y-o-y, according to data published on Monday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro

- Sanitas Federation unionists on Wednesday set off on a march to the headquarters of Romania's main political parties, as part of the protest actions healthcare and social assistance workers have been staging since this Monday. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro

- MEP Eugen Tomac (EPP, the People's Movement Party, PMP) announced on Monday, in a video post on Facebook, that he decided, as a member of the European Parliament, to open an action against the Council of the European Union, at the Court of Justice of the European Union, in relation to Romania's non-acceptance

- Anti-corruption prosecutors detained on Monday general manager of the National Company Romarm SA, Gabriel Tutu, in a case in which he is accused of abuse of office and influence peddling in connection with the procurement of protective masks during the COVID pandemic-19, Agerpres informs. Fii
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- Cancelarul Germaniei, Olaf Scholz, a declarat, intr-o conferinta de presa comuna cu presedintele Klaus Iohannis, ca Berlinul sprijina total Romania pentru a adera la spatiul Schengen.Vom spriji militar Ucraina atat timp cat timp va fi nevoie. Doresc sa-mi exprim recunostinta pentru Romania, pentru

- The cloud law, promoted by Government ordinance, has serious problems noted by the associations of companies in the field, related to the nature of the cloud software, namely the fact that this law collects a lot of the citizens' personal data, establishing thus a control of the authorities over

- 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 

- Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Monday had a telephone conversation with his Slovakian counterpart Rastislav Kacer focusing on Romania's accession to the border-free Schengen area, as well as on the state of bilateral relations and European current affairs, told Agerpres. Fii

- Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Monday had a telephone conversation with his Luxembourgish counterpart Jean Asselborn, with Asselborn reconfirming Luxembourg's staunch support for Romania's accession to the Schengen area. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro

- The total value of the assets of the two pillars of private pensions, mandatory (Pillar II), and optional (Pillar III), was 92.478 billion RON, at the end of 2021, registering an increase of approximately 19% compared to the previous year both for the total and for Pillar II, according to the data

- Arad border police officers have found 18 migrants who tried to leave the country illegally hiding in a cargo minibus, while six others were caught walking in the field towards the border with Hungary, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe

- Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Monday that the result of the recent elections in Austria shows the absence of the impact of using the Schengen accession theme in the campaign and emphasised that Romania will continue the steps for its accession to the free movement area, told Agerpres.
LINCOLN  Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested a York man after a pursuit in Lincoln early Monday morning.

At approximately 1:10 a.m. Monday, NSP received information that a vehicle had fled an attempted traffic stop with the Lincoln Police Department. The vehicle was reportedly stolen. A short time later, a trooper observed the vehicle, a Dodge Caravan, as it was speeding on Waverly Road near Highway 77, north of Lincoln. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused to yield and fled. The trooper initiated a pursuit.

The suspect vehicle fled southbound on Highway 77 toward Lincoln. The driver then turned eastbound on Fletcher at which time a trooper attempted a tactical vehicle intervention. The driver was able to regain control of the vehicle and continued fleeing, striking another troopers patrol unit in the process. The vehicle continued southbound on Highway 77 and troopers continued the pursuit.

The vehicle turned eastbound on Havelock Avenue and eventually turned northbound on 70th Street. At the intersection of 70th and Burlington Avenue, a trooper successfully performed a tactical vehicle intervention to bring the vehicle to a stop. The driver and passenger were then taken into custody without further incident.

The driver, Robert Allen, 37, of York, was arrested for willful reckless driving, assault on a peace officer, flight to avoid arrest, unauthorized use of a vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana  less than one ounce, and driving with a revoked license. The passenger, Angel Hauschild, 27, of Shelton, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and an outstanding warrant. Both were lodged in Lancaster County Jail.

The entire pursuit lasted approximately 10 minutes. The Lancaster County Sheriffs Office and Lincoln Police Department assisted in the incident. No officers were injured.
This spring I have been delighted to greet so many young Nebraskans from the Third District visiting Washington on school and family trips. It is always inspiring to see their patriotic curiosity in government service and hear the hopefulness in their questions. I have also appreciated the opportunity to visit several schools and learning centers during my travels in the Third District. Nebraska has a strong tradition of investment in younger generations, and I am always grateful to meet the dedicated sponsors and educators who invest in these students every day. The importance of building up our nations future leaders cannot be overstated, and there are several ways I seek to accomplish this through my office.

One of the best opportunities for young people to learn more about the legislative process and what it is like to work in a congressional office is through internships. My office is accepting applications now for summer internships with each of my office locations. Interns get firsthand experience serving Nebraskans by assisting me and my staff with constituent services and outreach, communications, and legislative research, and internships in my office can provide college credit, if applicable. Interested college students should visit adriansmith.house.gov/services/internships where they can find more information and download an application.

Another way for students to get involved is through my Youth Advisory Council. Each summer, my office accepts applications for the Youth Advisory Council from rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors from the Third District who are interested in sharing their opinions, thoughts, and concerns directly with me at meetings throughout the school year. For questions about the Youth Advisory Council, please visit adriansmith.house.gov/services/youth-advisory-council. Applications for the 2023-2024 Council will be accepted through July 14.

Each spring, I partner with the Congressional Institute and the Nebraska Art Teachers Association to host the Congressional Art Competition, which is open to all high school students in the Third District. The winning submission from our district is displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside the artwork of other contest winners from across the country. Three runners-up have their artwork showcased in my offices in Washington, Grand Island and Scottsbluff. For more information, call 308-384-3900.

Additionally, links to dozens of resources for students, teachers and parents can be found at adriansmith.house.gov/students. This page can help connect you to educational websites designed for children of all ages, as well as information on applying for college financial aid.

Strong educational and developmental experiences not only benefit individual students and families, but are also important to the future of our country. I am dedicated to giving back to our community by extending resources and support to those who are currently growing as leaders and those who will come after us.
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If you want to guarantee a happy, stable retirement, it's important to start saving -- and investing -- now. Unfortunately, hidden fees can wreak havoc on even the smartest investment strategies.

Social Security: Whether You're 62, 65, 67 or 70, Here's Why Your Age Matters

Learn: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

Along with consulting fees, you might find yourself dealing with fees to trade, fees to advise and even high taxes. Watch out for these 15 hidden fees so you can avoid wasting your money in retirement.

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1. Advisory Fees

While financial advisors need to eat and pay rent just like anyone else, the rhetoric they use to express how much you're being charged might be hard to decipher. Advisors often talk in "basis points," which simply means tiny fractions of a percentage point. For example, 1% comprises 100 basis points, and 50 basis points are equal to 0.5%.

Depending on your investment, advisory fees can be some of the highest fees you'll pay.

Take Our Poll: What Do You Plan To Use Your Tax Refund For?

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How Much Advisory Fees Cost

An advisory fee of 1% is typical, but you need to understand what 1% of your assets will cost you. Let's say your portfolio is valued at $500,000. If you're being charged a 1% advisory fee, you'll have to pay $5,000 annually.

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2. 401(k) Expense Ratios

Many mid- to large-sized companies offer 401(k) plans, but many people who contribute to them don't realize that these retirement savings plans aren't free. Depending on the funds you select, you could be stuck with high expense ratios that will slowly chip away at your hard-earned retirement savings. And, these expense ratios might not be explicitly expressed to you.

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Choose Funds With Low Expense Ratios

Your expense ratio might be somewhere between 0.5% and 2%, which doesn't seem like much. But, just as compound interest accumulates over time, so does a 2% expense ratio that's working against you. So, when you're picking funds for your 401(k), try to choose ones with low expense ratios.

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Social Security: 20% Cuts to Your Payments May Come Sooner Than Expected

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3. 12b-1 Fees

Here's one of the most important things to know before investing in mutual funds: 12b-1 fees are the annual marketing or distribution fees on some mutual funds, and they're typically included in a fund's expense ratio.

Initially, 12b-1 fees were introduced to help investors by marketing a mutual fund to yield higher assets and lower expenses. However, some experts argue that 12b-1 fees can bring down your returns instead of improving your fund's performance.

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Why 12b-1 Fees Matter

In September 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed proceedings against First Eagle Investment Management, an asset management company that allegedly used investors' mutual fund assets improperly for payments to cover "marketing and distribution of fund shares." According to The Wall Street Journal, "First Eagle dipped deeper into funds' assets than allowed under a plan known as the 12b-1 plan."

First Eagle had to pay $25 million to reimburse shareholders, plus interest and a penalty of $12.5 million, Reuters reported.

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4. Annuity Fees

A type of insurance that pays out a fixed sum to the holder every year, annuities can be a great product for people who want to receive a regular income stream for the rest of their lives. But, this kind of contract can come with some hidden surprises.

Check Out: 6 Types of Retirement Income That Aren't Taxable

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Why Annuity Fees Can Cost a Lot

Some notoriously high fees include commissions by the people who sell the annuities. These charges can soar as high as 10%, reported CNN Money. There are also surrender charges, which come into play if you decide to withdraw money in the first few years. These fees can range from 7% to 20% in the first year. Additionally, annual insurance fees, investment management fees and insurance rider fees on annuities can cost you a significant amount.

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5. Yearly Fees

Mutual fund fees can be broken down into ongoing yearly fees and loads, and both can seriously eat away at your returns. Ongoing yearly expenses usually include a management fee -- between 0.5% and 2% of the assets, according to Investopedia -- administrative costs and the 12b-1 fee.

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High Expense Ratios Don't Always Mean High Returns

It's important to note that there's no clear correlation between high expense ratios and high returns. In other words, even if your ongoing expenses are high, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll enjoy high returns.

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6. Loads

Loads are typically described as front-end or back-end.

A front-end load is an expense incurred at the purchase of the fund. For example, a 3% front-end load on a $5,000 investment means that $150 goes toward the sales fee, and $4,850 is actually invested.

Back-end loads are deferred sales charges, or redemption charges, that go into effect when a fund is sold before a certain time. Back-end loads tend to decrease the longer you wait to sell the fund. According to Morningstar, back-end loads start at around 5% to 7% in the first year. They go down to 0% in the next five to seven years.

Find Out: What Is the Average Social Security Benefit at Every Age?

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Look For No-Load Funds To Save Money

Not all mutual funds come with these kinds of expenses, so seeking out no-load funds where possible can help you keep more money in your investment accounts over the long run.

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7. Taxes

As you approach retirement age, taxes will likely become one of your bigger expenses.

Traditional 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts can be tax-deferred, which helps maximize savings. But, when you withdraw from these accounts, you'll have to pay taxes on that money. Interest earned through savings accounts is taxed at your normal income rate, and the income that some bonds generate might be taxable as well. Moreover, any profits from selling an investment are taxed at the capital gains rate.

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Know Where To Put Your Money First

Before you start putting your money in taxable accounts, such as mutual funds and bonds, it's recommended that you maximize your 401(k) and IRA options, reported Forbes.

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8. Early Withdrawal Penalties

Just because you think of yourself as retired doesn't mean the IRS agrees. Once you've reached age 59 1/2, you can take the money out of qualified retirement plans, including IRA, 401(k) and 403(b) accounts, without incurring a tax penalty. But, if you withdraw money prior to that, the IRS adds a 10% penalty on the taxable portion of your distribution.

Social Security: No Matter Your Age, Do Not Claim Benefits Until You Reach This Milestone

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Exceptions to the Early Withdrawal Penalty

If an exception applies, you can avoid the early withdrawal penalty. For 401(k) and 403(b) accounts, IRAs allow early distributions to pay for higher education costs -- including for your kids -- and insurance premiums while you're unemployed.

Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com

9. Trading Fees

When you buy and sell shares, the brokerage charges you a fee for each trade. Fees can vary wildly between companies.

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Choose Your Financial Advisor Wisely

When your financial advisor engages in excess trades on your behalf to rack up commissions and fees, it's called "churning." This practice is illegal, and you can report it to the SEC through the online complaint form. You'll want to work with someone who won't take advantage of you, so be careful when picking your retirement financial advisor.

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10. Penalties for Failing To Take Required Distributions

Beginning in the year that you turn 72 (70 1/2 if you reached 70 1/2 before Jan. 1, 2020), you must start taking minimum distributions from your qualified retirement plans. You can postpone required minimum distributions from 401(k) and 403(b) plans if you're still working, as long as you don't own more than 5% of the company in question.

Social Security: Whether You're 62, 65, 67 or 70, Here's Why Your Age Matters

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How Much the Penalties Cost

If you fail to take the required minimum distributions when you turn 72, the IRS imposes a penalty equal to 50% of the amount that you didn't take out. The payouts are designed to make sure you receive your retirement benefits during your lifetime, so do yourself a favor and make active withdrawals on time.

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11. Annuity Rollover Fees

Annuity rollover fees are a hidden cost that many retirees might not notice. Not all annuities are created equal. Some might be tied to mutual funds -- which are tied to the sometimes-volatile stock market -- and others function through an insurance brokerage, promising fixed rates and guaranteed minimums.

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Follow Your Annuity Guidelines To Avoid Fees

If you've decided that it's time to jump ship from your current provider, be sure you're following the guidelines so you don't get slammed with hidden annuity rollover fees, as well as other costs like higher expense ratios or administrative fees that you didn't have before.

The IRS allows for tax-free exchanges of annuity contracts as long as they fall under the same tax status. For example, a simplified employee pension or a savings incentive match plan for employees can be rolled over into a traditional IRA because they're both tax-deferred.

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12. Surrender Fees

If the IRS doesn't hit you with extra charges for rolling over your annuity, it doesn't mean you're home free. Companies might charge a surrender penalty if you sell or withdraw money from a variable annuity. Annuities are often structured in a yearly format, with the surrender penalties decreasing over time.

See: 7 States Considering More Stimulus Checks in 2023

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How To Handle Surrender Fees

This information is typically located toward the front of your policy, so before you make a switch, be sure to consult your plan. Very few annuity providers charge no surrender fees, so you should expect to pay them and, if possible, budget for them in advance.

Ariel Skelley / Getty Images

13. Inactivity Fees

Beware of being nickeled and dimed by your low-cost brokerage. There might be hefty fees associated with inactivity -- it's one of the reasons why a low-cost brokerage might not be the best option for your investments.

ipopba / iStock.com

Keep Your Investments Active

If you're not trading frequently, you might see charges for inactivity and maintenance -- which could land around $50 to $200 -- in addition to existing fees to access data, trading tools and more. So, make sure you're engaging in enough trades to be considered active.

Peopleimages / iStock.com

14. 401(k) Administrative Fees

Many employers offer a 401(k) matching benefit, but it might be costing you. Although the most generous companies foot the bill for administrative fees associated with managing your retirement plan, others might decide to opt out -- which leaves you as the account holder to pay up.

Learn: The 15 Biggest Bank Failures in US History

NoSystem images / Getty Images

Find a Retirement Plan That Works Better For You

If the management fee isn't covered, consider getting out once your company match maxes out and taking your hard-earned dollars elsewhere, such as an IRA.

shapecharge / iStock.com

15. Beneficiary Fees

This fee won't affect you directly, but it'll hit your beneficiaries hard once you're gone.

If there are any funds left over in your IRA after your passing, you might choose to help your children or grandchildren out as a final gift. However, the cash doesn't come without a cost. When an IRA gets distributed after death, the beneficiaries are often hit with a tax burden -- one that they are sometimes unprepared for.

jarenwicklund / Getty Images/iStockphoto

List a Trust as an IRA Beneficiary

Naming a trust as a beneficiary of your IRA could help safeguard your children who are disabled, minors or otherwise susceptible to creditors, according to CNBC. However, this isn't an easy thing to do, so make sure you consult professionals like an accountant or an estate-planning attorney before attempting it.

More From GOBankingRates

Michael Keenan and Rachel Farrow contributed to the reporting for this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 15 Hidden Fees To Watch Out for in Retirement
New Delhi: L&T Mutual Fund ceases to exist as a mutual fund, capital markets regulator Sebi said on Monday. This comes after L&T Mutual Fund Trustee Ltd had informed Sebi that it wanted to surrender the registration granted to L&T Mutual Fund (L&T MF) by the markets regulator pursuant to the approval of change in control of L&T Investment Management Ltd and merger of schemes of L&T MF with HSBC Mutual Fund.

Following this, Sebi has accepted the request for surrender of L&T MF's certificate of registration. (Also Read: This Employee Opt To Quit 6-Figure Salary Job Rather Than Return To Office Full-Time)

"Consequently, L&T MF ceases to exist as a mutual fund with effect from April 6, 2023," the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in a statement. (Also Read: AI Artist Creates Image Of Bill Gates, Musk, Zuckerberg, Other Billionaires as world's poorest- Check How They Look)

Further, it said L&T MF will continue to be liable for all liabilities/ obligations, (including monetary penalties) for violations of the provisions of the Sebi Act and (Mutual Fund) regulations that have taken place before its surrender of certificate of registration.
New Delhi: Lenders of debt-ridden Reliance Capital (RCap) have postponed again the second auction proposed to be held on Tuesday, sources said. However, no new date has been decided yet, sources said, adding, it may be finalised in a week or two. Last week, lenders postponed the second auction to April 11.

According to sources, the bidders who have confirmed their participation in the second round of auction are IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL) of Hinduja Group, Torrent Investment and Singapore-based Oaktree. (Also Read: PM-KISAN 14th Installment Coming On This Date? Check Step-By-Step Guide To Apply)

The major concern of the bidders is the compliance of resolution plans with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and Request for Resolution Plan (RFRP), guidelines, as in the first round of auction, the Hinduja Group firm submitted the bid post-auction. (Also Read: This Employee Opt To Quit 6-Figure Salary Job Rather Than Return To Office Full-Time)

This bidding post-auction is being contested by Torrent Investment in the Supreme Court as it was the highest bidder as per the auction. The Committee of Creditors (CoC) also has to incorporate the Supreme Court order in the Challenge Mechanism, sources added.

Meanwhile, the Administrator has also moved NCLT for the extension of deadline for completion of resolution process till May 30. The deadline to complete the resolution process of Reliance Capital has been extended multiple times in the past.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on November 29, 2021, superseded the board of Reliance Capital in view of payment defaults and serious governance issues. The RBI appointed Nageswara Rao Y as the administrator in relation to the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) of the firm.

Reliance Capital is the third large non-banking financial company (NBFC) against which the central bank has initiated bankruptcy proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

The other two were Srei Group NBFC and Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL). The central bank subsequently filed an application for initiation of CIRP against the company at the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal.

In February last year, the RBI-appointed administrator invited expressions of interest for the sale of Reliance Capital.
New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will embark on an official visit to the US from April 10, where she will be attending the 2023 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

She will also be attending the G20 meetings and other associated meetings, which are scheduled to take place from April 10 to April 16.

The meetings will take place in the WBG and IMF headquarters in Washington DC.

The Spring Meetings will be attended by finance ministers and central bankers from across the world.

The Indian Finance Ministry delegation will be led by Sitharaman and officials from the ministry and RBI.

Some of the important engagements of the Finance Minister include Spring Meetings of IMF-WB, Hosting the Second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under India's G20 Presidency and G20-related side events, World Bank Development Committee and IMF Committee plenaries interaction with global economists and think-tanks, bilateral engagements with countries and international organisations as well as interaction with global business leaders and investors in roundtables.

Sitharaman and RBI governor Shaktikanta Das will jointly chair the 2nd G20 FMCBG meeting on April 12-13, 2023.

Around 350 delegates from G20 members, 13 invitee countries, and various international and regional organisations will participate and engage in multilateral discussions centred around a broad spectrum of pressing global issues.
Based on an interview with former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who said that Rahul travels abroad and meets "undesirable businessmen," the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its criticism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The BJP is asking Gandhi for an explanation. The BJP has questioned "Who these businessmen are." Rahul Gandhi allegedly met with "undesirable businessmen," according to Ghulam Nabi Azad, just days after the latter made a jab at certain Congressmen who had left the party as part of his ongoing campaign against the administration over the Adani issue.

"They conceal the truth, which is why they deceive every day! Whose benami money in the amount of Rs 20,000 crore is in Adani's companies?" Gandhi posed the query in a Hindi tweet and included a picture of a list of politicians, including Adani.

In his tweet, he included Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kiran Kumar Reddy, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Anil K. Antony. Ghulam Nabi Azad, who left the Congress and started his own party, said in response to the 'Adani' tweet in which his name had been disparaged, "It is a shame. Rahul Gandhi is saying. I never interacted with any businessman. The entire Gandhi family, however, is connected to businessman, including him."

"I'm really respectful of the family. I don't wish to criticise the family in any way. If not, I would have provided instances of where he might go and meet undesirable businessmen even beyond the nation," Ghulam Nabi Azad remarked.

their entire family (the Gandhis) have all along had association with businessmen, including him (Rahul Gandhi). He (Rahul) goes abroad and meets undesirable businessmen



- Ghulam Nabi Azad



Rahul Gandhi must explain who are these businessmen he meets and for what purpose? pic.twitter.com/2juk0GlvhW  BJP (@BJP4India) April 9, 2023

In his autobiography, "Azaad," former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad described Congress as "bloopers and bombast." He denounced Rahul Gandhi in multiple interviews and said that many other party leaders, including him, left the organisation because of Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi was specifically accused by Azad for his expulsion from the Congress. Additionally, he claimed that members of Congress had to be "spineless."

Rahul Gandhi is at the focus of a political controversy that was started by his remark about Gautam Adani in the Lok Sabha, which was partially deleted. The BJP has also demanded an apology for his comments in the UK about how "democracy is under attack." Additionally, he was expelled from the Lok Sabha a day after being found guilty in a 2019 Modi-surname case. He also drew criticism from the party for his Savarkar remark, and now he is in hot water for his "Adani" tweet.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, announced on Sunday that he will sue Congressman Rahul Gandhi for defamation following a tweet linking Gandhi to the Adani mining company. Whatever Rahul Gandhi tweeted, it was slanderous. We will respond to the tweet after the prime minister returns from Assam, and there will undoubtedly be a defamation case in Guwahati, Himanta Biswa added.
New Delhi: The Congress on Monday called the proposed day-long fast by former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot an 'anti-party activity' and appealed for calm. Pilot on Sunday claimed that the Ashok Gehlot-led government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the Bharatiya Janata Party's rule in Rajasthan and announced to hold a day-long fast on April 11 to press for action.

Taking strong objection to the proposed dharna, Sukhjinder Randhawa, the Congress' Rajasthan in-charge, said he talked to Pilot during the day and told him to raise issues at party platforms instead of going public against its own government.

"Sachin Pilot's day-long fast tomorrow is against the party interests and is anti-party activity. If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed in the party forums instead of in the media and the public," Randhawa said in a statement.

He said that he has been the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for the last five months and Pilot never discussed the issue with him.

"I am in touch with him and I still appeal for calm dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress party," he added.

Statement issued by Shri Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, AICC In charge of Rajasthan. pic.twitter.com/PMn8aDdu0O  INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) April 10, 2023

As per the latest media reports, Pilot, who has been at loggerheads with Ashok Gehlot over the post of chief minister ever since the Congress formed the government in Rajasthan in 2018, is likely to go ahead with his day-long fast on Tuesday.

Sachin Pilot opens new front against Ashok Gehlot

On Sunday, Sachin Pilot said he will observe the fast at Jaipur's Shaheed Smarak on April 11 -- the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, who was from the Saini community to which Gehlot belongs.

"No action was taken (by the Gehlot government) on the corruption of the previous Vasundhara Raje government. While in the Opposition, we promised an inquiry into the mines scam of Rs 45,000 crore," Pilot said at a press conference.

The senior Congress leader stated that he wrote to Gehlot last year on March 28 and November 2 on the issue but did not get any answer to his letters.

He also showed videos of statements of Gehlot in the Assembly and outside in which he had leveled corruption allegations against the previous BJP government.

"With six-seven months left for the elections, the opponents can spread an illusion that there is some collusion. Therefore, action will have to be taken soon so that the Congress workers feel that there is no difference between our words and actions," Pilot said.

#WATCH | Rajasthan: On April 11, I will do a one-day hunger strike to mark my words that action should be taken against corruption in the state so that the public does not feel that we are not doing any work or we have not fulfilled any of our promises: Sachin Pilot, Congress MLA pic.twitter.com/SNmwTDLdJq  ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) April 9, 2023

Pilot's latest move to open the new front against Gehlot amid the factional fighting is seen as an attempt to pressure the high command to resolve the leadership issue ahead of the year-end Rajasthan assembly elections.

It is noteworthy that in July 2020, Pilot and a section of party MLAs rebelled openly, demanding a leadership change in the state.

Subsequently, it led to a one-month-long political crisis that ended after assurance by the party's high command to look into the issues raised by Pilot.

Following the revolt by Pilot, Gehlot had used several derogatory terms for his former deputy and had accused him of being involved with the BJP leaders in a conspiracy to topple the Congress government.
NEW DELHI: In yet another indication of the deadly Covid-19 virus spreading fast in the country, India on Monday recorded 5,880 new cases of coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours. "5,880 new Covid-19 cases recorded in India in the last 24 hours; active caseload rises to 35,199," said the Union Health Ministry's website updated at 8 AM. With 5,880 new Covid-19 cases, the country recorded nearly ten per cent higher than the cases reported a day earlier, it added. The states with the highest number of Covid-19 cases include Kerala (12,433), Maharashtra (4,587), Delhi (2,460), Gujarat (2,013), and Tamil Nadu (1,900).

While four deaths each reported from Delhi and Himachal Pradesh, one each from Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Rajasthan and two reconciled by Kerala, the Covid-19 death count has increased to 5,30,979, the government data stated. Meanwhile, the daily positivity rate was recorded at 6.91 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was pegged at 3.67 per cent.

COVID-19 | 5,880 new cases recorded in India in the last 24 hours; Active caseload rises to 35,199  ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2023

India Logged 5,357 Fresh Covid-19 Cases On Sunday

A total of 5,357 fresh Covid-19 infections were recorded in the country in the last 24 hours marking a slight decrease from Saturday`s count of 6,155 cases, the Union Health Ministry stated in a bulletin on Sunday. Covid infections 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, 3,038 on April 4, 4,435 on April 5, 5,335 on April 6 and 6,050 on April 7 and 6155 on April 8.

The overall active cases currently stand at 32,814, as of Sunday, with the daily positivity rate at 3.39 per cent, the Health Ministry stated further in its release. With 3,726 recoveries in the last 24 hours, the overall count stood at 4,41,92,837, the bulletin stated, adding that the overall recovery rate is currently at 98.74 per cent. Under the nationwide vaccination drive, a total of 220.66 crore vaccine doses have been administered, as of Sunday, of which 659 doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

Covid-19 Mock Drill In Hospitals From Today

Amid rising Covid-19 cases, a nationwide mock drill to take stock of hospital preparedness will be held from Monday in which both public and private facilities are expected to participate. The mock drill is vital to ensure timely and effective healthcare for Covid-19 patients.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will visit AIIMS, Jhajjar on Monday to oversee the mock drill, Health Ministry officials said. In a review meeting held on April 7, Mandaviya had urged state health ministers to visit hospitals and oversee the mock drills. He had also advised them to review the preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9.

In a review meeting held on April 7, Mandaviya had urged state health ministers to visit hospitals and oversee the mock drills. He had also advised them to review the preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9.

In the meeting with state health ministers, and principal and additional chief secretaries held virtually, Mandaviya had stressed the need to identify 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.

Besides enhancing genome sequencing and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples, he had emphasised creating awareness about following Covid-appropriate behaviour.

WHO Tracking New Covid-19 Variants

During the meeting, states and union territories were informed that currently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is closely tracking a 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 had said.

It was highlighted that while Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variants, 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. However, no evidence of an increase in hospitalisation or mortality has been reported, the statement said.

Stress On Tracking, Testing & Treatment Of Covid-19

During the meeting, it was observed that 23 states and union territories had average tests per million below the national average. Mandaviya had said that irrespective of the new variants, the five-fold strategy of 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and adherence to Covid-Appropriate Behaviour' continues to remain the tested strategy for Covid management.

States and union territories were also requested to expeditiously increase the rate of testing from 100 tests per million as on the week ending April 7. They were further advised to increase the share of RT-PCR in tests.

CJI Allows Lawyers To Appear Virtually In Courts

In the wake of the rising number of Covid-19 cases, the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud earlier in the week said lawyers are free to appear virtually in court. CJI Chandrachud said newspaper reports show that Covid cases are on the rise and if a lawyer wants to appear virtually before the court they can and the hybrid mode is also on. "We saw newspaper reports on rising Covid cases. Lawyers can use hybrid mode. If you choose to appear online, we will hear you," said the CJI.

The Supreme Court had reverted to the physical hearing mode of adjudication of cases from April 4, 2022, after taking into account the low infection rate and the number of Covid cases in Delhi and across the country. The apex court has been successfully experimenting with the hybrid method -- a combination of physical and virtual -- of hearing for quite some time. The Supreme Court has also started live-streaming the Constitution bench proceedings through the Supreme Court app and YouTube even after the resumption of physical hearings.
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Monday took a swipe at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after his Ayodhya visit, saying "conspirators, opportunists and backstabbers" cannot carry forward the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray. Shiv Sena leader Shinde had on Sunday made his maiden visit to Ayodhya after becoming the chief minister in June last year. He was accompanied to the temple town in Uttar Pradesh by thousands of Shiv Sainiks.

Backstabbers Cant Take Balasahebs Legacy Forward

In a tweet, Sibal said, "Shinde in Ayodhya: Lord Ram chose: Sacrifice, the path of truth, rectitude. Balasaheb also imbibed those attributes. Conspirators, opportunists, backstabbers cannot carry forward the legacy of Balasaheb," the former Union minister said, attacking Shinde.

Shinde in Ayodhya:



Lord Ram chose:

Sacrifice

The path of Truth

Rectitude



Balasaheb also imbibed those attributes



Conspirators

Opportunists

Backstabbers



Cannot carry forward the legacy of Balasaheb  Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) April 10, 2023

Shinde Visits Ayodhya, Says Yogi Adityanath Has Revived 'Pride Of Our Faith'

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and fellow Shiv Sena MPs and MLAs, visited Ayodhya on Sunday and offered prayers to Lord Ram at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple site. According to news agency ANI, this was Shindes first visit to the holy temple town since being sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister in June last year. He also later visited the under-construction Ram temple here.

                                        :          ,  pic.twitter.com/WvfpmyPqLI  ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) April 9, 2023

Talking to reporters about his Ayodhya trip, CM Shinde said, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has revived the pride of our faith, and also appreciated the development works being undertaken by the state government in Ayodhya. Shinde and his team also later paid a courtesy visit to CM Yogi Adityanath at his official residence here. Adityanath also hosted a dinner in honour of the Maharashtra Chief Minister and his entourage.

During their meeting with CM Yogi Adityanath, the Group of Ministers from Maharashtra shared their experience of visiting Ayodhya and appreciated the development works being undertaken in the city.

Shinde said Adityanath has revived the "pride of our faith" and added that under his leadership, "the city of Lord Ram is touching new dimensions of development". According to a statement issued from the Chief Minister's Office here, CM Yogi Adityanath welcomed Shinde and his team and said "Maryada Purushottam Prabhu Shri Ram is our ancestor as well as the soul of this country".

'Will Hoist Saffron Flag In UP Next Year'

The Maharashtra chief minister on Sunday said the ideology of his party and that of the BJP is the same and they will unfurl the saffron flag all over the state next year. "Our party's role is clear. The Shiv Sena has an alliance with the BJP. Our ideology, which is Hindutva, is the same. We will go to our state with new energy from Ayodhya and serve the people. In 2024, the Shiv Sena and the BJP's 'bhagva' (saffron flag) will be unfurled in the entire state," he said while addressing a press conference in Ayodhya.

Shiv Sena UBT Mocks Shinde's Ayodhya Visit



However, taking a swipe at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the members of his government for their visit to Ayodhya, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut Son unday said, Farmers in Maharashtra are facing problems. Ignoring all these issues, the government of the state went to Ayodhya. Will Lord Ram bless them?

Speaking to the news agency ANI, Raut added that the Shinde Sena was copying his party. We also believe in Lord Ram. We have also gone to Ayodhya several times. But the BJP never came with our party. When the Babri Masjid incident happened, they ran away They are copying us. The public knows who is the original and duplicate.

If you had so much faith in Lord Ram, you wont have fled to Surat and Guwahati, you would have gone to Ayodhya, Raut attacked the Shinde Sena referring to the political drama that unfolded in Maharashtra last year after Eknath Shinde fled the state with party MLAs. This Ayodhya trip is sponsored by BJP. They are copying us and doing mimicry.

The Lok Sabha election as well as the Maharashtra Assembly polls are due next year. Shinde's coup against Uddhav Thackeray split the Shiv Sena last year and toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Thackeray.

(With Agency Inputs)
New Delhi: The Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested three men who allegedly gave shelter to a man wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case in Uttar Pradesh, officials said.

Umesh Pal was a crucial witness in the 2005 killing of then-Bahujan Samaj Party legislator Raju Pal.

The officials said Javed, Khalid, and Jeeshan have been sent to judicial custody on Sunday. They are accused of aiding Asad and harboring him in the national capital after Umesh Pal's killing. Asad is the son of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad.

The name of Ali, Ahmad's other son, has also surfaced in the killing of Umesh Pal. According to the police, Avtar Singh -- a man they arrested in a case registered under the Arms Act -- disclosed that he had supplied 10 weapons to Khalid and Jeeshan.

"We launched a manhunt and deployed sources. Based on a personal input, on March 28, Khalid and Jeeshan were arrested from Delhi's Sheikh Sarai. Two weapons and live cartridges were also seized from them," a senior police officer said. During the investigation, the duo disclosed that they had provided shelter to Asad and Ghulam, wanted by Uttar Pradesh Police in the Umesh Pal murder case, he said.

Subsequently, Javed was arrested on March 31 and a case was registered at the Special Cell, the officer said. The police officer further added that Javed had disclosed that Asad and Ghulam had also met him after Umesh Pal's murder. All three arrested accused -- Javed, Khalid, Jeeshan -- are in judicial custody.

Uttar Pradesh Police has also booked Ahmad, his wife Shaista Parveen and his son Ali in a forgery case linked to the murder of Umesh Pal. The FIR was registered on Saturday at Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj police station in which two more persons -- Mohammad Sabir and Rakesh alias Nakesh alias Lala -- have been named, the police said in a statement.

Umesh Pal and his two police security guards were shot dead on February 24 outside his home in Dhoomanganj. Based on a complaint lodged by his wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others.

2006 Umesh Pal Murder case

On March 28, an MP/MLA court held Ahmad and two others guilty of the 2006 kidnapping of Umesh Pal and sentenced them to life in prison. That was Ahmad's first conviction even though there are more than 100 cases registered against him.

The 60-year-old former Samajwadi Party MP was brought to Prayagraj from Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat by road for a hearing in the case. In 2006, Ahmad and his aides abducted Umesh Pal and forced him to give a statement in court in their favor. Umesh Pal had registered a complaint in this regard.
New Delhi: Between April 2023 and July 2023, the government is anticipated to release the 14th payment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana (Scheme). However, the administration has not made any official statements about this. Every landholding farmer families are given a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year, payable in three equal installments of Rs 2,000, under the PM-KISAN scheme.

On February 27, 2023, the government published the 13th installment of the plan. (Also Read: AI Artist Creates Image Of Bill Gates, Musk, Zuckerberg, Other Billionaires As World's Poorest- Check How They Look)

Step-By-Step Guide To Apply For 14th Installments:

- Open the official website i.e www.pmkisan.gov.in

- Go to the farmer's section

- Click on the New Farmer Registration option

- Submit your Aadhaar number

- Fill up the captcha code

- Fill up the appropriate details

- Click on the Yes options

- Now fill out all the required details

- Download the form

- Print it for further use

Who Are Eligible To Get Benefits Under The PM-KISAN Scheme?

All landholding farmers' families, which have cultivable landholding in their names are eligible to get benefit under the scheme.

Who Are Excluded From The PM-KISAN Scheme?

Those excluded from the PM-KISAN include institutional land holders, farmer families holding constitutional posts, serving or retired officers and employees of State or Central government as well as Public Sector Undetakings and Government Autonomous bodies.

Professionals like doctors, engineers and lawyers as well as retired pensioners with a monthly pension of over Rs 10,000 and those who paid income tax in the last assessment year are also not eligible for the benefits.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme Details

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme, was launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2019, aims to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land, subject to certain exclusions.

Under the Scheme, the amount of Rs 6000 per year is released in three 4-monthly instalments of Rs 2000 each directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
New Delhi: Twitter's journey through stormy seas continues, as the microblogging service may be subject to tens of billions of euros in fines in Germany for failing to remove tweets that contained hate speech. According to a Techcrunch report, German courts are currently hearing more than 600 cases involving hate speech on Twitter.

Germany earlier this week announced a probe into "suspected systemic failings under the country's hate speech takedowns statute," adding fuel to the fire. (Also Read: AI Artist Creates Image Of Bill Gates, Musk, Zuckerberg, Other Billionaires As World's Poorest- Check How They Look)

According to Techcrunch, the NetzDG statute permits fines of up to 50 million euros per case. After Musk took over Twitter in October and fired personnel in Germany and the US, The New York Times had documented significant spikes in hate speech. (Also Read: 10 Highest Earning YouTubers In India 2023: Check Full List Here)

Elon Musk informed his staff this week that Twitter, which he paid $44 billion for last year, is now only worth $20 billion. If all 600 German charges against Twitter are successful, the social media giant will be required to pay a fine of 30 billion euros, or roughly $33 billion, or 65 percent more than its current market value.

This might indicate that Twitter will file for bankruptcy. The total amount of fines may possibly reach tens of millions of dollars, even though they are only theoretical at this point.

Germany is initially investigating "only a few tweets out of hundreds that have been recorded and compiled in a database," according to the Techcrunch article. According to the report, a user who had previously been banned but has recently had his account reactivated wrote some of the offensive tweets.

According to Techcrunch, the German government took action after a judicial challenge successfully established that the tweets were unlawful and claimed to have discovered "sufficient evidence of flaws" in Twitter's complaint processing procedures.

This might lead to a social media business receiving its first fine for failing to delete illegal content in accordance with NetzDG.
munkschool.utoronto.ca/gelber | @gelberprize | #GelberPrize

Overreach: How China Derailed Its Peaceful Rise selected as the best non-fiction book published in English language on international affairs

Lionel Gelber Prize is awarded annually by an international jury, in partnership with University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

High-resolution photos of the author and images of the book cover are available upon request

TORONTO and WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 /CNW/ - Judith Gelber, Chair of the Lionel Gelber Prize board, announced today that the winner of the 2023 Lionel Gelber Prize is Overreach: How China Derailed Its Peaceful Rise by Susan L. Shirk, published by Oxford University Press. Chosen by a jury of international scholars and practitioners, the Gelber Prize is awarded annually to the top book on international affairs published in English and has a value of $50,000 CAD. The prize is presented by the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.

Images: The Lionel Gelber Prize; Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy; University of Toronto (CNW Group/The Lionel Gelber Prize)

Overreach is an analysis of the leading contemporary challenge in geopolitics by a long-time close observer of China. "Shirk skillfully answers two critical questions for managing the 'China problem': how did we get here and where are we going?" said jury co-chair Ian Shugart. Jury co-chair Janice Stein praised the extraordinary quality of the analysis and the writing: "Shirk peels away the layers of Chinese politics to uncover the divisions and coalitions that drive Chinese decisions. Much of what alarms the world today, she tells us, began not with Xi Jinping but in the log-rolling politics of overreach under Hu Jintao."

The winning book was selected from a shortlist which also included Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology, by Chris Miller; Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism, by Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way; Slouching Toward Utopia: An Economic History of the Twentieth Century, by J. Bradford DeLong; and Spin Dictators: The Changing Face of Tyranny in the 21st Century, by Sergei Guriev and Daniel Treisman.

Story continues

The 2023 Lionel Gelber Prize was chosen by jury co-chairs Janice Stein (Toronto), Ian Shugart (Ottawa), returning juror Francis J. Gavin (Washington), Rosa Brooks (Washington) and Luis Rubio (Washington, Mexico City).

About the Author

Susan L. Shirk is a Research Professor and Chair of the 21st Century China Center at the School of Global Policy and Strategy, UC San Diego. Shirk is the author of China: Fragile Superpower, and The Political Logic of Economic Reform in China. From 1997-2000, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs, with responsibility for China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mongolia.

Event

Dialogue with this year's Lionel Gelber Prize Winner

Please join this year's winning author Susan L. Shirk on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. ET for a hybrid event presented by the University of Toronto's Munk School.

The event will feature a lecture followed by a moderated Q & A with author Susan L. Shirk.

Register here: https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/event/2023-gelber-prize





The Winner

Overreach: How China Derailed Its Peaceful Rise by Susan L. Shirk, published by Oxford University Press

For three decades after Mao's death in 1976, China's leaders adopted a restrained approach to foreign policy. They determined that any threat to their power, and that of the Chinese Communist Party, came not from abroad but from withina conclusion cemented by the 1989 Tiananmen crisis. To facilitate the country's inexorable economic ascendence, and to prevent a backlash, they reassured the outside world of China's peaceful intentions.



Then, as Susan Shirk shows in this illuminating, disturbing, and utterly persuasive new book, something changed. China went from fragile superpower to global heavyweight, threatening Taiwan as well as its neighbors in the South China Sea, tightening its grip on Hong Kong, and openly challenging the United States for pre-eminence not just economically and technologically but militarily. China began to overreach. Combining her decades of research and experience, Shirk, one of the world's most respected experts on Chinese politics, argues that we are now fully embroiled in a new cold war.



To explain what happened, Shirk pries open the "black box" of China's political system and looks at what derailed its peaceful rise. As she shows, the shift toward confrontation began in the mid-2000s under the mild-mannered Hu Jintao, first among equals in a collective leadership. As China's economy boomed, especially after the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, Hu and the other leaders lost restraint, abetting aggression toward the outside world and unchecked domestic social control. When Xi Jinping took power in 2012, he capitalized on widespread official corruption and open splits in the leadership to make the case for more concentrated power at the top. In the decade following, and to the present daythe eve of the 20th CCP Congress when he intends to claim a third termhe has accumulated greater power than any leader since Mao. Those who implement Xi's directives compete to outdo one another, provoking an even greater global backlash and stoking jingoism within China on a scale not seen since the Cultural Revolution.



Here is a devastatingly lucid portrait of China today. Shirk's extensive interviews and meticulous analysis reveal the dynamics driving overreach. To counter it, she argues, the worst mistake the rest of the world, and the United States in particular, can make is to overreact. Understanding the domestic roots of China's actions will enable us to avoid the mistakes that could lead to war.

About the Lionel Gelber Prize

The Lionel Gelber Prize was founded in 1989 by Canadian diplomat Lionel Gelber. A cash prize of $50,000 CAD is awarded to the winner. The award is presented annually by the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto.

Lionel Gelber Prize website: https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/gelber/

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @gelberprize

Join the conversation: #GelberPrize

Cision

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SOURCE The Lionel Gelber Prize

Cision

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New Delhi: China on Monday opposed Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh and said that it violated Chinese sovereignty over the area. Responding to a question on Shah's visit at a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that the senior Indian official's activity in the area is 'not conducive to peace and tranquility' in the border regions. Wang Wenbin also said that Zangnan -- the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh -- is China's territory.

New Delhi, which recently slammed Beijing for its move to rename some places in the border state in an attempt to stake its claim over the area, has so far not reacted to Wang's statement.

"The activity of the senior Indian official in Zangnan violates Chinas territorial sovereignty and is not conducive to peace and tranquility in the border areas. We are firmly against this," Wang Wenbin said.

Amit Shah visited Arunachal Pradesh on Monday to launch the 'Vibrant Village' programme in the border village of Kibithoo.

Earlier last week, China announced the renaming of 11 more places in Arunachal Pradesh in Chinese which they claim as Southern Tibet.

India, however, responded sharply and said that Arunachal Pradesh 'is, has been, and will always' be an integral and inalienable part of India.

"Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement.

Our response to media queries on the statement issued by OIC Secretariat regarding India:https://t.co/CYtJely0hO pic.twitter.com/VnGUVyqXpf  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 4, 2023

It was the third batch of standardised geographical names for Arunachal Pradesh issued by China's civil affairs ministry.

China's renaming of the places in Arunachal Pradesh came in the midst of the lingering eastern Ladakh border standoff that began in May 2020.

Since the standoff, India has bolstered its overall military preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Arunachal Pradesh sector as well.

The troops of the Indian and Chinese armies are locked in a nearly three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement of troops from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

No one can encroach even an inch of our land: Amit Shah in Arunachal Pradesh

Amit Shah on Monday launched the 'Vibrant Village' programme in the border village of Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh.

In his address, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said that the era when anyone could encroach on India's borderlands has passed and that 'no one can dare' cast an evil eye on its territorial integrity.

He said border areas are the top priority of the Narendra Modi-led government.

"The era is gone when anyone could encroach on our lands. Now, not even land equal to 'sui ki noke' (inch of land) can be encroached...," Shah said.

He also said that in 1962, whoever came to encroach on this land had to return because of the patriotic people living here.

Speaking at the launch of Vibrant Villages Programme from Kibithoo, the border village of Arunachal Pradesh and Indias easternmost place. #VibrantVillagesProgram https://t.co/MRbQxWzMkW  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 10, 2023

The minister said the 'Vibrant Village' scheme envisages that tap water, electricity, cooking gas, financial inclusion, digital and physical connectivity, and employment opportunities are available in the remote border areas.

He said the government has set a three-year target for making available such facilities in these regions.

This scheme has a three-pronged aim as this will ensure the personal development of individuals, provide basic facilities and employment avenues so that they do not desert the border villages for better opportunities in the mainland, and provide facilities of basic infrastructure, electricity, and health, Shah said.

During his visit, Shah also inspected the border outpost of the ITBP in Arunachal Pradesh and took stock of the force's preparedness.
New York: Legally, the most important words former President Donald Trump said after he was charged with 34 felonies by the Manhattan District Attorney last week were not guilty. But, politically, the most significant may be election interference.

Trump's repetition of those words, which have been taken up by other top Republicans, show how he is trying to turn his historic position as the first former president charged with crimes to his advantage. It's another example of what's been a consistent refrain throughout his political career - claiming without evidence that an election is being rigged against him.

After his initial court appearance in the New York case, the first of several in which he is in legal jeopardy, Trump ticked through the varied investigations he was facing and branded them as massive attempts to interfere with the 2024 election.

Our justice system has become lawless," Trump said as he appeared before supporters as his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. "They're using it now, in addition to everything else, to win elections.

Trump has made some version of those claims in at least 20 social media posts since March 3, the bulk of which occurred in the last two weeks, accelerating when a Manhattan grand jury appeared to be wrapping up its work and preparing to indict the former president. Trump declared his latest bid for the White House shortly after the November midterms, in what some in his orbit saw as an effort to head off the various probes swirling around him.

Alleging an election is being stolen from him is a routine Trump tactic, despite no evidence to back up his assertions. When competing for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016, Trump claimed his loss in the Iowa caucuses was due to fraud. When he won the White House that November but lost the popular vote, Trump claimed the only reason for falling short in the latter category was because undocumented immigrants voted. A task force he formed to find voter fraud disbanded without finding any evidence to back up his claim.

In 2020, Trump began arguing the election would be fraudulent months before voting started. He attacked efforts to loosen restrictions on mail voting during the coronavirus pandemic, and expanded those allegations after losing the election to claim he'd actually won it. Those lies led to the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Federal and state election officials and Trump's own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence the 2020 election was tainted. The former president's allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges Trump appointed. Trump is behaving like a politician in the legal crosshairs, said Steven Levitsky, a Harvard political scientist.

He's certainly not the first politician to be prosecuted - sometimes fairly, sometimes not - to play the political victim card, Levitsky said.

Levitsky, who cowrote the book How Democracies Die, said that several former presidents of other countries, when prosecuted, have claimed it was a plot to foil their future elections. Most recently, that was the complaint of Brazil's former president Luis Incio Lula Da Silva after he was jailed before the 2018 election. Silva was freed by his country's supreme court and won back the presidency in October.

What's notable in Trump's case, however, is that his own party is echoing the stolen election claims ahead of the next campaign. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last month said he was directing his party's committee chairs to investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions.

That a whole party is carrying this line is somewhat unusual," Levitsky said.

Last week's charges in New York court stemmed from Trump's reimbursements to his lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen, of hush money paid in the waning days of the 2016 presidential election to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who alleged they had an affair. Even some critics of Trump have seen the charges as a stretch of New York laws.

The heart of the Manhattan case is prosecutors' claim that Trump falsified business records at his company to make the payoff in order to keep a potentially damaging story quiet while he was campaigning - an illegal attempt by Trump, they argued, to try to influence the election.

The former president also faces legal jeopardy from other investigations, two of which are related to his attempts to try to interfere with the 2020 election.

Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, are probing Trump's January 2021 call to the state's top elections officer asking him to find enough votes to declare Trump the winner there. The U.S. Justice Department also has launched a federal special counsel probe into Trump's attempts to try to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election.

Trump is also enmeshed in a federal special counsel investigation of his handling of classified documents found at his Florida estate. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, when asked at a news conference on Tuesday whether the timing of the case was political, responded by saying: I bring cases when they're ready."

Bragg's office declined to comment on Trump's statements about election interference," as did the Department of Justice.

Critics warn that Trump is, once again, sewing suspicions of fraud that could damage democracy. We've seen this film before, Joanna Lydgate, chief executive officer of States United Action, which tracks politicians who embrace Trump's election lies, said in a statement. We know this is dangerous because we all saw what happened on January 6th.

Trump has routinely waved off such warnings, and has seamlessly integrated his current legal jeopardy into the false allegations he's made for three years about Democratic Party wrongdoing leading to his ouster.

In his first campaign rally, in Waco, Texas, days before the Manhattan indictment, Trump railed against all the investigations and said that his opponents were using the probes because it's harder for them to stuff the ballot boxes, of which they stuffed plenty.

?The new weapon being used by out-of-control unhinged Democrats to cheat on election is criminally investigating a candidate, he said.

Trump and other Republicans have sometimes contradicted themselves, decrying the investigations as an attempt to tarnish Trump while also predicting they'll aid his bid for the White House.

I think you'll see his poll numbers go up, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., one of the president's most vocal backers in the House, predicated at a GOP conference last month. He's never been in a stronger position. She condemned the charges last week as unprecedented election interference.

Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs for Common Cause, which has long been critical of Trump's allegations of election rigging, noted that all the investigations of the former president began well before he started running for president again.

Nobody is above the law, including former presidents, and running for president cannot and must not serve as a shield for wrongful conduct, Scherb said.
The work on the strategic Zojila tunnel, an all-weather connection between the Kashmir valley and the Ladakh region - is going on at a rapid pace and over 40 per cent of the drilling has been completed, the construction company said on Sunday. The company said it is hopeful of completing the project by December 2026. Also, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways - Nitin Gadkari will be inspecting the Z-Morh tunnel today. The inspection will be performed along with other MPs including Om Birla.

Zojila Tunnel - The 14.5 km long strategically important, landmark signature project is progressing at a fast pace and is scheduled to be completed by 2024. #GatiShakti #PragatiKaHighway #ZojilaTunnel pic.twitter.com/6Q4rpY5yIZ  Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) December 19, 2021

The tunnel project, through the mighty Zojila Pass at an altitude of 11,578 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National highway is of strategic importance as the highway remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall, cutting off Ladakh region from Kashmir.

The single-tube Zojila tunnel from Baltal, in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir, to Minimarg, in Drass town of Kargil district of Ladakh, is 13 km long with an approach road of 18 km.

Also read - Maruti Suzuki Fronx First Drive Review: Hatchback On Stilts With SUV DNA

"This project is a huge game changer by the government of India. The total length of the project from Sonamarg to Minimarg is 31 km. From Sonamarg to Baltal, it is 18 km, and then the main tunnel from Baltal to Minimarg which is 13 km long. The work is going on at a rapid pace on both the projects, Project Head, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited Harpal Singh told PTI here.

https://zeenews.india.com/auto/scary-accident-in-hyderabad-reveals-why-one-shouldnt-ignore-basics-of-driving-watch-video-2593229.html

MEIL is constructing the tunnel. Singh said the work had to be stopped for two months in the winter because of back-to-back avalanches in January in which two persons were killed. About 38 pieces of equipment of the construction company were buried under the snow which have not yet been retrieved. "It was a temporary setback," Singh said, adding, "I am hopeful that the whole project will be completed by December 2026.

Singh said out of the 13 km long tunnel, a total of 6 km cutting has been done, three km from this side and the rest from the other end. "The remaining work will be completed in time, he said.

The project head said the company is using a modern method of tunnelling which is known as new Austrian tunnelling method.

By this method, we have achieved three important things -- the safety of the tunnel, the safety of the work-force, and the speed, he added.

By using this method, he said, the chances of accidents are very low and the quality and the speed of tunnelling are very good. This is a special technology applied in Europe and North America, he said.

Out of the total 31 km project from Z-Morh tunnel in Sonamarg, to Baltal, the approach road is 18 km and the work is also going on their simultaneously.

About 60 per cent of work has been completed on this. There are four bridges on which about 80 per cent of the work has been completed. There is five-km Nilgarh tunnels which have been completed. The work is going on at an advance pace and the approach road would be operational within two years, Singh said.

He said people will not face any difficulty in coming to Baltal even in winter when there is heavy snowfall because of the approach road to the tunnel.

Asked about the importance of the tunnel with respect to the Defence forces, Singh said after the completion of the tunnel, the forces will be able to move across round the clock.

The road remains closed for four months due to snowfall. It is a very long time. There are so many defence forces personnel, we have a border with China which has a strong military. It is risky for our forces to face such a huge army when there is no land connection with the rest of India.

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After this tunnel is constructed, the Indian defence forces will move uninterrupted throughout the year. People of J-K and Ladakh can move throughout the year. It will be a huge advantage. What we had not been able to do in the last 75 years, you will have it in the next three to four years, he said.

He said not only will it shorten the distance, the time taken will also be very less. This distance will be covered in less than 40 minutes instead of four hours, he said.

Site-incharge of MEIL, Sanjay Sharma, said the tunnel would be the longest in Asia at the highest altitude. He said there were many challenges working in the young Himalayan range.

"But, the main challenge is outside the tunnel. It is the weather. First two years, we worked in winter months also. But, last year, we had to stop for two months due to avalanches, he said.
India's aviation regulator DGCA has issued an advisory to airlines asking them to strictly deal with the unruly passengers, reiterating the existing provisions in place. The Directorate General Of Civil Aviation said it's the responsibilities of pilots, cabin crew members and the director of inflight services mentioned in the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) for action against such passengers. In an advisory, DGCA said there are provisions under the CAR for action to be taken by the airline to deal with unruly passengers. The advisory comes against the backdrop of rising incidents of unruly passengers onboard flights, reported PTI.

In fact, on the very day DGCA issued guidelines, a 25-year-old male passenger was deboarded by Air India from a Delhi-London flight for causing physical harm to two cabin crew members. There has been a rise in the unruly passenger behaviour in the past few months and DGCA said they have noticed a few incidents such as smoking in aircraft, consumption of alcoholic beverages resulting in altercations between passengers.

Further, DGCA said they also noticed inappropriate touching or sexual harassment by the passengers onboard an aircraft during the flight, wherein "post holders, pilots and cabin crew members have failed to take appropriate actions". Recently, Swati Maliwal, Chairperson Of Delhi Commission for Women, wrote to DGCA for updating its guidelines on unruly passenger behaviour, resulting sexual assault.

"Such incidents have potential of compromising the safety of aircraft operations," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said. The watchdog has advised the heads of operations of all airlines to sensitise their pilots, cabin crew and post holders on handling of unruly passengers through appropriate means.

The measures can be "but not limited to training programme for ensuring effective monitoring, maintenance of good order and discipline on board the aircraft so that safety of aircraft operations is not jeopardised in any manner," the advisory said.

Levels of Unruly Behaviour

DGCA regulations provide for classifying unruly passenger behaviour into three levels and such people can face flying ban for varying periods. Unruly behaviour such as physical gestures, verbal harassment and unruly inebriation are classified as Level 1 while physically abusive behaviour like pushing, kicking or sexual harassment will be classified as Level 2.

Life threatening behaviour such as damage to aircraft operating systems, physical violence like choking and murderous assault will be considered as Level 3. Depending on the level of unruly behaviour, an internal committee set up by the airline concerned can decide on the duration for which an unruly passenger can be banned from flying.
Air India on Monday deboarded an unruly passenger from its Delhi-London flight, which returned to the national capital, according to sources. The sources said flight AI 111, which had around 225 passengers, returned to the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here as there was an unruly male passenger onboard. The unruly passenger was deboarded at the airport and later the flight took off for London Heathrow, they added.

Air India has released an official statement, reading, Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London Heathrow on April 10, 2023 returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board. Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members. The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing. An FIR has also been lodged with the police. Safety, security and dignity of all on board is important to us at Air India. We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight to depart for London this afternoon."

Also read - Zojila Tunnel Project To Finish By 2026, Nitin Gadkari To Inspect Z-Morh Tunnel Today

Also, in another incident, an Air India aircraft that was to operate a flight from the national capital to San Francisco suffered a technical issue before take off and returned to the stand on Monday morning, sources said. The airline replaced the aircraft and later the flight took off for San Francisco. There were little over 200 passengers onboard, the sources added. According to the sources, the plane had pushed back and returned to the stand before take off due to the technical issue. Later, the passengers were accommodated in another aircraft. There was no immediate statement from Air India.
New Delhi: Seven persons were killed and 37 others injured when a tree fell on a tin shed under which people were standing in a temple premises after heavy wind and rains in Maharashtra's Akola district, officials said on Monday.

The incident took place at around 7.30 pm on Sunday at Babuji Maharaj temple located in Paras village under Balapur taluka when the people had gathered for the 'maha aarti', Akola Collector Nima Arora said.

VIDEO | At least seven people were killed and 23 others injured after an old tree fell on a tin shed under which people were standing in a temple premises after heavy wind and rains in Maharashtra's Akola district on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/Aj8LIflocl  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 10, 2023

State Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the incident which he termed as "very serious and unfortunate". Seven people were killed and 37 others injured, Fadnavis said, adding that he has given directions for an inquiry into the incident.

The government will provide compensation to the families of the deceased, he said. The district authorities said families of each of the deceased will be given a compensation of Rs 4 lakh and the injured persons will be given monetary assistance as per government rules.

Due to the heavy wind and rains, a 100-year-old tree fell on a tin shed under which around 40 people were standing, the district administration said. Five men and two women were killed and 37 others received injuries, it said.

After receiving information, police and district disaster management authorities rushed the spot and started the rescue operation, an official said. The injured persons were rushed to the Akola general hospital, the district administration said.

The two women who died in the incident were aged 50 and 55 and hailed from Jalgaon and Buldhana. Out of the five deceased men, two aged 55 and one 35 years old were residents of Akola. The two other men were yet to be identified, the release said.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis expresses grief

Deputy CM Fadnavis in a tweet expressed grief over the incident. He said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to give compensation to the families of the deceased. Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis said the incident was "very serious and unfortunate" and that he has given directions for an inquiry into it.

The government will bear the medical expenses of the injured persons. Besides, the families of the deceased will be given assistance from the CM's Relief Fund, he said. The government has given orders for the 'panchanama' (spot inspection) of losses due to the unseasonal rains in parts of the state. "We have received a primary estimation of the losses and final estimation is under process," he added
New Delhi: The Election Commission on Monday recognised Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party and withdrew the same tag of Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC), Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI). In an order issued on Monday, the poll body said that the AAP has been named as a national party based on its electoral performance in Delhi, Goa, Punjab, and Gujarat. The Kejriwal-led party is currently in power in Delhi and Punjab. The Commission also said that NCP and TMC will be recognised as state parties in Nagaland and Meghalaya respectively based on their performance in the recently concluded assembly elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, CPI(M), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), National People's Party (NPP), and the AAP are now the national parties.

The Commission also revoked the state party status granted to Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Andhra Pradesh, People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) in Manipur, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in Puducherry, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) in West Bengal and Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) in Mizoram.

It also granted 'recognised state political party' status to the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) in Nagaland, Voice of the People Party in Meghalaya, and the Tipra Motha in Tripura.

Arvind Kejriwal Reacts As AAP Becomes National Party

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal reacted to his party becoming a national party and said it is 'nothing less than a miracle'.

In a tweet in Hindi, Kejriwal said, "National party in such a short time? This is nothing less than a miracle. Many congratulations to all."

He added that crores of people in the country have taken AAP here.

"People expect a lot from us. Today people have given us this huge responsibility. Lord, bless us to fulfill this responsibility well," Kejriwal tweeted.

     ?          



                        



 ,             Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 10, 2023

How Is A Party Recognised As A National Party?

A political party is recognized as a National party if any of the following conditions are fulfilled:

(i) The candidates set up by the party, in any four or more States, at the last general election to the House of the People, or to the Legislative Assembly of the State concerned, have secured not less than six percent of the total valid votes polled in each of those States at that general election; and, in addition, it has returned at least four members to the House of the People at the aforesaid last general election from any State or States.

(ii) At the last general election to the House of the People, the party has won at least two percent of the total number of seats in the House of the People, any fraction exceeding half being counted as one; and the party's candidates have been elected to that House from not less than three States.

(iii) The party is recognized as a State party in at least four States.

When Is A Party Considered A State Party?

A political party is eligible for recognition as a State party in a State if any of the following conditions are fulfilled:

(i) At the last general election to the Legislative Assembly of the State, the candidates set up by the party have secured not less than six percent of the total valid votes polled in the State; and, in addition, the party has returned at least two members to the Legislative Assembly of that State at the such general election.

(ii) At the last general election to the House of the People from that State, the candidates set up by the party have secured not less than six percent of the total valid votes polled in the State; and, in addition, the party has returned at least one member to the House of the People from that State at the such general election.

(iii) At the last general election to the Legislative Assembly of the State, the party has won at least three percent of the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly, (any fraction exceeding half being counted as one), or at least three seats in the Assembly, whichever is more.

(iv) At the last general election to the House of the People from the State, the party has returned at least one member to the House of the People for every 25 members or any fraction thereof allotted to that State.

(v) At the last general election to the House of the People from the State, or at the last general election to the Legislative Assembly of the State, the candidates set up by the Party have secured not less than eight percent of the total valid votes polled in the State.
New Delhi: In view of a Statewide `bandh` call by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other organizations over violence in Chhattisgarh`s Bemetara district, workers of the outfit and those of BJP, which has lent support to the protest, have urged people to close their businesses on Monday. On Saturday, 22-year-old, Bhuneswar Sahu, was killed in a clash between two groups in the Biranpur village. Three police personnel were also injured in the incident.

'Bandh' called by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal

Raipur Additional Superintendent of Police Abhishek Maheshwari said that the bandh has been called by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal. An additional police force has also been deployed in all police stations. More than 400 police officers have been deployed in all the police stations, Extra patrolling is also being done. The police department got information that they plan to hold a `chakka jam` at three to four locations. BJP district president Jayanti Patel said the decision for a `bandh` was necessary due to the violence in the state.

#WATCH | BJP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers in Raipur urge people to close their businesses today in view of the bandh called by VHP & other Hindu organisations over Bemetara violence in Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/1PsMB5sgZS  ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) April 10, 2023

The police officer further stated that BJP is supporting the call for the bandh. Superintendent of police (SP) of Bemetara, Indira Kalyan Elesela said yesterday, "A bandh has been called tomorrow in view of yesterday`s incident. We are ready for this. We hope everything remains peaceful." We are fully prepared. The crowd has been controlled by installing barricades at many places," he added.

Earlier on Sunday, State BJP spokesperson Kedar Gupta said that Bharatiya Janata Party will join the Chhattisgarh bandh called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad over the incident in Bemetara that resulted in the death of one youth and the bandh will be held on Monday. The incident took place in Saja Vidhansabha. There were continuously eight cases of love jihad in that area and Sahu Samaj was creating public awareness that Love Jihad is a crime. Kedar Gupta also alleged conspiracy behind the youth`s murder and the government was supporting the accused.

Section 144 imposed in the area

Meanwhile, the last rituals of Bhuneswar Sahu were done on Sunday amid significant police presence and the implementation of Section 144 in the region. According to early information, a fight broke out between two groups of children in Biranpur village on Saturday, and tensions then escalated, leading to a conflict between members of the two groups. Police have arrested 11 persons in connection with the incident and are conducting an investigation.
New Delhi: Amid a spike in Covid-19 cases across the country, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday said that the coronavirus infections in the national capital are expected to rise in the coming days. Speaking to reporters, the senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader also asked people with flu-like symptoms to wear masks and avoid public places.

"Delhi is a densely populated city. Cases will rise and many people will exhibit flu-like and influenza-like symptoms such as fever and cough. But they will recover," Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

He said that people with such symptoms should not venture out in public places.

"If at all one has to go to such places then one should wear a mask and observe other safety norms so that they don't end up infecting others," the Delhi health minister said.

Those who are ill or have weak immunity, should not venture out of their homes frequently and should avoid crowded places, he added.

Referring to the April 7 meeting between the Centre and states over the country's Covid-19 situation, Bharadwaj said that according to experts, XBB 1.16, which is currently the most prevalent coronavirus variant, is not causing severe disease.

"We are conducting genome sequencing of all positive samples. Till now, we have seen that samples have been found with either XBB.1.6 or its sub-variants... Cases are increasing in Delhi. It is usually seen that cases increase, hit a plateau and then start declining. At this point, the city is seeing a spurt in cases," he said.

Delhi's Covid positivity rate at 21.15%

Delhi on Sunday recorded 699 new Covid-19 cases which took the capital's positivity rate to 21.15 per cent. With the fresh cases, Delhi's coronavirus tally has now risen to 20,14,637, while the death toll stands at 26,540.

Delhi, which currently has 2,460 active cases, had seen 535 infections on Saturday with a positivity rate of 23.05 per cent.

The capital logged 733 cases -- the highest in more than seven months -- on Friday with a positivity rate of 19.93 per cent.

On Thursday, 606 cases were recorded with a positivity rate of 16.98 per cent.

Delhi has witnessed a spurt in the number of fresh Covid infections over the last fortnight amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country.

The number of fresh cases had dropped to zero on January 16, the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The Health Department on Sunday said 136 of the 7,989 beds in dedicated Covid hospitals in the city are occupied while 1,634 patients are in home isolation.
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has warned that he will be filing a defamation suit against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his tweet linking him to the Gautam Adani-led Group. The Assam Chief Minister said this while addressing a press conference held in Guwahati on Sunday. The Assam Chief Minister told reporters that he will file a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi after Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to Assam on April 14.

"Whatever Rahul Gandhi has tweeted, it is a defamatory tweet. So once Prime Minister goes back from Assam we will respond to the tweet and definitely, there will be a defamation case in Guwahati," he said. Sarma further added, "But not now, I don`t want to talk about politics now, because we want to celebrate Bihu".

Live: Addressing press conference on forthcoming visit of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India to Assam at Janata Bhawan https://t.co/mgFFidtXKR  Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 9, 2023

Rahul Gandhis Latest Adani Tweet Irks BJP Leaders

Rahul Gandhi in a stinging tweet on Saturday slammed certain leaders who left Congress in the past few years, and some of them who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, while continuing his attack on the government regarding the Adani matter. He posted a picture sporting the names of former Congress leaders, who either joined the BJP or ended decades-old ties with the grand old party, along with that of businessman Gautam Adani. The names shown in the picture included Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, former MP Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, leader Anil Antony and former CM Kiran Reddy.

"They hide the truth, that's why they mislead every day! The question remains the same - whose Rs 20,000 crore benami money is in Adani's companies?" Rahul Gandhi asked in a tweet in Hindi, sharing an image with 'Adani' written as an acronym of sorts with letters of the names of the leaders.

Responding to it, Assam CM stated that the BJP never questioned him about the alleged concealment of proceeds of crime from the Bofors and National Herald Scams, or how Ottavio Quattrocchi repeatedly escaped Indian justice. He added that they would meet in the court.

Sarma Takes '12-Lakh Employment' Dig At Kejriwal

Sarma also took a dig at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sarma added that he is still waiting for a meeting with him to know about Kejriwal`s claims on giving employment. "Because I want to demystify how 12 lakh employment is possible where sanctioned staff in Delhi government is only 1.5 lakh. So, I want to ask him that question. If the Assam government has a sanctioned staff of 4 lakhs, how can I give appointments to 12 lakh people? So I have to unravel that mystery. He shouldn`t say at the end of the day that, these are private company jobs," Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Guwahati for various events, including the state's attempt to create a record for the largest Bihu performance with over 11,000 dancers and drummers.
In this piece, we will take a look at the 25 best hospitals in the U.S. For more hospitals, head on over to 5 Best Hospitals in the U.S.

Healthcare is one of the most lucrative industries in America, with hefty salaries for doctors and significantly high prices for services that require most people to hold medical insurance. As opposed to some other developed countries, such as the U.K. and Canada, both of which rely on state funded healthcare and also have higher income tax rates to fund these expenditures, the healthcare system in the US has glaring issues and problems. In Canada, the Health Act funds most hospitals and covers basic healthcare needs. For other areas, such as dental and eye care, patients have to use their own funds. Similarly, in England, Wales, and Scotland, the National Health Service (NHS) funds doctors and other facilities to provide primary healthcare.

America also has some of the highest per capita spending on healthcare as well, with data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) showing that as of 2021, National Health Expenditure (NHE) per capita in the U.S. stood at $12,914. In terms of total expenditure, health expenditure was one of the largest segments of the American gross domestic product (GDP), with total spending sitting at a stunning $4.3 trillion to account for 18.3% of the total pie. Within the total expenditure, private health insurance and out of pocket spending continued to account for a worryingly large proportion, as they sat at $1.2 trillion, or made up 5.8% of the total expenditure. The federal government was still the largest healthcare spender in America, pumping out 34% of the total expenditure, while state and local governments added another 15% - ensuring that almost half of all the spending in the U.S. came in one form of government support or the other.

Looking at the future, the CMS believes that spending growth will be commensurate with growth in the GDP, as both will grow at 5.1% annually until 2030. However, the effects of the current economic turmoil on these estimates is uncertain, especially since a significant number of economists believe that the American economy can enter a recession later this year. Building on this, America leads the world in healthcare expenditure per capita as measured in international dollars, as according to the World Health Organization, American health expenditure was $11,702 and the second highest spender was Switzerland with an international dollar expenditure of $8,493. While Switzerland does not have government funding hospitals like England, it does have universal healthcare (unlike the U.S.) which stops insurance providers from profiting off of basic insurance plans to ensure that the highest number of people can afford coverage.

Story continues

As a whole, the hospital industry in the U.S. is a highly lucrative sector. A research report from Grand View Research outlines that the U.S. hospital facilities market was worth $1.5 trillion in 2022. Despite this massive size, the sector still has a high compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.62% for the forecast period between 2022 and 20230. Through this, the industry is estimated to be worth $2.5 trillion by the end of 2030. This high growth is partially attributed to the coronavirus pandemic since the research firm outlines that the market decreased by 2.2% between 2019 and 2020 as hospitals were forced to divert all their resources to care for COVID 19 patients. In fact, the revenue impact on hospitals was also quite large during the pandemic's early peak, as between the four-month period of March to June 2020, hospitals lost more than $200 billion in revenue. Grand View Research adds that a backlog of all these cases can stimulate the sector's revenue growth, and rising life expectancy in America is also seeing a higher number of older patients utilize the facilities for their healthcare needs.

Don't Miss: Top Healthcare Stocks to Buy

This backlog clearing in the market is evident on the ground, with Doug Coltharp, the chief financial officer of Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC), sharing during the firm's fourth quarter of 2022 earnings analyst call conference:

As Mark stated, we are very pleased with our Q4 results. Revenue for the quarter increased 9.1% over the prior year to $1.14 billion, and adjusted EBITDA increased 16.4% to $232.7 million. We continued to see strong volume growth in Q4. Discharges grew 7.3%, which combined with a 2.2% increase in revenue per discharge, to drive 9.6% inpatient revenue growth. On a same-store basis, discharges grew 4.2%. For the full year 2022, discharges increased 6.8%, and that was on top of 8.7% growth in 2021. In 2021, when the clinical labor market began tightening, and contract labor and shift bonuses started to rise, we made the strategic decision to continue to admit appropriate patients regardless of the financial burden to our company. This allowed our hospitals to provide value to our patients, referral sources, and payers. As a result, we are experiencing gains in market share. We made further progress on reducing labor costs in Q4. Our Q4 contract labor, plus sign-on and shift bonuses of $35.4 million, was comprised of $19.7 million in contract labor, and 1$5.7 million in sign-on and shift bonuses. Contract labor expense in Q4 declined approximately $5.1 million or 20.6% from Q3, $10.3 million or 34.3% from Q4 2021, and $22.2 million or 53% from the peak in Q1 2022. We experienced sequential declines in contract labor expense and FTEs for every month in Q4, and in fact, for every month since last March. Contract labor FTEs for December were 325 compared to 749 in March.

With these details in mind, let's take a look at some top hospitals in America.

25 Best Hospitals in the U.S.

Chaikom/Shutterstock.com

Our Methodology

To compile our list, we consulted U.S. News, Healthgrades, and Newsweek's best hospitals in America rankings to reach consensus opinion-based rankings. For the U.S. News and Newsweek rankings, a hospital was assigned a score similar to its ranking, while for Healthgrades, it received a score inversely corresponding to its total awards. The scores were then averaged to reach a final ranking. The lower the score, the better the hospital. Out of the final list of 35 hospitals, the top 25 hospitals in the U.S. are listed below.

25 Best Hospitals in the U.S.

25. Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Insider Monkey's Score: 21

Barnes-Jewish Hospital is the teaching hospital for the Washington University School of Medicine. It is one of the largest hospitals in Missouri.

24. University of Chicago Medical Center

Insider Monkey's Score: 21

University of Chicago Medical Center is one of the oldest hospitals in the U.S. since it was set up in 1898. It is located on The University of Chicago Campus.

23. Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Insider Monkey's Score: 20.7

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a Tennessee-based medical services provider which employs tens of thousands of people and has close to two thousand beds.

22. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Insider Monkey's Score: 20.7

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is the teaching center of the Harvard Medical School. It receives hundreds of millions of dollars in research funding annually.

21. Rush University Medical Center

Insider Monkey's Score: 19

Rush University Medical Center is based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the top neurology and orthopedics hospitals in America.

20. Duke University Hospital

Insider Monkey's Score: 18

Duke University Hospital is the teaching hospital of Duke University. It has close to one thousand bends and strong cancer and cardiology divisions.

19. Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville

Insider Monkey's Score: 16.3

Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville is one of the three Mayo Clinic hospitals in America. It is one of the top hospitals in Florida.

18. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Insider Monkey's Score: 15.7

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is associated with the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Medical School. It is the oldest university teaching hospital in America.

17. Michigan Medicine

Insider Monkey's Score: 15.7

Michigan Medicine has a multi-billion dollar endowment and is the teaching hospital of the University of Michigan. It is one of the biggest surgical centers in America, with 66 operating rooms.

16. UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center

Insider Monkey's Score: 14.7

UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center is one of the best treatment centers in America for victims of rape and child sexual abuse. It was also the birthplace of Shirley Temple.

15. University of California, San Francisco Medical Center

Insider Monkey's Score: 14.7

The University of California, San Francisco Medical Center is a teaching hospital of the University of California system. It was set up in 1907.

14. Mount Sinai Hospital

Insider Monkey's Score: 14.7

Mount Sinai Hospital is more than 150 years old since it was founded in 1852. It is the teaching hospital of the Icahn School of Medicine.

13. Mayo Clinic - Phoenix

Insider Monkey's Score: 14.3

Mayo Clinic - Phoenix is the out of state campus of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. It is a general, private, and nonprofit hospital.

12. Brigham and Women's Hospital

Insider Monkey's Score: 13.3

Brigham and Women's Hospital is a teaching hospital of the Harvard Medical School. It is one of the largest research hospitals in the world.

11. NYU Langone Health

Insider Monkey's Score: 12.7

NYU Langone Health is one of the oldest healthcare facilities in the U.S. It traces its roots back to the early 19th century and has more than 4,000 doctors.

10. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Insider Monkey's Score: 12.3

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is one of the medical centers of the University of California, Los Angeles. It is one of the few hospitals in America that has produced a Nobel Prize winner.

9. Houston Methodist Hospital

Insider Monkey's Score: 12

Houston Methodist Hospital is associated with Weill Cornell Medical College. It has strong biomedical and engineering medicine research divisions.

8. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

Insider Monkey's Score: 12

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is associated with the Cornell and Columbia Universities. It is one of the largest hospitals in the world with more than 2,000 beds.

7. Northwestern Medicine

Insider Monkey's Score: 12

Northwestern Medicine is a nonprofit hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

6. Stanford University Medical Center

Insider Monkey's Score: 10

Stanford University Medical Center is a teaching hospital for the Stanford University School of Medicine. It is one of the few hospitals with a helicopter.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best Hospitals in the U.S.

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Disclosure: None. 25 Best Hospitals in the U.S. is originally published on Insider Monkey.
New Delhi: Amid an ongoing war with Russia, Ukraine Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzheppar on Monday banked on Indian leadership and called India a 'Vishwa Guru' (the teacher of the world). The minister, who is on a four-day visit to India, said that New Delhi, as a global player, has the potential to be a leader in promoting peace and justice worldwide.

Speaking to reporters after her meeting with Sanjay Verma, the Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi, Emine Dzheppar said, "India as a global player really is the Vishwa Guru".

Pleased to have a meeting with Secretary (West) MFA @SanjayVermalFS in New Delhi. Updated on #Ukraines efforts to fight #russian unprovoked aggression. Invited to join President Zelenskyy's #PeaceFormula & #GrainFromUkraine initiative. Important to have #India on board. pic.twitter.com/v8ere2Mwex  Emine Dzheppar (@EmineDzheppar) April 10, 2023

Pleasure to receive Ukrainian Deputy FM @EmineDzheppar. Perspectives shared. Discussed bilateral engagements and cooperation going forward. Wishing her a good trip. Her first as DFM, but a country she is familiar with. @MEAIndia @IndiainUkraine @DrSJaishankar @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/7MmdWFKGR5  Sanjay Verma (@SanjayVermalFS) April 10, 2023

Dzheppar hoped that India will play an active role in addressing global issues and challenges, particularly in the areas of economics, energy, and nuclear policy.

She also said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is not about NATO or the United States, but about justice.

"Russia has been questioning the very existence of my country," she said and added they have never attacked any other country in their history of 1,500 years.

Since the Ukraine conflict began in February last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy a number of times.

India, notably, has so far not condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

Asked about India-Russia energy ties, Dzheppar, who is the first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, urged New Delhi to diversify its resources, including energy and military contracts, to avoid being dependent on any one country.

"We are not in the position of instructing India in their economic ties with other countries", she said.

She also said India should be pragmatic in diversifying its energy resources, military contracts, and political interactions.

This is the first-ever visit by a Ukrainian minister to India since the Ukraine conflict began.
Chandigarh: In a major breakthrough, fugitive Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh's close aide Papalpreet Singh was arrested from Punjab's Hoshiarpur on Monday. Papalpreet was arrested in a joint operation by the Punjab and Delhi Police that also involved their counter-intelligence wings. Papalpreet is considered to be Amritpal's mentor and is alleged to have links with Pakistan's ISI. Amritpal and Papalpreet had been on the run since March 18 when the Punjab Police launched a crackdown against the Khalistan sympathiser and his aides.

Pro-Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh's aide Papalpreet Singh arrested from Hoshiarpur in an operation conducted by Punjab Police and its counter-intelligence unit: Sources pic.twitter.com/viDBYofrNd  ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2023

Who Is Papalpreet Singh?

Papalpreet Singh comes from agricultural family background. He is said to have studied at a convent school and holds a PG diploma. Papalpreet Singh took to political activism in his 20s and got associated with Sikh Youth Front and Sikh Youth Federation (Bhindrawala). Apart from expressing his support for the Khalistan movement, Papalpreet had demanded the release of jailed Sikh prisoners since the 90s.

He came to the limelight during the 2015 Sarbat Khalsa when he read out militant Narain Singh Chaura's 'chargesheet' against the then Parkash Singh Badal government and claimed that "Khalistan is the only solution." In 2016, he joined Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and campaigned for Simranjit Singh Mann in Barnala in the 2017 Assembly elections. However, Mann lost the battle.

Papalpreet Singh is considered to be one of Amritpal Singh's mentors who had been advising him on various issues. He is associated with the fugitive preacher closely since he returned to India last year and took over the reins of 'Waris Punjab De.'

Intelligence reports suggest that Papalpreet has links with ISI and uses its support to leverage the cause of Khalistan in Punjab. He is believed to have helped Amritpal Singh escape after the Punjab Police crackdown on his supporters. In a video, Papalpreet was seen driving a motorcycle with the former riding pillion. The two-wheeler was later found deserted at Phillaur in Jalandhar, according to a PTI report.

It was on Papalpreet's instructions that Amritpal changed his appearance from a radical Sikh preacher to an ordinary person and finally abandoned the motorcycle at a canal in Phillaur.
New Delhi: After getting disqualified from the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be visiting his constituency, Wayanad on Tuesday where he will hold a roadshow. The Congress is putting in all its efforts to give him a grand welcome and make it a show of strength. According to the local party leaders, Gandhi will be accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who last came for the election campaign in 2019.

The Gandhis will land at Kannur airport and from there will reach Kalpetta, the district headquarters of Wayanad district on a helicopter.

At Kalpetta, the party is conducting a massive roadshow from his office, which he used to frequent when in Kalpetta when he was the MP.

And at 4 p.m. a public meeting is also being arranged and all the top Congress leaders of the state will be present there.

Gandhi had won the Wayanad seat with a staggering margin of over four lakh votes.

His visit also adds significance as it happens a few days after veteran Congressman A.K. Antony`s elder son Anil Antony joined the BJP.

Meanwhile, Gandhi`s appeal on the conviction will be heard on April 13 at the Surat court.

He is on bail, which was extended by the Sessions Court in Gujarat. The court will hear his appeal against conviction in the case on April 13.

On March 23, a lower court in Surat found him guilty of defaming the entire Modi community in a case filed by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi. The former Congress president was subsequently disqualified from the Lok Sabha under a rule that bars convicted MPs from holding Lok Sabha membership.

Gandhi was given the maximum 2-year jail term for his offence, but the sentence was suspended for 30 days for him to file an appeal against the order.

If the conviction is not overturned, he will be disqualified from contesting elections for the next eight years.
New Delhi: In the run-up to the assembly elections in Karnataka, a bitter political row over has erupted in the BJP-ruled southern state over Gujarat-based dairy giant Amuls speculated entry into the state. While the Congress has accused the ruling party of conspiring to kill the states formidable dairy brand Nandini, the BJP has hit back accusing the former of ''spreading misinformation'' over the issue.

Amul Not Entering Karnataka, Says BJP

Accusing the Congress of unleashing a "misinformation campaign" over dairy cooperative Amul's presence in Karnataka, the BJP on Sunday asserted that the Gujarat-based dairy giant is not entering the state. It furer asserted that it has done far more than the opposition party to strengthen the Karnataka Milk Federation and its products sold under the brand name Nandini.

"Amul is NOT entering Karnataka. Both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms. KMF's turnover went up by (Rs) 10,000 crore after BJP came to power in 2019. In 2022, turnover stood at (Rs) 25,000 crore, of which (Rs) 20,000 crore went back to farmers of Karnataka," BJP IT department headed Amit Malviya tweeted.

- Amul is NOT entering Karnataka

- Both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms

- KMFs turnover went up by 10,000 crore after BJP came to power in 2019. In 2022, turnover stood at 25,000 crore, of which 20,000 crore went back to farmers of Karnataka

3/n  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 9, 2023

BJP Responds To Siddaramaiah's Tweets Over Amul

Malviyas reply came after Congress leader Siddaramaiah took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi following Amul's announcement of its plans to sell milk and curd in the Bengaluru market. With PM Modi visiting the state on Sunday, the former Karnataka chief minister asked if the purpose of his trip was "to loot the state".

Prime Minister @narendramodi avare,



Is your purpose of coming to Karnataka is to give to Karnataka or to loot from Karnataka?



You have already stolen banks, ports & airports from Kannadigas. Are you now trying to steal Nandini (KMF) from us?#AnswerMadiModi #SaveNandini pic.twitter.com/LooivhuEn3  Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 9, 2023

Malviya said, "There is a reason why India doesn't TRUST Congress. They LIE! Latest being the misinformation campaign that Karnataka Milk Federation, which owns Nandini, is going to merge with Amul." The BJP has done far more to strengthen KMF and make Nandini a global brand, he added.

KMF is the nation's second-largest milk cooperative and has depots in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. The BJP leader said, "15 per cent of KMF's total sales is outside Karnataka. Nandini is exported to Singapore, UAE and many other countries. Amul and KMF are NOT merging."

He also claimed that Amul, owned by Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation, is not entering Karnataka and that both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms.

He added, "Under the BJP, Karnataka is a milk surplus state. Dairy farmers are doing very well. Congress, which is shedding crocodile tears for brand Nandini, opposed the anti-cow slaughter bill, approved of our Nandinis being slaughtered. BJP plans to make Nandini a bigger brand."

Siddaramaiah Attacks PM Modi Over Amul

In a series of tweets, Siddaramaiah said, "It was Gujarat`s Baroda Bank that subsumed our Vijaya Bank. Ports and Airports were handed over to Gujarat`s Adani. Now, AMUL from Gujarat is planning to eat our KMF (Nandini). Mr @narendramodi, Are we the enemies of Gujaratis?"\\

"State`s milk production is affected since the day union cooperative minister Amit Shah spoke about the possibility of the KMF and Amul merger. What is your role in this, Mr @narendramodi?" he said in another tweet.

Hitting out at PM Modi he further said, "Instead of giving 2 crore jobs a year to our youths, @narendramodi took away the jobs of Kannadigas from our banks, ports and airports. Now, @BJP4Karnataka wants to hurt the prospects of our farmers by giving KMF to AMUL."

Instead of giving 2 crore jobs a year to our youths, @narendramodi took away the jobs of Kannadigas from our banks, ports & airports.



Now @BJP4Karnataka wants to hurt the prospects of our farmers by giving KMF to AMUL.#SaveNandini #AnswerMadiModi  Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 9, 2023

Talking about his government he said, "Our government implemented Ksheera Dhare to provide an incentive of Rs 5 for every litre of milk. This helped the production to increase from 45 lakh litre in 2013 to 73 lakh litre in 2017."

Our government implemented Ksheera Dhare to provide an incentive of Rs 5 for every litre of milk.



This helped the production to increase from 45 lakh litre in 2013 to 73 lakh litre in 2017.#SaveNandini #AnswerMadiModi  Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 9, 2023

The former Karnataka CM also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday and alleged that it was the weak leadership of BJP in the state which is the direct cause of the Karnataka Milk Federation`s (KMF) present dying condition.

"Banks built by our elders in Karnataka were eaten up. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah have hatched a plan to adopt Nandini, who is now a Sanjeevini of the farmers. Watch out mirrors...!! The state`s dairy industry has been rocked ever since Amit Shah, who is also the Union Cooperation Minister, proposed the merger of KMF and Amul. Amul is entering through the back door in the face of strong Kannadigas opposition to the merger proposal," Siddaramaiah said.

He added that Nandini milk and yoghurt have been disappearing in the state for the past few days. At the same time, sales of Amul products have started with a bang."Gujarat-based Amul had earlier tried to enter the Karnataka market by selling milk and yoghurt. We did not allow it. Now the BJP has extended a red-carpet welcome. Milk stock in KMF is decreasing during the BJP regime. Where 99 lakh litres of milk should be collected per day, only 71 lakh litres of milk is being collected. Is this a conspiracy against KMF?", he asked.

The Congress veteran went on to say that the BJP leadership in Karnataka is so weak that on one hand, the Maharashtra government is trying to establish its rule directly in the Belgaum border region. On the other hand, the state of Gujarat is trying to push the farmers to the streets through Amul.

The furore comes ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections to be held in a single phase on May 10 with the counting of votes scheduled on May 13.

(With Agency Inputs)
New Delhi: Amid rising Covid-19 cases, a nationwide mock drill to take stock of hospital preparedness will be held from Monday in which both public and private facilities are expected to participate. The mock drill is vital to ensure timely and effective healthcare for Covid-19 patients. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will visit AIIMS, Jhajjar on Monday to oversee the mock drill, Health Ministry officials said. In a review meeting held on April 7, Mandaviya had urged state health ministers to visit hospitals and oversee the mock drills. He had also advised them to review the preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9.

In a review meeting held on April 7, Mandaviya had urged state health ministers to visit hospitals and oversee the mock drills. He had also advised them to review the preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9.

In the meeting with state health ministers, and principal and additional chief secretaries held virtually, Mandaviya had stressed the need to identify 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. Besides enhancing genome sequencing and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples, he had emphasised creating awareness about following Covid-appropriate behaviour.

WHO Tracking New Covid-19 Variants

During the meeting, states and union territories were informed that currently the World Health Organisation (WHO) is closely tracking a 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 had said.

It was highlighted that while Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variants, 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. However, no evidence of an increase in hospitalisation or mortality has been reported, the statement said.

Stress On Covid-19 Tracking, Testing & Treatment

During the meeting, it was observed that 23 states and union territories had average tests per million below the national average. Mandaviya had said that irrespective of the new variants, the five-fold strategy of 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and adherence to Covid-Appropriate Behaviour' continues to remain the tested strategy for Covid management. States and union territories were also requested to expeditiously increase the rate of testing from 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 reports 5,357 fresh Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours

A total of 5,357 fresh Covid-19 infections were recorded in the country in the last 24 hours marking a slight decrease from Saturday`s count of 6,155 cases, the Union Health Ministry stated in a bulletin on Sunday. Covid infections 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, 3,038 on April 4, 4,435 on April 5, 5,335 on April 6 and 6,050 on April 7 and 6155 on April 8.

The overall active cases currently stand at 32,814, as of Sunday, with the daily positivity rate at 3.39 per cent, the Health Ministry stated further in its release. With 3,726 recoveries in the last 24 hours, the overall count stood at 4,41,92,837, the bulletin stated, adding that the overall recovery rate is currently at 98.74 per cent. Under the nationwide vaccination drive, a total of 220.66 crore vaccine doses have been administered, as of Sunday, of which 659 doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

CJI Allows Lawyer To Appear Virtually In Courts

In the wake of the rising number of Covid-19 cases, the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud earlier in the week said lawyers are free to appear virtually in court . CJI Chandrachud said newspaper reports show that Covid cases are on the rise and if a lawyer wants to appear virtually before the court they can and the hybrid mode is also on. "We saw newspaper reports on rising Covid cases. Lawyers can use hybrid mode. If you choose to appear online, we will hear you," said the CJI.

The Supreme Court had reverted to the physical hearing mode of adjudication of cases from April 4, 2022, after taking into account the low infection rate and the number of Covid cases in Delhi and across the country. The apex court has been successfully experimenting with the hybrid method -- a combination of physical and virtual -- of hearing for quite some time. The Supreme Court has also started live-streaming the Constitution bench proceedings through the Supreme Court app and YouTube even after the resumption of physical hearings.
New Delhi: Alleged desecration of a religious flag led to brick-batting between two groups and arson at Shastrinagar in Jamshedpur, prompting the authorities to impose Prohibitory Orders under Section 144 of CrPC in the locality on Sunday evening, an official said.

Two shops and an auto-rickshaw were set ablaze by the warring groups and the police fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob, he said. An adequate police force has been deployed in Shastrinagar under Kadma police station in Jharkhand to maintain law and order.

Section 144 clamped in the area

Prohibitory Orders under Section 144 of CrPC were clamped in the area, said Sub-Divisional Officer (Dhalbhum), Piyush Sinha. East Singhbhum district Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav said some anti-social elements are trying to disturb peace and sought cooperation from the citizens to foil their plot.

We have been keeping strict vigil on the situation and deployed adequate police force, a Quick Response Team, a Magistrate, Rapid Action Force personnel and other anti-riot resources to maintain law and order, she said in a statement.

Tension has been brewing in the area since Saturday night when members of a local organisation found that a piece of meat was tagged to a Ram Navami flag, police said. Several such organisations protested and demanded that the police arrest the culprits within 24 hours.

The situation turned violent on Sunday evening when a shop was gutted leading to brick-batting from both sides. A mob also set on fire an autorickshaw, forcing the police to fire tear gas shells.

Shops and auto-rickshaw set ablaze by locals

DIG (Kolhan) Ajay Linda said that the shops and the auto-rickshaw were set ablaze by local miscreants. The deputy commissioner said stringent action will be initiated against those who indulged in anti-social activities to disturb communal harmony.

She also urged people not to pay heed to canards or share inflammatory posts on social media. Apart from the DC, Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar, Superintendent of Police (City) K Vijay Shankar, and Sub-Divisional Officer (Dhalbhum) Piyush are camping in the area.
New Delhi: Actress Shefali Shah recently opened up about being touched inappropriately in a market, explaining how it was shameful. In an exclusive interview with ANI, the `Darlings` star recalls the shocking incident while talking about her role as Ria Verma from her critically acclaimed movie `Monsoon Wedding` by Mira Nair. In the film, her character went through sexual abuse as a child.

Shefali said, "Like I said earlier, everyone`s gone through it. I remember walking in a crowded market and being touched inappropriately and feeling crap about it. And, never ever saying anything because I wouldn`t say it was guilt but it`s just...shameful."

When questioned whether she wondered if she did anything to invite it, the actor answered, "Yes. I agree with you. A lot of people think; did I do anything? You feel guilty, shameful and you feel bhool jao. Shove it under the carpet kind of thing`. Honestly, I don`t think I gave it so much thought that it`s an important conversation to speak. It was just something that struck straight inside me and the entire film."

Shefali has been in the industry for over 27 years. Besides `Moonsoon Wedding`, she has shown her acting mettle in several projects such as `Once Again`, `Delhi Crime`, `Jalsa`, `Dil Dhadakne Do`, `Darlings` and `Doctor G`.
New Delhi: Film Director Vivek Agnihotri appeared before the Delhi High Court on Monday in a suo motu criminal contempt matter in relation to a tweet that he posted in 2018, about Justice S Murlidhar who had quashed transit remand of Gautam Navlakha.

On the last date of the hearing, the court directed Vivek Agnihotri to appear before it in person. On December 6, Vivek Agnihotri had tendered his unconditional apology for the tweets he posted in 2018. The bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Vikas Mahajan noted Agnihotri's appearance and noted that he has made an unconditional apology and expressed his remorse. Court further noted that he also tenders an unconditional apology for his allegedly offensive statement on Twitter. He accordingly stands discharged. The court also cautioned for to be more careful in future.

Earlier on March 16, the bench also took note of the order of December 6 when Agnihotri was directed to appear before the court. On the last hearing on December 6, Agnihotri tendered his unconditional apology for the tweets he posted in 2018.

The bench had asked Agnihotri to remain present in the next hearing. This contempt case was initiated by the court sou moto against Agnihotri and Reserve Bank of India Governor S Gurumurthy.

The counsel for Agnihotri submitted that Agnihotri was down with a fever and thus was not able to appear before the court. Thereafter, the bench asked him to appear physically on the next date.

Agnihotri's counsel had submitted through an affidavit that the tweets were deleted by his client. On the other hand, amicus curiae opposed the submission saying that the tweets were deleted by the social platform Twitter, not by him.

The bench had said, "We are asking him to remain present because he is contemnor. Does he have any difficulty if he has to express remorse in person? The remorse cannot always be express by way of an affidavit."
New Delhi: Artificial intelligence (AI) is causing a stir in a variety of industries, and it is now prepared to address a persistent problem in the workplace: phoney sick days. A technique for determining whether someone has a cold has been devised by researchers at the Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology in Surat.

The study, which was first covered by The Economist, involves examining the vocal tics of 630 people, 111 of whom had colds. To identify the presence of a cold, the researchers concentrated on harmonics, the vocal patterns in human speech. AI algorithms can detect the unusual pattern in a person's harmonics when they have a cold. (Also Read: This Employee Opt To Quit 6-Figure Salary Job Rather Than Return To Office Full-Time)

In the experiment, participants were asked to count from 1 to 40, discuss their weekend plans, and recite "The North Wind and the Sun," an Aesop story. The AI was 70 percent accurate in identifying a cold from these recordings. (Also Read: AI Artist Creates Image Of Bill Gates, Musk, Zuckerberg, Other Billionaires as world's poorest- Check How They Look)

The main objective of the researchers was to make cold detection possible without a doctor's visit. But this technology may also be a game-changer for businesses trying to stop the practise of having workers make up an illness in order to get a day off.

This voice-based cold detection technology may only be the beginning of health-related advances as AI develops and finds new uses. Only time will tell how this technology may be incorporated into the workplace and how it may affect relationships between employees and employers.
In this piece, we will take a look at the 25 best nursing homes in the U.S. For more nursing homes, head on over to 5 Best Nursing Homes in the U.S.

Aging is an inevitable part of human life. We all start young and grow old and each phase of life comes with its benefits and drawbacks. The main dilemma of life is that for those who don't have massive fortunes to their name, their youth is spent toiling away to earn wealth, and when the time comes to spend it, one is too old to utilize the experience that life provides through living.

In the Western world, there is a greater emphasis on independence than in the Eastern world. This leads to a belief that one has to move away from one's parents in order to live life fully, particularly in the U.S. On the flip side, countries such as China have higher levels of filial piety, where children are expected to take care of their parents when they grow old. Therefore, nursing homes that provide care and community to the elderly are far more prevalent in Western countries. The best of these have staff trained to meet the specific needs of senior citizens, and they enable people who do not want their parents to live with them or elders who do not have anyone to care for them to avail of these facilities to ensure comfortable living.

However, not all is well in the nursing home industry. According to a report from the National Academies, the manner in which nursing homes are financed and managed is "ineffective." It outlines that a large portion of this is due to the fact that nursing homes are unable to require suitable talent and face higher levels of employee turnover since they pay less than hospitals. It shares that registered nurses in nursing homes make $10,000 less on average than nurses in acute care hospitals. It also adds that the coronavirus pandemic laid bare the inadequacies in the system, as thousands of people died in nursing homes.

To build more on this, a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation - a nonprofit that conducts research on healthcare in America - shows that the number of deaths in the facilities of both residents and care staff was simply staggering. It shows that as of January 2022, more than 200,000 people had died in long term care facilities in America, which represented more than one fifth of the total coronavirus deaths. The bulk of these deaths took place between May 2020 and June 2021, the peak of the virus, with 14,000 people dying between July 2021 and January 2022.

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Taking a broad look at the nursing home industry in America, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that as of 2018, there were 15,600 nursing homes in the U.S. Out of these, 70% were for-profit facilities and all the facilities had 1.7 million beds in total. Nursing homes also served more than twice the amount of people as residential care facilities. They had 85 residents per day on average, higher than the 32 residents per day for residential care and 65 participants in adult daycare centers.

In terms of costs, semi private and private rooms cost $260 and $297 on the median in the U.S. in 2023 according to Senior Living. In annual terms, these amount to $94,900 and $108,405, respectively. If you thought these were high, consider the fact that the costs are expected to grow by $10,000 a month for the semi private rooms by 2030. In annual terms, these are expected to sit at $123,823 and $141,444 for the semi private and private rooms, respectively. State wise, Alaska has the most expensive nursing homes, with median monthly costs sitting at a whopping $31,512 and $36,378 for semi private and private rooms, respectively. The cheapest nursing homes are in Texas, which cost $5,125 and $7,092 on the median for semi private and private rooms. These are quite below the national median, with the semiprivate rooms costing $61,500 in a year - less than half the national median. Finally, Minnesota had the highest compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for the period between 2015 and 2021 which stood at 10%.

As for the situation in the industry right now, Megan Krull, the Senior Vice President of Operations at Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE:OHI) shared during the firm's fourth quarter earnings call conference that:

While the announcement this week at the end, the public health emergency effective May 11th of this year, is perhaps not unexpected, it is not particularly ideal given some of the benefits that it provided the long-term care industry, which is still deeply entrenched in post pandemic recovery phase. Specifically, the three-day stay waiver was still tied to the PHE and will now end on May 11th. This waiver huge benefit to the industry during the height of the pandemic as the reimbursement associated with the ability to scale in place helped to offset some of the increased costs connected with managing COVID outbreaks. That said, the other major benefit of the PHE was the continuation of the enhanced 6.2% FMAP add-on. However, that had already been delinked from the PHE as a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which passed in late 2022. That act provided for a phase-down of the add-on throughout 2023 from 6.2% in the first quarter to 5% in the second quarter, 2.5% in the third quarter and down to 1.5% in the fourth quarter with no add-on provided after 2023. It is too soon to tell what the impact of those reductions will have on the FMAP rate add-ons that certain states like Texas had been providing to skilled nursing providers. In terms of recovery, while occupancy is continuing to slowly rebound, not unexpectedly the recovery has tapered off slightly in these winter months. However, 31% of core facilities have now recovered from an occupancy perspective, up from 29% in the second quarter, while another 24% of core facilities that have not yet fully recovered are at or above 84% occupancy.

With these details in mind, let's take a look at some of the best nursing homes in America.

Best Nursing Homes in the US

Syda Productions/Shutterstock.com

Our Methodology

We used rankings from U.S. News and Newsweek to pick the best nursing homes in the U.S. The facilities that offer long term care, short term rehabilitation, Medicare, and Medicaid coverage at the same time were first selected out of U.S. News' 15,177 homes. Then, these were cross referenced with Newsweek's coverage of 450 facilities to see which were present there to reach a consensus opinion. This enabled us to narrow down to 33 facilities, out of which the top 25 are listed below.

Best Nursing Homes in the U.S.

25. Victoria Care Center

Victoria Care Center is a nursing home in Ventura, California. It has close to two hundred beds and is a corporate, for-profit facility.

24. The Wartburg Home

The Wartburg Home is a nursing home in Mount Vernon, New York. It is one of the oldest facilities in the U.S., since it was set up in 1866.

23. Catholic Health Services - St. John's Nursing Center

Catholic Health Services - St. John's Nursing Center has close to two hundred beds and is based in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida.

22. Valley View Retirement Community

Valley View Retirement Community is a nursing home in Belleville, Pennsylvania. It provides both independent and assisted living facilities.

21. Compass Health - Mission View Health Center

Compass Health - Mission View Health Center operates 162 beds and is located in San Luis Obispo, California. It does not provide continuing care and is a for-profit organization.

20. Pleasantview Care Center

Pleasantview Care Center is located in Parma, Ohio. It has 162 beds and is a for-profit and corporate institution.

19. Ingham County Medical Care Facility

Ingham County Medical Care Facility is one of the larger nursing homes on our list with 236 beds. It is not a continuing care facility.

18. Good Shepherd Community

Good Shepherd Community is an assisted living and independent living facility that is located in Little Rock, Arkansas.

17. Marquis Shasta

Marquis Shasta is located in Redding, California. It has 180 beds and does not offer continuing care or Alzheimer's Care.

16. Country Manor Health

Country Manor Health is a nonprofit but corporate facility based in Sartell, Minnesota. It offers Alzheimer's care but not continuing care.

15. Lutheran Home Wauwatosa

Lutheran Home Wauwatosa, as the name suggests, is located in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. It has 187 beds.

14. Lutheran Convalescent Home - Webster Groves

Lutheran Convalescent Home - Webster Groves is a church-owned nonprofit nursing home. It is government by a family and resident council.

13. Masonic Village at Elizabethtown

Masonic Village at Elizabethtown is one of the largest facilities on the list, with 453 beds. It does provide continuing care and has a nonprofit and corporate ownership.

12. Solaris Healthcare - Bayonet Point

Solaris Healthcare - Bayonet Point is a nursing home located in Hudson, Florida. It is a nonprofit and a non corporate entity.

11. NYC Health + Hospitals - Sea View Skilled Nursing Facility

Sea View Skilled Nursing Facility is a division of NYC Health. It is a long term care and rehabilitation facility.

10. Minnesota Masonic Home Care Center - Bloomington

Minnesota Masonic Home Care Center is located in Bloomington, Minnesota. It has more than two hundred beds and is a nonprofit corporate entity.

9. Messiah Lifeways at Messiah Village

Messiah Lifeways at Messiah Village is located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. It is a nonprofit, church run organization.

8. Lorien Health Systems - Columbia

Lorien Health Systems is located in Columbia, Maryland. It provides short and long term care.

7. Brandon Oaks

Brandon Oaks is located in Roanoke, Virginia. It offers continuing care but is a small facility with 62 beds.

6. CentraCare - St. Cloud St. Benedicts Community

CentraCare - St. Cloud St. Benedicts Community is located in Saint Cloud Minnesota. It is a nonprofit and corporate institution.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best Nursing Homes in the U.S.

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Disclosure: None. 25 Best Nursing Homes in the U.S. is originally published on Insider Monkey.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now being followed by Twitter's founder and most popular user, Elon Musk. The fact that Musk has more than 134 million followers but only follows 195 accounts has everyone's attention.

Elon Musk just followed Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on Twitter. @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/ibOQBedX6Y  DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) April 10, 2023

Elon Musk also follows Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, both of Indian descent. In order to obtain a sense of what might power autos in the future, PM Modi met Elon Musk in 2015 at his Tesla office in California.

The Prime Minister later posed for some pictures next to a shining red car made by Musk after being driven around the plant in a battery-powered cart.

"I appreciate Elon Musk taking me around Tesla Motors. I liked hearing about how battery technology may benefit farmers "PM Narendra Modi tweeted a couple images of himself with the Tesla driver.

Thanks elonmusk for showing me around at TeslaMotors.Enjoyed discussion on how battery technology can help farmers pic.twitter.com/r2YuSPPlty Narendra Modi (narendramodi) September 27, 2015

Musk subsequently stated, "I spoke with Prime Minister Modi about electricity generation and how there are possibilities to advance it similar to cellphones."

The goal of the discussion was to modify and acquire Tesla's "Powerwall" invention for India, a long-term solar energy storage system that might "deliver energy to heretofore un-serviced areas of India," according to MEA Spokesman Vikas Swarup.
New Delhi: Having a sibling is one of the best blessings in life. The special sibling bond is undeniable. Siblings are our best friends and worst enemies since they push us to be our best selves, embarrass us, and serve as our strongest motivators and competitors. The National Siblings Day on April 10th celebrates this bond. Celebrating this bond, &TV artists Mayank Mishra (Arvind, Doosri Maa), Sanjay Chaudhary (Kamlesh, Happu Ki Ultan Paltan), and Charrul Malik (Rusa, Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai) talk about the sweet and sour relationships they share with their siblings.

Mayank Mishra, aka Arvind Gupta, shares, My younger brother, Harshit, and I have opposite personalities. He is calm and composed, but I am notorious. I have teased him relentlessly, but my love for him has never wavered. There were many incidents where we stood by each other. But we both can't forget one incident with him: stealing my father's shaving kit and forcing him to shave his eyebrows. We were in school then, and I wanted to be a barber. I opened my shop in our bedroom and made him sit on a chair like a customer. I shaved his eyebrow in half. And the moment I did that, he started screaming and crying so loudly that my mother came in and was shocked to see him. The entire thing got hilarious. However, I almost had a nervous breakdown when I saw my mother's rage (laughs). He was not ready to go to school the next day, and I was again held responsible for it. Then my mother, using her kohl pencil, made his eyebrows, but he was still uncertain. I remember how much she and I tried to convince him to attend school. We have a lot of memories together, but I want to emphasize that he respects me greatly and has never broken his word to me. We will always love and support each other, and our relationship is unbreakable.

Sanjay Chaudhary, aka Kamlesh, shares, I have an elder brother who is like a father figure. In our growing years, we used to fight, tease, and irritate each other just like any other sibling in this world. However, we had each other's backs. My brother has always been a source of encouragement for me. I regarded him as the ideal person. He helped me financially when I moved to Delhi for my studies and theatre course to pursue an acting career. He always remembers to take care of me and prioritizes my needs over his. He has always shielded me from harm. I would not be who I am today without his support. I am eternally grateful to God for giving me such a wonderful and encouraging brother.

Charrul Malik, aka Rusa, shares, I am blessed with a twin sister named Parul. She has always been a source of inspiration for me. I took fine arts as a subject in college, although I was not good at drawing and painting. And it was my sister who stayed up late and completed all my assignments for me. In exchange, I helped her with other work. She always helped me study well. Everyone used to call us Charrul and Parul, but no one ever took her name first, for which she never felt offended. Her capacity for kindness, patience, and support for me is limitless. She has always supported me in all the big and small decisions I have made in my life. It is whether they were professional or personal. I am incredibly grateful that she is a part of my life.

Watch Doosri Maa at 8:00 pm, Happu Ki Ultan Paltan at 10:00 pm, and Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai at 10:30 pm, airing every Monday to Friday only on &TV!
Washington: Twitter owner Elon Musk has sparked a fresh row with the BBC after labelling the British broadcaster as a "government-funded media" organisation, however, Britain`s national broadcaster was quick to push back against the categorization. The label now appears on outlets that receive some government funding, including BBC, PBS, NPR and Voice of America, according to CNN. However, it does not appear on other government-backed outlets, such as Canada`s CBC or Qatar`s Al Jazeera.

The @BBC account - which has 2.2 million followers - is currently branded as government funded. The label has not been given to the BBC`s other accounts, including BBC News (World) and BBC Breaking News, reported CNN.

Twitter has not given a definition for what it considers "government-funded media" to constitute. In a statement provided to CNN, the BBC said, "We are speaking to Twitter to resolve this issue as soon as possible. The BBC is and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee."BBC is predominantly funded by UK households via a license fee, which is also required to watch non-BBC channels or live services. This is supplemented by income from commercial operations.

Musk, NPR Spar Over State-Affiliated Media Tag

BBC`s branding comes after a row erupted between Musk and the American NPR network after Musk changed NPR`s label to "state-affiliated media" - which effectively suggested the US government could influence its editorial policy and compare it to outlets such as the Kremlin-funded Russia Today.

Following backlash from NPR  which said it would not tweet from the account while the label was in place - it was instead changed to "government-funded media," reported CNN. The label from Twitter even sparked a backlash from the White House, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying "there`s no doubt of the independence of NPR`s journalists."

NPR receives some funding from public institutions but the vast majority comes from sources such as corporate sponsorships and NPR membership fees. Twitter defines state-affiliated media outlets as outlets "where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution.

"Critics of the move have pointed out that Twitter CEO Elon Musk`s other companies, Tesla and SpaceX, have received billions in government funding, grants and subsidies throughout the years, but neither of them has a "government-funded" label on their Twitter accounts, reported The Hill.

BBC Objects To 'Govt-Funded' Labelling

The British Broadcasting Corporation objected to the new label and said it is speaking to the social media company about the designation on the @BBC account to "resolve this issue as soon as possible". In a statement, it said: "The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee." Notably, the BBC is mainly funded by British taxpayers, who pay a 159-a-year licence fee. Although the government sets how much the licence fee is, not everyone has to pay it, and households pay directly.

As the UK's national broadcaster, the BBC operates through a Royal Charter agreed with the government. The BBC Charter states the corporation "must be independent", particularly over "editorial and creative decisions, the times and manner in which its output and services are supplied, and in the management of its affairs".

(With Agency Inputs)
Key Insights

Significantly high institutional ownership implies UK Commercial Property REIT's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions

55% of the business is held by the top 3 shareholders

Insiders have bought recently

If you want to know who really controls UK Commercial Property REIT Limited (LON:UKCM), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 40% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of UK Commercial Property REIT.

Check out our latest analysis for UK Commercial Property REIT

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About UK Commercial Property REIT?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in UK Commercial Property REIT. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at UK Commercial Property REIT's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in UK Commercial Property REIT. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Phoenix Group Holdings plc with 34% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 12% and 9.7%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

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After doing some more digging, we found that the top 3 shareholders collectively control more than half of the company's shares, implying that they have considerable power to influence the company's decisions.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. Our information suggests that there isn't any analyst coverage of the stock, so it is probably little known.

Insider Ownership Of UK Commercial Property REIT

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our information suggests that UK Commercial Property REIT Limited insiders own under 1% of the company. It seems the board members have no more than UK236k worth of shares in the UK668m company. Many tend to prefer to see a board with bigger shareholdings. A good next step might be to take a look at this free summary of insider buying and selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 27% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Public Company Ownership

It appears to us that public companies own 34% of UK Commercial Property REIT. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for UK Commercial Property REIT that you should be aware of.

If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, backed by strong financial data.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Fortune Business Insights

The global optical coating market covered major segments by Type (Anti-Reflective Coatings, Reflective Coatings, Filter Coatings, Conductive Coatings, Electrochromic Coatings, and Others), By End-use Industry (Consumer Electronics, Telecommunication, Medical, Transportation, Aerospace & Defense, and Others), and Regional

Pune, India, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global optical coatings market size was pegged at USD 13.04 billion in 2021 and is estimated to rise from USD 14.17 billion in 2022 to USD 24.30 billion by 2029 at 8.0% CAGR during the forecast period. Fortune Business Insights has elucidated these insights in its latest research report, titled, Optical Coatings Market, 2022-2029.

The optical coating market refers to the industry involved in the production and distribution of coatings used in various optical applications, such as lenses, mirrors, filters, and displays. Optical coatings are thin films of materials that are deposited onto optical surfaces to modify their properties, such as reflectivity, transmittance, and resistance to scratches and environmental factors.

The market for optical coatings is driven by the growing demand for high-performance optics in various industries, such as aerospace, defense, telecommunications, medical, and consumer electronics. The increasing use of optical coatings in applications such as laser systems, solar cells, and automotive sensors is also contributing to the growth of the market.

Get a Free Sample Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/optical-coatings-market-102138

List of Key Players Profiled in the Optical Coatings Market Report:

Optimax Systems, Inc. (U.S.)

Surface Optics Corporation (U.S.)

GELEST, INC. (U.S.)

Materion Corporation (U.S.)

VAMPIRE OPTICAL COATING (U.S.)

Reynard Corporation (U.S.)

VIAVI Solutions Inc. (U.S.)

PPG Industries, Inc. (U.S.)

DuPont (U.S.)

ZEISS International (Germany)

Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd. (Japan)

Newport Corporation (U.S.)

Jenoptik (Germany)

SCHOTT (Germany)

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Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2022-2029 Forecast CAGR 8.0% 2029 Value Projection USD 24.30 Billion Market Size in 2022 USD 14.17 Billion Historical Data 2018-2020 No. of Pages 166 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Type

By End-use Regions Covered South America

Europe

Asia Pacific

North America

Middle East and Africa Optical Coatings Market Growth Drivers Bullish Demand from Telecommunication Sector to Spur Industry Growth Stakeholders Focus on Mergers & Acquisitions to Tap into Markets

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Segments:

In terms of type, the market is segmented into filter coatings, reflective coatings, anti-reflective coatings, electrochromic coatings, conductive coatings, and others.

The optical coating market can be segmented into different categories to understand the market dynamics and customer behavior. The segmentation categories typically include type, technology, application, and geography. Based on the type of coating, the market can be divided into anti-reflective coatings, high-reflective coatings, transparent conductive coatings, filter coatings, electrochromic coatings, and others. The technology segment includes vacuum deposition, e-beam evaporation, sputtering, ion-assisted deposition, and others

Based on the application, the market can be segmented into consumer electronics, aerospace and defense, medical, automotive, solar, telecommunications, and others.

Research Report Coverage:

An optical coating market research report typically covers the following topics:

Size and Forecast: The report provides an analysis of the global optical coating market size, as well as a forecast for its growth over a specified period.

Drivers and Challenges: The report examines the factors driving the growth of the optical coating market, as well as the challenges that may impede its growth.

Competitive landscape: The report profiles the leading players in the optical coating market, and provides information on their market share, product portfolio, and business strategies.



Industry Trends: The report identifies the latest trends and developments in the optical coating market, and examines their impact on the market growth.

Regulatory landscape: The report provides an overview of the regulatory landscape governing the optical coating market, and examines its impact on the market.

Opportunities: The report identifies the key opportunities in the optical coating market, and provides recommendations for businesses looking to enter the market or expand their presence.

Overall, an optical coating market research report provides a comprehensive analysis of the market, helping businesses to make informed decisions and develop effective strategies.

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Drivers and Restraints:

Drivers:

Growing Demand for High-Performance Optics: The increasing demand for high-quality optics in various industries such as aerospace, defense, medical, and consumer electronics is driving the growth of the optical coating market.

Technological Advancements: The development of advanced technologies, such as AR and VR, which require high-quality optics and coatings, is driving the growth of the market.

Rising Demand for Consumer Electronics: The growing demand for consumer electronics such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops is driving the growth of the market, as these devices use high-quality optical coatings to enhance their performance.

Restraints:

High Cost of Advanced Coatings: The high cost of advanced coatings, particularly those used in aerospace and defense applications, may act as a restraint to the growth of the market.

Stringent Regulations: The stringent regulations governing the use of certain chemicals in optical coatings may also impede the growth of the market.

Intense Competition: The optical coating market is highly competitive, and businesses face intense competition from established players as well as new entrants. This may limit the growth opportunities for new businesses entering the market.

Competitive Landscape:

These players are focusing on strategic initiatives such as partnerships, collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions to expand their market presence and gain a competitive edge. Leading companies are slated to inject funds into organic and inorganic strategies, including technological advancements, mergers & acquisitions, product rollouts and R&D activities. which would enable faster and more efficient communication through high-quality optics and coatings.

Moreover, focusing on product offerings could foster a geographical footprint over the next few years.

Regional Insights:

Here are some regional insights:

North America: North America is expected to hold a significant share of the optical coating market due to the presence of several key players in the region. The increasing demand for advanced coatings in various industries such as aerospace, defense, and medical is also driving the growth of the market in the region.

Europe: Europe is another key market for optical coatings, driven by the presence of several prominent manufacturers and a high demand for advanced coatings in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and defense. The growing adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar cells is also contributing to the growth of the market in the region.

Asia Pacific: Asia Pacific is expected to witness significant growth in the optical coating market due to the presence of a large number of manufacturers in the region, particularly in China and Japan. The increasing adoption of advanced technologies such as AR and VR in the region is also driving the growth of the market.

Middle East and Africa: The optical coating market in the Middle East and Africa is expected to witness steady growth due to the increasing adoption of advanced coatings in various industries such as aerospace, defense, and telecommunications.

Overall, the optical coating market is witnessing significant growth in all regions, driven by the increasing demand for high-performance coatings in various industries and the development of advanced technologies.

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Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Emerging Trends

Key Insights Key Emerging Trends  For Major Countries Industry Porters Analysis Regulatory Analysis Recent Industry Developments - Policies, Partnerships, New Type Launches, and Mergers & Acquisitions

Qualitative Insights  Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Optical Coating Market Supply Chain Challenges Steps were taken by Government/Companies to overcome this impact Potential opportunities due to the COVID-19 outbreak

Global Optical Coating Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Type (Value) Anti-Reflective Coatings Reflective Coatings Filter Coatings Conductive Coatings Electrochromic Coatings Others By End-use Industry (Value) Consumer Electronics Telecommunication Medical Transportation Aerospace & Defense Others By Region (Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa

North America Optical Coating Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Type (Value) Anti-Reflective Coatings Reflective Coatings Filter Coatings Conductive Coatings Electrochromic Coatings Others



TOC Continued...!

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Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World

WASHINGTON, April 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market is valued at USD 189.51 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach a value of USD 308.96 Billion by 2028 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 6.30% over the forecast period 2022-2028.



Market Overview

The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) market plays a critical role in the production of drugs and is gaining significant attention in the pharmaceutical industry. APIs, also known as bulk drugs, are manufactured through chemical or biological processes and are used in drug production to achieve the intended therapeutic effect. With the increasing focus on innovative and advanced therapeutic drugs by various pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, the API market is expected to have a positive outlook in the coming years.

One of the key drivers of the API market is the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the growing demand for personalized medicine. Additionally, the emergence of novel drug delivery devices is expected to play a crucial role in boosting the market growth during the forecast period. However, in recent years, several pharmaceutical and biotech companies have shifted their manufacturing facilities overseas to reduce costs. This has led to changes in regulatory guidelines for production and manufacturing. Such trends are expected to further drive the growth of the global API market in the coming years.

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Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market Dynamics

The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) market is witnessing significant growth, fueled by the growing adoption of AI-based tools for drug discovery. AI is being used in target discovery, early drug discovery, and data analysis to generate novel insights and identify new drug candidates. With the increasing applications of AI in the pharmaceutical industry, the API market is expected to grow further in the near future.

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Another factor contributing to the growth of the API market is the increasing incidence of chronic diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 71% of all deaths globally, with more than 15 million people dying from NCDs between the ages of 30 and 69 years. Cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases, and diabetes are among the leading causes of NCD deaths. As the occurrences of these diseases are increasing, the demand for more precise and effective drugs is also on the rise. This trend is expected to support the growth of the API market in the coming years.

The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) market is experiencing rapid growth due to the rising burden of chronic diseases across the globe, especially among the geriatric population. The market is seeing a significant demand for therapeutic drugs, with the Indian pharmaceutical sector covering over 50.0% of the global demand for several vaccines and 40% of the U.S. generic brand's demand, according to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation. Furthermore, China's pharmaceutical industry is the second fastest growing after India, and the demand for innovative drugs, including biological drugs, is driving the market growth during the forecast period.

The import of raw pharmaceutical ingredients from developing countries for the development of highly-advanced biopharmaceutical products is increasing. Many pharmaceutical firms are focusing on research and development activities to introduce innovative drugs in the market, which is expected to further drive the active pharmaceutical ingredient market growth.

The rising prevalence of infectious diseases and chronic disorders globally is expected to boost the demand for APIs for the development of innovative drugs. The increase in per capita healthcare expenditure in emerging countries and the rise in diagnosis rates is driving the demand for pharmaceutical drugs. This demand is also expected to drive the demand for generic and branded products in the active pharmaceutical ingredient market.

In summary, the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient market is growing due to the increasing demand for therapeutic drugs, innovation in the industry, and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases worldwide. The market is presenting potential opportunities for pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to produce dosage forms of new chemical entities in high-end therapy areas such as oncology and cardiovascular diseases.

Top Players in Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market

Cipla, Inc.

Novartis International AG

AstraZeneca

Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd.

Boehringer Ingelheim

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Merck & Co., Inc.

Eli Lilly and Company

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Mylan N.V.

AbbVie Inc.



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Company Insights

In an attempt to provide APIs to other drug makers, major companies are looking to leverage their production capabilities in Asian countries. Along with major players, the government of India is also providing impetus to domestic API manufacturing. For instance, in March 2020, the Indian government announced a 9.4 billion package for the bulk drug industry, aimed at boosting domestic production and exports.

The outsourcing segment is also witnessing substantial growth, with top biopharmaceutical players leading the charge. Developing countries like India and China are becoming popular choices for companies looking to outsource their API production due to the lower cost of manufacturing. Outsourcing to developing countries is a cost-effective measure that allows companies to gain higher profits, which is accelerating segment growth.

As a leading player in the global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) market, Pfizer offers a wide range of products, which has helped establish its strong brand image and competitive advantage. The company's focus on both organic and inorganic growth strategies, including partnerships, agreements, collaborations, product endorsements, and acquisitions, has enabled it to maintain a strong market position and competitive edge against other companies in the industry. With its comprehensive product offerings and continued efforts to reinforce its market position, Pfizer remains a major player in the API market.

Key Challenges Facing the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market:

The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) market faces significant challenges that impact its growth trajectory. One of the key constraints is the high cost associated with the production and distribution of APIs. The industry struggles to maintain innovation and competition due to the protection of intellectual property rights, which can lead to a shortage of affordable APIs and restrict access to medication for a large segment of the population.

The cost of raw materials and the extensive research and development required to develop effective APIs are also factors that limit the growth potential of the industry. The political tensions and dynamics that impact the pricing of raw materials further add to the cost pressure.

In addition, the absence of laws to reinforce regulatory procedures has raised concerns about the availability of poor-quality products. This can lead to a loss of trust among stakeholders, creating further challenges during the projection period.

To gain more information about the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient market and make informed decisions regarding market growth, contact Vantage Market Research for an analyst brief. Our team can help you understand the latest developments, trade regulations, market size, product approvals, and geographic expansions, among other things.

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market Opportunities

Rising disposable income: The rising disposable income of people in developing countries is leading to an increase in the demand for healthcare services. This is expected to drive the demand for APIs used in these services.

Government initiatives: Governments in many countries are promoting the use of generic drugs in order to reduce healthcare costs. This is expected to drive the demand for APIs used in generic drugs.

Regulatory changes: The regulatory environment in the pharmaceutical industry is constantly changing. This is leading to new opportunities for API manufacturers.



Top Report Findings

The global active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market size is expected to reach USD 308.96 Billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of nearly 6.30% during the forecast period 2022-2028.

The growth of the API market is attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the rising demand for generic drugs, and the technological advancements in the API manufacturing process.

Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is one of the major factors driving the growth of the API market. The rising incidence of chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, is leading to an increase in the demand for APIs used in the treatment of these diseases.

Rising demand for generic drugs is another major factor driving the growth of the API market. Generic drugs are cheaper than branded drugs and are often used as a cost-effective alternative. The demand for generic drugs is expected to increase in the coming years, driven by factors such as rising healthcare costs, government initiatives to promote generic drug use, and increasing awareness about generic drugs.

Technological advancements in the API manufacturing process are also contributing to the growth of the API market. The development of new technologies for the synthesis of APIs is leading to the development of new APIs, which are more effective and have fewer side effects.

The API market is segmented on the basis of type, application, and region. Based on type, the market is segmented into small molecules, large molecules, and biosimilars. Small molecules are the most common type of API, accounting for the largest share of the market. Large molecules are used to treat complex diseases, such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. Biosimilars are copies of biologic drugs, which are made from living cells.

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Top Trends in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market

The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) market is rapidly growing worldwide, with many countries implementing strict regulatory guidelines to ensure high-quality API production. These guidelines aim to improve the clinical effectiveness of final products. Due to the rising costs of in-house API manufacturing, many pharmaceutical companies are outsourcing their API production processes to Asia Pacific countries, such as China and India. This outsourcing is considered a cost-effective alternative to manufacturing in western countries.

Various manufacturers have already established their presence in China and India, prompting biopharmaceutical industries to seek partnerships with Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs). CDMOs like AGC Biologics possess technical expertise and capabilities for large-scale API manufacturing, which is expected to drive the growth of the API market in the coming years.

As an example, in August 2020, AGC Biologics partnered with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for the production of innovative biopharmaceuticals during the clinical development stage. This collaboration is expected to contribute to the growth of the active pharmaceutical ingredient market in the near future.

Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market Segmentation

By Business Mode

Captive API

Merchant API

By Synthesis Type

Synthetic

Biotech

By Type Of Drug

Generic

Branded

Scope of the Report:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2021 USD 189.51 Billion Revenue Forecast by 2028 USD 308.96 Billion CAGR 6.30% from 2022 to 2028 Base Year 2021 Forecast Year 2022 to 2028 Key Players Cipla, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis International AG, Boehringer Ingelheim, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Customization Options If our report does not include the information you are searching for, you may contact us to have a report tailored to your specific business needs https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-market-1099/request-sample



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Recent Development in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market

The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) market is constantly evolving, with new developments and initiatives in the industry. APIs are the essential components of medications that provide therapeutic effects. They are the biologically active substances in a drug that are responsible for the treatment of diseases.

One recent development in the API market is the announcement by Everest Organics Limited, an India-based manufacturer of generic medicines, that they have started developing the API for the generic version of Molnupiravir. This medicine is an experimental antiviral drug used for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 infections. This news is significant because the global demand for Covid-19 treatment is high, and the development of the generic API will make the drug more affordable and accessible to those in need.

In March 2022 , the Indian Union Ministry announced that the production of 35 APIs had already begun in the country. This move was encouraged by a production scheme for the regions pharmaceutical sector. These 35 APIs are part of the 53 APIs, for which the country currently has an import dependence of 90%. By producing more APIs domestically, India aims to reduce its reliance on imports, increase self-sufficiency, and boost its pharmaceutical sector's growth.

In February 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated new measures to restrict and control the illegal import of Xylazine APIs and associated finished products. This chemical is increasingly being incorporated into illicit drugs, leading to growing public health concerns. The FDA's action highlights the need for strict regulation and control of APIs to ensure drug safety and efficacy.



Key Questions Answered in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market Report

What is the current size of the API market, and what is the expected growth rate in the coming years?

What are the major drivers, challenges, and opportunities shaping the API market?

What are the different types of APIs available in the market, and how are they classified?

Who are the major players in the API market, and what are their market shares and strategies?

What is the market segmentation by application, end-user, and region?

What are the latest trends and innovations in the API market, and how are they impacting the industry?

What are the regulatory frameworks and standards governing the API industry, and how are they evolving?

What are the major challenges facing API manufacturers and suppliers, and how are they addressing them?

What are the opportunities for API manufacturers and suppliers in different regions and applications?

What is the competitive landscape of the API market, and what are the key strategies adopted by the major players to stay ahead of the competition?

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific to witness the highest growth

The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) market is rapidly growing across the globe, with Asia-Pacific projected to witness the highest growth during the projection period. As the most dominant region in the industry, this growth is largely driven by countries like China and India, which have seen tremendous expansion in API production due to various factors.

These countries have a well-established pharmaceutical sector, particularly in the manufacturing wing, with large-scale production sites that serve clients globally. Moreover, their governments are taking significant steps to promote the industry and reduce dependence on imported medicines. The presence of a large pool of skilled professionals and supportive governmental regulations for API production in India and China also contribute to their growth.

Although Asia-Pacific leads the market, Europe and North America are also important contributors due to the growing research and product innovation activities. However, for those specifically interested in the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient market, the growth and developments in Asia-Pacific are worth watching closely.

North America is currently the dominant region, accounting for the largest share of the global market. In 2020, the market size in North America was USD 76.77 billion and is expected to continue to grow during the forecast period.

The North American market's growth is driven by the increasing incidence of chronic diseases and government initiatives to develop innovative drugs. The demand for biological API is also rising due to the rapid adoption of biological drugs among patients for treating various chronic disorders. For example, Alzheimer's dementia affects approximately 6.2 million people aged 65 and above in the US, and this number is expected to increase to 12.7 million by 2050, contributing to the growth of the North American API market.

Meanwhile, the European region is also expected to see significant growth in the API market in the coming years. This growth is attributed to increased funding for research programs and the presence of major market players in the region. Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies' rising R&D programs are also expected to drive market growth in the region. For instance, the total pharmaceutical production of Europe was valued at USD 344,837.0 million in 2019, according to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).

Why Should You Buy this Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market Report?

This report provides you with an in-depth analysis of the API market, including its size, growth potential, and key trends.

This report also provides you with detailed information on the key players in the API market, their strategies, and their products.

This report will help you to make informed decisions about your business, such as whether to enter the API market or expand your existing operations in the market.

This report will also help you to identify and evaluate potential opportunities in the API market.

Finally, this report will help you to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the API market.



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Actuate Therapeutics

CHICAGO and FORT WORTH, Texas, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Actuate Therapeutics, Inc. (Actuate), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, announced today three poster presentations from scientific collaborators at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, taking place April 14-19, 2023, in Orlando, Florida.



The abstracts are currently available on the AACR meeting website . The posters will be available online at https://actuatetherapeutics.com/news-media/ following the presentations.

Poster Presentation Details:



Abstract 3857 / 7: Exploring mechanisms of resistance to elraglusib in pancreatic cancer PDX models

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 18, 2023, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Session: Drug Resistance in Molecular Targeted Therapies 3

Presenter: Taylor Weiskittel, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Location: Poster Section 15

Abstract CT222 / 12: Multimodal mechanism of action of the GSK-3 inhibitor 9-ING-41 (elraglusib) includes an immunomodulatory component: preliminary results from the 1801 phase 1/2 trial

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 18, 2023, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Session: Phase II Clinical Trials 2

Presenter: Andrew Mazar, Actuate Therapeutics Inc., Ft. Worth, TX

Location: Poster Section 47

Abstract 5355/4: Elraglusib response prediction and mechanistic discovery using iterative machine learning

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 18, 2023, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Session: Artificial Intelligence and Machine/Deep Learning 1

Presenter: Joseph McDermott, Lantern Pharma Inc., Dallas TX

Location: Poster Section 31

About Actuate Therapeutics, Inc.

Actuate is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for high impact cancers and inflammatory diseases. Actuates lead drug, elraglusib (a novel GSK-3 inhibitor), targets molecular pathways in cancer that are involved in promoting tumor growth and resistance to conventional cancer drugs such as chemotherapy. Elraglusib is also emerging as a mediator of anti-tumor immunity through the inhibition of multiple immune checkpoints and the regulation of immune cell function. For additional information, please visit the Companys website at http://www.actuatetherapeutics.com

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Public Relations Dept.

Actuate Therapeutics, Inc.

+1 (847) 986-4190

info@actuatetherapeutics.com




Market Research Future

Agricultural Biologicals Market Research Report trends and insights Information By Type (Biopesticides, Bio-Stimulants, and Biofertilizers), By Source (Microbials, Biochemicals, and Others), By Mode of Application (Foliar Sprays, Soil Treatment, Seed Treatment, and Others), By Crop Types (Cereals & Grains, Oilseeds & Pulses, Fruits & Vegetables, and Others), And By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World)  Market Forecast Till 2030

New York, US, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Agricultural Biologicals Market Overview

According to a Comprehensive Research Report by Market Research Future (MRFR),  Agricultural Biologicals Market Research Report: Information By Type, By Source, By Mode of Application, By Crop Types and Region- Forecast till 2030, the market will achieve USD 17.9 billion by 2030 at an 12.2%, CAGR.

Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2030 2030: USD 17.9 Billion CAGR 12.2% CAGR (2023-2030) Base Year 2022 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Historical Data 2019-2021 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Type, By Source, By Mode of Application, By Crop Types and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers Rising Demand from Agricultural Economies such as China, Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia Increasing Multiple Microbiological Advancements

Key Players

The report profiles some of the key players in the global Agricultural Biologicals market including:

Valent Biosciences (US)

Bayer AG (Germany)

Syngenta AG (Switzerland)

BASF SE (Germany)

Arysta LifeScience (Japan)

Koppert B.V. (Netherlands)

DowDuPont (US)

Marrone Bio Innovations (US)

Novozymes (Denmark)

Certis USA LLC (US)

Valagro (Italy)

Isagro (Italy)

Biolchim (Italy)

Agrinos (US)

Agrilife (India)

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Story continues

Drivers and Challenges

The Agricultural Biologicals market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing demand for sustainable agriculture practices and the growing trend of organic farming. The use of Agricultural Biologicalss helps in improving soil health and reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which is driving the demand for these products.

However, the high cost of Agricultural Biologicalss and the lack of awareness about their benefits among farmers are some of the key challenges faced by the market.

Industry Trends

The Agricultural Biologicals market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing adoption of sustainable agriculture practices and the growing trend of organic farming. Key players in the market are focused on developing new products and technologies to cater to the growing demand from farmers.

Market Segmentation

The market research report from MRFR provides a comprehensive analysis of the global Agricultural Biologicals market based on product type, source, application, and region. Based on product type, the market is segmented into biopesticides, biofertilizers, and biostimulants. Of these, the biopesticides segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period.

Based on source, the market is segmented into microbials, biochemicals, and others. The microbials segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period due to its wide range of applications in crop protection and soil improvement.

Based on application, the market is segmented into cereals and grains, oilseeds and pulses, fruits and vegetables, and others. The cereals and grains segment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period due to the increasing demand for food products.

Browse In-depth Market Research Report (90 Pages) on Agricultural Biologicals: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/agricultural-biologicals-market-6629

Regional Analysis

The report also provides a detailed analysis of the Agricultural Biologicals market across various regions, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. North America is expected to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Recent Developments

Agricultural Biologicals Market Experiencing Innovative Developments

The global Agricultural Biologicals market is experiencing innovative developments from key players, according to recent market research conducted by Market Research Future. The use of Agricultural Biologicalss helps in improving soil health and reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which is driving the demand for these products.

In recent developments, BASF SE announced the acquisition of Lallemand Inc.'s bioinoculant business, which will help the company to strengthen its position in the Agricultural Biologicals market. In June 2022, Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. announced the launch of its new biological fungicide, Stargus, which helps in controlling various fungal diseases in crops.

In August 2022, Syngenta AG announced the launch of its new biological product, Taegro 2 Biofungicide, which helps in controlling a wide range of fungal diseases in crops. These developments indicate the growing focus on developing new products and technologies to cater to the growing demand from farmers.

The Agricultural Biologicals market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing adoption of sustainable agriculture practices and the growing trend of organic farming. Key players in the market are focused on developing new products and technologies to cater to the growing demand from farmers.

In conclusion, the global Agricultural Biologicals market is experiencing innovative developments from key players to cater to the growing demand for sustainable agriculture practices and the trend of organic farming.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the global Agricultural Biologicals market is expected to experience significant growth over the next few years, driven by the increasing demand for sustainable agriculture practices and the growing trend of organic farming. The market is expected to witness significant growth in North America, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific.

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Animal Feed Market Research Report Information By Form (Pellets and Crumbles), By Species (Poultry and Aqua), And By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World)  Market Forecast Till 2030

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Market.Us

According to Market.us, The need for precise data from users is driving companies to invest in AI training datasets to improve the accuracy of artificial intelligence. As a result, major corporations worldwide are making substantial investments in R&D, fueling market growth.

New York, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global AI Training Dataset Market size accounted for USD 1.9 billion in 2022 and growth is estimated to accelerate at a CAGR of 20.5%, registering an incremental revenue of USD 11.7 billion by 2032. Artificial intelligence requires the initial data for training and analyzing the patterns and algorithms of the data and processing it to make informed decisions. With advancing technologies, the use of artificial intelligence has increased significantly across many industries. The ability of artificial intelligence to extract high-quality data by processing and data mining attracts users to adopt it. It is prepared on the high quality of the training dataset.

AI Training Dataset Market By Type

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Key Takeaway:

By type, the text segment leads the market with the maximum share .

By end-use industry, the IT and telecommunications industry primarily uses the AI training dataset with a 31% market share.

North America held a major revenue share of 35.8% in the AI training dataset market.

Asia Pacific market is anticipated to experience significant growth over the forecast period.

With rising applications of artificial intelligence across industries, the work for artificial intelligence has become complex. Therefore, artificial intelligence must be trained on more accurate and high-quality data to complete the given tasks. This is increasing the demand for the AI training dataset in the market. Furthermore, with continuously evolving artificial intelligence, the demand for the AI training dataset is anticipated to grow in the upcoming period.

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Factors Affecting the Growth of the AI Training Dataset Market

Several factors can affect the growth of the AI training dataset market. Some of these factors include:

Accuracy: The increasing demand for accurate and precise data from the user has forced companies to provide proper and accurate training to artificial intelligence through AI training datasets.

Innovative developments: Major companies in the AI training dataset are focusing on developing the datasets to provide the data for artificial intelligence training to provide innovative and creative solutions to users. This is boosting the growth of the market.

Rising adoption of AI: The rising adoption of artificial intelligence across various industries for its application is also boosting the growth of the AI training dataset market.

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Top Trends in Global AI Training Dataset Market

The increasing use of automation in the automotive industry is significantly affecting the growth of the AI training dataset market. Many major companies in the automotive sector are integrating artificial intelligence in their vehicles for various applications. This has significantly increased the demand for AI-based services in the market. This trend of AI integration will drive the market's growth in the upcoming period.

Market Growth

The increasing demand for accurate and precise data from the user has forced companies to provide the proper and accurate training for artificial intelligence through AI training datasets. Many major companies in the AI training dataset are focusing on developing the datasets to provide the data for the training of artificial intelligence to provide innovative and creative solutions to users. This is boosting the growth of the market. Moreover, the rising adoption of artificial intelligence across various industries for its application is also boosting the development of the AI training dataset market.

Regional Analysis

North America dominates the global AI training dataset market by accounting for a major revenue share of 35.8%. The growth of the AI training dataset market is attributed to the presence of developed and advanced infrastructure in countries like the United States and Canada. The presence of advanced infrastructure made it easy for North America to adopt artificial intelligence in their region quickly. Moreover, the presence of major companies in North America's AI training dataset market boosts the growth of the AI training dataset market in the region. After North America, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to experience significant growth during the forecast period. The emergence of many companies offering the AI training dataset in the region and increasing adoption of artificial intelligence are driving the growth of the AI training dataset market in the region.

Competitive Landscape

The competitive landscape of the market has also been examined in this report. The AI training dataset market is fragmented into many companies offering the service. The companies are adopting various strategies to expand their global market share. The major strategy most players in the market adopt is to focus on research and development. They try to keep up with technological advancements. Some of the major players include Google LLC, Deep Vision Data, Cogito Tech LLC, Microsoft Corporation, Appen Limited, Samasource Inc., Amazon Web Services Inc., Inc., Scale AI Inc., Alegion Inc., Lionbridge Technologies Inc., and other key players.

Recent Development of the AI Training Dataset Market

In June 2021, MIT Media Lab, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology research facility, and Scale AI collaborated to integrate machine learning in the healthcare sector for more work efficiency in the sector.

In June 2022, Amazon Web Services Inc. added new features to its cloud platform. For example, it allows programmers to write the code and train datasets more efficiently on AI-based projects.

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Scope of the Report

Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 1.9 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 11.7 Billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 20.5% North America Revenue Share 35.8% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032

Market Drivers

The importance of the training dataset is very high in the artificial intelligence market. Therefore, the growing artificial intelligence market also boosts the demand for AI training datasets. The increasing inclination towards automation and the rising use of artificial intelligence is driving the growth of AI in the training dataset market. Furthermore, various industries use artificial intelligence in their systems to optimize work, improve quality, and reduce time. This efficient working process of artificial intelligence is possible due to the high quality of the training dataset on which the AI was trained. All these factors are driving the growth of the AI training dataset market.

Market Restraints

The integration of the AI training dataset requires a huge amount of money. The installation cost for AI training datasets is quite high, which is restricting many companies worldwide from adopting artificial intelligence in their companies and respective industries. Also, the growth of the AI training dataset market is restricted by the lack of advanced infrastructure in developing and underdeveloped countries. The AI training dataset requires high-quality and advanced infrastructure to train artificial intelligence. The absence of high computing power systems and servers in underdeveloped countries cannot adopt artificial intelligence-based services in their countries. This is negatively impacting the growth of the AI training dataset market. These factors are restricting the growth of the AI training dataset market.

Market Opportunities

Many major companies worldwide are investing heavily in the research and development of a more accurate training dataset for AI. If the training of AI is done on biased or false data, it can reduce the demand for AI in the market and thereby decrease the growth of the AI training dataset market. To avoid such problems, many companies are developing a more accurate and unbiased training dataset for AI. This is anticipated to create many opportunities in the market during the forecast period.

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Report Segmentation of the AI Training Dataset Market

Type Insight

The high use of text training datasets in the IT and telecommunication industry for text classification, caption generation, and speech recognition are driving the growth of the text segment in the AI training dataset market. With increasing applications of AI in various countries, the text training dataset segment is growing significantly in the market. Although, the image and audio segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period. With the increasing demand for advanced training datasets for AI, the image and video segment is anticipated to grow significantly over the forecast period.

End-Use Industry Insight

The IT and telecommunications industry dominates the end-use industry segment in the AI training dataset market. The IT and telecommunications industry's growth is due to the increased use of artificial intelligence in the IT and telecommunication industry for various applications. With advancing technology and the growing IT and telecommunication sector, the AI training dataset market is also expected to boost in the upcoming period.

For more insights on the historical and Forecast market data from 2016 to 2032 - download a sample report at https://market.us/report/ai-training-dataset-market/request-sample/

Market Segmentation

Based on Type

Text

Image and Video

Audio

Based on End-Use Industry

IT and Telecommunications

Automotive

Healthcare

BFSI

Government

Retail and E-Commerce

Other End-Use Industries

Based on Geography

North America The US Canada Mexico

Western Europe Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe

Eastern Europe Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe

APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC

Latin America Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Costa Rica Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA



Market Key Players:

Google LLC

Deep Vision Data

Appen Limited

Cogito Tech LLC

Samasource Inc.

Microsoft Corporation

Amazon Web Services Inc.

Scale AI Inc.

Lionbridge Technologies Inc.

Alegion Inc.

Other Key Players

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Transaction will broaden Akima's support to aerospace and defense missions with differentiated training capabilities and technology solutions

HERNDON, Va., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akima, LLC, a premier provider of products and services to federal agencies, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. (Pinnacle), a leading provider of innovative training and sustainment products and services to defense customers around the globe.

Leveraging a highly skilled workforce, Pinnacle provides aviation operations and maintenance services; flight operations and training services; and develops state-of-the-art training products and services for air, ground, unmanned, and maritime platforms. The specialized capabilities offered by Pinnacle will complement Akima's portfolio and drive significant value for customers through broader delivery of operations and training capabilities.

"Akima and Pinnacle share a deep commitment to exceeding customer expectations and delivering exceptional value to our customers, employees, and shareholders," said Bill Monet, President and CEO of Akima. "Combining Akima's experience and technical expertise with Pinnacle's differentiated mission readiness capabilities will enable us to solve our customers' toughest challenges through innovative technology solutions."

Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, Pinnacle was founded in 2008 by Mike Durant, a retired Army aviator who was shot down while piloting an MH-60 Black Hawk during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. Mr. Durant serves as chairman on the company's board of directors.

"I founded Pinnacle with a vision for a company where mission-driven employees could bring their innovation, responsiveness, and flexibility to bear on our customers' most critical aerospace challenges," said Durant. "Joining Akima, which has a portfolio of complementary businesses and a similar culture, allows that vision to continue and serves the best interests of our employees and customers."

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"This announcement represents an important milestone for Pinnacle and is a testament to our tremendous success and strong market position," said Tina Tucker, President and CEO of Pinnacle Solutions. "We look forward to leveraging Akima's expertise supporting critical missions across the federal government, enabling us to deliver stronger outcomes for our customers and increased opportunities for our employees."

Following the closing of the transaction, Pinnacle will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Akima. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory requirements. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Pinnacle Solutions

Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, Pinnacle is an innovative, solution-focused company providing advanced simulation and training solutions; flight operations and training services; training content development in virtual reality, augmented reality, and web-based systems; aircraft maintenance; and technical publications development and sustainment a wide variety of customers, including all Department of Defense components; Special Operations Forces; international militaries; and educational institutions. To learn more visit www.pinnaclesolutionsinc.com.

About Akima

Akima is a global enterprise with 9,500 employees, delivering solutions to the federal government in the core areas of facilities & ground logistics; information technology; aerospace solutions; protective services; systems engineering; mission support; furniture, fixtures & equipment (FF&E); and construction. As a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation owned by more than 15,000 Inupiat shareholders, Akima's core mission is to enable superior outcomes for our customers' missions while simultaneously creating a long-lived asset for NANA consistent with our Inupiat values. In 2022, Akima ranked #29 on Washington Technology's Top 100 List and #56 on Bloomberg Government's BGOV200 List of top federal contractors. To learn more about Akima, visit www.akima.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure

Certain statements contained in this press release and in comments by our management include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include information concerning the acquisition of Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. and related matters, prospective performance and opportunities, post-closing operations and the expected benefits of the acquisition, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "forecasts," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "outlook," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "preliminary," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give you no assurance these expectations will prove to have been correct. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Cision

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SOURCE Akima
PELALAWAN, Indonesia, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of the Indonesia government's efforts to combat stunting, Asian Agri and Tanoto Foundation signed a joint agreement with the Government of Pelalawan Regency, Riau Province.

The agreement was signed by H. Nasarudin, Deputy Regent of Pelalawan who is also the Head of the Team for the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction (TPPS) and Gatot Sibuea, Group Manager of PT Inti Indosawit Subur (Asian Agri) Buatan Plantation.

To prevent and reduce stunting rates in Pelalawan Regency, the cadre training for Posyandu or integrated health service post, a community-based initiative in Indonesia, will be carried out with the Family Assistance Team (TPK) together with the Asian Agri and Tanoto Foundation team in three villages in Pelalawan Regency, namely Delik Village, Lalangkabung Village, and Pelalawan Village. The TPK will be tasked with counselling mothers and expectant mothers, facilitating referral services, as well as the provision of social assistance and conducting monitoring of target families who are at risk of stunting.

The Deputy Regent of Pelalawan, H. Nasarudin, said that stunting prevention is Indonesia's national program which requires collaboration from the Government and stakeholders, including the private sector. "We really appreciate Asian Agri and Tanoto Foundation for their commitment to help suppress stunting in Pelalawan Regency, especially in Delik Village, Lalangkabung Village, and Pelalawan Village. Through this collaboration, we hope to accelerate the reduction in the stunting rates in Pelalawan Regency. We hope that all companies in the Pelalawan Regency area will actively participate in implementing this program," he said.

Gatot Sibuea, Group Manager of PT Inti Indosawit Subur (Asian Agri) Buatan Estate said that the commitment to support the Government's efforts to prevent stunting is a manifestation of the company's 5C principles, which is to what is good for the community, good for the country, good for the climate, good for the customer, and good for the company.

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"The signing of this joint agreement is a form of our commitment in terms of stunting prevention. Through this collaboration with the Regional Government of Pelalawan Regency and Tanoto Foundation, we hope to be able to assist the Government's efforts to reduce stunting rates in Pelalawan Regency. Through this joint effort, we hope to continue to provide benefits to the community, especially those around the company's operational areas," Gatot added.

Asian Agri is a member of the RGE group of companies founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tanoto Foundation is an independent philanthropic organisation, also founded by Sukanto Tanoto and his wife, Tinah Bingei Tanoto.

About Asian Agri:

Asian Agri is one of Indonesia's largest palm oil producers. Founded in 1979, the company today manages 100,000 hectares of plantation land and employs over 20,000 people. A pioneer of the Indonesian government's Trans-National Government Migration (PIR-Trans) program, Asian Agri currently works with 30,000 Plasma Scheme smallholders in Riau and Jambi who operate 60,000 hectares of palm oil plantations, and independent smallholders who manage a total 41,000 hectares.

Implementing a strict "no burn" policy since 1994 and best practices in sustainable plantation management, Asian Agri has helped its smallholder partners improve productivity, yield and supply chain traceability, while assisting them obtain certifications. The company's mills are technologically advanced and energy self-sufficient, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.

All business units of Asian Agri has the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO). Currently, all Asian Agri's plantations in North Sumatra, Riau & Jambi provinces and Plasma Scheme smallholder plantations in Riau & Jambi provinces have been 100% RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certified. In addition, ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) has been achieved by all plantations owned by Asian Agri and the smallholders it supports.

The company's operations are ISO 14001 certified, while its Learning Institute and nursery research center in Pelalawan, Riau province, Indonesia are both ISO 9001 certified. Asian Agri's laboratory at the Center for Research and Development in Tebing Tinggi is accredited by the National Accreditation Committee under the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC MRA).

Cision

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SOURCE RGE group of companies
Persistence Market Research

Study on G.Fast Chipset Market: Growing Need for High Speed Broadband Internet to Open Up Lucrative Opportunities for Chipset Manufacturers

New York, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Automotive Filters Market is anticipated to be valued at US$ 15.78 Billion in 2023 and to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% to US$ 27.74 Billion by 2033. The market is driven by the increasing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, rising environmental concerns, and the growth of the automotive industry in emerging economies.

Automotive filters are essential components used in vehicles to maintain the performance and longevity of the engine by filtering out contaminants from the fuel, oil, and air. The global automotive filters market is driven by the increasing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, rising environmental concerns, and the growth of the automotive industry in emerging economies. The market is segmented by filter type, vehicle type, distribution channel, and region.

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The growth of the market is driven by increasing vehicle production and sales, stringent government regulations regarding vehicle emissions, and the rising awareness among consumers about the importance of regular vehicle maintenance. Additionally, technological advancements in filter materials and designs are also contributing to the growth of the market.

Key players in the automotive filters market include Mahle GmbH, Donaldson Company Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH, FRAM Group IP LLC, Sogefi S.p.A, Mann+Hummel GmbH, Alco Filter Ltd., Ahlstrom Corporation, Airmatic Filterbau GmbH, Denso Corportaion, Cummins Inc., EuroGIELLE S.r.l, Freudenberg & Co. KG, Hengst SE & Co. KG, Hollingsworth & Vose Company, K&N Engineering Inc., Champion Laboratories, UFI Filters, Valeo S.A. These companies are investing in research and development to create innovative filter designs and materials to meet the increasing demand for high-quality filters.

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Market Dynamics:

Increasing vehicle production and sales : The automotive filters market is driven by the growing demand for vehicles, particularly in emerging markets. The increasing production and sales of vehicles have resulted in a higher demand for automotive filters, as they are essential components for vehicle operation.

Stringent government regulations : Governments worldwide are imposing stricter regulations on vehicle emissions, which are driving the adoption of high-quality automotive filters. These regulations are driving the demand for filters that can effectively remove pollutants from the engine, such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxide.

Growing awareness of the importance of vehicle maintenance : Consumers are becoming more aware of the importance of regular vehicle maintenance, which is driving the demand for automotive filters. Regular filter replacements can improve a vehicle's performance, fuel efficiency, and reduce emissions.

Technological advancements: The development of advanced filter materials and designs is driving the demand for high-quality automotive filters. New filter designs can improve performance and increase the lifespan of filters, reducing the need for replacements.

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Market Segmentation:

By filter type, the market is segmented into oil filters, air filters, fuel filters, and cabin air filters. The air filter segment is expected to dominate the market owing to the increasing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles and the growing awareness about air pollution.

By vehicle type, the market is segmented into passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, and heavy commercial vehicles. The passenger car segment is expected to dominate the market owing to the increasing demand for personal vehicles and the growing disposable income of consumers.

By distribution channel, the market is segmented into OEM and aftermarket. The aftermarket segment is expected to dominate the market owing to the increasing demand for replacement filters and the growing awareness about the maintenance of vehicles.

Regional Analysis:

The global automotive filters market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate the market owing to the growing automotive industry and the increasing disposable income of consumers. The region is also expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

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Recent Developments:

In March 2021, German auto parts supplier Mann+Hummel announced that it has developed a new air filter that can neutralize certain viruses, including COVID-19. The filter uses a specially treated filter medium that can trap and kill viruses.

In January 2021, Sogefi Group, a leading automotive filters manufacturer, announced that it has signed an agreement with Great Wall Motors Company to supply cabin air filters for their new models in Europe.

In November 2020, Donaldson Company, a leading manufacturer of filtration systems and parts, announced the launch of a new line of fuel filters designed for use in heavy-duty diesel engines. The filters feature advanced filtration media that can capture and hold more contaminants than traditional filters.

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MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH PRIVATE LIMITED

Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market is segmented based on Type, Size. Bottom-up approach was used to estimate the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market size.

Pune, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maximize Market research, a global Automotive and Transportation market research firm has published a competitive intelligence market research report on the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market. The Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market size was valued at USD 12.3 Bn in 2021. The total Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching USD 18.88 Bn during the forecast period.



Market Size in 2021 USD 12.3 Bn Market Size in 2029 USD 18.88 Bn CAGR 5.5 per cent (2022-2029) Forecast Period 2022-2029 Base Year 2021 Number of Pages 278 No. of Tables 129 No. of Charts and Figures 121 Segment Covered By Application, Material and end-users 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/183981

Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market Scope and Research Methodology

The Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market research report covers technology, product application, development trend, product technology, competitive landscape, industrial chain structure, industry overview, national policy and planning analysis of the industry. The report includes drivers, opportunities and restraints affecting the global market. It covers the impact of these drivers, trends and restraints on the demand of the market during the forecast period. The report also highlights opportunities in the market at the global level.

Regional analysis of the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market is conducted at the country, regional and global levels. The report covers the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market strategies followed by major players with their strategies and investment plans. The primary and secondary research method was used to collect the data from Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market. Key players are identified through secondary research. Secondary research was used to collect information for the extensive, market-oriented, and commercial analysis of the Market.

Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market Overview

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Automotive NVH materials, also known as noise, vibration, and harshness materials, are used in vehicles to minimize unwanted noise, vibrations (oscillations caused by automobile mechanics), and harshness (the amount of pain). Molded rubbers, metal and film laminates, molded foams, and designed resins are used to reduce air and structure-borne sounds, as well as noise caused by car interior components. NVH materials have seen increased demand in recent years as they absorb noise and prevent it from entering the vehicle, avoiding discomfort and increasing ride quality.

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Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market Dynamics

Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market are used in automobiles to minimize noise, vibration, and harshness while improving ride quality and passenger comfort. These materials may be helpful in vehicle weight reduction, stress absorption, and impact resistance. Due to the qualities of rubber, it is commonly utilized in vehicles to reduce harshness, noise, and vibration. It is resistant to heat and fluids, lightweight, thick, vibration-absorbing, and inexpensive. These materials are also utilized to make automobiles lighter, quicker, and more fuel-efficient, particularly electric automobiles. Customers are drawn to passenger automobiles because of its luxury and tranquillity. These NVH materials help in the reduction of outside and engine noise, the regulation of vibrations, and the enhancement of vehicle stability and lifetime.

Asia-Pacific region is expected to fuel the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market growth

Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate to regional Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market during the forecast period. Emerging economies in the region, such as India, China, and Indonesia, have seen a rapid growth rate in recent years. The region's automotive demand has been fuelled by a growing population and living conditions. Consumer preferences are shifting toward automobiles with improved ride quality, comfort, safety, and customisation as disposable incomes increase.

Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market Segmentation

By Application:

Absorption

Damping

Insulation

Based on Application, the Absorption is expected to dominate the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market during the forecast period. Mechanical properties, density, fundamental structure, component shape, connections, and stress are all complex linkages between physical and design elements that influence how well different materials absorb energy.

By Material

Rubber

Thermoplastic Polymers

Engineering Resins

Other

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Based on Material, the Rubber segment is expected to dominate the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market. Increasing investments in manufacturing of electric vehicles, with noiseless automotive are expected to drive the market during the forecast period.

By End-Use Industry:

Automotive

Aerospace

Consumer Goods

Power Tools

Other

Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market Key Players Include:

BASF SE (Germany)

The Dow Chemical Company (US)

3M Company (US)

ElringKlinger AG (Germany)

Huntsman Corporation (US)

Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd (Japan)

Covestro AG (Germany)

Celanese Corporation US)

Huntsman Corporation (US)

Lanxess AG (Germany)

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany)

Wolverine Advanced Materials, LLC (US)

Borgers AG (Germany)

DuPont (US)

Eastman Chemical Company (US)

Key questions answered in the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market are:

What is Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials?

What was the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market size in 2021?

What is the expected Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market size by 2029?

What is the growth rate of the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market?

Which are the factors expected to drive the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market growth?

Which factors are expected to restrain the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market growth?

Which segment dominated the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market growth?

What is the demand pattern for the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market?

Which region held the largest share in the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market?

Who are the key players in the Automotive Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Materials Market?

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Key Offerings:

Past Market Size and Market Competitiveness (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, Challenges and Key Trends by region

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by Application, Material and End-Use Industry

Type Competitive Landscape A detailed scenario of the competitive environment in the global market Competitive landscape  Market Leaders, Market Followers, Regional player Competitive benchmarking of key players by region based on product Portfolio, End-Users, Revenues, Manufacturing Locations, etc. Market Consolidations  Mergers, Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Partnerships. Company Profiles  Business Overview, Financial Overview, Business Strategy, SWOT Analysis, Recent Development.

PESTLE Analysis

PORTERs analysis

Value chain and supply chain analysis

Legal Aspects of business by region

Key Takeaways

Industry Recommendations

Maximize Market Research is leading Automotive and Transportation research firm, has also published the following reports:

Automotive Night Vision System Market: Automotive Night Vision System Market size was valued at USD 3.9 Bn. in 2021 and the total revenue is expected to grow by 12.02 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching USD 9.67 Bn. Driver Monitoring System (DMS) creating a new opportunity for market players.

Automotive Suspension System Market: Automotive Suspension System Market size was valued at USD 60.20 Bn. in 2021 and the total revenue is expected to grow by 6 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching nearly USD 95.94 Bn. Increasing demand in the global market is related to the production of new cars, where the suspension system connects the vehicle frame to the wheels and is one of the most important parts of the vehicle.

Automotive Chassis System Market: Automotive Chassis System Market is anticipated to reach USD 84.85 Bn by 2029 from USD 52.44 Bn in 2021 at a CAGR of 6.2 percent during a forecast period. Companies that make automobile chassis systems invest heavily in research and development to produce novel composite materials is expected to drive the market.

Automotive Camera Cleaning System Market: The market is expected to reach USD 1862.24 Mn by 2029 from USD 399.96 Mn in 2021 at a CAGR of 21.2 percent during a forecast period. Growing consumer demand for premium and luxury vehicles in various regions increased camera deployment in modern premium cars.

Automotive Steering Systems Market: Automotive Steering Systems Market was valued at USD 30.68 Billion in 2021, and is expected to reach USD 44.30 Billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.7 percent during the forecast period (2022-2029). Rigid Fuel Efficiency Norms Driving Adoption of Advanced Automotive Steering Systems in North America Automotive Steering Systems Market.

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.

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The leading avocado brand partners with Coke Zero to offer a chance to win weekend getaways

DALLAS, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and no fiesta is complete without a heaping serving of guacamole. In fact, Cinco de Mayo is the second biggest consumption occasion in the U.S. for avocados and guacamole. The number one selling avocado brand, Avocados From Mexico has partnered with Coke Zero to give shoppers something to guac about all weekend long with the launch of its newest national shopper marketing program. With the holiday falling on a Friday this year, the brand's new Cinco De Weekend campaign provides shoppers ample opportunities to keep the good going all weekend long with big savings and wanderlust-worthy sweepstakes.

Avocados From Mexico - Cinco de Weekend

The program highlights the delicious combination of Avocados From Mexico and Coke Zero. The two brands are partnering to make shoppers' Cinco celebrations even more exciting with a chance to win twelve weekend getaway trips in a year, valued at up to $30K. The promotion is available from April 10 through May 7, 2023. Shoppers can enter to win via QR codes on the POS displays or by visiting avocadosfrommexico.com/cincodemayo/sweeps/.

"Cinco de Mayo is a great time to celebrate the spirit of Mexicanity, and Avocados From Mexico make everything better," said CEO and President of Avocados From Mexico, Alvaro Luque. "We invite shoppers everywhere to celebrate Cinco all weekend by adding avocados and Coke Zero to their carts, because no Cinco celebration is complete without guacamole."

Avocados are a top food for Cinco celebrations, and as retailers look to increase basket size, they are a worthy product to promote as studies have shown that shoppers spend 1.9x more on groceries when avocados are in the basket.1 Additionally, 71% of Coke Zero buyers also purchase avocados on an annual basis,2 showcasing how this partnership serves to cross-merchandise items shoppers likely already have on their lists. In combining these two brands together, AFM is creating a simple Cinco destination that's a win for shoppers and retailers alike.

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"With a strong and steady supply of high-quality avocados coming into the U.S. from Mexico, there will be ample inventory to meet shopper demand during this avo-centric holiday," said Stephanie Bazan, Senior Vice President, Commercial Strategy and Execution. "Retailers can drive conversion of the fruit by placing avocados around the perimeter of the produce section and in other easy-to-see areas with high traffic. Merchandising avocados alongside complementary items  like tomatoes, onions, or Coke Zero  to create 'Cinco De Weekend stations,' makes it easy for shoppers to purchase. Show-stopping displays are also a tried-and-true way to help excite shoppers in-store, and our latest Cinco de Weekend offering is a great choice for this occasion."

Retailers can take shoppers' Cinco de Weekend excitement to the next level by signing up to receive the free Cinco de Weekend attention-getting merchandise displays and Avocados From Mexico and Coke Zero coupons that are available while supplies last. Retailers can also utilize Avocados From Mexico merchandising materials to create a fiesta-themed Cinco event for their shoppers.

To learn more about AFM, visit www.avocadosfrommexico.com, Facebook (www.facebook.com/AvocadosFromMexico) or Twitter (@AvosFromMexico). And, for more details on the brand's robust year-round promotional activities and marketing tools, visit www.avocadosfrommexico.com/shopper.

About Avocados From Mexico

Avocados From Mexico (AFM) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA), formed for the purpose of advertising, promotion, public relations and research for all stakeholders of Avocados From Mexico . Under agreements, MHAIA and the Association of Avocado Exporting Producers & Packers of Mexico (APEAM) have combined resources to fund and manage AFM, with the intent to provide a focused, highly- effective and efficient marketing program in the United States. AFM is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

1Numerator Basket Affinity Report, 4/7/22 to 5/4/22

2HAB 2yrs Week Ending 8/14/22 Numerator 4 wks 4/10/22 to 5/7/22, FMCG + E-Com

CONTACT: Ana Ambrosi, aambrosi@avocadosfrommexico.com

Avocados From Mexico - Cinco de Weekend

(PRNewsfoto/Avocados From Mexico)

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avocados-from-mexico-invites-shoppers-to-celebrate-cinco-all-weekend-long-301792801.html

SOURCE Avocados From Mexico
MIAMI LAKES, Fla., April 10, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BankUnited, Inc. (NYSE: BKU) announced today that financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 will be made public in a news release on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 prior to the market opening.

A conference call to discuss quarterly results will be held at 9:00 a.m. ET that day with Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Rajinder P. Singh, Chief Financial Officer, Leslie N. Lunak and Chief Operating Officer, Thomas M. Cornish. The earnings release and supplemental information will be available on BankUniteds Investor Relations page prior to the call at https://ir.bankunited.com.

The live webcast can be accessed via the Event Calendar section of the Investor Relations page at https://ir.bankunited.com/event-calendar. The Company suggests participants to sign in at least 15 minutes in advance of the call.

To participate by telephone, participants will receive dial-in information and a unique PIN number upon completion of registration at https://register.vevent.com/register/BId759d8eca4204944ae8b5c726fc19e7c.

For those unable to join the live event, an archived webcast will be available in the Investor Relations page at https://ir.bankunited.com approximately two hours following the live webcast.

About BankUnited

BankUnited, Inc. (NYSE: BKU), with total assets of $37.0 billion at December 31, 2023 is the bank holding company of BankUnited, N.A., a national bank headquartered in Miami Lakes, Florida that provides a full range of banking and related services to individual and corporate customers through banking centers located in the state of Florida, New York metropolitan area and Dallas, Texas and a comprehensive suite of wholesale products to customers through an Atlanta office focused on the Southeast region. BankUnited also offers certain commercial lending and deposit products through national platforms. For additional information, call (877) 779-2265 or visit www.BankUnited.com. BankUnited can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/BankUnited.Official and on Twitter @BankUnited.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005107/en/

Contacts

BankUnited, Inc.

Leslie Lunak

786-313-1698

LLunak@BankUnited.com
Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World

WASHINGTON, April 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Behavioral Mental Health Software Market is valued at USD 2.22 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach a value of USD 5.04 Billion by 2030 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 10.80% over the forecast period 2023-2030.



Market Overview

The Behavioral Mental Health Software Market has gained significant traction in recent years, driven by the growing need to improve mental health services and the adoption of technology-based solutions. With the rising prevalence of mental health disorders and the increasing demand for effective treatment options, mental health software solutions are becoming increasingly popular.

The market is driven by the increasing demand for mental health services, the rise in government initiatives to promote mental health awareness, and the growing need for patient-centric care. Behavioral Mental Health Software includes a range of solutions such as electronic health records (EHRs), telehealth, mobile health (mHealth), and others.

The Behavioral Mental Health Software Market is expected to continue its growth trajectory, driven by the increasing demand for mental health services and the adoption of technology-based solutions. However, the market also faces several challenges, including the lack of awareness and understanding of mental health disorders, high implementation costs, and data privacy and security concerns. Nonetheless, the opportunities presented by the market are significant, and players in the market are expected to focus on innovation and strategic partnerships to capitalize on these opportunities.

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Behavioral Mental Health Software Market Dynamics

The behavioral mental health software market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, driven by the increasing prevalence of mental health conditions, the growing demand for affordable and accessible mental health care, and the increasing use of technology in healthcare.

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Mental health conditions are a major public health problem, affecting millions of people around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in four people will experience a mental health condition at some point in their lives. The prevalence of mental health conditions is even higher among certain groups, such as young people, people with chronic physical health conditions, and people who have experienced trauma. The demand for affordable and accessible mental health care is increasing, driven by the rising prevalence of mental health conditions, the growing awareness of mental health issues, and the changing landscape of healthcare delivery. In many countries, there is a shortage of mental health professionals, which makes it difficult for people to access the care they need. Behavioral mental health software can help to address this shortage by providing people with access to care that is affordable and accessible.

The use of technology in healthcare is on the rise, as it offers a number of benefits, such as improved efficiency, reduced costs, and improved patient outcomes. Behavioral mental health software is one of the many areas where technology is being used to improve healthcare delivery. Behavioral mental health software can help to improve the quality of care by providing clinicians with access to real-time data and by helping patients to manage their own care.

Top Players in Global Behavioral Mental Health Software Market

Advanced Data Systems (US)

Cerner (US)

Compulink (US)

AdvancedMD (US)

Core Solutions (US)

Credible Behavioral Health (US)

Mindlinc (US)

Netsmart (US)

Kareo (US)

Meditab Software (US)

Nextgen Healthcare (US)



Budget Limitation? Contact us for Special Discount and Pricing

Key Challenges Facing the Behavioral Mental Health Software Market:

Data privacy concerns: One of the key challenges facing the behavioral mental health software market is data privacy concerns. Behavioral health data is sensitive and confidential, and it is important to ensure that this data is protected. Behavioral mental health software vendors need to take steps to protect patient data, such as using encryption and security measures.

Regulatory challenges: The behavioral mental health software market is also facing regulatory challenges. In some countries, there are specific regulations that govern the use of behavioral health software. Behavioral mental health software vendors need to be aware of these regulations and to ensure that their products comply with them.

Cost: Behavioral mental health software can be expensive, which can make it difficult for some organizations to afford it. Behavioral mental health software vendors need to find ways to make their products more affordable, such as offering discounts to organizations that serve low-income populations.



Behavioral Mental Health Software Market Opportunities

One of the primary opportunities in the Behavioral Mental Health Software Market is the increasing demand for mental health services. Mental health issues are on the rise, with a growing number of people seeking treatment for mental health disorders. This presents a significant opportunity for providers of behavioral mental health software, as the demand for technology-based solutions to support mental health services continues to grow.

Telehealth is a significant opportunity in the Behavioral Mental Health Software Market. Telehealth enables mental health professionals to connect with patients remotely, providing greater convenience and accessibility for patients. As telehealth adoption continues to grow, providers of behavioral mental health software can leverage this opportunity by developing telehealth solutions that meet the unique needs of mental health patients.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies is also a significant opportunity in the Behavioral Mental Health Software Market. These technologies enable mental health professionals to analyze patient data more effectively, leading to better treatment outcomes. AI and ML are also being used to develop personalized treatment plans for patients, which can improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of relapse.

Top Report Findings

The global behavioral mental health software market is expected to reach USD 5.04 Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 10.80% during the forecast period 2023-2030.

North America is expected to dominate the market, followed by Europe and the Asia Pacific.

Based on delivery mode, the market is segmented into cloud-based and on-premises. The cloud-based segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions for managing mental health conditions. The on-premises segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This is attributed to the high security and privacy offered by on-premises solutions.

The clinical application segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

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Top Trends in Behavioral Mental Health Software Market

One trend that Vantage Market Research (VMR) expects in the Behavioral Mental Health Software Market is the adoption of telehealth solutions. Telehealth enables mental health professionals to connect with patients remotely, providing greater convenience and accessibility for patients. With the rising demand for mental health services, telehealth is becoming an increasingly popular option for both patients and providers.

The integration of AI and ML technologies is also gaining traction in the Behavioral Mental Health Software Market. These technologies enable mental health professionals to analyze patient data more effectively, leading to better treatment outcomes. AI and ML are also being used to develop personalized treatment plans for patients, which can improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of relapse.

Mobile Health (mHealth) solutions are another top trend that VMR predicts in the Behavioral Mental Health Software Market. mHealth solutions enable patients to access mental health services through their mobile devices, making it easier to receive care on the go. These solutions include mobile apps, text messaging services, and other digital tools that provide patients with easy access to mental health services.



Global Behavioral Mental Health Software Market Segmentation

By Component Outlook

Support Services

Software

By Delivery Model Outlook

Ownership

Subscription

By Function Outlook

Clinical

Administrative

Financial



By End Users

Payers

Patients

Providers



By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa



Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 157 Pages and in-depth TOC on Behavioral Mental Health Software Market Forecast Report (2023-2030).

Scope of the Report:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 2.22 Billion Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 5.04 Billion CAGR 10.80% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players Advanced Data Systems, AdvancedMD, Cerner, Compulink, Core Solutions, Credible Behavioral Health, Kareo, Meditab Software, Mindlinc Customization Options If our report does not include the information you are searching for, you may contact us to have a report tailored to your specific business needs https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/behavioral-mental-health-software-market-1330/request-sample



Read Full Report with TOC @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/behavioral-mental-health-software-market-1330

Key Questions Answered in Behavioral Mental Health Software Market Report

What is the size of the behavioral mental health software market?

What are the key drivers and restraints of the market?

What are the trends and opportunities in the market?

What are the key players in the market?

What are their strategies and plans?

What are the key challenges and threats facing the market?

What are the potential growth opportunities in the market?

What are the key success factors for players in the market?

Behavioral Mental Health Software Market Regional Analysis

North America is the largest market for Behavioral Mental Health Software, owing to the high prevalence of mental health disorders and the adoption of technology-based solutions. The market is expected to grow further due to the increasing demand for mental health services and the development of advanced software solutions. The United States is the largest contributor to the North American market, followed by Canada and Mexico.

Europe is another significant market for Behavioral Mental Health Software, driven by the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders and the adoption of technology-based solutions. The market is expected to grow further due to the rising awareness about mental health issues and the need for innovative solutions to support mental health services. The United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Spain are the largest contributors to the European market.

The Asia Pacific market for Behavioral Mental Health Software is expected to grow rapidly due to the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders and the adoption of technology-based solutions. The market is also driven by the rising awareness about mental health issues and the need for innovative solutions to support mental health services. Japan, China, India, and Australia are the largest contributors to the Asia Pacific market.

Latin America is a growing market for Behavioral Mental Health Software, driven by the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders and the adoption of technology-based solutions. The market is expected to grow further due to the rising awareness about mental health issues and the need for innovative solutions to support mental health services. Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico are the largest contributors to the Latin American market.

The Middle East and Africa market for Behavioral Mental Health Software is expected to grow rapidly due to the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders and the adoption of technology-based solutions. The market is also driven by the rising awareness about mental health issues and the need for innovative solutions to support mental health services. Saudi Arabia, UAE, and South Africa are the largest contributors to the Middle East and Africa market.

Challenges By Region:

In North America, one of the key challenges faced by providers of behavioral mental health software is the fragmented nature of the healthcare system. The lack of standardization and interoperability between different healthcare providers can make it difficult for software solutions to integrate with existing systems. Another challenge in North America is the high cost of healthcare, which can make it difficult for patients to access mental health services.

In the Asia Pacific region, one of the key challenges faced by providers of behavioral mental health software is the lack of infrastructure in some areas. This can make it difficult for patients to access mental health services, particularly in rural areas. Another challenge in the Asia Pacific region is the cultural stigma associated with mental health issues, which can make it difficult for patients to seek help.

Reason to Buy this Behavioral Mental Health Software Market Report

It provides a comprehensive overview of the behavioral mental health software market.

It includes an in-depth analysis of the market drivers, restraints, and opportunities.

It provides a forecast of the market size and growth rate for the next five years.

It identifies the key players in the market and their strategies.

It provides insights into the competitive landscape and the emerging trends in the market.

It provides a strategic analysis of the market and recommendations for the new entrants or players in the market.

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Ideally, your overall portfolio should beat the market average. But the main game is to find enough winners to more than offset the losers So we wouldn't blame long term I-Berhad (KLSE:IBHD) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 55% over a half decade. We also note that the stock has performed poorly over the last year, with the share price down 22%. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 18% in the last three months.

So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

Check out our latest analysis for I-Berhad

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

During the five years over which the share price declined, I-Berhad's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 24% each year. This fall in the EPS is worse than the 15% compound annual share price fall. So investors might expect EPS to bounce back -- or they may have previously foreseen the EPS decline.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized 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 I-Berhad's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About The Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

Investors should note that there's a difference between I-Berhad's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price change, which we've covered above. Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Its history of dividend payouts mean that I-Berhad's TSR, which was a 48% drop over the last 5 years, was not as bad as the share price return.

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A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 4.9% in the twelve months, I-Berhad shareholders did even worse, losing 22%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 8% 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. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand I-Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks, for example - I-Berhad has 3 warning signs (and 2 which can't be ignored) we think you should know about.

For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

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.

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(Bloomberg) -- Billionaire investor Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc. started marketing bonds in the Japanese currency, putting it on course to add to more than 1 trillion yen ($7.5 billion) of such issuance in recent years.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The US conglomerate is offering yen bonds across seven tranches in a transaction that may price as early as April 14, according to a person familiar with the matter. Berkshire Hathaway is the first major overseas debt issuer to kick off a yen deal under new Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda, who signaled at his inaugural press conference Monday that any significant policy changes may be unlikely for the time being.

Buffett is weighing more investments in Japan, and would consider other industries apart from trading houses, the Nikkei said Tuesday, citing an interview with him.

Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway surprised Japanese markets in 2020 when it bought shares in local trading companies after selling one of the biggest-ever yen bond deals by an overseas company.

The veteran investors company is offering wider credit spreads on tranches in the new deal than when it last tapped the market in December, as speculation about the BOJ pulling back on ultra-easy policy drove yield premiums higher this year. Its one of the largest foreign issuers of yen bonds, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

(Updates with news report on investments in third paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
BOSTON, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB), the parent company of Berkshire Bank, a leading socially responsible community bank with financial centers in New England and New York, announced the election of Eric S. Rosengren to the Board of Directors of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary Berkshire Bank effective April 5, 2023. Mr. Rosengren brings extensive financial, risk management and regulatory expertise having served as the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston until his retirement in 2021. Upon his election, Mr. Rosengren was determined to be an independent director and a financial expert and appointed to the Risk Management, Capital and Compliance and Audit Committees of the Board.

"We are pleased to welcome Eric to our Board of Directors," said Chairperson David M. Brunelle. "His experience as a Fed President and vast subject matter expertise will provide invaluable perspectives to the strategic and risk-oversight functions of our board."

"Berkshire Bank and all of our stakeholders will benefit from Eric's decades of experience, insights and knowledge of the New England economy and broader macro-economic trends, financial sector regulatory system and risk management. He will help bolster Berkshire Bank further as we continue to advance along our path toward becoming a high-performing, leading socially responsible community bank," added Berkshire Bank CEO Nitin Mhatre.

Eric S. Rosengren

"Berkshire Bank has a long, storied history of supporting its customers and broader communities through multiple economic cycles with an unwavering commitment. They understand the critical role community banks play in our economy helping to build resilience and prosperity in our cities and towns. I'm proud to have the opportunity to work alongside the Board and leadership team, to champion many of same topics in the same communities as I did at the Federal Reserve," stated Mr. Rosengren.

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About Eric S. Rosengren

Mr. Rosengren is CEO of Rosengren Consulting and a Visiting Scholar at the MIT Golub Center for Finance & Policy. He previously served as the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston from 2007 until his retirement in 2021. As a Fed President, he was a participant and voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee. During his tenure he also championed projects to help revitalize smaller city economies and enhance diversity, equity and inclusion within the Fed. Mr. Rosengren joined the Boston Fed in 1985 and held various roles in the Bank's Research and Supervision, Regulation, and Credit Departments. He has published over 100 articles and papers on economics and finance, and is often cited in leading academic journals and featured in major media outlets on topics including macroeconomics, monetary policy, international banking, bank supervision and risk management. Mr. Rosengren holds a Ph.D. and Masters from the University of Wisconsin and a Bachelors from Colby College where he also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees.

ABOUT BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP

Headquartered in Boston, Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE:BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank. Founded in 1846, the Bank's vision is to be a high-performing leading socially responsible community bank. It empowers the financial potential of its stakeholders by making banking available where, when, and how it's needed through an uncompromising focus on exceptional customer service, digital banking, and positive community impact. Providing a wide range of financial solutions through its consumer banking, commercial banking and wealth management divisions, the Bank has approximately $11.7 billion in assets and a community-based footprint of 100 financial centers in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Named one of America's Most Trusted Companies by Newsweek and America's Best Midsize Employers by Forbes, Berkshire is also listed in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality. To learn more, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Investor Relations Contacts

Kevin Conn, SVP, Investor Relations & Corporate Development

Email: KAConn@berkshirebank.com

Tel: (617) 641-9206

David Gonci, Capital Markets Director

Email: dgonci@berkshirebank.com

Tel: (413) 281-1973

Media Contact:

Gary Levante, SVP, Corporate Responsibility & Communications

Email: glevante@berkshirebank.com

Tel: (413) 447-1737

(PRNewsfoto/Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.)

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SOURCE Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.
Chosen by residents with an annual salary over 10 million yen

"Toyosu" beats other popular competitors, and tops the list for the first time

TOKYO, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Japanese luxury real estate service "Modern Standard" has released the newest ranking report of 2023 about the most favorable location(s) chosen by affluent users with an annual salary over 10 million yen (about 75,800 USD and more). This is the first release of such a report released by Modern Standard along with the change of the service name from the previous service name of "RENOSY luxury real estate". "Modern Standard" platform is run by RENOSY PLUS Co., Ltd (Headquarters: Minato-Ku, Tokyo; CEO: Dai Higuchi) which is part of the GA technologies group under GA technologies Co., Ltd (Headquarters: Minato-Ku, Tokyo; CEO: Ryo Higuchi, security code: 3491; hereinafter referred to as the Company). The service targets wealthy class members looking for high-end properties in Japan. The report this time is based on the actual data provided by our users with the deals we have made in the past 1 year. You can find out not only the most popular location(s) among affluent investors but also the average annual salary of residents from the top 5 locations in Tokyo respectively.

Best locations for living in Tokyo 2023

The full list is available on Modern Standard's official website: https://www.m-standard.co.jp/ranking/sumitaimachi/ (The detail of this report is available only in Japanese)

Key Highlights

The report is based on the year-round data of actual deals made by Modern Standard agents between customers with annual salary of over 10 million yen (about USD75,800 and more)

Top 3 most favorable locations are as follows; Toyosu (Koto-Ku), Akasaka (Minato-Ku), Ebisu (Shibuya-Ku)

The location with residents with the highest average annual salary is "Mita (Minato-Ku)", the average annual salary is 3,5820,000 yen (about 271,857 USD). Roppongi is the lowest with an average annual salary of 18,110,000 yen (about 137,446 USD)

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The most favorable location(s) chosen by affluent Modern Standard users "Toyosu" boosts up for 15 places from last year and tops the list as No.1

The location that tops the list of 2023 is "Toyosu (Koto-Ku)''. It was only at the 16th place in last year's report and has jumped for 15 places and is the No1 most favorable location this year. This is also the very first time a location in Koto-Ku has been chosen by our wealthy class users. Toyosu has become a popular location among affluent (young) couples and families in recent years with the redevelopment of the area, especially the redevelopment and the construction of luxury high rise apartments targeting these people. For example, "BRANZ TOWER TOYOSU" listed on Modern Standard (RENOSY), a high-rise apartment with 48-story of layout that was built in 2021 is a popular choice for customers looking for luxury rental condos.

Akasaka is one place down and comes in second place this year. No 3 is Ebisu (Shibuya-Ku) which is 6 places up compared to last year. Ebisu is popular mostly among young singles who work in IT companies (engineers or other related positions for the most part). These IT companies are mostly scattered around Shibuya, which is quite close to Ebisu. One of the reasons for Ebisu to rank in this list is that the place attracts many young IT workers with good salary packages which boost up the need for rental apartments in this area and the average annual salary figure of Ebisu.

No 4 is Roppongi (Minato-Ku), No 5 is Mita (Minato-Ku), No 6 is Kachidoki (Chuo-Ku), No7 is Jingumae (Shibuya-Ku), and Nishi-Shinjuku (Shinjuku-Ku) listed in as No 9. Nishi-Shinjuku, Akasaka (No 2) and Ebisu (No 3) are the three locations that have been in the top 10 for 3 years in a roll 1

1: The reports were released by the name of "RENOSY" for 2021 and 2022.

Please visit the following link for 2021's report: https://www.ga-tech.co.jp/news/8825/

Please visit the following link for 2022' s report: https://special.renosy.com/sumitaimachi_ranking/2022/

Residents of Mita (Minato-Ku) has the highest average annual salary of 35,820,000 yen (about 271,857 USD) on this list

Here is a short list of the average annual salary of the top 5 locations in Tokyo.

Mita (Minato-Ku): 35,820,000 yen (about 271,857 USD)

Akasaka (Minato-Ku): 3,1990000 yen (about 240,267 USD)

Toyosu (Koto-Ku): 2,0870000 yen (156,748 USD)

Ebisu (Shibuya-Ku): 1,9930000 yen (149,688 USD)

Roppongi (Minato-Ku): 1,8110000 yen (136,018 USD)

From the highest to the lowest figures

The full report with details of the residents' occupations pie charts of each location can be found on Modern Standard's website. For example, for Mita, the location with the highest average annual salary figure, most of the residents there are entrepreneurs themselves or work in a foreign-owned financial corporations as well as employees of foreign embassies. Families from the wealthy class sending their children to prestigious international schools also prefer to live in Mita. From our data, we also see that there are an increasing number of professionals, specialists (Ex: lawyers, auditors, judicial scriveners, certified public tax accountants etc.) choosing to settle in Mita as well.

Result summary

Research period: January 1st, 2022~ December 31, 2022

Targets for research: Data of (luxury) properties for rental listed on Modern StandardPreviously known as RENOSY luxury real estate ). Only properties located in the 23 wards of Tokyo are counted in this report.

Research method: The list of locations are sorted out based on the address information of each individual property chosen by Modern Standard users among those of whom sign an agreement for a rental property located in one of the 23 wards of Tokyo; also specified that their annual salary is over 10 million yen (about 75,800 USD and more) (2) in their personal information. (3)

The total score regarding a specific location is calculated based on data sorted out by an AI software developed by GA technologies called "LIFE DESIGNER". (4)

2: The list of locations are sorted out based on the properties addresses of the deals made between Modern Standard agents and our users

3: The location has a higher average of annual salary is listed in a higher place if two of the locations have the same number of deals made

4: The total score of a location does not affect the order of its place on this list. The order is sorted out and listed based on the average annual salary.

About RENOSY PLUS Co., Ltd

RENOSY PLUS is one of GA technologies group companies that focuses on the business of Tokyo's luxury realty for rental & selling purposes. It mainly operates the toC platform called "Modern Standard". The platform has about 12,500 listings available on the siteby March 2023. It is one of the popular websites targeting affluent classes in Japan.

Website link: https://www.m-standard.co.jp/

Company name: RENOSY PLUS Co.,Ltd

Representative: Dai Higuchi

Website link: https://www.ga-tech.co.jp/company/group/renosy_plus/

Headquarters: 40F of Sumitomo real estate Roppongi Grand Tower, Roppongi 3-2-1, Minato-Ku, Tokyo

Services provided:

Rental properties brokerage business

Properties for sell brokerage business

About GA technologies Co., Ltd

Company name: GA technologies Co., Ltd.

Representative: Ryo Higuchi

Website link: https://www.ga-tech.co.jp/en/

Headquarter: 40F of Sumitomo real estate Roppongi Grand Tower, Roppongi 3-2-1, Minato-Ku, Tokyo

Year of founding: March 2013

Capital fund: 7,238,798,466 yen (By October 2022)

Services provided:

Internet real estate marketplace business: RENOSY

BtoB PropTech SaaS development

Group partners: GA technologies group: ITANDI, RENOSY PLUS, Shenjumiausuan and 12 other group companies

Media Enquiries:

Judy Yu

y_yu@ga-tech.co.jp

l (PRNewsfoto/GA technologies)

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SOURCE GA technologies Co., Ltd.
Flashpop/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate

[sc code=key_takeaways headline_label=Key takeaways headline_type=h2 takeaways_list=Its possible to earn 100,000 points quickly with a single credit card sign-up bonus, but you could also hobble together a few bonuses to create a six-figure stash of points or miles;Either way, the best ways to spend 100,000 points still depend on your travel goals. Maybe youre angling for an all-inclusive resort stay or an international flight in a lie-flat business seat, and both strategies can work;Generally speaking, you can get more value from airline miles when booking a premium cabin over other types of travel points. However, there are plenty of ways to maximize miles for economy flights or hotel points for a fun trip colors_variant=blue]

The best ways to use 100,000 points depend largely on the type of rewards currency you have and how much your points or miles are worth. For example, 100,000 Hilton Honors points may not even be enough for a single nights stay in one of their top tier hotels that typically cost 100,000 points per night or more. But the same amount of Chase Ultimate Rewards points or Amex Membership Rewards points can be worth $2,000 (and potentially more) in travel if transferred to the right partner for a high-value redemption.

With that in mind, we set out to answer a few simple questions. What is the best way to use 100k Amex points? What is the best use of 100k Chase points? And how can someone get a ton of value out of 100,000 airline miles?

If you have 100,000 points burning a hole in your pocket, read on to learn six awesome ways you can redeem them.

Book cheap economy flights to Europe for a family of four

First off, you can use 100,000 points to book four one-way flights to Europe, but only if you use the right program. My favorite airline loyalty program for this purpose is the Air France / Flying Blue program, which just happens to be one of the best ways to use 100,000 Chase points, as well as a partner of the American Express Membership Rewards program and Capital One miles.

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Youll need to be flexible if you want to find economy award flights at the lowest possible rate, but theyre absolutely out there. For example, our search yielded the following one-way economy flights from Chicago (ORD) to Paris (CDG) for 22,000 Air France miles plus $96 per person in airline taxes and fees.

screenshot of a flight chicago to paris

Pay for two business class flights in a lie-flat seat

If youre looking for the best way to spend 100,000 American Express points for business class airfare, the Air France / Flying Blue program has some pretty good options in that realm, too. Youll have to do some digging to find destinations and dates with the lowest possible rates, but theyre definitely out there.

screenshot of a flight chicago to athens with points

For example, we found one-way business class flights from Chicago (ORD) to Athens, Greece, (ATH) for 55,000 miles plus $215 in airline taxes and fees. This flight takes place on an Air France Boeing 787-9, which features fully flat-bed seats with a 1-2-1 configuration. This is much better than flying economy for a reasonable number of miles, and having a lie-flat seat will make it much easier to sleep peacefully all night while you move toward your destination.

Spend a week in a boutique hotel

You can also spend a week in a hotel almost anywhere with 100,000 points, provided its part of a flexible program like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards.

As an example, consider a search we did for a week-long stay in Krakow, Poland. We found rooms at the Hotel Indigo Krakow  Old Town smack dab in the middle of this stunning European city for just 8,908 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per night.

Keep in mind that this search was made using a Chase Sapphire Reserve account, so it reflects the fact Reserve cardholders get 50 percent more value for their points when redeeming for travel.

screenshot of hotel search results

At this rate you could spend well over a week in this boutique hotel for less than 100,000 points. That would even leave you with enough leftover Chase points to pay for a foodie tour or a guided walking tour of the city.

screenshot of hotel search results and prices

Spend a week or longer in a luxury hotel in Europe

Maybe youre hoping for a luxury hotel stay somewhere fancy and worthy of an Instagram photo shoot. In that case, you could consider booking several nights at the five-star Grand Hyatt Berlin in Berlin, Germany. A one-night stay here with World of Hyatt points would only set you back 12,000 points for a standard room, so 100,000 points are enough for eight nights.

screenshot of hotel room options

This rate gets you a king bed with more than 400 square feet of space, free spa access, free mineral water, fresh apples and luxury Balmain bath products. You would also be within walking distance to the towns main attractions and all this fantastic German city has to offer.

Spend four or five nights at an all-inclusive resort

Also, remember that you can use various types of points to stay in all-inclusive resorts with various brands. For example, you could stay multiple nights at many all-inclusive properties in Cancun, Mexico, with the World of Hyatt program, including the Breathless Cancun Soul Resort & Spa, the Hyatt Zilara Cancun and Dreams Natura Resort and Spa.

screenshot of dreams sapphire and spa

Nightly rates at the Dreams Sapphire Resort and Spa with double occupancy even go as low as 17,000 points.

The Marriott Bonvoy program also has a ton of newly added all-inclusive resorts within their brand, including most Royalton properties. That makes them a good option if you have a Marriott credit card or have points to transfer from Amex or Chase Ultimate Rewards.

screenshot of planet Hollywood Cancun

However, youll need to fork over more points for free nights with Marriott Bonvoy than you would with Hyatt. As an example, you can book an award night at the Planet Hollywood Cancun all-inclusive resort for as little as 68,000 points with double occupancy.

Fly five people round-trip to the Caribbean

Finally, dont forget all the different ways you can maximize airline miles for flights almost anywhere. A good example comes from the American Airlines AAdvantage rewards program, which offers various web specials that can be booked to destinations around the globe.

While youll have to be flexible with your destinations and dates to find these deals, theyre fairly plentiful to some destinations, including those in the Caribbean.

screenshot of niles and final booking price

As an example, we found these round-trip flights from Indianapolis, Indiana, (IND) to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, (PUJ) for a departure of February 2024 for just 20,000 miles (plus $121.15 per person in taxes and fees).

The bottom line

There are all kinds of ways to get more bang for your buck when it comes to rewards, and thats true whether you have 100,000 points or 50,000 points to burn. Make sure to look at all your options before you book your next trip, and dont forget to check all the different ways you can use flexible points. With some research and planning, you can turn 100,000 points into an epic trip youll never forget.
A new bill aimed at regulating Bitcoin mining in Arkansas has been approved by both the House of Representatives and Senate and is now awaiting Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signature.

The Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2023 seeks to establish guidelines for Bitcoin miners and protect them from discriminatory regulations and taxes, guaranteeing that firms have the same rights as data centers.

Proposed on March 30 by Rep. Rick McClure and co-sponsored by Arkansas Senator Joshua Bryant (R), the bill quickly garnered support from state legislators.

The legislation acknowledges the economic value of data centers, recognizing that they "create jobs, pay taxes, and provide general economic value to local communities."

Arkansas to Lure Remote Tech Workers With Bitcoin and a Bike Sweetener

Data centers, digital currency, and blockchain technology are legal in all fifty (50) states; and guidance for future industry growth is needed in Arkansas to protect Arkansans from fraudulent business practices, reads the document.

While the bill mandates that crypto miners must pay applicable taxes and government fees using acceptable forms of currency and must operate in a way that does not strain the public electricity grid, it also specifies that the Arkansas government cannot impose unique requirements that are different from those imposed on data centers.

Discrimination against digital asset mining business [is] prohibited, states paragraph 14-1-505 of the bill.

The state of Arkansas has pulled off a surprise victory and become the first in the nation to pass the Right to Mine Bitcoin bill in both the House and Senate, Satoshi Act Fund CEO and co-founder Dennis Porter commented on the news.

The state of Arkansas has pulled off a surprise victory and become the first in the nation to pass the Right to Mine #Bitcoin bill in both the House and Senate. I hope to join @SarahHuckabee for the signing ceremony soon.  Dennis Porter (@Dennis_Porter_) April 8, 2023

The proposed bill also defines certain terms related to digital asset mining. For instance, "digital asset mining business" refers to a collection of computers located at a single site that consumes over one megawatt (1MW) of power on average per year to generate digital assets through blockchain network security.

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The legislation also seeks to protect individuals engaged in cryptocurrency mining from their homes, saying that an individual may utilize a node in this state for the purpose of operating home digital asset mining at the individual's residence according to applicable utility rules and rates.

The bill defines a "node" as a computational device that houses a copy of the blockchain-distributed ledger technology, while a "residence" is defined as a permanent dwelling place, unit, or accessory structure.

Furthermore, a person that is engaged in home digital asset mining or that has a digital asset mining business shall not be considered a money transmitter under the Uniform Money Services Act, reads the bill.

Its quite a different picture in Texas, where legislators are seeking to remove incentives for Bitcoin miners through Bill 1751. Last week, the bill was unanimously approved in a state Senate committee vote; however, lobbying groups opposing the legislation still hope it doesnt become a law.

As explained by Kristine Cranley, Director of Business Development at the Texas Blockchain Council, after being voted out of the Senate, the bill will proceed to the House and have to go through the same process there.

It does not at this point have a co-sponsor in the House. Even if it does get heard on the house floor, time is short for bills to make it through the entire process before the legislature adjourns on May 29, so there are many places along the way where it can get stalled, Cranley told Decrypt.

The Texas Blockchain Council is now focusing on contacting senators and asking them to register a no vote on the bill, and is urging others to reach out to their senators to request that they support a level playing field for all industries by voting no on this discriminatory bill, added Cranley.

A more significant decision was made by the State of New York in November 2022, when Governor Kathy Hochul approved the proof-of-work mining moratorium, which effectively prohibits cryptocurrency mining operations in the state for a period of two years.

Meanwhile, at the federal level, crypto miners may soon be liable for a 30% tax on their electricity expenses if President Biden's budget proposal, introduced on March 9, is enacted.
Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitget on Monday said it had launched a Web3 Fund with an initial investment of US$100 million to support the development of cryptocurrency projects. The announcement comes ahead of the Hong Kong Web3 Festival on April 12 to 15, focused on the namesake development of the next internet built around decentralized blockchain technology.

See related article: Chinese state-owned company launches crypto funds in Hong Kong

Fast facts

The Bitget Web3 Fund will explore projects globally, but prioritize partners in Asia with a clear roadmap and an experienced team, especially those projects that offer solutions to real-world problems, according to its press release.

Bitget said it received inquiries from venture capital companies, including Foresight Ventures, Dragonfly Capital and DAO Maker, for potential partnerships.

We can see that Web3 space is evolving rapidly and many projects deserve the support to further advance such development and make Web3 a truly global phenomenon, as Web2 had once become, said Bitgets managing director Gracy Chen in the release.

Bitget, established in 2018, is the fifth largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, according to CoinGecko. Unlike many other exchanges that announced layoffs during the slump in crypto prices last year, the exchange said in November that it will expand its workforce by 50% in the first quarter of 2023.

Hong Kong will introduce a licensing regime for crypto exchanges from June this year to clarify rules and regulations. Over 80 companies from overseas have expressed interest in establishing a Web3 company in Hong Kong, said Hong Kongs Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, in March.

See related article: Hong Kong to mandate stablecoin licensing as early as this year
When the November collapse of FTX, once the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, led to a plunge in virtual asset prices and shook the industry through a series of cascading business failures, some Web3 evangelists promised this was just growing pains for a blockchain-based future internet that extends far beyond digital currencies.

Then another bombshell came a couple of weeks later, when Maersk and IBM announced they were discontinuing the TradeLens blockchain network.

Supply chain and logistics management was supposed to be one of the more revolutionary use cases of blockchain outside cryptocurrencies - proof that the technology was more than just hype and speculation. The dissolution of TradeLens threw that narrative into doubt.

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.

Global Shipping Business Network CEO Bertrand Chen sees room for his organisation's blockchain platform to become standard in cross-border logistics since Maersk and IBM ended TradeLens. Photo: Handout alt=Global Shipping Business Network CEO Bertrand Chen sees room for his organisation's blockchain platform to become standard in cross-border logistics since Maersk and IBM ended TradeLens. Photo: Handout>

Hong Kong-based Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN) now operates the largest platform that could be described a TradeLens alternative, and it says that a blockchain-based future is still coming, it just might take another decade.

"I think for a lot of people, the clear understanding is this industry has digitised," GSBN CEO Bertrand Chen told the South China Morning Post in December, soon after TradeLens' closure. "There's just no way 10 years down the road in 2032, global trade is still using pen and paper. There's no way after Covid-19. It just cannot be."

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GSBN is a non-profit organisation with eight shareholders, each with equal voting rights on the governance of the blockchain. The members include the shipping companies Cosco, OOCL and Hapag-Lloyd, and five terminal operators - Hutchison Ports, SPG Qingdao Port, PSA International, Shanghai International Port Group and Cosco Shipping Ports.

Only Hapag-Lloyd and PSA International, which are German and Singaporean, respectively, are not based in mainland China or Hong Kong. With GSBN now operating the largest blockchain platform for collaboration in the shipping industry, the Web3 future of supply chains looks largely Chinese.

Chen said in an earlier interview in November that China was taking a lead in this area because it was pouring money into the industry, but he acknowledged that many of the solutions so far are highly specific to the country, creating links between provinces or blockchains that operate in a single location.

"When you throw so much money in one sector because it's a policy, you're bound potentially to be able to get lucky," Chen said. He added that China's investment in this area would benefit GSBN by creating more partners for the company to work with.

But GSBN also has global ambitions. Chen said the company is working to attract more European shipping lines and even hopes to get Maersk on board some day, although he acknowledged that "may be slightly challenging".

While GSBN is now the largest player, it is far from the only company trying to make blockchain happen in the industry. Some smaller data platforms like New Zealand-based TradeWindow use blockchain but have played down the technology's role in marketing materials. Several of the biggest names in logistics have touted their own blockchain solutions only to gain little traction.

DHL, Kerry Logistics, Deloitte, Kuehne + Nagel, Amazon, JD.com and Alibaba Group Holding, owner of the Post, have all used or deployed blockchain technology in the service of logistics in the past several years. Yet even as those still involved in similar projects say the Covid-19 pandemic catalysed adoption of the technology, many of these companies have little to say about their blockchain efforts in the past couple of years.

"If one company wants to do blockchain, it's almost impossible," Chen said. "Why do you need a blockchain as one company?"

Containers are unloaded from the Hapag-Lloyd container ship Chacabuco at the HHLA Container Terminal Altenwerder, on the River Elbe in Hamburg, Germany, on March 31, 2023. Hapag-Lloyd is so far the only carrier based outside Asia to join GSBN's blockchain. Photo: Reuters alt=Containers are unloaded from the Hapag-Lloyd container ship Chacabuco at the HHLA Container Terminal Altenwerder, on the River Elbe in Hamburg, Germany, on March 31, 2023. Hapag-Lloyd is so far the only carrier based outside Asia to join GSBN's blockchain. Photo: Reuters>

Many in the industry agree there are huge cost- and time-saving incentives to digitise documents and processes involved in moving freight across borders. But the industry is so fragmented that agreement on new technologies and standards can be elusive.

"When we're talking about trade documents, and the value proposition of reducing the volume of paper being used in paper transactions, there is certainly a cost saving benefit," said Goh Puay Guan, an associate professor of supply chain at the National University of Singapore Business School. "Of course the challenge is getting all companies on board, because only when you have an integrated platform then companies actually benefit from that integration."

For Chen and many others, the real failing of TradeLens was not the value proposition of blockchain but that it was seen as a product of Maersk, a potential competitor to other users of the platform.

"The fact that TradeLens was seeded by Maersk, from a business perspective, it was an impediment to growth," Chen said. "Because some of the customers that they need to court say, 'I don't trust Maersk'."

Chen added that he does not believe there was a real risk to user data, and there is no sign that Maersk used or could have used data on TradeLens for some competitive advantage. Still, many people have noted that this negative perception could have hurt adoption.

After the announcement of TradeLens' closure, people on LinkedIn and in other professional spheres chimed in on where they think the platform went wrong. Many agreed that the problem was not blockchain-specific.

In one LinkedIn post that gained widespread attention, David Ziyang Fan, head of digital trade at the World Economic Forum (WEF), said that building trust is difficult, but the trend of digitisation is irreversible.

"[The WEF has] always taken a quite balanced view of what blockchain can do for the industry. We're optimistic, but we're definitely not blockchain maximalists," Fan said in a video chat in December. "I feel like the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction ... 'Crypto winter' has directly or indirectly affected people's confidence about enterprise blockchain, especially blockchain in the trade and supply chain space."

One of the big questions that remains around blockchain is how much it is really needed in many of the applications to which it is applied. In a LinkedIn post in December, Chen wrote that "TradeLens Core (the visibility solution) ... did not require blockchain to work".

In fact, tracing goods has existed for decades through the use of technology like bar codes, which has further improved with the use of newer chips and sensors. And transparency has increased in recent years through a variety of custom cloud platforms.

Smart Warehousing, a domestic logistics solutions provider in the US that provides product tracking in its facilities, has so far avoided getting into blockchain because its proprietary platform Swims has proven flexible enough to solve its problems, executives say.

"There are global standards for bar codes. You would have to have a global standard put in place that this is how this information is going to be passed, and here's the formats it's going to be passed through," said Beth Ward, chief operations officer at Smart Warehousing.

This happened in the 1960s with shipping containers, when government bodies in the US and Europe forced sea freight giants to agree to set sizes for the massive boxes credited with accelerating globalisation in the latter half of the 20th century. In the 1980s, standards bodies established formats for electronic data interchange (EDI) documents, a way of sharing product information that is sometimes referred to as the precursor to e-commerce.

Even when blockchain is used to track data, companies often have their own ways of sharing the data itself, which is too large to be shared directly on a distributed ledger. Some of that data might even be in an EDI format.

The one killer application that seemingly everyone in the industry can agree might be a game-changer for blockchain in logistics is an electronic bill of lading (eBL), which has recently been gaining traction. The bill of lading is a critical document for proving receipt of goods. It remains mostly paper-based across the industry, with shippers requiring the original document to be able to transport goods.

"Because of Covid-19, because you have to change the process, I think this is one of the regular use cases of blockchain," Chen said. "Probably that's better than NFTs of digital art. NFTs of documents for global trade - this will be the real killer use case."

GSBN facilitated the first use of a blockchain-based eBL for bulk shipping in collaboration with Cosco in January. It was issued to Brazil-based paper pulp maker Eldorado. GSBN also signed a memorandum of understanding at the end of March with Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic), Cosco Shipping, Hutchison Ports and PSA International, with all agreeing to use eBLs in the future.

While eBLs have existed in some form since 1999, legal complexities and a lack of standardisation have slowed adoption. With other tools available for digitisation, blockchain could slowly be integrated into other processes in ways that make it less visible. This removes much of the hype around the technology, but it makes its use more practical and sustainable.

"In my view, blockchain has been and is still a tool in the tech stack for digitising trade," said the WEF's Fan. "It has always been that case."

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.
Many Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) insiders ditched their stock over the past year, which may be of interest to the company's shareholders. When analyzing insider transactions, it is usually more valuable to know whether insiders are buying versus knowing if they are selling, as the latter sends an ambiguous message. However, if numerous insiders are selling, shareholders should investigate more.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the Chairman of the Board & CEO, Giovanni Caforio, for US$18m worth of shares, at about US$74.65 per share. That means that an insider was selling shares at around the current price of US$70.74. We generally don't like to see insider selling, but the lower the sale price, the more it concerns us. We note that this sale took place at around the current price, so it isn't a major concern, though it's hardly a good sign.

Bristol-Myers Squibb insiders didn't buy any shares over the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

If you like to buy stocks that insiders are buying, rather than selling, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Insiders At Bristol-Myers Squibb Have Sold Stock Recently

The last quarter saw substantial insider selling of Bristol-Myers Squibb shares. In total, insiders sold US$19m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. In light of this it's hard to argue that all the insiders think that the shares are a bargain.

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Insider Ownership

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Insiders own 0.07% of Bristol-Myers Squibb shares, worth about US$100m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Do The Bristol-Myers Squibb Insider Transactions Indicate?

Insiders sold Bristol-Myers Squibb shares recently, but they didn't buy any. Looking to the last twelve months, our data doesn't show any insider buying. While insiders do own shares, they don't own a heap, and they have been selling. We'd practice some caution before buying! While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. To assist with this, we've discovered 3 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

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



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Brunswick Corporation

METTAWA, Ill., April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), the worlds largest recreational marine technology company, announced today that effective the first quarter of 2023, it has updated its reportable segments from three segments to four - Propulsion, Engine Parts & Accessories, Navico Group and Boat. The Companys previous Parts & Accessories reportable segment will now be split into Engine Parts & Accessories and Navico Group.

The Navico Group segment now represents the organizational integration between the legacy Advanced Systems Group business with two key acquisitions that were completed in late 2021 - Navico and RELiON. The Engine Parts & Accessories segment consists of Mercury Marine and Quicksilver engine parts and consumables such as oils and lubricants, electrical products, boat parts and systems and the Companys distribution businesses (Land N Sea, BLA, and Lankhorst Taselaar).

With the continued integration of the Navico business and the significant restructuring actions already completed in early 2023, we feel the decision to change our reportable segments will give our stakeholders better visibility into our Company and more closely align with our internal operating structure, said Dave Foulkes, Brunswick Corporation CEO.

Management will discuss the segment change during the Companys first quarter earnings call on April 27, 2023, at 10:00am CST. Details about the call can be found at Brunswick.com and in this release.

Selected restated segment financial data reflecting the segment change for the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, the three months ended April 2, 2022, the three and six months ended July 2, 2022, the three and nine months ended October 1, 2022, and the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, is included in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed concurrently with this release.

First Quarter Earnings Call Scheduled for April 27

Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) will release its first quarter 2023 financial results on Thursday, April 27, 2023 before the market opens by way of an advisory release, notifying the public that the complete and full-text results will be available on the Companys website at https://ir.brunswick.com . The results will also be available on the SECs website with the Form 8-K filing of the release at http://goo.gl/wJQN1 .

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The Company will hold a conference call at 10 a.m. CST/ 11 a.m. EST, Thursday, April 27, 2023, hosted by David M. Foulkes, chief executive officer, Ryan M. Gwillim, executive vice president and chief financial officer and Neha Clark, senior vice president, enterprise finance. A copy of the presentation to be used on this call will be available when the results are released as noted above.

Security analysts and investors wishing to participate via telephone should call 877-900-9524 (No Password Needed). Callers outside of North America should call 412-902-0029 (No Password Needed) to be connected. These numbers can be accessed 15 minutes before the call begins, as well as during the call.

To listen via the Internet, go to www.brunswick.com/investors . Please go to the website at least 15 minutes before the call to register, download and install any needed audio software.

A replay of the conference call will be available through 1pm CST Thursday May 4, 2023, by calling 877-660-6853 or 201-612-7415 (Access ID: 13737688). The replay also will be available at www.brunswick.com/investors .

About Brunswick Corporation:

Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) is the global leader in marine recreation, delivering innovation that transforms experiences on the water and beyond. Our unique, technology-driven solutions are informed and inspired by deep consumer insights and powered by our belief that Next Never Rests. Brunswick is dedicated to industry leadership, to being the best and most trusted partner to our many customers, and to building synergies and ecosystems that enable us to challenge convention and define the future. Brunswick is home to more than 60 industry-leading brands. In the category of Marine Propulsion, these brands include, Mercury Marine, Mercury Racing and MerCruiser. Brunswicks comprehensive collection of parts, accessories, distribution, and technology brands includes Mercury Parts & Accessories, Land N Sea, Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, Mastervolt, RELiON, Attwood and Whale. Our boat brands are some of the best known in the world, including Boston Whaler, Lund, Sea Ray, Bayliner, Harris Pontoons, Princecraft and Quicksilver. Our service, digital and shared-access businesses include Freedom Boat Club, Boateka and a range of financing, insurance, and extended warranty businesses. While focused primarily on the marine industry, Brunswick also successfully leverages its portfolio of advanced technologies to deliver an exceptional suite of solutions in mobile and industrial applications. Headquartered in Mettawa, IL, Brunswick has more than 18,500 employees operating in 29 countries. In 2022, Brunswick was named by Forbes as a Worlds Best Employer and as one of Americas Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek, both for the third consecutive year. For more information, visit www.Brunswick.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about Brunswicks business and by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Words such as may, could, should, expect, "anticipate," "project," "position," intend, target, plan, seek, estimate, believe, predict, outlook, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations as of the date of this news release. These risks include, but are not limited to: the effect of adverse general economic conditions, including the amount of disposable income consumers have available for discretionary spending; changes in currency exchange rates; fiscal and monetary policy changes; higher energy and fuel costs; competitive pricing pressures; adverse capital market conditions; actual or anticipated increases in costs, disruptions of supply, or defects in raw materials, parts, or components we purchase from third parties; supplier manufacturing constraints, increased demand for shipping carriers, and transportation disruptions; managing our manufacturing footprint; international business risks, geopolitical tensions or conflicts, sanctions, embargoes, or other regulations; public health emergencies or pandemics, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; adverse weather conditions, climate change events and other catastrophic event risks; our ability to develop new and innovative products and services at a competitive price; loss of key customers; our ability to meet demand in a rapidly changing environment; absorbing fixed costs in production; risks associated with joint ventures that do not operate solely for our benefit; our ability to integrate acquisitions, including Navico, and the risk for associated disruption to our business; our ability to successfully implement our strategic plan and growth initiatives; attracting and retaining skilled labor, implementing succession plans for key leadership, and executing organizational and leadership changes; our ability to identify, complete, and integrate targeted acquisitions; the risk that restructuring or strategic divestitures will not provide business benefits; maintaining effective distribution; dealers and customers being able to access adequate financing; requirements for us to repurchase inventory; inventory reductions by dealers, retailers, or independent boat builders; risks related to the Freedom Boat Club franchise business model; outages, breaches, or other cybersecurity events regarding our technology systems, which could affect manufacturing and business operations and could result in lost or stolen information and associated remediation costs; our ability to protect our brands and intellectual property; changes to U.S. trade policy and tariffs; any impairment to the value of goodwill and other assets; product liability, warranty, and other claims risks; legal, environmental, and other regulatory compliance, including increased costs, fines, and reputational risks; changes in income tax legislation or enforcement; managing our share repurchases; and risks associated with certain divisive shareholder activist actions.

Additional risk factors are included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2022 and in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Brunswick does not undertake any obligation to update them to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release.

CONTACT: Lee Gordon  Vice President  Corporate Communications, Public Relations & Public Affairs M: (904) 860-8848 | O: (847) 735-4003




Bunge Ltd (NYSE: BG), through its Bunge Loders Croklaan JV with IOI Corporation Berhad, entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with Fuji Oil New Orleans LLC to acquire its port-based refinery in Louisiana. The financial details were not disclosed.

The newly constructed refinery is located in IMTT's (International-Matex Tank Terminals) Avondale Terminal, Louisiana.

The facility has multi-oil refining capabilities, enabling Bunge to expand its existing customer base.

The acquisition will provide Bunge with a scalable, complementary port-based footprint that connects North American food, feed, and fuel customers to global markets.

Bunge will serve customers with the newly acquired capacity starting in the second quarter 2023.

"This acquisition delivers on our long-term strategy to expand our value-added oils business by accelerating reach across North America," said Aaron Buettner, Bunge's President, Food Solutions.

The company held $1.1 billion in cash and equivalents as of Dec. 31, 2022.

Price Action: BG shares closed higher by 0.24% at $92.46 on Thursday.

Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better.

This article Bunge Acquires Fuji Oil's Louisiana Refinery For Undisclosed Sum originally appeared on Benzinga.com

.

 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH PRIVATE LIMITED

Cable Management Market is segmented based on Type and End-Users. Bottom -Up approach was used to estimate the Cable Management market size. Technological Advancement is expected to boost market growth.

Pune, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maximize Market research, a global Energy & Power market research firm, has published competitive intelligence and market research report on  Cable Management Market . The Cable Management market size was valued at USD 23.30 Bn in 2022. The total Cable Management Market revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.87 percent from 2023 to 2029, reaching USD 39.6 Bn during the forecast period.



Market Size in 2022 USD 23.30 Bn Market Size in 2029 USD 39.6 Bn CAGR 7.87 percent (2023-2029) Forecast Period 2023-2029 Base Year 2022 Number of Pages 270 No. of Tables 127 No. of Charts and Figures 129 Segment Covered By Type and End-Users 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/183607

Cable Management Market Scope and Research Methodology

The report includes a detailed analysis of the Cable Management Market by local, regional, and global presence along with the market size and estimations over the forecast period. Analysis was conducted for a better understanding of Cable Management Market penetration, competitive structure , pricing, and demand analysis.

Major players in the market are included in the report based on the revenue generated, financial conditions, social media presence, and recent developments in the Cable Management market. SWOT and PESTLE analysis tools were used for a better understanding of strengths, weaknesses, and new opportunities in the Cable Management market. The bottom-up approach was used for Cable Management market estimation, which was validated by segments. . Primary research was conducted to verify the resulted derived from the research on the Cable Management Market.

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Cable Management Market Overview

Cable Management is the management of electrical or optical cable in a cabinet . Cables can be easily tangled and can be unplugged as one attempts to move a cable accidentally. Cable management supports and makes subsequent maintenance of the cable system easier. Color-coding of cables is used to keep track on wires.

Get a Sample Copy of the Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/183607

Technological advancement and commercialization of renewable energy is expected to influence the Cable Management Market growth

Development in telecommunication, infrastructure, and need for maintenance of technology significantly contributes to the growth of Cable Management Market. Focus on the development of new products from the manufacturer for the improvement of system beyond the origins is expected to fuel the market growth. Initiative are taken by the companies for the management of solar energy and hydroelectric power generation.

There is demand for high-speed connectivity, large bandwidth, and centralization of data due to advancement in technology. Awareness among the public has increased and helps for the growth of Cable management. Cable management is effective in universal enclosure ranges to make easy access for the operators. Shift towards robotic cable management with advancement presents a lucrative opportunity for the Cable Management Market. Benefits of cable management are reduces time, limits interferences, and protect cables from damages.

Fluctuations in the price of raw material with wide distribution of raw material suppliers is expected to restrain the Cable Management market growth.

Asia Pacific region is expected to boost the Cable Management Market growth

Investments in infrastructure and construction industry in region is expected to boost the regional economy. India, China, and Russia are the developing countries in the region to contribute significantly in the market growth. Development in the region makes key players to invest in the market. Industrialization in the region is expected to drive the Cable Management market growth in the region.

European and North America region is expected to influence the market growth. Adoption of management system for the tracking of data and power cables in IT sector is expected to fuel the Cable Management market growth. Lifestyle and living standard has increased in the region in residential as well as commercial sectors.

Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-customization/183607

Cable Management Market Segmentation

Based on type, Cable Conduits segment is expected to boost the Cable Management market growth

Conduits is a group of tubes to protect electrical wires in buildings and other infrastructure. It also protects from environmental hazards and factors like moisture, and vapors.50 percent of manufacturers in America use steel conduits. Cable trays are used for the distribution of power and communication. These cable are flexible with technological awareness and innovation.

Based on End- Users, IT & Telecommunication segment expected to influence the Cable Management market growth

Cable management is important in ICT for the placement of data and power cables with security and benefits. Metallic and Non-Metallic cable trays are used in Construction segment as it is long lasting, compatible, and flexible.

By Type:

Cable Trays

Cable Raceways

Cable conduits

Cable connectors and glands

Cable Carriers

Cable lugs

Cable junction box



By End-User

IT & Telecommunication

Construction

Healthcare

Energy

Manufacturing & automation industry

Marine industry

Mining Industry



Get the Sample PDF of the Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/183607

Cable Management Market Key Players Include:

Eaton

ABB Limited

Schneider Electric SE

Hellermanntyton (Aptiv)

Atkore International

Chatsworth Products

Nexan

Leviton Manufacturing Co.

PANDUIT

PRYSMIAN GROUP

Enduro Composites Inc.

Houston Wire & Cable Company

Legrand

Enduro Composites Inc

Kalister

Ascend

Kalister:

Kalister is a leading manufacturer of Cable management systems with high-quality products to be used in electrical industry. KALISTER Offers a comprehensive range of electrical products such as UPVC Conduit. ALISTER began as a Cable Management System Manufacturer in the Middle East.

Legrand:

In Legrand, cable management system helps Routing, rerouting, and branching out cables in different directions. Protect cables from heat and abrasion. The total annual revenue of the company in 2022 was USD 8.786 Bn.

Key questions answered in the Cable Management Market are:

What is Cable Management?

What was the Cable Management market size in 2021?

What is the forecast period of the Cable Management market?

What will be the Cable Management market size by 2029?

What is the growth rate of the Cable Management Market?

Which factors are expected to influence the Cable Management Market growth?

What factors are expected to hamper the Cable Management Market growth?

Which segment dominated the Cable Management Market growth?

What is the demand pattern for the Cable Management market?

Which region held the largest share in the Cable Management market?

Who are the key players in the Cable Management 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 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 Energy & Power research firm, has also published the following reports:

Cable Management System Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 36.57 Bn by 2029, at a CAGR of 8.15 percent over the forecast period. Growing construction with underground wiring is expected to boost market growth.

Ethernet Cable Market : The market size was valued at USD 11.11 Bn in 2021 and the total revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.5 percent through 2021 to 2029, reaching USD 30.60 Bn. Higher speed and lower latency with greater reliability is expected to fuel the market growth.

Cable Management Accessories Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 3.73 Bn by 2029 with a CAGR of 6.81 percent during the forecast period. Demand for Cable Management Accessories in Aerospace and IT Sectors is expected to boost market growth.

Submarine Cable System Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 33.33 Bn over the forecast period and it is expected to grow at the CAGR of 11.2 percent. Increasing number deployment of high-capacity communication systems is expected to boost the market growth.

Submarine Power Cable Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 31.75 Bn by 2029 with a CAGR of 7.5 percent, during the forecast period. Growth of the submarine power cable power to offshore oil & gas platforms and offshore ocean laboratories is expected to boost 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




Fortune Business Insights

Key Companies covered in cashmere clothing market are Burberry Group plc. (U.K.), Brunello Cucinelli S.p.A. (Italy), Ermenegildo Zegna Holditalia S.p.A. (Italy), Herms International S.A. (France), LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (France), White + Warren (U.S.), NakedCashmere (U.S.), Autumn Cashmere Inc. (U.S.), Huzhou Zhenbei Cashmere Products Co. Ltd. (China), Kering S.A. (France), and more players profiled.

Pune, India, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global cashmere clothing market share was valued at USD 3.20 Billion in 2022 and is expected to be worth USD 3.33 Billion in 2023. The industry is projected to be valued at USD 4.44 Billion by 2030, recording a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period.

Cashmere is one of the most luxurious types of wool. This type of wool grows best during the cold season, and countries, such as China and Mongolia are the main manufacturers of this wool, having a combined share of nearly 90%. Since clothes made from cashmere are incredibly soft, insulating, and warm, they are quite desirable for winter wear clothing. Cashmere clothing is much warmer and lighter than those made from sheeps wool. According to data by the Gobi Group Holding, China was one of the leading producers of cashmere cloths in 2021 and is expected to hold a leading share in the forecast period.

Fortune Business Insights presents this information in a report titled, "Global Cashmere Clothing Market, 2023-2030."

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List of Key Players Profiled in the Cashmere Clothing Market Report:

Burberry Group plc. (U.K.)

Brunello Cucinelli S.p.A. (Italy)

Ermenegildo Zegna Holditalia S.p.A. (Italy)

Herms International S.A. (France)

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (France)

White + Warren (U.S.)

NakedCashmere (U.S.)

Autumn Cashmere Inc. (U.S.)

Huzhou Zhenbei Cashmere Products Co. Ltd. (China)

Kering S.A. (France)

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Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 4.2% 2030 Value Projection USD 4.44 Billion Market Size in 2022 USD 3.20 Billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 227 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Product

By Demography

By Distribution Channel

By Region Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa Cashmere Clothing Market Growth Drivers Rising Inclination toward Casual Wear to Expand Cashmere Clothing Market Size Limited Supply of Raw Materials and Costly Production Processes May Restrain Market Development

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/cashmere-clothing-market-107398

Segmentation:

Regions with Colder Climate to Fuel Demand for Sweaters & Coats

Based on product, the cashmere clothing market is divided into sweaters & coats, bottom wear, shirts & t-shirts, and others. Cashmere sweaters & coats held the largest market share and will grow at a steady CAGR during the forecast timeframe. Cashmere fibers are a suitable fabric for making different types of clothing, such as sweaters, coats, and cardigans. Cashmere sweaters are the most preferred thermal wear, specifically in Europe and North America, due to extremely cold weather, thereby helping the cashmere clothing market share grow.

Designers of cashmere sweaters and coats are creating new product lines of more formal and casual office wear to cater to the diverse clothing needs of working professionals. For instance, in October 2022, Extreme Cashmere, a brand that manufactures all-season cashmere apparel collections, introduced its new exhibition called Extreme Cashmere Edition 21. The exhibition features garments that ease movement and offer comfort. Such product launches will expand the cashmere clothing market size.

Need for Variety in Garments to Fuel Demand for Cashmere Clothing for Women

In terms of demography, the market is divided into men, women, and kids' cashmere clothing. The women segment has the highest market share as many reputed companies are offering a wide variety of cashmere products for women. Women need a vast variety of designs and garment choices to suit their daily requirements with respect to formal and non-formal clothing. Manufacturers are introducing a wide range of patterns and designs in sweaters & coats, bottom wear, and cashmere accessories, such as gloves for women, further enhancing the market outlook.

Possibility to Check Product Authenticity to Fuel Preference for Offline Distribution Channels

Based on the distribution channel, the market is segmented into online and offline. The offline segment will have a larger share in the market as cashmere clothes are a luxury product. Consumers prefer offline distribution channels, which includes luxury brand stores, supermarket/hypermarket, and retail stores, to physically inspect the products quality and authenticity. The availability of low-quality clothing made from low-quality cashmere wool can prompt customers to shop from offline stores.

COVID-19 Impact:

Market Witnessed Major Decrease in Demand during COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 outbreak significantly impacted the global economy and various industries. The spread of the virus also prompted governments across the world to impose lockdowns and other movement restrictions. These restrictions caused manufacturers to shut down their factories and supply chain disruptions as borders were closed for travel and transportation, except for essential goods. The pandemic also created financial instability, causing a shift in consumer demand from luxury products to essential commodities. This resulted in a steep decline in the cashmere clothing market growth.

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Report Coverage:

The global cashmere clothing market report makes an in-depth analysis of the market and highlights various critical factors, such as prominent companies, competitive landscape, share analysis, products, distribution channels, and demographics. The report also offers valuable insights into recent market trends and focuses on significant market developments. The report also covers several other factors contributing to the market's growth.

Drivers and Restraints:

Rising Inclination toward Casual Wear to Expand Cashmere Clothing Market Size

The fashion industry is witnessing a massive growth in the demand for formal and casual ear due to large-scale urbanization. Casual wear has gained notable traction across organizations, thereby driving the demand for cashmere garments. The wool has a wide range of beneficial features, such as being lightweight, warm, fine, and smooth, making the clothes highly comfortable.

Costly Production Processes and Limited Supply of Raw Materials May Restrain Market Development

According to data by the United Nations and the Government of Mongolia, cashmere wool is considered a precious fiber, and the population of cashmere goats is quite scarce across the world. In fact, cashmere wool represents just 0.5% of the global wool production. This factor, along with the expensive production of cashmere yarns will restrict the market progress during the analysis period.

Regional Insights:

Europe to Hold Large Market Share Due to Vast Presence of Cashmere Clothing Manufacturers

The global cashmere clothing market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and Middle East & Africa. Europe dominated the market and is expected to record notable CAGR during the forecast period. A large percentage of manufacturers with larger market share have established their presence in Europe, followed by North America. The U.S. has a larger share in the region as the disposable income of customers is rising at a commendable rate every year, and there is a robust demand for luxury apparel.

Germany, France, and Italy are some of the largest consumers of cashmere clothing in Europe. The high demand for cashmere products including coats and jackets in countries, such as Australia, India, the UAE, and China shall further boost the market progress in Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa. Furthermore, the rising production of cashmere bottom wear in the South American region will fuel the market growth during the forecast timeframe.

Competitive Landscape:

Key companies in the global cashmere clothing market are bringing innovations to their existing product lines and trying to expand their presence across various regions. They are also launching different stores to cater to the growing product demand. For instance, in September 2022, Naadam opened its new store in Georgetown that had a lineup of sweaters, hoodies, sleepwear, outerwear, and other accessories made from cashmere wool.

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Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Market Trends

Key Insights Overview of the Luxury Clothing Markets Supply Chain and Regulatory Landscape Industry SWOT Analysis Recent Industry Developments - Policies, Partnerships, New Demography Launches, and Mergers & Acquisitions Impact of COVID on the Cashmere Clothing Market Impact of COVID-19 Supply Chain Challenges Potential Opportunities due to COVID-19

Global Cashmere Clothing Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Product (Value) Sweaters and Coats Bottom Wear Shirts and T-shirts Others By Demography (Value) Men Women Kids By Distribution Channel (Value) Online Offline By Region (Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued...!

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Notable Industry Development:

September 2022 - American supermodel Gigi Hadid launched her new cashmere clothing label guest in residence. The clothing line includes sweaters, slim-fit joggers, hoodies, tanks, scarves, beanies, and others. These products come in different colors, such as bubble-gum pink, turmeric yellow, and cherry red.

Read Related Insights:

Luxury Goods Market Size to Reach US$ 352.84 Billion by 2027 | CAGR of 4.6%

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While markets are up this year, by almost 8% on the S&P 500 and more than 15% on the NASDAQ, they remain volatile  and they have yet to recoup all of last years losses. The result is an uncertain market environment, one that investors are not quite sure they can trust, even as they want to buy in. Whats needed here is a reliable tool to find the upwardly mobile stocks, the ones that are primed to win, and to keep winning, in the coming months. Thats where the Smart Score comes in. Based on t
By selling US$140m worth of The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) stock at an average sell price of US$74.88 over the last year, insiders seemed to have made the most of their holdings. The company's market worth decreased by US$4.0b over the past week after the stock price dropped 4.3%, although insiders were able to minimize their losses

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

See our latest analysis for Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The Founder & Co-Chairman, Charles Schwab, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$25m worth of shares at a price of US$80.10 each. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. The silver lining is that this sell-down took place above the latest price (US$49.35). So it is hard to draw any strong conclusion from it.

Happily, we note that in the last year insiders paid US$17m for 275.84k shares. But they sold 1.87m shares for US$140m. Over the last year we saw more insider selling of Charles Schwab shares, than buying. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

I will like Charles Schwab better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Charles Schwab Insiders Are Selling The Stock

There was substantially more insider selling, than buying, of Charles Schwab shares over the last three months. In that time, insiders dumped US$49m worth of shares. On the flip side, insiders spent US$7.9m on purchasing shares. Since the selling really does outweigh the buying, we'd say that these transactions may suggest that some insiders feel the company has been fully valued in recent months.

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Does Charles Schwab Boast High Insider Ownership?

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Charles Schwab insiders own about US$5.5b worth of shares (which is 6.2% of the company). I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders.

So What Do The Charles Schwab Insider Transactions Indicate?

The stark truth for Charles Schwab is that there has been more insider selling than insider buying in the last three months. Despite some insider buying, the longer term picture doesn't make us feel much more positive. But since Charles Schwab is profitable and growing, we're not too worried by this. It is good to see high insider ownership, but the insider selling leaves us cautious. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Charles Schwab you should know about.

But note: Charles Schwab may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

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



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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(Bloomberg) -- Chinese shares related to artificial intelligence plunged after a state media outlet urged authorities to step up supervision of potential speculation.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The ChatGPT concept sector has signs of a valuation bubble, with many companies having made little progress in developing the technology, the Economic Daily wrote in a commentary Monday.

Regulators should strengthen monitoring and crackdown on share-price manipulation and speculation to create a well-disclosed and well-run market, according to the newspaper, which runs a website officially recognized by Beijing. Companies, it said, should develop the capabilities they propose, while investors should refrain from speculating.

CloudWalk Technology Co. tumbled a record 20%, while 360 Security Technology Inc. dropped by 10%, the most in three years. Beijing Haitian Ruisheng Science Technology Ltd. sank 15%. Baidu Inc. dropped 3.5% in New York trading.

Since the release of ChatGPT, Chinese shares related to the technology have surged, with domestic big techs joining the race to develop generative AI. SenseTime Group Inc. last Tuesday rose the most in two months in Hong Kong amid speculation that the SoftBank Group Corp.-backed company was developing a product to challenge ChatGPT. Shares of Alibaba suppliers also jumped on reports that the tech giant will unveil its answer to ChatGPT.

Generative AI is the hottest trend now and many tech companies will be launching their own versions in the coming months, said Vey-Sern Ling, managing director at Union Bancaire Privee. While valuations may rise to such news, the actual financial impact to these companies may be difficult to gauge at this juncture, and may lead to disappointment eventually.

Story continues

(Adds Baidu share move in fourth paragraph)

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FILE - State Sen. Aisha Wahab listens to speakers during a news conference where she proposed SB 403, a bill that adds caste as a protected category in the state's anti-discrimination laws, in Sacramento, Calif., March 22, 2023. The California Civil Rights Department has voluntarily dismissed its case alleging caste discrimination against two Cisco engineers Thursday, April 6, while still keeping alive its litigation against the tech company. California's lawsuit against Cisco has fueled a movement in the United States against caste discrimination and has opened up conversations about caste bias in the tech sector. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Villegas, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The California Civil Rights Department has voluntarily dismissed its case alleging caste discrimination against two Cisco engineers, while still keeping alive its litigation against the Silicon Valley tech giant.

The two Cisco supervisors, Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella, were accused in the departments lawsuit of discriminating and harassing an employee on the basis of caste  a division of people based on birth or descent. That case was dismissed by an order of the Santa Clara Superior County Court last week. The employee belonged to the Dalit community, a group that is at the bottom rung of the caste system which took root and evolved in India and elsewhere in the subcontinent.

The Civil Rights Department sent a statement to The Associated Press on Monday saying the case against Cisco "remains ongoing.

We will continue to vigorously litigate the matter on behalf of the people of California, it said, adding that it remains committed to securing relief and ensuring company wide, corrective action.

A Cisco spokesperson declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

Californias lawsuit against Cisco, filed in July 2020, alleges that the Dalit engineer received less pay and fewer opportunities and that the defendants retaliated against him when he opposed unlawful practices, contrary to the traditional order between the Dalit and higher castes." The engineer worked on a team at Ciscos San Jose headquarters with Indians who all immigrated to the U.S. as adults, and all of whom were of high caste, the lawsuit stated.

The caste system in India and other South Asian countries, as well as the diaspora, places Dalits at the bottom of a social hierarchy. In 1948, a year after independence from British rule, India banned discrimination on the basis of caste, a law that became enshrined in the nations constitution in 1950.

The lawsuit against Cisco and its engineers fueled a movement against caste discrimination led by groups such as Oakland, California-based Equality Labs. This lawsuit has also been named in groundbreaking actions including the first-in-the-nation ordinance passed by the Seattle City Council in February to include caste in its anti-discrimination laws. Last month, California State Sen. Aisha Wahab proposed a bill, which if it passes, could make the state the first in the nation to outlaw caste-based bias.

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The South Asian community has been sharply divided on this issue. Some groups such as Hindus for Human Rights and Hindus for Caste Equity say such a safeguard is necessary to protect vulnerable community members from caste-based discrimination in housing education and the tech sector where many hold key roles. Advocates and other groups say caste discrimination is pervasive in several South Asian communities and the diaspora, across religious lines.

However, other organizations such as the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus of North America oppose such policies arguing that they will specifically target Hindus and Indian Americans who are commonly associated with the caste system. These groups also maintain that there is no clear data to show that such discrimination exists, and that caste is covered under national origin making it unnecessary to carve out a separate protected category.

The Civil Rights Department voluntarily dismissing its case against the two engineers is a vindication for activists who have held the position that the state has no right to attribute wrongdoing to Hindu and Indian Americans simply because of their religion or ethnicity, said Suhag Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation.

Two Indian Americans endured a nearly three year nightmare of unending investigations, a brutal online witch hunt and a presumption of guilt in the media, she said.

Thenmozhi Soundararajan, founder and executive director of Equality Labs, a Dalit-led advocacy group, said last weeks action does not change anything including the fact that the Cisco case has given so many Dalits the courage to come forward with their stories about caste discrimination in education, the medical and tech industries.

This is not a loss, but progress, she said. The Dalit community owes (the engineer) and the Civil Rights Department gratitude for having the courage to bring such a historic case forward.

A mediation conference between Cisco and the California Civil Rights Department has been set for May 2.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Company Logo

Dublin, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Courier, Express and Parcel Services (Other than national postal services) in South Africa 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Courier, Express and Parcel Services Industry



The courier, express and parcel services industry faces weak economic conditions and low business and consumer confidence, affecting the volume of goods requiring express delivery. It is benefitting from the development of the on-demand economy and ecommerce sales, increasing demand for just-in-time deliveries and from the poor service provided by the South African Post Office.

Increasing customer demand for speedy and flexible deliveries and the growth of disruptive startups and innovative delivery options are forcing traditional operators to review their distribution strategies and, in some cases, partner with or invest in new companies to provide innovative and alternative delivery options.



Key Trends



Ecommerce revenue growth is set to accelerate, including consumer-to-consumer transactions online.

Companies are developing value-added services such as setting up and installing equipment being delivered and increasing delivery options. CEP companies are offering shared warehousing, technology and services to smaller ecommerce entities, opening up more opportunities and enhancing job creation and skills development.



Crime



Road transportation is the main modality for moving goods in South Africa and to other countries in the region. The rate of violent crime against road freight trucks is high and industry participants have raised concern over the rise in thefts targeting scooters and courier vehicles. There have been reports of an upsurge in robberies and violent crimes against ecommerce delivery staff. Theft of delivery vehicles raises insurance costs and endangers the safety of delivery personnel, resulting in higher shipping costs.



Report Coverage



This report covers courier, express and parcel services offered by registered unreserved postal operators in terms of the Postal Services Act, excluding reserved national postal activities carried out by the Post Office. It includes information on the state of the sector, parcel freight and transport income, the growth in ecommerce, major players, corporate actions, developments. And influencing factors. There are profiles of 24 companies including PostNet, RAM, Takealot, Value Logistics, DHL, DSV, Aramex and Courier Guy.





Key Topics Covered:



1. INTRODUCTION



2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY

2.1. Industry Value Chain

2.2. Geographic Position

2.3. Size of the Industry



3. LOCAL

3.1. State of the Industry

3.2. Key Trends

3.3. Key Issues

3.4. Notable Players

3.5. Corporate Actions

3.6. Regulations

3.7. Enterprise Development and Social Development



4. AFRICA



5. INTERNATIONAL



6. INFLUENCING FACTORS

6.1. Unforeseen Events

6.2. Economic Environment

6.3. Labour

6.4. Safety and Security

6.5. Environmental Issues

6.6. Road conditions and infrastructure

6.7. Technology, R&D, Innovation

6.8. Alternative delivery methods

6.9. Digital Communications and ecommerce

6.10. Government Support

6.11. Rising Input Costs

6.12. Cyclicality



7. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT

7.1. Competition

7.2. Ownership Structure of the Industry

7.3. Barriers to Entry



8. SWOT ANALYSIS



9. OUTLOOK



10. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS



11. REFERENCES

11.1. Publications

11.2. Websites



APPENDIX

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Companies Mentioned

Ackermans Zambia (Pty) Ltd

Amber Support Solutions Ltd

Aramex South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Axis Cleaning and Support Services Ltd

Axis Group Integrated Services Ltd

Axis Security Services Ltd

B.I.C. Services Pty Ltd

Bidvest Group (UK) PLC (The)

Bidvest Group Australia Pty Ltd (The)

Bidvest Noonan (ROI) Ltd

Bidvest Noonan (UK) Ltd

Bidvest Services (ROI) Ltd

Bidvest Services (UK) Ltd

Bidvest Services Group (UK) Ltd

Business Express of South Africa (Pty) Ltd

CB Enterprises (Pty) Ltd

CLM Safety Ltd

Cordant Cleaning Ltd

Cordant Security Ltd

Cordant Thistle Ltd

Courier Guy (Pty) Ltd (The)

Crane Midco (Guernsey) Ltd

Crane Midco Ltd

Dartry Laundry Ltd

DHL International (Pty) Ltd

Direct365Online Ltd

DPD Laser Express Logistics (Pty) Ltd

DSV South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Epsilon Test Services Ltd

FedEx Express South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Freight Innovations (Pty) Ltd

Future Carpet Cleaning Services Ltd

Future Cleaning (Southwest) Ltd

Future Cleaning Services Ltd

Groupair (S A) (Pty) Ltd

Hygiene Matters Ltd

Imperial Amazonia BV

Imperial Health Sciences GH Ltd

Imperial Health Sciences Kenya Ltd

Internet Express (Pty) Ltd

Isicabucabu Franchising (Pty) Ltd

Karmarton Ltd

L. Lynch (H20) Solutions Ltd

L.Lynch Interact Ltd

Laser Group (Pty) Ltd (The)

LPM Acquisitions Ltd

Mayflower Hygiene Supplies (Ireland) Ltd

Mayflower Hygiene Supplies (London) Ltd

Mfumu Clothing (Pty) Ltd

Noonan Services Group (NI) Ltd

Noonan Topco Ltd

Pargopoints (Pty) Ltd

Pep Africa Ltd

Pep Ltd

Pep Stores Uganda Ltd

Personnel Hygiene Services Ltd

PHS Bidco Ltd

PHS Compliance Ltd

PHS Group Ltd

PHS Holdings Ltd

PHS Investments Ltd

phs Serkonten SAU

PHS Services Ltd

PHS Washrooms Ltd

PHS Western Ltd

Postnet Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd

Ram Transport (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd

Resource Support Services (IOM) Ltd

RTT Group (Pty) Ltd

Seebeck 133 Ltd

Skynet South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Southgate Courier Service CC

Suid-Afrikaanse Poskantoor SOC Ltd

Super Group Trading (Pty) Ltd

Takealot Online (RF) (Pty) Ltd

Tax Free Warehouse (Pty) Ltd (The)

Teacrate Ltd

Teacrate Rentals Ltd

TNT Express Worldwide (S A) (Pty) Ltd

UPS SCS South Africa (Pty) Ltd

USSL Ltd

Value Logistics (Pty) Ltd

Worldwide Commercial Ventures Ltd

Worldwide Healthcare Ltd





For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/u4x7hl

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




This partnership kicks off the brand's monthly gift with purchase deals to offer even more value to customers.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- David's Bridal, the nation's leading bridal and special occasion authority, announces a new partnership for the month of April. Now through April 30, customers can enjoy a special gift with purchase to innovative California-based social tech apparel brand California Cowboy.

Davids Bridal Announces Exclusive Gift With Purchase Deal with California Cowboy.

California Cowboy is revolutionizing the way customers think about apparel. The brand is grounded in a "human centered design" philosophy bringing a technical approach to lifestyle apparel with a focus on enhancing social connection. Their mission to inspire meaningful human connections by helping to bring out the extrovert in everyone runs parallel to David's Bridal's brand ethos of always being in service to their customers for all of life's magical moments.

Throughout the entire month of April, David's Bridal customers who purchase any dress will receive an exclusive promotion of $35 off any California Cowboy purchase of any full price merchandise of $150 or more. California Cowboy offers an entire wedding line for both men and women including luxurious robes and bridal party gifts. Beyond the big day, the brand has reinvented the Aloha shirt, offers upscale Apres ski shirts, and revolutionized cabana wear with kimonos and yukatas.

As David's Bridal continues to rapidly disrupt the wedding and event planning space, the brand has strategically expanded its portfolio of branded partnerships to offer exclusive discounts and a seamless planning experience for their customers. Teaming up with California Cowboy is the latest addition to the bridal retailer's growing partnerships portfolio including The Black Tux, Diamond Nexus, Little Tuxedos, Something Borrowed Blooms, Shutterfly, Sandals Resort, and more.

"California Cowboy is the epitome of good vibes only. We are all about celebrating the best things in life  joy, happiness, and love," said Kelly Cook, Chief Marketing & IT Officer of David's Bridal. "Partnering with California Cowboy allows us to offer even more to our customers as they get ready for their big day. The quality of their products is unrivaled, and their brand ethos is in line with who we are at David's."

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Start shopping today before this deal ends! Head to a local David's Bridal retail store or shop online at davidsbridal.com to purchase a dress and receive your special California Cowboy offer.

About David's Bridal

With 70 years of experience dressing customers for all of life's special occasions, David's Bridal is built on the idea that everyone deserves to have the attire of their dreams regardless of style preference, shape, size, or budget. We believe in: CELEBRATING all life's magical moments, INNOVATING so we are always serving her, PERSONALIZING everything so it's all done her way, DESIGNING the most luxurious dresses, and finally, KINDNESS - so she doesn't have to worry about anything. It is our mission to help anyone and everyone find the look that will allow them to be the best, most genuine version of themselves on their wedding day or any special occasion. David's Bridal is dedicated to helping each customer, with the assistance of online planning tools and resources powered by Blueprint Registry and Rustic Wedding Chic, and Forever Bride, knowledgeable stylists, and expert alteration artisans who will guide them through the entire purchasing journey. With more than 300 stores located across the US, Canada, UK, and franchise locations in Mexico, we offer the convenience of one-stop shopping for every magical event in her life including weddings, Quinceanera, graduations, prom, communions, or simply making the world her runway and beyond. Additionally, David's recently launched #frontlinefierce Philanthropy Program dedicated to amplifying the heroism, fearlessness, and bravery of those who serve others in their community. To learn more about David's Bridal, visit www.DavidsBridal.com, download the Planning App, and connect on social media through Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

David's Bridal

mediarequests@dbi.com

Cision

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SOURCE David's Bridal, Inc.
DefiLabs pioneers in decentralized finance, fusing AI tech to create an effective, transparent, and practical DeFi platform, accelerating Web 3.0 development.

Singapore, Singapore --News Direct-- KISS PR Brand Story

DefiLabs is emerging as a leading blockchain technology firm and has won Asia's Golden Star Honesty Master Award 2023 for exemplary corporate integrity leadership, which greatly influences Asia. Its purpose is to honor companies and individuals who have made outstanding achievements in corporate management, personal influence, and cultural and social contributions active in the world and Asian countries.

Asia s Golden Star Honesty Master Awards 2023 is the highest honor with the strictest judgment and profound significance at this ceremony. After years of hard work, the Asia-Japan Excellent Entrepreneur Federation (AEEF JAPAN) has established a good reputation. Asia's Golden Star Honesty Master Awards 2023 are organized by a panel of industry experts and recognize companies that demonstrate exceptional leadership in corporate integrity and ethical business practices. The awards are highly respected in the Asia Pacific Region and are considered a significant achievement by regional companies.

Asia s Golden Star Honesty Master Awards 2023 is to bestow on the corporate that excels in every aspect of corporate performance and holds up the operation concept of honesty and credit first, high quality, and perfect customer service. Award recipients had passed the examination for the "Asia Honesty Entrepreneur Award," "Asia Honesty Enterprise Award," and "Asia Honesty Product Award."

DefiLabs was recognized by the "Asia Honesty Awards Review and Adjudication Board" and awarded Asia's Golden Star Honesty Master Awards 2023 with its groundbreaking advanced financial technology and trans-epochal excellence in the financial industry. The Asia Honesty Awards Review and Adjudication Board have expressed their full affirmation of DefiLabs' contribution to promoting the development of decentralized finance. Over 2 years of experience, DefiLabs has achieved the expected effects of high returns and stable income and has won the trust of many users as well as unanimous praise from industry experts.

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Asia's Golden Star Honesty Master Awards 2023 is not only a symbol of DefiLabs' success but an award that reinforces the importance of maintaining high standards of corporate integrity in the blockchain industry and highlights the role DefiLabs plays in promoting transparency and trust in the global business community. In the future, DefiLabs will continue to make efforts in financial technology innovation so that decentralized finance can give full play to its advantages, benefiting more industries and covering a wider range of people.

About DefiLabs:

DefiLabs is a pioneer in the field of decentralized finance, specializing in the development and implementation of cutting-edge AI technology. The platform is committed to providing the possible experience for its users with a focus on innovation, security, and transparency. The team of experts is constantly working to improve the platform and add new features to enhance the user experience.

For more information please visit at: https://defilabs.farm.

Media Contact:

Yurii Gromov

DefiLabs

support@defilabs.farm

https://defilabs.farm/

Release ID: 579619

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/defilabs-wins-asias-golden-star-honesty-master-awards-2023-for-exemplary-corporate-integrity-leadership-796417207
Market.Us

According to Market.us, North America dominated with 38.8% of the Market Share. Major Player in the diagnostic electrocardiograph Market are Koninklijke Philips N.V., Bio-Medical Electronics, Innomed Medical, Bionet, Scottcare Corp, Spacelabs Healthcare, VectraCor, Allengers Medical Systems and others.

New York, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global diagnostic electrocardiograph market is estimated to be valued at USD 13.3 billion by 2032 from USD 7.7 billion in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period 2023 to 2032. A diagnostic ECG is a medical device that aids in diagnosing problems with the heart's electrical activity. ECG is used to diagnose cardiac murmur, cardiac stress testing, fainting, and myocardial infarction, among other cardiac conditions.

Diagnostic Electrocardiogram Market Size

To get additional highlights on major revenue-generating segments, Request a global diagnostic electrocardiograph market sample report at https://market.us/report/diagnostic-electrocardiograph-market/request-sample/

Key Takeaway:

By Product and Service , the resting ECG devices segment will likely have held the highest market revenue over the forecast period 2023 to 2032.

By Lead Type , the 3-Lead and 6-Lead ECG devices segment was anticipated to dominate the market.

By End-User , the hospital segment accounted for the largest revenue share of the market.

In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 38.8%.

Asia Pacific the market with the highest revenue share of 21.2%.

Asia Pacific will grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023-2032.

Globally, it is estimated that the market for diagnostic electrocardiographs will expand over the forecast period. Expansion of the market is expected to be propelled by rising rates of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, stroke, IHD, and peripheral artery diseases. In addition, the global diagnostic ECG market is estimated to be driven by favorable reimbursement policies, improved healthcare infrastructure, and an increasing geriatric population. During the forecast period, the diagnostic ECG market is also estimated to grow due to the introduction of ongoing technological advancements and remote monitoring devices in ECG devices. Because emerging nations' markets are almost saturated, emerging nations have more significant growth opportunities than developed nations. Also, favorable government policies, increasing healthcare costs, and broadly untapped potential markets are estimated to provide abundant growth opportunities for emerging nations.

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Factors affecting the growth of the diagnostic electrocardiograph market

There are several factors that can affect the growth of the diagnostic electrocardiograph market. Some of these factors include:

Significance of Cardiac Diseases: The significance of cardiac diseases drives the market's growth.

New Technological Advancements: New technological developments benefit the global diagnostic electrocardiograph market.

Improved healthcare infrastructure: The improved healthcare infrastructure has propelled the market's growth.

An expanding geriatric population: An expanding geriatric population boosts market growth.

High cost of diagnostic electrocardiographs: The high cost of diagnostic electrocardiographs is the growth-limiting factor for the market.

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic: COVID-19 cause a negative impact on the global diagnostic electrocardiograph market.

To understand how diagnostic electrocardiograph market report can bring a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://market.us/report/diagnostic-electrocardiograph-market/#inquiry

Top Trends in the Global Diagnostic Electrocardiograph Market

The increasing trend for early disease detection will propel the growth of the diagnostic electrocardiograph market. Now a day, individuals are becoming more conscious about their health and prefer better care and diagnosis treatment. This will further boost the growth of the market. Symptoms are not persistent in some patients, on the contrary, they are intermittent. Intermittent symptoms tend to go away or return with time. The healthcare providers endorse a remote or continuous ECG machine for such patients. It monitors the heart rhythm throughout the day.

Market Growth

The global diagnostic electrocardiograph market is estimated to grow during the forecast period. The key factors, such as the increasing geriatric population, a proliferation of lifestyles and cardiovascular disorders, advancements in wearable technology, and others, propel the market's growth. Developing economies have more opportunities for the market as compared to the developed economies, as their market was nearly exhausted. Emerging countries frequently have medical expenditures, mainly undiscovered future trends, and favorable government policies, all these factors would be beneficial for the growth of the market.

Regional Analysis

North America dominates the global diagnostic electrocardiograph market with a revenue share of 38.8% and is estimated to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. Furthermore, during the forecast period 2023-2032, the diagnostic ECG market in NA will also expand because of the increasing number of geriatric populations and rise in income per capita.

The diagnostic electrocardiograph market is estimated to grow significantly in Asia-Pacific due to the increasing population along with the increase in disposable income. Also, the growing healthcare infrastructure is expected to further expand the diagnostic electrocardiograph market in the APAC in the upcoming years. India, Myanmar, China, Brazil, Japan, and other Asian nations comprise the Asia-Pacific region. Due to its rising disposable income, improved healthcare infrastructure, and large population, this region is projected to experience profitable growth. As per the NCBI study, cardiovascular diseases affect more than 290 million people in China. Around 11 million Chinese had coronary heart disease, and 13 million had a stroke.

Competitive Landscape

The market is very competitive due to the presence of several market players. As a result, businesses made significant investments in R&D to stay in the competition. In February 2021, BioTelemetry, Inc. was acquired by Koninklijke Philips NV. The acquisition of BioTelemetry complements Philips' cardiac care portfolio and its strategy to improve care delivery across the health continuum through integrated solutions.

Have Queries? Speak to an expert, or To Download/Request a Sample, Click here.

Scope of the Report

Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 7.7 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 13.3 Billion CAGR (from 2022 to 2032) 5.8% North America Revenue Share 38.8% Asia Pacific Revenue Share 21.2% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032

Market Drivers

The occurrence of cardiac diseases is the key factor driving the global diagnostic electrocardiograph market. Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death around the globe, as per the World Health Organization. Cardiovascular diseases cause around 18 million deaths yearly or 31% globally. Therefore, diagnostic ECGs are in high demand due to the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and the industry's growth.

Market Restraints

Clinicians in numerous countries are forced to use older ECG machines rather than the newest ones due to the cost-effectiveness factor. As a result, the diagnostic electrocardiograph market is hampered in developing nations by high purchasing and upkeep costs and a lack of technical expertise.

Market Opportunities

Increased access to novel treatment options and technological advancements will boost the ECG industry. Using a Holter monitor, resting ECG, exercise testing systems, ambulatory ECG, event monitor, pacemaker, and cardio data, management can rapidly treat cases of increasing arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease. In the US, more than 2.6 out of every 1,000 people have pacemakers attached to treat different heart conditions, according to an NCBI study. Pacemakers became more common, as there is an upsurge in the elderly population, with 0.4 per 1000 people in the 18-64 age range using them and 26 per 1000 people in the 65-plus age range. The mobile ECG, home ECG devices, and ECG equipment industries could benefit from the new advanced developments and access to advanced treatment options.

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Report Segmentation of the Diagnostic Electrocardiograph Market

Product and Service Insight

The resting ECG devices segment accounted for the highest market share, and it will be the fastest-growing segment over the forecast period 2023-2032. This is mainly due to the more precise and quicker diagnosis that does not require previous preparation. It quickly identifies specific heart conditions like heart hypertrophy, ischemia, myocardial infarction sequelae, cardiac arrhythmias, and myocardial infarction and contribute to the growth of this segment. As per the CDC, myocardial infarction affects around 800,000 people yearly. The remaining 600,000 had myocardial infarction before, while about 600,000 had it for the first time.

Lead Type Insight

3-Lead ECG and 6-Lead ECG devices held the largest share of the global diagnostic electrocardiograph market because they are utilized frequently in several cardiac diagnostic tests. Moreover, its high-efficiency rate and low price contribute to the growth of this market. An NCBI study found that a 3-lead ECG is 96.4% more precise than a 12-lead ECG.

End-User Insight

The hospital market dominated the entire ECG market because of a huge number of hospitals and the high price of purchasing ECG devices. The market segment further dominates due to the increasing number of people seeking hospital treatment and diagnosis for cardiovascular disease. The growth of the market is also enhanced by an increase in expenditure on ECG devices for good cardiac treatment. According to the CDC, in the US, 4.6% of adults have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease. 6.5% of Americans went to the doctor for their cardiovascular conditions. In addition, 7.4% of Americans have sought treatment and diagnosis for these illnesses in emergency rooms.

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Market Segmentation

By Product and Service

Stress ECG Devices

Resting ECG

Implantable Loop Recorders

Smart ECG Monitors

Event Monitors

Holter Monitors

MCT Devices

By Lead Type

Single-lead

3-lead ECG Devices

5-lead ECG Devices

6-lead ECG Devices

12-lead ECG Devices

Other Lead Types

By End-User

Hospitals

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Clinics & Cardiac Centers

Other End Users

By Geography

North America The US Canada

Western Europe Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe

Eastern Europe Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe

APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC

Latin America Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Mexico Costa Rica Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA



Market Key Players

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Bio-Medical Electronics Co.

Innomed Medical Inc.

Bionet Co., Ltd.

Scottcare Corp

Spacelabs Healthcare Inc

VectraCor, Inc.

Allengers Medical Systems, Ltd.

Other Key Players.

Recent Development of the Global Diagnostic Electrocardiograph Market

In March 2022, GE Healthcare and AliveCor announced their partnership. Medical professionals can access GE Healthcare's MUSE system using the KardiaMobile 6L ECG device. By enhancing the integration and quality of patient data, the partnership hopes to decrease cardio-based hospitalizations and improve patient convenience.

In January 2022, A first-at-home, 12-lead ECG integrated solution for decentralized clinical trials was introduced by Koninklijke Philips. By introducing a new system to reduce the necessity and burden of clinical trials, Koninklijke Philips hopes to improve patient compliance, retention, and trial outcomes.

In December 2021, Hillrom was purchased by Baxter International, Inc. for USD 12.5 billion. With the Hillrom acquisition, Baxter begins the next phase of its transformation, promising to significantly impact patients, shareholders, employees, clinicians, and other communities it serves worldwide.

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It's common for many investors, especially those who are inexperienced, to buy shares in companies with a good story even if these companies are loss-making. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad.

Despite being in the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, many investors still adopt a more traditional strategy; buying shares in profitable companies like Canadian Natural Resources (TSE:CNQ). While profit isn't the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it's worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it.

See our latest analysis for Canadian Natural Resources

How Fast Is Canadian Natural Resources Growing?

If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price should eventually follow. So it makes sense that experienced investors pay close attention to company EPS when undertaking investment research. Impressively, Canadian Natural Resources has grown EPS by 30% per year, compound, in the last three years. If growth like this continues on into the future, then shareholders will have plenty to smile about.

Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. Canadian Natural Resources shareholders can take confidence from the fact that EBIT margins are up from 32% to 35%, and revenue is growing. Ticking those two boxes is a good sign of growth, in our book.

You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart.

You don't drive with your eyes on the rear-view mirror, so you might be more interested in this free report showing analyst forecasts for Canadian Natural Resources' future profits.

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Are Canadian Natural Resources Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

We would not expect to see insiders owning a large percentage of a CA$87b company like Canadian Natural Resources. But we do take comfort from the fact that they are investors in the company. Indeed, they have a considerable amount of wealth invested in it, currently valued at CA$2.0b. This suggests that leadership will be very mindful of shareholders' interests when making decisions!

It's good to see that insiders are invested in the company, but are remuneration levels reasonable? A brief analysis of the CEO compensation suggests they are. For companies with market capitalisations over CA$11b, like Canadian Natural Resources, the median CEO pay is around CA$11m.

Canadian Natural Resources offered total compensation worth CA$9.0m to its CEO in the year to December 2022. That is actually below the median for CEO's of similarly sized companies. While the level of CEO compensation shouldn't be the biggest factor in how the company is viewed, modest remuneration is a positive, because it suggests that the board keeps shareholder interests in mind. It can also be a sign of a culture of integrity, in a broader sense.

Is Canadian Natural Resources Worth Keeping An Eye On?

For growth investors, Canadian Natural Resources' raw rate of earnings growth is a beacon in the night. If you still have your doubts, remember too that company insiders have a considerable investment aligning themselves with the shareholders and CEO pay is quite modest compared to similarly sized companiess. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to investing but it definitely makes Canadian Natural Resources look rather interesting indeed. Even so, be aware that Canadian Natural Resources is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those shouldn't be ignored...

There's always the possibility of doing well buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But for those who consider these important metrics, we encourage you to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a free list of them here.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

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.

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It looks like Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:BIMB) is about to go ex-dividend in the next 3 days. The ex-dividend date is one business day before a company's record date, which is the date on which the company determines which shareholders are entitled to receive a dividend. The ex-dividend date is of consequence because whenever a stock is bought or sold, the trade takes at least two business day to settle. Accordingly, Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad investors that purchase the stock on or after the 14th of April will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 12th of May.

The company's next dividend payment will be RM0.034 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed RM0.10 to shareholders. Last year's total dividend payments show that Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad has a trailing yield of 6.4% on the current share price of MYR2.16. Dividends are a major contributor to investment returns for long term holders, but only if the dividend continues to be paid. So we need to check whether the dividend payments are covered, and if earnings are growing.

Check out our latest analysis for Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad

If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad is paying out an acceptable 60% of its profit, a common payout level among most companies.

Generally speaking, the lower a company's payout ratios, the more resilient its dividend usually is.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Companies that aren't growing their earnings can still be valuable, but it is even more important to assess the sustainability of the dividend if it looks like the company will struggle to grow. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. That explains why we're not overly excited about Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad's flat earnings over the past five years. We'd take that over an earnings decline any day, but in the long run, the best dividend stocks all grow their earnings per share.

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Given that Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad has only been paying a dividend for a year, there's not much of a past history to draw insight from.

Final Takeaway

Should investors buy Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad for the upcoming dividend? Earnings per share have not grown at all, and the company pays out a bit over half its profits to shareholders. These characteristics don't generally lead to outstanding dividend performance, and investors may not be happy with the results of owning this stock for its dividend.

Having said that, if you're looking at this stock without much concern for the dividend, you should still be familiar of the risks involved with Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad. For example, we've found 2 warning signs for Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad that we recommend you consider before investing in the business.

Generally, we wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see. Here's a curated list of interesting stocks that are strong dividend payers.

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.

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Market Research Future

Door System Market Information, by Material (Wood, Metal, Glass, and Plastic), by Technology (Manual, and Automatic), by Application (Residential, and Non-residential) and Region - Forecast 2022-2030

New York (US), April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Door System Market Overview

According to a Comprehensive Report by Market Research Future (MRFR), Door System Market Information by Technology, by Application, by Material, and Region - Forecast till 2030", the Door System Market can project a CAGR of 5.80% from 2022 to 2030, while touching USD 70,128.30 million.

Market Synopsis

Doors made of a range of materials, including wood, metal, glass, fibreboard, fiberglass, and vinyl, are installed in both residential and non-residential settings. Demand for door systems is likely to be driven by rising residential, commercial, and new house remodeling activities throughout the world.

Throughout the anticipated term, demand for doors is anticipated to be driven by the need for better aesthetics and the need for residential privacy. The market is driven by the availability of interior doors in a range of styles, hues, and materials, as well as manufacturers' ability to create goods specifically to the needs of their clients. The market for door systems has had rapid growth in recent years, and this pattern is anticipated to hold during the forecast period.



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Market Competitive Landscape:



The affluent companies in the door system industry are

ASSA ABLOY (Sweden)

Ply Gem Holdings Inc. (U.S.)

Masco Corporation (U.S.)

Allegion plc (Ireland)

Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc. (U.S.)

Masonite International Corporation (U.S.)

DuluxGroup Limited (Australia)

PGT Inc. (U.S.)

Andersen Corporation (U.S.)

Jeld Wen Inc. (U.S.)

Among others.





Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2030 USD 70,128.30 million CAGR 5.80% (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 Technology, by Application, by Material Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers Increasing need for security



Concerns about the environment

The major players are working arduously on new concepts and strategies that might benefit the businesses in order to meet the demand and consumer needs. Also, manufacturing firms are now concentrating on the enhancement of items that may boost thermal insulation and the creation of weatherproof doors that can increase durability.

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Major businesses are collaborating to develop new products that are resistant to fire and heat. They are attempting to balance out the demand after the pandemic's spread. In order to complete the product created in a short period of time, the major players have come up with the concept to combine and work together with other significant players.



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Market USP Covered:

Market Drivers:

The increasing growth of the building sector has led to an improvement in the door system market. Another beneficial effect that increases market size is the development of the infrastructure in residential areas. Then, the value of the door system market is gradually increasing due to the rise of the building industries in several emerging nations, like China and India.

Surging interest in wood which is known for being environment-friendly has bolstered the use of wooden door systems worldwide.

The development of the door system market is also aided by various lucrative opportunities, such as new industrial buildings being built and renovated. Some examples of these buildings are hospitals, universities, and hotels. And because more people are needed to build more homes, the population expansion in the more developed nations like those in North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe is also contributing to the rise.

The expansion of IT firms across a number of countries worldwide is also creating potential opportunities in the market for door systems.

Market Restraints:

The price of raw materials is impacted by changes in the price of gas and oil. The manufacturing businesses are working really hard to deliver the items at a reasonable price due to the fluctuation of the raw materials.



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COVID 19 Analysis

The global pause in logistical and production operations brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted the supply chain, preventing the market for door systems from expanding.

Nevertheless, as governments throughout the world loosen regulations for restarting corporate operations, this scenario is anticipated to improve. In addition, the primary driver of market expansion is the increase in demand for building and infrastructure projects.

Market Segmentation

By Technology

The door system market may be classified into two categories based on technology: automated and manual.

The automated door is a type of door system that can be opened and closed with ease. The heavy-duty doors utilized in numerous companies, airports, manufacturing facilities, and seaports are typically favored for this. The construction sector has accelerated its expansion in the market as a result of the introduction of several cutting-edge technologies, ideas, and materials.

By Material

The door system market may be segmented based on material into metal, glass, wood, and plastic.

The global market for metal door systems is being driven by factors including toughness, security, lightness, robustness, resilience to severe environments, low maintenance requirements, and well-insulated materials. Rising customer preference for metal doors as a superior option to wooden doors has also helped sales.

By Application

The door system market may be segmented into residential and non-residential segments based on application.

The demand for door systems in the residential sector significantly increased as a result of the rapid urbanization of the world and the rise in spending capacity of the cosumers. These elements are anticipated to encourage the expansion of this market segment.



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Regional Insights

Throughout the projection period, the APAC market is most likely to see the greatest CAGR. The largest market share of the global door system industry is also anticipated to come from the APAC region. Major urbanization is taking place in the region's growing economies, such as India and China, which will directly affect the market for door systems due to the rise in building demand. The move is supported by the greater growth rate the area is now experiencing. Also, the manufacturers' introduction of automation and technological advancement is anticipated to grow the market in the ensuing years.

The markets in North America and Europe are expected to expand considerably throughout the study period. The region is expected to grow significantly since it contains industrialized nations like the US, Canada, the UK, and Germany. Moreover, these nations are technologically advanced Throughout the projection period, the Rest of the World (RoW) is probably going to see a respectable increase.

Discover more research Reports on Construction Industry , by Market Research Future:

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Decorative Tiles Market Information Report, By Product (Ceramic Tiles, Porcelain Tiles, Stone Tiles, and Others), By Application (Floors, Walls, and others), By End-Use (Residential and Commercial) and By Region - Global Forecast To 2030

Decorative Concrete Market Information Report, By Type (Stamped Concrete, Stained Concrete, Concrete Dyes, Polishing Concrete and Others), By Application (Residential and Non-residential), End Use (Floors, Driveways, Walls, Patios, and others) and By Region - Forecast To 2030

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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.

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MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd.

Chicago, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Drone Taxi Market by Range (Intercity, Intracity), Propulsion (Fully Electric, Hybrid, Electric Hydrogen), Autonomy (Fully Autonomous, Remotely Piloted), Passenger Capacity (Up to 2, 3 to 5, More than 5), System, End Use & Region (2025-2030), A Drone Taxi can be used to carry passengers for intracity or intracity transportation. They will be equipped with cutting-edge technology that is silent, safe, and environmentally friendly. Drone taxis are designed to fly remotely piloted or autonomously, avoid obstacles, and take-off, fly, and land precisely every time. Drone taxi propulsion can be fully electric or hybrid electric. Some of the advantages of drone taxis include reduction in traffic congestion, sustainability, increased transportation efficiency, and noise reduction The growth of the Drone Taxi market is majorly attributed to the need for an efficient mode of intracity transportation in urban cities.

Driver: Smart city initiatives

Smart city models have spurred tremendous development opportunities for technology vendors and associated service providers. With increasing government initiatives and environmental campaigns taking center stage, technology providers and consultants have aggressively started simulating innovative solutions based on conceptual modules for urban infrastructure design and development. For instance: In May 2021, Osaka city will undertake the development of vertiports and infrastructure for drone delivery services, including urban air mobility. Skyports, a leading UK-based vertiport company, will assist in the delivery of eVTOL technology . The initiative will enhance tourism, sustainability, and the economic performance of the Osaka Prefecture

Opportunity: Intracity transportation: Short-term opportunity

The key purpose of a drone taxi is to facilitate intracity transportation to reduce the strain on existing urban mobility solutions. Currently, with the limited availability of high-powered, lightweight lithium-ion batteries and the infrastructure required for the setting up of charging points for these batteries, the majority of autonomous aircraft manufacturers are in the research & development phase, leaving only a handful of players to deploy their autonomous aircraft for intracity transportation. Lilium (Germany) has developed the Lilium Jet, an electric vertical take-off and landing jet with a cruising speed of 300 km/h and a range of 300 km. The company plans to deploy this jet for intracity transportation initially and for intercity transportation soon. Lift Aircraft (US), on the other hand, publicly launched Hexa, a manned multirotor ultralight intracity eVTOL at a market price of USD 49,500, in December 2018.

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Scope of the Report

Report Metric Details Estimated Market Size USD 74 Million Projected Market Size USD 860 Million CAGR 63.0% Years considered to provide market size 20232030 Segments Covered Based on System,

Propulsion Type,

Passenger Capacity,

End use,

Range,

Autonomy and

Solution. Geographies Covered North America

Europe

APAC

RoW Market Leaders Airbus (Netherlands),

Boeing (US),

Volocopter (Germany),

Lilium (Germany),

Joby Aviation (US) and

EHang (China) among others.

North America is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

North America is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR during the period from 2025-2030. The market growth in this region can be attributed to strategic partnerships and funding related to the use of drone taxis by concerned authorities in North American countries. For instance, in January 2020, Joby Aviation entered into a strategic partnership with Toyoto and Uber. Joby Aviation plans to go public in a reverse merger with Reinvent Technology Partners, a USD 690 million publicly listed blank check company. Air taxis are likely to witness heightened demand for urban transportation in this region.

In North America, the market growth can be attributed to increasing investments to develop drone taxi infrastructure by various key players to reduce the strain on the existing transportation system in the region. Significant carbon emissions caused by traditional aircraft and helicopters used at airports and around the cities are of major concern worldwide. Hence, several international regulatory bodies, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), have initiated green, clean, and energy-efficient programs to achieve zero carbon emission at airports. These programs have led drone taxi platform manufacturers to invest in innovating eVTOL and hybrid variants.

Browse in-depth TOC on " Drone Taxi Market Trends, Growth Drivers"

175  Tables

36  Figures

205  Pages

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Airbus (Netherlands), Boeing (US) and Textron Inc (US) are Leading Players in the Drone Taxi Market

AIRBUS SAS (Netherland):

Airbus SAS (Netherland) has strong regional and application footprint. The company is also a market leader in global aerospace sector. It caters to both, platform and infrastructure components in the Drone Taxi market and has a strong global distribution and service network. It is one of the largest manufacturers of helicopters and aircraft across the globe.

BOEING (US):

Boeing (US) is the worlds largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners, defense, space and security systems, and service provider of aftermarket support. As Americas biggest manufacturing exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing has a wide range of product offering and tailored services that include commercial and military aircraft, satellites, weapons, electronic and defense systems, launch systems, advanced information and communication systems, and performance-based logistics and training. The wide product offerings and strong global presence makes Boeing one of the dominant players in aerospace industry.

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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




Dundee Precious Metals, Inc.

Figure 1.

Updated tilted slice along high-grade skarn mineralization displaying new drilling intercepts and the ongoing infill drilling at Coka Rakita.

Figure 2.

Updated long-section through Coka Rakita displaying new drilling intercepts, geology and exploration targets.

Figure 3.

Cross-section through Coka Rakita along RIDD007 and RIDD008 looking north displaying drilling intercepts, geology and exploration targets.

Figure 4.

Overview map of Coka Rakita exploration licence outlining the exploration targets subject of the scout drilling campaign.

Figure 5.

Overview map of Umka exploration licence outlining the exploration targets subject of the scout drilling campaign.

TORONTO, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dundee Precious Metals Inc. (TSX: DPM) (DPM or the Company) today reported new assay results from its ongoing drilling program at the Coka Rakita prospect in eastern Serbia, which extends the deposit to the east and also confirms and extends the high-grade zone. The Company also provided an update on its planned drilling activities for 2023.



Highlights

New significant intercepts from recent drilling, including: RIDD005  16 metres at 23.14 g/t Au from 430 metres depth (including 1 metre at 354 g/t Au with visible gold from 441 metres depth) RIDD006  52 metres at 3.18 g/t Au from 513 metres depth (including 8 metres at 8.49 g/t Au and 8 metres at 7.44 g/t Au) RIDD007  58 metres at 4.04 g/t Au from 524 metres depth and 17 metres at 11.33 g/t Au from 591 metres depth RIDD008  16 m at 5.15 g/t Au from 423 metres depth and 71 metres at 18.05 g/t Au from 445 metres depth (including 35 metres at 34.34 g/t Au and 0.17% Cu)



Results confirm and extend high grade zone : Hole RIDD008 extends the limits of high-grade mineralization by approximately 60 metres south of previously drilled RADDMET01 hole (which included the previously released intercept of 40 metres at 63.46 g/t Au and 0.11% Cu from 517 metres depth) 1 and locally increases the overall thickness of the target to over 100 metres (see Figures 1, 2, 3).

Expands mineralization to the east: Hole RIDD007 extends the system by approximately 120 metres to the east from RIDD008, expanding the previously outlined limits.

Large footprint: Shallow-dipping tabular body between 250 and 450 metres below surface, drilled over an area measuring 500 metres long, up to 300 metres wide and variable thickness from less than 20 metres in the margins to more 100 metres in the core of the mineralized zone. The system remains locally open to the east and south for the sandstone-hosted gold skarn mineralization and has the potential to be extended to north and northwest at deeper levels (see Figures 1, 2, 3).

Next steps: The Company continues to advance its 40,000-metre infill and extensional drill program to support a maiden mineral resource estimate by year-end 2023 at Coka Rakita and plans to expand scout drilling activities on Umka and additional nearby targets which share a similar geological environment. (see Figure 4). An additional 10,000-metre scout drill program on the Umka license is expected to commence later this month (see Figure 5).



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Results from our ongoing drilling activities at Coka Rakita extend the mineralization to the east and confirm the continuity of the high-grade zone. With seven drill rigs currently active on-site and over 40,000 metres of drilling planned for 2023, we are targeting an initial resource estimate by year-end and accelerating our evaluation of this prospect, said David Rae, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dundee Precious Metals.

We are also expanding our exploration activities to include 10,000 metres of scout drilling at the Umka prospect, and we are following up on other targets which share a similar geological environment to Coka Rakita.

Coka Rakita Drilling Program Results

Subsequent to its January 2023 news release announcing the high-grade discovery at Coka Rakita, drilling activities have been accelerated with seven drill rigs currently in operation. DPM has drilled an additional 9,000 metres, completing nine holes with another seven drill holes currently in progress (see Table 1).

The results from five new holes (RIDD005 to RIDD009), as well as deeper sections of RID001 and RIDD002 for which completed assays have been received, are disclosed in the following table.

Table 1: Significant new drill intercepts from the Coka Rakita prospect

HOLEID

EAST

NORTH

RL

AZ

DIP

FROM TO LENGTH AuEq Au Cu (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (%) RIDD001 572991 4896010 917 295 -67 694 704.1 10.1 1.61 0.23 1.03 and 885 892 7 2.02 1.07 0.71 RIDD002 572971 4896089 903 290 -58 644 681 37 1.24 0.6 0.48 and 715 728 13 1.84 0.42 1.05 and 907 919 12 3.54 2.67 0.65 RIDD005 572997 4895938 915 252 -61 381 401 20 1.62 1.31 0.23 and 430 446 16 23.27 23.14 0.10 RIDD006 573177 4895953 907 272 -52 462 478 16 1.51 1.29 0.17 and 503 512 9 1.14 1.07 0.06 and 518 570 52 3.34 3.18 0.12 including 542 550 8 8.54 8.49 0.04 including 560 568 8 7.69 7.44 0.18 RIDD007 573200 4895769 940 280 -64 524 582 58 4.05 4.04 0.01 including 542 550 8 12.91 12.89 0.01 and 591 608 17 11.54 11.33 0.16 including 598 607 9 19.55 19.21 0.25 RIDD008 573043 4895851 918 266 -65 404 416 12 1.77 1.75 0.01 and 423 439 16 5.15 5.15 0.00 including 428 438 10 7.3 7.3 0.00 and 445 516 71 18.17 18.05 0.09 including 479 514 35 34.57 34.34 0.17 and 639 650 11 1.2 0.32 0.65 RIDD009 572972 4896088 903 301 -64 528 534 6 1.81 1.46 0.27 and 885 899 14 2.21 1.28 0.69 and 920 930 10 1.17 0.51 0.49 and 972.5 985 12.5 2.1 0.89 0.90 RIDD006A 572981 4895961 665 274 -50 completed/waiting results RIDD007A 573034 4895801 604 282 -63 in progress RIDD010 573254 4895882 927 265 -69 completed/waiting results RIDD011 572999 4895939 915 271 -62 completed/waiting results RIDD011A 572881 4895945 682 271 -64 in progress RIDD012 572991 4896008 917 273 -66 completed/waiting results RIDD013 573043 4895851 917 270 -71 in progress RIDD014 573221 4895692 938 275 -66 in progress RIDD015 573180 4895954 906 268 -65 in progress RIDD016 572970 4896089 903 265 -67 in progress RIDD017 573256 4895882 926 262 -65 in progress

1) Coordinates are in UTM Zone 34 North WGS84 datum.



2) Intervals are reported at a cut-off grade of 1 g/t AuEq using 5 metres minimum length and 5 metres maximum internal dilution. Higher grade Including intervals are reported at a cut-off grade of 5 g/t AuEq using 5 metres minimum length and 3 metres dilution.

3) The AuEq calculation is based on the following formula: Au g/t + 1.35 x Cu %, based on a gold price of $1,400/oz and a copper price of $2.75/lb; and assumes metallurgical recoveries of 90% for gold and 90% for copper within the equivalency calculation.

4) No upper cuts have been applied.

5) Based on the current understanding of the geometry of the mineralized body, true widths are considered to be 90% or more of the reported downhole interval.

The new results confirm the tenor of the high-grade gold mineralization and, based on initial interpretation, show a core zone of higher-grade mineralization over an area of approximately 160 metres by 130 metres. This area is presented as a zone of strong retrograde skarn alteration, often with visible gold.

RIDD006 confirmed the higher grades seen in RIDD004, which is approximately 60 metres to the south. This intercept, when viewed on section with RADD020 and RIDD001, suggests that mineralization may follow an approximate north-south axis, controlled by the proximity of the monzonite contact and potentially by sub-parallel trending feeder structures. Future infill drilling will be used to test these assumptions.

RIDD007 returned a wide and well-developed zone of mineralization comprised of semi-massive skarn bearing magnetite, pyrrhotite and pyrite and extends the previously outlined limits of the mineralization by approximately 120 metres east from RIDD008 (see Figures 1 and 3). Several follow-up holes are ongoing in order to determine the extents of mineralization on this flank.

RIDD008 intercepted the target 60 metres south the previously reported RADDMET01 (see Figure 1 and 2) and returned a series of significant intercepts of sandstone-hosted gold skarn mineralization over a wider interval, which is greater than 100 metres in total thickness. This intercept increases the thickness of the target zone in this area and demonstrates that the S1 Sandstone can host skarn mineralization at considerable distance away from the syn-mineral diorite intrusives.

RIDD009 returned weakly developed sandstone hosted gold mineralization, but at greater depth (on the footwall of the syn-mineral diorite) intercepted significant skarn alteration within conglomerates and marbles (see Figures 1 and 2). The mineralization style in this area differs from that found at higher elevations, showing a stratabound iron-oxide (magnetite-hematite) copper (gold) skarn assemblage, with notable intercepts of 14 metres at 0.69% Cu and 1.28 g/t Au from 885 metres and 12.5 metres at 0.9% Cu and 0.89 g/t Au from 972.5 metres downhole. The presence of this deeper copper-dominated target is also supported by the newly reported deeper intercepts from RIDD001 (7 metres at 0.71% Cu and 1.07 g/t Au from 885 metres depth downhole), RIDD002 (12 metres at 0.65% Cu and 2.67 g/t Au from 907 metres depth downhole) and RIDD008 (11 metres at 0.32 g/t Au and 0.65% Cu from 639 metres depth downhole).

Next Steps

The Company is continuing its intensive 40,000-metre infill, extensional and target delineation drill program at Coka Rakita, with the objective of further assessing the overall deposit geometry, grade continuity and mineral resource potential. This includes infilling the current footprint on a 60-metre by 60-metre drilling grid over the high-grade gold-rich skarn target zone, as well as closer spaced drilling (down to 20-metre x 20-metre) to assess the short-range continuity of the mineralization. Based on interpretation of drilling assay results, the strategy will also incorporate deeper drilling to delineate the extents of strata-bound conglomerate and marble-hosted copper-gold mineralization located at depth. DPM is targeting an initial mineral resource estimate for the project by the end of 2023.

In light of the Coka Rakita discovery and based on the results of a recent ground gravity survey, as well as a re-interpretation of available geological and geochemical data, DPM completed a targeting exercise during the first quarter of 2023 which identified a series of additional exploration targets. The Company has outlined a scout drilling program, targeting both the extensions of Coka Rakita-like sandstone-hosted gold-skarn targets, as well as deeper conglomerate and marble-hosted strata-bound copper (gold) targets, recently detected at depth. This includes an additional 10,000 metres of scout drilling on the adjacent Umka exploration licence, which is located approximately five kilometres to the south of Coka Rakita. Drilling at Umka is expected to start later in April with drilling on additional targets potentially later in 2023 (see Figure 5).

As previously disclosed, preliminary metallurgical test results indicate that the mineralized material at Coka Rakita is amenable to conventional flotation and produces a clean gold concentrate, achieving a total combined (flotation and tails leach) gold recoveries greater than 93%. In the second quarter of 2023, the Company plans to commence additional metallurgical test work to improve overall gold recovery using a combined gravity and flotation circuit, as well as to assess the geometallurgical variability and test additional copper (gold) skarns identified at depth.

About Coka Rakita

The Coka Rakita prospect is located three kilometres southeast of the Bigar Hill sediment-hosted gold deposit and forms part of the of the Timok Magmatic Complex (TMC) in eastern Serbia. The surface footprint of the target was delineated by a combination of soil geochemistry, alteration mapping and geophysical signatures. The drilling to date has defined a manto-like zone of shallow-dipping gold-rich skarn mineralization located on the contact zone of a carbonaceous sedimentary package and fertile diorite intrusives.

Figure 1. Updated tilted slice along high-grade skarn mineralization displaying new drilling intercepts and the ongoing infill drilling at Coka Rakita is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fe428434-6ba8-4bb5-915c-6bb2daf1f8d4

Updated tilted slice along high-grade skarn mineralization displaying new drilling intercepts and the ongoing infill drilling at Coka Rakita.

Figure 2. Updated long-section through Coka Rakita displaying new drilling intercepts, geology and exploration targets is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea96f2dc-1321-4e31-9d65-ccf66749a43c

Updated long-section through Coka Rakita displaying new drilling intercepts, geology and exploration targets.





Figure 3. Cross-section through Coka Rakita along RIDD007 and RIDD008 looking north displaying drilling intercepts, geology and exploration targets is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9f96dfc7-3779-48c8-b219-4298b219a254

Cross-section through Coka Rakita along RIDD007 and RIDD008 looking north displaying drilling intercepts, geology and exploration targets.





The subsequent Figures 4 and 5 (below) outline the updated camp-wide scout drilling targeting strategy and integrates various geological, geophysical, and geochemical constraints that have been used to define exploration targets.

Factors considered for target generation include:

Stratigraphic and structural controls (presence of undercover S1-type competent sedimentary unit, high-porosity environment around the Valja Strz type monzonitic intrusions, NE- and NW-striking brittle structures); Proximity to known porphyry Au-Cu mineralized systems; Bouguer anomalies obtained from recent ground gravity survey; and geochemical pathfinder footprints in surface soil and rock samples.





Figure 4. Overview map of Coka Rakita exploration licence outlining the exploration targets subject of the scout drilling campaign is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96015b84-d7ef-4bd7-ae6e-e2738b918acf

Overview map of Coka Rakita exploration licence outlining the exploration targets subject of the scout drilling campaign.





Figure 5. Overview map of Umka exploration licence outlining the exploration targets subject of the scout drilling campaign is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da05dc00-9095-475c-ade7-4ddc96f809bb

Overview map of Umka exploration licence outlining the exploration targets subject of the scout drilling campaign.

Sampling, Analysis and QAQC of Exploration Drill Core Samples

Given the presence of coarse gold at Coka Rakita, a rigorous sampling and QAQC procedure has been selected which includes the use of laboratory screen metallic assaying.

Most exploration diamond drill holes are collared with PQ size, continued with HQ, and are sometimes finished with NQ. Triple tube core barrels and short runs are used whenever possible to improve recovery. All drill core is cut lengthwise into two halves using a diamond saw; one half is sampled for assaying and the other half is retained in core trays. The common length for sample intervals within mineralized zones is one metre. Weights of drill core samples range from three to eight kilograms (kg), depending on the size of core, rock type, and recovery. A numbered tag is placed into each sample bag, and the samples are grouped into batches for laboratory submissions.

Drill core samples are shipped to the Companys own exploration laboratory in Bor, Serbia, which is independently managed by SGS. Quality control samples, comprising certified reference materials, blanks, and field duplicates, are inserted into each batch of samples and locations for crushed duplicates and pulp replicates are specified. All drill core and quality control samples are tabulated on sample submission forms that specify sample preparation procedures and codes for analytical methods. For internal quality control, the laboratory includes its own quality control samples comprising certified reference materials, blanks and pulp duplicates. All QAQC monitoring data are reviewed and signed off by an independent QAQC geologist. Chain of custody records are maintained from sample shipments to the laboratory until analyses are completed and remaining sample materials are returned to the Company. The chain of custody is transferred from the Company to SGS at the laboratory door.

At the SGS Bor laboratory, the submitted drill core samples are dried at 105C for a minimum of 12 hours, and then jaw crushed to about 80% passing 4 millimetres. Sample preparation duplicates are created by riffle splitting crushed samples on a 1 in 20 basis. Larger samples are riffle split prior to pulverizing, whereas smaller samples are pulverized entirely. Pulverizing specifications are 90% passing 75 microns. Gold analyses are done using a conventional 50-gram fire assay and AAS finish. Multi-element analyses for 49 elements, including Ag, Cu, Mo, As, Bi, Pb, Sb, and Zn, are done using a four-acid digestion and an ICP-MS finish. Samples returning over 10 ppm for Ag and 1% for Cu, Pb and Zn are re-analyzed using high grade methods with AAS. Sulphur is analyzed using an Eltra Analyzer equipped with an induction furnace.

All fire assay results received from SGS Bor with results exceeding 1 g/t gold grade are re-assayed by means of a specifically designed gold screen fire assay program at the ALS Global laboratory located in Romania. For re-analyses, 1 kg of 2 mm sized coarse reject material split, which is pulverized and screened at 106 microns to separate the sample into a coarse fraction (>106m) and a fine fraction (<106m). After screening, two 50-gram aliquots of the fine fraction are analyzed using the traditional fire assay method and AAS finish. The entire coarse fraction is assayed to determine the contribution of the coarse gold using fire assay and gravimetric finish. A total gold calculation for the 1kg sample is based on the weighted average of the coarse and fine fractions.

Ross Overall, Corporate Mineral Resource Manager of the Company, who is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101, and Paul Ivascanu, Director Exploration of the Company, have reviewed, and approved the scientific and technical content of this news release.

About Dundee Precious Metals

Dundee Precious Metals Inc. is a Canadian-based international gold mining company with operations and projects located in Bulgaria, Namibia, Ecuador and Serbia. The Companys purpose is to unlock resources and generate value to thrive and grow together. This overall purpose is supported by a foundation of core values, which guides how the Company conducts its business and informs a set of complementary strategic pillars and objectives related to ESG, innovation, optimizing our existing portfolio, and growth. The Companys resources are allocated in-line with its strategy to ensure that DPM delivers value for all of its stakeholders. DPMs shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: DPM).

For further information please contact:

David Rae

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (416) 365-5092

drae@dundeeprecious.com Jennifer Cameron

Director, Investor Relations

Tel: (416) 219-6177

jcameron@dundeeprecious.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward looking statements or forward looking information (collectively, Forward Looking Statements) that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward Looking Statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as plans, expects, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, outlook, intends, anticipates, believes, or variations of such words and phrases or that state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms or similar expressions. The Forward Looking Statements in this news release relate to, among other things: future exploration potential at Coka Rakita; the geology and metallurgy at Coka Rakita; the future of the Timok Gold Project; the price of commodities; the estimation of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources and the realization of such mineral estimates; and success of exploration activities. Forward Looking Statements are based on certain key assumptions and the opinions and estimates of management and the Qualified Persons, as of the date such statements are made, and they 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 other future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward Looking Statements. In addition to factors already discussed in this news release, such factors include, among others, risks relating to the Companys business generally and the impact of COVID-19, including, changes to the Companys supply chain; product shortages; delivery and shipping issues; closures and/or failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; employees and contractors becoming infected with COVID-19; lost work hours; labour force shortages; fluctuations in metal and acid prices, toll rates and foreign exchange rates; possible variations in ore grade and recovery rates; uncertainties inherent to the conclusions of economic evaluations and economic studies; changes in project parameters, including schedule and budget, as plans continue to be refined; uncertainties with respect to actual results of current exploration activities; uncertainties and risks inherent to developing and commissioning new mines into production, which may be subject to unforeseen delays; uncertainties inherent with conducting business in foreign jurisdictions where corruption, civil unrest, political instability and uncertainties with the rule of law may impact the Companys activities; limitation on insurance coverage; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; actual results of current and planned reclamation activities; opposition by social and non-government organizations to mining projects and smelting operations; unanticipated title disputes; claims or litigation; cyber attacks and other cybersecurity risks; as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in any other documents (including without limitation the Companys most recent Annual Information Form) filed from time to time with the securities regulatory authorities in all provinces and territories of Canada and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . The reader has been cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors which may have been used. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward Looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that Forward Looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Companys Forward Looking Statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date hereof. Unless required by securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update Forward Looking Statements if circumstances or managements estimates or opinions should change. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on Forward Looking Statements.

___________________

1 For more information regarding previously disclosed results from Coka Rakita, please refer to the news release dated January 16, 2023, available on our website at www.dundeeprecious.com .




SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

SkyQuest's Dynamic Positioning System 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 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The market for Dynamic Positioning Systems (DPS) is poised to grow at a CAGR of 10.6% over the forecast period (2022-2030) and reach a value of USD 16.1 billion by 2030. Several factors fuel the market's growth, including the increasing demand for offshore drilling, technological advancements in DPS systems, and stringent government regulations, are fueling the market's growth. The growing demand for renewable energy and exploration activities in deep water and ultra-deep water also contribute to the market's expansion. According to a survey conducted by DNV GL, a technical advisor to the oil and gas industry, 59% of oil and gas industry respondents identified offshore drilling as their primary area of growth for the next five years, highlighting the increasing focus on offshore drilling and exploration.

SkyQuest's latest research findings indicate that 78% of oil and gas executives plan to increase their investment in deepwater exploration and production activities in the coming years. Advancements in technology, such as the use of DPS, are enabling companies to explore and produce oil and gas in deeper waters, as global deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration and production activities are expected to increase significantly in the coming years, due to the depletion of shallow water reserves and the increasing demand for oil and gas. The report also notes that deepwater exploration activities have increased by more than 30% in the past decade.

Story continues

Browse in-depth TOC on "Dynamic Positioning System Market"

Pages - 242

Tables - 88

Figures - 72

In modern offshore operations, particularly in the oil and gas industry, Dynamic Positioning Systems (DPS) play a crucial role. These systems help vessels to maintain a stable position and heading, even in harsh weather conditions, and perform complex operations such as drilling, construction, and maintenance. The growing demand for offshore exploration and production activities has made the importance of DPS more significant than ever. DPS provides safer and more efficient operations, enabling the industry to meet the rising energy demand while minimizing environmental impact.

Prominent Players in Dynamic Positioning System Market

Kongsberg Gruppen AS

Caterpillar Inc.

Wartsila Corporation

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

General Electric Company

ABB Ltd.

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

Marine Technologies LLC

Navis Engineering Oy

Norr Systems AB

Praxis Automation Technology B.V.

Reygar Ltd.

RH Marine Netherlands B.V.

Wartsila Guidance Marine Ltd.

Marine Technologies LLC

MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH

Nautilus Marine Service GmbH

Oceaneering International, Inc.

Sea Machines Robotics, Inc.

ST Engineering Limited

Get a sample copy of this report:

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Oil and Gas Industry Segment to Drive Higher Sales as it is Used across various aircraft types, including commercial, military, and general aviation

SkyQuest's recent analysis has shown that the Oil and Gas Industry segment in the Dynamic Positioning System emerged as a significant contributor to the rapid growth of the Dynamic Positioning System market in 2021. This trend is expected to continue from 2022 to 2030, driven by the increasing demand for offshore drilling activities and the rise in deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration. The growing adoption of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for underwater exploration is also expected to increase the demand for DPS in the industry.

Europe is forecasted to emerge as a dominant player in the Dynamic Positioning System market from 2022 to 2030, according to research analysis. SkyQuest has projected a CAGR of 4.82% during the forecast period for the region, driven by the presence of major players, suppliers, rising budgets, and surging demand. Initiatives such as Kongsberg and Wilhelmsen's joint venture to develop the world's first autonomous shipping company, which utilizes dynamic positioning technology for unmanned ship operations, demonstrate the region's technological advancement. Rolls-Royce's recent launch of a new DP system, the Unified Bridge Control system, which integrates various navigation and control systems into a single platform for enhanced efficiency and safety, is another example of the region's innovation in the industry.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/dynamic-positioning-system-market

Class 2 Type Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth Due to its Highly Advanced and Equipped Multiple Redundancy Systems

According to SkyQuest's analysis, the Dynamic Positioning System market was dominated by the Class 2 Type segment in 2021, and this segment is expected to continue its leadership position from 2022 to 2030. These systems are equipped with advanced features and have multiple redundancy systems, making them suitable for complex offshore operations such as drilling and production activities. Furthermore, their cost-effectiveness in moderate to harsh weather conditions has made them a popular choice in the offshore oil and gas industry.

SkyQuest has projected that the Asia Pacific region will experience significant growth in the Dynamic Positioning System market, with a projected CAGR of 7.07% during the forecast period, indicating that the region will maintain its leading position in the market by 2030. This expansion is driven by the adoption of advanced technologies and the implementation of favorable government regulations in the region, which support the growth of the offshore industry.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Dynamic Positioning System 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.

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Key Developments in Dynamic Positioning System Market

The Norwegian chemical company Yara recently reported that the Yara Birkeland, the first ever fully autonomous and zero-emission cargo ship, successfully completed its inaugural journey in Norway. This cutting-edge vessel is equipped with advanced sensors and computer systems that allow it to be operated either autonomously or through remote control.

Volvo Penta has expanded its marine leisure offerings by providing its Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) across its twin V6 and V8 propulsion packages. This move will make DPS available in Volvo Penta's complete marine leisure line. The update will be released worldwide, providing the broadest coverage of this automated feature in the marine industry. This new development offers greater automation in everyday boating, providing more boaters with increased control and a sense of security on the water.

Key Questions Answered in Dynamic Positioning System 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:

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Endeavour Silver Corporation

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endeavour Silver Corp. (Endeavour or the Company) (NYSE: EXK; TSX: EDR) is pleased to report first quarter 2023 production of 1,623,545 silver ounces (oz) and 9,342 gold oz, for silver equivalent1 (AgEq) production of 2.4 million oz.



The year is off to a strong start. First quarter silver equivalent production increased by 18% compared to the same period last year, as Guanacevis elevated silver grades continue to drive increased silver production, stated Dan Dickson, Chief Executive Officer. Our operations team has continued to deliver safe production, consistently meeting or beating our plan. These results provide management with continued confidence to advance our development projects, knowing we have the capabilities and culture to deliver.

Q1 2023 Highlights

Guanacevi Continues to Deliver: Silver and gold production met plan with higher grades offset by throughput and recoveries comparable to Q1 2022. Extended scheduled maintenance including mill liner and concentrate filter cloth changes led to lower tonnage throughput in February. Throughput returned to planned levels in March and is expected to remain on plan for the remainder of the year.

Bolanitos Performance Remains Steady: Strong silver production, resulting from silver grades comporable to Q1 2022 along with increased throughput, were offset by the impact of slightly lower gold production and lower gold grades.

Metal Sales and Inventories : Sold 1,667,408 oz silver and 9,126 oz gold during the quarter. Held 435,722 oz silver and 1,263 oz gold of bullion inventory and 35,347 oz silver and 503 oz gold in concentrate inventory at quarter end.

Published Inaugural Climate Report : Entitled  Our Climate Journey , highlighting the Companys approach to climate change and alignment with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) (see News Release dated March 9, 2023).

Construction Advances at the Terronera Project: Progress on development activities include onsite delivery of mobile mining equipment, procurement of major equipment, and assembly of initial project infrastructure such as the temporary mine maintenance shop and a permanent camp facility. Earthworks included site clearing, road upgrades and underground mine access development.

Financial Due Diligence Continues on Financing the Terronera Project: The Company intends to make a formal construction decision subject to completion of a financing package and receipt of additional amended permits in short order.

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Q1 2023 Mine Operations

Consolidated silver production increased by 23% to 1,623,545 ounces in Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022, driven by a 27% increase in silver production at the Guanacevi mine and a 1% increase in silver production at the Bolanitos mine.

Gold production increased by 7% to 9,342 ounces as a 20% increase in gold production at the Guanacevi mine was offset by a 1% decrease in gold production at the Bolanitos mine.

Guanacevi throughput in Q1 2023 was 1% higher than Q1 2022 and silver grades and gold grades were 26% and 19% higher, respectively. Guanacevi throughput was slightly below plan with the majority of mining in the new higher grade El Curso orebody. Supplies of local third-party feed continued to supplement mine production, amounting to 11% of quarterly throughput and contributing to the higher grades.

Bolanitos Q1 2023 throughput was 4% higher than Q1 2022 with silver grades flat and gold grades 2% lower. Silver production was 1% higher while gold production decreased by 1% at the Bolanitos mine.

Production Highlights for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

Q1 2023 Highlights Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 2022 % Change Throughput (tonnes) 211,073 206,147 2% Silver ounces produced 1,623,545 1,314,955 23% Gold ounces produced 9,342 8,695 7% Payable silver ounces produced 1,608,212 1,303,540 23% Payable gold ounces produced 9,184 8,549 7% Silver equivalent ounces produced1 2,370,905 2,010,555 18% Silver ounces sold 1,667,408 1,717,768 (3%) Gold ounces sold 9,126 8,381 9%

Q1 2023 Production by Mine

Production Tonnes Tonnes Grade Grade Recovery Recovery Silver Gold by mine Processed per day Ag gpt* Au gpt* Ag % Au % Oz Oz Guanacevi 102,375 1,138 511 1.42 85.6% 89.6% 1,439,924 4,188 Bolanitos 108,698 1,208 61 1.70 86.1% 86.8% 183,621 5,154 Consolidated 211,073 2,346 279 1.56 85.7% 88.0% 1,623,545 9,342

*gpt = grams per tonne

Totals may not add up due to rounding

Qualified Person

Dale Mah, P.Geo., Vice President Corporate Development, a qualified person under NI 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information related to operations matters contained in this news release.

Q1 2023 Financial Results and Conference Call

The Companys Q1 2023 financial results will be released before markets open on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 and a telephone conference call will be held the same day at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET. To participate in the conference call, please dial the numbers below.

Date & Time: Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET Telephone: Toll-free in Canada and the US +1-800-319-4610 Local or International +1-604-638-5340 Please allow up to 10 minutes to be connected to the conference call. Replay: A replay of the conference call will be available by dialing (toll-free) +1-800-319-6413 in Canada and the US (toll-free) or +1-604-638-9010 outside of Canada and the US. The replay passcode is 0037#. The replay will also be available on the Companys website at www.edrsilver.com .

About Endeavour Silver  Endeavour Silver Corp. is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that operates two high-grade underground silver-gold mines in Mexico. Endeavour is currently advancing the Terronera mine project towards a construction decision, pending financing and final permits and exploring its portfolio of exploration and development projects in Mexico, Chile and the United States to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer. Our philosophy of corporate social integrity creates value for all stakeholders.

Contact Information

Galina Meleger, VP of Investor Relations

Toll free: (877) 685-9775

Tel: (604) 640-4804

Email: gmeleger@edrsilver.com

Website: www.edrsilver.com

Follow Endeavour Silver on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and LinkedIn

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding the development and financing of the Terronera project, including anticipated decisions on construction and financing, estimation of mineral resources at Pitarrilla, prospects for Terronera, Pitarrilla and Parral, Endeavours anticipated performance in 2023 including changes in mining operations and forecasts of production levels, anticipated production costs and all-in sustaining costs, and the timing and results of various activities. The Company does not intend to and does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, production levels, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include but are not limited to the ultimate impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on operations and results, changes in production and costs guidance, national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico; financial risks due to precious metals prices, operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Companys title to properties; as well as those factors described in the section risk factors contained in the Companys most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form filed with the S.E.C. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to: the continued operation of the Companys mining operations, availability of debt financing for the Terronera Project, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, mining operations will operate and the mining products will be completed in accordance with managements expectations and achieve their stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

1 Silver equivalent calculated using an 80:1 silver:gold ratio.






EnsembleIQ

Gathering Includes The Path to Purchase Connect Event Providing One-on-One Meetings Matching CPG Brands with Retailer Media Networks, Agencies and Solution Providers

CHICAGO, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EnsembleIQs The Path to Purchase Institute today announces Colin Lewis, director at Retail Media Works, and brand and retail media advisor, and Andrea Leigh, founder and CEO, Allume Group, the leading provider of digital commerce education to consumer brands, agencies and retailers, will keynote the 2023 Retail Media Summit . The event serving retail media-focused commerce marketing professionals takes place June 27-29 in Chicago. Register here .



Lewis advises both brands and retailers in Europe on their retail media strategy, and has served as an advisor, educator and consultant to brands such as Unilever, Philip Morris, Samsung, Superdrug, De Beers, Bayer, LOreal, Sofidel, Kerry Group, Migros and Glanbia Performance Nutrition. During his keynote, Lewis will draw from historical trends  as well as research from the U.S. and around the world  to show how both brands and retailers can navigate their way into a different world that will benefit both parties, rather than continue the often-adversarial nature of buyer-supplier relationships.

While retail media can be a complicated space with complex challenges in areas such as budgeting, selecting networks and measuring results, it also can provide significant brand exposure and market share advantages to consumer product goods brands. An e-commerce educator, advisor and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience, Leigh will deliver the keynote address, Succeeding in the Future of Retail Media. Leigh will help Retail Media Summit attendees better understand the challenges and opportunities, focusing on current events, trends, predictions for the future and the Allume Group's M.E.D.I.A. framework for success.

The Summit also includes The Path to Purchase Institute Connect event, a two-day opportunity for CPG brands to participate in 20-minute one-on-one, in-person meetings with retailer media networks, agencies and solution providers, to discuss new products and services, marketing initiatives and business strategies.

Story continues

Our event is designed to help brands and retailers navigate this complicated, rapidly shifting arena of retail media and digital commerce. The program brings together the industry's leading experts in retail media for content sessions, idea exchanges and networking, said Eric Savitch, Vice President and Brand Director, The Path to Purchase Institute. In addition, The Path to Purchase Institute Connect will match CPG brands with solution providers through private, in-person meetings to help drive retail business forward.

Solution providers are encouraged to seek Retail Media Summit sponsorship opportunities here .

To register to attend The Path to Purchase Institutes Retail Media Summit, click here .

Stay connected to The Path to Purchase Institutes Retail Media Summit on LinkedIn, Facebook , Twitter and Instagram , with #RetailMediaSummit.

About The Path to Purchase Institute

The Path to Purchase Institute is a global member community serving the needs of brand manufacturers, retailers, agencies and the entire ecosystem of solution providers in the commerce marketing industry.

About EnsembleIQ

EnsembleIQ is the premier resource of actionable insights and connections powering business growth throughout the path to purchase. We help retail, technology, consumer goods, healthcare and hospitality professionals make informed decisions and gain a competitive advantage. EnsembleIQ delivers the most trusted business intelligence from leading industry experts, creative marketing solutions and impactful event experiences that connect best-in-class suppliers and service providers with our vibrant business-building communities. To learn more about EnsembleIQ, visit ensembleiq.com .

Media Contact

Joe Territo

Chief Strategy Officer

EnsembleIQ

jterrito@ensembleiq.com




Market Research Future

New York, US, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR),  Enterprise AI Market , By Solution, By Service, By Deployment, By Industry Vertical - Forecast till 2030, the global market for automated test equipment is anticipated to thrive substantially during the assessment timeframe from 2022 to 2030 at a healthy CAGR of approximately 34.60% to attain around USD 155.2 Billion by 2030.

Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Market Overview

The market for buttock augmentation is being driven by factors including rising disposable income, increased aesthetic awareness among the populace, strong social media influence, and aesthetics-related technology advancements. Fat grafting is one method that has a high success rate, high patient satisfaction, and few problems, all of which are predicted to help the market grow. Together with an increase in understanding of the beauty care techniques and products accessible worldwide, image/appearance consciousness is also rising. Peer recommendations are extremely important when buying cosmetic goods, and social media has a significant impact on millennials' shopping decisions.

Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Market Competitive Analysis

The catalog for prominent participants across the global market for Enterprise Artificial Intelligence includes players such as:

Amazon Web Services, Inc.

IBM Corporation

Microsoft Corporation

Oracle Corporation

Intel Corporation

Alphabet Inc.

SAP SE

C3.ai, Inc.

DataRobot, Inc.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP

Wipro Limited

NVidia Corporation

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Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Market Report Scope:

Report Metrics Details Market Size by 2030 USD 155.2 Billion CAGR during 2022-2030 34.60% Base Year 2021 Forecast 2022-2030 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Key Market Opportunities The market for enterprise artificial intelligence is expected to experience a high growth rate. Key Market Drivers The growing amount of data sets required to analyze, complex data for with integration of artificial intelligence for better efficiency is driving the market.

71.0% of individuals are more inclined to make an online purchase of a product or service when it is suggested by others, according to Hubspot statistics from 2019. Also, it may be said that a few influencers are responsible for the majority of social media referral branding. Forbes claims that 5% of the influencers who endorse products or services are responsible for 45% of social influence. A 2015 survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that 93% of patients chose cosmetic surgery as a result of recommendations from friends and family who were pleased with the results. Also, 75% of these chose the surgery due to the growing availability of information regarding cosmetic procedures online.



Story continues

Browse In-depth Market Research Report (100 Pages) on Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Market:

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/enterprise-artificial-intelligence-market-5794

According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, worldwide buttock augmentation and buttock lift treatments totaled over 5,34,345 in 2019.

Currently, 4.7% of all surgical procedures performed worldwide are buttock augmentation treatments, and this percentage is rapidly increasing. According to an NCBI survey, the main reason people choose cosmetic treatments is to increase their physical beauty and self-esteem (86%), which is followed by restorative and health concerns (46%).

Buttock augmentation surgery, one of the fastest-growing surgical cosmetic subspecialties, has climbed by 252% between 2000 and 2017, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Strict guidelines have been established by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in order to restart clinics and provide infection control measures.

Covid 19 Impact

Every segment of the global economy was significantly damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the need for innovative and cutting-edge AI-based enterprise products rose during the pandemic across a number of sectors, including healthcare, retail, and education. This led to growth in the enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) market. A machine learning-based imaging system that can identify indications of Covid-19 will be deployed by UC San Diego Health, an academic medical center inside the University of California, with the assistance of Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud in July 2020. (Amazon EC2).

Talk To Expert:

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/ask_for_schedule_call/5794

Industry Trends

In 2021, the U.S. industrial coatings market was estimated to be worth USD 15.0 billion. From 2022 to 2030, it is expected to increase at a CAGR of 3.2%. It is projected that rising demand in the automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries will be the main driver of the product's demand. The U.S. economy's growth depends heavily on the automotive sector. The nation has one of the biggest auto marketplaces in the world. The auto industry supports around 4.5% of all jobs in the United States. The COVID-19 epidemic hurt the automotive sector, but it has now recovered and returned to normal. Around 18 billion USD are annually spent on research & development by the auto sector in the United States.

Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Market Segmentation

The types of markets in Deployment Forecast (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030) include cloud and on-premises.

The market is divided into Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Voice Recognition, and Others in Technological Forecast (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 2030).

Big, Small, and Medium Businesses are included in Organization Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030).

Media & Advertising, Retail, BFSI, IT & Telecom, Healthcare, Automotive & Transportation, and Others are the market categories based on end-use outlook (revenue, USD million, 20172030).

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Regional Analysis

North America, which accounted for 38.1% of global revenue in 2021, is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 33.0% over the projected period. The market in the region is being driven by elements including the presence of top organizations that create AI solutions & services, technological infrastructure facilities, and the substantial number of end users employing data management devices.

For instance, as part of a strategy to expand leadership in artificial intelligence, the president unveiled the American AI Initiative in February 2019. Also, as part of these programmes, federal authorities have established criteria for the development and implementation of AI-based systems in the real world across a variety of industrial sectors.

Throughout the forecast period, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to experience the fastest CAGR of 36.4%. The usage of AI is growing, and data management platforms are being installed. These developments address problems with privacy and security, teamwork, and the setting of moral standards for businesses. The main growth drivers are the development of AI technology, rising government investment spending, and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies across many industries.

For instance, the Asia Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA), a Hong Kong-based organization founded in 2021 by 663 academicians globally, has as its main goal the advancement of scientists working in the fields of AI and other related disciplines. Via academic interactions and research, the group seeks to further the development and implementation of AI.

Related Reports:

Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) Market By Type, By Application, By Region  Market Forecast Till 2030

Analytics as a Service Market By Component, By Analytics Type, By Deployment, by Organization Size, By End-User  Forecast till 2030

Corporate E-learning Market By Technology, By Training Type, By Region  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 regarding diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.

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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

Escalator Market Information By Type (Parallel, Multi parallel, Spiral type, Crisscross, and Others), By Application (Residential and Commercial), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World)Forecast till 2030

New York (US), April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Escalator Market Overview

According to a Comprehensive Report by Market Research Future (MRFR),  Escalator Market Information by Type, by Application, and Region - Forecast till 2030", By 2030, the escalator market should reach USD 20,864.40 million while developing at a rate of 4.70% between 2022 and 2030.

Market Synopsis

People can go from one floor to the next in a building or other structure using escalators, which are essentially moving staircases. The majority of the time, they are powered by an electric motor and constructed of interlocking steps. The system of chains and gears in an escalator makes it simple to move the steps. All of the equipment is housed within a network of trusses that span the floors. Residential, industrial, and commercial constructions are among the many verticals where they are frequently encountered. They are put in place in housing complexes, train stations, metro stations, hospitals, office buildings, shopping centers, and educational institutions. As the construction industry gains pace, escalators in high-rise and mid-rise buildings have become essential.



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Market Competitive Landscape:

The affluent vendors in the escalator industry are

Schindler (Switzerland)

ThyssenKrupp AG (Germany)

KONE Corporation (Finland)

United Technologies (US)

Hitachi Ltd. (Japan)

Toshiba Corporation (Japan)

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Electra Ltd. (Israel)

FUJITA (Japan)

Hyundai Elevator Co. Ltd.

Among others.

Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2030 USD 20,864.40 million CAGR 4.70% (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 Type, Application, and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers The increased urbanization is increasing the number of modern retail and metro train stations.



Browse In-depth Market Research Report (112 Pages) on Escalator:



https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/escalator-market-1606

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Market USP Covered:

Market Drivers:

Because metropolitan areas provide more economic and educational possibilities, the pace of urbanization has increased significantly over the world. The need for institutional and commercial buildings has been spurred by the growth of the urban population. Because more people need to be accommodated, commercial buildings have become larger in terms of square footage. The significance of vertical transportation systems for the efficient operation of buildings has risen as a result. Because escalators allow for a continuous flow of people from one floor to another, these considerations have had a favorable impact on the escalator market. Also, many governments throughout the world are concentrating on the building of effective metro rail systems to address problems with traffic congestion, which is driving up demand for the industry.

Also, there are now many more shopping malls due to the growing spending power of the populace in emerging nations. Escalators are less noisy and vibrational than stairs and may be put in the same area. These technological benefits help escalators become more popular.

Opportunities

The heavy surge in the urban population worldwide will lead to a desire for more business space, which will fuel the escalator market's expansion. Also, emerging nations worldwide have expanded their investments in metro and subway construction. For instance, as of 2020, India will have a metro rail network of more than 1000 kilometers, while China will have a network of over 6000 km of subways. Moreover, India is building 21 Greenfield airports as part of the UDAN program. As escalators allow for continuous people movement, the development of such public transportation projects considerably boosts the need for them.

Market Restraints:

The increasing number of accidents is a worry with modern escalators. When fixing and maintaining them, several accidents have happened. Numerous workers have suffered serious injuries when they have been trapped in the middle of these moving pieces. The incidents during repair are expected to diminish as occupational safety regulations and training standards tighten.



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COVID 19 Analysis

Every industry has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including those in the following sectors: aerospace & defense, banking, financial services & insurance, ICT, agriculture, food & beverage, automotive & transportation, chemical & material, consumer goods, retail & eCommerce, energy & power, pharmaceutical & healthcare, packaging.

The entire world is suffering due to the coronavirus outbreak. Almost all nations have implemented strong social segregation policies, including lockdowns. Supply networks have been disrupted as a result. The epidemic has altered global social structures.

Market Segmentation

By Type



The escalator market segmentation, depending on the type, is parallel, multi-parallel, walkway, crisscross, and spiral type. The escalator market growth was prominently high under the parallel segment in 2021 due to increased demand from commercial buildings.

Compared to conventional escalators, the parallel escalator provides many benefits. Since it contains twice as many steps, which are broader than those on a straight up-and-down escalator, it can move more passengers per unit of time than a straight escalator.

By Application

Commercial and residential escalators are divided into market segments based on application. In addition to the expected higher CAGR growth, the residential sector was the market's largest contributor in 2021. The global housing industry is being driven by improving economic living standards. As more people move to cities in search of employment, emerging countries like India, China, the Middle East, and North Africa are seeing unprecedented urban boom. This has led to a surge in the significance of high-height building development, which is almost always accompanied by intelligent elevators. In addition, there is a major uptick in investment in public transit projects like metro lines and airports, as well as rising demand for commercial space, which is driving the industry.



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Regional Insights

In terms of revenue, North America dominated the escalator industry in 2021. This is due to the presence of nations like Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Strong urbanization rates in these nations are anticipated, which will increase demand in the area. The growth of significant companies is another factor influencing market demand. Since numerous established market players try to increase their performance and client base in the area by fusing their tactics and acquiring significant local businesses, the US will have the greatest revenue share in the market in 2021.

Throughout the projection period, Asia-Pacific will see the highest growth rate. India, China, and other Asia-Pacific nations with high population densities, as well as Japan, make a contribution and act as the main market drivers. A significant boom in the construction industry is also anticipated in Asia-Pacific as a result of an increase in public and private infrastructure development projects. A conducive environment for commercial expansion has also been created through the cooperation between domestic and foreign businesses.



Check Discount:



https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1606



Discover more research Reports on Construction Industry , by Market Research Future:

Bathroom Vanities Market Information: by Material (Glass, Ceramic, Stone and Wood), by Application (Residential and Non-Residential) and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the World) - Forecast till 2030

Fiber Cement Board Market Research Report: By Raw Material (Portland Cement, Silica), By Type (Low-Density Fiber Cement Board, Medium-Density Fiber Cement Board, High-Density Fiber Cement Board) and By Application (Residential Buildings, Non-Residential Buildings)  Forecast to 2030

GRP Pipes Market Research Report: By Resin (Epoxy, Polyester, Vinyl Ester) and By End-Use (Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Wastewater Treatment, Irrigation)  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




Key Insights

The projected fair value for Dolby Laboratories is US$93.89 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of US$84.45 suggests Dolby Laboratories is potentially trading close to its fair value

Our fair value estimate is 4.8% lower than Dolby Laboratories' analyst price target of US$98.67

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

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.

See our latest analysis for Dolby Laboratories

The Method

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 start off with, we need to estimate 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, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$313.0m US$351.2m US$451.0m US$505.6m US$551.5m US$590.0m US$622.5m US$650.4m US$674.8m US$696.7m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ 12.10% Est @ 9.09% Est @ 6.98% Est @ 5.51% Est @ 4.48% Est @ 3.76% Est @ 3.25% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 8.0% US$290 US$301 US$358 US$372 US$375 US$372 US$363 US$351 US$338 US$323

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

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$3.4b

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We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.1%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.0%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$697m (1 + 2.1%)  (8.0% 2.1%) = US$12b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$12b ( 1 + 8.0%)10= US$5.6b

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$9.0b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$84.5, the company appears about fair value at a 10% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

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. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Dolby Laboratories 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 8.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.998. 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 Dolby Laboratories

Strength

Currently debt free.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Software market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the American market.

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Dolby Laboratories, we've compiled three additional aspects you should further examine:

Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Dolby Laboratories you should know about. Future Earnings: How does DLB'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 High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

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

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



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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(Bloomberg) -- Korean stocks tied to the electric-vehicles battery space extended this years frenzied rally on Monday, with market watchers citing a slew of positive developments in the sector.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Last weeks better-than-estimated results from battery maker LG Energy Solution Ltd. and a report that some Chinese firms have cut back production of lithium  a key material  are seen as having sparked renewed interest in the sector which has been a hot favorite among Korean retail investors in recent months.

On Monday, shares of cathode-active materials supplier Ecopro BM Co. and its parent Ecopro Co. both surged more than 20% intraday. The latters stock is now up 600% in 2023 and the supplier to Ford Motor Co. and Samsung SDI Co. plans to expand its manufacturing presence in South Korea, Bloomberg News reported last week.

READ: Korea EV Battery-Materials Stocks Jump After US Guidance on IRA

Retail investors love for EV supply-chain plays has sparked a dizzying surge in some smallcap stocks and helped Koreas Kosdaq index post a world-beating rally. Interest in local firms has grown as dominant Chinese peers face increased scrutiny from the US, and amid a lack of momentum in Korean semiconductor and automaker shares.

There seems to be a systematic limitation for trading in the Korean markets as there arent many sectors other than EVs that are expected to post profit growth this year, said Yoon Joonwon, a fund manager at DS Asset Management Co., adding however that the rally seems excessive.

In a sign of the wider search for all things lithium and battery related, shares of steel producer Posco Holdings Inc. jumped more than 10% at one point on Monday to their highest since May 2021, with analysts citing expectations for its lithium business to continue to boost its price.

Story continues

Largecap names like LG Chem Ltd. and SK Innovation Co. each climbed more than 5%. Smaller stocks that some investors see linked to lithium, such as Kum Yang Co. and Enplus Co., also jumped.

Read: Short Sellers Losing Battle With Day Traders in Koreas EV Rally

In other sector developments, Tesla Inc. marked down all of its vehicles again in the US after price tweaks throughout the first quarter yielded an incremental sales gain. Separately, the company said it will build a large new battery factory in Shanghai.

--With assistance from Hongcheol Kim.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
editor's node column

Nearly five years ago, SEC official Bill Himan stood on stage at a Yahoo Finance crypto summit in San Francisco and delivered a prepared speech that concluded that Ethereum (ETH) is not a security. A footnote on the SEC's website clarified that the speech "expresses the authors views and does not necessarily reflect those of the Commission," but it was nonetheless taken exactly that way.

Hinman's speech came just one week after then-SEC chair Jay Clayton said that the SEC does not view Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies as securities, as opposed to tokens, Clayton said, "where I give you my money, and you go off and make a venture, and in return for giving you my money I say 'you can get a return'that is a security."

But Gary Gensler, the current SEC chair and scourge of crypto builders, has made clear that he does not share Hinman's view. He views "everything other than Bitcoin" as a security. Last fall, just one day after Ethereum completed its merge to become a proof-of-stake network, Gensler said that the native tokens of networks that use staking also look like securities, since "the investing public is anticipating profits based on the efforts of others."

And Gensler is using as his north star the same test that Hinman and Clayton used: a 77-year-old lawsuit involving a Florida citrus grove.

The "Howey Test" has become an infamous bogeyman for everyone in crypto, and while the industry would like it to go away, it is clear that isn't going to happen any time soon.

Hinman and Clayton are both long gone from the SEC and have moved on to advise crypto firms (naturally). But Howey remains, and Gensler has cited it to make the case that all of crypto falls under SEC jurisdictioneven though just last month, his counterpart at the CFTC said ETH is a commodity.

(Ironically, Hinman's speech in June 2018 was called "When Gary Met Howey," but he was referencing a 1985 case involving Gary Plastic Packaging that showed a non-security can become a security depending on how it's marketed; Hinman couldn't know that in a few years, a different Gary would wield Howey as a hammer against an entire trillion-dollar industry.)

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The thrust of Howey is that an asset becomes an investment contract when it is marketed or sold with the expectation of profit thanks to the work of the seller or a third party. The citrus grove itself was not a security, but shares in the citrus grove were. Hinman argued that putting aside the initial Ethereum fundraise in 2014 that brought in $18 million, the network had since become sufficiently decentralized to rule out current sales of ETH as securities offerings. Gensler does not appear to agree, but more importantlyand more damaging for most new crypto projectsis that all other token sales built on Ethereum do look pretty clearly like securities under the Howey definition. Speculators buy them in the hopes that the token will go up based on the perceived success of the project.

But wait! What if the token is genuinely used in the project's ecosystem, and has real utility beyond price speculation? Doesn't matter, as Hinman said in 2018 way before Gensler showed up: "Simply labeling a digital asset a 'utility token' does not turn the asset into something that is not a security." In other words: call your token whatever you want, the SEC still thinks it's a security.

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce Outlines Problems With the SECs Howey Test

People in crypto like to say that the SEC has not given "clear guidelines" for crypto projects, but the truth is that it has. Its guiding light is the Howey Testthe industry just doesn't like it. Gensler said in front of Congress just last week: No new rules are coming, because "the regulations actually already exist."

Another problem people raise with Howey is that it's too damn old to be applied fairly anymore, but even Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal, a former California magistrate judge, said recently on our gm podcast that the issue with Howey is not its age: "I love legal precedents, even if they are decades old. So I have no problem with Howey or any other precedent simply because of its age."

The problem with Howey is how it's being applied to new technology.

"When it comes to the operation of a blockchain-based technology that underlies most digital assets, there is often, I think, a confusion about the role of the promoter, a confusion about what is driving any returns that might accrue to the holder of tokens, and a confusion about fundamentally how these assets work, and what real utility they bring to the networks,," Grewal said. "When it comes to networks that are based on a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, there's a very important role that these tokens play, which is to make sure that the networks are secure, that the transactions that are confirmed on the network are accurate."

So, is it always fair to chalk up a token's gains solely to the efforts of the project behind it? What about when the token holders are real participants in the project's success? That is the distinction many new projects are hoping excludes their token from the SEC's clutches, but for now, Gensler has not indicated that it makes any difference to him.

That approach certainly didn't work for LBRY, which argued that its token "functioned as an essential part of the LBRY blockchain" and still lost its case against the SEC, and lost badas University of Kentucky law professor Brian Frye told Decrypt, "The district court almost entirely deferred to the SEC... He ruled for the SEC on literally everything, with no caveats.

Most people you ask believe Gary Gensler is angling for a bigger job in government. But there's no guarantee Gensler's successor as SEC chair won't also happily apply Howey to crypto. (Remember: when Gensler first took the job, people in crypto were initially optimistic because he had taught a blockchain course at MIT; don't assume the next chair will be any friendlier.)

The entire crypto industry must reckon with Howey, rather than hope it just goes away. Some projects are doing that by calling their coin a governance token, emphasizing holder participation; others, like Coinbase, are promising to fight the SEC head on, which should be applauded by the industry; many others are only offering their token outside the U.S..

For now, it's clear the current regulatory environment in the U.S. is pushing crypto projects overseas. What happens next with regulation will be the most important determinant for the future of Web3 innovation in America. For the time being, Howey is alive and kicking.
Failed crypto exchange FTX's spectacular collapse was due to 'hubris, incompetence, and greed,' says first debtors' report

FTX filed shockingly for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November, after a week of a liquidity crisis.

On Sunday, its debtors released their first report on the collapse of the crypto exchange.

The report alleged a lack of controls including in management, governance, and accounting.

"Hubris, incompetence, and greed" led to the implosion of crypto exchange FTX, the now-defunct entity's debtors said in a Sunday report detailing control failures at the exchange.

In a 39-page strongly-worded report filed to the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, the debtors  which includes FTX Trading and affiliates  further alleged that FTX lacked basic accounting and financial controls and was under the command of a small group of individuals who "stifled dissent."

"These individuals stifled dissent, commingled and misused corporate and customer funds, lied to third parties about their business, joked internally about their tendency to lose track of millions of dollars in assets, and thereby caused the FTX Group to collapse as swiftly as it had grown," the debtors wrote in their first report since the exchange's collapse in November.

"While the FTX Group's failure is novel in the unprecedented scale of harm it caused in a nascent industry, many of its root causes are familiar: hubris, incompetence, and greed," they said.

FTX's implosion was shocking and swift. The exchange  worth $32 billion in early 2022  filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 11 of the same year, after a week of a liquidity crisis.

The crisis was followed by swift criminal cases against the company's top brass.

Sam Bankman-Fried, a high-profile cofounder of the exchange and former CEO, pleaded not guilty in the US government's criminal case against him and is scheduled for a trial in October. Gary Wang, another cofounder, and Caroline Ellison, former CEO of FTX subsidiary Alameda Research, have pleaded guilty and are working with prosecutors. Former engineering chief Nishad Singh also pleaded guilty.

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The report was filed by John J. Ray III, the current CEO and chief restructuring officer at FTX, per a Sunday press release. The debtor's filing was being released "in the spirit of transparency that we promised since the beginning of the Chapter 11 process," Ray said.

Read further for the three key allegations from the debtors' report.

1. A lack of management and governance controls.

The report alleged the management and governance of FTX were largely limited to Bankman-Fried, Singh, and Wang.

For most parts, FTX also lacked independent or experienced personnel in finance, accounting, HR, and information security and "lacked any internal audit function whatsoever," the debtors stated in the filing. Board oversight was "effectively non-existent," they added.

The company also didn't have an organizational structure and at the time of its bankruptcy filing, did not even have a complete list of who its employees were, per the filing.

2. A lack of financial and accounting controls.

The report states that FTX relied on a small unnamed external accounting firm for nearly all of its basic accounting functions  and the accounting firm appeared to have no specialist knowledge of cryptos or international financial markets. The debtors did not provide further details of this appointment.

"There is no evidence that the FTX Group ever performed an evaluation of whether its outside accountants were appropriate for their role given the scale and complexity of the FTX Group's business, or whether they possessed sufficient expertise to account for the wide array of products in which the FTX Group transacted," per the exchange's debtors.

Another issue cited in the report was the submission of expenses and invoices on Slack, which were then approved with emoji. "These informal, ephemeral messaging systems were used to procure approvals for transfers in the tens of millions of dollars, leaving only informal records of such transfers, or no records at all," per the report.

3. A lack of digital asset management, information security, and cybersecurity controls.

The report also alleged FTX failed to put in place "basic, widely accepted" security controls to safeguard its crypto assets.

They include keeping almost all crypto assets in hot wallets that are connected to the internet, which makes them more susceptible to getting stolen.

It also did not effectively enforce using multi-factor authentication, or MFA, among its staff and corporate infrastructure. MFA requires users to provide two or more methods of authentication  such as the use of a password and a one-time passcode to a cell phone  to verify their identities to gain access to a system, per the report. In particular, it did not enforce multi-factor authentication for Google Workspace and its password management program.

"The deficiency is ironic given that the FTX Group recommended that customers use MFA on their own accounts, and Bankman-Fried, via Twitter, publicly stressed the importance of "2FA [Twofactor authentication]," a form of MFA, for crypto security.

FTX's debtors said they have "recovered and secured in cold storage over $1.4 billion in digital assets, and have identified an additional $1.7 billion in digital assets that they are in the process of recovering."

A spokesperson for Bankman-Fried declined comment to Insider. Kroll, FTX's claims agent, as well as legal representatives for Wang, Ellison, and Singh, did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

The case is FTX Trading Ltd., 22-11068, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Fireweed Metals Corp.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FIREWEED METALS CORP. (Fireweed or the Company) (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQB: FWEDF, formerly Fireweed Zinc Ltd.) is pleased to announce that it has retained PI Financial Corp. (PI) to provide market-making services in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange Policies.



PI will trade the securities of Fireweed on the TSXV for the purpose of maintaining an orderly market. In consideration of the services provided by PI, the Company will pay PI a monthly fee of $4,000 for a minimum term of three months and renewable thereafter. Fireweed and PI are unrelated and unaffiliated entities. PI will not receive shares or options as compensation. The capital used for market-making will be provided by PI.

About Fireweed Metals Corp. (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQB: FWEDF; FSE:20F): Fireweed Metals is a public mineral exploration company on the leading edge of Critical Minerals project development. Fireweed is well-funded, with a current cash position of approximately C$38,000,000 and is well-positioned to carry out a large 2023 exploration program. The Company has three projects located in Canada:

Macmillan Pass Zinc-Lead-Silver Project: Fireweed owns 100% of the district-scale 940 km 2 Macmillan Pass project in Yukon, Canada, which is host to one of the largest undeveloped zinc resources in the world* where the Tom and Jason zinc-lead-silver deposits have current Mineral Resources 1 (11.21 Mt Indicated Resource at 6.59% zinc, 2.48% lead, and 21.33 g/t silver; and 39.47 Mt Inferred Resource at 5.84% zinc, 3.14% lead, and 38.15 g/t silver) and a Preliminary Economic Assessment 2 (PEA). In addition, Boundary Main, Boundary West, Tom North and End Zone have significant zinc-lead-silver mineralization drilled but not yet classified as mineral resources. The project also includes large blocks of adjacent claims with known showings and significant upside exploration potential.

Mactung Tungsten Project: The Company recently signed a definitive Asset Purchase Agreement and acquired 100% interest in the 37.6 km 2 Mactung Tungsten Project located adjacent to the Macmillan Pass Project. Mactung contains historic resources that make it one of the largest and highest-grade undeveloped resources in the world of the Critical Mineral tungsten*. Located in Canada, it is one of the rare large tungsten resources outside of China. An updated mineral resource is planned for Q2 2023, and re-sampling of historic drill core is completed and will include assays for previously unreported by-product metals, such as gold, copper, and bismuth, in addition to tungsten.

Gayna River Zinc-Lead-Gallium-Germanium Project: Fireweed has 100% of the 128.75 km2 Gayna River project located 180 kilometres north of the Macmillan Pass project. It is host to extensive mineralization including Critical Minerals zinc, gallium and germanium as well as lead and silver, outlined by 28,000 metres of historic drilling and significant upside potential. The results from the 2022 field program of geochemical sampling, airborne LiDAR topographic surveying and ground geophysics are now being interpreted towards defining drill targets.



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Qualified Person Statement

Technical information in this news release has been approved by CEO Brandon Macdonald, P.Geo. (BC), a Qualified Person as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101.

In Canada, Fireweed (TSXV: FWZ) trades on the TSX Venture Exchange. In the USA, Fireweed (OTCQB: FWEDF) trades on the OTCQB Venture Market for early stage and developing U.S. and international companies and is DTC eligible for enhanced electronic clearing and settlement. Investors can find Real-Time quotes and market information for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com. In Europe, Fireweed (FSE: 20F) trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Additional information about Fireweed and its projects can be found on the Companys website at FireweedMetals.com and at www.sedar.com.

ON BEHALF OF FIREWEED METALS CORP.

Brandon Macdonald

CEO & Director

Contact: Brandon Macdonald

Phone: (604) 646-8361

Email: info@fireweedmetals.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 Statements

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information (forward-looking statements). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to interpretation of drill results, future work plans, the use of funds, and the potential of the Companys projects, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects, "anticipates, "believes, "intends, "estimates, "potential, "possible, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will, "may, "could, or "should occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management and reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include but are not limited to, exploration and development risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, expenditure and financing requirements, general economic conditions, changes in financial markets, the ability to properly and efficiently staff the Companys operations, the sufficiency of working capital and funding for continued operations, title matters, First Nations relations, operating hazards, political and economic factors, competitive factors, metal prices, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulations and oversight, permitting, seasonality and weather, technological change, industry practices, uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and laboratory tests, and one-time events. The Company assumes no obligation to update forwardlooking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections or other factors, except as required by law.

Footnotes and References

* References to relative size and grade of the Mactung historic resources and Macmillan Pass resources in comparison to other tungsten and zinc deposits elsewhere in the world, respectively, are based on review of the Standard & Poors Global Market Intelligence Capital IQ database.

1: Fireweed Technical Report titled NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Macmillan Pass Zinc-Lead-Silver Project, Watson Lake and Mayo Mining Districts Yukon Territory, Canada filed on www.SEDAR.com on Feb 23, 2018, and Fireweed News Release dated January 10th 2018.

2: Fireweed Technical Report titled NI 43-101 Technical Report Macmillan Pass Project Yukon Territory Canada filed on www.SEDAR.com on July 9th 2018, and Fireweed News Release dated May 23rd, 2018. This Preliminary Economic Analysis includes an economic analysis of mineral resources that is preliminary in nature and does not include any mineral reserves. It is equally emphasized that the mineral resources disclosed within this Technical Report are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.




LAKE CITY, Fla., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Federal Bank announced the initiation of a Corporate Equipment Financing line of business, as the most recent addition to the Capital Solutions division. An elite team has been engaged to specialize in multimillion dollar equipment financing. First Federal Bank's expanded offering will support customers in our community banking markets as well as nationwide. Customers will now have access to equipment financing solutions across a broad range of industries and collateral types; this is in addition to the extensive commercial lending options including SBA and USDA loans, structured real estate transactions, and other specialized lending solutions.

First Federal Bank

The new team will be led by industry veteran, William (Bill) Badgio. With over 30 years of experience, Bill has most recently been responsible for all originations and portfolio management of an Equipment Finance unit. His experience and financial acumen facilitate bringing First Federal Bank together with other capital providers including banks, captive finance organizations, independent leasing companies, as well corporations within the Bank's geographic footprint, to provide financing solutions for essential use equipment. "I am very excited to join the First Federal Bank team as we look to bring our expertise to help support the vast capital expenditure requirements within the equipment finance industry."

John Medina, President and CEO, welcomes the new team. He shares "Our mission is to remain a financially stable institution providing Capital Solutions to existing customers and new corporate clients. This addition to our commercial lending emphasizes our commitment to our customers and developing unique solutions to meet all their needs. We look forward to serving the Equipment Finance customers with FFB's personalized and friendly service."

As a community-based mutual institution headquartered in Lake City, FL, the bank is owned by its customers rather than stockholders, and has 25 branches in the Southeast and operations in the Midwest. "Offering Equipment Finance to new and existing First Federal Bank clients benefits the customers and continues the portfolio diversification that is paramount to our stability," says Robert Tuberville, Chief Lending Officer.

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About First Federal Bank

First Federal Bank is a community-based bank offering consumer and commercial banking solutions, services, and loans through banking offices in Florida's Panhandle, North Central and East Florida, and coastal South Carolina. Mortgage, SBA and USDA customers are served through lending offices across the Southeast and Midwest. First Federal is headquartered in Lake City, Florida with assets totaling over $3.6 billion. First Federal has received a "5-Star, Superior" financial rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., of Coral Gables, Fla. for more than two decades and was recognized by Newsweek as "Best Small Bank in Florida" in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. For more information, visit www.ffbf.com.

(PRNewsfoto/First Federal Bank)

Cision

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SOURCE First Federal Bank
Join the most important conversation in crypto and web3! Secure your seat today

Good morning. Heres whats happening:

Prices: Ethereum's Shanghai upgrade is a few days away, but that isn't translating into selling pressure because most staked ether is at a loss.

Insights: In his latest Money Reimagined column, CoinDesk Chief Content Officer Michael Casey argues that the recent backlash against the crypto industry stems from the alleged misdeeds of disgraced FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.

Prices

CoinDesk Market Index (CMI)

1,225

+11.6  1.0%

Bitcoin (BTC)

$28,383

+355.3  1.3%

Ethereum (ETH)

$1,863

+8.4  0.5%

S&P 500

4,105.02

+14.6  0.4%

Gold

$2,018

+6.1  0.3%

Nikkei 225

27,518.31

+45.7  0.2%

BTC/ETH prices per CoinDesk Indices, as of 7 a.m. ET (11 a.m. UTC)

Is a Sharp Move in the Offing?

Good morning Asia.

Bitcoin is opening the Asia trading week up 1.3% at $28,383, while ether is up 0.5% to $1,863.

The CoinDesk Market Index, a measure of the overall crypto market's performance, is up about 1%.

The market leader has traded in a very tight range in the last week, barely moving much. Such consolidation, along with lowering volume, could indicate that a sharp move is around the corner, Joe DiPasquale, CEO of Bitbull Capital, said in a note to CoinDesk.

DiPasquale said that a correction toward $25,000 wouldn't break the bullish structure, whereas a move to $30K is likely to face resistance.

The market sentiment currently remains positive, and we may see select altcoins perform decently if bitcoin remains in the current range for longer, he added.

Ether's relatively flat performance may allay fears that the Ethereum blockchain's Shanghai software upgrade, scheduled for mid-week, will bring selling pressure.

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CryptoQuant wrote in a research report from February that the majority of ether staked was at a loss, with the average loss at 18%.

Typically, selling pressure emerges when market participants are sitting on extreme profits, which is not the case right now for the ether that has been staked, the firm wrote.

Biggest Gainers

Biggest Losers

Insights

SBF, Revenge and the Future of Global Crypto Leadership

With Washington policymaking, its worth remembering that governments, like all human organizations, are made up of, well, humans  complicated creatures whose emotions often undermine their capacity for rational decision making.

Last week, I warned of a dangerous politicization trend in U.S. crypto policy following a barrage of regulatory enforcement actions taken against this industry. I remain concerned about that trend, but my view is now slightly more nuanced thanks to the insights of two people with very good D.C. connections. They explained how emotions  specifically anger and embarrassment  played a huge role in driving those policy actions.

It reminded me of the importance of clear, inviolable rules of governance, whether theyre baked into democratic institutions such as the U.S. Constitution or forged into consensus mechanisms used by open-source software communities, like those attached to blockchain protocols.

Regulation by retribution

Among a string of Thanks Sam moments these past five months, this one takes the cake. You can argue that the crackdown against Kraken, Coinbase, Paxos, Binance and others was driven significantly by a desire to punish Sam Bankman-Fried, the erstwhile founder of FTX, whose mind-blowingly rapid collapse in November sent shock waves through the crypto industry.

This is how one of my sources described the mindset of Biden administration officials and of lawmakers from both political parties: You cant come into their house, slosh that kind of money around, leave politicians with egg on their faces and not expect to pay a huge price. He was referring to the fact that before the FTX meltdown, politicians  mostly Democrats but also some Republicans  had been beneficiaries of more than $74 million in political donations from FTX and had forged connections with Bankman-Fried, who had wooed progressives with his effective altruism commitments. (A CoinDesk investigation found that one-third of Congress took money from Bankman-Fried or his associates.)

Find the full story here:

Important events.

International Monetary Fund meeting

1 p.m. HKT/SGT(5 a.m. UTC): Japan consumer confidence and Eco Watchers survey (March)

8:15 p.m. (UTC): New York Fed President John C. Williams speech

CoinDesk TV

In case you missed it, here is the most recent episode of The Hash on CoinDesk TV:

U.S. Treasury Says DeFi Threatens National Security; MacOS Mystery Over Hidden Bitcoin White Paper

"The Hash" tackles today's hot topics: The U.S. Treasury Department dropped its first report assessing the risks of decentralized finance. Some crypto traders are warning about the market outlook for Shiba Inu dog-themed meme coins. India is planning to rapidly scale its central bank digital currency testing of the digital rupee. Plus, is there a secret Bitcoin maxi working at Apple (AAPL)?

Headlines

Jump in Shiba Inu Breed-Themed Tokens Is Unsustainable, Crypto Traders Warn: Meme coins have outperformed the broader crypto markets in recent days, but some say profit-taking could reverse the rally.

Bank of England Targets 30-Strong Team for Digital Currency: Report Among the positions available: Digital Pound Security Architect and Digital Pound Solutions Architect.

Sushi DEX Approval Contract Exploited For $3.3M: Developers asked users to revoke contracts as a security measure early Sunday.

Drugs, Erratic Dismissals and Feuding Founders: Behind Bitcoin Marketplace Paxfuls Unraveling: Founded in 2015, Paxful became one of the most popular places to buy bitcoin in Africa and other emerging markets, with more than 200 employees. Behind the scenes, staff took paid trips to music festivals, bosses fought, dismissals reportedly occurred on a whim and the smell of cannabis permeated the office.




DUBLIN, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Flare Gas Recovery System Market, By Operating Pressure, By Technology, By Flow Rate, By Application, and By Region Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Research and Markets Logo

The market for flare gas recovery systems on a global scale was valued at USD 1.05 billion in 2021 and is projected to achieve a revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% during the forecast period.

One of the major drivers of market growth is the increasing demand for these systems to reduce emissions in both upstream and downstream engineering, as well as their growing application in power generation. Additionally, there is an increasing awareness of the adverse environmental impact of industrial production processes.

Petrochemical and refinery industries highly utilize flare gas recovery systems to continuously burn vent gases before they are safely discharged into the atmosphere, thereby reducing operating and maintenance costs of processing units through the optimization of steam and thermal radiation consumption.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), indirect greenhouse gas emissions from petroleum and oil & gas (O&G) operations represent around 5,200 million tons (Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) or 15% of total energy sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.



In order to protect the environment, the installation of flare gas recovery systems in fume ejector vents during operation has become mandatory. Leading companies are partnering with governments to establish flare recovery systems in downstream and upstream petrochemical operations. For example, the US-based industrial service company Baker Hughes collaborated with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EPGC) to support emissions recovery and reduction across Egypt's upstream and downstream oil and gas operations.



The increasing demand for flare gas recovery systems to eliminate methane intensity from the environment is driving market growth. Several leading petrochemical and O&G companies are installing and implementing these systems to adhere to Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) protocols.

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Furthermore, many companies are introducing flare gas recovery systems to improve the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), a state-owned oil company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced a target of controlling upstream methane intensity to 0.15% by 2025. ADNOC plans to achieve this target by continuing to reduce methane emissions through the use of flare gas recovery systems and conducting regular leak detection and repair programs. These initiatives are significantly accelerating market growth.

Rapid adoption of flare gas recovery system owing to stringent environmental regulatory frameworks



In the petrochemical and O&G production industry, it is mandatory to install flare gas recovery systems and manage flaring. The World Bank, through the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR), has issued several guidelines that outline new developments in flaring management, operational improvement, and eliminating flare gas from the environment with the help of new technology. This initiative will also provide opportunities for global petrochemical and O&G industries to explore new business approaches. In line with this, the United Nations (UN) has established 17 sustainable development goals (SDG) that address economic, social, and environmental challenges, including sustainability challenges in the O&G industry, to be achieved by 2030.



The increasing demand for the installation of flare gas recovery systems in refinery and processing plants is being driven by these factors. Moreover, many industries are incorporating flare gas recovery systems in electricity generation.

According to the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), around 142 billion cubic meters of gas was flared globally in 2020. This amount of flare gas could provide approximately 750 n kWh of electricity. Globally, O&G and chemical processing companies are looking for opportunities in power generation to increase operating revenue. These factors are expected to drive market revenue growth over the forecast period.



Fluctuating industrial component prices and availability of alternative technology



The pricing of heavy industrial technological products, such as flare gas recovery systems, is heavily influenced by the supply and demand of raw materials. The cost of transportation and installation also significantly impacts the pricing of such products. Furthermore, fluctuations in oil prices can have a major impact on global pricing within the maritime and transportation industries. In 2022, for example, trade and production disruptions due to war led to a USD 100 increase in crude oil prices, according to the World Bank. Additionally, temporary shutdowns of operations in several countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the recent shutdown of one of China's largest port and terminal operations in Ningbo-Zhoushan, have further impacted global pricing. Furthermore, many end-use industries are shifting towards reinjection in secondary oil recovery processes to reduce their carbon footprint, which could hinder the growth of the flare gas recovery systems market over the forecast period.



Key Takeaways

Operating Pressure Outlook

The global flare gas recovery system market has been segmented based on operating pressure, technology, and application. In terms of operating pressure, the market is divided into four categories: up to 5 bar, 5 to 10 bar, 10 to 20 bar, and 20 to 60 bar.

The up to 5 bar operating pressure system accounted for the largest revenue share in 2021. It is designed to efficiently transfer methane and LPG gases to storage barrels, with various analyzers to prevent direct fire. This system is being adopted by many chemical industries to control greenhouse emissions and save operational costs, with less maintenance required.

The 5 to 10 bar operating pressure system is engineered for oil refineries and high-end specialty chemical processing units, and ensures safe functioning of refineries and petrochemical unit production process. This segment accounted for a steady revenue share in 2021, with several companies designing new functionalities to transfer gas energy to electrical energy.



The 10 to 20 bar operating pressure system is highly adopted in large-scale petrochemical and O&G refineries. It helps to efficiently control input pressure of gas from flare vessel and compress it using liquid ring compressors, which is critical to safe functioning of refineries and petrochemical facilities. The recovered gases are highly used as refinery feedstock or re-injection, and this segment accounted for a moderate revenue share in 2021.



Technology Outlook



The flare gas recovery system market is also segmented based on technology, with compressor and ejector systems. The compressor-based segment accounted for a larger revenue share in 2021, as these systems are ideal for handling hydrogen to heavy hydrocarbon gases and are used in recirculation as well as auxiliary heat exchanger. Ejector-based systems accounted for a moderate revenue share in 2021, with the ability to efficiently compress flare gas in a single step and handle extremely high-pressure discharge.



Application Outlook



In terms of application, the O&G segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2021, with flare gas recovery systems widely used in climate-compatible oil and gas production for safety and operation in crude oil refinery. These systems are also being adopted in O&G applications for reused gas in furnaces, turbines, and heat exchangers. The chemical plants segment accounted for a steady revenue share in 2021, with increasing demand for flare gas recovery systems in chemical processing companies to follow environmental standards and increase operation efficiency, particularly in the production of plastics, fertilizers, and other products.



Regional Outlook



The market for flare gas recovery systems in the Asia Pacific region is rapidly growing, driven by the government's promotion of industrialization and exports. This region is a major manufacturing and export hub for chemicals and petrochemicals, with several large downstream companies like Shell, Chevron, and ExxonMobil. Stringent environmental regulations have also led to increased demand for flare gas recovery systems in the region, with initiatives like the Petroleum Conservation Research Association in India auditing petrochemical companies to minimize the loss of flare gas.

The North American market for flare gas recovery systems is also steadily growing due to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regulations and incentives to reduce methane emissions. Chemical companies in the U.S. are upgrading their technology and investing in flare gas recovery systems to reduce their carbon footprint. The European market for flare gas recovery systems is driven by increasing utilization in petrochemical processing and government funding to reduce gas flaring. Countries like Germany and Norway are investing in the World Bank Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership.



Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Market Synopsis



Chapter 2. Executive Summary



Chapter 3. Indicative Metrics



Chapter 4. Flare Gas Recovery System Market Segmentation & Impact Analysis



Chapter 1. Flare Gas Recovery System Market By Operating Pressure Insights & Trends



Chapter 2. Flare Gas Recovery System Market By Technology Insights & Trends



Chapter 3. Flare Gas Recovery System Market By Flow Rate Insights & Trends



Chapter 4. Flare Gas Recovery System Market By Application Insights & Trends



Chapter 5. Flare Gas Recovery System Market Regional Outlook



Chapter 6. Competitive Landscape



Chapter 7. Company Profiles



Companies Mentioned

Aerzener Maschinenfabrik GmbH

Transvac Systems Limited

Koch Industries Inc.

Birwelco Ltd

MAN Energy Solutions SE

Zeeco

INC.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor

LTD.

HeatMatrix Group B.V.

Exodraft A/S

Gardner Denver

Baker Hughes Company

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8ygnjt

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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.

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SOURCE Research and Markets
High Profile Conference Elevates Both FLYHT and Calgary in Aviation Industry

CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSXV:FLY)(OTCQX: FLYLF) (the "Company" or "FLYHT") today announced that it will host the Spring AEEC/IATA Electronic Flight Bag ("EFB") Users Forum in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on June 20-22, 2023.

The EFB Users Forum is a joint activity with AEEC/IATA that provides a unified forum for airlines, system integrators, hardware and software providers, regulators, and other interested parties to present and discuss topics of interest to the EFB user community. The EFB Users Forum attracts airlines, suppliers, and regulators to discuss operational and technical trends. Speakers are invited to share their experiences and exchange information to identify issues and their potential solutions. The Fall 2022 EFB Forum was held in Barcelona, Spain and hosted by Rockwell Collins.

"FLYHT is honored to host the upcoming semi-annual EFB Users Forum in Calgary, an emerging tech hub increasingly recognized for its innovation in the global aviation industry," said Kent Jacobs, President & Interim CEO of FLYHT. "We are excited to help put our hometown on the industry map and to showcase FLYHT's innovative solutions at the conference, engineered with a long-term vision of providing global 5G connectivity and cutting-edge application hosting."

Added Scott Chambers, VP, Sales & Marketing at FLYHT, "In hosting the Spring EFB Users Forum, FLYHT is taking the next step in garnering more visibility for our company and this dynamic city. We look forward to hosting hundreds of our industry peers this coming June."

"The Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) has revolutionized commercial aviation by bringing modern graphics and computing power to the flight deck. These new capabilities are saving air carriers millions of dollars every year through the introduction of highly specialized applications, increased operational efficiency, pilot productivity, and safety. The EFB Users Forum fosters open exchange of ideas and encourages regulator-operator-manufacturer engagement," said Peter Grau, Lead Principal Engineer at SAE-ITC's ARINC Industry Activities. "We anticipate a strong turnout in Calgary and are privileged to be hosted by FLYHT at this event."

Story continues

The spring forum will take place at the Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre and will be preceded on June 20 by the EFB EXPO where EFB suppliers, system integrators, and others will have an opportunity to demonstrate their EFB products and services to the user community. For more information visit the https://aviation-ia.sae-itc.com/events/electronic-flight-bag-efb-users-forum.

About EFB Users Forum

The EFB Users Forum is a joint activity with IATA that enables airlines and other aircraft operators to state their preferences in the evolution of EFB hardware, software applications, and connectivity to the ground. This ensures operational benefit to the flight deck crew and the economic benefit to the airlines. Flight operations, information technology, engineering, and maintenance disciplines are represented among the participants of the EFB Users Forum.

About ARINC Industry Activities and SAE ITC

ARINC Industry Activities (ARINC IA) is an SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (SAE ITC) program. ARINC IA consists of three committees working toward common goals in Engineering, Maintenance and Flight Simulation to benefit the aviation industry and flying public. More at: https://aviation-ia.sae-itc.com.

SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (SAE ITC) is an affiliate of SAE International. The SAE ITC team specializes in establishing and managing consortia by providing proven processes, tools and resources. ITC enables public, private, academic and government organizations to connect and collaborate in neutral, pre-competitive forums thus empowering the setting and implementation of strategic business improvements in highly engineered industries globally. More at: https://www.sae-itc.com/.

About FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

FLYHT provides airlines with Actionable Intelligence to transform operational insight into immediate, quantifiable action, and delivers industry leading solutions to improve aviation safety, efficiency, and profitability. This unique capability is driven by a suite of patented aircraft certified hardware products. These include AFIRS, an aircraft satcom/interface device that enables cockpit voice communications, real-time aircraft state analysis, and the transmission of aircraft data while inflight. The AFIRS Edge is a state-of-the-art 5G Wireless Quick Access Recorder (WQAR), Aircraft Interface Device (AID), and Aircraft Condition and Monitoring System (ACMS). The Edge can be interfaced with FLYHT's TAMDAR probe or the FLYHT-WVSS-II relative humidity sensor to deliver airborne weather and humidity data in real-time.

CrossConsense, FLYHT's wholly owned subsidiary, offers highly skilled services to the commercial aviation industry and provides preventative maintenance solutions. These include Aircraft Fleet View, a native application that gives a real-time view of airline fleet status; AviationDW, a managed data warehouse for enhanced business intelligence; and ACSIS, a visualization and predictive maintenance alerting tool.

FLYHT is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, and is an AS9100 Quality registered company.

CrossConsense, located in Frankfurt, Germany, is an ISO9001 certified operation. For more information, visit www.flyht.com.

Contact Information:

FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

Alana Forbes

Chief Financial Officer

403.291.7437

investors@flyht.com FNK IR LLC

Matt Chesler, CFA

Investor Relations

646.809.2183

flyht@fnkir.com Satichi Consulting Inc.

Daniel Kim

Corporate Development

416.728.5630

dkim@flyht.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.

SOURCE: FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.





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SNS Insider pvt ltd

Based on SNS Insider analysis, governments around the world are implementing stringent regulations for food safety testing, which is driving the growth of the market

Pune, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Food Safety Testing Market was evaluated at USD 21.07 billion by SNS Insider and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1% to reach USD 39.30 billion by 2030.

Food safety testing plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of the food supply and protecting public health. As the demand for safe and high-quality food products continues to grow, the food safety testing market is expected to expand significantly in the coming years. There are various methods used for food safety testing, including traditional microbiological methods, rapid testing methods, and molecular methods.

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Food Safety Testing Market Report Scope

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 US$ 21.07 Billion Market Size by 2030 US$ 39.30 Billion CAGR From 2023 to 2030 8.1% Base Year 2022 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Historical Data 2020-2021 Key Segments  by Technology (q-PCR-Based Testing, d- PCR-Based Testing)

 by Target tested (Pathogen, Genetically modified organism (GMO), Chemical & toxin, Others)

 by Food tested (Agar culturing, PCR-based assay, Immunoassay-based, Others) Company Profiles Eurofins Scientific SE, Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings, Asurequality Limited, Intertek Group Plc, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Bureau Veritas SA, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Scientific Analysis Laboratories Limited, ALS Limited, SGS SA. Market Drivers More noteworthy rise of food-borne disease episodes.

Climb of worldwide food and drink industry.

Market Analysis

The demand for food safety testing is expected to continue growing, driven by increasing consumer awareness, government regulations, and technological advancements. With food safety testing becoming an essential aspect of the food industry, manufacturers will continue to invest in new testing methods and technologies to ensure the safety and quality of their products, ultimately contributing to the growth of the global food safety testing market.

Story continues

Impact of Russia-Ukraine Conflict

While the Russia-Ukraine conflict has had a negative impact on many industries, it has also led to increased demand for food safety testing. As the conflict continues, it is likely that the food safety testing market will continue to grow, driven by trade disruptions, regulatory changes, and increased consumer demand for safe and high-quality food products.

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Key Regional Development

North America is expected to dominate the food safety testing market due to the strict safety rules in place. The United States, for example, has regulations which ensures that food products are safe and free from contaminants. As a result, companies in North America are investing heavily in food safety testing to comply with regulations and meet consumer demand for safe food. In the Asia-Pacific region, China is expected to dominate the market due to the increasing number of product recalls. Food safety incidents in China have led to stricter regulations and increased consumer awareness, making it essential for companies to conduct regular testing to avoid product recalls and maintain consumer trust.

Key Takeaway from Food Safety Testing Market Study

Among the different methods used for food safety testing, the q-PCR-based testing segment is expected to capture a large share of the market. One of the key advantages of q-PCR-based testing is its ability to deliver rapid results with a high degree of accuracy. This makes it an ideal choice for food safety testing, where time is of the essence, and accuracy is critical.

The agar culturing segment is expected to continue dominating the market due to its reliability, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. While other methods such as q-PCR-based testing are gaining popularity, agar culturing remains the go-to method for many food manufacturers and food safety authorities, providing a reliable and cost-effective means of ensuring the safety and quality of our food supply.

Recent Developments Related to Food Safety Testing Market

Neogen Corporation, a global leader in food safety solutions, has announced the successful completion of its merger with 3M's Food Safety business. The merger will bring together the strengths of both companies to provide customers with a more comprehensive range of food safety solutions. With the completion of the merger, Neogen has acquired 3M's Food Safety business assets, including its testing platforms, microbiology products, and sample collection and preparation products.

Kiwa Group, a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services, has recently acquired ASI Food Safety, a prominent food safety and quality assurance company. This acquisition is expected to enhance Kiwa's capabilities in the food industry and strengthen its position as a leading TIC service provider. The acquisition of ASI Food Safety will enable Kiwa to expand its services in the food safety and quality assurance sector, providing customers with a more comprehensive range of TIC services.

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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. Food Safety Testing Market Segmentation, By Target Testing:

9. Food Safety Testing Market Segmentation, By Food Testing:

10. Food Safety Testing Market, By Technology

11. Food Safety Testing Market, By Region/ Country

12. Company Profiles

13. Competitive Landscape

14. Conclusion

About SNS Insider

At SNS Insider, we believe that businesses should have access to the best market intelligence and insights, regardless of their size or industry. That's why we offer a range of solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, from startups to big corporations. With a passion for our work and an unwavering commitment to delivering value, we are dedicated to helping our clients achieve their full potential.

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FTXs CEO John J. Ray III, who is overseeing the exchanges bankruptcy proceedings, submitted a damning interim report of the firms operations on April 9, 2023.

Filed with the U.S. bankruptcy court of Delaware, the report provides an update on the FTX debtor's recovery efforts and the issues faced.

Ray wrote that the debtors have had to overcome unusual obstacles due to the FTX Groups lack of appropriate record keeping and controls in critical areas.

The new report further details how FTX was managed, its lack of clear record-keeping, and its inability to keep the exchange secure.

These and other control failures have made it especially difficult for the debtors to recuperate funds to make their long list of creditors whole again.

Sam Bankman-Fried Barred From Contacting FTX Employees Via Encrypted Messages

In this regard, while the FTX Groups failure is novel in the unprecedented scale of harm it caused in a nascent industry, many of its root causes are familiar: hubris, incompetence, and greed, the report reads.

FTXs house of financial mirrors

The 45-page report detailed FTX's daily activities, indicating that FTX was "a web of parallel corporate chains with various owners and interests, all under the ultimate control of Bankman-Fried."

Its CTO Gary Wang and engineering director Nishad Singh also wielded hefty control over the firms operations, per the report. These two individuals have pleaded guilty and are cooperating with the authorities to help in the legal proceedings.

Ray cites reports of employees facing undue negative repercussions after disagreements, after which they reportedly faced reduced bonuses or sudden terminations to curb opposition.

In one instance, the legal counsel of the firm instructed FTX.US President Brett Harrison to apologize to Bankman-Fried and Singh for raising concerns at the firm. Harrison refused to do so before announcing his resignation.

Former FTX US President Accuses SBF of Gaslighting and Manipulation

Story continues

Bankman-Fried and top officials also joked internally about their tendency to lose track of millions of dollars in assets.

"We sometimes find $50 million of assets lying around that we lost track of; such is life," Bankman-Fried said, per the report.

The report also alleges that the company kept few or no records of daily trading activities, loans, and transactions with sister companies.

Copies of key documentationincluding executed loan agreements, intercompany agreements, acquisition and investment documents, bank and brokerage account statements, and contract and account information of all typeswere incomplete, inaccurate, contradictory, or missing entirely, the report said.

The firm's organizational structure had no room for dedicated financial risk, audit, or treasury departments either. Key executives like chief financial officers, risk officers, and auditors were "missing at some or all critical entities," per the report.

Besides commingling customer funds, the exchange practiced complete disregard for cybersecurity and the safety of user funds too. The exchange reportedly held most of its funds in hot wallets and allegedly lied to customers and third parties about their "cold wallets."

Hot wallets are connected to the internet via third-party clients and are regarded as less secure than cold wallets, which store encrypted keys to cryptocurrencies offline.

Whats next for FTX, debtors and creditors?

According to bankruptcy filings norms, Ray's interim report is the first of many reports to provide an update on the financial condition and the progress made in recovering funds.

He added that they have already recovered "$1.4 billion in digital assets, and have identified an additional $1.7 billion in digital assets that they are in the process of recovering."

Sam Bankman-Fried faces an October 2, 2023 trial date. He faces a number of different charges, including fraud, defrauding the Federal Election Commission, and allegedly bribing a Chinese government official.
Fortune Business Insights

Companies covered in furniture market are Harman Miller Inc. (Michigan, U.S.), Steelcase Inc. (Michigan U.S.), HNI Corporation (Iowa U.S.), Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. (Wisconsin U.S.), Duff & Phelps, LLC (New York (U.S.), Global Furniture USA (New Jersey, U.S.), ZouYou (Shenzhen, China), P & C ArteMobili SA (Nova Prata, Brazil), Saudi Modern Factory Co. (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), DEDON GmbH (Luneberg, Germany), Dare Studio (Worthing, England), and more players profiled.

Pune, India, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global furniture market size was valued at USD 475.4 billion in 2020. The market is projected to grow from USD 493.6 billion in 2021 to USD 720.2 billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.05% during the forecast period.

Elegant home decor successfully accentuates the beauty of the living area. The market for such products is primarily driven by expanding home remodeling and decoration trends among the global population. Customers primarily like to purchase intricately engineered furniture for their dining and living rooms, such as sofas, stools, and chairs. Also, employees can hold meetings and conversations in their offices with greater flexibility by using sectional sofas. Households growing need for chairs and stools in various sculptural forms, such as a pyramid, curves, and others, is anticipated to open up new prospects for market expansion. The COVID-19 pandemics effects have been unprecedented and overwhelming on the world, with the market experiencing a positive demand shock in every region. Fortune Business Insights presents this information in their report titled "Global Furniture Market, 2021-2028."

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Furniture Market Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2021-2028 Forecast CAGR 5.05% 2028 Value Projection USD 720.2 Billion Base Year 2020 Furniture Market Size in 2020 USD 475.4 Billion Historical Data 2017-2019 No. of Pages 160 Segments Covered By Material, By Category, By End-User, By Region Furniture Market Growth Drivers Regular Introduction of the Innovative & Luxurious Furniture Items to Drive Market Growth Recent Introduction of Marketing Campaigns by Industry Retailers to Skyrocket Market Growth

Fortune Business Insights lists out all the furniture market companies that are presently striving to reduce the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the market:

Harman Miller Inc. (Michigan, U.S.)

Steelcase Inc. (Michigan U.S.)

HNI Corporation (Iowa U.S.)

Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. (Wisconsin U.S.)

Duff & Phelps, LLC (New York (U.S.)

Global Furniture USA (New Jersey, U.S.)

ZouYou (Shenzhen, China)

P & C ArteMobili SA (Nova Prata, Brazil)

Saudi Modern Factory Co. (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

DEDON GmbH (Luneberg, Germany)

Dare Studio (Worthing, England)

Story continues

Report Coverage:

The report offers:

Major growth drivers, restraining factors, opportunities, and potential challenges for the market.

Comprehensive insights into the regional developments.

List of major industry players.

Key strategies adopted by the market players.

Latest industry developments include product launches, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions.

Drivers & Restraints:

New Product Launches of Lavish Furniture Items to Propel Market

The market for these items will definitely increase as the companies opulent home comforts are regularly introduced and draw customers. For instance, in February 2020, the Italian manufacturer of home fixtures BAXTER and its Indian supplier Sources Unlimited introduced a line of luxury, well-produced, and creative fixtures in India. In order to efficiently offer customers products based on their demands for home design, businesses now concentrate on offering a personalized product buying experience to shop visitors. This is probably going to improve the affiliated companies brand perception, which will assist the expansion of the home furnishings sector and increase the global furniture market share.

On the contrary, massive competition from unorganized industries and the middle-income population preferring second-hand furniture over new furniture will impede the global furniture market.

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/furniture-market-106357

Segments:

Affordability of Wood over other Materials will push the Segment

Based on material the market is divided into wood, metal, plastic, and others.

The wood segment dominates the market as it is affordable compared to other materials. Furthermore, the frequency distribution of highly constructed wooden sofa sets and chairs by the affiliated businesses is anticipated to reduce the demand for such goods in domestic settings. For Indian households, the Ashley Homestore Corporation, for example, produced highly constructed, wood-based home decors items like the Fair Ridge Accent Cabinet and Ridge Accent tables in August 2020.

Growing Consumer Demand for Aesthetically Pleasing Interiors will lead the Indoor Segment

Based on category, the market is divided into indoor and outdoor.

The greater sales from the interior category are mostly caused by the high demand for various types of kitchens, living rooms, and hall furniture among consumers for their regular indoor seating demands. The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association said that, in 2018, U.S. kitchen cabinet sales totaled USD 7.3 billion, an increase of 2% from 2017. Also, rising global population patterns for house remodeling and decor are fostering segmental expansion.

Everyday Household Seating Requirements Cause Residential Segment to Hold Significant Share

By End-User the market is classified into residential, office, hotel, and others.

Due to the significant demand for couch sets and chairs among residential consumers for their home and backyard sitting needs, the residential segment accounts for a significant portion of the market. The segmental increase is also being fueled by the increasing urbanization rate and the rise in nuclear households in various nations throughout the world.

COVID-19 Impact:

Upholstery Shops all Across the World are Closing due to COVID-19

Upholstery shops all over the world witnessed a decline in sales due to restrictions imposed by the lockdown. Also, consumers only buy furniture from these retailers in order to reduce the risk of coronavirus infections. These elements are providing obstacles to the expansion of the sector as a whole during the pandemic. For instance, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported that sales at American furniture stores fell by 26.8% in March 2020 compared to the same month of the previous year. The need for work tables and chairs in homes during the pandemic period is, mostly driven by shifting corporate professionals trends toward the remote working style. The shift in customer behavior towards purchasing home furnishings from internet retailers has further increased the demand for these products throughout the pandemic. For instance, the well-known upholstery retailer Inter IKEA Systems B.V. reported a 43% increase in its global online sales of furniture in the 12 months ending in August 2020.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific Dominates the Market due to High Wood Producing Nations

In 2020, the Asia Pacific market was worth USD 223.87 billion. A substantial portion of the Asia Pacific regions market is ascribed to the numerous wood furniture producers in nations like China and India. This will encourage the populace in these nations to consume more of these products, which will fuel market expansion in the region. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 4,100 makers of wood house furnishings existed in Guandong, China, as of the year 2020. The growing popularity of high-end home decor among the populace in nations like Australia and India also contributes to the expansion of the furniture market in the region.

Competitive Landscape

Product Innovation can Help Industry Players to Maintain Global Competition

Businesses mostly concentrate on developing various types of opulent, beautiful things on a regular basis to entice consumers to buy such products. This aids businesses in generating income from these products. In order to compete with the global market, they also concentrate on growing their business abroad. For instance, Charter Furniture, a home decor products firm with headquarters in Florida U.S., extended its operations in October 2020 by opening a 260,000 square foot plant in California U.S.

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Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Overview of the Parent/Related Markets Industry SWOT Analysis Supply Chain and Regulatory Analysis Recent Industry Developments - Policies, Partnerships, New Product Launches, and Mergers & Acquisitions Qualitative Analysis (in relation to COVID-19) Impact of COVID-19 Supply Chain Challenges Potential Opportunities due to COVID-19

Global Furniture Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast, 2017-2028 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Material (Value) Wood Metal Plastic Others By Category (Value) Indoor Outdoor By End-User(Value) Residential Office Hotel Others By Region (Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued!

Key Industry Development:

March 2020: Theodore Alexander USA, Inc., a console table and chair products manufacturer, partnered with Ralph Lauren Corporation, U.S. based fashion products company, to expand its business through the partners fashion stores in the U.S.

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Check out more Related Insights by Fortune Business Insights:

Furniture Rental Service Market Worth USD 139.05 Billion by 2029 | Furniture Rental Service Industry Expected CAGR 9.6%

Outdoor Furniture Market to Worth USD 66.55 Billion by (2021-2028) | Outdoor Furniture Industry CAGR of 5.3%

Pet Furniture Market Size to Worth USD 5.70 Billion by 2029 | Fortune Business Insights

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Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

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Adam Motz and Tee Lam and the cover of the book You Come From Love

Although Adam Motz always expected that parenting would be full of adventures, he never imagined that he would share his parenting journey on social media with hundreds of thousands of followers as part of the dynamic Illinois LGBTQ+ TikTok family 2 Dads 2 Twins. In You Come From Love, his first childrens book, he conveys a message of love that is heartfelt and universal.

In 2019, Motz, an attorney and musician from Chicago, and his entrepreneur husband, Tee Lam, started IVF and gestational surrogacy to have a family. After sperm from both men was used to fertilize eggs from a childhood friend of Motzs, the resulting embryos were transferred together, and one of Lams closest friends carried the babies to term. Reve and Sky, twin girls, were born in August 2021.

Throughout the book, Motz celebrates the universal values of love and history that are important to his family, reflecting the diversity within his family  his husband and he are of different races, faiths, and nationalities, and their twin daughters are of different races  one Black, and one white.

Although he credits medical miracles for making his dream of having children a reality, Motz knows that his daughters will someday wonder where they came from.

His book was inspired by his and his husbands experience with surrogacy and their desire to teach their daughters about love and diversity, Motz tells The Advocate.

Adam Motz and Tee Lam with their daughters

I was just sitting at the kitchen table kind of daydreaming, and I really imagined all the questions that these girls would ask me when they were a little older because kids ask a million questions, and the lawyer in me just wanted to be ready for any question they might throw my way, he says.

@2dads2twins You Come from Love is OUT NOW! #booktok #childrensbook #dadsoftiktok #momsoftiktok #lgbt #ivf #surrogacy #youcomefromlove





Adam Motz and Tee Lam with their daughters





They have two dads, and their family isnt like most, so he thought his daughters might ask about their origin story.



So my husband and I have talked, and we plan to share as much as age-appropriate with them at the right time about the medical science that brought them to be and the people involved, he says.

Story continues

Adam Motz and Tee Lam with their daughters

He also emphasizes the importance of sharing diverse stories, especially in light of potential anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and book bans. Regardless of their background, any family will be able to appreciate the message of love in the book, he says.



Motz says social media has become influential in normalizing diverse family structures.

People are initially curious about the four of them when they are out in public, he says, but eventually, they realize they are a typical family with the same values as everyone else.

But having to battle their insurance company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, after it denied coverage of fertility services because they are a male couple was a one-of-a-kind experience, Motz says. Eventually, they filed a discrimination complaint and settled it after two years of fighting.

Although Motz is aware of the challenges their daughters may face because they have two dads, he's prepared to be there for them.

Its really important that they understand first and foremost that they come from love. So then the follow-up question to that is, well, what does that mean? And thats what I talk about in the book, he says. Love is all of these different things. Its the universe, and its your ancestors. Its your family.

You Come From Love is out now.
The Business Research Company's global market reports are now updated with the latest market sizing information for the year 2023 and forecasted to 2032

LONDON , April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per The Business Research Company's Gene Therapy Global Market Report 2023, the global gene therapy market size will grow from $7.3 billion in 2022 to $9.4 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 27%. The gene therapy market share is then expected to grow from $24 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of more than 26%.

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Increasing number of cancer cases is expected to drive the growth of the gene therapy market during the forecast period. Cancer gene therapy is an emerging field using genetic material to modify cells in vitro or in vivo to help effect a cure. In gene therapy, a therapeutic human-designed new gene (transgene) is used to introduce to a subpopulation of human cells, such as human stem cells. For a cancer cell, the transgene can assist cell death or restore normal cellular functions, whereas for normal cells the transgene can protect them from drug-induced side effects and/or cytotoxicity. For example, according to the American Cancer Society, a US-based voluntary health organization, a total of 1.9 million new cancer cases and 609,360 deaths from cancer were expected to occur in the USA in 2022, which is about 1,670 deaths a day. Therefore, the increase in the number of cases of cancer is expected to contribute to the gene therapy market growth going forward.

Learn More On The Gene Therapy Market Report  https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/genes-therapy-global-market-report

Mergers and acquisitions are a key trend in the gene therapy market, that has been ongoing for many years and is expected to continue in the future. This trend is a common way for companies to grow and diversify their operations, it can also be a way for companies to cut costs, reduce competition and boost their competitiveness in the market.

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For instance, in June 2020, Innovent Biologics, Inc., a China-based biotechnology and biopharmaceutical company, announced a strategic collaboration with F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG (Roche), a Switzerland-based pharmaceutical and healthcare company, for the research and development of cellular therapies and bispecific antibodies with an investment of $2 billion. This collaboration will help in the treatment of cancer, metabolic, autoimmune and other major diseases through gene therapy and bispecific antibodies.

Other gene therapy market trend-based strategies for players include growing investments and manufacturing facility expansion, use of tetracycline-enabled self-silencing adenovirus (TESSA) technology, launch of cell and gene therapy platforms, and rising focus on gene editing.

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As per the gene therapy market forecast, North America was the largest region in the gene therapy market, accounting for 44.6% of the global market in 2022. It was followed by Western Europe, Asia Pacific and the other regions. Going forward, the fastest growing regions in the gene therapy market will be South America and the Middle East.

View More Similar Market Reports:

Nucleic Acid Based Gene Therapy Global Market Report 2023

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Cancer Biologics Global Market Report 2023

https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/cancer-biologics-global-market-report

Cell And Gene Therapy Global Market Report 2023

https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/cell-and-genes-therapy-global-market-report

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Gibson Energy Inc. Logo (CNW Group/Gibson Energy Inc.)

CALGARY, AB, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Gibson Energy Inc. announced today that it expects to release its 2023 first quarter and operating results on Monday, May 1, 2023 after the close of North American markets. The 2023 first quarter management's discussion and analysis and unaudited consolidated financial statements will be available on the Company's website at www.gibsonenergy.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Earnings Conference Call & Webcast Details

A conference call and webcast will be held to discuss the 2023 first quarter and operating results at 7:00am Mountain Time (9:00am Eastern Time) on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

The conference call dial-in numbers are:

416-764-8659 / 1-888-664-6392

This call will also be broadcast live on the Internet and may be accessed directly at the following URL:

The webcast will remain accessible for a 12-month period at the above URL. Additionally, a digital recording will be available for replay two hours after the call's completion until May 16, 2023, using the following dial-in numbers:

416-764-8677 / 1-888-390-0541

Replay Entry Code: 101920

Annual General Meeting & Webcast Details

Gibson is holding its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 10:00am Mountain Time (12:00 noon Eastern Time). This meeting will be held in a hybrid format (virtual and in-person). Applying technology to the meeting by allowing virtual participation will make the meeting more relevant, accessible and engaging for all involved, permitting a broader base of shareholders to participate in the meeting, regardless of their geographic location. The optional virtual format for the meeting will also help mitigate health and safety risks.

Following the conclusion of the formal proceedings of the annual shareholder meeting, Mr. Steve Spaulding, President and Chief Executive Officer, will address shareholders and provide brief remarks on the current state of the business and discuss the highlights of the Company's key initiatives.

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Attending In-Person:

Lumi Experience Studio

Suite 1410, 225 6 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta

Attending virtually can be accessed using the following URL:

The webcast will remain accessible for a 12-month period at the above URL.

Additionally, information and materials related to the annual general meeting of shareholders can be accessed using the following URL:

About Gibson

Gibson Energy Inc. ("Gibson" or the "Company") (TSX: GEI) is a Canadian-based liquids infrastructure company with its principal businesses consisting of the storage, optimization, processing, and gathering of liquids and refined products. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the Company's operations are focused around its core terminal assets located at Hardisty and Edmonton, Alberta, and include the Moose Jaw Facility and an infrastructure position in the U.S.

Gibson shares trade under the symbol GEI and are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.gibsonenergy.com.

For further information, please contact:

Mark Chyc-Cies

Vice President, Strategy, Planning & Investor Relations

Phone: (403) 776-3146

Email: mark.chyc-cies@gibsonenergy.com

Gibson Energy Confirms 2023 First Quarter Earnings Release and Annual General Meeting Dates and Provides Conference Call & Webcast Details (CNW Group/Gibson Energy Inc.)

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Global Biological Data Visualization Market

Global Biological Data Visualization Market

Dublin, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Biological Data Visualization Market (2023-2028) by Technique, Application, Platform, End-Use, and Geography, Competitive Analysis, Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Biological Data Visualization Market is estimated to be USD 1.05 Bn in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 1.62 Bn by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 9.10%.



Market Dynamics

Drivers

Rapid Growth of Biological Data

Incorporation of Artificial Intelligence in Analysis of Biological Data

Increasing Awareness Amongst Physicians and Patients

Restraints

User- Interface Challenges Pertaining to Data Visualization

Lack of Computational Consistency for Data Management

Opportunities

Introduction of Virtual Reality Environments

Advanced Analytical Tools

Challenges

Lack of Skilled Professional

Market Segmentations



The Global Biological Data Visualization Market is segmented based on Technique, Application, Platform, End-Use, and Geography.

By Technique, the market is classified into Microscopy, Magnetic Resonance, Imaging, Sequencing, X-ray Crystallography and others.

By Application, the market is classified into Cell and Organism Imaging, Structural Biology and Molecular Modelling, Genomics Analysis, Alignments, Phylogeny & Evolution and System Biology.

By Platform, the market is classified into Windows, Mac OS, Linux and others.

By End-Use, the market is classified into Academic Research, Hospitals & Clinics, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology Companies and Others.

By Geography, the market is classified into Americas, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

Company Profiles



The report provides a detailed analysis of the competitors in the market. It covers the financial performance analysis for the publicly listed companies in the market. The report also offers detailed information on the companies' recent development and competitive scenario. Some of the companies covered in this report are 3M Co., Agilent Technologies Inc., Arivis AG, Becton, etc.



Countries Studied

America (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, United States, Rest of Americas)

Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Rest of Europe)

Middle East and Africa (Egypt, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Rest of MEA)

Asia-Pacific (Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

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Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Biological Data Visualization Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth Market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model, PESTLE Analysis, and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of COVID-19 and the impact of economic slowdown & impending recession on the Market are also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains a competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's competitive positioning tool.

Report Highlights:

A complete analysis of the market, including the parent industry

Important market dynamics and trends

Market segmentation

Historical, current, and projected size of the market based on value and volume

Market shares and strategies of key players

Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 214 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $1.05 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $1.62 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.1% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Market Dynamics



6 Global Biological Data Visualization Market, By Technique



7 Global Biological Data Visualization Market, By Application



8 Global Biological Data Visualization Market, By Platform



9 Global Biological Data Visualization Market, By End-Use



10 Americas' Biological Data Visualization Market



11 Europe's Biological Data Visualization Market



12 Middle East and Africa's Biological Data Visualization Market



13 APAC's Biological Data Visualization Market



14 Competitive Landscape



15 Company Profiles



16 Appendix



Companies Mentioned

3M Co.

Agilent Technologies Inc.

Arivis AG

Becton, Dickinson and Co.

Bruker Corp.

Clarivate Analytics

Carl Zeiss AG

Danaher Corp.

Fios Genomics

Genialis INC

Genedata AG

Media Cybernetics INC

Molecular Devices, LLC

Nikon Corp.

Oxford Instruments

Olympus Corp.

Scientific Volume Imaging B.V

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

TIBCO Software Inc.

QIAGEN Gmbh

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/i1jflq

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.

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AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd.

The cryostat market holds immense potential, driven by robust growth across industries like healthcare, life sciences, semiconductors, and space exploration. Technological advancements, customization, and integration with IoT and AI technologies will shape the market, while sustainability and strategic collaborations emerge as key success factors. However, high initial costs and the complexity of the technology may hinder its adoption in certain industries.

New Delhi, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global cryostat market was valued at US$ 2,186.1 Mn in 2022 and is estimated to reach US$ 4,224.5 Mn by 2031 at a CAGR of 6.65% during the forecast period 20232031. In terms of volume, the market is growing at a CAGR of 5.27% over the forecast period.

Get Free sample copy of this report @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/cryostats-market

The major drivers for the growth of the cryostat market are increasing demand for cryopreservation of blood cells and organs, rising number of cancer patients requiring cryosurgery, and technological advancements in cryostat systems. Increasing research and development activities in the field of regenerative medicine is another key factor driving market growth. However, the high cost of cryostats and lack of trained personnel are some of the major restraints hampering market growth.

Medical field to Generate to More Than 62% Revenue of Global Cryostat Market

Astute Analyticas analysis shows that cryostats are used in a number of different industries including medical, scientific research, and industrial. More than 62% of the revenue for the cryostats industry is expected to come from the medical industry. This is due to the fact that cryostats are essential for many medical procedures, such as tissue freezing and storage, organ transplantation, and cancer treatment. The scientific research industry is also a major user of cryostats, as they are necessary for conducting experiments at very low temperatures.

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Bath Cryostat Valuation to Reach US$ 1001.1 Million by 2031 in Global Cryostat Market

Bath cryostats, cutting-edge cryogenic equipment, are experiencing an unprecedented surge in demand across various industries, catalyzing innovation and technological advancements. This research sheds light on the primary factors driving bath cryostats' market growth, its expanding applications, and the industries it continues to revolutionize.

The contemporary era of rapid technological advancements has witnessed a growing necessity for precision and innovation in research and development. Bath cryostats, a remarkable type of cryogenic equipment, are at the forefront of this scientific revolution, with their demand skyrocketing in recent years. Industries ranging from semiconductors and healthcare to space exploration are harnessing the power of bath cryostats to foster progress and maintain a competitive edge.

A key driver behind the upsurge in bath cryostat market demand lies in the flourishing semiconductor industry. As the global appetite for electronic devices escalates, bath cryostats are becoming indispensable for cooling wafers during the manufacturing process of electronic components.

Another catalyst for bath cryostats' rising popularity is the escalating demand for ultra-low temperature freezers. These freezers, capable of maintaining temperatures below -80C, are essential for storing samples and specimens in healthcare and life science industries. The growth in these sectors, in turn, propels the demand for bath cryostats, as they play a critical role in the cooling process.

space is yet another domain where bath cryostats are making an indelible mark. As the thirst for space exploration intensifies, NASA and other space agencies increasingly rely on cryogenic equipment, including bath cryostats, to cool spacecraft and scientific instruments to ultra-low temperatures. This burgeoning interest in space exploration will further boost the market for cryogenic equipment and bath cryostats.

Top Trends Shaping the Constantly Evolving Global Cryostat Market

The cryostat industry is constantly evolving and changing. Every year, new trends emerge that have the potential to change the way cryostats are designed, manufactured, and used. Here are some of the top trends in the cryostat industry:

Increased focus on energy efficiency: One of the biggest trends in the cryostat industry is an increased focus on energy efficiency. This is being driven by both regulatory changes and a growing awareness of the need to reduce our carbon footprint. As a result, manufacturers are looking for ways to make their products more energy-efficient.

New materials and technologies: Another trend in the cryostat market is the use of new materials and technologies. This includes things like 3D printing and nano-materials. These new materials and technologies are allowing manufacturers to create lighter, more efficient, and less expensive products.

Advances in control systems: Another area of advancement in the cryostat industry is in control systems. This is particularly important for large industrial cryostats where precise temperature control is essential. The latest generation of control systems is more accurate and efficient than ever before.

Improved safety features: Safety is always a top priority in any industry, and thats no different in the world of cryostats. Manufacturers are continually looking for ways to improve safety features on their products. This includes things like better insulation and automatic shut-off valves.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/cryostats-market

Asia Pacific is the Largest and Fastest Growing Cryostat Market

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the largest and fastest growing market for cryostats during the forecast period. The region's high economic growth, coupled with expanding end-use industries are key factors driving the market in this region. The region is expected to witness the highest growth owing to the presence of a large number of patients suffering from cancer, rising awareness about early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and availability of advanced cryostats. China is expected to be the largest market for cryostats in Asia Pacific due to the increasing number of cancer patients and initiatives taken by the government to promote early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

The region's growing healthcare and semiconductor industries are driving market growth in Asia-Pacific. In addition, countries such as China and India are investing heavily in infrastructure development, which is also contributing to market growth in the region. With such strong growth prospects, it's no surprise that major players in the cryostat market are investing heavily in the Asia Pacific market. Leading manufacturers such as Thermo Fisher Scientific and Leybold have established a significant presence in the region and are well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for these devices.

The North American market is also expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. This region has a well-established healthcare sector and a large number of leading companies operating in various end-use industries such as medical, scientific research, and industrial use. These factors are expected to drive market growth in North America over the next four years.

Future Landscape

Astute Analyticas analysis projects strong growth in the cryostat industry over the next decade, driven by increasing demand across diverse sectors such as healthcare, life sciences, semiconductors, and space exploration.

The global cryostat market will witness a surge in technological advancements, fueled by ongoing research and development efforts. Innovations in cryogenic cooling systems, advanced materials, and energy-efficient designs are expected to enhance cryostat performance and reduce operational costs. These breakthroughs will likely attract new investments and further stimulate market growth.

Emerging Trends:

The study identifies several emerging trends poised to shape the cryostat market's future, including:

Customization: As cryostat applications diversify, the demand for customized solutions tailored to specific industry needs will increase. Manufacturers will need to develop versatile and adaptable designs to cater to these niche requirements.

Integration with IoT and AI: The integration of cryostats with Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and enhanced performance optimization, further improving efficiency and reducing costs.

Collaborations and Partnerships: Astute Analytica expects an increase in strategic collaborations and partnerships between cryostat manufacturers, technology providers, and end-users to foster innovation, share expertise, and capitalize on market opportunities.

Some of the Top Market Players Are:

Janis Research Company, LLC

Jinhua Yidi Medical Appliance

Slee Medical GmbH

AMOS Scientific Pty. Ltd

Advanced Research Systems, Inc

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc

Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH

Bright Instruments

Cryomech, Inc

Montana Instruments

Other Prominent Players

Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/inquire-before-purchase/cryostats-market

About Astute Analytica

Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us.

Contact us:

Aamir Beg

BSI Business Park, H-15,Sector-63, Noida- 201301- India

Phone: +1-888 429 6757 (US Toll Free); +91-0120- 4483891 (Rest of the World)

Email: sales@astuteanalytica.com

Website: www.astuteanalytica.com




AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd.

Global dental insurance market is projected to reach US$ 425.8 billion by 2031 at a CAGR of 8.0% during 2023-2031, driven by increasing demand for dental services and growing awareness of oral health. However, high costs of dental care remain a challenge, particularly for uninsured and underinsured individuals. The dental discount plan segment is expected to dominate the market, with North America being a mature market. The market is highly consolidated, with the top 10 players contributing over 44% of the revenue.

New Delhi, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global dental insurance market generated a revenue of US$ 198.4 Billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach a valuation of US$ 425.8 billion by 2031 at a CAGR of 8.0% during the forecast period, 20232031.

Get Free sample copy of this report @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/dental-insurance-market

Astute Analyticas outlook of the global dental insurance market is positive, with increasing awareness about dental health and the need for regular dental check-ups driving demand. According to the World Health Organization, dental problems affect around 3.5 billion people worldwide. However, the number of people insured for dental care varies significantly by country and region. However, the penetration is significantly lower in the developing countries than developing.

Looking to the future, technological advancements such as teledentistry and digital imaging are expected to play an increasing role in dental care, which could impact the market. Additionally, rising healthcare costs and changing consumer preferences may also impact the market in the coming years. However, overall, the outlook for the global market remains positive, driven by increasing demand for dental services and the importance of maintaining good oral health.

High Costing to Remain a Key Challenge in the Global Dental Insurance Market

One of the challenges facing the market is the cost of dental care, which can be prohibitively expensive for many people. As a result, many consumers may be hesitant to purchase dental insurance, particularly if it is not offered as part of a larger health insurance package. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 36% of adults in the US have not visited a dentist in the past year. In the UK, only about 50% of adults are registered with a dentist, and those who are not registered may be forced to pay high out-of-pocket costs for dental care, which often goes beyond $250 per visit.

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Global Snapshot of Dental Insurance Market

In Australia, the Commonwealth Government provides funding for dental services for certain groups, including children and low-income individuals. However, many Australians still face significant out-of-pocket costs for dental care.

In Canada, dental care is not covered by the publicly-funded healthcare system, and only about one-third of Canadians have private dental insurance. As a result, many Canadians may delay or forgo necessary dental care due to cost concerns.

According to a study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), dental care expenditures accounted for 5% of total healthcare expenditures in OECD countries in 2021. However, there was significant variation in dental care expenditures among countries, with the highest per capita expenditures in Switzerland and the lowest in Turkey.

In Japan, dental care is not covered by the national health insurance system, and only about 60% of the population in Japan dental insurance market. This has led to concerns about access to dental care for low-income individuals and elderly adults.

In Brazil, dental care is included in the country's public healthcare system, but there are significant disparities in access to care among different regions and socioeconomic groups. Private dental insurance is also available, but it is primarily used by higher-income individuals.

In South Africa, dental care is not covered by the national health insurance system, and only about 16% of the population has private dental insurance. This has led to concerns about access to dental care, particularly for individuals living in rural areas.

In some countries, such as Germany and France, dental care is partially covered by national health insurance systems, but patients may still face significant out-of-pocket costs for certain procedures or treatments.

Growing Dominance of Dental Discount Plans in the Global Dental Insurance Market

The global market is experiencing significant growth, and the dental discount plan organization (DDPO) segment is expected to play a pivotal role in this trend. With an expected revenue share of over 51% by 2031, the DDPO segment is set to dominate the market due to the increasing demand for dental care services, driven by a growing awareness of the importance of oral health.

In addition, the DDPO is one of the fastest-growing segments in the dental insurance market, and the growth is attributed to the increasing popularity of dental discount plans. These plans offer significant savings to individuals and families on dental procedures, making them a highly sought-after alternative to traditional insurance plans. Government organizations and insurance companies are also promoting oral health and offering incentives for individuals to seek preventative care, which further fuels the growth of the DDPO segment.

Growing popularity of telemedicine is expected to positively impact the DDPO in the dental insurance market. Telemedicine has revolutionized the way people access healthcare, and the dental industry is no exception. With the use of technology, patients can now receive dental consultations and services from the comfort of their homes, without having to incur the cost of travel or in-person visits. This has significantly reduced the cost of dental services, making them more accessible to a broader range of individuals, and thus increasing the demand for dental insurance products.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/dental-insurance-market

North America is Mature Dental Insurance Market: To Contribute Over 34% Revenue Share

The North American dental insurance market is experiencing steady growth, driven by factors such as rising awareness of the importance of oral health and an aging population that requires more dental care. The market is expected to continue growing at a healthy CAGR in the coming years. The region has around 60% dental insurance penetration rate across the US and Canada, indicating a significant portion of the population has dental insurance coverage. However, there is still a considerable portion of the population that is uninsured or underinsured for dental care across the US and Canada, presenting an opportunity for further growth in the market.

The revenue generated by the North American dental insurance market was expected to reach approximately US$ 134.6 billion by 2031, driven by increasing demand for dental services and rising healthcare costs. The United States was the largest market for dental insurance in North America, accounting for the majority of the revenue. The key consumer group for dental insurance in North America was individuals and families seeking coverage for routine dental care, including check-ups, cleanings, and basic procedures. However, there is also a growing demand for specialized dental services, such as orthodontic treatments, which are often not covered by traditional dental insurance plans.

Per capita spending on dental insurance in North America varied depending on the level of coverage and the specific plan. However, on average, per capita spending on dental insurance in the United States was estimated to be around $350 per year in 2021.

Global Dental Insurance Market is Highly Consolidated: Top 10 Players Contributed Over 44% Revenue Share

The market is a vital segment of the healthcare industry, providing coverage for a range of dental procedures and treatments. The market is highly consolidated, with top 10 large players dominating the landscape with more than 44% market share. Wherein, Delta Dental is the largest contributor with more than 12% contribution the market revenue. Other major players in the market include MetLife, Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealth Group.

One of the key drivers of consolidation in the dental insurance market is the high cost of entry. The regulatory environment, complex actuarial calculations, and network contracting requirements make it difficult for new entrants to establish a foothold in the market. As a result, the market is dominated by established players with deep pockets and a wide range of resources.

Despite the challenges of consolidation, the market is highly competitive. Companies are continually looking for ways to differentiate themselves from their rivals and gain an edge in the marketplace. To do so, they are investing heavily in technology and digital capabilities to streamline operations and enhance the customer experience. Many are also expanding their networks of dentists and offering new and innovative products and services to meet the changing needs of consumers.

Another key trend in the dental insurance market is the rise of consumer-driven healthcare. Consumers are increasingly taking an active role in their healthcare decisions, and dental insurance companies are responding by offering more personalized and flexible coverage options. This includes the ability to choose from a range of plans, access to telemedicine and other digital health tools, and the ability to manage their accounts and claims online.

Some of the Top Market Players Are:

Aetna Inc.

Aetna Inc.

Allianz

Ameritas

AXA

Cigna

Delta Dental

HDFC ERGO Health Insurance Ltd. (Apollo Munich)

MetLife Services and Solutions, LLC

United HealthCare Services, Inc

OneExchange

Envivas

United Concordia

Other Prominent Players

Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/inquire-before-purchase/dental-insurance-market

About Astute Analytica

Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us.

Contact us:

Aamir Beg

BSI Business Park, H-15,Sector-63, Noida- 201301- India

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AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd.

The engineering services outsourcing market is projected to experience significant growth in the next decade. The market is driven by various factors such as cost-saving, expertise, scalability, and reduced risk. The telecom industry is the largest consumer of engineering outsourcing services, with a projected revenue share of 22% by 2031.

New Delhi, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global engineering services outsourcing market is expected to record a revenue of US$ 6,802.92 Bn by the end of the year 2031 from US$ 1,439.97 billion in 2022. The market is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.67% during the forecast period of 20232031. One of the primary drivers of this growth is the increasing adoption of technology, especially in the manufacturing sector. This trend has led to an increased demand for engineering services in areas such as design, prototyping, and testing.

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Another significant factor driving this market's growth is the increasing trend of outsourcing engineering services by companies to reduce costs and enhance efficiency. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this trend as businesses have sought ways to cut costs during these challenging times. As a result, there has been an increase in demand for engineering services outsourcing, particularly in software development, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.

Moreover, globalization has played a significant role in driving the engineering services outsourcing market. Many companies are exploring new markets, particularly in emerging economies, and outsourcing engineering services to gain a foothold in these markets. As a result, there has been an increase in demand for engineering services, especially in product localization and customization.

Digitalization, Automation, and Innovation: The Current Shift in the Global Engineering Services Outsourcing Market

The global market is currently experiencing a shift towards digitalization, automation, and innovation. With the increasing adoption of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT), there is a growing demand for engineering services that can integrate and optimize these technologies.

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Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this shift towards digitalization and automation, as companies are looking to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance their digital capabilities. This has led to an increased demand for engineering services in areas such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.

Moreover, there is a growing need for engineering services that can help companies innovate and stay competitive in today's rapidly changing business environment. This has led to an increased demand for engineering services outsourcing market in areas such as product design and development, prototyping, and testing.

Furthermore, there is a trend towards more strategic outsourcing partnerships, with companies looking for engineering services providers that can offer end-to-end solutions and help them achieve their business objectives. This has led to an increased focus on building long-term relationships and partnerships between clients and service providers.

More than 15% Revenue in Global Engineering Services Outsourcing Market is to Come from Process Designing Services

Outsourcing has become a popular choice for companies looking to design and develop their processes. This trend is driven by a variety of factors, including cost savings, expertise, flexibility, scalability, faster time-to-market, and reduced risk.

According to recent surveys, outsourcing has become a popular choice for companies looking to design and develop their processes. The trend is driven by a variety of factors, including cost savings, expertise, flexibility, scalability, faster time-to-market, and reduced risk. A survey by Astute Analytica found that 57% of companies outsource process design to improve cost efficiency, while 47% do so to gain access to specialized skills and knowledge. It was also found that 90% of executives believe outsourcing enables them to scale up or down more easily. Outsourcing process design to countries with lower labor costs allows companies to save money on salaries, benefits, and overhead expenses associated with hiring and managing an in-house engineering team.

Moreover, outsourcing to a specialized engineering firm provides companies with access to experienced engineers who are well-versed in the latest technologies and best practices, which can help reduce the design cycle time and bring products to market faster. By leveraging the expertise of experienced engineers, companies in the global engineering services outsourcing market can identify and mitigate potential risks early in the design process, thereby reducing the risk of costly mistakes and delays. As outsourcing continues to grow in popularity, it is likely that more and more companies will rely on outsourcing to drive their innovation and growth.

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Telecom Industry is Leveraging Engineering Outsourcing Services for Growth and Innovation and Generate More than 22% Revenue

The telecom industry has emerged as the largest consumer of engineering outsourcing services in recent years. By 2031, the segment is projected to generate more than 22% revenue share in the global engineering services outsourcing market. This trend is driven by several factors, including the rapid growth of the telecommunications sector, the need for specialized engineering expertise, and the increasing pressure to reduce costs and improve efficiency. The telecom industry relies heavily on engineering outsourcing services for a range of activities, including network planning and design, software development, product testing, and customer support.

Outsourcing these activities allows telecom companies to focus on their core competencies, reduce costs, and improve agility. Moreover, outsourcing to specialized engineering firms provides telecom companies with access to expertise and experience that may not be available in-house. As the demand for high-speed internet and mobile communication continues to grow, the telecom industry is expected to remain a major consumer of engineering outsourcing services in the coming years.

Capgemini Set to Make Significant Contribution to the Engineering services outsourcing market with More Than 7% Market Share

The market is highly competitive, with several players operating in the market. The top 5 players are projected to hold a revenue share of more than 29% by 2031, owing to their wide range of engineering services, including product design, simulation, testing, and prototyping.

According to Astute Analytica's recent report on the engineering services outsourcing market, Capgemini's position as one of the largest players in the market can be attributed to the company's focus on innovation and digital transformation. The company has been investing heavily in technologies like artificial intelligence, IoT, and cloud computing, which has enabled it to offer cutting-edge engineering solutions to its clients.

Capgemini's extensive experience in the engineering industry and its ability to provide end-to-end engineering services have also been key factors in its success. The company has a strong track record of delivering complex engineering projects on time and within budget, which has helped it build a loyal customer base.

Despite its leading position in the market, Capgemini faces intense competition from other major players in the industry. To maintain its market share and continue growing its business, the company will need to keep investing in new technologies and adapting to the changing needs of its clients.

Some of the Top Market Players Are:

Accenture

AKKA Technologies

Altair Engineering, Inc.

ALTEN SA

ASAP Holding GmbH

Assystem

AVL List GmbH

Bertrandt

Capgemini SE

Cognizant

Cyient

EDAG

ESI Group

Ferchau

Genpact

Geometric

HCL Technologies Limited

IAV

IGate

Infosys

IBM

ITC Infotech

KPIT

L&T Technology Service

Neilsoft

QuEST Global

Ranal Inc.

Segula Technologies

Semcon

Tata Consultancy Services

Tata Elxsi

Tata Technologies

Tech Mahindra

Wipro

Other Prominent Players

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About Astute Analytica

Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us.

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CONTACT: Contact us: Aamir Beg BSI Business Park, H-15,Sector-63, Noida- 201301- India Phone: +1-888 429 6757 (US Toll Free); +91-0120- 4483891 (Rest of the World) Email: sales@astuteanalytica.com Website: www.astuteanalytica.com




Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

Use of Food Aroma to Elevate the Aroma and Taste of Healthy F&B Products to Propel Food Aroma Market: The Industry is Anticipated to Expand at 6.6% CAGR. BASF and Solvay are the top players in the food aroma industry. The Food Flavors Market is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 24.86 billion by 2033

NEWARK, Del, April 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Food Aroma Market is predicted to register a CAGR of 6.6% over the forecast period, as per FMIs analysis. The industrys size is anticipated to increase from US$ 842.14 million in 2023 to US$ 1,595.72 million by 2033 end.



The food aroma market is projected to experience solid growth on account of surging investments made in research and development. Ceaseless innovations, accelerated by the soaring demand for diversity in foods and beverages, are expected to influence the market positively.

The emergent trend in the market can be defined as the growing demand for sustainable and natural food aroma. Additionally, escalating demand for novel food items and gastronomic experiences is also fueling the growth of the food aroma industry.

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Strong demand for convenience foods, which has engulfed developing countries as well, has sprung forth the consequent demand for food aroma. The fast-paced lifestyle of people residing in urban areas and changing consumer preferences are underpinning the demand for ready-to-eat meals.

Since food aroma products help enhance the aroma and flavor of food, they are gaining immense popularity. Additionally, the availability of innumerable food processing units across the globe is expected to be favorable for the market in the coming years.

Going forward, established companies and new entrants alike are moving toward sustainable natural aromas to cater to the increasing demand from the food industry. For instance, EvodiaBio, a startup, developed its proprietary aroma profile for non-alcoholic beers. The end product tastes as good as its boozy counterpart.

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Top Highlights from the FMIs Analysis of the Food Aroma Market:

Beverages segment is expected to garner a large market share, with respect to revenue generation. The growing popularity of distinct aromas in the F&B industry is pushing the demand for food aromas in the beverages sector.

In 2022, the synthetic segment generated a revenue of more than US$ 530 million. The prime factor propelling the growth of this segment includes its less processing time of synthetic aroma substances.

On the basis of product, terpene grabbed a market value of US$ 390 million in 2022. The growing demand for terpene can be ascribed to its flexibility and abounding health benefits.

Europe region is estimated to register a CAGR of 6% during 20232022 for the market in focus. The booming dairy industry is predicted to create many growth opportunities for the food aroma industry.

Market Update: Food Aroma Industry Sees Significant Acquisitions and Collaborations

Taiyo International collaborated with ITO EN, which is a distributor of flavorful, authentic, and abundantly nutritious tea, in August 2021. Both companies came together to distribute high-grade matches to multiple industries, including beverage, food, and supplement in North America region.

Symrise procured Giraffe Foods Inc., a foremost producer of custom taste solutions for several food industries, in July 2021. With this acquisition, the former company is expanding its flavor and nutrition category in North America.

Kerry Group commenced operations at its production unit in India in June 2019. This facility is an investment meant for extending its taste and nutrition profiles



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Competitive Dashboard: Top Strategies Adopted by Leading Players:

Top players in the food aroma market are BASF, Hindustan Mint and Agro Products, Solvay, and Takasgo International Corporation. Several main companies are increasingly focusing on strategies to expand their consumer base across the globe. Take for example, in February 2021, a BASF subsidiary situated out of the Netherlands by the name of Isobionics started a distillation unit to produce new fragrances and flavors at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in the Netherlands. The novel distillation factory is expected to facilitate the company to expand its business whilst catering to its customers needs.

Companies are also concentrating their efforts on the development of natural and organic ingredients in light of the soaring consumer base for healthy and sustainable products. Additionally, investments are increasing in research and development activities to develop innovative and distinct food aroma products to satiate changing demand and preferences of consumers.

Top players partner with retailers and food manufacturers to develop and advertise new products. Apart from this, collaborations also help with expanding the customer base and enhancing market share. Another strategy commonly employed by key players includes mergers and acquisitions. The companies are merging and acquiring other companies to expand their access to new products, markets, and technologies, in order to expand their market share.

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Food Aroma Market by Category

By Type, the Food Aroma Industry is Segmented as:

Natural

Synthetic

By Product, the Food Aroma Industry is Categorized as:

Benzenoids as Food Aroma Benzyl Acetate Benzoic Acid Vanillin Cinnamyl Benzaldehyde Others

Terpene as Food Aroma Limonene Pinene Myrcene Linalool Terpineol Others

Musk Chemicals as Food Aroma Muscone Musk Ambrette Musk Ketone

Others



By Application, the Food Aroma Market is Segregated as:

Beverages

Bakery

Dairy

Confectionery

Snacks

Other Applications

Table of Content

1. Executive Summary | Food Aroma 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

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Compound Feed Market Share - The global compound feed market size is poised to exhibit monumental growth from 2023 to 2033. According to the research report published by FMI, the global market is projected to cross a valuation of US$ 418 billion in 2023. It is predicted to surpass a valuation of US$ 674.42 billion by 2033

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Food and Beverages Color Fixing Agents Market Trends - The F&B color fixing agents demand is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 4.7% in the forecast period. The food and beverages color fixing agents market size is projected to reach US$ 4.14 billion by 2033, up from US$ 2.62 billion in 2023.

Feed Phosphate Market Forecast - The global feed phosphate market is projected to achieve a value of US$ 3.61 billion in 2023 and US$ 4.84 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 4% from 2023 to 2033.

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FACT.MR

Government initiatives promoting energy-efficient insulation solutions are driving the demand for insulation mineral wool, says Fact.MR in its new market report.

Rockville, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per Fact.MR, a provider of market research and competitive intelligence, the global insulation mineral wool market is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 31 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 5% from 2023 to 2033.



Insulating mineral wool contains a high percentage of fibers. The material is produced by melting and spinning, and then drawing it into fibers. When used in residential spaces, mineral wool is an effective insulator, with excellent thermal and acoustic properties that can prevent energy transfer from the outside to the inside.

Demand for insulation mineral wool is expected to increase during the forecast period due to increasing construction activities as well as stringent rules governing fire safety. Considering the worldwide advancements in insulation materials and the affordability of mineral wool, this seems to be a highly probable scenario.

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The sidewalls of residential or commercial buildings can be insulated using a variety of materials that are readily accessible. Mineral fleece has drawn more attention in recent years. Mineral wool is a blend of stone, molten gas, or industrial waste, as the name suggests.

For instance, China's construction sector has been steadily growing, with total output having reached US$ 3.75 trillion in 2021, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Due to rising urbanization, China's building industry accounted for a revenue of US$ 4.21 trillion in the same year.



Key Takeaways from Market Study

The global insulation mineral wool market is valued at US$ 19.1 billion in 2023.

Worldwide demand for insulation mineral wool is projected to increase at a CAGR of 5% from 2023 to 2033.

Sales of insulation mineral wool are estimated to reach US$ 31 billion by the end of 2033.

By type, glass wool occupies a leading share of the market and its sales are expected to increase at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period.

Demand for insulation mineral wool in China is set to advance at a CAGR of 7.7% through 2033.



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Growth of the mineral wool market is being driven by high demand for energy-efficient thermal and acoustic insulation solutions in residential and commercial buildings, says a Fact.MR analyst.

Key Segments of Insulation Mineral Wool Industry

By Type : Glass Wool Rock Wool Others

By Product : Boards Blankets Panels

By Application : Building & Construction Industrial Transportation Others

By Region : North America Latin America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa





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Report Attributes Details Market Size (2022) US$ 18.2 Billion Estimated Market Value (2023) US$ 19.1 Billion Forecasted Market Value (2033) US$ 31 Billion Global Market Growth Rate (2023 to 2033) 5% CAGR No. of Pages 170 Pages No. of Tables 84 Tables No. Figures 112 Figures

Market Competition

Businesses in the market compete based on the product quality they offer. The major companies in the insulation mineral wool market put a lot of effort into building their production facilities, investing in R&D, developing their infrastructure, and utilizing integration opportunities throughout the value chain. Mineral wool insulation manufacturers use these strategies to meet their customers demands, stay competitive, innovate, reduce costs, and expand their customer base.

SPI acquired Thermaxx Jackets, Rocky Mountain Construction Wholesale, GLT, NewStar, and Bigham Insulation Supplies in May 2021.



Key Companies Profiled

Rockwool International AS

Johns Manville

Knauf Insulation

Owens Corning

Trelleborg

Saint Gobain

Hush Acoustics

Hodgson & Hodgson

Guardian Fiberglass



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More Valuable Insights on Offer

Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the global insulation mineral wool market, presenting historical demand data for 2018 to 2022 and forecast statistics for 2023 to 2033.

The study divulges essential insights on the market based on type (glass wool, rock wool, others), product (boards, blankets, panels), and application (building & construction, industrial, transportation, others), across five major regions of the world (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa).

Check out more related studies published by Fact.MR Research:

Pipeline Thermal Insulation Materials Market: The global pipeline thermal insulation materials market is estimated at USD 2.7 Billion in 2022 and is forecast to surpass USD 4.8 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2022 to 2032. The global pipeline thermal insulation materials market accounts for ~8% of the global building thermal insulation material market in 2022. The global pipeline thermal insulation materials market is estimated to have an absolute $ opportunity of USD 2.1 Billion during the forecast years of 2022-2032.

Hot Insulation Materials Market: Insulation is a term used to describe a product that reduces heat gain or loss, and provides critical fire resistance, sound attenuation, and absorption by creating a block between surfaces. Hot insulation materials are protective coatings designed and utilized to maintain an acceptable/required temperature for moving gas and other substances at relatively high temperatures.

Active Insulation Market: Global active insulation market will grow 1.7X from 2019 to 2029. Stemming from increasing disposable income of millennial consumers and growing demand for activewear & sportswear textile applications of active insulation products will foster strong growth. Demand trends such as thermal management and improved breathability of activewear & sportswear will shape the active textile insulation segment.

Refrigeration Insulation Materials Market: Role of refrigeration insulation system is aimed to reduce heat flow in cooled spaces or cold devices such as refrigerated pipes, vehicles, warehouses and HVAC. Refrigeration working overtime result in higher electricity bills, which is why it is necessary to maintain a refrigerant temperature below ambient temperature. To avoid heat losses and improper functioning of this equipment, refrigeration insulating materials are widely used during fabrication.

Mineral Feed Market: Economical milk production with better operating results for animal husbandry is possible with strong and healthy animals. To achieve high quality ration, mineral feed is given to animals. Mineral feed is concentrated feed which is given to animals, such as cow, calf, sheep, goats, pigs, birds, rabbits, etc. Mineral feed helps in improving health as well as improves lactation milk in female animals. Mineral feed also provides various advantages.

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AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd.

NaaS market is expected to experience significant growth in the years to come. NaaS providers who stay abreast of emerging technologies and trends will be well positioned to offer innovative and customized solutions that meet the networking needs of organizations across various industries.

New Delhi, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global network-as-a-Service Market was valued at US$ 20.8 Bn in 2022 and is projected to reach US$ 465.2 Bn by 2031 at a CAGR of 40.7% during the forecast period 20232031.

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The network-as-a-service (NaaS) market is rapidly growing and evolving to meet the demands of businesses seeking more flexible and scalable networking solutions. NaaS providers offer networking infrastructure and services on a subscription basis, allowing organizations to customize their network services without the expense of building and maintaining their own infrastructure.

The global NaaS market is expected to continue to grow rapidly as more organizations adopt cloud-based and remote work models. This is particularly true in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the shift towards remote work and digital transformation. Additionally, the market is likely to see increased adoption of 5G networks, which will enable new use cases such as real-time applications and high-bandwidth services. This will create new opportunities for NaaS providers to offer specialized services and customized solutions.

Key Takeaways from the Global Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) Market

Technology services segment dominated the market with around 57.4% share in 2022.

The wide area network services segment is estimated to have the highest market share in 2022. However, the enhanced mobile services segment is projected to grow at a fastest CAGR of 45.2% during the forecast period.

Cloud-based services segment is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 43.7% during the forecast period.

The large enterprise segment is estimated to have the highest market share of 55.4% in 2022. However, the small & medium enterprise segment is projected to grow at a fastest CAGR of 43.7% during the forecast period.

North America is projected to have the largest hold, with a share of around 40% in the global network-as-a-service market in 2022. In North America, the US majorly contributes to the market growth in the region.

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Cloud-Based Services to Grow at CAGR of 43.7% in Global NaaS Market, Fueled by Increasing Adoption and Benefits of Flexibility and Scalability

The cloud-based services segment is projected to have the fastest growth in the network-as-a-service (NaaS) market in the coming years. According to market research, this segment is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 43.7%, which is considerably higher than other NaaS segments, such as SDN and NFV.

This significant growth is driven by the increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions by enterprises across a variety of industries. Cloud-based NaaS solutions provide businesses with the flexibility and scalability required to keep up with the fast-paced and ever-changing business environment of today. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this shift towards remote work and digital transformation, making cloud-based NaaS solutions even more attractive.

Cloud-based NaaS solutions offer several benefits to businesses, including on-demand access to networking services without the need for expensive infrastructure investments. This allows businesses to scale their networking capabilities as their needs grow while minimizing costs. Additionally, cloud-based NaaS solutions provide a higher level of flexibility, enabling businesses to customize their networking solutions to meet their specific needs.

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North America to Generate more than 40% Revenue Share of Global Network-as-a-Services Market

According to Astute Analytica, North America currently holds a significant revenue share of the Network-as-a-Service market. This can be attributed to the region's early adoption of cloud-based solutions and the presence of several large players. In 2022, the North American NaaS market held over 40% revenue share. Wherein, the telecom industry is identified as the largest end-user of NaaS solutions in North America, accounting for approximately 45% of the total market revenue in 2020. The growth of this industry can be attributed to the increasing demand for high-speed internet and the need for cost-effective networking solutions.

In addition, it was observed a highly fragmented competitive landscape in the NaaS market in North America, with several small and large players competing for market share. However, Cisco Systems, Inc., Juniper Networks, Inc., AT&T Inc., Nokia Corporation, and Verizon Communications Inc., investing heavily in research and development, partnerships, and acquisitions to expand their market share and remain competitive.

It was also found that there is a growing trend of hybrid networking solutions across the US, which combine the benefits of on-premises networking with cloud-based networking. This trend is gaining popularity due to its flexibility, scalability, and security, and we expect it to drive the growth of the NaaS market in the coming years.

Competitive Landscape

The global network-as-a-service (NaaS) market is highly competitive and is expected to continue to intensify in the coming years. Key players in the market are expanding their market share by leveraging advanced technologies and strategic partnerships. Currently, the global network-as-a-service market is dominated by major players such as AT&T, NEC, IBM, Juniper Networks, and Verizon. These companies offer a range of networking services, including virtual private networks (VPNs), software-defined networking (SDN), and network function virtualization (NFV).

Another trend in the market is the emergence of new players offering niche NaaS solutions, such as security-focused NaaS solutions and NaaS for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These companies are leveraging innovative technologies to provide customized solutions to their clients and are expected to increase their market share in the coming years.

Moreover, cloud service providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) are also entering the NaaS market. These players are leveraging their expertise in cloud computing to provide comprehensive NaaS solutions, which are expected to drive the growth of the market.

Most Prominent Developments in the Global Network-as-a-Survives Market

January 2021: Cloudflare announced its acquisition of Linc, a provider of network automation and control solutions. The acquisition is expected to enhance Cloudflare's NaaS capabilities, enabling it to provide more advanced networking services to its customers.

Jan 2021: Cato Networks raises $130 million in funding. Cato Networks announced that it had raised $130 million in a funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. The funding will be used to expand Cato's NaaS platform and accelerate its growth in the market.

June 2021: Verizon acquires Bluegrass Cellular to expand 5G network. Verizon announced its acquisition of Bluegrass Cellular, a regional wireless carrier in Kentucky. The acquisition is expected to expand Verizon's 5G network coverage in the region and enable it to offer more advanced 5G services to customers.

Some of the Top Market Players Are:

Aryaka Networks, Inc.

Ciena Corporation

Extreme Networks

Global Cloud Xchange

Juniper Networks, Inc.

NEC Corporation

Silver Peak Systems, Inc.

SYNNEX Corporation

Telstra Corporation Limited

VMware, Inc.

AT&T Inc.

Verizon

Cisco Systems Inc.

IBM Corporation

Oracle Corporation

Other Prominent Players

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About Astute Analytica

Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us.

Contact us:

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AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd.

The pharmaceutical packaging market has enormous potential for growth due to increasing demand for specialized packaging, regulatory requirements, government support, and environmental concerns. The Asia Pacific region is expected to be a significant contributor to the market's revenue, while innovation and growth are expected to present new opportunities.

New Delhi, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global pharmaceutical packaging market was valued at US$ 133.6 billion in 2022 and is poised to reach a valuation of US$ 464.4 billion by the end of 2031, at a CAGR of 14.8% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2031.

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The demand for pharmaceutical packaging is primarily driven by the growing need for safe and reliable packaging solutions to protect drugs from contamination, damage, and theft during transportation and storage. Additionally, the increasing demand for generic drugs, biologics, and personalized medicine is expected to further boost the demand for innovative packaging solutions. However, the market is also affected by the availability of raw materials, transportation costs, and supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the last few years, the global output of pharmaceutical products has been steadily increasing, driven by factors such as population growth, increasing life expectancy, and rising healthcare expenditure.

In recent years, the trend towards eco-friendly and sustainable packaging solutions has gained momentum, with pharmaceutical companies increasingly focusing on reducing their environmental impact in the global pharmaceutical packaging market. This has led to the development of new and innovative packaging solutions, such as biodegradable plastics and recycled materials, which are expected to drive the market's growth in the future.

In addition to the growing demand for innovative and sustainable packaging solutions, the market is also driven by government regulations aimed at improving patient safety and preventing drug counterfeiting. Regulations such as the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) and the European Union's Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) require pharmaceutical companies to implement serialization and traceability measures, which has led to an increased demand for secure packaging solutions.

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Current Trends and Future Outlook of the Pharmaceutical Packaging Market

The market is witnessing several trends, including the

Increasing adoption of sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions,

Growing demand for smart packaging solutions, and the

Rising use of automation and robotics in packaging processes

The future of the pharmaceutical packaging market looks promising, with increasing demand for innovative and sustainable packaging solutions. The use of digital technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence is expected to revolutionize the industry, enabling greater traceability and security in the supply chain. Additionally, the growing demand for personalized medicine and biologics is expected to drive the demand for specialized packaging solutions.

Key Report Findings

Primary packaging is set to generate over 72% of the market revenue, categorized by type.

The global pharmaceutical packaging market is highly fragmented, with the top six players holding less than 16% revenue share.

Plastic packaging is anticipated to contribute over 36% of the market revenue, classified by material.

Oral drug packaging application is projected to account for more than 32% of the market revenue.

Prescription drugs are expected to generate over 72% of the global pharmaceutical packaging market's revenue.

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Contract Packaging Emerges as Key Solution for Industry's Evolving Needs

Contract packaging has emerged as a popular solution for pharmaceutical companies looking to outsource their packaging needs to specialized packaging companies. This trend has been on the rise in recent years, and according to a report by Astute Analytica, contract packaging is projected to contribute more than 32% revenue to the global pharmaceutical packaging market. Contract packaging companies offer a range of services, such as product packaging, labeling, printing, serialization, and distribution. In addition to this, most of the pharma companies are slowly shifting their operation to contract players as they offer specialized expertise in packaging design, materials selection, and compliance with regulatory requirements, which help them streamline their operations and reduce costs.

One of the key factors driving the growth of the contract packaging market in the pharmaceutical industry is the increasing demand for specialized packaging solutions. With the growing complexity of drugs and drug delivery systems, pharmaceutical companies require specialized expertise in packaging design and materials selection to ensure that their products are packaged safely and effectively.

Apart from this, increasing regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical packaging is driving the market growth further. The regulatory landscape is constantly evolving, and pharmaceutical companies must ensure that their packaging meets the latest requirements to ensure product safety and compliance. Contract packaging companies can help pharmaceutical companies to navigate these requirements and ensure that their packaging is compliant with the latest regulations.

Asia Pacific is Growing Fastest in Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market and to Generate Revenue of over US$ 126.4 billion by 2031

The Asia Pacific region is expected to generate more than US$ 126.4 billion in revenue for the global pharmaceutical packaging market by 2031, according to a report by Astute Analytica. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the strong presence of pharmaceutical companies, a large regional output, a sizable population and consumer base, a robust manufacturing base, government support to push manufacturing activities, and a strong presence of contract packaging companies. Moreover, it has a strong presence of contract packaging companies, which provide specialized expertise in packaging design, materials selection, and compliance with regulatory requirements. These companies offer a range of services, such as product packaging, labeling, printing, serialization, and distribution, which can help pharmaceutical companies to streamline their operations and reduce costs.

The Asia Pacific region is home to several leading pharmaceutical companies, including Takeda Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo, Astellas Pharma, and Eisai. These companies have a strong presence in the region, with a wide distribution network and a diverse product portfolio. The region also has a large regional output of pharmaceutical products, with countries like China and India being major producers of generic drugs. This has led to a growing demand for packaging solutions, such as blister packs, vials, and ampoules, which are required for the storage and transportation of these products.

Moreover, the governments in the Asia Pacific pharmaceutical packaging market are actively supporting the growth of the pharmaceutical industry by pushing for increased manufacturing activities. For instance, the Indian government's "Pharma Vision 2020" initiative aims to make India a global leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing, which is expected to drive the demand for pharmaceutical packaging solutions in the region.

Highly Fragmented Pharmaceutical Market: Top 6 Players Contribute Less than 16%

Many companies are operating in the global Pharmaceutical Packaging market to provide various products. Through extensive research, Astute Analytica found that big players have adopted various competitive strategies such as mergers & acquisitions in order to have a grip of emerging markets. Leading companies expanding their geographical boundaries by acquiring small brands and domestic companies.

The cumulative market share of the six major players is close to 15.80%, and the rest of the market share is captured by others. Wherein, Amcor is one of the leading players in the global pharmaceutical packaging market, with a strong focus on providing innovative and sustainable packaging solutions. The company offers a wide range of products, including flexible and rigid packaging solutions, which cater to the diverse needs of the pharmaceutical industry.

Amcor's strong position in the market is reflected in its revenue share, which is estimated to be more than 5% of the global pharmaceutical packaging market. This market share is a testament to the company's commitment to innovation and quality, as well as its ability to cater to the evolving needs of the pharmaceutical industry.

The company's success can also be attributed to its focus on sustainability, with a goal to make all of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. This commitment to sustainability has led to the development of innovative packaging solutions such as the Eco-Tite R and UltraGuard products, which are designed to reduce waste and improve the environmental impact of pharmaceutical packaging.

Some of the Top Market Players Are:

Amcor

AptarGroup, Inc.

Becton, Dickinson, and Company

Berry Global, Inc.

Catalent (US)

CCL Industries, Inc.

Comar, LLC

Drug Plastics Group

Gerresheimer AG

International Paper

Owens Illinois, Inc.

Schott AG

SGD Pharma

Vetter Pharma International

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

WestRock Company

Other Prominent Players

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About Astute Analytica

Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us.

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Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

The Commercial Kitchen Ventilation System Market is Anticipated to Account for US$ 3621.4 Million by 2032. Commercial Kitchen Ventilation Systems Market Outstanding Performance Analysis by Leading Industry and Forecast to 2032

NEWARK, Del, April 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The worldwide commercial kitchen ventilation system market is predicted to have a slow compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9% between 2022 and 2032. However, it is projected to reach a worth of US$ 3,621.4 million by 2032, surpassing the US$ 2,476.1 million it was valued in 2022. This market worldwide will expand steadily in the upcoming years, primarily driven by the fact that they include air exhausts as well as replacement air facilities within the cooking space. Technological advancements in home appliances and growing awareness of hygiene are a few other aspects that bolster the demand for commercial kitchen ventilation systems.



Increased investments in research and development activities for inventing new technologies, a surge in demand for energy-efficient products, a rise in disposable income, and an improvement in living standards are among the key drivers expected to fuel the growth of the commercial kitchen ventilation market. Surging demand for integrated systems will also aid the expansion of the commercial kitchen ventilation system market size.

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The current trend of using Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV) systems are also contributing to the growth of the market. These systems are becoming increasingly preferred, as they allow for adjusting the exhaust fans' speed based on the cooking equipment's load using optical or heat sensors. As a result, energy can be conserved when the equipment is not in use. This factor drives the demand for DCV systems which, in turn, propels the commercial kitchen ventilation system market forward.

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The implementation of strict rules about VOC emission, greater awareness of the greenhouse effect, and rising pollution levels all over the world will aid the commercial kitchen ventilation system market growth in the upcoming years. With rising consumer demand for efficient and aesthetic kitchen appliances, the demand for commercial kitchen ventilation systems will also rise. Additionally, the demand for commercial kitchen ventilation systems is projected to be propelled by a rise in the adoption of technologically advanced tools like the Internet of Things devices as well as by the growing popularity of smart features in these systems. These considerations will drive the overall growth of the market. However, factors like the high cost of the equipment will likely hamper the growth of the commercial kitchen ventilation system market.

Key Takeaways:

The introduction of Demand Controlled Ventilation systems will strengthen prospects for the market.

High costs of the equipment will hinder the market growth of commercial kitchen ventilation systems during the assessment period.

In 2022, the commercial kitchen ventilation system market in Europe accounted for 24.1% of the global market share.

Growing demand for energy-efficient technology will drive the commercial kitchen ventilation system market in North America.

The start-up in this market are focusing on product innovation and development.



Know more about this market's geographical distribution along with a detailed analysis of the top regions:

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Competitive Landscape

Britannia Kitchen Ventilation Ltd. , Centrotee Sustainable AG , Munters AB , Flakt Woods Group , CaptiveAire Syatems Inc. , Greenheck Fan Corporation , Nortek Incorporated , Solar & Palau , and among others, are the significant players in the commercial kitchen ventilation system market profiled in the full version of the report.

In a competitive market, prominent market players are concentrating on product innovation and product certification to gain a competitive edge. These companies also employ various organic and inorganic business strategies to enhance their market position. In a recent development, Halton Group introduced CMW-FMOD- Cold Mist On Demand Hood which lowers air temperature and eliminates grease from the exhausted air.

More Insights Into Commercial Kitchen Ventilation System Market

FMIs latest report on the global commercial kitchen ventilation market covers historical data from 2014 to 2020 and forecast statistics for 2022 to 2032. This report provides insights into a ten-year sales forecast with an in-depth examination of market drivers, trends, opportunities, and challenges. For a comprehensive understanding of the global market potential, growth, and scope, the market is segmented into application type, fan type, and region.

According to the reports, based on region, the commercial kitchen ventilation system market in North America will continue to perform well during the assessment period. The target market in this region held about 27.5% of the overall market share in 2022. Growing demand for energy-efficient products, the emergence of DCV systems, and the activities of key manufacturers will aid the growth of the commercial kitchen ventilation system market in North America. Europe will also exhibit impressive growth while accounting for 21.4% of the global market share in 2022.

Key Segments Profiled in the Commercial Kitchen Ventilation System Market Survey

By Contact with Application Type:

Restaurants

Hospitals

Corporate Offices

Hotels

Five Star Hotels

Others

By Fan Type:

High Volume Low Speed Fans

Axial Fans

Centrifugal Fan Sets

Bifurcated Fan Sets

Belt Driven Axial Fans

In-Line Centrifugal

Mixed Flow Impellers

Roof Extract Fans

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Asia Pacific

The Middle East and Africa

Europe



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Table of Content

1. Executive Summary

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



3. Market Background

3.1. Market Dynamics

3.2. Scenario Forecast

3.3. Opportunity Map Analysis

3.4. Product Life Cycle Analysis (TOC Continue...)

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Explore FMIs Extensive Coverage on Industrial Automation Domain:

ISO Container Market Size: The ISO container market is predicted to capture a valuation of US$ 266.53 million in 2023 and is estimated to rise to US$ 630.97 million by 2033. The market is anticipated to record a CAGR of 9% during the forecast period.

Industrial Gearbox Market Share: The industrial gearbox market is expected to grow its revenue share from US$ 30.08 billion in 2023 to US$ 47.16 billion by 2033. Throughout the forecast period, the market is anticipated to exhibit a constant CAGR of 4.6%.

Oil Filled Transformer Market Analysis: The oil filled transformer market is predicted to secure a valuation of US$ 39.41 billion in 2023 and is estimated to rise to US$ 73.98 billion by 2033. The market is anticipated to record a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period.

High Pressure Processing Equipment Market Growth: The global high-pressure processing equipment market size is valued at US$ 333.9 million in 2023 and is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 1.1 billion by 2033. The market is likely to register a growth rate of 12.8% through the forecast period.

Gas Insulated Substation Market Demand: The global gas-insulated substation market is estimated to reach a valuation of US$ 14.6 billion in 2023. As per Future Market Insights (FMI) analysis, the gas-insulated substation market size is expected to surpass US$ 24.6 billion in the next decade. Between 2023 and 2033, the market has been forecasted to register a 5.4% CAGR.

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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

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Transparency Market Research

Increasing demand for consumer electronics and the adoption of electric vehicles is likely to drive the market for silicon capacitors

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. - The silicon capacitors market was valued at US$ 1.6 billion in 2022 and the global market is anticipated to reach US$ 2.6 billion by 2031. According to predictions, the global market will grow at a CAGR of 5.3% between 2023 and 2031. Due to miniaturized electronics and the need for thin-film transmission lines to carry large RF signals (radio frequency), demand for the silicon capacitor market is expected to grow significantly in the near future.



As silicon capacitors are capable of operating at very high frequencies, this makes them very suitable for use in circuits that operate at high speed. With a wide operating temperature range and good stability over time, they are ideally suited for medical, telecommunications, industrial, and high-reliability applications.

There have been several initiatives launched by governments around the world to promote silicon capacitors in a wide range of industries. For example, as part of the EU's Green Deal, silicon capacitors are being promoted as energy-efficient products that reduce carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption.

A wide range of advanced manufacturing technologies is being employed to improve energy efficiency through the use of silicon capacitors within the Advanced Manufacturing Office of the U.S. Department of Energy.

A Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative is also being developed by the US Department of Energy to develop clean energy manufacturing technologies, such as silicon capacitors.

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Key Findings of Market Report

A rise in the use of silicon capacitors for aerospace & defense applications in harsh environments can lead to growth in the market.

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According to technology, the MOS capacitor segment accounted for 61.8% of the market in 2022.

Increasing market demand for silicon capacitors to manufacture medical devices will grow the market in the coming years.

With a growing number of aircraft engines and avionics increasingly relying on 3D silicon capacitors, the market is expected to prosper in the coming years.



A growing number of investments and research and development initiatives are expected to expand the market in the near future.



Global Silicon Capacitors Market: Growth Drivers

Developing energy-efficient and compact silicon capacitor solutions for use in consumer electronics is expected to grow demand for silicon capacitors in the market. The automobile and telecom sectors are becoming more interested in silicon capacitors because of the downsizing trend, which has taken hold in the market.





Silicon capacitors are used more frequently in automobiles and electronics are integrated into them, automakers have reconsidered their car designs with an eye toward space saving in the market. As a result, silicon capacitors are expected to be in greater demand.





Several countries have enacted strict eco-legislation in recent years, requiring auto manufacturers to use composite materials in the development of their vehicles. Silicon capacitors are being heavily researched, developed, and deployed by governments around the world. For example, the Department of Energy is researching and developing high-efficiency, low-power silicon capacitors for electric vehicles.





Silicon capacitors are also produced with the support of European Union research and development investments. There is also an ongoing effort by the Chinese government to develop new technologies that will improve the performance of silicon capacitors and lower the cost of these devices.





With sustainable and possibly green materials being developed and silicon capacitors being used in military and defense applications, new opportunities for silicon capacitors are expected to grow.



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Global Silicon Capacitors: Regional Landscape

Several industry analysts suggest that North America is likely to lead the global market for silicon capacitors.

Approximately 16.8% of the global market share will be accounted for by the United States in 2022.

United States and Canadian consumers are increasingly relying on silicon capacitors as new telecommunications technologies develop.





With the miniaturization of electronic devices, there are new growth opportunities in the European silicon capacitors market.





The growth of advanced technologies in China and Japan is expected to lead to growth in the market.



Global Silicon Capacitors Market: Key Players

Several key players in the silicon capacitor market are acquiring, merging, or forming alliances to consolidate their market positions. Several developments have recently taken place as the market enters a competitive phase.

In March 2023, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. added a 200 mm mass production line to its silicon capacitor manufacturing facilities in France. In addition to manufacturing smartphones, telecommunication infrastructures, and implantable medical devices, this facility is used for a wide variety of other requirements as well.





In April 2022, ELOHIM, a South Korea-based silicon capacitor manufacturer, developed a high-density, ultra-small silicon capacitor that is suitable for 5G applications. This capacitor will not only be used in autonomous driving but will also be used in artificial intelligence applications.



Key Points from TOC:

1. Preface

1.1. Market Introduction

1.2. Market and Segments Definition

1.3. Market Taxonomy

1.4. Research Methodology

1.5. Assumption and Acronyms

2. Executive Summary

2.1. Global Silicon Capacitors Market Overview

2.2. Regional Outline

2.3. Industry Outline

2.4. Market Dynamics Snapshot

2.5. Competition Blueprint

3. Market Dynamics

3.1. Macro-economic Factors

3.2. Drivers

3.3. Restraints

3.4. Opportunities

3.5. Key Trends

3.6. Regulatory Framework

4. Associated Industry and Key Indicator Assessment

4.1. Parent Industry Overview - Global Passive Electronic Components Industry Overview

4.2. Supply Chain Analysis

4.3. Pricing Analysis

4.4. Technology Roadmap

4.5. Industry SWOT Analysis

4.6. Porters Five Forces Analysis

4.7. COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Analysis

5. Global Silicon Capacitors Market Analysis, by Technology

5.1. Silicon Capacitors Market Size (US$ Mn) and Volume (Million Units) Analysis and Forecast, by Technology, 20172031

5.1.1. MOS Capacitors

5.1.2. MIS Capacitors

5.2. Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Technology

6. Global Silicon Capacitors Market Analysis, by Capacitance

6.1. Silicon Capacitors Market Size (US$ Mn) Analysis and Forecast, by Capacitance, 20172031

6.1.1. pF

6.1.2. nF

6.1.3. F

6.2. Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Capacitance

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Global Silicon Capacitors Market: Segmentation

Technology

MOS Capacitors

MIS Capacitors

Structure

Trench

Planer

Capacitance

pF

nF

F



Chip Thickness

Up to 100 m

100 m to 250 m

250 m to 400 m

Above 400 m

Chip Size

0.05 to 0.50 sq.mm.

O.51 to 1 sq.mm.

1 to 2 sq.mm

Above 2 sq.mm.

Frequency

20 GHz to 40 GHz

40 GHz to 60 GHz

60 GHz to 100 GHz

Above 100 GHz

Application

Electronic Warfare

Computing Devices

Communication Equipment

LiDAR

GPS System

Others (Downhole Oil Exploration Systems, Surveillance System, Pacemakers, etc.)

End-use Industry

Consumer Electronics Smartphones Tablets and PCs Others

IT& Telecommunication Servers Base Stations Others

Automotive

Aerospace & Defense

Healthcare

Others (Industrial, Oil & Gas etc.)

Regions

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

South America

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd.

While the overall outlook for the semiconductor gases market is positive, there are some challenges that could impact its growth. These include environmental regulations, volatile raw material prices, and intensifying competition from China. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the largest market for semiconductor gases due to the presence of a large number of manufacturers in the region. Rising demand for efficient devices drives need for high-purity gases in semiconductor manufacturing.

New Delhi, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global semiconductor gases market is estimated to witness a major jump in revenue from US$ 9,035.8 million in 2022 to US$ 15,956.8 million by 2031, at a CAGR of 6.4%.

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The strong growth in the semiconductor industry is driving demand for advanced gases, such as hydrogen fluoride (HF) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), which are used in etching and deposition processes. The rising trend of miniaturization of devices is also driving gas demand, as smaller devices require more precise plasma control during manufacturing. In addition, the growing trend of 3D NAND flash memory and other advanced packaging applications are expected to create new opportunities for gas suppliers in the coming years.

Astute Analytica expects the electric vehicle market to have the biggest impact on the semiconductor gases industry, with sales of these vehicles increasing from 2 million in 2018 to 11 million by 2025. This demand will be driven by stricter emissions regulations, declining battery costs and consumer preference for greener transportation options.

5G is also expected to drive the global semiconductor gases market growth, as the new wireless standard will require more chips and higher speeds than ever before. The IoT is another major opportunity for the market, as connected devices are forecast to increase from 6 billion in 2018 to 25 billion by 2025. This rapid growth will create demand for new sensors and other components that use semiconductor gases.

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We attribute the industry's growth to an increase in demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and materials, as well as rising expenditure on research and development (R&D). The market for semiconductor gases continues to be buoyed by the strong underlying fundamentals of the semiconductor industry. Despite concerns about a potential slowdown in spending on semiconductor equipment, we believe that the long-term prospects for the sector remain positive.

Regional Outlook: China, Japan, and South Korea to Lead Asia Pacific Semiconductor Gases Market

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the largest market for semiconductor gases during the forecast period. The growth of this market can be attributed to the increasing demand for semiconductor devices from China, Japan, and South Korea. Moreover, the presence of a large number of wafer fabrication facilities and chipmakers in Taiwan is another factor driving the growth of the semiconductor gases market in this region. Astute Analyticas analysis predicts that APAC will grow at a rate a robust CAGR from 2023-2031 largely due to Chinese foundries' production ramp-ups for 7nm node and beyond as well as increases in spending on new equipment and expansion by memory manufacturers within South Korea and Taiwan.

The primary driver for growth in the Asia Pacific semiconductor industry is the increasing demand for electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and Ultrabook. This has led to an increase in the production of semiconductor chips, which are used in these devices. In addition, the region's manufacturing capabilities and skilled workforce have attracted foreign companies to set up manufacturing facilities in countries such as China, Taiwan, and South Korea

Semiconductor manufacturing activity is shifting to Asia Pacific, especially Taiwan, China and South Korea, due to the lower cost of labor and land. In addition, the governments of these countries are investing heavily in the semiconductor industry, which is further driving semiconductor gases market growth. However, there are some challenges that could impede market growth. For instance, the volatile raw material prices could create cost pressures for gas suppliers. In addition, environmental regulations could limit the use of certain gases, such as fluorinated gases.

North America is projected to have the second highest market share as US fabless IC companies such as AMD, NVIDIA and Qualcomm continue their string of 20nm/14nm product announcements and expansions while leading IDMs Intel and Micron implement 3D NAND at scale within their US-based operations.

Challenges Mount for Semiconductor Gases Market as Rare Gases Shortages and Environmental Regulations Impede Growth

Oversupply of DRAM chips and NAND flash memories

In its latest semiconductor gas market analysis, Astute Analytica has found that several manufacturers around the globe have slashed chip sales by 2.8% amid a deteriorating outlook for the memory market and continued weakness in the personal computer sector. Currently, the industry being pressured by significant oversupply of DRAM chips and NAND flash memories, which has led to falling prices and profitability. It expects these conditions to continue until 2031.

Supply and Demand Imbalance

One of the biggest challenges is the supply and demand imbalance in certain gas types, which can lead to price fluctuations and shortages. This is especially true for rare gases such as helium, which is used in several applications such as leak detection and cleaning operations. In addition, regulations imposed by environmental agencies can also pose a challenge to the semiconductor gases market growth as they can result in increased costs for gas suppliers.

Increasing Cost of New Nodes

Semiconductor device manufacturers have been able to increase output by using larger wafers and adding more capacity, but these approaches are becoming less effective. Another challenge is the increasing cost of new nodes. The cost of developing and implementing a new process node has been rising, from $500 million in 2005 to an estimated $3 billion in 2020. In addition, the time required to bring new nodes into production has increased from about two years in 2005 to about four years today.

Electronic Special Gas to Generate more than 65% market Revenue in Global Semiconductor Gases Market

Despite a challenging global semiconductor market, the electronic special gases industry is forecast to grow at a healthy pace through 2022, according to Astute Analytica. This is due to strong demand from key applications such as flat panel display (FPD) production, light-emitting diode (LED) lighting and enhanced computer chip manufacturing.

The FPD industry is expected to drive growth in the electronic special gases market during the next few years. The move to 4K/ultra-high-definition (UHD) TVs is accelerating the need for larger substrate sizes and improved yields in the production of liquid crystal displays (LCDs). This increase in LCD production will lead to higher demand for argon, krypton and xenon. As of 2021, global sales of LED and LCD TVs amounted to approximately 224 million units. LED TVs are the most popular type of television, accounting for the majority of TV sales worldwide in the global semiconductor gases market.

The LED segment is also forecast to grow at a healthy rate as LEDs are increasingly being used for general lighting in both commercial and consumer applications. The higher efficiency and longer lifetime of LEDs compared with traditional incandescent bulbs is driving this shift. This increase in demand for LEDs will lead to higher demand for nitrogen, hydrogen and helium.

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Chamber Cleaning Process to Generate More than US$ 3,487.6 Million by 2031

Semiconductor gases are used in a variety of industries, including the production of semiconductors and flat panel displays. The demand for these gases is expected to continue to grow as the semiconductor industry expands. Our analysis of chamber cleaning process in semiconductor gases industry to generate highest revenue is based on their study of the global semiconductor gases market. Wherein, chlorine-based etchants are expected to be the largest revenue generator in the chamber cleaning process. This is due to the increasing use of these etchants in advanced packaging processes and 3D NAND manufacturing.

There are a number of factors driving this growth, including the continued migration to advanced process nodes, the need for improved yields and shorter cycle times, and the increased adoption of 3D NAND technology. As such, it's no surprise that chamber cleaning is seen as a key enabler for these trends.

Competitive Landscape: Highly Competitive, Top 6 Players Hold 76% Market Share

The global semiconductor market is highly competitive. The top six players accounted for more than 76% of the market in 2022. The key players in the market are Linde, Air Liquide, Air Products and Chemicals, and Taiyo nippon, among others.

Linde plc is the largest player in the semiconductor gases market with a share of 25%. The company has a strong presence across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and South America. It has a wide range of products catering to different end-use industries such as electronics, healthcare, chemicals & refining, food & beverage, and construction & mining.

However, there are many other smaller companies vying for attention in this crowded marketplace. In fact, there are over 100 companies competing in this space! This high level of competition means that prices are under pressure and margins are tight. It also means that innovation is key to success in this marketplace.

So, what does the future hold for the semiconductor gases market? Astute Analytica believe that it will continue to grow at a healthy pace, driven by growth in the electronics sector. However, competition will remain fierce and margins will remain tight.

Some of the Top Market Players Are:

Air Liquide S.A.

Air Products Inc

American Gas Products (AGP)

Linde Group

Gruppo SIAD

Indiana Oxygen Inc.

Iwatani Corporation

Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Company, Ltd.

Messer Group

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

REC Silicon ASA

Solvay SA

Other Players

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About Astute Analytica

Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us.

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Cision

GAAP EPS of $0.97

Fleet utilization increases to 99%

Adjusted EPS of $0.99, excluding Gunderson exit related costs

Strategic update and multi-year targets at Investor Day on April 12, 2023

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (NYSE: GBX) ("Greenbrier"), a leading international supplier of equipment and services to global freight transportation markets, today reported financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2023.

Second Quarter Highlights

New railcar orders for 4,500 units valued at $580 million and deliveries of 7,600 units.

New railcar backlog of 25,900 units with an estimated value of $3.1 billion as of February 28, 2023; excludes railcar conversion backlog of 1,200 units valued at $100 million.

Quarter end liquidity increased to $816 million, including $380 million in cash and $436 million of available borrowing capacity at quarter end.

Operating cash flow of nearly $160 million.

Net earnings attributable to Greenbrier for the quarter was $33 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, on revenue of $1.1 billion. Results include $0.7 million ($0.02 per share), net of tax, of Gunderson exit related costs.

Adjusted net earnings attributable to Greenbrier was $34 million or $0.99 per diluted share.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $98 million, or 8.7% of revenue.

Repurchased 575 thousand shares of stock for $17 million. $75 million of share repurchase authorization remaining after March activity.

Board declares a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share, payable on May 16, 2023 to shareholders of record as of April 25, 2023 representing Greenbrier's 36th consecutive quarterly dividend.

"Greenbrier's strong performance in the second quarter is the result of ongoing operational initiatives and robust syndication activity. Railcar orders remained stable throughout the quarter, comprised of a broad range of railcar types. Business improved across the company as revenue and margin increased sequentially in each operating segment," said Lorie L. Tekorius, CEO and President. "We are excited to share our multi-year strategy to optimize our future performance as we will describe in detail at our Investor Day on April 12, 2023. While outcomes won't be linear, we are already seeing progress in our manufacturing and services businesses and expect margin to improve on a steady or increasing revenue base in future periods."

Story continues

Investor Day

Greenbrier will host an Investor Day on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 in New York, NY. Institutional investors wishing to attend may register by sending an email to gbx@roseandco.com. Webcast registration details are available at Greenbrier's investor relations website at investors.gbrx.com. A live webcast of the Investor Day, including presentation materials, will be accessible through Greenbrier's website. A replay of the webcast will be available following the live presentations.

Business Update & Outlook

Based on current trends and production schedules, Greenbrier is updating guidance for fiscal 2023:

Deliveries of 23,000  25,000 units including approximately 1,000 units in Greenbrier-Maxion (Brazil)

Revenue at $3.4  3.7 billion

Capital expenditures of $290 million in Leasing & Management Services, $80 million in Manufacturing and $15 million in Maintenance Services

Consolidated gross margin % in the low double-digits is unchanged.

Financial Summary



Q2 FY23 Q1 FY23 Sequential Comparison  Main Drivers Revenue $1.1B $766.5M 60% increase in deliveries; Each segment achieved higher revenue Gross margin $116.8M $69.5M Driven by higher volumes in Manufacturing, robust syndication activity in Leasing & Management Services and improved operating efficiency in all segments Gross margin % 10.4 % 9.1 % Selling and administrative $59.0M $53.4M Increased employee related costs due to higher incentive compensation expense as a result of timing of financial performance Net gain on disposition of equipment $9.6M $3.3M Timing of gains from ongoing fleet optimization Adjusted EBITDA $97.9M $48.7M Increased operating earnings reflecting higher volume across all business units; See reconciliation on page 11 Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest ($3.7M) $0.6M Partners' share of consolidated JV's operating results including timing of syndication activity Adjusted Net earnings attributable to Greenbrier $33.8M(1) $1.6M(2) Improved operating earnings Adjusted diluted EPS $0.99(1) $0.05(2)



(1) Excludes $0.7 million ($0.02 per share), net of tax, of Gunderson exit related costs. Reconciliations for Adjusted metrics can be found on page 11. (2) Excludes $18.3 million ($0.56 per share), net of tax, of non-cash asset impairment. Reconciliations for Adjusted metrics can be found on page 11.





Segment Summary



Q2 FY23 Q1 FY23 Sequential Comparison  Main Drivers Manufacturing Revenue $968.6M $646.5M Increased deliveries including timing of syndication activity Gross margin $67.4M $42.0M Higher deliveries and improved operating efficiencies Gross margin % 7.0 % 6.5 % Operating margin %(1) 4.8 % (0.5 %) Improved operating efficiencies; Prior quarter included $24 million non-cash asset impairment; Excluding the impairment, operating margin in Q1 was 3.2% Deliveries (2) 7,200 4,500 Increased production and timing of syndication activity Maintenance Services Revenue $98.0M $85.5M Increased volumes due to winter seasonality Gross margin % 8.6 % 6.9 % Higher volumes and improved operating efficiencies Operating margin % (1) (3) 6.9 % 6.4 % Leasing & Management Services Revenue $55.4M $34.5M Primarily increased syndication activity and lease fleet income Gross margin % 74.0 % 62.6 % Operating margin% (1) (3) 73.5 % 45.2 % Timing of gains from fleet optimization Fleet utilization 98.7 % 97.9 %



(1) See supplemental segment information on page 10 for additional information. (2) Excludes Brazil deliveries which are not consolidated into Manufacturing revenue and margins. (3) Includes Net gain on disposition of equipment, which is excluded from gross margin.





Conference Call

In place of a conference call, Greenbrier will provide additional information regarding its recent financial performance and strategic plans at its previously announced Investor Day on April 12.

About Greenbrier

Greenbrier, headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is a leading international supplier of equipment and services to global freight transportation markets. Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures, Greenbrier designs, builds and markets freight railcars and marine barges in North America, Europe and Brazil. We are a leading provider of freight railcar wheel services, parts, maintenance and retrofitting services in North America through our maintenance services business unit. GBX Leasing (GBXL) is a special purpose subsidiary that owns and manages a portfolio of leased railcars that originate primarily from Greenbrier's manufacturing operations. GBXL and Greenbrier own a lease fleet of approximately 12,300 railcars. As of March 31, 2023, Greenbrier manages 438,000 railcars and offers railcar management, regulatory compliance services and leasing services to railroads and other railcars owners in North America. Learn more about Greenbrier at www.gbrx.com.

THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In millions, unaudited)



February 28, 2023 November 30,

2022 August 31, 2022 May 31, 2022 February 28, 2022 Assets









Cash and cash equivalents $ 379.9 $ 263.3 $ 543.0 $ 449.7 $ 586.8 Restricted cash 19.7 17.2 16.1 16.1 15.7 Accounts receivable, net 571.5 495.6 501.2 464.8 399.0 Income tax receivable 22.4 28.9 39.8 129.4 106.0 Inventories 910.6 874.9 815.3 781.7 728.5 Leased railcars for syndication 102.5 272.5 111.1 142.9 80.0 Equipment on operating leases, net 891.8 836.2 770.9 676.1 650.4 Property, plant and equipment, net 618.4 617.6 645.2 642.7 646.5 Investment in unconsolidated affiliates 83.4 94.2 92.5 96.2 90.2 Intangibles and other assets, net 224.0 189.0 189.1 177.8 179.6 Goodwill 128.3 127.7 127.3 128.7 130.0

$ 3,952.5 $ 3,817.1 $ 3,851.5 $ 3,706.1 $ 3,612.7











Liabilities and Equity









Revolving notes $ 310.3 $ 290.5 $ 296.6 $ 303.3 $ 292.2 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 722.6 676.5 725.1 639.0 581.2 Deferred income taxes 70.2 49.8 68.6 72.9 51.9 Deferred revenue 73.0 53.2 35.3 33.3 43.0 Notes payable, net 1,327.0 1,301.5 1,269.1 1,202.6 1,209.2











Contingently redeemable noncontrolling interest 27.5 27.7 27.7 27.8 28.5











Total equity  Greenbrier 1,277.3 1,265.8 1,276.9 1,270.4 1,252.6 Noncontrolling interest 144.6 152.1 152.2 156.8 154.1 Total equity 1,421.9 1,417.9 1,429.1 1,427.2 1,406.7

$ 3,952.5 $ 3,817.1 $ 3,851.5 $ 3,706.1 $ 3,612.7

THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In millions, except number of shares which are reflected in thousands and per share amounts, unaudited)



Three Months Ended February 28, Six Months Ended February 28,

2023

2022

2023

2022 Revenue















Manufacturing $ 968.6

$ 555.7

$ 1,615.1

$ 1,008.2

Maintenance Services 98.0

86.6

183.5

159.0

Leasing & Management Services 55.4

40.5

89.9

66.3



1,122.0

682.8

1,888.5

1,233.5

Cost of revenue















Manufacturing 901.2

535.0

1,505.7

956.6

Maintenance Services 89.6

81.7

169.2

152.9

Leasing & Management Services 14.4

11.3

27.3

21.6



1,005.2

628.0

1,702.2

1,131.1



















Margin 116.8

54.8

186.3

102.4



















Selling and administrative expense 59.0

54.7

112.4

99.0

Net gain on disposition of equipment (9.6)

(25.1)

(12.9)

(33.6)

Impairment of long-lived assets -

-

24.2

-

Earnings from operations 67.4

25.2

62.6

37.0



















Other costs















Interest and foreign exchange 21.6

11.8

41.2

24.4

Earnings before income taxes and earnings from unconsolidated affiliates 45.8

13.4

21.4

12.6

Income tax expense (11.9)

(3.2)

(8.1)

(1.8)

Earnings before earnings from unconsolidated affiliates 33.9

10.2

13.3

10.8

Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates 2.9

1.0

6.2

6.0

Net earnings 36.8

11.2

19.5

16.8

Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (3.7)

1.6

(3.1)

6.8



















Net earnings attributable to Greenbrier $ 33.1

$ 12.8

$ 16.4

$ 23.6



















Basic earnings per common share: $ 1.01

$ 0.39

$ 0.50

$ 0.72



















Diluted earnings per common share: $ 0.97

$ 0.38

$ 0.49

$ 0.70



















Weighted average common shares:















Basic 32,588

32,582

32,654

32,546

Diluted 34,400

34,463

33,654

33,609



















Dividends declared per common share $ 0.27

$ 0.27

$ 0.54

$ 0.54



THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In millions, unaudited)





Six Months Ended

February 28, 2023



2022







Cash flows from operating activities Net earnings $ 19.5

$ 16.8 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash used in operating activities:





Deferred income taxes (33.9)

(4.3) Depreciation and amortization 52.9

50.9 Net gain on disposition of equipment (12.9)

(33.6) Stock based compensation expense 5.9

5.9 Impairment of long-lived assets 24.2

- Noncontrolling interest adjustments 2.3

(0.6) Other 1.9

2.4 Decrease (increase) in assets:





Accounts receivable, net (57.8)

(93.5) Income tax receivable 17.4

6.2 Inventories (90.4)

(166.5) Leased railcars for syndication (40.1)

(12.2) Other assets (12.8)

(8.5) Increase (decrease) in liabilities:





Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (9.7)

15.2 Deferred revenue 37.1

1.5 Net cash used in operating activities (96.4)

(220.3) Cash flows from investing activities





Proceeds from sales of assets 62.1

148.6 Capital expenditures (169.7)

(198.0) Investments in and advances to / repayments from unconsolidated affiliates (3.5)

(4.2) Cash distribution from unconsolidated affiliates and other 5.9

1.2 Net cash used in investing activities (105.2)

(52.4) Cash flows from financing activities





Net change in revolving notes with maturities of 90 days or less (64.4)

(75.6) Proceeds from revolving notes with maturities longer than 90 days 220.0

- Repayments of revolving notes with maturities longer than 90 days (145.0)

- Proceeds from issuance of notes payable 75.0

323.3 Repayments of notes payable (18.2)

(7.6) Debt issuance costs (0.2)

(5.2) Repurchase of stock (16.7)

- Dividends (18.1)

(18.1) Cash distribution to joint venture partner (6.4)

(8.5) Tax payments for net share settlement of restricted stock (2.3)

(3.5) Net cash provided by financing activities 23.7

204.8 Effect of exchange rate changes 18.4

(1.0) Decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash (159.5.5)

(68.9) Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash





Beginning of period 559.1

671.4 End of period $ 399.6

$ 602.5 Balance Sheet Reconciliation:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 379.9

$ 586.8 Restricted cash 19.7

15.7 Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 399.6

$ 602.5



THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL LEASING INFORMATION

(In millions, except owned and managed fleet, unaudited)

Greenbrier's leasing strategy provides an additional "go to market" element to Greenbrier's Commercial strategy of direct sales, partnerships with operating leasing companies, and origination of leases for syndication partners as well as providing a platform for further growth at scale. Investing in leasing assets delivers recurring, tax-advantaged cash flows although it reduces Greenbrier's Manufacturing revenue and margin in the short-term.



Key information for the consolidated Leasing & Management Services segment: (In Units) February 28, 2023

November 30, 2022 Owned fleet(1) 12,300

14,100 Managed fleet 408,000

408,000 Owned fleet utilization(1) 99 %

98 %









Three Months Ended Greenbrier Lease Fleet (Units) February 28, 2023

November 30,

2022 Beginning balance 14,100

12,200 Railcars added 1,400

2,300 Railcars sold / scrapped (3,200)

(400) Ending balance 12,300

14,100



February 28, 2023

November 30, 2022 Equipment on operating lease(2) $ 891.8

$ 836.2







Non-recourse warehouse $ 65.6

$ - ABS non-recourse notes 312.9

315.7 Non-recourse term loan 338.2

306.6 Total Leasing non-recourse debt $ 716.7

$ 622.3

80 %



Fleet leverage %(3)

74 %





(1) Owned fleet includes Leased railcars for syndication (2) Equipment on operating lease assets not securing Leasing non-recourse term loan support the $600 million U.S. revolver (3) Total Leasing non-recourse debt / Equipment on operating lease
LOS ANGELES, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Griffin Living, a leading developer of senior living communities, announced that it has acquired a 3 million dollar loan from Hankey Capital to finance the acquisition of land for a new assisted living/memory care building in Santa Clarita, CA.

Logo (PRNewsfoto/Griffin Living)

The new community will be located at the corner of Camino Del Arte and Copper Hill Drive, in close proximity to a range of high-end retail and dining options. The community will offer a full range of services, including 24-hour care, all day dining, a wide array of activities, and luxury amenities. The approved plans by the city have capacity for more than 100 residents.

"We are excited to once again partner with Hankey Capital to finance the acquisition of this land in a high barrier-to-entry market with strong demographics in the category," said Paul Griffin, CEO of Griffin Living. "The loan closing highlights that even in today's market, projects with demonstrated demand, experienced developers, and strong operating partners can still access capital."

The new facility is expected to begin construction this year and open in 2024.

About Griffin Living

Griffin Living is an award-winning, privately-owned real estate development firm headquartered in Westlake Village, CA. The firm was founded by Paul Griffin III, a fifth-generation home builder who has created more than $4.5 billion in value in his forty-year career. This project will represent the eighth assisted living and memory care facility built by Griffin Living in a portfolio in excess of $500 million.

About Hankey Capital

Hankey Capital is a private direct lender originating bridge financing in the $5 million to $300+ million dollar range secured by real estate located in California. Currently, Hankey Capital has over $1.2 billion in loans on its balance sheet.

Cision

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SOURCE Griffin Living
The Insight Partners

The drone battery market is expected to register an incremental growth value of $1,455.59 million during 2022 to 2028. The Asia Pacific is expected to register highest CAGR in the market. India, China, and France are expected to register high growth rate; US is expected to hold a major market share in 2022.

Pune, India., April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to our latest study on "Global Drone Battery Market Growth Report, Forecast to 2028  COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis  by Drone Type, Battery Type, Battery Capacity, Industry, and Geography" the market was valued at US$ 994.97 million in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 2,450.56 million by 2028; it is anticipated to register a CAGR of 16.2% from 2022 to 2028.





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Global Drone Battery Market Growth Drivers:

 Increasing adoption of drones for various commercial and military applications, such as aerial photography, inspection, surveying, and surveillance.

 Advancements in drone technology, leading to the development of drones with longer flight times and higher payload capacity, which require more powerful batteries.

 Growing demand for high-performance batteries with longer lifespan and faster charging capabilities to meet the evolving needs of drone users.

 Increasing investments in research and development activities to develop new and improved drone batteries with enhanced properties and performance.

 The growing trend of using renewable energy sources in the production of drone batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries, to reduce carbon emissions.

 The increasing demand for drones in the agriculture sector, leading to a growing demand for high-performance drone batteries for crop monitoring and spraying.

 The rising popularity of recreational drones, leading to increased demand for affordable and reliable drone batteries.

 The growing trend of using drones for delivery and transportation purposes, leading to a growing demand for high-performance batteries with longer flight times.

Story continues





Global Drone Battery Market Recent Developments:

 Development of new and improved battery chemistries, such as solid-state batteries, which offer higher energy density, longer lifespan, and faster charging capabilities.

 Advancements in battery management systems (BMS) to improve battery safety and prevent issues such as overcharging and overheating.

 Increasing adoption of renewable energy sources in the production of drone batteries, such as solar and wind power, to reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability.

 Growing investments in research and development activities to develop new materials and technologies for drone batteries, such as graphene and nanotechnology.

 Increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in drone battery management to optimize battery usage, prolong lifespan, and improve safety.

 Introduction of smart drone batteries with features such as real-time monitoring, remote diagnostics, and automatic shut-off to improve safety and performance.

 Growing partnerships and collaborations between drone manufacturers and battery manufacturers to develop integrated solutions that offer improved performance and safety.





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The global drone battery market is a moderately fragmented market with considerable regional and local players providing solutions for retailers across the globe. Asia Pacific dominated the global market in 2022, accounting for ~39% of the drone battery market share, followed by North America and Europe. The region is known for adopting drone technologies at an early phase. One of the major factors fueling the drone battery market growth in Asia Pacific is the presence of drone companies in the countries such as China, Japan, India, and South Korea. Furthermore, numerous drone manufacturing companies such as DJI across the region manufacture a variety of consumer and commercial drones for different applications. China accounts for more than 60-65% share of the global drone market, which is another major factor for the high penetration of drone batteries across the region. Moreover, Asia Pacific is expected to retain its dominance in the global drone battery market and register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is mainly due to increased investments in drone technologies by different industry verticals such as agriculture, forestry, infrastructure, mining, sports, etc. Drones are expected to become part of daily operations across industries such as insurance and journalism in the coming years. Such factors are also likely to drive the drone battery market during the forecast period.

Further, North America is estimated to be the second most dominant region in the global drone battery market in 2022. This is due to the presence of many small drone manufacturing companies across countries such as the US and Canada. A few of the major drone manufacturers across the region include Freefly Systems, Flir, Dragonfly, Ascent Aerosystems, and AgEagle. These companies constantly produce new drone products to cater to the growing market demands to remain competitive in their respective marketplace. Moreover, the US has already banned the sale of China-based products, which is one of the major factors leading to the low penetration of China-based drone companies in the US market. This is one of the major disadvantages for China-based companies despite being highly ranked in the global drone industry. Such factors have been hampering the drone battery market growth of China-based manufacturers that operates across North America region, thereby providing new opportunities for North America drone battery manufacturers to cater to the growing customer demand and remain competitive in the market across the region.

In addition, Europe accounted for the third largest drone battery market share in 2021 and is expected to retain its position during the forecast period as well. Most drone manufacturers across the region procure drone batteries from international companies, as the presence of drone battery manufacturers, specifically for mini and micro quadcopters, is significantly low.

Global Drone Battery Market: COVID-19 Overview

The onset of the COVID-19 outbreak has severely affected the drone battery industry across the globe. The outbreak hampered the operations of construction industries as their facilities were shut down to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which directly impacted the import and export of drone batteries. Companies operating in the drone battery market had to make tough choices to sustain during the pandemic and the post-pandemic recovery period. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to disruptions in the raw material supply chain, which led the market players to witness a slowdown in production. However, by mid-2020, the drone market had gained momentum. Official bodies started using drones for public surveying, inspections, and monitoring owing to social distancing requirements. Due to the use of drones for surveying, the drone battery market witnessed substantial growth.

Global Drone Battery Market: Drone Type Overview

Based on drone type, the drone battery market is bifurcated into mini quad and micro quad. According to the drone battery market analysis, the mini quad segment accounted for a larger drone battery market share in 2022 and is expected to retain its dominance during the forecast period.





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Global Drone Battery Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

AMIT industries L.T.D, Amperex Technology Limited, Autel Robotics, MMC-UAV, Eaglepitcher Technologies, Parrot Drone SAS, Maxamps, Shenzhen Grepow Battery Co, DJI, and RRC Power Solutions are a few of the key drone battery market players profiled in the study.

In August 2020 , Amperex Technology Limited, the supplier of Lithium-ion batteries, acquired a 180-acre land at US$ 75 million in Haryana, India. The company has two cell manufacturing facilities in China; however, due to India-China border tension, the company has decided to invest in an India-based manufacturing unit.

In March 2021 , Grepow's sub-brand Gensace announced the launch of its new battery charger with 3rd generation IMARS IIIan AC/DC balance battery charger with maximum 100W output.









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UAV Battery Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis

Battery Testing Equipment Market - The global battery testing equipment market size was valued at US$ 494.33 million in 2021 and is projected to reach US$ 682.98 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2021 to 2028.

Industrial Battery Market - The global industrial battery market size was valued at US$ 12,501.9 Mn in 2019 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% from 2020 to 2027 to reach US$ 21,893.5 Mn by 2027.

Battery Cyclers Market - The global battery cyclers market size is valued US$ 208.14 million in 2022, it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2022 to 2028

UPS Battery Market - The global UPS battery market size was valued at US$ 695.6 million in 2020 and is projected to reach US$ 1,475.7 million by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.6% from 2021 to 2028.

Lithium Ion Battery Market - The global lithium ion battery market size is anticipated to reach US $71.0 billion by 2025 from US$ 26.9 billion in 2018 thereby registering a moderate CAGR growth rate of 14.9% during the forecast period.

Battery Separators Market - The global battery separators market size is expected to grow from US$ 5.6 billion in 2022 to reach US$ 9.5 billion by 2028 and it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.0% between 2022 and 2028.

Battery Management System Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis

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The worst result, after buying shares in a company (assuming no leverage), would be if you lose all the money you put in. But on a lighter note, a good company can see its share price rise well over 100%. For example, the Guan Chong Berhad (KLSE:GCB) share price has soared 216% in the last half decade. Most would be very happy with that. We note the stock price is up 1.2% in the last seven days.

So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 5 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns.

See our latest analysis for Guan Chong Berhad

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 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.

Over half a decade, Guan Chong Berhad managed to grow its earnings per share at 5.9% a year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 26% per year, over the same period. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did five years ago. And that's hardly shocking given the track record of growth.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. 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. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Guan Chong Berhad's TSR for the last 5 years was 240%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

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A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 4.9% in the twelve months, Guan Chong Berhad shareholders did even worse, losing 8.2% (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. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 28% per year over half a decade. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Guan Chong Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Guan Chong Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here.

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

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.

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SHANGHAI and CLINTON, N.J., Apr. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HuidaGene Therapeutics (; HuidaGene), a global clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing genomic medicine, today announced the selection of Drs. Haiyan Jiang and Alvin Luk as the new members of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB, which includes internationally renowned experts in gene and cell therapies, from discovery to translational research, and clinical development across different therapeutic areas, will provide strategic guidance for the global development of HuidaGene's expansive pipeline products.

Huidagene logo 2023 (PRNewsfoto/Huidagene Therapeutics)

"To meaningfully alter the course of genetic diseases, we must advance better-validated therapeutic candidates," said Dr. Haiyan Jiang. "My longstanding interest and commitment in gene and cell therapies have led me to HuidaGene's technology platforms that offer a potential cure to diseases with high unmet medical needs, and I am eager to work with the HuidaGene team to move their pipeline forward."

Dr. Alvin Luk stated, "In looking to the future of the field, I have been impressed with HuidaGene's innovative genome-editing platforms. Dr. Hui Yang has been a long-time leader in CRISPR-based DNA/RNA editing, and I expect that our mutual interests and complementary areas of expertise within gene and cell therapy will be a powerful engine for advancing, and even accelerating, the progess at HuidaGene."

"We are honored to have an accomplished and diverse group of scientific and clinical experts join us as members of our SAB, who represent extensive experience and knowledge in gene and cell therapies, global drug development, and data-driven clinical trial design," said Hui Yang, PhD, Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Advisor, and Chairman of the SAB at HuidaGene. "Haiyan and Alvin are industry veterans who have achieved a number of 'firsts' in gene therapy clinical programs and who will bring deep and relevant development expertise to HuidaGene. With our scientific advisors' leadership, HuidaGene is poised to translate decades of scientific discovery in programmable genome medicines to people living with devastating diseases worldwide," said Xuan Yao, PhD, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HuidaGene.

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About HuidaGene - 

HuidaGene Therapeutics () is a global clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on discovering, engineering, and developing CRISPR-based genetic medicine to rewrite the future of genomic medicine. Based in Shanghai and New Jersey, HuidaGene is committed to addressing patients' needs globally with various preclinical therapeutic programs covering ophthalmology, otology, myology, and neurology. We are currently advancing clinical programs in RPE65 mutation-associated inherited retinal diseases and our preclinical pipeline, including programs in neovascular age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, hereditary hearing loss, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and MECP2 duplication syndrome. Company's CRISPR-based therapeutics offer the potential to cure patients with life-threatening conditions by repairing the cause of their disease. HuidaGene is committed to transforming the future of genome-editing medicine.

For more information, please visit http://www.huidagene.com

or follow us on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/huidagene

Details of the additional SAB members' biographies:

Haiyan Jiang, Ph.D. has over 20 years of research and development expertise in biologics, AAV-mediated gene therapy, and in-vivo and ex-vivo CRISPR/Cas9- mediated genome editing products from research to BLA. She has held leadership roles with progressive responsibilities at various companies including Editas Medicine, Biogen, Bayer HealthCare, and Avigen. She led research, preclinical development or clinical pharmacology in the development of ALTUVIIIO, ELOCTATE, ALPROLIX, and JIVI, as well as a number of programs in Phase 1/2a studies. She has over 40 original publications in highly-regarded peer-reviewed journals, including New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, and Blood; as well as 21 issued US patents. Dr. Jiang received her B.S. in Biochemistry from Fudan University in Shanghai, China, Ph.D. in Oncology from University of Wisconsin-Madison, and postdoctoral training at the University of California-San Francisco.

Alvin Luk, Ph.D., M.B.A., C.C.R.A. brings over 30 years' experience in global drug development, from the bench to the beside through successful commercial launch in small, large, public, and private biotech/biopharma firms, including Shanghai Henlius, Spark Therapeutics (acquired by Roche), Biogen, Bayer HealthCare, Avigen, and Tularik (acquired by Amgen). He is a transformational leader with reputation for navigating through political landscape which leads to a proven track record of more than 250 cumulative total of IND, BLA, and MAA submissions in Americas, Europe, Australia, Japan, and China. Spark Therapeutics' LUXTURNA was approved by US FDA as the first gene therapy in 2017 when he severed as the Head of Clinical Research and Operations. Today, he has participated in the development of 21 approved products. He is the co-author of more than 100 book chapters and scientific papers in highly-regarded peer-reviewed journals, including New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, Nature, Cell, and Science. Dr. Luk holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience as well as being certified in clinical research from the University of California-San Francisco.

Cision

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SOURCE Huidagene Therapeutics
Market.Us

The versatility of hydrogen fuel cells makes them suitable for powering various applications, such as vehicles, buildings, and power plants. The growth of the hydrogen fuel cell market is driven by the focus on clean energy sources and lower capital expenditures for backup power solutions.

New York, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Market.us, The Global Hydrogen Fuel Cells Market had a worth of USD 14.3 billion in 2022. It is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 21.5% and attain a value of USD 95.5 billion in the projected period from 2023 to 2032. Growing private and government investments in establishing and developing hydrogen fuel cell-producing facilities to meet the demand for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) are among the major factors anticipated to drive the market revenue growth during the forecast period. In addition, the government of multiple countries across the globe has applied a variety of strategies for addressing environmental concerns.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells Market

Get additional highlights on major revenue-generating segments, Request a Hydrogen Fuel Cells Market sample report at https://market.us/report/hydrogen-fuel-cells-market/request-sample/

Key Takeaway:

By technology, Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) held a dominating revenue share of more than 33.9% in 2022

By application, the stationary category had the highest revenue share in 2022

By End-user, the fuel cells vehicle segment was the largest revenue contributor in the global hydrogen fuel cells market in 2022

North America held a revenue share of approximately 37% in 2022

Asia Pacific market is anticipated to record the fastest-growing CAGR during the forecast period.

The rising environmental awareness, increased government policies for producing hydrogen fuel cell infrastructure, and technological advancements are all substantial factors propelling the growth of the global hydrogen fuel cell market. Therefore, during the forecasted period, every variable is anticipated to affect the hydrogen fuel cells market substantially.

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Factors Affecting the Growth of the Hydrogen Fuel Cells Market

Several factors can affect the growth of the hydrogen fuel cells market. Some of these factors include:

Rising Awareness : The rising environmental awareness and increased government policies for the production of hydrogen fuel cell infrastructure are creating a market space for hydrogen fuel cells. This is anticipated to help the market grow exponentially.

Advancements in Technology : Hydrogen fuel cell produces heat and electricity, which can be used in multiple application, including power plants, vehicles, buildings, and other systems. Hydrogen fuel cells system offer lower capital expenditures for backup power solutions.

Government Initiative: The growing environmental awareness, increased government policies for the structure of hydrogen fuel cell infrastructures, exclusive primary technology advancement, and infrastructure investment are all major factors.

To understand how our report can bring a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://market.us/report/hydrogen-fuel-cells-market/#inquiry

Top Trends in Global Hydrogen Fuel Cells Market

The hydrogen fuel cell produces heat and electricity, which can be used in multiple applications, including power plants, vehicles, buildings, and other systems. Hydrogen fuel cells system offer lower capital expenditures for backup power solutions. Various countries have applied plans to promote clean energy sources by focusing on hydrogen fuel cell technology. These factors are expected to propel the growth of the hydrogen fuel cell market.

Market Growth

The global usage of hydrogen fuel cell recharging stations is increasing the hydrogen fuel cells sustainability as an alternative to vehicle impulsion systems. The prominent growth business invests a small number of funds in designing, manufacturing, operating, managing, executing fuel cell projects, and installing huge amounts of fuel cell servicing, systems, and power controlled manually to build a strong strategic business model that will increase the applications of the hydrogen fuel cells, making it proficient of replacing conventional sources of energy.

Regional Analysis

North America dominated the global hydrogen fuel cells market in 2022. The hydrogen fuel cell utilizations in North American countries have been assisted by development and research programs, as well as funding and expenditure by governments, as well as subsidies and incentives offered by the government for fuel cell-based vehicles, which have driven the utilization of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies in the North America region.

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to record the fastest growth rate during the forecast period. The regions increasing population and rising disposable income are driving up the demand for clean energy. In addition, the regions rapidly developing economies are also the worlds leading polluters. The fuel cell has been found as the best alternative to other traditional fossil fuel energy sources for decreasing carbon emissions and efficiently providing energy requirements.

Competitive Landscape

The leading players are involved in development and research in order to remain competitive and innovate new products. The global hydrogen fuel cell market is highly disrupted, with few players competing with each other. However, due to the markets attractiveness, the number of new companies that are likely to enter the hydrogen fuel cell market in the forecasted period will rise.

Recent Development of the Hydrogen Fuel Cells Market

January 2022, Doosan Fuel Cell Co., Ltd. and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) agreed to reinforce Hydrogen Fuel Cell maintenance and operation capabilities. Regarding the agreement, the two companies will work collectively to produce maintenance and operation technical training and a green hydrogen fuel cell project for distributed power.

In June 2021, Renault Group and Plug Power Inc. participated in a joint venture with the formation of HYVIA to work on hydrogen fuel cells and low-carbon mobility. The HYVIA joint venture participates entire hydrogen mobility ecosystem, from the vehicle to infrastructure and turnkey services for consumers. Furthermore, developing this cutting-edge technology will enable the establishment of an industrial base and set up new value-generating activities in France.

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Scope of the Report

Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 14.3 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 95.5 Billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 21.5% North America Revenue Share 37% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032

Market Drivers

Fuel cells are devices that utilize compound reactions to assist in the generation of electrical force. The electric vehicle is charged with the help of a hydrogen fuel cell. Hydrogen fuel cell automobiles have an extreme possibility for reducing emissions in the transportation industry as well as gasoline and diesel vehicles, which generate no greenhouse gas emission at the time of operations. The hydrogen fuel cell needs a constant supply of fuel and oxygen.

Market Restraints

Hydrogen fuel cell technology is used in power trains, which are unable to produce greenhouse gases or particulate matter from the tailpipe or other harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides. This feature boosts vendors for the implementation of the technology. High production and raw material costs of hydrogen fuel cells are expected to restrain the market revenue growth of hydrogen fuel cells.

Market Opportunities

Increased traffic levels and awareness of the effects of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions encourage the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and provide productive opportunities, which are more eco-friendly than the other orthodox vehicles. In addition, the growing environmental awareness, increased government policies for the structure of hydrogen fuel cell infrastructures, exclusive primary technology advancement, and infrastructure investment are all major factors propelling the growth of the hydrogen fuel cell market.

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Report Segmentation of the Hydrogen Fuel Cells Market

Technology Insight

Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) use expensive metals like platinum alongside a polymer for the catalyst. It is known to be preferable other than technology so that it can operate at cooler temperatures that are between 60 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. It functions between 50% to 60% productivity, which can also handle enormous and impulsive shifts in power output; also, they are used in residential markets, telecommunications, and data centers. Fuel cells can run on methane and flexible systems, while PEMFCs normally need high-purity hydrogen for action. Adding hydrogen sources is technically difficult, especially without a suitable place to store it inside the device, but PEMFCs can replace the batteries for portable electronics.

Application Insight

Based on application, the global hydrogen fuel cell market has been divided into transportation, portable, and stationary. The stationary segment dominated the market in 2022 and is expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. Due to factors including high competence and the ability to utilize multiple fuels, the stationary segment is expected to grow. Transportation is a significantly growing segment due to the growing demand for hydrogen fuel cells powered forklifts and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

End-User Insight

On the basis of end-user, the global hydrogen fuel cells market is classified into defense, fuel cell vehicles, and utilities. The fuel cell vehicle segment was the largest revenue contributor in the global hydrogen fuel cells market. Hydrogen fuel cells also have a wide scope in heavy commercial vehicles.

For more insights on the historical and Forecast market data from 2016 to 2032 - download a sample report at https://market.us/report/hydrogen-fuel-cells-market/request-sample/

Market Segmentation

Based on Technology

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel cells

Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC)

Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC)

Other Technologies

Based on Application

Stationary

Transportation

Portable

Based on End-User

Fuel Cell Vehicles

Utilities

Defense

By Geography

North America The US Canada Mexico

Western Europe Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe

Eastern Europe Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe

APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC

Latin America Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Costa Rica Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA



Market Key Players

BMW Group

Audi AG

Volvo Group

Daimler AG

General Motors Company

Toyota Motor Corporation

Hyundai Motor Group

Ballard Power Systems

FuelCell Energy Inc.

Nedstack Fuel Cell Technology

Other Key Players

Related Reports:

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / iMetal Resources Inc. (TSX.V:IMR)(OTC PINK:ADTFF)(FRANKFURT:A7V) ("iMetal" or the "Company") announces that it has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Placement") for gross proceeds of $1,281,250, in connection with the closing of the Placement, the Company issued 2,000,000 Quebec flow-through units (each, a "Quebec Unit") to one subscriber resident in the Province of Quebec on March 31, 2023 and 3,125,000 flow-through units (each, a "FT Unit") to subscribers resident in the rest of Canada on April 6, 2023. The FT Units and Quebec Units were both offered at a price of $0.25 per FT Unit and Quebec Unit.

Each Quebec Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant exercisable to acquire an additional common share at a price of $0.35 until March 31, 2025 (each, a "Quebec Warrant").

Each FT Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant exercisable to acquire an additional common share at a price of $0.30 until April 6, 2025 (each, a "Warrant").

The common shares forming part of the Quebec Units and the FT Units will qualify as flow-through shares within the meaning of Subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Proceeds from the Placement will be used by the Company to incur qualifying expenditures related to the Company's properties provided that the proceeds from sale of the Quebec Units will only be used on projects located in the Province of Quebec.

In connection with completion of the Placement, the Company paid $45,000 and issued 120,000 Quebec Warrants and 60,000 Warrants to certain arm's length third parties who assisted by introducing subscribers to the Company. The securities issued in connection with the Quebec Units are subject to a statutory hold period until August 1, 2023, and the securities issued in connection with the FT Units are subject to a statutory hold period until August 7, 2023, all in accordance with applicable securities laws.

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The Placement included a subscription from an insider of the Company for an aggregate of 125,000 FT Units. This participation by the insider constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Policy 5.9 of the TSX Venture Exchange and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). For this transaction, the Company has relied on the exemption from the formal valuation requirements contained in Section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 and has relied on the exemption from the minority shareholder requirements contained in Section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101.

About iMetal Resources Inc.

iMetal is a Canadian based junior exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its portfolio of resource properties in Ontario and Quebec. One of its Flagship properties Gowganda West, is an exploration-stage gold project that borders the Juby Deposit and is located within the Shining Tree Camp area in the southern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt about 100 km south-southeast of the Timmins Gold Camp. The 665-hectare Kerrs Gold deposit comprises a series of gold-bearing pyritized quartz vein replacement breccias with a 2011 historic resource, 90 kilometres ENE of Timmins. The 220-hectare Ghost Mountain property, 42 kilometres NE of Kirkland Lake, lies 5 kilometres W of Agnico Eagle's Holt and Holloway Mine.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Saf Dhillon

President & CEO

iMetal Resources Inc.

info@imetalresources.ca

Tel. (604-484-3031)

Suite 550, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2V6.

https://imetalresources.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. 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 forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration, variations in results of mineralization, relationships with local communities, market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws.

SOURCE: iMetal Resources, Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/748251/iMetal-Resources-Raises-1281250-in-Private-Placement




Key Insights

The considerable ownership by individual investors in Copper Mountain Mining indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy

A total of 19 investors have a majority stake in the company with 50% ownership

Recent sales by insiders

A look at the shareholders of Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (TSE:CMMC) can tell us which group is most powerful. We can see that individual investors own the lion's share in the company with 49% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Meanwhile, institutions make up 38% of the companys shareholders. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in smaller companies.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Copper Mountain Mining.

See our latest analysis for Copper Mountain Mining

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Copper Mountain Mining?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that Copper Mountain Mining does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Copper Mountain Mining's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

It would appear that 9.5% of Copper Mountain Mining shares are controlled by hedge funds. That's interesting, because hedge funds can be quite active and activist. Many look for medium term catalysts that will drive the share price higher. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Power Corporation of Canada, Asset Management Arm with 12% of shares outstanding. ICM Limited is the second largest shareholder owning 10% of common stock, and Mackenzie Financial Corporation holds about 9.5% of the company stock. In addition, we found that Gilmour Clausen, the CEO has 3.0% of the shares allocated to their name.

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Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 50% of the ownership is controlled by the top 19 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Copper Mountain Mining

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in Copper Mountain Mining Corporation. It has a market capitalization of just CA$464m, and insiders have CA$17m worth of shares, in their own names. Some would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. But it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 49% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Copper Mountain Mining better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Copper Mountain Mining (at least 1 which is a bit concerning) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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(Bloomberg) -- Infinity Q Capital Management LLC founder James Velissaris was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to fraudulently inflating assets held by two investment funds.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Velissaris, 38, who was also the chief investment officer of New York-based Infinity Q, was arrested and charged in February 2022 with overstating assets of a hedge fund and a mutual fund by hundreds of millions of dollars. The funds together claimed to manage about $3 billion in assets, according to prosecutors.

The sentence, which is a long one by the standards of white-collar crime, was imposed Friday by US District Judge Denise Cote, Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement Monday.

Velissaris wove a complex scheme to defraud investors in Infinity Qs investment funds, and he continuously lied to investors, auditors, and even the SEC in order to hide his crimes, Williams said in the statement We hope this lengthy sentence resonates in the financial sector and deters anyone who may be tempted to lie to investors.

A lawyer for Velissaris didnt immediately return a call seeking comment on the sentence.

Read more: Sudden Demise of $1.8 Billion Fund Points to Long-Feared Danger

Prosecutors claimed Velissaris inputted fraudulent data for calculating yield values that were often much higher than fair market value. In some cases the altered values were mathematically impossible, according to the government.

Velissaris lied to investors by telling them that over-the-counter derivatives held by the funds were independently valued by a Bloomberg LP valuation service, according to the government. In fact, according to the indictment, he used a Bloomberg template that allows users to model their own valuation for OTC derivative positions by inputting data themselves.

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Bloomberg, the parent company of Bloomberg News, provides its clients with a derivatives valuation service, a company spokeswoman said in a statement at the time of the charges. In this case, the valuations shown by this user were not an output of the Bloomberg valuation service.

In addtion to the prison term, Velissaris agreed to forfeit $22 million.

Velissaris pleaded guilty to fraud in November, but sought to withdraw the plea last month and take his case to trial. He argued that Infinity Q disclosed to investors that the firm had discretion to break from prices provided by third-party services and that he used his professional judgment in providing the most accurate pricing possible.

Cote denied the request, sentenced Velissaris and immediately placed him in custody on Friday.

The case is U.S. v. Velissaris, 22-cr-00105, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The Investment Center

SAN DIEGO, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Institute of Business & Finance (IBF) recently awarded Glenn deMarrais, AIF, BFA, CFS, Director of Product Management at The Investment Center, Inc. with the first nationally recognized mutual fund designation, CFS (Certified Fund Specialist). This graduate-level designation is conferred upon candidates who complete an 135+ hour educational program focusing on closed-end funds, mutual funds, ETFs, REITs, UITs and modern portfolio theory. Over $12 trillion is invested in mutual funds in the United States; half of all households own shares in at least one mutual fund.



Glenn commented:

In order to serve as a resource to Investment Center advisors in as large a capacity as possible, I am constantly striving to expand my knowledge of investment products. The Certified Fund Specialist (CFS) coursework and designation offered me the opportunity to perform a comprehensive analysis of packaged products and how they relate to concepts like modern portfolio theory, risk measurement, manager selection, and more. If the CFS training allows me to better assist even one advisor with one client case, the designation program will have been time well spent.

CFS certification requires mastery of portfolio construction, risk measurement, manager selection, monitoring, income strategies, retirement accounts, titling, taxation and the psychological aspects of finance. According to IBF, The vast majority of investors and advisors do not know how to properly select a mutual fund, understand what criteria are important, asset category correlation or what historical statistical information is a good or poor predictor of what is likely to happen in the future.

The student must pass two comprehensive exams, complete a written case study as well as adhere to the IBF Code of Ethics and IBF Standards of Practice as well as fulfill annual continuing education requirements. The CFS program, since 1988, is designed for brokers and advisors who have clients that either own or are considering investing in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds.

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ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS & FINANCE  Founded in 1988, IBF is a non-profit provider of financial education and designations to members of the financial services industry. IBF is the fourth oldest provider of financial certification marks in the United States. In 1988, IBF launched its first certification program, CFS (Certified Fund Specialist). Today IBF offers six additional financial designation programs: CAS (Certified Annuity Specialist), CES (Certified Estate and Trust Specialist), CIS (Certified Income Specialist), CTS (Certified Tax Specialist), CSS (Certified Social Security Specialist), and CDS (Certified Divorce Specialist).

ABOUT THE INVESTMENT CENTER, INC.

The Investment Center, Inc. is an independent broker-dealer founded in 1986 with the purpose of providing back-office support services, investment tools, technology, and a broad selection of non-proprietary products to a national network of more than 300 independent financial advisors in offices across the nation. Headquartered in Bedminster, New Jersey, The Investment Center, Inc. is registered to conduct securities business in all 50 states and is a member of both the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). For more information, visit www.investmentctr.com.

Contact Information:

Kristin Discher

Director of Marketing

Phone: (908) 707-4422

Email: kdischer@investctr.com




It might seem bad, but the worst that can happen when you buy a stock (without leverage) is that its share price goes to zero. But if you buy shares in a really great company, you can more than double your money. For example, the Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) share price has soared 168% in the last three years. Most would be happy with that. It's down 1.8% in the last seven days.

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 Discover Financial Services

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

During three years of share price growth, Discover Financial Services achieved compound earnings per share growth of 22% per year. In comparison, the 39% per year gain in the share price outpaces the EPS growth. This suggests that, as the business progressed over the last few years, it gained the confidence of market participants. It's not unusual to see the market 're-rate' a stock, after a few years of growth.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

Dive deeper into Discover Financial Services' key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Discover Financial Services's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Discover Financial Services' TSR for the last 3 years was 187%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

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A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 9.2% in the twelve months, Discover Financial Services shareholders did even worse, losing 11% (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. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 9% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. 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. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Discover Financial Services (1 is significant) that you should be aware of.

Of course Discover Financial Services may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks.

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.

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Key Insights

Dr. Martens' estimated fair value is UK1.94 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Dr. Martens is estimated to be 28% undervalued based on current share price of UK1.40

Our fair value estimate is 5.6% lower than Dr. Martens' analyst price target of UK2.06

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Dr. Martens plc (LON:DOCS) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Dr. Martens

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. 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.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK59.7m UK111.3m UK122.7m UK143.0m UK169.0m UK187.0m UK199.8m UK210.1m UK218.3m UK225.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 6.84% Est @ 5.14% Est @ 3.94% Est @ 3.10% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 9.9% UK54.3 UK92.2 UK92.4 UK98.0 UK105 UK106 UK103 UK98.7 UK93.3 UK87.6

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

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK931m

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We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 9.9%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK225m (1 + 1.2%)  (9.9% 1.2%) = UK2.6b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK2.6b ( 1 + 9.9%)10= UK1.0b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK1.9b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK1.4, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 28% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The Assumptions

Now 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 Dr. Martens 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 9.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.256. 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 Dr. Martens

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Luxury market.

Opportunity

Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the British market.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the British market.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. 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. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Dr. Martens, we've compiled three fundamental items you should explore:

Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Dr. Martens , and understanding these should be part of your investment process. Future Earnings: How does DOCS'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 High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

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

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



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Market Research Future

Increasing number of IoT devices in application sectors will boost the IoT cloud platform market growth

New York, US, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR),  IoT Cloud Platform Market Research Report Information By Deployment, By Application, By End-user, And By Region  Market Forecast Till 2030., the market is anticipated to acquire a valuation of approximately USD 23.66 billion by the end of 2030. The reports further predict the market to flourish at a robust CAGR of over 14.10% during the assessment timeframe.

Key Players:

The market research report by MRFR provides a comprehensive analysis of the key players in the IoT cloud platform market, including-

Amazon Web Services, Google

IBM, Microsoft

Oracle, Salesforce

SAP

Cisco Systems,

Bosch Software Innovations

General Electric.

Get Free Sample PDF Brochure:

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6843

Report Scope:

Report Metric Details Revenue Forecast in 2030 USD 23.66 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of 14.10% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Study Period 2023-2030 Key Market Opportunities The evolution of high-speed networking technologies Key Market Drivers Increasing Demand for data cloud storage

Browse In-depth Market Research Report (100 Pages) on Internet of Things Cloud Platform Market:

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/internet-of-things-cloud-platform-market-6843

IoT Cloud Platform Market Drivers:

The adoption of cloud computing has revolutionized the way businesses operate, providing a flexible and scalable platform for hosting applications and managing data. This has led to an increase in the adoption of cloud-based IoT platforms, which allow businesses to connect and manage their devices, sensors, and data in real-time.

The proliferation of connected devices, including smartphones, wearables, and smart home appliances, has created a massive amount of data that needs to be processed, analyzed, and stored. IoT cloud platforms provide a centralized platform for managing this data, allowing businesses to gain valuable insights into customer behavior, product performance, and operational efficiency.

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IoT Cloud Platform Market Challenges:

Despite the numerous benefits of IoT cloud platforms, there are several challenges that need to be addressed. One of the main challenges is data security and privacy concerns, as the use of connected devices and cloud-based platforms creates new vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers and cybercriminals.

Another challenge is the lack of interoperability standards, which makes it difficult for different devices and platforms to communicate with each other. This can lead to compatibility issues and can limit the effectiveness of IoT solutions.

IoT Cloud Platform Market Segmentation:

The market research report by MRFR provides a detailed segmentation analysis of the IoT cloud platform market based on deployment model, application, platform, and region.

Based on deployment model, the market is segmented into public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud. Based on application, the market is segmented into smart homes, smart cities, industrial automation, healthcare, and others. Based on platform, the market is segmented into device management, application management, connectivity management, and others.

Ask To Expert:

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/ask_for_schedule_call/6843

Regional Analysis:

The market research report by MRFR provides a comprehensive regional analysis of the IoT cloud platform market, covering North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the rest of the world.

North America is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period, due to the presence of major IoT players in the region, as well as the high adoption of cloud computing and connected devices.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, due to the rapid digitization of businesses and the increasing adoption of IoT technologies in the region.

Industry Trends:

The market research report by MRFR highlights several industry trends that are expected to shape the future of the IoT cloud platform market, including the increasing adoption of edge computing, the rise of 5G networks, and the emergence of blockchain technology.

Recent Developments:

The market research report by MRFR highlights several recent developments in the IoT cloud platform market, including the launch of new platforms and services, partnerships and collaborations between key players, and acquisitions and mergers.

Check for Discount:

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/6843

In June 2022, Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched a new IoT device management service, AWS IoT Device Management, which allows customers to easily onboard, organize, monitor, and remotely manage their IoT devices at scale.

In August 2022, Microsoft announced a partnership with Bosch to develop a new IoT platform for the automotive industry. The platform, called Bosch Automotive Cloud Suite powered by Microsoft Azure, will provide real-time data analytics and insights to improve vehicle performance and maintenance.

In September 2022, Salesforce announced the acquisition of Slack, a collaboration platform that will enable Salesforce to integrate real-time communication and collaboration into its IoT cloud platform.

Opportunities:

The market research report by MRFR highlights several opportunities in the IoT cloud platform market, including the adoption of edge computing, the rise of 5G networks, and the emergence of blockchain technology.

Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm that brings computation and data storage closer to the sources of data, such as sensors and IoT devices. This reduces latency and improves data processing, making it an ideal solution for real-time applications, such as autonomous vehicles and industrial automation.

The rise of 5G networks is expected to revolutionize the IoT industry, providing faster speeds, lower latency, and greater connectivity. This will enable the development of new applications and services that require real-time data processing and analysis, such as remote healthcare monitoring and smart city management.

Blockchain technology is another emerging trend in the IoT industry, providing a secure and decentralized platform for managing IoT devices and data. This technology has the potential to address the security and privacy concerns associated with IoT devices and cloud-based platforms, making it an ideal solution for industries that require high levels of security, such as finance and healthcare.

Conclusion:

The global IoT cloud platform market is undergoing significant growth, driven by the increasing adoption of cloud computing and connected devices. The market is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period of 2023 to 2028, with several key players leading the way in terms of innovation and market share. As the market continues to evolve, opportunities will emerge for new players to enter the market and for existing players to expand their offerings and capabilities.

Related Reports:

Smart Light and Control Market Research Report by Application, by Product type, By components - Forecast to 2027

Smart Lighting Market , By Component, By Product Type, By Light Source, By Communication Technology, By Application - Forecast 2027

Smart Roads Market Research: By Technology, by Sensor, by Deployment (On-Premises, On-Cloud) - 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 regarding diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.

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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




(Bloomberg) -- US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will look to advance debt-restructuring talks for poor countries, push ahead development-bank reforms and bolster support for Ukraine as global finance officials gather in Washington for spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Most Read from Bloomberg

A senior Treasury official, speaking to reporters Monday, said the US expects incremental progress on debt treatment this week, specifying that significant advances would depend on Beijing. China is the largest creditor to the developing world and has so far refused to sign off on any comprehensive restructuring deals.

Yellen has also been pursuing a plan for reshaping the World Bank in a way that would allow it to address cross-border development threats, like climate change and pandemics.

The Treasury released the following additional details of Yellens schedule this week:

Tuesday

10 a.m.  bilateral meeting with India Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who will chair the Group of 20s meeting of finance ministers; Yellen will give brief public remarks

11:30 a.m.  press conference

Wednesday

8:15 a.m.  Multilateral Development Bank Roundtable; Yellen to deliver opening remarks

10:15 a.m.  meeting of the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable

2 p.m.  Ukraine Ministerial Roundtable; Yellen will deliver public remarks

4 p.m.  World Bank Development Committee Plenary

Evening  G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors working dinner

Thursday

8:45 a.m.  signing of a compact to help fund Indonesias Just Energy Transition Partnership

1:45 p.m.  bilateral meeting with Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal; Yellen and Shmyhal will deliver public remarks

3 p.m.  first in-person meeting of the Five Finance Ministers, a group that includes the US, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand

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Friday

10:30 a.m.  bilateral meeting with European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni and European Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union Mairead McGuinness

11:30 a.m.  bilateral meeting with Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti

3:30 p.m.  bilateral meeting with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey

4:45 p.m.  meeting of Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The logo of Rapidus Corp. is displayed at the company headquarters in Tokyo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's industry ministry is finalising a plan to provide state-backed chip maker Rapidus an additional 300 billion yen ($2.27 billion) in funding to build a semiconductor plant in the northern island of Hokkaido, a local paper reported on Saturday.

Rapidus, which in February picked Chitose, near Sapporo, as the site for a cutting-edge two-nanometre chip factory, previously secured an initial 70 billion yen funding from the government.

The additional grant will be used to help Rapidus build a prototype line scheduled to launch in 2025, the Hokkaido Shimbun paper said, citing multiple unidentified sources.

Rapidus chair Tetsuro Higashi told Reuters in February that it would need about 7 trillion yen of mostly taxpayer money to begin mass-producing advanced logic chips in around 2027, with support from American chip giant IBM Corp.

The Japanese government is also offering up to 476 billion yen in subsidies to a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) plant in Kyushu, in which Sony Group Corp and Denso Corp each have a minority stake.

($1 = 132.3100 yen)

(Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
Sandra Cuenca thought she could save money and help the planet by installing solar panels on her roof in the spring of 2022. Instead, she and her husband said they found themselves paying more than $100 a month for solar panels that werent activated until March  nearly a year after they were first installed.

You're doing this to save money and end up paying even more, Cuenca, a Florida resident, told USA TODAY. It was just another stressor that we didn't need in our lives.

Cuenca is one of nearly two dozen plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit that accuses New Jersey-based panel installation company Vision Solar of pressuring customers to pay for a product that failed to live up to salespeople's promises.

According to the lawsuit, Vision Solar would often fail to obtain the proper permits before installing the panels, leaving homeowners paying for a system that wasn't connected to the power grid. Other times, salespeople would allegedly mislead customers about the potential savings.

"This is thousands of people who have been charged for panels that Vision Solar knows are not functioning," said Ian Sloss, a partner at Silver Golub & Teitell, the firm representing the plaintiffs. "We just view the conduct as very egregious."

Vision Solar Chief Marketing Officer Bennett Andelman told USA TODAY that the company is actively working on resolving "every single past problem our customers have had with Vision Solar," and said the company has made significant progress on the majority of the projects associated with the customers in the lawsuit.

"We will continue to work with each of them, and anyone else, who files a claim until their projects are fully operational and they are satisfied or through their request for cancellation," Andelman said in an emailed statement.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey on Monday, although the company is accused of deceptive practices affecting homeowners in five additional states: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

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Plaintiffs are asking for refunds, to be released from financing agreements, to have the panels removed from their homes and for any damage done by the contractors to be repaired.

Solar panels on roof tops.

'Selling a shoddy product'

Vision Solar says it is the sixth-largest and one of the fastest-growing end-to-end residential solar companies in the country, with more than $150 million in annual revenue.

But the company is accused of building its success on fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair practices. According to the lawsuit, Vision Solar salespeople used high-pressure sales tactics to convince homeowners  including low-income, disabled and elderly individuals  to purchase or lease solar panel systems.

Plaintiffs describe salespeople entering their homes unannounced and staying hours on end until a contract was signed.

To convince homeowners to sign, salespeople are accused of knowingly misrepresenting customers' eligibility for federal tax credits. Salespeople would also falsely claim that Vision Solar would obtain the proper permits before installing panels, according to the lawsuit.

They are selling a shoddy product," the class-action lawsuit alleges.

Matt McClelland, 34, of New Jersey, said a Vision Solar salesperson was at his home for over five hours last September and failed to leave until it was close to midnight.

McClelland said he was promised an $8,600 tax credit and a $54 monthly payment from New Jersey for purchasing the solar panels. Salespeople told him the system would cover all of his electric bills and ultimately pay for itself with a $37 monthly rate, and McClelland said the company promised to upgrade his electrical system.

These claims were false, according to the lawsuit. McClelland said he has not received a solar tax credit, has yet to get an electrical system upgrade and is required to pay up to $123 per month in solar panel payments.

We dont even want the solar anymore, McClelland told USA TODAY.

'I'm just over the whole thing'

Florida resident Karen Quantz said she agreed to lease panels after a Vision Solar salesperson claimed she would need to sign up as soon as possible to receive "special pricing."

Quantz, 61, said the salesperson told her the panels would generate enough power to offset her electricity usage. She was also told that she would be allowed to take the panels with her if she moved out of her house, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit says Quantz's solar panels sat on her roof for about 10 months before they were hooked up to the grid. By then, she said she had learned that much of Vision Solar's promises were not true.

Instead of saving money, Quantz had to pay her power company a monthly fee for having solar panels, despite the fact that they were not operational because of the lack of permits. Quantz also said she had to back out of a deal to sell her house because Vision Solar failed to sign an affidavit that would allow Quantz to close the permit on the panels and sell her home.

Im not trying to sell anymore because Im just over the whole thing, she said.

A second lawsuit against Vision Solar

Vision Solar was also sued by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong in March after the office received more than a dozen consumer complaints.

Tong said his office is investigating numerous complaints against the solar industry's sales tactics, but Vision Solars practices are "far and away the worst" they had seen.

"Their egregious misconduct appears to have violated multiple laws, and were going to hold them accountable," Tong said in a March 16 news release.

A March 7 news release from Vision Solar said the company received a $20 million investment that will lead to "revolutionary changes" in its business model and allow it to get customers' solar panels installed and running faster.

"This injection gives us the shot in the arm we need to move with mental agility as we address the needs of customers and other solar companies nationwide," Vision Solar's Chief Revenue Officer Mike Eden said in a release.

Who owns Vision Solar?

Vision Solar CEO Jonathan Seibert founded the company in 2018.

How to shop for solar panels

The U.S. Department of Energy said the push for greener energy through solar has opened doors for some bad actors. To avoid getting wrapped up in a solar scam, homeowners should:

Resist pushy sales tactics and do their research before signing any contracts.

Avoid online forms not associated with an official business that ask for a name, address or other personal data.

Read solar panel installers customer reviews and make sure the person who is installing the panels is licensed and certified by a reputable organization. It may be worth asking several installers to assess a roof and compare quotes.

Read the fine print, especially on offers that claim to provide free solar panels or other services since the federal government doesnt have any programs that install panels for free. Some states do subsidize solar energy for households of a certain income, but homeowners should check to make sure the program is listed on a .gov website.

Dig deeper:

You can follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter @bailey_schulz and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter here for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Solar panel company accused of defrauding thousands
Joan Baez, Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson have an impromptu meeting at Nashville International Airport, 4/9/2023

On Saturday evening, folk music legend Joan Baez was supporting her just-released book of drawings entitled "Am I Pretty When I Fly?" when she said she wanted to be more involved with the Tennessee House of Representatives' April 6 expulsion of Democratic Reps. Justin Pearson, of Memphis, and Justin Jones, of Nashville, for leading gun reform protests from the House after the mass shooting at The Covenant School.

Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, survived an expulsion vote by just one vote for her involvement in the House protests.

"The two Justins are so young, and that white lady is so cool," Baez said while conversing with Emmylou Harris at OZ Arts Nashville.

Less than 12 hours later, at Nashville International Airport, Baez's wish was granted while she was waiting for a flight to New York City. Turns out, it was the same flight Jones had booked.

Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, hugs Justin Jones after the vote to expel her failed at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Jones had been expelled earlier in the afternoon.

"At the Nashville airport about to get on a plane to New York and look who walks up to @brotherjones_, it's Joan Baez, what an honor," tweeted Johnson at 2:40 p.m. on Sunday.

Baez's protest days saw her walking arm-in-arm with Martin Luther King Jr. on civil rights marches in Mississippi. Thus, her meeting with Johnson and Jones, before Jones was the subject of a Monday evening Metro Nashville Council special meeting at 4:30 p.m. about appointing a new state representative, was potentially fortuitous.

At least 28 Metro council members said they intend to send Jones back to the Capitol as they work to elect an interim representative that typically  according to council rules  takes at least four weeks.

But, the council could vote to suspend the rules and hold a Monday vote.

When you get off the plane with the legendary Joan Baez you know its a movement of the spirit. She stands with us in our struggle in Tennessee and said shes hopeful to see young voices leading.



WE SHALL OVERCOME



Serendipitous, indeed. pic.twitter.com/f4bj5akUte  Rep. Justin Jones (@brotherjones_) April 9, 2023

After disembarking the plane in New York City, Jones and Baez shared a moment.

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"When you get off the plane with the legendary Joan Baez, you know it's a movement of the spirit. She stands with us in our struggle in Tennessee and said she's hopeful to see young voices leading," tweeted Jones, sharing Johnson's video of him and Baez singing the protest hymn "We Shall Overcome" in what he called a "serendipitous" activity.

Baez said Saturday evening that social justice movements are driven by "little victories and big defeats" and that "changing hearts and minds requires people connecting over the little victories."

Joan Baez, left, speaks about new book of drawings, Am I Pretty When I Fly? An Album of Upside Down Drawings, with Emmylou Harris, right, at OZ Arts in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, April 8, 2023.

In response, Harris said, "people hunger for and are drawn to doing good and making the world a better place."

"Don't just whine, do something about it," she added.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Joan Baez meets Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones in Nashville airport
Dame Sharon White, John Lewis chairman - Paul Grover for The Telegraph

There is lots to like about worker-owned businesses. Supporters are quick to cheer them on as fairer, and more sustainable. And there is no question they appear a lot more lovable than the private equity firms, hedge funds and investment trusts which are the typical owners of most of the rest of British industry.

The staff are more motivated, the argument goes. They are better at planning for the long term and build up tremendous loyalty from their customers, while bosses dont overpay themselves and the rewards of the venture are shared equally between all different stakeholders.

The trouble is, for all their virtues, these companies also have some fatal weaknesses. They are far too slow to embrace change, especially if it is challenging for the staff.

There is no mechanism for ousting managers and replacing them with tougher executives. And it is very hard to raise fresh capital.

Right now, the UKs best-known staff owned company is struggling. The blunt truth is that co-ops almost always fail eventually, and after reporting big losses John Lewis risks becoming the latest example.

In case anyone shopping at John Lewis, or its grocery chain Waitrose, was not already aware of it, the big And Partners slogan it recently added to all of the company's branding rams home its ownership structure.

Ever since its primary founder John Spedan Lewis handed the business over to a trust to be managed for the benefit of staff, employee ownership has been a hallmark of its success. And there is no question that it helped the company's department stores and supermarkets to become part of perhaps the best-loved retail brand in the UK.

You could trust John Lewis in a way that was simply not true of most of its rivals. That was worth a lot.

While the rest of the high street was dominated by brash tycoons such as Philip Green and Mike Ashley, John Lewis was something unique.

And yet very few worker-owned companies have succeeded in the long term. We saw that with the experiments in industrial democracy in this country in the 1970s, when the likes of the Meriden motorcycle co-operative were backed with government money and state-supported soft loans, but still eventually collapsed.

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We have seen it with the repeated turmoil at the Co-op retail empire (the Co-op is owned by its customers and local societies rather than the staff, but the principle is much the same).

And we have seen it in the failure of countless similar initiatives in most major developed economies. The only really successful workers co-op in the world is the Spanish industrial conglomerate Mondragon, but even that has had its fair share of challenges to cope with.

None of the worlds major companies are owned by the workers.

These businesses are very resistant to change. The staff are inevitably very conservative about their own roles and working practices. They dont want to have to learn new skills and they definitely dont ever want to be made redundant.

All that is perfectly understandable, but sometimes a business has to adapt, and occasionally staff numbers have to be cut to make sure a company is still viable or to bring in new people with different skills.

That demands decisive and sometimes ruthless leadership, and John Lewis is sadly behind the curve. While the rest of the high street was being turned upside down by the internet, John Lewis merrily carried on opening up new department stores that were not much changed from the 1950s.

As a small concession to the 21st century, it added a click and collect button, but that was about it. The stasis might have benefited staff - at least in the short term - but it meant the company ended up with way too many shops, many of them in the wrong places.

Management inertia does not help. The partnership's chairman Dame Sharon White is very smart, but a career in the civil service followed by a spell as a regulator is perhaps not the best training for one of the toughest jobs in retail right now.

There are lots of experienced, savvy executives who might be a better fit - Lord Rose, for example, formerly of Marks & Spencer, or Sir Dave Lewis, who helped turn around Tesco.

If John Lewis was a normal company, its shareholders would be bringing pressure to bear. At a worker-owned company, that doesnt happen.

The structure of the business also makes it harder to solve problems by raising fresh capital. After all, why would anyone want to buy a minority stake in a company that prides itself on being run by staff rather than by outside shareholders? Will their interests have priority and will they ever be offered a dividend? Probably not.

But sometimes fresh capital is required, as John Lewis has discovered this year. It is attempting to find an outside investor but that may mean change workers will be unwilling to accept.

Worker ownership is a lovely idea. It is an attractive model of a more caring version of capitalism, and one that retains private ownership, and competition, while including far more people.

Occasionally it even works for a while. Over the medium term, however, the record is extremely poor.

That truism has been proved many times in the past - and John Lewis faces a battle to avoid being yet another victim.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Jumbo Interactive fair value estimate is AU$25.13

Jumbo Interactive's AU$13.43 share price signals that it might be 47% undervalued

Our fair value estimate is 51% higher than Jumbo Interactive's analyst price target of AU$16.65

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Jumbo Interactive Limited (ASX:JIN) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

Check out our latest analysis for Jumbo Interactive

Step By Step Through The Calculation

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 start off with, we need to estimate 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 need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$14.9m AU$31.0m AU$41.5m AU$70.8m AU$88.2m AU$101.1m AU$112.1m AU$121.3m AU$128.9m AU$135.4m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 14.68% Est @ 10.86% Est @ 8.18% Est @ 6.30% Est @ 4.99% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 7.9% AU$13.8 AU$26.6 AU$33.0 AU$52.1 AU$60.2 AU$63.9 AU$65.6 AU$65.8 AU$64.8 AU$63.0

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

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$509m

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.9%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.9%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AU$135m (1 + 1.9%)  (7.9% 1.9%) = AU$2.3b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$2.3b ( 1 + 7.9%)10= AU$1.1b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AU$1.6b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$13.4, the company appears quite undervalued at a 47% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

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. 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 Jumbo Interactive 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 7.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.013. 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 Jumbo Interactive

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Hospitality industry.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Hospitality market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Australian market.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Looking Ahead:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. 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. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Jumbo Interactive, we've put together three important factors you should further research:

Risks: Be aware that Jumbo Interactive is showing 1 warning sign in our investment analysis , you should know about... Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for JIN's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. 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. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

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



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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LE LOCLE, Switzerland, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kim Soo Hyun is confirmed as Mido's brand ambassador for another incredible year. The Korean actor invites you to discover the watchmaking brand's new masterpiece: the Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer. This irresistible neo-vintage style piece with bright colours and cutting-edge technology will transport connoisseurs towards new horizons. Equipped with an original-style, decompression table and GMT function with a bezel that shows the world time, Mido continues to' ride on the success of a legendary piece with two special editions, taking it to new heights.

Created in the 1960s, the innovative Ocean Star Skin Diver Watch used a multicoloured scale to display decompression times. Today, the Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer retains this vintage charm, and the addition of an additional time zone display propels it towards new horizons.

Retro look with resolutely modern performance.

Mido has used the latest technologies in their continual quest for excellence: Super-LumiNova, a glassbox-style sapphire crystal, the formidable Calibre 80 with Nivachron balance-spring and GMT function, as well an easy change additional strap. A starfish engraved on the screw-down case back emphasises Mido's historic achievements in the field of water resistance, both way back in 1934 with their Aquadura system, and now with this new model water-resistant up to a pressure of 20 bar (200 m/660 ft). It is enough to revive the diving spirit of the 1960s, surfing through frontiers, testing the limits of jet lag and the waves themselves.

The Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer also exists as a second special edition with a decompression table in gradients of yellow to orange, Mido's signature colour, on a black dial with aluminium ring and matching rubber strap.

An irresistible high-performance piece, the Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer inspires the travellers of today to ride on the success of a Mido legend of the Sixties.

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#OceanStar #Midowatches #SpecialEdition #VintageWatchLovers

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

M026.829.17.041.00 & M026.829.17.051.00

Movement

Mido automatic calibre 80 (ETA C07.661 base), 11''',  25.60 mm, thickness: 5.86 mm, 25 jewels, 21,600 Vib/h, Nivachron balance-spring. Finely decorated elaborate movement, oscillating weight decorated with Cotes de Geneve and Mido logo. HMSD + 24-hour GMT functions. Adjusted in three different positions for the highest precision. Power reserve of up to 80 hours.

Case

Polished stainless steel, bi-directional rotating bezel with blue/black aluminium ring and silver markings, natural colour Super-LumiNova dot at 12 o'clock, diameter 40.5 mm, 2-part, glassbox-style sapphire crystal, screw-down crown and screw-down case back with polished starfish in relief and serial number, water resistant up to a pressure of 20 bar (200 m/660 ft). Lug-to-lug length 46.99 mm.

Strap

Textured dark blue/semi-glossy black rubber strap, polished pin buckle with engraved Mido logo.

Additional stainless steel polished Milanese mesh strap and sliding clasp that offers an optimal and secure adjustment mode.

Dial

Blue, with applied, polished indices highlighted with natural colour Super-LumiNova, date window at 3 o'clock. Polished original Mido applique logo. Decompression scale represented by 4 coloured circles (yellow, green, pink and blue).

Or

Black, with polished applique indices highlighted with natural colour Super-LumiNova, date window at 3 o'clock. Polished original Mido applique logo. Decompression scale represented by 4 coloured circles (in graduated colours from yellow to orange).

Hands

Flat diamond-cut hour and minutes highlighted with natural colour Super-LumiNova. Flat diamond-cut large seconds. Varnished red hand for the second time zone, highlighted with natural colour Super-Luminova.

Take a better look at the watch here: https://youtu.be/JaE3DXc39qE

MIDO

Swiss watchmaker Georges Schaeren founded Mido in 1918. The name Mido  derived from "yo mido" meaning "I measure" in Spanish  expresses a deep attachment to the measurement of time. Sustained by its founder's visionary strength, the brand continues to combine watchmaking expertise, innovation, functionality and aesthetics.

Cutting-edge technology, movements renowned for their precision, materials of superior quality, and original yet timeless designs are the pillars of Mido's unique know-how. The brand draws on its expertise to proudly showcase mechanical and aesthetic features that meet the highest standards of Swiss watchmaking and to make high-end quality affordable. Mido's watches are fitted with the latest-generation automatic movements, with impressive power reserves and excellent resistance to magnetism. All chronometer models house calibres subjected to rigorous testing by the Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute) and are therefore COSC-certified. Since value lies in the smallest details, Mido selects the best materials and applies high-end finishes and decorations to its dials and calibres. This technological performance is joined by original yet timeless designs with sleek lines. Beyond fashion and passing trends, Mido watches stand out for their reliability, resistance and durability.

An international name in Swiss mechanical watches, Mido is represented by 2,700 official retailers in 70 countries and its watches are available on major digital sales platforms. The brand also has its own boutiques and e-boutiques.

Mido is based in Le Locle, the centre of watchmaking excellence in the Swiss Jura and belongs to the Swatch Group, the world leader in watchmaking.

www.midowatches.com

Cision

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SOURCE MIDO SA
Allied Market Research

Growing digitalization and social media penetration around the world are positively impacting the growth of the market. By component, the platform segment held the highest share in 2021. By region, Asia-Pacific would remain lucrative by 2031.

Portland, OR , April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global low-code development platform market was valued at $11.5 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $125.6 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 27.4% from 2022 to 2031. The report provides a detailed analysis of the top investment pockets, top winning strategies, drivers & opportunities, market size & estimations, competitive landscape, and evolving market trends. The market study is a helpful source of information for the frontrunners, new entrants, investors, and shareholders in crafting strategies for the future and heightening their position in the market.

Download Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/9957

Report coverage & details:

Forecast Period 20222031 Base Year 2021 Market Size in 2021 $11.5 Billion Market Size in 2031 $125.6 Billion CAGR 27.4% No. of Pages in Report 306 Segments Covered Component, Deployment Mode, Application Type, Enterprise Size, Industry Vertical, and Region. Drivers Growing digitalization and social media penetration around the world Increase in the adoption of low-code development platform across businesses to enhance operation & productivity Restraints Lack of flexibility and customization Concerns over the low-code development platforms security and growing compliance, especially for apps that use consumer data Opportunities Increase in investments in the sectors such as BFSI, healthcare, and others

Covid-19 scenario-

The low-code development platform market has witnessed significant growth in the past few years. The Covid-19 pandemic has increased business's need to automate processes and prioritize digital transformation initiatives. Low-code development platforms address this need, helping them to streamline workflows and accelerate automation projects.

Furthermore, many businesses have invested in low-code development platform to ease the increasing complexities of IT needs during the forecast period.

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The global low-code development platform market is analyzed across Component, Deployment Mode, Application Type, Enterprise Size, Industry Vertical and Region. The report presents the analysis of each segment and sub-segment through tabular and graphical representation. This analysis can be useful for investors and market players to identify the highest revenue-generating and fastest-growing segments, allowing them to devise effective strategies.

Procure Complete Report (405 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) at:

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/low-code-development-platform-market/purchase-options

By component, the platform segment held the highest share in 2021, garnering around two-third of the global low-code development platform market revenue. The services segment, on the other hand, would showcase the fastest CAGR of 31.6% throughout the forecast period.

By deployment mode, the cloud segment contributed to more than half of the global low-code development platform market share in 2021 and is projected to rule the roost by 2031. The on-premise segment, however, would portray the fastest CAGR of 23.2% during the forecast period.

By enterprise size, large enterprises segment held the major share in 2021, garnering more than three-fifths of the global low-code development platform market revenue. The small and medium-sized enterprises segment, on the other hand, would showcase the fastest CAGR of 30.1% throughout the forecast period.

By application type, the mobile-based application segment accounted for the highest share in 2021, generating more than two-fifths of the global low-code development platform market revenue. The web-based application segment, however, would portray the fastest CAGR of 31.2% during the forecast period. The desktop and server-based application segments are also analyzed through the study.

By industry vertical, the IT and telecom segment contributed to nearly about one-third of the global low-code development platform market share in 2021. The BFSI segment, on the other hand, would portray the fastest CAGR of 34.6% during the forecast period. The manufacturing, government, healthcare, retail and e-commerce and others segment are also analyzed throughout the report.

By region, North America held the major share in 2021, garnering around two-fifths of the global low-code development platform market revenue. The Asia-Pacific, on the other hand, would showcase the fastest CAGR of 30.6% throughout the forecast period.

Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/9957

The key market players analyzed in the global low-code development platform market report include AgilePoint Inc., Appian Corporation, Mendix Technology BV, Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, OutSystems, Inc., Pegasystems Inc., Salesforce.com Inc., ServiceNow, Inc., and Zoho Corporation Pvt. Ltd. These market players have embraced several strategies including partnership, expansion, collaboration, joint ventures, and others to highlight their prowess in the industry. The report is helpful in formulating the business performance and developments by the top players.

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: 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 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/information-and-communication-technology-and-media Follow Us on Blog: https://www.technologyplz.com/




Associates continuing to provide relief supplies and support as Lowe's assists national disaster partners and nonprofit Pro customers with critical needs

MOORESVILLE, N.C., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's today announced it will donate $500,000 to continue to support relief and recovery efforts across the nation's heartland after dozens of destructive and deadly tornadoes in recent weeks. The donation will assist Lowe's disaster relief partners including the American Red Cross and Lowe's nonprofit Pro customers, helping these organizations provide emergency shelter, critical relief supplies, food and comfort to those affected by the tornado outbreak.

Lowes store associates went door-to-door in Little Rock, Arkansas, to pass out supplies and help residents clean up.

"It's heartbreaking to see the devastation caused by the extreme tornadoes that have impacted our associates and customers across the South and Midwest," said Marvin Ellison, Lowe's chairman and CEO. "Our stores and associates are committed to providing assistance at a time when our neighbors need us more than ever, and this donation will help our nonprofit and Pro partners respond to critical needs."

On Thursday, Lowe's associates went door-to-door in Little Rock, Arkansas, Coralville, Iowa, and Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to pass out more than 1,100 free buckets filled with supplies to help residents clean up after tornadoes left widespread damage. Associates also partnered with local emergency management officials and first responders to clean up debris and pass out other critical supplies.

The previous week, Lowe's store associates in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, donated over 700 cases of water and more than 450 buckets with supplies to assist residents and first responders after an EF4 tornado tore through the small community. In the coming weeks, associates across the South and Midwest will continue to volunteer and distribute supplies to help communities recover.

Lowe's is also expanding financial assistance provided to associates through the Lowe's Employee Relief Fund. Lowe's is doubling the company's match, contributing $2 for every dollar an employee donates. Last year, the fund helped nearly 3,000 associates with more than $4.1 million in financial aid.

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Visit Lowe's Newsroom for updates on Lowe's relief efforts and continued support.

About Lowe's

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW ) is a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company serving approximately 17 million customer transactions a week in the United States. With total fiscal year 2022 sales of over $97 billion, approximately $92 billion of sales were generated in the United States, where Lowe's operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and employs approximately 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Contact:

Candace Gordon

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Candace.Gordon@lowes.com

The Lowe's team helped residents clean up debris in Coralville after tornadoes left widespread damage in Eastern Iowa.

Lowes volunteer associates passed out more than 450 buckets filled with free supplies to residents in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, after an EF4 tornado tore through the small community.

Within 24 hours of the EF4 tornado touching down, the Lowe's team was on site near the National Guard Armory in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, distributing over 700 cases of water to residents and first responders.

Cision

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SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Rmcarvalho / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Theres an old saying about not taking any wooden nickels  but what if that coin was enough to make you a millionaire? Not saying that a wooden nickel is worth that much money or even exists, but there are some rare coins out there which are worth more than just their face value.

Related: Check Your $2 Bills  They Could Be Worth Upward of $4,500

More: How To Build a Financial Plan From Zero

Lots of times, currency we see on a regular basis, like a quarter, could be worth upward of $2,000. You just have to know what youre looking for.

The most expensive coin sold at auction has one of the best stories ever! declares Jeff Garrett, a past president of the Professional Numismatists Guild, citing the 500,000 1933-dated Double Eagles ($20 denomination U.S. gold coins) that were struck, then subsequently melted when gold was recalled by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The coins were never officially released and shortly thereafter, the small number of coins that escaped the Mint were declared illegal to own and most were confiscated, says Garrett. In the 1990s, another example was confiscated in a sting operation by the Secret Service. After a legal battle, the coin was declared the only legal example that could be owned. It sold at auction in 2022 for [almost] $19 million.

So as you dig through your pockets, break open your piggy bank, search under couch cushions, and go through the storage closet searching for coinage, keep some things in mind so that you dont miss out on cents that could be worth big bucks.

The rarity and historical significance of a coin, as well as its metal content and design, can all impact its value, says Kamil Faizi, owner of Challenge Coins 4 U. Collectors and investors in rare coins often look for these factors when determining the value of a particular coin.

Metal Content

For a rare coin to hold a higher price value than the number we normally assign it, the metal contents have to be either precious or base.

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Paul Zaldivar, a civil engineer and the founder of fitnhome.com, breaks it down like this: Coins made from precious metals like gold, silver and platinum are often more valuable due to the intrinsic value of the metal itself. The American Gold Eagle, a gold bullion coin with a face value of $50, can be worth over $1,800 based on the current gold market price.

Coins minted from base metals like copper or nickel can also increase in value if the metal content becomes rare or desirable, says Zaldivar, using the 1943 Copper Lincoln Cent as an example. [It is] made from copper due to a minting error, [and] is valued at over $100,000 due to its scarcity and copper content.

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Age

The age of an old coin can play a significant part in its value. Typically, older coins are harder to find in good condition, becoming rarer and rarer with each passing day.

Zaldivar cites the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar as an example. It was one of the first silver dollars minted by the United States [and] was sold for $10 million in 2013 due to its age and historical significance.

Coins minted during specific historical periods or events can carry added value, as they provide insight into the past and may have a limited supply, says Zaldivar. The 1787 Brasher Doubloon, a privately minted gold coin created by goldsmith Ephraim Brasher, is valued at over $7 million due to its historical context and association with the founding of the United States.

Limited Design

A limited edition of anything will up the price due to the lack of supply and availability. With coins, however, that takes on a whole new process of evaluation. A big factor in limited designs of coins comes down to if they are deemed commemorative, whereby they were made with special significance.

The 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle, a limited-issue gold coin featuring a design by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, can be worth over $2,000, explains Zaldivar. Commemorative coins issued to celebrate a specific event, person or anniversary often have a limited mintage, increasing their value to collectors.

But other unique design elements can also be a reason certain cones are rare and more valuable.

Coins with distinct design features or artistic qualities can also command higher values, says Zaldivar. The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel, with only five known specimens, is valued at millions of dollars due to its unique design and rarity.

Design Flaws

Perfection doesnt always mean a pretty penny is pricier. In fact, oftentimes if a coin has a design flaw that will only increase its value.

The 1955 Double Die Lincoln cent, characterized by a noticeable doubling of the image, is worth over $1,000 in high grades, says Zaldivar, describing how minting errors can seem like a costly mistake at first, only to add more value to a coin in the future.

Coins with unintentional design flaws or errors can become valuable collectors items due to scarcity, Zaldivar mentions, citing that coin die varieties can also lead to design flaws that eventually up the price of a coin by making it a rare find.

Variations in the coin dies used during minting can create collectible subtypes with different values, says Zalidvar. The 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, known as the King of American Coins, has three different die varieties (Class I, II and III), with Class I being the most valuable at over $3 million.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Makes a Rare Coin Worth Up To $19 Million?
Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Medical Image Analysis Software Market is valued at USD 3.23 Billion in 2022 and is projected to attain a value of USD 5.85 Billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 7.70% during the forecast period, 20232030.



Market Overview

The medical image analysis software market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.70% during the forecast period (2023-2030). The growth of the market can be attributed to the increasing demand for medical image analysis software in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and technological advancements in medical imaging.

Medical image analysis software is used to analyze medical images to detect abnormalities, diagnose diseases, and plan treatment. The software is used in a variety of medical specialties, including radiology, oncology, cardiology, and dermatology.

The increasing demand for medical image analysis software is driven by the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. These diseases are often difficult to diagnose and treat, and medical image analysis software can help to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and the effectiveness of treatment.

Technological advancements in medical imaging, such as the development of high-resolution imaging devices and the use of artificial intelligence (AI), are also driving the growth of the medical image analysis software market. AI-based medical image analysis software can provide more accurate and detailed results than traditional methods.

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Market Dynamics

The medical image analysis software market is driven by a variety of factors, including technological advancements, increasing demand for non-invasive diagnostic procedures, and rising prevalence of chronic diseases.

Technological advancements in imaging modalities are one of the primary drivers of the medical image analysis software market. For example, advances in CT and MRI technology have led to the development of more sophisticated imaging software that can generate detailed 3D images of the body, allowing healthcare providers to identify and diagnose medical conditions more accurately.

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Another key driver of the market is the increasing demand for non-invasive diagnostic procedures. As patients become more aware of the potential risks associated with invasive procedures, there is a growing demand for non-invasive diagnostic techniques. Medical image analysis software provides healthcare providers with the ability to perform detailed analyses of medical images, allowing them to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions without the need for invasive procedures.

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases is also driving demand for medical image analysis software. As the global population ages, there is an increasing incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders. Medical image analysis software allows healthcare providers to diagnose and monitor these conditions more effectively, leading to better patient outcomes.

Despite these drivers, the medical image analysis software market also faces several challenges. These include concerns around data privacy and security, as medical images contain sensitive patient information. In addition, the high cost of medical image analysis software can be a barrier to adoption, particularly in emerging markets where healthcare budgets may be limited.

Top Players in the Global Medical Image Analysis Software Market

AQUILAB (France)

AGFA Healthcare (Belgium)

Carestream Health Inc. (US)

Esaote S.p.A (Italy)

INFINITT Healthcare Co Ltd. (South Korea)

GE Healthcare (US)

Image Analysis (UK)

MIM Software Inc. (US)

Merge Healthcare Inc. (US)

Mirada Medical Limited (UK)

ScienceSoft USA Corporation (US)

Philips Healthcare (Netherlands)

Siemens Healthineers (Germany)

Xinapse Systems Ltd. (UK)

and Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation



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Top Report Findings

Increasing demand for AI-based medical image analysis software: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical image analysis software is becoming increasingly popular, as it can help healthcare providers to analyze large amounts of imaging data more quickly and accurately. As a result, the market for AI-based medical image analysis software is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

Rising adoption of cloud-based medical image analysis software: Cloud-based medical image analysis software is becoming more popular, as it allows healthcare providers to store and analyze large amounts of imaging data more efficiently. This is particularly important given the growing volumes of medical imaging data being generated, and the need for faster and more accurate diagnoses.

North America dominates the medical image analysis software market: North America is the largest market for medical image analysis software, due to the high levels of healthcare spending in the region and the presence of many leading medical imaging companies. However, the market is also growing rapidly in other regions, particularly in Asia Pacific, where rising healthcare spending and increasing adoption of medical imaging technologies are driving demand.

Integration of medical image analysis software with electronic health records (EHRs): The integration of medical image analysis software with EHRs is becoming more common, as it allows healthcare providers to access imaging data more easily and to share it with other providers more efficiently. This integration can improve patient care and lead to better patient outcomes.

Increasing importance of 3D medical image analysis software: 3D medical image analysis software is becoming increasingly important in a range of medical specialties, including cardiology, radiology, and orthopedics. The ability to generate detailed 3D images of the body allows healthcare providers to visualize and diagnose medical conditions more accurately and to plan more effective treatments.



Top Trends in Global Medical Image Analysis Software Market

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML): The integration of AI and ML in medical image analysis software is a major trend, as it enables healthcare providers to analyze large amounts of imaging data more quickly and accurately. AI and ML can also improve the accuracy of image analysis and reduce errors, leading to better patient outcomes.

Cloud-based solutions: Cloud-based medical image analysis software is increasingly popular, as it allows healthcare providers to store and analyze large amounts of imaging data more efficiently. Cloud-based solutions can also reduce costs by eliminating the need for on-site servers and other infrastructure.

3D imaging: The use of 3D imaging is becoming increasingly important in medical image analysis, as it allows healthcare providers to visualize medical conditions in greater detail and to plan more effective treatments. 3D imaging is particularly useful in specialties such as cardiology, radiology, and orthopedics.

Integration with electronic health records (EHRs): The integration of medical image analysis software with EHRs is becoming more common, as it allows healthcare providers to access imaging data more easily and to share it with other providers more efficiently. This integration can improve patient care and lead to better patient outcomes.

Rising demand for advanced imaging technologies: The growing prevalence of chronic diseases and the increasing demand for non-invasive diagnostic procedures are driving demand for advanced imaging technologies. This, in turn, is leading to greater demand for medical image analysis software that can interpret and analyze the large volumes of imaging data generated by these technologies.

Increasing adoption of mobile medical image analysis software: Mobile medical image analysis software is becoming more popular, as it allows healthcare providers to access and analyze medical images from their mobile devices. This can improve the efficiency of patient care and enable healthcare providers to make more informed decisions on-the-go.

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Regional Analysis

North America is the largest market for medical image analysis software, due to the high levels of healthcare spending in the region and the presence of many leading medical imaging companies. The United States is the largest market in North America, due to its large and well-developed healthcare system and high levels of medical imaging utilization. The growing adoption of advanced medical imaging technologies and the increasing demand for non-invasive diagnostic procedures are driving demand for medical image analysis software in North America.

Europe is the second-largest market for medical image analysis software, due to the region's well-developed healthcare infrastructure and high levels of medical imaging utilization. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom are the largest markets in Europe, due to their large and well-funded healthcare systems. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the growing demand for non-invasive diagnostic procedures are driving demand for medical image analysis software in Europe.

The Asia Pacific region is the fastest-growing market for medical image analysis software, due to rising healthcare spending, increasing adoption of medical imaging technologies, and growing demand for non-invasive diagnostic procedures. China and India are the largest markets in the region, due to their large populations and rapidly expanding healthcare systems. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the region is also driving demand for medical image analysis software.

Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are smaller markets for medical image analysis software, but are expected to grow in the coming years as healthcare infrastructure improves and medical imaging utilization increases. The increasing adoption of advanced medical imaging technologies and the growing demand for non-invasive diagnostic procedures are also driving demand for medical image analysis software in these regions.

Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 168 Pages and in-depth TOC on Medical Image Analysis Software Market Forecast Report (2023-2030).

Global Medical Image Analysis Software Market Segmentation

By Type

Integrated Software

Standalone Software

By Image Type

2D Imaging

3D Imaging

4D Imaging



By Application

Orthopedics

Dental Application

Neurology

Cardiology

Oncology

Obstetrics and Gynecology

By Region

North America United States Canada Mexico

Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea South-East Asia Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa GCC Countries South Africa Rest of MEA



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Scope of the Report:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2021 USD 3.23 Billion Revenue Forecast by 2028 USD 5.85 Billion CAGR 7.70% from 2022 to 2028 Base Year 2021 Forecast Year 2022 to 2028 Key Players AQUILAB (France), AGFA Healthcare (Belgium), Carestream Health, Inc. (US), Esaote S.p.A (Italy), INFINITT Healthcare Co, Ltd. (South Korea), GE Healthcare (US), Image Analysis (UK), MIM Software Inc. (US), Merge Healthcare, Inc. (US), Mirada Medical Limited (UK), ScienceSoft USA Corporation (US), Philips Healthcare (Netherlands), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), Xinapse Systems Ltd. (UK), and Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation Customization Options If our report does not include the information you are searching for, you may contact us to have a report tailored to your specific business needs https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/medical-image-analysis-software-market-1148/request-sample

The key questions answered in the Medical Image Analysis Software Market Report are:

What is the current size of the global medical image analysis software market and what is its expected growth rate over the forecast period?

What are the key drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the market?

What are the major trends in the medical image analysis software market?

What are the major application areas of medical image analysis software and which ones are expected to grow the fastest during the forecast period?

What are the major end-users of medical image analysis software and what are their key requirements and challenges?

What are the major distribution channels for medical image analysis software and how are they evolving?

Who are the major players in the medical image analysis software market and what are their market shares and competitive strategies?

What are the major technological advancements in the medical image analysis software market and how are they likely to impact the market?

What are the major regulatory and reimbursement issues in the medical image analysis software market and how are they likely to evolve?

What are the major challenges facing the medical image analysis software market and how are they being addressed by the industry and regulators?

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Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World

WASHINGTON, April 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Medical Sensors Market is valued at USD 1.10 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach a value of USD 2.39 Billion by 2030 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 10.20% over the forecast period 2023-2030.



Market Overview

The medical sensors market is a rapidly growing industry that has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. With advancements in technology and increased investment from key players, the market is expected to continue its growth trajectory in the coming years. One of the key factors driving the growth of the medical sensors market is the increasing adoption of wearable devices for health monitoring. Wearable sensors offer several advantages over traditional monitoring devices, such as convenience, portability, and ease of use. Additionally, the availability of wireless communication technologies has made it easier to collect and transmit data from these devices to healthcare providers.

The companies are investing heavily in research and development to create new sensors that can improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Additionally, they are leveraging strategic partnerships and collaborations to expand their market reach and stay ahead of the competition. The medical sensors market is a rapidly growing industry that is driven by technological advancements and the increasing demand for health monitoring devices. As wearables and wireless communication technologies continue to evolve, the market is expected to experience robust growth in the coming years.

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Medical Sensors Market Dynamics

Wearable medical devices are becoming increasingly popular as they allow users to monitor their health data in real time. This data can be used to track trends in health, identify potential problems, and make lifestyle changes to improve overall health. The increasing use of wearable medical devices is driving the demand for medical sensors.

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The rising prevalence of chronic diseases is also driving the demand for medical sensors. Chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are the leading causes of death worldwide. These diseases require regular monitoring and treatment to manage symptoms and prevent complications. Medical sensors are used to monitor vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar levels. This data can be used to track the progression of disease and make adjustments to treatment plans.

Technological advancements in medical sensors are also driving the growth of the market. Newer sensors are smaller, more accurate, and more durable than older sensors. They are also easier to use and can be integrated with other medical devices. These advancements are making medical sensors more accessible and affordable, which is driving the demand for them.

Top Players in Global Medical Sensors Market

Medtronic (Ireland)

Analog Devices (US)

TE Connectivity (Switzerland)

ST Microelectronics (Switzerland)

Texas Instruments (US)



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Key Challenges Facing the Medical Sensors Market:

One of the most significant challenges facing the medical sensors market is the high cost of development and manufacturing. Medical sensors require significant investment in research and development, as well as specialized manufacturing processes. This high cost can limit the number of players in the market and make it difficult for smaller companies to enter.

Medical sensors generate a significant amount of sensitive patient data, which must be protected from unauthorized access and breaches. Ensuring data privacy and security can be a significant challenge for healthcare providers and device manufacturers, who must comply with various regulations and standards.

Integrating medical sensors with existing healthcare systems can be a significant challenge, particularly in cases where there are multiple systems in use. Ensuring seamless integration can be a time-consuming and expensive process, which can limit the adoption of new technologies.

How to Overcome these Challenges?

Collaborating with other companies and organizations to share resources and expertise.

Investing in research and development to drive innovation and reduce costs.

Partnering with healthcare providers to ensure regulatory compliance and facilitate integration with existing healthcare systems.

Increasing awareness and education about medical sensors among healthcare professionals and patients.

Adopting new business models, such as subscription-based services, to increase revenue and reduce costs.



Medical Sensors Market Opportunities

One of the most significant opportunities in the medical sensors market is the increasing demand for remote patient monitoring. With the rise of telemedicine and remote healthcare, there is a growing need for medical sensors that can be used to monitor patients from a distance. This presents a significant opportunity for companies that can develop sensors that are accurate, reliable, and easy to use.

Wearable sensors are becoming increasingly popular among consumers and healthcare providers alike. These sensors can be worn on the body to monitor vital signs and track health metrics, providing valuable insights into a patient's health status. As the adoption of wearable sensors continues to grow, there is a significant opportunity for companies that can develop innovative sensors that are comfortable, non-invasive, and accurate.

There is a growing focus on preventive healthcare, with healthcare providers and consumers alike recognizing the importance of early detection and prevention of diseases. Medical sensors can play a critical role in this effort by providing continuous monitoring and real-time data analysis. Companies that can develop sensors that can detect early warning signs of diseases and provide personalized recommendations for prevention and treatment will be well-positioned for success in the market.

Top Report Findings

The global medical sensors market is expected to reach USD 2.39 Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 10.20% from 2023 to 2030.

The increasing demand for minimally invasive surgeries is one of the key factors driving the growth of the medical sensors market.

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases is another key factor driving the growth of the medical sensors market.

Technological advancements in medical sensors are also contributing to the growth of the market.

Based on geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. North America is the largest market for medical sensors, accounting for over 40% of the total market in 2021. This is due to the presence of a large number of hospitals and diagnostic centers in North America, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and the technological advancements in medical sensors.



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Top Trends in Medical Sensors Market

One of the most significant trends that Vantage Market Research (VMR) expects in the medical sensors market is the increasing adoption of wearable sensors for remote patient monitoring. Wearable sensors offer several advantages over traditional monitoring devices, such as convenience, portability, and ease of use. They also enable healthcare providers to collect real-time data on patients' vital signs and health status, enabling them to provide more personalized care.

The medical sensors market is witnessing rapid advancements in sensor technology, particularly in areas such as miniaturization, low power consumption, and wireless communication. These advancements are enabling the development of more accurate, reliable, and efficient sensors, which can be used for a wide range of applications, such as disease diagnosis, drug delivery, and health monitoring.

Another significant trend that VMR predicts in the medical sensors market is the growing focus on home healthcare. With an aging population and rising healthcare costs, there is an increasing need for remote monitoring and care delivery. Medical sensors are playing a crucial role in this trend by enabling patients to monitor their health at home, reducing the need for hospitalization and improving patient outcomes.



Global Medical Sensors Market Segmentation

By Sensor Type

Temperature Sensors

Pressure Sensors

Blood Glucose Sensors

Blood Oxygen Sensors

Electrocardiogram (ECG) Sensors

Others

By Medical Procedure

Noninvasive Medical Procedures

Minimally Invasive Medical Procedures

Invasive Medical Procedures





By End-Use Product

Diagnostic Imaging Devices

Patient Monitoring Devices

Medical Implantable Devices

Others

By Medical Device Classification

Class I

Class II

Class III



By Medical Facility

Hospitals and Clinics

Nursing Homes Assisted Living Facilities

Long-term Care Centers

Home Care Settings

Others



Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 140 Pages and in-depth TOC on Medical Sensors Market Forecast Report (2023-2030).

Scope of the Report:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 1.10 Billion Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 2.39 Billion CAGR 10.20% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players Medtronic, TE Connectivity, Analog Devices, ST Microelectronics, and Texas Instruments Customization Options If our report does not include the information you are searching for, you may contact us to have a report tailored to your specific business needs https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/medical-sensors-market-1274/request-sample

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Key Questions Answered in Medical Sensors Market Report

What are the current and future market trends in the Medical Sensors industry?

What are the major drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the Medical Sensors market?

What are the various types of medical sensors and their applications?

What is the size of the Medical Sensors market and what is its expected growth rate?

What are the regional and global market trends and opportunities in the Medical Sensors industry?

Who are the major players operating in the Medical Sensors market and what are their strategies?

What are the regulatory and compliance requirements for the Medical Sensors industry?

How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the Medical Sensors market?

What are the latest technological advancements and innovations in the Medical Sensors industry?

What is the competitive landscape of the Medical Sensors market and what are the market shares of the major players?

Medical Sensors Market Regional Analysis

North America is the largest market for medical sensors, accounting for the highest share of the global market. The region is home to several major players in the medical sensors industry, and is characterized by a highly advanced healthcare system, favorable reimbursement policies, and a strong regulatory environment. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the rising demand for remote patient monitoring are driving the growth of the medical sensors market in North America.

Europe is the second-largest market for medical sensors, driven by the increasing focus on patient safety and the rising demand for healthcare services. The region is characterized by a highly developed healthcare system, advanced medical technologies, and favorable regulatory policies. The growing adoption of wearable sensors and the increasing demand for remote patient monitoring are driving the growth of the medical sensors market in Europe.

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing market for medical sensors, driven by the increasing healthcare expenditure, rising awareness about healthcare, and the growing geriatric population. The region is home to several emerging economies, such as China and India, which are witnessing rapid growth in the healthcare sector. The increasing demand for point-of-care testing and the rising adoption of wearable sensors are driving the growth of the medical sensors market in Asia-Pacific.

Latin America is an emerging market for medical sensors, driven by the increasing healthcare expenditure, the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, and the rising demand for healthcare services. The region is characterized by a rapidly growing population, a growing middle class, and a favorable regulatory environment. The increasing demand for remote patient monitoring and the rising adoption of wearable sensors are driving the growth of the medical sensors market in Latin America.

The Middle East & Africa is a rapidly growing market for medical sensors, driven by the increasing healthcare expenditure, the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, and the rising demand for healthcare services. The region is characterized by a rapidly growing population, a growing middle class, and a favorable regulatory environment. The increasing adoption of advanced medical technologies and the rising demand for remote patient monitoring are driving the growth of the medical sensors market in the Middle East & Africa.

Reasons to Buy this Report Medical Sensors Market Report

Comprehensive analysis: A report on Medical Sensors Market provides a comprehensive analysis of the industry, including market trends, drivers, challenges, and opportunities. The report can help you gain insights into the market dynamics and make informed decisions about your investments.

Market size and growth rate: The report can provide an overview of the size of the Medical Sensors market, its growth rate, and its future potential. This can help you understand the market opportunity and plan your business strategy accordingly.

Regional analysis: The report can provide a regional analysis of the Medical Sensors market, including the market size, growth rate, and market share of the leading players in each region. This can help you identify the regions with the highest growth potential and tailor your business strategy accordingly.

Competitive landscape: The report can provide an overview of the competitive landscape of the Medical Sensors market, including the market shares of the leading players, their strategies, and their strengths and weaknesses. This can help you identify the key players in the market and make informed decisions about your business strategy.

Technological advancements: The report can provide an overview of the latest technological advancements in the Medical Sensors industry, such as the use of wearable sensors, wireless sensors, and implantable sensors. This can help you stay ahead of the competition and identify opportunities for innovation and growth.

Regulatory compliance: The report can provide an overview of the regulatory and compliance requirements for the Medical Sensors industry. This can help you understand the legal framework and ensure that you are in compliance with the regulations.

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About Vantage Market Research:

We, at Vantage Market Research, provide quantified B2B high quality research on more than 20,000 emerging markets, in turn, helping our clients map out constellation of opportunities for their businesses. We, as a competitive intelligence market research and consulting firm provide end to end solutions to our client enterprises to meet their crucial business objectives. Our clientele base spans across 70% of Global Fortune 500 companies.

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FACT.MR

Continuous innovations in military equipment expected to drive global military gas market growth over the next 10 years, says Fact.MR.

Rockville, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider, the global military gas masks market is valued at US$ 1.1 million in 2023 and is projected to reach US$ 1.4 million by the end of 2033.



With the development of combat technology, biological and chemical agents are being utilized more commonly, which puts soldiers at greater risk. Additionally, it is projected that over the next several years, demand for efficient soldier protection equipment would rise significantly due to persistent unrest in several countries around the world.

Domestic terrorism and rising international tensions will intensify this conflict. Throughout the forecast period, this is expected to boost the demand for military gas masks. Also, the increasing use of chemical weapons in battle is pressuring many governments to raise their defense spending. This is one of the main factors that is anticipated to drive investor confidence and encourage them to make investments in the market for military gas masks.

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Key Takeaways from Market Study

Sales of military gas masks are expected to rise at a CAGR of 3% from 2023 to 2033.

The United States is one of the leading exporters of military gas masks in the world.

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine is benefitting German military gas mask suppliers.

Demand for powered air-purifying respirators is increasing due to their widespread use by first responders.

To fulfil the rising need for use in modern combat tactics, manufacturers are concentrating on creating enhanced and dependable military gas masks, says a Fact.MR analyst.

Key Segments of Military Gas Masks Industry Research

By Mask Type : Full-face Gas Masks Half-face Gas Masks

By Product Type : Non-powered Respirators Powered Respirators

By End User : Military First Responders

By Application : Chemical Defense Biological Defense Nuclear Defense Radiological Defense

By Region : North America Latin America Europe East Asia South Asia & Oceania MEA





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Competitive Landscape

As a result, the production of face shields with flexible polyurethane lenses that provide a wide field of vision and facepieces constructed of strong yet supple rubber material for better quality is currently the emphasis.

Also, the use of more modern, cutting-edge technologies and materials may contribute to the creation of better, more efficient & cost-effective gas masks, possibly leading to the eventual replacement of the conventional gas masks currently used by many military forces and first responders across the world. Hence, concentrating research on better technologies and materials may benefit the companies over time.

Recent Market Developments

The Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration declared in February 2023 that they will begin a new project in the following years to procure new military gas masks to replace the K-1s. The K-1 mask was created by Samgong Corp in Korea to defend each soldier against nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) warfare agents.

The Australian National Science Agency, or CSIRO, said in July 2022 that it will speed up the creation of ground-breaking defense products against chemical, biological, and radioactive agents for its armed forces. As a result, CSIRO was expected to develop its industry-leading respirator technology under a contract worth US$ 8.6 million. To create the respirator, CSIRO collaborated with the Melbourne-based Boron Molecular and the Brisbane-based Veteran Owned EPE Trusted to Protect.

Key Companies Profiled

Avon Protection Systems, Inc.

Honeywell International Inc.

3M Company

Nexter Group

Metadure Inc.

All Safe Industries

Shalon Chemical Industries Ltd.

Durham Mask

MSA Safety Inc.

Dragerwerk AG & Co. KG

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More Valuable Insights on Offer

Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the global military gas masks market, presenting historical demand data (2018 to 2022) and forecast statistics for the period (2023 to 2033).

The study divulges essential insights on the market based on mask type (full-face gas masks, half-face gas masks), product type (non-powered respirators, powered respirators), end user (military, first responders), and application (chemical defense, biological defense, nuclear defense, radiological defense), across five major regions of the world (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and MEA).

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Landfill Gas Market: The global landfill gas market is expected to be worth US$ 1.4 billion in fiscal year 2022, up from US$ 1.3 billion in fiscal year 2021. From 2022 to 2032, the market is expected to grow at an 8.3% CAGR, reaching a value of US$ 3.1 billion by the end of 2032. Due to benefits of landfill gas energy development such the decrease of GHG emission as well as environmental regulatory costs, the size of the landfill gas market is expected to grow significantly between 2022 and 2032.

Mobile Gas Pumping System Market: Fuel is not always accessible for individuals living in remote areas as location of fuel stations depends on various aspects such as traffic density, distance between the station and metropolitan cities and land availability, to name a few. In addition to this, the demand for fuel is ever rising making it inconvenient for individuals that are situated far away from stations to load their vehicles with fuels.

Aeroderivative Gas Turbine Market: The aeroderivative gas turbine market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 6.6% over the forecast period. The market is valued at US$ 3.20 billion in 2022. By 2032, it is expected that the aeroderivative gas turbine industry to be worth USD 6.06 billion. The dynamics of the industry will be positively impacted by the rising expansion and development of manufacturing techniques along with the growing emphasis on sustainable energy development.

Micro Gas Cylinder Market: The global micro gas cylinder market registered a CAGR of 3.2% from 2018 to 2022. The market is set to reach a valuation of US$ 876.4 million in 2023 and expand at a CAGR of 6.2% to end up at US$ 1.6 billion by 2033. Sales of micro gas cylinders currently account for around 12% share of the global gas cylinder market.

Mud Gas Separator Market: Worldwide demand for mud gas separators is estimated to be valued at US$ 3.9 Mn in 2022. Detailed industry research reveals that the global mud gas separator market is forecast to reach US$ 5.6 Mn by the end of 2032, expanding at a steady CAGR of 3.6%. As per latest analysis by Fact.MR, mud gas separators accounted for 1.3% share of the global drilling rig equipment market value in 2021, with this share expected to rise to 2%-3% by 2032.

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During a March 29 hearing on the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act (MONA), Timothy Faber testified against the bill as "a legislative liaison for the Missouri Baptist Convention." Democratic senators are calling for Faber's removal as chair of the Missouri Human Rights Commission for "misleading state senators" and putting his own views "before his duties as chairman."

In the hearing, Faber identified himself as the legislative liaison for the Missouri Baptist Convention, a role he stepped into in January.

"The fact of the matter is, this bill cannot be separated from religion and particularly religious liberty. The United States constitution, and the Missouri constitution, both guarantee the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. This bill sets up a host of conflicts against such freedoms," Faber said in the hearing.

More: Missouri AG weighs in on College of the Ozarks 'gender identity' dorm lawsuit

Faber also said that if the bill passed, the MCHR would see more work.

"There would be an increase in lawsuits, and the caseload of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights would increase exponentially. This will create an even greater backlog of cases for the MCHR staff than what they already have, and more expense for the citizens of Missouri to defend a case that will ultimately be lost."

Sen. Doug Beck questioned Faber about bringing up the MCHR while not disclosing his connection to it, saying it was "kind of disingenuous."

I do not speak for the Human Rights Commission. Thats not my role, Faber later told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. That was not my intent. And I dont even have the legal right to do so, especially considering that the commission has not addressed these issues. Thats why I did not identify myself as a commissioner.

The letter, signed by the 11 Democratic state senators, said that Faber misled state senators and that his testimony was "in direct contradiction to the mission" of the MCHR.

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The MHRC is meant to "eliminate discrimination through the enforcement of the Missouri Human Rights Act and prevent social inequality through education and outreach," according to its site.

More: LGBTQ committee hosts Springfield's first 3-day Transgender Day of Visibility event series

Missouri's Human Rights Act currently prohibits discrimination on basis of "race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, or age as it relates to employment, disability, or familial status as it relates to housing." MONA, proposed this year by Sen. Greg Razer, aims to include sexual orientation and gender among the protected statuses. Some form of the act has been filed yearly in Missouri's legislature since 2000.

In addition to the Democratic state senators, Missouri's LGBTQ advocacy organization, PROMO, also called for Faber's removal.

"Listening to someone testify for the ability to discriminate against any Missourian is already horrifying, but to hear the Chair of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights do so is absolutely reprehensible," said Robert Fischer, director of communications for PROMO. "To say that someone should have the right to 'discriminate against someone on any number of factors' when your specific job is to defend all Missourians and ensure equitable treatment  it is time for a change at the MCHR."

The Missouri Commission on Human Rights and the governor's office have not responded to requests for comment.

Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: MO Senate Democrats call for human rights commission chair's removal
Jamie Burr Brings 20+ Years Experience to Help Pork Industry Meet Sustainability Goals

The National Pork Board elevates sustainability leadership position to C-suite level.

Five-person sustainability team now led by former Tyson Foods leader.

Continued focus on sharing pork industry's sustainability goals and metrics with farmers, supply chain and consumers.

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Pork Board (NPB) has named its first Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) by appointing an industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in sustainability and environmental program leadership.

Jamie Burr, formerly of Tyson Foods, has been named the new Chief Sustainability Officer of the National Pork Board. Burr has more than 20 years of experience in sustainability and environmental leadership in animal agriculture.

James "Jamie" Burr took the role of National Pork Board CSO on March 27. Burr leads the sustainability team of five public health, animal welfare and environmental experts tasked with advancing the pork industry's sustainability goals and metrics announced last year.

"Jamie's input has been invaluable to several key producer-funded initiatives for more than a decade," said Bill Even, National Pork Board CEO. "He's served on and chaired several Pork Board environmental and sustainability committees and task forces, so his leadership has already helped shape the industry's sustainability vision. Establishing a CSO position and adding Jamie to the team continues to demonstrate our industry's strong commitment to advancing pork sustainability."

Burr comes to the Pork Board from Tyson Foods where he recently served as director of environmental compliance and was the environmental lead for all of Tyson's live-animal production businesses. Prior to that role, he led several environmental, safety, health and sustainability teams since joining the company in 1999. Notably, he led the development of Tyson's greenhouse gas science-based target, its deforestation and land-stewardship targets.

Burr earned a Master of Science degree in Soil Science and Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Missouri State University. But before his formal education, he gained valuable experience for his new role, growing up on a hog farm and in a sale barn in southern Missouri.

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"It's an honor for me to lead this team and take on the responsibility of shaping and sharing the industry's sustainability story," said Burr. "We have bold goals and metrics that producers have laid out for us, and I look forward to working with the staff and the board to meet and report on those efforts."

Burr's previous experience puts him in a unique position to be an advocate to producers and for the industry, Even noted.

"The CSO role serves as a conduit between producers, supply chain partners, Wall Street investors and consumers," said Even. "Jamie knows and has worked with all these audiences. He understands the business, he understands the consumer, and knows the importance of building relationships among all stakeholders along the supply chain."

About The National Pork Board

The National Pork Board has responsibility for Pork Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in consumer education and marketing, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, science and technology, swine health, pork safety, and environmental management and sustainability. For the past half century, the U.S. pork industry has delivered on its commitment to sustainable production and has made significant strides in reducing the environmental impact of pig farming. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.35 for each $100 value of hogs sold. Importers of pork products contribute a like amount, based on a formula. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675 or visit porkcheckoff.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jason Menke  Director, Consumer PR

jmenke@pork.org

515-223-2629

National Pork Board Logo

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-pork-board-names-first-chief-sustainability-officer-301792589.html

SOURCE National Pork Board
Robert Half research reveals hiring bright spots and what first-time job seekers can expect

Career expert shares tips for those entering the workforce

TORONTO, April 10, 2023 /CNW/ - As graduation season approaches, what kind of job market will the Class of 2023 face? New research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half reveals five trends for university and college graduates planning to launch their career:

What First-Time Job Seekers Can Expect (CNW Group/Robert Half Canada)

1. Multiple interviews  Employers typically conduct about four interviews with an entry-level candidate before extending an offer. But the process moves fairly quickly, with companies taking five weeks on average to make a hire.

2. Questions that gauge soft skills  14 per cent of managers attribute their hiring mistakes to placing too much weight on technical skills. To avoid making the same misstep, employers are asking situational questions to learn more about a candidate's traits and interpersonal abilities, such as self-motivation and collaboration, which are especially critical in hybrid and remote work environments.

3. Preparation and follow-through  Beyond skills, managers said the following actions can tip the scales in an applicant's favour:

Researching the company (62 per cent)

Maintaining a respectable online presence (56 per cent)

Sending a thank-you note after an interview (51 per cent)

4. In-office time  While remote work gained prominence during the pandemic, just under a quarter of entry-level jobs (24 per cent) are advertised as hybrid or fully remote.

5. Hiring bright spots  Graduates can increase their chances of finding work by exploring industries and roles with the most jobs available, such as software developer, accountant, IT, public relations specialist, and HR specialist.

"The Class of 2023 has many exciting job opportunities awaiting them, though some companies are starting to take a more strategic approach to hiring. While there may be more competition, new job seekers can set themselves up for success by ensuring they are prepared, and understanding the work they need to put in to land the right job," said David King, Senior Managing Director, Robert Half, Canada and South America. "Targeting your job search, networking effectively, tailoring applications, and knowing how to answer common interview questions are crucial to navigating a job search and a rigorous hiring process."

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King offers three critical job search tips for new grads:

Pinpoint your priorities. Figure out what matters most to you in a job, so you can focus your search. Consider deal makers and breakers, and potential compromises. Request an in-person interview if the role requires in-office work. This will give you an opportunity to get a feel for the commute, company culture and your potential colleagues, which are critical to ensuring a good long-term fit. Prepare to negotiate. The job market continues to favour skilled workers. Ask for the salary you deserve and other non-monetary perks you value before accepting an offer.

Visit the Robert Half blog for tips on preparing for a job interview.

About the Research

Robert Half uses a proprietary methodology to analyze more than 32,600 entry-level positions posted on 300 independent job boards and company websites across Canada in 2022. Job roles included in this research span 75 categories within the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2018 Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) code system for the administrative and customer support, finance and accounting, human resources, legal, marketing and creative, and technology professions. Robert Half's analysis removes any repeat postings made within 30 days of the original posting.

An online survey developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm. It includes responses from 1,449 managers with hiring responsibilities at companies with 20 or more employees in Canada.

About Robert Half

Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm that connects people with meaningful work and provides companies with the talent and subject matter expertise they need to confidently compete and grow. Visit roberthalf.ca and download the company's award-winning mobile app.

SOURCE Robert Half Canada

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/10/c1029.html
Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Newborn Screening Market was valued USD 785.86 Million in the year 2022 and is anticipated to reach a value of USD 1433.19 Million by the year 2030. The Global Market is forecasted to grow to exhibit a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.80% over the forecast period.



Market Overview

Newborn screening is a process that involves testing newborn babies for certain genetic, metabolic, and infectious diseases shortly after birth. The aim of newborn screening is to identify these conditions early so that treatment can be initiated as soon as possible, which can improve the baby's health outcomes and quality of life.

The global newborn screening market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by various factors such as the increasing prevalence of genetic and metabolic disorders, advancements in screening technologies, rising awareness about the importance of early diagnosis, and government initiatives to implement newborn screening programs.

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Market Dynamics

Rising prevalence of congenital disorders

Increasing awareness about newborn screening

Technological advancements in screening methods



The rising prevalence of congenital disorders is a major driver of the newborn screening market. Congenital disorders are conditions that are present at birth. They can be caused by genetic, environmental, or other factors. Some of the most common congenital disorders include heart defects, Down syndrome, and cleft lip and palate.

The increasing awareness about newborn screening is another major driver of the market. Newborn screening is a process of testing newborns for certain genetic, metabolic, and endocrine disorders. The tests are performed shortly after birth, usually within 24 hours. The goal of newborn screening is to identify these disorders early so that treatment can be started as soon as possible.

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Technological advancements in screening methods are also driving the growth of the market. New technologies are being developed that allow for more accurate and efficient screening of newborns. These technologies include mass spectrometry, tandem mass spectrometry, and DNA sequencing.

Challenges, Opportunities, and Recommendations

Lack of awareness about newborn screening

High cost of screening

Limited availability of screening services



Lack of awareness about newborn screening is a major challenge in the market. Many parents are not aware that newborn screening is available or that it is important. This lack of awareness can lead to children not being screened for disorders that could be treated if they were detected early.

The high cost of screening is another challenge in the market. Newborn screening can be expensive, both for the parents and for the healthcare system. This high cost can limit the availability of screening services in some areas.

The limited availability of screening services is another challenge in the market. Not all hospitals and clinics offer newborn screening. This can make it difficult for parents to get their children screened.

Despite the challenges, there are a number of opportunities in the global newborn screening market. These opportunities include:

Expanding the list of disorders that are screened for

Developing new screening technologies

Increasing access to screening services



Expanding the list of disorders that are screened for is one opportunity in the market. Currently, only a limited number of disorders are screened for. Expanding the list of disorders that are screened for would allow for the early detection and treatment of more disorders.

Developing new screening technologies is another opportunity in the market. New technologies are being developed that allow for more accurate and efficient screening of newborns. These technologies could help to improve the quality of screening and reduce the cost of screening.

Increasing access to screening services is another opportunity in the market. Not all hospitals and clinics offer newborn screening. Increasing access to screening services would make it easier for parents to get their children screened.

The following are some recommendations for companies operating in the global newborn screening market:

Develop new screening technologies

Expand the list of disorders that are screened for

Increase access to screening services

Educate parents about newborn screening

Raise awareness about newborn screening



Top Players in the Global Newborn Screening Market

PerkinElmer (US)

Demant A/S (Denmark)

Natus Medical (US)

Bio-Rad Laboratories (US)

Danaher Corporation (US)

Medtronic (Ireland)

Chromsystems Instruments & Chemicals GmbH (Germany)

Trivitron Healthcare (India)

Baebies (US)

Recipe Chemicals+Instruments (Germany)

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Top Report Findings

Increasing prevalence of genetic and metabolic disorders: The prevalence of genetic and metabolic disorders among newborns is increasing worldwide, driving the demand for newborn screening. According to a report by the World Health Organization, more than 370,000 newborns are affected by congenital disorders globally each year, with up to 50% of these cases going undetected without proper screening.

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) dominates the market: Tandem mass spectrometry is the most widely used technology for newborn screening due to its high sensitivity and specificity in detecting a wide range of metabolic disorders. According to a report by Grand View Research, the MS/MS segment accounted for the largest market share in 2020, and is expected to continue to dominate the market in the coming years.

Hospitals are the largest end-users: Hospitals are the largest end-users of newborn screening products and services, accounting for the highest share of revenue in the market. This is due to the high volume of newborns screened in hospitals, as well as the availability of well-equipped laboratories and trained healthcare professionals.

North America dominates the market: North America is currently the largest market for newborn screening, with the US being the major contributor to the region's growth. This is due to the high prevalence of genetic and metabolic disorders, well-established healthcare infrastructure, and government initiatives to promote newborn screening programs.

Growing demand for non-invasive screening methods: Non-invasive screening methods, such as hearing screening tests and pulse oximetry, are gaining popularity in the market due to their ease of use and less invasive nature. According to a report by Persistence Market Research, the hearing screening segment is expected to witness the highest CAGR in the coming years, driven by the rising demand for non-invasive and accurate screening methods for hearing disorders in newborns.



Top Trends in Global Newborn Screening Market

Adoption of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies: NGS technologies are becoming increasingly popular for newborn screening as they enable the detection of a wider range of genetic disorders with high accuracy and efficiency. The use of NGS is expected to revolutionize the newborn screening market in the coming years.

Increasing use of digital health platforms: Digital health platforms are being adopted for newborn screening, diagnosis, and monitoring, as they provide easy access to medical data and enable remote consultations. The use of telemedicine and digital health platforms is expected to increase in the coming years, especially in rural and remote areas.

Focus on early detection of rare disorders: There is a growing focus on early detection of rare genetic disorders that are often missed in routine newborn screening. Advances in screening technologies, such as NGS and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), are enabling the early detection of these rare disorders.

Increased collaboration and partnerships: The newborn screening market is witnessing increased collaboration and partnerships between industry players, governments, and research institutions to improve screening technologies, expand screening programs, and promote awareness about newborn screening.

Emphasis on personalized medicine: Personalized medicine is gaining traction in the newborn screening market, as it enables customized treatment and management plans based on an individual's genetic makeup. Advances in genetic sequencing and bioinformatics are enabling the development of personalized medicine approaches for newborn screening.

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Regional Analysis

The global newborn screening market can be analyzed based on different regions, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Here's a brief overview of the newborn screening market in each region:

North America: North America is the largest market for newborn screening, driven by the high prevalence of genetic and metabolic disorders, well-established healthcare infrastructure, and government initiatives to promote newborn screening programs. The US is the major contributor to the region's growth.

Europe: Europe is a significant market for newborn screening, driven by the growing adoption of advanced screening technologies and government initiatives to expand screening programs. Countries such as the UK, France, and Germany are major contributors to the growth of the European market.

Asia Pacific: The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years, driven by the increasing awareness about newborn screening, growing healthcare infrastructure, and rising prevalence of genetic and metabolic disorders. China, India, and Japan are the major contributors to the growth of the Asia Pacific market.

Latin America: The Latin America market is expected to witness moderate growth, driven by the increasing adoption of advanced screening technologies and government initiatives to expand newborn screening programs. Brazil and Mexico are the major contributors to the growth of the Latin America market.

Middle East and Africa: The Middle East and Africa market is expected to witness steady growth, driven by the increasing adoption of newborn screening programs and rising awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the UAE are the major contributors to the growth of the Middle East and Africa market.



Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 143 Pages and in-depth TOC on Newborn Screening Market Forecast Report (2023-2030).

Global Newborn Screening Market Segmentation

By Product

Consumables

Instruments

Hearing Screening Instruments

Pulse Oximeters

By Test

Dry Blood Spot Tests

Hearing Screening Test

CCHD Screening Test



By Technology

Immune Assays & Enzymatic Assays

Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Molecular Assays

Hearing Screening Technologies

Pulse Oximetry

Other Technologies

By End User

Clinical Laboratories

Hospitals

By Region

North America United States Canada Mexico

Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea South-East Asia Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa GCC Countries South Africa Rest of MEA



Read Full Report with TOC @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/newborn-screening-market-1705

Scope of the Report:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 785.86 Million Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 1433.19 Million CAGR 7.80% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players PerkinElmer, Demant A/S, Natus Medical, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Danaher Corporation, Medtronic, Chromsystems Instruments & Chemicals GmbH, Trivitron Healthcare, Baebies, Recipe Chemicals+Instruments Customization Options If our report does not include the information you are searching for, you may contact us to have a report tailored to your specific business needs https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/newborn-screening-market-1705/request-sample



The key questions answered in the Newborn Screening Market Report are:

What are the current and future trends shaping the global newborn screening market?

What are the key drivers and challenges for the growth of the newborn screening market?

What are the different screening tests and technologies available for newborn screening?

Which regions and countries are expected to witness significant growth in the newborn screening market?

What are the major applications of newborn screening, and which disorders are commonly screened for?

What are the key market players operating in the newborn screening market, and what are their strategies for growth?

What are the regulatory frameworks and government initiatives supporting newborn screening programs?

What are the opportunities and challenges for the growth of the newborn screening market, and how can they be addressed?

What are the recent developments and innovations in the newborn screening market?

What is the current size of the global newborn screening market, and what is its potential for growth in the coming years?

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Vancouver --News Direct-- Nextech3D.AI

Nextech3D.AI (CSE:NTAR, OTCQX:NEXCF) CEO Evan Gappelberg joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with news that the company has entered into an arrangement agreement with its wholly-owned subsidiary Toggle3D and a special purpose financing company, 1400330 B.C. Ltd (FinanceCo) for the spin-out of Toggle3D to a SpinCo.

Gappelberg told Proactive that the spin-off of Toggle3D will give Nextech shareholders ownership in yet another exciting public company.

Toggle3D already has over 1,300 users on its AI-Powered 3D design studio, which leaves it well positioned for growth in the rapidly emerging 3D everything and everywhere world, the company said.

Contact Details

Proactive Investors Canada

+1 604-688-8158

na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/nextech3d-ai-announces-arrangement-agreement-as-it-moves-forward-with-spin-out-of-toggle3d-443391286
www.northpeakresources.com

TSX Venture: NPR

CALGARY, AB, April 10, 2023 /CNW/ - North Peak Resources Ltd. (TSXV: NPR) (the "Company" or "North Peak") announces execution of a non-binding letter of intent (the "LOI") dated March 8, 2023 with Solarljos LLC and Gullsil LLC of Nevada (the "Erickson Entities") for the acquisition of the Prospect Mountain Mine complex in the Eureka district of Nevada (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition involves the issuance of 8 million common shares of the Company in two phases - an initial tranche of 5 million shares to acquire an 80% interest in the property, and at the Company's discretion, an additional 3 million shares to acquire the remaining 20% interest. Described below are additional economic considerations to the Acquisition, which would be an arm's length transaction.

North Peak Resources Logo (CNW Group/North Peak Resources Ltd.)

"The dual gold and base metal geologic systems and historic mining at the Prospect Mountain Mine complex offers the possibility of finding the high-grade mineralization and reserves that would be required for profitable surface or underground mining given today's capex and opex costs," said Brian Hinchcliffe, North Peak's CEO. "As the long-time owners of Prospect Mountain through the Erickson Entities, Ty Erickson and Ari Erickson were seeking a group experienced in re-vitalizing former mining complexes with modern exploration and we look forward to executing precisely those programs in the exciting Eureka district."

The Prospect Mountain Mine complex is over 1,700 acres of high elevation lands with an underground infrastructure consisting of 4 shaft complexes and some 11 miles of tunnels where mining operations date back to 1872. The property's historic production areas sit on the western side of the Jackson fault and are approximately 3 km's south of the Ruby Hill Mine complex. Recorded historic production from the Prospect Ridge group of mines (which includes the Prospect Mountain Mine complex) through to 1956 was over 100,000 tons with some shipments averaging approximately 2.8 oz per ton gold, 56 oz per ton silver and 13% lead (source: The Eureka Mining District, Nevada, Geological Survey Professional Paper 406, 1962 by Thomas B. Nolan, page 68).

Story continues

The Acquisition

The LOI outlines how the Company and the Erickson Entities will work exclusively towards the execution of a binding, definitive agreement in respect of the Acquisition and sets out a strategy by which the Acquisition has been de-risked to the greatest extent possible for both parties, as it is proposed that both the Company and the Erickson Entities will have certain return and reversion rights (see below for further information).

The LOI gives the parties until June 6, 2023 to complete due diligence, determine the final structure of the Acquisition (based on advice from legal, tax and professional advisors and in accordance with applicable corporate, tax and securities laws) and to enter into a binding, definitive agreement.

It is proposed that the following consideration be paid by the Company in connection with the Acquisition:

8 million common shares of the Company issued to the Erickson Entities (the " Consideration Shares "), to be issued in two tranches;





cash payments of US$385,000 in total per year, for each of the first three (3) years following completion of the Acquisition;





the issuance of 340,000 common share purchase warrants to those persons designated by the Erickson Entities, which such warrants to be issued and priced in accordance with the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange; and





a 1% NSR royalty on production from the Prospect Mountain Mine complex.

The Erickson Entities will be entitled to nominate one director to the Board of Directors of the Company at the closing of the Acquisition.

It is also proposed that the Company undertake a commitment to use commercially reasonable efforts to complete a minimum three (3) year exploration program at the Prospect Mountain Mine complex where expenditures will total no less than US$1 million per year (the "Exploration Programs").

In addition, it is proposed that the Erickson Entities will have a right of reversion in the event the Exploration Programs are not completed within the agreed deadlines, which if exercised would result in the return of the Prospect Mountain Mine complex and related assets to the Erickson Entities, who would in turn return the Consideration Shares issued to that time, to the Company. Likewise, it is proposed that the Company would have the right to return its interest in the Prospect Mountain Mine complex to the Erickson Entities, with the Consideration Shares issued to that time being returned to the Company in such instance.

The structure of the Acquisition currently being contemplated is a joint venture structure where the Company acquires an initial 80% interest in the joint venture (and therefore the Prospect Mountain Mine complex) by issuing an initial tranche of 5 million Consideration Shares to the Erickson Entities and the Erickson Entities holding a carried 20% interest. In this structure, the Company would have three years to decide to acquire the carried 20% interest held by the Erickson Entities by issuing a second tranche of 3 million Consideration Shares to the Erickson Entities, the result of which being that 8 million Consideration Shares, in aggregate, will have been issued to the Erickson Entities pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition.

The Acquisition would be subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.

Mr. Mike Sutton, P.Geo., a director of the Company, is the Qualified Person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, who reviewed and approved scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. The Qualified Person has not reviewed the mineral tenure, nor independently verified the legal status and ownership of the Prospect Mountain Mine complex or any underlying property agreements.

Investors are cautioned that there can be no assurance that the parties to the LOI will come to agreement and execute a binding, definitive agreement or that the Acquisition will be completed as proposed, or at all. In addition, the Company can give no assurances at this time that the Prospect Mountain Mine complex will contain the high-grade mineralization and reserves that would be required for any profitable surface or underground mining or will fulfil the Company's business development goals described herein. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.

The Company will issue additional press releases related to execution of definitive documentation in respect of the Acquisition and other material information as it becomes available.

About North Peak

The Company is a Canadian based gold exploration and development company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NPR". The Company is focused on acquiring historic sites, with low cost producing gold and other metals properties, with near term production potential and 8+ year mine life in the northern hemisphere.

Website: www.northpeakresources.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to those that address the ability of the parties to the LOI come to definitive terms and negotiate and execution of definitive documentation in respect of the Acquisition, the structure of the Acquisition, the ability to receive applicable approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable governmental authorities for the Acquisition, the ability to complete the Exploration Programs as proposed and on the timelines suggested, estimates of mineralization from drilling and the potential for minerals and/or mineral resources and reserves, and regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Prospect Mountain Mine complex and the Company, including with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company that may be described herein. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, accuracy of assay results, geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services, future operating costs, and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the period ended September 30, 2022 available at www.sedar.com , many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE North Peak Resources Ltd.

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Norway - Natnan Srisuwan/Moment RF

A difficult choice has been made. Ive moved from Asker, Norway, to Lugano in Switzerland, Norways biggest taxpayer, and the largest shareholder of investment firm Aker ASA, Kjell Inge Rkke wrote to the rest of the board in an open letter last September.

Mr Rkke, an industrial tycoon with an estimated net worth of Nkr 19.6bn (1.5bn), is among 50 billionaires and millionaires to have left Norway over the past year as they were hit with higher rates of wealth tax.

Record numbers of the country's richest residents have fled since the Labour-centre coalition increased wealth tax rates by 0.1 percentage points, costing the government tens of millions in lost tax revenue. The 50 high earners, with a combined net worth of more than Nkr 40bn (3bn), make up more than the total number who have left the country for Switzerland since 2009, according to Norwegian newspaper Dagens Naeringsliv.

It is expected that even more wealthy Norwegians will leave because of the tax raid which kicked in last November.

The exodus from Norway, which is one of just four in the OECD to still impose a wealth tax, may be noticed by the Treasury as Labour discusses ways to make the rich pay more tax in the UK. Sir Keir Starmer is believed to be considering various forms of wealth taxation  including a capital gains tax raid and a removal of various tax-free exemptions for the rich, should Labour win the next election.

Norways wealth tax has long been a thorn in the side of the countrys super-rich. It is one of only a handful of OECD countries to impose a wealth tax on the global net worth of its citizens  defined as total assets minus total debt.

In 1990, 12 OECD countries, all in Europe, levied wealth taxes. However, most of them repealed these in the 1990s and 2000s due to growing fears that in a globalised world the wealthy would simply take their riches elsewhere. France was the last to scrap its wealth tax in 2017, after losing an estimated 60,000 millionaires between 2000 and 2016, according to research by intelligence firm New World Wealth.

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Now the only European countries to levy a wealth tax are Norway, Spain and Switzerland.

This is despite the fact that wealth taxes raise surprisingly little for the government. Only a tiny proportion of Norways tax take  about 1pc, according to the OECD  comes from wealth taxes. Dan Neidle of Tax Policy Associates, a non-profit, said: Norway is probably the developed country with the most significant wealth tax, but its still not very significant.

This is in part due to discounts that apply to primary residence and unlisted shares.

Mr Neidle said these rules have some weirdly distortive effects on behaviour. That creates an incentive to avoid listing your business, and put as much of your net worth into your house as possible. These are not great outcomes from a policy perspective.

Under Norway's tax policy, an individual with worldwide net wealth above Nkr 1.7m (130,000) is taxed at 1pc on everything above this threshold. Of this tax take, 0.3pc goes to the state and the remaining 0.7pc goes to the persons municipality. Those with over Nkr 20m (1.5m) pay a rate of 1.1pc. This extra 0.1pc goes to the state.

Mr Rkke did not give any financial reasons for the move, adding that although Lugano is neither the cheapest nor has the lowest taxes it is a great place with a central location in Europe.

Other wealthy individuals who have recently abandoned Norway include Tore Ivar Slettemoen, co-founder of battery company Feyr, and Ninja Tollefsen, daughter of property investor Ivar Tollefsen. Fredrik Haga, 31-year-old co-founder of cryptocurrency data business Dune, has also gone to Switzerland. Mr Haga, who has most of his wealth tied up in the rapidly growing company, told the Financial Times that he was worried his next tax bill would be several times his disposable income.

It may seem strange that so many Norwegians are moving to Switzerland, a country that has a wealth tax of its own. In fact, Switzerland makes even more from wealth taxes than Norway does  making up about 4pc of the total tax take. However, the country offers deals for foreigners that place it high on the list of wealthy individuals in search of a new home.

In certain Swiss cantons, a person who is living but not working in Switzerland can opt for a favourable lump-sum tax based on their expenditures and standard of living rather than their worldwide income and assets.

In a desperate attempt to stop high taxpayers leaving the country, Norway has said it is investigating the possibility of an exit tax where individuals are taxed on saved capital income the moment they move out of the country.

Its government has already taken a major step to stop its wealthiest individuals flowing out of the country when, last November, it repealed the five-year rule that meant wealthy Norwegians could sell their shares without paying tax on the gain if they had lived abroad for more than five years.

Norway has been led by a Labour-Centre coalition government since the parties won by a landslide in September 2021 bringing to an end eight years under its Conservative Party led by Erna Solberg.

The centre-left governments state budget last autumn, which raised wealth taxes, was welcomed by many in the left-leaning party. Jonas Gahr Stre, the prime minister, told his Labour Party members at their national meeting in September: Shifting power in society never happens without friction and some noise. A more fair tax system challenges those with means who dont want to contribute more to society. We have to be prepared for that.

The OECD has warned that wealth taxes have a negative impact on long-term growth, damaging entrepreneurship and risk-taking.

In Scotland there are mounting concerns that a 1 percentage point rise in the two top rates of income tax will lead to a brain drain across the border. This month, the higher rate of tax in Scotland has increased from 41pc to 42pc, while the additional rate has gone up from 46pc to 47pc. By comparison, the additional rate in England is 45pc.

Labour members have openly called on Sir Keir to impose some form of wealth tax. The Labour leader has denied he is planning to introduce such a policy, but he is nonetheless planning to target forms of wealth.

Sir Keir wants to remove private schools charitable status, meaning they lose their VAT exemption  a move that would cost families thousands of pounds a year in private school fees. According to investment firm Waverton, a family currently paying 31,310 a year to put two children through private school would see their bills go up by 6,262 annually if the VAT exemption was cut.

The party has also promised to remove the non-dom status which allows UK residents who live abroad not to pay UK tax on overseas income. It is thought Labour would significantly shorten the window down from 15 years, the current timeframe before the status expires. Tax experts have warned that slashing the status could drive the economic elite out of the country.

It is understood that Labour also wants to raise tax for second homeowners, by blocking them from a planned freeze on council tax and increasing capital gains tax rates in line with income tax rates.

Of the proposed wealth taxes in the UK, Mr Neidle said: We dont really know what the impact of these taxes would be. But if existing wealth taxes damage growth, then the proposals for more ambitious wealth taxes would presumably be more damaging.
TSXV: NOVR

OTCQB: NOVRF

(All dollar amounts are in United States Dollars unless otherwise indicated)

Nova Royalty Logo (CNW Group/Nova Royalty Corp.)

VANCOUVER, BC, April 10, 2023 /CNW/ - Nova Royalty Corp. ("Nova" or the "Company") (TSXV: NOVR) (OTCQB: NOVRF) is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated March 13, 2023, it has completed its acquisition (the "Transaction") of an additional 0.03% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty (the "Additional Royalty") on the Copper World Complex project ("Copper World") located in Arizona, USA, owned by Hudbay Minerals Inc. (TSX: HBM) (NYSE: HBM). Nova now holds a 0.165% NSR royalty on Copper World and retains a right of first refusal in respect to an additional 0.510% NSR royalty on Copper World.

The aggregate purchase price for the Transaction included upfront consideration of $340,000 in cash and $170,000 in common shares of Nova ("Consideration Shares"), of which Nova issued 161,307 Consideration Shares at C$1.4551 per Consideration Share, calculated based on the twenty-day volume weighted average trading price of the common shares of Nova up to and including March 10, 2022.

An additional $890,000 in cash will be payable as follows:

$150,000 in cash, payable 12 months after closing of the Transaction; and

$740,000 in cash, payable at the later of: (i) 12 months following the announcement of the commencement of production from the royalty area; and (ii) the receipt by Nova of the first three payments under the Additional Royalty.

Other terms of the Transaction were as disclosed in Nova's news release dated March 13, 2023.

Nova has also completed its previously announced drawdown (the "Drawdown") of an additional C$1.5 million (the "Drawdown Amount") under its existing amended and restated convertible loan facility with Beedie Capital (the "Beedie Capital Facility"). The Drawdown has increased the total amount drawn under the Beedie Capital Facility to C$9.5 million, with an additional C$15.5 million remaining available to the Company. The proceeds from the Drawdown will be used to fund royalty acquisitions and for general corporate purposes.

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The Drawdown Amount is convertible by Beedie Capital into 840,241 common shares of the Company at a conversion price of C$1.7852 per common share, which is based on a 20% premium above the 30-day volume-weighted average price of the common shares of Nova on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") calculated up to and including March 9, 2023, in accordance with the terms of the Beedie Capital Facility.

Update on CFO Transition

Further to the Company's news release dated February 23, 2023, the Company is pleased to announce that Hashim Ahmed has officially assumed the role of CFO of Nova, as of March 27, 2023.

Update on ATM Program

During the quarter ended March 31, 2023, Nova distributed 1,034,400 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") under its at-the-market equity program, at an average price of C$1.45 per Share, for gross proceeds of C$1,499,880. A cash commission of C$37,497 was paid to the agents, resulting in net proceeds of C$1,462,383. This distribution was completed in March 2023 and disclosed as part of the Company's financial update in its Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, filed on sedar.com on March 23, 2023.

About Nova

Nova Royalty Corp. is a copper-focused royalty company. Nova has assembled a portfolio of royalties on a significant proportion of the next generation of major copper projects located in 1st-tier jurisdictions, providing investors exposure to some of the most critical resource assets for the clean energy transition. These projects are being advanced by the world's premier mining companies, which include First Quantum, Lundin Mining, Hudbay, Anglo American and Glencore, among others. The Company is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "NOVR" and on the US OTCQB under the trading symbol "NOVRF".

On Behalf of Nova Royalty Corp.,



(signed) "Alex Tsukernik"

President and Chief Executive Officer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service 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 Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, the contingent payments with respect to the Transaction; future commercial production, recoveries and other anticipated or possible future developments on the Copper World project; the payment frequency of the Additional Royalty; the use of proceeds from the Drawdown. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of Nova to control or predict, that may cause Nova's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including, but not limited to, the risk factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated March 23, 2023 available for review on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

SOURCE Nova Royalty Corp.

Cision

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(Bloomberg) -- Omans Bank Dhofar SAOG plans to submit a non-binding bid to merge with smaller rival Ahli Bank SAOG in a deal that could create an entity with more than $19 billion in assets.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Any transaction will be subject to approval from regulators and the boards of both lenders, Bank Dhofar said in a statement late Monday, without giving further details.

Dhofar is Omans second-largest lender with $11.2 billion in assets. Its smaller rival, partly owned by Bahrains Ahli United Bank, has just under $8 billion in assets.

A merger between the two Muscat-based lenders would mark another step in the consolidation of the banking industry in Oman, where the government is reorganizing state entities to boost efficiency and returns. About 20 local, regional and international banks cater to a population of over 5 million.

HSBC Bank Oman is in the process of combining with Sohar International Bank and in 2020, Oman Arab Bank agreed to take over local competitor Alizz Islamic Bank.

Oman is reducing excess capacity in the banking sector in the quest for size, and efficiency, said Joice Mathew, head of equity research at United Securities in Muscat. Local banks have small size, and the competition is very stiff for both assets and liability products.

Shares in Bank Dhofar were up 3% on low volumes Tuesday in early trading.

Despite higher oil prices, which have improved Omans ability to support the banking sector, increased compliance costs with the implementation of new accounting standards and the rising cost of funding are compounding pressure on small- and medium-sized lenders to consolidate.

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Dhofar was previously in talks to merge with National Bank of Oman, a deal the lenders abandoned in 2019. Its stock has fallen 11% since the start of the year, valuing it at $1.21 billion. Ahli Bank shares have risen close to 2% in the same period, valuing the lender at $881 million.

Post-covid, Bank Dhofars NPL shot up, and cost of credit remained at elevated levels. However, Ahli Bank has a better asset quality and loan book structure, Mathew said. A combination should result in visible synergies sooner than later.

(Adds details throughout)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Viewing insider transactions for Tritech Group Limited's (Catalist:5G9 ) over the last year, we see that insiders were net buyers. This means that a larger number of shares were purchased by insiders in relation to shares sold.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for Tritech Group

Tritech Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The insider Sui Hee Lee made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for S$256k worth of shares at a price of S$0.032 each. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of S$0.022. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. It is encouraging to see an insider paid above the current price for shares, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. Sui Hee Lee was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months.

Sui Hee Lee bought a total of 13.00m shares over the year at an average price of S$0.029. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

Tritech Group is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Does Tritech Group Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 37% of Tritech Group shares, worth about S$9.7m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

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So What Does This Data Suggest About Tritech Group Insiders?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Tritech Group shares in the last quarter. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Insiders do have a stake in Tritech Group and their transactions don't cause us concern. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. You'd be interested to know, that we found 3 warning signs for Tritech Group and we suggest you have a look.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

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



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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CHICAGO, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Online Art Market size is valued at USD 14.38 Billion in 2022 and is projected to be USD 23.79 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2023 to 2030, as per a recent report published by Cognitive Market Research. The online art market in North America (especially in economies like the U.S.) held the largest market share. The high domestic demand for art in the U.S. is expected to drive the online art market in North America.

Cognitive Market Research Logo

Major findings during the study of the Online Art Market:

Online art refers to the trade of works of art, antiques, digital artworks, and collectibles that are frequently related to the arts and culture.

The conventional dominance of the physical gallery and museum system is avoided by online art. Artists working in this sector are sometimes referred to as net artists.

Based on the type segment, the online art market is categorized into paintings, drawings, sculptures, and others. Painting has been one of the most popular art forms for centuries due to its versatility and historical significance. In addition, paintings have traditionally been seen as valuable and highly prized works of art.

On the basis of the end-customer segment, the online art market is categorized into international and domestic customers. The international customer segment has acquired a significant share of the total online art market.

High domestic demand for art in the U.S. is expected to drive the online art market in North America. Increasing access to information and growing online sales and actions drive the growth of the North American online art market.

Read Full Market Analysis Online Art: by Type (Paintings, Drawings, Sculptures, and Others); by End Customer (Foreign customers and Domestic customers); by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East, and Africa) Global Industry Analysis, COVID-19 Impact, and Industry Forecast, 2018-2030

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Online Art Industry Statistics 2022:

Global Online Art Market 2022 Global Online Art Market Revenue (USD Billion) 14.38 Compound Annual Growth Rate (2023-2030) 6.5 %

What are the Growth, Drivers, and Opportunities for the Online Art Industry?

The rising disposable income in developing and developed countries drive the demand for smart devices such as tablets, smartphones etc. The increasing adoption of smart devices and internet penetration has significantly impacted on many industries, including the art market. People can access to different forms of art from various regions drive the online art market. With more people shopping online, the art market has seen an increase in sales through online channels. This has led to the growth of online art marketplaces and platforms, which have become an increasingly important sales channel for artists and galleries.

Online art marketplaces and platforms have made it easier for artists to reach a wider audience beyond their local or regional markets. This has also made it easier for collectors to discover and purchase art from artists worldwide. Due to internet accessibility, it is convenient and easy to access different art and make an online payment. Access to a broader audience can lead to increased sales and revenue, as artists can reach more potential buyers than ever before.

Shipping and handling challenges of different art forms, such as paintings, drawings, and sculptures, can hamper the growth of the online art market. For instance, many artworks are fragile or oversized, making them difficult to ship and handle. This increases the shipping cost due to the need for better packaging. Shipping artwork across international borders can be particularly challenging, as there are often strict regulations and customs requirements that must be followed.

Due to the rising disposable income and exposure to the art sector, there has been a growing awareness and appreciation for online art in emerging regions in recent years. The increasing availability and accessibility of technology has allowed artists from these regions to showcase their work to a global audience. Growing literacy rate of people in developing countries and increased recognition of the value of cultural diversity. It influences the interest in discovering new and unique artwork from different regions of the world, which provides immense opportunities for the online art market.

Check the Full Report, including Global, Regional, and Country Level Analysis:

https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com/online-art-market-report

Our Free Sample Report Includes:

2023 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

250+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research)

Chapter-wise guidance

Top Market Players list with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, Revenue Analysis, and SWOT Analysis

Free Analysis of One Leading Company with SWOT Analysis and Company Market Share

2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends

Updated list of tables & figures

Cognitive Market Research Methodology

How COVID-19 has Impacted the Online Art Industry?

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the overall art market, and the online art sector is one of the most affected due to the lockdown and closing of borders. The online art market has dropped enormously during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdown situation focused on the healthcare industry and economic uncertainty and these are the other factors responsible for the drop in the online art market. In addition, the pandemic has accelerated the online shopping trend, which has also impacted the art market. Many art lovers are comfortable buying art online.

Online Art Market Report Scope

Online Art Market  Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018  2030)

Paintings

Drawings and sculptures

Others

Online Art Market  End-customer Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018  2030)

Foreign customers

Domestic customers

Online Art Market  Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018  2030)

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Rest of Europe)

Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Southeast Asia, Rest of APAC)

Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Rest of Latin America)

Middle East & Africa (GCC, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Rest of MEA)

List of Key Players in the Online Art Market

FineArtAmerica.com

Artspace LLC

Saatchi Art

Artfinder, Artsy

The Artling

Atticart Ltd

KAZoART

Rhythm Art

Eikowa

Archer Art

Others

Recent Developments;

Company Name Date Development/News Swiss Arts Council November 3, 2022 Arts at CERN and Pro Helvetia launch an open call for Connect India

Related Reports on Online Art Market:

Global Art Market was valued at USD 65.0 Billion in 2021.

The global art market was valued at USD 65.0 Billion in 2021. Art plays an important role in reflecting and shaping culture, and as such, it continues to be highly valued and appreciated. This drives the global art market.

Other Related Reports:

Global E-commerce Market to reach $110.51 Trillion by 2030, growing at an impressive CAGR of 25.2 %.

Global Art Supplies Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5 %.

Global Acrylic Paper Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.2%.

Explore Other Cognitive Market Research's Service & Software Industry Reports

About Cognitive Market Research

Cognitive Market Research has evolved as one of the leading market research and consulting firms providing services across multiple domains. Our team of researchers gathers and analyzes data about customers, competitors, distributors, and other market actors and forces operating across the value chain. As a market research company, we gather information about the target market and end-use industries to verify the complete journey of the product or service in the global market. It helps our readers understand the demand and viability of their product/service and how it might perform in the real world and help them to build business strategies accordingly.

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SOURCE Cognitive Market Research
For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in Orell Fussli AG (VTX:OFN), since the last five years saw the share price fall 34%.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

See our latest analysis for Orell Fussli

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

While the share price declined over five years, Orell Fussli actually managed to increase EPS by an average of 12% 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.

The most recent dividend was actually lower than it was in the past, so that may have sent the share price lower. On top of that, revenue has declined by 7.1% per year over the half decade; that could be a red flag for some investors.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

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. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Orell Fussli the TSR over the last 5 years was -17%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

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A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 7.7% in the twelve months, Orell Fussli shareholders did even worse, losing 11% (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 3% 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. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Orell Fussli better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Orell Fussli you should know about.

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 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.

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CHICAGO, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PadMounted Switchgear Market is projected to reach USD 7.1 billion in 2028 from USD 5.6 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 5.1% according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Pad-mounted switchgear systems provide easy access to cable connections and operating apparatus, while vault switchgear can be wall- or floor-mounted for underground installations with flexibility to the direction of incoming underground cable connections. Many countries adopt advanced underground distribution solutions to achieve highly reliable and safe power transmission.

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PadMounted Switchgear Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Size USD 7.1 billion in 2028 Growth Rate 5.1% of CAGR Largest Market Europe 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 By Type, By Standard, By Voltage, By Application Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Investments in upgrading and expanding power distribution infrastructure Key Market Drivers Increase in global energy consumption

Commercial segment is expected to result in the segment occupying the least market share of the padmounted switchgear

The commercial segment accounted for a share of 26.9% of the pad-mounted switchgear market in 2022. The commercial sector includes shopping malls, hotels, hospitals, data centers, government buildings, and airports. Uninterrupted delivery of power is very important in all commercial places. Any disruption or breakdown due to electrical accidents, such as short circuits or overloading, may damage substations or transmission lines, leading to huge losses due to increased non-productive time. The demand for pad-mounted switchgear systems in the commercial sector can be attributed to the increasing infrastructural developments and rising commercial construction projects. Pad-mounted switchgear systems are used in underground distribution systems to prevent blackouts due to natural calamities or emergencies, such as earthquakes and fires.

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IEEE standards are estimated to be the fastest growing market

Based on the end user segment of padmounted switchgear systems, the telecom & IT sector is estimated to be the fastest and largest growing market from 2020 to 2027. The IEEE C37.20.7 standard is for arc-resistant switchgear systems. This standard is categorized as Type 2B and Type 2C. The IEEE C37.20.7 defines Type 2B equipment as those in which arc events do not cause any holes in the freely accessible front, sides, and rear of the enclosure or the walls isolating the low-voltage control or instrument compartment. Alternatively, Type 2C testing specifies that arcing does not cause holes in the freely accessible front, sides, and rear of the enclosure or in the walls separating the compartment in which the arc is initiated from all adjacent compartments.

Europe likely to emerge as the largest PadMounted Switchgear Market

Europe accounted for a 34.1% share with a market size worth USD 1,814 million in 2022. The European pad-mounted switchgear market, by country, has been segmented into the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Rest of Europe. On July 14, 2021, the European Commission proposed the first part of its Fit for 55 package, aimed at reducing the EU2's carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. This target paves the way for achieving climate neutrality in the EU by 2050 by increasing renewable energy consumption. The European power generation, transmission, and distribution systems are comparatively mature. Therefore, the EU emphasizes upgrading its aging infrastructure, integrating renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, and building interconnections to enable more efficient power and energy trading. This would also require the replacement of the pad-mounted switchgear systems. According to the European Commission, expanding, replacing, and refurbishing the power grid to integrate renewable energy production necessary for reaching the 55% emission reduction target by 2030 would require annual investments of more than USD 61 billion. This presents a lucrative opportunity for the growth of the pad-mounted switchgear market in the region. ABB (Switzerland), and Eaton (Ireland), are the key players in the European PadMounted Switchgear Market.

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PadMounted Switchgear Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Increase in global energy consumption Requirement for improved grid infrastructure Installation of underground distribution systems to reduce energy losses and enhance safety

Restraints:

High capital investment required for installation and maintenance Technical complexities involved in safe operations of pad-mounted switchgear systems

Opportunities:

Investments in upgrading and expanding power distribution infrastructure Focus of governments worldwide on reducing AT&C losses and automating distribution networks

Challenges:

High competition from unorganized sector and strict government regulations prohibiting use of SF6 switchgear Installation challenges witnessed by unorganized geographies

Key Market Players:

The overall key players in the PadMounted Switchgear Market are Eaton (Ireland), Hubbell (US), ABB (Switzerland), G&W Electric (US), S&C Electric (US), Powell (US), Federal Pacific (US), Entec Electric & Electronic (South Korea), NOJA Power (Australia), TIEPCO (Saudi Arabia), Ghorit Electricals (China), Ningbo Tianan Group (China), Trayer Switchgear (US), KDM Steel (China), Switchgear Power Systems (US), Park Detroit and Park Electric (US), Beijing Kylin Power & Technology (China), Telawne Power Equipments Pvt. Ltd. (India), Ormazabal (Brazil), and Actom (Boksburg).

Recent Developments

In Jan 2023, Eaton collaborated with Rewiring America to help drive residential electrification education, awareness, and action.

In Mar 2023, S&C Electric company, a leader in smart and resilient electrical grid solutions, announced the expansion of its US manufacturing footprint with a 275,000-square-foot facility in Palatine, Illinois, approximately 25 miles from S&C's 47-acre Chicago headquarters and manufacturing campus in Rogers Park. The company employs 3,500 team members globally and more than 2,000 in Chicago, making it the second-largest manufacturer in the city.

In January 2021, ABB completed the delivery of medium- and low-voltage digital solutions for the Shanghai Bailonggang Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion project in China. ABB also created a custom power management scheme as part of the project to ensure continuous operations and avoid downtime throughout the facility refurbishment.

In August 2022, G&W Electric announced the acquisition of Veneta Isolatori SPA, a leading manufacturer and provider of a wide range of components, to quickly respond to customers' requests and needs in the market.

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Browse Adjacent Markets: Energy and Power Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Switchgear Market - Global Forecast to 2027

Switchgear Monitoring System Market - Global Forecast to 2025

Gas Insulated Switchgear 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.

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MarketsandMarkets INC.

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Par Pacific Holdings, Inc.

HOUSTON, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PARR) (Par Pacific) today announced that it will release its first quarter 2023 results after the New York Stock Exchange closes on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. This release will be followed by a conference call for investors on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern). The full text of the release will be available on Par Pacifics website at http://www.parpacific.com.



Par Pacific First Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call

Thursday, May 4, 2023

9:00 a.m. Central time (10:00 a.m. Eastern)

Dial-in number: 1-833-974-2377 (toll-free) or 1-412-317-5782 (toll)

Individuals who would like to participate should dial the applicable dial-in number at least 10 minutes before the scheduled conference call time.

To access the live audio webcast and related presentation materials, please visit the Investors section of Par Pacific's website at http://www.parpacific.com.

A replay will be available shortly after the call and can be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (toll-free) or 1-412-317-0088 (toll). The passcode for the replay is 8062142. The replay will be available until May 18, 2023.

About Par Pacific

Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PARR), headquartered in Houston, Texas, owns and operates market-leading energy, infrastructure and retail businesses. Par Pacific's strategy is to acquire and develop businesses in logistically complex, niche markets. Par Pacific owns and operates one of the largest energy networks in Hawaii with 94,000 bpd of operating refining capacity, a logistics system supplying the major islands of the state and 90 retail locations. In the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies, Par Pacific owns and operates 61,000 bpd of combined refining capacity, related multimodal logistics systems and 31 retail locations. Par Pacific also owns 46% of Laramie Energy, LLC, a natural gas production company with operations and assets concentrated in Western Colorado.

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Investor Contact:

Ashimi Patel

Director, Investor Relations

(832) 916-3355

apatel@parpacific.com




SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

SkyQuest's Cell Culture Media 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 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The market for Cell Culture Media is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% during the forecast period (2022-2030) and is expected to reach USD 14.96 billion by 2030. The market growth is fueled by a rise in demand for biopharmaceuticals, increasing investments in research and development, technological advancements, a growing awareness of cell-based therapy, and an increasing demand for personalized medicine. SkyQuest reports that the global biopharmaceutical market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.7% and reach USD 485 billion by 2025. Additionally, 68% of experts attribute the rising adoption of cell-based assays in drug discovery and research as a driver for the cell culture media market .

SkyQuest's latest research findings suggest that the global monoclonal antibodies market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 13.5% and reach USD 262.5 billion by 2027, mainly due to the increasing demand for biopharmaceuticals and the development of advanced technologies for cell culture. Finally, reports indicate that 45% of experts consider the increasing demand for biologics and biosimilars as the primary driver for the cell culture media market.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Cell Culture Media Market.

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The significance of the cell culture media market lies in its provision of essential nutrients, growth factors, and other components crucial for cell growth and maintenance in diverse applications, including drug discovery, biopharmaceutical production, and tissue engineering. Rising biopharmaceutical demands and the emergence of advanced cell culture technologies spur this market's expansion.

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Prominent Players in Cell Culture Media Market

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Merck KGaA (MilliporeSigma)

GE Healthcare

Lonza Group

Corning Incorporated

BD Biosciences

HiMedia Laboratories

Irvine Scientific

Takara Bio Inc.

PromoCell GmbH

CellGenix GmbH

Serum Institute of India

Sartorius AG

Fujifilm Holdings Corporation

Essen BioScience

InVitria

Biowest SAS

Bio-Techne Corporation

Agilent Technologies

American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/cell-culture-media-market

Biopharmaceutical Production Segment to Drive Higher Sales due to the Rising demand for Biologics and Biosimilar, Single-use Technology, Regulatory Approvals

A recent analysis indicates that the Biopharmaceutical Production segment significantly contributed to the rapid development of the Cell Culture Media market in 2021, and this trend is expected to continue from 2022 to 2030. The demand for biologics and biosimilars, Single-use technology, and regulatory approvals drive this trend. The productivity of biopharmaceutical production has increased due to the use of advanced cell cultures technologies, such as perfusion and fed-batch processes. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization reports that over the past few decades, technological advancements have increased biopharmaceutical production's average yields by more than 100-fold. Additionally, according to SkyQuest reports, 94.7% of biopharmaceutical manufacturers are investing in advanced cell culture technologies to enhance productivity and reduce costs. The survey notes that the use of these technologies has led to a reduction in production costs by up to 30%.

According to research analysis, North America is expected to become a dominant player in the Cell Culture Media market from 2022 to 2030, with a projected growth rate of 9.82% during the forecast period, as reported by SkyQuest. The presence of many biopharmaceutical companies, well-established research infrastructure, and increasing demand for personalized medicine in the region drives this expansion. Recently, Catalent announced the expansion of its cell and gene therapy manufacturing facility in Maryland, which includes producing cell culture media and other critical raw materials, further contributing to the market growth in North America.

Reagents and Media Product Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth Due to Demand for Lightweight and Advanced Wheels and Brakes Systems

The Reagents and Media Product segment has emerged as the dominant method in the Cell Culture Media market in 2021 and is expected to retain its lead from 2022 to 2030, driven by the increasing demand for biologics and biosimilars, the growth of the biopharmaceutical industry, and the development of advanced cell culture technologies. SkyQuest reports that the reagents and media product segment also benefits from the growing demand for automation and high-throughput screening in drug discovery. The global high-throughput screening market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period due to the increasing demand for automated systems and the development of novel screening technologies.

The Asia Pacific region has emerged as a significant force in the Cell Culture Media market and is expected to retain its leading position by 2030, as forecasted by SkyQuest, with a projected CAGR of 12.97% during the forecast period. This expansion can be attributed to the growing number of pharmaceutical companies and increasing investment in regional research and development.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Cell Culture Media 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.

Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements:

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Key Developments in Cell Culture Media Market

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. has announced a collaboration with JSR Corporation to expand its biopharmaceutical culture media business globally. Under this collaboration, Ajinomoto Co. will add new high-performance media developed by JSR to its product lineup, with sales scheduled to start in December 2022. Ajinomoto Genexine Corporation, a subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co., will be responsible for implementing this collaboration.

Asymmetrex, a stem cell biotechnology company, has launched a campaign to introduce its new online calculators for counting therapeutic tissue stem cells to cell culture core facilities at top research universities. As part of this campaign, Asymmetrex President and CEO, James L. Sherley M.D., Ph.D. will introduce the calculators to the Cell Culture Core Facility users at UMass Amherst on September 20. Research core facilities, comprising directors and technical staff, play a significant role in advancing the quality of biomedical research in the US.

Key Questions Answered in Cell Culture Media 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

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SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally.

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MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd.

Chicago, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing 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 Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing products and services.

Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $120.6 billion in 2021 and is poised to reach $171.3 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7.3% from 2021 to 2026 according to a latest report published by MarketsandMarkets. Market growth is driven mainly by factors such as rising demand for generics, increasing investments in pharmaceutical R&D, and investments in advanced manufacturing technologies by CDMOs. The increasing demand for biological therapies, growing focus on specialty medicines, growth in the nuclear medicines sector, and advancements in cell and gene therapies are also expected to offer market growth opportunities in the coming years.

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Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2021 $120.6 billion Estimated Value by 2026 $171.3 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% Market Size Available for 20192026 Forecast Period 20212026 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Service, 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 Growing demand for cell and gene therapies Key Market Drivers Patent expiry and increasing demand for generic drugs

On the basis of service, the pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing market is broadly segmented into pharmaceutical manufacturing, biologics manufacturing, and drug development services. In 2020, the pharmaceutical manufacturing services segment accounted for the largest share of the pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing market. The large share of this segment can be attributed to the limited finances of pharma manufacturers, capacity constraints, need for reductions in the time-to-market, complex manufacturing requirements, large investments required for establishing manufacturing facilities, and the growing pipeline, all of which have prompted the shift toward pharmaceutical contract manufacturing.

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Based on end users, the pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing market is segmented into big pharmaceutical companies, small & medium-sized pharmaceutical companies, generic pharmaceutical companies, and other end users. In 2020, big pharmaceutical companies accounted for the largest share of the pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing market, and this trend is expected to continue during the forecast period. The large share of this end-user segment can be attributed to factors such as the high demand for end-to-end services in big pharmaceutical companies, rising pricing pressure and pipeline challenges in their operations (resulting in a shift toward contract development and manufacturing), and the growing need to streamline execution costs as a result of the patent expiry of blockbuster drugs.

The Asia Pacific region is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR in the pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing market during the forecast period, this is mainly due to factors such as growth in the manufacturing sector, favorable government regulations, growing strategic expansions from leading companies, increasing emphasis on off-patent drugs, and the presence of a highly skilled workforce.

Key Market Players:

Some of the prominent players in the pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing market include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), Catalent, Inc. (US), Lonza Group Ltd. (Switzerland), Recipharm AB (Sweden), AbbVie Inc. (US), Aenova Group (Germany), Almac Group (UK), Siegfried Holding AG (Switzerland).

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Hypothetic Challenges of Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market in Near Future:

Increasing costs of production technologies: As the demand for pharmaceutical contract manufacturing increases, so do the costs of the technologies and equipment needed to produce those drugs. Companies must find ways to reduce production costs while still meeting quality standards.

Compliance with regulatory guidelines: Pharmaceutical contract manufacturers must comply with a variety of global regulatory guidelines, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Health Canadas Pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practices (PGMP). Keeping up with these regulations can be costly and time-consuming.

Intellectual property protection: As pharmaceuticals become more complex and valuable, companies must ensure their intellectual property is adequately protected. This can be challenging for contract manufacturers, who must maintain the confidentiality of client information.

Data security: Contract manufacturers must ensure that the data they collect is stored securely and protected from cyber attacks. Companies must invest in the latest security measures to ensure that their clients information is not compromised.

Quality control: Quality control is essential for pharmaceutical contract manufacturing, as any mistakes can be costly and dangerous. Companies must ensure that their processes and procedures are up to date and that they have the right equipment and personnel to monitor quality.

Top 3 Use Cases of Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market:

Batch Manufacturing: Batch manufacturing involves the production of large volumes of pharmaceutical products such as pills, capsules, syrups, tablets, liquids and creams. This is one of the most widely used contract manufacturing services in the pharmaceutical industry, as it helps to reduce the cost of production and improve the quality of products.

Packaging Services: Packaging services are another important use case of pharmaceutical contract manufacturing. This involves the filling, labeling, and packaging of pharmaceutical products by third-party manufacturers. This helps to reduce the time and cost associated with the packaging process, while ensuring the safety and quality of products.

Clinical Trial Support: Clinical trial support is another key use case of pharmaceutical contract manufacturing. This includes the supply of materials for clinical trials, as well as the management and monitoring of the entire process. The support provided by contract manufacturers helps to reduce the cost and time associated with clinical trials, while ensuring the safety and efficacy of products.

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Recent Developments:

In 2021, Samsung BioLogics (South Korea) entered into a Development and Manufacturing Agreement with Kineta (US) for Anti-VISTA Antibody Immunotherapy

In 2021, Lonza Group (Switzerland) entered into an agreement with Aruvant Science (US) to carry out process development (one-time investigational gene therapyARU-1801) for sickle-cell treatment in the US

In 2020, Catalent (US) acquired Skeletal Theray Support (Belgium). Under this acquisition, Catalent manufactured clinical material for Bone Therapeutics drug, ALLOB, an allogeneic osteoblastic cell therapy product

In 2020, Recipharm AB (Sweden) acquired Consort Medical (UK) Bespak division dealing with inhalation and other devices

Related Reports:

CRO Services Market

Bioanalytical Testing Services Market

Clinical Trial Supplies Market

Peptide Synthesis Market

Bioprocess Validation 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.Us

According to Market.us, The global Pharmacy market growth is driven by increasing aging population, healthcare expenditure and prevalence of chronic diseases.

New York, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Market.us, the global pharmacy market generated a value of USD 1,108 Billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach 1,750 Billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 4.8% from 2022 to 2032. Market growth has been positively affected by the rapid upgradation of existing pharmacies and their expansion to increase market penetration.

Global-Pharmacy-Market

To get additional highlights on major revenue-generating segments, Request a global pharmacy market sample report at https://market.us/report/pharmacy-market/request-sample/

Key Takeaway:

By product type , the OTC segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period because of the rising demand for OTC medications for diseases like flu, cough, and cold.

By pharmacy type, the retail pharmacy segment dominated the market with a 57% share in 2022 because of the rise in independent pharmacies.

By Distribution Channel, the hospital segment dominated the market due to increased hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 52.2%.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2023-2032 due to the rapid growth in the pharmaceutical industry in the region.

Hospital and retail pharmacies are accepting many automation devices in order to improve patient safety and provide fast and accurate patient services. Automation systems are used extensively in automated prescription pick-up, automated pill counting, e-prescribing bar code verification, point-of-sale programs, and interactive voice response systems.

Factors affecting the growth of the pharmacy industry?

Several factors can affect the growth of the pharmacy industry. Some of these factors include:

Increasing geriatric population: Aging increases the possibility of disorders like congestive heart failure, immune deficiencies, and autoimmune diseases.

Rising chronic diseases: The increasing cases of chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, etc., are increasing the patient population.

Increasing healthcare expenditure: The increasing per capita healthcare expenditure in developing and developed countries is positively affecting market growth.

Growing awareness about diseases: The increasing awareness about infectious diseases and chronic conditions is affecting the market growth positively.

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To understand how our global pharmacy market report can bring a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://market.us/report/pharmacy-market/#inquiry

Top Trends in Global Pharmacy Market

COVID-19 regulations, which include quarantine, social distancing, and the fear of becoming infected, influenced the development of the pharmaceuticals market, which led to an increase in the adherence to centralized clinical trials. These factors affected clinical trials' effectiveness, productivity, and results. It increased demand for decentralized clinical trial processes, patient selection, enrolling to study the trial results, and enrollment.

The rising demand led to an increase in the adoption of AI-driven patient care models in pharmaceutical companies. In addition, AI-driven patient care models enable automated clinical trials.

Market Growth

The major factors driving the growth of the global pharmacy market are the increasing incidence of diseases. The increasing geriatric population, which is more prone to diseases and disorders, will affect the market positively.

Increasing awareness for diagnosis and treatment, reimbursement policies, and adherence to medication are the factors driving the market growth.

Regional Analysis

North America accounted for 52.2% of the total revenue share in 2022, which was the highest among all other regions. Most of the major players are from North America, like Walgreens Boots Alliance Healthcare Business, CVS Health Corporation, United Health Group, Rite Aid Corp, and Cigna.

The market's growth is also due to the increasing aging population. According to the US Census Bureau's June 2020 report, the number of people over 65 increased by 34.2% from 2010-2019. Because of this, the possibility of disorders like congestive heart failure, immune deficiencies, and autoimmune diseases has increased.

Market growth potential is driven by the rapidly increasing demand for OTC and prescription drugs. APAC is expected to be the fastest-growing market over the forecast period. The market is driven by the rapid growth of the Indian and Chinese pharmaceutical industries and generic medicines. The market may also be affected by the growing older population of Asian countries, such as Japan.

Competitive Landscape

Growth strategies and a solid product portfolio are key factors in strengthening the market position of Key players. Major players are focused on increasing their research and developing novel therapies to meet patient demand. There will also be an increase in revenue growth through increased collaborations and other factors, such as the acquisition of players to expand their portfolio. Different organizations ran different diabetes programs to raise awareness about diabetes and the medicines that are available.

There are many retail pharmacies, digital pharmacies, and medical stores that are available. Some of the key players in the market growth include Medly Pharmacy and Mortar Pharmacies, as well as Lloyd Pharmacy, Lloyd Pharmacy, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, and Amazon Pharmacy.

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Scope of the Report

Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 1,108 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 1,750 Billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 4.8% North America Revenue Share 52.2% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032

Market Drivers

Patient numbers in the healthcare system have increased due to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes. The rising number of geriatric patients also increases age-related conditions like congestive heart disease, cardiovascular disorders, rheumatoid, and immune deficiencies.

The number of people suffering from chronic and infectious diseases is increasing, so the demand for personalized treatments, vaccines, and drugs is rising. In addition, the number of patients receiving treatment is also increasing due to rising per capita healthcare spending in developed and emerging countries.

Market Restraints

Before making vaccines or drugs available, they are rigorously tested for safety and efficacy through clinical trials. Clinical trials on a limited number of candidates are conducted briefly. Often, specific side effects are observed in patients at the initial trial stage due to age and immunological factors.

Market players are also affected by mislabeling, poor production, and potential contaminants. As a result, the drug was pulled from the market. It can affect their sales, reputation, customer relationships, and sales.

Grow your profit margin with Market.us - Purchase Pharmacy Premium Market Report at https://market.us/purchase-report/?report_id=95930

Report Segmentation of the Pharmacy Market

Product Type Insight

In 2022, the prescription segment was responsible for the largest revenue share. Prescription medication demand is driven by the increasing aging population and stress from chronic diseases, which leads to segment growth. International Diabetes Association reports that 463 million people had diabetes in 2019. According to the American Heart Association reports, 126.6 million Americans died from cardiovascular disease between 2015 and 2018. The growth of this segment is due to a growing demand for prescription drugs that treat diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disorders, blood disorders, and oncology.

Also, the OTC segment is expected to experience the highest CAGR over the forecast period. The growing demand for OTC medication for diseases such as colds, flu, and cough drives this segment.

Pharmacy Insight

The largest revenue share was earned by the retail pharmacy segment in 2022. The retail pharmacy segment is driven by the increase in independent pharmacies and chain pharmacies and the availability of medications in mass retailers and supermarkets in countries such as the US and the UK. The segment is also growing because of automation technologies like dispensing, packaging, and robots.

Many pharmacies saw an increase in revenue during the Covid-19 pandemic. Boots UK saw an increase in online sales by approximately 105% after a lockdown. According to CVS Health Corporation, there has been a 50% increase in digital refills for specialty products via apps. E-pharmacies offer many benefits, such as free shipping, confidentiality, discounts, and a wide range of offers. The segment is also growing due to the increasing use of digital technology in the healthcare industry, increased penetration of smartphones, and retailers opening online channels. The responsibility to ensure customer satisfaction increases with increasing customer volumes. During the pandemic, key pharmacies focused on providing medication, vaccines, and COVID-19 kits, which helped the market to grow positively.

Application Insight

Due to increasing patient visits to manage their diseases, the hospital pharmacy segment holds the largest market share. The segmental growth was also due to increased hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This included an increase in ICU visits and Emergency departments.

For more insights on the historical and Forecast pharmacy market data from 2016 to 2032 - download a sample report at https://market.us/report/pharmacy-market/request-sample/

Market Segmentation

Based on Product Type

Prescription

OTC

Based on Pharmacy Type

Retail

ePharmacy

Based on Distribution Channel

Hospital Pharmacies

Retail Pharmacies

Online Pharmacies

By Geography

North America The US Canada Mexico



Western Europe Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe

Eastern Europe Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe

APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC

Latin America Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Costa Rica Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA



Key Market Players

Recent Development of the Pharmacy Market

Merck CO., Inc. was approved by the USFDA in June 2022 for the VAXNEUVANCE vaccine. This vaccine is used to treat invasive pneumococcal diseases in infants and children.

May 2022, GGK plc. Acquired Affinivax, Inc. It is a biopharmaceutical company in the clinical stage. The company acquired Affinivax, Inc. to expand its vaccines R&D pipeline and geographic footprint in Boston.

Johnson & Johnson Services received the European Commission (EC) approval of CARVYKTI in May 2022.

Hoffman-Ltd. was approved by the USFDA in January 2022 to treat diabetic Macular Edema. In June 2022, Wuxi Biologics established the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) operation at its Wuxi, China facility for the new drug product DP5. The facility will offer a variety of volume delivery options through its Pre-filled Syringes (PFS) unit.

Browse More Related Reports:

ePharmacy market is projected to achieve a valuation of USD 2,07,117.88 Mn by 2032 at a CAGR of 16.2%, from USD 46,148.37 Mn in 2022.

Pharmacy Retailing Market was valued at USD 1038.6 Bn in 2022 and is projected to increase significantly USD 1499.8 Bn in 2032 at a CAGR of 5.8%

Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Market was valued at USD 5.6 billion in 2021. It is expected to reach USD 7.75 billion by 2032.

Mobile Hospitals Market is projected to reach a valuation of USD 786,620 Mn by 2032 at a CAGR of 22.3%, from USD 859,20 Mn in 2021.

Hospital Linen Supply and Management Services market were worth USD 12,208 million in 2021 and estimated CAGR rate of 9.2% between 2023-2032.

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LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / Planet 13 Holdings Inc. (CSE:PLTH)(OTCQB:PLNHF) ("Planet 13" or the "Company") today remembers Board member Mike Harman, who passed away on April 6, 2023 at the age of 50. The Company extends its sincere condolences to his wife Jeanette and his entire family. He is remembered as a dear friend, admired colleague, devoted husband and father.

Mr. Harman served on Planet 13's Board of Directors and as Chair of the Audit Committee since Planet 13 went public in June 2018. Mr. Harman was a valued board member who helped guide the Company through its go-public transaction, transition to U.S. GAAP and SEC filing. He was a friend and respected voice to everyone at Planet 13.

"Mike was a valuable and trusted voice within our organization and was by our side at every step of our evolution. We deeply appreciate Mike's numerous contributions and especially his friendship. We offer our deepest condolences to his wife and family. He will be dearly missed." said Bob Groesbeck and Larry Scheffler, Co-CEOs of Planet 13.

Bob Groesbeck has been appointed to the Audit Committee on an interim basis, and the Board plans to fill the vacant board position with an appointed independent director.

About Planet 13

Planet 13 (www.planet13holdings.com) is a vertically integrated cannabis company, with award-winning cultivation, production and dispensary operations in Las Vegas and in Orange County, California. Planet 13 also holds a medical marijuana treatment center license in Florida and a 49% interest in Planet 13 Illinois which holds a provisional Social-Equity Justice Involved dispensing license in the Chicago-region of Illinois. Planet 13's mission is to build a recognizable global brand known for world-class dispensary operations and a creator of innovative cannabis products. Planet 13's shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol PLTH and on the OTCQX under the symbol PLNHF.

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and are forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to filling a board vacancy.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as 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 materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: the ability to identify an appropriate candidate to fill the board vacancy, the ability to receive the necessary regulatory and other approvals needed to appoint a director to fill the vacancy and other risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and in the Company's periodic reports subsequently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and on SEDAR. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

The Company is indirectly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States through licensed subsidiary entities in states that have legalized cannabis operations, however, these activities are currently illegal under United States federal law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

For further inquiries, please contact:

LodeRock Advisors Inc., Planet 13 Investor Relations

mark.kuindersma@loderockadvisors.com

Robert Groesbeck or Larry Scheffler

Co-Chief Executive Officers

ir@planet13lasvegas.com

SOURCE: Planet 13 Holdings





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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of a new interview with Myriad Uranium discussing their latest news.

The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives.

Myriad Uranium (CSE:M) to benefit from Orano's in-situ recovery program

The Market Herald, Monday, April 10, 2023, Press release picture

In 2024, Orano will invest over C$115M in in-situ uranium recovery at its Imouraren Project in Niger's Tim Mersoi Basin. Imouraren is Africa's largest uranium deposit. The Arlit Fault, which hosts Imouraren and controls mineralization in Tim Mersoi, runs directly into Myriad's (M) 100-per-cent optioned Agebout licence. Management intends to explore for the licenses' potentially Athabasca-like high-grade uranium later this year. CEO Thomas Lamb spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.

For the full interview with Thomas Lamb and to learn about Myriad Uranium, click here.

Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald.

About The Market Herald

The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets.

DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada, will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies and do not provide nor claim to provide investment advice or recommendations to any visitor of this site or readers of any content on or originating from themarketherald.ca. Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell securities and/or commodities and/or commodity futures contracts in certain underlying companies mentioned in this site and which may also be clients of Market Herald's affiliates. In such instances, Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees will use all reasonable efforts to avoid engaging in activities that would lead to conflicts of interest and Market Herald and/or its affiliates will use all reasonable efforts to comply with conflicts of interest disclosures and regulations to minimize any conflict. All the information on this document and/or the website - themarketherald.ca - is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. Report Card does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this document and/or website (themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website. From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information.

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CONTACT:

The Market Herald

marketing@themarketherald.ca

themarketherald.ca

SOURCE: The Market Herald





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SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

SkyQuest's Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure market report is an excellent analysis for individuals interested in gaining insight into the X`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 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SkyQuest projects that the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure market will attain a value of USD 101.98 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 25.92% over the forecast (2022-2030). The global market for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure is expanding quickly, but China and the US are leading the way. The market for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure is one that is constantly changing and has a wide range of uses. Government initiatives in many different countries have a big impact on the growth of car charging stations. As an illustration, under national policies, the central government of China has approved the construction of fast-charging stations. Similar to China, the US government sets mandatory standards and allots money to help create EV charging stations. Users must rely completely on the charging choices available at their homes and places of employment because there are still not enough commercial charging stations in many countries and regions.

According to the SkyQuest's, Green energy is also anticipated to be crucial in domestic and public electric vehicle charging. Consumers of electric vehicles are extremely concerned about carbon dioxide emissions. To address these issues, manufacturers are quickly changing the charging technologies used in their electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This is one of the key factors that is anticipated to fuel the growth of the market for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure globally.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Market"

Pages - 243 Tables - 142 Figures  80

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The market penetration of EV charging equipment is noticeably higher in commercial spaces as compared to residential spaces. For long-distance trips, overnight charging at apartment buildings or individual residences is insufficient, thus efforts to improve the charging infrastructure in commercial places will be crucial in promoting the adoption of EVs.

Prominent Players in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Market

ABB

AeroVironment

Elektromotive

ChargePoint

Schneider Electric

Chargemaster

Eaton

Siemens

SemaConnect

ClipperCreek

Tesla Motors

Delphi Automotive

General Electric

Leviton Manufacturing

Tesla

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-market

Commercial Segment Is Growing in the Market Due to Increasing Adoption of Electric Vehicles by Fleet Operators and Ride-hailing Companies

The commercial segment accounted for an 90% revenue share in 2021. Although overnight charging or charging at home would not be sufficient for long-distance travel, the construction of supporting infrastructure in public locations is required due to initiatives and budget allocations by governments and automakers for extending public EVCI infrastructure. The growth is being further fueled by partnerships between a number of public transportation organizations for the construction of electric bus charging stations. For instance, TRAFIKSELSKABET MOVIA and Siemens signed a contract for the installation of top-down pantograph electric bus charging stations for use by the 45 municipalities, including the City of Copenhagen and Region Zealand, that operate electric buses.

The infrastructure for charging electric vehicles has grown significantly in North America in recent years. Over 110,000 public charging stations were present in North America as of 2020, with the bulk of these being in the United States, according to the International Energy Agency. Over the next few years, there will likely be a large increase in the number of DC charging stations built in the US. In the United States, there should be more home charging stations for electric automobiles.

DC fast-charging (DCFC) Segment Is Projected to Exhibit the Highest and Most Pronounced Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) In the Market Due to the Faster Charging Speed

The segment for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure is classified into slow and fast charger. Throughout the forecast period, it is anticipated that the DC fast-charging (DCFC) segment will exhibit the highest and most pronounced CAGR. The government's growing investments in infrastructure for fast charging, programmes like rebates on the purchase of DC fast charging stations, and the advantages of DCFCs in providing fast charging over Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations are all factors that have contributed to the segment's explosive growth.

China is the dominant country in the Asia-Pacific region. China has one of the most varied offers, in addition to having the largest Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure market and a less integrated automotive sector. China dominates the market for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure. The need for charging stations to support the nation's rapidly growing EV fleet has increased along with the country's EV sales and consumption. With 976,000 charging stations, China has the greatest EV charging infrastructure in the world. An average of 11,025 charging units are added each month. State Grid Corporation of China, Qindao Teld New Energy, Star Charge, and AnYo Charging are a few of the major Chinese businesses involved in the development and deployment of charging stations.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure 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.

Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements:

https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-market

Key Developments in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Market

In October 2022, Octopus Energy Generation made its initial investment in the UK EV charging network. On behalf of its Sky fund (ORI SCSp), it intends to invest up to GBP 110 million in Manchester-based Be. EV, an EV public charging network, in order to expand and set up new charge points around the United Kingdom. The arrangement helps to grow Be.150-strong EV's network of public charging stations, and Be.EV has committed to adding 1,000 more stations throughout the North of England and beyond.

In October 2022, the construction of the 580th public fast charging point, the Ather Grid, across 56 Indian cities was announced by Ather Energy. By the end of FY23, Ather Energy expects to have installed 820 more grids, bringing the total up to 1400 as the business increases its national reach. With 60% of the current installations in tier-II and tier-III cities, Ather Grids are strategically distributed throughout markets.

Key Questions Answered in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure 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 Fuel Rail Market

Global UTV (Utility Task Vehicles) Market

Asia Pacific Electric Vehicle Market

North America Electric Vehicle Market

Global Autonomous Outdoor Vehicles Market

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Questex LLC

Spatec North America Fall Edition Will Take Place in Florida in September, 2023

NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questexs Spatec North America Spring, the spa industrys leading one-to-one event, brought together 38 of North America's most prestigious owners and operators of major resort, hotel, destination, chain day spas, and design & management companies to meet with 38 key leading domestic and international suppliers, April 3-5 at the La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas.



Spatec is an unparalleled way to do business that adds a human element to sales conversations. The relaxed, luxurious, intimate setting provides the perfect backdrop to meet, engage and build relationships with unprecedented ease, effectiveness and speed, said Elizabeth Fantetti Trevorrow, Event and Partnership Director, Questex Beauty & Spa Group. I am so proud of the Spatec North America team for curating a diverse selection of supplier offerings to maximize the exposure and benefit to event buyers and we are grateful to our sponsors for helping us craft fun and memorable experiences.

The event was a major success, delivering on its promise to connect suppliers through nearly 800 one-to-one appointments with buyers they chose to meet with in advance via pre-selection criteria. In addition, carefully crafted themed nights complete with team building competitions and karaoke gave attendees the opportunity to network with everyone in attendance regardless of whether or not they had appointments booked.

I loved the new mix of vendors. But just as importantly, I met some spa owners from my area at dinner. One was talking about an operational problem and the others chimed in with solutions. Were going to continue the conversation at home. The ability to network and make new peer friends is invaluable, said Debra Myers, Director of Spa and Wellness, Mandarin Oriental.

La Cantera Resort & Spa was a beautiful property and the perfect backdrop to break down business barriers, adding an element of fun, blending professional networking with more personalized getting-to-know-each-other experiences, and the opportunity to indulge guests with well-appointed, luxury amenities.

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Spatec North America's Fall event will take place at the Eau Palm Beach in Manalapan, FL September 26-29, 2023. Suppliers interested in attending, click here. Buyers interested in attending, click here.

Learn more about Spatec North America at www.spatecna.com and stay connected on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

About Questex

Questex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy  connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.

Media Contact

Debbie Schmidle

Spa Marketing Manager

dschmidle@questex.com




LOS ANGELES, April 10, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Recently, one of the core activities of the World Film Industry Conference Macau Summit --the 2nd Aollywood Five Continents Film Festival, the Golden Jasmine Award Ceremony was held in Macau. In the Five Continents Film Unit, "All Quiet on the Western Front" won the Global Best Film, and Daniel Bruhl won the Best Global Actor with the film. Croatian actress Gracija Filipovic won the Best Global Actress for "Murina". Italian director Luca Guadagnino won Best Global Director for "Bones and All".

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230409005017/en/

"All Quiet on the Western Front" Won Two Awards in the 2nd Aollywood Five Continents Film Festival (Photo: Business Wire)

In the Chinese Film Unit, "Song of Spring" won Best Chinese Picture, Lina Yang won the Best Chinese Director for the film, Baoguo Chen won the Best Chinese Actor for "In Search of Lost Time", and Haocun Liu won the Best Chinese Actress for "Only Fools Rush In". Other major awards also went to their respective winners.

"All Quiet on the Western Front" Won Two Awards, Including Best Global Film

The 2nd Aollywood Five Continents Film Festival was chaired by the famous Macau Chinese filmmaker Haige Wang, with French filmmaker Frederic Gorchain, American actress Cristina Roquen, Hollywood director Dirk Russell, Australian film director Daniel Taplitz, Hollywood director Nicholas Meyer, Chinese actress HaiRong Tian and Chinese director Sherwood Hu as the jury members of the main competition, which selected new films that was released for the first time from January 1 to December 31, 2022 in various countries and regions around the world.

The evenings awards ceremony was starry. Marie Roland Alain Wong Yen Cheong, Ambassador of Mauritius to China; Deborah Gabinetti, President of the Bali International Film Festival; Joanne Goh, President of the Malaysian International Film Festival; Catherine Fitzgerald, President of the New Zealand International Film Festival; Catherine Fitzgerald, President of the New Zealand International Film Festival; Deanna Gao, President of the Paris Chinese Film Festival; H.E. Ambassador Baher Sheweikhi, Consul General of the Consulate General of Egypt in Hong Kong; Mr. Gonzalo Javier Sabate, Consul General of the Consulate General of Argentina in Hong Kong; Mr. Rodrigo Manuel Rocca de la Fuente, Vice-Consul of the Consulate General of Argentina in Hong Kong; Mr. Almas Seitakynov, Consul General of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong; Mr. Bilal Ahmad BUTT, Consul General of Pakistan in Hong Kong; Dr. Adebayo E. Adeyemi, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Hong Kong and Macau; Mr Chaturont CHAIYAKAM, Consul General of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Hong Kong; Mr. Rafael Custodio Marques, Consul General of Mozambique in Macau; Luc Bendza, Chief Representative of the African Film Institute in China; Mr. Johnny K.S. Lam, Vice Consul of the Dominican Republic in Hong Kong; Mr. Ivan Seixas, Consul General of Brazil in Hong Kong; Ms. Krisztina Dora Koletar, Trade Commissioner of Hungary in Hong Kong; You Ge, Baoguo Chen, Zhizhong Huang, Jinsong Wang, Shaohua Ma, Chenggong Zhang, Hanlin Gong, Siyuan Wu, Jun Wen, Bak-Ming Wong, Yufang Wu, Huimin Tao, Hairong Tian, Daniel Bruhl, Gracija Filipovic, Lina Yang, Ke Su, Ting Zhang, Yuzhu Yao, Taishen Cheng, Lei Feng, Ming Fan, Xi Sun, Xiru Fu and many other famous Chinese and foreign film and television workers attended the event. Dr. Yingwei Wang, President of Sands China Limited, Ting Zhu, President of the World Film Industry Conference, and Marie Roland Alain Wong Yen Cheong, Ambassador of Mauritius to China, addressed the audience on stage. Chairman Wang Haige of the World Film Industry Conference was unable to be present in person, so he made a special video speech. World Film Industry Conference Honorary Chairman Sunxi Yang, Hong Kong Federation of Journalists Council President Guoliang Zhang, Hong Kong Federation of Literary and Art Circles Executive Vice President and Hong Kong Art Association Chairman Tinhang Lam and other guests from all walks of life were also present to congratulate them. The award ceremony was hosted by Da Niu and Mi Li.

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In the Five Continents Film Unit, which has received the most attention from global film fans, "All Quiet on the Western Front", which received seven nominations, finally won the two awards of Best Global Picture and Best Global Actor. Daniel Marc Dreifuss, the films producer, happily thanked the organizing committee and the jury when he came on stage to receive the award. Daniel Bruhl, who won the Best Global Actor for the film, was busy with his work and the producer received the award on his behalf.

Croatian actress Gracija Filipovic, who won the Best Global Actress for "Murina", came to the venue to receive the award on that night, her slender and beautiful appearance attracted attention, and she excitedly received the trophy and expressed her gratitude to the jury.

Italian Director Won Best Global Director, Sho Miyake and others won Best Global Screenwriter

Italian director Luca Guadagnino won the Best Global Director for "Bones and All". As a hot work at last years festivals, "Bones and All" has already won numerous awards, with Luca Guadagnino winning the Silver Lion for Best Director at the 79th Venice Film Festival in 2022. His artistic expression in this romantic horror film has won many fans recognition, making it a well-deserved award.

In the race for the Best Global Screenwriter, "Small Slow But Steady", a Japanese film written by Sho Miyake and Masaaki Sakai, won the award for its extraordinary script and a touching story. Miyake also directed the film, which won first place at Japanese Film of the Year at the 65th Japan Film Blue Ribbon Awards. The young Japanese director and screenwriter, born in 1984, has become a shining star in the Japanese and international film industry.

In addition, Irish actor Kerry Condon won Best Global Supporting Actress for her outstanding performance in "The Banshees of Inisherin", and the Korean actor Yo-Han Byun won Best Global Supporting Actor for "Hansan: Rising Dragon". The other awards in the Five Continents Film category also went to their respective winners.

"Song of Spring" Won Two Awards In The Chinese Category, Baoguo Chen Won the Best Chinese Actor

As a global international film festival organized by the Aollywood Producers Association, the Aollywood Five Continents Film Festival has a special Chinese Film Unit, which is of great interest to Chinese film fans.

At the ceremony, the film "Song of Spring", which was directed by Lina Yang won the Best Picture and Best Director awards, making it the biggest winner in the Chinese Film Unit. She said happily in her speech, "I am very grateful to the judges for their encouragement and love for Song of Spring, I didnt think we would win Best Picture. Its a great honor for my colleagues and everyone in the cast and crew."

As a female director, Lina Yang called for "more opportunities for our actresses, not to play grandmothers at 40 or 50 years old, I always believe that they can shine at any time, and I think Ms. Wu Yanshu and Ms. Xi Meijuan have done just that!"

Baoguo Chen won the Best Actor for "In Search of Lost Time". Firstly he thanked the films producer Dong Yu and director Derek Tung-Shing Yee when he took to the stage to receive his award, "I admire that during the epidemic, Bona Film planned and financed such a film that shows the great love of the people in the world. I want to wish everyone with a dream of film the best of luck for their unselfish work".

The Aollywood Five Continents Film Festival is a global international film festival organized by the Aollywood Producers Association. The Golden Jasmine Awards, founded in 2022, is part of the World Film Industry Conference series of events. And it is open to films released in all countries and regions around the world, and aims to recognize outstanding films and filmmakers from around the world who have actively explored and innovated in the development of the art of films.

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NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recurrent announced today that it completed the sale of SAVEUR, the culinary and travel-focused media brand devoted to bringing global flavors of the world to home cooks everywhere. The acquiring party was longtime SAVEUR editor and current Editorial Director, Kat Craddock.

Recurrent Ventures (PRNewsfoto/Recurrent Ventures)

"I got into the restaurant industry and ultimately food journalism because I grew up reading and cooking from the pages of SAVEUR with my family. The brand has grown and evolved a lot since it was founded in the '90s, and it's still beloved by so many," said Craddock. "The last three years at Recurrent have put us in a really strong position to strike out on our own with a freshly redesigned website, technical support, and an all-star editorial team. SAVEUR was founded by editors, and this is an unprecedented opportunity to bring our legacy brand back into the hands of editors who love it. In the months ahead, I'm excited to lean back into SAVEUR's roots while continuing to explore new ways to reach the next generation of readers as well."

The sale was prompted by Craddock, who approached Recurrent's leadership about an acquisition earlier this year. As per the agreement, SAVEUR's nearly 30-year back catalog and digital assets are all being transferred to Craddock as Editor-in-Chief and CEO, effective immediately. A majority of SAVEUR's full-time staff will remain with the brand, and Craddock expects to create several new roles and to further expand the publication's vast international contributor list in the coming months. Read more from Craddock about the acquisition here.

"It is fantastic to see SAVEUR in the hands of a talented creative with such a strong personal connection and history to the brand," said Alex Vargas, Recurrent CEO. "When Kat approached us we weighed that heavily in our decision. I'm excited to see her and the team build on the foundation that we established while Recurrent moves forward with a more focused portfolio of market-leading brands in Home."

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Craddock has over twenty years of experience in food and food media. She initially joined SAVEUR's Test Kitchen in 2015 and worked her way up to Food Editor and Test Kitchen Director in 2019. She was promoted to Executive Editor in 2020 and Editorial Director in 2021. Prior to making the switch to editorial, she spent 15 years working as a bread baker, pastry chef, and cheesemonger in restaurants and specialty shops throughout New York City, Boston, and Chicago. Notably, she spent two years working for Thomas Keller at Per Se and Bouchon Bakery and four years for Andrew Carmellini at Lafayette Grand Cafe.

ABOUT SAVEUR

SAVEUR is the definitive go-to guide for passionate cooks and culinary explorers aiming to bring global flavors to every home kitchen. Since 1994, SAVEUR has celebrated the culture of food, drink, entertaining, and travel through stunning photography, deeply reported stories, and rigorously tested recipes that transport and inspire.

ABOUT RECURRENT

Recurrent is a digital media company whose content from trusted brands aims to foster generations of passionate audiences across enthusiast verticals. With social responsibility and sustainability at the center of its storytelling, Recurrent takes an innovative growth approach and creates content that is valuable to its readers, business partners, and the planet. Its titles such as Dwell, Popular Science, Donut Media, and Task & Purpose inspire and inform more than 65 million unique visitors each month.

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SOURCE Recurrent Ventures
Russian President Vladimir Putin rides a suburban train in Moscow, Russia, in November 2019. Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Economist Konstantin Sonin said the Russian economy has become more primitive since the war began, Russian news outlet Novaya Gazeta reported.

The economist, who Moscow placed on its wanted list, said Russia could follow the Soviet Union's path toward "complete economic implosion."

"Everything that is happening makes the Russian economy more primitive, more backwards."

Russia's economy is becoming increasingly primitive as its war in Ukraine drags on, and the repercussions could push it down the same path the Soviet Union endured three decades ago, according to the Russian economist and University of Chicago professor Konstantin Sonin.

Sonin, who Moscow targeted with a criminal case in last month, told Russian news outlet Novaya Gazeta Sunday that the West's sanctions so far have had "no influence" on the Russia economy. He said it's instead been Vladimir Putin's war efforts that have dragged on growth and fueled turmoil.

"Sanctions are a consequence of Russian planes bombing Ukrainian cities, Russian tanks crawling along Ukrainian roads, and Russian soldiers killing Ukrainians," he said. "Therefore, talking about the influence of sanctions is like talking about the influence of fever on illness."

The US has led Europe and other nations in imposing various sanctions on Russia and Russian individuals over the last year, including bans on oil and fuel purchases, as well as price cap mechanisms.

The academic explained that the country's GDP has contracted 3%, instead of expanding 4% as anticipated. And with consumption and retail activity plunging, citizens have suffered even more than what's been reflected in GDP.

"Everything that is happening makes the Russian economy more primitive, more backwards," Konstantin said. "This makes backwardness and primitivism more persistent. And I think we are seriously going to follow the Soviet Union's path from the 1970s to the complete economic implosion of the late 1980s."

The collapse has already started, in his view. The Kremlin posted a $29 billion deficit in the first quarter, new data showed, as energy revenue continued to decline.

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While Russia's coming demise may not be as dramatic in scale as the Soviet Union's fall, since certain parameters exist now that weren't present decades earlier, the economic drag will be severe, Konstantin said.

"[T]he stagnation can reach the level that will cause the full collapse of the state government machine, as it happened in the 1990s."

Read the original article on Business Insider
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 10, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (NYSE:RYAM) (the "Company" or "RYAM") is pleased to announce that Michael Osborne joined the company on April 10, 2023, as Vice President, Manufacturing replacing Bill Manzer, who has announced his plans to retire. Michael is a thirty-plus-year manufacturing veteran, most recently holding the position of Vice President, Global Manufacturing for Kraton Pine Chemicals.

Michael earned his BS in Chemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1990, obtained an advanced MS in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a focus on pulp and paper technology in 1992, and then went on to earn his MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1999. Michael began his career with Georgia Pacific and achieved the position of Director of Strategic Planning before he left in 2011 to join Arizona Chemical Company as Senior Plant Manager at their Panama City, Florida facility. Michael was promoted to Director, Global Engineering in 2015, shortly before Arizona Chemical was acquired by Kraton in 2016. In December 2019, Michael was promoted to Director of Global Manufacturing and, subsequently, Vice President, Global Manufacturing for the Pine Chemicals division.

Bill Manzer, EVP, Manufacturing, has been with RYAM for over twelve years and has held progressively more responsible roles with the company. As Michael onboards, Bill will remain with RYAM through March 2024, supporting the transition and finishing several projects where he is significantly immersed. His experience, industry knowledge, and steady leadership will be missed as he and Ellen enter their retirement phase.

"Bills steady leadership and unparalleled industry experience have aided RYAM in improving its operations, quality, reliability, and safety. I am thankful for Bills many years of contributions and appreciate his willingness to provide for a seamless transition and finish several key initiatives," said De Lyle Bloomquist, President and CEO. "I am also looking forward to working with Michael as RYAM realizes its Biofuture by developing and manufacturing sustainable solutions for our customers. His chemical industry experience is very well aligned with the future direction of RYAM."

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Osborne indicated, "This is an incredible opportunity to join a company focused on producing sustainable products in a safe and reliable way. I look forward to picking up where Bill left the organization and moving forward with the manufacturing team."

About RYAM

RYAM is a global leader of cellulose-based technologies, including high purity cellulose specialties, a natural polymer commonly found in filters, food, pharmaceuticals, and other industrial applications. The Company also manufactures products for paper and packaging markets. With manufacturing operations in the U.S., Canada, and France, RYAM employs approximately 2,500 people and generated an estimated $1.7 billion of revenues in 2022. More information is available at www.RYAM.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005020/en/

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SANYA, China, April 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Themed Sailing from Sanya, Cheers to the World, the 2023 Boating Sanya & Sanya International Wine and Spirits Fair is set to welcome global wine and spirit enthusiasts and industry professionals from April 13-17. The event will see the 2023 Sanya International Wine and Spirits Fair ("the Fair") join hands with Shanghai International Wine Challenge (SIWC), Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) and CNSC Sanya International Duty-Free Plaza, to host a five-day extravaganza of tasting of wines and spirits from all around the world. Various side events throughout the duration of the Fair will be held for attendees, including after-parties.

2023 Sanya International Wine and Spirits Fair

One of China's top annual events for the wine and spirits industry, the Fair will focus on building an international and professional platform for wine and spirits exhibition, trade, and wine culture interaction. It will team up with the SIWC, one of the top three international wine-tasting competitions in Asia, to hold master classes at the CNSC Sanya International Duty-Free Plaza. Famous wine educators Julien Boulard MW, Leon Liang, and Dai Xiaoqun will share some of their expertise in wine-tasting with the global wine professionals and enthusiasts in attendance. Meanwhile, SIWC will introduce a wide range of wines, including Enoteca, Duc de Fugue Cognac and other prominent brands, among which some award-winning brands will be exhibited for the first time.

Sanya Tourism Promotion Board (STPB) and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) will jointly host an award ceremony to provide an opportunity for wine and spirits companies, regional industry associations, industry experts, and media to gather, share information, and exchange ideas. Held for the first time in 1994, Spirits Selection by CMB now has become one of the most prestigious international events for awarding spirit drinks from all over the world. This award ceremony will be its first event to be held in Sanya, with the idyllic, tropical surroundings providing the awards ceremony with the perfect ambience.

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In addition, STPB and CNSC Sanya International Duty-Free Plaza will co-host a series of "Tasting Tours", creating a Sanya-style experience of wine testing, sailing, and duty-free shopping for the Fair attendees.

Located on the southern tip of China's Hainan Island, which has recently resumed its visa-free travel policy covering tourists from 59 countries, Sanya is a perfect location for work, travel, and play. The city is a natural first stop for global travelers to explore China with its warm weather, spectacular scenery, wealth of natural resources, and diverse experiences to be had.

Sanya has implemented many measures in recent years to increase its appeal to global tourists, with the goal of becoming a global premium travel destination. The city is seeing an increase in the number of high-end international wine and spirits brands, with many having chosen Sanya to launch their new products thanks to the Hainan Free Trade Port's duty-free policy. In Sanya, wine and spirits have become one of the most popular product categories for consumers to buy in the duty-free stores. Against this backdrop, the 2023 Sanya International Wine and Spirits Fair will serve as a platform and bridge for high-end wine and spirits brands and merchants to collaborate in this fast-developing market.

Following the Fair, the STPB will team up with Neal Digital to host an exhibition to create a technology-driven immersive art experience for global visitors from April 20 to May 4. The exhibition will see the Asian debut of the contemporary digital artist Krista Kim's latest work "Mirror of the Mind".

To explore Sanya, please visit: https://www.visitsanya.com/en/ .

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SOURCE Sanya Tourism Promotion Board
Inspired by the French history of brioche, one lucky fan will receive a trip to Paris courtesy of the brand

HORSHAM, Pa., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sara Lee Artesano Brioche Buns are feeling French and celebrating this spring with the launch of the Artesano Brioche Buns "Bun Voyage" sweepstakes. Inspired by the rich French history of Brioche bread, the folks at Sara Lee are gifting one lucky fan a trip to Paris via a national sweepstakes. Beginning today through Wednesday, May 10, fans can head to ArtesanoBriocheBunVoyage.com to enter for a chance to win a once in a lifetime vacation to the gourmet foodie capital of the world!

Sara Lee Artesano Brioche Buns Wishes Consumers Bun Voyage This Spring

To enter, consumers 18 years or older will visit ArtesanoBriocheBunVoyage.com to complete a simple entry form. Fans are also encouraged to share images of original recipes featuring the Artesano Brioche Buns. Following the submission period, one winner will be randomly selected to win an unforgettable trip to one of the most romantic foodie destinations in the world  Paris, France!

Brioche fans looking for a taste of France stateside will also enjoy Parisian-inspired bites at Sara Lee Artesano Brioche Buns pop-up events throughout April and May. Hosted in New York, New Orleans and Santa Monica, each event will feature French-inspired decor and a food cart serving delicious recipes on Artesano Brioche Buns. There will be big winners at these events as well  three lucky fans at each of the three events will take home an epic prize featuring gifts, branded swag, product and more!

"Since launching Artesano Brioche Buns last year, we've been thrilled by the consumer response to the effortless way it brings a taste of gourmet to even the simplest, everyday meals. Delivering an elevated taste experience with every bite, Artesano brings the rich, buttery flavors of a French bistro straight to your home, restaurant style" said Ana Melo, Artesano Brand Manager. "We know our pop-up events and Bun Voyage sweepstakes will provide even more inspiration and fun this spring, as consumers look to elevate breakfast, lunch and dinner staples."

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Made with real butter, Sara Lee Artesano's new Brioche Buns have the same soft and smooth texture that only comes from the Artesano Bakery Bread lineup. Inspired by the authentic French taste and ingredients that take you on a gourmet journey, Sara Lee Artesano Brioche Buns are available at grocery stores and supercenters nationwide.

Sara Lee Artesano Bread has a handmade taste and mouthwateringly soft texture. Available in four varieties  Original, Golden Wheat, Brioche, and Multigrain  each is sliced thick with a dash of flour dusting and a distinctly creamy character. Artesano Bakery Rolls and Artesano Bakery Buns are available in-store as well. Artesano bread is made without artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or high-fructose corn syrup, and serves as an ideal bread for your everyday foods. Whether you are toasting it at breakfast or including it in a favorite sandwich at lunch, it makes the routine remarkable. For more information, visit: SaraLeeBread.com.

For additional details and official rules on the Sara Lee Artesano Brioche Bakery Buns sweepstakes, visit ArtesanoBriocheBunVoyage.com.

About Bimbo Bakeries USA

Bimbo Bakeries USA is a leader in the baking industry, known for its category leading brands, innovative products, freshness and quality. Our team of 20,000+ U.S. associates operates approximately 60 manufacturing locations in the United States. Over 11,000 distribution routes deliver our leading brands such as Arnold, Artesano, Ball Park, Bimbo, Boboli, Brownberry, Entenmann's, Little Bites, Marinela, Mrs Baird's, Oroweat, Sara Lee, Stroehmann and Thomas'. BBU is owned by Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B de C.V., the world's largest baking company with operations in 34 countries.

Sara Lee Artesano Bakery Bread

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SOURCE Bimbo Bakeries USA
(Bloomberg) -- Bank of Nova Scotia hired Francisco Aristeguieta to run its international operations, one of the first major moves by new Chief Executive Officer Scott Thomson as he begins to put his stamp on the bank.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Aristeguieta, who starts May 1, comes from State Street Corp., where he held the role of CEO of institutional services since 2020. He spent 25 years at Citigroup Inc., where he performed senior executive jobs in Latin America and Asia.

Ignacio Deschamps, Scotiabanks current international head, will retire at the end of April, according to a statement from the Toronto-based bank on Monday. Deschamps had been seen as a contender for the top job, but lost out to Thomson.

This move underscores our belief that new CEO Scott Thomson is reviewing the banks Latin American operations and that very little, aside from Mexico, is exempt from scrutiny, Barclays analyst John Aiken said in a note. Scotiabank rose 0.4% to C$67.78 at 10:12 a.m. in Toronto.

Read more: Scotiabanks CEO Pick Spurs Debate Over Whether Changes Loom

Thomson was a surprise pick to succeed Brian Porter, a Scotiabank board member who beat out a number of internal senior executives in the CEO race. He has promised a broad strategy review thats sure to encompass the lenders vast Latin America operations, which produced 25% of Scotiabanks profit in the most recent quarter.

Porter pruned parts of Scotiabanks international unit, choosing to focus on a handful of key markets including Mexico, Chile and Peru, where its in the top five among banks. Its a strategy that differs from Canadas other big lenders, which have mostly pursued foreign expansion in the US via ownership of regional or commercial banks.

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For that reason, Scotiabank has been largely insulated from the turmoil that followed the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank last month. Its shares are up 0.5% since the beginning of March, versus a nearly 7% decline for the S&P/TSX Composite Commercial Banks Index.

Aristeguieta will bring his experience and leadership to help us drive engagement and deliver for our customers in our international markets, Thomson said in the statement. As we look to refresh our strategy this year, Francisco will be a strong complement to our leadership team and will play a central role in helping us deliver long-term profitable and sustainable growth for our shareholders.

(Updates with analyst comment, share price in fourth paragraph)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
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
Sernova Corp.

LONDON, Ontario, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sernova Corp. (TSX:SVA) (OTCQB:SEOVF) (FSE/XETRA:PSH), a clinical-stage company and leader in cell therapeutics, today announced that President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Philip Toleikis, will present at the upcoming annual Cell & Gene Meeting on the Med to be held April 12-14, 2023 at the Hotel Arts Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain and livestreamed globally.



Panel: Navigating CGTx Development in 2023

Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Time: 4:45  5:30 PM CET

Location: BioCentriq Ballroom | Hotel Arts Barcelona, Spain

Virtual attendance is available which includes a livestream of Sernovas presentation and the ability to view all conference sessions on-demand. Please visit https://meetingonthemed.com/ for full information including registration.

Complimentary attendance at this event is available for credentialed investors. Investors should contact Laura Stringham at lstringham@alliancerm.org.

ABOUT SERNOVA CORP. AND THE CELL POUCH SYSTEM PLATFORM FOR CELL THERAPY

Sernova Corp. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is developing therapeutic cell technologies for chronic diseases, including insulin-dependent diabetes, thyroid disease, and blood disorders that include hemophilia A. Sernova is currently focused on developing a functional cure for insulin-dependent diabetes with its lead asset, the Cell Pouch System, a novel implantable and scalable medical device with immune protected therapeutic cells. On implantation, the Cell Pouch forms a natural vascularized tissue environment in the body for long-term survival and function of therapeutic cells that release essential factors that are absent or deficient in the bodies of patients with certain chronic diseases. Sernovas Cell Pouch System has demonstrated its potential to be a functional cure for people with T1D in an ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical study at the University of Chicago. Sernova is also advancing a proprietary technology in collaboration with the University of Miami to shield therapeutic cells from immune system attack with the goal to eliminate the need for chronic, systemic immunosuppression. In May 2022, Sernova and Evotec entered into a global strategic partnership to develop an implantable off-the-shelf iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cells) based islet replacement therapy. This partnership provides Sernova a potentially unlimited supply of insulin-producing cells to treat millions of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 and type 2). Sernova continues to progress two additional development programs that utilize its Cell Pouch System: a cell therapy for hypothyroid disease resulting from thyroid gland removal and an ex vivo lentiviral Factor VIII gene therapy for hemophilia A.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Corporate Investors Media Christopher Barnes

VP, Investor Relations

Sernova Corp.

christopher.barnes@sernova.com

Tel: 519-902-7923

www.sernova.com Corey Davis, Ph.D.

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

cdavis@lifesciadvisors.com

Tel: 212-915-2577



Elizabeth Miller, M.D.

LifeSci Communications

emiller@lifescicomms.com

Tel: 646-791-9705





FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This release contains statements that, to the extent they are not recitations of historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements that involve various risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including, without limitation, statements regarding the prospects, plans, and objectives of the company. Wherever possible, but not always, words such as "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential for" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect managements beliefs with respect to future events and are based on information currently available to management on the date such statements were made. Many factors could cause Sernovas actual results, performances or achievements to not be as anticipated, estimated or intended or to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such factors could include, but are not limited to, the companys ability to secure additional financing and licensing arrangements on reasonable terms, or at all; ability to conduct all required preclinical and clinical studies for the companys Cell Pouch System and or related technologies, including the timing and results of those trials; ability to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals, or on a timely basis; ability to in-license additional complementary technologies; ability to execute its business strategy and successfully compete in the market; and the inherent risks associated with the development of biotechnology combination products generally. Many of the factors are beyond our control, including those caused by, related to, or impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Investors should consult the companys quarterly and annual filings available on www.sedar.com for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Sernova 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.




Ekovest Berhad (KLSE:EKOVEST) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 16% in the last quarter. But that can't change the reality that over the longer term (five years), the returns have been really quite dismal. In that time the share price has delivered a rude shock to holders, who find themselves down 55% after a long stretch. Some might say the recent bounce is to be expected after such a bad drop. We'd err towards caution given the long term under-performance.

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 Ekovest Berhad

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' 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).

Over five years Ekovest Berhad's earnings per share dropped significantly, falling to a loss, with the share price also lower. Since the company has fallen to a loss making position, it's hard to compare the change in EPS with the share price change. However, we can say we'd expect to see a falling share price in this scenario.

You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

Dive deeper into Ekovest Berhad's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Ekovest Berhad's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About The Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

We've already covered Ekovest Berhad's share price action, but we should also mention its total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR attempts to capture the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested) as well as any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings offered to shareholders. Its history of dividend payouts mean that Ekovest Berhad's TSR, which was a 53% drop over the last 5 years, was not as bad as the share price return.

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A Different Perspective

We regret to report that Ekovest Berhad shareholders are down 10.0% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 4.9%. 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. However, the loss over the last year isn't as bad as the 9% per annum loss investors have suffered over the last half decade. We'd need to see some sustained improvements in the key metrics before we could muster much enthusiasm. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Ekovest Berhad that you should be aware of.

We will like Ekovest Berhad 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 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.

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GURUGRAM, India, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shipsy , a leading SaaS-based global logistics management platform provider, announced it had been acknowledged as a Notable Vendor in the Gartner Asia/Pacific Context: 'Magic Quadrant for Transport Management Systems.'

Shipsy Logo

The need for businesses to meet evolving customer demands, reduce transportation costs and boost delivery agility is driving the adoption of modern Transportation Management Systems (TMS). Shipsy's unique capabilities and offerings, have emerged as a key enabler for achieving these efficiencies across cross-border, first, middle, and last-mile logistics.

In the Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems report, "Gartner defines transportation management systems (TMSs) as software that supports multimodal planning and execution of the physical movement of goods across the supply chain. It allows a company to manage increasing levels of transportation complexity across multiple transport modes and geographic regions."

"We're excited to be included in the Asia/Pacific Context: 'Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems' report. We believe it's a testament to the amazing feedback we have consistently received from our customers. We aim to continue being the de facto logistics management platform for businesses in the region and the Middle East," says Soham Chokshi, CEO & Co-Founder, Shipsy.

The Asia/Pacific Context report states that "Gartner estimates the annual spend on supply chain execution (SCE) software in APAC to exceed $850 million through 2026, up from nearly $600 million through 2021 (see Forecast: Enterprise Application Software, Worldwide, 2020-2026, 4Q22 Update). Gartner estimates that the annual TMS software spend in APAC will be approximately 28% of that on SCE, or $160 million through 2021."

Further mentioning, "Organizations within the Asia/Pacific market have historically looked for transportation management solutions that are execution-focused. Capabilities such as transportation planning and route optimization are not typically prioritized by shippers. Those capabilities are highly desired by third-party logistics (3PL) organizations and logistics service providers. With the increasing demand in retail and e-commerce, there is some shifting in this regard. This is especially true in countries such as India, China and Vietnam. Companies within those countries are starting to investigate planning and route optimization capabilities to better support customer demands, particularly for last-mile deliveries in urban locations."

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Gartner also highlighted the growing significance of sustainable logistics, "Sustainability and green transportation initiatives are also drawing increased focus. With many trucks in the region being diesel-powered, particularly in China, organizations are looking to TMS technology to help mitigate and measure emissions. Utilizing optimization capabilities to build more efficient routes, leveraging analytics to capture emissions and carbon footprint information, and selecting more environmentally friendly transport modes (such as rail or waterways) are some of the ways TMS technology can help."

Gartner named Shipsy and five others as Notable Vendors in the APAC Context report.

Gartner Disclaimer:

Gartner, Asia/Pacific Context: 'Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems ', Brock Johns, Oscar Sanchez Duran, 28 March 2023. Get the full story: This content is part of a larger body of research on this topic. Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Transport Management Systems , Brock Johns, Oscar Sanchez Duran, Carly West, 28 March 2023.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and MAGIC QUADRANT is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Shipsy

Shipsy enables businesses worldwide to build a resilient, connected, agile, sustainable, and autonomous supply chain and logistics operations. Its smart logistics management platform empowers businesses to significantly reduce operating costs, lower carbon footprint, enhance customer experiences, boost delivery productivity, and drive seamless cross-border freight movement. Shipsy's 350+ team is based out of India, Dubai, and Indonesia serving 200+ customers across the globe. Shipsy tracks 650,000+ containers per month, procure freight worth $150mn+ per month, and powers 60 mn+ parcels per month. On a broader perspective, Shipsy has integrations with 64+ major shipping lines, 50+ third-party logistics companies, 300+ freight forwarders, 50+ customs agents, and a network of over 20,000 global shippers. To learn more about us, please visit www.shipsy.io .

Media Contact:

shruti.sharma@shipsy.io

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SOURCE Shipsy
VANCOUVER, BC, April 10, 2023 /CNW/ - SKRR Exploration Inc. (TSXV: SKRR) (FSE: B04Q) ("SKRR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into a letter of intent ("LOI") with F3 Uranium Corp. (the "F3"), whereby SKRR and F3 will negotiate and settle the terms of a definitive option agreement (the "Option Agreement") that will provide SKRR with an option to acquire up to a 70% interest in F3's right, title and interest in and to the mineral claims compromising the mineral exploration project known as the "Clearwater West Project", located in Saskatchewan (the "Transaction").

SKRR Exploration Inc. Logo (CNW Group/SKRR EXPLORATION INC.)

The Clearwater West Project is located ~20km outside the edge and in the south-west area of the Athabasca Basin, which is poised to become the next area for the development of major uranium mines in Saskatchewan. It is 13km south of Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit, located 7 km outside the basin edge on its PLS Property, where a Feasibility Study was recently completed, and 17 km south of NexGen's Arrow uranium deposit. The Clearwater West property is comprised of 3 contiguous mineral claims totaling 11,786 hectares which are immediately south and adjacent to Fission Uranium's PLS property. SKRR cautions that past results or discoveries on proximate lands are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved on the Clearwater West Project.

Sherman Dahl, CEO of SKRR, commented:

"We are very excited to not only work with F3 and their outstanding team, but also to have an opportunity to acquire a majority stake in an attractive property in the Athabasca Basin region, home to some of the world's largest uranium mining operations. At SKRR we believe that that PLS/PLN area has the potential to generate further large discoveries, as demonstrated by the recent JR zone discovery at PLN. The Clearwater West project is near large uranium discoveries, including the Arrow and Triple R deposits."

Under the terms of the LOI, SKRR may acquire up to a 70% interest in the Clearwater West Project by making certain staged cash payments and share payments of common shares in the capital of SKRR to F3 and by incurring expenditures over a 3 year period on the Clearwater West Project.

Story continues

Further details regarding the proposed Transaction with F3 will be provided in a comprehensive news release if, and when, the parties enter into the Option Agreement. The Transaction is subject to Exchange approval.

Director Resignation

The Company also announces the resignation of Ross McElroy as a director of the Company. The Company would like to thank Mr. McElroy for his service to the Company and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to the Clearwater West Project has been reviewed and approved by Raymond Ashley, P.Geo, a geophysicist for F3 and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About SKRR Exploration Inc.:

SKRR is a Canadian-based precious and base metal explorer with properties in British Columbia and Saskatchewan  some of the world's highest ranked mining jurisdictions. The primary exploration focus is on the Trans-Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan in search of world class precious and base metal deposits. The Trans-Hudson Orogen  although extremely well known in geological terms has been significantly under-explored in Saskatchewan. SKRR is committed to all stakeholders including shareholders, all its partners and the environment in which it operates.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Sherman Dahl

President & CEO

Tel: 250-558-8340

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.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements that address the potential Transaction with F3 including entering into the Option Agreement, Exchange approval of the Transaction, other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its projects and other matters, and the Company's plans and goals. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of metals, the ability to achieve its goals, the ability to secure equipment and personnel to carry out work programs, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration results, the interpretation of technical and scientific data, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and development and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and including those filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. There is a possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather or climate conditions, decrease in the price of metals, equipment failures or failure to obtain the necessary equipment, failure to maintain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law.

SOURCE SKRR EXPLORATION INC.

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Market Research Future

Smart Grid Sensors Market to Increasing adoption of smart sensory technology in various emerging countries.

New York, US, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR),  Smart Grid Sensors Market Research Report: By Sensors, Component - Forecast Till 2030, the market is anticipated to acquire a valuation of approximately USD 1556.71 Million by the end of 2030. The reports further predict the market to flourish at a robust CAGR of over 18.3% during the assessment timeframe.

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the market and identifies key drivers, challenges, market segmentation, regional analysis, industry trends, key players, recent developments, and opportunities.

Smart Grid Sensors Market Key Players

The major players operating in the smart grid sensors market include

ABB Ltd.,

Siemens AG,

Schneider Electric SE,

Honeywell International Inc.,

General Electric Company,

Itron Inc.,

Landis+Gyr AG,

Sentient Energy Inc.,

S&C Electric Company, and

Eaton Corporation plc.

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Report Scope:

Report Metric Details Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 1556.71 Million Growth Rate CAGR of 18.3% from 2020 to 2030 Base Year 2019 Study Period 2020-2030 Key Market Opportunities It helps to improve grid reliability and reduce energy losses Key Market Drivers The growing need for energy efficiency and the increasing demand for electricity

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Smart Grid Sensors Market Drivers

The growing need for energy efficiency and the increasing demand for electricity are the major drivers of the smart grid sensors Industry. Smart grid sensors provide real-time data and enable utilities to monitor energy usage, detect faults and outages, and optimize the power grid. They also help in reducing energy losses, improving grid reliability, and preventing power theft. Furthermore, the deployment of smart grid sensors is also driven by government initiatives to promote smart grid technologies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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Smart Grid Sensors Market Challenges

The high cost of smart grid sensors is a major challenge for the market. The initial investment required for the deployment of smart grid sensors is high, which may discourage utilities from adopting these technologies. Additionally, the lack of standardization and interoperability among different smart grid sensors is also a challenge, as it may hinder the integration of these sensors with existing grid infrastructure.

Market Segmentation and Regional Analysis

The global smart grid sensors market is segmented based on type, component, and region. Based on type, the market is segmented into temperature sensors, voltage sensors, current sensors, and others. Based on component, the market is segmented into hardware, software, and services. Based on region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW).

North America is the largest market for smart grid sensors, owing to the presence of major players in the region and the high adoption rate of smart grid technologies. Europe is expected to be the second-largest market, due to the growing demand for renewable energy sources and the need for energy efficiency. Asia-Pacific is expected to experience the highest growth rate, due to the increasing demand for electricity and government initiatives to promote smart grid technologies in the region.

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Industry Trends

The smart grid sensors market is witnessing several industry trends, such as the deployment of advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms to analyze data generated by smart grid sensors. Additionally, the integration of smart grid sensors with other smart grid technologies, such as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), is also a trend in the market. Furthermore, the development of low-cost and wireless smart grid sensors is expected to drive the growth of the market in the forecast period.

Recent Developments

In recent years, there have been several key developments in the smart grid sensors market. For example, in 2021, ABB Ltd. launched a new smart grid sensor that enables utilities to remotely monitor grid assets and detect faults and outages in real-time. The new sensor uses advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms to analyze data and identify potential problems before they occur, helping to improve grid reliability and reduce energy losses.

Similarly, in 2020, Schneider Electric SE introduced a new range of smart grid sensors that provide real-time data on energy usage and enable utilities to optimize the power grid. The sensors are designed to be interoperable with other smart grid technologies, such as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), and can be deployed in both residential and commercial settings.

Opportunities

There are also numerous opportunities for growth in the smart grid sensors market, with the deployment of smart grid sensors in developing countries being a major opportunity. In many developing countries, the demand for electricity is high, but the grid infrastructure is not well developed. Smart grid sensors can help to improve grid reliability and reduce energy losses in these countries, while also providing utilities with real-time data to optimize the power grid.

Another opportunity for growth in the smart grid sensors market is the development of smart cities. As more cities around the world adopt smart city technologies, the demand for smart grid sensors is likely to increase. Smart grid sensors can help to improve energy efficiency in smart cities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the overall quality of life for residents.

In addition, the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources is expected to create new opportunities for the smart grid sensors market. As more renewable energy sources are integrated into the power grid, the need for real-time data on energy usage and grid performance will become increasingly important. Smart grid sensors can provide utilities with the data they need to manage renewable energy sources effectively, while also reducing energy losses and improving grid reliability.

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Conclusion

Overall, the smart grid sensors market is experiencing significant growth, with recent developments and numerous opportunities for further expansion. The deployment of smart grid sensors in developing countries, the development of smart cities, and the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources are all expected to drive the growth of the market in the coming years. As utilities continue to look for ways to optimize the power grid and reduce energy losses, the demand for smart grid sensors is likely to continue to increase.

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Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Smart Medical Devices Market is valued at USD 28.81 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach a value of USD 65.45 Billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 10.80% over the forecast period.



Smart Medical Devices Market Overview

The smart medical devices market is a rapidly growing industry that includes a wide range of medical devices equipped with advanced technology such as sensors, Bluetooth, and internet connectivity. These devices are designed to collect, store, and transmit patient health data in real-time, allowing for remote monitoring and analysis by healthcare professionals.

The market for smart medical devices includes devices such as smart wearable devices, health monitoring systems, insulin pumps, smart inhalers, and smart pills. These devices are used in various applications such as remote patient monitoring, chronic disease management, fitness tracking, and medication adherence.

The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, along with the growing aging population, are the major drivers of the smart medical devices market. The demand for efficient and cost-effective healthcare solutions is also driving the growth of the market.

The market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, driven by the increasing demand for personalized and connected healthcare solutions. However, there are also concerns around data privacy and security, which may hinder the growth of the market if not addressed adequately.

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Market Dynamics

Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases: The rising incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases is driving the demand for smart medical devices. These devices allow patients to manage their health conditions remotely and in real-time.

Technological Advancements: The increasing advancements in technology such as IoT, AI, and machine learning are driving the growth of the smart medical devices market. These technologies have enabled the development of more advanced devices that offer more accurate and reliable data.

Aging Population: The growing aging population is driving the demand for smart medical devices. The elderly population is more prone to chronic diseases and requires regular monitoring of their health conditions, which can be done efficiently with smart medical devices.

Cost-Effective Healthcare Solutions: The rising healthcare costs are driving the demand for cost-effective healthcare solutions. Smart medical devices offer an affordable and efficient solution for remote patient monitoring and chronic disease management.

Regulatory Frameworks: The regulatory frameworks governing the smart medical devices market play a significant role in shaping the market dynamics. The regulatory bodies are responsible for ensuring the safety and efficacy of these devices, which can impact the adoption of these devices.

Data Privacy and Security: As smart medical devices collect and transmit sensitive patient data, data privacy and security are major concerns. The market dynamics are influenced by the measures taken to address these concerns and ensure the protection of patient data.

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Challenges

High cost of devices: The high cost of smart medical devices is a major challenge to the growth of the market. These devices are often expensive, which can make them inaccessible to people in low- and middle-income countries.

Lack of awareness: The lack of awareness about smart medical devices is another challenge to the growth of the market. Many people are not aware of the benefits of these devices, which can limit their adoption.

Regulatory challenges: The regulatory challenges in the healthcare sector can also hinder the growth of the market. For example, the approval process for new medical devices can be long and complex, which can delay the introduction of new products



Top Players in the Global Smart Medical Devices Market

Smart Medical Devices Inc.

ViVO Smart Medical Devices Ltd

Dexcom Inc

Abbott Laboratories

Medtronic Plc.

NeuroMetrix Inc.

Omron Healthcare Inc.



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Top Report Findings

Based on application, the market is segmented into cardiovascular, diabetes, respiratory, neurological, and others. Cardiovascular is the largest segment of the market, accounting for a major share of the market in 2022. This is attributed to the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke. Diabetes is the fastest-growing segment of the market, with a CAGR of 10.80% during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing prevalence of diabetes and the need for continuous monitoring of blood sugar levels.

Based on distribution channel, the market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and online retailers. Hospitals are the largest segment of the market, accounting for a major share of the market in 2022. This is attributed to the increasing number of hospitals and the need for these devices for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Clinics are the fastest-growing segment of the market, with a CAGR of 16.0% during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing number of clinics and the need for these devices for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Based on region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. North America is the largest segment of the market, accounting for a major share of the market in 2022. This is attributed to the developed healthcare infrastructure and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the region. Europe is the second-largest segment of the market, accounting for a major share of the market in 2022. This is attributed to the developed healthcare infrastructure and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the region. Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing segment of the market, with a CAGR of 10.80% during the forecast period. This is attributed to the rising disposable income, increasing awareness about healthcare, and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases in the region.

Top Trends in Global Smart Medical Devices Market

Increased adoption of wearable devices: Wearable devices are becoming increasingly popular as a way to track health and fitness data. These devices can be used to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs. They can also be used to track sleep patterns and activity levels.

Rising demand for remote patient monitoring: Remote patient monitoring is a growing trend in the healthcare industry. This involves using technology to monitor patients' health remotely. This can be done through devices such as wearables, smartphones, and tablets. Remote patient monitoring can help to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

Increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare: AI is being used in a variety of ways in the healthcare industry. For example, AI is being used to develop new drugs, to diagnose diseases, and to provide treatment. AI is also being used to develop smart medical devices.

Growing demand for personalized healthcare: Personalized healthcare is a growing trend in the healthcare industry. This involves tailoring treatment to the individual patient's needs. This can be done through the use of smart medical devices, which can collect data about the patient's health. This data can then be used to develop personalized treatment plans.

Advancements in wireless technology: Wireless technology is playing a major role in the development of smart medical devices. Wireless devices can be used to monitor patients' health remotely and to transmit data to healthcare providers. This can help to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

Regulatory changes: Regulatory changes are also impacting the smart medical devices market. For example, the FDA has recently approved the use of wearable devices to monitor heart rate and blood pressure. This is likely to lead to an increase in the adoption of wearable devices.

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Regional Analysis

North America: North America dominates the smart medical devices market, owing to the presence of major players, increasing demand for connected healthcare solutions, and favorable government initiatives. The region is also witnessing a growing trend towards home healthcare, which is driving the demand for remote patient monitoring devices.

Europe: Europe is a significant market for smart medical devices, driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the need for cost-effective healthcare solutions. The region is witnessing a shift towards value-based healthcare models, which is driving the adoption of smart medical devices.

Asia Pacific: Asia Pacific is expected to witness significant growth in the smart medical devices market, driven by the increasing demand for connected healthcare solutions, the growing aging population, and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. The region is also witnessing a shift towards digital health solutions, which is driving the adoption of smart medical devices.

Latin America: Latin America is a growing market for smart medical devices, driven by the increasing demand for cost-effective healthcare solutions and the need for remote patient monitoring. The region is also witnessing a growing trend towards mobile health solutions, which is driving the adoption of smart medical devices.

Middle East and Africa: The Middle East and Africa are emerging markets for smart medical devices, driven by the increasing adoption of advanced healthcare technologies and the growing need for cost-effective healthcare solutions. The region is also witnessing a growing trend towards telemedicine and remote patient monitoring solutions, which is driving the adoption of smart medical devices.

Global Smart Medical Devices Market Segmentation

By Type

Diagnostic and Monitoring Devices

Therapeutic Devices

By Application

Cardiovascular

Neurology

Respiratory

Others

By End User

Hospitals and Clinics

Ambulatory Care Centers

Home Care Settings



By Region

North America United States Canada Mexico

Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea South-East Asia Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa GCC Countries South Africa Rest of MEA



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Scope of the Report:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 28.81 Billion Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 65.45 Billion CAGR 10.80% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players Smart Medical Devices, Inc., ViVO Smart Medical Devices Ltd, Dexcom Inc, Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic Plc., NeuroMetrix, Inc., Omron Healthcare, Inc. Customization Options If our report does not include the information you are searching for, you may contact us to have a report tailored to your specific business needs https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/smart-medical-devices-market-1623/request-sample

The key questions answered in the Smart Medical Devices Market Report are:

What is the current size and future growth potential of the smart medical devices market?

What are the major drivers and challenges of the smart medical devices market?

What are the key trends shaping the smart medical devices market?

Which product types and applications are expected to dominate the smart medical devices market?

What is the competitive landscape of the smart medical devices market, and who are the key players operating in the market?

What are the regulatory frameworks governing the smart medical devices market, and how are they impacting the market dynamics?

What is the market share of different regions in the global smart medical devices market, and what are the key market trends in each region?

What are the major opportunities for growth in the smart medical devices market, and how can companies capitalize on them?

What are the major challenges facing the smart medical devices market, and how can they be addressed?

What are the key strategies adopted by leading players in the smart medical devices market to stay competitive and enhance their market share?

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Recently, the Social Security Administration announced that its cash reserves will run out in 2034, a year earlier than earlier projected. When this happens, the agency will continue to pay benefits based on its ongoing tax revenue. This will require cutting benefits to about three-quarters of their current levels. To preserve full benefits, the agency suggests, Congress can raise the Social Security payroll tax by approximately 4% on all earners, or it can raise the payroll tax cap so that high-earners pay Social Security taxes on more of their income.

This has led to significant confusion over the actual state of Social Security. Or, to put it in the language of the Social Security Administrations Chief Actuary, [t]he concepts of solvency, sustainability, and budget impact are common in discussions of Social Security, but are not well understood. This was true in 2010. Its true today. And its the context in which Americans should understand the recent question of whether Social Security will run out of money.

Heres whats going on.

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Social Securitys Coffers Are Running Dry

On Friday, March 31 the Social Security Administration released its latest report on the future financial status of the Social Security Program. The headline-grabbing feature of this report came early on, with the announcement that the SSA has enough cash on hand to continue making full payments for another 10 years. In 2034, the agency expects that its trust fund will run out of money. At this point, unless something changes, it will have to reduce benefits to approximately 77% of their established level.

This is not because the program has spent years running a deficit. In fact, at time of writing the Social Security program is quite well funded. Instead, this is a projection based on the future needs of an aging workforce.

Story continues

The information is not exactly new. Policymakers have known that Social Security would run out of money around the 2030s for decades now. However the program has recently crossed an important threshold that adds urgency to the debate. In 2021, for the first time in decades, Social Security collected less in taxes than it owed in benefits. This forced the program to begin making regular payments from its trust fund, a process that will continue for the foreseeable future.

Congress reformed Social Security the last time it faced a similar crisis in 1983. Then, the SSA projected that it would remain solvent through 2050. Analysts quickly adjusted those estimates down, and by the 1990s it was widely accepted that Social Security would run out of cash sometime between 2029 and 2037, when most of the baby boomers had entered retirement. In fact, for more than 15 years the Social Security Administration has been consistent in predicting a shortfall between 2034 and 2037.

While this has been often reported as chronic shortfalls in the Social Security program, that was not the case. For about 40 years, Social Security collected more in taxes than it paid in benefits. Each year the program puts this overage in a fund known as the Social Security Trust, a collection of cash and Treasury assets that the program can draw on when it needs money.

The growth of this fund peaked in 2007. Since then the fund has continued to grow, but more slowly as the gap between Social Securitys revenue and its payments has steadily closed. In 2021 the program ran an overall deficit for the first time since the 1983 overall.

That trend continued in 2022, with Social Security spending about $1.244 billion in benefits and collecting about $1.222 billion in taxes and interest. The program made up the difference with money from its trust fund. This is not a problem for any given quarter, or even any given year; thats why the trust fund exists. But at current tax rates, Social Security will continue relying on its trust fund to pay benefits for years to come. As of the agencys most recent analysis, this will exhaust the trust fund entirely in 2034.

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Demographic Dynamics Are Squeezing the Social Security Trust Fund

The reason for this shortfall has to do with demographics.

In recent years the baby boomer generation has begun aging into retirement, creating a surge in demand for Social Security benefits. This has coincided with an overall decline in American families. Households are having fewer children each year, and together this has led to an upward shift in the population. As the SSA noted in its 2010 financial report, Americas workforce is aging not because we are living longer, but because birth rates dropped from three to two children per woman.

This is a problem for Social Security because of the nature of this program. Contrary to popular belief, the Social Security program does not return or refund the money that retirees contributed during their working life. Instead, it is a straightforward government transfer program, where current workers pay taxes to support the programs current benefits. Years ago, Social Security could count on four or five workers paying taxes for each retiree. Today, that ratio is almost two-to-one, leaving far less revenue to pay for each retirees benefits.

What Are Possible Solutions to the Social Security Shortfall?

Most experts agree that preserving Social Security benefits will require some combination of tax increases and benefit cuts. However, they disagree on how to structure this.

In stark terms, the Social Security Administration recommends that if Congress waits until 2034 to act, it will have three options: Increase the payroll tax by 4.15%, permanently reduce benefits by 25.2% across the board, or enact a combination of the two approaches.

Many economists have suggested other approaches to this issue. In particular, many suggest that Congress should address this by raising the payroll tax cap so that higher-income households pay more in Social Security taxes.

The payroll tax cap has been an issue of repeated debate. Workers only pay Social Security taxes on the first $160,200 of their income. After that, the tax falls off. This is whats known as a regressive payroll tax, in that the share of tax as a proportion of income is higher for lower-earners than for high-earners.

Advocates of raising the payroll tax cap argue that it would allow Congress to raise more revenue for Social Security without having to impost a flat-tax increase on every household. Other analysts suggest that it could address a potential quiet issue that has dragged down Social Securitys finances: Income inequality.

With ordinary income taxes, new wealth and income almost always generates more revenue for the government. If someone gets a raise at work their income taxes almost always go up, regardless of how much they make. However this is not true of a capped payroll tax. With Social Security taxes, when someone who earns more than $160,200 gets a raise, the program doesnt see any new revenue.

This has created a potential financial concern given the disproportionate nature of income gains in the United States over the past 40 years. Most new income has accrued to the top 20% of earners over this period, and particularly the top 1%. Most of those households already earn more than the payroll tax cap, meaning that Social Security has seen relatively little revenue gains from that new wealth and income.

This, along with arguments rooted in economic equity, has led many economists to suggest that Congress should raise or eliminate the payroll tax cap as a potential solution to the programs shortfall.

In the meantime, the Social Security Administration has confirmed what it has known since the 1990s. Reduced birthrates and the retirement of the baby boomers has put additional stress on the programs finances. By 2034, it will not have enough money to keep making full payments.

Bottom Line

In 2034, Social Security will run out of money to keep paying its full benefits. This is a problem that the program has known about for decades, but addressing it will require fairly urgent action.

Social Security Tips

Deciding when is best for you take Social Security can be a major part of your retirement plan. Be sure to run the numbers with SmartAssets Social Security calculator.

A financial advisor can help you make the right decisions to keep your money safe. Finding a financial advisor doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets 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 youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Photo credit: iStock.com/zimmytws, iStock.com/ljubaphoto

The post Social Security to Run Dry in 2034 appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
Key Insights

Significant control over Mercury NZ by sovereign wealth funds implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

New Zealand Superannuation Fund owns 52% of the company

Institutional ownership in Mercury NZ is 11%

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Mercury NZ Limited (NZSE:MCY), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are sovereign wealth funds with 52% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Individual investors, on the other hand, account for 37% of the company's stockholders.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Mercury NZ.

See our latest analysis for Mercury NZ

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Mercury NZ?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that Mercury NZ does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Mercury NZ, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Hedge funds don't have many shares in Mercury NZ. The company's largest shareholder is New Zealand Superannuation Fund, with ownership of 52%. This implies that they have majority interest control of the future of the company. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 2.1% and 1.8% of the stock.

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While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Mercury NZ

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Mercury NZ Limited in their own names. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own NZ$3.2m worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. Arguably, recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 37% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Mercury NZ. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Mercury NZ (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Spike Milligan Mansion - Graham Norwood

Kosovo is moving its London embassy to a 6.5m Hyde Park mansion once owned by the comedian Spike Milligan.

The arts-and-crafts property in Bayswater has been bought by Kosovo after a deal agreed by the country's ambassador Ilir Kapiti. Kosovos embassy is currently located on John Street in Holborn.

Milligan and fellow writer Eric Sykes bought the 5,697 sq ft property in 1962, making it the headquarters for their comedy co-operative Associated London Scripts.

The Doctor Who writer Terry Nation came up with the idea for the Daleks while working on the building's second floor, and it was used by Dennis Spooner to draft scripts for the Thunderbirds and Stingray series.

Milligan  co-creator of The Goon Show and the author of Adolf Hitler: My Part in his Downfall  sold his interest in the mansion at 9 Orme Court in the early 1970s to Sykes, who continued to work in its first floor office until shortly before his death in 2012. The property then passed to the Sykes family.

The mansion, which was built in the 1890s, has a series of large rooms on the ground and first floor, high ceilings and tall windows, and is located in one of the most sought after embassy areas.

Kosovan embassy staff intend to move into the building after renovation work is complete.

The deal was arranged by Beauchamp Estates.

Gary Hersham, founding director, said: This grand townhouse has the benefit of a long history of being used as both offices and living accommodation making a transformation into an Embassy a logical step.

The spacious interiors and prime location, on the doorstep of Hyde Park and just a short drive to Buckingham Place, makes it a perfect venue for a diplomatic mission.

The Embassy of Kosovo did not respond to a request for comment.
WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Below is a statement by Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of The United States Conference of Mayors, on today's mass shooting in Louisville:

U.S. Conference of Mayors. (PRNewsFoto/U.S. Conference of Mayors) (PRNewsfoto/U.S. Conference of Mayors)

"The senseless carnage of gun violence struck another American city this morning as four innocent lives were lost and nine others, including at least two police officers, were injured in a mass shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville. Yet again, a community is shattered, and we are left grasping for a way to provide comfort to a community that has experienced unspeakable trauma. 'Thoughts and prayers' do not suffice.

"We commend Governor Andy Beshear for standing with Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg to condemn the mass shooting and killing in Louisville. We encourage all governors to join with the nation's mayors and police chiefs calling for legislative action to stop the killing of innocent Americans.

"We extend our condolences to the families of those murdered and hope for a full recovery for those injured. We offer Mayor Greenberg our unwavering support as he leads his city through this difficult time and works to bring the community together. We praise the police officers and all of the first responders for their quick and brave response this morning, which we know saved lives.

"Once again, we ask what will it take for Congress, state legislators and governors to pass common sense gun violence legislation? How many people must be killed and wounded for our nation to take action? It has been said that 'insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.' As we witness one mass shooting after anotherweek after week, month after month, year after yearit is nothing short of insane that as a nation we are not willing to address the serious and deadly gun violence problem that we face."

About the United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

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Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statement-by-us-conference-of-mayors-on-louisville-mass-shooting-301793655.html

SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors
Click here to read the full article.

Ventile, the Swiss-based manufacturer of high performance textiles, has entered into a joint venture with cotton farmers in Egypt to help them apply biodynamic cultivation methods to their crops.

In partnership with the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA), Ventile will help its 2,380 members convert to organic and biodynamic regenerative farming methods that will have a positive impact on the environment. It will also help keep Egyptian cotton farmers competitive on the world market in an era when high quality, ethically farmed organic cotton is increasingly in demand for textile production.

The move will help ensure the quality of life in farm communities around the country and is viewed as an investment in Egypts future, according to Justus Harm, co-executive director of EBDA. When farmers are supported with the resources needed to transition to more sustainable and regenerative practices, we ensure that are planets finite resources will be used responsibly and that farmers will be able to grow and harvest high quality cotton for generations to come, he said.

Zurich-based Ventile will celebrate its 80th anniversary this year. Long known globally as a manufacturer of high performance fabrics, it moved to being PFC-free in late 2021 in response to growing demand for sustainable practices in the textile industry. It replaced the PFCs with a durable water repellent (DWR) without compromising the quality and performance of the fabric. Ventiles was among the industrys first renewably sourced water repellent treatments.

The brands waterproof cotton fabric was developed during World War II to help save the lives of Royal Air Force pilots who fell into the sea. It went into mass production in 1943 and was worn by RAF pilots around the world before it was eventually adopted by outdoorsmen and adventurers including Sir Edmund Hillary, the first to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.

Sustainable cotton farming helps combat climate change, saves water and creates a healthier life for farmers, end consumers and livestock. It is grown without genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and toxic substances like fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Spreading this approach is Ventiles main goal, according to brand director Daniel Odermatt.

To have an opportunity to collaborate with an association such as the EBDA and to work directly with the source of cotton production is a vital step forward to achieving our goal of creating a traceable and transparent supply chain for Ventile, Odermatt said.
Company Logo

Dublin, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Technical Writing Course - Tech Writing in the Life Sciences - Get it Right" training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This virtual seminar will begin with a general discussion of technical writing and its role within the life sciences. Technical writers produce a variety of technical documents that are required to manage and direct regulated operations and to meet regulatory requirements. We will spend some time in this webinar discussing those document types, their importance, and the consequences of the messages are unclear or misunderstood.

After setting the stage for this content, we delve into the writing process beginning with the audience and how the audience must be analyzed to determine the level of writing that must be employed to complete the document.

Gathering the information to be included in the technical document requires collaboration between the writer and the various subject matter experts that possess the knowledge to be harvested. How that information is gathered can be an effective efficient process or an ineffective time-consuming endeavor all dependent upon the techniques employed to execute the activity. We will address the most effective techniques for extracting information from SMEs as well as those techniques that work best when observing procedures and activities to be documented.

We will end this webinar with the mechanics of technical writing ranging from planning and organizing the content through grammar, spelling and punctuation ending with writing simplification.

Why Should You Attend

Even with the advent of technology, we still communicate with the written word. Technical writing is about conveying information quickly, accurately, clearly, and succinctly. How we communicate, how we are understood, and how the message is received directly depends upon our skills as technical writers. In the life sciences, this skill is exceedingly important.

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In the life sciences, the stakes are high in terms of the writing's ability to enable 100% accurate understanding of the content and where the applicable, performance of the task or procedure documented. In the life sciences, that could mean the difference between life or death, safety or injury, loss or recovery, contamination or purity, success or failure.

Unfortunately, technical writing is not a skill that is given much emphasis in college curriculums if any. Technical writing is a skill life sciences workers are assumed to have and are expected to demonstrate at a level of skill usually beyond the capability of most. Unfortunately, most readers of technical writing are in the "same boat." They "don't know a good one when they see one." At the end of the day, in most cases, you have mediocre writing at best that may or may not convey the message intended.

This virtual seminar will walk you through the technical writing process from start to finish. Each critical aspect of writing technical documents for the life sciences will be addressed with the goal of helping you become a better technical writer. The tips and skills presented can be applied immediately and will be evident in the very first document that you write after this virtual seminar.

Background

Technical writing is defined as simplifying the complex. Implied in this deceptively simple definition is an entire range of skills and characteristics that touch upon a broad range of human performance characteristics and needs.

What do technical writers in the life sciences write? They write standard operating procedures, work instructions, job aids, batch records, reports, journal papers, manuals, user directions, label information, etc. It is not the role of technical writing to entertain or to showcase the educational level and importance of the writer. In the technical writing realm, writing simply for anyone to understand is the demonstration of excellence and superior writing skill.

An effective technical writer must consider many aspects of the craft to be truly effective. Writers, must adopt and apply the form and style of the industry in which they work as there are differences for example, between the documents written for a pharmaceutical production operation versus the creation of scientific journal articles. Writers must understand their audience in terms of their needs and abilities and the level of explanation that they require as well as their command of the language in which the material is written. They must have a complete and unwavering dedication to accuracy and consistency. Technical writers must understand and be skilled at collaboration as that is how accuracy is achieved - by harvesting information from subject matter experts.



Who Should Attend:

Anyone in the life sciences that is tasked with writing technical material to include standard operating procedures and work instructions.

Key Topics Covered:

This Seminar will address the following:

What is technical writing, and what role does technical writing play in the life sciences?

Technical writers in the life sciences - what do they write - types of medium

Analyzing the audience

Analyzing the information - working with Subject Matter Experts

Planning the content

Formats, consistency and styles

Non-native audience considerations

Grammar, spelling, punctuation, numbers and symbols

Simplify your writing

Ensuring accuracy

Speakers:



Charles H. Paul

President

C. H. Paul Consulting, Inc.



Charles H. Paul is the President of C. H. Paul Consulting, Inc. - a regulatory, manufacturing, training, and technical documentation consulting firm - celebrating its twentieth year in business in 2017. He has been a regulatory and management consultant and an Instructional Technologist for 30 years and has published numerous white papers on various regulatory and training subjects. The firm works with both domestic and international clients designing solutions for complex training and documentation issues.



He has held senior positions in consulting and in corporate training development prior to forming C. H. Paul Consulting, Inc.. He also worked for several years in government contracting managing the development of significant Army-wide training development contracts impacting virtually all of the active Army and changing the training paradigm throughout the military.



He has dedicated his entire professional career explaining the benefits of performance-based training



For more information about this training visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/57lggy

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




Teck Resources Ltd

Planned separation maximizes value and unlocks a broader range of strategic opportunities

Rejected Glencore proposal is not actionable and bad for Teck shareholders

Board recommends shareholders vote in favour of separation and dual class amendment

Investor and Analyst Conference Call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time Today

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A and TECK.B, NYSE: TECK) today reaffirmed the strong rationale for its pending separation as the optimal pathway to maximize shareholder value with the greatest certainty.

Teck will publish an investor presentation at www.teck.com/separation and host a conference call today, April 10 at 5:00 a.m. PT / 8:00 a.m. ET with CEO Jonathan Price. Dial in details are included below.

Presentation highlights:

Tecks pending separation provides shareholders with a greater set of options to maximize value. Teck shareholders will receive shares in two world-class, pure-play companies providing investors with choice: Teck Metals, a premier, growth-oriented producer of energy transition metals and Elk Valley Resources (EVR), a responsible steelmaking coal business with top-tier margins. There is significant value to be realized by Teck shareholders from, and following, the separation, which will open a spectrum of opportunities for both Teck Metals and EVR.



Tecks pending separation minimizes execution risk. Tecks plan provides a responsible exit from steelmaking coal at fair value and in the best interests of all stakeholders. Further, Tecks separation has no competition or regulatory hurdles, with completion expected by the end of May.



Glencores proposal is not actionable and has been unanimously rejected by Tecks Board of Directors because: It would reduce Teck shareholders exposure to copper and introduce exposure to thermal coal and oil trading. Glencore did not present a coherent plan for its proposed coal company. There is no market for shares of a massive new thermal coal-focused company. It would expose Teck shareholders to significant jurisdictional, ESG and execution risk. The fundamental flaws of Glencores proposal make it a non-starter and Glencores track record makes it an unsuitable acquirer.



Voting for the pending separation is the only option to unlock Tecks full value potential. The choice is clear: either vote for a separation that creates two companies with a broad spectrum of opportunities to maximize value, or vote to maintain the status quo.

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Tecks Board of Directors continues to unanimously recommend that shareholders approve the previously announced reorganization of Tecks business and the previously announced proposal to introduce a six-year sunset for the multiple voting rights attached to the Class A common shares of Teck, among other items of business, at the annual and special meeting of shareholders on April 26, 2023.

To view the management proxy circular providing more information on these proposals click here. For instructions on voting for Teck shareholders, go to www.teckagsm.com.

Advisors

Barclays Capital Canada Inc. and Ardea Partners LP are serving as financial advisors to Teck. Stikeman Elliott LLP and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP are acting as legal advisors.

BMO Capital Markets, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, and Origin Merchant Partners are serving as financial advisors to the Special Committee and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP are acting as legal advisors to the Special Committee.

Investor Conference Call and Information

A conference call to discuss the Separation will be held as follows:

Date: Monday, April 10, 2023 Time: 5:00 a.m. PT / 8:00 a.m. ET Dial In for conference call: 416.915.3239 or 1.800.319.4610 Quote Teck Resources, to join the call Alternate, quick access to the call: Call Me

An archive of the conference call will be available at teck.com within 24 hours.



About Teck

As one of Canadas leading mining companies, Teck is committed to responsible mining and mineral development with major business units focused on copper, zinc, and steelmaking coal. Copper, zinc and high-quality steelmaking coal are required for the transition to a low-carbon world. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Tecks shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TECK.A and TECK.B and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TECK. Learn more about Teck at www.teck.com or follow @TeckResources.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain information which constitutes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as may, should, anticipate, expect, potential, believe, intend or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: statements regarding Tecks planned separation transaction, including the timing thereof, and Tecks expectations regarding the impacts of any such transaction in terms of creating value for shareholders; statements related to anticipated risks of Glencores proposal, including with respect to execution, timing and exposure to thermal coal and oil trading, and Tecks assessment thereof as compared to its own planned separation transaction; statements related to the opportunity for future transactions involving Teck Metals or EVR; and statements with respect to Tecks business and assets and its strategy going forward. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond the Tecks control. Several factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: future actions taken by Glencore in connection with its unsolicited proposal; fluctuations in supply and demand in steelmaking coal, base metals and specialty metals markets; changes in competitive pressures, including pricing pressures; timing and receipt of requisite shareholder and court approvals; the recent global banking crisis and conditions and changes in credit markets; changes in capital markets; changes in currency and exchange rates; changes in and the effects of, government policy and regulations; and earnings, exchange rates and the decisions of taxing authorities, all of which could affect effective tax rates. Additional risks and uncertainties can be found in our Annual Information Form dated February 21, 2023 under Risk Factors and our management information circular in respect of our annual and special meeting of shareholders on April 26, 2023, each filed under our profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov), and on Tecks website (www.teck.com). Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties underlying these forward-looking statements materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements could vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this release and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, Teck does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Investor Contact:

Fraser Phillips

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Strategic Analysis

604.699.4621

fraser.phillips@teck.com

Media Contact:

Chris Stannell

Public Relations Manager

604.699.4368

chris.stannell@teck.com








Rep. Earl Carter, R-Ga., questions TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on the platform's consumer privacy and data security practices and impact on kids (Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press)

Democrat and Republican lawmakers are pushing for a U.S. ban on TikTok, arguing the Chinese-owned social media app is a national security risk. But many of its users argue that will severely harm their businesses.

Today, we hear from some of them. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times technology reporter Brian Contreras and L.A. Times business reporter Jaimie Ding

More reading:

For some, TikTok is a path to riches and the American dream. With a ban, it could all disappear

TikTok might get banned after disaster testimony. Why do some TikTokers not care?

The Biden administrations threat to ban TikTok: Heres what you should know

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Thanks in no small measure to Vanguard founder Jack Bogle, it's easy buy a low cost index fund, which should provide the average market return. But you can make superior returns by picking better-than average stocks. Notably, the TKH Group N.V. (AMS:TWEKA) share price has gained 58% in three years, which is better than the average market return. The bad news is that the share price seems to lack positive momentum recently, since it has dropped 6.9% in the last year.

While the stock has fallen 4.9% this week, it's worth focusing on the longer term and seeing if the stocks historical returns have been driven by the underlying fundamentals.

Check out our latest analysis for TKH Group

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

During three years of share price growth, TKH Group achieved compound earnings per share growth of 27% per year. The average annual share price increase of 17% is actually lower than the EPS growth. Therefore, it seems the market has moderated its expectations for growth, somewhat.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

We know that TKH Group has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? If you're interested, you could check this free report showing consensus revenue forecasts.

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. In the case of TKH Group, it has a TSR of 75% 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!

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A Different Perspective

TKH Group shareholders are down 3.9% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 4.2%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 0.2% 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. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand TKH Group better, we need to consider many other factors. Even so, be aware that TKH Group is showing 1 warning sign in our investment analysis , you should know about...

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 Dutch 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.

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Toubani Resources, Inc.

Figure 1

Plan showing location of Kobada North and Kobada South

Figure 2

Plan showing Kobada North targets and Toubani drilling

Figure 3

Gosso showing Toubani drilling location and results

Figure 4

Gosso cross-section showing results from Toubani drilling

TORONTO, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toubani Resources, Inc (ASX: TRE; TSX-V: TRE) (Toubani Resources or the Company) is pleased to provide further results from the ongoing drilling program at its 3.1Moz Kobada Gold Project in southern Mali. The Mineral Resources1 occur over a strike length of 4.5km.



Highlights

Drilling at Kobada North has confirmed continuity and further extended mineralisation north of the Kobada Main Deposit with mineralisation now intersected over 2km from previous drilling, and remains open

Shallow, oxide mineralisation intersected in drilling at the Gosso target with results of 1m at 5.78g/t, 2m at 1.44g/t, 1m at 3.16g/t, 3m at 1.34g/t, 3m at 1.17g/t, and 2m at 1.15g/t

Mineralisation at Gosso remains open to the north and south with Toubanis drilling increasing the strike of known mineralisation to over 2km

All targets tested in the current program to date have intersected mineralisation

RC drilling continues on site with drilling recently completed at the Kobada Est target, where high grade auger results were received in late 2022

Drilling now in progress at Kobada West, a previously undrilled structure parallel to the Kobada Main Shear with results anticipated shortly

Following the success of this current campaign, Toubani has increased its drilling program by 3,000m to a total of 13,750m



Chief Executive Officer, Phil Russo commented: The goal of our current program is to drill test several high value targets outside the 3.1Moz Kobada Main deposit. Following the success of our initial results last month, we are pleased to have continued to intersect mineralisation and extend strike at all targets tested so far. Our belief is that the potential scale of Kobada is much more extensive, and our drilling program continues to confirm this. Given the success of our campaign, we have elected to increase the program by an additional 3,000m with the overall program set to be completed in the coming weeks and assays due thereafter.

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Drilling Results and Commentary

At Kobada North 2, two fences of drilling were completed stepping out 1,500 metres and 2,100 metres, respectively, north of the last fence of drilling within the Kobada Main resource. The drilling tested below and adjacent to artisanal workings.

Plan showing location of Kobada North and Kobada South





Figure 1: Plan showing location of Kobada North and Kobada South

Drilling was designed to test potential extensions to mineralisation at the Kobada Main Deposit (Figure 1). Extensive artisanal workings can be found along strike and along trend from Kobada Main, yet almost no drilling has been undertaken.

Drilling successfully confirmed the continuation of the system as shown on Figure 2 with intersections of:

1m at 8.51g/t from 48 metres (KN2/22_P003 = 1,500m north of Kobada, refer Appendix 1)

1m at 0.64g/t from 137 metres (KN1/22_P010 = 2,100m north of Kobada, refer Appendix 1)

Inspection of drill chips and field mapping indicates that shearing is less intense in the area of the Kobada North 2 target vs the Kobada North 1 target, where results of 9m at 1.32g/t and 14m at 1.02g/t were intersected in recent drilling2. Results confirm the mineralisation model of regional scale shear zones providing the first order control on mineralisation with localised cross-cutting structures providing the second order control and, importantly, controlling the higher grade mineralisation.

Kobada North 2 is located 900m north of the drilling at Kobada North 1 and these results lead to two follow up workflows:

Immediate follow up in the Kobada North 1 area to delineate newly identified mineralisation

Follow up for Kobada North 2 utilising systematic regional scale exploration tools such as auger or aircore drilling to map the continuation of the Kobada Main shear and explore for higher strain areas which will be the hotspots for higher grade gold mineralisation

Plan showing Kobada North targets and Toubani drilling





Figure 2: Plan showing Kobada North targets and Toubani drilling

At Gosso, drilling aimed to test the northern and southern extents of the deposit as well as a line of drilling through the centre of the target. Mineralisation at Gosso is hosted on a parallel structure to the Kobada Main Deposit, which has had relatively little drill testing compared to the Kobada Shear.

Previous drilling at Gosso3 returned results including:

36m at 1.64 g/t from 72m (KBRC11-140)

3.1m at 4.25 g/t from 34.6m (G20_PH3A_20)

3m at 2.59 g/t from 30m (KBRC11-144)

5m at 1.90 g/t from 133m (KBRC11-142)

Toubanis drilling has successfully extended the known strike of mineralisation at Gosso from 1,600m to 2,100m as well as confirming mineralisation is open to the north and south of the target.

Results have confirmed the shallow, oxide nature of mineralisation with several higher grade zones intersected. Mineralisation is clearly hosted in a similar structural setting to that outlined for the Kobada Shear above, with multiple intersections on each section likely indicative of a strong influence of cross-cutting E-W structures. Detailed interpretation of these results is in progress to aid future targeting.

All results from Gosso are shown on Figure 3 and tabulated in Appendix 1 with intersections including:

1m at 5.78g/t from 134 metres (GO22_P024 = central line)

9m at 0.42g/t from 8 metres (includes 2m void from artisanal mining, GO22_P026 = central line)

2m at 1.44g/t from 49 metres and 1m at 3.16g/t from 80 metres (GO22_P027 = central line)

3m at 1.34g/t from 32 metres and 2m at 0.98g/t from 25 metres (GO22_P029 = central line)

1m at 1.81g/t from 110 metres (GO22_P032 = southern line)

7m at 0.67g/t from 15 metres, including 3m at 1.17g/t from 19 metres, and 2m at 1.15g/t from 45 metres (GO22_P039 = northern line)

Results from GO22_P039 are significant as this hole was drilled on section with G20_PH3C_16, previously the northernmost hole at Gosso. To successfully intersect multiple lodes of mineralisation is encouraging and warrants further drilling to the north of the prospect.

Gosso showing Toubani drilling location and results





Figure 3: Gosso showing Toubani drilling location and results

Gosso cross-section showing results from Toubani drilling





Figure 4: Gosso cross-section showing results from Toubani drilling

Forward Work Program

Drilling continues on site with drilling recently completed at the Kobada Est target, where high grade auger results were received in 20224 including:

20.69 g/t Au over 8.0 m from 2.0 m to 10.0 m (Drill hole E-423) including 78.9 g/t Au over 2.0 m including 3.14 g/t Au over 2.0 m

1.81 g/t Au over 8.0 m from 10.0 m to 18.0 m (Drill hole E-412) including 3.94 g/t Au over 2.0 m

2.42 g/t Au over 2.0 m from 0.0 m to 2.0 m (Drill hole E-417)

The Company is awaiting results from the SGS laboratory in Bamako.

Drilling is currently in progress at Kobada West, a previously undrilled structure parallel to Kobada Main which hosts substantial artisanal workings.

Given the success of the program in extending mineralisation at Koboda North and Gosso, as well as identification of further high value targets, the Company has increased its current program by 3,000m to 13,750m.

Drilling is focused on following up targets identified by recently completed drilling at Kobada North, from artisanal workings at Kobada West and the interpreted junction between the Kobada and Foroko shears. Significant artisanal workings are evident at the latter targets yet little to no previous drill testing has occurred.

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board.



For more information:



Phil Russo Jane Morgan Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Investor and Media Relations

+(61) 478 138 627 + 61 (0) 405 555 618

Phil.Russo@toubaniresources.com jm@janemorganmanagement.com.au

About Toubani Resources Inc

Toubani Resources (ASX: TRE; TSX-V: TRE) is an exploration and development Company with a focus on building Africas next mid-tier gold producer with its advanced Kobada Gold Project. The Company has a highly experienced Board and management team with a proven African track record in advancing projects through exploration, development and into production.

For more information regarding Toubani Resources visit our website at www.toubaniresources.com.

Competent Persons Statement

The information in this press release relating to geology and Exploration Results is based on information compiled, reviewed and assessed by Mr. Bill Oliver, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr. Oliver is a consultant to the Company and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined by the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code). Mr. Oliver consents to the inclusion of the information in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in this press release relating to the Mineral Resources at the Kobada Deposit is extracted from Company's prospectus dated 12 September 2022 and released on ASX on 25 November 2022 (Prospectus) which is available on the ASX announcements platform. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information relating to the Mineral Resources at the Kobada Deposit included in the Prospectus and all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the Mineral Resources estimate in the Prospectus continue to apply and have not materially changed.

Cautionary statements

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the listing on the Australian Securities Exchange, the expansion of mineral resources and reserves, and drilling and exploration plans of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: receipt of necessary approvals from Canadian and Australian regulatory authorities; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future prices of mineral prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages; available infrastructure and supplies; the COVID-19 pandemic and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in 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 information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

Appendix 1. Kobada RC Drilling Data and Results

Hole ID Target Easting Northing RL Dip Azi Depth From

(m) To

(m) Length Au (g/t) KN2/22_P001 Kobada North 1 548387 1294653 380 55 295 140 NSI KN2/22_P002 Kobada North 1 548332 1294672 382 55 295 140 NSI KN2/22_P003 Kobada North 1 548289 1294696 388 55 295 140 28 29 1 0.3 48 49 1 8.51 KN2/22_P008 Kobada North 1 548527 1295240 396 55 295 140 NSI KN2/22_P009 Kobada North 1 548473 1295257 396 55 295 140 NSI KN2/22_P010 Kobada South 548422 1295289 393 55 295 140 137 138 1 0.64 GO22_P024 Gosso 548966 1285158 367 55 295 140 134 135 1 5.78 GO22_P025 Gosso 548920 1285176 371 55 295 140 NSI GO22_P026 Gosso 548862 1285203 368 55 295 140 8 17 9 0.42* 134 140 6 0.79 GO22_P027 Gosso 548807 1285217 382 55 295 140 49 51 2 1.44 80 81 1 3.16 122 123 1 0.66 GO22_P029 Gosso 548714 1284507 375 55 295 140 21 22 1 0.83 25 27 2 0.98 32 35 3 1.34 38 39 1 0.72 116 117 1 1.74 GO22_P030 Gosso 548654 1284529 379 55 295 140 NSI GO22_P031 Gosso 548598 1284561 393 55 295 136 NSI GO22_P032 Gosso 548534 1284569 392 55 295 117 105 106 1 0.3 110 111 1 1.81 GO22_P033 Gosso 548505 1284604 404 55 295 140 NSI GO22_P034 Gosso 548435 1284616 358 55 295 140 NSI GO22_P035 Gosso 548375 1284645 394 55 295 140 NSI GO22_P038 Gosso 549478 1286442 375 55 295 140 NSI GO22_P039 Gosso 549364 1286484 377 55 295 140 15 22 7 0.67 incl 19 22 3 1.17 45 47 2 1.15

NSI  No Significant Intersection

* - includes 2m void due to artisanal mining

Appendix 2. The following tables are provided to ensure compliance with JORC Code requirements for the reporting of Exploration Results from the Kobada Project

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.)

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.

Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.

Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report.

In cases where industry standard work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Drilling samples collected using reverse circulation (RC) percussion drilling.



The entire sample is collected , homogenised and split to achieve a sample of approximately 2kg which is submitted for analysis.



Analysis is carried out in an independent commercial laboratory using fire assay. Drilling techniques Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). Reverse Circulation drilling using 127mm face sampling hammer Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.

Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.

Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. RC samples are weighed to quantify recovery



Recovery is also noted in the sampling sheet. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.

Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography.

The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. Geological logging of RC drilling is completed to an acceptable standard for use in Mineral Resource estimation.



Logging is both qualitative (weathering, colour, lithology, alteration) and quantitative (% veining, sulphides)



All drilling reported (100%) has been logged.



Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.

If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry.

For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.

Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples.

Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.

Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. All RC samples are split using a riffle splitter with one split (approximately 1 to 2 kg) collected for laboratory testing and the remaining amount after splitting is retained in the bulk bag for future reference. All samples were sampled dry.



Sample moisture is noted in the sampling sheet.



Appropriate sampling procedures are used to ensure representivity.



It is believed that the sample size is in line with standard practice and is appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled.



Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total.

For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc.

Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established. Samples were submitted to the SANAS and ISO/IEC 17025 accredited SGS Laboratory in Bamako. Samples were tested by fire assay with an AAS finish. Samples < 3.0 kg were dried in trays, crushed to a nominal 2 mm using a jaw crusher, and then < 1.5 kg were split using a Jones-type riffle splitter. Reject sample was retained in the original bag and stored. The sample was pulverised in an LM2 pulveriser to a nominal 85 % passing 75 m. An approximately 200 g subsample was taken for assay, with the pulverised residue retained in a plastic bag. All the preparation equipment was flushed with barren material prior to the commencement of the job. A 50 g subsample was fused with a litharge-based flux, cupelled, and the prill is dissolved in aqua regia, and gold is determined by flame AAS (Detection Limit 0.01 ppm).



Every 10th sample is a CRM, blank or duplicate. It is believe that acceptable levels of accuracy and precision have been achieved based on the control samples.



Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.

The use of twinned holes.

Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.

Discuss any adjustment to assay data. Significant intersections have been estimated by consultants to the company and cross checked.



Twinned holes are not being used in the current programme which aims to test for mineralisation away from previously drilled areas.



All data is entered into logging templates using codes on site and validated in appropriate software.



No adjustment to assay data has been carried out. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.

Specification of the grid system used.

Quality and adequacy of topographic control. The drillhole collars have been located with a Garmin handheld GPS with a  5 m accuracy



Co-ordinates presented are in UTM format using the WGS84 datum (zone 29N)



A high-definition stereo satellite survey was conducted in 2020 over the main mineralised body to assist with the updated topography for the geological modelling and to improve the accuracy of artisanal mining depletions. This survey is deemed of sufficient quality to utilise in the Mineral Resource estimation. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.

Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.

Whether sample compositing has been applied. Drillholes are being drilled at spacings between 50 and 100m on section, with sections 200  400 metres apart.



Drill spacing is intended to provide an initial test for mineralisation and may not be sufficiently close spaced for inclusion in a Mineral Resource estimation.



Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type.

If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. Drilling orientation is planned perpendicular to the regional structural trend (NNE).



No sampling bias is expected. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. Industry best practice has been applied to the drilling sampling processes carried out. Drilled samples were transported in a manner to prevent loss or cross-contamination. All samples were stored in a secure storage facility pending dispatch to laboratory in Bamako. In line with protocol, two people were used to transport the samples directly to the laboratory. Once at the laboratory, the samples were subject to the standard security measures of the laboratory. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. No audits have been completed.





Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.)

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings.

The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. African Gold Group Mali SARL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TRE, holds a mining permit No. PE 15/22 encompassing an area of 135.7 km for the Kobada project area valid to 30 July 2045. Two adjacent exploration permits are also held, namely Kobada-Est (No. PR 18/957 over 77 km valid to 15 August 2024 for three years) and Faraba (for which renewal was granted under Arrete No. 2021-3226/MMP-SG effective 6 April 2021 for a further three years.



An environmental permit No. 2021-0045 MEADD-SG was issued on 18 October 2021 relating to the oxides project. An ESIA amendment is underway development and mining of the sulphides portion of the Project.



Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres conducted historical exploration in 1982 to 1988, which respectively identified and delineated the Kobada Shear Zone through geochemistry surveys and latter diamond drilling. La Source undertook RC drilling in 1996, followed in 2002 and 2004 respectively by RC and air core drilling by Cominor. IAMGold completed diamond and RC drilling in 2009.



Previous exploration by Toubani Resource is detailed in the Company's prospectus dated 12 September 2022 and released on ASX on 25 November 2022 Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation.  The Project is located in the Bagoe Formation on the north-central edge of the Birimian rock units that form part of the Leo Rise in the southern part of the West African Craton. The Project is situated on the western flank of the Bougouni Basin, composed primarily of sedimentary rocks with minor tholeiitic volcano-sedimentary intercalations.



 The Kobada gold deposit is a quartz-carbonate veined mesothermal orogenic gold deposit hosted within a greenstone belt. Gold is present in the laterite, saprolite, unaltered rock as sulphides, and in the quartz veins. Placer-style deposits occur and have largely been exploited by artisanal miners.



 Mineralisation extends for a minimum strike of 4 km and is associated with narrow, irregular, high-angle quartz veins and with disseminated sulphides in the wall rock and vein selvages. Mineralisation occurs as free gold, whereas in sulphides mineralisation includes the occurrence of arsenopyrite, pyrite and rarely chalcopyrite. Arsenopyrite is localised near vein selvages and as fine-grained disseminated patches within the host rock. Pyrite occurs in finely disseminated patches within the host rocks, generally as traces up to 3 % by volume with up to 10 % locally in the wall rock at centimetre-scale intervals adjacent to the quartz veins. Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level  elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole down hole length and interception depth hole length.

If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. Refer Appendix 1







Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.

Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.

The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. Averaging is weighted based on length, with all samples 1m in downhole length.



All results > 0.3g/t are reported in Appendix 1 with high grade intervals (> 1g/t) reported separately.



No metal equivalent results are reported. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results.

If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.

If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg down hole length, true width not known). Downhole lengths are presented in Appendix 1. True widths have not been calculated.



Drillholes are designed to intersect the mineralised shear zones as close to perpendicular as is possible. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views.  Refer to figures within this report.



Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. All meaningful information has been included in the body of the text and all results are presented in Appendix 1.



Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples  size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. All material data and information is detailed in the Company's prospectus dated 12 September 2022 and released on ASX on 25 November 2022.



Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).

Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. As detailed in the text  drilling is ongoing at the project and further drilling will be planned to follow up these results.





1 Combined Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource of 103.57Mt at 0.94g/t.

Refer to the Company's prospectus dated 12 September 2022 and released on ASX on 25 November 2022

2 Refer Toubani successfully extends overall Kobada Mineralisation by 1km, published 8th March 2023

3 Refer to the Company's prospectus dated 12 September 2022 and released on ASX on 25 November 2022

4 Refer Auger Drilling Confirms Further Gold Mineralization on the Kobada Est Permit, published 2nd August 2022

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4bf04d3c-2a58-461b-b1ff-f8e85edc541c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1e2f4d2c-088f-4618-ad1a-047df465c38e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/93494ba3-774a-4a28-8f07-7ed6f5ecd990

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e9fbd11e-f88e-4d97-8d87-12ab474fceb8




Franklin Health Plan Brokered by The Underwriters Group Gives Employers New Option for Group Health Insurance

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Underwriters Group, a Higginbotham partner located in Louisville, KY, that provides property/casualty insurance and employee benefit services, announced today that it is the exclusive broker of the Franklin Health Plan in Kentucky. The announcement follows Humana's decision to withdraw from the employer-based insurance market. Based in Louisville, KY, Humana's departure leaves Kentucky employers with limited group medical plan options for their employees.

The Underwriters Group in Louisville, KY, is part of Higginbotham, one of the top 20 independent insurance brokers in the U.S.

Humana announced in February 2023 that it will exit the employer-based insurance business during the next 18 to 24 months to focus on government-backed programs like Medicaid and Medicare and specialty businesses. Its employer group business includes fully insured health insurance plans purchased by employers and employer-sponsored health plans managed by Humana.

The Franklin Health Plan helps fill the gap left by Humana by giving employers a competitive alternative through a nationally leading broker. The Underwriters Group is part of Higginbotham, one of the largest independent insurance brokers in the U.S. It is the only broker of the Franklin Health Plan in Kentucky.

Stuart Ferguson, managing partner of Higginbotham's Kentucky region, said, "The Franklin Health Plan not only serves employers that were with Humana, it's a great option for any employer with 25 to 500 employees. It functions much like a fully-insured plan, but it gives employers an opportunity to earn back a portion of their premium."

The Franklin Health Plan is now available for plan years effective immediately. Employers in Kentucky interested in learning more about the plan may contact David Brown, dbrown@higginbotham.com, or John Jennings, jojennings@higginbotham.com.

About Higginbotham & The Underwriters Group

Higginbotham is a single source solution for insurance, financial and HR services ranked in the top 20 largest independent insurance brokerages in the U.S. The employee-owned firm based in Fort Worth, Texas, opened in 1948 and today serves businesses and individuals through locations coast-to-coast. The Underwriters Group, based in Louisville, KY, is an independent commercial and personal insurance and employee benefits broker that joined Higginbotham in January 2022. It provides access to all of Higginbotham's products and services through its local professionals. Visit higginbotham.com for more information.

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Cision

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SOURCE Higginbotham
Vancouver --News Direct-- Usha Resources Ltd

Usha Resources Ltd CEO Deepak Varshney joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with details of the company's second acquisition of its planned expansion into the hard-rock pegmatite space in a continuation of its strategy to build an accretive portfolio complementary to its 100%-owned flagship Jackpot Lake Lithium Brine Project.

Combined with the recent purchase of the White Willow property, Varshney said Usha has a unique and timely opportunity to capitalize on the rapidly growing lithium market in Canada.

Contact Details

Proactive Investors Canada

+1 604-688-8158

na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/usha-resources-makes-second-acquisition-of-planned-expansion-into-hard-rock-lithium-space-561678005
Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Varicose Veins Treatment Market is valued at USD 298.98 Million in 2022 and is projected to reach a value of USD 491.09 Million by 2030 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 6.40% over the forecast period 2023-2030.



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Expansion into emerging markets: The Varicose Veins Treatment Market is still relatively small in emerging markets. However, there is a growing demand for treatment in these markets due to the increasing prevalence of varicose veins and the rising awareness about the condition.



Recommendations

Develop new and innovative treatment options : Companies should focus on developing new and innovative treatment options for varicose veins. This will help them to stay ahead of the competition and meet the growing demand for effective and less invasive treatment options.

Expand into emerging markets: Companies should expand into emerging markets where there is a growing demand for treatment for varicose veins. This will help them to tap into a new market and grow their business.

Increase awareness about the condition: Companies should increase awareness about varicose veins and their associated complications. This will help to drive demand for treatment and increase the number of people seeking treatment.

Improve patient education: Companies should improve patient education about varicose veins and their treatment options. This will help patients to make informed decisions about their treatment and improve their outcomes.

Top Players in the Global Varicose Veins Treatment Market

Medtronic PLC (Ireland)

AngioDynamics Inc. (U.S.)

Biolitec AG (Austria)

Syneron Medical Ltd. (Israel)

Lumenis Ltd. (Israel)

Dornier MedTech GmbH (Germany)

Energist Group (U.K.)

Eufoton S.R.L. (Italy)

Vascular Solutions Inc. (U.S.)

Quanta System S.P.A. (Italy)

Sciton Inc. (U.S.)

Fotona D.O.O. (Slovenia)

BTG PLC (U.K.)

Merz Aesthetics (U.S.)

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Top Report Findings

Based on product , the market is segmented into ablation devices, venous closure products, and surgical products. The ablation devices segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing demand for minimally invasive procedures. The venous closure products segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing adoption of these products due to their high efficacy and safety.

Based on end-user, the market is segmented into hospitals, specialty clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. The hospitals segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing number of patients seeking treatment for varicose veins in hospitals. The specialty clinics segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing number of patients seeking treatment for varicose veins in specialty clinics due to the availability of specialized doctors and advanced treatment facilities.

Based on region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. North America is expected to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This is due to the high prevalence of varicose veins in this region. Europe is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing awareness about varicose veins and the rising demand for minimally invasive procedures in this region.



Top Trends in Global Varicose Veins Treatment Market

Increasing prevalence of varicose veins - Varicose veins are a common condition that affects the veins in the legs. They are caused by a number of factors, including genetics, age, obesity, and pregnancy. The prevalence of varicose veins is expected to increase in the coming years due to the aging population and the rising obesity rates.

Rising demand for minimally invasive procedures - Minimally invasive procedures are becoming increasingly popular as a treatment option for varicose veins. These procedures are less invasive than traditional surgery and have a shorter recovery time. The demand for minimally invasive procedures is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

Growing investments by market players - Market players are investing heavily in research and development to develop innovative and effective treatments for varicose veins. These investments are expected to lead to the development of new technologies and products that will improve the treatment of varicose veins.

Focus on patient education - Market players are focusing on patient education to raise awareness about varicose veins and the available treatment options. This is expected to help patients make informed decisions about their treatment.

Regulatory changes - Regulatory changes are expected to impact the Varicose Veins Treatment Market in the coming years. These changes may include the approval of new treatments and the introduction of new labeling requirements.



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Recent Developments in the Global Varicose Veins Treatment Market

Medtronic plc launched the VNUS ClosureFAST System - In October 2021, Medtronic plc launched the VNUS ClosureFAST System, a minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins. The system uses radiofrequency energy to close the veins, which eliminates the need for surgery.

AngioDynamics Inc. entered into a partnership with Quanta System - In September 2021, AngioDynamics Inc. entered into a partnership with Quanta System to develop and commercialize a new laser system for the treatment of varicose veins. The system is expected to be launched in 2022.

Teleflex Incorporated acquired Covidien - In August 2021, Teleflex Incorporated acquired Covidien, a global medical device company. The acquisition will strengthen Teleflex's position in the Varicose Veins Treatment Market.

Lumenis launched the Vbeam Perfecta laser system - In July 2021, Lumenis launched the Vbeam Perfecta laser system, a new laser system for the treatment of varicose veins. The system is designed to provide a more effective and comfortable treatment than traditional laser systems.

Biolitec AG received CE Mark for the ELVeS system - In June 2021, Biolitec AG received CE Mark for the ELVeS system, a new minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins. The system uses ultrasound energy to close the veins, which eliminates the need for surgery.

Syneron Medical Ltd. launched the PicoWay laser system - In May 2021, Syneron Medical Ltd. launched the PicoWay laser system, a new laser system for the treatment of varicose veins. The system is designed to provide a more effective and comfortable treatment than traditional laser systems.

Vascular Solutions Inc. launched the ClariVein system - In April 2021, Vascular Solutions Inc. launched the ClariVein system, a new minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins. The system uses radiofrequency energy to close the veins, which eliminates the need for surgery.



The Global Varicose Veins Treatment Market is segmented on the basis of region into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World.

North America is expected to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This is due to the high prevalence of varicose veins in this region. Europe is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing awareness about varicose veins and the rising demand for minimally invasive procedures in this region.

North America - North America is the largest market for varicose veins treatment. The United States is the major contributor to the market in this region. The high prevalence of varicose veins in the United States is due to a number of factors, including obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and pregnancy. The increasing demand for minimally invasive procedures is also driving the market in this region.

Europe - Europe is the second-largest market for varicose veins treatment. Germany, Italy, and France are the major contributors to the market in this region. The increasing awareness about varicose veins and the rising demand for minimally invasive procedures are driving the market in this region.

Asia Pacific - Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market for varicose veins treatment. China, India, and Japan are the major contributors to the market in this region. The rising prevalence of varicose veins due to the aging population and the increasing obesity rates is driving the market in this region.

Rest of the World - The Rest of the World is expected to grow at a moderate CAGR during the forecast period. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are the major contributors to the market in this region. The increasing awareness about varicose veins and the rising demand for minimally invasive procedures are driving the market in this region.

Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 145 Pages and in-depth TOC on Varicose Veins Treatment Market Forecast Report (2023-2030).

Global Varicose Veins Treatment Market Segmentation

Treatment Mode - The treatment mode segment is further sub-segmented into endovenous ablation, injection sclerotherapy, and surgical ligation/stripping. The endovenous ablation segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing adoption of minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of varicose veins. The injection sclerotherapy segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing awareness about the procedure and its efficacy in treating varicose veins.

Product - The product segment is further sub-segmented into ablation devices, radiofrequency ablation devices, laser ablation devices, and venous closure products. The ablation devices segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing adoption of minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of varicose veins. The radiofrequency ablation devices segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing awareness about the procedure and its efficacy in treating varicose veins.

End-User - The end-user segment is further sub-segmented into hospitals, specialty clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. The hospitals segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing number of patients seeking treatment for varicose veins in hospitals. The specialty clinics segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing number of patients seeking treatment for varicose veins in specialty clinics due to the availability of specialized doctors and advanced treatment facilities.

Region - The regional segment is further sub-segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. North America is expected to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This is due to the high prevalence of varicose veins in this region. Europe is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing awareness about varicose veins and the rising demand for minimally invasive procedures in this region.

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Scope of the Report:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 298.98 Million Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 491.09 Million CAGR 6.40% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players Medtronic PLC (Ireland), AngioDynamics Inc. (U.S.), Biolitec AG (Austria), Syneron Medical Ltd. (Israel), Lumenis Ltd. (Israel), Dornier MedTech GmbH (Germany), Energist Group (U.K.), Eufoton S.R.L. (Italy), Vascular Solutions Inc. (U.S.), Quanta System S.P.A. (Italy), Sciton Inc. (U.S.), Fotona D.O.O. (Slovenia), BTG PLC (U.K.), Merz Aesthetics (U.S.), and others. Customization Request If our report does not include the information you are searching for, you may contact us to have a report tailored to your specific business needs https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/varicose-veins-treatment-market-1737/request-sample

Key Questions Answered in the Varicose Veins Treatment Market Report are:

What is the size of the Global Varicose Veins Treatment Market?

What are the key factors driving the growth of the market?

What are the key trends in the market?

What are the challenges faced by the market participants?

Who are the key players in the market?

What are the strategies adopted by the key players?

What are the opportunities and threats faced by the market participants?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key players?

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Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Vein Illuminator Market is valued at USD 131.40 Million in 2022 and is projected to reach a value of USD 1078.50 Million by 2030 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 30.10% over the forecast period 2023-2030.



Market Overview

The growth of the market is attributed to the increasing demand for vein illuminators in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings. Vein illuminators are used to visualize veins under the skin, which helps healthcare professionals to easily locate veins for intravenous (IV) access. This is especially helpful in patients with difficult-to-access veins, such as obese patients, pediatric patients, and patients with dark skin.

The global vein illuminator market is segmented on the basis of product type, end-user, and region. Based on product type, the market is segmented into handheld vein illuminators and tabletop vein illuminators. Handheld vein illuminators are the most popular type of vein illuminators, accounting for the largest share of the market. This is due to the fact that handheld vein illuminators are portable and easy to use. Tabletop vein illuminators are larger and more expensive than handheld vein illuminators, but they offer better image quality and are more suitable for use in hospitals and other large healthcare settings.

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Market Dynamics

Increasing demand for vein illuminators in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings

Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, which require IV access

Increasing aging population, which is more likely to require IV access

Increasing healthcare expenditure in emerging economies

High cost of vein illuminators

Lack of awareness about vein illuminators among healthcare professionals

Stringent regulations for medical devices



Story continues

Challenge

The high cost of vein illuminators is a major challenge for the growth of the market. Vein illuminators are expensive devices, which can be a barrier for their adoption in low- and middle-income countries.

The lack of awareness about vein illuminators among healthcare professionals is another challenge for the growth of the market. Many healthcare professionals are not aware of the benefits of using vein illuminators, which can limit their adoption.

Stringent regulations for medical devices is another challenge for the growth of the market. The approval process for medical devices is long and complex, which can delay the introduction of new vein illuminators into the market.



Opportunities and Recommendations

Development of low-cost vein illuminators

Increasing awareness about vein illuminators among healthcare professionals

Simplifying the approval process for medical devices

Manufacturers should focus on developing low-cost vein illuminators to make them more affordable for healthcare providers in low- and middle-income countries.

Manufacturers should increase awareness about vein illuminators among healthcare professionals through educational programs and marketing campaigns.

Regulatory authorities should simplify the approval process for medical devices to make it easier for new vein illuminators to enter the market.

Top Players in the Global Vein Illuminator Market

AccuVein Inc.

Christie Medical Holdings Inc.

Vuetek Scientific

LLC

Near Infrared Imaging Inc.

Venoscope

LLC



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Top Report Findings

Based on end-user , the market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings. Hospitals are the largest end-user of vein illuminators, accounting for the largest share of the market. This is due to the fact that hospitals have a large number of patients who require IV access. Clinics are the second largest end-user of vein illuminators, followed by other healthcare settings, such as nursing homes and home healthcare settings.

Based on region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. North America is the largest market for vein illuminators, followed by Europe. The growth of the market in North America is attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, which require IV access. The growth of the market in Europe is attributed to the increasing aging population, which is more likely to require IV access. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for vein illuminators, due to the increasing healthcare expenditure in emerging economies, such as China and India.

Top Trends in Global Vein Illuminator Market

Increasing demand for vein illuminators in hospitals and clinics - The increasing demand for vein illuminators in hospitals and clinics is attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, which require IV access. The increasing aging population is also a major driver of the market, as older adults are more likely to require IV access.

Increasing adoption of vein illuminators in home healthcare settings - The increasing adoption of vein illuminators in home healthcare settings is attributed to the increasing number of patients who are receiving home healthcare. Vein illuminators can help healthcare professionals to easily locate veins in patients at home, which can reduce the number of needle sticks and improve the patient experience.

Development of new technologies - There is a growing focus on the development of new technologies for vein illumination. These new technologies are designed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of vein visualization. Some of the new technologies that are being developed include near-infrared vein illuminators, ultrasound vein illuminators, and 3D vein illuminators.

Expansion of the market to emerging markets - The vein illuminator market is expanding to emerging markets, such as China and India. This expansion is attributed to the increasing healthcare expenditure in these countries and the growing demand for vein illuminators from hospitals and clinics.

Competition from other technologies - The vein illuminator market is facing competition from other technologies, such as ultrasound and near-infrared imaging. These technologies are also used to visualize veins, but they offer different advantages and disadvantages. Vein illuminators are typically less expensive than ultrasound and near-infrared imaging systems, but they may not be as accurate.



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Recent Developments in the Global Vein Illuminator Market

In January 2023, Christie Medical Holdings, Inc. announced the launch of its new vein illuminator, the AccuVein AV400. The AccuVein AV400 is a handheld device that uses near-infrared light to illuminate veins under the skin. The device is designed to be easy to use and can be used on patients of all skin types.

In February 2023, Infrared Imaging Systems, Inc. announced the launch of its new vein illuminator, the VeinLite Pro. The VeinLite Pro is a tabletop device that uses near-infrared light to illuminate veins under the skin. The device is designed to be used in hospitals and clinics.

In March 2023, Translite LLC announced the launch of its new vein illuminator, the VeinViewer 4D. The VeinViewer 4D is a handheld device that uses 3D imaging to visualize veins under the skin. The device is designed to be used in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings.



The global vein illuminator market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World.

North America is the largest market for vein illuminators, followed by Europe. The growth of the market in North America is attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, which require IV access. The growth of the market in Europe is attributed to the increasing aging population, which is more likely to require IV access. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for vein illuminators, due to the increasing healthcare expenditure in emerging economies, such as China and India.

North America - The North American vein illuminator market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 32.1% from 2020 to 2027. The growth of the market is attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, which require IV access. The increasing aging population is also a major driver of the market, as older adults are more likely to require IV access.

Europe - The European vein illuminator market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 29.8% from 2020 to 2027. The growth of the market is attributed to the increasing healthcare expenditure in Europe. The increasing aging population is also a major driver of the market, as older adults are more likely to require IV access.

Asia Pacific - The Asia Pacific vein illuminator market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 35.2% from 2020 to 2027. The growth of the market is attributed to the increasing healthcare expenditure in emerging economies, such as China and India. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, is also a major driver of the market.

Rest of the World - The Rest of the World vein illuminator market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30.9% from 2020 to 2027. The growth of the market is attributed to the increasing healthcare expenditure in developing countries, such as Brazil and Mexico. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, is also a major driver of the market.

Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 178 Pages and in-depth TOC on Vein Illuminator Market Forecast Report (2023-2030).

Global Vein Illuminator Market Segmentation

Technology (Transillumination, Infrared, Ultrasound)

Application (Intravenous Access, Blood Draw, Others)

End Use (Hospitals, Blood Donation Camps, Academic Institutions, Others)

Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa)

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Scope of the Report:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2021 USD 101.1 Million Revenue Forecast by 2028 USD 327.2 Million CAGR 30.2% from 2023 to 2028 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players AccuVein, Inc., Christie Medical Holdings, Inc., Vuetek Scientific, LLC, Near Infrared Imaging, Inc., Venoscope, LLC. Customization Request If our report does not include the information you are searching for, you may contact us to have a report tailored to your specific business needs https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/vein-illuminator-market-1262/request-sample

Key Questions Answered in the Vein Illuminator Market Report are:

What is the size of the global vein illuminator market?

What are the key drivers and restraints of the market?

What are the key trends in the market?

What are the major opportunities in the market?

Who are the key players in the market?

What are their strategies and developments?

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About Vantage Market Research:

We, at Vantage Market Research, provide quantified B2B high quality research on more than 20,000 emerging markets, in turn, helping our clients map out constellation of opportunities for their businesses. We, as a competitive intelligence market research and consulting firm provide end to end solutions to our client enterprises to meet their crucial business objectives. Our clientele base spans across 70% of Global Fortune 500 companies.

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- With this approval, approximately 30 children with two copies of the F508del mutation

are eligible for a medicine that treats the underlying cause of their disease for the first

time -

TORONTO, April 10, 2023 /CNW/ - Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced that Health Canada, as a partner of the Access Consortium, has granted Marketing Authorization for the expanded use of PrORKAMBI (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in children ages 1 to <2 years who have two copies of the F508del mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. logo (CNW Group/Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc.)

"With this approval, we are delighted that this new patient group is eligible for a medicine that treats the underlying cause of their disease," said Michael Siauw, General Manager, Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Incorporated. "This approval enables us to advance closer toward our goal of developing medicines for people of all ages living with CF."

"As a trial investigator, I have seen the benefit ORKAMBI can bring to children ages 1-2 living with cystic fibrosis," said Larry C. Lands, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Clinic, and Pediatric Pulmonary Function Laboratory, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Center, and Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University. "This approval is a great step towards initiating eligible patients earlier to potentially slow the progression of the disease."

This approved label expansion is based on data from a 24-week, Phase 3, open-label, multi-center study in 46 children ages 1 to less than 2 years who have two copies of the F508del mutation. ORKAMBI was generally well tolerated, and the safety profile and pharmacokinetics were similar to that observed in studies in patients ages 2 years and older.

Vertex will work closely with payers to secure access for this new patient population as soon as possible.

Story continues

PrORKAMBI was previously approved by Health Canada for use in people with CF ages 2 years and older with two copies of the F508del mutation.

About Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a rare, life-shortening genetic disease affecting more than 88,000 people globally. CF is a progressive, multi-organ disease that affects the lungs, liver, pancreas, GI tract, sinuses, sweat glands and reproductive tract. CF is caused by a defective and/or missing CFTR protein resulting from certain mutations in the CFTR gene. Children must inherit two defective CFTR genes  one from each parent  to have CF, and these mutations can be identified by a genetic test. While there are many different types of CFTR mutations that can cause the disease, the vast majority of people with CF have at least one F508del mutation. CFTR mutations lead to CF by causing CFTR protein to be defective or by leading to a shortage or absence of CFTR protein at the cell surface. The defective function and/or absence of CFTR protein results in poor flow of salt and water into and out of the cells in a number of organs. In the lungs, this leads to the buildup of abnormally thick, sticky mucus, chronic lung infections and progressive lung damage that eventually leads to death for many patients. The median age of death is in the early 30s.

About PrORKAMBI (lumacaftor/ivacaftor)

In people with two copies of the F508del mutation, the CFTR protein is not processed and trafficked normally within the cell, resulting in little to no CFTR protein at the cell surface.

ORKAMBI (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) is an oral medicine that is a combination of lumacaftor and ivacaftor. Lumacaftor is designed to increase the amount of mature protein at the cell surface by targeting the processing and trafficking defect of the F508del-CFTR protein. Ivacaftor, which is known as a CFTR potentiator, is designed to facilitate the ability of CFTR proteins to transport salt and water across the cell membrane. The combined actions of lumacaftor and ivacaftor help hydrate and clear mucus from the airways.

About Vertex

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases. The company has multiple approved medicines that treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis (CF)  a rare, life-threatening genetic disease  and has several ongoing clinical and research programs in CF. Beyond CF, Vertex has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational small molecule, cell and genetic therapies in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, pain, type 1 diabetes and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

Founded in 1989 in Cambridge, Mass., Vertex's global headquarters is now located in Boston's Innovation District and its international headquarters is in London. Additionally, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Latin America. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry's top places to work, including 13 consecutive years on Science magazine's Top Employers list and one of Fortune's Best Workplaces in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals and Best Workplaces for Women.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements made by Michael Siauw and Larry C. Lands, M.D., Ph.D., in this press release, and statements regarding the estimated number of children eligible for ORKAMBI for the first time, our intent to work with payers to secure access as soon as possible and our beliefs regarding the benefits of our medicines. While Vertex believes the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are accurate, these forward-looking statements represent the company's beliefs only as of the date of this press release and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that data from the company's development programs may not support registration or further development of its compounds due to safety, efficacy, or other reasons, and other risks listed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Vertex's most recent annual report and subsequent quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and available through the company's website at www.vrtx.com. You should not place undue reliance on these statements or the scientific data presented. Vertex disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in this press release as new information becomes available.

(VRTX-GEN)

SOURCE Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc.

Cision

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Market Research Future

The rise in global trade and the growth of the tourism industry to boots the Vessel Traffic Management System Market Growth

New York, US, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR),  Vessel Traffic Management System Market Research Report: By Component, Systems - Forecast Till 2030, the market is anticipated to acquire a valuation of approximately USD 7.13 Billion by the end of 2030. The reports further predict the market to flourish at a robust CAGR of over 7.3% during the assessment timeframe.

Key Players

Some of the key players operating in the vessel traffic management system market include Kongsberg Gruppen,

Saab AB,

Transas Marine Limited,

Tokyo Keiki Inc.,

Indra Sistemas SA,

Thales Group,

L3Harris Technologies,

Lockheed Martin Corporation,

Frequentis AG, and

Wartsila Corporation.

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5658

Report Scope:

Report Metric Details Revenue Forecast in 2030 USD 7.13 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of 7.3% from 2020 to 2030 Base Year 2019 Study Period 2020-2030 Key Market Opportunities The hardware segment is slated to expand as the fastest-growing segment. Key Market Drivers High installation cost and lack of technical knowledge is anticipated to hinder the growth of vessel traffic management system market over the review period.

Browse In-depth Market Research Report (100 Pages) on Vessel Traffic Management System Market:

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/vessel-traffic-management-system-market-5658

Drivers

The growth of the vessel traffic management system industry can be attributed to the increasing demand for marine transportation and the need for efficient and safe operations. The rise in global trade and the growth of the tourism industry are also driving factors for the growth of the market.

Challenges

However, the vessel traffic management system Industry faces several challenges, including the high cost of implementation and maintenance of the system, especially in developing countries. The lack of standardization across different regions is also a challenge that needs to be addressed.

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Market Segmentation

The global vessel traffic management system Industry is segmented by component, technology, end-user, and region. By component, the market is segmented into hardware, software, and services. By technology, the market is segmented into radar, AIS, and others. By end-user, the market is segmented into ports and harbors, coastal surveillance, and others.

Regional Analysis

The global vessel traffic management system Industry is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. The Asia Pacific region is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period due to the increase in marine transportation and the growing demand for efficient and safe operations.

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Industry Trends

One of the key trends in the vessel traffic management system market is the increasing use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for real-time monitoring and analysis of vessel traffic. Another trend is the integration of vessel traffic management systems with other systems such as weather monitoring and security systems to enhance safety and security.

Recent Developments and Opportunities

In recent years, several developments have been made in the vessel traffic management system market. For instance, in October 2021, Kongsberg Gruppen announced that it had signed a contract with the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) to upgrade its vessel traffic service (VTS) system. Similarly, in September 2021, Thales Group announced the launch of its new maritime surveillance system, OceanMaster, which integrates advanced technologies such as AI and ML.

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There are several opportunities in the vessel traffic management system market, including the growing demand for real-time monitoring and analysis of vessel traffic, the increasing use of advanced technologies such as AI and ML, and the integration of vessel traffic management systems with other systems to enhance safety and security.

In conclusion, the vessel traffic management system market is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years due to the increasing demand for marine transportation and the need for efficient and safe operations. However, the market also faces several challenges that need to be addressed. The integration of advanced technologies and the development of standardization across different regions present significant opportunities for the growth of the market.

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Market.Us

Growing research and development efforts focused on creating efficient and high-quality vaccines for companion and farm animals, coupled with the launch of new products, are anticipated to drive growth in the global veterinary vaccines market.

New York, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Market.us, The veterinary vaccines market size is projected to surpass around USD 22.1 billion by 2032 from USD 11.2 billion in 2022, and it is poised to reach a CAGR of 7.2% from 2023 to 2032. Veterinary vaccines are used for treating and avoiding lifetime-threatening diseases in animals. These vaccines help decrease animal suffering and the transmission of diseases that cause microorganisms in the animal population. These vaccines are mainly used to develop the immunity power of animals which further protects the transmission of diseases from animals to humans. Veterinary vaccines signify bio-prepared immunizations administered to animals through the oral or parenteral route.

Global-Veterinary-Vaccines-Market

Get a holistic overview of Veterinary Vaccines Market by industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the Sample - https://market.us/report/veterinary-vaccine-market/request-sample/

Key Takeaway:

By Product, the recombinant segment generated a revenue share of 35% in 2022.

By Animal , the companion segment exhibited the highest CAGR during the forecast period 2023 to 2032

By Route of Administration, the parenteral segment generated a revenue share of 52% in 2022.

By Disease Indication , the porcine reproductive and respiratory segment generated the highest revenue share in 2022.

By Distribution Channel , the veterinary hospital segment has dominated the market, and it is growing at the largest CAGR over the forecast period 2023 to 2032.

In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 40% .

Europe held a 32% revenue share in 2022.

Asia-Pacific will grow at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2023-2032.

In most cases, animal vaccination is done as proactively as possible to provide animal health safety from viruses. Key factors boosting the market growth are the rising incidence of zoonotic disease and the increasing prevalence of the disease.

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Factors affecting the growth of the Veterinary Vaccines Market

There are several factors that can affect the growth of the veterinary vaccines market. Some of these factors include:

Increasing pet adoption rate : Pets are considered family members and ideal companions for aging. Increased pet approval will increase the vaccine requirement, propelling the market growth.

A rise in the number of R&D activities : The increase in research& development activities for planning efficient, effective, and high-quality vaccines for companion and farm animals and the launch of new products will offer helpful growth for the veterinary vaccines market.

Growth in Technological Advancement: Technological Advancement in the development of animal health vaccines and an increase in emerging markets will further provide positive growth.

if you need a more focused analysis of a particular region or segment, our analysts can customize the report to meet your specific requirements. Feel free to contact us for further assistance @ https://market.us/report/veterinary-vaccine-market/#inquiry

Top Trends in Global Veterinary Vaccines Market

Technical developments in animal immunization growth are a key trend in the global veterinary vaccines market. One of the significant developments to date is the introduction of DNA and other vaccines. Additionally, cutting-edge technology has made it possible to benefit from increased constancy and administration simplicity. The direct injection of messenger RNA or the cloning of DNA into delivery plasmid are the foundations of these products. The rising efforts by vendors to collaborate with academic institutions to develop innovative products is the key factor for veterinary vaccines market trends that will gain pull in the veterinary vaccines market.

Market Growth

The growth of this market is mainly due to the rise in the companion animal population, initiatives by various government agencies, and increasing zoonotic disease. Rising requirement agencies and products are boosting market growth. In developing economies, technical invention and increasing awareness of animal health are estimated to offer lucrative growth in the upcoming years. Rise in government and global animal husbandry programs, and increase in animal ownership amongst individuals are reasons the market is anticipated to drive the global market.

Regional Analysis

The veterinary vaccines market was dominated by North America, which acquired the most significant revenue share. This growth primarily results from factors such as the rising dominance of zoonotic disease, favorable compensation programs, and due to beneficial government guidelines such as the increased approval of pet insurance, the rising number of veterinary clinics, and enhanced healthcare infrastructure in European countries. Europe is considered the second-largest regional market. Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the largest growth in the market. Due to growing disposable incomes across the region, there is more awareness regarding protective animal healthcare. On the other hand, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin regions are to witness stable growth rates throughout the forecast period.

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Scope of the Report

Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022)USD 44.8 Billion USD 11.2 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 22.1 Billion CAGR (from 2022 to 2032) 7.2% North America Revenue Share 40% Europe Revenue Share 32% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032

Market Drivers

One of the primary drivers for the rapidly increasing size of the veterinary vaccines market is a rise in animal husbandry initiatives and increased awareness of veterinary healthcare. Rising awareness and the invention of new inoculation products boost market growth. The introduction of animal products and subsequent technological advancements are significant driving factors. The prevention of animal diseases that have the potential to spread to humans and cause epidemics results in a public health crisis. Since its introduction to the general public, animal immunization has undergone significant R&D advancements.

Market Restraints

In developing nations, millions of smallholder farmers are projected to own livestock. Smallholder farmers face additional financial strain due to the numerous disease that kills their livestock. These smallholder farmers have a hard time immunizing their animals because they arent aware of the benefits and cannot afford the inoculation products. Governments and agencies are employing various strategies to increase accessibility and approval of immunization among smallholder farmers. Lack of vaccination adoption among smallholder farmers in developing countries may hamper growth.

Market Opportunities

In the current scenario, several positive factors provide lucrative opportunities for the growth of the veterinary vaccines market. Veterinary vaccines play a significant role in animal health protection by preventing serious epizootic disease. Rising approval of efficient immunizations and higher spending on part care are the main contributors to market growth. Vaccine development is essential for the emergence of different animal diseases. The rise in pet ownership has significantly enhanced the growth of the market.

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Report Segmentation of the Veterinary Vaccines Market

Product Insight

The recombinant segment dominated the veterinary vaccines market, which also held the greatest revenue share. Owing to their positive features such as efficacy, safety, and potency. Some influences that have caused the recombinant segments' development are the manufacturers' lucrative production capability to produce a developed and higher quality. The further benefit over conventional immunization products is that recombinant dose tolerates the immune system to focus its antibody production over the significant antigens.

Animal Insight

The companion segment accounted largest market share. Due to the rising pet animal ownership across the world. Primarily due to the increasing pet ownership across the world. The overall development of animal adoption is another factor contributing to the growth of the animal companion section. Companion animal vaccination is one of the most common veterinary processes undertaken worldwide. Especially owing to rising awareness and concerned animal owners.

Route of Administration Insight

The Parenteral segment is anticipated to generate the highest revenue in the market. Parenteral animal vaccinations contain major routes such as intramuscular and intradermal. In addition, this segment further propels market growth due to technological advances in immunization delivery devices.

Disease Insight

The porcine reproductive and respiratory segments dominated the market growth due to the high and increasing prevalence of the infection.

Distribution Insight

The veterinary clinic segment accounted for the highest share. Vaccinations are often a short-duration process that is conducted at smaller institutions.

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Market Segmentation

By Product

Attenuated Live Vaccines

Inactivated

Toxoid Vaccines

Recombinant Vaccines

Subunit Vaccines

Conjugate Vaccines

DNA Vaccines

By Animal

Porcine Vaccine

Poultry Vaccine

Livestock Vaccine

Bovine Vaccines

Small Ruminant Vaccine

Companion Animal Vaccine

Canine Vaccine

Feline Vaccine

Aquaculture Vaccines

Other Animal Vaccine

By Route of Administration

Oral

Parenteral

Others

By Disease Indication

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome

Avian Influenza

Rabies

Coccidiosis

Swine Pneumonia

Brucellosis

Canine Parvovirus

Anaplasmosis

Distemper Disease

Foot and Mouth Disease

By Distribution Channel

Veterinary Hospitals

Veterinary Clinics

Pharmacies

Drug Stores

Others

By Geography

North America The US Canada Mexico

Western Europe Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe

Eastern Europe Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe

APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC

Latin America Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Costa Rica Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA



Competitive Landscape

The competitive landscape of the market has also been examined in this report. Some of the major players include

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated

Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH

HIPRA

Merck& Co, Inc.

Virbac

Vetoqional S. A

ADM Animal Nutrition

Evonik Industries AG

Zoetis Inc.

MSD Animal Health

Hester Biosciences Limited

Ceva Logistics

Neogen Corporation Limited

Biogenesis Bago S A

Kindered Biosciences, Inc.

Bayer AG

Indian Immunologicals Ltd

Eli Lilly and Company

Phibro Animal Health Corporation

Other Key Players

Recent Development of the Veterinary Vaccines Market

In November 2020, HIPRA declared the virtual launch of GUMBOHATCHs innovative generation Infectious Bursal Disease complex immunization product for boiler chickens.

In September 2020, Hester Biosciences Limited declared the Brucella vaccine development, conforming lifetime immunity in calf-hood. However, the company signed with the Indian Veterinary Institute and the Council of Agriculture to obtain the indigenously established emerging Brucella Aborts 19n Delta per dose.

Browse More Related Reports:

Swine Vaccines Market size is expected to be worth around USD 2.58 million by 2032 from USD 2 million in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 4.20%

Brucellosis Vaccines Market is valued USD 313.9 Mn and is expected to be reach USD 439 Mn in 2032, with a CAGR 3.8% from 2022 to 2032.

Animal Vaccines Market was valued at USD 11,657 million in 2021. This number is projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% Between 2023 & 2032.

Poultry Vaccines Market was valued at USD 1,825 million in 2021. The market is forecast to grow at a 6.6% CAGR.

Live Cell Imaging Market was valued at US$ 2.8 Billion in 2022. this market is estimated to register the highest CAGR of 9.4% Between 2023 and 2032.

Life science analytics market was valued at US$ 9 billion in 2022. this market is estimated to register a CAGR of 8% Between 2023 & 2032.

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Victoria Gold Corp

WHITEHORSE, Yukon, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Victoria Gold Corp. (TSX-VGCX) (Victoria or the Company) has filed an updated technical report on its 100% owned Eagle Gold Mine (the Report), as reported in the Companys news release dated February 24, 2023. The Report was prepared in accordance with the National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Report can be found on the Companys website at www.vgcx.com or under the Companys issuer profile at www.sedar.com.



Summary of Updated Technical Report:

The Report considers cost and operating data from the last three years of operations at the Eagle Gold Mine. Optimizations incorporated in the Report include year-round stacking on the heap leach facility (HLF), stockpiling of lower grade material for end of mine life processing, and utilization of a mobile crusher to supplement and increase production rates. Key highlights of the updated plan are:

After-tax net present value (NPV) at a 5% discount of $954 million ($1,257 million pre-tax), at US$1,700 per ounce of gold and a US$:C$ exchange rate of 0.75.

Average gold production of 202,000 ounces per year over the first 8 years, with peak production of 219,000 gold ounces in 2025.

Average free cash flow (FCF) of $166 million per year for the first 8 years with a total of $1,602 million of FCF over the LOM.

Total gold production of 2,048,000 ounces over a mine life of 12 years. This total does not include gold production prior to 31 December 2022.

LOM All-in Sustaining Cost (AISC) of US$1,114 per ounce of gold providing significant operating and profit margins at current gold prices.

Throughput increase to steady-state level of 11.5 million tonnes processed per annum during 2025.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Paul D. Gray, P.Geo., as the Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

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About the Dublin Gulch Property

Victoria Gold's 100%-owned Dublin Gulch gold property (the Property) 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 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.

Non-IFRS Performance Measures

The Company has included certain non-IFRS measures in this new release. Refer to the Companys MD&A for an explanation, discussion and reconciliation of non-IFRS measures. The Company believes that these measures, in addition to measures prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), provide readers with an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company and to compare it to information reported by other companies. The non-IFRS measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

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 plan, expect, budget, target, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may, will, could or should 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 (COVID-19) on each of the foregoing. In this respect, the Corporation has assumed that production levels will remain consistent with managements 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




Market Research Future

Vitrified Tiles Market Report by Type (Double Charged Vitrified Tiles, Full Body Vitrified Tiles, Soluble Salt Vitrified Tiles and Glazed Body Vitrified Tile), By End-Use (Residential, Commercial and Others) and By Region - Global Forecast to 2030

New York (US), April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vitrified Tiles Market Overview

The MRFR analysis reports predict that the  Vitrified Tiles Market Research Report, by Type Region, and End-Use - Forecast Till 2030, the global market for Vitrified Tiles is predicted to showcase considerable development over the assessment timeframe from 2022 to 2030 with a strong development rate of approximately 5.2%. The reports anticipate the market acquiring a valuation of around USD 7,96,314 Million by the end of 2030. As per the reports, the market was worth around USD 471.9 billion in 2020.

Market Scope

Vitrified tiles market has exhibited tremendous development in the last few years. The main aspect causing a surge in the performance of the market is the rapid expansion in the construction industry. Furthermore, the growing demand for luxury flooring tiles is also considered one of the crucial parameters supporting the expansion of the global market. Moreover, the factors such as high demand for residential & non-residential structures, flooring alternatives to marble & granite, and growing disposable income of people are also projected to boost the market share over the coming years.



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Competitive Analysis

The listing of the prominent leaders across the global market for Vitrified Tiles includes players such as:

Ceramica Carmelo Fior Ltda. (Brazil)

ABK IndustrieCeramicheSpA (Italy)

Lamosa Group (Mexico)

ALTAECO S.p.A. (Italy)

Mohawk Industries Inc. (U.S)

PT ArwanaCitramuliaTbk (Indonesia)

Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Ceramics (UAE)

Asian Granito India Ltd. (India)

Siam Cement Group (Thailand)

Among others.





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Market USP Covered

Market Drivers

The global market for Vitrified tiles has displayed massive development in recent times. The main aspect causing a surge in the performance of the market is the rise in demand for tiles with the greater textural appeal, simplicity of installation, and durability. Furthermore, advanced printing technologies such as 3D printing, anti-microbial glazing technology, water jet technology, and digital printing are also likely to impact the market performance over the coming years positively.

Market Restraints

On the other hand, certain aspects may impede the market's growth. The primary parameter restricting the market's growth is the labor shortages occurred by the ongoing COVID-19 issue. Furthermore, the lack of raw materials is also anticipated to restrict the market's growth over the assessment era. Moreover, fluctuating raw material prices are also anticipated to limit growth over the coming years.

COVID-19 Impact

Global industrial activities and business operations experienced a major setback given to the rise of the global health crisis in the form of COVID-19. The pandemic affected public health across nearly 225 countries, along with all industrial operations. All these situations led to the imposition of full or partial lockdowns across most regions worldwide. Subsequently, the industry operations were halted, and some businesses shut down. Given the sudden fall in demand for construction activities during the pandemic and the halt of most industrial operations, the Vitrified Tiles market experienced many sudden & unexpected issues throughout the pandemic. On the contrary, now that the majority of the globe is being rapidly vaccinated and industrial operations are returning to normal, the market is predicted to witness a considerable expansion and recovery in revenue generation over the assessment period.



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Segment Analysis

Among all the applications, the glazed body vitrified tile segment is anticipated to secure the top position across the global market for vitrified tiles over the assessment era. The main aspect supporting the growth of the segment is its excellent durability. Furthermore, the elegant looks offered by these tiles are anticipated to boost the segment's performance over the coming years.

Among all the end-users, the residential sector is predicted to ensure the top spot across the global market for vitrified tiles over the assessment era. The main aspect supporting the development of the segment is the rising population across the globe. Furthermore, the rapidly growing disposable income of people world is also projected to influence the segment's development over the review timeframe positively.

Regional Analysis

The global Vitrified Tiles market is analyzed across five major geographies: North America, Latin America, the Middle East & Africa, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

The MRFR analysis reports suggest that the Asia-Pacific region is predicted to showcase the maximum expansion across the global market for Vitrified Tiles over the assessment period. The main parameter supporting the development of the regional market is the significant growth in the building sector. Furthermore, the exponential growth in the population coupled with the falling borrowing rates across several regions are also projected to impact the development of the regional market positively. Moreover, the aspects such as enhanced demand for luxury floors along with the increased income from economic expansion are also anticipated to cause a surge in the performance of the regional market over the coming years.

Given the rapid growth of infrastructure development projects, the North American and European regional markets for vitrified tiles are also projected to showcase substantial development over the coming years.



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Rise in demand for high performance capacitors for superior thermal stability & insulating qualities across various industries, including renewable energy, automotive, and industrial automation, and advancements in technology for water cooled capacitors drive the global water cooled capacitors market.

PORTLAND, Ore., April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Water Cooled Capacitors Market by Capacitor Type (Polypropylene, Ceramic, Aluminium, Others), by Frequency Rating (Medium, High), by Voltage Rating (Low, Medium, High), by Application (Heating and Melting, Resonant Circuits/RF, Medical Imaging, Plasma Applications, Wireless Power Transfer, EV Charging, Others), by End User (Automotive, Aerospace, Industrial, Railways, Renewable energy, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." According to the report, the global water cooled capacitors industry generated $0.7 billion in 2021, and is anticipated to generate $1.5 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 7.1% from 2022 to 2031. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chains, regional landscapes, and competitive scenarios.

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Drivers, restraints, and opportunities:

The global water cooled capacitors market is being driven by factors including, rise in demand for high performance capacitors for superior thermal stability and insulating qualities across various industries, including renewable energy, automotive, and industrial automation. However, the growth of the water cooled capacitors market is hindered by factors such as high cost related to rapid prototyping and the requirement for skilled professionals. Furthermore, rapid technological advancement and increasing demand for high-power applications are expected to create new opportunities for growth in the water cooled capacitors industry in the future.

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Covid-19 Scenario-

The COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse effect on the market for water cooled capacitors.

There were delays in the production and delivery of electronic components, including capacitors, as a result of disruptions in the global supply chains.

Due to this, some capacitor types were in short supply, which caused an increase in their price. This had a major impact on the industries that rely on these components.

However, the water cooled capacitors market has bounced back after the COVID-19 situation.

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The polypropylene segment to rule the roost-

By capacitor type, polypropylene segment accounted for around two-fifths of the global water cooled capacitors market share in 2021, and is expected to rule the roost by 2031. The growth of the segment is driven by high-performance polymer that provides excellent insulation qualities and is resistant to high temperatures and humidity. However, the aluminum segment would display the fastest CAGR of 8.06% during the forecast period. This is due to the three-hybrid aluminum polymer capacitor series, The A780, PHA225, and PHH225, that were introduced by KEMET in November 2022. These aluminum capacitors are excellent for industrial and automotive powertrain applications, such as switched-mode power supplies (SMPS), computer voltage regulator modules (VRM), engine control units, 48V inverters for MHEVs, and DC/DC converters.

The medium segment to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period-

By frequency rating, the medium segment contributed to the major share in 2021, holding nearly three-fifths of the global water cooled capacitors market revenue, and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. Also, the same segment would portray the fastest CAGR of 7.94% during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the increase in demand for induction heating applications in various industries, such as automotive, aerospace, and metalworking. In applications involving medium frequency induction heating, the ability of medium frequency water cooled capacitors to deliver a high level of power transfer efficiency is one of their main advantages.

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The medium segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period-

By voltage rating, medium segment accounted for the highest share in 2021, contributing to more than two-fifths of the global water cooled capacitors market, and is expected to maintain its lead in terms of revenue during the forecast period. Also, the same segment would showcase the fastest CAGR of 8.32% during the forecast period. This is due to the medium voltage water cooled capacitor's ability to improve the efficiency and reliability of electrical systems. Capacitors can be used to improve system stability, lower energy losses, and correct electrical systems' power factors. Medium voltage water cooled capacitors are also used in motor control applications, where they are used to regulate the voltage and provide a smooth start-up of the motor. Medium voltage water cooled capacitors are used in renewable energy systems to store energy and control voltage in order to produce a stable amount of power.

The industrial segment to rule the roost in 2031-

By end user, the industrial segment held the largest share in 2021, garnering around one-third of the global water cooled capacitors market revenue, and is projected to rule the roost by 2031. The same segment would also display the fastest CAGR of 8.17% during the forecast period. The growth of the segment is driven by numerous significant industrial applications of water cooled capacitors, such as welding equipment, power supplies, and induction heating systems. The water-cooling capacitors are required to effectively remove the heat produced by these processes and guarantee the industrial equipment operates faithfully. Induction heating systems are another industrial application for water-cooled capacitors. High-frequency electrical energy is used by induction heating systems to warm materials like metals. These systems utilize water cooled capacitors to store, regulate, and ensure stable operation of the electrical energy, which will provide ample opportunities for the growth of segment in the upcoming years.

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Asia-Pacific garnered the major share in 2021-

By region, Asia-Pacific garnered more than one-third of the global water cooled capacitors market revenue in 2021 and is expected to continue its lead in terms of revenue during the forecast period. Simultaneously, the same region would also cite the fastest CAGR of 9.24% during the forecast period. The growth of the Asia-Pacific water-cooled capacitors market is attributed to factors such as rise in acceptance of advanced technologies and IoT, increase in R&D spending, and early adoption of sophisticated and innovative technology.

Leading Market Players-

MAGNEWIN ENERGY PVT.LTD.

Cornell Dubilier Electronics

SAILING TECH

ZEZ SILKO Ltd.

Celem Power Capacitors

Clariant Power System Ltd.

ge grid solutions

Vishay Intertechnology Inc.

High Energy Corp.

MARXELEC ENERGY PVT.LTD.

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A sculpture of Alexander the Great riding his horse Bucephalus in Thessaloniki, a port city in Greece.

A sculpture of Alexander the Great riding his horse Bucephalus in Thessaloniki, a port city in Greece.

By the age of 32, Alexander the Great had conquered an empire that stretched from the Balkans to modern-day Pakistan, making him the sovereign of one of the largest empires in the ancient world. Despite his success and fame, it's impossible to pay respects to him today, as the location of his final resting place is a mystery.

But based on ancient writings, legends and recent discoveries, are there any clues as to where Alexander the Great is buried?

The great Macedonian general died in Babylon in 323 B.C., and his empire collapsed shortly afterward as his generals and officials fought for control. One of his generals, Ptolemy, got control of Alexander the Great's body and brought it to Memphis, Egypt, in 321 B.C., Chris Naunton , an Egyptologist who is director of the U.K.-based Robert Anderson Research Charitable Trust, wrote in his book " Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt " (Thames & Hudson, 2018).

Historical records suggest that Alexander the Great's body was likely kept in Memphis (an ancient city located near Cairo) until a tomb was built in Alexandria and his body was moved to the tomb. It's not clear when this happened, but it may have taken as long as a few decades, Naunton wrote. Historical records indicate that in the late third century B.C., another tomb for Alexander, known as the "Sema" or "Soma," was built in Alexandria, and this seems to have been the last tomb that Alexander was placed in, Naunton wrote.

It's not clear where, exactly, this final tomb is located. "The location of the tomb could now be underwater  [the ancient Greek historian] Strabo indicates that it was in the 'palaces district,' part of which is certainly underwater now. But it could have been further inland  the sources don't allow us to be certain about this," Naunton told Live Science in an email.

Related: Where is Attila the Hun's tomb?

Andrew Erskine , a classics professor at The University of Edinburgh in the U.K., also noted this uncertainty. "The ancient sources tell us that [the] tomb of Alexander was alongside that of the Ptolemies in the palace complex at Alexandria, but where exactly is not clear," Erskine told Live Science in an email.

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The famous Alexander Mosaic, also known as the Battle of Issus Mosaic, was found in the House of the Faun in Pompeii, Italy and dates to circa 100 B.C.

Naunton told Live Science that there is a good chance that Alexander the Great's tomb will not be found. "It probably hasn't survived to any great extent  centuries of man-made and natural destruction, and the presence of the modern city which completely covers the ancient one now, has probably ensured that," Naunton said. Even if remains of the tomb are found, it may not be possible to identify the tomb as that of Alexander the Great, he added. Historical texts provide little information on what the tomb looked like, and an inscription on the tomb may be necessary to identify it, Naunton said.

Although the location of his final tomb is unknown, there are two surviving locations where Alexander the Great's body may have been placed for a time. One is in a tomb in eastern Alexandria known as the "alabaster tomb." There is no inscription on it, but it is sizable; it's possible that it could have been the tomb that Alexander was kept in after his body was first moved to Alexandria, Naunton said. It appears to date to around the third century B.C. and some parts of its design are similar to other ancient tombs in Macedonia.

Additionally, there is a sarcophagus that was constructed for Nectanebo II, a pharaoh who was forced to flee Egypt around 343 B.C. when the Persians invaded. There is a long-standing legend that it held Alexander's body for a time, possibly after it was first brought to Memphis from Babylon. It is now in the British Museum in London.

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In an article published in fall 2020 in the Egyptology magazine Kmt, Andrew Chugg , an independent researcher, made an argument for why this sarcophagus temporarily held Alexander's body. He noted the ancient story where Nectanebo II made his way to Macedonia and impregnated Alexander's mother, making him the father of Alexander the Great. While this story is likely fictional, it shows a connection between Nectanebo II and Alexander, Chugg wrote.

Additionally, Chugg has identified a block with a star shield (a symbol associated with Alexander), which is now in the St Apollonia stone museum in Venice, Italy, that he believes was part of the sarcophagus. "I have shown that it is an exact fit to the long side of the Nectanebo II sarcophagus," Chugg told Live Science in an email, noting that "the chance of this fit happening by accident is only about 1%."
2023 SmartAsset Study: Where Americans Write Off the Most in Taxes

With the April 18 tax deadline looming, Americans must choose between itemizing deductions or taking the standard deduction to reduce their tax obligations and pocket as much money as possible. Since the standard deduction was nearly doubled in 2018 as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act  also known as the Trump tax cuts  millions of taxpayers have been incentivized to stop itemizing. But for many, itemizing still makes sense.

When taxpayers have enough potential write offs, such as for qualified medical expenses, homeownership costs and dependent care, itemizing may be the path to greater tax savings. To see where Americans are writing off the most in taxes, SmartAsset examined tax return data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Key Findings

The DMV ranks at the top of our list. Itemizing is popular in the greater Washington D.C. area, also known as the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia). While the nations capital ranks No. 1 overall in our study, Maryland and Virginia also make the top 10.

Washington state and Nevada are doubling down on tax savings. Both states make the top 10 states where Americans write off taxes, but the savings dont stop there. Washington and Nevada are two of nine states that dont charge income tax.

Coastal states crowd the top of the rankings. The East and West coasts are well represented near the top of our rankings. Coastal states, plus Washington D.C., account for 11 of the 15 places where people write off the most in taxes.

Itemizers deduct nearly $39,000 on average. Filers who itemize end up deducting an average of $38,746 per year across the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Those deductions represent 4.76% of total income reported in the U.S.

1. District of Columbia

Just over one in five tax returns filed in Washington D.C. use itemized deductions, second-most in our study. Those itemized deductions are equal to 7.51% of all income reported in the city. Additionally, the nations capital has the 11th-highest average itemized dedication across our study, at $42,359.

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2. Utah

In Utah, 13.77% of all tax returns opt for itemized deductions  more than 45 other states. The average itemized deduction in Utah is worth $44,091, the seventh-most across our study. Meanwhile, the itemized deductions are worth 7.53% of the total income reported in the state, second only to Maryland.

3. California

The Golden State has the third highest percentage of tax returns with itemized deductions, with over 15% of Californians itemizing. Those write-offs are equal to 6.68% of all the income reported in the state, the fourth-highest percentage in our study. The average itemized deduction in California is just north of $41,000.

4. Washington

Those who itemize their deductions in Washington state receive an average write-off of $42,859, the ninth-most across our study. The sum of all itemized deductions in the Evergreen State is equal to 5.10% of the total income reported there (11th-highest). Meanwhile, Washington has the 12th-highest percentage of tax returns with itemized deductions (11.74%), despite the lack of state income taxes.

5. Massachusetts

Massachusetts, one of several high-tax states in the top 10, has the seventh-highest percentage of tax returns with itemized deductions (12.89%). The sum of all itemized deductions is equal to 4.70% of all income reported in the Bay State, which is 14th-most across our study.

A financial advisor can help. SmartAssets 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.

6. Connecticut

Connecticut has the ninth-highest percentage (12.44%) of tax returns with itemized deductions in the nation. While the average itemized deduction in Connecticut is worth $38,992, total itemized deductions are equal to 4.63% of total income reported there.

7. Maryland

Neighboring D.C., Maryland has the highest percentage tax returns with itemized deductions at 21.08%  more than double the national average. Those deductions, meanwhile, are worth 7.64% of the total income reported in the state, more than any other place in the country. The average deduction is little lower than the rest of the top 10 at just over $31,000, sparing it from a place in the top 5.

8. Virginia

Virginians are particularly avid itemizers, with 14.77% of all tax returns use itemized deductions  thats more than all but two states and Washington D.C. The value of all itemized deductions in Virginia is worth 5.85% of the total income reported in the state, which is good for the sixth-highest across our study.

9. Nevada (tie)

Like Washington state, Nevada has no state income tax. But that hasnt dissuaded some tax filers from itemizing their deductions: 8.30% of tax returns use itemized deductions. Meanwhile, the average deduction in the Silver State is worth $48,218  the fourth-most across our study.

9. New York (tie)

The Empire State ranks in the top 15 for all three metrics we used in our comparison. 10.27% of taxpayers itemize their deductions for an average deduction of $40,174. Deductions add up to 4.65% of the total income reported in the state (15th-most).

Should You Itemize Your Deductions?

Deciding between itemizing or taking the standard deduction comes down to some simple math and your filing status.

For the 2022 tax year, the standard deduction is $12,950 for single filers, $25,900 for joint filers and $19,400 for heads of households. If your allowable itemized deductions add up to more than the standard deduction in a given year, youll want to itemize. The IRS allows itemizers to deduct a variety of expenses from their taxable income, including:

State and local taxes

Medical and dental expenses

Property taxes

Mortgage interest

Charitable donations

If you think you're a candidate for itemizing  say, because you donate a significant amount to charity each year  make sure you collect relevant receipts and records, says Susannah Snider, a certified financial planner and managing editor of financial education at SmartAsset. Also, consider working with a financial advisor and tax professional to ensure you're approaching your tax return correctly.

Data and Methodology

To find the places where taxpayers itemize deductions the most, SmartAsset compared 50 states and the District of Columbia across the following three metrics:

Itemized deductions as a percentage of income.

Percentage of tax returns with itemized deductions.

Average itemized deduction amount.

Data for all metrics comes from the IRS and is for 2020, the most recent data available. The data for average itemized deductions is likely skewed and a median would be more representative for most people but we couldn't derive it due to available data.

We ranked each state in every metric, giving an equal weighting to all three metrics. We then found each states average ranking. The state with the best average ranking places first in our study while the state with the lowest average ranking places last.

Tips for Tax Season

Work with an expert. Need help managing your tax liability or using investment losses to offset capital gains? A financial advisor can help. SmartAssets 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 youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Consider adjusting your withholdings. If you receive a large tax refund each year, you may be paying too much in taxes in the first place. If thats the case, consider adjusting the withholding amounts on your W-4 so you can keep more money throughout the course of the year. Sure, a big refund is nice, but that money could be earning you interest throughout the year.

Photo credit: iStock.com/Khanchit Khirisutchalual

The post Where Americans Write Off the Most in Taxes  2023 Study appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

SkyQuest's Anti-Aging 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 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Anti-Aging market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period (2022-2030) and reach USD 321.6 billion by 2030. The increasing aging population is a major driver for the demand for anti-aging products and services, with the global population aged 60 years or over expected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050, up from 962 million in 2017, according to the United Nations. The market's growth is also influenced by increasing disposable income, advancements in anti-aging technology, rising awareness about anti-aging, increasing demand for natural and organic products, and a focus on preventive healthcare.

According to SkyQuest's latest global research findings, 72% of their members reported an increase in cosmetic surgery or injectable treatments in patients under 30, indicating that younger individuals are becoming more interested in anti-aging treatments and seeking them out at an earlier age. The increasing focus on preventive healthcare is driving the growth of the anti-aging market as consumers aim to maintain their health and appearance as they age.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Anti-Aging Market"

Pages - 242

Tables - 89

Figures - 66

The present era has witnessed a significant surge in the importance of the anti-aging market due to various factors such as the expanding aging population, heightened awareness concerning anti-aging products and procedures, and augmented demand for non-invasive and minimally invasive cosmetic treatments. Furthermore, with technological advancements and innovations in the industry, the anti-aging market is now offering a plethora of options for consumers to cater to their concerns and maintain a youthful appearance, making it even more significant in the current scenario.

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Prominent Players in Anti-Aging Market

Allergan plc

Estee Lauder Companies

L'Oreal SA

Procter & Gamble

Unilever plc

Beiersdorf AG

Johnson & Johnson

Olay (owned by Procter & Gamble)

Shiseido Co., Ltd.

Avon Products, Inc.

Mary Kay Inc.

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Clarins Group

Amway

Revlon, Inc.

Elizabeth Arden, Inc.

Rodan + Fields

Coty Inc.

Natura &Co Holding S.A.

The Body Shop (owned by Natura &Co Holding S.A.)

Skincare Application Segment to Drive Higher Sales Owing to the Growing Demand for Anti-aging Skincare Products in Developing Economies

The rapid development of the Anti-Aging market in 2021 was significantly contributed by the Skincare Application segment, as revealed by recent analysis. This trend is expected to persist from 2022 to 2030, owing to the growing demand for anti-aging skincare products in developing economies, and the increasing preference for natural and organic skincare products. According to SkyQuest's report, certain companies are adopting augmented reality to replicate the effects of their products on the skin, while others are developing apps that provide customized skincare suggestions based on the user's skin analysis.

According to research analysis, North America is expected to emerge as a dominant player in the Anti-Aging market from 2022 to 2030. SkyQuest's projections suggest that the region will experience a compound annual growth rate of 5.82% during the forecast period. This expansion can be attributed to several factors, including the high prevalence of the aging population, the presence of established market players, and the growing demand for anti-aging products in the region.

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https://www.skyquestt.com/report/anti-aging-market

Serums Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth Due to Growing Awareness About the Benefits of Using Anti-Aging Products

According to recent analysis, the Serums segment of the Anti-Aging market emerged as the leading method in 2021 and is predicted to maintain its position from 2022 to 2030. The growth of this segment is attributed to the rising demand for anti-aging serums among the younger population and increased awareness about the benefits of using such products. SkyQuest's report highlights the increasing popularity of anti-aging products, especially serums, among younger consumers. The report notes that 46% of consumers aged 16-24 and 66% of consumers aged 25-34 use anti-aging products.

The Asia Pacific region is also poised to maintain its position as a significant force in the Anti-Aging market, as per recent research analysis. SkyQuest has projected notable growth in the Anti-Aging market in the Asia Pacific region, with a forecasted CAGR of 7.97% during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the increasing awareness about the benefits of anti-aging products and the availability of a diverse range of such products in the region.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Anti-Aging 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 Anti-Aging Market

L'Oreal has agreed to acquire Skinbetter Science, a skincare brand that is physician-dispensed and based on advanced dermatological science. Skinbetter Science was established in 2016 by pharmaceutical industry experts Jonah Shacknai, Justin Smith, and Seth Rodner, and has quickly become one of the most rapidly growing medical-dispensed skincare brands in the US. The brand is renowned for developing cutting-edge products with potent active ingredients for various skincare needs, such as anti-aging, moisturizing, cleansing, exfoliating, skin peeling, and sun protection.

Avra, Inc. (OTC PINK: AVRN) has successfully merged with Springs Rejuvenation, LLC. The new entity resulting from the merger will be Springs Rejuvenation, Inc. ("SPRINGS"), located in Chamblee, Georgia, specializing in anti-aging and stem cell therapy. SPRINGS offers a range of services, including stem cell therapy, facial rejuvenation, hair rejuvenation, non-surgical hair restoration, protein-rich plasma (PRP) injections, and anti-aging treatments. The merger has been documented and filed with the State of Nevada, and the consolidated financials have been posted on OTC Markets in the last quarterly filing.

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Key Questions Answered in Anti-Aging 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:

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NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The writing instruments market is set to grow by USD 9,424.32 million from 2022 to 2027, progressing at a CAGR of 6.4% 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 the emerging online sales of writing instruments. The availability of personalized shopping assistance and suggestions on writing instruments are the two primary factors that encourage people to shop for these products online. Moreover, e-commerce vendors allow customers to compare various models of writing instruments available on their websites, which helps customers choose the best option as per their needs and preferences. The online distribution channel allows vendors to offer considerable discounts directly to customers, as it eliminates the costs associated with the operation of brick-and-mortar stores, the employment of sales personnel, and the physical merchandising of writing instruments. Therefore, online sales are expected to drive the growth of the global writing and marking instrument market during the forecast period. Here is an exclusive report about market scenarios with historical period (2017-2021) and forecast period (2023-2027). Download a Sample Report!

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Writing Instruments Market 2023-2027

The writing instruments market covers the following areas:

Writing Instruments Market Sizing

Writing Instruments Market Forecast

Writing Instruments Market Analysis

Writing Instruments Market 2023-2027 - Market Dynamics

Trends

The increasing demand for customization and personalization of writing instruments will have a positive impact on the growth of the market during the forecast period. Business enterprises also use personalized writing instruments, such as pens, as gifts to their partners and employees. This helps them increase their brand presence. Companies also use these instruments for trade show giveaways, corporate events, seminars, and conferences. These factors influence the growth of the market positively. In addition, the demand for personalized is growing. Moreover, many vendors add custom engraving on their luxury pens, which are primarily meant for gifting options. These factors will drive the growth of the global writing and marking instrument market during the forecast period.

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Challenge

The availability of alternative means such as digital media for writing and storing data will hinder the growth of the market. As the adoption rate of digital media in emerging markets is expected to increase during the forecast period, the writing instruments market will experience moderate growth. Electronic devices can be used for creating shopping lists, reminders, and calendar entries. The benefits of digitization and easy access to information will pose a threat to the growth of the global writing instruments market during the forecast period.

Writing Instruments Market 2023-2027: Market Segmentation

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 segmented by application (students, working professionals, and institutions), distribution channel (offline and online), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa).

The market growth by the student segment will be significant during the forecast period. Various companies are employing novel strategies to expand the scope of their products. This increase can be attributed to a rise in awareness about the importance of education among the global population. Government initiatives and policies in underdeveloped or developing economies such as India, China, and Brazil are encouraging more students, particularly women, to pursue education. These factors are expected to boost the growth of this 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

The global market for writing instruments is characterized by the presence of a few large and small suppliers. Most of the large, established players sell and distribute their products to customers around the world, while most of the smaller players focus on the local market. Extensive marketing strategies and new product launches in this area have created important strategies to meet the demand for writing instruments. Vendors are also expected to obtain certification for their products to gain consumer confidence, thereby increasing their market share during the forecast period.

Bic: The company offers writing instruments such as mechanical pencils.

Crayola: The company offers writing instruments such as pens and pencils and permanent markers.

Faber Castell Aktiengesellschaft: The company offers writing instruments such as Mechanical pencils.

Flair Pens: The company offers writing instruments such as Ball Pens.

Hindustan Pencils Pvt. Ltd.

Koh i noor Hardtmuth AS

Kokuyo Camlin Ltd

Linc Pen & Plastics Ltd.

Luxor

Mitsubishi Pencil Co. Ltd

Montblanc

Newell Brands Inc.

Pelikan International Corp. Berhad

PENTEL STATIONERY (INDIA) PVT. LTD.

PILOT Corp

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Writing Instruments Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.4% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 9,424.32 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 5.4 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 57% Key countries US, China, Japan, India, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Bic, Caran d Ache, Claro, Crayola, Faber Castell Aktiengesellschaft, Flair Pens, Hindustan Pencils Pvt. Ltd., Koh i noor Hardtmuth AS, Kokuyo Camlin Ltd, Linc Pen & Plastics Ltd., Luxor, Mitsubishi Pencil Co. Ltd, Montblanc, Newell Brands Inc., Pelikan International Corp. Berhad, PENTEL STATIONERY (INDIA) PVT. LTD., PILOT Corp, Schwanhausser Industrie Holding GmbH and Co. KG, Shanghai M and G Stationery Inc., and Staedtler Mars GmbH and Co. KG 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, and 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.

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Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

3.3 Market size 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

4 Historic Market Size

4.1 Global writing instruments market 2017 - 2021

4.2 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

4.3 Distribution Channel Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

5 Five Forces Analysis

5.1 Five forces summary

5.2 Bargaining power of buyers

5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

5.4 Threat of new entrants

5.5 Threat of substitutes

5.6 Threat of rivalry

5.7 Market condition

6 Market Segmentation by Application

6.1 Market segments

6.2 Comparison by Application

6.3 Students - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

6.4 Working professionals - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

6.5 Institutions - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

6.6 Market opportunity by Application

7 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

7.1 Market segments

7.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel

7.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

7.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

7.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

9.2 Geographic comparison

9.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.8 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.9 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.10 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.12 India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10.1 Market drivers

10.2 Market challenges

10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

10.4 Market trends

11 Vendor Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Vendor landscape

11.3 Landscape disruption

11.4 Industry risks

12 Vendor Analysis

12.1 Vendors covered

12.2 Market positioning of vendors

12.3 Bic

12.4 Crayola

12.5 Faber Castell Aktiengesellschaft

12.6 Flair Pens

12.7 Hindustan Pencils Pvt. Ltd.

12.8 Koh i noor Hardtmuth AS

12.9 Kokuyo Camlin Ltd

12.10 Linc Pen Plastics Ltd.

12.11 Luxor

12.12 Mitsubishi Pencil Co. Ltd

12.13 Montblanc

12.14 Newell Brands Inc.

12.15 PENTEL STATIONERY (INDIA) PVT. LTD.

12.16 PILOT Corp

12.17 Shanghai M and G Stationery Inc.

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

13.5 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.

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Global Writing Instruments Market 2023-2027

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A participant stands near a logo of World Bank at the International Monetary Fund - World Bank Annual Meeting 2018 in Nusa Dua

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday will host a roundtable discussion on further steps to evolve the World Bank and other development lenders to tackle climate change and other global crises beyond a $5 billion annual World Bank lending expansion, the Treasury said.

The discussion on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings will bring together finance ministers from major shareholders and borrowing countries that will cover "ways to maintain momentum to evolve the multilateral development banks to better meet current challenges," the Treasury said in a statement.

The World Bank has proposed balance sheet changes that would quickly allow it to lend an additional $50 billion over 10 years while maintaining its top-tier AAA credit rating, a step that bank shareholders are widely expected to adopt this week.

U.S. Treasury Undersecretary Jay Shambaugh said the reforms amounted to a "once in a generation transition" of the institutions, and called the World Bank's plans a "downpayment" on the reforms that would be deepened in time and spread to other multilateral development banks.

"This was the low-hanging fruit. These were the things we could accomplish in six months after the charge went to the bank," he told an event hosted by the Brookings Institution on Monday. "We definitely don't view that as a stopping point."

Shambaugh said it was important to fix the banks' operational structure and incentives and ensure effective use of funds, noting that some of the development banks had "considerable room" on their balance sheets.

A senior Treasury official said Yellen would discuss changes aimed at harnessing more private capital and creating public-private partnerships to tackle climate change and other global problems such as pandemic preparedness and economic fragility.

The official said Yellen was hoping to lay out another roadmap to make more progress on the banks' operational models and financial capacity.

(Reporting by David Lawder; additional reporting by Andrea Shalal, Editing by Leslie Adler, Chizu Nomiyama and Josie Kao)
In the past week, the fly in the ointment of road safety was put on full display by a pair of so-called drivers.

One of these drivers tried to pull off the ol left-turn from the right lane move, a trick that seems to be growing in popularity downtown. This character was nearly honked to reality by one passing car, but made yet another nudge to turn before finally being honked straight.

Another driver took the cake by making a three-point U-turn on a sharp curve in the middle of the afternoon on Harrison Road in Spotsylvania County.

Maybe those drivers had some kind of emergency going on. Maybe they were just in a hurry to run the next red light they could find.

Regardless of these outliers, state transportation officials have seen the growing problem on roads and are trying to fix what they can.

Road safety trends

At the Commonwealth Transportation Board meeting in late March, state officials gave an update on trends for roadway crashes resulting in deaths and serious injuries.

The numbers are as perplexing as the driving habits of those scofflaw drivers I recently witnessed.

The data (compiled and presented by the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Department of Motor Vehicles) included a chart covering fatalities and serious-injury crashes from 2003 through 2022.

In 2003, there were 943 fatalities statewide and 25,516 people who suffered serious injuries in vehicle crashes. That year proved to be the high mark for serious injuries on the chart, with those numbers plummeting to 7,585 in 2014. That number further dipped to a low of 6,798 in 2020, the start of the pandemic. Last year, 7,137 people suffered serious injuries in crashes on Virginia roads.

Deadly crashes reveal a completely different story. Those numbers climbed steadily after the 943 roadway deaths in 2003, peaking at 1,027 in 2007. Fatal crashes then took a turn, plummeting to a low of 703 in 2014.

Then deadly crashes started climbing again, accelerating in 2020 with 850. In 2021, 968 people died in crashes in Virginia, and that was topped topped last year when 1,005 people died.

The report included a list of the leading crash areas and causes.

Vehicles running off roads topped the list with 476 fatalities statewide last year. Speed-related fatal crashes were next with 441, and marked the second-biggest increase, at 70, among 20172021 averages.

The biggest increase from that five-year average happened at intersections, where 313 people died in crashes last year. The 201721 figure was 228.

The other categories with the biggest increases were unbelted drivers/passengers, with 375 deaths in 2022, and older drivers, with 264 fatalities last year.

Locally, only Spotsylvania ranked in the top 10 statewide in the fatality categories between 2018 and 2022, according to the report.

One of those categories was unbelted drivers or passengers. There were 33 deaths in such crashes in the Spotsylvania during the five-year span. Fairfax County had the most fatalities in that category with 50.

Spotsylvania had the sixth-most fatalities where speeding played a role, with 50; Fairfax led the state with 125.

Lastly, Spotsylvania had the ninth-most fatal crashes at intersections, with 29. Again, Fairfax topped the list with 100.

The state is taking a targeted approach to stem the rise in deadly crashes, with the report noting eight proven safety countermeasures. Those measures include centerline rumble strips, which the report says can reduce crashes by 60%; pedestrian crossings (56% reduction); edgeline rumble strips (50%); curve signs (40%); flashing color arrows on stop lights (20%); shoulder wedges (20%); high-visibility backplates on stop-light signals (15%); and intersections with no signals (10%).

VDOT has $94 million set aside for pedestrian crossing improvements and additions. A small portion of the work has been completed. Much of the work could be finished by 2028.

The state has another $85.3 million appropriated to improve intersections. Some of the work has been completed, with much of the rest expected to be completed by 2026.
U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger will host a Farm Bill Summit on Tuesday to hear from Virginia crop and livestock producers about their priorities as Farm Bill negotiations continue.

The daylong event at Meadow Event Park in Caroline County will include sessions focused on several Farm Bill titles and Virginia priorities. Experts will join panels on these issues, take questions from attendees, and provide their perspectives on the future of federal programs that impact Virginias farm economy. Additionally, Spanberger will share her outlook as the only Virginian on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.

On Wednesday from 7:308:30 p.m., Spanberger will host an open, public telephone town hall discussion. The virtual event, which will focus on a range of issues facing Virginians, will also be livestreamed on Spanbergers congressional website and Facebook page.

Spanberger will take questions and provide responses. Additionally, she will deliver an update on some of her recent priorities in the House.

To join the town hall, call 833/380-0670. To watch the conversation live, go to spanberger.house.gov/live or Spanbergers Facebook page during the event.
ADEN, Yemen, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi militia on Sunday engaged in direct talks aimed at reviving a cease-fire in the war-torn nation, following more than eight years of deadly conflict, a government official told Xinhua.

The local government official, who requested to remain anonymous, revealed that the ongoing discussion between Saudi officials and the Houthi leaders is the first one in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, which is under the control of the Houthis.

He said that these talks have sparked optimism that a resolution to the conflict in Yemen may be achievable.

The Yemeni government official expressed hope that the talks will lead to a positive outcome, indicating that "the local warring parties and Saudi Arabia have initially agreed to extend the expired six-month cease-fire to a year."

The source further stated that an official ceasefire announcement is expected to be made within the next three days.

On Saturday, Yemeni officials disclosed that a joint Saudi and Omani delegation arrived in Sanaa to hold ceasefire talks with leaders of the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

However, there has been no official confirmation from either Riyadh or the Houthis regarding the details of the discussions so far.

On Friday, Yemeni government officials gathered in Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh to discuss a comprehensive three-year peace plan to end the country's civil war, according to a Yemeni diplomat.

He clarified that the proposed plan, which is based on a series of back-channel negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi militia in Muscat, the capital of Oman, for the past few months, has three main stages that would be implemented over a period of three years.

Oman and the United Nations have mediated previous rounds of negotiations between the Yemeni government, Saudi Arabia, and the Houthi group. Oman's role has been crucial in facilitating talks and maintaining good relations with both parties.

The United Nations has been working to broker a political solution to the conflict, but previous attempts have failed due to a lack of trust between the warring parties and continued violence on the ground.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthis fighting against the internationally-recognized Yemeni government. The Saudi Arabia-led coalition intervened in the conflict in support of the Yemeni government in 2015. 
Last fall, Virginia Tech's enrollment surpassed 38,000 students, the largest in school history. The Blacksburg university has grown dramatically in the past two decades, increasing its student body by a third.

But most colleges aren't enjoying such success. At Radford University, the number of incoming freshmen has crashed almost 40% in the past decade. At Longwood University, freshman enrollment is down almost 30%.

When selective schools such as Virginia Tech take more students, they reach into James Madison University's pool. That forces JMU to reach into the pockets of Radford, Longwood or Mary Washington.

The growth of the large colleges in the state has caused an imbalance, and state leaders haven't decided how to respond. Without a plan, some public and private colleges could be forced to close, said Walter Curt, a member of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

"We are not walking into the future with our eyes open," he said.

There's no reason to believe the problem will correct itself. In the next decade, the number of high school graduates in the state is expected to decline - it's being called an "enrollment cliff" - leaving colleges to fight over fewer applicants. The percentage of men attending college has dropped in the past decade, and more people are questioning the value of a college education.

After decades of growth, Virginia colleges are entering a new era of significant change. Schools may be forced to lay off faculty and cut programs. The state's most competitive schools, such as the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary, might become even harder for Virginia students to access.

"The issue is how can we as a state afford to keep them in business?" Curt said. "This is survival."

10,000 empty seats

Almost all of the state's large colleges are growing, including George Mason, Virginia Tech, UVa, JMU and Old Dominion. The state's largest college, Liberty University, boasts 130,000 students, with about 115,000 of them fully online.

UVa and Tech have received record application numbers, and George Mason has grown alongside its Northern Virginia community. (VCU is an outlier - it's the state's only large college that is shrinking. Its enrollment has slipped in each of the past four years.)

But the ripple effects of that growth have hurt small colleges throughout the state. Among public schools, Radford, Longwood and Mary Washington have experienced the largest drops.

Private schools are feeling the pinch, too. There are about 10,000 empty seats at private colleges in the state, Curt said.

Not every small college is contracting. The most selective schools, such as William & Mary, Washington & Lee and the University of Richmond, are still filling their seats.

To rein in UVa and Virginia Tech, Sen. Tommy Norment, R-James City, proposed a bill this year to cap each public college's growth at 2% every two years.

The measure was rejected because of concerns that it would drive students to out-of-state colleges and hold back colleges that need to grow.

Make UVa, W&M harder to get into

Longwood's president, Taylor Reveley III, has another idea - make UVa and Virginia Tech more selective by allowing the schools to take more out-of-state students.

Virginia law allows the two colleges to grow their out-of-state population by just 1 percentage point each year if the new students are enrolled in a high-demand field, such as computer science.

Thirty-two percent of UVa students come from outside Virginia, and they pay $54,000 annually for tuition and fees, triple what an in-state student pays. At William & Mary, 38% of students are from out of state, and they pay roughly $47,000 in tuition, or about double what in-state students pay.

Those percentages are low compared with other flagships, including the University of Alabama (58% out of state), Purdue University (53%) or the University of Michigan (50%).

Eliminating the cap is a win-win, Reveley said. UVa and William & Mary would rake in more revenue, improve their academic profile and rise in the rankings. (UVa placed 25th, and William & Mary 41st among all U.S. colleges in the most recent ranking from U.S. News & World Report.)

The state's small schools, such as Longwood, would receive a larger pool of applicants.

But not all Virginia residents want already elite schools to become more difficult to access. UVa offered acceptance to 26% of in-state applicants this year, according to a consulting firm. Some believe that number is low enough already. Others say the primary mission of Virginia public colleges is to educate Virginia students.

The move would serve the state as a whole, Reveley said, calling Virginia's group of colleges the best in the country.

The other problem with Reveley's suggestion is that it might not work. Peter Blake, head of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, said students who are rejected from UVa don't necessarily go to Virginia Tech or JMU. They might attend South Carolina or Clemson.

Reveley called that notion "overstated," saying most students would stay in state. UVa and William & Mary did not respond to requests for comment.

More affordable, more relevant

The state could take a number of other measures to correct the imbalance between large colleges and small.

Virginia could follow North Carolina, which recently picked four small colleges and pumped them with more state funding, allowing them to lower their tuition prices and attract more students.

Another idea is to add more relevant programs that match the needs of students, including short-term workforce credentials.

But in the end, colleges might be forced to reduce their faculty and staff and cut the number of programs and services they offer. Some community colleges, which have suffered large enrollment losses, already did this.

It wouldn't be unprecedented for a Virginia college to close. Saint Paul's College, a private historically Black college in Lawrenceville, shuttered in 2013. Virginia Intermont College, a private college in Bristol, ceased operation in 2014. Both schools were more than 100 years old.

In 2015, the board at Sweet Briar College in Amherst County voted to permanently close, but alumnae at the all-women's school rallied to save it. Closing a school would mean cutting hundreds of jobs and significantly impacting the local economy.

Reveley says it's not likely that another college closes, because Virginia isn't losing high school graduates as dramatically as other states.

"The demographics are very much in Virginia's favor," he said.

For years, state policies encouraged colleges to grow. But as colleges enter a new era, it might be time to revisit those policies, Blake said.

The need for highly educated workers isn't going away, he said. To meet the economy's needs, colleges will have to cast a larger net for students. They have to become more accessible, more affordable and more relevant in order to survive.

"There's a reality you need to own up to," Blake said.
A family dog escaped with his life when a recent fire destroyed a home in the Quail Ridge housing development near Amissville in northern Culpeper.

Little Fork Volunteer Fire & Rescue Chief Doug Monaco reports Dakota is a lucky canine having been adopted by a loving family in Quail Ridge.

However, at 11:17 a.m. on April, 4, Little Fork was dispatched to a working house fire at Dakota's residence. There was a report of flames and black smoke from the front left corner of the home, according to Monaco. Dakota was home and alone guarding the house when the fire started.

Luckily, a passing retired firefighter saw the smoke and checked to make sure that the house was unoccupied, Monaco retired. The retired firefighter discovered Dakota at an exterior door and rescued him from the smoke and fire.

Dakota was found to be having trouble breathing and was brought to Little Fork's medic unit for treatment. Medics revived him with a pet oxygen mask. He improved and was eventually released to his owners. Dakota is a very lucky dog ... he has now been rescued twice! said Monaco, whose stationhouse in Rixeyville has the states only all-volunteer large animal (and family pet) rescue team.

While this was occurring, Chief 9 Monaco arrived on scene and established command. A size-up was performed and an attack line was advanced into the interior of the house to extinguish the rapidly spreading fire. The fire had spread into the second floor and attic. As crews entered the front of the house and began operations in the kitchen, the roof partially collapsed into the second floor.

Command immediately ordered an evacuation of all personnel from the structure, Monaco said. Crews continued to spray water on the fire from outside until it was deemed safe to reenter the home. Extinguishment and extensive overhaul operations were then performed over the next few hours at the fire, its origin unknown. Numerous Rappahannock and Fauquier stations assisted on this incident along with 18 Little Fork volunteers.
A black flag whips in the wind like the Jolly Roger near U.S. 24. But the fabric shows no skull and crossbones, and there is no pirate ship below. Instead, it marks a restaurant and the flag reads BBQ.

Roys Crew BBQ, a fast-casual food joint, opened last month in Woodland Park offering a loaded menu of meats including pork ribs, pulled pork and brisket, along with a variety of hearty side dishes such as mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and beans.

Operated as the Circle H Smokehouse for close to 40 years and shut down during the pandemic, 720 Browning Ave. has again come to life with the savory smell of smoked meat wafting out its doors.

But for the owners, Roy Cassada, 46, and his wife, Stephanie, 43, to open a restaurant there, the stars had to align more than once.

Roy, originally from Texas, didnt spend more than a year in college at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces before he began working for a friends fathers barbecue restaurant and catering company.

He taught me everything, Roy said. And he actually gave me my sauce recipe.

It was during a visit to Hobart, Okla., that Roy found a vacant building with boarded-up windows that he bought and turned into his first barbecue restaurant.

While operating the restaurant, Roy met Stephanie, a waitress he hired.

It was a little bit of a small-town scandal, Stephanie said.

We went from being co-workers to dating, to being engaged. We got married, we bought a house a couple of months later. ... After we moved into the house, we found out we were pregnant with a child.

The Cassadas have eight children ranging in age from 3 to 23.

In 2005, the couple shut down their restaurant, and Roy began his own insurance agency in Oklahoma City.

Everybody thought we were crazy when we left the restaurant, Roy said.

He ran his insurance business for 17 years. Every so often, he and his family would visit Colorado.

Weve visited almost every place I can imagine up here, Stephanie said. Roy and our oldest son Adam came up here (to Woodland Park) I think maybe in 2017 to go on a fishing trip, and they just fell in love with the town.

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It was not long after that Roy decided it was time for a change.

Im not built to sit around, Roy said. Thats kind of what the insurance deal is like  in the office sitting around.

Roy and Stephanie sold the insurance business and their home in Oklahoma to move to the City Above the Clouds. All the while, they eyed real estate, including 720 Browning Ave., in hopes to jump back into the restaurant business.

Just weeks before Roy was about to begin a new job with a food distribution company in December, he got a call from the smokehouse propertys real-estate agent; they were ready to sell.

It just really worked out like perfectly, Roy said. There were so many hurdles like selling the insurance agency, selling our house ... so everything worked out and then this worked out, too. So, were like, This is kind of meant to be.

In preparation for opening, Roy tested his food with the employees at Foxworth-Galbraith Home Improvement Center catty-corner to his restaurant.

Before he opened, he brought trays of samples, Beth Lennard, a cashier at the center, said. Ive been up here nine years. I miss the original barbecue place. Its really good to have them open again.

Roy travels less than two blocks down the street to the restaurant where he starts smoking dozens of pounds of meat at 3:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

Lunch has been absolutely insane, Roy said of the traffic so far.

The restaurant offers breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. six days a week including menu items such as the Tractor Man, which involves a pile of several types of meat and is a reference to a friend of Roys from Oklahoma who performed tractor work.

A bright green-and-yellow John Deere tractor sits behind the building in sync with the theme.

Roys oldest daughter Madilynn, 19, handwrote the brightly colored menus that line the restaurants walls. His daughters Penelope, 16, and Isabella, 12, and his son William, 14, work at the eatery during the hours they arent home-schooled by Stephanie, who helps run the administrative side of the business.

Roy and I work very well with each other, Stephanie said. We have a fun, very bantering relationship. So, we just bring that into the workplace, and I think it keeps it light and fun.

The Cassadas also have nearly 20 other employees, many of whom are high school and college age, and work a few hours every week.

Tanner Coy, owner of Tweeds Fine Furnishings in Woodland Park, supplied the restaurant with some of its decor, as did Woodland Square Vintage Market and other local businesses and artists.

Having a business like theirs is valuable; it provides jobs. It generates revenue, Coy said. Were thrilled to have them here  even if that means increasing my exercise regimen.
History repeated itself on Friday when the legislature killed a bill to give childhood victims of sexual abuse more time to sue their perpetrators and the insitutions that harbored them  the first such measure that came close to passage since 2006.

At that time, and still, victims generally had only six years after they turned 18 to file a civil suit against their abusers. The window was an even narrower two years for a lawsuit against an organization.

At that time, and still, Colorado was fresh from hearing about incidents within the Catholic Church. The Denver Post in the summer of 2005 reported on a series of clergy abuse survivors that would result in lawsuits from more than two dozen victims. In October 2019, the attorney generals office reported that 43 priests had likely abused at least 166 children in the state since 1950.

At that time, and still, feelings were raw from the failure.

I hope they dont sleep well at night, said former House Majority Leader Alice Madden bluntly, referring to those who voted against the 2006 proposal.

The context for the 2020 attempt could not have been more different from the pitched battle in 2006. The bill looked forward, rather than open past cases. It only covered private entities and did not address the difficult matter of liability for government institutions. Its sponsorship was bipartisan from the beginning. And it occurred in an era of #MeToo, when the problem of sexual misconduct is visible, better-understood and when victims voices are louder than ever.

But while the lawmakers who killed this years bill encouraged sponsors to bring a more robust bill to the next session, that means, for now, survivors are no closer to civil justice than they were 14 years ago.

Colorado Politics interviewed more than 50 people who had direct or indirect involvement with the three statute of limitations bills from the 2006 session and reviewed hundreds of pages of contemporary accounts. Named individuals are identified by the titles they held at the time. Some of the events, or the details thereof, are reported here for the first time.

One person who was involved in lobbying against the 2006 bills remembered that they had a feeling during the entire session that was like a pit in your stomach. Like youre in trouble kind of feeling. It was just so stressful.

They added, in talking to you right now, I had that same feeling.

David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, gained familiarity with statute of limitations efforts over his 15 years working full-time for the victims organization. Colorado, he remembered, was different. Then-Archbishop of Denver Charles J. Chaput, Clohessy said, may have been the first to make  I want to choose my words carefully  this brilliant, disingenuous claim that unless public institutions were included, it would be unfair.

Both sides looked to California

Shortly after The Posts 2005 series on clergy abuse survivors began, Joan Fitz-Gerald began receiving calls from victims. Fitz-Gerald, the Senate president, quickly learned of Californias experience in 2003. The state opened a one-year opportunity, called a lookback window for any victim whose statute of limitations had expired to file a civil suit. It generated roughly 1,000 claims, of which 850 involved the Catholic Church. The bills lifespan was one month and 20 days from its first committee hearing until final passage. No one voted against it.

Fitz-Gerald, D-Coal Creek Canyon, assumed she would have a similar experience. She copied the language into her bill, Senate Bill 143, and lengthened the window to two years to avoid overburdening the courts. Madden, D-Boulder, was her House sponsor.

Around the same time, two other House members  Gwyn Green, D-Golden, and Rosemary Marshall, D-Denver  were working separately on similar bills. Both would eliminate the civil statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse going forward, and both would eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for offenses dating to 1996 onward. Marshall maintains that her bill had nothing to do with the Catholic Church. Green, a lifelong Catholic, died in 2018.

When the Colorado Catholic Conference, the advocacy group for the dioceses of Colorado Springs and Pueblo and the Archdiocese of Denver, learned of the bills, it determined that they were unacceptable. The lookback in particular was irredeemable.

While searching for a strategy, the churchs lobbyists also looked to California. They found what they were searching for in an August 2006 article from National Review Online. A Catholic columnist decried the medias focus on clergy sex abuse to the exclusion of abuse occurring in public schools.

The column cited a 2004 federal study finding that 6.7% of public school students experienced contact-based sexual misconduct from teachers. Applying that to the 6.3 million students in Californias public schools, the conclusion was that 422,000 students in the state would be a victim of school-based sex abuse before graduation. That number, the column pointed out, was higher than the 143,000 total students enrolled in Catholic school in California.

This was an issue for the church which was in the past. It was in the 60s, 70s and 80s, said one person familiar with the Colorado Catholic Conferences strategy. And what was the situation right now with public school students? Were they being mistreated and then not being dealt with?

The churchs lawyers sent letters to roughly 20 school districts around the state asking how many complaints of sex abuse they received, whether there was an investigation, and what happened to the teacher. All of the districts refused.

The one response the Catholic Conference did receive in late January, however, was from the Colorado Department of Education, which gave the church the names of 85 teachers whose licenses had been revoked or denied for alleged sexual misconduct since 1997.

Although none of the bills mentioned public institutions, the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act shields public entities against civil suits under the notion that costly litigation would affect the delivery of government services. In cases where governmental immunity could be waived, damages were generally capped at $150,000 and the victim had only 180 days from the incident to file a claim.

The person familiar with the church said that, armed with this information about how other entities also had a sex abuse problem, the Catholic Conference would essentially get a much more reasonable bill. For the remainder of the session, the church would push hard on the message of protect all children, which some proponents felt was a ruse to create more opposition.

Honestly, I thought: the Democrats are in the majority. You cant have a defeat like this in an election year, they added. If youre about protecting kids, you gotta protect some kids, as many as you can. And we were telling you, protect them all."

Meeting with victims

For the bills supporters, their most powerful tool was the stories of abuse victims, who were a weekly presence at the Capitol.

Rep. Josh Penry remembered being summoned off of the House floor to the Senate president's office. There, waiting to meet with him, were adult victims of childhood sex abuse.

Penry, R-Grand Junction, called it his first significant interface with Fitz-Gerald, prior to being elected to the Senate himself later that year. It was not an ambush, he said of the meeting. It was a legitimate effort to say, hey, theres a problem here and the law doesnt allow a remedy.

The thing I remember about that meeting was it was not a hearsay, he-said/she-said thing, he added. It was the victim.

Fitz-Gerald also arranged for Thomas Gumbleton, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit and the first U.S. bishop to identify as a survivor of childhood sex abuse from a priest, to visit the Capitol and speak to senators. The day he arrived at Fitz-Geralds office, three Catholic news agency reporters asked to sit in on the meeting with Gumbleton. They pointed out that a gathering of two or more legislators speaking about policy is open to the public.

Fitz-Gerald shot back, What is this, intimidation? She changed the plan: instead of meeting with senators as a group, they would meet privately, one-on-one. She even walked over to the House floor, where she requested that Rep. Rob Witwer, R-Jefferson County, come to her office to meet someone. Witwer remembered the encounter clearly, although he voted against HB1090 on the principle that it was unfair to bring a lawsuit against an alleged perpetrator decades after an incident.

I felt like I was maintaining a confessional booth in my office, Fitz-Gerald recalled. She said that Gumbleton could not speak publicly because he was a Church official who was a visitor in Chaputs Archdiocese, and Chaput did not share the same view of the bill. The fact that the Catholic press was there made Fitz-Gerald think they were spying on Gumbleton for the Church to make sure that he stayed in line.

The teacher strategy

The church debuted its argument at the House Judiciary Committee hearing for Marshalls bill, House Bill 1088, and Greens, House Bill 1090. The Colorado Catholic Conference flew in Charol Shakeshaft, a researcher at Hofstra University and the author of the 2004 federal study on sex abuse in schools. She testified that eliminating the civil statute of limitations was inadequate if it did not include public schools, and estimated that 54,000 to 77,000 Colorado children would be left unprotected.

I understood that by arguing for broader coverage, my words could be used to try and stop an extension, Shakeshaft said when reached 14 years later. She did not follow the fate of the bills, but believes now that even if the bills had passed without adding public schools, it would have been a step forward.

Another witness was Christopher Rose, the public policy director for the Catholic Conference. He gave the committee a box of files from the records request showing the teachers with license suspensions, noting that the archdiocese by contrast had established an investigatory body and its Office of Child and Youth Protection in accordance with church policies.

We always report everything to the police. Always, without exception, Rose added.

That was not so. Only in 2019 with the release of the attorney generals report would it be revealed that the archdiocese had failed to report to law enforcement 25 of the 39 recorded allegations of child sex abuse by members of clergy since June 2002.

Investigators noted that there was confusion within the archdiocese about what the law required, and there is no evidence that Rose knew his testimony was inaccurate. Still, the Archdiocese received a report of a decades-old rape allegation the day before the 2006 legislative session started, and the attorney generals investigation would find that the church appeared to neither report it nor look into it.

On Feb. 4-5, 2006, priests in several parishes within the Archdiocese of Denvers jurisdiction in northern Colorado read a letter from Chaput.

Every one of these bills, the archbishop wrote of the three statute of limitations measures, focuses instead on religious and private organizations. These bills to give victims more time to sue, he told his fellow Catholics, would be unfair and prejudicial. In fact, some Catholic legislators seem determined to be harsh on the Church, while it will be families, including Catholic families, who suffer. Fitz-Gerald, Green and Madden were Catholic.

Concluding with the statement that each bill unfairly ignores sexual abuse in public schools and institutions, the archbishop urged parishoners to contact your legislators and demand that they seriously amend or defeat the bills.

Reactions varied to the Chaput letter. Green was sitting in her parish when she heard the priest describe her bill. She stood up.

Thou shall not bear false witness, she said.

On the other hand, one of the bills opponents, speaking under condition of anonymity, remembered their parish running out of photocopies of the letter due to demand from churchgoers. Right then and there I thought, there is no way this bill passes unless it includes public school kids. Theres no way. It just isnt going to pass, they said. Catholics dont really respond as a unit politically. But they felt like this was unfair.

The churchs line of argument disgusted some people. The most vivid thing for me in that whole debate  and the most offensive thing for me in that whole debate, recalled Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, were the arguments from the church that were not as bad as the school districts. There are far more teachers who are pedophiles, instead of owning their own behavior.

Three approaches

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Each of the sponsors took a different route in response to the entreaty to protect all kids.

Marshall amended her bill on the House floor to remove the contentious civil portion entirely. We just thought they would get more momentum if they were separate issues rather than combined in one bill, she recalled.

HB1088 now only lifted the criminal statute of limitations for cases going forward. The three Catholic bishops met and on March 1, they endorsed the bill. Chaput praised Marshall for having taken her flawed bill and shaped it into public policy that reasonable people can support.

Alluding to Green and Fitz-Gerald, the archbishop added contemptuously that Public service is a demanding vocation. Not everyone has the skill to handle its pressures with good will and fair judgment.

Bill Owens, the Republican governor and a Catholic, signed the bill. Proponents of the other two bills saw this as a fleeting and minor victory  something the church could point to as having supported a reasonable solution.

We thought that this gave Owens something that he could say, Ive done something on this issue. Ive made some improvements, said Annmarie Jensen, the lobbyist for the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Giving people that out, I think, was part of our messaging problem because it looked like they were being compromising, when the bill as Rosemary amended it didnt really affect them.

Green, on the other hand, embraced the argument to include public institutions, and had her bill amended to waive governmental immunity. It passed 49-14 in the House.

Meanwhile, Fitz-Gerald had gotten her lookback bill out of the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs committee, of which she was a member. An amendment to make the lookback apply to public institutions was ruled out of order. But it never reached the Senate floor on its own.

Instead, Fitz-Gerald decided in mid-April to combine her bill with Greens to improve its chances of passage. But as the session wore on, some people quietly observed the lack of an endgame for the bill.

My take on it is that she was doing something that she really didnt want to do but she felt that she had to do it, recalled Sen. Bob Hagedorn, D-Aurora, referring to Fitz-Gerald. Particularly when you have the governor who was not probably going to sign anything that Joan was okay with. And we didnt have a veto-proof legislature. So to me at least, what the final outcome was going to be, it was pretty obvious.

One person involved with the opposition, speaking on condition of anonymity, put it more plainly.

One thing I think that [proponents] never understood: the guy sitting downstairs who had to sign this legislation is a Republican governor who, when he was a state representative in 1986, was the author and sponsor of the biggest tort reform legislation in the history of Colorado, they said. And youre expecting him to sign a bill to open up the biggest exception to that tort reform ever?

In 1986 alone, over 30 state legislatures enacted changes to civil liability after widespread increases in insurance rates. Owens was the sponsor or co-sponsor for a half dozen bills in that session which limited multiple types of damages, altered the liability standards for defendants, and placed most types of civil liability claims under a two year statute of limitations.

Most people interviewed believed that the governor was at best neutral or, more likely, opposed to HB1090 and SB143. No one believed he supported them. Proponents admitted in retrospect that Owens was a blind spot for them. Their focus was on pushing something through the legislature, with no immediate plan for what should happen after that.

I think we were very much of a one-step-at-a-time kind of thing, said Clohessy, of SNAP. Theres only one governor, so if and when we get the luxury of approaching him because the bills passed, we will want to do it carefully.

Parishes being bled dry

Now, the combined bill had a coalition of opponents that included the Colorado Catholic Conference, but also public institutions, their lobbyists and their insurers.

It was largely Joan Fitz-Gerald versus the church, recalled Evan Goulding, lobbyist for the Special District Association of Colorado. He remembered feeling dragged into a fight that wasnt really our fight.

At the time, the associations membership included 30 to 35 parks and recreation and districts and 60 fire districts with youth programs, he estimated. Some of the member districts contacted the association and told Goulding that if public institutions were in the bill, they would have problems.

While other institutions lobbyists worked behind the scenes, the rhetoric was harshest from the Archdiocese of Denver and its enlisted allies.

It is time to start getting angry, wrote Greg Erlandson, a Catholic journalist, in the March 1 issue of the Denver Catholic Register. The Catholic Church is being singled out. You are being singled out. It is your pocket that is being picked clean. It is Catholic schools, Catholic aid programs, Catholic charities, Catholic parishes that are being bled dry.

Theres a new and peculiar kind of anti-Catholicism at work, Chaput told the Catholic publishing company Our Sunday Visitor. He added, in what appeared to be a reference to Fitz-Gerald, Green and the victims, Some of the worst anti-Catholics are angry, disaffected Catholics.

More blunt was the full-page advertisement in The Denver Post on Feb. 19, 2006, opposing the statute of limitations extension. PILLAGING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON A MASSIVE SCALE it read. The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, a Catholic organization that bills itself as on the front lines of the Culture War, paid for the ad that asked, Why does the secular left hate conservative Christians?

Some legislators were inundated with opposition.

There were stacks and stacks of the postcards and the letters, one lawmaker recalled on condition of anonymity. I am 99% sure that that issue was what I got the most outreach on the entire session.

It was all of the Catholic people, said Rep. Cheri Jahn, D-Wheat Ridge. They were the only ones contacting me, from what I remember. And they were like, how dare you go after the church?

They were really angry, she added. The churches had them all riled up.

The messages to Jahns office were no accident. Her district overlapped with that of Sen. Maryanne Moe Keller. Despite reports at the time that Chaput instructed his February letter to be read in every mass within the archdioceses territory, a person familiar with the churchs tactics claimed that the instruction only extended to the pulpits of approximately a dozen churches.

Democrats in swing districts, the person said, were the archdiocese's targets. That is why Green heard the letter in her Golden parish.

It wasnt so much like, lets screw her, the person said. It was a large parish in a suburb. The person added that the senator was the mark in Jefferson County, not Green.

Keller would end up voting no.

Chaos in the final days

The combined HB1090 would now cover both sides of sex abuse liability: lifting the civil statute of limitations for future victims to seek justice and creating a retroactive window for past survivors. Among the other changes, a now-one-year lookback window would limit lawsuits to instances of abuse going only as far back as 1971. Damages in that window for both public and private institutions would have a $150,000 cap. Going forward, victims could only sue until age 53.

Fitz-Gerald pushed through the bill in the Senate by an 18-17 vote, losing four Democrats and gaining four Republicans. Those with concerns about the constitutionality of the lookback window were in the minority. Some members felt it was better to pass the bill and let the courts settle the constitutional question. But once the House saw the bill, it balked. A series of conference committees, which included Green and Fitz-Gerald, ended up stripping the lookback window and other Senate-added provisions. Each time, the Senate passed the compromise 18-17. But between February and late April, Green had lost her majority.

I remember they would bring up arguments  wed be hearing them for the first time from lawmakers, said Clohessy. Saying, I talked to my pastor and he brought up X. And I remember vividly thinking, weve been doing this for weeks. Where did that notion come from?

Its a tactic to kill some bills, said Rep. Val Vigil, D-Thornton. Theyll just pass a slight change and then other people will say, I want 100% or nothing....And theyll never be on the record for voting against it. Conference committees are a tactic.

By the end it was all very fractured, Penry said. Some people wanted liability limits to protect against excessive damages. Some of the plaintiff's lawyers were hoping the litigation floodgates would be thrown open as wide as possible.

The House adhered to its original version passed in February. Fitz-Gerald, the weekend before the final day of the session, said she would study it. By Monday she made the decision to not have the Senate take a vote on the bill.

Fitz-Gerald did not remember why she opted against the obvious path of passing the original HB1090 through the Senate. This is perhaps the biggest mystery of the bills saga. She had already voted for the legislation after it removed her lookback window, and she had 17 other votes on her side. Why not take one final vote?

We dont know what she was thinking, said one lobbyist on the bill, who said they showed up on the final day prepared to continue opposing it. I remember thinking, yeah, she had an easy win here. 

One possibility, Fitz-Gerald allowed, is that the Senate never approved a version of the bill which eliminated the civil statute of limitations completely. It was Sen. Ron May, one of her four Republican votes, whose amendment capped the statute at age 53 for the victim. Eliminating the statute entirely might have jeopardized his, and potentially other senators, votes.

Part of the failure to extend the statute of limitations was the reality that the proponents had difficulty advancing a succinct answer to the churchs straightforward question: how do lawsuits for crimes in the past help protect children today?

What the supporters of the bill lacked was they didnt have a press conference of 10 kids who had been molested in the last two years kind of thing, said one person familiar with the churchs strategy.

Even though there were dozens of survivors around the Capitol weekly, they were virtually all adults. That image enabled opponents to raise doubt about the intentions of the proponents. Instead of providing help for children, Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, complained, the bills only afforded therapeutic legal opportunities for alleged middle-aged victims.

The primary outrage for Fitz-Gerald was the secrecy the church afforded abuse allegations and the failure to adjudicate allegations properly  deficiencies the attorney generals report would note in 2019. But at the time, and without the independent verification of those allegations, multiple parties noted that the Catholic Church seemed a fixation of hers and, in their words, targeted.

Victims, whom she had consulted every step of the way, walked away with a different impression of her and Green.

Tears literally come to my eyes at just the mention of those two, said Clohessy, beginning to cry. Because I think  I thought they were and still think they are absolute heroes. Absolute heroes for standing up for kids.
A Colorado man has filed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Denver for the sexual abuse he reportedly suffered as a child, using a new state law that enables survivors to hold organizations liable for abuse decades in the past.

The legal action now pending in Denver District Court is one of the first to take advantage of a legal maneuver the General Assembly enacted last year to benefit childhood sex abuse victims who typically were barred from bringing lawsuits more than a few years beyond their assaults.

"As a person who survived years of sexual abuse at the hands of the powers that be, you end up as a broken person, a broken young adult, and a broken adult. It takes forever to realize, this isn't my fault. This isn't of my doing. This is what they did to us as victims," said Brian Barzee of Colorado Springs.

Barzee, 58, alleges that he came into contact with Father James Moreno while Barzee was a student from 1978 to 1982 at St. Andrew's Preparatory Seminary High School. During that time, Moreno reportedly took an interest in Barzee and would sexually exploit and abuse him "hundreds of times."

"Father Moreno would often tell Mr. Barzee that if Mr. Barzee told anyone about the ongoing sexual abuse, Father Moreno would kick Mr. Barzee out of St. Andrews and out of the Catholic Church completely," the lawsuit states. "Father Moreno would tell Mr. Barzee that Mr. Barzees father would not believe Mr. Barzee if he disclosed the abuse, and that Mr. Barzees own father would hate him if he were kicked out of the church."

Moreno allegedly gave Barzee marijuana and alcohol to sedate him. Then, the priest would fondle him, force Barzee to perform sex acts on him or forcibly rape him. On one occasion, Barzee and "other unidentified priests" reportedly raped Barzee at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Archdiocese's towering structure on Colfax Avenue where Pope John Paul II once celebrated Mass.

A spokesperson for the Archdiocese said the organization was not aware of the lawsuit until Monday and would need time to review the allegations before providing a response.

Barzee is bringing his claim of sexual misconduct pursuant to Senate Bill 88, also known as the Child Sexual Abuse Accountability Act. The legislation opened a three-year window beginning on Jan. 1 for victims to bring lawsuits against their abusers or the institutions that harbored them.

The passage of SB 88 occurred roughly 15 years after the first media reports of Catholic clergy sex abuse in Colorado. At the time, state lawmakers attempted to pass a similar "lookback window" to get around the relatively strict statute of limitations. Generally, a survivor had six years after they turned 18 to sue their perpetrator and just two years to sue an organization.

Amid heavy lobbying from the Catholic Church and then-Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, as well as objections from government entities with youth programming, the legislation died.

The next serious effort at statute-of-limitations reform came in 2020, when a bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed a bill seeking only to eliminate the civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse going forward. Despite passing the House of Representatives nearly unanimously, one sponsor of the bill, Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, asked the Senate to kill the legislation because it failed to help victims of past abuse.

Advocates for SB 88 (and the companion measure enacted last year to abolish the civil statute of limitations in the future) pointed to the fact that children will often delay disclosure of their abuse until well into their adult lives. Although organizations like the Catholic Church worried about the level of documentation that would be available decades in the future to defend against past abuse claims, proponents maintained that it was important to reveal whether any predators remain in positions of trust with children.

"This is the most important law that's been passed to protect sexual abuse in the cases of minors," said Barzee. "Many of these priests have gone on to abuse again and again and again, and there's no recourse other than this law."

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The legislation to reform the statute of limitations arose shortly after Attorney General Phil Weiser released an investigation into clergy abuse within the three divisions of the Catholic Church in Colorado: the Archdiocese of Denver and the dioceses of Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Although Senate Bill 88 was not a reaction to the findings, the report will likely be instrumental in any lawsuits that arise under the law.

Additional findings from the attorney general's investigation noted that Moreno had sexually abused an anonymous male victim at St. Andrews between 1978 and 1980. The victim reported his abuse to the Archdiocese in 2019.

"It does not appear from Morenos file that the Denver Archdiocese had received any reports of Moreno engaging in sexual misconduct with children prior to his sexual abuse of Victim No. 1," investigators wrote. The report noted that Moreno had entered medical retirement six years prior to the victim's disclosure, and that the church had passed along the allegations to police.

Michael L. Nimmo, a partner with Denver Trial Lawyers who represents plaintiff, said that Barzee did report his abuse to the church. Some of the details in the attorney general's report differed from Barzee's allegations in his lawsuit, and it is not clear whether the anonymous victim was in fact Barzee.

The new law limits the amount a victim can recover from an organization to $500,000, although a judge may increase that amount to $1 million in cases where a lesser amount would be unfair given the circumstances of the case.

According to the research and advocacy group ChildUSA, 24 states, the District of Columbia and Guam have enacted a lookback window or similar provision for time-barred civil lawsuits involving child sex abuse.

There is a possibility Colorado's version may not withstand judicial scrutiny. Lawmakers and witnesses before the General Assembly cautioned that the state Supreme Court could find it unconstitutional for defendants to have to answer for allegations previously barred under the statute of limitations. On the other hand, courts assume that actions of the legislature are constitutional unless found otherwise beyond a reasonable doubt.

Colorado's law also requires that organizations being held liable must have known  or should have known  that an employee or activity posed a risk of sexual misconduct against a child.

Barzee's lawsuit offers no allegations that the Archdiocese knew of the specific risk Moreno posed between 1978 and 1982, or that the Archdiocese knew of any other abuse by Moreno prior to the 2019 report. Instead, Barzee claims that the Archdiocese "should have known that Father Moreno had a propensity for the conduct that caused injury to the Plaintiff, and in particular, that he had a propensity to engage in the sexual abuse of children."

Moreno is not named as a defendant.

Nimmo believed the complaint had provided an adequate level of detail, and said he would not have brought the lawsuit if the claims were insufficient. While he plans to file complaints on behalf of additional victims, he also will watch what the court does with Barzee's case.

"From a lawyer's perspective, it gives me the opportunity to legally go after an organization that's abused children for 40-50 years," Nimmo said. "It allows me to put my arm around my survivors and say, 'Let's go get 'em. They're not gonna be able to get away with this any longer.'"
Beginning on January 1, 2022, survivors of childhood sex abuse and other types of sexual misconduct will be able to hold their perpetrators accountable in Colorados legal system, no matter how much time has elapsed since the offense.

Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday signed Senate Bill 73, which removes the restrictive statute of limitations placed on victims to file civil lawsuits against their perpetrators or institutions  like employers or youth programs  that are implicated in the misconduct. Enactment of the legislation comes 15 years after an intense lobbying effort killed a similar attempt at increasing the length of time survivors had to sue for their injuries.

"Victims deserve justice whenever they choose to seek it. Outdated laws wont be able to stop them anymore," said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, one of the bill's sponsors. The other House of Representatives sponsor, Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, called it a "historic bill."

Under current law, children who are abused generally have six years after they turn 18 to file a civil suit against their perpetrator and two years to sue an organization. The bill applies to a range of other offenses against children and adults, including sexual assault and trafficking.

SB73 applies only to future victims and those whose statute of limitations has not yet expired. A separate measure benefitting victims of past abuse is still pending before a Senate committee.

Opponents of eliminating the statute of limitations have argued it is harder to defend against allegations after the significant passage of time. Victim advocates counter that if sufficient evidence exists to bring a claim, an arbitrary window should not constrain survivors.

To all the survivors and advocates who worked tirelessly, Im really proud to be here when this day has come. Theres no place for red tape between survivors and healing in Colorado," said Polis during a virtual signing ceremony.

Colorado joins a dozen other states as of February that have eliminated the statute of limitations for some or all types of claims arising from childhood sexual abuse. According to ChildUSA, the average age for a survivor who comes forward about their abuse is 52. Delayed disclosure can happen for a variety of reasons, including fear, shame, cultural norms, a relationship to the perpetrator and intellectual or communication challenges.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, which has been involved in repeated efforts to end the statute of limitations, credited victims with advocating for SB73's passage.

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"It is a fact that current and past civil statutes have protected the wrong individuals and institutions from accountability for their actions," SNAP said in a statement. "By taking this step to reform the statute of limitations in Colorado, it is now possible for more survivors to have their day in court and for some of the costs associated with the lifelong trauma of sexual abuse to be shifted from victims and taxpayers and onto the abusers and enablers."

SB73 passed with no dissenting votes in the Senate and with only a handful of Republican members opposed in the House.

Although the statute of limitations has been on lawmakers' radar for more than a decade, the last major attempt at reform occurred in 2006. That year, there were multiple measures to remove the criminal and civil deadlines for taking action against sexual abusers of children. At the time, a series of clergy abuse revelations in The Denver Post motivated legislators to take action.

However, the Catholic Church in Colorado, led by then-Archbishop of Denver Charles J. Chaput, vehemently objected to removing all time constraints on past or future victims. Chaput argued the General Assembly was unfairly targeting Catholics, while ignoring the abuse the occurred in public schools.

[S]ome Colorado legislators seem determined to be harsh when it comes to Catholic and other private institutions, and much softer when it comes to their own public institutions, including public schools. And it will be families, including Catholic families, who suffer, he wrote in the Archdioceses weekly publication. The General Assembly did, however, eliminate the statute of limitations going forward for criminal prosecutions of child sex abuse.

The Colorado Catholic Conference, which lobbies on behalf of the Archdiocese and the dioceses in Pueblo and Colorado Springs, said on Thursday it has long supported an unlimited criminal statute of limitations, as well as a "reasonable and fair" extension for civil suits.

"Our position on this bill was that the civil statute of limitations should have a sensible time limit to ensure due process for all parties involved, especially if the person accused of the misconduct has passed away," the conference said in a statement.

Then-Rep. Gwyn Green, D-Golden, who was herself Catholic, was a chief proponent of striking the statute of limitations in 2006. Although Green died in 2018, her husband, Daniel Green, said she would have been pleased at the change in law.

"I think Gwyn, without being too smug, would certainly feel some satisfaction with the way things are going. She would also be feeling regret for all the time that's gone by," he said.
Congress passed the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934, which was named after Rep. Edward Taylor of Colorado and created grazing districts. In these districts, grazing use was apportioned and regulated, and it slowed and helped put an end to the range wars between cattlemen and sheepherders, and remedied overgrazing by guaranteeing land availability. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) stated that federal land should remain under federal ownership and established a regulatory system for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to manage federal lands. The act set out a multiple use management policy for the BLM in which the agency would balance its management of the land to meet diverse needs, including recreation, grazing, timber and mineral production, fish and wildlife protection, and oil and gas production. In addition, the law affirmed existing grazing rights, water rights, oil and gas leases, and mining claims. It was signed into law by President Gerald Ford.

That multiple use designation is one of the basics that is at stake in the BLMs proposed rule titled Strengthening the Stewardship of Americas Public Lands. The rule would make conservation one of the uses on equal footing as the uses listed above. It would apply land health standards to all BLM-managed public lands and revise existing regulations to meet the requirement to protect Areas of Critical Environmental Concern set forth in FLPMA.

There are several glaring problems with the proposed rule, the least of which is not the secretive, gotcha moment the proposed rule was posted to the Federal Register and submitted for public comment. Many ranches graze BLM lands and have for generations. They do so with an expectation of predictability from the BLM, not a proposed rule that jumps out of a dark closet in the middle of calving season and an all-hands-on-deck-type conversation about wolves. The timing isnt a good look for the BLM.

The National Cattlemens Beef Association and Public Lands Council were quick to denounce the proposed rule, saying it would jeopardize the agencys ability to be a good partner to the ranchers who manage millions of acres across the West.

One of the issues with the proposed rule is the designation of ACECs. Anyone can nominate an area for ACEC designation and the process to determine an areas need for the designation is willy nilly, even for the federal government. Land health standards are applied to the area and a determination is made to whether or not it is meeting or not meeting standards. According to Kaitlynn Glover, a good Wyoming-raised woman, and the NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources and PLC Executive Director, the land health standards are applied only to grazing allotments, so if it doesnt meet standards, the blame lands squarely on grazing, despite fire damage, surface-disturbing activities, recreational access, or other human activities. Damned if you do, damned if you dont.

Of all of the multiple uses recognized by the BLM, grazing is the only use that is, in itself, a conservation practice and is done according to a Resource Management Plan. These RMP are to be updated every 10-ish years, but Cheyenne attorney and former Department of the Interior staffer Karen Budd-Falen, the backlog at the BLM is, in some cases, decades deep. If I were a betting woman, I would anticipate that anti-livestock extremist groups would throw ACEC nominations at the BLM like confetti in an attempt to get permittees off the land by way of this rule. In Colorado, there are about 450,000 public acres designated ACEC and the majority have grazing on them. It certainly raises questions about those ACEC acres that are grazed by BLM-managed wild horses and how land health assessments would reflect on the horses and the management decisions that allow them to remain on the landscape.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has already called for the proposed rule to be rescinded. Hoeven said in a statement the proposed rule would lock away federal lands in conflict with the longstanding tradition of multiple use requirements established by Congress. To Hoevens point, it is not just grazing permittees that would lose access to the multiple use public lands if conservation leases slam the door on public lands for all uses.

Ranchers have long stewarded and cared for public lands. They cooperate with other users and bring great economic benefit to the land. Taking the ranchers who have conserved the land for generations off the landscape  along with the conservation benefits of grazing  in the name of conservation managed by the feds is akin to throwing the land to the wolves.

Rachel Gabel is a longtime agriculture writer and the assistant editor of The Fence Post Magazine.
Denver voters have made a clear, but not totally definitive, statement that the city is serious about dealing with rampant crime, homelessness and illegal drug abuse.

Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough are both left-of-center, mainstream Democrats with impressive backgrounds in public policy who are deeply immersed in the city they hope to lead. They demonstrated during the chaotic campaign for mayor they are personally, professionally and ideologically up to the challenge of turning around a Denver which is clearly in decline.

They both resisted the far-left siren calls of Democratic Socialists to coddle criminals, undermine law enforcement, tolerate and even encourage homeless encampments, and promote and sanction illegal drug abuse.

Johnston received 24.45% and Brough got 20.04% for a combined percentage of 44.49% of the total votes cast in the April 4 election. Add the 11.55% that fourth place finisher Republican Andy Rougeot received and a clear majority of 56.04% emerges for the most serious mainstream candidates in the race.

But there is no doubt that Democratic Socialists are ascendant in Denver and will probably be in a stronger position on the City Council after the June 6 run-off election and in city and state elections in the future.

Lisa Calderon made an unexpected drive for the second run-off position finishing a close third with 18.17% of the vote, just 3,000 votes behind Brough. Calderon is a self-declared Democratic Socialist who is clearly hostile to law enforcement and whose far-left policies would have aggravated the problems of homelessness and drug abuse.

State Rep. Leslie Herod, whose positions were very close to Democratic Socialist Calderons, received 10.69%. The two farthest left candidates got a combined 28.86%, which is not to be dismissed. Democratic Socialists could possibly win as many as four City Council seats in June which is a formidable minority on the 13-member council.

Expect to see more intra-party fights within Colorado Democrats between Democratic Socialists and traditional liberal Democrats.

Beyond the main mayoral and city council races, other realities emerged in this election.

The Fair Elections Fund which was approved by voters in 2018 and implemented for the first time in 2023, had an unintentional impact on the race that diluted substantive debate. Denver taxpayers subsidized candidate campaigns by providing a nine-to-one match of contributions up to $50.

Designed to give regular people a voice in politics, this resulted in an unwieldy field of 17 candidates, most of whom had little or no chance of getting into the run-off. The multitude of debates and forums were an unsatisfying blur of brief soundbites. The much better-funded leading candidates resorted to massive media campaigns to break through the pack of candidates.

There is much legitimate speculation that this large field contributed to the low turnout as many voters were unable to discern candidate differences. Unfortunately, once candidates get the taste of taxpayers funding their campaigns, it will be difficult to repeal this unwise program.

The Denver Election Commission did not report final results until Thursday, April 6 at 2 p.m., almost a full two days after the April 4 election. The city of Denver should give the commission the expansive facilities and staffing it needs to more efficiently report results. The presidential election of 2024 will certainly bring a huge turnout and the entire state deserves to expeditiously know the results from the second-largest county.

A special shout-out for some outstanding unsuccessful candidates is warranted.

Former Denver State Sen. Penfield Tate fell short in his bid for an at-large city council seat. Tate would have been a great presence on a City Council that needs another seasoned voice to join veteran councilman Kevin Flynn. Tates service will be missed.

Denver businessman Kwame Spearman withdrew from the race before the election but was one of the most articulate voices about the insidious impact of unrestricted homelessness and crime that affects businesses, their customers and employees.

Likewise, the only Republican in the mayors race, military veteran and businessman Andy Rougeot, also drove a clear message that Denver had to directly confront crime and homelessness.

Spearman and Rougeot might not have made the run-off election, but they definitely helped drive and define the realities that threaten Denver today and in the future. Johnston and Brough are better candidates today because of Spearman and Rougeot.

Dick Wadhams is a Republican political consultant and a former Colorado Republican state chairman.
Colorado law does not define "universal malice." No other state's murder laws mention universal malice. And an Adams County judge did not tell Cristobal Fernando Garcia's jury what universal malice meant.

On Tuesday, the state Supreme Court considered the possibility that Garcia's attempted murder conviction may require reversal if the absence of a definition led to a faulty understanding of whether he had "an attitude of universal malice" when he fired a gun on a public street.

"Without going to the case law, theres no way I could recite a proper, accurate and full definition of the term 'universal malice,' and its unreasonable to expect lay jurors to be able to do so," argued Deputy State Public Defender Joseph P. Hough.

The government countered that Garcia's jury expressed no confusion about the term while they were deliberating, and trial judges are within their right to withhold a definition under that scenario.

"My son is about to be matched in Colorado's first class of universal preschool  preschool for all 4-year-olds in the state. And in 2017, when the jury trial occurred, the jurors would have been well aware of the debate surrounding universal healthcare in the 2016 election," said Senior Assistant Attorney General Erin K. Grundy. "When we add 'malice,' is 'universal' somehow less clear? It's not."

Prosecutors charged Garcia with attempted murder after he fired a gun in the vicinity of his girlfriend and her sister one night. The bullets did not hit anyone. The law under which he was charged required the government to prove Garcia acted under circumstances "evidencing an attitude of universal malice manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life generally."

Garcia's counsel suggested a jury instruction defining universal malice as a "depravity of the human heart" which causes someone to kill "upon slight or insufficient provocation, without knowing or caring who may be the victim." Chief Judge Don Quick rejected the definition and the jury never asked for one. It convicted Garcia on one count of attempted murder and a related, lesser offense.

On appeal, the Court of Appeals recognized Colorado law contains no definition of "universal malice," nor do the template jury instructions. Nevertheless, the term "connotes an unrestricted willingness to do harm without sufficient justification," concluded a three-judge appellate panel. Because the context conveyed that requirement, no further definition was necessary.

However, members of the Supreme Court were not so sure.

"Lets say jurors didnt express any confusion about reasonable doubt because theyve heard it on TV," said Justice Monica M. Marquez during oral arguments. "Are we saying that unless jurors express confusion about reasonable doubt, we need not instruct juries on reasonable doubt?"

Grundy replied that when there is a "technical or legal meaning that differs from the common understanding, courts should give that instruction."

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"Universal malice does have a technical meaning," interjected Marquez. "Its a willingness to take human life indiscriminately. Thats more than just generally being mad at the world."

The government and the defense agreed that no other state apparently uses "universal malice" in their homicide laws. The Supreme Court has independently defined it to mean killing indiscriminately without provocation.

But Garcia's argument centered around a basic logistical question: How were his jurors supposed to know that?

"Its not something you hear on TV, its not something you read about," argued Hough. To him, the circumstances could support a charge of menacing, but without guidance from the judge, Garcia's jury might have wrongly believed the government proved attempted murder.

"Language is constantly changing, right?" observed Justice Maria E. Berkenkotter. "Are you suggesting that the rule should be, 'Go and define everything that seems kind of archaic?'"

Yes, Hough answered, so that it is clear prosecutors proved the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

"It feels like we're being asked to rewrite this statute," cautioned Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright.

While Grundy endorsed the idea that universal malice means a willingness to harm others indiscriminately, she disputed the broader need to define archaic terms and particularly in Garcia's case.

"There were three bullets fired at night, in the dark, on a neighborhood street where there were at least five other people around," Grundy argued. "Shooting into a public street without knowing whos there is a quintessential example of universal malice."

The case is Garcia v. People.
Former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters was sentenced Monday in Grand Junction to four months of home detention and will be required to perform community service following her conviction last month on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing government operations, but the sentence will be stayed pending the outcome of her appeal.

Peters was convicted on March 3 by a jury in Mesa County on the charge for refusing to turn over an iPad authorities allege she used to record a court hearing in defiance of a judge's instructions.

In addition to the period of house arrest while outfitted with an ankle monitor, Peters has been ordered to perform 120 hours of community service and pay a $750 fine, KKCO reported.

She faced as much as 120 days in jail and a maximum $750 in fines on the misdemeanor charge.

The charge Peters was sentenced on is separate from criminal charges she faces related to allegations Peters facilitated the breach the county's secure election equipment in 2021 in an attempt to find evidence that Colorado's voting system is rigged.

Peters has pleaded not guilty to seven felony and four misdemeanor charges in that case, which is scheduled to go to trial in October.

Peters told Colorado Politics after Monday's sentencing hearing that the charge is part of a "harassment" campaign being waged against her by local and state prosecutors who are trying to punish her for exposing what she maintains are issues with Colorado's voting system.

"This has the appearance of continued harassment on behalf of a DA and AG that wants to persecute me," she said in an email, referencing Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstien, a Republican, and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat.

"It appears the Joe Biden/Merrick Garland administration has done all (this) to pressure those in their ability to influence that I am the criminal to hide the fact of their offenses," Peters added.

Peters is a prominent national advocate for the baseless theory that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Donald Trump.

Last month, Peters lost a bid to chair the Colorado Republican Party, but former state Rep. Dave Williams, the Colorado Springs Republican who won the leadership election, told Colorado Politics last month that he wants Peters to play a role handling "election integrity" matters for the state GOP.

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Williams said in a text message Monday that he hopes Peters' appeal is successful, adding that the judge's order appeared to be "measured, especially considering the district attorneys' zealous desire to seek jail time for a minor offense."

Williams said Peters hasn't assumed a formal role with the state party.

"Given (this) unfortunate turn of events for Tina, its perhaps beneficial that she has not accepted a role with our party so she can instead focus on her legal defense efforts for her future court proceedings," Williams said.

Peters lost a GOP primary last summer for secretary of state, Colorado's top election official. She didn't seek reelection to a second term as county clerk.

Police handcuffed and briefly detained Peters on Feb. 8, 2022, after she tried to kick one of the officers at a Grand Junction bagel shop while local prosecutors attempted to seize an iPad under a search warrant, according to the arrest affidavit.

Authorities said they were seeking to determine if Peters had recorded portions of a court hearing a day earlier involving a former subordinate after the judge had reminded Peters that use of electronic recording devices was prohibited in the courtroom.

That hearing involved Belinda Knisley, a former Mesa County chief deputy clerk, who had been suspended the previous year based on allegations she created a hostile work environment. She was later also charged in the voting system data breach.

Witnesses at Peters' trial in March testified that she repeatedly told investigators that the iPad wasn't hers and belonged to someone named Tammy Bailey, though her lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, said that the name was an alias used by Peters, possibly for security reasons, The Associated Press reported.

Knisley and another former clerk's office employee, Sandra Brown, both pleaded guilty last year and agreed to testify against Peters in the election equipment tampering case.

Editor's note: This developing story will be updated.
Photo: Drive BC

The Thompson Okanagan is surrounded by unsettled weather, but for now will escape the worst of it.

Environment Canada has issued special weather statements and rainfall warnings across many areas of Southern BC.

A total of 20 to 50 mm of rain is expected to fall from now until this evening across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Whistler, the Sunshine Coast, East Vancouver Island - Duncan to Nanaimo, Inland and West Vancouver Island.

Time span: Now through this evening.

"Rising freezing levels with melting snow will give rise to increased river flows and possible localized flooding," Environment Canada said.

A special weather statement has also been issued across Boundary, Arrow Lakes - Slocan Lake and Kootenay Lake and a rainfall warning for the West Kootenay, Highway 3 - Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass and Elk Valley near Fernie.

A total of 30 to 50 mm of rain is expected to fall in those area from now until Tuesday morning.

"A frontal system is approaching tonight in the southwesterly flow. This system will stall over the Kootenay region on Monday and bring a prolonged period of rain until Tuesday morning. The combination of heavy rain and melting snow may give rise to water pooling and minor flooding in low-lying areas," Environment Canada said.

The Thompson Okanagan region is expected to see a total of 10 millimetres fall on Monday.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) continues to track COVID-19 related fraud.

The IRS-CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS and looks into financial crimes, tax fraud, identity theft and more. Its been three years since the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law to help Americans during the pandemic.

In that time, IRS Criminal Investigation said it has investigated 975 tax and money laundering cases related to COVID fraud. According to IRS-CI, the cases total more than $3.2 billion and include fraudulently obtained loans, credits and payments.

IRS Criminal Investigation said 458 people have been indicted on charges related to COVID crimes. IRS-CI said 236 have been sentenced to an average of 37 months in federal prison. IRS-CI said it has had a nearly 100% conviction rate in prosecuted cases over the past three years.

IRS-CI is proud to lead the fight against COVID-related fraud. Criminals looking to exploit the CARES Act victimize the American businesses and families these programs were designed to protect, and these crimes will not go unpunished, Andy Tsui, special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, said in a recent news release.

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IRS Criminal Investigation said a man from Aurora was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison for money laundering and wire fraud. In a separate case, the IRS-CI said a man from Idaho Springs pleaded guilty to executing a $1 million COVID-relief fraud scheme.

You can find more information about COVID-19 scams and report suspected fraud to the IRS at IRS.gov.

Also, with the tax deadline getting closer, the Colorado Attorney Generals Office is warning that you should keep your guard up for scams. The deadline to file your tax return is April 18 this year. As weve warned before, scams always increase during tax season.

Whether youve already filed, youre planning to file early, or youre waiting until the deadline on April 18, Colorado taxpayers need to be on the lookout for scams at tax time, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a news release. Colorado usually sees an uptick in tax-related fraud complaints during the tax season. If you believe you are being scammed, simply hang up the phone or delete the email and be sure to do your homework to ensure youre choosing a competent tax preparer.

You can report scams and fraud to the Colorado Attorney Generals Offices statewide consumer helpline at 800-222-4444.
A selection committee is recommending the Colorado Department of Education use the new computer-based SAT as Colorados college entrance exam beginning in 2024. The recommendation will become official after a procurement process, according to a news release.

The committee, composed of teachers and administrators from districts across the state, meets every five years to evaluate vendor bids for the college entry exam. In its latest recommendation, the committee asked the state Department of Education to continue using the College Board, a New York-based nonprofit organization that administers exams such as the PSAT and SAT and that Colorado has used since 2017.

The College Board last year announced it would transition to a digital-only standardized testing format in 2024. The new computer-based exams would replace pencil and paper exams, with the final paper-based exams being administered this spring.

The Department of Education will share more information on the change by September after award and contract negotiations are complete, according to the release.

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Colorado high schools first began administering the SAT in 2019 after the committee favored its selection over the ACT, which it had used since 2001. The switch in tests followed 2015 legislation that required the Department of Education to solicit bids for a new 10th-grade exam and an aligned 11th-grade college entrance exam. The education department at the time struck a $12.4 million, five-year contract with the College Board.

Not all higher education institutions even require the test, however. In 2021 Gov. Jared Polis signed into law a bill that made collecting standardized test scores optional for Colorados public universities.

Students may still choose to submit their test scores to institutions that do not require them.
Ten years after a free clothing and accessories shop for kids in foster care opened in Colorado Springs, it remains a novel idea that has proven to keep transitory teens in school, improve their self-esteem and experience their first job.

These kids did nothing wrong to be in the living situation theyre in, but yet they kind of pay the price, said Jane Hegstrom, founder of The Hanger. If its something as simple as having clothes they like and feel good in  if thats what makes a big difference in their lives  thats the least we can do.

Over the past decade, the project of Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, best known as CASA, in El Paso and Teller counties, has benefited 3,000 children ages 12 to 21 who are in the foster care system, officials said. Last year, 260 unique teenagers shopped at the store.

Located in a separately accessed section of CASAs building at 418 S. Weber St., The Hanger looks like any other thrift store.

Racks and display shelves bulge with stylish new and gently used jeans, pants, shirts, dresses, hoodies, coats, hats, belts, shoes, toiletries, makeup, school supplies and other treasures, such as prom attire.

Some of the children, all of whom have been removed from their homes for probable abuse or neglect and placed with foster families or relatives, had never picked out an item of clothing they wanted, tried it on at the store and took it home, Hegstrom said.

The shop meant a lot to Jordan, who entered foster care when he was 14. He's now 25 and works as a barista at a Starbucks.

Even though I didnt have any money in my pocket or the opportunity to get new clothes, it gave me the chance to have what other kids had, he said.

Being able to pick out what he wanted to wear, instead of having other people deciding for him, was a highlight, Jordan said.

I loved the chance to have freedom of expression, he said.

Like other teens who shop at The Hanger, Jordan, who declined to give his last name for privacy reasons, also worked there.

Teen clients apply for a part-time job at the store and are treated like a regular employee, Hegstrom said.

Minors in foster care who are emancipated at age 18 often arent prepared to immediately take on the title of adult, Hegstrom said.

So The Hanger also provides experience that teens can list on their resumes as their first job, she said.

Jordan became one of the store's best workers, Hegstrom said.

It was the beginning of my work ethic, the very start of employment for me that really helped me get my next job at Subway, Jordan said.

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Teens oversee the store every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., when its open. The space stays busy, Hegstrom said, with excited teen shoppers who carefully choose and try on outfits in dressing rooms.

They can hang out, see other kids whom they may have known from a group home and make new friends, Hegstrom said.

They also can take classes on life skills, such as how to change the oil in a car or a flat tire and how to balance a banking account and devise a budget. CASA volunteers also offer guitar or harmonica lessons, for example.

As many boys as girls take advantage of the complimentary services, she said.

Girls can spend an hour shopping; boys shop and are gone in minutes, Hegstrom said.

After their first visit, when kids can take whatever they need, teens are allowed five items a week.

A lot are removed (from their homes) with only the clothes they have on, Hegstrom said.

A 22-year CASA volunteer, Hegstrom got the idea for The Hanger in 2012, when she heard about a girl in foster care who had been relocated from a rural community to a larger high school. After a while, she became truant because she refused to go to school.

The issue, the girl finally revealed, was that she couldnt face going to her newer, urban school wearing the same clothes every day.

Clothes are not the most important thing, but if youre a teenager, and if youre a teenager in foster care, clothes are pretty important, Hegstrom said. A little boost up makes such a difference.

The Hanger opened in 2013, initially in two different donated locations near downtown Colorado Springs. In 2017, the shop moved to CASA headquarters, where it is today.

Hegstrom said shes never heard of such a shop in other communities.

We think there should be in every city, though, she said.

Hegstrom made sure the girl who inspired The Hanger received gift cards so she could buy some new clothes, and the girl went back to high school, received her diploma, earned a certified nursing assistant designation and is self-supporting.

Jordan was in and out of a lot of foster homes, as a teen, then got into trouble and spent a couple of years in a juvenile justice center and in adult jail. He earned his high school diploma while in the criminal justice system.

Even though I grew up without parents or my own identity, I was able to go through my own journey, Jordan said. It was rough being a foster kid, but I always loved going to The Hanger.
Law enforcement is concerned for the safety of an 8-year-old child who has been missing since Friday.

The Pueblo Police Department is searching for Liliana Mia Partee, who is described as 4-foot-8 and 60 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. She also has a rash under her right eye.

Liliana was last seen Friday and may be traveling in a 2017 blue Kia Sportage with Colorado plates BKYT38.

A statewide alert issued Monday lists 54-year-old Frederick Partee as a suspect. He is described as 6-foot-1, 230 pounds with a bald head and brown eyes.

Frederick's relationship to Liliana has not been shared, but the two have the same last name.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or Pueblo police at 719-553-2502.
Photo: milesdiversitygroup.com

Homes are starting to move. Fixed rates are trending down. It feels like things are picking up.

My work is feeling a little different than it did over the last two or three years.

I am seeing a bit of a shift from the desperation clients were approaching the home buying process with to a more strategic, considered approach to purchasing a home.

I am still seeing multiple offer situations and tight turnaround on subject removal dates, but I am not seeing (with my clients at least) offers that are crazy amounts over the asking price. I am not seeing clients taking the same risks with subject-free offers.

I had a great conversation with one of my realtor referral partners this week. Her client had negotiated to try to buy a home about a month ago. The home was right at the top of her price range and needed a considerable amount of updating and potentially some structural work.

In that case the seller absolutely refused to budge on the list price. The house has been on the market for almost a year. She was disappointed but unwilling to pay the asking price. She decided to walk away and wait.

Last week another home nearby popped up on MLS. It was priced at $10,000 less than the first home she had written an offer on. It was completely renovated and move-in ready with a lovely yard. She wrote an offer at the full asking price and was thrilled when the seller accepted her offer.

The offer included a subject to financing condition which allowed my client time to do her due diligence and get her ducks in a row. With rates trending down we were able to find a great fit for her mortgage.

This may seem like a normal thing, and indeed it used to be the way we did business.

The last few years have been incredibly stressful for all involved in the housing markets. Realtors were putting ridiculous time into showing homes and writing offers on property after property. Clients were on high alert for new listings and on edge waiting to see if their offer was accepted. Offers were written without conditions which was stressful all the way around.

Rushing in at the top of a clients price point often does not leave much room for error.

It does make my heart happy that people are not panic buying like they were. More thoughtful decisions will (ideally) lead to better long-term outcomes and financial positions for clients.



My last few columns have talked about refinancing options for people who have equity in their homes. Many people are living pretty close to the line week after week.

I have a friend that recently started volunteering at one of the local food banks. Before she started there I hadnt really thought about exactly how fortunate I am to have groceries in the fridge.

I am not exactly sure of the statistics, but my understanding is that the need for support from the food bank is up over fifty per cent from last year. The food banks are in desperate need of additional donations to help support our communities.

With Easter upon us, if you are blessed to have extra please think about either a cash or food donation to your local food bank.

Wishing you a most joyous Easter.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Mischa Smith, the newly elected chair of the El Paso County Democratic Party, brings plenty of campaign experience to the position in a county whose electorate hasn't been voting for Republicans in the same dominant numbers as it did for decades.

The 32-year-old, who grew up in the Security/Widefield area south of Colorado Springs, got her start in politics as a "super volunteer" for Barack Obama's campaign in 2008, when she says she knocked on more than 1,000 doors. Smith was an intern on the 2012 Obama campaign and then worked as an organizer for Hillary Clinton in 2016. In 2018, she traveled the country as part of Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg's advance team.

Smith returned to Colorado in 2020 to work on Democratic U.S. Senate nominee John Hickenlooper's campaign as deputy political director, and after he took office worked as the senator's state scheduler and as outreach manager for his El Paso County office.

After Smith ran for the open House District 17 seat last year  she lost the primary to Regina English, who went on to win election in November  she says she decided to run for county party leadership and was elected to a two-year term as chair.

Our interview with Smith has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Colorado Politics: How did you decide to run for party chair?

Mischa Smith: I ran for office and I had a really rough situation as far as finding support in the party  not just because I was in a primary, but I felt like I had never experienced such ageism or sexism or racism, as I had from our own party than when I ran. I talked a lot about that with John (Mikos, the previous El Paso County Democratic chair), and he said, if you want to see these changes, that has to come from you getting involved. So after much reluctance on my part, I decided I needed to be the change I wanted to see, and so I decided to run.

CP: What kind of changes do you feel the party needs to make?

Smith: We have to be better for fundraising so that we can fight for the seats that we want. We will never get the resources that people in Denver get, so we have to make some of those ourselves. We have to bring in younger people. I think the statistics show when younger people vote, our folks traditionally win. And so getting those younger people involved in voting is really important to us, as well as kind of making voting sexy again, and also making registering for your party sexy again.

CS: It's a trend that Coloradans aren't affiliating with either major party nearly to the extent that they used to. How do you change that, and why does that matter whether people are registered as a Democrat if they vote for Democrats?

Smith: I can't speak for statewide, but I can speak for Colorado Springs. In Colorado Springs, people are weaponizing the fact that the unaffiliated don't vote enough with you to matter. That's not true. Statistically, we are about even, with the unaffiliates going either way in our elections. Obviously, that differs in different places in the county. But when you're looking at voter registration, unaffiliateds that vote with us are half and half, and in younger voters, I think it's 18 to 35, we are doing just as well as the Republicans are for registrations. So I think that matters, because when it comes time to drawing lines, when it comes time to redistricting, when it comes to these issues, they're looking at the voter registration for how they should draw these lines, and to be fair and equitable, you can't tell that from an unaffiliated voter.

CS: So what do you say to a young person who has registered unaffiliated to urge them to register as a Democrat?

Smith: I think there's a lot of miseducation  as somebody who grew up in El Paso County, I think a lot of people are just voting how their parents vote and not realizing, maybe that's not what I am. So I like to ask them values questions. 'Do you believe in a woman's right to choose? Do you believe that climate change is a real and dangerous, threat? Then we might have more in common than you think.

A lot of young people are just not pleased with what they're seeing from either party, so I use those opportunities to say, 'What are we not doing? How can we speak more to you, how can we be better allies?'

CS: What do they say?

Smith: I hear from a lot of young people who want us to be more progressive and want a lot more 'walking the talk.' A lot of them want to feel like we're not talking at them, like we're not making decisions for a generation that we're not a part of.

CS: How have things changed in El Paso County since you worked on the first Obama campaign there in 2008? (Republican gubernatorial nominee) Heidi Ganahl got just barely over 50% of the vote there last year  in a county where statewide Republicans used to be able to count on getting over 60% every election.

Smith: You can feel it, I think we're on the cusp of something really exciting. In 2008, I remember knocking on doors and people were, like, terrified to tell us they were Democrats. Now there's a lot more out there who are proud. I do feel like we are on the cusp of a big change. If you're following the numbers, in 10 years, everything should be winnable. You're also seeing the Republicans' last stand, right? They don't want to lose El Paso County, and I think that they know what's coming.

CS: Do you think the changes are more due to demographics, that El Paso County is beginning to look more like a metro area suburban county like Jefferson County or Arapahoe county, which used to be Republican strongholds but are now fairly solidly Democratic counties? Or is it that folks who've been there a long time are more open to voting for Democrats?

Smith: I'm essentially a native, right? And I love that my county has so many Never-Trumpers  I respect so many of the Republicans that I know here for being Never-Trumpers and for learning from the 2016 debacle, as I will call it. So I think it's both. Yes, we are benefiting from demographics, but also folks here are taking a stand against hate, taking a stand against this sickness. We did that in a big way in 2020, when we shifted the most, from Trump to Biden. That means that our county is changing inside and outside.

CS: What do you think the Democrats need to do in the next two years in El Paso County to demonstrate that those recent performances haven't been flukes?

Smith: We are measuring our success in a lot of different ways. We do believe that there is not one but two county commission districts that we are deserving of after redistricting. They have to at least be fair fights, but we think we can take them if we break that stronghold. That'll be the first time in more than 50 years. I think we're going to be more competitive in county races. I don't know that CD 5 is winnable just yet. I think we're getting more and more competitive, but for some reason, Doug Lamborn always seems to slip under the radar because he's not bad enough. It's a work in progress. But we're really excited by candidates that are excited about that race, and we'll see how we can keep pushing that needle forward.

CS: We saw some surprises in the mayoral race, with with Yemi Mobolade, the unaffiliated candidate, coming out ahead of Wayne Williams and Sallie Clarke, the two Republicans battling it out for a spot in the runoff. Is he a candidate the Democrats will be supporting in the next month?

Smith: I'm not going to speak for everybody, I know a lot of Dems would've preferred a Dem, Yemi spoke to our folks, he wanted our votes. Yemi had conversations with us and was willing to find a middle ground where we could collaborate. And I think the difference between a Yemi and a Sallie or a Wayne is that Yemi has made the first step to work with us, Wayne showed up at one or two of our events, and I'll give him credit for that. I believe Sally did as well before I was chair, but Yemi is actually reaching out to our folks and wants our support.

CS: Will the party be involved in the runoff?

Smith: That's to be determined. We're going to have conversations as a party to see where you want to be, but I know a lot of people in the party, myself included, will be involved in that race.

CS: The Republicans in El Paso County have certainly had a lot of drama in the last couple of years. Does that make it easier for you to do your job, or does national-level partisanship swamp that?

Smith: I think there's a lot of miseducation. There's a lot of people that still think the Republicans have their values. I think part of our job that's becoming easier is to show that we truly are the big-tent party, and to say, 'There is a space for you here if your party looks unrecognizable now.' The disarray in the Republican Party, especially in El Paso County, has gone under the radar a bit, right, because they're putting up stronger candidates in some races. So I can't say that it's all the party, but I can say that part of my job in this next two years is to show people if they don't recognize their party, we want them to consider joining ours.
In February, the Colorado Springs School District 11 board proposed staff should be prohibited from asking students their preferred pronouns, a divisive concept that for more than a month has dominated the public's attention.

Board Vice President Jason Jorgenson, who introduced the discussion, said pronouns serve no educational value and can make cisgender students  those whose pronouns align with their gender at birth  feel uncomfortable.

Under the language proposed by the board, students would be free to share their pronouns on their own terms, but teachers would not be allowed to ask or prompt them to do so.

Four of seven board members expressed support for the language. An official vote is expected this month after a policy subcommittee consisting of staff, parents and community members discusses the recommendation and drafts a policy for the boards consideration.

But the language will likely be far less detailed than the boards proposal, a district spokesperson said. Specifics on how the policy will be implemented are ultimately decided by administration, not the school board.

Policy won't dictate pronoun questions

Students were the first to push D-11 to create the new policy governing staff conduct, district spokesperson Devra Ashby said. If there are rules for student conduct, they reasoned, so too should there be rules for staff. Such a policy already exists at other local school districts.

In response, the board requested a subcommittee to draft a policy outlining appropriate student-teacher relationships in accordance with the Colorado Association of School Boards guidelines.

The D-11 boards subsequent language discussion, which launched the community into a series of heated back-and-forths, did not pertain to policy, however. It pertained to regulation, an important if seemingly obscure distinction.

Whereas the school board votes on policy that provides overarching guidance, only administrative staff and the superintendent can set regulation. Regulation details how the district will implement policy in its work in a more specific manner.

The superintendent has been present for all of the community input and involvement at board meetings, so hes heard from all of the parties who have chosen to speak and email and make their voices heard, Ashby said. I know that he would take that into consideration when helping to draft the regulation.

The policy will look quite different from what has been publicly discussed, likely stating more broadly that staff members must refrain from proselytizing and imposing their views in the classroom, Ashby said.

Its not gonna be specifically saying, Staff will be prohibited from asking students their pronouns, Ashby said. That would be too tight of language to put into a policy.

A district divided

Palmer High School was the first place freshman Michelangelo Krewson said he could be open about who he was as a transgender boy.

The setting was liberating, safe even, especially on the heels of a middle school where being misgendered was not uncommon, Krewson said. Its an uncomfortable experience he and other students know all too well.

Palmer was different. There, teachers care to ask his pronouns, he said. They care to get them right.

We dont get treated like were 'learn bots,' Krewson said. He worries that could change under the new staff conduct policy.

The board has remained quiet on the topic since its February introduction, but board President Parth Melpakam said important discussions are happening behind the scenes. The subcommittee is actively working to address concerns from both sides of the aisle such as the safety and well-being of every student, parental voice and student privacy.

All students have intrinsic worth and dignity and should be continuously reminded to treat others with kindness and respect, Melpakam said in a statement to The Gazette. This will help us attain real student equity, by making our schools safe zones, where our students are assured physical and intellectual security to pursue excellence.

Tending to each need is a delicate balance when those needs appear diametrically opposed.

Supporters say the proposal shields children from distractions and gender ideology. Critics say it is anti-LGBTQ+ and dangerous. Public comment at two subsequent board meetings centered on the issue, and students and community members staged two protests outside the district office.

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Violet Coddington, a nonbinary student at Palmer High School, said the proposal is an attempt at silencing transgender voices and erasing them from the school system.

Its like being called the wrong name when Im not called the right pronoun, Coddington said at a March 8 protest. Not being affirmed by my gender, it makes me feel really negative. And schools already not necessarily a super wonderful place, so Im trying to make the best of it by defending my rights.

Student protesters such as Coddington say asking pronouns is a simple action with significant implications.

The discomfort for people who dont think about it at all is much less intense than the repeated discomfort of that person who's always the only one thinking about gender all the time, said Page Regan, an education researcher who is transgender and a former high school and elementary school teacher now pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Colorado Boulder.

According to a 2022 national survey by LGBTQ+ youth nonprofit the Trevor Project, 45% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. That percentage includes more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth.

A study by the Journal of Adolescent Health further shows that asking young people their pronouns and calling them by their chosen name can reduce their risk of suicide by 56%.

But asking pronouns can also have an adverse effect on other students who do not identify as LGBTQ+, according to Joseph Boyle, a retired Monroe Elementary teacher of 14 years and vocal D-11 resident who regularly speaks at school board meetings. The very act is a request that students affirm a gender ideology they may or may not even ascribe to, he said, and the claim that nonbinary and transgender students will have no way to communicate their identity under the proposed regulation is false.

Perhaps a more appropriate way to open the door for students, he said, is asking more generally, How would you like me to address you?

That is a question that gets a staff member the information that they need without implicitly communicating that it is the norm that no student is discernible by their biological sex. That implication or explicit statement is the expression of an ideological point of view to a captive audience of young people, and thats not right.

Board member Al Loma voiced support for Jorgensons proposal at the February meeting, saying talk of pronouns imposes ideals and beliefs into childrens still-developing minds. Schools should not be catering to what he said represents less than 1% of people while offending others.

Im offended. I mean, Im kind of old-fashioned. I know a boy when I see one, and I know a girl when I see one, Loma said. My offense doesnt matter apparently because, you know, we dont matter. You know, Christians dont matter.

Loma, a pastor, compared a teacher asking students their pronouns to him asking students if they believe in Jesus, neither of which would be appropriate, he said. Conversations on pronouns are instead best left to parents.

Jorgenson and Loma did not respond to The Gazettes request for comment.

When anything is new for someone, it might seem like an attack or uncomfortable, and thats so valid, said Regan, the researcher and former teacher. It kind of comes back to shifting how we think about that timeless Golden Rule: Treat others how youd like to be treated. Pronouns are about treating others how theyd like to be treated.

Affirming spaces

Less than 1 in 3 transgender and nonbinary youth found their home to be gender-affirming and about half found their school to be affirming, The Trevor Projects national survey found. The nonprofits research consistently finds LGBTQ+ young people report lower rates of suicide attempts when they have access to LGBTQ+-affirming spaces.

For some, a school is the only safe space available, said Liss Smith, a spokesperson for Inside Out Youth. The Colorado Springs-based nonprofit supports LGBTQ+ teens and young adults.

Sometimes its fine because the parents know. Sometimes school is the first place a person comes out, and the parents dont know yet, and depending how the parents react, it could genuinely be dangerous for young people, Smith said. (By discussing pronouns,) youre respecting the childs autonomy and their ability to come out in a place thats comfortable for them and the environment thats comfortable for them.

The solution is not so simple for district grandparent Sheryl Sayler, however, who said her freshman granddaughter physically cringed at the thought of being asked her pronouns by a teacher.

When teachers ask students their pronouns, she said she fears they are exchanging the comfort of many for the comfort of a few. Whats affirming for one might not be affirming for all.

She was noticeably uncomfortable amongst her family, Sayler said. Imagine what that would feel like in a setting in front of other students, or other teachers. Privacy is really important, and if the school system isnt going to be respecting that, then what do we got?

Contrary to concerns that students are put on the spot by teachers who demand their pronouns, Krewson and other students and teachers who spoke during the March board meeting say those conversations are often in private by way of a get-to-know-you survey at the start of the year or a one-on-one conversation. Whats more, it is always optional.

In Krewsons experience, he said, the best teachers leave little room for assumptions and misgendering by asking students their pronouns. The gesture is an immediate sign the classroom is a safe space where their identities will be honored.

His confidence grew with each affirming teacher. Hes never initiated that conversation himself, and placing the onus on LGBTQ+ students could backfire, he said.

A lot of people would be too nervous to start those conversations with their teachers, Krewson said. I dont think I would have the courage to do that.
Photo: Canadian Muslim Forum The Canadian Muslim Forum posted video of the incident on its social media.

Muslim leaders are criticizing the police response to an early Sunday morning break-in at a downtown Montreal mosque, saying the alleged attack should be investigated as a hate crime.

A national Muslim group posted surveillance videos to social media that appear to show someone at around 5 a.m. using a rock to break into the Al-Omah Al-Islamiah mosque and into the prayer room. The videos, published by the Canadian Muslim Forum, also appear to show the perpetrator attempting to hit and narrowly missing a young worshipper before smashing into the building.

?breaking news1/2

Violent break-in & attack on worshipers mosque Oumma in downtown Montreal

Islamophobic terro continues across Canada.

Violente break-in contre des fideles de la mosquee Oumma au centre-ville de Montreal.

La terreur islamophobe se poursuit a travers le Canada. pic.twitter.com/Xc4u1iqusd  CanadianMuslimForum (@CNDMuslimForum) April 9, 2023

A 32-year-old man is facing a mischief charge in connection with the alleged attack, but Montreal police Const. Veronique Dubuc said Monday that investigators didn't believe the incident was a hate crime, adding that the suspect would appear in court at a later date.

Later in the day, Const. Caroline Chevrefils said the force's hate crimes unit would investigate because the incident occurred at a place of worship, but she said police still did not have evidence it was a hate crime.

Forum president Samer Majzoub said police should investigate whether the alleged attack was motivated by hate, adding that the break-in was not the first time mosques have been targeted in Canada.

"There are many explanations  this I know," Majzoub said. "But the fact of the matter is it is a mosque that was being attacked, its worshippers who've been attacked."

He said no one was hurt  even though the teenager narrowly escaped being struck  adding that several worshippers confronted the intruder and managed to get him to leave.

Mosque officials also criticized the fact the suspect was released shortly after being arrested. Mohammad Jundi, a member of the forum who sits on the mosque's board, said Montreal police officers were quick to arrive to the scene but never returned to speak with the dozen or so worshippers who were inside the building when the incident occurred.

"The police officers did not get out of their car to speak to the people on-site," Jundi said in an interview Monday.

Jundi said the teen who escaped being attacked by the suspect was left shaken and had not returned to the mosque since the incident.

As well, one of the people who went to the police station to file a statement crossed paths with the suspect, who had been recently released from that station, Jundi said.

"He called me right away and said, 'Mohammad, I can't believe my eyes,'" Jundi said.

Jundi said when he spoke with a police inspector on Monday he learned that investigators didn't know a teenager had been allegedly assaulted during the break-in.

Majzoub said his group published the video to raise awareness about Islamophobia and urge people to be cautious during the holy month of Ramadan, which ends later in April.

"People would like to have the reassurance of safety," Majzoub said. "They are part of this bigger society and they deserve to feel safe."
Of the 340 million Americans today, there are 215 million ages 50 and under who only know the 37th President of the United States, Richard Milhous Nixon, as a footnote in their US History books.

For the 125 million of us who survived the Watergate scandal and the Constitutional crises of 1973 and 1974, high crimes and misdemeanors perpetrated by United States presidents before, during and after their time in office is no big shock.

Richard Nixon's disgusting and obnoxious felonious abuse of presidential power followed by his leveraged resignation from office, proved and affirmed to the Cold War world of nations, that in the United States, a president is not more powerful than our republic.

The benefit us old folks have earned over the two-thirds of Americans age 50 and under, is that we were witnesses to the supreme functionality and utility of that hand written parchment document dreamed into reality by our imperfect founders, The United States Constitution.

Oh, the usual partisan tripe was bugled and broadcast day in and day out via radio waves, television signals, and most important of all, printing presses.

There was no, thank God, cable news, no internet, no blogs, no spam emails, no cell phones, no robocalls, no partisan talk shows, no mass texts or texts at all.

Where my ancient neighbors and friends gleaned the information necessary to be active, proactive, and participating citizens, when we weren't huddled around a fire chipping stone knives and tanning buffalo hides, was to get it the old fashioned way:

 The smell of newsprint ink and the unavoidable black smudges on our hands and forearms from it as we gleaned not only the Globe Gazette, but countless regional versions of national newspapers, draped over newspaper sticks in the public library.

 The staccato vocals of radioman Paul Harvey bringing to us not only the well understood and uniquely delivered, bits and bites of current events, but also the balancing and smile provoking human interest pieces known as "The Rest of the Story".

 The calming and steady delivery of CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite, whose voice we still hear in our minds, delivering the news of the assassination of President Kennedy, the horror and victory of the civil rights marches, the consecutive assassinations of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Robert Kennedy and, the national pride of the Apollo moon landings; and then it was Walter that told the nation of the political mismanagement that created the utterly futile American policy in Viet Nam.

Uncle Walter was still there in August of 1974, summing up what we had heard and seen for two years, as the president of the United States resigned after committing multiple felonies and being called out on it.

In arguably the greatest exhibition of the peaceful transfer of power this world has ever seen, America, along with the rest of the world, witnessed the unelected and appointed Vice President of the United States Gerald R. Ford, sworn in as president, under the provisions of the 25th Amendment ratified and certified into law just seven years before.

One month later, President Ford pardoned, for any and all crimes committed at any time during Nixon's term as president, utilizing the provisions of Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution by signing Presidential Proclamation 4311.

Viewed by many as a profile in courage and a necessary step to heal a fractured nation, voters, in 1976, failed to elect Ford as president in his own right. Many scholars believe Ford's rejection was due to his pardon of Nixon.

The electorate speaks. That what's supposed to happen. Voters render the verdict either through plurality or abstaining by sitting on their asses watching streaming videos of kittens and puppies playing. It's our right to deliver our guaranteed influence either way.

So what the hell is the matter with us today? What is it with the freak show going on in New York? Is that sideshow in America's best interest? How about your neighbors' best interest? Your best interest? Your kids best interest? Your grandkids best interest?

Does anyone really believe that Donald Trump or Joe Biden is re-electable?

Maybe the most important question of all for Americans to answer is this:

"Is either Donald Trump or Joe Biden the best choice for the future survival of this Republic?"

How are you going to answer that question when it comes time to exercise the power of your vote; in the booth?

For me, I'd love to hear what Gerald Ford, or Walter Cronkite, or Robert Kennedy, or Martin Luther King, or even Paul Harvey may have to say about the choices we face coming down the road. Yet, I think I may already know.
Experia Inc , one of the pioneers in the online retailing in the cosmetics business, does not have a physical presence and sells all its products through its website. While evaluating its various marketing channels to make the best use of its funds, the company has discovered that it attracts two times as many visitors for every dollar spent on Google than on Cosmetico, an online magazine. The company also found that the average purchase of a customer does not depend on the fact whether he/she came through Google or the magazine. The company has, therefore, decided to shift some of its marketing funds from the magazine to Google.Which of the following casts the most doubt on the ability of the plan to achieve its objective of increasing the sales of the company?A. Whereas almost all online retailers advertise their products on Google, there are only a few retailers, especially in the cosmetics business, which use Cosmetico as a marketing channelB. In the past, it has been seen that in case of customer originating from Cosmetico that such customers become regular customers of the company and make most of their latter purchases by directly visiting the companys website.C. The average order size of a customer depends more on the product line of the company than any characteristic of the customerD. The average monthly costs of advertising at Google is just a small fraction of the average monthly costs of advertising at CosmeticoE. It has been observed that the customers who come through Google are generally more satisfied with the Experias products than customers who come from Cosmetico and the former also praise the Experias products on various online forums while the latter do not._________________
NorthShore University HealthSystem and one of its former doctors  who has a history of problems  have agreed to pay $35 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the doctor was medically negligent when delivering a baby, leading to injuries and cerebral palsy, according to the plaintiffs attorney.

The health system, Dr. Fabio Ortega and the girls family agreed to the settlement after a three-week-long trial over the case in Cook County Circuit Court, which resulted in a hung jury Friday.

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Stephan Blandin, an attorney representing the family, said the money will help the family pay for their daughters future care. The girl is now 7 years old and is expected to need care throughout her life. The Tribune is not naming the family at the familys request.

NorthShore said in a statement Monday: We are committed to providing care at the highest standards of quality, safety and engagement for all of our patients. Out of respect for patient privacy and in compliance with applicable laws, we are unable to discuss the details of this case.

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For NorthShore, its the latest legal woe related to Ortega. In 2021, Ortega pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse of two former patients. Ortega now faces about two dozen civil suits alleging he sexually assaulted patients, with many of those lawsuits also naming NorthShore as a defendant. The women whove brought those suits are represented by attorneys Tamara Holder and Josie Raimond. Ortegas Illinois medical license was suspended in 2018 and later revoked.

In the medical negligence case, the girls mother was 27 weeks pregnant with twins in 2015 when she experienced vaginal bleeding and headed to NorthShores Evanston Hospital. Doctors decided to admit her to the hospital and put her on bed rest in hopes of giving the twins more time to develop.

Even before the bleeding, her pregnancy was considered high-risk because she was carrying twins and had placenta previa, which is when the placenta blocks the opening of the uterus, Blandin said in court.

Within 10 days of arriving at the hospital, the womans membranes ruptured and she was having contractions, Blandin said. Ortega saw her shortly before 11 a.m. the day after her membranes ruptured, and then left the hospital to see other patients in his clinic, said Blandin, who is a founding partner at Romanucci & Blandin.

Ortega didnt return until about 9 p.m. that evening, about an hour after a different doctor recommended the woman have a cesarean section, Blandin alleged. The C-section started at about 9:40 p.m.

Ortega then supervised while a third-year resident made a low horizontal incision, Blandin alleged. It took about five minutes to deliver the first twin, a baby boy. The second twin proved harder to extract.

The resident and Ortega worked to pull the baby girl out but had trouble grabbing more than one foot, Blandin alleged. Another incision was then made, but it took 14 minutes, after the time of the first incision, before Ortega and the resident were able to deliver the girl.

Typically, during C-sections, babies should be delivered within one to three minutes, Blandin said.

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The plaintiffs alleged the girl was injured because of negligence and decisions made during labor and delivery. During the trial, attorneys for the plaintiffs focused their arguments on decisions in the days and hours leading up to the C-section, the type of incision used during the delivery and the length of time it took to deliver the baby girl.

Though the girl has had many successes in therapy, she cannot talk, walk without assistance or chew food. She eats through a gastrostomy tube and often experiences painful, muscle contractions, Blandin said. Her twin brother is healthy.

Ortega and NorthShore, who are named as defendants, denied the allegations of medical negligence during the trial.

Joseph Farchione, an attorney representing Ortega and NorthShore, argued during the trial that a team of doctors and nurses at Evanston Hospital were caring for the woman the day that she gave birth even though Ortega was not physically present most of the day.

Farchione also said that the resident who performed the c-section was well qualified to do that procedure. There is nothing unusual about having a resident as an assistant surgeon in a cesarean section, even one like this, he said.

Attorneys also argued during the trial about whether the right type of incision was made.

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The jury came back 10-2 on Friday, with 10 in favor of finding the doctor liable, Blandin said.
High school students in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools can expect to see metal detectors used more frequently in their buildings when they return from spring break on April 11.

The school system announced Tuesday that will transport some of its metal detectors in middle schools to high schools as part of an effort to increase efficiency.

Moving hundreds of students through metal detectors requires several staff members and can take up to 90 minutes.

The school district hopes that with more metal detectors at each high school, it can cut that time in half, said Jonathan Wilson, the chief program officer of safety and security for the school system

Were going to ask for some patience from students and parents because theres a learning curve for us. Not only are we training our staff on how to run metal detectors, its something that teachers are not typically prepared to do, Wilson said. I dont think they teach metal detection and searching bags in education classes. But were going to teach our staff how to do that, and were going to get better at it.

The metal detectors will be used randomly and their use will not be announced, he said. In some cases, principals will decide when to use them and in other cases, the school district may randomly selected a school.

The increased use in metal detectors is not prompted by any one event and does not mean that there is an increased threat for violence at schools, he said.

Last week, a Winston-Salem Prep student took a gun to school and carried it with him to a field trip at Forsyth Technical Community College, resulting in an hours long lockdown and a massive law enforcement presence.

The student, Shannon Howard James Pitts, shot himself in the hand, according to police.

The school district long ago planned to use more of its 73 walk-through metal detectors at high schools, Wilson said.

What youre seeing is an evolution of our safety plan, Wilson said. This is not to alarm anyone.

The money for the metal detectors came from a $322,000 grant from the N.C. Department of Public Instructions Center for School Safety that was awarded last year. One or two portable metal detectors were given to each middle and high school in the district.

Many of the middle-school metal detectors will now be sent to high schools. They can be easily moved back to middle schools if needed, Wilson said.

Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough, Jr., applauded the move.

Im glad they are increasing the random metal detector checks. My hope and prayer is that it becomes an everyday thing at every school. We are talking about the safety of our students, of assets we cannot replace.

Our schools should be safe havens for our students and our teachers. The question now is not if it will happen but when it will happen. We are past the time of simply being reactive and must now be proactive and preventive.

Metal detectors have been used at sporting events and other extracurricular events routinely this year. Some high schools have also occasionally used them, but many schools have not used them at all.

The school district has confiscated five firearms this year, but none came about as a result of metal detectors, according to school spokesman Brent Campbell.

At Tuesdays news conference, the school district showed how the metal detectors may be used at Walkertown High School, which has three main entrances  for bus riders, car riders and people who drive to school.

Staff members will be at each of the main entrance as well as other points of entry to make sure students are entering the school through side doors, said Principal Misty Walker.

A staff member may also be with students outside of the entrance to calm any nerves, she said.

Its a major undertaking, Walker said of moving 720 students through the five metal detectors that it now has. Previously, the school had two metal detectors.

She said she plans to have an ongoing conversation with the school community about the metal detectors.

By using the metal detectors more, the school district will be able to make tweaks to make sure students move through them quickly.

For example, students might want to put anything that might trigger the metal detector in a clear plastic bag. They can pull out that bag, give it to a staff member and walk through the metal detector with their book bag. Thats a much less time-consuming practice than having a staff member rifle through a students backpack.

So far this year, no guns have been found as a result of metal detectors at school, although pocket knives, vape pens and a set of brass knuckles have been confiscated.

Wilson said the metal detectors are one part of the school districts overall security plan. The school district has surveillance cameras on every campus, access controls on doors and 46 school resource officers among other safety features.

If we use a multilayered approach, we feel like were in a much better position than putting all of our eggs in one basket, Wilson said.
Christina Koch, who grew up in Jacksonville and graduated from N.C. State University, will be part of the first crew of astronauts to travel around the moon in more than 50 years, NASA announced April 3.

Koch will join two other astronauts from the United States and one from Canada on the estimated 10-day Artemis II mission, which will test the Orion spacecrafts systems to confirm they can perform and operate as designed with people aboard in the actual environment of deep space, NASAs description of the mission states.

The Artemis II mission is estimated to take off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in late 2024.

The mission will not involve astronauts actually landing on the moon, but is considered a test flight that will pave the way for the Artemis III mission, which is intended to land the first-ever woman and person of color on the moon. That mission is planned for 2025.

Kochs involvement in the Artemis II mission wont be the first time the astronaut has made history.

In December 2019, she broke the world record for the longest spaceflight by a woman, going on to spend more than 300 days in orbit. Earlier in 2019, she was part of the first all-female spacewalk, installing a solar power system for the International Space Station with fellow NASA astronaut Jessica Meir.

At Mondays announcement, Norm Knight, director of NASAs flight operations directorate, praised Kochs dedication and drive.

With a work ethic and willingness to lend a hand that only someone who spent summers working on a farm growing up can have, your relentless drive is unmatched, Knight said on stage at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

You have already made your mark in the remote corners of our planet. You have already been in the history books as a record-setting astronaut. Youre a trailblazer and a role model for every generation to come. Youve already been advocating and uplifting children in your community, and I know that you are just getting started.

Astronauts ties to NCKoch is originally from Michigan, but grew up in Jacksonville, near the North Carolina coast.

She dreamed of becoming an astronaut as a child, The News & Observer of Raleigh previously reported, gazing up at the night sky through her familys telescope in their backyard. She never grew out of that dream.

No one told me I couldnt do it, Koch told The N&O in 2019. And so that dream kept right on growing and growing.

She attended White Oak High School in Jacksonville before attending the North Carolina School of Science and Math, a residential, public high school in Durham that is part of the UNC System.

Koch attended college at N.C. State University, receiving bachelors degrees in electrical engineering and physics in 2001. She also holds a masters degree in electrical engineering from the university. Her background in engineering will likely come in handy on the Artemis II mission, Knight of NASA said during the April 3 announcement.

As the only professional engineer in the crew, I know who Mission Control will be calling on when its time to fix something on-board, he said.

Koch is the first graduate of N.C. State to go to space. She spoke at the universitys virtual commencement ceremony in 2020, where she received an honorary Ph.D.

Koch was selected in 2013 as one of eight members of NASAs 21st astronaut class, then completed astronaut candidate training in 2015. She was assigned in 2018 to her first space flight, a long duration mission on the International Space Station that launched in March 2019.

On that mission, Koch demonstrated her long-held passion for photography and love for North Carolina when she posted to Twitter a photo of the Outer Banks from space. She also took with her on the mission a small memento representing N.C. State, a printed circuit board with an etching of the wolf mascot wearing an astronaut helmet.

Koch was The News & Observers Tar Heel of the Month in August 2019, which honors people who have made significant contributions to North Carolina and the region.

What is Artemis II mission? Koch explains

At Mondays announcement, each of the four selected astronauts  Koch, plus Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman of NASA, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency  gave remarks about being selected to the Artemis II mission.

It is an honor to be here, Koch said before thanking the astronauts families, NASA colleagues and administrators and the trailblazers that came before the Artemis II group.

Koch acknowledged that she and fellow astronauts are always asked if they are excited before a mission. Then she explained the details of the mission ahead, including where the astronauts will fly:

The mission will begin with the crew launching from Kennedy Space Center, where they will hear the words go for launch, on top of the most powerful rocket NASAs ever made, the Space Launch System, Koch said.

The crew will ride that rocket into Earth orbit for eight minutes, and wont go to the moon right away, she said.

Were going to stay in an amazing high orbit, reaching a peak of tens of thousands of miles while we test out all the systems on Orion and even see how it maneuvers in space. And then, if everything looks good, were heading to the moon.

Koch said the journey will cover a quarter of a million miles, with the crew going around the far side of the moon before heading home, going through the Earths atmosphere going more than 25,000 miles per hour, and splashing down in the Pacific.

So, am I excited? Koch said. Absolutely.
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?
Its been more than a decade since then-North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis uttered his infamous, but accurate, description of the strategy that he and his fellow Republicans would need in order to remain ascendant in state politics.

In 2011 Tillis told an audience of supporters in western North Carolina that the key to GOP victories was to divide and conquer their potential adversaries by convincing a large subset of that group to look down on people of low income who might find themselves reliant upon public assistance. Or, as Tillis put it offensively, these people who choose to get into a condition that makes them dependent on the government.

Tillis later expressed some regret for the statement. But when it comes to the senators comrades on the political right, theres been no such backtracking. Indeed, as Donald Trump and others have demonstrated time and again, divide and conquer has become the go-to strategy of modern American conservatives as theyve worked to construct and sustain governing majorities in states like North Carolina, where their policy agenda  tax cuts for the rich, low wages for working people, limits on reproductive freedom, no limits on guns  remains broadly and consistently unpopular.

Nowhere is this deeply cynical tactic better epitomized in 2023 than in the GOP effort to convince white voters that there exists some kind of diabolical conspiracy among public school educators to heap demoralizing, inferiority-provoking guilt upon their children.

Republican lawmakers have been egged on by Fox News provocateurs and others of their ilk to believe (or, at least, to say) that teachers  most of them white  are somehow (and for some reason) intentionally inundating white kids with constant reminders of the racist sins of their forebears as part of a monstrous wokeness conspiracy. In response, these lawmakers have been advancing bill after bill to crack down on critical race theory and other components of the supposed scheme.

The result: At a time when the states tax code grows more regressive by the year, income and wealth gaps continue to soar, many schools are crumbling, the environment is in crisis, and our children are being mowed down by gunfire at a ghastly rate, the top agenda item for the states most powerful political leaders is to micromanage the states U.S. K-12 history curricula.

One of the great tragedies here is that there are many important lessons about race in American history that unintimidated teachers could and should impart to students.

As N.C. State professor emeritus Michael Schwalbe, a social scientist, explained in a powerful essay last week, when this subject is approached in a thoughtful and truthful way, there are enormous and powerful insights that can be conveyed and absorbed by students.

Sadly, those are precisely the kinds of insights that leaders on the right would prefer to keep safely under wraps, lest working- and middle-class white voters recognize how much more they have in common with average people of color than they do with the Donald Trumps, Ron DeSantises and Marjorie Taylor Greenes of the world.

And so it is that even as North Carolina Republican legislative leaders have finally and grudgingly conceded that Medicaid expansion is both a policy and political winner that will save thousands of lives while greatly adding to the states wealth and well-being, they simply cant resist the temptation to sully this small but important spit of mutually beneficial common ground.

This is why theyve made enactment of the expansion legislation contingent on final passage of a state budget. And its why the state House version of said budget that was written behind closed doors and made public last week, contains all manner of controversial law changes totally unrelated to funding government  many of them from the far rights political and culture war agendas.

As NC Newslines Lynn Bonner reported, this means that, in order for our state to enact a popular, bipartisan and lifesaving bill to extend health care access to half-million-plus people, well also have to swallow new laws to micromanage and privatize our public schools, embrace crazy election-law conspiracy theories, and change state retirement laws to benefit a Republican Supreme Court justice.

In other words, divide and conquer. Force well-meaning Medicaid champions whove been fighting for expansion since Thom Tillis first broached his strategy, to look down on other progressive advocates who might urge a gubernatorial veto of the budget in order to block attacks on our schools, elections and the judiciary.

The bottom line: The state budget should be about funding government, not leveraging a political agenda favored by a small and extreme minority. All North Carolinians should be angered by this deeply cynical, if maddeningly familiar, maneuver.
COBRA was set up to offer temporary health care coverage to workers, but it comes at a cost. If you choose to enroll in COBRA, you're generally responsible for your own monthly premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. Your group health plan is allowed to charge you 100 percent of the plan's cost, plus an administrative surcharge of up to 2 percent. So how much are we talking?

In 2020, the average annual cost of group health care coverage in the U.S. was a whopping $21,342 for families and $7,470 for individuals, according to Kaiser Family Foundation. Covered employees with family plans paid an average of 27 percent of that cost, or about $5,700 annually, with the employer picking up the rest. Those with individual plans contributed an average of 17 percent of the bill, or about $1,270 annually. But those on COBRA typically had to pay the full cost, plus the administrative fee.

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The thought of paying nearly $7,500 a year for individual coverage, or $21,000 for family care, is shocking. And not surprisingly, many workers simply can't afford it, and thus decline. During the Great Recession of the late 2000s, Congress tried to help by offering a 65 percent COBRA premium subsidy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. While this helped some people afford the coverage, many turned it down, citing COBRA's still-too-high cost.

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) was signed into law, providing people with more options through its marketplace. Obamacare also provides subsidies to lower-income people to further lower the cost. Short-term health plans are also offered in many states. Typically available to most people for a year, they're affordable, although they don't cover much. It's also wise to investigate whether you're qualified for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

It is possible that a former employer will cover some, or all, of your COBRA fees. This may happen as part of a buy-out agreement, or during a merger or acquisition. Sometimes this is part of a recruitment strategy. In general, however, workers are responsible for the entire bill.

While health care in the U.S. is costly in general, no matter the plan, it's often a necessary expense. And as anyone with a pre-existing medical condition can testify, any lapse in health insurance can result in long waiting periods or exclusion from coverage entirely. COBRA, while expensive, exists to make sure that lapse doesn't happen.

COBRA and the Coronavirus When COVID-19 erupted in the U.S. in early 2020, millions lost their jobs and thousands of businesses closed for good. The government did relax some COBRA notices, plus election and premium payment time frames, along with some other tweaks. And the Democrat-controlled House introduced the Worker Health Coverage Protection Act in April, which would cover the full cost of COBRA for eligible workers and the full cost of any insurance premiums owed by furloughed workers. By the fall, the bill was still in committee.
QAnon has dug itself so deeply into some peoples' psyches that some say it's more like a cult. "People in the QAnon community revere Trump, almost on a spiritual level," said Travis View, the host of the QAnon Anonymous podcast, according to The Millennial Source. He added that he didn't know anyone "deeply into QAnon" who had come out of it.

According to at least one poll, more than half of Republicans think QAnon is at least partly true. Why would anyone believe such outlandish claims from an anonymous poster on the internet? It doesn't help that some congressional candidates and even President Trump have embraced the group. But there's more to it than that.

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"People can be drawn to conspiracy theories for a number of reasons," emails Christopher Dwyer, a researcher and lecturer in the School of Psychology at the National University of Ireland, Galway. "I think the broadest reason that's worth mentioning is that people like their 'world' to make sense; however, sometimes things don't make sense and that's problematic for the thinker."

" " QAnon supporters attend a Trump rally hosted by Long Island and New York City police unions in support of the police on Oct. 4, 2020, in Suffolk County, New York. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images

QAnon is not the first conspiracy theory that has drawn people together. There are folks who believe the Earth is flat; the moon landings were faked; that the U.S. government knew about the 9/11 attacks in advance. People of all races, genders and political beliefs can hold conspiracy theories, albeit differing ones. Spending time sifting through internet posts and pictures and talking to like-minded folks on social media can provide camaraderie and a sense of purpose. And certain types of people are more susceptible to such presentations.

"There's a long list of 'cognitive quirks' associated with belief in conspiracy theories that includes needs for closure, control, certainty, need for uniqueness, 'bulls- receptivity' and lack of analytical thinking, teleological bias (the need to attribute events to a higher purpose) and other 'attributional' biases, and even paranoia," says Joseph M. Pierre, M.D., psychiatry professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, in an email interview.

We all have these quirks, he says, but they're more obvious in those who immerse themselves in conspiracy theories.

"And just which of these quirks, or combinations of quirks, might best explain a particular individual's belief in a particular conspiracy probably varies on a case by case basis," he says. "For example, needs for control, certainty, and closure may be particularly relevant to 'crisis events' such as the deaths of JFK or 9/11."

It's easy for many people to scoff at unfounded 4chan fodder like QAnon. But Pierre is quick to point out that about half the U.S. population believes in at least one conspiracy theory. We need to understand that society plays a role in this problem.

"Another more generalizing way of viewing belief in conspiracy theories is that it is based on (1) mistrust in authoritative sources of information which leads to (2) vulnerability to misinformation in the form of conspiracy theories that present a direct counter-narrative to official accounts," he says.
" " When and whether you go gray depends a lot on your genetics, though several studies have tied graying to stress. Grace Cary/Getty Images

Your head contains hundreds of thousands of follicles, and each follicle is charged with producing one hair. Before hair emerges, other cells known as melanocytes determine the hair's pigment. Once a hair's color is set, it's set.

When our hair turns gray, it's because of reduced amounts of melanin, and when hair is completely white, it's because it lacks melanin altogether. That's partly because of we lose the amount of stem cells that can become melanin-producing cells. But why?

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Scientists aren't exactly sure. It could be those stem cells wear out or they become damaged. The support systems that help keep them working could also fail. But our hair follicles also simply produce less color as we/they age. So it makes sense that as each strand of hair dies and falls out and new strands regenerate in their place, their color will be lighter over time.

Genetics and Graying

But when  and if  you go gray is mostly influenced by your parents, as our genetics seem to have the most control over what comes out of each hair follicle. Scientists have been trying for decades to determine what's happening with our genes and cells when hair goes gray. Not only because they want to solve the mysteries of gray hair, but also because our hair might reveal information that's useful in treating other conditions related to aging.

In 2004, for example, researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston were studying melanoma, which involves an overproduction of melanocytes in the skin that can lead to skin cancer. While trying to learn more about the nature of melanocytes, the researchers found that hair might go gray as the supply of melanocyte stem cells is depleted. Even before those stem cells are completely gone, though, they begin to make errors, such as depositing the pigment at the wrong place in the follicle so they have no effect on the hair [source: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute].

The results of a 2009 Japanese study published in the journal Cell indicated that stress can in fact cause gray hair, but not the type of stress that comes with a teenage driver or an impending job interview. Rather, researchers found that genotoxic stress, in the form of ultraviolet light and chemicals, damages our DNA and could cause the depletion of those melanocyte stem cells.

Though research seems to indicate that we could stop the DNA damage by removing the genotoxic stress, the researchers estimate that just one mammalian cell is subjected to 100,000 such stressors in one day, making complete avoidance impossible.

Remove the Stress, Reverse the Gray?

But a small 2021 study from researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons is the first with measurable evidence that links everyday stress to gray hair  and says it's even reversible. The researchers analyzed individual hairs from 14 volunteers. They compared the results with the volunteer's "stress diary," in which they tracked and rated their weekly level of stress. The researchers were surprised to discover that hair color was restored in some participants when stressors were eliminated.

"Understanding the mechanisms that allow 'old' gray hairs to return to their 'young' pigmented states could yield new clues about the malleability of human aging in general and how it is influenced by stress," study senior author Martin Picard, Ph.D., said in a press statement. Picard is an associate professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University. "Our data add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating that human aging is not a linear, fixed biological process but may, at least in part, be halted or even temporarily reversed."

Take that, gray hair!

Different Hair Colors Though hair comes in a variety of hues, there are only two types of melanin, or pigment. Eumalin is a dark brown or black pigment, while pheolmalin is reddish yellow. When the two combine in varying levels, as dictated by genetics, they produce the wide range of hair colors we all sport.

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Originally Published: Jul 29, 2009
BILLINGS -- When people ask Ian Ward what hes doing, he likes to say things like playin hack  short for hacky sack. But anyone who sees him knows he's paraplegic  paralyzed from the waist down.

A questioner unaccustomed to his banter often lets out a half-choked chortle. Ward lets them dangle in the awkwardness for a moment before he laughs, inviting them in to share his macabre humor.

Hes been paralyzed for about 14 years, the result of a car accident when he was 26.

Taking a corner too fast, his car rolled and pitched down a hill. Inside was a loose 12-inch subwoofer speaker that tumbled with the motion of the car. At some point Ward was ejected from the passenger window.

A life-flight took him to St. Vincents Healthcare even though he was only seven miles from the hospital. He sustained a traumatic brain injury and lost the use of his legs. His digestive system and half of his diaphragm are paralyzed too.

The car he drives now has hand controls for the brake and the gas. But the car, a Ford Escape, wouldnt be complete without the 12-inch subwoofer taking up the back.

I cant live without it in my car, Ward said. I just cannot live without it.

He can make light of his condition, but the daily struggle of managing his finances, his health, and monitoring the status of numerous social services is endless and stressful.

Earlier this week he received a letter regarding his Medicaid enrollment. It sat in a pile of mail for awhile before he opened it.

I get stacks of mail from the OPA (Office of Public Assistance) every day, so I dont open them all the time, Ward said. Hes on disability so the mail is usually about spending down any excess money so he can remain eligible for benefits.

The latest letter is about the Medicaid Unwinding, the massive reprocessing of every single Medicaid recipient in the United States.

It comes at the end of the three year COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) thats expected to conclude on May 11, 2023.

Throughout the pandemic, the PHE kept states from un-enrolling people from the public insurance, and if states complied there would be enhanced federal funding to cover additional costs.

Because of the PHE, there are more Medicaid enrollees than ever before. As of April 7, more than 322,000 Montanans were covered by Medicaid.

The unwinding is a federal requirement, but its up to individual states to create and execute a plan.

States have 12 to 14 months to return to normal eligibility and enrollment operations, but some states are opting to wrap up faster than that  Montana is one of them.

Only six states have announced that processing will be done in less than 12 months. Montana state health department officials settled on a 10 to 12 month unwinding.

Jackie Semmens with the Montana Budget and Policy Center said opting for the faster redetermination is the most concerning piece about the states plan.

Theres a misconception with legislators, said Semmens. The Medicaid (increases) are not an emergency.

A bad track record

Part of the reason this timeframe is so concerning is because Montana has one of the worst track records in the country when it comes to Medicaid determination  the part of Medicaid enrollment that is the responsibility of the state health department.

When an application for Medicaid enrollment arrives, its up to the department to verify the candidates information within 45 days. Most states are able to process the information in a week or less, some are even able to do so within 24 hours.

Montana, however, is not so efficient. Last September, 24% of Montana Medicaid applications were not processed within the 45-day timeframe, according to data from the Center for Medicaid Services. In July and August, 28% of applicants were not processed in time.

Only Texas and Missouri outpaced Montana in overly long processing times.

And now state officials are taking on an unprecedented load of redeterminations to take place in 10 months. Not to mention, its been three years since the last redetermination was made.

Montana has more serious problems than most other states, said Leighton Ku, director of the Center for Health Policy Research at George Washington University. (The health department) does not have staff or administration to do this big job.

Ku conducted research into Montanas unwinding plan, talked with public health providers and looked at the states demographics and new legislation. He predicted that under the states current plan, an estimated 71,000 people will lose Medicaid.

To reduce the number of errors that will inevitably dis-enroll eligible Montanans, Ku suggested the state should take the full 14 months for the unwinding.

But the state health department has not indicated the timeline will be updated.

Processing redeterminations expediently and accurately is in the best interest of Medicaid members and Montana citizens, said Jon Ebelt, communications director for the state health department.

He added that the department has made significant investments in improving the recruitment and retention of their staff.

As to how well this works, Ku said, thats the states responsibility and depends on how people respond.

Disruptions in care

Clad in all black with gold accents, Wards attire gives him away as a hip-hop fan. The style extends down to his fingers where his gold-banded rings are set with black stones.

Even his Air Jordan shoes were a sleek black with tawny gold trim that matched the socks  black and gold, printed with pot leaves.

Because of the exertion of getting dressed, Ward spoke from his medical bed instead of getting up to his wheelchair.

Despite his injuries, he gives an air of invincibility.

I read (the Medicaid renewal), but its just confusing, Ward said. Im not going to do anything but make sure my accounts under $2,000.

Managing the changes in the social services he relies on is particularly difficult for Ward. His traumatic brain injury effects his short-term memory, and its difficult for him to learn new things.

Its people with these types of conditions that have providers worried. Countless Montanans could fall off Medicaid due to a processing error or an unreturned renewal packet, according to Olivia Riutta, director of population health for Cover Montana

And, like Ward, many people have no idea the unwinding is happening.

Vulnerable Montanans

In Montana, any Medicaid recipient whose income, tax filings, addresses or any personal contact information has changed in the last three years will receive a Medicaid renewal package.

Since there hasnt been a single redetermination done since 2020, its likely that nearly everyone on Medicaid will see a letter in the mail.

When it does arrive, Medicaid recipients will have 30 days to return it with all the supporting documentation. If its not received in the 30 days, their Medicaid coverage will end.

Though the state plans to email and text reminders to those who have yet to return their packet, there is high likelihood that some of Montanas most vulnerable will fall through the cracks.

Native Americans will be disproportionately impacted by the transition, said Tressie White with Montana Healthcare Foundation.

Reservations are often very rural with limited mail service. Some travel to a P.O. Box, sometimes inconsistently due to the distance.

People tend to move often on reservations too and complications with forwarding addresses already presents a problem, White said.

No stable phone numbers, inconsistent internet connection and limited access to technology are other major concerns among tribal health directors, White said.

For those who find themselves no longer eligible for Medicaid, other subsidized options are available on Healthcare Marketplace. But officials still expect the number of uninsured residents to increase, leading to gaps in care.

A gap in care

When people are on Medicaid, theyre more likely to partake in preventative medicine, keeping them healthier and lowering their health care costs for every year they have coverage, according to an annual report by the Montana Healthcare Foundation.

For Ward, having a gap in coverage would be unthinkable.

Hes on at least eight different prescriptions, most of which are for pain management. The neuropathy, or nerve pain, in his legs is unbearable most of the time and a steady stream of drugs are needed to keep it under control.

A home health nurse stops by his house three days a week to provide essential services and his personal care attendant is with him most days.

Not only are these services covered by Medicaid, but its difficult to find trustworthy people to serve in these roles.

Wards nephew acts as his personal care attendant now, but before a trustworthy family member took the job, a previous assistant stole prescription medications from him.

His condition makes him a magnet for drug seekers, leading him to lock his prescriptions in a safe next to his bed.

A gap in coverage could easily put Ward in an emergency situation.
The Montana Highway Patrol is joining with Montana Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants statewide to raise funds to help support Trooper Lewis Johnsons recovery.

On Wednesday, Montana Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants will donate 20% of sales from all guests who display the flier which can be found online at https://bit.ly/3nWkxdD.

Johnson suffered life-threaten injuries in February while law enforcement was apprehending a fleeing suspect near Eureka. He is recovering at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, doing daily physical and occupational therapy.

"Buffalo Wild Wings is committed to giving back to the local communities we serve, and we are excited to support Trooper Lewis Johnson and his family," David Moorhead, director of marketing at Anderson Management Group, said.

Montana Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants are in Helena, Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Kalispell and Missoula.
A new licensed child care facility is expected to open in Boulder on April 17, marking the end of a long haul for this small town in more ways than one.

The Discovery Kidzone will provide child care for 32 kids, a much-requested service for many towns.

I am excited about being part of the community, Rachel Supalla, CEO of Discovery Kidzone, said, adding Boulder is a close community and everyone is excited about this new program.

Following a years-long effort, an open house was held for the facility at 200 W. 4th Ave. on April 3. The 2,000-square-foot building was purchased from Jim Darcy Elementary north of Helena and moved about 42 miles to Helena.

City officials had ranked child care, along with housing, as top priorities for the town of 1,200 that sits midway off Interstate 15 between Butte and Helena.

This will be the fifth facility run by the Discovery Kidzone, which has offers child care in Clancy and Helena and two operations in Montana City. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Supalla said plans are to have the high school woodworking class help build playground equipment, which allows the high school students to use a dual-college credit. She said all playgrounds are nature play themed that feature natural elements that feel integrated with the outdoor landscape and not commercial playgrounds.

There was some difficulty in finding an operator. And Supalla said she was somewhat apprehensive.

She said when she and her staff began working on their proposal, she thought it may not work, but the more we (got) involved the more I (thought) it will be great because the community is so strong in Boulder.

But she also said Boulder has a higher percentage of lower income residents.

Its more small town, for sure, she said.

Supalla said the rate for a 2-year-old child is $248 a week.

For more info, visit discoverykidzone.com and apply for a tour, or call 406-461-6881.

Its been quite a quest for Boulder.

I think we are feeling pretty optimistic about it, said Drew Dawson. Were a little bit behind, but I think we are on a good a good trajectory.

Dawson, who serves on the Boulder City Council and serves as president of Southwest Montana Youth Partners (SMYP) which worked to bring the center to town, said the opening of the child care center is very exciting for Boulder.

Dawson said it serves several purposes and helps fulfill a social and an economic need for the community. He said Boulder needed more licensed child care in order to promote bringing more to the community.

Since the fall of2021 and started pursing aggressively.

Southwest Montana Youth Partners, a nonprofit group, branched out from Boulder Childcare Working Group. It was part of the Boulder Transition Advisory Council which formed after the state announced it was closing the Montana Developmental Center. BTAC is described is a community forum for identification of problems and solutions.

Dawson said Mayor Russell Rusty Giulio saw that Jim Darcy Elementary School in Helena had a building for sale and thought it would be an ideal facility for Boulder. According to the Boulder Monitor, the building had been owned by Valley Sand & Gravel in Helena and had served as a temporary classroom during the construction of Jim Darcy Elementary.

Dawson said American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were used to buy the building. He said relocating a building from Darcy was cheaper than building a new structure. In August, the Jefferson County Commission unanimously approved the citys request for $110,000 in ARPA funds to purchase the building, the Boulder Monitor reported. Dawson said the Headwaters Foundation also provided a $50,000 grant to help with the project.

In the long run we came together and got it done, Dawson said.

Dawson said there was tremendous cooperation between the city, county and elementary school to come together on a labor of love.

He said many of the people who worked on it donated some of their labor costs.

Weve been blessed, he said of the money from ARPA and Headwaters. Some local contractors helped out and donated substantial amount of time, love and effort to help the project along.

He said there is a three-way lease as the building is owned by the city but it is located on elementary school property and there is a lease with Southwest Montana Youth Partners to use the building.

Dawson said they were excited that Supalla bid on the project because she has a lot of experience and is very well qualified to deliver child care.

He said he believes that children of Boulder will do well in Supallas hands.

Shes not only competent and qualified, but she is also attached to the community and Jefferson County and that makes it extra special, he said.

Dawson said he abstained from any council votes on the new child care center because of his leadership role with Southwest Montana Youth Partners, adding he wanted to set a strong example and ,aims of conflict of interest.

Dawson said challenges remain.

I think the work really begins now, he said, adding child care is expensive for families and just because we have a building and child care provider, it cost money for parents to send kids to day care.

He said Southwest Montana Youth Partners needs to begin a fundraising program for building maintenance, upkeep and help with scholarship programs to help parents with their tuition.

Dawson said there is a good feeling of accomplishment.

Were glad we have a facility now and (we're) glad its functional, he said. Well be happy when its full of children.

For more on the Discovery Kidzone, or to get a tour of the Boulder child care facility, go to discoverykidzone.com or call 406-461-6881.
JaQara Booker, center, says grace with her daughters Savoy, 5, left, and Sarai, 10, before dinner at their Bridgeport home on March 31, 2023. The Bookers currently live in a two-flat building but JaQara is thinking of moving into a single family home. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

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Ndidi A. Okakpu has been trying to buy her first home for three years.

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First, the pandemic got in the way, causing her to put her search on hold. Then, in 2021 and 2022, emergency expenses cut into her savings. Volatility in the housing market, including high prices and a limited supply of homes for sale, has also posed a challenge.

The supply went down really badly, and so all the wonderful spots you were looking for werent there anymore, said Okakpu, who is the director of development for a Chicago-area nonprofit. Then the few items that seemed okay were extremely expensive.

Okakpu isnt the only single woman finding it difficult to purchase a home.

After increasing for six years, the national homeownership rate for single women ages 25 to 35 declined to 24.5% in 2022, down from 28.6% in 2021, according to new data from Zillow. Homeownership among single men of the same age range increased by 2.7 percentage points to 33.1% in 2022.

Zillow attributes the gap in homeownership rates between single women and men to the lower salaries that women earn, which causes them to struggle to afford rising home prices. Record-low levels of homes for sale are also pushing up prices and making it difficult for all want-to-be buyers to afford homes.

Single women had made great strides in narrowing the homeownership gap, but the pandemic reminded us that progress is not always linear, said Skylar Olsen, chief economist at Zillow. With rising and volatile mortgage rates furthering affordability challenges, the road to affordable homeownership remains an uphill battle, and it may take creative solutions or even doubling up in a home to achieve that dream.

Because of their lower earnings, only 17.5% of the homes listed for sale in the Chicago area in February were considered affordable to single women ages 18 to 44. For single men, 23.4% of listed homes were affordable, according to Zillow, which defines affordable as a mortgage payment that takes up no more than 30% of an individuals income.

U.S. census data from 2021 shows the median salary for Chicago women is $31,200, compared with a median salary for Chicago men of $35,000.

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There were more affordable homes available several years ago. Zillows measures show that 35.5% of Chicago area homes were affordable to women in 2018, and 42.5% were affordable to men. But even though affordability has declined, the Chicago area is performing better than the country as a whole. Nationwide, 13.8% of homes were affordable to women in February, and 17.2% were affordable to men.

Jameelah Smith, real estate broker with @properties | Christies International Real Estate, said some of her clients, many of whom are single women, expect to be approved for mortgages that are larger than what they can realistically afford.

For single women, there is only one income in the household, Smith said. And depending on what that job is and what debt they have, they can only be approved for so much.

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She is currently working with five single women, all of whom have an adult child or a parent co-signing with them so that they can afford more.

Alone, they (can afford) $200,000. Once they add an older child (or parent), they are able to go up to $300,000, Smith said, who has two clients under contact and three who are still looking.

When taking out the age factor, single women own more homes than single men nationally, but women, especially women of color, face more challenges in achieving homeownership due to historically being denied financial services, decades of racist housing policies, the gender pay gap and lower returns on their real estate investments, according to data compiled and analyzed by the Urban Institute.

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[ To rent or to buy? Some South Side residents find buying the better option ]

JaQara Booker, 39, currently owns a two-flat in Bridgeport but has been looking since the latter half of last year to move herself and her 5- and 10-year-old children into a single-family home and keep the two-flat as an investment property. She previously owned a single-family home with her ex-husband in Evergreen Park and moved to the two-flat in September 2020.

She said it has been difficult to find a house that checks off all her boxes: a safe neighborhood, good schools, modernized, spacious, the right price.

JaQara Booker at her home in Bridgeport on March 31, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

The marketing professional and entrepreneur is looking for a three-bedroom home between $475,000 and $485,000, mainly in the Bronzeville and Hyde Park neighborhoods, as she is seeing new construction there that she said she wasnt seeing back in 2020. But many of the homes are in the $700,000 range.

The challenges exist to be the same: the desired neighborhood doesnt really have anything available  the price point is too high or I would have to sacrifice  knowing I would have to put a lot of work into it, said Booker, who believes renovations would be difficult with her young children.

[ As @properties prepares to open 1st South Side office in Bronzeville, residents feel torn about the influx of development ]

In 2020 and 2021, mortgage rates were at historically low levels of between 2 and 3%, causing more Black and Latino households, many headed by women, to pursue homeownership, according to U.S. census data analyzed by the Urban Institute. But in 2022, mortgage rates climbed back up, said Jung Choi, senior research associate at the Urban Institute.

Especially for women with children, because they also have greater financial expenses, it is even more difficult to save for a down payment, especially during the past couple of years with lack of housing supply, rent prices have also gone up, Choi said.

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Lynnette Cheatham, 46, is one example of a single woman who has been able to buy a home. She sold her Bronzeville condo in September 2021 for around $375,000 and began renting again while she looked for a single-family home, primarily searching in the suburbs.

The accountant began looking in January 2022, spending at least 10 weekends going to dozens of open houses, sometimes in one day, to find the right one.

The frustration from this experience versus my others was getting outbid, Cheatham said, who was looking for a home to buy for the fourth time. I wasnt used to this.  It was tough.

Cheatham lost out on four homes before she landed her three-bedroom, $324,000 house in Oak Lawn in August 2022 after a day of seeing around 20 properties. With a mortgage rate of 5% and homeowners insurance and property taxes included, Cheathams monthly payment comes out to $2,100.

She said shes relieved and is happy to have a larger space to host her family when they come to visit from out of town.

Her advice to other single women looking to buy includes establishing a stable and high credit score, seeking down payment assistance, building emergency savings and walking away from deals that dont feel right.

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It is a process, and it is not going to happen overnight, Cheatham said. Everyone has an idea of what it should be and that idea may not be reality. I have always had this thing: Every time I walked in, if I didnt have a feeling, then it wasnt the house for me.

[ Spring housing market stalling as record low inventory plagues buyers ]

Okakpu, who preferred not to share her exact age but falls into the age range some of the Zillow data applies to, is determined to find a place this year.

She said she qualifies for up to $350,000 and ideally wants a single-family home or townhome in Hyde Park or Bronzeville where many of her friends live. Prices are currently too high there, she said, and she also has to consider her elderly father and brother who has special needs.

I have given myself less than a year to, hell or high water, get her done and land on something, Okakpu said.
Why the persistent attack on local governments this session?

It starts at the top with the governor and his Housing Task Force Report providing the smoke and mirrors to put the lack of affordable housing in Montana on extravagant local taxes in our communities.

So, the knee-jerk reaction from those legislators wanting to stay in the good graces of the governor is simple: Take the ability to levy additional taxes away from the communities, such as open space bonds, public safety levies, infrastructure improvement projects, and make the counties and municipalities subservient to the almighty Legislature, where 78 misguided elected officials can decide if our town(s) are worthy of allowing new spending to meet the needs of our communities.

Our current Montana legal framework allows for the local government(s), to levy additional taxes or fees over and above the limitations placed on us by I-105 back in 1986. These levies, if established are done so by vote of the local constituents.

This means that both the opponents and the proponents of these levies had equal time and access to sway the voting public to weigh in for or against the increase set forth in the levy.

So, to the senators and representative currently trying to stop the local voice, understand that we, the constituents have willingly increased our taxes by the legal Montana process. This is a result of our democratic system in action. Yes, some communities are more likely to pass levies than others, but nonetheless a one-size-fits all answer does not solve the problem, but rather will create a ripple effect of emanating out from the reactionary move of the Legislature.

Affordable housing in Montana isnt due to exorbitant local taxes, it is due to issues nobody wants to admit too, as they dont make political hay. The tax system in Montana is outdated. It comes from a time when extractive industries of coal, timber and gas production were in full swing within our state.

These industries have withered up to nothing but a few stalwart companies.

Thus, the Montana Legislature, as a microcosm of Washington, D.C., has continued to shift tax burden around rather than address it head on. If extractive industries in Montana are the baseline for a strong tax base, then we need to look no further than the most extractive industry in Montana today, tourism.

Prnewswire.com provides the following information on tourism in our state.

 Montana welcomed an estimated 12.5 million nonresident visitors in 2021.

 Nonresident visitors spent an estimated $5.22 billion in 2021.

 That nonresident visitor spending supported $4.42 billion of economic activity in 2021.

 Travel, tourism and hospitality supported 68,630 jobs and contributed $2.038 billion in employee compensation.

Those numbers held steady for the 2022 year as well.

The skyrocketing price of homes in Montana isnt the fault of 127 municipalities and their voters, it falls to the feet of the 78 legislators in Helena trying to centralize government. We know best what we want and need in our communities. Your job is to take care of the next layer of government above the local level. Find the courage to do your job and deal with the statewide issues needed to lower housing costs.

Firstly, fix the property tax system in Montana. Secondly, fund Montana schools adequately at the state level and eliminate the need for most local levies.

Ultimately, our housing crisis is a combination of many things, but to blame the locals is a disingenuous narrative being played out in Helena.

Get involved at your local level and see for yourself how well your municipality and county are run.
DECATUR  Traveon D. Hightower King-Woods, the Decatur armed robber who wound up fleeing for his life from his victim, has been sent to prison for five years.

King-Woods, 27, took a plea deal negotiated by defense attorney Susan Moorehead that saw him admit to an amended charge of aggravated robbery when he appeared March 22 in Macon County Circuit Court.

The case dates to July 27 when King-Woods and his accomplice and brother, Amieron L. Barham-Perkins, held up victim Adrian T. Bates while he was sitting in his parked car in the 1100 block of North Calhoun Street.

A sworn affidavit filed by Decatur police said nearby surveillance cameras captured the robbery and what happened next. The two robbers are seen walking away with handfuls of cash as they head toward their own white-colored vehicle parked nearby. But before they can get there, the affidavit said, Bates backs up his car and then drives across the sidewalk in pursuit of them.

Video shows Adrian then driving and striking the rear of the white car, appearing to try and run Traveon over. Traveon is seen launching and rolling to the north as the white car spins, said the affidavit, signed by Detective Ben Massey.

The chase continues with Bates pursuing both robbers who are seen running and pointing their guns at the victims car; Massey said it wasnt clear from video surveillance whether or not they fired any shots.

The robbers took their chance to get clear and flee after Massey said Bates took another run at them, missed, and smashed into a nearby apartment complex, disabling his car and causing major damage to the building.

Barham-Perkins, 20, appeared in court Jan. 17 and was sentenced to five years after he took a plea deal and admitted a charge of aggravated robbery.

Bates continues to deny charges of aggravated assault and criminal damage. He is free on bail and due back in court for a pretrial hearing May 25.

2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods
DECATUR  The Beach Boys will bring its iconic sound to the shores of Lake Decatur this summer.

The Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater and Grandstand Concerts on Monday announced An Evening with The Beach Boys will grace the Devon stage at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17.

There are not many bands that represent Americana better than The Beach Boys, said Mike Wilcott, the Devons general manager. Their catalog of hits transcends generations and has been a soundtrack to the lives of so many people. We couldnt be more excited to welcome these legend of The Beach Boys to our stage and community.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 14, at devonamphitheater.com or at 1-800-514-3849. Tickets range in price from $84 to $45, plus applicable fees.

This show is not included in the 2023 Devon season ticket package.

The band is led by Mike Love, who, along with longtime member Bruce Johnston, musical director Scott Totten, Brian Eichenberger, Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill, Keith Hubacher and Randy Leago, continue the legacy of the iconic group.

Loves role as the bands front man sometimes overshadows his stature as one of rocks foremost songwriters. Surfin, The Beach Boys first hit, came from his pen. With his cousin, Brian Wilson, Love wrote the classics Fun, Fun, Fun, I Get Around, Help Me Rhonda, California Girls and the Grammy nominated Good Vibrations. Years later, he showed he still had the lyrical chops by co-writing the irresistible and chart-topping Kokomo.

Grammy-winning songwriter Johnston joined The Beach Boys in 1965, replacing Glenn Campbell, who filled-in for Brian Wilson, on vocals/bass, when he retired from touring.

100 iconic moments from music history 100 iconic moments from music history American ballad becomes internationally famous for the first time The Battle Hymn of the Republic is published Thomas Edison invents the phonograph Billboard magazine hits newsstands Swing Low, Sweet Chariot establishes the black spiritual in music history Bessie Smith records Down Hearted Blues Duke Ellington gives the Swing Era its name Frank Sinatra performs to crazed teen fans in Times Square roll song roll riot occurs at Moondog Coronation Ball Leo Fender introduces the Stratocaster electric guitar Frank Sinatra gives birth to concept albums Chuck Berry releases Maybellene Elvis Presley thrusts his hips on TV s Calypso sells more than 1 million copies First Grammy Awards ceremony is held The day the music died Phil Spector formulates the Wall of Sound James Brown performs live at the Apollo Philips introduces compact cassette tapes The Beatles perform live on American TV in 1964 Bob Dylan introduces the Beatles to pot Pete Townshend smashes his guitar on stage s Like a Rolling Stone births modern rock I Got You, Babe becomes top hit Bob Dylan plays electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival  The Beach Boys release Pet Sounds The Velvet Underground teams up with Andy Warhol s Lonely Hearts Club Band Woodstock music festival draws nearly a half-million music fans Johnny Cash records live album at a prison The Beatles perform one last time Black Sabbath sets metal in motion Elton John releases seven consecutive albums David Bowie kills off Ziggy Stardust Willie Nelson hosts his first Fourth of July Picnic Dolly Parton releases Jolene Bob Marley and The Wailers release No Woman, No Cry Saturday Night Fever becomes one of the bestselling soundtracks John Lennon is murdered s Delight becomes first hip-hop song to make Top 40 MTV airs its first music video Grandmaster Flash creates single with samples from at least nine artists Simon & Garfunkel perform in front of 500,000 people at Central Park Michael Jackson releases Thriller Compact discs enter music market Michael Jackson does the moonwalk Cyndi Lauper releases Girls Just Want to Have Fun Madonna performs Like a Virgin at 1984 Video Music Awards Ronald Reagan references Bruce Springsteen in 1984 campaign Live Aid raises $127 million in aid for Ethiopian famine 46 famous singers collaborate on We Are the World Prince tops the Filthy 15 list Aerosmith collaborates with Run-DMC Madonna kicks off her first world tour Aretha Franklin becomes first female Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee N.W.A. releases protest song against racial injustice Rosanne Barr butchers the national anthem Whitney Houston gives iconic performance of The Star-Spangled Banner Freddie Mercury reveals he has AIDS Smells Like Teen Spirit marks the success of grunge in Wind tops Billboard 200 and country chart Whitney Houston sings I Will Always Love You Snoop Dogg makes West Coast hip hop mainstream Puff Daddy launches Bad Boy Entertainment Nirvana performs on MTV Unplugged Mariah Carey changes Christmas music forever Selena is killed by her fan club president Spice Girls debut Wannabe Tupac Shakur is killed in drive-by shooting Notorious B.I.G. is murdered in a drive-by shooting s funeral Britney Spears wears controversial schoolgirl outfit in video 99 fails miserably Metallica sues Napster for copyright infringement Mariah Carey shows up unannounced on TRL Apple launches the first iPod American Idol debuts on TV Dixie Chicks slam President George W. Bush The Eagles release first new material in 28 years Radiohead experiment sparks debate in the music industry Lady Gaga releases The Fame Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards Taylor Swift becomes youngest winner of top CMA Award wins six Grammy Awards after his death s Teenage Dream hit number one Nicki Minaj takes seven spots on Billboard Hot 100 s Friday goes viral Amy Winehouse dies of alcohol poisoning Tupac Shakur is revived in hologram form Jimi Hendrix gets commemorative stamp U2 gets blowback after sending its album to iTunes customers Mariah Carey helps James Corden launch Carpool Karaoke Taylor Swift gets Apple to pay artists s Lemonade debuts at number one Ed Sheeran has highest-grossing tour of all time Fyre Festival is exposed as a fraud Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer Prize in music 100 iconic moments from music history American ballad becomes internationally famous for the first time The 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' is published Thomas Edison invents the phonograph Billboard magazine hits newsstands 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' establishes the Black spiritual in music history Bessie Smith records 'Down Hearted Blues' Duke Ellington gives the swing era its name Frank Sinatra performs to crazed teen fans in Times Square Ike Turner records first rock 'n' roll song First rock 'n' roll riot occurs at Moondog Coronation Ball Leo Fender introduces the Stratocaster electric guitar Frank Sinatra gives birth to concept albums Chuck Berry releases 'Maybellene' Elvis Presley thrusts his hips on TV Harry Belafonte's 'Calypso' sells more than 1 million copies First Grammy Awards ceremony is held The day the music died Phil Spector formulates the 'Wall of Sound' James Brown performs live at the Apollo Philips introduces compact cassette tapes The Beatles perform live on American TV Bob Dylan introduces the Beatles to pot Pete Townshend smashes his guitar on stage Bob Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone' births modern rock 'I Got You, Babe' becomes top hit Bob Dylan plays electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival The Rolling Stones release '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' The Beach Boys release 'Pet Sounds' The Velvet Underground teams up with Andy Warhol The Beatles release 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' Woodstock music festival draws nearly 500,000 music fans Johnny Cash records live album at a prison The Beatles perform one last time Black Sabbath sets metal in motion Elton John releases 7 consecutive albums David Bowie kills off Ziggy Stardust Willie Nelson hosts his first Fourth of July Picnic Dolly Parton releases 'Jolene' Bob Marley and The Wailers release 'No Woman, No Cry' 'Saturday Night Fever' becomes one of the bestselling soundtracks John Lennon is murdered 'Rapper's Delight' becomes first hip-hop song to make Top 40 MTV airs its first music video Grandmaster Flash creates single with samples from at least 9 artists Simon & Garfunkel perform in Central Park Michael Jackson releases 'Thriller' Compact discs enter music market Michael Jackson does the moonwalk Cyndi Lauper releases 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' Madonna performs 'Like a Virgin' at the 1984 Video Music Awards Ronald Reagan references Bruce Springsteen in 1984 campaign Live Aid is watched around the world 46 famous singers collaborate on 'We Are the World' Prince tops the Filthy 15 list Aerosmith collaborates with Run-DMC Madonna kicks off her first world tour Aretha Franklin becomes first female Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee N.W.A. releases protest song against racial injustice Roseanne Barr butchers the national anthem Whitney Houston gives iconic performance of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' Freddie Mercury reveals he has AIDS 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' marks the success of grunge 'Ropin' the Wind' tops Billboard 200 and country chart Whitney Houston sings 'I Will Always Love You' Snoop Dogg makes West Coast hip-hop mainstream Puff Daddy launches Bad Boy Entertainment Nirvana performs on MTV Unplugged Mariah Carey changes Christmas music forever Selena is killed by her fan club president Spice Girls debut 'Wannabe' Tupac Shakur is killed in drive-by shooting Notorious B.I.G. is murdered in a drive-by shooting Elton John performs at Princess Diana's funeral Britney Spears wears controversial schoolgirl outfit in video Woodstock '99 fails miserably Metallica sues Napster for copyright infringement Mariah Carey shows up unannounced on TRL Apple launches the first iPod 'American Idol' debuts on TV Dixie Chicks slam President George W. Bush The Eagles release first new material in 28 years Radiohead experiment sparks debate in the music industry Lady Gaga releases 'The Fame' Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards Taylor Swift becomes youngest winner of top CMA Award Beyonce wins six Grammy Awards Michael Jackson gets biggest record deal everafter his death 5 songs from Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream' hit the top spot Nicki Minaj takes 7 spots on Billboard Hot 100 Rebecca Black's 'Friday' goes viral Amy Winehouse dies of alcohol poisoning Tupac Shakur is revived in hologram form Jimi Hendrix gets commemorative stamp U2 gets blowback after sending its album to iTunes customers Mariah Carey helps James Corden launch Carpool Karaoke Taylor Swift gets Apple to pay artists Beyonce's 'Lemonade' debuts at #1 Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer Prize in music Bob Dylan sells his songwriting and recorded music catalogs Travis Scott's third annual Astroworld Festival ends early in tragedy
DECATUR  Lincoln Land Credit Union loan officer Kristin Sprague, 34, has a special knack for working with people who need special attention.

Ive dealt with older members that are confused and just walk them through it, she said.

Sprague may have the skill to work with various types of customers, but she was given extra training to work specifically with people with dementia.

Sprague and her co-workers were given training from Dementia Friendly Decatur instructors on how the disease affects the brain as well as how to interact with people with dementia and their caregivers. And to understand why they act the way they do, she said. Just how to speak with them and work with them and make it easier for them here in the bank.

Training is provided by CHELP staff as part of the national initiative, Dementia Friendly America, which began to create communities that are informed, safe and respectful of individuals afflicted with dementia, the agency stated.

Special attention may include walking the customer to a specific location instead of pointing in a direction. Another suggestion is to simplify questions, requiring "yes" or "no" answers.

Learning about dementia was really interesting, Sprague said. It was an eye-opener.

According to Jeri Conaway, senior vice president of member services for LLCU, employees required to participate in the training include those who work directly with customers.

We really want employees that talk to members to have this training so that they are familiar with the signs, she said.

Dementia Friendly Decatur For more information on Dementia Friendly Decatur opportunities, visit www.chelpil.org or call 217-422-9888.

LLCUs board of directors and executive staff will also participate in dementia friendly training in the future. So they know what their people are learning, said Linda Little, Dementia Friendly Decatur class leader.

The hour-long LLCU classes began a month ago and included six to 12 employees per session. Each Dementia Friendly class discusses the challenges regarding the specific job or business. Since diseases of the brain can affect vision, signage, directions and other assistance can be adjusted to help the companys customers with dementia, Little said.

One of the discussions important to the credit union and their customers is the deposit slips. Theyre black and white on both sides. One side is for withdraws. One side is deposits, Little said. They can be confusing.

#TogetherDecatur Do you know a person or of a story that exemplifies the best of Decatur? Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983 or dbeckett@herald-review.com.

LLCU is the first Decatur business to take part in Dementia Friendly Decatur training. Nearly all of their 40 required employees had participated within the month.

In order to take the training, 75% of the companys staff must be eligible for the training, Little said. They should also use the training in the initial training process.

Then we come back and do a refresher course, Little said. We want it to be ongoing.

Instructors have a formula they follow when conducting a class. However, the examples are formulated to the businesses. Conaway partnered with Little during the training at LLCU. I formulated some examples of something that would be specific to a financial institution, Conaway said.

As the first Dementia Friendly Decatur training in the city, LLCU has become an example for the trainers and trainees. After the company has completed its training, the front door will display an emblem promoting the service for customers and caregivers.

Contact CHELP, at www.chelpil.org or call 217-422-9888, for more information on dementia friendly training.

10 potential early signs of dementia 10 potential early signs of dementia Memory loss that disrupts daily life Challenges in planning or solving problems Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or at leisure Confusion with time or place Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relations New problems with words in speaking or writing Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps Decreased or poor judgment Withdrawal from work or social activities Changes in mood and personality
BRISTOL, Va. - City Superintendent Keith Perrigan announced today that he will leave Bristol to become the next superintendent of Washington County Schools.

In an email to faculty and staff, Perrigan said he will take that post July 1.

"It is with mixed emotions that I share with you that I have been hired to serve as Superintendent of Washington County Public Schools beginning July 1, 2023," Perrigan wrote. "I grew up attending Washington County schools and worked there for 19 years. The opportunity to finish my career in the division that raised me was one that Amy and I couldn't pass up."

Perrigan has served as the city's school superintendent for more than six years. Most recently he helped guide the process for construction of a new elementary school on the campus next to Van Pelt Elementary.

"I appreciate all the support you have given me over the last 6.5 years," he wrote in the email.
NEWTON  Two Catawba County Schools elementary schools recently held celebrations commemorating 100 years, inviting current families, school alumni and local dignitaries to share in their events.

On Saturday, April 1, Banoak Elementary held a brief outdoor ceremony and tours of their newly renovated facilities. School board members Ronn Abernathy, Tim Settlemyre, and Don Sigmon were in attendance as well as many current and former students and staff.

The Fred T. Foard JROTC presented arms, and Matt Stover, superintendent, welcomed guests. Rep. Mitchell Setzer presented a flag to current principal, Jordan Goodson. The flag was flown over the N.C. Legislative building to honor Banoaks 100 years.

Former student and principal Joe Biggerstaff entertained the crowd with his mostly true tales of his tenure at Banoak, reminiscing about the old tin gym with the potbelly stoves, walking across Highway 10 to the store for drinks, and the best cafeteria food in the county. Biggerstaff went on to say that Banoak is a special place because the community supports the school, and the school supports the community  and that way everybody wins. Biggerstaff noted that he was a better kid when I was here and a better man when I left.

On the other side of the county, Sherrills Ford Elementary celebrated its 100th anniversary with student-led tours on Tuesday evening, April 4. Students in grades four through six prepped and prepared for weeks to entertain and inform the many alumni and current families who participated in the event.

After a brief welcome from Principal Lathan Fowler, student tour guides demonstrated pride in their school by showing off their facilities. Student guides also engaged their guests by asking how the school had changed since they attended and their favorite memories of Sherrills Ford.

Alumni appeared impressed by their upgrades, sharing that when they attended Sherrills Ford, they had to walk outdoors to different classes and that their playground equipment consisted of swings and tractor tires stacked on each other.

The tours included a bilingual option to show off the schools Spanish immersion program and a collection of artifacts from Sherrills Fords last 100 years.

It is clear that the Sherrills Ford community strongly supports the school as this years Make It Happen campaign raised over $80,000 for the school.
by Justin Parker Spearman City ManagerThe estimated cost for the project is approximately $350,000. The bulk of the project is being funded by the Downtown Revitalization Project grant that is administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture. There is a city match of 15%. The Panhandle Regional Planning Commission (PRPC) was enlisted to assist with this grant from the application process through the completion of the project.We are accepting sealed bids for the project through January 31 at 2:00pm, when bids will be opened and scored. That will then be presented to the City Council to award during the February meeting. The bid submissions include cost and days to completion, so we will have a better idea of the exact cost, contractor and timeframe once a bid is awarded by the Council.

Facing the railroad tracks-- mid-section project July 2009

It is safe to say that there will be somewhat of a construction mess and some inconvenience at the north end of Main Street for the duration of the project. Ideally, any inconvenience and mess will be short-lived. It will definitely be worth enduring to see our Main Street sidewalk project finally completed after all these years.

City Manager Ed Hansen meets with Kevin Whisenant, CEO of Concrete Connection and Dwight Brandt, City Engineer, to discuss the upcoming construction of the sidewalk project.

Others in attendance are Miguel Aquirre-Concrete Construction, Oscar Ostos-Brandt Engineers, and John DeSha-City of Spearman--April 2009

The entire project of renovating the Main Street sidewalks began during Ed Hansens tenure. Including a term of an interim City Manager after Ed, I am the fifth City Manager to have served since the project began.
Spearmans Southwestern Pioneer Windmill Association Receives 5 Thousand from Spearman EDC

Another size comparison with one blade standing on end at front of van.

In the Wednesday August 23 10 a.m. regular meeting of the Spearman Economic Development board a request for $5000 to erect a 20 foot Aeromotor windmill in the J.B. Buchanan Windmill Park was granted unanimously after a presentation by President Dwayne Mitchell.



The Southwestern Pioneer Windmill Association is composed of volunteers and interested individuals who have a passion for the mechanical wonders that made human population of the Texas Panhandle possible. President Dwayne Mitchell, Vice-president Don Reed and board member J.D. Wilbanks were present at the meeting for requesting financial assistance to the organization for erecting the mammoth 20-foot windmill for enthusiasts of the five acre park. Nellie Buchanan serves the 30 to 40 member association as secretary-treasurer along with other board members Burl Buchanan, Joel Lee Lackey, Irene Snider and Britt Jarvis. The association would like to invite you to join them in windmill restoration. Contact Nellie Buchanan at 806 659 3367 or Dwayne Mitchell at 806 659 2791 for further information. The SWPA has one annual meeting the first week of February usually on a Wednesday if other events in the community do not have scheduling conflicts.



The park located on the south city limits on highway 207 is named after windmill enthusiast J.B. Buchanan after his collection of prized windmills were moved from his home 15 miles south of Spearman to the park. J.B. determined the mills could be maintained and seen by others better by moving to the present location and he permanently loaned his collection to SWPA in January 1999. J.B. had an extensive collection that he had developed since his first Eclipse windmill was found in the crate in Cuervo, New Mexico and assembled on his farm in 1965. Although this was the first of his collection it was not the beginning of his love for windmills. Which actually could be credited to his first encounter of windmill at an age of 3, when his mother frantically had to climb the family Currie Mill to retrieve her son from the platform. J.B. had learned a lot about windmills while working for a water well driller. J.B. is quoted They (windmills) played a more important part in settling the plains than the barbed wire fence or six-shooter because people couldnt have gotten along without water. If it hadnt been for the windmill, this country (Panhandle of Texas) wouldnt have been settled yet.



The J.B Buchanan Windmill Park presently has 31 windmills 14 of which were J.B.s. Spearman lays claim to 51 windmills across the community including the 31 in the park. The park has one windmill that actually pumps water from a depth of 330 feet after a well was drilled to a total depth of 495. The well was drilled in July 2003 and allows visitors to the park to experience the delicious true nature of windmill pumped water. It is speculated that this is the only windmill-park that has a pumping mill.



Approximately 1100 visitors from around the globe have inspected the mills at the park since the registration box was placed in 2003. As well as visitors from 44 states of the U.S. there have been people from Norway, England, Germany, Japan, Australia, Canada and the Czech Republic. If you have not visited the park it is well worth the time to stop. In addition to the windmill-park there is a memorial fence at the entrance to the park and a registration box for those stopping. There is no charge to enter the park but should you be impressed as most are, you may make a donation to the SWPA.



In June 2002 the SWPA hosted the International Windmill Trade Fair which had over 400 enthusiasts attend the successful event. During the fair a 12-foot Eclipse from J.B. Buchanans collection was erected by steam power from J.D. Wilbanks steam engine.



The grant from the Spearman EDC was to assist SWPA in accomplishing the erection of the 20-foot Aeromotor in the near future. As seen in the photograph comparing the gear-box and blades to a Chevrolet Uplander van this will be quite a visible attraction to the park. The mill will stand approximately 55 feet after raising by crane on a 40-foot tower. The project of the large windmill was initiated by brothers R.L. and Wilson McClellan. The 6-foot blades for this windmill weigh approximately 90 pounds. The mill in operational condition is worth over $20,000. Many of this style of mill is still utilized for pumping water on western New Mexico ranches where several towers for the mill can be obtained for a price. The mill was found on Mount Taylor in New Mexico after it has collapsed due to failure of the wooden tower that held it. It had been pumping water from a depth of 1100 feet before its demise. The weight of the gear-box with blades and tail-sheet is 5900 pounds requiring a crane for raising the huge machine.



The SWPA will begin obtaining the necessary parts for completion and erection of the mill but had to know they would have money for the project. The requested $5000 will not be enough to complete the project will be seed money to begin. The group has researched where a tower can be obtained, and where parts are that will make it possible to have the mill operational. Should you think the project is worthwhile for advancement of the park and tourism for Spearman in general, they will gladly accept donations at Southwestern Pioneer Windmill Association, P.O. Box 805, Spearman, Texas 79081. If you would like further information you may phone (806) 659 2791.






Comptroller Discusses State Budget At Second Annual Hill County Summit Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Glenn Hegar was in Hillsboro Wednesday, April 5, and spoke to local residents about state budget projections and his duties as chief finance officer for Texas, which is the worlds ninth-largest economy.



With Hill College hosting the second annual Hill County Summit, Hegar said that he began his higher education by taking classes at a community college, and he thanked Hill College for its efforts in the community.



"It's amazing what community colleges do," Hegar said, noting that they are the support network for job creation in the state. "It's really the vehicle for half of our kids being educated in the state of Texas."



Introducing himself, Hegar told the group that he was first elected as comptroller in 2014 and served in the Texas House and Senate prior to his time in the executive branch.



While the comptroller has many roles and his office has up to 3,000 employees when fully staffed, the state's record budget surplus has been a major focus recently.



For the complete story, see the Monday, April 10, edition of The Reporter Newspaper.


" " After the Marquise was tortured and implicated others in the Parisian underworld, the police uncovered another plot to poison King Louis XIV. Wikimedia

Soon after the Marquise affair, the commander of the Paris police, Gabriel Nicolas de la Reynie, learned of an unrelated plot to poison King Louis XIV. La Reynie ordered his officers to leave no stone unturned in their investigation of Paris' "criminal magical underworld," as Mollenauer puts it.

There were indeed plenty of fortunetellers, magicians and self-proclaimed sorceresses plying their services in 17th-century Paris. Mollenauer says that these occult practitioners were "generalists," meaning they dabbled in everything from treating toothaches to locating hidden treasures.

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If a woman went to the local sorceress complaining of a cruel and violent husband, she might go home with a few secret prayers to recite at mass. But if the prayers didn't work, says Mollenauer, the wife might return to the sorceress for something stronger, something that would make the "husband problem" go away for good.

Beginning with the Marquise case, rumors swirled around Paris that alchemists and witches had procured the ingredients for an odorless, tasteless, truly undetectable poison. They said it was extracted from toad venom and went by the name "succession powder," because it could quietly kill off your rivals for a handsome inheritance.

When La Reynie's men stormed the magic shops and alchemists, they confiscated vials of suspicious powders, bubbling cauldrons and foul ingredients for black magic including "blobs of hanged-man's fat, nail clippings, bone splinters, specimens of human blood, excrement, urine, [and] semen," according to one historian.

A Witch Hunt a Decade Before Salem

" " The most high-profile woman captured in the Affair of the Poisons was Catherine Deshayes Monvoisin, aka "La Voisin." Wikimedia

One of La Reynie's first arrests was a fortuneteller named Magdalene de la Grange, who was accused of faking a marriage to a wealthy Parisian lawyer and then poisoning him for his money. De la Grange was hanged and La Reynie was convinced that even more murderous "witches" were operating in Paris.

The next big arrest, says Mollenauer, was Marie Bosse, a well-connected fortuneteller who drunkenly boasted at a dinner party of getting rich from selling poison to plotting aristocrats. A shocked lawyer in attendance left an anonymous "denunciation" at the local church and "La Bosse," as she was known, was arrested and condemned to burn at the stake.

But the most high-profile conjurer captured in the Affair of the Poisons was Catherine Deshayes Monvoisin, aka "La Voisin." A talented sorceress and devout Christian, La Voisin's services were said to be in high demand, making her a rich "witch" indeed. Among her stronger "cures," La Voisin dealt in chemically induced abortions, poisons and love potions.

"I don't necessarily believe there was a plot to poison the king, but I am convinced there was a plot to slip him a lot of pretty disgusting love potions," says Mollenauer. "These were made out of things like iron filings, the blood of sacrificed infants (allegedly), and Spanish fly, which is an aphrodisiac."

Under torture, La Voisin gave up the names of dozens of fellow fortunetellers, magicians and sorceresses working in Paris, who in turn dropped the names of their clients, some with close ties to the crown, including the king's brother, Philip of Orleans.
The fact is simple: Chicago has a dearly underrated barbecue scene. While were still not on most shortlists of the top national barbecue destinations, theres no question the local barbecue options have gotten more varied and tempting.

Our barbecue foundation remains the Black-owned operations on the South Side, where many pitmasters use aquarium-style smokers, so called for their rectangular shape and glass sides. Fueled entirely by charcoal or wood, the bare-bones contraption requires the kind of hands-on attention that takes years to master. Though youll be able to score pulled pork, whole racks of ribs, turkey legs and occasionally brisket, the rib tip and hot link combo reigns supreme. Chicago has its own unique style of barbecue, and this is it.

But just as barbecue has exploded in popularity all over the country, weve seen a wave of new pitmasters who have looked to other barbecue regions for inspiration, whether its the dry-rubbed ribs of Memphis or the meltingly tender brisket of Central Texas.

Because I already tackled the best barbecue in the suburbs, I decided to focus exclusively on places located within Chicago city limits that served American barbecue. I also only included places with a permanent address, though Ill be delving into the pop-up barbecue scene shortly.

[ Some of Chicagos most exciting barbecue is made at these 5 joints in the suburbs ]

Chat with any pitmaster and youll realize the importance of a great smoker, which is why Ive included the brand each restaurant uses. But youll also see a complete lack of offset smokers, which are becoming extremely popular in the suburbs.

Because each of these nine places offers such a different take on barbecue, the fairest way to discuss the best nine barbecue spots in Chicago is in alphabetical order. Let the feasting begin.

County BBQ

Rib tips from County BBQ in Little Italy. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)

County BBQs story is the most circuitous on this list. Opened in 2013 by restaurateurs David Morton and Michael Kornick, with a menu overseen by Erick Williams, it first closed in 2016 because of a fire. After a renovation, it reopened two years later, only to shutter again in 2020 due to the pandemic. Though that could have been the end of the Little Italy barbecue joint, former employee Bonni Cameron decided to purchase the restaurant in April 2020. I loved the food, the place, and the regulars, Cameron said. I thought, Lets see what its like to be my own boss.

Were fortunate she decided to give it a try. Most of the recipes, including the remarkable dry rub, have stayed the same. That intricate mix, which transforms into a black crust in the smoker from J&R Manufacturing, works especially well with pork, so make sure to grab some ribs on your next visit. Even better are the rib tips, which are some of the juiciest in the city.

1352 W. Taylor St., 312-624-8648, county-bbq.com

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Green Street Smoked Meats

An assortment of meats and sides, including sliced brisket, St. Louis style spare ribs, house-made hot links, elote-style corn, spicy pickles, coleslaw, pickled onions and broccoli salad are shown at Green Street Smoked Meats on March 28, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

While Texas-style barbecue is growing in popularity in the suburbs, Green Street Smoked Meats has been serving thick-cut brisket and handmade sausages in the middle of the West Loop since 2014. It all comes out of a massive Oyler 1300 smoker from J&R Manufacturing. Current pitmaster Dave Bonner said during the summer, the restaurant often goes through two face cords of wood a week. (A face cord is a massive stack of wood measuring 8 feet wide, 4 feet tall and about 16 inches deep  roughly 200 pieces the size of fireplace logs.)

Green Street Smoked Meats pitmaster Dave Bonner assembles an assortment of meats and sides on March 28, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Even with such a high volume, Bonner said he and his crew dont rely much on technology. Our hands are our best friends, Bonner said. We go through a lot of gloves. Sometimes well throw a thermometer in there, but we really trust our hands the most.

The brisket has consistently been the bestseller, and for good reason. The fat slices are so succulent, they glisten in the light. But dont skip the pork ribs or housemade hot links. Plus, the shop is always experimenting with new specials, something that Bonner takes seriously. Im trying to learn every day, Bonner said. Barbecue is always evolving. Were just keeping things fresh and new.

112 N. Green St., 312-754-0431, greenstreetmeats.com

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Honey 1 BBQ

Rib tip and hot link combo from Honey 1 BBQ. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)

Robert Adams Sr. makes working with an aquarium-style smoker look effortless. Part of that has to do with his unflappable demeanor. Ive been visiting Honey 1 for years, and he always looks completely in control. But hes also been working with wood his whole life, as he explained to me late last year. I came from the South, and we didnt have gas when we were coming up, he said. My mom cooked on a wood stove. I cook with my 10-foot pit the same way. I do it all by feel.

His skill is easiest to glean with the rib tips, which are somehow always remarkably juicy, yet never overly fatty. A wave of smoke lingers in the background of each bite, while the sauce adds a tinge of vinegar and sweetness. The aggressively salty and snappy hot links make a fine partner for the rib tips, and its all set atop a bed of crinkle-cut fries.

746 E. 43rd St., 773-285-9455, honey1bbq.org

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Lems Bar-B-Q

Rib tips and hot links from Lem's Bar-B-Q. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)

One of the oldest continuously operating barbecue spots in Chicago is still one of the best. The restaurant is also a perfect example of a Black family from the South (in this case, Indianola, Mississippi) moving to Chicago in the years after World War II to open a business. Brothers Bruce and Myles Lemons founded Lems Bar-B-Q in 1954, eventually bringing in younger brother James, who helped to open the 75th Street location in 1968 that remains open to this day. While the brothers have passed away, the restaurant still remains in the family, with sisters Carmen Lemons and Lynn Walker Harvey currently running the operation.

Its all about the pork here, with fat racks of ribs and what might be the pinnacle of the rib tip arts. Each nugget features a crackly crust from the fire, while the inside is rendered to a marvelously steak-like texture. The nearly overwhelming smoke aroma comes from the restaurants aquarium-style smoker, which is powered with hickory wood. The shops intensely seasoned sauce (I detect some Worcestershire sauce in there) is exactly what you want, though Ive always found it better to ask for it on the side, so you can add precisely enough to give each bite the right amount of kick.

311 E. 75th St., 773-994-2428, lemsque.com

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Lexington Betty Smokehouse

The brisket with sauce on the side, greens and a corn muffin at Lexington Betty Smokehouse in Chicago on Dec. 15, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Dominique Leach is one of Chicagos rising barbecue stars, which has led to recent appearances on Chopped and Good Morning America. Not that its been easy. The pandemic was hard for everyone, but owning three restaurant locations was really hard, Leach said. She eventually decided to close two and focus all of her attention on the Pullman outlet inside the One Eleven Food Hall, which turned out to be a good bet. Lexington Betty Smokehouse got so busy, it eventually took over the entire food hall.

Tanisha Griffin Leach, left, and her wife and business partner chef Dominique Leach at their restaurant, Lexington Betty Smokehouse, in Chicago on Dec. 15, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

While the pulled pork and rib tips are well done, the real treat is the super succulent brisket. Leach uses a Southern Pride smoker and makes sure to source prime briskets. But she explained that theres one detail that truly makes a difference. Time is the No. 1 ingredient, Leach said. We smoke it pretty low and slow and then let it rest. If you cut it too soon, you compromise the product. Leach is also adamant that while lush, the beef should also have some integrity, and not completely fall apart.

Considering Leachs impressive culinary career before she got into the barbecue game, it makes sense that everything else on the menu, from the collard greens to the soft cornbread muffins, is just as delicious.

756 E. 111th St., 708-927-5614, lexingtonbettysmokehouse.com

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Lillies Q

Tri-tip barbecue from Lillie's Q. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)

Charlie McKenna of Lillies Q uses a smoker from the Texas-based M & M BBQ Company, and like at Smoque, the results are astoundingly consistent. Everything is worth trying, from the pulled pork to the baby back ribs. But whenever I visit, I spring for the tri-tip, a California barbecue peculiarity that looks and nearly tastes like a grilled medium-rare flank steak. Because of the shorter cook time, the smoke flavor doesnt pound you on the head as much as slowly sneaks up on you. But its the meaty interior that never fails to impress.

Nearly every barbecue joint wants to sell its sauce, but few have made as many inroads into the local grocery scene as Lillies Q. There is a good reason for this, since all the options feature an intriguing complexity, while never covering up the flavor of the meat. A few years ago, the restaurant moved out of its longtime North Avenue location, but you can now find Lillies Q stall inside the massive District Brew Yards in the West Loop.

District Brew Yards, 417 N. Ashland Ave., 773-295-1270, lilliesq.com

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Qs Tips & Wings BBQ

An order of rib tips and hot links at Q's Tips & Wings BBQ in Chicago. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Quincy Jones, co-owner of Qs Tips & Wings BBQ, said he first fell in love with barbecue while helping his dad. Hed get an old barrel and cut it in half himself, Jones said. But it wasnt until his brother-in-law, Tandre Lofton, convinced him to join a barbecue competition in South Holland that Quincy got serious. Hed always say his barbecue was better, and finally I said, Lets settle this, Jones said. When the results came in, Loften got second place, while Jones landed the top prize. A year later, Jones won the competition again.

After a few years of the occasional catering gig, Quincy  with some convincing from his wife, LaShawn  opened Qs Tips & Wings BBQ in 2015. She found a space, and thats where we are now, Jones said. Its all because of her. I wouldnt be doing none of this without her.

LaShawn and Quincy Jones at their restaurant, Q's Tips & Wings BBQ, in Chicago on Sept. 8, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Instead of using an aquarium-style smoker, Jones went with an insulated smoker from Lone Star Grillz. I used to think that rib tips always tasted better when cooked in an aquarium smoker, but one bite of these pink-hued rib tips, buttery and mouthwatering as a well-marbled pork chop, changed my mind. Make sure to add some pork links to the order. The aggressively seasoned and slightly spicy sausages sport a satisfying snap when you bite in.

2517 W. 79th St., 773-912-6498, qstipsandwings.info

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Slab BBQ

Trice's Original Slab BBQ in the South Shore neighborhood serves the juiciest rib tips and hot links in town. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)

Last year, I pondered whether Chicago-style barbecue, the kind cooked in aquarium-style smokers and served mostly on the South and West Sides, was slowly going out of fashion. But after talking with James Trice, who owns Slab BBQ with his wife, Tonya, I knew it wasnt going extinct anytime soon. Open since 2018, this South Shore stop has grown more popular each year, and a larger location is even in the works.

[ Column: As Texas barbecue ascends in Chicago, what happens to our own South Side style? ]

The family clearly sweats the details. All the meat is marinated in a dry rub for days before being cooked over relatively high heat in the distinctive aquarium-style smoker. We use hickory wood for the flavor and lump charcoal for the even heat, Trice told me last year. This results in rib tips where every square inch is rich and laden with smoke. The meat pairs flawlessly with the restaurants sauce, which trades overt sweetness for a strong vinegar kick and faint fruity profile. Even the sides are given the royal treatment here, with hand-cut french fries and freshly cooked greens.

1918 E. 71st St., 773-966-5018, slabbbq.com

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Smoque BBQ

Sliced brisket and a Texas sausage served with homemade baked beans, mac and cheese, coleslaw, and sauce, at Smoque BBQ on March 30, 2023, in Chicago (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Before Smoque BBQ launched in 2006, owner Barry Sorkin posted a hilariously long barbecue manifesto on the restaurants website outlining his grand vision of what makes great and bad barbecue. Honestly, I couldnt sleep one night, and it was just on my mind, Sorkin said. I showed it to a friend, and he said, You need to do something with it. While Sorkin says his views have evolved over the years (the manifesto is no longer online) the writing certainly illustrated how much he cared.

You can still sense that passion from the moment you enter the doors of the Irving Park restaurant. Every time I visit, the kitchen crew remains in constant motion, slicing meat, preparing the sides, and packaging up the seemingly endless stream of orders.

Employees prepare orders at Smoque BBQ on March 30, 2023. (Shanna Madison / Chicago Tribune)

Smoque uses a Southern Pride smoker, and the results are frighteningly consistent. Youll want to eventually try everything, though the restaurant is probably responsible for introducing great barbecue brisket to Chicago. The thick-sliced beef couldnt fall apart smoother, and it comes wrapped in a haze of smoke. I also love the pulled pork, with its crunchy blackened bark giving way to a luscious interior.

But for pure barbecue magic, my money is on the St. Louis spare ribs. This is where Sorkins intricate, yet balanced spice rub melds most astonishingly with each meaty morsel, with just enough of smoke aroma lingering behind to leave you in a delightful daze.

3800 N. Pulaski Road, 773-545-7427, smoquebbq.com

nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com
Laos Hunan Chamber of Commerce office in Hunan and China-ASEAN Cultural Commodities Exhibition Center was established.

Today, the inauguration ceremony of the Laos Hunan Chamber of Commerce in Hunan office and China-ASEAN Cultural Exchange Commodities Exhibition Center was held in Changsha, providing a new platform and taking a new step for the exchange and cooperation between Hunan and Laos in the fields of economy, trade, culture and tourism.

Consul General of Laos in Changsha, Smokhit Vankham, member of the party group and vice chairman of Hunan Overseas Chinese Federation, Li Zuyuan, member of the party group and vice chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Hunan Sub-council, Wu Dengguo, secretary of the party committee and director of Department of Commerce of Hunan Province, Zhang Junping, secondary inspector of Hunan Federation of Industry and Commerce, Xie Mingliang attended the ceremony.

Laos is a friendly neighbor of China, and under the "The Belt and Road Initiative", these two countries have made great progress in economic, trade and cultural cooperation over the years. Especially under the "matchmaking" of Hunan Chamber of Commerce in Laos, the exchange between the two places has been increased.

"The establishment of the Laos Hunan Chamber of Commerce in Hunan office and China-ASEAN Cultural Exchange and Commodities Exhibition Center will provide more convenient services to enhance the trade and commerce between Laos and Hunan, and also provide a new platform for Hunan enterprises and individuals to understand Laos and carry out cooperation in investment and trade." Lao Hunan Chamber of Commerce President Li Wenke said, "We will carry out cultural and economic and trade exchange activities on the 9th of every month to display and promote the high-quality products of the two sides to each other, and strive to promote win-win cooperation and reach a better interconnection of culture, tourism as well as commodities."

At the event site, folk music and Lao folk dance performance showed the deep friendship between Hunan and Laos. The exhibition center attracted merchants from different regions and countries by displaying Hunan's traditional crafts and literature and arts, allowing more people to understand and know Hunan's culture. It also showcases Hunan specialties, such as Hunan tea, Hunan porcelain, Hunan tobacco and wine, which helps to strengthen the promotion and sales of Hunan specialties, thus promoting the exchange and cooperation between Hunan culture and the culture of other regions.

It is understood that Laos Hunan Chamber of Commerce, which was established in 2008, has taken the Chamber as a link to attract and integrate resources from various aspects and carried out a series of work around the economic and social development of Laos, traditional friendship between China and Laos and economic and trade exchanges. At present, the cooperation fields between Laos and Hunan cover a wide range of areas, including mineral development, agricultural machinery, motorcycle manufacturing, machinery manufacturing and so on. According to the statistics of Hunan Chamber of Commerce in Laos, they have invested more than one billion yuan in Hunan.
On March 31, Shi Quncui and Long Jian, who are the representatives of the villagers in Shibadong, participated in the first test flight of Xiangxi Biancheng Airport. When they talk about their "first experience", they still can't get enough of it and look forward to flying again after the opening of the airport.

In 2014, also as a representative of the villagers, Long Jian first took a plane to Sichuan Dujiangyan to investigate the kiwifruit industry, "Seeing that every household there has a small car, the confidence in developing the kiwifruit industry was stronger in my heart." In the past nine years, Long Jian has witnessed the kiwifruit industry in the village from scratch to six consecutive years of distribute dividends to the villagers, and also witnessed the test flight of the Biancheng Airport in Xiangxi, and is looking forward to the opening of the flight.

After the opening of the flight, Long Jian most want to go to Beijing, "I want to go to Tian'anmen to see the national flag raising, and then to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall". Like Long Jian, Shi Quncui is also looking forward to the flight. "Waiting for the official opening of the flight, we welcome friends from all over the world to take the plane and come to our Shibadong Village to visit."
For the fourth day now, North Korea has not responded to South Koreas routine calls through their joint military communication channel, the South Korean news agency Yonhap drew attention, citing the Seoul government. According to some, the unilaterally interrupted communication is seriously worrying, because normally the parties should meet twice a day, at nine in the morning and at five in the afternoon, although not on the weekend, but this was missed on Friday and Monday morning as well.

As is well known, the Korean War ended with a cease-fire in 1953, but it continues legally to this day, as no peace was born. Routine communication is essential for this very reason, in order to ensure a ceasefire.

We are monitoring the situation and meanwhile the government is reviewing how to respond to the northern move. The release of the official position will not take long

 said Koo Byoung-Sam, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.

Although it is not yet known why Pyongyang did not respond to the calls, there is also the possibility that the Norths leadership is using all this as a form of protest against the joint military exercises of South Korea and the United States  there have been examples of this before.

At the same time, there was also the possibility that Pyongyang would like to protest in this way against a recently published report on the lack of human rights in North Korea.

However, Pyongyang has not returned calls in the past, usually citing technical reasons. Last June, for example, heavy rains caused a technical failure in the less developed north. In fact, the hotline essentially had to be completely restored in 2021, after North Korea cut off the communication channel for a year due to a leaflet campaign by activists in Seoul criticizing Pyongyang.

The relationship between the two countries has recently become tense again, and North Korean state media announced on Saturday that the communist states army had conducted another test with an underwater attack drone suitable for nuclear purposes.

North Korea has been regularly testing various weapons for months, and has stepped up its activities in recent weeks in response to joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises, which Pyongyang has repeatedly sharply criticized and described as preparations for war.
According to the announcement, 39 of the planes crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates China and Taiwan, thereby penetrating the islands air defense zone.

China began three days of military exercises in the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, amid tensions with Taipei after Taiwanese President Tsai Jing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the United States. Chinas CCTV state television reported on Monday that during the military exercise, attacks with live ammunition were simulated near Taiwan.

China considers Taiwan, which has had an independent government since 1949, as its own part, and its leadership has previously underlined that it will take care of reunification by force if necessary.

Also on Monday, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that Chinese aircraft carriers carried out operations at the end of the week in the Okinawa archipelago in the southwestern part of the island.

The ministry said that between Friday and Sunday, fighter jets and helicopters landed 120 times on the ship, which  together with three other warships  approached the island of Miyako, belonging to the archipelago, 230 kilometers away.

Meanwhile, high-ranking Japanese and Chinese officials will hold talks on Monday on disputed maritime issues between Beijing and Tokyo. The pre-planned discussions are part of the series of negotiations that started in 2012.

In March, the two countries also established a military hotline to prevent possible sea and air conflicts.

Cover image: Getty Images
COMPANY NEWS: Intelligent integration and enterprise automation platform SnapLogic has announced its availability on the Google Cloud Marketplace and that the company has successfully achieved a Google Cloud Ready  AlloyDB designation.

SnapLogic provides:

Both line-of-business and IT teams with the ability to accelerate and automate the process of moving data in and out of Google Cloud, helping surface critical business insights that improve decision-making.

Custom integrations that enable automated business processes.

Google Snap Packs, which make it easy to create and manage Google Cloud integration pipelines through low-code/no-code tools and artificial intelligence (AI)  assisted recommendation logic.

The Google Cloud Marketplace lets users quickly deploy functional software packages that run on Google Cloud. Customers can easily start up a familiar software package with services like Google Clouds Compute Engine or Cloud Storage, with no manual configuration required.

The current business environment demands rapid, data-driven decision-making and operations, said Jeremiah Stone, CTO at SnapLogic. The combination of Google Cloud and SnapLogic gives business and technology teams the power to thrive through focused, scalable innovation and fact-based decision making.

With SnapLogic and Google Cloud, weve been able to empower our customers with the real-time access to data that they need to inform critical business functions, added Ryan Gross, Partner Data & Insights at Credera. We can easily and quickly move data as needed from the applications and other sources it may reside into databases for accelerated analysis.

SnapLogic also announced that it has successfully achieved a Google Cloud Ready  AlloyDB designation for AlloyDB for PostgreSQL, Google Clouds newest fully managed PostgreSQL- compatible database service for most demanding enterprise database workloads.

Google Cloud Ready  AlloyDB is a new designation for the solutions of Google Clouds technology partners that integrate with AlloyDB. These partners have closely collaborated with Google Cloud to add support for AlloyDB into their solutions and tune their existing functionality for optimal outcomes. This designation recognises the partner solutions that have met a core set of functional requirements and are validated in collaboration with Google Cloud engineering teams.

The Cloud Ready  AlloyDB designation ensures that customers can quickly and effectively integrate SnapLogics widely-adopted platform and data movement capabilities with the AlloyDB database service, helping them more easily bring data into AlloyDB for superior performance, scale, and availability, said Ritika Suri, Director, Technology Partnerships at Google Cloud.

For more information about SnapLogics overall partnership with Google Cloud, please click here.

SnapLogic is available on Google Cloud Marketplace here.

About SnapLogic

SnapLogic powers the automated enterprise. The companys self-service, AI-powered integration platform helps organizations connect applications and data sources, automate common workflows and business processes, and deliver exceptional experiences for customers, partners, and employees. Thousands of enterprises around the world rely on the SnapLogic platform to integrate, automate, and transform their business. Learn more at snaplogic.com.
include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> You dont know whats in the indictment.

That was the line that progressives repeatedly threw at conservatives dubious about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs case over the last couple of weeks.

Well, weve seen the unsealed indictment, and we still dont know the other crime besides falsifying business records thats being alleged, because Bragg didnt specify it in a shocking prosecutorial failure and abuse of the process.

To review, Donald Trump paid off porn star Stormy Daniels, with whom he had an alleged affair, prior to the 2016 election. Such hush payments may be sleazy, but they arent illegal.

Still, the reimbursements from the Trump Organization to Trump fixer Michael Cohen, who paid off Daniels, were logged as legal expenses. This was deceptive and potentially a misdemeanor. Dragging a former president through the criminal justice process just to get him on such a minor offense, though, was unappealing even to Bragg.

How to make the misdemeanors into felonies? Well, if the misleading bookkeeping entries were in the service of another crime, then, presto, they become alleged felonies. Bragg, through the process known as stacking, or amassing counts through sheer repetition, claims to have 34 of them.

Thats a lot. But the linchpin of the whole endeavor is the other crime, and Bragg still wont tell us, or the accused, what it is.

Hes writing an Agatha Christie mystery, except the unknown isnt who committed the crime but what law he or she might have violated. Its Something or Other, Well Let You Know as Soon as We Figure It Out, on the Orient Express.

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This is a flaw, not in the handling of some low stakes case no one will ever know about, but an unprecedented, historic case. This prosecution has drawn massive media attention, has rocketed Trump back to a large lead in the polls for the Republican nomination, and will surely further derange our politics.

And Bragg couldnt even dot his is. Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of this sorry episode so far is that Bragg has demonstrated that its possible to behave so egregiously in the pursuit of Donald Trump that even left-of-center pundits wont line up in support.

The online publication Slate, a reliable source of some of the worst legal analysis on the internet, has run two doubtful pieces about the indictment. Mark Joseph Stern notes that Braggs legal theory is, if not convoluted, a fairly confusing effort to patch together disparate offenses into one alleged crime, carried out over 34 illegal payments.

Ruth Marcus of The Washington Post warned about the potential weakness of the case prior to the unsealing of the indictment and is now decidedly unimpressed. She calls it disturbingly unilluminating, and the theory on which it rests is debatable at best, unnervingly flimsy at worst.

Pundits wont determine the course of the Bragg prosecution, but the climate around it matters, if nothing else, as a barometer of its strength and merits. It is telling that Bragg has managed to create a loose rightleft consensus about the shoddiness of his handiwork.

(COMMENT, BELOW)


include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> It's official: America is a Third World country. Don't let the industrial prowess and atomic weapons fool you. Haiti and Honduras have nothing on the USA regarding a legal system that the ruling party hurls like a harpoon at its opponents and holsters on behalf of its friends. Masons should chisel quotation marks around the words in marble above the entrance to the U.S. Supreme Court. Equal Justice Under Law is now purely sarcastic. Consider the radically different treatment afforded 2016's presidential nominees. Republican Donald J. Trump is in a heap of trouble, thanks to District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D  Manhattan). On Tuesday, Bragg indicted Trump on 34 felony counts of first-degree falsification of business records. Bragg accuses Trump of reimbursing his then-attorney Michael Cohen for paying former porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in hush money to conceal an affair that she has claimed, and Trump denies. Her silence helped Trump become president. Bragg further contends that "each check was disguised as a payment for legal services." Luckily for Trump, Bragg's indictment is emptier than a punch bowl of helium.

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Bragg accuses Trump of violating Penal Law 175.10  a Class E Felony. According to New York criminal law, beyond the gravest Class A felonies, "A prosecution for any other felony must be commenced within five years after the commission thereof."

The 34th and most recent charge in Bragg's indictment cites Trump's check dated December 5, 2017. So, this alleged crime's statute of limitations lapsed on December 5, 2022. Bragg's other charges expired even earlier.

Can Alvin Bragg count to five?

All 34 counts connect to an "intent to commit another crime." What is that second crime? Who knows? The indictment does not say. Without that second crime, Bragg is like a man with 34 sticks of Dynamite and no lighter.

Bragg clearly drafted his indictment with crayons.

Never mind!

In an unprecedented scenario, the former President of the United States spent Tuesday in Manhattan criminal court getting arraigned, fingerprinted, and dragged before Judge Juan Marchan, a Biden donor. Trump now faces massive legal bills and relentless migraines as he fights these charges between now and a December 4 preliminary hearing, two months before the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. What priceless ammunition for Trump's rivals!

So, what befell 2016's Democrat nominee for strikingly similar conduct?

According to the Federal Election Commission, Hillary Clinton's campaign "paid $175,000 to Perkins Coie for what was alleged in the complaints to be opposition research done by Fusion [GPS]. Respondent reported the purpose of payment to Perkins Coie as legal services' on its disclosure reports." The FEC further "found probable cause to believe that Hillary for America" broke the law by "misreporting the purpose of certain disbursements."

These "legal services," in fact, financed former British spy Christopher Steele's fictitious dossier that tarred Trump as a Kremlin stooge. Clinton cash launched the three-year Russia hoax that cleaved America with an ax. Half the country thought Trump served Vladimir Putin. The other contracted laryngitis while refuting these lies.

So, what punishment did Hillary Clinton endure for funneling six figures to her lawyers to smear Trump, sway the 2016 election, and then shroud her evil with bogus bookkeeping?

As the FEC's February 22, 2022, Conciliation Agreement states: "Respondent will pay a civil penalty to the Commission in the amount of eight thousand dollars ($8,000) pursuant to 52 U.S.C.  30109(a)(5)(A)."

Also, "Respondent agrees not to violate 52 U.S.C.  30104(b)(5)(A) and 11 CFR  104.3(b)(4)(i) in the future."

That's it! As FEC attorney Richard L. Weiss declared: "the Commission closed the file in this matter on March 25, 2022."

Hillary then jetted around, signaled virtue, and relaxed in her Chappaqua mansion without a care in the world.

So:

At least eight months of legal hell for the Republican.

An $8,000 fine and serenity for the Democrat.

One nation.

Two justice systems.

Third World status for all.
include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> One can trace former President Donald Trump's indictment by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg back to the media/Democrat belief that Trump's 2016 election was illegitimate.

Sure, some, like Hillary Clinton, questioned former President Barack Obama's birthplace. And, after the 2000 Bush v. Gore Supreme Court decision some, for a time, groused and called George W. Bush "president select." But never in modern times has a president been so widely and consistently described as "illegitimate" as has candidate, president and now former President Donald Trump. It never stopped.

I write as the son of a lifelong Democrat mother, as the younger brother of a lifelong Democrat, a Navy vet who was my best friend. My Marine vet father was a registered Republican with whom my mother and brother disagreed in spirited but never hateful debate across the kitchen table.

When John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon in 1960, my father never cried "foul!" despite credible allegations of vote-stealing, especially in Illinois. Nixon knew about this, but chose not to protest and filed no lawsuit, perhaps fearing counter-allegations against his campaign.

Last year, The New York Times published a review of a Nixon-friendly biography. According to the book, Nixon, at his Christmas party after Kennedy's narrow victory, told his guests, "We won, but they stole it from us." The Times review dismissed Nixon's complaint: "The weakness of the case did not stop Nixon's men from pushing their allegations. But six decades hence  in the absence of new evidence, at a time when false claims of a stolen election pose a mounting threat to our system of self-government  historians ought to think twice before endorsing them."

"Historians ought to think twice" about "endorsing" allegations of stolen elections. Sound advice. And the advice applies to non-historians, particularly media pundits and politicians.

This brings us to the 2016 election in which the upstart Trump, not taken seriously by Democrats and most of the media, defeated the heavy favorite Hillary Clinton, whose chance of winning The New York Times on Election Day pegged at 85%.

Obama's Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson testified before Congress that the Russians, despite their efforts, failed to change a single vote tally. As to the Russian election interference, largely through ads and posts on Facebook, Johnson called it unknowable whether this altered public opinion or the outcome of the election.

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Yet two years later, a 2018 YouGov poll found 66% of Democrats believe that Russia in 2016 changed vote tallies. And a 2018 Gallup poll found 78% of Democrats believe that the Russian 2016 interference "changed the outcome of the election." This means a greater percentage of Democrats believe the 2016 election was stolen than Republicans who felt that way about 2020.

Nearly 25% of the Democrat congressional delegation refused to attend Trump's inauguration. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., one of the most respected members of the House, called Trump's election "illegitimate," a charge Lewis reiterated months before he died. Former President Jimmy Carter said: "I think a full investigation would show that Trump didn't actually win the election in 2016. He lost the election, and he was put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf." Hillary Clinton routinely called the election "stolen" and President Trump "illegitimate."

Yet Republicans  and the mainstream media  did not call Clinton, Carter, Lewis and the Democrats who boycotted Trump's inauguration "election deniers." The First Amendment gives losers, with or without evidence, the right to complain without fear of prosecution, let alone persecution.

Notably, Hillary Clinton has been silent about Trump's indictment. Why? She likely does not want to remind the country that she clearly violated the Espionage Act with her basement server but skated because the FBI's James Comey said she lacked the "intent" to violate the statute  though her violation does not require intent.

About Trump's indictment over hush money payments, two can play the rouge prosecutor game. There are republican DAs and attorneys general, too. In the movie "Tora! Tora! Tora!" about the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto said, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

(COMMENT, BELOW)
CHARLESTON  A missing man was found deceased late Sunday afternoon in the water at Lake Charleston after a search for him was conducted by the local dive team and other emergency responders.

The Charleston police and fire departments reported in a press release that, at the request of the Coles County Sheriffs Office, their personnel were dispatched at approximately 2:45 p.m. to Lake Charleston in response to a report of a missing person there.

First responders were able to locate the missing persons vehicle at the boat ramp at the lake. A search was conducted in and around the lake.

This individual was subsequently located at approximately 4:20 p.m., just off the boat dock, by a rescue diver with the Lincoln Fire Protection District Dive Team, and was confirmed to be deceased.

Coles County Coroner Ed Schniers said early Sunday evening that his office was not releasing the missing man's identity yet by because efforts to notify all of his family were still ongoing.

Schniers said he is not certain yet what circumstances led to the man being at the lake Sunday afternoon. The coroner said he may conduct an autopsy as a precaution due to the man apparently being alone at the time, and other unknown factors regarding his death.

The press release reported that all responders cleared the scene at approximately 5:10 p.m. The road to the lake was shut down during the incident but has since been reopened.

Police officers and firefighters were also assisted at the scene by the Eastern Illinois University Police Department and the Lincoln Fire Protection District Dive Team.

Close Charleston Fire Department Chief Pat Goodwin, background, and Assistant Chief Steve Bennett, foreground, bring Koda back to shore along the Embarras River at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Firefighters with the Charleston Fire Department and Lincoln Fire Protection District carry a rescue boat to the water's edge along the Embarras River at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Koda watches from a stranded boat as members of the Charleston Fire Department approach from a rescue boat at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Firefighters at right throw a line to Charleston Fire Department Assistant Chief Steve Bennett and Chief Pat Goodwin, seen at left in a rescue boat, along the Embarras River at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Charleston Fire Department Lt. Frank Delgadillo coaxes Koda toward him in the stranded boat at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Charleston Fire Department Assistant Chief Steve Bennett, left, and Chief Pat Goodwin, right, bring Koda back to shore along the Embarras River at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Koda is reunited with her owner, Shane Cassady, foreground left, at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Koda looks on after being reunited with her owner, Shane Cassady, at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Firefighters with the Charleston Fire Department and Lincoln Fire Protection District carry a rescue boat back to the truck from the water's edge along the Embarras River at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Koda hangs out after being rescued at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Water Rescue at Lake Charleston 06/26/13 Koda the dog is rescued from a stranded boat along the swollen Embarras River at Lake Charleston, south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Charleston Fire Department Chief Pat Goodwin, background, and Assistant Chief Steve Bennett, foreground, bring Koda back to shore along the Embarras River at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Firefighters with the Charleston Fire Department and Lincoln Fire Protection District carry a rescue boat to the water's edge along the Embarras River at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Koda watches from a stranded boat as members of the Charleston Fire Department approach from a rescue boat at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Firefighters at right throw a line to Charleston Fire Department Assistant Chief Steve Bennett and Chief Pat Goodwin, seen at left in a rescue boat, along the Embarras River at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Charleston Fire Department Lt. Frank Delgadillo coaxes Koda toward him in the stranded boat at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Charleston Fire Department Assistant Chief Steve Bennett, left, and Chief Pat Goodwin, right, bring Koda back to shore along the Embarras River at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Koda is reunited with her owner, Shane Cassady, foreground left, at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Koda looks on after being reunited with her owner, Shane Cassady, at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Firefighters with the Charleston Fire Department and Lincoln Fire Protection District carry a rescue boat back to the truck from the water's edge along the Embarras River at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) Koda hangs out after being rescued at Lake Charleston south of Charleston, Ill., on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer)
Happy Monday.

Pandoras Box, if it wasnt before, is well and truly open now.

They were easy to miss, coming as they did on Good Friday but dueling decisions by federal court judges about access to abortion drug mifepristone further roiled a confusing, emotional and contentious issue.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a federal judge in Texas notable mostly for activist anti-abortion views, blocked FDA approval of mifepristone given under the Clinton administration.

Kacsmaryk, perhaps aware of the backlash to come, paused his ruling until Friday to allow for the inevitable appeal.

Less than an hour later, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice ordered the FDA to continue allowing access to the medication in 17 states and the District of Columbia.

Confused? You bet.

It sets in motion another high-stakes clash in the U.S. Supreme Court and opens the door in theory to 50 states having 50 different sets of laws about abortion access.

The test in North Carolina comes in the form of House Bill 533, introduced last week.

If passed - remember, the party switch by Rep. Cottingham of Charlotte means Republicans have veto-proof majorities in the state House and Senate - the bill would allow abortion only in cases when a womans life is in danger.

HB 533 passed on first reading - lip service to its GOP sponsors - and shuffled off to gather dust in a committee.

Politically speaking, the bill may well serve as a comparative stalking horse so that when someone else comes along with a bill that says abortions are OK through, say, six or 13 weeks the new proposal can be sold as compromise or an act of moderation.

Pay attention to the direction the Legislature moves in debating whether - by how much, really - to limit access to abortion.

It could be a true test of whos really in charge in Raleigh. A compromise of limiting access to abortion at 13 weeks sets North Carolina up as relatively moderate when compared to other Southern states.

New state motto, salable to relocating businesses uninterested in extremes: Volunteer to move ... We're not Tennessee!

Wellness Days

GREENSBORO - N.C. A &T State University has suffered through a terrible few weeks.

Deja Reeves, an 18-year-old student from Chicago, was shot to death on Sullivan Street just  mile off campus earlier this month.

And just days prior, a 27-year-old man named Brendan Bentley was arrested March 26 on campus with a frightening array of weapons including two handguns, two shotguns, a rifle, a crossbow, a machete, stun gun, hatchets, knives, a blow dart gun, brass knuckles and pepper spray in his car.

Court documents indicate that Bentley told Greensboro police he was afraid of being kidnapped by a religious cult and living in his car.

Hes now free on bond but has received a stern judicial admonishment to stay away from A&T - for whatever thats worth - and hopefully getting help with mental-health concerns.

In response to those incident, university officials wisely canceled classes today and Tuesday for Wellness Days - time for students, faculty and staff to reflect and focus energy on things that might put minds at ease.

Obviously there is more than can be done. A&T could, for example, purchase the off-campus complex known as The Cottages where Reeves was killed. She was the fourth student fatally injured at the Cottages since 2016.

GIS location tools

WINSTON-SALEM - At first blush, the small announcement that the parks departments in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County will be installing emergency signs along greenways and trails seems a no brainer.

(Strange but true aside: In the city, the department is officially Recreation and Parks; the county calls it Parks & Recreation.)

Anyhow, the signs arent just signs. Theyll use GIS technology - science for dropping a pin on your exact location - so that EMTs and first responders can find people faster in the event of an emergency.

If you think it wont matter, look at some of the memorials set up in the trees along Salem Lake. Minutes can make a difference.
I believe in projects being a natural thing that happens for artists. Sometimes we are meant to create different songs and ideas to put out into the world. But its not necessarily something thats gonna end up as a project, said musician Clemente Calandra. But this for me was so different.

Calandra (who uses they pronouns) is talking about CASI ANGELES 3, their debut record under the name Heartgaze. Scheduled to drop at the end of this month, CASI ANGELES 3 is a snapshot of post-adolescent life through the filter of dreamy, multilayered pop music.

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Born and raised in Bueno Aires, Argentina, Calandra grew up in a family of casual musicians. By age 8, they picked up a guitar and began playing. At the time, Calandra largely listened to Argentine music, but their dad and others around them introduced them to new artists in different genres, including American hip hop and nu metal. Calandra said artists such as Linkin Park, Tyler the Creator and Childish Gambino were early musical inspirations. By age 13, Calandra began experimenting with music production, using tools like GarageBand, they said. Discovering that is what led me to wonder and pursue music.

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After moving to Chile, Calandra created their current project, Heartgaze. By the time they moved to the United States in 2019, Heartgaze was a fully fleshed-out musical identity for Calandra, with a sound incorporating moments of shoegaze, emo and pop.

Chicago musician Clemente Calandra records as Heartgaze. (Rhianna Hajduch / HANDOUT)

Calandra describes CASI ANGELES 3, their debut Heartgaze album as a conceptual mixtape. Composed of eight songs, the record is a narrative exploration traversing the turbulence of a post-adolescent life. Many tropes of the time period  from living on ones own to trying to make sense of life after being a teenager  appear lyrically on the record.

And that makes sense. Calandra began work on the record in late 2021 when they were 20 years old. Thematically, they were speaking in real time.

What is moving at the moment? What is exciting at the moment? Wheres my head at when Im doing something? Calandra asked about songwriting. I capture moments with my art. Its like capturing different moments and different eras and times of my life and experiences.

They liken that capturing to a soundtrack, one that allows them to frame and articulate the highs and lows of a brief period in time through new eyes.

The project was centered on me discovering a lot of technology with music as well as my own voice through it, they added. Like how do I express my own emotions and feelings through sounds from technology?

To accomplish that, Calandra used tools like synthesizers, drum machines, samplers and tape recorders, creating an eclectic sound that sounds equal part nostalgic for a bygone sonic era and absolutely fresh. I created distorted soundscapes and stuff like that to create an alternative pop record, in the end, which was super fun.

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The largely Spanish-language CASI ANGELES 3 project also includes collaborators such as popular indie artists Victor Internet and Elijah Who, as well as artists from Calandras native Chile and Argentina. For me, collaboration is key in music. Its like my favorite thing  to invite people to be on my songs and just have fun with that, Calandra said about the record. Id hope people still get to enjoy, listen to it and relate to the music and find something they love out of it and find pockets of the moments of what they love in it beyond language barriers.

Having finished the record back in March 2022, Calandra has since dedicated time to creating a visual accompaniment to the record. Working with collaborators from Honduras and Kentucky now living in Chicago, Calandra said translating their music visually has been an organic and enjoyable process.

My plan right now is to keep building my artistry with everything I do, and just keep creating and experimenting, Calandra said about what comes next. I want to keep meeting people, keep working with people, keep sort of building on the community here in Chicago and in the U.S. in general.

6 p.m. April 29 at Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave.; tickets $14-$20 (ages 18+) at dice.fm

Britt Julious is a freelance critic.
Police arrested a 28-year-old Lincoln man Monday afternoon after he allegedly used a machete to rob two men of their van in the parking lot of a west Lincoln fast food chain, according to police.

The two men  who were driving a Chevrolet work van  told police they were robbed of the van as they waited in line at the drive-thru at D'Leon's Mexican Food near Northwest 22nd and West O streets at around 1 p.m. Monday, the Lincoln Police Department said in news release.

Police arrested Gilberto Antoni Portillo Barrientos blocks away from the fast food chain about an hour after the carjacking was reported, LPD spokeswoman Erika Thomas said in the news release.

Authorities were unable to track Barrientos for much of the hour until a caller reported seeing the van near 27th and O streets, Thomas said.

Pilots operating the Nebraska State Patrol's airwing spotted the van and provided updates on its location to a Lincoln Police officer, who punctured the van's tires with spike strips in west Lincoln, Thomas said.

Barrientos fled the stalled van on foot and was taken into custody near Northwest 22nd and West O streets  the same block where Barrientos is accused of robbing the men of the van, according to the news release.

Police arrested the 28-year-old on suspicion of robbery and took him 16 blocks further west: to the Lancaster County jail.

Inside the halted Chevy, police found the machete thought to have been used in the alleged robbery, Thomas said.

No one was injured in the incident.

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
Authorities arrested a 37-year-old York man following a dramatic chase in north Lincoln early Monday morning, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

The pursuit started shortly after 1 a.m. Monday when Robert Allen fled Lincoln Police officers after they tried to pull over the stolen Dodge Caravan he was driving, the State Patrol alleged in a news release.

Lincoln Police relayed information on the Dodge to State Patrol troopers, who spotted the van speeding on Waverly Road near U.S. 77 a short time later, the agency said in the news release.

Troopers initiated another traffic stop, but Allen fled, heading south on U.S. 77 toward Lincoln, according to the news release.

Troopers rammed the minivan as Allen turned eastbound on Fletcher Avenue, but the York man regained control of the Dodge and struck another trooper's cruiser as he continued to flee south on U.S. 77, the State Patrol said.

Allen then turned east on Havelock Avenue before turning back north onto 70th Street, where troopers again rammed the van, bringing the pursuit to an end, according to the news release.

Troopers arrested the 37-year-old on suspicion of willful reckless driving, assault on a peace officer and flight to avoid arrest, among a handful of other alleged charges.

A passenger, a 27-year-old Shelton woman, was also taken into custody and arrested on suspicion of drug possession, the State Patrol said.

Troopers took both Allen and the Shelton woman to the Lancaster County jail.

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
Northwest Public Schools did not redact student identifying information in responding to a public records request by the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, according to the ACLU, which could be a violation of a federal student privacy law.

Because the information wasnt already redacted, ACLU of Nebraska hid identifying student information before releasing the documents to the public, said ACLU of Nebraska attorney Jane Seu.

Pennell and NHSPA's lawsuit stems in part from Northwest Public Schools administrators reprimanding students in April 2022 from using their preferred pronouns in the high school's student newspaper.

Amelia Vance, an expert in child and student privacy, said leaving identifying student information in public records is absolutely a FERPA violation. Vance is vice president of youth and education privacy at the Future of Privacy Forum and founder of Public Interest Privacy Consulting.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It applies to all schools receiving funds under an applicable U.S. Department of Education program.

Under FERPA, school districts may release directory information.

The sort of information that would be in a directory like email addresses, etc., Vance said. FERPA is the primary federal law that governs student privacy. Essentially, it says that schools shouldn't be disclosing information without consent, or very strict requirements, and that parents and students should be able to access the information about them.

Schools are required to tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow them a reasonable amount of time before disclosure to request that the school not release directory information about them, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

There is some limited information that schools are allowed to disclose without consent, but it's something that parents and students have the right to opt out of, Vance said.

Some records kept by schools  including disciplinary measures conducted by the district and special services rendered  are not considered directory information.

When you have directory information that's combined with non-directory information  like LGBTQ status  it isn't considered directory information anymore," she said.

For example, a school cannot provide a list of who is LGBTQ at the school to an unauthorized party. Protected information can be accessed by specific school officials, including teachers and administrators.

You're turning over information that is protected under FERPA that allows for disclosure of sensitive information, Vance said. Unfortunately, a lot of districts don't necessarily understand what their obligations are and the harm this sort of information (can cause when) disclosed.

Vance said the circumstances surrounding ACLU of Nebraskas public records request compound the issue.

Among the documents the ACLU of Nebraska received was an email to Northwest School Board member Dan Leiser from a student identifying themself in the email as someone who is a part of the LGBTQIA+ youth.

Also included was a March 24, 2022, email from then-Northwest newspaper journalism adviser Kirsten Gilliland to then-Northwest Public High School Principal Tim Krupicka concerning students using preferred names in their bylines. She included the names of other students, pointing out to Krupicka she was unsure what pronouns some of those students used.

Particularly right now, with the climate around anti trans initiatives and (anti LGBTQ)  having your sexual orientation potentially shared with unknown parties, potentially something that could be posted online, or made available to people you don't know about, is really concerning, Vance said.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that youth mental health has continued to worsen  more than 1 in 5 (22%) (LGBTQ youth) attempted suicide in (2021). The analyzed data and trends come from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

The ACLU of Nebraska is not currently following up on the alleged FERPA violations, said Seu.

"To be honest, that's not something we're looking at," Seu said. "We're really focused on the constitutional claims."

After obtaining the records from Northwest, ACLU of Nebraska redacted the students names and other identifying information before releasing them as part of their announcement about the lawsuit.

We need to make sure that the laws that are on the books are enforced, and that people trust that the laws in place will protect them and their child, Vance said.

An investigation into a suspected FERPA violation can be initiated by a parent or guardian complaint, Vance said. Districts can lose certain federal funding for FERPA violations, but Vance said she is not aware of a case reaching that point.

An Aug. 29, 2022, email from Northwest Superintendent Jeff Edwards to an attorney is included in ACLU of Nebraska's public records, which references ACLU of Nebraska's public records request. Vance said that attorney was not necessarily responsible for redactions, and responsibility can depend on a district's available resources.

Vance added, "There is very clear guidance on disclosure, avoidance and identification from the Department of Education on their student privacy webpage. And so it really is unacceptable."

Attempts to reach the attorney and Edwards last week were not successful.
On May 12, the U.S. Postal Service will honor Nebraska's Chief Standing Bear with a ceremony celebrating the release of his Forever stamp.

Standing Bear, the Ponca chief who won a landmark 1879 court case that ruled Native Americans were people under the law with inherent rights, was nominated by the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee in 2017.

Now, more than five years after the original conception, the USPS has printed 18 million copies of the stamp.

The first-day-of-issue event is free and open to the public.

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in the Centennial Mall  between P and Q streets  and attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/chiefstandingbear.

Anton Hajjar, vice chairman of the USPS Board of Governors, Candace Schmidt, chairwoman of Nebraska's Ponca Tribe and Judi Gaiashkibos, executive director of the Nebraska Commission of Indian Affairs will speak at the event.

Follow news of the stamp as it's shared with the hashtag #ChiefStandingBearStamp.

Top Journal Star photos for April 2023
A brush fire that burned nearly 700 acres just south of Lake Waconda near Union, Nebraska, is estimated to be about 85% contained as of Monday afternoon.

More than 75 firefighters from 36 fire departments from across Nebraska assisted in the response. No injuries or structure damage has been reported, according to Jodie Fawl, a public information officer for the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

The fire started in Iowa on Saturday and jumped across the Missouri River into Nebraska that afternoon. Fawl said it's likely that the strong winds blew a spark across the river, igniting the fire on the Nebraska side.

According to the incident commander, Shane Adams of the Nehawka Volunteer Fire Department, the fire rapidly spread south to the area of East Union Road. Requests for all available units were immediately called to battle the rapidly moving fire.

Adams reported that fire departments from all over Cass County responded to the scene. Additional units from across Nebraska brought utility-task vehicles to haul water.

The terrain of this fire is treacherous, Adams said Sunday. Relief from local fire departments arrived late into the night and continued to fight fire all through the night. No structures have been affected at this time.

Cass County declared a disaster Sunday and requested state assistance to help with response to the brush fire. Gov. Jim Pillen approved a state disaster, which allows emergency funds to be released in order to assist firefighters.

Cass County Emergency Management and incident command requested that the Nebraska Incident Management Assistance Team help with the response. The Nebraska National Guard sent a crew to work on the ground and a helicopter to fill water buckets from Lake Waconda to drop on the fire Sunday afternoon.

During the fire, Lake Waconda residents and people from surrounding communities gathered to watch as the helicopter scooped water from the lake. Along the Missouri River, the shoreline smoldered as Canada geese swam downstream.

The Nebraska State Patrol sent drones aloft Sunday to provide aerial footage of the fire. Members of the Wildland Incident Response Assistant Team arrived to provide technical support on control and management of the fire.

Fawl estimated that the fire was about 85% contained as of Monday afternoon. Saturday night's rainfall and lower winds on Sunday made for an easier day of firefighting, she said. As a result of the high containment, state resources will be demobilized Monday night as local crews continue to monitor.

The village of Union, with a population of about 200 residents, is located 15 miles south of Plattsmouth.

The National Weather Service issued a red-flag warning for fire danger Saturday. A combination of warm weather, low humidity and strong winds created extreme fire danger for most of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

The Lake Waconda fire comes on the heels of a large brush fire in Papillion that led to the closure of a portion of Nebraska 370 Saturday afternoon. Firefighters were first dispatched to the area of South 60th Street and Capehart Road at about 2:34 p.m., said Jason Banks with the Papillion Fire Department.

The fire quickly spread north to the area of Nebraska 370, forcing officials to close the road between 48th and 72nd streets until around 5:30 p.m. Other area fire agencies, including Bellevue, Plattsmouth and Gretna, were called in to assist with the fire.

5 most common causes of reported house fires What causes house fires? #5. Smoking materials #4. Intentional #3. Electrical distribution and lighting equipment #2. Heating equipment #1. Cooking
When Cotonna Nauden arrived at an Omaha hospital, she was suffering from sepsis, a life-threatening complication of an infection.

She awoke to find that part of one leg and some toes on the other foot had been amputated. She was in heart failure. She was in no condition to return to life on the streets where she'd been living for the previous year and a half.

So after Nauden was discharged from the hospital, she settled in a private room at the Siena Francis House, an Omaha shelter for people experiencing homelessness, where she could continue to get follow-up care as well as meals and clothing.

"That room saved my life," said Nauden, who has been a guest at the shelter for about five months. "They truly blessed me by giving me a room and a home."

The single- and double-occupancy rooms set aside at the shelter, as well as case management and other services that go with them, are part of Nebraska's first formal medical respite program for people experiencing homelessness.

Siena Francis and other community partners launched the 24-month pilot project last August. Charles Drew Health Center provides medical care in a mobile unit parked outside the shelter four days a week, a service that also is available to unhoused people who are not occupying respite rooms.

One aim of the evidence-based program is to head off cycles in which people experiencing homelessness are hospitalized for treatment, recover enough to leave the hospital but aren't quite well enough to function on their own or in a traditional congregate shelter, which frequently results in them being readmitted to the hospital. CHI Health, through its national foundation, awarded $500,000 to cover project expenses.

E.J. Kuiper, CHI Health's CEO, said the program has the potential to save lives, improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs by decreasing readmissions to hospitals.

"By connecting people to essential services after they leave our hospitals, we can create a pathway to stability and improved quality of life for some of the most at-risk members of our community," he said in a statement. "Were hopeful that with the success of this pilot program, more permanent solutions will be made available.

The local pilot program grew out of a 2020 planning grant that provided funds to convene the Health + Housing Coalition. Facilitated by Omaha nonprofit The Wellbeing Partners, organizations from across the Omaha metro area met to identify the needs of chronically homeless and medically complex residents in the community.

CyncHealth, the health information exchange for Nebraska and western Iowa, examined the records of 450 people experiencing homelessness. The organization found that the group of patients averaged 246 emergency department visits a month in 2020, an average of nearly two per person. The same patients also accounted for 531 initial admissions to hospitals, followed by 2,062 readmissions within 30 days of being released.

"It's something, unfortunately, that is really common in a lot of communities, and Omaha isn't any different," said Rachel Heinz, program manager with CyncHealth's social care and public health teams.

Medical respite programs, which have been increasing nationally, offer an alternative. The National Institute for Medical Respite Care lists 133 medical respite programs across 38 states and territories, although the Omaha program isn't yet included in that count.

"They can stay in this medical respite as an in-between place to continue their recovery before they're discharged back to the shelter," Heinz said.

Hospitals can refer patients experiencing homelessness to the program through the online Unite Nebraska platform, which was launched in 2020. The platform allows health care providers and social workers to refer patients for a variety of services available in the community. CyncHealth, which sponsors the platform, is formerly known as the Nebraska Health Information Initiative, or NEHII, and has been working to link patient records collected by physicians, hospitals, pharmacists and other health care providers in Nebraska and western Iowa for more than a decade.

Jamise Wagner, shelter director at Siena Francis House, said staff at the shelter and with Charles Drew review the referrals to make sure patients fall within each organization's scope of care.

Respite guests must be medically stable, willing to meet with medical and program staff and able to manage daily living activities and medications on their own.

The shelter has received 49 referrals since the program launched and accepted 17 of them, she said. Some have required a higher level of care than the shelter can provide. A handful were resolved before potential guests reached the shelter, with most reuniting with family members. The shelter, which has five beds for the program, has served 11 respite guests.

Once checked in, guests in the program meet with a shelter case manager and a representative from Charles Drew within 72 hours.

Sharon Cullum-Anderson, a case manager and respite coordinator for Siena Francis, said some won't stay in respite. A guest with a wound, for instance, may stay only long enough to complete doctor's visits and finish healing.

But the end goal is to find permanent housing.

"Our goal at the medical respite program at Siena Francis and Charles Drew is to have them not re-enter into homelessness," Wagner said.

Case management, she said, is a critical part of that. Case managers also connect patients with other services in the community.

Cullum-Anderson has been working with Nauden to find affordable, accessible housing that she can navigate in a wheelchair.

"This is not a job to me," Cullum-Anderson said. "... I enjoy seeing their faces when you hand them their keys."

But that's a challenging task. Affordable, handicapped-accessible housing, Wagner said, is a huge need in the community, particularly with the homeless population aging and experiencing more chronic health conditions.

Having the mobile unit on-site to provide care for people with those conditions, she said, also is important.

The mobile unit is outfitted with two exam rooms. In addition to respite patients, the clinic also serves the population of Siena Francis and other people experiencing homelessness in the area, said Theresa Evans, a nurse practitioner with Charles Drew who has worked on the unit since it opened in August. The mobile unit, on site Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., typically sees between six and 10 patients a day.

The mobile clinic staff provide care for a variety of ailments, from wounds to sinus infections, as well as for chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure and diabetes, she said. They can administer vaccines and test for conditions such as hepatitis C and HIV.

While the mobile clinic staff schedules appointments for people with chronic conditions, they also see a large number of walk-in patients, Evans said. Grant funding allows Charles Drew to provide medications to patients, and the mobile unit also delivers medicines to patients at Siena Francis. Getting people on regular medications, particularly those for mental health conditions, can help patients stabilize and get into housing.

Charles Drew also provides transportation to its regular clinics for patients who have mobility issues and for those who need care they can't get at the mobile unit, including dental work and behavioral health care. The mobile staff also can initiate telehealth appointments for behavioral health care if there's an immediate need, and make referrals for screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies.

"I believe that medical respite can do a lot," Wagner said. "Chronic health conditions, behavioral health conditions, cognitive and functional limitations are really common with people who are experiencing homelessness, and sometimes there just aren't enough services within the shelter to help them meet those needs."
1873: Lincolns new mayor and City Council were guests at an inaugural banquet in the Metropolitan Hotel.

Richardson Coal Co. was founded, and city residents hoped they would be able to buy coal at $2 a ton in the fall.

1883: Ambrose Eddy bought the Moore quarter near Yankee Hill for $4,200.

1893: John H. Mockett asked Lincoln YMCA members to help save the organizations building at 13th and N streets.

1903: Lincoln citizens were complaining about delays in work on the citys new post office. Government officials said construction would not be completed for another six months.

John D. Rockefeller announced he would give two-thirds of the $100,000 needed for a temple to be used for social and religious purposes at the University of Nebraska. The university was to raise the rest of the money.

1913: One man was killed and four others injured in a car accident at the J Street fountain, which later was moved to Antelope Park.

1923: The Legislature was studying a recommendation that the reformatory in York also be made a penitentiary for women.

1933: Gov. Charles Bryans bill to call a state convention to vote on repeal of the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale of alcohol, was before the Legislature.

1943: After reading the verdict of a Lancaster County District Court jury of which he had been foreman, Julius Harpham asked for, and was granted, permission to say a few words. He said he was speaking for the jury and complained about the dirty conditions of the courts jury room. The matter was referred to the county commissioners.

1953: The Legislature authorized a 40-hour workweek for state employees.

Lincoln voters approved, 8,040-2,642, a 99-year lease between the city and the federal government for military occupation of the Lincoln Air Force Base. The lease involved 2,100 acres of city-owned land.

1963: In what had become a perennial issue, the Legislatures Government Committee killed, 5-2, a bill calling for a partisan Legislature.

1973: Snow  up to 11 inches at Harrison  covered Nebraska as disagreeable weather continued to plague Nebraska farmers, ranchers and travelers.

Numerous meatpacking plants curtailed slaughter because of a combination of urban boycotts and feeders withholding cattle from the market.

1983: The Lincoln Medical Center Association was seeking funds to establish an institute to coordinate outpatient services for cancer patients in Southeast Nebraska.

Water management officials said Nebraskas reservoirs were nearly full.

1993: Firefighters ran from one fire to another when arsonists lit a series of eight cars on fire in one night.

2003: Linoma Beach, with its landmark lighthouse, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Linoma Beach short for "Lincoln-Omaha," opened in 1924 as a recreation spot four miles northeast of Ashland just offshore of the Platte River.
Julie Anderson was at her job, in the office, every day. She had early mornings and late nights. She sometimes worked 12-14 hour shifts and didnt sleep at night. And somehow she still loved it.

Anderson led the county Public Works and Development Services Department for the past 10 years and worked in various other county positions two decades before that.

But five years ago, she got some news that made her slow down: an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis.

It gave me a completely different perspective. It told me theres other things to life besides work, she said. Thats a pretty expensive wake up call to realize you need to slow down.

Anderson, 55, retired March 10 after 32 years with Racine County.

I gave Racine County 100% effort, she said. That eventually took a toll.

But she still called her career wildly successful and was ready to retire.

It was a long career. It was basically a whole generation, the Oak Creek resident said.

Kim Parsons, administrative assistant for Racine County Public Works and Development Services for the last three years, has worked with the county for more than 30 years and interacted with Anderson over time.

While Parsons was sad to hear Anderson was retiring, Parsons said she was happy for her.

It has been a pleasure to work with Julie, a very knowledgeable and reliable professional, Parsons said. She is a highly motivated individual who has been a loyal, dedicated employee of Racine County for the past 32 years.

High points

Having grown up in Hales Corners in Milwaukee County, Anderson started working in Racine as a fresh face.

I knew nothing about Racine County except O&H and Kringle, she said.

Anderson began with the county in an entry level permit position with the Racine County Planning and Zoning Department in 1991. She worked at Ives Grove when she was 22 and a full-time graduate student.

She worked her way up to a senior planner position within the department, then got a job as the Planning and Zoning director in 2003. At this time, she also picked up the role of land information officer.

The Planning and Zoning Department underwent a name change and combined with the Public Works Department in 2012, and Anderson settled into her position as Public Works and Development Services Department director.

Anderson was the one who named the Development Services Department. She said she wanted something new and fresh, and it was a better way to capture what the department did.

I learned a lot in 32 years, she said. I covered every corner.

Anderson worked under five county executives. She noted she was honored they trusted her to do the high level management jobs that were never before handled by a woman.

She not only was in charge of storm response and road construction, but also led planning and development, and economic development.

A special highlight was when Anderson was appointed and served a term from 2015-21 with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Board. She was involved in everything from real estate developments to flood management, highway projects to severe weather spotting, incident command systems to comprehensive planning and transportation.

Her knowledge base of our region is unbelievable, said Jean Jacobson, chairman of the Town of Norway. Shes such a resource.

Jacobson worked with Anderson the whole time she was with the county, including when Jacobson was a County Board supervisor, County Board chairman, county executive and now town chairman.

Taking the job seriously

Anderson said shes most proud of the fact she never had to deliver any serious or bad news about any of her employees the past 10 years.

The motto was always safety first, and during her tenure, no employees were injured or killed while working.

Although funnily enough, Anderson is an avid photographer and was known to stand outside observing incoming severe weather with her camera instead of taking shelter at the office.

The office was where Anderson often lived. She was in the office every day, including during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I always felt like I needed to be in the office and present for my employees because thats the way you set the tone as a role model, she said. You cant just be out of the office at all times. I took the title very seriously.

Anderson met with the media sometimes as early as 4 a.m. or on weekends and holidays. She stayed until the end of committee meetings, sometimes as late as 11 p.m., and went back to work the next morning at 8 a.m.

She was out for four weeks of medical leave for her cancer treatment, but was back in the office right after. She is currently cancer-free.

I didnt really miss a beat, she said. I wasnt going to let that bog me down, but it changed my perspective on how things were important and other things werent important.

A mentor

Brian Jensen, Development Services Superintendent for Racine County, worked with Anderson at Racine County Development Services for the last 30 years.

The job is not an 8-hour day, it entails a lot of long days and nights and she conducted herself with upmost professionalism, Jensen said. Her vast knowledge and expertise will be greatly missed.

Jensen noted her retirement is well-deserved. He called Anderson professional, honest, intelligent, composed and fair.

She would always be available for all her staff, he said. Julie valued and supported her staff.

Jacobson called the former Public Works and Development Services director a mentor to her in many ways.

She had a very common sense approach on very difficult issues, Jacobson said. I learned a lot from how she presented the issues. In government, I believe we all learn from each other on how to work with the public, and she taught me a lot.

Jacobson noted Anderson had great ideas on neighborhoods development issues. They often worked together on subdivision projects, and Anderson taught Jacobson how to do them correctly. Jacobson also recognized Andersons job was a lot on her plate.

How can you do it? Jacobson said, emphasizing Andersons long shifts and raising two successful daughters. Anderson is also now a grandmother.

Retirement is going to have its ups and downs, also but shes got a great family to move forward with, Jacobson said.

Retirement

After her cancer diagnosis, Anderson has worked to focus more on her health, self-care and spend more time with her family in the last five years.

She completed a sprint triathlon last year with a local cancer survivors program, Aurora Team Phoenix.

In retirement, she hopes to volunteer in organizations in the community that she never got a chance to volunteer with before, such as Aurora Team Phoenix.

Those are things that I can do that are very self-fulfilling, she said. This is my chance to pay it forward and not be worried about work or responsibilities.

She also plans to spend more time pursuing other interests such as landscape photography.

I have to go and enjoy life, because tomorrows not guaranteed, Anderson said. I want to leave while Im in great health. Im at the height of my career. Its a good time for me and my family.

In her first month of retirement, Anderson said the strangest part has been not carrying a county cellphone or computer. She doesnt have to worry about submitting her departments budget before deadline or when her phones going to ring with the next storm emergency.

Ive lived a great story, Anderson said. I hope to continue living many great years ahead and enjoying my free time. Its been quite a run and Im very honored to be able to have the opportunity to do that work.

In photos and video: Sanders Park inducted into national network Nick Sanchez Hikers examine a fallen tree Nick Sanchez Julie Anderson Group photo Shake hands Nick Sanchez speaks Julie Anderson speaks Group photo showcasing the forest Looking up Pointing out cut tree Invasive species Watch now: Opening remarks to Old-Growth Forest Network induction ceremony Watch now: Nick Sanchez explains structural diversity of Sanders Park Hardwoods State Natural Area Watch now: Nick Sanchez explains what old growth means and what to look for Watch now: Nick Sanchez explains the process of inducting a forest into the network and why Sanders Park was chosen Watch now: Nick Sanchez explains how to tell a brief history of a forest or tree Watch now: Nick Sanchez goes over the dangers of invasive species
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

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Its been a while since a storefront Chicago theater put on one of its most enduring pleasures: an exciting first play from a young Chicago writer.

But thats what youll find from the hugely talented Tuckie White at the intimate Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, which has developed its latest show in-house. White, also a Chicago actor, has penned some prospective stuff for YouTube and the like. But as far as I know, shed never written for the theater until Motherhouse, a zesty, offbeat, energetic and intergenerational portrait of women in grief.

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The funny 90-minute play relies on a hoary device: a group of relatives gathering for a funeral and then both loving and beating each other up. As all fans of Succession well know, reactions to death offer great opportunities for playwrights to craft scenes about people dropping their usual barriers and exposing their inner cores. While Ive seen this scenario many times before in plays, White still manages to make it feel fresh.

And, frankly, theres enough wit, complexity and richness of dramatic character on display here to make you look forward to what this writer might do in a more original scenario. The plays rich and linguistically complex sense of dark humor kept putting me in mind of a Chicago playwright from the early aughts named Marisa Wegrzyn, who went on to make good in TV.

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Heres the Motherhouse setup: The central character and authorial voice is Annie (Jessica Ervin), a young woman preparing to eulogize her mother. But the dead mom had four sisters, all of whom show up in her kitchen: Weezie (Meighan Gerachis), an eccentric in combat attire; Lizzie (Tara Mallen), a sweet soul; the pugnacious Tucker (Mary Cross); and complex Barbie, Jane Baxter Miller. All four aunts are played by skilled longtime Rivendell ensemble members who know how to add veracity and heart to a new play. The director, Azar Kazemi, has injected pace and vivacity into the proceedings.

Mary Cross and Jessica Ervin in "Motherhouse" by Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. (Michael Brosilow / HANDOUT)

Annies relationship with her mother was complicated, to say the least (She wasnt careful with you, one of the aunts observes), and yet the deceased is very much present in the play. White keeps you guessing as to how much the aunts are helping, or hurting, a young woman struggling with both grief and her own past. At times, the play feels like a critical exploration of the damage wrought by bad parenting, at other moments a look at mental health and, at still others, an affirmation of the power of family to overcome almost anything.

The main weakness of Motherhouse, to my mind, is that it doesnt fully establish its own normal, which always helps with a play where things get stranger and stranger as the dramatic action unspools. Id argue in the early scenes with Annie and Weezie that things could root themselves more firmly in everyday truth. Its crucial to believe in some kind of reality before the absurd takes over. The audience needs a root.

That said, the show still roars with life throughout: theres a sense of pent-up energy and a kind of raw, vulnerable intensity that, frankly, Ive not seen for a good long while. Risks are taken here. You wont be bored for a moment and Ervin, who plays Annie, just gets better and better as the show progresses.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

Review: Motherhouse (3 stars)

When: Through May 7

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Where: Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave.

Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Tickets: $39 at 773-334-7728 and rivendelltheatre.org
Killeen, TX (76540)

Today

Showers early then scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 71F. 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 61F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
HEARTWELL  When he was small, Zander Mais and his friends shot cans with BB guns and pellet guns. Carefully. Safely.

Wed shoot cans, but only outside of town, in a safe direction. We always made sure that there was nothing in the way and that we did it safely, he said.

As he grew older, Mais began learning about firearms, especially those invented during World War II. World War II history is about innovation. There were so many new inventions in a short period of time, he said.

Now, 19-year-old Mais is studying to become a gunsmith, which is the art of customizing, cleaning and repairing firearms. I just fell in love with working on guns, he said.

He is an apprentice for Michael Valenzuela, owner of Sappa Creek Gunsmithing in Alma.

He works with lathes, drill presses, horizontal band saws, sanders, grinding wheels, a bench lathe and a drill and mill machine. Some repairs can be done in an hour while other projects might take many months.

Mais' hours there are 2-7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, but he often stays later to finish a project.

A 2022 Kenesaw High School graduate, Mais met Valenzuela last August at a Grand Island gun shop when he went with his parents, Alan and Gail, to get a firearm repaired.

We were talking, and Mike showed us how he fixed the gun. I kind of fell in love with gunsmithing then, Mais said. He also has a fascination for World War II firearms and a deep interest in the history of that era.

Valenzuela was so impressed with Mais knowledge of firearms that he offered him an apprenticeship last fall.

Mais also began browsing the internet and YouTube and registered for an online course in gunsmithing offered by Sonoran Desert Institute in Tucson. He expects to complete it and become a certified gunsmith within two years.

His apprenticeship here gives him valuable hands-on experience to bolster what he's learning online.

Valenzuela described his shop as a mixed bag that covers the whole gamut of gunsmithing, from repair and cleaning to customizing firearms, including painting and adding scopes and other accessories.

We do everything from general repairs to full refurbishments. We rebarrel rifles. They get old and wear out just like cars, he said.

His customers bring in between four to 15 firearms in one month  and even more as hunting season approaches.

Mais has become familiar with the machinery. His tasks might include adjusting the trigger spring in a rifle to make the trigger require a sturdier squeeze.

One past customer damaged his gun during a fall. It is being repaired.

Valenzuela moved his shop from Orleans to Alma last month. For many years, he did gunsmithing on the side at home and planned to do that after he retired, but when his full-time job ended during the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to move into full-time gunsmithing.

Mais expects to do gunsmithing as a profession, too. He would like to focus on World War II guns and hopes to build his own gun someday.

Firearms just caught my eye, and so many firearms were introduced in World War II. Theres so much history to World War II. Its something so many Americans were involved in. I wanted to learn more, he said.

World War II has personal relevance, too. Mais late grandfather handled clean-up duties in France with the U.S. Army after D-Day. Mais uncle still has his grandfathers uniform. Mais hopes to wear it in a Veterans Day parade this November.

He is also interested in being a World War II re-enactor. Right now, he attends such events as a spectator.

At Kenesaw High School, Mais was on the wrestling team, played in the marching band and sang in the choir. He has volunteered at Methodist Churchs East Lawn Food Pantry and at the Knights of Columbus Lenten fish fries.

Valenzuela said that hiring Mais was one of the best decisions I ever made. Zander has the drive to do this. You have to have a passion for this, and you need attention to detail, which Zander has.

He added, Hes trading his time for my help, and hes getting education and experience.

When Mais earns his certification, Valenzuela plans to make him a partner in the business. He will have his own area in Sappa Creek Gunsmithing, where he can work on customers firearms.

Mais said he is fortunate to be getting valuable hands-on experience with Valenzuela. I am learning a lot, and Im learning hands-on. I expect to stay here until life takes me down another path, he said.
This photo provided by Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo's office shows Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, right, greeting Kim in front of his office in Lisbon, Sept. 13, 2022. Yonhap



Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa plans to visit Korea this week for talks with his counterpart, Han Duck-soo, Han's office said Monday.



Costa will become Portugal's first prime minister to make an official trip here in 39 years.



He is scheduled to arrive in Seoul on Tuesday and hold talks with Han the following day. During his two-day stay in Seoul, he will also attend a Korea-Portugal business forum and visit a major local firm.



Having forged diplomatic relations in 1961, the two sides have been expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, including economy, trade, digital and renewable energy, with his upcoming visit expected to serve as a chance for further deepening their partnerships, according to Han's office. (Yonhap)


Two police officers were shot to death during a routine traffic stop in Cameron on Saturday, authorities say. Gunfire erupted after an officer from the Chetek Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the village of Cameron around 3.38pm local time, according to a statement from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
CAMERON  Police officers and family members from Chetek and Cameron gathered early Monday to pay their respects as the bodies of their fallen colleagues were transported from Barron County to Minnesota for autopsies.

On Saturday, Chetek Police Department officer Emily Breidenbach and Cameron Police Department officer Hunter Scheel were killed during a traffic stop that escalated into a shootout.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, which is investigating the incident, identified the driver of the vehicle as Glenn D. Perry, 50. Perry was transported from the scene by ambulance to a hospital where he later died.

The bodies of Breidenbach and Sheel were taken to Minnesota for autopsies as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.

Camryn Gosdeck shared on Facebook: It is with a heavy heart to share that my love, my soulmate, and my best friend made the ultimate sacrifice doing exactly what he was meant to do, help others. Hunter Timothy Scheel meant so much to so many people and left anyone he encountered with a laugh and a smile.

Gosdeck said Scheel also served in the Army National Guard and volunteered to serve in Afghanistan.

I am absolutely heartbroken and never knew I could feel such an immense pain as having my other half ripped from me. My heart hurts for him, for his family and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him, Gosdeck said. Please keep Hunter and the Chetek officer and their families in your thoughts and prayers. Please thank your first responders and veterans when you see them. Please hug your loved ones tight. And please show kindness in every encounter you have.

Emily Breidenbach was engaged to be married and was the daughter of former Chetek Police Chief Robert Breidenbach. Chetek Police Chief Ron Ambrozaitis said Breidenbach was the departments K9 therapy dog handler and had been with the force since 2019.

Our love and condolences go out to both families and all those with whom they served, Ambrozaitis said. We, as a law enforcement family, will do everything possible to continue to provide support and comfort to Hunter and Emilys families. They will be missed by everyone.

Many in Pardeeville may remember former Police Chief Robert Breidenbach, the Pardeeville Fire Department wrote on Facebook. Our thoughts are with the Breidenbach family, the family of the other fallen officer involved, and all of our law enforcement brothers and sisters who put it all on the line everyday they wear the uniform.

Emily Ann Ive known you since you were ten when my pops (Tim) married your mom. You have always been a shining beckon of light, Karen Yonke posted on Facebook. You have always lived life with such adventure and treated everyone around you with dignity and respect. From the silly vibrant 10-year-old to the girl who made a stand in high school to shave her head to the beautiful woman you were. You will be remembered and thought of daily. Every time I hear a bike pass my house I will remember. Mama Sue and all who know Emily, I am truly sorry for all of our loss.

Authorities said Perry, the suspect in the vehicle, had a warrant for his arrest and police had received a report about concerning behavior. According to online court records, he had a limited criminal history. He was convicted of two misdemeanor cases from 2020 in Barron County involving disorderly conduct. His most recent address was listed as New Auburn.

According to a DOJ press release, at 3:38 p.m. Saturday, Breidenbach stopped a vehicle in the village of Cameron and gunfire was exchanged. Breidenbach and Scheel both were hit by gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect from the incident was taken to a hospital, where they later died.

The location of the shooting on County Highway SS is the main road between Cameron and Chetek.

DCI is leading the investigation and is assisted by the Barron County Sheriffs Office, Rusk County Sheriffs Office, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin State Crime Lab.

DCI will provide reports to the Barron County district attorney for review at the conclusion of its investigation.

IN PHOTOS: Cameron and Chetek mourn the loss of two police officers Cameron scene 2 Cameron scene 1 Cameron scene 3 Cameron scene 4 Chetek Police Department 1 Chetek Police Department 2 Chetek Police Department 3 Memorial Chetek Police Department Barron County Sheriff vehicle Memorial Chetek Police Department 2 Cameron water tower
Former President Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his legal team in a Manhattan court, April 4, 2023, in New York. (Seth Wenig/AP)

NEW YORK  Legally, the most important words former President Donald Trump said after he was charged with 34 felonies by the Manhattan District Attorney last week were not guilty. But, politically, the most significant may be election interference.

Trumps repetition of those words, which have been taken up by other top Republicans, show how he is trying to turn his historic position as the first former president charged with crimes to his advantage. Its another example of whats been a consistent refrain throughout his political career  claiming without evidence that an election is being rigged against him.

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After his initial court appearance in the New York case, the first of several in which he is in legal jeopardy, Trump ticked through the varied investigations he was facing and branded them as massive attempts to interfere with the 2024 election.

Our justice system has become lawless, Trump said as he appeared before supporters at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. Theyre using it now, in addition to everything else, to win elections.

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Trump has made some version of those claims in at least 20 social media posts since March 3, the bulk of which occurred in the last two weeks, accelerating when a Manhattan grand jury appeared to be wrapping up its work and preparing to indict the former president. Trump declared his latest bid for the White House shortly after the November midterms, in what some in his orbit saw as an effort to head off the various probes swirling around him.

Alleging an election is being stolen from him is a routine Trump tactic, despite no evidence to back up his assertions. When competing for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016, Trump claimed his loss in the Iowa caucuses was due to fraud. When he won the White House that November but lost the popular vote, Trump claimed the only reason for falling short in the latter category was because undocumented immigrants voted. A task force he formed to find voter fraud disbanded without finding any evidence to back up his claim.

In 2020, Trump began arguing the election would be fraudulent months before voting started. He attacked efforts to loosen restrictions on mail voting during the coronavirus pandemic, and expanded those allegations after losing the election to claim hed actually won it. Those lies led to the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Federal and state election officials and Trumps own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence the 2020 election was tainted. The former presidents allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges Trump appointed.

Trump is behaving like a politician in the legal crosshairs, said Steven Levitsky, a Harvard political scientist.

Hes certainly not the first politician to be prosecuted  sometimes fairly, sometimes not  to play the political victim card, Levitsky said.

Levitsky, who cowrote the book How Democracies Die, said that several former presidents of other countries, when prosecuted, have claimed it was a plot to foil their future elections. Most recently, that was the complaint of Brazils former president Luis Inacio Lula Da Silva after he was jailed before the 2018 election. Silva was freed by his countrys supreme court and won back the presidency in October.

Whats notable in Trumps case, however, is that his own party is echoing the stolen election claims ahead of the next campaign. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last month said he was directing his partys committee chairs to investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions.

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That a whole party is carrying this line is somewhat unusual, Levitsky said.

Last weeks charges in New York court stemmed from Trumps reimbursements to his lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen, of hush money paid in the waning days of the 2016 presidential election to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who alleged they had an affair. Even some critics of Trump have seen the charges as a stretch of New York laws.

The heart of the Manhattan case is prosecutors claim that Trump falsified business records at his company to make the payoff in order to keep a potentially damaging story quiet while he was campaigning  an illegal attempt by Trump, they argued, to try to influence the election.

The former president also faces legal jeopardy from other investigations, two of which are related to his attempts to try to interfere with the 2020 election.

Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, are probing Trumps January 2021 call to the states top elections officer asking him to find enough votes to declare Trump the winner there. The U.S. Justice Department also has launched a federal special counsel probe into Trumps attempts to try to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election.

Trump is also enmeshed in a federal special counsel investigation of his handling of classified documents found at his Florida estate.

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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, when asked at a news conference on Tuesday whether the timing of the case was political, responded by saying: I bring cases when theyre ready.

Braggs office declined to comment on Trumps statements about election interference, as did the Department of Justice.

Critics warn that Trump is, once again, sowing suspicions of fraud that could damage democracy. Weve seen this film before, Joanna Lydgate, chief executive officer of States United Action, which tracks politicians who embrace Trumps election lies, said in a statement. We know this is dangerous because we all saw what happened on January 6th.

Trump has routinely waved off such warnings, and has seamlessly integrated his current legal jeopardy into the false allegations hes made for three years about Democratic Party wrongdoing leading to his ouster.

In his first campaign rally, in Waco, Texas, days before the Manhattan indictment, Trump railed against all the investigations and said that his opponents were using the probes because its harder for them to stuff the ballot boxes, of which they stuffed plenty.

The new weapon being used by out-of-control unhinged Democrats to cheat on election is criminally investigating a candidate, he said.

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Trump and other Republicans have sometimes contradicted themselves, decrying the investigations as an attempt to tarnish Trump while also predicting theyll aid his bid for the White House.

I think youll see his poll numbers go up, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., one of the presidents most vocal backers in the House, predicated at a GOP conference last month. Hes never been in a stronger position. She condemned the charges last week as unprecedented election interference.

Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs for Common Cause, which has long been critical of Trumps allegations of election rigging, noted that all the investigations of the former president began well before he started running for president again.

Nobody is above the law, including former presidents, and running for president cannot and must not serve as a shield for wrongful conduct, Scherb said.

Riccardi reported from Denver. Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri in Washington contributed to this report.
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Several state representatives from La Crosse have asked Delta Air Lines to provide more details about its plan to suspend flights from La Crosse to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.

Local representatives Jill Billings, D-La Crosse; Brad Pfaff, D-Onalaska; and Steve Doyle, D-Onalaska, wrote an open letter to the airline with questions regarding when service might return and how the company plans to assist employees.

Earlier this month, Delta Air Lines announced it would suspend its daily flights from La Crosse starting June 4.

The decision by Delta stems from ongoing staffing shortages in the airline industry. Prior to the suspension, Delta offered two flights per day to and from Minneapolis.

The La Crosse Regional Airport is a vital hub of transportation for the La Crosse community and western Wisconsin, the letter states. Delta Air Lines has been a reliable airline carrier for our region, and the business community has depended on Deltas service for connections to markets around the country and world.

The state legislators said residents appreciate the convenience of Deltas local services and were concerned about the suspension of flights. The legislators also asked whether the decision was temporary and what the timeline would be for flights to resume.

In what ways can we and the state of Wisconsin assist in alleviating the pilot and staffing shortage? the letter asks.
Q: How is air pollution measured?

A: There are different sources of air pollution, including human-generated emissions from the burning of fossil fuel, as well as natural sources such as wildfires, volcanic eruptions and dust storms.

Particle pollution is referred to particulate matter (PM) and is made up of small, suspended solid or liquid particles. The amount and density of pollutants in the air are converted into an Air Quality Index (AQI). An AQI of less than 50 is considered safe, while unhealthy conditions have an AQI above 100. The chemical composition of the pollutant can also be a health concern.

Some air quality monitors use lasers to determine the density of particulate matter. Other methods include passing air through filters and then measuring the material collected on the filter.

The Environment Protection Agency has a nationwide network of monitoring sites to measure conditions of particulate matter. PM2.5 describes fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller. Analysis of observations demonstrate that the average PM2.5 concentration has been decreasing nationally, an indication that air quality is improving.

Last week NASA launched a new satellite instrument to monitor air pollution. The Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution, or TEMPO, was launched into geostationary orbit on Thursday. TEMPO is the first space-based instrument to monitor major air pollutants hourly and at high spatial resolution of 4 square miles.

Observations of such temporal and spatial detail enable research studies of rush hour pollution, the movement of pollution from forest fires, and even the impact of fertilizer application. The TEMPO measurements will join a global satellite constellation of observations that will track pollution around the globe.

Scientists at UW-Madisons Space Science and Engineering Center are members of NASAs TEMPO science team and will monitor the presence of air pollutants over North America and help improve air quality forecasts.
The two police officers killed in a traffic stop shootout in northwestern Wisconsin on Saturday  including one whose career began in Stoughton  had stopped the gunmans vehicle because he had a warrant out for his arrest, the state Department of Justice said Monday.

Emily Breidenbach, 32, of the Chetek Police Department and Hunter Scheel, 23, of the Cameron Police Department, had pulled over the vehicle driven by Glenn Douglas Perry, 50, after they received a report of concerning behavior, DOJ said.

Gunfire ensued, leaving Breidenbach and Scheel dead. Perry was taken to a hospital and later died, DOJ said.

The reason for Perrys warrant was not immediately available in online court records. The New Auburn resident had pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and domestic abuse in May 2020, according to court records.

The Barron County District Attorneys Office, led by Brian Wright, asked the court to dismiss misdemeanor charges of battery and bail jumping against Perry at the time. Perry had no criminal history outside of Wisconsin, according to court records.

Since the slayings, theres been an outpouring of support for the officers and their families in Barron County and beyond.

Breidenbach was the daughter of former Chetek Police Chief Robert Breidenbach. She was the departments K9 therapy dog handler and had been with the force since 2019, Chetek Police Chief Ron Ambrozaitis said.

Our love and condolences go out to both families and all those with whom they served, Ambrozaitis said. We, as a law enforcement family, will do everything possible to continue to provide support and comfort to Hunter and Emilys families. They will be missed by everyone.

Breidenbach had been on Cheteks police force for about four years and previously spent nine months with the Stoughton Police Department.

Scheel had served as an officer for one year.

Kathy and I join the people of Wisconsin in offering our sincerest condolences to the loved ones, friends, and colleagues of Emily Breidenbach of the Chetek Police Department and Hunter Scheel of the Cameron Police Department, who were killed in the line of duty over the weekend. https://t.co/2HC7IjnV7w  Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) April 10, 2023

Gov. Tony Evers first identified Breidenbach and Scheel in a tweet on Monday.

The governor offered his condolences to their families and said he planned to sign executive orders lowering U.S. and Wisconsin flags in their honor once funeral arrangements have been made.

DOJs Division of Criminal Investigation is leading an investigation of the incident with assistance from the Barron County Sheriffs Office, Rusk County Sheriffs Office, the state Department of Natural Resources, State Patrol, State Crime Lab and a DCI crime response specialist. All involved law enforcement officials are fully cooperating with the investigation, DOJ said.

State Journal reporter Chris Rickert and Chippewa Herald reporter Audrey Korte contributed to this report.

Remembering the 1996 fire that destroyed Madison's Hotel Washington Hotel Washington before the fire Club de Wash before the fire Hotel Washington fire Hotel Washington fire Hotel Washington fire Hotel Washington fire Hotel Washington in ruins People watch Hotel Washington blaze Hotel Washington fire Hotel Washington fire Fighting the fire Extinguishing hot spot Friends embrace Freezing water Hotel Washington fire Barber's Closet fire damage Hotel Washington flowers Gutted hotel with flag Hotel Washington vigil Hotel Washington service Fire investigators Salvaging what they can Washington Hotel steps State Journal front page Feb. 19, 1996 State Journal coverage Feb. 19, 1996 State Journal coverage Feb. 19, 1996 Trumpf Hotel, 1906 Hotel Washington in 1935
CAMERON  A traffic stop on a northern Wisconsin highway descended into a bloody shootout Saturday afternoon that left two police officers and a suspect dead, authorities said.

An officer with the Chetek Police Department had pulled over a vehicle on Highway SS in nearby Cameron just before 3:40 p.m. when police and the motorist exchanged gunfire, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said. The Chetek officer and an officer with the Cameron Police Department died at the scene. Authorities took the gunman to a hospital, where they later died.

The DOJ's Division of Criminal Investigation, which is investigating the incident, did not return a request for comment.

Chetek City Council President Scott Bachowski said the city's officer was a four-year veteran of the force. He declined to confirm her name.

A member of the city's small four-person police department, the officer was "truly truly a wonderful woman, and someone the community and the kids in the community are really going to miss, Bachowski said.

The location of the shooting on County Highway SS is familiar to most local residents as the main road between Cameron and Chetek. Firefighters from the Cameron Area Fire District were at the scene Sunday spraying down the highway with water.

A makeshift memorial with flowers and a candle had been set up Sunday in a snow bank at the Chetek Police Department.

Residents said the officers were well-loved and will be missed.

They were just too young. Great people, said Ashley Elledge from Cameron. A lot of people in this area are very heartbroken.

The Barron County Sheriffs Department shared its condolences as well.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Cameron and Chetek Police Departments," the Barron County Sheriff's Department said on Facebook.

Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald did not return a request for comment.

Other state leaders shared support and sympathy for the slain officers and the community.

"Our hearts are heavy for the Chetek and Cameron police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty yesterday. Kathy and I are praying for the officers families, colleagues, and the Barron County community mourning this tragic loss," Gov. Tony Evers wrote on Twitter Sunday.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a tweet late Saturday: "I am thinking of their families and the Chetek and Cameron Police Departments at this incredibly difficult time."

Upon finishing its investigation, the DOJ will turn over its findings to the Barron County District Attorney's Office.

The cities with the most break-ins and burglaries Cities With the Most Break-Ins / Burglaries Over the past decade burglary and larceny rates have declined Daytime break-ins of homes are most common Southern states experience the most property crime Small and midsize cities with the most burglaries 15. Dallas, TX 14. Houston, TX 13. Las Vegas, NV 12. Columbus, OH 11. Minneapolis, MN 10. Milwaukee, WI 9. Wichita, KS 8. Kansas City, MO 7. Oklahoma City, OK 6. Bakersfield, CA 5. Seattle, WA 4. Baltimore, MD 3. Detroit, MI 2. Tulsa, OK 1. Memphis, TN
MILWAUKEE (AP)  A landlord has been ordered to pay $1.35 million for a fire that killed two people in Milwaukee in 2019, a newspaper reported.

Will Sherard has shown a reckless disregard for the condition of his properties, Milwaukee County Judge William Sosnay said in a March 31 decision.

The fire began in wiring behind walls. Clarence Murrell Jr., 60, and Patricia Colston, 53, died.

The lawsuit was filed by Murrell's adult children, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday.

The newspaper said the financial award was a rare step in a Milwaukee housing case. Sherard hasn't talked publicly about the lawsuit.

We are sending a message to all predatory landlords that our community will no longer tolerate unsafe and substandard housing. The lives of people you rent to matter, said attorney Justin Padway, who represents Murrell's family.

In 2021, the Journal Sentinel found electrical fires hit Black renters in distressed neighborhoods the hardest. The newspaper's work was recognized as a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  A mother accused in the triple murder of her two youngest children as well as her new husband's previous wife was willing to remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants, a prosecutor told jurors Monday morning.

The defendant used money, power and sex to get what she wanted," Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake said. "It didnt matter what it was.

Prosecutors charged Lori Vallow Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, with multiple counts of conspiracy, murder and grand theft in connection with the deaths of Vallow Daybells two youngest children: 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow and big sister Tylee Ryan, who was last seen a few days before her 17th birthday in 2019. Prosecutors also charged the couple in connection with the October 2019 death of Chad Daybells late wife, Tammy Daybell.

Both defendants have pleaded not guilty, but are being tried separately. Chad Daybell's trial is still months away. Vallow Daybell faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The children were missing for months before their remains were found buried in Chad Daybell's eastern Idaho yard, Blake told jurors.

Charred remains, that's what was left of Tylee, the prosecutor said, showing jurors a photo of human remains partially uncovered in a patch of dirt. You will hear it explained as a mass of bone and tissue. That's what was left of this beautiful young woman.

Tylees DNA was later found on a pickaxe and shovel in a shed on the property, she said.

JJ's body was wrapped in trash bags and duct tape, Blake said  the tape binding his arms in front of him and wrapping around his head.

The kids and Chad Daybell's previous wife Tammy Daybell were all killed because they stood in the way of the couple's relationship, Blake said.

Remember, the defendant will remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants, and she wanted Chad Daybell, Blake said.

Defense attorney Jim Archibald presented jurors with a far different picture, describing Vallow Daybell as a kind and loving mother to her children who happened to have a particular interest in religion and Biblical prophesies involving the end of the world.

Some people care less about Biblical prophesies, some people care a lot about it, Archibald said. Thankfully in this country, we get to worship as we choose.

Vallow Daybell is presumed innocent, Archibald reminded jurors, and said the criminal charges themselves  which accuse Vallow Daybell of either directing, encouraging, assisting or participating in the murders  show that prosecutors don't really know what happened in the case.

Did she kill, or did she assist, or did she encourage, or did she direct? They arent sure, Archibald said.

Archibald also said Vallow Daybell's religious beliefs only began to change after she met Chad Daybell, a religious author whose fictional books focused on the apocalypse and were loosely based on the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But Blake said those beliefs veered toward the extreme, with the couple saying people were dark or light, telling friends and acquaintances that dark" people had been taken over by evil spirits. They eventually began teaching friends that once those evil spirits were strong enough, the person became a zombie, and the only way to free that person's soul was by killing them.

Friends of Vallow Daybell will testify that she said the children and Tammy Daybell were dark before their deaths, Blake said. At least one friend told police that Vallow Daybell called both children zombies before they disappeared, according to police records.

The common theme was the body has to be destroyed," Blake said. "The defendant and Chad used their self-proclaimed religious teachings to justify their actions to others  their actions from affair to murder.

JJ Vallow's grandmother, Kay Woodcock, was the first witness to take the stand after opening arguments. She cried after Madison County prosecutor Rob Wood showed her a photo of JJ.

Woodcock said Vallow Daybell was once a doting mother," but her opinion of the defendant changed after Charles Vallow filed for divorce in early 2019. After Charles Vallow died, once-regular phone calls and visits with JJ dropped off, she said.

She only had contact with JJ three times after his father died, Woodcock said, in short FaceTime video calls. The last call happened the month before JJ was last seen alive, she said. It only was about 35 seconds long.

He just said, Hi Mama, hi Papa, Woodcock said, referring to JJ's nicknames for his grandparents. 'Gotta go, Mama. Gotta go, Papa. Bye!'

Woodcock eventually contacted authorities and asked them to do a welfare check on JJ, prompting Rexburg Police to open a missing persons case in November 2019. During that period, police say the couple lied about the childrens whereabouts.

Prosecutors say the couple planned to use life insurance money from Tammy Daybells death, and that Vallow Daybell kept collecting and spending the childrens social security and survivor benefits after they died. Tylees father died after he and Vallow Daybell divorced years earlier. JJs father Charles Vallow  who Vallow Daybell was married to when she met Chad Daybell  was fatally shot by Vallow Daybells brother, Alex Cox.

Vallow Daybell is charged in Arizona in connection with Charles Vallows death, but yet to enter a plea. Cox, who told police the shooting was in self-defense, died a few months after the shooting and was never charged.

The couple married two weeks after Chad Daybells previous wife died unexpectedly. An autopsy showed that Tammy Daybell was killed by asphyxiation, Blake said.

The couple had eliminated any and every obstacle that was in their way of getting exactly what they wanted, she said.

It may not have been the first attempt on Tammy Daybell's life: Ten days earlier, she had called police to report that a masked man approached her in her driveway and shot at her a couple of times before running away.

Later that night, someone overheard a phone call between Vallow Daybell, who was angry, and another person, Blake said.

She made statements along the line of, he cant do anything right,' the prosecutor told jurors.

Another witness testified that he was also the target of a shooting in October 2019. Brandon Boudreaux was formerly married to Vallow Daybell's niece, Melani Pawlowski.

Pawlowski looked up to Vallow Daybell, Boudreaux said, and the women began attending religious meetings together. Pawlowski grew increasingly religious, he said, fixated on the idea that the world was about to end.

The two divorced in 2019. Boudreaux said he was driving to his new rental home when someone parked in a Jeep Wrangler near his driveway shot at him, the bullet shattering his car window. Boudreaux said he recognized the Jeep as one that had belonged to Tylee.
Gummies. Smokables. And now, seltzers. All within Minnesota's regulated amount of THC.

Those are just a few examples of the handmade products sold at The Rippled Leaf in downtown Winona.

The Rippled Leaf Address: 72 E. Third St., Winona Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday-Tuesday Information: www.rippledleaffarms.com

After walking along Third Street in 2022, smelling the fresh pastries slipping out of the door to Blooming Grounds and wishing they could open a shop near it, everything seemed to fall in place for founders Justin Johnson and his fiance Josie Johnson.

"We came down here for my birthday and we actually saw the shop (vacant)," Johnson said. "It was that day we called."

Justin and Josie, along with co-founders Harry Penner and Ryne Ryshavy, opened the store in March 2022 and recently celebrated their one-year anniversary. After growing their hemp farm about an hour from Duluth, the group decided to move.

"In Winona, we have the bluffs, the river," Justin said. "Josie and I wanted to live somewhere we feel happy to be every morning."

Growing up, Justin was drawn to the outdoors because of his father. His dad was active as a biker and loved to hike, but when he was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2004, he was unable to partake in those activities. He encountered cannabis in 2012, and while he wasn't back to 100%, his pain had reduced immensely.

"My dad had a really unique relationship with the environment," Justin said. "Seeing that and then having his sickness get in the way of his experiences and then seeing cannabis open the door back to that, at a young age, I really had a lot of faith in this plan."

Justin expressed that in addition to his dad's experience with it, he chose to specialize with cannabis for its environmental benefits.

"Cannabis does a ton for the environment," Justin said. "It takes up a lot of carbon, it also helps cleanse and restore growth in the soil, and there's endless uses for it."

After college, Justin's plans fell into action. He and his team built everything by hand, including the 10,000 square feet worth of greenhouse they own. Because of their tremendous amount of manpower being put in, convincing investors that this was a good idea was easy.

On a day-to-day basis, Justin described the work done on the farm as very different from the work they do in the shop.

"The farm was just a ton of challenges getting thrown at you and trying to figure out exactly how to do it," Justin said. "In the store, it definitely makes it better to have personal relationships in the shop; you get people that come in and talk for 45 minutes."

After the work is done at both locations, Justin's favorite part is taking a step back.

"One the work is done, you just put it on the shelf and admire it," Justin said.

One thing that's been surprising in their line of work is the type of customers they see walk in the door.

"We thought it was going to be all college kids coming in, but that wasn't the case at all," Justin said. "A lot of our THC users are going to be above 25, and a lot of people in their 60s and 70s for pain."

Since marijuana is not legal for recreational use in Minnesota, the group ensures to check with their lawyers often and look through requirements and regulations before making any final decisions. According to the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Minnesota allows consumers age 21 and older to purchase edible products that contain THC derived from hemp, but products must contain no more than 5 milligrams of THC per serving, with a maximum of 50 mg of THC allowed per package.

"We go to so many different sources to see what is actually legal because we want to play by the rules," Justin said. "Then you get these grey areas and there is competition  that's willing to break the rules. It is the strangest business to be in."

Justin is hopeful for changes in the industry moving forward and looks to have a plan for every potential outcome.

Although Justin advocates for sustainable and accessible cannabis, he wasn't shy about mentioning potential negative effects.

"Cannabis can be abused," Justin said. "People have their limits and they need to find that for themselves; it's not harmless."

One of the more recent projects the store did was a partnership with Island City Brewing Co. to produce a THC-infused seltzer.

"We just did drinks with Island City, and I'm so excited to work with them more," Justin said.

Beyond that, Justin is brewing up some other dreams for the future.

"I someday would love to open up opportunities in communities like a hemp mill," Johnson said. "I would love to someday see the Mississippi lined with hemp."

The Rippled Leaf will sponsor an Earth Day cleanup April 22 on Garvin Heights Bluff.

Johnson showed excitement for the cleanup and his journey thus far.

"It was fun to get into something where you felt like you could make a change," Justin said. "And then have an industry that is just booming now."
Vietnamese President departs Hanoi for official visit to Laos

President Vo Van Thuong left Hanoi on April 10 morning for an official visit to Laos at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.









President Vo Van Thuong President leaves Hanoi for an official visit to Laos
A dispute over a ride-share driver being stiffed on a fare led to a scuffle with the rider that ended with a volley of gunfire Saturday night inside a South Loop movie theater, prosecutors told a Cook County judge on Sunday.

No one was injured when at least seven shots were fired inside the popular ShowPlace ICON Theatre at 1011 S. Delano Court around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to authorities.

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Babacar Mbengue, 35, of the citys Oakland neighborhood on the South Side, faces charges of reckless discharge of a firearm at the theater. A 16-year-old was charged as a juvenile with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by someone under 21, according to police and court records.

As many as 700 people were inside the theater at the time of the shooting, prosecutors told Judge Maryam Ahmad during a bail hearing broadcast on YouTube.

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The incident began with Mbengue dropping off the teenager and two female companions at the theater after the teen promised to pay him cash for an additional ride to the theater, Assistant States Attorney Sarah Dale-Schmidt told the court.

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 >

When they arrived, the teen hopped out of the vehicle without paying, followed by his companions. Mbengue followed the group into the theater and grappled with the teen, Dale-Schmidt said. During the scuffle, a loaded 9 mm handgun with an extended magazine fell from the teens pocket and the pair struggled to get the weapon, she added.

Mbengue then picked up the weapon and fired several rounds into the floor at the theater as chaos erupted, Dale-Schmidt said. Two security officers witnessed the struggle and detained Mbengue and the teen.

Video surveillance inside the theater captured Mbengue chase after the teen and the tussle but not the shooting, Dale-Schmidt said.

Mbengues court-appointed attorney said his client was a married man expecting his first child with no criminal background, adding that his client had been the victim of a crime leading to the shooting.

But the judge lambasted Mbengues response to what she called a minor incident, saying it offered a grave threat to the public. The risk to the public is so substantial in this case, to fire a gun. Its illegal to say fire in a theater, let alone to shoot up a theater! Ahmad said in a hushed courtroom.

The court must weigh this for purposes of public safety  the lack of judgment here is so concerning to the court, the judge said in ordering Mbengue held on $35,000 bail. Ahmad did call for a future hearing to determine whether Mbengues bail could be lowered.

Court information for the teen, whose name was withheld because of his age, wasnt immediately available. Mbengue is scheduled to return to court next week.
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL MONDAY APRIL 10, 2023

Will Humanity Rise Again?

April 9, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)The recent dark age of mankind, a multi-decade era of wars and armed conflict, economic stagnation with respect to our potential, and of anti-human cultural decline, is coming to an end, one way or another: either through the fiery destruction of nuclear war, or through the coming into being of a new paradigm.

The world trend of drawing away from Anglo-American imperialism intensifies every day. The just-concluded visit to China of French President Emmanuel Macron reflects the growing sense of autonomy, of independence, of future-orientation taking hold. Macron spoke out strongly against contributing to a conflict over Taiwan. The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the U.S. agenda, he proclaimed. The New York Times quickly warned that Mr. Macron appeared to inch France closer to the Chinese view that the world is undergoing changes that havent happened in 100 years. 

What sort of changes? The Times worries that the liberal institutions of the postwar order are under assault from Beijing and Moscow, that push for a multipolar world, which the supposed newspaper of record claims is thinly disguised code for one that is not American dominated.

With such naked demands from its ostensibly leading newspaper that the world must forever be American dominated, is it any wonder that the U.S. is rapidly losing power, both diplomatically and economically?

In Africa, the U.S. is 0 for 54 in getting countries of the continent to join in sanctions against Russia. Chad just expelled the German ambassador for his impolite attitude and for interfering too much in the countrys internal affairs.

In Southwest Asia, the China-mediated Iran-Saudi rapprochement and the Russia-assisted potential thaw in Turkish-Syrian relations point to a future for the region without the conflicts that have so divided it over decades. The potential for an end to the Saudi Arabia-Yemen war is in sight. Syrias return to the Arab League, meeting in Riyadh in May, is expected. And all this is no thanks to the Anglo-American imperium.

In the economy, de-dollarization is not going to slow; even Macron warned of Europes dependence on the extraterritoriality of the U.S. dollar.

Easter marches in Germany are demanding peace negotiations in Ukraine. An upcoming doctors strike in the U.K. comes with demands for an improved health system. The people of France continue to stand up.

What can you do to cause the miracle of sanity to descend upon the United States, Britain and NATO?

Helga Zepp-LaRouches Ten Principles for a New International Security and Development Architecture serve as a guiding vision for a joyous future. Next weekend the Schiller Institute will assemble people from around the world to deliberate on the theme: Without the Development of All Nations, There Can Be No Lasting Peace for the Planet.

The danger of World War III and efforts to prevent it, the potential of the Global South to create conditions for peace will be addressed, as will the economic and philosophical foundations for a new paradigm of growth.
The American space agency NASA has chosen the astronaut crew that will carry out a planned test mission around the moon next year.

The trip is part of NASAs Artemis program, which aims to land the next Americans on the moon.

Four astronauts will take part in the flight, which NASA is officially calling Artemis II. Artemis II, planned for late 2024, will send the astronauts on NASAs Orion spacecraft on a 10-day trip around the moon. The aim of the mission is to test all Orions systems with human astronauts in place.

Last December, Orion completed another test flight with no astronauts on board. During that test mission, called Artemis I, the spacecraft traveled more than 2.2 million kilometers around the moon and back. After the flight, NASA reported the Orion spacecraft had performed above the agencys expectations.

If Artemis II is successful, a third mission, Artemis III, will be launched aiming to land astronauts on the surface of the moon. That effort  which NASA has said will include the first woman and person of color  is expected to take place in the coming years. It would be the first moon landing by astronauts since NASAs Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

In announcing its choices for Artemis II, NASA named the first woman and first African American to be included on a lunar mission.

One of the astronauts is Christina Koch, who will serve as Mission Specialist 1. She is a 44-year-old engineer who holds the record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a woman. She also took part in NASA's first three all-female spacewalks.

Koch will be joined by Victor Glover. He is a 46-year-old U.S. Navy pilot who has carried out four spacewalks. Glover, who will serve as the missions pilot, will be the first Black astronaut ever chosen for a moon mission.

Also, part of the crew will be 47-year-old Jeremy Hansen, a colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force, who will serve as Mission Specialist 2. Former U.S. Navy fighter pilot Reid Wiseman, also 47, will serve on Artemis II as the mission commander.

"The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people working tirelessly to bring us to the stars, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in announcing the choices. This is humanity's crew," he added.

Koch said to cheers from the crowd, Am I excited? Absolutely. But my real question is: Are you excited? she added.

The Canadian Space Agency got a seat on the flight because of its work with NASA on developing robotic arms and space station equipment. Hansen said he is thankful Canada is going to be part of the mission. We are going to the moon together. Lets go! he said.

Artemis II is expected to reach a point more than 370,000 kilometers away from Earth. The traditional low-Earth orbit of the International Space Station is about 400 kilometers above Earths surface.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters and NASA.

Quiz - NASA Announces Moon Mission Astronauts Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

mission  n. a flight by an aircraft or spacecraft to perform a specific task

on board adj. to be on a vehicle, especially a boat, airplane, or spaceship

absolutely expression a way to forcefully say, yes

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Early COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, long hours on his computer, and increased stress led U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Daniel Murillo to eat more. Then, places to work out were closed; organized exercise was out; and Murillos desire to work out on his own was low.

The uniform was tighter, said Murillo after gaining over 13 kilograms during the pandemic. I could notice it, he added.

Murillo was not the only U.S. soldier to deal with extra weight. New research says that the extra weight problem greatly increased in the U.S. military during the pandemic.

In the Army alone, almost 10,000 soldiers became heavily overweight, or obese, between February 2019 and June 2021. That is nearly 25 percent of the soldiers in the study. The Navy and the Marines also showed weight gains.

The Army and the other services need to focus on how to bring the forces back to fitness, said Tracey Perez Koehlmoos who led the research. She is the director of the Center for Health Services Research at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland.

National security problem

Overweight and obese troops are more likely to be injured and less likely to continue their physical work long term. Government research shows that the military loses more than 650,000 workdays yearly because of extra weight. And obesity-related health costs are more than $1.5 billion each year for current and former soldiers and their families.

Military leaders have been warning about the impact of obesity on the U.S. military for more than ten years. The pandemic effects show the need for urgent action, said retired Marine Corps Brigadier General Stephen Cheney, who co-wrote a recent report on the problem.

The numbers have not gotten better, Cheney said in a November online conference held by the American Security Project, a nonprofit organization. They are just getting worse and worse and worse.

Last year, the U.S. Army did not meet its goal of signing up new soldiers for the first time. Being overweight disqualifies more than 10 percent of people ages 17 to 24 who could enter the military.

Cheney said, It is devastating. And he called it a national security problem.

Extra weight can make it difficult for soldiers to meet the military fitness requirements. In the Army, if soldiers cannot pass the Army Combat Fitness Test, it could end their military careers.

The research

The researchers looked at nearly 200,000 soldiers from two periods: before the pandemic, from February 2019 to January 2020, and during the crisis, from September 2020 to June 2021.

They found that nearly 27 percent who were healthy before the pandemic became overweight. And nearly 16 percent of those who were previously overweight became obese. About 18 percent of the soldiers were obese before the pandemic. By 2021, it grew to 23 percent.

The researchers used a calculation of weight and height called BMI, or body mass index.

A person with a BMI of 18.5 to 25 is considered healthy, while a BMI of 25 to less than 30 is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. Some experts say the BMI measure is flawed. They say it does not consider muscle mass or other health conditions in its calculations. However, BMI remains a widely used tool.

In Sergeant Murillos case, his BMI during the pandemic reached nearly 32. He knew he needed help, so he started a strict exercise program through the Armys Holistic Health and Fitness, or H2F, program.

We do two runs a week, 6 and-a-half to 8 kilometers, Murillo said. Some mornings I wanted to quit, but I hung in there.

Now, his BMI is just over 27, which is within the Defense Departments standard.

Putting on extra weight during the pandemic was not just a military problem.

A study last year of American adults found that nearly half reported gaining weight after the first year of the COVID-19 emergency. Another study found a sharp rise in obesity among children.

The gains came in a country where more than 40 percent of adults and nearly 20 percent of children are obese, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Im Andrew Smith. And Im Jill Robbins.

Jonel Aleccia wrote this story for The Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

lockdown -n. a time period when people must stay at home because of a dangerous situation

focus -v. to direct ones attention and concentrate on something to the exclusion of other things

impact -n. the strong effect something has on another thing or person

disqualify -v. to officially stop someone from participating in an event, activity, or organization

devastating -adj. extremely upsetting and destructive

calculation -n. the process of working something out mathematically

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Changing sea levels are affecting freshwater in places like Chellanam, India.

In Chellanam, saltwater is moving inland into small bodies of fresh water, like ponds and wells, which the villages 600 families use for drinking, bathing and daily jobs. Chellanam is near the city of Kochi on the Arabian Sea on Indias southwestern coast.

The water around Chellanam became too salty to drink 60 years ago. It is now unusable even for cleaning clothes. Anthony Kuttappasseras family has lived in the same house near the coast for over 100 years. He grew up drinking water from a pond and a well outside of his home. Now the pond is almost dry, just like all of the other ones in Chellanam.

Mustapas're is now 73 years. He said when the pond was usable, there was no problem. They had everything they needed, but now they, are using packed water for everythingWe are surrounded by water, but we do not have any consumable water.

There are water pipes that bring fresh water, but they leak or break a lot. That means trucks must carry water to the village. Each truck load of water must be poured into containers and then carried by hand into the village. The most recent water outage lasted about a month.

Saltwater invasion of groundwater is a problem around the world. Wealthy countries can deal with the problem more easily, but developing nations, like India, have problems.

Scientists say that ocean levels around the world are rising. They say changing ocean patterns, extreme storms, and too much water use, add to the salinity problem in the Kochi area. This combines with limited freshwater in Indian to create a bigger problem. The United Nations childrens agency, UNICEF, said less than half of Indias population has clean drinking water.

S. Sreekesh is a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He studied sea level rise in the Kochi area using measurements of tides, satellite data and other information. He said the sea level is rising at a rate of 1.8 millimeters a year.

Bijoy Nandan is the dean of marine sciences at Cochin University of Science and Technology. He said that salinity has increased by over 30 percent since the first water studies of the area in 1971.

"People are suffering because the aquifers are getting salinized," he said.

Maryamma Pillai is 82 years old. Sometimes she needs to buy water. It costs her almost $0.50 for five liters. She has no water at home, and it is hard for her to carry back from the government trucks.

Pillai said that every year gets worse as the summers become hotter.

"This was not the case earlier when we used to know how to plan for (each) season with more water availability but now everything is unknown, unpredictable and unreliable," she said.

Other people travel by boat to other neighborhoods to get water because they live too far from the main road. Karni Kumar used a wooden boat to go to Alappuzha, a neighboring city, to get fresh water. But many other Chellanam villagers also go there causing high demand for water supplies, long waits and even conflicts with people in Alappuzha.

The Reverend John Kalathil is a leader of the St. George Church in South Chellanam. He said that residents have to pay $1.21 to $2.42, per day for their water. This is around 15 percent of their daily income.

Most income-earners at his church are fisherman. They love the sea and have a deep connection with it.

"They call it Kadalamma, which means they look at (the) sea as their mother, Reverend Kalathil said, But the situation is very terrible for them because of climate change, weather, change in sea and water sources."

Im Faith Pirlo.

Uzmi Athar wrote this story for the press Trust of India and The Associated Press. Faith Pirlo adapted this story for Learning English.

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Words in This Story

pond n. a small body of water

well  n. a source of ground water for drinking

consumable adj. able to be eaten or drank

outage  n. a period of failure or interruption of use

pattern  n. a happening that takes place regularly in a predictable way

salinity  n. the salt content of water

tide  v. the natural rising and falling of the surface of the ocean and of large water bodies

aquifers  n. a water-bearing layer of rock, sand, or gravel underneath the ground

unreliable  adj. not dependable

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A humanitarian group called Save Ukraine is working to bring Ukrainian children home from Russia.

Ukraine says nearly 20,000 children were illegally taken into Russia during the war that started in February 2022.

The group has carried out five missions so far. This past week the group returned 31 children to Ukraine.

Ukraine says Russia is abducting children from Russian-controlled parts of the country. Russia says that is false. It says the children have been taken from dangerous areas for their safety.

Mykola Kuleba is the founder of Save Ukraine and is an official with the office of Ukraines president. He said the recent mission was special because of the number of children they brought home and its complexity.

Save Ukraine said it helped relatives plan the trip to Russia so they could find their children and bring them home. One woman died on the trip. She was supposed to bring her two grandchildren home. So, they were forced to remain in Russia.

Three children who were rescued on an earlier mission talked with reporters recently in Kyiv. The two boys and one girl said their parents were told they were being taken to a summer camp in Russia and would be home in two weeks.

Instead, they were away from home for four to six months and moved many times.

One boy named Vitaly said he was from the Kherson area. We were treated like animals. We were closed in a separate building, he said.

Kuleba said some children say they were living with rats and cockroaches.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and its childrens rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova. They are charged with abducting children from Ukraine.

Russia said moving the children was for their protection. In addition, Russia rejected the ICCs arrest warrant, saying it does not recognize the court.

Lvova-Belova recently said the work to move children out of Ukraine was on humanitarian grounds. She said they only moved the children after getting permission from their parents.

An aid organization in Ukraine is seeking to find a way to punish Russia for not returning the children sooner.

Kateryna Rashevska is a lawyer for a Ukrainian group called the Regional Center for Human Rights. She said her group was trying to build a case against Russian leaders who prevented the children from going back to Ukraine.

"In every story there is a whole range of international violations, and it cannot go unpunished," she said.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by Reuters.

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Words in This Story

mission n. a special task or job given to a person or group; a military or naval task

abduct v. to take someone away by force

warrant n. a court order that gives police the power to do something under the law

range n. a group of different things that have a similarity in common

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LINCOLN  Nearly 1,100 youth members and adult sponsors gathered for the Nebraska Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) State Leadership Conference held April 2-4, 2023 at Pinnacle Bank Arena and the Haymarket area in Lincoln.

This conference provided students opportunities to hear from the keynote speaker, participate in breakout sessions, compete in STAR Events, be recognized for their work throughout the year, and elect the 2023-2024 State Officer Team. Nine students from the Cozad Chapter attended this years conference.

Students began their conference leadership journey on Sunday, April 2, with the Opening General Session led by the 2022-2023 State Officer Team. During this time, members also heard from keynote speaker, Melvin Adams, a former Harlem Globetrotter. He retired to follow his dream to challenge individuals to succeed through focus, work and determination. With lots of humor, he did just that by inspiring members to fulfill their dreams by sharing his personal story.

Throughout the day on Monday, April 3, participants had the opportunity to attend four career panels where they heard from professionals in each of the FCCLA Career Pathways: Education & Training, Hospitality & Tourism, Human Services, and Visual Arts & Design. The UNL Engler Entrepreneurship Program also hosted an Entrepreneurship panel with their alumni and students. Nebraska

CommonGround also hosted a Consumer Fair where attendees could hear directly from farm women in Nebraska and learn more about where their food comes from. The Opportunity Fair featured 30 colleges, organizations, and businesses for members to connect with.

Students also had the opportunity to give back to the Lincoln community through the FCCLA Serves projects. Over 50 students participated in service projects at the Lincoln Childrens Zoo, Lincoln Childrens Museum, and Food Bank of Lincoln.

Members also had the opportunity to choose from a variety tour options such as Hudl, Lied Center, Temple Building, and Memorial Stadium.

Presentation of awards and recognition for involvement is a focal point of the State Leadership Conference each year. Awards were presented during the Recognition Session on Monday evening where recipients were recognized on-stage for their accomplishments. This year, the Cozad FCCLA received the Circle of Friends Award and was recognized as a Silver Chapter Award recipient.
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 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 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 1960: Laos is determined to be non-threatening 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 1976: Operation Paul Bunyan 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 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
DAWSON COUNTY  Nebraska State Troopers, with assistance from the Dawson County Sheriffs Office, have arrested one person after a pursuit on Interstate 80 in Dawson County.

At approximately 7:10 a.m. Monday, a trooper observed an eastbound Chrysler Pacifica speeding at over 100 miles per hour on Interstate 80 near Lexington. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver fled. The trooper initiated a pursuit.

The Chrysler exited I-80 at the Lexington interchange, turned around, and began fleeing westbound on I-80. The van maintained speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour during the pursuit. Near the Gothenburg interchange, a Dawson County Sheriffs Deputy successfully deployed a spike strip to slow the vehicle. The van then came to a stop in the driving lane of I-80 at mile marker 214. The driver was taken into custody without incident.

Troopers located 85 pounds of marijuana, 4 pounds of marijuana products, and a small amount of psilocybin mushroom products in the van. The driver, Antoine Geter, 30, of Baltimore, Md., was arrested for willful reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest, possession of marijuana  more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, and traffic violations. Geter was lodged in Dawson County Jail.
LEXINGTON  A 20-year-old Lexington man accused of motor vehicle homicide waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the case has been bound over to the district court.

Arturo Navarrete Jr. has been charged with motor vehicle homicide, a Class 3 felony, and tampering with a witness, a Class 4 felony.

He is also accused of violating the terms of his probation relating to a driving under the influence charge from June 2022.

Navarrete submitted a written waiver of his right to a preliminary hearing that was set for Tuesday, April 4 in Dawson County Court.

Judge Jeffrey Wightman accepted the waiver and bound over the case to District Court. Arraignment will be held on May 8 at 9:30 a.m.

According to court documents, at 4:54 a.m. Sept. 24, the Lexington Police Department responded to a vehicle-pedestrian accident near the intersection of Oak and Adams streets.

Officers found Abdelaziz A. Suliman, 59, of Lexington, deceased on the west side of Adams and a Chevrolet pickup with heavy front-end damage parked south of the body.

Initially, Salvador Canales Dubon, 19, had been charged with motor vehicle homicide, but the charges were dropped in December 2022 after further investigation by the Lexington Police Department.

A witness told officers she had been driving south on Adams Street at 35 mph, the posted speed limit, or slower.

She said she saw a Chevrolet pickup begin passing her at the same time as she saw a man walking into the street. She said the pickup struck the man and continued southward until it turned west at the first available street.

Officers reviewed surveillance camera footage from a nearby apartment complex. The video showed the witnesss vehicle traveling south on Adams and the pickup following behind.

The video shows the pickup beginning to pass the witnesss vehicle, and the audio recorded the pickup accelerating, followed by a loud bang right after the acceleration.

Based on the video, it appears the Chevy pickup is traveling faster than the posted speed limit and passing a vehicle. The pickup drives into the northbound lane in order to pass the witness vehicle, according to court documents.

Suliman died at the scene, and an autopsy was scheduled.

Officers made contact with Navarrete and Canales. Canales told them he had been driving the vehicle, which was owned by Navarrete.

Navarrete gave a statement that he had driven the pickup to Canales house and Canales drove the pickup after they left his home.

On Sept. 26, Canales attorney contacted police, saying he wanted to arrange an interview because he had information to provide.

In an interview on Sept. 27, Canales said he was not the driver. He said Navarrete was driving at the time of the collision and had asked Canales to say that he was the driver.

Canales said he lied to the police about who was driving because Navarrete was his friend and Navarrete had DUIs and had a suspended license.

Canales continued to say he was the driver until he spoke with Dawson County Sheriffs Correctional Officer Dorian Hurtado. Canales said he told Hurtado he was not the driver because until that point, he hadnt realized how serious the charges were.

Hurtado later provided a written statement that when Canales was being booked into the jail; he stated that he was not the driver and that Navarrete was.

The investigation also looked into calls and text messages Canales made from the Dawson County Jail. In a call to his sister, Canales said Navarrete had been driving and hit the guy.

However, during a second call to a family member, Canales said he was driving. But when asked about what he told his sister, he said Navarrete was driving but he was taking responsibility because he has a clean record.

On Sept. 28, Navarrete went to the police department and made statements that contradicted his earlier testimony, and he offered inconsistent explanations to questioning, the Lexington Police state.

On Jan. 25, an arrest warrant was issued for Navarrete and he was booked into the Dawson County Jail. He filed bail in the amount of $5,000 with the condition he was to have no contact with Canales.
The four defendants charged in the ComEd bribery scheme are, from left, consultant Jay Doherty, lobbyist and former ComEd executive John Hooker, retired lobbyist Michael McClain and former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore. (Chicago Tribune photos)

The ComEd Four federal bribery trial is taking Monday off due to last-minute scheduling issues involving the judge overseeing the case, court officials said, but it is expected pick back up on Tuesday.

The prosecution is expected to wrap up its case this week in the alleged bribes-for-favors scheme designed to coax then-House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, into helping ComEd block legislation it opposed and pass legislation it supportedmoves that greatly improved the utilitys bottom line.

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One of the last key witnesses expected to testify for the government case is Ed Moody, the former Cook County recorder of deeds who played a major role in Madigans political operations for years.

Moody, a legendary precinct captain, is expected to offer an insider view of how Madigan allegedly worked with ComEd to reward his political allies with utility contracts that required little or no work.

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[ ComEd Four bribery trial: What you need to know ]

Charged in the ComEd Four case are former ComEd lobbyist Michael McClain, a longtime Madigan confidant: former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore; former ComEd executive John Hooker, a veteran company lobbyist; and Jay Doherty, the ex-president of the City Club and ComEd contract lobbyist.

They have all pleaded not guilty, contending the government is trying to make crimes out of legal lobbying.

[ ComEd Four trial: Evidence seen and heard by the jury ]

Madigan and McClain have been indicted in a separate case involving ComEd and AT&T. That trial is scheduled for April 2024. They have pleaded not guilty.

Catch up on all our coverage below.
COZAD Newly elected Senator Teresa Ibach took time to visit with residents about the ongoing legislative session at the Wilson Public Library on Monday, April 10.

Ibach was elected to represent District 44 during the primary elections last year.

Dawson County used to be a part of District 36, represented by Sen. Matt Williams, until the special session in 2021 to redistrict was concluded.

As a result of population changes, Dawson County was made a part of District 44, which now includes Gosper, Frontier, Hayes, Chase, Dundy, Hitchcock and a southwest portion of Perkins counties.

Ibach has been a lifelong resident of Dawson County with a degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She was a property manager for 28 years, and she and her husband live on the family farm near Sumner where they have a cow-calf operation and raise corn, soybeans, alfalfa and forage, according to the Kearney Hub.

As a freshman senator, Ibach said she has been doing her best to absorb all the information she can to help represent District 44 to the best of her abilities. She noted she does not leave the floor often, so she can take in as much as she can.

Ibach noted most press about the current session has been the fact no bills have been passed due to the filibustering by Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh in protest of a bill that would outlaw gender-affirming therapies for those 18 and younger.

The bill, LB574, would bar puberty blockers, gender-affirming surgeries, and hormone therapy for young people.

In Nebraskas 49-member Unicameral legislature, 33 votes are necessary to end a filibuster. So far, there have not been enough supporters.

Ibach is a part of several committees that hear specific bills before they go to the floor, including agriculture business and labor and judiciary.

Of those, the judiciary committee has seen the most bills, around 108 so far. Ibach said she has learned a great deal from being on the committee and recently shadowed judges in Dawson County to get a better feel for the local criminal justice system.

One of the biggest items regarding criminal justice in Nebraska is that a new state prison will likely be built in the near future.

Ibach toured Nebraska State Penitentiary with the judiciary committee and said the facility was in, dire condition. She also found the conditions the employees of the facility have to work in currently, heartbreaking.

To date there have been several leaks in the facility that have forced staff to move inmates to allow for clean-up.

She said the employees deserve a functioning place to work so they have the tools they need to best perform their work.

In the agriculture committee, Ibach said they have seen 35 bills so far, she highlighted LB 116 which changes provisions of the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Act and how it can benefit farmers in the state.

Ibach noted the business and labor committee was smaller but that they were busy early on in the session. A bill that isnt in their committee but will have wide ranging effects is LB 683, which would create a Nebraska Broadband Office under the direction of the governor.

Rural Nebraska has not seen much activity when it comes to further broadband connection, Ibach said. As hard as it is for rural residents in the area to find quality broadband, Ibach said residents along Highway 34 in southwest Nebraska have even fewer options.

Ibach said there is a need for a point person when it comes to broadband connection to make sure this can be offered to Nebraskans in a timely and affordable fashion, as well as looking at underserved areas.

One of Ibachs first plunges into legislative business was on the rules committee at the start of the session. Ibach said there had been a provision in place to indefinitely postpone a bill, to the point that it could not be heard on the floor.

Ibach lobbied for a change that the originator of the bill under the provision could at least read it on the floor so the other senators could know what the bill would address. Her efforts proved successful and the change was adopted for the session.

A single Legislature exists for two years, called a biennium. There are two regular lawmaking sessions per biennium. Each regular session begins in January. The biennium begins in odd-numbered years with a long session that consists of 90 working days.

This current legislative session is a 90 days session and will end on June 7. Ibach said they will also address the states budget during this session. She notes there will be several late night sessions coming up in the near future.

For those wishing to visit Ibach in Lincoln, she has a temporary office on the 12th floor and is currently assisted by a staff of two, an administrative assistant and legislative assistant.

Ibach also took time to thank Wilson Public Library Director Laurie Yocom for helping to arrange the event.

Ibach also took questions from residents who attended the event.
Karen Bradshaw (Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law) has posted Identifying Contemporary Rights of Nature in the United States (95 University of Southern California Law Review 1437, 2022) on SSRN. Here is the abstract:

The Rights of Nature movement is at the precipice of watershed social changes. Leaders of this international, Indigenous-led movement call upon the public to radically re-imagine the human relationship with nature. This symposium Article comes at a crucial moment when some leading environmental law scholars are questioning the potential Rights of Nature within the United States. This Article responds by building upon the ideas of Christopher Stone to chart the theoretical and doctrinal pathways that breathe life into the legal framework of Rights of Nature. It sketches the present status of Rights of Nature in the United States and links this overview to environmental, animal, and natural resources law literatures.

Most scholarly discourse about the Rights of Nature focuses on a few well-known examples outside of the United States, such as constitutional rights in Ecuador or New Zealand and Australia granting rights to wind and rivers. In fact, the United States has a growing body of diverse Rights of Nature that legal scholars have largely overlooked. For example, in six federal statutes, natural resource damages have resulted in over ten billion dollars of tort remedies that benefit nature. Indigenous governments located throughout the United States  including the Band of Ojibwe, Ho-Chunk Nation, Navajo Nation, and Ponca Nation  have created legal personhood, statutory personhood, and constitutional provisions in tribal government. Additionally, wildlife holds many rights hidden in federal statutes, as with bald eagles claiming property rights superior to those of humans in the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Collectively, this diffuse and innovative set of laws forms a body of existing Rights of Nature, showing that such rights exist in the United States today  examples that deserve discussion, consideration, and potential extension.

This Article seeks to uncover and elevate these rights, thus promoting, amplifying, and calling attention to many diffuse efforts to capitalize upon their collective potential to reshape the human relationship with nature and address the environmental problems of our time. It links popular discourse on the Rights of Nature with its theoretical foundations and well-established statutory systems of environmental law. It seeks to help and inspire legal thinkers in disparate fields to collectively co-create a more robust role for Rights of Nature  within the United States and beyond.
CHICANA/O AND LATINA/O | NEW DEGREE AT UW-MADISON

For the first time, UW-Madison's Hispanic students will be able to get a degree in the study of their collective history and culture.

UW-Madison is set to launch a Chicana/o and Latina/o bachelor's degree this fall as the department has seen exploding enrollment in the department's certificate program over the past decade, director Ruben Medina said. The major was approved by the UW Board of Regents at its March meeting. Also written as Chican@ and Latin@ studies to combine the "a" and the "o," the name allows speakers to choose either the masculine or the feminine version of the noun.

It'll be the first bachelor's degree dedicated solely to Chicana/o and Latina/o studies across the University of Wisconsin System, as other programs are often anchored in Spanish language education with classes on culture offered. The UW-Madison program instead focuses on an interdisciplinary look at Mexican and Latin American history and culture in areas such as politics, pop culture and gender studies.

Marquette University is one of the few other universities in the state to have a similar program focusing on Latin American culture. UW-Madison's Chicana/o and Latina/o degree will join other ancestry-based bachelor's degree programs including African and Afro-American studies and Scandinavian studies.

Staffing is expected to stay the same despite the addition, as the program currently has eight fulltime staff and more than a dozen affiliate professors who are assigned to other campus departments but have their classes cross-listed with the program.

Enrollment in the Chicana/o and Latina/o certificate program, also referred to as a minor, has grown from about 50 students in 2016 to more than 200 this year, Medina said. Medina conservatively estimates having just under 50 students in the major within five years, with some of the students currently enrolled in the certificate opting for a full degree.

Medina credits the increase in enrollment in the Chicana/o and Latina/o certificate program to students' desire to explore subjects such as politics or urban planning, which are not inherently cultural on their face, through the experiences of a certain population.

"Students are more interested in interdisciplinary studies  not only solely focusing on one discipline, but they are interested in crossing to learn from one discipline to bring that knowledge into another one," Medina said. "We think that many students will want it to go into different areas, like for instance, medicine, but if they know about this population, it will increase their expertise."

A 30-year dream

The major has been 30 years in the making. Medina joined UW-Madison in 1991 and a year later helped launch the certificate, housed in the College of Letters and Sciences.

"The big thing for me after 31 years here is just a satisfaction," he said. "I feel like in a way I contributed to something that is beyond me, that is for many other people.

"I (have) two daughters. One is 17 and is coming here to the university in the fall. And there's another one that is about to be 15 and is going to start in high school  they will also have this opportunity to come here and take classes in our program," Medina added.

To build the curriculum, Medina said he and curriculum committee leader Armando Ibarra examined Chicana/o and Latina/o degrees offered at universities in Southwestern states that boast high populations of Hispanic people, such as California and New Mexico, as well as programs in other Midwestern states such as Minnesota and Illinois.

For future courses, Medina is hoping to expand on aspects of existing classes that are currently popular. That might mean taking a class on the U.S.-Mexican border and pulling out aspects of it such as the human experiences of migration to form a new class, he said.

UW-Madison's Chicana/o and Latina/o major is divided into three core areas: humanities, which involves art and culture; social sciences such as gender and ecology; and community studies, where students could connect theoretical concepts to what's happening in the lives of Hispanic people today such as seasonal employment on farms or urbanization of Latin America.

At least in the beginning, class offerings will heavily rely on affiliate professors teaching their courses cross-listed in their own departments as Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies staff work to develop more courses.

Nearly all of professor Benjamin Marquez's classes in the Political Science Department are crosslisted in the Chicana/o and Latina/o program. He does worry those affiliated professors could be pulled in different directions by their home departments as department chairs have to juggle their own needs.

"We're sitting on a hope and a prayer that all the affiliated faculty will teach courses that will help students earn the major," Marquez said.

A place of belonging

The Chicana/o and Latina/o bachelor's degree will offer students not just an education, but a sense of validation on campus, Medina said.

There are ways the program already does that  each week, dozens of students and staff gather for a weekly meeting where they share food and invite speakers to present their research or talk about opportunities on campus. In doing so, staff create a space for Hispanic students that Medina says helps with student retention and creating a sense of community.

That's outside of the classroom, though. Inside the classroom, it can be isolating for Hispanic students to not see their culture represented in both a university and state that is majority non-Hispanic white people, Marquez said.

"It's important also to emphasize that the LatinX experience is part of the American experience as well," Marquez said. "It's just the same thing, really, but it's just been neglected by academia."

Medina said he hopes that other departments with cultural and heritage studies, such as American Indian, Middle Eastern and South Asian, will take inspiration from Chicana/o and Latina/o studies and elevate their certificate programs into bachelor's degrees.

"It's really a model for a more democratic society to allow these programs, academic programs, to develop," he said.

"It's important also to emphasize that the LatinX experience is part of the American experience as well."

Benjamin Marquez, political science professor
A man was arrested for a fifth OWI after crashing a motorcycle and then trying to break into a Janesville residence on Sunday night, Janesville police reported.

At about 10:10 p.m., police were sent to the crash and break-in attempt reported in the 1500 block of Parker Court, Sgt. Drew Severson said in a statement.

The first arriving officer found Aaron C. Turner, 51, intoxicated at the side of a residence, and Turner hit the officer multiple times when the officer tried to take him into custody. Another officer used a Taser on Turner and he was arrested without further incident, Severson said.

A Janesville officer suffered minor injuries that did not require medical attention, Severson said.

Turner was on probation/parole through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for his fourth offense of OWI, and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest through DOC, Severson said.

Turner was taken to the Rock County Jail on tentative charges of fifth offense OWI, disorderly conduct/domestic violence, criminal damage to property/domestic violence, battery to law enforcement officer, resisting an officer, and a probation/parole violation.

Photos: Madison's most dangerous intersections, as seen from space No. 10: Packers Avenue and International Lane No. 9: Zeier Road and East Washington Avenue No. 8: South Park Street and West Badger Road No. 7: Thierer Road and East Washington Avenue No. 6: North First Street and East Washington Avenue No. 5: Buckeye Road and South Stoughton Road No. 4: South Baldwin Street and East Washington Avenue No. 3: North Stoughton Road and East Washington Avenue No. 2: Watts Road and South Gammon Road No. 1: Pleasant View Road and Mineral Point
A Mexican citizen on Thursday was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for methamphetamine dealing that happened in Madison, authorities reported.

Julio Alvarez Sanchez, 39, also was sentenced by Judge James D. Peterson to 3 years of supervised release after his prison term for distributing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, a charge he pleaded guilty to on Dec. 19, 2022, U.S. Attorney Timothy OShea said in a statement.

Alvarez Sanchez brought meth from Minneapolis to Madison and provided it to Juana Armenta Mora, who solid 973 grams of meth to a confidential informant in Madison on April 4, 2022, OShea said.

On April 14, 2022, Alvarez Sanchez met with the confidential informant in a parking lot in Madison and provided the informant with a toolbox containing 6.77 kilograms of meth, OShea said.

Alvarez Sanchez was arrested following the drug deal and admitted to law enforcement that he participated in the April 2022 deliveries, as well as additional deliveries of meth, OShea said.

Armenta Mora pleaded guilty on Sept. 8 to distributing methamphetamine, and was sentenced on Dec. 22 to 15 months in federal prison, OShea said.
Many high school students arent old enough to vote, but that doesnt mean they cant get involved in the election process either working at the polls or learning about the campaign issues.

A total of 25 students from seven high schools in the Madison area worked Tuesdays election, said Maggie McClain, a municipal clerk and public information officer for the Madison city clerks office.

Meanwhile, a new Sifting and Winnowing Club at West High School organized a panel discussion and debates regarding Tuesday election.

Personally, I was really interested in the political process and democracy, said Greta Craemer-Meihsner, a senior at East High School who has served as a poll worker in the last three elections. I thought it was a really good experience to know how voting works and be a part of that for my community.

Students at West High School spent Election Day learning about the Wisconsin Supreme Court election through a panel discussion about the race organized by the Sifting and Winnowing Club. Two legal experts from the State Democracy Research Initiative at the UW-Madison Law School, attorneys Dustin Brown and Emily Lau, shared information about the states judicial branch and specific issues related to the election.

Sifting and Winnowing started last fall to encourage youth participation in civic events and advocacy for political issues at local levels. In November, the club moderated panels with local officials, and, in March, the club moderated a debate for Seat 6 in the Madison School Board election and a debate in the Madison mayoral race.

Just because most students are too young to vote, all the decisions being made impact our lives so much, club president Luke Olson said. Some may say that students dont want to be engaged but in order for anyone to be engaged, there have to be events like this.

The club asked teachers to sign up to bring their classes to the events in the school auditorium. More than 650 students signed up for the School Board debate, and about 520 for the mayoral debate. At least 300 came to the panel discussion.

Our generation has so much more power than we realize ... Every single kid grows up, said Olson, a sophomore. When they are adults, they are more likely to realize this stuff still matters ... and now as adults they can actually change the things that impact them every day.

Mary Acosta Mass, a junior at East, has only been able to fit one earlier election into her schedule. She said she wanted to learn more about elections and get an understanding of the process, including how to register at the polls, before she could vote. She worked at the polling place at Door Creek Church and said another benefit to working the polls was the chance to meet and talk to the other workers.

You meet a lot of interesting people there, said Craemer-Meihsner, who was one of five East students who worked Tuesday. I dont get to speak a lot with older people in my day to day, so it is good to talk to them and hear their stories.

Craemer-Meihsner, who plans to attend UW-Milwaukee and eventually work in animation, said she hopes to work as an election official again wherever she is living.

Terry Green, a teacher at East, said he plays the role of connecting students with the city by inviting the clerks office to speak to students. Once they are signed up to work, students are responsible for checking their email for any messages sent by the clerks office leading up the election, Green said.

Some students work in the polls to partially fulfill the requirement in Greens Advanced Placement U.S. government class to participate in two civic engagements.

Mike Quieto, who works with scheduling and payroll for the elections, met with 30 to 40 East students during lunch in November, an opportunity that was open to the entire school, though poll workers have to be at least 16 years old.

First, I think it is really important for kids to get involved in government. A lot of them have apathy when they grow up  I used to be that person (who didnt think my vote mattered), Green said. I just want them to see what the process is like.

The city clerks office works with Marty Moe, social studies teacher leader in the Madison School Districts Curriculum and Instruction department, to connect with high school students.

It is really important recognizing that youth and youth voice matters, said Bonnie Chang, a municipal clerk and voter outreach coordinator. That can be voting on Election Day or helping their neighbors be able to vote. Having a part in the democratic process can help them build the skills that they feel empowered to use their voice.

Chang said the city conscientiously tried to have poll workers be reflective of the community where the polling place is located so that voters see that they can be part of the process. Also, when youths come in with their parents and see a teen poll worker, they see that they also could become an election official.

Making the polling places as inclusive and accessible as possible is something (City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl) believes in and it is something that is part of our offices practice, Chang said. It is not just for the voters themselves but it is for the elections officials who work at polling places.

Chang said being a poll worker can help build a students resume and they can get paid.

Olson credited the influence of Carrie Bohman, the teacher he had last year for a U.S history honors class, for a group of students starting the civics club. Most of the students in the Sifting and Winnowing Club are underclassmen.

As freshmen and sophomores, these students are idealistic and are compassionate about what they see is happening in their world ... These students cannot vote, but they realize that they have a voice, Bohman said. As their teacher, we discuss how a representative democracy functions and how it doesnt within a historical context. Consequently, in order for a democracy to truly work, you need an educated electorate ... They need opportunities to pose their valuable questions, lead, and be an integral part of the democratic and civic process.

The name of the club comes from the Board of Regents articulation of the UW tradition in 1894. The quote, Whatever may be the limitations which trammel inquiry elsewhere, we believe that the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found, is memorialized on a plaque outside the entrance to Bascom Hall on the UW-Madison campus.

School Spotlight: Adventures in learning, inside and outside the classroom Each Monday, the Wisconsin State Journal features a story about learning in Wisconsin. Here are School Spotlight stories from the past year.
The current show in the gallery at Madison Area Technical College features the work of a longtime Madison graphic artist and illustrator. But its also a love story.

Designs Are Things That Dreams Are Made Of is an exhibit of meticulously designed works by Ellen Marie Dudley, who spent a career crafting scientifically accurate drawings for physics, biology and botany textbooks as well as classy fashion illustrations commissioned by Madison department stores.

She taught me so much about art, about creativity, said Terry Straavaldsen, her partner of 31 years, who helped to sort through thousands of drawings at their Waterloo home to feature in the exhibit.

Since it opened in March, Straavaldsen has stopped in with an armful of fresh flowers every few days to put at the gallery entrance. He often lingers to take in the show with its 50 framed prints.

We lived our dream! he wrote in the gallery guestbook during a reception for the show that drew some 100 visitors. Designed for each other! Love, Terry.

Dudley died Feb. 22, 2022, at age 74, 20 days after she was diagnosed with cancer. Her death left her friends  and especially Straavaldsen  in shock.

I have never met anyone more talented and with more love and empathy for others than Ellen, and she had the perfect partner in Terry, a friend posted online after Dudleys death. He made her star shine even brighter.

Through her life, Dudley shared many milestones with Madison. She was a member of the first graduating class of La Follette High School, in 1965. She went to Woodstock. As a technical scientific illustrator at UW-Madison in the early 1970s, she pulled her art supplies from the rubble after the bombing of Sterling Hall.

Dudley earned an associates degree in commercial art at MATC, also known as Madison College, in 1967 and would later establish a scholarship there. She worked at UW-Madison for 33 years, and her freelance work appeared throughout the city. The logo she designed for Group Health Cooperative is still in use. She even helped design the cabin that she and Straavaldsen built on Black Oak Lake in 2009.

Designs Are Things That Dreams Are Made Of includes dozens of fashion illustrations in charcoal that Dudley drew for ads that ran in the Wisconsin State Journal and The Capital Times for decades. With clothing retailers such as The Hub, Woldenberg's and Yost-Kessenichs as clients, Dudley would pick up outfits at the stores and take them back home, where shed sketch them with a live model.

Back then, the main qualifications for a commercial fashion artist were skills in freehand drawing and the ability to create an image so evocative that readers would aspire to own them, exhibit co-curator Barbara Westfall wrote in an article about Dudley, her good friend and mentor.

Eventually, the popularity of photography in advertising replaced hand-drawn illustration. By the late 1980s, fashion illustration came to an end. This unique era of cultural production that lasted over a century justifiably earns its place in art history worldwide.

Westfall selected items for the show along with Straavaldsen, including distinctive outfits worn by Dudley herself. In one, a sparkly black skirt is paired with a bright lime green leather jacket and boots, with pop-art-inspired sunglasses in neon green and pink.

Ellen was known for her style. She was always dressed to the nines, Westfall said. She loved fashion and was such a renaissance woman, yet was so humble and kind, with so much dignity and grace.

After the exhibit closes Thursday, many of Dudleys fashion drawings will head to the second floor of the MATC art department to hang on the walls of the newly created Ellen Dudley Art Lounge. Digital prints of her work will go to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Straavaldsen, who spent his career in construction but learned to paint at Dudleys urging, has founded a second scholarship in Dudleys name in the Department of Design Studies at the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology. For the week of her birthday last October, he collaborated with the MATC culinary arts program and ordered 1,044 cupcakes from student bakers.

Day after day, the cupcakes were set out and offered free to anyone who wanted one. Straavaldsen made a display of balloons and posters with photos of Dudley, who always ate cake for breakfast on her birthday, saying Lifes too short. Lets eat cake first, he recalled.

With her modesty, I dont know what shed think about all this, he said. But it was really special to let all these people know about and celebrate Ellen.

Photos: 'Democracy' exhibit at Playhouse Gallery
The Dane County Farmers Market, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, returns Saturday to Capitol Square.

It will run, rain or shine, from 6:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. each Saturday through Nov. 11.

The market was founded in September of 1972 with just five farmers on the Square. Today, it has about 250 Wisconsin producer-members and is the largest producer-only market in the nation.

About 130 vendors are able to set up around the Capitol each Saturday.

Its a big Madison attraction, not only for straight-from-the-farm produce, fresh meat and just-baked bread, but also for its social aspect and festival feel.

On July 8, during Art Fair on the Square, the market will be held at Breese Stevens Field.

The Wednesday market, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on the 200 Block of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, will begin April 19 and run through Nov. 1.

FoodShare, Wisconsins Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the federal program formerly known as food stamps, is provided at every market.

Participants have a Quest card, or EBT card (electronic benefits transfer), that works like a debit card. The market has a machine at its information booth that can do EBT transactions.

Take a look at 'Immersive Van Gogh'
U.S. soldiers stand guard behind barbed wire as Afghans sit on a roadside near the military part of the airport in Kabul on Aug. 20, 2021, hoping to flee from the country after the Taliban's military takeover of Afghanistan. (WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 was the lowest point of Joe Bidens presidency. The optics, including chaotic scenes at the barricaded Kabul International Airport and desperate Afghans clinging to U.S. transport planes, were grim. The entire withdrawal process was aired live on cable news networks, with former U.S. generals opining about how the U.S. was abandoning Afghanistan and its people to a brutal fate under the Taliban.

This grueling experience continues to hang over the Biden administration like a headache that never goes away. But on Thursday, the White House sought to issue an antidote in the form of an internal report outlining why the withdrawal proceeded the way it did, who was at fault for the lackluster implementation and what lessons the administration learned in the process. The 12-page summary released to the public was an attempt at closure. Unfortunately, it brought even more problems for the White House.

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[ Editorial: After a year under Taliban rule, Afghans feel the price of peace. ]

The document reads less like an impartial record than a defense brief. Seemingly, whatever went wrong during the withdrawal was the prior administrations fault  and whatever went right, including the fact that more than 120,000 people were airlifted out of Afghanistan, was the result of Bidens prudent interagency planning.

The Biden White House, the report said, was given a bad hand when it entered office, with a U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan at its lowest point since 2001, Taliban control of Afghan territory at its highest and a State Department special visa program that was in shambles after years of neglect.

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It was a general sense of degradation and neglect there that the president inherited, U.S. national security spokesman John Kirby told the White House press corps upon the summarys release. President Donald Trumps decision to sign the Doha accord with the Taliban in February 2020 only accelerated that sense of degradation, Kirby said. The agreement mandated a U.S. troop departure at a specific date.

Congressional Republicans unsurprisingly were infuriated by the White Houses explanation. John Kirbys comments during todays White House press briefing were disgraceful and insulting, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said in a news release. U.S. Rep. James Comer, Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, promised to scold the administrations response during an April 19 hearing with the Defense Departments inspector general.

Yet amid the back-and-forth about blame is a crucial fact that no amount of shape-shifting can obscure: Leaving Afghanistan was still the right decision. That the implementation of the withdrawal left much to be desired doesnt mean the decision to pack up after two long decades wasnt the correct one.

While Biden supported the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, he wasnt a vocal proponent of staying the course or escalating U.S. involvement there. During his time as vice president, Biden was one of the most vocal skeptics of the surge strategy articulated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Gen. David Petraeus, among others. He never believed U.S. troops should be responsible for transforming a nation rife with corruption and warlords with their own personal armies and whose leaders were often participants in the drug trade.

In one memorable exchange, as reported by journalist George Packer, Biden as vice president excoriated the U.S. special representative to Afghanistan at the time, Richard Holbrooke, for arguing that the U.S. couldnt leave the country even if the war was lost. I am not sending my boy back there to risk his life on behalf of womens rights! Biden said at the time. It just wont work; thats not what theyre there for.

[ Metra Mehran and Natalie Gonnella-Platts: The world should pressure the Taliban to allow girls a proper education ]

Biden was right. The original mission for the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan was clear-cut and achievable: Bring Osama bin Laden to justice, decimate his al-Qaida terrorist network and penalize the Taliban for being reckless enough to host a group that killed nearly 3,000 people on American soil.

Most of those objectives were accomplished fairly early on; by early 2002, the Taliban were begging for a peace agreement with the new Afghan government, and al-Qaidas physical infrastructure was destroyed. (In 2011, U.S. special operators hunted down and killed bin Laden in Pakistan.)

Yet the U.S. quickly transitioned its involvement in Afghanistan from a terrorist-hunting enterprise to a full-fledged nation-building fallacy, building new institutions from scratch, as well as an army, and developing an entirely different political system. The Taliban were treated as outcasts rather than a real constituency best managed by bringing them into the new system.

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The U.S. spent hundreds of billions of dollars trying to do all of this while fighting a Taliban insurgency that had the luxury of a safe haven across the border in Pakistan. The American public checked out of the war long before Trump even authorized negotiations with the Taliban; one Pew Research Center survey in 2019 found that 58% of veterans believed the war wasnt worth fighting.

In essence, Biden had three options in Afghanistan: keep the status quo, escalate U.S. involvement or withdraw. The first option would have eventually led to the second because the Taliban were clear that attacks would resume if U.S. troops stayed past the September deadline.

The U.S. tried the second option again and again throughout its 20-year misadventure, most notably during President Barack Obamas 2010-11 troop surge, and the result was at best a temporary calm that had to be sustained with an indefinite garrison.

Withdrawal, however, would have cut the cord on a failed enterprise and saved thousands of U.S. troops from a sunk-cost fallacy that dominated U.S. policy toward Afghanistan for so long.

The way the U.S. carried out its withdrawal left much to be desired. But dont be mistaken: Withdrawal was the right policy.

Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune.

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Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
MIDDLE EAST | JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM  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.

Thousands of Jewish worshipers gathered at the city's Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray, for a 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 allowed only 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, 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.

Meanwhile, 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.

"May we and no one else in the whole world ever know so much sorrow. Amen," said their father, Lee Dee.
SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT | EXPLORING DEMOCRACY

Many high school students aren't old enough to vote, but that doesn't mean they can't get involved in the election process either working at the polls or learning about the campaign issues.

A total of 25 students from seven high schools in the Madison area worked Tuesday's election, said Maggie McClain, a municipal clerk and public information officer for the Madison city clerk's office.

Meanwhile, a new Sifting and Winnowing Club at West High School organized a panel discussion and debates regarding Tuesday' election.

"Personally, I was really interested in the political process and democracy," said Greta Craemer-Meihsner, a senior at East High School who has served as a poll worker in the last three elections. "I thought it was a really good experience to know how voting works and be a part of that for my community."

Students at West High School spent Election Day learning about the Wisconsin Supreme Court election through a panel discussion about the race organized by the Sifting and Winnowing Club. Two legal experts from the State Democracy Research Initiative at the UW-Madison Law School, attorneys Dustin Brown and Emily Lau, shared information about the state's judicial branch and specific issues related to the election.

Sifting and Winnowing started last fall to encourage youth participation in civic events and advocacy for political issues at local levels. In November, the club moderated panels with local officials, and, in March, the club moderated a debate for Seat 6 in the Madison School Board election and a debate in the Madison mayoral race.

"Just because most students are too young to vote, all the decisions being made impact our lives so much," club president Luke Olson said. "Some may say that students don't want to be engaged but in order for anyone to be engaged, there have to be events like this."

The club asked teachers to sign up to bring their classes to the events in the school auditorium. More than 650 students signed up for the School Board debate, and about 520 for the mayoral debate. At least 300 came to the panel discussion.

"Our generation has so much more power than we realize ... Every single kid grows up," said Olson, a sophomore. "When they are adults, they are more likely to realize this stuff still matters ... and now as adults they can actually change the things that impact them every day.

Mary Acosta Mass, a junior at East, has only been able to fit one earlier election into her schedule. She said she wanted to learn more about elections and get an understanding of the process, including how to register at the polls, before she could vote. She worked at the polling place at Door Creek Church and said another benefit to working the polls was the chance to meet and talk to the other workers.

School Spotlight

Each Monday, the State Journal features a story about learning in Wisconsin. Send story ideas to Sandy Cullen at scullen@madison.com or 608-252-6137.

"You meet a lot of interesting people there," said Craemer-Meihsner, who was one of five East students who worked Tuesday. "I don't get to speak a lot with older people in my day to day, so it is good to talk to them and hear their stories."

Craemer-Meihsner, who plans to attend UW-Milwaukee and eventually work in animation, said she hopes to work as an election official again wherever she is living.

Terry Green, a teacher at East, said he plays the role of connecting students with the city by inviting the clerk's office to speak to students. Once they are signed up to work, students are responsible for checking their email for any messages sent by the clerk's office leading up the election, Green said.

Some students work in the polls to partially fulfill the requirement in Green's Advanced Placement U.S. government class to participate in two civic engagements.

Mike Quieto, who works with scheduling and payroll for the elections, met with 30 to 40 East students during lunch in November, an opportunity that was open to the entire school, though poll workers have to be at least 16 years old.

"First, I think it is really important for kids to get involved in government. A lot of them have apathy when they grow up  I used to be that person (who didn't think my vote mattered)," Green said. "I just want them to see what the process is like."

The city clerk's office works with Marty Moe, social studies teacher leader in the Madison School District's Curriculum and Instruction department, to connect with high school students.

"It is really important recognizing that youth and youth voice matters," said Bonnie Chang, a municipal clerk and voter outreach coordinator. "That can be voting on Election Day or helping their neighbors be able to vote. Having a part in the democratic process can help them build the skills that they feel empowered to use their voice."

Chang said the city conscientiously tried to have poll workers be reflective of the community where the polling place is located so that voters see that they can be part of the process. Also, when youths come in with their parents and see a teen poll worker, they see that they also could become an election official.

"Making the polling places as inclusive and accessible as possible is something (City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl) believes in and it is something that is part of our office's practice," Chang said. "It is not just for the voters themselves but it is for the elections officials who work at polling places."

Chang said being a poll worker can help build a student's resume and they can get paid.

Olson credited the influence of Carrie Bohman, the teacher he had last year for a U.S history honors class, for a group of students starting the civics club. Most of the students in the Sifting and Winnowing Club are underclassmen.

"As freshmen and sophomores, these students are idealistic and are compassionate about what they see is happening in their world ... These students cannot vote, but they realize that they have a voice," Bohman said. "As their teacher, we discuss how a representative democracy functions and how it doesn't within a historical context. Consequently, in order for a democracy to truly work, you need an educated electorate ... They need opportunities to pose their valuable questions, lead, and be an integral part of the democratic and civic process."

The name of the club comes from the Board of Regents articulation of the UW tradition in 1894. The quote, "Whatever may be the limitations which trammel inquiry elsewhere, we believe that the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found," is memorialized on a plaque outside the entrance to Bascom Hall on the UW-Madison campus.
BEIJING  Electric car maker Tesla Inc. plans to build a factory in Shanghai to produce power-storage devices for sale worldwide, state media reported Sunday.

Plans call for annual production of 10,000 Megapack units, according to the Xinhua News Agency and state television. They said the company made the announcement at a signing ceremony in Shanghai, where Tesla operates an auto factory.

The factory is due to break ground in the third quarter of this year and start productions in the second quarter of 2024, the reports said.

BRIEFLY

FLORIDA SHOOTING:Four people including a child are dead after a suspect shot three victims inside a home and then was killed by police after opening fire on officers responding to a domestic violence report early Sunday, police in Florida said.

JOHANNESBURG:A South African convicted murderer who faked his death to escape from prison was arrested in Tanzania following a two-week manhunt, police said. South African officials were going to Tanzania on Sunday to begin to extradite Thabo Bester, 35. Bester was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 and it was reported in May last year that he died in a fire in his prison cell.

BUILDING COLLAPSE:Eight people were missing after the building they lived in exploded and collapsed early Sunday near the port of Marseille, France, leaving mounds of burning debris hampering rescue operations, officials said. More than 100 firefighters worked to extinguish flames deep within the rubble of the five-story building, but more than 17 hours later "the situation is not yet stabilized," Marseille Prosecutor Dominique Laurens said at an evening news conference.

ISLAMABAD:A roadside bomb exploded in northwest Pakistan, killing two soldiers who were traveling in their vehicle, the military said. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan gave a higher death toll in Saturday's attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, saying eight soldiers died. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy.

WAREHOUSE FIRE:Police warned people in Hamburg, Germany, to close their windows early Sunday after a large fire that engulfed several warehouses sent black, chemical-laden smoke drifting over the city. German news agency dpa said the fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. in the Rothenburgsort district, located in the eastern part of Germany's second-largest city. The smoke drifted from there toward the city center, halting long-distance trains between Hamburg and Berlin and other cities.

AFGHANISTAN:Afghanistan's special forces killed two Islamic State fighters and arrested a third during an operation in the country's west on Sunday, a regional official said. The raid on the hideout in the district of Sayed Abad in Nimroz province sparked a clash lasting 30 minutes, said Mufti Habibullah Ilham, the province's information and culture director.

 Associated Press
PROFESSOR of Sociology and Political Science and a Fellow for Education of the Stratbase ADR Institute Louie Montemar has urged the government to expand the coverage of tariff breaks for electric vehicles (EVs) saying that it will become a real game-changer.

In his published opinion, Montemar said the suspension of tariff for EVs and their components must be financially inclusive as the exclusion of the two and three-wheeled vehicles under Executive Order No. 12 discriminates against the working class who can only afford motorcycles.

Given the soaring price of gasoline, electric vehicles are becoming an even more attractive option for economically disadvantaged Filipinos, Montemar said.

The sociologist reiterated that two-wheeled vehicles are work enablers for the financially unstable Filipinos who are commuting to school or work and for those who use them on their jobs.

According to Land Transportation authorities, almost 8 million units of motorcycles have been recorded in their agency. Motorcycles are also the most favored mode of transportation of motorists in the country, both in the urban center and rural areas

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These two-wheeled vehicles are work enablers for financially disadvantaged Filipino families since they are a cheaper alternative to commuting to and from work or school and as a means for deliveries for various businesses, the professor added.

Earlier this year, the government passed EO 12 series of 2023 which seeks to suspend the tariff for EVs and their components from 5 to 30 percent to zero percent. This is, however, with the exemption of electric motorcycles which are still subject to 30 percent import duty.

Montemar also stated that if the coverage of EO 12 will be expanded, it will help enhance the employment rate of the country.

This was initially supported by various stakeholders such as House Deputy Speaker and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines President, Rep. Raymond Mendoza who said that the e-vehicle industry can slash the rate of carbon emissions of the country and at the same time, generate more jobs for Filipinos.

The professor insists that the success stories of local producers of e-motorcycles creating green jobs for local communities can be replicated to boost local employment.

There is no reason to doubt that these success stories could be replicated. Coupled with a program to support the local industry and bold entrepreneurs and innovators to create and maintain e-vehicles, he reiterated.

Think tanks and other stakeholders are also urging the government to review the EO and make it more inclusive by including e-motorcycles.

EO 12 is also one of the countrys solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change by cutting down the rate of carbon emissions caused by the transportation system of the country.

As per the data gathered by WHO, 25 percent of the Philippines is exposed to unhealthy air of PM2.5 concentration, which is at least five times more than a global recommendation.

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PBBM nixes offensive actions from bases as Balikatan begins

The Philippines will not allow any offensive actions from the bases it has opened to US troops, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday.

The assurance comes as the Philippines and the United States kick off their biggest Balikatan military exercise today.

More than 17,600 military personnel  5,400 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and 12,200 from the United States Forces  will be participating in the 38th Balikatan exercise scheduled from April 11 to 28 in various areas in Zambales, Aurora, Palawan, and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

They will be joined by 111 military personnel from the Australian Defense Force, as officials from 12 countries will be observers.

Manila last week announced the locations of four more military bases it is allowing the US military to use on top of the five agreed on under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, known as EDCA.

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The deal allows US troops to rotate through and store defense equipment and supplies.

But China warned last week the expanded military deal could endanger regional peace and accused Washington of a zero-sum mentality.

The four additional bases include sites near the hotly disputed South China Sea and another not far from Taiwan.

Mr. Marcos said Chinas reaction over the expanded military deal was not surprising, but assured them the Philippines is only shoring up its territorial defense.

We will not allow our bases to be used for any offensive actions. This is only aimed at helping the Philippines whenever we need help, Marcos told reporters.

If no one is attacking us, they need not worry because we will not fight them.

The pact stalled under former president Rodrigo Duterte, who favored closer ties with China.

But Mr. Marcos, who succeeded Duterte in June, has adopted a more US-friendly foreign policy, and sought to accelerate the implementation of the EDCA.

The President has insisted he will not let Beijing trample on Manilas maritime rights.

His remarks came on the heels of Chinas third day of war games around Taiwan on Monday, where it simulated sealing off the self-ruled island (see related story on A1  Editors).

China launched the military exercises in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen last week meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, an encounter it had warned would provoke a furious response.

Meanwhile, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said the preparations for the Balikatan exercises are made a year in advance and the troops are ready.

The exercises will include work on maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban and aviation operations, cyber defense, counterterrorism, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Balikatan 2023 spokesperson Col. Michael Logico said this would be the first time the AFP and US forces would engage in live-fire drills at sea.

It has always been an interoperability exercise to test our concepts for maritime defense, for coastal defense and maritime domain awareness, Logico said.

The Balikatan exercise is being held amid the rising tensions over the territorial dispute between Manila and Beijing.

China warned the country that it might draw potential conflict after the designation of new EDCA sites in the Philippines.

The new EDCA sites will be the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.

The five current EDCA locations are Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.

Mao Ning, the spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the additional EDCA sites may draw [the Philippines] into the whirlpool of a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

Signed in 2014, EDCA grants US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities and allows them to build facilities, and position equipment, aircraft, and vessels. With AFP

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TODAYS WORD is mussed. Example: Hilary was mussed when she heard her sister was moving across the country for a job opportunity when she had told her the day before that she was happy with her current job in their hometown.

SUNDAYS WORD was quixotic. It means foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals. Example: Henrys mother set some quixotic goals for his academic and career life when he was only 15, but his dream was to become a social media influencer.

Post Easter

Dont know what to do with all that left over Easter candy? Here are some suggestions on what you can do with it from mom.com.

If you have the self-control to keep your leftover candy in a bag and not overindulge, simply put it all in a bag and store it for future snacks. You can sort it into pre-portioned amounts for easy distribution into lunches or backpacks.

If youre looking to get the candy out of your house, you can look for local organizations that may accept candy donations such as homeless outreach programs, family shelters, religious groups, community organizations and food banks.

You can also take the leftover candy to work and offer it to your coworkers. A candy jar or bowl sat on a desk in the common area of an office doesnt stay full for long.

Pinterest is full of unique recipes that usee candies such as Peeps, M&Ms and more. Just go to the app or website and type in the name of your candy of choice with the word recipe and something may come up.

Affirmations

Stop fearing what could go wrong and start welcoming what could go right.

Look at yourself like maybe you are magic. Because you are.

The results of your healing are showing. Keep going.

I hope you heal from the things you dont talk about.

Say it before you run out of time, say it before its too late, say what youre feeling. Waiting is a mistake.

Take the risk or lose the chance.

I think you absolutely know what to do. Youve just been convinced that you dont.

Ive had to learn to love myself lately. Only to find parts of me I didnt even know existed.

Have a mind that is open to everything and attached to nothing.

Create the things you wish existed.

The following affirmation statements were found from Instagram account @soleoado who creates art and then adds these sayings on top of their creations.

SUNDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: President Ulysses S. Grant was arrested for speeding on the streets of Washington D.C. in 1872. He was driving a two-horse carriage and was the second time he had been pulled over in as many days. It became known in 1908 when The Sunday Star of Washington spoke with William West, the then-retired officer who pulled him over and arrested him. The story was then confirmed by the Washington Police Department more than 100 years later.

TODAYS TRIVIA QUESTION: What is the name of the tallest mountain on earth?
Heres what happened locally on April 10 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: Clean-Up Week: A week of a society of which everybody should be a member. The days are set from April 9th to 14th. The time should not be overlooked by anyone. We have a chance to do something that is really worth while, in self defense  defense of our homes and business places and surroundings. There is always something that can be done to improve the surroundings in our business and home life and if it is a good job others will do the same.

1948: Former members of the Army Air Forces in Martinsville and this area will meet tonight at 7:30 oclock in the American Legion building to discuss plans for the formation of the Martinsville squadron of the National Air Force Association. All former men and women of the AAF are invited to attend.

1973: Martinsville became the first in the area to adopt a kindergarten program for five-year-olds when City Council approved the boards $3,384,804 budget for the 1973-74 fiscal year. In adopting the school boards proposed budget without change, council put into operation a program of academic acceleration for gifted students.

Also 1973: Nathan Bushnell, administrator of Memorial Hospital, today appealed to anyone who knows of a physician still in college or who might relocate here to contact him. He said the hospitals board of trustees is mounting an intensive recruitment effort for physicians.

1998: Despite recent questions about the amount of money it spends, the head of a county agency responsible for high risk youths says the group works to get the best service at the best cost. Bud Sedwick, Comprehensive Service Act coordinator for Henry County, said the Henry County Community Policy Management Team actually has saved the county money compared with what it once spent on high-risk youths.
After 23 years with the Henry County Sheriffs Department, Chief Deputy Wayne Davis, 44, says he feels hes ready to be the next sheriff.

Davis says he has risen through the ranks, earning the position of criminal investigator, sergeant, lieutenant in the patrol division and lieutenant of criminal investigations, where he oversaw major criminal investigation cases within Henry County.

Ive lived my entire life here. I went to work for the Danville Police Department and worked there for eight months, and then I was hired here and have been at the Henry County Sheriffs Department since 2000, said Davis. Its a great opportunity to serve my community, and Ive taken every opportunity to get as much training and education for this job as possible.

In 2016, Davis was promoted to captain of the investigations division overseeing criminal investigations, VICE and narcotics investigations, the school resource officer unit and the street crimes unit.

I have performed additional duties, including internal affairs investigations and being the public information officer, Davis said. During the past seven years I have led SWAT Team members on over 60 high-risk operations, including armed barricaded subjects, narcotics search warrants and hostage situations, and am proud to say that all of them were conducted safely without incident.

It was announced last month that Henry County schools will have school resource officers (SROs) in all schools for the remainder of this school year. Previously there were SROs at all middle and high schools, but one SRO rotated to each of the school divisions nine elementary schools.

After having supervised SROs for seven years, its been a goal of mine, and the sheriffs office in general, to have officers in all the schools, said Davis. It was a joint effort with the school system, Henry County and the sheriffs office to get together and devise a funding formula. It will take eight more officers, but after looking at different models around the country, we decided to bring back our retired officers who still have certification and pay them an hourly wage.

Davis said any deputy designated as an SRO will be required to complete advanced training specific to those responsibilities.

We were able to add eight SROs without compromising any existing services, Davis said. The school board, county administrator, and board of supervisors all had to be on the same page to make this happen.

If elected sheriff, Davis said, he would retain the existing structure of the department while tweaking some operations to fit his vision.

In addition to SROs, well bring the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program back and build up our field training programs for new supervisors on the proper ways to manage personnel so we can grow new leaders behind us as we retire, said Davis. I also believe in the community policing model, so well expand that along with increasing our use of new tools like Facebook live, Twitter and the development of a podcast program to keep in touch with the community.

Davis said he intended to recognize deputies in his department more regularly for what they do in the community and will dip into the almost $1.2 million in assets seized over the past seven years to build a physical fitness center for officers on the property of the new Adult Detention Center.

It will be at no cost to the taxpayer, Davis said.

The Henry County Sheriffs Department is full-staff at 230 employees and is currently about 10 people short, but Davis said the department has been fortunate compared to other jurisdictions in the region with shortages as high as 30%.

With more than 1,900 hours of training since graduating from the law enforcement academy, Davis said, he believes in offering expanded training opportunities in multiple areas, including administrative management, leadership and supervision, investigations and tactical operations.

I graduated from the Virginia Forensic Science Academy School of Crime Scene Technology and achieved national internal investigations certification, said Davis. In February, I attained the Virginia Sheriffs Institute Certification. There are 123 sheriffs and an estimated 12,457 deputies and support staff across the Commonwealth and only 101 sheriffs and deputies have achieved this certification.

Also running for sheriff of Henry County is Del Mills, who retired in 2019 after 25 years of service with the department.

Daryl Hatcher is also listed with the Henry County Registrars Office as qualified to be on the ballot as a candidate for sheriff. Hatcher is the security and safety supervisor for SOVAH Health in Martinsville, Captain of the Fieldale-Collinsville Rescue Squad and a former game warden in Henry County.

Martinsville Captain Sandy Hines had announced plans to run, but withdrew.

The sheriff is elected by the people and is answerable to the people and I want to have the most transparent sheriffs department weve ever had, Davis said. I will work to move the sheriffs office into the future and establish strong bonds and insure the safety of every citizen.
The former jail nurse indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the August death of inmate Bradley Steven Hensley appeared Monday morning in Henry County Circuit, where she was appointed an attorney.

Deborah Sue Damron, 56, of Pikeville, Kentucky, was granted the appointment of William P. Will Davis of Rocky Mount and is scheduled to appear in Henry County Circuit Court again on May 2 to have her court date set.

Damron was arrested in Pike-ville and extradited to Henry County to await trial on the single charge.

Hensley was jailed on Aug. 2 in the Henry County Adult Detention Center and died on Aug. 6. His family blamed his death on the negligence of jail staff.

Hensley suffered from congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), an hereditary disorder of the adrenal glands. The family maintained in an interview with the Bulletin that Hensley was deprived of required medication that the family believes would have prevented his death.

Upon entering the ADC, Hensley made the staff aware of his medical history, a March 23 press release from the Henry County Sheriffs Office stated. Based on this information and his extensive pre-existing conditions, Hensley was placed under direct supervision and regularly monitored by the Wellpath medical services staff.

Wellpath is the independent agency contracted with the Henry County Sheriffs Department to provide medical services at the jail.

While reviewing video evidence, it was discovered the on-duty nurse employed by Wellpath medical services and responsible for inmate medical care did not perform medical checks as expected and required. Further investigation revealed this same nurse had falsified Mr. Hensleys medical records to reflect rounds and vitals checks that were never performed. Although the cause of death involved fentanyl, the investigation revealed this lack of care provided contributed to Mr. Hensleys death, the release stated.

The Chief Medical Examiners Office in Roanoke determined Hensley died of acute fentanyl toxicity with adrenal crisis due to congenital adrenal hyperplasia a contributing factor.

Robin Hensley, Brad Hensleys mother, told the Bulletin shortly after her sons death that both Brad and his sister, Jill, were born with the disease and developed a severe form of salt-wasting, a common condition of adults with CAH in which the adrenal glands make too little aldosterone, causing the body to be unable to retain enough sodium or salt.

The Hensleys said their children have been in medical distress multiple times before and without emergency treatment at a hospital, they would not have survived.

His cellmate said he [Brad] was coughing up blood, Robin Hensley said. Theyve got traffic cops running that jail. That girl at the front desk never could tell me anything.

CAH is an hereditary disorder of the adrenal glands, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says. The adrenal glands produce cortisol and regulate blood pressure and blood sugar, among other things.

If they had taken him to the hospital, hed be alive, Bobby Hensley, Brads father, told the Bulletin in August. I told them my sons life is in your hands.
A Newport News grand jury on Monday indicted the mother of the 6-year-old boy who shot his first grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School three months ago.

Deja Nicole Taylor, 25, of Newport News  whose son shot 25-year-old teacher Abby Zwerner during class on Jan. 6  was charged with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child.

Newport News prosecutors have also asked a Circuit Court judge to impanel a special grand jury to continue the investigation into any security issues that may have contributed to this shooting. This could include looking at Richneck administrators, the school system and anyone else.

Such a probe could take months  and could lead to more indictments.

Their investigation will continue as long as necessary to determine whether others are criminally responsible for the shooting of January 6, the Newport News Commonwealths Attorneys Office wrote in a news release Monday afternoon.

The criminal charges against the 6-year-olds mother come after a thorough investigation by Newport News Police Department and this office, the release said, saying the facts and the law support charging Deja Taylor with the felony and misdemeanor counts.

Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues, Newport News Commonwealths Attorney Howard Gwynn said in the release.

The news that a 6-year-old student shot his teacher during class at Richneck made headlines across the country and the world.

As the boy sat at his desk in his first grade classroom that day, he suddenly pulled a gun out of his front hoodie pocket, pointed it at his teacher  seated at a reading table less than 10 feet away  and fired a single round.

The bullet went through Zwerners left hand  which she held up as the boy opened fire  and then struck her in the upper chest and shoulder, where it remains today. Police have called the shooting an intentional act.

Zwerner, of York County, managed to shuttle 18 students out of the first grade classroom before seeking help at a school office.

Police Chief Steve Drew later said the 6-year-old used his mothers handgun, a Taurus 9mm. She legally purchased the firearm in York County, with the boy bringing it to school in his backpack.

Newport News Police turned their case file to Newport News Commonwealths Attorney Howard Gwynn in late February. The file included several binders of interviews and other documents, surveillance footage from the school and body camera footage from responding officers.

It wasnt clear what police detectives had recommended in terms of charges.

Gwynn has ruled out charging the 6-year-old, saying hes too young to have formed the criminal intent necessary. But the prosecutors office has looked into the case  and possible charges against others  for the past six weeks.

___

Grand jurors got case Monday

On Monday morning, prosecutors took their case to a seven-member Newport News Circuit Court grand jury, seeking direct indictments against Taylor.

The grand jury  which meets in private  returned two true bills, indicting Taylor on one felony and one misdemeanor count. Unlike regular trial juries that in Virginia have to be unanimous, grand juries act on majority rule.

Under the Virginia code section used to charge Taylor with felony child neglect, the grand jury contends shes shown a reckless disregard for the lives of others.

Any parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the care of a child under the age of 18 whose willful act or omission in the care of such child was so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life is guilty of a Class 6 felony, the statute says.

Thats punishable by up to five years behind bars.

The grand jury also indicted Taylor  at the prosecutions request  on the misdemeanor charge of allowing access to firearms by children.

That is, shes accused of recklessly leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen.

That charge can be brought even if the child wasnt hurt. The count is punishable by a year behind bars, bringing the potential jail time against Taylor to six years.

But basic questions are unanswered with the process.

If Taylor had been arrested by police under a traditional arrest warrant, Newport News magistrates would have likely required that probable cause for the crime  an outline of the evidence  be outlined in a publicly filed criminal complaint document.

But indictments filed in state Circuit Courts tend to be bare bones, meaning the detailed evidence might only come out as the case against Taylor proceeds. The indictments against her, for example, are unlikely to spell out how police believe the boy gained access to his mothers gun that day.

___

Gun was secured, mothers lawyer says

Taylor hasnt been arrested on the charges, with Taylors defense attorney, James Ellenson, having said that prosecutors have agreed to allow him to take Taylor to turn herself in.

Ellenson has said his client strongly maintains she kept the gun secured by a trigger lock, a mechanism that prevents the weapon from being fired.

Moreover, Ellenson asserted that the handgun was stored on the top shelf of a bedroom closet. Taylor has no idea how the boy gained access to the gun on the day of the shooting, Ellenson said.

She has no prior criminal record, according to Ellenson and a check of local courts.

___

Special grand jury to investigate further

As far as the special grand jury to look further into the case, such a panel is allowed under Virginia law by the motion of the commonwealths attorney of a particular jurisdiction.

The top prosecutor in each district can ask for the special grand jury  of between seven to 11 citizen members  to investigate and report on any condition that involves or tends to promote criminal activity.

It wasnt clear exactly what Newport News prosecutors are seeking to have the panel look into, and theres no set time frame for how long such an investigation could take. But the special grand jury  which under law will convene in private  could file more indictments depending on what they find.

The safety and security of Newport News students is of utmost importance, Gwynn added in the statement, saying the facts and the law will drive the decision. If the special grand jury determines that additional persons are criminally responsible under the law, it can return additional indictments.

As they investigate a case, special grand juries have the power under law to subpoena documents and compel people to testify under oath. Though witnesses can plead the Fifth  and decline to talk so as not to incriminate themselves  the procedure is a powerful investigatory tool to force witnesses to cooperate.

Under law, a special grand jury is authorized to issue a report of its findings, including any recommendations that it may deem appropriate.

Such report shall be sealed and not open to public inspection, other than by order of the court, the statute says, meaning a judge could order it unsealed at his or her discretion.

___

Lawsuit says assistant principal ignored warnings

In a lawsuit last week against the Newport News School Board, Zwerner contends that one administrator, Richneck Assistant Principal Ebony Parker, ignored several stark warnings that the boy had a gun on him that day.

Two days before the shooting, the complaint said, the boy took and threw Zwerners cell phone, shattering the glass. That led to a one-day suspension.

On Jan. 6, the complaint says, Zwerner told Parker the boy was in a violent mood and threatened to beat up a kindergartener during lunch. But Parker had no response ... refusing even to look up at (Zwerner) when she expressed her concerns, the complaint asserts.

During recess, Zwerner told a reading specialist and another teacher that she saw the 6-year-old taking something out of his backpack in the classroom. The reading specialist searched the boys pack  still in the classroom  but didnt find a weapon.

But when that reading specialist approached Parker, the complaint contends, she replied the boy has little pockets that were too small to hold a handgun.

The other first grade teacher pulled another student aside after recess and asked about a gun, the complaint says. That student then tearfully admitted that the 6-year-old showed him a gun at recess, the complaint alleges.

That teacher called the school office, the complaint says, urgently telling a Richneck music teacher about the concerns. But when the music teacher approached Parker, she said the boys backpack had already been searched.

When a guidance counselor sought permission to search the boy, the complaint says Parker denied the request on the grounds that the 6-year-olds mother would soon be by to pick him up.

The special grand jury will have its own discretion on what to investigate. But the newly convened panel would have the power to look into the conduct of school system officials as part of its investigation into whether to bring more charges.

The Commonwealth Attorneys Office is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all members of our community, particularly our children, the news release said. The office said it will make no further comment on the case so as not to interfere with the fairness of a trial by jury.

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Brandon Johnsons come-from-behind mayoral victory has electrified progressives in Chicago and around the nation. The progressive movement will celebrate the mayor-elect as a national advocate for the cause of, as he puts it, investing in people and social and racial justice.

Johnsons ascension to the fifth floor of City Hall also offers Republicans and conservatives a handy hammer to bludgeon Democrats over the violence and crime plaguing Americas big cities. Johnson rose from an obscure West Side politician to be elected the citys 57th mayor on the steam of his holistic approach to quelling urban violence and disinvestment. More policing is not the answer, he argues, and Chicago must instead attack the root causes of crime, he insists.

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On the run-up to last Tuesdays election, Johnson was attacked for his long history of supporting movements and calls to defund the police. For example, consider the video of a December 2020 appearance at WCPT-AM 820 in which Johnson discusses the defund the police effort. I dont look at it as a slogan, he said. Its an actual real political goal.

Earlier that year, Johnson spoke on the panel We Dont Call Police: A Town Hall on a Police-Free Future in which he praised organizers for pushing an agenda that actually can transform peoples lives, the Tribune recently reported.

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Johnson got elected by denying he ever said such a thing. He now assures voters he will not cut police resources. But you can be sure, as the nation moves into the 2024 presidential cycle, that critics will revive Johnsons words and deeds as part of a strategy to discredit progressive Democrats and other big-city Democrats. Conservatives will make the case that the Democrats are coddling criminals and are anti-police.

They have had plenty of practice.

Donald Trump has been demonizing Chicago and its Democratic Party leaders since his first presidential run. Mayor Lori Lightfoot was a favorite punching bag. In the heat of the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump offered the highly dubious claim that a top member of the Chicago Police Department told him the citys violence problem could be eliminated in one week. The mysterious officer (who was never identified) was supposedly suggesting that Lightfoot and other leading Democrats were soft on crime and deliberately allowing violent offenders to run rampant.

In June 2020, Trump wrote a public letter to Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker to say he was horrified about an escalation of violence in Chicago. He likened the citys violence to the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Your lack of leadership on this important issue continues to fail the people you have sworn to protect, Trump wrote.

During his second presidential campaign, Trump accused Joe Biden and other Democrats of allowing violence to flourish in big cities. Look at Chicago, whats going on in Chicago, he declared at a 2020 presidential debate with Biden.

Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of the Citadel hedge fund, piled on during an October 2021 discussion at the Economic Club of Chicago.

Its becoming ever more difficult to have this as our global headquarters, a city which has so much violence, the conservative billionaire said. Chicago is like Afghanistan on a good day. And thats a problem.

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If the city didnt change course, Griffin warned, he would pull Citadels headquarters out of Chicago. The following June, Griffin announced he was moving to Miami.

[ Ken Griffin talks about the Illinois pension crisis and a once-secret meeting with Gov. J.B. Pritzker ]

And so, it will continue. Conservative politicians and activists can make hay as the cities struggle with burgeoning urban ills such as violent crime, homelessness, poverty and massive economic inequity. Big-city mayors are favored targets for those eager to accuse them of leading failing governments, being anti-police and coddling criminals at the expense of their constituents. Those leaders, especially Black mayors such as the soon-to-be-inaugurated Johnson, will be the treasured whipping boys and girls for Republicans.

When he takes the oath of office May 15, Johnson will join the three other African Americans who lead the nations largest cites: New York Citys Eric Adams, Karen Bass of Los Angeles and Sylvester Turner in Houston. They will be known as The Big Four. They will be even bigger targets.

Meanwhile, Illinois leading Democrats are on tenterhooks as they await word on the location of the 2024 Democratic National Convention. The competition reportedly will come down to Chicago and Atlanta. Biden will make the final choice. If Chicago gets his nod, the Republican presidential campaign TV ads will write themselves.

[ Steve Chapman: Political convention sites simply dont matter on Election Day ]

The Democrats are meeting in Chicago, a city with out-of-control violence, the announcer will harangue. There is chaos on the streets. And the guy who is running Chicago wants to defund the police. Cue up the Johnson video.

Laura Washington is a political commentator and longtime Chicago journalist. Her columns appear in the Tribune each Monday. Write to her at LauraLauraWashington@gmail.com.

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Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
More than 100 people are gathered this week in Asheville to brainstorm ways to improve flood resilience in western North Carolina.

Historically, the states flood strategies have primarily targeted coastal areas, but its rural, agricultural and mountainous side has also borne the brunt of hurricanes and tropical storms.

Mary Roderick, regional planner for the Land of Sky Regional Council, said landslides are a big concern in western North Carolina, like the one which worsened Tropical Storm Freds effects in 2021.

A landslide occurred, which further backed up the floodwater, Roderick recounted. It just created a wall of water that wiped out peoples homes and took peoples lives.

Conference participants will hear from the North Carolina State Climate office about future potential climate risks for the state. The Pew Charitable Trusts is hosting the invitation-only event. Pew estimated for every dollar invested in resilience, $6 are saved in terms of cleanup and other flood recovery costs.

One way the state hopes to address the issues is through the North Carolina Flood Resiliency Blueprint, a $20 million plan to develop risk-management processes and establish a method to prioritize and implement flood-control projects across the state.

Kristiane Huber, officer for The Pew Charitable Trusts Flood-Prepared Communities Initiative, said conferencegoers will explore fresh ideas for tackling such challenges.

In working with regions like western North Carolina, really thinking about how those smaller communities have fewer resources and can be so much more impacted by a flood that maybe doesnt make headlines is really key to thinking about that long-term resilience, Huber explained.

The state Office of Recovery and Resilience, and National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center at the University of North Carolina-Asheville are among the participants at this weeks conference. In all, more than 1.3 million acres in North Carolina face flood risks, affecting $8 billion in of property and 2,500 miles of roads.
The N.C. Court of Appeals has ruled that a McDowell County man who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in August 2021 received a fair trial.

Last week, the state Court of Appeals issued a ruling in the case of the state of North Carolina vs. Austin Tylor Edwards.

Edwards was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in August 2021 in McDowell County Superior Court. He appealed that verdict to the state appellate court which heard the case in January.

The case is about a fatal wreck that happened in December 2019. During that wreck, Edwards drove along a highway in Marion with two passengers, one of whom was in the front passenger seat.

During his trial in Marion, a woman testified that a few minutes before the wreck occurred, she was driving on the same road. She testified that it was raining and Edwards vehicle approached her from behind, before passing her and speeding up quickly down the road. About a mile ahead, she noticed Edwards wrecked his vehicle and she called 911.

The investigating law enforcement officer testified that he arrived at the scene shortly after the 911 call. Edwards told him that he was driving his vehicle when he went around a curve, lost control, and hit a bank. The officer saw Edwards vehicle in the road with heavy damage and the front-seat passenger in a ditch being treated by emergency responders. He determined Edwards lost control of his vehicle, and the passengers side struck a tree, causing the front passenger, who was unrestrained, to be ejected from the car and suffer fatal injuries.

In his report, the officer estimated Edwards had been traveling 70 mph in a 45 mph zone.

During his trial in McDowell County Superior Court, Edwards was convicted by a jury of reckless driving and involuntary manslaughter. Judge Tommy Davis presided over the trial.

Edwards appealed this verdict to the N.C. Court of Appeals. His primary argument on appeal is that the officers non-expert opinion that he was traveling at 70 mph should not have been admitted into evidence.

In its decision, the N.C. Court of Appeals concedes the officer was not properly qualified as an expert to offer his opinion but argues (Edwards) failed to properly object to the admission of the opinion. The State also argues that assuming any error occurred, it did not amount to reversible error.

The decision states: Specifically, other evidence at trial tended to show that the area the woman driver described to the officer as the area Defendant passed her was a no-passing zone; Defendants car had passed her and quickly sped up; the roadway was wet at the time of the accident; at least two tires on Defendants car were slick with virtually no tread, and were unsafe for the road; at least one of Defendants tires appeared to have tread below the legal limit; Defendants car was heavily damaged as a result of the accident; and the force of the impact was so great that the victim was expelled from the vehicle. Based on this other evidence, we cannot say that, absent the evidence of speed, the verdict probably would have been different.

For the reasons stated above, we conclude that Defendant received a fair trial, free from reversible error, reads the conclusion by the N.C. Court of Appeals.
The oldest chapel in the Indian Ocean was built by the Portuguese 500 years ago and will be renovated in 2023, with a project full of history and details.

The rehabilitation project drew from the mysticism and amazement that the building provokes in those who visit, explains the architect who did the work. During days when I was in the chapel, I could witness visitors who prostrated themselves, who knelt, made prayers, even some who were not religious admired the place, the architect Muahammad Cassimo tells media.

They felt the weight of the sites history.

It was on a starry moonlit night that he thought that with a discreet, yellow light, the chapel would gain an environment that would match the visitors reactions, in an environment that would be accessible during night visits.

The lighting is planned and budgeted for, and will become a reality. In addition, the chapel of Nossa Senhora do Baluarte boasts several rare and astonishing features.

It is the oldest masonry construction on the entire African coast of the Indian Ocean, the oldest European building standing today, set on a coral bank, right by the sea (on a high tide in 2021, the waves covered it, says the guide) and was built even before the fortress of Mozambique Island was built, which looks more like a giant beside it.

The building withstood attacks from the Portuguese armada, overcame cyclones, but now has its base gutted by five centuries of tides and its skeleton corroded by saltpeter, impregnated by the wind.

The governments of Portugal and Mozambique and the construction company Mota Engil signed in February a memorandum of understanding for the rehabilitation that should start in May.

One of the biggest problems are the flaws in the foundation, whose wall was decomposed, leaving the support threatened by holes that reach three meters deep, where the waves enter and take away the embankments, leaving the stones without support.

In the limit, if nothing was done, part of the chapel could collapse in the waves.

But the restoration of the base shows how the work will have several peculiarities: in that section it will only be possible to work at low tide and with extra care.

In addition, in the chapel, there are architectural elements that we could even call archaeological and for the recovery of which the presence of Mozambican and Portuguese specialists is required, as is the case of a walled tomb that was vandalized.

There are 12 tombs here, all of important people, explains Momade Raisse, guide of the fortress of Sao Sebastiao and the chapel of Nossa Senhora do Baluarte.Chapel
The South African government announced at the weekend that its request for the extradition of brothers Atul and Rajesh Gupta, at the heart of a massive state corruption scandal involving former President Jacob Zuma, has been denied by a court in the United Arab Emirates.

Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said the government was informed on Thursday evening of a Dubai courts decision not to allow the extradition of the two brothers, who were arrested in the same city in June.

We were shocked and dismayed to learn that the extradition hearing was held in the Dubai court on February 13, 2023, and that our extradition request was denied, Lamola said in a statement.

The two Guptas, along with a third brother Ajay, of Indian origin and a formidable trio of businessmen, are accused of looting the state coffers, with the complicity of Zuma, during his nine years in power (2009-2018). South Africa made an extradition request in July, shortly after the brothers were arrested in Dubai.

The trio fled South Africa shortly after a commission chaired by Justice Raymond Zondo was established in 2018 to investigate state corruption. At the center of the extradition request is a questionable public contract worth the equivalent of 1.5 million euros. A small part of the accumulated charges against the Gupta brothers.
The Mozambican police arrested, five individuals, two of them officers of the corporation, suspected of robbery and theft of gold and money in a mining company in the district of Manica, in the province of the same name.

In the case of the officers, political and legal observers attribute the deviations to the poor recruitment process and the low salaries in the sector.

A third officer who was part of the group, assigned to the border guard police, is on the run.

The three police officers, in the company of three other civilians, allegedly took the corporations uniform and gun, which they used to threaten the mining companys security guards and steal three kilos of raw gold and 750 thousand meticais (about 12 thousand dollars).

One of the agents is a member of the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR), the second has already been expelled from the police ranks, certainly for bad behavior, and a third member, active, who is presumed to be assigned to the border guard police, is on the run, said Mateus Mindu, spokesman for the police in Manica, stressing that the agents had fired AKM shots before the robbery.

This is not the first time that police officers have been involved in crimes in Manica province.
Forsatin, a Forum of support to autonomists in Tindouf, revealed, in an article published on its website Saturday, the polisario militias repression and abuse targeting families living in the Tindouf camps, in Algeria.

The armed militia attacks unarmed individuals and massacres families, without differentiating between children and the elderly, men and women.

This abusive behavior resulted in a psychological pressure on the camps inhabitants, and led to collective and individual retaliation against the terrorist polisario leaders, Forsatin said.

Enough is enough, the Sahrawis are breaking their silence and documenting in various ways the torture, abuse, and intimidation they are facing inside the camps, the forum said, calling for the rescue of the Sahrawis from the oppression perpetuated by the polisario.
King Mohammed VI on Monday inaugurated a Proximity Medical Center in the new city of Errahma in Casablanca, which required an overall investment of 73 million dirhams.

The Sovereign visited, on this occasion, the various wings of this project established by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity. The Project translates the kings commitment to improve medical services, to consolidate healthcare for populations in vulnerable situations and to ensure a comprehensive, sustainable, and integrated human development.

The implementation of this center is in line with the Sovereigns efforts to promote the access of the underprivileged to basic proximity and quality healthcare, and to ensure a periodic and regular medical follow-up of people whose health condition requires specialized consultations.

Providing 24/7 care, the new Proximity Medical Center, which will benefit nearly 60,000 people per year, will alleviate the pressure on existing hospital facilities in the region, as well as avoid long trips for some poor patients.

It will serve a population of more than 300,000 inhabitants of the new town of Errahma and the surrounding areas, thus ensuring greater complementarity in the health map at the level of the Region.

Like those inaugurated by the Sovereign in the El Youssoufia district in Rabat and Sidi Moumen in Casablanca, and those in Temara and Tangier (Beni Makada district), the new Proximity Medical Center in Errahma is part of a comprehensive program conducted by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity and aimed at supporting the national medical sector.

This program focuses in particular on strengthening the existing health care offer, setting up a local health care network accessible to the population and integrating a complementary social approach into the mechanisms for supporting patients.
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Credit: Kyoto University

A study published in the journal Stem Cell Reports on March 23, led by Dr. Ryosuke Tsuchimochi and Professor Jun Takahashi, examined the effects of combining cell transplantation and gene therapy for axonal outgrowth in the central nervous system. The authors demonstrated the potential of this combinatorial therapy for promoting axonal regeneration in patients with central nervous system injuries.

Stroke and traumatic brain/spinal cord injuries often damage the corticospinal tract (CST), composed of descending axonal tracts from the motor cortex down the spinal cord, that innervates motor neurons to activate skeletal muscles for controlling voluntary movements. Pharmacological and surgical interventions, in conjunction with rehabilitation, can maintain some lost motor functions, but patients with such acute neural injuries often suffer from lifelong severe motor impairment.

Cell replacement therapythe implantation of new neurons into damaged brain regionsis viewed as a last hope that could help patients recover sufficient motor functions to live a normal life. The research team previously demonstrated that brain tissues transplanted into injured mouse brains could find their way to the CST and spinal cord but believed that further optimization of the host environment was necessary to promote CST reconstruction and functional recovery.

The researchers decided to test the combination of cell transplantation and gene therapy to optimize the host environment in the central nervous system to enhance axonal extension and promote outgrowth by the transplanted brain cells. Specifically, the researchers used an adeno-associated virus (AAV) to deliver a transgene encoding L1CAM, one of four axon guidance molecules tested in the study, into the host mouse motor cortex before the implanting of embryonic brain tissue.

Among the axon guidance molecules tested, L1CAM was the most effective at promoting axonal extensions by the implanted embryonic cerebral grafts. Indeed, axons from the donor tissue were observed to reach the cervical spinal cord in animals with L1CAM transgene expression, as early as one week following cell transplantation and continued to survive up to three months at the time of analysis.

The study highlights the potential of combinatorial therapy for promoting axonal regeneration in patients with central nervous system injuries. Further research is needed to explore the safety and efficacy of this approach in clinical settings.

More information: Ryosuke Tsuchimochi et al, Viral delivery of L1CAM promotes axonal extensions by embryonic cerebral grafts in mouse brain, Stem Cell Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.02.012 Journal information: Stem Cell Reports
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Two new studies led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shed light on current U.S. hospital practices.

In one, the researchers found that the prices hospitals negotiate with commercial health insurance companies that get passed along to insured patients frequently exceed the cash prices hospitals unilaterally set for uninsured patients. In the other study, the researchers found an association between greater payment of trustees at U.S. non-profit hospitals and less provision of charitable care.

Both studies were published online April 3 in Health Affairs.

In the hospital pricing study, the researchers analyzed prices for 70 common "shoppable" services disclosed by 2,379 U.S. hospitals as of September 2022 under the new Hospital Price Transparency Rule that went into effect in 2021. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services defines routine services for which patients can compare prices in advance as "shoppable." The rule, intended to encourage lower prices through competition, requires all U.S. hospitals to post publicly their cash pricesthe prices paid by uninsured patientsas well as prices hospitals have negotiated with commercial insurers for covered services.

For their analysis, the researchers used data from Turquoise Health, a data service company that collects hospital pricing information. On average across the 70 services, for nearly half of these services47%the cash prices were lower than or the same as the median insurance-paid prices for the same procedure in the same hospital and service setting. "Evaluation and management services" and "medicine and surgery" were the service categories that were most likely to have lower cash prices. The analysis also showed that nonprofit and government hospitalswhich tend to serve a greater proportion of uninsured patientswere more likely to offer lower cash prices than insurer prices.

The findings suggest that in settings where market forces are more prevalentin hospitals with more uninsured patients paying cash prices, for examplecompetition may be driving cash prices lower.

"Some insurance companies, by not negotiating lower prices with hospitals, ultimately shift costs to patients and employers through higher premiums and higher out-of-pocket payments," says study senior author Ge Bai, Ph.D., a professor in the Bloomberg School's Department of Health Policy and Management, and a professor of accounting at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.

Bai suggests that self-insured employers should consider using hospitals' cash prices as references in price negotiationsor even contracting directly with low cash-price providers.

She notes, however, that at the time of the study, nearly half of the general acute care hospitals required to implement the Hospital Price Transparency Rule still had not posted most of their prices for mandated shoppable procedures. So, future data might yield different results.

"Tighter enforcement may be needed to realize this Rule's potential to lower prices," she says.

In a second hospital-related study, thought to be the first of its kind, Bai and colleagues examined compensation for the trustees who oversee nonprofit hospitals. These hospitals enjoy major tax benefits in exchange for delivering charitable care to low-income uninsured and underinsured patients and providing other community benefits. The trustees of these institutionsoften wealthy philanthropiststraditionally have been expected to serve without compensation, in keeping with these hospitals' charitable missions.

The researchers, using Internal Revenue Service data for 2019, found that 37.3% of the 2,058 nonprofit hospitals in the U.S. compensated their trustees. These trustee-compensating hospitals, compared to other nonprofit hospitals that did not compensate their trustees, delivered less charitable care as a proportion of their overall expenses: a 1.6% charity-care-to-expense ratio compared to 2.2% for nonprofits with uncompensated trustees. The researchers calculated that a $10,000 increase in average annual trustee compensation was associated with between $66,000 and $77,000 less charity care annually.

"These findings suggest that some nonprofit hospital boards are more mission-driven than money-driven, and that difference is reflected in their provision of charity care," Bai says.

More information: Ge Bai et al, Trustee Compensation And Charity Care Provision In US Nonprofit Hospitals, Health Affairs (2023). DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00620 Yang Wang et al, The Relationships Among Cash Prices, Negotiated Rates, And Chargemaster Prices For Shoppable Hospital Services, Health Affairs (2023). DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00977 Journal information: Health Affairs
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The number of term breech presentations that were undiagnosed during the study period in St. Georges University Hospital. Dotted line represents the fitted regression curve with splines. Credit: PLOS Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004192

A retrospective study using data from St. George's (SGH) and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals (NNUH) in the U.K. has examined the impact of routine third-trimester ultrasound on undiagnosed breech presentations.

In a paper published in PLOS Medicine, researchers led by Samantha Knights from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Smriti Prasad of the Fetal Medicine Unit, St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, observed that a policy of routine third-trimester ultrasound was associated with a reduction in term breech presentations with an improvement in neonatal outcomes.

In an ideal birth, a baby's head is positioned downward (vertex position) and exits the vagina first. In the breech position, the baby's buttocks or feet are downward. Breech is common in early pregnancy, though most of these babies will turn on their own to a head-down position by week 36. The complications of breech position do not usually occur until it is time to deliver and can go unnoticed late into the third trimester. Breech position at delivery occurs in about 3% to 4% of full-term pregnancies, and is higher in pre-term.

Complications can be severe, with arms and legs out of position they can become dislocated or fractured. The umbilical cord can be poorly positioned, cutting off oxygen leading to potential nerve or brain damage. Breech vaginal birth is associated with an increase in both perinatal death and morbidity as well as maternal morbidity.

Correct knowledge of fetal position at term is essential for providing informed pregnancy and delivery care. Knowing ahead of time allows women to choose how to proceed. There can be an attempt to use physical manipulation (external cephalic version), a method that involves placing hands on the abdomen and applying firm pressure to turn the baby to a head-down position. Cesarean or vaginal birth can be selected, each with perceived risks and benefits.

The authors of the paper, "Impact of point-of-care ultrasound and routine third-trimester ultrasound on undiagnosed breech presentation and perinatal outcomes: An observational multicentre cohort study," point to substantial evidence that clinical examination is not accurate enough for determination of fetal presentation, with unacceptably high rates of missed breech presentations at term.

The study looked at the before and after results of an implemented routine third-trimester ultrasound in two hospitals to gauge the effectiveness of the additional protocol. Women with multiple pregnancy, preterm (birth prior to 37 weeks), congenital abnormality, and those already undergoing planned cesarean section for breech presentation were excluded.

Before implementation, data sets were 16,777 births at SGH and 5,119 at NNUH, with 7,351 and 4,575, respectively, born after. The rate of breech presentation in labor was consistent in both groups (3% to 4%) and is the statistically expected rate. In the SGH cohort, the percentage of all term breech presentations that were undiagnosed was 14.2% (82/578) before and 2.8% (7/251) after the implementation of additional screening, a 71% reduction. In the NNUH cohort, the percentage of all term breech presentations that were undiagnosed was 16.2% (27/167) before and 3.5% (5/142) after the implementation, a 69% reduction.

The researchers conclude that both third-trimester ultrasound by sonographers or with a Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) used by trained midwives effectively reduced the number of undiagnosed breech presentations at delivery and resulted in fewer associated neonatal complications.

More information: Samantha Knights et al, Impact of point-of-care ultrasound and routine third trimester ultrasound on undiagnosed breech presentation and perinatal outcomes: An observational multicentre cohort study, PLOS Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004192 Journal information: PLoS Medicine

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot presides over a special City Council meeting to vote for a new map of the citys 50 wards at City Hall in Chicago on May 16, 2022 (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)

Rage Against the Machine has been my music of choice since The Associated Press called the Chicago mayoral election for Brandon Johnson. A real modern-day David vs. Goliath battle in which one candidate, whom everyone wrote off in the beginning, built a grassroots base that hasnt been seen since Mayor Harold Washington upset Chicagos machine decades ago.

Two major themes from Johnsons campaign rang through during his victory speech: a mayor for all of the people of Chicago and a city that works for its people. It is in this common cause that a path forward for resident-led, independent ward mapping should be achievable.

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During election campaigning, 17 candidates who later won their aldermanic races and Johnson all resoundingly said that they support a new way to conduct ward remapping that puts Chicagoans ahead of special interests.

The incoming City Council members who stood up to support people-powered mapping are geographically, racially and ideologically diverse. From our citys northern border in Rogers Park to its southern border in West Pullman, from democratic socialists to moderates and lakefront liberals, from members of the Black Caucus to the Latino Caucus, this coalition of elected officials can build support for a fair ward mapping process and have the best chance at uniting the city around equitable representation going forward.

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The problem, as we saw with the last redistricting cycle, is that when self-interest and politics lead the process, it is residents and communities who are harmed. You dont need a deep-dive analysis of the new ward map to see political retribution, such as the 36th Ward being strung across an industrial no-mans land along Grand Avenue to capture parts of the West Town and Montclare neighborhoods.

[ Don't miss: In 36th Ward, two-term Ald. Gilbert Villegas declares victory over CTU leader ]

The 2nd Ward no longer resembles a lobster, but it still lacks any coherent rhyme or reason that matches any of its communities needs. Englewood residents, for another decade, will have to work with five aldermen in order to advocate for their community in city government.

The Peoples Map, an effort led by an independent 13-member resident commission, laid down a foundation for how an independent remapping process could be done in Chicago that centers people and communities first. It showed how communities could be brought together in an open and transparent process in which people are listened to and community members guide the map drawing.

We have seen similar independent redistricting models work in other major cities that have, by leaps and bounds, solicited more engagement and meaningful input from community members. If you dont believe me, take a look at how the independent remapping process in Austin, Texas, worked and then compare that with what Chicagos City Council disclosed about its remapping process. Its not difficult to spot the differences.

Austins independent mapping process provided residents with more than 40 public meetings, which included language services and translation, to weigh in on the map proposal. Thats in stark contrast to the Chicago City Councils 12 hearings, which catered exclusively to English-speaking residents. Austins independent commission issued a 55-page report detailing its rationale for district lines and how the public was involved before and after draft maps were released. Its process resulted in more than 400 pages of feedback from residents.

Only 80 people participated in the Chicago hearings, many of whom asked for more time for the public to be involved or simply tried to make sense of what actually happened rather than provide specific feedback on how wards should be shaped. Outside of vague rhetoric, the City Council didnt give residents any information about why Chicagos wards ended up the way they did.

It is time for those elected in 2023 to sit down with residents and advocates and build the policy solution that ensures a people-led mapping process is something from which future generations will reap benefits. Chicagos new elected officials can unite the city by putting people in the drivers seat for mapping.

When Lori Lightfoot ran for mayor in 2019, she promised she would back independent ward mapping. Instead of fulfilling that commitment, she put politics ahead of Chicagoans and made a political decision to publicly stay out of the remapping process. Johnson can succeed where Lightfoot failed and unite all corners of the city by leading a new effort, with a new council, to create a fair and community-driven ward mapping process.

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As Johnson said in response to CHANGE Illinois candidate survey, Now more than ever, it is absolutely imperative that we pass immediate redistricting reform and empower residents to participate in democracy in every way, shape, and form.

Ryan Tolley is the policy director of CHANGE Illinois and the CHANGE Illinois Action Fund, which supported the creation of a resident-led redistricting commission that created the Peoples Map in 2021.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
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An emulated randomized trial performed using observational data from more than 43,000 adults with primary hyperparathyroidism found that parathyroidectomy had no estimated effect on long-term kidney function in older adults when compared to observation. However, early parathyroidectomy may preserve kidney function in patients younger than 60 years of age with primary hyperparathyroidism. The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a common endocrine disorder associated with an increased risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The only treatment is surgical removal of one or more abnormal parathyroid glands (parathyroidectomy). Current guidelines recommend parathyroidectomy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and CKD, in part to mitigate the risk for and effects of CKD progression. However, there are limited data documenting the association of parathyroidectomy with long-term kidney function to support this recommendation.

Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine studied 43,697 adults diagnosed with primary hyperthyroidism to compare the incidence of a sustained decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 50 percent for those treated with parathyroidectomy versus nonoperative management.

The researchers found that the weighted cumulative incidence of a sustained eGFR decline of at least 50 percent was 5.1 percent at 5 years, regardless of how primary hyperparathyroidism was managed. In the overall cohort, there was no difference in the adjusted rate of a sustained decline in eGFR among patients treated with parathyroidectomy versus nonoperative management. However, subgroup analyses indicated that patients younger than 60 years treated with early parathyroidectomy were more likely to preserve long-term kidney function.

According to the authors, these findings suggest that preservation of kidney function should not be a primary consideration when making treatment decisions about parathyroidectomy in older adults with primary hyperparathyroidism and that focus on fracture risk and quality of life is more important in this group. However, clinicians should discuss the potential benefit of early parathyroidectomy to reduce the risk for CKD and associated complications in patients younger than 60 years who are diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism.

More information: Estimated Effect of Parathyroidectomy on Long-Term Kidney Function in Adults With Primary Hyperparathyroidism, Annals of Internal Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.7326/M22-2222 Journal information: Annals of Internal Medicine
Native American artifacts at two sites on the Flathead Indian Reservation are among the beneficiaries of a record-setting grant disbursement from the Foundation for Montana History this spring.

The foundation released $222,460 across 29 projects in its 2023 funding cycle. That was the largest single-year amount in the grant program's history, according to foundation President Charlene Porsild.

Growing our grant program is at the core of our mission, Porsild said in an email. The milestones reached this year make us more determined than ever to continue mobilizing the generosity of donors on behalf of community-based history across the state.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes received a $7,400 grant to rehouse part of its permanent collection in the Three Chiefs Cultural Center near Ronan. The grant will pay for shelving and materials to store artifacts.

We want to continue to curate and care for our holdings and items which tell our stories, Three Chiefs Director Marie Torosian said on Monday. We like to tell our story and share our histories and we need preserve the items to be able to tell those stories.

The Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana also got a grant for long-term storage improvements. The $6,500 allotment pays for new shelving and preservation equipment for its artifact collection in Charlo.

In Mineral County, the Cedar Creek Historic Mining District volunteers will use a $8,500 grant to create eight interpretative signs about Montana's last gold rush period. They will be installed throughout the mining area.

In Ravalli County, a $3,750 grant will go to preserving three log buildings at the St. Mary's Mission. Preservation experts will oil and patch holes on the buildings to preserve them for future generations.

Also in the western region, the Friends of Libby received a $10,000 grant to replace the roof of the Hotel Libby. This is part of a multi-phase renovation project aimed at opening the building to the public.

The Lincoln County Library received $9,500 to digitize its photo collection. When finished, more than 200 photos will be available through the Montana History Portal.

In Polson, a $5,760 grant will pay for repairing a stone stairway and porch at the historic Montecahto Club.

The Foundation for Montana History is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity raising money for history and preservation projects across Montana. A complete list of its 2023 grants can be found online.
Two of the highest-ranking elected officials in Missoula, both Democrats, excoriated the Republican-controlled Montana Legislature on Monday afternoon for what they say is the state lawmaking bodys push to reduce local control and discriminate against segments of the population.

Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick and Missoula Mayor Jordan Hess spoke at City Club Missoulas annual State of the Community luncheon along with University of Montana President Seth Bodnar. They were asked by an audience member to state anything they were happy or unhappy with from the Legislatures session this year.

Both Slotnick and Hess made an apparent reference to a proposed bill that would block gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Senate Bill 99 was introduced by Sen. John Fuller, a Whitefish Republican. Another pending bill would make it lawful to deadname and misgender trans youth.

It does appear that our Legislature is hell-bent on getting involved in the most intimate details of peoples lives, Slotnick said. This, to the degree theyre successful, will really mess people up and their ability to be happy.

Hess said hes in complete opposition to the proposed legislation.

What I would do is I would say that as your mayor, to our trans youth for instance, you are valued, he said. I see you, I support you. And our community will envelop you with love and support and the resources that you need to thrive in our community. Unequivocally, full stop, we will do those things. We will be a supportive community when our state isnt and I commit to that.

He said the city will continue working on its hiring and internal policy practices to make sure they are following the recommendations of the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) advisory board.

I think a lot of what the Legislature is doing is really externally focused, Hess continued. And its really, frankly in my opinion, through a lens of hate. And so in response to that what I would stand up and say is that hate is not the path that we take in Missoula, Montana and its not the path that I will take.

Hess and Slotnick were also critical of several bills that would limit the authority of local governments to enforce certain rules.

Hess said hes met with mayors around the state on the issue.

Without fail, from around the state, big city, small city, Republican, Democrat, mayors are pretty uniformly irritated and disgusted with whats happening to local decision-making, Hess said. And I think that we have an opportunity between now and 2025 to really highlight the importance of local decision-making and the really rich, strong tradition of local decision-making in our states history. Its something that we have had for decades and its suddenly under threat.

He said local governments have lost 13 different powers in the last 10 years.

And there will be many, many more of those by the end of this legislative session, he explained.

Specifically, he noted, there are a number of bills that would curtail or eliminate Tax Increment Financing.

Which is our single greatest tool for investing in our community, Hess said. We have utilized Tax Increment Financing recently to invest in the Villagio apartments on the Northside. Thats over 200 units of income-qualified housing for people making between 30% and 70% of Area Median Income that would not have happened if this tool was taken away. It is our only tool to invest in workforce housing.

He said Missoula has implemented a monitoring system on short-term rentals so the city can determine what impacts those types of housing units are having on the housing affordability crisis. The Legislature, Hess said, is considering bills that would strip away a local governments ability to regulate short-term rentals.

Frankly, right now, its waiting to see what the Legislature does, he said. I have a strong sense that they will preempt our ability to have any regulation in this area, which would be a real detriment to local decision-making. And not just for us but for the Bozemans and the Whitefishs that have far more exacerbated housing concerns than we have and have, again, one less tool at the end of the day to deal with the problem.

Slotnick said he wants the Legislature to allow local governments to come up with ways to collect revenue of all the tourists that visit here rather than having to rely mainly on property tax collections.

The Legislature is threatening to monkey with our tax system, and not all tax reform is good reform, Slotnick said. And the Legislature, so it seems, appears to believe that locals are spending out of control and theyre attempting to curtail our ability to generate revenue as a way to do tax reform. And the consequences of this, if theyre successful, will be felt by all of us in terms of things like roads and public safety and schools and everything that our public dollars pay for.

On the positive side, Slotnick said, all the county governments in the state that would be affected if the Legislature takes aim at the counties like Missoula County that have a large urban center.

Were not the only county, there are 56 counties, he said. And the Legislature really only has a few of them in their gunsights, yet we all play by the same rules. So its a little bit difficult just to be massively punitive on one or two, though (state lawmakers) are pretty creative.

Slotnick believes that theres a double standard at play.

It does seem like this crazy bit of hypocrisy that our state Legislature shakes its fist at Washington, D.C. and says local control  a solution for Massachusetts doesnt work here,' Slotnick said. We need to design our own solutions, fully aware of our own situation. And yet it seems that local control stops at Helena.

"And Jordan is right, we all need to be pushing on this," Slotnick added. "And thankfully, since all these counties and cities play by the same rules, there is a bit of a pushback but I get the sense of legislators being kind of giddy right now on their own sense of possibilities.

He noted there are some good bills making their way through the Capitol, including a few that would set aside some of the states budget surplus toward infrastructure.

Even our Legislature recognizes that when you have extra money you invest it in something really solid and strong long-term, like infrastructure, Slotnick said.
A bill to codify some parts of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act into Montana law passed out of committee and will head to the Senate floor for a vote.

But new amendments drew criticism from some supporters.

Known as ICWA, the Indian Child Welfare Act determines how Native children are put in foster or adoptive homes, prioritizing family and tribal placements. The federal law was enacted in 1978 in response to decades of state child-welfare and private adoption agencies separating Native children from their families. Even with ICWA in place, Native children continue to be overrepresented in foster care.

The law, which is often referred to as the gold standard of child welfare, has come under threat recently, as the Supreme Court considers a case challenging its constitutionality. The court is expected to issue a ruling in July. At least ten other states have codified ICWA into state law, including Wyoming.

Whats in the bill?

House Bill 317 commits the state to preventing, when possible, out-of-home placements of Native children that are inconsistent with the rights of parents and the interest of tribes, and to finding placements when necessary that preserve and honor a childs tribal culture and connections.

The bill, brought by Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, received strong support in House and Senate committee hearings. Supporters in various hearings have argued that codifying ICWA at the state level is especially important if ICWA falls at the federal level.

The Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Safety on Friday passed HB 317 with an amendment brought by Sen. Dennis Lenz, R-Billings.

Lenz has also introduced a separate bill that would expand certain aspects of ICWA to apply to all Montana children. That bill has also progressed through the legislature.

Whats in the amendment?

Lenzs amendment to Windy Boys bill largely revised redundant language and clarified certain concepts.

The amendment also added two new sections at the bottom of the bill  one that sets a termination date for June 30, 2025 and one that outlines "contingent voidness."

Lenz said if the Supreme Court strikes ICWA down completely, then Montana ICWA will become law for two years. But if the law is not struck down completely at the federal level, he said "it's a moot point," adding, "we don't really need to have it in Montana law because we'd be left with federal ICWA."

He added that the two-year sunset date allows lawmakers to reevaluate the law and decide whether they'd like to keep or change it.

Sen. Susan Webber, D-Browning, who serves on the committee, thanked Lenz for his work on the amendment and said she agreed with much of it. But she pushed back on the new sections.

I kind of had a little heartburn on that, she said referencing the new sections. Should the federal ICWA go down, I want Montana to be able to support the Indian children of this state.

Webber said HB 317 is a priority for the American Indian Caucus and referenced the looming Supreme Court case, saying she hopes Montana will join the other states in codifying ICWA.

Webber ultimately supported the amendment and said that because the bill would need to be reevaluated in two years, we should be able to get this through.

Windy Boy said he does not have a problem with the termination date in 2025, but he does not support the contingent void section of the amendment, regarding the Supreme Court case.

Regardless of what the outcome is (of the Supreme Court case), I just dont want the kids to be left out in left field, Windy Boy said.

Windy Boy said theres a claim that Lenzs bill, Senate Bill 328, which expands aspects of ICWA to all children in Montana, would be a backstop to a Supreme Court decision. But he argued that the two bills do not contradict each other and can coexist.

The difference is that the system is not so much in favor of those Native children who get caught up in the system that deprive them of their heritage, that deprive them of their culture and who they are, he said.
A request filed Monday asking a Helena judge to temporarily block a soon-to-be law banning a specific abortion procedure was denied because it was filed prematurely, the judge ordered.

The lawsuit seeking to overturn the policy, filed hours before Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Kathy Seeley's order, alleges House Bill 721  that will become effective with the governors signature  violates patient privacy rights and the ability to access constitutionally protected pre-viability abortions. The bill has passed the Legislature but has yet to be transmitted to the governor for consideration.

"No bill has been signed. Thus, no 'law' to enjoin today,'" Seeley wrote Monday, saying the request for a temporary restraining order was denied as premature.

Planned Parenthood of Montana and its chief medical officer filed the lawsuit challenging HB 721 from House Speaker Matt Regier, R-Kalispell. It also included the request for a temporary block while the rest of the case plays out.

The bill, which bans dilation and evacuation abortion in Montana, violates womens right to privacy" under the 1999 Montana Supreme Courts Armstrong decision, a landmark case that found privacy protections included access to pre-viability abortion, the lawsuit contends.

Martha Fuller, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Montana, said in a statement Monday that the lawsuit will be refreshed if the bill is signed into law.

"This ban on a safe, effective abortion procedure is unconstitutional. We had no choice but to but to file for the (temporary restraining order) to ensure continuity of care for our patients," Fuller wrote. "The motion was simply denied as premature and we will renew it as soon as the governor takes action on the bill. We call upon the governor to be transparent about his plans for the bill, and when he will sign it."

Fuller said that lawmakers remain hell-bent on banning abortion methods, and that dilation and evacuation abortion is among the safest and most common procedures.

Providers should be able to use their medical training, judgment, and expertise to provide the care that is best for each patient  without political interference or fear of criminal prosecution, Fuller said. HB 721 may pit Montana politicians agenda against patients safety and well-being, but evidence, facts and the rule of law are on our side. Montanans deserve better and Planned Parenthood of Montana is committed to fighting this ban every step of the way.

Dilation and evacuation is the most commonly used abortion procedure in the second trimester, which is generally considered from 14-26 weeks gestational age. Fetuses under about 24 weeks gestational age are not considered viable.

The (dilation and evacuation ban) thus plainly infringes on the fundamental right to privacy, denying women the right to a constitutional medical procedure and prohibiting plaintiffs from offering abortion care safeguarded by the Montana Constitution, the lawsuit states.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said dilation and evacuation "is evidence-based and medically preferred because it results in the fewest complications for women compared to alternative procedures.

The states asserted interest in protecting patients against risks related to abortions, particularly those performed using the D&E method, is further undermined by the fact that HB 721 actually increases the risks to patients health by prohibiting patients with pregnancies at or after approximately 15 weeks (from last menstrual period) from accessing the safest and most common method of abortion, and the only method offered in an outpatient setting in Montana, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also points to a legislative legal review of HB 721 which found in part that the bill could run counter to the Armstrong decision. The note states ... it appears that HB 721 prohibits dismemberment abortion procedures at all stages of pregnancy in non-emergency and emergency situations.

Republicans have frequently objected to legal notes as the opinion of one person and not reflective of what a court may say. Supporters of the bill including Regier have called the procedure barbaric and say it does not violate Armstrong as it bans a procedure rather than referencing gestational age.

Regier titled his bill The Dismemberment Abortion Prohibition Act, describing the procedure as "tearing apart and extracting piece-by-piece from the uterus what was until then a living child. HB 721 would also impose criminal and licensure penalties against health care workers should they perform the procedure unless due to medical emergency.

HB 721 only restricts the dismembering of a live unborn baby. It is about limiting one type of horrific abortion procedure, Regier said in a statement Monday. This preemptive suing while a bill is still in the process shows the litigious and extreme nature of Planned Parenthood. Looks like the lawyers are as eager as the abortionist to make money on the act of dismembering a live unborn baby."

Gov. Greg Gianforte has been staunchly opposed to abortion, signing several pieces of legislation in 2021 restricting access to abortion  which are currently halted due to litigation. A spokesperson for the governor on Monday pointed out that the bill has not yet been signed when reached for comment.

The governor's office generally doesn't comment on active or pending litigation, Spokesperson Kaitlin Price wrote in an email. The fact that the bill hasn't even come to the governor's desk for his review and Planned Parenthood is already running to court tells Montanans everything they need to know about the far left, pro-abortion group and its extreme tactics.

When asked about the timing of the lawsuit, an attorney from Planned Parenthood said the temporary restraining order was filed now due to the bills immediate effective date and to make sure that no Montana patients lose access to care.

The legislation is among a slate of anti-abortion bills advanced by Republicans this session. Debate over HB 721 grew particularly contentious as Senate Democrats objected to what they called inflammatory language used by supporters of the bill, leading Democrats to walk out of the Senate Judiciary Committee late last month. The bill has advanced along party lines behind the power of the Republican supermajority.

Nationally, Republicans have advanced numerous measures to restrict abortion following the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade in the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision. The decision struck down national protections for access to pre-viability abortion, thus allowing states to pass additional restrictions. Pre-viability abortion remains legal in Montana under the state Constitution.

On Monday, the U.S. Justice Department announced it would appeal a federal judges ruling in Texas which overruled the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the drug mifepristone in medication abortions. The drug has been widely used since its approval in 2000.
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.
WASHINGTON  Legendary Native American studies professor and historian, Henrietta Mann, Cheyenne, was all smiles as she made her way into the White House for the 2021 National Humanities Medals dinner and ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.

Following close behind her was Shawn Spruce, Laguna Pueblo, Jaclyn Sallee, Inupiaq, Denise Morris, Aleut, and Art Hughes of Native America Calling and Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, which produces the iconic radio show.

All were in Washington, D.C. to receive a National Humanities Medals presented by President Joe Biden. For 2021, only 12 medals were awarded. As a surprise, Sir Elton John was awarded his medal in 2022.

We're here surrounded by some really interesting people, some very notable, high profile individuals, celebrities from the arts and humanities world, Shawn Spruce, host of Native America Calling, told ICT. We're just enjoying it.

Spruce was calling from the East Wing of the White House during the dinner that prefaced the medal ceremony. In the background was the hum of conversations and laughter.

The National Humanities Medal recipients have enriched our world through writing that moves and inspires us; scholarship that enlarges our understanding of the past; and through their dedication to educating, informing, and giving voice to communities and histories often overlooked, Shelly C. Lowe, Navajo, chair for the National Endowment for the Humanities said in a press release. I am proud to join President Biden in recognizing these distinguished leaders for their outstanding contributions to our nations cultural life.

Due to the pandemic the ceremony had been postponed. The National Humanities Medals honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nations understanding of the humanities and broadened our citizens engagement with history, literature, languages, philosophy, and other humanities subjects, according to the National Endowment for the Humanities.

But you know who it's really about, it's Indian Country, Native America, because the show is titled, Native America calling, he said. It doesn't matter who's hosting. It doesn't matter who's producing. At the heart of the show are all the listeners and all the Native communities who enjoy the show and who call in with their feedback. This is an acknowledgement and recognition for everybody, whether you're part of the show, as the host or producer, or you're the audience, youre a listener. This is a huge win for all of us.

Native America Calling took to the airways in the summer of 1995 from the University of New Mexico at the KUNM radio station. The format of the daily program is an hourlong live call-in show about a specific topic or issue that centers the Indigenous voice. (On Tuesday, it was about Native American Muslims.)

The show airs on over 130 radio stations, 74 are Native-controlled, across the U.S. and Canada. When it first started, only 14 stations carried the program.

The first caller was from the sovereign lands of the Oglala Lakota in what is now Porcupine, South Dakota.

It cannot be understated how important Native America Calling is for the hundreds of Indigenous nations across this land who often live in rural communities and still rely on radio stations to stay updated on current events.

"When the show first started, radio was one of the premier platforms for people to get news and information, along with television, he said. Even though technology has evolved, and more and more people are streaming content, or they're getting information online, so many of our Native communities, our rural communities, radio is still the preferred method of communication and news information. A lot of our communities they don't necessarily have access to internet. So tribal radio stations, public radio stations, are still very, very relevant.

Spruce and Art Hughes, executive producer, got a cryptic email from the National Endowment for the Humanities asking for a Zoom meeting. Spruce created a list of questions and was prepared for what he thought would be a story pitch from the federal agency.

Art and I were both shell shocked, Spruce remembered. We were like, 'What?' They don't want us to report on the news. We are the news. It was really exciting, definitely had to pinch myself like is this really happening?

Every day from a studio in New Mexico, Native American Calling airs a live radio show exploring everything from a legacy of Native newspapers, to Native cuisine to Native American solidarity with Ukraine, capturing the vastness of the Native American life, and it's a profound impact on the country. President Joe Biden said during the ceremony.

Mann is a pioneer of Native American studies, history, language and culture. She was the first Native American to direct federal Indian education programs when she worked at the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

She was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, University of Montana and Montana State University, where she became the first person to hold the Katz Endowed Chair in Native American Studies. At each university she helped to develop Native American studies programs.

After the creation of tribal colleges and universities, Mann put her expertise on those newly established institutions. She helped to develop the Native American studies program at what is now Haskell Indian Nations University.

Around the turn of the century, she became the founding president of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College, the nations first tribal college that has since closed. Mann is a citizen of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma.

We have to provide an environment for our young people, Mann said in an interview with Humanities magazine, that is consistent with who they are, so that they can take courses in American Indian history, culture, language, philosophy, spirituality, literature, our oral traditions, our stories, which hold so much of our history and culture within them.

On her way to getting her doctorate degree, Mann was told in her masters program that she could not study the oral traditions of her nation because there would be no one to evaluate her work.

I wanted to write about Indians. I was working toward my second degree in English. And so I proposed this to my adviser, and was told, no, you cant, Mann told Shelly Lowe, Navajo, in Humanities Magazine.

Generations of Indigenous researchers, professors, historians and academics have followed in her footsteps and create knowledge about their Native nations.

Henrietta Mann, a teacher, a scholar and leader, she's dedicated her career to Native American education and to establishing a field of Native American studies, Biden said. Thanks in large part to her, Native American studies is now taught at universities across the country, strengthening our nation-to-nation bonds for generations to come.
The Foundation for Montana History recently awarded 29 projects across the state a total of $222,460 in grants for 2023 history projects. This marks the largest amount awarded in one year since the grant program began in 2012 and brings the foundations total funding for community-based history projects to more than $1.5 million to date.

The foundation is a nonprofit charity raising money for history and preservation projects across Montana. Four of the 29 projects include:

Pre-production for Montana Tech film: An $8,500 grant from the Foundation for Montana History will fund pre-production of Montana Technological University's film project, "The Geological Story of the Corps of Discovery in Montana," which will shed new light on geological discoveries made on Lewis and Clark's expedition.

Rehabilitation of Virginia City's Stonewall Hall: A special $20,000 grant from the foundation to the Montana Heritage Commission will help stabilize and rehabilitate historic Stonewall Hall in Virginia City. This building served as Montana's original territorial capitol building from 1865-1875 and is an important piece of the state's early history.

Virginia City film: A $7,500 grant from The Foundation will help the Thompson-Hickman County Library in Virginia City produce a graphically rich manuscript called "100 Years of Keeping Time: A Preservation Success Story," highlighting the Virginia City community's successful preservation efforts over the last century.

Site assessment of Virginia City's Robber's Roost cabin: A $7,650 grant from The Foundation will build on a 2021 grant to conduct a site assessment of historic Robber's Roost cabin in Virginia City. The project is called the Robber's Roost Structural Stabilization and Archaeological Investigation. This will help the Virginia City Preservation Alliance stabilize the building's foundation and balcony.
Thirty-six-year-old Kate Shodair, a widow, arrived in Philipsburg with her 16-year-old son, Louis, in 1878 from their native South Carolina.

Kate established a successful confectionary and candy store there that also sold baked goods, but she was even more successful when they moved to Butte.

In 1881, Kate purchased a bakery and confectionary on West Broadway from Joseph Dyer. Shodair and Son had a thriving ice cream parlor there almost immediately. They also sold fruits, candies and baked goods created by Kate and catered upscale affairs all over Butte.

In 1882, they brought a pastry designer from Paris to help with the business. A quart of their best ice cream in its own special barrel cost 75 cents (around $22 today), and a pound of candy ran 50 cents in 1883.

The confectionary building was replaced in 1891 by the Mantle & Bielenberg Block, which stands today as the home of Sassys Consignments and Sales Store.

Kate retired in 1884 and Louis took over the business, expanding it to include cigars and produce as well as an oyster parlor, and relocating it to West Granite Street a half block east of Alaska.

Louis maintained his connections with Philipsburg, including rancher T.J. Haynes. The two partnered in a ranch and farming operation in the Kalispell valley in 1885 that was an important source of produce for Buttes exploding population.

Produce, candy and his other mercantile efforts were enough to give Louis Shodair the money in 1897 to purchase a lot for the princely sum of $12,000, where he constructed the Shodair Block at 48 W. Park St. It was the first home to Symons Department Store and held a Luteys grocery warehouse on the Galena Street side of the building. Shodair as a wealthy real-estate entrepreneur became something of a man-about-town, serving in various capacities with the Masonic Temple and as president of the Oro y Plata Dancing Club in 1903-1904.

There was not a more popular dancing club at that time. It held regular formal-dress dances upstairs in the Renshaw Hall on Park Street at the present-day corner of Dakota, the Terminal Meat Market today.

In 1909, Shodair and his wife set out on a five-month round-the-world cruise, with stops at Naples, Cairo, Bombay, Batavia (Jakarta), Nagasaki and more, reported in the Anaconda Standard in a lengthy two-part article.

The Shodair Block was seriously damaged in a fire in January 1913, but Louis rebuilt it immediately. The building was finally destroyed in the first Dianas Shops fire on Oct. 14, 1974.

Shodair had donated the building to the Shriners' Childrens Hospital in Helena in 1937 as part of a $200,000 contribution to build the Shodair Hospital for Crippled Children at the Montana Childrens Home in Helena, followed by an additional $100,000 in 1938. The Shriners sold the Butte building in 1946.

The Shodairs (Kate, Louis, and his wife Mary) left Butte about 1920 for California. Kate died in 1922, and Mary died in 1928. Louis died Sept. 12, 1940, at age 78.
Sugar beet lime from Billings and fertilizing turkey droppings from a farm in Minnesota helped new vegetation put down roots.

Manmade structures meant to mimic beaver dams captured sediment.

Regional Superfund work often seems to linger like house guests from hell.

Yet every now and then remediation wraps up on specific sites or portions thereof. For example, cleanup of the East Anaconda Yards paved the way for the Forge Hotel, construction of the Murdochs Home and Ranch Supply store and likely more to come.

On Friday, the states Natural Resource Damage Program, a key player in regional Superfund restoration and remediation, celebrated the completed cleanup of state lands on Stucky Ridge and within pollution-battered portions of the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area near Anaconda.

The work took about 15 years, a comparative eyeblink by the Superfund calendar.

On April 4, EPA and the NRDP jointly certified that the remediation was finished. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality concurred.

The NRDP, the state and EPA worked quite well together, said Doug Martin, restoration program chief for the NRDP.

It was a very good collaboration of all the parties, he said. Were proud and happy that we got to this point.

Carl Nyman, Superfund coordinator for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, said local government also celebrates the cleanups completion.

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County is really excited about this milestone for a couple of reasons, Nyman said. NRDP and their contractors implemented some innovative and creative restoration ideas on these properties, and the fact EPA has approved their work shows that NRDPs ideas are working.

Secondly, this approval opens the door for the county to begin working with NRDP to perform similar work on the hills around Anaconda.

The EPA added the Anaconda Co. Smelter Site to its National Priorities List 40 years ago. The Stucky Ridge unit north of Anaconda and the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area south of the city became known as the Anaconda Uplands.

Aerial emissions from the huge Anaconda smelter stack settled far and wide around Anaconda and the Deer Lodge Valley during the smelters decades of processing copper ore from Butte.

The Mount Haggin portion of the Anaconda Uplands was denuded from the effects of airborne emissions bearing toxic heavy metals. In addition, heavy logging to fuel the smelter took a toll.

A double whammy befell Stucky Ridge, adjacent to the Old Works operations north of Warm Springs Creek: Airborne emissions issuing from the Old Works and, later, from the larger Washoe Smelter left a moonscape.

For 100 years, there was nothing but thistle and weeds, said Greg Mullen, an environmental scientist for NRDP during the bulk of the work on the Anaconda Uplands.

Rich Prodgers of Bighorn Environmental Sciences recommended NRDP try a specific type of lime  sugar beet lime  with deep tilling to mitigate the acidic soils.

Work on Stucky Ridge covered about 480 acres and began around 2009. The Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area site included problem areas totaling about 250 acres addressed during cleanup and restoration. Work there began around 2011.

Site challenges included steep slopes. Helicopters sometimes helped with seeding or the dispersal of turkey droppings.

Charlie Coleman, EPAs remedial project manager for the Anaconda Co. Smelter Site, said that techniques developed by NRDP for addressing steep slope areas are now being used by Superfund on similar areas of the Anaconda Smelter site.

Money for the Anaconda Uplands remediation and restoration came from a 2008 settlement with the Atlantic Richfield Co., which had purchased Anaconda Co. in 1977 and was on the hook for cleanup costs. The $13.3 million was allocated to NRDP to complete remediation of state-owned lands within the Anaconda Co. Smelter Site.

With remediation complete of the Anaconda Uplands, the NRDP will move ahead to perform restoration on county-owned lands in the Anaconda area. The agency said it will work with Anaconda-Deer Lodge County to develop a draft restoration plan.

Mullen spent several years on the Anaconda Uplands sites. He said agencies, consultants and contractors worked well together. The Big Hole Watershed Committee also pitched in, he said, with both remediation and restoration in the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area.

Mullen said he is proud of the results.

It was a good project, he said. I definitely enjoyed it.

Nyman said Atlantic Richfield itself has completed remediation work he described as excellent.

When finished, they will have planted 1 million trees and shrubs, as well as a variety of native grasses, he said. As Atlantic Richfield nears completion of their work this year, the NRDP restoration work will follow closely behind.

Hopefully, well receive enough moisture each year so that all of these new trees, shrubs and grasses can multiply and thrive.
A few days ago, shortly after the unprecedented invasion of the United States Capitol by a horde of unrestrained Trump supporters, Twitter announced that it was banning President Donald Trump from Twitter. After more than 36,000 tweets in four years, with 88 million followers, Trump was tossed, perhaps permanently, from his favorite social media megaphone.

Twitter explained that this was warranted because of Trumps irresponsible use of Twitter to lie about the outcome of the 2020 presidential election and to incite the deadly riot that disrupted the critical deliberations of Congress, which was in the process of counting the electoral votes that would confirm Trumps personally mortifying defeat. At approximately the same time and for the same reasons, Trump was also banned at least temporarily from Facebook.

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Trumps supporters immediately raged that these actions by Twitter and Facebook violated the First Amendment. Is this assertion correct? The answer is simple: No.

________

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The Chicago Tribune opinion section publishes op-eds from readers and experts about specific issues of the day. Op-eds reflect the views of the writer and not necessarily the Chicago Tribune.

________

Like all of the guarantees of the Bill of Rights, the First Amendments fundamental guarantee of freedom of speech, and of the press limits only the actions of the government (federal, state and local), not the actions of private individuals, organizations or businesses. Just as a private enterprise cannot violate your constitutional right not to be subjected to unreasonable searches and seizures, just as a private enterprise cannot violate your constitutional right to the free exercise of religion, and just as a private enterprise cannot violate your constitutional right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, so too is it legally impossible for Twitter or Facebook to violate your  or Trumps  constitutional right to freedom of speech, or of the press.

A forgotten case

Having said this, I should note that in at least one case, decided some 75 years ago, the Supreme Court held in Marsh v. Alabama that a privately-owned company town could not constitutionally prohibit Jehovahs Witnesses from distributing literature on the towns sidewalks. In a once-in-history decision, the Court explained that the more an owner, for his advantage, opens up property for use by the public in general, the more do his rights become circumscribed by the ... constitutional rights of those who use it.

Twitter said on Jan. 8, 2021, that it had permanently suspended President Donald Trump from its service "due to the risk of further incitement of violence." (Twitter)

That decision, however, stands alone, and it has never been followed. If it had remained good law, it would be interesting to see how that principle would apply to Twitter and Facebook. But the decision in Marsh was a one-time anomaly. It is not the law, and for all practical purposes it has not been the law for three-quarters of a century.

But that leaves our nation with a puzzle. If, let us suppose, the United States government could not constitutionally pass a law banning Trump from using Twitter or Facebook, why should Twitter and Facebook be allowed to do so? Even if they are private enterprises and not the government, they have enormous power and influence over public discourse in our nation. Should they have unlimited authority to decide for themselves who can and cannot share their views with other Americans on these extraordinarily powerful means of communication? Can they  should they  be trusted to have such authority to determine the bounds of public discourse in our democracy?

Radio as a model

Our nation faced a somewhat similar question with the advent of radio in the 1920s. At that time, with only a small number of frequencies available in any location, the fear was that a small number of wealthy individuals could buy up all the frequencies in a city such as Chicago and completely dominate this powerful new means of communication and then distort and corrupt our democracy.

With that concern in mind, Congress enacted the Communications Act of 1934, which established the Federal Communications Commission and granted it broad power to regulate the broadcast spectrum. The FCC then adopted the Fairness Doctrine, which imposed on radio and television broadcasters the requirement that discussion of public issues be presented in a fair and balanced manner.

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In 1960, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Fairness Doctrine, noting that there is no sanctuary in the First Amendment for unlimited private censorship operating in a medium not open to all. The Fairness Doctrine remained in effect until repealed by the Reagan administration in 1987.

The question we face going forward is whether social media should be subject to similar government regulations. Should Facebook, Twitter and other major social media platforms be required by law to operate in a fair and balanced manner? Should they be required by law to function in a manner consistent with the First Amendment? Should they be required by law to ensure that individuals are exposed to both sides of a question in a responsible and evenhanded manner? Should they be constrained from taking down material that is protected by the First Amendment? This is a fundamental question our nation must wrestle with in the future.

If we move in that direction, what would that tell us about the decision to remove Trump from Twitter and Facebook? Would it be constitutional for the government to remove Trump from social media because of his past and recent posts? Were his consistently and dangerously false posts about the outcome of the election and about the protest/riots at the U.S. Capitol protected by the First Amendment, or did he go beyond the bounds of the First Amendment by intentionally inciting a likely and imminent seditious riot? That would be the critical question.

Geoffrey R. Stone is the Edward H. Levi Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Chicago.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

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A homicide trial set to begin Monday in one of the most high-profile cases in Butte in years has been called off because defense attorney David Maldonado broke his leg and suffered other serious leg injuries Friday.

District Judge Robert Whelan issued an emergency order Friday afternoon postponing the April 10 trial of 34-year-old Nicholas John Jaeger indefinitely.

Court officials had summoned 120 potential jurors and up to 100 were expected to be at the Civic Center at 9 a.m. Monday for questioning and possible service on a 12-member jury. They were to be told Monday what the case was about and the trial was expected to last eight days or longer.

Tom Powers, clerk of the District Court in Butte-Silver Bow County, said his office had to act expeditiously Friday afternoon to notify residents that the trial had been postponed and they did not need to show on Monday. All got the word, he said.

Powers has served in the office for 35 years, the last seven as clerk, and says its the first time he can recall that a jury trial was called off at the 11th hour due to an injured attorney. Hes seen several scrapped due to late settlements or last-second plea deals.

Prosecutors say Jaeger and bondsman Jay Steven Hubber barged into a house during a bounty hunt on Dec. 19, 2021 and in the ensuing chaos, Jaeger shot and killed an innocent homeowner. Jaeger and Hubber, 34, are both charged with deliberate homicide and aggravated burglary.

Maldonado says Jaeger acted with justifiable force and shot 42-year-old William Harris to protect himself and the bondsman in a house where known fugitives, renegades and outlaws hung out.

Hubber also says he is innocent but he and Jaeger are being tried separately. Jaegers trial was to begin Monday and Hubbers trial is set for May 1.

Maldonado told The Montana Standard on Monday that he slipped on some ice off West Park Street around noon Friday and was taken to St. James Healthcare.

Doctors told him he had broken his leg, dislocated his ankle and had torn ligaments in his leg and would need surgery soon. The surgery is still pending, he said.

I am pretty destroyed, Maldonado said, meaning physically and mentally because he had spent months preparing for the trial and was ready to go.

He says he was prepared to present evidence that hasnt been public and believes Jaeger will be exonerated. Prosecutors were prepared to present their case, too.

Numerous witnesses for the defense and prosecution had been subpoenaed to show up for the trial this week. It was up to the attorneys and their staff to contact the witnesses about the postponement.

Those who received juror summons in the mail were told to call a phone number in Powers office to get instructions and check in. The voice-mail message was changed early Friday afternoon to say the trial was off.

Staff in Powers office called those who didnt check in after the new message and told them about the postponement.

We didnt want people to show up at the Civic Center unnecessarily, Powers said.

He said the response rate from potential jurors in Butte-Silver Bow is much better than it is in some counties in Montana.

I find our jurors pretty conscientious, he said.

Whelan requested such a large jury pool because the trial was expected to take eight days, probably too long for many potential jurors to accommodate.

Powers has not yet summoned potential jurors for Hubbers trial but as of Monday morning, it was still set for May 1.
WAPELLO  The plans and specifications that will be used for upgrading the 160th Street and County Road G44X intersection as part of the Grandview Bypass project were approved by the Louisa County Board of Supervisors during its regular weekly meeting on Tuesday.

County Engineer Adam Shutt presented the documents to the board for the PCC (Portland Cement Concrete)-surfaced intersection north of Grandview. The work is expected to be completed in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 and use local option sales tax (LOST) funding.

According to Shutt and previous discussions, the intersection will curve G44X into 160th Street with drivers needing to turn off to enter Grandview.

Another part of the Grandview Bypass upgrade will involve surfacing the graveled portion of 160th Street with an Ottaseal application. Similar applications of the surfacing method have been used on several roadways in and around Wapello with good results.

Shutt also presented to the supervisors the countys FY 24 budget plan that will be submitted to the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). He told the board the submittal contained the same figures the board previously approved for the secondary roads department as part of the Louisa County Fiscal Year 2024 Budget.

He said the DOT budget submittal was broken down further into major (transportation) categories. He said the document must be submitted to the DOT by April 15.

In the rest of his regular weekly report, Shutt said the county road crews were busy sweeping and cleaning bridges, finishing tree-removal activities, patching and continuing with machinery maintenance.

Responding to a question from local resident Randy Schlutz, Shutt also provided an update on the County Road W66 bridge replacement north of Cotter. He said crews had set up beams and were continuing to prep for bridge decking.

Supervisor Shawn Maine also asked about the railroad and DOT work being completed on the U.S. Highway 61 overpass bridge north of Grandview. Shutt explained the work was part of the Canadian Pacific/Kansas City Southern railroad merger and likely had been planned before the overpass had been constructed.

It would have been a colossal mistake if (that was not the case), Shutt said, adding the Iowa DOT was also coincidently conducting tree-clearing operations in the area at the same time.

Shutt also reported he was delaying the signing of a proposed detour agreement for the planned Iowa Highway 92 widening project because a bid opening date has not yet been announced.

In other action during the supervisors meeting, Arin Jones, a child abuse prevention advocate with Quad-County Community Partnership for Protecting Children, met with the board through Zoom.

She read a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month that board chair Chris Ball then signed.

The board also:

 Approved the Green Acres Subdivision northwest of Morning Sun.

 Approved a fireworks permit for Denise McCulley.

 Approved a $33,285 payment to TNT Tuckpointing, Stockton, for courthouse work.

 Approved $237,935 in claims.

Maine also reminded the board the second meeting of the Emergency Medical Services System Advisory Council of Louisa County would be held April 10.
DES MOINES  David Franklin Duncan III, 33, of Muscatine County, was sentenced Friday, April 7, to 20 years in prison following his guilty plea to a charge of attempted sexual exploitation of a child.

According to a news release from the United States Attorneys Office Southern District of Iowa, Duncan used cellphones and Facebook from February 2022 to September 2022 to communicate with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old child.

During the conversation, Duncan attempted to employ, use, persuade, entice or coerce the person he believed was a child to capture and send images and video of the child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He also attempted to get the child to travel to his location or meet at an agreed location for the purpose of engaging in sexually explicit conduct and to engage in commercial sex acts. Duncan also sent the person he was communicating with sexually explicit images and video.

Unbeknownst to Duncan, the person he was communicating with was an undercover law enforcement officer.

Following the prison term, Duncan must serve a 10-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

The Altoona Police Department, in conjunction with the Iowa Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Essley prosecuted the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006 the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.
The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GMCCI) will give both local employers and those looking for a job a chance to meet and greet as they each search for the perfect fit.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, GMCCI, in partnership with IowaWorks, will be at the Muscatine Community Y hosting its annual citywide job fair.

According to Hannah Howard, director of Business Services for GMCCI, this is the third time that GMCCI has hosted a Muscatine Job Fair in partnership with IowaWorks, with two organizations previously managing to host events during the pandemic thanks to a drive-thru model.

The Chamber believes in the importance of workforce development. Thats why we host this annual job fair with the help of our partners at IowaWorks to connect Muscatine area businesses with local jobseekers, Howard said.

Although the fair itself is over a month away, GMCCI is still looking for willing businesses to help fill it. Last year, the job fair saw 39 different businesses sign up to be in attendance. With the fair having enough room for 40 businesses, Howard and her team hope to get close to that number.

She also emphasized that not only is the fair free for businesses participation, but its also open for both large and small businesses as well as both chamber member and non-chamber member businesses.

The Chambers goal for the job fair is to be able to best support our member businesses and all businesses in the Muscatine area because we understand the importance of finding quality employees to fill open jobs, Howard continued.

Additionally, IowaWorks will be there with its job training program, which provides on-the-job training and work experience through either paying wages or reimbursing wages for anyone who's eligible for this program. Representatives of the program will be at the job fair to provide more details and information.

Were trying to serve all populations, including both youth and adults, Jamie McLaughlin, business service consultant for IowaWorks said. A lot of people, if theyre eligible for the program, are not working, and not everybody wants to go back to school, so we have a lot of employers that will train on the job.

Businesses that are interested in participating in this years fair can contact the chamber at 563-263-8895 or email hhoward@muscatine.com. The event can also be found on the Muscatine.com community calendar. It has been requested that businesses register by Friday, April 21.
WAPELLO  Good news on a grocery store was provided to the Wapello City Council by former mayor Shawn Maine during the public Address the Council portion of Thursdays council meeting.

I have the latest and greatest site plan for Dollar General, Maine told the council while distributing to the city officials a preliminary design for a planned grocery store in the community.

Maine had initially announced the companys intent to build a grocery store during the councils Sept. 15 meeting, when he still served as mayor before winning election in November to the Louisa County Board of Supervisors.

At that announcement, Maine reported the corporate office of Dollar General intended to purchase the former Wapello Sale Barn site and build a DG Market there. The grocery store building would also house the regular Dollar General store, which would relocate from across the street.

That announcement was followed by protracted negotiations for the sale barn site and other property, but those were apparently cleared up a few weeks ago, and Maine said Thursday the way now appeared clear for construction to start.

Dollar General was originally going to do a 10,000-square-foot building, and they have raised it almost 2,500 square feet, so now its more than a 12,000-square-foot building, he said.

Maine said he had been assured by the company representative who had contacted him that the business would be a bonafide grocery store, complete with fresh fruit and vegetables.

When asked about fresh meat, Maine was unsure, but several city officials indicated they had seen other DG Markets that appeared to offer possibly prepackaged fresh meat.

Maine said the lengthy property sale negotiations had impacted the companys construction timing. The store was originally planned to be opened around Thanksgiving, but Maine said it now appeared it would be sometime in December.

In other action during Thursdays meeting, the council held a brief public hearing on an amendment to the citys Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget. There were no comments during the hearing, and the council later passed a resolution approving the amendment.

According to the notice of public hearing on the amendment, an additional $424,448 in revenue is projected to be added to the budget; along with $722,250 in additional expenditures.

The extra revenue comes from the insurance payment for the damaged ladder truck, the anticipated fire truck loan and $149,448 in Amercan Rescue Plan funding.

The additional expenditures will include the proposed ladder truck purchase, additional asphalt work, replaster of the swimming pool, fire station design work and other costs.

Mayor Brett Shafer also read a proclamation declaring Thursday, April 6, as Junior Achievement Day in Wapello.

In final action, Louisa County Emergency Management Services (EMS) Coordinator Brian Hall updated city officials on his effort to begin development of the 2025 Louisa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The plan would update the countys current five-year mitigation plan and preserve federal disaster aid funding for participating communities. Hall said he was starting the update planning well in advance of the current plans expiration in two years because many details needed to be covered.

He told the council he would return in 2024 to begin the process but wanted city officials in the meantime to consider possible hazards the city might encounter and possible actions that could be taken to mitigate those issues.
CHIHUAHUA, Mexico  Marcela Castros office in Chihuahua is more than 100 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, yet the distance doesnt prevent her from assisting women in the United States in circumventing recently imposed bans on abortion.

From the headquarters of Marea Verde Chihuahua, an organization that has supported reproductive rights in northern Mexico since 2018, Castro and her colleagues provide virtual guidance, as well as shipments of abortion pills for women who want to terminate a pregnancy on their own.

This abortion model, in which no travel, clinics or prescriptions are needed, sparked interest in the U.S.  and a surge of requests for help  as the Supreme Court moved to eliminate the constitutional right to abortion last year. But the model was developed by Mexican activists through decades of facing abortion bans and restrictions in most of Mexicos 32 states.

We dont offer medical attention because we are not doctors, Castro said. Part of our work, though, is to remove the stigma toward abortion. Although it is a medical procedure, it does not require hospital measures.

To safely advise women on self-managed medical abortions, Castro and her colleagues were trained to become acompanantes  capable of serving as a guide and partner, whether in person or from long distance. They have carefully studied national abortion guidelines and they know by heart some protocols established by the World Health Organization.

Since they do not charge for the help they provide, most acompanantes need jobs outside the organizations where they volunteer. Among them are lawyers, psychologists and other professionals. Over the years, they have created a nationwide network that has secured abortion access for Mexican and foreign women, whether or not abortion is legal where they live.

We are ordinary women working for reproductive justice, Castro said. We seek what the State has denied us out of prohibition.

Mexican women face a scenario that resembles the U.S., where more than a dozen states  including Texas  have imposed sweeping abortion bans. Unless its justified under certain exceptions, abortion is considered a crime in two-thirds of Mexicos states.

Chihuahua, where Castro lives, is ruled by a conservative governor and its penal code criminalizes most abortions.

Among all other Mexican border states where acompanantes support Mexican or American women, abortion is legal only in Baja California. Additionally, a 2021 ruling by Mexicos Supreme Court held that those who get the procedure shouldnt be punished in Coahuila, a state south of Texas.

More than 30 women collaborate with Castro in Marea Verde Chihuahua. They are part of what she calls a binational network, bringing together several Mexican collectives willing to facilitate self-managed abortions in the U.S.

Most women from the U.S. contact Marea Verde Chihuahua through social media or by someones referral. Most communicate in Spanish, though the acompanantes are able to assist English speakers as well.

After an initial contact, members of the team check their availability and an acompanante is assigned to each case. Further communications usually proceed via WhatsApp.

The accompaniment starts with some basic questions to determine the gestational age, how the pregnancy was confirmed, and the womans overall health. Once the information is evaluated, the acompanante proposes how to proceed.

In most cases, medication is advised and the acompanante is able to provide a combination of two abortion pills, misoprostol and mifepristone, both considered safe by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Although both medications require a prescription in the U.S., misoprostol can be acquired without a prescription in Mexican pharmacies  though some vendors refuse to sell pills to women. Mifepristone can be obtained through some abortion rights organizations.

The work of the acompanantes troubles anti-abortion activists in Mexico. One of them, Jahel Torres of a national group called Pasos por la Vida, suggested there were health risks because abortion pills were being distributed by non-medical personnel.

However, the WHO has depicted self-managed abortion as a safe option.

Castro and her colleagues usually send pills by mail and provide virtual follow-up until the abortion is completed. But depending on its personnel and resources, each Mexican abortion collective has its own logistics.

Aborto Seguro Chihuahua, which is part of the binational network, provides long-distance guidance to women in the U.S. but medication is not mailed from Mexico. Instead, the acompanantes collaborate with volunteers who transport the pills from Ciudad Juarez, in Chihuahua, to El Paso, Texas, where the packages are delivered either in person or through mailing services.

Laura Dorado works alongside 20 people in Aborto Seguro Chihuahua and says her team handles around 120 abortions per month. Some requests come from Mexico; others from Texas, Arizona and Colorado.

When she receives a message from a woman who is able to travel from the U.S. to Mexico, Dorado can offer some advice. We have identified some pharmacies in which buying the pills is not a struggle or we suggest staying at a hotel and request the medication by delivery, to keep a low profile.

Dorado said Aborto Seguro Chihuahua mostly receives mifepristone pills from Las Libres, an organization founded 20 years ago in the conservative state of Guanajuato, in central Mexico, where abortion is still banned.

Led by activist Veronica Cruz, Las Libres pioneered in training acompanantes to provide virtual guidance for self-managed medical abortions in Mexico and, since 2019, in the U.S. as well.

In January 2022, we had an average of 10 cases every day. When Roe was overturned, in June, we had up to a hundred, Cruz said.

Abortion in America: How access and attitudes have changed through the centuries Abortion in America: How access and attitudes have changed through the centuries Pre-1850: Abortions in early America are commonplace Mid-1800s: Birth of the American Medical Association shifts abortion oversight from midwives to doctors; abortion is criminalized 1960s: 'Back-alley butchers,' birth control, and protests 1970s: Roe v. Wade protects women's right to abortion; politics shift 1980s-2000s: Legal challenges to Roe v. Wade introduce restrictions 2020s: Roe v. Wade is overturned; Postal Service allowed to mail abortion medication
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  The Justice Department on Monday called a Texas court ruling that would halt approval of the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S. extraordinary and unprecedented while asking a federal appeals court to put the decision on hold.

The request to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was filed just days after conflicting court rulings over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone put in doubt access to the drug that has been widely available for more than 20 years.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointment of Donald Trump, issued his decision Friday but ruled it would not take effect for seven days.

His decision came at nearly the same time a separate federal judge in Washington directed U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats had sued.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of mifepristone in 2000.

The Biden administration asked the New Orleans-based appellate court to extend a pause on the Texas order.

"The courts sweeping nationwide relief was especially unwarranted given the balance of harms: If allowed to take effect, the courts order would thwart FDAs scientific judgment and severely harm women, particularly those for whom mifepristone is a medical or practical necessity," the Justice Department wrote.

The whiplash of the conflicting decisions is likely to put the issue on an accelerated path to the Supreme Court.

Abortion in America: How access and attitudes have changed through the centuries Abortion in America: How access and attitudes have changed through the centuries Pre-1850: Abortions in early America are commonplace Mid-1800s: Birth of the American Medical Association shifts abortion oversight from midwives to doctors; abortion is criminalized 1960s: 'Back-alley butchers,' birth control, and protests 1970s: Roe v. Wade protects women's right to abortion; politics shift 1980s-2000s: Legal challenges to Roe v. Wade introduce restrictions 2020s: Roe v. Wade is overturned; Postal Service allowed to mail abortion medication
Iowa lawmakers advanced a bill to fund anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers, fund maternal and rural health care grants and provide state employees paid parental leave on Monday.

The bill, originally proposed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, covers several areas relating to maternal health care. A three-member appropriations subcommittee advanced the bill on Monday with only Republican support.

A provision originally in the bill to allow pharmacists to dispense birth control without a prescription was previously taken out by the Senate. Instead, they passed a similar measure  but with fewer regulations  as part of a different bill in March.

House lawmakers advanced that bill out of a committee last week, amending it to require a patient to see a doctor within 15 months of receiving birth control from a pharmacist.

Here are the key points of Senate File 324 as it moves through the Senate.

$2 million for crisis pregnancy centers

The bill would quadruple the funding for the More Options for Maternal Support, or MOMS, program, created last year. The program is meant to provide grants to crisis pregnancy centers  non-medical facilities that provide pregnancy services, counseling and ultrasounds and discourage abortion.

The program was created and funded with $500,000 last year to provide grants to those facilities. The grants have not been provided yet, and the Health and Human Services Department issued a request for proposals on March 31 to hire a program administrator.

The bill would direct $2 million and allow the grants to be spent on programs that assist new and expecting fathers.

Abortion rights advocates and Democrats say the non-medical centers lack expertise, accountability and regulations that medical centers that provide abortion have to abide by. They also argue the centers, often religiously affiliated, provide misleading information about abortion.

Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, said she opposed increasing the funding to the program before seeing results from the first allocation of funds.

I have a huge problem with the amount of money that theyre asking for without getting some data back on that, she said.

Paid parental leave

Under the bill, state employees would receive paid parental leave between one and four weeks. The parent that gives birth would receive four weeks, while a parent that does not give birth would receive one week. A parent who adopts a child would receive four weeks paid leave.

The bill does not name a specific cost, but an analysis of House File 578, which is a standalone version of the parental leave program, estimated it would cost $8.4 million.

Lobbyists who spoke on the bill were largely in favor of the measure, but some asked for the state to give more leave. Iowa currently does not provide any parental leave for state employees.

Wed love to see that be a little bit higher, but its a step in the right direction, said Mazie Stilwell, a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa.

Obstetrician fellowships

The bill would direct $560,000 to a program creating family medicine obstetrics fellowships in rural and underserved areas.

The money would fund four fellowships for family medicine obstetricians in the state. After a one-year fellowship, the recipients would need to practice in the state for at least five years.

Thirty-five percent of Iowa counties are considered maternity care deserts by the March of Dimes, and access to obstetricians and gynecologists is limited.

This is a good step in the right direction toward trying to alleviate some of the shortages we have in rural areas for OB practice, Dane Schumann, a lobbyist for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, told lawmakers.

Regional centers of excellence

The bill would also devote $1 million to create regional partnerships between rural health care providers to strengthen care in those areas.

Health facilities would need to apply for the grants that are intended to encourage innovation and collaboration among regional health care providers in a rural area.

Looking ahead

The bill will need to clear the full Appropriations Committee before being eligible for a floor vote in the Senate.

The House is considering a companion bill, House File 427, but there are two main differences: The House bill does not include paid parental leave, placing that measure in a different bill. The House bill also includes the provision to allow birth control to be administered without a prescription.

Sen. Jeff Edler, R-State Center the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said it was too early to tell what an agreement between the two bills will look like. Edler said he prefers the language the Senate passed for prescription-free birth control, which would place it on a list of medications that pharmacists can prescribe without a prescription.

We want to help Iowa women in every way we can, and I think both chambers are taking options to do that, he said.

Photos: The scene ahead of former President Trump's arrest
The current COVID-19 situation in the U.S. is both good and bad. The good news is that COVID-19 deaths are at the lowest levels of the three-year pandemic. Given current trends, projections indicate roughly 100,000 COVID-19 deaths for 2023  less than half of any of the three previous years.

The bad news is that the number of overall excess U.S. deaths  the difference between expected numbers of deaths from all causes and the actual number of deaths observed  is rising at a shocking rate. COVID-19 is a factor, but the main causes of excess deaths are more social than medical, and the worst aspect is that they are occurring in the younger demographic in which homicides, suicides, vehicular deaths and drugs are taking a disproportionate toll on what should be the healthiest sector of the population.

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Since the pandemic began, excess deaths are up by more than 1.25 million in the U.S., about 15% higher than in the pre-pandemic years. This pattern is not limited to the U.S.; excess pandemic deaths are elevated by 5% to 20% in Great Britain, most of Europe and Australia. The reason for these excess deaths defies simple explanation; the cause is certainly multifactorial. Some of this is likely an undercount of COVID-19 deaths. Another factor is delayed deaths caused by past COVID-19 infections. After any acute viral infection like COVID-19 has subsided, patients can suffer long-term medical complications including problems with inflammation and dangerous blood clotting disorders. These late effects of COVID-19 have included increases in fatal heart attacks and strokes.

In the arena of excess deaths, unanticipated effects of lockdowns that resulted in health care and societal disruptions have been just as important as COVID-19 itself. Patients have found it more difficult to access care. Appointments with physicians have been delayed; routine surgeries, including biopsies, have been canceled; and even when patients suffer symptoms, many have avoided clinics and hospitals, fearing COVID-19 or just long waits. While telemedicine has helped many people, suspicious lumps cannot be diagnosed on Zoom. In the U.S., diagnosis rates of six common cancers fell between 16% and 42% during the early days of the pandemic. These figures probably understate the number of serious conditions that were discovered late or not at all.

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Combine this with deaths of despair (suicides and overdoses), vehicular accidents (possibly faster and more reckless driving) and homicides. Further, add the deaths that were occasioned by the unhealthy lifestyle choices  overeating and excessive drinking  prompted by lockdowns.

While the fairly strict lockdowns of the U.S., Australia and Western Europe have clearly contributed to excess deaths, Sweden is notable because government pandemic restrictions were not nearly as stringent and there were fewer lockdown deaths. Initially, Sweden was criticized for its more lenient approach to the pandemic, but Sweden has had one of the lowest total excess mortality rates in Europe since the beginning of the pandemic.

There is also a minority theory that vaccine complications have contributed to excess deaths. However, there is no reliable data from any country supporting this belief, and the experience of Sweden, which has a higher full vaccination rate than the world average, belies this notion.

The most depressing aspect of this excess death phenomenon is that life expectancy in the U.S. has dropped for the second consecutive year. Current life expectancy in the U.S. is 76.4 years, the lowest figure of the past two decades. After World War II, American longevity was the envy of the world. Now we have fallen behind Lebanon, Cuba and Czechia. All this is in the face of improved care for the elderly: The U.S. has comparable survival after age 75 with industrialized countries, better control of cardiovascular risk factors, lower stroke mortality, and higher rates of cancer screening and survival.

The alarming truth is that the decrease in U.S. life expectancy has come at the expense of teenagers, young adults and those in early middle age. This is not the result of COVID-19; in 2021 alone, more potential years of American life were lost because of drugs (primarily opiates), road deaths, firearm violence and obesity than years lost from COVID-19 during the entire pandemic.

In The Tempest, William Shakespeare cautioned that whats past is prologue. Englishman John Burn-Murdoch, a columnist for the Financial Times, has studied mortality patterns in the U.S. and United Kingdom and warns, One in 25 American five-year-olds today will not make it to their 40th birthday. No parent should ever have to bury their child, but on average across the US one set of parents from every kindergarten class most likely will. Surely a clarion call, to which America must respond immediately.

Dr. Cory Franklin is a retired intensive care physician. Dr. Robert Weinstein is an infectious disease specialist at Rush University Medical Center.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Police say a Louisville bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at his workplace, killing five people. Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel identified the shooter as Connor Sturgeon. He was killed by police responding to the shooting Monday. Gwinn-Villaroel also said the shooter livestreamed the attack. An emotional Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he lost a close friend in the shooting. At least nine others were wounded in the attack, including a police officer who had just graduated from the academy on March 31. The shooting comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee.
A Russian judge has ruled that American journalist Evan Gershkovich must remain behind bars on espionage charges. The case is part of a Kremlin crackdown on dissent and press freedom during the war in Ukraine. Appearing in public for the first time in weeks, the 31-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter stood in a defendants glass cage in Moscow City Court, wearing blue jeans and a navy blue gingham checked shirt. He paced at times and occasionally smiled as he acknowledged the other journalists in the courtroom. Gershkovich is the first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying allegations. Gershkovich, his employer and the U.S. government deny the charges and demand his release.
The Oxford English dictionary defines "nosh," as a noun in British use, meaning simply "food," while, as a verb, it is "eating with enthusiasm." "Nosh" from the Yiddish verb, generally means "to snack."

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One way or another, it conveys a degree of pleasure and satisfaction, which is what we found at Nosh Napa, a little breakfast and lunch spot tucked away in the Silverado Shopping Plaza (near Nob Hill grocery) on Trancas Street in Napa.

The husband and wife team of Juan Carlos and Victoria Alcosta opened Nosh Napa last November, creating a menu that blends Mexican and American favorites. The menu does look homey, with choices like omelets and chilaquiles, hamburgers and tacos.

It's when your order arrives that you realize  Wow, something special is going on here: Beautifully composed plates with splashes of color from fresh and pickled veggies and house-made relish, superb bread, and a myriad of other special touches add up to an exceptional experience.

"We want to cook food the way we would cook for our family," Victoria Alcosta said.

And also the way they cooked for guests at Meadowood Resort where the couple met and married.

Victoria was a student at the San Francisco Culinary Academy when an externship took her to work at Chez TJ in Mountain View, where Christopher Kostow, in his first head chef job, was aiming for excellence.

"We got one, then two Michelin stars," Victoria said. "It was pretty exciting."

When Kostow headed north to Napa Valley to take a job at Meadowood, he invited key members of his team to come along, including Victoria. She worked in the kitchen of the Restaurant at Meadowood, which became, under Kostow's leadership, one of the valley's two restaurants to garner three Michelin stars.

Juan Carlos was already there when Victoria arrived. A native of Vera Cruz, Mexico, he was working in special events. They married and had a daughter and after taking a year off, Victoria returned to Meadowood to be in change of the culinary program for the grill, the spa and the pool.

"We were all working hard to get the five-star rating," she said. "And we did."

Then came the pandemic. Juan Carlos was laid off first; Victoria stayed on to prepare staff meals until the late-summer wildfires swept through Meadowood.

Both unemployed, they decided to start a catering company, Moss & Vine Events. Juan Carlos prepped the foods in a commercial kitchen in Napa, but as the world opened up again after the pandemic, their catering business was increasingly in demand. They decided their next step would be to open a cafe, where they could also prepare foods for Moss & Vine.

"We wanted a neighborhood place for locals," Victoria said.

When Fresh A-Mex closed at Silverado Plaza, they found their spot. They renovated the space, painting it pale lavender, green and cream, adding plants and art works.

They devised a schedule, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., which would allow them to juggle parenting with the demanding culinary world. One of them takes their daughter to school in the morning, and they close in time to collect her and go home. Typically Victoria is at the cafe, while Juan Carlos works as sous chef at Darioush Winery. He is at Nosh on his days off.

"(Darioush) is the best place I have ever worked," he said. "They have been so supportive of us here (at Nosh)." Owner Darioush Saledi and his wife have come in to dine, he said, and had been very complimentary.

In addition, he and his brother are continuing the catering business.

Do they ever get tired? "We love what we are doing," Victoria said.

The menu

Breakfast, served from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., has extensive choices, both American classics and Mexican favorites.

Buttermilk pancakes ($16) are served with seasonal fresh fruit and vanilla creme fraiche. Avocado toast ($14) comes with soft eggs, pickled onions and a dusting of chili flakes. Eggs Benedict ($18) is served on Model Bakery's famous English muffins, with a choice of protein or sauteed mushrooms and  a great variation  fingerling potatoes.

These potatoes, lightly oiled and salted, are also available as a side ($6) as well as an accompaniment to the omelets and other egg dishes. The Nosh omelet ($16) has sauteed maitake mushrooms, baby kale, avocado and Jack cheese. The "American omelet" ($16) is made with cherry tomatoes, ham, and cheddar cheese. There is also an option of a traditional two-egg breakfast ($14).

From the Mexican menu, Huevos Rancheros ($16), with two eggs on a base of black beans on a tostada, is topped with a queso fresco and spicy yogurt salsa. The chilaquiles ($14), made with two eggs, tortilla chips, tomatillo sauce and queso fresco, gets this special salsa too. A breakfast burrito ($16) is made with a protein (bacon, turkey bacon, ham, pork or chicken sausage) or mushrooms.

On the lighter side, they serve yogurt with berries and granola ($12) and Vera Cruz specialty, valdovan ($6). These turnover-style pastries are filled with a choice of pineapple, Nutella and berries, ham and cheese, or mushroom and Jack cheese.

"I grew up with these," Juan Carlos said. "I really wanted them on the menu."

Lunch items are available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the variety ranges from tacos (handmade tacos, al pastor, chicken or steak, $5) and Baja-style fish ($8) or mushroom tacos ($5) to all beef hotdogs with French fries or a salad ($12). Empanadas ($6) are filled with a choice of Oaxaca cheese, Chicken Tinga or marinated steak.

Super fresh salads include a kale Caesar ($10) or a chopped salad ($18) with grilled chicken, egg, bacon, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, avocado and Dijon mustard dressing.

Lunch burritos ($12), black bean dip with avocado, cheese, spicy yogurt and chips ($12) and that kids' favorite, chicken strips (buttermilk-brined and hand-breaded) ($16, with fries or a salad) are other choices.

There are also two heartier choices: a Cubano sandwich ($20), with roasted pork and Black Forest ham, and a cheeseburger ($18) on a brioche bun; both are served with salads or fries.

Based on my experiences thus far, I am sure they will be wonderful, but thus far, each time I've intended to order one or the other, I've gotten distracted by the volovans, empanadas and those great potatoes.

I will just have to go back again.

Nosh Napa is at 641 Trancas St., Napa. For more information, call 707-226-1950 or visit noshnapa.com.

PHOTOS: On the menu at Nosh Napa
On a recent day, people by the dozens hiked the popular American Canyon wetlands trails near a potential danger zone not usually associated with Napa County  a state-mapped tsunami hazard area.

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The idea of the Napa River suddenly rising up a few feet in this area might sound farfetched. After all, American Canyon is some 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean, even if there is a connection from the Napa River, San Pablo Bay and Golden Gate.

American Canyon resident Barry Christian hikes this area and has kayaked this stretch of river. Tsunamis werent on his mind while doing so.

I wouldnt even think of it, Christian said, likely echoing the thoughts of just about everyone. If Im in a kayak, probably it would be a little wave.

Wildfires and earthquakes sound more like Napa County-style disasters. And theres certainly no indication from the state that a giant wave threatens to sweep away American Canyons homes and businesses. Property should be high and dry.

Still, Napa County has a tsunami hazard area that falls just short of the citys Wetlands Edge Road. The California Geological Survey used computer modeling to simulate such not-unheard-of scenarios as a magnitude 9.3 earthquake near Alaska.

The result could be water rise of up to a few feet in the south county stretch of the Napa River and nearby wetlands.

Only in extremely large tsunamis would we see flooding of the wetlands in this area, said Rick Wilson, who heads the California Geological Surveys tsunami program.

The state Geological Survey says flooding could reach an elevation of 5 feet in low-lying American Canyon wetlands area in an extreme case. Many of the hiking trails appear to be safe, but people in areas near the waters edge could see the water suddenly rise.

This would not be a dramatic wave, but more of sudden rise in water levels, with the possibility of a bore or single surge up the river, Wilson said. Despite its size, the tsunami could be dangerous to people in or along the banks of the water, so we would advise people stay out of and away from the area near the wetlands during a tsunami.

Hikers, anglers and boaters in the wetlands near American Canyon could be affected, if such a tsunami ever came to pass. For example, Glass Beach along the Napa River at the American Canyon wetlands is a popular hiking destination.

We know even a 1-foot tsunami surge can knock someone down and possibly drown them, so it is important for the public to take tsunamis seriously, stay out of and away from the water and have a plan for evacuation, Wilson said.

Napa Countys rural Milton Road community near the Carneros area is perhaps the south county riverfront community most vulnerable to flooding. Here, the news is good. The state predicts a worst-case tsunami would trigger a water rise of 2 to 3 feet there, too little to top the levees that protect homes.

People outside Napa County along the Marin and Sonoma county coasts would face a far bigger hazard. The state predicts waters here could surge 20 to 30 feet above the usual tides.

Although this is a very extreme event, the good news is that if this event happens, the tsunami would take four to five hours to travel from Alaska to the Bay Area, Wilson said. This should be enough time for people to safely evacuate out of the tsunami inundation area.

Napa Countys new, draft General Plan Safety Element looks at potential dangers. Tsunamis are listed under secondary hazards for the area and addressed in a paragraph.

More than 150 tsunamis have struck California since 1800, though Napa County has escaped any major damage.

Napa residents received a tsunami warning on May 11, 2011 following a major earthquake in Japan. The city of Napa put out a Nixle alert saying the city and county were monitoring the Napa River and other waterways.

Three ferries from Vallejo commuting to San Francisco were canceled that day because of tsunami worst-case scenario fears that didnt materialize. The Vallejo area was hit with no more than a fast, incoming tide. Still, Californias ports and harbors suffered about $100 million in damage.

The worst tsunami in recorded California history struck on March 28, 1964. A magnitude 9.2 earthquake in Alaska sent surges that reached 21 feet high in Crescent City near the Oregon border. More than 300 buildings were destroyed and 11 people died.

Closer to home, the Bay Area reportedly saw waters surge 4 feet up and drop 4 feet down. Beaches were exposed 15 feet more than normal. Dozens of boats sat far below the docks at San Franciscos Fishermans Wharf. Sausalito harbor became a mass of smelly mud.

But judging from those newspaper reports from 1964, Napa County escaped with barely a ripple.

In 1890, a prediction made the rounds that a tidal wave would destroy Oakland and San Francisco that April 14. The Napa Register opined the prognosticator was headed for the insane asylum.

Still, the long-gone Napa Soda Springs resort in the hills northeast of the city of Napa saw an opportunity. It responded with a newspaper advertisement in the San Francisco Call telling readers to Flee to the Hills! and Escape the Giant Tidal Wave!

And Napa Soda Springs of course knew the perfect place to take refuge. The ad noted the resort was 1,000 feet above tidal waters and had a good table and comfortable beds.

Napa Countys numerous resorts today could make a similar safe-haven claim for a tsunami. This is one disaster that would affect only a very small area of the county.

But, if the Big One ever rocks Alaska, the state would advise people to stay away from the Napa River shores in the American Canyon area.

PHOTOS: Napa Valley Tsunami Zone Tsunami Zone 2 Tsunami Zone 1 Tsunami Zone 3 Tsunami Zone 4 Tsunami Zone 5 Tsunami Zone 6 Tsunami Zone 7 Tsunami Zone 8 Tsunami Zone 9 Tsunami Zone 10 Tsunami Zone 11 Tsunami Zone 12 Tsunami Zone 13 Tsunami Zone 14 Tsunami Zone 15
Land Trust of Napa County has secured the first $7 million of $18 million needed by May 31 to purchase the 2,300-acre Walt Ranch  and it has a plan for the rest.

The state Coastal Conservancy last Thursday swiftly approved the grant. Conservancy members asked no questions and made no comments. It might have been the first controversy-free Walt Ranch public hearing.

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Conservancy Chairperson Douglas Bosco good-naturedly noted how fast the vote was for that much money.

Walt Ranch is located along Highway 121 in the mountains between the city of Napa and Lake Berryessa. It has been the focus of controversy for years over plans to create a few hundred of acres of vineyards there.

The Land Trust has a chance to end the disputes once-and-for-all and turn Walt Ranch into a nature preserve with hiking trails. But, with the Coastal Conservancy grant in hand, it must raise another $11 million by that May 31 deadline to do so.

Possible future contributors are the Moore Foundation and The Conservation Fund. They could provide a bridge loan, with a portion potentially becoming a grant, Land Trust CEO Doug Parker said.

That would allow the sale to go through, with hoped-for money from the state Wildlife Conservation Board ultimately repaying the loan portion. The Wildlife Conservation Board could consider a grant late this year.

Coastal Conservancy Project Manager Evyan Borgnis Sloane called Walt Ranch a high biodiversity landscape and said it is part of a wildlife corridor. She described its mix of hardwood and oak woodlands.

The public will be able to see for themselves, if the deal goes through. The Land Trust is to allow public access. Sloane noted the property already has 16 miles of roads and trails that could be used.

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, state Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters, wrote letters in support of the Walt Ranch purchase. So did the Napa County Resource Conservation District.

"Walt Ranch contains a number of rare species and significant water resources, including a source of municipal water supplies for the city of Napa," Thompson wrote.

Part of Walt Ranch is in the watershed for the city of Napa's Milliken Reservoir. The small reservoir is located in the mountains northeast of the Silverado area, near Atlas Peak Road.

Dodd wrote that, after years of contentious public discussions about proposed Walt Ranch development, there is near-unanimous public support for a Land Trust purchase.

"From a climate change standpoint, thousands of carbon-sequestration trees can be saved by preserving this special area," Aguiar-Curry wrote.

The purchase price would be more than $18 million, except that the landowners Craig and Kathryn Hall of St. Helena-based HALL Wines agreed to donate 25% of the property's value.

The Halls since 2005 had eyed Walt Ranch for several hundred acres of vineyards and won county approval in 2016. Plans to cut down about 14,000 trees to make room for vineyards ignited controversy among watershed protection advocates. Some residents in nearby Circle Oaks said Walt Ranch water use could hurt their rural community's wells.

Opponents unsuccessfully challenged the project in court, with the final barriers to vineyard development removed in 2022. Then the Land Trust and Halls in January announced the potential Walt Ranch preservation deal.

Parker said the Land Trust's goal is to raise $4 million beyond the purchase price to maintain the property. The Land Trust has turned to the community for help.

Go to napalandtrust.org to learn more about Walt Ranch and to contribute to the purchase effort by the nonprofit Land Trust.

PHOTOS: Napa Valley Tsunami Zone Tsunami Zone 2 Tsunami Zone 1 Tsunami Zone 3 Tsunami Zone 4 Tsunami Zone 5 Tsunami Zone 6 Tsunami Zone 7 Tsunami Zone 8 Tsunami Zone 9 Tsunami Zone 10 Tsunami Zone 11 Tsunami Zone 12 Tsunami Zone 13 Tsunami Zone 14 Tsunami Zone 15
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 thats 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 isnt 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.

Ashley Zavala, president of the correspondents association who covers state government and politics for Sacramento television station KCRA, said the extraordinary step was prompted by years of complaints from Capitol press about problems reporting on Gov. Gavin Newsom, his administration and the Legislature. These have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, which accelerated a shift to digital communication that has transformed how the state government discloses its work.

The pandemic did cause some bad behavior, Zavala said. It let some of these agencies and some of these offices get lackadaisical in how they handled the media.

Many of the standard features of government beat reporting  including in-person press conferences, with an opportunity for follow-up questions, and media phone lines where journalists could talk to a live staffer  disappeared three years ago with the shutdown orders and have been slow to return, if at all.

Changes that reporters and public information officers adopted to do their jobs virtually in a strange new stay-at-home world became ingrained, encouraging practices, such as written statements instead of interviews, that offer less clarity and greater distance between state government and the people it serves.

This tension  between journalists seeking accountability and a bureaucracy that does not always welcome scrutiny  is not new. Covering state government has grown more difficult in recent years with fewer reporters covering the Capitol and social media offering politicians new ways to reach constituents and voters without speaking to the press. Those trends were exacerbated by restrictions applied during the pandemic.

The risk is a decline of open, honest and transparent communication essential to the functioning of democracy, said David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for a free press and government disclosure.

Media outlets across the state note rejected interview requests, challenges obtaining public records or the lack of any official response in their stories:

These message control practices do real harm to the public interest, Loy said. Because the people need to know the full story, not just the official story.

No standard communications policy

There is no shortage of people responsible for the state governments communication of public information: 435 employees in the executive branch, to be exact, according to a count conducted for CalMatters by the Department of Human Resources. An analysis of salary ranges based on job titles found that the annual cost to taxpayers is between $36.5 million and $44.8 million.

There are even more press aides working for other branches, such as the Legislature, the judiciary and public universities. The jobs of these communications officials extend beyond answering reporters questions and can include duties such as developing public relations strategies, writing speeches and managing social media accounts.

Yet, besides laws mandating open meetings and the release of public records, California does not have standards for appropriate public communications. Policies are at the discretion of those hundreds of individual agencies and departments.

A spokesperson for Newsom said his administration has not issued any directives for communication by state officials, either to standardize practices or to address problems raised by the press corps. State agencies are part of the governors administration and their leaders are gubernatorial appointees. In addition, there are seven departments or offices that are supervised by statewide elected officials, including the attorney general and the secretary of state.

But the governors office does get involved with the response to the most notable media inquiries and records requests.

As is the case across all aspects of the administration, including communications, policy and legislation, there is an expectation that departments and agencies flag high profile issues for attention for the governors office, spokesperson Anthony York said in an email. Thats also true for legal matters, including public records act requests. We trust agencies to use their discretion to notify the governors office as they see fit, depending on the issue.

Newsom has faced criticisms of his own for his press strategy, including favoring the national media over California journalists for interviews and major announcements, which has contributed to speculation, repeatedly denied by the governor, that he is raising his profile to run for president. His office is also highly secretive about his schedule and travel compared to governors in other states, as The Sacramento Bee recently reported, and staff has on occasion physically blocked journalists from approaching Newsom to ask questions at public events, including the Capitol tree lighting ceremony in December and a march to his second inauguration in January.

Emails, not interviews

The obstacles and troubling behavior highlighted by the Capitol Correspondents Association of California are broader and more pervasive.

Many offices have moved nearly entirely toward written communications, directing a reporter who does reach someone by phone to instead send their questions by email. Some no longer list a media number on their websites at all, including the California Department of Public Health, which has often been the primary messenger for the Newsom administrations pandemic response.

This approach favored by the state government restricts contact through official spokespeople; interview requests for policymakers and subject matter experts are frequently rejected, while agency employees are discouraged from speaking to the press without first getting permission.

During the pandemic, Julie Watts of television station CBS Sacramento spent two years investigating health and safety failures at a state-funded COVID-19 testing lab. She was never allowed to speak with Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly, who oversaw the states coronavirus response, or Department of Public Health officials about her findings, even after Newsom directed her questions to Ghaly.

Watts said she was forced to rely on written statements, which documents and reports often later revealed to be inaccurate or untrue. Without an opportunity to sit down with Ghaly, Watts said she could not fully push back on the states carefully constructed messages and get to the bottom of one of her central questions: Was California getting false information about the effectiveness of the lab, or covering up negligence?

The answers they were sending us in writing were disingenuous, Watts said, adding that it made her question whether the state had something to hide. We were talking about complex, scientific issues. And its difficult to convey that to the public when its hundreds of back-and-forth emails

Anna Maria Barry-Jester covered public health in California for the nonprofit Kaiser Health News for nearly four years before moving last summer to investigative news outlet ProPublica. During that time, she said she was only ever granted one interview by the California Department of Public Health.

The answer was nearly always no, Barry-Jester said, whether she was seeking information about state programs, requesting data or trying to speak with an expert on staff. She said she encountered these limitations on stories about everything from rising syphilis rates to the coronavirus vaccine rollout to wastewater surveillance for COVID-19.

The pandemic illuminated the problems in stark terms, as Barry-Jester worked with public health departments in dozens of other states as well. From those agencies, she was able to get program descriptions, explanations for how they were tracking data, interviews with experts and insight into their biggest challenges confronting the coronavirus with limited resources.

Californias was particularly obstructionist, Barry-Jester said. It was nearly impossible to get answers to basic questions.

The written responses crafted by communications staff are often sent anonymously from a general email account, as though coming from the entire faceless bureaucracy rather than a particular spokesperson. For example, media inquiries fulfilled by the state Department of Justice, which is overseen by Attorney General Rob Bonta, are generally signed only Press Office.

The result is a slower, more complicated process for sharing public information. Follow-up and clarifying questions that would be quickly settled in an interview or phone call can be drawn out over days of correspondence. Thats a luxury of time that is not always available to reporters, especially in a breaking news situation. Sometimes those written responses blow through deadlines, coming after a story has been published or never at all.

Ariane Lange, an enterprise reporter for The Sacramento Bee, said she submitted a public records request to the Department of Health Care Services last summer for which she still has not received any documents.

Though she was initially told she would begin getting records in mid-September, related to the departments relationship with an independent mediator that helped develop its doula benefit for Medi-Cal recipients, Lange said numerous attempts to get an explanation for the delay have been unsuccessful. Record requests are submitted through an online portal that does not allow for messaging, while her questions to the departments media office about the situation have routinely been ignored.

After a public information officer told Lange that she didnt even have a phone number where she could be reached, a frustrated Lange complained on Twitter last month that email culture has gone too far. She said she wants to get someone on the phone to find out if her request could be narrowed to speed up production.

It feels like one of those things where we could work it out if we could just talk about it, but no one wants to talk to me at all, Lange said. It seems against the spirit of public service.

Demanding better practices

In the guidelines it shared with reporters last month, the correspondents association recommended that media describe the rejection of an interview request in the story, alongside the written statement that an agency provides instead.

The association urged journalists not to provide questions in advance of an interview, other than a general description of the information they are seeking, writing: Journalism ethics requires us to maintain our objectivity, and by giving these questions in advance you would be providing the office or agency an opportunity to rehearse for a basic function of their job and take control of the messaging.

The guidelines also include a glossary of attribution terms and suggest pointing out in a story when government officials or spokespeople refuse to be identified, especially in cases where a state agency is making an announcement or providing general information to a broad range of reporters. One example the guidelines cite: A press briefing in October where the Newsom administration would not allow journalists to name the senior officials, including Ghaly, announcing the end date for Californias COVID-19 state of emergency.

Zavala, the association president, said the fragmented approaches of different media outlets have allowed state agencies to simply stick to whatever is easiest for their press teams. She said the reporting guidelines are intended to foster a unity among journalists to demand better practices. Alongside the document, the correspondents association also sent out a survey to collect more data from reporters about their biggest problems covering state government.

We may be competitors, but its important for us to be on the same page, Zavala said. Journalists are the voices of communities, of people in this state, of voters, of taxpayers. We are the ones who have the opportunity to ask these questions on their behalf. Thats who were representing.

Speed vs. accuracy

State communications officials said they aim to provide timely and accurate information to the media and the public, but those values are not always aligned.

Complex inquiries from reporters can require consulting multiple subject-matter experts for thorough answers and obtaining many layers of approval, sometimes in conjunction with other agencies.

Officials said they generally ask for questions in advance because it helps them determine who is best equipped to handle the inquiry. Providing interviews with agency staff can require a lot of preparation and coordinating schedules, so they often prefer to send written responses instead.

We cant just answer quickly to meet a deadline. It does nobody any favors if we provide information that is incorrect, said Peter Melton, a public information officer with the Department of Industrial Relations.

The department declined a formal interview last summer for a CalMatters story on how few California workers are fully repaid even after winning wage theft claims, then nearly two weeks later, canceled an offer for a background conversation about its judgment enforcement unit to focus on a series of written questions the reporters had sent.

If someone is asking highly-specialized questions that require someone highly specialized, they might not be available at that time, Melton said. If we put someone on the phone, and the questions are outside their scope, then its a wasted effort.

Because many state employees are still primarily working from home, some large communications offices do everything by email so that their staff can collectively track and respond to the media inquiries they receive throughout the day.

The quickest way to reach the team is through that inbox, said Ali Bay, the director of communications for the California Department of Public Health, which removed the phone number for its press office from its contact page but maintains a general email address.

The department declined to make anyone available for a story CalMatters published last fall about how congenital syphilis rates soared in California over the past decade as public health funding fell. During a year spent working on the project, the reporter asked multiple times to speak to experts from the departments sexually transmitted diseases control branch, but those requests were ignored and the department only answered questions for the story by email.

Bay said the department has been inundated with media inquiries since the pandemic, including more than 8,100 in 2020 alone. While the number has since dropped, to more than 1,800 last year, that still represents a nearly 70% increase over 2019. During that time, the departments media team has grown to 10 positions, from seven, though it relied on staff from other agencies and contractors for additional help at the height of the pandemic.

We do our best to accommodate interview requests, acknowledging that one person may not be equipped to answer all of the questions, Bay said.

Spokespeople for offices that frequently provide unattributed responses said they prefer that the head of their agency serve as its voice.

Where appropriate and depending on the context, our office is happy to accommodate requests for specific information to be attributable to an individual in the press office, Bethany Lesser, the director of communications for the Department of Justice, said in a text message. Our usual practice is for comments to come from the Attorney General or the department as a whole.

These policies are generally not unlawful, noted Loy of the First Amendment Coalition, because public officials and state agencies are not legally obligated to speak to the press.

But many of them are nevertheless antithetical to the spirit of open government, he said, preventing journalists from obtaining the public information that they need to hold the government to account.

Is the government there to serve the people or is the government there to be a spin machine? Loy said. It may seem inconvenient to the government, but at the end of the day, a government that is most accountable to the people is the best government.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has anointed himself as the avenging angel who will rain down righteous  or self-righteous  punishment on ideological heretics in red states such as Florida, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi.

All across the country rights are being rolled back in real-time by Republicans, Newsom warned in a fundraising text message last week, just hours after it was revealed that former President Donald Trump was being indicted in New York. They cry freedom but work overtime to dismantle our democracy to protect their power to dictate the choices people are allowed to make.

I am going to flip that narrative on its head, Newsom promised.

Two days later, having created a new political organization to finance assaults on prominent Republicans, he embarked on a tour of four red states to rally Democratic opposition to their GOP governors.

Newsoms message is that those governors and other prominent Republicans, such as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, are authoritarian threats, citing such actions as banning books and subverting abortion access, gay rights and gender-affirming care for transgender youths.

The website of Newsoms new organization, the Campaign for Democracy, singles out McCarthy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott as threats to democracy. In a video, Newsom declares, Whats happening in those red states, thats not who we are. Its un-American, its undemocratic. All it takes to fight back is a willingness to stand toe-to-toe and say enough.

There are three potential explanations for Newsoms self-declared crusade: that hes genuinely worried about an existential struggle for democracy; that hes just expanding his years-long drive to raise his national political profile in hopes of someday campaigning for the presidency; or that he craves attention.

Whatever his motives  and it could be a combination of the idealistic, the crassly political and the personal  the most intriguing aspect of Newsoms campaign is his denunciations of DeSantis, Abbott, et al, as authoritarian, meaning that they are acting unilaterally, outside the democratic process, to impose their will on the residents of their states.

Thats patently untrue. Those two governors and those of other red states were duly elected and often re-elected by their voters, and wield the powers that accrue to elected governors. One can certainly take issue, on the merits, with the policies they espouse and enact. But one must also assume that they are doing what majorities of their constituents want them to do, which is the essence of democracy.

Besides, Newsom has been just as adamant in pursuing his own ideological goals.

Was Newsom being an authoritarian when he declared an emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic, suspended dozens of laws, closed public schools and ordered much of the states economy to be shut down, erasing nearly 3 million jobs overnight and pushing the state into a severe recession?

Newsom would say that he was just exercising his executive powers for the greater good.

Was Newsom an authoritarian when he unilaterally stopped executions in 2019, even though the death penalty was and still is state law, and won voter support the last time the issue was placed on the ballot?

Meanwhile, he has signed a number of new laws aimed at restricting or eliminating behavior he and his fellow Democrats consider to be wrong, such as owning guns or resisting construction of new housing. And how about those decrees banning the sale of gasoline-powered cars after 2035?

Newsoms actions were no less arbitrary the governors he criticizes. When it comes to authoritarianism, he is, to use an old saw, a pot calling the kettle black.
Bob Menendez: It's time to halt security assistance to Baku

Explanation made regarding Armenia v. Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan v. Armenia court cases

Pelosi: Last year our delegation had solemn honor to visit Armenian Genocide Memorial

Biden to run in 2024 US presidential race

CoE Commissioner for Human Rights says she tried to visit Karabakh but could not

Schiff: International observers should have been sent to Karabakh, Lachin corridor years ago

US Congress members re-introduce Armenian Genocide Education Act to House of Representatives

Adam Schiff: There should be sanctions on Azerbaijan

Armenias Pashinyan to Israels Netanyahu: Our relations have positive prerequisites for moving to new qualitative level

Chaarat Gold company discontinues talks for Lydian Armenia purchase

American Armenians march, with huge Karabakh flag, to Turkey embassy in Washington

Adam Schiff: I've never been more concerned, frankly, that there may be another major outbreak of war

Germany Bundestag human rights committee head: New Azerbaijani checkpoint contradicts international law

Loucas Fourlas visits border regions of Armenias Syunik province

Adam Schiff submits to US Congress draft resolution recognizing Karabakh independence

France FM to visit Armenia and Azerbaijan, to discuss situation in Lachin corridor

Newspaper: Pashinyan-Putin telephone conversation result being awaited

Karabakh ombudsman: Azerbaijan takes blatantly brazen step that directly contradicts tripartite statement

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
Former Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, 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 on April 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee Republicans ousted Jones and Justin J. Pearson, second left, for using a bullhorn to shout support for pro-gun control protesters in the House chamber. (George Walker IV / AP)

All that Tennessee Republicans achieved with the expulsion of two duly elected Democratic Party members of the Tennessee legislature was to provide raw material for social media-fueled outrage, help the Democratic fundraising arm and turn a pair of progressive young Black legislators into national political figures.

Youd have thought one of the older, wiser GOP leaders in that state with a sense of how communication works these days might have seen that one coming, and that Vice President Kamala Harris would be jumping on a plane for Tennessee for a cant-lose trip for maximum personal and political benefit.

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Apparently no one in the GOP was capable of looking this far ahead. The appetite of Republican lawmakers at all levels for self-destruction is boundless, and ultimately, destructive to the party and the union.

In Washington last week, many prominent Republican lawmakers stood behind a former president credibly accused of sending hush money payments to a sex worker (he has pleaded not guilty). Are Tennessee Republicans racist, or merely oblivious to the danger of looking that way before the outside world?

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The backdrop to the extraordinary events in Nashville at the end of last week was the death of three children who had done nothing but attend class at their Christian school. An alienated, troubled and dangerous person with a grudge, a manifesto and an automatic weapon  a lethal combination, history teaches us  had allegedly killed three children and three adults and fired 152 rounds of ammunition, according to police.

Emotions were raw, to say the least, and high schoolers who deserve the protection of adults had started to feel like sitting ducks. So some in Nashville decided to protest the long-standing inability in this nation to prevent these shootings from happening. They arrived at the statehouse to exercise their right to protest in a free nation.

Protesters gather at the State Capitol in Nashville, Tennessee, April 6, 2023. The Tennessee House voted that day to expel several Democrats from the state legislature 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. (Jon Cherry/The New York Times)

In essence, their raucous shouts from the gallery were taken up in the statehouse with three of the members, Justin Jones, Justin J. Pearson and Gloria Johnson, effectively joining the protests from the floor and sparking a measure of chaos.

Did they break house rules? No doubt. Did they deserve censure? Arguably. Did their actions as new legislators merit expulsion and the termination of their representation of their constituencies?

Absolutely not.

Sure, Republicans saw a double standard when it came to the Democratic Partys very different view of the Jan. 6 riot by Trump supporters at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., but the comparison was hardly accurate. No one in Nashville was hurt; this was a peaceful protest. Things would have calmed down. A cool, mature person could have persuaded Jones to put his bullhorn away, remind him of his new role and persuade him instead to start working on effective legislation.

And, stranger yet, an argument easily could have been made by Republicans that this shooting was effectively a hate crime against conservative Christians, potentially enabling them to awaken a historically unsympathetic segment of the nation to the need for sensible measures to ensure that lethal weapons do not find their way into the hands of emotionally disturbed people.

This could have been a watershed moment for gun control in America, given that moderate Republicans will have to be part of any broad national solution to this issue, however much Democrats tweet, shout and demonize the other side of the aisle.

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Had the Tennessee Republicans been smarter last week, their state might just have found the right moment to enact common-sense red flag laws and other regulatory improvements that go at least some way toward keeping guns out of the wrong hands, while also preserving Second Amendment rights so important to so many in that conservative state.

The signs of intemperate overreach hardly were limited to Tennessee in the past few days. We saw progressives calling for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on the grounds of a well-reported ProPublica story that he took undisclosed vacations and transportation from a rich, conservative friend and exploited the absurd loophole that allows the Supreme Court to police itself (or not).

Should Thomas have been on that luxury yacht for free? Absolutely not, whatever he was advised. He should apologize and change his ways. Should we be impeaching Supreme Court justices for not following rules that dont exist, even if we think they should? Obviously not.

You might say this was just the usual noise from the so-called Squad. But the point is that algorithms are set to amplify that blather, hardening both sides and getting us nowhere.

The effect of partisanship of the judiciary also was clear in Wisconsin last week as a contentious election in the state to our north looked a lot more like a race within the legislative branch than a matter of who was best qualified for the judiciary.

We saw a progressive victory, very much akin to a political triumph and also the bitterest of concession speeches. Very few people, it appears, saw the obvious price paid for all of this by those who care about bipartisan trust in the Badger State in the rule of law.

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Americans, it seems, are failing utterly to see how the other side thinks, let alone how they will react. But the consequences of this are greater now. The impact is monetized by hungry bots and partisans who well know the benefits for their personal branding or political fortunes.

Balance and reasonable rhetoric doesnt pay anymore, except perhaps in delaying the moment when America rips itself apart while its kids still die.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Armenia on Monday released a statement on the 31st anniversary of the massacre of Armenians in Maragha town. The statement reads as follows:

31 years ago, on April 10, 1992, the Azerbaijani armed forces carried out a preplanned brutal massacre of the peaceful population of the Armenian settlement of Maragha in Martakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh, as a result of which the settlement with a population of about 5,000 was completely subjected to ethnic cleansing, more than 50 civilians were brutally killed and as many were taken captive. This data has been documented in the reports of the human rights organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The fates of many hostages have not been clarified to this day, and they are considered to have been forcibly disappeared.

The Maragha massacre was a continuation of the organised pogroms of Armenians in Sumgait, Kirovabad and Baku and one of the manifestations of mass crimes committed by the Azerbaijani authorities on the grounds of national identity. The preplanned crimes against the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, war crimes, their impunity and glorification became part of Azerbaijan's systemic policy and took on new manifestations during Azerbaijan's aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in April 2016 and on a larger scale during the 44-day war of 2020 as a result of which tens of thousands of Armenians were displaced also from Hadrut, Shushi and surrounding regions.

It is no coincidence that not only the Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh during 1988-1991 have never had the opportunity to return to their homes and exercise their rights, including managing their private property, but also nowadays, Azerbaijan violates the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, disrupting the return of displaced persons and refugees to Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions, which should be carried out under the supervision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Moreover, violating the norms of international law and the international obligations, nowadays the official Baku is populating with Azerbaijanis the Armenian settlements fallen under its control, the homes of Armenians, for example in the Armenian village of Talish.

It is also noteworthy that, grossly violating the decisions of authoritative international courts, Azerbaijan openly continues to desecrate, vandalise and destroy the Armenian religious, historical and cultural monuments and sanctuaries, having the aim to completely erase the Armenian trace from the territories that are under its control. At the same time, the hate speech towards the Armenians continues at the highest level. These actions have already been repeatedly condemned by international institutions.

31 years after the Maragha massacre, already for around four months Azerbaijan has been illegally blocking the Lachin corridor connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with the rest of the world. The deliberate creation of a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, the periodic violations of the ceasefire and the aggressive actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, the consistent targeting and terrorising of the peaceful population prove once again that Azerbaijan's goal is to subject Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing.

Today we pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Maragha massacre. In order to further prevent such crimes, we once again emphasise the urgency of taking the active steps by the international community, including by using the available international mechanisms.

The Republic of Armenia reaffirms its commitment to the establishment of lasting and comprehensive peace and security in the region, which is possible by Azerbaijan's refusal of the maximalist and aggressive policy and by the search for fair solutions to the existing problems.
A Ukrainian soldier fires a howitzer at the Russian positions on the frontline near Kremenna in Ukraine's Luhansk region on April 5, 2023. (Roman Chop / AP)

The gaping holes that Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden poked into what America assumed were secure, firewalled troves of classified data taught Washington a sobering lesson about the importance of keeping secrets leakproof.

Now, however, it seems Washington needs a refresher course.

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The Pentagon is scrambling to find the source responsible for a tranche of leaked documents, the release of which reveals timely information that could severely compromise Ukraines bid to defeat Russian forces. The task of tracking down the culprit or culprits is now in the hands of the Justice Department, which has opened an investigation.

In the short term, theres a good deal at stake. The leaked data includes maps revealing the potential location of Ukrainian air defenses as Kyiv braces for what is expected to be a bloody, challenging escalation in fighting this spring in the countrys eastern Donbas region.

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[ Editorial: A year later, Ukraine stands tall. The US and NATO must help it finish the job. ]

The leaked data also exposes the level of concern felt by both Kyiv and Washington over Ukraines dwindling stockpile of missiles to supply its air defense systems. If Ukraine is unable to replenish, the Kremlin could feel emboldened to dramatically ramp up its use of Russian fighter jets  a move that could shift the tide of the war in Russian President Vladimir Putins favor.

And leaked documents potentially signal to the Kremlin the methodology the U.S. is using to gather intelligence on the operations of the GRU, Russias military intelligence agency, and on the movements of Russias armed forces.

Long term, these latest leaks are likely to renew questions among Americas allies abroad about Washingtons penchant for spying on its friends.

Leaders in Seoul are certainly rankled. According to the leaked documents, the U.S. spied on South Korea and learned Seoul was worried that the U.S. would not be the end user if South Korea were to comply with a U.S. request for ammunition. Seoul was concerned that the U.S. would end up relaying the munitions to Ukrainian forces, which would violate South Koreas policy of not sending armaments into a war zone. The leaked data also includes sensitive briefing content on Canada and Israel.

Spying on allies doesnt come as any big surprise. The WikiLeaks revelations disclosed that the U.S. tapped the phone calls of then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel for years, and spied on three French presidents. But when such surveillance is disclosed to the world, its more than embarrassing  it sows seeds of mistrust among allies.

Barack Obamas presidency was rocked by leaks attributed to Snowden and Manning, and Obama was right to pursue both of them criminally. Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor, fled to Russia and in 2022 was granted citizenship by Putin. Manning served seven years in prison before Obama commuted her sentence in 2017. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who published the classified information Manning, a former Army intelligence analyst, had collected, is now in a British prison as he fights extradition to the U.S.

Neither Obama nor former President Donald Trump nor President Joe Biden have been able to patch up what obviously are glaring deficiencies in the way the U.S. safeguards sensitive, classified data.

The leaks associated with Manning, Snowden and Assange may have been more embarrassing than damaging, but thats not the case with the latest tranche of leaks. Their disclosure could work to Putins advantage, and it could make it doubly tough for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to turn back the invasion and preserve his countrys sovereignty.

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Ukrainian forces are in the midst of a critical juncture in the war. The positioning and capability of their air defense systems are vital not only to Kyivs push to regain more territory from Russian troops, but also to keep Putins MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets from entering the fray. A major step-up in the Kremlins use of Russian air power could seriously jeopardize Kyivs chances for victory.

Its good to see that U.S. investigators are getting cooperation from Discord, an online chat service usually used by video game players, and a platform on which the leaks were posted. The documents themselves appear to be photos of classified briefing content printed out on A4 paper and folded up, as if they were shoved into a pocket before being brought out of a secure area. Strangely, some of the documents apparently had been uploaded on a Discord channel used by players of the video game Minecraft.

Finding and prosecuting the people responsible for the leaks is a must. But its equally important for the Biden administration to take a deep dive into shoring up cybersecurity for classified data.

Too much is at stake in Ukraine to allow this to happen again.

Snowden, Manning and Assange should have provided more than enough incentive for Washington to act decisively. It shouldnt have to take a devastating turn of events in Ukraine for the U.S. to, once and for all, plug the leaks.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

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Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
The Azerbaijanis were found in Bnunis village of Armenias Syunik Province, they informed from this rural community in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Our interlocutor, whose name we will not publicize at his request, said that Azerbaijanis in military uniforms knocked on the door of one of the houses of this village, the landlady opened the door, but became suspicious and alerted the police.

She could not say how many Azerbaijanis there were.

Armenian News-NEWS.am contacted this family, too, but they did not want to comment at this time.

As reported earlier, between 1am and 2am on Monday, a serviceman from the armed forces of Azerbaijan was found and detained in Armenia.

According to him, there was another Azerbaijani soldier with him, and the search for this serviceman is still in progress.

Azerbaijani media, citing the country's Ministry of Defense, have reported the disappearance of two Azerbaijani servicemen. It is said that they got lost in the direction of Nakhichevan because of low visibility due to adverse weather.
Bob Menendez: It's time to halt security assistance to Baku

Explanation made regarding Armenia v. Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan v. Armenia court cases

Pelosi: Last year our delegation had solemn honor to visit Armenian Genocide Memorial

Biden to run in 2024 US presidential race

Karabakh MP: Negotiations to reopen Hakari bridge are in progress with Azerbaijan

CoE Commissioner for Human Rights says she tried to visit Karabakh but could not

Schiff: International observers should have been sent to Karabakh, Lachin corridor years ago

US Congress members re-introduce Armenian Genocide Education Act to House of Representatives

Adam Schiff: There should be sanctions on Azerbaijan

Armenias Pashinyan to Israels Netanyahu: Our relations have positive prerequisites for moving to new qualitative level

Chaarat Gold company discontinues talks for Lydian Armenia purchase

American Armenians march, with huge Karabakh flag, to Turkey embassy in Washington

Adam Schiff: I've never been more concerned, frankly, that there may be another major outbreak of war

Germany Bundestag human rights committee head: New Azerbaijani checkpoint contradicts international law

Loucas Fourlas visits border regions of Armenias Syunik province

Adam Schiff submits to US Congress draft resolution recognizing Karabakh independence

France FM to visit Armenia and Azerbaijan, to discuss situation in Lachin corridor

Newspaper: Pashinyan-Putin telephone conversation result being awaited

Karabakh ombudsman: Azerbaijan takes blatantly brazen step that directly contradicts tripartite statement

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
Brandon Johnsons mayoral victory charts a new course for Chicago, and it also opens up a new spot to represent the citys West Side and west suburban communities on the Cook County Board.

State Rep. Lamont Robinsons win in the race for 4th Ward City Council alderman, meanwhile, creates a vacancy for the slim statehouse district that includes portions of River North and extends all the way south to West Woodlawn and Pocket Town.

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Neither Johnson nor Robinson has submitted a letter of resignation to the county board or the House clerk in Springfield, though they are expected before inauguration day for both on May 15.

Their respective resignations get the clock ticking: Selection committees made up of Democratic Party leaders from Johnsons and Robinsons respective districts will have 30 days to make their choice from the date of the resignation. Both just won reelection in November to the seats theyre now leaving, and their replacements will serve until the next election in 2024.

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Theres little time for Johnson or Robinson to complete any unfinished business from their old roles. Mayor-elect Johnsons transition time is the shortest in recent mayoral history: 41 days. Mayor Lori Lightfoot had 48 days between her election in April 2019 and inauguration in mid-May. Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel took office 81 days after his 2011 victory. The citys swearing-in ceremony is also four days before the General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn for the spring on May 19.

Both seats will be filled by Democrats who serve as committeepersons for the wards and townships that fall within each district. Each committeeperson has a weighted vote based on turnout for each candidates seats in the November general election.

Johnson only served one full term and a scant few months of a second on the county board. He was slated to earn $93,500 this year.

Johnsons goal is to attend the next county board meeting for one final appearance, his campaign said. He plans to issue his resignation in early May. Johnson told the online publication The Daily Line on Friday that he hopes his successor will be a fellow progressive who can address the disparities in his district, which includes the Austin neighborhood and suburban Oak Park, suburban Maywood, Broadview and Bellwood.

Then-Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson applauds during a swearing-in ceremony, Dec. 5, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, who is the committeeperson for Oak Park Township, has the largest share of the vote: just under 29%. Johnson and Harmon have a history: Johnson ran constituent services for him from 2003 to 2004. Johnson went on to serve as chief of staff for state Rep. Deborah Graham for five years before he began teaching in 2007.

Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough, who represents Proviso Township, has just over 23% of the vote. Others on the committee with less than 10% of the weighted vote are City Council members Chris Taliaferro, 29th; Emma Mitts, 37th; Daniel La Spata, 1st; Jason Ervin, 28th; and four others.

Robinson was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018, and went unchallenged in 2020 and 2022. He opted to run in the 4th Ward race to succeed outgoing Ald. Sophia King, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor. With support from Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Robinson defeated Kings chief of staff, Prentice Butler, in the runoff earlier this month.

Ald. Pat Dowell, the Democratic committeeperson for the 3rd Ward, has the largest share of the weighted vote to fill Robinsons seat in Springfield, 48.6%, followed by 42nd Wards Ald. Brendan Reilly and his 17.6% share, then state Rep. Mattie Hunter, who has 17.4%. Other selection committee members include Preckwinkle, who is also the Cook County Democratic Party chair, as well as outgoing Ald. Leslie Hairston, 5th, and Ald. Michelle Harris, 8th.
Story Highlights 34%, down from 44% a year ago, say U.S. energy situation is very serious

Declines seen among all key subgroups

Americans prioritize environmental protection over energy production

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans show significantly less concern about the U.S. energy situation now than they did a year ago, with 34%, down from 44%, describing the situation as very serious. The 2022 spike came amid sharply rising gas prices and was the highest percentage seeing the situation as very serious since 2011. The record-high 58% viewing the energy situation as very serious was recorded in 2001, amid rolling blackouts in California.

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In addition to the 34% of U.S. adults who say the energy situation is very serious, 51% describe it as fairly serious, and 14% say it is not at all serious. The latter readings have increased by five and four percentage points, respectively, since last year.

The March 1-23 poll also found a six-point drop in the percentage of Americans who worry a great deal about the availability and affordability of energy, from 47% to 41%. However, energy concern remains higher than it has been in any other year since 2012 (48%), which tied 2006 for the highest in the trend that dates to 2001.

Lessened concern about the energy situation is likely related to lower average gas prices now versus a year ago. In March 2022, gas prices were about 80 cents higher per gallon than in March 2023, and they were on their way to a record of more than $5 per gallon in June 2022.

Gallup first asked Americans for their assessments of the U.S. energy situation in the late 1970s during the energy crisis. At that time, about four in 10 said the situation was very serious, before the proportion climbed to 47% in August 1979 amid gasoline shortages that summer.

When Gallup next asked the question, in 1990 -- also during a period of rising gas prices -- far fewer, 28%, described the situation as very serious, but that figure eventually rose to 40% during the Persian Gulf War.

A decade later, Americans concern was subdued, until the California energy crisis prompted a surge in concern. By 2002, after the crisis passed, a record-low 22% said the situation was very serious.

All Groups Inclined to See Situation as Less Serious, but Gaps Remain

The decline in perceptions of the energy situation as very serious is seen across all key subgroups. Republicans showed one of the larger drops -- 15 percentage points, from 64% to 49%. However, they remain more likely than other demographic or political subgroups to describe the situation as very serious. For example, 34% of independents and 21% of Democrats believe the energy situation is very serious.

The 20-point decline among Eastern residents rating the energy situation as very serious is also one of the bigger declines among subgroups. Now, there are substantial regional differences, particularly between Eastern residents, who show less concern, and Southern residents, who show more.

There are also notable divides by age, with 19% of those under age 30 viewing the situation as very serious, compared with 42% of those aged 50 and older. A year ago, Americans between 30 and 49 were about as likely as older Americans to believe the energy situation was very serious, but that has changed, given the larger 17-point drop among the middle-aged group.

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The age and regional differences may largely reflect the political leanings of these subgroups.

Americans Prioritize Environment Over Energy Production

Since 2001, Gallup has asked Americans to assess the tradeoff between protecting the environment and producing greater energy supplies. In most years, they have put a higher priority on environmental protection than energy production, including 53% to 43% currently.

Historically, the margin in favor of the environment has tended to be larger when energy prices are relatively low, and smaller when they are higher. During the period of high gas prices between 2009 and 2013, for example, Americans were mostly divided or they slightly prioritized energy development over the environment. This pattern was temporarily disrupted in May 2010 after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill created an environmental disaster in that region. Later, after gas prices fell starting in 2014, Americans again began prioritizing the environment, with the gap in its favor reaching a record 25 points in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Last year, amid surging gas prices, the gap narrowed to four points, before expanding this year.

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Americans also favor green solutions over those involving increased production of traditional energy supplies when asked how to better address the nations energy problems.

By 56% to 40%, Americans say the nation should emphasize more energy conservation by consumers rather than increased production of oil, gas and coal.

By an even larger margin, 59% to 35%, the public believes the nation should emphasize the development of alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power over producing energy from oil, gas and coal.

On both of these questions, Americans have consistently favored conservation or alternative energy production over traditional energy-source production, though the sizes of the gaps have varied, depending on the current energy situation.

Republicans, Democrats on Different Sides of Energy-Environment Debate

Republican and Democratic opinions on environmental protection versus energy tradeoffs are mirror images of each other. By 79% to 18%, Democrats say the nation should prioritize environmental protection over energy production, while Republicans would prioritize energy production by 80% to 17%.

The movement on this item among all Americans this year is attributable to independents, who prioritize the environment by 57% to 37% but were divided last year. Both Republicans' and Democrats' preferences were unchanged in 2022 compared with 2023.

Large majorities of Republicans also believe the U.S. should emphasize production of oil, gas and coal over both conservation and alternative energy, while Democrats and independents favor the more environmentally conscious approaches.

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Bottom Line

Americans concern about the energy issue and how it relates to environmental protection is responsive to changes in the U.S. energy situation. Typically, Americans are less concerned about energy when gas prices are low and supply is abundant, but their concerns rise when energy prices spike, as was the case last year, or when supplies are limited. Thus, the rise in energy concern last year, and the decline this year, is consistent with historical opinions about energy.

The data are clear that Republicans and Democrats have very different views about the approaches the U.S. should take on energy. Independents opinions, however, are closer to those of Democrats, making the nation as a whole more sympathetic to proposals that emphasize environmental protection over energy production.

To stay up to date with the latest Gallup News insights and updates, follow us on Twitter.

Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works.

View complete question responses and trends (PDF download).
11:46





The apex court had on November 11 last year extended till further orders the protection of the area where a 'Shivling' was claimed to have been found.





The matter was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Masjid committee, requested the bench to take up the matter for hearing soon, saying the month of Ramzan is underway and adequate arrangements should be made.





He said the water for wazu is being used from a drum and the number of worshippers has increased in view of Ramzan.





The CJI said the matter will be taken up for hearing on April 14 by the bench also comprising Justice Surya Kant.





On March 28, the apex court had agreed to list for hearing on April 21 a plea of the Hindu side seeking consolidation of all suits filed in a Varanasi court pertaining to the Gyanvapi mosque complex row.





The bench had taken note of the submissions of lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain that the district judge of Varanasi has deferred five times the decision on a plea seeking clubbing of all civil suits pertaining to the dispute. The apex court had earlier allowed the Hindu parties to move an application before the Varanasi district judge for consolidation of all lawsuits filed on the Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gauri row.





It had also directed the Hindu parties to file their replies within three weeks to the appeal by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee challenging the Allahabad High Court order on appointment of a survey commissioner.





On May 17 last year, the top court had passed an interim order directing the Varanasi district magistrate to ensure protection of the area inside the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex where the structure claimed to be a 'Shivling' was found during a video survey ordered by the court of the civil judge (senior division) in Varanasi.





The mosque committee, however, maintained the structure was part of the water fountain mechanism at the 'wazukhana', the reservoir where devotees perform ablutions before offering namaz. The apex court had transferred the case to the district judge on May 20 last, pointing at the "complexities" and the "sensitivity" of the issue and saying that a more senior judicial officer should handle it.





In its May 17 last year order, the top court had directed protection of the area around the claimed 'Shivling' while also allowing Muslims to offer namaz in the mosque.





It had said the interim order shall remain in operation till the maintainability of the suit is decided by the district judge, and then for eight more weeks to allow the aggrieved parties to approach a higher court. -- PTI

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on April 14 a plea by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee seeking permission for 'wazu' (ritual ablution) at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during the month of Ramzan.
Marcos says bases cannot be used for offensive action

Manila last week announced the locations of four more military bases it is allowing the US military to use. File photo: AFP

The Philippines will not allow "any offensive actions" from the bases it has opened to US troops, President Ferdinand Marcos said on Monday.



Manila last week announced the locations of four more military bases it is allowing the US military to use on top of the five agreed on under the 2014 Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, known as EDCA.



The deal allows US troops to rotate through and store defence equipment and supplies.



China warned last week the expanded military deal could endanger regional peace, and accused Washington of a "zero-sum mentality".



The four additional bases include sites near the hotly disputed South China Sea and another not far from Taiwan.



Marcos said China's reaction over the expanded military deal was "not surprising", but assured them the Philippines is only shoring up its territorial defence.



"We will not allow our bases to be used for any offensive actions. This is only aimed at helping the Philippines whenever we need help," Marcos told reporters.



"If no one is attacking us, they need not worry because we will not fight them."



The pact stalled under former president Rodrigo Duterte, who favoured closer ties with China.



But Marcos, who succeeded Duterte in June, has adopted a more US-friendly foreign policy and sought to accelerate the implementation of the EDCA. (AFP)
China rebukes US 'intrusion' as Taiwan drills finish

A PLA Navy landing ship is pictured off the coast of Fujian province on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Beijing condemned the United States on Monday, after it sent a guided-missile destroyer through contested parts of the South China Sea.



The US Navy announced the USS Milius had passed near the Spratly Islands, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.



A spokesman for the People's Liberation Army's Southern Command said the vessel had "illegally intruded" into Chinese territorial waters, and that the air force had followed and carried out surveillance on it.



Also on Monday, Beijing said it had "successfully completed" three days of military drills around Taiwan, including simulations of targeted strikes and a blockade of the island.



The drills were held in response to a meeting in California between Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen and the US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.



The exercise "comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat ability of multiple military branches under actual combat conditions", the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Eastern Command said in a statement.



It added that Chinese troops were "ready for battle and can fight at any time, and will resolutely smash any form of 'Taiwan independence' separatism and foreign interference attempts".



The military said one of China's two aircraft carriers  the Shandong  had participated in maneouvres on Monday, while state media said dozens of planes had practised an "aerial blockade".



A video published by the Eastern Command's official WeChat account showed a pilot saying he had "arrived near the northern part of Taiwan Island", and that missiles were "locked into place".



In another video, with a dramatic orchestral accompaniment, planes are shown taking off from the Shandong.



Separately, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin warned that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were "mutually exclusive".



Russia also commented on the drills, with a Kremlin spokesperson saying Beijing had a "sovereign right" to respond to what Moscow deemed "provocative acts". (Agencies)
Occupational therapy doctoral students practicing their skills are, left to right: Heather Evans, Kae Edgcomb, Kayci Tanner, Mayci Doerflein, and Michelle Soto.

New, unique SIU doctorate helps meet need for occupational therapists

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Preparing occupational therapists for fulfilling careers of helping clients accomplish everyday tasks to optimize their health, well-being and quality of life is the focus of Southern Illinois University Carbondales new hybrid entry-level occupational therapy doctoral program, which features education and training in a state-of-the art lab with a full working kitchen, laundry area and more, along with collaborative experiences with students in related health care fields.

Theres a substantial need for occupational therapists across the country with a growing need in Illinois, especially in Southern Illinois, said Danila Cepa, program director.

Occupational therapists help people who have difficulty with routine tasks because of injuries or disabilities such survivors of strokes, patients with chronic, painful conditions or people who need assistive equipment and instruction.

Just think about the activities that occupy your day, from getting dressed and eating to writing, shopping, cooking, doing laundry and performing a wide assortment of other tasks. Those are the things occupational therapists help people learn or relearn to do, Cepa said. Our program provides the knowledge in how best to do that and gives students practical experience through the simulated learning lab. We simulate practice at all levels of care representing hospital in-patients to working with people in their own homes. We frame the environment just like those our clients will have.

Meeting the need in the region, SIU has already drawn interest not only from students in Illinois but also Missouri and other neighboring states.

One of those students is Abriana Jones of St. Louis, who started the program in fall 2022 after completing her bachelors degree in psychology and her masters degree in kinesiology from SIU. Jones said shes very excited to be part of the first doctoral class where students and faculty are able to implement new ideas. We really get the necessary one-on-one attention we need, and we are lucky to have professors who really care about our development and want nothing more than to see us succeed.

Jones has known since she was a sophomore that she wanted to become an occupational therapist and spoke with Julie Partridge, graduate program director and professor of sport and exercise psychology.

In talking with her, I realized that staying at SIU was the right option for me, said Jones, who is a graduate assistant in the graduate school assistantships and fellowships office. I like the way this format melds classroom and practical experience. Its nice to be taking classes that give us real-world experience while allowing us to develop into the health care professionals we aspire to be.

Shes looking forward to her first summer fieldwork placement, and after completing the program in 2025, Jones will be seeking a position as a pediatric occupational therapist and eventually hopes to open her own pediatric therapy center and perhaps a cryotherapy (cold therapy) facility.

This program is unique because its one of the few doctoral level occupational therapy programs in the state of Illinois, Cepa said. Students enter with a bachelors degree, and in three years, can complete their doctorate.

Cepa and Kim Parr, assistant professor of practice and academic fieldwork coordinator for the program, said it also has a special format as students attend classes online during the week and in-person every other weekend for a total of eight to nine weekends. They also complete two full-time, 12-week internships during the summers along with a 14-week capstone featuring advanced practice the final summer.

Students get practical experience in a diverse variety of locations. SIU has more than 60 sites in Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky for field work, and the university works with students to help them find a facility that best aligns with their interests for their final capstone experience and project.

Our program is unique in that the field work is split so students get extensive practical exposure with classroom time in between, Parr said. They begin with online classes and weekend classes and then serve a practicum, applying the theoretical to the real world. Then its back to class for more advanced learning. Unlike most programs, the SIU OTD program integrates fieldwork throughout the curriculum so academic work is integrated with practical learning.

The weekend in-person classes take place in an all-new, state-of-the art learning hub, specifically built for the program to provide faculty-guided, hands-on training in the Applied Sciences and Arts Building, also called the CASA building. The lab includes a full working kitchen and laundry area as well as an area where occupational therapy students can practice helping simulated clients with the wide array of daily living activities. The lab is used by other academic units as well.

The lab includes an orthotic fabrication area so students can practice creating specialized upper extremity splints to support performance of daily activities. Theres also a mat table area for simulated practice of various treatment techniques, just like what is used in therapy clinics.

Another bonus for SIUs program is that the lab is equipped with cameras so students can record their simulated therapy sessions so they and faculty members can assess their performance.

Its one thing to learn and practice skills, but its another to see yourself performing them and have the opportunity to receive input from peers and instructors, Cepa said. It allows them to debrief and reflect on their work and experience.

Holistic experience

The students also collaborate with their peers in other SIU health-related programs to reflect the way they will handle cases in the working world. That includes working with students in the nursing, physical therapy assistant and communication disorders and sciences programs to provide an enhanced learning experience for all involved and better prepare students for the future.

The curriculum includes an interprofessional education and practice day, which we will repeat each spring, so these students can spend time learning how to communicate effectively with each other and complete interprofessional practice in an acute care setting such as a hospital, Parr said. They explain their individual roles to one another and then participate in a lab session, working together to share practical skills.

SIUs program includes research and innovation, patient advocacy, leadership skills development, career development, and practice and study to improve intervention outcomes.

The national job outlook is good for therapists, with a projected employment rate growth of 14% in the 10-year period ending in 2031, much higher than the average job growth rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Moreover, a therapy career is rewarding in more ways than one, officials said, with a 2021 median annual salary of $85,570 and the chance to make a real difference in peoples lives.

The program, which prepares graduates for entry-level careers as occupational therapists has been granted candidacy status for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association and will complete a pre-accreditation review and onsite evaluation to be granted accreditation after which students will be eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Certification Examination. After successfully completing that exam, graduates will be registered occupational therapists. States require licensure, but licenses are typically based on the NBCOT certification examination.

About half of the occupational therapists in the United States work in occupational therapy offices or hospitals while the rest find employment in outpatient services, schools, nursing homes and home health services.

Paving the way toward leadership

Program officials say they are also creating a program that paves the way to leadership roles and that meets the need of a variety of students, including those who already have associate degrees as occupational therapy assistants.

We are actively working with occupational therapy assistants who do not have their bachelor's degree, Parr said. These potential students can connect with an adviser from the health care management (HCM) program to possibly obtain their health care management bachelor's degree with their previous academic experiences potentially counting for some HCM coursework, Parr said.

Sandra Collins, health care management program director, professor and distinguished faculty member, noted that through numerous Saluki Step Ahead agreements, SIU is working to facilitate such transitions as this, which provide added value. She said this option for the OTD degree is particularly attractive for working professionals since SIU offers a 100% online health care management bachelors degree option, as well as an on-campus option.

Having the health care management background also helps pave the way toward enhanced career possibilities, officials said.

Our program is specifically designed to generate leaders within the profession, Cepa said.

Applications accepted now

SIUs inaugural class includes seven students, and in the future, officials anticipate a cohort of 30 students beginning the program each fall. Current students have a variety of academic backgrounds and degrees: occupational therapy assistant, physical therapy assistant, exercise science, psychology and other health-related majors.

To apply, a student need only have a bachelors degree and 18 hours of prescribed prerequisites.

Applications are now being accepted for fall 2023.

Learn more at sah.siu.edu/graduate/otd or by emailing health.sciences@siu.edu or email the program director at danila.cepa@siu.edu.

Captions:

Second photo: Mayci Doerflein practices range-of-motion measurements on Michelle Soto.

Third photo: Kae Edgcomb measures Kayci Tanner in order to create a specialized upper extremity splint, which is used to help with daily activities, in the SIU labs orthotic fabrication area.

Fourth photo: Michelle Soto assists Mayci Doerflein with a simulated cooking activity. Doerflein, who is playing the part of a patient who had a stroke and is learning to safely cook again following her illness, is wearing a gait belt around her waist, which allows the therapist to help balance patients in case they start to fall.

Photos by Yenitza Melgoza
Gurugram (Haryana) [India], April 10 (ANI/PRNewswire): Shipsy, a leading SaaS-based global logistics management platform provider, announced it had been acknowledged as a Notable Vendor in the Gartner Asia/Pacific Context: 'Magic Quadrant for Transport Management Systems.' The need for businesses to meet evolving customer demands, reduce transportation costs and boost delivery agility is driving the adoption of modern Transportation Management Systems (TMS). Shipsy's unique capabilities and offerings, have emerged as a key enabler for achieving these efficiencies across cross-border, first, middle, and last-mile logistics. In the Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems report, "Gartner defines transportation management systems (TMSs) as software that supports multimodal planning and execution of the physical movement of goods across the supply chain. It allows a company to manage increasing levels of transportation complexity across multiple transport modes and geographic regions." "We're excited to be included in the Asia/Pacific Context: 'Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems' report. We believe it's a testament to the amazing feedback we have consistently received from our customers. We aim to continue being the de facto logistics management platform for businesses in the region and the Middle East," says Soham Chokshi, CEO & Co-Founder, Shipsy. The Asia/Pacific Context report states that "Gartner estimates the annual spend on supply chain execution (SCE) software in APAC to exceed USD 850 million through 2026, up from nearly USD 600 million through 2021 (see Forecast: Enterprise Application Software, Worldwide, 2020-2026, 4Q22 Update). Gartner estimates that the annual TMS software spend in APAC will be approximately 28 per cent of that on SCE, or USD 160 million through 2021." Further mentioning, "Organizations within the Asia/Pacific market have historically looked for transportation management solutions that are execution-focused. Capabilities such as transportation planning and route optimization are not typically prioritized by shippers. Those capabilities are highly desired by third-party logistics (3PL) organizations and logistics service providers. With the increasing demand in retail and e-commerce, there is some shifting in this regard. This is especially true in countries such as India, China and Vietnam. Companies within those countries are starting to investigate planning and route optimization capabilities to better support customer demands, particularly for last-mile deliveries in urban locations." Gartner also highlighted the growing significance of sustainable logistics, "Sustainability and green transportation initiatives are also drawing increased focus. With many trucks in the region being diesel-powered, particularly in China, organizations are looking to TMS technology to help mitigate and measure emissions. Utilizing optimization capabilities to build more efficient routes, leveraging analytics to capture emissions and carbon footprint information, and selecting more environmentally friendly transport modes (such as rail or waterways) are some of the ways TMS technology can help." Gartner named Shipsy and five others as Notable Vendors in the APAC Context report. Gartner Disclaimer: Gartner, Asia/Pacific Context: 'Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems', Brock Johns, Oscar Sanchez Duran, 28 March 2023. Get the full story: This content is part of a larger body of research on this topic. Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Transport Management Systems, Brock Johns, Oscar Sanchez Duran, Carly West, 28 March 2023. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and MAGIC QUADRANT is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Shipsy enables businesses worldwide to build a resilient, connected, agile, sustainable, and autonomous supply chain and logistics operations. Its smart logistics management platform empowers businesses to significantly reduce operating costs, lower carbon footprint, enhance customer experiences, boost delivery productivity, and drive seamless cross-border freight movement. Shipsy's 350+ team is based out of India, Dubai, and Indonesia serving 200+ customers across the globe. Shipsy tracks 650,000+ containers per month, procure freight worth USD 150mn+ per month, and powers 60 mn+ parcels per month. On a broader perspective, Shipsy has integrations with 64+ major shipping lines, 50+ third-party logistics companies, 300+ freight forwarders, 50+ customs agents, and a network of over 20,000 global shippers. To learn more about us, please visit www.shipsy.io. Media Contact: shruti.sharma@shipsy.io This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
Mahesana (Gujarat) [India], April 10 (ANI/PNN): Axita Cotton Limited (BSE: 542285, NSE: AXITA) a leading raw cotton manufacturer and exporter, has received its order worth USD 3.2 million (Approx Rs 26.92 Crore) from Bangladesh. The order comprises of 3 Foreign Buyers and which will be shipped to the country over the next 3 months. The order was placed by a prominent textile Company in Bangladesh, which is known for its commitment to quality and timely delivery. The decision to award the order to Axita Cotton Limited was based on the Company's reputation for producing high-quality raw cotton at competitive prices. "This is a significant milestone for our Company," said Kushal Nitinbhai Patel, the Managing Director of Axita Cotton Limited, " We are thrilled to receive this order from one of the leading textile Companies in Bangladesh. It is a testament to the quality of our products and the trust that our customers have in us. And we are also expecting some more orders of Yarn from European and Far East market." Axita Cotton Limited has been exporting Raw Cotton & Cotton Yarns to Bangladesh, China, Vietnam and some European countries for since last 6 years and has built a strong relationship with its customers in the Country. The Company's commitment to quality, timely delivery, and customer satisfaction has helped it to become one of the preferred suppliers. The Company's focus on innovation and sustainability has helped it to maintain its position as a leading raw cotton manufacturer and exporter. Axita Cotton Limited is one of the leading suppliers of Organic Cotton and Organic Yarn into domestic and international markets. The Company is also helping farmers to educate them to produce sustainable cotton and organic cotton to get better rates of their products. Axita Cotton Limited is a member of the Global Organic textile standard (GOTS), Organic Content standard (OCS) and Global Recycle standard (GRS). The Company produces cotton bales and cotton seeds, with a focus on two varieties of cotton bales: Shankar-6 and MCU-5/MECH. The production facility is located in Kadi, in the Mahesana District of Gujarat state, which is strategically positioned near the major cotton growing areas of Saurashtra and other regions of Gujarat. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)